Saturday, January 31, 2009

Joel's Review of the Sloppiest Humans

Sloppy: adj.

1. Marked by a lack of neatness or order; untidy: a sloppy room.
2. Marked by a lack of care or precision; slipshod: sloppy use of language.
3. Informal Oversentimental; gushy.

Sloppy humans are everywhere. And in America, we have the privilege of seeing them daily- even hourly or several times per minute if you're in the right location. I'm not just talking about fat people either- skinny people can also be slobs (i.e. Larry David). However, it is true that fat people exhibit more signs of sloppiness. For example, if you were to use a bathroom stall and notice that the person in the stall next to you had substantially worn-down shoes on the outer edge of the sole, you could with 95% accuracy predict that they were sloppy fat without seeing anything other than the outside of their shoe. If that same person with the worn down outer soles released excessive flatulence while taking care of business, you could then predict with 100% confidence that it was in fact a sloppy fat person in the stall next door.

Actually, this "fart theory" extends to many other circumstances in which slobs make their presence known. Here's a scenario: you're in a classroom walking to an open desk, and during the walk you pass through a "fart cloud". Judging by the area the fart was smelled, you limit the possible culprits to 5 or 6 individuals in the area. However, your life experience has led you to believe that the fattest person of the suspects is in fact the guilty party. And in the (unlikely) event that there are no fat people, your unconscious mind automatically associates the fart with whoever is the sloppiest in appearance. You can be satisfied that you've solved the mystery without much work at all, because the clues were already there. Anyhow- this is all tangential to my purpose here: to identify the sloppiest humans as these 3 definitions apply (see above to link the appropriate definition to the appropriate human).

1) Eddie Argos- Singer of the highly entertaining band Art Brut. See here
The fact that he's British only adds to the likelihood that he's a slob, but Eddie takes it to the next level. When I saw them play live, he had completely pitted out his shirt within seconds of the first song. He also had bare feet on stage and had passed over the top of several loops while attempting to secure his belt. Honorable mention in this category goes to Chunk and Sloth from the Goonies. Also deserving a shout out here is Larry David. Note the baggy jackets, clownish shoes, and general unkempt appearance.

2) Ozzy Osbourne. Drugs can do awesome things to people. A close second in this definition of sloppy is Kevin Costner's haphazard, careless effort in Prince of Thieves. Have you ever seen an interview with Quentin Tarantino? There's a skinny slob who is notable for his lightning fast, lisp-ridden rants.

3) Bill Walton, who also happens to be the worst commentator of any of the major sports. His hyperbole ("Shaq has restored order to the Universe") is matched only by his talent at sloppy, unconscious farting while sleeping on airplanes*. Runner up in this category is Roger Ebert, who hasn't given a single thumbs down review since sometime during Reagan's second term.

What do we learn from this? Slobs are often mesh-short wearing eyesores, but they also enrich our lives in many ways. If not for slobs, we wouldn't have Crazy-Train, Seinfeld, or Pulp Fiction. So the next time you cringe as you catch wind of a stale fart, just remember that they can't help it- they're just expressing themselves.

*This statement is based on actual events




Horribly Regrettable Songs By Normally Dependable Artists

"The Devil's Workday" Modest Mouse
Tom Waits can't wait to die so he can start rolling over in his grave. But who really cares about Tom Waits anyways?
"I Remember Nothing" Joy Division
If I woke up tomorrow and remembered nothing about this song it'd be a miracle.
"Dancing Choose" TV on the Radio
It quite amazingly gets worse EVERYTIME you hear it. 
"My Body is a Cage" The Arcade Fire
I get it. It's still the worst album closer in a long while.
"Off The Record" My Morning Jacket
For the record, this song should have been left off the record.
"Pretty Good Looking For a Girl" The White Stripes
This song is pretty crappy, for a song.
"The Long and Winding Road" The Beatles
During this song McCartney hits an all time low, I dont even think Lennon ever wrote anything this bad.
"Hurricane" Bob Dylan
 Doesn't Dylan know they already made a movie about this story? Well Denzel did make a movie which was almost as long as the song. Note: the movie was also an unbearably offbeat, rambling, incoherent injustice to my senses. 
"Revelry" Kings of Leon
Dreaming of not being an asshole: Caleb Followill.
"Fame" David Bowie
This song is basically a nightmare.
"My Little Japanese Cigarette Case" Spoon
Maybe even more embarrassing for Britt Daniel than when he beatboxed through the whole of "Stay Don't Go."
"T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S." The Hives
G.O.A.W.A.Y.N.E.R.D.
"Under My Vodoo" Sublime
It's hard to fathom Sublime making anything but perfect music. But I discovered they sound better when they don't sound like RHCP. Then again, what band doesn't?


