Lomography Supersampler Camera (Blue)
by Lomographic Cameras
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $39.99
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Editorial Review

The Lomographic SuperSampler blue camera is a truly original and exciting addition to the world of Lomography. Something of an improvement over the ActionSampler and CyberSampler 2.0, the SuperSampler uses a unique pull-cord film advance mechanism and incorporates four lenses in a panoramic format to capture four shots per frame, each just a fraction of a second apart. The end result is four long images stacked on top of each other that show the sequence of motion. This gives you something akin to panoramic "movie stills" that can even be scanned and animated into a mini four-frame movie on your computer. (Click on the "See more pictures" link at the top of this page to see sample photos that were taken with the SuperSampler.)

Brought to you by the same Lomographic Society folks who introduced the free world to the famed Lomo Kompakt Automat camera, the SuperSampler shares the original Lomo's wacky, creative image--as evidenced in the colorful, photo-filled booklet that comes with the camera. The SuperSampler is also a study in styling with its unique pull-string design and ice blue color. It doesn't have a flash and sports only a small removable square to frame your photos. "Shoot from the hip" is the driving philosophy behind the Lomographic Society.

Everything with this camera is manual, including film loading, winding, and rewinding. The lens is fixed focus. However, the SuperSampler does offer two speeds--standard and high speed (four photos in 2 seconds in standard mode; four photos in 0.2 seconds in high-speed mode). And, although this multiple-image format works best for action shots, it can turn any subject into a creative, interesting slice of life.

Since there is no built-in flash; the best results occur under bright lighting conditions. It comes with a six-month warranty--Lomo will replace the camera free of charge if anything goes wrong with it during that time period. Included in the box are the camera, a SuperSampler booklet, and one roll of 24-exposure ASA 200 35mm film. ... Read more

Features

• Best results occur under bright lighting conditions
• Four lens 35mm camera that shoots 4 panoramic images per frame
• Unique pull-cord film advance mechanism
• Two speed settings, standard and high speed
• No focus settings; use distance to judge

Reviews (7)

Crazy and Fun
I love the Supersampler.I definitely prefer its panoramic format and much sharper image rendition to the original four-lensed Actionsampler.It's really fun to play and experiment with.Be sure to try the extreme close-up effect!

The rip-cord advance is a cool feature, but does require some care.If you use it normally, it should last without a problem.My Supersampler is going on 10 rolls without a hitch.
However, if you yank the thing, it will definitely come out.Be sure not to hand this camera to any young children that don't know any better.

Oh, and use 400 ASA film.The shots are bright and colorful, with almost no blurring.It's really best for sunny days.

A unique, fun camera
No one should order this camera hoping that they will receive a professional quality item.It is simply made to be fun, and that is what it is.It is made of plastic, and it is fragile...so I will warn you.Nonetheless, it is, as I have said, tons of fun.Naturally, since it has no flash, you have to take the pictures with plenty of light.Also, every picture you get developed isn't going to be of professional quality, but that is part of the fun--you just dont know what you are going to get.

get more action!
This little camera is a very simple and straightforward device of instant fun - it's fun to use, people are always asking you questions about it, it doesn't weigh much so you can take it anywhere and best of all: your pictures are always surprising!

Don't expect it to take ordinary pictures, don't demand every photograph to be perfect.To get the best idea of what this camera is all about, visit the manufacturer's website because they have minisites for each of their products).

I got one of these supersamplers a few months back.Yes, you do need lots of light.Yes, you should take care not to pull the cord too hard (if it feels like it's jammed, you're probably just out of film).

You should also make sure to catch (people in) action or create actions yourself. Step closer to your subject while shooting the picture, have someone twist around for you, turn your wrist so the camera itself turns around while shooting, ... experiment!!

And that's the fun! Your interaction with others, their reactinos when they see the pictures, and just the tiny movement of pressing that button... ... Read more

Asin: B00007I2KN
Subjects:  1. Camera (Cameras)    2. 35 mm (millimeter)    3. Photograph (Photography)   

Lomography Colorsplash 35MM Camera
by Lomographic Cameras
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $74.99 -- our price: $54.94
(price subject to change: see help)
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Features

• Re-cast your world in a gorgeous riot of color
• Patented colorwheel system puts several tinted flash filters at your finger tips for instant selection
• Long exposure capability creates dreamy streaked backgrounds behind crisp, color-flashed foregrounds
• Package includes camera, battery, film, poster, extra color filters, and "skin" bag
• Normal 35mm film, normal processing

Reviews (10)

perfect for poseurs
Two quiet revolutions in photography--the Lomo and Diana/Holga--added a new level on how artists view their work. Unfortunately, so many seem to think that by simple buying and using these devices, they will make instant art. Now a whole slew of cheap hunks of plastic sold at inflated prices are flooding the market, feasting upon this followers mentality.

If you really want to experiment with color-flashing, buy color filters (or scavenge for random tinted transparent materials) and experiment on the flash of a decent camera--or if you are into plastic, then get a holga. This process will not only teach you so much more about what processes produce what effects, but you'll actually create something new, you'll be using a creative process. This thing is not a creative tool, it is an unimaginative $3 hunk of plastic being cleverly marketed and sold for an astonishing price that sucks any creative possibilities out of the user.

Color Your World
The Color Splash is like photographic rock and roll.I love the long-exposure with colored-flash style - it's really cool.You end up with a bright, colored subject against a glowing background.If you wave the camera around with the shutter open, you can place these crazy streaks of light behind your subject as well.There's no other camera that can do this, and its white body is dead sexy.

As another reviewer mentioned, a tripod thread would be nice, (Lomo, can you hear me??) but I can live without it for the time being.Be sure to use 400 or 800 speed film - that way you'll maximize your flash range.Also, get close when you use the purple or red filters, they block a lot of light and your shot can be really underexposed if you're too far away.

The Colorsplash Spectacle
The Colorsplash from the Lomographic Society is a gift from GOD to all photographers.

I am a serious and avid photographer and was looking for a simple yet fun camera to take with me on the go (and rule one, after all, is "take your camera everywhere"). The colored flash is a creative idea that adds to an already brillant camera. The simplicity of the Colorsplash allows for the user to take a picture within a second's notice with dreamy, streaky results. The flashes are fun to play with and fun to adjust.

The flash comes with two colors already put in - yellow and blue - and allows for you to pick and chose which other colors you want to put in the other two avaliable slots. If you follow the simple directions as listed in the little booklet the comes with the camera, you'll have no problem removing and changing out the different filters for the flash.

