Death to Everyone

Maurizio Cattelan -
La Nona Hora (1999)

"No one can deny the success of freedom, but some men rage and fight against it. And one of the main sources of reaction and opposition is radical Islam -- the perversion by a few of a noble faith into an ideology of terror and death." - President Bush

For how poorly written this State of the Union is, it is carefully written to polarize and trap people to serve the goals of the administration. In case you missed the narrative above, no one can deny freedom and those that question the administration are fighting against freedom, just like terrorists. Disgusting writing here, even beyond the policies - designed to inspire fear and contention instead of any reasonable discussion. Usually his actions speak louder than his words, but here strategies do too.

"Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research: human cloning in all its forms, creating or implanting embryos for experiments, creating human-animal hybrids, and buying, selling, or patenting human embryos. Human life is a gift from our Creator -- and that gift should never be discarded, devalued or put up for sale."

Bonnie Prince Billy - Death To Everyone (mp3)

Coachella Artist of the Day (worth prioritizing or not? leave a comment):
The Go! Team - Ladyflash

Coachella 2006.

2006 Coachella Lineup
(as annouced by the Coachella Message Board Moderator psychic friend this morning)

Saturday, April 29:
Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Common, Damian Marley, Atmosphere, Carl Cox, My Morning Jacket, Ladytron , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tosca, Cat Power, Animal Collective, HARD-fi, Derrick Carter, Devendra Banhart, She Wants Revenge, The Walkmen, The Juan Maclean, Audio Bullys, Imogen Heap, Lady Sovereign, Deerhoof, The Duke Spirit, Editors, stellastarr*, Lyrics Born, Matt Costa, The New Amsterdams, The Zutons, Platinum Pied Pipers, White Rose Movement, Chris Liberator, Colette, Joey Beltram, Hybrid, Wolfmother, The Like, Living Things, Nine Black Alps, The Section Quartet, Infadels, Youth Group, Shy FX & T Power, Infusion.

Sunday, April 30:
Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, [Update: Massive Attack] Paul Oakenfold, Scissor Sisters, Matisyahu, James Blunt, TV on the Radio, Sleater-Kinney , Mogwai, Coheed and Cambria, Gnarls Barkley, Coldcut, Phoenix, Digable Planets, Amadou & Mariam, Little Louie Vega, Mylo (DJ Set), Seu Jorge, Wolf Parade, The Go! Team, Kaskade, Metric, Art Brut, Dungen, The Dears, Jamie Lidell, The Magic Numbers, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jazzanova, Michael Mayer, Mates of State, Gilles Peterson, Gabriel & Dresden, The Subways, Minus the Bear, Be Your Own Pet, Giant Drag, Kristina Sky, The Octopus Project.

CAN'T MISS:
Sigur Ros, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Scissor Sisters, Ladytron, TV on the Radio, Imogen Heap, and The Go! Team.
PRIORITY:
Mates of State, Mogwai, Common, The Walkmen, stellastarr, Cat Power, Animal Collective, Wold Parade, Sleater-Kinney, Paul Oakenfold
IF THERE IS TIME:
Metric, Depeche Mode, Tool, Digable Planets
I'D LIKE TO TEST THE HYPE:
Lady Sovereign, The Subways, Bloc Party, HARD-fi, Atmosphere, Devendra Banhart

I'm heavy on Saturday though, as usual, neither day can be compromised. Where's Radiohead? Aparrently Bonnaroo.

For those of you preparing for the festival, you have 12 weeks and over 80 bands. I'll try and post a song by a Coachella artist at the bottom of every post (they'll cycle quickly so download right away).

Coachella Artist of the Day (worth prioritizing or not? leave a comment):
Deerhoof - Wrong Time Capsule (mp3)

Intellectual Pseudo Science... Fraud?

U Ram Choe - Do Not Open ~ Scientific name : Anmagerocon Coelenterata Uram (1999) *

* U Ram Choe's work is alive. It needs to be viewed in action via video... I'd reccomend this one.

Yesterday, Frauders attempted to steal almost $2000 from my PayPal account attached to my bank account. Luckily (and I never thought I'd say this) I am poor, so these transactions bounced and I was only left with NSF charges (which can be refunded). There must be an ancient proverb about greed that is applicable here, because $100 transactions would have gone through... not $900 ones.

