Saturday, December 24, 2005

Anarchy in the UK

Hey faithful, I am going to the U.K. for 6 days and won't be updating. I will be in London for 2 days and then shoot up to Edinburgh for 4 days. Be sure to check out my top ten of 2005. Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Festivus, Happy New Year.

Later.

Friday, December 23, 2005

J

I saw this on Dark Stuff, and just had to post it...

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Headlines That Shouldn't Be, 12/22/05

This doesn't really qualify, but the inner-kid in all of us can't help but laugh...

CNN
Hubble finds new moons, rings around Uranus

Uranus...

It never gets old.

Top Ten of 2005

1. Beck - Guero: Beck returns to the collaborative genius of the Dust Brothers. The album contains a collage of electronica that sounds more like a video game soundtrack than pop music. Perler's pick: "Girl"

2. Neil Diamond - 12 Songs: Much like Johnny Cash, Rick Rubin has given the "Jewish Elvis" a dose of indie rock street cred. And rightly so, as this album contains some of his finest music. This is Neil stripped down, not watered down. Perler's Pick: "Delirious Love" f/ Brian Wilson.

3. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment: British darlings craft an adrenaline-packed blend of melodic pop and New Wave synth. Album is complete with board game concept - the CD itself is the spinner. Perler's Pick: "Oh My God"

4. Foo Fighters - In Your Honor: Grunge holdovers give us a double dose of rock. Often drawing comparisons to Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti, In Your Honor boasts a side of grunge-pop and a side of acoustic ballads. Perler's Pick: "End Over End"

5. Raveonettes - Pretty in Black: Swedish duo take listeners on a trip back to 60's era pop on their third effort. Songs with charming melodies against atmospheric backdrops, and even a guest vocal by Ronnie Spector. Perler's Pick: "Uncertain Times"

6. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan: Motor City duo elaborate on the experimentation that defined their last record, Elephant. This time around, their nitty gritty rock sound is complemented by marimba, tambourines, and bells. Perler's Pick: "The Denial Twist"

7. The Blue Van - The Art of Rolling: Long live lo-fi garage rock. Give it a listen and you would think 60's grit never left. Perler's Pick: "I Remember the Days"

8. Six Feet Under - Soundtrack: Everyone was heartbroken with how the show ended. So what better way to mourn than with this collection of great indie rock songs on the stereo? Perler's Pick: "Breathe Me"

9. Crimea - Tragedy Rocks: These tunes are just inescapably addictive. Perler's Pick: "Lottery Winners on Acid"

10. Dane Cook - Retaliation: Yes, you can put comedy albums on top ten lists. Dane graduates from the auspices of the BK Lounge and further confronts his demons. Consisting of 2 shows on a double disc, we get Dane in all his eccentric glory. Perler's Pick: "One Night Stand/DJ Diddles"

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Fuck the TWU!

Getting around the city is obviously a monstrous pain in the ass. People everywhere, and every one of them pissed off. For me, the New Jersey Path train has been the unlikely savior in getting to work somewhat on time. I saw this report on local news this morning and just had to put it out there. These fuckin' transit workers earn more than the average New Yorker. Check this out (via WABC):

According to the MTA, a typical subway conductor makes $53,900 in salary and overtime.

Bus drivers average $62,500.

And motormen -- $62,440.

The union is demanding annual increases of 8 percent for three years -- for the average worker it's a $5,000 raise.


And they also want to decrease the retirement age. Anything else for these "workers" who are underworked and overpaid? There. Are you angry yet?

Headlines that Shouldn't Be, 12/21/05

In an effort to add even more exciting content to this site, I had an idea to do this. In addition to the normal crapola, I will (try to) have a daily post of headlines on news sites that really shouldn't be headlines. They deserve to be "below the fold" as it were, not front page. You never need to read any further than the headline itself.

Here we go...

CNN
Moms who lost kids in tsunami try to conceive again
After 3 months, Katrina pet reunited with his owner

Fox News
U.S. Dependent on High-Tech

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

The Strike

This was posted on Craigslist today...

