I GOT IT.

Screw all my problems. I got the new Rapture album. Will upload tomorrow.

EDIT:

[The Rapture; Pieces of the People We Love]

heh?

What the hell happened to Jared Leto? I liked him better fat. I hate how he is convincing everyone that he is a rock star.

rip off!

Only seven episodes in this season of Reno 911! ?

No more of this genius?

project r-way

So what was with the shirtless porn shot of Kayne at the beginning? At least now I know he’s a natural redhead.

Jeffrey is vile. But I liked his outfit. Damn.

Um, is wrong that I was surprised that Angela was married? God, she looked like shit. And I hate her over the top reactions.

Could Laura’s stuff be more boring? Why didn’t she get called out about making the same dress over and over again and Uli did? Go have more babies.

Michael is the coolest person to ever live.

2 years of my life I will never get back

Yes, I do realize that we are coming up on the second anniversary of this here blog. Wow. Two years of posting pics of hot celebs and bragging about my music collection. It’s been tiring. There’s a big retrospective planned. Think Katie Couric’s last day on the Today Show. And ,ultiply that by a hundred, and that’s what you have to look forward to.

little miss overrated

So at least one critic has not drinken the Kool-Aid from Fox Searchlight. THis review convinced me I don’t need to see it urgently.

A “What’s Wrong With America” indie comedy reveals what’s wrong with indie comedies.

don’t judge.

So I hear one song that is kind of catchy and then I play it to the death (ahem). So call me crazy, but I think Jessica Simson’s new single is pretty good, when judging purely as a pop song. I’ve always been a fan of disco.

Jessica Simpson; “Public Affair”

So I discovered this new thing called the internets.

So what is this a slow news day? This has been done before. Two recent articles that have peaked one of my greatest interests: How the internet has changed the music industry.

Wired: The Pitchfork Effect (They credit Pitchfork for “breaking” Broken Social Scene)
Bands use Youtube to win fans (obligatory OKGo mention)

warning! Beautiful person alert!

You would think I would find a video starring two of my biggest celeb crushes kind of tantalizing. But in reality it looks like bad amateur softcore porn or a terrorist video. Is it supposed to be romantic? Oh btw it’s for James Blunt’s “Goodbye My Lover” with Mischa Barton and Matt Dallas.

genius. just genius.

An unofficial Fisher-Price Snakes on a Plane playset. Fucking genius. But worth $120?

And stage productions no longer have dignity.

I just think of all the struggling singer/dancers who are making it the right way and not getting parts because their daddy pimps them out. This makes me sad for the state of musical theater.

Ashlee Simpson has signed on to play murderous vixen Roxie Hart in the London run of the musical Chicago. After weeks of speculation, Simpson kicked off rehearsals for the legendary musical in a New York City studio on Monday. Chicago producer Barry Weissler confirmed the news to American publication Star, saying, “Yes, it is true. Ashlee Simpson is joining the cast of Chicago in London. We are very excited and are looking forward to gauging the London audience reaction.” The deal for Simpson to star in the play was finalized this past weekend and she will appear onstage in October in London’s West End. According to a source, “Ashlee’s a dancer; her background is in dance. She wants to do live theatre. This will put all of those critics to rest. She’s always wanted to be on stage, but she got diverted when she started selling so many albums.” Simpson’s Chicago role follows Usher’s decision to join the cast in New York. He’s currently playing Billy Flynn on Broadway, where he’s receiving lukewarm reviews.

Believe it or not, I enjoy this album.

Based on what I usually listen to, you wouldn’t think that I liked Kelis. Aside from this “Milkshake” garbage, at times her music is more rock than r&b. This is a good one.

[Kelis ; Kelis Was Here]

Factory Girl

All, I am so excited about the upcoming Factory Girl. (It’s about Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick). I worship Andy Warhol. My dream is to go back in time and hang out with Andy Warhol at a Michael Alig party while doing lines with James St. James.

new Justin Timberlake

Two weeks before it’s officially released….

