I sure do miss kissin'. It's nice. It makes both people happy. It's fun. It's fun as shit. And the best part is its almost deceivingly innocent. You tell your friends "We only kissed" with an almost straight-face but Jesus H. Christ your heart is going a mile a minute replaying it in your head.
I dunno. I miss it. I dunno.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Su-su-studio
Good news everyone!
I got studio space at MassArt. Hopefully for the whole year. Movin' in tomorrow and as a studio warming present to myself, I checked out a Panasonic WV341P aka a fucking ancient B&W studio camera. Oh boy, the tapes I will make. This is finally the year I'll make my Halloween and Christmas specials that I've been planning since freshman year basically...the Christmas special dates back to even senior year in high school. Things are indeed starting to look up.
I got studio space at MassArt. Hopefully for the whole year. Movin' in tomorrow and as a studio warming present to myself, I checked out a Panasonic WV341P aka a fucking ancient B&W studio camera. Oh boy, the tapes I will make. This is finally the year I'll make my Halloween and Christmas specials that I've been planning since freshman year basically...the Christmas special dates back to even senior year in high school. Things are indeed starting to look up.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
An Apple A Day
As the two regular readers know, I've been collecting all the Apple LPs released in the US for about three years now. Today marked the half-way point with the acquisition of Badfinger's Magic Christian Music and George Harrison's bizarre Electronic Music. In celebration, I'm going to return to a method that got me into minimalist writing- the one sentence review. I remember Bailey asking me to do it for Mora and that got me on a roll. I reduced Zappa's and Dylan's discography to two pages. So here's my one sentence reviews for all my Apples-
The Beatles, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
This is the greatest work of pop art.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono- Unfinished Music #1: Two Virgins, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Shit, I wanna do this the night I meet my soul mate.
James Taylor, Goodwill. Hyannis, MA.
Underneath all the hippie production, a beautiful songwriter is born.
Modern Jazz Quartet- Under the Jasmine Tree, In Your Ear. Allston, MA.
Too much finger cymbals, but moments of brilliance.
The Beatles- Yellow Submarine, Spinkier's. Hyannis, MA.
It's only a Northern Song.
Mary Hopkin- Post Card, Nuggets. Boston, MA.
Skip it and find the McCartney penned "Goodbye" 45.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono- Unfinished Music #2: Life with the Lions, Luke's. Pawtucket, RI.
Side one: Punk rock, Side Two: Fluxus, and need I say more?
George Harrison- Electronic Sound, The Record Exchange. Salem, MA.
Without a doubt the most bizarre LP in Beatledom.
The Beatles- Abbey Road, originally my Uncle John's.
Everything is called a masterpiece these days...but this really is one.
Badfinger- Magic Christian Music, The Record Exchange. Salem, MA.
It's missing the best early Badfinger/Iveys track, "And Her Daddy's a Millionaire."
The Beatles- Hey Jude, originally my Uncle John's.
Surprisingly awesome collection of oldies and newies that flows real well.
Paul McCartney- McCartney, Provincetown Boostore. Provincetown, MA.
Paulie did the whole 4-track tape in a farmhouse decades before it was cool.
The Beatles- Let It Be, originally my Mom's.
My favorite Beatle album to argue about and look for bootlegs.
John Tavener- The Whale, Luke's. Pawtucket, RI.
A surreal combination of orchestra, opera, and spoken word.
George Harrison- All Things Must Pass, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
The best Beatle solo album.
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Wild Rufus. Belfast, ME.
Nothin' better than therapy through rock 'n' roll.
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, Wild Rufus. Belfast, ME.
Lennon was right when he said punk and post-punk ripped her off.
Paul and Linda McCartney- Ram, Goodwill. Hyannis, MA.
One of his best records sans Wings.
Radha Krshna Temple (London), Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Personal note: I got this record in the winter so it always reminds me of Christmas.
