Curse your catchy sensibilities, it's Friday

Bloated Government

Not sure if we're in the habit of granting honorary doctorates in bastardy... but this guy's a strong candidate. More here.

Anyone Else Working Today?

You Guys Give Up, Or Are You Thirsty For More?

I've always wondered about this ...

Since its debut in 1990, Home Alone has become as much a part of the Christmas cinematic ritual as It's a Wonderful Life. But unlike that uplifting tale about the good of mankind, Home Alone tells a rather unsettling Christmas story of a precocious 8-year-old who, accidentally abandoned by his family, is forced to defend his home from two dimwitted burglars. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) turns his family's home into a veritable funhouse of torturous booby traps that so-called Wet Bandits Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci) hilariously stumble through, and the transformation of a suburban Chicago home into a relentless injury machine is nothing short of spectacular. But it does require quite a suspension of disbelief. Can a man really be hit square in the face with a steam iron and walk away unfazed? What kind of permanent physical damage would a blow torch to the head really do? To answer these questions and officially dissolve Home Alone's Hollywood magic, I spoke with my friend Dr. Ryan St. Clair of the Weill Cornell Medical College. Enjoy.

Full article here.

Catchy Friday

Happy End of Days!

See you bastards in the hazy cosmic jive!

Here's Mine

Best of 2012, that is.

• Bob Mould – Silver Age 
• Divine Fits – A Thing Called Divine Fits 
• Gaz Coombes – Here Come The Bombs 
• Guided by Voices – Let’s Go Eat The Factory 
• Heartless Bastards – Arrow 
• Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth 
• Redd Kross – Researching The Blues 
• Screaming Females - Ugly 
• Shoes - Ignition 
• Sigur Ros – Valtari

Anybody else?

Depressing But Fascinating

I still have a hard time understanding what happened to Detroit and why. Fortunately, there's a page that answers those questions.

Slideshow explanation here. Specific locations in Detroit here.

Ho Ho Ho!

Check our virtual stocking.  I'm too lazy to burn and mail CDs.

For The Bastard Who Has Everything...

Last-minute Festivus ideas?

Onion on the Mark Again

Fuck Everything, Nation Reports

Just Fuck It All To Hell

Catchy Friday

Consuming Spirits

Nearly 15 years in the making, Chris Sullivan's Consuming Spirits is a meticulously constructed tour de force of experimental animation. Shooting frame by frame in 16mm, Sullivan seamlessly blends together a range of techniques—cutout animation, pencil drawing, collage, and stop-motion animation—into a distinct, signature visual style. In the process, he constructs a hypnotic, layered narrative, a suspenseful gothic tale that tracks the intertwined lives of three kindred spirits working at a local newspaper in a Midwestern rust belt town.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmaybe

New Guillermo del Toro flick coming soon.  Robots and monsters?  Yes, please.

I Laughed A Little Too Hard

Still Shopping For My Xmas Present?

Look no further ...

Catchy Saturday?

Long week = you guys get pop music a day late and a holla short.
I'm a big Morning Benders fan, even though they've now changed their name to Pop Etc because "bender" is a pejorative name for gays in the U.K... So they say.
Anyway, I love Chris Chu's voice. There's a good little intro/artist's thoughts bit, song starts around 2:00.

SimilarSots

I added on this FireFox widget to show me sites similar to the one I'm on.  Tonight it verified that Los Barstardos Unidos is utterly one of a kind.  I'm just going to go ahead and assume that's the outstanding kind of special and not the short bus kind of special. 

Shit

Dave Brubeck, 1920-2012.  Time Out, indeed.

It's For A Good Cause...

...so it's o.k., right?

Festivus Countdown Begins

[photo courtesy Dave's Childhood Archives]

Catchy Friday

"Singer Nick Cave was present"

Some useful perspective provided here

Lost Songs

New Trail of Dead.   Did anyone ever listen to Tao of Dead?  Source Tags and Codes?  Am I the only one that cares?

Also, someone help me out out with oF Those Pithy little statements we use as a code.

Photoshop, Can I Hug You?

ABC News Denver ran a story about General Petraeus and his biographer with the above image of his book - taken from the internets, with loose editorial oversight. Story here.

Former Lives

So Ben Gibbard, beloved leader of Death Cab for Cutie, courted and married alterna-it-girl Zooey Deschanel. Then they got divorced. Then he wrote this album. Kind of like Beck's Sea Change for the 2010s, but not nearly as depressing. Great pop songwriting. For The Pop lovers amongst us, a real treat.

Ho The Humanity!

How are you all coping with the shuttering of Hostess? I saw a disheveled Dave shuffling down the street, muttering to himself, but I think he does that anyway...
Is Hostess part of your Thanksgiving tradition?
What deep-pocketed savior will rescue the brand?

