RAG TAG MAGAZ!NE

Alice in Chains - Nutshell (Piano cover)

2012-01-25T21:22:00.000-08:00

Big 12 Expansion Scenarios

2011-09-23T23:00:00.001-07:00

By: Alex Burks

Just for kicks!

Easy Pickings: These teams have contacted the Big 12 about joining

BYU

SMU

Wishful Thinking: The Big 12 would have to give up some delusions

Boise State

TCU

West Virginia

Worth a long look: These teams have some strengths, some wins

Houston

Louisville

Hyper Regional: Last resort, regional mentality fully pursued

Tulsa

Wyoming

Rice

UTSA

UTEP

Longshots: Hard sells, huge rewards

Notre Dame

Arkansas

Texas A&M

First step: Big 12 (10)

The most likely scenario has BYU joining the Big 12 with the mutual affection. However, if Texas A&M can be convinced to stay, which might require another longshot acquisition in Notre Dame or Arkansas, then BYU will still probably get the nod to round it out to 12. [Now that the SEC has accepted TAM it is an even longer shot.]

Second step: Big 12

After BYU, the Big 12 will have to commit to geographic expansion. The best bet here would be to go after TCU, West Virginia, or least likely Boise State. Or worst case: SMU.

Third step: Big 16

Here's where it gets tough. Let's say the most likely 10th team is BYU, the 11 and 12 are TCU and West Virginia. Then you still want four additional top 25 caliber teams. SMU is getting there. Boise State has been there for a long time. Houston has flirted with top 25 status recently and Louisville will do. If the Big 12 decides to go Hyper regional it would swap out Boise State and Louisville for two of the following three: Tulsa, Wyoming and/or Rice. If the Big 12 wants to get big it would forget about hyper regional and focus on Top 25 caliber teams. The Big 12 should tout programs with winning traditions. Period.

So what would 4x4 pods look like?

Texas pod

Texas

Texas Tech

Baylor

SMU

(Houston, TCU, OU, OSU in an 8 team pod)

Plains pod

OSU

KSU

West pod

Boise State

BYU

TCU

Houston

East pod

Iowa State

Louisville

West Virginia

Missouri

(BYU, Boise State, KU, KSU in an 8 team pod)

Or hyper regional Big 16 with two pods:

Texas Pod

Texas

Texas Tech

Baylor

SMU

TCU

Houston

Rice

Missouri

Plains Pod

OSU

KSU

ISU

WVA

BYU

Tulsa/Wyoming

Now if A&M would stay, Missouri switches over to the plains pod and Tulsa/Wyoming would be first out.

Either way, it looks like a competitive, strong conference. One can only dream about what this might look like with Notre Dame and/or Arkansas.

Big 12 Conference: Go Big or GTFO!

2011-09-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

By: Alex Burks

The Big 12 Conference has an identity opportunity. Michael Vick had the same opportunity after his release from prison and only one thing mattered. Not money, not size, not personality, not ego, not negative press, not angry fans. The one thing that mattered was talent, on-field performance. The Big 12 should take up this opportunity to forget everything like revenue sharing, television markets, egos, locations and rivalries. Put the best product on your Big 12 fields every week. This game of football is about winning, not whining. It's about beating, not bitching.

The Big 12 can become college football's version of the American League East. Get a commissioner who thinks he's Scott Boras. College Football teams, their regents and athletic directors are starting to look more like free agents wanting to be a part of a championship team. Right now, the Big 12 and the SEC are Championship conferences with a capital C (the Pacific 12 conference was a Championship conference before USC imploded upon itself like a time travel wormhole). And you know what? The Big 12, despite Nebraska's departure, is the premier conference right now. The Big 12 needs to own that distinction. Get the best teams in the country to fill out your conference and forget everything off the field.

