We just discovered the "spotlight" feature on Soundcloud. We'll be alternating favorite albums or songs periodically so you can see new things when you visit Ear Candle's Soundcloud page. Currently we are putting The Full Disclosure Principle (which in all but name is really the Granite Countertops' debut) up front. Check out the cover of Leonard Cohen's "Democracy".
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Terminal apoplexy
"Spending your final hours on earth yelling at people with your thumbs. Wow, that was a life well lived."
UPDATE: The man is gone, but what he stood for lives on. But what about ACORN? They must have had something to do with this!
UPDATE UPDATE: The Rude One speculates on an appropriate afterlife scenario.
UPDATE: The man is gone, but what he stood for lives on. But what about ACORN? They must have had something to do with this!
UPDATE UPDATE: The Rude One speculates on an appropriate afterlife scenario.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Going down in frothy flames
Oh this year's general election is going to be so much fun. I can't wait for the first debate.
Here they are, sitting pretty on piles of cash thanks to the obscene Citizens United decision, kings of their own Alternative Reality Media Empire, and what have they got to show for it? Andy Kaufman's greatest prank has now become the frontrunner, and with Obama doing militarism better than Dick Cheney ever could (due to the fact that, right or wrong, he actually prefers killing off terrorists to shaking them at us like glowsticks), the wingnuts are left with an agenda of destroying union jobs and taking away our birth control. It's going to take a hell of a lot of election fraud to make this a winning strategy, not that they won't try. But the way it looks right now, all I can see is overreach, and it's giving me a warm glow inside. It's all falling to bits, gloriously.
UPDATE: Mahablog puts it brilliantly and succinctly:
Here they are, sitting pretty on piles of cash thanks to the obscene Citizens United decision, kings of their own Alternative Reality Media Empire, and what have they got to show for it? Andy Kaufman's greatest prank has now become the frontrunner, and with Obama doing militarism better than Dick Cheney ever could (due to the fact that, right or wrong, he actually prefers killing off terrorists to shaking them at us like glowsticks), the wingnuts are left with an agenda of destroying union jobs and taking away our birth control. It's going to take a hell of a lot of election fraud to make this a winning strategy, not that they won't try. But the way it looks right now, all I can see is overreach, and it's giving me a warm glow inside. It's all falling to bits, gloriously.
UPDATE: Mahablog puts it brilliantly and succinctly:
The Santorum campaign is what happens when the old zombie ideas — cut taxes; deregulate — are so worn out even the candidates are bored with them.
Ain't nothin' but a house party
We have finally begun to edit some of the footage from the X-tal reunion in 2006, and we found that the house party set we played at the old house on Frederick St. was even better than the actual gig at the Rickshaw Stop the night after.
It's really for someone other than me to make the judgement, but I remain convinced that we were underrated. Evidence of this is still available.
It's really for someone other than me to make the judgement, but I remain convinced that we were underrated. Evidence of this is still available.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Four chord wonders
I saw this video in my Critical Study Of Pop Culture class today. The teacher put it on while he was talking about Theodor Adorno, which is funny in and of itself:
Made me wonder, have I ever resorted to this particular "I-V-vi-IV" chord pattern? I can't think of any examples, though "Stating The Obvious Again" by X-tal rocks a "I-IV-vi-V" progression, which is close. But that was supposed to be a Big Rock Anthem, and I borrowed the chords to Tracy Chapman's "Talking About A Revolution" for that one anyhow.