Merry F*&%$ Christmas

I have an idea. How's about we all exchange physical addresses (through an email that I will start) and everyone creates a custom CD compilation and sends it to everyone else for Christmas. Eric, I know your crazy Jewish Rastafarian Hindu faith doesn't always observe Christmas, but I'm sure you can make an exception. CDs could be themed (mine will be), obscure, all time faves, or whatever. Indicate whether you're in by adding a comment that says something like....."I'm in". Takers?

Happy Fun Ball

I sure miss Phil Hartman.

This Is Kinda Cool

From the YouTube description:

Here's Linda Blair's actual performance as recorded on set, followed by the same scenes dubbed by the great Mercedes McCambridge in the released film. From the Associated Press: McCambridge was hired to portray The Demon in William Friedkin's 1973 smash hit The Exorcist. After weeks of what she called the hardest work she had done for a film, she had been promised prominent mention in the credits. But when she attended the preview, her name was missing. As she left the theater in tears, Friedkin tried to explain that there had been no time to insert her credit. The Screen Actors Guild intervened and forced her inclusion in the credits.

Ian McKellen Explains Acting

In case anyone wasn't clear on the concept.

Catchy Friday

Enjoy some Sails on your way to Skyfall.

Remember The Onion?

And the winner is......alcohol, in a landslide.

So we thought it would be a good idea to drink a beer from each of the swing states. Couldn't find one from stupid Iowa so I had to make the Iowa Sunrise cocktail (refreshing!). Trouble is, my other half didn't like most of the beers, so it feel to me to drink them all. Plus, I had a little Jamison's in honor of O'Bama's Irish roots. Where's my aspirin? Did any of you other bastards stay up until the bitter end? Four more beers! Four more beers!

Anything going on tomorrow?

Happy Election Day bastards! We have the day off from school so we'll be voting and having red and blue cocktails afterward. Our special Election Night meal will consist of chicken wings (left wings and right wings) and some of Obama's favorite Chicago chili recipe. Our long national nightmare (the campaign season) is almost over. I know Bastard Matt voted early- any of you others do so?

Stelle Grande

Jay had the Bieber fever bad last night, but I think he's glad now that I drug him to the Big Star documentary instead of the teen scream-fest.  It was a terrific film, well done.  One cool aspect of the show is that there is no script, no narration or voice-overs; the story is told from start to finish in the reminiscences of those interviewed. And it's a very involving story, told by those who know it well.  I hope it finds its way to a city near you.    

Playin the Ponies

You degenerate gamblers are hereby exhorted to wager upon the only horse known to be named for a bastard - Handsome Mike - at tomorrow's Breeder's Cup Classic. I'm pretty sure he's on the dope.

I Want It

I don't wear watches too much anymore, but this one might get me back in the habit. $29.99 at Amazon. Cheap!

TONIGHT!

The finished cut of Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me sees its Memphis premiere this evening at the 15th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival. Lurker, the missus and I will be in attendance, and I'm just the least little bit excited about it. So far, all reviews have been positive.

Full report to follow!

You Know You're Scared!

Happy Halloween, bastards! Disney acquires Lucasfilm and you're looking at Star Wars: Episode VII in 2015. Please advise.

Anybody Wanna Talk About It?

Because it's getting REALLY good.

Waxwings

You're all encouraged to love the album Low to the Ground by the Waxwings. You like your melodic jangle, right? Finally The Poobah Forwards The Pop.

One, Two... FIVE! ("Three, sir, THREE!")

Don't know if any other Tolkien nerds populate the greater bastardate. I'm decidedly lukewarm about splitting this appetizer of a Tolkien tale into THREE SEPARATE FILMS, even if it does incorporate material from the appendices of Lord of the Rings. I doubt it'll be Jackson's own Episode I / Jar-Jar stumble, but still...

Mostly I care because I wish he'd abandon this and film like FIVE movies out of The Silmarillion, which is ass-kicking, majestic, epic. Would love to see Fëanor, Fingolfin, Morgoth, Lúthien, etc in the hands of an inspired director.

Catchy Friday

We still do pop, right? Enjoy.

November 9!

This looks goooooood. For comparison, I'd rate Casino Royale a solid A and Quantum of Solace a B-.

Oh ... Alright, Maybe Just This Once

Ahem

I can't stop looking at this picture...

Bend Beyond

Has anyone else gotten to that Woods yet? It's some Fucking Transcendent Pop.  I can see how I never heard of them.  I'ts only their seventh record.

One Nation Under Bob

Still trying to find the presidential ticket that allows me to vote for a hero who is better than I deserve.

In the meantime please enjoy my friend Davis recently hoisting Bob GBV Pollard into the sky.

