MIDNIGHT TO YOU
1. Discovering Japan, Graham Parker and the Rumour
This sounds very different when your family has been there for a month or so. See you soon, guys.
2. Ominous Cloud, Broadcast
If I called this Stereolab's The Flower Called Nowhere played sideways, would you hold it against me? Yeah, I don't really blame you...
3. Half a Person, The Smiths
As I drove home tonight after a 10-hour day at the office, I thought about living in the Maine woods, surrounded by cool air and clean water, and how much that would suck.
4. The Cool Out, The Clash
It's a dubby remix of The Call Up. There's this one part where the guitar sounds kind of New Romantic, and it kind of freaks me out...
5. Nothing to Do With Me, Stereolab
“Well it won't go away overnight/But it will go away in the end” pretty much sums up how I feel about Sound-Dust.
P.S.- That copy of Tigermilk went for $359.33.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
ELECTRONIC RENAISSANCE
1. Rhineland (Heartland), Beirut
If he ever adds some emotional resonance to the mix, the kid will be a comer...
2. A You You Never Knew, Future Bible Heroes
Sometimes I feel like a Stephin Merritt side project...
3. Air, Talking Heads
“Air can hurt you too.” See, this is why people worried about David Byrne back in the day.
4. Valentine, The Replacements
It borders on tragic to hear the Replacements burdened with this obnoxious 80s drum sound. As if they were ever meant to belong to a decade...
5. She's Losing It, Belle and Sebastian
There's 21 hours to go on a copy of Tigermilk on eBay, and the bidding stands at $167. Sweet bumbling bees...
1. Rhineland (Heartland), Beirut
If he ever adds some emotional resonance to the mix, the kid will be a comer...
2. A You You Never Knew, Future Bible Heroes
Sometimes I feel like a Stephin Merritt side project...
3. Air, Talking Heads
“Air can hurt you too.” See, this is why people worried about David Byrne back in the day.
4. Valentine, The Replacements
It borders on tragic to hear the Replacements burdened with this obnoxious 80s drum sound. As if they were ever meant to belong to a decade...
5. She's Losing It, Belle and Sebastian
There's 21 hours to go on a copy of Tigermilk on eBay, and the bidding stands at $167. Sweet bumbling bees...
Monday, July 16, 2007
I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US ANYWAY
1. Pagan Poetry, Bjork
Jose Pagan was a middle infielder with the Giants and the Pirates in the 60s and early 70s. A lifetime .250 hitter, he finished 11th in the NL MVP voting in 1962, a year in which he batted .259 with 7 HR and 57 RBI, and sported a .312 OBP.
2. Alarm Call, Bjork
Well, someone's feeling a bit Bjorky tonight, huh Mr. iPod?
3. Soul Survivor, The Rolling Stones
The early 70s can be summed up by the fact that the Stones use the phrase “bell bottom blues” in this song, nicking it from the Derek and the Dominoes track of the same name.
4. Buddy Holly, Weezer
I remember brain coral mocking my love of this song while we moved aimlessly one day through the music section of the Charlottesville K-Mart back in 1994...
5. Summer Crane, The Avalanches
The first time I owned a radio with a tuning knob, I spun it with as much torque as I could muster. It sounded like an avalanche...
1. Pagan Poetry, Bjork
Jose Pagan was a middle infielder with the Giants and the Pirates in the 60s and early 70s. A lifetime .250 hitter, he finished 11th in the NL MVP voting in 1962, a year in which he batted .259 with 7 HR and 57 RBI, and sported a .312 OBP.
2. Alarm Call, Bjork
Well, someone's feeling a bit Bjorky tonight, huh Mr. iPod?
3. Soul Survivor, The Rolling Stones
The early 70s can be summed up by the fact that the Stones use the phrase “bell bottom blues” in this song, nicking it from the Derek and the Dominoes track of the same name.
4. Buddy Holly, Weezer
I remember brain coral mocking my love of this song while we moved aimlessly one day through the music section of the Charlottesville K-Mart back in 1994...
5. Summer Crane, The Avalanches
The first time I owned a radio with a tuning knob, I spun it with as much torque as I could muster. It sounded like an avalanche...
Thursday, July 12, 2007
THE GRAY SHARK
Life is full of random edits.
I left the office tonight 15 minutes or so later than usual. My family is in Japan for a month, so there is less imperative to get home for dinner by 6:15.
The area around my building was crawling with traffic, so I made a right turn where I normally make a left. This led me to a large traffic circle.
Cars were backed up a bit along the circle, and I waited for a light to change ahead of me, so that things would unclog and clear the way for me to circumnavigate my way around.
As I sat there, a dark gray Range Rover pulled up next to me. I powered down my passenger-side window when I saw the driver gesturing at me.
“Do you know the nearest place to get gas? I'm really low.”
I explained to him the route to the nearest station, which was maybe a mile or so down the road.
“I'm almost empty. Is there anywhere closer?”
I shook my head, and wished him luck as the light turned green. He would need to get in my lane to follow my directions, so I found it a little curious when he said “You go,” and waved a hand over his side-view mirror.
I began to make my way around the circle, and noticed immediately that he was behind me. I turned off the circle, to head for the avenue that would take me to the beltway, and he made the same turn.
I did not think too much about it at this point. I figured that he had made a strange decision, given his apparently dire gas situation, but people make strange decisions all the time.
I made some incidental lane changes as I went down the road, and I took notice of the fact that he mirrored my changes precisely. My grip on the wheel grew tighter.
I came to a red light, and he pulled up next to me again. He mumbled something about needing gas, and I said “You have to make a right here.”
“I'm going to keep following you,” he said, and I saw vacant menace in his eyes. He now had a small ragged white towel wrapped around the steering wheel.
“I'm not going anywhere near a gas station,” I said. I left the stop line in a hurry when the light changed.
Sure enough, he worked his way behind me. We were heading for the beltway.
I took out my cell phone and flipped it open right up by my ear. I pantomimed pressing a few numbers, and moved my lips as if in conversation for about 15 seconds, pointing periodically to the Range Rover behind me.
I folded the phone, and made the left turn that would take me to the beltway. He stayed close behind me.
When I hit the entrance ramp, I accelerated dramatically, in an effort to put some cars between us. It worked momentarily, but he sped around any slower cars and resumed his place behind me. I made a couple of other evasive moves, but they all had the same end result.
I had at this point seen enough to convince me that some other action was needed. I called 911 and narrated my situation to three different people, the last of whom was a cop.
“I'm coming up to my regular exit. Should I get off here, or keep going?”
He told me to get off, and began explaining how I should navigate the cloverleaf traffic pattern I was about to enter, in an effort to shake the Range Rover from my tail.
I had to cross over a solid white line rather suddenly in order to make the exit, and the Range Rover did the same.
The cop told me to take the west-bound exit. I explained that this was my normal route home, so I was familiar with the area.
And suddenly, as I headed for the west-bound exit, the Range Rover veered quickly onto the east-bound ramp. I explained this to the cop, and then gave him a quick description of the vehicle.
For the rest of my drive, I kept one eye on the rear-view mirror, half expecting the Range Rover to pop up like a predatory shark...
As this evening goes on, I'm sure that I will eventually start to walk past windows without grinding my teeth a little. As this evening goes on, I'm sure that I will eventually stop stealing furtive looks at the street outside my house. As this evening goes on, I'm sure that I will eventually sleep.
Eventually...
Life is full of random edits.
I left the office tonight 15 minutes or so later than usual. My family is in Japan for a month, so there is less imperative to get home for dinner by 6:15.
The area around my building was crawling with traffic, so I made a right turn where I normally make a left. This led me to a large traffic circle.
Cars were backed up a bit along the circle, and I waited for a light to change ahead of me, so that things would unclog and clear the way for me to circumnavigate my way around.
As I sat there, a dark gray Range Rover pulled up next to me. I powered down my passenger-side window when I saw the driver gesturing at me.
“Do you know the nearest place to get gas? I'm really low.”
I explained to him the route to the nearest station, which was maybe a mile or so down the road.
“I'm almost empty. Is there anywhere closer?”
I shook my head, and wished him luck as the light turned green. He would need to get in my lane to follow my directions, so I found it a little curious when he said “You go,” and waved a hand over his side-view mirror.
I began to make my way around the circle, and noticed immediately that he was behind me. I turned off the circle, to head for the avenue that would take me to the beltway, and he made the same turn.
I did not think too much about it at this point. I figured that he had made a strange decision, given his apparently dire gas situation, but people make strange decisions all the time.
I made some incidental lane changes as I went down the road, and I took notice of the fact that he mirrored my changes precisely. My grip on the wheel grew tighter.
I came to a red light, and he pulled up next to me again. He mumbled something about needing gas, and I said “You have to make a right here.”
“I'm going to keep following you,” he said, and I saw vacant menace in his eyes. He now had a small ragged white towel wrapped around the steering wheel.
“I'm not going anywhere near a gas station,” I said. I left the stop line in a hurry when the light changed.
Sure enough, he worked his way behind me. We were heading for the beltway.
I took out my cell phone and flipped it open right up by my ear. I pantomimed pressing a few numbers, and moved my lips as if in conversation for about 15 seconds, pointing periodically to the Range Rover behind me.
I folded the phone, and made the left turn that would take me to the beltway. He stayed close behind me.
When I hit the entrance ramp, I accelerated dramatically, in an effort to put some cars between us. It worked momentarily, but he sped around any slower cars and resumed his place behind me. I made a couple of other evasive moves, but they all had the same end result.
I had at this point seen enough to convince me that some other action was needed. I called 911 and narrated my situation to three different people, the last of whom was a cop.
“I'm coming up to my regular exit. Should I get off here, or keep going?”
He told me to get off, and began explaining how I should navigate the cloverleaf traffic pattern I was about to enter, in an effort to shake the Range Rover from my tail.
I had to cross over a solid white line rather suddenly in order to make the exit, and the Range Rover did the same.
The cop told me to take the west-bound exit. I explained that this was my normal route home, so I was familiar with the area.
And suddenly, as I headed for the west-bound exit, the Range Rover veered quickly onto the east-bound ramp. I explained this to the cop, and then gave him a quick description of the vehicle.
For the rest of my drive, I kept one eye on the rear-view mirror, half expecting the Range Rover to pop up like a predatory shark...
As this evening goes on, I'm sure that I will eventually start to walk past windows without grinding my teeth a little. As this evening goes on, I'm sure that I will eventually stop stealing furtive looks at the street outside my house. As this evening goes on, I'm sure that I will eventually sleep.
Eventually...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
THE FRAGILE DEFENCE OF WORDS
1. Ocean of Noise, Arcade Fire
The attempt to rhyme “noise” and “voice” sounds like a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas, people. Nails on a chalkboard. Dry fingers rubbing styrofoam...
2. Unreleased Backgrounds, The Beach Boys
Fifty seconds of random wordless harmonizing from the Pet Sounds sessions. It has cleansed mine ears...
3. Stutter, Elastica
Well, hello 1995. How have you been? Seen Weezer around?
4. Come and Play in the Milky Night, Stereolab
I think they actually nicked the “come and play” part from the Sesame Street theme, which is wholly appropriate. This is coin of the same realm...
5. Oh, You Pretty Things, David Bowie
I imagine that a line like “Gotta make way for the homo superior” made some newspapers shake down round the pub in 1971. So points for that, DB...
1. Ocean of Noise, Arcade Fire
The attempt to rhyme “noise” and “voice” sounds like a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas, people. Nails on a chalkboard. Dry fingers rubbing styrofoam...
2. Unreleased Backgrounds, The Beach Boys
Fifty seconds of random wordless harmonizing from the Pet Sounds sessions. It has cleansed mine ears...
3. Stutter, Elastica
Well, hello 1995. How have you been? Seen Weezer around?
4. Come and Play in the Milky Night, Stereolab
I think they actually nicked the “come and play” part from the Sesame Street theme, which is wholly appropriate. This is coin of the same realm...
5. Oh, You Pretty Things, David Bowie
I imagine that a line like “Gotta make way for the homo superior” made some newspapers shake down round the pub in 1971. So points for that, DB...
Monday, July 09, 2007
RISE IN THE COOL OF THE EVENING
1. Sacrificial Bonfire, XTC
See, now that's a beauty way to end an album. And then the American label tacks on the cack single and fecks it all up. Dear god...
2. Jack-Ass, Beck
Odelay seems like a relic from a far-away place and time. This one made me misty in that long ago (“gravity shackles” and braying donkeys notwithstanding), and it's still pretty damn affecting...
3. Skip Steps 1 & 3, Superchunk
Step 2, apparently: Start proto-emo band.
4. Devil House, Shonen Knife
The first time I went to Japan, I met someone who recorded on the same label as Shonen Knife. He gave me a small coin purse to remember him by, and I gave him my Zippo.
5. Go Mental, The Ramones
Speaking of Shonen Knife. And this is sad and self-parodic like a good half of Rock Animals...
1. Sacrificial Bonfire, XTC
See, now that's a beauty way to end an album. And then the American label tacks on the cack single and fecks it all up. Dear god...
2. Jack-Ass, Beck
Odelay seems like a relic from a far-away place and time. This one made me misty in that long ago (“gravity shackles” and braying donkeys notwithstanding), and it's still pretty damn affecting...
3. Skip Steps 1 & 3, Superchunk
Step 2, apparently: Start proto-emo band.
4. Devil House, Shonen Knife
The first time I went to Japan, I met someone who recorded on the same label as Shonen Knife. He gave me a small coin purse to remember him by, and I gave him my Zippo.
5. Go Mental, The Ramones
Speaking of Shonen Knife. And this is sad and self-parodic like a good half of Rock Animals...
Thursday, July 05, 2007
THE SCENERY CIRCLING THE MALL
1. Venus, Bananarama
OK, this is the 'Rama at their soulless fembot worst. Shocking Blue says shame on you...
2. Purr, Sonic Youth
All the smart/dumb SY stuff the kids love so much. Smart being the noise, dumb being the words.
3. One More Time, The Clash
I'm looking out of the corner of my eye at a Casey Stengel baseball card from 1962 that's sitting on my desk. We still miss you, Joe Strummer...
4. Washington, D.C., The Magnetic Fields
This was our theme song when we were considering our move from NY to the D.C. area. And I don't see how anyone could hear this and not move to D.C.
5. The Villain, Lieutenant Pigeon
As if the name Lieutenant Pigeon was not cool enough, they were actually an offshoot of another band: Snavely Makepeace. May the sun never set on you, 1970s Britain...
1. Venus, Bananarama
OK, this is the 'Rama at their soulless fembot worst. Shocking Blue says shame on you...
2. Purr, Sonic Youth
All the smart/dumb SY stuff the kids love so much. Smart being the noise, dumb being the words.
3. One More Time, The Clash
I'm looking out of the corner of my eye at a Casey Stengel baseball card from 1962 that's sitting on my desk. We still miss you, Joe Strummer...
4. Washington, D.C., The Magnetic Fields
This was our theme song when we were considering our move from NY to the D.C. area. And I don't see how anyone could hear this and not move to D.C.
5. The Villain, Lieutenant Pigeon
As if the name Lieutenant Pigeon was not cool enough, they were actually an offshoot of another band: Snavely Makepeace. May the sun never set on you, 1970s Britain...
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
PEOPLE WHO DIED
On this date in music history, both Brian Jones (1969) and Jim Morrison (1971) died.
What say you in tribute, iPod?
1. Lucky Number, Lene Lovich
OK, not for Brian and Jim it wasn't. Full confession: the name “Lovich” makes me laugh...
2. Tell That Girl to Shut Up, Holly and the Italians
My obsession with female-fronted New Wave acts of the early 80s continues unabated. Apparently.
3. The Jury, Morphine
I kid you not, and holy shit: Mark Sandman, lead singer of Morphine, died on July 3, 1999. That's just fucking weird, man.
4. When Doves Cry, Prince
Leave it to 1984 Prince to give a song a silly name like When Doves Cry, and then have the pure genius to actually make it sound like doves crying. And then to get the avant-funk shit up to #1...
5. HiBall Nova Scotia, The High Llamas
See, Sean O'Hagan has spent his musical life trying to make his songs sound like his titles. But still no When Doves Cry...
On this date in music history, both Brian Jones (1969) and Jim Morrison (1971) died.
What say you in tribute, iPod?
1. Lucky Number, Lene Lovich
OK, not for Brian and Jim it wasn't. Full confession: the name “Lovich” makes me laugh...
2. Tell That Girl to Shut Up, Holly and the Italians
My obsession with female-fronted New Wave acts of the early 80s continues unabated. Apparently.
3. The Jury, Morphine
I kid you not, and holy shit: Mark Sandman, lead singer of Morphine, died on July 3, 1999. That's just fucking weird, man.