[ I've uploaded it here ]

it’s a public affair

So, I can’t really say much about the past two weeks but that in my job it is the busiest ever. I have been interacting with people for 14 hours a day, so I am pretty much drop dead mentally exhausted when I get home. The whole year when I wonder what the hell I am doing here and what sort of impact I am making on anything kind of doesn’t seem so bad during this week when I can actually see some sort of small impact that I make. This week is also bittersweet because I am seeing all the exciting learning experiences and life-chaning events that happen to the students, and it makes me wonder, will I ever have that again? Can I have that again? The theme of the last two years for me have been stagnation. I mean, my professional knowledge and professional growth have skyricketed, but does that really count for something? I’d rather my personal life catch up to that. Is it too late? I feel like when you turn 30 your life automatically freezes into whatever it’s current state is and that is what you have to live with. I reaize this is a ridiculous arbitrary limitation I have set for myself, but I feel like I only have the next two years to kick things into gear.

In other news, I got Justin Timberlake’s new album and it bored me to tears.

I heard Ben Kweller’s new album and it is fantastic.

I accidentally ate cheese earlier this week and I am losing sleep over it.

I usually fall asleep with the tv on and I woke up to Fergie’s video for “London Bridge” and immediately contracted gonnorhea. Holy shit. Is this what it has come to? How is it that she can act like that and be ok with it? How can anyone find her attractive? I am so disgusted I am almost fascinated.

fawkward

Did anyone else know that Jessica Simpson does a cover of “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)” on her new album? Well here it is, and it is terrible. Funny and terrible. I have to balance that out with one of the best covers ever, Muse covering Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good“.

wha?

You knew this was coming…The uncyclopedia. a parady of Wikipedia.

the Thermals

The Thermals new album blows my mind, and Pitchfork agrees with me. So here it is.

[ The Thermals; The Body the Blood the Machine ]

i’m soaring, flying

There will be a High School Musical sequel. And now my life is complete.

[ more ]

love her.

I want to be Lily Allen. How can we make this happen?

Everbody’s changing and I feel drunk

I totally can call trends. I was correct in saying rehab is so hot right now. Rehab is the new black. Keane have canceled their tour because Tom Chaplin is in rehab. Or, as they say in the ‘biz, “exhaustion”. Thanks for the tip Andrew.

Essential albums: Oasis

Oasis blew up in the mid-nineties, but has continued to make albums for the last few years. Reviews have not been good for their recent stuff, which is not surprising when they came out so strong at the beginning any opportunities to grow and change their music risks being critically panned. The set the bar extremely high for alternative rock bands in the mid-nineties. Oasis always fascinated me because they could churn out great melodies in a heartbeat aside from having so many internal struggles. The Gallagher brothers were always drunk and fighting, and one of them quit the band every five seconds. Now, I wouldn’t normally condone that, but it just added to the awesomeness of their rockstar images. This is the one band that could probably be compared to the Beatles and have it actually be true. I also usually hate live albums, but Familiar to Millions covers some of their best singles, and it one of the only bands that sound even better live than on the album. ANd it is awesome to hear the crowd know just about every word. It’s the one of the only live albums I would but on a “Best of” list. I am sure many of you remember “Supersonic” and “Wonderwall” but believe me their other stuff is just as good if not better.

[ Oasis; "Familiar to Millions" ]

[Oasis Wikipedia entry]

[more essential albums]

roll bounce

So, roller rinks are rully hot right now. The Rapture (ohmyfuckinggod an amazing band) has their new video for “Myself Into It”. Two recent videos have had the same exact concept. I am undecided about which one is better, this one or Madonna’s “Sorry” video Oneof the best one she’s done. Also similar is Jessica Simpson’s “Public Affair” video which….uh….I kind of like the song. Plus I have a huge crush on Christina Applegate. The other two videos are under the cut.