Of course, it is more likely that the Big 12 will follow one of two trends (or try to work both into the league) going forward: revenue sharing and region strengthening. Texas has put up a major roadblock to revenue sharing, but the conference let it happen. They should embrace the Longhorn network. Would anyone in the Big 12 rather see the Longhorn network showing ACC matchups? NO. So open it up. Every team for itself and let the market decide how much your teams are worth paying advertising dollars and TV time for. The Baylor-TCU game early this season was one of the best five games so far this year. RG3 is an exciting player on an exciting team. That's your product. Let Texas keep its money from its network so the whole country can see the Bears maul the Longhorns. Iowa State has a huge following and they are in the top 5 in the conference in season ticket sales [they might even be number three behind Texas and OU... need a fact checker]. This is how you get Notre Dame, dummies.

Region strengthening is a much more intriguing, and much more feasible idea. Keep the conference teams in the plains and west of the Mississippi river. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and maybe even Wyoming, that's your region. There are a lot of haters of the defunct Southwest Conference out there, but it makes sense if you stick to it. Bring back Rice. Get TCU. Get Wyoming. Get SMU. Take a look at Houston and Tulsa. This is how you get Arkansas, dummies.

Both of these ideas, however, are limiting. Big 12, you are the best conference in the nation so why limit yourself? Tell all of your teams, "Go Big or Get The F*** Out." Win or go to the ACC (ahem... Texas). So if Kansas State starts bitching about revenue sharing, they can leave, and the Big 12 can bring in Boise State, the winningest team in the NCAA since 2006. No barriers but excellence. No barometers but wins. Would you rather see Texas and OU play Kansas State or Boise State every year? Don't answer that OU fans (ahem... Fiesta Bowl).

There is a reason GameDay decided not to showcase a TOP TEN BIG TWELVE match-up, instead favoring their first trip to West Virginia. That reason is not the on-field talent, but rather the off-field everything else.

It'll all work out!

2011-05-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

Poetry (?) by "Macho Man" Randy Savage

2011-05-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

I submit to you a transcript from an interview of "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

In this format the seemingly drug-fueled rambling of the late professional wrestler reads like a beautiful piece of art. Shall we call it poetry?

He says I can't sing and I can't dance

but I can make romance, yeah

Right there the fork in the road

I said go right

Elizabeth said go left

I went RIGHT!

And then, and then I understand what the situation was

I went over that one bridge

yeah

and then

When I crossed that bridge I found out that I was on the right side

and I said Elizabeth Follow Me, Yeah

Because I'm going Straight to the Top!

The stars, yeah, the stars

one shining star in the night

Shining - BRIGHTER THAN ALL THE OTHER ONES!

And I'm talking light years away, yeah.

-"Macho Man" Randy Savage

Here's the video, the poetry goes through, but this particular passage begins at 2:00.

5 Star Song - Hey Marseilles

2010-11-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

Hey Marseilles - "Rio"

Night and the City (1950)

2010-11-29T17:48:00.000-08:00

CRITERION!

The Golem (1920)

2010-11-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

CINEMA!

5 Star Song of the Day - Los Campesinos!

2010-10-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing!

Yes, all of the exclamation points are necessary. "You! Me! Dancing!" has been a five star song since it blew up on indie rock radio stations in 2008 but deserves some additional recognition for its use in a recent Budweiser commercial. The commercial takes 55 seconds to build up to five seconds' worth of the meaty bit in the song with the full orchestration, amounting to one and a half cycles of the main melody, which combines a guitar and xylophone to create an exuberant dance-rock vibe.

What makes this commercial unique and brilliant is how it primarily uses a shortened version of the excellent 2 minute instrumental introduction - a slowly building waking-from-sleep guitar, swelling high notes on strings, then a four-to-the-floor bass drum kick, then the xylophone and all - eschewing lyrics and chorus. The ad uses various images of people getting ready for an event - concert, backyard pool party, baseball game, etc - and culminates in the event all set and ready to go. The tagline is "Grab Some buds." Towards the climax the ad shows us jets flying over Busch stadium as the STL Arch is visible, and as YouTube commenter 'crofud' says, "It feels like America."

Using indie rock to sell beer and baseball... Yep! "Ain't that America," John Mellencamp?

Ain't that America.

