Mix Bag #3: Real Change in the Air, Ghosts Among Pyramids, and a Fictional Rock Bio

Mix Bag is a regular feature that brings together a random collection of media and highlights why it all matters to you.

I can't begin this week's Mix Bag without mentioning a very important and historic moment in American history: the Democratic party electing the first African-American presidential candidate. It's not only significant because of its symbolism -- after all, we've struggled for generations in America to transcend racial boundaries -- but it's also significant because of the candidate itself. When Barack Obama started his campaign, most people said he didn't have a chance. Party insiders favored Hillary Clinton, and the other candidates could never break through to the American peoples hearts (or wallets). While Clinton's campaign operated as the presumptive front runner and controlled the candidate in a robotic, corporate PR bubble, Obama gained the trust of voters in Iowa, and from there, Clinton was in trouble. Knowing that Obama was the popular candidate, the Clinton people scrambled to put together ways to discredit him, often in very negative and divisive ways.

By the time Obama wrapped up the nomination, the damage had been done among many of Clinton's core demographics, especially white women, who have been so adamantly opposed to Obama because of perceived misogyny and his lack of connection with working class people. Of course, the Clinton camp was all too eager to play up these perceived biases, and it helped divide the party up among differing demographics.

But among young Americans, Barack Obama was their candidate. Obama had difficulties winning among older whites, especially blue collar workers and those over 40. However, the enthusiasm among young Americans suggests that we are finally emerging from the past battles over civil rights into a post-racial America, an America that can't remember a time when race actually mattered but instead judge a person by their character, not the color of their skin. I will not for a minute sit here and naively pretend that America no longer suffers from racism; indeed, the racial wounds are still fresh, but for many Americans who grew up in an integrated society, race is not the determining factor. Barack Obama is the candidate who is prepared to bring America out of its racist past and into a new century that respects people for who they choose to be, not what they look like.

This is especially important for how America is perceived around the world, and thanks to the Bush administration, we are perceived as aggressors who have no decency or respect for the true rule of law and wage unnecessary wars under the guise of freedom. Barack Obama represents an America that is open and forthright, and an America that is inclusive and respectful, not brash and arrogant. I often read The Huffington Post for my political information, and for a perspective on how the world perceives an Obama administration, read this article, which suggests the world is ready for real change.

Also, Clinton's run for the White House was one full of many missteps and outright hypocrisy (i.e. Michigan and Florida), and to be honest, Bill owes her big time. Much has been said about her poorly managed campaign and mounting debt, and CNN currently has an article up explaining what Clinton should do next.

At this point, I'm willing to throw in my support for Barack Obama, because I see him as our only hope to reinvigorate America's standing in the world. On the other hand, McCain represents more of the same and plans to keep our disrespectful policies intact. Culturally, Obama represents the future of America; young Americans are energized and ready for a civilized discourse about our future.

With all of that politics behind us, let's look at what's going on in music and literature right now. I'm not really sure where to begin, considering we've missed out on a lot since our last Mix Bag (yeah, sorry about that). However, there's plenty going on right now, especially in the world of music. Taking on the cacophony of sound and turning it into art, the Pyramids' latest self-titled album has given me a new perspective on how beautiful sound can be found underneath lots of loud noises. The album takes a lot of the traditions of death metal and combines it with the electronic experimentation that's revived the modern indie underground. They even take on the presidential election in their chaotic song "Hillary."

Equally, Nine Inch Nails has come off their wildly successful break from Interscope Records with Ghosts I-IV, an excellent denouement from the fairly standard NIN styles of Year Zero. Ever since Reznor branched out on The Fragile, he's consistently shown that he's more than another bonehead Marilyn Manson-esque industrial rocker, and Ghosts I-IV is the perfect example of this. At times, the album seems pastoral and reflective, and at other times, anarchic and unpredictable. It's definitely worth purchasing or downloading, and we'll have a review of it up here soon.

