This all makes perfect sense.
December 15, 2004 7:25 AM Subscribe
The ten most accurately rated artists in rock history! According to SPIN, at least.
As with all lists, I appreciate the opinion. But what the f@#K!?
posted by asianmack at 7:38 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by asianmack at 7:38 AM on December 15, 2004
Beatles not overrated?
There goes any credibility in my mind.
posted by monkey closet at 7:44 AM on December 15, 2004
There goes any credibility in my mind.
posted by monkey closet at 7:44 AM on December 15, 2004
Van Halen not underrated?
There goes any credibility in my mind.
posted by crazy finger at 7:46 AM on December 15, 2004
There goes any credibility in my mind.
posted by crazy finger at 7:46 AM on December 15, 2004
Blue Öyster Cult: The BÖC song everyone pays attention to is the suicide anthem “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” However, that song is stupid and doesn’t use enough cowbell.
It's funny 'cause it's true.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 7:47 AM on December 15, 2004
It's funny 'cause it's true.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 7:47 AM on December 15, 2004
Wow...I think that's the ONLY thing ever written in SPIN that I completely agree with. I was all set with my "come on, my bloody valentine is the most overrated pile of crap ever" gun when he brought it right back down to earth with the 200,000 people comment.
Spin is completely irrelevant, and I generally don't like Chuck Klosterman, but I actually enjoyed this.
posted by spicynuts at 7:47 AM on December 15, 2004
Spin is completely irrelevant, and I generally don't like Chuck Klosterman, but I actually enjoyed this.
posted by spicynuts at 7:47 AM on December 15, 2004
Most overrated band of all time (by fans & critics): The Doors.
Most underrated (by critics): Lynyrd Skynyrd.
posted by jonmc at 7:48 AM on December 15, 2004
Most underrated (by critics): Lynyrd Skynyrd.
posted by jonmc at 7:48 AM on December 15, 2004
Marshall Crenshaw. Okay then.
Beatles not overrated?
Hey, if it wasn't for the Beatles, you wouldn't even be able to make that comment!
posted by petebest at 7:54 AM on December 15, 2004
Beatles not overrated?
Hey, if it wasn't for the Beatles, you wouldn't even be able to make that comment!
posted by petebest at 7:54 AM on December 15, 2004
That wasn't nearly as unpleasant as I thought it would be.
posted by Guy Innagorillasuit at 7:59 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by Guy Innagorillasuit at 7:59 AM on December 15, 2004
I'll allow that individual members of the Beatles are overrated. Paul McCartney, for example, has far outlived any musical relevance he may once have had. But the Beatles themselves, as a quartet in their prime? The accolades are deserved.
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:01 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by Faint of Butt at 8:01 AM on December 15, 2004
Re: The Beatles. Two points.
1. Yes, they are generally overrated.
2. Since an accurate rating would still have them as the single greatest band in the rock era, point number 1 is moot.
I hope this clears up any confusion.
posted by jscalzi at 8:03 AM on December 15, 2004
1. Yes, they are generally overrated.
2. Since an accurate rating would still have them as the single greatest band in the rock era, point number 1 is moot.
I hope this clears up any confusion.
posted by jscalzi at 8:03 AM on December 15, 2004
The first music list I've seen that I can actually get behind. Very funny. The Van Halen bit was excellent.
But where do the Kinks fit on the on the continuum? It seems not many people in the U.S. are familiar with their early seventies trifecta. Maybe the HP commercials will do something to change that.
Whoa, #397 in Amazon music.
posted by crumbly at 8:07 AM on December 15, 2004
But where do the Kinks fit on the on the continuum? It seems not many people in the U.S. are familiar with their early seventies trifecta. Maybe the HP commercials will do something to change that.
Whoa, #397 in Amazon music.
posted by crumbly at 8:07 AM on December 15, 2004
Petebest:
Exactly, people look at me like I just expressed a fondness for ass fondue when I say I don't really care for the Beatles and then they say, but they invented rock music and you wouldn't be able to listen to any modern music if it wasn't for them.
Then I smile and wave them into the same corner with the people who say God planted the dinosaurs to take the mickey with scientists and the earth is 5000 years old. Post hoc ergo propter hoc is the lamest of fallacies.
These lists are just built for yes I agree, no I don't. This one is sorta funny and I sorta agree, except the Beatles are waaaaay overrated as rock and perfectly rated as pop. And yes jonmc Lynyrd Skynrd was way underloved critically and if you like the Doors I've got a tie-dyed, hand bound, hemp paper journal and some velvet shirts with one button right around the navel you are just gonna love.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:08 AM on December 15, 2004
Exactly, people look at me like I just expressed a fondness for ass fondue when I say I don't really care for the Beatles and then they say, but they invented rock music and you wouldn't be able to listen to any modern music if it wasn't for them.
Then I smile and wave them into the same corner with the people who say God planted the dinosaurs to take the mickey with scientists and the earth is 5000 years old. Post hoc ergo propter hoc is the lamest of fallacies.
These lists are just built for yes I agree, no I don't. This one is sorta funny and I sorta agree, except the Beatles are waaaaay overrated as rock and perfectly rated as pop. And yes jonmc Lynyrd Skynrd was way underloved critically and if you like the Doors I've got a tie-dyed, hand bound, hemp paper journal and some velvet shirts with one button right around the navel you are just gonna love.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:08 AM on December 15, 2004
Amusing.
posted by Zurishaddai at 8:08 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by Zurishaddai at 8:08 AM on December 15, 2004
2. New Radicals: There are only five facts publicly known about this entity. The first is that 1998’s “You Get What You Give” is an almost flawless Todd Rundgren–like masterwork that makes any right-thinking American want to run through a Wal-Mart semi-naked. The second is that nobody can remember the singer’s name. The third is that the singer often wore a profoundly idiotic hat. The fourth is that if this anonymous, poorly hatted singer had made a follow-up album, it would have somehow made his first record seem worse. The fifth is that his album didn’t quite deserve to go gold, and it didn’t.
Totally right on. I love that single - a highlight of the late 90's commercial pop - the late nineties "Good Vibrations" if you will - but pretty much everything else on that album sucked pretty badly.
If I could write one song as god as "You Get What You Give,” and never have any other success in my life, I would die happy.
posted by Quartermass at 8:10 AM on December 15, 2004
Totally right on. I love that single - a highlight of the late 90's commercial pop - the late nineties "Good Vibrations" if you will - but pretty much everything else on that album sucked pretty badly.
If I could write one song as god as "You Get What You Give,” and never have any other success in my life, I would die happy.
posted by Quartermass at 8:10 AM on December 15, 2004
Young MC, whose single “Bust a Move” is confusing for the following reason: Its last verse states, “Your best friend Harry / Has a brother Larry / In five days from now he’s gonna marry / He’s hopin’ you can make it there if you can / Cuz in the ceremony you’ll be the best man.” Now, why would anybody possibly be the best man in a wedding where the groom is their best friend’s brother? Why isn’t your best friend the best man in this ceremony? And who asks someone to be their best man a scant five days before they get married? This song is flawed.
I was never as confused by 'Bust a Move' as Chuck Klosterman seems to be. Perhaps best friend Harry and brother Larry don't get along. Larry could easily be friends with his brother's best friend. Perhaps poor Larry doesn't have many friends, or perhaps his own best friend couldn't make it to the wedding due to a family emergency. That would explain the quick need for a replacement. It's not that hard, Chuck.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:11 AM on December 15, 2004
I was never as confused by 'Bust a Move' as Chuck Klosterman seems to be. Perhaps best friend Harry and brother Larry don't get along. Larry could easily be friends with his brother's best friend. Perhaps poor Larry doesn't have many friends, or perhaps his own best friend couldn't make it to the wedding due to a family emergency. That would explain the quick need for a replacement. It's not that hard, Chuck.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 8:11 AM on December 15, 2004
I was all set with my "come on, my bloody valentine is the most overrated pile of crap ever" gun..
