The Last Kiss

Why did I watch The Last Kiss? Maybe it was morbid curiosity, just like when I forced myself to watch Elizabethtown. Also, it’s a movie about the trials and tribs of turning 30, so maybe I thought there was tiny sliver of truth I could relate to. What the fuck was I thinking? This was boring shmoring, Zach Braff whining and plotzing through the movie, dealing with his girl troubles and kee-crazy friends. The characters had no depth, no personalities, and it was a wonder any of them had relationships. The one thing that freaked me out was that his friend was played by the same actor who played the crack addice who kidnapped and tortured David on Six Feet Under. No one should ever allow him to make other movies ever!

But still. Please. I always wonder when movies like this are filmed, doesn’t somebody say something? Like the gaffer or someone in catering let someone know what they are filming is awful?

my love for wondershowzen is rekindled

Although when I originally saw it, I wasn’t pleased with the second season of Wonder Showzen. I just watched it on dvd and realized it is still good. I guess when you wait a whole week and get the whole show about “Horse Apples” and then a whole half hour of Chauncey asking people to make compelling tv (funny ideas for one skit, not 30 minutes). This stuff is more funny when you watch several episodes in a row. I hated the whole episode that happened during the segregatand the whole “bootlegged” show. But there were some gems- the Winorobot, and Trevor at the beauty pageant. I could go on and on. I’ve also noticed that the comedy world is incredibly incestuous and all appear on each other’s shows- like this, Arrested Devo, Reno 911, UCB.

So, in honor, here are some choice Wonder Showzen clips, from both seson one and two. Also, it’s not meant for anyone who doesn’t appreciate satire on racism.

Don’t fuck with Sweeney Todd

SACHA BARON COHEN – COHEN’S SINGING DUMPED FROM SWEENEY TODD

British funnyman SACHA BARON COHEN’s singing has reportedly been cut from TIM BURTON’s forthcoming SWEENEY TODD movie, because it’s so bad. The BORAT and ALI G creator plays SIGNOR ADOLFO PIRELLI – the arch-rival of JOHNNY DEPP’s SWEENEY TODD, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street – in the big screen version of the hit musical. British newspaper The Sun reports Burton has given Cohen permission to rap his songs, because his singing voice isn’t good enough. A film insider says, “Pirelli is a notoriously demanding role with some difficult songs. “Any professional singer would struggle. So Sacha has been told to go for a rap style. It will be a bit like JIM BROADBENT’s performance in MOULIN ROUGE!. That won him a BAFTA. “Sacha is going to do a fantastic job but he couldn’t cut it with the singing. His voice was too low.”

This is some bullshit. I was already weary of the Tim Burton-remake of the musical. Sweeney Todd is very near and dear to my heart, and when you fuck with it, I take it personally. Uh, his part is that of an opera singer- and now you take away the singing? Second of all, the numbers with Pirelli are some of the best of the show. If he can’t sing it- fine someone who can! Borat already finished his fifteen minutes, stop trying to capitalize on that. Ugh.

weekend reading

James Purefoy on Gay Sex: Never Say Never: Okay, I won’t.

Most Dangerous Toys Ever

How Did I End Up On The Cover Of This Romance Novel?

Why Jay-Z should be president: I’m convinced. Little known fact about me: I am fascinated/have a small celeb crush on Jay-Z. I can’t explain it right now, I am still trying to figure it out.

Psychology of Gift Giving: for all you gentiles.

I can’t get enough of lists

I’m a little bit addicted to year end music lists. As if you couldn’t tell. If I see Joanna Newsome on one more list, I will scream.

Pitchfork Feature: Guest List: Best of 2006

stereogum: <i>Rolling Stone</i>’s Best Albums Of ‘06:

Rolling Stone : The 100 Best Songs of 2006

Pitchfork Feature: Top 25 Worst Album Covers of 2006:I agree:

Jesus Camp

Jesus Camp, the documentary, is posted on Google video. Noyce!

Spring Awakening

I sooooo need to see the show Spring Awakening. Who would have known Duncan Sheik is still around?

Also, I sooooooo need to see Children of Men. Of course it’s not playing around here.

Jackass Number Two

Seriously, the Jackass movies and series are completely misunderstood. I have to give thanks to Alli who so many years ago opened my eyes to its subtle genius. Jackass Number Two is no exception, which I just watched. I can’t explain the appeal of it. It certainly is not the huge amount of bodily fluids that are secreted throughout, or even the stunts themselves. The movie might as well be called “things I can put my scrotum on”. I think the fun thing about it is that after all the yeara of doing it, they all still have an amazing and hilarious time. Not to mention my insane crushes on Chris Pontius (and Dave Englund, Jeff Tremaine and Ryan Dunn). I’m waiting for th third move where their major stunt is to all make out with each other.

Seriously, the shows are probably the gayest things ever. The guys will never pass up a chance to be naked in front of each other or to touch each other’s genitals. I’m okay with that.

!!!

I don’t know why I have been into electronic music lately. This is an album that is actually coming out in March, by the group !!! (Don’t ask me how to pronounce it). It’s quite good.

[!!!; MYTH TAKES]

if you care

I’ve spent time doing one of my mind-numbing activities- organizing the movies I own. The total calue of them is over $10,000 apparently. Well, that doesn’t cover the bail after I go to prison for the immense mount of bootlegged movies I own.

singles of the year, p.5

Remember, all songs are uploaded here. Check out part one, part two, part three, and part four.

Singles of the Year, p.4

Remember, all songs are uploaded here. Check out part one, part two, and part three.

