sureshot

They SLAYED on Conan last night

I remember the first time I saw Return to Oz as a kid. The very first scene involves little dear Dorthy getting prepped for electro-fucking-shock therapy. That movie scared the living bejeesus out of me as an impressionable tyke. (and it wasnt nearly as bad as some of the stuff my friends were seeing...Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Psycho..) But you know what? It was fantasy. I discovered that line real fast. And its not nearly as bat-shit terrifying as the REAL world that we all wake up to every morning.

 

Parents can decide for themselves if its a film they want junior to see. But accept it and his vision for what it is, and stop expecting "kids" films to be all singalongs and princesses. And hell, when you actually look at them, Disney films have more sexual innuendo than you can shake a stick at. And its not exactly hidden either.

Maurice Sendak tells parents to go to hell

 

I love it. Im tired of art and stories being compromised and watered down to appeal to kids...I think the recent success of Wall-E and others have proven that you dont need to compromise in order to be successful. Children are smarter and more perceptive than most give them credit for. And sometimes you need to be scared...thats part of what growing up is about. And then you realize that there are lights at the end of the tunnel. Jonze and Sendak clearly came to a consensus on a vision for the film, and Im thrilled that despite their best efforts the studio did not wind up neutering the final product (although they certainly came close).

15 years ago, I may have thought it brilliant, but now that I’m older, I just don’t have time for this shit.

 

So basically, you're just admitting you've lost whatever edge you once had and are too lazy to invest the willpower and time to appreciate a sonically dense and complicated piece of music. I mean, thats fine, at least you're honest. But even you yourself admit that 15 years ago you would have thought it was brilliant....so whos correct, the former you, or the current washed up incarnation? There are plenty of us who still approach music with open ears and minds, and the record we are hearing is the one the younger version of yourself would have enjoyed.

 

And I still dont quite understand this constant point you keep trying to make regarding "noise". All music is noise in one form or another. Im a huge ambient fan and listen to artists such as Stars of the Lid, who's music basically entails simple drones fading in and and out, over and over again. Some might call it boring or devoid of a purpose. I find it to be some of the most cathartic, beautiful, and important music composed in the past decade. The Lips new album is basically operating at the opposite end of that spectrum (although it dosent even come close to approaching the sonic madness of someone like say Merzbow)...so no, most of the record does not contain what can be easily identified as catchy verse/chorus hits. The noise itself is creating the atmosphere, mood, and ideas attempting to be conveyed. Its abstract. This isnt MEANT to be a radio friendly pop record; its an album where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and bits taken out of context dont really operate as well on their own. But its obvious that you came into this album expecting to be pandered to, so it dosent surprise me that you feel dissapointed and confused. I am sure there are plenty of other artists out there who are willing to compromise and meet you halfway.

So far, while listening to this record, I have never once had my interested piqued. Not once. No "hey that sounded good" or "hey, there's a song." Not once, I tell you, not once.

 

Thus, I submit to you that in no way is it interesting or even engaging: it's just plain bad. Challenging: you bet. It's challenging my patience. Their last one (At War...) was bad too but this one is really bad. The random blips and bloops minus the melody are really grating to my nerves.

 

Do you like early Lips? A lot of these songs feel like they would right at home on Zaireeka (which is awesome in my book). Its not an album about pop song melodies (although there ARE plenty of those)...its psychedelic/free jazz (all sorts of Miles Davis influences on this thing)/kraut, etc all rolled into one. But to each their own, I guess. I find it very hard to believe that on an album this diverse and sprawling, you cant find a single element you like. When compared to bands in their age class (like Wilco), it just feels so much more alive and vibrant.

 

Those people talking about "atonal noise" obviously have never heard such a thing. Compared to

, this is downright easy listening.

I dont know if there are any other fans of his show here, but considering his age, poor health, and rareness of live performances, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity in my book:

 

 

http://www.steppenwolf.org/boxoffice/produ...dex.aspx?id=493

JOE FRANK IN "IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG?: AN EVENING OF SPOKEN WORD AND MUSIC"

 

In the Downstairs Theatre

Sat. November 14, 2009

 

NPR's Joe Frank takes the Steppenwolf stage for an evening of spoken word and music in one of his most provocative pieces yet.

 

The depth of his work – essentially a philosophical inquiry – is what gives it its real significance. Beneath every surreal flourish is a search for something to believe in: a yearning for love, a quest for self-acceptance. While one critic has called Frank “the most brilliant comic in America,” another has described Frank’s stories as “inspired weirdness that feeds on pathos and irony.” Others have used the words “hypnotic,” “psychotic,” “disturbing” and “terrifying.” All agree that Frank unfailingly manages to confound his audience’s expectations. Cited as a source of inspiration by artists as diverse as Ira Glass, Charlie Kaufman and Beck, Frank’s shows are invariably laced with surreal comedy.

