If nobody else is going to do it...

My favorite albums of '08, in no particular order:

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yestsin - Pershing
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
The Whigs - Mission Control
DBT - Brighter than Creation's Dark
Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal.
Okervill River - The Stand-ins
Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

Honorable Mentions - Clash Live at Shea, Bowie Live '72, Latest addition to Dylan Bootleg Series

I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but those are the ones that I remember playing over and over throughout the year.

Adios 2008!

Crazy year, huh? Our Bastard, Inc. 401k and stock portfolios fell apart, but a new mini-bastard entered the picture, so I'd call us ahead on the balance. Play it safe tonight (leave the lethal intoxication to the amateurs) and here's a virtual toast to a great 2009.

Shocked, But Not Surprised

You know, it's just amazing what you can find on the internets these days.

My Phone Shoots Video?

Really, really shitty video, but still ... I had no idea.

My kids got scooters for Christmas. (No, he doesn't wipe out.)

File under: Makes sense to me

From a law suit filed against Wal-Mart, alleging negligence, gross negligence, false imprisonment and assault, by two women who claim that they were punched in the face by an unknown female assailant, during the Black Friday "Blitz" sale:

Upon information and belief, integral to the design of the sale was emplacing in the shoppers a feeling of anxiety. Each member of the crowd would experience fear of being smashed, while vertical, or trampled, while horizontal: that fall to the ground would be a prelude to burial thereunder. Afterwards, once inside the store each shopper would have a feeling of emotional freedom and release that would cause him or her to do more purchasing.

I often feel emotional freedom at Wal-Mart, no choking or trampling needed.

Peter Sellers

My father-in-law reminded me of this last night, the end credits for Being There. Hilarious, but if you haven't seen the movie, it won't make much sense.

Stranded In Canton On YouTube?!

Finally available, and for free.

From a review in Variety:

Surfacing after 30 years, celebrated photog William Eggleston's pioneering experiments with black-and-white video teem with drunken denizens of Southern nightlife. Fitting an early-model Sony Porta-Pak with a prime lens and an infra-red tube, Eggleston approached his lurching subjects with the same close-up intensity that informs his famous still photographs. Certain sequences of lost weekends seem to surge out from a murky oblivion, although co-director Robert Gordon's 77-minute curatorial re-edit softens the edges somewhat.

More of a curiosity than anything else for me, but I've wanted to check this out for years.

What the kids are not listening to

My wife has been playing this Neko Case song a lot the past few days, and it is now firmly stuck in my head. Singing backup in this video is one of my longtime favorite unfairly-obscure Chicago singers: Kelly Hogan, who I believe is now semi-retired, and tending bar at the Hideout in Chicago. I will attempt to further the popularity of one of her CDs.

What the Kids are Listening To

I think Fall Out Boy is making a conscious effort not to get pigeon-holed as emo rockers with their new CD, Folie a Deux. Pretty good stuff.

DOA

"To call the characters cardboard is to insult a useful packing material." -Roger Ebert

Compiling a Metacritic score of 28, The Spirit may be this Christmas' film equivalent of congealed salad. I think it's a mortal sin to cast Eva Mendes and Scarlett Johansson and fail to make a watchable movie. Looks like Jay was right about this one. Guess I'll have to wait 70 more days for another good comic book movie.

A tad windy

It can get a bit windy in Galway during rugby season.

Les Kooks

On a whim, I Found The Pounds to buy the delightful "Konk" by the Kooks this weekend. With all their British pop goodness. It's hard not to compare them to the Arctic Monkeys (catchy choruses, constant hooks and the singer's accent). Lurker, I would be willing to bet 5% of Jay's paycheck that you're going to really like them.

Photos

The Boston Globe website has its pictures of the year here, here, and here. Well worth checking out.

Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas

Feliz Navidad, Bastardos. My sometimes annual Xmas mix is on its way up Faster Than Prancer can Comet on Vixen. I'll put up a couple of supplementary mixes as well. Hope yours is a good one.

I Want A Pair

From CNN.com:

Sales of the shoes made famous by Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi have soared, with requests pouring in to the Turkish shoemaker from across the world, media reports said Monday.