Winter vacation shitty movies from my childhood film festival

continues today with She’s Out of Control. Who in the holy hell greenlighted this movie? And were teenagers/high school really like that? But, there is nothing better than makeovers and makeover montages, and this is basically a movie full of them. I truly believe this movie alone gave me eating disorders and major self-loathing issues. I was OBSESSED with the girl’s wardrobe in the movie. Although she looked like a whore through the whole thing. This was a time when wearing thigh high lace stockings with miniskirts was the height of coutoure. I used to try to recreate the clothes on my Barbies.

The Jealous Sound

[The Jealous Sound; Kill Them With Kindness]

great family movie.

I just watched the documentary The Aristocrats. Hmmm, not much to say about it. Not for the prude or humorless. Hilarious? A little bit. The joke itself is not hilarious, and the obscenity is not hilarious, it’s all in the delivery and appreciation. I kind of want to have an Aristocrats-improv party.

singles of the year, p.3

Remember, all songs are uploaded here. Check out part one and part two.

give me a smoldering look

Hey guys it’s a new picture from the Order of the Phoenix movie. Looks badass. I am assuming that this is Dumbledore’s army. Check out the wizard hipster on the far left. What’s his patronus? $100 vintage jeans? Luna looks good. Ron has a cute haircut.

Which leads me to the question: what would be in your room of requirements? Mine would have veggie corn dogs, old copies of Teen Beat, a Ewan McGregor cardboard cut-out, and a ECT machine.

Also: Danny Radcliffe is a chosen person!

thanks for listening

Somewhere, some morally bankrupt MTV executive answered my prayers. The Hills will be back for another season. Will LC and Jason be together? Will Heidi be able to hold down a job? I can barely sleep. Except that I can.

I hope this show sparks an apocalyptic race riot.

i love gay pride parades!

I like to attend them in pro-choice gear while spinning my dreidel.

I’m back to making dolls again, this time on Meez. I’ll make more soon. I’m a little creeped out. Also, I’m not a size -4.

singles of the year p.2

Remember, all songs are uploaded here. Check out part one.

singles of the year p.1

Now that I’ve finished my album of the year list, I’m turning to singles of the year. Now, I don’t usually pay attention to top 40 radio, so I don’t know if all of these have officially been released, but these are songs that somehow came out this year, either officially or on an album that came out. I’m being a little more loose on these, because it includes a lot of popular singles which have merit themselves, while their album and artists may be lacking in talent or credibility.

You can find them all uploaded here.

I knew I was a genius

Kids with High IQs grow up to be vegetarians.

For a few seconds I am going to ignore the fact that it’s probably not a direct correlation.

final list

Ok, since it is 2 weeks until the year is over, I’ve finalized my year-end list of albums. There is no way in hell I can put them in order individually, so I put them in tiers. I’ve reuploaded the top tier here so you can make sure you listen to them. They are in no particular order.

I’d like to note the particular artists that are absent: Arctic Monkeys, Keane (sorry Andrew), The Knife, TV on the Radio, Mxpx, the Decemberists, Tapes ‘N Tapes, Hot Chip, The Hold Steady.

The Sounds; Dying to Say This to You. [Here]. Eighties new-wave, keyboards and male/female vocals. Some of the best melodies ever. And who would have guessed it from a band from Sweden? This band often gets lumped into the “The” bands category, but is way better. I actually first head this in October 2005, and it by far surpassed anything since then.

Shiny Toy Guns; We Are Pilots. [here] Surprisingly, another throwback to the eighties new-wave electronic pop music. Listen to “Rainy Monday” and tell me you don’t like it, I’ll pay you a million dollars. This album makes me feel like I am a club kid hanging out with James St. James.

The Thermals; The Body, the Blood, the Machine. [here] I somehow always forget momentarily that the Thermals are one of my favorite bands. Actually, Fuckin’ A was also my favorite album of 2004. This album pretty much sounds the same- if it’s not broken, why fix it? Grungy. loud, fast tempo. Perfection.

Muse; Black Holes and Revelations. [here] I have talked about this one enough, I am not sure what else to say. It’s a fucking rock opera staduim album.

The Rapture; Pieces of the People We Love. [link coming soon] Best beats and dance funk, using nothing but guitars and drums.

The Veils; Nux Vomica. [here]They’re from New Zealand. They’re awesome. I don’t know much more. This is like the soundtrack to an amazing suicide note.

Also, check out last year’s list. Silent Alarm would still be high on my list.

updated discography

Hi all, I’ve updated and moved the site of my music collection.

http://thebluealbum.wordpress.com/ 

Growing every minute.

“being king is only half the story”

Showtime has a new series coming out about Henry VII called The Tudors. Historical settings? Lavish costumes? Beautiful people? I’m so there.

Silly me, I thought Henry VIII looked like this…

but I was wrong. He looked like Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

a NOVA wilderness special

Taking pictures of the kids is hard because they are always on the movie. And believe me, my shitty digital camera is really lacking on capturing extreme cuteness.

“What can I do with this?”

“Like my wig?”

Pzaz looks like a creature that guards the gates of hell.

Bridget Fonda’s bikini

So my winter vacation officially started at 3:03pm today. What does that mean? Watch a lot of crap. First up: Shag the Movie. I was kinda obsessed when it came out in 1989. I think when I watched it I thought I wes lesbionic because I was fascinated with Bridget Fonda in her bikini. If you’ve seen it, you know what power it can hold over someone.

Placebo

I just watched the Placebo dvd collection, Once More With Feeling. I dometimes forget how fucking awesome Placebo is. Just like Muse, I don’t know why they never really made it big in the US. They make me want to take Special K with them.

