Table Of Contents
- Back to Black Review
- Perversion of Justice Review
- Artists, Creativity, and Drug Abuse
- Dune 2 Review
- The Inimitable Jeeves Review
Back to Black Review
Back to Black is the sophomore album by English singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse. The 11 tracks feature a mix of pop, soul, r&b, and jazz styles with many of the production credits split between Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi. The themes of the album focus heavily on relationship turmoil and toxicity which resonates perfectly with Winehouse’s dynamic vocals. While the production on the album is very pop oriented, the melodies are much more complex than one would expect from a pop song and are reminiscent of big band jazz standards at times. It cannot be overstated how much Winehouse’s voice carries the songs beyond being average pop tunes. Her ability to flex back and forth between being loud and brash, and smooth and vulnerable is a joy to listen to.
The album opens with “Rehab”, a fun little track which has no grandiosity or pomp and adequately begins the project. It is here that the listener gets their first taste of the pop production mixed with jazz brass and strings, a mix which works together in large part due to Winehouse’s endearing vocals. Next comes “You Know I’m No Good” is just a fantastic song overall. The chorus and verse are very catchy and the piano and saxophone in the production give a groovy jazzy feel. This piece stands out as my favorite on the album. Continuing on, “Me & Mr. Jones” is a slower cut with a retro sound utilizing old-timey backing vocal harmonization. Winehouse’s vocals truly shine in the song which give make it easy to imagine it being sung in a smoke-filled 50s nightclub. The album continues with “Just Friends”. A smooth production and a weaker melody make the song less endearing as a pop track. It almost seems like the constant and insistent rhythm holds back Winehouse from being able to explore the limits of her vocal freedom and make the song more interesting and unique. This is a sentiment which can be felt later on throughout the album as well especially in the following song. Next comes the titular track, “Back to Black” which is one of Winehouse’s most popular songs, but which did not leave a strong positive impression on me personally. Once again, the track is too generic both in vocal delivery (compared to what it could have been) and production. Without emphasizing the jazziness inherent in Winehouse’s voice, most of the production and melodies sound hollow and formulaic, as if a poor imitation of jazz and soul. “Love Is a Losing Game” has an almost retro-pop sound to it reminiscent of someone like the Carpenters. The lack of overbearing pop production, however, make the song much better than some of the other tracks as Winehouse’s vocals can stand on their own and command the listeners attention. The next song, “Tears Dry On Their Own” ambitiously samples nearly all the production from Marvin Gaye’s iconic “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. While it does not come close to touching the originally, the pop tune is a fresh listening experience even if it does get old very quickly. The brilliance of the sample both helps and hinders the song by giving it a great chord progression and orchestration but making the listeners want to listen to the original. The album continues with “Wake Up Alone” which is another slow-paced tune which doesn’t get in its own way. Winehouse’s vocals are superb as usual, and helped by a memorable verse and chorus. The interesting chord progression also gives the song a lot of replay-ability. Continuing with “Some Unholy War”, the albums trends downward as the melody and production are both lackluster making the track rather boring. While Winehouse does her best, the lack of a strong melody that she can play off of greatly limits the song. The album picks up with “He Can Only Hold Her”, another of the more pop-like tracks on the album. While Winehouse can certainly sing over the beat, it doesn’t fully utilize her special vocal abilities and lacks a strong hook which is essential for straight pop tracks. This makes the song somewhat dull and forgettable. “Addicted” concludes the album, and while it is an up-tempo ending, it lacks the infectious quality of the best tracks on the project including the opener (“Rehab”). The natural acoustic experimental production and the instruments can be appreciated but the chorus is just too forgettable especially for the closing track on the album.
Overall, Back to Black does a good job of showcasing Amy Winehouse’s superb vocals in an accessible pop medium. While it would be a joy to hear more of Winehouse’s voice in a more experimental jazz setting, this album is sure to have something for almost everybody to enjoy. I would highly recommend giving it a listen especially for those longing to escape the grasp of electronic autotuned pop and hear something a little more acoustic.
Perversion of Justice Review
Perversion of Justice is a book by Julie K. Brown detailing the journalistic investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and the information contained in the news reports that were written from that investigation. The book essentially has two timelines, one that covers Epstein’s life and his crimes, and another which discusses the endeavors that Julie K. Brown went through to uncover the truth behind the Epstein story.
