http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Tue, 9 Aug 2005 12:32:31 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/08/09/123231.php Dave GutowskiBret Easton Ellis is an author who needs little introduction. For the past twenty years he has fascinated, impressed, and sometimes scared his readers with fine-tuned skill. His latest novel, Lunar Park, features himself as a character, fighting psychological and supernatural powers while defending his family. Lunar Park is hands-down my favorite novel of the year. The book's website contains an excerpt, an interview with the author, and even a game.Bret Easton Ellis was kind enough to send along a list of music that influenced the book, a "list of songs and CD's that were in my head when writing the book." Many of these tracks are mentioned in the book as well."Fly Me to the Moon"--Frank Sinatra "Late For the Sky"--Jackson Browne "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"--Elton John "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"--Elton John "Life in the Fast Lane"--Eagles "Life's Been Good To Me"--Joe Walsh "Everyday I Write The Book"--Elvis Costello "Witchy Woman"--Eagles "Thriller"--Michael Jackson "Haunted"--Poe "Evil Woman"--ELO "Thunder Island"--Jay Ferguson "Shining Light"--Ash "Rhiannon"--Fleetwood Mac "The Monster Mash"--Boris Puckett and The Cryptkickers "Pet Semetary"--Ramones "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg"--Ramones "I'll Be You"--The Replacements "You're So Vain"--Carly Simon "The Drugs Don't Work"--The Verve "Movies of Myself"--Rufus Wainwright "I Don't Know What It Is"--Rufus Wainwright The Jayhawks "Someone To Lay Down Beside Me"--Linda Ronstadt "A House Is Not A Home"--Mavis Staples "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"--The Walker Brothers "Fake Plastic Trees"--Radiohead "Rocket Man"--Elton John "All Kinds of Time"--Fountains of Wayne "Everything"--Alanis Morissette "Midnight In Chelsea"--Jon Bon Jovi "The Blowers Daughter"--Damien Rice "Red Light Fever"--Liz Phair "Breakaway"--Kelly Clarkson "Desperadoes Under the Eaves"--Warren Zevon "Sleeper Awake"--John Wesley Harding Gattaca--soundtrack Casino--soundtrack Tommy--The Who The Ego Has Landed--Robbie Williams "Friday Night Is Killing Me"--Bash and Pop "Inside of Love"--Nada Surf "The Heart of the Matter"--Don Henley The Rising--Bruce Springsteen "Somewhere Only We Know"--Keane "The Way We Were"--Barbra Streisand "Bright Lights"--Matchbox 20 "The Whole of the Moon"--The Waterboys "Pain Killer (Summer Rain)"--Turin Brakes "This Is the Sea"--The Waterboys "Better Things"--The Kinks "What I Go To School For"--Busted "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"--Darlene Love "Run"--Snow Patrol "Miss You"--Blink 182 "Goodbye To Love"--The Carpenters "Message To Michael"--Dionne Warwick "Fairy Tale of New York"--The Pogues "Waiting"--The Devlins "Hasten Down the Wind"--Warren Zevon "Carmelita"--Warren Zevon "The French Inhaler"--Warren Zevon "One"--U2 "I Can't Make It Alone"--Maria McKee "The Pretender"--Jackson BrownePrevious Book Notes submissions:Tom Piazza Alix Ohlin Steve Amick Colleen Curran Chuck Klosterman Quinn Dalton Lee Martin Dallas Hudgens George Pelecanos Tom Bissellfirst published at Largehearted Boytags: books music Books33892@blogcritics.org Tue, 9 Aug 2005 12:32:31 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/01/091606.php Dave GutowskiApparently, she'd vote for Howard Dean. Joan is running as a convention delegate for the Democratic candidate in the New York primary.Will she wear one of these shirts to the convention? I hope so...Prigianally appeared on my weblog, Largehearted Boy Music10572@blogcritics.org Mon, 1 Dec 2003 09:16:06 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/12/01/090253.php Dave GutowskiI know it's still early to assemble year-end lists, but here's my best of 2003: 1. The Postal Service, Give Up When a project includes Ben Gibbard of DCFC (Largehearted Indie Man Of The Year) and Jimmy Tamborello (Dntel) and draws on the services of Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley for backing vocals, expectations are high. Fortunately, the end result doesn't disappoint, blending Gibbard's pop sensibility with Tamborello's melodies and beats into my favorite release of the year. mp3 mp3 video (Quicktime) 2. The Thermals, More Parts Per Million From my contribution to donewaiting's Tuesday Three: This record allegedly cost only sixty dollars to produce, but like most great art, its value lay in the substance, not the trappings. Fuzzed out pop with glittering hooks and danceable rhythms, the songs are a testament to a lack of pretense, no demographically calculated post production here. This band is all circumstance and no pomp. The first single, "No Culture Icons" gets repeated regularly at full volume in my car, where I scream along with the lyrics, "Hardly art, hardly starving, hardly art, hardly garbage," to the consternation of passersby who just don't get it. mp3 video (Quicktime) 3. The Shins, Chutes Too Narrow The Shins' sophomore effort found them recording in a basement and working with a producer bent on paring down their sound. The net effect was frontman James Mercer's songwriting being pushed to the forefront, and a pop masterpiece was achieved. mp3 video (Quicktime) 4. New Pornographers, Electric Version Sugary pop hooks saturate the sophomore effort from this Canadian supergroup. mp3 mp3 video (Realmedia) video (Quicktime) 5. Bishop Allen, Charm School From my 75 or Less review: Bishop Allen brings to mind at different times the Kinks, the Velvets and the Pixies, but with strong songwriting and crisp production (and a whole lot of talent), "Charm School" is simply amazing on its own merits without seeming too derivative. Clever lyrics, jangly guitars and soothing harmonies make the band's debut album a pop masterpiece, solid from the first track to the last. This is pop music that makes the perfect summer soundtrack. mp3 mp3 mp3 mp3 6. Deerhoof, Apple O' Deerhoof added a