Woke up. Got out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head. Put some clothes on. Put my contacts in. Realized I didn't quite feel like going to school and climbed back into bed.
Now I leave you with Snoop's latest video for your viewing pleasure.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Dion McGregor: Famous Sleep-Talker
Today I happened to stumbled upon a little treasure of hilarity that truly makes life worth living.
I was on Wikipedia at campus, trying to kill time before my next class. I stumbled upon a page about sleep-walking, and continued to browse related links until I ended up on sleep-talking. At the end of the article, I found what I thought was a hilarious little blurb.
"One famous sleep talker is Dion McGregor, a man who became something of an underground celebrity when his roommate Michael Barr recorded his nightly soliloquies (which were often hilariously detailed), which were then released as a series of albums in the 60's."
"McGregor talked in his sleep. Not in quiet, barely-comprehensible mumbles: while he slept, McGregor would essentially narrate his dreams at conversational volume. As a narrator of his (often terrifying) dreams, Dion adopted various personas but frequently established a fey, argumentative, insolent approach to the subject at hand – be it a hot air balloon trip to the moon with a group of multi-ethnic children, a frantic journey around New York, or a tattooing job on a woman's tongue."
Wow. I honestly could not wait to get home so I could download this. As soon as I got home I did, and on first listen was blown away at how absurdly hilarious this guy was. I listened to the first track and realized I should wait to listen to the rest until I was in some good, full company (laughing is so much better with others). I dabbled in a bit more a while later, and it only made me much more certain how hilarious this guy really was. I'm currently saving the rest of the album until I'm nice and stoned, in the company of some good friends, but I highly encourage you to download and listen for yourself. Prepare for some seriously funny shit.
I was on Wikipedia at campus, trying to kill time before my next class. I stumbled upon a page about sleep-walking, and continued to browse related links until I ended up on sleep-talking. At the end of the article, I found what I thought was a hilarious little blurb.
"One famous sleep talker is Dion McGregor, a man who became something of an underground celebrity when his roommate Michael Barr recorded his nightly soliloquies (which were often hilariously detailed), which were then released as a series of albums in the 60's."
"McGregor talked in his sleep. Not in quiet, barely-comprehensible mumbles: while he slept, McGregor would essentially narrate his dreams at conversational volume. As a narrator of his (often terrifying) dreams, Dion adopted various personas but frequently established a fey, argumentative, insolent approach to the subject at hand – be it a hot air balloon trip to the moon with a group of multi-ethnic children, a frantic journey around New York, or a tattooing job on a woman's tongue."
Wow. I honestly could not wait to get home so I could download this. As soon as I got home I did, and on first listen was blown away at how absurdly hilarious this guy was. I listened to the first track and realized I should wait to listen to the rest until I was in some good, full company (laughing is so much better with others). I dabbled in a bit more a while later, and it only made me much more certain how hilarious this guy really was. I'm currently saving the rest of the album until I'm nice and stoned, in the company of some good friends, but I highly encourage you to download and listen for yourself. Prepare for some seriously funny shit.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Of Montreal, Reactionism, and Status Quo
To the delight of some, and disgust of others, Of Montreal have appeared in yet another TV spot, this time physically appearing to play themselves. Its similar to the way I feel about most commercials (doesn't create interest in the product), but it's still cute and admirable that they're able to poke fun at themselves.
In response to the inevitable claims that he's "selling out", Kevin Barnes wrote a quick little entry on his feelings on the subject. Its great because instead of staying on the defense, he instead attacks the impossible standards of those who love to toss around the "s" word.
I've been discovering lately a new group of shitty people. They exist in all shapes and forms and hold all kinds of different ideals, but they all have one trait in common. They romanticize and dream for an unlikely idea to come to become reality, but as soon as it does come to fruitation, they abandon it adopt a new idea that is 180 DEGREES FROM THEIR ORIGINAL DREAM. These are the people who don't want the world to be perfect because then there will be nothing to revolt against. These are the people who despise "lesser of two evils" politics, but as soon as they discover a grassroots type candidate, such as Ron Paul, they attack him because he could "never win". In this case, its these type of people who are quick to call someone a sell out, yet complain about modern popular music being bullshit. Which one do you want? Good music to stay an underground phenomenon, or for the masses to respect and listen to good music? Popular music isn't going to become good, good music needs to become popular. This is why its not bad for artists to sell themselves to the man (while of course holding a shred of dignity, mind you). Shit, no one accused the Beatles of selling out right? Status quo FTL.
http://www.stereogum.com/archives/commercial-appeal/of-montreal-art-brut-do-tmobile.html
In response to the inevitable claims that he's "selling out", Kevin Barnes wrote a quick little entry on his feelings on the subject. Its great because instead of staying on the defense, he instead attacks the impossible standards of those who love to toss around the "s" word.