A few drawbacks include the handcrank for when your finished with your film and need to rewind it. Once, i forgot that the handcrank had to be turned in a certain way and broke off a tiny piece of it. It was no big loss and the crank still functions without the little tiny piece at the end, but it just goes to show how fragile this little wonder can be. Another drawback is the price. Thankfully, amazon.com offers it for a few dollars lower than lomography.com. However, i feel with as many times as i have used this camera, the sixty something dollars is well worth it. Also, the cover that it comes with is just a piece of junk. It covers up the back of the camera and makes it difficult to unload your film once your done (especially if you unload at the rate i do)

The Colorsplash camera was my first introduction into the fine art of Lomography and I hope it won't be my last. Be prepared to paint your world in vivd, living colors and be spontaneous with your photographs =) ... Read more

Asin: B0000AC6GA
Sales Rank: 786
Subjects:  1. Camera (Cameras)    2. 35 mm (millimeter)    3. Photograph (Photography)   

Lomographic Compact Automat 35MM Camera
by Lomographic Cameras
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $199.99
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Reviews (14)

Yeahhh Just Shoot it.
I bought mine an old version and im lovin it. Taken 4 rolls of films... altho it didnt come out as vivid as i hoped for (probably cuz of the cheap films i bough in bulk), the slight vignette and grain effects were fascinating!Im still trying to get used to the settings, altho its not neccessary. Highly portability is what i liked most.. bring it anywhere everywhere! Although I would like to know which Film brand works best with the Lomo effects... please do inform me if u know, Thx.

Overall, its a great buy for casual shots. LOMOFY urself guys!
LOL.

Lomo 4-Ever!
i am really happy with my lomo.when i flip through my photo album i can really see a difference between photos before and after my LC-A.the colors of my LC-A photos are so vibrant and beautiful.i've been a lomo fan for years.i love photography and am a bit of a camera collector.i have several lomo cameras and this one is my favorite by far.i actually have several cameras from other companies too and the camera i carry with me everywhere is my lomo.i have had this camera for more than a year and i've never had a problem with it. it's really easy to use.but what i think is most important is how beautiful the images are.i love this camera.

The One and Only
Simply put, the Lomo Compact never leaves my side.With it's tiny size and that great metal lens cover, I have it in a bag or a pocket at all times.

Why?What makes this camera so special to me?Simply put - it's the images.I have no formal training in photography whatsoever, but I am able to shoot some of the most amazing images that I have ever seen with this little item.Surely, I shoot a few blurry and screwed-up pics as well, but the unpredictability is part of the charm.After you drop off your film, you can almost always expect to have a few images which are absolutely mind blowing. Using the camera is easy to grasp, although not too easy - so you still feel a sense of accomplishment after you "master" it.In my opinion, it's a perfect item for a beginner.

With all due respect to my Amazon peers, the reviewers who feel negatively about the camera are missing the point.
It's not made with the precision of a Canon or Nikon.It doesn't have the sharpness of a Zeiss or Leica.It's not the correct camera for someone who really wants to learn the technical in's and out's of photography.

But that's where the magic is.It's made in Russia by hand.The images it creates are beautiful and completely dripping with soul.Colors are super-strong, contrast is huge, and (defect or not) the vignetting effect is very cool.Outside of that, it's small, cute, easy to use, and has this awesome mechanical-oil smell.

If you want a normal, super-reliable Japanese cam that takes nicely exposed, in-focus shots every time, then pick one up.
As everyone else said, they generally have more technical features for a better price.If you want something truly unique, utterly beautiful,, and (at times) a little temperamental - then go for the Lomo.You won't be disappointed.
... Read more

Asin: B0000AC4WQ
Sales Rank: 3440
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)   

Canon PowerShot S50 5MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
by Canon Cameras US
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $699.99
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Editorial Review

Although it may look like a compact digital camera, the Canon PowerShot S50 delivers is actually a 5 Megapixel camera with features and options normally only reserved for high-end digital cameras.

Housed in a mostly metal casing, the Canon PowerShot S50 is turned on via a sliding lens protector that in turn allows the 3x optical zoom to pop out and the large and clear 1.5 LCD monitor to fire into action. There are over 10 buttons on the back of the camera alone, allowing you to easily change everything from white balance to reviewing images.

The jog wheel on top gives access to the many options including Night Scene, Fast Shutter, Slow Sync and Program and shows how serious this camera is when it comes to taking pictures. Better still is the quick access function button on the rear of the camera that allows you to access White Balance, Drive Mode, ISO, Effect, Flash and image size settings all at the press of a button.

Power is delivered via a Li-ion Canon rechargeable battery pack and the camera is shipped with a 32Mb CompactFlash Card enabling you to store images. A 3x optical zoom offers 38 - 105mm equivalent for a 35mm camera and this added to the 4x digital zoom gives you plenty of scope. F range is F2.8 - F4.9, and focusing is managed via a whole host of options: 9-point AiAF, 1-point AF (any position), AF lock, Focus bracketing, AF assist beam (on/off) and Manual Focus.

Picture quality, as with all Canon cameras, is very strong, detailed and well balanced. You would expect this from a 5 Megapixel model, but everything here seems to gel. Colors are crisp, white's well defined and skin tones very clear. The host of focusing options only help in creating better pictures. While the pre-programmed settings get you out of trouble if you're not sure what to manually set up.

Overall this is a very good camera that is only let down by the positioning of the review button. The picture quality is very good and the functions that the camera offers are extensive. For this too really be treated as a high end camera it should have a hot shoe function, but then that's what the G3 and new G5 are there for. If you are looking for a good field camera and are at that stage where you want all the functionality of a high camera without the size, then this certainly does the job. --Jason Denwood, Amazon.co.uk

What's in the Box
PowerShot S50 digital camera, 32 MB CompactFlash card, battery and battery charger (CB-2LT), USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and ArcSoft Camera Suite CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac. ... Read more

Features

• 5 megapixel sensor (2592 x 1944 pixels) for enlargements up to 20 x 30 inches
• 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom (12x total)
• Nine point AiAF, flexizone focus selection, three-minute movie clips, and automatic image rotation
• Compatible with CompactFlash Type I and II cards; 32 MB card included
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-2L); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

Reviews (104)

Digital camera worth it's price
I've been using this camera for the past 2 years..no compliants at all..glad that Ibought this.
clarity is good and print are good. I recommend this to all.

Sturdy, a little Chunky... but still great value
I adore this camera for the following reasons:
1. It has a DURABLE metal casing.I have dropped this camera numerous times on the concrete (including the first time I took it out of the package) and usually carry it jammed in my purse with my keys, mechanical pencils, you name it.I've also taken pictures in the rain, which I don't recommend, but it's held up so far!Mine is horribly scratched and dinged but absolutely no problems yet.I do recommend an LCD protector.
2. Sharp, clear pictures.I've submitted pictures to galleries and miscellaneous publications; they've never had problems with resolution as long as it hasn't been much over 8x10 (but it's advertised to be ok up to 10x11).
3. Intuitive controls. Lots of buttons & dials, but you'll pick it up quick or you can just ignore them all, and point & shoot on "auto".You'll still get great pictures.
3. Value.At this point in time, this almost-professional quality MSRP $500 camera can be found online (NEW) at around $220. If you're looking for a Point & shoot that has some extended capabilities and isn't a clunky EOS SLR, this is pretty portable.

A few cons:
1.Weight.It is relatively heavy compared to other point-and-shoots.I always use the strap to keep from dropping it, which I've done more than a few times.It's not as small as the S500s which is a bummer.
2. Manual capabilities occasionally tough to find.As an amateur photographer, I like to use "auto" a lot but when I do use the manual focus/etc. it's not always easy to figure out where the appropriate menus are.
3. Tiny viewscreen.Nothing like getting home and realizing that the pictures that initially seemed so sharp and clear on the screen are blurred and out of focus in real size.But this happens with most (if not all) little digital cameras.
4. Night resolution.Blah.Has a "night" mode which is servicable but not that great.

I love this camera and will definitely buy another Canon after all is said and done. In 1 1/2 years, my camera has been around the US/international scene and has taken 5400+ pictures.It has held up like a champ!I totally recommend the S50, even for photography amateurs. My s50 pictures are all posted on the web.

Amazing-I love it!
This is the best camera I have ever seen.It takes amazing photos and you can also take video clips. I highly recommend this camera.I love it! ... Read more

Asin: B00008OE5I
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)   

The Hipster Handbook
by Anchor
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (04 February, 2003)
list price: $10.95 -- our price: $8.76
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (35)

fun fun fun!
absolutely delightful! Perfect for those friendly get togethers that involve great conversations and lots of freshly chilled Petron! This writer possesses a fresh voice and keen insights into human behavior that make it so fun to laugh at ourselves. Makes for a nice gift to cheer up a friend. Order it with the "Food Court Druids" one, which is actually even better, in my opinion.

Nonstop comedy from front to back
This book was suggested by a friend, i first looked at the website and i became hooked on the lingo instantly. This book is a humorous satire on whats deck (cool) and whats fin (lame). I recommend this to all

I'm so fin I'm deck!
So here I am dressed as fin as imaginable in my tie-die shirt and the test at the end of the book tells me I'm deck. The test came out more accurately for my husband pointing him out for for the poseur that he is. The illustrations are best part of the book and the most boring bits have to be the lengthy explanations of the various types of hipsters. By about the third one I just started skipping through these sections. ... Read more

Isbn: 1400032016
Sales Rank: 13540
Subjects:  1. American wit and humor    2. General    3. Humor    4. Wit and humor    5. Humor / General   

The Bad Girl's Guide to Getting What You Want
by Chronicle Books
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 October, 2000)
list price: $14.95 -- our price: $10.47
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Deep down, every woman wants to be a Bad Girl. But after living a life of sweetness and light, it's sometimes difficult to stray from the path. Cameron Tuttle (author of the riotously funny Bad Girl's Guide to the Open Road) points the way in The Bad Girl's Guide to Getting What You Want. Tuttle offers up tips to help even the saintliest soul find her inner Bad Girl--and then use that power to get better dates (date yourself for a while first, until you're ready to dive in the dating pool); a better job (don't just settle for job satisfaction, aim for "job jubilation, job nirvana, job titillation"); and better parking (pray to Gladys, the universal parking goddess). With its sassy, iced-lavender cover--just the right size to slip into your purse--the Guide is jam-packed with practical and not-so-practical-but-funny advice, including excellent answers to one of life's most pressing questions: What do you do with old bridesmaid dresses? "Drench with ketchup and dress up as Carrie for Halloween"; "Sew into board bags for your snowboard and surfboard"; and, best of all, "Make your bridesmaids wear them in your wedding." Remember: it's great to be a girl, but it's even better to be a Bad Girl. --Sunny "Bad Girl" Delaney ... Read more

Reviews (73)

I got genital herpes after reading this book
Well, the subject of my review is a lie, but I do think that this book focuses too much on sex.What this book is really about is power.However, are you a powerful woman if you sleep with every Tom, Dick, and Harry?

Other than that, there are some great tips in here, but don't take everything seriously.My favorite parts (which YES I have actually used) are getting free drinks, getting a date by just going up to someone and kissing them.(That was after those free drinks, though.)The one that I haven't used but would like to is to act like a diva during a job interview.It sounds fun.Anyways ladies, bottom line is that this is a great GRRRRLL POWER book, but don't take everything seriously.

Loved it
I adored this book! I passed it around to all of my friends and the all enjoyed it immensely. Great writing, very funny. Worth my time,worth yours.

There's a hour of my life I can't get back.
I wasn't expecting "Catcher in the Rye", just a few laughs.I was very disappointed.It wasn't funny at all.Keep your money, but if you really want to buy it, buy mine. ... Read more

Isbn: 0811828964
Subjects:  1. Conduct of life    2. General    3. Life skills guides    4. Miscellanea    5. Personal Growth - Success    6. Psychology    7. Self-Help    8. Women   

Kiss My Tiara : How to Rule the World as a SmartMouth Goddess
by Warner Books
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 February, 2001)
list price: $12.95 -- our price: $9.71
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (123)

Pure Brilliance
I loved this book.Smart, Funny, Sassy and everything that makes us savvy chicks giggle.This the next book that I am buying for every lady I know.

Trust me, buy the book!
I've bought this book five times and lent it out to people at work who were going on vacation. I live in Florida so they never came back but...it's a great book. It empowers you to not sleep with republicans, someone should have to but not you!!!!Stop borrowing it from me and buy your own, damn it!

Are they letting anyone write books these days?
Yuck - Gilman obviously is very opinionated, which is good.But it seems like hers is the only opinion that matters, which is bad.Instead of elegantly making her point, she resorts to name-calling and cursing.By the end of the book, you want to do the opposite of everything she says, just to make her angrier than she already obviously is. Save your money. ... Read more

Isbn: 0446675776
Sales Rank: 3344
Subjects:  1. Conduct of life    2. General    3. Humor    4. Self-Help    5. Women    6. Self-Help / General   

Bust Guide to the New Girl Order, The
by Penguin (Non-Classics)
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 August, 1999)
list price: $17.00 -- our price: $11.56
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

"In BUST we've captured the voice of a brave new girl: one that is raw and real, straightforward and sarcastic, smart and silly, and liberally sprinkled with references to our own Girl Culture." So say Marcelle Karp and Debbie Stoller, smart, sassy founders of BUST ("the magazine for women with something to get off their chests"), and editors of this funky, fabulous, neofeminist manifesto. The Guide to the New Girl Order collects the best of BUST, including thoughtful articles, personal essays, and racy rants about anything from abortion to the lameness of the Lifetime television network. In their own words, they address "that shared set of female experiences that includes Barbies and blowjobs, sexism and shoplifting, Vogue and vaginas."

Having started out as a hand-stapled zine, BUST swims with an in-your-face, grrrl power attitude that alternately taunts, encourages, and calls readers to battle. Contributors range from mysterious authors with names like Betty Boob and Scarlett Fever to such famous femmes as Courtney Love. Karp and Stoller organize the pieces into sections labeled "Sex and the Thinking Girl, "Men Are from Uranus," etc., offering introductions for each that provide humor, insight, and cultural context. And with selections like "Sex, Lies, and Tampax," "How to Be as Horny as a Guy," and "Bitch on Heels," this is not your mother's ladies' journal. Also included are such hilarious explorations of pop culture as "The Mysterious Eroticism of Mini-Backpacks," "My Keanu, A Fantasy," and "Bring Me the Head of Melanie Banderas." Whether you're intimidated or intrigued by such an irreverent approach to redefining the feminine, there's only more to come--and there's no place to hide. As the editors warn, "Wake up and smell the lipgloss, ladies: the New Girl Order has arrived." --Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Fun, Interesting, but not so thought-provoking
I own a copy of this book, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It's a fun gift, I suppose. Check it out at the library. Don't bother buying it. It's a series of personal stories and essays - most are entertaining. Don't expect any radical insights.

one-dimensional and self-obsessed.
The appeal of "The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order" is jarringly similar that of the vapid glossy fashion magazines Bust's writers love to hate (and occasionally work for): It is easy reading, taut with unresolved ethical and philosophical paradoxes, and intercut with rather feeble attempts at insight and actual journalism.

This is not to say it isn't entertaining. It is, most of the time. The prose is not bogged down with complicated ideas or long words. It is light and easy reading, the kind one does before bed, allowing simplicity to tickle the brain into slumber.

Bust's core philosophy is very simple: Anything I like and find pleasurable is feminist and right and empowering. Because of this philosophy, it is unnecessary for any of the essays to examine why something may be wrong or negative or unfeminist or contradictory. It is an intoxicating atmosphere of stubborn self-righteousness and self-worship, but ultimately, it is completely devoid of any real feminist discussion or philosophy. The essays drop names like Susan Faludi and Naomi Wolf and Camille Paglia, but fall far short of posessing any of the virulence, thoughtfulness, intellect and linguistic prowess of the work of those authors.

Ultimately, "The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order" is probably a good introduction to feminism for the novice--especially young teenage girls, as the juvenille writing tends to read as if it could have been ripped out the diary any given 14 year old girl. But for anyone who is well-aquainted with the subject matter, it is going to feel self-indulgent, shallow, and amateur, kind of a "Chicken Soup for the Feminist Soul."

SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL!
this past year i found myself amoung some very stong, independant and very sexually open women who i'm so grateful are now very dear close friends! one of them lent me this book and it was so incredibly refreshing!! i think that if all girls, at around the age of 12 or 13, read this book, they would feel so much better about their changing bodies and feelings! it hits on all the taboos and all those things you NEVER EVER would admit you did!! i loved it and highly recommend it! especially if you have a friend with a young daughter! ... Read more

Isbn: 0140277749
Subjects:  1. Adolescence - General    2. Attitudes    3. Body image in adolescence    4. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    5. Popular Culture - General    6. Psychology    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Sociology Of Women    10. Teenage girls    11. United States    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Social Science / General   

Girl Culture
by Chronicle Books
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 October, 2002)
list price: $40.00 -- our price: $25.20
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (17)

Eerily amazing
When I first saw this book in my photo class, I thought the images were amazing and frightening at the same time, but I didn't read the text with all the pictures. When I bought it for myself, and got to read everything, it gave me even more of a respect for this work. Her snips of these girls lives rattle and amaze you at the same time. I love this book so much, and I think every girl/woman should look at it.

Incisive and indicting
A modern classic that should be required fare for anyone seeking insight into contemporary American girlhood.Guaranteed discussion starter.

Very chic and lovely!
The photographs taken in this book were wonderful and fun, but the only reason why I gave it a 4 was because it didn't have much variety [and, to be honest, was a bit cliché]. However, I did find the book very interesting and the stories for each photo made it twice as good. I definitely would recommend it. ... Read more

Isbn: 0811837904
Sales Rank: 103170
Subjects:  1. Children's Studies    2. Essays    3. Exhibitions    4. Girls    5. Photo Essays    6. Photography    7. Photojournalism    8. Pictorial works    9. Pop Arts / Pop Culture    10. Portrait photography    11. Social life and customs    12. United States    13. Women's Studies - General   

Love for Sale
by Harry N Abrams
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (30 March, 1996)
list price: $17.95 -- our price: $12.57
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Reviews (5)

For every one who needs to think
People who don't appreciate the work of Barbara Kruger are blinded by their own bigotry, ignorance and fear to examine themself.All of her work is essential and should not be ignored by a single person.This is a great introduction to Barbara.

A NECESSARY BOOK FOR YOUR COLLECTION
"LOVE FOR SALE" THE WORDS AND PICTURESOF BARBARA KRUGER, is a ~must~ for anyone concerned with modern art, these days! Barbara constantly ~hits~ us, in full ~frontal-attack~ with her words! I was very fortunate to study under her, while attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and, MORE fortunate, today to own a couple of her original signed prints. Even my dinner guests, dining here in my home, here in Florence Italy, are left ~stunned~ and with an open-mouth, while studying her prints. BUY-THIS-BOOK-NOW...YOU WONT BE DISSAPOINTED!