This week I believe in god because statistically, there is no way that this shit can possibly happen to one person without some exterior force directly trying to fuck with me. I guarantee the evidence is statistically significant... the p-values can speak for themselves.

Waiting for a Rockafella Skank (BBQ Remix) (mp3)

This is a fun, simple little mash up for your weekend fun.

Take a chance, you stupid ho.

PANDORA UPDATE

Amie Dickie - Gisele Wants Out (2003)

Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora (www.pandora.com), is an accomplished musician and producer committed to helping connect artists and fans. He is a big fan of open source with Pandora being open source Laszlo. And what about competition with Apple's iTunes? They have an affiliate relationship with iTunes, recieving 5% of the sales they refer to the music store.

Beginning in Mid-March, Pandora is taking a road trip across the Southern states to meet listeners and look for new music. The tour will start in Austin, Texas at the SXSW conference, head East, and wind up to Washington DC. If you're interested, suggest a stop on their blog http://blog.pandora.com/pandora.

Oh, and I've heard it's reccomending Ashlee Simpson [ytmnd.com], so I'm still skeptical.

Tahiti 80 - Heartbeat (mp3) ... who does he sound like?

[from Bryan Mueller of Into the Rain]

For all you lovers... and hopers. Tomorrow will be better...

Madison Culture Sucks A Big $200,000 Penis

I need to rant on the support of art for a second because I feel really alienated. The institution I find myself within has overwhelmed me today and here are three seperate (or not seperate) stimuli pushing me over the edge...

1) "Artists sought for UW-themed cow designs" in today's Featured Student Announcement ... enough said.

2) The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art's OPENING SHOW will consist of seven commissioned works celebrating Madison.
"A major exhibition that will include seven commissioned works by artist who are focusing on the history and character of the city. We will be opening in April 2006, and that is the month of the 150th anniversary of Madison's charter. The work will be basically in response to that historic landmark."

3) The UW invests $200,000 on a piece of public art. The result: There is a huge penis of footballs carved out of unfinished plaster outside the football stadium. It's called "Nail's Tales" and is a commissioned piece from Donald Lipski. Here is an article praising the "imagination". BARF.

The only art that is supported is commissioned as a marketing strategy. Public art exists only to to sell football tickets and to promote tourism. I live in a world where people only crowd the streets for sports and Dave Matthews Band concerts. And I'm so fucking alone.

Cats on Fire - The Smell of An Artist (mp3)

Mattias Björkas of Cats on Fire tells me that this song was inspired by an artist called Teemu Mäki who killed a cat with an axe, masturbated on it, and sold the video to the National Museum of Modern Art in Finland. While I don't particularly object to (and am intruiged by) this type of art, apparently Mattias was inspired to write a song exemplifying the fact that the art world can stink. If he had seen this sculpture, the song may have switched genres to a death metal polka.

Jesus Walks, Sells Music. Challenges GW?

Jesus? Jesus.

K Otiz [Kanye Remix] - George Bush Doesn't Care About Black People (mp3)

This is one of my favourite tracks of the year. When I hear the "original" version, I don't understand why Jesus doesn't change his lyrics. I suspect it has something to do with money. Jesus.

