Chicago: Big Science

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http://www-static.cc.gatech.edu/~jimmyd/laurie-anderson/pictures/album-covers/BigScienceCD.JPG

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 20:54 (twenty years ago)

The most comfortable couch I've ever sat on is my therapist's. I wish I could steal it.

― Jeff. (Jeff), Monday, 13 February 2006 20:56 (twenty years ago)

Good job, jaymc.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:03 (twenty years ago)

Thanks. I have Big Science on vinyl and have always loved the cover. The contrast makes it look so spooky, but there's also this element of curiosity to it -- she is methodically testing things out, feeling her way through space -- that I think is matched by the record itself.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:07 (twenty years ago)

me and my ex had this ultra-comfy leather couch, it was enourmous. the dog didn't like the leather couch which was key because he'd pretty much ruined the fabric one we'd bought 8 months prior by peeing on it. whenever he'd get pissed off or scared he'd run to the couch and pee on one of the cushions.

both dog and couch now live in san diego.

― kt... (kt...), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:09 (twenty years ago)

wow, how'd that happen?

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:14 (twenty years ago)

Why oh why did jenny have to link to the room&board page? I've been lusting after fancy chairs all afternoon... with ottomans (or ottomen? ha ha), that together cost more than our rent.

― Sarah Madkitten McLusky (coco), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:21 (twenty years ago)

Oh god, I know -- I can't stop drooling on that site, either. LIKE I NEEDED ANOTHER FURNITURE CATALOG HABIT, JENNY.

― Laurel (Laurel), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:23 (twenty years ago)

My housemate and I have the old couch from his parents' church. We used to have a futon, too, but then some of our more... weighty... friends came for the weekend and slept on it, and now it is no more. I'm not too torn up about it because futons are almost always unfuckingcomfortable.

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:27 (twenty years ago)

Does anyone else keep singing Weird Science when they open this thread?

― Sarah Madkitten McLusky (coco), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:41 (twenty years ago)

I've never heard this album. "Weird Science" is the closest I've ever come to it, I would imagine.

― The Milkmaid (of human kindness) (The Milkmaid), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:46 (twenty years ago)

YES! I didn't say anything because I thought I might be the only one.

xpost

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:49 (twenty years ago)

I have never heard it either.

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:49 (twenty years ago)

even though i was reading "weird science" my brain kept playing "she blinded me with science".

i need a decent night's sleep.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:50 (twenty years ago)

"O Superman" (Laurie Anderson's only hit*) is on this album.

*#2 in the UK!!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:54 (twenty years ago)

Lyrics to the title track:

"Big Science"

Coo coo it's cold outside. Coo coo it's cold outside. Ooo coo coo. Don't forget your mittens. Hey pal! How do I get to town from here? And he said: Well just take a right where they're going to build that new shopping mall, go straight past where they're going to put in the freeway, take a left at what's going to be the new sports center, and keep going until you hit the place where they're thinking of building that drive-in bank. You can't miss it. And I said: This must be the place. Ooo coo coo. Golden cities. Golden towns. Golden cities. Golden towns. And long cars in long lines and great big signs and they all say: Hallelujah. Yodellayheehoo. Every man for himself. Ooo coo coo. Golden cities. Golden towns. Thanks for the ride. Big Science. Hallelujah. Big Science. Yodellayheehoo. You know. I think we should put some mountains here. Otherwise, what are all the characters going to fall off of? And what about stairs? Yodellayheehoo. Ooo coo coo. Here's a man who lives a life of danger. Everywhere he goes he stays a stranger. Howdy stranger. Mind if I smoke? And he said: Every man, every man for himself. Every man, every man for himself. All in favor say aye. Big Science. Hallelujah. Big Science. Yodellayheehoo. Hey Professor! Could you turn out the lights? Let's roll the film. Big Science. Hallelujah. Every man, every man for himself. Big Science. Hallelujah. Yodellayheehoo.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:58 (twenty years ago)

I always imagined Laurie Anderson sounding really spacy, like with wacky space noises of intergalactic travel, really talky, tuneless and not at all like music I would want to listen to. Is that accurate or not? I imagine it can't be as bad as I thought it would be, because I confess to never having given it a chance. Color me stumped.

