You guys have probably never heard me talk about one of my favorite bands, Superdrag. Although I first heard them on 120minutes back in the early 90’s, I quickly personalized them when I discovered they were from Knoxville. If you have never heard their music, I would encourage you to check out any of their albums. My personal favorite to start with would be “In the Valley of Dying Stars”, and then go to their debut, “Regretfully Yours”, followed by one of their best loved but most challenging records “A Head Trip In Every Key”. Then you can finish up with “Last Call for Vitriol” before diving into lead singer John Davis’ great new solo album, “Arigato!”
Here’s a link to some great audio files and a wonderful write-up/interview!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Seen, Read and Heard Update
First of all, a musical number in the middle of Spider-man 3 was not only a bad idea, it was painfully campy in a series that seemed to get its feet under it in the second movie. Venom was very disappointing, and not nearly the imposing, creepy menace that Todd McFarlane intended him to be. I almost want to sell the dvd that I spent $20.00 on.
I’m currently listening to the unabridged audiobook of Dune during my commute. It’s all I can do not to go and rent the Sci-Fi Channel’s mini-series during the reading of it, because I would love to see how it compares to the book, which, unfortunately, I had not read prior to seeing David Lynch’s film version. I find the books philosophies the most interesting part of it, and the parallels to the religion of this world are noteworthy. The ideas of self control, as evidenced by the Bene Gesserit teachings, are very buddhist in nature. Their motivations and involvement in politics and manipulation mirror the conservative right. Very interesting book.
I’ve been listening to a lot of different music this week:
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - ”Raising Sand“ - I didn’t think I would like this record, but T-Bone Burnett’s unlikely pairing of the angelic Krauss and the aging Plant is inspired. They’ve taken songs that have been overlooked or forgotten, including Tom Waits and Mel Tillis, and given them a reworking. I expected something weak and uninspired, yet another Nashville bastardization of two great artists. I was so wrong. It’s creepy, moody, atmospheric, and at times unsettling. This is one of my favorite albums of the year.
Dead Kennedys - ”Milking the Sacred Cow“ - A nice retrospective, and provides the new DK listener the ability to hear some classic punk songs that aren’t available anymore as the discs are out of print.
The Cult - “Born Into This“ - Boring. Boring. Boring. My favorite college band has reached a new low. This doesn’t reinvent the band, it buries it.
Radiohead - ”In Rainbows” - Their best album since OK Computer. It engages you at the very first song, “15 Steps”, and it has no filler. It comes in at a lean 10, well chosen, songs. Radiohead should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished, despite the fact that this artistic masterpiece is likely to be overlooked by the RIAA issues of their self-marketing of the album outside of the record industry.
I’m currently listening to the unabridged audiobook of Dune during my commute. It’s all I can do not to go and rent the Sci-Fi Channel’s mini-series during the reading of it, because I would love to see how it compares to the book, which, unfortunately, I had not read prior to seeing David Lynch’s film version. I find the books philosophies the most interesting part of it, and the parallels to the religion of this world are noteworthy. The ideas of self control, as evidenced by the Bene Gesserit teachings, are very buddhist in nature. Their motivations and involvement in politics and manipulation mirror the conservative right. Very interesting book.
I’ve been listening to a lot of different music this week:
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - ”Raising Sand“ - I didn’t think I would like this record, but T-Bone Burnett’s unlikely pairing of the angelic Krauss and the aging Plant is inspired. They’ve taken songs that have been overlooked or forgotten, including Tom Waits and Mel Tillis, and given them a reworking. I expected something weak and uninspired, yet another Nashville bastardization of two great artists. I was so wrong. It’s creepy, moody, atmospheric, and at times unsettling. This is one of my favorite albums of the year.
Dead Kennedys - ”Milking the Sacred Cow“ - A nice retrospective, and provides the new DK listener the ability to hear some classic punk songs that aren’t available anymore as the discs are out of print.
The Cult - “Born Into This“ - Boring. Boring. Boring. My favorite college band has reached a new low. This doesn’t reinvent the band, it buries it.
Radiohead - ”In Rainbows” - Their best album since OK Computer. It engages you at the very first song, “15 Steps”, and it has no filler. It comes in at a lean 10, well chosen, songs. Radiohead should be very proud of what they’ve accomplished, despite the fact that this artistic masterpiece is likely to be overlooked by the RIAA issues of their self-marketing of the album outside of the record industry.