Have you hugged your indie rock god today?

New Stones!

Doom and Gloom. Evidently we are in for another hits retrospective with a couple of new singles thrown in to make the completists bite. I want a tour.

What They Really Said.

Here's what was actually said during the debate last week.

In Case You Missed Them...

Radiohead will be performing on Austin City Limits this week. Check local listings for details, OR, you can just watch the program here on WLBU...


You better jump on this opportunity before Mitt Romney cuts PBS's funding and gets rid of Radiohead and Big Bird.

P.S. bon Iver is next week. 

The election Will Be Won On The Beer Aisle

Apparently all this hubub over who will be the next president is just a waste of time. Well, we already knew that, but now we know how to figure out who will win based on beer. If they would have listened to me, I coulda told them this a long time ago...

I prefer Amstel, Stella, and Yazoo microbrew from here in Nashville. I guess that means 4 more years, but with fewer taxes, and gay marriage rights with every gun purchase. Stay thirsty my Bastards...

The Original Frankenweenie

Here's the 1984 short film that must not have been all that Burton wanted it to be.  

You Bastards Should Appreciate This... And It's All For Charity

Hey, it's not much but it's something. Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson are gettin' the band back together. Sort of. 

Basically they're getting together to make a record of covers and sell it for charity to help former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap. He had a stroke earlier this year and is partially paralyzed.

Anyway, they are only releasing 250 of the 10 inch LP's and they will all be auctioned off online.

So there's that.  1/2 the Replacements is better the no The Replacements. Now you know what to get Jay for Christmas...

Fonejacker

This had me in tears, but you're mileage may vary.

Mike, We Have a Date This Weekend

Right?

As Long As We're Watching Stones Films

Joe, please hit the festival circuit and let us know about this one.

Best (unofficial) Political Ad Yet

Someone spent some serious time on this.  Can't stop marveling and laughing. 

You Know You're Gonna...

...check out some awesome local talent tonight. Cause that's what we do on Fridays, right?

Pinellas Park, Florida

Is where I saw Devo. And I can't think of a more appropriate place to see them. I have to agree with Jay that Devo can still bring it. I highly recommend chasing them down. Blondie opened. Seemed good at the time, but I didn't think about them much after Devo. Sorry, Dave. Oh! I also got to see Matthew Sweet do Girlfriend in Madison. He sounded great. Hope he gets out and does the new album now.

Shit

I see your Shoes and raise you a Kaiser Chiefs..

I am totally loving the '05 Kaiser Chiefs album Employment at the moment.  I wonder if any of you have a Friend To Play it for you? 

Yes! Yes! Yes!

UPDATE! As Eric noted, the video's been yanked from YouTube. But you can still see it here.

For now.

Dang

Shoes are back with their first album of new material in 18 years. I'm about four songs in, but I think they've made my 2012 top ten list. This album came out in July, and I'm wondering why none of you bastards caught it.

Frankly, That's Pretty sad.

Go Where You Want To Go!

Suddenly, 1989 seems like the 19th century.

Kwon Soon Keun

Already seen this? 

Take any drummer and extend him/her to its natural limits and you have something like Kwon Soon Keun.  He's the subject of a documentary and a YouTube sensation, as evidenced here.   



He's like an Asian Keith Moon but with a joyous effervescence that outpaces Richard Simmons.  I started out rolling my eyes, but can't seem to stop myself searching for more of his clips.  Fun stuff.   

Mann, It's Tough Out There

More Mann: I know all y'alls watch Portlandia in accordance with the mandate from Poobah Q. Potentate -- how lamentable that even alterna-rock indie goddesses have to moonlight.

YARRRRRRRRR!

We all speak like pirates anyway, and one of us spends a great deal of time in the ocean --- no one needs to tell us it's Talk Like a Pirate Day. Grog! Wenches! Yarrr!

Okay, This Is Cool

YouTube Doubler

Aimee Mann's new video Labrador, side by side with the old Til Tuesday video. Anybody going to put their free five bucks towards this one? I know it looks like shit, Jay. Better here.

Jib Jab Worthy

Any of you bastards taking the bait this time around?

Blow It Out Your Ass ... With Scott Toilet Tissue

That's a new slogan I've been kicking around For Their Products. Released in June, this is Lex Hives, The Hives return to big, stupid fun after the inevitable mature album.

Wipe With This

Free Toilet Paper! 

New Dylan

Free Toilet Paper, or free new Dylan record, Tempest?  Thanks, Scott (and Jay), I'll take the Bob!

What did ya'll get?

Side By Side

See you all there.

How I Spent My Labor Day Weekend

Well, part of it.

