Memphis: day 2, part 2

706 Union Avenue.  One of a select few of Holy Grail hotspots in the birth of "rock and roll."

Sun, or the Memphis Recording Service, as it was originally called, was well-established as a bastion of blues by the early 1950's, having recorded high-profile blues artists like Rufus Thomas, Little Milton, B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf.

But by the mid-1950's, Sam Phillips' roster of artists had expanded to include the likes of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich and Ike Turner.

Being in the same cramped studio that all those giants recorded in was an amazing feeling.

 If you ever get the opportunity to visit Memphis,  a trip to Sun Studio is well worth your time.

After hanging at Sun, we paid our first visit to Graceland, this time in the dark for the annual lighting of Christmasy stuff.

It looked pretty cool, though it proved difficult to capture well on camera.

The centerpiece of the Christmas decorations is shown below, although in daylight.

I'm not much of a religious guy, so people that know me might ask if they saw the below picture: "why do you have a picture of a nativity scene?"

Answer: it's Elvis' freakin' Nativity scene!!

Coming soon:  Memphis, day 3, or Morning At Graceland.

The Memphis Trip In Review

Rudy, observing in stealth

Day 1

Cats observed supervising the packing process.

From an undisclosed location in southern Minnesota, the trip commenced on a Thursday evening, stopping once at Don's Supper Club and once for petro before ending travel in Hannibal, Missouri, for the night.

Note to Don's Supper Club franchises in my home state: having sampled your cuisine in several southern locations, please stop salting the shit out of my burgers!

In Hannibal, we stayed at a hotel run by a terrorist front group.  OK, probably not, but it was weird when a pleasant conversation with the proprietor turned rigid once my friend asked where he was from.  Not Arizona, before that.  Oh, India?

Day 2

Hit the road, Jack, on the way to Memphis, passing through Arkansas and recalling the classic SNL bit featuring Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton, boasting during the presidential debate with Bush and Perot how Arkansas had improved to 47th in the nation in the prevention of rickets.

Arriving in Memphis, we visited the National Civil Rights Museum, adjunct to the Lorraine Hotel, site of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination.  The wreath of course marks the location of MLK when he was shot.

Informative, yet super creepy, was the view from James Earl Ray's vantage point.  The room he shot from is now encased behind plastic and sealed forever in infamy.

The National Civil Rights Museum is an amazing, highly informative visit.  It also produced several cringe-worthy moments, where you realize just how shabby an entire race was treated.

We also passed by the Memphis church where Martin gave his "mountaintop" speech.  Tattered, dilapidated and evolving into ruins, the church now cries out for the restoration it strangely hasn't received.

Sociological note: having lived in the "north" all my life, I was taken aback by the race relations in Memphis.  Southern Blacks seemed to lack all the anger that I have experienced with northern ones.  I felt comfortable in Memphis and very welcomed in areas that were predominantly Black.  I'm still processing what that means.

Meanwhile, back home...

Coming soon: day 2, part 2!

RIP Conor

My cousin Conor took his life this past Sunday after unsuccessfully dealing with  mental health issues.  He was too damn young years old.

Conor, may you find the peace in death that eluded you in life.

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=TcKk-3hQAG0&feature=related

My love and best wishes to his family.

Bristol Palin, part II

I really thought I had said all I needed to about the former governor's loose daughter, but then....


"Going out there and winning this would mean a lot. It would be like a big middle finger to all the people out there that hate my mom and hate me," Sarah Palin's daughter said during Tuesday's show.


Oh, so that's how we're gonna play this?  Ok, you got it.


Hey Palin, how about mixing in a salad every now and then you fat-ass cow.  Guess what, I'm overweight too, but I have a 40-year-olds metabolism...what's your excuse?


People hate you and your mom, yes, but it's not for some unfounded reason that you are needlessly picked on.


It's VERY easy to see your mom as a self-obsessed and ego-driven diva, spewing that faux-populist crap like Old Faithful while living life with a sense of entitlement.  


Note to Sarah Palin: when attempting to posit yourself as well-read and intelligent, the answer to "what magazines do you read" should probably be a little deeper than "lots," you arrogant 130 pound sack of fertilizer.


Back to Bristol, the loose one.  You might want to pick the causes you champion a little more carefully.  Teen pregnancy?  Really?  Seeing as how you couldn't keep your legs closed, you should probably keep your yapper shut about this one.


Calling your sperm donor/ex-boyfriend out for needing to be in the "limelight" is such self-parody, as you sit down with People Magazine to talk about it.


No, Bristol, you're not a celebrity, a star or frankly, even interesting.  You're a spoiled whiner, instilled with the false belief that you're something special, who craves media attention just like your mommy.  


Also, it's obviously too late for mommy, but you've only done this once, so there's hope.  Giving your kids stupid names that nobody else has ever heard of or considered, doesn't make you or them intelligent or special...it just makes you an arrogant, delusional asshole.


As for your middle finger?  Open your legs once again and see how far you can stick it up your fat ass. 

Dancing With The Stars...and Bristol Palin

First off, an admission: I've never seen this show.  Nor will I.  Ever.  Are peoples' lives really so bankrupt that they would tune in to watch b-list celebs and has-beens dance?

