Hallelujah

Leonard Cohen is, undoubtedly, the man. His songs are like soundtracks for lonely motel rooms (it's a good thing!)...they're magically sombre.

Remember when they played Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" on the season one finale of The OC while Seth was sailing away on his boat? Ugh, so heartbreaking.

After seeing Leonard Cohen's performance below, I'm pretty bummed I didn't get a chance to see him when he was in the Bay Area. If he ever decides to come back, I'll be there...pumping my fist for the old man.

A ton of albums that I used to/still love but don't listen to

I used to buy lots and lots and lots of music—to the point where I stopped learning the lyrics to the songs...or even the song titles. Here is a fun little list of 10 20 a bunch of albums I used to have on repeat on my boombox.

Looks like I've got a lot of listening to do.

In alphabetical order:

Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
Björk - Post
Blur - Parklife
The Charlatans - Some Friendly
The Cure - Wish
De La Soul - De La Soul is Dead
Digable Planets - Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space)
DJ Shadow - Entroducing (I crashed my first car—not my fault—while listening to this CD on the way to class)
Erasure - Pop!
Erykah Badu - Mama's Gun
Grant Lee Buffalo - Might Joe Moon
Janet Jackson - Janet
The KLF - The White Room
Latyrx - The Album
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Morphine - Cure for Pain
Morrissey - Bona Drag
Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Oasis - All of them, including B-sides
O.M.D. - Best of O.M.D.
The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon
The Pixies - Doolittle
Pizzicato Five - Made in USA
Portishead - Portishead
Primal Scream - Screamadelica
Pulp - His N' Hers
Radiohead - The Bends
The Roots - Do You Want More?!!!??!
Soul Coughing - Ruby Vroom
Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto
Stereolab - Emporer Tomato Ketchup
The Strokes - Is This It?
Suede - Dog Man Star
Tortoise - TNT
Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
The White Stripes - De Stijl
Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One

A song I still love

Sometimes I hear a song that I haven't heard in years and wonder "Why have I not heard it in years?" This Mortal Coil's cover of this song is much more wonderful than the original. Sorry, Tim. Also, how amazing is Elizabeth Fraser?




Link

Music I can listen to without getting bored

I've been listening to the new Girl Talk ablum, Feed the Animals a lot recently (thanks to my new iPhone!) when I'm wondering around the city. I never really cared for mash-ups until I was introduced to Girl Talk's "Night Ripper" album. But even then, I don't consider it mash-up, per se. He's kind of like a pop DJ Shadow. It was perfect for me. There's enough going on in every song to appease my ADHD tendencies, there's throwaway pop songs as well as classics, AND Rick Astley is involved. It's multi-genred music goodness for those with short attention spans. Check it out.

Rickrolled

As in my personal life, I'm very vocal about my appreciation of Rick Astley at work. Recently, I got an email from my co-worker Craig asking me to take some screenshots of a video supposedly from a client. Thinking it was an odd request that I should be the one to take the screenshots, I played the video. A familiar melody started and soon enough, Rick was on my screen doing the Astley shuffle.

That's when I realized I had just been Rickrolled.

Later, the office manager hands me a FedEx package and said "This came for you." Eagerly opening it, I found a piece of paper with Rick on it, front and center. Well played, Tristan. Rickrolled twice in one day...what a great honor. Perhaps I can add my experiences to this database.


The email, with video attached.


The package.

I feel like I need to confess

I'm listening to Counting Crow's August and Everything After (an album that I bought when it came out, then sold it out of embarrassment, then re-bought after getting over being embarrassed by the music I listen to) and am really enjoying it. If Adam Duritz is good enough for Courtney Cox, he's good enough for me.


Doesn't he kind of look like Kid of Kid 'n' Play except with dreads instead of a tall flat top?

Bottom of the Hill, or Happy Bday Audrey

It's been a few years since I've been to Bottom of the Hill for a show. I forgot how crowded the tiny venue can get. At certain points, it felt like I was in the steam room at the gym. But having said that, it was definitely worth it.

We went to the Matt and Kim show in celebration of Audrey's 28th. One of the opening bands was The Mall. The drummer made her a bday DVD which made her feel special or something. I asked her if she was a Mallrat, which she responded with a nervous chuckle. You can draw your own conclusions. The second The Mall started playing, a mosh pit pushed and shoved its way to life. Pooh and I stood there, feeling betrayed by our age. It made us feel old and just a little afraid. The surprised came when we spotted a drunked Brian moshing right along with the 17-year-olds.

When Matt and Kim came on, they were all about smiles and funny anecdotes. Kim drummed with a giant smile on her face the WHOLE TIME and Matt stopped in between songs to tell stories about motel ghosts and pizza shaped marshmallows. Three words describe them: Extra Super Fun! No, the exclamation mark is not a typo. I want them to play at my next house party.

The big pay off came after I was dropped off. I spotted a hot dog vendor (yes, at 1 in the morning) selling bacon-wrapped hot dogs on the corner of Mission and 23rd. This bad boy was topped with grilled onions, mayo, ketchup and mustard...in that order.