4. When Doves Cry, Prince
Leave it to 1984 Prince to give a song a silly name like When Doves Cry, and then have the pure genius to actually make it sound like doves crying. And then to get the avant-funk shit up to #1...
5. HiBall Nova Scotia, The High Llamas
See, Sean O'Hagan has spent his musical life trying to make his songs sound like his titles. But still no When Doves Cry...
Monday, July 02, 2007
MATH ROCK
A quick Monday shuffle.
1. What Is Happening, Cornershop
Any song that repeats a sample of someone saying “turkey gravy” can't be all bad. Just mostly bad.
2. Come Live With Me, Heaven 17
“I was 37, you were 17/You were half my age...” OK, first of all, this sounds biographical, so: Yuk. And douchebag, 17 isn't half of 37...
3. Beginning to See the Light, The Velvet Underground
More math: This is 50% a goof, and 45% the sound of your life being saved. The remaining 5% is inactive ingredients...
4. Psychotic Reaction, Count Five
Frug. Just, frug. That is all.
5. You Got The Silver, The Rolling Stones
Not the Let It Bleed version, with Keith on vocals, but an early Mick take. The backing instrumentation is pretty much the same, but I have to say Keith brought this a certain vulnerability that Mick could not really muster...
A quick Monday shuffle.
1. What Is Happening, Cornershop
Any song that repeats a sample of someone saying “turkey gravy” can't be all bad. Just mostly bad.
2. Come Live With Me, Heaven 17
“I was 37, you were 17/You were half my age...” OK, first of all, this sounds biographical, so: Yuk. And douchebag, 17 isn't half of 37...
3. Beginning to See the Light, The Velvet Underground
More math: This is 50% a goof, and 45% the sound of your life being saved. The remaining 5% is inactive ingredients...
4. Psychotic Reaction, Count Five
Frug. Just, frug. That is all.
5. You Got The Silver, The Rolling Stones
Not the Let It Bleed version, with Keith on vocals, but an early Mick take. The backing instrumentation is pretty much the same, but I have to say Keith brought this a certain vulnerability that Mick could not really muster...
Friday, June 29, 2007
TROMPE-L'OEIL
1. Escape Pod [From the World of Medical Observations], Stereolab
I hadn't heard this in a couple of years, and now it's the second time I've heard it today. And I still can't help singing “Savior Faire is everywhere” on the verses. Somewhere Klondike Kat purrs his approval...
2. Flitcraft, The Mekons
Every song ever should be called “Flitcraft”...
3. Miss Modular, Stereolab
Ah, Miss Modular. Or as I like to call it, Flitcraft.
4. Snake and Martyrs, TV on the Radio
Pretty damn sweet for a bonus track. This is one of those albums where the single was just so strong that I sought it out continuously at the expense of the rest of the disc. There might just be a relationship here yet...
5. Jesus, Etc., Wilco
The first album I remember buying for myself was Fantastic, a K-Tel comp featuring 22 sometimes truncated versions of the biggest hits of 1972 and 1973, crammed onto a single slab of brittle vinyl. It had a garish rainbow cover with “Fantastic” written at the top in 48 pt Have A Nice Day font, and damn it meant the world to me. This was the tracklist:
Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
Twelfth of Never - Donny Osmond
Power to All Our Friends - Cliff Richard
Hocus Pocus - Focus
Little Willy - Sweet
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
L.A. Freeway - Jerry Jeff Walker
It Sure Took a Long, Long Time - Lobo
Rock N' Roll, Part Two - Gary Glitter
Free Electric Band - Albert Hammond
Misdemeanor - Foster Sylvers
I'm Doin' Fine Now - New York City
I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More Baby - Barry White
The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
Twistin' the Night Away - Rod Stewart
Go All the Way- Raspberries
Armed and Extremely Dangerous - First Choice
Randy - Blue Mink
Back When My Hair Was Short - Gunhill Road
Rocket Man - Elton John
1. Escape Pod [From the World of Medical Observations], Stereolab
I hadn't heard this in a couple of years, and now it's the second time I've heard it today. And I still can't help singing “Savior Faire is everywhere” on the verses. Somewhere Klondike Kat purrs his approval...
2. Flitcraft, The Mekons
Every song ever should be called “Flitcraft”...
3. Miss Modular, Stereolab
Ah, Miss Modular. Or as I like to call it, Flitcraft.
4. Snake and Martyrs, TV on the Radio
Pretty damn sweet for a bonus track. This is one of those albums where the single was just so strong that I sought it out continuously at the expense of the rest of the disc. There might just be a relationship here yet...
5. Jesus, Etc., Wilco
The first album I remember buying for myself was Fantastic, a K-Tel comp featuring 22 sometimes truncated versions of the biggest hits of 1972 and 1973, crammed onto a single slab of brittle vinyl. It had a garish rainbow cover with “Fantastic” written at the top in 48 pt Have A Nice Day font, and damn it meant the world to me. This was the tracklist:
Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree - Tony Orlando and Dawn
Crocodile Rock - Elton John
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
Twelfth of Never - Donny Osmond
Power to All Our Friends - Cliff Richard
Hocus Pocus - Focus
Little Willy - Sweet
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
L.A. Freeway - Jerry Jeff Walker
It Sure Took a Long, Long Time - Lobo
Rock N' Roll, Part Two - Gary Glitter
Free Electric Band - Albert Hammond
Misdemeanor - Foster Sylvers
I'm Doin' Fine Now - New York City
I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little Bit More Baby - Barry White
The Morning After - Maureen McGovern
Twistin' the Night Away - Rod Stewart
Go All the Way- Raspberries
Armed and Extremely Dangerous - First Choice
Randy - Blue Mink
Back When My Hair Was Short - Gunhill Road
Rocket Man - Elton John
Thursday, June 28, 2007
BOP BOP SHOOBIE DO WAA
Shoufflé for one...
1. You Make Me Feel So Young, Frank Sinatra
The whole world knows that I'm a swingin' lover...
2. Girlfriend is Better, Talking Heads
Between this album and Pilgrimage by R.E.M., 1983 was the year of speaking in tongues. Wasn't sure what to make of that in 1983, not sure what to make of it now...
3. Come Back From San Francisco, The Magnetic Fields
Exquisite, except for that “I miss doing the wild thing with you” part. I would have preferred “fucking.” Heck, maybe even “humping.” Or how about “unskinny bopping”? Eh, not so much...
4. I Can't Win, The Strokes
Once saw them play a hall that's since been converted into an upscale off-track betting palace. The Moldy Peaches opened, and they were juvenile, stoopid, and great. A folie a deux shared by 200, or whatever the capacity was. The Strokes played the 13 songs they knew, and then disappeared into the upper-middle-class night...
5. More Than Physical, Bananarama
I swear, I have no idea where this came from. Maybe my wife put it on here....OK, OK, I own the damn greatest hits album. Shy Boy? He Was Really Sayin' Something? Robert DeNiro's Waiting? Cruel Summer? Genius, each one of them.
Shoufflé for one...
1. You Make Me Feel So Young, Frank Sinatra
The whole world knows that I'm a swingin' lover...
2. Girlfriend is Better, Talking Heads
Between this album and Pilgrimage by R.E.M., 1983 was the year of speaking in tongues. Wasn't sure what to make of that in 1983, not sure what to make of it now...
3. Come Back From San Francisco, The Magnetic Fields
Exquisite, except for that “I miss doing the wild thing with you” part. I would have preferred “fucking.” Heck, maybe even “humping.” Or how about “unskinny bopping”? Eh, not so much...
4. I Can't Win, The Strokes
Once saw them play a hall that's since been converted into an upscale off-track betting palace. The Moldy Peaches opened, and they were juvenile, stoopid, and great. A folie a deux shared by 200, or whatever the capacity was. The Strokes played the 13 songs they knew, and then disappeared into the upper-middle-class night...
5. More Than Physical, Bananarama
I swear, I have no idea where this came from. Maybe my wife put it on here....OK, OK, I own the damn greatest hits album. Shy Boy? He Was Really Sayin' Something? Robert DeNiro's Waiting? Cruel Summer? Genius, each one of them.
Monday, June 25, 2007
POLYPHONY
1.
One day in 1996 as I was commuting home through thick traffic along Deer Park Ave, I looked out my car window and saw a gaggle of geese lounging on a median strip, poking at the dry grass.
And if geese have eyes, then our eyes surely met…
2.
Taeko and I pulled out of Charlottesville towing an overloaded U-Haul trailer with an ’89 Camry. We strained over steep hills heading north, and when we stopped for the night in Gettysburg, we saw that the weight of the trailer was separating the bumper from the car.
In an effort to lighten the load, we jettisoned some nonessential furniture and boxes of books and notebooks, making a silly promise to ourselves that we would one day return to Gettysburg, to reclaim at least the boxes.
Grad school was over, and I was heading to New York to look for a job…
3.
I’ve seen what happens out there in the wind on the wire. And I chose instead the pursuit of safety…
1.
One day in 1996 as I was commuting home through thick traffic along Deer Park Ave, I looked out my car window and saw a gaggle of geese lounging on a median strip, poking at the dry grass.
And if geese have eyes, then our eyes surely met…
2.
Taeko and I pulled out of Charlottesville towing an overloaded U-Haul trailer with an ’89 Camry. We strained over steep hills heading north, and when we stopped for the night in Gettysburg, we saw that the weight of the trailer was separating the bumper from the car.
In an effort to lighten the load, we jettisoned some nonessential furniture and boxes of books and notebooks, making a silly promise to ourselves that we would one day return to Gettysburg, to reclaim at least the boxes.
Grad school was over, and I was heading to New York to look for a job…
3.
I’ve seen what happens out there in the wind on the wire. And I chose instead the pursuit of safety…
Friday, June 22, 2007
STRANDED IN THE JUNGLE
Meanwhile, back in the early 90s…
My grad school essay was a sweet, naïve little manifesto in support of bite-sized art.
Rather than decrying short attention spans and the dagblasted MTV, I wrote about the importance of recognizing that we were entering a new stage in our cultural evolution, and that we should embrace its potentials.
My poetry—or what was left of it— attempted to support this notion, by being as popcompact and resonant as I could make it.
Median Geese
I’ll no longer
For the caliph
Pile
The golden sand
Of impulse
Talc
I will miss
The suit against dawn
The mountains bring
My Grail a Recliner
I saw
Karl Wallenda
Falter
And on slow summer days, I like to pretend that My Grail a Recliner is the last poem I ever wrote…
Meanwhile, back in the early 90s…
My grad school essay was a sweet, naïve little manifesto in support of bite-sized art.
Rather than decrying short attention spans and the dagblasted MTV, I wrote about the importance of recognizing that we were entering a new stage in our cultural evolution, and that we should embrace its potentials.
My poetry—or what was left of it— attempted to support this notion, by being as popcompact and resonant as I could make it.
Median Geese
I’ll no longer
For the caliph
Pile
The golden sand
Of impulse
Talc
I will miss
The suit against dawn
The mountains bring
My Grail a Recliner
I saw
Karl Wallenda
Falter
And on slow summer days, I like to pretend that My Grail a Recliner is the last poem I ever wrote…
Thursday, June 21, 2007
60 MINUTE MAN
OK, it's a late night, so I just have time for a quick Andy Rooney moment. It's partly cloudy... with an 80% chance of curmudgeon!
“Why is it that it takes iTunes four days to send me an e-mail receipt for my download of Silent Shout by The Knife and Face the Fire by Dan Fogelberg? Just what in the heck are those micronaut geniuses at Apple up to anyway?”
OK, it's a late night, so I just have time for a quick Andy Rooney moment. It's partly cloudy... with an 80% chance of curmudgeon!
“Why is it that it takes iTunes four days to send me an e-mail receipt for my download of Silent Shout by The Knife and Face the Fire by Dan Fogelberg? Just what in the heck are those micronaut geniuses at Apple up to anyway?”
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
I'M A PILL
1. Immature, Bjork
From my favorite album to feature the Icelandic String Quartet. Though of course one could make a strong case for “Dóttir þeirra hét Guðrún”...
2. This Is Not a Love Song, Public Image Ltd
This is not a bad song, but the album is just pure evil in its mediocrity. I will smash that album to bits anytime that it crosses my path.
3. Jungle Music, Special AKA
OK, when it first started, I rolled my eyes and groaned a little. I was still stuck on the sheer biliousness of that Public Image shiite, I suppose. But you won me over in the end, Special AKA.
4. Desifinado, Antonio Carlos Jobim
I made a mix CD over the weekend that included Girl From Ipanema, which I heard this morning and stayed with me straight through until evening. So hearing this now puts a nice warm circle on my day...
5. What Do You Do When Love Dies, Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield kicks Janis Joplin's everloving ass.
1. Immature, Bjork
From my favorite album to feature the Icelandic String Quartet. Though of course one could make a strong case for “Dóttir þeirra hét Guðrún”...
2. This Is Not a Love Song, Public Image Ltd
This is not a bad song, but the album is just pure evil in its mediocrity. I will smash that album to bits anytime that it crosses my path.
3. Jungle Music, Special AKA
OK, when it first started, I rolled my eyes and groaned a little. I was still stuck on the sheer biliousness of that Public Image shiite, I suppose. But you won me over in the end, Special AKA.
4. Desifinado, Antonio Carlos Jobim
I made a mix CD over the weekend that included Girl From Ipanema, which I heard this morning and stayed with me straight through until evening. So hearing this now puts a nice warm circle on my day...
5. What Do You Do When Love Dies, Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield kicks Janis Joplin's everloving ass.
Monday, June 18, 2007
TRANSMUTATION
1. Orgiastic, Stereolab
I think I'd like this best if I was sitting on a swing, going moderately high, with steady intermediate pumps encouraging an unvaried pace. But right now I'm sitting on my ass on a busted Ikea swivel chair...
2. Moon Rocks, Talking Heads
LCD Soundsystem's raw DNA.
3. Beasley Street, John Cooper Clarke
“There's a dead canary on a swivel seat...” Um, did he get it at Ikea?
4. Flabbergast, Komeda
“Flabbergast” is one of the top ten words ever. If I had a whaling ship, it would be named “Flabbergast” and I'd never catch a single whale. I'd dress up warm each night and drink iced Calpis while watching the northern lights...
5. On Your Wings, Iron and Wine
I think I like Sam Beam's God...
1. Orgiastic, Stereolab
I think I'd like this best if I was sitting on a swing, going moderately high, with steady intermediate pumps encouraging an unvaried pace. But right now I'm sitting on my ass on a busted Ikea swivel chair...
2. Moon Rocks, Talking Heads
LCD Soundsystem's raw DNA.
3. Beasley Street, John Cooper Clarke
“There's a dead canary on a swivel seat...” Um, did he get it at Ikea?
4. Flabbergast, Komeda
“Flabbergast” is one of the top ten words ever. If I had a whaling ship, it would be named “Flabbergast” and I'd never catch a single whale. I'd dress up warm each night and drink iced Calpis while watching the northern lights...
5. On Your Wings, Iron and Wine
I think I like Sam Beam's God...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
I NEED AN ORDER
It's short shot shuffle Thursday, sheriff.
1. I Love a Man in a Uniform (Dub), Gang of Four
Pointless like sugar-free Bubble Yum.
2. A Pretty Girl is Like..., The Magnetic Fields
Look, there were 69 of them-- they weren't all going to be ribbon winners.
3. The World Backwards, Broadcast
Ah, but the world backwards is so very dlrow...
4. Doubt, Stereolab
[He picks up the iPod, and shakes it vigorously, trying to peer behind the small screen. He is amazed that it has followed a Broadcast song with a Stereolab song] “Show yourself, miniature DJ. I know you're in there!”
5. Failures, Joy Division
Gee Davey, I don't know about this early punky JD...
It's short shot shuffle Thursday, sheriff.
1. I Love a Man in a Uniform (Dub), Gang of Four
Pointless like sugar-free Bubble Yum.
2. A Pretty Girl is Like..., The Magnetic Fields
Look, there were 69 of them-- they weren't all going to be ribbon winners.
3. The World Backwards, Broadcast
Ah, but the world backwards is so very dlrow...
4. Doubt, Stereolab
[He picks up the iPod, and shakes it vigorously, trying to peer behind the small screen. He is amazed that it has followed a Broadcast song with a Stereolab song] “Show yourself, miniature DJ. I know you're in there!”
5. Failures, Joy Division
Gee Davey, I don't know about this early punky JD...
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
FEEL THE GREASE
1. Home of the Brave, Spiritualized
Your life has been diminished if you have not spent any time with this album. I wouldn't recommend too much time-- when you find the right amount, you'll just know it. Anything more would be intemperate...
