Thursday, May 29, 2008

we buy dat, we buy dat




I'm seriously considering doing a whole seris just on pawn shop commercials. my favorite part is when he's eating his 'crunch' back at home, which looks like a small office in the back of united loan and firearm. Btw, anwyone interested in going there with me? i have some gold i'm tryin to get rid of.



Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Big Ol' Blog o' Bonnie Prince Billy

Usual habit of downloading as much as possible, know a few of us suffer from this syndrome, it's hard to find music that I like with more than just a passing interest. Once i reach the ability to give an informed opinion, most music slips away until someone else presses about it....

Occasionally, something does stick, but it sneaks up over years until all the albums are memorized and played frequently without even really thinking about it.

Will Oldham is one of the few I've always kept up with, and I'm pretty sure most of you haven't really had much exposure so here's the chance to give it a go.

On a professional level, he's got everything covered worthy of my jealousy.

Outside of the music, he's acted in several serious movies and fucks with Zack Galifiniakis on the fun zone. He was in that Kanye West video, been on wondershowzen, was in Junebug which is a must see, and a million other tidbits.

Old Joy stands out in the film arena. A super quiet movie about reunited friendships, it manages to capture the unsaid conversations without lagging in the least. Beautiful scenery, solid acting, feels like your right there in it. Rent it if you haven't seen it.

The real reason is the music. Often a little country lilt without actually being 'country'. Unusual additions and flourishes that always fit. Constantly changing band set ups, and tweaking sounds every album, every one is an experience, and all of them a different trip. maintaining a bleak outlook while still looking for answers with hope, the lyrics are often brutal straight shots said in a way i haven't come across before. Witty, occasionally lighthearted, it'll hit you in the soft spot without ever being cheesy. Definitely the kind to listen to by yourself. This ain't party music.

Bjork recorded Harm of Will, about Oldham, written by Harmony Korine of Gummo fame no less, for vespertine. He's recorded with country legend Charlie Louvin, sang on albums for sage francis, Bjork's drawing restraint 9, sun kil moon, soulsavers, on and on...

I got hooked on Master and Everyone when it came out, a devastating understatement of an album based on desperation, isolation, unrequainted love. everything is horrible, and he makes it sound comforting instead of upsetting. He's not always miserable, but he's good at it when he is, and brings a poignancy to every word without it being difficult to get into.

I backtracked from there. Earlier stuff under various "Palace" monikers, sometimes with his brothers, sometimes not. Then jumped the gap and been awaiting every upcoming album. The newer releases often find cleaner production that benefits to a certain degree. I've heard often the live shows end up a little too jam bandy due to never having the same lineup, but this is solitary music anyway so a show doesn't seem very fitting. Nothing on the albums is Phishy at all. Don't fret.


I've compiled a super short sampler that covers everything he's good at in various forms. Lone tracks, band setups, incredible harmony and melody, still standing out through experimentations with electronic music. Dude's got a little something for everyone.

Tracks include stuff from recent releases, highlights form earlier various name incarnations, one of single collaborations, basically a grab bag of goodness.

Hit me up if interested, we'll do the AIM transfer deal. You'll find a place for it somewhere down the line. Might as well get it now.

here's a one off cover of Mariah Carey's "Can't Take That Away". Seriously. Just proof the man can work with anything and make it at the least interesting.



Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Chemtrails

If you hadn't heard, the new single off the upcoming Beck album. Chemtrails - Beck





Thursday, May 22, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull


If you haven’t seen the movie yet don’t worry there are no spoilers here.




India’s back and older than ever, but it doesn’t matter. In stead of ignoring it they use it for comedic purposes. India 4 is a good move for all involved. Lucas & Spielberg get to be nostalgic while racking in the money. And Lord knows Harrison needs it. He hasn’t had a hit since “What Lies Beneath” where he was in a sporting role and that was eight years back. The last true Ford picture to be a blockbuster was “Air Force One” and it was over a decade ago. What happened you ask, well he got old. The main difference was in films like “Firewall”, “Hollywood Homicide”. & “Six Days, Seven Nights” Harrison was put in the same roles he would played earlier in his carrier but they were no longer age appropriate. These movies didn’t let him age gracefully, which the new India certainly does. He has certainly played Jones before but the character has changed.

