Do Not Adjust Your Set

Four score and several paychecks ago, I posted about At Last the 1948 Show, one of the televised precursors to Monty Python. Fortunately, given my new regular income, I decided to watch the "other half", or Do Not Adjust Your Set. Given its emphasis on the Jones/Palin/Idle (and some Gilliam) writing style (which I happen to prefer), I thought that I would give the two DVD a watch.

Even though it suffers (like the 1948 discs) at being kinescopes of broadcast tapes, I am glad to say that it holds up much better than the Cleese/Chapman show, and quite frankly, shows a visual inventiveness that was cemented by Python. Better than that, DNAYS has a few things that make it stand apart from Python, and make it rather enjoyable.

First, the fact that DNAYS was intended as a "children's show" - but without the slightly over-the-top attitude - helps cement some of the humor. This is one of those shows that's "fun for the whole family", especially in its visually inventive approach. (However, these are all first season episodes, and since Gilliam's animations weren't used until season two of DNAYS....makes you wish, doesn't it?). Sketches range from two men building the HMS Concorde (rather than the plane), to a "live" countdown of the last episode of DNAYS, the overall silliness of Python - as well as the more visual wackiness - begins to sprout.

What also cements DNAYS is the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, which serves in (almost) the same capacity as Gilliam's animations on Python. Very pre-MTV rock videos, they help give the shows a flow (plus, it provides even more cast members to play with). Just their performance of the Elvis-meets-Chandler "Death Cab for Cutie" is worth the price of the disc. (And later on, Innes and Idle would give us the story of the Rutles...but that's a post for another time).

Finally, there's also Captain Fantastic - one of the few overt attempts to create a Pythonesque recurring character. Basically, it's a little guy in a mustache, overcoat, and hat, going on some strange, unusual adventures. There's a disconnection between episodes on the disc (but at the same time, there are common elements - do any Python experts know if this was an extended narrative, or a catch-as-catch-can assortment?). However, these segments give a hint of what might have been...(Plus, at the end of episode seven, there's a tribute to the good Captain, worth it just to see Michael Palin dressed as Batman)

But, if Python was, as Terry Jones states in an interview, "the 1948 Show meets Do Not Adjust Your Set", then these DVD releases provide an excellent snapshot into how one strand works without the other.

If you like Python, comedy, or laughing, these are necessary rentals. If you are a Python fanatic, plan to purchase both. You won't regret it.

Earth Day Fever!

I admit it - I'm very upset that JSA is being canceled. Oh, sure, they're probably going to do another reboot/revisit, and there's a trade paperback coming out in August, but I'm still not happy.

(Well, that and the fact that BBC America gave Netflix a 2-disc version of Doctor Who: The Beginning, rather than the normal 3 disc version. I guess they think we can't get "An Unearthly Child"...but I digress)

Much like Roger, who enjoys shredding things, I will be doing my part for the environment this Earth Day. On Sunday, I'll be part of the big Forest Park Earth Day Celebration (come over and say "hi!), and on April 25th, I'll be part of the Green Drinks celebration. So, be sure if you're visiting or stalking me, to swing by and say "hello".

Also, if you're looking for a good excuse to visit St. Louis (like you need one), be sure to set May 4th on your calendar for the Boys and Girls Town Young Friends Happy Hour, at Jacques in the Sheraton (or, as it will be known on May 4th, Bernie Federko's). It's convenient to the MetroLink, and will be enjoyable. Just sign up here, and let 'em know I sent you.

Finally: the Alias guy takes over Trek - George Takei's concerned!

Super Karate Monkey Death Car

Just some random musings that wouldn't warrant a full post:

• You know, there's nothing more glorious then seeing the new Busch stadium as the MetroLink curves round towards the Stadium station. Third base rocks, man!
• Boston Public has a new episode tonight. Denny Crain!
• Just received the first batch of Mixed Bag 4 discs....Serene's looks cool, Roger's is promising, Greg has a great catch to his, but Mike....if there's even a hint of weirdness or strangeness, it's....not gonna be pretty.
  
• I'll probably give a listen to them next weekend, while I'm in Chicago for my three year old godson's birthday. Is it a good idea to buy a 3 year old bourbon?
• While reading The Essential Moon Knight, I realized why the book was so frickin' cool when I was younger - instead of rationalizing the guy's three identities as being from parallel earths (as DC might have done), Marvel simply gave the guy a split personality. (Well, that and the fact that having multiple identities allowed Moon Knight to operate in several fields). If this doesn't warrant a full post at some later date, I don't know what does.
• Who do I bug at Marvel to put together The Essential Guardians of the Galaxy. I mean, they've already done Killraven, and I want to see how using underarm deodorant leads to the end of the world.
• Also, DC Comics please take note - ten words of advice: Showcase Presents The Inferior Five; Showcase Presents The Doom Patrol
  

Lunch hour's over - it's back to work!

Online Easter Basket Blogaround

To be honest, other than free candy and ham, I never had much use for Easter. However, given that I'm starting to actually understand what the holiday means, and as a treat for all of you readers - sites for you to check on. (And a great shout-out to Eddie for building on "Holy Thursday, Batman!")

First, a huge shout-out to Tony at Mah Two Cents, who gave an update on Mark at Abject Conjecture. Having been in the whole out-of-work deal, I know it's tough, and it's good to see Mark handle it with good spirits. We're pulling for you, pal.

Also, in sadder news, Love's Arthur Lee is battling leukemia. I know what I'll be listening to this afternoon.

A "Blog THIS, Pal" recommendation - since I have to use Microsoft Publisher at work, and need to make the files e-mailable, I use CutePDF. It works wonders.

(For tons more freeware to make your life more workable, click here)

Mike Sterling presents James, the singing Batman.

Something Old, Nothing New talks about season four of Newsradio. If you do not laugh out loud while reading, there is something wrong with you.

Also, more free stuff here!

Allegedly, an American Idol contestant thinks Simon Cowell is mean and unfair. To which I respond - hey, if I had to listen to bad singers all day, I'd be testy.

Sometimes, I'm ashamed to be Catholic. (Thanks to Boing Boing)

Hey, readers, here are some solutions for gentle kitchen cleaning. (It's part of my new job. Honest).

Google has just released its online calendar, and having played with it - it's actually pretty cool. Be sure to give it a try. (If you want a Gmail invite, just drop me a line - I have plenty to go around).

Want to receive RSS feeds in an e-mail? Try Squeet.

Finally, because you demanded it - a list of Sherlock Holmes web sites.

Happy Easter, Everyone!

Holy Thursday, Batman!

That's right, dear readers - today is Holy Thursday. For those in the Christian faith, this signifies the evening when Jesus Christ had the last supper with his apostles. On Good Friday, He was tried and sentenced to death on the cross, and in our faith, he was laid to rest to rise again on the third day...and if He saw his shadow, he went back in and we had six more weeks of Lent.

OK, I'm burning in the underworld for that joke, but you're all probably wondering, "While I'm waiting out until Easter Sunday, what kind of cool movies can I be watching?"