Phoenix

Aren’t French indie-pop bands the best? Phoenix is great, especially their latest, It’s Never Been Like That [d-load].

the death of an era

The church that formerly housed the Limelight will become…get this…a mini-mall.  What does Michael Alig think? This is the offical end of an era. I am kind of done with New York. Between this and the closing of CBGBs, shitty chick flicks being turned into broadway shows, and no more Tower Records, nyc is no longer nyc. Maybe crime and homelessness are lessened, but you can’t walk anywhere without seeing million dollar condos being built, and pottery barns opening on every corner.

excuse me, what?

AN OP IVY REUNION?

Lady in the Water

Look, I’ve never agreed with critics/popular opinion about M. Night Shyamalan’s movies. The ones that others hated, I liked. I thought The Sixth Sense was boring and pretty much run of the mill Hollywood thriller. Unbreakable, pretty cool. Signs, fantastic. The Village, one of the best movies ever, which many people hated. Lady in the Water wasn’t quite as bad as many critics said it was. It was just misunderstand. It doesn’t follow many conventions that a convential narrative storyline would have, therefore people want to put no effort into understanding it. Of COURSE it was totally unbelieveable. Why did everyone in the apartment complex accept the story of a mysterious water fairy without questioning? Ok, maybe that was hard to get past, but there were other cool layers of stuff to think about. Unlike his other movies, there was no “surprise” ending. It ended exactly as the characters implied it would, which maybe disappointed people. Also, as the tagline, implied, this was more of a story than his other movies. The depth of plot was that of a short story, whereas the other movies were more like novels, where the characters were developed more. I also enjoyed the claustrophobic aspects of the movie, where everything happens within one setting (one of the reasons I like Battlestar).

Sure, M. Night Shyamalan can come across egomaniacal in the film. He casts himself as someone whose ideas will eventually change the course of human thought. And the fact that he casts himself. I guess I would say that the ideas behind the movie was great, but maybe the execution was flawed. (I sound like a judge on Top Chef). Anyway, there have to be some misses somewhere, and I hope he does continue to make more stuff.

so true

Here is a year end list I like…the 25 most disappointing albums. I gotta agree.

14. The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldier I’m sure a few people will disagree with this record being on the list, but be honest with yourself, what would you rather have: this mediocre seventies rock record or a new White Stripes album? If you didn’t say the later, you’re retarded……

4. The Fiery Furnaces – Bitter Tea Shit tea…….

not fair

MTV has a new reality, show apparently, where the winner can write for Rolling Stone. They are really into making reality shows of popuar movies/tv. This is the reality version of Almost Famous; Twentyfourseven=Entourage; The O.C.= Laguna Beach. Anyway, I find this annoying, because getting there should be more than winning a reality show. Getting to be a for real music journalist should be based on merit and climbing the ladder, paying your dues…not winning a reality show. And Rolling Stone? Really not so much the authority on music as it should be. Maybe I am just really jealous.

Michael Bay is underappreciated

Finally, the actual trailer for Transformers the movie. It looks like another dumb action movie. But the robots look cool.

an actual nightmare

I had the most awful dream. Disney World became a traveling theme park, and took over cities and stuff wherever they went (kind of like the World’s Fair). In my dream they were “renting out” Manhattan for about a week to set up shop and rake in money from people. Well, for some reason I was forced to go every day as a tourist. It was awful. They transformed St. Mark’s in the East Village into Main Street USA and Central Park was basically destroyed so that they could install Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and that shit. Also, I kept finding myself having to appear on an awful game show being filmed at MGM studios. I remember walking around and seeing all the brainwashed employees with fake smiles and sensible haircuts. I don’t know why I have been thinking about my horrid semester working there, I had tried to forget it entirely, but it keeps coming up. Sigh. This is one dream where I actually woke up still freaked out.

yawn

Pitchfork did its top 50 albums of the year. No surprise The Hold Steady, TV on the Radio, and Joanna Newsom made the top 10. No mention of the Rapture, whose album Echoes was their top last year. Funny, NONE of my top albums even made the cut. Maybe they weren’t “indie” enough? Pitchfork is becoming less a reliable sourse for music and more of a parady of itself. Yawn.

Edit, here is the album that made #1, The Knife; Silent Shout. Catchy, but not memorable.

welcome to planet DO ME. Population: 1

This ain’t a scene, it’s a —damn arms race

Omg lolz new FALL OUT BOY VIDEOE!!!!!!KHJLKJeqjjepqKO

Ok for serious now, I am not happy with it. They are going for the “let’s laugh at ourselves before anyone can laugh at us”. The whole convept is them making fun og their sudden celebrity lifestyle, and Pete poking fun at how pictures of his cock were all over the internet a while back. We get it. Enough with the commentary of your life. Just go back to what you are good at doing, which is actually writing good pop songs.

Also, Patrick Stump gives me douche chills in this video.

actually, I was quite bored.

So I tried again. I wasn’t thrilled with Superman Returns when I saw it in theaters, and I thought maybe seeing it again would help me catch some nuances I didn’t see before. Not so much. It was even more boring the second time. What a shame. What a disappointment of the century.

thank god

I fear that sometimes if a band is not totally mainstream or its last album didn’t do so well, they will give up or break up. Plus, there are so many trendy indie bands these days, it seems faddish. But yay, I got this email today from the mailing list.

Hi everyone,

It’s been a while since we’ve seen y’all. We’ve been hard at work over the past few months writing new songs for our third album at our rehearsal space in Brooklyn.

We will have demo versions of some of our new songs to share on MySpace in the new year. We’re also heading back out on the road to play some US shows in February. The dates are below, you can purchase tickets by checking out the tour section on stellastarr.com.