Buy Me, I'll Change Your Life
Barbara Kruger's art, often pairing appropriated black & white photos with blocks of bold-faced type, has appeared on billboards, bus placards, posters, t-shirts and even shopping bags. She's big on circulating her stuff outside of conventional venues such as galleries and exhibits. This book showcases her brilliant work with plenty of full-page plates as well as photos of her installations and projects. There's a brief introduction covering her early design work for "Mademoiselle" magazine in the '60s and for various book covers in the '70s, up through her progression into the art world by the '80s. The pages of text are accompanied by assorted quotes from a variety of individuals (Edgar Allen Poe, Mae West, Sandra Bernhard). The influence of Kruger's stuff continues to turn up. Her work has been lifted for music videos (Motley Crue, Rage Against The Machine) and album covers (Snog, Consolidated), and her style is commonly imitated by lazy advertisers. This collection is an impressive and inspiring look at her career and her contribution to the world of art and design. ... Read more

Isbn: 0810926512
Sales Rank: 169800
Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Criticism    4. Individual Artist   

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 February, 1999)
list price: $13.00 -- our price: $10.40
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Editorial Review

What is most notable about this funny, touching, memorable first novelfrom Stephen Chbosky is the resounding accuracy with which the author captures the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood. Charlie is a freshman. And while's he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. He's a wallflower--shy and introspective, and intelligent beyond his years, if not very savvy in the social arts. We learn about Charlie through the letters he writes to someone of undisclosed name, age, and gender, a stylistic technique that adds to the heart-wrenching earnestness saturating this teen's story. Charlie encounters the same struggles that many kids face in high school--how to make friends, the intensityof a crush, family tensions, a first relationship, exploring sexuality, experimenting with drugs--but he must also deal with his best friend's recentsuicide. Charlie's letters take on the intimate feel of a journal as he shares his day-to-day thoughts and feelings:

I walk around the school hallways and look at the people. I look at the teachers and wonder why they're here. If they like their jobs. Or us. And I wonder how smart they were when they were fifteen. Not in a mean way. In a curious way. It's like looking at all the students and wondering who's had their heart broken that day, and how they are able to cope with having three quizzes and a book report due on top of that. Or wondering who did the heart breaking. And wondering why.

With the help of a teacher who recognizes his wisdom and intuition, and his two friends, seniors Samantha and Patrick, Charlie mostly manages to avoid the depression he feels creeping up like kudzu. When it all becomes too much, after a shocking realization about his beloved late Aunt Helen, Charlie retreats from reality for awhile. But he makes it back in due time, ready to face his sophomore year and all that it may bring. Charlie, sincerely searching for that feeling of "being infinite," is a kindred spirit to the generation that's been slapped with the label X.--Brangien Davis ... Read more

Reviews (1072)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower
This book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, was simply amazing, it had to do with everything that seems to be going on in my life and my friends.I finished the book in less than 12 hours, because it was that good.This book forever changed my life and made me realize that I wasn't the only messed up teenager out there.This is the type of book where each page there's something else exciting waiting to happen. This author should continue it or something.

This book dealt with growing up, rape, teen sex, pregenancy, abortion, molesting, depression, homosexuals, and so many other topics that would help any kid that has experienced one or more of these topics.

I know this review wasn't very helpful, but it was the best I could do. Now go out and buy this book!

IT MAY EVEN CHANGE YOUR LIFE
THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER is amazing. It is my favorite book for about a year, mainly because I haven't read anything that can top it yet (except for THE LOSERS CLUB by Richard Perez -- which came close).

I heard about this book through the internet. My friends always went on about it and I was always seeing quotes and pictures from it.. etc. I was again, searching for something to read that would hold my interest, and I just happened to think of this. I finally clicked on Amazon, got it a week later, and finished it that night. The way it's written makes it easy to absorb. I couldn't believe how great it was.

In a way, I guess you could say that the book changed my outlook on life. I don't know the exact reason how or why ... but it did. I started thinking differently and doing things differently, getting into different things (writing, music, etc.) and spending more time with my friends. Before all this I was as anti-social as they come. I hated leaving the house and I didn't WANT any friends. I guess after reading about Charlie and Patrick and Sam, and participating ... I decided to value my friends more, (or work to find a friendship like Charlie's and Patrick's and Sam's) and try to participate. And I guess it worked. But that's not the point.

PERKS is a great book. Maybe it will change YOUR life. You won't know until you read it. Click on Amazon, right now; it's worth your time. Also, I have to say thanks to the reviewer who suggested that other novel, THE LOSERS CLUB: Complete Restored Edition by Richard Perez, another great, enjoyable book that got under my skin, that I can't stop thinking about. (Best "used" book I ever bought!) PERKS and THE LOSERS' CLUB are now a permanent part of my home library.

Very good
Stephen Chobsky's The Perks of Being a Wallfloweris a coming of age story about a High School Freshman Charlie, and his Senior friends. It describes the trials and tribulations of growing up as a modern teenager. I liken this book to Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. The main difference, is Chobsky uses the idea of letters to a pen-pal to portray his message, while Salinger uses the more traditional method of storytelling.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower deals with issues that include: rape, drug use, being homosexual in American society, Teenage sex, pregnancy, and a score of others. Due to this, I highly encourage people to read this book.
I would recommend this book for not only Jr. High and High School students, but parents of these students. The situations that Charlie go through are realistic, but the likelihood of all of them coinciding are remote. The book is a relatively short read, it only took me a couple of hours. ... Read more

Isbn: 0671027344
Subjects:  1. American First Novelists    2. Bildungsromans    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 10-12)    4. Epistolary fiction    5. Fiction - General    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Social Situations - Adolescence    9. Social Situations - Death & Dying    10. Social Situations - Homosexuality    11. Fiction / General   

High Fidelity
by Riverhead Books
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 August, 1996)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
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Editorial Review

It has been said often enough that baby boomers are a television generation, but the very funny novel High Fidelity reminds that in a way they are the record-album generation as well. This funny novel is obsessed with music; Hornby's narrator is an early-thirtysomething English guy who runs a London record store. He sells albums recorded the old-fashioned way--on vinyl--and is having a tough time making other transitions as well, specifically adulthood. The book is in one sense a love story, both sweet and interesting; most entertaining, though, are the hilarious arguments over arcane matters of pop music. ... Read more

Reviews (474)

A good read and a good movie
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby is a tale of one man's path to redefining his life after his girlfriend leaves him.He then traces back through all his past relationships making a list of his top 5 worst breakups.Rob then comes to terms with who he is and considers a career change.In the end he gets back together with Laura and starts his DJ career up again.I found this book to be a great read and anybody who likes music would appreciate it, especially those aware of the indie snobs in the world.The character Barry hits the nail on the head.

