I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: SPOON-Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007).

This record was heralded as the greatest thing ever when it was released. Every review I read tried to outdo the other reviews with praise for this record. I can be swayed by reviews, especially if everyone is in consensus of a CD. And, I had put Spoon on my short list of bands to check out, so why not check out the best record of the year?

Well, as it turned out I was really unimpressed with it when I put it on. The first song, “Don’t Make Me a Target” was really solid, but the rest sort of drifted away into a mist of meaninglessness. In fact, the repetitive riff of “The Ghost of You Lingers” made it impossible for me to think of anything but Bon Jovi’s “Runaway,” and I will forever curse them for that.

Usually, if I’m not that impressed with an album, I don’t listen to it that much. I try to give everything 3 or 4 listens to make sure, but if nothing clicks, then that’s it. For reasons that I won’t go into, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga got multiple airings in my house, and then, sometime around the 12th listen, it really clicked, and I got it. What’s especially weird about this is that it’s not even a very complicated album (usually some of those prog rock records take lots of listens to really get it), in fact many of the songs are downright minimalist. So what was the hold up? I have no idea.

I’m not willing to say it’s the best record of the year, or even that it’s my favorite recent record. But now that I found the key to it, I really do enjoy it, and I’m listening to it with new ears. It reminds me of a more commercial Wilco (the harder, rockier Wilco of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot). So if you’ve been put off by the hype of this record and aren’t impressed, let it sink in, maybe you’ll find it enjoyable too.

[READ: November 8, 2007] Movie Megacheese.

The most exciting thing that happened to me when I went to Boston College was that my cable TV selection improved vastly. I was exposed to the Comedy Channel or Ha! or whatever it was called before it turned into Comedy Central. And the best thing I had ever seen was Mystery Science Theater 3000. It had everything–cheesy movies, snarky comments, puppets, a silhouette on the bottom of the screen! It was amazing. My only regret was that I had missed so many seasons of it. Well, of course, silly me, Comedy Central is king of the reruns and soon, I too was circulating the tapes with the rest of them.

It was a sad day when the show was not renewed. And even though the Sci Fi Channel years were good, the original magic diminished a little. Regardless, the show still holds up after all these years, because snark never dies.

And that leads us to this book. Michael J. Nelson was the head writer and eventual lead on-screen dude of MST3K. This book continues with the movie criticisms. It is a collection of articles published in two magazines I’ve never heard of. But this time the target is big blockheaded blockbusters.

Thrill as Mike takes on the Baldwin family! Gasp as Sphere is reduced to rubble! Ululate as Mike snarks on chick flix! Shudder as Mike admits to watching several Patrick Swayze films in a row!

The format of the book is wonderful: just a bunch of three page articles about a certain movie or movie family. And, Mike’s style is also good; he is full of self-deprecating humor even while he savages the skills of Skeet Ulrich or Keanu Reeves. Some might say the targets are easy, but he is very thorough and, I believe, goes after some truly lame ducks. (ha ha, urgh).

As with any large dose of cheese, it is best to not read the whole book in one sitting. But, with the delightful set up of the chapters, it is easy to read a few at a time. Now, if only Mike and the guys could put their differences aside (really, a joke embargo? Fellows, please!) and reunite for another movie! (Actually I have no idea if there are differences; in fact, it is pretty hard to find out just what is happening to the old alums. Trace, Kevin, Joel, TV’s Frank, Gypsy, Tom, Crow, Dr Forrester, whereever you are, I will find you!)