...being the observations and navigational extracts
from the ongoing expeditions of San Francisco Piano Pop trio
True Margrit

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

PS--more top 10 ( or so ) Lists of 2006

"Dude," you might say to me, "why no music or books on the 2006 lists?"

Well, I saved the best for last--and it's still January, so it's not all that late to be digesting the fruits of 2006 (but pretty soon we need to eat 2007, so we can digest it in turn).

Margrit's Top Nine Books of 2006 (keep in mind these are on MY 2006 list--they may have been published other years)
9)"Shakespeare Wars" by Ron Rosenbaum
Oh how dry literary criticism can be--oh how juicy Rosenbaum makes it with his passion for the bard. It actually rocks!
8) "The Ha Ha" by Dave King
I believe he's a first time author. (First time? Nervous? No, I've been nervous before)...But back to "The Ha Ha" . It's a compelling novel about a disabled Vietnam veteran, and his struggle to start over. But it's much more than the sum of its parts.
7) " Virgin Earth" by Philippa Gregory
Pageturner about the Royal Gardener's travails during the reign (and fall) of Charles I of England
6)"The Queen's Fool" by Philippa Gregory
Another pageturner by Ms Gregory. This yarn is about a Jewish girl surviving during the reaign of "Bloody" Mary Tudor. Scary.
5) "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory
Yes! I am on a jag. This is the best of the lot--very suspenseful tale told from the perspective of Anne Boleyn's younger sister--the one who survived Henry VIII.
4) "A Spot of Bother" Mark Haddon
Excellent followup novel to "Curious Incident of the Dog at Night", with a masterful array of interconnecting plots, characters, and themes--but nonetheless easy as hell to read.
3) "I, Elizabeth" Rosalind Miles (fiction)
I enjoyed the hell out of this novel about the first Queen Elizabeth of Britain. A source for the films on Elizabeth Rex.
2)"The Life of Elizabeth I" By Alison Weir (non-fiction)
While Weir doesn't hesitate to debunk favorite myths of the 'virgin queen', she presents a large as life, richly researched, and insightful look at one of the most monumental personalities in history.
1) "The Pursuit of Happyness" By Chris Gardener, Quincy Troupe, and MIM EICHLER RIVAS
Yes, thats my sister's name on the end there... and it's #1 ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!


Margrit's top 5 music recordings of 2006 (disclaimer: some of these didn't even come out last year, and some show I am frighteningly self-involved--but hey, I am a songwriter, so what are you gonna do?)
5)"D**K in a Box" by Justin Timberlake, SNL
Proving heart throbs can have a sense of humor.
4) "The Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance
So, I can't help it. I like Queen. And this.
3) "Ears Back" by Teresa Esguerra & Kimberly Stupke
It may have actually come out in 2005, but I became obsessed with this EP in 2006. It's a hilarious and catchy concept album/song cycle about Esguerra & Stupke's cats, featuring the instant classics: "Circling the Spot" and "I Don't want to Feed You ('Cause You Puke When I Do)", and other great tunes. But then, everything by Teresa Esguerra is great. Keep on the look out for her upcoming CD later on in 2007!
2)"Titus Andronicus" by...me. This is a score I composed for a San Francisco production (by The Spear Ensemble) of the grimmest and bloodiest Shakespeare play. I am proud of it! ( And you may notice all this Tudor/ Shakespeare stuff--my current obsession. And mountain-climbing books. And evolution. Hmmm--is there concept album brewing? You betcha.)
1) "SEAWORTHY" by True Margrit. We still care. But there's that new one on the way...just be patient. I am trying to be patient.

And finally:
My Top 1 Worst Song of 2006
1) L word Theme Song
I realize it's not from 2006--strictly-- but that's when I first heard it. & I know I'm not alone in my revulsion. It could possibly be the worst song ever written. When I hear it I hold my hands over my ears and go "la la la" (or just fast-forward the DVD). Sorry, women of Betty. I know the proceeds could send your scions to college for generations to come. Love ya, my sisters. Kiss kiss.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Top 11 Lists of best & worst of 2006

Well, y'all. Happy year of newness. Two thousand seven. I love the number 7. Let there be a round of way more fun and peace for all us humans. Here are my lists. Ridicule me. Agree. Whatev. Just don't call me late for dinner.

***Margrit's Very Own Best o' 2006***
11) "An Inconvenient Truth"
Al Gore has a mission. And...uh-oh, we need to listen up.

10) The L Word.
Yes it can be ridiculous with its clunky lapses of taste and unrealisticness, but still. Still. I didn't watch it until 2006, and then Sarah & I watched all three seasons in a few weeks, so it's on my 2006 list and that's that.

9) "Imagine Me & You".
Silly but mysteriously compelling film about two very cute women in love. What's not to like?

8) Nancy Pelosi.
What need I say? Technically, she just started her job of first female Speaker of the House now (at the break of 2007), but we knew about it in 2006. Huzzah.

7) "Little Miss Sunshine".
Oh, so many brilliant scenes. I love it when the cop stops them on the freeway. And the finale at the beauty contest...splendid. Anything with Toni Collette AND Steve Carrel rocks.

6) CAMBAZOLA CHEESE.
This may have been on the list last year. But still. Still. Be still my clogging arteries.

5) Brussel sprouts cooked in olive oil and garlic with pine nuts.
Christina Kowalchuk introduced this delicacy to me, and it's my new obsession. I eat it whenever possible.

4) Dolores Park Cafe.
My goodness, we had a series of great gigs there last year (one in January, one in June, one in July), so it's on the list, yes.

3) Wayne Bledsoe.
Aside from the fact he wrote a supernice review of SEAWORTHY in the Knoxville New Sentinel, he is just a cool guy. On the list with ye, mate.

2) "Elizabeth I" and "The Queen"
Helen Mirren plays bookend monarchs named Elizabeth I & II. To put it most simply, she is a queen to me. Plus she was truly splendid in the final episode of Prime Suspect.

1) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
The best science fiction show ever, and perhaps the best show ever made for TV. Subversive, smart, risky, funny, sexy. I cannot wait to see what's next. Watch it.


***Worst of 2006 ***
1)George Bush
The root of much evil these days.Help us, Nancy Wan Pelosi. Are you our only hope?

Anyhoo...Have a great year y'all.

ps--happy birthday JRRT