Athens66

I was speaking to a friend the other day about her new house, and how excited she was with it. The thing that she was most thrilled with, was of course her new Ikea 'floating shelves'(TM) that became the means to exhibit her fabled collection of martini glasses.

Finally, a Greek film that I’m eager to see (although it could just be yet another disappointment). Alexis Alexiou debut film Tale 52 opens in theaters across Athens today and will definitely be included in my weekend plans (followed by a proper review post). Until then, enjoy the trailer (a real teaser)…

Yesterday night I received an invitation to participate to yet another social-centric site, “Twine” (currently available in beta version thought invites only). It has been rumored as the next big-thing and the first Web 3.0 site (platform), combining semantic information through bookmarking and tagging in order to connect your interests with those of other people, providing “intelligent” browsing. Needless to say I signed up and created yet another profile.

While I try to cover-up my addiction to sign-up for any kind of social networking site with job related interests (IT freak), I don’t believe I’m convincing anyone (definitely not myself). Currently, my music preferences are recorded by Last.fm, my activities by Twitter and Facebook (not going further into Facebook territory; that’s a whole different subject which hopefully a fellow editor will post about pretty soon), my photos by Flickr, my futile artistic attempts by Humble Voice, my career by LinkedIn and my thoughts by Blogger. Big Brother is here and he definitely has our blessings and support (so far).

“Twine this” is the catch-phrase of the day…

As the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate election continues it is now evident that this is a marathon (unlike the Republican sprint) until the end of August. It is in Denver at the Democratic National Convention held from 25th till 28th of August that the superdelegates - which are basically a set of elected officials including former democratic presidents, vice-presidents, senators etc. – will decide the next Democratic candidate that will face the aged and uninspiring (obviously I’m judgmental here) John McCain.

The idea that a set of official members and not the people, who have voted in dozens of states by the millions, will decide the “Democratic” candidate seems somewhat ironic. Once again, you may accuse me of being judgmental about the election process due to the fact that most polls (and elections so far) show Obama as the favorite of the people, while Clinton has the superdelegates on her side. But then again, if I have to choose between racist or sexist, I’ll prefer to be accused as sexist and vote Obama all the way to the White House – how racists is that? Regardless of the result, one thing is for sure, the presidential race has proven a real delight for a change.

Obviously, I’m no political analyst nor have I followed the election on a daily basis (with the exception when I’m abroad and have to suffer through either CNN or even worst FOX-news) but we all have the right to a personal view. Hopefully Obama will give the final blow in Pennsylvania in a couple of weeks time and put an end to his big-state syndrome. Will see..

o-o-o-o smoking joints and playing Pro!

I think I’m the only one in Athens66 posting any kind of lists. I'm sure however that there are a lot of people out there (including myself) addicted to all kinds of “Greatest” lists showing up from place to place. It is the pure joy of reading down the list only to reject and mock at the choices of the editor (too ashamed to admit that you actually agree with some of them). From greatest music, best independent productions, greatest books, hippest fashion items of all time to most famous character, best kick-ass hero and most annoying politician ever, the lists are endless (including meta-sites concentrating only at best-of-lists).

So, is there a point to all this gibberish about “Greatest” lists? Yes, although I’m not here to impose my own personal list but rather share my interest on the new IFC and Nerve “50 Greatest” list. After “The 50 Best Date Movies Ever”, which included classics such as Heathers [45], Run Lola Run [38], Kicking and Screaming [37], The Science of Sleep [33], High Fidelity [29], Manhattan [20], Chungking Express [19], The Graduate [13], Donnie Darko [11], Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind [8], Barbarella [5], Say Anything [3], Casablanca [2] and Some Like It Hot [1] (a bit too old-fashioned top-2 for my taste, in an otherwise interesting list) and the more popular “50 Greatest Sex Scenes in Cinema” with scenes including Ken Park [50], Sex, Lies, and Videotape [46], Breaking the Waves [45], Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! [43], Shortbus [38], The Last Seduction [33], Storytelling [31], 9 songs [29], Sex and Lucia [19], Y Tu Mama Tambien [13], Secretary [8], Risky Business [4], Mulholland Drive [3], A History of Violence [2] and Don't Look Now [1] (much better top-3 this time).

