Things to get excited about, even as the world goes completely batshit on us
The new Neko Case album. My first brush with the immensely abundant and heart-stopping talent of Neko Case came late, at the end of 2004. She'd already had quite a career by the time our music director gave me a spare copy of The Tigers Have Spoken, but nevertheless, that puppy didn't leave my CD player for weeks. Small wonder. This woman totally whips ass, and so does Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, her latest and greatest. Day-yumn! This the torchiest twang you'll be hearing for quite some time - 36 minutes worth of twists and turns that'll knock you helplessly into another sphere altogether. Not only does the girl have a way with that voice and her implements of musical divination, she also picks the cream of the crop to join in with her - Jon Rauhouse, Calexico's Burns and Convertino, Kelly Hogan, Howie Gelb, and Garth Hudson from The Band, for chrissakes! And (drum roll, please...) there's even the most fabulous original artwork I've seen for bloody ages. Definitely a score.
That massive 'Tom DeLay: Indicted Shitbag' poster I saw on a light pole in West Dallas. It's at the end of that loop-de-loop thing after Continental turns into Beckley, or vice-versa, due west of downtown off Commerce. Regardless, whoever's responsible for this, I'm in love with you already. And where can I buy the t-shirt?!
The return of Salma Hayek to the big screen. Did you see her at the Oscars, channeling the Mexican screen goddesses of yesteryear? Mamacita, you'd better throw some water on me before I faint, because lemme tell ya, Miss Salma never fails to enchant. This woman could throw on the most raggedy-ass burlap sap and still be the the most sizzling little dish in a room full of women in their best Balenciaga. JFC! She's a rare bird who just screams old-school glamour, leaving me speechless every bloody time. And she'll be back onscreen soon in the new 1930's L.A. flick, Ask The Dust. Is it my imagination or do we have some steamy scenes with Colin Farrell in store for The People as well? I mean, to be honest, who gives a toss about him, because it's really Salma who makes us want to get our freak on. Viva Salma!
Season Six of The Sopranos. So what'd ya think? Talk about a gratuitous kick-start to the season. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But poor Uncle Junior's truly going down the stony end (fuck you, evil Alzheimer's disease), and there's just an air of, how do I put this - disintegration here, maybe? I'm not at all worried about Tony - he'll pull through, 'cos the 911 people always come out if someone calls but doesn't answer. Either that, or they'll be paying James Gandolfini a cool million or two to lie in a hospital bed for a while. But I'm also looking forward to catching up with with the family and seeing what damage is waiting to be done this season - even though like Christo-fuh, I just can't imagine life without Adriana, god rest her laquered and leather-clad soul. One episode and I'm already missing me some Drea De Matteo, man. Sorry, but her appearance in Carmela's dream simply wasn't enough. Hell, her absence from the scene started to suck the moment she found out her friend Danielle was an undercover FBI agent - way, way before Steven Van Zandt's Silvio even had to take care of business in the woods that day. God, I hated him for that, but such is life in the waste management business, right? Besides that, his Underground Garage show seemed to work fine as far as his penance was concerned. I'm also eager to know what became of Furio, after he pissed off back to Naples? And who inherited all those loud shirts he used to wear?
Lebowski Fest is coming to Austin in May. Mark your calendars for marking it 8, Dude - May 19th and 20th. That's right - they're bringing it to Texas! Personally, I can't wait to knock back a few White Russians, roll a few games and/or j's, and enjoy the occasional acid flashback with the Nihilists and Walter Sobchak lookalikes. It'll be Achiever Heaven, and within driving range. What more could a girl ask for? I'm full of questions: During the screening, will people be shouting all the lines out at the screen like we used to do with Rocky Horror? Hell, I'm good either way. Lord knows my special man friend gets tired of my continual spewage of Lebowski lines - and he can even rattle off a few himself. Also, are there any special appearances are in the works? I wouldn't be shocked to see Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Mr. Mark It 8 himself - there, since he lives somewhere in or around Austin. That would be most far fuckin' out, man if he did. Cool guy. On that 2004 trip to San Francisco, we ran into him at the airport and Joe kept trying to get me to go up to him and say "Over the line!" - but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I did manage to say hello, though, and JDG was most gracious.
David Allen Coe & the surviving members of Pantera teaming up for an album, due in May. Boy, talk about a natural fit. I never paid much attention to either one, to be honest, but this could be magic, my friend, especially after nearly a fifth of Jack.
A possible Dusty Springfield biopic, directed by newly-minted Best Director Ang Lee. I'm so there. An amazing talent, delivered to us from on high, but sadly enough - from what I've gathered in later accounts of her life, she had a crippling lack of self-esteem to go along with it. Bless her heart. I've no doubt those pre-Stonewall days must've sucked big green monkey 'nads, too. And I don't know if it was in the liner notes to her Anthology, that Penny Valentine and Vicki Wickham book, an Advocate article or that Fresh Air interview, but I recall something about Nina Simone once either throwing a drink at Dusty or pulling some other super-shitty attitudinal snit with her, completely unprovoked. Wonder WTF that was all about? Both women being gone, I guess we'll never know.
Wildflower season's coming up. The irises are in bloom, and pretty soon we'll be seeing blankets of bluebonnets, buttercups and Indian paintbrushes alongside the highways, too. I can't friggin' wait. Where would Texas be today if it hadn't been for that adorable little Lady Bird Johnson? I ask you. The only downside to this is that bluebonnet season and tornadoes seem to go hand-in-hand. And this year, with the seasons being completely wonky - just remember, y'all, there's no such thing as global warming! - it's even come a bit early. Poor Kansas and Missouri, having just taken that huge hit - over 133 tornadoes at last count - and it's not even April. Also, snow in Northern California and raging fires up in the Panhandle, thanks to an unseasonably dry streak. Makes ya kinda antsy about the upcoming hurricane season, doesn't it?
That massive 'Tom DeLay: Indicted Shitbag' poster I saw on a light pole in West Dallas. It's at the end of that loop-de-loop thing after Continental turns into Beckley, or vice-versa, due west of downtown off Commerce. Regardless, whoever's responsible for this, I'm in love with you already. And where can I buy the t-shirt?!
The return of Salma Hayek to the big screen. Did you see her at the Oscars, channeling the Mexican screen goddesses of yesteryear? Mamacita, you'd better throw some water on me before I faint, because lemme tell ya, Miss Salma never fails to enchant. This woman could throw on the most raggedy-ass burlap sap and still be the the most sizzling little dish in a room full of women in their best Balenciaga. JFC! She's a rare bird who just screams old-school glamour, leaving me speechless every bloody time. And she'll be back onscreen soon in the new 1930's L.A. flick, Ask The Dust. Is it my imagination or do we have some steamy scenes with Colin Farrell in store for The People as well? I mean, to be honest, who gives a toss about him, because it's really Salma who makes us want to get our freak on. Viva Salma!
Season Six of The Sopranos. So what'd ya think? Talk about a gratuitous kick-start to the season. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But poor Uncle Junior's truly going down the stony end (fuck you, evil Alzheimer's disease), and there's just an air of, how do I put this - disintegration here, maybe? I'm not at all worried about Tony - he'll pull through, 'cos the 911 people always come out if someone calls but doesn't answer. Either that, or they'll be paying James Gandolfini a cool million or two to lie in a hospital bed for a while. But I'm also looking forward to catching up with with the family and seeing what damage is waiting to be done this season - even though like Christo-fuh, I just can't imagine life without Adriana, god rest her laquered and leather-clad soul. One episode and I'm already missing me some Drea De Matteo, man. Sorry, but her appearance in Carmela's dream simply wasn't enough. Hell, her absence from the scene started to suck the moment she found out her friend Danielle was an undercover FBI agent - way, way before Steven Van Zandt's Silvio even had to take care of business in the woods that day. God, I hated him for that, but such is life in the waste management business, right? Besides that, his Underground Garage show seemed to work fine as far as his penance was concerned. I'm also eager to know what became of Furio, after he pissed off back to Naples? And who inherited all those loud shirts he used to wear?
Lebowski Fest is coming to Austin in May. Mark your calendars for marking it 8, Dude - May 19th and 20th. That's right - they're bringing it to Texas! Personally, I can't wait to knock back a few White Russians, roll a few games and/or j's, and enjoy the occasional acid flashback with the Nihilists and Walter Sobchak lookalikes. It'll be Achiever Heaven, and within driving range. What more could a girl ask for? I'm full of questions: During the screening, will people be shouting all the lines out at the screen like we used to do with Rocky Horror? Hell, I'm good either way. Lord knows my special man friend gets tired of my continual spewage of Lebowski lines - and he can even rattle off a few himself. Also, are there any special appearances are in the works? I wouldn't be shocked to see Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Mr. Mark It 8 himself - there, since he lives somewhere in or around Austin. That would be most far fuckin' out, man if he did. Cool guy. On that 2004 trip to San Francisco, we ran into him at the airport and Joe kept trying to get me to go up to him and say "Over the line!" - but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I did manage to say hello, though, and JDG was most gracious.
David Allen Coe & the surviving members of Pantera teaming up for an album, due in May. Boy, talk about a natural fit. I never paid much attention to either one, to be honest, but this could be magic, my friend, especially after nearly a fifth of Jack.
A possible Dusty Springfield biopic, directed by newly-minted Best Director Ang Lee. I'm so there. An amazing talent, delivered to us from on high, but sadly enough - from what I've gathered in later accounts of her life, she had a crippling lack of self-esteem to go along with it. Bless her heart. I've no doubt those pre-Stonewall days must've sucked big green monkey 'nads, too. And I don't know if it was in the liner notes to her Anthology, that Penny Valentine and Vicki Wickham book, an Advocate article or that Fresh Air interview, but I recall something about Nina Simone once either throwing a drink at Dusty or pulling some other super-shitty attitudinal snit with her, completely unprovoked. Wonder WTF that was all about? Both women being gone, I guess we'll never know.
Wildflower season's coming up. The irises are in bloom, and pretty soon we'll be seeing blankets of bluebonnets, buttercups and Indian paintbrushes alongside the highways, too. I can't friggin' wait. Where would Texas be today if it hadn't been for that adorable little Lady Bird Johnson? I ask you. The only downside to this is that bluebonnet season and tornadoes seem to go hand-in-hand. And this year, with the seasons being completely wonky - just remember, y'all, there's no such thing as global warming! - it's even come a bit early. Poor Kansas and Missouri, having just taken that huge hit - over 133 tornadoes at last count - and it's not even April. Also, snow in Northern California and raging fires up in the Panhandle, thanks to an unseasonably dry streak. Makes ya kinda antsy about the upcoming hurricane season, doesn't it?
posted by No, You Can't Watch at 1:10 PM
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