The Opposite of Funny

In the history of comic strips, has there ever been a more un-funny run than the past 10 years of Garfield? Take this strip from last week... is that funny? Amusing? Clever? It's more like bad performance art. I know there is a point in there somewhere, but I just don't get it.

The sad thing is, I used to be a HUGE Garfield fan. When I was growing up I couldn't get enough of the Garfield Treasuries and collections. LOVED them. In fact, I still watch Garfield and Friends every morning while I get ready for work... but please, please Jim Davis... stop running daily strips. Calvin and Hobbs knew when it was time to bow out... The Far Side left far too soon as well, but for some reason Garfield remains.

Join the Posse!

Forget Valentines Day! February is Dr. Cube History Month!!! For more info check out
www.kaiju.com and make sure to join Dr. Cube's Posse!!! All hail Cube!

I don't know what it is, but Kaiju Big Battel has become somewhat of an obsession of mine for the past few months. There really is no way to explain my fascination or what it actually is, so just check out the website and see for yourself.

Craigs-Laim

Special thanks to my friend Bennie for pointing out the LAMEST craigslist posting EVER

http://annarbor.craigslist.org/clt/132613553.html

I mean I am a bit of a nerd sometimes, but I sinserely don't know who to feel sorry for... the person who spent 10 years collecting this stuff, or the person who pays any money what so ever for it :)

Time Flys like an Arrow, Fruit Flies Like a Banana

So it’s officially February… Wow, how time files when you work like a fiend. Seriously though, it seems like the holidays just happened and now here we are, already one month into 2006. I guess it’s better late than never, but I had quite a few thoughts on the music of 2005. Some of it was actually REALLY good… and some of it was… well done by people with the last name “Simpson”. Unlike the rest of the world, Kanye West’s latest album does not top my charts. Seriously, I have never disagreed with Spin, Rolling Stone and the AP so adamantly. First off, it’s a rarity that there is such a unanimous opinion on the number one album of the year. Excluding of course Entertainment Weekly’s number one, Fiona Apple (???!!)… I’m all for touting albums that most people would have been left off the list, but come on EW, Fiona-friggin-Apple?

Kanye’s album was decent (still liked “College Dropout” better), but here are five albums from 2005 that, in my opinion, were better and in some ways, more important than Kanye’s.

1. M.I.A. – Aurlar
She managed to fuse Brazilian Dance hall with the UK’s underground grime movement. One of the more interesting and enjoyable albums I have picked up in a very long time. Plus, she is GREAT live and is the best “bad” dancer of the past decade.
Key Tracks – Galang, 10 Dollar

2. Gorillaz – Demon Days
I was seriously skeptical when I heard that they had dropped Dan “the Automater” in favor of DJ Danger Mouse to engineer this project, but all of those fears quickly went out the window once I heard “Feel Good Inc.”. My only real complaint was the suspicious absence of Del “tha funkee” Homosapian. Where was Russell?
Key Tracks – Feel Good Inc., Dare

3. Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
This could have made the list just on the strength of “Soul Meets Body” alone, but they follow that up with an extremely melodic and catchy batch of chill songs. My prediction, Death Cab will become the R.E.M. of the new millennium.
Key Tracks – Soul Meets Body, Someday You Will Be Loved

4. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
Just a great rock album. Just when I thought good brit-pop was dead along come the Kaiser Chiefs (followed very closely by the Bloc Party), to remind me that all British music doesn’t sound like Coldplay.
Key Tracks – Oh My God, I Predict a Riot

5. Depeche Mode – Playing The Angel
Granted, this wasn’t the strongest of DM albums, but it is their best release since SoFaD in 1994. The first four tracks knocked me off my ass, but the rest of the album is a little too slow and plodding for my tastes. I just couldn’t bear to leave them off my list though and Bry would probably kill me if I did, besides... I’m in enough trouble for that Coldplay remark. :)
Key Tracks – Precious, The Pain That I’m Used To

Honorable Mentions:
The Brazilian Girls
Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
Madonna – Confessions From A Dancefloor

Came out in 2004, but I Didn’t Know About Them Till 2005
The Junior Boys – Last Exit
Great band from Hamilton, Ontario. “Teach Me How To Fight” has been in my constant rotation since the summer.

Tegan And Sarah – So Jealous
This would have been my album of the year had it been released in 2005. I can’t even tell you how many time’s I’ve listend to this album since I got it last March.