2. Becalmed, Brian Eno
About half a kilometer down Ambient Rd. there's this really neat oxygen bar. The walls are white, and all the dead people you once loved serve you cool water in conical paper cups. And this is G14 on the jukebox.
3. One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21, The Flaming Lips
Wow, we're onto something here. This is the most perfect three-song sequence the iPod has dealt to date. Will the circle remain unbroken?
4. Truckdrivin' Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat), Beck
OK, that's the sound of the circle being smashed to kingdom come. And also the sound of me ROTFL...
5. Listening to Marmalade, Go-Kart Mozart
I prefer listening to the Higsons, but fair enough...
1. Home of the Brave, Spiritualized
Your life has been diminished if you have not spent any time with this album. I wouldn't recommend too much time-- when you find the right amount, you'll just know it. Anything more would be intemperate...
2. Becalmed, Brian Eno
About half a kilometer down Ambient Rd. there's this really neat oxygen bar. The walls are white, and all the dead people you once loved serve you cool water in conical paper cups. And this is G14 on the jukebox.
3. One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21, The Flaming Lips
Wow, we're onto something here. This is the most perfect three-song sequence the iPod has dealt to date. Will the circle remain unbroken?
4. Truckdrivin' Neighbors Downstairs (Yellow Sweat), Beck
OK, that's the sound of the circle being smashed to kingdom come. And also the sound of me ROTFL...
5. Listening to Marmalade, Go-Kart Mozart
I prefer listening to the Higsons, but fair enough...
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
HE CAN’T BE A MAN ‘CAUSE HE DOESN’T SMOKE THE SAME CIGARETTES AS ME
It was 12 years ago today that I quit smoking.
I woke up that morning with my then-standard chest-rattling cough.
I looked over in the trash can at the broken pieces of my Godzilla-paw ashtray, with its awesome glow-in-the-dark nails. I had knocked it off the night table inadvertently a couple of days earlier.
After breakfast, I was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper, and I realized it was time.
I went into the closet in my bedroom and grabbed an open carton of Doral Lights, with six full packs remaining. I handed the smokes to my wife, and let her know I would not be needing them anymore.
In honor of this anniversary, I just wanted to share a recent obsession of mine.
This Newport ad is so mind-bendingly cynical on so many levels that it actually becomes a piece of tragic art…
It was 12 years ago today that I quit smoking.
I woke up that morning with my then-standard chest-rattling cough.
I looked over in the trash can at the broken pieces of my Godzilla-paw ashtray, with its awesome glow-in-the-dark nails. I had knocked it off the night table inadvertently a couple of days earlier.
After breakfast, I was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper, and I realized it was time.
I went into the closet in my bedroom and grabbed an open carton of Doral Lights, with six full packs remaining. I handed the smokes to my wife, and let her know I would not be needing them anymore.
In honor of this anniversary, I just wanted to share a recent obsession of mine.
This Newport ad is so mind-bendingly cynical on so many levels that it actually becomes a piece of tragic art…
Monday, June 11, 2007
I'M AN ALTO
My promise to you: today's shuffle will not end right smack in the middle of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'...
1. If Money Talks, Jason & The Scorchers
Ahead of their time? Eh, I don't know about that. Raucous, smart, and a hell of a lot of fun? Yes, yes, and yes.
2. Pete Standing Alone, Boards of Canada
Music for when your robot is having “issues.” I would've called it Twiki Standing Alone, but what the fuck do I know...
3. Orange County Suite, The Doors
Never heard of it? It's a bonus track on the L.A. Woman reissue, and it's basically a real song. Not a particularly good one, but a real one. Lyrics to cringe by...
4. Prelude to 110 or 220/Women of the World, Jim O'Rourke
My somewhat tortured metaphor for this back when it came out compared it to building an onion layer by layer, rather than peeling an onion layer by layer. And I'm sticking with that.
5. Wrong Time Capsule, Deerhoof
Deerhoof make magical little songs for magical little people, and it suits them just fine. Thank you, Deerhoof. Thank you.
My promise to you: today's shuffle will not end right smack in the middle of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'...
1. If Money Talks, Jason & The Scorchers
Ahead of their time? Eh, I don't know about that. Raucous, smart, and a hell of a lot of fun? Yes, yes, and yes.
2. Pete Standing Alone, Boards of Canada
Music for when your robot is having “issues.” I would've called it Twiki Standing Alone, but what the fuck do I know...
3. Orange County Suite, The Doors
Never heard of it? It's a bonus track on the L.A. Woman reissue, and it's basically a real song. Not a particularly good one, but a real one. Lyrics to cringe by...
4. Prelude to 110 or 220/Women of the World, Jim O'Rourke
My somewhat tortured metaphor for this back when it came out compared it to building an onion layer by layer, rather than peeling an onion layer by layer. And I'm sticking with that.
5. Wrong Time Capsule, Deerhoof
Deerhoof make magical little songs for magical little people, and it suits them just fine. Thank you, Deerhoof. Thank you.
Friday, June 08, 2007
A DREAM I HAD IN 1995
I swear I have music on this thing that came out in the 21st century, all available evidence to the contrary.
However, here's another five songs to refute that notion...
1. Autonomy, Buzzcocks
Half a great song, but they can't quite bring it home. And I've long been suspicious that they want “autonomy” to sound like “on top of me,” and further, that they think this clever.
2. Break Down the Door, Special AKA
Special AOR, Special MOR, Special DDT, Special DOA, Special FUCK.
3. Young Ned of the Hill, The Pogues
One of those non-Shane numbers from Peace and Love that ain't half bad. Making “Ireland” sound like a simple compound word...
4. The State I Am In, Belle and Sebastian
The version from the Dog on Wheels EP. Not the one from Tigermilk. Sweet merciful crap, am I a geek...
5. If the Kids Are United, Sham 69
The cool thing about baseball in Japan is that they do these modified terrace chants for each individual player. If I were a gaijin playing for the Hiroshima Carp, I would ask that the fans sing the chorus to this song each time I came to bat.
I swear I have music on this thing that came out in the 21st century, all available evidence to the contrary.
However, here's another five songs to refute that notion...
1. Autonomy, Buzzcocks
Half a great song, but they can't quite bring it home. And I've long been suspicious that they want “autonomy” to sound like “on top of me,” and further, that they think this clever.
2. Break Down the Door, Special AKA
Special AOR, Special MOR, Special DDT, Special DOA, Special FUCK.
3. Young Ned of the Hill, The Pogues
One of those non-Shane numbers from Peace and Love that ain't half bad. Making “Ireland” sound like a simple compound word...
4. The State I Am In, Belle and Sebastian
The version from the Dog on Wheels EP. Not the one from Tigermilk. Sweet merciful crap, am I a geek...
5. If the Kids Are United, Sham 69
The cool thing about baseball in Japan is that they do these modified terrace chants for each individual player. If I were a gaijin playing for the Hiroshima Carp, I would ask that the fans sing the chorus to this song each time I came to bat.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
DADDY WAS A COP
Back from Chicago.
And I don't want to cause no trouble/I'm just here to do the iPod shuffle...
One word per song style.
1. Painters Paint, The High Llamas
Supercalifragilisticbeachboysalidocious.
2. All I Want, The Mekons
Wobble.
3. In the End, Green Day
Bandstanding.
4. God Is a Number, Sleater-Kinney
666 X 4.17 = 2777.22
5. A Summer Wasting, Belle and Sebastian
Mustering.
Back from Chicago.
And I don't want to cause no trouble/I'm just here to do the iPod shuffle...
One word per song style.
1. Painters Paint, The High Llamas
Supercalifragilisticbeachboysalidocious.
2. All I Want, The Mekons
Wobble.
3. In the End, Green Day
Bandstanding.
4. God Is a Number, Sleater-Kinney
666 X 4.17 = 2777.22
5. A Summer Wasting, Belle and Sebastian
Mustering.
Friday, May 25, 2007
HIGH IN THE MID 70s
A holiday weekend ahead, and then a business trip to Chicago. Be back and posting on June 6.
Now, let's roll them bones. Daddy needs a new pair of shoes! (Note, however, that daddy does not need Nu Shooz.)
1. Don't Come Close, The Ramones
As punk as a frosted brown sugar Pop Tart. And just as much a miracle of modern science...
2. My Life is Right, Big Star
Before they tripped over into wiggy darkness, Big Star did yearning and melancholy as good as anyone. And those are my middle names, and this is my crack.
3. Telephasic Workshop, Boards of Canada
Aww, it's Twiki from Buck Rogers' birthday! And someone bought him a copy of ProTools. Go, Twiki from Buck Rogers, go!
4. Sprung a Leak, Superchunk
From No Pocky for Kitty. The best Pocky I ever had was this special Winter edition I picked up at the Japanese grocery store a few months ago. It was fecking sublime. Mmm... pocky...
5. Frankenstein, New York Dolls
It was Roger Grimsby's Manhattan. He just let the rest of us visit...
A holiday weekend ahead, and then a business trip to Chicago. Be back and posting on June 6.
Now, let's roll them bones. Daddy needs a new pair of shoes! (Note, however, that daddy does not need Nu Shooz.)
1. Don't Come Close, The Ramones
As punk as a frosted brown sugar Pop Tart. And just as much a miracle of modern science...
2. My Life is Right, Big Star
Before they tripped over into wiggy darkness, Big Star did yearning and melancholy as good as anyone. And those are my middle names, and this is my crack.
3. Telephasic Workshop, Boards of Canada
Aww, it's Twiki from Buck Rogers' birthday! And someone bought him a copy of ProTools. Go, Twiki from Buck Rogers, go!
4. Sprung a Leak, Superchunk
From No Pocky for Kitty. The best Pocky I ever had was this special Winter edition I picked up at the Japanese grocery store a few months ago. It was fecking sublime. Mmm... pocky...
5. Frankenstein, New York Dolls
It was Roger Grimsby's Manhattan. He just let the rest of us visit...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
LIVING ON THE CEILING
Episode 46, in which the iPod steadfastly refuses to play anything new, again.
1. Carry That Weight, The Beatles
It's weird to hear this on its own, and not as part of the Abbey Road side 2 suite. Several years ago I ran into one of my best friends at a National Wholesale Liquidators in the middle of the afternoon on a work day, and it feels kind of like that...
2. Promises, Promises, Naked Eyes
Best 80s synthpop duo? Blancmange had their moments for sure. I guess Soft Cell would have their supporters. These guys would only scrape the bottom of my top 10...
3. This Fire, Franz Ferdinand
Um, I'm very discouraged with this shuffle so far. My admiration for Jacqueline the other day was not meant to convey that I needed more FF in my life. I was just having a moment. Now cut the shit, iPod.
4. Torrey Canyon, Serge Gainsbourg
Mais oui, le iPod. Mais oui.
5. White Girl (single mix), X
“Yeah, Exene, if we just flatten it out a little bit, and punch up some of the harmonies, we're just bound to have a hit. Jinkers, I just know we will. And then everything will be technicolor swell.”
Episode 46, in which the iPod steadfastly refuses to play anything new, again.
1. Carry That Weight, The Beatles
It's weird to hear this on its own, and not as part of the Abbey Road side 2 suite. Several years ago I ran into one of my best friends at a National Wholesale Liquidators in the middle of the afternoon on a work day, and it feels kind of like that...
2. Promises, Promises, Naked Eyes
Best 80s synthpop duo? Blancmange had their moments for sure. I guess Soft Cell would have their supporters. These guys would only scrape the bottom of my top 10...
3. This Fire, Franz Ferdinand
Um, I'm very discouraged with this shuffle so far. My admiration for Jacqueline the other day was not meant to convey that I needed more FF in my life. I was just having a moment. Now cut the shit, iPod.
4. Torrey Canyon, Serge Gainsbourg
Mais oui, le iPod. Mais oui.
5. White Girl (single mix), X
“Yeah, Exene, if we just flatten it out a little bit, and punch up some of the harmonies, we're just bound to have a hit. Jinkers, I just know we will. And then everything will be technicolor swell.”
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
MONKEY GONE TO HAVANA
1. Five Years, Yo La Tengo
From their debut, and trust me, in a blind taste test, there's no chance you'd know it's the Real Thing...
2. Surfer Girl, The Beach Boys
“In my Woody, I will take you everywhere I go.” Sorry, that still makes me laugh. But, damn, they make it sound like The Lord's Prayer. And maybe it is, Beavis. Maybe it is...
3. Dear Grandma and Grandpa, Tortoise
This is a good opportunity to mention that I had occasion to multiply 666 by 4.17 today while I was crunching some numbers at work. I'll save you the trouble: the result was 2777.22. Now, I'm not a religious man, and numerology holds little sway with me, but it pleased me greatly to see those three sixes turn into three sevens, surrounded by three twos.
4. Preciso Dizer Que Te Amo, Cazuza & Bebel Gilberto
I logged eight credits of intermediate Spanish in college, and passed only because I had a very cool instructor who knew that passing was a requirement for me to get into grad school. But I'll take a shot at translating that title: “What a Precise Cigar, Dizer.” Not 100% sure who Dizer is, but I think he was a painter...
5. Champs, Wire
Woo hoo-- post-punk handclaps!
1. Five Years, Yo La Tengo
From their debut, and trust me, in a blind taste test, there's no chance you'd know it's the Real Thing...
2. Surfer Girl, The Beach Boys
“In my Woody, I will take you everywhere I go.” Sorry, that still makes me laugh. But, damn, they make it sound like The Lord's Prayer. And maybe it is, Beavis. Maybe it is...
3. Dear Grandma and Grandpa, Tortoise
This is a good opportunity to mention that I had occasion to multiply 666 by 4.17 today while I was crunching some numbers at work. I'll save you the trouble: the result was 2777.22. Now, I'm not a religious man, and numerology holds little sway with me, but it pleased me greatly to see those three sixes turn into three sevens, surrounded by three twos.
4. Preciso Dizer Que Te Amo, Cazuza & Bebel Gilberto
I logged eight credits of intermediate Spanish in college, and passed only because I had a very cool instructor who knew that passing was a requirement for me to get into grad school. But I'll take a shot at translating that title: “What a Precise Cigar, Dizer.” Not 100% sure who Dizer is, but I think he was a painter...
5. Champs, Wire
Woo hoo-- post-punk handclaps!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
THE EXCITING WORLD OF HIP
Might as well face it, I'm addicted to shuff...
1. I'm the Man Who Loves You, Wilco
I suppose calling them a post-rock Grateful Dead would sound like an insult. But there it is. Now deal.
2. I Am a Tree, Guided By Voices
I suppose calling them a post-post-rock Grateful Dead would sound like an insult. This one is positively epic for them-- it's almost five minutes long, for chrissakes. And they pretty much sustain, except for the parts where they torture the metaphor (“So climb up my trunk and build your nest”-- um, ew).
3. Download Sofist, Mouse on Mars
Pretty like a car commercial...
4. Prologue, Dimitri From Paris
Believe it or not, I paid someone $35 to buy me the Japanese version of Sacrebleu when it was first released. It came with a bonus disk, which I've never even listened to. I really liked the album itself though. And here's 36 seconds of it...
5. Blue Spark, X
There are a few identikit X songs on Under the Big Black Sun, and this is one of them. It at least has the grace and good sense to not stretch far beyond two minutes...
Might as well face it, I'm addicted to shuff...
1. I'm the Man Who Loves You, Wilco
I suppose calling them a post-rock Grateful Dead would sound like an insult. But there it is. Now deal.
2. I Am a Tree, Guided By Voices
I suppose calling them a post-post-rock Grateful Dead would sound like an insult. This one is positively epic for them-- it's almost five minutes long, for chrissakes. And they pretty much sustain, except for the parts where they torture the metaphor (“So climb up my trunk and build your nest”-- um, ew).
3. Download Sofist, Mouse on Mars
Pretty like a car commercial...
4. Prologue, Dimitri From Paris
Believe it or not, I paid someone $35 to buy me the Japanese version of Sacrebleu when it was first released. It came with a bonus disk, which I've never even listened to. I really liked the album itself though. And here's 36 seconds of it...
5. Blue Spark, X
There are a few identikit X songs on Under the Big Black Sun, and this is one of them. It at least has the grace and good sense to not stretch far beyond two minutes...
Friday, May 18, 2007
YOU BLEW IT UP
Shuffle short shot Friday...
1. New Music Machine, Cornelius
Ape shall not kill ape. But ape shall make ace shoegazer/Shibuya pop.
2. Days of Being Wild, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Wow, that was a pretty seamless transition. Well played, sir. Well played.
3. Too Personal, The Mekons
Comfortably Numb for people who don't do drugs or easy self-pity. So, certainly not numb, and definitely not comfortable. But that last minute is just weird, man.
4. Me and the Major, Belle and Sebastian
Another in the line of songs that name-check other bands, in this case Roxy Music. If I had the energy, I'd make a list, and probably start with the T. Rex songs (All the Young Dudes, You Better You Bet)...
