:: Super Yokohama Bros. ::

:: Saturday, March 15, 2003 ::

You are 26% geek

You are a geek liaison, which means you go both ways. You can hang out with normal people or you can hang out with geeks which means you often have geeks as friends and/or have a job where you have to mediate between geeks and normal people. This is an important role and one of which you should be proud. In fact, you can make a good deal of money as a translator. Normal: Tell our geek we need him to work this weekend. You [to Geek]: We need more than that, Scotty. You'll have to stay until you can squeeze more outta them engines! Geek [to You]: I'm givin' her all she's got, Captain, but we need more dilithium crystals! You [to Normal]: He wants to know if he gets overtime.

Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com

Matthew D. Diez

:: 7:24 PM [+] ::

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I'm going to have to work a little harder to top Greg's all-too-accurate review.

In the meantime, I'm listening to Sean Paul's "Get Busy", and I'm enjoying it much more than I should.

Matthew D. Diez

:: 7:09 PM [+] ::

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I'm mulling over adding an "album reviews" section to the blog.

But, my desire to do so has been tempered by a recent conversation with members of South Louisiana's most prominent alt-country band (now defunct).
The conversation centered on the frequency with which the music intelligensia and critics in general are quick to dismiss as poor albums that the critics themselves would be unable to make (if, on account of lack of talent or lack of effort).

In other words, if you haven't actually written music before, (or alternatively, written good music before), then you "have no right" to criticize someone else's art.

And, at a basic sort of emotional level, this seems to be a quite appealing argument. Most of us have never endured the songwriting process, particularly the collective music-making effort. And, few of us have endeavored to create "art".

But, should that rob us of our ability to criticize art?

Grant me the premise that:
"food is art"

And, many famous international chefs have built whole reputations on such a premise. The remainder have built their reputations on fake Cajun accents.

So, if you take the "food is art" premise, please enjoy the following excercise.

I have never cooked a french fry in my life. (I have never cooked a "Freedom Fry" either). I have never sliced a potato. I have, however peeled a potato, which, is marginally similar. But, in my entire life, I have never peeled potatoes, cut potatoes, made a batter of flour (and secret herbs and spices), dipped the potatoes into the batter, and thrown them into a grease fryer.

It's a fact, I've never made french fries in my life. But, I feel quite sure, that if I were to go to a restaurant (okay, few would call places that serve french fries "restaurants") and criticize the quality of the pommes frites there (Wendy's, I'm looking in your direction), not one of my artist/musician friends would complain. They wouldn't lambast me for not having taken the time to understand/appreciate the art of cooking. They'd agree with me that Wendy's fries are crap.

If I criticized the duct-tape and chickenwire beast that is a Saturn, does the fact that I'm not an automotive engineer prevent me from passing judgement on it?
Does the fact that I'm not a civil engineer prevent me from complaining about Texas' deadly roads?
Does the fact that I'm not in the film industry prevent me from saying that Ecks vs. Sever was total garbage?

And, so, with such a premise, I feel free to consider fair criticism of music.

So, up for review is most likely The Donnas' sophomore effort Spend the Night.

Although, I'd be willing to review -just about anything-

Matthew D. Diez

:: 4:52 AM [+] ::

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On PPr:Kut, Linkin Park's "milquetoast emcee", Mike Shinoda drops a bounce rhyme (hey!) and gets outshined pretty handily by his guest emcees Rasco, and Planet Asia (see also...H! Vltg3, when Mike gets outshined by the ever-clever Phoaroahe Monch, or Enth E ND, where Mike gets outshined by Motion Man, or KRWLNG, where he gets outrhymed by the mopey guy from Staind)

Here's to buying hip hop cred.
Of course, Chester attempts a rhyme/chorus (he's like Ashanti to Mike's Fat Joe), and...

you know what, I don't have the heart.

Matthew D. Diez

:: 12:16 PM [+] ::

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Matt Halverson gives us plain english versions of of pop hits.

Of special note, is his translation of Jiggaman's banger from a summer back (or was it two).

OPP's Chorus:
Are you in favor of infidelity? Cause my background singers are
How many people have I won over with just the first verse? Apparently everyone
Would you sleep with your brother's girlfriend? You'd be surprised how many people would
Anyone else want me to go on explaining the concept of casual sex with multiple partners? Alright then…

Matthew D. Diez

:: 12:12 PM [+] ::

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Well, I suppose given the current political climate, those whose virulent hatred of everything nominally French has got them renaming French Fries and French Toast to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast, respectively will be well met with the following neologism:

Freedom Ticklers

Matthew D. Diez

:: 12:09 PM [+] ::

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Welp, as a manner of protesting the protests of the french protest to our protest of iraq's protest of the un's protest of iraq's development (or non-destruction) of weapons of mass destruction...

I give you Funky Music .... Cassius in The House.

(they're French you see)

np: The White Petticoat - Solas (They're Irish... it's sort of like an ethnicity)

Matthew D. Diez

:: 3:26 PM [+] ::

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One final thought.

When Quasimoto said he "loved jazz my man", he began a decent amount of name dropping, including Weather Report and Don Silvestri... but, curious in his inclusion was white R&B jazz sax player David Sanborn, who made wack electronic white-funk jazz throughout the eighties... can you help me understand why Lord Quas namechecks this guy?

np: Anarchy - KMFDM
"break my back, you won't break me"

Matthew D. Diez

:: 2:44 PM [+] ::

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I have tried several times to read this article. I have failed miserably each time. I thoroughly enjoy the photo, despite having no real affinity for Mr. Ciccone (lovingly referred to by the British press as "Madge").

np: Take A Picture: Filter - When he says "hypocrisy", it sounds like "hip hop cuisine" . Richard Patrick has all of the trappings of a successful balladeer. Clearly, he was going to leave Nine Inch Nails for bigger and better things... rather than get caught up in the morass that is Pigface.

Matthew D. Diez

:: 2:36 PM [+] ::

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For the Dictionary:
Club, Da': (noun) Place where you're likely to find me.
Jiggy: (adverb) That which is gotten wit' it.

Matthew D. Diez

:: 2:28 PM [+] ::

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To Kelly and Greg:
Please examine the song
"Airships", by VNV Nation.

Listen to it all. I'd pay, like $1400 for someone to animate a nightclub logo for that song.

(the lyrics are here.... deep)

Matthew D. Diez

:: 2:07 PM [+] ::

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Well, the Donnas have been added to the Lollapalooza lineup:
So: We walk away with the following:
Jane's Addiction: Haven't made a meaningful track since the early nineties
Audioslave: Haven't made a meaningful track since ... well... let me duck that, and simply call them two early nineties rock bands merged into one early ninetines revival rock band.
Incubus: From the band that gave you "Hot Dancer".... middle school rock... their singer is a good-looking guy, and probably is the only reason they've made it this far
Queens of the Stone Age: Denim and black glasses, anyone? I didn't know this group actually had expanded beyonded the hipster/spex set. Maybe so.
The Donnas: Welp! They're half-assed good looking. That counts for something. Right? Right?
Jurassic 5: Rap for your moms. If I have to hear another cut from these guys about how they're "bringing it back to the old school hip hop culture", or how they're "not about guns and gold", I'm gonna go buy 50 Cent's album.

Fuck it. I'll buy 50 Cent's album anyway.

Matthew D. Diez

:: 2:06 PM [+] ::

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