"Better something else like Nashua, Montpelier..." - Ted Pauly
Fantastic -- just one word to describe the stellar wedding confab staged in celebration of the newly conjoined Housh-Thomases. After the disposition of Crazy Early at the airport, I was struck with the very depressing thought that tomorrow was a work day, like about 10,000 work days before it, and the wonderful and entertaining odyssey in and around the greater Ipswich area of the last few days had finally come to an end. So BOOO! to real life. Life in the parking lot of the Whittier, and here, here, and here, is way better. There was croquet, camaraderie, pomp, circumstance, and even The Bus Stop. Anyway, congrats to H-Dawg, T-Dawg and Murphy. Really good times. I should also note getting really, really tanked at the Whittier's tiny bar with uber barkeep Chris and her man Pete, with whom Lopez and I had a dynamite time. Although the contents of those conversations are lost in the mists of a million Budweisers.
Speaking of BOOOO! I have to say I understand why Nomar had to go, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
So what else? As the lyric above might suggest, I came into the possession of Ted's demos for the forthcoming Haywood album. The new Haywood stuff is purely a studio effort, mon ami Rob V reiterated when he was in the Republic of Cambridge with us last weekend. The demos are fairly rough, but the great songs and great lyrics are still there. And Ted can still turn a phrase that is so wistful it is like the slowest kick in the groin you've ever felt. It will probably be pretty far into 2005 before a record is released, but keep your eyes open. I'll, of course, post tracks once they roll my way.
While the V-ness was here we went to a bitching 30th bday party for I. Karim Abdul-Matin, one of the chillinest doods around. Great party, right in the neighborhood. Good times.
Besides the new Ted Pauly demos, I've still been spinning the Unicorns and the new Fiery Furnaces a lot. And a lot of Joe Jackson's "Look Sharp." Just cause it is great. Oh, and a great Floyd bootleg that Large-Hearted Boy pointed me to.
The Democratic National Convention was a breeze for us, as far as the commuting to the office and all that goes. And I watched the coverage with great interest for the first three evenings. I was especially entertained by speeches by Obama Barack, Al Sharpton, and of course, Bubba Clinton, who all spoke very well. No Jano Cabrera sightings, but what are you gonna do. The 6-hour workdays made everything else worth it. Except trying to figure out how to bill overtime, so I didn't bother working any.
We have the sad task of shipping off the Mathews-Watsons next weekend, but it will be nice to see a new place and to drive out Route 2, an attractive piece of road.
Well, for now, that is all.
August 1, 2004
July 24, 2004
"Ain't gonna drink your record label's beer no more." - Andrew Beaujon
It is a cool Saturday afternoon. Got the windows open. Here's something of note: a forthcoming Rhino comp of the so-called '80s underground. My first instinct was to skip this cause I already have a lot of this stuff, but after going through this I see there is a lot more that I don't have.
Blogger doesn't seem to want to handle my links to Amazon right now -- it keeps splitting them in the wrong place after I submit perfectly sound code. So screw the links. I've been listening to the Unicorns record, the Fiery Furnaces joint, and the new Merge 15th anniversary comp. Kudos to me.
Observant reader Tito sent in this missive. Behold the power of beer. And stupidity.
Coverage in Brief: NO. NO. NO. Yes.
So the DNC is in town, and their headquarters, so far as I can tell, are in the same office building as my employer. Which I didn't really care about, until I realized that meant one-time friend of Webnoize Jano Cabrera probably is working in my building for the coming week. The guy is wicked cool. If I could track him down, I would press him for copious beer. The only thing I have to go on is I am looking for a less than average height Hispanic male who is probably ogling blondes of more than average chest girth (related coverage here). I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open. This morning I noted Cabrera's chicanery in coverage of newly revealed Bush service records. Or lack of service, depending on who is counting.
It is a cool Saturday afternoon. Got the windows open. Here's something of note: a forthcoming Rhino comp of the so-called '80s underground. My first instinct was to skip this cause I already have a lot of this stuff, but after going through this I see there is a lot more that I don't have.
Blogger doesn't seem to want to handle my links to Amazon right now -- it keeps splitting them in the wrong place after I submit perfectly sound code. So screw the links. I've been listening to the Unicorns record, the Fiery Furnaces joint, and the new Merge 15th anniversary comp. Kudos to me.
