Reader Music Review
Super Furry Animals
By moose & squirrel
''Rings Around The World''
Super Furry Animals
(Beggars XL Recording)
Long ago I gave up those lysergic drenched all night music listening experiences but the happy memories of the places visited remain in my psyche with enduring favor. My yearning for experimental pop music has never left though. So when a musical ensemble like the Super Furry Animals release a new recording in the US of A it is time to climb Snowdon (tallest mountain in Wales and home to SFA) and shout to the world that one of the better Spring releases of 2002 has arrived upon American shores.
Imagine Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach with Elvis Costello, The Beatles, 70's Soul, 60's Psychedelia, Marvin Gaye, Philly Horns, & sensible strings filtered through stinging techno-dissonant marvels and you are getting close to where these lads are coming from. Gorgeous pop melodies morph into wild musical experiments that include Sir Paul McCartney munching celery/carrots a la Beach Boys' Smile.
"No Sympathy" is a pleasant sounding folk type tune with lush harmonies about the death penalty seen through the eyes of none other than Dubya Bush
(chorus)
Sympathy, sympathy
You want some don't come to me
Don't try me for sympathy
I don't feel sorry for thee
You deserve to die
You deserve to die
that descends into a techno hell for the remaining minutes of its sonic wonder. Imagine an electric chair gone awry and exploding body parts being flung in all directions all the while maintaining a musical context and integrity. This kind of adventurous music is rarely found on a major label recording.
I read somewhere (credit due to whoever you are) the title tune sounding like the Beach Boys on Mars and that is close enough for me. The traditional rock and roll groove is supplemented with all sorts of odd sounds. Their poking fun at cell phones among other things is charming and disarming:
Earth will become Saturn II
With all those rings around the world
Tetsuo II became me and you
With all those rings around the world
And all those body hammer blows
We're drawing rings around the world
Ha-ha!
Ring! Ring!
(Hello?)
Ring! Ring!
(Hello?)
Rings around the world
(Rings around the world)
(X7)
"Receptacle for the Respectable" features the aforementioned McCartney cameo. It is a bonny sounding ditty with rhythmic vegetable chewing and a groovy pop sensibility that abruptly turns mean when the lead singer Gruff begins to growl the ending lyrics and machines go metallic sounding like a warning for a nuclear attack.
"Presidential Suite" addresses the stupefying obsession over Monica with a stellar pop sound featuring peppy horns and some sweetening strings. I guess people from Wales have a better perspective than we do about how we view our presidency. Fellow Welshman John Cale makes a sly appearance on piano.
"Juxtaposed with U" has lines like
"You've got to tolerate all those people that you hate/ I'm not in love with you but I won't hold that against you" and vocal parts sung through a vocoder. It's cheesy sound is immediately likeable. Intended originally to be a duet with Bobby Brown but I'm not sighing alas cause it turned out fine just the same. Fuck Mr. Whitney Houston!
"Run, Christian Run" was inspired by the band's travels in America with the AM radio on too much and watching late night televangelistic horror in the hotels they stayed in. Imagine Gram Parson's Byrds stopping off for a drink at Marshall Applewhite's on their way to harmonize with angels in heaven. Member Bunf learned the pedal steel to give this song the right mood.
With women and children in line
The men will then gather behind
With knives to their throats they'll depart
On the midnight train to Jordan
Still dreaming of that perfect home by the sun
Run! Christian, run!
Wishing for that perfect home by the sun
Come! Kingdom, come!
"Shoot Doris Day" (a film reference not a suggestion to off Ms. Day) has a seemly sound belying lyrics about change:
People never stay the same
It's a fight between the strong and lame
I've some feelings that I can't get through
I'll just binge on Crack and Tiramisu
"Miniature", an instrumental, would work as a soundtrack to a remake of the Blob with Steve Buscemi in the starring role once played by Steve McQueen. It has that kind of pulse to it.
There are few weak moments on this release. It is distracting only in its dare to be daffiness that sometimes comes across as dabbling drool.
They let their inner kid out to play I suppose.
