tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5507593313515275922024-03-18T22:48:38.785-05:00Pop Culture JihadMusic + Politics + Movies + Etc.Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-67185271219001309942010-08-31T20:07:00.002-05:002010-08-31T20:48:36.764-05:00Ryan Bingham"the legitimate heir to the hard traveling deep knowing likes of Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams"<br />-Terry Allen on Ryan Bingham<br /><br />Living on his own since his mid-teens, Ryan Bingham decided to hang up his bull-riding life on the rodeo circuit for a career in music. The result is a rising star who won an Oscar this year for his song "The Weary Kind" from the film <span style="font-style:italic;">Crazy Heart</span>.<br /><br />Bingham's third major label release <span style="font-style:italic;">Junky Star</span> was released today on Lost Highway Records. While I haven't heard the album in its entirety, I did happen to catch Bingham last night on David Letterman singing a song from the new album and it is absolutely amazing. I love this guy!<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OB8pOIeL2ZA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OB8pOIeL2ZA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-2669004554449231712010-08-29T14:56:00.003-05:002010-08-31T22:43:17.234-05:00WavvesIt's one thing to make a great low-budget video, but it's quite another when the song for that particular video is really good and gets stuck in your head. The band <span style="font-style:italic;">Wavves</span> have achieved a coup with their song/video entitled "Post Acid."<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pdbrQYER1fI?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pdbrQYER1fI?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-80725866195350137042010-08-25T21:51:00.012-05:002010-08-29T14:46:51.456-05:00Pat TillmanPat Tillman was a professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals when the World Trade Center Towers fell on 9/11. Profoundly affected by the events of that day, Tillman finished out the season and enlisted in the Army in May of 2002, thus walking away from his $3.6 million contract to enlist in the Army. He would become the most well-known active soldier in the military and the Bush administration often invoked his name to promote the war on terror.<br /><br />Two years later, Tillman was killed in Afghanistan as the result of friendly fire, but that information was withheld in order to spin a more heroic tale for the media to latch on to. As that story began to unravel and the Tillman family's demand for answers grew louder, a disturbing cover-up would come to light with many unanswered questions that have yet to be resolved to this day.<br /><br />Yet the cover-up is only one facet of this whole story; the second one being Pat Tillman himself. In Jon Krakauer's excellent book <span style="font-style:italic;">Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey Of Pat Tillman</span>, Krakauer describes, in the wake of Tillman's death, the misguided attempts to define who he really was:<br /><blockquote>Unencumbered by biographical insight, people felt emboldened to invent all manner of personae for Tillman after his passing. Most of these renderings were based on little more than rumor and fantasy. The right-wing harridan Ann Coulter claimed him as an exlemplar of Republican political values. The left-wing editorial cartoonist Ted Rall denigrated him in a four-panel comic strip as an "idiot" who joined the Army to "kill Arabs."</blockquote><br />A documentary film about the Tillman affair -<span style="font-style:italic;">The Tillman Story</span>- <strike>was released last week</strike> will be released this coming Friday, September 3; and where government misconduct shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, to those unfamiliar with Pat Tillman, his extraordinary life certainly will be. <br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vU0eEFHAAU4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vU0eEFHAAU4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-24687672084879538282010-08-24T01:25:00.004-05:002010-08-31T21:58:13.792-05:00Soul TrainI know it's hard to think about Christmas in the midst of another brutal summer, but it is right around the corner and if you really want to get that music geek in your life a special gift, look no further than the August 31 release of "The Best of Soul Train" 3-DVD boxed set.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Soul Train</span> ran from 1971 to 2006 and it was, in my opinion, the greatest musical television show in history. When I was a kid, at the conclusion of my Saturday morning buffet of cartoons, I would stare at the tv transfixed by this show, hosted by the smooth baritone-voice of Don Cornelius, that showcased some of the best musical artists of the time as well as dance moves that were beyond compare. Occasionally, there were even attempts by yours truly to mimic the dance moves with about as much success as a whale has in the desert.<br /><br />If you are otherwise unfamiliar with <span style="font-style:italic;">Soul Train</span>, indulge yourself with a ride on the "hippest trip in America."