Friday, July 29, 2005
I've never had a JuJuBe, either.
As I was walking back from D'Angelo's, where I ate a Big Papi, I noticed a Chuckles wrapper lying on the sidewalk. I realized that, in all my 28 block-rocking years, I've never eaten even a single Chuckle. I'm not even sure exactly what they are; some sort of gumdrop thing, right? But it got me thinking about all the other major namebrand candies, and how I've never tasted many of them. Never has a Whatchamacalit crossed these lips, nor a Skor, 100 Grand, or Fifth Avenue. I've never gnawed on a Charleston Chew, or bitten into a Mars Bar. I've taken only single bites of Mounds and Almond Joy, and hated both. I didn't even like Butterfingers until the last five years or so. I don't eat candy much anymore (I prefer baked goods), but when I was a kid I downed enough to carry me through the length of my life. I was meek, though, timid, and hardly ever experimented. I stuck to the same three or four staples, entering only the occasional dalliance with a Milky Way or Snickers. SweeTarts, Caramel Creams, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were my main gig. I had a brief flirtation with Chunkys when I was six, and you could never go wrong with a Hershey's bar, but for the most part I stuck to those three. There was one other that I loved, and although Crews will totally have my back on this, most people I've met despise this candy with the hatred of a thousand Dixiecrats. It doesn't bug me, though, because I know that, despite the critics and naysayers, the Zero bar is one of the finest sweets in the land. That delectable white chocolate, beefily packed with the thickest nougat and chewiest caramel, still thrills me. Shaw's "Little White House" in Dalton kept Zero bars in their vending machines, and that is easily the only benefit in working for that horrible company. What an underappreciated gem of a treat!
As I was walking back from D'Angelo's, where I ate a Big Papi, I noticed a Chuckles wrapper lying on the sidewalk. I realized that, in all my 28 block-rocking years, I've never eaten even a single Chuckle. I'm not even sure exactly what they are; some sort of gumdrop thing, right? But it got me thinking about all the other major namebrand candies, and how I've never tasted many of them. Never has a Whatchamacalit crossed these lips, nor a Skor, 100 Grand, or Fifth Avenue. I've never gnawed on a Charleston Chew, or bitten into a Mars Bar. I've taken only single bites of Mounds and Almond Joy, and hated both. I didn't even like Butterfingers until the last five years or so. I don't eat candy much anymore (I prefer baked goods), but when I was a kid I downed enough to carry me through the length of my life. I was meek, though, timid, and hardly ever experimented. I stuck to the same three or four staples, entering only the occasional dalliance with a Milky Way or Snickers. SweeTarts, Caramel Creams, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups were my main gig. I had a brief flirtation with Chunkys when I was six, and you could never go wrong with a Hershey's bar, but for the most part I stuck to those three. There was one other that I loved, and although Crews will totally have my back on this, most people I've met despise this candy with the hatred of a thousand Dixiecrats. It doesn't bug me, though, because I know that, despite the critics and naysayers, the Zero bar is one of the finest sweets in the land. That delectable white chocolate, beefily packed with the thickest nougat and chewiest caramel, still thrills me. Shaw's "Little White House" in Dalton kept Zero bars in their vending machines, and that is easily the only benefit in working for that horrible company. What an underappreciated gem of a treat!
Thursday, July 28, 2005
still flyin' world premiere
okay, at twenty past the hour, and for the first time anywhere, I'll be playing the brand new Still Flyin' song "Coupla Smokies" on WZBC. Listen in if you can.
okay, at twenty past the hour, and for the first time anywhere, I'll be playing the brand new Still Flyin' song "Coupla Smokies" on WZBC. Listen in if you can.
THINGS I'VE LOST: A Running List (in no specific order)
1. G. I. Joe VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle) jeep, with driver Clutch.
Lost in 1987/1988.
Believed to be stolen by Rob Westphal.
1. G. I. Joe VAMP (Multi-Purpose Attack Vehicle) jeep, with driver Clutch.
Lost in 1987/1988.
Believed to be stolen by Rob Westphal.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
payola shocker!!!!
So Ellie, how many trips to the Cheetah did Harren get for programming "Drops of Jupiter" every 45 minutes?
