Controversial Book Review: Miguel Santana's "The Marién Revelation"

Mexican author Miguel Santana's third novel "The Marién Revelation" is sure to be among the most talked about in the coming months. Examiner.com has already ranked it among the 100 most anticipated novels of 2010.  I doubt since Salman Rushdie's "Satanic Verses" or Nikos Kazantzakis' "The Last Temptation of Christ"  (or the 1988 Scorcese film of the same name) has a book courted such controversy.  Below is a a video trailer & review for the book...sounds interesting!  To learn more about the book or author Miguel Santana, click here.

Theodore Jennings

Chicago Theological Seminary and Author of The Man Jesus Loved

“The Marién Revelation carried me along in a rush so that I finished it in one day … While focusing on the interwoven stories of Mary the mother of Jesus and Marién, a very modern Mexican American woman, Santana depicts Jesus as the lover of the male “Beloved”, whose portrait is indebted the Gospel of Mark.  The novel is an intricately woven tapestry of ancient wisdom (heavily drawn from the Bible as well as Egyptian and Greek sources), of throbbing sexuality, and of spiritual desolation and exhilaration. The book is bursting with energy and inventiveness.
I very much enjoyed reading the book.  There are a number of very memorable moments in the text and I very much liked the daring splicing of temporal zones. The rhythm of narration was almost like flamenco. It is also quite an accomplishment to make women characters come so vividly to life.
I was engrossed in the book, and extend my appreciation for a remarkable work of art.”

Music: New Releases & Updates

This just in & I'm really excited because it MUST mean we are closer to actually getting our hands on it! The NEW LCD Soundsystem album finally has a name and cover art:

It's great news but as yet there's nothing more on an official release date for "This Is Happening", rest assured I'll keep you posted as this is one I'm really looking forward to!

Black Francis (aka: Frank Black of the seminal 90's alternative rock band the Pixies)drops a new album today titled "Nonstoperotik". Recorded last year in NYC, L.A. & London (apparently the London studio was haunted) features 10 new, supposedly sexually charged songs, plus a cover of the Flying Burrito Brothers’ “Wheels” thrown in to boot. (Listen to "Six Legged Man" HERE)

Sup Pop Records Dum Dum Girls, formed in late 2008 drop a great album called "I Will Be" with a sound like 60's pop meets post punk girl group...and with songs like "Jail la la" and "Bhang Bhang I'm a Burnout", I had to take notice


I know this is way jumping the gun, but I don't care....one of my favorite bands of the last decade, Keane, are releasing a new 8 track EP titled "Night Train"  Although it's not slated for release until May 11th, I had to mention it as I'm really looking forward to this as much as the LCD Soundsystem!  Get your first listen to the track "Clear Skies" HERE.

UPDATE: Keane JUST released the first video from Night Train called "Stop For A Minute" feat. K'naan here it is:

Lastly, MGMT come back with a follow up to their awesome 2008 debut "Oracular Spectacular"  titled "Congratulations".  Their sophomore disc promises to be a new direction, but a good one, for the band...Soulful and complex, "Congratulations" is a surprising and delightful quantum step forward in MGMT's ongoing pop revolution.  Officially dropped on April 13, the band has acknowledged it's pre-release leak onto the internet.

Just The Tip Tuesday W/ Robert Verdi : Dressing Your Man

Once again the ever fabulous Robert Verdi giving his invaluable advice! This week's tips are for the ladies out there on how to dress your man...so pay close attention...and although Robert doesn't mention it, throw away his pleated pants NOW!

Your OMG!! WTF!?? Of The Week: Big Mouth Strikes Again

Today I bring you this WTF clip from "Pilipinas Got Talent", the same basic premise as "America's Got Talent".  Well, this is just about the most fucked up thing I have ever seen!  The show begins and out comes B.M. (apparently short for Big Mouth~and you'll see why @ the 1:40 mark!~ but I guess no one gave girlfriend the memo that it's short for shit...oh well) who is a drag performer of sorts I guess or really likes wearing Liberace cast offs, it's really anyone's guess.

Well, then B.M. starts in on her (?) rendition of "Banal Na Aso" and then bitch gets possessed by the demon spirit of Mr. Ed...you have to hear this shit to believe it! Ok, this is freaking my shit out! I can't stop watching but I'm scared as hell and think I've lost a piece of my soul to the horse demon...somebody HELP!

