“A Place for Dead Roads” by Other Passengers which clocks in at 8:41.
Tomorrow is Halloween. The time for spooks and ghouls and ghastly tales of the macabre and tricks and treats. In the spirit of the holiday I’d like to share a story with you. It’s my story, it is an entirely true story. In fact, the events that occurred are more accurately retold in this particular story than in many of the other true life tales I’ve told in the 8+ series. This is a true, honest, ghost story. As for the song, well, nothing goes better with a ghost story on Halloween than a bit of the old Other Passengers. The title of the song, as you will see, is a somewhat of an intentional coincidence. Read more…
Just in time for a nice holiday push, America’s favorite torchbearers of Liberace schmaltz – The Killers – return next month with the brand new studio album Day & Age. I say “brand new” somewhat loosely, however, and not because of all the chatter about how it’s a return to Hot Fuss’s synth-heavy hooks or any of that; nah, I’ll just keep insulating myself from critical interpretation of the Killers’ canon if it’s all the same to you.
You see, even without any prior research into readymade topics like the band’s “mission statement”, “evolution”, or “intent” on this album – all of which I’m sure will be peddled for journalist fodder on imminent magazine covers and such – I can tell you right now that there’s most likely not a hell of a lot about Day & Age that will be new or interesting.
The whole affair just has a worn feel to it, something that’s awfully familiar, and it’s not just in the Eurythmics-aping video for the first single “Human”, which finds Flowers and company in the desert wearing some sort of extinct bird’s plumage and in possession of a few Blue Man Group stage props (watch it HERE).
The real familiarity comes with the album’s tracklisting, a spread of 10 names so bland and hackneyed that you can’t help but feel they’ve already been used many times as song titles or derived from previous sources: Read more…
Listen: “Golden Retriever” by Super Furry Animals from Phantom Power
View: Image search results for Golden Retriever - above image is from the 1st page of results (and was originally from HERE).
–
EAR FARM’s Hit-or-miss is a weekly feature (every Tuesday) wherein the EF music library is put on shuffle, the song that plays is then searched (using the song title) on Google images and a resulting photo (plus an MP3 of the song) is posted. You can see all of EAR FARM’s Hit-or-miss posts thus far right HERE.
Of the many enjoyable ancillary activities during CMJ, can anything even touch the time-honored pleasure of people watching?
Uh, yeah, we think so, and we’ve got the transcripts to prove it. You see, people not only look funny, but they say funny things. And whether that entails laughing with them, or, in other cases, laughing AT them, overhearing conversational snippets, impromptu onstage rants, and drunken ramblings has kind of become its own worthwhile pursuit for us during CMJ.
To commemorate an especially vibrant week of pull quotes, we’ve assembled a list of our favorites (in no particular order) but decided to give it a bit of a twist. Below, you’ll find things we overheard last week; 11 of them are absolutely, legitimately true, but four are definitely, patently fabricated. Can you guess which ones we heard and which are just figments of our sleep-deprived minds? The answer key is at the bottom…. Read more…
Editor’s Note: We’re suspending our usual daily editorial schedule to keep this article readily accessible for you throughout CMJ week. Check back often to EF for continued CMJ show coverage.
And here….we….go! CMJ: Confidently Masochistic Jokers, each and every one of us who feels we can traverse the mind-boggling breadth of shows (click here for visuals) about to go down over the next week. Perhaps you’ve gone on the CMJ site and made your own itinerary, not a bad move, but that doesn’t take into consideration all of the day shows and unofficial goodness that’s just bursting at the seams. Don’t panic though, EAR FARM is here to instill some order into the next week of your lives. CMJ - like all good forays into combat and mindless benders - requires tactical planning, stoic commitment, and flawless execution. Or at least an idea of what the hell is going on.
Below we’ve mapped out every day for you, pretty much hour by hour, with our personal picks and suggestions along with some MP3s scattered throughout. We tried to pretty much list bands only once (with a few exceptions, such as in our Day Party lineup) so if you’re freaked out that this schedule prohibits you from seeing the Vivian Girls or Women, chill out, you’ve got about 238 other opportunities not listed here. And please, feedback is welcome; what did we miss here? Who are you most excited to see this week? Take a deep breath, it all starts here….. Read more…
Next week, New York will be deluged by thousands of bands, fans, and music industry types attending the CMJ Music Marathon ‘08. With so many shows, which one(s) should you see?? We’ve got you covered. Here is a mix of sixteen songs from bands playing CMJ, and where/when you can see them. Obviously, six of these artists are from the EAR FARM CMJ party, so you might want to start there if you notice a few of these tunes scratching you where you itch…
Read more…
“Influx” by DJ Shadow which clocks in at 12:14.