So Ellie, how many trips to the Cheetah did Harren get for programming "Drops of Jupiter" every 45 minutes?
Thursday, July 21, 2005
turn the radio up
for that sweet sound.
Crews, WXDU, 10:30 to noon.
Me, WZBC, 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Both are Eastern Standard, the only time zone that matters.
for that sweet sound.
Crews, WXDU, 10:30 to noon.
Me, WZBC, 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Both are Eastern Standard, the only time zone that matters.
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
for the completists
I've got a review of that awesome new Excepter record in this week's Weekly Dig.
I've got a review of that awesome new Excepter record in this week's Weekly Dig.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
hearing
Lately I've spent some time listening to this Reading cd Josh Borger sent me. I've had it for like a year, at least, but it got misplaced in another disc's case and disappeared for months. I'm glad I found it, as it's really good. Too bad I never got to see these guys live. I might put a song or two from it up over on the Extension in a day or two.
Lately I've spent some time listening to this Reading cd Josh Borger sent me. I've had it for like a year, at least, but it got misplaced in another disc's case and disappeared for months. I'm glad I found it, as it's really good. Too bad I never got to see these guys live. I might put a song or two from it up over on the Extension in a day or two.
Monday, July 18, 2005
for your bewilderment
I was in an FYE store this weekend, and I don't know what confused me more, the fact that the sticker price for new cds is $19.99, or that they still release some new albums on cassette. They had the latest Luda on tape for ten bucks, alongside recent releases by the Game, 50 Cent, and Eminem. Is it only rap that still comes out on cassette? I didn't see the new Foo Fighters there, to give one example of a recent high-profile rock album.
Oh, wait, even more confusing, of the thirty or so cassettes in their fifty cent tape cut-out bin, roughly a third were Shimmy Disc albums from the late '80's. I so would have bought the John S. Hall / Kramer tape if I didn't already have the cd.
I was in an FYE store this weekend, and I don't know what confused me more, the fact that the sticker price for new cds is $19.99, or that they still release some new albums on cassette. They had the latest Luda on tape for ten bucks, alongside recent releases by the Game, 50 Cent, and Eminem. Is it only rap that still comes out on cassette? I didn't see the new Foo Fighters there, to give one example of a recent high-profile rock album.
Oh, wait, even more confusing, of the thirty or so cassettes in their fifty cent tape cut-out bin, roughly a third were Shimmy Disc albums from the late '80's. I so would have bought the John S. Hall / Kramer tape if I didn't already have the cd.
do spoilers matter if you're fairly sure nobody you know gives a shit?
All I know about Harry Potter comes from newspaper articles and CNN segments about how groin-grindingly popular he is. I've never read a page of the books, nor seen even a second of the films (outside of trailers). Thanks to the media's collective orgasm every time a book is released, though, I have come to learn the names and general roles of various major characters. All the reviews mention how dark the new book is, and how the ending is a major downer. Despite having no first-hand contact with the series, I believed I could predict the ending of the latest installment, based on these reviews. This incredibly awesome website confirms my suspicions. I don't give a crap about Potter, but this site is still pretty cool. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind getting their shit spoiled.
UPDATE: This site tries harder, but can't touch the beatiful simplicity of the original.
All I know about Harry Potter comes from newspaper articles and CNN segments about how groin-grindingly popular he is. I've never read a page of the books, nor seen even a second of the films (outside of trailers). Thanks to the media's collective orgasm every time a book is released, though, I have come to learn the names and general roles of various major characters. All the reviews mention how dark the new book is, and how the ending is a major downer. Despite having no first-hand contact with the series, I believed I could predict the ending of the latest installment, based on these reviews. This incredibly awesome website confirms my suspicions. I don't give a crap about Potter, but this site is still pretty cool. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind getting their shit spoiled.
UPDATE: This site tries harder, but can't touch the beatiful simplicity of the original.
I still haven't gotten that burrito.
Yeah, Dinosaur was worth the thirty-five bucks. It's rare for a band to make almost no effort to interact with a crowd outside the music and still hold fifteen hundred or so people utterly captive for ninety minutes. I don't know the completely accurate setlist, but they played pretty much everything that they did in Atlanta, but with the addition of "Little Fury Things". I think Lou might have talked between a couple songs, but I'm pretty sure J didn't say a damn thing all night. Might be wrong, though.
