Category Archives: Music

Entertainment, Music, religion

SAVE YOUR SOUL!!!

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The Almighty Defenders will save your soul with their highly anticipated, upcoming, self-titled debut this November. Imeem.com has written the perfect description of the band:

In a world of Segways and wraparounds, some would say that all hope is lost. When Ipod DJ’s get 3 x the money of most rock’n’roll bands, you could say if there is hell below – we’re all gonna go. Alas! SALVATION IS FINALLY HERE!!! The Black Lips have teamed up with their long-time brothers King Khan & BBQ to offer 11 spirituals that are sure to shave the hairs right off your tongue.

This self-titled album was written, recorded and mixed in one week following the Black Lips rude expulsion from India. They flew directly into King Khan’s legendary Moon Studios in Berlin where he and Mark Sultan were cooking up their own new album. It was both bands’ first major collaboration since a US tour 4 years earlier. It could be argued that this isn’t a ‘gospel’ record in the traditional sense, sure. But this is a record of pure spirituals from six wise magicians. This isn’t a tribute to a ‘god’, but a testimony to good taste – a church of the mind brimming with soul. How such demonic dudes can sound so angelic, I have yet to comprehend, but they somehow manage to bring the true spirit of gospel and make it as raw and beatific as the likes of the Velvet Underground. Exactly how two of the most respected and influential rock’n’roll bands of this decade would do it up.

Imagine the Rev. Charlie Jackson drinkin’ Robo at a Factory party with Alastair Crowley doing security. Timeless and true – an amazing testimonial to 5% who can bridge the gaps and do something original. The Almighty Defenders are here to show you the Holy Way is the spirit that lies in the gutter of your mind. 11 songs, including a Mighty Hannibal cover! Hallelujah!!!

Chris

Glen’s Note: A new song has popped up on the web. It’s “Cone of Light,” the fourth song off Almighty Defenders (September 22) and it’s good. Listen/download: http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/Almighty%20Defenders%20-%20Cone%20Of%20Light.mp3

Books, Drugs, Entertainment, Music, Politics, religion

Book Review: Love All The People

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Full Title: Love All The People: The Essential Bill Hicks aka Letters, Lyrics, Routines
Author: Bill Hicks
Year: 2004
Foreword “The Goat Boy Rises” By: John Lahr
Being one of the biggest Bill Hicks fans in the world it was a must that I read this work of incendiary material. With that being said if any of you, fellow readers aren’t little Goat Boy children aka Die Hard Hicks fanatics, I would not recommend reading it. Most of the book consists of word for word transcripts of his classic stand up routines, including, but not limited to: Dangerous CD, One Night Stand HBO Special, Relentless CD, “The Worst Show Ever”aka The Flying Saucer Tour Volume One CD, Revelations Channel 4 UK Special, Arizona Bay CD, and the Rant in E-Minor CD. Interviews, lyrics to Hicks penned tunes, poems, rants or brief manifestos, short stories, letters and response letters to David Letterman, Jay Leno, offended audience members (including priests), amongst other rare gems. I really enjoyed the short stories because they showcased even more of my hero’s talent. In some of these stories Bill appeared and then in others it was completely fiction. I particularly enjoyed a story in which he documents the day-to-day lives of writers for an underground newspaper known as, The Observer. The overall, recurring theme of the book is Bill’s humanistic, though misanthropic at times, approach to comedy and especially to life. Bill takes us on a journey through his mind in which he opines his deepest feelings on the evils of the world: Dogmatic, fear inducing religions (particularly Christianity), corrupt, War profiteering, Governments, Corporate shilling, Coke hawking, pop sell outs, and ignorant, flag waving, conforming Americans. It is rare in entertainment and even rarer in the comedy world, to see someone that threatens the status quo with a message and mission outside of making money and gaining some cheap chuckles. Honestly, how many comedians can you name whose mission is to evolve the human race? Maybe a few others. In conclusion,I, as most do, prefer comedy routines and Hicks in particular on videos (especially!) or on CDs, rather then in print, but I always enjoy learning more about Hicks and his philosophies and laughing my ass off simultaneously.
Grade: B+

P.S. There is one intriguing essay in which he proposes gun control, as Hicks fans should know he completely championed. Being, against gun control myself, I always wanted him to elaborate more on his stance rather then a few jabs about American violence and the NRA, which were hilarious of course. So, anyway, Hicks makes the point that if guns weren’t as easily available as they are there would be less violence in America. Well, whether that is true or not to me doesn’t matter because it violates a basic concept of freedom, it evens violates Hicksian logic! Ok, if you apply Hicks’ logic on drugs, which I completely agree with: people should be able to put whatever they want in their bodies as long as they don’t harm anyone else. So, if drugs were available to the public, there is a good chance that there would be in an increase in drug use (initially) and if you took his logic on guns and applied it here by banning drugs then there wouldn’t be as many people on drugs or dying from drugs. Now, even a novice in drug war knowledge could tell you that’s ludicrous.

