Best Betting

Anyone care to wager on the likelihood of a Bill Swerski's Superfans sketch starting off this week's episode of Saturday Night Live?



Kind of weird that this was the only Superfans video I could find. Good job, NBC, getting all the videos you own taken down.

Best Fast Food Innovation Discovery

So I was reading a list of the ads that will be airing during the Super Bowl on Sunday. (I got it here) Not too exciting until I read this little description of a Taco Bell ad:

Taco Bell will promote its launch of Carne Asada Steak Grilled Taquitos with a spot where two lions discuss the meat and get a lesson in rolling their R's from voice over announcer Ricardo Montalban.

What?! Taco Bell is coming out with a taquito? It is the shameful truth that I'm a sucker for new Taco Bell menu items and I'm an unabashed lover of taquitos . . . sure, I should know better than to get my hopes up for the Taco Bell Carne Asada Steak Grilled Taquito, but I can't wait to see this thing, then go buy one, and then regret it.

A little Googling revealed this description of the Carne Asada Steak Grilled Taquito from aol:

For Taco Bell lovers, the new Carne Asada Steak Grilled Taquitos deliver premium taste on-the-go, filled with authentic carne asada steak, real cheddar cheese, hand rolled and grilled to go, with the dip (guacamole, sour cream or salsa) of your choice. They will change your definition of a taquito as they are grilled, not fried, and include carne asada steak and cheese.

Hmmm. Probably totally gross.

Best Blackmarket Record Reviews

The past week has been absolutely magnificent for record leaks. Just about all of the most anticipated records of the late winter and early spring have found their way onto the internet (you'll remember that last week I had found a copy of the new LCD Soundsystem . . . this put the taste of blood in my mouth and I've been on a downloading rampage). Here's what I think of what I've listened to.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah -- Some Loud Thunder


It's essential I get this post up today as this record comes out tomorrow and my window for sneakiness is very small here. Pitchfork gave it a 7.4 today, I say it's more of an 8.1. There's not much here that will get you going the way their first record did, but it's good.

Release Date: January 30

!!! -- Myth Takes


Of the records I'm reviewing here, this one is the least qualified to be described as one of "the most anticipated records of the late winter and spring" because, honestly, how many serious !!! fans are there? And if you do like !!!, wouldn't you say the thought that !!! is coming out with a new record makes you a lot more "Oh, hey, !!! is coming out with a new record. Cool. I gotta check that out" than "AWESOME!!! There's going to be a new !!! record!!! I highly anticipate that!"? BUT let me just tell you that Myth Takes is one of my favorite records of this bunch and, when it comes to Indie dance music, it absolutely puts a hole in the new LCD Soundsystem record (which is a perfectly good album). The record seems a little bit more focused and a little less out there or messing than "Louden Up Now", the last !!! record but the band still delivers a trademark throbbing, pulsing, living slab of music like none other. Most importantly, Myth Takes features a track called "Heart of Hearts" that is just . . . I don't know. The Best? That will have to do. "Heart of Hearts" from Myth Takes is The Best. Best what? No need to be specific. Just give it a medal. No. Give it a uniform covered in medals. Make it in charge of armies. Have it run for President. It's a freak out you ought to seek out.

Release Date: March 6

Arcade Fire -- Neon Bible (March 6)


I wish I could make you feel better about not having Arcade Fire tickets by saying Neon Bible won't have you stabbed through the heart before the first track is done, but I can't.

Just great, another beautiful traumatic masterpiece.

Thanks a lot, Canada.

(p.s. But it's not like the record is absolutely perfect. Funeral is definitely better.)

Release Date: March 6

Air -- The Pocket Symphony


Ok. Air follows up that last record of their's with another record where they continue to sound like they never made the 10,000 KhZ Legend. Nothing jumped out at me about this record except that it was mellow and everything just blended together (soundwise). I suppose if you own a nice shoe store and were looking for some new background music this is good news. Sorry to have to bring the mood down by being so unenthused. I was giving it another listen last night to see if I could think of anything more interesting to say about it. Nope. Not an interesting record, even with Jarvis Cocker singing on one song.

