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First of all, I've installed the latest version of the PLT Scheme web server, which handles timeouts more gracefully (proportional to the file size, rather than using a global constant). So if you've had trouble downloading mp3s from me before, try again, and let me know if you're still having trouble.
I finally spent the Newbury Comics gift certificate that my brother gave me a couple Christmases ago, at the store that's practically right across the street from work. They have a pretty decent used CD section, and I picked up three for under $10 each:
- The Hives, Tyrannosaurus Hives: stylish and energetic Swedish garage-punk; you might have seen them on the MTV VMAs a couple years ago
- A.C. Newman, The Slow Wonder: singer and guitarist for The New Pornographers, Zumpano, Superconductor
- Orthrelm, Asristir Veildrioxe: hyperactive noisy instrumental guitar/drums duo from Washington, D.C.
Back in May, I saw a rockumentary double feature: Dig and The Fearless Freaks. Dig is ostensibly the tale of the relationship between two bands, the Brian Jonestown Massacre and the Dandy Warhols, but it's basically The Anton Newcombe Story As Narrated By Courtney Taylor-Taylor. It was filmed by someone very close to the BJM over the course of the last ten years, so instead of just being a bunch of interviews there are also many scenes inside the recording studio, backstage on various tours, and even at their contract signing with TVT Records. Given the dysfunctional nature of the band, and Anton in particular, this ends up becoming an indie-rock This Is Spinal Tap: ridiculous on-stage quarrels, ill-advised publicity stunts, drug-addled parties (Harry Dean Stanton makes a cameo at one), over-the-top proclamations of their own greatness, finger-pointing by disgruntled agents and managers, and on and on. I wouldn't actually be surprised if some of the scenes were staged, or at least pre-arranged in some way. Anton does have a certain air of self-parody, and maybe some of his histrionics are at least partly put-on or exaggerated as a semi-invented persona. Courtney's adulating narration adds another layer of surreality, juxtaposed with the story of his own band and their comparatively huge successes (their David LaChapelle video shoot has its own Tap-ish absurdities). It was also kind of weird for me to watch, having been a fan of both bands before their paths crossed; I saw the BJM as the opening act for several Bay Area shows between 1993-1995, and even used to chat with Matt Hollywood when he worked at the pizza place on Haight St. in San Francisco. If you're at all familiar with the indie pop/psych scene this movie is a must-see; if you've never heard of any of this music, you'll still probably find it a fascinating story.
The Fearless Freaks, on the other hand, is a more straightforward history of The Flaming Lips, following the standard "Behind the Music" narrative: the bands comes from obscure origins (Oklahoma in the early '80s), struggles for a while before hitting it big (with the massive novelty hit "She Don't Use Jelly"), falters and loses its way (as the band copes with Steven Drozd's heroin addiction), but then recovers (several critically-acclaimed albums) and is now perhaps poised for further greatness (Wayne Coyne's homemade epic movie Christmas on Mars, if it's ever finished). It also spends a lot of time on the members' childhood and families, in particular Wayne's brothers' '70s sport/art gang The Fearless Freaks, and also on Wayne's current life as the local weirdo artist in a run-down Oklahoma suburb. Some pyschedelic montages lend an arty feel, but they're somewhat amateurish and the story gets a bit disjointed about 2/3 of the way in. The centerpiece of the film is a harrowing scene of Drozd shooting up, while matter-of-factly explaining what he's doing and how it's affected his life and his relationship with the band. Aside from this downer moment, though, it's overall an uplifting story, of a group of creative and talented guys carving a comfortable niche out of the music industry and being content with their level of (non-)success. As with Dig, it's a must-see if you're a fan of the music, but is also highly watchable as a standalone tale, a slice of American culture and counterculture over the last quarter century.
- Sleater-Kinney was on "The Late Show" earlier this week, and kicked ass. Letterman seemed impressed.
- Steven Drozd was on "Dinner for Five" a couple weeks ago, along with Adam Goldberg and Christina Ricci (who are both in Christmas on Mars). He had some funny stories about The Flaming Lips' appearances on "90210" and "Charmed".
- The movie All Over Me was on the other night, from 1996, featuring Mary Timony (Helium) fronting a fictional band in NYC. I think I had seen that scene before, or else I've seen her in some other movie too. The soundtrack also features songs by Tuscadero, Sleater-Kinney, and Babes in Toyland.
- A few weeks ago Guncrazy was on, an obscure early '90s Bonnie & Clyde-ish flick starring Drew Barrymore and James LeGros (McBeth from Scotland, PA, Chad Palomino from Living in Oblivion). It's kind of cheesy and random, but it was written by a former member of Oingo Boingo and the soundtrack features "Shadow of a Doubt" by Sonic Youth, plus songs by Helmet, Gruntruck, Mary's Danish (remember them?), and Alison Krauss.
And finally, the recent Supreme Court decision on MGM v. Grokster namechecks Modest Mouse and Wilco. You know you've really made it when...