"Season" 3 of Arrested Development came out on Tuesday. My wife and I watched this show from beginning to end, and loved every insane minute of it. Now, it's officially over, and the bittersweet lookbacks have begun. I'm gonna head out and buy this, for sure. But I'm not sure if I'm ready to go back to it, yet. I may still need some time to heal...

We miss you, Arrested!

If you don't understand why we felt like this show was made just for us, and why we are having such trouble parting, check out this Amazon Exclusive clip with AD star Jason Bateman. It says everything we ever wanted to hear about being a loyal fan, and we even get thanked.

Watching this, I now know I didn't waste my time trying to rally the troops and win new viewers. Watching this, I feel better about trying to SaveOurBluths. Watching this, I know that watching was the right thing to do...

All assail!

I've been busy lately. Work is keeping me busy, home is keeping me busy. I even have dreams now, where I'm too, too busy.

This morning, I woke up pretty tired, but it still is no excuse for this:

I checked my daily Savage Chicken delivery, and actually stared at it for almost 2 full minutes before I got it.

Is it because my humor circuitry doesn't work before 6:00 am? Is it possible the comic wasn't funny? No, it's because I read Altruism as Autism...At least 20 times before I saw what my problem was.

I need to go back to bed...

No assail needed. I just thought I'd share.

A few days ago, I was looking at the book I was reading, and though I was almost 80 pages in, I realized I only had the vaguest idea of what was going on. I had to start the whole thing over. And when I got to page 80 again, I wasn't much better off.

I'm reading Neuromancer, by Billy Gibson, and though I know that sci-fi/cyberpunk gets off on its ability to imagine and think outside the box of the modern world, it seems like this book is off the charts with that.

I know Case is a former cyberspace cowboy, down on his luck, given a second chance. The second chance will come at a price, though, if he's not fleet enough to stay a few steps ahead of his "helpers".

But there seems to be so much other stuff going on that it's so easy to get lost. Especially in the descriptions of cyberspace. Will anyone venture forth and just tell me what to pay attention to, or tell me that I'm doing fine, and it will all work out before the end of the book? Please? Preferably, by someone who's read the book...

The thing I find weirdest is: I have the 20th anniversary edition (and yeah, Gibson does do a good job of predicting the future...) and in a new forward by the author, he discusses how his description of a "television sky" confused people. No, man, I get that static can look like clouds. What I don't get is how computer networks look like ice, and how a creepy addict in Turkey transforms himself into a gremlin, and why practical jokers in Atlanta are so nice to people they've never met, though they cause a panic in which hundreds might die..... The list goes on.

To me, even if the book is visionary, so far, it seems too vague and incohesive to enjoy... And I say this having read most of it twice!

Help... or...
All assail?

First of all, the book I've been reading isn't called The Life and Times of Paul Revere, it's called Paul Revere and the World He Lived In. And, man, that's a waaay better title. It's much more descriptive of the book, too. Esther Forbes does a great job of taking any historical evidence she can get her hands on, and crafting an excellent look at an amazing man.

It's not all that long for non-fiction, but Forbes' prose is a little tough to unwind sometimes. When you crack her code, though, and realize that at places she's hinting at satire, sarcasm, or silliness, it makes the read that much more engaging. (I probably should have made a General Gage pun, there. But I'll let you guys supply it.)

I read Forbes' Johnny Tremain before we went on our trip to Boston this summer, and loved how it helped me to frame the town in a light of our early country. It was exciting to read this book and get yet another perspective. Not only on Boston, but on all of New England's foray into Revolution. It was also really neat to spot the influences for JT: The schoolteacher "Master Johnny" who had a deformed hand, the knowledge about silversmithing, and the way the Paul Revere pops up in all these crazy parts of the story. These books should be read in schools as companion pieces. It's great to see how she takes the same sources, and creates two great works, one fiction, the other non-fiction. Keen.

For her efforts in the fiction, Forbes won the Newberry Award. For her non-fiction, she won the Pulitzer Prize. That's a pretty good track record! And maybe one deserving of your Life and Time, or the World you live in.

All assail!

"Fire Department" - BYOP

Northern Exposure, Season 3

The Life and Times of Paul Revere - Esther Forbes

apple.com (for oggling the new Mac Pro)

ABOUT.COM IS STILL HOSTING THE "SMILEY FACES" VIDEO


Holy cow! This video is awesome! Dennis Hopper? Dean Stockwell? Bowie? Groovy Purple Dirigible?

This is an excellent concept video, positing that "Gnarls Barkley" is a mythical entity that has influenced popular music since the beginning of pop music. Oh, man. This blows the roof off of "Dani California." This video makes the Red Hot Chili Peppers video look like a grade-school production.

I'm glad I kept checking the web, and didn't just stop at YouTube. I've now watched this amazing clip 4 times. Now it's your turn.

All assail!

sometimes, I feel a need to qualify that I'm not some indie-rock purist. I mean, I love it when a band works hard, builds a fan base, and one day reaches a level of respectability and consistent output that keeps fans sated, and them well-off. I do have a thing against pop stars (and country stars) that arrive pre-packaged and ready-made (though if the songs are stellar, I'll still bend my ear...). Beyond that, though, I'm open to any tune floating around. Source be damned.