The CD comes with a bonus disc of 7 more songs that are not that shabby sounding either.
By the time you get through your first play of ''Rings Around The World'' you will be pushing the repeat button; it is that kind of record—cool and eccentric.
Thanks, moose & squirrel!
Sounds like something I'd like to check out.
And, check out Moose & Squirrel Information One-Stop, if you haven't already....or, check it out again - lots of updates & new 'stuff'.
From 'TBH Politoons'
Great Site!
Thanks, again, Tim!
(Really like this one!)
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Started the day surfing what passes for news in the morning, and KTLA (a Tribune Company) had Kid Rock on as a guest in their 7am hour.
'Hilarity' ensued when he copped he didn't get up early for the show, but just stayed up. Anyway, Sam Rubin, the resident entertainment reporter,
asked Big Bob about Pam's medical bombshell of the day before. Big Bob claimed complete ignorance of the whole subject. Even said he'd seen her 'last night',
she looked fine, and it was all news to him.
Pleased to state that we now have a tub that drains, and doesn't need to be bailed! Old house, original plumbing, 2 plumbers and a wait for parts. It was also
Open House at the local grade school. The resident 3rd grader took great pride in showing off his science project (we built a battery) & demonstrating it.
Damn basketball was on most of the evening. Buh-Bye Duke.
Saw most of 'Leap of Faith'. Way too perky. 'Faith' makes Mary Richards look like a depressive with PMS.
Tonight, Friday, CBS takes 'March Madness' to the next level in preparation
for Monday's Big Dance. Nothing but basketball, and Dave is a rerun, too.
NBC starts the evening with a fresh 'Providence', then 'Dateline', and
a rerun 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'. Jay is a rerun.
ABC fills 2 hours with so-called 'Funniest Home Videos', and then '20/20'.
The WB has fresh episodes of 'Sabrina', 'Raising Dad', then a rerun of
'Reba', followed by a fresh 'Maybe It's Me'.
Faux starts the night with reruns of 'That 80's Show' and 'Titus', and follows with a
fresh 'Dark Angel'.
UPN has a fresh 'Under One Roof', and follows it with the weekly regurgitation of
'Amazing Race 2' from CBS.
PBS (in Los Angeles, at least) has 'NOW With Bill Moyers'.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
And His New Best Friend
Bono
Irish rock star Bono, rapidly rising in the charts as a global aid advocate, won an endorsement Wednesday from a big fan, U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill.
During a press conference at a United Nations conference on development aid, O'Neill sang Bono's praises for his work in promoting increased aid for the world's
needy and said he looked forward to showing him Africa "through my eyes" next month.
The hugely successful leader of rock band U2 and the former business tycoon will visit Africa together next month to see firsthand how poverty and
AIDS have wreaked havoc on the continent.
"This is a person who's invested enough of his own time and energy to learn about and go see what life is like on the ground that he has my
respect," O'Neill said. He said his talks with Bono had convinced him the rocker was "a serious person."
O'Neill wants to "especially go places where he (Bono) has been that he believes would be useful to my own understanding and I'm going to take
him some places that I've been that he hasn't to let him see the world through my eyes.
Bono
What A REAL Hero Looks Like
Cyril "Rick" Rescorla
U.S. infantryman Cyril "Rick" Rescorla is seen advancing through the underbrush of the Ia Drang Valley in this Nov. 17, 1965, file photo
taken during the Vietnam War. This photo of Rescorla, which graced the original hardcover edition of best-selling book "We Were Soldiers
Once... And Young," has been replaced in paperback editions with a photo of actor Mel Gibson in his portrayal of Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore
film adaption "We Were Soldiers." Rescorla was a hero again Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center, where as chief of security at Morgan
Stanley Dean Witter he died helping hundreds of people escape from the burning towers.
Victory Trophy's?
Fun Link
Celebrate America's Triumph Over EVIL in Operation Infinite Justice With Your Very Own Victory Trophy!
Your Very Own Victory Trophy!
