the mutual slump

cry, cry, cry

2004-09-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

No more tears. I've been getting my cry on a lot lately. I can't remember if I cried last night because Dante Culpepper's lame-ass last minute interception caused me to lose my Fantasy Football game by 1 effin' point or the fact that Fantasy Football has completely consumed me in heavy dorkitude for the 3rd consecutive season. Yes, those meaningless game stats you see scrolling at the bottom of the screen for players like Culpepper or Peyton Manning during each broadcast are for us Fantasy dweebs. Did I cry this weekend because contributing time for a catering company in exchange for a free pass (and cold hard cash) at the wildly underwhelming ACL Fest this weekend caused me to miss Wilco or was it because I was absolutely disgusted with the smell, sight or sound of the sizzle of a grilled burger over the course of three days? Perhaps I've shed tears because I've neglected my site for so long. Gideon seems to think that not blogging is like the new black or something.

I'm thinking she's on to something.

So it would seem that I will commence with light posting for the next few weeks (not that I hit that shit with a regularity before). I'm also looking to get off Blogger and to branch out to something with a bit more flexibility. Plus, Mr. OThompson and I are cooking up some uber-meta-freestyle-l'ennui, so there. . . . .

2004-09-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

Powerful enough to block out the sun. (shudder)

"Oh, you all talk big, but who here has the guts to stop me?"

"We will prevail"

2004-09-01T14:22:00.000-07:00

low culture points out how them big city reporters see plain Texas folk - - pass them grits, mama, and can we go to the Tastee Freeze for a choco-taco after dinner?

My buddy Christian, an excellent photographer out of Memphis has a new blog. Check out his BANG ZOOM POW!! website. You won't be disappointed.

Saw Brooklyn's Animal Collective and Black Dice at Emo's. Animal Collective weave an ambient mix of folk and pop conventions with chatter-brained vocals. Check out their current release, Sung Tongs (Fat Cat). Black Dice sludged through abrasive, experimental noise - - they rocked my fillings a LOT louder than Mogwai ever did. Tinnitus, tinnitus, tinnitus. Here's a big eff you to the pretentious multi-media projectionist art chick that spilled her beer on my arm (can I get a fucking sorry?!?). Art fags.

2004-08-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

"Note to self: be erect by half-past ten. Be strong, be proud, be able, be charmed ." Words to live by. From McLusky's current release, Difference Between Me And You Is That I'm Not On Fire, "She Will Only Bring You Happiness" bitch-slaps me that insightful credo right up my silly little head with deft melodic precision. Like their last outing, McLusky Do Dallas, the current album delivers meaty, aggro punk fun (and great song titles), perhaps because Steve Albini recorded both. It's thick. And this will never get old.

Low Culture, Grambo and Jenny Miller accurately report on the exhaustive photographic evidence of how our heroic (and quite toned and sweaty and longlegged and . . .) female athletes are "celebrating" the Olympic wins. Hey, what's a win for them is definitely a win for this dirrty mind. More volleyball!

How Ali G continues to dupe the crabby old newsmen.

Colder beer is always a good thing.

2004-08-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

Chromewaves has compiled a number of Guided By Voices covers by The Strokes, The Breeders and Jimmy Eat World, amongst others. Guided By Voices are on their last blowout tour before calling it quits for good. They hit Austin on Oct. 2nd and I won't be there. Instead of celebrating (and lamenting) GBV's departure in true drunken, Pollard-esque fashion with my fellow GBV devotees, I will be in Dallas at a wedding. Damned be to a blessed union of two souls interfering with my rawking on this very important, final tour, but they're both worth it. I aim to channel Mr. Pollard that evening and will no doubt get thoroughly soused and chain-smoke cigs, not to mention performing karate kicks at the bridal party. After it's over, they might wish I had attended the concert.

Simon from The WB's 7th Heaven. Dude has NINE cars. Nine cars. Via New York Times.

