August 11, 2008

RS #1058 (some weird triplet boys)

Super Monkey Ball. Perhaps the best reason to want an iPhone.

Natasha Kai (olympics, soccer) has some seriously awesome tattoos.

I would really have laughed to hear Jay-Z doing "Wonderwall" at Glastonbury. The whole story behind that just cracks me up.

I already knew about James Franco's writing (one degree of separation/my friend took a class with him) but this article makes me like him even more. That, combined with Cinnamon's positive review, MIGHT be enough to make me pay to see Pineapple Express. But then again, I don't believe I want to put any $$ in Judd Apatow's pocket.

I'm sure I've never bought a Randy Newman album but I kinda want to buy this one just as protest against the Bush Administration. Singles: "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" and "Feels Like Home" (which you already know a cover of if you were a Pacey's Pond fan).

This review of Dr. Dog "Fate" actually made me buy the album over the weekend.

But hmmm I can't decide about the new Conor Oberst. Anyone got an opinion on that one for me?

Posted by Duff at 07:42 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

RS #1056/1057 (obama)

So THAT's why I go to Pitchfork and Lollapalooza, but not Bonnaroo. The no shirts for girls thing.

Interesting article on Jim James/My Morning Jacket. I am head over heels for his "Goin' to Acapulco" cover on the I'm Not There soundtrack and I may have just started listening to the new MMJ obsessively.

Posted by Duff at 07:21 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

August 06, 2008

Catching up on EW

EW 1002 (twilight)

The redesign is crap, if you ask me. A) It all looks like advertising and B) Was the goal of the redesign to have as few (and as short) album reviews as possible?


EW 1003 (watchmen)

Columbia Pictures/Sherlock Holmes with Sacha Baron Cohen as Holmes, Will Ferrell as Watson and Judd Apatow producing? I think I might puke. Warner Bros instead offers Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes with Guy Ritchie directing? Now that I might be willing to see.

I need to hear Sugarland's cover of "Life in a Northern Town." Need.

Bank Job DVD gets an A-. I heard it was good but given the star's previous work, did they really expect anyone to go to it in the theater?

Entire page on the new CSI but they don't mention David Weddle coming over from BStarG. Was that announced post this issue? I'm always so behind on magazines, it's hard to work out the chronology.


EW 1004 (dark knight)

EW: There's an old joke about how Superman is the guy girls want to marry but Batman's the one they want to date.
Christopher Nolan: Michael Caine had a great line: "Superman is the way America sees itself, but Batman is the way the world sees America."

Thomas Disch's latest "Word of God" gets an A-. RIP Disch, an amazingly versatile author (I've read his sci fi ["Camp Concentration" among others] and I've also read his historical fiction ["Neighboring Lives" set in the pre-raphaelite world] and both were EXCELLENT).


EW 1006 (some girl from some ridiculous show)

Olympics start August 8. Man, I can't wait for August 9: Swimming!

This book sounds funny: "Mine All Mine" Adam Davies
This book sounds intriguing: "Travel Writing" Peter Ferry
and this photo book looks and sounds very cool: "Perfect World" Sage Sohier

Posted by Duff at 09:00 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

July 16, 2008

Recommending Random Sampler Singles

For those three of you who are always asking me for new singles to check out...HERE YA GO.

Paste 39:

  • "Love During Wartime" The Main Drag
  • "Sweet to Mend" Heirloom Projector
  • "Ships" Tyler Ramsey"
  • "Fine Line" Little Big Town
  • "The Story of Benjamin Darling Part 1" State Radio
  • "Coat Check Dream Song" (Live version) Bright Eyes

Paste 40:

Paste 41:

  • "The Silence Between Us" Bob Mould
  • "Strawberry Street" Lili Hadyn
  • "Bye Bye Bye" Plants and Animals
  • "Punches" by Collin Herring
  • "Meet Me by the River" Matthew Ryan vs. the Silver State
  • "I Got a Thing for You" Jim Bianco
  • "Changing Your Mind" Bob Schneider
  • "Goodnight Girl" The Nadas
  • "Old Song" AM

Paste 42:

  • "Sing Again" Chris Walla
  • "Buildings & Mountains" The Republic Tigers
  • "Nobody Knows" Keaton Simons
  • "Antarctica" The Weepies
  • "Rebel Side of Heaven" Langhorne Slim
  • "Shooting Star and the Ambulance" Pete Francis
  • "This Girl" Jordan Zevon
  • "I Keep Faith" Billy Bragg
  • "Better Things" South
  • "She Held My Hand" Steven Delopoulos

Paste 43:

  • "Graveyard Girl" M83
  • "Be With Me" Foy Vance
  • "My Only Offer" Mates of State
  • "Get on With It" Val Emmich
  • "Mystery" Ashleigh Flynn
  • "Late Last Night" Robby Hecht
  • "Standing Bird" Love Psychedelico
  • "Jessi Jane" The Whipsaws

And if you need reference points*, we've got:
"Right Hand on My Heart" The Whigs ...sounds like... Springsteen! "Ghosts of Goodbye" Ford Turrell ...sounds like... Ryan Adams! "Bye Bye Bye" Plants and Animals ...sounds like... Arcade Fire! Or Ravens & Chimes! "I Got a Thing for You" Jim Bianco ...sounds like... Joe Cocker! Or Tom Waits! "Old Song" AM ...sounds like... Josh Rouse! "Nobody Knows" Keaton Simons ...sounds SASSY like... Jason Mraz! "Open Fire" Sara Mac Band ...sounds like... The Dixie Chicks! "Standing Bird" Love Psychedelico ...sounds A BIT like... The Dixie Chicks as well! "Jessie Jane" The Whipsaws ...sounds like... Lynyrd Skynrd!

* Note that ...sounds like... is a very loose term that may mean actually SOUNDS LIKE or may mean rather mean "reminds me (and no one else) of".

Posted by Duff at 11:20 AM | Say What? | filed under ...Sounds Like..., Listenin', Rags, Recommending, Tunes

July 10, 2008

Paste #43

Tunes to Think About:

  • Ersi Arvizu "Friend for Life"
  • Jack Dishel "Only Son" (only on myspace? not sure)
  • The Ting Tings (Shell recommends them too)
  • Caroline Herring "Lantana"
  • Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken "Ampersand" EP
  • Elbow "The Seldom Seen Kid"
  • Jim Noir (It's been out for ages, but I keep resisting this one, not sure why.)
  • Old 97s "Blame It on Gravity" (hmmmmmm)
  • Baby Loves HipHop Presents: the Dino 5 (this album sounds like so much fun!)

And other random thoughts:

Steve Labate describing The Replacements: simultaneously stupid and profound, a gang of reckless, wiseass pranksters accidentally slipping on their own banana peel headfirst into the sacred sublime. ...the endearing juxtaposition of abject failure and wild success.

I don't know what to think of Scarlet Johansson putting out a Tom Waits' cover record...but I did really enjoy the stuff she had to say about Woody Allen in this interview. (And also, the video she's in for Bob Dylan's "When the Deal Goes Down" sounds really lovely...although I can't remember the last time I saw an actual music video.)

This review of Mates of State sounds eerily like it could be describing The Weepies. Bizarre. They are not that similar in my head, but I realize I haven't listened to MoS in awhile...

I soooo want a Wii Fit!!

Book: "Dear American Airlines" Jonathan Miles (the second intriguing review I've read...hmmm....)
Book: "Black & White" Lewis Shiner
Book: "Poems 1957-1967" James Dickey

Snack: Trader Joe's PeanutButter-Filled Pretzels (the second recommendation of these in a week. my coworker says they're bliss)

Game: Dishwasher Dead Samurai (to be on Xbox 360. Dang I wish I could play video games (other than Tetris and Hatris I mean. I'm great at those.)

Posted by Duff at 11:30 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

July 08, 2008

RW #1055 (Chris Martin)

So I don't watch or know anything about American Idol but there is a really great photo by Peter Yang of the dude who just won it with some random little karate girl who walked by during the shoot. Really great photo.

Weird articles in this issue. Chris Martin = weirder than I even already thought. The dude who created Facebook = insane.

In other random news: Billy Squier will be part of Ringo Starr's "All-Starr" traveling band this summer. Hello, I could hear "The Stroke" live? Oh, the little junior high schooler I once was just swooned a little.

Single: "Handlebars" Flobots

Single: "Lost" Coldplay (compared to U2's "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For")

Album: The Virgins (self titled) (gets a really great review. just read about these dudes somewhere else recently as well...)

Album: "Last 2 Walk" Three 6 Mafia (singles: "First 48", "Lolli Lolli")

The latest in the series of R&B-sounding but actually skinny weird white chicks coming out of the UK (what an odd trend): Adele "19"

Great Album title: "When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold" (Atmosphere)

Flick: "The Go-Getter"

Posted by Duff at 08:08 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #1001 (Batman/Joker)

A(nother) redesign. WIth lots of bolding in the text.

I really can't wait to see Batman. The previews are intense and Heath looks amazing.

Stephen King agrees with my Dad on The Strangers.

This is a much better review of Wanted than the one in the Chicago Reader.