5. Everything Merges With the Night, Brian Eno
And speaking of Roxy. If Eno looked like Bryan Ferry, the world would now be at peace.
Shuffle short shot Friday...
1. New Music Machine, Cornelius
Ape shall not kill ape. But ape shall make ace shoegazer/Shibuya pop.
2. Days of Being Wild, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Wow, that was a pretty seamless transition. Well played, sir. Well played.
3. Too Personal, The Mekons
Comfortably Numb for people who don't do drugs or easy self-pity. So, certainly not numb, and definitely not comfortable. But that last minute is just weird, man.
4. Me and the Major, Belle and Sebastian
Another in the line of songs that name-check other bands, in this case Roxy Music. If I had the energy, I'd make a list, and probably start with the T. Rex songs (All the Young Dudes, You Better You Bet)...
5. Everything Merges With the Night, Brian Eno
And speaking of Roxy. If Eno looked like Bryan Ferry, the world would now be at peace.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
OLDIES NIGHT
The shuffle function got a little creaky tonight.
1. European Son, The Velvet Underground
This one is not about the words. It's about breaking the glass, grinding the glass, and then trying to fuse the glass back together when it is already ground to dust. Almost works, too...
2. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Talking Heads
“Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)” is actually a perfect anagram of “European Son.” Well, it's not really, but it should be.
3. Corner Soul, The Clash
Except for the extreme wankery toward the very end, I've always thought that Sandinista! is a pretty excellent album. Let's try making it into a single album:
Hitsville UK
The Leader
Somebody Got Murdered
Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)
Let's Go Crazy
The Sound of the Sinners
Police on My Back
The Call Up
Washington Bullets
Charlie Don't Surf
The Street Parade
Now go round up all the contemporaneous albums that are better than that. It's OK, I'll wait...
4. Villiers Terrace [early version], Echo and The Bunnymen
I always wanted the Bunnymen to be better than they usually were. Oh well, at least we'll always have The Cutter and Killing Moon and Silver.
5. Painting the Town Blue, X
Right before they lost the plot. OK, this one is actually the sound of them losing the plot. But if you still don't own Wild Gift and Under the Big Black Sun, I am saddened. Truly saddened...
The shuffle function got a little creaky tonight.
1. European Son, The Velvet Underground
This one is not about the words. It's about breaking the glass, grinding the glass, and then trying to fuse the glass back together when it is already ground to dust. Almost works, too...
2. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On), Talking Heads
“Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)” is actually a perfect anagram of “European Son.” Well, it's not really, but it should be.
3. Corner Soul, The Clash
Except for the extreme wankery toward the very end, I've always thought that Sandinista! is a pretty excellent album. Let's try making it into a single album:
Hitsville UK
The Leader
Somebody Got Murdered
Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)
Let's Go Crazy
The Sound of the Sinners
Police on My Back
The Call Up
Washington Bullets
Charlie Don't Surf
The Street Parade
Now go round up all the contemporaneous albums that are better than that. It's OK, I'll wait...
4. Villiers Terrace [early version], Echo and The Bunnymen
I always wanted the Bunnymen to be better than they usually were. Oh well, at least we'll always have The Cutter and Killing Moon and Silver.
5. Painting the Town Blue, X
Right before they lost the plot. OK, this one is actually the sound of them losing the plot. But if you still don't own Wild Gift and Under the Big Black Sun, I am saddened. Truly saddened...
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
MECO COME
A midweek shuffle...
1. Subject to the Ladder, Broadcast
This struck me initially as a transitory song. Then I realized that most of the album is transitory. And that is its particular genius...
2. This Empty Place, Dionne Warwick
From the Bacharach/David songbook, before she went shitcracker psychic-friend crazy. Or maybe she was shitcracker crazy back then too-- it just didn't matter.
3. Goin' Out West, Tom Waits
I once had a theory that every other song on Bone Machine was great, like the Star Trek movies or Bret Saberhagen's career. But honestly, I couldn't tell you if this was one of the odd songs or one of the even songs...
4. Orgy of Bubastus, Add N to (X)
This sounds kind of like Devo's version of Satisfaction being covered by Heaven 17 in the Korova Milk Bar. Or Flight 505 being covered by the Mos Eisley Cantina Band. Whichever is the geekier reference...
5. In the Backseat, The Arcade Fire
Funeral helps define late 2004 for me, but I swear to jebus I've never, ever heard this song until now. And I don't mean that in the sense of “I've heard it 1,000 times, but now I'm really hearing it for the first time, man. I mean really hearing it, you know?” No, I mean I've just never heard it with my ears before...
A midweek shuffle...
1. Subject to the Ladder, Broadcast
This struck me initially as a transitory song. Then I realized that most of the album is transitory. And that is its particular genius...
2. This Empty Place, Dionne Warwick
From the Bacharach/David songbook, before she went shitcracker psychic-friend crazy. Or maybe she was shitcracker crazy back then too-- it just didn't matter.
3. Goin' Out West, Tom Waits
I once had a theory that every other song on Bone Machine was great, like the Star Trek movies or Bret Saberhagen's career. But honestly, I couldn't tell you if this was one of the odd songs or one of the even songs...
4. Orgy of Bubastus, Add N to (X)
This sounds kind of like Devo's version of Satisfaction being covered by Heaven 17 in the Korova Milk Bar. Or Flight 505 being covered by the Mos Eisley Cantina Band. Whichever is the geekier reference...
5. In the Backseat, The Arcade Fire
Funeral helps define late 2004 for me, but I swear to jebus I've never, ever heard this song until now. And I don't mean that in the sense of “I've heard it 1,000 times, but now I'm really hearing it for the first time, man. I mean really hearing it, you know?” No, I mean I've just never heard it with my ears before...
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
LIMITLESS MINNOWS
1. Monkey & Bear, Joanna Newsom
OK, so the monkey represents the body and the pleasures of the flesh, and Ursala the bear is spirituality. Or something like that. I was playing Freecell for some of the 9:28, OK?
2. Games People Play, The Spinners
All hail supperclub soul! And some basso profundo to boot. Love the way the various vocal lines finish each others' sentences. You know, like the games people play...
3. I Don't Want to See You, Camera Obscura
From the perfectly named album Underachievers Please Try Harder. Does seem a little strange that the iPod would go there again so soon, though.
4. Small Song IV, Broadcast
For the last six or seven years, I've been more interested in what Broadcast will do next than in what Stereolab will do next. And I have not been disappointed. Ha Ha Sound is up there with Dots and Loops as one of my all-time favorite albums of tonight...
5. Please Let Me Wonder, The Beach Boys
Many years ago I borrowed the Good Vibrations box-set from my buddy Tom. My then-toddler daughter was entranced by the faux wood-grain box, and figured she could improve on it with a little well-placed doodling. Well, she did improve on it, dammit. Plus, she inadvertently scored me my very own doodled-upon version of said box-set. And got for Tom a nice clean new version. Let's just say it was a win-win-win...
1. Monkey & Bear, Joanna Newsom
OK, so the monkey represents the body and the pleasures of the flesh, and Ursala the bear is spirituality. Or something like that. I was playing Freecell for some of the 9:28, OK?
2. Games People Play, The Spinners
All hail supperclub soul! And some basso profundo to boot. Love the way the various vocal lines finish each others' sentences. You know, like the games people play...
3. I Don't Want to See You, Camera Obscura
From the perfectly named album Underachievers Please Try Harder. Does seem a little strange that the iPod would go there again so soon, though.
4. Small Song IV, Broadcast
For the last six or seven years, I've been more interested in what Broadcast will do next than in what Stereolab will do next. And I have not been disappointed. Ha Ha Sound is up there with Dots and Loops as one of my all-time favorite albums of tonight...
5. Please Let Me Wonder, The Beach Boys
Many years ago I borrowed the Good Vibrations box-set from my buddy Tom. My then-toddler daughter was entranced by the faux wood-grain box, and figured she could improve on it with a little well-placed doodling. Well, she did improve on it, dammit. Plus, she inadvertently scored me my very own doodled-upon version of said box-set. And got for Tom a nice clean new version. Let's just say it was a win-win-win...
Monday, May 14, 2007
DO PI
Seems to me a person could dedicate a blog to the daily results of their shuffle.
But this is not that blog.
Except when it is.
Like this week.
Shuffle week on the tongue...
1. Staring at the Sun, TV on the Radio
I promise to one day like these guys more than I do currently. Just meet me halfway fellas...
2. Keep it Clean, Camera Obscura
Yeah, it's like Belle and Sebastian if Isobel was Stuart. But I like it. As long as the dude doesn't sing. This I call the Sugarcubes rule, and it translates roughly as “Dude, shut the fuck up.” Deerhoof, I'm looking at you, too...
3. Stay Free, The Clash
Up there with the very best of Mick Jones. Sentimental, but not treacly. And some excellent nongratuitous profanity. I remember when radio loved this song, but had to play the shits and fucks in reverse. Silly radio.
4. One More Hour, Sleater-Kinney
When they're on (like here) they give me the chills. The lead vocal is so damn committed, and then the backing vocal on the chorus is kind of sardonic-- it's an amazing contrapuntal kind of thing. And then that “Don't say another word/About the other girl” part? Damn, damn, and damn...
5. After Me the Deluge, Deerhoof
And speaking of Deerhoof... And dammit, the dude is singing! Must you mock me, iPod? But you know what? Actually, it's pretty OK. I take back what I said dude from Deerhoof-- you can continue to sing on occasion. And PS, I vote for “Apres moi le deluge” as one of history's coolest quotes...
Seems to me a person could dedicate a blog to the daily results of their shuffle.
But this is not that blog.
Except when it is.
Like this week.
Shuffle week on the tongue...
1. Staring at the Sun, TV on the Radio
I promise to one day like these guys more than I do currently. Just meet me halfway fellas...
2. Keep it Clean, Camera Obscura
Yeah, it's like Belle and Sebastian if Isobel was Stuart. But I like it. As long as the dude doesn't sing. This I call the Sugarcubes rule, and it translates roughly as “Dude, shut the fuck up.” Deerhoof, I'm looking at you, too...
3. Stay Free, The Clash
Up there with the very best of Mick Jones. Sentimental, but not treacly. And some excellent nongratuitous profanity. I remember when radio loved this song, but had to play the shits and fucks in reverse. Silly radio.
4. One More Hour, Sleater-Kinney
When they're on (like here) they give me the chills. The lead vocal is so damn committed, and then the backing vocal on the chorus is kind of sardonic-- it's an amazing contrapuntal kind of thing. And then that “Don't say another word/About the other girl” part? Damn, damn, and damn...
5. After Me the Deluge, Deerhoof
And speaking of Deerhoof... And dammit, the dude is singing! Must you mock me, iPod? But you know what? Actually, it's pretty OK. I take back what I said dude from Deerhoof-- you can continue to sing on occasion. And PS, I vote for “Apres moi le deluge” as one of history's coolest quotes...
Friday, May 11, 2007
MY POD
The end of a long and draining week...
What have you got for me, o mighty shuffle feature?
1. Abernant 1984-85, The Mekons
Yeah, that'll do. A little sloppy moral outrage.
2. Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts, Wolf Parade
“But God doesn't always have the best goddamn plans, does He?” Cute.
3. Chop That Child in Half, The Mekons
Whoa, what's with more Mekons? And now we've moved from God to Solomon. What's next, Jesus from the third Velvets album? Maybe a cut from Speaking in Tongues?
4. Twist and Crawl, The English Beat
I Just Can't Stop It really is a great album. I saw in the paper today that these guys are playing locally soon. I wonder how many original members are in this iteration. Maybe Ranking Roger and a Dave Wakeling-alike?
5. Halfway to a Threeway, Jim O'Rourke
Gotta love that nutty post-rock math. This is a little creepy the first few times you hear it, then it eventually becomes kind of pretty. Then: creepy, creepy, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, creepy, pretty, creepy, creepy, pretty, creepy. I'm not sure what happens after that...
6. Raquel, The Specials
The ska bands borrowed a bunch of cool stuff from the punks. It's a shame that The Specials had to borrow the misogyny as well. And no, this isn't the only example.
7. Slack Motherfucker, Superchunk
“I'm working/But I'm not working for you!” Now that's a Friday lyric. A 1990 lyric, too.
8. Jaqueline, Franz Ferdinand
These guys knew what they wanted to do right out of the box (be a stylish Gang of Four), and they did it well. And look, another Friday lyric: “It's always better on holiday/So much better on holiday/That's why we only work when we need the money.” Aye, me wee bairns...
9. Live at Dominoes, The Avalanches
Ooh, listen, I think they just sampled an old “How to Shoot Snooker” instructional record. You know, the one that came out on Deram in 1968. The one with the green and red cover. Kooks.
10. Ladyflash, The Go! Team
OK, iPod, I have about 5,000 songs on there. There's no way you could've followed The Avalanches with The Go! Team by accident. Nice.
The end of a long and draining week...
What have you got for me, o mighty shuffle feature?
1. Abernant 1984-85, The Mekons
Yeah, that'll do. A little sloppy moral outrage.
2. Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts, Wolf Parade
“But God doesn't always have the best goddamn plans, does He?” Cute.
3. Chop That Child in Half, The Mekons
Whoa, what's with more Mekons? And now we've moved from God to Solomon. What's next, Jesus from the third Velvets album? Maybe a cut from Speaking in Tongues?
4. Twist and Crawl, The English Beat
I Just Can't Stop It really is a great album. I saw in the paper today that these guys are playing locally soon. I wonder how many original members are in this iteration. Maybe Ranking Roger and a Dave Wakeling-alike?
5. Halfway to a Threeway, Jim O'Rourke
Gotta love that nutty post-rock math. This is a little creepy the first few times you hear it, then it eventually becomes kind of pretty. Then: creepy, creepy, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, creepy, pretty, creepy, creepy, pretty, creepy. I'm not sure what happens after that...
6. Raquel, The Specials
The ska bands borrowed a bunch of cool stuff from the punks. It's a shame that The Specials had to borrow the misogyny as well. And no, this isn't the only example.
7. Slack Motherfucker, Superchunk
“I'm working/But I'm not working for you!” Now that's a Friday lyric. A 1990 lyric, too.
8. Jaqueline, Franz Ferdinand
These guys knew what they wanted to do right out of the box (be a stylish Gang of Four), and they did it well. And look, another Friday lyric: “It's always better on holiday/So much better on holiday/That's why we only work when we need the money.” Aye, me wee bairns...
9. Live at Dominoes, The Avalanches
Ooh, listen, I think they just sampled an old “How to Shoot Snooker” instructional record. You know, the one that came out on Deram in 1968. The one with the green and red cover. Kooks.
10. Ladyflash, The Go! Team
OK, iPod, I have about 5,000 songs on there. There's no way you could've followed The Avalanches with The Go! Team by accident. Nice.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
SWEEP THE DEBRIS
Shuffling with the 2GB nano is like going to an office party. You know you're going to run into the same people you see every day, just in a slightly different context.
Shuffling with the 30GB is a different shindig. You end up meeting people you had long forgotten, or just never really knew.
Take tonight for example.
I had ages ago written off Beck's Mutations, and strode confidently through the years convinced that there was nothing there for me.
But then shuffle dished out Lazy Flies, and I was kinda sorta blown away.
I doubt I'll have the time/inclination to go back and completely reassess Mutations.
But it was good seeing you, man. Good seeing you...
Shuffling with the 2GB nano is like going to an office party. You know you're going to run into the same people you see every day, just in a slightly different context.
Shuffling with the 30GB is a different shindig. You end up meeting people you had long forgotten, or just never really knew.
Take tonight for example.
I had ages ago written off Beck's Mutations, and strode confidently through the years convinced that there was nothing there for me.
But then shuffle dished out Lazy Flies, and I was kinda sorta blown away.
I doubt I'll have the time/inclination to go back and completely reassess Mutations.
But it was good seeing you, man. Good seeing you...
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Monday, May 07, 2007
SUDDENLY IT JUST HAPPENED
The number one song in England on this date in 1967 was Puppet on a String by Sandie Shaw, a piece of piffle that was the UK's entry in Eurovision that year (and the overall winner).
In America, the number one song was The Happening, which proved that The Supremes could turn shit into hit with the blink of an ess.
But all this is trivial trivia when considering that on May 7, 1967 my wife was born.
Happy 4oth dear. I love you, always.
The number one song in England on this date in 1967 was Puppet on a String by Sandie Shaw, a piece of piffle that was the UK's entry in Eurovision that year (and the overall winner).
In America, the number one song was The Happening, which proved that The Supremes could turn shit into hit with the blink of an ess.
But all this is trivial trivia when considering that on May 7, 1967 my wife was born.
