Wednesday, August 01, 2007

A damning report

Read this PDF, you can start at page 10. Jeeeezus...

Voting Machines

Monday, July 30, 2007

Fundamental

A couple of weeks ago I went to see Pet Shop Boys(again). Good show although I think the one before this one had a more adventurous setlist. Still, a good show and a good time was had by all.

I was invited to go to the show the morning of the gig. So the afternoon of the concert I purchased their latest album 'Fundamental' to listen to a taste of what I would hear that night. Some weeks passed and I put the album on again, this time to really listen to it. Now I have been a fan from Day One, always thought these guys did something no one else did. And boy did these guys write some great songs; from 'It's a sin' via 'Miserabilism' to 'Can you forgive her?'. All brilliant in my opinion.

So now I catch myself putting the album on and on and on and on... Fundamental is really what it says: a return to the fundamentals of what makes Pet Shop Boys. There is a song that has the same sound-balance and feel as 'It's a sin'. There is one that sounds almost but not entirely like 'Euroboy', and the list goes on. But mind you; they're all new songs and they are all very good to absolutely brilliant. And for the first time as far as I know, the guys actually put in some criticism of society in their lyrics. Not just in the Blair-Bush-Poodle song 'I'm with Stupid' :

"No one understands me
Where I'm coming from
Why would I be with someone
who's obviously so dumb?"

or :
"Before we ever met
I thought like everybody did
you were just a moron
a billion-dollar kid"


but also(and more so) in the gem that is "Integral" :


"If you've done nothing wrong
You've got nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here

Long live us
The persuaded we
Integral
Collectively
To the whole project
It's brand new
Conceived solely
To protect you

One world
One reason
Unchanging
One season

If you've done nothing wrong
You've got nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here
You've had your chance
Now we've got the mandate
If you've changed your mind
I'm afraid it's too late
We're concerned
You're a threat
You're not integral
To the project

Sterile
Immaculate
Rational
Perfect

Everyone has
Their own number
In the system that
We operate under
We're moving to
A situation
Where your lives exist
As information
One world
One life
One chance
One reason
All under
One sky
Unchanging
One season

If you've done nothing wrong
You've got nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here
You've had your chance
Now we've got the mandate
If you've changed your mind
I'm afraid it's too late
We're concerned
You're a threat
You're not integral
To the project

Sterile
Immaculate
Rational
Perfect"




Oh, and you're right guys: 'I learned a lesson from the 20th century I think that we should not dismiss'. Indeed.

Let me translate. Frank Zappa...

http://www.nu.nl/news/1176477/70/Berlijn_eert_Frank_Zappa_met_straat.html

Berlijn eert Frank Zappa met straat
Uitgegeven: 30 juli 2007 19:27
Laatst gewijzigd: 30 juli 2007 19:28

AMSTERDAM - In Berlijn is een straat vernoemd naar de legendarische rockster Frank Zappa. Straat 13 in het voorheen communistische oosten van Berlijn heet vanaf nu Frank Zappastraat.
ANP

Het initiatief voor de naamsverandering is genomen door de filmorganisatie Orwo Haus, die in de straat gevestigd is. Het gaat de organisatie, die stamt uit de DDR-tijd, naar eigen zeggen om hetgeen Zappa symboliseerde.

"Taboes kende hij niet, hij was muzikaal van alle markten thuis, prikkelend en hij liet zich niet inpalmen door kapitalistische ondernemingen", zegt de organisatie in een verklaring.

Broer

Zappa's broer Bobby heeft Orwo Haus bedankt en gezegd dat de in 1993 overleden Amerikaan trots zou zijn geweest.
(c) ANP



Berlin honours Frank Zappa with street.

Released: 30 juli 2007 19:27
Last updated: 30 juli 2007 19:28


AMSTERDAM - In Berlin a street was named after the legendary rockstar Frank Zappa. Strasse 13(Street 13) is now called Frank Zappa Street.

The initiative for the namechange came from the film organization Orwo Haus, located in the street. The organization, which stems from the DDR-era, aims for what Frank Zappa stood for.

"He did not know any taboos, he was musically extremely eclectic, he pushed the envelope and he was not seduced by capitalist companies", the organization states.


Brother.

Zappa's brother Bobby has thanked Orwo Haus en stated that the artist, who passed away in 1993, would have been proud.

(c) ANP

Thursday, July 05, 2007

The most beautiful song of 2007 so far.

Rufus has outgrown his dad


Going To A Town lyrics by Rufus Wainwright.


I'm going to a town that has already been burned down
I'm going to a place that is already been disgraced
I'm gonna see some folks who have already been let down.
I'm so tired of America

I'm gonna make it up for all of the Sunday Times
I'm gonna make it up for all of the nursery rhymes
They never really seem to want to tell the truth
I'm so tired of you America

Making my own way home
Ain't gonna be alone
I got a life to lead America
I got a life to lead

Tell me do you really think you go to hell for having loved?
Tell me and not for thinking every thing that you've done is good
(I really need to know)
After soaking the body of Jesus Christ in blood
I'm so tired of America
(I really need to know)

I may just never see you again or might as well
You took advantage of a world that loved you well
I'm going to a town that has already been burned down
I'm so tired of you America

Making my own way home
Ain't gonna be alone
I got a life to lead America
I got a life to lead
I got a soul to feed
I got a dream to heed
And that's all I need

Making my own way home
Ain't gonna be alone
I'm going to a town that has already been burned down

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Genesis Pics and Vids

O.K. Here are some links about the Genesis-gig in Amsterdam :

Nice Vids!

Very high quality pictures Pics! from The Splinter Inside

Check out the high-res versions like this one Awesome!

Revived from The Dead!

Not much activity here lately. Too busy living I guess...
Went to Genesis in The Arena in Amsterdam last sunday. Great great show, these guys will still deliver when they're 80 years old(nope, they're not that old yet...).

I'll put up some pictures, video's and reviews later.