Stardust Memories (1980)

2010-09-13T23:26:00.001-07:00

Boring, ambling, rambling, Woody Allen, too many people talking to the camera, annoying. Woody Allen's delivery is consistently without a point, so it's useless to try and listen.

In one scene a 'fan' of Allen's 'character' (Sandy Bates) is already in his hotel bed ready to 'make it' with Bates and she is wearing a t-shirt with a photographic likeness of Allen's head. I would like to have this same t-shirt, but for ironic purposes.

I don't even think I can make it through half of this film. I'm pretty much checked out already. Woody, I gave you another shot, and I don't know if we will ever be on the same page.

Ultimately, despite all of the homages, this film just doesn't work for me having Allen in front of the camera.

Like the image on the wallpaper of the Bates' apartment... this film is maddening and not in an intriguing way.

Here's the trailer:

Caged (1950)

2010-09-13T23:24:00.000-07:00

Brilliant! Caged is deservedly one of the best films of 1950. The film features a mostly female cast including superb performances by Eleanor Parker in the lead, Agnes Moorehead, and Hope Emerson. Directed by John Cromwell.

Parker plays a recent addition to a women's prison where Moorehead is the sympathetic administrative warden, and Emerson plays Evelyn Harper, the antagonistic matron. I would place my bets on Harper in a match-up against Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

Vs.

Great acting, direction, script, and cinematography. Parker and Emerson were nominated for Oscars.

Here's the trailer:

Stone Cold Dead (1980)

2010-09-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

This movie shows a lot of breasts, a look at the Sexy/Dirty side of The Big City in 1980. The sentimental scene in a limo where a pimp (Paul Williams) takes back his special lady after kicking her out for the track marks on her arm is not to be missed. The plot here is centered around a sniper killing prostitutes who has a super nice pistol mounted with a sight and a canon camera.

The musical interludes in this film are whimsical and intriguing.

The chase scenes are absolutely awful. Richard Crenna is the dick doing the chasing, and he is awfully awful.

This movie is awfully fun! Including a surprise twist ending! (Hint: Sealed with a kiss!)

"Fish don't bark." - Sgt. Boyd (Crenna)

Williams is curiously engaging as the vain, sentimental, powderpuff pimp.

Director George Mendeluk went on to direct a lot of TV.

Trailer

Bogie (TV) (1980)

2010-09-05T17:31:00.000-07:00

Bogie is most remarkable because it features a young Drew Barrymore, before she became a star in E.T. The rest of this film comes off like a made for TV movie that tells us very little about Humphrey Bogart. Kevin O'Connor looks more like Bogart the longer the film goes on, the older Bogart gets, and the more make-up O'Connor is wearing. Kathryn Harrold is fun to watch as Lauren Bacall, but that's because it really doesn't matter how true to life the character was to the real person.

We don't get much about Bogie here except that he liked to drink, liked boats, and died of cancer, all of which are given the prime time TV family treatment. Ann Wedgeworth portrays Mayo Methot, one of Bogart's wives, and she is just as annoying here as she is anywhere. The film was directed by Vincent Sherman towards the end of his career. He directed three films in 1950, Harriet Craig, The Damned Don't Cry, and Backfire, (two of which are Joan Crawford melodrama vehicles).

Sherman also directed The Return of Doctor X (1939), a horror film starring Humphrey Bogart.

2010 - 1980 - 1950 - 1920

2010-08-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Let the 30 Years Film Project begin!

Get in on the ground floor now!

For the next 30 years I will dig into 4 years of film, released at intervals of 30 years. In this way we can discuss cinema today, and what we see from the past. What is cyclical, and what is dead? Why did one year stink, and then the next year we can see if the next year was an improvement.

So get ready!

Beastie Boys Retrospective - Pt. 1

2010-08-29T14:56:00.001-07:00

The idea to take a dive into the entire catalog of the Beastie Boys was born after digging out their 1994 album Ill Communication.