My gripe about this show is alluded to above: the rather loose manner in which the term "star" is applied.  Loose of course makes a nice segue to talk about Bristol Palin, who isn't even a b-list celeb or a has-been, but rather is the vapid daughter of a vapid media whore. Irregardless, a quick review of the participant roster from the shows inception forward reveals my assertion to be correct.

The correct show title should be "Dancing With Quasi-Stars And A Loose Teenage Daughter Of A Political Hack/Quitter."

Random Notes, Vol. 1

Item #1:

First off, of course there was no other possible outcome, nonetheless, I'm certainly pleased that shitbag media-whore airhead Sarah Palin's show is as bad as predicted.

Here's a link to an appropriate review of her show's first episode, revealing the lame self-aggrandization and tired cliches she posits about herself.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/sarah-palins-alaska-mama-grizzly,47651/

Item#2:

I had the opportunity this past Friday night to see my stepbrothers band, Me And My Arrow, perform at the Ritz Theater in northeast Minneapolis.  On this occasion, they took the stage as a 10-piece: 3 guitars, bass, drums, miscellaneous percussion, 2 keyboards, trumpet and cello.

It was a good show.  In particular, for having all those players, they were very tight as a unit, betraying how often they have played lately.  Their jagged rhythms gave way to some nice, convincing rocking, not unlike the quality of bands I have seen lately at First Avenue.

I'd recommend you check them out.  They may not be quite "my thing" yet...but they're getting closer.  Below is the link to their MySpace.

http://www.myspace.com/meandmyringostarr

Item #3:

Going to Memphis.  My best friend, myself and a few of his family are taking off to Memphis on a pilgrimage to Elvis.  Graceland and Sun Studios top the tour agenda, along with the Civil Rights Museum and Mark Twain's Boyhood Home And Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.

Hannibal, Twain, Americana...I've always found Twain's riverbased Missouri Americana to be especially potent, maybe even "romantic."  One of these years I'm gonna make good on my threat to actually finish reading both Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

Shame on TLC

I really don't watch anything on the TLC channel.  But if I did, I would certainly boycott those shows in protest of them producing, promoting and airing a lameass program on media whore, bad author, tea-bagger, quitter and ridiculous namer of children, Sarah Palin.

Stop it America, enough already.  This is a worthless, ego-driven princess not worthy of your time. Certainly not mine.

Obstacles sink state's Strike Force case | StarTribune.com

Obstacles sink state's Strike Force case | StarTribune.com

I'm surprised by the content of this article. Them "Strike Force" fellas seemed like good guys.

No, wait...that's right, they were absolute crooked pricks deserving of the chair. And I don't mean a La-Z Boy.

Strike Force cop is first to face federal charges | StarTribune.com

Strike Force cop is first to face federal charges | StarTribune.com

Re: earlier posts of mine.

It's about time one of these pricks gets prosecuted. Here's hoping he's disgraced and convicted.

Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston call off 2nd engagement over paternity of other woman's baby | StarTribune.com

Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston call off 2nd engagement over paternity of other woman's baby | StarTribune.com

I'm sorry...did somebody care?

I love how near the end of this article, young Palin bashes her two-time former fiance by saying: "He's just obsessed with the limelight, and I got played."

Whoa, whoa, WHOA.....

HE'S obsessed with the limelight?  Has there ever been a better example of the pot calling the kettle black?

HE'S obsessed with the limelight...although SHE sat down with People magazine to announce that her engagement was off again.

She clearly has her mom's common sense, not to mention the curious air of entitlement.

I suppose we should be happy for her: I was certain that by now she'd be knocked up a second sperm donor.

RIP Ben Keith

Longtime Neil Young collaborator Ben Keith has passed away.  His gorgeously played steel guitar has colored some of Neil Young's best work, including the albums Harvest, Time Fades Away, On The Beach, Comes A Time, Old Ways, Freedom and Unplugged.

Learn more about Ben Keith.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Keith

ignorance not bliss, just really embarrassing...

Go drink the Obama/Gore Kool-Aid you libs! I say bring on the beach! I can't wait till the tea party knocks you whiny tree huggers down a few pegs. If you don't like it hear, move to Canada and hug a glacier! posted by iluvstea on Jul 10, 10 at 10:24 am 


That was posted in the comments of a StarTribune online article. Sir, you illiterate turd...I believe the correct grammar should be "if you don't like it here ...."


Another brilliant "Tea Party" member heard from.

15 homicides aside, serious crime drops on North Side | StarTribune.com

15 homicides aside, serious crime drops on North Side | StarTribune.com

"Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?"

Tainted dairy products seized in China - again | StarTribune.com

Tainted dairy products seized in China - again | StarTribune.com

I absolutely love it when things I complain about in my blog continue to occur.

Yes, China still sucks.

P.S. Hey China.....stop ruining Earth!!

Progressive's $3 bills....

I like how Progressive auto insurance decided to subtly appeal to the homosexual demographic.

This commercial has aired many times over the past year, so I'm sure you've seen it.

First these two guys stroll in.  Note the rainbow striping across the guy on the rights shirt.

