Wow… 2005 is shaping up to be the year of Starflyer 59.  First, the band releases
Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice, their best album in years.  And now, EMI CMG is planning to re-release the band’s first two albums, Silver and Gold, as “Deluxe” editions.

Both CDs will be digitally re-mastered and will also include “bonus” material.  Which in Silver‘s case, means the 8 tracks from the She’s The Queen EP, and in Gold‘s case, the 4 tracks from the Le Vainqueur EP.  Chances are, most Starflyer fans, being the rabid sort that they are—probably have these releases already, so their inclusion seems a little dubious as it’s not really all that “bonus”-y.  Still, there you have it.

Both CDs will hit the streets on June 28.

I have to confess that it seems odd that these discs are being reiussued and given the “deluxe” treatment.  Seems like only yesterday that I bought my first copy of Silver from the local Family Christian Bookstore (on cassette, natch) after reading a review of it in CCM.  But then I realize that was 12 years ago, so maybe it is time.

Thanks to the folks on the Vagrant Cafe for the 411.

Yeehaw!  The trailer for Serenity, the Firefly movie, went online yesterday.  I’ve watched it 6 or 7 times so far, and each time, I just get a huge kick out of it.  I suppose that on the surface, it looks just like your typical big budget sci-fi summer blockbuster type movie.  But if you’ve seen the series - and if you haven’t, you don’t know what you’re missing - than you’ll probably find yourself chuckling and getting goosebumps.

If you haven’t already downloaded the trailer and sent it to all of your friends and family, that is.

I think it’s a stroke of genius that this opens on September 30th, well outside the wake of Episode 3.  That way, it’ll give all of the folks who were disappointed by that movie, awesome trailer notwithstanding, plenty of time to hear about this and realize that Serenity is going to out-Star Wars the Star Wars prequels.  Seriously, just wait for that scene in the trailer where Captain Reynolds apparently shoots an unarmed assassin, and try not to think of Han Solo offing Greedo (before Lucas did his revisions, that is).  Go on, I dare you.

Of course, the hard part is actually going to be surviving the wait until September 30th, but no pain, no gain.

Head on over to AICN, or more precisely, this article, to see something that should absolutely make your week.  That’s right, the English language trailer for the brand new movie from Hayao Miyazaki, Howl’s Moving Castle.

The movie is an adaptation of the story by Diana Wynne Jones, and deals with a young girl who is transformed into a 90-year-old woman by a witch’s curse, and who then travels to the titular moving castle of the titular wizard, who has also been cursed by the witch.  More info about the movie can be found at Nausicaa.net.

I’ve read a few reviews of the film (it opened in Japan in November of 2004), and all have been pretty positive.  Some have said it doesn’t quite rank up there with Miyazaki’s best, which only makes sense I suppose, seeing as how it’s following the one-two punch of Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away.  However, even the least of Miyazaki’s films (which for me would be Porco Rosso) have moments that are sheer magic and well worth sitting through the entire film.

And even if the film is somewhat lacking, it should come as no surprise that the film looks absolutely amazing.  The castle, with all of its moving, heaving, and breathing, is fantastic, the set designs (which once again borrow heavily from pre-war Europe) are wonderful, and the character designs as lovely as we’ve come to expect from the master.

Howl’s Moving Castle will be released in the United States on June 10, 2005.

It’s always a sad thing when a great band decides to call it quits, and it’s doubly sad when a great band as beloved as 16 Horsepower decides to call it quits.  The band recently posted a message on their website, referring to an accumulation of differences, mostly political and spiritual as the reason for the disbanding.  Although this isn’t the first time that 16HP’s future has been in question, this announcement certainly has an air of finality about it.

This really bums me out.  In a world where music is so often bought and sold as a commodity, 16HP’s music was a force to be reckoned with, pure and a simple.  It’s so rare these days to hear bands making music that has real, honest to God conviction flowing through its veins.  16HP’s music had it in spades, and as a result, it was like none other.

If you happen to be Canadian, April 19th will be a lucky day for you.  That’s when A Northern Chorus releases their new album, Bitter Hands Resign, their followup to 2003’s lovely Spirit Flags.  Those of us who are Yanks will have to wait until May 3.  Until then, Sonic Unyon is streaming the album for free from their website.

I’m listening to it right now, and it’s more of the same.  In other words, heartbreaking vocals, layers of guitar, gorgeous string arrangements, and plenty of sad melodies.  As Sonic Unyon puts it, this isn’t just another band releasing another album, this is a young band turning the page and finding themselves and delivering a solid effort that will go down as one of the best of its kind.

The mini-site also includes information about a 2-month tour through Canada and the northeastern U.S. (sigh… they’re going to Toledo but not Omaha) as well as a downloadable MP3 from the album.

In my recent review of Starflyer 59’s Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice, I mention that there are a handful of bands that immediately cause me to stop whatever it is that I’m doing whenever they release a new CD.  Starflyer 59 is one of those bands.  Ronnie Martin’s Joy Electric is another.  (Hmmm… there’s something about those Martin brothers.)

And what should I see over on the Joy Electric site but an announcement that the new Joy Electric album, The Ministry Of Archers, will be released on August 30th!  There’s also a new interview on the site in which Ronnie briefly talks about the new album, among other things.  Click on the “Recommended” link to read it.

“The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience But You’re Going to Have to Leave Now, or, ‘I have fought the Big Knives and will continue to fight them until they are off our lands!’”.

Or maybe it’s “Come on! Feel the Illinoise!”.  Or maybe “To the Workers of the Rockford River Valley Region, I have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament, and it involves shoe string, a lavender garland, and twelve strong women”.  Or maybe “Let’s Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don’t Think They Heard It All the Way Out in Bushnell”.

I know some will find the recently announced song titles for Sufjan Stevens’ upcoming Illinois album (which comes out on July 5!) trite, pretentious, or just plain silly.  I, on the other hand, love them.  But then again, I seem predisposed to liking pretty much everything the man does.

I’ve never made any attempt to hide my love for the music of Hood.  Ever since I first heard The Cycle Of Days And Seasons, I’ve been enthralled by their pastoral and gloomy sounds.  By the way their music perfectly captures the sense of travelling through rainswept countrysides that are littered with the ruins of small houses, and suddenly becoming overwhelmed with memories and nostalgia.  Or the sensation of staring out the window on a grey autumn day and just losing yourself in thoughts of warmer, gentler times, times that are just out of reach.

Unfortunately, I’ve never had a chance to see them live.  I came close a few years ago when they were touring in support of Cold House and it looked like they were going to play Kansas City, but that date turned out to be a misnomer.  Until they actually do come to my neck of the woods, I’ll just have to settle for this interview/concert video from the good folks at The Brain.

The video requires QuickTime and runs 25 minutes long, and intercuts between a band interview and clips from their show in Boston.  Some of the tracks featured include “Any Hopeful Thoughts Arrive” and “The Lost You” from Outside Closer and “They Removed All Trace That Anything Had Ever Happened Here” and “You Show No Emotion At All” from Cold House.

As for the interview portions, the band talks about John Peel’s passing, the pros and cons of being on one label, and the burdens of trying to be in a band full-time.  Good stuff, and the guys seem like decent enough fellows.

Note: I just saw a bit of depressing news on Hood’s website.  Someone stole a large sum of money from the band while they were performing in Portland on March 24th.  The sum would’ve covered nearly all of the tour’s costs, and its theft has left the band in a bad financial situation.  Anyone with any information concerning this robbery should contact the band ASAP.