I've been discovering lately a new group of shitty people. They exist in all shapes and forms and hold all kinds of different ideals, but they all have one trait in common. They romanticize and dream for an unlikely idea to come to become reality, but as soon as it does come to fruitation, they abandon it adopt a new idea that is 180 DEGREES FROM THEIR ORIGINAL DREAM. These are the people who don't want the world to be perfect because then there will be nothing to revolt against. These are the people who despise "lesser of two evils" politics, but as soon as they discover a grassroots type candidate, such as Ron Paul, they attack him because he could "never win". In this case, its these type of people who are quick to call someone a sell out, yet complain about modern popular music being bullshit. Which one do you want? Good music to stay an underground phenomenon, or for the masses to respect and listen to good music? Popular music isn't going to become good, good music needs to become popular. This is why its not bad for artists to sell themselves to the man (while of course holding a shred of dignity, mind you). Shit, no one accused the Beatles of selling out right? Status quo FTL.
http://www.stereogum.com/archives/commercial-appeal/of-montreal-art-brut-do-tmobile.html
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Good Taste, History, and Space Ghost
Despite being an extremely abstract concept, I think there are some objective qualities to "good taste". One of them, is time. If The Used and Thrice are still your favorite bands to the day, may God help you, but I honestly would respect your taste more than I would have if you told me that five years ago. Why? Because clearly there is some quality about these bands that you like that have stood the test of time. Whatever it may be, it hasn't faded away like the band's popularity, creativity, and careers have. Its a history lesson and the lesson is trying to say something about taste!!!
Recently I decided that Broken Social Scene wasn't my favorite band anymore. Although they have the potential to be the best band in the world, they aren't able / don't know how to harness it. Their latest offer was unfortunately a let down, and their self titled album always had my focus shifted elsewhere; to the bootlegs of the past, and the recordings of the future. But You Forgot It In People is still perfect right? Thats when I'm beginning to doubt myself.
So where do I go from here? The clear heir to the throne is Pavement, but I don't listen to them nearly as much as I do the runner-up, Of Montreal. I decided however that Of Montreal (or BSS for that matter) will not stand the test of time nearly as well as Pavement. And heres why. The best bands exist outside of their albums. Pavement left us with five full lengths to judge them by. But more importantly, they had a personality that will live on forever. Why is it so hard to pick the best Beatles album? Because their albums don't mean shit, its the sum of their legacy and personality that lives on forever.
While its hard for people born in the 80s to get a feel for Pavement's (a band that existed solely in the 90s, the majority of the time under the radar) personality, the avid fan finds little clues everywhere. For example, take a look at exhibit A. These minute and a half videos encapsulate everything Pavement.
Recently I decided that Broken Social Scene wasn't my favorite band anymore. Although they have the potential to be the best band in the world, they aren't able / don't know how to harness it. Their latest offer was unfortunately a let down, and their self titled album always had my focus shifted elsewhere; to the bootlegs of the past, and the recordings of the future. But You Forgot It In People is still perfect right? Thats when I'm beginning to doubt myself.
So where do I go from here? The clear heir to the throne is Pavement, but I don't listen to them nearly as much as I do the runner-up, Of Montreal. I decided however that Of Montreal (or BSS for that matter) will not stand the test of time nearly as well as Pavement. And heres why. The best bands exist outside of their albums. Pavement left us with five full lengths to judge them by. But more importantly, they had a personality that will live on forever. Why is it so hard to pick the best Beatles album? Because their albums don't mean shit, its the sum of their legacy and personality that lives on forever.
While its hard for people born in the 80s to get a feel for Pavement's (a band that existed solely in the 90s, the majority of the time under the radar) personality, the avid fan finds little clues everywhere. For example, take a look at exhibit A. These minute and a half videos encapsulate everything Pavement.
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