115: KYEO

Hey everybody. I’m in the lower lobby of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago where I have just finished my THIRD examination with no clear diagnosis. However, I must say, that I have utmost faith in the most recent doctor. When I was warned about his eccentricity, I don’t know what i was expecting. A clown with a big red nose? Big curly red afro? Fucking Patch Adams or something? Not so, beau. This guy was very cool, very friendly, and very thorough. Bingo.

But... like i said, he has no idea what it is that is invading my eyes. Unlike the other doctors, he found evidence of the inflitration in a few other spots, under the eyelids and so forth. So here’s what’s happening. I have to have a CT scan, which will reveal what is behind all of this inflammation if anything. That happens at 4 pm. It is now 1:16. On February 2, I have to take a recommended pre-op physical, which to be honest, i’m pretty gosh darn excited about. Feb 10, I meet with the doctor to go over the upcoming biopsy surgery. Feb 20 is the surgery whereupon they will be extracting a piece of the inflammed tissue and send it off to NASA or what have you. On the morning of Feb 23, i have a post-op appointment. On the night of Feb 23 I play in Cleveland. I may have to wear sunglasses. I will be extra cool for that show... if it happens. You see, i’m not sure how much downtime this type of surgery requires. I guess i’ll find out on the 10th. Blah.

I’m not terribly c oncerned about the whole deal since it doesn’t seem to be getting worse and i’m not experiencing any pain, itching, or discomfort. It’s all just there. Who really knows... Amazing that I now have medical insurance after oh about 8 or so years without it, give or take...

I can’t get online here, which is a bummer, but i have a lot of good new music to listen to, so i’m not too downtrodden and bored. I’ll be able to get online tonight, so i should be able to post up something really exciting for tomorrow.

114: It Takes A Second To Say Goodbye

I'm at a Panera in Studio City, killing some time before the last show of the whirlwind west coast tour. It's been a doozy, folks, and we're ending it on a high note at The Knitting Factory. Friends from every corner of my history will be in attendance making it a serious mishmosh of personality. Something similar ever happen to you? Feel the need to introduce people to each other whom you've never pictured in the same room? Thought of in the same hour? Well, I'm babbling... but that's what i do best.

Ryan Adams may have been in front of me in line, but I could have been hallucinating. Is that possible?

I have some interesting stuff up my sleeve for next week to keep everyone entertained while my eye is being worked on....

113: Fish Or Cut Bait

The worst part about being on tour alone is having to make every single decision... alone. Where to eat. How to pass the time. How much time to spend in certain places. Where to get gasoline. What to listen to. It's nerveracking. I guess you'd have to get used to it, but i'm not interesting in trying. It's simply maddening.

112: The Top Ten Records That Came Out Yesterday

Well well Wednesday. Perhaps the best one yet. In fact, this is the first Wednesday on record where i actually had more than 10 records picked out to chat about. I'm at a hotel in Buttonwilllow, CA and checkout time is in 50 minutes, so i'm going to get through as much of it as i can right now. Knowing my penchant for rambling on, i probably won't get far. Kick it.


*** The Top Ten Records Released on January 24, 2006 ***

10 Film School - Film School

I probably wouldn't have even given the Film School record a second glance if I hadn't seen an MP3 for download on some blog somewhere. So i gave "Pitfalls" a spin and i really liked it. It's got a good beat and you can dance to it... I have to admit, it does remind me a lot of The Cure, and the delivery of the chorus is reminiscent of "No Cars Go" by Arcade Fire, but like I said, it's good, and i'd be into hearing more.

So we're eating breakfast at the Swingers Cafe on Beverly, which is connected to the Beverly Laurel Hotel. I remembered this amazing eatery from the Braid tour. You find a restaurant that does a nice soyrizo dish and you never forget it. So, we're in there, and in the middle of a sentence, I look up and see a guy behind our table grabbing a newspaper wearing a Threadless t-shirt. Namely, Caged. The guy sits at the counter and orders. I decide to get up and go out to the car for my Threadless coupons to give some to the fine gent. On the way out, we jokingly lament that we haven't seen any movie stars yet in LA.

MP3: The End of the World - The Cure



09 Test Icicles - For Screening Purposes Only

So get this. I walk outside and head down to the car... and see a dude walking towards me with a Pogues shirt. Cool, I thought. And then I saw that his belt said "Knoxville." I look up and well, it's Johnny Knoxville. He's walking at quite a clip past me, presumably to avoid any embarrassing scenario. It's probably pretty obvious that I recognized him. But... i wasn't sure if he was heading towards Swingers, so i doubled back, pretending i had left something at the restaurant. I wanted to get back to the restaurant to tell the table who I saw. And... it just got more awkward because he was going to the restaurant. He sat at the counter, i nodded to the table, they nodded back, and i went back out to get the coupons. Funny thing, when i came back, i found myself in the always daunting position of starting a conversation with a stranger... but with the regular ol guy in the Threadless shirt as opposed to the movie star. Um, excuse me, I couldn't help but notice you were wearing Caged.

I feel weak. Need food. This hotel coffee is just so typically bad. Plus, I just can't concentrate for some reason. I think it's off to some shunty breakfast shack... Even I rolled my eyes when I first heard the name Test Icicles. Pfft. They have that snotty McLusky quality to get you going in the morning. That is, if you like being yelled at.

MP3: To Hell With Good Intentions - McLusky



08 The Elected - Sun, Sun, Sun

I have this old Elected song on my iPod called “Don’t Blow It” that has really withstood the test of time. Through the cutting and the slashing and the downsizing, there it is. I think there were a few others too, but this is the one that held up... I was very late on the Rilo Kiley bandwagon and I’m still not exactly riding shotgun, but I know a good jam when i hear it. I know good strawberry jelly when i taste it. The songs from “Sun Sun Sun” don’t step it up any notches but they keep ol Blake right where he was. A nice comfortable spot between Eisley and Electric Six. Wow, what an odd spot to be in. Just imagine.

In this small haven of Buttonwillow that stretches across I-5, we have a bunch of hotels, some gas stations, fast food, a Starbucks, an indian restaurant, and that’s it. Not a home or even a farm in sight... So having been booted unceremoniously from the Willow Inn, i’m now at Starbucks, the only place in town where i could drag around my laptop and avoid incredulous stares. Or maybe I have it all wrong. Do they have wireless at Carl’s Jr now?

One of the rejects from today was the new Duncan Sheik. This song was a guilty pleasure for awhile...