― The Milkmaid (of human kindness) (The Milkmaid), Monday, 13 February 2006 21:59 (twenty years ago)

I also keep thinking of:

http://www.celebrity-pictures-world.com/pics/l/loni-anderson/loni-anderson-002.jpg

Because of the similarity of their names, not because of the bikini & boobies. But those are okay too.

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:03 (twenty years ago)

isn't laurie anderson married to someone interesting?

― R. Kelsey (kelstarry), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:05 (twenty years ago)

Lou Reed?

― The Milkmaid (of human kindness) (The Milkmaid), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:06 (twenty years ago)

Being married to him would sure be "interesting." Ugh.

― The Milkmaid (of human kindness) (The Milkmaid), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:06 (twenty years ago)

It's definitely talky. And some of it's spacey, I guess: she uses electronic instruments quite a bit. In fact, one of her later albums (from the 90s) consists mostly of her telling short anecdotes surrounded by vaguely ominous ambient sound (synth-washes, conga patterns).

But I don't think it's fair to say that the majority of her work is tuneless, exactly. Some of it's fairly repetitive: the main hook in "O Superman" is a sample of her voice going "oh-oh-oh-oh" (on the same note), and "From the Air" is based around a busy saxophone loop that wouldn't sound out of place on Glassworks (same year of release, too) -- but there are melodic components to these songs, too. And surprising instrumentation, too: like accordions and violins and stuff.

The Laurie Anderson I like least is in the late 80s when she collaborated with people like Peter Gabriel, and it just comes across as horribly dated and bland.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:10 (twenty years ago)

Also: Laurie Anderson is way hotter than Loni Anderson. Remarkably sexy for 58.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:12 (twenty years ago)

Well, ok, knowing that I would be willing to give her music a chance. It doesn't sound as bad as I thought it was.

― The Milkmaid (of human kindness) (The Milkmaid), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:13 (twenty years ago)

Correction: the hook in "O Superman" is more like "ha-ha-ha-ha." And the vocoder! And the low, purring synths that somehow feel like they're announcing the apocalypse!

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:14 (twenty years ago)

I listened to 'Big Science' and 'Mister Heartbreak' many many times on the schoobus in 10th and 11th grades.

A few years ago I found a copy of her concert movie, 'Home of the Brave', on VHS for a few bucks - we should watch it sometime, J. - it has Adrian Belew, William Burroughs, etc.

Her old concerts were a really exciting amalgam of music, ritualized theater stuff, and slide/video projections - like a more human and American version of the recent Kraftwerk show.

― Eazy (Eazy), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:29 (twenty years ago)

My first exposure to Laurie Anderson was actually Home of the Brave! Which they showed us at the Illinois Summer School for the Arts when I was 15. But I'd like to see it again, for sure.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:30 (twenty years ago)

This is a pretty good coffee-table book that's more a less a retrospective of Anderson's career, from music to theatre to art. I found it at the Harold Washington Library right after it was first published, in 2000.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:34 (twenty years ago)

i know i heard a great [thing built out of a] laurie anderson sample on something this weekend. i think even from that album. hmmmm. something on emergency rations, maybe...?

― literalisp (literalisp), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:48 (twenty years ago)

Ah, indeed!

It's sampling "From the Air."

I'm sure titling the song "Home of the Brave" was no coincidence.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:51 (twenty years ago)

(WARNING: Clicking on that link opens up a page with sound right away. Sorry!)

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:58 (twenty years ago)

Okay I own that record, so I guess I have heard Laurie Anderson, kinda.

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 13 February 2006 22:59 (twenty years ago)

thas the one awright! and such a great track; i think i only like the "phantom" one bettr.

