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November 27, 2004

ThanksKinking

Nostalgic Rock Audio Beef Today. The Kinks give thanks for the sacred days.

'Days' (BBC Session Remix) from 1968's Are The Village Green Preservation Society (Remastered Deluxe Edition) on Sanctuary Records

'Days' was a hit for the Kinks in the UK, but never ever gets played on classic rock radio in America. This version was recorded live for the BBC, and it shows how well put together the Kinks were in 1968. The live recording sounds almost exactly like the version on record. No studio stars, these.

For me, this week has been dedicated to thankfulness. Saw old friends and met new ones, played an old classic made new and reminded myself of the joys which always surround me. This Kinks song has such a wonderful perspective on thankfulness that this I wanted to share it with you, dear reader. Give thanks and praises.

Choice Beef Quote :
Thank you for the days,
Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
I'm thinking of the days,
I won't forget a single day, believe me.

I bless the light,
I bless the light that lights on you believe me.
And though you're gone,
You're with me every single day, believe me.

Days I'll remember all my life,
Days when you can't see wrong from right.
You took my life,
But then I knew that very soon you'd leave me,
But it's all right,
Now I'm not frightened of this world, believe me.

(Shouts out to those who have given me great days in this life.)

Posted by darwin at 02:25 PM | | Comments (1)

November 24, 2004

The Cowboy Junkies Pay The Cost To Be The Boss

Haunting Covers of The Boss Audio Beef Today. The Cowboy Junkies head down Thunder Road with Bruce Springsteen and hope they don't get pulled over.

'Thunder Road' from 2004's (unpurchasable bonus EP) Neath Your Covers, Part 1

'State Trooper' from 1986's (out of print) Whites Off Earth Now!

Both songs are performed by the Cowboy Junkies and originally written by Bruce Springsteen.

The Cowboy Junkies have been doing this for a very long time. Their first album, a selection of mostly American blues covers, was recorded in this tiny garage with a single microphone. In other words, that incredibly haunting, perfectly accented, subtle version of 'State Trooper' was recorded live. Did I mention it was recorded with one mic? I can't even grasp how such a thing is possible.

'State Trooper' is one of my favorite songs on my favorite Bruce Springsteen album, Nebraska. Though it was his sixth album when released in 1982 (after 9 years of success) it is comprised entirely of the demo takes Bruce recorded alone. Amazing songwriting and classic delivery. It's remarkable that Born In The USA came only two years later and was clearly designed for high-rotation radio airplay. After Born in the USA, Bruce Springsteen was clearly classified uncool among the underground. I'm unsure whether this was a result of the typical hipster hatred of success or a misinterpretation of the title track as patriotic. In either case, I think it's high time The Boss was rehabilitated, his current shilling for the Democratic Party (shill^2) notwithstanding.

The Cowboy Junkies version of 'Thunder Road' (from Springsteen's 1975 classic Born To Run) showcases his amazing songwriting ability. It paints such a vivid picture that I never, ever want to visit New Jersey again. The Cowboy Junkies version is perfectly arranged, conveying urgency, desperation and.. hope. By the time we get to the punchline every hair is on end, every nerve is tingling. And oh, that voice..

(It's interesting that the Junkies chose to cut out about a half a verse. I think when you see what they cut and hear how coherent their version sounds, it makes a lot of sense. Just.. slightly.. different. BTW, Neath Your Covers was only available for a limited time with purchase of the new Cowboy Junkies CD, One Soul Now)

Choice Beef Quote:

The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing 'For The Lonely'
Hey that's me.. and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside
Darling you know just what I'm here for

So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty, but hey, you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me

You can hide `neath your covers
And study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers
Throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a savior to rise from these streets

Well now I'm no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl
Is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow

Hey what else can we do now
Except roll down the window
And let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's busting open
These two lanes will take us anywhere

(The picture above has nothing to do with the Cowboy Junkies, who are from Canadia. It is, however, a picture.. of Cowboy.. Junkies..)

Posted by darwin at 12:06 AM | | Comments (0)

November 18, 2004

10,001st Maniac David Byrne Lets The Mystery Be

Unplugged Outtake Talking Head Maniac Audio Beef Today. David Byrne joins 10,000 Maniacs and chooses to leave unanswerable questions unanswered.

'Let The Mystery Be' by 10,000 Maniacs featuring David Byrne, collected on Campfire Songs

Every once in a while I hear a song that immediately strikes me; I get goosebumps and start singing along before the first play is over. This is one of those songs.

It's a cover of a song by country musician Iris Dement (from her album Infamous Angel), originally recorded as part of the 1993 10,000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged performance but previously only released as a CD single B-side. It features David Byrne, so you should really download it on that basis alone. It's not every day you get to hear a duet between Natalie Merchant and David Byrne, you know?

