WTFbrb

Wow, a stage version of David Rees’s fabulous political satire Get Your War On is being put on by the Rude Mechanicals in Austin, TX.

I think I could never go to a stage production of GYWO , because I’d die laughing. I think i’ve loled (lolled?) more often at Rees’s comic than any other, at least on a per strip basis. (Yeah, that means you, Achewood and DC) I don’t know if he started the clipart webcomic revolution, but he does it best. It must be the prolific cursing or something, businesspeople cursing into phones is hella funny, especially when done with a sarcastic tone. Yeah! Thats what Rees does so well, the sarcastic tone. The curses are just added to make it funnier.

Also he is just biting. Not clever (I mean, clever is so OVER! get with the program people-who-are-not-David-Rees). I mean, he will not spare anyone or anything, reader or subject. That is what I’m talking about. I need to go to Austin to see actors dressed as business-people screaming sarcastic curses into telephones.

I have always been too much of a music fan to really be able to talk about music in the public sphere (pfft, public sphere, I flatter myself). But I am going to try.

I am going to limit myself to albums released in 2005, because it makes sense. This will be mostly indie stuff because I have fallen for eMusic. Even though it is owned by Universal, its maintained a non-DRM download as you go model that is totally consumer friendly.

Also this will in no way be complete, but thats ok, otherwise I would never write it. So here goes.

• Must hear
  • Witching Hour by Ladytron. Electrocrash at its best. If you haven’t heard “Destroy Everything You Touch”, you shouldn’t be dancing.
  • Feels by Animal Collective. This is their seventh album, and I wasn’t too familiar with them until it, so I can’t give much background. But this album is just plain pleasing. It’s kinda like Modest Mouse without the catchy hooks, and more obscure. But thats ok!
  • Picaresque by The Decemberists. I had an initial review of this one somewhere in my old (bad) blog (recall: this is a good blog), but whats important is that this is another strong release from the (failed) revolutionaries. “We Both Go Down Together” is the one you want to hear, imho.
  • The Cosmic Game by Thievery Corporation. This lounge electronica duo has been around for almost a decade, and earned the respect of thier peers. That respect paid off in several outstanding guest performances from big names including The Flaming Lips, Perry Ferrel and David Byrne. Those guests are not, however, what make this album outstanding. Listen to this album.
  • Talk Like Blood by 31knots. This album is just good. Its sort of mathy, but more nerdy. If you enjoy something listenable but entirely unexpected, you’ll like this. Check out “Hearsay” first.
• Must maybe hear
  • Anniemal by Annie. This Norwegian bubblegum has been circling around the indie world, and made some mainstream headway, and is begging to be heard. The only reason its not must hear is because of a few weak tracks, which are in the long run far outbalanced by “Chewing Gum”, the title track, and a few others.
  • Separation Sunday by The Hold Steady. Talk singer Craig Finn’s lyrics are entertaining and powerful and the music is rockin’. The whole album is so good there are no standout tracks, but check out “Charlemagne in Sweatpants”; it’ll give you a good sample. The problem: either you like the vocals or you don’t. I like ‘em.
  • The Sunset Tree by The Mountain Goats. Folky and what people call “lo-fi” (altho that term keeps getting broader), this album is not quite as good as Tallahassee but better than We Shall All Be Healed, the two previous releases from John Darnielle’s “band”. Check out “Dance Music”, if you like that, you’ll probably like The Mountain Goats, and this album.
  • Make Believe by Weezer. This is Weezer at their best. Rivers has a unique ability to sing about things that would sound whiny and cheesy from anyone else. This album takes that to a new level. “The Other Way” and “This is Such a Pity” are my favorites. But don’t miss (as if you could have) “We Are All On Drugs” and “Beverly Hills” and the rest of them.
  • Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes. This is a solid White Stripes release. It won’t be easy to beat Elephant of course, but this album doesn’t attempt to do that. Instead it brings in new elements including lots of piano. Also it made me laugh out loud (lol), which is fun. I personally like it better than Elephant, even though I admit its not as good overall. Listen to “The Nurse”,”My Doorbell”, “Little Ghost” and the rest of the album.
• Mustn’t hear
  • Illinois by Sufjan Stevens. For god sakes get over it! I mean, this album is worth at most one listen, to hear what the hype is about, but no more. The lyrics are uninspired, but make an obvious attempt to sound inspired, and the vocals are kind of inane. The music is downright boring. I get what he was trying to do with the music, but I’ll take Arcade Fire over this any day of the week. The only thing cool about this album is the gimmik (I like cool gimmiks). I just hope he doesn’t fulfill his promise (threat) to do all 50 states. If he starts, I reccomend breaking up the union.

Other noteworthy albums: Twin Cinema by the New Pornographers. Digital Ash In a Digital Urn and I’m Wike Awake, It’s Morning by Bright Eyes. Another Day on Earth by Brian Eno.

Sound good?

On the very day the Serenity DVD was released (it is the number one selling DVD on Amazon.com!), Entertainmen WEAKly (that was me kinda shooting the messenger) is reporting that Firefly is over.

On a secret note, my money is on this DVD selling well enough that Universal will beg Joss to do a sequel. With his fans crying for the same (and they will be), he won’t have a choice (though I’d really prefer another 8 epsiodes in the first season, to fill out the arc in moving picture format). Then again, these things take an alignment of the stars… everyone’s still waiting for the sequel to Boondock Saints.

The sole purpose of this exclusive WTFbrb-on-your-side consumer report is to, indeed, report a great value currently at Amazon.com. They’re offering the first two seasons of Arrested Development for just $32, with free super-saver shipping.

Also, if you’re now suddenly pissed off because you already bought season 1, and can’t take advantage of this spectacular offer, think of this as your opportunity to buy season 2, and get someone’s Christmas gift early.

Enjoy.

In the landscape of television, there are mistakes (Cancelling Family Guy), tragedies (Cancelling Firefly), and then tragic mistakes.

Yes, this is the apparent “it” for Arrested Development, the award winning sitcom. With the episode order reduced from 22 to 13, a fourth season on Fox is unlikely at best, the leap to a fourth season on another network requires alignement of several flaming hoops, and cable is out of the question for a show with such high-profile (and talented) actors. The only way this show will brb is a response to it like the response to Family Guy (resurrected on Fox) or Firefly (resurrected in feature-film form): DVD sales. All the fandom in the world did not save those universes from their black holes, it was DVD sales. But, I’m not campaigning for reinstatement yet, I’m just reporting the reporting of news.

Anyways, the show. I’m not surprised it wasn’t a big hit. The hand-held camera, huge main cast, lack of obvious punchlines/laugh track, and somewhat awkward episode format, will lead my perception of the general public to just not get it. It took me a few episodes to get it, and a few more to appreciate it after getting it. The lead actor, Jason Bateman, played mostly the straight man, even though he did have some blindingly hilarious moments, and straight-men have been traditionally relegated to recurring roles (or at least not-at-all-lead roles). With the exception of Portia Di Rossi, there were no downright hotties, female or male. No doubt the humour was off-the-wall at its tamest, and the characters round as… circles, to catch Nielsen ratings (who’s problems are another issue), you have to be obvious, sexy, or placed smack-dab in the middle of The Simpsons, King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and the ressurected Family Guy. And while none of those necessitate a bad show, their absense excludes many good ones.

No doubt, Arrested will linger in the creative minds of a generation, though. It has the potential to come back, if treated properly by both its fans and its network. But even if it doesn’t, I beleive we’ll see its impact on situational comedy in coming seasons.

Oh well, time enjoy a GRE Mathematics (Rescaled) Subject Test.