Happy 4oth dear. I love you, always.
Friday, May 04, 2007
I WON'T NEED YOUR PICTURE UNTIL WE SAY GOODBYE
Maybe it's the long week speaking, but when all is said and done, there's probably a place on my all-time top 20 for Strange Days.
It's kind of easy to dismiss The Doors in general as a remnant of my adolescence, but this particular album has a purity of vision and execution that puts it in league with stuff like Closer and Psychocandy.
And this way I can feel like I knew a little something about something when I was 15...
Maybe it's the long week speaking, but when all is said and done, there's probably a place on my all-time top 20 for Strange Days.
It's kind of easy to dismiss The Doors in general as a remnant of my adolescence, but this particular album has a purity of vision and execution that puts it in league with stuff like Closer and Psychocandy.
And this way I can feel like I knew a little something about something when I was 15...
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
AWKWARD INSTANT
Strange Days was on my mind because I picked up a copy at Costco on Sunday for $7.79.
I was curious to see what remastering had wrought.
Oddly though, very little had changed, except for the random fillip or two on When the Music's Over.
Not sure if this means that Strange Days is considered more sacrosanct than Morrison Hotel, or if there's just less flotsam floating around it...
Strange Days was on my mind because I picked up a copy at Costco on Sunday for $7.79.
I was curious to see what remastering had wrought.
Oddly though, very little had changed, except for the random fillip or two on When the Music's Over.
Not sure if this means that Strange Days is considered more sacrosanct than Morrison Hotel, or if there's just less flotsam floating around it...
Monday, April 30, 2007
WAITING FOR ME OUTSIDE
One night when I was 16 I bribed my brother with a joint for a ride across town.
Usually I would have walked, but it was raining, and I had a party I needed to get to, dryly.
“Wait about 20 minutes— I’m going to take a shower,” he said.
So I retreated to my bedroom and started listening to Strange Days.
My brother came into the room right as When the Music’s Over ended. “Come on.”
I rolled off my bed and spun out of my bedroom into the hallway. My brother was blocking the way, so I came to a stop on the clear plastic runner that covered the carpet.
“Don’t you even listen to your own music?” he said.
I paused for a few beats, and then realized that he was telling me to turn off the light in my bedroom (“When the music’s over/Turn out the lights”).
And I fear, my friends, that this was the cleverest thing I ever heard Jeff say...
One night when I was 16 I bribed my brother with a joint for a ride across town.
Usually I would have walked, but it was raining, and I had a party I needed to get to, dryly.
“Wait about 20 minutes— I’m going to take a shower,” he said.
So I retreated to my bedroom and started listening to Strange Days.
My brother came into the room right as When the Music’s Over ended. “Come on.”
I rolled off my bed and spun out of my bedroom into the hallway. My brother was blocking the way, so I came to a stop on the clear plastic runner that covered the carpet.
“Don’t you even listen to your own music?” he said.
I paused for a few beats, and then realized that he was telling me to turn off the light in my bedroom (“When the music’s over/Turn out the lights”).
And I fear, my friends, that this was the cleverest thing I ever heard Jeff say...
Thursday, April 26, 2007
EAST BAY
Speaking of hardcore, I realized today that I simply can't explain the Dead Kennedys.
I was talking to someone who was born in the early '80s.
“Jello Biafra. Holiday in Cambodia,” was about all I could muster before I just waved my hand to dismiss the topic.
It's probably all for the best anyway...
Speaking of hardcore, I realized today that I simply can't explain the Dead Kennedys.
I was talking to someone who was born in the early '80s.
“Jello Biafra. Holiday in Cambodia,” was about all I could muster before I just waved my hand to dismiss the topic.
It's probably all for the best anyway...
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
LYRES
Hey, Joanna Newsom. The Renaissance Fair wants you back at Ye Olde Mead Tent, ASAP. Your break was over 20 minutes ago.
OK, I’ll stow my snarkiness for a second and admit that I kind of like Ys. I mean, I dip in and out of consciousness while I listen, but the words are pretty swell.
Yea, verily...
Hey, Joanna Newsom. The Renaissance Fair wants you back at Ye Olde Mead Tent, ASAP. Your break was over 20 minutes ago.
OK, I’ll stow my snarkiness for a second and admit that I kind of like Ys. I mean, I dip in and out of consciousness while I listen, but the words are pretty swell.
Yea, verily...
Monday, April 23, 2007
Guðmundsdóttir
Welcome bjack, Bjork!
It was good to see you on SNL.
Wish you’d hit a few more major population centers on your upcoming tour— I’d love to take my seven-year old daughter to the show.
I’ve always looked to you as a good potential pop-culture role model for my girl.
Except maybe for the batshit-crazy reporter attack at the airport, and the strange tolerance for hectoring Sven back in the Sugarcube days, that is...
Rock odd!
sliced tongue
Welcome bjack, Bjork!
It was good to see you on SNL.
Wish you’d hit a few more major population centers on your upcoming tour— I’d love to take my seven-year old daughter to the show.
I’ve always looked to you as a good potential pop-culture role model for my girl.
Except maybe for the batshit-crazy reporter attack at the airport, and the strange tolerance for hectoring Sven back in the Sugarcube days, that is...
Rock odd!
sliced tongue
Friday, April 20, 2007
YOU GOTTA FEIST FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PAAARRTAY
Damnit.
I was trying to post the Mushaboom video-- seemed like the perfect gently optimistic tonic for the week that was.
But YouTube and blogger are doing their level Hatfield/McCoy best to keep it from happening.
So I'll just sing it for you...
Ooooold dirt road (mushaboom)
Knneeee deep snow (mushaboom)
Raaaaamblin' rose (mushaboom)
Watching the five pound essskimo (mushaboom)
Poookey Reese goes in the hole (mushaboom)
Rooooww your boat (mushaboom)
Kriiiispy, cocoa (mushaboom)
I love that dagblasted song!
Damnit.
I was trying to post the Mushaboom video-- seemed like the perfect gently optimistic tonic for the week that was.
But YouTube and blogger are doing their level Hatfield/McCoy best to keep it from happening.
So I'll just sing it for you...
Ooooold dirt road (mushaboom)
Knneeee deep snow (mushaboom)
Raaaaamblin' rose (mushaboom)
Watching the five pound essskimo (mushaboom)
Poookey Reese goes in the hole (mushaboom)
Rooooww your boat (mushaboom)
Kriiiispy, cocoa (mushaboom)
I love that dagblasted song!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
PLAYING IN JAPAN
Lord knows I love me some Be@rbricks, and I was all about the punk rock wonsaponatime, so it's a pretty safe bet that a little slice of my tax refund is going to go toward a set of these:
Lord knows I love me some Be@rbricks, and I was all about the punk rock wonsaponatime, so it's a pretty safe bet that a little slice of my tax refund is going to go toward a set of these:
And if you think this somehow cheapens the memory of the Pistols, I say to you: Sod off, wally...
Thursday, April 12, 2007
HOW DO YOU CALL YOUR LOVER BOY?
Things I found in the trash (well, my work PC recycle bin, to be precise):
-A very short wav file of a machined voice saying my boss’ first name.
-A wav file of the grits courtroom scene from My Cousin Vinny.
-A folder named “Edits and Whutnaught” that contained an MP3 titled “hOUSE mARTY (olive oyl edit).”
-An empty folder named “Fook Hid.”
I’m sure these all have interesting genesis stories, but the one that really intrigues me is “Fook Hid.”
I need to know who Fook is, and what he/she was hiding from...
Things I found in the trash (well, my work PC recycle bin, to be precise):
-A very short wav file of a machined voice saying my boss’ first name.
-A wav file of the grits courtroom scene from My Cousin Vinny.
-A folder named “Edits and Whutnaught” that contained an MP3 titled “hOUSE mARTY (olive oyl edit).”
-An empty folder named “Fook Hid.”
I’m sure these all have interesting genesis stories, but the one that really intrigues me is “Fook Hid.”
I need to know who Fook is, and what he/she was hiding from...
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
CORONA
Frank Sinatra’s version of Mrs. Robinson is pure punk.
It’s downright thrilling to hear him whip it out and piss all over the folkie pretense of the thing:
The PTA, Mrs. Robinson, won't OK the way you do your thing,
Ding, ding, ding.
And you'll get yours, Mrs. Robinson, foolin' with that young stuff like you do,
Boo, hoo, hoo, woo, woo, woo.
And oh yeah, it’s funny as shit to boot...
Frank Sinatra’s version of Mrs. Robinson is pure punk.
It’s downright thrilling to hear him whip it out and piss all over the folkie pretense of the thing:
The PTA, Mrs. Robinson, won't OK the way you do your thing,
Ding, ding, ding.
And you'll get yours, Mrs. Robinson, foolin' with that young stuff like you do,
Boo, hoo, hoo, woo, woo, woo.
And oh yeah, it’s funny as shit to boot...
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
EASE SUM KONK
The other carrot that's supposed to attract you silly wabbits to this latest round of Doors reissues is the presence of bonus tracks.
Which in the case of Morrison Hotel consists in part of about 20 minutes worth of alternate takes of Roadhouse Blues.
Wherein we discover that Jim was pretty taken with the idea of prefacing the track with some spoken word crap, a la The Soft Parade (“When I was back there in seminary school...”).
This time around it boils down to “Money beats soul, every time” plus whatever stream of folderol pops into Jim's head.
There's also this bit of dialogue, from a Peace Frog outtake: “Boy, you guys sound like a drunken cripple walking up a flight of stairs, man.”
Charming.
The one passable extra is a “jazz” version of Queen of the Highway-- John gets to brush his drums, and Jim gets to indulge his Sinatra jones. Like, cool, man.
So, the five-word review of the bonus tracks goes something like this: Money beats soul, every time...
The other carrot that's supposed to attract you silly wabbits to this latest round of Doors reissues is the presence of bonus tracks.
Which in the case of Morrison Hotel consists in part of about 20 minutes worth of alternate takes of Roadhouse Blues.
Wherein we discover that Jim was pretty taken with the idea of prefacing the track with some spoken word crap, a la The Soft Parade (“When I was back there in seminary school...”).
This time around it boils down to “Money beats soul, every time” plus whatever stream of folderol pops into Jim's head.
There's also this bit of dialogue, from a Peace Frog outtake: “Boy, you guys sound like a drunken cripple walking up a flight of stairs, man.”
Charming.
The one passable extra is a “jazz” version of Queen of the Highway-- John gets to brush his drums, and Jim gets to indulge his Sinatra jones. Like, cool, man.
So, the five-word review of the bonus tracks goes something like this: Money beats soul, every time...
Monday, April 09, 2007
TOMORROW WE ENTER THE TOWN OF MY BIRTH
Our memories create mirages, as we reshape our pasts by accident or design.
But art creates order out of chaos. The song remains the same, as it were.
This is by way of explaining how I was a little goosed by an impulse purchase I made while I was up in NY last week: the remastered edition of Morrison Hotel.
Now, I assumed that “remastered” meant that some audible impurities had been cleaned up. Maybe the faint voice that counts off during the false ending of Peace Frog had been removed. Maybe some tape hiss had been replaced by deep-space silence.
But this was no ordinary remastering. It seems that they’ve gone back to the source multitrack masters and resurrected pieces that had been excised from the original release.
It doesn’t amount to anything revelatory. John Sebastian’s harmonica line is more prominent in Roadhouse Blues, which now ends with Jim yelling “Yikes!” You Make Me Real opens with a catcall whistle. Ship of Fools starts with someone saying “16” (the number of that particular take?), and ends with a slightly different vocal.
Oh, and that voice counting off in Peace Frog? Gone.
I’m used to it by now, and I’ve filed the disc safely away on my iPod. I’ll probably get a once-a-year buzz to listen to it a couple of times.
But for a passing moment, Morrison Hotel created a mirage. It transcended art and became memory...
Our memories create mirages, as we reshape our pasts by accident or design.
But art creates order out of chaos. The song remains the same, as it were.
This is by way of explaining how I was a little goosed by an impulse purchase I made while I was up in NY last week: the remastered edition of Morrison Hotel.
Now, I assumed that “remastered” meant that some audible impurities had been cleaned up. Maybe the faint voice that counts off during the false ending of Peace Frog had been removed. Maybe some tape hiss had been replaced by deep-space silence.
But this was no ordinary remastering. It seems that they’ve gone back to the source multitrack masters and resurrected pieces that had been excised from the original release.
It doesn’t amount to anything revelatory. John Sebastian’s harmonica line is more prominent in Roadhouse Blues, which now ends with Jim yelling “Yikes!” You Make Me Real opens with a catcall whistle. Ship of Fools starts with someone saying “16” (the number of that particular take?), and ends with a slightly different vocal.
Oh, and that voice counting off in Peace Frog? Gone.
I’m used to it by now, and I’ve filed the disc safely away on my iPod. I’ll probably get a once-a-year buzz to listen to it a couple of times.
But for a passing moment, Morrison Hotel created a mirage. It transcended art and became memory...
Friday, March 30, 2007
MAYBE WHEN I'M OLDER
I did my taxes last night, and I'm going on vacation tomorrow, so gaze in awe and wonder as I pull a list out of my ass.
TOP 10 FAVORITE VELVET UNDERGROUND SONGS
10. She's My Best Friend
9. White Light/White Heat
8. Sweet Jane
7. What Goes On
6. Lady Godiva's Operation
5. Rock and Roll
4. Sunday Morning
3. Head Held High
2. Sister Ray
1. Candy Says
See you again on April 9th.
I did my taxes last night, and I'm going on vacation tomorrow, so gaze in awe and wonder as I pull a list out of my ass.
TOP 10 FAVORITE VELVET UNDERGROUND SONGS
10. She's My Best Friend
9. White Light/White Heat
8. Sweet Jane
7. What Goes On
6. Lady Godiva's Operation
5. Rock and Roll
4. Sunday Morning
3. Head Held High
2. Sister Ray
1. Candy Says
See you again on April 9th.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
IN PLAIN VIEW
I.
David Sheridan lived in the Home for Wayward Boys.
Well, that’s not what it was really called. County social services owned a large green patch in the center of my hometown, on the crest of a slight hill. In some ivy-accented brick buildings, they housed teenage boys from broken homes.
Around about my junior year of high school, the county decided to integrate these kids into the local school system.
By the time David Sheridan showed up, I was a regular habitue of the school detention center. Hell, my best friend and I lent it what came to be its long-term name: The Rubber Room.
I was what passed for a local suburban badass. I carried around a copy of Beyond Good and Evil, not so much because I was interested in Nietzsche, but because I knew it would be unsettling. The Rubber Room teacher, with the smell of wine stuck to his clothes, would plead gently with me to read Studs Terkel instead...
II.
Yesterday, my wife introduced me to someone who grew up in the same hometown. We did some quick calculations and concluded that our ages and years of residency did not sync up. I asked him where he had lived.
“Do you know the bowling alley?”
“Of course,” I said. I had bowled there a bunch of times, but had actually spent more time dropping quarters into their video games.
“I lived kind of across the street. Remember there used to be a vacant field right across the street? Man, I think they’ve built that up.”
“Yeah, they have— a bunch of houses.” I probably drove by there not more than six months ago.
“Me and my friends used to play in that field all the time,” he said. His young daughter spun around in her chair and knocked her knees on the table.
III.
One night, probably about three months after he came to our school, David Sheridan and his closest friend were together in that field across from the bowling alley.
That night, David Sheridan’s friend brought down upon his head a large cinder block.
And David Sheridan was dead.
I.
David Sheridan lived in the Home for Wayward Boys.
Well, that’s not what it was really called. County social services owned a large green patch in the center of my hometown, on the crest of a slight hill. In some ivy-accented brick buildings, they housed teenage boys from broken homes.
Around about my junior year of high school, the county decided to integrate these kids into the local school system.
By the time David Sheridan showed up, I was a regular habitue of the school detention center. Hell, my best friend and I lent it what came to be its long-term name: The Rubber Room.
I was what passed for a local suburban badass. I carried around a copy of Beyond Good and Evil, not so much because I was interested in Nietzsche, but because I knew it would be unsettling. The Rubber Room teacher, with the smell of wine stuck to his clothes, would plead gently with me to read Studs Terkel instead...
II.
Yesterday, my wife introduced me to someone who grew up in the same hometown. We did some quick calculations and concluded that our ages and years of residency did not sync up. I asked him where he had lived.
“Do you know the bowling alley?”
“Of course,” I said. I had bowled there a bunch of times, but had actually spent more time dropping quarters into their video games.
“I lived kind of across the street. Remember there used to be a vacant field right across the street? Man, I think they’ve built that up.”
“Yeah, they have— a bunch of houses.” I probably drove by there not more than six months ago.
