1. The Gaslight Anthem. If you haven't heard these guys you are really missing out. This band mixes punk energy with classic rock soul to create a sound that's just too good to be missed. I highly recommend both The 59 Sound and American Slang (their two most recent albums). I promise that after a few spins, these records will be on permanent rotation. Also, I saw these guys live a few months ago and they put one hell of show, so if you see them coming to town, do not even think of hesitating to buy a ticket, it's worth it, just go, you can thank me later.
2. Books by Jon Krakauer. If you enjoy well written non-fiction that keeps you captivated, then you have got to check Mr. Krakauer's body of work. Recently I just finished Where Men Win Glory and Under The Banner of Heaven and friends, they were fantastic.
Where Men Win Glory follows the tragic story of Pat Tillman, a NFL player turned soldier, who (MILD SPOLER ALERT but not really since its on the cover) dies fighting for his country. Now what I enjoy about this book is how Krakauer seamlessly weaves Pat's narrative in with the sordid history of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. In doing so Krakauer elevates Tillman's story into something greater, a metaphor for how little the American people truly understood about Afghanistan both before and after 9/11.
The other book I mentioned, Under The Banner of Heaven, concerns the rise of fundamentalist Mormonism in the United States. This may seem like an obscure and uninteresting topic but in Krakauer's hands the premise seems to speak volumes about our country's past. Jon Krakauer has written other terrific books, not the least of which include Into The Wild and Into Thin Air, but the two books highlighted are ones that I've just read. If you enjoy them then you will certainly enjoy these others.
3. 127 Hours. This Danny Boyle film, which follows the true story of trapped hiker Aron Ralston, is my pick for best movie of the year. The premise of the film is quite simple. Aron is out hiking alone, when he suddenly becomes trapped in a cave, his arm pinned between a rock and the stone wall. To many people the premise alone makes them say "No thank you, sir", but you have to trust me, there is more to this film than meets the eye. Danny Boyle's direction and editing combine with an outstanding performance from James Franco to create a film that hits you right in the gut. Seriously, when I came out of the screening I couldn't believe how little I was breathing during the film. I don't want to give too much away (maybe I'll review it later) but for now you should know that the film is truly great and serves as a powerful reminder about what's really worth living and dying and for.
Dan
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