George Carlin: 1937-2008
The world just became a lot less funny. Details here.
During my younger days, I looked up to many different people, and for a variety of reasons. However, of all those I admired, none shaped my life quite like George Carlin. See, here's the thing; incredibly funny as he was, he also made a lot of sense. It's not often that a comedian makes you think as much (sometimes more) as laugh. It made Carlin one of the best, and makes me value comedy and intelligence equally. It's why whenever I do a PV, or make a snarky remark about whatever's pissing me off, I try to make you think and laugh simultaneously.
However, if you need irrevocable proof of Carlin's influence, one needs look no further than virtually any Pissing Vinegar, and all the naughty language contained within them. While Dennis Miller's famous rants were no doubt an inspiration, I can't deny that my work (and Miller's, for that matter) wouldn't be the same if not for this:
That, kids, is a motherfucking legend.
June 23, 2008
June 11, 2008
The News You Already Knew
(aka Copping Knowledge From Other People's Blogs)
- The Hold Steady's new album isn't out until July 15th, but the interweb (and its countless impatient ears) waits for no summer smash hit; it's downloadable now through the normal channels. In what I'd like to coin "the admission of defeat strategy", the band has offered the entire album up for your streaming pleasure. Click the cool ass logo to jet over to their myspace page and get your Hold Steady on.
- Speaking of bands streaming their whole albums, Coldplay are streaming their new album (the Brian Eno produced "Viva la Vida", here... unless you live in one of the six countries listed, which I shall proclaim "Coldplay's Six Nations of Shame" (US exclusion I can see, but what the fuck did Holland do?!). Assuming you pass the nationality screening profile, feel free to listen to "Viva la Vida" in its entirety... as long as you sign up or log in to your Myspace account. I'd say this arduous process was worth it, but I'm too lazy to sign in. Besides, it's Coldplay; how good could it be?
- Deepest apologies to My Morning Jacket. In the hubbub of all the past weekend's activities, I mistakenly awarded Album of the Week honours to Sloan. At the time of writing, I was unaware of the muscular majesty of "Evil Urges", an early contender for Album of the Year. If you can get past Jim James' helium falsetto (which only appears front and center on a couple of tracks; hardly the overpowering force of nature it was made out to be), and the band at their most adventurous and schizophrenic, there's plenty to enjoy on the disc. But, try as you might, one of those helium tunes (the blazing retro dance party/rockalicious space jam "Highly Suspicious") will be embedded into your head to the point of distraction. I refuse to compare this song to Prince, as every review ever does so. Suffice to say, no matter what you've read, it will surprise you the first time you hear it.
- Finally, AC/DC's new album is coming out this fall. And, in an act of gross betrayal to all rock music fans and/or an admittance of their core fan base, they've partnered with the Evil Empire. I've linked to the Rolling Stone article because there are a lot of great comments after the story, including one very long tirade by yours truly (that the staff at RS must have really liked, because they yanked it from the comments section, probably to use and attribute to another one of their writers). All I can say about this subject is this; the Pissing Vinegar is coming. It will be long. It will be angry. There will be an abundance of profanities. You will hate the world when you read it. Satan will stop buying AC/DC records when I am through with them. A PV the likes of this may destroy us all.
You've been warned.
(aka Copping Knowledge From Other People's Blogs)
- The Hold Steady's new album isn't out until July 15th, but the interweb (and its countless impatient ears) waits for no summer smash hit; it's downloadable now through the normal channels. In what I'd like to coin "the admission of defeat strategy", the band has offered the entire album up for your streaming pleasure. Click the cool ass logo to jet over to their myspace page and get your Hold Steady on.
- Speaking of bands streaming their whole albums, Coldplay are streaming their new album (the Brian Eno produced "Viva la Vida", here... unless you live in one of the six countries listed, which I shall proclaim "Coldplay's Six Nations of Shame" (US exclusion I can see, but what the fuck did Holland do?!). Assuming you pass the nationality screening profile, feel free to listen to "Viva la Vida" in its entirety... as long as you sign up or log in to your Myspace account. I'd say this arduous process was worth it, but I'm too lazy to sign in. Besides, it's Coldplay; how good could it be?
