Mini Book Review: 'Autobiography of Red'

Yes, it's the tale of a little gay dragon-monster discovering his purpose in life, falling in and out of love, traveling to South America, growing as an artist (photographer), and . . . Well, it's hard to explain. And the fact that it's told in the form of an epic poem may make many readers worry that the book is going to be a homework-like chore to read. But, really, it's not homework at all -- after a few pages you'll get into the rhythm of the writing and discover a funny, fast, moving, disturbing, exciting, and totally unexpected story of the highest caliber.

So don't feel daunted when you hear that the "Autobiography of Red" is an experimental and intellectual book that is, as Wikipedia puts it, "a verse novel by Anne Carson, based loosely on the myth of Geryon and the Tenth Labor of Herakles, especially on surviving fragments of the lyric poet Stesichorus' poem Geryonis." True, it's that as well, but it's also a contemporary, genre-bending, fantasy-laced, oddly relatable, and very enjoyable weekend-read that you'll remember for a long time to come.








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Mini Book Review: 'Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991'

"Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991" is one of the top rock books I've read -- funny, inspiring, well researched, and insightful all at once. Since there are already tons of reviews out there on the Internetziz that go into plenty of critical and general detail, I figured I'd just give a quick summary of what's featured in the book:

The main bands profiled: Black Flag, The Minutemen, Mission of Burma, Minor Threat (Fugazi), Husker Du, The Replacements, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, Big Black, Dinosaur Jr.

Secondary subjects: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Henry Rollins, Sebadoh, Steve Albini, SST Records, K Records, Sub Pop Records, the birth of punk and hardcore and straight-edge, various `zines, underground and indie scenes, and producers, musicians, influences, etc...

Quite humorous and harrowing, with awesome insider-interviews and wacky anecdotes, including a drunken cameo by Alex Chilton (of Chris Bell, Box Tops, and Big Star fame). Put this one on your bookshelf for some serious indie cred.

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Album Review: 'Skull Ring' - Iggy's POPular comeback - running rings around modern punk

Overall, this album may not be as raw, visceral, and fresh as Iggy Pop's early work -- and some of it seems a bit forced and a few of the collaborations border on sell-out territory or the completely forgettable (I'm thinking of the Sum 41 duet especially, but that ended up being one of the album's biggest hits, so when even the cheesiest track is a hit, you know the other stuff will rock) -- but in the end it's a helluva lot a fun, rocks like crazy, and brings back a power and energy lacking from Pop's more low-key solo work of recent years.

And the Stooges are back on some tracks! Such a longed for reunion mixed with cool guest stars and lots of energy. Overall, an exciting little album. Still, where Mr. Pop still rules is LIVE ... if you ever get a chance to see him perform at a stadium, club, or outdoor show, RUN, don't walk. It'll be worth every penny, even if you've never loved his live or studio albums... watching this man onstage, even in 2004, is like a fever dream of power and vitality.

After seeing some of the "Skull Ring" tracks performed live by the reunited Iggy & the Stooges (and, lately, with the great Mike "Minutemen" Watt on bass), it becomes clear that "Skull Ring" actually fits in perfectly with Iggy's seminal punk from the early '70s... somehow, this aging dude is still knocking out new material that cuts as deeply as the old... And at it's best, "Skull Ring" stands with the classics.

For your enjoyment, here's the breakdown of Iggy Pop's "Skull Ring" collaborations. If I've left anyone out, leave a note. (Also, check out the "FatherFu****" album by Peaches for another good Iggy Pop-Peaches duet):

Little Electric Chair (with The Stooges)

Perverts In The Sun (with The Trolls)

Skull Rings (with The Stooges) {alternate title: "Skull Ring"}

Super babe (with The Trolls)

Loser (with The Stooges)

Private Hell (with Green Day)

Little Know It All (with Sum 41)

Whatever (with The Trolls)

Dead Rock Star (with The Stooges)

Rock Show (with Peaches)

Here Comes The Summer (with The Trolls)

Motor Inn (with Peaches)

Inferiority Complex (with The Trolls)

Supermarket (with Green Day)

Till Wrong Feels Right {Iggy Pop solo}

Blood On My Cool (with The Trolls)

Nervous Exhaustion (with The Trolls) {hidden bonus track}

Audio CD:


MP3 Digital Download:

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Eastdown and Bound

"Eastbound and Down" is not yet the greatest show in the world, but it’s worth checking out. It’s got a weird tone – partly wacky redneck stuff; partly absurdest stuff that you’d expect from the FunnyOrDie and "Foot Fist Way" guys; partly dark, depressing Tennessee Williams Southern-Gothic drama; and "George Washington" realism mixed in with  drug humor and social satire. All packed into under 30 minutes.

It’s weird when someone like Will Ferrell shows up as a guest star on the show, because the character he plays is a totally hammy FunnyOrDie type (e.g., SNL-style Comedy Acting + Over-the-Top Vulgarity) that is at once both awesome and entirely not fitting within the context of half the other plotlines, which involve the main character having problems with drugs, alcohol, steroids, and an inability to emotionally connect to people, a flat-lined career, etc. One moment you see the lead guy getting crushed by life; and the next moment you see him doing wacky cracker shtick opposite other purposely over-the-top actor-comedians. The show bounces around like this constantly.

The one-sentence pitch: It's like “Rosanne” meets “The Glass Menagerie” meets FunnyOrDie’s “The Landlord” meets "North Dallas Forty" meets “My Name is Earl,” if “My Name is Earl” was an R-rated movie by Kevin Smith instead of a Scientology-karma network sitcom.

It makes it hard to judge whether or not the show is good or bad. After four or five episodes I’m still not even sure if I like, love, or hate it. But I’ve gotta admit: It’s different, and it sometimes zigs in a different direction when you expect it zag somewhere else; not just plot-wise, but on an emotional and thematic level. And that makes it exciting for a sitcom.

I’m curious to see whether or not the show gets better or worse. Seems like it could be improved upon (balancing the comedy/drama and reality/absurdity better, working on the pacing, expanding the cast), but the current Redneck Man-Child Learns to Become a Real Man and Regains His High School Sweetheart routines will wear thin pretty quick if the show doesn’t figure out what arc to take the characters on next.

That said, after “Lost,” “Fringe,” “Flight of the Conchords,” “30 Rock,” “Underbelly,” “Damages,” and “The Office,” I’d have to say that “Eastbound and Down" is one of the best shows currently on TV, at least until "Ashes to Ashes" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" bring forth their new seasons.

Jack White vs. Jack White

This isn't the White Stripes (obviously), It's "JACKY" Jack White:


Although it shouldn't stop anyone from checking out the album 'Southern Songboook' by Jack White it should be noted that the singer-songwriter behind this record is NOT the same Jack White as the White Stripes' guitar hero. Since typing "Jack White" into Amazon will give you dozens of Jack "White Stripes" White references with a few scattered mentions of the traditional-country "Jacky Jack" White, it can be confusing, especially since (a) Jacky Jack isn't as well known as Jack White (Stripes) and (b) Jack White (Stripes) is known to play some Southern-influenced and even Carter-Sister-influenced country songs (for instance, he produced, played, and sang on the incredible new Loretta Lynn album, "Van Lear Rose", and appears on the "Cold Mountain" soundtrack).

Finding a full-blown bio on "Jacky Jack" White can be near impossible, with a Google search resulting in hundreds of Jack White (Stripes) pages for every "Jacky Jack" site. Making it even more impossible: "Jacky Jack" is often referenced simply as "Jack White", without the "Jacky" part of his nickname being mentioned, so his name is indistinguishable from that of the White Stripes' front man. It would be nice if websites like Amazon and Google could find a way of noting which man is which, and who did which album, as a lot of confusion seems to have erupted now and again due to the name situation (and Jack-Stripes' fervent and tremendous output in just a few short years, combined with gaggles of coverage).

Personally, right now (2004), I prefer the music and producing of Jack "White Stripes" White... but "Jacky Jack" White is an award-winning singer-songwriter in his own right, and even if you haven't heard him sing, you've probably heard a cover or two of one of his songs, since he's been a popular songwriter on-and-off for a couple of decades. And the Carter Sisters, of course, are dynamite -- traditional folk/country from back when Country Music was cool and rebellious, and not just the corporate-radio all-sounds-the-same Red-State Light-Republican-Rock of today.

"Jacky Jack" is getting back to the roots of country here, and working with the last recordings of the Carter Sisters, so this album is much more in line with the alternative/indie country-roots-rock movement than the "I own a new gas-guzzling off-road pick-up truck even though I work in an office and live in the suburbs" Contemporary Country. And although it's not going to rock you like the White Stripes, devastate you like Johnny Cash, move you like Wilco, or amuse you like Will (Bonnie Prince/Palace Bros.) Oldham or Ryan "I'm not Brian" Adams, it's still worth checking out (if for no other reason than to know firsthand the difference between the two Jack Whites). It's a solid album.

But after you're done exploring the two Jacks, and admiring Van Lear Rose and old-school Parton and Loretta, check out some earth-shattering Emmylou Harris, mind-blowing Graham Parsons, and criminally-hip old-school Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson for a real taste of honky-tonk country as it was meant to be (one last hint: search for "Mermaid Avenue" as an appetizer, and you'll begin to see just how much country has influenced even the best modern rock. Interestingly, "Jacky Jack" is supposedly a huge Brian Jones fan, so rock is influencing country right back, of course).

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