Made me wonder, have I ever resorted to this particular "I-V-vi-IV" chord pattern? I can't think of any examples, though "Stating The Obvious Again" by X-tal rocks a "I-IV-vi-V" progression, which is close. But that was supposed to be a Big Rock Anthem, and I borrowed the chords to Tracy Chapman's "Talking About A Revolution" for that one anyhow.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Putin Got Scared
Seen this yet? A masked Russian Riot Grrrl band called PUSSY RIOT, who set up in unauthorized places and perform high-energy protest music against the current regime. Apparently, this song's title translates as "Putin Got Scared". (Musically, it sounds a lot like the Subtonix' definitive cover of the Screamers' "Vertigo", all agitated, pounding forward motion.) They were arrested for performing without permission in Red Square. (Two members were fined 500 rubles each.) This is the kind of daring confrontational spirit that punk is all about. More info on Pussy Riot here:
In the months since their formation, the eight members of Pussy Riot have perfected their own form of protest: their songs are pithy, angry missives, largely directed at Putin, and they remain beguilingly anonymous – the band wear neon balaclavas to conceal their identities and perform flash gigs in unexpected places: on public transport, for example, and, once, on a prison roof. In mid-January, they pulled off their most audacious show to date: performing on a platform in front of St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, opposite the Kremlin: "Revolt in Russia – the charisma of protest," they sang. "Revolt in Russia, Putin's got scared!" It was the shortest of performances, only minutes before the authorities hauled the group away, but the point had been made.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Rebel rebel, your face is a mess.
Last night on TV, I caught Sarah Palin, with her eyes rolling around in her head even more than usual, bellowing, "Annoy a liberal and vote for Newt!" Funny how you don't see much of that on the other side, e.g. "I support Elizabeth Warren because she'll REALLY piss off the conservatives!"
Monday, January 30, 2012
Uncomfortable conversations
Having spent 30 years making music that's largely ABOUT uncomfortable conversations, this article really struck me. If "indie rock" isn't challenging in any way, why bother? Also, the writer conveys why the faceless smugness of Pitchfork has always bugged me:
"In Sufjan Stevens, indie adopted precious, pastoral nationalism at the Bush Administration’s exact midpoint. In M.I.A., indie rock celebrated a musician whose greatest accomplishment has been to turn the world’s various catastrophes into remixed pop songs. This is a kind of music, in other words, that’s very good at avoiding uncomfortable conversations. Pitchfork has imitated, inspired, and encouraged indie rock in this respect. It has incorporated a perfect awareness of cultural capital into its basic architecture. A Pitchfork review may ignore history, aesthetics, or the basic technical aspects of tonal music, but it will almost never fail to include a detailed taxonomy of the current hype cycle and media environment. This is a small, petty way of thinking about a large art, and as indie bands have both absorbed and refined the culture’s obsession with who is over- and underhyped, their musical ambitions have been winnowed down to almost nothing at all."
"In Sufjan Stevens, indie adopted precious, pastoral nationalism at the Bush Administration’s exact midpoint. In M.I.A., indie rock celebrated a musician whose greatest accomplishment has been to turn the world’s various catastrophes into remixed pop songs. This is a kind of music, in other words, that’s very good at avoiding uncomfortable conversations. Pitchfork has imitated, inspired, and encouraged indie rock in this respect. It has incorporated a perfect awareness of cultural capital into its basic architecture. A Pitchfork review may ignore history, aesthetics, or the basic technical aspects of tonal music, but it will almost never fail to include a detailed taxonomy of the current hype cycle and media environment. This is a small, petty way of thinking about a large art, and as indie bands have both absorbed and refined the culture’s obsession with who is over- and underhyped, their musical ambitions have been winnowed down to almost nothing at all."
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Andy Kaufman is not dead.
He faked his death, changed his identity and has been perpetuating a decades-long political prank under the name "Rick Santorum".
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Pazz & Jop 2011
I just submitted my 2011 Village Voice Pazz & Jop ballot, which I'll share with y'all here. BIG DISCLAIMER: If your favorite hot platter is not here, it's probably because I didn't hear it and you should send it to me immediately. I don't get the deluge of freebies that I used to once upon a time. This is what I actually heard this year and loved.