Badfinger- Straight Up, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
The birth of power-pop is in these grooves.
Mary Hopkin- Earth Song/Ocean Song, got on EBAY from some dude in CA.
Holy fuck, sorry I wrote you off after Post Card.
Phil Spector's Christmas Album, Instant Karma. Orleans, MA.
I love that one of the greatest rock 'n' roll albums ever is a Christmas album.
Ravi Shankar- In Concert 1972, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Sadly all the ragas get interesting in the last three minutes.
The Beatles- 1962-1966, originally my drama teacher's, Mr. Bellamy.
The first band that hand picked their own greatest hits so you know it's amazing.
John Lennon- Imagine, gift from Mimi.
Half of it is so fucking angry and half of it is so fucking beautiful.
George Harrison- Living in a Material World, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
It kicked McCartney off the Billboard #1 spot for a reason.
Ringo Starr- Ringo, originally my Uncle John's.
A little help from his friends goes a long way.
John Lennon- Walls and Bridges, originally my Uncle John's.
A mish-mash of tunes but worth it for "#9 Dream."
Ringo Starr- Goodnight Vienna, Cheap-o. Cambridge, MA.
His best album.
John Lennon- Rock 'n' Roll, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
Worth it for the "Rip it Up/Ready Teddy" medley with the drum line you can set your fucking watch to.
The Beatles, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
This is the greatest work of pop art.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono- Unfinished Music #1: Two Virgins, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Shit, I wanna do this the night I meet my soul mate.
James Taylor, Goodwill. Hyannis, MA.
Underneath all the hippie production, a beautiful songwriter is born.
Modern Jazz Quartet- Under the Jasmine Tree, In Your Ear. Allston, MA.
Too much finger cymbals, but moments of brilliance.
The Beatles- Yellow Submarine, Spinkier's. Hyannis, MA.
It's only a Northern Song.
Mary Hopkin- Post Card, Nuggets. Boston, MA.
Skip it and find the McCartney penned "Goodbye" 45.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono- Unfinished Music #2: Life with the Lions, Luke's. Pawtucket, RI.
Side one: Punk rock, Side Two: Fluxus, and need I say more?
George Harrison- Electronic Sound, The Record Exchange. Salem, MA.
Without a doubt the most bizarre LP in Beatledom.
The Beatles- Abbey Road, originally my Uncle John's.
Everything is called a masterpiece these days...but this really is one.
Badfinger- Magic Christian Music, The Record Exchange. Salem, MA.
It's missing the best early Badfinger/Iveys track, "And Her Daddy's a Millionaire."
The Beatles- Hey Jude, originally my Uncle John's.
Surprisingly awesome collection of oldies and newies that flows real well.
Paul McCartney- McCartney, Provincetown Boostore. Provincetown, MA.
Paulie did the whole 4-track tape in a farmhouse decades before it was cool.
The Beatles- Let It Be, originally my Mom's.
My favorite Beatle album to argue about and look for bootlegs.
John Tavener- The Whale, Luke's. Pawtucket, RI.
A surreal combination of orchestra, opera, and spoken word.
George Harrison- All Things Must Pass, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
The best Beatle solo album.
John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, Wild Rufus. Belfast, ME.
Nothin' better than therapy through rock 'n' roll.
Yoko Ono/Plastic Ono Band, Wild Rufus. Belfast, ME.
Lennon was right when he said punk and post-punk ripped her off.
Paul and Linda McCartney- Ram, Goodwill. Hyannis, MA.
One of his best records sans Wings.
Radha Krshna Temple (London), Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Personal note: I got this record in the winter so it always reminds me of Christmas.
Badfinger- Straight Up, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
The birth of power-pop is in these grooves.
Mary Hopkin- Earth Song/Ocean Song, got on EBAY from some dude in CA.
Holy fuck, sorry I wrote you off after Post Card.
Phil Spector's Christmas Album, Instant Karma. Orleans, MA.