The new HBO drama Generation Kill sounds much more intriguing to me after reading this article (and Maureen Ryan has a whole host of PDFs to help you keep track of who's who if you feel the need).

Tune: "Hero" Nas feat. Keri Hilson
Mystery: "Swan Peak" by James Lee Burke (Robicheaux series)

Posted by Duff at 03:51 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 23, 2008

EW #s 999/1000 (the new classics)

Ack, I really hate this issue. No reviews, no "here's what's coming out" and endless lists to disagree with.

Example #1: They call "On Beauty" Zadie Smith's "third--and finest" book. I loved her first ("White Teeth") book and liked her second ("The Autograph Man") one a LOT and the third one? Not much at all.

Example #2: BSG is #59. Behind Pee-wee's Playhouse? Melrose Place? 90210? Come on.

The only things I liked (and oddly, liked a lot):

  • Brigette Lacombe's photo spread (she shoots still on movie sets. now THAT's a job I could get into)
  • Danny Clinch's photo spread (rock stars)
  • Will Arnett's "New Classics That Made Me Cry"
  • The photo of Rainn Wilson as Xena: Warrior Princess. I might buy that a frame.

Posted by Duff at 06:20 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, TVTVTV

EW #998 (Angelina "Wanted" cover)

If there's one movie I can't wait to see this summer, it is indeed Wanted.

If there's one TV show you could NOT pay me to see, it is Swingtown, the previews for which look so incredibly bad, and that's not even taking into account the lame lame lame subject matter. What the fuck, EW, how did that piece o' crap make your Must list? Seriously.

The review of The Accidental "There Were Wolves" makes it sound like a good album...it also makes it sound a LOT like Fleet Foxes and Shearwater. So do I need it?

As usual, Mark Harris cracks me up (Women can apparently find a local multiplex without help from men!). He's my favorite back-pager.

Posted by Duff at 06:05 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

June 11, 2008

EW #997 (the rock)

James McAvoy highlighted in "The Next A-List". I have seen some AWESOME previews for "Wanted" (with McAvoy and Angelina Jolie) and it looks GOOOOOD.

My mom is apparently dying to see Kung Fu Panda, and it gets an A- here.

After a good RS review, Fleet Foxes gets an A. (Love the album. Love it!) And I'm more interested in Jakob Dylan's solo album than any of these reviews really seem to be. (But I have consistently liked the Wallflowers' albums better than reviewers as well, so there you go.)

Although I crazy-amounts-of loved her movie (as you must know already, I've only mentioned it 9 bajillion times, starting here), Diablo Cody's back page columns have not really been doing much for me (maybe because New Kids on the Block? Seriously? Proud to say I never listened). This one doesn't either, but I do have to agree with this quote: Raise your hand if you can't hear "Losing My Religion" without thinking about Brenda and Dylan's breakup. Me neither.

Posted by Duff at 03:30 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

RS #1054 (guitar heroes)

Check out: Tokyo Police Club "Elephant Shell" (current album) and "A Lesson in Crime" (06 EP).

Quote of the day: But Monks feels he's constantly improving as a singer. "I just started doing this technique called 'warming up,' " he says dryly. "It really helps." -from Gavin Edwards 1/2 pager.

The new (and latest self-titled) Weezer gets 3 stars. I'm not sure. Fleet Foxes gets 4 (I bought it and I LOVE it). And latest Solomon Burke and new Fratellis also get 3. (They played a great set at Lollapalooza last year.)

My Morning Jacket gets the lengthy (and very positive) review. I'm not sure I'm convinced. I did NOT like listening to "Z" AT ALL. But I did enjoy them at Lollapalooza when I wasn't expecting to. And this album sounds much more upbeat. Hmmmm.....

Also considering the Ting Tings who get 3.5 stars and a very positive review of their poppy album

Posted by Duff at 03:10 PM | Say What? | filed under " " of the XXX., Listenin', Rags, Random Quotes, Tunes

June 05, 2008

RS #1053 (Eagles)

Wow, the Beck/DangerMouse collaboration sounds great, very excited for this album to come out!

Album: Old 97s "Blame It on Gravity" (sometimes they're too goofy for me but this album is getting great reviews)

Posted by Duff at 10:37 AM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

RS #1052 (the hills)

Album: The Last Shadow Puppets "The Age of the Understatement"

Album: Santogold

Album: new James Hunter "The Hard Way"

Album: Paul Kelly "Stolen Apples"

Posted by Duff at 10:36 AM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

EW#995/996 (Mad Men)

My personal favorite Sydney Pollack (RIP) movie? "Three Days of the Condor" without a doubt.

Album: Mason Jennings "In the Ever"

Book: "Dear American Airlines" Jonathan Miles. Sounds hilarious. I've spent many an hour stuck in O'Hare myself.

Book (new Jack Reacher): "Nothing to Lose" Lee Child. I might have to buy this one in hardback.

Book (recommended in Stephen King's column): "The Garden of Last Days" Andrew Dubus III

Posted by Duff at 10:35 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #994 (Usher)

Summer music preview!

June 3 - Weezer (another self-titled)
early summer - Beck "Modern Guilt" (some? all? production by Danger Mouse!)
July 15 - The Hold Steady "Stay Positive"
midsummer - Common "Invincible Summer"
July 29 - Margot & The Nuclear So and So's "Animal!"
late summer - Keri Hilson "In a Perfect World" (not sure this is my type of music but I'm intrigued)
Aug 4 - Conor Oberst (self titled solo)
late Aug/early Sept - Gym Class Heroes "The Quilt" (they seem very fun)

Posted by Duff at 10:34 AM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

EW #992/993 (SATC)

Flick: Reprise (gets an A-, on the one hand; I know someone who fell asleep during it, on the other)

Flick: My Father My Lord (gets an A, on the one hand; I may have had enough judaism for a month or two after just finishing an I.B. Singer story collection, on the other)

Flick: Battle for Haditha (sounds awesome!)

Posted by Duff at 10:33 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags

EW #991 (fake Bushes)

Book: "The Boat" Nam Le (stories)

Book: "Red Car" Sallie Bingham (stories)

Book: "Hotel Crystal" Olivier Rollin

And Diablo Cody highly recommends the Scorsese/Stones documentary "Shine a Light" but sadly I think it's already come and gone from Chicago while I wasn't paying attention. Moron (me).

Posted by Duff at 10:32 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

May 14, 2008

Paste #42

Tunes to Check Out:

  • Cass McCombs "Dropping the Write" *
  • Little Birdy "Hollywood" (Aussies, part '80s goth)*
  • The Republic Tigers "Keep Color" (Eno/Death Cab/XTC)*
  • The Death Set (punk)
  • Ashleigh Flynn "American Dream" (country-blues flavored)
  • Foy Nance "Hope"
  • Micah Dalton "Pawn Shop"
  • Billy Bragg "Mr. Love & Justice" ("wiser & more playful approach than ever")
  • Colour Revolt "Plunder, Beg and Curse"
  • M83 "Saturdays = Youth"

*recommended by Alexandra Patsavas (music supervisor "Grey's etc)

They did NOT like either the new Counting Crows ("Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings") or Griffin House ("Flying Upside Down"). As to the former, I don't think it's a great album, but it's certainly better than their last, and I enjoy a couple of the fast songs. I could do without the second half. And as to the latter, I agree, the album is kinda boring...but I've seen him do those songs live twice now and I loved it both times. It's mixed blandly / maybe he needs a new production team / but until he puts out a live album, this is what's out there. (And I really like the song "I Remember (It's Happening Again)" which they clearly hated [they call it a "ham-fisted anti-war anthem"].)

Book: "The Hakawati" by Rabih Alameddine

Posted by Duff at 01:31 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

RS #1051 (best of rock cover)

Tunes to check out:

  • Against Me "New Wave" (RS calls them "the definitive punk band of the Bush-Cheney era")
  • Robyn (self titled) ("a shiny mainstream pop record with enough wit and weirdness to impress even jaded bloggers")
  • Santogold (reggae/rap/rock mix)
  • The Answer "Rise" (import only / rock)

Random news items:

  • Green Day working on a FULL Foxboro Hot Tubs album. Yay!
  • Al Green teaming up with the Roots (and dueting with Corinne Bailey Rae, John Legend and Anthony Hamilton).
  • DangerMouse working on the next Beck album (oooo!).

And:
Dear Matt Taibbi,
Be careful out there.
Seriously,
those people are fucking crazy and when they see this article...they might come find you!,
Smooches, CMS

Posted by Duff at 10:24 AM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

May 13, 2008

EW #990 ("Meredith")

They gave Made of Honor a B? Are they kidding? (I'd give it a D-Minus at best.)

And per the cover (I refuse to read the article), they think Grey's "is getting good again." I watched it the last two weeks and it was far from good. The opposite, really.

Me and this magazine = not in sync.

