Aug 30, 2010
Aug 26, 2010
A couple of (non-rhetorical) questions,
Though I'll be providing some possible answers, and pre-buttals.
Why do hard-core Radiohead fans disown the song Creep (& their first record as a whole, generally?) Sure, Creep is naive, juvenile even. But it was their first single. It definitely has a 'punk-ish' attitude about it. It created a fair amount of controversy with its' bad language but turned a Sex Pistols absent #1 trick by being played all the time on 'altrock' stations. Personally, I think Creep is far better, more fun, funnier, more trenchant, richer than any track on The Bends (which is a truly naif, reaching sort-of album that always makes me roll my eyes. The Bends is way more posturing than Creep [& Creep is pretty frickin' posturing.]) What I suspect is what Renee (a big Radiohead fan, herself- and she loves The Bends) told me: That Radiohead fans don't like Creep cause it was on the radio, and popular. If that is the case, that is sad. There is nothing wrong with being popular. I cannot tell you how excited I was to see R.E.M start to play stadiums back in the 80s. I felt vindicated, at last. (I think, perhaps, it is the fans' juvenile nature coming to bear here, yes?)
and:
What is Stephen Frears secret? How does he make the most brilliant films ever, of any genre, without seeming to have any distinctive style of his own? Is it a laser-sensitive intuition about scripts? Is he helping to write the scripts without credit? Does he have some amazing rapport with actors that generates those sterling performances? Or is it a rapport with the DP? Or the design folks? Perhaps he knows how to hire the right collaborators in general?
You know, I have always had my own secret definition of the word panache (one of my fave words, ever.) I gleaned it from Carr & Tyler's most excellent book, The Beatles, An Illustrated Record, even though they might not agree with my definition. It was, as I recall, in re to their review of the Can't Buy Me Love/You Can't Do That single. Carr & Tyler say, "Panache ruled the day." The word panache means to me: Effortless (artless) style.
That is what Stephen Frears has in bucketloads: Effortless, artless style. He is a treasure.
Here is the Merriam-Webster definition. Mine is much better.
Why do hard-core Radiohead fans disown the song Creep (& their first record as a whole, generally?) Sure, Creep is naive, juvenile even. But it was their first single. It definitely has a 'punk-ish' attitude about it. It created a fair amount of controversy with its' bad language but turned a Sex Pistols absent #1 trick by being played all the time on 'altrock' stations. Personally, I think Creep is far better, more fun, funnier, more trenchant, richer than any track on The Bends (which is a truly naif, reaching sort-of album that always makes me roll my eyes. The Bends is way more posturing than Creep [& Creep is pretty frickin' posturing.]) What I suspect is what Renee (a big Radiohead fan, herself- and she loves The Bends) told me: That Radiohead fans don't like Creep cause it was on the radio, and popular. If that is the case, that is sad. There is nothing wrong with being popular. I cannot tell you how excited I was to see R.E.M start to play stadiums back in the 80s. I felt vindicated, at last. (I think, perhaps, it is the fans' juvenile nature coming to bear here, yes?)
and:
What is Stephen Frears secret? How does he make the most brilliant films ever, of any genre, without seeming to have any distinctive style of his own? Is it a laser-sensitive intuition about scripts? Is he helping to write the scripts without credit? Does he have some amazing rapport with actors that generates those sterling performances? Or is it a rapport with the DP? Or the design folks? Perhaps he knows how to hire the right collaborators in general?
You know, I have always had my own secret definition of the word panache (one of my fave words, ever.) I gleaned it from Carr & Tyler's most excellent book, The Beatles, An Illustrated Record, even though they might not agree with my definition. It was, as I recall, in re to their review of the Can't Buy Me Love/You Can't Do That single. Carr & Tyler say, "Panache ruled the day." The word panache means to me: Effortless (artless) style.
That is what Stephen Frears has in bucketloads: Effortless, artless style. He is a treasure.
Here is the Merriam-Webster definition. Mine is much better.
Aug 20, 2010
Aug 19, 2010
Rangerland
Listen, Everybody take a deep breath & relax. We knew there were going to be rough moments. This ballclub ain't the '98 Yankees, right? It is all going to work out. We're going to be fine. Good night.
