Ragdolls and Reverberation

First off, another article for Suite101.com, this time a review of Shane Acker’s epic animation (although not so epic at 79 minutes long), 9. Check it out here: Movie Review: Shane Acker’s 9.

Secondly, U2 swept through Toronto this past week and I was fortunate enough to score a free ticket from a friend. I know, there goes my magic wish power for the next year or so. The performance, the stage, the songs–everything was phenomenal.

It’s staggering to consider the band’s long long history together (factoid: they formed in high school. I did not know this. Thank you Wikipedia), and their huge catalogue of music. Of course they played all the favourites, causing chills to go up the spines of over 60,000 adoring fans at the opening chords of Where the Streets Have No Name, One, Sunday Bloody Sunday, etc.

But I’ve always liked some of their less anthemic singles, songs that were solid radio hits but which would probably never be performed at any of their concerts. Like this one:

And, even though the associated movie was rubbish, I get a kick out of the cartoon alteregos in the following video for Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me. And seeing Batman play the cello: