Thursday, November 30, 2006

Donkey Show Documentary

Sundance has chosen to screen a documentary of a Seattle man who dies after having sex with a horse. I am so adding this to my Netflix queue.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Quilty Pleasure Alert

The new "Fergalicious" song is f'n rad. Did Spinderella drop this shit?

Blechhhh....


Britney's nasty.

You Need Vitamins



Vitaminsforyou (Bryce Kushnier) layers electronic beats, soft vocals, ambience, bells, strings, and various instrumentation to create beautiful and intoxicating music. The result sounds reminiscent of The Postal Service, The Notwist, and perhaps even fellow Canadians Broken Social Scene. His latest full-length release, The Legend of Bird's Hill, features complex but well-crafted melodies and heartfelt lyrics. It's the sort of album that dances on in your head after you've stopped listening. Be sure to give the song The Ukranians a good listen.

Kerrang! Magazine Releases Top 50 Punk Albums Of All Time

1. Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)
2. Green Day - Dookie (1994)
3. Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980)
4. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)
5. The Offspring - Smash (1994)
6. Rancid - ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995)
7. Discharge - Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing (1982)
8. The Clash - The Clash (1977)
9. The Damned - Machine Gun Etiquette (1979)
10. Ramones - Ramones (1976)
11. NOFX - Punk in Drublic (1994)
12. Fugazi - Repeater (1990)
13. The Clash - London Calling (1979)
14. Blink-182 - Enema of the State (1999)
15. The Stooges - Fun House (1970)
16. Black Flag - Damaged (1981)
17. Minor Threat - Complete Discography (1989) [Compilation]
18. The Stooges - Raw Power (1973)
19. The Undertones - The Undertones (1979)
20. The Offspring - Americana (1998)
21. Bad Brains - Rock for Light (1983)
22. Buzzcocks - Love Bites (1978)
23. NOFX - So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes (1997)
24. The Ruts - The Crack (1979)
25. Crass - Feeding of the 5000 (1978)
26. The Vandals - Hitler Bad, Vandals Good (1998)
27. Operation Ivy - Energy (1989)
28. Refused - The Shape of Punk To Come (1998)
29. Rocket From the Crypt - Scream Dracula, Scream! (1995)
30. The Exploited - Punks Not Dead (1981)
31. Cro-Mags - Age of Quarrel (1986)
32. Quicksand - Manic Compression (1995)
33. The Descendents - Milo Goes to College (1982)
34. Sublime - Sublime (1996)
35. The Misfits - Static Age [1978] (1997)
36. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Let's Face It (1997)
37. Bad Religion - Suffer (1988)
38. Less Than Jake - Hello Rockview (1998)
39. Dwarves - Are Young and Good Looking (1997)
40. Supersuckers - The Evil Powers of Rock 'N' Roll (1999)
41. Social Distortion - White Light White Heat White Trash (1996)
42. The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About (1999)
43. Green Day - Nimrod (1997)
44. Will Have - El Diablo (1997)
45. Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material (1979)
46. Napalm Death - Scum (1987)
47. A.F.I. - Black Sails in the Sunset (1999)
48. Poison Idea - Feel the Darkness (1990)
49. G.B.H. - Leather, Bristles, Studs and Acne (1981) [EP]
50. Killing Joke - Killing Joke (1980)


This has to be one of the most amatuer compilings of Punk Rock related releases ever put on one page. At least eleven of these "punk" bands arent even considered to be in the punk genre. You can find 90% of these bands on the t-shirt wall at Hot Topic. Then there is the order. Sex Pistols first? Green Day second? Holy Shit-tits, this is ludicrous.

Lagwagon or Bad Astronaut?

The death of legendary punk rock drummer Derrick Plourde (Lagwagon, Mad Caddies, The Ataries, Bad Astronaut, Rich Kids on LSD) in 2005 brought significant change to the music of both Lagwagon and vocalist Joey Cape’s side project Bad Astronaut. Cape, significantly affected by his long time friend’s suicide, has set a somber tone to a recent Lagwagon release (Resolve) and now continues that trend with Twelve Small Steps, One Giant Disappointment, the latest release from Bad Astronaut. The feelings in the two records are so similar it could be constituted as the same band. Normally, this would be construed as bad thing, but for fans of Lagwagon and Bad Astronaut this is enormous as Joey Cape has hit on an incredible rise in musical and lyrical maturity. Like Resolve, the album is comprised of songs written to and for Derrick. Sadly (but great for listeners), tragedy often breeds quality music. This record is no exception. This release is spun in feelings of loss and resolve. This album is irrefutably worth your time.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Lions in the Street

Everyone must check out Lions in the Street. And then promptly roll a joint and buy a pair of bellbottoms. And time warp away.

Defend your IPod

Apple recently posted Kevin Smith's Celebrity ITunes Playlist, but horribly misrepresented it by editing his amazing commentary on his beloved songs. Go here for the unadulterated version.

Two Albums That Will Make You Say "Fuck Yeah!"

1. Sparta - Threes


In 2001, at the peak of their popularity and following a world tour, At the Drive-In broke up, initially referring to the split as an "indefinite hiatus." Following the break-up of ATDI two bands were formed, Sparta and The Mars Volta. Sparta's first full length, Wiretap Scars, was released in 2002 and the album was innovative and explosive. An album that forces you to sing along. They returned in 2004 with Porcelain, which attempted an aggresive and unique indie sound. After a guitarist change in 2006, the highly anticipated Threes is here and it creates the damn trifecta. From start to finish the album is fucking electric. Sparta has perfected the fusion of progressive guitar, poppy indie beats, and smart emotional lyrics that seperates it entirely from the first two releases. Vocalist Jim Ward takes the best of Chris Martin(of Coldplay) and Kele Okereke(of Bloc Party) while keeping his sound unique. Simply put, this shit is nice.


2. Tim Barry - Rivanna Junction

Like Sparta, Tim Barry is a descendent from another brilliant scene defying band, Avail. Avail remains together but vocalist Tim Barry has released his second solo project, Rivanna Junction. Tim's music takes a break from Avail's trademark dixiecore sound, and instead offers a rich combination of folk, bluegrass, rock and a little punk attitude which can easily draw comparisons to the music of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and even Woodie Guthrie. To me, music is all about the lyrics. A song is nothing to me when the lyrics are merely something to accentuate the music. When your standing behind nothing but an accoustic guitar your shit better be tight. The words on this album are sincere and ruthless. They are the kind that make you smile without thinking about it. Tim Barry is a dixie poet that comes off as nothing but honest. I highly reccomend this album.

Monday, November 27, 2006

An Inconvenient Truth

This film should be required viewing for all 8th grade students of the world. And probably all politicians, regardless of partisanship, currently sitting up on Capitol Hill. Al Gore shrugged off the robbery of the presidency 6 years ago and delivers his slide show all over the world trying to persuade mankind to make global warming "a moral issue."

For 90 minutes Gore very calmly and entertainingly explains the many environmental issues plaguing our planet. Shedding some much needed light on the facts, Gore is doing his best to inspire people to give a shit about the planet. I found the information to be brutal and honest, a bit of a wake up call, and it made me wonder why our government can't seem to work together to solve problems.

I was a guy who voted for Gore. And as soon as 9/11 hit, I was kind of happy he wasn't at the helm of our nation. Why? Because he is better suited to issues like the environment as this film shows, and I wasn't sure he would act at all to terrorist threats. Now of course Bush has fucked this up entirely, focusing on WMDs and Iraqi leaders instead of getting old Osama, so I guess he wasn't the right guy in the hot seat either. But my point has nothing to do with terrorism, it has to do with wondering why our politicos can't be the bigger man from time to time and just do the right thing. Bush stole the presidency away from Gore, but he could have smoothed over that nonsense by giving Gore a big role in working to improve our environmental issues. Everybody wins. I guess I have perfect world syndrome sometimes.

In any case, you should really spend the time to learn a little about what we as a nation are doing to lead the pack in destroying good old planet Earth. It's quite sad to think that if we do nothing, like we have been for the last 40 years, we might be looking at tragedy 100 times bigger than Katrina in my lifetime. And trust me, that's not just liberal jiggerish...it's fact.

What a Shocker

Kid Rock and Pammy are divorcing, and their marriage lasted longer than I actually thought it would. Apparently they raced to get their papers in before the other, Kid Rock winning by 53 minutes. I could say something about Pammy's boobs slowing her down but they've pretty much become their own cliche.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Real World Denver

It's that time of year again. 7 drunks picked to live in a house and have themselves taped acting like retards. This time we're in Denver, CO. I don't what it is, but ever since Las Vegas the show has just become about drinking and awkward sexual relations. And that's it.

This new season ups the anty by having a first night hook up between Colie and Alex. Scandalous!

"It just feels right to me." - Colie

And this is after cheerleader Jenn forces her tongue down the southern belle Brooke's mouth in the hot tub while Tyrie anxiously looks on hoping to get some residual action.

"There's nothing wrong with experimentation." - Brooke

Brooke couldn't stop being openly upset that there won't be a gay guy this season because Gay Peolpe Are Fun. I guess her gaydar is broken, because Davis is right in the same house and has the best complextion of everyone there. Figure it out bitches. In Brooke's defense, Davis isn't bragging about his love for penis, mainly because he's a repressed homosexual having grown up Christian and all. Or maybe he's hiding it from his roommate, the extreme Baptist Stephen.

"He's like real, real religious." - Davis

I guess these two won't be snuggle bunnies. Ha. Although they did have a tender drunk man hug, so you never know.

"I want lips on my ass!" - Jenn

Jenn is the skank of the house. Kissing anyone she wants and always driving everyone to be naked. Her lame three way kiss with Colie and Alex is skeezy. But wait...apparently it gets worse. But I don't want to ruin the surprise. You have to see it to believe it.

Like I said. Real World has no social signifigance anymore. It's all drunk sex. For our viewing pleasure. Pedro is rolling over in his grave!

P.S. This cast is the worst set of dancers to ever set foot on a dance floor. Maybe in the future they will ask potential cast mates to take a dance test. It's just that sad.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Lambda Lambda LMFAO

Thank God they've pulled the plug on the Revenge of the Nerds Remake. I was more than worried about this one, especially since Kristin Cavallari was cast in it. I wish I could send a letter to Hollywood requesting that they stop remaking movies. Are you really out of ideas? Why don't you just start making reality movies? It's going to happen some time, isn't it? Just stop trying to recreate amazing comedies like Revenge of the Nerds. It's just blasphemous.

Foo Fighters - Skin and Bones

Even back when Nirvana was around, you know Kurt pre-death and all, I only really liked them for their drummer. Something about the sound of the drums on Nevermind made me like Dave Grohl immensely. And then when the Unplugged concert came out and Dave was doing back up vocals for Kurt, I was like...hmm...I like his voice. Now that Foo Fighters have had a more sustaining career than Nirvana, I think people will finally come over to my way of thinking. Dave Grohl is a better singer and songwriter than Kurt Cobain. Seriously.

And the band has always been able to do it both ways. The Foo rock plugged or unplugged, it's just that simple. Skin and Bones just came out, no doubt a way to cash in for the holidays, and it is gorgeous. Live, acoustic versions of all the band's greatest songs. Stand outs include the opening track Razor and Best of You. If you like the Fighters even a smidge, you won't be disappointed.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Spin This!

Okay, so since I baited a couple folks into getting me some new cds for my birthday, I think I owe you at least a few words about my thoughts on them.

Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire

If you have to go with one word to sum this up, I think pretty about covers it. Most of the tracks are melodic, somber and above all else enjoyable to the ears. And I was worried, especially since a) I'm not a huge fan of Sean's voice (slightly whiney) and b) this kid has such an overwhelming shadow to try and get out of. It seems like Lennon put a lot of time and effort into production of this record and it shows. Lots of orchestration, the accompanying DVD with videos for each track on the disc, you can't help but think that Sean is going for broke on this one. If it sucked, maybe he'd call it day with making music and move on to something else. But it doesn't.

John Legend - Once Again

I can't figure this guy out. He's two-thirds throwback to Motown and one-third contemporary R&B, if such a genre even exists anymore. Since I'm funny and all, I think of him as a black Burt Bacharach. Think about it. Burt played the piano, Legend does. Burt wrote a ton of material for Dionne Warwick, and Legend could easily do the same if he wasn't such a capable singer in his own right. I can honestly say that no other Urban Soul, R&B, or whatever you want to call it, artist even remotely interests me in the least. But much like when I heard his Ordinary People a couple years ago, Save Room the first single off Once Again just hit me and made me want to get in touch with my soulful side.

So overall, I'd say home run for both cds.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

2007 World Series of Pop Culture

Regional Qualifiers begin in January according to my latest edition of Entertainment Weekly. I think team Poison Scooter has no choice but to attend the February 16-18 event in Orlando, FL and try our luck.

Bring it.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Tenacious D

Flashback: A few years back I was uber obsessed with Mr. Jack Black and Mr. Kyle Gass. Collectively these guys are Tenacious D, the greatest rock band of all time. Jack blew up in High Fidelity, the guy from Mr. Show was finally and deservedly so becoming a major talent in Hollywood. This new found success allowed Jack to realize the dream of putting out a D album and I was more than eager to grab a copy and laugh my ass off.

I recall going to see the D live in Philly at the Electric Factory and being entertained immensely at how well Jack and Kyle committed to their music, of course they were funny, but I thought they were very talented musically as well. I saw them again as an opening act for an all day festival show and later managed to run in to Kyle Gass in the crowd and took the time to share with him my happiness with their performance. It was a thrill, mainly because Kyle was such a normal guy, like one of your Dad's friends.

So why on earth am I just not certain that the Pick of Destiny will be any good? Entertainment Weekly just reviewed the soundtrack and gave it a hearty B grade...but yet I still don't think I want to buy it. I'm not sure I even want to hear any of it actually. Did the moment pass for these guys? I saw the trailer a couple months ago for the Pick of Destiny and remember feeling slighty embarassed for them instead of excited that a movie was finally here after years of speculation. It was like those horrible SNL movies based on a recurring character...Stuart Smalley...oh he's funny...oh wait...is this for real?...oh my god this looks bad...please, please make it stop. And you know what? It sucks. Hero worship is how I would describe what I had for Jack Black. This was pre-King Kong, a choice that I still question. Why Jack? Why?

Thankfully, I saw the trailer for The Holiday and besides featuring my favorite actress, Kate Winslett and the beautiful Cameron Diaz, the movie looks like it's restoring Jack's shine a bit. So perhaps all is not lost.

Priest! Priest! Priest!

The gods have answered my endless prayers. Heavy Metal Parking Lot is finally out on DVD! If you haven't seen this legend documentary featuring tailgating Judas Priest lovers, you are missing out. There is more spandex in this movie than every Jane Fonda video combined. And did I mention the hair....oh the hair. It's glorious.

Monday, November 13, 2006

I Want That!

Lest you think me greedy, I figure other people might see these items as potential gift giving ideas for people other than me. But let the record show...I think these items would suit me just fine as well. This is a hot retro table top stereo speaker system with a dock for any IPod. It even comes with a matching skin for your player if you are anal about crap like that. I've been underusing my Nano Pod of late because I don't have anything to connect to it except my headphones. I think this would help me listen to music more than I do these days. And you can hunt this down for $65.00 (Speck Products is the manufacturer and selling it for $150) if you look hard enough.
So much for his retirement. Jay Z is back and Kingdom Come is what the critics are calling a masterpiece. I've never been one for rap, but Jay Z's work with Linkin Park was very likable to me. And on this bad boy he's working with the likes of Chris Martin from Coldplay. Nice...
I listened to Ordinary People once a day for about 4 months straight. R&B has gone a little too street over the last decade and John Legend brings it back a little. Simple, pure, soul.
I heard about this book on the Howard Stern show. Stand up comics telling their best road story. How could this not be at the very least a funny read?