I'm sure you've already done so, but catch Good Night and Good Luck on DVD. Telling the historic tale of Edward R. Murrow and Joe McCarthy, this is a crisp step above your normal made-for-movies historical drama. George Clooney proves that Confessions of a Dangerous Mind was no one movie deal - David Straithairn does a glorious job as Murrow, and by weaving in actual footage of McCarthy, shows how the politics of division eventually play themselves out. The photography is crisp, the script simply smashing, and it's enough to tick off conservatives. (The holier-than-thou kind, not the actually-believes-what-they're-talking-about kind)

Now, imagine a similar movie written by Andy Martello and directed by Dave "Bears on a Sub"Campbell, and you get a sense of the tone of Thank You For Smoking . It's a dark, cynical look at politics, spin, and culture, featuring one of the most likeable - yet cynical - characters ever created: the inimitable Nick Naylor (played by Aaron Eckhart, seemingly playing his character from In the Company of Men for laughs). This is one of the few movies that 1) I wish was longer, and 2) actually makes me want to seek out Christopher Buckley's novel. (The only weak link in the film - the future Mrs. Tom Cruise and mother of his space baby). See this movie. Now.

Finally, be sure to catch all three seasons of Titus, the short-lived sitcom that put the "fun" in dysfunctional. (Actually, 54 episodes in three seasons is quite a lot of show). If you find yourself wanting to smack Stuart Smalley (or even Al Franken), then this is the show you need to watch. You'll laugh yourself sick. Sharp, dark writing, excellent performances, and some really daring episodes equal a warm, wonderful time for the family. Bring the kids!

And finally, to paraphrase Ken Titus (actually, Stacy Keach, who looks eerily like my dad)....



"Don't be a wussy! Have a happy Easter! Save some beer for me, though"

Records You Should Own

April's Record You Should Own is a punk album of a different caliber.

When you think punk albums, you usually think three-chord anthems with the guitar amps on overdrive, right? You would, more than likely, dismiss a clean-sounding, almost mathematically-played album as not being "punk", but boy do I have news for you...if you like arty punk, then this month's selection - Marquee Moon by Television - is for you.

Coming out of the CBGB's movement in the 70's - the same movement that brought us the Ramones, mind you - Television played rock with a slightly jazzy inflection, engaging in twin guitar duels (between Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd) with impressionistic lyrics. (If you dig U2, this is one of the albums that had a great influence on the Edge's guitar playing).

Eight tracks (thirteen in the Rhino reissue) that run the gamut - the bounding, almost Stones-y "See No Evil", the playful "Venus" (with the classic line, "I fell right into the arms/of Venus De Milo", from the rough-and-ready "Friction" to the gentle "Guiding Light", from the playful "Prove It" to the melodramatic "Torn Curtain"...this album is a guitar lover's dream.

(And no, I didn't forget the centerpiece - "Marquee Moon", ten minutes of guitar heaven. You have to hear it to believe it).

In all honesty, Verlaine's voice takes some time getting used to, and you might want to find a used copy (the Rhino reissue includes their first primitive, jazzy single, "Little Johnny Jewel" as well as three alternate and one unreleased track), but this is the kind of album that everyone, at least once in their life, has to listen to.

Plus, it makes great music to read comics by.

Comics-Related Rant (Spoilers Abound)

Right now, I'm ticked off at DC Comics.

No, they didn't torture me, or feed bad tuna to my cat...but right now, I can't help but feel that there's a sense of "who-cares-'cause-we-sure-don't" in this week's books.

First, Superman Batman # 24 - my bad for jumping in mid-arc, but one major - and I mean major - faux pas occurred.

So, let me get this straight - Batman meets Batwoman (his presumably female counterpart) and, after tests, concludes that they have "identical DNA".

Bull...you don't need to be Polite Scott to know that men have XY chromosomal pairs, and women have XX pairs. Since (presumably) Batwoman was not Bruce, there is no way they could have "identical DNA." And for you fanboys - please don't e-mail and/or comment to me that I'm "taking this too seriously". Bad science hurts us all.

Just as bad comics...and I'm reserving the bulk of my contempt for Identity Crisis # 6.

Why? Ok, they teased us with the "return of the mulitverse" (a non-event in and of itself), which I thought was cool. But this issue outlines everything that is wrong with event comics.

First, the foreshadowing is laid on so thickly you would think Geoff Johns' middle name was Straczynski. I mean, the new Blue Beetle armor causes GL power rings to "be afraid"? The odd little exchange between Green Arrow and Batman? What's that about? (I'm probably the only person outside of Dial B for Blog who disliked this issue. It's left a really bad taste in my mouth).

There's also the whole meta-commentary with Conner Kent and "Superboy Prime". I know what Johns is trying to do - compare old-fashioned morality with the "darker tones", but it's hard to reconcile that with a two page sequence in which Psycho Pirate hints at assaulting an unconscious Power Girl, and then he gets his eyes - and entire head - poked out by Black Adam. There's the "I always find a way out" line, which insults the intelligence of the average comics reader.

But what gets me is the "reboot" - after all this, we get a "new earth." Not "our earth", not "the return of the mulitverse" but a "new earth" that DC will spend 20 years reconciling all of the inconsistencies until the next major event comic.

At least the original Crisis on Infinite Earths told a story - a story about a threat so huge that heroes across worlds came together. It was about sacrifice (Barry Allen, Kara Zor-El, and so on). It was about making a more cohesive universe out of intricate history, and deaths had meaning. In Infinite Crisis, the universe is reborn out of cynicism - sacrifices are made out of economics (so many bloggers have posted on the Superboy lawsuit, it seems superfluous), rebirths occur for less than noble reasons (let's face it - who really wanted Hal Jordan back as Green Lantern?), and the universe is simply a springboard for more bad comics.

So, dear readers, after you read this and take the comment poll in the sidebar, let's take the advice of my fellow blogger/well-read intellectual/all around cool guy Greg...and just say no to more event comics. Spend your money more wisely...but buying Homercat and Andy's merchandise.

Remember, friends - if we don't read bad comics, maybe they'll stop making bad comics.

Brown Eyed Handsome Man

According to a newly passed St. Louis city ordinance, if you are linked to by at least three city bloggers, you must have at least one post per month on St. Louis-only content. So, therefore, consider this my quota.

You can't go wrong talking about Chuck Berry - he's one of the few celebrities I've met (at a signing for his 1987 autobiography), and is one of the main reasons I moved to St. Louis (Well, he, TS Eliot, and toasted ravioli). When I saw the unauthorized Brown Eyed Handsome Man at the local library, I did what any pop culture-obsessed guy would do - checked it out and read it.

Boy, am I grateful - for someone who isn't an STL native, Mr. Pegg is able to nail down some fine details surrounding Berry's life, and in so doing, creates an interesting portrait of a man who "wrote the book on playin' this kind of music" (according to Eric Clapton), but who also never seemed to let his guard down - granted, he lived in a time when doing so would have been .

One of the strengths of this book is relying on local press to back up much of the narrative - given that Mr. Berry himself openly avoided some topics, Pegg gave his book much local color. In addition, Pegg is equally capable of discussing Berry's music, and exactly why he was an architect of rock and roll. (Neither fawning nor overly critical, Pegg is able to put Berry in a strong historical context). It's a great, easy read that needs to be on your bookshelf.

And no, I'm not planning on featuring Berry as a "Record You Should Own" because - let's face it - it's more than likely you already do. It will make great music to listen to as you read.

