June 10, 2005
"Break Me an F'ing Give"
This is easily the greatest movie review I've ever read. Not because I agree -- I haven't seen the new Star Wars movie -- but because of the biting and beautiful sarcasm that oozes off the page.
The young Obi-Wan Kenobi is not, I hasten to add, the most nauseating figure onscreen; nor is R2-D2 or even C-3PO, although I still fail to understand why I should have been expected to waste twenty-five years of my life following the progress of a beeping trash can and a gay, gold-plated Jeeves.
...
Yoda, whose reptilian smugness we have been encouraged to mistake for wisdom, has the answer. “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose,” he says. Hold on, Kermit, run that past me one more time. If you ever got laid (admittedly a long shot, unless we can dig you up some undiscerning alien hottie with a name like Jar Jar Gabor), and spawned a brood of Yodettes, are you saying that you’d leave them behind at the first sniff of danger? Also, while we’re here, what’s with the screwy syntax? Deepest mind in the galaxy, apparently, and you still express yourself like a day-tripper with a dog-eared phrase book. “I hope right you are.” Break me a fucking give.
Political Capital to Spend?
The media keeps telling me that George Dubya Bush is a popular president. Unfortunately they confused the combination of the 9/11 "Get Out of Jail Free" card and the war rally effect to Dubya with actual job performance:
About one-third of adults, 35 percent, said they think the country is headed in the right direction, while 43 percent said they approve of the job being done by Bush. Just 41 percent say they support his handling of the war, also a low-water mark.
How does that compare with Clinton's darkest days?:
(AllPolitics, December 20) -- In the wake of the House of Representatives' approval of two articles of impeachment, Bill Clinton's approval rating has jumped 10 points to 73 percent, the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows.
I'm no Einstein but that's a 30 point difference from the popular president versus the unpopular president. Talk about your fuzzy math...
Two Smart Guys
Former Talking Head David Byrne writes an long but interesting response to the recent Alex Ross article in the New Yorker on how technology has transformed the sound of music.
June 09, 2005
Controversy
As seen on AMERICAblog: Because a great nation deserves the truth
John C. Danforth, Republican:
"By a series of recent initiatives, Republicans have transformed our party into the political arm of conservative Christians."
t r u t h o u t - John C. Danforth | GOP Now "Political Arm of Conservative Christians"
Howard Dean, Democrat
"Republicans "all behave the same, and they all look the same. ... It's pretty much a white Christian party."
Dean's words invite controversy - 06/09/05
June 08, 2005
No DSM on StLToday
Go to STLtoday, type in "Downing Street Memo" and what do you get?
Nothing.
The Downing Street Memo :: What is it?
"I know that my retirement will make no difference in its cardinal principles, that it will always fight for progress and reform, never tolerate injustice or corruption, always fight demagogues of all parties, never belong to any party, always oppose privileged classes and public plunderers, never lack sympathy with the poor, always remain devoted to the public welfare, never be satisfied with merely printing news, always be drastically independent, never be afraid to attack wrong, whether by predatory plutocracy or predatory poverty."
-- statement by Joseph Pulitzer, April 10, 1907
1974 Dylan Outakes
If you love Dylan's 1975 "divorce record" Blood on the Tracks as much as I do, then you'll want to pick up these MP3 files. I have to say my favorite song is "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" -- but these are alrighty too:
TANGLED UP IN BLUE
Bob Dylan
Unreleased Blood On The Tapes Take
1974
YOU'RE A BIG GIRL NOW
Bob Dylan
Unreleased BOTTapes Take
1974
IDIOT WIND
Bob Dylan
Unreleased BOTTapes Take
1974
After spending a little time at Moistworks, I'd say it's worth a visit. Plenty of MP3 files available for you and always grouped in interesting ways with commentary. Today's post pits Yo La Tengo with Sun Ra...
Twangfest Night 1
I go way back to Twangfest No. 2. I'm not sure how I missed the first one. In any case, Twangfest has become the little festival that could. Though I'm romantic for the old days at Off Broadway, the move to multiple venues does allow them to spread the wealth. My days of hitting every night are over, but I plan to pop up here and there.
Some might argue the glory days of Alt Country are over, but the fact is there are a lot folks out on the edges of country music who will never fit in. They were there before the "Alt" was added and they'll be there long after. For them there is Twangfest.
Highlights: Thu night's dedication to Dan Bentele, Meat Purveyors, Big Sandy, The BRox & Neko Case.
The Schlafly Tap Room
At tonight's showcase, friends, family, and others will gather in memory of longtime Twangfest friend Dan Bentele.
