HAIL ANTS

We are doomed.

thanks, prez

"there's no such thing as a lost cause if you're willing to be creative, and challenge the conventional wisdom, and take some risks -- if you're willing to try, and fail, and then try again until you find something that works"

The beast with 40 eyes

Having spent the past 72 hours or so listening almost exclusively to Michael Jackson, I've realized that I'll remember him differently than I thought I would.

I thought that I'd remember him most for his early hits- the universally loved dance songs that you hear at every wedding, and which absolutely kill at every wedding, regardless of the attendee demographic.

And yes, any discussion of my favorite MJ songs pretty much begins and ends with "I want you back". But that said, reviewing his solo work revealed, once again, just how dark his lyrics could get. Billie Jean is obvious, but even Thriller, which has, because of the video, become sort of cartoonish over the years, has some freaking dark subject matter once you strip away the halloween dance party veneer.

But the one that I love, somewhat inexplicably, even more than Thriller?

Smooth Criminal. Just a perfect, perfect song, about stabbin' a chick. Love it.

Oh, and one more tip of the hat to this 1978 demo of "Don't stop til you get enough". Hearing this makes me rethink my list of places I would travel if I had a time machine. CBGB's during the Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense tour still tops the list, but this comes close.

THIS is optimism. This is public health

DOOM

Thanks, intarwebs.

Quick hits: retro music

Mastodon: Oh crap this is amazing. Metal is back.

Japandroids: Terrible fucking name, great fucking band. Emo is back?

Arcade Fire on Pitchfork TV

YAY!

The best thing Pitchfork has ever done. They are hosting the new Arcade Fire DVD: Miroir Noir. Check it out before it goes down.

YAY!