Mixed Bag 4: Director's Commentary

Luckily, thanks to Lefty Brown (and the US Postal Service being open late at night), it's time once again for the Mixed Bag CD exchange. (Hey, maybe one of these day's I'll sponsor one for the two college students who read me). Anyway, here's the track listing - nothing more than just a cool assortment of tunes I've entitled "....This World, Then the Fireworks" (after the Jim Thompson novella). No theme, no wacky sound bites, just some good tunes put together. (Plus, it features this Picasa-inspired collage on the cover - read into it what you will)

Note: if you're not part of the exchange, but would like a copy, e-mail me at blogthispal (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll send you one gratis.

Ghosts of Princes in Towers - Rich Kids: after being booted from the Sex Pistols, Glen Matlock put this group together, and they only released one album. Think of this track as a tighter, more polished Pistols track, and you'll see why it's the lead-off.

Happenings Ten Years Time Ago - Yardbirds: This is probably the only recorded instance of both Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck playing in the Yardbirds at the same time. Homercat could probably steer me straight. Listen to this track, friends, and you'll never ever need to take drugs.

I'm Gonna Make You Mine - Shadows of Knight: I loves me some garage rock, and although this band is better known for "Gloria", this is just sheer teenage joy. Killer guitar riffs, great snotty vocals - it's like Greg's blog set to music. (And Greg, that's a compliment - trust me)

Treason - Naked Raygun: Chicago old-school punk part one - first, buy some Naked Raygun albums. You'll do yourself a world of good. Personally, I think that if Pete Townsend gets snarky about using his songs as CSI themes, this song should be a contender. The guys could use the money, and the "it's never just black or white/I know the reason, reason" chorus just sticks in your brain.

Mob Clash - Effigies: Chicago old-school punk part two. Even though they were hardcore (you gotta own Remains Nonviewable, dude), they also had a diverse stylistic palette. I mean, it takes talent to make a hardcore punk song about Nazi's in Skokie, played against a disco backbeat with an Arabic-sounding guitar solo, come together. These guys manage it. You will believe.

Lies - Knickerbockers: The best Beatles sound-alike single ever.

Rat Race - Specials: I like ska. A song that I haven't heard since high school, which just came across my radar, a calm (but snarky) diatribe against "the man."

Slowly, Slowly - Magnapop: Because you have to have at least one generic 90's alternarock track. Actually, this Bob Mould-produced track is rather intricate, with a killer opener, tense verse, and then wide open chorus.

Divine Hammer - Breeders: For some reason, I think of Roger and Lefty when I hear this song. (Sounds like a Willie Nelson tune, doesn't it? "Roger and Lefty". Works for me)

Death or Glory - The Clash: The main highlight of March's Record You Should Own.

Novelty - Joy Division: Another song with contrasts - slightly funky beat with lyrics like, "You're on your own, now don't you think that it's a shame/But you're the only one responsible to take the blame". It shifts the mood of the disc slightly, taking it into darker territories.

Elevation - Television: From the underappreciated Marquee Moon, this song is almost a mini-movie in itself, suggesting drama and intrigue with impressionistic lyrics and clean, crisp, jazzy guitar lines. If you don't buy the record after listening to this track, well....I can't help you.

This Vicious Cabaret - David J: I wish this track had been featured in the movie. However, it does show that Alan Moore (even if he had a little help) could have been a killer songwriter.

Man in the Corner Shop - The Jam: A latter track, I dug it as a teenager because of the jangly guitar. However, as I got older, I realized exactly what Paul Weller was trying to say. Given that he was in his early 20's, it's even more impressive.

Valerie Loves Me - Material Issue: I've got kind of a Chicago theme going on with this disc - I love how the intro sounds rather creepy, the verses bounce, and there's a killer chorus where Jim Ellison screams "Valerie Loves Me!" That, plus the fretboard "solo" help give this song a really unique flavor.

Pink Frost - The Chills: This New Zealand band's big "hit", which should encourage you to seek out Submarine Bells and Soft Bomb in your local indie record store's cutout bins.

I'm Going Slightly Mad - Queen: One of the few times Freddie Mercury underplays, going for subtlety over bombast. (And before you flame me - I like Mercury's bombast. Just showin' a different side, that's all)

Banana Republic - Boomtown Rats: Before Bob Geldof became a saint, he wrote some cool Ray Davies-esque tunes, including this little reggae number. You can't do wrong by finding one of the various Boomtown Rats best-ofs at your local indie record store.

(No, I'm not being paid by any indie record stores - they just have better selections than your usual suspects).

King Midas in Reverse - Hollies: Usually covered live by Elvis Costello, this is a slightly melancholy yet psychedelic number about a loser. It's kind of like "Carrie Ann", only not as annoying. You'll like it.

Staring at the Sun - U2: I'm not a big fan of latter-day U2 (meaning - some of their work leaves me cold), but for some reason, this song resonates with me, especially the "stuck together with God's glue" line. One of their (I'm presuming) more spiritual songs. Definitely worth a listen.

My Dark Ages - Pere Ubu: One of the most noir-ish sounding songs I have ever heard. Great for listening to while driving around a city at 3:00 am.

We Live As We Dream, Alone - Gang of Four: Big 80's production aside, this is a song with some clinical, almost cold lyrics. It was one of those listen to nonstop songs when I was unemployed. "No man's land surrounds me/With no money, we all go crazy.". Only Go4 could make a Nietsczhe quote work in a pop song.

Thanks,and for those participating - they're in the mail. Enjoy!

Newsarama Threads We'd Like to See

(By the way, the following is satirical, and no way no how resembles the comic blogosphere. I swear. Double swear on my grandmother's grave. And apologies to Mike)

Who's the best comics blogger?

"Who, in your opinion, has the best content when it comes to comics and graphic literature. Who do you think is the best blogger on comics out there."

"I honestly feel that Beaucoup Kevin is the best comics blog - it's literate, has some great insights, and is just plain fun!"

"You're wrong - it's Dorian's site - it's funny, snarky, and just plain entertaining."

"Quit burning your lips on the crack pipe - there's a site where a guy talks about comics at times, but he also posts pictures. I think it's named after his girlfriend, Delenda. He could kick the other bloggers butts"

"Gotta go with Dave's Long Box - let's face it, he flosses punks like these other bloggers out of his teeth, and he can pimp slap Goku like the sissy boy he is"

"Two words: Polite Dissent. Anyone who disagrees with me gets a napalm enema."

"You know what would be cool? If these guys, like, formed a superhero team and called themselves, like, the Comics Blog Legion. They could fight, like, Thor and ninjas and stuff and take Wolverine's adamantium skeleton and use it to shave Superman's head and get some kryptonite lightsabers and go all snakes on a plane on Darth Vader and stuff."

"Actually, you know who should be taken off? Comics Should be Good and that Comic Spoilers sight. I mean, man, they're always busting on Bendis, man. Bendis is God! He rulz!"

"Hey, who wants to call that Brill guy and invite him to Fake ID night at the local bar? Who's with me?"

"You know, all of you - you're lame. You're lame because the post-Crisis Superman could take you all and trade you in for cigarettes in prison. And not real cigarettes, but the cheap generic ones. Yeah, so knock it off."

"Let me just remind all of you - the Absorbascon could kick all the bloggers fannies. Let's face it, it has haiku, panels, and DC goodness, whereas all that the bloggers have is just dumb opinions."

=================================================

Brief note - all of the above comments were meant in a satiric manner, and in no way reflects how I feel about the above blogs. Except the Bendis comment. The dude needs to lose the ego. Honestly.

(Besides, hard day at work. Needed to blow off some steam. All in fun).

