- Product:
- The Future Dictionary of America (McSweeneys store) and Future Soundtrack of America (MoveOn page)
- What’s Good:
- Best named book and CD I know of, great tracks & artists, nicely printed/bound book
- What’s Bad:
- Liberal know-it-all overtones, association with annoying political groups
The Future Dictionary of America is a book compiled and published by the uber-ironic web/print publishing group, McSweeneys (home of Dave Eggers). The Future Soundtrack for America is a compilation included with the book or available separately with a series of currently hip artists unhappy with the current American administration.
The Future Dictionary of America (the CD)
Judging by its cover, this is a fine book. It has some beautiful typography, layout, and illustrations. It’s not something you’ll be reading from cover-to-cover. Rather, it is more of an ironic reference. Nice for an occasional random quote. To help illustrate what an “ironic dictionary” is, here are some example definitions from the book:
Dean depression [deen duh-presh’-un] n. the clinical condition that follows the surprising and illogical defeat of a populist candidate. After Chelsea’s defeat, we all had a tough of a Dean depression. MISUSE: The Bush recession will be followed by the Dean depression. (Senator Joseph Leiberman, 9/4/03). - KEN FOSTER
seven dollar socialist [$7 soh’-shul-ist] n. an activist, usually found in wealthy, liberal cities like San Francisco, whose high tax bracket income affords him or her the luxury of their rabid, liberal views. Ex.: an Ipod-carrying, Jetta-driving, organic-tomato-eating protester waving a placard reading Socialism Now while waiting in line to buy a $7 sandwich at Bi-Rite. - NOAH HAWLEY
That seven dollar socialist definition should hit the weblogging purchasers of the book (me, you, etc.) right where it hurts.
Future Soundtrack for America (the CD)
Included with the book, or available separately (on Amazon, for example) is the Future Soundtrack of America CD. The disc includes a fine selection of artists. Highlights include the opening track by OK Go, an almost embarrassingly straight-forward acoustic track by Mike Doughty, and a classic They Might Be Giants song.
Here is the track listing:
- OK Go: This Will Be Our Year
- David Byrne: Ain’t Got So Far To Go
- Jimmy Eat World: Game of Pricks (BBC evening session)
- Death Cab For Cutie: This Temporary Life
- Blink-182: I Miss You (James Guthrie mix)
- Mike Doughty: Move On
- Ben Kweller: Jerry Falwell Destroyed Earth
- Sleater-Kinney: Off With Your Head
- R.E.M.: Final Straw (MoveOn mix)
- Bright Eyes: Going for the Gold (live)
- The Long Winters: The Commander Thinks Aloud (future mix)
- will.i.am of The Black Eyed Peas: Money
- They Might Be Giants: Tippecanoe And Tyler Too
- Clem Snide: The Ballad of David Icke
- Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Date With the Night (live)
- Fountains of Wayne: Everything’s Ruined (acoustic)
- Nada Surf: Your Legs Grow
- The Flaming Lips: Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (live on the BBC)
- Old 97’s: Northern Line
- Laura Cantrell: Sam Stone
- Tom Waits: Day After Tomorrow
- Elliott Smith: A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity To Be Free
Conclusion
This is a pretty damn good CD and an interesting book. It is blatantly anti-Bush and pro-Democrat. Buying either or both will peg you in all kinds of political and demographic groups. Chances are if you don’t like Bush, you’ll like this and if you do, you won’t - I don’t think this is changing minds. That said, if you can handle the politics, it’s a good book and fine compilation.