2 Remakes Of ''The Wicker Man''
Nicolas Cage
Actor Nicolas Cage and Universal Pictures plan to remake the cult horror film "The Wicker Man" -- so do actor Christopher Lee and director Robin
Hardy, part of the team behind the 1973 original.
Which "Wicker" will be quicker?
Universal, which owns the title, has the upper hand. Cage intends to star in and produce its update set in modern-day America, which will be written
and directed by Neil LaBute ("Nurse Betty").
But Hardy has already written a script for a different version of "Wicker" called "The Riding of the Laddie," which he plans to shoot on location near
Glasgow. Lee, who last played Saruman the White in "Lord of the Rings," has been recruiting a cast. Lee's "Rings" co-star Sean Astin is flirting with the project.
In the 1973 film, Lee played Lord Summerisle, leader of a pagan community inhabiting a remote island off the west coast of Scotland. The story follows a
prim mainland policeman (Edward Woodward) investigating the disappearance of a young girl, who is drawn into the island's Bacchanalian rituals.
The original "Wicker" has gained some visibility recently, thanks to a DVD release of the picture including the original version, a version with 11 minutes restored,
a theatrical trailer and a documentary.
Nicolas Cage
''The Burning Man'' out in Black Rock City is pretty much rooted in 'The Wicker Man'.
16th Annual Soul Train Music Awards
Alicia Keys
Newcomer Alicia Keys and veteran R&B rockers the Isley Brothers each took home three trophies from the 16th Annual Soul Train Music Awards.
Keys won the best R&B/soul or rap new artist for her hit "Fallin,'" while her "Songs in Minor" took the best R&B/soul female album honor.
She also was named female Entertainer of the Year.
The Isley Brothers also won a trio of awards, including best R&B/soul single and album by a group, band or duo. The group, which made
a comeback more than 42 years after their first hit single "Shout," was named Entertainer of the Year for male artists.
Aaliyah won best R&B/soul single, female for "Rock the Boat." She died in a plane crash in August, shortly after completing a video
for the song in the Bahamas.
Winners were announced Wednesday, and the program was taped for a syndicated television broadcast that will air later this month.
16th Annual Soul Train Music Awards
Fight Over ''Elvis-Land''?
Elvis Presley
The 25th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death will come in August, but a battle over his enduring ability to attract tourists is very much alive,
according to a published report.
Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. owns the Elvis trademark. But a property magnate from Atlanta plans to build a $500 million Elvis-themed resort on
a ranch once owned by the singer, where Elvis and Priscilla Presley honeymooned in 1967.
A Graceland spokesman said the proposed theme park could go forward as long as it has a name that doesn't involve trademarked words
such as "Elvis," "Presley" and "Graceland."
Elvis Presley
''Wall Street Week'' To ''Wall $treet Week With Fortune''
Louis Rukeyser
"Wall Street Week" host Louis Rukeyser said Thursday that he's leaving the show, becoming a victim of a maxim he is fond of reciting:
The only constant is change.
Rukeyser said he had been negotiating with MPT to make changes to the show and was not aware of any problems until Wednesday.
"They decided unilaterally not to proceed with me as the host of the show I created, wrote and maintained for 32 years," Rukeyser said.
"They then tried to get me to remain with the program in a senior-commentator capacity, but I decided I didn't want to have anything
further to do with them."
MPT and Fortune magazine are creating a new version of the weekly program called "Wall $treet Week With Fortune." The show, slated to
air in the fall, will feature Fortune editorial director Geoffrey Colvin and an undetermined co-anchor, MPT said.
Louis Rukeyser
Baby News
Kate Moss
British supermodel Kate Moss, one of the world's most photographed women, has revealed she is pregnant with her first child.
Moss, who has been dating 30-year-old publisher Jefferson Hack for the last 15 months, told Friday's Mirror tabloid: "It's true. I am pregnant."
"The baby is due in October and I couldn't be more delighted," said the 28-year-old catwalk queen.
Kate Moss
A Little Esoteric
Fun Link
"Sabbatum" is a tribute album like no other – 12 Black Sabbath classic songs played by early music band Rondellus and sung in Latin.
