These Are A Few of My Favourite Things

Of the last week or so, anyway. This year has been great for my knowledge of The Simpsons. It's one of those shows that I never watch first-run episodes of because it's on Sunday and I just don't have a habit of watching TV on Sundays. I miss out on Malcolm in the Middle for the same reason. So syndication has really been helping me out. I saw the John Waters episode the other day, and it was so funny that it just about made my week. John Waters is such a cinema & pop cultural hero of mine, and he's such a good sport -- that episode put him in a ridiculous position a bunch of times, and he just came off so classy. Which is kind of hard for an animated character to do.

In other TV news, Joss Whedon is planning to do a musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer next year. I think I mentioned this earlier. I'm on board with the idea, so long as Joss gets Spike Jonze to direct everyone as though they were in an hour-long version of Bjork's video for "It's Oh So Quiet."

Next, Katie reports that Iron Chef will come to America. Jeez, the UPN is getting all the cool stuff. I love Dean Valentine's declaration that he is "one of the major fans of Iron Chef. I watch it with great fervor." Either he's deliberately trying to sound like one of the badly translated judges (in which case, I say way to go, Dean!), or he just talks funny.

Last, but by no means least in my affections this week is my new desktop wallpaper. I got this from London Lee, linked earlier today by Matt, and I can tell you that it was a tough call. I was thisclose to picking The Chairman or The King, but Dusty came in ahead of the boys this time. If Lee would be so very very kind as to grace us with a Ronettes desktop, I'd be his best friend 4evah. (Oh, and the Food Songs are not to be missed, and if you lovelovelove music, you really should bookmark his Pop Linx, because it's the most comprehensive -- and the most prettiest! -- resource I've seen on that topic.)
Friday, May 25, 2001 10:06 p.m.

The Quotable Stipe
So, I went to the free REM show downtown yesterday. It was so great. I got to hear Michael say all those things in person. He's a funny man. I have this really annoying image of him from the Green Tour, where he did this incredibly alienating hitting a chair with a drumstick thing during "World Leader Pretend", and it's always stayed with me. I always thought, "that guy makes some great music, but he's a pretentious goober." Maybe he was, back in the late 80s. Maybe he's just more comfortable in his skin these days. Whatever the difference is, he's way, way more fun as a performer now. Peter & Mike are just as cool as ever, of course.

My favourite moments from the show:
1) During the Soundcheck That Lasted an Eternity, my housemate K and I were standing around waiting for the fun to begin. We overheard the following half of a cellphone conversation between a man who we think was connected to the band and some other handler:

Cellphone Man: Yeah, well, after the show down here, they've got a TV thing and then an in-station radio appearance, and then I'm not sure how we're going to get Mike to Mississauga for dinner...Well, he doesn't drive, so I think we might have to put him on a GO train... No, no, don't hold dinner for him. It'll be fine....Yeah, ok...I've got your number in my cell phone memory, so I'll call you back when we've got it figured out...Ok, bye.

2) Also during the sound check, one of the roadies sang this special little song as he checked Scott's mic & guitar: "This is Scott's mic! This is Scott's guitar! This is Scott's mic and Scott's guitar!" A guy standing behind me turned to one of his friends and deadpanned, "This is so my favourite song off the new album."

3) There was this young woman standing near us with her little girl (who was maybe 4, at the most) on her shoulders through the entire show. The kid was loving the whole thing. I think she had the best view of anyone there.

4) Uh, the music, obviously. The band kicked ass. And it was free!
Friday, May 18, 2001 01:18 p.m.

Welcome To The Family!

My aunt had a baby last night -- welcome, Annika Elisabeth! -- both baby and first-time mom are in good health. Congratulations to my aunt & uncle.
Friday, May 18, 2001 11:57 a.m.

Spacelab Transmissions
My latest indierock obsession. Enjoyable even if you don't have winamp and speakers.
Wednesday, May 16, 2001 10:29 p.m.

If I Were A Richman
Haahahahahahaaaha! Can I just say how totally hilarious I think the title of this Jonathan Richman tribute album is? I'm dying over here, people. Oh, stop it with the punning wackiness, please! In less goofy commentary, I'm glad to see that some smart folks agree that Jojo deserves a tribute album. He's the man, as I'm sure Hellsbelle will agree. Thanks to Marcus for the link.
Wednesday, May 16, 2001 10:18 p.m.

