to watch:

Brokeback before Brokeback

September 05, 2008 Earworm

Slithering slowly back to the future, I leave the eighties without letting it out of my sight with Orchestral Manoeuevres In The Dark's, "Stand Above Me", from their 1993 album, "Liberator" Actually, there was no "their" there by that time, with Paul Humphreys having bowed out in '89, Andrew McCluskey was left as sole proprietor of the franchise. While "Stand Above Me" couldn't quite match the success of "Pandora's Box" from two years earlier it wasn't for lack of trying; it's another sad tale of disillusion surrounded by deceptively festive sounds. This time, a trashy glitter-esque gallop replaces the cinematic sweeps of "Pandora's Box", suggesting that everyone is having fun at the moment but they'll be paying for it later.

While the music made me delirious on the dance floor or drive my car faster-faster to maximize the wind in my hair, the lesson of unity simply for the comfort of saying we are a we, even when no one is quite truthful with their words and goals, lingers long after the movement ended.



And who doesn't like to look at Louise Brooks?

September 04, 2008 Earworm

I'll be as brief as today's earworm, Prince's "Ronnie, Talk To Russia", which was released 18 years before 1999.

Please forgive me for being stuck in the eighties right now but I've been watching the RNC where everything old is old again. It's been very confusing as each angry lecture ends and still no Reagan appearance or new 21 Jump Street episode. But Nora Dunn as that snarky lunch lady from Alaska is pretty funny.

'Gotta run. I'm going to the Split Enz show at Painters Mill Star Theater... seven bucks a ticket! Ticketron is such a rip-off.

from the sofa: DON'T PULL THE LUNCH LADY'S FINGER

She probably has to drop the kids at the pool

Other than a pretty good smackdown at Harry Reed's cost - but he's such an easy target, I'm still waiting for something that doesn't sound like 2004 or her annual family newsletter.

Did she really dig up "Death Tax"? That one feels as old as... never mind.

Well, at least she was a brief respite from "Grumpy Old Men 3: The Convention".

Oops, John just dropped in.

September 03, 2008 Earworm

The morning email brought a message from NPR informing me that their listeners completely skipped the eighties in a best year in music poll. The graphic accompanying the story included photos of Twisted Sister and Don Johnson and once again I was reminded that I obviously danced through that decade far removed from the "real" world. Shunning the urge to post pithy comments on the site, I took the high road and gave in to Pet Shop Boys' "Love Comes Quickly" for the eleventyhundredth time since it's release in 1986, reveling in the couplet "I know it sounds ridiculous, but speaking from experience" as always.

The reasons that I love this song are many because this record works hard to keep the listener off balance; seducing us with syncopated heartbeats, heavy breaths, and sighs of "yes" It's all there, the sounds to accompany the feeling that you're giving in to temptation. And I fall for it every time with only a melody that proves that synth pop is not just beats and blips to cushion the blow.

"Sooner or later, this happens to everyone..."

One of the other tricks of this track is revealed in the liner notes of the excellent 2001 re-issue of "Please" where Chris Lowe mentions that the sequencer shifted the bassline by a sixteenth, playing off the beat. Maybe it's this that amplifies the constant feeling of falling and being caught but it just may be my romantic nature.

Pet Shop Boys were a perfect pop package. Neil Tennant was the wordy world weary aunt and Chris Lowe the randy rough trade "nephew" and at face or foot value, they offered up crafty confections that could easily be discarded should one not wish to think too much. For those who don't mind the strain, there is also a fine documentation of one or two of the many worlds that thrived just below the surface of a decade that was only superficial to those that were or who just weren't there.

from the sofa: Joe Lieberman just lied

Not so fast there, Joe. You just said that Barack Obama has never worked in a bi-partisan manner to accomplish anything within his three years in the Senate.

But, uh...

What about...

"The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (S. 2590)[1] is an Act of Congress that requires the full disclosure to the public of all entities or organizations receiving federal funds beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2007. The website USAspending.gov opened in December 2007 as a result of the act, and is maintained by the Office of Management and Budget. The Congressional Budget Office estimates S. 2590 will cost $15 million over its authorized time period of 2007–2011.[2]

The bill was introduced by Senator Tom Coburn, for himself and Senators Barack Obama, Tom Carper and John McCain on April 6, 2006.[3] After a "secret hold" was revealed and removed, it was passed unanimously in the Senate on September 7, 2006 and by the House on September 13, 2006. The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on September 26, 2006.[4]

On June 3, 2008, Senator Obama, along with Senators Carper, Coburn and McCain, introduced follow-up legislation: Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008.[5]"

(footnotes/references can be found at wikipedia)

And, uh... didn't he co-sponsor this one:
Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act ("McCain-Kennedy Bill", S. 1033) was an immigration reform bill introduced in the United States Senate on May 12, 2005 by Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy. It was the first of its kind since the early 2000s in incorporating legalization, guest worker programs, and border enforcement components. As United States immigration debate unfolded in Congress and in the field during 2005 and 2006, the bill became a landmark legislation that was often referenced by most parties of the debate to indicate support or opposition to a certain kind of immigration reform that incorporated the three components. The bill was never voted on in the Senate. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 are two additional compromises based on the original McCain-Kennedy bill.