Most people assume that Goes Cube allows me to eat sashimi à la carte every night at Nobu, buy Brooklyn brownstones in one cash payment, and purchase a vintage Fender for each and every show, only so afterward, I can toss it on the subway tracks just to watch an MTA train derail… and then buy the MTA a new train. So, you’ll be surprised when I tell you that, actually, Goes Cube is not wholly funding my rather lean existence. Nope. Not even close.
In order to make ends meet (or to get them “to acknowledge each other’s existence,” to quote Dr Katz), I write and edit copy. I do marketing and journalism, technical and creative. Being a freelancer is tough, and the work can be scarce sometimes. So, I’m always looking for new contracts*.
One of the places I like to look from time to time (because I’m apparently a glutton for punishment) is Craigslist. And that’s where this story begins.
Some jobs are for the college student, or for the person looking to get his or her foot in the door. And that’s fine. The job post will be very clear and unobnoxious about it. Usually, they’ll put in the title words like “unpaid” or “internship,” etc. But this particular ad just really got under my skin. The post has since -not surprisingly- been flagged for removal. But I found a web cache of the text, and here it is:
Seeking sharp satirical urban writer
Looking for a weekly urban social commentary writer for online website with a user network of 10 million built in. Person should be an innovative thinker with a witty and sharp perspective on life to write about the multifaceted perspectives of young urban people. Formats can (and should be) unique, in style of writing, original characters and themes. Having a familiarity with engaging in different social networking sites, blogs and news outlets is a major plus. Job can lead to future pay. If interested please e-mail samples of your work, which must be relevant to urban culture.
I decided immediately that I’d better put together a cover letter to let them know just how amazing I thought this opportunity was. Here’s the full text of that:
Dear… Let’s skip this part. In the city, there’s no time for pleasantries.
As a sharp, urban, satircal writer, I am particular about the kind of jobs I take. Hell, I won’t even look at certain job posts because, let’s face it, they’re beneath me - the kind of positions that would be satisfied by a mere putty knife, but shredded into gossamer strands by a veritable Ginsu blade like myself.
What kind of jobs do I, as a sharp, satirical, urban writer, consider? Good question. (Of course it is; I asked it.) Let me answer it in the best way possible: by not answering it at all. Instead, I’ll tell you what kind of a job I won’t consider. Take that status quo. Sorry, box, did it hurt when my giant brain punched through your wall just now? Because if it did, too bad: I don’t think inside the box. I don’t even think inside polygons.
Anyways…
If a job has to do with writing about covered bridges, grasses, soil, crops, or antique shops, I turn my back on it. I’m an urban writer, and I don’t have time to hang out at the General Store in some one stoplight town whose tallest building is a grain elevator. I’ll write about coked up traders on Wall Street. I’ll write about coked up hipsters in Bed-Stuy who set up music venues in their kitchens. I’ll write about coked up commuters struggling with the latest MTA fare hike. I’ll even write about the coked up guy who runs the deli I go to even though I know - I SWEAR I KNOW - they put their coked-covered thumbs on the scales when I order my Boars Head meats. In other words, if it’s not a gritty tale of coke and prostitution, then I won’t write about. Everything else might as well be some pointless subplot in Field Of Dreams.
Guess what: Never even saw it. Don’t have to. Only suckers watch that rural dreck.
I also won’t take any job where I have to write things that old people will read. Your job post says I should “be able to write about the multifaceted perspectives of young urban people.” You can go ahead and put a check in that box. That’s the only way I work, baby. Did you see how I called you “baby”? I don’t even know who you are, but that doesn’t matter because I don’t think you’re old. And that means you’re young. And that means you can roll with it when I call you “baby.” And if I’m wrong and you are old, then you’re probably offended. And if you are, then too bad, pops/gramma. Why don’t you just go back to watching your “stories” on TV, and us “kids” will be over here watching a YouTube video of a fat guy sitting on a dagger.
Technically that last sentence should end in a question mark, but I don’t have time to waste on a punctuation mark that looks like it needs Viagra.
But more than anything else is this: I will not take a job that promises to compensate me with money. As an urban writer, who doesn’t live in some low-rent town like Chicago, or Evanston, or Winnetka, but instead the granddaddy of them all New York City, my monthly rent is more than most people spend on their mortgages in year. I spend four dollars on a can of chicken broth. My weekly coffee bill is almost $50. My cost of living is about ten times the amount that some wannabe actor’s is in LA. That’s why I want to find a job that will take full advantage of my free time, incredible talents, and not pay me. Because, you see, like everyone else in NYC, I not only live on credit, I also live on distant and utterly foolish hope: Someday I won’t be so poor that I’m tempted to jump the turnstile…or steal that Vespa right there. So when I read your job post, and I saw “Job can lead to future pay,” I thought YES, DANGLE THAT CARROT!!!
So let’s recap:
Urban? I make the Beastie Boys look like farm boys.
Sharp? The other day, I figured out that my cat only likes to eat her wet food if it’s not all mashed up. Need I remind you that cats don’t speak English? They don’t even speak any language!