Stranger Than Fiction

The word I would use to describe the new "Will Ferrell" movie would be charming. Bet you can't imagine that word being used for many of his other movies, eh? But in this case, it's the best word to use. Time magazine's review referred to Stranger Than Fiction as Adaptation lite and others have compared it to The Truman Show, and although I see the comparisons, for me the movie is better than the latter but not as good as the former. It's very middle of the road and charming.

The script, although involved and extremely well thought out, doesn't confuse you and allows you to reflect on the nature of what is unfolding. A man (Ferrell) realizes that he is a character in a book and that at some point he will die since it appears he is in a tragedy. And so the "live each day like it's your last" theme takes over center stage and is very understated which I liked.

Will Ferrell is very capable like many comedic actors who have branched out before him by doing dramatic roles. Is it safe to say at this point that it is harder to be a successful comedy actor? Tom Hanks? Robin Williams? Jim Carrey? All have done exceptional work in this vein, and so I'm saying Will was okay not extraordinary. But Dustin Hoffman, well he's done his best work in a couple years with his literature theorist Jules Hilbert, and Maggie Gylennhal is effortless in her quirky role as Ferrell's love interest. One of my apprehensions going in was that Maggie and Will are an odd coupling, but I thought it was smart to not make it seem so in the film. If they don't draw attention to it, the romance seems more real and after all don't you see odd couplings all the time in real life?

This movie won't change your life, but it's an enjoyable way to spend two hours on a raining afternoon.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Spoil Me!

Since Christmas is right around the corner, and my birhday is seven days before that, I'm starting to sneak hints about what I want to my family members and friends. Ever since Al Gore created this lovely thing we call the Internet, I have been able to find the craziest stuff and I always want it. Bad. Here are the things that aren't super over-priced and would fit in your gift-buying budget.




"I Like You" by Amy Sedaris

Amy is funnier than all of the SNL women put together. She tries to outdo Martha in a fun and completely stripped down way with her new hospitality book. Since I'm starting to get all domestic, I figured that I need something like this to tell me how to be polite and courteous to my house guests.




"Michael and Jeffery" Print by Aesthetic Apparatus

I want to hang this over my bed. Is that sick? Aesthetic Apparatus makes amazing posters and I want all of them. They aren't too horribly priced, either.




"Old School Photo Album"

Urban Outfitters is selling this photo album that reminds me of the ones that my parents had...if only the pages had that super sticky glue and plastic film that always messed up your photos...




"Scary Storis to Tell in the Dark Box Set"

These books used to scare the living daylights out of me when I was a little girl. I think that this is where I became obsessed with dark images and creepy stories, eventually covering my entire upper torso with tattoos of screaming women. If I only knew that then...

The Dirt

So they are trying to turn the book The Dirt, about the hey day of Motley Crue, into a feature length film. I never was much of a Crue fan, but the book apparently details debauchery, sex and drugs making for what could be a watchable affair if done right. At one point David Fincher (Fight Club) was attached to direct, but he's now out which isn't a good sign. Even a sincere effort to re-inact the metal band could inadvertantly rival This Is Spinal Tap for the laugh factor. No?

And although it's early, the film is slated to come out in 2008, some casting news this week made me slightly excited. Chris Walken as Ozzy Osborne and Val Kilmer as David Lee Roth...now that's nuts. Word on the street is that the band members themselves will be played by unknowns.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

All I Want For Christmas is...

My two front teeth? You? Nope. Here's a collection of things that would make me a very happy dork come the morning of December 25th. It's never too early to start thinking about the season of getting. Oh wait, it's the season of giving isn't it? My bad.

I love to read. It's my favorite thing to do after watching TV, going to the movies, watching a movie from Netflix, reading a magazine and listening to music. So here's a couple books on my radar for the yule tide.

