I was sitting back pondering about culture and globalization and business. You know how some anti-globalization advocates argue that individual nation states should not go with the flow of current modernist, commercial, and economic trends? That these nation states have sovereignty over “global” trends? At what point should we stop respecting culture? In a sense Western business is culture-jamming others countries with our consumerist nonsense. How do we (or should we) balance international business and economic affairs while respecting culture or disrespecting culture? For example, should McDonald’s have gone into France even if the French don’t want our shit? Should we be open economically and culturally to our global brothers and sisters or should we cut ourselves off and just deal locally? There’s no denying that businesses are playing on a “global” field as the textbooks and pundits call it. Is that always a bad thing? Somebody (you know who you are) once told me that we should trade guitars for apples and live in a moneyless society. True story. Ask yourself these questions. It’s interesting.
Categorized in Culture Jamming, business and economics
Tags: Culture Jamming, Global Economy, Globalism, Globalization, International Business, Question of the Day
Full Title: Edge Of Darkness
Director: Martin Campbell
Year: 2010
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10 (Way too high!)
My Rating: C-
Here’s Why: Ok, so briefly, let me give you a synopsis of the flick before I dissect it into teeny tiny pieces. Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is literally craving to kill anyone that was involved with his daughter’s bizarre murder, which he has taken the liberty to personally (and illegally, since he is a cop himself) conduct his own investigation. As he stumbles upon more and more information he discovers that his activist, daughter, was a “potential terrorist threat” because she and other activists were uncovering the ins and outs of a major corporation, whom unbeknown to the people were making nuclear weapons for the government. She and her colleagues illegally attempt to reveal this information to the general public, but members are excuted one by one. The film utilizes the whole, cliched, government conspiracy cover up deal to death. Initially the plot is somewhat suspenseful and there is some decent scenes of action and thrills ( I actually did jump at one scene, if you have seen the film, you know which one I am speaking of and you probably jumped too lol), but overall it’s pretty average, nearly below average. I’m glad I only shlled out six singles for it, if it was twelve I would have been as vengeful as the main character.
P.S. The thing I hate about these kinds of “Big Brother” government films is that the big “crime” committed in reality is not secretive at all and is right out in the open in actuality. In the movie, some big coporation is secretly making nukes for the government. Ok… That’s no secret, that happens all the time. I don’t get it. The producers are trying to make it seem as though this kind of thing is sooo far fetched and far from the truth. Whatever.
Chris
Categorized in Entertainment, Film, Films, pictures and reviews
Tags: Edge of Darkness, Film Review, Mel Gibson
Band: The Strange Boys
Release: 2/2010
Label: Rough Trade/In The Red
1. “I See” – A-
2. “A Walk on the Beach” – A
3. “Be Brave” – A+
4. “Friday in Paris” – A
5. “Between Us” – A
6. “Da Da” – A
7. “Night Might” – A
8. “Dare I Say” – A
9. “Laugh At Sex, Not Her” – A+
10. “All You Can Hide Inside” – A-
11. “The Unsent Letter” – A-
12. “You Can’t Only Love When You Want To” – A
Comments: Strange Boys: you either love them or hate them. You can’t fault them for their classic R&B and garage sound. Ryan Sambol, the lead vocalist, might wear you out with his scratchy middle school girl southern hollers, but for me it’s just tea in a kettle. Sambol’s vocals “suggest a young Bob Dylan had he spent more of his formative years in juvie halls than coffeehouses.” 2009’s The Strange Boys and Girls Club was a top 10 album for me because it “brought back the old times.” The first two dits are noice, but “Be Brave” is of unprecedented quality. I can’t remember everything, but I don’t remember organs and horns on Club. Those are on here. Country music never sounded better! I spent most of my formative years listening to 50 Cent and Nsync so if I sound unreasonably excited about albums like this, don’t get all uppity! Through and through, I don’t find myself dissatisfied. Familiar tricks are rehashed on this album, but that’s absolutely okay. I find Sambol’s discourse of intercourse on “Laugh At Sex” particularly amusing. “Sex is like laughter, you do it differently with different people, sometimes you feel sick after.” The piano on “The Unsent Letter” reeks of Daniel Johnston, whom the Boys have toured with. As of February 8, this is my favorite release of 2010! Check it out and check these dudes out if they come to a city near you.
Grade: A (94)
Categorized in CD Review, Entertainment and Music
Tags: Be Brave, CD Review, Country Rock, Garage Rock, In The Red Records, Rough Trade Records, The Strange Boys
QUESTIONS!!!
Did u ever play ‘punch buggy’ with ur sibling?
Will Grizzly Bear outsell Vampire Weekend in 2k11?
Is this the ‘best use of indie music in a mainstream commercial’ in the history of commercials?
Does commercial licensing make a band ‘more bank’ than ‘releasing full albums’?
R u enjoying the corporate indie arms race of the 2k10 decade?
RESPONSE!!!
Felt three emotions.
(1), annoyed b/c ternative music was ‘tainted’ by some corporation. GrizzBr’s rep is stained. Mnstrmrms would make it less authentic.
(2), mnstrmrs would finally discover some good music.
(3), no one would notice b/c car commercial music isn’t that ‘relevant’.
Categorized in Entertainment, Music, News, business and humor
Tags: commercials, Grizzly Bear, Marketing, Superbowl, Two Weeks, Volkswagon
Dedicated to Chris, but to be appreciated by all:
Categorized in Femmes, Music and pictures
Tags: Female Rockers, Los Angeles, The Smell
How Do I Keep You Outta Harm’s Way? (King Khan & The Shrines)
Soulful Supreme Genius spread in the air
The King came decked out in his white suit and slicked back hair
Accompanied by his lady, an ever-grinning cheerleader
And eight Sensational Shrines in their black Shrine Uniforms
The King ordered his minions to give him
A Loud and Proud response
They Roared
Unsatisfied, he Demanded again
This time the King was blown away
He and His Shrines exploded right into “Land of the Freak”
An apropos title for this setting
The fanatics hopped up and down
Side to Side
On the Stage
Off the Stage
The blissful cheerleader sprinkled glitter into the pit
As a cute little complement to the soulful music and funky dancing
As soon as the performance ended
Excessive crowd response ensued
Just when you think it’s over…
ENCORE!
Chris
Categorized in Art, Entertainment, Music, humor and pictures
Tags: creative writing, King Khan & The Shrines
Bad Kids (Black Lips)
When you mix doo wop, garage rock, punk, and some robitussin
What do you get?
Bad Kids
Notorious Fugitives
Or simply
The Black Lips
OBSESSED!!!!!!!!
Yes, it required that many exclamation points
I don’t know why I love these guys so much, but I’m hooked
I Stood in a Sea of fellow devotees, Screaming in anticipation
As soon as they hit the stage
The crowd stormed into a frenzy
Never remaining still or apart until the end
Pogoing
Moshing
Stage Diving
Crowd Surfing
Ensured the Best Concert
Soaked in Sweat and barely hearing
The Night was over
But, the memory will be Forever
I’ll admit, these poems were not my highest quality of work. But, they were fun to write lol.
Chris
Categorized in Art, Drugs, Entertainment, Music, humor and pictures
Tags: black lips, poetry, creative writing
Glen Maganzini
Matthew Hurton
Chris DeCarlo
Richard Franke
bobmatthews2
Ben Tan
deadlypunkrockx1979