Peace is our profession

[alexandral]

Dr. Strangelove. I had it for about a year at home and finally watched it yesterday. This film is so off-the-wall that anything else in the world is completely glued to the wall in comparison. What can I say – O my poor head this is SO CRAZY!. But it is funny and black and dead-pan and most excellent.
This one of the films which assure me that America is a very democratic country. Because – how could they let this film be otherwise? He-He! Surely I can see why it never crossed the Russian border during the Cold War ;).
I LOVED IT!

Blockbusters on-line is sending me Elisabeth (I haven’t seen it yet) and Jude . This weekend is going to be full of Christopher Eccleston. Harray!


Music: I have acquired Marillion CD , because winterspel likes it so much and surely there must be something in it. I usually listen to music when I drive. The first composition, Grendel, lasted through my morning’s journey because it is 18 minutes long. I liked it; it reminded me of “Stairway to heaven”.

My friend from work gave me a great collection of Bob Marley‘s songs. I was listening it today whole day long, swinging in rhythm. Fantastic!

It is the day of the PARENTS MEETING at Sasha’s school. I always feel apprehensive, I don’t know why.

And it is still freezing. Ok, I am going to enjoy warm weather more when it comes. ;)

Comments

[elspethsheir.livejournal.com]

Aw... Dr. Strangelove. "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room."

Good times, good times.

But Jude... have you read the book? I will only say that it's a film that I'm glad I saw, but I will never ever watch it again. It makes The Woodlanders (http://elspethsheir.livejournal.com/23407.html) look positively joyous!

I hope that the parents' meeting goes well!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

But Jude... have you read the book? I will only say that it's a film that I'm glad I saw, but I will never ever watch it again. It makes The Woodlanders look positively joyous!

I think Hardy's books are fantastic. I have read "Far from the Madding crowd" and thought - I love this forever and I am going to read all his books. Then I have read "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" and thought that it is brilliant but BAD ENDING. Then I picked up "Jude the Obscure" and read the ending first (I often do it ;)) and I am ashamed to say that I could not bring myself to read the rest. I know that film will be sad, but CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON! I'll buy some new hankies ;).

I hope that the parents' meeting goes well! It went splendidly. Sasha is above averave in everything. I am so proud!

[elspethsheir.livejournal.com]

Heeee. I hear you about Hardy. I loved Mayor of Casterbridge and Far from the Madding Crowd, but most of Hardy ends grimly. Not that I don't mind a good tragic story every now and then, but I never want to re-visit them!

Buy hankies! The actors are all uniformly amazing, but it's hard to watch.

And yaye for Sasha doing so well!!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you for mentioning Mayor of Castlebridge, I must read it when I have time. I think Hardy's style, his word and phrase usage are absolutely fantastic.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeek! *gasp* You bought THAT Marillion cd?? Oh, no! If you like it, I am very glad, but it's a very difficult cd to start with, as it was their very first from 1982. That being said, one of my all-time favorite songs is "Script for a Jester's Tear."

They and their music are incredibly different now, and they've had a different singer since 1989, so the band is nothing like the band of that album.

My head is still reeling from your announcement. I don't think anyone has ever bought a Marillion cd on my recommendation before. They are really an acquired taste. I hope you don't regret it. *scared*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

O, don't worry, dear, I rather like it. I love to find about different music and most of main-stream things bore me to death.

I need to get used to it, but it is good. I picked one compilation CD (because it was cheap ;)). I think it has songs from the different albums.

It has: Grendel; He knows you know; Jigsaw; Punch and Judy; Cinderella Search; Kayleigh; Lavender; LAdy Nina; Torch Song.

I liked Lavender, I think. I will appreciate very much if you let me know more about the best albums and such.

My head is still reeling from your announcement. I don't think anyone has ever bought a Marillion cd on my recommendation before. They are really an acquired taste. I hope you don't regret it. *scared*

O, don't worry! It is lovely! That what I like about LJ - I never heard about Marillion before;).

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know what is on the cd - what is weird, is I have NO IDEA what compilation that is, since it isn't any of the retail releases currently available - it might be something older. From the CD that you have, I like all of them (except Grendel, actually, to which I am indifferent, for various reasons). I love Jigsaw, Kayleigh/Lavendar (which is from their 1986 highest rated album Misplaced Childhood, a concept album). "Kayleigh" is the song that everyone remembers from the "old days." I love it because it reminds me of my university years when I was still a newish Marillion fan. I also love Lady Nina, which was a b-side to the Clutching at Straws album of 1987.

In any case, those songs are from the first 5 years of the band, from their first four albums, with the old singer, who got kicked out in 1988 (for drug & alcohol abuse - he was wrecking the band). I still like all of that music, but the band and their music are completely different (and better, in my opinion) now, especially with the current singer who has an entirely difference voice and style from that guy. Their music is just as complex and angsty, but more beautiful and also both more and less accessible. What I mean is that some songs are ones that anyone can listen to - they don't require too much intellectual effort. Others are very complex lyrically and/or musically. And some of them are still very long - they have written many 10+ minute songs, the longest being one that is 20 minutes, and one that is 18 minutes. Those two happen to be among my favorites. :)

If you want reccs for my favorite Marillion albums (which is difficult, because they are all good, and they are all different - they never repeat the same "sound") - I would say first of all, their most recent release Marbles (2004) is the one you should get above all others, because it is them as they are now, and it's amazing. I'm still going crazy for this album two years later. It is one of my all-time favorite albums of any band. You may also like Afraid of Sunlight (1995), and This Strange Engine (1997). Btw, you know that Marillion is a British group, right? :)

If you ever have any questions about the band, the music, the lyrics, themes, whatever, I'd be happy to try to answer questions. And if you ever decide that it's not for you, don't worry, I will completely understand. ;) I am so totally impressed that you even gave them a try.

Also, I meant to say also that I love Dr. Strangelove and Elizabeth. They're both terrific films, especially Strangelove, which is a truly landmark film.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

One more thing: Congrats on Sasha - that is great news!

And one more recc: Seasons End (1989) - I can't believe I didn't mention this before, as it is the first album with the current singer, and is a classic - every single song is amazing, plus it has one of their all-time greatest songs, "Easter," which is about the conflicts in Ireland. This was one of my first Marillion albums, and it is what made me a fan.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the detailed recommendation! I am going to add this to Memories and look as I go along. I feel I will like Marillion's music.

I think I can get "Marbles" next . I have seen it on Amazon.uk and it is not expensive at all. I need find the lyrics on the Internet, they are usually easy to find.. I like to understand lyrics and always find them.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

There are two different versions of Marbles - a 1 disc version and a 2 disc version. If you can get the 2 disc, it is better because it's complete and it has "Ocean Cloud," a fave of mine, but the 1 disc version has all my favorites minus "Ocean Cloud" and "Genie." ("Ocean Cloud" is something like 17 or 18 minutes long, which is partly why there are 2 discs).

For your information: Here is marillion.com (http://www.marillion.com/home.htm), their very extensive website. There is a lot of information there - history of the band, all the album info, etc., etc.

If you want to see any lyric for any song they have ever performed, whether they wrote it or not, you can find it in their lyric index (http://www.marillion.com/music/lyrics/index.htm). I visit the lyrics frequently, because even though I know every single song, they've been around for more than twenty years, and they have so many albums and songs, that even I forget sometimes. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry I blabbed so much about my favorite band on your LJ!

You are fantastic! I was a little unsure to bother you with questions about Marillion, but you gave so much detail and good information!

I am really-really thankful.

I can't write much about them yet because I need to listen more, but I will sure do in the future!

BTW, thank you very much for the lyric index!!!!