superfluous rant

Ok, I am trying to be more positive when posting, but I think I have come to the end of my fuse on this one. I gotta let it out. So, the slef-chekout at the supermarket. Great invention, right? You can have a sense of agency and for people like me who like to avoid contact with strangers and most humans at any cost, it is a dream come true. Plus, it’s so trusting! It asks me to tell them how many Haas avacados I have, without anyone checking. So it absolutely kills me when I am standing behind someone at the self-checkout who is a complete moron. Ok, so the first time you use it, you may be a bit slower, but then damn thing could not be more self-explanatory if it tried. And then I am always behind the person who thinks its funny and who wants to commiserate with me about how hard it is. Or worse, ask me how to use it. When that happens, I’ll usually ignore them and keep reading US Weekly, or swoop in, push them out of the way, and just do their order with an exaggerated exasperated sigh. Thus neagting my whole plan to not interact with anyone. And then there’s the divider etiqueete. While someone is done passing their twenty boxes of mac and cheese and frozen dinners over the scanner, they then have to bag it. AND THERE IS A DIVIDER SITTING THERE IN PLAIN SIGHT. So I don’t have to wait ten years to start my order. Yet they never put it up and I am forced to either wait even more or stomp over and put it up for them and say “Motherfuck” under my breath only it isn’t really under my breath.

Sweet jebus. I am about five minutes from becoming that person standing on the street corner yelling obscenities at anyone that passes.

kirsten

I am officially obsessed with the Marie Antoinette movie, despite the Dunster being the star. I can’t get over the detail and fantastic art design/costume design.

More here.

animated White Stripes

The White Stripes will be guest stars on an upcoming Simpsons episode (is that show still on?). I think they are hot even as yellow-skinned cartoons. I like how they even paid attention to details, like Jack White’s red/black pants and Meg being barefoot.

When You Were Young

The Killers think they are the next coming of Christ on the music world. First their proclomation that their forthcoming album will be the most amazing album ever, and now the videos are hitting epic proportions. I think they want this to be the next “November Rain”. I wish they would get over themselves. I wish I would stop agreeing with them, because I think the song is amazing.

updates

So what’s up with me? I’ve been posting mostly music and celeb crap and not much about me, so I’ll give you an update. I am about to go into what I like to call the “Death Valley” part of my job. Meaning that for the next three weeks I am working constantly and dealing with crisis after crisis and having to talk and smile for about 14 hours a day, so you can bet I will be exhausted and quite aggravated in whatever “free time” I have. However, posting pics of Fall Out Boy on a blog somehow makes it just a little bit better. I’ve made the committment to stay here another year so I will mostly be just trying to get the most out of my last year and starting to think about a job search, which I have to start thinking about as early as January. What else? I am still chairing the regional professional conference, which believe me, is as glamorous as it sounds. I have also inquried about starting to write for music websites again, so we shall see. I am now allowed to have cats in my apartment. Since I have no idea where I will be in a year it is pointless to get a new cat, but I am also going to be looking into fostering kittens and elderly cats for a few weeks at a time.

And, of course, I will continue to spend my time perving out over emo boys and watching stupid movies.

Megatron!

Here is which Transformers made it to the movie.

The Truckee River killer?

I saw the video of the supposed killer of JonBenet Ramsey in the middle of the night last night and I thought it was part of a freaky dream I had. Apparently, it’s real. He was with her when she died? What? Does anyone else think someone is paying this guy to take the heat?

bring it on.

Bloc Party’s new album will be more hardcore and more violent. Well ok.

uh

Clive Owen is on the cover of GQ and one would think it would get my granny panties in a knot, but something looks off. I don’t know.

fuck you Heidi

Project Runway thoughts, quickly:

Is anyone else sick of Alison’s dramatic facial reactions?

I loved Jeffrey’s outfit. Loved it. Still hate him.

Goodbye Alison and your fake British accent.

I hate how they insert Heidi’s voiceovers on the runway. It’s so obvs.