- Deepest apologies to My Morning Jacket. In the hubbub of all the past weekend's activities, I mistakenly awarded Album of the Week honours to Sloan. At the time of writing, I was unaware of the muscular majesty of "Evil Urges", an early contender for Album of the Year. If you can get past Jim James' helium falsetto (which only appears front and center on a couple of tracks; hardly the overpowering force of nature it was made out to be), and the band at their most adventurous and schizophrenic, there's plenty to enjoy on the disc. But, try as you might, one of those helium tunes (the blazing retro dance party/rockalicious space jam "Highly Suspicious") will be embedded into your head to the point of distraction. I refuse to compare this song to Prince, as every review ever does so. Suffice to say, no matter what you've read, it will surprise you the first time you hear it.
- Finally, AC/DC's new album is coming out this fall. And, in an act of gross betrayal to all rock music fans and/or an admittance of their core fan base, they've partnered with the Evil Empire. I've linked to the Rolling Stone article because there are a lot of great comments after the story, including one very long tirade by yours truly (that the staff at RS must have really liked, because they yanked it from the comments section, probably to use and attribute to another one of their writers). All I can say about this subject is this; the Pissing Vinegar is coming. It will be long. It will be angry. There will be an abundance of profanities. You will hate the world when you read it. Satan will stop buying AC/DC records when I am through with them. A PV the likes of this may destroy us all.
You've been warned.
June 6, 2008
Random Jank Video: Dinosaur Technology Covers Radiohead
This video actually isn't jank at all. In fact, it's quite amazing because:
a) It's a Radiohead song being performed entirely by outdated electtronics.
b) It's utterly fascinating.
c) Someone took the time to do this.
It's not going to win a Grammy, but it just might win your heart. I've always loved you, dot matrix!
Big Ideas (Don't get any) from 1030 on Vimeo.
This video actually isn't jank at all. In fact, it's quite amazing because:
a) It's a Radiohead song being performed entirely by outdated electtronics.
b) It's utterly fascinating.
c) Someone took the time to do this.
It's not going to win a Grammy, but it just might win your heart. I've always loved you, dot matrix!
Big Ideas (Don't get any) from 1030 on Vimeo.
Album of the Week
Sloan: Parallel Play
When a band you love starts to wear out their welcome, it's a sad thing. Take Weezer, who've released an album that's raking in more pity than positivity. As disheartening as it is, sometimes your favourite bands... well, for lack of better terms, go bad. And, it almost happened to Sloan.
When A-Sides Win, their 2005 best-of was released, it couldn't have come at a better time. Sloan hadn't released a great effort in seven years, with three passable-to-mediocre albums in a row (Between the Bridges, Pretty Together and Action Pact) threatening to thrust them headlong into the dump bins of our hearts. Sure, those albums weren't outright bad, but they just lacked something. Soul, drive, determination. Maybe they knew it, maybe they didn't, but on record the band didn't really seem fully into it anymore. It happens to the best of us.
That best-of seemed to reignite their creativity, resulting in the staggering 30-song set Never Hear the End of It in 2006. It wasn't a bad album at all; to be fair, some of their finer moments are on that album. The problem was, there was such a reckless abandon to the disc's musical direction that it was difficult to find any semblance of flow. After a while, it just became a disjointed, massive orgy of sound that made the experience kind of the audio equivalent of trying to have a conversation with someone across a crowded bar.
