In Kaus, we're talking about the guy who inspired, if not invented, John Kerry Is a Douchebag But I'm Voting For Him Anyway. Is there a more sanctimonious, paleo-contrarian American-born DINO writer out there? Is not Kaus' rejection of MBE a full-throated endorsement for the rest of us? Kaus IS the shark that Fonzie jumped!
As an LA resident I've found myself listening to KCRW less and less, harcourt in particular. I actually do have to agree with Kaus to an extent. Lots of his music is really 'safe', often generic sounding pop or emo with a bit of any indie edge. That's the stuff that kills me. They occasionally do push genuinely good new music, but they get far too many bad groups in there.
Besides, Nora Jones and Coldplay are hardly groundbreaking. They're definitely more evolutionary than revolutionary.
11: True dat, but if you're gonna do me like that you gotta expect me to do you the same. Actually MMGood cuts against b-wo's claim to priority as well.
I don't particularly see how they sound like Radiohead, but assuming they do, why would someone who liked Radiohead dislike Coldplay for that reason?
I like the Kinks, Ramones, James Brown and I like songs that sound like the Kinks, Ramones, James Brown. Because I like the sound of Kinks, Ramones and James Brown songs, and there are a limited number of them.
There were accusations that Coldplay had copped Radiohead's slow sad song sound
But sophisticated critics insist, "the miserablist tradition can be faithfully traced from Leonard Cohen to Morrissey and the Smiths, to such giants of modern-day gloom as Radiohead...."
And 20, I think specifics of the accusation also had to do with the high singing. ('course there's the Jeff Buckley precedent, but he didn't do the miserable song thing as much.)
I couldn't see why anyone paid any attention at all to Jovanovich in Dazed and Confused, though I saw part of The Fifth Element in a hotel (on a job talk!) and it was fun in a zizzy sort of way.
For something that looked like a fairly straightforwards futuristic actioner in its marketing, Fifth Element had some interesting oddities. I'm thinking particularly of the alien opera, the Chris Tucker character, and some other thigns that I'm forgetting about. Gary Oldman was probably good in it, though my memories of the film aren't concrete enough to assert that with any certainty.
Amazing to tell, Gary Oldman was not good in 5th Element, despite being surrounded by a residual nimbus of awesomeness from his performance in "The Professional"
Apt and possibly important yet uninteresting fact of publishing history: both Harcourt Brace and Farrar Straus have at one time or another had imprints that did not include their present third parties Jovanovich and Giroux.
Also why are the ones who get dropped the most ethnic?
Le Guide du zizi sexuel répond à toutes les questions que se posent les 9 / 13 ans sur la découverte de l'amour et du sexe.
Si ce guide est avant tout destiné aux préados, il s'adresse aussi aux parents puisqu'il est une passerelle entre les interrogations des enfants et les réponses que cherchent les parents.
En plein âge de curiosité, ayant soif de connaissance, ils trouveront dans ce guide pratique, grâce aux dessins de Zep et aux textes d'Hélène Bruller, les conseils et les informations utiles pour comprendre les mystères de la vie.
Avec les mots du quotidien Le guide du zizi sexuel crée le dialogue, pose toutes les questions, donne les bonnes réponses.
I'm not sure I can provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a definition of 'zizzy', but I can do it by ostension. Ever seen The Fifth Element? Like that.
So Kaus was scooped by a pettifogging commenter on a picayune blog, is that what you're saying?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 12:37 PM
You fickle tramp.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 12:41 PM
I think he's saying that there is some evidence that you are Kaus. Or perhaps that your opinions are a subset of the opinions that Kaus holds.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 12:41 PM
Their opinions have a nonempty intersection. I doubt that whatever Ben opines, Kaus opines too.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 12:46 PM
MMGood scooped Ogged.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 12:50 PM
I doubt that whatever Ben opines, Kaus opines too.
I should have said "has held" rather than "holds." I was thinking of Kaus as O'Brien to Wolfson's Winston Smith.
Posted by SomeCallMeTim | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 1:00 PM
In Kaus, we're talking about the guy who inspired, if not invented, John Kerry Is a Douchebag But I'm Voting For Him Anyway. Is there a more sanctimonious, paleo-contrarian American-born DINO writer out there? Is not Kaus' rejection of MBE a full-throated endorsement for the rest of us? Kaus IS the shark that Fonzie jumped!
Posted by diddy | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 1:21 PM
As an LA resident I've found myself listening to KCRW less and less, harcourt in particular. I actually do have to agree with Kaus to an extent. Lots of his music is really 'safe', often generic sounding pop or emo with a bit of any indie edge. That's the stuff that kills me. They occasionally do push genuinely good new music, but they get far too many bad groups in there.
Besides, Nora Jones and Coldplay are hardly groundbreaking. They're definitely more evolutionary than revolutionary.
Posted by Andrew Cholakian | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:02 PM
Coldplay sux.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:04 PM
9: you would like Mitch Benn's relevant single, as described here.