MP3: Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik



07 Ester Drang - Rocinate

I saw Ester Drang in Milwaukee, perhaps with Starflyer 59, and I was impressed. It harkened back to the shoegazing days. Luckily I was in the right mood at the right time to let the electronically tinged melodies float gently round me. Not a Blatz in sight. Much like their alphabetical neighbors, Elected, they have a nice spot on the pod with “I Don’t Want To Live...” right between Esquivel and Evan Dando. Again, what a party. The songs on Rocinate remind me of that band America. Very adult contemporary. Almost Steely Dan at times. But if you’re in the mood, go for it. We all go there from time to time.

Speaking of America, on the day i was born, they held the number one spot on the US charts with their grand tale of lost love, “Sister Golden Hair.” Do you remember when we held that contest? You went to this day in music, found out the #1 song on your actual birthday and then tried to somehow relate it to your life in a short paragraph or two. Wow, that was great. I forgot exactly how I related “Sister Golden Hair” to my life but I do remember being confused and upset by the line “I’ve been one poor correspondent.”

MP3: Sister Golden Hair - America




06 East River Pipe - What Are You On?

While on tour with Novi Spilt, i was (mis)treated to hours and hours of The Frogs. Over and over. I mean, you hear it once and you’re fine. You don’t have to hear it ever again and you really don’t want to. I would say that East River Pipe sounds like a cross between Silver Jews and The Frogs but with the re-listen quotient up a bunch. In fact, if you’re a fan of those two bands, I’d highly recommend this. But what do I know, right? All i know is that it sounded good cruising down the lonesome dusty road to Bakersfield.

I’m behind on Lost. Missed last week and i’ll be missing tonight... But holy cow, how about running into Dominic Monaghan at the mall? It was the Beverly Center. And there he was. On his cell phone. Immediately after we spotted him, these two other guys saw him and started to sneak towards him. He told them to wait until he was off the phone... in a very cordial way. After he was off the phone he took pictures with them and then he walked off... and we followed for awhile. I had a pocket full of Threadless coupons and there is photographic evidence of him wearing one of our shirts, so i thought that was a good conversation starter, but in the end i just let him go. I figured at best we’d take a photo together and i’d put it on myspace or something and everyone would go apeshit. And then it would die down and we’d all get on with our lives. He’d get his $80,000 per episode. I’d get my ocular biopsy. We’d all see The Da Vinci Code. Da da da.

Another Merge band, Breadwinner...

MP3: Prescott - Breadwinner




05 Action Action - An Army of Shapes Between Wars

Hey, this record is pretty great... I’m tempted to add “for a Victory band” but then i have to come to the scary realization that there are about 5 other Victory bands that I like... so i won’t. It’s just not fair. Some of these guys used to be in The Reunion Show. Did some shows with them on the Avail tour. Not enough to get too comfy though. It’s a shame. This song “A Tornado; An Owl” is really catchy. Very 80’s. It will have a nice spot between AC/DC and Adam Ant. No kidding! 80’s rockblock!

One of the records I had to cut from the list was the US release of The Very Best of Lisa Loeb. Not like I’m the biggest fan, but i had a lot to say about her TERRIBLE and thankfully short-lived Food Network show with Dweezil Zappa. It was such utter garbage I actually got angry at the tv. And the store where I purchased the TV. I’d rather watch Emeril 24/7. Hell, i’d rather have Emeril touring with me, hamming it up ad nauseum (bamming it up?) while i try and navigate us through small town California. During the opening of the Dweezel/Lisa show, she actually says “I’m a vegetarian, except when I sneak a piece of bacon” or something like that. I wanna hurl. A slab of bacon. At Lisa.

Another Victory band i like...

MP3: Those Days You Felt Alive - Spitalfield




04 Tarkio - Omnibus

I’m pissed at Colin Meloy. You know why? I’m sick of all of his great songs. When a random track comes on and i hear his voice I get ready. Ok Bob, you know who it is and you know what you have to do. Don’t be swayed. Don’t let his sea shanties enchant you like everyone else. Don’t let him lull you into submission. And by then, it’s just too late. I mark the song as a keeper and accept defeat. I’ve had two Tarkio tracks on the pod for awhile. “Neapolitan Bridesmaid” and the very beautiful “Tristan and Iseult.” It’s a fact that Colin almost exclusively eats at Burger King while on tour. Hmm. Is that the secret?

I swear. If you followed me around with a video camera for a few hours, i’m convinced you’d have a grade A slapstick comedy on your hands. I just dropped a paper bag on which I was going to write directions to tonight’s show and the damn thing disappeared. And while i was looking, I nearly tipped over my coffee. I am a mess... Remember this song?

MP3: The Bandit Queen (live at Schubas) - Colin Meloy


03 Robert Pollard - From a Compound Eye

We live in such a great age, you and i. Robert Pollard can put out 4 albums a year with perhaps an albums worth of good material. And I can find places to download a song or two from the album that just came out yesterday and use them to generalize about the entire album and then muse about life in general and Threadless submissions. To be honest, I thought this album was going to be a big throwaway like the Bubble soundtrack. Yuck to that. But this is quality. Especially “Dancing Girls and Dancing Men.” Listen to that beat! Dance it up, fuzzball.

While on tour, i tend to get behind on my submission scoring, so here’s a quick rundown of a few of my faves from the past few days: Optimus Prime - The Coolest Transformer, Polo Bizarre, The Age of Aquariums, Cockatiel Hour, Bruce Lee, and of course.... Judas!

MP3: Sensational Gravity Boy - Freedom Cruise (Robert Pollard & Kim Deal)



02 Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat

As stated above, I’m jogging behind the Rilo Kiley bandwagon, but I can’t deny a good song when i hear it. I think “Melt Your Heart” is just that. It sounds SO much like Elliott Smith to me I can’t believe it. Especially the chorus. And speaking of Judas above, I do appreciate the cover of Traveling Wilburys hit, “Handle With Care,” but i just don’t if i can totally get behind the star power. I’m sure it was a lot of fun, but I would be inclined to save it for a b-side or a bonus track somewhere. It seems like something to be reserved for the “end of show jam” where everyone that played gets up and sings a verse of some revered oldie. Ah well.

Jenny Toomey was the singer/guitarist in Tsunami and the brainchild behind Simple Machines records. Sadly, both just don’t get the credit they deserve. I’m not exactly sure what she’s up to now, but this is from one of her most recent albums, a collaboration with Franklin Bruno. You’ll like it! Find more...

MP3: Cheat - Jenny Toomey



01 Cat Power - The Greatest

Ah Cat Power, troubled troubadour, i’m kinda hooked. I’m just so surprised at the depth and the range of someone who seems so, um, messy? Is that the right word? I don’t mean that in terms of hygiene. I can’t vouche either way on that. But in the way that I wake up and look around my room and say “I am such a mess.” Whatever. Out of all of the albums coming out this week, this is one that lands the most spots on the ipod, and i think that deserves something.