― literalisp (literalisp), Monday, 13 February 2006 23:43 (twenty years ago)

The Laurie Anderson I like least is in the late 80s when she collaborated with people like Peter Gabriel, and it just comes across as horribly dated and bland.

totally true, but the just-becoming-obligatory burroughs cameo on mr. heartbreak was at least a mitigating factor for me.

― literalisp (literalisp), Monday, 13 February 2006 23:54 (twenty years ago)

"it's sharkey's day today ..."

― literalisp (literalisp), Monday, 13 February 2006 23:55 (twenty years ago)

I was hella into Laurie Anderson as a teen. And Big Science is still pretty amazing.

I will be in Chicago in roughly ten days! For roughly ten days! Be rough to me during that time!

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 00:17 (twenty years ago)

Be rough to you?

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 02:20 (twenty years ago)

Perhaps we can all get together and rough you up a little.

I remember Laurie Anderson from when MTV actually did interesting things about music. That might have been the boring Peter Gabriel collaboration years, though. I just remember that I thought she was weird, and that I wished they would play more (more! as if there weren't enough!) Def Leppard videos.

They were so dreamy...

http://home.btconnect.com/sheffieldvision/bandimages/defleppard.jpg

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 02:35 (twenty years ago)

Well, OK, you don't have to be rough to me. Unless you're very very good at it.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 04:19 (twenty years ago)

Heh.

I remembered that I'm going to be in Chicago in five days for random gigs. Who wants to go to Hot Doug's?

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 04:48 (twenty years ago)

The other thing about late-80s/early-90s Laurie A., from 'Strange Angels' on, is that she took voice lessons and so become more of a conventionally pretty singer. Also, one cannot understate the bad influence of the Synclavier on intelligent pop music from 1986-1991.

― Eazy (Eazy), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 04:51 (twenty years ago)

I pissed everyone off at band practice by not playing my part during an old song of ours (I just sorta improvised, because I was feeling emotional, and that was the part that my emotions felt like playing) -- so I left early, and I went to the Green Mill, because all I felt like doing, if I couldn't bang on a piano myself, was to watch someone else bang on a piano, and so I watched Patricia Barber (I'd never seen her before!) and struck up a conversation with a couple sitting next to me, the gal of which turned out to be Th3r3sa Kill3br3w's cousin. Ha.

― jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 08:13 (twenty years ago)

Even though it was just practice? That's dumb. Happy Valentine's Day, John. :-D

― Sarah Madkitten McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 14:54 (twenty years ago)

I guess your band doesn't appreciate jazz, huh? We joke that whenever we improvise ANYTHING it's due to our jazz influence.

― Sarah Madkitten McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 14:57 (twenty years ago)

Your bandmates sound like egotistical control freaks, John.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:20 (twenty years ago)

black tuesday is not starting out well. i got to work early to catch up on some stuff and just found out everything i've been doing for the past two hours is wrong. you know it's going to be a long day when you start day dreaming about afterwork beers before 9:30 a.m.

calgon, TAKE ME AWAY!!!

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:22 (twenty years ago)

I can't imagine being in a band without some element of improvising or spontaneity.

How'd you like the PB show?

― Jordan (Jordan), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:29 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, if I ever played any part with any band exactly the same way twice ever I'd be very, very suprised.

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 15:31 (twenty years ago)

i was kinda half-awake and considering getting up and getting on my computer this morning and i dozed back off and had a dream about something about canasta. not that i know anything about canasta, except for having seen pics of jaymc. it was a weird blurry dream. they were in some sort of conflict with a group called K-NAFTA.

i had chocolates for breakfast, which seemed very decadent and satisfying. happy valentine's day!

― Juulia (julesbdules), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 16:16 (twenty years ago)

K-NAFTA

hahahahaha

It's like Canasta's cheaper, Mexican counterparts.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Tuesday, 14 February 2006 16:19 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 1881 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I'll eat w/ y'all at India House! If it's near the grand red line stop, it's walkable for me!