I love that one of the greatest rock 'n' roll albums ever is a Christmas album.
Ravi Shankar- In Concert 1972, Looney Tunes. Boston, MA.
Sadly all the ragas get interesting in the last three minutes.
The Beatles- 1962-1966, originally my drama teacher's, Mr. Bellamy.
The first band that hand picked their own greatest hits so you know it's amazing.
John Lennon- Imagine, gift from Mimi.
Half of it is so fucking angry and half of it is so fucking beautiful.
George Harrison- Living in a Material World, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
It kicked McCartney off the Billboard #1 spot for a reason.
Ringo Starr- Ringo, originally my Uncle John's.
A little help from his friends goes a long way.
John Lennon- Walls and Bridges, originally my Uncle John's.
A mish-mash of tunes but worth it for "#9 Dream."
Ringo Starr- Goodnight Vienna, Cheap-o. Cambridge, MA.
His best album.
John Lennon- Rock 'n' Roll, Spiniker's. Hyannis, MA.
Worth it for the "Rip it Up/Ready Teddy" medley with the drum line you can set your fucking watch to.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Video is my Substitute for Love
I love my TV. It's a Magnavox with fake wood paneling along the sides. Its special features include a remote control and Mono sound. It's cable ready, too.
My eyes have been glued to this thing for pretty much my entire life. In the winter, we would move it into the living room so we could watch movies while sitting in front of the fire. Dad would hook it up to his nice stereo and I would love that click sound the receiver would make before it would start pumping the sound from our tapes in full dimension stereo. I watched the new millennium arrive on this TV. I've been sick in front of this TV. I've cried in front of this TV. I've got laid in front of this TV.
I'm simply never going to part with it. God forbid it becomes obsolete. I had a scare this morning on Cape when my TV there couldn't receive digital signals anymore even though it's far newer than this Magnavox. If that day comes, I'm going to have someone paint a beautiful portrait on it and make it a permanent video piece.
Right now, Blue Velvet is on it's screen.
My eyes have been glued to this thing for pretty much my entire life. In the winter, we would move it into the living room so we could watch movies while sitting in front of the fire. Dad would hook it up to his nice stereo and I would love that click sound the receiver would make before it would start pumping the sound from our tapes in full dimension stereo. I watched the new millennium arrive on this TV. I've been sick in front of this TV. I've cried in front of this TV. I've got laid in front of this TV.
I'm simply never going to part with it. God forbid it becomes obsolete. I had a scare this morning on Cape when my TV there couldn't receive digital signals anymore even though it's far newer than this Magnavox. If that day comes, I'm going to have someone paint a beautiful portrait on it and make it a permanent video piece.
Right now, Blue Velvet is on it's screen.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Hip Idiom/Jewish Idiom
I listened to Lenny Bruce's Carnegie Hall Concert tonight for the first time and found a reference to what I call romantic reductionism. He was talking about the Bible and how the over-usage of it voids it of any real meaning. Like when people say "good night" or "thank you." "It's a contraction now," he said. "G'night. GUHNIIGH."
There really isn't anyone else like Lenny. Carlin picked up his cadence and the freedom of speech torch, Kinison picked up the obscenity torch, but no one has (or will) come close to what Lenny was. Carlin and Lenny do have lots of similarities but it's much like the Woody Guthrie/Bob Dylan relationship and that's a whole other story.
He was a comedian, but he didn't really tell jokes. He was an orator, but he took digression and made it an art form. He was a poet, but his lyrics were disjointed. Lenny had his own language, that's why it's hard to get into his act and follow him. You really have to listen to him. He's the only comedian who speaks softly when he's saying something important, almost daring you to follow him down to his part of the world. Lenny was Lenny in a profession full of schtick. He was the first to really argue that stand-up comedy is an art form.
It's tough when you come across something so amazing to get your mind on anything else. It's like when I finished Everything is Illuminated earlier this week. I honestly can't read another book now. That book me affected me in such a way that I still can't put it into words.