In the past this album was only important for the songs "Sure Shot" and "Sabotage." Both great songs in the car with the windows down on a warm day. What I didn't expect this time around was that this CD would stay in my car for the two hottest weeks of the year, anytime I wanted the windows down.

The album blends instrumental tracks, old school hip hop flavors, authentic Beastie ridiculous raps and their unique jazz/funk beat tracks.

The weakest link on this album might be the actual raps of the B-Boys, but with beats as stellar as those that appear on this album, who cares what they are actually trying to say?

Great guest appearances, an entire album of brilliant beats, and summertime fun.

[More Soon]
[Please Comment]

{BIGGITY}

Kevin Collabo - Seattle Hip Hop

2010-08-04T15:10:00.001-07:00

Crystal Method in Seattle August 21 @ Last Supper Club

2010-08-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

Bottled Water Beater

2010-07-31T15:51:00.000-07:00

Via: Term Life Insurance

Dinner For Schmucks: Who Would You Take?

2010-07-29T23:53:00.000-07:00

Both of these guys are semi-sweet sapsuckers. Perhaps, schmucks, even. So in the spirit of the new movie "Dinner For Schmucks" you have to decide which of these two guys make for the most entertaining company. Please Enjoy!

Basil Marceaux .com

Frankie McDonald: Weatherman

KEXP Invades West Seattle

2010-05-20T21:22:00.001-07:00

Free shows all day at Easy Street Records and a gallery installation of KEXP live performance photographs by their excellent volunteer photographers at Youngstown.

http://easystreetonline.com/
http://www.youngstownarts.org/

Biggity Beats - Video Rewind

2010-02-22T20:43:00.000-08:00

Puff Daddy - Victory ft Biggie & Busta
Uploaded by jekyllah. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

"Copyright Criminals" - Documentary Trailer

2010-01-22T17:34:00.000-08:00

Seattle Mariners Fanfest

2010-01-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

Link to Fanfest Event information

I know there have been a lot of posts about sports lately, but there is a heckuva lot going on in Seattle sports these days! Congratulations also go out to the Seahawks for putting a stop to all the pussyfooting around and making a big splash to stir up the stink they have been putting on the field every Sunday. Which is to say, The Seahawks have officially signed Pete Carroll.

Pants off dance off Seattle

2010-01-10T17:52:00.000-08:00

SSLYBY - Columbia MO - Jan 30

2010-01-08T17:35:00.001-08:00

Just an opportunity to point out what should be a great show, and here is a great poster from The [SEARS].

F!LM - "Died Young, Stayed Pretty"

2010-01-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

"Died Young, Stayed Pretty"
Seattle Premiere at Grand Illusion Cinema
January 8-14

Died Young, Stayed Pretty on IMDB.com

The [SEARS] - Best of 2009 - Music

2010-01-06T21:28:00.001-08:00

First things first, I don't care much for the end of the year list making exercise. However, I fall victim to the list making because I have a massive ego and think my opinions matter to more than just myself I guess. This year I was asked to compile lists for some blogs and friends so here are all of my media related lists, Enjoy!

Best Albums of 2009 (In no particular order):

1. St. Vincent - Actor

This record took me by surprise at first. It was, of course, a continuation of Marry Me but showing tons of growth and depth in the songwriting. Annie Clark's music will always be of great interest to me after seeing her open for Midlake a few years ago at the Granada Theater in Dallas. She played the set solo and somehow managed to make the set sound like a full band, without any pre-recorded backing tracks. It doesn't hurt that she played guitar for The Polyphonic Spree on their masterpiece, Fragile Army. Actor is one of those records that can be delicate, loud, soothing, and rocking. Sonically, Actor captures St. Vincent's live sound expertly and shows that she can write in a multitude of styles and directions, even in the same song. I love this record and it will probably be one of my favorites for a very long time.

2. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

I'll start by saying I was never really into Grizzly Bear. I liked a few of their tracks on previous efforts but, for the most part, their albums never grabbed me. Veckatimest changed that for me. The songwriting on this record is stellar. Each song is multi-layered and takes you in so many different directions. Grizzly Bear still uses the four part harmony to their advantage, but the orchestration, pop hooks, and depth proves that Grizzly Bear might be the best band in America right now. If you buy one record this year, buy this one.