― R. Kelsey (kelstarry), Monday, 27 February 2006 17:43 (nineteen years ago)

Okay, Jeff can't do dinner tonight, and John and Kelsey can't go and I should really study (IT NEVER FUCKING ENDS) so maybe another night? How's Wednesday for people?

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 17:46 (nineteen years ago)

HEY I WANT TO GO TO DINNER TONIGHT WITH YOU FUCKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's hard work getting a date with this guy because he (get ready for a repeat from FRM board folks)

1- is in school full time (15 credit hours- 5 classes)
2- works
3- is directing a sketch comedy set
4- writes
5- is starting rehearsals (he is playing Picasso in Picasso at the Lapine Agile)

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 17:47 (nineteen years ago)

I mean, they're all good days for me. I'm just kinda "here". Wednesday is the C@n@st@ show, no?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 17:48 (nineteen years ago)

(xp) Eep, sorry, Wednesday is our show, so we'll probably have to load in right after work. Really, the only day during the week that I'm usually totally free is Thursday. But I mean, don't plan around me. I've already hung out with Chris a couple times so far, and I know I'll see him again before he leaves.

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 27 February 2006 17:51 (nineteen years ago)

Most of us fuckers can't go to dinner tonight. But... if Chris and Jesse still want to go, I will totally change my mind. Becuase INDIAN FOOD. Also, I want to meet this "Chris" person.

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

And then we can all sit in the cock smoking section.

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:02 (nineteen years ago)

WHO THE HELL IS CHRIS???? I'VE BEEN TRYING to get this infor forever since yesterday.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE INDIAN TONIGHT!? PLEASE?>?????????

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:02 (nineteen years ago)

I think I may have gotten anotherr job. I won't know until tomorrow, but it will be two days a week for a ludicrous amount of money per hour. I can make as much in two days as I do in a week at the magazine. I may not have to die in the cold after all.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:03 (nineteen years ago)

Jesse: Casuistry/Chris lives in Portland, Oregon, but he is visiting Chicago this week and staying with a friend in Logan Square. He's the one I played the show with on Saturday night (pics above).

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

So Indian or not? Say yes.

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:06 (nineteen years ago)

None for me. I must eat Ramen this week.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:07 (nineteen years ago)

My date dude has told me that I look like Al Pacino (in the eyes) and David Byrne.

IINDIAN FOOD

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, Jesse, Indian tonight is fine! Are you the Jesse of possum fame?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:10 (nineteen years ago)

yes

Jenny? Injun food?

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:11 (nineteen years ago)

Okay I will go with Jesse and Chris. Where?

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:12 (nineteen years ago)

I admit, I am not as exciting as ramen.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:13 (nineteen years ago)

Honest Injun's Injun Diner on Reservation Road.

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:14 (nineteen years ago)

I admit, I am not as exciting as ramen.

-- Casuistry (chri...), February 27th, 2006.

Raw men?

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:15 (nineteen years ago)

Excitement chart, from excitingest to leastest excitingest:

Ramen > Raw men > Romans > Rwanda > Rue McClanahan > Rowan & Martin > Me.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

With a very sharp drop-off at the end, there.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

I've never had a job where I could listen to music all day.

Yeah, it's pretty cool that way. A side benefit of sitting in a big room full of editors who never talk - but nonetheless make all kinds of other annoying noises.

Sorry I missed the show Saturday by the way. I was surprisingly hung over, and I think the ENTIRE FRIED RED SNAPPER I had at the Vietnamese restaurant Friday night didn't agree with the amount of booze I took in. I didn't get out of bed until mid afternoon and never got out my pajamas all day.

I should be at the 'nasty show on Wednesday unless my housemate's friend flakes out and there is an extra M0gwai ticket available. The likelyhood of that happening is ---> 0

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

No Rowan Atkinson?