The guy on the left is queeny, but he hasn't quite burst into flames yet.

Next, the guy on the left extends his wrist to show off the watch he obtained from his pal, completely bursting into flames and setting off the smoke alarms.

Lastly, the guy on the right learns how much money he can save by switching his insurance.  And we learn that his name is, get this, Mark F.  Mark F? 

Is that a subtle insinuation that his name is Mark Fag?  Fag being the derisive term that straights ascribe to homos, a term which they have since "reclaimed" as their own and as a source of pride.

Anyway, for whatever reason, the discreet demographic marketing at work here kinda makes me laugh.

the Oriental Tom Cruise??

Apparently, around thirty-five or so years ago, Tom Cruise's father went on a sexpedition to Bangkok, Thailand and failed to take adequate protective measures.

Witness the Asian Tom Cruise.  Looks like him.  Talks like him.  Thinks he's charming like him.  Might be a better actor.  Essentially a twin except for that pesky half-Asian DNA.

As you likely know, this guy shills insurance for State Farm.  ALL the time.

For some reason, I just think casting this guy is silly.

Cut to the board room:  "Ok, I got this guy.  Looks and acts like Tom Cruise, except he's not.  And he's kinda Asian.  But he looks like Tom Cruise."

Anyway, since I generally dislike Mr. Cruise, I have no choice but to dislike Mr. Cruise.

Do you suppose Tom is embarrassed?

Do you suppose his dad is sweating a paternity suit?

Ford guy redux

So I guess the guy in the Ford commercials that bugs me is a guy named Mike Rowe, who hosts the "Dirty Jobs" show on Discovery Channel.

Which I guess somewhat explains his appearance that I previously referred to as dirty and in desperate need of a shower.

You know the expression about being careful what you wish for?

Well, in the new spot that I saw last night, he indeed appears to have taken a shower and decided to not look so grubby.

However, and I love this part....

Having now showered, I'd recommend one of two wardrobe changes for Mike.  Either:

1] a different shirt, or

2] a sports bra, so his floppy Phil Mickelson-ish man-boobs don't continue to reduce me to laughter.


Coming soon: a rip on Mark F. and his queeny, blatantly flaming, partner in the Progressive auto insurance commercial.

Mexican border redux

Again, Sir Felipe Calderon, do you really not have anything better to worry about than how your countries illegal immigrants are being treated?

http://reggiefcat.blogspot.com/2010/06/mexican-teen-shot-at-border.html

http://www.startribune.com/world/96135139.html?elr=KArks:DCiUBcy7hUiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr

woohoo!!

Either I'm legitimate now or a sellout.

I have allowed Google to place ads on my blog, although I can't encourage anyone to click on the links [wink, wink].

Ironically, I wanted to click on a few of the links, but again, am prohibited from doing so.


Oh...if any of the ads you see on here are for dating/sex/singles sites, please let me know.  My boundary for advertising content on here is a certain level of tawdriness.

Cliff Notes: Why I Hate American Idol

First off, the title is arrogant.

Like I should "idolize" someone who wins this?  Screw that.

Second, as a legitimate fan of music, I'm offended by any artist who achieves popularity this chintzy way.  The show is less about music than a sad desperation to achieve notoriety.

It's a slap in the face to serious musicians everywhere, both accomplished and unknown, who have toiled in anonymity, touring in cramped vans and playing in small sweaty bars to often indifferent crowds as they hone their craft, not making millions, but instead hoping just to pay rent and have enough cash left over for an eighth of pot.

Music is much more vital at this grass-roots level, as serious passion is required to endure the ups and downs and more downs of being a struggling musician and escape the meat grinder that is the local music scene.

American Idol?

A cheap attempt to shortcut the system by being telegenic and winning a high school popularity contest via text messages.

A more apt show title would be "Fame Cheaters."

And the judging panel?  Do any self-respecting musicians really ascribe much credibility to them.  Being judged by that panel is akin to being an aspiring novelist and getting critiqued by the editor of Mad magazine.

To be fair, I've only watched about 20 minutes of the show.  Ever.  Yet somehow I suspect that had I watched every minute of every season, my opinion wouldn't be different.

pet peeve #71

Ok, so this is a screen shot of the online version, but my peeve is actually the television spot that airs ad nauseum.

In a nutshell, what they are pitching is "any pizza, any toppings or specialty" for whatever price.  Seems straightforward enough.

The snag occurs on the word "any."

Because it really isn't "any" pizza when a certain type of crust is excluded.  This is exacerbated on the commercial by the use of the phrase "any pizza" at least five times in thirty seconds.

Furthermore, the excluded crust is considered a specialty item, which is specifically included.  "Any pizza, any toppings or specialty..."

"Any" is inclusive.  Exceptions are exclusive.

Who's writing this ad copy?  Someone from the local community college ESL classes?

Seems pretty simple to me and my Minnesota small-town public school education.

Mexican teen shot at border.....

http://www.startribune.com/nation/95860179.html?elr=KArksUUUycaEacyU

[insert applause]

Hey, dickhead...I'm guessing that it really sucks to get shot and killed.  The difference between you and I is that I won't be trying to cross the border illegally anytime soon.  Let's see, however, if we can apply a few lessons from this experience.