This song is a pop gem. I mean, it's a hit! A real, top 20 performer. It's insanely engaging (pun somewhat intended), and though I can't sing along (Cee-lo Green IS a Soul Machine!) I can bob along convincingly. I get an absolute thrill when I hear this song come on our pop music station in between Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. It doesn't belong, but THERE IT IS!

Gnarls is the brainchild of Cee-Lo (formerly of Dirty South pioneers Goodie Mob) and the ubiquitous Danger Mouse (See Grey Album; Danger Doom). Danger drops the beats, and Cee-Lo's expansive (and sane) mind layers the accessible soul. This song is the top of the heap in the collab, though "Smiley Faces" was getting mad rotation on YouTube. (It has since been removed...) :-(

Now, as you well know, I'm not much for lyrics. They can add, they can detract (Hello! Theo and the Skyscrapers!). But for this song, Barkley's nonchalant acceptance that the reality they know may not be all it's cracked up to be is a lot less Matrix, and somehow full of assurance. The thought that normal may be crazy should make me squirm, but with Cee-Lo telling me he's all right with it, somehow, I am too. Does that make me crazy? Probably...

In a side note, I can't find anythin about what Charles Barkley thinks of the band's name. Nor can I find comments from Sesame Street's Barkley (who is known for his orange and white gnarly hair) But I hope they loves these guys like I do...

The same goes for you!

All assail!

At first listen, this track reminded me of The Refreshments' Banditos. But after hearing it again, and really taking pause to catch the intent and meaning behind the song, I haven't thought much of the ersthwile King of the Hill theme guys. Nowadays, if I'm thinking border rock, this song comes to mind. Complex, intense, and earnest, this song manages to convey one of the most illusive concepts known to humankind: Manly emotion.

The story of brothers who have taken different paths in life, there's reconcilliation, disappointment, near-shame, and redemption, all wraped into less than 4 minutes. Hey, for added complexity, whydoncha throw in a parent on their death bed? Check and double-check!

But don't let the emotional heft take you away from giving this a spin. The clean guitar, the loose viola, and driving percussion will bring surprises from the first beat till the last. Don't be afraid. Dig in.

(In an aside: I like how the name of the band could be swapped around, and, like, instantly, they could become a Rap group!)

All assail!

Okay, looking back at the AC1 Week postings, it's been kind of a wussy week. The hardest hitting tune is from Panic! at the Disco. And I'm pretty sure a couple of young SevenDust fans could take out this whole band (and the gaggle of young girls trying to defend them). So, it's time to knock it up a notch.

Not to say this is hard core. I mean, the band does have a female lead. But they do have a scrappy charm, and for this track, they honestly make a play for a chance to beat the crap out of your senses.

To give you an idea about where the band comes from, they're a band of teens from Nashville. Somehow, though, they've cracked the Nashville sheen, and picked up a rabid following (and a rabid label: "infinity cat"). They gained notice all over, and even caught the astute ear of Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore. He's helping to guide their career now...

(AC loves Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon. As people. I have had a hard time listening to Sonic Youth for a long time. But, if Moore and Co are listening to these little firebrands, maybe Sonic Youth will get in line, too! One can dream, I guess...

I also found out that one of BYOP's earlier albums was produced by Steve McDonald of Redd Kross. AC was REALLY into Redd Kross in high school. They hit our radar again when they produced Redd Blood Cells, where Steve added a bass line to he White Stripes' "White Blood Cells." We love it when artists do this stuff. That means you, Danger Mouse!)

So, back to BYOP... This track is enough to make me consider driving two hours on a Wednesday night in September to go see them play at a bar in Detroit. I'll let you know if I do. Maybe I'd even post pictures... And if you've felt like AC was losing steam thanks to this week's picks, hopefully this choice makes you feel all sweaty again.

I know that when I get more time, I'm going to search out more songs by this band. Besides the fact that the melody of this song has been stuck in my head consistently for weeks (my coworkers have to be sick of me whistling it...), I love the vibe of the song. In a way, it's like trying to hear Captain Jack Sparrow work his way through a Beatles song. For many people, the marble-y-mouthed singer is probably a turnoff (especially those people that like analyzing the lyrical beauty of a song...) But for me, in this instance, it adds to the charm.

And beyond the garbly singing, the harmony of the song is provided by a backwards vocal track. So for a good portion of the song, I have no idea what's going on. I kind of hope that if they are describing the interior of a Dutch house, they're actually speaking Dutch. That would make me feel a little better...

Plus, you have to stand by the underdogs. Well, maybe they aren't underdogs... I really don't know. But it can't be easy being a band called Beirut right now. Though I bet they're getting a lot more unintentional hits on their web pages...

Oh, and for those of you on a Horns Section watch: This song's got 'em! Apparently, the band uses a lot of different instruments. On their mySpace site, they even list Klezmer as an influence. Also on their mySpace site: many, many raves...

(CRAP! Speaking of mySpace (and of hearing more of their music), the mySpace player just started blaring over my speakers. I am now listening to "Mount Wroclai" on full volume. ...And it's a good one, too!)

Okay Beirut, you have my full attention...