Aug 11, 2010
Aug 10, 2010
You know,
Every playoff team has that moment where some slug, some regular, some platoon guy hits the big home run, or gets the big hit that is/are the big tv moment when the season is all said and done.
I told Renee last Sunday when we were at the game that David Murphy was unconsciously (I got that word spelled right on the first fucking try, man!) hot right now. I look at my game score, he was 2-4 in a losing effort.
His next game, tonight, he hits his 4th home run in 9 games & gets a walk-off single to win it. Against Mariano Rivera. All of his previous home runs in that 9 game span have been homers in which the Rangers took the LEAD.
David Murphy is the Rangers lunchpail hero. The Rangers are going to win the West. It is over. Sorry, Oakland. & frick the Angels, ... This is what it looked like.
I told Renee last Sunday when we were at the game that David Murphy was unconsciously (I got that word spelled right on the first fucking try, man!) hot right now. I look at my game score, he was 2-4 in a losing effort.
His next game, tonight, he hits his 4th home run in 9 games & gets a walk-off single to win it. Against Mariano Rivera. All of his previous home runs in that 9 game span have been homers in which the Rangers took the LEAD.
David Murphy is the Rangers lunchpail hero. The Rangers are going to win the West. It is over. Sorry, Oakland. & frick the Angels, ... This is what it looked like.
Detective Moltanbano: GREAT ITALIAN TV
MAN, I was just flicking thru channels last night, found a great Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes and was furious that it was a two-parter. I was hoping that they'd show the second part but instead they showed what KCSM (San Mateo PBS) called International Mystery, "great European mysteries that no one has seen."
Boy, did I roll my eyes. And I was pretty frickin' sleepy, anyhoo. & then they unloaded this Italian TV movie by Rai Trade?
It is fucking fantastic. And I am going to return to International Mystery and look for dvds of this great mystery series in Italy.
Detective Moltalbono is an awesome dude. He's faithful (at least in this episode) despite being tempted by a scalding hot Swedish chick (who happens to speak flawless Italian, making me think she's just a blonde, blue-eyed No. Italian.) And every time a luckless villager believes that they will be hauled in to jail for some peripheral crime they have committed Moltalbono kisses them and tells them to be more careful. (& in last night's episode he worked the villian for a v large recovery award that helped a couple take care of their v ill child.)
NICK!there are boobies. This is Italy, after all. Here in the puritanical Bay Area (what?!) they washed the boobies oot.
Fantastic stuff. I'll give you more news, reviews as I see more of these cool programs.
Hey, Bonnie!, have you seen this show? And Bonnie, don't you think they should make a TV series, great long movie of the lover's lane killer 'round Florence?
Liveblogging the Rangers/damn Yankees game & The Ghost Writer (UPDATE 1!)(UPDATE 2!)
Ugh, the Rangers are letting this game against the Yankees slip away from them, trailing 2-1 T6, & Oliver almost nailed Cano in the head.
Bought The Ghost Writer two days ago and they did something really cool. Though incredibly skimpy with the bonus features, they did a double sided disc that is blu-ray on one side and reg dvd on the other. So, Sweetie & I can take it to bed with us.
Once again, like A Single Man, this film is even better to me upon seeing it at home. I noticed that Polanski co-wrote the script (first name mentioned) with the author of the book it was based on. It is obv to me that this was a topic v close to Polanski's heart: torture, ill-advised military efforts, the massive influence of intelligence agencies on public governance, etc, ... And what he did was 'sugarcoat' this heavy political statement with a good deal of humor, and an 'old-master' style. The film reminds me of Hitchcock. It sort of has a McGuffin. We see way too much of the Memoir for it to be a true McGuffin.
But there are no bells & whistles, no lectures, no heavy-handed polemics. Just gripping, popcorn-munching drama, with good comic moments. It is a great film, I think, now.
Of course, this sugarcoating didn't do shit. Polanski's legal troubles in the States almost surely doom any film he releases Stateside these days. And any anti-Bush film (except those by Michael Moore) massively bomb.
(psst, the exception is the most brill In The Loop. The right cannot figure oot true satire, they are so clueless. They still believe The Colbert Report is a conservative program.)
Speaking of bombs, David Murphy continues his torrid pace, trying to keep Borbon on the bench, & hits a two-run homer. T7 Rangers 3-Yankees 2.