Lesson #1:  Um, this should be obvious here.  There's a legal way to cross the border and an illegal way.  The legal way can get you a low paying job, possibly healthcare and sideways glances from committed ethnocentrists.  The illegal way can get you a bullet in your noggin, a little press coverage and some measure of outrage.

Lesson #2:  Um, this should be obvious here.  If you're coming to a gunfight with only rocks, perhaps you should postpone.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon apparently is pissed, saying that his government "will use all resources available to protect the rights of Mexican migrants."

Hey Felipe, just a thought here.  How about using "all your resources available" to improve your country to the point that it's not such a toilet bowl that your people want to leave it in droves?

Or how about using "all your resources available" to fight rampant government corruption and drug cartel activities?

Any thoughts on those ideas Felipe?

I see nothing wrong with the United States defending their borders with lethal force, especially with such obvious countermeasures: enter legally.

Since the bearded jackoffs declared war on us it would be downright foolish to allow any of our borders to remain as porous as they once were.  Times change, deal with it.

you can't make this up...

This article in the StarTribune is from the day after the beating settlement was written up.  Seriously, these jackoffs are evil and there needs to be some major house-cleaning in metro area law enforcement branches.

"Hey, what's that sound?"

"Oh that?  That's public trust dying a slow death."

http://www.startribune.com/local/95194044.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

another $235,000 down the crapper...

Another day, another $235,000 down the toilet.

Today, the Minneapolis City Council has agreed to pay Derryl Jenkins the aforementioned sum for getting the crap beat out of him by Minneapolis' Paramilitary Goon Squad, aka, the Minneapolis Police.

I've ragged on the metro area cops in this blog before and I see no reason to stop.  Today, however, the video in the link to the Minneapolis StarTribune below says much more, and more eloquently, than I ever could.

Of humorous note:  at the tail end of the article, chief Tim Dolan states that he later ordered a review "of many arrests that resulted in medical treatment."

That's humorous because in my blog post from March 21 of this year [linked below], chief Dolan is noted for the extremely low percentage of officers he disciplines even after the civilian review board forwards recommendations to do so.

http://reggiefcat.blogspot.com/2010/03/premiere-nightand-other-stuff.html


A last comment before the StarTribune link.  More than ever, I believe that committing a felony while wearing a gun on the job should be a capitol offense.  That's death.  Watch these morons beat the crap out of this guy and tell me you couldn't pick one or two out of the group that deserves execution.

http://www.startribune.com/local/95135534.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUac8HEaDiaMDCinchO7DU

pet peeve #42

Ok, ya.

Hey, Ford guy.  Ya, you, the guy in the jeans and the baseball cap endlessly shilling Ford vehicles on my television.

If I buy a Ford, will you get the hell off my TV and go take a shower already?

new book from Palin? [or, One More Reason Why She Sucks]

The AP states that Sarah Palin's forthcoming book will include "selections from classic and contemporary readings that have moved her" [I'm wondering if The Quitters' Handbook is among them] along with "the nation's founding documents to great sermons, letters, literature and poetry, biography, and even some of her favorite songs and movies."

First off:  who gives a green runny crap what songs and movies this egocentric airhead likes?

 Second off: a book of things you like?  Wow, inspired.

The title is alleged to be "America By Heart: Reflections On Family, Faith And Flag [and whatever other crap I have scribbled in my palm]"

May I suggest other, more realistic titles:

"Things I Wish I Had Written But Lacked The Skill, Determination, And Intellect"


"Passing Myself Off As An Author By Presenting A Book Of Other Peoples' Work"


"Idle Vacuous Thoughts I Had While Not Completing My Term As Governor."

Note:  the book will have a collaborator.  What?!  You need a collaborator to present the work of other people? JHC on a popsicle stick!  How can anybody like you? Are people really that freakin' stupid?  I mean, clearly Palin is, but still: how stupid are you when you become enamored with a stupid person?

pet peeve #36

This isn't a big deal.  It just kinda bugs the stinkin' crap outta me.

I have this friend.  Ok, he's actually less a friend now than a blight on my memory, but anyway, I digress.

He has this way of referring to his mom.

Let me first paraphrase the way I think this sentence should be spoken:

     "Well, after my mom passed away, yada yada..."

Now let me demonstrate his technique:

     "Well, after Mom passed away, yada yada..."

What that makes me want to say:

     "Hey you friggin' nimrod, she wasn't my mom.  Unless, I don't know,       was "mom" her birth name?"

Idiot.

When he was more my friend, I'd probably have let that pass, but since he has proven to be more of an assface, not.

The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards...

OK, so I see today that SNL alumnus Jimmy Fallon has been named to host the upcoming Emmy Awards, saluting the years' best in television.

Am I the only one who doesn't get Jimmy Fallon?  Am I the only one who thinks a more apropos name for him would be Jimmy Shallow?

I didn't find him funny on SNL.

I haven't found him amusing in movies.

I don't find him funny OR capable as a late-night host.  In fact, I don't even watch it because I regard him as sucking heartily.

He makes me wax nostalgic for the unfunny Conan O'Brien.