I found this on some blog somewhere. A cover of the Everly Brothers “All I Have To Do is Dream” that appears on the Japanese version of The Greatest. Now there’s a good use of the alternate track. Such a great reading of the classic... See you tomorrow...

MP3: Dream - Cat Power

111: Oh Lonely Bakersfield

I had such a great idea for last night. It was to be the first night of this tour when I'd truly be alone, having dropped my tourmate/soulmate off at the airport in the morning. So the plan was this: head to a nearby coffeehouse with free wireless internet, do a bunch of work, drive from San Francisco to Bakersfield, find a nice hotel and then sleep in the car in the parking lot. In the morning, I'll wake up, get some breakfast, actually go into the hotel and check in for the next night, sleep all day, play the show, come back and sleep all night, voila, two nights sleep for the price of one.

My ridiculous plan had flaws. To be honest, i don't know what i was thinking. I think perhaps i've been reading too many "roadtrip" novels. The major problem was this: Since the coffeehouse had no internet, I left early and got to Bakersfield early and was stuck with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Bored out of my skull. So I'm at a hotel. One with free wireless and after the laziest night of my life which consisted of laying around and moaning, I'm finally up and ready for action. First things first: free hot breakfast.

Next things next: gather up album covers for tomorrow's blog, fix guitar, find out when checkout is, go find somewhere to sit for 8 hours. This is the life.

110: Charlie and Johnny

(i actually wrote this on 1/19)

I'm about to take the trek from San Diego all the way up to San Luis Obispo, so most of today will be cruising along the coast sans internet. Yeah! To be honest, no good records came out on Tuesday, and i really did some research. You know what else didn't come out on Tuesday? My precious Ape Escape 3 for Playstation! Or perhaps southern california was not in on the deal...

Anyway, since I was unable to put up any mp3's, how bout a video? YEAH! Thanks to the wonders of modern technology and my good friend, D. McHank, we can now all watch the first song played at my favorite show of all time. Check out Jawbreaker playing "Chesterfield King" at McGregor's in Elmhurst, IL, 8/23/92. I am in the extreme bottom right corner wearing a dumb yellow hat. You can only really see me in the mirror behind Adam (drummer) every now and again. And check out who is front and center! Josh Caterer of The Smoking Popes!

AVI: Jawbreaker - "Chesterfield King" (live video, McGregors, Elmhurst IL, 8/23/92

(oh yeah, we also ran into Johnny Knoxville at breakfast the other day and Dominic Monaghan at the mall. more on that later...)

Now that the Bears are outsville, i think i'll root for Seattle.

109: Getting Interesting

Heya. It's been rough getting online while on tour, but lucky for me, La Quinta is Spanish for "free high speed internet" just as their billboards say... and things are going to get interesting once i figure out how to get this certain video posted....

By the way, nothing great came out on Tuesday. Nothing! Next Tuesday is shaping up nicely...

108: I'm On A Plane, I Can't Complain

But if i could complain, i would give the Bears defense a piece of my mind. First in the NFL. Pshaw! But it’s ok, I got over it very quickly. I was at Outback. I know what you’re thinking. What business would a vegetarian possibly have there? Well, i’ll tell you. They have these skewered delights called Grillers, and even though it’s not on the menu, you can get the all veggie version. It’s worth it for the grilled pineapples alone. And while you’re at it, get the sauteed mushrooms as well. I could eat buckets of em. Buckets I tell you.

I also just watched the latest episode of Lost entitled “The 23rd Psalm.” It moves the story along nicely and also gives us some insight into Ekko’s past. I won’t give away too much... I am somewhere in between Detroit and Phoenix. Time to read You Shall Know Our Velocity.

- 01/16/2006

***

My favorite submissions of the past two days:

#4: Real TV 2
#3: Risky Engineering
#2: Wildlife Wrestling Federation

and it would be foolish of me not to put this one right at the top...

#1 Are You Wearing A Wire

Nice. That would win my "LOVES" contest.

- 01/17/2006

107: Go Go Chicago

Today, I'll be cheering not only for the Bears, but also for Pittsburgh... now, i've got some packin' to do.

106: Loves The City On Film

Hey-yo. It's been a crazy day, but first thing's first. THE CITY ON FILM tour starts on Tuesday! Oh yes, and i just can't wait. And... because I was lucky enough to fall into the best job in the world, Threadless has provided me with a shit-ton of COF/Threadless postcards to pass out. Drop the COF name and get $3 off of a shirt order. It's like a working vacation, really. Next I gotta get them to spring for the plane tickets. And maybe a new guitar while I'm at it. Perhaps a masseuse? Come hang out, get a massage, and watch me play the guitar at the following venues:

Jan 17 - ANAHEIM, CA - Chain Reaction
Jan 18 - SAN DIEGO, CA - M-Theory
Jan 20 - SAN JOSE, CA - The Portable
Jan 21 - REDDING, CA - Serendipity
Jan 22 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The Pound
Jan 24 - BAKERSFIELD, CA - Jerry's Pizza
Jan 25 - GOLETA, CA - Hard to Find
Jan 26 - SAN DIEGO, CA - Black Box Studios
Jan 27 - PHOENIX, AZ - Modified
Jan 28 - ST. GEORGE, UT - Electric Theater
Jan 29 - LOS ANGELES, CA - Knitting Factory

More shows to come, so i'll post em up as they get confirmed! Speaking of the ol rat race, I've also taken it upon myself to gather up posses of bands to come in and play/talk/record for various podcasts. I did one myself not too long ago! Those can and will be found at the Skinnycorp Podcast site.

The next order of business is my eye. I'll start the whole gruesome story from the beginning. Right around Shanksgiving, i noticed that my right tear duct seemed awfully inflammed. To an unnatural degree. So I looked online, asked around, and the consensus was... it should just go away. Well, it didn't. So the day after Christmas, I go to an eye doctor in Glen Ellyn to have it looked at. The doctor notices inflammation in both eyes. He says it may be allergic conjunctivitis and prescribes me a $90 mini-bottle of drops to help with itching that I barely even had. He also says I should go see another doctor in Downers Grove for more tests.

