I Get Him
---On the surface this is kind of your regular old mad-scientist story, but I am inclined to believe a lot of big ideas are happening here.
---After watching an interview of the philospher Amia Srinivasan where she mentioned Wilhelm Reich who, to my understanding, used psychoanalytic theory to understand mysticism as a response to fascism as a response to sexual repression... It got me thinking a little bit... About what? Who knows.
---I've read a little bit of Foucault where he makes it clear that the problem of madness is not one of accident, but of distribution. And I don't know much about statistics or anything, but in trying my best to form a valid argument, I would think that in our increasingly fascist state (how does one measure that?), you would find increasing cases of severe dysregulation (can I define madness this way?), and therefore... I don't even remember what I was arguing.
---I'm really just spitballing here guys, bare with me.
---Somethingsomethingsomething, I'm thinking about Max as the site of ideological labor. Why? Because I think of all mind-bodies or "characters" or "persons" that way. Now what ideas is he grappling with? Well, we'll get there.
---So the main conflict of the story would be man vs nature. Like this guy wants to understand the universe.
--- To Be Continued...
The Big Screen
---I never realized how little Daniel Radcliff really emotes. Like his acting is great and all, but next to Jonathan Groff he seems about as expressive as a stick figure. I'm curious how much they were getting paid for this...
---Singing wise though, while keeping up a convincing American accent, I was impressed by Radliff's performance. I'd say this was an enjoyable family-fun-time experience. I got a few giggles out of it and the outfits were nice to look at, but it felt like the same brand of pallatable as the movie version of In The Heights. Just rather commercial.
---If I wanted to be a literary theorist, I might dig deeper, but I don't feel like invoking the spirit of Toni Morrison. I'd rather just enjoy things.
---Overall, I give the musical 3 sets of concentric circles.
Springtime Sublime
---Real emotion, raw talent, reminscent soundsss. Who is this guy?
---No, but this is incredible. The only thing I'm not really rocking with are the song titles. They feel a little too on the nose and given the album description , I'd imagine there's a little more depth to the origin of these songs than just afters (no shade). But what do I know. Either way, this album has me moving around in existential gratitude.
---I don't have the vocabulary to explain what makes this album stand out, I just feel as though I can hear his drive through the songs — not only to persist through adversity but to remain creative and just keep up. The album title roughly translates to "East Wind". There's definitely a breeze/current moving through this album and he is harnessing it.
---Fave track: Mystery of Dub II.
---I wish I knew a single thing about the gear listed...
---This albums gets 4 sets of concentric circles.
This Isn't Even a Review
---What does one even say about this track. Like why is he in the walls (joking). But imagine: it's 2004, you're in the club with shorty and this cryptid telekinesis ray-gun sample comes on and everyone the dancefloor moonbeams back to the mothership.
---Solid. I approve.
---This cover art deserves a lot, too. I give this track 4/5 sets of concentric circles, but Mr. De' gets 6.
---Further reading: here and here.
Um Waiter? New Brain Please?
---I wanna write a song with this guy. His voice reminds me of figs. Like grainy and smooth. And his melodies are always masterfully simplistic. The full album doesn't blow my mind like Cerulean did, but still a much needed addition, thank you Ken. Whoever is doing marketing though needs to lock in.
---I appreciate these lyrics for speaking to the experience of hitting a wall in regards to the limits of self knowledge. And how the self is really just theory and story and keeps you disconnected from direct experience (let's talk about the dharma of Ken Yates). But also how this supposed noble pursuit can really be a mask for fear and avoidance. But discovering where that line is, although painful in its insidious loneliness, can be a valuable lesson. Oh the ironyyyy. But I also recognize that this is a culturally specific dilemma. Anyways, I don't actually know what this song is about. This is just my interpretation with hardly any textual basis leave me alone. (Aside: never step to me talking about some Jungian archetypes, I will immediately assume you are the enemy).
---This is not my favorite of his work. This album feels to me like maybe he didn't have that much to say (relatable).
---I give dis track 3 sets of concentric circles. If I were to pick a favorite off of this album, I'd say dis one .
My Life Source Right Now
---Cameron, what's the copay because this song is healing meeeeeee. Please don't make me feel thingsss. You're lifting up the people, Cameron.
---I don't have too much to say about this song besides the fact I've had it on repeat as of late and it's got that bitter-sweet sorrow-joy. I've found a few of his songs, along with some of his full band songs, to genuinely provide relief like damn. I love a hope song.
---I'm a fan of the way his songs are arranged? Produced? They have a tinkered-with feel to them. Occassionally he layers background vocals to give them an airy yet dense accordian-like sound and some of the drum/bass come in sounding like someone accidentally dropped the needle on a record. This percussive syncopation reminds me of the clanging tools of a construction site (even without the music video) which works together with the ongoing metaphor of the builder. (And there's defintely also somthing there about the builder as the site of construction.) All of this together just creates the most refreshing and cozy texture which I think goes along with his lyrical and visual themes of intimacy, faith, coming-of-age, and the home. All of which, one must work to build duhhhh #deep.
---This song & video get 5 out of 5 sets of concentric circles from me. Also, this video makes me feel more Appalachian.