Albums:
1. Poly Styrene - Generation Indigo
2. The Mekons - Ancient And Modern
3. Rob Kennedy/MDA - The Purgatory Home Companion
4. Deerhoof - Deerhoof vs. Evil
5. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
6. Wild Flag - Wild Flag
7. Wire - Red Barked Tree
8. Ruby Howl - Heaven Hides Here Too
9. Moon Duo - Mazes
10. The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck
Singles (VERY loosely defined in these digital downloading days):
1. The Granite Countertops - Something Different (token piece of shameless self-promotion, actually released almost 2 years ago but I really like the video I made for it this year)
2. Deerhoof - Super Duper Rescue Heads!
3. Rob K/MDA - Bardot Hotel
4. It Thing - Life Is Sick
5. Half Man Half Biscuit - National Shite Day (came out in 2008 but I didn't discover it till this year so PLLPPPPPPPPPPPP)
6. MamaCoAtl - Food Is A Weapon
7. Vivian Girls - The Other Girls
8. Dylan Champagne - Baby In A Bear Suit
9. The Hallflowers - I Can't Get Started
(No videos for The Hallflowers! Perhaps it's time to dig through the archives!)
10. Shovelman - Rollin'
Different song, but this will give you an idea of what this guy can do with an altered shovel.
Albums:
1. Poly Styrene - Generation Indigo
2. The Mekons - Ancient And Modern
3. Rob Kennedy/MDA - The Purgatory Home Companion
4. Deerhoof - Deerhoof vs. Evil
5. PJ Harvey - Let England Shake
6. Wild Flag - Wild Flag
7. Wire - Red Barked Tree
8. Ruby Howl - Heaven Hides Here Too
9. Moon Duo - Mazes
10. The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck
Singles (VERY loosely defined in these digital downloading days):
1. The Granite Countertops - Something Different (token piece of shameless self-promotion, actually released almost 2 years ago but I really like the video I made for it this year)
2. Deerhoof - Super Duper Rescue Heads!
3. Rob K/MDA - Bardot Hotel
4. It Thing - Life Is Sick
5. Half Man Half Biscuit - National Shite Day (came out in 2008 but I didn't discover it till this year so PLLPPPPPPPPPPPP)
6. MamaCoAtl - Food Is A Weapon
7. Vivian Girls - The Other Girls
8. Dylan Champagne - Baby In A Bear Suit
9. The Hallflowers - I Can't Get Started
(No videos for The Hallflowers! Perhaps it's time to dig through the archives!)
10. Shovelman - Rollin'
Different song, but this will give you an idea of what this guy can do with an altered shovel.
Whirlin' twirlin', I'm whirlin' daaaaown!
I always loved that one Poles single from 1978, but I knew absolutely nothing about them until Davis found this link and this video. Hope you're having a great life, Michaele Jordana, wherever you are.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Moon So Bright
Great new video of a long-out-of-circulation Angel Corpus Christi song that somehow never made it to her "The 80s" CD. Nice primitive animation. Good to hear this one again.
Noodle Brain Productions: The Integrity Tone Scale
Davis Jones has just posted the second episode of Noodle Brain Productions' 2006 TV show on Youtube. It's an educational program exploring the Integrity Tone Scale. It also gave birth to the Experimental Bunnies, who first assembled to provide the musical score for the show.
Now playing in four parts:
The music can be heard by itself here:
The Experimental Bunnies: Music For The Integrity Tone Scale by earcandleproductions
UPDATE: We neglected to mention that Matthew Grasso also contributes music in the very first part of the show. Thanks, Matthew!
Now playing in four parts:
The music can be heard by itself here:
The Experimental Bunnies: Music For The Integrity Tone Scale by earcandleproductions
UPDATE: We neglected to mention that Matthew Grasso also contributes music in the very first part of the show. Thanks, Matthew!
Ear Candle Radio: The Ghost Ship Sails On
We made a startling discovery recently that, even though we ostensibly closed down Ear Candle Radio for a while, it's still up there, but only available for Live 365 VIP subscribers. We can't edit the current stream in any way until we restart our account. We can only turn the stream off or on right now. For our friends with VIP subscriptions, we're going to leave it up. There's loads of good stuff to enjoy there until we come roaring back at a later date with an all-new playlist.
