totally claimin': 2007-01-21

Ridin' down the highway! Goin' to a show. Stop in all the byways, Playin' rock 'n' roll. Gettin' robbed. Gettin' stoned. Gettin' beat up. Broken boned. Gettin' had. Gettin' took. I tell you folks, It's harder than it looks! It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll! It's a long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n' roll! There's a destination a little up the road From the habitations and the towns we know. A place we saw the lights turn low. Jig-saw jazz and the get-fresh flow. Pulling out jives and jamboree handouts. Two turntables and a microphone. Bottles and cans and just clap your hands and just clap your hands! Where it's at? I got two turntables and a microphone. Take me home in my elevator bones! (That was a good drum break.) What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing? Can't you tell that your tie's too wide? Maybe I should buy some old tab collars? Welcome back to the age of jive. Where have you been hidin' out lately, honey? You can't dress trashy till you spend a lot of money. Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me. There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven. And when she gets there she knows if the stores are closed. With a word she can get what she came for. And she's buying a stairway to heaven. Baby, baby why can't you sit still? Who killed that bird out on you window sill? Are you the reason that he broke his back? Did I see you laugh about that? If I come on like a dream? Would you let me show you what I mean? If you let me come on inside? Will you let it glide? Can I have some remedy? Remedy for me please. Cause if I had some remedy I'd take enough to please me. Money, get away. Get a good job with more pay and you're okay. Money it's a gas! Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash! New car, caviar, four star daydream, Think I'll buy me a football team. Money get back! I'm alright Jack keep your hands off my stack. Money it's a hit. Don't give me that do goody good bullshit! Oh, baby child... It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky. It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight. They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by a moon. You know I don't see you when she walks in the room. It's no secret that a friend is someone who lets you help. It's no secret that a liar won't believe anyone else. They say a secret is something you tell one other person So I'm telling you, child. A man will beg, A man will crawl, On the sheer face of love, Like a fly on a wall. It's no secret at all! Im ahead, Im a man. Im the first mammal to wear pants, yeah. Im at peace with my lust. I can kill cause in God I trust, yeah. Its evolution, baby! Im at piece, Im the man! Buying stocks on the day of the crash! On the loose, Im a truck. All the rolling hills, Ill flatten em out, yeah. Its herd behavior, uh huh, Its evolution, baby! Load up on guns, Bring your friends, Its fun to lose, And to pretend, Shes overboard, Myself assured, I know I know, A dirty word, Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello! With the lights out its less dangerous! Here we are now, Entertain us! I feel stupid and contagious. Here we are now, Entertain us! A mulatto, An albino, A mosquito, My libido, Yea! Is it my imagination, Or have I finally found something worth living for? I was looking for some action, But all I found was cigarettes and alcohol You could wait for a lifetime, To spend your days in the sunshine. You might as well do the white line, Cos when it comes on top . . . You gotta make it happen! Sorry Bout The Things That I Had To Say And I'll Make It Up To You Right Now At The Penny Arcade. In An Open Car Or Wherever You Are Push Yourself Too Hard And It Might Get Hot. Well I Really Don't Need The Confusion, And You Know I Just Ain't The Type, To Get All Wrapped Up In The Illusion Of Doin Something That I Know Ain't Right - Right Right??? You've Got To Want To Re-Arrange And Keep It Off The Record. Off The Record. You've Got To Know That We Will Change And Keep It Off The Record. Off The Record. We'll be fighting in the streets, With our children at our feet. And the morals that they worship will be gone. And the men who spurred us on, Sit in judgement of all wrong. They decide and the shotgun sings the song. I'll tip my hat to the new constitution. Take a bow for the new revolution. Smile and grin at the change all around, Pick up my guitar and play. Just like yesterday. Then I'll get on my knees and pray, We don't get fooled again!

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Children Of Men: Remember To Cough

Blade Runner. Remember that flick? A pretty grim view of the future of Los Angeles and the world, right? Well, I went out and saw Alfonso Cuarón's "Children of Men" last week, and I promise you, if you loved Blade Runner, you'll love this movie. Oh, and it's official, Clive Owen is the new Harrison Ford.