Fast forward to yesterday. I go to the second doctor, who takes one look at my eyes and says, "that's not allergic conjunctivitis," and pretty much negates my entire first visit. She says that since the problem is in both eyes and not central to just one, it's possibly benign tissue growth that stemmed from a week-long sickness I had in October, member? But she can't be totally sure so she says I need to see ANOTHER doctor. This one is downtown. He's actually an optical plastic surgeon and he'll do a biopsy to make sure all is well. His only opening is on January 31. So get this. My plane arrives in Detroit at 1 am that morning. So I have to drive 4 hours to Chicago and then get to the doctor's office and yadda yadda yadda. The Downers Grove doctor also warned me that this surgeon guy is very eccentric. Well, it should all make for a great blog. Provided I can see the keyboard.

For the most part, the Threadless submissions yesterday weren't that great, but if i had to pick three it would be #3 Perennially Different, #2 That Charm Fish... and the only one that garnered a perfect score... #1 Bad Teddy.

105: Nightmares At The Parks

I woke up at 5 am, wide awake after a series of bizarre nightmares that started at a professional football game (presumably the upcoming Bears/Panthers game, although i don't remember either team having any female punt returners) and ended at a professional baseball game (presumably at US Cellular Field, however, i don't figure they'd have a huge chunk of chalk on the field for the sake of pummeling). It was just straight up odd for me to be having such disturbing dreams. Usually those sort of episodes are saved for abnormally long nights of sleep... i suppose a friday the 13th could trigger something...

Maybe i'm just nervous. I mean, I am going to be on the cover of the upcoming Less Than Jake album. Weird, but true. I saw it. Such an oddity seems to fit right in with my dad and Abba. There is a crowd scene on the cover and you can clearly see my face on the extreme left side. I don't think the image is up anywhere online. I had to sign some contract with Warner Bros yesterday allowing them to use my image. I also hold them free from responsibilty if my image draws scorn. The word "scorn" was actually in the contract. What the hell does that mean?

I have an eye doctor apppointment today to run some tests on what can only be described as an inflammed tear duct. Bite your tongue with the fucking emo jokes. Bite it hard. The funny thing is, this eye problem came not long after the eyeliner photo for the Emo Bear shirt. Curses. I already signed that Threadless contract that holds them free of responsibility if my Emo Bear photo draws scorn. Nice callback. And now i will segue into my top 3 submissions for yesterday, which was not the best day. A distant #3 is I Dream Of Jimi. Not very groundbreaking, but pleasant enough, even if "Jimi's" guitar is technically upside down. #2 is 300. A nice bowling shirt, i'd say! #1 by far is Memento Arbori. I think it would make an excellent looking shirt.

104: But We're Not As Hell As You

Well, this is going to be my second to last post from early in the working morning for at least two weeks. Even when i'm tour, i'm going to try and keep it up. This is my pledge to you... I am in a terrible mood this morning. I even napped yesterday to catch up on my sleep. Didn't work.

Maybe more to come later, but for now. here are my 3 favorite Threadless submissions from yesterday (they all got 5's from me): #3 Panda Escapes. #2 Misfortune Cookie. #1 Jackalope Love.

Speaking of jackalopes, our good friend Bix had an unhealthy obsession with the strange fabled beast. He searched far and wide for statues, postcards, what-have-you. Every truck stop. Every junk store. Every tourist trap. Searching and searching... until one day, much to our surprise, somewhere in the lonely southwest, he was ruthlessly attacked by a herd of rabid jackalope. They must have been attracted to his colorful tattoos.

Yeah, i just made that up. I needed a good ending to the useless pointless anecdote. I should change the name of the blog to Useless Pointless Anecdotes. UPA. An adorable bulldog puppy just entered the building. I must go lavish attention upon it.

103: The Top Ten Records That Came Out Yesterday

Ah, good old Wednesday. The old humparoo. The time when we bust out the dusty old time machines and look back on a classic day in music history. We dig up the treasure chest of jewels and trinkets. We shammy the dustbunnies off of the Wurlitzer Wayback Machine. We set the flux capacitor on Doc's Delorean to a time when Samuel Alito was still being questioned as a Supreme Court nominee. When the media world was abuzz with Howard Stern's debut on satellite radio. When Best Picture winner Hostel wowed audiences in its opening week and Durmot Mulroney was busy cementing his position as the worst actor in the movie business. I take you now to January 10, 2006. Walk with me, talk with me...


*** The Top Ten Records Released on January 10, 2006 ***

10 Morningwood - Morningwood

I have no idea who this band is or where they came from (New York), but I do know that somehow they got a record deal, this record was produced by Gil Norton (best known for his work with Pixies) and well, look at the name of the band. It's Morningwood. I can't really say anything more without unintentionally dropping sexual innuendos. I was going to say it had a nice ring to it, or was easy on the tongue, but that's just dumb and we're all dumber now that i even mentioned it. Allmusic describes it as "calculated fluff" but the songs i heard weren't terrible. The singer, Chantal Claret sorta overdoes it with the sexual imagery, but i guess it's catchy. It's as if Noelle from Damone was singing for Weezer but in an obnoxiously flirtatious way. The cover isn't very exciting. The big WM logo. The "nerd berd" argyle. Yeah...

Speaking of things with the initals MW, you can find Mike Watt's debut solo album Ballhog or Tugboat in any cutout bin in America. It was such a grand undertaking. The album was full of supergroups! And for some reason it sank like a holey dinghy. The first half of that record is truly incredible, though. Even after I was done and done with Pearl Jam, I still thought this song was awesome the first time i heard it. Still is. Hey, isn't that Dave Grohl on the drums?

MP3: Against The 70's - Mike Watt (with Eddie Vedder)



09 The Wiggles - Here Comes The Big Red Car

Not since AC/DC has a group of goofy Australian guys hypnotized an entire generation of kids. I don't know much about these Wiggles, but did you know that they basically used to be an R & B group called The Cockroaches? Probably a good idea to change your name if you're planning on converting to strictly children's music and entertainment. Well, maybe not. That They Might Be Giants children's record, NO! is dense enough to make a grown man's head explode. Would this record do the same? Possibly. With titles like "Nicky Nacky Nocky Noo," "I'm a Cow," and "Di Dicki Do Dum," I can feel the eyes starting to roll in my head.

Everyone seems to be making children's records nowadays. What gives? I have certainly noticed that the average showgoing age has dropped from around 20 to closer to 17. How much further will this go? Desoto Records is doing that kids comp, New Amsterdams will be entertaining toddlers soon, and Jason Falkner did that Bedtime With The Beatles record complete with lyrics so you could correctly sing your baby to sleep. How embarrassing of you to mess up the French part in Michelle! Your baby will now have a warped sense of the French language. Way to go, dad.