Overrated by who? MBV has largely been an influential band, and aside from a few feckless magazine writers who swear off all mainstream music like the plague (and some rightly so) I've read very little mainstream press that would bring MBV into the spotlight.
The majority of their street credibility comes from all the bands that list them in their liner notes.
posted by purephase at 8:15 AM on December 15, 2004
Overrated by who? MBV has largely been an influential band, and aside from a few feckless magazine writers who swear off all mainstream music like the plague (and some rightly so) I've read very little mainstream press that would bring MBV into the spotlight.
The majority of their street credibility comes from all the bands that list them in their liner notes.
posted by purephase at 8:15 AM on December 15, 2004
This is pretty funny and accurate (about the artists on the list that I know, anyway).
LOL, Mr. Scalzi.
posted by pmurray63 at 8:15 AM on December 15, 2004
LOL, Mr. Scalzi.
posted by pmurray63 at 8:15 AM on December 15, 2004
It's at least more interesting than pitchfork review.
posted by angry modem at 8:21 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by angry modem at 8:21 AM on December 15, 2004
It's SUPPOSED to be funny. I find it hilarious that even this obviously tongue-in-cheek list of "perfectly rated" bands brings the list-making pitchfork nerds back out of the woodwork to inform us all of who is under and over rated.
posted by glenwood at 8:25 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by glenwood at 8:25 AM on December 15, 2004
Damn glenwood, who taped Def Leopard over your Journey mix-tape?
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2004
Purephase,
Obviously you have not been to New York City lately, or, more specifically, to Williamsburg. The mere mention of MBV will induce orgasm in any art school attending, loft living, strokes following, baby fat sporting, tight jeans wearing, anorexic nick cave wannabe who's proabably never even heard of the pixies.
They are worshipped by 'i'm hipper than you' music snobs. Which automatically makes them overrated.
Just like Stereolab.
posted by spicynuts at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2004
Obviously you have not been to New York City lately, or, more specifically, to Williamsburg. The mere mention of MBV will induce orgasm in any art school attending, loft living, strokes following, baby fat sporting, tight jeans wearing, anorexic nick cave wannabe who's proabably never even heard of the pixies.
They are worshipped by 'i'm hipper than you' music snobs. Which automatically makes them overrated.
Just like Stereolab.
posted by spicynuts at 8:28 AM on December 15, 2004
I particularly liked the "any song better than “And the Cradle Will Rock” is good, and any song worse than “And the Cradle Will Rock” is bad" theory. I would have to agree with that.
posted by fletchmuy at 8:29 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by fletchmuy at 8:29 AM on December 15, 2004
I've got a tie-dyed, hand bound, hemp paper journal and some velvet shirts with one button right around the navel you are just gonna love.
Can I give you my address?
posted by tr33hggr at 8:31 AM on December 15, 2004
Can I give you my address?
posted by tr33hggr at 8:31 AM on December 15, 2004
The mere mention of MBV will induce orgasm in any art school attending, loft living, strokes following, baby fat sporting, tight jeans wearing, anorexic nick cave wannabe who's proabably never even heard of the pixies.
How can they sport baby fat if they're anoerexic?
posted by COBRA! at 8:32 AM on December 15, 2004
How can they sport baby fat if they're anoerexic?
posted by COBRA! at 8:32 AM on December 15, 2004
This article is hilarious. And now there's a reason not to tune out Cradle Will Rock next time it comes on.
fuzz, I think you're too willing to make excuses for the Harry-Larry family. Plus, isn't it at least confusing to name your kids Harry and Larry? I think the author is right, and something isn't quite there with this family and their planning skills.
posted by ibmcginty at 8:33 AM on December 15, 2004
fuzz, I think you're too willing to make excuses for the Harry-Larry family. Plus, isn't it at least confusing to name your kids Harry and Larry? I think the author is right, and something isn't quite there with this family and their planning skills.
posted by ibmcginty at 8:33 AM on December 15, 2004
I like the idea of the "perfect-middle-point" song:
"What this means is that any song better than 'And the Cradle Will Rock' is good, and any song worse than 'And the Cradle Will Rock' is bad."
Which raises the question: any nominees for the "perfect-middle-point" movie? The movie that stands as the apotheosis of average?
posted by Darkman at 8:36 AM on December 15, 2004
"What this means is that any song better than 'And the Cradle Will Rock' is good, and any song worse than 'And the Cradle Will Rock' is bad."
Which raises the question: any nominees for the "perfect-middle-point" movie? The movie that stands as the apotheosis of average?
posted by Darkman at 8:36 AM on December 15, 2004
re: lost credibility
any lost is quickly gained back by the "And the Cradle Will Rock" good/bad theory. That is perhaps the best and most accurate theory in the history of music critique. No. In the history of anything.
More cowbell!
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:37 AM on December 15, 2004
any lost is quickly gained back by the "And the Cradle Will Rock" good/bad theory. That is perhaps the best and most accurate theory in the history of music critique. No. In the history of anything.
More cowbell!
posted by mcstayinskool at 8:37 AM on December 15, 2004
if you like the Doors I've got a tie-dyed, hand bound, hemp paper journal and some velvet shirts with one button right around the navel you are just gonna love
The Doors actually cranked out a couple of very good tunes ("My Eyes Have Seen You" "Break On Through") but the idiotic cult of personality surrounding narcissistic drunk-assed wanna-be Bukowsi society brat Jim Morrison is annoying in the extreme. At one point I knew two different guys who were convinced that they were Jim's reincarnation. They insisted on being called "Jim."
I'd also offer Pavement up as overrated as hell. They were "required listening" in the circles I raveled in the mid 90's so I listened. I never did figure out what I was supposed to be impressed by.
And Young MC was the best man at the request of the family patriarch, Barry.
posted by jonmc at 8:39 AM on December 15, 2004
The Doors actually cranked out a couple of very good tunes ("My Eyes Have Seen You" "Break On Through") but the idiotic cult of personality surrounding narcissistic drunk-assed wanna-be Bukowsi society brat Jim Morrison is annoying in the extreme. At one point I knew two different guys who were convinced that they were Jim's reincarnation. They insisted on being called "Jim."
I'd also offer Pavement up as overrated as hell. They were "required listening" in the circles I raveled in the mid 90's so I listened. I never did figure out what I was supposed to be impressed by.
And Young MC was the best man at the request of the family patriarch, Barry.
posted by jonmc at 8:39 AM on December 15, 2004
Van Halen - big deal. van Beethoven is still being played 200+ years later and Vivaldi 300 years later.
posted by jim-of-oz at 8:41 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by jim-of-oz at 8:41 AM on December 15, 2004
Perhaps poor Larry doesn't have many friends, or perhaps his own best friend couldn't make it to the wedding due to a family emergency. That would explain the quick need for a replacement. It's not that hard, Chuck.
Don't forget another point which is, I think, of relevance to the present discussion: the lady in question was looking at the protagonist "like [he] was Poindexter."
posted by Turtles all the way down at 8:44 AM on December 15, 2004
Don't forget another point which is, I think, of relevance to the present discussion: the lady in question was looking at the protagonist "like [he] was Poindexter."
posted by Turtles all the way down at 8:44 AM on December 15, 2004
At one point I knew two different guys who were convinced that they were Jim's reincarnation. They insisted on being called "Jim."