Upcoming US Tour Dates
2/05/07 San Diego, CA Casbah
2/07/07 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
2/10/07 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
2/13/07 Washington, DC Rock N Roll Hotel
2/15/07 Philadelphia, PA North Star Bar
2/16/07 Boston, MA Middle East
2/22/07 New York, NY Gramercy Theatre

Tickets have just gone on-sale for all shows except for NY which will go on-sale soon. That NY show will be at a new venue called Gramercy Theatre which will open in February 2007.

Check out www.stellastarr.com in the new year for new tour dates and news to be announced.

Happy Holidays and here’s to a great 2007.

stellastarr*

Praise the lord. Best thing to look forward to in the new year.

thank you

Someone else realizes that Joanna Newsome’s music totally blows. It’s totally like the emperor’s new clothes. I think a lot of people don’t understand her music; therefor it must be cool to like it.

Most reviews of Newsom’s new album “Ys” follows the same thesis: Her music is dense, lacks melody, tonality, humor and listenability, is somewhat off-putting and often cloyingly pretentious, but if you work hard enough you will feel her genius radiate through you and then you will know you are cool.

“Look I have weird asymmetric bangs. I’m complex.”

Helter Skelter

For a tv movie, Helter Skelter wasn’t half bad, for a tv movie. It’s like Lifetime made a movie of the week about the Manson Family. Here’s a fun fact about me: I actually am a bit fascinated with the Manson Family. Not the type where I go around with things carved in my forehead. I can’t help but be impressed by someone with that much charisma. And Lynette Squeaky Fromme is my favorite character from Assasins.

For kicks, here is Oasis’s cover of “Helter Skelter”.

awkward

The new Fall Out Boy album cover and promo pic were released. Not looking good. It looks like a 13 year old just learned how to use Microsoft Paint.

No one gave them the memo about trucker hats. What losers. And by loser means I lurve them. Their new songs are not bad.*

Let the hate mail begin.

*Don’t judge.

Silversun Pickups

Trendy band alert!

[SILVERSUN PICKUPS; CARNAVAS]

Rock & Roll Won’t Wait

Can you get any cooler than a punk band with an organ? I had been wanting to see this Murder City Devils documentary for ages. This band is the kind of band that makes me want to be in a band. The MCDs weren’t hugely successful outside of Seattle, and the documentary shows the mundane aspects of being in a band, but that is what makes it interesting. You never really know the nitty gritty details of being in a band for a living. Their live performances are unbelieveable. Just a fun fact, some of the former members are now in the equally awesome band, Pretty Girls Make Graves. This is one of several awesome music documentaries. Other that are essential viewing are:

• 1991: The Year Punk Broke (chronicles the Sonic Youth Tour and the rise of grunge)
• Dig! I talk about this one all the time
• End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones
• Nirvana: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!
• Fugazi: Instrument

Virgin Territory

That’s the name of a movie with Hayden C. and Mischa. God it looks band, but they are really ridiculously good looking together.

Pulse

I wanted to rent something dumb, so I gave Pulse a try. It’s nice that Ian Somerhalder is getting work these days, I liked this movie the first time when it was called The Ring. I also get frustrated when horror/supernatural movies makes no sense within its own context. The ghosts come through the network? Then why do people turn to ash? What was with the videos on the hard drive? Sloppy writing. Also, if they are going to steal imagery from Aphex Twin’s “Come to Daddy” it would be nice to get some credit.

p.s. that aphex twin vid is some of the creepiest shit you will ever see, be warned.

Christina A.

Back to Basics, as requested.

The Soviettes

The Soviettes are not a “chick” band, they are a fantastic punk band that happen to have a majority of female members. I can’t even remember how I discovered them, but their stuff is probabably some of the most upbeat stuff that I’ve listed to. Think Sleater-Kinney meets The Gossip. Or something like that.

Their songs are pretty short and catchy. If having everything is overwhelming, I’d reccomend the album LP II first.

The Soviettes discography

The Soviettes on Wikipedia/ Allmusic

Muse, again

Andrew is so much better about describing music than I am, and the same goes for his review of Muse. I tried to express their awesomeness, but he does it better.

Jack Black, a waste of the funny?

Slate dedicated a long article to the squandering of Jack Black’s awesomeness. I agree most of his movie choices has been questionable, but no matter what he is in, he usually can bring some funniness to it.

The “Happy Birthday” sketch.

The “Monday Tape”

Martin & Orloff

Look, I’d love any sort of movie that reunites the ucb, but what is with this “movie” called Martin & Orloff. Jesus Christ what a piece of crap. And stick with sketch comedy, because acting is not quite their forte.

battlestar thoughts

I really really really hate Kara and Lee together. I thought it was supposed to be a reuniting of true love. Now Kara just wants to fool around and stay married? What an idiot. It only adds to my irritation of her. She has never grown as a character, and people still worship her and let her get away with shit. But…who can say I can blame her..oh my god would you look at Anders? Even Algae-covered….DO ME! I’ve noticed the red-headed woman that has been part of Anders’ posse since they were on Caprica. Does she get a name or storyline? I smell fanfic!

Laura Roslin just got served. Baltar is right…he did save her life, multiple times. The Olympic Carrier, curing her cancer…he’s totally misunderstood. I still think he is going to turn around and save Galactica and kidnap Hera and bring her back. She was being such a baby, leaving the meeting. Did I mention I hate her and think she is evil and has a god complex? Out of most people, I do enjoy James Callis’ acting. He did a good job of looking haggard and desperate for approval.

‘m starting to like Brother Cavil. Why wasn’t Six allowed to come to the little meeting? Maybe she didn’t have anything to wear. I also like how each of the Cylon models are starting to show their personalities. Cavil is the sarcastic one, Boomer is the pushover, Leoben is the smart one.

