July 2004 – Kill Ugly Radio | Frank Zappa & Elsewhere

Sofanic messages…

An interesting investigation into some of the not exactly do re mi aspects of the editing and construction of the fz audio-scape. From grow-a-brain.

I’m sure by now you know: The Simpsons will feature an episode wherein one of the characters outs his or her self as being gay. Who’d ya think it’s gonna be? My bet’s on Mr. Burns. Smithers&lÅ´;/a> is way too obvious, Marge’s sisters are simply asexual anyway, Moe‘s a frustrated butt pincher, Barney is, well, turned on by beer. Your thoughts? Could it be one of the Flanders? Krusty?

Dept. of Vague Paranoia

Aah the Brits: “Public safety is the Government’s number ~~one~~ ten priority (the top three are reelection, kissing George Bush’s arse, and stopping Gordon Brown becoming PM). We must be prepared to deal with any emergency, whatever it is or wherever it comes from. And that includes zombie attacks! And zombie pirate attacks! And killer robots! And both at the same time! Are YOU ready?“

Les Vacances De Mr. Barry

Hope everyone’s having a great vacation and doesn’t have to go to work at 30 C temperatures? Good. Oh good. Sp-len-did. Many of you wrote in to ask about Part Two, well here it is. Have fun. You lucky bastards.

A Bit Of Progress

Well worth a bookmark: the complete “A Bit Of Fry & Laurie” scripts. A typical F&L conversation:

–Stephen: Progress isn’t a dirty word, you know. Arse is a dirty word, and so, to some extent, is labia. Learn that, Bamford, learn and obey.
–Hugh: Yes, sir. I will.
–Stephen: But progress is the towel that rubs us dry. Each soft cotton flick of progress can penetrate the darkest, dampest corners of our mired and filthy selves, and polish us clean.
–Hugh: I didn’t know that, sir.
–Stephen: Well Bamford, now you do, now you do. Good. Oh good. First class. Fine. Splendid. Sp-len-did. Excellent. Eccelente.

More Fry & Laurie at the complete Blackadder scripts.

Bad Taste

What happens when someone gets so fed up with today’s crap ass music, he decides to do something about it? This. So when does Kenny G start touring again?

The Eclectic ClichÃ©

Top Five Rock Critic Cliches. Some good ones: “pandering to the eclectic”, “elliptical”, “Dylanesque/Beatlesque/Springsteenian”, “overuse of the x-meets-y device to describe the hybridity of the music at hand”.

At The Coffeeshop

Here’s one for SOFA, should he ever visit Amsterdam: a coffeeshop dedicated to Frank Zappa (and in case you didn’t know, they usually sell more than just coffee in Amsterdam’s coffeeshops).

Captain Glasspack and the Magic Mufflers

Yet another fz potted
history. But for me at least, there’s still more to learn. – ‘To signify the shift in the band’s musical direction, they changed their name to Captain Glasspack and the Magic Mufflers. It didn’t help.’

Le Zenith

With thanks to Gilles here’s another luscious live recording from the ’88 band – in France of course, where else: Le Zenith, Montpellier, 18/05/’88 (Part I). Have at it.

Short-Term What?

To all those that tell me I have terrible short-term memory (you know who you are): I finally have a plausible excuse.

Crimson Tide

I always figured there was more to Steely Dan lyrics than meets the –uh– ear. The Steely Dan Dictionary to the rescue. “Crimson Tide” (from Deacon Blues): “The nickname for the University of Alabama’s sporting teams (particularly American football), so called because of their distinctive dark red jerseys.”

Month: July 2004