Pop Culture Blog: Music, Movie and Humor
Leveraging low-hanging synergies outside the vertical fruit box since 1999.
Lynch and I went to the hockey game last night, as he got sweet tickets from his Mammy as a Christmas present. Thanks again, buddy. Much appreciated. I got some great photos and posted them and wrote the evening up over at GoonBlog. This is called shameless-self-cross-promotion if anyone’s still fuzzy on that.
In keeping with tradition, I’ve stolen another quiz for everyone to try. I’m extremely late for work, as I wait for a charming gentleman with more hair on his neck than on his head to fix my dishwasher. So I’ll get this nonsense out of the way in the meantime.
Three things I plan to do before I die:
Reproduce – Travel to Greece – Act.
Three things I can do:
Play guitar – Make people laugh – Write.
Three things I can not do:
Fix cars – Snowboard – Eat seafood.
Three things that I find attractive about the opposite sex:
Scent – Empathy – Behinds.
Three things I say the most:
Holy Fuck – Comprehensive – Eh?
Three books I love:
The Power of One – Life of Tom Horn – Borstal Boy.
It’s amazing how creative and inquisitive one can become when they haven’t had an adult alcoholic libation for nearly 2 weeks. I think I need to go on booze sebbatical a lot more often. Anyhew, during my hyper online meanderings last night I came across this simple yet fascinating section of Boston-Online that you’ve just got to have a gander at.
I’m proud to present – a live Boston Crime Map. Shortly after any little bugger shoots, stabs or robs a citizen of our fair city – they’re plonked onto this map for the rest of us to rubberneck. The homeless guy who was set on fire in the North End on Sunday? Check. The two teenagers randomly stabbing people on the Common Saturday night? Check. Let’s move over to Fenway for a second – two men hit in the head by suspect who allegedly was first spraying people in the Pilgrim Parking Lot with a fire extinguisher? You betcha. Two teenage girls arrested at the Broadway T-Stop after robbing two females at knifepoint? Par for the course.
Have a look at this fun and wonderful tool, which is constantly updated by an RSS feed, and see what other crimes against Massachusetts humanity you can find. Feel free to post them here, and I really shouldn’t be this amused.
“‘DARE’ is a staple song used by several car audio enthusiasts to test their sound system’s performance, as it contains both human voice, plenty of treble and a very strong bassline.” – Wiki
Granted, I am WAY behind the bell curve on writing about this song – but I love it, I love the 2 legendary bands whose former members are involved with it and we just mentioned ‘Dare’ as part of the gym mix post from yesterday. I built a Happy Mondays related site recently, and in the process read a few articles surrounding how the song came to be. It’s interesting stuff. I’ll elaborate.
Damon Albarn, formerly of Blur and the current mastermind behind the Gorillaz, had always wanted to work with Shaun Ryder. The only problem is, Shaun Ryder has been a drug-addled mess for the last 20 years, and getting him involved in a project is tantamount to slamming your dink in a door. Don’t get me wrong – I love the man’s work. The Mondays and Black Grape are two of my favorite audio guilty pleasures. But he likes the hallucinogens and has been in some trouble as of late.
“Shaun Ryder… threatens another Lazarus style comeback with his best contribution to a record for well over a decade. It’s his Manc whine that steals the show and makes Dare and so enthralling, he might have his debts paid off in ten years if he keeps this sort of performance up.” – Beat Surrender
The song is hella fawnky, with great spooky sound effects, a catchy chorus and an interesting vocal alternation between Ryder’s marble mouth, Albarn’s falsetto and the Gorillaz only female member, Noodles. The video features Ryder’s disembodied cyborg headed singing away just as soon as the Gorillaz release him from his closet.
Ian Brown, a proper media shit-disturber who also incidentally happened to be the lead singer of The Stone Roses, recently claimed that the song was originally supposed to be called ‘There’ – But Ryder had a little trouble enunciatingg that very tricky word. Brown smirks, “They were going to call it, ‘It’s There’ but Shaun couldn’t say ‘there’, so they called it Dare. I know the guy who was the recording engineer on it and he was like, ‘One, two, three, four…’ and it took Shaun five hours to come in.” DARE to keep Shaun off Drugs.