<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkleiqrWji0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FkleiqrWji0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object><br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hk681TTujUo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hk681TTujUo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-4254256116478262122010-08-19T00:38:00.003-05:002010-08-19T01:07:51.120-05:00Francis Bean Cobain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://grungereport.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/francesart6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 408px; height: 400px;" src="http://grungereport.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/francesart6.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Francis Bean Cobain(aka Fiddle Tim) recently had a showing of her art at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles entitled "Scumfuck." When <span style="font-style:italic;">Interview</span> asked what her mother thinks of her art, Cobain replied "That's like me asking, 'What does your mom think of your interview questions.' It's irrelevant to the work." Being that this is the first time I've heard her opinions or viewed her creative output, I must say that I am very impressed on both counts.Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-7799310247500763512010-08-14T10:53:00.002-05:002010-08-14T11:35:00.852-05:00Greg MortensonI spend a great deal of time criticizing President Obama for turning his back on the reconciliation towards the Muslim world that was such a big part of his platform while he was still a candidate running for office. His support of the controversial mosque two blocks away from Ground Zero, however, is deserving of praise given that a recent poll shows that 71% of Americans are against it. He could have jumped on the bandwagon and exploited it for political gain the way so many other politicians are doing, yet he chose to rise above the madness that is gripping our country on this issue.<br /><br />And while so many people continue to lump Islam and terrorism in the same category, the biggest threat for most Muslims continues to be <span style="font-style:italic;">terrorism</span> by a small minority of Muslims who pervert the religion for their own gain.<br /><br />Greg Mortenson is an American humanitarian who builds schools for girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan often in very dangerous areas. There's a lot to be learned from Mortenson in regards to moderate Islam and the more fanatical elements. His work is <span style="font-style:italic;">very</span> important and if anyone is deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize, it's this guy.<br /><br />I try to write and post videos based on my short attention span - the shorter the better, I say. The video below, however, is pretty long, but I highly recommend it if this topic interests you in any way. <br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/di37H0cCWxU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/di37H0cCWxU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-80542685443687453112010-08-08T00:44:00.002-05:002010-08-08T01:01:03.368-05:00RestrepoRestrepo is not an anti-war film or a pro-war film, nor does it have liberal or conservative leanings. It is simply a documentary about what life is like, day in and day out, for a group of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Directed by Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger, Restrepo is about as close up as close up can be and, at times, every bit as intense as Saving Private Ryan.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PCPnJaxC17o&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PCPnJaxC17o&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-17615153628612179082010-08-06T00:16:00.002-05:002010-08-06T00:31:02.566-05:00Curren$yThere's very little in the rap world that really impresses me these days. I unfairly compare all rappers to 2Pac so, in my mind, they all pretty much fall short of my expectations. There's a rapper, however, out of New Orleans by the name of Curren$y whose latest album <span style="font-style:italic;">Pilot Talk</span> is pretty amazing. The background music and beats create a very smooth and breezy atmosphere that works really well with Curren$y's flow.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hBsJJd2r92E&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hBsJJd2r92E&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-77928775430224345532010-08-04T20:47:00.003-05:002010-08-05T09:54:27.286-05:00The Mosque"The Ground Zero mosque is all about conquest and thus an assertion of Islamist triumphalism which we should not tolerate. It is simply grotesque to erect a mosque at the site of the most visible and powerful symbol of the horrible consequences of radical Islamist ideology."