Tales From The Pull File

Now that I have a regular income, that only means one thing - the kind of two-fisted critical analysis of current comic releases (and other stuff) that you've come to expect from this blog.

Ok, you're more about my obscure references, so without further adieu...

All-Star Superman # 3: Although I really like what Morrison's trying to do (integrate the sheer weirdness of Silver Age Superman with a 21st Century sensibility), what I find appealing about this comic is the sheer humanity and - dare I say it - realism in the writing. Best example: Lois asks Superman what he sees in her. His response is priceless, and Quitely's art reinforces that moment. Everything Miller and Lee can't (or won't) do on All-Star Batman.

Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes # 16: Granted, the last page came out of nowhere, but except for the first three pages (I mean, really - Klar? putting on glasses? Spitcurl), an enjoyable read. I'm glad I'm getting back into the Legion.

New Avengers: Illuminati # 1: Avengers continuity used horribly wrong. Basically, Tony Stark encourages his smart colleages to do stuff, and they tell him where to go. Somehow, I doubt I'll be following Civil War...

Young Avengers # 10: Avengers continuity used cleverly and enjoyably. Even though it's in the middle of the "Family Matters" arc, this is just a flat-out fun book, and is my personal favorite Marvel, along with...

Exiles # 78: I'm probably in the minority, but I really dig this book. It's good, turn-off-your-brain, doesn't-take-itself-too-seriously ("This league serves justice"? Please) entertainment, and a great use of the Squadron Supreme. In fact, speaking of which...

Squadron Supreme # 1: Here we go again. Someone please remind JMS that it is perfectly ok to tell a story, and not "write for the trade".

New Rules by Bill Maher: You know, this stuff was funny when George Carlin first said it. (Note to Greg - when you become dictator, can we exile Mr. Maher to Antarctica? Please?)

Invincible # 29 & 30: On the cover, it says "Probably the best super-hero comic book ever written." Remove the "probably" - this book has Silver Age-style writing with some nice, modern flourishes. If you're not reading this book, there is something horribly wrong with you.

Powers # 17: Probably gonna have this book removed from the pull file. Didn't get it, and showing that Bendis is slowly - but surely- losing it.

JSA Classified # 10: I like the set-up, but it was a little "too" structured for my taste - in fact, I half expected to hear a voice pronounce "JSA Classified - A Quinn Martin Production". However, I'm such a Golden Age fanboy, it was worth it.

Fables # 47: The other book that, if you're not reading it, there is something horribly wrong with you.

Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle - Finally, if you're expecting a dumb, typical stoner comedy - this isn't it. It's a funny (though not to everyone's taste), insightful, and at times touching gem of a movie, and I wanna see more John Cho and Kal Penn adventures. The only weak spot - Neil Patrick Harris, who is supposed to be "spoofing" himself, but in the film (and in the supplmentary materials) takes himself way too seriously. Plus, this film features the greatest food ever made. How can you go wrong with that?

Special Announcement

Everyone,

I don't know if you caught this, but the President just announced that he is cancelling Daylight Savings Time.

In his address to the nation, President Bush announced, "We have to defend freedom, and to bring a Higher Power to those who lack it. We, in our arrogance, dare to defy divine will by setting our clocks ahead and back, thinking that we are manipulating the space time continuum by doing so. However, taking the initiative, this great nation will begin to fight the tyranny of time manipulation by canceling Daylight Savings Time. We hope that our international brethren will join suit, and move us toward a common goal - building a better, stronger America. Anyone caught setting their clocks ahead one hour beginning April 1, 2006, will be shot on sight. Since 1991, we have placed a special chip in timekeeping devices, and we will be aware when you set your clocks ahead. Besides, the great strength of our nation is when common people join together and work towards conforming to our nation's standards. We encourage everyone to join with us in this great endeavor - to handle time ourselves, rather than conform to some outrageous deception due to moving clock hands."


Please feel free to discuss in the comments.

Probably Work Safe, but Shouldn't Be....

This site scares me. A lot.

Dan Curtis - An Appreciation

Continuing from yesterday's obituary...

If Dan Curtis' only major accomplishment was Dark Shadows, or his adaptations of horror classics in the early 70s, or even the Night Stalker/Night Strangler movies, or even Winds of War/War and Rememberance, he would be considered a great producer. The fact that all of these are on his resume - especially in a 20 year period - demonstrates his unique talent, and how his passing is a great loss for contemporary pop culture.

I've said it privately, and I'll say it publicly - Dark Shadows is the closest America will ever come to Doctor Who. Initially starting as a "Gothic soap opera", it moved into more supernatural (read: ghosts and spooky happenings) realms. On the verge of cancellation, Curtis executed a desperation move - introduce a vampire into the show. Of course, that vampire was Barnabas Collins, an acting tour-de-force for Shakespearean-trained Jonathan Frid. If you ever have the chance to watch the initial Barnabas arc in black-and-white, it contains obsession, scientific accuracy (although Polite Scott might quibble, since he has a little more experience with "blood diseases"), terror, and enough of a jolt to say, "This isn't another soap opera." Gradually, the show began integrating other horror classics into its storylines, and shifted between Collinwood's present-day inhabitants and past relatives, with actors often playing mulitple roles.. For five years, this was the must-watch show, and had a nice, frothy mix of soapiness, fantasy, and flat-out brilliance. (It even had two spin-off movies and a 1991 revival series - how cool is that?) Sure, the sets wobbled occasionally, and maybe there was a flubbed line or missed cue, but so what? That didn't hurt Doctor Who, and it sure doesn't hurt Dark Shadows (which, not coincidentally, is available on DVD - rent it on Netflix, though, because unless you are a hardcore DS fan, the sets are not cheap).

After that, taking on some of the horror "classics", Curtis did a series of knock-em-out-of-the-ballpark adaptations of horror classics. (Ironically, some of which I remember watching when I was small and wee). Watching them now, the only real awkwardness is that several are on videotape - other than that, these are some striking, accurate adaptations. Personal faves include Jack Palance in Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde (no, I'm not kidding, why do you ask?) and a chilling adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray. (Plus, who can forget the classic Trilogy of Terror, with Karen Black being terrorized by a doll no bigger than a roll of toilet paper?) Better than reading the originals, and quite frankly...I wouldn't be surprised if Mister Alan Moore watched these, mixed in a little bit of The Wild Wild West...and, you know....I'm just sayin', that's all. (Plus, you could easily draw a line from Curtis' audience-friendly takes on horror themes to Buffy, but that's just my opinion; your mileage may vary)

Even though he was not involved in the later Kolchak series, Curtis directed the two "debut" movies of everyone's favorite reporter, Carl Kolchak. The Night Stalker took on vampires in Las Vegas, but it's The Night Strangler which is my personal favorite. Utilizing Seattle, Kolchak discovers a man who has created an immortality serum...but it's well worth finding and watching for yourself. Don't worry about the non-Curtis Kolchak series, which relied on a "monster-of-the-week" premise: these are the films that influenced The X-Files, providing a rational explanation for seemingly otherworldly behavior. (Of course, usually the results were more "otherworldly", but that was Curtis' singular genius - making the extraordinary seem somehow, well, normal).

So, friends, when I say that pop culture has had a significant loss, I'm not exaggerating - we truly have lost one of the true pioneers of modern media.

And now, I'm off to "shake what my mother gave me", whatever that means.

Dan Curtis RIP

As I was blogreading this fine Monday evening, I came across this item in Mah Two Cents.