The video is equal parts disturbing and brilliant, and the song is just brilliant. Watch the full clip here, or listen to the song by clicking Radio Pye in the left hand column.
When I started my current job in 2003, I was pleased to learn that I’d have access to the office building’s gym. And access it I did. In fact, I accessed the frig out of it – I got down to about 210 pounds at one point, and was looking pretty twatting svelt if I do say so myself. I like going to the gym. Once it’s in your routine, it’s easy to make time for and you even miss it when time does not allow. But it is so, so easy to fall out of step. And oh how the svelt have fallen.
With a little effort, my body gains and drops weight like Barbapapa in a trailer park meth lab. A lot of my friends have started back after long hiatuses – even DVS has been going daily – so I think it’s high time I joined the let’s-get-physical-fray. I went down to City Sports at lunch, got me some socks, a cool Under Armor water bottle, a pair of lacrosse shorts and tonight will be spent creating an audio steriod mix. During my last gym phase, I had a crappy 20 song 128MB MP3 player. I had to choose my workout tunes very carefully, lest I go crazy listening to the same songs for a week on end. Now I have a 60GB iPod, so I’m going to compile the biggest, rockingest gym mix derived from all iron pumping playlists of the past.
With no further adue, I will now share my top ten favorite gym mix songs of all time. There’s not a lot of rhyme or reason here, and it has nothing to do with BPM. These are simply songs that get me fired-up for whatever reason. I’m not going to write them all up, as I do actually need to actually get to the gym this evening.
A lot of houses, and a lot of pain, I just noticed. But then, isn’t that what a gym is? Regardless, if you wish to know more about any of these songs or artists, Google them or simply trust your friend. Your big, fired-up, sweaty, dry-heaving, dead-on-an-elliptical Canadian friend.
Emma Watson on the set of next year’s blockbuster: Harry Potter and the Chalice of the Vanishing Hymen.
The George Clooney kudos crescendo is caving my head in. 10 years ago he was a regular on Roseanne, lest we forget. Jake Gyllenhal had to play tongue-hockey with another stinky man repeatedly for his nomination, and what did he get? Sure, Clooney had his fingernails pulled out with pliers, but I actually really enjoyed that scene. Most folks probably cringed watching the torture, but I stood up on a chair and cheered: “That’s for Return of the Killer Tomatoes, ya bastard.” And quite possibly for this.
“Actually, it would probably be easier if I just said ‘Anyone who wasn’t in Crash please stand up’.” – Jon Stewart
I wanted Munich to win, because it actually deserved to, but had no pipe dreams about that happening. I cashed in my chips and went downstairs to watch Life on Mars long before the Oscars had ended. I fully expected to see Brokeback on the front page of CNN this morning, so imagine my surprise. Crash is an OK movie, but I think the Academy really lost the PC plot this year. If you’re on the fence about that last statement, you need only be reminded of Stewart’s most prolific joke of the evening:
“Once again, for those of you who are keeping score: Martin Scorcese, zero Oscars. Three-Six-Mafia, one.”
Yes, it’s another Squidoo-related post. Some fellow lensmasters and I are starting our own related site called SquidooItYourself. I launched it today, and want to get it spidered… So here we are.
I honestly believe that Squidoo is going to be enormous, in case you haven’t noticed. This site will be an objective 3rd party source of external news and tips, and it’s the first of its kind. If you think I’m crazy, you might not get a ride on my cigarrette boat in 2 years. So just watch it, buddy.
Kids, you’ve heard me talk about memes a time or two. Friday’s Quizzlet is a meme I get from an external source and I use it as a catalyst for material on dreary Friday mornings. I grow tired of it from time to time, and would also like to foster a little reader participation this week – so I’m going with more of a bullet-point quiz that I hope you’ll enjoy and take for a spin yourself. I stole it from The Duck, and God only knows where she dug it up.
What is your name?: They call me Pye.
What is your astrological sign?: Sagittarius
What time did you get up this morning?: 9:00 am.
Favorite toothpaste: Some sort of Crest. I’m in and out of CVS in a flash.
Oprah or Dr. Phil?: Heterosexual.
What was your prom theme?: I have no idea. But based on all recollection, probably something from Ritual de lo Habitual.
