Usual Suspects

Is it odd how most people pronounce "usual". Maybe it's just here in the Midwest, but usually the "S' is sounded out with this other sound that really has no real counterpart in our phonetics. Drop the "ual" from the word and what do you have? The "usgh"? The "uszh"? Youzsh?

Trying to figure the ins and outs of the blogosphere, like learning to ride the bike allll over again! Jeez, that what was the worst part of seventh grade! No, really, a lot to learn to get the ball rolling, least I sit hear and talk to myself forever.

The Record Store was fairly busy on this, the Busiest Day of the Year. Agonizing Xmas music played throughout the store via http://www.live365.com, though I did find out that you can set up yer own radio station through them. It's got a $9.95/month price tag, so not really suitable for someone like myself who is talking into the abyss. Someday soon *sigh*.

I just heard the Go! Team playing on a Target commercial! What a great band, cheer leading squad pep rally joins AV Club stoner indie band. http://www.thegoteam.co.uk/flash/News.html

Eventually we revolted and switched off the Xmas in favor of the Classic WOXY online channel. Then a little "Doolittle" from the Pixies, and we were rolling. I have to say that Frank Black's screams are probably a little tough for blue haired ladies looking for a copy of Dumb Movie part Three, starring "The Rock".

The wife wanted me home, boredom had beaten her, so I skipped out an hour early.

Tom Hanks Giving

Kind of got to sleep in today. Ish.

More Honey Bunches of Oats, but not too much. Gorging will commence in several hours. The kids drew a multitude of pictures and I showed the girl that arms normally don't protrude out of heads, but that we actually have "torsos".

We cleaned to the Bats and Lashes "Fur and Gold" (Caroline/Echo, 2007). Imagine Bjork dueting with the Cowboy Junkies. If it had been snowing today, which it hasn't yet (supposedly it will tonight after having it in the sixties last night!), I would be outside making snow angels to this album. That would of made me giddy! I see stars, sparkling icy air, fresh snow, warm inside a snow suit, spreading my arms, waving like crazy!

The wife redyes her hair, threatens to send me to the store for more smokes, I then find myself walking down a smoggy street in New York, circa 1942. I step in a seedy joint to hear the voice of Mabel Mercer, "Sings Cole Porter". We're celebrating something, not sure what, but it's not really my scene, though I am surprised to hear a tune penned by Bill Shakespeare himself! Get the title: "I Am Ashamed that Women Are So Simple"! It still didn't pull me into the mood, the whole party a little too out of time.

Helped the boy play Katamari Damacy, best game ever with the best game music ever. I was happy to oblige. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals "This is Somewhere" (Hollywood, 2007) is perfect if you are graduating high school, are a girl and planning on a road trip to find yourself. Of course you are taking your best friend, duh. Grace is hot but the album peaks on the second track with "Stop the Bus", which gets a nomination for "Should be in a Movie". Preferably one that targets women.

Showering must occur before I gorge myself. A trip up North followed by a trip South and I'll have the whole town covered by the time the first snow falls tonight.

Currie With Fringe on Top

Man, "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers is most excellent on a Lemonade high! The Meat Puppets "Backwater" is probably just as uplifting with massive amounts of sugar pounding within my brain, but I didn't have it on hand at the time.

Had to listen to Justin Currie's "What is Love For"'s title track on the way too and back from work. Three minutes of ache, like Neil Diamond covering Lionel Richie's "Hello", but just the sappy part. Wait, the whole of "Hello" is sappy. Okay, the really sappy part. This song is amazing because it eschews normal pop structure. No minor verse to major chorus BS here. The ebb and flow tension exists within its own lines, which aren't necessarily verses or choruses, but both. It should be on commercial radio and should be a hit, but it's probably being ignored by the "golden ears" of corporate ville as I write. Therefore, this single makes my "Must Have Singles" list and deserves to be the sappy song in some romantic comedy.

Prepackaged salad mix

Apparently, the Dresden Dolls aren't salad music (according to resident music destroyer, my wife). It's in the mid sixties, end of November, the windows are open, salad sprinkled with chicken is about to be eaten and the Dresden Dolls (8 ft. Records, 2003) aren't cutting it. I will add that Coin Operated Boy gets an add to the "Must Have Singles" list.

Their piano/drum drag show is impressive, sounding as if there's at least three people in the band. Perhaps best suited for darkness, wallowing and those learning to waltz while drunk.