3. Why? - Eskimo Snow

If it wasn't for my good pal Colin Miller, it would have taken me a lot longer than it did to discover Why? and I'm thankful for that. Why? is one of those bands that got me excited about underground music again. If you are not familiar with Why? they are a band from California that is indie pop and hip hop in a roundabout way. In other words, they are pretty damn unique. On Eskimo Snow, Why? find themselves in more of a pop mode than any other record. The songs still contain their signature witty rhyme schemes, but where this record shines is in the instrumentation. This is a far cry from some of their previous records and that is good to see as Why? continues to write songs and perform.

4. Bosque Brown - Baby

Mara Lee Miller is the brain child behind the minimalist, Texas experimental folk project Bosque Brown. This record is dense and fun for anyone with a weak attention span (even though my attention span is terrible, it caught me off guard). I can hardly describe in words how beautiful this record is. It is not over produced and some songs contain only one instrument. Mara's strong suit is her angelic voice. You could consider her voice an instrument as well, it's absolutely stunning. The piano work on this record stands out more than previous records which steers the record in the right direction. As a record this is one of those best listened to from start to finish.

5. Stardeath and White Dwarfs - The Birth

It took me a while to finally give this band a chance. The reason is their front man Dennis Coyne. Dennis is the nephew of the famed Flaming Lips front man, Wayne Coyne. So when I first heard that, I scoffed and wrote them off as one of those musical projects that benefit from being related to a celebrity in the biz. That sort of changed after seeing them open for Colourmusic in downtown Stillwater, OK in 2006. They were so good that I bought their EP they were selling only to discover they sucked. This is part of the reason they made my list. I wrote these guys off as some shitty, soft, wannabe version of the early Flaming Lips without the danger and feeling of terror. Well somehow they brought out the big guns on The Birth and managed to write and record a batch of songs that wow me every single time I listen to the record. The first thing I noticed were that the drum sounds on the record sound as if it was the 1970's again when drums sounded good. Sorry to all you "digital recording saved the planet" people; For the most part Protools drums sound like shit. Aside from the drums, everything sounds like it was recorded in an era when production was an art form along with the song writing. Both the songs and production make this record rise to the top of the heap. Oh, and there is a drum and bass solo in the middle of the record that falls in line with all of the great drum solos ever recorded.

6. Cursive - Mama I'm Swollen

This record seemed to whiz right by most people. I understand their fans are growing up and pumping out babies like we are not in a recession, but this record is amazing. Start to finish not a single bad track. I know you won't find this on most year end lists, especially on the irrelevant Pitchfork because what Cursive is doing is no longer cool to the younger crowd of show-goers. Cursive is a Midwestern DIY indie band who work very hard to perform, write, and record albums. These guys are amazing musicians and people. However I understand the argument for being uncool. I mean they are not throwing dance parties in old skating rinks on a Friday night hoping that every kid in town who thinks Halloween is every night will show up. That isn't their crowd. They play to hard working honest people who know what it takes to earn a buck. Their music screams Midwest and echos to their past a bit but also shows great signs of maturing. I'll say this, as a band of dudes in their 30s who still tour in a van and load in and out every night, they are still finding people to play to because they deliver good honest Midwestern rock music. I'd like to see some of the new hipster trash doing that in 15 years.

7. Sleep Whale - House Boat

Sleep Whale is from Denton, TX and used to be called Mom. They are an experimental, electronic, classical, indie rock project. You know what, screw trying to use buzz words to slap a meaningless genre on this band. This record came to my attention pretty late in the game and I'm so glad it found its way to me. Brilliant! That is the only word to describe House Boat. It's a huge step from the days when Sleep Whale was called Mom. They have added members which has improved their sound greatly. But Houseboat is recorded perfectly, written perfectly, and keeps you interested. Like Bosque Brown's Baby, Houseboat needs a complete album listen to get the best listening experience. As a band from Denton, TX, they capitalize on the superb music program at the University of North Texas and build a niche for themselves in an already amazing music scene. Sleep Whale may be one of those music projects that slips by you a few times but at some point you will not be able to avoid them. Houseboat is brilliant and beautiful, that is all!