2100 Locust Street at 21st
St. Louis, MO 63103
314.241.BEER
Wednesday, June 8
Doors at 7:30 - Show at 8:00
10:00 The Meat Purveyors
09:00 Jon Dee Graham
08:00 Milton Mapes
June 07, 2005
Get Behind the Stripes
The notable new releases for this week:
Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business
Coldplay X&Y;
White Stripes Get Behind Me Satan
Paul Anka Rock Swings
Junior Brown Greatest Hits
Gomez Out West
Graham Parker Songs of No Consequence
Jim White - Jim White Presents Music from Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus
Coming down the pipe:
13 Jun Monday
Saint Etienne Tales From Turnpike House UK
14 Jun Tuesday
Backstreet Boys Never Gone
Ry Cooder Chavez Ravine
Dressy Bessy Electrified
Brian Eno Another Day On Earth
Foo Fighters In Your Honor [2xCD]
Pernice Brothers Discover A Lovelier You
Stevie Wonder A Time 2 Love
Dwight Yoakam Blame The Vain
Upcoming Concerts
Twangfest In-Stores
Euclid Records:
June 8, Wednesday Meat Purveyors - 5:30
June 9, Thursday Richmond Fontaine - 6:00
Vintage Vinyl:
Jon Dee Graham June 8, 6:00 PM
Nora O'Connor June 10, 6:00 PM
Upcoming Concerts:
Twangfest - June 8-11
Thu 06/09/05 Ted Leo / Pharmacists Creepy Crawl
Mon 06/13/05 Marah Off Broadway
Sat 06/18/05 Todd Snider Mississippi Nights
Wed 06/22/05 Tim Easton Frederick's Music Lounge
Thu 06/23/05 Jonathan Richman Blueberry Hill's Duck Room
Fri 07/01/05 Bettie Serveert Blueberry Hill's Duck Room
Fri 07/08/05 Bob Dylan & Willie Nelson Sauget IL GMC Stadium
Sun 07/10/05 Lyle Lovett Roberts Orpheum Theatre
Sat July 16: Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel at Lafayette Park (free, 6-8pm)
Sat 08/06/05 Sonny Landreth Blueberry Hill's Duck Room
Wed 08/24/05 The White Stripes Fox Theatre
Wed 08/24/05 Brian Wilson Roberts Orpheum Theatre
Sat 10/22/05 Brave Combo Soulard Oktoberfest
Salon's Playlist Summer
Free MP3s from Salon.com. You must be a member or watch a short advertisement to gain access:
Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Audiofile
1. "Sun," by Toms
2. "The World May Never Know," by Dr. Dog
3. "Dear John," by Aimee Mann
4. "Boisa-bis-o-boisa," by Jens Lekman
5. "Hey Man (Now You're Really Living)," by Eels
6. "Figaro (Stones Throw 101 Remix)," by Madvillain
7. "Once Around the Block," by Badly Drawn Boy
8. "Kissing Kecia," by Mike Ladd
9. "Red Night," by Pure Horsehair
10. "The Lemon of Pink," by the Books
11. "Prospect Hummer," Animal Collective and Vashti Bunyan
12. "Blaue Fäden," by März
13. "Hotel Tell," by the Sea and Cake
14. "Venus," by Low
15. "Track One," by Panda Bear
Oh My God We're...
I encourage everyone without delicate sensibilities to visit the New Duncan Imperials webpage and download their amazing free MP3 of "Oh My God We're F'ing":
New Duncan Imperials More Music
June 06, 2005
Changes
What the heck happened here?
Well I've been meaning to clean up for some time. The old is gone. Deleted. Okay maybe I backed up all the old posts for historical purposes and Google never lets anything die now, but it's pretty much gone. Millions of ones & zeros removed from Brian's server space...for now. Dead. Kaput.
I haven't gone into the DJ business either. I do have a soft spot for the LP however and that photo above, after a good dose of Photoshop, just seemed to work. I'm sure I'll tire of this one in a few months and move on. New photo, new colors, new layout, yawn.
If you are reading this through a RSS reader please click on the link and take a look. I use Bloglines myself but try to remember to click over and see how folks are designing their sites these days. Plus you can always steal an idea for your site. There is no original thought.
I'm going to try and make some posting changes. I promise to try and stop just posting links to stuff without commentary. I think Waveflux does an excellent job with commentary that adds to the content he links to. I can do better.
I'm also moving into a mostly music mode. At least until I blow it up and start over. There will be only one category for politics as I don't have enough energy left to link to every conspiracy theory on the internetS these days. I've been obsessed with music since I was about 8 and politics since I was 18. Way back when a trip with Mom to the Venture store meant I got to pick out a new 45 rpm record. Due to bad timing that means I own the "Disco Duck" 45, but even after that scar I haven't been able to let go. Or even after Elton John and Kiki Dee. Really. President's come and go but at least Rubber Soul remains.
Thank You to anyone who has ever bothered to stop by and waste some time here. It's greatly appreciated...
