Thursday, April 24, 2008
  Happy Mental Detox week! Yeah, so Mental Detox week began on Monday and I have yet to actually turn anything off - or at least the things that AdBusters, who launched the original TV Turn-Off week (now renamed Mental Detox Week) back in 1994,
want me to. AdBusters has changed the guidelines to be both more forgiving and more
inclusive. Sign of the times: I actually (unintentionally) haven't
turned on my TV at all this week, which means if it was still plain-old
TV Turn-Off Week, I'd be all "Hey, no problem! I can go without TV easily,"
but the Internet?! Here's the thing, a job that requires staring at Snap Judgments and bus stop street art on the Internets all day + IFFB + newly downloaded episodes of My So-Called Life, which I can't believe I'm still obsessing over, via Miro + Does seeing live music count? Because I've already done that twice this week = Too Many Complications for Mental Detoxification. FAIL. Here's what AdBusters wants me to do: "Today you’re not going to listen to your iPod. You aren’t going to stare at a computer screen any more than you absolutely have to. Today you won’t worry about unanswered email, and you’re not going to login to Facebook. You’ll cut the time you spend on digital devices right down to the bone. In the evening maybe you will watch your favorite TV show for an hour, but after that you switch off, have a conversation, wash the dishes, read for a bit, and just relax. You do that for five days, and then on Friday night you make a decision to unplug completely for the whole weekend. For a couple of days you might feel like an addict in withdrawal: peevish, agitated, and distracted. But then something will happen. Your over-stimulated brain will cleanse itself. You’ll relax. You’ll feel calmer, more grounded." The fact that all of this is posted on a website (and now I'm reposting it on a blog) is sort of cloaked in irony - how are we supposed to spread the word about Mental Detox Week and actually detox at the same time? Smoke signals? Snail-mail chain letters? Don't get me wrong, Mental Detox week would be great if I could take the week off and go camping at Yosemite, gather a group of friends and a cooler of cold beverages (but no road-tripping tunes, of course!!), but I can't. I guess this is just my way of saying "Hi, My name is Caitlin, and I'm addicted to glorious, musical, visually-stimulating technology, AKA mental toxins."
-- Caitlin E. Curran
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
 A. Avril Lavigne, our favorite little married pop-punk foul-mouthed songstress, who just scored an exclusive design deal with Kohl's? Will it be Hot Topic meets Chanel? Or will it just be pink and black and Kelly Osbourne?  B. Karl Lagerfeld, who delivered the following zingers (among many more) in a nine-page Q&A cover story for Prestige Hong Kong: 1. "When people talk about the good old days, I say to people, 'It's not the days that are old, it's you that's old.' I hate the good old days. What is important is that today is good." 2. "I’m a very fascist person. If someone tells me something has to be like this, I’m not interested. I could never be an art director selecting other people’s work. I’m only interested in my own work. I’m a very superficial person, but that is good for what I’m doing." 3. "I hate all children." 4. "May I tell you something? I like today better than before. The late ’80s were an awful time. I like today, or maybe I like my life today. I’m much happier today than I was then." (Bonus Points for identifying the most Karl-esque quote -- or, at least, what I think is!)
 C. Christian Siriano, Project Runway's boy-genius, who I predict will win it all tonight (sorry, Jillian, I still heart you!) Keep in mind he told the Washington Post that yes, he really is like that: both on and off camera.
Friday, February 08, 2008
In Boston (Cambridge): Stenciled-on musicians are brightening those bleak, concrete walls
Awesome pics by sushiesque, who also captured a heartbroken Loch Ness monster. We miss Elliott and Kurt too, Nessy. 
Not in Boston (???): Christine Autturio, my artsy, in-the-know co-worker, pointed out Skelewags, the crafty, Tim Burton-referencing street art currently decorating sewers and other unappealing city locations, by an artist called Chewy, on conceptart.org. Actually, decorate isn't even the right word, because Chewy incorporates his artwork into pre-existing structures, cracks, pipes, plants, etc. These things are not just canvases for the artwork, they're part of it. It's sort of Banksy-type thinking, that street art can be both inspired by and an improvement upon it's surroundings. Chewy's website is currently unfinished, and I wasn't able to pin down exactly what city these photos are from, via extensive Google researching, but my could-be-totally-wrong guess is somewhere in Portugal, based on this. If anyone knows for sure, help a sista out and shoot me an e-mail.      Photos by Nuno Caria.
2/8/2008 12:34:28 PM by Caitlin | |
Monday, February 04, 2008
Maybe not, but it could be a good distraction at least. From the inbox: 
2/4/2008 12:50:29 PM by Caitlin | |
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Hot on the heels of the news that TV Links UK was shut down over the weekend comes word that OiNK, the torrent site on which hundreds of thousands of people were downloading albums ranging from the classics to stuff that won't even be released for about another six months, was shut down by English and Dutch police forces, who also arrested the site's 24-year-old proprietor. OiNK was an invite-only site with almost draconian rules and regulations regarding what could be uploaded (no transcodes, bitrates of 192 or better, etc.) and who could download (only those who maintained certain upload-to-download ratios.) The result worked out pretty well for the site's estimated 180,000 users. But all those people's info - or, at least, those who actually played by the rules and didn't get banned - is now more than likely in the hands of the authorities. The reaction has been a little "woe is me," which is probably not surprising. We suspect the internet will move swiftly to the next stop, though. And what else even needs to leak this year? Also, the trifecta is in play: who will get busted next? ( We see OTD beat us to the punch on this)
Friday, October 19, 2007
Last Friday, the Phoenix visited the Central Square offices of Harmonix, the video game development house behind the first two Guitar Hero products, and, with help from their new parent company, MTV, the upcoming, hotly-anticipated Rock Band, which, as you may have heard, takes Guitar Hero's authentic musical simulator feel and stretches that to accommodate a drummer and vocalist. There's video forthcoming, but in the meantime, we present our conversation with Sean Baptiste, their director of community development, and one of the game's de facto spokespeople. One of the things that came across that might not come through in text, though, was just how passionate and genuinely excited about Rock Band he was. You get a clear sense talking to him that he will gladly talk about it for hours, and never lose interest. He even told us as much. Anyway, here it is after the jump:
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
 You, too, can step into Brad Whitford's shoesIdolator noticed something in a recent Billboard item - also touched upon in our guy Ashare's interview with Joe Perry - apparently the fourth Guitar Hero, and we are obliged to point out that the third one isn't even completed yet, is going to feature nothing but Aerosmith: Besides the album, Aerosmith is also working closely with the makers of
"Guitar Hero IV," which will be dedicated to the Boston group's music.
"I don't know much about the technical part of it," Perry says, "but
artistically we're working hand in hand."
On the surface, it doesn't really make sense, but absent confirmation or denial from Red Octane and Neversoft, we have to take it at face value. We're hoping someone is mistaken, though, because, regardless of your feelings on Aerosmith, the idea of a game devoted to one band exclusively strikes us as monumentally bad.
Friday, August 17, 2007
 In case the text above is too tiny for your squinting, Friday morning after a late Thursday night, pre-coffee eyes, get the larger version here. Even then, it'll most likely seem too good to be true. Dave Eggers? Of Montreal? Eugene Merman? At one event? Yep, our friends at 826 Boston are rocking out (in the karmic-ly correct, humanitarian way) as usual - in case you aren't in the loop about 826's awesome mission, consult Nina's piece from last March here. Here's the info on the event, from our inbox: "826 Boston is pleased to announce its Revenge of the Book Eaters fundraiser, featuring an eclectic lineup of writers, actors, and comedians including Kevin Barnes and Bryan Poole from the band Of Montreal (performing an acoustic set), as well as Dave Eggers (co-founder of the 826 National program, Pulitzer Prize-nominee author of What is the What), Eugene Mirman (comedian and actor, Flight of the Conchords), Davy Rothbart (creator of Found magazine) and Rodney Rothman (Emmy nominee and author of Early Bird) and the band Via Audio.
Berklee Performance Center, 1140 Boylston Street (Hynes Green Line stop), Boston Wednesday, September 26, 7 PM. Doors open at 6 PM. Tickets: General $25, VIP $100+. Tickets available through Ticketmaster and Berklee Box Office. All proceeds go toward 826 Boston’s free student programming." -- Caitlin Curran
Friday, August 10, 2007
 Kanye thought the "debate" idea was "the stupidest thing"
50 Cent has taken his (somewhat one-sided, as far as we can tell) feud with Kanye West to another level: if Graduation outsells Curtis on September 11th (the day they both come out in stores), then 50 Cent is going to stop making albums. We see a flaw with 50's plan. It seems to us that Kanye has more pull these days with the ... shall we say crossover audience: he's recently worked with Daft Punk, Will Oldham, and Peter, Bjorn, and John. 50's actions strike us as those of a desperate man. He seems to be putting a lot of pressure on himself with this album. He's already released five singles from it, and already has gotten pissed at his label because some videos have leaked to the internet. Wait until he finds out that quite a few people are just going to download both albums instead of buying them.
 Must be willing to sip champagne when thirstyIn what is probably the smartest move they could have pulled, the producers of the upcoming Notorious B.I.G. biopic are holding an open casting call in hopes of finding an unknown to play the late rapper (real name: Christopher Wallace.) Usually a good sign. What's most interesting to us about all this? We didn't realize that Biggie was only 24 years old when he was shot and killed in 1997. That makes his career that much more amazing to us, frankly. What were you doing at that age?
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
We're obsessed these days with HBO's Flight of the Conchords, which follows the comic adventures of a novelty folk group from New Zealand as they try to succeed in life and love in New York City. It's hilarious and gleefully frivolous, calling to mind shows like Stella and the old Adult Swim lineup on Cartoon Network (back when they still had Home Movies.) It can be hit or miss, and some critics have already noted its tendency to recycle plotlines, but even the weak episodes have their moments. Maybe it doesn't have an extended run in its future, but for now, it'll do. If you have HBO, you can get the episodes On Demand. The nice thing about it is that the songs featured in the show are actually catchy, and thus Sub Pop has compiled a few of them (including "Most Beautiful Girl in the Room," above) into an EP, released today. Might make a nice stopgap for those of us anxiously awaiting the DVD set (and yes, you can get it from the tubes if you know where to look). And HBO, where's the renewal at?
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Maybe it was the fact that they were coming after the personality-free Robbers on High Street, maybe I was in need of a good kick in the ass...whatever it was the Red Walls, a band whose records I’ve never been particularly enamored with, damn near blew me away Tuesday night at TT’s. Extremely quick rundown follows:
Cast:
Logan Baren (singer/guitarist) - The consummate rocker: tight pants, horrible shirt, little guy complex, maybe. He was ferocious and fun to watch, little guys always are. When July 4th was brought up, he just as quickly dismissed it with a few indecipherable words in a faux-British accent, a sneer, and a considerable wail of the guitar. Fucking perfect.
Justin Baren (pretty boy bassist — they do exist!) — Suit, big healthy head of hair combed to one side, axe raised a lot, also miniscule. He put on like 4 different accents throughout, none of them convincing, none of them meant to be.
Andrew Langer (guitar, vocals) - Hopelessly uncool, John Cusack lookalike. Whenever he would sing he’d raise his eyebrows a lot and bounce awkwardly up and down.
Ben Greeno (drums) - largely forgettable (it’s a sad plight)
Highlight: Every so often the brothers, Logan and Justin would share a mic, planting their bodies and faces at such an angle that the two would be near-kissing. Normally the thrill of the homoerotic tease is exhilarating enough for any audience. But an incestuous homoerotic tease, well that’s just scandalous.
Lowpoint: Robbers on High Street set: if robots could sing and play guitar...
I would show you the pictures I took with my phone, but they're balls.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
I wasn’t going to mention this. But I’m an on/off again viewer of the show and a fan of the band and well it’s not everyday one of your favorite local groups gets the opportunity to have one of their songs on the silver screen. Chop Chop was doing some shows back in September of last year in LA and “I unwittingly invited one of the producers,” explained frontwoman Catherine Cavanaugh briefly via an email. The song will appear on episode 219, scheduled to air on April 9th. I haven’t watched much this season. But it'll be interesting to see how they incorporate the brisk, blippy “Pinched,” which as far as I can tell, is about a love triangle. Here’s a summary of what goes down that night in case you give a shit:
"Bachelor Party" — After Barney ruins Marshall's bachelor party plans, Lily reveals a shocking secret about Barney that causes Marshall to rethink who his best man should be, on HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, Monday, April 9 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network
Doogie is all growns up.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The day we thought would never come is here: a Guns and Roses song from Chinese Democracy exists. It's called "Better," it's studio quality, and it appears to be track one from the many-times-delayed album. Try a google search for "Guns Roses Better Sendspace" and you'll probably find it. Be warned, though: you probably shouldn't be downloading this expecting it to be, you know, good. Though it's not uniformly terrible.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Normally, I'm not much of a third wave ska fan. I find the entire Moon Ska catalogue sleep-inducing (that being said, neither am I one of these I'm-ashamed-to-admit-I-ever-listened-to-ska-in-high-school-music-fans.) But Westbound Train are an entirely different animal. A typical record of theirs boasts knowledge of more influences than your average Boston Phoenix record review. Their new one--out on Hellcat--is no exception, traversing decades, genres, and scenes, each one handled with a surprising degree of authenticity. 
Friday, August 11, 2006
 Looks like the Lily Pad in Inman Square is facing the same problems that plagued its former inhabitant, the Zeitgeist Gallery. Fresh and mostly unedited press release straight from the inbox: The lily pad - boston's beloved forum for original, creative music - has been forced to cancel all shows until further notice. due to noise complaints, the cambridge licensing board is obligated to follow the letter of the law in serving the lily pad with a 'cease and desist' order.
A hearing will be scheduled and the venue is currently rallying support from the community. the licensing committee could not be reached, as it is already closed for the weekend. we expect to have more details on monday.
That means that tonight and tomorrow, here's what is canceled:
Friday, August 11, at 7 pm, Banana Hands, Tiny Whales, Marah Mar and 10 pm "Death Metal Friday" with Pillory, Intestinal Strangulation, Porphyria, Proteus.
Saturday, August 12 at 7:30 pm, "Indie Film/Music Night to Support the Brattle Theatre" with Riding Shotgun -- which yes, means that a benefit show for a venue in jeopardy get canceled, the venue itself put in jeopardy.
And then there's an e-mailed PS, asking for people to write a letter to "stating that the venue is a vital asset that is necessary to the community, and that it does no harm" to Richard V. Scali, Chairman Cambridge License Commission : license@ci.cambridge.ma.us.
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