MP3: My Fat Baby Loves To Eat - Stewie Griffin



08 George Carlin - Life is Worth Losing

When i was in 8th grade, somehow my friends and I got a copy of Carlin's album A Place For My Stuff, chuck full of standup, skits, and weird commercials. In short, it was hilarious... and surprisingly, it mostly holds up. For nostalgia's sake, I re-acquired a copy and found myself giggling like an 8th grader during the bit about how you cannot sink a rice krispie, even with a watermelon, and finding new appreciation for jokes and reflections that i didn't quite get back then... "You notice that you never seem to get laid much on Thanksgiving? ... It's probably because all the coats are on the bed."

I saw George perform whilst in college and it sucked. I don't think I laughed once. So i don't hold much promise for this record. Go find A Place For My Stuff. It's funny. So funny, i made this little remix for the "Join the Book Club" commercial. You love it. You hate it.

MP3: The Book Club - Me



07 Talking Heads - Remain in Light (dualdisc)

I'm not hip to this dualdisc technology, i must admit. Perhaps if i was still in my infinitely regrettable charge-everything phase, i'd invest in some surround sound. Perhaps if i lived in a nice apartment with a large living room. A specific listening area that harkens back to the olden days when people got together for the specific purpose of spinning records. In this case, double sided CD's. I've always been a fairweather Talking Heads fan, just barely scratching the surface of the non-hits, but even i'd be psyched to hear "Once In A Lifetime" in this format. Here comes the twister.

Remember the video for the song "Blind?" With the lip-synching wrench that spit from behind a podium? Briliant.

I will now take this opportunity to tell you my top 3 favorite Threadless t-shirt submissions from yesterday. #3 is Ninja vs. Pirate vs. Catgirl. Yeah I know it's been done and it's been done better, but i'm just a sucker for cutesy cartoonish things i guess. I gave it a 4... Portastatic (Mac from Superchunk) did a really great video parodying the classic one for "Once in a Lifetime." So here's a great Portastatic song..

MP3: In The Manner Of Anne Frank - Portastatic




06 Ted Leo - Rx/Pharmacists

Shucks. Every week i find myself leaning towards the re-releases, the re-issues. The records that have proved their weight in wax. And only every now and again do i decide to take a chance with something random like Morningwood. I noticed that Pitchfork reviewed it as well. They liked it about as much as i did. They also reviewed an Anthrax collection CD that i didn't see on any release list this week, so i'm assuming it's older. I could talk for awhile about that. But this is not about Scott Ian or Joey Belladonna. It's about Ted Leo. This is a reissue of Ted's first solo record and from the reviews i've read, it's pretty bad. Hey, i know more than a few gals (and guys) who would get shaky just thinking about the track that was solely recorded during a shower. Smart move for a fellow vocal nut. Steam. Always a good thing. And singing naked, too. Very good for the voice.

Chris Wilson is the Pharmacist drummer and i've known him for quite some time. I'd say a good darn 10 years ago at least is when we first set battle on the 4 square court in front of that closed supermarket in Little Rock. He played drums in a bunch of bands back then but i believe the best was Shake Ray Turbine. And it goes a lil something like this...

MP3: The First Equation - Shake Ray Turbine




05 Abba - Voulez Vous / Super Trouper / Arrival

Supposedly they put a man on the moon. Apparently broccoli has the teensiest early stages of a nervous system. Durmot Mulroney may have landed the part of Dante in an upcoming Inferno movie... and in keeping with the wtf theme, for some messed up reason, my dad really loves Abba. It defies all logic. I wouldn't doubt it if i found out that my dad never owned a record in his life. And for some reason, around 1980 or so, my dad and my uncle went Abba crazy. The madness died down for about 20 years and then came that Mamma Mia show and it was back. My dad went and had a great time. It's just one of those random things we just don't question...

Hence, my transitive affinity toward the dashing Swedes. You can't go wrong with this 3 pack. You have all the hits. "Voulez Vous," "Chiququita," "Money Money Money," "Take a Chance On Me" ... it's essential Abba, people. However, much like "Du Hast" before it, the allure of "Dancing Queen" is running thin on the ol Pod. The number 2 Threadless submission of yesterday was King Tee. I'm not sure about the text on the thing's belly, though. You lose that and it's a winner. I gave it a 4.

When i heard this next song on a mix madness cd, i loved it. You will too. I hope. I give it a 10.

MP3: Princesa Bacana - Jorge Drexler




04 Omar Rodriguez - Omar Rodriguez

Garlic is in the air. Gilroy is on my mind. I just minced up some fresh garlic for my breakfastdinner and the sweet aroma is still hanging about. Either that, or Omar Rodriguez is in the middle of a screeching solo in the next room over. Let me explain.

I met Omar a long time ago. Probably the same tour that brought me to the 4 square supermarket. It was in El Paso. I had just played the WORST show of my life and i was feeling ill. We were staying with the ATDI guys, so Omar advised me to eat raw garlic. He was convinced it could cure anything and he had conspirators as well. He said, "you'll stink like hell, but at least you'll feel great." So i tried it right then and there... and almost threw up. It didn't help one bit. I went to sleep cowering in a corner while everyone hooped and hollered. Nowadays, it tends to show up in everything i make. I love the stuff. Usually not raw, though.

Since this record is only available overseas, i was only able to check out tracks from A Manual Dexterity. Not that bad. What I'd expect and that's a good thing... I'm not the biggest Mars Volta fan, by the way. I just can't get into most of it. Love that drummer, though. Did you know that Eddie Van Halen was originally a drummer?

MP3: Eruption - Van Halen


03 Joy Division - Let The Movie Begin

A live disc interspersed with interviews... and apparently they are making a movie about Ian Curtis? I haven't been able to find much about it, but then again i haven't really looked too hard. I just watched this video of Paul McCartney on Amazon.com taken from his most recent tour. They play "Please Please Me" and it's great, just like the shows I actually saw in Detroit were great, but i was particularly disturbed by the quick cuts of audience members singing along. Paul says it's just the band rehearsing before the show, but someone felt the need to add footage of an audience. I suppose it's harmless enough, but it just was so distracting and now i just can't concentrate. Think i'm going to take a nap.

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" has always been one of my favorite jams, and it's been covered ad nauseum. We usually get the straight reading, but Calexico throws us a curveball. This is from that Sweetheart comp that i mention all the friggin time. It's good.

