How can you not love this guy?!
And here comes Andrew Stanton’s [Nemo, WALL-E] live-action debut:
Thursday Afternoon Viewing: Morrissey Levels the Playing Field and Tim Riggins Fights Martians
All of the Rumors Keeping Me Grounded: Morrissey Comes Clean
The air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, the days are getting shorter, and Morrissey is singing on my speakers. Try as I might, I just can’t seem to resist his siren call each Fall. There’s always one more lyric to be deciphered, one more inside joke to be investigated, one more b-side to be hunted down. And given the obsession, I was surprised to find out that we’ve really only written about him once, and that was in relation to his role in The Smiths. As towering and exquisite as that group’s output may be, some of…
Church / Death / Film / Gender / Grace in Practice / Music / Poetry / Religion / Science / Suffering / Theology / TV / Week In Review
Another Week Ends: Of Gods and Men, Unitarian Boundaries, pi Haters, Pinksy on Cowper, Jayhawks, Wilco, Morrissey, FNL, Falling Skies and Brad Bird
1. No doubt you’re familiar with the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine in Algeria, who were assassinated in 1996 by Jihadists. It is, without question, one of the most inspirational true stories of the past twenty years – regardless of where you’re coming from on the religious spectrum. You may have even heard that the recent film based on the events, Of Gods and Men, was Grand Prix winner at Cannes last year. If that weren’t high enough praise for it shoot to the top of your Netflix queue (when it becomes available on Tuesday 7/5), Andrew Sullivan’s stirring…
The Smoking Popes Know You Love Them
At their final concert in 1998, Smoking Popes’ lead singer and songwriter Josh Caterer introduced their single “I Know You Love Me” with the following words [paraphrasing]: “This is my favorite Smoking Popes song because it is about my relationship with Jesus.” Thud.
It was an auspicious end to a group that had long outgrown their sophomoric band name, not to mention the pop-punk trappings of their initial phase, but had nonetheless remained indie heroes in their native Chicago, even attracting the attention of none other than Steven Patrick Morrissey, who recruited them to open for him, dubbing them one of…
From The Onion: Heartfelt Apology Robs Man of Cherished Grudge
Over at The Onion, the perfect follow-up to the Rattigan/Nelson piece:
CASPER, WY—A powerful, enduring grudge was ruined for local resident Roger Chilton Saturday following a profoundly earnest plea for forgiveness from longtime friend Peter Scotto. “I was looking forward to harboring this bitter resentment for at least another decade, [goshdarnit], and now he’s taken that away from me,” a deflated Chilton lamented, recalling how Scotto had selfishly revealed his innermost vulnerabilities during the deeply emotional apology. “The worst part is, he was completely and unequivocally remorseful, the bastard.” Chilton told reporters he was so upset over having to give up…
Guilt, Forgiveness and Freedom – According to Morrissey
1. Guilt: “I’ve Changed My Plea To Guilty”
2. Forgiveness (warning: extreme Morrissey-ness): “I Have Forgiven Jesus”
3. Freedom: “You’re The One For Me, Fatty”
For Guilt, Forgiveness and Freedom according to Mockingbird, look no further than Thursday!
Morrissey, the poet of our age…
Gavin Hopps is one of St. Mary’s most exciting research fellows here at St. Andrews. His new book, ‘Morrissey: The Pageant of His Bleeding Heart’ is on the verge of release, and I thought the Mockingbird crowd might resonate with his approach.
From the review at the uni website:
Dr Hopps writes, “Being embarrassing is a positive feature of Morrissey’s art as it is in the TV series The Office – which alienates us even as it invites identification. This is of course a matter of comedy – like Les Dawson’s piano playing or Frank Spenser’s mishaps – though it…
Heaven Knows Morrissey Is Miserable Now
It’s notoriously difficult to discuss The Smiths without getting personal. And I’m not just talking about myself. This is not a band that people casually enjoy – it’s a band you have relationship with. Smiths’ fans know better than anyone that being understood is a short step away from being loved, which accounts for much of the passion surrounding the band to this day, 25 years after they broke up. It also helps that they’re responsible for the the best non-GNR music of the 80s.
The Smiths grasped the power of a good paradox – to wit, the life and persona of…
January Playlist
Mostly new stuff this time. The Scott Weiland hymn is not be believed…
1. Closer – Kings of Leon
2. The ’59 Sound – The Gaslight Anthem
3. Strange Overtones – David Byrne and Brian Eno
4. Til The End Of Time – Devotchka
5. Family Tree – TV on the Radio
6. Cold Wind – Arcade Fire
7. People Got A Lotta Nerve – Neko Case
8. Idly Drifting Down The Ebb – Sam Bush
9. I Have Forgiven Jesus – Morrissey
10. Half A Person – The Welcome Wagon
11. Singer Songwriter – Okkervil River
12. Lord, I’m Discouraged – The Hold Steady
13. Joseph, Better You Than Me – The…
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