Thursday, January 29, 2009

Bob thoroughly reviews Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire is a fairy tale, and it’s a good one. The plot is organized around a novel and interesting concept: a former street urchin wins 10 million rupees on a game show and is forced to explain how he, despite a complete lack of education, knew all the answers. What follows is a retelling of his personal history that chronologically mirrors the questions he’s asked. For example, when asked how he, a Muslim, knew that the god Rama holds a bow in his right hand, he tells how he was orphaned when Hindu rioters killed his mother.

Slumdog Millionaire succeeds because it concentrates its strengths on what makes a good fairy tale: a treacherous setting, a virtuous protagonist, a damsel in distress, and a miraculous resolution. And, of course, fate, or a sense that the “happy ever after” ending (which surprises no one) occurs because of some supernal destiny. The happy ending is not just a boy and girl getting together; Jamal and Latika are stand-ins for the timeless prince and princess archetypes who are simply meant to be, reflecting some special universal harmony. The movie wastes no time introducing fate: the opening screen explains how Jamal knew all the answers: “It is written.”

The historical vignettes in which Jamal’s life unfold are compelling for a number of reasons. One is the Cain-Abel dynamic of Jamal’s relationship with his brother--Jamal’s innate virtue is thrust into relief by Salim’s entertaining mischief. Another is the repetitive losing of Latika, his True Love, due of course to circumstances outside of Jamal’s control. But the dangerous landscape of Jamal’s fairy tale is all the more threatening because of its basis in the reality of Indian poverty: orphans scavenge recyclable trash from dumps, singing beggar boys are blinded by their pimp-like masters in order to coax more generous donations, and policemen torture people with car batteries at the behest of media moguls.

But the viewer isn’t left to contemplate for very long the hopelessness of such situations. The plot places Jamal and Salim on a rapidly ascending escalator out of the slums. Their exploits as urchins are practically romanticized as they work their way from ersatz tour guides at the Taj Mahal to possibly-legitimate employment as dishwashers. By the end, these orphans are articulate, well-groomed, and well-mannered. Latika, who started the movie as a rather dark Indian-looking girl morphs into a refined, vaguely Anglo knockout with impeccable skin and a perfect smile.

The bait-and-switch of Indian “reality” will leave the conscientious viewer somewhat unsettled by the perfect ending and cheesy Bollywood dance number during the end credits. But I guess that’s what you get from watching a fairy tale.

Aside from its morally ambiguous tactics, the movie suffers flaws. A few of the movie’s plot twists feel a little too convenient, most notably Salim’s inexplicable change of heart, leading to his helping Latika reach Jamal. (Speaking of which, Salim’s jealousy of his brother’s companionship was terribly underutilized, functioning merely as a plot device and only hinting at a psychological depth that could have provided the movie a deeper footing.)

Overall, it’s a well-paced, engaging movie with an emotional punch. If it weren’t for its icky portrayal of slum life (or maybe because of it?), it might threaten to replace The Princess Bride on more than a few BYU bookshelves.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

10 Things You Should Know About the Minds Behind Review City, USA

1. Chairman Mel is extremely jealous of Phil's ability to be Asian.
2. Phil is extremely jealous of Mel's ability to -----------------------.
3. At least 75% of Review City USA's contributers have tried to nail, have considered nailing, or have been nailed by Tara.
4. In 2007 Jake took Tara on a date to see then red-hot indie rock band Tapes n' Tapes. Of the date Jake said, "I don't know who's more overrated, Tara or the band!" Nevertheless, they remain great friends!
4. Baercat appreciates a good sauce. Whenever he dines at Del Taco he orders extra white sauce on all his items and even asks for extra on the side. It is rumored that he spikes his Cherry Coke with the white sauce, thereby making the most delicious soda/white sauce mixture known to man. 
5. Jake Smart's first name is Richard. It'd be really funny if you started calling him Dick.
6. During No Wild Thing Weekend i was supposed to sleep in Wild Thing's bed. But Trent Mano and our very own Nate Housley were cuddling with my ex-girlfriend in said bed so I had to sleep in the band room.
7. Ferociousnate Barnes was once the lead singer of a band in Provo called The Otters. Because of his frontman status he bagged a bunch of chicks. When Baercat started his new band, The Protons, in Salt Lake City he demoted Nate to bassist and assumed the lead vocals role himself as a way to protect his dear friend and roommate from the markedly sluttier women of Salt Lake.
8. Jake and Joel Baercat once started an "Suck my D!*k" chant during a DMX song at a dance party in Provo. This infuriated Tara's ex-boyfriend Bardhi and that guy who has never been seen not dancing. 
9. Sean and Jake recently spent an hour or so listing all the girls they had made out with. Jake wrote small and fit all his on one Post-It note. Sean wrote big and had to use several. It was agreed that they were both equally pathetic.
10. One day Chairmen Mel met his boss. That night-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
11. BONUS FACT. Chairmen Mel is closer to being a lesbian than anyone I have ever met, excepting my lesbian aunt and her lover. He wears sandals and Ezekiel shorts throughout winter. He loves girls. He blow dries his hair. Also, he's joining the Peace Corps and plans on buying a red Miata upon his return.

Monday, January 26, 2009

ferociously yours

I am ferociousnate Barnes. I am currently employed at a premier market research / consulting firm based in Salt Lake City, UT. I get paid to critique, consult and analyze. This is why I am qualified to review all of the crap we are planning on reviewing on this blog.

My favorite color is green. My favorite vegetable is the tomato. I know how to use a vlookup. I’m the creator of the Jake Melzer fanclub. I am proficient with Stata 9. My favorite economist is Greg Mankiw. I’ve played Dungeon and dragons once and I’m somewhat reluctant to admit that I have played Magic: The Gathering many times.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where your opinion exists only due to a lack of, or bad information. It’s not your fault. In some ways, it’s our fault. Our purpose in starting this blog, is to help bring you the information you need to form correct opinions, and stop you from doing something really stupid, like trying to form opinions without Review City, USA.

My top ten albums in no particular order:

Ok Computer – Radiohead

London Calling – The Clash

Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd

Tonight's the Night – Neil Young

Highway 61 Revisited – Bob Dylan

IV – Led Zeppelin

Pinkerton - Weezer

Ramones – The Ramones

Is this it? – The Strokes

Youth and Young Manhood – The Kings of Leon

Queen T

Hello People,

They call me the River Trout. Give me an instrument, I'll play the hell out of it. Give me a song, I'll review the hell out of it. I have perfect pitch and perfect taste and am pretty sure your opinions are wrong. My interests include, but are not limited to: roller skating, mariah carey, job interviewing, hugging, joking, laughing, snacking, 4th of july, movie commentary, dancing at harry o's but only in my dreams, plate tectonics, interneting, writing lists, law & order, electronic communication, saving animals, saving tahoe, family reunions, 90's R&B, R&D, critiquing, making decisions, and blogging.

My top 10 albums could still change, but for now, in no particular order:

Houses of the Holy - Led Zep
Moondance - Van Morrison
All Eyez on Me - 2pac
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
The Lonesome Crowded West - Modest Mouse
It Was Written - Nas
The Queen is Dead - Smiths
Self Titled - Sublime
Thriller - MJ
Entertainment! - Gang of Four


Warmest Regards,
R.T.