 

Joe Frank began his radio career in 1977 at WBAI, in New York City, and later served as co-anchor of National Public Radio's All Things Considered in 1978. Over the course of the next three decades he produced over 200 radio programs for KCRW and National Public Radio. A Guggenheim Fellow, Frank has been honored with many major industry awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, two Major Armstrong Awards and two Corporation for Public Broadcasting Awards for radio drama. Over the years, Frank's distinctive approach to making radio has inspired producers around the world to experiment with and stretch the medium beyond traditional boundaries. Joe Frank's regular weekly one-hour radio show airs in Chicago on WBEZ Sunday nights at 11 p.m. For additional information, visit www.joefrank.com.

 

The dude is brilliant. This American Life wouldnt even be a twinkle in Ira Glass' eye without Frank's show and influence.

 

So excited

I'll go with Local H

 

They had a huge single "Bound For The Floor" but that was about it. I still stand by the fact that they are one of the most underrated bands of all time and put on one of the most intense live shows I've ever seen.

 

Yea, I've seen them 7 or 8 times. It seems like they've always got a show going on in Chicago. Actually, they've gotten some real nice acclaim as of late with the past couple releases. Scott Lucas was named a "Chicagoan of the Year" by the Trib in '08, which I doubt even he expected.

 

i really liked the journalism part of that season.

 

I was a bit dissapointed. For a show that prided itself on realism, the Season 5 stood out to me as more a Law and Order script as opposed to what they were doing before. Dont get me wrong, it was still great TV, but it was the one season I dont think was hit out of the park. Which was especially surprising to me, considering David Simon was a newspaper man more than anything else.

I've stuck with Friendster!

 

It's pretty much just me, now...

 

They were way ahead of the curve on social networking, and ironically are now dead last. Almost poetic.

Epileptics can use it?

 

Seriously, the fact that you could customize your MySpace page to flicker, shimmer, and make backgrounds and foregrounds all but unreadable has always been what kept me from the site. I like how simple and unalterable Facebook's layout is. If people could change their page layouts, I'd likely spend much less time there.

 

Additionally, I joined in 2005 when it was exclusively for students. I enjoyed being on my college's network, and primarily joined for the purpose of keeping up with my friends at school. Since you had to use your full name, it was much easier to search for people (I don't know if I'm an idiot or what, but I was never able to search for people on MySpace). I also enjoyed getting in touch with high school friends.

 

So there.

 

Exactly. Facebook's trump card around '04/'05 was only students with a .edu address could use it; Myspace was something for teenyboppers. It was a big deal when your university got invited to join the network, and in turn you could only view profiles of people at your school. You didnt have to worry about being friended by your aunt/boss/neighborhood creep/Rush Limbaugh. The layout was way cleaner back in the day too; you didnt have all these inane games and advertisements cluttering up space (with the exception of "poking", which was nothing more than online flirting). Facebooks soul existence was to figure out what parties were occurring over the weekend, and then posting photos of the debauchery afterwards to embarrass your friends. Simpler times, I suppose.

 

And yes, Myspaces search functionality was and remains one of the absolute worst in the history of the internet. Right behind Allmusic.

As a child in the early 1990's in Chicago, Jordan and the Bulls were god-like figures. Bedtime meant nothing during basketball season; when it rained during lunch in elementary school, we watched "Untoucha-bulls," the documentary of the first three-peat; whether you were watching a championship game or not, you knew the moment we won on account of the hollers, firecrackers and gunshots; my mother was hospitalized frequently when I was a kid, right across from the United Center, and I loved visiting her on game nights, looking down on the majestic United Center with it's crazy spotlights. Never did see a game in person. My cousin was an aide to Carol Mosely-Braun, a neighbor of the Jordans, in the early-90s. She invited my cousin over for dinner in 1993 one night, and when my cousin asked what she could bring Carol said, "Oh, I don't know, Juanita's bringing salad..." Sure enough, my cousin had dinner with the Jordans that night.

 

I regrettably never did attend a game either. But Jordan is ingrained into my childhood memory more than any other sports star...

 

Arguing on the playground who would get to be Michael and who would get to be Scottie.

 

Every kid wanting to "be like Mike".

 

The triangle offense.

 

Staying up way past my bedtime to watch those nail biter west coast games against the Jazz.

 

The NBA on NBC, with Marv Albert building up the storylines before every game. That classic John Tesh theme song.

 

Hating the Knicks and the Jazz something fierce.

 

Zen.

 

The celebration partys after every championship...people running up and down the block banging on pots and pans, the (unfortunate) riots, the Grant Park rallies.