The strengths of Perversion of Justice are that it is easy to read and gives a fairly detailed timeline of one of the most controversial and famous criminal prosecutions of the modern era. However, the book has a lot of problems. Firstly, the side of the book which tells of Brown’s investigative process is boring, uninteresting, and full of subjective interpretations of information. Brown spends a lot of time detailing how the investigation affected her personally, which would not be a problem except that it diminishes from the Epstein story which is more important and interesting. Additionally, Brown seems more concerned with telling a story than conveying all the factual information. While I have no doubt, she is correct in her assessment of Epstein and his associates, the way in which the story is told is full of subjective details and cherry-picked evidence. Instead of this making the case against Epstein stronger, it makes it weaker as we are being told what to think and not purely given the information. In my opinion reporters should be solely concerned with telling the truth in as pure a form as possible. When reporting become mixed with entertainment it works to the detriment of the dissemination of the truth. The best way to tell the truth about a case such as Epstein’s which is so fraught with preconceptions and conspiracies is to stick to cold-hard facts and evidence. While Brown clearly did her research, she does not present the entirety of the research in the book opting to only include what she deems important.
While Perversion of Justice is an interesting book, it does not provide an in-depth factual analysis of the Jeffrey Epstein case. Those looking to be entertained will find the book engaging, but for those looking for a comprehensive factual investigation should look elsewhere.
Artists, Creativity, and Drug Abuse
The average person on the street can probably name several famous and beloved artists who they know passed away well before they would have otherwise due to substance abuse. This phenomenon is so prevalent it has taken on an identity of its own, with the stereotype of the tortured artist who needs drugs do not only function, but as an essential element of their creative process. The question is, is there any truth to the use of drugs in enhancing artistic production and why does it seem like the most talented musicians, actors, and artists consistently suffer tragic ends from these drugs.
In order to investigate this topic, it is important to first define what exactly defines creativity. A broad definition that is easy to apply in all fields that require creativity (not just art) is making connections and synthesizing existing knowledge from various sources to create something new and innovative. Under this definition creativity encompasses artistic creativity, like when a musician writes a new song drawing on inspiration from previous songwriters, in addition to more technical creativity like when an engineer comes up with a new way to solve a problem when designing an airplane. However, an important distinction can be drawn between these two types of creativity which will become important later. Artistic creativity is deeply tied to human emotion and feelings because, at its core, art is about conveying emotions and feelings to an audience through the use of different mediums. This is in contrast to “logical creativity” which is all about identifying the most efficient and optimal solution under the given constraints. With these definitions, it would seem to be easy to identify what traits are most often associated with creative people, but the matter is much more difficult. Many have claimed that artists are more emotional and sensitive than the average person but others still contend that artists are actually feel things less acutely. Other theories include the idea that an artist has the ability to disconnect from their own experience and connect with the shared feelings and emotions that everyone recognizes in order to create universally appealing art.
To tackle the question of whether or not artists are at more of a risk of substance abuse, it is helpful to understand the myth of the self-medicating tortured maestro. Popular culture has long idolized the kind of artist who has an almost sacrificial relationship with their work, where they put themselves through unhealthy ordeals to create a magnum opus. This stereotype oftentimes involves the use of drugs especially hallucinogens and other mind-altering substances. It is difficult to determine whether these substances are more often thought of as a means of coping with the stress of creating art or as a stimulant to creativity and a way to gain a deeper connection with the artistic spirit. As to the latter claim, there is indeed evidence that mind-altering drugs can have the effect of freeing a person’s artistic restraints and enabling them to produce more innovative art. It is not hard to find a plethora of the most famous musicians on earth, such as the Beatles, who admit that they have relied on these methods to help them in their creative processes. However, before society decides to greenlight artists drug habits, it is important to mention the caveats of this creative “enhancement”. Firstly, the art produced under these drugs tends to be less logical and coherent and more appealing to the primal feelings of people. As such, it is oftentimes only enjoyable when the listener puts themselves into the same frame of mind as the artist. Additionally, these drugs tend to decrease the technical ability of the performer leading to less skillful artistic displays. While certain drugs might help an artist break the rules more freely, it is the constraints of a medium which inspire the most innovation and creativity. The effect substance has on creativity also is less applicable in the more rigid artistic mediums such as authors. One can easily imagine that the writings of an author in a hallucinogenic state would in all likelihood be unreadable.
The evidence towards the current drug habits of artists also indicates that they are more likely to use substances than the average person. There is also a correlation between artists, particularly actors and musicians, and deaths due to substance abuse also exists (study here). While this evidence might point to a greater risk of artists in regards to substance abuse, there are so many other factors at play. Many aspiring artists may simply buy into the drug-using creative prodigy myth rather than naturally discovering that these drugs help them to create. The pressure to consistently create high-quality work and the stressors that come with fame also can cause artists to become dependent on drugs for reasons that are entirely unrelated to the creative aspects of their work.
Without a long-term experimental study evaluating the effect of drugs on creativity and the success of artists, it is difficult to identify just how much of a positive effect they can have. However, the risks of these substances are gravely clear from the many artists who have suffered and died due to substance abuse. For the long term health of our society and its artists, a rejection of the heavy use of drugs and the romanization of such use in the media must be encouraged.