Holy shit that is funny...
The only thing I hate worse than the Doors are fans of the doors, man.
posted by Quartermass at 8:44 AM on December 15, 2004
Holy shit that is funny...
The only thing I hate worse than the Doors are fans of the doors, man.
posted by Quartermass at 8:44 AM on December 15, 2004
I dunno, angry modem. I find some of the pitchfork reviews funny.
posted by damnthesehumanhands at 8:46 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by damnthesehumanhands at 8:46 AM on December 15, 2004
"Your best friend Harry / Has a brother Larry / In five days from now he’s gonna marry / He’s hopin’ you can make it there if you can / Cuz in the ceremony you’ll be the best man"
Maybe it has nothing to do with Larry at all. How do we know it's not Harry getting married? Larry may not have even been invited according to this.
posted by j.p. Hung at 8:46 AM on December 15, 2004
Maybe it has nothing to do with Larry at all. How do we know it's not Harry getting married? Larry may not have even been invited according to this.
posted by j.p. Hung at 8:46 AM on December 15, 2004
I had a huge crush on that girl in the "Bust a Move" video.
posted by fletchmuy at 8:49 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by fletchmuy at 8:49 AM on December 15, 2004
I'll take Darkman and mcstayinskool one further. The "Cradle Will Rock" test is a great tool for appraising any set of many data points. The CWR analog among metafilter users? Among STDs? Among shampoos? You could go for hours. God I want to be in a dorm room passing around a graphics right now.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:50 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:50 AM on December 15, 2004
I presume the Beatles one is some kind of joke*.
(* since The Beatles wrote neither "Some Girls" nor "Love Machine")
posted by cillit bang at 8:51 AM on December 15, 2004
(* since The Beatles wrote neither "Some Girls" nor "Love Machine")
posted by cillit bang at 8:51 AM on December 15, 2004
Barry? Scary.
Middle point movie: Love, Actually.
Discuss.
posted by owenville at 8:52 AM on December 15, 2004
Middle point movie: Love, Actually.
Discuss.
posted by owenville at 8:52 AM on December 15, 2004
The median quality movie: My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 8:54 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by Turtles all the way down at 8:54 AM on December 15, 2004
jonmc,
I was just Doors checking myself to make sure my conscience was clean and I found a brilliant live version of Backdoor Man from the Isle of Wight festival that I really like. I also knew a few Jim Morrison nutters and I guess that's who I was really after.
The thing that Chuck is missing about Tone Loc is that the song is Reportage, Documentary, Memoir. Tone can't help it that you (the song is second person, which is very meta-pomo) have a fucked up family and motherfuckers are named Harry and Larry and so on, he's just telling it like it is. I think for once the whole lame rap as ghetto CNN meme is right on.
Plus nothing gets the party a doin the running man quite like Bust a Move.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:56 AM on December 15, 2004
I was just Doors checking myself to make sure my conscience was clean and I found a brilliant live version of Backdoor Man from the Isle of Wight festival that I really like. I also knew a few Jim Morrison nutters and I guess that's who I was really after.
The thing that Chuck is missing about Tone Loc is that the song is Reportage, Documentary, Memoir. Tone can't help it that you (the song is second person, which is very meta-pomo) have a fucked up family and motherfuckers are named Harry and Larry and so on, he's just telling it like it is. I think for once the whole lame rap as ghetto CNN meme is right on.
Plus nothing gets the party a doin the running man quite like Bust a Move.
posted by Divine_Wino at 8:56 AM on December 15, 2004
Darkman:
"Which raises the question: any nominees for the 'perfect-middle-point' movie?"
Confining ourselves to the last 20 years or so:
For action: "Predator"
For animation: "The Little Mermaid"
For science fiction: "I, Robot"
For comedy: "Wayne's World"
On preview -- I'd support "Big Fat Greek Wedding" as a general midpoint film.
posted by jscalzi at 8:57 AM on December 15, 2004
"Which raises the question: any nominees for the 'perfect-middle-point' movie?"
Confining ourselves to the last 20 years or so:
For action: "Predator"
For animation: "The Little Mermaid"
For science fiction: "I, Robot"
For comedy: "Wayne's World"
On preview -- I'd support "Big Fat Greek Wedding" as a general midpoint film.
posted by jscalzi at 8:57 AM on December 15, 2004
Damn glenwood, who taped Def Leopard over your Journey mix-tape?
Sorry I am kinda over par on the snark today. And by the way, it's LEPPARD, dude!
posted by glenwood at 8:59 AM on December 15, 2004
Sorry I am kinda over par on the snark today. And by the way, it's LEPPARD, dude!
posted by glenwood at 8:59 AM on December 15, 2004
I'll jump on the anti-Doors bandwagon. The deet-deet-deetle keyboards make my teeth hurt and Morrison's belching of the overwrought sweaty lyrics in his over-the-top Elvis impersonation makes me snigger.
posted by papercake at 9:01 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by papercake at 9:01 AM on December 15, 2004
owenville: Love, Actually was crap, actually (and I'm a big fan of his writing)
posted by papercake at 9:02 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by papercake at 9:02 AM on December 15, 2004
Barry, Larry, marry
Maybe he was just strapped for a rhyme. "Tarry", "parry", or "nary" would just seem out of place in a rap song.
posted by TimeFactor at 9:04 AM on December 15, 2004
Maybe he was just strapped for a rhyme. "Tarry", "parry", or "nary" would just seem out of place in a rap song.
posted by TimeFactor at 9:04 AM on December 15, 2004
Maybe it has nothing to do with Larry at all. How do we know it's not Harry getting married? Larry may not have even been invited according to this.
You can bet an older MC would not have been so careless with his pronouns.
At least it's not as bad as Milkshake by Kelis: "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard / And they're like, 'It's better than yours' / That's right, it's better than yours / I could teach you, but I'd have to charge"
So boys are telling Kelis that her milkshake is better than that of the unnamed antecedent of the "you" that Kelis is addressing? Shouldn't said boys have been like, "It's better than hers"?
posted by turaho at 9:04 AM on December 15, 2004
You can bet an older MC would not have been so careless with his pronouns.
At least it's not as bad as Milkshake by Kelis: "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard / And they're like, 'It's better than yours' / That's right, it's better than yours / I could teach you, but I'd have to charge"
So boys are telling Kelis that her milkshake is better than that of the unnamed antecedent of the "you" that Kelis is addressing? Shouldn't said boys have been like, "It's better than hers"?
posted by turaho at 9:04 AM on December 15, 2004
I have to agree with j. p. Hung - the "he" in the third verse is a misplaced antecedent of sorts. The "he" refers to Harry from the first verse.
The "Larry" addition was probably necessary just for the rhyme. The verses could be rewritten as follows -
"Your best friend Harry, who has a brother named Larry, is getting married in five days." (The metahiphoptional) "you" are to be the best man of Harry.
On preview - whoa, turaho!
posted by Slothrop at 9:05 AM on December 15, 2004
The "Larry" addition was probably necessary just for the rhyme. The verses could be rewritten as follows -
"Your best friend Harry, who has a brother named Larry, is getting married in five days." (The metahiphoptional) "you" are to be the best man of Harry.
