Author Archives: graemelawrence

The year I started high school. Let’s see what movies I was missing out on: Serenity. A History of Violence. Howl’s Moving Castle. Kingdom of Heaven. Hotel Rwanda. And the music my underdeveloped ears couldn’t appreciate: Late Registration – Kanye West. Takk… – Sigur Rós. Silent Alarm – Bloc Party. Deadwing – Porcupine Tree. ConfessionsContinue reading “Week 34: 2005.”

January: Air Florida Flight 90 crashes shortly after takeoff in Washington DC, killing 78 people An Ethiopian Air Force aircraft crashes near Addis Ababa, killing all 73 on board Four US Air Force jets crash at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, Nevada, killing all four pilots Mauno Koivisto is elected President of Finland GarretContinue reading “The News of 1982.”

The Dreaming. The first album produced by Kate Bush alone, The Dreaming is a unique, experimental release that blends styles, samples and lyrical themes, resulting in an overwhelming experience that may need to be tackled in parts to avoid exhaustion. There’s a very 80s and yet very unique intro in “Sat in Your Lap”; followedContinue reading “The Sound of 1982.”

Poltergeist. The Freelings are a typical, suburban American family, living in their quiet, little, white bred, redneck, mountain town of Cuesta Verde, California. The patriarch, Steve, falls asleep in front of the TV one night; his youngest daughter, Carol Anne, wakes up, walks downstairs to the now off-air, static-showing TV and begins talking to theContinue reading “The Cinema of 1982.”

Is this thing still on? Koyaanisqatsi. Poltergeist. Tenebre. Fitzcarraldo. Querelle. And the music… Bad Brains – Bad Brains. Garlands – Cocteau Twins. Peter Gabriel – Peter Gabriel. The Dreaming – Kate Bush. 1999 – Prince.

January: President Dwight D Eisenhower announced that the US has severed diplomatic relations with Cuba (relations won’t be restored until 2015) Finnish Aero Flight 311 crashes near Kvevlax killing all 25 people on board. An investigation finds that the captain and first officer were both exhausted from lack of sleep and had consumed excessive amountsContinue reading “The News of 1961.”

Breakfast at Tiffany’s. There were only five things I knew about Breakfast at Tiffany’s before I sat down to watch: within two minutes of the opening credits an elegant Audrey Hepburn (1) wearing that iconic black dress (2) is serenaded by Moon River (3) as she enters Tiffany’s jewellery store (4); and it wouldn’t beContinue reading “The Cinema of 1961.”

Joan Baez, Vol. 2. From the first heartbreaking syllable, Joan Baez bestows the misery and oppression that has been felt by women throughout history. The acapella “Wagoner’s Lad” immediately sends shivers down the spine, a personal, yet at times playfully risqué, tale of a young woman defying her parents dreams and daring to make herContinue reading “The Sound of 1961.”

In Rainbows. A brief hiatus and the launch of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood’s solo careers followed the previous Radiohead release, 2003’s Hail to the Thief; yet here we are, four years later, and the Oxfordshire outfit have produced their most personal record to date. The self-released In Rainbows begins with the sharp break-core ofContinue reading “The Sound of 2007.”

Did you miss me? Breakfast at Tiffany’s. West Side Story. Through a Glass Darkly. One, Two, Three. Viridiana. Joan Baez, Vol. 2 – Joan Baez. My Favourite Things – John Coltrane. Someday My Prince Will Come – Miles Davis. Clap Hands, Here Comes Charlie! – Ella Fitzgerald. Garde-moi la dernière danse – Dalida.