To B-Side or not to B-Side?

Well Tom Waits is out with a new CD. I guess it's not so much a new CD, it's supposedly a compilation of Rarities and B-Sides. The problem I have is that B-Sides and Rarities in music are usually not the greatest CDs, more like the leftovers. I did recently buy Bob Dylan's Basment Tapes, which I assume to be similar, I though the Basement Tapes were great. Tom Waits however is an artist in the truest sense of the word and I'm up in the air. I wonder what these songs are like: sloppy second takes? The shit that was so fucked up that the record companies wouldn't let Waits put it on a regular album? Club hits and remixes? I don't know, I'm really up in the air. Is it nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them? To die, well, who can say really...

Waits! They don't love you like I love you.

Like Nixon in China... Not!

According to his resume Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper has a master of economics. I often wonder if he threw it out the window when he got elected, because it sure seems like it. I would like to list a few reasons that have led me to believe that Harper should have failed economics:
1. The lack of spreading information; as far as transperancy Harper is horrible. According to recent news, even the communists are quicker at providing information than Canada. An open gouvernment is required for optimal levels of investment, and Stephen Harper isn't providing one.
2. Income trusts, Harper recently changed the structure of income trusts in a suprise move, which is the worst thing to do in an open economy. Suprises, mess with investors views and destroy the gouvernments credibility. If he was truly and economist, he would look at the costs of destroying his credibility and not just the money not being made with more taxes.
3. Needless legislation time, Do we really need to debate same-sex marriage again? Couldn't we be using this time more effeciently, for something productive which might actually benefit are society?
4. Relationship with China. It seems weird that an economist takes such a harsh stance on China, it's as if he has no understanding of Kusnitz curves. Kusnitz curves dictate that as countries industrialize the inequity among the population increases up to a point and then it moves in an opposite direction, this suggests that indutrialization will be the factor that changes China and witholding trade is actually a negative on both countries.

For God sakes Harper Canada doesn't need a brazen hero, it needs an economically sound leader!

I'm feeling fine in the modern age

Friday was the Frank Black concert. I can’t say it was my favorite concert, but it wasn’t that bad either. The problems were essentially twofold, the first being the opening act, an idiot, who goes by the name of the Kentucky Prophet. He was an obese white rapper who seemed to think that self loathing was a skill. Secondly, the venue was horrible, I hate the Mac Hall ballroom, it’s so pathetic. That being said Frank was great, he played most of the hits, and he even played a Tom Waits cover. I thought he should have played something off of Devil’s Workshop or maybe a little more off of Teenager of the Year, that would have taken it from good to great. Anyway here’s the setlist:

Acoustic:
Where is my Mind?
Nimrod's Son
Los Angeles
Wave of Mutilation
Manitoba

Full Band:
Remake/Remodel
Living on Soul
Bullet
I'll be blue
Black Rider
10%er
All my Ghosts
Headache
I Burn Today
I'm not dead (I'm in Pittsburgh)
(Do what you want) Gyaneshwar
Suffering
Johnny Barleycorn
Burnt out rock n' roll
All over the world
Terrible Ways
Raiderman
Horrible Day
Dead Man's Curve
666
Nadine

Encore:
Sing for Joy

The film and the fury: Review of "the Departed"

The Departed is based on a Japanese film which I have not seen, nor do I ever think I will see. I don't think I'm qualified on reveiwing the story or the filming, I can't really compare it to the original, I have no basis. I can't really judge the film but I do have a disgusting knowledge of pop culture and celebrities, therefore I can judge those responsible for another fucking remake, namely the actors and directors.

Martin Scorsese recently compiled a documentary based on Bob Dylan, entitled"No Direction Home". That being said, I think Marty and Bob have a lot in common. They're both what you might call artisits who have attained notarity and success, they both have a heavy influence on the current generation of artists in there respective mediums and they both haven't won an acadamy award for best director.

The problem with "The Departed," sure the movie is alright, hell it's even good... The problem I have is casting. What really put me off was Marty casting Matt Damon and Leo Dicaprio. A bunch of Hollywood hacks.

To compare it to Dylan I would say it's like Dylan hiring a session band for his new album, but instead of getting real artists he hires "Fall Out Boy" to help comunicate his ideas. I feel hiring those two pretty boys he puts an unnessecary degree of seperation up between him and the audience. Believe me, I understand he needs big names in his movies to make the kind of movies he wants but does he think that Leonardo Dicaprio will ever replace Robert DeNiro? What worries me is that since "Gangs of New York" this trend has been getting worse, I'm scared of what's going to happen next, is he going to cast Jessica Simpson?

"Hey, I used to be cool"