I've heard a lot of shit about them, and the audience absolutely despised them, but I thought the Majik Markers were great. You've got to respect a band that's willing to put themselves in a position to be totally hated by several hundred people.
The show was early, and we were out of the Avalon by quarter to ten. The Avalon's on Lansdowne, right across the street from Fenway. They were playing "Sweet Caroline", and yet folks were streaming out of the ballpark exits. Obviously it was some sort of blow-out, and from the general mood on the street it was also obviously Boston's game over the Yankees. Mingling in such a festive atmosphere immediately after an excellent, seemingly impossible concert was really quite nice. And then Qdoba had to fuck with my goodtimes by closing an hour early. I had the taste of burrito in my mouth all the way home. I had to make do with a mediocre turkey sandwich from Marty's, a place that served my wife rancid meat the last time we ate there. What the fuck, Qdoba?
UPDATE: SA pointed out that Bradley's Almanac has the entire show up here. And if you received a call from me Friday night, and heard nothing but a loud obnoxious hum, with (maybe) an almost indiscernable bassline behind it, that was me doing my best DJ impersonation. Sorry, I was psyched.
Yeah, Dinosaur was worth the thirty-five bucks. It's rare for a band to make almost no effort to interact with a crowd outside the music and still hold fifteen hundred or so people utterly captive for ninety minutes. I don't know the completely accurate setlist, but they played pretty much everything that they did in Atlanta, but with the addition of "Little Fury Things". I think Lou might have talked between a couple songs, but I'm pretty sure J didn't say a damn thing all night. Might be wrong, though.
I've heard a lot of shit about them, and the audience absolutely despised them, but I thought the Majik Markers were great. You've got to respect a band that's willing to put themselves in a position to be totally hated by several hundred people.
The show was early, and we were out of the Avalon by quarter to ten. The Avalon's on Lansdowne, right across the street from Fenway. They were playing "Sweet Caroline", and yet folks were streaming out of the ballpark exits. Obviously it was some sort of blow-out, and from the general mood on the street it was also obviously Boston's game over the Yankees. Mingling in such a festive atmosphere immediately after an excellent, seemingly impossible concert was really quite nice. And then Qdoba had to fuck with my goodtimes by closing an hour early. I had the taste of burrito in my mouth all the way home. I had to make do with a mediocre turkey sandwich from Marty's, a place that served my wife rancid meat the last time we ate there. What the fuck, Qdoba?
UPDATE: SA pointed out that Bradley's Almanac has the entire show up here. And if you received a call from me Friday night, and heard nothing but a loud obnoxious hum, with (maybe) an almost indiscernable bassline behind it, that was me doing my best DJ impersonation. Sorry, I was psyched.
Friday, July 15, 2005
A Sneak Preview
Last night I caught a sneak preview of the new Dukes of Hazzard remake. It screened in my head as I slept. And all I can say is that movie's kind of fucked up. It starts out normal enough, following Bo and Luke, played by Johnny Knokville and Sean William Scott, as they live their lives of bootlegging and outsmarting the law. It's enjoyable and Jessica Simpson's boobs get plenty of screen time.
But about 20 minutes in the movie veers off into totally uncharted territory. I was totally expecting 90 minutes of short shorts broken up by car chases and the General Lee going off all sorts of bad ass jumps. But this version doesn't even focus on the Duke Boys. The whole movie switches its focus, out of the blue, to Roscoe P. Coltrane. And Roscoe's not even played by a person. He's some sort of acid bleaced white skeleton/toxic avenger type hybrid thing with no clothes and no sherrif hat and some gnarly pieces of drippy flesh hanging from his bones. I don't think he even had a badge, but he does have some nice teeth. And there's this 15 or 20 minute long scene where he's just driving, fast as hell and its just one shot from inside his patrol car. Roscoe's just blabbering on and on about "those duke boys and their fucking fancy pants."
It was an interesting way to take things, but I'm not sure if this movie is really going to find an audience.
Last night I caught a sneak preview of the new Dukes of Hazzard remake. It screened in my head as I slept. And all I can say is that movie's kind of fucked up. It starts out normal enough, following Bo and Luke, played by Johnny Knokville and Sean William Scott, as they live their lives of bootlegging and outsmarting the law. It's enjoyable and Jessica Simpson's boobs get plenty of screen time.