On preview - whoa, turaho!
posted by Slothrop at 9:05 AM on December 15, 2004
papercake: Oh, I know it was crap, but a lot of people liked it. People are lame.
posted by owenville at 9:07 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by owenville at 9:07 AM on December 15, 2004
Naw, Kelis isn't quoting the boys directly, she's just paraphrasing. The boys probably did say "better than hers," but since Kelis is talking to her now, she switches to "you" to make things clear. She's a very effective communicator, which is part of what makes her milkshake so devastating.
posted by COBRA! at 9:09 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by COBRA! at 9:09 AM on December 15, 2004
Imagine if Harry/Larry's father had been former boxer and legendary grill pitchman George Foreman... then both Harry and Larry would be named George and 'Bust A Move' would be really confusing. "Your best friend George/ has a brother George..."
Of course, then there'd be no kick-ass party song, because 'George' and 'Marry' don't rhyme.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:10 AM on December 15, 2004
Of course, then there'd be no kick-ass party song, because 'George' and 'Marry' don't rhyme.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:10 AM on December 15, 2004
Actually, all musical grammar mistakes are dwarfed by Paul McCartney's preposition-fest in "Live and Let Die,"
In this ever changing world in which we live in...
But then again I just disturbed everyone in my cube by singing along loudly to "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes," so I may not be the best man to ask.
posted by jonmc at 9:11 AM on December 15, 2004
In this ever changing world in which we live in...
But then again I just disturbed everyone in my cube by singing along loudly to "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes," so I may not be the best man to ask.
posted by jonmc at 9:11 AM on December 15, 2004
fuzz, I think you're too willing to make excuses for the Harry-Larry family. Plus, isn't it at least confusing to name your kids Harry and Larry?
I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the brothers were named Harold and Lawrence. The rhyming nicknames were unforeseen.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:12 AM on December 15, 2004
I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume the brothers were named Harold and Lawrence. The rhyming nicknames were unforeseen.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:12 AM on December 15, 2004
I would say the median quality movie would have to be an Oscar winner, so I'd nominate Braveheart. It mixes highbrow and lowbrow movie making, calculation and heartfeltness, in precisely equal quantities.
For Spin, I'd say this was pretty funny. This median concept opens a whole vista of rock-nerdery. Median artist would be Tom Petty.
posted by bendybendy at 9:14 AM on December 15, 2004
For Spin, I'd say this was pretty funny. This median concept opens a whole vista of rock-nerdery. Median artist would be Tom Petty.
posted by bendybendy at 9:14 AM on December 15, 2004
glenwood,
Of course when I end up spell checking everything carefully I misspell the one thing that matters most. I am, at heart, a foolish little man.
turaho,
As I see it, since Kelis is singing to the person whom the boys in the yard prefer her own (kelis') milkshake to, she is merely being polite enough to paraphrase rather than quote, for clarity. We are only listening to the song, not having it be sung to us. (On preview, exactly COBRA! in the song, her milkshake might be her genitals, but clearly the real "milkshake" is her Pulizter worthy clarity.)
Man, I need an eggnog, who wants? I'm buyin.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:14 AM on December 15, 2004
Of course when I end up spell checking everything carefully I misspell the one thing that matters most. I am, at heart, a foolish little man.
turaho,
As I see it, since Kelis is singing to the person whom the boys in the yard prefer her own (kelis') milkshake to, she is merely being polite enough to paraphrase rather than quote, for clarity. We are only listening to the song, not having it be sung to us. (On preview, exactly COBRA! in the song, her milkshake might be her genitals, but clearly the real "milkshake" is her Pulizter worthy clarity.)
Man, I need an eggnog, who wants? I'm buyin.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:14 AM on December 15, 2004
COBRA! I must disagree. Kelis might have correctly said "They said it's better than yours" when describing the relative merits of the two ladies' milkshakes. However "They're like" implies that what follows is a quote, which although it may be paraphrased would be expected to preserve the original case.
Note that "they're all" or the combined "they're all, like" could also be used in a similar way.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:20 AM on December 15, 2004
Note that "they're all" or the combined "they're all, like" could also be used in a similar way.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:20 AM on December 15, 2004
(the metahiphoptional) "you"
Awesome. I want to scatter this term far and wide, like some Hip-Hop Johnny Appleseed English Professor.
And I believe you're right-- it's Harry who's getting married. Poor Larry is shafted again, doomed to spend his lonely days and nights sitting slumped in his parents' basement, scarfing down cheetos and Miller High Life, bathed in the cool blue glow of his flickering television.
On preview: pass that eggnog thisaway.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:22 AM on December 15, 2004
Awesome. I want to scatter this term far and wide, like some Hip-Hop Johnny Appleseed English Professor.
And I believe you're right-- it's Harry who's getting married. Poor Larry is shafted again, doomed to spend his lonely days and nights sitting slumped in his parents' basement, scarfing down cheetos and Miller High Life, bathed in the cool blue glow of his flickering television.
On preview: pass that eggnog thisaway.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:22 AM on December 15, 2004
her milkshake might be her genitals
WTF?!!?! I thought the two lasses were concocting refreshing dairy beverages for the neighbourhood youths on a hot summer day. Is everything dirty to you, Divine_Wino?
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:23 AM on December 15, 2004
WTF?!!?! I thought the two lasses were concocting refreshing dairy beverages for the neighbourhood youths on a hot summer day. Is everything dirty to you, Divine_Wino?
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:23 AM on December 15, 2004
Your best friend George/ has a brother George...
In five days, he's gonna disgorge?
It gets difficult after that, though.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:24 AM on December 15, 2004
In five days, he's gonna disgorge?
It gets difficult after that, though.
posted by Wolfdog at 9:24 AM on December 15, 2004
Milkshake = ass? Make mine a chocolate-vanilla swirl??
posted by tr33hggr at 9:25 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by tr33hggr at 9:25 AM on December 15, 2004
I beg to differ, jscalzi.
Everyone knows that the median quality movie in the comedy category is the Rodney Dangerfield vehicle, Back to School.
posted by fletchmuy at 9:26 AM on December 15, 2004
Everyone knows that the median quality movie in the comedy category is the Rodney Dangerfield vehicle, Back to School.
posted by fletchmuy at 9:26 AM on December 15, 2004
Oh Turtles, as a former resident of Southern California (where "like" was also born), I must disagree. To say someone was "like" is to admit that you are paraphrasing for your new audience. Though I would prefer the use of "they were all," which is most preferable.
posted by dame at 9:27 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by dame at 9:27 AM on December 15, 2004
Milkshake = ass?
I thought the two lasses were concocting refreshing dairy beverages
her milkshake might be her genitals
In any case, I believe taste tests are in order.
*slaps self*
posted by jonmc at 9:28 AM on December 15, 2004
I thought the two lasses were concocting refreshing dairy beverages
her milkshake might be her genitals
In any case, I believe taste tests are in order.
*slaps self*
posted by jonmc at 9:28 AM on December 15, 2004
Everyone knows that the median quality movie in the comedy category is the Rodney Dangerfield vehicle, Back to School.
No movie that features A) the archetypal 80s prett-boy villain named "Chaz" and B) a cameo by Kurt Vonnegut could possibly be the exact middle.
posted by COBRA! at 9:31 AM on December 15, 2004
No movie that features A) the archetypal 80s prett-boy villain named "Chaz" and B) a cameo by Kurt Vonnegut could possibly be the exact middle.
posted by COBRA! at 9:31 AM on December 15, 2004
jonmc,
Right, I meant assgenitals.
Turtles,
Not only is everything dirty to me, but I ain't comin out to no fuckin yard for no goddamn milkshake unless there is an ass in it. I'm just that lazy and dirty. This, of course also explains my fondness for the McDonalds St. Pattys Day milkshake, that thing is like 70% pure ass.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:31 AM on December 15, 2004
Right, I meant assgenitals.