Retro Remix of the Week: Chris & Cosey

The Retro Remix this week (listen on the left) is an old favorite of mine from electronic pioneers Chris & Cosey (formerly of Throbbing Gristle).  "October (Love Song)" near as I can find, was originally released somewhere between 1982-1983 although I know it from their 1986 EP "Take 5" and while there are a total of 4 versions, this is the one I'm most familiar with (the 12" or Long Vocal Mix) the others are "Short Vocal Mix", "Instrumental" and "Dance Mix"

This was probably one of the first tracks of theirs I heard and instantly fell in love with it...it probably ended up on every mix tape I ever made for someone I had a crush on from the late 80's through the mid 90's.  It's a very beautiful song and certainly the closest thing to pop the band ever did.  I still love it...hope you enjoy it too! Here's the first track I ever heard from C & C thanks to my friend Sarah : "Manic Melody (Hairy Beary)"  Can you say acid trip?!

This Week in Holy Crimes: Via Joe.My.God

Over the last seven days...

Texas: Pastor Dean Richard Tarkington found guilty of possession of child porn.

Kentucky: Pastor Alonzo Bradley arrested for torturing his wife by "beating and burning her with implements."

West Virginia: Pastor Johnny Ray Dempsey pleads guilty to incest and sexual abuse by a parent.

Florida: Rev. John C. Spinks charged with possession and distribution of child porn.

Maryland: Father Thomas Bevan to face September trial for multiple counts of child molestation.
Connecticut: Youth Pastor David Esarey convicted of sexual assault on a minor and possession of child porn.

Ireland: Father Francis Markey charged with rape of 15 year-old boy forty years ago. Markey had been suspended at least three times for sexual misconduct but was always allowed to go back to "work."

Vienna: An unnamed priest has resigned after confessing to sex with a boy. Two other priests in the same diocese have been suspended.

Arizona: Rabbi Bryan Bramley charged with rape of 7 year-old girl.

California: Pastor Matthew Davis charged with multiple felony counts of lewd and lascivious behavor and indecent exposure to children.

New Zealand: Pastor Donald Tarnaki charged with sexual assault of 13 year-old girl.

Florida: Music worship teacher David Lanham charged with 16 felony counts of sexual abuse of four children ages 5-11.

Ontario: Pastor James Sinclair charged with three counts of sexual assault.

This Week's Winner-
New York: At his Palm Sunday Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, today Archbishop Timothy Dolan defended the Pope against charges of complicity in the ever-widening child molestation scandal, comparing the Pope to Christ and saying that Ill Papa is "being daily crowned with thorns by groundless innuendo." Dolan claims that the Catholic Church is being "unfairly singled-out" for their kiddie-fuckers because child molestation happens in other religions too. Dolan, of course, made no mention of the inconvenient fact that other religions don't have an ongoing (and until recently, very successful) global system of shielding their child molesters from prosecution.

(Via Joe.My.God)

This Week In Fashion: Xanadon't!

The outfit is a little skimpy, but shim's legs ARE fierce!  The accessories are working ok ~I'm always partial to oversized sunglasses & the chunky bangles are a nice juxtaposition~ but the turban is SO 1950's and the white clutch...really?  And honestly, I'm hating the shoe color too, but I must say what really kills the look is the Amish beard...therefore I declare this a fashion Xanadon't! (it's my new word, dig it?)

 (pic via Poorly Dressed)

Music Matters: Kate Bush

Here is a little animated bio of the incomparable  Kate Bush (side note: this blog LOVES Kate and is named after a lyric in her song "Them Heavy People")

Found via Music Matters website.... Music Matters is a collective of people across the music industry, including artists, retailers, songwriters, labels and managers, formed to remind listeners of the significance and value of music.

Music Matters - Kate Bush (23-3-10) from Music Matters on Vimeo.

Today In Humor: That's Gay

"That's Gay" is a very funny segment Bryan Safi does on Current TV's weekly 1/2 hour show Infomania.

There are several but this one is called "That's Gay: No Homo" and is about the current use of this phrase in rap music and now being adopted into the pop lexicon...it's ridiculous & offensive, but as always, Bryan puts a hysterical spin on the situation!

Remix Of The Week: "The Phoenix Alive" by Monarchy

Apparently somewhat of a mystery as their identities are as yet unknown (insofar as I can tell...I can't even locate the groups website!)  But the London duo's infectious new tune "The Phoenix Lives" gets the spot for remix of the week (listen on the left)

I am sure we'll be hearing lot's more in the near future! It reminds me of many other bands I'm really into as of late such as LCD Sound System, Miike Snow, MGMT, etc... Hope you enjoy! (Sorry, this post was a bit rushed...I'll try to find out more on Monarchy or feel free to pass on anything you might know!)