GREAT MUSICIANS ON LATE NIGHT TV

Did you catch Jose Gonzalez on Conan?! He's one of my favorite artists out there right now.

What about The Flaming Lips on Letterman?! Hmmm, nice button.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs were also on Letterman earlier in the week. And I'm not sure, but I believe Karen O. was "vogueing."

The Strokes were on Leno, but I'll forgive you if you missed that. Lennnnnnno. *shivers*

All in all, it was a terrific week in late night musical guests.

I GET MORE WORK...

For whatever reason, Flickr isn't allowing the LARGE photo to load, so just deal with this smaller, not-able-to-actually-read version for now. It's going to be on the front page of the FYI section of The Kansas City Star on Monday...yes, for the Royals season opener! Let's go team! This year we can totally be SECOND to dead last!!! USA USA USA!!!

"SHARON STONE ADVOCATES ORAL SEX"

Sometimes, you simply cannot NOT read the news. That was the headline. I dare you to ignore what lies beneath. Dare you, I say!!!

*****
Actress SHARON STONE is adamant teenagers should be prepared to engage in oral sex, if it saves from them the dangers of unprotected penetrative sex.

The BASIC INSTINCT spends much of her time away from Hollywood working as an activist raising AIDS awareness, and she always carries condoms with her to hand out in a bid to increase safe sex levels. She explains, "I was in the store the other day and I watched a young girl trying on clothes, showing her abdomen. "Her mother was trying to talk to her about not being inappropriately luring. I said, 'Gee that would look much nicer with a camisole under.' "Her mother walked away, and I said to the girl, 'I'd like to give you a two-minute conversation about sex.' "Young people talk to me about what to do if they're being pressed for sex? I tell them (what I believe): oral sex is a hundred times safer than vaginal or anal sex. "If you're in a situation where you cannot get out of sex, offer a blow job. I'm not embarrassed to tell them."
*****

I came dangerously close to falling out of my chair with laughter when I got to the line, "Her mother walked away, and I said to the girl, 'I'd like to give you a two-minute conversation about sex."

Can you even begin to imagine?! Shopping, minding your own business, and up walks Sharon Stone asking for a few minutes of your time so she can talk to you about sex?! I must be shopping at the wrong Target.

NEW MUSIC 3.28.06

MATES OF STATE * BRING IT BACK

First things first, do not look directly into that guy's eyes. He's not only creepy, but has the power to steal your soul even through this copied JPEG off of Amazon.com. That's how fucked up of an album cover it is. I adore the back cover or even the actual cover underneath the sleeve, but none of those were online (that I could find anyway) and I enjoy writing in my blog while I should be working, so like hell I'm going to wait until I get home and just scan the back of the album. So just deal with that creepy mother fucker staring right at you, suckers.

With that out of the way, this truly is an amazing album! It's hard to describe. They're a husband-wife couple of singer songwriters from San Francisco who keep their music light and upbeat. It's the type of record you'll enjoy listening to in the summertime with the windows rolled down as you drive around town. It's fun, vibrant pop rock with a tight combination of drums and organs. And harmonies...LOTS OF HARMONIES! It's straight out of the Mamas & Papas, 60's-70's coming in together on different words and then overlaping each other on others. It's really kind of beautiful and is an absolute joy to listen to.


GOMEZ * HOW WE OPERATE (single)

iTunes offered this last night which surprised me because the album doesn't come out until May. You can listen to the song off their website, but I make mix CDs all the time for driving to work and whatnot and enjoy having the option to listen to the song whenever I feel like it. The song seems good enough. Starts off stronger than it finishes, but I've been a fan of these guys forever and think it's about time they get some airplay here in the States.

RICKY GERVAIS ON THE SIMPSONS!

Don't forget...IT'S THIS SUNDAY! Looks like there might be future episodes as well...

The Simpsons creator Matt Groening said Ricky Gervais did such a good job writing an episode of the hit US comedy show that he wants him to do more.

The Office star wrote and appears in the episode, which is due to be screened in the US in the spring. Groening said Gervais was good enough to be a regular character, according to reports in the UK press. "He caught our tone exactly, and then added his own Ricky Gervais/David Brent patheticness," Groening said. "Everything you could ever possibly want from Ricky Gervais you get. "It's possible we'll collaborate again... he should be a regular character. In fact, he should have his own cartoon series."

Gervais' character in The Simpsons is based on David Brent from The Office sitcom.
He moves into The Simpson household with Marge as the family take part in an episode of Wife Swap, while Homer moves in with his wife. Gervais was invited to pen the episode by Groening, who is a fan of The Office. He described writing the episode as a "dream come true".


BBC News online - Weds 4 january 2006

UNITED 93

I'm sorry, but I really want to go see this. I love the way it's shot all "handheld" and the fact it all takes place in real time just makes it even more intense. And toss me in the camp for not thinking it's "too soon." I'm curious to see how Oliver Stone's Twin Towers movie turns out.

THE TIDE IS TURNING

Watch Russ Feingold on The Daily Show last night and remember what it looks like when a Senator stands up to this Administration. It's been awhile, but dammit, it feels good. Watch the Republican Spin Machine in action to discredit him and try and make it about "fighting terrorists" and not "breaking the law." They cannot keep hitting us over the head with "Liberals hate the troops" bullshit and expect us to not fight back.

Speaking of fighting back, the Dixie Chicks have a wonderful new song out. They ain't backing down either. Good for them. Remember how crazy people went when they said this, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."

That's it. They didn't eat a baby or pee on the Bible. They just said they were ashamed Bush is from Texas. And people went apeshit! My, how times are changing...for the better.