Back to The Ghost Writer: The public is fucking sick, leery, wary of political films right now. It is because of 9/1-1. This ain't the seventies, that is for goddamn sure.
UPDATE! A-Rod hits a home run. T7 Tied at 3, Yankees have a runner at 3rd, 1 oot. Cervelli at the plate, Rangers' infield in. 0-2 count. Francisco pitching. Angels tied, A's tied. 2-2 count now. 3-2. Cervelli is oot, little looper to first base, 2 down. Gardner at-bat. Foul ball. 1-1. Foul to the left. Grounder to Elvis. Rangers escape.
UPDATE 2! Murphy does it again. Hangs a loss on Rivera w/ a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th. (What is it aboot Rivera when the score is tied, he is just not the same pitcher?) David Murphy is en fuego, the sold-oot crowd in Arlington went nuts.
Video soon.
Bought The Ghost Writer two days ago and they did something really cool. Though incredibly skimpy with the bonus features, they did a double sided disc that is blu-ray on one side and reg dvd on the other. So, Sweetie & I can take it to bed with us.
Once again, like A Single Man, this film is even better to me upon seeing it at home. I noticed that Polanski co-wrote the script (first name mentioned) with the author of the book it was based on. It is obv to me that this was a topic v close to Polanski's heart: torture, ill-advised military efforts, the massive influence of intelligence agencies on public governance, etc, ... And what he did was 'sugarcoat' this heavy political statement with a good deal of humor, and an 'old-master' style. The film reminds me of Hitchcock. It sort of has a McGuffin. We see way too much of the Memoir for it to be a true McGuffin.
But there are no bells & whistles, no lectures, no heavy-handed polemics. Just gripping, popcorn-munching drama, with good comic moments. It is a great film, I think, now.
Of course, this sugarcoating didn't do shit. Polanski's legal troubles in the States almost surely doom any film he releases Stateside these days. And any anti-Bush film (except those by Michael Moore) massively bomb.
(psst, the exception is the most brill In The Loop. The right cannot figure oot true satire, they are so clueless. They still believe The Colbert Report is a conservative program.)
Speaking of bombs, David Murphy continues his torrid pace, trying to keep Borbon on the bench, & hits a two-run homer. T7 Rangers 3-Yankees 2.
Back to The Ghost Writer: The public is fucking sick, leery, wary of political films right now. It is because of 9/1-1. This ain't the seventies, that is for goddamn sure.
UPDATE! A-Rod hits a home run. T7 Tied at 3, Yankees have a runner at 3rd, 1 oot. Cervelli at the plate, Rangers' infield in. 0-2 count. Francisco pitching. Angels tied, A's tied. 2-2 count now. 3-2. Cervelli is oot, little looper to first base, 2 down. Gardner at-bat. Foul ball. 1-1. Foul to the left. Grounder to Elvis. Rangers escape.
UPDATE 2! Murphy does it again. Hangs a loss on Rivera w/ a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th. (What is it aboot Rivera when the score is tied, he is just not the same pitcher?) David Murphy is en fuego, the sold-oot crowd in Arlington went nuts.
Video soon.
Aug 9, 2010
Aug 8, 2010
Two More for the LMN Hall-of-Fame
I am having a mimosa, soon to leave for tha A's/Rangers contest in beautiful Oakland, CA.
But first I would like to comment on the wonderful Pick-A-Flick movies last Friday on LMN.
As both films had the word 'obsession' in their titles, I guess one might gather that Pick-A-Flick employed a theme. But considering that the movies are selected each week through online voting, one could start to have suspicions, or else those are some v savvy, sophisticated voters.
The first was, what I am gathering, is an old LMN Warhorse: Sex, Lies, & Obsession (get it?- who's idea was that, the title? Hamlin?) Starring (& produced by) Harry Hamlin and co-starring Hamlin's real-life wife, Lisa Rinna, it concerns a marriage falling apart due to Hamlin's relentless, tortuous sex addiction. Hamlin had an affair, you see, but all was forgiven as long as he truly dumped the chick and was a good dad from now on. He's a legit suburban professional, coaches his youngest child's hockey team and is a doctor of some sort. Rinna is near unbearable to watch due to the lip job she had (I assume) for the role, or perhaps she felt she had to compete w/ Hamlin's Jagger-like lips of his own.