Observant reader Tito sent in this missive. Behold the power of beer. And stupidity.
Coverage in Brief: NO. NO. NO. Yes.
So the DNC is in town, and their headquarters, so far as I can tell, are in the same office building as my employer. Which I didn't really care about, until I realized that meant one-time friend of Webnoize Jano Cabrera probably is working in my building for the coming week. The guy is wicked cool. If I could track him down, I would press him for copious beer. The only thing I have to go on is I am looking for a less than average height Hispanic male who is probably ogling blondes of more than average chest girth (related coverage here). I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open. This morning I noted Cabrera's chicanery in coverage of newly revealed Bush service records. Or lack of service, depending on who is counting.
July 21, 2004
"Stop all this weak stuff and drop out of BU." - The Modern Lovers.
Look, a lot of great MP3s. Thanks to MLE for the link.
No wonder The Who could see for miles. I seem to recall seeing pretty far myself...
Hey, Brian Cracow...
Work finally slowed down today. Expect some better posts in the near future.
That is all.
Look, a lot of great MP3s. Thanks to MLE for the link.
No wonder The Who could see for miles. I seem to recall seeing pretty far myself...
Hey, Brian Cracow...
Work finally slowed down today. Expect some better posts in the near future.
That is all.
July 18, 2004
"Paranoia, wreck your health, destroy your friends, destroy yourself." - The Kinks.
It's been a very, very busy week. The upshot being the overtime pay. And I achieved "Ratings Master" status with my Launchcast station. Feeling kind of sick and wierd, not in a good way. Scanned all the best Fong pics for TymMac for use with the double-disc set I am compiling for the faithful. Hey, Scottie's new record came out finally, check it out. More later this week.
Oh yeah, watch this. Can't wait for the reissues.
That is all.
It's been a very, very busy week. The upshot being the overtime pay. And I achieved "Ratings Master" status with my Launchcast station. Feeling kind of sick and wierd, not in a good way. Scanned all the best Fong pics for TymMac for use with the double-disc set I am compiling for the faithful. Hey, Scottie's new record came out finally, check it out. More later this week.
Oh yeah, watch this. Can't wait for the reissues.
That is all.
July 8, 2004
"Because you never should have lit that fuse, you ended up blown up." - Kam Fong
STOP EVERYTHING.
In my search for what I believe are the final two Fong songs not in my possession, I contacted TymMac. TymMac could not produce the two songs, but he produced something FAR MORE EXCITING. Namely, a digitized version of the fabled 1995 Kam Fong video for "Roger and Rerun." It is a Quicktime file and is only high enough resolution to watch at the size of a postage stamp. It will probably take quite a long time to download. Please right click and save as to capture this file to your harddrive. Then prepare yourself for a ridiculously awesome video, featuring the band as a duo at this point, as well as cameos by WPRS, Rob V, Hopson, Meltzer and, of course, yours truly. Let me know if this doesn't download correctly.
Enjoy.
STOP EVERYTHING.
In my search for what I believe are the final two Fong songs not in my possession, I contacted TymMac. TymMac could not produce the two songs, but he produced something FAR MORE EXCITING. Namely, a digitized version of the fabled 1995 Kam Fong video for "Roger and Rerun." It is a Quicktime file and is only high enough resolution to watch at the size of a postage stamp. It will probably take quite a long time to download. Please right click and save as to capture this file to your harddrive. Then prepare yourself for a ridiculously awesome video, featuring the band as a duo at this point, as well as cameos by WPRS, Rob V, Hopson, Meltzer and, of course, yours truly. Let me know if this doesn't download correctly.
Enjoy.
July 5, 2004
"Whether you know it or not, I am not the one you want."- Mendoza Line
Just saw Fahrenheit 9/11. Which I found pretty enjoyable. I think the Monkey's take on the film is pretty accurate, however. So here it is:
That said, I like the fact that there is a guy out there named Michael Moore who is making people think about politics and the world around them. Sure, I like it a little more because they are looking at things through a prism I for the most part approve of. But to the extent that Moore gets people engaged in the machinations of our government and society, I think he's the grooviest, man.
Look, I have a new review up. Despite its gimmicky first impression, Les Sans Cullotes' record Fixation Orale is actually an energetic set of tunes that I enjoy listening to. So kudos to them.
Many of you will be excited to learn that I spent a fair amount of time ripping various and sundry Kam Fong tracks from old cassettes I dug out and Logie unearthed. How could I have forgotten about great tracks like Instrumental No. 1/Locusts? A track so good I am not going to post it for a while. I am sure later this week I will put some of the stuff up though. Unfortunately, I think I am still two songs short for the archiving project I am doing. I've put out feelers to try to get my hands on a cassette the band pimped circa 1995 that had extended, early versions of "AFC" and "Harry Dean Stanton" on it (at the time the tunes, recorded at Big Sky, were just referred to as "One" and "Two.") If anyone out there has this cassette email me forthwith.
Lopez and I also caught two nights of fireworks. And hung out with most everyone we know at one point or another. It was a fun weekend.
H-Dawg from Accounts Receivable gave me a copy of the Cure's self-titled effort last night. I've listened to the first half of it so far and I am not taken in. I enjoy that they seem to have gone out of their way to make the record a bit challenging, with The Top-esque Middle Eastern sounds and a just sort of uncompromising opening track. But the record seems fairly bereft of melody. And the vocal production only has two speeds from what I heard so far, and only one of them (relatively dry and up front) is any good. I'll give them some more listens 'cause it is supposed to be a grower. Right now, though, it just doesn't seem like the songs are there, besides the single. Too bad.
Also got a Modern Lovers record from the H-Dawg, which I am excited to get into, what with the things I have been hearing about them from people including the Good Doctor.
In case you haven't been reading the comments on the posts, I think we have learned who is behind the phenomenon of Detroit's penchant for burning itself down. Check it out below.
That is all.
Just saw Fahrenheit 9/11. Which I found pretty enjoyable. I think the Monkey's take on the film is pretty accurate, however. So here it is:
Well, "F-9/11" is great as a piece of agit-prop, but as a film per se, it's probably one of the worst I've ever seen. Moore couldn't make a "film" if his life depended on it, let alone a decent unbiased documentary. All telling, no showing = he is a bad, bad film maker. But it seems as though we are unfortunately at a cross-roads where this sort of obvious message oriented propaganda is required...
That said, I like the fact that there is a guy out there named Michael Moore who is making people think about politics and the world around them. Sure, I like it a little more because they are looking at things through a prism I for the most part approve of. But to the extent that Moore gets people engaged in the machinations of our government and society, I think he's the grooviest, man.
Look, I have a new review up. Despite its gimmicky first impression, Les Sans Cullotes' record Fixation Orale is actually an energetic set of tunes that I enjoy listening to. So kudos to them.
Many of you will be excited to learn that I spent a fair amount of time ripping various and sundry Kam Fong tracks from old cassettes I dug out and Logie unearthed. How could I have forgotten about great tracks like Instrumental No. 1/Locusts? A track so good I am not going to post it for a while. I am sure later this week I will put some of the stuff up though. Unfortunately, I think I am still two songs short for the archiving project I am doing. I've put out feelers to try to get my hands on a cassette the band pimped circa 1995 that had extended, early versions of "AFC" and "Harry Dean Stanton" on it (at the time the tunes, recorded at Big Sky, were just referred to as "One" and "Two.") If anyone out there has this cassette email me forthwith.
Lopez and I also caught two nights of fireworks. And hung out with most everyone we know at one point or another. It was a fun weekend.
H-Dawg from Accounts Receivable gave me a copy of the Cure's self-titled effort last night. I've listened to the first half of it so far and I am not taken in. I enjoy that they seem to have gone out of their way to make the record a bit challenging, with The Top-esque Middle Eastern sounds and a just sort of uncompromising opening track. But the record seems fairly bereft of melody. And the vocal production only has two speeds from what I heard so far, and only one of them (relatively dry and up front) is any good. I'll give them some more listens 'cause it is supposed to be a grower. Right now, though, it just doesn't seem like the songs are there, besides the single. Too bad.
Also got a Modern Lovers record from the H-Dawg, which I am excited to get into, what with the things I have been hearing about them from people including the Good Doctor.
In case you haven't been reading the comments on the posts, I think we have learned who is behind the phenomenon of Detroit's penchant for burning itself down. Check it out below.
That is all.
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