Great insight into a man's thought process
If any of you know a guy who is having trouble growing up, who is jumping from short term relationship to short term relationship and not being able to settle down, then be sure to point them in the direction of this book.Why this book?Because Nick Hornby, the author, does a great job of capturing the struggle that some men go through as they move between that awkward stage of wanting to play games and never settle down, vs. the desire to get into serious relationships and start that nesting phase of life.

Now while this might seem like a touchy-feely novel, it isn't.Hornby deftly stick handles through what might be a dangerous topic only to cover the subject with humour and excellent observations.And while at first glance this might novel appear to be target to men only, women should find an interest in this novel too, as it provides a good glimpse in to how men think and operate.

This book most definitely rates five stars for having human and believable characters, a story line that everyone no matter their age or sex or race can follow, and a writing style that is easy to read.Never mind the many references to cool bands and the great music scene found in London.

Even if you saw the movie, you should still pick up the book and give it a read.The novel does a much better job of capturing the struggle experienced by the protagonist, and better still, the novel is set in London rather than the movie locale of Chicago.For anyone looking for their first Nick Hornby novel, this would be the one to give them.

finally a male perspective
It makes you hurt, it almost makes you want to cry
even though you're a guy and you're not allowed to cry.It makes you
realize all the stupid mistakes you've made in the past, and you'll
probably make again in the future.It's insightful and inspiring.
plus, it makes you want to own a record shop and sleep/date a rock
starette. ... Read more

Isbn: 1573225517
Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. General   

100 Selected Poems by E. E. Cummings
by Grove Press
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 June, 1959)
list price: $12.00 -- our price: $9.60
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Reviews (26)

A thorough but concise introduction to Cummings
This sweet little volume is a great introduction to Cummings' work...perfect as a gift to someone who's expressed an interest in him.The small, thin size makes it MUCH more portable than a 20-pound "complete works" volume!

One of the best
Cummings isone of the best American minor poets. He invents a language, a style a way of saying things all his own. And he does this in memorable lines and with his own kind of beauty. "What of a much of a which of a wind " " There's a hell of a universe ,next door.Let's Go" " I sing of Olaf, glad and big " " Nothing not even the rain has such small hands" The style is magnetic and there is a most individualistic celebration of life and love.
Appealing. But without the largeness of Whitman or the mind of Dickinson or the music of Stevens,it is not at the very highest level.
And also sharing with Pound and Eliot, and to a lesser degree Hemingway and Fitzgerald the Anti- Semitism of his time which makes it therefore almost impossible for me to read the stuff with uncritical joy as I would like to.

Nice Collection
E. E. Cummings is a clever word shark who finds the sublime in the most unusual ways. I always come back to him - even after reading the likes of Eliot, Rilke, Thomas - he is always equally profound and amusing a figure to me. I recommend reading his poetry out loud to capture its full essence - the sound is so vitally important. ... Read more

Isbn: 0802130720
Sales Rank: 26139
Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Anthologies (multiple authors)    3. Poetry   

Bust
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
-- our price: $19.95
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Features

• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (12)

Excellent magazine for young women
A good friend of mine gave me a subscription to Bust magazine for Christmas. Up until now, I had never heard of Bust to be perfectly honest. I finally received my first issue of Bust today in the mail. I have to say that this puts Jane magazine to shame. Then again anything would put Jane magazine to shame. As a woman, I felt that I could easily relate to the articles in the magazine (which I can't say the same for the garbage that is passed off for articles in Jane magazine). I especially dug the article "Single Minded" by Diane Mapes" in the February/March issue. I don't know why being single is such a curse to some people. As a single woman, I am content and Diane's article on singlehood was spot on. I also enjoyed the articles on Bjork and especially Tori Amos (my favorite artist). What I also dug about Bust is that fashion takes a backseat to more serious issues like sexism (unlike in Jane). Overall great magazine.

Ms., this is not!
I'm not going to say that Bust isn't a decent magazine.And if other feminist publications weren't around, I'd probably be reading it cover to cover.The problem is that they seem to assume that everyone who reads their mag is all do-it-yourself-y and artsy.And that they're actually interested in clothing.I'm not.I still appreciate some of the articles -- for example, the article several months ago on the womanly diagnosis of "hysteria" and this latest issue's article about American women converting to Islam.

If you're a knitter, cool.If you're a sorta-kinda feminist, cool.If you just want to read something that isn't telling you to go out and find a husband, like, yesterday, this is a good mag too.But if you're looking for something that is a little more FEMINIST, pick up Bitch magazine.

Too risque!!
I'm always on the look-out for new magazines, and when I found out that the author of one of my favorite books (Stitch N'Bitch) was editor of Bust Magazine, I was intrigued.I went to the newstand and bought the Fall edition.I had almost just went ahead and ordered a subscription, but I'm sure glad I didn't!I hate to sound like a "Midwestern Prude", but this is not the kind of magazine I would like my sons to find in my room one day, especially with all the vibrator ads!I'm sure it's great for younger women, who I feel it's more geared to.There's just not a lot that interests me, besides the recipe for "Mead" and a craft project.It just comes off as being very explicit with very little substance.
... Read more

Asin: B00009R5PH
Sales Rank: 183
Subjects:  1. Women's Interest    2. Feminist Issues    3. Single Life   

Rushmore
by Touchstone Video
Average Customer Review:
DVD (04 March, 2003)
list price: $19.99 -- our price: $14.99
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Editorial Review

Wes Anderson's follow-up to the quirky Bottle Rocket is awonderfully unorthodox coming-of-age story that ranks with Harold and Maude and The Graduate in the pantheon of timeless cult classics. Jason Schwartzman (son of Talia Shire and nephew of Francis Coppola) stars as Max Fischer, a 15-year-old attending the prestigious Rushmore Academy on scholarship, where he's failing all of his classes but is the superstar of the school's extracurricular activities (head of the drama club, the beekeeper club, the fencing club...). Possessing boundless confidence and chutzpah, as well as an aura of authority he seems to have been born with, Max finds two unlikely soulmates in his permutations at Rushmore: industrial magnate and Rushmore alumnus Herman Blume (Bill Murray) and first-grade teacher Rosemary Cross (Olivia Williams). His alliance with Blume and crush on Miss Cross, however, are thrown out of kilter by his expulsion from Rushmore, and a budding romance between the two adults that threatens Max's own designs on the lovely schoolteacher.

