A Good DVD is(n't) Easy to Kill

BEULAH

'A Good Band is Easy to Kill'

I've posted up on this DVD twice before, but hadn't gotten around to actually watching and/or reviewing it until now. I would have just posted an update or something, but this turned out to be a really fun DVD and worthwhile delving into a little further.

For me, Beulah is one of those truly great indie bands you get turned onto...only to have them ride off into the sunset. Luckily, as I think I mentioned before, I did get a chance to see them play one of their last gigs in Chicago on their 'farewell' tour. Rumors of an impending breakup followed the band for years before it actually happened last year. This DVD chronicles the band on it's tour prior, but it really does serve as a precursor to the band's demise.

I enjoyed this documentary immensely, for a few reasons:

• It's cool to see what I find one of the most unnderated bands (indies or otherwise) EVER, captured on film.
• Tons of live footage, in the actual film and full performances included as extras (high-quality and lo-fi).
• What i'm guessing is an accurate representation of what life on the road is really like.
• Great insight to the 'indie' scene, following a band and music in general.

As far as the 'life on the road' part, in Beulah's case, it's both frustrating and funnier than hell. Flat tires, weird venues, loss of voice, messed up sound...it's all there. Also there, is what seems to be a bunch of guys having a lot of fun w/ the whole thing (both the journey and the gigs themselves). Good stuff.

More interestingly, is band co-founder Miles Kurosky's views on the music business and the downside that comes along w/ the 'indie' label. He disses everybody from the Elephant Six collective they (unwittingly) started out being a part of to Bob Dylan (a truly classic bit of film in the opening sequence). This is a guy who wanted something bigger for the band he's put his life into and it never really quite happened.

Kurosky's final 'carpe diem' thoughts on seeing bands you love before they go away are so fitting. Beulah is a perfect example of one of those bands people get into too late and then kick themselves for never seeing them live when they had the chance...words to live by. While this DVD serves as a saving grace for those who missed the boat, opportunities like it don't happen too often for bands of similar ilk. That indie band you love today, could be a fleeting memory tomorrow...

If you missed it the last two times, check out the trailer HERE. Good stuff.

I'll Never Travel Far, Without a Little...

BIG STAR

'In Space'

Finally, a new record by one of the architects of the musical genre known as 'power pop'. I delved a little into the band in one of my previous posts, when I talked about the excellent Chris Bell album 'I Am the Cosmos'. Countless alt-rock bands like R.E.M., the Replacements, the dB's, and Teenage Fanclub (to name a few) have cited them as a major influence and if you've ever heard '#1 Record', 'Radio City' or 'Third'...you'd see why.

After the band called it quits in the mid 70's, the band's catalog garnered a cult-following after all the name-checking by artists like the ones mentioned above. Then, in 1993, the Posies' Jonathan Auer and Ken Stringfellow backed original members Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens for a reunion gig at the University of Missouri...a smattering of subsequent gigs followed and over the course of the past 4-5 years, talk of a new album. Auer and Stringfellow released some dazzling p-pop themselves in the Posies, so their addition to the band made sense.

Upon hearing the news a full album was in the works, I had mixed feelings. The intital reunion resulted in a tepid one-off single ('Hot Thing') and, thusly, I didn't really know how this would end up sounding. While it's nowhere near the caliber of '#1 Record', it's still a great listen. Sunny sounding pop rock ('Best Chance We've Ever Had') to stoic balladry ('Lady Sweet') and surprisingly funky ('Love Revolution')...there's something for everybody. As always, I ask that you judge for yourself and DL some clips HERE.

While you're at it, make your record collection cooler and add the following:


(L to R): #1 Record, Radio City and Third/Sister Lovers

To make it easier, the first two are avail on one disc. Really, two of my favorite albums ever. Enjoy!

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra

'Moods and Grooves'

It's been a while since I posted up w/ any new music, but the latest from Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra is too good not to pimp. To be clear, there is no actual orchestra...but Mr. Lee has one badass record collection. This disc is an amalgamation of everything from classic jazz, soul and funk loops to soundtrack-esque orchestral arrangements, then put in a blender w/ some seriously impressive beats. Most of the tunes come in at no longer than 2-3 minutes, but the 25 tracks in entirety make for one hell of a satisfying listen. This offering is a little more chilled-out than it's predecessor, yet just as enjoyable. If your tastes run everywhere from Ennio Morricone to Kurtis Mayfield to Lee 'Scratch' Perry to DJ Shadow, you'll likely dig this. It was released back in April, so you should be able to find it in your local 'Electronic' music section.