8. Balmorhea - All Is Wild, All Is Silent

Here is another Texas experimental orchestral project. They are very similar to Sleep Whale except less electronic and more orchestra based. This record builds upon previous records and really shines by bringing more instruments into the fray. On the opening track Settler, it is driven by piano, strings, and pulsing drums. It is atmospheric at some points and a full on symphony at other points. I had a chance to see them live in 2008 at SXSW where they played in a church and was blow away by their skill. This band is learning quick and growing up fast. If this is any indication of their future, I can't wait for what is next.

9. David Bazan - Curse Your Branches

This record is about religion and struggling with the truth. It is David Bazan's way of telling all of his devoted fans that he is no longer a Christian. For an album of songs full of questions about the meaning of Christianity, this is a great and respectful way to tell your fans you've left the club. I'm sure we can all relate to this idea and many of us may have turned away from religion at one point. Some come back, others never do. I think this may be Bazan's masterpiece.

10. Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band

I'm sort of a fan of alt-country. I get some of it, not all of it. The same can be said for indie bands. The Fruit Bats somehow contain everything I like about both Alt-Country and Indie Rock. On Ruminant Band, Fruit Bats blend folk, country, pop, and rock to make for an enjoyable listen. Don't expect this record to teach you anything new. It's a refreshing stroll back to the 70's when band wrote exciting and interesting music. I hope the Fruit Bats keep this trend up and outdo the other bands out there who cannot play their instruments as they write bland noise.

Here are the records that nearly made the top ten:

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Bill Callahan - Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle
Dan Deacon - Bromst
Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3
Molina & Johnson - Molina & Johnson (Will Johnson's half...Molina's songs are very weak on this record.)
Sherree Chamberlain - The Wasp In The Room
The Swell Season - Strict Joy
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures
Tortoise - Beacons Of Ancestorship
U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)

According to my Last.fm (http://www.last.fm/user/sitandspinradio) data, here are my top 10 bands who released a record in 2009....

1. Flaming Lips
2. Headlights
3. Bosque Brown
4. Cursive
5. Why?
6. Wilco
7. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
8. Starlight Mints
9. Stardeath and White Dwarfs
10. St. Vincent

Best Shows I Attended In 2009

1. Grizzly Bear - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
2. St. Vincent - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
3. Cursive/Bald Eagle - Slowdown (Omaha, NE)
4. Emergency Umbrella Showcase...aka Bald Eagle's final show - Blue Note (Columbia, MO)
5. Russian Circles - Mojo's (Columbia, MO)
6. Jason Lytle - Tonic (Columbia, MO)
7. Why? - Firebird (St. Louis, MO)
8. Burning Hotels/Pretty Black Chains - Dfest (Tulsa, OK)
9. Colourmusic/Gentleman Auction House - The Vault (Stillwater, OK)
10. Cursive - Hailey's (Denton, TX)

Have a great 2010!

The [SEARS] - Columbia, MO

KEXP's top albums of the decade

2010-01-04T18:04:00.000-08:00

Here is KEXP's top albums of the decade.

2009 BEST ALBUMS NOM!NAT!ON L!ST T!ME

2009-11-10T22:01:00.000-08:00

The nomination list has begun! Over there ---->

I am sure you will have some suggestions...

You may direct those to the brick wall over there.

Not really. You can comment here. Or twitter us.

Or just complain to your friends. We'll allow it.

REMEMBER! This list is a work in progress!

We will reveal our individual lists later along with...

THE PENULT!MATE TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2009 L!ST

Google Books and the Case of the Neglected Librarian: TWIG

2009-11-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

As some of you may or may not know, Google may or not be trying to control the written word. If you have not yet had an opportunity to check out the podcast "This Week in Google" with Leo Laporte and friends then now is the time!