The Wall Talks Back
As of yesterday, I am now ORIENTED! In January, I start my first semester in the Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts department at San Francisco State, and had my final final at City College.
One of the best things I did this semester was this project for Sound Recording Studio class, where I did a special dub mix of "Talking To The Wall" by a young local garage-rock band, The Sweet Bones. Oh, for my own C24 Pro Tools mixing console! There is a terrible shortage of insane dub mixes of rock songs that I would love to remedy.
The Wall Talks Back - The Sweet Bones by earcandleproductions
One of the best things I did this semester was this project for Sound Recording Studio class, where I did a special dub mix of "Talking To The Wall" by a young local garage-rock band, The Sweet Bones. Oh, for my own C24 Pro Tools mixing console! There is a terrible shortage of insane dub mixes of rock songs that I would love to remedy.
The Wall Talks Back - The Sweet Bones by earcandleproductions
Put a ring on it!
Cool movie about ringed planets and how they work.
I confess, I do get a twinge of childish amusement at the narrator's attempt to make "Uranus" sound less obscene by pronouncing it in an equally obscene fashion. Some things are better left alone. Anyway, check out these amazing graphic depictions! I love me some astronomy.
I confess, I do get a twinge of childish amusement at the narrator's attempt to make "Uranus" sound less obscene by pronouncing it in an equally obscene fashion. Some things are better left alone. Anyway, check out these amazing graphic depictions! I love me some astronomy.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Announcement!
After seven years of broadcasting on the intertubular airwaves, Ear Candle Radio is going on indefinite hiatus. It has been a magnificent time and a rewarding experience sharing our own unique vision of radio with all of you, and we will be back again one day. In the meantime, we are stepping up production of our own music, and building our Soundcloud page, where you will soon be able to hear everything we've created, and be the first to catch the latest bits of culture that the Experimental Bunnies and the Granite Countertops have in store for you in the new year.
Come around for one last listen before the moving vans roll in.
Keep watching this space. We have plans.
Love,
Neo and Davis at Ear Candle Productions.
Come around for one last listen before the moving vans roll in.
Keep watching this space. We have plans.
Love,
Neo and Davis at Ear Candle Productions.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Ear Candle Radio's Top 20: October 2011
1. The Zombies - Care Of Cell 44 - Odessey and Oracle
2. Monty Python - Galaxy Song - Monty Python Sings
3. Harry Belafonte - Lead Man Holler - Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean
4. Echo & The Bunnymen - Villiers Terrace - Crocodiles
5. The Experimental Bunnies - Open Your Mouth And Say OM - Bunnies On Fire
6. Vivian Girls - You're My Guy - Everything Goes Wrong
7. The Tornadoes - Telstar - Telstar/The Original Hits
8. Siouxsie and the Banshees - 20th Century Boy - Downside Up
9. Roger Miller - Space Is The Place - Oh
10. Neil Young - Love And War - Le Noise
11. Ken Nordine - Faces in the Jazzamatazz - The Best of Word Jazz, Vol. 1
12. Heartless Bastards - All This Time - All This Time
13. The Experimental Bunnies - Power Source - Music For The Integrity Tone Scale
14. Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Sweet Sweet Bulbs - Trout Mask Replica
15. X-Tal - Smells Like Smoke - Good Luck
16. Tall Dwarfs - Michael Hillbilly - The Sky Above, The Mud Below
17. The Small Nambas - Famous In Santa Cruz - Live At The Santa Cruz Art Center 5/5/80
18. The Quails - Your Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of A Fist - Atmosphere
19. Prickly - Hedgeclipping Song - The Long Secret: A Harriet Records Compilation
20. Love - Nothing - Four Sail
2. Monty Python - Galaxy Song - Monty Python Sings
3. Harry Belafonte - Lead Man Holler - Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean
4. Echo & The Bunnymen - Villiers Terrace - Crocodiles
5. The Experimental Bunnies - Open Your Mouth And Say OM - Bunnies On Fire
6. Vivian Girls - You're My Guy - Everything Goes Wrong
7. The Tornadoes - Telstar - Telstar/The Original Hits
8. Siouxsie and the Banshees - 20th Century Boy - Downside Up
9. Roger Miller - Space Is The Place - Oh
10. Neil Young - Love And War - Le Noise