“Me and my friends used to play in that field all the time,” he said. His young daughter spun around in her chair and knocked her knees on the table.
III.
One night, probably about three months after he came to our school, David Sheridan and his closest friend were together in that field across from the bowling alley.
That night, David Sheridan’s friend brought down upon his head a large cinder block.
And David Sheridan was dead.
Friday, March 23, 2007
A NEW SONG
Wrote this last night in bed. Except for the Sweet Adeline part, which was written in a barbershop back in aught-three...
Pittsburgh Got Its Aitch
I’m a fat town elder,
I went to school with your father.
I got this cough in the mill
And you will too.
I met my love one summer
Over a piano.
She played Sweet Adeline,
With ringlets of hair
In her eyes.
Sweet Adeline,
My Adeline,
At night, dear heart,
For you I pine.
In all my dreams,
Your fair face beams.
You're the flower of my heart,
Sweet Adeline...
Wrote this last night in bed. Except for the Sweet Adeline part, which was written in a barbershop back in aught-three...
Pittsburgh Got Its Aitch
I’m a fat town elder,
I went to school with your father.
I got this cough in the mill
And you will too.
I met my love one summer
Over a piano.
She played Sweet Adeline,
With ringlets of hair
In her eyes.
Sweet Adeline,
My Adeline,
At night, dear heart,
For you I pine.
In all my dreams,
Your fair face beams.
You're the flower of my heart,
Sweet Adeline...
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
DOES YOUR CHEWING GUM LOSE ITS FLAVOR...
And now another question, this one from reader Tom in Voweltopia, NY: What candy do you associate with the 1910 Fruitgum Co., of Simon Says fame?
Sweet high-fructose Jebus, Tom in NY. Your little ontological trickery just about made my head explode.
Have you no respect for the sanctity of Fridays?
And now another question, this one from reader Tom in Voweltopia, NY: What candy do you associate with the 1910 Fruitgum Co., of Simon Says fame?
Sweet high-fructose Jebus, Tom in NY. Your little ontological trickery just about made my head explode.
Have you no respect for the sanctity of Fridays?
Thursday, March 15, 2007
SWEET EMOTION
Loyal reader Cranston from Biloxi, MS asks: Hey sliced tongue, what candies do you associate with some of my favorite classic-rock bands?
Well, first off, thanks for reading, Cranston.
Now here’s a quick sampling:
Jethro Tull = Mary Jane
Led Zeppelin = Mounds
Pink Floyd = Almond Joy
The Who = Marathon Bar
Aerosmith = 100 Grand Bar, né $100,000 Bar
The Beatles = Milky Way
The Rolling Stones = Snickers
The Kinks = Three Musketeers
Keep those requests coming!
Loyal reader Cranston from Biloxi, MS asks: Hey sliced tongue, what candies do you associate with some of my favorite classic-rock bands?
Well, first off, thanks for reading, Cranston.
Now here’s a quick sampling:
Jethro Tull = Mary Jane
Led Zeppelin = Mounds
Pink Floyd = Almond Joy
The Who = Marathon Bar
Aerosmith = 100 Grand Bar, né $100,000 Bar
The Beatles = Milky Way
The Rolling Stones = Snickers
The Kinks = Three Musketeers
Keep those requests coming!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
IN DREAMS
Every 35 weeks or so I get a bug to own The Medicine Show by Dream Syndicate.
And every 35 weeks or so I’m reminded that it remains out of print. I found a copy on eBay with a BIN price of $120. To which I say “Ha.”
Ha.
It doesn’t appear to be available from any legitimate download sites either. I do have some 35-week-old MP3s that betray their vinyl origins by hissing and cracking and popping.
I know it’s not the greatest album. Steve Wynn’s bullshit redlines occasionally, and it’s sludgy where the first album was sharp.
But still, it has enough good moments to deserve life as a CD or DL.
Get on it Rhino and/or eMusic...
Every 35 weeks or so I get a bug to own The Medicine Show by Dream Syndicate.
And every 35 weeks or so I’m reminded that it remains out of print. I found a copy on eBay with a BIN price of $120. To which I say “Ha.”
Ha.
It doesn’t appear to be available from any legitimate download sites either. I do have some 35-week-old MP3s that betray their vinyl origins by hissing and cracking and popping.
I know it’s not the greatest album. Steve Wynn’s bullshit redlines occasionally, and it’s sludgy where the first album was sharp.
But still, it has enough good moments to deserve life as a CD or DL.
Get on it Rhino and/or eMusic...
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
EAT THE DISHES, BITCHES
Upon further reflection, it’s become clear to me that I have a very particular form of synesthesia.
Specifically, there is a cross-sensory union in my mind between rock bands and candy.
So, even more than recognizing that eating licorice and listening to Gang of Four was a moment of acute sensual pleasure, I will go so far as to posit the following:
Gang of Four = licorice
Here are some further rock/candy equations:
Chuck Berry = Rock candy
R.E.M. = Blow Pops
The High Llamas = Nik-L Nips
Stereolab = Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip
Pearl Jam = Peanut Brittle
Television = Peppermint Patty
James Brown = Butterfinger
Bruce Springsteen = Bubble Yum Original
Sufjan Stevens = Aero Bar
Beck = Crispy M&Ms
Bjork = Twix
Art Brut = Razzles
Sonic Youth = Charleston Chew
Upon further reflection, it’s become clear to me that I have a very particular form of synesthesia.
Specifically, there is a cross-sensory union in my mind between rock bands and candy.
So, even more than recognizing that eating licorice and listening to Gang of Four was a moment of acute sensual pleasure, I will go so far as to posit the following:
Gang of Four = licorice
Here are some further rock/candy equations:
Chuck Berry = Rock candy
R.E.M. = Blow Pops
The High Llamas = Nik-L Nips
Stereolab = Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip
Pearl Jam = Peanut Brittle
Television = Peppermint Patty
James Brown = Butterfinger
Bruce Springsteen = Bubble Yum Original
Sufjan Stevens = Aero Bar
Beck = Crispy M&Ms
Bjork = Twix
Art Brut = Razzles
Sonic Youth = Charleston Chew
Monday, March 12, 2007
WHITE NOISE IN A WHITE ROOM
I discovered quite by accident yesterday that the perfect thing to do while listening to Gang of Four’s Entertainment is eat licorice.
I was sucking on an herb menthol Lackerol on my way home from the bookstore, and I popped in the disc. It was warmish out, so I had the windows rolled halfway down.
I was working the little saucer of licorice from corner to corner in my mouth, and that part of Ether came on where it just goes “THRUM THRUM THRUM” and eventually gets cacophonous enough to sterilize bugs, and I just had a big old grin on my face...
Perfect.
I discovered quite by accident yesterday that the perfect thing to do while listening to Gang of Four’s Entertainment is eat licorice.
I was sucking on an herb menthol Lackerol on my way home from the bookstore, and I popped in the disc. It was warmish out, so I had the windows rolled halfway down.
I was working the little saucer of licorice from corner to corner in my mouth, and that part of Ether came on where it just goes “THRUM THRUM THRUM” and eventually gets cacophonous enough to sterilize bugs, and I just had a big old grin on my face...
Perfect.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
NOISE CANCELLATION
And speaking of buds: Deerhoof, you all owe me a new pair.
I started playing Friend Opportunity the other day at a not-obscene volume, and The Perfect Me just jumped right out of the iPod.
The thing tore through my standard-issue earbuds, which started buzzing and popping on the concha of my pinnae.
I’ll be waiting for you to hook me up, D.
And speaking of buds: Deerhoof, you all owe me a new pair.
I started playing Friend Opportunity the other day at a not-obscene volume, and The Perfect Me just jumped right out of the iPod.
The thing tore through my standard-issue earbuds, which started buzzing and popping on the concha of my pinnae.
I’ll be waiting for you to hook me up, D.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
PODFELLOW
But that’s not to say that headphones have not led to the occasional great discovery.
Just the other night, after a good 25 years of steeping, it became clear to me that I had the lyrics to What Goes On all wrong.
So it’s not
“What would a poor woman do,
Walking it up, and walking it down”
It is, rather
“One minute born, one minute doomed,
One minute up, one minute down”
Thanks buds!
But that’s not to say that headphones have not led to the occasional great discovery.
Just the other night, after a good 25 years of steeping, it became clear to me that I had the lyrics to What Goes On all wrong.
So it’s not
“What would a poor woman do,
Walking it up, and walking it down”
It is, rather
“One minute born, one minute doomed,
One minute up, one minute down”
Thanks buds!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
SIMPLE HEADPHONE MIND
In the days before the iPod I did not often listen to music through headphones.
I kind of liked the sloppy olio that music made when it mixed with ambient noise.
Long ago I walked around with a boombox, revelling in the way that the opening guitars in Have You Seen Your Mother echoed across the rim of the local sump late at night.
Or how the Sex Pistols version of No Fun bounced off the exterior walls of my high school, Johnny Rotten’s “fuckology” competing with the third-period bell.
Or, perched on the steps of the Haagen-Dazs takeout, how White Riot seemed to accelerate the cars puttering down Old Country Rd.
Alchemy, plain and simple...
In the days before the iPod I did not often listen to music through headphones.
I kind of liked the sloppy olio that music made when it mixed with ambient noise.
Long ago I walked around with a boombox, revelling in the way that the opening guitars in Have You Seen Your Mother echoed across the rim of the local sump late at night.
Or how the Sex Pistols version of No Fun bounced off the exterior walls of my high school, Johnny Rotten’s “fuckology” competing with the third-period bell.
Or, perched on the steps of the Haagen-Dazs takeout, how White Riot seemed to accelerate the cars puttering down Old Country Rd.
Alchemy, plain and simple...
Monday, March 05, 2007
Thursday, March 01, 2007
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY
Watch the Tapes by LCD Soundsystem is the greatest song ever.
Greatest. Song. Ever.
Like, in the entire history of recorded sound.
All you good people who have selected music as your art form of choice should just go out and buy a nice 20 lb bucket of gray-green plastilina. You know, redirect your energies and all.
Because the pinnacle has been pinnacled. The apex has been apexed. The acme has been acmed.
And I’ll probably be sick of it by the time the CD comes out in a couple of weeks...
Watch the Tapes by LCD Soundsystem is the greatest song ever.
Greatest. Song. Ever.
Like, in the entire history of recorded sound.
All you good people who have selected music as your art form of choice should just go out and buy a nice 20 lb bucket of gray-green plastilina. You know, redirect your energies and all.
Because the pinnacle has been pinnacled. The apex has been apexed. The acme has been acmed.
And I’ll probably be sick of it by the time the CD comes out in a couple of weeks...
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
BRITNEY SHEARS
The Murder Mystery brings the third Velvet Underground album to a grinding halt. Voices to the left of me, voices to the right of me...
The one line I’ve always loved, though, is this: “Shaving my head’s made me bolder.”
I’ve done it twice myself.
I did it last summer before a trip to Japan, because I knew I was going to be met with stifling heat and humidity, and I was determined to stay cool.
The only burden turned out to be an aesthetic one, and a series of baseball hats helped succor my vanity.
The other time was four or five months before I left my previous job. It was not exactly a cry for help, but it was a clear assertion that I found myself in need of a fundamental change.
And shaving my head made me bolder.
Razamatazz, Brit. Razamatazz...
The Murder Mystery brings the third Velvet Underground album to a grinding halt. Voices to the left of me, voices to the right of me...
The one line I’ve always loved, though, is this: “Shaving my head’s made me bolder.”
I’ve done it twice myself.
I did it last summer before a trip to Japan, because I knew I was going to be met with stifling heat and humidity, and I was determined to stay cool.
The only burden turned out to be an aesthetic one, and a series of baseball hats helped succor my vanity.
The other time was four or five months before I left my previous job. It was not exactly a cry for help, but it was a clear assertion that I found myself in need of a fundamental change.
And shaving my head made me bolder.
Razamatazz, Brit. Razamatazz...
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
I GET MY ADVICE FROM THE ADVERTISING WORLD
But I do have to say that Cesar dog foods’ use of I Think I Need a New Heart by The Magnetic Fields totally sold me on their product.
In fact, I am going to the local puppy mill tomorrow to pick myself up a yippy little lap dog, just so I can feed it Cesar gourmet meals.
Because my manpurse-friendly puppy will deserve only the finest: porterhouse steak, filet mignon, pork tenderloin.
Yip yip yip...
But I do have to say that Cesar dog foods’ use of I Think I Need a New Heart by The Magnetic Fields totally sold me on their product.
In fact, I am going to the local puppy mill tomorrow to pick myself up a yippy little lap dog, just so I can feed it Cesar gourmet meals.
Because my manpurse-friendly puppy will deserve only the finest: porterhouse steak, filet mignon, pork tenderloin.
Yip yip yip...
Monday, February 26, 2007
BALLS TO YOU BIG DADDY
Dear General Motors,
I appreciate that you’d like to sell me a Cadillac. Heck, I admit I’m even a little flattered.
My grandfather owned a Caddy back in the day. It was stolen from in front of his house in Queens Village one night in the mid 70s. Oh, don’t worry GM— the story has a happy ending. Seems it was boosted by some kids for a relatively painless joyride. The nice officer who wrapped up the case was even kind enough to show me how the car had been hotwired.
But I regret to say, it’s not going to happen.
So that money you spent on licensing The Pogues’ Sunnyside of the Street didn’t quite close this particular sale.
However, I do give you points for choosing to highlight the following lyrics in your TV spot:
“And I saw that train, and I got on it
With a heartful of hate and a lust for vomit...”
Mad love,
sliced tongue
Dear General Motors,
I appreciate that you’d like to sell me a Cadillac. Heck, I admit I’m even a little flattered.
My grandfather owned a Caddy back in the day. It was stolen from in front of his house in Queens Village one night in the mid 70s. Oh, don’t worry GM— the story has a happy ending. Seems it was boosted by some kids for a relatively painless joyride. The nice officer who wrapped up the case was even kind enough to show me how the car had been hotwired.
But I regret to say, it’s not going to happen.
So that money you spent on licensing The Pogues’ Sunnyside of the Street didn’t quite close this particular sale.
However, I do give you points for choosing to highlight the following lyrics in your TV spot:
“And I saw that train, and I got on it
With a heartful of hate and a lust for vomit...”
Mad love,
sliced tongue
Friday, February 23, 2007
CHIMPAN-A TO CHIMPANZEE
Tiny random thoughts on a Friday afternoon.
-You can do worse when driving straight into a blinding sun on the Beltway than listen to Wig Wam Bam by Sweet.
-Headline from today’s Post: For First Time, Chimps Seen Making Weapons for Hunting. We’re doomed, folks. Flat out doomed.
-Also in today’s Post, macrocephalic Family Circus girl to grandma: “Do caterpillars know they’re going to be butterflies, or does God surprise them?” Again people— utterly fucking doomed.
-But I can at least amuse myself with the notion that there will one day be a chimp Britney. I am pleased by this mental picture.
-Hope There’s Someone by Antony and the Johnsons is a tragic and beautiful thing. But I’ll be damned if I can find a way into the rest of the disc. Does that make me a bad person?
-Would Apeman have been a bigger hit for The Kinks if Ray had not insisted on slurring that “The air pollution is a-foggin’ up my eyes” so that it sounds exactly like “The air pollution is fuckin’ up my eyes”?
-Speaking of The Kinks, the liner notes (by John Mendelsohn) to The Kink Kronikles are one of the few must reads in the whole genre. Definitely worth the squint to read in CD-booklet form.
-The most absurd liner notes I’ve ever seen in CD form are the list of credits for The Avalanches Since I Left You. One day, our chimp masters will mock us for sure…
Tiny random thoughts on a Friday afternoon.
-You can do worse when driving straight into a blinding sun on the Beltway than listen to Wig Wam Bam by Sweet.
-Headline from today’s Post: For First Time, Chimps Seen Making Weapons for Hunting. We’re doomed, folks. Flat out doomed.
-Also in today’s Post, macrocephalic Family Circus girl to grandma: “Do caterpillars know they’re going to be butterflies, or does God surprise them?” Again people— utterly fucking doomed.
-But I can at least amuse myself with the notion that there will one day be a chimp Britney. I am pleased by this mental picture.
-Hope There’s Someone by Antony and the Johnsons is a tragic and beautiful thing. But I’ll be damned if I can find a way into the rest of the disc. Does that make me a bad person?
-Would Apeman have been a bigger hit for The Kinks if Ray had not insisted on slurring that “The air pollution is a-foggin’ up my eyes” so that it sounds exactly like “The air pollution is fuckin’ up my eyes”?
-Speaking of The Kinks, the liner notes (by John Mendelsohn) to The Kink Kronikles are one of the few must reads in the whole genre. Definitely worth the squint to read in CD-booklet form.
