Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

[ 1 Comment ]Posted on July 2, 2008 by admin in Music, Popular Media

By the time I learn to pronounce “Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust”, Sigur Rós will have released their next CD.

No, that headline is not some coding error. Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (which apparently means “With a buzz in our ears, we play endlessly”) is the new release from Sigur Rós, of Iceland. I’d heard of them, but this is the first recording I’ve listened to. And listened, and listened. The cover art is perfect; if this stuff doesn’t make you wanna get nekkid and play on the freeway, you need help. Apparently a lot of the tracks were recorded without dubbing, and the sheer freshy-freshness of the performances shine through. Don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of these tunes though; especially on tracks like “Gobbledigook”, they’re doing some whack stuff with meters and tricking you by using simplistic percussion lines. This recording is destined for some “Best Of” lists at the end of 2008.

Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

[ Comments Off ]Posted on July 1, 2008 by admin in Music

A review of Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga in less than 25 words.

A friend challenged me to take Pitchfork Media’s Top 50 of 2007 and review each artist in 25 words or less. I accepted. When the little Amazon gizmo loads below, take a listen for yourself.

Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Alt-rock 21st century Squeeze with less reverb.

Just Around the Benz: A Petrol-Free Mercedes

[ Comments Off ]Posted on June 30, 2008 by admin in Clean & Green, Technology

Mercedes Benz to offer a petrol-free product line by 2015?

If the buzz is true, Mercedes Benz intends to offer a petroleum-free product line by 2015. Apparently, they’re already making considerable investments to head in this direction. A daring commitment like this should be an inspiration to other manufacturers, and would be quite fitting, since it was Karl Benz who is generally credited with producing the world’s first gasoline-powered auto. The idea of a silent Mercedes reminds of a bit of humor: As a waiter some years ago, I was serving a British couple who were having dinner with a German gentleman. Throughout the dinner the German fellow – who was in town on business with the recently merged Daimler/Chrysler – kept saying things about “Daimler this” and “Daimler that”. Finally the British woman said: “I’m sorry, isn’t the new company called ‘Daimler Chrysler’?” to which the German fellow replied: “I’m afraid the ‘Chrysler’ is silent”. In any case, if an electric Mercedes of the future looks anything like the hybrid F700 pictured here, count me in. This could just be some viral PR; as of this writing there are no official releases from Mercedes Benz, just a lot of industry buzz.

Attack of the Obamacons

[ Comments Off ]Posted on June 29, 2008 by admin in Politics

Are former neocons helping Obama’s campaign? Is the Republican party really a “dead rotting carcass”?

Hard to believe that the same Robert Novak who (drunkenly?) stormed off the set of CNN’s Inside Politics (video link) and who played a key role in the Valerie Plame scandal has written a piece about how Obamacons are threatening the McCain campaign. Thank you Bob, you’ve given me another opportunity to plug Obamamania!: The English Language, Barackafied. Former Bushie-turned-Obamacon Larry Hunter should be selected as Obama’s honorary campaign director for being on record as saying “The Republican Party is a dead rotting carcass with a few decrepit old leaders stumbling around like zombies in a horror version of ‘Weekend With Bernie,’ handcuffed to a corpse.”

More Obamemes…

Baracksploitation:
The practice among editors of putting only Barack Obama on the cover of their magazines.
Obama Self:
A tear-jerking cover of Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself” said to be recorded by Celine Dion and only released in the event Obama fails to receive the nomination.

Read the rest of this entry »

PunkTards Rule

[ 1 Comment ]Posted on June 28, 2008 by admin in Lifestyle & Culture, Music, Popular Media

Differently-abled punk band Heavy Load are out to demonstrate that disability rocks.

The temptation to make jokes about how I’ve never met a punk band member who wasn’t differently-abled or worthy of a term like “punktard” (hey, did I just coin a phrase?) is overwhelming, but I’m too grown up and what these guys are doing is just too cool. Meet Heavy Load, “Brighton’s Answer to the Ramones” (their words). These guys are on a “mission to demonstrate that disability rocks”. Learn more about them at HeavyLoad.org. There’s also a movie being made about them, and they’re running Stay Up Late, “A campaign for people with learning disabilities…fighting for the right to party!” Being a gimp has never been so hip. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Differently-Abled Brother.

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