As a result, Istanbul-based Ramazan Baydan has had to recruit an extra 100 staff to meet orders for 300,000 pairs of the "Model 271 brogues," Britain's Daily Mail said.

Read the rest here.

Happy hols chaps

Safe travels and noggy goodness to all.

Baring Down for the Holidays

My son came armed with the Barenaked Ladies holiday album. It's a few years old and definitely has some filler, but it's a nice diversion after hours of watching that Bing Crosby/David Bowie duet.

It's The Thought That Counts

I was going to get this book for you bastards, but buying and sending four copies got too pricey. Looks good though, doesn't it?

Bastard, Can You Spare A Dime?

My place of employment has permanently cut salaries 5%. (And suspended 401(k) matching and annual merit increases.) Yay. But at least I have a job ...

Gervais on Sharks and Nazis

I'm back from a long 4 days in Louisville, Kenfucky. No more work for me until all the presents are opened! The one highlight of the trip was watching Ricky Gervais' comedy special. Not surprisingly, he's fantastic at stand-up.

I turn my back for one minute and Jay's off working on a solo project. I guess LBU gets your sloppy seconds from here on in.

Morrissey coming to Durham; Dave shrieks like a vegan asexual girl; then remembers he'll be out of town that week.

March 11 (Wednesday) at the brand-spanking-new Durham Performing Arts Center right in downtown. Who wants a ticket? They go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. and I'm hitting it then. Send me an email (Joe and Andy) if you want to go.

UPDATE: Idiot Dave will be performing with Anyface that night in New Orleans. Hope to catch another date. Dammit.

Another LBU Spinoff

52 LPs that I can't or couldn't stop listening to. That's one every week Joe, with a brief background of the band and album, along with the cover and a featured song.

Rock 'N' Roll Snob

"Rod Blagojevich is clearly the stupidest governor in all of our 50 states"

Very interesting, and amusing article here about Blagojevich, Obama, and Jesse Jackson Jr.

I've long since come to the conclusion that Rod Blagojevich is clearly the stupidest governor in all of our 50 states, and he may be the stupidest governor I've had occasion to write about in the four decades when I've been co-author of The Almanac of American Politics. And a stupid man (or woman) in high political office can be very dangerous to all concerned. I have long said that as a political operative I would prefer a smart opponent to a stupid opponent. If you're pretty smart yourself, you should be able to figure out what another pretty smart person will do. But whether you're smart or stupid, it's hard to figure out what a stupid person will do. That's even more true when the stupid politician is your political ally. Stupid people do all sorts of things that are against their own interests. Like tell the press on Monday that you wouldn't mind being taped, even when (as we learned on Tuesday) that you've been saying all kinds of things that you should have known could easily send you to the slammer.

Look Around You

I caught an episode of this comedy on BBC America a few years ago and then never saw it again. Look Around You is a pitch-perfect homage to the educational programs of the seventies and early eighties that I'm sure we all remember. Andy, I defer to you to explain who Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz are ...

We've all had days like this

First the Godfather. Now this. A sadly under-used prop, I feel.

Catchy Friday

Spectacle

I've discovered an interesting series on Sundance called Spectacle. It features Elvis Costello interviewing notable musicians/celebrities. This week was Lou Reed, which was fascinating, but produced one of the least noteworthy duets in the history of bad ideas: Perfect Day, with Elvis crooning beautifully and Lou sounding like someone experimenting with methods for ruining a duet. Thankfully, there's no public version available, but this short clip is from the episode. Others available on the Spectacle site.

Faces!

I promise that if they play Memphis, I'm there. From Classic Rock magazine:

Ronnie Wood has confirmed that the original line-up of The Faces (Rod Stewart, keyboard player Ian McLagan and drummer Kenney Jones. Bassist Ronnie Lane passed away in 1997) are already rehearsing for a full tour that will take place next year.

And More.

I'm on the road for work (what the fuck?) the next couple of days. Please try not to miss me too much.

If You Don't Hear From Me For a Few Weeks....

....it's time for my annual egg nog party. Andy can tell you all about it. The nog is a recipe from the 1950s when men were men and women were groped at office parties. It has a pint each of bourbon, vodka, and rum with some sherry thrown in for good measure. I'll be making it tomorrow and living it down for the next several days at least. Have a good weekend!