Never stooping to sentimentality or schmaltz, Anderson and cowriter Owen Wilson have fashioned a wickedly intelligent and wildly funny tale of young adulthood that hits all the right notes in its mix of melancholy and optimism. As played by Schwartzman, Max is both immediately endearing and ferociously irritating: smarter than all the adults around him, with little sense of his shortcomings, he's an unstoppable dynamo who commands grudging respect despite his outlandish projects (including a school play about Vietnam). Murray, as the tycoon who determinedly wages war with Max for the affections of Miss Cross, is a revelation of middle-aged resignation.Disgusted with his family, his life, and himself, he's turned around by both Max's antagonism and Miss Cross's love. Williams is equally affecting as the teacher who still carries a torch for her dead husband, and the superb supporting cast also includes Seymour Cassel as Max's barber father, Brian Cox as the frustrated headmaster of Rushmore, and a hilarious Mason Gamble as Max's young charge. Put this one on your shelf of modern masterpieces. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen

Reviews (442)

Please! Make it stop!
I cannot add anything more that hasn't been already said about this terrible, terrible movie. I actually walked out on it as it played in my living room. As I sit here, the day after, my brain is still afire. I don't think I've ever felt so much contempt for a fictional character. He reminded me of another loathed nerd that has been thrust apon us: Jonathan Safran Foer! Ha! I suppose the same people that like his books would sit through this wretched mess of a movie.

Of RuShMoRe and RoSeMaRy,
Though nominally a comedy, "Rushmore" manages a tonal breadth equal to that of any film one might care to mention- from the giddiness of first love to the blankness of the umpteenth heartbreak, and everything in between, without grinding a single gear, probably because sadness is latent in even its funniest moments, and humor lights the edges of even its most depressive ones.

Having seen all of Wes Anderson's movies up through "Life Aquatic", I would add that as sure as his directorial hand is, the single most powerful element in any of his films is Jason Schwartzman's dead solid perfect conjuring of "Max Fischer", a character that has already achieved classic status in the annals of American film. The smartest thing Wes Anderson has ever done is waiting until the right Max came along (Schwartzman was located after a four year search). This is one of those performances that makes it impossible to see anyone else in the role.

(BTW, The title of this review is intended as a tribute to the lapidary wit of the "Rushmore" screenwriters: notice that the two great objects of Max Fischer's love and obsession share every other letter in common.)

A Complete Joy.
Director Wes Anderson is really humming in this film and you can see the way that, through its pace, wit, and feel, it was a natural and noble predecessor to The Royal Tannenbaums--which may have been the best film made in the last ten years.

It is through performances like these that one fully realizes just what an enormous talent Bill Murray is.Whether it's comedy or drama, he excels and surpasses the majority of his peers.The movie flows by with tremendous speed and you'll be disappointed when it ends.I was struck by how utterly original the script was.Rushmore's like nothing you've ever seen before.Max is not an everyman but he is a character the viewer will root for and become quickly attached to.I'd give this one ten stars if I could. ... Read more

Asin: 6305428239
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

Idea Index: Graphic Effects and Typographic Treatments
by North Light Books
Average Customer Review:
Turtleback (01 July, 2000)
list price: $22.99 -- our price: $15.63
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Reviews (30)

I call this a design jump start...
This is the book I grab when I feel like my creative spark has died out. I never fails to give me a good idea or two...and usually that is enough to get things started.

I have a lot of design books on my shelves, but this one is used more than the others because of its user-friendly format. Try this along with Color Index. They are both great assets!

Don't be fooled by the size of this Book
I have to say that when I saw this book at the bookstore I was curious to see what could a tiny plastic cover book can offer.To my surprise: A LOT!

To begin with: printing quality is the BEST (full black pages, silver pages, etc)plus the paper that is almost heavy weight paper, and the old look that plastic cover gave it... I can't think of a better way to go.

Then, the book is divided into 2 sections: graphic ideas and text ideas. Both of them great inspirational material and also you can learn few nice tricks, so thats a plus.

I strongly recomment you take a look at the others "Index" books by Jim Krause. They're a must for GD's.

To sum up: this is a Great Tiny Book of Ideas.

Grossly Overrated; Not For Professionals
Given the reputation of Jim Krause and the number of positive reviews praising his booklet 'Idea Index' I did expect a lot. I was greatly disappointed: (1) the text is by far too superficial to even touch upon the real problems hidden behind a given idea, and; what is most unpleasant, (2) the illustrations simply do not play in the pro's leage.

Everyone finding inspiration in in 'Idea Index' will equally love the infamous Corel Draw Clipart Collection. The rest of us would get more ideas in any Graphis periodical or simply on a walk in the park. ... Read more

Isbn: 1581800460
Sales Rank: 6314
Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Design - Book    4. Graphic design (Typography)    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Typography   

The Great Beast February/Comasynthesis EP [Plus Minus Equals]
by Slowdance Records
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (16 July, 2002)
list price: $11.98 -- our price: $11.98
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Reviews (6)

Props to my Santa Rosan Homies
HOT DAMN!
We Santa Rosans rule. Judah's little bro Ephriam Nagler(who is also mighty talented and cute) went to my high school and hung with me and friends and so I've been a fan of these guys since 11th grade(bout 4 years now guess). Used to see them at every local show and they are brilliant. This is the first album of thiers that I bought and it is still my favorite. I knew you guys would make it. Love you dearly.

Marvellous.
This is an amazing CD. I think I might like it even more than 'Out of the Fierce Parade', and I absolutely adore that.

The Velvet Teen combine sad songs with wonderful upbeat songs. Judah Nagler has the most amazing voice, and really, I can't think of anything bad to say about this fantastic band. They're my absolute favourite.

3Guys+ Major talent- (any mindless drones)=love4Velvet teen
I have seen them live, I have all of their albums, even compilations, did I mention how great their music is?It is amazing and brilliant.Simple as that.You can listen to it over and over and never be sick of it.The music has so many dimensions its crazy awesome!check it out! You'll be very happy you did. ... Read more

Asin: B000068D0R
Sales Rank: 51920
Subjects:  1. Indie Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock   

Heart
by Arts & Crafts
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (23 September, 2003)
list price: $16.98 -- our price: $13.99
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Reviews (16)

I am matt and this is my heart.
Enough to bring tears of joy, to anyone, man or woman.

