(Clever Title)

A brilliant reaction to a brilliant post over at Belmont Club about the reality of the WoT and the anti-war protestors.

Tomorrow is the big day for Iraq. Everything we've been fighting for, and all they have been fighting with, comes to a head tomorrow with the elevtions. I'm excited for them, to be honest, and I hope for the best. Far from filling my role as a neo-con imperialist, I want tnothing more for than Iraq to be everything it can be. I honestly care for the people of Iraq and wish the best for them. I guess I've just been listening to too much George Bush, but I refuse to believe that democracy isn't the best option for everyone everywhere. Whether or not I agree with bringing democracy to every country through military force remains to be seen, but I do think what we have done is the right thing and will ultimately lead to a brighter future for the whole of the Middle East. So God, or Allah if you wish, bless Iraq and her people and guide the elections to a safe conclusion.

I've just been listening to David Bowie's classic Hunky Dory and I have to say it is a very good album. For me, though, there is a need to separate the music from the man. It's not that I'm any kind of homophobe or anyhting, and he's not technically gay, I just don't need to be subjected to the androgynous message constantly. There has been a concerned effort among the "art crowd" to turn Bowie into some kind of champion of gender bending. While Bowie himself is as much to blame for this image as anyone, I feel it strongly takes away from his music, which at many times is very good. So the trick is to not think about who is making them music I am listening to, but just to enjoy the music for what it is, and on this album, it is very good.

Added a new link to the blogger Mean Mr Mustard, who I used to love before he took an almost year-long haitus for his first yewar of law school. Glad to see him back and in good style.

Modern "rock" is for pussies.

That about says it all. It's amazing that in a time when it seems like, in order to discover some "new" element to rock, artists should be forced to create music that is significantly more hardcore than anything before. Instead, everybody suffers from one of two diseases: Lincoln Park syndrome or Pearl Jam disorder. The former is plagued by half-assed rap/rock hooks and the whiniest lead vocals in the history of rock. The latter is showcased by bands trying thier best to out-Pearl Jam Pearl Jam. This isn't a positive development. There are saving graces, The Datsuns being an example, but they really are the last vestiges of classic rock and roll coming out, and really they only serve to show us how bad things have really gotten. We need another good British invasion, or possibly Australian. Anywhere where poor white kids are concentrated. Detroit used to be good for that kind of thing as well; now it makes white rappers. One thing that is clear is the desparate need for us to make suburban music illegal. That's where all the shit is coming from. I'm not going to get into "punk" or whatever that is, it's too deep a subject for this post. But let it be known that the next shitty band to hit the corporate rock airwaves will be from and aimed towards the suburbs.

Tech Central Station has an interesting article up about the EU's new effort to save Europe from obesity. What I can't figure is how the Europeans, and indeed many Americans, can be so reliant and expecting of the government. Any problem that they ever might face in life they feel is government's responsibility to protect them from. It's scary and pathetic, all rolled into one sad, leftist, ball. Protect us from obesity? Fucking please. Tomasz Teluk says it best when he suggests that this is little more than government seeing another chance for itself to tax the populace. No doubt, however, that these taxes will be used in other social protection programs meant to save thier dimwitted populace from themselves.

By far the most underrated classic rock album of all time is Spirit's The Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus. Hell, even I didn't know about Spirit until I stumbled across them on George Starostins now defunct album review site. The first two albums I got ahold of, the self titled debut album and their sophomore effort The Family That Plays Together were failry good and solid, but with Dreams Spirit really outdid themselves. I suppose you could losely call it a concept album, although there is no one theme that the song revovle around that jumps out at the listener. Instead it becomes a concept album based on the band masterfully tied the songs together to give one the impression of a consistent theme. The songwriting is second to none, and it really shines on every single song. My personal favorites, "Animal Zoo", "Mr. Skin", and "Morning Will Come" deftly combine rock and pop, the latter two showcasing irresistable horn arrangements. A highly recommened album.