Tim Brough's Black Leather Bookshelf: youtube

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Drake Jensen rocks my (country) world

Drake Jensen is a Canadian country singer, who just happens to be gay and out. I've been enjoying his CD "OUTlaw" for a couple of weeks now. Should you think the gent is easy on the eyes, I can also add that he's easy on the ears. He has two terrific videos from the CD,

The first, for "Scars," takes on the very serious topic of bullying, and doesn't mince words. With powerful imagery, I find both the video and the song itself riveting.

Then there's the more fun side of Drake, in the recently released "Fast Enough For Me." Go on, admit it. You've been there.

Like I said, I am really enjoying his music. You can find out more at drakejensen.ca (which is were I copped this photograph).

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Sunday, December 18, 2011

He's a Pinball Wizard, there has to be a twist

Brought to us by that French lighting company that paints buildings in light. This time, they've created a virtual pinball machine that works, and is played on the side of a building. People are actually working the flippers.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

My Amazon Reviews: Weird Al Yankovic "Alpocalypse"

Alpocalypse (Deluxe Version) [+Video] [+Digital Booklet]

Pa-Pa-Polkaface
4 Out Of 5 Stars

Whenever Weird Al manages to capture the current pop zeitgeist, he can be counted on to make a brilliant song or two per album. When he tackled Michael Jackson at his best, he created two of the most incredible parodies of the 80's with "Eat It" and "Fat." Then there was "White and Nerdy." And now, thanks to Lady Gaga, he's back in a big way. From the goof on gath of the cover to the ever-present pop-polka medley, "Alpocalypse" shows once more why Weird Al Yankovic has remained the the eminent musical comedian/parodist of the last three decades.

The hits to duds ratio is about equal, and the standouts are gutbusters. Most importantly is the tackling of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" into "Perform This Way," which not only parodies the song but the artist (something Al rarely does). The video also neatly ties Al's timelines together, skewering Madonna (another frequent Al target) and Gaga at the same time. At the same time, Al reimagines Jim Morrison as an upset user of "Craigslist" and Charles Nelson Reilly as the topic of a Racountours/Jack White guitar crusher. Technology also takes it on the chin, as "Ringtone" evokes "my wife to smash my I-Phone with a brick...but I hate to waste a $1.99" over his obnoxious cell tones.

Another eason why Al is a genius is how the man can write a parody of almost any genre. He ricochets from Bruno Mars to Miley Cyrus to The Doors to Queen. Often the originals take on all at once. Of the originals, my favorite is the finale, "Stop Forwarding That Crap to Me," a tirade against stupid emails set to a gorgeous melody. Like one of those massively building Jim Steinman songs, Al begs and pleads...

I just can't believe you believe those urban legends.
But I have high hopes that someone will point you toward Snopes
And debunk that crazy junk you're spewing constantly.

On the smiley meter, 4 and a half teeth. This man deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame.