Duval-Carries. Art from Haiti.

Went to the Figge Art museum in Davenport yesterday as it was the first sunday I've had off since the car windshield in Madison incident last fall. Anyway the museum is very nice and set up more as a community resource than a full fledged museum, which is the way i see more museums going anyway. The Figge has a large collection of Haitian art in it's permanet collection which offers a view of a country I admit to be under exposed to. I enjoyed the permanet collections very much but really enjoyed the special exhibit of Edouard Duval- Carries work on the fourth floor. His work ranges from the painting above to large resin boats hanging from the ceiling, representing everything from Haiti's history to it's Mystical ancenstors. It was a great history lesson, and one i recommend to anyone interested in S. American Art, history, or even imperalism studies.

some albums

this is what has been tormenting my turntable/cd player for the past 48 hours.
Mf Doom/ Danger Mouse adult swim cd.
William Shatner "has Been" cd
Sigur Ros "takk" cd
Tilly and the wall.
Mark Schwaber "the killing card"
City on Film. "informal introduction." Lp
Jejune/jimmy eat world split 7"
Polyvinyl sampler 2005.
red 40 s/t 7"

Yeah I'm all over the map.

low.

low live is just what you would expect. pretty, harmonized, and slow. There new bass player does a fine job. it was very nice.


Want to read thoughts about art? Jessica has a new part of her site called Manifesto of the Day, where she tells you what she thinks about art. read all about it HERE

2 indies, one major comic.

Good day at the comic store. Two books published by indy powerhouse Drawn and Quarterly and one by the monster Marvel.
The first book is Big Questions Number 8 "theory and practice" by Anders Brekhus Nilsen. The cover has a neat disection of a bird on it and it caught my eye. I'm not familiar with what has happened so far in this story but this series seems to be told from the viewpoint of various birds who witnessed a plane crash. To them the plane was a Giant bird and the human survivor inside was a hatched egg. It's interesting and the art flows nicely. I'm not sure if it's a story i could follow regulary or not, but it's presented very well.


Crickets # 1 by Sammy Harkham, This book is pretty good. Harkham, who edits the Art Comic anthology Kramer's Ergot, tells a story of a Golem and his master here in 6 panel pages. The artwork is highlighted by a green and yellow pressing, and it moves along nicely. I'll buy the second issue on this one.

before i move on to the major, i just finished Jason's latest Meow Baby from Fantagraphics and like all his work, i loved it.


O.k. here goes Astonishing X-men # 13 by Whedon and Cassady. Yeah the comic community has been waiting six months for this one and it delivers mostly. There's absolutely no action is this 'super' hero book but that is not where Joss Whedon shines anyway. His dialogue is beyond impecable, he knows the characthers and makes double crossing villians human. I've admitted here before to loving Serenity, Whedon's sci-fi film that none of you went to see. Well I can say this, the new x-men film will be no where as good as this comic. Someone at Fox should shut down that production fire brett ratner and wait for Whedon's screenwriting scheldule to clear up and then let the man direct it. This comic is what an x-men movie could be without spending a single dime on special effects. Of course he could throw those in as well. Either way i'd rather spend my 2.99 every month on this book than my seven dollars on what looks more and more like a crappy x3.

so a crime is a crime. unless.

so does anyone think if that rich old white dude cheney shot had died, our vice president would be in court? or that any of us would actually know about the shooting. forget about it. Probably what would have happened is. 1st the security detail would rush Cheney out of there. 2nd. there would be a man hunt for some minority with a past felony who just had the bad luck of being in that town probably working some crappy parole officer enforced job. He would have gotten arrested and even though there wouldn't be real evidence, he'd be lucky if he even got a real trial.
Thanks Mr. Vice President for only wounding the old guy. I'd hate to see someone possibly die for your mistakes. oh. i forgot. that's called Iraq. And we know already, were bringing democracy. Can't wait to hear about a drunken Iraqi politician shooting his friend. "uh we were aiming for a terrorist."
Sure you were. I'm Sure your were.

something to look forward too.

Just bought tickets to see LOW on wenesday evening after LOST. Let's see. Get up have the day off on Wenesday. go Shoot hoops. Meet Jessica at the funny book store and go out to get lunch. Watch Lost, go see Low. What a great day.

in other news i have now played about half of resident evil 4 and it still impresses me. My camera is broken which is why theres no pictures here lately. Really like the city on film record i bought, and yes, im still reading Fortress of solitude at night right before bed, which explains while im still reading it. Hope everyone is tucked in, stay warm.

Mark Schwaber, the Killing Card preview!

Hey Mark has posted two of his songs from the upcoming "the killing card" over on his myspace page The cd has a national release date of May 2nd. But you can buy it from us right now and we will ship it in march. Order yours at lucky creature
Live in New England Look for Mark on his mini tour in May.

city on film.

Just got back from seeing City On FIlm aka Bob Nanna(hey mercedes, BRAID) perform. His solo set was nice and peaceful and just what this icy midwestern night needed. I've always been drawn to his lyrics and the way they have a beat of there own. Bought his record and look forward to it turning over and over on my record player. Very Enjoyable. Even played an old braid song acoustic. lovely.

New Avengers # 16, Loveless # 4

New Avengers 16. Great issue. Although some of you may complain that there wasn't a single Avenger in the story besides Tony Stark, this issue has beautiful artwork of Alpha Flight in it ever. Did they all die? Anyway, A great Bendis setup for the next issue!

That Kickers Inc back up story. CRAP!.

Loveless # 4 I love the colors of this book. The material is so dark and twisted and the colors are so bright and right on. I'd like to see Azzarello move the story along a little, and I'm hoping he knows where it is going.

So i finally got Resident Evil 4 for the gamecube, and i'll join the masses. It's freaking amazing. There's something to be said for a video game that scares you and thrills you all at the same time. Going to go play it now!.

buzz!!

rainer maria "catastrophe keeps us waiting" New album finally out in march!
The legend of Dark Crystal (a dark crystal sequel) directed by Gendy Tarkasvy(samurai jack's creator!) for 2007
sellswords book 3 out this fall by r.a. salvatore.
Marvel's Civil War.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Movie this summer?
The new Mark Schwaber has a release date. MAY 2nd. but you can get it from us earlier.
Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette.
Clerks 2. Mooby!
Nintendo Revolution and Playstation 3. Screw you Microsoft (don't sue me please).
New Super Mario Bros for the DS.
40th anniversary of Star Trek this sept. Wow. 40 Years. take a bow.
That's my buzz. What's yours?

When I was a Leper, starring Gandhi.

so this is going to be quickly done with no editing while it's still fresh in my head. The ideas come from a conversation I just had with my friend Katie about band names so she should get a co-authorship.

I walked into the bar.
Late night. Slow night.
The air was thick. Like potatoes peeling.
Concord Grape.
Across the room a young couple was fighting.
I moved through the vertical restroom smell,
towards the pool tables, the games.
There he was, all six inches wide.
Gandhi, playing pinball.
and cussing up a storm too.
I walked over to him,
his eyes darted up from behind thick glasses.
Quickly they returned to the game
and he mumbled something in Indian at me.
I turned to the table and watched his prowess at multi-ball.
This man was no novice.
When he lost ball 3 he looked at me with an old pained expression.
"Can I borrow a quarter?"
I stumbled through my pockets, finally grasping the
shiny object between my fingers.
He took it like a rabid dog, began playing again.
The tap came from behind my shoulder,
and I fell back when I noticed David Blaine standing behind me.
"Excuse me" he said as he walked over and put his arm around the holy one.
He reached up, or did he levitate?
placing a kiss on the old man's bald head.
"wow" i whispered and they both looked at me with loving frightful eyes.
The game ended and they walked out together.
Gandhi looked back at me and yelled
"I was a Leper."
No one in the bar seemed to hear.
I stood there, beer in my hand staring at a vast sea of indifference.
The leper and the magician.

brokeback mountain/ belle and sebastian

Belle And Sebastian, The Life Pursuit. Ok first i need to admit I've never been a big fan, but Dear Catastrophe Waitress grew on me after some time and when i saw them live I really began to enjoy that cd even more. So I picked up this new album for jess yesterday and not completely for her. I was expecting too much, I guess as after two full listens, nothing jumps out at me. It's nice, It's Poppy, but mostly it feels empty. And that's strange because it also seems very crowded, as there are instruments going off everywhere on this cd. I'm sure you diehard Belle and Sebastian fans will be very pleased with this, but for me it gets a B- Not bad, but it mostly induces flatness inside.