Release Date: March 6

Bloc Party -- A Weekend in the City


First. By now, everyone knows or is at least getting the vibe that Bloc Party is set to be the next Coldplay. You have a very small window to still unabashedly like Silent Alarm and to get to know this record before you start wondering if you can still relate to the band and their direction at all anymore.

Moving along,

Here are the notes that I jotted down while listening to this record for the first time with added, bracketed commentary:

"Thinking about Coldplay comparisons, then Song for Clay [the first track] comes on and rocks harder than anything on Silent alarm" [At this point I'm suddenly expecting big things from this record and wondering if I'll remain a fan through thick and thin]

"Songs like Hunting for Witches [the second track] keep it Bloc Party" [Meaning that while I found Song for Clay an exciting departure from what I had expected, by the second track you're being reminded that there's a distinctive Bloc Party sound and that the band is going to be sticking to it]

"Remember how all the songs on Silent Alarm are similar yete likeable? By track 3 [Waiting for the 7.18] I think the same thing is going on here" [Well, at least I was still positive about the record on the third track]

"Really can tell they are bringing it" [When I wrote this, probably during the 3rd or 4th song, I meant that you can tell Bloc Party has worked hard at composing their Rush of Blood to the Head and creating something that will make an impression]

"but by track 5 I am worn out" [It's true. Less than half way through the record I had to start taking breaks from the album. Listening to it was turning into a job.]

"I keep having to stop listening to this record because I'm so Bloc-partied out" [I suppose the bracketed thoughts on the previous thought were unnecessary]

"Why do they call it "A Weekend in the City" when the music still sounds like standing in snowed-over woods on a freezing cold but sunny day?"

"'I Still Remember' [Track 9] sounds like a song you could play as the theme for the Special Olympics or any other competition where everyone gets a medal for just having participated. Alternatively, it could be used for background music on Laguna Beach."

"Memo to SRXT [the last song of the album] 'Sorry, but a song has already been selected for our Sony Bravia commercial'"

Release Date: February 6

Best Peer Pressure Results

Funny how video game enthusiasm plus a little conversation about television size after too much trouble seeing your mii during a tennis match plus just a few nagging emails can take a living room from this . . .


to this . . .


52 inches!!! !!! !!!


Unfortunately, no exact measurements are currently available for the size of this popcorn ball.

Best Trailer Tomfoolery

Office Enthusiasts, just watch this:

Best Next Installment

Shane has posted more record reviews. If you liked his last bunch as I did, you'll probably like these too. And if you haven't read either, well, what else do you have to do today?

In Conclusion:
Shane's first bunch of reviews
Shanes's new bunch of reviews

Both good for reading.

Best Threat from the Animal Kingdom

It is time to rethink our notions regarding the koala before they get us all.

Best Call to Action!!

Readers:

Does this look fun?


Or do you need to be reminded that there is a member of the band called "Peanut"?

Anyway, pre-sale Kaiser Chiefs tickets are now available here. I've got mine for Roseland on the 12th, now get yours.

One drawback you should know about: tickets delivery is only available via UPS 2-day express, so you'll be slapped with a $10.00 charge for that. I recommend getting in touch with your friends to put in an order together to help lighten the shipping charge.

The presale ends tonight and the regular sale begins Saturday morning. I think they're playing with the Walkmen, so it's a pretty solid show.

I simply cannot stand to watch TV shows where today's episode's plot is the teenager crashed their parents' car (especially if they were driving it without permission).

Best Third Gathering

Listen, if anything happened worth photographing and posting besides the weekly meetings of the 12th Street Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association I would photograph and post those things.

Moving along. Tuesday Night: The third gathering of the 12th Street Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association featured a number of new members making their first appearances:

Libby and Don.


Sara and Christine (of is it Kristina? Christina? I need to make a sign up sheet)


Juleen.


Jane and Stephanie.


And Jeff (pictured here with three-time attender and set photographer, Collin)


Also, Erin came back! We had missed her the week before.


Collin and I decided to infuse the evening with a little excitement, bringing our fellow Fanciers a taste of the double-lean.


