Buzz Guide: The Hold Steady, Year Zero, and Food Party
Since it’s our job to be on the internet all day, the least we can do is share its treasures with you, right? Take a magical journey with your friendly Buzz Guides as they sift through the nose that is the internet and pick the biggest winners that won’t come off their fingers. This week, El Rich brings you The Hold Steady, Year Zero, and Food Party.
MUSIC
The Hold Steady – Heaven Is Whenever
Most of the time, I prefer to music that makes me one step closer to losing my hearing. When I’m not busy giving myself tinnitus, I prefer to mellow out. This is where The Hold Steady comes in. While they are keen to rocking out every now and then, most of their tunes are more built around Chris Finn’s amazing storytelling lyrics. Most of the time, the music merely adds to the depth of the songs rather than over-powering Chris’ lyrics. It’s almost as if the band creates a finger made of soundwaves and points to the lyrics at spots that you should notice.
I don’t know how this band does it, but they are able to mash together very playful themes in their musical style with heartfelt lyrics that speak to your soul. This album is definitely different from their previous releases in that a lot of the musical elements that Franz Nicolay added to the bands sound. Franz was a definite force in the previous sound that The Hold Steady was noted for. His multiple use of a myriad of instruments added a layer of depth that made the band all the more magical. That isn’t to say that the album is lacking anything but that their sound has changed in compensating for his leaving the band.
Check out The Hold Steady on David Letterman –
MOVIE
I am just going to warn you now with the following statement: This movie is ridiculous. It starts off in a very traditional horror film sense and then it just becomes a LOL-tastic gorefest of epic proportions.
The plot is almost cliche, in that it follows a few vacationing college students into the Norweigian wilderness for a weekend getaway. The festivities get weird when a hiker happens to clue the vacationers in on the area’s local history, which involves a Nazi occupation and the subsequent murders of the former villagers.
This isn’t a serious horror flick, as there are some rather far-fetched and unbelievable scenes. Fortunately, this film is billed as a comedy horror tale or I would’ve asked for my Netflix money back.
TV
I don’t even know how to explain what you just watched.
Let me introduce you Thu Tran, creator, host, producer, and co-writer of Food Party. In addition to the many roles she takes on in bringing this show to your TV, she’s also an artist. Let’s just say she’s blown plenty of glass to get where she is now, as glass work is her area of expertise. She has also produced visual stage displays for the band Girl Talk.
Another query for you, dear readers, what the EFF is that giant thing that Thu Tran is pressing on in the opening scene? WHAT IS IT?!? BTW, I’ve been told people think this is what goes on in my head. They are correct for the most part, except everyone has clothes on in this show.
In the beginning of the segment Thu Tran asks, “How many times have you pressed your nose against the window of a fancy restaurant window and thought to yourself, ‘Man, I could really go for some of that stuff?'” Not only have I thought that, I have pressed my face to the window of many a fancy restaurant window to watch people eat.
The first episode is all about bougie food. Thu Tran then wins my heart by saying, “We’re gonna make everyone think you have a food budget that rivals Scarface’s coke budget.” DEAR THU TRAN, PLZ MARRY ME ON THE ASTRAL PLANE K THX BAI.
You need to watch this and you need to love it. To do so is to understand me.
BOOK
The reason that I picked this book up was because Nine Inch Nails released an album of the same name as this, not gonna lie. Before I turn this section into a Trent Reznor fest, this book is a piece of fiction unto itself. It combines a lot of science fiction elements into an adventure story that isn’t beyond the realm of impossiblity.
During an archeological dig, an ancient relic is found which contains a plague that released upon mankind with tragic results. The tale follows Nathan Lee as he races around the globe to find his family and a cure for the plague that is swiftly marking the end of the human race. This book brings together science, religion, and even a cloned Jesus Christ for your reading pleasure.
MOMENT OF CUTE
This week’s Moment of Cute is brought to you by the fine folks of Pampered Whiskers. Feast thine gaze upon these fair beauties…
If these photos did not make your day, you hath no soul. That’s what I’ve got for you this week, folks. Stay tuned for next week’s Buzz Guide!