This podcast is for anyone interested in the future of the print media, the nows and laters of cloud computing, what google would do, and discussions with librarians (episode 11). This podcast is truly a unique forum in which the hosts inform and entertain while discussing emergent technologies (from the base of cloud computing) including, but certainly not limited to all things Google. Get in on the Wave, but first listen to this important dialogue regarding Google Books, and how it could have all been prevented by Librarians (rather, by funding the Librarians).

This Week In Google episode 12 mp3 download

Then again, Librarians might also be evil...

NBC's Parks and Recreation tries to convince us that Libraries are poisoning the community in this episode. Keep your tongue in your cheek for this one, please!

2009-10-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

2009-10-10T11:49:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day > The Avett Brothers

2009-09-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

Song of the Day > Polvo

2009-09-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Hi. Busy week. Polvo is the selection this week with their song "Beggars Bowl" from the album In Prism released Sept 8th 2009.

http://cdn.stereogum.com/mp3/Polvo%20-%20Beggar's%20Bowl.mp3

Song of the Day > Stardeath and White Dwarfs

2009-09-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

SURPR!SE DOUBLE D!P DAY

Two whole songs from Stardeath and White Dwarfs from their album "The Birth" released June 2009.

{If you like The Flaming Lips, Blue Oyster Cult and psychedelics, in general}

2009 Stardeath and White Dwarfs - Age of the Freak from George Salisbury on Vimeo.

2009 Stardeath and White Dwarfs - New Heat from George Salisbury on Vimeo.

Song of the Day > The Dodos

2009-09-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Last year we seleced Visiter by The Dodos as the best album of the year.

They have just released a new album.

They like yellow album covers.

TO DO L!ST > Sufjan Stevens Film > NWFF

2009-09-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

Playing Sunday through Tuesday at the NorthWest Film Forum:

THE BQE- A Film By Sufjan Stevens from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

http://www.nwfilmforum.org/

TO DO L!ST > FOKT > Fremont Oktoberfest

2009-09-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.fremontoktoberfest.com/

http://www.fremontseattle.com/

Song of the Day > Dinosaur Jr.

2009-09-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

NOM!NATED > album of year

Farm - Dinosaur Jr.

Song of the Day > We Were Promised Jetpacks >

2009-09-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

QU!CKLY

We Were Promised Jetpacks - "Ships With Holes Will Sink"

from the June 2009 album "These Four Walls"

Ships With Holes Will Sink - W...

They played Wednesday night at Neumo's by the way!

Joel McHale > Almost Live! > Before He Was The Soup

2009-09-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/179513.asp

Shoutout > ReTweet

Thanks to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer for posting some of the best-of clips from the way-back machine. The existing-in-re-runs-only Seattle show "Almost Live!" once had Joel McHale as a young cast member. Click the link to enjoy some of his best clips!

Songs of the Day > Visqueen > Sunny Day Real Estate

2009-09-16T19:58:00.001-07:00

For the inaugural Songs of the Day we highlight some local {SEATTLE} bands.

Visqueen - "Hand Me Down"

from new album "Message to Garcia"

release date Sept 8 2009

Listen Here:

http://www.easystreetonline.com/music/visqueen_hand_me_down.mp3

...also check out the Easy Street Records blog post about Visqueen here

http://easystreetonline.com/blog/1811/listen-up-new-visqueen-hand-me-down

Visqueen will be performing live at the Queen Anne location of Easy Street Records on Sept 27th at 7pm.

Upcoming Shows

( view all )

Oct 3 2009

4:00P

ALL AGES/CD RELEASE PARTY @ The Ballard Eagles!