11. Ken Nordine - Faces in the Jazzamatazz - The Best of Word Jazz, Vol. 1
12. Heartless Bastards - All This Time - All This Time
13. The Experimental Bunnies - Power Source - Music For The Integrity Tone Scale
14. Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Sweet Sweet Bulbs - Trout Mask Replica
15. X-Tal - Smells Like Smoke - Good Luck
16. Tall Dwarfs - Michael Hillbilly - The Sky Above, The Mud Below
17. The Small Nambas - Famous In Santa Cruz - Live At The Santa Cruz Art Center 5/5/80
18. The Quails - Your Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of A Fist - Atmosphere
19. Prickly - Hedgeclipping Song - The Long Secret: A Harriet Records Compilation
20. Love - Nothing - Four Sail
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Enetrtaining the troops
The Conspiracy Of Beards performed for the demonstrators at Occupy SF on Friday, October 28, and Davis Jones was there to capture it for Ear Candle Productions. Solidarity in song. "Everybody knows the deal is rotten!"
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tangle of matter and ghost
The Conspiracy Of Beards, with guest vocalist Amy Tobin, do a breathtaking rendition of "The Window" at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival on Oct. 2 in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Davis Jones and Hilary Fielding ran the cameras, Davis did the editing, and J Neo Marvin tweaked the audio a bit.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
O Canada
Checked into our Tunecore account to discover that we sold a ton of copies of Crashing Into The Future by the Granite Countertops through iTunes Canada. Thank you for your support, o hip and wise citizens of the great white north. Hope you dig the sounds.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ear Candle Radio's Top 20, September 2011
1. Systemwide - The Sound Of The Sun - Sirius
2. Ruby Howl - Joey - Heaven Hides There Too
3. The Soulsations - Funky Nightclub - Eccentric Soul: Mighty Mike Lenaburg
4. The Magnetic Fields - Love Is Like A Bottle Of Gin - 69 Love Songs
5. Jon Langford - Sentimental Marching Song - Skull Orchard Revisited
6. Iggy Pop - Life Of Work - Zombie Birdhouse
7. Coyle & Sharpe - Maniacs In Living Hell - Audio Visionaries: Street Pranks & Put-Ons
8. Alice Cooper - Living - Pretties For You
9. Vivian Girls - The Other Girls - Share the Joy
10. The Sons Of Champlin - 1982-A - Love Is The Song We Sing - San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970
11. John Trudell - Rich Man's War (Album Version) - AKA Grafitti Man
12. The Clash - Justice tonight-kick it over - Super Black Market Clash
13. The Aislers Set - Jaime's Song - Terrible Things Happen
14. Wire - Please Take - Red Barked Tree
15. Karen Mantler - Arnold's Dead - Farewell
16. David Bowie - I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spacecraft - Heathen
17. Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Masengo - Mojo Presents;Africa Rising
18. Ken Nordine - Faces in the Jazzamatazz - The Best of Word Jazz, Vol. 1
19. Anne Briggs - Living By The Water - Anne Briggs
20. Syd Barrett - Bob Dylan Blues - Wouldn't You Miss Me
2. Ruby Howl - Joey - Heaven Hides There Too
3. The Soulsations - Funky Nightclub - Eccentric Soul: Mighty Mike Lenaburg
4. The Magnetic Fields - Love Is Like A Bottle Of Gin - 69 Love Songs
5. Jon Langford - Sentimental Marching Song - Skull Orchard Revisited
6. Iggy Pop - Life Of Work - Zombie Birdhouse
7. Coyle & Sharpe - Maniacs In Living Hell - Audio Visionaries: Street Pranks & Put-Ons
8. Alice Cooper - Living - Pretties For You
9. Vivian Girls - The Other Girls - Share the Joy
10. The Sons Of Champlin - 1982-A - Love Is The Song We Sing - San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970
11. John Trudell - Rich Man's War (Album Version) - AKA Grafitti Man
12. The Clash - Justice tonight-kick it over - Super Black Market Clash
13. The Aislers Set - Jaime's Song - Terrible Things Happen
14. Wire - Please Take - Red Barked Tree
15. Karen Mantler - Arnold's Dead - Farewell
16. David Bowie - I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spacecraft - Heathen
17. Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Masengo - Mojo Presents;Africa Rising
18. Ken Nordine - Faces in the Jazzamatazz - The Best of Word Jazz, Vol. 1
19. Anne Briggs - Living By The Water - Anne Briggs
20. Syd Barrett - Bob Dylan Blues - Wouldn't You Miss Me
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
How could you ever want anything else?
