image by maggie lee
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
What "A Wonderful Life"
is to Christmas...
...is what "Poltergeist" is to Halloween.
Relive the joy again. Tobe Hooper. Steven Spielberg. Yeah. Classic.
It knows what scares you, political television coverage.
They're here. November 4.
...is what "Poltergeist" is to Halloween.
Relive the joy again. Tobe Hooper. Steven Spielberg. Yeah. Classic.
It knows what scares you, political television coverage.
They're here. November 4.
Is Black Metal The New Skateboarding?
To my shock, and much of the community's, Xasthur, a black ambient metal musician who hails from California, aka Malefic, was not only featured in a NEW YORK TIMES Arts & Entertainment section of this past Sunday's edition, but it was none other than Ryan Adams who wrote it. What? What in the hell. Has hell really frozen over?
People who listen to metal (and there are many sub-genres and classes and on and on), or care about it as an art form, and are musically inclined to experiment in the genre, such as Xasthur, Sunn, etc., will find it equally amusing, if not worthy of confusion and condemnation. This music is underground. Ryan has made a huge faux pas by stating it. Now he is damned.
In the shameful, or shameless October 24 article, entitled “A Dash of Mainstream and A Whole Lot of Metal,” Adams playlist lumps Xasthur among Mariah Carey, Metallica, and Jay Z.
See, Xasthur isn’t what you’d call chummy. ‘Cause chummy ain’t part of it.
The liner notes of the album Ryan gushes over, “Defective Epitaph” read:
“There is no one to thank, fuck you. No contact address. No interviews. The lyrics are unavailable upon request.”
Yes, there is a “Xasthur” myspace page. But it’s not created by Malefic. The “official” site states:
“Xasthur has never been affiliated with ‘My-space’ and there won’t be any official pages or profiles either. I have never chosen to promote this band and there isn’t any need to, especially in ways such as this. I am not your friend and truth is, I prefer not to interact with people, even if that’s so fucking hard to believe in this day and age...that is not my role, or purpose.... I’m sure..., as well as all of us, have better things to do with our time.”
Xasthur is not doing a reverse psych plea for attention. He, like others like him, though I hope not to incur the wrath of those who wish his name to not be spoken here, Leviathan, aka Wrest, work hard to be and remain underground. This goes deeper than six feet.
His ideal and concept is to never perform, Sunn will do so, though minimally, and to release very little in the way of recordings. There is a code to this genre and Ryan Adams isn’t part of it. Clearly by his “leaking” of it into the mainstream populace. This is not pop art. This is not indie. And it certainly isn’t meant to be exalted within the New York Times. There are places, and times for this music. There are those who speak of it and some who practice it. This is not Ryan Adams. If he truly appreciated it, he would have kept silent about it.
His exposure to the “light” won’t put Xasthur on a Monsters of Rock bill, it’s just in bad taste. Why does Adams feel the need to pose? Does he not know, we drink poser blood.
For one thing Mr. Adams, praises Metallica’s “return to form” effort, the miserable, and boring “Death Magnetic” an album deemed horrible, a horror, of sorts, by anyone who has any respect at all for Metallica albums I-IV. Metallica died after “Justice.” Why? Because Cliff Burton died. Since then they have not been the same. The end.
It makes sense for Jay Z and Metallica and the rest to be here and be spoken of by Ryan Adams. It just makes no sense for Xasthur. If Adams was a real fan, he wouldn’t have lumped Malefic in the same conversation, let alone on a Sunday, and in a Arts & Entertainment section of a mainstream publication.
I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, like it’s an editorial call, it’s close to Halloween, but Adams speaks for his own level of intelligence.
People who listen to metal (and there are many sub-genres and classes and on and on), or care about it as an art form, and are musically inclined to experiment in the genre, such as Xasthur, Sunn, etc., will find it equally amusing, if not worthy of confusion and condemnation. This music is underground. Ryan has made a huge faux pas by stating it. Now he is damned.
In the shameful, or shameless October 24 article, entitled “A Dash of Mainstream and A Whole Lot of Metal,” Adams playlist lumps Xasthur among Mariah Carey, Metallica, and Jay Z.
See, Xasthur isn’t what you’d call chummy. ‘Cause chummy ain’t part of it.
The liner notes of the album Ryan gushes over, “Defective Epitaph” read:
“There is no one to thank, fuck you. No contact address. No interviews. The lyrics are unavailable upon request.”
Yes, there is a “Xasthur” myspace page. But it’s not created by Malefic. The “official” site states:
“Xasthur has never been affiliated with ‘My-space’ and there won’t be any official pages or profiles either. I have never chosen to promote this band and there isn’t any need to, especially in ways such as this. I am not your friend and truth is, I prefer not to interact with people, even if that’s so fucking hard to believe in this day and age...that is not my role, or purpose.... I’m sure..., as well as all of us, have better things to do with our time.”
Xasthur is not doing a reverse psych plea for attention. He, like others like him, though I hope not to incur the wrath of those who wish his name to not be spoken here, Leviathan, aka Wrest, work hard to be and remain underground. This goes deeper than six feet.
His ideal and concept is to never perform, Sunn will do so, though minimally, and to release very little in the way of recordings. There is a code to this genre and Ryan Adams isn’t part of it. Clearly by his “leaking” of it into the mainstream populace. This is not pop art. This is not indie. And it certainly isn’t meant to be exalted within the New York Times. There are places, and times for this music. There are those who speak of it and some who practice it. This is not Ryan Adams. If he truly appreciated it, he would have kept silent about it.
His exposure to the “light” won’t put Xasthur on a Monsters of Rock bill, it’s just in bad taste. Why does Adams feel the need to pose? Does he not know, we drink poser blood.