Finally, there was a Boomer/Athena standoff. If I were Boomer, I’d be PISSED. Athena jumped in and basically took over the life that Boomer earned. And her pilot status! Again, I am glad that Athena finally realized what an evil beast Laura Roslin is. Did I mention I hate her?

Poor Caprica Six. She was totally there for Baltar when no one else was. I think she should dump them and hook up with Anders. And then the universe will nuke itself with the pure hotness of that couple.

I like how Chief was the one to find the temple. He gets a lot of shit done but either Apollo or Starbuck always get the glory. That was a nice moment between him and Cally. I’m a little bit convinced that they totally don’t hate each other.

What is with the ground team getting all Grey’s Anatomy dramatic? Just do the fucking job.I love the Centurians, we don’t see them enough.

The writers do have their way of packing a lot of storyline into one episode. Of course we know Adama won’t nuke the planet. There needs to be a love triangle standoff with Dualla. Snore.

oh yes they did

Hammers is at it again.

Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats are not usually my cup of tea, but this album is growing on me. It’s lo-fi, alt-country. Kind of Sufjan-ish.

[THE MOUNTAIN GOATS; GET LONELY]

please excuse my appearance

I know I’ve gone crazy lately with changing the background and theme, but I can’t really find one that I like. For a while I had the plain text one because I couldn’t decide, but then I get bored with it. Just bear with me.

low fidelity

So the critics listened to me and High Fidelity is closing on Broadway, along with that Bob Dylan musical thingy. ‘Tis a shame. RS asks what top five movies should never be musicals. Haha.

new MCR video

My Chemical Romance have a new video. They are still rocking the marching band outfits. I am equally drawn to them and equally amused by them. This is an interesting choice for their next single.

good reads

Great Moments in Hilariously Reductive Misrepresentations of Black Popular Culture | The A.V. Club

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Fashion/Beauty :: Are you hot enough?

Online dating sites are for the good looking. No shit.

NME.COM – News – The Stooges unveil new album details

Is Iggy Pop still alive?

NME.COM – News – Black Rebel Motorcyle Club reveal new album details

Is this band still alive?

DCist: DCist Interview: We Are Scientists Heart D.C.

I hate to pull the I-listened-to-this-band-before-they-were-big, but I knew about this band before they were big. I saw them upstairs in that club the Velvet Underground with about 25 other people. And then had an awkward conversation with the singer. Good times.

Pitchfork’s best videos of the year

Good selection.

Highlights: The Rapture, Emily Haines, the Concretes….

Also, Rolling Stone’s Top 100 songs of the year. 

I’m thinking of putting together a singles list. Stay tuned.

A great big sled

Did you know that the Killers recorded a Christmas song? Don’t get excited, it’s pretty horrendous.

The Killers; “A Great Big Sled”

Weezer

Ah, Weezer. Remember when they were good? Rivers Cuomo used to be the man of my dreams. Seriously, I used to obsess over this man every day in 1998-2001. We’re talking before he went to Harvard and started dating Japanese schoolgirls he met on the internet.

I came across a bunch of unreleased stuff and b-sides and it made me realize some of these are the best stuff they ever did. I also think it is important to note that I deny Weezer’s existence after 2001’s The Green Album. Maladroit and Make Believe are dead to me.

[WEEZER; SOME RARE TRACKS]

Most people’s friendships are based on negativity of something. Really, that is not news to me.

just so you know

Thanks for the heads up, Ruth.

Drinking soy makes you gay.

I’ve been vegan for sixth months, which means by June I’ll be a lesbian.

BEE gets a show

This is going to be amazing! It should also take place in the eighties, making it kind of American Psycho-ish.

“American Psycho” author plans Showtime horror

By Gregg GoldsteinMon Dec 11, 2:45 AM ET

Showtime is headed for “The Canyons,” a horror-tinged soap opera originated by “American Psycho” novelist Bret Easton Ellis.

The pay cable network has ordered a script for the project, about a group twenty- and thirtysomethings in Los Angeles. It centers on a 29-year-old magazine editor who escapes his hard-partying New York life by following his best friend and a new girlfriend across the country, only to find himself virtually isolated when his friend is killed in a mysterious accident.

The six main characters — including an art gallery owner, lawyer, event planner and a closeted bartender — deal with career and relationship issues. They encounter violent situations and anxieties that are briefly manifested as monsters and other apparitions that may or may not be real.

Despite the surreal touches, Ellis says he doesn’t want the series to venture into David Lynch territory. “There are no midgets walking backwards,” he said, laughing. “We want something much more naturalistic — a very realistic soap.”

Ellis said he developed the idea during one of his “dark periods” living in a Los Angeles hotel while looking for a home. “I had a feeling that the world was coming to an end, which I still think it is, and was making fear-based decisions, which were getting me into worse situations. I wanted to write a soap based on fear and anxiety in L.A.”

After having problems developing the script, Ellis brought in former GQ editor Dave Kalstein, who worked with him on an action drama that networks were hesitant about developing.

“It’s very much like (“Heat” director) Michael Mann’s L.A.,” Kalstein said of the project, adding that the title is not only a reference to Los Angeles but also a “metaphor for the chasm people have in relating to each other.”

Ellis is best known for three novels made into films — “Less Than Zero,” “The Rules of Attraction” and “American Psycho” — and his latest book, “Lunar Park.”

Scary Mary

I love youtube and people who have too much time on their hands.

Essential albums: Fugazi

I am not even going to try to explain the significance of the DC punk scene of the early eighties, or the rise of Dischord records. When most think of punk, they think of the Sex Pistols and the Ramones. The DC scene gave rise to hardcore punk, including Bad Brains, Black Flag, and Minor Threat (look into those too). You wouldn’t think of DC as the home to this scene, because things have changed. Thanks, gentrification. Fugazi actually came later, and is led by Ian MacKaye, who actually runs Dischord records and also was the founder of Minor Threat.