Outdoorsy Adventure Club does Pt. Arena

This weekend was spent in the semi-wilderness...Point Arena to be exact, the smallest town in Mendocino County. Population: 474.

The purpose of the trip was to see the Honorable Mention Collective show, including Vetiver and Two Gallants. They had some really awesome posters for the show that I can't seem to find right now. On the way up to Pt. Arena, we took Stewart's Point Skaggs Spring Road, the craziest road (and longest name) I've ever been on. It was super windy without many barriers, and in a lot of places it turned into a one lane road. We nearly collided with another car coming from the opposite direction at a blind turn. I feel sorry for people who have to travel that road regularly.

We stayed in a kabin at the KOA kampgrounds. The kabins were surprisingly kozy. Ours was freshly shellacked and had the smell to prove it. For dinner we grilled some sausage and ate too much. The best part was the lighter fluid.

The show that night was enjoyable and all around what I would expect from a folk line-up. There were lots of hippie hipsters, to be sure. I call them folksters. We missed the Morning Benders because we were busy playing Pasoi/13 in the bar next door. Audrey and Mike caught a few songs and thought they were good. The first act I caught was Micahel Hurley, an older folk singer, a favorite of the locals apparently. He's got a thing for epic folk songs (which is kind of an oxymoron) and falsettos. The music was good, but what stuck in my head were lyrics like "I want six cups of teee-EEEEEEEEEEEEA, not one or twoOOOOOOOHHHH" and "I'llllllll paint a white horse, or a fire-breathing dragon" or something like that. Vetiver was pretty much what I expected, except better live. Brian was horrified when they turned into a jam band and the folksters started walking up towards the stage to dance. He claims they were twirling/spinning a la Grateful Dead fans, but there was no such thing. After the impromptu dance was over, Two Gallants came on. They're like Mates of States and Bright Eyes with a harmonica, but better than both.

The show ended pretty late, around 2 in the morning. I drove back because Brian was making drunken threats to kill hippies. Back at the kabin, Brian wanted to go use the hot tub. Audrey and Mike were tired and wanted to make out, so they went to bed. I was told to "Sack up!" and go to the hot tub, but ended up staying behind to tend to the raging fire I started with lots of lighter fluid.

On the way home, Brian discovered that a painted library makes the front page around town, I took pictures of stuff on Stump Beach, and we all fed ducks. Oh, and we stopped in Guerneville to get ice cream. Guerneville wasn't what I had expected. There are a lot more meth head looking guys and a lot less gays than I would have liked.

Britpop, Part I

I feel a bit nostalgic watching this video of Northside's "Take 5." It takes me back to my late high school/early college years when I was a total Anglophile. It was a time when I didn't mind paying $10-$15 dollars for an import-only single with one B-side or a whole album for $30. And driving an hour to the city almost every Thursday for Popscene was no big deal because it was fun and worth our time.

As for Northside, I consider them a poor man's Stone Roses. They never got as big, but their Madchester baggy sound is undeniable. Plus, the singer sounds like what Ian Brown might on a good day.

Walking downtown

Walking in the rain listening to Leonard Cohen sing about getting head on an unmade bed is perversely romantic.

Don't be gay!

Mesh Magazine posted a Myspace bulletin about an anit-gay Christian site that has lists for gay and straight music. The site is Love God's Way, whose homepage features lots of earthtones and a bounty of people in mid-prayer, a Bible, and, um, a rock in a stream. Curiously, it opens with an Oscar Wilde quote, siting him as a "reformed homosexual". What's more perplexing are some of their choices of bands in each category. For the safe bands, the ones that won't turn you gay, they've included Cyndi Lauper, the gay icon, Dresden Dolls, who like to cross-dress, and Evanescence, who made me think, "They're gay!" And as for the fag music? They've included Ghostface Killah, DMX, Jay-Z, Teg Nugent, and Elton John...twice. The second time Elton John is mentioned, the words "really gay" follow his name for emphasis. Morrissey is also on that list with "?questionable?" next to his name.

This must be a joke. Some ironically cool site. Or is it? I'll let you decided. Right now I'm gonna go put on some Ghostface Killah and suck some cock.

Pixies did it well, but JMC did it best

If I had to thrash every song I owned and keep one, this would be it.

Entertainment news

I found out recently that The Jesus and Mary Chain, one of my favorite bands, will be reuniting(!!) and playing Coachella(!!!!) this year. I've never seen them live, I can't wait. The last (and only) time I've been to Coachella was the first year in 1999. I went with Rubi and Jason and had my first hit of E. Needless to say, it was an amazing experience. Spiritualized played an amazing set (too bad you weren't there, Helena). The main attraction for me that year was Morrissey, of course, but the whole experience was unforgettable. I plan on having a better time this year with my main bitches.

Other noteworthy appearances on the list for Friday (the day I plan on going) are: Björk, Jarvis Cocker and Sonic Youth.

Also, Reno 911! is now a movie. I hope it's not as disappointing as the Strangers With Candy movie.