Thankfully, they've toned that aspect down on Parallel Play. It's still diverse, but it's stripped down to 13 tracks, making for a more concisely constructed listening experience. The band is still very much versed by classic rock, but it seems as though they've abandoned the practice of previous albums' decade-specific sound (i.e., One Chord to Another was the 60's, Navy Blues the 70's). It's a rich pallet of songs this time around, encompassing all the tasty riffs and soaring hooks of rock's history. Highlights include lead single "Believe in Me", which carries a T. Rex swagger and those awesome Sloan harmonies. "Emergency 911" is a meaty, punk-inspired head-bobber. "Burn for It" is a surprising throwback to early-90's fuzz rock. Then, there's "Living the Dream", an astonishingly catchy acoustic number. "The Other Side" is arena-sized and psychadelic simultaneously. And, if that wasn't enough, Bob Dylan's evoked in "Down in the Basement". At all points in between, there are lots of fun detours through other styles and time periods. However, as far-reaching musically as it is, the old Sloan trademarks are fully intact, especially their impeccable sense of harmony. They're still equal members as a band, too; all four members get at least three songs here (helping influence the album's title), and all four members knock one or two of them out of the park.
It might not have the bombast of Navy Blues, the raw power of Twice Removed or the master songcraft of One Chord to Another, but it's consistence is astounding considering how wildly inconsistent the sound is. Suffice to say, if you're a fan of this band who's been yearning for them to get their shit together, stop meandering and rediscover their passion for music, Parallel Play is a colossal success.
You can stream Parallel Play in its entirety here. Or, check my little friend for a brief career overview.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
Sloan: Parallel PlayWhen a band you love starts to wear out their welcome, it's a sad thing. Take Weezer, who've released an album that's raking in more pity than positivity. As disheartening as it is, sometimes your favourite bands... well, for lack of better terms, go bad. And, it almost happened to Sloan.
When A-Sides Win, their 2005 best-of was released, it couldn't have come at a better time. Sloan hadn't released a great effort in seven years, with three passable-to-mediocre albums in a row (Between the Bridges, Pretty Together and Action Pact) threatening to thrust them headlong into the dump bins of our hearts. Sure, those albums weren't outright bad, but they just lacked something. Soul, drive, determination. Maybe they knew it, maybe they didn't, but on record the band didn't really seem fully into it anymore. It happens to the best of us.
That best-of seemed to reignite their creativity, resulting in the staggering 30-song set Never Hear the End of It in 2006. It wasn't a bad album at all; to be fair, some of their finer moments are on that album. The problem was, there was such a reckless abandon to the disc's musical direction that it was difficult to find any semblance of flow. After a while, it just became a disjointed, massive orgy of sound that made the experience kind of the audio equivalent of trying to have a conversation with someone across a crowded bar.
Thankfully, they've toned that aspect down on Parallel Play. It's still diverse, but it's stripped down to 13 tracks, making for a more concisely constructed listening experience. The band is still very much versed by classic rock, but it seems as though they've abandoned the practice of previous albums' decade-specific sound (i.e., One Chord to Another was the 60's, Navy Blues the 70's). It's a rich pallet of songs this time around, encompassing all the tasty riffs and soaring hooks of rock's history. Highlights include lead single "Believe in Me", which carries a T. Rex swagger and those awesome Sloan harmonies. "Emergency 911" is a meaty, punk-inspired head-bobber. "Burn for It" is a surprising throwback to early-90's fuzz rock. Then, there's "Living the Dream", an astonishingly catchy acoustic number. "The Other Side" is arena-sized and psychadelic simultaneously. And, if that wasn't enough, Bob Dylan's evoked in "Down in the Basement". At all points in between, there are lots of fun detours through other styles and time periods. However, as far-reaching musically as it is, the old Sloan trademarks are fully intact, especially their impeccable sense of harmony. They're still equal members as a band, too; all four members get at least three songs here (helping influence the album's title), and all four members knock one or two of them out of the park.
It might not have the bombast of Navy Blues, the raw power of Twice Removed or the master songcraft of One Chord to Another, but it's consistence is astounding considering how wildly inconsistent the sound is. Suffice to say, if you're a fan of this band who's been yearning for them to get their shit together, stop meandering and rediscover their passion for music, Parallel Play is a colossal success.
You can stream Parallel Play in its entirety here. Or, check my little friend for a brief career overview.
SeeqPod - Playable Search
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