Chris

Entertainment, Music

All We Want Baby Is Everything!

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Nope, this is not a post about the fabulous Handsome Furs number of the same name. Instead, this is a quick rant about the oft-stated “I like everything” or “I like everything…. but country” response many humans spew when inquired about their personal tastes in music. Really now? EVERYTHING!? What a burden?! So, as my brother claimed, do you have that recording of me taking a shit on your ipod as well? Since, you like everything I’d gather it would appear in your shuffle. Then again towards the end of that shit it started to resemble Hank Williams’ southern drawls. Haha, anyway back to my ACTUAL point it is impossible to listen to everything and obviously most purveyors of said statement don’t, but I get the feeling they don’t actually have a diverse taste in music as the eclectic label would indicate. Now, I do know some folks that say they like “everything” and do listen to a wide regiment of artists. With that being said, 95% of the everything people listen to only mainstreamers or what’s big on the radio today. So, for example they may have Kings of Leon (“alternative” whatever that means), T Pain (Hip Hop), Kelly Clarkson (pop), Fall Out Boy (rock lol), Rolling Stones (classic rock), etc. on their ipod and this is supposed to represent “everything.” And sometimes you can throw in the occasional “indie” (whatever that means) band too. It varies from person to person, but that’s the standard. So, basically when they say everything they mean everything mainstream. Well, boys and girls, there is such a thing as underground music. In fact, most of the best music comes from the latter. I suggest y’all expand your horizons and check out bands that don’t appear on KISS 108 or Jammin’ 945 or whatever. Finally, there are also several great bands that have achieved mainstream levels of success, but sound anything but, like Tool for example.
P.S. the biggest reason I don’t make the claim of listening to everything is the fact that most of the shit I hear on the radio I disdain, so why the fuck would I ever want to listen to “everything?!”

Chris

Music

Harry Patch (In Memory Of)

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Wall Street Journal
With little fanfare this week, Radiohead made a new track available for download on its Web site. Entitled “Harry Patch (In Memory Of),” it demonstrates how the band views the contemporary music business—and how little regard it has for the conventional view of what a rock band should do.

The song is a moving tribute to Patch, who was believed to be the last surviving British soldier to have fought in World War I. He died on July 25 at age 111. In September 1917, Patch was wounded by a bomb that killed three of his comrades at the Battle of Passchendaele, one of the most horrific actions of the war that saw British casualties in the hundreds of thousands during the three months it lasted. In a 2005 interview with the BBC, Patch said that he went 80 years without discussing his war experiences, even with his family.

But through his longevity, Patch became a reluctant spokesman, eventually testifying with candor to what he had witnessed in France more than four-score years ago. He said that he still had nightmares about the bomb that struck his unit.

Click here to listen: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8184000/8184802.stm

Entertainment, Music, News

Constantine Deserves Beatdown, Receives One, Ha

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Chris is right! “American Idol” IS evil! People get *punched* over this stupid show!

Former American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis apparently is among the many alumni disappointed about Paula Abdul leaving the show.

But he’s probably the only one who had to take a punch to defend her honor.

According to the New York Daily News, when the Rock of Ages star said something about hoping the “Forever Your Girl” singer would eventually return to Idol, a well-dressed man pushed him to the ground and started throwing punches.

Music

CD Review: Humbug

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Band: Arctic Monkeys
Label: Domino
Release: 2009

1. “My Propeller” – 9.8
2. “Crying Lightning” – 9.8
3. “Dangerous Animals” – 9.9
4. “Secret Door” – 9.8
5. “Potion Approaching” – 9.6
6. “Fire and the Thud” – 9.4
7. “Cornerstone” – 9.7
8. “Dance Little Liar” – 9.8
9. “Pretty Visitors” – 9.7
10. “The Jeweller’s Hands” – 9.2

Comments: Spin almost hits the bulls-eye in a phrase of its review: “accomplished, but not particularly infectious.” Those last three words are pretty damn crucial. Just think about the first two Arctic Monkeys albums. Whatever People Say I Am excellent from top to bottom. Favourite Worst Nightmare picked up right where Whatever… left off and is packed with some of the best tunes of this decade. Humbug isn’t as instantly infectious. The first two tracks are darker and heavier, but just as noteworthy as what can be considered this band’s best. There are also some lighter, lyrics-focused songs that exemplify Alex Turner’s exquisite song-writing like “Secret Door” and “Cornerstone.” Definitely to me this is one of the best albums of the year. I’m embracing the new direction band has taken, if you want to call it that.

Grade: 9.7