3 Favorite Movies to Watch Hungover: Whatever’s playing on TV in the Emergency Room at MGH.
Wax, pluck or shave: I pluck my eyebrows in the middle a wee bit and do a little ‘dirty lawn’ maintenance.
If free plastic surgery existed, what would you consider?: Contrary to what you read on here sometimes – I’m quite fond of myself. Nothing.
How do you take your coffee?: Cream and sugar if I’m out, black at home.
Favorite song in 6th Grade?: Pale Shelter by Tears for Fears.
Name Three Guilty Pleasures: The only question I’ve had trouble answering. I feel guilty enough about beer sometimes for all 3 spots. Sorry, Walla.
Who would you cast as you in the film adaptation of your life?: Vaughn, Fraser or Livingston – in that order.
If you could choose it, your last meal would consist of: Greek food, but I’d have no idea it was my last. As long as I stay out of the drug trade, I won’t.
Age you lost your virginity: TMI. Far too young.
Is there any accessory you wear every day?: My Bruins charity bracelet.
Favorite Vacation Ever: South Africa for scenery, Australia for fun.
Current Celebrity Crush: Rachel Weisz.
Favorite Book as a Child: John Christopher’s Tripod series. Now that I’m older and I know better, I liked it more when it was called War of the Worlds.
Where Were You on Your 21st Birthday?: The Brass Taps in Guelph. I’d been of age for 2 years. Big whoop. Here’s an actual photo from that night.
Side, stomach or back?: All three, repeatedly, incessantly, please crush up some Ambien so I can snort it immediately.
Your Most Overused Phrase or Word: ‘Comprehensively.’ At work. At home, it’s ‘Nate, lower your voice, it’s only basketball‘.
I just got a crazy little text message from Hartford to tell me the great news! Seamus and Meredith are engaged, and licensed event halls everywhere are lining up to bid on the reception. Way to go guys – here’s to a great life together.
At one point during the concert tonight, I turned to the group of friends and siblings I was with and made the uproariously hilarious remark: “Hi, I’m the Boston Fire Inspector. Thanks a lot for not inviting me?” The February 28th Belle and Sebastian show at Avalon in Boston (just a pause for the search engines here, folks) was grossly oversold, and I’d like to sarcastically thank the powers that be for jamming us in there like branded cattle. I’ve seen about 800 shows there since 1988 – including packed houses like Coldplay and the Pixies, and I’ve never been welfarically uncomfortable before. I could actually see the panic attacks taking place on the faces of the people around me. Especially when New Pornographers covered “Once Bitten, Twice Shy“. All horribly tasteless jokes aside, that was a real pain in the ass you money grubbing Landsdowne fucks.
The NP‘s were great, and I’m adding their new song Bones of an Idol to the Wadio right now so have a listen on your left. I’ve spun it 8 times already today – it’s awesome. They’re from Vancouver, and have developed a huge ex-pat following a la the Hip here in Boston. I saw tons of Maple Leafs being rocked on hats, scarves and jackets last night. They use two keyboards, a mouth organ and male/female vocal mix that’s about 50/50. A pulsing, unique sound that I’m going to be delving into deeply over the next few weeks. Super band.
Belle and Sebastian sounded amazing, despite the fact we eventually retreated to one of Avalon’s back corners when the crowds began to surge forward. One thing about hipster crowds – they don’t brush their teeth and fart uncontrollably. I have to chalk it up to all the cheap food available in Davis square, or the fact that sometimes they’re forced to eat Decemberist records when their student loans run out. Either way, it was like a focus group for Crest and Gas-X and I gladly hid in the back, hence my completely awful pictures. Not to mention I was asked to stop taking photos by a 4-foot tall bouncer who also smelt like he’d been eating aquarium scum.
I thoroughly enjoyed Stuart’s silly dancing, and the horns sounded perfect. Judy and the Dream of Horses and Seeing Other People were the highlights for me, although Stu forgot the first verse of the latter. These guys are a tight, tight outfit. The tour has just started, and here’s a list of the dates lest you wish to venture out. Just remember to wear fire retardent clothing and to spread Vaporub under your nostrils like Clarice Starling.