-The most absurd liner notes I’ve ever seen in CD form are the list of credits for The Avalanches Since I Left You. One day, our chimp masters will mock us for sure…
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
LOVE OF INDICATIONS, PARTS 1, 2, AND 3
I wrote this on the drive home tonight.
JOHNNY RAMONE
Have you seen this band The Thompson Twins?
They're not even twins.
All this British shit,
All this British shit.
It's not like when we were kids,
With Spencer Davis and T Rex,
Spencer Davis and T Rex.
This is a '66 Topps Willie Mays,
And it's in mint condition
It's hard to find in mint condition.
It's hard to find in mint condition
Because it's number 1 in the series,
And number 1's tend to get damaged
By rubber bands,
Yeah, rubber bands.
And it's unusual for the number 1 card
To be a star
In the 60s.
Usually number 1's are league leaders.
Yeah, league leaders.
I bought it at a Gloria Rothstein show
In White Plains,
Yeah, White Plains.
And Subterranean Jungle is up to 83
On the Billboard charts.
Yeah, 83.
83, 83, 83, 83,
83, 83, 83, 83...
I wrote this on the drive home tonight.
JOHNNY RAMONE
Have you seen this band The Thompson Twins?
They're not even twins.
All this British shit,
All this British shit.
It's not like when we were kids,
With Spencer Davis and T Rex,
Spencer Davis and T Rex.
This is a '66 Topps Willie Mays,
And it's in mint condition
It's hard to find in mint condition.
It's hard to find in mint condition
Because it's number 1 in the series,
And number 1's tend to get damaged
By rubber bands,
Yeah, rubber bands.
And it's unusual for the number 1 card
To be a star
In the 60s.
Usually number 1's are league leaders.
Yeah, league leaders.
I bought it at a Gloria Rothstein show
In White Plains,
Yeah, White Plains.
And Subterranean Jungle is up to 83
On the Billboard charts.
Yeah, 83.
83, 83, 83, 83,
83, 83, 83, 83...
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
INDICATIONS OF LOVE, PART 2
My wife would prefer it if I were still a practicing punk.
She’d like the Pogues to pogo off the living-room walls, Nirvana to grace the Odyssey, The Clash to rattle the kitchen...
I mean it, man!
I don’t think it’s about aesthetics. I think she just finds the mutability of my passions to be a little disconcerting.
It’s as if life would hold one less little puzzle for her if my musical taste had ossified the moment we met. If my passions could have remained fixed...
But they have, dear. They have.
My wife would prefer it if I were still a practicing punk.
She’d like the Pogues to pogo off the living-room walls, Nirvana to grace the Odyssey, The Clash to rattle the kitchen...
I mean it, man!
I don’t think it’s about aesthetics. I think she just finds the mutability of my passions to be a little disconcerting.
It’s as if life would hold one less little puzzle for her if my musical taste had ossified the moment we met. If my passions could have remained fixed...
But they have, dear. They have.
Monday, February 12, 2007
INDICATIONS OF LOVE, PART 1
We went to a birthday party for a couple of kids yesterday. It was at a gymnastics studio.
My wife and I were sitting on a folded tumbling mat, and over the PA came Funkytown.
About 10 or 12 feet away from us, a couple of dads entered into a conversation.
“Man, this is an oldie. I’m embarrassed to even say that I know it.”
“Yeah, me too. When did this come out, like 1982?”
“Mmm, 1982, uh-huh. Can’t remember who did it.”
One of them grabbed a large, nubby sky-blue ball, and began bouncing it. The other drifted over to the parallel bar, where his kid was leaping in vain to grab hold.
My wife looked at me, and did not say a word.
“1980. Lipps, Inc,” I replied...
We went to a birthday party for a couple of kids yesterday. It was at a gymnastics studio.
My wife and I were sitting on a folded tumbling mat, and over the PA came Funkytown.
About 10 or 12 feet away from us, a couple of dads entered into a conversation.
“Man, this is an oldie. I’m embarrassed to even say that I know it.”
“Yeah, me too. When did this come out, like 1982?”
“Mmm, 1982, uh-huh. Can’t remember who did it.”
One of them grabbed a large, nubby sky-blue ball, and began bouncing it. The other drifted over to the parallel bar, where his kid was leaping in vain to grab hold.
My wife looked at me, and did not say a word.
“1980. Lipps, Inc,” I replied...
Friday, February 09, 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
HYSTERICAL AND USELESS
Damn you, music of the late 90s.
I have so much relatively new music over which I should be obsessing, and you keep throwing these distractions in my path.
First it was In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Now OK Computer has poked its head through the crusty winter ground like some 10-year cicada.
I've been particularly obsessed with Let Down, and quite specifically this: “One day I am going to grow wings/A chemical reaction...”
Um, yes.
And hell yes.
And fuck yes.
Yes.
Damn you, music of the late 90s.
I have so much relatively new music over which I should be obsessing, and you keep throwing these distractions in my path.
First it was In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. Now OK Computer has poked its head through the crusty winter ground like some 10-year cicada.
I've been particularly obsessed with Let Down, and quite specifically this: “One day I am going to grow wings/A chemical reaction...”
Um, yes.
And hell yes.
And fuck yes.
Yes.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
KLAXON, KLAXOFF
Heard a dumbshit band named The Klaxons today.
How dumbshit, you ask?
The song I heard, Atlantis to Interzone, actually built its hook around the sound of a klaxon.
Of course, this shifts straight into sublime genius if they have a klaxon sound in every one of their songs.
I mean, just think about how much less The Alarm, say, would have sucked if they had an alarm sound in every song.
“Come on down and meet your maker BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!”
“Sixty eight guns will never die, sixty eight guns, our BEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP!”
"I-I, love to hear the rain in the summer time, I-I love to AND IN LOCAL WEATHER, THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IS 60%.”
You have willed yourselves the opportunity to be extraordinary, Klaxons. For the love of Lava soap, don't fuck it up...
Heard a dumbshit band named The Klaxons today.
How dumbshit, you ask?
The song I heard, Atlantis to Interzone, actually built its hook around the sound of a klaxon.
Of course, this shifts straight into sublime genius if they have a klaxon sound in every one of their songs.
I mean, just think about how much less The Alarm, say, would have sucked if they had an alarm sound in every song.
“Come on down and meet your maker BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!”
“Sixty eight guns will never die, sixty eight guns, our BEEEEEEEEEEPPPPP!”
"I-I, love to hear the rain in the summer time, I-I love to AND IN LOCAL WEATHER, THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IS 60%.”
You have willed yourselves the opportunity to be extraordinary, Klaxons. For the love of Lava soap, don't fuck it up...
Monday, February 05, 2007
Friday, February 02, 2007
RUN LIKE A VILLIAN TO THE SUPER BOWL
I'm going to take a brief moment away from the usual music content to give my annual, highly anticipated Super Bowl predictions.
I don't want to tout my touting too too much, but thousands of people have made millions of dollars by following my picks. No shit.
So, this year's matchup seems pretty even on paper.
The favored Virginia Squires are of course led by the record-setting quince-pence Finster, who can sling the gherkin like nobody's business.
But you better believe that those Rochester Lancers can answer the bell. Everyone recalls that pitch back in June where it seemed certain that the Butte Trundlebucks were going to overtake the Lancers. But then the Lancers festooned the cork on three consecutive possessions, and, well, by the end of the sixth quatrain they had hoisted the Bag O' Mud and Rapturous Joy high over Tertiary Stadium.
So I'm going to say, take the Lancers in an upset. I think they'll probably juuuust squeak it out and win by a chaucer, but win they will.
For my specialty bets, I'd go with the Squires to marinade the first pay phone, and I think their designated speller will upset the first apple cart. Look for the Lancers' Billings to matriculate the first whistlepig, while his counterpart Shoney will surely be the first to wear the kelp.
Goddam, am I excited!
Rah.
I'm going to take a brief moment away from the usual music content to give my annual, highly anticipated Super Bowl predictions.
I don't want to tout my touting too too much, but thousands of people have made millions of dollars by following my picks. No shit.
So, this year's matchup seems pretty even on paper.
The favored Virginia Squires are of course led by the record-setting quince-pence Finster, who can sling the gherkin like nobody's business.
But you better believe that those Rochester Lancers can answer the bell. Everyone recalls that pitch back in June where it seemed certain that the Butte Trundlebucks were going to overtake the Lancers. But then the Lancers festooned the cork on three consecutive possessions, and, well, by the end of the sixth quatrain they had hoisted the Bag O' Mud and Rapturous Joy high over Tertiary Stadium.
So I'm going to say, take the Lancers in an upset. I think they'll probably juuuust squeak it out and win by a chaucer, but win they will.
For my specialty bets, I'd go with the Squires to marinade the first pay phone, and I think their designated speller will upset the first apple cart. Look for the Lancers' Billings to matriculate the first whistlepig, while his counterpart Shoney will surely be the first to wear the kelp.
Goddam, am I excited!
Rah.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
WHO'S GOT THE 10 MINUTES?
The other day, brain coral mentioned his general distaste for songs over 10 minutes long.
It was in the context of his recent purchase of the new disc from Deerhoof, which ends with an 11 minute track. He expected to hate it...
Well, he’s confirmed that the Deerhoof song pretty much sucks, and I admit that I share his lack of surprise.
(I really liked The Runners Four, and I suspect the rest of this one is probably pretty great, so I’m going to pick it up as well. And probably never listen to that one track.)
This led me to wonder what my iPod looks like in its current state, in regard to songs over the 10 minute mark.
Not counting suite-type stuff like Godspeed You Black Emperor! or Pure Phase by Spritualized, here’s my list of seam stretchers, from longest to “shortest”:
DJed, Tortoise
Jenny Ondioline, Stereolab
Night Falls On Hoboken, Yo La Tengo
Refractions In The Plastic Pulse, Stereolab
Sister Ray, The Velvet Underground
1/1, Brian Eno
Cop Shoot Cop, Spiritualized
Track Goes By, The High Llamas
Pree-Sisters Swallowing A Donkey's Eye, Neutral Milk Hotel
Debra, Beck
"Animal or Vegetable (A Wonderful Wooden Reason...)", Stereolab
Sailing By, Ronald Binge
Soop Groove #1, Stereolab
1/2, Brian Eno
The Story Of Yo La Tengo, Yo La Tengo
The End, The Doors
Blue Milk, Stereolab
Static/Diamond Bollocks, Beck
Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands, Bob Dylan
Marquee Moon, Television
Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind, Yo La Tengo
Spec Bebop, Yo La Tengo
Trainspotting, Primal Scream
Won't Get To Heaven (The State I'm In), Spritualized
Soup, CAN
Do I Do, Stevie Wonder
Viðrar vel til loftárása, Sigur Rós
Hallogallo, Neu!
Svefn-g-englar, Sigur Rós
The other day, brain coral mentioned his general distaste for songs over 10 minutes long.
It was in the context of his recent purchase of the new disc from Deerhoof, which ends with an 11 minute track. He expected to hate it...
Well, he’s confirmed that the Deerhoof song pretty much sucks, and I admit that I share his lack of surprise.
(I really liked The Runners Four, and I suspect the rest of this one is probably pretty great, so I’m going to pick it up as well. And probably never listen to that one track.)
This led me to wonder what my iPod looks like in its current state, in regard to songs over the 10 minute mark.
Not counting suite-type stuff like Godspeed You Black Emperor! or Pure Phase by Spritualized, here’s my list of seam stretchers, from longest to “shortest”:
DJed, Tortoise
Jenny Ondioline, Stereolab
Night Falls On Hoboken, Yo La Tengo
Refractions In The Plastic Pulse, Stereolab
Sister Ray, The Velvet Underground
1/1, Brian Eno
Cop Shoot Cop, Spiritualized
Track Goes By, The High Llamas
Pree-Sisters Swallowing A Donkey's Eye, Neutral Milk Hotel
Debra, Beck
"Animal or Vegetable (A Wonderful Wooden Reason...)", Stereolab
Sailing By, Ronald Binge
Soop Groove #1, Stereolab
1/2, Brian Eno
The Story Of Yo La Tengo, Yo La Tengo
The End, The Doors
Blue Milk, Stereolab
Static/Diamond Bollocks, Beck
Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands, Bob Dylan
Marquee Moon, Television
Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind, Yo La Tengo
Spec Bebop, Yo La Tengo
Trainspotting, Primal Scream
Won't Get To Heaven (The State I'm In), Spritualized
Soup, CAN
Do I Do, Stevie Wonder
Viðrar vel til loftárása, Sigur Rós
Hallogallo, Neu!
Svefn-g-englar, Sigur Rós
Monday, January 29, 2007
WE'RE ALL BOZOS ON THIS ARQUEBUS
Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues (oh crap, I lost you already, didn't I?) was a nicely overwrought piece of overorchestrated hippie fluff. The Late Lament, that little poem tacked onto the end, pushed the needle way into ludicrous.
“A new mother picks up and suckles her son”-- sheesh.
But, lo, this morning I heard Departure, the little piece that segues into Ride My Seesaw (which-- full disclosure-- is a pretty cool song), and it takes things to a whole different level.
“Or the strength of an arquebus deep in the ground”...
To which I say, “What?”
Or, more properly, “What the fuck?”
I know it's of no consequence to us the living, but my mind was considerably blown nonetheless.
I gained some much-needed grounding this evening on the links page of a Moody Blues fansite, where I found myself one click away from “your one-stop source for custom embroidered bandanas.”
As I pondered the connection between the band and the bandanas, I read a little further, and hit the epiphanic moment:
“Everybody loves bandanas!”
This, then, is my new mantra. For I know it to be true...
Everybody loves bandanas!
Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues (oh crap, I lost you already, didn't I?) was a nicely overwrought piece of overorchestrated hippie fluff. The Late Lament, that little poem tacked onto the end, pushed the needle way into ludicrous.
“A new mother picks up and suckles her son”-- sheesh.
But, lo, this morning I heard Departure, the little piece that segues into Ride My Seesaw (which-- full disclosure-- is a pretty cool song), and it takes things to a whole different level.
“Or the strength of an arquebus deep in the ground”...
To which I say, “What?”
Or, more properly, “What the fuck?”
I know it's of no consequence to us the living, but my mind was considerably blown nonetheless.
I gained some much-needed grounding this evening on the links page of a Moody Blues fansite, where I found myself one click away from “your one-stop source for custom embroidered bandanas.”
As I pondered the connection between the band and the bandanas, I read a little further, and hit the epiphanic moment:
“Everybody loves bandanas!”
This, then, is my new mantra. For I know it to be true...
Everybody loves bandanas!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
G-O-T to the H-I-C
I am not a Goth.
I have never worn black nail polish.
I have never worn black lipstick.
I did, however, download Specimen’s Returning From a Journey from the iTunes last night. (Which for some reason called it Returnung From a Journey.)
What an awesome song.
It’s got this damn-near headbanger beat cut with a little disco, and a chorus that’s as fat as a summer plum.
I listened to it like five straight times last night, and had to suppress the urge to shout “Yeaaahhhh!” at the top of my lungs each time it was over.
Sweet Bela Lugosi’s beard!
But I am not a Goth.
I am not a Goth.
I have never worn black nail polish.
I have never worn black lipstick.
I did, however, download Specimen’s Returning From a Journey from the iTunes last night. (Which for some reason called it Returnung From a Journey.)
What an awesome song.
It’s got this damn-near headbanger beat cut with a little disco, and a chorus that’s as fat as a summer plum.
I listened to it like five straight times last night, and had to suppress the urge to shout “Yeaaahhhh!” at the top of my lungs each time it was over.
Sweet Bela Lugosi’s beard!
But I am not a Goth.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
KANDER CAMERA
All this talk of Germany has stirred in me memories of my childhood dream to write for the musical theater.
I sketched out a piece called Germania! (you know, like Beatlemania!) back when I was 12 or so.
The milieu is the decadent final days of the Weimar Republic, and the story revolves around the relationship between a bohemian performer and a possibly gay writer.
A lot of the action takes place in this club, where there’s this wry and knowing master of ceremonies. He serves as sort of a Greek chorus for the whole thing, and... huh? There’s a...? Caber-what?
Son of a monkey bitch...
All this talk of Germany has stirred in me memories of my childhood dream to write for the musical theater.
I sketched out a piece called Germania! (you know, like Beatlemania!) back when I was 12 or so.
The milieu is the decadent final days of the Weimar Republic, and the story revolves around the relationship between a bohemian performer and a possibly gay writer.
A lot of the action takes place in this club, where there’s this wry and knowing master of ceremonies. He serves as sort of a Greek chorus for the whole thing, and... huh? There’s a...? Caber-what?
Son of a monkey bitch...
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
VERSCHWORUNG
The latest CD that wouldn't rip? Doolittle, by The Pixies.
