Rufus Says He’s an Asshole, but…

I’ve had a bunch of Loudon Wainwright III vinyl for about 10 years.  Maybe listened to one album one time.  I’m a big fan of the rest of the family – Rufus, his famous son, Rufus’ sister, Martha, and the McGarrigle Sisters, one of whom is Loudon’s ex-wife and Rufus’ mother.  I’ve always heard how great he is.  I loved him on M*A*S*H when I was a teenager – he made occasional cameos as a folk singin’ doctor who stayed with Hawkeye and B.J. in “the swamp.”  On those episodes, scenes would be framed with the funny-sad songs he wrote for the show.  But later in life, I just never quite got over the hump with him.  He is an artist I respect and admire, but really dont’ want to listen to –  like Lou Reed after Transformer.

I know his song “Motel Blues” from hearing Alex Chilton do it on one of those mid-90’s Big Star rereleased live and rarity albums, of which, there were too many.  And I love Big Star, but I digress.  I liked the song fine, but  I didn’t “get it.”  I recently found a version of Loudon doing it while looking for Rufus Wainwright stuff, and was truly moved.  Chilton missed the self-loathing and desperation in his version.  The audience thinks it’s supposed to funny, and then has no idea what to think.  And that’s what they call “Art.”  

He may very well be an asshole, but he is a talented asshole.

Young Drummer into Obtuse Time Signatures Cums in Pants!

It was a heady week for Rush fans everywhere.  They made their first American television appearance in some 30 years on, of all places, The Colbert Report.  This matters not one bit to most, but I was staying up all night listening to A Farewell to Kings with a death grip on the lyric sleeve when you were still shitting yourself.  Joking aside, I have a permanent soft spot for those Canadian lads no matter how cool I think I get.  Also, I’m glad I’m not alone in sucking at Rockband.  Enjoy.

http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2008/07/24/rush-fails-own-song-on-colbert-report/

“I had a dream / I had an awesome dream” – Lionel Richie (Late-20th Century Poet)

I woke up today knowing I’d had some kind of fucked up ridiculous dream, but it took most of the day to piece it together. Here’s what I can remember:

My lady, Barbara, and I are sitting on the couch with our friends, Phil and Sara (which actually happened on Saturday night.) We are watching television and I have the remote. I’m just randomly going through the channels trying to find something watchable when I stumble upon that culture-destroying monstrosity that is Bret Micheal’s Rock of Love, the VH1 reality show. I’ve seen maybe five or ten minutes of it before, and it made no impression other than illiciting a groan. In the dream, however, I was really into it because Bret was “going down” on all of the female constestants. One by one. All of them.

Sara was disgusted and cried out, “That’s so gross! Turn it! Turn it now!” but I wouldn’t or perhaps couldn’t. Phil just giggled. Barbara was physically trying to wrestle the remote from my grasp, but I fought her. After several minutes of this, Sara pulled Phil up and they left in a huff. Barbara told me to find somewhere else to sleep . As I remember it, that’s the end.

What do you think? And, no, it was not a “wet” dream.

The Old Grey Whistle Test

See what I mean about The Old Grey Whistle Test:

My favorite Tom Waits song from my favorite Tom Wait’s record, Small Change.

The late great Bob Stinson giving a perfect Westerberg pop song a generous dose of danger.

Fuck yes. Tell me that albino is not a bad motherfucker. Back and forth from Moog keytar to sax to a drum duel and back again?!?!

The Tin Man Leaves Metallic Aftertaste

I will not lie to you. I watched not all, but at least 85%, of the SciFi Channel miniseries The Tin Man. I have the all-too-familiar post-masturbation feeling of empty satisfaction. I feel like I ate too much and desperately need to shit.

I’ve no problem whatsoever with tampering with the sacred cow that is The Wizard of Oz. I truly believe everything is fair game. And it is actually a pretty imaginative retelling, though somewhat misguided. If you want to see it, you won’t have any problem, considering that it is on more than the Law and Order franchise.

Actually, I kind of need some people to watch it so someone can tell me what the fuck is going on with Richard Dreyfuss.