Your Moment of Comedy Zen

http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-11-17/reggie-watts-appears-on-conan-rules/

Anti-comedy & performance art in the vein of Andy Kaufman.

-dk

DOOM Like This

DOOM (formerly MF Doom) has been one of my top five MCs since the release of Madvillainy. And even though his production skills are not quite up to the level of his sublimely hazy, stream-of-consciousness flow, I still dig his use of sample material that sounds like it's been lifted straight off of a 60s superhero cartoon TV show.

That being said, my fondness for DOOM has exponentially increased with the release of his latest album, Born Like This. Not only is the title in reference to a Bukowski line from "Dinosauria, We", but Bukowski's reading of the poem is also sampled for the track "Cellz." I wanted to find some more about the new album and came across this quote from a Rolling Stone blog post:

“Don’t freak with old Buke. Buke is nice. He’s as good as the rest of the rappers on there,” Doom says. “He kind of sets the tone for the record, being that we’re living in what he was kind of describing. He might’ve been reaching for the worst description based on what he saw us heading to, but it happened and that made me go, ‘Wow, that’s ill. Kinda prophetic words.’ ”

Bonus points to DOOM for correct usage of the nickname (although the transcription should have read 'Buk').

As for my quick thoughts on the new album: "Wow, that's ill. Kinda prophetic words."

Here's a youtube for "Cellz"

"Weird Lyrics: Semisonic"

Semisonic's "Closing Time" is a song with weird lyrics. Perhaps you have never taken the time to focus on how truly strange its lyrics are. My initial take on the lyrics were some vague references to hooking up at a singles bar ("I know who I want / to take me home"). Listening to the song again recently (during a recent episode of The Simpsons) I was puzzled by the line "This room won't be open / 'til your brothers and your sisters come." Huh?

I couldn't immediately recall the video so I youtube'd it. Interesting split-screen / parallel stories concept that brings Cibo Matto's "Sugar Water" (Michel Gondry) to mind.

So it turns out (according to Wikipedia) that the song is really about the birth of singer Dan Wilson's child. Thus, all of the getting ready to go images take on a double meaning between the singles bar and childbirth. Weird. I find this turn of events slightly upsetting in the juxtaposition of single young adults looking for casual sex alongside the birth of one's child.

It's one of those moments that makes you feel stupid for trying to interpret a songwriter's intent from lyrics alone. Sometimes, without a full explanation you just end up foolishly trying to merge two disparate themes.

Here's the Chris Appelbaum video:

"Recent Listening"

I am really enjoying Daft Punk's latest live release, Alive 2007. Did you know that this is Daft Punk's second official live album, the first being done in 1997 (the appropriately titled Alive 1997)? Comparing the two, I've been thinking about how far along their music has evolved in ten years. Yet, at the same time the goal remains the same: high energy French electro-house music rearranged and remixed into a continuously danceable set. My favorite part of Alive 2007 is this blended remix of "Around the World" and "Harder Better Faster Stronger."

"Romanistan, Explained"

(it's at the very end of the credits.)