Posted by Duff at 06:25 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV

May 09, 2008

EW #988/989 (summer movie preview)

Definitely Planning to See:

  • 5/2 Ironman (the 'rents really liked it)
  • 5/9 What Happens in Vegas (Looks funny. Maybe the next "A Lot Like Love"?)
  • 5/9 The Tracy Fragments (Ellen Page)
  • 5/22 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (I'm kinda pissy they're even doing this...but I'm probably going to go see it anyway. Pleased that Karen Allen is the girl they chose to bring back though.)
  • 5/30 Sex & the City (Would like to see the story end)
  • 6/13 The Happening (dir Shymalan, M. Wahlberg, Z. Deschanel) (I don't know why people are laughing through the previews, I think it looks awesome)
  • 6/20 Get Smart (perfect role for "Michael")
  • 6/27 Wanted (Angelina Jolie back in an action movie again plus James McAvoy, looks awesome!)
  • 7/2 Hancock (W. Smith, J. Bateman, dir P Berg)
  • 7/18 The Dark Knight (H. Ledger's last role)

Perhaps, We'll See:

  • 5/2 Son of Rambow (hear it's really funny)
  • 6/13 The Incredible Hulk (it is Ed Norton after all)
  • 7/4 Diminished Capacity (M. Broderick, A. Alda, V. Madsen)
  • 7/11 Hellboy II: Golden Army (actually enjoyed the first one)
  • 7/25 American Teen (eh, maybe)
  • 7/25 Brideshead Revisited (so not interested in the story/plot/whatever, but totally interested in Matthew Goode)
  • 7/25 The X-Files (I didn't watch it that often, not sure I know enough of the underlying mythology to go to this)
  • 8/1 The Rocker ("Dwight"!)
  • 8/8 Pineapple Express (I think I will hate this (#2 below) but James Franco is so pretty)
  • 8/15 Tropic Thunder (maybe not. I like Ben Stiller so much more when he's not trying so hard to be funny ("Flirting with Disaster" "Keeping the Faith")
  • 8/29 Vicky Cristina Barcelona (latest Woody Allen)

No Thanks, Definitely Not:

  • Baby Mama (#1: I am so sick of the "I am X age and I MUST have a baby" bullshit. Fuck you, babyNEEDers.)
  • Mama Mia (give me a break. Stupid songs made into stupid nonsensical no plot broadway show now made into movie. Seriously?)
  • The Love Guru (#2: I hate this kind of movie)
  • You Don't Mess with the Zohan (see above #2)
  • Miss Conception (see above #1)
  • Step Brothers (see above #2)
  • Baghead (Seriously?)
  • Towelhead (Sure sexual abuse is a reality; but I don't go to the movies for that kind of reality. Dear Aaron Eckhart, please make a movie where I can see you be yummy instead of yucky?)

Book: "Child 44" by Tom Rob Smith (sounds really good!)

Posted by Duff at 01:13 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

April 18, 2008

Paste #41

Tunes to Think About:

  • Colour Revolt
  • Joe Grushecky "Have a Good Time But Get Out Alive (1980)
  • Joe Grushecky "Fingerprints" (2002)
  • Cataldo "Signal Flare"
  • The Weepies "Hideaway" (is this already out? am I living under a rock?)
  • Sun Kil Moon "April"
  • Shawn Mullins "Honeydew" (called "simultaneously alluring and incisive")
  • Murder by Death "Red of Tooth and Claw" ("part Arcade Fire, part early Radiohead")
  • The Black Keys "Attack & Release" (reading about this one everywhere)
  • The Kills "Midnight Boom" (also getting lots o' hype)
  • Be Your Own Pet "Get Awkward" (just reviewed in Rolling Stone also)
  • Lyrics Born "Everywhere at Once" (rap/hip-hop)
  • Matthew Ryan vs. The Silver State
  • Virginia Coalition "Home This Year" (I already love a single off this album)

Tunes Already Bought:

  • Gnarls Barkley "The Odd Couple"

Posted by Duff at 01:37 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

April 16, 2008

New (to me) Singles from Recent Paste Samplers

From Paste 37, I'm diggin':

If you like Regina Spektor and/or Ingrid Michaelson, try "Unmistakably Love" Stephanie's ID.

If you like The Fray, try "Swim" Jeremy Larson.

(Old Friends also recommended: "Take Me to the Riot" Stars; "Gone Gone Gone" Robert Plant & Alison Krauss [I can't listen to their album in one go, but I like it in individual songs].)


From Paste 38, I'm diggin':

  • "Foundations" Kate Nash
  • "I'll Follow You Tonight" Anna Terheim
  • "Have to Have Everything" Milton & The Devils Party
  • "The Cornflakes Song" (feat. Glen Phillips) Dick Prall
  • "Days" She Is So Beautiful/She Is So Blonde
  • "Brand New Love" Serena Ryder (minus the Jesus references)

I guess this one must've come out before Christmas since it ends with three Holiday songs. Doh. (I like "It Really Is (A Wonderful Life)" Mindy Smith.)

If you like The Fray and/or Five for Fighting, try "Do I Wake or Sleep?" Homer Hiccolm & The Rocketboys and "Wedding Crows" The Josh Davis Band.

If you like the Go-Gos, try "I Call on You" The TrolleyVox

(Old Friends also recommended: "100 Days, 100 Nights" Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings; "The Opposite of Hallelujah" Jens Lekman; "Second Chance" Liam Finn .)

Posted by Duff at 03:31 PM | Say What? | filed under Listenin', Rags, Tunes

April 15, 2008

RS #1050 (Mick, Keith, Jack)

Checkout: Last Shadow Puppets "The Age of Understatement" ("like a rocked-out film score")

Flick/CD: "Shine a Light" the Scorsese/Stones documentary. I have GOT to get to this.

CD?: Tapes 'n Tapes "Walk It Off" (I know I bought their first album...and only listened maybe once. I should pull it out and give it another whirl.)

Spring CDs to Consider:
4/29 Madonna "Hard Candy"
5/6 Barenaked Ladies "Snacktime"
5/13 Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs"
5/13 Jason Mraz "I'm Yours"
5/13 Old 97s "Blame it on Gravity"
5/20 Scarlett Johnsson "Anywhere I Lay My Head" (??)
5/20 Bun B "Il Trill" (rap)
6/3 The Cure
6/10 Jakob Dylan "Seeing Things"
6/17 Weezer (a.k.a. The Red Album)
7/? The Hold Steady "Stay Positive"
7/15 John Mellencamp "Life, Death, Love and Freedom (I haven't bought a Mellencamp album in years but something about this one is sounding good to me.
8/? Ray LaMontagne

Posted by Duff at 08:45 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

RS #1049 (Chris Rock)

CD: DangerMouse-produced Black Keys "Attack and Release" (described as awesome!)

CD: Hercules and Love Affair "Blind" (Antony (of & the Johnsons) goes disco?)

Check out: Chester French "Love the Future" ("Brian Wilson melodies, early-Beck humor and synth beats")

Check out: PlayRadioPlay! (Dan Hunter) "Texas" ("wistful electronica in the vein of Postal Service")

Check out: Wale "Mixtape About Nothing" (rap)

CD: Mason Jennings "In the Ever"

DVD: "Southland Tales" (still bummed I missed this in the theater)

DVD: "State of Play" (BBC thriller with J. McAvoy and B. Nigh)

Single: Panic at the Disco "Northern Downpour" ("gorgeous, harmony-laden ballad")

CD: Joseph Arthur "Could We Survive" (first of four EPs followed by a full CD in August) [Hmmm, I bought "Crazy Rain" yesterday but I think I must have missed this one. Will have to check iTunes.]

Flick: "Stop-Loss"

Posted by Duff at 08:21 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

RS #1048 (Barack)

CD (this summer): Hold Steady "Stay Positive"

Wilco's favorite microbrew: New Glarus (Wisconsin)

CD (maybe?): Eminem back in the studio? "King Mathers" ?

CD: Jakob Dylan (solo) "Seeing Things"

Single: Black Crowes' cover of the Stones' "Torn and Frayed". Also "Oh Josephine" sounds good.

CD: Be Your Own Pet "Get Awkward" (described as "riotously excellent")

CD: Jeffrey Lewis "12 Crass Songs" (folkie covering punk described as "downright inspiring")

Posted by Duff at 07:30 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

EW #987 (Tina Fey)

Flick (next Fall): "Righteous Kill" - Pacino & DeNiro as veteran NYPD detectives who resume the hunt for a mass murderer after 30 years off the case.

Book: "Our Story Begins" by Tobias Wolff

Movies I want to see no matter the EW reviews (not just in this issue): Leatherheads (my Dad loved it); Smart People; Street Kings (Keanu!).

Hmmm: Phantom Planet "Raise the Dead" (B+, very positive review)

Book: "Girls in Trucks" Katie Crouch

Book: "The Outlander" Gil Adamson

Posted by Duff at 07:07 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #986 (Ellen)

CD: The Kills "Midnight Boom" (described as "dirty-sexy")

Book: "The Finder" by Colin Harrison

Only two albums reviewed? Wha?

Book: "The Genius" by Jesse Kellerman. Gets a B+ here. Gets a more enthusiastic review here.

Comic: "Secret Invasion" Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Yu

Posted by Duff at 06:56 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

April 02, 2008

EW #985 (Speed Racer)

Definitely interested in seeing "Stop Loss" after reading this interview with the director.