I know Alison’s outfit was unflattering, but god forbid: “she looks like a plus!” and “I wouldn’t want to look like a fat Minnie Mouse”. Uh, Heidi, just a while ago you weren’t so tiny when you were pregnant with Seal’s spawn. Learn how to pronounce your R’s.

Michael Knight, do me. Make me some clothes first though.

best cover song ever

Muse covering Nina Simone = liquid awesomeness

Muse; “Feeling Good”

The Pet Shop Boys covering Willie Nelson = crack in music form

Pet Shop Boys; “Always On My Mind”

jewish adonis

Is anyone else loving Paul as the lamaze teacher on Reno 911? “I love ladies and I loooouuuuvvve babies”. Here he talks about what is playing on his ipod. He is claiming to like Grandaddy and Jeff Magnum. I think his publicist told him what to say in order to seem more “scene” than he actually is.

the duchess

Well, today in the car I forgot my ipod and I had to listen to FM radio for the first time in a long time. What the fuck is going on with popular music. Some moron thought it would be a good idea to give Fergie of the Black-Eyed Peas a solo career. Her song has the chorus of “How come every time you come around my London bridge want to go down”. What the hell does that even mean? Is London Bridge a euphamism for vagina? Does it mean she goes down everytime? Does she mean her pants go down? You know you are getting old when you can’t decipher the sex metaphors in the songs teens listen to. Then here is the clincher: “I’m Fergie Ferg let me love you long time”. Ok, now she is making a racial slur and pretending to be an Asian Hooker. What the hell. Who likes this stuff?

Ladies and gentlemen, the face of the new feminism:

rehab is so hot right now.

Oh no. Justn Hawkins, from the amazingly awesome band The Darkness, entered rehab for anorexia/bulimia. Apparently it was brought on by stress because their last album did not do so well. Now I feel bad for downloading it illegally and not buying it. But I listen to it all the time! Justin, I’m still you’re no. 1 fan! I love yoooooooouuuuuuuuuu!!!!They’s better record another album.
I used to watch the video for their first single “I Believe In a Thing Called Love” over and over again. And, I actually got hit with sweat at one of their shows.

can’t say i’m not excited

Well, Clay Aiken must have taken a hint from this blog, and realized cover songs in where it’s at. His new album is going to be frigging awesome. I mean, RIGHT HERE WAITING? BROKEN WINGS?  Awesome.

i’m ready for it, come on bring it.

Ok, my newest obsession is the title song from the Snakes on a Plane Soundtrack. It is unbelievable catchy:

Cobra Starship; “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)”

I think someone hacked into my computer and recorded a song and video based on my music slash fiction. The band is sickeningly attractive .Cobra Starship, the band is led by Gabe Saporta, also of the band Midtown, and for the video he recruited Mija Iversson of one of my fave band, The Sounds (I would pay millions to be her), my latest crush, William Beckett of The Academy Is… (tidbit: he also played the vampire in the last Fall Out Boy video) and the guy from Gym Class Heroes.

Two words: SCHWING!

THis blog is slowly turning into a fanzine for emo/pop-punk bands. You know you are getting pathetic when the bands you listen to are 5+ years younger than you are. Although, it is starting to prove my theory that emo bands are the new boybands- they are replacing the N’SYNCs and Backstreet Boys. And I’m okay with that.

exciting movie news

Danny Boyle is finally making another movie (he made Trainspotting, the Beach, and 28 Days Later). He seems to love Cillian Murphy, who is going to be in Sunshine. The plot, supposedly is this:

Sunshine takes place fifty years into the future. The Sun is dying, and the earth is dying along with it. Humanity’s last hope is a spaceship and a crew of eight men and women. They carry a device that will breathe new life into the star. But deep into their voyage, out of radio contact with Earth, their mission is starting to unravel, and soon the crewmembers fighting not only for their lives, but also for their sanities.

Ok, so it looks cool, but I guess my excuse was to post pictures of a move that Chris Evans and Cillian Murphy are in together. Attractiveness overload. And, I haven’t posted hot celeb pics in a while. I am in withdrawal.

