tomorrow never knows…

When Danger Mouse brilliantly combined Jay-Z’s Black Album with the Beatles’ White Album, it re-opened our eyes in a way to the new artistic possibilities of remixing. And while the phenomenon of the studio ‘mash-up’ did not start with The Grey Album, it certainly brought it to the forefront of mainstream consciousness.

Now The Beatles are the focus of yet another mash up– Love. Instead of getting mixed with hip hop however, they are being remixed with themselves. It is easy to be skeptical when we hear of a project like this due to the constant barrage of Beatles product year in and year out. Is this just another release in same the vein as Star Wars remasters and posthumous Tupac albums?

The Beatles get remixed with themselves on Love.

Well, yes. But, no. You see, the mastermind behind Love is THE Sir George Martin, the genius behind nearly every Beatles album. With assistance from his son, they have created a deconstruction and extrapolation of the Beatles catalog, mashing up and splicing songs within songs. The Martins reconfigure, remix, and reference songs in a way that is unfamiliar, but simultaneously recognizeable.

Case in point: “Get Back” opens with the opening chime of “A Hard Day’s Night” before laying down the drum solo from “The End.” It then crescendos to a cacophonic string collage lifted from the climax of “A Day in the Life” before giving way to the actual “Get Back” song. Within the song though you will also hear tidbits of guitar solo from “The End.”

The tune then seamlessly segues to a middle section of “Glass Onion.” Much in the same way the original “Glass Onion” lyrically references past songs “I am the Walrus” and “Fixing A Hole,” this version alludes to “Hello Goodbye’s” background vocals and horn parts from “Penny Lane” before sliding once again into “Elenor Rigby\ Julia” which borrows ambiance from “Revolution 9.”

There are so many similarly great moments on Love that it would be interesting to spend some time with this record and analyze all the sounds and allusions from song to song. The Martins have lovingly crafted an album of Beatles songs encoded with secrets you cannot help but crack a smile when deciphered.

For more background go HERE.

Grandaddy’s Eggs

I was listening to the song “He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot” the other day of the album The Software Slump by the group Grandaddy, and I noticed at around 3:38 you can hear very faintly the main riff from another of Grandaddy’s songs called AM 180. I have located a few examples of these songs, the first He’s Simple is from a youTube montage video someone made for One Tree Hill ( ? )… Anyway you can at least hear the song: [youtube]O_Xhy9Ho7ng[/youtube]

Which at 3:38 if the compression was not crapola, you could hear the reference to the other song AM 180 (from the album Under The Western Freeway or the 28 Days Later soundtrack (when they are in the grocery store)):[youtube]YX-_yLyU1fU[/youtube]

Anyway if you are in need to checking out some new music I would highly recommend The Software Slump, its one of those albums that had to grow on me, but it is now one of my favourites.

NPR’s Five For Friday — Jeff Tweedy

Yet another Five For Friday feature went up today.  Take a look.

It’s Just You and Jeff Tweedy on the Road by Michael Katzif

Jeff Tweedy loves red lights! And playing guitar on the road.As the finger-plucked opening notes trickle in, a foggy montage of rainy highways, old storefronts and empty concert halls captures the behind-the-scenes feel of a tour. A rumble of the crowd and a lone fan declares, “Hey Jeff! I love you man!”

It’s these little moments that make Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy’s new concert film, Sunken Treasure, so engaging — you feel as if you’re on the road with this guitar-playing icon of alt-country. At one point, he even forgets the words to “Shot in the Arm,” then asks the audience to sing along to boost his memory.

Longtime Wilco fans will know most of the music, but both newcomers and diehards get a glimpse at a different side to Tweedy’s prolific songcraft. The stripped down arrangements revitalize old favorites like “In a Future Age” and “Airline To Heaven” and show off Tweedy’s haunted yet charismatic voice. You could argue that watching from home is a far cry from experiencing this great show in person. But this DVD beautifully takes you there — and you don’t have to fight your way out of the parking lot when it’s over.