So the question is:  who does this spoiled twerp have pictures of?

NFL cheap shots

The recent NFL annual draft has given me the occasion to air a grievance I've long held.

"With the 23rd pick in the first round of the National Football League draft, the Dallas Cowboys select...a neck, for owner Jerry Jones."

Hey Jerry...all that money you have...and all that money you've spent on plastic surgery [very effectively I might add...you did want to look like a deranged and updated version of Howdy Doody, right?]...couldn't you see clear to buy yourself a freakin' neck?

I dislike Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys.  As a sports fan, I find his conceit extremely grating.  I mean after all, if you made your millions in oil, you're probably qualified to be a judge of talent in young men aspiring to play football, right?

Ya, I know, he owns the team so he can do what he wants with it.

Still...he's an arrogant prick with "short-guy" syndrome.

I generally prefer that my sports team owners resign themselves to writing the checks and sipping a nice, cool glass of "shut the hell up" in the background.

"There's more than "hits?"" [1999-2008]

Herewith find the third and final installment of my guide to Paul McCartney's best overlooked work.  Of course it's all very subjective, but again, more than anything, the purpose is just to turn someone on to a great song.

With a catalogue as large as Sir Paul's, it's tough to make a short list:  he simply has too many albums to do that.

Feel free to let me know what you think.

Peace,

Reg


1999.  Run Devil Run.

Everybody knows:  possibly No Other Baby

What you should know:  Lonesome Town and especially Movie Magg

Comment:  Coming a year after longtime wife Linda's death, another back-to-basics excursion seemed natural.  While the album is pleasant enough, and a decent listen, it certainly doesn't try for greatness.  As a result, none is achieved.  Kudos, however, for his authentic rockabilly hiccup on Movie Magg.  It's worth the price of admission.

2001.  Driving Rain.

Everybody knows: Freedom, maybe From A Lover To A Friend

What you should know:  Heather, Rinse The Raindrops and Magic

Comment:  Perhaps inspired by his romance with peg-leg, McCartney sounds more adventurous than he has in years.  Not everything works, but it's fun to hear him try.  Another good, but not great album, this one initiates a major late career renaissance.  Ever since this album, Paul has been far more willing to avoid formula: and we're all the better for it.

2005.  Chaos And Creation In The Back Yard.

Everybody knows:  Fine Line, maybe Jenny Wren

What you should know:  English Tea, Too Much Rain, Riding To Vanity Fair, This Never Happened Before and I've Only Got Two Hands

Comment:  Very nice.  Most thoroughly satisfying album by Paul in ages.  From what I've read, producer Nigel Godrich twisted McCartney's tit somewhat on this set and Paul, as he usually does, rises to a challenge.

2007.  Memory Almost Full.

Everybody knows:  Dance Tonight and maybe Ever Present Past

What you should know:  End Of The End

Comment:  Perhaps inspired by his break-up with peg-leg, McCartney sounds more adventurous than he has in years.  Not everything works, but it's fun to hear him try.  Yes, that is a cut-and-paste, with a tweak, from two albums ago.  I lot of people like this one a lot.  I'm ok with it, though it seems pretty dense to me.  One thing I hate about it is an apparent production choice leaving lots of what I refer to as digital "swish" in it.  And no, I'm not listening to a shitty pirated download copy, I have the damn disc.  Swish.

2008.  Electric Arguments.

Everybody knows:  Sing The Changes

What you should know:  Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight, Two Magpies, Travelling Light, Light From Your Lighthouse and Dance 'Til We're High,

Comment:  Wow, this is a great album.  That it comes at this juncture in his life makes it all the more special.  The third CD release under his Fireman alias, this is the first one to deviate from the ambient/dance blueprint laid out previously.  Continuing his experimentation of the past decade, McCartney effortlessly mixes the best qualities of his music in creating something that sounds completely like himself and yet, unlike anything he has attempted before.  A must have.

"There's more than "hits?"" [1983-1997]

This is part two of my admittedly hurried assessment of Paul McCartney's better music once you take away all the overexposed hits.

1983.  Pipes Of Peace.

Everybody knows:  Say Say Say [unfortunately] and possibly So Bad

What you should know:  Pipes Of Peace and So Bad

Comment:  Of all Paul's releases, this is one of his two or three least enjoyable.  Much too slick and WAY too much Michael Jackson.  Other than "Pipes Of Peace" and "So Bad," I don't care for much on here.

1984.  Give My Regards To Broad Street.

Everybody knows:  No More Lonely Nights

What you should know: every single one of his Beatle and solo reinterpretations and Not Such A Bad Boy.

Comment:  The great divide.  Critics panned the crap out of it, saying he coasted--I guess.  I absolutely love this album.  The Beatle songs he revisits sound very warm and intimate.  Paul always hated what Phil Spector did to "The Long And Winding Road," and here Paul takes an opportunity to reveal something closer to his original idea.  Mac also revisits tracks from his solo catalogue here:  and they almost all improve.  Take this album for what it is:  an interesting reminder of what it means to be the greatest pop composer ever approaching middle age.

