Hump Day Helper -- Zhuang-O Birthday Edition

Because it's Wednesday, and we all need a pick-me-up to make it through the rest of the week in our respective hells, WDR is providing some fun.



Fresh off the celebration of Mr. Zhuang's birthday, we're providing a video from his all-time favorite artist for the Helper. Of course, what with Universal Music Group's restrictive youtube policy, it's hard to find an embeddable video. So even though the choice kicks some serious ass, don't read too much into it--it's just what we could fit.

This one comes from the "Broken" EP, which outside of NIN-circles doesn't get much play. There's probably a reason for it--a song like this is the reason why we can use "brutal" in describing some music. However, in cases like this, it's meant as a compliment. You have to also love the contrast between Trent and Vrenna's intensity to the guys tooling away on the computers.

Smashed up my sanity
smashed up my integrity
smashed up what i believed in
smashed up what's left of me
smashed up my everything
smashed up all that was true
gonna smash myself to pieces
I don't know what else to do...

Bonus points if you can pick out the appearances by superstars of 90s alterna-rock Richard Patrick and Marilyn Manson.

Hump Day Helper -- A Concession for Mr. Zhuang

Nine Inch Nails - March Of The Pigs
Uploaded by twiggirl

Because it's Wednesday, and we all need a pick-me-up to make it through the rest of the week in our respective hells, WDR is providing some fun.

Since we just called for the head of Mr. Zhuang a few days ago, it's only fair to grant him some last requests, the most important of which would be the selection of the Hump Day Helper. While he didn't make any specific request per se (he's not answering phone calls at the moment--understandable, considering the bounty on his head), I'm certain he'd love today's choice.

And a fine choice indeed, if I may say so. Yesterday marked the physical release of the latest Nine Inch Nails album, The Slip. While I'm sure everyone who was interested already downloaded a free copy (Thanks Trent!), some of us dinosaurs still like owning a physical copy, something on our shelves that we can point to and say "look at my massive record collection with tons of awesome bands that shows my fantastic taste in music" (a look at an iTunes library just doesn't quite have the same effect). And the album is probably worth picking up even if you have it downloaded, since it's a limited edition (meaning it's a collector's item), and it comes with a live DVD that shows that the upcoming NIN tour is going to be one rocking show.

The latest single, "Discipline", is a good solid late-period work (it's definitely catchy), but I felt slightly inadequate for the HDH, even though the video has a definite goofy charm to it. No, I went with a track that gets me going from the opening drum kick, and shows a band on the very edge of chaos. Now doesn't that make you feel better?

I want to break it up
I want to smash it up
I want to fuck it up
I want to watch it come down...

All the shit I haven't posted because I've been busy as hell

Or perhaps some better title...

It's been a while since I posted a blog on this and I feel the need to do so now because I have time. I've spent the last few weeks in Eastern Africa , running from crocodiles. It was a pretty intense ride, but I managed to make it back in one piece back home.



A lot has been going on that I've wanted to post about, so Let's get started!

Obama Came to UO Again

And this time I was there for it. Unlike the previous appearance, this one was outside and involved a lot more people. It also helped that the "street fair" was in town and I could feast on elephant ears and corn dogs while the man spoke. I could sort of see him from where I was, but it wasn't until a journalism colleague of mine with an awesome zoom lens offered me a look through his camera that I was able to see that it was, in fact, Obama. The audio was running strong, though, so I was still able to hear the whole speech. There was also an appearance from my homie D-Faz, who went toe-to-toe on the mike with Obama himself.

Now, I know that political speeches are mostly bullshit, but this guy has it down. If he can do half the shit he says, it's worth the vote. What I really got out of it was that this guy has the conviction to TRY to make things work. And while people pull the bullshit "not enough experience" card, let me just say that it can work to his advantage. Maybe he's still pretty well in touch with the wants and needs of people, compared to the opposition. Or maybe I got a beer with the guy afterwards and thought he was pretty cool.* Whatever the case, he's got my vote.

New NEW Nine Inch Nails!

Yes, this needed to be posted. The new NIN album, The Slip, was released online as a free download. Let's just say that this made me a very happy camper. I could go on, but I'm pretty sure you know what I'll say anyway. Awesome.

Stephen Malkmus

I saw Stephen Malkmus on the 30th of April, and I must say that it was pretty awesome. Not only did I have front and center position in an already small venue, but I also got to talk to the man himself. Oh, and the ticket was free. The show was a hell of a lot better than the last time Nic and I saw him perform and a buddy of mine who has seen Malkmus several times said it was the best performance he's seen, too. The show went for almost two hours and it was all worth it.

Iron Man

I just saw Iron Man today and I was very pleased. Iron Man was not one of the comics I really got into as a kid, but the story is pretty cool. When I found out that Robert Downey Jr. would be playing Iron Man, I thought "This could be pretty cool." It was an interesting choice considering Downey's struggles with substance abuse and that of the character Tony Stark in the film. Then I noticed that Jeff Bridges was also in the film and that Jon Favreau was directing. It just got better and better. Then, when I watched the film itself, I discovered that it starred someone that made the movie even more awesome.

Tom Morello.

I won't tell you anymore about this, but let's just say this made me very happy. Also, Tom lends a hand on the soundtrack with "additional guitar." So check this one out. Awesome.

Also, Robert Downey Jr. has some pretty funny facial hair throughout the movie (the "is that painted on?" mustache) and Jeff Bridges is the bald bad guy.

You've got to see it.

And...

That's about it. I need to go grab some brews for my roomie's birthday.

New NIN? Again? YES!

I can barely contain myself

New NIN single "Discipline" available on the Nine Inch Nails website RIGHT NOW. FOR FREE. GO GET IT.



Capslock: off.

I think Joe Reefer said it best:

Joe Reefer: Damn, he put up the remix pack already too?
Mr. Zhuang: yeah

Joe Reefer: He is a fucking music machine!

Yes he is, Joe. Yes he is.

Fiesta Friday: New NIN Edition!

Because Fridays are for parties!

Today we have a very special edition of Fiesta Friday, so I hope y’all enjoy it.

So I’m still excited about the new Nine Inch Nails album Ghosts I-IV, and I decided to put another post up relating to it. Now I know the video above is NOT a new one (Or rather the video that would be up there if YouTube did what it was supposed to (Nic, I might need some help here)), but it relates in that it was made at a time when Trent was going through some changes in regards to record companies. So, there’s the connection.

While I was looking for this video I also stumbled upon some little treats in YouTube form. I found an episode of Hard Copy (You remember Hard Copy?) that features Trent in relation to his first video “Down In It.” The other two videos featured some of the extra footage that was supposed to be on the DVD of “Closure.” Now, my source on this is Wikipedia, so the validity of the story of how this came to be on YouTube may be questionable. Still, it’s some cool footage that, for the most part, wasn’t on the original VHS. Here’s Part 1. Here’s Part 2 (watch for the tribute to Spinal Tap).

So enjoy this fine end to the week and get you party on!

New NIN? Yes, it's TRUE!

So I woke up today, unable to breathe through my nose, my throat was sore and I generally felt like crap. Yep, a cold is what I have, and it pretty much fucked up my day (and as we will probably see, my sleep schedule). To my surprise, when I woke up from a late nap today, I found a message on my phone from one Joe Reefer:

Joe: New nin.

Yes. There is a new Nine Inch Nails album. It is an instrumental album, two discs, 36 tracks. It's called "Ghosts I-IV."

I think it would be an understatement to say that I'm excited about this.

The website has a built in player so you can listen to the album online. I'm doing this right now, and it is awesome. Let's just say that this has turned into a good day.

Check it out, yo.