Oh, also, a sequel to 28 Days Later is being made, sans Cillian.

Volver

Contrary to what I was taught in the film class that I took, Pedro Almadovar’s movies just keep getting better (All About My Mother, Talk to Her, Bad Education) and Volver comes out November 3, and I for one can’t wait.

I’m late for

90210 finally coming to DVD on November 7. Otherwise known as my prayers have been answered.

most random tidbit ever

Tucker Carlson to appear on Dancing With the Stars?

essential albums: Jesus & Mary Chain

Luckily, someone else wrote this one for me. The Jesus & Mary Chain’s record company recently reissued all their old albums, and Pitchfork summs it up nicely here.

But after a brief scientific study of their equipment, it came to the JAMC’s attention that electric guitars, when paired with high amplifier volume and harmonic distortion, could create feedback, thereby producing aggressive noises mostly on their own, and freeing their actual players to stand around looking half dead, depressed, and generally too contemptuous and disgusted to really bother playing– all of which seemed, in 1985 and in the particular case of the JAMC, totally super-awesome.

The band practically copy-righted the fuzzy, psychadelic sound that was later ripped off by bands like the Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and the Raveonettes. Psychocandy is really heir best, but in 2002, they released 21 Singles, which is basically like a greatest hits album, so that seems like the best one to get an introduction to the band.

[ The Jesus and Mary Chain; "21 Singles" Part 1 / Part 2 ]

[More essential albums]

filthy gorgeous

The Scissor Sisters have released their video for their new song. Seriously, Jay Shears, we get it, you have a nice body, and you like to show it off. Seriously, enough already.

opening sequence

I almost forgot to mention that Inside Man is out on dvd this week, and I know I won’t shut up about this movie. But I think it was definitely the best movie I’ve seen this year.

Soundtrack/score is really good too. Here is the song from the opening/closing sequence. Not sure who the performer is.

Singles

“Oh my god, you have to listen to the Shins. They will change your life.” – Nat Port in Garden State. Ugh.

The Shins; “New Slang“

I would move to the West Coast simply because of this song.

Everclear; “Santa Monica“

Nada Surf can make anything sound great. Matthew Caws has one of the greatest voices in indie rock.

Nada Surf covers “If You Leave”

goddam

I really wish I had gone to the Warped Tour. Seriously, one of these years I will get there. Although by now someone may think that I brought my grandkids there. Here’s a recap of the hotness that hit Long Island.

if you see Kirsten Dunst at a resaturant, then the terrorists have won

A new crisis has befallen NYC… the celebrity infestation.

here we go again

And the obsessing over HP movies start again. Although I am not going to get myself worked up this time. These seem to be clips from Snape’s memories of being harassed by James Potter.

wow.

It’s come to this. I am actually writing about a trip to the dentist. But does anyone else have excruciating painful cleanings? At first I really thought I was going to pass out but then I think my body actually released some adrenaline that it does when you are survival mode, like when a bear tears off your arm but you don’t feel it but you keep going when you have to escape. I think my body went into that mode because after a while I felt high. Also, I think my dentist works for NASA because she has tons of contraptions that seem not even necessary. She uses laser beams to check to see if I have cavities. And the results of my X-rays were actually transmitted to her office so she could look at them before walking the three feet to the examining room. It’s redic. And a bit scary.

Wow. Wait until tomorrow when I write about watching some paint dry.

memory lane.

I was ecstatic to stumble across this one…U2’s “Numb” off of Zooropa. It’s the one where the Edge sings in a monotone and Bono does some falsetto crap in the background. I used to love this one! This is also when suddenly some marketing director decided that only old folk listened to U2 and designed that whole ZooTV tour thing.

[ more oldies ]

whatevs.

The Bravery claim to be over the whole “appearing cool” thing. Whatever. I think their new attitude about being over it is their new ploy to appear cool.

yes, I will go see this.