2004-08-20T17:36:00.000-07:00

Lately, my head has been swimming over the delights ahead for the week leading up to the annual ACL Fest this September. It all starts with Saturday, Sept. 11th. Sure, I'll light a candle, take a moment and think about what you need to think about on that day, but will rejoice knowing that on that night, The Shins, at Stubb's, will take me to a happy place. Tuesday, 9/14, has the U.K.'s Electrelane hitting Emo's. On Thursday, Neko Case makes an appearance at the Parish. Then for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, ACL takes over from noon to 10ish. But it doesn't end. On Friday, 9/17, after the last ACL performance has finished for that evening, Modest Mouse makes an appearance at Stubb's. Then Wilco hits Stubb's the next night on Saturday, 9/18. But wait, on that same Saturday, Broken Social Scene plays an intimate set at the Parish at the same time as Wilco. WTF!?

Pixies, Shins, Wilco, Elvis Costello, Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene, My Morning Jacket, Spoon, The Roots . . . . . . . . . mmmmmm . . . .donuts.

It will be a week for unending supplies of: ATM vists, aloe vera, occasional backrubs from trusted friends and hearty, hearty stimulants.

smokin' broken pencils and beating up kids

2004-08-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

Transformers do the hip-hop breakdance. Via Huntley.

Largehearted Boy led me to this exhaustive Beck encyclopedia. He may be a Scientologist (shhhhh . . . my neighbor's one of 'em, they're everywhere, listening) and Wayne might think he has "issues," but I'll still listen around the ego. Sea Change still goes well with bourbon. Here's my favorite Beck ditty.

Good job blogosphere. Girlie Action, you done good. Total buzz on the street led me to purchase the new Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous. I would've never have given it a second thought otherwise. I won't bother you with the accolades that everyone else and their little brother showered on the joint. It's good. Now I know where I want to spend my vacations: visiting the otherworld where Jenny Lewis' voice lives. The indie rock ladies (Jenny, Eleanor, Neko, Emily and, of course, Chan) are indeed talented AND crushworthy. THANK YOU!

And thank you, Waterloo Records. I found me a replacement The Stone Roses (self-titled) for 7 bones used. I'd been without it for far too long. There's a certain someone in L.A. who jacked it a few years back. You know who you are. . . . punk-ass.

2004-08-19T05:13:00.000-07:00

Not only do The Pixies perform at ACL Fest, they will tape an Austin City Limits segment in Oct. These tapings are wonderful because, for one, they're FREE (first come, first served) and whatever local brewery is sponsoring each season provides FREE beer. I've had the pleasure of catching Spoon and Ben Kweller this way. Free Pixies gig? Oh, how the music gods treat my fair city this fall. Via austin chronicle.

2004-08-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

Behold! The new trailer for Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic. Dig the New Order. Dig the Bowie.

Via Ain't It Cool.

2004-08-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

Centro-matic has a seasonal refresh that will make yer vision blur. I know what I'm doing later.

Josh Homme putting together a new Nick Oliveri-free Queens of the Stone Age album with guest musician Dusty Gibbons from ZZ Top:

"So un-Santana-with-that-guy-from Matchbox Twenty. He was playing shit that made our jaws drop."

Via Rolling Stone.

Rocket Fuel chats up The Helio Sequence (scroll down the table of contents).

L.A. people: catch Oliver Future at the Knitting Factory on Wed., 8/25.

2004-08-16T17:13:00.000-07:00

Timanderic.com. Fans of absurdist humor like Mr. Show will rejoice in the discovery of this comedy duo, and for good reason. Bob Odenkirk became a fan of their short films and pranks and helped open the door for an Adult Swim pilot surrounding two of their many short films, Tom Goes To The Mayor and Tom Goes To The Mayor Returns (featuring David Cross). Funny, funny shit. Find out more here:

Things you are likely to see in Tim and Eric films: Rainbows, unicorns, PowerPoint presentations, pop-up Instant Messenger windows and John McCain. If there is a striking disparity in that list for you, you're starting to see the Tim and Eric ethos: It's all absurd, it's all bullshit.

