The Mosh Pit 8.08.08: Miley Cyrus

Posted by Dan Haggerty on 08.08.2008

This week the Mosh Pit takes a look at the controversy surrounding Miley Cyrus. Is she the center of a storm of her own manufacturing, or she a reflection of something wrong with the media. And how does this relate to South Park? Plus doom and black metal invade the set list and it’s part 2 of the Metallica catalog review!




Miley Cyrus is becoming the pop culture icon, and just in time for Britney‘s come back I might add. We cover her stories hear at 411, and ask questions about her music and pop status. We even tease Mitch and his 18th birthday countdown clock (Don't ask). But as of late I've noticed a few things that made me stop and start to ask: "What the hell?" Not from us, but from the tabloid press itself. I think every news report here has properly blasted the various manufactured scandals that the mob-media has tried to attach to Cyrus. So with some reflection on the facts, a few drinks, and a column to spill my thoughts like gems across some mad satraps carpet I decided to engage some reflections.

And it all starts with South Park. Trust me, it'll make sense shortly.



Miley Cyrus, South Park, and the Media

There was a fascinating, if weird episode of South Park in the last season. The show took on Britney Spears as a sort of pop culture commentary by way of parodying Children Of The Corn. Basically, it depicts Britney as a helpless victim of a mob like paparazzi. As the boys (Stan, Kyle, Eric, and Kenny) try to save Spears from the mental and suicidal collapse she is being pushed into by the mob like media, to their horror they discover that the press is doing it intentionally. They freely admit to the boys that they are trying to kill her – She is the "chosen one" they learn. The show takes a right hand turn (in typical bizarre South Park fashion) when you find out all of society is behind this conspiracy: The parents, the press, everyone is on the destruction of Spears (They even have a cult-like chant). Turns out the chosen one is a sacrifice for a good harvest, and society sets up someone to ridiculously succeed then kills them with press coverage for every stupid thing until they collapse. The "chosen one" falls, dies, and the primordial cult gets a good corn crop.

Bizarre? Yes. This episodes execution is strange even by the usual standards of that show (I left off some of the more gruesome details). But the commentary that the creators were shooting for, how we treat our celebrities, is somewhere between humorous and scary in its accuracy. We may not be trying to kill them off for some ancient cult like religious belief, but there are way too many people who like to watch people fail; whether it's someone who makes it their life work, like the paparazzi, or the casual reader who likes it when people screw up. That last is what I call the Jerry Springer syndrome, where people like to watch that show because it wakes them feel better about their life, since the people on that show are way more fucked up than them. I'm sure people like to watch the Britney's of the world screw up, since they get to watch some bigger than life name with tons of wealth and success "get theirs". On a level, we all do it when it is someone we don't like. But some people actual get a perverse since of pleasure of seeing this stuff happen in general. They like to watch others fail.

And that is the problem. With this columns subject today, as well with pop culture and the trends in society.

The South Park episode ends with Britney dead and people in the supermarket commenting on how good the corn harvest was that year. That's eerie enough. But then there is a news break on a TV, and the people stop their grocery shopping to look on as a news commentator talks about the new teen pop sensation – Miley Cyrus. The news guys winks at the camera as he mentions how successful she is becoming and she'll be the one to keep an eye on. The people start up with their little cult chant again as the episode ends.

Several months later I'm reading about Miley Cyrus's ongoing "scandals" due to various released pictures, and I'm just becoming a little more than disturbed by that episode of South Park.

And it's more than just the usual Amy Winehouse – I keep screwing up in epic fashion – situation here. People like her pull some ridiculous bullshit, and its news. That happens and is understandable. What I find alarming is that Cyrus has not screwed up in any notable way. Possibly a few moments for poor judgment, which is nothing out of the ordinary for a teenager (good lord don't even ask me about my teenage years!), but otherwise she isn't doing anything wrong. Problem is it's been handled in the same manner. I've heard the words "scandal" bandied about a lot and media types wondering if she can overcome these "scandals".

Why?