So, tell me what this means. Last night I found myself in a St.Vincent de Paul store attached to the back of an Indian meatmarket in India. Apparently I was on a trip with a large group who were all rushing to catch a plane out of town (though for some reason I wasn't too worried because my friend Josh and I had an extra day). Upon leaving the meatmarket and reaching my red minivan in the parking lot, I realized that in the rush I had left my luggage in a locker in the front of the meatmarket. Returning to claim my posessions, I found my three pieces of luggage on a rack in the St. Vinney's section with a black spray-painted stain indicating (as I am told by the butch, white, short-haired, heavy-set saleswoman) that they were on sale. The contents of the luggage were missing and I figured out that the clothes had been removed and hung in their appropriate categories around the store. I explained to the saleswoman that the luggage belonged to me and that I was outraged someone had the nerve to make such a hassle for me (I had not yet acknowledged the possibility that she wouldn't allow me to gather my clothes and leave). She wouldn't acknowledge any of my claims on the possessions. After a bit of aruging I managed to convince her that I at least deserved half off the luggage and any clothes to which I would assert personal belonging. I promised her there were only a few shirts that would apply to quiet capitalistic intentions I had attributed to her, though I knew there were three whole suitcases worth. Quite angry, I proceeded to the back of the store leaving Josh to preoccupy the saleswoman. I managed to locate several plain colored t-shirts and started packing them into the suitcases. Pretty soon, the amount of my clothing exceeded the capacity of the luggage and I struggled to squeeze the fabric into the containers (hoping the saleswoman would not look inside and believe my initial estimate). I have a distinct memory of positioning myself on my knees in the back of the store with my back to the back door, forcefully (and yet gracefully) swinging an outstretched arm with one piece of clothing at a time behind my back and out of the door into a heap in the parking lot. It didn't take too long for the saleswoman to notice that something was up and she suddenly clammored past Josh, down the ailes, to find me packing the three suitcases. Even though she didn't notice that I was also throwing clothes into the parking lot, she was enraged at the amount of clothing I was "stealing". Josh and I managed to collect the luggage and excess clothing into our arms and outrun the fuming butch-Indian-meatmarket-St.Vinney's-saleswoman... squealing away in the red minivan (special edition). Yes, it's a good vs. evil hero story for the ages.

Six String Sonics... Barney Material?

The Six String Sonics - Gil Kuno (2005)

[Website]

A bunch of alternative musicians from Japan (headed by Gil Kuno) decided that the music scene was being stifled by the limitations of both the traditional band format and traditonal instrumentation. So, they buried the beloved icon of a six-string guitarist next to Jimi and Kurt and created six single-strung guitars - each to be played by a different individual stacked on giant structure that stands 20 feet tall as a cross between a todem pole and an oil rig. And I suppose this is where music and performance art meet. Watch the video performance that explains more.

The Six String Sonics - Demo 1

The Six String Sonics - Demo 3

I'm not so sure about the Demos, but I think there is unlimited potential in wierdness. I could see them working with Matthew Barney after he tires of Bjork. I know I'm getting sick of their partnership (at least musically), though Bjork-Barney babies will one day rule the world.

CHECKOUT Schizowave

Schizowave is a dark mix of brooding jazz and intense emotion. Drawing from experiences in Russia and America, as well Bjork as a main musical influence, the band can't help but turn heads.

Download three tracks "My Baby Cabaret", "Too Drunk to Fuck", and "Zombie Russian" at their myspace page. Their new video is available HERE.

Web Art

Miltos Manetas - Priscilla (2005)

Miltos Manetas is a New York artist thriving in electronic media. He is opening an exhibit at Yvon Lambert in New York ( 564 West 25th Street) from Jan 21st - Feb 18th 2006. It's my dream to become a "neenstar".

*Miltos Manetas - Jackson Pollock -(2003)
*Miltos Manetas - Man in the Dark - (2004)
*Miltos Manetas - Jesus Swimming - (2001)
*Miltos Manetas - Theories

*Maie Ueda - Romanticus
*Angelo Plessas - Elastic Enthusiastic

PANDORA: Find Music You Love

Kyle Pfister - Heart Monitor (2005)

www.pandora.com

Pandora is a online music tool that begins with your request for a single artist or song title and builds an entire playlist for your listening pleasure. Because it believes in the individuality of each track, the program doesn't rely on categories, but rather "interesting musical similarities".

Check it out and post what you think! A substitute for your having your own digital library? Too restrictive? A way to find new music? The next legislative target? Too many Dave Matthews Band reccomendations when you request Radiohead?

www.pandora.com

CHECKOUT Caps & Jones

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy [can't find the title...]

The Illegible DJ Caps & Pandemonium Jones - Boullabaisse (mp3)

A couple of DJs who rock... well I guess who DJ. Their megamixes are intricate lattices of subtle references and Spanish language techno. It doesn't get much better.

Beware of Gamers - CHECKOUT Sprite Slowdown

Kyle Pfister - The Right Angle (2005)

Today I told my gamer friend Josh that his mom got shot. He didn't flinch. You know why? Because the real world doesn't exist to him when he's gaming. And that's all day every day. Why don't I kick his ass? Because you should NEVER mess with a gamer. Beware, scissors can be thrown without consequences in their fantasy world.