<br />-Newt Gingrich <br /><br />The proposed building of a mosque two blocks away from ground zero in New York City is creating a controversy that highlights the paranoia that many in this country refuse to let go of. There are approximately 1 billion muslims in the world today and the group responsible for these attacks - al-qaida - represents way less than 1% of the total muslim population. It's the equivalent of refusing the construction of catholic churches around the site of the Oklahoma City federal building that was bombed in 1995 because the perpetrator - Timothy McVeigh - was a catholic. There are 800,000 muslims living in New York City. How many of those have carried out attacks on New York so far? Would it kill anyone to educate themselves about topics that affect our world rather than cave-in to this anti-muslim paranoia witch hunt that is suffocating civil debate?Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-69363216574973888302010-07-26T00:54:00.003-05:002010-07-26T02:37:02.499-05:00Blaze FoleyWith the likes of Roky Erickson, Willie Nelson, Daniel Johnston, Townes Van Zandt, etc., I doubt that there is a city with more per capita "oddballs" strewn out across its musical highway than Austin, Texas. And, yet, one of this town's biggest oddballs - Blaze Foley - is also, oddly enough, its most obscure one.<br /><br />Perpetually homeless, sometimes sleeping under pool tables in bars, Foley was shot and killed in Austin in 1989 while allegedly trying to defend his friend Concho January from Concho's own son.<br /><br />His songs have been covered by Merle Haggard and John Prine while Lucinda Williams and Townes Van Zandt have each written songs about him.<br /><br />Earlier this month, Fat Possum Records released <span style="font-style:italic;">Blaze Foley: The Dawg Years</span> and it is an excellent compilation of Foley's unique folk blues.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/69YCXgVdyR4&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/69YCXgVdyR4&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-87372133311616025552010-07-20T21:18:00.013-05:002010-07-26T02:05:23.363-05:00The Fog of Racial Paranoia"From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote and they don't need any more than that. The more Negroes who register as Democrats in the South, the sooner the Negrophobe whites will quit the Democrats and become Republicans. That's where the votes are."<br />-Kevin Phillips(political strategist to Richard Nixon)<br /><br />The above quote came from a 1970 interview in the <span style="font-style:italic;">New York Times</span> and, yet, 40 years later, the far right wing elements of the Republican Party are still utilizing this tactic in its attempt to paint President Obama and anyone associated with him as a racist to discredit his presidency.<br /><br />Their latest target is Agricultural Department official, Shirley Sherrod, who is being reviled as a racist after this video was posted by the conservative website biggovernment.com - <br /><object width="420" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t_xCeItxbQY&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t_xCeItxbQY&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object> <br /><br />What the video failed to mention was that she was recounting a story that took place some 24 years ago regarding a moral crossroads she had come to in regards to her own racial views. Instead, the video was edited to make it look like this was an official from the Obama administration who wasn't going to help out "whitey" when in fact, the white farmer in question, Roger Spooner, came out today in defense of Sherrod and said that he would have lost his farm without her help.<br /><br />The repeated charges of racism against Obama are laughable. Look at this guy's Cabinet for chrissakes:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/3923353160_00db3811ee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 395px; height: 333px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2510/3923353160_00db3811ee.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />racism |ˈrāˌsizəm|<br />noun<br />the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.<br /><br />As ridiculous as the racism charges are against Obama, it's even more ridiculous considering that these charges are often coming from the most racially insensitive people you have ever seen(Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, etc.). It's absolutely comical. And I'm not saying the Republican Party as a whole is racist, but it is absolutely, 100% guilty of pandering to racist elements in order to win elections.<br /><br />And, yet, the worse thing to come out of this nonsense is the fact that Sherrod was fired and Obama claims he had nothing to do with it. Whether you believe him or not, and I don't, he has all the power in the world to not only reinstate her, but to issue her an apology for rushing to judgement.Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-19492166920628718662010-07-18T23:28:00.002-05:002010-07-18T23:59:29.233-05:00InceptionDirector Christopher Nolan's <span style="font-style:italic;">Inception</span> is a frustratingly brilliant film. At a length of 2 hours and 40 minutes, it surprisingly held my attention which is nothing short of miraculous considering my attention span. This film, however, is like a puzzle with a million pieces. I know it works. I'm just not sure I'm going to figure out exactly <span style="font-style:italic;">how</span> it works after a second viewing and I'm quite sure I don't have the patience for a go at it after that. Having said that, I still highly encourage you to go see this film. I'm absolutely confident that there are many of you out there who will be far better at sifting through the many, many layers of this film than I was.