But about 20 minutes in the movie veers off into totally uncharted territory. I was totally expecting 90 minutes of short shorts broken up by car chases and the General Lee going off all sorts of bad ass jumps. But this version doesn't even focus on the Duke Boys. The whole movie switches its focus, out of the blue, to Roscoe P. Coltrane. And Roscoe's not even played by a person. He's some sort of acid bleaced white skeleton/toxic avenger type hybrid thing with no clothes and no sherrif hat and some gnarly pieces of drippy flesh hanging from his bones. I don't think he even had a badge, but he does have some nice teeth. And there's this 15 or 20 minute long scene where he's just driving, fast as hell and its just one shot from inside his patrol car. Roscoe's just blabbering on and on about "those duke boys and their fucking fancy pants."
It was an interesting way to take things, but I'm not sure if this movie is really going to find an audience.
Electronic Football Music
Some selections from the soundtrack to the new NCAA Football 2006 game by EA Sports.
Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Kill Your TV
The Mr. T Experience - More Than Toast
Jawbreaker - Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault
Guided By Voices - Teenage FBI
De La Soul - Me Myself and I
Bad Religion - Atomic Garden
The Pietasters - Out All Night
Lush - Ladykillers
Mother Love Bone - This Is Shangri-La
NOFX - Jeff Wears Birkenstocks
The Clash - Train in Vain
Superchunk - Hyper Enough
Lagwagon - Know It All
The Pixies - Debaser
Some selections from the soundtrack to the new NCAA Football 2006 game by EA Sports.
Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Kill Your TV
The Mr. T Experience - More Than Toast
Jawbreaker - Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault
Guided By Voices - Teenage FBI
De La Soul - Me Myself and I
Bad Religion - Atomic Garden
The Pietasters - Out All Night
Lush - Ladykillers
Mother Love Bone - This Is Shangri-La
NOFX - Jeff Wears Birkenstocks
The Clash - Train in Vain
Superchunk - Hyper Enough
Lagwagon - Know It All
The Pixies - Debaser
Thursday, July 14, 2005
twenty minutes I didn't have to spend working
picked up from old reliable...
10 years ago: had just graduated high school. Spent my summer lying around the house, working at TCBY Treats, and occasionally making awful music with DJ. It was around the middle of July that I missed that Guided by Voices / Chavez show at the Masquerade due to the officious neat-freak asst mgr of the TCBY. I also went to that Russian religious art show they had at the World Congress Center, or wherever it was.
5 years ago: I was interning at the Atlanta History Center, living with my folks in Marietta, working part-time at the Merchant’s Exchange Carmike (my second stint), and just generally killing time before grad school started up in the Fall.
1 year ago: We were approaching the end of our first year in Boston, and getting wrapped up majorly in the Red Sox. I finally quit an ultra-shitty band that shall remain nameless. We were also getting ready to go home for a wedding shower and a recording session, where we crafted the blindingly brilliant future hit “Wizard of Points”.
Yesterday: “Worked”, fucked around on Google Earth, listened to some music, did some dishes, took out some trash, gathered together the stuff I plan on playing at River Gods tonight, and watched the final half-hour of the ECW One Night Stand dvd.
Today: “work”, some more work training, my monthly meeting with quality coach Janice, and then take off early to go to WZBC. After that, kill some time, and then head off to River Gods, where I shall no doubt embarrass myself.
Tomorrow: “work”, but with a hangover. And then Dinosaur Jr. Impending awesomeness on an unimaginable scale, hopefully.
5 snacks I enjoy: pretzels, donuts, Chex Mix, sausage cheese balls, Goetz’ caramel creams.
5 bands/artists that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs: Archers of Loaf, Pavement, Del Amitri (childhood, yo), Masters of the Hemisphere, Je Suis France.
5 things I would do with $100,000,000: pay my parents’ back, buy a car, buy a house, build a home studio, pay some dudes to write and record the music in my head.
5 locations I’d like to run away to: my bedroom; Xpu-Ha Palace; Oxford, North Carolina; Atlanta; Long John’s Silver.
5 bad habits I have: drink too much, eat too much, don’t sleep enough, don’t exercise enough, never shave ever.