Meet Joel

My name is Joel Baer.  I'm 26 years old and work for a plastic company.  I graduated from Brigham Young University where I received a Bachelor's Degree in American Studies.  This means that I am well qualified to study America.  But it also means that I am well qualified to judge America with the sort of authority that can only be vested by a private, religiously-affiliated university.  

My life is mostly a series of embarrassments and regrets lasting varying amounts of time- one always replacing another.  My greatest regret thus far is that I am not taller.  Second only to this regret is that I did not accept Stephanie Headly's offer to exclusively date in the 6th grade. She wore a poofy adidas jacket and basketball shoes, plus she was well connected and had hot friends.  She was impregnated by a more developed suitor in the 8th grade and disappeared shortly thereafter.

Knowing these few things is the same as knowing me.  And to know me is to love me.  

Here are my Top Ten Favorite Albums:

Abbey Road- The Beatles

Blue Album- Weezer

Zenyatta Mondatta- Police

Nevermind- Nirvana

Surfer Rosa- Pixies

Birth of Soul- Ray Charles

The Clash- The Clash

Here's Little Richard- Little Richard

Aftermath- Rolling Stones

Pet Sounds- Beach Boys



  

    

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Top 5 Figure Skating Jumps

5. Double axel
4. Triple salchow
3. Triple lutz
2. Triple axel
1. Mazurka

Sean

My name is Sean David Hetherington. My life is the shit. I wake at 11:30, watch TV for an hour, then get out of bed. I get dressed and go directly to the skatepark. Here I meet up with kids whom like to call me "Head" or "Blington." These kids have names like "Roastbeef" and Kottonmouth," and they're normally too stoned to skate for very long so we end up at McDonald's within an hour. We eat. We go back to the skatepark. By this time the local high school kids are at the park and it's crowded. Sometime we go skate somewhere else, sometimes we don't. Then I just come home and play FIFA 09 on World Class Difficulty. I never lose. When I do get close to losing I just reset my XBOX 360 before the loss can be recorded. Next, I look around my house for stuff I could return at Costco. If there is nothing worthwhile I go back to the skatepark and skate for an hour or so until it closes at 8. Everything I do after 8 PM is highly personal and hard for others to understand. Needless to say, I usually don't fall asleep until 4 AM, so i've had more than enough time to figure out how to make my top 10 album list look as cool as possible. It's not in order:

Led Zeppelin IV
Led Zeppelin II
Fugazi Repeater + 3 Songs
David Bowie Ziggy Stardust
The Kinks Village Green Preservation Society
Wu-Tang Clan Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
The Strokes Is This It?
Interpol Turn on the Bright
The Rolling Stones Aftermath
Three Mile Pilot Another Sea, Another Desert



Saturday, January 24, 2009

Phil

I'm Phil. This is my second attempt at a bio. As you can see below, i LOVE emo. I also love these things: the South, old people, zoning out in front of the television, tennis, 5 inch tall flip flops and retelling jokes. I also become a girl as soon as i get in water, or if i reach an elevation of over ten feet, excluding planes.

Jimmy eat world – clarity
Low- things we lost in the fire
Get up kids- four minute mile
Mountain goats- all hail west texas
Explosions in the sky- the earth is not a cold dead place
Saves the day- through being cool
Smashing pumpkins – meloncollie and the infinite sadness
Neutral milk hotel- aeroplane over the sea
Built to spill- there’s nothing wrong with love
At the drive-in- relationship of command

Bob

I'm Bobby Housley. I'm a graduate of Brigham Young University and an organizer for the Public Interest Research Group in Michigan. My hobbies include wasting time on bullshit. I'm qualified to review music because I've listened to music my whole life and I've played guitar for 14 years. Beat that, internet.

My top ten favorite albums, in no particular order:

Sun Kil Moon: Ghosts of the Great Highway
My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
Death Cab for Cutie: We have the Facts and We're Voting Yes
Mogwai: Rock Action
Jimmy Eat World: Clarity
Guided by Voices: Alien Lanes
Modest Mouse: Moon and Antarctica
Radiohead: In Rainbows
Stereolab: Cobra and Phases Group Play Voltage in the Milky Night
Postal Service: Give Up


by Bobby Housley