Now, as everyone knows, this album was named after James Doolittle, who as a Lt. Colonel led the famous "Doolittle raid" on Japan in the early stages of America's involvement in WWII.
Doolittle rode the PR wave of these raids to eventually become a Lt. General in the European Theater. His most noteworthy tactical move in this role was his decision to allow bomber escort planes to attack enemy airfields. And who was that enemy? That's right... the Germans.
And so our eerie conspiracy continues apace.
Looking at the stack of discs I have in front of me tonight, I'm thinking Iggy Pop's Lust for Life (recorded in Berlin) is pretty much guaranteed to lock up...
The latest CD that wouldn't rip? Doolittle, by The Pixies.
Now, as everyone knows, this album was named after James Doolittle, who as a Lt. Colonel led the famous "Doolittle raid" on Japan in the early stages of America's involvement in WWII.
Doolittle rode the PR wave of these raids to eventually become a Lt. General in the European Theater. His most noteworthy tactical move in this role was his decision to allow bomber escort planes to attack enemy airfields. And who was that enemy? That's right... the Germans.
And so our eerie conspiracy continues apace.
Looking at the stack of discs I have in front of me tonight, I'm thinking Iggy Pop's Lust for Life (recorded in Berlin) is pretty much guaranteed to lock up...
Monday, January 22, 2007
A LAND OF CHOCOLATE
In my ongoing quest to fill the iPod, I run into the occasional disc that iTunes obstinately refuses to rip.
Here's the list to date:
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Lucinda Williams
Achtung Baby, U2
The Gift, The Jam
Source Tags & Codes, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
At first I figured it was just random, maybe some arcane commonality in the manufacturing process that discouraged ripping. But then I thought about it a little more...
It helps to know first off that The Jam CD is an import that was made in Germany.
Next, it's a little known fact that the word “Achtung” is actually German. I believe a rough translation is “Gee, the view from up here on the precipice of a career slide sure is pretty. And postmodern, too. Yeah, very postmodern.”
After zero research and much speculation, I have decided that Lucinda Williams probably maybe has some German ancestry.
Finally, no doubt some critic somewhere has used the term “Germanic” as shorthand to describe ...AYWKUBTTOD's icy and aggressive soundscapes.
The conclusion, then, is clear and stunning: iTunes hates the Germans.
Oh sure, it humored me by taking care of my Neu! discs, but I'm betting that Tago Mago is pretty much doomed...
In my ongoing quest to fill the iPod, I run into the occasional disc that iTunes obstinately refuses to rip.
Here's the list to date:
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Lucinda Williams
Achtung Baby, U2
The Gift, The Jam
Source Tags & Codes, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
At first I figured it was just random, maybe some arcane commonality in the manufacturing process that discouraged ripping. But then I thought about it a little more...
It helps to know first off that The Jam CD is an import that was made in Germany.
Next, it's a little known fact that the word “Achtung” is actually German. I believe a rough translation is “Gee, the view from up here on the precipice of a career slide sure is pretty. And postmodern, too. Yeah, very postmodern.”
After zero research and much speculation, I have decided that Lucinda Williams probably maybe has some German ancestry.
Finally, no doubt some critic somewhere has used the term “Germanic” as shorthand to describe ...AYWKUBTTOD's icy and aggressive soundscapes.
The conclusion, then, is clear and stunning: iTunes hates the Germans.
Oh sure, it humored me by taking care of my Neu! discs, but I'm betting that Tago Mago is pretty much doomed...
Friday, January 19, 2007
PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD
Another shower, another song...
WHO IS DROPPING PANS ON THE LITTLE ROBOT’S HEAD?
I’ll dress up like a frog for you,
I’ll dress up like a ghost.
I’ll climb up every ladder for you,
And pick up all your trash.
Oh, if you’re sitting in a corner
Crying ‘bout your mom and dad,
I’ll hand you a green green ring
To twirl around your arm.
There’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
No, there’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
I’ll make all the pirates and gurus smile,
So they won’t steal your change.
I’ll take your daddy’s toothbrush out
And clean up all the stains.
Oh, I’ll solve the final mystery
Out on my last patrol,
Then contract into a dot of light,
Forever on your console.
There’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
No, there’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
Another shower, another song...
WHO IS DROPPING PANS ON THE LITTLE ROBOT’S HEAD?
I’ll dress up like a frog for you,
I’ll dress up like a ghost.
I’ll climb up every ladder for you,
And pick up all your trash.
Oh, if you’re sitting in a corner
Crying ‘bout your mom and dad,
I’ll hand you a green green ring
To twirl around your arm.
There’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
No, there’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
I’ll make all the pirates and gurus smile,
So they won’t steal your change.
I’ll take your daddy’s toothbrush out
And clean up all the stains.
Oh, I’ll solve the final mystery
Out on my last patrol,
Then contract into a dot of light,
Forever on your console.
There’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
No, there’s not a wrapper or a can or a crumb
That I won’t come upon
And sweep up with my heart.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
AND IF THEY SHOULD BAR WARS...
Song of the day: Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (12” mix), Meco
Star Wars was the first movie I ever went to see alone. I rode a few miles on my banana-seated bike in a late-spring rain to the Manetto Hill Twin.
I was pretty much awestruck, right from the opening scroll.
When it was over, I sat through the end of the credits, fished a few wrinkled dollar bills from my pocket, went to the box office, and bought a ticket for the very next show.
The movie had opened exactly one week after my father died, and in retrospect it’s no surprise that so many of the themes resonated like a hammered bell.
I saw the movie a good 20 times in the theater over the course of that summer.
And I came out of the summer with little to nothing in the way of Star Wars ephemera.
No cards, no action figures, no die-cast Millennium Falcons, no lunch boxes, no light sabers, no board games, no comic books, no Halloween costumes.
All I carried was gratitude at having been transported from a suburban home thick with grief, guilt, and shame, to a galaxy far, far away...
Song of the day: Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band (12” mix), Meco
Star Wars was the first movie I ever went to see alone. I rode a few miles on my banana-seated bike in a late-spring rain to the Manetto Hill Twin.
I was pretty much awestruck, right from the opening scroll.
When it was over, I sat through the end of the credits, fished a few wrinkled dollar bills from my pocket, went to the box office, and bought a ticket for the very next show.
The movie had opened exactly one week after my father died, and in retrospect it’s no surprise that so many of the themes resonated like a hammered bell.
I saw the movie a good 20 times in the theater over the course of that summer.
And I came out of the summer with little to nothing in the way of Star Wars ephemera.
No cards, no action figures, no die-cast Millennium Falcons, no lunch boxes, no light sabers, no board games, no comic books, no Halloween costumes.
All I carried was gratitude at having been transported from a suburban home thick with grief, guilt, and shame, to a galaxy far, far away...
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
WHEN DOVE CRIES
Look, it's another one of those songs from the shower that today's kids love so much...
MOTORIKY
(2, 3, 4)
This is a song.
It’s two minutes and thirty-four seconds long.
It doesn’t have a chorus
But
It’s
Got
A ton of love.
This is a song.
It’s two minutes and thirty-four seconds long.
It doesn’t have a chorus
But
It’s
Got
A ton of love.
A ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a tunnel of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love...
Look, it's another one of those songs from the shower that today's kids love so much...
MOTORIKY
(2, 3, 4)
This is a song.
It’s two minutes and thirty-four seconds long.
It doesn’t have a chorus
But
It’s
Got
A ton of love.
This is a song.
It’s two minutes and thirty-four seconds long.
It doesn’t have a chorus
But
It’s
Got
A ton of love.
A ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a tunnel of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love, a tunnel of love, a ton of love...
Friday, January 12, 2007
ARLO, FOLK SONGS ARE SERIOUS
Another in our series of songs you've never heard, this one from back in 1988 or thereabouts...
BURNING TIRES, BURNING HAY
I went out singly to open the fence
That kept me from being where I was meant.
I pulled off a board, I pried off one more,
And I sat in the glow coming through.
Burning tires, burning hay
We are bringing in the water with the corn today.
I shimmied through the hole I had made,
Sucked in my stomach, slim as a blade.
Was borne to the rain, falling so white and plain,
And I sat in the puddles it formed.
Burning tires, burning hay
We are bringing in the water with the corn today.
What I looked on was neither a kingdom nor jail,
And no beaten signs read “Heaven” or “Hell.”
No high trumpets rang, no low bells did clang,
And the wicked and good were not ‘round.
Burning tires, burning hay
We are bringing in the water with the corn today.
Another in our series of songs you've never heard, this one from back in 1988 or thereabouts...
BURNING TIRES, BURNING HAY
I went out singly to open the fence
That kept me from being where I was meant.
I pulled off a board, I pried off one more,
And I sat in the glow coming through.
Burning tires, burning hay
We are bringing in the water with the corn today.
I shimmied through the hole I had made,
Sucked in my stomach, slim as a blade.
Was borne to the rain, falling so white and plain,
And I sat in the puddles it formed.
Burning tires, burning hay
We are bringing in the water with the corn today.
What I looked on was neither a kingdom nor jail,
And no beaten signs read “Heaven” or “Hell.”
No high trumpets rang, no low bells did clang,
And the wicked and good were not ‘round.
Burning tires, burning hay
We are bringing in the water with the corn today.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
LA NANO
So what became of the Nano? Let’s just say it fell into good hands.
The hands of someone who woke up this morning about an hour before her usual waking time, sat in the corner of her bedroom next to the forced-heating vent, and, through eyes squinty in the dark, navigated the click wheel to find Fox on the Run or Cherchez la Femme or the theme from the most-recent Japanese Pokemon movie.
Good hands. Good hands.
So what became of the Nano? Let’s just say it fell into good hands.
The hands of someone who woke up this morning about an hour before her usual waking time, sat in the corner of her bedroom next to the forced-heating vent, and, through eyes squinty in the dark, navigated the click wheel to find Fox on the Run or Cherchez la Femme or the theme from the most-recent Japanese Pokemon movie.
Good hands. Good hands.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
LA LUNE EST LIBRE
Tonight's iPod ripping: all Stereolab all the time!
Well, I did make some room for side projects and off shoots like Turn On, Monade, Snowpony, Uilab, Cherry Cigar, Ankle Whimsy, Doktoor Kilnfish, Mock, Slabitslabitgrabitnowhitit, Bonger, Liberte/Egalite/Frente, Shampooo, Onan Trespass Mark II, Aquaggaswhack, Esso 67, and Cinque Cool Whip...
Tonight's iPod ripping: all Stereolab all the time!
Well, I did make some room for side projects and off shoots like Turn On, Monade, Snowpony, Uilab, Cherry Cigar, Ankle Whimsy, Doktoor Kilnfish, Mock, Slabitslabitgrabitnowhitit, Bonger, Liberte/Egalite/Frente, Shampooo, Onan Trespass Mark II, Aquaggaswhack, Esso 67, and Cinque Cool Whip...
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Monday, January 08, 2007
CAN IT BE THAT IT WAS ALL SO SIMPLE THEN?
Now normally, aging another year erodes my available memory. Brain cells do their dance of death, and I stand on the elevator and wonder which button to push.
But in an ironic twist, this year's birthday brought a quindecupling of memory.
So it came in the form of an upgrade from a 2GB Nano to a 30GB iPod. Beggars can't be something something...
"Feed me, feed me," it purrs, and I obey.
Now normally, aging another year erodes my available memory. Brain cells do their dance of death, and I stand on the elevator and wonder which button to push.
But in an ironic twist, this year's birthday brought a quindecupling of memory.
So it came in the form of an upgrade from a 2GB Nano to a 30GB iPod. Beggars can't be something something...
"Feed me, feed me," it purrs, and I obey.
Friday, January 05, 2007
LISTING
Some of my favorite musical moments from 2006 (and forgive me if some of them are your favorite moments from 2005, or 2001, or 1998):
-To Go Home, M. Ward
-The quarter second at the beginning of Wolf Parade’s Shine a Light where you think it’s going to be Get Back. And yes, I timed it.
-A good half of The Life Pursuit.
-I’m Waking Up to Us, Belle and Sebastian. I finally downloaded this, and it’s damn near the best thing they’ve ever done. Bitter, blunt, and sweeping.
-Yo La Tengo’s I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, for the title. I expect it might show up on my 2007 list for the music.
-A Pillar of Salt, The Thermals
-Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken, Camera Obscura
-The three hours I spent in Tower Shibuya.
-The 30 hours I spent in various USA Towers, watching them die.
-Belle and Sebastian (2X), Stereolab, and The Pogues, with brain coral. Plus, The New Pornographers, Ted Leo, and Broken Social Scene, beyond the headliners.
-Wolf Like Me, TV on the Radio
-The “New York Dolls” making a “comeback” in fishnets and quotation marks.
-The Jam’s performance of ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street from the Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol 3 DVD. I still don’t know how Paul Weller could sing and chew gum at the same time.
-Record Collector magazine
-In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel. Any discussion of my 2006 year in music needs to end with my full-on discovery of this, something I had for years dismissed unheard as ephemeral neopsych. I can’t even begin to tell you how wrong I was. There are rare albums that are profoundly moving, profoundly funny, profoundly unhinged, profoundly bad, profoundly sad, and/or profoundly unfounded. This might be the first album I’ve encountered that is quite simply profound.
Some of my favorite musical moments from 2006 (and forgive me if some of them are your favorite moments from 2005, or 2001, or 1998):
-To Go Home, M. Ward
-The quarter second at the beginning of Wolf Parade’s Shine a Light where you think it’s going to be Get Back. And yes, I timed it.
-A good half of The Life Pursuit.
-I’m Waking Up to Us, Belle and Sebastian. I finally downloaded this, and it’s damn near the best thing they’ve ever done. Bitter, blunt, and sweeping.
-Yo La Tengo’s I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, for the title. I expect it might show up on my 2007 list for the music.
-A Pillar of Salt, The Thermals
-Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken, Camera Obscura
-The three hours I spent in Tower Shibuya.
-The 30 hours I spent in various USA Towers, watching them die.
-Belle and Sebastian (2X), Stereolab, and The Pogues, with brain coral. Plus, The New Pornographers, Ted Leo, and Broken Social Scene, beyond the headliners.
-Wolf Like Me, TV on the Radio
-The “New York Dolls” making a “comeback” in fishnets and quotation marks.
-The Jam’s performance of ‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street from the Old Grey Whistle Test, Vol 3 DVD. I still don’t know how Paul Weller could sing and chew gum at the same time.
-Record Collector magazine
-In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel. Any discussion of my 2006 year in music needs to end with my full-on discovery of this, something I had for years dismissed unheard as ephemeral neopsych. I can’t even begin to tell you how wrong I was. There are rare albums that are profoundly moving, profoundly funny, profoundly unhinged, profoundly bad, profoundly sad, and/or profoundly unfounded. This might be the first album I’ve encountered that is quite simply profound.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
A SIMPLE PROP
Last night while my daughter was squeezing her long hair dry with a towel after her shower, she suddenly started singing “Fiyehehahh!”
I blinked a few times, and then remembered that I had left a copy of Eponymous in the Odyssey. She was singing The One I Love.
“Why does he say ‘fire’ daddy?” she wondered, dropping the towel in a damp heap. I asked her what she thought.
“I think he’s angry,” she offered, rocking on the balls of her feet. She threw her hands behind her back to catch herself as she fell against the wall.
“I think you’re exactly right.” She gave me a stinging high five and collapsed in my lap, laughing at the very idea…
Last night while my daughter was squeezing her long hair dry with a towel after her shower, she suddenly started singing “Fiyehehahh!”
I blinked a few times, and then remembered that I had left a copy of Eponymous in the Odyssey. She was singing The One I Love.
“Why does he say ‘fire’ daddy?” she wondered, dropping the towel in a damp heap. I asked her what she thought.
“I think he’s angry,” she offered, rocking on the balls of her feet. She threw her hands behind her back to catch herself as she fell against the wall.
“I think you’re exactly right.” She gave me a stinging high five and collapsed in my lap, laughing at the very idea…
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
POPTONES
I switched cell-phone carriers last month, and got in the bargain three free ring tones.
The available selection is just random and weird, but I found three keepers:
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt 1— The Flaming Lips
Ping Pong— Stereolab
Wouldn’t It Be Nice— The Beach Boys
And now I love it when my phone rings.
I use my wife’s phone to call myself all the time, just to hear my tones.
It’s the little things, don’t you know…
I switched cell-phone carriers last month, and got in the bargain three free ring tones.
The available selection is just random and weird, but I found three keepers:
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt 1— The Flaming Lips
Ping Pong— Stereolab
Wouldn’t It Be Nice— The Beach Boys
And now I love it when my phone rings.
I use my wife’s phone to call myself all the time, just to hear my tones.
It’s the little things, don’t you know…
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