The best scenes are when Rinna discovers Hamlin's secret apartment where all the lube, handcuffs, mags ("Men's magazines," Hamlin calls them- they're not back-issues of Esquire), porn tapes, etc, ... Her discovery is shot through a milky filter, hand-held, mostly from underneath. Spooky. The other great bit is Hamlin slapping his jacket in childish frustration as he flees his first therapy session. V good stuff. This LMN Hall-of-Famer gets a MA rating and a sweep of the sub-ratings: DLSV (though I am a little skeptical of the V rating.)
The Obsession gets a 14 (or PG) rating with just DV sub-ratings (if it had them at all.) This was much better than Sex, Lies, & Obsession. It stars one of my all-time faves, Daphne Zuniga, a local girl, born in Berkeley and grew up in Walnut Creek.
It is about two obsessions actually, only one of which I can speak of here: Zuniga's daughter is obsessed with becoming the finest ballerina in the History of Humans. But her mentor and stern taskmaster teacher has vanished, 'a family emergency', all right before her absolutely huge, real important, massive big deal audition for some school or what-not. The daughter, played by Canadian actress, Elise Gatien, already has enough on her mind. Zuniga is recently divorced, Dad has run off with some floozy & Gatien resents Zuniga for that.
Luckily, the taskmaster has a friend who can train Gatien for the really big-deal audition. He's a hunk, natch. Zuniga starts to get a thing for the hunk, Gatien feels a little icky about that but Zuniga takes it real slow, and, ...
Look, there is a lot of dancing in this film. We get to see Gatien's audition piece about a million times. If we are going to have to sit through that much ballet, you would think they would have hired a Canadian (cheap & unknown) who could actually dance. You would think they would have even hired a pretty actual dancer over a pretty actual actor. Ms Gatien, god bless her, cannot act or dance. (She is pretty, though.) Ballet is all about elegance, lightness of touch, and (seemingly) effortless grace. Gatien's audition piece (did I mention we see it about a million times) is slow, heavy, labored, and frightfully dull.
This def belongs in the LMN Hall-of-Fame and I hope they show it again soon because I fell asleep and didn't see the end.
Aug 7, 2010
I am going to say
This again one more time, v slowly (though, seriously, I doubt it will do much good), "Raising taxes for the richest amongst us reduces the deficit. Reduces the deficit."
All GOP & Teabagging deficit hawks, listen up, The best way to make an immediate, worthwhile impact on reducing the deficit? Simple, repeal the Bush tax cuts. Repeal the Bush tax cuts.
Trickle down does not work, it does not work, never has.
Clinton, after being run out on a rail for cheating on his wife, left this country in surplus. A surplus. He did this by raising (v modestly, & nothing like previous administrations or the UK or Scandinavia or Switzerland, etc, ... ) the tax rate for the wealthiest amongst us, cut spending, and by presiding over a remarkably peaceful time for our nation.
If you really care about the deficit, I mean really care, then there is something you can do right now. Insist that your Congresscritter will vote to repeal the Bush tax cuts. Repeal the Bush tax cuts.
Trickle down does not work.
All GOP & Teabagging deficit hawks, listen up, The best way to make an immediate, worthwhile impact on reducing the deficit? Simple, repeal the Bush tax cuts. Repeal the Bush tax cuts.
Trickle down does not work, it does not work, never has.
Clinton, after being run out on a rail for cheating on his wife, left this country in surplus. A surplus. He did this by raising (v modestly, & nothing like previous administrations or the UK or Scandinavia or Switzerland, etc, ... ) the tax rate for the wealthiest amongst us, cut spending, and by presiding over a remarkably peaceful time for our nation.
If you really care about the deficit, I mean really care, then there is something you can do right now. Insist that your Congresscritter will vote to repeal the Bush tax cuts. Repeal the Bush tax cuts.
Trickle down does not work.
Aug 6, 2010
Aug 5, 2010
Aug 4, 2010
Documentary Monday Update
Also saw The Most Dangerous Man in America. My fave part is every time Nixon's DOJ sued a newspaper that would print the Pentagon Papers, Ellsberg would just give part of it to another newspaper. Plus, he got his wife back. Amazing. His transformation from US Marine Corps/lying McNamara flunky to full on Gandhi/H.D. Thoreau peacenik is near beyond belief (& so lovely.) SO highly recommended.
