Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Parable of the Celestial Teapot

"Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatics to prove them. This is, of course, a mistake. If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time."

-Bertrand Russell

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Free Blood

Free Blood: Perhaps the most intriguing duo I have heard in a while. Below are a couple of their performances I just saw at the "From the Basement" show (which also featured a one hour Radiohead performance- no complaints!).



Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Some things you should watch...

The Take Away Shows featured on La Blogothèque always seem to deliver this eerie calmness, and complete sense of immersion that ultimately leaves me in a disoriented stupor. See for yourself. The Department of Eagles are featured below (their new album came out earlier this month, but I recommend listening to the song No One Does it Like You if you visit their site).



Secondly, the ladies of First Aid Kit have covered The Fleet Foxes' Tiger Mountain Peasant Song, and I must say, they have outdone their predecessor.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Live at the Crystal Ballroom


The Black Keys new live DVD will be out November 18, and will include footage from their sold-out show earlier this year in Portland, Oregon. If you wish to have your mind blown, watch the teasing preview here. For me, watching it is comparable to giving an alcoholic a single drink and then cutting them off. I want more.

(On a side note, tomorrow the new Of Montreal album, Skeletal Lamping, will be released, as will the new Final Fantasy record. My fingers are crossed that they will both be better than the new Deerhoof album released a couple weeks back; It was a disappointment to say the least).

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Joy of Not Being Sold Anything

When I was a kid I used to
pray every night for a new bicycle.
Then I realised God doesn’t work
that way, so I stole one and
prayed for forgiveness.
-Emo Philips

Banksy's new exhibit entitled The Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill, solidifies that this "concept artist" is a virtuoso in the art of good humour and satire. The pet shop opened earlier this week and exposes Banksy's take on the ironic love/eat relationship humans have with animals, as well as the ethics and reality of factory farming. The BBC has a short but fairly comprehensive video covering the exhibit.

















See more of Banksy's work here.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

October 7, 1968

Dear Thom,

I hope you had a tolerable 40th birthday. I figured you wouldn't mind my wishes being a day late, since in my pseudo fantasy world (where I know you better than my best friend), I have the knowledge that you don't give a fuck about birthdays (especially not your own). I read once that you couldn't wait to age disgracefully, but you and I both know that deep down, as the years pass, you are only getting better.

Like the parting of the waves,
Like a house falling in the sea.

Graciously yours,
Laura Jean

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Noweh Yahweh