What really gets me about this song is the beautiful message, expressed in such an elegant and human way. For those of us who are overly analytical, sometimes it helps to be reminded that not everything must be analyzed.

Sometimes, you can just let the mystery be.

Choice Beef Quote:
Some say they're goin' to a place called Glory and I ain't saying it ain't a fact.
But I've heard that I'm on the road to purgatory and I don't like the sound of that.
Well, I believe in love and I live my life accordingly.
But I choose to let the mystery be.


Everybody's wonderin' what and where they all came from.
Everybody's worryin' 'bout where they're gonna go when the whole thing's done.
But no one knows for certain and so it's all the same to me.
I think I'll just let the mystery be.

(Am I the only one who feels an intense urge to sing out when the chorus hits the "no-one knows for certain" line? Yowza, intense. Oh, the Amazon page for this album has a comment which indicates that 10,000 Maniacs covered Eno's Burning Airlines..., so if anyone has a copy, feel free to mail nuclearbeef A@T gmail d0t com.)

Posted by darwin at 09:30 AM | | Comments (1)

November 14, 2004

GTA on DMT

Esoteric Drug References in Video Games Video Beef Today. Peter Fonda offers the gamer a hit of DMT.

Video Beef : How About Some DMT? (26MB, .mpg, VCD)

In this clip from the newest game in Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto series, Grand Theft Auto : San Andreas, a hippie drug dealer named 'The Truth' (played by Peter Fonda) offers your character some exotic mindbending drugs.

(Partial Transcript is mine.)
The Truth: Dude, you want mushrooms? Weed? How about some DMT?

Officer Tenpenny: [stoned] Oh, not for me, man. I gotta jet. Hooo.. Shit! Yo, Carl! Pay the Man!

The Truth: Whoa, man, I never thought I'd see that.. a Fed out-smoking me!
...
The Truth: Friend, you give off a positive energy. How about some Vietnamese opium?

Carl Johnson: Nah, I don't get down with that.

The Truth: But how do I know I can trust you?

Carl Johnson: What, I'm working for you now?

The Truth: I am a man of peace.. but some squares across that ridge are not respecting my peace. I mean.. survivalist maniacs.. right-wingers.. fascists! They have a harvester, and I need it. Get it, and you can pay me. Namaste, Carl!

Carl Johnson: The fuck that mean? Later, freak.

Although lots of other characters in the game (including the police officer with the bong, above) do get high, your character Carl Johnson (CJ) never does. One wonders whether there were actually meetings about this decision at Rockstar Games. It's a bit difficult to imagine how they decided that reckless killing, incessant cursing and glorification of the gang lifestyle are OK.. but CJ getting zooted is not.

In any case, I'm pleased as punch with the game and heartened to see just how far Rockstar is willing to push the boundaries. Especially considering the current regulatory climate of fear regarding 'adult' content. I blame those damn fascist.. survivalist maniac.. right-wingers!

(Now if only we could get simultaneous release of the PC version...)

Shouts to synec, who first mentioned this to me... and to everyone who has ever told me "Namaste"... ;)

Posted by darwin at 08:28 PM | | Comments (0)

November 10, 2004

Law, Order, Reefer and.. Partisan Politics?

The Higher Side of Partisan Politics Video Beef and Law And Order Audio Beef Today. Law and Order meets stoner culture in the halls of power.

(click image for larger)

Video Beef: I Don't Want To Lose My Job (8mb, VCD, .mpg)

Audio Beef: Law and Order by Mike Post from Inventions From The Blue Line

The Video Beef is a clip from NBC's long-running crime drama Law And Order, now in its fifteenth season. In it, two staffers on a political campaign sneak off to smoke reefer. This being the intro to Law And Order, they soon discover a dead body. Wait for the punchline...

(Did she just say "to smoke some bowl"? An 'A' for effort, anyway.)

The Audio Beef is Mike Post's theme song from Law And Order. I don't care what anyone says, this song kicks ass. So do Post's themes for Quantum Leap and The A-Team. If you don't know, get the aud-i-o like you was Arsenio. Dann DUNN...

(The mp3 above was recorded off TV, the version on his CD may well be different. Mark Farina is a capable replacement for Jerry Orbach, though there's really no replacing Lenny.)

Shouts out to the Slackster, who shares my love of Law and Order.

Posted by darwin at 11:15 PM | | Comments (3)

Mythbuster Kari = Hot

Just a quick entry to point out the obvious :

Mythbusters builder Kari Byron is smoking hot.

