Smashed - Stereogum has a new Smashing Pumpkins song called G.L.O.W. It's solid, too, believe it or not. I have no idea if it stands for Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. No, I don't know the Farmer's Daughter's phone number. Yes, I do know Mt. Fuji's.
Kicking ass for God - Scene Stealers Top Ten this week - Top Ten Slapstick Horror films. The #1 is right on. I can't really speak to the rest. Sorry for the whole brevity thing today, but you got your links, so don't complain!
I am no fan of musicals. This is because the music is almost always awful. But even a hard case like me has some soft spots. So, in this Five-For-Tuesday we track down on-screen musical interludes that are wholly welcome breaks in our ongoing narratives.
5) Aimee Mann - Wise Up - Magnolia (Jarmsusch on steroids)
4) Linda Scott - Every Little Star - Mulholland Dr. (positively dreamy)
3) Kecak Natives - doin' their thing - Baraka (these boys are really into character)
2) Norman Blake - A Man of Constant Sorrow - O Brother Where Art Thou? (bonafide)
1) Ray Charles - Shake a Tailfeather - The Blues Brothers (Kanye wishes he could shake a tailfeather like Brother Ray)
So what did I forget? I mean besides Pink Floyd: The Wall.
Bill Murray Opens Up - Bill Murray got divorced. That really sucks. He was really bummed. You can read about it here. Bill Murray's a good dude.
That Sounds Far Too Reasonable - This year's Oscar Broadcast will be airing commercials for movies for the very first time. Apparently they didn't want anyone to think anything was rigged or connected. That's OK, the gigantic CARS sign you hung over James Taylor's head did that two years ago.
Live from Lolla - Check out some of your favorite Lollapalooza performances in AT+T's Blue Room. Let me recommend that you start with Yeasayer and go on to Bang Camaro. Or whatever you like.
And since I have no time for anything else, check out a great moment in live television:
James is Worthy - James Earl Jones is being given a lifetime achievement award by the Screen Actors Guild. The voice of Darth Vader, Terrance Mann in Field of Dreams, Jack Jefferson in The Great White Hope, King Jaffe Joffer in Coming to America, Thulsa Doom in Conan the Barbarian, Mufasa in The Lion King or even Professor Banks in Soul Man, Jones always left his mark in any role. I'd see him portray anyone in anything and surely enjoy at least a little of the film. He's earned all the kudos (and is a proud Michigan graduate - at least we've got something going for us this year...).
Bachmann is Back - Crooked Fingers' new album, Forfeit/Fortune, was released today. You can get it here. Check out the song Phony Revolutions from the Baby Stew folks. Also, Stereogum has a video up for "Let's Not Pretend." So far, the sound is darker and even more stripped down. I will surely buy the album, but am a bit skeptical thus far. Let me know what you think.
Oh yesssss - Stereogum also has a new song from Andrew bird. Click here to have a listen at "Oh No." It reminds me very much of "I Saw the Light" by Todd Rundgren.
Stodger Dodger - Ebert explains his preference for movies that do it old school (but indicates that he's evolved a bit, too).
Not Frankenstein - Boris is playing the Empty Bottle on November 29th. I urge you to GO! Go, go, go go! You must see Boris. Hopefully they have enough "electrical power" this time. Also, Smashing Pumpkins are playing the Chicago Theater Novemeber 18th and 19th. Even I've lost interest by now. But the Chicago Theater would be a much better place to see 'em than, say the Rosemont Horizon.
Superfreaky - Cameron Hawk guest-posts his Top Ten Movie Pop Songs, and it's absolutely perfect. Go to Scene Stealers and check it out.
Yo Quiero Dinero - Ugh. Beverly Hills Chihuahua won the box office last weekend. What is wrong with you people?!? A movie based (loosely) on Paris Hilton's pet? Sometimes I'm glad I left the country.
There have been a ton of lists published in the last few years containing the "top cover songs of all time". In this week's Five For Tuesday, we include songs that belong in high esteem in any discussion of covers, but were not mentioned on hardly any of those lists. So have at it!
I Know Now Why You Cry - I've already touched on the notion of McG directing the fourth Terminator installment is a plan akin to giving Sarah Palin the "nukular" codes, but now we find out that said director has been lying to the press about the background of the project. In interviews, he has claimed that James Cameron has given Terminator: Salvation "his blessing." Cameron has now come out and rejected those claims. Just a reminder, McG's previous direction credits include: Two Charlie's Angels movies and "We Are Marshall." Also, he calls himself McG. I fear the future.
No More Sorry - Jim DeRogatis was at the My Bloody Valentine show at the Aragon and came away feeling loveless. And it looks like most of the commenters agree with his assessment of the show. That was actually my initial expectation for this reunion, though people quickly convinced me that I was wrong. I am sorry to be vindicated.
You Wild, Beautiful Thing - I'm late with a reaction to the death of Paul Newman. It's been hard for me to adequately summarize his career and impact. It doesn't make any sense, but on occasion, people feel like they actually know certain celebrities. I still don't know the reason, but Paul Newman has always been like that for me. Perhaps it's because I saw The Sting when I was six years old. Or maybe it's because a close friend of mine nearly sat on his sandwich at a film screening in New York City. But I think it's because Newman was so at ease when wearing his characters' skin. You never got the sense that he was acting hard.
And when you think of all those wonderful roles, for most of them, you can't imagine anyone else playing the part. There was something accessible about his characters, even though they were often outsiders who preferred to stand on their own. Because of that accessibility, he was different things to many people, as you can see by all the various takes on his passing. He was perhaps the most humble movie star in history, seeming to care more about the world around him than himself or his work. Newman was a wholly unique entity, and I don't think we'll ever see anyone like him again.
In Memoriam : Walter W. Reed
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I have made only a few mentions of my father in this and my other blogs.
Though if you look at many of the postings, you will see his comments
spread acr...
Road Games College Pick 'Em (aka Big Ten Den)
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We're just a few weeks away from kickoff, and that means a reprise of the
annual tradition of Pick 'Em. Pick the winning teams across 20 games or so
each ...
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