Dump!
Yo La Tengo bassist’s tribute to Prince, entitled That Skinny Motherfucker with the High Voice? looks like a must-download to me. Also, if t-shirts get made with that slogan emblazoned across them, I am first in line.
Wednesday, May 16, 2001 10:10 p.m.

Oh, dear. I've unintentionally used the phrase "all het up" two posts in a row. Well, now it's three. Whatever. Please don't take away my writing permit! Maybe I should try to use that phrase at least once per post for the next week. Maybe I could purge it from my catchphrase repetoire that way.
Wednesday, May 16, 2001 11:36 a.m.

Great Summer Single Cover Art, Part 1
I'm full of hope that there will be a Part 2. This is the best thing I've seen all week. Thanks to Marcus for the link. I have to say, though, that it makes me feel like a big dupe when Belle & Sebastian release a groovy, mod-sounding single right at the start of summer, only to follow it up with an album full of their usual sad anorak boy melancholy tunes. I love sad anorak boy melancholia, of course, but I feel cheated when they get me all het up with a few songs of mid-60s excellence and then snatch it away, going "hah-HAH!" a la Nelson from The Simpsons. Full update later on today.
Wednesday, May 16, 2001 11:32 a.m.

Michael Jackson + Ludacris?
Why, that's ludicrous! I mean, it'd be great for Jacko, who badly needs cred of any kind. But what's in it for Ludacris? Working with Prince I could understand, but Michael Jackson? I can never understand why young R&B or hip-hop performers get all het up about working with him. Sure, sure, he was at one time the King of Pop. But hello, that was nigh on 20 years ago. Thriller came out in 1983. Has he done anything even remotely important in the realm of pop music since then? His best days, even as a mad genius, are far behind him. Ludacris, if you're reading, please drop me a note to tell me what's going on in that fabulously filthy little mind of yours when you wax so rhapsodic about working with His Bizarreness.
Monday, May 14, 2001 10:50 p.m.

Baz Luhrmann, Mr. Spectacle
Curse you, New York Times! Either all my insights into the movies of Mr. Luhrmann are horrible facile (quite possible) or your writer has access to my on-the-brink-of-sleep memos to the mind. I've been thinking about comparisons to Bollywood films, and about how all of his movies have to do with performance, and are set in these unreal worlds, with these very archetypal plotlines, and then Jesse Green has to go and string it all together just so. Sour grapes, that's what I'm snacking on tonight, kids.

Anyway, I saw the full-length trailer for Moulin Rouge last night and was completely blown away by its lush, overdone, jewel-encrusted gorgeousness. I hope it's as feverishly spectacular as it looks. I hope it cashes in on all its Pierre et Gilles-y promise and makes a gazillion dollars and shows the moviegoing public what a unified artistic vision can create. I have a lot of hope pinned on this movie, now that I think of it.

Companion piece to this article: Anthony Lane's fine examination of the phenomenon of The Sing-Along Sound of Music.
Monday, May 14, 2001 10:33 p.m.

What Women Want
No, not that crappy and offensive Mel Gibson vehicle from last Christmas. The real deal, in the form of one hilarious conversation between Sarah & Regina. Not like Sarah needs a link from no more than 40 hits a day me, but this made me laugh out loud in the library. I'm talking LOUD.
Monday, May 14, 2001 10:30 p.m.

Buffy Early-Bird Review
Loey gives "Weight of the World" 7 out of 10. I haven't read the recap, but you can be sure there are spoilers galore. Caveat lector, kids. And I don't mean Hannibal. Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.
Monday, May 14, 2001 10:28 p.m.

Douglas Coupland Dictionary
A must-have Gen-whatever resource. Via PCJM.
Monday, May 14, 2001 10:27 p.m.

Edge Interview
U2 might mine their massive archive and release a big box-set of unreleased rarities. What a good idea. I know that U2 aren't nearly as cool as they used to be, but I don't really care. It's music that I loved as a teenager, and although I've since moved on to worship other bands, I'm never not going to love U2. They'll always be lurking back there there in the history of my musical taste, and forming the backbone of my CD collection along with the Beatles and Paul Simon and a bunch of other acts I love but don't listen to that often anymore. Also: I live in fear of the day when the Edge can no longer make me swoon. Yes, I realize how much of a dork that makes me.
Monday, May 14, 2001 10:24 p.m.