Jackass: Number Two trailer is out. Yes, I did enjoy the first movie and the show as well. I think people took it too far, but I do find it entertaining. Not so much for the stupid stunts, but for the absolute sheer fun they have doing it. Also, this has been brought up since the show first aired, but it is probably the gayest show on television, and you could cut the homoeroticism with a knife. The men on the show are obsessed with being naked in front of each other. Exhibit A:

i’m allergic to roofs

Oh, I have been looking to post this clip forever. “My name’s not Mary or Harry..It’s Teeeeeerrrryyyyyy” makes me soil my drawers every time. And then there’s also the two-dollar tug jobs.

Singles

This is a mega-soundtrack post. It includes the best clips from the most recent Six Feet Under Soundtrack.

Sia, “Breathe Me“, the fantastic song played during the finale.

Caesars, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is actually a cover of the classic Blue Oyster Cult song. This was played during one of my favorite episodes, when Nate is debating leaving Lisa and they host the biker’s funeral and the widow lends him the bike.

Radiohead, “Lucky” is probably one of the best singles of the 90s and was used when the family has the yard sale and ends up burning the rest of the possesions.

sci-fi brothel

The good news is that I am sleeping a lot better, however, the counter to that is that I am having extemely vivid dreams, which can be good, but my sick demented mind always comes up with something that bothers me. So, I was the madame of a brothel that allowed customers to customize the type of person they wanted to be with. Meaning, selecting from a wide range of different body parts and different personalities. Ok, before you can say this seems like the plotline to the next rom-com starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, think how gory that can get. As in, I had some sort of warehouse of body parts people browsed. Not to mention the philosophical and ethical weirdness of it all. The whole thing turned into some sort of conspiracy because after a while I couldn’t tell which of my clients were real and which were the fabricated ones. Apparently I was running from the law and from my clients, I am not sure why (maybe because I pimped them out) but it was hard for me to go incognito because the conditoner I used had a distinct smell and always gave me away (I know this is because earlier in the day I was excited that I found tea tree oil conditioner at Stop n Shop). Anyway, I am going to wake Stanley Kubrick from the dead to see if he wants to direct this one. If not, I guess Ridley Scott could turn it into some sort of Blade Runner Sequel.

you’re beatiful and annoying

Aw, lay off. James Blunt was voted more annoying than a hangover.

love her

Lily Allen in the NY Times. I love her, and I hope her whole persona is not just an act created by her record label. She is seriously what needs to happen to pop music. It’s what Avril Lavign tried to do but failed.

Essential albums: Gang of Four

Continuing my committment to posting essential rock albums, I am going with an older one this time. Gang of Four hit their peak in the late 70s/early 80s, and really were the first to mix punk with other “danceable” forms of music- funk, reggae, disco, etc. All the bands tofay that play indie-dance that the kids are liking so much can all admit they were influenced by this band. In fact, The Rapture, Franz Ferdidnand, and Bloc Party might as well call themselves Grang of Four tribute bands.

Pursits would probably hate me for this, but I am posting two albums that are worth listening to. Entertainment! is from 1979 and is arguable their best. It is also embedded with philosophical messages without trying too hard. There is a more eloquent review here. Last year, the group reformed, rerecorded and remixed some of their songs and released Return the Gift. One might equate this with a pathetic arena reunion tour of Sammy Hagar/David Lee Roth, but I am okay with it because at least those listening to the bands they later influenced can here something current from them and appreciate where the influence came from. So both ae here. Entertainment! is definitely lo-fi and captures the original sound, but Return the Gift also is pretty fucking good.

[ Gang of Four; Entertainment! ]

[ Gang of Four; Return the Gift ]

Note: downloads are only availble for secen days. 