second guitarist, Chris Cohen, for this album, but two guitars didn't just add to the systematic joyful noise meltdown that is this band. Instead, he helped pare down the sound, making this album slightly less cacophonous than Reveille, but more approachable. mp3 mp3 mp3 mp3 mp3 mp3 mp3 7. Drive-By Truckers, Decoration Day From my 75 or Less review: Here in the American south, decoration day refers to placing bouquets of flowers on loved ones' grave sites. A more fitting name couldn't be found for this brilliantly crafted collection of songs covering dour and depressing topics with southern boogie, insightful lyrics and country wisdom. Whether it's a song about an incestuous brother and sister ("The Deeper In"), an ode to a father and his advice to an unheeding son ("Outfit") or the reaction to a friend's suicide ("When The Pin Hits The Shell"), "Decoration Day" manages to flesh out its stories while never losing its dignity. mp3 mp3 8. Blackberry Belle, Twilight Singers - Greg Dulli returns with his second Twilight Singers album and focuses on songwriting while bringing in experienced session men to handle the musical load. The resulting album makes me fondly remember the Afghan Whigs, but look forward to Dulli's growth as both a songwriter and arranger. Look for the third Twilight Singers in this spot next December. 9. Exploding Hearts, Guitar Romantic Powerpop with an edge, this record was most likely to make my wife ask me to turn down the volume. The band tragically lost of two band members this year in an automobile accident, and they will be missed. mp3 10. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell This was the most anticipated album of the year for me. Slightly less gritty production (compared to their EP's) actually works in the band's favor, and the band continues to be greater than its estimable parts. 11. Wrens, Meadowlands It took the Wrens seven years to record the followup to Secaucus, and Meadowlands is worth the wait. Intimate and strong from the opening song to the last, you'll be hooked from the first listen. mp3 mp3This first appeared on my weblog, Largehearted Boy. Music10571@blogcritics.org Mon, 1 Dec 2003 09:02:53 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/05/27/175509.php Dave GutowskiThe Portland Mercury gives much-deserved props to the Postal Service, calling their album, Give Up, "easily one of the finest records so far this year:" The teaming of Gibbard and Tamborello is a steady balance of deeply personal lyrics and warm electronics. "We both do a good job of keeping each other in check," says Gibbard. As his voice bobs and weaves through a cacophony of hissed-out digital beats, it's clear to see how the pop music of The Postal Service transcends the stale premise of both indie and IDM music.This, my friends, is how postal rock should be done. Music5677@blogcritics.org Tue, 27 May 2003 17:55:09 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/05/27/175118.php Dave GutowskiFor you Tobin Sprout fans out there, the "I, Tobot" tribute is back online. A tribute album for Leland Michigan's finest songwriter and former member of Guided By Voices, the CD showcases the lyricism of this often overlooked artist. Download the mp3's, the artwork and the playlist. My favorite? The Cold Michigan basement Kids' version of "Lariat Man." Music5676@blogcritics.org Tue, 27 May 2003 17:51:18 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/05/27/173730.php Dave GutowskiTwo Guided By Voices west coast dates have been added to the band's summer touring schedule:Saturday June 21 Denver, CO - Westword's 9th Annual Music ShowcaseThursday June 26 Grand Rapids, MI - Intersection 18+ w/ The All GoldenFriday June 27 Akron, OH - The Lime Spider w/ The All GoldenSaturday June 28 Buffalo, NY - The Continental 16+ Wednesday August 20 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club 18+ Tickets on sale Wed. May 29Friday August 22 Los Angeles, CA- Spaceland 21+ Tickets on sale Wed. May 29If you haven't seen the band live, it's a three-plus hour mix of drunken fun. Over fifty sons consisting of a mix of old and new material, with a couple of well-played covers thrown in for good measure. Music5675@blogcritics.org Tue, 27 May 2003 17:37:30 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/04/22/174711.php Dave GutowskiIf you're in the LA/Orange County area, the Breeders are playing a free show at the Detroit Bar. The line starts forming at 7 and the doors will open at 9. The band is previewing new material and getting ready for their upcoming South American tour. Music4786@blogcritics.org Tue, 22 Apr 2003 17:47:11 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/04/03/092657.php Dave GutowskiJim Bunning, US senator, thinks Peter Arnett should be "arrested at the border" if he tries to enter the country again. Let us not forget that many countries say the same about our war-mongering, Nobel Peace Prize winning diplomat Henry Kissinger.As for Bunning, yet another childhood hero of mine loses his luster. He was the first man to pitch no-hitters as well as win one hundred games and strike out one thousand batters in both the National and American leagues in major league baseball, pitching one of the no-hitters on my dad's first Father's Day with me sitting in his lap. Politics4324@blogcritics.org Thu, 3 Apr 2003 09:26:57 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/03/26/103421.php Dave GutowskiMy album of the year so far, this release by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs had me jumping up and down in my rock and roll chair from the first listen, even making me forgive the band for the hastily produced and extremely disappointing Machine EP.older YYY mp3 mp3 mp3 Music4104@blogcritics.org Wed, 26 Mar 2003 10:34:21 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/03/26/102728.php Dave GutowskiStar Spangled Ice Cream, Ice Cream with a Conservative Flavor.I'll keep partying with my liberal pals Ben & Jerry, thank you. Politics4101@blogcritics.org Wed, 26 Mar 2003 10:27:28 EST