Michael Katzif, who writes about music for NPR, turned his baby boomer Dad on to Wilco.

hello.profiles: Michael Katzif

Micheal Katzif, renaissance man in training, Luddite, and general miscreant, is on the top of his game. He has just come out of a long period of underground studies, where he has been honing his skills in culinary clothing design, and is about to take the West by storm. Hello Come In had the opportunity recently to chat with Michael at a posh downtown cigar shoppe, about his life, liberty, failed pursuit of happiness, and the general trends in media and entertainment.

Aryn: So Mike, whats this I have been hearing about a new clothing line?

Mike: The thing with the clothing line is half accurate.

Only half accurate?

I have been developing new ways in which people can wear clothes in order to maximize comfort and style while at the same time prevent people from having the same styles of clothing. So some of that experimentation has been a clothing line. The other part has been a methodical rounding up or herding of individuals who are deemed redundant and mind wiping their brains.

Is this a sort of ever updated fad chaser that someone can simply put on and not have to worry about looking cool, because the “clothing” does that for them?

The new clothing can be adaptive to its environments, but the mind wipes ensure that no one has a predisposition towards any sort of sameness in the universe.

Experimental clothes

That sounds a little science fiction to me. What other projects have you been working on?

Well a few things coming up the pipe are a bread baking club; sort of a “choose your own adventure” recipe construction where you never know what you are making until the very end.

Is that a “hip” new term for something else, or are you actually talking about a cooking club? Sounds a bit old fashioned.

I like to live my life dancing between the extreme modern and the horribly antiquated. I call it “digilog.” Or “analogital.” You can choose.

Interesting, I have heard that people only remember the first and last parts of things, sounds like you have revolved your life around that theory?

I really only remember the middle. My favourite parts of calzones were the middles.

I see. Can you tell me your top two presidents (or prime ministers or dictators) from any era, and what their contribution to the fashion world meant in relation to your art?

See most people these days would mention Roosevelt (Teddy) or Taft for their iconic mustaches which have grown increasingly ironic and stylish in the hipster scene, but not me.

Don’t forget Ghengis.

I would say that the most stylish world leaders would be along the lines of someone with killer mutton chops. You cannot deny the influence that style of facial hair has had on the world as we know it. I’d suggest we would not be at war if John Adam’s mutton chops were leading this country, plus it gives ladies something to hold onto in the heat of passion.

How has your facial hair (or lack of) shaped your influence on America and the world? Has it made you a better diplomat?

Well I do have a certain disdain for those with full beards, but i would say I try to be a liaison and ambassador to the fully bearded. I want to work with them to make a difference and cannot get swept up into petty partisanship, whether its with a fashion line of clothing or fishing for lobsters in the Cape Cod.

All right Mr. Katzif, my readers sent me their burning questions, and I sifted through the thousands of letters and got the list down to five, ready?

Naturally.

When did you first feel like a man?

Probably the first time I used a urinal, or any sort of standing while peeing.

Mike , as a young boy, was very fond of baking.

How do you tend to rebuild from your many failures as a human?

I find a healthy dose of television tells me all the ways I can become a better person.

What is your favourite luxury item to bring along on a camping trip?

The typical answer would be high class escort…

I take it your not a typical person…

… and while that would be nice if one was sans girlfriend, I expect that camping is better with them, so if and when I have lady friends on trip, I’d bring a fine cheese, maybe an Edam or Gouda of some sort.

What would you choose if forced : a) spilled milk b) turtle on its back c) one clean, one dirty sock , and how would you respond to said problem?

If I was confronted with any of these, I’d probably choose the turtle on its back and here’s why: Spilled milk is not the big deal the mainstream corporate media wants you to believe it is. While devastating on a personal level, it really helps our American farmers sell more milk.

The one clean sock, one dirty sock issue is easy. I hate dirty socks, and for that matter dirty clothes. If there is even chance that a sock is dirty, I might consider just buying new socks or drop everything and launder it.