The Angel Corpus Christi and Rich Stim X-tal project rolls on with this extremely trippy video for Happy Americans. Stoked and honored.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
All the young (and old) dudes (and ladies), carry the news
Live coverage of the action on Wall St. now.
Embedded here while it lasts:
Embedded here while it lasts:
Watch live streaming video from globalrevolution at livestream.com
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
How soon they forget
Their hack journalism helps you get your precious war, and this is the thanks they get?
Remember those wonderful days when a pack of aspiring war criminals pulled out all the stops to try to destroy people like Susan Sontag? On this tenth anniversary of the happiest day ever, they're at it again, except they are no longer mere "aspiring" war criminals and history has proven them dead wrong about everything. And that old liberal media will let them get away with it again in spite of it all if enough people don't push back.
Seriously folks, take some time out to rub their faces in just how out of touch they are. Lives still depend on it.
Meanwhile, Digby states the obvious, brilliantly.
Remember those wonderful days when a pack of aspiring war criminals pulled out all the stops to try to destroy people like Susan Sontag? On this tenth anniversary of the happiest day ever, they're at it again, except they are no longer mere "aspiring" war criminals and history has proven them dead wrong about everything. And that old liberal media will let them get away with it again in spite of it all if enough people don't push back.
Seriously folks, take some time out to rub their faces in just how out of touch they are. Lives still depend on it.
Meanwhile, Digby states the obvious, brilliantly.
Exactly.
Every time I see the phrase, "CNN/Tea Party Debate", I think the same thing. Thank you, liberal media!
Also worth noting. Like they care.
Also worth noting. Like they care.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Inconvenient e-mails of the past
SEPT. 12, 2001
"They love explosions 'cause they never get burned."
X-tal, "Happy Americans"
Dear friends,
Back around 1985, at the height of the Reagan years and as the Hollywood action movie began to reach new heights of pyrotechnical fabulousness, I wrote the song quoted above. At the time, I meant to make a point about how easy it is for Americans to talk casually about bombing one country or another because for generations we have been fortunate enough to have been almost completely spared from the reality of war within our own borders. Now that we are still reeling from yesterday's events, I hope that one thing we take away from this awful experience is the inability to ever again see an explosion anywhere without wondering who was in it, what their lives were like, and who they left behind. If the anonymous delusional fascists who committed these crimes accomplished anything besides damaging the Bill of Rights and the Palestinian cause beyond recognition, I hope they have given us a vivid reminder that war is something more than cool special effects and flashing blips on a video screen.
I expect that the days and weeks ahead will be filled with much talk about how "we must now stand by our President". The biggest fear in my mind now is not of more evil airplane stunts, but of what our current illegitimate Republican junta and their Democratic lap dogs may do in order to convince the public that they are "doing something". At this point, our government has virtually been handed a blank check: our forces can attack any country anywhere and claim they are retaliating. If Bush had ever shown himself to be the least bit trustworthy at any time up to now, this prospect might not be quite so disturbing. I suggest we all keep our bullshit detectors cranked up to 11 at all times. The public's desire for justice and closure could allow us to take way too much for granted. Also, I wonder what sort of "anti-terrorist", "anti-sedition" legislation is even now working its way through Congress. In a time of emergency, we could be asked to support any number of draconian measures in the name of unity and security; don't be surprised if our freedom of speech is seriously curtailed. (Don't worry though, I'm sure that only truly "dangerous" speech will be threatened, i.e. anything that dissents against our leaders' agenda, like...oh...this e-mail I'm writing?) I hope I'm just being paranoid; we'll see how things unfold. My thoughts are with those grieving right now. Go easy on one another; we're all a little edgy this week.