Pacey's movie "Shutter" gets only a C-. :(

I've never watched Criminal Minds before but tonight's episode has steamy shower sex and Nicholas Brendon (in the same scene I hope!). I'm there, baby!

Album: "Blueberry Pancakes" Fink
Album: "Attack & Release" The Black Keys (gets an A- and it was DangerMouse produced.)
Check out? Los Campesinos (boy/girl harmonies, self produced zine)
Book: "The Finder" Colin Harrison (thriller/sounds awesome!)

Posted by Duff at 11:35 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

EW #984 (Desperate Housewives)

Some interesting tibdits about returning shows in the "Spring TV Preview". The only ones I find myself very psyched about are Gossip Girl (5 more) and Bones (6 more).

Album: "Pretty. Odd" Panic at the Disco (Hmmm. I thought their previous album was OK, kinda fun, but it never really made itself much a spot in the rotation.)

Album: "A Mad and Faithful Telling" DeVotchKa (Gets an A-)
Book: "Home" Julie Andrews (memoir) (Sounds pretty good!)
Book: "Our Story Begins" Tobias Wolff (stories) (I LOVED the book I read by him.)

Wow, someone's writing a four book series about Genghis Khan. Doesn't make me want to read it, but does make me think about rewatching the movie. Omar Sharif = Yum!! (Then. Not now.)

Posted by Duff at 10:48 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #983 (SNL)

I've never seen The Big Lebowski. I'm not kidding. I am willing to pretend I have, to get through that moment when an otherwise enjoyable conversation looks like it might suddenly devolve into a "WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT?" pothole. But I haven't. (I really should have included it in this post.)

Single: "Mercy" Duffy
Album: "Lay Down the Law" Switches
Album: "Trouble in Dreams" Destroyer (Hmmm, did I ever listen to the previous Destroyer album I bought? Hopefully I will find it during the 2008 CD Reorganization Project and I can give it a whirl.)

Posted by Duff at 10:25 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

March 12, 2008

RS #1047 (Jack Johnson)

The comments here certainly make Madonna's new album (due April 29) sound AWESOME frankly.

The latest Apple ads? "New Soul" Yael Naim.

weneedgirlfriends.tv sounds Hilarious! I mean if I had time for that kinda crap, I'm sure it is. But I'll never get around to it.

Great Rob Sheffield piece on the Grammys: Wherever you are when you hear Amy [Winehouse], you've been there too long.

Ew! John Mayer in the most horrible swimsuit known to man. Ew Ew Ew! MY EYES! MY EYES!

Album: Stephen Malkmus & the Jinks "Real Emotional Trash" - gets 4 and half stars (I just bought it last night but haven't gotten to listen yet).

Album: Jeffrey Lewis "12 Crass Songs" ("it's like hearing Belle & Sebastian cover Public Enemy"). Intriguing.

Album: Samamidon "All Is Well" ("deceptively ornate adaptation of ten traditional blues and folk songs").

DVD: The extras for Darjeeling Limited get the same amount of stars (3 1/2) as the movie itself...

Posted by Duff at 12:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

March 10, 2008

EW #982 (Indy)

Yes, Indiana Jones was hot. And Han Solo was hot. But Harrison Ford? Nope, not hot. Cannot believe they are making a 4th Indy film NOW. They always have to ride everything into the ground and devalue it, don't they.

Flick: Angels & Demons. The more I hear about it, the more I want to see it.

Album: Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks "Real Emotional Trash"

Check out? Langhorne Slim single "She's Gone" (album out April 29).

Joseph Arthur "Shadows of Lives" (new EP out March 18).

Book: New James Morrow! "The Philosopher's Apprentice." Morrow is a god to me.

Loved Mark Harris' "Eye TV" vs. "Ear TV" OpEd. Brilliant!

Posted by Duff at 08:17 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #981 (Oscars)

Tunes: Kate Walsh. Album "Tim's House" Single "Don't Break My Heart"

Book: New Richard Price! "Lush Life" Oooo, sounds awesome.

Book: "Blood Kin" Ceridwen Dovey. Sounds intriguing, but I'm not usually a fan of nameless parables.

Posted by Duff at 08:06 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

February 27, 2008

Quoted / Slammed.

Awesome "put them in their place" quotes from Nick Marino's piece on "Thriller"/Michael Jackson in Paste #40:

Not long ago I caught a concert by teenaged R&B star Chris Brown, who is sort of a less charismatic verson of Usher, who is himself a less charismatic version fo Michael Jackson.

Today we're left with Chris Brown, Usher and Justin Timberlake, whose most famous stage move to date involved ripping the bodice of Michael Jackson's sister.

[Underlines = emphasis de moi]

Posted by Duff at 09:14 AM | Say What? | filed under Lit Quotes, Rags, Tunes

Paste #40

Tunes to Think About:

  • numberous reader write-ins about Sam Baker "Pretty World" (recommended in an article in Paste 38)
  • Stephen Malkmus & the Jinks "Real Emotional Trash"
  • The Wrights (self titled) (hearts-on-fire classic country duets)
  • Thao (Nguyen) "We Brave Bee Stings and All"
  • Throw Me the Statue "Moonbeams"
  • Jaymay "Autumn Fallin' " (recently sampled a single on Fuel/Friends)
  • Bob Mould "District Line" (also reviewed in RS recently)
  • American Music Club "The Golden Age" (reviewed in EW as well)
  • Tift Merritt "Another Country" (this sounds pretty good but I have a previous album of hers that despite me liking it just never really made it into the listening rotation)
  • Evangelicals "The Evening Descends" (campy horror movie vibe. hmmm. would I like this?)
  • Wild Sweet Orange "The Whale" EP (earnest, rewarding indie rock)
  • Richard Julian "Sunday Morning in Saturday's Shoes" (I did love "Slow New York")

Tunes Already Bought:

  • Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" (LOVELOVELOVE)
  • The Mountain Goats "Heretic Pride" (have only listened to one song so far. it was good!)
  • Mike Doughty "Golden Delicious" (fave tune is "I Wrote a Song About Your Car")
  • The Raveonettes "Lust Lust Lust" (haven't listened to yet)
  • moe. "Sticks and Stones" (very Rolling Stones rock)

Other Items of Note:

  • Five reasons Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Smidge") should return to TV.
  • Interesting article about "Penelope" (Christina Ricci, James McAvoy) and its ability to "remind us that what is perceived as odd and wrong isn't always so."
  • I'm not a Black Crowes fan but (in this article) Chris Robinson makes some very pertinent, thought out, intelligent comments on the record industry and the current American political agenda.

Spring Movies (and very diff. than the EW ones)
3/14: New David Gordon Green film "Snow Angels" (I saw a long preview for this and I'm intrigued. Somewhat Juno-esque but with a violent story throw in. And it's based on a Stewart O'Nan novel, an author I like.)
3/14: "Pride and Glory" (same dir. as Miracle, Ed Norton, Colin Farrel, Jon Voigt NY police officer family)
3/14: I've seen a bunch of previews for "Funny Games" and I can tell you I will NOT be seeing that movie. Looks ICKY and scary and torturous and mentally scarring and not at all the "Funny" of the title.
3/28: "Run Fat Boy Run" (Simon Pegg! but it was directed by David Schwimmer? Really?)

Posted by Duff at 09:07 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

February 25, 2008

Paste #39

Tunes to Think About:

  • Cowboy Junkies "Trinity Revisited" (with Natalie Merchant, Ryan Adams, and others). Haven't listened to Cowboy Junkies in years...but I remember that album.
  • The Whigs "Mission Control (brash garage rock with heartfelt Southern charm)
  • Bell X1 "Flock"
  • Hot Chip "Made in the Dark" (very intriguing. why haven't I heard of these guys?)
  • Chris Stills (self titled)
  • The New Frontiers "Mending" (sincere and wise beyond its years)

Tunes Already Bought:

  • Cat Power "Jukebox" (like a lot, particularly the first four or so)
  • Matt Costa "Unfamiliar Faces" (quirky! Love!)
  • Juno (sdtrk) (like but hard to listen to in one go, gets monotonous)
  • Nada Surf "Lucky" (LOVE)

Book: "Dark Roots" Cate Kennedy (didn't I just read about this in EW as well? Hmmmm, may have to check this out!)

Posted by Duff at 08:50 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

EW #980 (Will Ferrell)

Lost: By March 13 / Ep 7, the identies of (all) the "Oceanic 6" will be revealed.

Heath Ledger's only partially filmed role in Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus will be filled by a collaboration of Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell (and it's rumored that original footage of Heath will still be used in the film).

Comics: Brian Vaughn "The Last Man" comes to an end with #60.

Flick: Be Kind Rewind sounds hilarious.

