The Perspective

This month…

Listen to:

“I Have No Sister” by Oh No Oh My

Picture an aloof, upbeat, electronic version of ‘The Mountain Goats’ fused with the vocals of ‘The Decemberists’ and overall mood of ‘Noah and the Whale’. The outcome? The perfection that manifests itself in ‘Oh No Oh My’. If this band was a guy, I would marry it. If this band was a book, I would write it. If this band was a raspberry, I would jam to it. Also suggested: “walk in the park”.

“Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” by Phoenix

Interested in feigning three minutes of January summer? Phoenix isn’t necessarily a new band but their excited, buoyant songs will have you feeling the July sun beams and practically make your fingers itch to roll down your car windows. An added bonus: you may feel a sense of Arizona pride bubbling- due to, well, the name of the band.

Watch:

“Psycho”

This Hitchcock movie is an absolute classic. I know you have most likely heard of it (it being the most talked of and beloved thriller movie of all time) but have you seen it? The visual imagery, the edge-of-your-seat suspense, the mind boggling acting abilities of Anthony Perkins, this movie has it all. I can’t emphasize enough the artistic genius of Alfred Hitchcock, all I can tell you is to watch for yourself- all of the hype will not lead to a feeling of anticlimax. So, if you’re in the mood for a classy horror movie without the blood and guts, drive on over to Casa Video and watch ‘psycho’.

“Up In the Air”

Maybe it’s my love for the dark-haired bachelor suave of Cary Grant or maybe it’s my appreciation for a legitimately talented actor in our pop culture world where starlets like Paris Hilton are in the lime light, but George Clooney will absolutely captivate you in “Up in The Air”. The cinematography was fantastic and innovative, and the plot was the most refreshing I’ve seen in a long time; it was the first time in months that I have gone to the movies and not felt a gaping hole in my pocket or like I had been mugged in an alley of a hard earned 9 dollars and fifty cents. If you are in the mood for somewhat dark, suggestive humor, subtle wit, or simply good ole George Clooney- then I highly suggest taking the nine-dollar leap at any movie theatre near you.

Read:

“Into the Wild”

I’ve found in my meager 16 years of existence that it’s rare to find someone who legitimately follows their dream. I myself take part in the human talent of not actually practicing what I preach, or rather, what I believe. The book “Into the Wild” is simply put as the story of Chris McCandless, a man who fresh from college runs away from his home, all human connections, ditches his car and burns his money in an effort to truly go ‘into the wild’. While reading the book I found myself wondering if he was truly deranged and antisocial, or if he was simply finding a transcendentalist approach to finding self through nature. He had everything going for him; he was brilliant, supposedly handsome, and fantastically likeable (as evident from the characters he had brief contact but lasting effect with throughout his travels), and yet he deserted it all to die in an abandoned bus in Alaska. Why? I don’t exactly know. But he had the guts to do what no one I know would dream of- burn the materialistic, superficialities of the physical world in an attempt to live off the land and find a deeper meaning to life. So, here’s to you, Chris McCandless, for not only living what you believe, but dying for it.

Go to:

The earring bin at S.A.S. Fabrics

There’s something to be said about a three foot high earring bin in the back of a fabric store. Half the fun is owning ten-cent earrings, and the other is literally digging for hours to discover a matching pair. S.A.S. is a whole warehouse of neat, cheap things- from buttons and patches to leopard print fabric. Located at 5320 E. Speedway, come equipped with three dollars and a creative appetite.