There really isn't anyone else like Lenny. Carlin picked up his cadence and the freedom of speech torch, Kinison picked up the obscenity torch, but no one has (or will) come close to what Lenny was. Carlin and Lenny do have lots of similarities but it's much like the Woody Guthrie/Bob Dylan relationship and that's a whole other story.
He was a comedian, but he didn't really tell jokes. He was an orator, but he took digression and made it an art form. He was a poet, but his lyrics were disjointed. Lenny had his own language, that's why it's hard to get into his act and follow him. You really have to listen to him. He's the only comedian who speaks softly when he's saying something important, almost daring you to follow him down to his part of the world. Lenny was Lenny in a profession full of schtick. He was the first to really argue that stand-up comedy is an art form.
It's tough when you come across something so amazing to get your mind on anything else. It's like when I finished Everything is Illuminated earlier this week. I honestly can't read another book now. That book me affected me in such a way that I still can't put it into words.
Monday, September 19, 2011
A Fail Experiment in Short Fiction
"You're full."
"Huh?"
"You're full, aren't you?"
I looked down at the untouched second half of my sandwich.
"No." I scoffed.
The thought of eating another bite made me queasy. The thought of her still being right after six years made me queasy.
"Look!" I said, laughing. "I'm a different person!"
I bit it.
***
Afterword by TKS
Does one false statement make the entire line of thought fiction?
"Huh?"
"You're full, aren't you?"
I looked down at the untouched second half of my sandwich.
"No." I scoffed.
The thought of eating another bite made me queasy. The thought of her still being right after six years made me queasy.
"Look!" I said, laughing. "I'm a different person!"
I bit it.
***
Afterword by TKS
Does one false statement make the entire line of thought fiction?
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Fragments
Dead Muse
Sing No More
Of the place we've seen
"You're always running around, trying to fit into a mold."
Sing No More
Of the place we've seen
"You're always running around, trying to fit into a mold."
Friday, September 9, 2011
Let History Repeat Itself
"How can you listen to that?"
"What?"
"How can you enjoy Steve Winwood?"
"It's upbeat! It's fun. It reminds me of home."
"It's just not good."
"It's boat music, man!"
"No. THIS is more boat music. It makes me wanna do a lot of coke and throw money at people."
"Yeah..."
Yes, yes, yes, I do realize my running mix is probably identical to any given gay man from 1988.
Secure. Three tapes.
"What?"
"How can you enjoy Steve Winwood?"
"It's upbeat! It's fun. It reminds me of home."
"It's just not good."
"It's boat music, man!"
"No. THIS is more boat music. It makes me wanna do a lot of coke and throw money at people."
"Yeah..."
Yes, yes, yes, I do realize my running mix is probably identical to any given gay man from 1988.
Secure. Three tapes.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
End of Summer Mix
1) Eric Clapton- Breaking Point
I'm home. I missed you a lot. Did you miss me?
2) Pat Metheny- Facing West
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! I need to go up there! This is what I've always wanted! I'm going out on a limb and I'm ready for adventure!
3) Rod Stewart- Every Picture Tells A Story
Whitey Bulger captured? Can I please go down to the courthouse? What's that? Recipes for cooking the best lobsters? OK GBH...I guess that's just as good...
4) Foster the People- Pumped Up Kicks
"Look over there. Pretend they're the audience. I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
5) The Avalanches- Since I Left You
I'm hung over and it's so bright in Brighton and I love everyone I can see.
6) Roy Orbison- In Dreams
You're just like me.
7) Vampire Weekend- Oxford Comma
Hiding in Nantucket. Everyone is so beautiful I want to cry.
8) Frank Zappa- Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk
"What if Pat gets into the White House?"
"No fucking way, Ike! Hahaha, you know what I mean? HA!"
9) Okkervil River- Mermaid
She's pretty, I think...