2004-08-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler looks like a fish. And his songs, like that real stinker of a love theme to Armegeddon, "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing," smell like one, too. Tyler (along with Lenny Kravitz, Axl, and John Lydon - - where's Durst?) is one of the worst rock stars ever. Via largehearted boy.

Neal Pollack, please come back. This nation needs you now.

George W. Bush, Yale Rugby player, circa 1968. Like that Stan Gable . . .what an ASSHOLE. Via This Modern World.

2004-08-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Pixies are in it for the money, but it's so Joey's kids can go to a better school:

Still, in August he[Frank Black] quietly held some strategy meetings with his manager and booking agent. He called Mr. Santiago, who called Ms. Deal. "I just went, `Oh really?' " Ms. Deal said. "But Joe was telling me, `This could be a change of school district for me. This is important to me.' And because of that I said I'd do it."

That's cute.

Via New York Times.

Saw Collateral. Although I'd like to say I was seeing this to marvel at Tom Cruise's salt-and-pepper 'do, it was really because Michael Mann never disappoints. Yet another great valentine to L.A. More gritty, complex characters waxing poetic on the professions they have chosen. More bravura set pieces and always interesting camerawork (including Mann's love for the next-to-the-retina, super-extreme close-up). Check out this piece on Mann.

Also saw The Village. Nice cloaks. Wintry, utopian Pennsylvania vistas. Lots of beards. Bryce Dallas Howard. Adrian Brody does Arnie in Gilbert Grape. And, oh, yeah, the plot with the sneaky-M. Night Shamalamadingdong-twist-at-the-end? HA HA HA! What a hoot! Enter the Village at your own peril.

2004-08-07T12:39:00.000-07:00

The Catbirdseat's guide to Indie Rock Hair.

Vulcan

Vulcan-esque

UPDATE: Just realized the Guide is a bit old (just a few months), but it's new to me. Feh.

2004-08-04T17:31:00.000-07:00

Snow Patrol play Austin on Oct. 11th. They're definitely a guilty pleasure for me right now. Scottish pop never sounded so good and their SXSW performance was quite the highlight. Their recent release , Final Straw, is to me what Coldplay's Parachutes was way back in 2000. A record I obsessed over for a whole 4 months until I woke up one wintry morning despising that Chris Martin and every sappy little yellow thing he stood for. Then A Rush of Blood to the Head dropped and he won me (and Gwyneth) over again. I'm still digging Snow Patrol's kiddie pool-shallow, high school-lovesick lyrics and the oh-so-catchy, hooky tunes.

But for how much longer? Via slatch.

2004-08-03T04:48:00.000-07:00

Texas Rollergirls finally get some national press. Via The Morning News.

That's Hott

2004-08-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

It's fucking hot in Texas. I hate it. Swimmin' hole time. Sno-cone time. Tall-boy time. Well, maybe it's not too bad.

2004-07-27T17:57:00.000-07:00

Alamo Drafthouse and ~~Michael Moore~~ offer the residents of Crawford, TX a chance to see Farenheit 9/11 under the stars. Bush invited, of course, but will probably be busy clearing brush. Via Ain't It Cool.

Update: Moore cancels to remain in Boston and continue smackin' the Dems upside the head with real backbone. And the chowder is delish.

Notorious G.O.P.

2004-07-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

Low Culture explores the sad, inevitiable union of the G.O.P and MTV. Yo, Gizza O Pizzay, you can have Madison Square Garden, Harlem belongs to the Big Dawg, Y'all.

Can Gollum Be In This One?

2004-07-24T17:23:00.000-07:00

Lucas announces to Star Wars geeks everywhere the title to next summer's blockbuster letdown, Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, due out May 19th, 2005. Phantom Menace was definitely a tame Disneyland ride. Attack of the Clones had Anakin doing his best emo-Jedi. Let's hope proto-Darth is listening to some Misfits or Slayer so we can see some real evil. 35 year-old IT administrators everywhere are scheduling leave of absences for the months preceding the release in order to camp out for the first show. For those who just can't wait until next May, here's our own DARK LORD OF THE SITH. Via Ain't It Cool.