Seattle, Washington

Oct 3 2009

8:00P

CD RELEASE PARTY @ The Crocodile Cafe

Seattle, Washington

Oct 24 2009

8:00P

Tractor Tavern w/ SHONEN KNIFE

Seattle, Washington

Oct 26 2009

8:00P

The Nightlight w/ SHONEN KNIFE

Bellingham, Washington

www.visqueenonline.com

Sunny Day Real Estate - "Seven"

From the 1994 album "Diary"

{re-issued Sept 15th, 2009}

{Featured in Guitar Hero 5}

Tour:

10/16/09

8:00

Seattle, WA

The Paramount Theater

George's Place - Kirkland, WA - Review

2009-09-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

Time: Sunday Afternoon

Place: Downtown Kirkland

The food was good although a little pricy for diner/cafe food. My girlfriend and I are huge fans of The Slip, which is just down the street, but decided to try George's. The food, again, was good, but I prefer the less expensive and more delicious selections at The Slip.

The service was terrible. After sitting at our table for five minutes without being greeted, I had to ask a busser to get us drinks and ask about whether or not we had someone who would be coming to take our order. The bartender was our server, but he spent more time walking past our table on his cell phone than providing service. It's one thing to provide a laid back atmosphere, and quite another to ignore your guests.

My girlfriend had the grilled ham and cheese, and I had the burger dip. The food was very serviceable, and served its purpose. Mine was served very, very hot. After flagging down a table busser to place our drink orders, we got our Cokes delivered and they were just the soda water. We waited 15 minutes for them to change out the syrup and get us our drinks. I understand that the cafe was almost to capacity and there was a Seahawks game on (very nice TVs with great sound level), however there should have been an additional server in our section. It seemed like the bartender was in charge of the fully occupied bar as well as about 8-10 tables. The problem is they didn't seemed understaffed, but rather the resources were not properly managed to handle the service.

Again, the bartender walked past our table three times on his cell phone while we were waiting for refills. It is, however a nice, clean diner and very comfortable.

2009-09-12T16:17:00.001-07:00

F!LM REV!EW > La grande illusion (1937)

La grande illusion / Grand Illusion > Dir. Jean Renoir > 1937 > France

Lieutenant Maréchal: "The theater's too deep for me. I prefer bicycling."

{CLASS!C QU!CK!E}

Why you should watch this film:

Jean Renoir is one of the greatest directors ever.

It is spine # 1 of the Criterion Collection.

This film was hunted down and nearly exterminated by Hitler.

The cast (Gabin, von Stroheim, Fresnay, Carette) is brilliant.

This Film looks amazing in the Criterion Collection. The war film, however, has come a long way since 1937 and so has war. For its time and place, Grand Illusion has no equal as an anti-war film. So many excellent anti-war films have been made since, however that a war film without any scenes of battle is a hard sell. This may be the only anti-war film to actually do so, choosing instead to focus on the interactions between a group of French POWs and their German captors. There are three acts to the film.

Act 1: Two French officers are captured and adjust to life in a prisoner of war camp.

Act 2: The French officers are transferred to another POW camp and plan their escape.

Act 3: The escaped soldiers rehabilitate at the country house of a German widow and her daughter.

The film begins as a slightly dark comedy of manners but descends into a serious discourse of social difference (race, class, nationality) and the tolls of war.

The film has been beautifully restored but some of the scenes end with a quick, unstylish cut. While the film is mostly set within the confines of prison walls, the settings are generally uninteresting. These are both minor quibbles because the film holds up remarkably well.

Grand Illusion has brilliant performances and unforgettable characters. This film is an essential masterpiece from a master director who set the standard for the anti-war genre.

Grade for the casual film junkie: C+

Grade for the Cinephile: A

F!NAL RUL!NG: {81} out of 100

Capt. von Rauffenstein: "May the earth lie lightly upon our valiant enemy."

Other Rulings:

imdb.com (the masses) > 8.0

rottentomatoes.com (the critics) > 97%

Until again,

R:T:M_B!GG!TY

COM!NG SOON > Another review!

#6 Oklahoma State Fails

2009-09-12T16:08:00.000-07:00

Losing to Houston by 10

Too Beautiful To Live - A Requiem for Dreamers

2009-09-11T18:07:00.001-07:00

www.tbtl.net

tonight at 7pm western time

the final radio show

it really was... Too Beautiful To Live