In the literary world, I'm currently enjoying Andrew Foster Altschul's Lady Lazarus. Following in the footsteps of many 20th Century authors, Altschul has crafted an ironic account of a fictional rock star's daughter/poet Calliope Bird Morath, and makes use of all sorts of pieces of pop culture and literary history to keep it all together. It's an excellent novel, one that is both a convincing satire of rock biographies and a heartfelt story; you feel connected to the characters in a similar way to how fans get connected to their rock idols.

Well, that's it for now. Of course, we can continue this conversation in the comments section if you're interested...

Mix Bag #2: Fictitious Non-Fiction, Cake, and a Bloody Massacre

Mix Bag is a weekly feature that brings together a random collection of media and highlights why it all matters to you.

After an extended weekend off and a handful of other things to write, I haven't had too much time to peruse what's interesting out there this week. Usually, I'd say it's disappointing to put off a feature for a few days, but then I remind myself that with only a handful of readers to brag about, There There Kid is still too little of a start up for anyone to complain about Mix Bag coming out late. But I digress...

Anyway, we might as well jump right in and examine the world of cultural activity that I've found interesting lately. First, The New York Times' literary blog Paper Cuts has an interesting article up about yet another fabrication coming to light in a major non-fiction book. This time, it's not one of the infamous memoir fabrications marketed for mass appeal. Instead, it's a work of journalism that takes some liberties at truth or, as Stephen Colbert would put it, truthiness (that word makes a lot more sense now than it did when it came out). It's a book called Bringing Down the House, and it's the book that the latest blockbuster 21 was based on. But as it turns out, many sections were exaggerated to the point of being completely false; at one point in the book, for example, the team of gamblers supposedly strapped thousands of dollars to their bodies before boarding planes, which apparently never happened. There are other dramatic scenes that the real-life characters of the book deny ever happening, and this is all coming out right when 21 is out in cinemas across the country. Ouch.

There's also a collection of essays that just came out called I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloane Crosley. They sound quite interesting, blending comedy with the mundane parts of daily life. Sloane works as a publicist for Vintage/Anchor books during the day, so her understanding of the absurdities surrounding literary publicity and the 9 to 5 office job could make an interesting read. I've ordered a copy and hope to read it soon. Sloane's Web site is also a lot of fun, adding art and excerpts/blurbs for her book.

There's also a book coming out in May that takes our current generation to task, called The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupifies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future by Mark Bauerlein. Despite the pretentious sounding title, the book actually looks like it smartly dissects exactly why, with more and more information at our fingertips, we keep getting dumber. Is there really a reason, or is this guy just a cranky old man? I hope to find out, and I'll probably have a review up later on.

In the world of music, things keep getting more and more interesting as the year continues. People seem in awe of R.E.M.'s latest (I'm still on the fence, personally), but most reviews seem to recognize that it's just about the best you can get from a band that's become increasingly less relevant over the years.

In jazz, I like Pete Robbins' Do the Hate Laugh Shimmy, and the album title gives the vibe of the album away. It's quirky and experimental, yet rooted in something whole and tangible. It's an excellent album that comes out later in the month.

And there are a lot more albums coming out this week. I've been on a Sonic Youth kick lately, so it's nice to see that Thurston Moore is releasing another solo album called Sensitive/Lethal. The Microphones and Man Man have new albums out as well.

Next week, the eclectic weirdos that make up Brian Jonestown Massacre are releasing their 13th album called My Bloody Underground. It's very experimental, and gives off a different vibe from some of their past work; to be honest, it sounds more like a collection of demos than a full-length LP. But there are some gems, and the experimentation is more in line with TV On the Radio than some of the blues influences of past albums. It took a few listens for me to get into it, and I'm still not fully convinced. But that doesn't matter, it's still a lot of fun.

That's about it for now, I'd love to see what everyone else finds interesting out there in the internet world.

Mix Bag #1: Elbow, Books on the Music Industry, and Games to Waste Time and Sharpen Your Mind

Mix Bag is a weekly feature that brings together a random collection of media and highlights why it all matters to you.