Free Metro Card - All day pass


Reply to: sale-119504508@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-12-20, 2:04PM EST


get it while it's hot!

lol
  • this is in or around manhattan
  • no -- it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests


Monday, December 19, 2005

Product

Check out these funny products courtesy of Vice. My favorite is the Pocket Knock on Wood. Come on, you know you've heard people say that before groping the room for a fuckin' piece of wood to hit. And by people, I mean yours truly.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Bush Thirsty for Street Cred

This video from Sky News has President Bush explaining what's on his iPod. At first his taste in music seems okay; he has The Beatles, Beach Boys, and Aretha Franklin on his iPod. Then in a classic Bush manner, mispronounces Don McLean's name with a chuckle. Hey Prez, you're not loco. Oh, and thanks for invading our privacy. (via iPoding)

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Kidz Bop

Hipster parents will be glad to know that the latest installment of Kidz Bop will be released on Feb. 21 (Razor & Tie). And what better way to breed new hipsters than spinning this series to your newborn? Oh, and don't forget to pick up Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! bibs and diapers. Below is the track listing (via Pitchfork):

1 Behind These Hazel Eyes (Kelly Clarkson)
2 Beverly Hills (Weezer)
3 Don't Lie (Black Eyed Peas)
4 Wake Me Up When September Ends (Green Day)
5 Listen To Your Heart (D.H.T.)
6 Just The Girl (The Click Five)
7 Pon De Replay (Rhianna)
8 Cool (Gwen Stefani)
9 Photograph (Weezer)
10 These Words (Natasha Bedingfield)
11 You And Me (Lifehouse)
12 Feel Good, Inc. (Gorillaz)
13 Chariot (Gavin DeGraw)
14 Boyfriend (Ashlee Simpson)
15 Speed Of Sound (Coldplay)
16 We Belong Together (Vanessa Carlton)
17 Wake Up (Hilary Duff)
18 Axel F (Crazy Frog)

So I'm a Lebowski, You're a Lebowski..

Last night was drunken bowling; the first time in a long time. Yours truly was in somewhat rare form though. Usually what happens is I have one pretty good game, and then just lose steam. Typically what happens is I'll knock down 7 pins on the first roll, but just can't seem to clean up the spare. But last night, I bowled 5 consecutive spares and raked up a 135. It might not seem like much, but is great for me. All that really matters, however, is that I beat Dr. Green 2 of 3 times.

I'm still trying to break my record of 160.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Dolls Reunite


A huge pet peeve of mine is how older bands come back to spoil the legacy which they created. Next up in this line are the New York Dolls. These guys pretty much invented "glitter" rock, which eventually led to punk. No one should underestimate their influence on music. But why come back into the scene now with only 2 original members still living (David Johansen & Syl Sylvain)? I understand that these guys really have nothing better to do, but why ruin the legacy you worked so hard to create?

Classic rockers need to know when to call it quits. I didnt agree when The Who reunited with Zack Starkey (Ringo's son) on drums. At least then there were 3 original members. It was another ball game when they kept going after Entwistle passed.

It's funny how the bands with the greatest legacies were the most short-lived and had the most to lose. A band like the Sex Pistols caused so much activity within the music industry, but only lasted a couple of years. Neil Young said it best: "It's better to burn out than to fade away."

(via Dark Stuff)

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Curse Words

I always found it fascinating that the first thing people want to know when learning a new language is how to curse. My knowledge of curse words came before proper sentence structure or grammar. And I bet most kids have a simlar tale. I was the dorky kid in high school that studied Latin instead of Spanish. Therefore, in the spirit of learning a new language, I found this Spanish audiobook for cursing. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Learn some Spanish.

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Please NO...

I sure as shit hope that this is just tabloid fodder. The article claims that rock bimbo Courtney Love will sell a piece of Cobain's back catalog to Martha Stewart. Martha fuckin' Stewart. Better cross our devil horns and pray this is not true.

The actress and rock singer is selling a quarter of the Nirvana frontman's back catalogue to disgraced US lifestyle guru Martha Stewart. Released from jail this year after five months for insider trading, Stewart wants the songs as an investment.

(via Stereogum)

Saturday, December 10, 2005

Richard Pryor Passes

LOS ANGELES - Richard Pryor, the caustic yet perceptive actor-comedian who lived dangerously close to the edge both on stage and off, died Saturday. He was 65.

