Brief Review--Brief Interviews With Hideous Men

I just watched John Krasinski's movie, Brief Interviews With Hideous Men. Krasinki, who plays the fairly straight forward role of Jim Halpert on The Office, adapted what is, by all accounts, a very ambitous book.

The movie, which Krasinki also directed, has all the hallmarks of a hot mess--discontinuity meets a massive cast full of characters are not likable, which rarely works to the film's advantage. One example of such a film is the highly underrated 2004 film Closer, which went beyond unlikeable characters to the point where I actively rooted against all of them. All the while, I loved the movie.

The size of this film's cast will also help to define it in the minds of those who dismiss it. "Oh," you might think, "Here's another wanna be Magnolia. Look, even Ben Gibbard has a role in this." While I do think Gibbard was miscast in this role, it didn't really affect the movie and I'm pretty sure his appearance is something the movie business will survive. The blog Hipster Runoff walks the pop culture path extending from this casting decision all the way up to the grill of Jared Leto.

The movie is an intense look at feminism from the masculine side of the equation. Visually competent, Krasinki's real skil lies in getting good performances, with a major assist from his casting director, who loaded the film with talented character actors. The plot of the movie is intentionally difficult to follow, only becoming clear in the end, which is an abrupt stopping back at the start. This left me wondering, was it all worth it? After ponedring it a bit, I say yes, it was, and furthermore, a second veiwing might cement this as a delightful recent underground gem on par with Happy Endings or Ordinary People. Or, it might all unravel into an ambitious mess.

Amy Milan--I Will Follow You Into the Dark

On the heels of proclaiming my ambivalence toward Death Cab for Cutie, here I am posting another one of their songs, this time a cover of "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" performed by Amy Milan of the band Stars.

Death Cab For Cutie--Photobooth

I enjoy Ben Gibbard's solo and side work quite a bit, and I respect Death Cab quite a bit, yet I never got into the band very much. This song, performed live at KCRW, is one of the notable exceptions.

You Can't Fool Mother Nature, Say Bees

I have been following this story since it broke in 2006. I find it deeply troubling, because bees are responsible for pollination. Other insects can do this, but not to the extent that bees do. Life would still go on for humans, but without flowers or fruits, which would have to be pollinated by hand. Only the rich could afford them.

We would be totally screwed without the bees, and we should take drastic steps to protect them. But no one listens to me.

Read the article.

Bill Hicks--It's Just a Ride

Bill at his very best.

Rilo Kiley - Close Call

Before they Made It--Nestor Carbonell

Nestor Carbonell, the enigmatic Richard Alpert on Lost, first caught my attention playing the role of Batmanuel in the extremely silly sit-com version of The Tick.

Paul McCartney Does Letterman

I don't know what year this was. I love the part where Paul gives his opinion of the Letterman Show. So candid. And so easy in front of the camera. I suppose he's had a lot of practice...

Thich Nhat Hanh

Is it religion, or only meditation?

Saigon Kick--Colors

South Florida rock almost-kings, Saigon Kick, apparently recorded some live acoustic stuff along the road to oblivion. I'm looking into it.

Beatles LP Countdown - Why Don't We Do It In The Road?

1968.

Those Darlins - Whole Damn Thing

Via My Old Kentucky Blog.

Those Darlins - Red Light Love from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

New Poll: Americans Support Obama

A picture is worth a thousand words

Mark Twain said there are three kinds of lies--lies, damn lies, and statistics. The Republicans have been citing polls that supposedly support their claim that the new health care bill is unpopular. But they omit important details when citing these statistics.

Here's an excerpt from a CQPolitics article.

"The top line of the March 19-21 CNN/Opinion Research poll showed that by 59 percent to 39 percent, voters opposed the bill that the House was about to vote on."

"But when asked why, 13 percent of those opposed said the bill was 'not liberal enough.' Add them to the 39 percent in favor, and the balance came out 52 percent in support and 43 percent against, just about President Barack Obama's margin of victory in 2008."

Exactly. Democrats--who won the election--still support the President; Republicans--who lost the election--do not. That is all that is happening here.

Read the article.

Pearl Jam--Just Breathe

From their recent appearance on SNL.

Screaming Females--Bell

This is the opening act on Ted Leo and the Pharmacists upcoming tour. Dates here.