Dune 2 Review
Dune: Part Two is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Dave Bautista, and Christopher Walken. It continues the story of Paul Atreides in his quest for revenge for the death of his father against the Baron Harkonnen.
The second entry in the Dune franchise is once again replete with gorgeous wacky and weird visuals due to Denis Villeneuve working in his prime. While I found the cinematography less effective in this film than the previous one (for reasons which will be discussed later), the use of color and the unique landscapes it masterfully done to create a varied viewing experience. The black and white palette of Giedi Prime is brilliant and, although not as potent as the previous film, the portrayal of the desolate Arrakis with its harsh sun and endless dunes is still very immersive. The opening sequence on Arrakis particularly struck me with its extreme color grading (due to a solar eclipse) which gave it an otherworldly feel.
Given the high-caliber cast of actors working on the project, it is not surprising that the performances are excellent across the board. I am hesitant to criticize Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides as he does the best he possibly can do, but for me, the character is fundamentally miscast. Chalamet has a sort of laid back, unthreatening charisma which does not gel for a character like Paul. I was never convinced that Paul could be viewed as an effective leader as he just does not have the imposing presence required. Any attempt at acting as a strong-man leader felt forced and Chalamet’s skinny frame does not help matters. Zendaya as Chani was perfect casting in my opinion as she is able to convey the feisty personality of the character. Thankfully, she did not slip into the smug teenager persona that she has been known for in the past. Rebecca Ferguson also stood out to me in her role as Lady Jessica. She radiates a cold and calculating presence as she gains power and begins to push Paul further and further down the road, she and the Bene Gesserit planned for him. The performance is intriguing and brings out the religious themes of the film. Another notable actor is Austin Butler who is the most captivating of the whole cast in his portrayal of Feyd-Rautha. The manic and cruel energy that Butler gives off which is encapsulated in his psychopathic smile when as he fights keeps the viewers eyes glued to the screen. The rest of the famous cast all perform their roles well and most of the faults in the films acting lie more with the story and direction than anything on the individual thespians part.
Dune: Part Two incorporates a lot of interesting themes around religion, belief, and power but ultimately falls short of fully developing those themes. The first Dune movie is a slow-paced movie which revels in the exploring the rich cultural lore of Arrakis which some audiences found kind of boring. The second Dune is different in that it brings up a lot of interesting conundrums but never fully resolves or explores these ideas. It is full of material but that material never leaves a deeper impact. For example, there is a lot of time spent on the idea of how belief in a religious prophecy gives people hope versus disenfranchising them, and the morality of taking advantage of others’ beliefs for one’s own gain. But these themes are never fully explored as the movie rushes to finish the action-packed third act. Some of the characters and their relationships feel underutilized, like Feyd-Rautha, who plays a relatively small role despite his prominent featuring the trailers. The third act in particular feels like it goes by way too fast so that there is no time to feel the effects of the action. This could be remedied by a third film but if the first film took too much time to set up Arrakis, the second film could do with a little more time to breath.
Dune: Part Two is a spectacle of a film which has the depth and nuance of franchises like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. It is the best fantasy/sci-fi film I have seen in a long time and I would encourage everyone to go watch both movies on the biggest screen possible.
The Inimitable Jeeves Review
The Inimitable Jeeves by PG Wodehouse, is a short novel comprised of 11 short stories which tell of the adventures and mishaps of Bertie Wooster and his genius servant, Reginald Jeeves. The prose of the book is short, sharp, and straightforward, accented with the occasional jargon of the British upper class. This style of prose serves the story well as it includes lot of comedic chippy dialogue. It also makes for an easy and enjoyable ready experience.
The characters in The Inimitable Jeeves are rather one dimensional, though a deep, complex plot is not what the book is about. The main character, Bertie Wooster, is somewhat of a blank slate stand in for the audience, though his pride and pettiness combined with his incompetence provide a comedic element to his plans as they inevitably go south. Jeeves is the most intriguing character as hints of pride and personality can be found under his extreme intelligent competence. He reminds me of Sherlock Holmes in that, while a deeper personality could exist, it is never shown to the reader in favor of a portraying a genius stereotype who always does the smartest thing.
The story of The Inimitable Jeeves is admittedly shallow and superficial, with the characters having no lasting arcs whatsoever. However, this does not prevent the book from being an enjoyable read. This brings up the question of the value in artistic works which are “one-note”. Are we to judge these works by how well they stack up to their intent or by their depth and resonance with the human spirit. I believe that The Inimitable Jeeves functions perfectly well as a set of short comedic short stories that one can read to pass the time on a rainy afternoon. However, the setting for a deeper story waiting to be explored can be found in the relationships between Jeeves and Bertie Wooster. This fertile ground for a story may well bear fruit as The Inimitable Jeeves is in the public domain and anyone can write and publish works with the characters. I guess I will wait in eager anticipation for a blockbuster film “Jeeves” to come out in the coming decades.