CD: Got It for Cheap: the Mixtape, Vol 3. (The Re-Up Gang)

Spring movies! Yay!
Feb 29: The Other Boleyn Girl
Mar 7: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Mar 21: The Grand (supposed to be a "Best in Show" style comedy about prop poker)
Mar 21: Shutter (Joshua Jackson)
Mar 28: Stop-Loss (Iraq)
Mar 28: 21 (!!)
Apr 4: Shine a Light (Scorsese films the Rolling Stones)
Apr 4: My Blueberry Nights (N. Portman, J. Law, R. Weisz and Norah Jones)
Apr 4: Leatherheads (I'm just going to see Jim)
Apr 11: Smart People (Ellen Page's Juno followup)
Apr 11: Street Kings (Keanu and Forest Whittaker as LA cops)
Apr 25: The Tourist (Michelle Williams)

Posted by Duff at 08:02 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

EW #979 (Tyra)

Things to think about:

Book: "Dark Roots" by Cate Kennedy (stories)

CD: "Flock" Bell X1 (think I have a single from this that was on Grey's or Everwood or something a long time ago)

CD: "The Golden Age" American Music Club

Book: "Samuel Johnson Is Indignant" Lydia Davis (stories)

Comic: "Albert and the Others" Guy Delisle

Posted by Duff at 07:46 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

February 14, 2008

RS #1046 (Britney)

Nice elegy for Heath Ledger.

But kind of hilarious to contrast that article with the "Great American Tragedy" of Britney going nuts. It's sad - sure. It sucks for her kids - yes. But I'd hardly say it's either a) unexpected given the typical trajectory of child stars in the entertainment business and b) a tragedy.

New Raveonettes gets 4 stars. Yay! I am going to see them next month!

New Bob Mould album "District Line" sounds good but also very very bitter. New Josh Kelley album on the other hand sounds...not good. Don't know if this review is an accurate representation or not, but the lyrics they quote are awful.

New Gnarls Barkley single "Run" sounds great, can't wait for their album!

Posted by Duff at 12:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

February 13, 2008

RS #1045 (Thom Yorke)

Try out: White Denim Blues EP "Let's Talk About It"

I don't think blonde works for Amy Winehouse.

My one regret about Cat Power's "Jukebox"? That it doesn't have the cover she did of Cat Stevens' "How Can I Tell You" for DeBeers. One of my favorite songs from college.

Another way enthusiastic review of the new Sheryl Crow (there was one in EW as well), but I have to say I'm just not feelin' it. My Sheryl Crow listenin' days ended...a while ago.

Posted by Duff at 12:55 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

EW #977 (Ellen Page)

I really love some of the random "co-star" photos from Sundance.

Flick: "Blind Date" with Stanley Tucci (also dir.) and Patricia Clarkson.

The original Rambo was actually a really good movie and it kinda pisses me off that Sylvester Stallone has to drag everything out to such ridiculous levels of sequeldom that he tarnishes the things that were actually worthwhile.

Ellen Page is adorable. I can't wait to see what she does next (playing Dennis Quaid's daughter in Smart People due in April).

Books: "A Person of Interest" by Susan Choi
"The Monsters of Templeton" by Lauren Groff"
and maybe even "Covert" by Bob Delaney (former police undercover and NBA referee)

Posted by Duff at 12:38 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #975 (Conan)

Great Jason Reitman quote: "Juno has as much to do with abortion as Indiana Jones has to do with lassos."

The Strike Survival Guide to programming your own prime-time schedule with DVD sets was awesome: and even if the Strike is over, would work just fine summer TV planning as well.

And a random quote from the "TV-Free Chat" suggestions re: Books: "They can be divided into two categories: semiautobiographical first novels and books about food."

Weirdly, I don't think this Woody Allen "Brothers in Harm" ever came out in Chicago.

Books: "My Revolutions" by Hari Kunzru
"A Rush of Wings" by Adrian Phoenix (female FBI agent, serial killer, gorgeous vampiric bisexual rocker. what's not to like?)

Posted by Duff at 12:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #974 (Atonement)

Lupe Fiasco...might retire after his next album? Oh to have made enough to retire RIGHT NOW. I can't even imagine it.

Nice Atonement photo shoot. Very evocative of the flick itself.

Posted by Duff at 11:52 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #976 (Heath)

Flick: "Body of Lies" dir. Ridley Scott with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe. Can't wait.

In memoriam: Nice brief piece by Lisa Schwarzbaum on Heath Ledger, I agree, I loved him in Casanova as well.

Book: Glad to see "Life Class" by Pat Barker getting an A here, as I just read another review that really seemed not to get Barker. I can't wait to read it!

Posted by Duff at 11:46 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #978 (Bardem/Day-Lewis)

Funny how they list the offspring of Melrose Place but don't mention that it was itself a spinoff from 90210. Don't they remember that Jake (Grant Show) was originally a 90210 love interest of Kelly?

U2 3D. I saw a preview (in 3D itself) when I went to Beowful. Looked awesome.

CBS reshowing Dexter minus the profanity. Anything "minus the profanity" immediately loses interest for me.

New Death Cab album due in May.

Book(s): first in Paddy Meehan series: "Field of Blood" Denise Mina.

Dear Diablo Cody, I am SO GLAD I was not "between the ages of 4 and 15 in 1989" and "obsessed with Danny, Donnie, Jordan, Joe, or Jon." I was 21, in college and listening to The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, the Cure and U2, and NKOTB never ever even hit my radar. PHEW!

Posted by Duff at 11:29 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

January 24, 2008

Paste #38

Tunes to Think About:

  • Daniel Moore - subpop
  • Sam Baker "Pretty World"
  • Liam Finn "I'll Be Lightning" (bought last night!)
  • The Grey Race "Give It Love" (described as "what might've happened if Elliott Smith had been blessed with Ray Davies' sense of humor and Coldplay's self-esteem" - sounds good!)
  • I still can't keep track of this, let me remind myself: "The 1900s (chicago, psych-pop septet). The 1990s (scottish Franz Ferdinand wannabes)" -- descriptions per the review of the 1900s "Cold & Kind".

Single: Peter Sarstedt "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" (from the Darjeeling Limited sdtrk)

Book: Nadine Gordimer "Beethoven Was One-Sixteenth Black and Other Stories" It's been probably 10 years since I've read Gordimer, maybe it's time to add her to the stack again!

Posted by Duff at 11:14 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

January 22, 2008

EW #973

Thanks to this issue, I have just realized that at some point in time James Franco and James Marsden had become confused in my mind as the same person! I kept wondering why the dude in the 27 dresses previews didn't look the way I expected him too! Um, duh, because it's not the same dude!!! Too funny!

Pretty intriguing interview with Matthew Fox; more "hinty" than usual about the upcoming season of Lost.

Upcoming TV for Spring: Jan 28 - HBO "Mind Games", shrink show with Gabriel Byrne (a 5-nights-a-week commitment to one show is a bit much even for me); Feb 12 - Jericho returns!; March 7 new show "The Return of Jezebel James", sisters played by Parker Posey and Lauren Ambrose (Parker Posey doing a TV sitcom?); April 4 Battlestar Galactica returns (since there's nothing else to watch these days, I may actually be able to catch up to this show in time to watch new episodes!). I'm waiting to watch this season of The Wire until it comes out on DVD...as last season with all the kids & school was just too heavy for me at the time. Saving it for later!

Hilarious comment on Stranger than Fiction in the TV guide: Contemporary American film in which books play a prominent role, so you can sort infer why it didn't do all that well.

And I really enjoyed the back page column by Mark Harris on hello why are we repeating plot lines in sci fi movies these days (I Am Legend; Battlestar Galactica; new Star Wars?; etc.; as well as a million and one Blade Runner retrospectives); where are the new and innovative sci fi pieces. Cut the nostalgia! Come up with something new! Good stuff.

Posted by Duff at 06:40 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV

January 02, 2008

Fueling the Celebrity Obsession

  • KC re-upped my subscription to US Weekly for the new year. (I have to keep track of my celebrity boyfriends somehow!)
  • Whatever you think of her and Tom Cruise's marriage, the photos of Katie Holmes in the recent InStyle (you know, the one with her on the cover) are gorgeous. Her new hair has been photoed fugly elsewhere but it looks lovely as here, as well as the dresses they put her in.
  • And as for Julia Roberts in Vanity Fair, I didn't particularly enjoy any of the pictures but I did really enjoy some of the things she said. Seems she's really just hit a sweet spot where she's happy and things are great and I loved some of the quotes and ideas she's thinking about. "I've never met a cookie I didn't like."
  • Julia talks for a moment about Natalie Portman, who herself recently did an InStyle cover/article, which gives a link to a great charity organization, Shoe 4 Africa. I'll be shipping them my old tennies whenever I buy new ones (shipping info at the link) considering when I buy new ones because the old ones are "too worn out to wear to the gym anymore b/c the support is gone" they are still fine to be "worn" just not to the gym!

Posted by Duff at 05:23 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags

December 20, 2007

EW #970 (tom/julia)

Tom Hanks' movie I don't think I have ever watched: Punchline (Tom as self destructive stand-up comedia vs. Sally Field).

Book: "Elizabeth & Leicester" by Sarah Gristwood (focusing on her relationship with Robert Dudley. Gets an A- here. Sounds good!)

