Oh, looks like the veterans are back in action, with the old reliable crew from Ford regrouping again, along with a few newbies who probably have a long, painful journey of self-discovery ahead of them. It feels like everyone showed up totally recharged, honestly, and I’m not even sure who I should quote first because, man, I could pretty much pull a quote from anyone here. I mean, what do you guys think—is there actually any difference between the posers and the real deal on this thread? You’d seriously need a third eye to tell, because the posers are out here quoting the experts and vice versa, forming these weird, unnatural alliances... I guess our little "garden" has just gone completely wild. But whatever, let's just blame it on a heavy dose of rain. So, how is an average student supposed to find their way when they're hunting for a mentor? Maybe the biggest struggle is that all the advice and spiritual insights you can find here are just free. Like, there isn't even the most basic way to judge value. And obviously, there aren't any more advanced criteria either, since if a student were actually advanced enough to have those, they wouldn't be looking for help in the first place. So, what's the move? Maybe the easiest thing is just to pick a username based on whatever vibe you like (like having a cool avatar😁) and just follow whatever they say.
Alright, I’ve chilled out enough.
There’s a real difference between a teacher and a master. There are way more masters out there than teachers, though, like, tons. And finding a teacher isn't actually that hard, no mystery there. Whatever you get interested in doing in life, you're bound to run into people who know more about it than you do—including the ones who *claim* they know more. Now, you just have to figure out how to distinguish between the two and make a choice, and I guess even Gaudrath poked around at that idea with his clumsy hands. 🙂 It’s actually kind of tough for a teacher to build trust. A true teacher is someone you just end up believing in without them having to try and convince you. It’s like what John Walker74 says, "If only I had been told." I’m pretty sure she *was* told, she just didn't believe it. And honestly, neither did I. But hey, at least I’m a little bit wiser now.
Since this movie is out of theaters now, consider this a safe zone for spoilers:
Honestly, I feel like the wedding planner is probably the only authentic Indian person in the whole flick. Everyone else seems totally corrupted by Western values and customs. That scene where this guy—Thakkar, I think his name was, or maybe I'm forgetting—just sits there absentmindedly munching on a marigold flower while being berated... man, that was iconic. I guess the only other character who could even come close to that vibe might be Perhan. It’s also pretty funny when the caterer, who happens to be the bride's dad, starts tearing into him because the wedding tent is made of white cloth (which, you know, is actually the color for funerals in India), and he just stands there looking all humble, almost like one of those historically oppressed castes, trying to defend himself with one hand while reaching for a bigger tip with the other.
northernscout said:I was just sitting here wondering if anyone else catches the total hypocrisy in that old saying, "A teacher always appears when the student is ready to learn"?! 😕
Nicholas Reyes29 said:Man, I think I actually lost my ball... I guess I just totally misplaced it somewhere. I guess I totally blew it, man. I seriously messed up.
Brava Mrg, you’re such a huge fan! 👍 As someone who doesn't really follow the traditional playbook, I feel like I have this weird little advantage where all those things fans usually call "loser" stuff actually turn out to be pretty awesome to me, I guess. 🙂
Inaca, look at this guy right here—do you think a fishing rod could just be, like, its own thing sometimes? You know, just a fishing rod without all the extra stuff? I don't know, I guess I just really like thinking that way.
I mean, if I had to give credit to anyone for finally getting Queen back out there, I guess I’d have to point the finger straight at Igor Mirkovica and his Lucky Kid.
I don't know, I see things a little differently, I guess. It feels like that whole generation that grew up listening to Queen—take Mirkovic, for example—they’ve actually climbed the ladder and landed these big-time roles where they finally have enough social clout to pull stuff off. To me, Mirkovic is more like a direct result of that shift in power rather than the cause of it, maybe.
