I love taking factory tours, so the show "How It's Made" broadcast on the Discovery Channel is perfect for me. Unlike a lot of shows today this one is completely jam packed with information without spending 20 minutes building up to 10 minutes content.
One problem, now that I know gum is largely made of plastic I don't want to chew it any more.
Recently in Media Category
There is a new show on HBO, "The Life and Times of Tim". Based on the clips it bears no resemblance to my life, but you never know -- it could be about me.
I finally broke down and checked out the "The Darjeeling Limited". After my trip to India I knew I had to see it. The movie was fantastically beautiful. Although it wasn't the India I visited and the story wasn't mine I recognized myself in the movie in quite a few places.
Wow, there are so many worlds I know so little about. The science fiction folk singing world was hitherto fore unknown to me.
I've always enjoyed Bruce Springsteen's quieter darker albums. These include the seminal "Nebraska" and "The Ghost of Tom Joad". Perhaps "enjoyed" is the wrong word. Some of the songs on these albums are dark & foreboding and some are downright depressing. Maybe it's cathartic for me, maybe I'm just relieved that the police aren't after me and I'm not on death row.
Naturally I picked up his latest album, "Devils and Dust", a couple of weeks ago. Like the other albums I mentioned it's pretty dark. You won't find loud rocker anthems like "Born in the U.S.A." What you find is powerfully poetic lyrically driven ballads without a lot of happy endings. For example, check out the chorus from the title track.
You've probably heard the album mentioned on the news as Starbucks won't carry it due to a song about prostitution called "Reno". It's an uncomfortable song to listen to, no doubt about it. At the same time it conveys a kind of lonely sadness that has few rivals. Reminds me a little of "Leaving Las Vegas" with Nicholas Cage. Odd to hear a song as graphic as this one paired with Jesus Was an Only Son and Leah later on the same album.
In the end, "Nebraska" is still my favorite Springsteen album, but there are some great songs on "Devils & Dust" which will stay on my playlist for a long time. My favorites include "The Hitter", "Black Cowboys", "All I'm Thinkin' About" & "Matamoros Banks. I liked "Devils & Dust", but I'm prone to like depressing music so what do I know?
P.S. Thanks to Gretchen's pointer, I found a segment with Mr. Springsteen on NPR. It includes some background on the songs as well as some streaming songs. Most interestingly was the fact that "Devils & Dust" was written from the point of view of a checkpoint gaurd in Iraq. Thanks Gretchen.
Speaking of Nebraska, 89.3 has been playing a song by a local group called Halloween, Alaska. They have an awesome cover of "State Trooper" by Bruce Springsteen. You can even stream the whole song from their website if you click on "music" and have something that will play Shoutcast streams. They are playing Friday, June 10th Cedar Cultural Center. I think I'll be there.
We've got God on my side I'm just trying to survive What if what you do to survive Kills the things you love Fear's a powerful thing It can turn your heart black you can trust It'll take your God filled soul And fill it with devils and dust--Devils & Dust, Bruce Springsteen
Speaking of Nebraska, 89.3 has been playing a song by a local group called Halloween, Alaska. They have an awesome cover of "State Trooper" by Bruce Springsteen. You can even stream the whole song from their website if you click on "music" and have something that will play Shoutcast streams. They are playing Friday, June 10th Cedar Cultural Center. I think I'll be there.
I just heard The Shins are playing First Avenue tomorrow. I was totally unaware of this until just this moment.
In more disappointing news it appears the show is sold out.
If any of my loyal readers have tickets and want to take me to the show, please leave a comment. The person writing the funniest comment gets to take me. As a thank you gift, I'll create a very special blog post just for you.
Current song stuck in my head.
I'm waiting by the phone
Waiting for you to call me up and tell me I'm not alone --- Soul Asylum, Grave Dancers Union, Somebody to Shove
Waiting for you to call me up and tell me I'm not alone --- Soul Asylum, Grave Dancers Union, Somebody to Shove
Occasionally when one checks voice mails you'll get an accidental message where you a cell phone in someone's pocket or purse calls a number accidentally. I find these little accidental messages fascinating. I always listen to the end, curious to see if I can piece together who it was or where they were.
Tonight the message included a long clip from "I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight" by Cutting Crew, circa mid eighties. Hearing that music from high school brought me instantly back to the eighties. Whoever you were that called me, thanks.
A few months ago MPR purchased a small college radio station which played classical music.
People were nonplussed and more than a few people were irate as it meant less choice for people who like classical music.
In the last year or so I had gotten rather attached to the alternative classical station, mainly because there were fewer gruesome reports of Iraq casualties for my children to ask about. "Daddy what is an Improvised Explosive Device?"
Then MPR surprised me with the announcement that the new format for the station would be sort of adult, eclectic, alternative, contemporary music station. When I heard about this I was both happy and irritated. I had pretty much given up on commercial music stations as I was irritated by their short playlists and constant commercial interruptions so I was thrilled that someone might play some interesting music with fewer interruptions. At the same time I was irritated by the fact the MPR news station had broadcast numerous digs at how bland and bad commercial music radio had become. It's like they were priming us for their entry into the market. By profiling certain non-traditional Adult Album Alternative stations they were creating a little astroturfing campaign that would lead people to their station. I hate feeling like a sheep. Baaahhh.
So now the station is up and running. You can catch a stream if you like. It's pretty good. I admit it's a treat to listen to interesting music I've never heard before, broadcast without commercials.
This new station has already helped me in my continuous search for my feminine side, which manifests itself by my love for girlish music. My newest find is Rilo Kiley. Here are a few quotes from lyrics on the album, "More Adventurous".
I know I'm alone if I'm with or without you but just bein' around you offers me another form of relief When the lonliness leads to bad dreams and the bad dreams lead me to callin' you and I call you and say "C'MERE!" And it's bad news Baby I'm bad news I'm just bad news, bad news, bad news And it's bad news Baby it's bad news It's just bad news, bad news, bad news-- Rilo Kiley, "Portions for Foxes"
Any chimp can play human for a day. Use his opposable thumbs to iron his uniform and run for office on election day fancy himself a real decision maker and deploy more troops than salt shakers.-- Rilo Kiley, "It's a Hit"
I am sitting in my living room tonight surfing, while I watch The Daily Show, with Jon Stewart. I love this show. I haven't enjoyed a late night comedy show this much since the early, quirky days of Letterman. There was a great visual gag tonight about how the Bush administration can and does justify anything be recalling 9/11.
9/11 + anything = shut up
When this show is good, it's the funniest thing on any screen, TV or movie.
[Listening to: Breathe (2AM) - Anna Nalick]