Turtles,
Not only is everything dirty to me, but I ain't comin out to no fuckin yard for no goddamn milkshake unless there is an ass in it. I'm just that lazy and dirty. This, of course also explains my fondness for the McDonalds St. Pattys Day milkshake, that thing is like 70% pure ass.
posted by Divine_Wino at 9:31 AM on December 15, 2004
Dame: Agreed that "they were all" would be preferred. But let's couch this in the perhaps cliche Hollywood example of a young lady reporting to her girlfriend the previous night's attempts by a frustrated suitor to compromise her virtue.
Would she not say: "And Larry was all 'why won't you go down on me?'. And I'm all, like "cause jizz has like, so many calories and I totally have to fit into my prom dress!'"
vs. "Larry was all 'why wouldn't I go down on him?'".
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:36 AM on December 15, 2004
Would she not say: "And Larry was all 'why won't you go down on me?'. And I'm all, like "cause jizz has like, so many calories and I totally have to fit into my prom dress!'"
vs. "Larry was all 'why wouldn't I go down on him?'".
posted by Turtles all the way down at 9:36 AM on December 15, 2004
Well, if some girlfriend was going to shake her milk at me, I'd be thinking more front shakin' than backside shakin' if you get my drift.
posted by papercake at 9:48 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by papercake at 9:48 AM on December 15, 2004
"And Larry was all 'why won't you go down on me?"
That Larry just can't catch a break.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:48 AM on December 15, 2004
That Larry just can't catch a break.
posted by Fuzzy Monster at 9:48 AM on December 15, 2004
"Everyone knows that the median quality movie in the comedy category is the Rodney Dangerfield vehicle, Back to School."
Eh. I think a requirement for being a median quality movie is that it actually has to be funny. It gets props for Sam Kinison and the brief appearance of Oingo Boingo, but otherwise, no.
posted by jscalzi at 9:49 AM on December 15, 2004
Eh. I think a requirement for being a median quality movie is that it actually has to be funny. It gets props for Sam Kinison and the brief appearance of Oingo Boingo, but otherwise, no.
posted by jscalzi at 9:49 AM on December 15, 2004
I think you're underestimating the number of bad movies released every year, COBRA.
And I think that the cameo by Kurt Vonnegut was exactly what catapulted Back to School over Mannequin into the coveted statistical middle spot. But, that's just my opinion.
posted by fletchmuy at 9:50 AM on December 15, 2004
And I think that the cameo by Kurt Vonnegut was exactly what catapulted Back to School over Mannequin into the coveted statistical middle spot. But, that's just my opinion.
posted by fletchmuy at 9:50 AM on December 15, 2004
jonmc, compare against "If this everchanging world in which we're living" [makes you give in and cry]. For years, though, I heard it the way you do. Also, you can compare that to John Cougar Mellencamp's "No, I cannot forget from where it is that I come from." But my biggest lyrical pet peeve is singers who rhyme with "I" when the I is an object. Yeah, Jim Morrison and Paula Cole, I'm looking at YOU!
PS: I freakin' LOVE "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes"!
posted by kimota at 9:55 AM on December 15, 2004
PS: I freakin' LOVE "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes"!
posted by kimota at 9:55 AM on December 15, 2004
I had a friend give me a MBV cd as a "Secret Santa" gift one year. Popped it in the CD player in my car (presumably the best place to listen to music) and it lasted maybe a block and a half before it became a frisbee. No disrespect to MBV fans but I'd rather be circumcised with tin-snips than to have to listen to them again. Of course you'd all say that about my "Best of Journey" collection.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:56 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:56 AM on December 15, 2004
fletchmuy, I was thinking the same thing, which means that my median movie would star one of the following:
Steve Guttenberg
Paul Rudd
Tate Donovan
God forbid they were actually in the same flick.
posted by kimota at 9:58 AM on December 15, 2004
Steve Guttenberg
Paul Rudd
Tate Donovan
God forbid they were actually in the same flick.
posted by kimota at 9:58 AM on December 15, 2004
But my biggest lyrical pet peeve is singers who rhyme with "I" when the I is an object.
Mine? The drearily predictable "changing/rearranging" rhyme pairing.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:05 AM on December 15, 2004
Mine? The drearily predictable "changing/rearranging" rhyme pairing.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:05 AM on December 15, 2004
Another possible nominee for the median comedy is "Three Men and a Baby." It even fulfills kimota's Steve Guttenberg requirement, with the utterly midrange additions of Tom Selleck and Ted Danson. On the IMDb, it even gets an almost perfectly average rating of 5.7 out of 10.
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:06 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by Faint of Butt at 10:06 AM on December 15, 2004
Perhaps the median would best be found by looking at film series? Generally, the first of any series is good, and the last is bad, and there's some movie, somewhere within the chain, that's completely average. I dunno, Police Academy or something.
For horror movies, you could probably look at the Nightmare on Elm streets or Friday the 13ths.
posted by Bugbread at 10:07 AM on December 15, 2004 [1 favorite]
For horror movies, you could probably look at the Nightmare on Elm streets or Friday the 13ths.
posted by Bugbread at 10:07 AM on December 15, 2004 [1 favorite]
Rock and Roll nations:
overrated: the USA
underrated: the UK
midpoint: Canada.
*runs for cover*
posted by dash_slot- at 10:07 AM on December 15, 2004
overrated: the USA
underrated: the UK
midpoint: Canada.
*runs for cover*
posted by dash_slot- at 10:07 AM on December 15, 2004
convinced that they were Jim's reincarnation.
I was at an Echo & The Bunnymen gig in '79 or '80, and at one point, Ian McCullogh dropped to his knees and wailed 'Jim, Jim, let the spirit enter'. I stopped laughing in about 1982.
posted by punilux at 10:12 AM on December 15, 2004
I was at an Echo & The Bunnymen gig in '79 or '80, and at one point, Ian McCullogh dropped to his knees and wailed 'Jim, Jim, let the spirit enter'. I stopped laughing in about 1982.
posted by punilux at 10:12 AM on December 15, 2004
PS: I freakin' LOVE "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes"!
Me too! It was on the first record I ever bought, K-Tel's 1974 "20 Explosive Hits" (scroll down). Marshall Crenshaw does a really nice version of this (or is it Freedy Johnston?).
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:13 AM on December 15, 2004
Me too! It was on the first record I ever bought, K-Tel's 1974 "20 Explosive Hits" (scroll down). Marshall Crenshaw does a really nice version of this (or is it Freedy Johnston?).
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:13 AM on December 15, 2004
midpoint: Canada.
Okay dash_slot, I've investigated your profile. I'm going to come over to this "England" place and slap some sense into you. You've been warned.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:16 AM on December 15, 2004
Okay dash_slot, I've investigated your profile. I'm going to come over to this "England" place and slap some sense into you. You've been warned.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:16 AM on December 15, 2004
Well, put me in the "MBV are underrated column". All their other albums are terrible, but Loveless is amazing, and despite being over a decade old still sounds pretty fresh. I love it. Then again, I might just be an anorexic art student with tons of baby fat (but not Baby Phat).
And he's wrong about the Beatles. They're definitely a truly mediocore boy band with some catchy tunes that people attribute far, far too much to.
posted by deafmute at 10:21 AM on December 15, 2004
And he's wrong about the Beatles. They're definitely a truly mediocore boy band with some catchy tunes that people attribute far, far too much to.
posted by deafmute at 10:21 AM on December 15, 2004
any art school attending, loft living, strokes following, baby fat sporting, tight jeans wearing, anorexic nick cave wannabe
Spicynuts, (s)he just wasn't that into you. Move on, buddy, there's plenty more art-school fish in the sea.
posted by signal at 10:26 AM on December 15, 2004
Spicynuts, (s)he just wasn't that into you. Move on, buddy, there's plenty more art-school fish in the sea.
posted by signal at 10:26 AM on December 15, 2004
Perhaps the median would best be found by looking at film series?
