Author: matt

As some have noted, Beck’s latest work, Guernica, is his most mature offering to date. At a time of war, the artist has brought us a wrenching, disturbing work that confronts his fans while pushing his oeuvre into newer, more challenging directions. It’s a breakthrough—and a triumph.
Guernica emerges after Beck’s much-remarked upon ‘Blue Period,’ in which his work wallowed in despair. While sadness was the dominant feeling in his recent work, Guernica‘s prevailing emotion is anger: anger at war, anger at the flaws of his fellow man, anger at the simplistic head-on view of reality. Guernica shows us different sides of man, the various, conflicting dimensions in each of us. All at once. Every character in Guernica is twisting, groping, angling for recognition. As we’re reflected in Guernica, people are complex, frightening, and beautiful beasts.
These are just preliminary thoughts. Fans and historians will be marveling over Guernica for generations. And then it will be covered by callow idiots.

Once Were Worriers: Ben Stiller and Janeane Garofalo in 1999 (via CNN)
Art and Commerce.
The truth about art and commerce is not unlike a certain movie title about cats and dogs: the two don’t always get along. In fact, they rarely ever do. And like animal lovers, sometimes you have to choose which you want in your life more: art or commerce. You can’t have both, unless you want your house torn apart and your life to become a dizzying mess of complications and compromises.
I was reminded of this fact this weekend while reading The New York Times‘ ‘Arts & Leisure’ section, particularly two stories that, while not linked editorially, were nonetheless inverted images of each other. One reflected art (more or less), the other commerce (pretty much intrinsically).

[Michael] Moore’s newest project, Sicko, about the health-care industry, for which he’ll be paid about $25 million, will have a more resilient target: “It’ll never be the same for the H.M.O.’s again,” says Moore.
– “Moore’s War”, by Judy Bachrach, Vanity Fair, March 2005.
Since Moore’s last film was so successfully at solving the problem it addressed, here are some other topics we hope he tackles with his magical movie camera:
Hot Hot Heat: Global Warming, Local Warning – A hard-hitting look at how changes in the environment affect the weather. “This one’s gonna fix the whole planet—and the hole in Ozone above it,” says Moore.
Genocide X – Moore takes on another ‘Big One’: Genocide in Darfur. “We’re gonna speak truth to powerful warlords. We’re gonna save lives.”
Persons of Interest – More Americans are in debt; Moore, American, is incensed. “We’re gonna turn Greenspan green with this one.”
Don’t Drink the Water – Those clear bottles of spring water may look pure, but what’s inside them is anything but: the bottled water industry is all wet. “This film will refresh you—with insight!”

Main, Michael Jackson, Santa Maria, CA, March 23, 2005 (via Reuters); inset, Tommy Smith and John Carlos, Mexico City Olympics, 1968 (via Sixties City)
Earlier: Dancin’ Fool and Radical Shnook

Featuring “Honey, Just Allow Me One More Chance (To Eat Your Ass).”
By now you’ve probably heard Insider host Pat O’Brien‘s latest release: nearly five and a half minutes of repetitive, profanity-laced nasal sex talk with occasional music. Naughty, nasty stuff. Frankly, I can’t believe he kisses George Clooney’s ass with that mouth.
You probably also know that this Internet-only single has landed him where countless artists have gone before: rehab.
But what you haven’t heard is Pat O’Brien’s rehab iTunes playlist, which he put together shortly before his twelve step journey. Here’s but a small sample:
– “I Wanna Hold Your Hand (And Eat You, If Betsy Says It’s Okay),” The Beatles
– “You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Even Though You’re So Fucking Hot. I’m So Into You),” The Rolling Stones
– “This Love (Plus Some Coke, and Betsy. Let’s Get Crazy Together),” Maroon 5
– “Oh, Pretty Woman (I Want to do Everything With You, Eat Your Ass, Everything),” Roy Orbison
– “Baby I’m-a Want You (To Be Into Betsy. You’re So Fucking Hot),” Bread
– “Why Can’t We Be Friends (With Betsy, Too. I’m So Into You)?,” War
– “Don’t Speak (Just Give Me a Smile Next Time I See You, You’re So Fucking Hot),” No Doubt
– “Pour Some Sugar On Me (And By ‘Sugar,’ I Mean Coke. I’m So Fucking Into You),” Def Leppard
– “Eat It (And By ‘It,’ I Mean Your Ass. You’re So Hot),” ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic

Guess What I Won’t Be Seeing: Above, Guess Who, 2005; below, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, 1967.
But, man, its go-cart racing scene kicks the original’s ass!

I’m sure you have something hilariously topical to say about this, sir:
An Al Jazeera IPO?, by Aaron Smith, CNN/Money, March 18, 2005.
Don’t let Jay Leno make the awesome jokes about “exploding markets” and/or Control Boiler Room first!