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/66TuSJo4dZM&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/66TuSJo4dZM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-22803437427695337772010-07-18T13:24:00.009-05:002010-07-19T09:16:51.722-05:00Merle HaggardOne of the most important country music recordings in history is Johnny Cash's live performance at San Quentin prison entitled <span style="font-style:italic;">At San Quentin</span>. The recording was one of many shows he did there. Several years after a 1959 concert performed at San Quentin, country music legend, Merle Haggard, told Cash that he enjoyed that particular show. When Cash replied that he didn't remember him being on the lineup that day, Merle responded simply that he was in the audience as a prisoner that day. <br /><br />While Johnny Cash was romanticizing the outlaw lifestyle in his songs, Merle Haggard was living it. And while Hollywood was tripping over itself to bring Cash's life story to the big screen, Haggard's is a far more complex and compelling tale and one that should be told. Hopefully, Merle will get his due someday.<br /><br />For the time being, though, PBS will premiere: <span style="font-style:italic;">Merle Haggard: Learning to Live with Myself</span> this Wednesday, July 21 at 8pm(CST). For those of you who are otherwise unfamiliar with Haggard, and even those who consider themselves fans, I highly recommend you watch this documentary on Wednesday.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O4YT69fUAlU&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O4YT69fUAlU&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object><br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ziFI_0Fx5ts&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ziFI_0Fx5ts&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-89592006455087935352010-07-17T12:02:00.007-05:002010-07-18T16:45:20.920-05:00Lightning BoltLast weekend, I finally got to see one of my favorite bands - Lightning Bolt - thoroughly redeeming myself from their last stop in Austin.<br /><br />Three years ago, they played at Emo's. It was a ticketless show. I had to make a sudden trip to Louisiana and returned the night of the show, speeding like a mad man in hopes of making it on time, which I did, but to a sold out show. I was utterly deflated, which led me to Plan B - I tried to sneak in through a gate in the back and was instantly thrown out by a really large man who wasn't in the best of moods.<br /><br />Looking back on it now, I realize that it just wasn't meant to be for me to see Lightning Bolt that night. In addition to the misguided ticketless show idea, they also performed a stageless show(which they are known for) in the middle of the crowd. This is a good idea for a house party, but not the best of ideas for a concert venue as the only people who can really see the show are those who are in the immediate circle surrounding the band.<br /><br />Last Saturday night's show at Mohawks was far different. I had a ticket in hand and the band finally decided to utilize a stage much to my delight. Lightning Bolt's sound can be best described as an all-out sonic assault to the ears fueled by bassist Brian Gibson and my absolute favorite drummer in the world - Brain Chippendale. Excellent show! <br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_GXoYUmkRBM&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_GXoYUmkRBM&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-71715535644660467392010-07-01T22:58:00.004-05:002010-07-11T01:38:18.449-05:00Books and FoalsThe Books are an experimental two-piece band formed in New York City in 1999. Their sound is basically strings, often distorted, mixed with random audio clips. Nothing else really sounds like them. Their debut album <span style="font-style:italic;">Thought for Food</span> was released in 2002, but the first album I heard was its 2003 follow up <span style="font-style:italic;">The Lemon of Pink</span> and it still remains one of my favorite albums to this day. The Books sound, however, doesn't really differ from one album to the next with the exception of their latest album <span style="font-style:italic;">The Way Out</span> which is funkier and more upbeat and their best album since <span style="font-style:italic;">The Lemon of Pink</span>.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TqlVCKfX3hk&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TqlVCKfX3hk&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object><br />Another album that has really been growing on me lately is <span style="font-style:italic;">Total Life Forever</span> by the English 5-piece band Foals. I can't put my finger on who or what they sound like, but I like it nonetheless.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vQ90LRaEIt0&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vQ90LRaEIt0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-73126061288148264722010-06-23T23:35:00.003-05:002010-06-24T01:29:55.672-05:00The Rolling Stone BombshellWhat many may see as a stupid move on General Stanley McChrystal's part regarding his comments to Rolling Stone magazine in which he degrades the Obama administration, I see as a calculated attempt to get the hell out of a dead end situation in Afghanistan. McChrystal can't possibly be so misguided as to think that hanging out with a Rolling Stone reporter for a lengthy period of time while talking shit about his boss - the President of the United States - will be "off the record." Not surprisingly, McChrystal was fired today and I can't help but think that he has to be relieved. <br /><br />The timeline that Obama has set for leaving Afghanistan is July of 2011. We are not currently winning this war and things are not going to drastically change for the better in the span of a year. This timeline is foolish. McChrystal knows this timeline is foolish. General David Petraeus, who has replaced McChrystal, certainly has to believe that this timeline is foolish. When outrage ensued over Afghan president Hamid Karzai's threat to join the Taliban, you need to realize that Afghanis won't have much choice once U.S. troops pull out. If you are trying to win the "hearts and minds" of the Afghan population, this timeline is not only a noose around their loyalties to American forces, but a death sentence as well. <br /><br />The silver lining in all of this is that Petraeus is Obama's last realistic option in Afghanistan which will hopefully give him leverage. Petraeus understands Afghanistan and Middle East issues just as well if not better, in my opinion, than McChrystal. In March, Patraeus said that the perception of U.S. favoritism towards Israel was becoming a liability for the advancement of our interests abroad. An obvious statement, but one that is rarely uttered from such a high ranking military official. Needless to say, I like Petraeus.<br /><br />I don't blame McChrystal for saying the things he said about Obama given the situation in Afghanistan. Hopefully, this will be a wakeup call for an administration that is quickly unraveling while justifiably being perceived by the public as disengaged and elitist.Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-64548981353197282592010-06-16T21:52:00.006-05:002010-06-16T22:45:19.868-05:00Baby Snakes and Bruce Bickford<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.musictoday.com/store/bands/1039/product_large/ZPAM06DVD.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://media.musictoday.com/store/bands/1039/product_large/ZPAM06DVD.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Baby Snakes</span> is a film documenting Frank Zappa's 1977 Halloween concert at New York City's Palladium Theater. I saw it for the first time the other night and, even though I like Zappa, this documentary clocked in at just under 3 hours which made me want to punch my television set. It was way too long and I could care less about backstage hijinks. It did, however, make me realize two things that I'm very thankful for: 1)Frank Zappa is an amazing guitarist, which is even more frustrating considering he plays it all of ten minutes throughout the entire film; and 2)the most wonderful thing about this whole documentary is, hands down, the spotlight it shines on artist Bruce Bickford. My anger at the length of this film was tempered by the need to find out more about Bickford, which led me to a 2004 documentary film about his life entitled <span style="font-style:italic;">Monster Road</span>.<br /><br />Egos are quite a pet peeve of mine and there couldn't be a bigger gulf in egos as there is between watching Zappa's in <span style="font-style:italic;">Baby Snakes</span> and Bickford's lack of one in <span style="font-style:italic;">Monster Road</span>. I would argue that Bickford is one of the most important visual artists of our lifetime and yet, as the film points out, the guy can't find work. You would think that some current musical artist would seek him out to do a video but, then again, what else should you expect? The non-egotistical of the world don't exactly market themselves very well because, well, they don't have an ego.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vzo04V24vWw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vzo04V24vWw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object><br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OX3c10keGWI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OX3c10keGWI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-42725201390324626832010-06-12T11:59:00.005-05:002010-06-13T10:52:43.042-05:00Russell Brand<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdn5j-rHS6hPzilDQgoZ6zNqhCbMU7dVHXOCzGwK8Raj3kwbNIyqtfrqfUJZxk35zGVs8x_XfNeKxTFCNXnzPqj_pBlzUvwpm12BwuLBFO2sm4AbnOfqL28RvT0qCR2sd4ygXT8vlY3rk/s320/My+Booky+Wook.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdn5j-rHS6hPzilDQgoZ6zNqhCbMU7dVHXOCzGwK8Raj3kwbNIyqtfrqfUJZxk35zGVs8x_XfNeKxTFCNXnzPqj_pBlzUvwpm12BwuLBFO2sm4AbnOfqL28RvT0qCR2sd4ygXT8vlY3rk/s320/My+Booky+Wook.