I think it's safe to say, without Mr. Curtis, pop culture - as we know it - would not exist.

The Burgas Exchange: Roger & Lefty

This has been one busy week - trying to get organized at work, pulling a hamstring before a big open house (tempting me to contact Polite Scott for some mega-painkillers), and watching the Fantastic Four on DVD. (Which was only made, I suspect, to reveal this lady in various stages of undress....but that isn't a bad thing, I suppose).

However, thank God for Greg's CD exchange, which has allowed me to sit back, relax (with ice on my leg), and enjoy some tunes whilst waiting for Lefty's CD exchange. (And if you haven't signed up yet, what's keeping you?)

First came Roger's disc, which contains songs about religious doubt. (Go back through his blog, and there's a share on some of his "spiritual" mixes). Of course, he starts his entry with "The Vatican Rag" by Tom Lehrer - anyone who likes Tom Lehrer has gotta be all right with me. Other highlights include a cover of XTC's "Dear God", "Christmas" by the Who (which really deserves a lot more classic radio play), and Johnny Cash's "Mercy Seat" (which has more plot twists and turns than, say, the Fantastic Four movie). A pretty decent mix.

File under "darn-I-wish-I'd-thought-of-that" - the mighty Lefty Brown has come up with the spatiotemporal mix - a song for each year he's been alive. Some cool stuff in the mix - highlights include the one-two-three punch of AC/DC, the Jam, and Bruce Springsteen on disc 1, and Beck leading into Cake Like (whose song sounds like a tequila-fueled jam session between the Breeders and B-52s).

This weekend - definitely some well-earned R & R. Plus, I'll have to come up with some cool posts for this week.

Thanks for reading!

I'm In Trouble

Just read this news on the the Matter-Eater Lad Blog.

I always knew redheads named Julie were trouble....

(And yes, there is a story behind that, but that's a post for another time. Plus, if you're reading - and you know who you are - drop me a line, will ya? I owe you lunch).

Monday Evening Blogaround

Quick question for you Haloscan experts - why do some people have problems with comments on my blog? And how do I fix it?

Ok, obligatory Infinite Crisis post (spoiler - you should see it by swiping):

so the multiverse is being fixed by Superboy's punching stuff? Gee, that makes a lot of sense. Sounds scientifically accurate.

Anyway, just an assortment of madness from around the blogosphere, but on a serious note - if you can, please hire Andy to entertain you. Having experienced the unemployment thing myself, I know how tough it is - he's a funny guy, and can juggle. Trust me, I've seen him in action.

Also, if you haven't already, sign up for Mixed Bag 4: The Voyage Home. You'll be glad you did.

Finally, for all of you Sherlock Holmes aficianados - your very own blog.

From Lifehacker - some public speaking tips, as well as a way to receive RSS feeds via e-mail.

Hey, look, it's an organizational superhero! (OK, DC and Marvel, go ahead and sue me - I'm not afraid).

Roger wants you to ask him things. I dare anyone to ask him where babies come from. I hear you can buy them at Trader Joe's.

Greg shares his opinion on the V for Vendetta movie, and gives us a blog that actually makes good use of Marmaduke.

Freeware! Freeware! Get yer hot, steamin' freeware!

The Accordian Guy goes educational on us.

Finally, a thank you to Scott of Polite Dissent, for introducing me to the genius that is House, MD. Favorite line - House tells a guy he takes vicodin because "they're yummy".

Thanks, Scott, for everything!

Ideas Are Bulletproof

It was the first time I had seen a movie well....since Batman Begins, before a lack of funds limited me to DVDs from the public library. However, now that I have a semi-regular income, I decided to go all out and see a brand new movie. After smuggling in some Switzer's red licorice (another reason I love St. Louis), I sat down, watched some boring pre-movie advertising, and after the trailers, caught my first post-hiring, post-2006 movie.

I'm talking, of course, about V For Vendetta.

Now, I know there's been a lot of talk about the movie - especially from Alan Moore - but there's a good news/bad news to this movie. Bad news - if you're expecting a shot-by-shot recreation of the graphic novel, you will be sorely disappointed. However, if you're expecting a faithful adaptation of the graphic novel - with some really cool, interesting bits thrown in - you won't be disappointed.

One of the key aspects of the film is that, even though it takes place in near-future England, it is as timely as if it were made about modern-day America. (Yes, some people might feel the filmmakers are copping out by not making it about modern America - however, England's had its share of dealing with similar issues). Plus, it allows the filmmakers to take some harder-hitting strides, giving the film a power in 2006 America as it did in 1980s England.

Now, some liberties are taken with the plot, mostly in creating a B-plot around a plague. Several characters are given motivations and backgrounds that serve to really further the overall theme. In addition, the third act - consisting of the infamous "dominos" scene to the end - creatively sums all of Moore's and Lloyd's themes in a way that is much more emotionally satisfying. (And somewhat more honest - would a better world need a V-like character?) Plus, the third act contacts enough F*&% Yeah! moments to keep Dave's Long Box busy for several weeks. The only real disappointments are an almost stock-in-trade warehouse showdown with oh-so-cool effects, as well as a slight attempt to create a "love story" that comes off as a slight case of Stockholm syndrome.

However, kudos have to be spread to where they belong - the actors, especially Hugo Weaving. Let's face it, acting behind a mask is tough, and much like Stephen Thorne in Doctor Who: Pyramids of Mars, is able to connote much through voice tone and body movement. Stephen Fry also deserves kudos, and Natalie Portman shows that with a good director who allows her to act, she can come through in spades.

Unlike other comic-related movies, the technical achievements don't overshadow the strength of its script. It will also get a lot of the religious right upset, because it is an allegorical picture of our modern times. It's the movie that Michael Moore wishes he had made - passionate, intelligent, creative, and with enough to make you want to see it a second time. It's an almost perfect adaptation of a masterpiece of graphic literature.

See this movie. Now. Even if it means selling plasma.

Short Takes

First, thanks to the St. Louis Public Library, I was able to enjoy all three acts of the Batman: War Games arc from several years ago. Of course, I use "enjoy" loosely - it is an interesting premise (one of the g*****n Batman's plans to control Gotham gang activity goes awry); however, in execution, it's mostly "oh, ****, how do we deal?" It becomes painfully evident that this was to drive sales, and hopefully, the post-Infinite Crisis DC Universe will stay away from event-driven comics for awhile.

Well, one can only hope.

Speaking of event comics, much like Mike and Dorian, I was able to catch the Ultimate Avengers animated "movie", complete with pop-up commentary which - for some reason - suggests that the over-21 drinking age is a good thing. It's a pretty good animated movie, almost a shot-for-shot retelling of the original comics. The style is a few notches above Saturday morning animated fare, and I wish Cap had said, "What do you think the A stands for - France?" It's not a DVD I would own, but it's well worth renting.

Finally, all I can say about Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars is....thanks, Brian. Both my good pal Brian, the poker playing tough guy who's huggable and lovable, and Brian Henson. Three hours of non-stop Farscape action that brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. An explanation of how the Peacekeepers got their name. People live. People die. And except for one slightly painful piece of irony, well-written. Watch the first four seasons before catching this, however. You'll thank me later.

(Be sure to sign up for Lefty Brown's Mixed Bag Exchange - only a few spaces left!)