All this would be beside the point if the film didn’t deliver the goods. Crystal Skull has comedy, action, scares, and great characters. Throughout the movie I found myself smiling. It’s fun in the best possible summer blockbuster kind of way. There are many points in the picture when things go way over the top. But this is an India Jones movie not some documentary. If you’re not smiling at the lovely ridiculous of it then you’ve missed the point.

The best comparison I can come up with is the Die Hard franchise. You can make a film by film parallel between these two franchises. I first films were instant classics. The second one the missed the mark a little. The third one they up the comedy with a new sidekick Sean Connery & Samuel L. Jackson respectively. After long absences: 12 for Die Hard and a whopping 19 for India they got back on the horse. So if you want to know what to expect think “Live Free or Die Hard” only better. Just like in that movie were they brought in a younger male lead, the filmmakers have done the same thing here with Shia LaBeouf. The great thing about the India series is that unlike the Die Hard’s they have been able to keep the same team together. (Lucas, Ford, & Spielberg)

The cast is all great. LaBeouf is a great sidekick and not annoying. Karen Allen comes back from “Raiders”. In my opinion she was the best Indiana girl. Kudos for giving her another go! John Hurt plays a crazy and gets some laughs. The key too many action movies are the villain and this movie’s got a great one. Cate Blanchett is a vicious Russian chick. She’s always been a great actress and never really gotten a shot at the baddie. Cate takes it a runs with it just check out here hair doo on the movie poster.

Were does this India rank in the series? It’s hard to say; I have to see it a few more times. It’s definitely better than “Temple of Doom”. Should I see it in the theaters? For sure! Come on, this is what summer movies are all about. Frankly i’m gonna see it again.

I’ve read a few headlines from other reviews of the movie. The best one I’ve seen that sums the whole thing up is by Roger Ebert "I can say that if you liked the other Indiana Jones movies, you will like this one, and that if you did not, there is no talking to you." I would say if you don’t like India Jones then you’re stupid.


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

The Last Shadow Puppets





What's everyone think of this? Its from the singer of Artic Monkeys. I like that band, not alot but i have both of their albums. Its getting compared to Scott Walker & Bowie.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Danger Classics, Vol 1

This shit is all chris....







Bring on the sunshine and melancholy

A little someone keeps hassling me to post someone, so hold on to your knickers....



When I first came to Charleston, the hardest transition to triumph was the new core group of friends I soon acquired - mostly due to gender. I had become accustomed to a male majority where drama definitely existed, yet wasn't given the power to stifle one's ability to have fun. Let's be honest, that was mostly due to the fact that is was the fucking Danger Crew - good times weren't an option, rather a requirement. Then came Charleston, with the bitches and the bickering, and I found myself break on more than one occasion, screaming "get me the hell out of HERE!"

Alas, I am now going on my seventh year in the Holy City, my armor dented by betrayal, lost loves and friendships, and my patience as thin as a sewing needle. As my friend Kim so eloquently stated from time to time, "I have a limited bullshit tolerance," and I find myself following such a remark as a day to day mantra, culminating in my latest confrontation ending with a simple yet sizeable 'fuck off.' Avoiding sounding like a recipe from the most recent self help manual, it's not that life is too short to deal with such trivial theatrics, but moreso that it simply isn't worth the effort put forth in attempts to keep certain emotional trainwrecks from running their course.

It's no secret of mine that I attend therapy twice a month and take medication daily to pretty much save me from myself. With such a dramatic group of friends here in Charleston, it's easy to get wrapped up in their troubles and postpone working through my own. Recently, I've begun to feel the burdens of such selflessness and the wall I've built around my own issues has started to decay, causing some to spill out unexpectedly, sending me into a nostalgic whirlpool of bad decisions and sad memories. I've come to terms with some of those choices and assumed responsibility for my actions.