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />"My life is a series of embarrassing incidents strung together by telling people about those embarrassing incidents."<br />-Russell Brand<br /><br />I've never seen <span style="font-style:italic;">Forgetting Sarah Marshall</span> nor have I seen Russell Brand's latest movie <span style="font-style:italic;">Get Him To The Greek</span>. I bought <span style="font-style:italic;">Russell Brand In New York City</span> on dvd and was a bit disappointed, yet every time I see this guy as a guest on late night talk shows, he absolutely shines. The guy intrigues me so much that I purchased his latest book "My Booky Wook: A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up."<br /><br />If you're looking for high comedy, this isn't the book for you. Reading "My Booky Wook" is what I imagine a priest feels like in a confessional booth upon hearing the most lurid tales of debauchery he has come across. Russell Brand is a man of many vices, and while most people would bristle at the thought of airing their own personal dirty laundry, Brand not only airs his, but he dissects it as well in a very impressive manner. Jail; drug rehab; sex addiction rehab; mental issues - Mr. Brand has his demons and, yet, he makes light of them at his own expense while holding a mirror to society's own hypocrisies. <br /><br />Russell Brand has all the potential in the world to become the next Lenny Bruce. Whether he will or not remains to be seen, but I really like this guy and I highly recommend this book. <br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jPm3NPVQzxY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jPm3NPVQzxY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-28911780392142772772010-06-11T23:50:00.003-05:002010-06-12T03:12:11.279-05:00Ariel PinkAriel Pink's latest album <span style="font-style:italic;">Before Today</span> has been getting great reviews which is completely confusing to me because his previous work pretty much got overlooked. Pitchfork.com gave <span style="font-style:italic;">Before Today</span> a 9.0 rating while giving his far better 2004 album <span style="font-style:italic;">The Doldrums</span> a 5.0 rating.<br /><blockquote>And that's the trouble with The Doldrums, and the reasoning behind this conflicted rating. The album is not so much Ariel Pink's creation as it is Ariel Pink himself, a real-time observation of his brain synapses at work. His nerves are either firing at Einstein levels or misfiring like harlequin babies, and in fairness, I'm hardly the staff brain surgeon.</blockquote>-Nick Sylvester, October 25, 2004<br /><br /> This isn't a knock against Ariel Pink so much as it is a knock against critics who find his latest album more appealing. <span style="font-style:italic;">Before Today</span> is <span style="font-style:italic;">The Doldrums</span> lite. I'm happy for Ariel Pink in that critics are finally giving him his due, but if you fell in love with <span style="font-style:italic;">The Doldrums</span> first, I can't imagine that you are blown away by this album because I'm not. Anyone who thinks this new album is his best, I must challenge you to a duel.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gB65ENKm4AM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gB65ENKm4AM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-4515179605734832010-05-31T13:44:00.008-05:002010-05-31T21:08:28.330-05:00The Terrorist State of Israel<object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJblNCnpaXY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LJblNCnpaXY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object><br />The flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza that is being talked about in the above video didn't make it to its intended destination because the Israeli Navy attacked the ships this morning killing 19 people.* We're not talking about nineteen combatants in war or terrorists - the Israeli military killed nineteen <span style="font-style:italic;">humanitarian aid workers</span> in international waters, no less. World condemnation of Israel has been swift. Of course, President Obama's response has been predictably cautious. Yet when it comes to the defense of Israel, Obama is anything <span style="font-style:italic;">but</span> cautious as he successfully lobbied Congress recently to give Israel 205 million dollars to build a missile defense system. We're not talking about a poor country here. Israel is a developed nation - let them build their own fucking defense system. Meanwhile, Obama can't issue one word in support of humanitarian aid for Palestinians who are desperately poor??? What a fucking joke this administration is.<br />*Right now, the death toll is at 10. I've seen various figures on the casualties. Nineteen, however, is not a definitive number yet.Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-51469877617417660452010-05-28T09:02:00.006-05:002010-05-30T01:42:35.032-05:00M.I.A. vs. HirschbergA recent, not so flattering New York Times Magazine cover story about M.I.A. written by Lynn Hirschberg has infuriated M.I.A. so much that she tweeted "917.834.3158 CALL ME IF YOU WANNA TALK TO ME ABOUT THE N Y T TRUTH ISSUE, ill b taking calls all day bitches." It turns out that the cell number actually belonged to Hirschberg who herself is now infuriated over M.I.A. giving it out. "It's a fairly unethical thing to do," Hirschberg said.