I’M READING AS FAST AS I CAN: MARCH 2008 EDITION

Because there just aren’t enough book reports on the Innernetz, are there?

JUST FINISHED

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson
I don’t re-read books all that often, but something compelled me to buy a new copy of this and read it again, and I swear it gets better with every reading – possibly because the first time I read it, I was too young too really appreciate the whole point of the book – that is to say, the death of the American Dream and how the 60s counterculture ultimately failed to live up to its potential. Still, I knew even back in 1987 that Thompson was one of the best writers on the planet, and to this day he’s one of my biggest inspirations in my own writing.

JUST STARTED

The Final Solution by Michael Chabon
Picked it up in the discount bin at Dymocks, having already been totally blown away by The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier And Klay. Not that I’m expecting the same experience, but, well, anyway, we’ll see.

( Recent titles in the rear, sir ... )

Damn commies,

This is dF

BAD COVER VERSION 005: THE VERSES ALL SOUND THE SAME

The battle between original songs and cover versions continues! One of the interesting caveats in doing a series like this is that sometimes, the “original” song is actually a cover of an obscure song from a different generation, but is good enough and different enough that it becomes the definitive version of the song. An obvious example would be Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”.

Anyhow that’s why in this week’s episode, we have two bands squaring off with their own covers of a song that was a British music hall standard in 1910.

THE SONG: “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”

COVER VERSION 1: Herman’s Hermits

COMMENTS: The definitive version, of course. It’s a wonderfully daft song, and Herman’s Hermits were probably the only band who could have gotten away with it at the time. Fresh-faced, exaggerated Cockney accents, goofy as hell. With added Ed Sullivan and screaming teenage girls.

COVER VERSION 2: Banana Erectors

COMMENTS: Banana Erectors are a Japanese punk band who blatantly channel the Ramones, only with a helium-voiced female singer. So their interpretation is basically a Ramones-like version with Masumi Toshikawa doing a game Cockney/Japanese accent. It works brilliantly and comes off as a little less cornball.

WINNER: I’m giving this one to Banana Erectors. The HH version is good fun, and still probably the definitive interpretation, but not enough to overwhelm my bias towards Japanese punk.

Next week: Soft Cell vs Marilyn Manson! Of course!

No Sam,

This is dF

52 RATS (#6 OF 52): TANGLED UP IN YOU

This week’s rat is the legendary Rat King!



Wikipedia explains:

Rat kings are cryptozoological phenomena said to arise when a number of rats become intertwined at their tails, which become stuck together with blood, dirt, and excrement. The animals consequently grow together while joined at the tails, which are often broken. The phenomenon is particularly associated with Germany, where the majority of instances have been reported.

Most researchers presume the creatures are legendary and that all supposed physical evidence is hoaxed, such as mummified groups of dead rats with their tails tied together. Reports of living specimens remain unsubstantiated. One theoretical cause for the phenomenon is cramped living space; young rats might live too closely together, becoming inextricably entangled. However, the normal behavior of rats, which generally seek their own comfort, speaks against this theory. No scientific study has been performed to prove a natural cause of the phenomenon.

NOTE: Not to be confused with a minor Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles villain.



All together now,

This is dF