Yeah, that kind of broad dismissal makes the writer seem kind of uneducated in what is otherwise a thoughtful piece. Death in Vegas has a ton of sonic variety. They barely sound the same from one album to the next, and none of their stuff sounds like a relic. If anything, they were more interested in evolving than…

I tend to think of "The One I Love" or maybe "Orange Crush" as the quintessential R.E.M. songs. Good songs. Maybe even great. But you're right: I'm not feeling the deep love. Those songs are at the surface of their canon, and I confess to not really knowing the deep cuts from the earlier records. Nor do I really want…

This series is well written, well researched, and passionate. And it has cemented my long-standing suspicion that I just do not care about this band at all. I do like a few of the radio hits (Man on the Moon in particular is undeniable), but I am left with the impression that R.E.M. is a band with great pop…

It also has a line that always slayed me, which is when someone asks Nicky Katt what kind of music he likes, and he deadpans "military marching bands." I still use that one once in a while.

I stand alone in loving the Nikki and Paulo episode, which I do for a couple reasons.  First, it feels like Cuse & Lindelof just fucking with their veiwers, and having fun doing it (resorting to classic primetime soap devices with tongue firmly in cheek). It's also instructive in that it proves that showrunners are…

Well, it stars Jason Heller, so it has that going for it.

Ditto. I didn't think I liked the Beasties or MCA that much anymore. But this is definitely hitting me surprisingly hard.

I think enough Mexicans watch soccer to debunk the idea that North Americans in general are indifferent to it.

I'll stick my neck out too. Sublime was one of my favorite bands when I was around 18 years old. I can't say I listen to them much anymore, but I'm not going to pretend that I'm too cool to have ever liked them, even though they and their most visible fans inspire eye-rolling by hipsters. @37th Chamber, you hit it on…

Glad to see a positive review here. The NY Times was not as kind, but I ordered the book anyway after reading their review. Now I am slightly more excited to read it.

Agreed, the first track is not good. Sounds like a Rick Ross or Waka Flocka song… but there are a couple good songs. The title track is worth the download.

Come on, guys. He's not a B-list actor, and he's absolutely famous enough to make a commentary on the concept of celebrity.

I love this guy.
Nine hours is insane.

Hard to think of a better one than The Funeral by Band of Horses. Determined, cathartic, sweeping, dramatic. Most of all, beautiful.

Wait, wait… what does Paul Reubens have to say on the issue?

I've heard him say he never turned anything down because it would be impolite.

Neckbeard: Are you sure it's not a flatly accurate acronym for Nobody Ever Really Dies? I mean, you might be right, but it would have been an easy inaccuracy to overcome.

Huzzah, mizerock. Well played.

I love this series too.

The Thing owns most other horror movies, and I am a huge fanboy of the genre. The only thing I would add is the Ennio Morricone score is fantastic. Somehow, Carpenter's jarring use of it - in which he inserts some music cues that are clearly of his own devising - only serve to make it better.