MP3: Love Will Tear Us Apart - Calexico



02 We Are Scientists - With Love And Squalor

I wish all the best for We Are Scientists. I mean, they are named after a Cap'n Jazz song. They don't sound like Cap'n Jazz, but yet i just get this feeling when i listen to them that they could have fit right in with that scene. Everyone seems to think they sound just like Franz Ferdinand. Maybe, but there is still this distinctively younger sound. Who knows... You know who does sound a whole lot like Cap'n Jazz? Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. They sound like the second coming of Cap'n Jazz to me. The Scientists are on Virgin Records and they should be excited about that because they could perhaps get some sort of discount on a trip to the moon, which is currently a whopping $200,000 and you don't even go until 2008. What a jip.

My favorite Threadless submission of yesterday is Spring Fever. It's just so goshdarn original. Can't say i've ever seen anything like it. I gave it a 5. Gimme 5! What's number one? It better not be another reissue.

MP3: We Are Scientists! - Cap'n Jazz



01 Kind of Like Spitting - $100 Room

Hey! It's another reissue! KOLS $100 Room gets a new release with a new label, Hush. It's the same record to a tee, it's just moved, you see? Now, this isn't my absolute favorite Kind of Like Spitting record. That is reserved for Nothing Makes Sense Without It, which sorely deserves a polished up re-release as well. That being said, $100 Room is pretty friggin great. Ben Barnett is an absolute genius for bookending this record with the same :50 song (Hook, Hoax, and the last :50 of Cater), but played in different styles. When i first heard the last one I almost had a heartattack. It made me smile. Hard. And... the beginning of "One Bird, One Stone" begins with the end of "A Shaggy Dog Shames Its Owner" (from Nothing Makes Sense...). Respect is due.

It's always a treat to be playin' shows with KOLS and it looks like that's going to happen come February. I think perhaps on Saturday, I'll rundown all of the exciting events that are shaping up for 2006! Goodnight and good luck.

MP3: Following Days (demo) - Kind of Like Spitting

102: This Is Insect Speed

Have you heard this 13+God record? It's the collaboration between the German champions of beats made out of surface noise, The Notwist, and the hip hop outfit that I know little or nothing about, Themselves. It's pretty great, especially for an early morning listen, as is becoming my ritual here. I have to admit that I'm way more into the Notwist dominant songs like "Perfect Speed" and "Men of Station." I was lucky enough to get a tape of The Notwist in Germany during the first Braid tour there. A kid gave it to us saying "This is the best band in Germany right now." So we said something like "Hey, maybe we should tour with them here." and the kid said something like "Pfft! Yeah right. They play arenas" or something like that. Memory gets a bit fuzzy sometimes. Too much Warsteiner. Make love not Warsteiner. If I could, I would kick myself.

If I was one of those typical office guys with my own desk, i would demand a chair that spins easily and smoothly, since that would be the only fun I'd have all day.

The city of Chicago has denied Radiohead's request to play 2 nights, June 19 & 20 in Millennium Park because the Grant Park Symphony has rehearsal on the 20th and they need to practice with their own sound system. What a bunch of rockstars these orchestral players are. Ooh i simply wouldn't be able to operate this cello without my in-ear monitor that i spent 5 minutes getting all the settings correct on... and do they really expect me to re-adjust my chair?? It's perfect! Of course I kid... but seriously, call off rehearsal, give them all free tickets, Thom's autograph, done... Hey, even better, have them PLAY with Radiohead! That might be nice...

I've never even been to Millennium Park. I feel like a Parisian who has never seen the Eiffel Tower. Big dill pickle.

101: Starring... A Bag Of Dirt

So, the Bears play Carolina on Sunday. I have faith. We beat em in November and we can do it again... but onto more interesting and engaging topics. The acting skill of one Dermot Mulroney. I was lucky enough to see the first third of The Family Stone yesterday and well, watching Dermy stumble over every line without a teeny tiny speck of believable emotion... well... i was going to say that he was about as exciting as a bag of dirt, but i'm going to take it the other way and say... i recommend the movie. Even though I've only seen the first third, his performance alone makes this one of last year's best comedies... not in the way he intended i'm sure.

and I AM SUCH A DUMMY. This whole time I was convinced that no one was commenting on the posts. Instead I had some "moderate comments" feature clicked in my Blogger preferences. It has been unchecked. I hereby approve you all. I suck. Pfft.

100: The 100th Post, 100

It's a shame it has to fall on a Sunday, the day least likely to blog on... but oh well. Along with my rejection of collections came my semi-rejection of the importance or relevance of certain numbers. It's no milestone! Just keepin on keepin on...

But there is a lot of news to report and i'll get right with it soon enough. For now, it's football. Since the Buccaneers lost, the Bears will be playing the winner of todays Carolina-NY game. Go Giants. Go Breakfast.

099 Electric Booty Phil

I pride myself on being the king of useless trivia. And I use the word "useless" for everyone else's benefit because personally, i don't think it's useless at all. At the much fabled Spitalfield/Mad game nights, my team takes Trivial Pursuit every time. It's always a rough battle.... but i'm getting rusty. The last time, the winning question for our team was "What word, coined by Beyonce Knowles, has made it into the dictionary?" or something like that. I had no idea. Luckily someone from my team came through. I guess i'm just getting old. Sigh... I came upon this realization yesterday when I was seriously stumped on the name of Thin Lizzy's singer. Wtf? And then I couldn't remember the name of the New Pornographers record between Mass Romantic and Twin Cinema. I know. What is happening to me? It's certainly a hard knock life.

Tomorrow is post #100. I have a few things up my sleeve. But i think they'll have to wait until 101 or 102.

...and lastly, in leiu of future Bears playoff games... go Bucs. Woo. Hoo.

098 You Can't Please Anyone Anytime

At work early again. I'm a little miffed because i missed the Smart Quiz question this morning on Newsradio WBBM. And it was a Hitchcock one! When I heard that bit of info, i started dialing right away. What Hitchcock movie was set in Santa Rosa, CA, and involved a character known as the "merry widow strangler?" Dammit. I've seen that many times. I even had a film class in college that had a whole Hitchcock section! Luckily I couldn't get through to the station. It was Shadow Of A Doubt. Of course! Spoiler alert. At the end, i'm pretty sure the strangler, who has won the trust and compassion of everyone in the town, gets pushed off of a train. Dammit. I'll never forgive myself for that one. I could have won a $150 gift certificate for Alex's Steakhouse. I'm sure they must have something i can eat there!

My favorite Hitchcock movie by far is Rope. The plot is quite outrageous. Two college students strangle a friend and then have a dinner party immediately afterwards while the dead friend's body is in a trunk in the living room. They even serve food off of it. Quite morbid, i'd say, especially for 1948! Jimmy Stewart is incredible as the dinner guest that slowly unravels the mystery. You know, they are making so many remakes of shitty movies lately, they should really give Rope a go. It wasn't as popular as Psycho, so people wouldn't be inclined to sneer at how the original was so much better and blah blah.