And especially don't mess with their vitrual swords (FYI: cloudsong is apparently a nice sword). This clip is from You're The Man Now Dog (http://www.ytmnd.com), a site that hosts pairings of a beautifully brash sound loop on top of a tiled picture. I'm obsessed with the concept (but sometimes gamer-speak is necessary for the humor and I'm not l33t). I hope they don't raid me for this post. More info on a Wikipedia post.

Sprite Slowdown - Red Max (mp3)

Sprite Slowdown - Balloon Kid (mp3)

Whatever happened to dreamers? Oh yeah, they get killed.

Loretta Lux - The Boy (2001)

"Capitalism is always in danger of inspiring men to be more concerned about making a living than making a life. We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles, rather than by the quality of our service and relationship to humanity."

"The oppressor never voluntarily gives freedom to the oppressed. You have to work for it. Freedom is never given to anybody. Priviledged classes never give up their priviledges without strong resistance."

All I can find are terrible songs referencing Dr. King. In the spirit, here is the WORST I could:

Mason Jennings - Dr. King [from I Think Washing Your Hands Is Stupid]

Mason Jennings is apparently horrible. The songs is constructed with an awkward Jesus reference and repeating "Alabama" - the only conent is a hook ripped from the visonary context of Dr. King. Why don't assasins choose to kill worthless people like this instead?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Unjust Evil and Futile War

Download more speech songs HERE.
Downloadable audio speeches from Stanford.

CHECKOUT Sixsidedbox

Tom Friedman - Self Portrait in Gand (2000)

Sixsidedbox - Wicked Disguise (mp3)

They say that life is just a game. I don't remember signing up, besides it's not a game I'd want to play.

UPDATES: If you don't download Amy X RIGHT NOW, I will post it every day for the rest of the month.

AMY X UPDATE:
I know I JUST posted on Amy X Neuburg, but she is seriously AMAZING. You know how you find an artist and then can't remember how you ever lived without him/her/them? [I couldn't figure out how to write that in the passive voice, so I'm sorry if it was uncomfortably intimate]

Amy X Neuburg - Life Stepped In (mp3)

Amy X Neuburg - My God (mp3)

Buy Amy's album "Residue" on iTunes.

LESLIE HALL UPDATE:
On Tuesday, I managed to momentarily corner the uncontainable essence of our dear goddess of glittering glory at a show in Madison, WI. After being nourished by my humble offering of a couch and lasagna bagels, Leslie and the team proceeded to Minneapolis. I came to the realization that we were a one-night stand in the golden slutting that is cross-country touring. I suppose friendships can't be built in a day, unless you're Jesus. So, I pray daily for either divinity or another Leslie visit.

Leslie's reverberating rhinestones light an alternative path for fellow artists and resonate with the beats of prioritized creativity. Internalize these beats and become henchmen of the gemmed word. Help reflect Leslie Hall's dancing brilliance to enlighten the grey cashmere of the populus.

CHECK OUT this Podcast interview with Leslie Hall (featuring Branson the tour dog) on Chicago's Feast of Fools.

The Goddess of Glittering Glory has jazzersized onto VH1's Web Junk 20 (airing next on Sun Jan 15th at 10:30/9:30c AM. Despite the clamour of disbelievers, I suppose any press is good press and being on VH1 is a dream. Mixing two modern proverbs birthed of Iowa's cornfields... Gem it and they will come. POST YOUR LOVE ON Web Junk 20's MESSAGE BOARD.

Leslie & The Lys - Gold Pants (mp3)

Leslie & The Lys - Beware Of The Beats (mp3)

Leslie & The Lys - Bonus (mp3) [This calypso Jurassic Park sample is to DIE FOR]

*Cheers to the internet as an empowering subculture; as an alternative to Hollywood andmainstream corporate media.*

Computer World: Kraftwerk's NEW ALBUM Evolution

So, BIG NEWS... Kraftwerk will release a new album called "Evolution" supposedly inspired by Charles Darwin. The source? Well, I can't read it - but the photos are HERE and HERE.

Kraftwerk has been exploring theories of evolution over the past twenty years, completely removing the humanistic from it's music and live show. They released Computer World in 1990, but it seems the themes and the music are timeless.