<br /><br />What I find to be slightly unethical is schmoozing up to someone you are interviewing with the hidden agenda of tearing them down. Point in case:<br /><br /><blockquote>Unity holds no allure for Maya — she thrives on conflict, real or imagined. “I kind of want to be an outsider,” she said, eating a truffle-flavored French fry. </blockquote><br /><br />That sentence alone leaves me with doubts regarding Hirschberg's intentions and integrity as a reporter. Regardless, it is valid to ask of someone, who considers herself an outsider and anti-establishment, why exactly she married <span style="font-style:italic;">into</span> the establishment(she married Ben Bronfman, son of the Warner Music Group chief executive and Seagram’s heir Edgar Bronfman Jr.) and now lives in Beverly Hills, but Hirschberg never debates the issues she has with M.I.A., instead preferring to deceptively ensnare her in a hypocritical web of perceived lies that she can publish without challenge. M.I.A. also claimed that her father was a revolutionary for the Tamil Tigers which the article seems to dismiss as fabricated. If this information about her father is indeed fabricated, that would be pretty damning to her credibility but, again, Hirschberg never takes M.I.A. to task on this issue. That, to me, is suspicious and I would say, in regards to this article, give M.I.A. the benefit of the doubt first and let her tell her side of the story before you spout that she's a poser.Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-55543496755067238982010-05-20T17:36:00.005-05:002010-06-24T01:23:41.407-05:00Janelle Monae<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l152u95wCQ1qz6g6ao1_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l152u95wCQ1qz6g6ao1_400.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The current soul universe, for me, has revolved around two individuals - Lauryn Hill(despite her lengthy absence) and Erykah Badu. That said, it wasn't enough for me to pull the trigger on a $107 ticket to see Badu live in Houston at the Verizon Wireless Theater on June 13.<br /><br />That, however, changed upon hearing Janelle Monae's fantastic new album <span style="font-style:italic;">The ArchAndroid</span>(Monae is opening for Badu in Houston). <span style="font-style:italic;">The ArchAndroid</span> isn't a soul album so much as it is a stew of many different genres and influences that never sounds forced.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">One hundred and seven dollars</span> is still quite a chunk to pay to those greedy bastards at Ticketmaster, but after listening to <span style="font-style:italic;">The ArchAndroid</span>, that pill is a lot easier to swallow now.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vMyc148Do_Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vMyc148Do_Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-69092696197538588812010-05-19T23:55:00.004-05:002010-08-26T00:24:33.620-05:00Shelby Lynne<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.countrystarsonline.com/CSO/images/artists/2008/ShelbyLynne_400.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 415px;" src="http://www.countrystarsonline.com/CSO/images/artists/2008/ShelbyLynne_400.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I can't imagine a better, more intimate setting to hear music in Austin than St. David's Episcopal Church. The Cactus Cafe is a close second, but the high wooden ceilings, dim lighting, acoustics, as well as the view of downtown from behind the small stage all make for a great listening experience at the downtown church.<br /><br />Tonight's main attraction was the soulful, country-blues of Shelby Lynne and she didn't disappoint. Like her younger sister, Allison Moorer, Lynne rarely gets the recognition she deserves because she doesn't fit a particular niche, but she can write the blues with the best of them because she's lived it. Her father was an abusive alcoholic who eventually killed her mother before turning the gun on himself when Shelby was growing up in Alabama. "You can't write a real record and fake it," Lynne said tonight between songs. "I couldn't fake it if I tried. I've lived this." She certainly has and she conveys it well.<br /><br />Her latest album <span style="font-style:italic;">Tears, Lies, and Alibis</span> was released last month and though it's her 11th album, it's the first one on her own label, EVERSO records.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bZ-PlZDrATo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bZ-PlZDrATo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-67765065212720813872010-05-16T19:32:00.005-05:002010-05-17T00:00:38.174-05:00Banksy"Art used to embody something meaningful enough to be relevant beyond the time in which it was made, but collectors today are attracted to art that 'holds a mirror to our times' and are too impatient to hang on to the work long enough to see if it contains any 'timeless' rewards. Experts say that the art that sells most easily at auction has a 'kind of immediate appeal' or 'wow factor.'