The turtle seems like the easiest fix emotionally. I once saw a dead turtle next to the road. That was more sad.

You have such refined analytical skills. How were those obtained? extensive training? Sudoku? inherited?

Cereal box prize.

Nice.

It was.

And the number one burning question from all of your hundreds of fans out there…

Dont over sell me, I only have dozens of fans.

What school are you going to donate your fortune to, and what college programme will be created? i.e. (The Katzif school of monogramming, or Mike’s Trikes, School of three wheeled vehicles)

Hard to plan for my own demise, I’m not really sure what legacy to leave.

It could be anything.. what would you most like to be remembered for? Contributions to science? Good will towards man? Hygiene?

… but Gonzaga does have a decent bread resource facility in Finland… While hygiene is important, I’d say that I’d like to be remembered for being somewhat of a renaissance man, a lover of things, and a doer of other things.

Well , thanks for taking the time to speak with me today Michael, is there anything you would like to add before we go?

Just a reminder to the children around the world to support your local superhero, whether its Carpetman, Fluorescent Avenger, or the Bubble Bathtubman.

Great!

Katzif has a new book coming out “Pursuits in Technical Accounting : A Numbers Game that could Save You MILLIONS!” which chronicles his knowledge and experience playing the stock and tax market game. Mike will be available for book signing this weekend at Borders Books on the corner of Pine and Walton.

hello.profiles: Aryn Crowley

Aryn Crowley is something of an enigma wrapped in a riddle and then delicately wrapped in procuitto. A man of controversial talents and expertises, Aryn has journied across the North Americas finding the little ironies in real life. But past critical response has been varied at best. Lambasted for his misunderstood social art experiments in the heroic community, he was labeled a recluse and a failure of villain-esque proportions. When confronted publicly, he frankly spoke of indifference to the media’s perceptions stating “no one will ever trully know me.” I had the opportunity to sit down with Aryn last night to discuss his body of work, his creative process and even a few past indiscretions.

Mike: So Aryn, tell me. Any new projects on the horizon you want to plug?

Aryn: Yeah, I always have a few things on the burner: a new album, solo tour, group collaboration, massive multiplayer art project, and my own line of cooking salts.


Sounds exciting. Would you say your process of creativity is easier or harder when you have the following discomforts:Aryn opted to conceal his true identity.

hunger?

harder.

sleepiness?

easier

having to poop?

easier

cold?

harder

hot?

harder

thirsty?

easier

itchy?

easier

Interesting…I find the more uncomfortable I am, the rawer the art is.

Very true Mike.

Can’t be too cushy.

That’s why in the winter I keep my heater up at 95 degrees so that my basement can stay nice and steamy. I have small hotplates that I use to get that rain foresty feel by boiling water constantly. Sometimes in the summers I like to import HUGE blocks of ice and chill down my artistic elements. Just to mix things up.

We all like our artistic elements nice and chilled in those summer months. Favourite book?

Repeat: The classic story of Pete and Repete, adapted from the re-run of the made for TV Movie based on the Cinematic version that was loosely based on the Graphic Novel adapted from the novella which was loosly based upon a sketch that Pete made for Repete.

Ooh excellent choice…though its so sad that Pete is forced to relive the last 10 years of his life on auto pilot without getting to change anything. That timequake almost killed his will to live. That is if he had free will. Favourite super power and why?

Favourite super power and why? There was this old super hero who used bathtubs to generate enormous amount of bubbles to fight against the evil bug man who would end up eating the bubbles and dying from diarrhea overdose

Ah yes, The Bathtub Bubbleman. Classic golden age hero.

I love those classic superheros, they have really influenced the next generation’s supers like Astronaut Man, and Cosmonaut Girl.

Do you find that the world is in need of superheroes in these hardened war ravaged suburban days? Or are they just trying to steal our gold?

The Superheroes? Stealing our gold?