NOT READY TO MAKE NICE

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I’m not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I’m still waiting

I’m through with doubt
There’s nothing left for me to figure out
I’ve paid a price
And I’ll keep paying

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

I know you said
Can’t you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it

I made my bed and I sleep like a baby
With no regrets and I don’t mind sayin’
It’s a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they’d write me a letter
Sayin’ that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

I’m not ready to make nice
I’m not ready to back down
I’m still mad as hell and
I don’t have time to go round and round and round
It’s too late to make it right
I probably wouldn’t if I could
‘Cause I’m mad as hell
Can’t bring myself to do what it is you think I should

Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I’m not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I’m still waiting

BLAME THE MEDIA

I am soooooo tired of this pathetic tactic the conservative movement in this country keep trying to ram down our throats. Basically it comes down to, "Say it enough and it becomes true." Just like, "Liberal Media." You ask random people on the street and I guarantee most would just nod. Because that is all the conservatives need to do to help discredit whatever the latest news report is.

"Bomb Kills 80 in Iraq."
Psssssh, there the liberal media goes again! How come they never report the good news?

"Bush's Poll Numbers Hit New Low."
That's just because the poll was done by CNN and they're a bunch of liberals.

It doesn't matter what the news is, if you say that the source is the problem, you win every time!!!

Now we have President Bush joining in on the fun. Iraq isn't going as the media would like you to believe. Luckily, Keith Olbermann is there to put things in perspective. But keep in mind, he's one of those Pinko Liberal Commies that the conservatives warn you about...

**UPDATE**

I love Jack Cafferty

WHY WON'T GOD ANSWER *MY* PRAYERS?!

I know showing Pat Robertson making a fool out of himself is like showing a baby peeing on himself. "Yeah...so?!" But you gotta watch this clip of him and this woman from The 700 Club. Keep in mind that they're talking about college professors. People who teach college. That's it.

The best line? It's a tie between, "...these guys are out and out communists, they are radicals, you know some of them killers, and they are propagandists of the first order..." and "...you don't want your child to be brainwashed by these radicals, you just don't want it to happen. Not only brainwashed but beat up, they beat these people up, cower them into submission."

...wow.

NEW MUSIC 3.21.06

BEN HARPER * BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN

Taking the cue from the 70's, he's basically released a double album today. Or CD, if you will. Both CD's are only 9 tracks (and about a half an hour) long. So it could've easily been a 18 track, hour long single disc, but Harper wanted to keep it divided into mellow and upbeat. I think both sides are powerful and as a total package, this might be his best offering yet. Both lyrically and musically, he is at the top of his game. He even produced it all himself, which goes to show how much confidence he's been gathering up over the years.

This release feels as if it came right out of the 70's as well. Funky, meaningful, poetic, political, Ben Harper is truly from another time. Artists aren't supposed to make records like this any longer. Where's the catchy single? Where's the token love song? Instead you get personal turmoil as in "Cryin' Won't Help You Now."
*****
sit there and call me
a liar and a cheat
i just wish you'd pin a rose on me
now you won't even
come out and take a bow

cryin' wont help you now

now your poets
have all put down their pens
the only songs to sing
are those sung again
lonely just doesn't
look good on you somehow

cryin' wont help you now

i just keep on staring
into the black eyes of the truth
we'll have to learn to live apart somehow

cryin' wont help you now
*****
But where BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN really shines is in the fustration with what has gone wrong in the world. Some are specific, such as "Black Rain," which bashes the response to the Katrina victims, "you left them swimming for their lives / down in new orleans / can't afford a gallon of gasoline / with your useless degrees." But songs like the title track cover so much more ground. It speaks volumes about all that is corrupt in our current culture of apathy and fear.
*****
living these days is making me nervous
archaic doctrine no longer serve us
now we're left as silent witnesses
we don't know quite what this is
other than a war that can't be won

i feel like i'm crowded, i can't get out
world keeps on filling me up with doubt
when you're trapped you got no voice
where you're born you got no choice
other than to go and take you some

one dimensional fool
in a three dimensional world

politics, it's a drag
they put one foot in the grave
and the other on the flag
systems rotten to the core
young and old deserve much more
than struggling every day until you're done

tension
too much to mention
living on both sides of the gun
*****


PRINCE * 3121

I don't see why this album is getting shit on from Entertainment Weekly. Sure, it's not a CLASSIC Prince album, but it's still damn good. Songs like "Lolita" and "Black Sweat" are sure-fire-hits! The only thing that I wish is that he'd go back to cussing. I mean, he does the whole "Shhhh..." instead of "shit" which is like...c'mon, we get it. What harm is saying the word? I miss the old days of "Sexy Mother Fucker" and "Pussy Control."


THE FLAMING LIPS * THE W.A.N.D. (single)

I know the full album comes out in two weeks, but this single has not one but TWO b-sides, "You've Got To Hold On" and "Time Travel...YES!" It totally makes the $3.00 worth it.


I almost bought this, but I already had the amazing cover of "I Found A Reason" by Cat Power and figured I had bought enough for one day. Next week, perhaps...

Remember Remember - Dario Marianelli
Cry Me A River - Julie London
Governments Should Be Afraid Of Their People - Dario Marianelli
Evey`s Story - Dario Marianelli
Lust At The Abbey - Dario Marianelli
Red Diary, The - Dario Marianelli
Valerie - Dario Marianelli
Evey Reborn - Dario Marianelli
I Found A Reason - Cat Power
England Prevails - Dario Marianelli
Dominoes Fall, The - Dario Marianelli
Bird Gerhl - Antony & The Johnsons
Knives And Bullets (And Cannons Too) - Dario Marianelli