Wild Eagle is a steel Wing Coaster at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It is the first of its kind in the United States. The ride was opened to park employees and their families on March 20, 2012, opened for season passholders on March 23, 2012, and officially opened to the public on March 24, 2012.

Type	Steel - Wing Coaster
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Model	Wing Coaster
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	210 ft (64 m)
Drop	135 ft (41 m)
Length	3,127 ft (953 m)
Speed	61 mph (98 km/h)
Inversions	4
Duration	2:22
Height restriction	4 ft 2 in (127 cm)
Trains	2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.

Talking Funny

Don't know if y'all have more or less leisure time on three-day weekends. But this is worth it.

Four

New one from Bloc Party.  It's Called Four.  Thanks, Praise.  I'll take both.

Big Labor Day Plans?

Let's be sensible out there.

I don't care about Marvel vs DC I just want some good nut shots

Deja Vu all over again

Too soon. Too soon.

Full Metal Jacket Diary App?

Yes, please.

APP OVERVIEW
Arriving just in time for the film's 25th anniversary, this immersive Kickstarter-funded iPad app offers fans the choice to read or listen to Matthew Modine's personal diary kept during the filming of Kubrick's Vietnam War masterpiece, FULL METAL JACKET. It features hundreds of high quality, never-before-seen photographs plus sound effects, original music, and much, much more!

FULL FEATURES
- Modine's complete diary text from his out-of-print, award-winning, metal-bound book, FULL METAL JACKET DIARY
- 5 chapters chronicling the filmmaking process – Private Life, Vietnam, Boot Camp, On Leave, and Boot Camp Redux
- A nearly 4 hour audiobook with Modine's absorbing narration, produced with immersive sound effects and original music
- Over 400 high-res photos and personal documents scanned from original negatives and source material
- Detailed information on photos including dates, locations, and all-new remembrances written by Modine
- Three bonus galleries featuring select photo restoration comparisons
- Interactive "favorites" gallery designed to simulate Matthew's original contact sheets used in compiling his book
- Store your favorite photos and audio clips for later
- Select your favorite photos and tweet your friends!
- "What Was Stanley Like?" – A one-minute fully animated video featuring Modine's narration and photographs
- Handwritten on-screen "help" – get help from Matthew at any time while reading or listening to his diary
- Links to related articles, videos, content, and much more!
- Compatible with iPad 1 and 2, and optimized for the new iPad with HD Retina display

Great Moments in Acting Concentration

Yum.  And hey, speaking of ROTLA,  check this out! 

Bastards Assemble!

...& worship at the altar of IMAX.

Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged.

It's Funny Because It's (Allegedly) True

Tampa Bay Gay Prostitutes Gearing Up For Flood Of Closeted Republicans

It's Always Sunny in Seattle

I'm taking in a conference in Seattle (Government Purchasing, NOT Hempfest.  I swear!).  This is a damn nice town, and the weather has been great the whole time I've been here.  And the food!  I may never leave.

Tom Waits = The Joker

We all love Tom Waits (at least we fucking better). We also all love Heath Ledger's take on the Joker (at least we fucking better). Are the two related? Watch this painfully awkward TW interview from 1979 and you tell me (at least you fucking better).

Electric Bird Digest

This Fantastic Tune Parade is an early 90s gem from the beloved Fellows. Definitely worth a spin if you haven't heard it or haven't listened for awhile. Produced by Butch Vig and featuring great tunes from Scott, Kurt, and company, it is probably my favorite Fellows album. Hillbilly Drummer Girl, Looking Around, Thirsty, and Hard to Mention are particular faves. Enjoy Bastards!

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Real Actors Reading YELP Reviews

Professional actor Chris Kipiniak (Law and Order, The Good Wife) puts the full weight of his dynamic gifts behind this interpretation of an online restaurant review.

Award winning actor Brian O'Neill (Damages, The Sopranos) uses his talents to reveal the deep pathos in this review of a concert venue in Santa Ana, California posted to Yelp by Garrett M.

I could watch these all day.

Sheet

From McSweeney's website:

Beck’s latest album comes in an almost-forgotten form—twenty songs existing only as individual pieces of sheet music, never before released or recorded. Complete with full-color, heyday-of-home-play-inspired art for each song and a lavishly produced hardcover carrying case (and, when necessary, ukelele notation), Song Reader is an experiment in what an album can be at the end of 2012—an alternative that enlists the listener in the tone of every track, and that’s as visually absorbing as a dozen gatefold LPs put together. The songs here are as unfailingly exciting as you’d expect from their author, but if you want to hear “Do We? We Do,” or “Don’t Act Like Your Heart Isn’t Hard,” bringing them to life depends on you.

Dave/Jay will you favor us with any DIY Beck tunes?

Shit

Joe Kubert. Google him.

Uh ...