Die Hard 2. Or the second Back to the Future.
posted by scottq at 10:27 AM on December 15, 2004
Die Hard 2. Or the second Back to the Future.
posted by scottq at 10:27 AM on December 15, 2004
I don't think any movie with Steve Guttenberg in it can be median, if for no other reason that he was in nearly every movie made for a decade or so. Talk about stacking the dreck.
posted by tommasz at 10:31 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by tommasz at 10:31 AM on December 15, 2004
Turtles all the way down:
Canada woulda been challenging for the top spot, if not for Bryan friggin' Adams. That mediocre troll got 'Everything I Do (I do it for you)' to the #1 spot in the singles charts for 16 effing weeks.
He will never be forgiven, and consequently is single handedly responsible for Canada's poor showing (in my personal Rock Nations List).
I'm not quite sure why I hate that song so much, I feel almost traumatised by it (",)
posted by dash_slot- at 10:32 AM on December 15, 2004
Canada woulda been challenging for the top spot, if not for Bryan friggin' Adams. That mediocre troll got 'Everything I Do (I do it for you)' to the #1 spot in the singles charts for 16 effing weeks.
He will never be forgiven, and consequently is single handedly responsible for Canada's poor showing (in my personal Rock Nations List).
I'm not quite sure why I hate that song so much, I feel almost traumatised by it (",)
posted by dash_slot- at 10:32 AM on December 15, 2004
dash_slot: what can I say to that? Only this: I concede.
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:41 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by Turtles all the way down at 10:41 AM on December 15, 2004
My condolences to you, Tatwd, maybe some Canadian-rocker-to-come will erase his memory.
posted by dash_slot- at 10:56 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by dash_slot- at 10:56 AM on December 15, 2004
Well, put me in the "MBV are underrated column". All their other albums are terrible, but Loveless is amazing, and despite being over a decade old still sounds pretty fresh.
They only have one other album, and it's not quite terrible.
And he's wrong about the Beatles. They're definitely a truly mediocore boy band with some catchy tunes that people attribute far, far too much to.
Maybe you're thinking of someone else.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:57 AM on December 15, 2004
They only have one other album, and it's not quite terrible.
And he's wrong about the Beatles. They're definitely a truly mediocore boy band with some catchy tunes that people attribute far, far too much to.
Maybe you're thinking of someone else.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:57 AM on December 15, 2004
But I like "And The Cradle Will Rock"! But then for over a year I thought he was singing "Have you seen Junior's brains?" Still, that's Van Halen one good song, like "I Am The Walrus" is the Beatles'.
Too bad about the Van Halen singer. The Beatles went downhill too after Paul died.
posted by davy at 11:02 AM on December 15, 2004
Too bad about the Van Halen singer. The Beatles went downhill too after Paul died.
posted by davy at 11:02 AM on December 15, 2004
Turtles, I have been bested. Let's get together and form the I Was All (IWA) Front and save everyone once and for all.
posted by dame at 11:13 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by dame at 11:13 AM on December 15, 2004
I heard Steve Guttenberg described once as "the thinking man's Fred Flintstone".
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:23 AM on December 15, 2004
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:23 AM on December 15, 2004
God I want to be in a dorm room passing around a graphics right now.
I think you meant Graphix, right.
Not that I ever knew of these things.
posted by sourwookie at 11:42 AM on December 15, 2004
I think you meant Graphix, right.
Not that I ever knew of these things.
posted by sourwookie at 11:42 AM on December 15, 2004
They're definitely a truly mediocore boy band with some catchy tunes that people attribute far, far too much to.
what the? i mean seriously dude. i don't even know what to say.
posted by glenwood at 12:03 PM on December 15, 2004
what the? i mean seriously dude. i don't even know what to say.
posted by glenwood at 12:03 PM on December 15, 2004
For horror movies, you could probably look at the Nightmare on Elm streets or Friday the 13ths.
Well, if you include Freddy Vs. Jason as a FT13 flick, then the median falls squarely on the shoulders of Friday The 13th Part 6: Jason Lives. Check out this quote from a viewer review from imdb:
"This film has a huge body count - so huge, in fact, that many of the victims don't even get to introduce themselves before they get decapitated."
Personally, we could use more reality TV shows that embrace this artistic concept.
My pick for 'median comedy': Creator, with Peter O'Toole, Mariel Hemingway, and Vincent Spano.
"An eccentric scientist teaches a student in his own manner while he looks for a way to clone his deceased wife."
That'll do, pig. That'll do.
posted by Darkman at 12:11 PM on December 15, 2004
Well, if you include Freddy Vs. Jason as a FT13 flick, then the median falls squarely on the shoulders of Friday The 13th Part 6: Jason Lives. Check out this quote from a viewer review from imdb:
"This film has a huge body count - so huge, in fact, that many of the victims don't even get to introduce themselves before they get decapitated."
Personally, we could use more reality TV shows that embrace this artistic concept.
My pick for 'median comedy': Creator, with Peter O'Toole, Mariel Hemingway, and Vincent Spano.
"An eccentric scientist teaches a student in his own manner while he looks for a way to clone his deceased wife."
That'll do, pig. That'll do.
posted by Darkman at 12:11 PM on December 15, 2004
Right, well I guess there's nobody who knows overrated like Klosterman. This is the guy who called Steely Dan "more lyrically subversive than the Sex Pistols and the Clash combined."
Klosterman is the balm for anybody who ever got hurt feelings because the Asia album they liked got slammed by a rock critic. He's the apologist for the mainstream of the mainstream. Now, I'm not saying there's anything inherently wrong with that music. But here's the rub. You don't need a rock critic to tell you that Van Halen was popular. Just go to a f***in virgin megastore and look at the posters on the walls. There you go, buy those. Everybody loves em.
So, once again, 'ol Chuckie is back with the 411. Apparently, the Beatles were huge and Van Halen went downhill with Sammy Hagar. Amazing! Worth the cover price right there. Idiot.
posted by lumpenprole at 12:22 PM on December 15, 2004
Klosterman is the balm for anybody who ever got hurt feelings because the Asia album they liked got slammed by a rock critic. He's the apologist for the mainstream of the mainstream. Now, I'm not saying there's anything inherently wrong with that music. But here's the rub. You don't need a rock critic to tell you that Van Halen was popular. Just go to a f***in virgin megastore and look at the posters on the walls. There you go, buy those. Everybody loves em.
So, once again, 'ol Chuckie is back with the 411. Apparently, the Beatles were huge and Van Halen went downhill with Sammy Hagar. Amazing! Worth the cover price right there. Idiot.
posted by lumpenprole at 12:22 PM on December 15, 2004
Van Halen - big deal. van Beethoven is still being played 200+ years later and Vivaldi 300 years later.
I've got a wedgie with your name on it.
posted by mcsweetie at 12:36 PM on December 15, 2004
I've got a wedgie with your name on it.
posted by mcsweetie at 12:36 PM on December 15, 2004
ludwig_van,
They only have one other album, and it's not quite terrible.
They have more than 2 records. Most people are only aware of Loveless (brilliant) and Isn't Anything (not that bad). The other albums leave a bit to be desired (alright, a lot) and it's probably why no one ever mentions them.
posted by purephase at 12:38 PM on December 15, 2004
They only have one other album, and it's not quite terrible.
