see, this is what happens what I just skim over headlines...

It's just the odd proximity of today's headlines...



I tell you, if Jesus ended up looking like Don Knotts, I just might be ok with that.

RIP, Don. Wakko Warner always was wise to worship you.

Manipulative Dukes and Crap Rock

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the lovely and talented testopolis in a production of "Measure for Measure." This is a play that seems to be the current favorite for college Shakespeare professors, the new "It" Shakespeare play. After seeing it, the first word that came to mind to describe this play is "complicated." I'm not sure how the hell I would put this play on. I can definitely say however that after all the marriages in this play, the Duke's family reunions and Christmas get-togethers would be the most awkward family gatherings *ever*. Especially for the Duke, who doesn't seem to see anything wrong in how he handled things.

So I've been listening to pretty much all of 94.7's excellent "30 Years in 30 Days", where each day is dedicated to a year in rock music between 1966-1996. And I've learned a couple things. First of all, I'm too young to remember Ronald Reagan. Now, I know he's the Devil. Trickle down economics, his non-handling of AIDS, all that? Yeah, I totally hate him. But I gotta say, I'm listening to these audio clips of him and all I can think of is, "My god, it's like living under President Kickass!" I can totally understand why so many people fall under his sway and worship him. I suppose many of you who grew up in that era will look at me funny for even saying that, but I guess I'm just so used to Bush, where every single thing that comes out of his mouth sounds like the clueless idiot bullshit it usually is. Maybe it's because Reagan was an actor. Politicians really should take acting classes.

The other major thing I've discovered? The only time period of music in all those years that I actually find unlistenable is the period between 1989-1991. The hair bands. Holy crap, I just... I can't listen to this. I tried, I really did. I can dig whiny hippie folk songs. I can enjoy disco, even for cheese value. I have a not-so-secret love of 80's New Wave. But the hair bands, I... I can't do it. I'm no big Nirvana fan and even less of a Pearl Jam fan, but thank GOD for Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder, and their ilk.

Devo 2.0: Threat or Menace?

So we all know about the horridness of KIDZBOP. Y'know, those insipid CD compilations of todays "Top Hot Hits" sung by sugary-sweet all-children groups? There's something really wrong in hearing snippets of these kids cover such things like half of Green Day's "American Idiot" album.

Well, the five members of Devo have gotten an idea of their own. They have re-grouped and re-recorded many of their hit songs... and have them sung by a group of kids. The band is called DEVO 2.0.

Here's the official press release:

"Devo changed the way people thought of music in the 1980s. Now, with Devo 2.0, the band will change the face of kids’ music — and introduce the concept of "de-evolution" to a new generation. The original band has re-recorded its iconic hits and asked five talented kids to sing them on cd. An accompanying DVD offers surreal animated music videos directed by Gerry Casale. Both feature the first new Devo tracks in twenty years: "Cyclops" and "The Winner.""



I haven't quite decided if this is disgusting and shameless pandering, highly disturbing, complete madness, or utterly, utterly brilliant. All I know is I can't *wait* for Danny Elfman to start "The Lil'est Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo."

EDIT: Oh God, there's a music video.</a My brain asplode.