OK – She took some poor pictures for Vanity Fair, and it was a questionable decision by everyone (including most importantly the parents). But the sexually suggested scandal this is supposed to be is nonsense. There was nothing sexual about those pictures, unless you find pictures of bare-shouldered teenage girls looking vulnerable and sad sexually appealing. If that's what Entertainment Tonight thinks is attractive, then we should be asking them what their problem is. Yes – The decision to do it was questionable, but everyone hounding Cyrus is ridiculous, let alone the fact she needs to apologize continuously for it. Her parents – That I can see. The magazine – Sure. But the Press, well they are a different story. I want to know why the media tried to make this the equivalent of a Britney crotch shot (which ironically gets less coverage these days). So I want to hear the press explain what they think they are doing. Why do they think those pictures are sexually explicit?

Is it:

1. She's popular, and any coverage of someone famous is good for business?
2. She's the best scandal going at the moment?
3. She a fresh thing to talk about (never underestimate a bored media with 24/7 to fill)?
4. She's larger than life right now and some people just get a perverse delight out of seeing that tore down?

How about"

5. All of the above.

A little bit of everything is getting smuggled through now the door is kicked open.

But things have gotten even better. Since these pictures came out, and after the mob settled down from this manufactured "controversy" (most people not buying the Medias line to begin with and not caring), more pictures were released. We have questionable pictures of Cyrus posing in various ways floating about, from the shower to in her underwear. Besides the fact the people who pass judgment on these pictures have no problem publishing them on their own, the reporting has completely avoided the most important fact involved: Someone stole these pictures and released them on their own.

Let's just think about that. These are private pictures a teenager took "In fun", and have been taken from her without her permission. Again, questionable acts (even I in my teenage craziness wouldn't leave pictures *cough* proof *cough* of my antics), but nothing outrageous for a kid acting under the assumption it was all private. It's not like she broke a law or violated someone's rights like the person who released these pictures.

I want to know why the media is NOT clamoring for the head of the thief who steals suggestive pictures of a minor. Now that is a scandal at work here: The theft of her pictures. If it was MY daughter (of which I don't have one by the way, but if I did) I would want the head of the person stealing stuff from her and making them public.

But even more, and the thing that bothers me deep down with these little incidents is how the media reports this: Why didn't they make a big deal about the theft, but highlighted the supposed "impact" this "scandal" had on Miley herself? When did the victim become the focus and not the criminal? More importantly, why does the hacking of people's private property, along with the general invasion of privacy, been reduced to an acceptable non-issue? Has the media become completely indifferent to one of the founding principles our Country was founded on? Is that why we get idiots running for President? Is it because the all questioning press only cares about the story that is now and not the one that causes the problems in the first place?

Are we becoming somewhat like the people of South Park, and we're more concerned with watching people fall then the facts of reality?

Do I just think way too much about these things? Probably - I mean I'm drawing sociological and political conclusions from tabloids posting average pictures of a minor. But even then, I firmly believe that throwing such things at the wall and then looking at them from the inside out can really tell you more than the silly contents of the story itself. Just something to think about.

Back on track, I think the bigger scandal than even the theft and release of suggestive pictures of Miley is how the press is covering it. THEY should be interviewed and questioned. They should explain themselves, and apologize for highlighting the victim more than the offender.

Honestly, they should apologize for making a silly episode of South Park look realistic.




Encore

Wow. One week I rip into Woodstock (I love you guys too!), and another it's a deep look into the philosophy and psychology of a tabloid story. Never going to know where the muse will take me I guess. I'm sure many of you might think I'm going a littlie over board with this look at the coverage of Miley Cyrus, and that's cool. It's all opinions after all. But I do hope I've encouraged a few people to think outside the box on these things. Agree, disagree, or draw, if we all think critically and question things we'll eventually get to a much better place.

The countdown continues. This is a fun, if redundant exercise for some of you long time readers, but I do think it's appropriate with the new album and the hype surrounding it. Last weeks we went through the bands early days, their demos for you collectors and hard core fans, all leading up to their initial release: Kill ‘Em All. From here the band exploded onto the scene and became the monsters and maters of the new metal order. So without further ado we give you part two…


Metallica Part 2: The Monsters Of Metal

Ride The Lightning





Release Date: April 15, 1984
Line Up: James Hetfield , Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich , and Cliff Burton.