I am listening to 13+God here and i'm ready to get to work. BTW, I work at Threadless. Go check out the site. I think there will soon be some blog tie-ins so get familiar. I'd hate to reference something when you have no idea what i'm talking about... as if you do anyway. As if anyone is reading. I took a long break, but i'm back. You can't please anyone anythime.

097 But I Also Care Too Much

You may say i write too much...

I'm at work early this morning and it's going to be a busy day of shirt mongering, so i figured i'd drop this here blog bright and early. I'm starting to plan out my upcoming west coast tour which starts on January 17. I have some strategically placed days off in there, thus ensuring my eventual photo in front of such important landmarks as Castroville's Great Artichoke, Gilroy's popular Garlic World, and of couse, the world's largest thermometer in Baker. I also plan to make my pilgrimage to one of my top 5 restaurants of all time, Real Food Daily in Los Angeles. Oh man, i just can't wait. I got a brand new (hand me down) digital camera this christmas so if we're all feelin' lucky, there may be a photo diary in the deal.

One last thing... if you've seen any recent episodes of Punk'd, you may have noticed the snappiest dresser in City On Film history, Mr. Brian Shortall playing such roles as "the photographer" and "inciter of danny masterson." Perhaps you saw a Hey Mercedes hoodie? That's my boy. Rest assured, any future appearances will be announced and celebrated right here....

I will now saunter down the aisles collecting shirts to the tune of "Come Together." I once realized that you couldn't just normally walk while listening to this song. You must bob and saunter. Late.

096 The Top Ten Records That Came Out Yesterday

For my return to the ramblings of weekly releases, i seem to have chosen one of the WORST days imaginable. Whatever. Who releases records on the first Tuesday of a year anyway? Most of these are imports... And since I tend to find listings differ from website to website, from now on, i will hereby only consult one. Amazon. When Amazon has it for sale is when it's released. Good? Great! (Of course i will take into consideration albums not available from Amazon, provided i know about them.) Now let's see what garbage came out of record store speakers yesterday, shall we?


*** The Top Ten Records Released on January 3, 2006 ***

10 Rammstein - Rosenrot (special edition)

Good God, what is wrong with me? I have chosen Rammstein to top off this week's top 10 list. A special limited 2 disc edition even. Trust me, the pickens are mighty mighty slim. All I can really say about Rammstein is Du. Du hast. Du hast mich. And in all seriousness, i have removed that song from my ipod, which was only there to crack people up to begin with. And it never worked. People just thought i was nuts. They didn't see it as quality humor like I did. Certain songs work every time, though. For instance, the classic "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by the sultry Rupert Holmes. I'd rather be talking about Rupert Holmes. When oh when will Ruup be putting out his long awaited comeback album, most certainly to be Rick Rubin-produced?

I really don't like System of a Down too much either. I appreciate their goofy musicianship and mind boggling way of getting obvious anti-hits like "Chop Suey" on the radio. The first time I heard that, I actually spoke aloud to the DJ. "What the fuck is this?" It was like a bizarro version of D.R.I. or something. Now when is that D.R.I. comeback album?

MP3: I'd Rather Be Sleeping - D. R. I.



09 Tom Green - Prepare For Impact

The worst part is this. Amazon is saving all of the pages I go to so they can create a better profile page for me. "Hey, Robert Nanna, if you like Rammstein and Tom Green, you'll absolutely love this new industrial eardrum drill! Click here!" What a garbage garbage week. You know what the single from this is? "Teachers Suck." And it comes with a DVD so you can watch the "Teachers Suck" video as well. Dot Dot Dot. Tom Green will be celebrating his 35th birthday this year. I am just baffled.

You know what's a great movie? Meatballs. The original with Bill Murray. If i could I would link to an mp3 of Bill's entire opening monologue from that movie, I would. It's a wonder that the passage is not included in "great monologues for audtions" books. The part where he gets out of bed all achy and goes "OH! OHHHH! OOOOOHHHHi am your head counselor, and this is my wake up show. I'll be coming atcha every morning. About dis tiiiimeee...." Great movie. Although the soundtrack can be grating at times. Hey, maybe you like the sweet sounds of nails on a chalkboard. Hey, maybe you like hearing Tom Green sing about Hooters.

MP3: Star Wars (from snl) - Bill Murray



08 Richard Simmons - Country Cardio

This is officially the worst week in music history. "Put the fun back in your cardio workout with these pumped-up versions of favorite country classics." You know that Richard will be singing along to such standards as "Leaving on a Jet Plane" and "You're Still The One" and... um... "Always On My Mind?" How will that get your heart rate up? "Stand By Your Man?" What the? Seems like the ol' hitchhiker stretch is a main part of the routine as shown on the cover. Richard will be celebrating his 56th birthday this year. And he's still sweatin' but now he's supersweatin.' How does he maintain the hair is what i wanna know? And the length of the shorts. Not getting any longer. Richard. Keepin it real... so...

MP3: Richard Simmons - Hot Rod Circuit



07 Richard Simmons - Big Screen Burn

Out of all of the jams on the Top Gun soundtrack, Richard chooses "Take My Breath Away?" What kind of sweating are we talking bout here? Ay-yo. Yawn. Speaking of sweating. i'm sweating writing another word about this travesty of a record.

You know what's great? Mario Party 7 for Gamecube. My wonderful girlfriend bought me a Gamecube for Christmas and we haven't stopped playing it since it came out of the wrapping paper. Finally I can revel in the madness of goofy cartoon characters on wild and crazy missions to collect coins or shells or whatnot while being chased by absurd villians with spiked turtle shells. Stupid Bowser.

MP3: Super Mario Bros. Theme




06 Inner Self: Feng Shui

At work today, I was accused of trying to put everyone to sleep by playing songs from Broken Social Scene's Feel Good Lost. Hey, it was the end of the day and I wanted to signify the cool down period of any long period of activity. In fact, I bet "Take My Breath Away" is during Richard's cool down period. That would make sense I guess.

I'm so Feng Shui, my dresser is in my closet. No need for a stack of drawers to be messing up my place of relaxation. However, I do have a TV in my room (see Gamecube comment above) and I have racks chock full of CDs and records, but you see, i'm so Feng Shui, i have arranged them by SPINE COLOR! Soothing. Very soothing.