5 things I like doing: listening to and playing music, obsessing over fantasy baseball, going to the movies, going out to eat, walking around Boston when the weather’s nice.
5 things I would never wear: cut-offs, a Polo shirt with the collar up (unless it’s part of a Chris Peterson Halloween costume), a unitard, a mesh shirt, anything with a Florida logo on it.
5 tv shows I like: active only. Arrested Development, The Simpsons, Lost, This Week in Baseball, Jeopardy!
5 movies I like: Raising Arizona, Dazed and Confused, Cabin Boy, Stripes, LA Confidential.
5 famous people I’d like to meet: Brian Giles, Marcus Giles, Richard Linklater, Ric Flair, Mick Foley.
5 biggest joys at the moment: my wife, the cats, the radio show, my absolutely dominant fantasy baseball team, MLB Baseball 2005 for the GameCube.
5 favorite toys: Optimus Prime, Stalker from GI Joe, Destro, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and, as always, Honey Joe.
picked up from old reliable...
10 years ago: had just graduated high school. Spent my summer lying around the house, working at TCBY Treats, and occasionally making awful music with DJ. It was around the middle of July that I missed that Guided by Voices / Chavez show at the Masquerade due to the officious neat-freak asst mgr of the TCBY. I also went to that Russian religious art show they had at the World Congress Center, or wherever it was.
5 years ago: I was interning at the Atlanta History Center, living with my folks in Marietta, working part-time at the Merchant’s Exchange Carmike (my second stint), and just generally killing time before grad school started up in the Fall.
1 year ago: We were approaching the end of our first year in Boston, and getting wrapped up majorly in the Red Sox. I finally quit an ultra-shitty band that shall remain nameless. We were also getting ready to go home for a wedding shower and a recording session, where we crafted the blindingly brilliant future hit “Wizard of Points”.
Yesterday: “Worked”, fucked around on Google Earth, listened to some music, did some dishes, took out some trash, gathered together the stuff I plan on playing at River Gods tonight, and watched the final half-hour of the ECW One Night Stand dvd.
Today: “work”, some more work training, my monthly meeting with quality coach Janice, and then take off early to go to WZBC. After that, kill some time, and then head off to River Gods, where I shall no doubt embarrass myself.
Tomorrow: “work”, but with a hangover. And then Dinosaur Jr. Impending awesomeness on an unimaginable scale, hopefully.
5 snacks I enjoy: pretzels, donuts, Chex Mix, sausage cheese balls, Goetz’ caramel creams.
5 bands/artists that I know the lyrics of MOST of their songs: Archers of Loaf, Pavement, Del Amitri (childhood, yo), Masters of the Hemisphere, Je Suis France.
5 things I would do with $100,000,000: pay my parents’ back, buy a car, buy a house, build a home studio, pay some dudes to write and record the music in my head.
5 locations I’d like to run away to: my bedroom; Xpu-Ha Palace; Oxford, North Carolina; Atlanta; Long John’s Silver.
5 bad habits I have: drink too much, eat too much, don’t sleep enough, don’t exercise enough, never shave ever.
5 things I like doing: listening to and playing music, obsessing over fantasy baseball, going to the movies, going out to eat, walking around Boston when the weather’s nice.
5 things I would never wear: cut-offs, a Polo shirt with the collar up (unless it’s part of a Chris Peterson Halloween costume), a unitard, a mesh shirt, anything with a Florida logo on it.
5 tv shows I like: active only. Arrested Development, The Simpsons, Lost, This Week in Baseball, Jeopardy!
5 movies I like: Raising Arizona, Dazed and Confused, Cabin Boy, Stripes, LA Confidential.
5 famous people I’d like to meet: Brian Giles, Marcus Giles, Richard Linklater, Ric Flair, Mick Foley.
5 biggest joys at the moment: my wife, the cats, the radio show, my absolutely dominant fantasy baseball team, MLB Baseball 2005 for the GameCube.
5 favorite toys: Optimus Prime, Stalker from GI Joe, Destro, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and, as always, Honey Joe.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
google earth remains awesome one day later
So when did they completely pave over Fulton County Stadium's old resting spot? On Google Earth, you can see Fulco's field sitting next to Turner's. It looks like the stadium itself is gone, but the diamond and grass remains. I would think this picture had to be taken sometime in late 1997, as they blew the Stadium up in August or September of that year, I believe.