This is a move we invented where you pretend to shoot the notes as you play them.


The spirit of rock overflowedeth.


Something else awesome that happened: Morgan came! (As Emily wasn't there and Tracy has yet to make a meeting, I'm thinking the Association has an unspoken "One Attorney Per Gathering" rule)



And then, as the hour grew late, the time came for me to strap on my guitar and thrill the crowd with my most stirring rendition of Freebird yet.


Look at them, so rapt! Even my portrait can't take its eyes off me.


The results:


Pretty nice except for the fact I did even better earlier that day when no one was around (I made it into the solo without missing a single note)

Best Post-FHE Discovery

I Love Dominoes!

(the game)


(and in certain situations, the pizza is all right with me)

Best Lineup News

Generally I hold Coachella in the same regard as Sundance--I go "pfffft" at both of them, mostly because I figure I'll never go to either (I sort of forget that I went to Sundance once while at the Y)

But that was only until the Coachella lineup was announced today. Now I'm already wondering if this might be how I want to spend my Golden Birthday weekend.


Why the change of heart? Well, if the bold print weren't obvious enough, mainly because the Jesus and Mary Chain are reuniting for the festival--and if they aren't touring (and probably even if they are), I really need to be in the desert on the evening of April 27th. It doesn't hurt that I could catch Interpol and Jarvis Cocker that same night, either.

And then Saturday the 28th I can get my Arcade Fire on after dealing with the ultimate dance/dance-rock lineup of the Rapture/LCD Soundsystem/!!!/and MSTRKRFT.

So that's something I'll be thinking about for the next few months, whether or not I want to do this thing.

Best Nearly Nothing to Report

Not too much to say about this weekend, except that when I got off the train Saturday afternoon there was something on 6th Avenue.


From what I could tell, it was big, it was black, it was shiny, and it was broken. Also, it was thick. There was a police car there to keep people headed east from driving over it, but nothing to stop the cars coming from the south.

I sort of wanted to write a post about music I've been listening to, but then I discovered that my buddy Shane had just written a much better post than I would have, so I refer you to his Records of 2006 instead.

However, I will say this. I just got a copy of the new LCD Soundsystem record, "Sound of Silver" (in stores March 13th!) and I like it. Sometimes bands get terrible reviews when they make records that sound just like their last record, but with LCD Soundsystem, their new album better sound like their last one. It's fun, it has some slow jams, it has some long, strong dance jams . . . everything you could want. Those Bowery shows couldn't come soon enough.

Also, maybe someone listening to this record would say "This first track ('Get Innocuous') is awful! It sounds just like 'Losing My Edge!'" And to that I would say "No, it sounds just like it could be played into 'Losing My Edge'." And with dance music that's pretty vital, to have songs that lead into each other. They just don't usually occur on completely different records.

And you're right, I should have posted a link to this record. But it's too big for yousendit.

Best Going Against What I Know to Be Best

So, yeah, recently I said "Hey everyone, the Arcade Fire is coming! Get a ticket!" and we all no how that turned out (very poorly).

But I just found out that tickets are going on sale at noon on Friday the 19th (depending on how you look at it, that's today) for their March 30th show at the Bowery Ballroom. Dudes, get tickets to this show! (I'll be away from a computer at that time and will just try my luck later . . . besides, the first time I saw them it was sold out and I didn't have a ticket but I still got in . . . but ignore what I just said and get tickets to this show! [Maybe even one for me?])

Click Here to go get those tickets.

I've seen LCD Soundsystem three times before(remember, remember, remember?) and each of those concerts were among the best of my life.

Getting all excited to see LCD Soundsystem and then the Kaiser Chiefs, what is this, 2005 all over again?

Best Better Feeling

This week's Office really made up for how awful I felt after last week's episode. And just when I thought I was in the clear, the throw in a bit of the good ol' Season Two Jim/Pam drama. Seriously, Jim and Karen at the end of this episode might as well have been Jim and Katy on the Booze Cruise.