For one thing Mr. Adams, praises Metallica’s “return to form” effort, the miserable, and boring “Death Magnetic” an album deemed horrible, a horror, of sorts, by anyone who has any respect at all for Metallica albums I-IV. Metallica died after “Justice.” Why? Because Cliff Burton died. Since then they have not been the same. The end.
It makes sense for Jay Z and Metallica and the rest to be here and be spoken of by Ryan Adams. It just makes no sense for Xasthur. If Adams was a real fan, he wouldn’t have lumped Malefic in the same conversation, let alone on a Sunday, and in a Arts & Entertainment section of a mainstream publication.
I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, like it’s an editorial call, it’s close to Halloween, but Adams speaks for his own level of intelligence.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Recommended
There are few triumphs in cinema these days, here are two.
Zidane, at BAM
And...the greatest vampire movie ever made.
Let The Right One In, at the Angelika
(adapted from the novel of the same name by the Swedish author, John Lidqvist, available 10/28, U.S.)
Zidane, at BAM
And...the greatest vampire movie ever made.
Let The Right One In, at the Angelika
(adapted from the novel of the same name by the Swedish author, John Lidqvist, available 10/28, U.S.)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
"Errors, mischief could lead to long election night"
Ok I know all about mischief from my childhood. But errors? Isn't this guy busy with sports?
What's he got to go and ruin our election?
What's he got to go and ruin our election?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Palin says election result "rests in God's hands"
Effing dolt.
and in other news!
"Bird-Like Dinosaur Sported Bizarre Tail Feathers"
Give it to me. Give me information bitches!
and in other news!
"Bird-Like Dinosaur Sported Bizarre Tail Feathers"
Give it to me. Give me information bitches!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Most Rock Frontmen Lack Balls; RTX's Frontlady Will Lend You Hers
from Village Voice 10/15/08
Wherever RTX frontwoman Jennifer James Herrema goes, my heart follows. Why? 'Cause she's a grown-ass woman, dawg—a stone Southern belle with her skinny legs, fur pelts, surely blackened lungs and all; alumnus of Royal Trux (one of the best bands of the '90s); and current engine behind one of the few pure rock-'n'-roll acts left. JJ Got Live RaTX officially crowns her the Queen of Metal, too: Stop sitting vigil for Chinese Democracy and raise a pimp chalice in salute.
Her helpful hint: "We got it covered/We do it like no other." No one's more badass than Herrema—tell me true, can you name a boy-leader who doesn't leave his balls on the shelf when he takes the stage? (Lemmy aside?) JJ Got Live RaTX shows an x-panded lineup finding its true center; it's a complete, and completely epic, recording that ought to once and for all silence the Amen choir of Trux cultists alienated by (the great) early RTX works Transmaniacon and Western Xterminator. The funk, lo-fi blues, and experimental flourishes in Herrema's arsenal are temporarily restrained here, as she's got her pointy boot-heels firmly planted on the rock. Her powerful rhythm section—bassist Kurt Midness and drummer Nadav Eisenman—perpetually take us on the freedom flight, too, while remembering what badass bitches always want to do: D-A-N-C-E. And when pickers Jaimo Welch and Brian McKinley soar together on the epic "Too Badd," sho'nuff Ronnie Van Zant's smiling from the Great Swamp-on-High. Here in the City, we're crying over the cancellation of the RTX tour, but know we're rockin' out to this closing anthem/instant classic till the cows come home.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Getting One's Goat
My goat has been gotten.
I am annoyed. My only source of milk has been pilfered. I am miffed to hell.
prendre la chevre (French)
First my key wouldn't work. Then it takes forever for hot water to coarse the pipes.
And I was overcharged on a fax.
To top it all off today is not a holiday for me.
I've been waiting around like some lame duck for a phone call.
But it's all being funneled into a production that involves a lot of loud music and 2" Chicano figures.
I am annoyed. My only source of milk has been pilfered. I am miffed to hell.
prendre la chevre (French)
First my key wouldn't work. Then it takes forever for hot water to coarse the pipes.
And I was overcharged on a fax.
To top it all off today is not a holiday for me.
I've been waiting around like some lame duck for a phone call.
But it's all being funneled into a production that involves a lot of loud music and 2" Chicano figures.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Taknight--opening @ Riviera, last show
http://seeyouattheriviera.com/
http://www.radiosilencebook.com/
At Riviera,
http://www.radiosilencebook.com/
At Riviera,
Thursday, October 2, 2008
One of the best songs ever written
Well, you're my friend
And can you see
Many times we've been out drinking
Many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice, the kind of thoughts I got
Well you know I have a love, for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive, to live I won't let go
But can you see this opposition, comes rising up sometimes
That is dread full imposition, comes blacking in my mind
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you
There's a hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness
Well I hope that someday buddy
We'll have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see
Oh no, I see your darkness
Oh no, I see your darkness
Oh no, I see your darkness
Oh no, I see your darkness
Did you know how much I love you
There's a hope that somehow you
You'll save me from this darkness
-Will Oldham
And can you see
Many times we've been out drinking
Many times we've shared our thoughts
But did you ever, ever notice, the kind of thoughts I got
Well you know I have a love, for everyone I know
And you know I have a drive, to live I won't let go
But can you see this opposition, comes rising up sometimes
That is dread full imposition, comes blacking in my mind
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
And then I see a darkness
Did you know how much I love you
There's a hope that somehow you
Can save me from this darkness
Well I hope that someday buddy
We'll have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
And we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see
Oh no, I see your darkness
Oh no, I see your darkness
Oh no, I see your darkness
Oh no, I see your darkness
Did you know how much I love you
There's a hope that somehow you
You'll save me from this darkness
-Will Oldham
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