Memoir: "Her Last Death" by Susanna Sonnenberg (life with a crazy mother)

Posted by Duff at 10:02 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #969 (golden compass)

Evel Knievel died. Weird, I thought he was dead years ago!

I totally want the White Stripes customized lomos. But everytime I've tried to buy them, they haven't been an item you can put in your cart.

So weird that I agree with so many of Steven Kings' movie picks (#s 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 -- I mean I agree that they were high quality films, not necessarily in my "top" films list, although 1, 2, 10 and maybe 3 are) but hated (HATED) two of them (# 4 [worst spy movie EVER] and #8).

Posted by Duff at 09:56 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags

December 10, 2007

RS #1041 (Led Zep)

new David Gray single "You're the World to Me"

Ghostface Killah "The Big Doe Rehab - gets 4 stars.

Lupe Fiasco's new album "The Cool" comes out Dec 18th.

Mark Ronson recommends: aussie Daniel Merriweather and UK singer Adele.

Check out?: The Rumble Strips "Alarm Clock" EP.

Posted by Duff at 07:22 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

RS #1040 (Jay-Z)

New Eminem out in 08?

check out tunes by:
Tokyo Police Club "Smith" EP
The Cool Kids (chicago retro-rap)
Kate Nash

DVD: Rescue Dawn.

Big screen: Beowulf - gets 3.5 stars and is supposed to be awesome on iMax. Don't know if I can convince anyone to go to this though.

Posted by Duff at 06:34 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

RS #1039 (40th anniv)

New tunes: The Pendeltons "Sad Songs"

Oldies listed as "inspiration" by Billie Joe Armstrong: Husker Du "Up in the Air" from "Warehouse: Songs and Stories. Replacements "Answering Machine" from "Let It Be".

CD: Hives "The Black and White Album" gets 4 stars. Don't know if I would like it but the reviewer seems to find it very (very) fun.

new Death Cab album coming out this Spring.

A lot of good, long, entertaining interviews in this issue (particularly Chris Rock, Tom Hanks, Clooney, Armstrong).

Posted by Duff at 05:55 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

RS #1038 (Bruce)

Rap: Mac Lethal (single: Calm Down Baby)
CD: Les Savy Fav "Let's Stay Friends" -- gets 4 stars here and seeing it pop up on lots of people's year-end lists.

Posted by Duff at 05:05 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

December 09, 2007

EW #968 (Will Smith/power)

Check out: Plain White T's "Every Second Counts"

Bizarre picture of Javier Bardem. Looks almost like "Denny" (from Grey's) here.

Posted by Duff at 05:29 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

EW #966/967 (Rowling)

Single: Wale "Nike Boots"
CD: Ghostface Killah "The Big Doe Rehab" (singles "Walk Around", "We Celebrate")

George R.R. Martin hard at work on #5 in the Ice & Fire series. Hmmm, have I gotten around to reading #4 yet? Don't think so. Such the slacker, that I am.

Posted by Duff at 05:17 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

December 04, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #36

New (to me) Songs/Artists I'm Diggin:
"A Sunday Smile" Beirut (1)
"Goes Around" Rockfour
"The Ritz" Office
"Eyes Like a Levee" Johnny Irion (2)
"Snakebit" Mary Gauthier
"Rise" (acoustic) Will Dailey
"You're a Wolf" Sea Wolf (3)
"Civil Twilight" the Weatherthans

New (4) Songs by Old Friends:
"Scar That Never Heals" Jeremy Fisher (5)
"One Crowded Hour" Augie March (6)
"Time Is a Lion" Joe Henry

from Paste #36.


1-Old news, right? People kept mentioning Beirut to me but I never got
around to checking him out.
2-Wow! Love it!
3-Rambles along, I like how it picks up toward the end.
4-Or new when the magazine came out...months ago! :)
5-Got this ages ago from Fuel/Friends. Love it.
6-Australians, picked up an older album of theirs on Mariko's and my trip.

Posted by Duff at 05:38 PM | Say What? | filed under Listenin', Rags, Tunes

Paste #37

Tunes to Think About:

  • Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala" (all over people's top 10 lists)
  • Giant Bear (self titled)
  • A.J. Rouch "Revelation" (kinda country)
  • Bruce Springsteen "Magic"
  • The EverybodyFields "Nothing Is Okay" (gorgeous aching vocals)
  • Maritime "Heresy and the Hotel Choir"
  • The Redwalls (pair this review w/ recent recommendation on podcast "Sound Opinions" and it sounds like a must buy)
  • The Perishers "Victorious" (quietly intense)
  • Sam Sparro (party tunes)

Oldie to Look For:
Tir na nOg ('70s celtic folk)

Already Bought
Carla Bruni "No Promises" (like but not the way I liked her first one)
Stars "In Our Bedroom After the War" (like)
Rogue Wave "Asleep at Heaven's Gate" (love)

Posted by Duff at 12:15 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

Self-fulfilling prophecies.

"I used to write really shitty, gloomy songs about how everything sucked," he says, "but I realized that everything sucked because I wrote those songs. My music controlled me much more than I controlled my music."

--Jens Lekman, as interviewed by Austin L. Ray, in Paste #37.

Posted by Duff at 09:31 AM | Say What? | filed under Lit Quotes, Rags

November 27, 2007

Paste #36

Tunes to Think About:

  • Bettye LaVette (and Drive by Truckers) "Scene of the Crime"
  • The Cave Singers "Invitation Songs" (folk like from non folk listeners)
  • Mae "Singularity" (straightforward rock)
  • Foo Fighters "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace" (haven't bought a Foo album in a long time but sounds intriguing)
  • Mary Gauthier "Between Daylight and Dark"
  • (single) "Way Down in the Hole" Steve Earle (Tom Waits penned, theme from The Wire)

Posted by Duff at 10:14 AM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

November 15, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #35

New (to me) Songs/Artists I'm Diggin:
"None Shall Pass" Aesop Rock (1)
"Our Friends Appear Like the Dawn" Bodies of Water (4)
"Beloved" Minnie Driver (5)
"Bad Graces" Diego Sandrin (7)
"One Man" Eulogies

New (2) Songs by Old Friends:
"Car Crash" Matt Nathanson (3)
"Rumors" Josh Ritter (3)
"Trouble" Over the Rhine
"Black Out on White Nights" Sage Francis (6)
"Darlin' Do Not Fear" Brett Dennen
"Hamoa Beach" (Live) Gomez

from Paste #35.

1-Hmm, I bought this album but not sure I ever listened to it.
2-Or new when the magazine came out...months ago! :)
3-I am diggin' these two big time this year. Lots of great stuff by them out there.
4-Very Polyphonic-Spree feelin'.
5-This song is really kind of surprisingly beautiful.
6-Very atmospheric background. Unusual for rap.
7-Nice and sparse, simple seeming, but pretty unusual lyrics.

Posted by Duff at 03:21 PM | Say What? | filed under Listenin', Rags, Recommending, Tunes

Ben Bridwell recommends.

Bridwell of Band of Horses on Pitchfork's Guest List (link via LargeHearted Boy).

I'm going to check out:
Tunes: A Decent Animal
Book: "Joe: A Novel" by Larry Brown.

Posted by Duff at 10:39 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

November 14, 2007

EW#964 (Strike)

The writers are totally right to be asking to get paid residuals for stuff being shown online. But man, my life is just going to SUCK as soon as the previously written episodes run out. Me at home every night, no TV, alone WITH MY THOUGHTS?!?! Oh no, that's not good.

Yay, Pushing Daisies getting some EW love.

Single: Ja Rule "Father Forgive Me" (samples "Eleanor Rigby")

The book I'm reading right now gets an A-: "Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work" by Jason Brown. I think it's good. Very subtly strong.

Posted by Duff at 02:22 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

EW #963 (Depp) - Holiday Movie Issue

Definitely interested in seeing:
Margot at the Wedding: The Noah Baumbach/Jennifer Jason Leigh interview was pretty entertaining / made the movie more attractive to me.
Atonement: I lovedlovedloved this book. I'm not sure I can see this.
Juno: It's got BOTH Michael Cera and Jason Bateman. (and JK Simmons!)
I Am Legend: Saw a preview the other night. Looks awesome but kinda scary!
The Golden Compass: Another book I love but it's been a while since I've read it so I'm going to give the movie a chance.
Beowulf: The sexy Jolie strutting in the previews is really the thing that makes me want to see this. I know, right? Otherwise it looks kinda same-old same-old anglo-saxon myth... ha ha.

Probably not going to see:
Charlie Wilson's War: Saw a long preview for this. Seems like it's trying too hard.
There Will Be Blood: I'm not a huge Paul Thomas Anderson fan.

Posted by Duff at 10:49 AM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Lists, Rags

November 07, 2007

EW #962 (American Gangster)

Can't wait to see that movie.

Album on iTunes: "Big Change: Songs for FINCA" w/ new Shins remix, Norah Jones, Antony & Johnsons, among others.

Posted by Duff at 03:45 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #961 (C. Underwood)

Flick: "Girl in the Park" Alessandro Nivola and Keri Russell.