Meanwhile, 30 or so miles northwest of there, the Avenue at East Cobb rests in plain site, dating the picture to late 1999, at the earliest. I'm fairly sure it opened up sometime in September or October of '99.
Okay, there's really not much difference between this and Google Map, but the presentation is infinitely cooler.
So when did they completely pave over Fulton County Stadium's old resting spot? On Google Earth, you can see Fulco's field sitting next to Turner's. It looks like the stadium itself is gone, but the diamond and grass remains. I would think this picture had to be taken sometime in late 1997, as they blew the Stadium up in August or September of that year, I believe.
Meanwhile, 30 or so miles northwest of there, the Avenue at East Cobb rests in plain site, dating the picture to late 1999, at the earliest. I'm fairly sure it opened up sometime in September or October of '99.
Okay, there's really not much difference between this and Google Map, but the presentation is infinitely cooler.
google earth
Damn, if you've got the high-speed internet, this is certainly worth your time. I can make out my parents' cars in their driveway.
Damn, if you've got the high-speed internet, this is certainly worth your time. I can make out my parents' cars in their driveway.
Monday, July 11, 2005
not entirely content-free movie and dvd reviews
Born Rich: very brief, like an hour, and wraps up right when you’re starting to lose interest. I can see why some of the folks in question would be angry, as the litigious Luke Weil and nihilistic Eurotrash model skeeze Cody are both thoroughly unlikable. Most of the other featured heirs are relatively okay, though. Ivanka Trump actually seems smart and somewhat normal; the nerdish Si Newhouse comes off like a college-aged Neal Schweiber; and the mild-mannered, hard-working, and impeccably named Josiah Hornblower, both a Vanderbilt and a Whitney, is a real-life Chester, of Sifl and Olly non-fame. The director leaves one pressing question unanswered, however: how the hell did pro golfer Raymond Floyd make enough money to hob-nob with the billionaires?
Shrek 2: As awful as I had imagined. Shrek is still an asshole, Puss-in-Boots isn’t as funny as I had hoped, and much of the humor is completely inappropriate (Shrek talking about his balls, Pinnochio wearing a thong, the three farm girls wanting to jump the humanized Shrek, etc.) And, of course, the incessant use of bad pop music and unimaginative pop-culture references continues unabated. The worst is Pete Yorn’s horrific cover of “Ever Fallen In Love”, played for no appropriate reason during some mindless action scene. Like the first one, the highlight is Donkey, who not only gets the best lines but benefits from the best vocal performance, as well.
When We Were Kings: I wish Foreman had pummeled the crap out of him. George in ’74 was the coolest looking dude maybe ever, and his refusal to echo Ali’s “I’m gonna kill ‘im” rhetoric speaks to his integrity. Ali’s chatter got annoying quick, but you’ve got to give him credit for his strategic brilliance. The movie itself was excellent, with an amazing amount of period footage. The concert looked and sounded incredible, Mailer and Plimpton weren’t annoyingly pretentious and/or literary, and the suspense is built up well for those who don’t know or can’t remember who won. Even Allyn dug it, and she can’t stand boxing.
Daily Show: Indecision 2004, Disc 1 (of 3): Peaks early, then trails off slowly during the final two episodes. “Rob Corddry’s Boston” is some of the best tv I’ve seen in months, though, and not just because they flash a couple shots from my neighborhood.
ECW: One Night Stand: Forty-five minutes in, and it’s been some great fun. On one level I would have rather seen a WCW / NWA reunion, but if that happened and stayed true to form a horrible last hour would have ruined whatever fun the undercard provided. I think I’ve seen three matches on the ECW dvd, and although none of them have been all that wonderful, they’ve been excellent as nostalgia. The Lance Storm / Chris Jericho opener has been the best so far, but the ending was pretty lame. If it is the last match of Storm’s career, he should have gone over clean, and not with interference from Aldo Montoya. Anyway, I hope to knock another hour or so out tonight.
