Post Forty: Miscellaneous Debris

Finally! Some album release dates that I can actually look forward to. First up is Buckcherry's new one on April 11 (looks like Josh Todd (whose solo album wasn't too bad) has wised up and gone back to his band). Still need to find Buckcherry's second album. Anyone happen to know if their cover of "Anything" is on there?

May 2nd is a HUGE day: Tool, Ministry AND Pearl Jam all have new releases. Anyone else notice that Ministry has a habit of sneaking albums out on you? I swear, I just happen to come across them. Houses of the Mole was great, a throwback to Psalm 69 days. Hope they keep it up.

I just realized that Rebel Meets Rebel is also releasing their album on May 2nd. This is David Allan Coe w/ Pantera's band (Vinnie, Dimebag, and Rex). Sirius has been playing the hell out of "Nothing to Lose," and it's great. Looks like I'll have to make a trip to Best Buy on the 2nd.

Finally, the Red Hot Chili Peppers release a double album on May 9th. Ugh. If anything like their last two or three albums, with all that ballad bad-singing shit polluting the airwaves, I am going to be staying away (again). But I've heard rumors that it's going to be a throwback to their old funk days. If they can recapture the glory days of Mother's Milk and, to a lesser extent, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, I would just be thrilled. I'm not putting much faith in it though.

Hope you caught the nod to Primus.

Post Thirty-Nine: A History of Violence

Watched A History of Violence last night. The first half was great, but I think it would have been superb had several things been done differently. Spoilers will abound in this post, so you've been warned:

1. So the two high school jerk-offs confront the son after his dad kills the psychos in the diner, and all of a sudden the son is Superman? As much as I can sympathize with the kid, I would have had the shit beat out of him by the two assholes. Would have made for a better commentary on people's being suckered into the unrealistic spin the media put on people ("heroes") who get extraordinarily lucky in such situations.

2. Cronenberg was on to something with the husband's paranoia about the mob guys going to his house, but this was simply abandoned in favor of a showdown. That should have been played out a bit longer, as well as further doubts on the wife's part about who exactly her husband was. The scene on the stairs would still work, perhaps even better, if she didn't know for sure who he was.

3. This leads me to the ending. Just make the yard scene the ending of the movie, with the audience being let in on the fact that he is Joey Cusack with the line "I should have killed you in Philadelphia," followed by the son's cutting the dude in half with the shotgun. The hug between the father and son (with that look in Viggo's eyes, which he just nailed) would have been a more impressive ending, in my opinion.

A really good movie, nonetheless. My biggest gripe(s) are just that it devolves into some sort of Raw Deal (which I actually love for what it is) in the last hour, when it could have been so much more.

Post Thirty-eight: Afghanistan

I would hope most people have heard about the clerics in Afghanistan who are going to put a guy to death for converting to Christianity from Islam.

Christ, what a backwards nation. And religion. And I know this has to be the understatement of the year.

I am becoming more and more convinced that there is no rational strain of the Muslim religion. "Religion of peace" my ass. Not convinced? Well, one "moderate" cleric, who was actually jailed three times for opposing the Taliban while it ruled Afghanistan, has come out in support of the death penalty for this individual:

"We respect all religions, but we don't go into the British embassy or the American embassy to see what religion they are following," said cleric Enayatullah Baligh at Kabul's main mosque. "We won't let anyone interfere with our religion, and he should be punished."

If killing religious converts is the prevailing attitude among so-called "moderates," their religion is more than fucked-up. What happened to tolerance? What happended to forgiveness (as if there were something to forgive)? Obviously, these qualities do not rank high in Islam. And if such is the case, can someone please explain what is wrong with the following cartoon that has raised such a fuss?



Seems pretty damn accurate to me.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

Seems the guy has been released. I'd like to think my commentary had something to do with it. I'd like to think that, but there's no way in hell that's true.

Post Thirty-seven: Unholy Alliance Tour

I have recently been made aware of the Unholy Alliance Tour, headlined by Slayer. Other bands on the bill include Lamb of God, Mastodon, and Children of Bodom. This is going to be a great, great show.

\m/

As always, there's a catch: no Dallas show is currently scheduled.

Dammit.

I've checked out the tour schedule, and the tour makes a swing through San Antonio and Houston in June, but is not coming to north Texas. Looks like I'm going to be making a roadtrip. What would make sense would be to plan on the Houston show. I would fly or drive down with my buddy Mike, pick up my brother, and we'd all go to the show.

I'm willing to bet Mike bails, though. He has some silly objection to going to see the "satanic" Slayer. Please. First off, they haven't had "satanic" lyrics since Reign in Blood. Anti-religion lyrics, yes. But name a metal band out there that doesn't?

[My brother is undoubtedly chiming in with Demon Hunter here. Shut up. I'm trying to make a point.]

And who actually pays attention to those lyrics, anyway, except to just chant them along at the show or in your car? Anyone who gets sucked into that type of bullshit has serious issues to begin with.

Regardless, I haven't been to a show in probably over a year. I need this.

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE

I have apparently been misinformed. The tour is coming to the Dallas area, June 24th at Nokia Live. No stop in Houston, apparently.

Swee-eeeet. My brother and I should be going to this. Now, we'll see if Mike's going to be a wuss.

Post Thirty-six: A foul mood has descended

My favorite paralegal just gave her two weeks notice (which means that she was escorted to the door) with the plan of starting at "greener pastures" across the road.

grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble

I am choosing to remain in a foul mood regarding this development. How dare she leave me here to deal with my caseload all on my own? More importantly, the pleasure of coming into the office each day just took a slight nosedive (and can there be just a "slight" nosedive?). She was fun to be around, well, at least as much fun as a coonass can be, that is, and quite easy on the eyes. But that is beside the point, since I'm married.

So it sucks. Hope you enjoy your new job, M. Perhaps you'll be able to pick out my office from across the highway: it'll be the one with the dark clouds.

grumblegrumblegrumblegrumble

Post Thirty-five: Smoking is BAD for you

This is Eddie Van Halen. Ick.

Hope you've seen Van Halen live, 'cause the odds of him surviving another tour look extremely slim.

Post Thirty-four: New Pearl Jam

Great news. Pearl Jam's new album is set to be released in May. However, on March 8th, beginning at 6:00 a.m., you will be able to download their single "World Wide Suicide" at www.pearljam.com for free. It will only be available for two days, but once downloaded you will be able to share it without any digital restriction.

Pearl Jam has always been one of my favorites, their politics notwithstanding. I've seen them in concert three or four times, including once in a club setting in Austin. Great show. I was riding the crowd (no mean feat for someone who was 6'5" and about 210 lbs at the time) and Eddie Vedder went right over me. Rest assured, I was immediately dropped on my ass.

Will definitely see them when they come back through. I can't believe it's been four years since their last album.