Best Getting What I Want

A few posts ago I announced that I didn't want an iPhone but an iPod that was just like an iPhone instead. Well, according to the internet, I will be getting my wish before the iPhone even comes out. Word.

Best You Might Want to Know About This

Yesterday friend of Steady Mobbin' Emily Cox wrote a review of a comedy show featuring David Cross for SFist (like Gothamist, but for San Francisco). Emily didn't care for Mr. Cross' comedy, particularly the fairly negative words he had to say about the LDS faith--she essentially called him a bigot and said no one was laughing at his jokes.

Well, Cross didn't care for Emily's review and posted a response to her review in the comments section of her post. People responded to Cross's response, Cross responded to them, and an internet firestorm ignited.

Maybe "firestorm" is a little too strong, but you may find the whole "discussion" worth a read and a ponder.

Click Here for the whole deal.

While I'm not exactly elated that Cross spent his set putting down my religion, I think anyone going to see Cross's stand up expecting Tobias Funke is going to be let down. He's essentially the male Janeane Garofalo, mistaking complaints for jokes.

Best Second Gathering

Tuesday night (not Wednesday) saw the second meeting of the 12th Street Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association. This meeting will forever be remembered for many reasons.

First, we were blessed with so many new members, such as Josh and Naomi (seen here) and Keila and Mim (seen later). Second, as you can see here, we added a second guitar, which makes a huge difference and means noone's inexperience will cause them to be kicked off a song.


Third, veteran members like Dave were able to coach newcomers like Keila through the game in a spirit of love, charity, and rock.


Fourth, we had a copy of Guitar Hero I this time which threw in a lot more popular songs into the mix (Guitar Hero II is almost a little music-snobby).


Fifth, Dave and Kim were the first club members to say, "You know what? Why don't we try this thing on hard?" This made me sweat a little.


Sixth, a wonderful jovial atmosphere filled the gathering and overcame most every Fancier in attendance.


Seventh, while I was in the bathroom a renowned rockstar showed up and tore "Shout at the Devil" into teeny, tiny shreds.


Eighth, we saw traditions forming and taking hold amongst our Association, such as the Sunglasses Round of playing, as introduced to us last week by Emily.


Yes, you could say that the 12th Street Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association is beginning to mature into something beloved and beautiful.


Oh! Not pictured but incredibly important! Our meeting once again ended with me playing "Freebird" as the final number. I am so, so proud to say that I achieved my first Four Star rating on Freebird with 199,036 points (so I can still dream of breaking 200,000 next time) and an accuracy rating of 92%. My freebird performance was followed by a lively afterparty and let it be known amongst my readers that I composed this post as Genevieve and Kim continued to play "Take Me Out" over and over long after all had left. Let us raise a toast to them, for they embody the true spirit of Guitar Heromanship!

Best Wii Little Afternoon

Martin Luther King Day 2007. Emily opened up her home and her heart to us by having us over to try out her Wii. It was my second experience with the Wii and far more in depth than my first time. Fun was had, that's for sure. Wii Sports was by far the most popular game of the day, followed by the minigames of Super Monkey Ball and the surgery excitement of Trauma Center: Second Opinion. Red Steel and Marvel Ultimate Alliance were also played and they entertained in their own ways.

As fun as it was, I wonder if any Wii game provides a substantial gaming experience. I mean, these games were all great to pick up and play a bit, very party-like, but what does the system offer when you don't want to party but sit down for a while and have an adventure? (I know, I know. I need to try Twilight Princess)

Enough editorializing, here's not enough pictures of the fun:

Keila, Tessa, Emily, and Don doing the Wii Tennis thing.


Right now I really wish I had a picture of the Michael Jackson Mii I made myself. Well, a tiny version of him is on that screen, somewhere.


Really, no one could match Jeff's Wii Sports Bowling skill.


But Don gave it a shot.


If you're asking yourself "Is Steady Mobbin' only about videogames now?" maybe I shouldn't tell you that tomorrow I'll be hosting the second gathering of the 12th Street Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association.

Mike sent me the link to that Conan video in the post below.