Another must-see doc is The Art of the Steal. A v different hero this time. Mr Barnes was a feisty bastard, who made his fortune w/ an eye-tincture that immunized children from certain types of VD. He amassed a phenomenal Impressionist/Modernist collection that he initially showed off in New York. Mr Barnes was from Philly. The NY critics savaged his showing, calling the pictures barbaric. Mr Barnes sed, "Fuck you, you'll never see them again!" He put them in his own institution, a school, outside of Philly (he had no love for that city, either- espec b/c he hated the Annenbergs [yes, those PBS funding Annenbergs], who were the Philly GOP Hearst/Murdoch newspaper tycoons of that era) and arranged the pictures in a superb esoteric way. Pictures & pieces & furniture covered entire walls & were arranged according to Barnes' own taste & theme. They were not arranged by artist or period, just by Barnes' personal taste. You've seen photographs of all these pictures. This collection is not wimpy. It is basically impossible to even assess a value to it. The Art of the Steal is a frickin' fantastic film.
Before I go, can I just express my disgust & frustration at film critics who moan aboot "preaching to the choir" & documentaries that are not "fair & balanced" (Gawd, Fox News has ruined near all types of commentary & criticism.) The filmmakers made the goddamn film, it is their frickin' film, & they can make whatever frickin' type of film they want to make. Just review the goddamn picture, you liked it or you dint, & why. Jeez Louise!
Another must-see doc is The Art of the Steal. A v different hero this time. Mr Barnes was a feisty bastard, who made his fortune w/ an eye-tincture that immunized children from certain types of VD. He amassed a phenomenal Impressionist/Modernist collection that he initially showed off in New York. Mr Barnes was from Philly. The NY critics savaged his showing, calling the pictures barbaric. Mr Barnes sed, "Fuck you, you'll never see them again!" He put them in his own institution, a school, outside of Philly (he had no love for that city, either- espec b/c he hated the Annenbergs [yes, those PBS funding Annenbergs], who were the Philly GOP Hearst/Murdoch newspaper tycoons of that era) and arranged the pictures in a superb esoteric way. Pictures & pieces & furniture covered entire walls & were arranged according to Barnes' own taste & theme. They were not arranged by artist or period, just by Barnes' personal taste. You've seen photographs of all these pictures. This collection is not wimpy. It is basically impossible to even assess a value to it. The Art of the Steal is a frickin' fantastic film.
Before I go, can I just express my disgust & frustration at film critics who moan aboot "preaching to the choir" & documentaries that are not "fair & balanced" (Gawd, Fox News has ruined near all types of commentary & criticism.) The filmmakers made the goddamn film, it is their frickin' film, & they can make whatever frickin' type of film they want to make. Just review the goddamn picture, you liked it or you dint, & why. Jeez Louise!
Cukor's David Copperfield
Saw Cukor's David Copperfield the other day on TCM. Gosh, it was good. Sweetie fell asleep so I had great fun retelling the rest of the movie to her the next day. Made me love Dickens all the more. I love the Micawber character the most, a genial spendthrift, who is awful w/ money, always waiting for "that something special to happen any time now."
Cukor was so good, you know? & I totally understand and agree with David Thomson's assertion that this film showed everyone that you could tackle 800 pg novels in 135 minutes. & also the script paved the way for all the luscious BBC/English 'Masterpiece Theater' type adaptations that Sweetie & I love (& millions of others, too.)
Cukor was so good, you know? & I totally understand and agree with David Thomson's assertion that this film showed everyone that you could tackle 800 pg novels in 135 minutes. & also the script paved the way for all the luscious BBC/English 'Masterpiece Theater' type adaptations that Sweetie & I love (& millions of others, too.)
Aug 3, 2010
The Crucial Albums (UPDATE!)
When I first purchased Congratulations by MGMT I listened to it (or parts, or most of it) at least once, oftentimes 2ce or three times a day.
Then I took a break, as I am wont to do, and I reckon many other music fiends do the same.
Listened to it today, expecting my love to have soured or grown cold.
Not the case.
The Siberian 'Suite' sounds much better today, w/ its' slightly out of phase version of Cohen's So Long Maryanne, & the e'er so lovely mostly instrumental middle piece inducing The Hill's Climb swoons.