10) Steve Winwood- Wake Me Up on Judgement Day
Gotta keep pressing on...
I'm home. I missed you a lot. Did you miss me?
2) Pat Metheny- Facing West
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! I need to go up there! This is what I've always wanted! I'm going out on a limb and I'm ready for adventure!
3) Rod Stewart- Every Picture Tells A Story
Whitey Bulger captured? Can I please go down to the courthouse? What's that? Recipes for cooking the best lobsters? OK GBH...I guess that's just as good...
4) Foster the People- Pumped Up Kicks
"Look over there. Pretend they're the audience. I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
5) The Avalanches- Since I Left You
I'm hung over and it's so bright in Brighton and I love everyone I can see.
6) Roy Orbison- In Dreams
You're just like me.
7) Vampire Weekend- Oxford Comma
Hiding in Nantucket. Everyone is so beautiful I want to cry.
8) Frank Zappa- Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk
"What if Pat gets into the White House?"
"No fucking way, Ike! Hahaha, you know what I mean? HA!"
9) Okkervil River- Mermaid
She's pretty, I think...
10) Steve Winwood- Wake Me Up on Judgement Day
Gotta keep pressing on...
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Culture
I started running today after a five month hiatus. I suppose that's what happens when you're feeling low. You eat shit, drink shit, make bad decisions and work for public broadcasting. Not to say that last thing is bad. I was trying to make a joke.
I finished reading a novel called Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. It's about the de-evolution of mankind after a cruise ship of seven living people, one dead person, one ghost and one dead dog shipwrecks on the Galápagos Islands one million years ago in 1985. That combined with the Zen I seek in running made me think a lot of about the power of the human spirit which all seems irrelevant at the end of the novel. Vonnegut has a way of doing that.
Repopulating seemed kinda sexy in a way. Where sex goes beyond desire into necessity. Humans love to pat themselves on the back for being important. They also love to pat themselves on the back for getting laid. Talk about the best of both worlds. Especially when you're the first generation after a war that destroys all your ancestors. I'm a sucker for shit like that. Importance. Passion. Comfort.
I cried the day Vonnegut died. I cried an awful lot in front of an awful lot of people. I was wicked embarrassed. People treated me like a problem case, much like nowadays. At least everyone forgot about it the day after. I sure as hell didn't. However, one kid, a jock, came up to me and said "You must really care about about him." I said I do. When Salinger died all I thought was "So it goes." How ironical.
Now I'm reading The Catcher in the Rye for the fourth time whilst listening to Bob Dylan's criminally underrated Street Legal. I find a lot of comfort in art. These two things are art. There's also white wine and whoopie pies to be had. These two things are _____.
I finished reading a novel called Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. It's about the de-evolution of mankind after a cruise ship of seven living people, one dead person, one ghost and one dead dog shipwrecks on the Galápagos Islands one million years ago in 1985. That combined with the Zen I seek in running made me think a lot of about the power of the human spirit which all seems irrelevant at the end of the novel. Vonnegut has a way of doing that.
Repopulating seemed kinda sexy in a way. Where sex goes beyond desire into necessity. Humans love to pat themselves on the back for being important. They also love to pat themselves on the back for getting laid. Talk about the best of both worlds. Especially when you're the first generation after a war that destroys all your ancestors. I'm a sucker for shit like that. Importance. Passion. Comfort.
I cried the day Vonnegut died. I cried an awful lot in front of an awful lot of people. I was wicked embarrassed. People treated me like a problem case, much like nowadays. At least everyone forgot about it the day after. I sure as hell didn't. However, one kid, a jock, came up to me and said "You must really care about about him." I said I do. When Salinger died all I thought was "So it goes." How ironical.
Now I'm reading The Catcher in the Rye for the fourth time whilst listening to Bob Dylan's criminally underrated Street Legal. I find a lot of comfort in art. These two things are art. There's also white wine and whoopie pies to be had. These two things are _____.
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