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:21 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry, that should have said "...likelyhood of that happening is x--->0"

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:22 (nineteen years ago)

If I find Rowan & Martin generally exciting, is that a good sign that I will enjoy dinner?

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:23 (nineteen years ago)

Hey folks! Here's what we're doing for Injun tonight:

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/dining/44723,0,753296.venue

Western stop on the Brown Line. It is on the NE corner of Lincoln and Wilson, in the heart of beautiful Lincoln Square in the heart of beautiful Chicago in the heart of.... never mind.

BE THERE! (and be queer).

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

i dunno about ramen>raw men (depends on the men in question?), and furthermore, you have no alliterative possibilities in your name. so you are beyond that progression, chris.

in a good way.

― Juulia (julesbdules), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:26 (nineteen years ago)

What time do we meet and eat?

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:27 (nineteen years ago)

If you provide a tricycle, I will attempt to fall sideways off it.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

Excitement chart, from excitingest to leastest excitingest:
Ramen > Raw men > Romans > Rwanda > Rue McClanahan > Rowan & Martin > Me.

-- Casuistry (chri...), February 27th, 2006.

What about Roman Polanksi? And how does Ramen rate higher than Raw Men? Apperantly I've been doing something wrong.

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

We meet at the restaurant at whatever time you guys want. Jenny and I will be arriving ensemble so you guys figure it out.

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:30 (nineteen years ago)

Noodlin' > Canoodlin'.

Someone else needs to pick the time, my schedule is far too open.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:34 (nineteen years ago)

7 pm.

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:34 (nineteen years ago)

And Roman Polanski counts as a Roman. Especially when he's in Rome.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:35 (nineteen years ago)

But try not to do as he does.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

Especially who he does.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:40 (nineteen years ago)

I need to ask you something:

Dude I'm dating says something odd. When he encoutners something gross he says, "Ill." I thought he was saying "Ew" but he types it on IMs.

Has anyone ever heard of such a thing?

I'll repeat this on FRM

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

xpost Now we've come full circle, back to Sally Mann photographs.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

"Ill" could be used to describe something gross. I kind of like it as a reaction to those damn kids using the word "sick" to describe something that is good.

― Nutsy the Squirrel (pullapartgirl), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:45 (nineteen years ago)

Sample conversation:

me "I just puked in your hair"

dude "Ill"

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:48 (nineteen years ago)

That... is weird.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:49 (nineteen years ago)

"puked"

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:50 (nineteen years ago)

Only one entry for that meaning on Urban Dictionary.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:51 (nineteen years ago)

So no one has heard of this? He's not trying to be hip at all. It's just what he believes everyone is saying.

He also says "pop" for soda, but that's normal here.

― jesseOooooooo, Monday, 27 February 2006 18:54 (nineteen years ago)

Today is "Mardi Gras" at work. Translation: I get to drink beer.

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:57 (nineteen years ago)

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 27 February 2006 18:58 (nineteen years ago)

Is there an office bead contest too?

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 27 February 2006 19:03 (nineteen years ago)

Haha. Funny you should mention that. A couple of the best-looking ladiez from the office (there are like 250 people that work here so there are still people I've never seen before) were wearing a bunch of beads, and my boss (who is gay and does a very good stereotypical distateful gay man voice) says "Wonder what they did for those?" right on cue.

― Steely Df'nM (OutDatWay), Monday, 27 February 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

New thread:

Chicago: Smell the Glove

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Monday, 27 February 2006 19:23 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

Hi guys.

Since we're now going into the 3,000 post range before starting a new one, it seems like such a waste of our precious thready resources to let this one lie dead with only 1,980 on it.

Plus it is the thread on which I became a regular contributer.

One of my earliest and still a favorite:

Bananas are unknowable.
-- jesseOooooooo, Friday, February 24, 2006 3:39 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Link

― Jesse, Thursday, 18 October 2007 01:42 (eighteen years ago)

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