 

After his first retirement, coming down to the breakfast table one day and seeing the Sun Times laying there with nothing but those famous 2 words on the front page in a big black font: "I'm Back."...it was like Christmas morning. Then arguing with friends if he would be as good playing under #45 (he wasn't).

 

Just knowing that as long as Jordan was playing, the Bulls were going to win. The utter dominance was intoxicating.

 

Watching PBS documentaries breaking down just how he was able to physically soar the way he did, and posing the question if he truly crossed the line from jumping to flying. His aura was mythical.

 

Friends recounting seeing championship games being shown at the Vic Theatre.

 

The ever present chewing gum, and tongue wag.

 

The flu game.

 

Wanting to murder Jerry Krause for breaking up the dynasty. I still have the VHS of his final retirement speech from the Bulls, as well as his final game against the Jazz.

 

More than any other star, Michael was Chicago, and Chicago was Michael.

Was, and always will be, the G.O.A.T.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owY34aRiBNU

I own headphones. I listen to whatever the hell I want at work.

It would have been smart of Obama to call out Wilson on the spot.

 

I disagree 100%. Obama took the high road, and I cant imagine the amount of self control that took. Thats cool under pressure if I've ever seen it.

 

BTW, I read today that Wilsons Democratic opponent has received over $200,000 in grassroots donations since last nights outburst. Furthermore, his website has been taken offline, his phone lines are ringing busy, and he's been called out by his own party. I imagine he's had better mornings then this one.

 

. Arnofsky's first film. Obviously "artsy", but the low budget and frenetic soundtrack and way out-there plot somehow all come together to make it work. And yes, it will give you a headache.

 

This is probably a cliche choice, but

is still fantastic. Paranoid brilliance.

by Andrei Tarkovsky has a creepy element to it. The way its shot and the settings impart a very post-apocalyptic feel. Although theres a complete lack of any sort of "action" in the traditional sense, theres always this incredible tension lurking beneath the surface. You can almost feel the force of it. A true masterpiece, my all time favorite film. Its a spiritual experience for me when I view it...one of the few films I've cried while watching. Just be forewarned, it is talky and long (and philosophical)...not for those with ADD. But if you enter it under the correct mindset and provide it with the attention it deserves, you will be rewarded in spades. It latches onto your subconscious and never really releases that grasp.

That's a very cool, but weird film - if that's what you saw.

 

That legal disclaimer on the trailer is amazing.

13 Tzameti

 

Pretty disturbing. Although if you think you might want to watch it and haven't yet, I would advise not even watching the trailer or reading about the plot. It gives away too much.

I thought of this one when Henry was mentioned earlier - but then thought about it and realized I was more amused than disturbed by this one - what's wrong with me?

 

I laughed more at this film than just about any mainstream comedy. But I think thats the brilliance of it; you find yourself becoming complacent with all the violence. And it really does speak to how we've been desensitized to all these things..that we can continue watching this brutal stuff, mainly because Remy and the filmakers are such likable guys.

 

Cinema! Cinema!

Definitely creepy; maybe disturbing is a better word:

 

 

Documentary filmmakers André and Rémy have found an ideal subject in Ben. He is witty, sophisticated, intelligent, well liked—and a serial killer. As André and Rémy document Ben’s routines, they become increasingly entwined in his vicious program, sacrificing their objectivity and their morality. Controversial winner of the International Critics’ Prize at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival, Man Bites Dog stunned audiences worldwide with its unflinching imagery and biting satire of media violence.

 

This is a great essay on the film

 

Its actually a very funny if you're into dark humor/satire. Just be forewarned there are some incredibly graphic scenes...a couple were even hard for me to watch, and Ive seen a lot.

Anything by Lynch goes without saying. Of course Eraserhead which has been already mentioned, and Mullhollad Drive is up there as well.

 

This scene still gives me the creeps

one of the best shows Ive seen was Cave last year at the Riv. Dude throws more into his shows than guys half his age...doing mid-air karate kicks and strutting around stage like some kind of possessed, depraved preacher.

 

Let love In is a great album.

still gives me chills.

 

And yea, do NOT pass up the

album.

You actually have a "record store"? I didn't think those existed anymore.....

 

Around here, theres probably 10 or 15 I circulate among, with a handful being really exceptional.

 

Anyway, in response to the OP's question...its impossible to answer. Vinyl is simply the format, most people cant tell the difference in sound anyway. Your receiver and speakers are far more important than the turntable or the grade of vinyl. Whats essential is what you like.

Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy

 

Windowlicker is quite good, too.

 

Certainly some of the most bizarre videos, without a doubt. Chris Cunningham is disturbed.