Song for Dan Treacy is as crisp, smart, & sassy as ever. & the vocal performance on Flash Delirium is as brilliant, nuanced, & sophisticated as some of the best of Lennon's later Beatles work.
Still fantastic.
But, I claimed it was the best new album I'd bought since Crooked Rain by Pavement (1994).
I still stand by that today.
Here are the crucial NEW albums I have loved since R.E.M. changed my life in 1984:
Then I took a break, as I am wont to do, and I reckon many other music fiends do the same.
Listened to it today, expecting my love to have soured or grown cold.
Not the case.
The Siberian 'Suite' sounds much better today, w/ its' slightly out of phase version of Cohen's So Long Maryanne, & the e'er so lovely mostly instrumental middle piece inducing The Hill's Climb swoons.
Song for Dan Treacy is as crisp, smart, & sassy as ever. & the vocal performance on Flash Delirium is as brilliant, nuanced, & sophisticated as some of the best of Lennon's later Beatles work.
Still fantastic.
But, I claimed it was the best new album I'd bought since Crooked Rain by Pavement (1994).
I still stand by that today.
Here are the crucial NEW albums I have loved since R.E.M. changed my life in 1984:
- White Denim/Fits (2009)
- Other Lives/Other Lives (April 7, 2009 -my birthday!)
- Mary Weiss/Dangerous Game (2007)
- Lily Allen/Alright, Still (2006)
- Continental Stomp/Hot Club of Cowtown (2003)
- Slanted and Enchanted/Pavement (1992)
- Wowee Zowee/Pavement (1995)
- Chrome Cranks/Chrome Cranks (1994)
- High Llamas/Hawaii (1996)
- Stereolab/Refried Ectoplasm (1995)
- Stereolab/Sound Dust (2001)
- Nirvana/Nevermind (1991)
- Pixies/Bossanova (1990)
- Pixies/Trompe le Monde (1991)
- Oblivians/The Oblivians play 9 songs w/ Mr Quintron (1997)
- High Llamas/Gideon Gaye (1994)
- High Llamas/Cold and Bouncy (1995)
- Teenage Fanclub/Grand Prix (1995)
- Teenage Fanclub/The Concept (1991)
- Belle & Sebastian/Tigermilk (1999- US release!)
- The Perfect Disaster/Heaven Scent (1990)
- Cheater Slicks/Don't Like You (1995)
- Cheater Slicks/Forgive Thee (1998)
- Belle & Sebastian/If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)
- The Smiths/The Smiths (1984)
- The Cure/Disintegration (1989)
- The Smiths/Strangeways Here We Come (1987)
- R.E.M./Murmur (1983)
- R.E.M./Reckoning (1984)
- R.E.M./Document (1987)
- R.E.M./Life's Rich Pageant (1986)
- R.E.M./Green (1998)
- Stereolab/Space-age Bachelor Pad Music (1993)
- The Perfect Disaster/Up (1989)
- Dirtbombs/Ultra-glide in Black (2001)
- Rocket from the Crypt/Scream Dracula Scream (1995)
- Radiohead/OK Computer (1997)
- Hot Club of Cowtown/Tall Tales (1999)
- Hot Club of Cowtown/Swingin' Stampede (1998)
- Rocket from the Crypt/Circa: Now! (1995)
- Cheater Slicks/Refried Dreams (1999)
- Jon Spencer Blues Explosion/Orange (1994)
- Stereolab/Transient Random Noise Bursts (1993)
- Pavement/Crooked Rain Crooked Rain (1994)
- My Bloody Valentine/Loveless (1991)
- Pixies/Doolittle (1989)
- Oblivians/Popular Favorites (1996)
- High Llamas/Snowbug (1999)
- Stereolab/Emperor Tomato Ketchup (1996)
- Lord High Fixers/Is Your Club a Secret Weapon? (1999)
- Lord High Fixers/Group Improviastion ... That's Music (1997)
- Spacemen 3/Recurring (1991)
- The Smiths/Louder Than Bombs (1987)
- XTC/Skylarking (1986)
- Beulah/The Coast is Never Clear (released on 9/11/2001!)