CD: "Lady's Bridge" Richard Hawley

My So-Called Life DVDs getting a re-release (with extras). I have them from the first time around but not sure if the extras are new or not.

Posted by Duff at 03:34 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 24, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #34

New (to me) Songs I'm Diggin:
"The Underdog" Spoon (not new today, but this sampler is where I first heard it)
"White Dove" John Vanderslice
"Put a Penny in the Slow" Fionn Regan (folksy, rolling guitar)
"Better People" Xavier Rudd (oh man this is so reminding me of something but I just can't quite put my finger on it...)
"Parsons White" Phonograph
"Black Skies for the High & Mighty" Wrinkle Neck Mules (straight up country)
"Postcard from Kentucky" Rocky Votolato
"Oh Mary Don't You Weep" Mike Farris (can I get a witness?)
"I Believe" Peter Searcy (anthemic)
"If You're Gonna Leave" Emerson Hart (melancholy)
"Run" Renee Stahl (a little like Eliza Carthy)

Old Friends:
"Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" Okkervil River


from Paste #34.

Posted by Duff at 10:22 AM | Say What? | filed under Listenin', Rags, Recommending, Tunes

October 16, 2007

Selected Sampler Singles - Paste #32

New (to me) Songs I'm Diggin':
"I Wanna Marry You All Over Again" Derek Webb (country twang)
"Ordinary Day" Dolores O'Riordan
"It's Not True" William Fitzsimmons (ouch, so tender)
"Just Around the Corner" Low Stars (rockabilly)
"Somewhere to Lay Down" Gina Villalobos (husky)
"Run Run Run" Haunt
"14" Paula Cole (I never buy her albums, but I like select singles!)

Old Friends:
"Everybody Knows" Ryan Adams
"Closer" Travis
"Who You Are" Cary Brothers

from Paste 32.

Posted by Duff at 01:21 PM | Say What? | filed under Listenin', Rags, Tunes

October 15, 2007

EW #969/960 (Patrick Dempsey)

Flick: "The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising" (with Gregory Smith/Everwood!)

Flick: "Closing the Ring" (Gregory Smith & Mischa Barton, directed by Richard Attenborough)

Single: "That's That' off Cass McCombs "Dropping the Writ"

Tunes: Sneak preview of Jay-Z's new album...sounds awesome!

Book: "The Abstinence Teacher" by Tom Perrotta (EW gives it a B+). I think I've mentioned this one before. Plotline: The sex ed teacher breaks the news on oral sex: "Some people enjoy it" drawing (no surprise) the ire of born-again Christian parents. Have I ever told you about the time my mom told the confirmation students that sex is a gift from god? (Presumably followed by "and that's one reason you don't give it away premaritally" but that second part went right over their heads...)

Book: "Slam" by Nick Hornby. Like Perrotta, Hornby has written some books I just outright love and read over and over again ("High Fidelity" "About a Boy") and some books I'll never read again ("A Long Way Down", "How to Be Good"). Hard to pass up a new one by him, regardless of the reviews (EW gives this an A- so hopefully I don't have anything to worry about this time).

Book: "A Charmed Life" (a memoir) by Liza Campbell

Book: "Options" by Fake Steve Jobs (sounds hilarious)

Posted by Duff at 06:27 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #958 (Gollum)

NBC is going to revive KITT and Knight Rider. Has everyone at that network lost their minds? First, there's the plot destruction they're currently performing on Friday Night Lights, then the fact that they have barely promoted Life at all, probably my favorite new show this year, and now this??? COME ON.

p.s. I love you, Craig Ferguson. If only your show was on earlier. Sure, I could tape/TIVO/whatever it. Then I'd have a zillion hours of it to watch and I'd never catch up. No thanks.

Posted by Duff at 04:55 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, TVTVTV

October 12, 2007

RS #1037 (Kid Rock)

CD: Emily Jane White "Dark Undercoat"

TV factoid: Did you know that "Kelly" "Ryan" and "Toby" on The Office are all writers for the show?!? How bizarre! I only knew about Ryan...

Quote: "Kelly Kapoor" (Mindy Kaling) jokes: The first thing I think is, "How much Kelly can I put into this episode without appearing like it's disgusting self-favoritism?"

Posted by Duff at 01:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

October 11, 2007

EW #957 (The Office)

CD: (EW pick) ChuckProphet "Soap and Water" (roots rock / stonesy loose)

Book: Philip Roth "Exit Ghost" (gets a B+)
Book: Shalom Auslander "Foreskin's Lament" (gets a B+; Bookslut LOVES this book)
Book: Andrea Barrett "The Air We Breathe" (didn't realize AB wrote a new one...)
Book: Millard Kaufman "Bowl of Cherries (EW pick: A)


Posted by Duff at 02:38 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

October 01, 2007

EW #956 (masi oka)

Quote: Clark Collis on "Eastern Promises" (among others): Historically speaking, naked fighting is as old as humanity itself.

CDs: Paramour "RIOT!" (single "Misery Business")
Oct 2 Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings "100 Days, 100 Nights"
Oct 9 Band of Horses "Cease to Begin"
Oct 23 The Thrills "Teenager" (this is already on iTunes. bought it last week)

Book: "Before I Die" Jenny Downham

Flick: "I'm Not There" (bob dylan, played by a million people)
Flick: "Jimmy Carter Man from Plains" (jonathan demme, "gripping meditation" on Israel-Palestine)

Posted by Duff at 07:15 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

September 30, 2007

EW #955 (britney)

Flick: "Juno" w/ Michael Cear, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman.
Flick:"Great World of Sound" (A-)
Flick: to avoid next summer, two Apatow productions "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Pineapple Express"
Flick: to look for next summer "Nights in Rodanthe (diane lane/richard gere)

DVD: the extras on season 3 of the Office include "The Dwight Schrute Music Video"

Book: "An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England" by Brock Clarke
Book: Tom Perrotta new book this fall "The Abstinence Teacher" (Oct 16). I LOVELOVELOVE his earlier book "The Wishbones" but I only somewhat liked the more recent "Little Children." (He also wrote the book "Election" that the flick with Reese Witherspoon was based on.)

Quote: Eddie Vedder on his daughter: She's 3 years old now. That's like the height of liberalism. Liberalism comes naturally.

Posted by Duff at 06:18 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

RS #1036 (gonzo)

Tunes: Emily Jane White "Wild Tigers I Have Known"
Tunes: Victoria Bergsman/Taken by Trees "Open Field"

This James Blunt interview is really off the wall. Apparently his goal in life is to be seen as a drug-using, hard-partying, sex addict. That's an interesting ambition. Not.

Posted by Duff at 05:54 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

RS #1035 (kanye vs. 50)

Tunes: Band of Horses "Cease to Begin" Oct 9 [yay!!]

Posted by Duff at 05:53 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

RS #1034 (maroon 5)

Albums:
Rilo Kiley "Under the Blacklight"
1990s "Cookies"
Kate Nash "Made of Bricks" (single "Foundations")
Matt White "Best Days"

Singles:
Beck "Time Bomb"
David Banner "So Special"

Quote: Ben Harper on Laura Dern: She's the most exceptional human being of any sex or race I've ever met. The only tension that exists in our marriage is the fact that she's been on the cover of Rolling Stone and I haven't.

Posted by Duff at 05:53 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

RS #1033 (zac efron)

Albums:
Foo Fighers "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace" Sept 25
Ja Rule "The Mirror" Nov 13
Silverchair "Young Modern"

Singles:
"The Game Belongs to Me" and "Int'l Players Anthem" off "UGK: Underground Kingz"
"Guitar" and "Future Baby Mama" from Prince "Planet Earth"

Posted by Duff at 05:52 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

September 26, 2007

Paste #35

Tunes to Think About:
The Black Lips "Good Bad Not Evil" (flower punk, garage rock)
new Go! Team "Proof of Youth"
Office "Working for Themselves" (chicago, bouncy, catchy pop)
Rilo Kiley "Under the Blacklight"
The Honorary Title "Scream and Light Up the Sky"
Eisley "Combinations"
Joe Henry "Civilians"

Tunes I Definitely Need to Buy:
Jeremy Fisher "Goodbye Blue Monday" (I LOVE the single "Scar that Never Heals")

Already Bought:
Kanye West "Graduation" (like a lot)
Josh Ritter "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter" (like a lot)
Bishop Allen "The Broken String"
Aesop Rock "None Shall Pass"
Earlimart "Mentor Tormentor" (LOVE!!!)
Josh Rouse "Country Mouse City House"
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals "Lifeline" (smooch smooch)

Posted by Duff at 01:03 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

September 25, 2007

Paste #34

Tunes to Think About:
Spoon "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
Mark Ronson "Version"
Fionn Regan "The End of History"
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals "Nothing But the Water"
Sam Baker "Pretty World"

Tunes I Definitely Need to Buy:
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings "100 Days, 100 Nights" (LOVED their previous album!)

