Considering today is the last day of school, it seems like a
good opportunity for another Cult Classic, a timeless summer camp film which is
a perfect way to get excited for the school vacation ahead.
Released in 1979,
Meatballs was the first starring role for comedian Bill
Murray.
Focusing on the quiet,
introverted Rudy Gerner, away from home at sleep away camp for the first time,
the film is part coming of age tale, part raunchy teen comedy, and part feel
good family blockbuster.
Murray plays
head counselor Tripper Harrison, in charge of the camps CIT’s (counselors in
training) a group of elder teens which help lead activities and run the
assorted bunk houses.
Tripper takes an
interest in young Rudy and takes him under his wing for the duration of the summer.
The two go on long runs together and discuss
life over games of poker.
The summer is
filled with first loves, competition with neighboring camp Mohawk, and many
pranks on camp director Morty Melnick.
There are WAY too many jokes and one-liners to list but suffice it to
say that the entire movie is quotable.
From the CIT theme song to Murray’s constant sarcastic remarks both
directly to campers and counselors and also over the camp loud speaker, the
film is laugh out loud funny from start to finish.
In the end, the message is simple: be
yourself, laugh often, and always remember to have a good time because when you
take a step back and look at whatever problems you have, in the grand scheme of
things….it just doesn’t matter.
I haven’t reviewed an album in a while and that is mostly
because I haven’t heard one in full which was worth talking about. However, I recently went and saw Ex Hex at
the Sinclair and boy was it a show to remember.
I originally went to see two local openers the first of which absolutely
killed. But Ex Hex was a band that had
been on my radar for some time after lead singer/guitarist Mary Timony formed
the band Wild Flag alongside Sleater Kinney's Carrie Brownstein. After an incredible set I picked up their debut record and after several times through, it only keeps getting better. Entitled “Rips” the album contains twelve
nearly perfect tracks of 80’s infused, guitar driver pop rock. Album opener “Don’t Wanna Lose” establishes
the "love theme" which is present in most songs on the album and starts things
off with a whiny guitar sound which is ever present throughout the record. “New Kid” calls to mind early Joan Jett and maintains a steady baseline with layers of lead and rhythm
guitar which play off each other superbly.
Betsy Wright’s bass and Timony’s guitar work bounce back and forth like
a perfectly timed ping pong match. “How You Got That Girl” is one of the two
tracks written by Wright and hearkens back to 80’s giants like
Pat Benatar with a chunkier rhythm and the snappy guitar squeals which define
Ex Hex’s sound. Heavy track “Beast” is a
slap in the face before the haunting, muted “Everywhere” takes things in a different direction. Later on “You Fell Apart” is right on track
with other 80’s revivalists of today sounding like a cross between the Dum Dum
Girls and L.A. garage pop vixens Bleached.
The album closes just as strongly as it begins with the upbeat “Radio On”
bringing more sing along choruses and bubbly new wave a la The Go Go’s. Closing track “War Paint” has one of the best
lines of the album as Timony sings “Put your war paint on and dance alone in
the crowd”. This sums up Ex Hex. They are who they are and they do what they do and you'll just have to deal with it. A band which clearly comes out of the
marginalized, loner portion of society and provides the world with the kind of
catchy radio rock which is friendly enough for your grandma and rough enough
for your cousin going through his punk
phase. Although still relatively fresh
having just released their debut back in October of 2014, the band is
incredibly tight live and is destined for a phenomenal follow up in my
opinion. Keep your eyes peeled and catch
them if you can because I’m sure they won’t be playing such small venues for
much longer.
