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Our Laurence Miall ~ Blind Spot

by Nick Glossop on September 26, 2014

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We are delighted to announce that regular Paltry contributor, Laurence Miall has produced his first novel, Blind Spot which came out on Newest Press last month. In Edmonton ~Gateway to the Tar Sands~ to launch the book, he stopped by CJSR FM88 for a chat on the Ipso Factory. The interview begins at the 0:05:18 mark but I recommend letting Robbie Fulks’ Night Accident provide the introduction. The song …
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  • Categories: Literature / Music / Podcasts / The Arts

Majority in Fugue

by Nick Glossop on March 20, 2014

Feeling tense about the ongoing crisis over Crimea and east Ukraine? Try playing the first five notes of this piece in your head every time you hear Putin’s name. It’ll help.

Also, you should support the Majority Report.

Calliope in Fugue is lifted from the great PDQ Bach (Peter Schickele). Here he provides color commentary for Beethoven’s 5th.


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  • Categories: Human Affairs / Humour / Media / Music / News / Podcasts / Politics / Web

Geoff Berner ~ Festival Man

by Nick Glossop on January 30, 2014

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Travel in the entertaining company of a man made of equal parts bullshit and inspiration, in what is ultimately a twisted panegyric to the power of strange music to change people from the inside out.

At turns funny and strangely sobering, this “found memoir” is a picaresque tale of inspired, heroic deceit, incompetence, and – just possibly – triumph. Follow the flailing escapades of maverick music manager Campbell Ouiniette at


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  • Categories: Human Affairs / Literature / Music / Podcasts / Politics / The Arts

The Tall Tale Of An Alternative Burn’s Supper

by Nick Glossop on January 24, 2014

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Haggis: live and prepared

There were none but Scotsmen present at the event in question so we cannot claim to have a reliable account of what went on, but, according to at least one scurvy Caledonian, it began with a general malaise that settled on the city of Glasgow. A restless dissatisfaction held the entire population in its grip. Blandly and blindly, the people went through their daily routines, stopping …
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  • Categories: Cuisine / Humour / Literature / The Arts

The Genius Of Jersey Shore Declared

by Nick Glossop on January 17, 2014

Santino Fontana and David Furr of the Broadway production of The Importance of Being Earnest deliver some Jersey Shore witticisms in Wilde character. Whilst ever Jersey Shore can be satirized, hope yet remains.

Many more after the jump.…
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  • Categories: Humour / Literature / Television

10.2 x 10: Interview with comedian, author, activist Charles Demers

by Andrew Loewen on January 17, 2014

I am delighted to bring you the second edition of our Paltry Sapien interview series, 10×10, this time with the multi-talented Charles Demers.

When I was about 18 I got a tattoo of Charlie Chaplin down the length of my right bicep. There’s probably no ‘meeting-of-worlds’ that I’ve spent more time thinking about than I have the space where politics meets comedy.

1)    You wear three distinct hats as comedian,
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  • Categories: 10x10 / Interviews / The Arts

Jerry Jerry ~ Mayor of Smart City

by Nick Glossop on January 14, 2014

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My ongoing efforts to broaden the Youtubular footprint of Mr. Jerry Jerry have yielded further strange fruit in the form of this video for Smart (I’m Smart) from the stripped-down solo effort The Sound and the Jerry (1997). I had thought to go with the Marx Brothers, or maybe mad scientists (saving the immortal Herbert West for when I tackle Wierd), but for reasons that surpass my own understanding, …
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  • Categories: Humour / Music / The Arts / The Paltry Sapien

The Majority Galore (Breaking Down)

by Nick Glossop on January 14, 2014

If you don’t tune in to the Majority Report, let me recommend that you do. Sam Seder and the boys offer the funniest, most incisive news commentary mixed up with excellent, typically insurgent tunes. Recently there was some confusion amongst the messaging listeners as to whose tune is Stop Breaking Down – it’s a Robert Johnson composition, though most people would know the Rolling Stones’ version, and on the …
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  • Categories: Human Affairs / Humour / Media / Music / Podcasts / Politics / Web

A Look Back With Mr. Doo-Dah

by Nick Glossop on December 31, 2013

Ring in the New Year with Vivian Stanshall, of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and the man who says “Grand Piano” at the 19:48 point (save that for later in the night).

Of Pomp and Circumcision

Assuming that that clip has only whetted your appetite for Doo-Dah Da-Da, below is Crank, broadcast in 1995 as an obituary salute and touchingly introduced by John Peel.

I have to admit


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  • Categories: Humour / Music / Television / The Arts

Merry Christmas (On Acid)

by Nick Glossop on December 24, 2013

If you are dreaming of a brown Christmas, this post is for you. First, a Christmas card from Cyriak, none of his usual fractal madness, just a fairly standard-issue nightmare Noel. Nevertheless, we bid you view with caution.

Second, a seasonal song originally from Radio Free Vestibule, a loon trio from Montreal now going by the more wield-friendly the Vestibules.

Christmas on Acid

And now that …
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  • Categories: Comics & Animation / Humour / Music / The Arts / The Geekly Standard / Travel

NFB’s Vérité Christmas of 1958: toujours la même

by Michelle Lovegrove Thomson on December 23, 2013

The National Film Board has an incredible online presence. Check out this 30 minute direct cinema film exploring “The Days Before Christmas” in Montreal in 1958. Children chat awkwardly with Santa; direct their own jangly bands; and you can cruise the streets of Montreal in a cab, among other time-travelling treats.

A poetic observational piece, it may instill in you a craving for more black and white images in daily …
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  • Categories: Film / History / The Arts

Three Prickly Carolers

by Nick Glossop on December 18, 2013

Via Dangerous Minds

More fun, simple animations from Bird Box after the break.…
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  • Categories: Comics & Animation / Humour / The Arts

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