First of all, thrilled about the upcoming The Chariot album release, Long Live. Secondly, today the band premiere the first single off the album titled David De La Hoz, via an excellently inventive live, one-take video. Super creative, just as these dudes consistently are!

Check out The Chariot’s myspace page if you haven’t heard them.

The Social Net—what?

So listen, I’m not a huge theatre-goer, but I do love great film, and I love Gaspar Noe. I saw his French mind-bender, Irreversiblé in a film class a few years ago, and it left quite the positive impression on me. It was a wild, complicated, over the top contemporary film that pushed the boundaries of conventional cinema and what the average audience can truly handle—and stomach.

With his newest film eight years later, Gaspar Noe takes an enormous step forward.

Enter the Void is more than a movie; it’s an experience. I realize that might sound cliché, but never has a theatre experience inspired me to feel the entire spectrum of human emotion in one sitting. From the blazing opening credits to the final two gut-punching frames, the film analyzes life, family, the separation of family, fear, death, the consequences of death, and a paralyzing look into Noe’s concepts of afterlife. The entire human experience in 150 minutes.

I hesitate to even call Enter the Void a movie, but rather a demonstration. It is unrated because the MPAA would have a field day with the explicitly honest content, but each and every controversial scene of the film is dripping with meaning and purpose. The story is told perfectly, the camera work is the most inventive I’ve ever seen—yes, ever—and I was so pierced to my seat with awe, I didn’t even open my king size box of Junior Mints. And that never, ever happens!

Seriously, not a single Junior Mint. For real.

This movie will leave you absolutely speechless. You won’t even realize the it’s over until the film strip literally comes off the reel. It isn’t for everyone, in fact a number of people left the theatre during scenes that are borderline tasteless. But Gaspar Noe clearly has something to say about life, and he makes his stand loud and clear.

If you are at all curious about this film, I highly encourage a screening before it leaves theaters. Cinema experience of the year, hands down—and that’s an understatement.

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If not for the hit Lauren Weisberger novel with the same title, The Devil Wears Prada would be a pretty sick band name. And it is a sick band name, I just keep picturing Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway on keyboard and guitar. TDWP’s earlier releases on Rise and Ferret Records never really had me. I gave them each a few listens but the music just wouldn’t sit quite right.

But I’ve got to hand it to this band—because they have grown. With their most recent release, Zombie EP, they demonstrate a remarkably matured sound. Personally, I am relieved they dropped most of the keys/synth that littered past albums, and what keys are on this record blend better with the overall sound than before. But above that, stylistically and compositionally it is evident TDWP are growing and taking major steps forward as musicians.

Conceptually, Zombie EP is intriguing. I suppose you could call the release a concept record, with each track telling a separate part to a greater story. Without researching the lyrics word for word, it feels like a mildly political message; verses of concern for our well being; being outnumbered as a species; taking arms and finding safety.

Standout tracks for me: Escape, Anatomy, and Outnumbered. But honestly this little five-track EP has been on repeat since it’s release. It’s a good one!

The Devil Wears Prada – Zombie EP Promo from James Baney on Vimeo.

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Listen to The Devil Wears Prada on their MySpace.
Pick up Zombie EP here.

My close friend, Isaac Orloff recently contributed his talents to this fantastic motion piece for the US Census, in collaboration with Digital Kitchen’s NY office! Isaac has spent the last few years developing his own unique style of illustration, and it really shines through in this piece!

Take a look at the spot above, and then check out the rest of Isaac’s work here. Visit his blog too!