Motivated? If by “driven to work instead of sit around and watch People’s Court type shows because the commercials for bankruptcy help hit a bit too close to home,” then hell yes.
Satirical? Jonathan Swift is my homie for life.As a wise man (me) once said: I’m awesome.
-David (or as I’m known in the city: KID WORDMAKER)
Buy Preemptive Strike HERE.
*if you would like to hire David as a writer or editor, he really is always looking for work (for monetary compensation), and can be contacted at goescube at goescube dot com.
**top photo of the “Field of Dreams” from HERE.
EAR FARM’s 8+ is a weekly feature that showcases songs longer than 8 minutes. Click HERE to see the songs recently featured in EF’s 8+.
Listen: “I Wonder If I Take U Home” by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam & Full Force from Street Jams: Electric Funk, Vol. 4
View: Image search results for I Wonder If I Take U Home - above image is from the 4th page of results (and was originally from HERE).
–
EAR FARM’s Hit-or-miss is a weekly feature (every Tuesday) wherein the EF music library is put on shuffle, the song that plays is then searched (using the song title) on Google images and a resulting photo (plus an MP3 of the song) is posted. You can see all of EAR FARM’s Hit-or-miss posts thus far right HERE.
Not everyone had as much fun as the kid pictured above did Read more…
Well well well, Columbus Day is right around the corner, which means there’s a very good chance you’re about to enjoy a three-day weekend. Good for you! Though of course, by this point the smoke and mirrors surrounding Christopher Columbus’ “discovery” of America has long cleared to reveal a lost Italian (by way of Spain) washing ashore to steal land from the native inhabitants…..but still, three-day weekend! Regardless of your own personal feelings about this holiday, enjoy the following mix, specially created as a sort of chronological story of what happened in 1492 along with generous helpings of moral ambiguity with smooth listening. In other words, perfect for a three-day weekend….
Read more…
“Mother and Child” by Nigel Short & Tenebrae which clocks in at 12:39.
The following is Part 4 of a four part 8+ series based upon songs from the film ‘Children of Men’, the film itself, and the writing of Jorge Luis Borges. Read the first chapter HERE, second chapter HERE, third chapter HERE. Read more…
In many ways, Creem - self-proclaimed as “America’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll Magazine” - set the template for current music blogs and new media sites. The outsider perspective, personal and subjective approach to stories and content, willingness to champion relatively unknown bands, and ability to spot trends early (Creem allegedly coined the term “punk rock”) are just some of the ways this Detroit-based publication helped revolutionize music journalism for future generations.
Of course, while Creem may share these characteristics with contemporary blogs, it also did all of these things about a hundred times better than anything out there right now. Where else could you read a live review of a Rolling Stones show written by Charles Bukowski (framed entirely around the venue’s coincidental proximity to a racetrack he enjoyed visiting)? Or enjoy a glossy cover hand-drawn by R. Crumb? Or have Lester Bangs, Cameron Crowe, Robert Christgau and Nick Tosches all on the same masthead? Exactly. From 1969 to 1989, Creem dared to elevate music journalism as a form of artistic expression in its own right.
I highly recommend checking out the recent hardcover Creem retrospective for an absolute assault on the senses. From this collection, we’ve culled some of our favorite cover shots over the years that we feel capture the spirit and energy of their particular era as well as of Creem’s own reckless bravado.
Read more…
Listen: “Weak Spots” by The Adored from A New Language
View: Image search results for Weak Spots - above image is from the 7th page of results (and was originally from HERE).
–
EAR FARM’s Hit-or-miss is a weekly feature (every Tuesday) wherein the EF music library is put on shuffle, the song that plays is then searched (using the song title) on Google images and a resulting photo (plus an MP3 of the song) is posted. You can see all of EAR FARM’s Hit-or-miss posts thus far right HERE.
The Academy-Award nominated, Emmy-winning, ever-brilliant entity known as South Park returns this Wednesday following a brief hiatus. Over the last dozen years, Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s brainchild has evolved from a simple gross-out cartoon intent on pushing the boundaries of basic cable to a whipsmart satire of contemporary American politics and culture (intent on pushing the boundaries of basic cable). At times, the turnaround from current event to grist for the South Park mill has been staggering; many episodes have gone from conception to broadcast within as little as two weeks.
As such, it’s fairly likely that if a story is making waves in society, you’ll be treated to Parker and Stone’s refreshingly simplified and hilarious take before the ink has had time to fully dry. And when we’re really lucky, we get treated to an episode inspired by some inane aspect of the music industry that the duo just can’t resist picking apart, because let’s face it, there’s lots to make fun of here. So here we present our top 10 favorite South Park music-related episodes, realizing fully of course that there are many more we left out (including, for the obvious reason that it’s not an episode, the Academy-Award nominated South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut). Honestly, you wouldn’t even believe how many times we got Rickrolled while foraging for clips on YouTube, and yet we persevered to bring you the crème de la crème: Read more…