In case you guys missed it,🙂 the Kansas City Chiefs played a big game the other day. Now, I know that probably sounds totally random and unrelated to what we're talking about here, but... during the credits, while all those letters were scrolling up the screen, they played this track by Queen with the lyric "football, it's the real thiiiiing..." I can't quite put my finger on which song it was since I'm not exactly a die-hard superfan, but I bet someone here knows exactly which one it was. Man, it honestly caught me off guard; at first, I thought maybe they were playing it live at the stadium, but that would have been even more bizarre. Turns out, they were playing it straight from the studio! I'm kind of stuck on how to feel about it, but I've got this nagging feeling that this might actually be the Year of Miracles... who knows, maybe Johnny will make a comeback or something? 😁
Jason Morgan2 said:So, I guess you could wrap your head around the idea that if you actually want to be a real rocker, you shouldn't bother with money, falling in love, or even having kids.
Look, I mean, everyone pretty much draws their own conclusions based on how they see things, mixed in with whatever level of annoyance they're dealing with at the moment.
But hey, why don't you enlighten me? Like, what are these 8 specific requirements to be a rocker, or maybe just give me the top 5 that are absolutely essential.
Wait, did you even watch the movie? I mean, not just *when* it happened, but HOW rock and roll actually died. There’s a massive distinction there, because honestly, rock hasn't died globally, and it sure as hell isn't going to, it’s just that for certain people, it fizzled out in a few specific ways, and I think there are basically three main paths to that downfall:
1. Pure commercialization, which is basically just selling your soul and ditching the music just to chase a paycheck. 2. Falling in love, so you lose that raw, aggressive edge that used to make people absolutely terrified when you were tearing up the stage. 3. Becoming a parent, where suddenly your whole vibe shifts toward protecting your kids from the world, mostly just so they don't totally ghost you once they hit their teenage years. 😈
I guess those are pretty much all the ways it happens. 😎
dustyscout53 said:The Headless Children album is just absolute perfection!!!! I mean, there’s really nothing left to debate here, W.A.S.P. is forever!
Yebo, how on earth did I miss out on this! 😁
Man, back in high school, there was this one guy who was basically covered in W.A.S.P. stickers from head to toe, while I was still stuck listening to Springstin and stuff... back then, I used to look at him with such suspicion and total confusion, probably because I had no clue just how much I didn't know. 😕 Later on, once I finally had my own little epiphany about the music, all I could do was look at him like: 🙏 🙏 🙏
God, I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old and losing my edge, but back in my wilder days, I used to think Madonna was everything to all those guys and girls out there, though now it honestly feels like the guys are the ones absolutely killing it on stage! I guess I have to wonder if I’ve just gone soft with age or if my hormones finally decided to settle down into something actually reasonable.
But hey, I guess you really have to see it in person to know for sure!👍
I see everyone’s drifted a bit off topic, so I guess I’ll jump in too. Regarding our own movies, honestly, the vibe is just so apathetic and depressing right now that you basically can't get anyone into an American theater to see an American film, even if you're offering them a free ticket! I’m saying this from personal experience. It feels like there's this general mood across the country where people have sort of lost hope that anything can actually get better, and I suppose that includes American cinema. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to catch *Here* or *Witness*, so I can't really weigh in on those. As for *dead girl*—personally, I thought it was a good movie. It’s kind of like when I pick up a book by a local author; I don't go around comparing it to the current Nobel laureates or Sheffield's heavy hitters, but instead, I appreciate it for what it tells me about life here, in our own way, which makes sense to me in a way it wouldn't to some random Argentine. When you consider the budget, the resources, and the actual human potential we have for filmmaking in this country, I don't think we should be as harsh on our own films as we are on everyone else's. That’s why I always try to go see our movies without any preconceived notions. I genuinely enjoy supporting our artists that way, because I truly feel they deserve an audience, at least some of them do. Come on, people, get to the theater and support American films!