Rilo Kiley - Papillon

R.E.M.--It's the End of the World As We Know It

The president mocks health care reform Armageddon:



Here's REM prophesying the end days--unplugged.

Tegan & Sara on Q TV

The fantastic Canadian twins on Q TV.

Namaste - Gayatri Mantra

I have been blessed with four wonderful daughters. After I was initiated into the Gayatri mantra in 1996, I named daughter number three Gayatri, a common name for girls in India.

She is certainly the smartest kid on the block.

k. d. lang--Hallelujah

From the opening ceremony of the 2010 winter games. Those were fun. Good work, Canada.

Do You Believe Now?

Everywhere I go I have seen conservative bumper stickers lampooning Obama's campaign slogan, "Change We Can Believe In." Some claim that he has not been able to change anything. Others doubted that he was tough enough for the job. But, all that has changed in the passage late yesterday of the health care reform bill.

In a reference to his 2008 campaign slogan, Obama said, “This is what change looks like.”

Administration officials see House passage of the Senate reform bill as a vindication of Obama’s legislative strategy and, above all, his toughness.

Read more.

John Lennon - Instant Karma

I remember the first time I heard this song. I was lying in bed with a high fever. The radio played it without announcing it. I knew it could only be John Lennon. I was fourteen years old.

1970.

Two For Raktaka

When my old friend Raktaka (Dasa Brahmacari, Adhikari, Swamiji Maharaja, take your pick--I just call him Mr. Clock) contacted me a few weeks ago, we took up where we left off more than twenty years ago. In other words, we are having completely incomprehensible conversations.

Although without observations by Vamsidhari--the Red Priest--it is somewhat more comprehensible. Anyway, with the music posted here, I hope to suggest some order or meaning to our fulminations.

Goa Trance

Slavoj Zizek on Consistent Perspective

From the European Grad School's YouTube channel.

When Cassius Clay Met The Beatles

BBC's radio4 choice takes an in depth look at the 1964 encounter between The Beatles and Cassius Clay, who, as we all know, later changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Red Hot Chili Peppers--I Get Around

Nice job (though far from perfect) by the Peppers, a band that has never really been strong on harmonies, tackling a pretty tough one from the Beach Boys. As with everything the Peppers do, the real show is going on in the rhythm section.

Randy Rhoads--Dee

Ozzy Osbourne's first non-Black Sabbath lead guitarist, Randy Rhoads, died 28 years ago today in a plane crash. This is a video montage put together by a fan set to Randy's great acoustic instrumental, "Dee".

Jello Biafra - Grow More Pot Part I

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists--Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists cover Tears for Fears' classic in style. This is part of The AV Club's Undercover series.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists cover Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"

Van Halen--Eruption

I like to watch this every six or seven years. It's impressive, just sounds bad.

Bon Iver--Skinny Love

From Jools Holland's show.

America's Nuns Back Health Care Bill

At issue for many Catholics is the perception that the new health care bill supported by The Walrus Speaks will provide tax money for elective abortions. But, read on.

"In a rare public disagreement that will reverberate among the nation's 70 million Catholics, leaders of religious orders representing 59,000 nuns sent lawmakers a letter urging lawmakers to pass the Senate health care bill. Expected to come before the House by this weekend, the measure contains abortion funding restrictions that the bishops say don't go far enough."

"Despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions," said the letter signed by 60 leaders of women's religious orders. "It will uphold longstanding conscience protections and it will make historic new investments ... in support of pregnant women. This is the real pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it."

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Right to Life Committee have denounced the bill as a backdoor subsidy for abortion. But the nuns and the Catholic Health Association — representing some 600 hospitals — say restrictions in the Senate bill would still prevent taxpayer funding for abortion, although the legal mechanism for doing so is different from what the bishops prefer.

Carly Fiorina Goes After Barbara Boxer

Hot Air: The Movie @ Yahoo! Video

Fiorina has flipped her pancake. Station Agent, have you seen this? Grab your popcorn and let the movie roll. It's comedy hour!

I'm So Tired

For Beatles people only.

Nellie McKay--Sari

Some serious funny lyrics in this wild rap/piano bar mash.

Paul McCartney Live - Please Please Me

I sure would have liked to have been at this show!

Gandhi's Non-Violence Speech

Fighting with non-violence has, for thousands of years, proven remarkably effective in India. Why not try it everywhere?

Gandhi stated that he was ready to use violence to protect his family, but only as a last resort. Does this make sense?