They have more than 2 records. Most people are only aware of Loveless (brilliant) and Isn't Anything (not that bad). The other albums leave a bit to be desired (alright, a lot) and it's probably why no one ever mentions them.
posted by purephase at 12:38 PM on December 15, 2004
He's the apologist for the mainstream of the mainstream.
Dave Marsh & Lester Bangs (probably the two most famous rock critics) wrote about Springsteen, the Beatles & the Archies. Dosen't get more mainstream than that. There was a time when rock crticism was at least to a degree about elucidating popular culture, rather than the tedious one-upmanship of the hipster bitch session it's become.
Klosterman's actually a breath of fresh air since it's rare to see the likes of Van Halen or Kiss written about intelligently (unless of course, it's to renounce them).
posted by jonmc at 1:01 PM on December 15, 2004
Dave Marsh & Lester Bangs (probably the two most famous rock critics) wrote about Springsteen, the Beatles & the Archies. Dosen't get more mainstream than that. There was a time when rock crticism was at least to a degree about elucidating popular culture, rather than the tedious one-upmanship of the hipster bitch session it's become.
Klosterman's actually a breath of fresh air since it's rare to see the likes of Van Halen or Kiss written about intelligently (unless of course, it's to renounce them).
posted by jonmc at 1:01 PM on December 15, 2004
I recall a few years back hearing somewhere -- NPR, perhaps -- about someone who postulated that the ultimate middle-of-the-road movie is "The Truth About Cats and Dogs." Pretty good choice. It's one of those movies you'd never plan to watch, but if you come across it on cable on a Saturday afternoon you're not going anywhere for the next two hours.
posted by schoolgirl report at 1:33 PM on December 15, 2004
posted by schoolgirl report at 1:33 PM on December 15, 2004
My Big Fat Greek Wedding isn't a bad contender for absolutely average -- it gets a lot of points for being generally funny, warm and well-acted, but loses most of them for being the most vapid thing you'll ever see on the screen. There's exactly one plot point: they get married. And since that's in the title, you know exactly what's going to happen to her as soon as she appears onscreen (ugly duckling transformation, love story, wedding preparations, wedding). Its action equivalent is probably Lethal Weapon IV, by which point the cast clearly felt that it barely needed either plot or characterization to make a Lethal Weapon movie.
As for the Friday the 13th films, they don't quite fit the mold of good-to-fair-to-bad -- they were uninspired Halloween rip-offs from the very start. Part 6 was actually the series' peak -- logical and funny script, decent acting. There were many more bodies in part 5, which was of train-wreck quality, and most of the rest were just somewhere below mediocre. (I am yet a huge fan. Go figure.)
posted by Epenthesis at 1:38 PM on December 15, 2004
As for the Friday the 13th films, they don't quite fit the mold of good-to-fair-to-bad -- they were uninspired Halloween rip-offs from the very start. Part 6 was actually the series' peak -- logical and funny script, decent acting. There were many more bodies in part 5, which was of train-wreck quality, and most of the rest were just somewhere below mediocre. (I am yet a huge fan. Go figure.)
posted by Epenthesis at 1:38 PM on December 15, 2004
The Truth About Cats and Dogs Theory comes from This American Life. I'd have to agree that Love, Acdtually probably has taken its place, though.
posted by turaho at 1:42 PM on December 15, 2004
posted by turaho at 1:42 PM on December 15, 2004
Man, and I thought *I* was a Van Halen Nerd.
Thanks, MeFi!! :D
there are only 6 Van Halen albums. They are all over 20 years old.
posted by zoogleplex at 1:46 PM on December 15, 2004
Thanks, MeFi!! :D
there are only 6 Van Halen albums. They are all over 20 years old.
posted by zoogleplex at 1:46 PM on December 15, 2004
Dave Marsh & Lester Bangs (probably the two most famous rock critics) wrote about Springsteen, the Beatles & the Archies.
Sure. 30 years ago. What they weren't writing were long paens to the great super tunes of the 1930's. (tho I'd like to hear that from Bangs in particular.)
posted by lumpenprole at 1:50 PM on December 15, 2004
Sure. 30 years ago. What they weren't writing were long paens to the great super tunes of the 1930's. (tho I'd like to hear that from Bangs in particular.)
posted by lumpenprole at 1:50 PM on December 15, 2004
(and o my god, i can't belive you compared Klosterman to Bangs.)
posted by lumpenprole at 1:52 PM on December 15, 2004
posted by lumpenprole at 1:52 PM on December 15, 2004
Canada woulda been challenging for the top spot, if not for Bryan friggin' Adams. That mediocre troll got 'Everything I Do (I do it for you)' to the #1 spot in the singles charts for 16 effing weeks.
Don't forget how appallingly MOR Nickleback is, too.
posted by btwillig at 1:57 PM on December 15, 2004
Don't forget how appallingly MOR Nickleback is, too.
posted by btwillig at 1:57 PM on December 15, 2004
(and o my god, i can't belive you compared Klosterman to Bangs.)
Like, wow, does this mean I can't sit at the cool kids table?
Even during their heyday, artists in certain genres were written off by the rock intelligentsia, lumpenprole. And I wasn't comparing Klosterman (who i do enjoy) to Bangs (who I also like) in terms of talent, merely positing that it's not exactly a new phenomenon for rock critics to write about "mainstream acts." It's great to uncover buried treasures, but rock writing dosen't have to become an obscurantist pissing contest.
And Bangs wrote paeans to the Count Five in the late seventies, a full decade after they had hits. And Van Halen were almost never intelligently covered during their peak years.
posted by jonmc at 1:59 PM on December 15, 2004
Like, wow, does this mean I can't sit at the cool kids table?
Even during their heyday, artists in certain genres were written off by the rock intelligentsia, lumpenprole. And I wasn't comparing Klosterman (who i do enjoy) to Bangs (who I also like) in terms of talent, merely positing that it's not exactly a new phenomenon for rock critics to write about "mainstream acts." It's great to uncover buried treasures, but rock writing dosen't have to become an obscurantist pissing contest.
And Bangs wrote paeans to the Count Five in the late seventies, a full decade after they had hits. And Van Halen were almost never intelligently covered during their peak years.
posted by jonmc at 1:59 PM on December 15, 2004
btwillig: You're supposed to be on our team!!
posted by Turtles all the way down at 2:10 PM on December 15, 2004
posted by Turtles all the way down at 2:10 PM on December 15, 2004
That Matthew Sweet comment is right on.
posted by hopeless romantique at 2:16 PM on December 15, 2004
posted by hopeless romantique at 2:16 PM on December 15, 2004
btwillig: You're supposed to be on our team!!
I am. There are lot of great Canadian bands out there (especially as of late), but it's hard to forget the Glass Tigers, Platinum Blondes, Harlequins, Chilliwacks, Loverboys... (need I go on)
posted by btwillig at 2:32 PM on December 15, 2004
I am. There are lot of great Canadian bands out there (especially as of late), but it's hard to forget the Glass Tigers, Platinum Blondes, Harlequins, Chilliwacks, Loverboys... (need I go on)
posted by btwillig at 2:32 PM on December 15, 2004
Speaking of which, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider are playing in my home town on New Year's Eve.