NOTES: It seems the best years were 1996 & particularly 1999. Now, I have heard theories before re the double digits for great rock, i.e. '55, '66, '77, '88, etc, ... Maybe they were right or maybe the end of the century put enough of a burden on rock artists to produce seminal work before the century ended. What was I listening to between 2001 & 2007, you might ask: STAX. STAX. & more STAX. I'm so glad I love MGMT now b/c it gives me a 'Holy Trinity' of new bands to love (Other Lives, White Denim, & MGMT.) I truly dedicated myself to Stax records for 7 years. I wanted to know EVERYTHING aboot the Memphis label. It was a mySpace 'mall diva', Lily Allen (& Mary Weiss [Reigning Sound, nee Oblivians backing her] & Amy Winehouse) of all folks to wake me from my STAX slumber. I still consider the Beatles/STAX/Bonzo Dog Band/Steely Dan/Spacemen 3 the greatest groups of all-time. Smiths fan might wonder, What about Meat Is Murder & The Queen is Dead? I did not hear those records, partic. Queen until well after they were released. I loved The Smiths/The Smiths but took a snooze (except for the singles comp, Louder Than Bombs- ah! tearing down Austin freeways w/ Kate & Dave & Allison blaring London on my crappy jambox from the backseat, ... ) until I read in the NME that the Smiths had broken up & that Strangeways would be their swansong. I read that in the smoking section of the Drama Dept, UT; bought Strangeways a day later & still think it's fantastic. Meat is my fave Smiths record, their best by far, I think, anyway. I din't get in to the Replacements until they started releasing crappy records. I believe they're the unrighteous band, compared to the righteous R.E.M, in Lester Bangs insightful & prescient theory of righteous/unrighteous band duos: Stones: un, Beatles: righteous; Sex Pistols: un, Clash: righteous, etc, ... R.E.M. were righteous, the Replacements were not. It is possible this duopoly is still playing out, perhaps Blur & Oasis? But I just can't be bothered, I'd rather listen to Otis Redding. Finally, I'd like to point oot that STAX kicks Motown's ass every day of the week & sideways, to boot. If you do anything after reading this, please, start by listening to Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Booker T. & the MGs, Rufus Thomas, Johnny Taylor, the Dramatics, the Mar-Keys, the Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes, Albert King, Barbara Brown, Sam & Dave, Wendy Rene, Wm. Bell, the Astors, the Staple Singers, etc, ...
Honestly, even after this huge list, if I was homeless & could pick only 10 cds they would be The STAX story boxset, Rubber Soul, Revolver, White Album, With the Beatles, & Beatles for Sale. all Beatle albums would be in their orig mono versions (just like those great STAX records.)
UPDATE!: I have just added 2 albums I had forgotten about. They are now included underneath The Smiths/Louder Than Bombs. I will keep doing updates as I see fit. One note aboot XTC/Skylarking (1986): I bought the UK import vinyl (embossed cover) version (& no Dear God on the record- instead: Mermaid Smiled) at Waterloo records (when it was south of the river) on election day in Texas. It was my first election & I lost. I voted for Mark White but Turdblossom's Bill Clements won, prob due to Turdblossom's 'imaginary' Democratic bugging of his office. You see, he was an asshole even back in 1986!
My Sharron-a!
Okay, so here is the Quote:
Sarah Palin has unwittingly started a whole new (language, i.e. refudiate) & campaign strategy. This Run away Run away! (unless it's Fox News, of course) Master Plan seems to have come aboot b/c of the Evil Bunny-herself, Katie frickin' Couric, of the Lamestream media, asked Caribou Barbie a few 'tough' questions, like what newspapers Palin reads.
The Charles de frickin' Gaulle. The GOP has truly gone mad. & do not forget, teabaggers like Rand Paul & Ms Angle are running as Republicans, not Independents or teabaggery parties of the like.
These idiots truly believe that they will represent only their party & should be questioned as such. They are (hoping) to be Public Servants and should they get elected (Heaven forfend!) they will represent (& are responsible to) all the citizens of Kentucky & Nevada, not just the rank Conservative Teabaggy ones.
They don't even seem to acknowledge that there's a whole crazy great big nation out there, many of whom might have a legitimate question for them to answer.
Makes me crazy, ...
"Well, no. We wanted them to ask the questions we want to answer so that they report the news the way we want it to be reported," said Angle. She added that she wants to be able to tell people to send money to her website.