Also worth checking out:

'Music & Rhythm'

The orchestra's first release features is just as rife w/ amazingly funky beats, but also dips heavily into spaghetti western and bollywood-like instrumentals. Honestly, I think I do like it a little better than 'Moods and Grooves', so you may want to start w/ this one. Test drive both of them HERE if you're so inclined.

Oh, for those of you wondering about my attempt at quitting smoking...i'm regrouping and trying again next week. This is not a monkey on my back, it's a 500lb gorilla.

Damn.

43 hours. I made it roughly 43 fucking hours and then I broke down, bought a pack when I stopped for gas on the way to work this morning and lit up in the parking lot. The pisser is, up until this morning, I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing and the urges didn't seem that bad. Honestly, if I would have tried a little harder, I really do think I could have gotten past it again this morning. 'They' say that it takes a lot of people a couple of tries before they can quit and, unfortunately, that seems like it may be the case w/ me.

Ah well, just goes to show i'm going to have to take this pretty seriously if i'm going to actually do this. Am I weak? You betcha. So effing weak that I can't quit? Nah. I'm going to toss this pack into one of the garbage cans outside and hop back on the wagon for another spin around the block...i'll be doing my best parade wave and throwing out pieces of Bazooka (or, better yet, Nicorette) gum to the crowd as I pass by...it'll be fun.

The Drugs Don't Work...

After just a few days on that Wellbutrin crap, I stopped taking it. I'm highly-strung as it is and that shit just made me feel like I was coming out of my damn skin. However, I am sticking to tomorrow being the pre-determined 'quit date'...i'm just going to try and do it w/out mind-altering substances. Coooold turkey.

Should be fun. Well, not really. Regardless, it's gotta' be done. Mrs. Famous made a point to inform me before I left for work that Peter Jennings (R.I.P.) just passed from lung cancer, which is a bummer. I don't think I wanna' go out like that and, again, hope to stay around for a while longer than the Vegas odds would have put me at 11-12 years ago...who am I kidding, 4-5 years ago.

I can do it. I am a cowboy. On a steel horse I ride. Throw in the fact, that I have seen a million faces and (w/ extreme proficiency) rocked them all...this should be a walk in the park. Granted, that would be Central Park...at night...wearing a suit made of $100 bills and vials of crack...but i'm gonna' try.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post, where I have immediately gained 200 pounds and spent most of the day curled up in a ball underneath my desk, humming 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' over and over. It'll be a hoot.

By the way...

...as much as that last post is smothered in attempted humor...i'm scared shitless. I really want to do this and don't want to fail. I also don't want this medicine to make me feel out of sorts. 'Serenity now, Serenity now...HOOCHIE MAMA!'

Awww fuck it, I can do this...I have to. Upward and onward, rant over.

Now Departing Flavor Country...

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST MAY CAUSE BOREDOM, CYCLOPS-LIKE GROWTH OF AN ADDITIONAL EYEBALL, NIGHTSWIMMING, 75mph WINDS, THE ROCKING PNEUMONIA AND/OR THE BOOGIE WOOGIE FLU.

So, yeah, i've started down the path of trying to quit smoking. I've been thinking about it for years, just never took the initiative to actually make a plan and stick to it. Knowing that the cold turkey approach wasn't going to cut it, I paid a visit to the doctor and was prescribed something called Wellbutrin.

Now, for those of you aren't pharmacists, manic depressives or Courtney Love...Wellbutrin is an anti-depressant. I guess they discovered that one of the side-effects from taking it was an aversion to smoking and it was approved as a smoking cessation drug a few years back. Granted, SEIZURES are also a potential out of the myriad of 'possible' side-effects as well...so I have that going for me. Whee.

I started taking 1 pill a day on Monday and move up to two starting tomorrow. My quit date is actually this coming Tuesday, you're supposed to take this junk for a week prior. To be honest, i've had the pills for a few weeks and i've been a little effing scared to start taking them...I hate taking medicine. I'm really looking forward at doing my damndest to quit, but if this shit makes me go all Syd Barrett...i'll do it w/out the pharmacology.

You may be asking yourself: 'He's an accomplished smoker at it for almost 17 years, WHY QUIT?!' (or, conversely, you could be thinking: 'This blog sucks...I wonder if they have new pictures up at bustyfreckledasiansonspeed.com?'). Well, I have a pretty huge reason that i'll go into later...but, at the end of the day, I just hate being Lady Nicotine's bitch and want to try and do what I can to stick around for as long as possible. I can't bear to think about Mrs. Famous having to deal w/ something like that, she deserves so much better.

We'll just have to wait and see...(un)til Tuesday, smoke 'em if you got 'em and wish me luck. Peace.