'Let it Be'

I first emmersed myself in The Replacements in college when I met a psychology grad student who always blared this album in this smallish "office" that he worked out of.

It always seemed like music that was fun to play. Real beer-soaked, basement racket. Until you actually read about The Replacements and how tumultuous they were.

Coincidentially, the psych grad student also listened to a lot of The Refreshments.

'Raging Bull'

The problem with sports movies is that directors do not know how to shoot them.

Thankfully, Martin Scorcese is pretty good. "Raging Bull" certainly pulls off being a fantastic sports movie, that hardly takes place at all in a boxing ring.

This movie and "Bad News Bears."

And if you want to see Robert DeNiro at his absolute best, watch this movie.

'Burmese Days'

Considering the chaos currently gripping Myanmar (formerly Burma), finishing this book about four days before the gigantic cyclone killed thousands seemed poignant (certainly not poetic).

'Cause, you see, "Burmese Days" is about chaos. It's about a ruling class that is mostly barbaric and unaware and bigoted. It's about a beautiful country that doesn't really know what to do with itself. It's more about the have nots than the haves.

Not to put any comparative value on a cyclone that wipes out entire villages, but, frankly, this isn't the first time Myanmar or Burma has had to fight against a storm that would just as well see the people swept into the sea than saved.

'Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury'

Any group or musician that tackles societal or political issues pretty much loses my interest quickly. I mean, people can do what they want and if that includes singing and playing an instrument railing against McDonalds and Coke, then fine.

I probably won't buy in. Not that I'm an unaware, uncaring dufus. I grew up with my mother's folk records like the Kingston Trio, Smothers Brothers and others who protested the Vietnam War with much aplomb, and I respect that. There was a target and they aimed at it.

I guess it's the scattershooting I abhor. Basically, that's the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy standard operating procedure. It's not bad music as much as the message that the "TV and consumerism are evil" seems misguided and without focus. It's like trying to catch fish by drinking all the water out of lake. Fruitless. Of course, so is singing "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" But at least the message was clear: "War sucks. Stop doing it."

The Heroes' message is: quit eating hamburgers and listening to what they want you to hear. Or not, but just realize you're a pawn in game where no one wins. But I don't know what the normal guy making an OK living as a trashman really cares if the government is a bunch of white dudes forcing their religion on people.

'Graceland'

She moves so easily/All I could think of is sunlight

Several months ago, I went to a pub to drink whiskey with friends. I took the train home, and on the platform were two college-agey girls, mildly attractive (but given it was a train platform at 9 p.m., they were closer to Ann Margaret in her heyday ... they were train-platform hot) and they had the chattey nature that the towel-snap boost of beer gives you.

They were talking Paul Simon's "Graceland." Which is only odd because you never find enough young, train-platform hot females talking about Paul Simon, more or less albums that were released the year they were born.

One girl was very informative about "Graceland." About how great it was. The other girl was not very aware of this album's greatness. The first girl implored her friend (there was a 60 percent chance that these girls just met) to listen to the album.

I've listened to the album, and I don't think it's very good. The overprocessed bass and drums. The African and Caribbean motifs. The synths. Blech. It reeks of the 1980s.

But, more so, I think the album title is misleading. When I think of Graceland, I think of the South. I think of rhythm and blues, a twang of a steel guitar, sweet melodies and grace. This album has no grace. If it were called "Overprocessed '80s Schlock" then I might think differently.

Frankly, I'd love to see Simon re-record this album. What would he do differently with those songs in the current musical environment? Or, more importantly, what do those songs sound like with just guitar or piano? Probably 300 percent better.

'Madame Bovary'

I think this was a great book, but I feel like I don't get it.

I understood the story, followed along and everything's OK. But this is one of the greatest novels of all time.

I think it has something to do with the role and image of women in 19th century society. If so, what is the message? That women are gold-digging whores? That they should be uncomfortable if their position is a vital cog in others' lives? Or maybe it's the animation of the female's sex drive!

I'm going with sex drives.

'There Will Be Blood'

As noted in a recent New Yorker profile about George Clooney, he and a handful of other actors were on hand for some pre-Oscar roundtable to discuss acting and boogers.

In reference to Daniel Day-Lewis, Clooney said, "You just kill it for the rest of us; we'll take care of you, pal."

There is not a more intense actor in the business right now -- the manifestations of human emotions are distinct and true, from Daniel Plainview playing with his adopted infant son on the train or the madness that overtakes him at the end.

There are many things right about this movie and so little wrong with it.