Here's the plotline:
In 2027, in a chaotic world of no hope, no future, and no children, where women are infertile and humans can no longer procreate, a former activist (Clive Owen) agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.

Go see this movie... and then remember to cough. It'll taste like strawberries. On a side note, be sure to look for the homage to Pink Floyd's "Animals." Clive Owen's character goes to see his cousin, who is in charge of a new Ministry of Art that just happens to be located at the old Battersea Power Station. If the location seems familiar to you, you're not crazy, it is the same place where the Floyd album cover was shot. Speaking of music, the soundtrack filled with "oldies" (which would make sense considering when the movie takes place) contains some really interesting choices. I have included here for your listening pleasure a track that was beautifully used during the film (I won't reveal where), a cover version of the Rolling Stone's classic "Ruby Tuesday," and a track by John Lennon which was used over the closing credits.

For Your Consideration:
Franco Battiato - Ruby Tuesday Mp3
John Lennon - Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple) Mp3

Friday, January 26, 2007

Friday Afternoon Funnies: Robot Chicken

Robot Chicken - 02x01 - Suck It

It's four thirty in the afternoon. You've done your week's work, and there's still an hour and a half to kill before you go home for the weekend. Throw on your headphones and kill fifteen minutes with Totally Claimin's "Friday Afternoon Funnies!" The boss won't know. And you'll be thankful for it! Today's funny is an episode of "Robot Chicken."

This week's episode is the first episode of the second season entitled "Suck It." Love that Brady Bunch parody!

"Robot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created by Stoop!d Monkey and Sony Pictures Digital and produced by ShadowMachine Films, currently airing in America as a part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up, in Britain as part of the Bravo's Adult Swim line-up, and in Canada on Teletoon's Detour nightly adult programming. It premiered on Sunday, February 20, 2005. Seth Green and Matthew Senreich are the creators and executive producers of the show. They are also on the writing team, provide the majority of voices, and have even directed a few episodes.

Robot Chicken is a variety show that parodies a number of pop culture conventions using stop motion animation of toys, action figures, dolls, and claymation and various other objects, such as tongue depressers. The show's name was inspired by a dish on the menu at a Chinese restaurant, Kung Pao Bistro, where Green and Senreich had dined.

According to Adult Swim's website, Robot Chicken has been renewed for a 20-episode third season, which will begin airing Spring 2007." Wikipedia

They Say It's My Birthday?

While January 26th to you is just one day out of 365, secretly it's the greatest day out of all of them. Seriously, forget December 26th or October 31st, January 26th is where it's at. Look it up here.

Famous birthdays today?

Paul Newman

Wayne Gretzky

Ellen DeGeneres

Eddie Van Halen

and ME!

For Your Consideration:
B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head Mp3,
The #1 song in the country 37 years ago today.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

The Shins: The Next Phantom Menace

I caught the Shins on Saturday Night Live, and immediately fell in love with the first single from their new release called "Wincing the Night Away." The song called "Phantom Limb" has a very surf music/Southern California vibe, and would be a perfect fit for an upcoming episode of "The O.C." I could just picture the angst as Seth Cohen walks along the beach pining for his lovely Summer. Good stuff. Here's their video. Check it out for yourself!

For Your Consideration:
The Shins - Phantom Limb Mp3

Crush Of The Week: Alicia Keys

Alicia with a hot wig and gun? Ummm, count me in. Smokin Aces opens tomorrow, and that makes her my crush of the week.

For your consideration, here's the trailer:

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Oscar Nom's: Best Original Song?

The Oscar nominees were announced this morning, and there are already some losers. Suprisingly, "Dreamgirls" was not nominated for Best Picture. Also, here are the nom's for Best Original Song:

"I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth," music and lyric by Melissa Etheridge (Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
"Listen" from "Dreamgirls," music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler; lyric by Anne Preven (DreamWorks and Paramount)
"Love You I Do" from "Dreamgirls," music by Henry Krieger; lyric by Siedah Garrett (DreamWorks and Paramount)
"Our Town" from "Cars," music and lyric by Randy Newman (Buena Vista)
"Patience" from "Dreamgirls," music by Henry Krieger; lyric by Willie Reale (DreamWorks and Paramount)

Ugh. Three songs from "Dreamgirls" and two fillers. These songs really kept you humming em all year, didn't they? What the hell happened to the original song? Read my previous post on the topic called "Help Me Tom Cruise!"