Yet now I've started to worry that I'll never be content. I don't wish for happiness anymore. Happiness is fleeting, present in moments and memories, only existing in life's honeymoon periods, but never tangible. I simply wish for contentment, a feeling a calm- perhaps only achievable by less contact with estrogen.

Now back to mending my wall.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

talk show host



Just finished taking the pics and video off my camera from the radiohead show in atlanta. Towards the end of the show i got the hang of taking picutres from so far back- i'll post a few as soon as i get them sorted out.

I wasn't expecting to hear talk show host, and it took me a minute to get the video started, but i'm pretty impressed by the sound and picture quality. It's really hard to keep the picture steady when you're zoomed in 15x; i think i did a good job though. At the end schuler starts talking to me about some crazy guy that thought jesse was my dad, so i just gave up.



I Watched This On Purpose: Speed Racer





Well the A.V. Club did it again. This has been my practices for years, watch a movie simply because you feel you must. I know it’s not going to good but I have to know. I’m not the only one either Chris & V your also guilty of seeing shit movies on purpose. I love having ammo ready on the off chance someone is actual a fan of the picture. Therefore, I’m taking the power back.

Cultural infamy:
Supposed big blockbuster turns I to be the first real big bomb of the summer. This thing finished behind an Ashton Kutcher flick on its opening weekend. I’m Sold! Based on the silly cartoon, that everyone knows of but no one really cares about. Honestly, who was looking forward to a Speed Racer movie? The critics said it was ahead of its time/ in a bad way. Disposable cartoon gets a disposable movie to complement it.

Curiosity factor: The Wachowski Brothers made a classic with the Matrix that sent them into the stratosphere, where they been steady falling from ever sense (Ex. Matrix Revolutions). There are a lot of good actors in this movie: Emily Hersch, John Goodman, Christina Ricci. How bad can it really be?

The viewing experience: I went in thinking “well at least I’ll be entertained for a while” after a half an hour I was so bored I got a piece of paper to take notes in order to salvage something from the experience. Thus you have this article. Speed Racer seems to be on a mission to destroy you retinas. It is brighter than a fireworks show!

The film is rated PG and it feels like it. If you are under the age of 10 then this movie will slay you. It’s proud to be a kid’s movie from top to bottom. If you think boy & chimp shenanigans are hilarious then get ready for about a 30 mins dedicated to just that. There are a couple of races that feel like they were completely stolen from the Pod Race in Episode 1. Only a lot cornier: Hahh, look at that guy throw a bee’s nest in the other car! (Seriously that happens). Remember what it felt like to crash in Cruising World. That’s pretty much it. Cars racing in the desert are way extreme.

The movie is simply way too long. Are 2hrs & 15mins really necessary for a film based on a cartoon? The Wachowski’s continue their trend of high concept and piss poor follow thru (see the 2nd two Matrix movies or V for Vendetta for further examples). You can tell that they have talent and enthusiasm. However, they are completely misguided about where to put there emphasis. What about good charters or story?

The actors are really not even necessary. Complete non-factor. They could get anybody in their and it would be the same show. All the directors care about is the special effects and creating new kind of picture. Which equals using peoples faces as a cut transitions between CGI scenes. This movie is like eating cotton candy, and the actors are the color pink. It won’t fill you up but it seems like something fun. Hyperbole to the max!

Obviously the movie wasn’t intended for me or my demographic. Nevertheless, it was shoved in my face as something with potential. Therefore, it earned any barbs it gets just for being inescapable in the public eye. Anything that’s this loud, bright, obnoxious needs to be attacked with fervor.

How much of the experience was a total waste of time?
About 90%! I enjoyed the film for about the length of a trailer. Also percentage points were awarded for boring me into a light nap which was semi-pleasant. Watch the trailer and you official given it all the attention it requires.




Saturday, May 10, 2008

What is this, ice?

Apparently rick and kristin have this theory that chris and i don't actually think tim and eric are funny, we're just jealous. Can't it be both?