Paul's Medley Of John

Paul remembers the three songs that remind him of John the most as "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Help", and "Give Peace A Chance."

Makes sense.

Portishead--Requiem for Anna

From 2006's Serge Gainsbourg tribute Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisted.

Michael Cassidy - Oh Thoughtful Men

Velvet Underground - Sister Ray

Totally decadent, but who's complaining?

1968.

Spiritualized--Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space

This hypnotic ditty was featured in the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Have A Cup Of Joe For Obama

Tea, or coffee?

I don't go to Starbucks, but I am glad to see that the Tea Baggers have some competition from the Coffee Party people, who basically want obstructionists to get out of the way so Obama can do his thing. Somehow I doubt that this will become as big a thing as the Tea Baggers, because Democrats are never as united or homogeneous a group. But the media attention will make it all worth it.

Bunchadamnliberals.

I would rather be a damn liberal than a dork who loves insurance companies!

Coffee Party founder Annabel Park put it rather succinctly. "After they dumped tea into the harbor, the Continental Congress declared coffee the national drink. That became the solution to the problem."

Read the article.

Frank Zappa - My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama

Pavement--Stereo

Probably the most awesome, influential band I know next to nothing about.

Belinda Carlisle - Heaven Is A Place On Earth

Hopi Elder Speaks Out

Marmi Covers Serena Ryder

Stepping out of her comfort zone down on the res, it looks like.

Neil Young - Lotta Love

Thanks for that information, Station Agent. I never knew that Neil Young wrote that song! And I agree, it's a great song. There is a name for it...

Blue eyed soul.

Nicolette Larson--Lotta Love

I'm loving this song in all of its iterations. It was written by Neil Young. Made famous in 1979, by Nicolette Larson who died from a seizure in 1997. This version is pretty heavy on the disco, which is not a bad thing.

Democrat Congressman Demands Stricter Enforcement Of Slaughter Laws

Kucinich: enforce the laws

Would you eat an animal that you knew had been skinned alive? Of course you wouldn't. But a recent article about laws pertaining to slaughter shows that these laws are routinely ignored and rarely enforced, and skinned alive animals find their way to your dinner plate.

Why?

We hear the standard argument that we must take care of humans first, before worrying about animals. As if kindness to animals would hurt humans. It's amazing the variety of liberals who believe this argument, which is actually being made by the Republicans who own slaughterhouses. It doesn't matter what type of industry they have invested in. When anyone points out the wrongs that they do, they claim that any consideration of these wrongs is harmful to humans. And if liberals want the products of the Republicans' factories badly enough, they will find a way to believe this specious argument. This brings us to the issue of slaughterhouse animals and their sufferings.

No?

Here's a gem. A lawyer who is a spokesman for Bushway Packing (what's up with that name?), a slaughterhouse sanctioned for inhumane treatment of animals, said this. "These are really good country farmers who never intended in any way to inhumanely handle an animal," Langrock said. "This was a case of somebody looking only to find problems."

!!!

That's like saying that a person getting a traffic ticket is actually a good driver, and the cop who was doing his job by giving him a ticket was looking only to see if he would break the law--which is also his job.

Read the article.

Ani DiFranco--32 Flavors

From Sessions At West 54th in 1997.

Grass Roots - Let's Live For Today

I just have to post this song once in awhile. I don't think the lyrics are talking about eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. I just think we tend to live without really living, being too concerned with externals.

The Shins--Phantom Limb

An in studio appearance from 2007.

I May Have to Start Reading Comics

I was somewhat excited about the prospect of comedian Patton Oswalt helming a comic book continuation of the late great TV series Firefly. Then I found out that Dynamite Entertainment, a company I have never heard of because I don't know anything about comics post-1987, and very litte pre-1987, is going to adapt Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series.

One of the great disappointments associated with the series was the painfully bad cover art. With the exception of the 1998 reference book The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time, the only good WoT art has been done by fans. The writer plans to do the entire series, so these books could be coming out for many years to come. If this cover is any indication, the series is in good hands.

Obama Sees The Light; Renounces Conciliation In Favor Of Reconciliation

Fired up!

The Daily Beast has an article that warms my heart. I NEVER wanted bipartisanship from Barack Obama. I always knew that such an attempt would be a serious waste of valuable time. Now, our President is taking off the gloves and exposing the Republicans for what they are--supporters of the insurance companies. How could ANYONE support these slimy bastards unless they had an economic interest to do so? What I want our President to do is KICK CONSERVATIVE ASS.