So, I don't really know what went down with the actual planning and stuff, but since I can't be bothered to start an entirely new thread just about the concert, I'll just say this:
Honestly, I'm not even bummed about $20, because once the show was over, there wasn't a single thing in the world that could have ruined my vibe... Like, seriously, nothing could have messed up my day Not even the cops could've ruined it for me
I was actually on my way to go grab some Eminem merch—though the last time I tried, I ended up buying a shirt from some random reseller over on Broadway It was only around 2:30, so I figured I had plenty of time to move without worrying about missing out on anything
Man, I definitely didn't hype up Eminem enough! 😁 😁
Honestly, I think it's probably best if I just head out on vacation. I'll check back in one last time before I bounce.
First off, let me apologize to the OP for going totally MIA, but I guess this is becoming a bit of a habit for me. I mean, what can I say, Ava Gardner, when your threads are just so incredibly inspiring?
And look, I really don't care what Jack the Ripper is throwing a fit about right now; as a fan, I've got every right to call him Jack the Ripper as much as I want.
I’ll admit, I kind of got carried away and maybe made too many assumptions there. I guess it’s because we live in such a small country, where all the fans of "Americana" pretty much know everyone. We don't have a ton of clubs, we don't have many music critics, and there aren't many radio stations playing anything "alternative." So, if you're even slightly involved, it's easy to run into people who feel the same way—even if they wouldn't admit it unless they were totally wasted on some wild girl's concoction—so I guess I just generalized a bit, and for that, I'm sorry. But, I still stand by calling you an elitist, Harrigan. Elitists have this whole attitude of being condescending, mocking, and looking down on anything that isn't up to their "standard," which is exactly what you did. They have this habit of praising things that clearly mimic foreign icons (like The B-52s) while dismissing local stuff as primitive or outdated, even when they end up contradicting themselves—I mean, Pip does a cover of The Pogues and suddenly they're thieves and plagiarists, but then who exactly are your favorites ripping off??? Do they even have a single original thing that didn't just come from listening to garage-rock American dinosaurs until they died? Basically, an elitist is ashamed of where they came from. They love looking down their noses, spitting on things, and criticizing just to feed their own egos, not realizing they're actually just stepping on themselves. Again, this isn't about some fake patriotism. People can interpret it however they want—either think I'm just some guy from Thompson or believe that what I'm saying actually makes sense.
Just to clear one little thing up, why do I write "Americana"? It's because it isn't actually a genre, regardless of what the foreign press says. Genres are pop, rock, techno, country, metal. "Americana" is just a label some critics dreamed up to categorize Gram Parsons and his disciples (hehe, I do know a thing or two). It’s crazy how that guy became a legend through such an early death. Just like so many other unlucky souls. Harrigan, you go ahead and keep riding your little cult wave if it makes you happy, no worries. I'll apologize once more for the insult. But yeah, I'm heading out on vacation now.
Roger Jones5 said:Haustor, Mother (those first two albums), and the Molesters Lunar and Peach Pit are pretty fine too Spoons and Messerschmitt (I think that's how you spell it) as well
that's it
Pips is just this totally bland, boring band with an irritating singer who clearly struggles just to hit the notes, and honestly, Pips fans are probably the most annoying group of people on the planet
Man…🙄 I mean, yeah, it’s true—we really do love wearing people out. You have no idea how satisfying it is when you see someone’s face turn green because you’re explaining something that completely overloads their crusty, elitist, "always against the grain" little brain. It’s like watching some poor soul try to run from a predator, wanting to vanish into thin air, but they can't escape because they're stuck being exactly who they are. And how do I know? Well, it's just that only people like that could come up with oxymorons like "American Americana," or list bands under "best American groups" that don't even write lyrics in English. For anyone catching up slowly, I should clarify that I’m not talking about fake patriotism here; I’m just stating the fact that songs consist of both music and lyrics. Yeah, sure, those are the best American bands, just like how John Malkovich is the best American actor. We have plenty of people around here who act like they're heartbroken they weren't born in Texas so they could peacefully listen to country music—and I don't mean the "commercial" stuff like Dolly Parton, which they only watch for show, but rather the "authentic" types like Lucinda Williams and her crowd. I mean, sure, that's great music if you want to eat fast food and gain weight even faster. Well, screw you, George Bush; I am not trading in Ripper for 150 Johnny Cashs and the rest of those guys in black.