A lot of Dischord bands also part of the straight edge movement. As am I. You didn’t know how punk I was, huh?

This is a lot of information. The only thing to know is that Fugazi is amazing. They make amazing use of the rhythm section, and the bass lines actually make me feel faint from amazingness. Ok, so picking one of their albums was pretty hard, but I’ll go with 13 songs, their first one.

[FUGAZI; 13 SONGS]

More information that is more informative than my rant:

• Wikipedia: Fugazi
• Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad
• The Capital of Punk DC punk tour
• Fugazi: Instrument documentary

Goddam. I was born about 15 years too late. I would have killed to be here:

saddest songs ever

Some British media compiled the saddest songs ever. THIS is totally up my ally. I pride myself on making suicide mixes. Notice “Angels” is on here- not the TNAB version, because that certainly isn’t sad.

1. The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work
2. Robbie Williams – Angels
3. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
4. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
5. Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
6. Will Young – Leave Right Now
7. Elvis Presley – Are You Lonesome Tonight
8. Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
9. James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover
10. Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees

Why I hate the early 90s

Damn.

Record bought at flea market fetches $155,401 – CNN.com

Someone found an original Velvet Underground recording.

nekkid

Tricia Helfer will pose for Playboy. This may be the first time ever I read an issue of Playboy. (Actually, I have before at a friend’s house. Not to sound cliche, but sometimes the articles aren’t half bad. )

David Cross

I love David Cross in Arrested Development*. I don’t know why, but I find him so unfunny in Mr. Show. but hilarious in everything else. His stand up is the absolute shit. It is about politics and social issues without being preachy. And it is hilarious. It’s Not Funny, ironically, is. Download it here. The titles have nothing to do with each segment, so don’t get confused.

*You were all right, it does get even better during the second season.

wtf!!!???#?@#!

I am more concerned about the height difference than anything else.

Some geniuses in Hollywood decided to market The Breakup* as a rom com. Uh, what? What I saw was a painful showcase of two people trying as hard as they can to hurt each other and hit their emotional lows. Hahahaha, hilarious. Although it wasn’t too bad. I do wish that Vince Vaughn would play a role that wasn’t himself.

Oh, and yay! An appearance by the Old97s! I also want to add that the people close-captioned the movie may have been fans because they actually names each song as it was playing.

*Don’t judge. I had a coupon for a free rental and it was either that or Cars.

bad videos

Ever since Jared Leto performed “I Wanna Be Sedated” as Jordan Catalano in the Frozen Embryos, he has had delusions that he actually is a musician. He then slathered on eyeliner and formed the “band” 30 Second to Mars.

And what is this Asian-inspired concept video? It is soooo pretentious. And Jared’s intense sing/acting? I don’t have the time to research it, but I’d say there are tons of cultural stereotypes and inaccuracies. It’s pretty laughable. Not that I still don’t find Jared Leto to be foyne.

kittiessssss!!

I got two new kittens for the next three weeks. They are nine week old all-black cuties. I can’t even tell them apart. They are at the stage where they are long and skinny with big paws and big ears. Pictures coming soon. They don’t have names; I was thinking Pzaz and Stormer.

Check out the evil eye here.

Check out the psychotic look here.

Ooooo, sparkly thing.

when the city sleeps, we rule the streets

I posted this before I think, but I appreciate this album so much that I had to share it again.

[COBRA STARSHIP; WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS, WE RULE THE STREETS]

mediocrity rules

Seriously, how are the Grammy Award relevant anymore? Maybe 10-15 years ago when everyone had the same outlet for music- the radio and buying physical cds at Sam Goody. I’m not playing the I-hate-all-music-that’s-popular thing here, but isn’t that who gets nominations? It is doubtful that those nominated are really the best out there. It’s just weird that they are still in existence. And nothing is ever daring, edgy, or god forbid- has some curse words in it. I think they also send nominee ballots to midwestern housewives and Grey’s Anatomy enthusiasts. Mary J. Blige with the most nominations? With all respect Mary, I doubt you even saw that coming.

Andrew does a fabulous job of analyzing the results like it’s the stock market, so he actually makes it exciting. Here’s his thoughts.

Grammy Nominations Announced

Record of the Year

Album of the Year

Song of the Year

Best New Artist

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Best Pop Vocal Album

Best Dance Recording

Battlestar thoughts

First off: they are first running out of food now? I have been wondering what has been happening the last 3 years and how they are all staying over a BMI of 19. It’s a nuclear holocaust people. And somehow thousands of gournet meals have survived?

Seriously, stop with the three-ways. LucyLawless and Baltar together? Ick.

Kat has a cute hipster ex-boyfriend. Rawr!

Shut the fuck up, Starbuck (I feel myself saying that a lot). What makes her so high and mighty and the morality police? She just hates Kat because Kat is a blow to her ego. If I remember correctly, Starbuck is no angel. If I remember correctly, Kat saved everyone’s ass when she killed Scar.

Ok, the episides are starting to repeat themselves. Last week was the “relationship” episode. This one was the “going on a risky mission” episode. Like the resurrection ship, and the Tylium Ore planet episode. I’ll bet next week we’ll have the “Baltar panics but comes out on top” episode, or “stranded on a planet with a rescue mission” episode.

While we are on the topic, here is some good reading:

Table of Malcontents

Chicago Tribune | The Watcher

Understanding Battlestar Galactica. – By Adam Rogers – Slate Magazine

I can’t make this stuff up.