"Barack Obama is coming to terms with American politics as it is, not as he might like it to be. Partisan street-fighter may not be the part he envisioned himself playing, but he’s starting to warm to the role." Thank God, and about time!

Read the article.

Hey Jude

"Hey Jude" was from the White Album era, and so deserves to be included in the Beatles LP Countdown just so visitors to The Walrus Speaks can hear the unfolding of the Beatles Revelation. Arguably, the three greatest events of the 20th century were the bombing at Hiroshima, the landing of the Beatles at Kennedy International on February 7, 1964, and this taping of "Hey Jude."

Besides being a great song, it tells of things to come. McCartney--for the moment--is in top form, doing his Little Richard impression. Lennon--chewing gum as always--is biding his time. George--enthralled with Hinduism--is just playing along. Ringo is very happy, having the time of his life.

We can look at this portrait as something sad, or something that just is. I choose the latter.

Na na na na.

PS: From Wikipedia--

When McCartney introduced Lennon to his new composition, he came to "the movement you need is on your shoulder" and told Lennon "I'll fix that bit." Lennon asked why, and McCartney answered "...it's a stupid expression; it sounds like a parrot." Lennon parried with "You won't, you know. That's the best line in the song." McCartney thus left the line in, and later said "...when I play that song, that's the line when I think of John, and sometimes I get a little emotional during that moment."

Rachel Jacobs--It's Fun to Run

This is from a show Rachel Jacobs played in Houston back in 2003.

Regina Spektor--Ghost of Corporate Future

The world is everlasting
It's coming and it's going
The world is everlasting
It's coming and it's going
It's coming and it's going

Beatles LP Countdown - Don't Pass Me By

One of the few songs that Ringo--Richard--ever wrote. Or Richie, as the other three called him.

Foo Fighters--Everlong

If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again
The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when

KTWS Random Playlist Podcast

Set list – Walrus Radio (Download), March 8, 2010:

1.The Henry Clay People – Working Part Time
2.Elliott Smith – Between the Bars (live)
3.Cymbals Eat Guitars – Ballad of Big Nothing (Elliott Smith cover)
4.The New Pornographers – Hands Together
5.She & Him – Lotta Love (Neil Young cover)
6.The Glass Beef – Hawaii
7.The Unicorns – Let's Get Known
8.Los Campesinos! - The Sea Is a Good Place To Think Of The Future
9.Jenna Finland – After Hours (Velvet Underground cover)

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

R.E.M., Screaming Trees

From BBC, 1993.

Norwegian Wood

It's a take that didn't make it onto the album.

Tony Rice--Freeborn Man

The bluest of the bluegrass--Mr. Tony Rice.

The Shins--Gone for Good

"I find a fatal flaw
In the logic of love
And go out of my head
You love a sinking stone
That'll never elope
So get used to the lonesome
Girl, you must atone some
Don't leave me no phone number there"

Pretenders - Creep

Chrissie Hynde covers Radiohead.

Tori Amos--Marianne

Tori's going to be at Bonnaroo.

Liz Phair--Never Said

From the late, great MTV's 120 Minutes, 1994. Possibly the appearance that convinced me to buy Exile in Guyville.

Henry Clay People--Working Part Time

"We were working part-time, all the time..."

Faith No More--Easy

Faith No More covered Lionel Richie's "Easy" on the Tonight Show a long time ago.

Alice in Chains--Love, Hate, Love

From the old days.

Jason Boesel--Burned Down and Busted

Jason Boesel's Midas touch as a drummer helped elevate Rilo Kiley and Bright eyes to legendary status (if such a thing even exists anymore). Now he's finally released a solo record, and he played this song recently at WTBU in Boston.

John Lennon - How Do You Sleep?

Lennon unloads on McCartney--and then, introspective as always--claims he was singing about himself.

Florence and the Machine--Girl With One Eye

Brooklyn Vegan has tour dates and band news.

Paul McCartney - Too Many People

Haiti One Month Later

The bodies have been disposed of. Not much else has been achieved.

Read the article.

Have You Seen Chelsea King?

Chelsea King has gone missing, and the San Diego Police Department suspects foul play. Call (619) 531-2000 if you have any information for them.

This kind of thing brings out the John Walsh in me. You too?