Illegitimati non carborundum,
-J Neo Marvin
"They love explosions 'cause they never get burned."
X-tal, "Happy Americans"
Dear friends,
Back around 1985, at the height of the Reagan years and as the Hollywood action movie began to reach new heights of pyrotechnical fabulousness, I wrote the song quoted above. At the time, I meant to make a point about how easy it is for Americans to talk casually about bombing one country or another because for generations we have been fortunate enough to have been almost completely spared from the reality of war within our own borders. Now that we are still reeling from yesterday's events, I hope that one thing we take away from this awful experience is the inability to ever again see an explosion anywhere without wondering who was in it, what their lives were like, and who they left behind. If the anonymous delusional fascists who committed these crimes accomplished anything besides damaging the Bill of Rights and the Palestinian cause beyond recognition, I hope they have given us a vivid reminder that war is something more than cool special effects and flashing blips on a video screen.
I expect that the days and weeks ahead will be filled with much talk about how "we must now stand by our President". The biggest fear in my mind now is not of more evil airplane stunts, but of what our current illegitimate Republican junta and their Democratic lap dogs may do in order to convince the public that they are "doing something". At this point, our government has virtually been handed a blank check: our forces can attack any country anywhere and claim they are retaliating. If Bush had ever shown himself to be the least bit trustworthy at any time up to now, this prospect might not be quite so disturbing. I suggest we all keep our bullshit detectors cranked up to 11 at all times. The public's desire for justice and closure could allow us to take way too much for granted. Also, I wonder what sort of "anti-terrorist", "anti-sedition" legislation is even now working its way through Congress. In a time of emergency, we could be asked to support any number of draconian measures in the name of unity and security; don't be surprised if our freedom of speech is seriously curtailed. (Don't worry though, I'm sure that only truly "dangerous" speech will be threatened, i.e. anything that dissents against our leaders' agenda, like...oh...this e-mail I'm writing?) I hope I'm just being paranoid; we'll see how things unfold. My thoughts are with those grieving right now. Go easy on one another; we're all a little edgy this week.
Illegitimati non carborundum,
-J Neo Marvin
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Bein' all that they can be
Angel Corpus Christi and Rich Stim's X-tal covers project marches on. Nice one.
Happy Americans by mxrich
It's actually been quite a long time since I've sung this song. It seemed so tied to the patriotic rah-rah zeitgeist of the Reagan era (with a goodly dose of snark at cheesy 80s rock anthems thrown in) that it doesn't really seem to suit an age of angry birthers and teabaggers. The ignorance lives on, but that giddy euphoria has been replaced by an ocean of butthurt. On the other hand, since the lonesome death of St. Ronnie, there's been no shortage of talking heads invoking those wonderful years when Americans were oh so happy. So the time has never been better for Angel to bring this one back.
(Ironic note: back when this was written, Daniel Ortega was one of America's Top Scapegoats, along with Noriega and Qaddafi---hey, how about that?---who were name-dropped in the song in various alternate versions. When the Sandinistas regained power in Nicaragua recently, Ortega distinguished himself by allying himself with the Catholic Church and the right wing and passing one of the cruelest, most Draconian anti-abortion laws in the hemisphere. While the average American has forgotten his name, I'm just about ready to pick up that water gun myself. I won't say what I'd like to fill it up with.)
UPDATE: No, this song is not the least bit dated. The spirit of all we were making fun of back then is all too alive. Pass the fried, genetically modified chicken!