That is the most funnest ever Senate candidate since ever, Sharron Angle, talking to Carl Cameron from Fox News, (Duh! )Let's go over that again, real slow: " ... so that they report the news the way we want it reported." Emphasis mine, natch.
Sarah Palin has unwittingly started a whole new (language, i.e. refudiate) & campaign strategy. This Run away Run away! (unless it's Fox News, of course) Master Plan seems to have come aboot b/c of the Evil Bunny-herself, Katie frickin' Couric, of the Lamestream media, asked Caribou Barbie a few 'tough' questions, like what newspapers Palin reads.
The Charles de frickin' Gaulle. The GOP has truly gone mad. & do not forget, teabaggers like Rand Paul & Ms Angle are running as Republicans, not Independents or teabaggery parties of the like.
These idiots truly believe that they will represent only their party & should be questioned as such. They are (hoping) to be Public Servants and should they get elected (Heaven forfend!) they will represent (& are responsible to) all the citizens of Kentucky & Nevada, not just the rank Conservative Teabaggy ones.
They don't even seem to acknowledge that there's a whole crazy great big nation out there, many of whom might have a legitimate question for them to answer.
Makes me crazy, ...
Aug 1, 2010
It is crazy
& wonderful to see the Rangers' GM Jon Daniels go all-out this season. To wit, Gosh our catching situation is a mess! Here's Benji Molina. Harden & Feldman not working out as your 1 & 2 guys in the rotation? Fine, let's trade for Cliff Lee. Had to give up Smoak, a switch-hitting 1B prospect who could be Teixeira 2 for Lee, though. And Chris 'Crash' Davis still ain't working out? Okay, here's Jorge Cantu. Damn, Kinsler is going to be out for a month. Alright, meet Christian Guzman. Heck, we even got rid of Saltalamacchia to the Red Sox (they have loved him for a long time, they must know they can fix him somehow. Good luck w/ that.) for cash so we can sign our draft choices. Then yesterday Harden comes off the DL, looks great, like his old self, meaning if he's really back, then that is like yet another fabulous deadline deal.
All this while the team is in bankruptcy and up for auction this week. Woo-hoo!
I think Nolan Ryan & Daniels don't think they'll be here next year and are going for it all, trying to win the whole goddamn thing.
Crazy time to be a Ranger fan right now.
All this while the team is in bankruptcy and up for auction this week. Woo-hoo!
I think Nolan Ryan & Daniels don't think they'll be here next year and are going for it all, trying to win the whole goddamn thing.
Crazy time to be a Ranger fan right now.
Saw Life During
Wartime the other night, Todd Solondz new film; a sequel of sorts to Happiness. It was very moving and has lived w/ me for hours after viewing & I will see it again soon.
The original title for this film was Forgiveness.
Mamet's great line from House of Games: "When you have done something unforgiveable, you must forgive yourself."
More on this film later (I know I know), but a couple of quick side-notes re Life During Wartime: a college student dorm room set is dressed with the usual studenty rock, ganga, che-type posters but also has a I'm Not There poster, too. I thought this was a jibe at Todd Haynes for him 'stealing' the many actors to represent one character idea that Solondz used in Palindromes. But I read in an interview that Solondz was having so much trouble getting permission from any studio to use any poster, period, that they used that one because the Life During Wartime DP was the same as I'm Not There (& Far From Heaven, as well), Edward Lachman. Lachman & Dick Pope, I think, are my favorite DPs going right now.
I can't remember the other thing right now.
The original title for this film was Forgiveness.
Mamet's great line from House of Games: "When you have done something unforgiveable, you must forgive yourself."
More on this film later (I know I know), but a couple of quick side-notes re Life During Wartime: a college student dorm room set is dressed with the usual studenty rock, ganga, che-type posters but also has a I'm Not There poster, too. I thought this was a jibe at Todd Haynes for him 'stealing' the many actors to represent one character idea that Solondz used in Palindromes. But I read in an interview that Solondz was having so much trouble getting permission from any studio to use any poster, period, that they used that one because the Life During Wartime DP was the same as I'm Not There (& Far From Heaven, as well), Edward Lachman. Lachman & Dick Pope, I think, are my favorite DPs going right now.
I can't remember the other thing right now.
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