the oracle of lo - fi

The Norwegian band Royksopp is probably best known in the States as the guys who did That Song ("Remind Me") for one of the Geico caveman commercials. So you might be forgiven for thinking that they aren't all that. But their latest CD, Senior, is a great ambient treat that subtly fuses so many influences into something original & was one of my favorite CDs of last year. This short film uses music samples from Senior as a soundtrack to an apocalyptic storyline that is one part weird, one part unintentionally hilarious, and one part greatly disturbing. Perhaps the most disturbing thing about the film (at least from an American perspective) is that it is not shot in some obscure slum in another country, but...entirely in Detroit. (If you want to be further horrified by what's become of Detroit, check out this slideshow of photos from the book The Ruins of Detroit.)

Oh my darlings, the most horrible things have happened since I last posted here:

1. I actually had to work at work! Placing aside my outrage, I discovered that my coworkers believe I have special mindreading abilities that can detect all the things that they should tell me but don't. This is why they are frequently puzzled when I send them emails requesting pertinent information crucial in the performance of my job and thereby reminding them to do their jobs! Quelle fromage, frottage, fuckage!

2. George W. Bush wrote a coloring book and I had a most unfortunate flashback to the early part of this century. I would turn on the TV and he would be there. And he would be talking how about how a black man wronged him (not Obama, but Kanye) by accusing Barbara Bush's little boy of being a RACIST! The nerve! Why this was worse than those crazy planes crashing into the World Trade Center and that little old war we fought in Iraq! Everyone, the only good thing about the earlier part of the oughts was when LN James and I were backup dancers for Goldfrapp:



We were quite miffed about the costumes. LN has always said I have the profile of a youngish middle-aged Shelley Winters circa Lolita and it is a damn shame to deny that to the public.

3. And the Palin shitstorm of stupidity continues: The TV show, the new book, the upcoming New York Times profile, the Facebook homophobia, the daughter who dances like a clubfooted cokehead, the CNN reporting every borderline illiterate mumbling from her comely mouth. If I may quote myself, it really is like having monkeys in trees throwing poop at you 24/7. Does Barney Stinson have a Hot/Stupid scale? Because the stupid is really off the charts these days.

So here at THI industries...we're powering down next week. I have the week off. I will not watch any news programs. On Thanksgiving Day I am going to eat a lot and watch the National Dog Show, because dogs are to me what babies are to so many straight women. And I will even write. (And yes, fewthistle, I may even write...Harper Lee.)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Two very different songs, both seemingly appropriate for Friday.



jengrrl gave me a craving for glam, the good old days when boys were not afraid to wear makeup and dressing up as an Indian wasn't yet perceived as being totally gay. If you don't like this, well, you should be glad I didn't post "Little Willy," because that is an earworm that will stick in your brain for days.

Here's a mellower, perfect end-of-summer kind of song:



Happy Friday!

Yes, a special Ohio-themed song for cabenson! Also, why didn't anyone tell me that the National were good? OK, some of you did, but I'm sure I was whining about missing the Smiths or whatever and didn't pay attention. Anyway, I like this song, even though the guy in the video reminds me of multiple English profs I had as a undergrad so I want to punch him and scream "WHY DID YOU GIVE ME A B- ON THAT PAPER?"

Don't tell me the time you spend with her. Because I am here. Pining in a suit. With a neon clock. For you. Will you bring back some Twizzlers when you get home? Thanks.

It's the weekend. Soon, my poppets, soon! Have a cocktail and put on your capri pants.

Video's actually a bit on the repetitive side, but the song is kick ass--just like you & your VFFs. Hope you have a great day!

Since I have nothing to say at the moment--other than the polarizing variations upon "I Had Fun Last Weekend!" and "I Miss My Cat!"--here is some music for the weekend. First, lovely Sam Phillips & a string quartet:



And here's Natacha Atlas. Ignore the dorky men and the fact that Natacha is wearing way too much makeup and focus on the bellydancing! And the dancers wearing Doris Wolfe hats!

Really, I do. I still remember the very first time I heard them: 1980s, living in Philly, working this shit night job (proofreader), listening to the local alt radio station (Drexel University) through my walkman (remember those, kids?). They played "Aikea-Guinea" and this wonderful, visceral shiver of delight went down my spine. Just as intense as hearing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy for the first time, or the first time I really listened to Mozart (Clarinet Quintet K 581). An intense, wordless pleasure that I struggle to describe--maybe that's what music is to many of us.

p.s. Speaking of Things That Are Missed: I'm semi-excited about seeing Kings on NBC, solely because of Ian McShane. It has the potential to be bad (if so, let's hope for campy-fun-bad as opposed to bad-bad), but my queendom I would gladly sacrifice, to hear and see a real king once again. Because you know everyone else will look bad in comparison to him.