We're Moving!

And be 'we,' I mean I. And by 'I', I mean this blog and its sister site for my book. Yes, I'm finally taking the plunge and pushing on to Wordpress for a myriad of reasons. 

CAPSLOCKED AND LOADED

capslockedandloaded.wordpress.com is the new site for the blog. You'll find my film and comic writing, musings, and general ramblings -- all neatly organized into easy to read categories. So as not to bore everyone, I'll be interspersing old posts with new content. You're welcome. 

Because my schedule is dramatically changing I will hopefully -- hopefully -- be updating regularly. Or at all. Then again I've made this promise before, only to see things explode into insanity and madness and no writing, which annoys me. So we'll see.

Charlie Black

charlieblackbook.wordpress.com is where the book will be. Or possibly. I'm actually looking into self-publishing it as a serial, in a sort of 'pay as you go' format. But again, I haven't decided as of this writing.

This is far less informative than I originally planned.

Accidental Interim

So, you may have noticed the posting on this blog abruptly ceased. Or maybe you didn't notice. Maybe you're just now going, 'Oh, she stopped posting? I had no idea.' I don't know your life. But I digress.

Basically I haven't been writing here because I am almost hilariously busy. And by 'hilariously' I mean pretty much the opposite. I actually tried to write an amusing metaphor there, but it fell apart. Because I am tired and don't have time.

But I don't want to fall out of the habit, for my own edification if nothing else, so I'm going to try to write something here as often as I can. Sporadically, until things calm down or someone tears my laptop from my nail-bitten fingers as I cackle nonsensically. Although to be fair I tend to do that whenever something upsetting happens on one of my TV shows, so it might be hard to tell.

Anyway. I am still here, still working, and going to put a few posts into the backlog so that this blog doesn't languish entirely.

There will be some languishing, but hopefully not full-on malaise.

Or something.

Me Against The Music: Tracks 132-160

For reasons of her own, Elle has decided to listen to every single song in her music library and record the experience. These are her notes. 

Tracks 132-160

132. Say What You Say - Eminem

Dear Past Me: 

I don't get it. You thought you were punk. You thought you were a Riot Grrl, Patti Smith, Courtney Love, Debbie Harry. You lived at Hot Topic and were unaware of the irony of this. So how did you justify your love for Eminem? Really, I need an explanation. 

Love, Present Me. 

PS Remember when you kept naming all your essays after Eminem songs because you thought you were clever? What the hell?

133. Silvio - Bob Dylan

Someone once told me they loved Dylan's songs but hated his voice. I was enormously disappointed with them and the choices in their life. 

135. Pressed Rat And Warthog - Cream [CORRUPTED]

I have to be honest: even if it hadn't been corrupted I would have probably deleted this song. Because it's weird. And not fun weird -- bad acid trip weird. 

136. New York State Of Mind - Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner can sing and this fact is just unfair.

137. Such A Perfect Day - Lou Reed

This song only comes on when I'm having a truly terrible day. Like the rain is pouring, my car is stuck in traffic, I'm late for work, my coffee has exploded all over me, and my phone battery has given up the ghost even though I charged it before I left home. Then BOOM this song comes on. I think Lou Reed would be pleased by this.

138. Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters is tops.

139. Stink-Foot - Frank Zappa

I met Dweezil Zappa once, when he was on his 'Zappa Does Zappa' tour, and it was not my finest hour. Usually when I meet someone famous I can be polite and appear like a functioning human (for a certain amount of time, anyway). And it wasn't even Dweezil himself (although he is wonderfully talented and charming and was very nice and his eyes are almost TOO blue); it was that I grew up listening to his dad. I was SHAPED by that music, for good or ill. Frank Zappa is one of the songs I associate with growing up. And for some reason that made my brain stall hideously when I got the chance to speak with his son.

Here's a rundown of my Conversation With Dweezil Zappa. It's not entirely accurate due to the fact that I was having some sort of existential crisis when it went down, but you get the gist. 

Me: Hi! Boy that song is great and you were great and isn't this venue great? Your band is great. Great. Anyway I loved that solo it was just great, this whole tour is great, OK BYE.' 