This caught my eye on Dark Horizons:

Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment have made a deal for “Prodigal Son,” a romantic comedy that Gigi Levangie Grazer (“Stepmom”) will write with Mimi James. Brian Grazer produces the story which revolves around a workaholic single woman who is set up on a date by her mother. Her date, a handsome, kind and caring carpenter who works at Ikea, turns out to be Jesus Christ, who’s returned for Armageddon and settled in contemporary Los Angeles.

I don’t even believe in the guy, and I am offended. Is this for real? Is something wrong with our nation’s screenwriting school graduates?

High Fidelity

I never thought I’d live to see the day that hipsters would me on Broadway.

Word is that High Fidelity on Broadway is not good. In a mean way, I’m glad. Some things should be kept off the stage. Somehow modern stories do not transfer well to Broadway. Browadway is about the fantastical, over the top, old-fashioned.

Bis

Still on my electronic kick. Bis are a Scottish pop-ish band that was sort of trendy in the late 90s.

[BIS; SOCIAL DANCING]

Shout Out Out Out Out is an album that recently came out and it’s kinda catchy.

[SHOUT OUT OUT OUT OUT; NOT SAYING/JUST SAYING]

300

The full trailer for 300. How fucking awesome does it look.

I’m watching more of the Beverly Hills 90210 dvds, and I realize how goddam awful this show is. ‘Member the one where Brenda had that sleepover and Kelly brought her uptight friend and they played Skeletons in the Closet? And then they realized that she was all uptight because she was addicted to diet pills? After that everyone always played that game. Unfortunately I was 12 with not many skeltons. It was kind of sad. Oh jeez, and M.C. Hammer had a cameo. And then Brandon dated his housekeeper’s niece, which was the “racism” episode. The whole thing is giving me douche chills.

I totally want to bid on Leo Cap’s bloddy outfit from Gangs of New York. I am obsessed with the movie, plus, it makes kind of a cute outfit.

Hollywood players? Please.

I didn’t think MTV could produce anything as inane as Laguna Beach. They have proved me wrong. The guys on Twentyfourseven make Cami and Kyndra look like National Merit Scholars.

Noooooooooo!

One of my favorite bands, The Organ, has broken up. Day-um. For every band I lose, another band like Daughterey exists. Here is the delightful album, Grab That Gun. The Organ as lovingly described as “Smithsy guitars and their Pat Benatarrifc vocals”.

best videos

This is noyce. A Danish site has compiled the 50 best music videos of the year. The OkGo video is listed as number one, which is so annoying to me. I’ll post some of the other highlights.

Placebo; “Meds”
Bloc Party; “Compliments”
The Horrors; “Sheena Is a Parasite”

Wedding Wars

What’s a better subject to create a zany, madcap, romantic comedy about? Homophobic anti-gay marriage bigots, that’s what? See the kooky, A & E original movie, Wedding Wars.

Shel , a gay party planner, agrees to organize the nuptials for straight brother Ben to Maggie, the Governor of Maine’s daughter. After Shel finds out that Ben, a campaign manager for his future father-in-law, is behind the governor’s speech against gay marriage, he decides to go on strike for equal rights. Shel’s strike picks up steam and eventually spreads nationwide, leaving the impending wedding vows in the hands of a tacky planner and overall, in question.

Ok, it may have a fairytale ending, and maybe it will actually change someone’s mind. The thing that I took note of- it stars John Stamos!!! And Eric Dane!!!! My first thought was that they were a couple in a movie and I was ready to buy a Tivo to tape this. John Stamos plays the gay brother, and Eric Dane the one getting married. It looks so dumb. As in, it premiers December 11. As in, I’m there.

The top 100 rock cliches. Omg, hilarious. And so right.

phew

I was actually a little bit nervous during Top Chef, for a sec I thought that Sam would be voted off. I need my eye candy to cancel out Betty’s enourmous teeth and Marcel’s penis-shaped hair. Next week Queer Eye Ted is the guest judge- I wonder if they will show the part where he and Ilan figure out they are the same person.

post-punk electronica

After listening to Shiny Toy Guns obsessively, I’ve been recently revisiting some great rock/electronica stuff, like White Rose Movement and MSTRKRFT. You should too.

[WHITE ROSE MOVEMENT; KICK]

[MSTRKRFT; THE LOOKS]

Aqua

This might be the ultimate guilty pleasure. It takes a real music fan to admit that they like this album (ironically, of course).

[AQUA; AQUARIUM]

year end lists- my favorite

NME has its year end list of albums and singles. Shocker, Arctic Monkeys are at number one. I would agree with most of it. They seem to also be loving Hot Chip. I got the album a while back, but didn’t take much notice. Maybe I’ll give it another try.

I watched the first 10 minutes of Pirates of the Carribean 2 and totally got bored. Also, Orlando Bloom’s slimy little mutache was making me nauseous. Is it worth it to press on?

Don’t judge, but I’ve been wanting to see the recent version of Peter Pan like forevs. It is one of my favorite stories, and I hate how Disney seems to have a monopoly on every children’s story. Plus, Hook just didn’t do it for me. This version was well done, Jason Issacs is a babe, the children were adorable, and the special effects were corny but not too bad. What was with all the Peter/Wendy sexual tension? Day-um.

Philip Morris: ‘Please Talk To Your Cooler Children About Cigarettes’

NEW YORK—Philip Morris, the largest manufacturer of tobacco products in the United States, released the first in a series of television commercials yesterday urging parents to take the time to educate their hipper, better looking, and more rebellious children about the dangers of smoking. “If your child is idolized by other kids, always gets the girls, and has no patience or respect for authority figures, please talk to him immediately about cigarettes,” said the ad’s narrator over a montage of Hollywood stars apparently smoking after intercourse. “Parents need to keep an eye on their charismatic and persuasive children, who are at the highest risk of smoking at an earlier age, when it’s most respected by their peers.” According to Philip Morris’ new print-ad campaign running in Maxim and Sports Illustrated, it is unnecessary for parents to discuss the dangers of cigarettes with lame children who like board games, science, and their parents.

cats are cute

I’m back to posting cat videos and pictures. This one is too cute. It kind of looks like Dale, all grown up. I love when the older gray cat takes out the legs of the orange one.

