Category Archives: Popular Culture

Music, Popular Culture, U2

1st Grade

While not my favorite U2 album, The Joshua Tree‘s place in rock ‘n roll history cannot be denied. The album as a whole works everytime you put it on. Never fail.

Streets. Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For. With or Without You. Bullet the Blue Sky.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Four strong offerings right off the bat. Their not done yet.

Running to Stand Still. Red Hill. In God’s Country (My Fav). Wires. One Tree Hill. Exit. Mothers.

Seven of the most underrated U2 songs ever recorded which also happen to be seven of the best songs that U2 has ever recorded. Every time I listen to Joshua Tree I eagerly anticipate the big breath of Running immediately following Bullet the Blue Sky. Sublime.

On Tuesday, The Joshua Tree was re-released for a 20th Anniversary Re-mastered Box Set including the album (re-mastered), a rarities disc, and a DVD concert from 1987. I have never heard this album sound so good before. The re-master is great but the real gem in the concert DVD. While not as big and ZooTV and nowhere near as gaudy as PopMart the band is tight, the set list is perfect, and the 80’s fashions are on display like never before. No Bono mullet though.

Joshua Tree 20th Anniversary Set

For the record: I was in 1st grade when U2 first released their masterwork The Joshua Tree. I was too busy at the time listening to NKOTB and hanging down at Fraggle Rock. I’ll never regret my time spent with Gobo and Wembly but I give thanks everyday that I got my music ear, ditched the New Kids and their ilk, and found the boys from Dublin.

Now this seminal album has been re-released in a 20th Anniversary edition.

You know what that means? I am officially old.

Guilty Pleasure, Popular Culture

And the Flowers Are Still Standing!

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Oh, boy! I just geeked all over myself while veiwing this video clip of gameplay from the upcoming Ghostbusters video game. The game will feature the original cast and the script has been penned by Aykroyd and Ramis (Ray and Egon respectively).

In the clip you can spot recreated scenes from the two movies, references to Tobin’s Spirit Guide, and a visit from everyone’s favorite librarian (Get Her!). There is already an official game site up and running. Click here to see more.

I cannot wait to play this game.

Favorite Quotes from Ghostbusters:
“Back off man! I’m a scientist.”

“Someone blows their nose and you want to keep it?”

“You’re right, no human being would stack books like this. ”

“‘Get her.’ That was your whole plan, huh, “get her?”

“Someone saw a cockroach up on twelve.”

“Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back.”

“That’s bad. Okay. All right. Important safety tip. Thanks, Egon.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Nice shootin’ Tex!”

“Ok, who brought the dog?”

“Tell him about the Twinkie.”

“If I’m wrong, nothing happens! We go to jail – peacefully, quietly. We’ll enjoy it! But if I’m right, and we can stop this thing… Lenny, you will have saved the lives of millions of registered voters.”

“Aim for the flattop!”

“What did you do Ray?

“No one steps on a church in my town!”

“It smells like burnt dog hair. Oooh, Pete, I’m… I’m sorry.

Popular Culture

ABC Needs Some New Photos on File

I was reading through some news reports this morning when I clicked on a story about how real campain finance laws might prevent Stephen Colbert from getting on the ballot in South Carolina. Here is the picture that accompanied the story:

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Did you see that Doritos bag? When was that stock photo taken? I’m not sure of the date but I am certain that it pre-dates Cool Ranch. ABC is billion dollar company and I guess that they couldn’t hop over to 7-11 for a new bag of chips to take a more up-to-date photo for their news story on current events.

I think the “liberal” media is trying to paint this awesome, conservative, native son of South Carolina with the broad brush of out of touchness. I bet stories on Hillary are featured with the current Little Debbie logos. I would be willing to venture a guess that you wouldn’t see Obama with a can of “Crystal Pepsi” or Edwards making his millions chasing ambulances like he did back in the 80s and 90s. No way because those times have past and the media wants to portray these candidates as hip and modern. The liberal media watches out for their liberal friends. It’s the true conservatives that are regulated to bad photoshop and file photos.

Colbert, don’t let the “establishment” say you’re as fresh as a 1978 bag of nacho cheese tortilla chips. You sir are a spicy blend of Fiery Habanero and Cojones!

And that’s the Word!

Colbert ’08

Heroes, Popular Culture

We Interupt This Theological Discussion…

For a comment on Heroes.

This season is a slow burn but each week gets progressively better. However, like many fans I’m growing a little impatient with the HRG/Claire storyline right now.

Let me sum it up for you real quick.

Claire: Dad I’m a teenager. I want to do teenager stuff.
HRG: No. I have to protect you and the family.
Claire: Dad, what about cheerleading?
HRG: No. I have to protect you and the family.
Claire: Dad, what about boys?
HRG: No. I have to protect you and the family.

It’s gone on like that for the last 4 weeks.

On top of all of this HRG has seen the Mendez painting from the future which shows Claire(?) kissing a mystery shadow man while standing over HRG bullet ridden body.

paintingfu6.jpg

I love reading the forums whenever I get a chance and I loved what beapeams had to say about the whole HRG protecting Claire/keeping secrets storyline.

Secrets, Secrets, Secrets!! How long is HRG going to keep hiding things from Claire. How about this for a line: “ClaireBear Look at this painting. This was done by a guy that could see the future, who was special like you. If you join the cheerleading squad and go around dating boys right now, someone is going to put a bullet in daddies head.”

Classic.

Music, Popular Culture

Let It Be

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I first saw this image on iLounge.com this morning. Much of the talk in the comment section had people jumping for joy that a new “widescreen” (think iPhone) iPod would be announced. While that very much could be the announcement my friend Scott sent me some info this afternoon that could ends months of speculation on my part.

According to Scott, the last sentance on the last statement issued by the Beatles ended with the phrase “the beat goes on.”

The statement issued on April 10, 1970 reads as follows:
Spring is here and Leeds play Chelsea tomorrow and Ringo and John and George and Paul are alive and well and full of hope. The world is still spinning and so are we and so are you… When the spinning stops—that’ll be the time to worry, not before. Until then, the Beatles are alive and well and the beat goes on, the beat goes on.

Yesterday the entire Ringo Starr catalog was added to the iTunes store. The drummer’s work was added alongside his bandmates, John Lennon and Sir Paul, who were added to the store over the summer. George is still MIA though.

Based on the info from the press release I could not be any more sure that the announcement on September 5th will be that the Beatles catalog will be added to the iTunes Store. Scott thinks that it will be a double announcement with the widescreen iPod and the Beatles. I’m only hoping for the latter.

If the announcement comes and goes without the Beatles being the added my guitar will surely gently weep. Who needs a widescreen iPod? I want my Fab Four.

Movies, Popular Culture, The Simpsons

Best. Episode(s). Ever.

I just had to say it.

We caught the midnight showing of “The Simpsons Movie” last night. I don’t think I have laughed as hard during any other movie this summer. I’ll have to watch it again to make sure that my sleepy little eyes didn’t miss anything.

One of the things that stood out in the movie was the incredible heart-felt moments shared between Marge and Homer, Bart and Flanders, and Homer and Bart. Of course any fan of the show would know that these heart-warming moments are the rule and not the exception in the Simpsons universe. I for one was glad that they included these moments in their big screen debut.