The shuffler: Dave Attell, comedian and hard-drinking host of Comedy Central's Insomniac With Dave Attell. Since that show more-or-less ended (mostly because it became too popular to be spontaneous), Attell has stayed busy on the stand-up circuit, leading the national Insomniac Tour with fellow comics Greg Giraldo and Sean Rouse in 2005, and appearing in the upcoming documentary Heckler. Attell's latest stand-up special, Captain Miserable, premi?red on HBO and DVD in December.
The White Stripes, "Hypnotise"
Dave Attell: I like The White Stripes, not only because they promote rocking out with their cock out, but also because they promote brother-sister relationships. Although I like Icky Thump better than Elephant.
The A.V. Club: Meg White canceled a bunch of shows this year because of anxiety—
DA: Is that what they call it now?
AVC: What do you think it was?
DA: It seems like everybody's having that kind of "anxiety attack" lately. I would like to think that it's drugs and alcohol. Anxiety attack, isn't that for antique-bookstore owners?
James Newton Howard, "Those We Don't Speak Of"
DA: This is from The Village's soundtrack. I feel like soundtrack music is almost like seeing the movie again, but with my ears.
AVC: Does that movie get any better if you watch it with your ears?
DA: [Laughs.] It does. I have soundtracks for a lot of stuff. I was on iTunes the other night—and you know, alcohol and iTunes don't mix. I have every one of Hitler's speeches now. Halo 3 has a soundtrack, so I had to download it. Can you believe it? I've never played the game, but I love the soundtrack. Here's one you're probably too young for: The Day Of The Dolphin, with George C. Scott.
AVC: The Mike Nichols movie?
DA: Whoa! Hello, University Of Texas grad-school dropout! [Laughs.]
Dolly Parton, "Jolene"
DA: This song is amazing, but I'd have to say my favorite of hers is "Coat Of Many Colors." If that makes me a little fruity, then so be it. "Jolene" is a great tune, though, because as a man, you get to see the woman's perspective on how catty and bitchy they are. But I like "Coat Of Many Colors," because it's just Christian enough without being too preachy.
Lou Bega, "Mambo No. 5"
DA: I like this song. I'm trying to work out a bit on it, about how if your name doesn't fit into that song, you're involved in global terrorism. Like "Abu Musabi, blah blah blah."
AVC: Have you been working on that bit since the song came out?
DA: [Laughs.] No, I just thought of the bit, so I downloaded it after. I'm gonna give it to the CIA.
Eric Clapton, "Layla"
DA: I have a lot of Clapton and Cream. This is the 20th Century Masters version. [Snoring sound.]
AVC: Was that a fake snore?
DA: No, that's a chain-smoker's breathing noise. [Laughs.] No, I really do like Clapton. If you want to get to my snoring mix, I have some put-me-to-sleep stuff. I like to calm it down… That's cool that you knew what Day Of The Dolphin was.
AVC: George C. Scott and a talking dolphin? Everyone should see that.
DA: Nobody knows who that is, though! Young kids don't even know who he is.
AVC: Surely they've heard of Patton.
DA: Why, has Will Smith done a version of that yet?
Jimi Hendrix, "The Star-Spangled Banner"
DA: I don't even know why I have this.
Randy Edelman/Trevor Jones, "Elk Hunt"
DA: I have the Last Of The Mohicans soundtrack for some reason. When I was a kid, I really loved Indians. Native Americans. Pardon. Me. Daniel Day Lewis, of course, he brought tomahawks back to movies. Everybody wanted to be a tomahawk guy at the time.
The Trashmen, "Surfin' Bird"
DA: This is from Full Metal Jacket, and it's a great song.
Butthole Surfers, "Pepper"
DA: I don't know what you think of the Butthole Surfers, but I love that song "Pepper." I'm old and I love that song. I know Beck and him had a little thing about it. I like Beck too. I'm not a Scientologist, but I think he's great.
AVC: "Pepper" was kind of the Buttholes' sellout song.
DA: Was it? There you go, see? I'm not really a music guy.
The Muffs, "Unknown"
DA: Do you remember them? This is some song off Happy Birthday To Me or something. My favorite song of theirs is "Outer Space." I love that girl in The Muffs. I actually met her one time and said hello, but that was it. I wish that was a better story.
PJ Harvey, "C'mon Billy"
DA: I'm really into her. I think she's hot and mysterious, and her shit is pretty good. I like to think of her as Amy Winehouse's mother, like if Amy could only get it together.
David Allan Coe, "Willie, Waylon, And Me"
DA: I like him because the Grand Ole Opry won't play his stuff, because he's too real… And then the rest is all Hannah Montana.
AVC: Uh—
DA: It's a joke, man. I'll raise my hand when it's a joke.
- Comments