January Brings the Snow

A new year, thus some new additions/modifications to the monthly recap:
1. This year's monthly posts will have titles taken from the poem "January Brings the Snow," by Sara Coleridge.  The 80s picture book version, illustrated by Jenni Oliver,  is one of my favorites.
2. New section Musical Discoveries is a more focused/quality-centered integration of "Twitter Band Round-ups" into the monthly recap
3. New Section Mini Mix replaces artists of the month, though the general purpose/idea of this section remains the same: sharing songs that have gotten heavy/obsessive rotation or just gotten stuck in my head a bit more than usual
4. Highly recommended films in the Films and Netflix Queue sections are now indicated in bold

MUSICAL DISCOVERIES
Pony Pony Run Run: a way fun band with a way fun name. They can be summed up as a French version of Metro Station with more chops and soul (in the sense that there seeings to be actual thought behind the music and lyrics rather than a bunch of pseudo emo angst)
French Horn Rebellion: discolicious. The real test will come when I see them open for Hot Chip next weekend. But they definitely brightened up a powerpoint session or two for me
Louis La Roche: wonderful Euro-disco, like a cross between Calvin Harris and Lindstrom with a touch of Daft Punk and a splash of Duck Sauce. Plus some hawt remixes, including a banging version of my fave "Raindrops."
Thee Vicars: 60s style garage punk sounds. Very throw back but their own brand of genuine cool.

MINI MIX
"Night by Night" -- Chromeo
"It's Uncanny" -- Hall & Oates
"So Far So Good" -- Sheena Easton
"Hunger" -- Frankie & The Heartstrings 
"Speedo" -- Little Red
"Please Forgive Me" -- David Gray
"Flashback" -- Calvin Harris
"Raindrops" (Funkagenda & Paul Thomas Re-dux) -- Basement Jaxx
"Sail Away" -- David Gray

FILMS  
It's Complicated
Leap Year
Precious
Sherlock Holmes
The Young Victoria
Brothers
Fish Tank
 
NETFLIX QUEUE
Texasville
Shoot 'Em Up
Starter for 10
In the Mood for Love
The History Boys
Contact
Sleuth (2007)
Coogan's Bluff 
Hard Candy
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

COOKING
Beef stew with mushroom risotto
Stuffed cabbage
Asian beef and vegetables
Popovers
Mustard dressed cole slaw

BOOKS
Craven House, Patrick Hamilton
The beginning of my British school boy theme this month (see also: Starter for 10, The History Boys, The Liar, the first book of The Gorse Trilogy). This is one of Hamilton's early works, and as such is far from the Twenty Thousand Streets pinnacle of perfection. However, he is clearly beginning to develop his style and rhythm, and presents an engrossing portrait of boarding house life and social customs in pre-war London.
Second Thoughts, Niklas Asker
This is a very clever graphic novel, heavy on the graphics, as it is rather terse. However, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Asker's illustrations secret away layers of meaning to be uncovered upon multiple readings. In fact, as soon as I finished it for the first time, I went back to the beginning and read it again unpuzzling the waking dreams of Asker's starkly rendered London.
Obsessive Branding Disorder, Lucas Conley
One of the best branding books I have read in a long time. It kept me engaged with humor and a point of view with real personality, all while presenting an overview of branding and it's impact on society past, present, and future. A good introduction to branding for newbies and a good primer for branding obsessives.
The Liar, Stephen Frye
While the last third or so of the story is a bit weak, the first two thirds are vintage Frye, oozing wit and knowledge. While this book is certainly capable of standing on its own, my reading and appreciation of it were enhanced by all the other British school boy media swirling around in my head this month. Somehow I never appreciated what a fascinating subculture of English society it is.
Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith, Dr. George Vaillant
A different take on neuroscience. Rather than trying to maximize manipulation through branding or tracing the development of the brain's language and music centers and processing ability, Vaillant devotes his book to how our brains evolved positive emotions. It's rather inspiring to read about our inate capacity for faith and love and to know that both giving and receiving positive emotions can make a difference.
The Gorse Trilogy, Patrick Hamilton
This is one of Hamilton's overtly darker works, with a protagonist slightly akin to that of Hangover Square. The sinister nature of Earnest Ralph Gorse is, however, what makes these stories so compelling. These three works are especially relevant in today's voyeuristic society because in each story the reader must sit helplessly by and watch the careless, gullible (yet all somewhat culpable)  women that Gorse chooses as his victims be taken advantage of by this twisted, sadistic man. It is almost a light form of torture for both the hapless victims and the powerless reader. Gorse's motives are transparent to the reader, but not to his victims and their acquaintances. The mind games he plays are strangely fascinating, and deftly propel all three stories along their well-established trajectories.