Kraftwerk - The Man Machine (mp3)

Kraftwerk - Radioactivity (mp3)

Kraftwerk - Numbers/Computer World (mp3)

Kraftwerk's whole Coachella 2004 playlist is available from Schika HERE.

There is a Darwin exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. Niles Eldredge, the curator and author of "Darwin: Discovering the Tree of Life" gives Intelligent Design too much credit and then stomps on it HERE.

Biology nerds are less diplomatic. Check out their clever, but oh so nerdy song "Incompetent Design":
Biology nerds - Incompetent Design (mp3)

Boyz Least Likely To...

David Wojnarowicz - Untitled (1991)

The Boy Least Likely To just released a video and a tour announcement. In the spirit of celebration, check out the media and some more boys least likely to...

Be Gentle With Me (mp3) and VIDEO and American Tour!

Boy Least Likely To... Have Sex With a Woman

Boy Least Likely To... Be Nominated to a Federal Office

Boy Least Likely To... Remain Unknown

My life is a joke EVENT OF THE DAY: So broke that I'm searching my room for quarters for gas money. With the realization that I am much better suited for sitting around than anything structured, I may have to get used to coins.
Gratitude of the day: Free cardboard boxes.

FRIDAY THE 13TH FULL MOON

I built a Wall of Dissent in the middle of the road in front of my house to obstruct the traffic of our lives. It was made of cardboard liquor boxes and hope. Most cars were able to navigate around it, though one minivan got a box stuck underneath it and had to stop to clear the way. The public display was accompanied by accapella versions of our favourite Negro spirituals and YMCA as a postmodern protest song. Though the wall's contruction stood to challenge police-state adherance to social norms, it also fell in dissent to loud demmands of an invisible Gorbachev.

I proceeded to carefully build a second Wall of Dissent to completely cover our house's front door. Satisfied with the clog and our harmonized version of Swing Low Sweet Chariot, we decided to get lawnchairs and daquaries to bark werewolf sounds with Jersey accents at passing cars. Going around to the back door, we found it locked and that jiggling the knob only served to sever the inside-half to drop down the basement stairs. Completely locked out of our house by the broken back door and the front's Wall of Dissent, pounding fell on the deaf headphone-covered ears of roomates in their videogame brand new colonies. Eventually, we were rescued out of sheer annoyance. No one said dissent was easy, but we shall overcome - or not.

Louis Armstrong - Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Crazy Friday the 13th Version- Swing Low Sweet Chariot

My Love - Over The Rhine (mp3)

Ladies: Mike can be reached at 920-988-2212

My life is a joke EVENT OF THE DAY: Inebriated, I attempted to cook mac & cheese and couldn't keep track of how many times I added the liquids. We meerly poured off the cups of extra liquid and served the pasta to two bands who happened to be sleeping in the living room. After lasagna bagels the night before, the meal was going to be a disappointment anyway.

Gratitude of the day: Laura, Whitney, Chad, and Leslie. The Rapping Eskimos Tour rocked.

Some nice things.

Marcel Duchamp - Bottle Rack (1914)

1) Rilo Kiley - Such Great Heights (mp3)
[Thanks RadioFree Internet and You Ain't No Picasso]
When I first heard the Postal Service, I don't think I imainged a collection of modern campfire sing alongs. Now, maybe.

2) The Winks - The Castle in the Clouds (mp3)
My new drinking song (tea and whiskey).

3) The Strokes (featuring Regina Specktor) - Modern Girls and Old Fashioned Men (mp3)
[Thanks Tonight Let's Dance]
In the spirit of the new third impression and my first impression of Jenny Adam's new hair (Regina, not Julian).

4) Stylex Out of Focus VIDEO (mp3)
You know what I'd do, probably stay in bed. Damn that's a lot of energy.

5) Party Ben - Computer Talk (mp3)
[mash up: Kraftwerk's Computer Love and Coldplay's Talk]
A neverending mission to turn Coldplay fans into Kraftwerk fans. Yes, Talk is a complete rip off (despite calling it a "tribute"). Come to the light, children. One of the coolest websites too.

My life is a joke EVENT OF THE DAY: I am now completely nocturnal. Good luck trying to function there bud. You can reach me between the hours of 8PM and 7AM.
Gratitude of the day: Computers and my mom's phone calls before 10AM.