2004-07-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Vinylvulture.co.uk delivers a list of choice breaks from rock albums for those hip-hop cratediggers who might not know any better to peruse the rock bins. Any Beatles fan remembers geeking out when The Beastie Boys sampled Sgt. Pepper on Paul's Boutique. Other breaks include juicy snips from the Pixies, Stone Roses, Iggy Pop and the Smashing Pumpkins. Sampled via catchdubs.com

Killers performance at Stubb's (inside - capacity approximately 300) on 7/24 SELLS OUT. Duh. Despite the air-conditioning, the temperature of an inside show at Stubb's can hover around 120 degrees (ahhh, Texas in July). Add hipsters to the mix and the self-importance alone increases the temp 15 degrees. Let's hope the hipsters wear extremely fashionable, yet comfortable clothing, to avoid the swamp-ass.

Trail of Wet

2004-07-22T04:58:00.000-07:00

Trail of Dead rocked the sauna and a new line-up. New album forthcoming in September. Jason Reece looks ready to battle Mad Max.

Tummy Ache

2004-07-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat (Rough Trade)

It's been a week since FF's much buzzed-about space/prog/blues opera dinghy set sail. My digestion not yet complete, I can say right now that it's a dizzying, gargantuan index of excellent pop moments. Eleanor and Matthew sing about TCBY, teleconferencing, canine spiritualism, pirates, and SASE correspondence. Eleanor is totally crushworthy. (link via Jenyk)

Chew on these tracks: "Mason City" and "My Dog Was Lost But Now He's Found"

The Helio Sequence - Love And Distance (Sub Pop)

Thanks to KEXP, I finally found my Incredibly Infectious Pop Song of the Summer, "Don't Look Away." Otherwise, this album would have slipped under my radar. "Don't Look Away" is pure cane sugar. The rest of the album is pretty damn solid, too. The addition of harmonica on some spacey/country tunes is very Beachwood Sparks. Nice.

Chew on these tracks: "Don't Look Away," "Let It Fall Apart," "S.O.S"

And what handsome album art for both joints. . .

doughy in the middle

2004-07-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

So it seems that cover bands are cool now.

Say what you will of the Gang of Four, Cure, and Radiohead cover bands, but what I'm talking about is the handful of bands dedicated to getting the originals right. Sure, what was the bastion of lameness ten years ago (I remember shunning the moment I had to pass a local cover band mecca on Sixth Street as THAT SONG from Collective Soul and THAT SONG from Candlebox wafted out to poison my ears), is now increasingly entertaining. Austin is the home to tons o' periodical hootenannys giving tribute to bands
like the 'Mats or GBV or even Prince.

Not too shabby.

+ =

PUDGE ZEPPELIN

It was with the utmost pleasure that I got to witness the return of four well-fed warriors fresh from Valhalla, PUDGE ZEPPELIN. It was a heroic display of chutzpah. A shameful display of booze-drenched self-absorption. Mentions of groupies and mudsharks. Between-song utterances of Tolkien-esque non-sequitors. Everything that the real band would do, but with more jiggle. A carb-loaded set of unrelenting, ass-kicking covers of only Led Zeppelin's coolest songs ever. You could smell the evil. Sickening. It was a whole lotta Pudge.

Pudge will be wrecking more area this Thursday at the Continental.

They're playing with a fucking AC/DC cover band called Big Balls!?!?

Lock up your 13 year olds.

My First Song

2004-06-30T18:22:00.000-07:00

Since blogging is officially over like Friendster or electroclash , like Axl says, I figured it's time I got in the ring, motherfuckers.

45 minutes later . . . . I was going to post a sexxy lil pic of a kitten in a pint glass and I have nothing more than URL-induced frustration to show for it. I guess all I can do is link. So here. Merlin be innit wit Ali G.

I have a long way to go and some jawin' with my friendly tech nerds in order to be able to hang with you "real people" in this silly blogoshere. OK, I will try hard to never, ever utter that word again.