MP3: I Slept With Bonhomme At The CBC - Broken Social Scene


05 Shopgirl - Original Score

We had 3 hours to kill before the Anathallo / Owen show at the Abbey Pub, so upon Lauren's suggestion we went to see Shopgirl, the full length motion picture based on the little novella penned by wild and crazy guy, Steve Martin, starring Steve, Claire Danes, and Jason Schwartzman. Now, i had read the novella a few years ago, finding it pleasant enough. Nothing to write home about. Nothing to write a novella about. And not much to make a movie about either...

I think the main problem was this. When I was reading the novella, i never imagined Mr. Martin playing the lead male role. I dunno. I just imagined someone much younger woo-ing Ms. Buttersfield. I was taken way out of the story. The highlight of the movie was the inclusion of amazing-songwriter/terrible-actor Mark Kozelek. When he appeared onstage playing “Lily and Parrots,” I nearly dropped my sandwich right there in the theater. And then when it was clear that he’d be a major player in the action, I was back in... but only to hear him sing and attempt to, you know. There’s a quick snippet of him singing “Make Like Paper” on the tour bus that’s nice. “She lives in a house where Mission Street bends.” And then, during the obligatory montage, we are treated to the best song on that first SKM album, “Carry Me Ohio.” What a joy! This all has nothing to do with the Original Score, released yesterday. I’m sure it’s great, though. If nothing else, it’s a nice background while you’re text messaging in a packed theater.

MP3: Glenn Tipton - Sun Kill Moon




04 Inner Self: Sleep

Sleep. Is it where you’re a viking? Last night, I was being framed for murder after someone planted phony plans into my wallet which I had misplaced. I’m sure if I was listening to Inner Self: Sleep at the time, specifically hot jams like "Primal Reflection" and "Cathedral of Trees," i’d be floating along on fluffy tofu clouds.

To be honest, soft soothing music rarely has the intended effect on me. Not sure why. If anything, it makes me want to do something productive. And the opposite is also true. Someone put on a Curl Up And Die CD today and it immediately turned me into Mr. Lethargy. I really just wanted to Curl Up And Nap... And, if you’re having some trouble waking up, take the advice of my good friend Chris Common and throw on some Stevie.

MP3: We Can Work It Out - Stevie Wonder



03 Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - The Love Songs

I think this album has already been released in the US, but now it's worldwide baby. and it's a real treat. Think you know what song title is represented on Alabama's license plates? Guess again, Lynyrd, cause it's the Parrish/Perkins composition known as "Stars Fell On Alabama" and it never sounds as sweet as it does coming from Ella & Louis. Yahoo! So that's what we're dealing with here. Another great jam is "Under a Blanket of Blue." Personally, I'd go for the 3 disc set that came out about 5 years ago with the complete recordings, but hey, valentine's day is only a hop skip away, you know?

A quick side note. As I was researching "Stars Fell on Alabama," I came across a sham of a mockery of a travesty. Apparently some jokers called Lucky Oceans recorded a song called "Stars Fell On Al's Banana." I refuse to even search for it. Not interested.

MP3: Stars Fell On Alabama - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong



02 The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth

First impressions, indeed, kind sirs. Why i do remember the night that I realized The Strokes were a damn catchy band! It was in Seattle and it was during the first Vagrant tour. It was at some bar. You know, the hip one. I met some guys from Pretty Girls Make Graves there and I may have asked one of them what was playing. It was "Last Nite." Funny, because I thought I knew it. The melody. The rhythm. But this was the first i was told of it and of course it was before they blew up yadda yadda. I'm not that out of the loop, people! Hmm, the loop people. Anyway, my point is, they surely didn't have to grow on you. They were just there. You didn't have to sit and ponder. You just had to nod your head. In agreement. But with the songs I've heard from this new record, it may take some time. It seems a lot looser in a lot of ways, and when did the drummer get so good? Did they get a new one or something?

"You Only Live Once" is instantly catchy but some of the other tracks had me scratching my head. And.. my research has once again got me into trouble as i stumbled upon HealthyStrokes.com, "a site about masturbation and you!" The FBI will have some file on me, itellyouwhat. Richard Simmons, Tom Green, and now this. Great.

MP3: Pretty Girls Make Graves - The Smiths


01 Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks (vinyl classics reissue) (import)

Nope, it's not vinyl. It's a CD that's made and packaged to look like one. It's also been available in the US for awhile now. But I just couldn't bear to put this album any further back than number 1 because it's my absolute favorite album of the moment. Even though the logic behind reissuing a CD mockup of vinyl is fuzzier than surface noise (questionable comparison), i can't help but wonder what it was like on that (buckets of) rainy day back in 1975. You know what? It was released on January 17, 1975 so it may have been buckets of snow actually. Anyway, bringing it home from the store, dropping the needle and after a second or two... "Tangled Up In Blue." OMG. Even in 1975, they were saying OMG after they heard a hot jam. And to think, they still had "Idiot Wind" "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" "If You See Her, Say Hello" and "Buckets of Rain" to get to. I'm jealous. I was negative 6 months at this time, so i can only hope i heard it in passing...

Neko Case does a commendable job with Buckets of Rain. It appeared on the Hear Music "Sweetheart" compilation. In the liner notes she writes, "This song reminds me of being eight years old and thinking it was really cool that a guy my dad liked, like Bob Dylan, would put monkeys and bikes in songs just for kids. I thought that was very equal opportunity." Not really explaining why she chose to cover this for a comp of love songs, but whatever. I guess it works. I ain't no monkey but i know what i like.

MP3: Buckets of Rain - Neko Case



Well, thankfully that's it. I think there are some gems coming out next week. See you tomorrow.

095 Daily? My Aching Aunt Fanny!

Firstly, you're in for a nice treat tomorrow, as I'm starting off 2006 in style here at the COFD. Things are going to start moving and a shaking. Probably. You never know with me and neither do I. Shazam.

But here's one thing i DO know. If you have recently ordered a hot ace City On Film shirt from me via paypal and you have yet to receive diddly, it could possibly be that I was not properly informed of the size you requested. It's not your fault. I'm not blaming you. I'm blaming Paypal. They make the shopping cart so easy to set up that something is bound to go wrong. And this time, it was the "size" option. I received no notification. Hence, after each order, I immediately emailed the happy customer and asked for the size. This produced mixed results. I think there are about 4-5 of you that have not emailed back. For shame! In protest, I will send the size and style of my choice and you will receive the garment engulfed in flames.

Of course, I kid. Email me. I'm so helpful, you wouldn't even fucking believe it. You know, one gentleman emailed back saying he never sent me anything from Paypal and it seems that someone created a Paypal account with his exact email address. What do i do in this situation? Do I pocket the monkeys?

Until tomorrow... adios, bros.