Review: While the debut was a call to arms, the sophomore effort actually raises the double barrel shrapnel launcher and begins the revolution full force. Where Kill ‘Em All was a full on assault of raw speed, Ride The Lightning delivers in your face, neck-wrecking riff after riff, but also slows it down a bit at times to deliver sharpened thrash riffs that command headbanging. Oh, this has speed (see "Fight Fire With Fire" for appendage ripping speed), but knows in artistic fashion when to bend thrash to the higher order of riff delivery – Population Headbangville: You. There is even the now infamous ballad "Fade to Black" to put the exclamation mark on the idea, with its slowed down heavy build, which honestly is very good but not the fanfare it's given, that is till the song breaks out into solo work, the guys turning the ballad concept on its ear and drpppng the jaw on all of us long haired partiers back in the day. The methodical instrumental of "Call of Katulu" and the crunchy face pounder of "Ride the Lightning" showing what thrash could ultimately accomplish when beaten into anarchy with purpose.

Black Sabbath was a point in metal history, with the invention of the fundamental sound. The second historical turning point would happen half a decade latter with Judas Priest, whose twin lead assault and sharpened stainless steal sharpening of raw metal redefined (refined) the genre. The third is this CD. It again took all that was heavy metal, launched it into the stratosphere to only return as a weapon of mass destruction. Metal and music was forever changed, pushed to the next level; this is definitely one of my Top 10 metal albums of all time.

The Mosh Pit Rating: 10/10



Creeping Death EP





Review: Basically a single for "Creeping Death" along with two covers, "Am I Evil" and "Blitzkrieg". "Am I Evil" is ten shades of awesome, and if it wasn't already on Garage Inc. then I would recommend this album for that song. As it is, this EP has three tracks that can be found on major releases, so it's only real value is that it's collectible. Cover kicks ass though, and bonus points if you hunt down the picture disc with this cover on it!

I'm not going to cover most of the bands EP's, or singles (That would take forever and involve some serious overlap), but I am going to cover a few notable ones. This is one because it is a great little collectible. Sure, you get the music elsewhere, but for those of us who collect, the vinyl version with the artwork is just too cool to not mention.




Master Of Puppets




Release Date: February 21, 1986
Line Up: James Hetfield , Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich , and Cliff Burton. This would also be the last album with Burton, who tragically died on September 27, 1986 in Europe on a leg of the Damage Inc tour. He was thrown from the bus window during an accident on icy roads. Creepy side note, he had switched sleeping bunks with Hammett several hours before the accident.

Review: And here we are, the most popular of all that is Metallica. Considered by many to be the best of the band's catalog, and by a good chunk of the population, the greatest metal album ever made. I hate to buck the status quo, because while I do love this album I also think it takes second place to Ride the Lightning. In fact, I refer to this as Ride the Lightning v2.0. Why? Well, let's look at the track "themes" for both albums:

• 1. Opening speed scorcher


• 2. Title track


• 3. Methodical cruncher


• 4. Ballad that cranks up at the end


• 5. Side 2 opener: Killer thrash-neckbreaker


• 6. Crunchy riff monster


• 7 and 8. Here is were the band switches the instrument from last to second to last, then closes Master with another speed-wreck banger.

So Master copies Ride until the last two tracks, where the band does change the theme (for the better actually). This may be nit-picking, and I'm sure I'll get many a howling fan saying the band was just improving on a winning idea to make the greatest album ever, but I can't shake the image of the band following a formula – Even if it was to polish things up, make some great crunchy riffs, and in effect delver a scorching album that thrashed the simple conventions of what a metal band should be. Ride the Lightning deserves more props than what it gets for being groundbreaking, is all I'm saying, for its originality and edgier (read not as polished) sound.