Singles

Heavy Metal oldie: Def Leppard, “Photograph“

Cover song: Reel Big Fish, “Take on Me” [God, do I miss ska]

Soundtrack: “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)” as used in American Psycho

Benadryl Brownies

I have spent waaaaayyy too much time watching Curb Your Enthusiam. I am not even sure if I like the show. It’s just addicting. Sometimes I feel as if it is just a showcase for Larry David to show off his celebrity friends. Although I did love Season 4 when he was starring in The Producers when both Ben Stiller and David Schwimmer hated him.

people who take morning after pills are murderers.

Hahaha just kidding. But I love when shit goes down on the View. THis Elizabeth Hasselback annoying-bot loses her shit about the morning after pill. Her debating skills are worse than that of my 2 year old cousin.

get over it….i think i have

I already picked on my once-favorite band Ok Go for lending their tunes to JC Penny. Their second album sucked, and I think they knew that, so they tried to make up for it by releasing a Spike Jomez-ish video of them dancing for their single “A Million Ways”. Their second single is not much better, so they choreographed a routine on treadmills for “Here it Hoes Again”. How about making good music and stop riding the ironic-hipster dance video thing? It’s already annoying. Both clips are here.

you’re a woman, i’m a machine

Oh crap. Another good band is no more. Death From Above 1979 decided that their album reaching gold was all they wanted to achieve. Their last album was one of my favorites from last year, and it’s sad there will be no more.

sophomore slump

Wondershowzen Season 2 will be released on dvd on October 17. I think the show has already gone downhil, and I am not even interested in getting it. I think the sensation caught on too quick and it affected the writing. The first season was made with no audience reaction, so the creators did what they wanted. I think on the second season they tried to be too edgy. Such a shame.

god only knows

Here’s a great mashup album of The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds and other modern tracks.

four years and this is what we get?

I don’t know where John Cameron Mitchell disappeared to after Hedwig and the Angry Inch show, tour, and movie. Well, apparently I do know. He was making the movie Shortbus, for which I just saw the trailer. I am a little disappointed. The plot is, “A group of New Yorkers caught up in their romantic-sexual milieu converge at an underground salon infamous for its belnd of art, music, politics, and carnality.” Although the film looks flashy, entertaining and stylistic, I think that making a highly sexualized movie is just too predictable. Hedwig was about a post-op transexual, but it was really more about relationships and human drama rather than the sexual nature of the character. I think that making a sexually graphic movie plays right into the whole focus on the sexual part of his last movie. And furtering the idea that homosexuality/transgenderism has mostly to do with sex. A big part yes, but not the whole picture. I would have liked to see him make another drama about “ordinary” characters like, let’s just say, anyone who is not involved in an underground sex salon. Call me a prude, I guess. Here’s the trailer.

Oh, and btw, what has Stephen Trask been up to? It always annoyed me that John Cameron Mitchell got all the credit for Hedwig. Stephen Trask wrote all the music for godsake, which was 99% of the appeal of the movie.

Pauly G

Finally out on dvd this week. Fucking hilarious.

these look good.

Two trailers for movies I am actually excited about: Babel and What We Do Is Secret.

more stuff

I have gotten some positive feedback for posting individual songs and albums, so I will make more of a committment to do that. Perusing my collection of songs (20,000+) I realize that not only do I have a fun collection of pre-1998 songs, but also lots of songs from movie soundtracks as well as cover songs. I’ll share more from the latter categories. To kick things off, here are one from each category:

oldie: Guns ‘N Roses, “It’s So Easy“. Total epitome of the new kind of metal they represented. And catchy too.

Soundtrack: Beck, “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Heart-wrenching.

cover: Placebo does Depeche Mode’s “I Feel You“.

meet the toasters

Oh, someone please buy me a ticket so I can attend this convention. I want to go and do some live action role play and go in character. Right now I am debating going as: the civilian who was shot for throwing coffee, Doc Cottle, Jamie Bamber’s right arm, Lucy Lawless’ accent, Samuel Anders’ lovechild, or Sharon’s dead baby. I can’t decide.

singles

This one does double duty: a cover and a song from a Soundtrack. Fiona Apple covers the Beatles for the Pleasantville soundtrack:  “Across the Universe“.