Mix Bag #1: Elbow, Books on the Music Industry, and Games to Waste Time and Sharpen Your Mind

Since this is our very first Mix Bag here at There There Kid, we'd like to explain the purpose for this weekly feature. As you may know, There There Kid distinguishes itself from other entertainment related blogs by attempting to connect otherwise disparate works of art or media through central themes. Since there's so much going on out there, Mix Bag is our opportunity to just throw everything we find interesting out there, allowing you to find something new or make your own connections. So, this first Mix Bag might be a little rough, but as we get going, we hope it will develop into an important event on its own.

Let's get started...

The first thing of interest involves music, and there are (finally!) some interesting albums coming out this year. First, Elbow have finally released their third studio album, The Seldom Seen Kid. It's been four years since we've seen this band release new material, so this is nice to see. The thing is, the album's only out in the UK, and won't be released in the US until April 22. However, I have a copy of the album in hand, so expect a review soon (trust me, it's good). Cloud Cult will release their latest, titled Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes), on April 8. Plus, there's been a lot of buzz surrounding R.E.M.'s latest Accelerate , which comes out tomorrow. Will Michael Stipe and crew actually wow us, or will Accelerate be as stale as its predecessors? We'll know soon enough. Other interesting new releases include Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks' latest Real Emotional Trash -- which is much more upbeat than the albums that came before it, even if some of the tracks (especially the title track) feel a little stale -- Destroyer's Trouble In Dreams, She & Him's Volume 1 (which has actress Zoey Deschanel on vocals), Spoon's Don't You Evah EP, and the good albums just keep coming. Which is great, because 2008 started off with a lot of disappointment.

On the jazz front, I've had a chance to listen to Dave Douglas & Keystone's Moonshine, and it's a great album, albeit a little weird (but I like weird).

Speaking of all of this great music, I can't help but notice how a majority of it comes from indie label acts. Is there a reason why all of this great music comes from indie labels, while the major labels eat each other whole? According to Dan Kennedy's latest memoir Rock On, the reason is because the music industry is still completely oblivious to what people in the 21st Century still want. Ever since that whole Napster debacle, the RIAA has imploded on itself, causing the rise in indie labels that snatch up the good acts before the "man" gets them. Just take a look at that little Radiohead experiment, or the recent move by well established artists to the Starbucks label. According to the New York Times Book Review, Kennedy "doesn’t expound on the music industry’s decline; instead, he simply lays out reams of damning evidence," and although that seems fairly obvious, Rock On is here to hilariously confirm our worst fears and further the music lover's move to indie.

All of this music industry talk reminded me that Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins is suing his former record label, Virgin Records, for using the band's music in an advertising campaign the band did not approve. We'll see how that one turns out.

In other books news, Owen Shears' Resistance is a novel that, like Phillip Roth's The Plot Against America, revises the history surrounding World War II and Nazi Germany. Shears' novel has the British losing against the Germans in the D-Day invasions, and as German forces attempt to establish themselves, a secret movement against the Germans forms in Britain. I haven't yet read this, but there's supposedly a love story thrown in there as well. Also, I've just discovered Stephanie McMillan, an excellent graphic novelist and comic writer. Blogcritics.org has an interview with Stephanie McMillan up on their site right now, where she explains how she connects comics to the larger good of society: "I think many people want more art that challenges the status quo, and they appreciate it when they find it." True True.

Even if art isn't specifically challenging the status quo, can't it at least challenge the mind? According to the makers of Guest House, there are games that are challenging, yet seem simple on the surface. Of course that seems kind of obvious, until you've played Guest House, then you'll understand that this game is much more complex than it seems. What seems like a simple flash game turns into a real difficult challenge that moves from the surreal to the sublime.

There's so much more we have to cover, but for now, that's it. Next week, we'll dig through a couple more CD's, take a look at some new books, do some critiquing of the media, and find some new time wasters.