But once again, I’m just reproducing yesterday’s news, so here’s the new list (only a week old, which is quite fresh compared to my other posts): 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches. The list includes picks from some of my (and almost everyone’s ) favorite shows like Kids in the Hall, In Living Color, Chappelle's Show, The State, Second City Television and of course the classics that just fill most of the list, Saturday Night Live and Monty Python. Check out the list for some great laughs (I would personally put Saturday’s Night Live “The Olympia Restaurant” right at no.1 , with Belushi just plain hilarious).

And here are some of the best laughs out of the list. Best way to start the day…

40. Citizen Kane - The Kids in the Hall

26. Great White North, SCTV

18. He's Rick James - Chappelle's Show

11. Jaws II (Land Shark) - Saturday Night Live

3. Argument Clinic, Monty Python

Continuing with my retrospective blogging (and living I suppose), I just saw the series finale of Six Feet Under. Having watched numerous series and endless TV episodes, I just have to admit that SFU was probably the best one ever (with the exception of Twin Peaks). And the series finale was equally impressive, although two episodes back was the real dramatic climax for me. TV as it should be, from the genious screenwriter Alan Ball. And with an equally impressive soundtrack including tracks from the likes of Radiohead, Interpol, Death Cab for Cutie and (our beloved) Arcade Fire. I guess it's back to crap like Heroes and Prison Break now (as everyone else).

Sia Furler - Breathe Me
(song from the final sequence...it's the music video not the series...wouldn't want to ruin that!)

As most posts on this blog, they are inspired by late night talks, drinking and sessions of pro evolution. This was also the case of yesterday’s Twee revival with fellow blogger BLR. After a couple of matches of pro (Chelsea crashed woeful Sweden for yet another time) I once again indorsed with my latest obsession (belated as always) of listening to Last.fm music stations. After quite some time, we realized the common tag on most of the tracks, none other than “Twee Pop”.


That was that. A quick reference back to the origins of Twee Pop history and I was once again on my way to another post of personal favorites and listening suggestions. I guess I’ve been into Twee Pop more than I realized (not necessarily a bad thing though).

It all dates back to mid ‘80s, when in the UK new bands started to emerge from the post-punk era. They were referred to as Indie Pop, obviously due to having a pop sound and signed to independent labels. However, Indie Pop was much more than that. It evolved from synth Pop to more guitar oriented Pop, with references to 60’s music and uplifting, innocent lyrics.


It was in 1986 when NME issued a tape (the now famous C86) with some of the (at the time) most promising bands of this movement, that Indie Pop distinctively deviated from indie rock. This also further evolved, and later became known as ‘C86’ or Twee, a genre characterized by the jangly pop sound.

Whether Twee Pop still continues as a musical movement itself (if it does I guess Sweden is its new home) is not known to me. One thing is for sure, it has influenced many of our favorite bands and continues to put a smile on my face (rarely as that may be).

And what a better way to get into Twee Pop than to listen to the music itself. I have to say, I really enjoyed finding and compiling these mix-tapes (something I haven’t done for decades). Of’ course, the tracklistings are from the original C86 tape and the compilation is a mix of suggestions by Nitsuh Abebe, from his article The Story of Indie Pop, and my own favorites. Enjoy…



Acid House Kings; Architecture in Helsinki; Belle and Sebastian; Beat Happening; Blueboy; Boyracer; Camera Obscura; The Cardigans; Cub; The Fakrays; The Field Mice; Glo-Worm; Heavenly; The Hit Parade; Honeybunch; I'm from Barcelona; The Lucksmiths; Magnetic Fields; Merricks; The Nixons; The Orchids; The Pastels; Pipas; Rocketship; The Pipettes; The Pooh Sticks; The Radio Dept.; Saturday Looks Good to Me; The Sea Urchins; Small Factory; The Softies; Suburban Kids with Biblical Names; Talulah Gosh; Tambourine; Television Personalities; Tiger Trap; Tullycraft; The Vaselines; Velocity Girl; WolfieBlack

While listening to the Stars' newest release I got this very rare feeling - that I can lie on the bed like this for hours, holding you closely, looking up. I wouldn't have to turn my head to see you, because the half-lit ceiling is a mirror and I am staring right at you; we are shaking our heads in tune with the bittersweet electric dreams emanating In our Bedroom After the War...



It is all so dreamlike; and true.

Night-blooming Cereus, 1988

Virginia, Emmett and Jessie, 1989

Jessie Bites, 1985

Immediate Family, 1996

Candy Cigarette, 1989

Crabbing, 1989