Already Bought:
White Stripes "Icky Thump" (Like a lot)
Okkervil River "The Stage Names" (Love!)
Jason Isbell "Sirens of the Ditch" (Like)

Books:
"Is belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant? A Professor and Punk Rocker Discuss Science, Religion, Naturalism & Christianity" by Greg Graffin and Preston Jones
"Pilgrims Upon the Earth: A Novel" by Brad Land

Posted by Duff at 03:29 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

Unbelievable yet, sad to say, actually believable.

A 2006 poll showed that atheists are the group most feared by the public as a threat to the American way of life ("below Muslims, recent immigrants, gays and lesbians," according to the study's press release.

--Paste Magazine, issue #34, in the article on Greg Graffin of Bad Religion.

The people who voted that way in that poll? They're the ones that scare me!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Duff at 03:11 PM | Say What? | filed under Lit Quotes, Rags

September 16, 2007

EW #952 (Jodie Foster cover)

Jodie Foster's always been pretty damn cool. But I'm not sure I can even go to her new movie. Love her hair in the previews tho!

Books: "Heartsick" by Chelsea Cain. "Braindead Megaphone" by George Saunders (essays).

Posted by Duff at 02:32 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags

EW #951

"Veronica Mars" to do multi-episode arc on Heroes. Crap, does that mean I'm going to have to a) quick cruise through the season 1 DVDs in order to b) give that show another chance this fall. ugh.

James Marsters five-episode arc on Without a Trace. Considering how AWESOME he was on Saving Grace, looks like I'll be watching this show again as well!

CDs: Aesop Rock "None Shall Pass" is an EW pick with A-. I bought it earlier but I haven't listened to it yet. Also an A- for Terence Blanchard's "A Tale of God's Will" (a requiem for Katrina).

Photo book: "Uncovered" by Thomas Allen. Old pulp paperbacks made into pop up photos. Looks v. cool!

Posted by Duff at 02:26 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, TVTVTV, Tunes

EW #950 (Reese cover / Fall movie preview)

Movies I Definitely Want to See:
Sept:
The Kingdom (Peter Berg dir. can't wait!)
Run Fatboy Run (Hot Fuzz peeps)
In the Valley of Elah (saw it today! intense! sad!)
The Last Winter (Connie Britton & Zach Gilford!)

Oct:
Rendition (Reese Witherspoon - saw preview - looks good!)
Elizabeth the Golden Age (!!)
Michael Clayton (Clooney - saw preview - looks good!)
We Own the Night (Joaquin and Marky Mark - saw preview - looks good!)
Reservation Road (Joaquin! and Ruffalo)

Nov:
American Gangster (can't wait!!)
August Rush (Keri Russell/Jonathan Rhys Meyers)
Cassandra's Dream (new Woody Allen w/ Colin Farrel & Ewan McGregor)

Dec:
I am Legend (Will Smith. and a dog)
The Golden Compass (lovedlovedloved these books)
The Leatherheads (football, Clooney, "Jim" from the Office)
Atonement (I might love this book too much to see this movie)

Maybes:
Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (saw a preview today, looks OK but kinda weird)
Silk (one of my movie buds really wants to see this. I'm not sure)
The Brave One (Looks like a kinda icky combination of previous Jodie Foster movies)
Eastern Promises (Cronenberg movies kinda disturb me.)
Darjeeling Express (doesn't look THAT funny, more like Zissou than the ones I liked)


also CD: new Augie March "Moo, You Bloody Choir" Gets an A-.

Posted by Duff at 02:16 PM | Say What? | filed under Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #948 (Superbad cover)

Cornel West just put out a CD. His second. A hip-hop CD. Wha?

I love Claire Danes. And Seth Green.

Book: Here If You Need Me, memoir by Kate Braestrup. Sounds like she's had a pretty interesting life.

Posted by Duff at 02:15 PM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags

August 08, 2007

Paste #33

Song I Can't Stop Singing:
"Chicago Promenade" Jason Isbell

Surprising:
Mandy Moore "All Good Things" = not bad! Of course, it was written with Deb Talan and Steve Tannen (hello they're the Weepies, who you may remember from here or here). Hey if the Weepies want to write me a song, I'll happily record it for them!!

Intriguing (and New) to Me off the Sampler:

  • "99%" The Mooney Suzuki
  • "Jet Set Stars" The Morning Line
  • "If You Fail We All Fail" Fields
  • "The Ride" Joan as Police Woman (I've seen posters for her all over...)
  • "The Day We Met" Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles
  • "San Francisco" The Scott Silipigni Band
  • "Bird Never Flies" Ari Hest (sad, sad)

Tunes to think about:

  • Maria McKee "Late December" (she was the lead singer of Lone Justice one of my most beloved bands from years and years ago that no one else seems to have ever listened to!!)
  • Sarah Borges "Diamonds in the Dark"
  • Meg Bairds "Dear Companion"
  • Spoon "GaGaGaGaGa" (I don't know...I'm not sure I've ever listened to their last one much...)
  • Architecture in Helsinki "Places Like This" (didn't even realize they had a new album out!)
  • Interpol "Our Love to Admire" (whether or not they're derivative, I just kinda find them boring. But again, this is getting pretty good reviews...)
  • Kim Richey "Chinese Boxes"

Tunes Already Bought:

Posted by Duff at 03:00 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

Rolling Stone #1032 (Guns n Roses)

Shaun White is really living "The Life". Also an interesting article on Stevie Williams of the Dirty Ghetto Kids skater crew. A very X-games-y type issue; maybe those happen soon? I used to know things like that, when I worked at Sport, but those days are long gone.

new Smashing Pumpkins: 4 stars and called "the least self-absorbed record Corgan has ever written."
new Spoon: 4 stars.
new Interpol: 3 stars.

"Buy These Now" recommends: The Cribs "Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever". I've noticed mentions of this one before. Started checking out the previews on iTunes the other night but then either lost interest (perhaps) or lost track of what I was doing (highly likely). Will have to try again.

Posted by Duff at 01:24 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

EW #947 (Bourne/Damon)

new documentary: No End in Sight. EW gives it an A. Sounds incredible. Pinpoints the mistakes in Iraq, shows clearly that Saddam/Al-Qaeda connection was fabricated, and details the way REAL military men's advice was trivialized and ignored by Cheney and Rumsfeld, the dueling morons who are ruining our armed forces AND our country. Jackhats. But of course I don't even know if I'll be able to see this movie. It's not playing in Chicago yet...

Books: young-adult vampire novels by Stephenie Meyer. "Twilight" "New Moon". Hmmmm.

Posted by Duff at 10:18 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags

EW #946 (Goodbye, Harry Potter)

I read HP one & two (en anglais) and thought they were kinda boring (I greatly prefer Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy), but I figure I've got to read the whole set at some point just so I don't miss all the cultural references that will be going on (for years). So I've started reading them in French. It should take me some years. I ripped out the "magical mystery tour" guide to all seven books; hopefully it'll fill me in on whatever I miss in translation! ;)

CD: "Grand Animals" Robbers on High Street gets a B+. I saw them at Schuba's a few years ago in one of those multiple-bands-in-an-evening concerts. Thought they were the best of the lot. And you can hear one of their new tunes in this post on I Am Fuel, You Are Friends.

Posted by Duff at 09:56 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

EW #945 (Simpsons)

Highly recommended flick: Interview with Sienna Miller and Steve Buscemi. Sounds interesting although neither one of them really thrills me.

CD: St Vincent "Marry Me". Hmmm. (Also Tegan and Sara's new one gets a B. Oddly, I think they played a show at a teeny tiny theater less than a block from my house last night. There was a very long line of indie teenyboppers sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the doors to open...)

Book: "The Complete Stories" David Malouf. I bought three of his books when Mariko and I went to Australia. I think the dude's a GENIUS.

Posted by Duff at 09:51 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Flicks, Rags, Tunes

EW #944 (Harry Potter)

Great little article with Nick Lowe. His new CD "At My Age" definitely sounds worth giving a listen.

And latest James Lee Burke thriller "The Tin Roof Blowdown" gets a great review (book functions as an elegy to New Orleans).

Posted by Duff at 09:44 AM | Say What? | filed under Books, Rags, Tunes

July 20, 2007

Paste #32

Songs I'm Diggin off the Sampler:
to be filled in later...

Tunes to think about:

  • Spidey 3 soundtrack (movie = bad, soundtrack = good? or so I've read)
  • The Pipettes (girl band)
  • (DangerMouse-produced) "The Good, the Bad & The Queen" (oldie)
  • Warm in the Wake "Southeast Performer"
  • Fields "Everything Last Winter"
  • Colin Hay "Are You Lookin' at Me?" (described as refreshingly upbeat!)

Tunes already bought:

  • The Fratellis "Costello Music" (very fun!)

Tunes bought after reading this (and others) but before writing this up:

  • The National "Boxer" (oh my god, i'm so in love with this album)

Other non-Tune items:

  • Portland OR Jefferon High "Hip-Hop 101"

Posted by Duff at 01:36 PM | Say What? | filed under Rags, Tunes

July 12, 2007

EW #943 (Transformers)

A whole article on Xanadu! I have very fond memories of Xanadu.

After the Wedding (which I first read about in Paste) is out on DVD. Gotta get it!

CD: Mark Ronson "Version." Sounds intriguing.