Born Rich: very brief, like an hour, and wraps up right when you’re starting to lose interest. I can see why some of the folks in question would be angry, as the litigious Luke Weil and nihilistic Eurotrash model skeeze Cody are both thoroughly unlikable. Most of the other featured heirs are relatively okay, though. Ivanka Trump actually seems smart and somewhat normal; the nerdish Si Newhouse comes off like a college-aged Neal Schweiber; and the mild-mannered, hard-working, and impeccably named Josiah Hornblower, both a Vanderbilt and a Whitney, is a real-life Chester, of Sifl and Olly non-fame. The director leaves one pressing question unanswered, however: how the hell did pro golfer Raymond Floyd make enough money to hob-nob with the billionaires?
Shrek 2: As awful as I had imagined. Shrek is still an asshole, Puss-in-Boots isn’t as funny as I had hoped, and much of the humor is completely inappropriate (Shrek talking about his balls, Pinnochio wearing a thong, the three farm girls wanting to jump the humanized Shrek, etc.) And, of course, the incessant use of bad pop music and unimaginative pop-culture references continues unabated. The worst is Pete Yorn’s horrific cover of “Ever Fallen In Love”, played for no appropriate reason during some mindless action scene. Like the first one, the highlight is Donkey, who not only gets the best lines but benefits from the best vocal performance, as well.
When We Were Kings: I wish Foreman had pummeled the crap out of him. George in ’74 was the coolest looking dude maybe ever, and his refusal to echo Ali’s “I’m gonna kill ‘im” rhetoric speaks to his integrity. Ali’s chatter got annoying quick, but you’ve got to give him credit for his strategic brilliance. The movie itself was excellent, with an amazing amount of period footage. The concert looked and sounded incredible, Mailer and Plimpton weren’t annoyingly pretentious and/or literary, and the suspense is built up well for those who don’t know or can’t remember who won. Even Allyn dug it, and she can’t stand boxing.
Daily Show: Indecision 2004, Disc 1 (of 3): Peaks early, then trails off slowly during the final two episodes. “Rob Corddry’s Boston” is some of the best tv I’ve seen in months, though, and not just because they flash a couple shots from my neighborhood.
ECW: One Night Stand: Forty-five minutes in, and it’s been some great fun. On one level I would have rather seen a WCW / NWA reunion, but if that happened and stayed true to form a horrible last hour would have ruined whatever fun the undercard provided. I think I’ve seen three matches on the ECW dvd, and although none of them have been all that wonderful, they’ve been excellent as nostalgia. The Lance Storm / Chris Jericho opener has been the best so far, but the ending was pretty lame. If it is the last match of Storm’s career, he should have gone over clean, and not with interference from Aldo Montoya. Anyway, I hope to knock another hour or so out tonight.
a physical appearance
I'll be making my live disc jockeying debut this Thursday night at River Gods in Cambridge, as a part of WZBC's bimonthly Ointment night. I've got the first shift, 9:00 to 10:15 pm, and have been told to keep it kind of laid-back, at least for the first forty-five minutes, as folks will still be eating dinner. But so, I'm actually sort of nervous, and am having a hard time deciding what to play. Any suggestions?
I'll be making my live disc jockeying debut this Thursday night at River Gods in Cambridge, as a part of WZBC's bimonthly Ointment night. I've got the first shift, 9:00 to 10:15 pm, and have been told to keep it kind of laid-back, at least for the first forty-five minutes, as folks will still be eating dinner. But so, I'm actually sort of nervous, and am having a hard time deciding what to play. Any suggestions?
Friday, July 08, 2005
Damn.
Over four years since I was last a student, I have apparently finally lost my old Arches account. With it goes my subscription to Kermit's Bells, and almost nine years worth of saved e-mails. I'm almost sort of sad.
Over four years since I was last a student, I have apparently finally lost my old Arches account. With it goes my subscription to Kermit's Bells, and almost nine years worth of saved e-mails. I'm almost sort of sad.
that particular place
A lot of folks have covered Shellac's "Prayer to God" the last few years, but Jon-Rae and the River's country rock version, as posted on Said the Gramophone the other day, might be the best of them.