Happy Americans by mxrich
It's actually been quite a long time since I've sung this song. It seemed so tied to the patriotic rah-rah zeitgeist of the Reagan era (with a goodly dose of snark at cheesy 80s rock anthems thrown in) that it doesn't really seem to suit an age of angry birthers and teabaggers. The ignorance lives on, but that giddy euphoria has been replaced by an ocean of butthurt. On the other hand, since the lonesome death of St. Ronnie, there's been no shortage of talking heads invoking those wonderful years when Americans were oh so happy. So the time has never been better for Angel to bring this one back.
(Ironic note: back when this was written, Daniel Ortega was one of America's Top Scapegoats, along with Noriega and Qaddafi---hey, how about that?---who were name-dropped in the song in various alternate versions. When the Sandinistas regained power in Nicaragua recently, Ortega distinguished himself by allying himself with the Catholic Church and the right wing and passing one of the cruelest, most Draconian anti-abortion laws in the hemisphere. While the average American has forgotten his name, I'm just about ready to pick up that water gun myself. I won't say what I'd like to fill it up with.)
UPDATE: No, this song is not the least bit dated. The spirit of all we were making fun of back then is all too alive. Pass the fried, genetically modified chicken!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Ear Candle Radio's Top 20, August 2011
1. Karen Mantler - Arnold's Dead - Farewell
2. Jon Langford & Skull Orchard - Flag of Triumph - Old Devils
3. Alice Cooper - Living - Pretties For You
4. Vivian Girls - The Other Girls - Share the Joy
5. Simon Comber - The Jaws Of Life - Endearance
6. Richard Thompson and Linda Thompson - Night Comes In - Guitar, Vocal
7. Peter Kadyk - Frankenstein - Take Me To The Porch
8. Pavement - Mellow Jazz Docent (Remastered) - Quarantine The Past: The Best Of Pavement
9. Jackie McAuley - Bangerine - Jackie McAuley
10. The Bats - Just Do It - Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox
11. X-tal - Census - Everything Crash
12. Ken Nordine - Faces in the Jazzamatazz - The Best of Word Jazz, Vol. 1
13. The Experimental Bunnies - Do What Now? - Bunnies On Fire
14. The Ruts - In a Rut - The Best of the Ruts
15. Deerhoof - Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back - Offend Maggie
16. The Original Bushwhackers And Bullockies Band - Ned Kelly Was Born In A Ramshackle Hut - The Shearer's Dream
17. Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Masengo - Mojo Presents;Africa Rising
18. The Lijadu Sisters - Life's Gone Down Low - The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia In 1970s Nigeria
19. KXP - Labyrinth - K-X-P
20. The Granite Countertops - Haystack - Crashing Into The Future
2. Jon Langford & Skull Orchard - Flag of Triumph - Old Devils
3. Alice Cooper - Living - Pretties For You
4. Vivian Girls - The Other Girls - Share the Joy
5. Simon Comber - The Jaws Of Life - Endearance
6. Richard Thompson and Linda Thompson - Night Comes In - Guitar, Vocal
7. Peter Kadyk - Frankenstein - Take Me To The Porch
8. Pavement - Mellow Jazz Docent (Remastered) - Quarantine The Past: The Best Of Pavement
9. Jackie McAuley - Bangerine - Jackie McAuley
10. The Bats - Just Do It - Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox
11. X-tal - Census - Everything Crash
12. Ken Nordine - Faces in the Jazzamatazz - The Best of Word Jazz, Vol. 1
13. The Experimental Bunnies - Do What Now? - Bunnies On Fire
14. The Ruts - In a Rut - The Best of the Ruts
15. Deerhoof - Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back - Offend Maggie
16. The Original Bushwhackers And Bullockies Band - Ned Kelly Was Born In A Ramshackle Hut - The Shearer's Dream
17. Mulatu Astatke & The Heliocentrics - Masengo - Mojo Presents;Africa Rising
18. The Lijadu Sisters - Life's Gone Down Low - The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia In 1970s Nigeria
19. KXP - Labyrinth - K-X-P
20. The Granite Countertops - Haystack - Crashing Into The Future
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