Chuck Klosterman is my second favorite writer behind David Sedaris. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs is like my manifesto. Chuck put out a new book a few months back, but I'm not really into hardbacks so I've held off from making the purchase. Not sure when this bad boy is going soft cover, but I still want a copy of Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas.
chuck-klosterman-iv.jpg


If you don't know about Frank Warren's website Post Secret then you are missing out. A few years ago Frank started an art project where people would send him post cards with secrets on them. This evolved into a very engrossing website and then again into a book last year aptly named Post Secret. Well, time for a follow up since the book no doubt spawned a new barrage of post cards Frank's way. My Secret just came out and I'm looking at my copy of Post Secret on the bookcase and it looks lonely.
warren book.jpg


And finally, I think a movie geek like me would appreciate The A List: The National Society of Film Critics' 100 Essential Movies. Just for the hell of it.

Some people like shoes. Women oh and ah over certain wedges, ballet flats or heels. And men get caught up on the latest Nike sneakers. Me, I'm kind of weird in that I like wallets and man bags. Bags are like my kryponite, if I see one in a store I touch it, sling it over my shoulder and test out the fit. In this electronic age I find a bag necessary to cart around my Ipod Nano, my digital camera, my cell phone, gum, my laptop...so laugh if you want, I'm just being practical. ReLoad Bags makes customer messenger bags which are sturdy and fashionable and I'm partial to the Civilian version. And when it comes to wallets, well I'm just not into the standard bi-fold, black leather standard issue that Grandmom gets me for Christmas every couple of years. I like my wallet to have pizazz. Poketo! has a line of wallets done by artists that tickle my fancy...like this one:
dran.jpg


Musically speaking, I'm more of an Itunes downloader these days but two CDs are out that I kind of want/need to grab the old fashion way. Paolo Nutini, who Joolie wrote about before, has an EP that merely tipped the iceberg on what this kid is capable of. But that's all Itunes have. However, his full length These Streets was released in July in Europe and can be purchased as an import which probably means it will cost too much and will no doubt be released domestically in 2007.
paolo.jpg
And then I want to grab Sean Lennon's new album, not because he seems to have replaced the deceased Elliot Smith as a moody troubador who warbles through depressing ballads, but because his new one comes with a DVD that includes videos for each song on the disc. Call me curious even though I'm more of Julian Lennon fan.

And for my shoot for the stars gift I figured I would go big or go home and so I think my new living room (I'm moving in early 2007 into a house...I know, so domestic.) would love to have this baby on the wall above the couch:
dirty harry.jpg



There you have it. Everyting I want (outside of World Peace, a Democratic President (Senate: check, Congress: check) and an end to a foolish war (why am I paying $2.20 at the pump still?))for Christmas this year.

Because Life is a Fairy Tale

Britney, now that she is single and alone with two small children and a new smokin' look, will soon run into Justin Timberlake, who recently admitted that he still has feelings for her (because she was his first love). He will realize that he is wasting his time with Cameron Diaz and run back into Britney's arms. And all will be well in the land the call Pop. There will be gorgeous duets and blazin' dance offs. It will be glorious.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Mark Burnett, Reality TV King

Hot off the heels of taking a 10 million dollar investment in an online based game show (Gold Rush) and turning it into 15 million in advertising profit, the man behind mega hit Survivor is poised to launch another reality show next year. This one will be centered around a pirate theme. I'm not kidding.

Check it out

Borat

Sacha Baron Cohen is a genius. Making you laugh and think about how ugly Americans can be (not to mention a man's ball sack) at the same time is amazing. This movie is being hailed as a semi-political, Jackass influenced laugh riot by critics left and right. Therefore you shouldn't just listen to me, but listen to the masses. And go see this madness. You will work hard to shake the image of two naked men wrestling...and yet it will not leave your mind.

Britney and K-Fed Split!

How much bankroll is this wigger gonna get? Unreal.

Friday, November 03, 2006

Dude.


i would kill for this. no pun intended.

Let Your Freak Flag Fly, Hollywood!

Neil Patrick Harris is gay! He has officially come out of the closet to People magazine. This just a week after TR Knight of Grey's Anatomy comes out to the same rag. It appears as if Gay Hollywood has decided that it's okay to come out, and I'm waiting with bated breath for George Clooney and Tom Cruise to follow suit. It's only a matter of time. Trust me.