Sort of like what Black Sabbath would have sounded like if Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward would have formed the band
in the 14th century? Would "War Pigs" or "The Wizard" have been as powerful if played on medieval instruments like lute, fiddle and harp?
''A Medieval tribute to Black Sabbath''
Oldest Photo Auctioned
Joseph Nicephore Niepce
The earliest recorded image taken by photographic means was sold at Sotheby's in Paris on Thursday for the equivalent of $443,220, the auction house said.
The 1825 print by French inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce, which shows a man leading a horse, was bought by the Musees de France, which runs the
country's museums, for France's National Library, officials at Sotheby's said.
Niepce is recognized for the discovery of the first viable photographic process — using the power of light alone to make a plate from which an
image can be printed.
Both Niepce's account of the process and the image "represent a historic discovery and a moment in the annals of science," Sotheby's said in a statement.
Joseph Nicephore Niepce
Oscar Picks Of A Former Mayor
Marion Barry
The larger-than-life life of Marion Barry, former D.C. mayor and current city council candidate, has the ups and downs, tragedy and farce to
make a great feature film. "But the thing about my life is," Barry (said) with a chuckle, "it's not scripted!" Yet the 66-year-old Barry is
not only potential film fodder, he's also a passionate film fan.
* Best Supporting Actor: "It's a tough one for me. Jon Voight did a heckuva job in 'Ali' and it took him four or five hours every day to put his
makeup on to look like Howard Cosell. And I liked Ethan Hawke in 'Training Day.' But in the end I come out with Ben Kingsley for playing a gangster
in 'Sexy Beast.' We usually see him as a humanitarian like Gandhi or as the accountant in 'Schindler's List,' but here he is a really nasty guy,
and it's a true performance."
* Best Supporting Actress: "Helen Mirren for 'Gosford Park.' First of all, I enjoyed the English setting with a little drama in it, the sort of Alfred
Hitchcock 'picking-who-did-what' aspect. But she really caught the character of the head of housekeeping, and at one point I even thought she was the murderer."
* Best Actor: "My heart says Denzel" – as in Washington, natch – "but my head says Russell Crowe. Denzel never played a bad guy before, and 'Training Day'
was a totally different direction for him. In fact, the original version had him getting away and living happily ever after, but Denzel changed the script
to have him die in style. When you watch him, you don't see this actor, you see this rogue cop. But Russell did a marvelous job as John Nash in 'A Beautiful
Mind,' and he won at the Golden Globes."
* Best Actress: "Halle Berry for 'Monster's Ball.' Most of her others roles have been sort of beauty-queen roles, but this is a good departure for her. When
I watch her, I don't see the actress, I see the character."
* Best Director: "Ron Howard for 'A Beautiful Mind.' People in the business who know these things tell me that the hardest thing for a director to do is make
a film about a real person, not a made-up character. And he did very good job directing Russell Crowe."
* Best Picture: " 'Lord of The Rings.' That movie was so well put together – very exciting. By the way, I didn't like 'Moulin Rouge' at all. It was just so busy,
and really confusing as it shifted from scene to scene, and I had to try and figure out what was going on. When I go to a movie, I want to be entertained, I
don't want to have to think too much, and 'Lord of The Rings' was very entertaining."
For the rest, Marion Barry
Sued By Partner
Steven Seagal
Actor Steven Seagal's longtime producing partner, Julius Nasso, has sued the actor, claiming Seagal pulled out of their partnership when he came under
the influence of Mukara, a spiritual adviser associated with a clandestine and unorthodox Tibetan sect.
According to the complaint, filed late Monday in state court in New York, Mukara convinced Seagal that he would not attain the level of a reincarnated
lama, or Buddhist monk, unless he dissociated himself from Nasso, his movie production companies and his own children.
On a more worldly note, Nasso is seeking $60 million in damages in lost profits and costs stemming from four Seagal-Nasso films that Seagal allegedly
walked away from: "Blood on the Moon," "Genghis Khan," "Smash and Grab" and "Prince of Central Park," starring Harvey Keitel, who was substituted
when Seagal refused to appear.