Man, I’ve been sitting here waiting and waiting, and honestly, nothing is happening. It’s kind of wild that some of the old-school fossils in this thread—you know, guys like banderas or Kevin Chavez3—haven't bothered to mention what I consider to be the absolute BEST band of all time, so I guess I just have to jump in and take over the conversation myself. Gentlemen, please, just ignore all those obscure indie acts and the mainstream commercial stuff equally, and just bow down to pure SEX. Now that we've dealt with the kings, let's move on to the rest of the royal court: Pip – they are seriously good. Those rural jokes, like "look at Jack the Ripper over there acting like he just got released from El Paso," don't really have anything to do with their actual music. Jack the Ripper is basically Johnny to my generation. Let 3 – they were incredible on every single album. I wonder if time will eventually catch up to them the way it did with the Stones. Stones T. B. F. – total masters from the coast; they are such a rare example of a band that stays genuinely committed while balancing creativity with real soul. Mother – they basically burst onto the scene like a flying replacement for The Ramones, who basically made us feel like we had our own country. Bonus: Bo replaced Bo. Eminem – the name itself pretty much tells you the whole program. 😁 Idiot – if it wasn't for them, I think I’d probably be a completely different person today. 🙂
I follow the Modern Scene only halfway, I guess, because it feels like it's practically impossible to record a proper album if you're a young band nowadays, so those things never really get the polish they deserve. The only things I've actually noticed are Weddings and, unfortunately, the no longer existing Yammat.
c.i.k. – I haven't heard the original version of "Bezumlje," but your claim that it's better than the breakers sounds just as unbelievable as it does intriguing?? Is there any way to even find those recordings?
I don't know, maybe I'm just getting old, because there was a time when I really didn't have anything against musicals, but now I find myself loving them more and more every single day. 🙂
I used to think that > was enough reason to just scrap the whole musical genre and ban it entirely, but honestly, now I’d say > is plenty of reason to make studying musicals an elective in every high school out there. It’s seriously one of the most beautiful movies ever made. My throat actually tightens up just thinking about it... For anyone who thinks this movie is overrated, I honestly suggest you go see a local healer immediately to get your heart chakra opened up (you can probably find some first aid tips over on the > subforum).
For my serious readers out there, I’ll just mention one more absolute classic: Cabaret.
I’d honestly recommend this to just about everyone.
I mean, I was practically pulling my hair out during those 165 minutes because it was so intense, but once the credits rolled, I actually felt like it wasn't enough... it felt way too short, you know? Like there were still so many things left unsaid... I seriously need to own this on DVD!
The movie touches on so much, including the whole struggle for equality, but I think it mostly really speaks to the raw fight for survival itself. It shows that struggle in all its grit, its ruthlessness, the passion, the desperation, the sadness, and even the hope—you can just add whatever else you feel like.
From the very first frame, the production design and the costumes just absolutely blow you away, making you feel like you're a witness to a completely different world and a different era, though, if I'm being honest, it feels cursedly similar to how things are today…
The way "native" Americans treated the Irish immigrants back then feels incredibly similar to how some "indigenous" Europeans view people arriving from the Third World today.
And man, the messy whirlwind of politics... it was spinning just as wildly a hundred years ago as it is right now, unfortunately.
Those fight scenes? They might be some of the best stuff ever put on film.
Mr. Lewis is just masterful.
Cammy (I'm not criticizing her, I just love her character!) isn't quite Meryl Streep, and honestly, I don't think I'd even want to pay for her performance. I'd probably just end up offending her by trying to take credit for it. 😁 Anyway, at the end of the day, what do you guys think:
Is it better to have Leonardo DiCaprio lead the cast so a massive audience gets to see such an incredible movie, or should they have picked some random XY guy so that a smaller group of people sees it—given that Americans were basically tearing their own kind apart a hundred years ago, and won't be doing that to some poor Iraqi refugees now???