Brokeback Mountain. So i finally saw it. Most likely the Oscar winner for Heath Ledger and for Best Picture. The true oscar should go to Ang Lee who does this movie a very sincere justice and never strays from the intent to make this a love story set against a western America, that is at once beautiful and also very dark and lonely. I got to admit, it wasn't as powerful or as good as I hoped or was led to believe, but I think in the long run that works in the movies favor, much like Ang Lee's The Ice Storm, there's a certain film that captures you by being still and maybe just a little less overdone. It gets an A+ I say give Ang Lee the Oscar for director, and Heath Ledger for Acting, but I'm not sold entirely on the film being the best this year.

I've got a soft spot for Terrence Howard and Hustle and Flow for that one. That movie's subject matter may prove more risky for hollywood to give any awards to. Can they award an Actor or a film whose main player is a pimp from Memphis? Either way can't wait to hear fox news bash hollywood when the Oscars are handed out.
Well actually I wouldn't mind if i never see fox news again. Ever.

hear me sing!

my old band exercises in breathing now has a page up on myspace right here be our friend if you wish and please download stewies car. it was our hit, we knew it and yeah it's cuter than bugs on a windshield and now thanks to the internet, it's free, silly and not a 5 year old song. Have to thank my friend Daris for uploading it for me as I couldn't get it to work. anyway please if you've got pictures of us, remember the names of bands we played with I forgot to list, or just remember sitting in a dirty house or bar with us, please leave a comment. Memories are all we have, and i remember them better when you remind me.

post super thoughts.

o.k. super bowl is over. some thoughts. grandpa munster died this week. sad.
Worst New car commercial Escalade. looks like a big ugly mahine. Funniest car commercial the H3 with the godzilla creature.
Best movie preview, V for Vendetta. Worst preview, MI3, but i think we all knew I would hate that.
Waste of money award, goes to all the companies who paid for advertising. I could start a small country for 5 million dollars. Don't believe me?
Give me a shot, come on, write the check.

sweeney todd

attended the play Sweeney Todd at Cornell University last night. Never knew we made musicals like that. It's a dark tormented play that feels far moodier than anything i've ever seen at the theatre and it's a musical, which i usually hate. But i enjoyed sweeney todd very much. The cast and crew at Cornell did a remarkable job and I left very happy. The only sad thing is, I have Jersey Girl to thank for making me want to see this play. Yeah.

now listening ,Samuel 7", evergreen 7", urban legends 7"
now playing tales of symphonia,
still reading. fortress of solitude, by jonathon lethem.

The New World

Slow. Methodical. Sad. Amazing. Stirring. Real. Beautiful.

A Tale By a Mummy.

Hellboy : Makoma or a tale told by a mummy at the new york explorers club on August 16, 1993 # 1 (of 2) by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben. Hellboy is one of those comics that breathes atmosphere. It has been widely discussed that Mignola would no longer be regularly drawing his Hellboy stories to the dismay of many of his fans. But in this issue Richard Corben does a very good job of catching the style and the look of the world of Hellboy. It's a neat tale wrapped around African Folk tales, of which I wish I knew more about, with the same wit and humor we can expect from any Hellboy comic. All in all it's a high B and since it's only a two parter you don't have to make a very large finacial investment, like all those 'big' crossover's going on in comics right now.


upcoming comics im intrigued by, but not sure if i'll be buying,
Nova:Annhilation, Moon Knight, Battlestar Galactica(new series) and The Star Trek Magna! haha.