Getting Alphabetical

Borrowed From Other Blogs:

A - Age: 38, but looks 37.
B - Band listening to right now: Buzzcocks
C - Career future: Eventually, executive director of a non-profit, followed by freelance consulting for non-profits, allowing me to "retire" in my early 40s
D - Dad's name: Richard
E - Easiest person to talk to: A few select friends
F - Favorite song: "Stand by Me" by Ben E. King
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Bears
H - Hometown: Chicago
I - Instruments: some piano notes, some guitar chords, a little harmonica
J - Job: Program Director, Clean Air Project
K - Kids: none that I know of
L - Longest car ride ever: Chicago to Eugene, Oregon; then Eugene to St. Louis.
M - Mom's name: Linda
N - Number of jobs you've had: eight
P - Phobia[s]: Heights, snakes
Q - Quote: "Whatever it is, I'm against it"
R - Reason to smile: Fresh brewed coffee in the morning.
S - Song you sang last: "I Walk the Line" Johnny Cash
T - Time you wake up: 5:30 am - 6:00 am (On Sundays, it's 7:00 am)
U - Unknown fact about me: I once served as an extra in a Robert DeNiro movie
V - Vegetable you hate: raw celery
W - Worst habit: not shaving for two to three days
X - X-rays you've had: teeth, left foot, head
Y - Yummy food: ice cream, kugelis, cheeseburgers
Z - Zodiac sign: Pisces

Respect His Authoritah!

First, a happy birthday shout-out to Mike ******* Sterling, who runs the greatest comics blog in the multiverse, bar none, which I'm sure impresses his significant other to no end.

In kinda sorta not really related news, Isaac Hayes has left South Park. Now, does anyone else see the irony of a guy from a relatively intolerant belief system berating the show's creators for mocking, well, a belief system with some relatively intolerant individuals within it?

(Oh, and in case you're wondering, here's what Mr. Hayes believes in).

Coming soon to Blog THIS, Pal: Alan Moore's Favorite TV Show. Hopefully, a review of V for Vendetta early next week. The first reviews in the Greg Burgas CD Exchange. And, if you behave yourselves, photos of the new office.

Man in Black

Johnny Cash has always loomed large in my life.

When I was a child, a friend of my mother's had a life-sized cutout of Mr. Cash in her house. She also played Cash's music non-stop (along with other country music). Although my childhood tastes were more pop, there was something about Cash's voice that spoke to me - a straightforward, no-nonsense baritone that hit the right emotional centers. It was a voice that sounded lived in, and that could tell much with very little. It suggested that the man's life would make an excellent movie.

It's just too bad that Walk the Line isn't that movie.

It tries, though, to encapsulate the early rise, fall, and restart of Cash's career, from his Sun Records days to the infamous concert at Folsom Prison. It also tells the story of his relationship with his second wife, June Carter (their son executive produced the film). You'd think it would make for great viewing...unfortunately, it seems more like a bad dramatization of VH1: Behind the Music. All the "high points" are there: the early successes and bad behavior on the road; the unsupportive spouse, the wild affairs, the hot-and-cold running romance, the inevitable addiction - the script seems to settle into familiar patterns, so much so that this could have been run as a movie-of-the-week.

Another weak link is the acting, which tries way too hard but comes up short. Joaquin Phoenix may have Cash's mannerisms down, but vocally, he sounds more like Sinatra with a bad cold. And Reese Witherspoon does give an Oscar-winning performance....it's just too bad she seems to have plagiarized it from Sissy Spacek in Coal Miner's Daughter. (I've heard the real June Carter, and sadly, Witherspoon acts as if she's channelling Mr. Haney from Green Acres. It's close to stereotyping, folks).

Finally, the worst crime this movie commits is that it shows a total lack of understanding of Cash's music. A key scene in Ray shows us how Ray Charles mixed gospel and blues and gave us the cornerstone of his music. De-lovely shows how much of Cole Porter's life ended up reflected in his music. Although we see the early loss that drove Cash, we also have no idea why his music endures. (Listen to it yourself, and you get a good sense of why - the music here is lifeless, bloodless, and dull, everything Cash's music was not). You know when the guy they hire to play Elvis Presley sounds nothing like the real Presley, you're in trouble.

My advice - read Cash's autobiography, if you want some particulars. Otherwise, stick with the music - you'll learn a lot more, and it's money well spent. Otherwise, you can pass on this film.

Referral Log Fun

First, everyone, if you haven't checked it out already, be sure to sign up for Lefty Brown's Mixed Bag CD Exchange and Fish Fry. (Hey, it's Lent, I needed to make that joke). Reviews of Greg's CD exchange participants are forthcoming (especially since I received Roger's disc in the mail yesterday).

Also, in comic-related news, I've been digging two self-purchased birthday presents - Sandman Mystery Theater: The Vamp and Showcase Featuring the Justice League. I've discussed my love of the former series, and in the soon-to-be-post-Infinite-Crisis universe, I hope that it does not become a casualty. Having never read the initial JLA stories of the 1960s, all I have to say is - it's the equivalent of LSD for superhero fans. Yes, the writing can be a bit stiff at time, and I'm not a big fan of Mike Sekowsky's art, but you know what? These stories still work as history in the making.

And now, for a semi-regular feature (read: when I can't think of anything else to write) of this blog - I make snarky comments about my referral logs. Enjoy!

my old man's a refrigerator repairman: This is the number one reference from the past few months, and relates to this post. Someone please e-mail either Rhino and/or Shout Factory to release a Volume Two of Sibling Revelry

quentin waffles detergent: when I want to get my clothes as clean as they can be, I use Quentin Waffles Detergent, now with lemon-fresh borax!

"free planner pages": head here.

big tempin blog: good thing about being employed: don't have to worry about temp work. Bad thing about being employed - they actually expect you to, like, show up and be productive and stuff.

boston legal blog: basically consists of two words: Denny Crain

Coloring pages of Sleepovers/jacqueline Wilson: This is wrong on so many levels.

will pfeiffer: - when will people learn that he has his own blog?

why does jay mohr hate rob schneider - your point being?

tammy faye baker-nude: Again, this is wrong on so many levels.

ease my confusion: Attend the Zombie Killer's March 18th event and all will be explained.

lyrics to the suicide song doctor demento: In all seriousness, if you're feeling suicidal, there are plenty of resources, like the Samaritans. Even if I wanted to, I don't kid about that.

normal working week at JLA laundry: I see London, I see France, I see Booster Gold's underpants

random facts about Bruce Lee: Dorian has converted me - Bruce Lee no, Wildcat yes.

dr. who/lost in space crossover fanfiction: Here is a shameful secret - I once participated in this. No, I will not post it. It's not my proudest hour.

plagiarism is fun - not if you're the guy being plagiarized. Besides, it would look funny if I went from being the clean air dude to a professional entertainer, just as an example.

And a hearty thanks to Dorian, who because of this meme, has tripled the number of visitors to my blog....and here are the runners-up.

Actual content to follow.

Clueless

(My entry for Blog Against Sexism Day, first discovered through this blog).

First, in the interests of full disclose, I am a white, heterosexual male, henceforth known as "the enemy." (I also possess a sense of humor more commonly known as "sarcasm", and possess a substance that helps remove facial hair more commonly known as "shaving cream.") These points are made to only preface my further comments, and to admit that the fact of my blogging about sexism may seem ironic.