(footnotes/references can be found at wikipedia )

So, uh...

Why'd you do it, Joe? Why'd you do it?

And what's up with the shout outs for Palin? She's practically the antithesis of what you say you support.

September 2, 2008 Earworm

As big winds blew in to meet the hot air in St. Paul, surely someone other than I looked up and thought, "Hmmmm... if there is a god, I suspect that he's pissed". It ended up being the convention goers most likely when there just wasn't enough devastation to distract from their behind the hands whispering. And that's when it really got interesting so I grabbed a bucket of popcorn and Pepsi and a box of snow caps and settled in for the new day and night time soap.

Here's what we have so far: Campbell Brown has won my heart as the girl reporter with pluck, Nancy Pfotenhauer is the duplicitous bitch with an oily past, Tucker Bounds is the ineffectual man that just might surprise us, Nicolle Wallace is the keeper of the porcine faith while constantly crying wolf, and Sarah Palin is the Victim. No, not Bristol Palin. I think that Bristol is actually the MacGuffin.

The theme song to this entertainment? Eurythmics' "Paint A Rumour", of course.

In a world...

Don LaFontaine
August 26, 1940 – September 1, 2008

What was usually the best thing about movie trailers has left the theater.

from the sofa: Nicolle Wallace plays the Diana card

Nicolle Wallace, far right of course, smells bacon:

Nicolle Wallace showed up on NBC Today this morning, crying foul on all the liberal biased bloggers who spread malicious rumors after the announcement of Sarah Palin as McCain's choice for Vice-President. That these rumors were skewed in the details but were too on target for Republican comfort was not mentioned.

Said Poor Poor Nicolle as she stepped out of the shadow of the Ciacco-ian breath of Karl Rove, "The people that are in Alaska now are there for you and your colleagues who have descended on Alaska and are investigating the private lives - not just of Governor Palin, but of her children, of her teenage children, with a fervor the likes that I haven't seen since Princess Diana died in a car crash."

Well, bless her heart.

Well, I wouldn't have gone with the Diana comparison. Something a little more recent would be more effectual. Say, "since Bill Clinton found a unique way to keep his cigars from drying out." Or, "since our party cast dispersion upon the true heritage of Senator McCain's adopted daughter."

Mary Matalin likened the attention to a "hair on fire" response but I suspect that it's closer to a response to someone's "pants on fire". If only Bristol had stronger upper arm strength and never had to put that baby sibling down...

From the sofa: Tucker Bounds get tied up by Campbell Brown

Tucker is almost as full of crap as Nancy Pfotenhauer, but not quite. Yet, somehow more of a nancy than Nancy.

Skirting around the questions while searching for a skirt behind which he could hide, Tucker Bounds made a startling announcement about Sarah Palin. No, not that her teenage unmarried daughter is preggers - who cares about that if it's not a Democratic indiscretion. What made many sit up and say, "Huh?", was his intimation that Sarah Palin is Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard.

So now we know that the Republican party has yet another asshole who has no clue as to how government works and he's speaking for the party. Run, Elephant, Run!

I'm all about Bristol's "delicate condition" being a private matter but, when her mama's party spills the beans - and hopefully not the seed - it's obvious that they're setting up the "liberal media" to feed a machine that will allow them to whine on about "bias". Sure, sending Bristol stomping off to a convent might be tricky since Sarah is an E-Van-Gel-Li-Cal Christian but, what, doesn't this family have an unmarried aunt somewhere that needs helps with her convalescence?

Well, even a pro-choice guy like me thinks it's wonderful that little Bristol is keepin' her baby and "plans" to marry the daddy. Still, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't hear of an unfortunate miscarriage and hunting trip with Uncle Dick for teen-dad in the near future.

This is getting richer by the minute.