Best Saturday Afternoon Decision

I just want you to know I don't want an iPhone. Sure, I was freaking out during the keynote and spent all afternoon clicking on the great demos up at the Apple site, but I have made a decision. I don't want an iPhone (I know I just said that), what I want is a 120 GB iPod with the same screen as the iPhone that does the same music and video stuff as the iPhone.

Best 1 AM Thoughts

I think that if I had to do BYU all over again I'd take the religion classes more seriously. I'd find good classes with recommended teachers and never complain about being graded for how well I understood the scriptures. And maybe I would go to more of the devotionals, but I remember resolving to do this my last year there and not really feeling much of a pay off.

The Firearm seriously needed a third member, like a marketing person or an agent.

And if I were taking English classes again I'd really look forward to my teachers making me read books I didn't think I was interested in reading. That's how I wound up reading "Paradise Lost." You know what? It lives up to the hype.

It's a shame I had to graduate right when Royal Skousen and I were finally getting to know each other.

It's more of a shame that I was so slow to make a habit of sitting on Cindy and Marsha and Erin's couch.

Also, I would be disagreeable in my philosophy classes and probably want to learn about photography.

I should have learned more in my 9th grade photography class.

But I'm not about to make a post about going back to High School.

But . . .

What if I tried to sneak back into OPRF and pretend I was a student? I wonder if I could fool anyone?

Going back to going back to BYU. I wish I could remember everything I learned in my grammar and linguistics classes.

Is there something out there that's like a Masters or PhD but really you just take undergrad classes again?

Best Return of GOB

Here's the trailer for this summers' zany Will Ferrell comedy, Blades of Glory, which also stars Jon Heder but, more importantly, features husband and wife team Will Arnett and Amy Poehler as a brother and sister pairs figure skating team.

(Basically this movie is supposed to be the Zoolander of figure skating but it looks more like the Dodgeball of figure skating)

Also Last night's Office really upset me. I hope Andy dies. In real life.

Best Inaugural Meeting

The 12th Street Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association held its first meeting on the evening of January 10. I was inspired to found the 12th Street Guitar Hero Fancier's Association to spread the joy of Guitar Hero amongst my friends and associates. I think all who attended would agree with me when I say our first meeting was an incredible, tremendous, outrageous success.

Let us review the photographic evidence (a good portion of these pictures were made available to me by Mr. Jeffrey Mulcock):

First of all, this is me, President and Founder of the 12th Street Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association and Host to the evening's festivities. (Also, I'm the guy that owns the guitar and the game)


Each attendee had a go or two at the game.

Dave. (First to arrive. For that he deserves some sort of honor)


Kelly.


Genevieve. (It's safe to say we were all very impressed by how quickly Genevieve took to the game)


The crowd goes wild!


Kim, who proved that talent in Dance Dance Revolution and Karaoke Revolution transfers easily to Guitar Hero.


Caitlin.


Not all forays into Guitar Heroing were immediate successes. But the key is to stick with it!


Pamela.


Brooke.



Jeff taught our the Fanciers' Association a thing or two about what it means to bring the Rockness to Guitar Hero.





Another highpoint of the evening: The Enke sisters' Message-in-a-Bottle-off. (Or maybe it was a You-Really-Got-Me duel? Memory fades.)






I think we were all quite impressed by the intensity Emily brought to her playing (once the guitar was explained to her, of course).


Look at the concentration in her face! Those of you who only know the Attorney Emily or the RS-Pres Emily really need to get to know Video Gamer Emily.





For her second number, Emily was convinced to kick it up a few notches by wearing her sunglasses.


For the final number of the evening (except for the after party that followed), I played everyone out with a little Freebird. (I had only played it once before) The Guitar Hero Fanciers' Association decided that that would be how all of our meetings would end with me demonstrating my progress on Freebird.



Here's a little video of what happened when Emily tried to take my picture.


So, in closing, I thank all of you who came out for our first meeting. We will be meeting again next week and it looks like we might have a second guitar by then! For all of those who didn't make it to the first meeting, you are invited and encouraged to attend next week. If you weren't on the emails that went around about this first gathering, please contact me and I'll make sure you're on the next round.