For the details, Steven Seagal
Photo Op
Fake Resident
Foreign tourist may not get to see President Bush in person, but they take advantage of a photo cut-out of Bush, Thursday, March 21, 2002,
to have their photos taken with "him" in front of the White House. The spring weather will be gone soon as a cold front is moving through
the central Great Lakes, into the Midwest, and is expected to push temperatures into the thirties Friday in Washington.
Photo by Ron Edmonds
Writing A Book
Greta Van Susteren
Greta Van Susteren is adapting her on-air style to the printed page. The television host is working on a book, not yet titled, due to come out next year.
"This book will give me the chance to do what I love most in a more thorough and expansive way: to debate and defend and to advocate and to
test and to challenge," Van Susteren said in a statement this week.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal is almost certainly worth at least six figures. Crown Publishers, a division of Random House
Inc., is releasing the book, which will be co-written by Irish Times reporter Elaine Lafferty.
Greta Van Susteren
More Family Values From Faux
''Search for a Playboy Centerfold''
Having scored a ratings knockout with its celeb boxing, Fox is now turning to amateur nude modeling.
The network is developing "Girl Next Door: The Search for a Playboy Centerfold," a two-hour special that will follow 12 women vying for
the chance to take it all off in Playboy.
Contestants will try to stand out sunbathing, primping for photo shoots, etc. The group, including a college student, a mother and a
stockbroker, will be filmed at a Playboy-owned estate. The winner gets cash and her own spread in Playboy. There's no air date yet,
although a May sweeps slot is likely.
''Search for a Playboy Centerfold''
Thanks to Alex & Debbie in PA for sending this one.
Reality TV Suspended
Greece
The head of Greece's television regulatory agency suspended broadcasts Thursday of two popular reality television shows, including "Big Brother," for violating
laws on public decency and dignity.
To become permanent, the decision would require approval by the 11-member National Council for Radio and Television when it meets on Friday.
Broadcast by Greece's biggest private channels, Antenna and Mega, the two shows have some of the highest ratings. But in recent weeks, they have became the focus of
intense public debate after showing scenes that include nudity or allusions to sex. Antenna carries "Big Brother," while Mega broadcasts "The Bar."
Both shows are tame compared to other television fare in a country which consists of lurid soap operas, soft porn movies late at night, and partial nudity in advertising.
For the rest, Reality TV Suspended
"Big Brother" in Greece
"The Bar" in Greece
Memorial Service Saturday
Waylon Jennings
Hank Williams Jr. will be part of the tribute to his friend Waylon Jennings on Saturday, as part of the star-studded memorial scheduled to
be held at Ryman Auditorium.
Many of the plans for the event, including the list of artists besides Williams, remain confidential for security reasons. Still, observers
expect big names from every music genre.
Jennings was laid to rest on Feb. 15 following a private graveside service in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Ariz.
Waylon Jennings
Oscar Nominees
2002
DIS-HONORING WORST ACHIEVEMENTS IN FILM SINCE 1980
The Razzies
22nd Annual Golden Raspberry ('RAZZIE') Award Nominees:
WORST PICTURE:
Driven (Franchise Pictures/Warner Bros.)
Freddy Got Fingered (20th Century-Fox)
Glitter (20th Century-Fox/Columbia Pictures)
Pearl Harbor (Touchstone/Disney)