A lot of folks have covered Shellac's "Prayer to God" the last few years, but Jon-Rae and the River's country rock version, as posted on Said the Gramophone the other day, might be the best of them.
yesterday's show
Mesmerization Eclipse, Thursday July 7th, 2005
Yo la Tengo: "Decora"
Hawkwind: "The Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)"
Oneida: "Snow Machine"
Prolapse: "TCR"
Art Brut: "Modern Art"
Polvo: "Fast Canoe"
Public Image Limited: "Poptones"
Crooked Fingers: "The River"
Minutemen: "The Anchor"
Guided by Voices: "Matter Eater Lad"
Julian Cope: "I'm Living in the Room They Found Saddam In"
Melvins: "Snake Appeal"
Pavement: "And Then"
The Fall: "The Container Drivers"
Phosphorescent: "Endless Pt. 1"
Icy Demons: "Jump Off"
Spoon: "Metal Detektor"
Es: "Puutarhaan Laskeutuu Hoyhen"
Major Stars: "Song for Turner"
Acid Mothers Temple: "Hello Good Child"
Mice Parade: "Warm Hand in Farmland"
Wolfmangler: "Kojo No Tsuki"
Some Girls: "Hot Air Balloons"
Gang Gang Dance: "Rugs of Prayer"
Fat Day: "Sex on Drugs"
Grifters: "Cinnamon"
Howling Hex: "Instilled With Mem'Ry"
Go-Betweens: "Right Here"
Mesmerization Eclipse, Thursday July 7th, 2005
Yo la Tengo: "Decora"
Hawkwind: "The Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)"
Oneida: "Snow Machine"
Prolapse: "TCR"
Art Brut: "Modern Art"
Polvo: "Fast Canoe"
Public Image Limited: "Poptones"
Crooked Fingers: "The River"
Minutemen: "The Anchor"
Guided by Voices: "Matter Eater Lad"
Julian Cope: "I'm Living in the Room They Found Saddam In"
Melvins: "Snake Appeal"
Pavement: "And Then"
The Fall: "The Container Drivers"
Phosphorescent: "Endless Pt. 1"
Icy Demons: "Jump Off"
Spoon: "Metal Detektor"
Es: "Puutarhaan Laskeutuu Hoyhen"
Major Stars: "Song for Turner"
Acid Mothers Temple: "Hello Good Child"
Mice Parade: "Warm Hand in Farmland"
Wolfmangler: "Kojo No Tsuki"
Some Girls: "Hot Air Balloons"
Gang Gang Dance: "Rugs of Prayer"
Fat Day: "Sex on Drugs"
Grifters: "Cinnamon"
Howling Hex: "Instilled With Mem'Ry"
Go-Betweens: "Right Here"
so dig this big crux
Anybody seen We Jam Econo yet? It's playing at the Coolidge tonight. I'm pretty sure we're going. I wanted to ask people who've seen it, though, if it would interest an avowed non-fan of the band. The wife couldn't care less about the Minutemen, but she does greatly enjoy good documentaries, and so she's willing to give it a shot. So, do you have to dig the band to like the film?
Anybody seen We Jam Econo yet? It's playing at the Coolidge tonight. I'm pretty sure we're going. I wanted to ask people who've seen it, though, if it would interest an avowed non-fan of the band. The wife couldn't care less about the Minutemen, but she does greatly enjoy good documentaries, and so she's willing to give it a shot. So, do you have to dig the band to like the film?
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
almost nearly content-free movie review
Hitch was alright. But why the hell was Michael Rappaport in it for only one scene? And how did Beau Sia wind up as an extra with one line and maybe three seconds of screen-time?
Hitch was alright. But why the hell was Michael Rappaport in it for only one scene? And how did Beau Sia wind up as an extra with one line and maybe three seconds of screen-time?
Friday, July 01, 2005
"Our America"
Okay... the song is pretty much a bunch of nothing, but you can download the Muzik Mafia's patriotic tribute "Our America" here, now through Monday night. They'll be debuting this live Monday at the Esplanade on the bank of the Charles up here in Boston, alongside the Boston Pops and their conductor, former Atlanta Brave utility infielder Keith Lockhart.
Okay... the song is pretty much a bunch of nothing, but you can download the Muzik Mafia's patriotic tribute "Our America" here, now through Monday night. They'll be debuting this live Monday at the Esplanade on the bank of the Charles up here in Boston, alongside the Boston Pops and their conductor, former Atlanta Brave utility infielder Keith Lockhart.