And an oldie: Mazzy Star, “Fade Into You“. I’m sure you know this one. I am pretty sure it was played during a Dylan/Brenda montage.

jrm

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the new model for Versace eyewear. Seriously, I spit out my drink laughing when I saw this. It looks like he is wearing my Grandpa’s old glasses and my sleeping mask. He is reeeeaaaaly starting to annoy me.

where’s the Speedo?

Why does Michelle Williams insist on stealing all my celebrity boyfriends? First Michael Showalter and now Ian Thorpe. Apparently while Heath is away, he dresses as Jude Law and makes moves on Michelle. Rowr!

Scranton v. Slough

The Office webisodes are now available on the site. Good? I haven’t watched them yet.

hours of fun

Oh, how I wish I could post the finished product. Virtual celeb paper dolls! I made a Zac Efron and a Gwen Stefani Doll. Then I made a doll that supposedly looks like me. Pfffft.

No.

The apocalypse is upon us.

hard to explain

As NME was so kind to remind me, it’s been five years since The Strokes released their first album. I can get carried away and say most bands are influential and life-changing and I exaggerate, but I can say that other than Nirvana in 1992, The Strokes had the most influence on my love of music. After several years of having commercially produced rock and where everything had a pop influence, they revitalized indie music and produced their album with a lo-fi sound. It’s funny how they seem kind of cliche because so many bands have copied them since. Suddenly every skinny kid in Brooklyn started a band called “The ___s”. For me, it kickstarted the way I love rock music now. They also had a personal style and attitude that was just so fucking cool. It made me realize I had to dig deeper to find what I like instead of listening what was handed to me and to go back and listen to older established bands that were the influence for the current bands. It also marks a certain era of my life and camptures the feeling of that time. I have been fotunate enough to see them live three times and I will never cease to have a semi-religious experience when I see them.

I kind of feel weird when people ask me my interests and I say “I love listening to music”. It seems so vague, but as most of you know, music is a huge chunk of my life and brings me my most enjoyment. And not just listening to it- to me it is like a hobby of collecting and organizing things. Collecting albums and completing collections is huge for me, as well as knowing trivia (who produced what album, what band members left what band at what time, what influenced the album), as well as it being like a soap opera to follow (when is the album coming out, what interviews they do, what they say about other bands, when are they touring, what label they sign to, etc.) Ok, and yea, I do enjoy looking at the members of the bands sometimes. Furthermore, making mixes and collections and finding songs for every occasion, emotion, and event is huge for me.

With that, I love nothing more than to share music and introduce people to music they wouldn’t have heard of if it weren’t for me. I do recognize, however, that my music interests can be overwhelming to some. After all, I acquire about 10 new albums a week. I post a lot of music I like here, and several of you request specific stuff, and I can continue to do that. However, I am going to make sure that I make a regular habit of posting albums that I deem as essential to someone who wants to have a complete appreciation of indie rock music. Sort of a cheat sheet for someone who hasn’t quite built up their collection. Albums to own that will give someone real “cred” when listening, discussing, and buying music in the future. I will say I will not post stuff just because for image’s sake or by dropping the name of the band has some worth on its own. I’ll post it because it’s a great listen. I’m not the greatest in describing albums, as you know, but I’ll try.

I might as well start with The Strokes’ Is This It, their first album released in 2001. They have two other albums since, which I think are equally as good (despite critics not thinking so) but it is worth having their debut because of the influence. Some say it sounds like the Velvet Underground, but I don’t necessarily think that is completely true. To me it sounds like good music recorded on a lo-fi machine in someone’s basement.

The Strokes; Is This It? (2001) [This is missing two tracks which for some reason are not on my hard drive and I cannot find the cd at the moment. No matter, you still have the standout tracks on there.]

I also should add that the inspiration for starting these posts comes from Andrew’s Madonna project. Check it out.

brothers of the head

Hmmmm….interesting.