140. The Flower Of Carnage - 梶芽衣子 (Kill Bill)

Essential listening before embarking on an epic quest. Also pretty fun to listen to when on the subway, although I'm not sure why.

143. Threshold - Sex Bob-Omb

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World will always have a special place in my heart, in large part because I was pretty much Knives in high school. Only way, WAY lamer. 

146. A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan

File Under: Songs that make me want to cry for no clear reason.

148. Man Out Of Time - Elvis Costello

We all think of Steve Rogers when we hear this song, right? Well, know you totally will. You're welcome.

149. I'm Not Here - Meat Puppets

The Meat Puppets are still around and this brings me a sense of comfort in a chaotic world.

150. 23 - Jimmy Eat World

Of all the bands that were popular when I was younger, I didn't think Jimmy Eat World would be one whose music endured. But it's held up remarkably well, and actually seems far more relevant now than it did when I was younger. The more I think about it, the more this worries me.

151. A Little Death - The Neighborhood [DELETED]

I'm not really sure what to say about this one. I didn't hate it, I just didn't really like it. 

152. You Keep Me Hangin' On - Diana Ross & The Supremes

Diana Ross is a queen. 

153. Jewel Of The Summertime - Audioslave

Oh, Audioslave. What happened? You were going to be the biggest thing ever. You were a super-band. Like Jefferson Starship. Only you made some songs I like. So nothing like Jefferson Starship. Anyway, it's too bad the hype was so great around the band because there are some solid songs. 

156. Everlong - Foo Fighters

I will freely admit that this song makes me ugly cry because it is beautiful and heartbreaking. Why have I never seen the Foo Fighters in concert? What are these terrible choices I'm making?

157. Daddy - Julie London

My grandfather instilled in me a great many things: a love of driving fast, a taste for YooHoo, a passion for Rat Pack movies, and a love of Julie London. My grandfather is the best. 

158. Turn It Off - Phantogram

No, YOU turn it off. I'm not even sorry because I made myself laugh.

160. All Or Nothing - X

Let's talk about X. I was obsessed with Exene Cervenka and John Doe and their weird, wonderful world. I would troll the local record stores looking for original releases of their CDs. I studied their careers. I even supported their other projects, so great was my devotion. And in retrospect I can honestly say these were fantastic and smart life choices. X is one of the greatest LA punk bands. Plus the phrase 'cowpunk' continues to delight me.

Me Against The Music: Tracks 101-130

For reasons of her own, Elle has decided to listen to every single song in her music library and record the experience. These are her notes. 

Notes: After a brief break due to real life/my horrifically bad time management skills, we are back on track. Or would be if this had a track. Or an end date. I'm really starting to miss choosing what music I listen to. 

Tracks 101-130

101. I'm Not Okay [I Promise] - My Chemical Romance 

This is a great angry song that gets your heart racing and makes you feel righteous fury with the world. Then you dance.

Me Against The Music: Tracks 83-100

For reasons of her own, Elle has decided to listen to every single song in her music library and record the experience. These are her notes. 

Tracks 83-100

Note: Holy shit, how did we hit 100 songs already? Actually, that's not true. Since I drive a LOT, and listen to my iPod in the car during all that driving time, my real-life listening count is nearing 200.

I could either increase the number of songs I include in each post (I'm trying to average between 10-20) or I could continue on this vein. You can offer your opinions on the matter. Or not. Do whatever the hell you like; I'm not your boss.

Me Against The Music: Tracks 61-82

For reasons of her own, Elle has decided to listen to every single song in her music library and record the experience. These are her notes. 

Tracks 61-82

 61. Flowers On The Wall - The Statler Brothers (Pulp Fiction)

I have an unabashed weakness for falsely happy songs with surprisingly depressing lyrics. Have you ever listened to what this song is actually saying? Someone needs a hug.

Me Against The Music: Tracks 37-60

For reasons of her own, Elle has decided to listen to every single song in her music library and record the experience. These are her notes. 

Tracks 37-60

40. Handel: Water Music - Presto - Richard Edlinger: Capella Istropolitana

It's really, really hard to be sad when listening to this. Believe me, I've tried.