1986.  Press To Play.

Everybody knows:  Spies Like Us [non-album track], Press, Only Love Remains and maybe Stranglehold

What you should know:  Good Times Coming/Feel The Sun, Footprints, Move Over Busker, Angry, However Absurd, It's Not True, Write Away, and Tough On A Tightrope

Comment:  Another album that most critics didn't really care for.  Even Paul himself is on record as saying he doesn't care for it.  I like it a lot: it's one of my top five Macca albums.  Of course, there's no objectivity here: this album always rekindles memories of being sixteen, driving around in my first car, listening to this cassette and enjoying the first flush of freedom that comes with having both wheels and raging hormones.

1988. Choba B CCCP.

Everybody knows: probably nothing.  Initially this was a Soviet-only release and was belatedly released in the U.S. three years later sans single support.

What you should know:  Kansas City, I'm In Love Again, Bring It On Home To Me, and Crackin' Up.

Comment:  Low-key and rootsy, these tracks are all a good time.  Listen especially for Crackin' Up, one of only two tracks in the set where Paul plays guitar and not bass.  A splendid reminder that he indeed started out on guitar, his picking crackles with energy.

1989.  Flowers In The Dirt.

Everybody knows:  My Brave Face, Figure Of Eight, This One, Put It There

What you should know:  Rough Ride, You Want Her Too, We Got Married and the non-album track Flying To My Home

Comment:  Generally hailed as a return to form, it is indeed a very good album...but not a great one.  The second half in particular lags.  The collaborations with Elvis Costello sound vital and the David Gilmour guitar work on "We Got Married" sounds like, well, David Gilmour.  A little synth heavy in places, but satisfying.

1993.  Off The Ground.

Everybody knows:  Hope Of Deliverance, Biker Like An Icon

What you should know:  Off The Ground, Mistress & Maid, Golden Earth Girl and the non-album track Cosmically Conscious

Comment:  The synths aren't quite as thick here, compared to its' predecessor, and as a result it sounds earthier.  A good listen, but not a classic.  By this time, this was a "typical" album for Paul in that he effortlessly seemed to turn out very good, but not great, work.

1997.  Flaming Pie.

Everybody knows:  The World Tonight

What you should know:  Young Boy, Calico Skies, Really Love You and especially the gorgeous Beautiful Night.

Comment:  Perhaps energized by his experience with the Beatles Anthology project, this album has spirit that several previous albums lacked.  This is a very good album, maybe a great one.  Appearances include Jeff Lynne, Ringo and Steve Miller.  Highly recommended.

"There's more than "hits?"" [1970-1982]

A number of blogs I check regularly have recently posted homemade Paul McCartney compilations.  While always fun to look at, they inevitably invite "why is/isn't this song..." arguments.  


Ten years ago, when CD burning was just coming into vogue, I made a trio of discs which I referred to as "McCartney's Hidden Gems."  The purpose was to illuminate some of Sir Paul's better, yet overlooked, work: basically really good album tracks.


Music is such a wonderfully subjective thing.  You might hate what I like.  I might hate what you like.  With that in mind, I tend to come down on the side of Paul's more melodic stuff.  If you lean similarly, you might enjoy this list as well.


This list will chronologically detail what I consider to be his best "non-hits."  I will cover his entire discography, excepting his classical, live and ambient work.  I hope this list helps at least one person find some "hidden gems" from Macca that they can enjoy.  I will try to list no more than four from each album: some merit more, others less. 


1970.  McCartney.


Everybody knows:  Maybe I'm Amazed.


What you should know:  Hot As Sun, Every Night, Junk, Teddy Boy and Oo You.


Comment:  Released while the Beatles crumbled, Mac played all the instruments on his first solo album.  Many of the tunes were rehearsed during the Beatles last year and they sound like it: tuneful, concise, catchy pop songs.  I love this record. A very logical follow-up after being in a fairly successful band that nobody could top.


1971.  Ram.


Everybody knows: Another Day [single released from the sessions], Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey


What you should know:  Too Many People, Ram On, Monkberry Moon Delight, and Dear Boy.

Comment:  Returning to a band setting, Paul naturally sounds melodic as ever, but doesn't quite have the same caliber of bandmates to bounce ideas off of.  It shows.


1971.  Wild Life.


Everybody knows:  maybe nothing, this one kinda slipped under the radar.


What you should know:  Wild Life, Tomorrow, and Dear Friend


Comment:  It's not a bad album, but very few of the tracks would have made the cut on a Beatles release.  A bit more listless than we'd like to expect from Sir Paul.


1973.  Red Rose Speedway.


Everybody knows:  My Love, Live And Let Die [not from the album, but released around the time]
What you should know:  Big Barn Red, One More Kiss, When The Night, and Medley [which closes the album].


Comment:  Pretty but somewhat shallow.  Mac was gathering his footing and consolidating his strengths.  Keen observers could sense him building up to something.  Well, in hindsight they could.


1973.  Band On The Run.


Everybody knows:  Band On The Run, Jet, Helen Wheels [non-album track]

What you should know:  Bluebird, Mrs. Vandebilt, Let Me Roll It, No Words, Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five, and Country Dreamer [non-album track].

