THE 30-YEAR OLD VIRGIN

Three decades of exposure to Peg and I never realized until now that Michael MacDonald provides the backing vocals.

Dollars to donuts that Rerun knew this shit straight away...

A NAME WHEN I LOSE

Deacon Blues was one of my favorite songs when I was 12.

It had the perfect mix of fatalism and self-pity, with a hint of triumph, to suit my 1977.

It became clear in 1977 that the crush I had harbored for black-haired Shelley since the fourth grade would never be requited. I would never get closer to her affections than the jewelry box she fished from a neighbor's trash and gave me one day in 1975, with a short inscription of friendship on the back.

In 1977 I was in so many ways ready to move on, and terrified at the very thought of it.

It's a fine thing for sure to be 12...

ANGULAR BANJOS

I downloaded Aja by Steely Dan on impulse from the iTunes this weekend.

And hearing it now with relatively fresh ears, the Becker/Fagen double helix in Stereolab becomes plain...

BLACK HOLE

I DVR'd the Tonight Show last night, because the program guide said LCD Soundsystem was going to be on.

So I woke up this morning all eager, turned on the TV after my shower, and four-arrow fast forwarded my way to the end.

And what did I see?

Chris Cornell, singing some crap with his hands in his pockets.

It was like going for a nice refreshing swig of lemonade and getting a mouthful of Clamato instead.

I blame you, Leno, you motherfucker...

THE LANATICIST 2

My eight-year old daughter Lana checks in this week with her thoughts on Keep the Car Running, by Arcade Fire:

"I think this song is good for when you are riding a car."

THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE

One of the first songs that I learned all the way through was Meet the Mets.

This was the pre-PC “Bring the kiddies/Bring the wife” version, and it sounded like Rheingold and sunstroke.

By the mid 70s, I had altered the opening lyrics, to reflect the fact that the team was in a torpor: “Meet the Mets/Beat the Mets/Step right up, defeat the Mets...”

I am reminded of this now because they are in the midst of an epic freefall.

And I almost wish I had never learned that damn song at all...

PROCLAIMING

Drove 500 miles to go grocery shopping on Saturday.

Sounds grim, but it weren't, mate. Went to the Mitsuwa supermarket, the Japanese used-book store, and Mars New York toy store. Got some NY/NJ pizza, and some NY/NJ bagels.

Sure, I was haverin' a bit on the way home, but a good time was had by all...

CORNERS 1

Sitting in a Tokyo hotel on a rainy afternoon, reading McElligot's Pool and listening to Deerhoof...

BLOSSOM

Things were not looking good for the project.

My wife listened to Jimmy by M.I.A., but the most she could muster was what appeared to be a very sincere “I like it.”

She said that she couldn't find any other words, so I suggested that she do it in Japanese, and then translate to English.

But in any tongue, she was blocked.

Just then, Lana stepped up, and offered to give it a go. Here is her unedited review:

“I feel like I am in a disco party. One of the expressions sounds like aliens dancing in the wind.”

So, you can be damn sure I'm now in negotiations with her to do this once a week...

LITTLE SUPERSTAR

I'm going to do my own little music genome project.

Based on her fondness for Airport by The Motors, I have a theory that my wife will like Jimmy from the new M.I.A. disc, in all its Bollywood glory.

I've asked her to listen and give me a quick review by tomorrow. Now we'll see if she can write on deadline...

APPLEPLEXY

Which iPod are you?

I am all about the 160GB Classic, which is $50 cheaper than the 16GB touch.

touch, schmouch-- gimme gigs, bitches. What?

RAKE AT THE GATES

I needed to e-mail someone by the last name of Anderson today.

So I began typing. A-n-d...

I looked up and saw that a name had been autocompleted: Anderson, Ian.

Damn you, Windows 2007 Prog Edition...

LEAVE HOME

Yesterday was Pinhead Day around the house.

Every time I turned a corner, one of the kids was shouting “I don't wanna be a pinhead no more!” or “Gabba gabba, we accept you, one of us, one of us.”

And I couldn't think of a better soundtrack for the day before the first day of school...