Do you or do you not intend on running for SuperPresident in 2008 under the pending Anti-Superhero Act in Congress?

I have though about it. But I have two problems.

Just answer the question.

First, I am not 35. Second, I do not, nor do I intend to have multi-millions of gold dubloons to pay for my campaign.

Are you or were you ever part of the supervillain community?

I have never a part of the supervillian community. Only a spectator, so maybe I have been a small part.

Look, all you have to do is name some names and you will not be prosecuted. Refuse to do so will mean you are guilty. Then, agreeing to do so means you are guilty too.

Um, I am not sure I understand the accusation.

Then you are guilty.

Fair enough.

Come on Mr. Crowley, all you have to do is admit you are a villain intent on running on a smear campaign of space weapon technology platform. You wouldnt lie to the Latin American constituancey who don’t have a fighting chance would you?

Maybe. Check back with me on 2 April 2007.

Okay last question, favourite ice cream flavour?

Ooh. I love Sardine Oreo Cookie Krunch with sweet pickle sauce.

Excellent choice. Well thank you for your time.

Thanks, I enjoyed it.

I am a tough interviewer, no?

Tomorrow, Aryn turns the tables on the equally enigmatic and manic semi-genius, Mike.

Iconoclasts…

Where does inspiration come from? That is mostly the topic of conversation on a new series I discovered on the Sundance Channel called Iconoclasts. Each episode pairs two celebrities to discuss their work and the things that inspired them. It is reminiscent of IFC’s brilliant Dinner For Five but because it is one on one, feels much more intimate. The artists of the episode in question? Filmmaker, Quentin Tarrantino and singer-songwriter, Fiona Apple. Set up in a very casual day in the life of these two geniuses, we catch a glimpse of Tarrantino and Apple’s creative process, psyches and inner psychosis.

What I found fascinating with these two, during their walk and talks through Quentin’s (and Robert Rodriguez‘s) downtown Austin studio, and backstage at Fiona’s preshow soundcheck, was how much these two had in common. Both are often misunderstood and misrepresented, yet loved by a devoted fanbase. But more, they have an incredible expectationfor themselves to create the project they want. They both talk about their roller coaster careers and it seems that both are charged with creativity right now: Tarrantino prepping the upcoming exploitation double-feature, Grind House and Apple touring behind last years brilliant album Extraordinary Machine.

As they spoke freely about their lives and how they find inspiration and deal with external distractions that fame can bring, you can get a sense that these two are not careerists in the traditional sense. While both showed a love for the craft of their fields and an enthusiasm for the place they are in their lives, never do you feel like they go through the motions.

Iconoclasts claims to change your perspective on celebrity, and if the upcoming episodes are anything like this one, it will be an inspiring and insightful snapshot into the mind of visionary auteurs at the height of their careers.

Here is a short clip of the episode I just watched:

[youtube]vBCYiETwyPg[/youtube]

In the heart of the machine.

Hello friends and readers, as you may or may not know, I have been working for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners training college students to serve as Polling Place Administrators (PPAs) on election day. The city of Chicago obtained new touchscreen voting machines by mandate from the passage of HAVA (Help America Vote Act) requiring that there be a way for people with certain dissabilities (blind, quadrapalegic) would be able to vote with privacy and without assistance at the polling place on election day.

Anyway we got a bunch of those new machines, and the Judges of Election (the folks that run the polling places) had TONS of problems running and using the machines during the March primaries. The board or elections decided that something had to be done to save their jobs and make the elections run smoother. Their solution was to recruite and train 2000 college kids to be there and know how to setup and run and troubleshoot the voting machines.

election improvementsWell as you can see by this handy graphic from the Chicago Tribune , there was a marked improvement between these elections and the primaries in March: So as you can CLEARLY see from that graphic, my friends and I single handedly saved many people their jobs and helped this election to go forth successfully.