Earworm CD: April 2008

WHY?
01. Three-Way – The Magnetic Fields
From the 2008 Nonesuch album, “Distortion”
02. You’ve Just Gotta Know My Mind – Karen Verros
From the 1965 single, Dot 16780
03. Seein’ Is Believin’ – Eddie Hodges
From the1962 single, Columbia 42649
04. Let’s Live For Today – The Grass Roots
From the 1967 single, Dunhill 4084
05. Happy Man – Greg Kihn Band
From the 1982 Beserkely album, “Kihntinued”
06. The Beat Of Love – Voice of The Beehive
From the 1988 London album, “Let It Bee”
07. All For Love and Love For All – The Lilac Time
From the 1990 Fontana album, “And Love For All”
08. Juliet Of The Spirits – The B-52’s
From the 2008 Astralwerks album, “Funplex”
09. Touch Too Much – Hot Chip
From the 2008 Astralwerks album, “Made In The Dark”
10. Stop Me (medley) – Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather
From the 2007 Red Int. album, “Version”
11. Come See About Me (mono single version) – The Supremes
From the 1964 single, Motown 1068
12. Brand New Start – Jackie DeShannon
From the 1972 Atlantic album, “Jackie”
13. I Thought I Saw Your Face Today – She & Him
From the 2008 Merge album, “Volume 1”
14. Out of Reach – Gabrielle
From the 2001 Island soundtrack album, “Bridget Jones’s Diary”
15. The Last Good Day of The Year – Cousteau
From the 2001 V2 album, “Cousteau”
16. Baby That’s Me (mono single mix) – The Cake
From the 1967 single, Decca 32179
17. Come See About Me – Afghan Whigs
From the 1992 SubPop e.p., “Uptown Avondale”
18. Back To Good – Matchbox 20
From the 1996 Atlantic album, “Yourself Or Someone Like You”
19. Naked As A Window – Josh Window
From the bonus e.p. with 2007 Victor album, “The Historical Conquests of…”
20. In My Life – The Beatles
From the 1965 Parlophone album, “Rubber Soul”
21. Thank You, Mr. Know-It-All
Excerpt from 1966 episode of the television show, “Rocky & Bullwinkle”

Earworm CD: March 2008

GET OUT
01. The Big Hurt - Miss Toni Fisher
from 1959 single Signet 275
02. I'm Gonna Be Strong - Frankie Laine
from 1963 single Columbia 42884
03. Is This What I Get For Loving You - The Ronettes
from 1965 single Philles 128
04. I Heard It Through The Grapevine (mono single mix) - Marvin Gaye
from 1968 single Tamla 54716
05. Why You Treat Me So Bad - Club Nouveau
from the 1987 Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. album, "Life, Love & Pain"
06. Inside of Me - Madonna
from the 1994 Maverick/Sire album, "Bedtime Stories"
07. The Crying Game - Boy George
from the 1993 SBK soundtrack album, "The Crying Game"
08. Criticize (single version) - Alexander O'Neal
from 1987 single Tabu 7600
09. What Do You Want From Me - Monaco
from 1997 single UK Polydor
10. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
from 1964 single Philles 124
11. She's No Better Than Me - Cher
from 1966 single Imperial 66192 (b-side)
12. Snap Out Of It - Cher
excerpt from 1987 film, "Moonstruck"
13. I'm Gonna Be Strong - Gene Pitney
from 1964 single Musicor 1045
14. Johnny One Time - Brenda Lee
from 1969 single Decca 32428
15. Standard Lie Number One - Stella Parton
from 1978 single Elektra E-45468
16. Misery - The Bodeans
from 1986 Slash album, "Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams"
17. Ways To Be Wicked - Lone Justice
from 1987 Geffen album, "Lone Justice"
18. Take The 'L' - The Motels
from the 1982 Capitol album, "All Four One"
19. I'm Gonna Be Strong - Cyndi Lauper
from the 1994 Epic album, "Twelve Deady Cyns... And Then Some"
20. It's Over - Roy Orbison
from 1964 single Monument 837
21. It's All Over But The Crying - Garbage
from the 2005 Geffen album, "Bleed Like Me"
22. Who Knows What Love Is? - Strawberry Switchblade
from the 1985 Korova album, "Strawberry Switchblade"
23. The Big Hurt - Del Shannon
from 1966 single Liberty 55866

WTF?

As concerns for the safety of Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana swell in the path of Gustav, who do the good folks at NBC's Today Show book as a guest to discuss the possible impact of the hurricane? None other than disgraced former FEMA director, Michael D. Brown.

What possible insight could "You're Doing A Heck Of A Job Brownie" provide outside of caveman speak: "Big wind come. Blow people 'round. Much water everywhere. I want my horse."

My flesh crawls at the thought of criminals like G. Gordon Liddy given talk shows to offer their opinions on integrity and freedom and hacks like Brownie offered a spot for his talking head in mainstream media. The recent downgrade of Gustav to category two, does little to dull my disappointment with the folks of NBC, with whom I used to start my morning. Perhaps we're not far from an etiquette and deportment segment from Britney.