Sure, I have to admit, I try to not be sexist, and to keep an open mind -I'll read the occassional book on feminist thought, I rarely (if ever) refer to female friends as "sweetcheeks", and generally try to treat women with respect. But all in all, when it comes to dealing with sexism in an appropriate way, I am entirely clueless.

For example: talking with a male coworker several years ago about the atmosphere of disrespect in our office. He chalked it up to the staff being predominantly female (of course, in my experience, social services are predominantly female), and therefore gossip and cattiness reigned. I, however, took what I thought was the high road - that the tone of disrespect was a top-down issue, and that even if it were male, the behavior was still wrong.

Which one of us - if either - was being sexist?

John Gray - a man I have absolute and utter contempt for - managed to parlay legitimate gender differences into a cheap soundbite. "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus". In other words, men are jerks and women are love objects. (That's why I have contempt for the man - men and women are different, but basically sticking to stereotypes?). Yet many people swear by this guy. Is he sexist, or just telling the truth?

At another job, a female supervisor prevailed upon me to perform tons of manual labor - carrying things, lifting and toting, and often to the detriment of my job duties. The male heads of the agency basically said, "Shut up and deal with it," even to the point where I ended up hobbling on a sprained ankle. So, was she being sexist, or was I?

I have to admit, when it comes to gender relations, it is very frustrating, especially growing up in the post-sexual revolution 70s, transitioning between the free love of the 1960s and the hyperabstinence of the 1980s. I'm sure many young men of my generation were (and are) confused - realizing that the "real man" didn't exist, but also dealing with the implications that "real men" don't eat quiche. With making jokes about "beer and chicks" and dealing with those who believe you misogynistic for saying it.

Yes, I have issues, why do you ask?

But I'm learning - learning that sexism is, at its core, about power. It's not about trying to create a level playing field, but being able to see behind the biases and looking at my behavior. It's about trying to understand the ever-shifting roles and rules, and moving forward from there.

I realize that this may not be the most coherent, and that much of what I have said is chock full of bias. If you need to call me out, please feel free to do so in the comments. In short, I'm just a guy trying to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Thanks for reading.

Happy Birthday, Roger!

First, a birthday shout-out to my almost twin Roger, who turns a Jack Benny-ish 39 for another year in a row.

(And yes, I'm pushing 39 myself - however, in the spirit of my own birthday post, here's an offering:)

Finally, to Andy and my pals in Illinois, a happy belated Pulaski Day.

It's Mah Birthday!

Yes, that's right, today is my "special day" (and tomorrow is Roger's, so be sure to share the warmth). For all of you , please feel free to leave well-wishes/good vibes/etc in the comments. (For the ladies out there, please feel free to e-mail me...and this Wednesday, I'll be blogging against sexism).

And in that spirit, here's a little something-something to express how I feel about getting older:

Obligatory Pre-Birthday INFINITE CRISIS # 5 Post

OK, I've just finished reading Infinite Crisis # 5, and I'm wondering....I get that it's trying to bring back some good old fashioned optimism. Even liked some of the nods to the past (including the "classic cover" homage), but at the end of the day, why am I thinking that this just a ploy to keep the over-30ish-fanboys (much like myself) happy? And that, much like the Oscars (which I am also avoiding) is more an exercise in ego self-stroking than anything else?

Ah, but onto more positive things....I "borrowed" this from Roger, and you can head here to check it out for yourself, but here's what it says:

You said your birthday is 3 / 6 / 1968
which means you are 37 years old and about:

41 years 9 months younger than Andy Griffith, age 79
38 years 3 months younger than Dick Clark, age 76
36 years 11 months younger than Leonard Nimoy, age 74
34 years 10 months younger than Carol Burnett, age 72
32 years 1 month younger than Alan Alda, age 70
30 years 8 months younger than Bill Cosby, age 68
25 years 4 months younger than Linda Evans, age 63
23 years 1 month younger than Tom Selleck, age 61
20 years 2 months younger than Ted Danson, age 58
17 years 10 months younger than Jay Leno, age 55
14 years 1 month younger than Oprah Winfrey, age 52
13 years 1 month younger than Kelsey Grammer, age 51
9 years 9 months younger than Drew Carey, age 47
6 years 9 months younger than Michael J. Fox, age 44
3 years 4 months younger than Calista Flockhart, age 41
0 years 11 months older than Jennifer Aniston, age 37
4 years 9 months older than Alyssa Milano, age 33
9 years 9 months older than Colin Hanks, age 28
15 years 5 months older than Mila Kunis, age 22
23 years 4 months older than Madylin Sweeten, age 14

and that you were

2 years old when All in the Family was first shown
4 years old at the time the TV series M*A*S*H began
7 years old when Saturday Night Live first aired
10 years old when CBS introduced Dallas
12 years old during the first airing of Hill Street Blues
14 years old at the time the first Cheers episode was televised
18 years old when L.A. Law was first aired on TV
19 years old at the time the series Married with Children began
22 years old when Seinfeld was first televised
23 years old in the month Home Improvement began
26 years old at the time the TV series Friends began
28 years old when Everybody Loves Raymond first aired
31 years old when Who Wants To Be A Millionaire began in the US

Covers CD Of Evil! - Director's Commentary

Thanks to a person who can't use the White Pages, I am now unable to get to sleep - hence the unspeakable hour of this blog. However, since I'll be sending out my discs for Greg's CD exchange, I thought it best to give a "director's commentary" the disc. It's a collection of covers (avoiding selections from Lefty Brown's Mixed Bag 2 dual disc set) with a slightly Kids In the Hall-ish theme. As a note, the original artist/songwriter is in red print because I'm anal, er, I mean, "detail-oriented".

Introduction

Bad Boy – Beatles (Larry Williams) - John Lennon was a big proponent of this artist's work, covering "Dizzy Miss Lizzie", "Slow Down", and this hidden gem. Just close your eyes and picture yourself in Hamburg. Classic moment - Lennon's falsetto on the word "hula hoop".

My Little Red Book – Love (Bacharach/David) - From February's Record You Should Own. Burt Bacharach reputedly hated this rocking version of his tune. Of course, Burt also wrote "Close to You", so there.

Louie Louie – Sonics (Richard Berry): Because no covers CD is complete without at least one version of Louie Louie.

Strange – REM (Wire): Originally a piece of punky moodiness, REM covers it and turns it into flat-out rawk for their first major commercial success.

Viva Las Vegas – Dead Kennedys (Elvis Presley): Get past the slapped-on intro from the movie it was featured in, you gotta love Jello Biafra, who is as close to Joe Strummer as Americans are gonna get.

Disguises– The Jam (The Who): A British band pays homage to one of its roots by covering a lesser-known tune. Great use of feedback, great drumming, and typical early 80's production.

My Sharona – Veruca Salt (The Knack): For some reason, I always have to take a shower after hearing this tune. A long, cold shower.

If I Can't Have You – Eve's Plum (Yvonne Elliman): You know, I hated the original, but love this rockin' cover. Maybe it's Colleen Fitzgerald's down-to-earth vocals that give it a little bite, or the monster guitar riff.

Temptation Eyes – Replacements (Grass Roots): Yes, I could have used the Blake Babies version; however, I like this take for Bob Stinson's guitar, which mixes country, metal, and blues into a potent cocktail.

Pipeline – Dick Dale & Stevie Ray Vaughn (Challengers) - Three minutes of two guitarists kicking ass on a killer song. And also check out the underappreciated movie that used it in its soundtrack.