Thanks to lee for turning me onto this clip.





Friday, May 9, 2008

Baby Cakes/Professor Brothers

Word down the pike is he's finally getting his own real show. If you aren't hip, though i know most of you are, here's the preview to episode one. Super Psyched. Now Go watch all the goodness on super deluxe before it's gone.

Musical Genius/Comedic Retard/Animation Master. Pick one.



"fxck the humans" is a particular favorite out of 100% funny output.





Monday, May 5, 2008

!!!

Just fucking check this out. It takes about 15 seconds for the song to start, but you can catch the back-up singer drinking budwieser with non other than The Field in the lead-up. There is a five song set on pitchfork tv for those interested...it's pretty good.





and if it's long the rest here.

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Radiohead: Best of?






http://www.amazon.com/Best-Radiohead/dp/B0017VG622/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1209902741&sr=1-1



apparently radiohead are releasing a best of DVD with all the videos 21 of them. it comes out June 3. also a 2 disc best of cd. didn't think this would happen for a while. their are no tracks from the new LP. I'm guessing this is due to the time they where on Parlophone. The cd's lean heavily on OK Computer 7 tracks & the bends with 7 tracks as well. It's looks like their are gonna be different versions of it for UK & US respectively. Now what we really need is a complete collection of the b-sides! they also played a set on VH1 last night. its called in rainbows/ from the basement. go to vh1.com to see it, pretty dope.
http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?id=1586639&vid=230406



oh yeah i'll/many of you will see them thurs. hell yes!

Friday, May 2, 2008



can i have some money?



From worldcarfans.com: "The Nissan GT-R can now lay claim to being one of the fastest production cars in the world after GT-R chief test driver Tochio Suzuki completed the famous Nurburgring circuit in Germany in just 7 minutes 29 seconds. According to our records, this puts the GT-R in second place for fastest laps by unmodified production cars just behind the Pagani Zonda F which posted a time of 7 minutes and 27 seconds last November."

Nissan GT-R: $70,000
Pagani zoonda f: $900,000

FUCK.

Link.

Won't let me post html in comments. Normally i don't care for jay leno, but he's got a site to showcase all the cars he owns or is excited about. he's either knowledgable enough or has researchers, but i actually enjoy all of these videos. his take on the gtr.-chris







Thursday, May 1, 2008

Iron Man






I saw a sneak preview of this movie today and surprise its good! It comes out my birthday which gives it a automatic place in my heart. Why is better than your average super hero movie? The difference is all in the details. First, Downey is the shit! Everybody knows he's a great actor. what usually gets forgotten is this guy is funny. the charter tony stark which he plays is a sarcastic ass. its great. This ones got what the new hulk movie looks like it lacks a sense of humor. Toward the end of the movie i when the big fight happens i thought to myself this is what transformers would of been like if it didn't suck. I recommend everybody go see it in the theater, you know shit getting blowed up real good is better on the big screen. i'm gonna buy this one when it hits DVD, and that's the highest complement i can give it. Oh their will be sequels.

The most consistently great group in Hip Hop



8 studio and 1 live albums deep, every single one of them a banger.

Get that new Rising Down if you haven't yet.



and if it's long the rest here.

Portishead: Cult Heroes







To celebrate the new Portishead LP i did my typical thing(made a playlist). Tell me what you guys think of it. What tracks needed to be added? Is their a good flow(chunk)? I tried to be even handed. i also included the Beth Gibbons solo album. And i did research for it, which is sad. Warning: Not Blair approved

1. Glory Box
2. Only You
3. Tom The Model
4. Machine Gun
5. All Mine
6. Numb
7. Requiem for Anna(Ganisbourg Cover)
8. Cowboys (Live)
9. We Carry On
10. Drake
11. Silence
12. Over
13. Strangers (Live)
14. Mysteries
15. Sour Times

I think the new album is good. I feel like its gonna be a grower. the main complaint i have against it is theirs a lack of bangers, which were the core of their other LP's.
What did you all think of the new album?