Lunatic fringe!
posted by Darkman at 2:36 PM on December 15, 2004
Lunatic fringe!
posted by Darkman at 2:36 PM on December 15, 2004
Epenthesis:
As for the Friday the 13th films, they don't quite fit the mold of good-to-fair-to-bad -- they were uninspired Halloween rip-offs from the very start. Part 6 was actually the series' peak -- logical and funny script, decent acting. There were many more bodies in part 5, which was of train-wreck quality, and most of the rest were just somewhere below mediocre. (I am yet a huge fan. Go figure.)
I still have trouble admitting to my friends that I purchased the FT13 boxed set. There's just something about that hockey mask...
posted by Darkman at 2:39 PM on December 15, 2004
As for the Friday the 13th films, they don't quite fit the mold of good-to-fair-to-bad -- they were uninspired Halloween rip-offs from the very start. Part 6 was actually the series' peak -- logical and funny script, decent acting. There were many more bodies in part 5, which was of train-wreck quality, and most of the rest were just somewhere below mediocre. (I am yet a huge fan. Go figure.)
I still have trouble admitting to my friends that I purchased the FT13 boxed set. There's just something about that hockey mask...
posted by Darkman at 2:39 PM on December 15, 2004
The strange thing about Paul McCartney's above-mentioned preposition-fest is that there's a simple way to avoid it:
If this ever changing world in which we're livin'
Makes you give in and cry...
posted by ibmcginty at 3:29 PM on December 15, 2004
If this ever changing world in which we're livin'
Makes you give in and cry...
posted by ibmcginty at 3:29 PM on December 15, 2004
And he's wrong about the Beatles. They're definitely a truly mediocore boy band with some catchy tunes that people attribute far, far too much to.
Idiot.
posted by Bonzai at 3:48 PM on December 15, 2004
Idiot.
posted by Bonzai at 3:48 PM on December 15, 2004
My median nominees:
Action movie: Air Force One
Fantasy movie: Dragonheart
Star Trek movie: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Beatles song: Magical Mystery Tour (A median Beatles song is still better than 90% of pop music.)
Chess opening: Queen's Indian Defense (OK, I'll stop before I get any sillier)
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:30 PM on December 15, 2004
Action movie: Air Force One
Fantasy movie: Dragonheart
Star Trek movie: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Beatles song: Magical Mystery Tour (A median Beatles song is still better than 90% of pop music.)
Chess opening: Queen's Indian Defense (OK, I'll stop before I get any sillier)
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 5:30 PM on December 15, 2004
I second Air Force One... I saw it twice in the theatres, but in hind sight there was no great reason to see it the first time.
posted by themadjuggler at 5:59 PM on December 15, 2004
posted by themadjuggler at 5:59 PM on December 15, 2004
Preach it, deafmute! Expressing public dislike of the Beatles is the new blasphemy. I find them more than overrated.
My favourite record store doesn't stock 'em, either.
posted by scruss at 7:41 PM on December 15, 2004
My favourite record store doesn't stock 'em, either.
posted by scruss at 7:41 PM on December 15, 2004
C'mon, "Get off my plane!". Classic.
Yes, but a majority of action movies have a halfway-decent one-liner, so an action movie that didn't have one would be below average.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:07 PM on December 15, 2004
Yes, but a majority of action movies have a halfway-decent one-liner, so an action movie that didn't have one would be below average.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:07 PM on December 15, 2004
Median crime movie - Ocean's 11.
Median chickflick - Titanic.
posted by coriolisdave at 8:12 PM on December 15, 2004
Median chickflick - Titanic.
posted by coriolisdave at 8:12 PM on December 15, 2004
Preach it, deafmute! Expressing public dislike of the Beatles is the new blasphemy.
He didn't say he didn't like them, he said a bunch of ridiculous stuff that made him sound like he was not very familiar with the band in question.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:03 PM on December 15, 2004
He didn't say he didn't like them, he said a bunch of ridiculous stuff that made him sound like he was not very familiar with the band in question.
posted by ludwig_van at 10:03 PM on December 15, 2004
Loveless sold about 200,000 copies. This is the correct number of people on earth who should be invested in the concept of swirling guitars.
To me, a very insightful assessment.
And whoa- a top ten list in a mainstream music publication, yet I agree with nearly all of it. Am I getting old? Stupider? What is happening to me?
posted by DuoJet at 10:35 PM on December 15, 2004
To me, a very insightful assessment.
And whoa- a top ten list in a mainstream music publication, yet I agree with nearly all of it. Am I getting old? Stupider? What is happening to me?
posted by DuoJet at 10:35 PM on December 15, 2004
once upon a time i hated the beatles. i also thought that they were crappy boy-bandish pop that didn't deserve an audience. whenever a song of theirs came on the radio, i'd cringe and quickly change the station.
then i made an important discovery:
every album post-"help".
honestly, if you can listen to "a day in the life" and still not appreciate the beatles' brilliance, i pity you.
i still hate their early music though, especially "yesterday". strangely enough, it seems that their early stuff is the only thing you hear on the radio these days...
posted by joedan at 11:28 PM on December 15, 2004
then i made an important discovery:
every album post-"help".
honestly, if you can listen to "a day in the life" and still not appreciate the beatles' brilliance, i pity you.
i still hate their early music though, especially "yesterday". strangely enough, it seems that their early stuff is the only thing you hear on the radio these days...
posted by joedan at 11:28 PM on December 15, 2004
i never realized BOC had an umlaut in their name. wouldn't that be pronounced "oouster"?
i'm all for the decorative umlaut, though.
öptimus.
posted by optimuscrime at 1:05 AM on December 16, 2004
i'm all for the decorative umlaut, though.
öptimus.
posted by optimuscrime at 1:05 AM on December 16, 2004
Yeah, A Day in the Life is fucking brilliant. Also, The Truth About Cats and Dogs is a reinterpretation of Cyrano de Bergerac. This would disqualify it, but for the fact that nobody knows. As, indeed, they shouldn't.
posted by Tlogmer at 1:05 AM on December 16, 2004
posted by Tlogmer at 1:05 AM on December 16, 2004
I heard Steve Guttenberg described once as "the thinking man's Fred Flintstone".
Awesome, KevinSkomsvold. Just awesome.
Also: I'm not buying this whole Young MC apologia. Dude overstretched hisself, had to bust a half-baked scenario to try and get out of it. The narrator's clearly Harry's best friend, Larry's the one getting married, it makes no sense for the narrator to be the best man, and even if it did, why would he then have to "check [his] libido" in the next verse? Isn't the opposite usually true of bachelor best men?
Furthermore: the median movie would have to be something that airs regularly on TBS, which is a shrine to cinematic MOR-dom. I vote for A Few Good Men. If you disagree, I'd wager it's because you can't handle the truth.
And it was a baby ox.
posted by gompa at 1:18 AM on December 16, 2004
Awesome, KevinSkomsvold. Just awesome.
Also: I'm not buying this whole Young MC apologia. Dude overstretched hisself, had to bust a half-baked scenario to try and get out of it. The narrator's clearly Harry's best friend, Larry's the one getting married, it makes no sense for the narrator to be the best man, and even if it did, why would he then have to "check [his] libido" in the next verse? Isn't the opposite usually true of bachelor best men?
Furthermore: the median movie would have to be something that airs regularly on TBS, which is a shrine to cinematic MOR-dom. I vote for A Few Good Men. If you disagree, I'd wager it's because you can't handle the truth.
And it was a baby ox.
posted by gompa at 1:18 AM on December 16, 2004
A quick notion, if they are all accurately rated, shouldn't the list then be a tie?
posted by doozer_ex_machina at 5:54 AM on December 16, 2004
posted by doozer_ex_machina at 5:54 AM on December 16, 2004
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posted by jonmc at 7:29 AM on December 15, 2004