In honor of Halloween, I created a Frankenstein Mix, on Art of the Mix [via Max]. It was a lot of fun, and I think the mix will be quite the trip to listen to. I had to adapt the model slightly and drop the original track 19, which asked for the mix maker's favorite Elvis song. I own no Elvis (nor any covers of Elvis, oddly, minus Michael Stipe's mini-impersonation in "Man on the Moon"), so I just dropped that track.
When Matchbox 20's first album came out, I really liked it (and still do, in that 'not half-bad, doesn't make me jam Q-tips in my ear' kind of way). Everything they've put out since, I can't really stand.
So, is it that they've always sucked and it took me a while to realize it, or is it that they used to not suck and now they do?
Profound, huh? Maybe it has to do with their name switch from Matchbox 20 to matchbox twenty. Weirdos.
I've been toying with the idea of trying Nanowrimo again this November. I tried last year, and got to 18,000 words or so before Real Life took over. There's quite a lot going on in Real Life this November as well, but I actually, unlike last year, have a bit of a plot in mind. I'll probably never finish and get to 50,000, but I may very well try. I'll let you know how I do. If I never mention it again, you can fill in the holes.
I loathe him. It happened suddenly, out of nowhere. Before, I was aware of his existence and felt indifferently towards him, as I feel about most of the American Idol collaborative. Then, his album came out ("Measure of a Man"--am I the only one whose mind rests far enough in the gutter to be squicked by the title?) and I was filled with unrational loathing. Add to that the fact that his first single has a weird stalkeresque vibe to it ("If I was [sic] invisible / then I could just watch you in your room") and I am solely filled with loathing for him. Memo to Mr. Aiken: Sting singing about stalking? Strangely sexy. You singing about stalking? Conjures up nothing other than images of that awkward, quiet guy from high school staring at the back of the pretty girl's head day after bleeping day until she finally just snaps and says "QUIT IT!"
It only took me a couple days to read The Sweet Hereafter by Russell Banks. It reads almost like a novella. It's not terribly long, and the plot is ambient, namely, it's there with the reader in the room, casting some light, but does not exist solely to help the reader move from one place to another. I'd expect that to bother me, but it didn't, rather, I just glided along with the novel as it moved to its conclusion, gently and smoothly. It reminded me of Atwood's Life Before Man, which I read earlier this year, in its airy nature. I don't mean to imply that the novel's not a heavy read, it is, and it's far from uplifting; however, there is a sweetness there (witness the title) that shines through. The novel is a methodical, relatively intricate portrayal of a small town filled with loss.
Just finished Louis Sachar's Holes this weekend. I love Young Adult literature (although this one may be Intermediate Fiction-it toes the line). Engaging stories with interesting protagonists, usually with a moderately happy ending. This book was no different. It has an airy, folklore-esque feel to it. My only complaint about it is the lack of girls/women. I think that had I read it as a kid that might have turned me off a little bit, but I'm shallow like that. There are some female characters, but they're not the most upstanding. Regardless, an enjoyable read and a departure from the only other Sachar I've read, Sideways Stories from Wayside School.
Yesterday Apple released iTunes for Windows. Now, I am an avowed Macintosh devotee, so it should come as no surprise that I thing that this is the best thing to happen for Windows users in a very long time. The program has only been out a day, so for all I know it could be a buggy mess, but that would be highly surprising for Apple. If you have a PC, go get iTunes. I adore it. I've used other mp3 players/organizers including WinAmp and MusicMatch, and iTunes blows them out of the water. The Apple Music store is genius and addictive. Go. Get iTunes. Thus ends my gushing.
It took me nearly six weeks (which is deplorable, because it's just not that long) to finish Moneyball. It's a book about the business of baseball, specifically the business of baseball done Billy Beane's way. (Beane is the GM of the Oakland A's). It's pretty interesting if you enjoy baseball as I do (in fact, I blame the real baseball playoffs for my taking so long to finish this book). Some of the more business-y sections I found a bit dry, but I loved the human interest parts and the actual baseball anecdotes.
I can't decide if I liked Intolerable Cruelty or not--I'm leaning towards not liking it. I mean, George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones were both great (and should that much attractiveness really be allowed? I'm just sayin') but the plot never really grabbed me and I felt really nonplussed at the end. I liked seeing Edward "Rory Gilmore's Grandpa" Herrmann and Richard "The Late Nathaniel Fisher" Jenkins in the movie, talk about two stolidly reliable actors. However, all other things being equal, I'd have a hard time recommending this film for more than a rental, even though I usually enjoy the Coen Brothers' work.
Congratulations to the new Governor of California. I leave you with the prevailing image that comes into my head, and some words from R.E.M.
Low ebb, high tide
The lowest ebb and highest tide
I guess we took us for a ride
I guess its just a gesture.
At the end of the continent
At the edge of the continent
---R.E.M., "I remember California."
"we took us for a ride," indeed.
Here's a fun Church Sign Generator where you can make a church sign say anything you want! [via lyd] Here's mine:
I haven't done a music review in months, it feels like, and I'm going to do so by branching away from my usual folkie reviews.
OutKast's new 2 cd pairing, Speakerboxx/The Love Below is truly remarkable. It was recommended to me highly by several people whose opinions I trust, and although hesitant, I gave it a shot and was completely blown away.
Most people probably know the set up by now, it's two very different CDs, one by Big Boi and one by Andre 3000, the two guys who make up OutKast. I think I'm in the minority in liking the Big Boi cd (Speakerboxx) better--I just find it slightly more accessible. However, with repeated listenings, I may warm to The Love Below a little more. Standout tracks include "Ghetto Musick," with a fierce beat and shockingly effective tempo switching, and "The Way You Move" and "Hey Ya," the two tracks currently getting radio airplay. Also, I really like "Unhappy."
This is a stupid article. It says that people aren't getting DVRs because they love their VCRs so much. He also says that "most viewers don't understand" pausing live TV. What's not to understand? Do you really think people are that dumb? Bah.
I got a huge kick out of these screenshots of the end of old Nintendo games (via lyd). I finally got to see what happens at the end of Super Mario Bros. 2, the one Mario game I've never been able to beat. It's my own personal albatross.