For the complete list of nonimees, go here.

Let Them Eat Cake!

If you haven't checked out and then bookmarked I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS, then seriously, you are a total claimer. On a daily basis Heather consistently cranks out posts of such high quality that it puts the rest of us (ok, just me) to shame. Yesterday, as with every Monday, she had her Monday Music Roundup and included a cover version of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" from one of my favorite bands, Cake. Never heard that version before, and I'm thankful she posted it. I guess this makes up for me losing out on a contest to win a sweet litho of an Oasis album cover (but at least I had my entire entry mentioned, read it here, I'm just sayin'). So, needless to say, her post kind of inspired me to check in on Cake.

I had heard last year that they were going to release a live album. But the damn thing never came out. Here's what the band's website had to say:

"The “Live at the Crystal Palace” CD will not be coming out this fall due to CAKE’s strict quality control enforcement. We are still working on it for next year. Thank-you for your patience and understanding."

I wonder what the heck that was all about! Problems with the label? The mixing? Kinda vague dontcha think? Instead it looks like the band will be releasing a "Rarities" album in 2007 and the cover of "War Pigs" will be included. Check out their myspace page for more tracks.

Anyway, there is at least one track from the concert that is available, and I bring it to you. The track is called "Mexico," and the original version of the song can be found on their "Prolonging the Magic" release. And for some "frosting on the Cake," I have also included a live version of "Never There" from the 2004 release "ONXRT Live From the Archives, Vol. 7" because I'm cool like that.

For Your Consideration:
Cake - Mexico (Live At The Crystal Palace) Mp3
Cake - Never There (Live) Mp3

Monday, January 22, 2007

B-Sides The Point: The Killers

A lot of fuss has been made about the Killers. Their first album "Hot Fuss" spawned a number of hits including the juggernaut single "Mr. Brightside." Their second album? As Borat would say, "Not so much."

"Sam's Town" and it's sprawling anthems of Springsteenian proportions could not live up to the hype and expectations of the millions of fans who loved the first album. Maybe it needs to age a bit before we can appreciate it. Perhaps it's just a bad sophomore effort. But what the album accomplished, and it was produced to do so, was spread the musical horizons of the band, and in some respect, its listeners.

But hey, how about that first album? Even it's B-Sides were good! My favorite one that has been blasting up my most often played playlist is called "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll." It's got a slow buildup with a true declaration for the love of indie rock, and should be a staple of your collection. Also I've included an acoustic version of "Mr. Brightside" which can be found as a B-Side on its single. What is the big clue that any song is a classic? Well, the track has to work plugged in and acoustically, each version revealing something new about the song. That is the case for "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots, "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters, and now you can add this track to the list.

For Your Consideration:
The Killers - Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll Mp3
The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Acoustic) Mp3

The Brady Bunch & Getting Davy Jones: "Girl"

Of my most recent posts, the Lonely Man Theme from the television show "The Incredible Hulk" was quite a popular one. So, I was thinking of other songs from my television past that you might like to own in your collection. It actually might make for a good weekly posting. I have tons of songs that would fit in to this category. I mean after all, do you own the chase songs from the original Scooby Doo cartoons? Ummm, I do. (Side note: Should I be proud of this?)

Anywho, this week, I am highlighting one of my favorite obscure tracks from "The Brady Bunch." Episode #64 which originally aired on December 10, 1971 was called "Getting Davy Jones." In case you forgot what happened, Marcia, president of her school's Davy Jones fan club, hastily promises she can get the former Monkee to sing at her school's upcoming dance. Her boast results in her having to scramble to get the singer to actually agree to appear.

About halfway through the show, Davy is in the (state of the art?) studio recording his newest single "Girl," which you can watch in its entirety in the clip above, and for your consideration, you can get it here! The version below was taken from the motion picture soundtrack to "A Very Brady Sequel." Enjoy.

For Your Consideration:
Davy Jones - Girl Mp3