With that out of the way, let's discuss the good, for there is still a whole lot of good in what I still consider to be a Top 25 all time metal album (that sounds like a great column idea). This record takes the essence of Ride the Lightning and shines them with better production, sharpens the edges of the leads, and fattens the riffs, all into a weapon of concussive proportions. "Battery" is simply one of the best speed monsters ever scorched into vinyl, only to be out down on the speed meter by album closer "Damage Inc". The title track, while a little lengthy, will make you and your unborn children headbang. Yes, it's that good. "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" is the ballad that again rips at the end, it combines haunting lyrics and atmosphere into thrashes answer to a Steven King mental-bender nightmare. "Disposable Heroes" delivers you into the war torn front lines of shred, and props need to go out to instrumental "Orion", which is also a bit to lengthy buy makes up for it in style and atmosphere.

So don't let my initial grandstanding on Ride The Lightning degrade this album, for it is many shades of awesome. There is a reason it's held in such high regard by the general population, and you may very well find yourself agreeing with them. My only contention is that this loses the tie breaker to the previous album, but that's no loss when you consider the bands first four albums are all jewels in the crown of kings.

The Mosh Pit Rating: 10/10







That's it for Part One. Next week we'll pick up with Part Three: Success!

The Set List

Lists are cool. Lists are fun. Here is the list of what has been rocking out in my headphones. New and old, here is what has received the most plays from me this week.



1. Nachtmystium - Assassin

This is such and incredle album. Not for its actual music quality (which is good), but because of the fusion of music styles the band successfully pulls off. Black metal, 70's progressive, neo-art, rolled up into a double bass fatty. Pink Floyd in corpse paint, a thought that sounds horrid on paper but in sound is actually quite awesome. Big thumbs up. (Sorry about the edit job on the picture – Site rules!)





2. Grand Magus - Iron Will

Oh man I'm digging this album. Still playing it heavy, even after several weeks - There is a very good chance this will make the yearly Top 10 metal list. NWOBHM meets old Sabbath, and I for one am a fan. Completely old school in hook, thump, and crunch. Bring on the classic doom!







3. Yes - Fragile

Damn Blake and his Top 5 column. After commenting on the top progressive bands, I was instantly feeling the pull to pick up some Yes and catch up on some songs I haven't heard in a while. Man, this is just rolling forays of technical and musical washes of a high conceptual nature. I'm sure most of you have heard the hit "Roundabout" – Check out the rest. If you like classic rock and progressive music, here is a marriage that will benefit your ears. Plus its work friendly (For some reason, my Kataklysm CD gets odd looks at work).






4. Gates Of Slumber- Conqueror

This is making lots of noise in the metal underground, and with it's rich Iommi love with Manowar lyrics I can see why. It's a fun doom ride all the way to classic metal-ville, but my money is on Grand Magus in the long run. Doesn't change the fact this is a good album. Damn their has been some great traditional doom metal released in the last two months. Dan is a happy man these days!









Parting Shots
New feature – Little bits of metal news, music industry news, and site happenings.

Have I ever mentioned what a great writer and reviewer Dan Marsicano is? Shame on me. He's doing a great job watching the new metal and keeping and eye on the old store. Plus he's got the balls to point out that Roots wasn't that good and Disturbed has done better than their current outing. Go Dan!

I just found out that Motorhead will playing in my town. Few great concerts hit my town, so I'm a happy man I don't have to suck a gas bill to see these guys. In fact, I'll get to see Motorhead and Opeth here in town in September. I'm a really happy metalhead today. Go Lemmy!

You know, with Dan Halen, Rob Samuel, and Blake Lauderback, and myself the place has got some serious classic rock minds at work. At least Mitch doesn't have to cover all of it himself anymore.

There is some great new columns hitting the music zone these days. You got Ben's What's Rock'n , who has poured some serious love and time into getting that off the ground; Dan Halen's and Vanessa Willoughby Rants and Raves, and I've known Dan for a while now and can attest to the classic awesome he brings to the table: plus Vanessa also brings you A Suburban Girl's Guide To Music That Doesn't Suck on Saturday, which is a great op-ed through the eyes of life experiences. The lady and I (with the news) are single handedly holding up Saturday's now, so show up and throw some support people! Seriously, all these columns are great and you should check them out.

Final Thoughts

Rock on and keep it real everyone. And always raise the horns and play it on 10.