3000 Miles To Graceland (Franchise/Warner Bros.)
WORST ACTOR:
Ben Affleck/Pearl Harbor
Kevin Costner/3000 Miles To Graceland
Tom Green/Freddy Got Fingered
Keanu Reeves/Hardball and Sweet November
John Travolta/Domestic Disturbance and Swordfish
WORST ACTRESS:
Mariah Carey/Glitter
Penelope Cruz/Blow and Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Vanilla Sky
Angelina Jolie/Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Original Sin
Jennifer Lopez/Angel Eyes and The Wedding Planner
Charlize Theron/Sweet November
WORST SCREEN COUPLE:
Ben Affleck & EITHER Kate Beckinsale or Josh Hartnett/Pearl Harbor
Mariah Carey's Cleavage/Glitter
Tom Green & Any Animal He Abuses/Freddy Got Fingered
Burt Reynolds & Sylvester Stallone/Driven
Kurt Russell & EITHER Kevin Costner or Courtney Cox/3000 Miles To Graceland
WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Max Beesley/Glitter
Charlton Heston/Cats & Dogs; Planet Of The Apes; and Town & Country
Burt Reynolds/Driven
Sylvester Stallone/Driven
Rip Torn/Freddy Got Fingered
WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Drew Barrymore (The Ex-Mrs. Tom Green)/ Freddy Got Fingered
Courtney Cox/3000 Miles To Graceland
Julie Hagerty/Freddy Got Fingered
Goldie Hawn/Town & Country
Estella Warren/Driven and Planet Of The Apes
WORST REMAKE or SEQUEL:
Crocodile Dundee in L.A. (Paramount)
Jurassic Park III (Universal)
Pearl Harbor (Touchstone/Disney)
Planet Of The Apes (20th Century-Fox)
Sweet November (Warner Bros.)
WORST DIRECTOR:
Michael Bay/Pearl Harbor
Peter Chelsom (w/Warren Beatty) Town & Country
Tom Green/Freddy Got Fingered
Vondie Curtis Hall/Glitter
Renny Harlin/Driven
WORST SCREENPLAY:
Driven Screenplay by Sylvester Stallone; Story by Jan Skrentny & Neal Tabachnick
Freddie Got Fingered Written by Tom Green & Derek Harvie
Glitter Screenplay by Kate Lanier, Story by Cheryl L. West
Pearl Harbor Written by Randall Wallace
3000 Miles To Graceland Written by Richard Recco and Demian Lichtenstein
NOMINATIONS PER PICTURE:
FREDDY GOT FINGERED: 8
(Picture, Actor, Supporting Actor, 2xSupporting Actress, Screen Couple, Director, Screenplay)
DRIVEN: 7
(Picture, 2xSupporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Screen Couple, Director, Screenplay)
GLITTER: 6
(Picture, Actress, Supporting Actor, Couple, Director, Screenplay)
PEARL HARBOR: 6
(Picture, Actor, Screen Couple, Remake, Director, Screenplay)
3000 MILES TO GRACELAND: 5
(Picture, Actor, Supporting Actress, Couple, Screenplay)
PLANET OF THE APES: 3
(Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Remake)
SWEET NOVEMBER: 3
(Actor, Actress, Remake)
TOWN & COUNTRY: 3
(Supporting Actress, Supporting Actor, Director)
"WINNERS" WILL BE ANNOUNCED THIS SATURDAY, MARCH 23
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BartCop TV!
Thanks To Fud
Hear The 'Trifecta' Statement
(quoting)
'' And we've got a job to do at home, as well. You know, I was campaigning in Chicago and somebody asked me, is there ever any time where the budget might have to go into deficit? I said only if we were at war or had a national emergency or were in recession. (Laughter.) Little did I realize we'd get the trifecta. (Laughter.) But we're fine. ''
Scroll down 31 paragraphs to read it for yourself.
Hear The 'Trifecta' Quote Here.
Many Thanks, to Fud, a loyal bartcopper : )
11 New Recipes!
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
Entertaining Site!
Great Animations, Too
Jeff Crook has updated Uncommon Sense, again!
This week's animation revolves around Cheney before Congress. ...LOL
Lots of things worth reading, and fun stuff to keep you entertained, too.
Uncommon Sense...Check it out!
'Bob Woodward vs. John Belushi and Me'
Michael Dare - 'The Life and Death of Captain Preemo'
See It For Yourself
Sing Along With John Ashcroft
Sing Along With John Ashcroft
Yoo Hoo
From BartCop
Special Bonus From BartCop
Freshly Updated
From BartCop
The Bush Rap (Sheet)