Comment:  Jackpot.  Universally regarded as Paul's best album, there really isn't a weak track among the bunch.  Very fun to listen to, in particular the title track, which he never quite nailed in concert.

1975.  Venus And Mars.

Everybody knows:  Listen To What The Man Said, Venus And Mars/Rockshow, perhaps Letting Go

What you should know:  You Gave Me The Answer, Medicine Jar, and Call Me Back Again

Comment:  Similar to his first album in that it's tough to follow a classic.  I've always found this one a bit overrated, but it's still a good listen.

1976.  Wings At The Speed Of Sound.

Everybody knows:  Silly Love Songs, Let 'Em In

What you should know:  She's My Baby, Beware My Love, and San Ferry Anne

Comment:  Tuneful, but the decision to let all band members take a lead vocal wasn't wise--and it never happened again.  Points off for "Cook Of The House," which helped make this just an average release.

1978.  London Town.

Everybody knows:  With A Little Luck, perhaps London Town or I've Had Enough

What you should know:  Cuff Link and Name And Address

Comment:  Very mediocre.  Consistently better than its' predecessor but lacking the high points.

1979.  Back To The Egg.

Everybody knows:  Arrow Through Me, Getting Closer, Rockestra Theme

What you should know:  Old Siam Sir, Again And Again And Again, Winter Rose/Love Awake, and Baby's Request

Comment:  The final Wings album, this was his sharpest set of tunes since Band On The Run.  It didn't sell well, but I consider it sort of underrated.

1980.  McCartney II

Everybody knows:  Coming Up

What you should know:  On The Way, Frozen Jap and One Of These Days

Comment:  Similar to his first self-titled album in that he played all the instruments, but lacking the fistful of quality songs leftover from that other group he played in.  Not Wings.

1982.  Tug Of War.

Everybody knows:  Ebony And Ivory, Take It Away, and probably Tug Of War

What you should know:  Somebody Who Cares, What's That You're Doing, Here Today, Ballroom Dancing and Wanderlust

Comment:  A great album.  Paul plays better with better players [Stevie Wonder, Carl Perkins, Ringo and George Martin all make appearances].   There's a nice feeling of space in all theses tracks.

Premiere Night....and other stuff

The premiere of what?  Thanks for asking.

Breaking Bad, on AMC.  The third season opens tonight.  It's a great show.  Bryan Cranston, in particular, is amazing as Walter White, the primary protagonist.

Seinfeld fans may remember Cranston as the dentist, Tim Watley. More recently, he portrayed the father Hal for eight seasons on Malcolm In The Middle, which I was also fond of [it didn't always hit the comedic bullseye, but when it did, it rocked hard].

Breaking Bad also has two other characters I particularly enjoy: drug-addled f-up Jesse and Walt's brother-in-law Hank, who works for the DEA.  Recent cast addition Bob Odenkirk, as criminal lawyer Saul Goodman ["Better Call Saul"] also shines.  Saul is ethically challenged, which naturally makes him a great fit.  As Jesse said last season regarding the hiring of Saul: "you don't need a criminal lawyer...you need a criminal [pause] lawyer."

If you've never seen it, give it a viewing.  Despite the sordid subject matter, It's relentlessly compelling.


As a warmup for the BB3 opening tonight, I re-watched a film I hadn't seen in some time: Traffic, which was directed by Steven Soderbergh in 2000.  A magnificent film, worthy of all the accolades it received.  Benicio Del Toro and Don Cheadle both gave the sort of excellent performance that has come to typify their respective bodies of work.


Old topics I love to harp on: the corrupt and unaccountable Minneapolis police force.  Big article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune yesterday about how only 4 out of 24 officers had discipline imposed upon them by  chief Tim Dolan after having their cases sustained and forwarded to him by the city's Civilian Review Authority.

San Francisco, by comparison, acted on 90% of complaints sustained by the civilian review board.  Chief Dolan needs to go and that whole stinking, rotting department needs to be gutted and rebuilt.

Fun facts: Minneapolis paid out $1.5 million in 2009 alone and $11 million over the last seven years to settle complaints lodged against the department.

Way to go guys, now that's earning the public trust!  [link to article below]

http://www.startribune.com/local/88738997.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciaec8O7EyUsl

Happy 15 To Reggie!

Happy 15th Birthday to Reggie [pictured above, tired after a day of partying], one of the warmest souls I have ever known and a true inspiration.

Here's hoping for many more.

With Love,

S.

not really.....

This billboard has appeared in my home state of Minnesota outside of a small town north of the Twin Cities.

Nope.

Palin, still stupid....

Sarah Palin has provided yet another example of both what a dim bulb she is and why she isn't a viable option to govern any populace larger than a small podunk Alaska village.

The following gem is excerpted from an AP article published today.

"Palin spoke Saturday in Nashville and photographs and video show she had "energy," "tax" and "lift american spirits" on her hand.


During one question, she looked down at the palm of her hand for a cue.


In her speech she mocked Obama's use of teleprompters."

"Going rogue," huh?  How about "going prepared" you friggin' nimrod!

Even better, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs shows himself to be a first-rate wise ass.  The photo shown below is from his press briefing today, in obvious reference to the nimrod.