Lost Anyface EP surfaces; media goes into frenzy

OK, not really. But this is a 'lost' EP. Actually, can something be lost if no one is looking for it? This was a fully recorded effort that was mixed but only existed on cassette. The fidelity is lacking as it was dubbed from the tape, but I am really happy with the performances, most of which were live in the studio. The songs:

1) Pophead- lots o' feedback and nice drums
2) Stolen Iron Heart - written and sung by bassist Johnny. The vocal is a little overwrought, but it is a nice melody.
3) Long Ago Blown - one my all time favorite compositions, and killer drums from Paulie.
4) Happy Fight - the only Young Brians composition I ever recorded without them.
5) Jolene - Johnny sings the Dolly Parton classic. Nice solo.
6) Holly Hates Rock and Roll - my favorite recorded vocal, the whole song, solo and all, done live in the studio. Enjoy MoFos, and let me know what you think.

FourX The Pleasure.

Biblical Scholars Surprised by the Nature of the Second Coming

The image of Jesus found in the grain of an acoustic guitar. It seems our savior is full of surprises.

Subteens Still Hanging In There

Courtesy of BullyRook.

Ugh

Well, that was awful. Fortunately I had Skybox seats thanks to an old friend, so instead of suffering through the misery of a 30-point loss in constant rain, I suffered through the misery of a 30-point loss with free beer, boiled shrimp and chili dogs. It wasn't very good beer, though.

And Texas got screwed!! Fuck the BCS. Oh well. Could be worse, I could have gone to LSU.

Oh Dear

I know I'm the primary comic book geek among us, but I am capable of picking and choosing. This movie will suck beyond all reason, in ways that previous bad comic book movies have lacked in their sucking. I've seen the trailers, and The Spirit breaks the first rule of comic book movies: Thou shalt not take thyself too seriously. Exhibit A ...
I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Dig Yourself

You can bet your last dollar that Nick Cave is always the coolest motherforker in the room. I know this is a little dated, but I had never seen the video. And maybe it's me, but Mr. Cave reminds me a little of Brad Pitt here.

Catchy Black Friday

Anyone in the Christmas spirit yet?

A Colbert Christmas

Thanksgiving ushers in the holiday season. After watching it tonight, I can honestly say, this may well be the best Christmas special ever. Do not miss it.

Go Seminoles

I'm heading down to Tallahassee for the holiday. I'll be going to the Florida / Florida State game on Saturday. Chances are it will be rainy and we'll get our ass kicked! Woo Hoo! Should be fun, though. The last game I went to was a great one, but it was a looooong time ago.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Bastardos!

Speaking Of The White Album ...

From NPR's All Songs Considered:

When The White Album was released 40 years ago this month, fans were both baffled and awe struck by its sprawling world of sound. It was released as a double LP (almost unheard of at the time) and featured instant classics like "I Will," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and "Blackbird." But The White Album (its real name is simply The Beatles) was also filled with songs many found hard to digest, like the eight-minute, experimental sound collage "Revolution 9" or the inexplicably surreal "Honey Pie." On this edition of All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen talks with Bruce Spizer, author of The Beatles On Apple Records, about the groundbreaking White Album and how it came to be.

A Thanksgiving treat from me to you, but don't Forget The Pie.

Oops

WNBC anchor Sue Simmons and her on-air gaffe from earlier this year.

To peruse while you digest your turkey.....

Popdose has a fun list, Favorite Singles of the Last Fifty Years, as compiled by their contributors. I like it because it isn't claiming 'best' or 'greatest'. Just favorite. Check it out Bastards.

Happy Thanksgiving Bastards

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

This was a card I received from my brother. Enjoy! Sort of NSFW, but there are bleeps where appropriate.

Can Jay Wait Until Christmas?

Browsed through this at Bookstar tonight. Looks good for what it is: photos, sketches, memories from Dave Gibbons about the genesis of Watchmen. Too big to stick in a stocking, I predict one bastard won't be waiting for Santa to deliver this.

This Has Aged Well

Neighborhood Texture Jam is a Memphis institution, initially conceived by a bunch of middle-class, private-school-educated 20-year-olds, waaaay back in the late 80's. (They still get back together every once in awhile.) I wasn't friends with these guys or anything, but we ran in the same circles, and I distinctly remember that first afternoon my friend Dave played Funeral Mountain for me in his dorm room. I was rendered speechless by how good it was, how sophisticated and polished it sounded compared to our shitty college band. Even more amazingly, it got reviewed in Rolling Stone!

Funeral Mountain walks a fine, ferocious line between full-blown hardcore assault and Southern twin-guitar psych-out jam, with some industrial percussion thrown in for good measure. Singer- lyricist Joe Lapsley has quite a way with words: "I fell into the borax factory/Of your love," he wails in "Borax Factory," a saline love song that deserves to become a modern classic, and tunes like "Old South" ("Want to see the rebel flags?/Want to go see 'em?/ They're next to the swastikas in a museum") and the trudge epic "Torsos of Murdered People" (splatter rock with a vengeance) give an indication of his range. For the full impact of his rage, put this one on and turn it up: These guys rock like their lives depended on it.

I dug it out the other day, and this disc has aged really well. Lyrically, Funeral Mountain focuses primarily on society's unpleasant underbelly, but listening again, I was reminded of one song in particular that disturbed me. "The Big Johnson" is one of the best songs on the disc, but it fucked me up for a week. Fondue Takes Principles, ladies.

Mmmmm, Beer . . .

Interesting article in the New Yorker this week about the guy who founded the Dogfish Head brewery in Milton, Delaware. The passage below is about how he invented the delicious 60 Minute IPA, to which I was introduced by Dave, and to which I re-introduce myself as often as possible. I like the definition of a "session beer." (Good soup tip, too.)

The turning point came in 1999, when Calagione was watching a cooking show on television. The chef, who was making a soup, was saying that several grindings of pepper, added to the pot at different points, would give the dish more flavor than a single dose added at the beginning. Not long afterward, at a Salvation Army store, Calagione came across an old electric football set—the kind with a playing field that vibrates to send miniature players skittering across it. Back at home, he found a five-gallon bucket and drilled some holes in the bottom. He laid a pair of wooden blocks on the football set, put the bucket on the blocks, and strapped the whole thing together with duct tape. (“Pretty high-tech M.I.T. stuff,” he says.) Later, when his kettle was boiling, he put hops in the bucket, perched his contraption at a slant above the kettle, and set the game vibrating. Soon, a steady stream of hops was falling through the bucket onto the playing field and sliding into the kettle.
The beer born of that experiment, known as 60 Minute I.P.A., is still Calagione’s biggest seller. He calls it a beer geek’s idea of a “session beer”—mild enough to be consumed in quantity, but with an unexpected kick. It has the bright, citrusy bouquet of a much hoppier brew, without the bitterness. Wine Enthusiast tasted hints of rose petal, tangerine, orange zest, and nutmeg in it, and rated it a “classic.”
The extreme-beer era was under way.

Hat Tip

I've been on the road alot lately, and will be for a while, so have finally been catching up on some of the tunes you lot have posted recently. Some really good stuff (except the Ryan Adams, Dave -- I just don't get it), so just wanted to say thanks.

Mellow Friday

Chill, bastards.

Rocks Like Robots

If DEVO can produce a new album that consistently sounds like this, I'm in. This, by the way, is a single from last year sometime ("Watch Us Work It"), featured in a series of commercials for Dell.

Why Do Jay's Pants Look Funny?

Just read a blurb in Rolling Stone that Devo is together working on their first new album of original material in many, many moons. Heard about this Jay?

Music Discussion Friday

Quick, name an album that you anticipated listening to for years, only to finally hear it and be completely disappointed. All Things Must Pass fits the bill for me.

I Win

Coolest post today? Click and drag in the video when it starts.

Bon Iver

"Skinny Love"

Apropos of nothing

One of my favorite letters to the Times:

Hielo Negro

Feeling The Pain of the credit crunch? Tired of the war? Not sure which way is up and which is down? It's nice to know some things never change. Case in point, AC/DC. Okay, I haven't actually listened to it yet, but how much different can it possibly be?

The Gaslight Anthem

I think I'm too old to like this band as much as I do. This album looks like it's on the verge of breaking big (if it hasn't already). Not to indulge too much in the comparison game, but there are obvious Boss and 'Mats references throughout.

Also, Find The Punchy EP 'Senor and the Queen' and see how old you feel.

Olson and Louris, Louris and Olson

I don't know if ya'll ever got into the Jayhawks, but I did in a big way. The original principals, Gary Olson and Mark Louris, have reunited for an album that has yet to be released (I think they let it go in Europe, though). Chris Robinsin of the Black Crowes produced. I've been streaming it on the New West site and it's great. If you've got the time or the inkling, it's here.

From the record company:

Ready for the flood captures the stripped down, fingerpicked guitar playing and Laurel Canyon sound of an earlier time, with allusions to English folk – Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, John Renbourne, whom both Mark and Gary had both been getting into independently – and a simpler, live recording technique where capturing the right vibe was as important as the sound. It’s an album that only two career musicians and friends could make – organic, intuitive and loosely confident, heartfelt and moving, echoing with the combined experience of two kindred spirits reuniting to do what they do – and love – best.

Mmmm......

Happy Veteran's Day

The wisdom of General George S. Patton. Best remembered as the first US pentathlete in the 1912 Olympics, he actually went on to have a noteworthy military career. (This clip was also one of George C. Scott's finest acting moments.)

Are You There, Ryan...?

It's Me, God.

Honda's Robotic Legs

Supports bodyweight, protects balls.

Ha Ha!

CNN reports that "Bush is now more unpopular than Richard Nixon was when he resigned from office during Watergate with a 66 percent disapproval rating."

On the day that President-elect Barack Obama is visiting the White House, a new national poll suggests that the current occupant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most unpopular president since approval ratings were first sought more than six decades ago.

Seventy-six percent of those questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Monday disapprove of how President Bush is handling his job.

Read the rest here.

William Eggleston At The Whitney

Here's a neat article in The New York Times about Memphis's greatest photographer. I wish I could see this retrospective, but I have a particular interest in Stranded in Canton, his fucked up home movies with the drunken and debauched locals, circa 1973-74.

Read the article here.

Frank Turner

A bit rueful for a Friday post, but a nice little song that reminds a bit of Ted Leo.

It's ... MORE Watchmen!

Watchmen Exclusive: Girls Kick Ass

Below the fold

I guess the good folks of Rockdale, Georgia think there is a lot more important stuff to talk about than this so-called Obama fellow

Rejoice, Comrades!

Terrorist fist bumps all around!

I heard Obama appeals to the younger set . . .

I came out...

I admitted I voted for BO at work today. Expect...a bit of tension. I'll bring donuts. Is he gonna win? Andy? Lurker? Dave? Other dumb guy?

Lemmy: The Movie

Unfortunately Prescient Article from the Onion

Click here to read this article from the Onion from waaaay back in 2001 as Bush was about to be inaugurated. Funny. But not that kind of funny. Article title kind of says it all: Bush: "Our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity finally over".

Shit

Goodbye, Opus

New Yorker endorsement gets it right, I think

In what amounts to mostly preaching to the choir, I recommend you read this well-written, comprehensive, and thoughtful endorsement of Obama by the New Yorker. It does a very good job of encapsulating most of the lucid and legit arguments in favor of an Obama presidency, with relatively little knee-jerk quotient.

Cardinology + IV

Picked up the new Ryan Adams yesterday, as well as the latest from one my new favorite bands, Chatham County Line. Haven't listened yet, so no review, but Finding The Product is easy.

How true those words are even today

Can't go wrong with airplane jokes.

Shit.

Studs Terkel made it to 96, not bad. He's one of my heroes for his amazing oral history of the (first) great depression, Hard Times. Reading that really puts the present crises into perspective (anyone gnawed on a shoe for dinner lately?). Like The Grapes of Wrath, its a book that makes your bed a little softer at night, your food a little tastier and stays with you for a long time.

Always a music lover, Terkel had a radio show, often interviewing up-and-coming talent. In 1963, he interviewed Bob Dylan and started with the question, "Where do you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?"