Everything Bad is Good For You: I was so excited to read this because this is the stuff I love- pop culture as social commentary. It wasn’t what I expected. The author’s argument was more about cognitive development. In a nutshell, tv, movies, and game shows were straightforward narratives that purposefully did not make the viewer think too much. Nowadays, plots are more intricate, there are multiple threads of stories, and information is sometimes hidden on purpose. Reality shows, supposedly, allow the view to develop more social and emotional intelligence in the “what would I do if I were in this position” affect. Video games have, supposedly, helped cognitive functioning because now one has to strategize and role play instead of just hitting the joystick button at the right time (i.e., “Pong”).

I don’t buy it.

Ok, sure, he has a point. But it is dumb to ignore all the social and societal messages that pop culture brings. Sure, 24, Law & Order, and The West Wing may fit the above points, but not everyone is watching such “highbrow” shows. People watch shows that promote the vapid, shallow, and rich, like Laguna Beach, my Super Sweet 16, and Flavor of Love. Just watching The latest installment of The Real World just proves my point. What once was about young people with ambitions and opinions has now turned into Whoretation Island with people that all look the same. Remember when Judd and Rachel used to argue politics? When Julie and Kevin used to talk about race? I miss those days. Now every character says “like” every third word and has to make up for an absentee father by dancing on bars.

Sure, our brains may be processing information differently, but the content we are processing is getting progressively worse.

Little Britain

So Little Britain Season Three is a letdown. I think it peaked sometime during season 2 with Sebastian and then the ladies at the bake sale. This season is pretty racist and relies more on bodily fluids. I will forever love Sebastian and the Prime Minister.

Scary.

So as you know, I am totally fascinated with children’n toys. Did anyone have a doll head that was used for styling? It was sort of a severed head on a stand? Ok, that is creepy enough, but guess what I saw in Target the other day:

Excuse me? A severed horse’s head? Is this a prop from the Godfather movies? And why oh why is the horse wearing makeup? I am seriously offended. And a little scared.

Stepford Wives

I finally saw the original Stepford Wives. I’m forgetting that the recent Nicole Kidman movie ever happened. This is a totally satifying movie- a suspense with social commentary, but not shoved down your throat. And Katharine Ross is beyond beautiful.

time to me to fall all over myself gushing about a band.

I don’t understand why Muse is not big here. They are HUGE in Britain. They are playing Wembley Stadium, for pete’s sake. Maybe that’s better, because if I lived in the UK I’d be “mainstream”. But this band blows me away. When they first started, they were compared to Radiohead, but they by far surpass them. Their latest album Black Hole and Revelations [get] I think is their best yet. Seriously, “Starlight” will change your life.

As not to overwhelm you with music, I’ve selected some of their better songs from their past 4 albums. “Feeling Good”, a Nina Simone cover is almost better than the original. “Butterflies and Hurricanes” is like an entire rock opera in one song.

Just an fyi, if you can’t somehow admit that Muse is good, even just a little bit, then please remove yourself from my life.

So I was in the library today and walked past their holiday movie display and noted Disney’s Babes in Toyland. Holy crap! I didn’t think this movie actually existed! I thought this was some bad lsd trip I had as a kid. I totally remember being obsessed with it when I was little, but never knowing if it was an actual movie, or something I stumbled across while watching cable when I wasn’t supposed to. I borrowed it and watched it, and like most stuff you love as a kid, watching it now totally ruins it. But what were the filmmakers on when making this- there is a nursery rhyme towm where all the characters from the Mother Goose stories live (and all the kids live without chaperones), and two of them are getting married, and the old weird guy kidnaps the guy and sells him to gypsies (cue a racist musical number that was pretty much like a minstrel performance). Meanwhile, the kids run into the forbidden forest where the trees threaten to kill them and they stumble across this old pervy toymaker who has a machine that makes custom toys. Finally they all escape and it is just really bad and fucked up. All interspersed with perky musical numbers. I loath Disney.

videos I love to hate

You all know how much I love to hate on the PCDs, but their new video put me over the edge. Watching them rub their genitalia all over the subway made me realize why nyc subways are so dirty. I’ve also noticed that one of them always wears a long sleeve shirt. I’ll bet she has burn marks or scales.

Phew! What a relief…I’m receiving great reviews for my starring roll in The Facts of Life movie. Erin, on the other hand, is not winning over critics.

the first day of december.

Oh, ok, so I am not all into the Melrose Place drama that happened on tonight’s Battlestar, but it did give some backstory on what happened during the year after they landed on New Caprica. Lee and Kara getting together would be like Rachel and Ross getting together. Seriously the sex scene was awkward. I had to look away. Totally jumping the shark. I’m over Kara. I can see that she is the wet dream of every nerdy sci-fi guy but I am sick of her being an asshole and everyone bowing at her feet. And to dangle Anders in front of me again and then to take him away.

I just found out that Ricky Gervais and Steohen Merchant wrote last night’s episode of The Office. I’m not impressed. And I hate this Karen business. I don’t just hate her because she is dating Jim, she just seems…blah.

have you ever heard the wold cry to the blue corn moon

I finally watched The New World and during and after I was crying uncontrollably. I don’t know why. It wasn’t for the plight of the Native Americans or anything.