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:08 PM
Matt, thought I'd have a little fun with "demurred." As for being scooped, today's Kaus is newer, longer (and maybe even harder).
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:11 PM
Kausfiles is "yuppie shopping blogging."
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:13 PM
I was going to call it that, but if stores actually linked to kausfiles from their retail sites no one would ever buy anything from them.
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:15 PM
11: True dat, but if you're gonna do me like that you gotta expect me to do you the same. Actually MMGood cuts against b-wo's claim to priority as well.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:19 PM
What's so bad about Coldplay? For top 40 pop, not so bad!
Posted by baa | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:28 PM
Coldplay isn't that bad.
I don't particularly see how they sound like Radiohead, but assuming they do, why would someone who liked Radiohead dislike Coldplay for that reason?
I like the Kinks, Ramones, James Brown and I like songs that sound like the Kinks, Ramones, James Brown. Because I like the sound of Kinks, Ramones and James Brown songs, and there are a limited number of them.
Posted by Joe O | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:28 PM
There were accusations that Coldplay had copped Radiohead's slow sad song sound, as evidenced on such tracks as "Fake Plastic Trees".
I confess to having a soft spot for "Clocks", but for the most part they're anemic, unimaginative pap.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:31 PM
What's so bad about Coldplay? For top 40 pop, not so bad!
That baa is so incisive.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:36 PM
I was just thinking the same thing.
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:37 PM
There were accusations that Coldplay had copped Radiohead's slow sad song sound
But sophisticated critics insist, "the miserablist tradition can be faithfully traced from Leonard Cohen to Morrissey and the Smiths, to such giants of modern-day gloom as Radiohead...."
Posted by Anonymous | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:39 PM
That baa is so incisive.
He's so dreamy.
And 20, I think specifics of the accusation also had to do with the high singing. ('course there's the Jeff Buckley precedent, but he didn't do the miserable song thing as much.)
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:42 PM
"Harcourt Fandom" could be the name of fanfiction imprint.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:43 PM
Brace and Jovanovich get no respect.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:46 PM
I couldn't see why anyone paid any attention at all to Jovanovich in Dazed and Confused, though I saw part of The Fifth Element in a hotel (on a job talk!) and it was fun in a zizzy sort of way.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:49 PM
It's always the third dude who gets the least respect. Just wait though, I hear Jovanovich, Giroux is going to have one hell of a list.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:52 PM
Fifth Element:
Was the scene where Jovovich looks up "war" in the encyclopedia and sheds a single tear meant to be satire? If so: top shelf!
Posted by baa | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:53 PM
For something that looked like a fairly straightforwards futuristic actioner in its marketing, Fifth Element had some interesting oddities. I'm thinking particularly of the alien opera, the Chris Tucker character, and some other thigns that I'm forgetting about. Gary Oldman was probably good in it, though my memories of the film aren't concrete enough to assert that with any certainty.
Posted by Anonymous | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:54 PM
Le Guide du zizi sexuel.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:55 PM
27 is me. Re 26: Luc Besson's authorial intent is inscrutable, at least vis-a-vis La Femme Nikita and Fifth Element.
Posted by washerdreyer | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:56 PM
Amazing to tell, Gary Oldman was not good in 5th Element, despite being surrounded by a residual nimbus of awesomeness from his performance in "The Professional"
Posted by baa | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:56 PM
I liked Chris Tucker in that movie.
Posted by Joe O | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:57 PM
SB: I have clicked the link, and remain unenlightened. WTF?
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:57 PM
Apt and possibly important yet uninteresting fact of publishing history: both Harcourt Brace and Farrar Straus have at one time or another had imprints that did not include their present third parties Jovanovich and Giroux.
Also why are the ones who get dropped the most ethnic?
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:58 PM
(I realize it's responding to 24, but what is it?)
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 2:58 PM
It's the cover of a guide to sexual zizi.
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 3:00 PM
a guide to sexual zizi.
Wiseacre.
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 3:07 PM
A more faithful translation of the title would be, The Sexual Wee-wee Guide.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 3:12 PM
After "Different Strokes" Oldman's career took quite a dip.
But Jovovich - ah, to die for.
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 3:12 PM
The kid on the cover is become Zizi, deployer of sperms, if I'm not mistaken.
Now Matt can tell us what he means by "zizzy". I show you mine, you show me yours.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 3:18 PM
Hey, SB, doesn't your pseudonym contain a French slang word?
Posted by eb | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 3:19 PM
So it does. How about that.
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 3:41 PM
I'm not sure I can provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a definition of 'zizzy', but I can do it by ostension. Ever seen The Fifth Element? Like that.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:25 PM
Zizzy is equal parts Baz Luhrman and Terry Gilliam?
Posted by Standpipe Bridgeplate | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:43 PM
Ha! I was about to say it's a portmanteau word--'zany' + 'dizzy'--but I think that amounts to the same thing.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 07- 5-05 4:47 PM