Pretty in Pink – Social Distortion (Psychedelic Furs): You know, this may be a little too politically correct, so let's end the first "side" of this record with...

Eight Miles High – Husker Du (Byrds): Friends, you must crank your stereo's volume up as far as it will go for this one. This is an eardrum-bleeder you don't wanna miss.

Sir Simon, Master of Funk, testifies (or, if this were a vinyl album, you'd flip it over now)

I Want You Back – Graham Parker & the Rumor (Jackson 5): From January's Record You Should Own, Parker gives this song a little more of an edge, turning it from pre-adolescent longing to adult despair. Just buy the CD, will ya?

Girls Talk – Dave Edmunds (Elvis Costello): Costello's always been a little hit-or-miss, but I honestly believe that Edmunds is the second best person to take on Costello; this is a rockin' little number that takes a less-than-two-minute B-Side and pumps it up. Only Paul McCartney has done better by Declan.

Stairway to Gilligan's Island – Little Roger & the Goosebumps (Led Zeppelin): Adapts the lyrics to Gilligan's Island with the music of "Stairway to Heaven." And I only include this because I can't find the track that mixes "Purple Haze" with the "Green Acres" theme.

Can't Get Used to Losing You – English Beat (Andy Williams): Because I'm like that.

Absolutely Sweet Marie – Flamin Groovies (Bob Dylan): Wanted to stick in a Dylan cover that nobody thought of, so I stuck in the Groovies.

Walk Away Renee – Four Tops (Left Banke): The original is a baroque masterpiece; this track not only adds the soul, but only reinforces what I've been sayin' - Levi Stubbs is in the same league as Otis Redding and the late Wilson Pickett as a great soul singer.

King of the Road – Dean Martin (Roger Miller): Gotta love Dean, whose laid-back, relaxed version makes Roger Miller look like he was taking Ritalin when he recorded the original.

Begin the Begine – Sheryl Crow (Cole Porter): My personal favorite track from De-Lovely. Enjoy.

Our Lips are Sealed – Fun Boy Three (Go-Gos): Maybe technically this isn't a cover, since the lead singer co-wrote the song, but cha, ya know what...my mix CD. My rules. So there.

Cuban Pete – Jim Carrey (Desi Arnaz): Originally featured in The Mask, I just wanted to have a little piece of silliness. The disc was moving towards bummer city, and I wanted to break the mood a bit.

The Wind Cries Mary – Robyn Hitchcock (Jimi Hendrix): While you're buying Squeezing Out Sparks, please throw this DVD in - it's a great concert movie. Of course, this song isn't in the movie (but is present on the soundtrack CD), but don't let that stop you.

Out of Time – Ramones (Rolling Stones): Latter-day Ramones cover a relatively obscure Stones track; however, it's 99% stronger and harder than anything Mick & Keith have released in the past 10 years. Hard to believe three Ramones are gone.

In My Life – Johnny Cash (Beatles):We started the disc with the Beatles cover; we end with a legend covering the Beatles. If this song doesn't bring a lump to your throat, you are one cold cookie indeed.

If you're not part of the exchange, and would like a copy, please e-mail me at blogthispal (at) gmail dot com, and I'll send you a copy gratis. Music's meant to be shared.

If I Had A Sidebar

Ripping off, er, I mean, borrowing an idea from Tom the Dog, I'm going to discuss several of the nice little pieces of pop culture I've been enjoying - luckily, tomorrow, paycheck + tax refund = purchasing obscene amounts of comics and pork rinds. So, since I don't have a real life yet (although ladies, trust me, I'm available, and I can give up the pork rinds), here are my substitutes:

Reading: Just finished Bob Spitz's biography of the Beatles, and let me tell you - this is probably one of the best biographies I have read. If you think you know the Beatles (and there are two guys who do), this book does a really thorough job in presenting the dynamics of the Fab Four, and it reads like really good fiction. Yes, you may think you know what's coming, but quite frankly - it is a good, thorough read. Definitely recommended.

I'm also enjoying weekly installments of Hound of the Baskervilles through Stanford's Discovering Sherlock Holmes series. Trust me, folks - Holmes rocks.

Netflixing: First, saw Serenity last weekend on DVD, while visiting Mom in Chicago. Now, let me get this straight - Firefly, a quality show, gets canceled, but American Idol stays on the air. What brand of crack are Fox network executives smoking?

My personal wish - Serenity spawns a series of made-for-DVD movies, which means - never gonna happen. Nope. Nada.

Also caught Doctor Who: The Claws of Axos - when I first saw it in high school, I thought it was pretty darn lame - rubbery monsters, bad sets, but now, I can recognize it for a pretty strong edition in the Pertwee era. Nothing horrible (although I really wish Terror of the Autons would come out on DVD - much better Delgado story), but this story only proves that DW did for British science fiction what Dark Shadows did for American soap operas.

(In addition, one of the bonus features talks about why American videos don't play on British VCRS, and vice versa. Pretty interesting stuff.)

Decision To Be Made: Whether to encourage the organizers of the SLACO Conference to take a field trip to learn more about the zombie menace.

Crushing on: Cynthia Watros, but of course, I have to admit, I like bad girls.

Records You Should Own

Gotta admit - with a birthday coming up this Sunday, I'm feeling a bit nostalgic, thinking about the first single I ever purchased. I admit, I was about 11, and I bought it for the poppy a-side...however, it was the B-Side that blew my mind. Immediately, a marital 4/4 drum beat pounded its way into my brain, accompanied by powerful chords....soon, an ominous bassline emerged, and finally, a man announced, his life - and ours - in the balance:

"London Calling, to the faraway towns
Now war is declared, and battle come down"

This month's Record You Should Own is the Clash's masterpiece, London Calling. Coming, as it did, after the Clash's debut and the underappreciated Give 'Em Enough Rope, this album is just one wall-to-wall musical F#@% Yeah! moment, a stylistic smorgasboard that starts strong and only peters out with the final track.

Stylistically, this showed that the Clash was no mere punk band, but a musical force (the U2 of its generation, so to speak). Taking on rockabilly, ska, reggae, surf, pop, Spectorian-balladry, even flat-out rock - this had to blow the minds of those who thought punk a passing fad, or even decried that certain bands couldn't play. Only three other albums disprove that punk was all about amateurism, and shows bands breaking preconceptions - the Clash proved with this album that they not only could play, but showed that there was almost nothing they couldn't do.
In addition, let's point out Joe Strummer's lyrics - if you wanted to make a case for him as a punk Dylan, I wouldn't argue. I'm taking a lot of these lyrics out of context, but Strummer's ability to make the global personal - and to go straight to the heart of things - really shines here. Even Paul Simonon's "The Guns of Brixton" contains razor sharp lyrics, proving Paul was no frickin' Ringo.

Case in point - my personal favorite song, "Death or Glory". Starting with a very simple premise:

"Now every cheap hood makes a bargain with the world
Ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl"

Soon moves into a lyric that puts any and every band in its place, and seems fresh even in our more jaded times:

"'N' every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock 'n' roll
Grabs the mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold
But I believe in this-and it's been tested by research
he who ***** nuns will later join the church"

Yes, I sanitized it, but you know what? Buy the record and hear it for yourself. They dis Green Day before those dudes even ripped off their first riff - how cool is that?

Tight playing. Strong songwriting. Passion. Fire. Energy. You have to own this album.

Now, you have no excuse.