V01I20 - 12201998
The end of the year draws nearer and we're still taking votes in the BRAINWASHED POLL. Vote for the best and worst of 1998, but make up your mind before you "submit." Results will be posted the first issue of 1999.
IN BRIEF
Having heard Talvin Singh's compilation of "London's Asian Underground,"
Anokha, I was a bit hesistant about getting the new album. The "Anokha"
album just blew rocks except for maybe one or two redeeming tracks. Lately
though, I have been listening to a lot of bhangra--Northern Indian techno,
great stuff!--and I figured that maybe the new Singh would be great. I was
dissapointed. Within the first seven or so minutes of the album I found
myself listening to tablas, flutes, a full string orchestra, and some of the
most scattered drum'n'bass rhythms that I had ever heard. The rest of the
album fuses Indian and other Asian sounds into some very heady and
intelligent rhythms. The highlight of the album for me absolutely had to be
the title track that appears 2/3 into the album. Beginning with the a deep
drum rhythm, a chorus emerges and then the track just takes off. Bass, drum
machines, flutes, MIDI guitar--they all come together for an excellent
track. I was very suprised with this album. "OK" is the true world music. - Carter Adams
DUTCH HARBOR
This past week, myself, Tom, and a few other friends paid witness to the screening of "Dutch Harbor: Where the Sea Breaks its Back" while the Boxhead Ensemble performed live a score for the soundtrack. This film was a documentary based on the Aleutian island of Unalaska and the fishermen who go there every winter as well as some of the locals. The film was stunning, black and white, big waves crashing, big ships, etc. while the Boxhead Ensemble consisted of a pedal steel guitarist, violin/guitarist, cellist, double bassist, drummer/percussionist and guitarist. There's now two full lengthers available: the score from the movie and the live disc recorded across Europe this past year while on tour. - Jon Whitney
As always, check out the latest update of NEW RELEASES brought to you by Greg and Feedback Monitor.
REVIEWED
I would have liked this movie a whole lot better if I hadn't read the book. But I did, and it didn't measure up to the book. But damned if it isn't a great movie. Guns, money, drugs, Billy Bob Thornton, the guy who played Mike Brady in the Brady Bunch movies, naked, pregnant Bridget Fonda, snow. Hmmmm, lotsa good stuff, reminiscent of Fargo in some ways, but the book came before Fargo and it's pretty faithful to the feel of the book. Impeach Clinton! - Thomas Guttadauro
Mick Foley is now running along as a runaway leader on Time Magazines 'Man of the Year' online poll. Who is Mick Foley? Well, those not familiar with the world of pro wrestling probably have never heard of him. Mick Foley is one pro wrestler who has immortalized himself in the face of fans and gained the respect of millions in his work for pro wrestling. Now, if you have never seen this man work, then you are probably thinking "yeah right, its all rigged anyway." Well, Mick Foley has never ceased to outdo his selfless sacrifice for the profession he loves the most. Sacrificing his body and personal well being numerous times, and he has not done this for personal benefit.
Chances are, unless Howard Stern does another drive for "Hank the Angry,
Drunken Dwarf" (People Magazine's MOTY by online vote) Mick Foley will win,
thanks to a large pro-wrestling online community. Their pick for MOTY on
People's Poll was Ric Flair, he came in #2.
- Erik Selke
Subject: Your commentary...
Hey, Jon. I just couldn't help but interject a few pouts about the commentary this week in da Brain. I'm confused. What's your point? He wasn't important until he was murdered... And? The kid in Watertown was murdered by a john of his, someone who had a history of mental illness, I believe. Both were gay, actually they were lovers, I think. So it wasn't a case of a hate crime, simply a crime. Not to diminish it, but to put it into a different perspective. Shepard was killed because he was gay. Innocent into famous. Perhaps it's famous because it was an extraordinary case, not the run of the mill story. Who knows...
Just thinking...
Hey, I never claimed to know the answers or have the right answers, so long as you're thinking about it, that's better than most people just blindly being led like sheep.
Subject: Re: Man of the Year...
It never ceases to amaze me how individualistically centered the majority of us have become ; while our views on others so quickly degenerates with each passing year. We are fast becoming a blind society, our minds molded like clay by the boob-tube and other media outlets. Will we as a culture ever wake up from our land of fairy tales to rediscover what it really means to be human? Or perhaps were we wrong about evolution all along - and reverting forth into apes.
OF THE
WEEK
It's strange how silly stupid things make you chuckle the most. This page, at members.tripod.com/nukiee/game.html is one of them. You are left wondering who's the bigger loser, you or the guy who spent the time to write this...
BEARDED!
Anything for a web page, eh? With the cold winter months at hand for most of the people reading this trashy webzine, you're getting lazy about shaving. Fear not, you're in good company, just check out the Beard Web Page at members.aol.com/beardguy/
LINKS
Yes, the Jon Whitney Autobiography will have to get a different title now that the South Park Movie title has been announced and the trailer is available...
THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME
You'll be hearing a lot about this one too, at www.austinpowers.com you can see the trailer for the sequel to one of the funniest movies of the decade.
CELEBRITY
OF THE
WEEK
NEIL PATRICK HARRISGot a radio station party coming up? Opening an Orange Julius in the Liberty Tree Mall? Casting another Old Navy commercial? You could use a discount celebrity. This week's celebrity is Neil Patrick Harris, former star of Dougie Houser, M.D., now making a career of made-for-tv-movies and public service announcements.
YOUR CD
PLAYER?
Laswell/Harris/Bernocchi, "Veve"
Neutral Milk Hotel, "On Avery Island
Amon Tobin, "Permutation"
Craig Armstrong, "The Space Between Us"
Mogwai, "Ten Rapid"
Neotropic, "Mr. Brubaker's Strawberry Alarm Clock"
Rachel's, "The Sea and the Bells"
- Jon Whitney
Brainwashed Gift Wrapping
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