Friday, August 20, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Rediscovering: Talking Heads
I would like to share this review of their amazing “Best of” album, which expresses my thoughts about it much clearer than I could:
It's brave for a band to put out an eighteen-track best of, but in the case of Talking Heads it's clear from the calibre of this record that they have more than enough songs to justify such a lengthy compilation.
For the uninitiated, it's the perfect introduction to a band whose eccentricity and inventive cros-pollination of influences have often defied categorisation. The days of being part of the New York art punk scene, opening for the Ramones are documented in first singles Love --> Building On Fire and Psycho Killer. The long-standing love affair with soul and funk is evident on the Al Green cover Take Me to the River and in David Byrne's impressive funk rhythm guitar duel with Tina Weymouth's bass on Found a Job.
Further into the band's career, the scope of influences broadens, and Byrne's love of what's now called 'world music' rhythms becomes evident - the groundbreaking Once In a Lifetime and final song (Nothing But) Flowers being two examples. The electro dance scene of the mid '80s makes its mark on tracks such as Girlfriend Is Better and Burning Down the House, both of which reveal a penchant for some incredibly retro-sounding keyboards (one of the few factors to date Talking Heads' sound).
Like the band's music, David Byrne's voice often divides opinion. It's not to everyone's taste and many dislike its somewhat reedy quality and jerky delivery. But his talent for a great melody usually far outstrips the limitations of his vocal chords. The charming This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) is pure unadulterated pop, as is the euphoric and strangely timeless And She Was.
Not only that but the erudite, often humourous lyrics are intriguing: topics range from narratives of an articulate yet psychotic murderer (Psycho Killer) and being on the run (Life During Wartime) to reflecting on the meaning of life itself (Road to Nowhere, Heaven, Once in a Lifetime...actually there's quite a few of those).
Far from being just arthouse oddballs who struck lucky with a few hits, Talking Heads were quite simply one of the most important bands of the '80s. In an ideal world, everyone would own at least one Talking Heads record and if you do only want to own one, this is the one to have.
It's brave for a band to put out an eighteen-track best of, but in the case of Talking Heads it's clear from the calibre of this record that they have more than enough songs to justify such a lengthy compilation.
For the uninitiated, it's the perfect introduction to a band whose eccentricity and inventive cros-pollination of influences have often defied categorisation. The days of being part of the New York art punk scene, opening for the Ramones are documented in first singles Love --> Building On Fire and Psycho Killer. The long-standing love affair with soul and funk is evident on the Al Green cover Take Me to the River and in David Byrne's impressive funk rhythm guitar duel with Tina Weymouth's bass on Found a Job.
Further into the band's career, the scope of influences broadens, and Byrne's love of what's now called 'world music' rhythms becomes evident - the groundbreaking Once In a Lifetime and final song (Nothing But) Flowers being two examples. The electro dance scene of the mid '80s makes its mark on tracks such as Girlfriend Is Better and Burning Down the House, both of which reveal a penchant for some incredibly retro-sounding keyboards (one of the few factors to date Talking Heads' sound).
Like the band's music, David Byrne's voice often divides opinion. It's not to everyone's taste and many dislike its somewhat reedy quality and jerky delivery. But his talent for a great melody usually far outstrips the limitations of his vocal chords. The charming This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) is pure unadulterated pop, as is the euphoric and strangely timeless And She Was.
Not only that but the erudite, often humourous lyrics are intriguing: topics range from narratives of an articulate yet psychotic murderer (Psycho Killer) and being on the run (Life During Wartime) to reflecting on the meaning of life itself (Road to Nowhere, Heaven, Once in a Lifetime...actually there's quite a few of those).
Far from being just arthouse oddballs who struck lucky with a few hits, Talking Heads were quite simply one of the most important bands of the '80s. In an ideal world, everyone would own at least one Talking Heads record and if you do only want to own one, this is the one to have.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Household experiments this weekend consisted of:
1. Planting edible stuff
This is the first time I've ever planted anything in my life, but I went all out and planted mint, coriander, thyme, spinach, rocket, and catnip (Tim's suggestion :)
before:
after:
2. Getting Charlie to do her business outside
Tim built this nifty little shelter for her to use, where we put the kitty litter and tried to communicate our intentions by sticking her inside, but I am not convinced she got the message.
She is not that adept at using the cat flat – she seems to regard it as a vaguely threatening thing. To date she has only used it when was desperate to get back inside, and we wouldn't open the door. As far as I know she has never used it to go outside independently.
I think there is more than a 50% chance of us waking up to an unpleasant little surprise tomorrow morning.
3. A coffee table photo book
Now that I’ve seen the finished product I can definitely recommend it: www.blurb.com. Takes a lot less space than a photo album, and is a lot more interesting to look at. Around the same price as printing the photos and buying an album, but you have to dedicate some serious time to laying it out.
This is the first time I've ever planted anything in my life, but I went all out and planted mint, coriander, thyme, spinach, rocket, and catnip (Tim's suggestion :)
before:
after:
2. Getting Charlie to do her business outside
Tim built this nifty little shelter for her to use, where we put the kitty litter and tried to communicate our intentions by sticking her inside, but I am not convinced she got the message.
She is not that adept at using the cat flat – she seems to regard it as a vaguely threatening thing. To date she has only used it when was desperate to get back inside, and we wouldn't open the door. As far as I know she has never used it to go outside independently.
I think there is more than a 50% chance of us waking up to an unpleasant little surprise tomorrow morning.
3. A coffee table photo book
Now that I’ve seen the finished product I can definitely recommend it: www.blurb.com. Takes a lot less space than a photo album, and is a lot more interesting to look at. Around the same price as printing the photos and buying an album, but you have to dedicate some serious time to laying it out.
Friday, August 13, 2010
I like the idea of fines being calculated with a means-based "formula"... would provide a real dis-incentive for rich hoons who like to drive their luxury cars extra-fast :)
And it's more equitable
http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/300kmh-speedster-faces-11-million-fine-20100812-120xn.html
And it's more equitable
http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/300kmh-speedster-faces-11-million-fine-20100812-120xn.html
Monday, August 9, 2010
Do people really have such short memories?
I would really like to know why all the rude, stupid, chauvinistic and outdated things that Tony Abbot has said in the last few years don't get brought up by the media. Have people completely forgotten it? Where is the political scrutiny ?!?!
Let me just do a quick recap of what I can remember off the top of my head:
Abusing a dying man: "I know Bernie is very sick, but just because a person is sick doesn't mean that he is necessarily pure of heart in all things
Denying climate change: "And, I am, as you know, hugely unconvinced by the so-called settled science on climate change. I just think that the science is highly contentious, to say the least, and I think that the economics of an ETS are a bit dodgy.
Insulting women's choices: [Virginity] "is the greatest gift that you can give someone, the ultimate gift of giving and don’t give it to someone lightly"
Insulting women's choices again: [Australia's abortion rate] "almost ... a badge of liberation from old oppressions".. [abortion] "is a national tragedy and a legacy of unutterable shame”
Just being insulting: "That's bullshit" (to Nicola Roxton when she said that he could have been on time for their debate if he wanted to)
Bringing back the morality police: "Something akin to a Matrimonial Causes Act marriage ought to be an option for people" (i.e. let's bring back faul-based divorce)
Feeling "threatened" by gay people (I think he is quite safe - they have a lot more to fear to from him than he does from them)
And this is why I have donated money to these guys - take a 30 second look at the video they've put together, it's great!
https://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Australia_GetsUp_2010&id=1251
Saturday, July 31, 2010
And then there were 3...
Charlie came to join us yesterday (but please don't tell the landlord :)
She is about 1.5 years old, originally a stray but adopted by very nice people who are now moving away and can't keep her. Came "free to a good home". We had to go through an interview process where we clearly came out as top candidates. There will be a follow-up visit though to make sure Charlie is truly happy.
She is about 1.5 years old, originally a stray but adopted by very nice people who are now moving away and can't keep her. Came "free to a good home". We had to go through an interview process where we clearly came out as top candidates. There will be a follow-up visit though to make sure Charlie is truly happy.
She is definitely not aloof or timid. Has explored the whole house, sniffed everything and jumped everyone she was allowed. Knows where she is NOT allowed (eg kitchen benchtops), will try to push the boundaries but backs off immediately if you are onto her. Quite affectionate when she feels like it, but will give you a little warning nip if you are bothering her. That may be the stress of moving to a new place with new people. Fully toilet trained :)
Tim spend the afternoon building her a cat flat (again, don't tell the landlord :)
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