Like looking up at the...........
Everytime I put this disc in, I am reminded of its bold display of mucial delights.One can never go more than a few weeks without a re-introduction to this wonderful bit of vibration that seems to fit perfectly into all daily scenarios and adventures.I suggest you make a few copies and reorder the songs on each different disc, this way you can experience all that HEART by STARS has to offer.

Canada, The New Britain
Since Dubstar, nothing.Now there is a new band called Stars.Minus the Johhny Marr guitars, missed, but not by much.A little lightning seed in the mix, but not too much. A lot of fantastic pop with the embelishments of Reason drumming, and a lot of instrumentation played by the people who write the music, and seem to be verily involved in the music. Stars is a brilliant display of do it yourself pop.I love every moment of it.And for an American who is always looking to the UK, for the next in the refreshing new low in desparation, I find myself repeatedly stumbling upon these brilliant Canandians, figuring them British.I love being so horribly wrong, all over again.This is my disk.Get your own. ... Read more

Asin: B0000AM6MS
Sales Rank: 4176
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock   

The Lemon of Pink
by Tomlab
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (14 October, 2003)
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Reviews (13)

yeeesss
If you can get through the first two lame songs you will be very thankful becuase once "Tokyo" kicks it into high gear its pretty amazing after that.

My Friend Dan
This is a story about me and my friend Dan. Dan is kind of a punk anarchist kid - very sweet, very political, very concerned about his effect on the world -- who usually listens to loud metallic punk music. It's hard to classify oneself, but suffice it to say that i am not a punk anarchist kid, at least not right now, as far as i can tell, and i don't listen to loud punk music very often of my own accord.
Dan told me that he had some music that i would really like, and i sort of doubted it, because he's always listening to music that is too loud --admittedly good, like lightning bolt and stuff, but not really my style.
BUT THEN HE PLAYED THIS ALBUM.
The Lemon of Pink transcends all of the genres that i would like to box it into. it is a beautiful, meaningful, orginal amalgamation of sound, and it is worth your time and energy.
(...)

Wow.
This band blew my mind when I first listened to them. If you are looking for something new and exciting, and are kind of bored of whatever's coming out these days, give it a try. If you aren't into Avant-garde music, you might have to give it a few listens, but even then you will like it. ... Read more

Asin: B0000CDL64
Sales Rank: 8539
Subjects:  1. Indie Electronic    2. Pop    3. Rock   

There's Nothing Wrong With Love
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (13 September, 1994)
list price: $13.99 -- our price: $13.99
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Editorial Review

Ever since Boise, Idaho, trio Built to Spill emerged on national radar with its major label release Perfect from Now On (Warner), its earlier recordings are infused with a certain prediscovery mystique. On 1994's There's Nothing Wrong with Love, the roots of Built to Spill's shimmering orchestral arrangements are present, but with a distinctly tattered edge. Frontman Doug Martsch bounds from moody balladry to primal screams, often in the same songs. Add the crunch of Brett Nelson's guitar, and you wipe the sheen off 12 songs that would be just plain pretty, if not for their garage rock soul. --Nick Heil ... Read more

Reviews (52)

There's Nothing Wrong With This Disc
This first release from Doug Martsch and company remains my favorite BTS recording. BTS aren't confined by typical songwriting structure, i.e. verse-chorus-verse-chorus-verse-bridge-chorus. Songs start incongruously - see fabulous opener "In the Morning" - and end suddenly - again, see fabulous opener "In the Morning". Rough-around-the-edges melodies, masterful guitar work, and uncanny, slice-of-life lyrics abound throughout TNWWL. Anyone who has ever been less-than-stellar at spotting constellations will smile knowingly when listening to "Big Dipper". "Twin Falls" and its reference to Thumbs Up Seven Up will charmingly harken some listeners back to elementary school, while the David Bowie "Lodger" references in "Distopian Dream Girl" will bring a smile to the most jaded music listeners. ("My stepfather looks/Just like David Bowie/But he hates David Bowie/I think Bowie's cool/I think 'Lodger' rules/And my stepdad's a fool.") And seriously, who can't identify with Martsch when he sings, "I want to see movies of my dreams" in "Car"?

I bought TNWWL on a blind recommendation, never having heard a note of Built to Spill's music. I'm grateful I did - don't be afraid to do the same.

Not the best BTS
I can't believe some people think this is the best BTS.I am a huge fan of Keep It Like A Secret and Perfect From Now On -- I think they are really, really good albums -- even "great" -- maybe even masterpieces.However this earlier record hardly provides a glimpse of how good BTS becomes on those 2 later LP's.Thank God someone heard it in them and got them their major label deal that enabled them to produce and release those 2 later records.However, on There's Nothing Wrong With Love, the songs are not as good.And where some of the songs do have potential, the production falls flat.Now I definitely don't think all good music needs slick production but to me a big part of what makes BTS so awesome is the sonic experience they provide at their perfectly recorded and produced best.Plus, there are really no great instrumental passages, intros, jams, song progressions or outros on this album and the few that do exist seem to lack something.Lastly, Doug's voice is weak on this record.I enjoy his voice on the later LP's.I think it has benefitted from production and also has truely improved.Generally, this album just doesn't put me in the place their other stuff does.But not to worry -- Doug proclaims on a later LP, "I'm gonna perfect from now on...I'm gonna be perfect, STARTING NOW."He kept his word for at least the next couple albums.

Built to Spill enter Indie Hall of Fame!
Or they should anyway!If based on none of the other long line of enduring Built to Spill records that they have so thoughtfully graced us with, Built to Spill should go down in History as one of the greatest American Rock bands of all time!Many die-hard "Spillers" (as I like to call fans) will tell you that "Keep it Like a Secret" is their best offering, but I fall in the minority when I affirm that "There's Nothing Wrong With Love" is Built to Spill at their finest!This is a disc that gets your heart pumping from the first chord to the last!

This is the Album in the BTS catalog that speaks to the heart and mind of anyone who grew up in the Mountain West (I grew up in Utah)!It takes me back to my childhood and helps me to realize that it's okay to grow up!

I have to say my favorite track is "Twin Falls."That song struck a chord with me in a way that few other songs ever have!It's brilliant way of getting to the heart of elementary crush drama is something that the sheer brilliance of still to this day astounds me.This is a song like few ever written, one so moving that even Ben Folds Five chose a cover of "Twin Falls" as means of tribute to Doug & co.

In Short:Buy this record!You won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Asin: B000003L0Y
Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock