Let's see, so this thread is - rock musician releases record, mefites shit on it. Is that about right? Just making sure that my understanding of "best of the web" is up to date.

Paul can be insufferable, but more than anything else I feel pity for those who doubt his abilities. At one point or another in his career, he has done virtually every thing in pop music extremely well. Most of it was before he was 30.

In my book, that earns the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 2:44 PM on October 11, 2008

By the way, I've heard similar arguments, but about "She Loves You", which does in fact start with the hook, and predates She Said by about 2 years.

(although methinks it's probably a bit too treacle for the jaded mefite ears)
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 5:57 PM on October 11, 2008

.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 8:10 PM on October 9, 2008

Would that you were right, Camofrog, about all the haters retreating to their caves once (and, God willing, if) Obama is sworn in. The GOP pretty much dedicated itself to making Clinton's life utter hell as soon as he was sworn in. Mark my words - getting Obama elected will be the easy part. For any number of reasons.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 10:03 PM on October 9, 2008

Just for the record, I agree with the FPP: I believe she'll come across better than she does in the Couric interviews. There's a difference, of course, between being a better debater than we think and being a good debater... but I believe that it will not be the horror-show trainwreck that has mefites salivating in glee (me included).
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 3:39 PM on October 1, 2008

Bear in mind that one of the things that tripped her up with Katie C. was her inability to deal with follow-ups - all kudos to KC for being forceful in that regard. Governor Palin is not going to crash and burn tomorrow night, I predict. Unless Joe is able to figure out a way to put her on the spot while remaining within the agreed upon rules.



like the awesome debate scene in the 3rd season of the West Wing. Where have you... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 4:52 PM on October 1, 2008

"secretary rice, meeting with one side or the other..."


you know, israelis, palestinians, jews, arabs - it's just soooo tough to keep them all straight!
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 6:57 PM on October 2, 2008

nuclear weapons would be the be-all and end-all of so many people


she's got a point there.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 7:01 PM on October 2, 2008

But honestly I think if he had campaigned on a platform of a federal mandate for legalization of gay marriage in all 50 states he would have not been elected.

I don't know how to do that cool HTML thing where it crosses out words, so let me just say that the tense of the verbs in that sentence is a little, um, over-confident. Still a month to go...

speaking of which (topic change) - I get a little nervous anytime Obama or Biden mentions bin Laden.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 10:08 AM on October 3, 2008

I thought Biden's smile while Palin was speaking was awesome. He actually looked like he was enjoying himself. Like, he's a professional politician, and here he is in the brightest lights and on the largest stage of his career. Sure, he cares deeply about the issues, but he's also a pro, and genuinely interested to see how his opponent avails herself of the same opportunity. Class act all around, methinks.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 10:16 AM on October 3, 2008

You know, I was in Israel in '95 when some right-wing nutjob assassinated Prime Minister Rabin, after a political season in which his opponents went so far as to portray him dressed as a Nazi. The polarization was devastating, and it was tragically effective. At the time I wondered if that could ever happen in the US. I worry about how much farther they will let this go.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 7:43 PM on October 6, 2008

Justinian, that's why I brought up the Israel example - because while people were using the harshest, vilest rhetoric possible to attack political opponents, the politicians themselves remained silent. People would come to Netanyahu and Likud rallies and villify Rabin in the most grotesque ways, and Netanyahu never said a word. When the unthinkable happened and Rabin was killed, there was a lot of public hand-wringing and finger-pointing towards those people who were in a position to tone down... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 8:13 PM on October 6, 2008

I don't know that I'd say she's smart. She's shrewd. She's calculating. She's a good actress. To me, humility is involved in intelligence somewhere - not really sure how, maybe it's about being smart enough to know the limits of what you know. She just may possess that quality, but certainly it won't do for a candidate for executive office to admit to it. It wouldn't do for her to say "The complexity of policy decisions that I would be called upon to make were I to ascend to the Presidency... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 8:51 PM on October 4, 2008

yo, this is the Foreign Policy Debate, which McCain wanted to have first 'cuz it's his STRENGTH. Not rescheduling it would be at his peril, politically.

Oh, and the suggestion that this debate be replaced by Biden/Palin? Sheer, unadulterated GENIUS!
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 12:47 PM on September 24, 2008

I think McCain was afraid he was going to be out-statesman'd (?) by Obama, because of the 8:30am suggestion of a joint statement. That was some classy-ass shit from Obama, and McCain knew it, and also knew that he couldn't agree to it without seeming like he was doing Obama's bidding. So he's like - "Oh, yeah? You want statesmanship? How 'bout we suspend campaigns out of respect for the economic clusterfuck..." etc.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 1:55 PM on September 24, 2008

If McCain doesn't show up at the debate, Obama gets 2 hours of nationally televised air time.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 2:05 PM on September 24, 2008

Ole Miss Official Says Debate Cancellation Would Be 'Devastating'


...to the tune of $5.5mil.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 3:22 PM on September 24, 2008

OK, I'll bite - so what does the individual do, pastabagel. Lord knows I'm not a rich man, but I would sorely like to keep what I got, both in my savings account and my IRA. So is the smart money on mattress-stuffing? Or keeping in mind that I've got some 30-odd years of saving ahead of me, and while this current episode will be traumatic, it will pass?
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 11:16 PM on September 24, 2008

In the event of a McCain no-show, Obama should hammer home as much as possible that McCain taxes the health care deductions from your paycheck, while Obama cuts taxes on everyone who makes less than $250k. Again and again, with no one to counter, for 90 minutes, in to millions and millions of homes around the country during prime time on a Friday night.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 11:40 AM on September 25, 2008

My guess is that this is the Sarah Palin we'll get on Thursday night, not the one Katie Couric has revealed to us (from kirkaracha a few posts upthread). Much as I disagree with her and support Obama, THIS Palin is by no means a trainwreck. She's not in the least bit presidential, but if her performance is anything like this video, it'll be a major victory for her and the Repubs.

(...although not a game-changer...)
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 10:09 PM on September 30, 2008

under-rated, unmentioned, late-period classic: Manhattan Murder Mystery. By any standard, one of Woody Allen's best. It's hilariously funny, deals with complex characters confronting profound issues (mortality, fading love), it pays homage to classic film, and it is most definitely a love letter to New York. And Woody Allen acts in it. Brilliantly.

In my opinion, it's as good as anything that Woody has ever done.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 10:00 AM on September 30, 2008

Ugh, it just doesn't end:

McCain camp prays for Palin wedding. As in, BEFORE the election. To dominate media coverage.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:32 PM on September 27, 2008

jonmc, this is a really interesting statement - if anybody was listening. While I agree with you that many, many talented musicians go unnoticed by far too many people, the fact is that Nirvana got some important people (like Danny Goldberg, for example) to listen to them. Maybe that's got more to do with luck, or marketing, or an aptitude for cut-throat business dealings, but it's all part of the same thing, in my opinion. It's not enough to make great music - you've got to... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 12:30 PM on September 24, 2008

People know that Jaco plays the utterly devastating drum part on the Weather Report tune "Teen Town", right? I mean, his bass playing alone is genius-level shit, but when you add to it THAT level of depth on his SECOND instrument? That's other-worldly talent, in my view.


.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 3:16 PM on September 21, 2008

related question: can someone please explain to me from a tactical perspective why the "surge" was such a complicated issue? My understanding is that from the very beginning the military wanted to send in vastly more troops than the civilian leadership was comfortable with. If I'm a Democrat running against a Republican who backed the surge (I'm looking at you, Obama!) I'd be making points like "Sure, the surge worked, too bad the leadership took such careless decisions back in... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 11:25 AM on September 9, 2008

Let us not forget that there are tremendous political ramifications involved with even discussing impeachment. So while I absolutely agree that it SHOULDN'T be a matter of opinion, the fact is that it will require a great amount of political strength and capitol to get the job done - so in a sense it IS a matter of how the electorate feels. Ditto for holding them accountable. Hell, I know Nixon-defenders. You don't think there will be Bush defenders?
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:27 PM on September 8, 2008

Also, saulgoodman - we are, for all intents and purposes, an oligarchy. Sucks, right?
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:27 PM on September 8, 2008

do you really think that's true, chuckdarwin? Surely there are many, MANY examples of intolerance from all over the world, including enlightened Western Europe. Don't get me wrong, I'm as disgusted by what I see happening in the US as the next guy, I fantasize about leaving on a daily basis - but it's jut not clear to me that anywhere else is better. Humans are sick fucks.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 12:20 PM on September 8, 2008

bukharin, I have the same concern. I think the point Biden has to drive home is that Ahmedinajad/Medvedev/Putin/etc. are not going to pull punches when seated across the nuclear non-proliferation negotiating table from a possible President Palin (*shudder*), so she had better be able to conduct herself in a lousy VP debate.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 11:01 AM on August 29, 2008

I was sort of hoping for Bill Richardson, but I'm okay with Biden. Not sure what it does for B.O. electorally, though - old white guys from the Northeast are sort of an albatross for Dems, no?
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 11:09 PM on August 22, 2008

thanks for the post - so cool!
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:20 PM on August 2, 2008

Flashman, Anton FIG is still in the band, as is Will Lee. Both of 'em play around town alot, too.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 2:05 PM on July 29, 2008

stupidsexyFlanders at the risk of a derail, no one would take more offense at your slag of the Beatles' musicianship than Will Lee himself. As a veteran of some 15 Fab Faux shows going back to 1998, I can attest to such facts as a) Will Lee picks all his notes UP in order to more thoroughly and accurately mimic the musicianship of the bass player in the Beatles (what was his name again?) and, more generally b) why else would these estimable musicians, all of whom have very well-established... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 2:11 PM on July 29, 2008

Finally, .
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 2:11 PM on July 29, 2008

jetsetsc - remember that their road crew consisted of no more than Neil and Mal - Aspinall, who handled the brains of the operation (and who died within the last year) and Evans, who handled the brawn. (Mal was killed accidentally in 1976 by a policeman.) The Beatles operation was the very definition of bare bones compared to today's standards.

Mal's is the voice you hear in "A Day in the Life" counting down to the bridge...... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:43 PM on July 27, 2008

And yes, those Beatles were quite, um, adept at what they did...
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:48 PM on July 27, 2008

I was all set to slag off the Spotnicks on account of my snobbery, but then I heard "Galloping Guitars" - what a cool song! How could you know like it?

As a *guitarist*, I found myself listening to the purity of the tone - nothing but an early 60s Stratocaster, no effects or nuthin'. It sounded great, and as someone who spent a lot of time listening to instrumental guitar music I found myself appreciating this as extremely unpretentious and very musical. They... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 6:45 AM on July 28, 2008

er, how could you not like that...
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 6:53 AM on July 28, 2008

I seem to recall reading about a bunch of archaeologists who pleaded with the Pentagon prior to the war about what sites to spare. Fat lot of good that did.


didn't read the articles in the OP. WAY too depressing...
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:20 PM on July 23, 2008

My favorite Roald Dahl - The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More.

That is all.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 8:08 PM on July 22, 2008

Paranoid Android, for example.

To say nothing of this one.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 12:17 PM on July 14, 2008

And I agree with demiurge. And DU - anyone who's musical comprehension can't stylistically distinguish "Pyramid Song", "Everything in it's Right Place", "2+2=5", "The Bends", "Packt Like Sardines...", "Let Down", etc. isn't really worth discussing music with. If you're gonna make trite blanket statements, educate yerself first.

/sychophancy
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 12:21 PM on July 14, 2008

okay, lupus_yonderboy, I'll bite, despite the cocktails:

First, I too have studied and practiced musical for multiple decades (although not 40 years, just a mere 25). I joyously accept the fact that these conversations are subjective, and I celebrate (and, indeed, depend on) the fact that no two sets of ears will hear things the same way. I'm not out to convince anyone of anything - in fact, my somewhat ad-hominem statement to DU earlier slighty shames me.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 7:19 PM on July 14, 2008

On preview, as I feared, most of my comments about these songs boil down to nothing more than "'cuz I like it". You criticize based on, among other things, that the songs are all similar in length. Hardly a worthy observation, in my opinion - I mean, the vast majority of pop songs fit into a certain length. It's what happens in that length of time that matters. I've tried to show how, given about 3 minutes of music, Radiohead draw on an abnormally wide palette. YMMV.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 7:21 PM on July 14, 2008

lupus, I admire your commitment music, I really do. But I have to say that your filters couldn't be more different than mine (and again, as I said up thread, this is to be celebrated, not berated) - all the things that you describe about music in your last post are SO analytical. I mean, I have absolutely used musical analysis to explain why the palette of Radiohead is so interesting to me, but really, their music just resonates with me in a gut, emotional way. And as was the case with you and... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:32 AM on July 15, 2008

PS - at the risk of piling on (which really isn't my intention, sorry if it comes across that way) - I don't much buy in to this whole notion of "the edge of rock music", or however you put it. That sounds like just so much pr-speak. Try listening to Radiohead (or anyone else's) music without all the baggage and see if you like it. As I said, the piano sound on "Pyramid Song" is beautiful, it's beautifully recorded. Is it on the edge of rock music? Who the fuck cares? It's... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:37 AM on July 15, 2008

For my money, LaFaro deserves all the hype he gets 'cuz he sounds like no one else, and people after him who played that way automatically brought him to mind. Had he not happened, would that style of playing still developed? Probably. But that doesn't diminish his contribution. Timing is part of genius, in addition to skill, perseverance, so many other things. He had 'em all.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 8:26 AM on July 15, 2008

schmuck
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 10:09 AM on July 10, 2008

I always figured Pelosi made the impeachment is off the table remark 'cuz it neutralized a Republican campaign issue - it would have made it easier for Republicans to paint Democrats as crazy, communist liberals who want to arrest the President. I agree with the upthread comment - she's a politician, if she thought there was the popular support (and political motive) for impeachment, she'd follow it. Much as I think the bastard deserves it, I'm not sure it's such a good idea. Makes it seem a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 9:15 PM on June 9, 2008

Glad you posted this, storybored. It's a very impressive use of technology.
posted to MetaFilter by fingers_of_fire at 8:58 AM on June 8, 2008