Paperback Writer

Not much to weigh in on as of right now. I did finish the Klosterman book and definitely give it the thumbs up. Again, not as solid as the other two...but still worth reading. Think i'm finally going to get around to reading this:

'Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim' - David Sedaris

Came out in paperback over the last few months and nobody tells a story like Sedaris. His prior book, 'Me Talk Pretty One Day', had me laughing out loud while waiting for a delayed flight from O'Hare a few years back. Most of his material is based around his family and the absolutely bizarre path his life has taken since birth. Any and all of his books are worth checking out, so do yourself a favor...pick one up.

So, that's a shorty for you...I have a couple of ideas rolling around in my head for some future topics. Stay tuned and peace out.

I Heard the News Today (oh boy)...

Major league busy once again...work, getting our dog into a training course, turning 34...all that good stuff. Just about 45% of the way through the new Klosterman book (semi-reviewed in the last post) and it's pretty good. Not as good as the other two, but still an excellent read. Getting an earful of some good new music coming down the pike and i'll pony up w/ some info on that closer to their actual release dates.

As far as anything new to recommend, i'm thinking I may just have to go out and get this:

THE DAILY SHOW - 'Indecision 2004'

I still stand by my statement that Comedy Central's Daily Show is simultaneously the smartest and funniest show on television. Not only does it do a fantastic job of bringing to light just how insanely upside down our political system can be, but how it completely takes the piss out of the media outlets that cover it (the recent coverage of the coverage of both the Michael Jackson trial verdict and Hurricane Emily were instant classics). Once could challenge, that underneath the comedic bent of the weekly delivery of 'fake news', it's really one of the only places to go to get a more realistic look at the days events...sans spin and any sort of agenda. Plus, the insanely talented 'news team' helmed by Jon Stewart are unparalleled smartasses that could make just about anything funny.

Anyhow, while i've always enjoyed the show, I became absolutely enamored with it during their coverage of the 2004 presidential election...lovingly titled: INDECISION 2004. This 3 DVD set supposedly captures the best moments of said coverage, which (due to the sheer breadth of all the funny stuff I saw over the course of that year) seems to me would be an amazing feat to synopsize. It came out on June 28 and looks like it has a gaggle of bonus footage as well. If you've never watched, it's time to start...check out their web page HERE. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Give Me Something to Look Forward to...

In the past few weeks, i've been slightly time-challenged relative to music-listening, movie-watching and book-reading. Mrs. Famous and I did go see 'War of the Worlds' and it was a nice Summer FX bonanza...nothing worth writing about though. However, there are a few things that have either just come out or are on their way soon to look forward to. Hopefully, i'll get a chance to check them out further and post up w/ some real reviews, but in the meantime kids...put the following things on your radar:

BOB MOULD - 'Body of Song'

Mould's first new album-length release since 2002, and his first since 'Last Dog and Pony Show' (released in the mid-90s) to employ a guitar-heavy full-band approach. Nowhere near 'Workbook' or 'Black Sheets of Rain'...definitely not as fulfilling as Sugar's 'Copper Blue'...hella enjoyable nonetheless.

The last few were near full-fledged techno albums, so it's nice to hear a return to a full-band guitar-driven approach...guest musicians include Brendan Canty (Fugazi), David Barbe (Sugar), Matt Hammon (1998 Bob Mould Band). There are still some subtle electronic effects ala 'Modulate', but it's a rock album first and foremost. Hits the streets July 26, but you can check out the track 'Paralyzed' HERE.

CHUCK KLOSTERMAN - 'Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story'

Klosterman's previous works ('Fargo Rock City' and 'Sex, Drugs & Cocoa Puffs') pretty much read like a book would sound if I actually got up off of my ass and wrote one (or, at least, how i'd WANT it to sound). 'Fargo Rock City' specifically had me convinced that Klosterman had stolen my past in a doppleganger-like fashion and just replaced rural Illinois w/ rural North Dakota. 'S,D & CP' was less biographical and more of a philosophical look at popular culture, but nonetheless hilarious.

His newest is supposed to expand upon an article he wrote for Spin about driving cross-country in a rental car to visit several of America's most famous rock and roll death sites, from the Rhode Island club where more than 90 Great White fans died in a fire, to the Iowa field where Buddy Holly's plane crashed. From what i've heard though, he focuses again on more his life-experiences than the sites themselves...which, depending on how much you like his work or not, could be kind of a letdown. I'll reserve judgment until after I actually read it. It's out now, so don't wait for my review...get it or any of his other books post haste.

THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - 'Twin Cinema'

The brainchild of Canada's Carl Newman, The New Pornographers are an indie-semi-supergroup consisting of artists you may not have ever heard of...featuring Newman, Dan Bejar (AKA Merge recording artist Destroyer) and alt-folk-country-etc. songstress Neko Case. Their 2000 debut ('Mass Romantic') turned many a head, but it was 2003's 'Electric Version' that made them simultaneously an indie-rock and power-pop fan's wet dream. Multi-instrumental pop hooks and vocals so sweet you could lose a tooth with clever-as-hell lyrics to boot. Seriously, one of my favorite albums of the past 5 years.

The follow-up looks to dish out much of the same, which (in this case) is NOT a bad thing at all. Tunes like 'Use It' and 'The Jessica Numbers' elevate the power pop game to a Julius Erving level. 'The Bleeding Heart Show' manages to surge from plaintive torch song to soaring power ballad to flat-out smile-on-your-face singalong...amazingly, without ever falling into the dreaded chasm of cheese that serves as an elephant graveyard for songs of similar ilk. Like I said, they have discovered indestructible pop rock formula that causes each tune to be ultra-listenable. Could be a front-runner for favorite of the year. The album drops on August 23, but you can get a taste by DL'ing the title track HERE.

BEULAH - 'A Good Band is Easy to Kill'

This is the second time in this blog i've called this out and, also, the second time I have no 'official' review. All I can say, is that Beulah had to be one of the most underrated indie-bands to walk the face of the earth and this DVD sounds like it will do an admirable job of documenting their next-to-last tour together.

It also sounds like it has enough deleted scenes and live footage (17 songs played in their entirety) to choke a horse...not that one would ever want to do that...especially w/ a perfectly good music documentary. Comes out on August 2, but (again) you can check out the trailer HERE.

PAUL WESTERBERG - 'What Me Worry? T-Shirt'

I'm waiting on the company who made these to print up a new batch of LARGES and pretty much think it's the Westy tee i've been waiting all my life for. Heh.

Finally, to bring this blathering post full-circle via Mould and Westy (again, thanks to the Man w/out Ties site for the heads-up), the latest issue of MAGNET to hit the newsstands will feature a cover story called A TALE OF TWIN CITIES, described as: "All the brilliance, beers, breakups and bastards of young: MAGNET presents an oral history of the '80s Minneapolis scene and the stories of Husker Du and the Replacements, told by the band members and those who were there."

Nice. MAGNET is one my favorite music mags out there and, if this piece as anywhere near as good as their retropsective on power-pop they did last year, this'll be a keeper. As always, you can click on the link to head to their site via the wonderfully conveniennavigationon bar located on your right.

That'll do it for now, as i've posted more in this one section than I have the entire week. However, all of this stuff is that worth checking out and Uncle EL only tells you these things because he loves you. Peace!

Elo (and SORRY) kiddies.

I've been too insanely busy to post up w/ anything, so please accept this autographed picture of Vincent Price as 'Egghead' from the Batman TV series as a peace offering...
























I promise i'll be back w/ some good poop about music, TV, film and lunch meat soon. Thanks for reading!