We spent election day (from 5:00am until 10:00pm) answering call after call taking down complaints from voters, and helping judges and PPAs solve problems. Some of the more comical calls we recieved (comically scary maybe) were from judges wondering when we were going to be bringing them coffee and donuts (sorry we don’t provide) or wondering why there was not a television included in their equipment so they could watch their training video to learn how to run a polling place (yikes!).

The majority were about little problems with machines where we would talk them through how to change the paper, get out a stuck voter card, help them realize that the machine is in fact unplugged and that is why it won’t work, and generally run them through the simple procedures they had been trained and were outlined in their handbook they should have had with them. There were a few calls from frustrated voters about judges who were generally disrespectful and had an obvious disregard for the election process and the voters privacy. For those we sent out investigators to hopefully smack some common sense and respect into these people.

It was my first election that I worked, and I think everything went pretty well. Our boss was very happy with the work that we did, and asked if we were interesed in doing this again in January for the next elections. Only thing I need now is to finally recieve the crapload of money that they owe me, this elusive check that is mysteriously floating around the county building just out of reach. I will call tomorrow and they will probably just tell me “Friday at the LATEST”, which is what we heard last week, and the week before, and the week before, and the… sigh.

Bread of the Week — Bananarama

This is something I wrote for a friend’s ill-fated music blog Freshly Baked Bread awhile back… the site never took hold, so I never continued with my efforts to make more breads. Oh well…

BananaramaDISCLAIMER: This is not about music. Not really anyway. This might seem like the wrong outlet for a column about bread. But for the sake of occasional variety and for having a site with a need for some sort of content, perhaps it is perfect synchronicity.

With that in mind, I will make it easy with the transition for those who cannot quit cold turkey.

So what is Bread of the Week? It’s a pretty simple concept: every week (or as often as time will allow) I intend to discover and share a new bread recipe. I will then on many cases (probably not every week, but hopefully often) attempt to bake, eat and review such bread. And because this is mostly a music blog, I will attempt to find an artist that best represents my efforts to serve as listening recommendations while elbow deep in flour.

So without further ado, WEEK ONE! This week, I thought I’d go simple and make Banana Bread. Nothing fancy here but seems pretty delicious as the weather grows colder.

Ingredients:

    1 egg
    1 cup sugar
    1\4 cup melted butter
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    3 bananas, mashed
    1 1\2 cups flour
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1 teaspoon salt
    1\2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

The ingredients here are fairly straightforward and will no doubt become household items (if they aren’t already) the more and more baking is done.

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375°. Break egg into mixing bowl. Do not add the shell. In fact, throw it in the trash not the sink because it can mess up your garbage disposal unit. Beat egg slightly. Add sugar, melted butter, and vanilla. Blend bananas and add to egg mixture. Sift together flour, soda, and salt and add to mixture.

Add nuts. I chose not to use nuts because I am not too keen on pecans and am allergic go walnuts. Use at your own discretion here…I don’t want any senseless lawsuits because you didn’t realize you had nut allergies.

Grease up a loaf pan with some sort of shortening or buttery substance for no stick purposes. Bake at 375° in greased loaf pan (4 1/2″ x 9″ x 5″) for 45 minutes or until inserted wooded toothpick comes out clean. Cool and remove from pan.

Slice bread when cooled at desired thickness. Add butter to slice. Put slice in mouth, and chew until bites are small enough in mouth. Then swallow. Enjoy. This makes roughly six to eight servings so choose your favourite six to eight friends wisely for maximum enjoyment.

After some initial joking and second guessing, I ended up downloading a few songs by, you guessed it, Bananarama. Bit of an obvious choice but I thought it would be a good excuse to see what all the hype was about years back.

Turns out this British girl group had other songs beyond the 8th grade dance party staple, “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye).” Good thing I am not making pastries because this music is already cavity inducing enough as it is.

Come back next week when we explore the depths of another bread.

Mike is an amateur bread maker, having never baked before in his life. He also writes on music at npr.org and hellocomein.com.