R.I.P. J.D.

We officially mourn the passing of J.D. Salinger, one of my favorite authors, recluse and icon.

I always appreciated his statement of loneliness and longing made so clear in The Catcher In The Rye.  This, my favorite passage from said book, gives both its' title and its' meaning, about the unfettered joy and simplicity of childhood and why we wish it not to pass.

"Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all.  Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around--nobody big, I mean--except me.  And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff.  What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff--I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them.  That's all I'd do all day.  I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all."

Salut, J.D.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JD_Salinger

wow, i must have ESPN.....

I would just like to note that on my December 12, 2009 post, titled "no, seriously...," that I successfully portended the end of Conan O'Brien's unfunny reign on The Tonight Show by ranting about how not funny he is.

Having said that, I actually like him as a person...I just don't find him funny.

the etiquette of losing?

I've known lots of people who have said, when their sports team loses,  a la The Minnesota Vikings, that they hope the team that beats them "wins it all" because it makes their team look better.

I don't subscribe to that theory.  In fact, I'd like nothing more than in two weeks time to have all those New Orleans Saints fans crying in their beer because the Indianapolis Colts just finished waxing the Saints asses.

GO COLTS!

how about put it up your ass, Dennis?

So I'm watching the Vikings in the NFC Championship game and during the commercial break, an ad that I've hated for awhile comes on.

It's for Allstate Insurance.  With Dennis Haysbert.  Near the end, after a monologue about protecting assets, Haysbert states with faux sincerity and a ridiculously obvious pregnant pause setting up a reference to the Allstate motto: "put it....in good hands."

Hey Dennis:  "HOW ABOUT PUT IT UP YOUR ASS!"

Really hate that commercial.  Having said that, I like Dennis Haysbert as an actor.

does this make me a bad person?

The link below is to the article I am referring to.

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100119/UPDATES/100119020

To the person or persons who perpetrated this crime, I'd really like it if someone would smash you in the face with a brick until they get tired.

Does this make me a bad person?

Another example of why I can say straightfaced that I don't like people.

What drives a person to be a sick, sadistic asshole?

I think it's about time to bring back crucification.  Seriously.  If you show such an utter lack of regard for living beings, let's nail you to a cross, naked, in town square.  Maybe for kicks we light you ablaze too, MF.

And, speaking of people who are just clearly in the wrong....

It's about time to make felonies committed by those employed in the public service a capital offense. Bullet to the cranium.  Leave 'em in a heap on the side of the road for garbage pickup.

That's directed at corrupt cops. Apparently the Twin Cities metro area has dozens of these power-hungry pricks on the loose.  Within the last six months, there have been at least eight different stories of crooked cops in the TC metro area.  Not misdemeanors.  Not playing cute with parking tickets.  Felonies.  Theft.  Intimidation.  Armed Robbery.  Obstruction.  Perjury.  And just plain kicking ass.

If you are entrusted to protect the public and carry a gun, but instead commit felonies on the job, you ought to be executed.  End of story.

Is that too harsh?

Here's the solution: quit breaking the law you pricks!


The damage that bad cops do to the public trust is far worse than what occurs when an average citizen commits the same crimes.  It's time to address it that way.  Is it too much to ask that those charged with enforcing our laws obey them also?  Especially when they're on the job?

P.S.  Can you tell I'm off my meds?

sorry...

I had a music post prepared today, but for some fag reason it kept switching fonts on its own and not correctly wrapping words.  After checking that the settings were correct, and seeing it still being non-compliant, I got pissed and deleted it.

music post coming soon.....

I will get back to my raison d'etre soon and recommend another album.  It takes thought to do those posts.  It requires very little, however, to rip people.

...and speaking of the knuckleheaded Chinese and how they're ruining Earth....

Do these jerkoffs make ANYTHING that's safe to use?

18 gazillion of them and apparently not one conscience among them.


http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/81095207.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUZ


Cheap-shot joke:

Q: "How many Chinamen does it take to make a safe product?"

A: "Well, apparently more than 2 billion."

ya, it was God's idea....

First of all, shame on anyone who has in the past or continues to now, support that horrible, horrible human being Sarah Palin.  There are so many reasons to loathe her, but we'll just pick one here today.

As covered more in-depth in the article linked to below, Palin thought that, yep, you guessed it, God wanted her to run as the veep candidate.  Has God talked to you lately?  Me neither.  Apparently that foul smelling turd Palin has got him on speed dial though.

Knock it off people, God is NOT choosing you.  That's ludicrous and SO completely self absorbed.  There's what, 7, 8 billion people on Earth, but YOU'RE the one he has special plans for?  Arrogance, anyone?

I seriously hate Palin and really wish she would just GO AWAY.  Smug dink.

I should also point out that another horrible, terrible human being [Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann] is also from the "God annointed me" crowd.  Funny how the ones who think God speaks to them or has special plans for them are among the most self-absorbed, self-important and self-aggrandizing people around.

At least they don't think God has a bunch of virgins lined up for them in the afterlife should they successfully perpetrate a suicide bombing against innocent people.

At least I think they don't believe that....


http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/81102477.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUnciaec8O7EyUsl