Pryor died shortly before 8 a.m. of a heart attack after being taken to a hospital from his home in the San Fernando Valley, said his business manager, Karen Finch. He had been ill for years with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nervous system.

Pryor was regarded early in his career as one of the most foul-mouthed comics in the business, but he gained a wide following for his expletive-filled but universal and frequently personal insights into modern life and race relations.

Throughout his career, Pryor focused on racial inequality, once joking as the host of the 1977 Academy Awards that Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier were the only black members of the Academy (MSNBC).

His brand of comedy created ripples which are still felt today. Pryor paved the trail for comedians like Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock.

Watch him on this great SNL Clip.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Cowbell Skit Is So Used Already

I'm not usually one to post IM conversations because I think it's a bit sophomoric. But we're all allowed to have an exception:

Emily (2:18:25 PM): ELIEEEEEE
Emily (2:18:29 PM): I thinki have a feve
Elie (2:20:27 PM): well the only prescription is more cowbell
Emily (2:20:38 PM): AAAAAh ha ha ha ha
Emily (2:20:44 PM): that worked out so nicely
Elie (2:21:00 PM): thanks, ill be here all night

Eat it up folks.

25 Years Ago - R.I.P.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Another Year for CB's

CBGB now has an official countdown to its death. That's right, on Halloween of 2006, the famed club will close its doors for good. The Bowery is kicking out its own sweetheart.

Kristal said he was visiting other sites in lower Manhattan to reopen the club once the new deal expires and expected a month-long goodbye celebration at the old space. He also said he was considering opening a branch in Las Vegas and was unconcerned about recreating the low-budget ambiance of the original CBGB.

Umm, about that. You can't really move a club and expect to have the same nostalgia. Don't forget that CB's has pretty much been dormant since the early 80's. I'm not sure a move will really help that operation. This might be the end of the club proper, yet not necessarily the namesake.

(via Billboard)

Monday, December 05, 2005

Celebs as Kids

In general, people have an unhealthy obsession with celebrities. With this obsession comes an interest in how such stars looked when they were younger. And so this one's for you. And you, and you, and you:





Sunday, December 04, 2005

Haiku

For some reason, I woke up this morning thinking about Haikus. More specifically how in college, some of us losers were creating them on the house email thread. Wow, come to think of it, we really were complete tools. Yet, I don't think I'll ever forget the one tailored specifically for me:

My name is Elie
Wind will blow me into tree
Come shit on my bed

Thanks guys.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

"New" Lennon Interview

With the anniversary of Lennon's ruthless murder just days away, commemorations and old interviews are popping up everywhere. For a Beatles maniac like myself, I can never get enough of this shit. Even if I've heard the stories a million times, it's still nice to hear it once more. That is why I was glad to read on NME that BBC Radio 4 will be broadcasting a never-before-heard interview conducted by Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone.

Not in the UK? Don't fret. Go here and tune in at 7 PM tonight (Dec. 3).

John Lennon compared life in The Beatles with decadent ancient Rome in an interview to be broadcast in the UK for the first time.

The interview for Rolling Stone magazine in December 1970, eight months after the band split, will be aired on BBC Radio 4 at 7pm on December 3.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

What a Loser


To all the losers out there, self-admitted or not (present company included), this site is for you. Don't forget to take the personality test too.

Loser.

Metal Show

So I was at the Sevendust/Mudvayne show last night and thought I'd report some of my favorite observations that tend to hold true at any metal show. For the record, I watched Bobaflex (who opened) and Sevendust (who were amazing). I hate Mudvayne.

In the pit:
1. The one really fat dude wearing a XXL t-shirt, just standing there.
2. Dude with dredlocks and a backpack.
3. Skinhead sans shirt, showing off his back tatoo through a thin film of sweat.
4. Guy protecting his girlfriend from all the above.
5. A missing sneaker.

General Attire:
1. Losers wearing t-shirt of band they're seeing.
2. Metallica shirts. It seemed every other person was wearing one.
3. If you don't have a metal shirt, just wear all black.
4. The beard. Soul patches and chin straps are allowed.

Feel free to add more of your favorite observations.