<br />-Sarah Thornton(<span style="font-style:italic;">Seven Days In The Art World</span>)<br /><br />The most mysterious and well-known artist of our times, Banksy, has directed a splendid documentary or mocumentary, of which I'll place my bets on the latter.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Exit Through The Gift Shop</span> begins as a documentary about street artists that has been filmed throughout the years by enthusiast Thierry Guetta. Guetta eventually becomes so involved that he decides to become a sort of amateur street artist himself. It all goes to his head and he decides to show his work to the public, but first he convinces his street art pals to hype the show which they "grudgingly" agree to. Thus the fix(or buzz) is in. Suddenly, Guetta's work is on the cover of <span style="font-style:italic;">LA Weekly</span> and his art is selling for millions. A prank has been pulled on the unsuspecting art collectors, dealers, hipsters, and whatnot. <br /><br />As this unfolds, Banksy and others are degrading this guy as a terrible artist and Guetta plays the part perfectly of the buffoon whose "genius" has all gone to his head. Many in the crowd at the movie theater(especially the obnoxious idiots next to me) are appalled at Guetta's work. Banksy has thus pulled off his second prank, albeit a subtle one, and proves that he is far more than just hype - Banksy is truly one of the most relevant artists of our time. Excellent movie!<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GTlm6dU2xHk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GTlm6dU2xHk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-550759331351527592.post-79885338019569121592010-05-14T21:16:00.005-05:002010-05-17T00:06:19.883-05:00SuicideM.I.A.'s third album is slated to be released on July 13 and the first and only single from the album that I have heard so far is a track entitled "Born Free." While it is nowhere close to being one of my favorite M.I.A. songs, the track has been stuck in my head for days as the result of her sampling a song entitled "Ghost Rider" from one of the truly great, yet completely misunderstood, albums in the history of music - Suicide's self-titled masterpiece which was released in 1977.<br /><br />New York City in the 1970's was on the verge of bankruptcy and was viewed by the world as the epicenter of crime and social disorder. The 1981 film <span style="font-style:italic;">Escape From New York</span>, written in the mid-70s by its director, John Carpenter, is an apocalyptic tale in which New York City is converted into a maximum security prison. It was very symbolic of the chaotic concrete jungle that New York City was descending into and it is within this context that Suicide's confrontational, self-titled album should be heard.<br /><br />Formed in 1971, Suicide consisted of vocalist Alan Vega along with Martin Rev, who created the unique Suicide sound with synthesizers and drum machines. Though they had been playing for many years, their first studio album <span style="font-style:italic;">Suicide</span> wouldn't be released until 1977. It's not that hard to imagine, upon listening to it, the reasoning behind the reluctance to put this album out. It is the soundtrack to the hellhole that New York City was at the time. It's a stressful album. It's the schizophrenic homeless guy that you're desperately trying to avoid eye contact with. It's that gut feeling that you may not make it home once you get off at your bus stop. <span style="font-style:italic;">Suicide</span> is not for the faint of heart.<br /><br />To this day, when I put that record on, it gets an immediate reaction(usually negative) from people who are otherwise unfamiliar with the band which, I imagine, is exactly what Vega and Rev were shooting for. This band genuinely frightened or angered people when they took to the stage. "We started getting booed as soon as we came onstage. Just from the way we looked they started giving us hell already," recalled Vega who would often brandish a six-foot motorcycle chain while on stage. New York City was a very uncomfortable place at that time and <span style="font-style:italic;">Suicide</span> reflected Vega and Rev's dystopian view. <br /><br />The other reaction from those hearing <span style="font-style:italic;">Suicide</span> for the first time is the utter disbelief at the time period in which this record was made. They were playing these songs nearly forty years ago and yet it sounds incredibly modern. <br /><br />Regardless of M.I.A.'s use of this song, Suicide will never be mainstream, but Suicide was never meant to be mainstream. Originality is often the bane of mainstream acceptance and, luckily, there are a handful of artists like Suicide who refuse to play by the rules.<br /><object width="395" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/b9abMqcx7Hs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/b9abMqcx7Hs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="395" height="325"></embed></object>Caste Away U.S.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12826984149648222122noreply@blogger.com0