12.23.01

Gome of the Week
And all the other artists who feel so compelled to name their new records eponymously. I'm looking at you Britney, Smash Mouth, Weezer(again!). It's not that it's a bad thing to do in theory, it's just that when you didn't name your first record after yourself, you kind of lost your chance.

It's the equivalent of wearing sweatpants. You just don't really want to try anymore, so you gave up.

Extra gome points to Lenny for putting his Wet 'N' Wild lipstick on and pouting just right. As long as it's about the music, man.

 

 

This Week's Link That's Probably Not That Great
Everyone's Chipping In! - A pretty funny little article on what Alicia Silverstone is doing to help bring down Osama Bin Laden. This article's not a joke, and I know her heart's in the right place, but come on.

 

 

This Week's Movie You've Probably Never Seen
Hard Eight (1996)

Another not so obscure film featured this week because I keep forgetting to go over and search through the White Mystery's libraries. Nonetheless, another great film.

This is PT Anderson's first effort, the film that must have allowed him to direct Boogie Nights. Hard Eight is not as long as that one and not quite as high on the budget tip, either. But if you like John C. Reilly(and I know you do), then this is a must see.

Also a great performance by Phillip Baker Hall and a quick cameo by Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Makes you wonder why Magnolia was so long winded and pointless.

 

 

 

 

This Week's Record You're Probably Not Listening To
Frank Zappa - Lather (1996)

Originally conceived as a four LP box set, Zappa's label wouldn't let him release it as he wanted, so he took to the radio, told everyone to get their tape recorders ready, and played it once. Bootlegs flew around for years, until it was finally released about five years ago.

This is one of the great Zappa recordings, even though a lot of the songs ended up on different records. To hear them together as intended is nothing short of spectacular.

If you're too cool for Zappa, you're not cool enough for me.

 

 

 

This Week's Hip New Slang Word or Phrase
stokeometer - a guage used to describe an individual's level of stokedness.

Usage - "Dude, I just got that chick's digits."
"Dude, your stokeometer must be registering off the charts right about now!"

 

This Week's Top Ten List
Brad's Top Ten Records of the Year:

10. Le Tigre - Feminist Sweepstakes
09. Frank Black and the Catholics - Dog in the Sand
08. Unwound - Leaves Turn Inside You
07. Tomahawk - Tomahawk
06. Radiohead - Amnesiac
05. Fugazi - The Argument + Furniture
04. Supersuckers - The Songs All Sound the Same (reissue)
03. Pixies - Complete B-Sides
02. The Strokes - Is This It
01. Fantomas - The Director's Cut