RIP Studs.

Wilco the Song

Thom Yorke & Jonny Greenwood Cover Portishead

Thanks to Matt for pointing me to this haunting cover of Portishead's "The Rip."

I wasn't a fan back in the day, but now I Favor The Portishead. Third is blowing me away.

Happy Halloween Bastards

This video seems suitably creepy. I really like this guy, Chad VanGaalen, who is based in Calgary. He draws and animates his own videos.

Elizabeth Dole Hits New Low

I didn't know it was possible to sink this low in a campaign ad. The clip is of Campbell Brown lambasting Dole for sticking by this hunk o' shit, but you have got to check this ad out. It looks like a lampoon, but it just ran on my local station not ten minutes ago. Kay Hagan filed suit against her today, claiming defamation.

Fix It

I never noticed how much Ryan Adams looks like Rick Moranis. Can't wait to get this new album. Hopefully sometime in the next 6 months I'll have a spare $15 to go pick it up.

It pays to know your audience

I followed this link to a story about post-game celbrations after the Phillies' world series win last night. Down the side it lists "Related Slideshows" as follows:

Phillies vs. Rays - World Series
Phillies Fans Celebrate World Series Win!!!
Openly Gay Celebrities
Real Or Fake [Breasts]?
Celebs Who Lean To The Right
Celebrity Moms Gone Wild
Hottest Celebrity Moms

My question is: Who the hell is interested in "Celebs Who Lean To The Right"?

Fun in Memphis

Stuck in Memphis? Not sure what to do to entertain your kids? How about letting them beat up a cop? Fun for the whole family.

Here's a link in case the video wont' work for you.

Polly Scattergood

Not catchy enough for a Friday post, but quite enjoyable nonetheless. Good name too.

Palin's "Going Rogue?"

A recent CNN article suggests that as a McCain victory becomes less and less likely, Sarah Palin has begun looking out for Number One, deliberately going off-message with an eye on 2012. My favorite part of the article?

"Her lack of fundamental understanding of some key issues was dramatic," another McCain source familiar with prepping Palin told CNN, saying it was probably the "hardest" to get her "up to speed than any candidate in history."

Read the rest here.

Nice

I love how the marketing machine continues to chug even as the lawsuit between Warner Brothers and Fox could prevent this film from ever seeing the light of day.

At Least I Get A Dr Pepper

Ten years and this is it?

Catchy Friday

Catchy tune, although I must say even Andrew Ridgeley played the guitar better than this young lady plays the drums.

Good God, I've Been Busy

It's good to know I've been missed, Deighve.

After years and years and years of designing Web sites using table-based layouts (hey, that's how everybody did it back in the day), I have taken the plunge and taught myself to use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), a much more elegant and efficient way of doing things that separates a page's content from its layout. Why was I a hold-out, you may be asking?

1) Even just a couple of years ago, there were many people in my company still using Netscape 4.x, an ancient browser that was incapable of rendering CSS at all. However, a recent glance at our statistics verified that all my current customers are on board with IE6 (ugh), IE7 or Firefox.

2) I had heard some real horror stories about browser rendering differences with CSS and how the same things that rendered beautifully in one browser looked absolutely shitty in another. Weird indents here and there, odd overlaps where there shouldn't be any, who needs that? The only way around, and this is still true with IE6, is to use various CSS hacks to fool the errant browser into doing the right thing. ("* html" has become my new best friend.)

3) I, like most people, tend to stick with what I know.

I've done this completely on my own, with no prodding from anyone else - or hope of monetary compensation - because it's the right thing to do if I want to be regarded as a serious designer. (The look on my non-techie boss's face was priceless when I tried to explain CSS and its benefits to all concerned.) I've worked through a lot of lunches and even made a trip to work last weekend to figure something out that was making me crazy. (Thanks again, IE6!)

I'm still Johnny Newguy, and I'm relatively certain that my CSS will be a source of secret embarrassment in a few months, but to get a real sense of how powerful this stuff is, check out css Zen Garden and select some of the different designs in the right-hand column. Keep in mind as you do that the content for each page is exactly the same, only the CSS is changing.

Mind-blowing stuff.