(Click for larger)

(Hoo.. Lawdy. The fact that she can build stuff doesn't hurt either. Of course, Scottie Chapman (on the left in the top pic) is a great builder and quite a cutie herself...)

UPDATE: Kari and Scottie have rocketed to the top of my search terms. You're blowing up, ladies! Feel free to drop me a mail at nuclearbeef AT gmail dot com if you want to hang!

FURTHER UPDATE: Nuclear Beef now has an entire category dedicated to Kari Byron Pics. Enjoy.

Posted by darwin at 10:27 PM | | Comments (97)

November 09, 2004

Beenie Man Has Memories Of Sugar Walls

Dancehall Style Audio Beef Today. Beenie Man and Mya have memories of sugar walls. Mmm.. sugar walls.

(all tracks are by Beenie Man)

'Memories' collected on Best of Beenie Man

'Girls Dem Sugar' feat Mya from 2001's Girls Dem Sugar UK CD Single

Beenie Man is a dancehall legend. Like most other dancehall legends, this means he has some very good tracks and very bad tracks. Here's two of the good ones. With a decade of hits behind him, Beenie Man is by turns a gangster, a preacher and a lover.

'Memories' shows all of these sides. The verses are a bit incoherent, but I find myself singing the hook. As with most "street" music, this almost certainly means that he just stole it from some classic song. If I recall correctly, the DJ Honda/Mos Def single 'Travellin' Man' has the same chorus. Even if I do hear eventually hear the original, I don't think it can compare to Beenie Man's Cookie Monster version.

'Girls Dem Sugar' was pretty big on the radio for a while there. I wonder why. Maybe it was that incredibly smooth beat by the Neptunes combined with a catchy pop hook by Mya? Beenie Man flows nice here, perhaps a bit more romantically than on his slackest tracks. A good song for the summertime.

(or to bring some summer to your November day.)

Choice Beef Quote:
Scuse me baby but I really just have to tell you this
It's been a while since I'm admiring your tenderness
...
And me want to show you I'm a man that very romantic
But you's my favorite choosy girl, that's why me'll never itch

UPDATE: Some whore mp3 search engine or something linked to this post, so the download link for "Girls Dem Sugar" doesn't work anymore. Thanks, guys!

Posted by darwin at 12:24 AM | | Comments (0)

November 05, 2004

I Loved You In Terminator 2

Mindbending Glitchtronics Today. Jason Patrick pets a stoner girl so nice, he saved her twice.

'Pet Yr Cat Pet Them Pet Yrself Then Pet Me'

'Stoner Girl'

'Prissy Goes To Beauty School'

All tracks are by Liquid Cop from his 2003 album Data So Nice I Saved It Twice

Liquid Cop is an enigma wrapped inside a mystery wrapped inside the Bay Area. According to this page full of CD-R treats at Aquarius Records he is from San Francisco, but I can assure you he is flying deep under the rader here. That's why he doesn't have a web page link... he doesn't have a web page.

It's a shame, because his album Data So Nice I Saved It Twice is one of my top ten of 2003. Glitchiness in the vein of Prefuse or edIT but with a wicked sense of humor and a Negativland-like love of obviously illegal samples.

('Yo Dre! Where's the Goddamn Drum Machines?" Eazy E RIP.)

The Liquid Cop aesthetic is reflected in the obvious Korn and NWA samples in 'Pet Pet Yr Cat Pet Them Pet Yrself Then Pet Me.' Glitches and skips descend over a booming bass-drum and clap combo. Like most songs on this album, it's about two and a half minutes long but still manages to express a lot of variety.

'Stoner Girl' is a minute and a half paen to the stoner girl every lover of fucked up music truly wants. I have to wonder if the voice we're hearing is Mr. Cop himself, or a friend. Bonus points for a song which contains a dope bassline, Indian singing and.. could that really be a sample of the thrash part from Metallica's 'One'? Another case of expecting the unexpected from Liquid Cop.

The last track I've decided to post almost sounds like They Might Be Giants. That's a good thing in my world. It seems to indicate that Liquid Cop knows how to write traditional music. At least, it has a very good sense of melody. Then, it goes ape with a vocal that I find myself singing along with. This, despite the fact that the vocal is comprised entirely out of gibberish phonics. Mmm.. gibberish.

(If anyone has any more information on Liquid Cop, please please please contact me via the comments or nuclearbeef A@T gmail d0t com. Also, you can buy this CD for SEVEN DOLLARS at Aquarius. You could do a whole lot worse for seven bucks. Oh, incidentally.. 'Prissy Goes To Beauty School' is featured on my mix 'Don't Think Too Much' which you should check out!)

Posted by darwin at 02:49 PM | | Comments (3)