A switch to "Ladies Sing the Blues" (Academy Sound and Vision, 1992) didn't get the approval rating up either with Destroyer of All the is Music. Adelaide Hall's "The Blues I Love to Sing" started the show off a little, well, off, but Mildred Bailey, Una Mae Carlisle, Lizzie Miles and more got the atmosphere rolling. The breeze cut through the room, a light rain began to fall and autumn wrapped her chilly arms around me.

The boy wanted to go out front AND out back to collect more leaves, despite already owning a fortune in multicolored ones on the side porch. Apparently they are rather valuable to him. The rain kept up and here we sit as the ladies sing the blues.

Oh, wait, according to the boy, the rain has stopped. Maybe the park is not out of sight!

Our House, it is a Very Fine House

Nestled between The Akron Family and the Animal Collective lay an abode occupied by the Department of Eagles. They have bonfires and barbecues. Akron Family bring alone the potato salad and weed, Animal Collective the kabobs and acid, and the Department of Eagles show up with a tank of nitrous and several bottles of cheap whiskey.

"The Whitey on the Moon UK LP" (Isota Records, 2003) imagines a carnival with rides manned by Jimmy Webb and Van Dyke Park, while Brain Wilson sings Italian love songs. Perhaps its an attraction that shimmers and glimmers in the usual kaleidoscopic way, only to be forgotten with other gems of the past.

Such was the fate of Jimmy Webb's own "Words and Music" (Reprise Records, 1970). More proof that talent doesn't sell records alone. A stroll through MacArthur Park on a blustery day, some stranger walking along, telling you his strange story, filled with fantastic imagery, solid statements, but low on the zeal and pop. MacArthur Park fades away and the author's crystalline voice is all that remains.

Another One Rides The Bus

Dinner was delicious this evening. Rice noodles and pasta is an excellent alternative to regular noodles. Highly reccommended, especially with the right garlic bread and cheese.

On the other hand, Joan Osborne's "One of Us" is NOT dinner music. Sometimes I'm too lazy to pick out tunes and turn the radio on. Unfortunately for me this heavy trip comes flowing forth while I suck up noodles. What a downer. "...tryin' to make his way hooooome. 'Cept for the pope maybe in Rome"? Huh? Man, I bet this is the most covered song ever by Contemporary Christian artists.

The kids ate their fair share but disappeared as quick as they showed up. So much for spending quality time. A high pitch whine is all I heard when I said I wanted them to spend a few minutes as a family. Maybe tomorrow?

Hot Licks

Had breakfast with some Harry Manx this morning. Not a side dish or skin condition, but slide guitarist. While the kids yelled at how much Honey Bunches of Oats they wanted "Mantras For Madmen" (2005 Dog My Cat Records) served to regulate the craziness in the room.

Manx is like Dan Hicks with a bit more soul and a little less hick. Add a collision with instruments such as the Hang, Mohan Veena and Tambora and you have what seems like well deserved breakfast music. Also suitable for lemonade and a book, a garden walk and dessert in the summertime.

Either way, I didn't have to fight needlessly with the kids and got them to school on time, otherwise Harry may have seemed more sneering than pleasant.

The car ride once again provided John Martyn's icey cool, with what appeared to be tabla floating on top of his somber mellow tones, and the perfect follow up to Manx. Perhaps a good mix-tape duo?

Came home and threw on Natalia Lafourcade's 2003 Sony Discos self titled album, but quickly got vetoed by the then dining wife. I guess the morning quiet is best suited for quiet than a foreign chanteuse doing a "Whoa, Nelly" era Furtado impersonation. I happen to like "Whoa, Nelly", therefore will furrther investigate this album.

The car ride to work provided another chance to listen to Morphine's "The Night", a simply amazing song that defies mood. Almost perfect for any conditions or mixes. Add this as a must have single.

I Know What Blogs Like

That title was the suggestion of my wife as a name for this here journal. Cute, but I don't think many would get the Waitresses reference. Maybe I underestimate? My apologizes.

I'm too tired to write. That would be another good one, but that's not the point. Really, I am lining up logs to saw as we speak. Good idea, let's decide to publish our thoughts to the world and then fall asleep on the keyboard. Nice.

It's been a long day, I barely recall starting it off to some crazy three disc Bing Crosby compilation. Had orange rolls with chocolate milk while Bing crooned. Not breakfast music, to say the least. I felt perhaps a fedora and a convertible could of saved the music. That and threatening to disown my kids, that would of put me in the Bing spirit.

House cleaning galore followed while the kids stared at various cathode ray lit boxes. Anita O'Day played and actually felt right whilst I dusted and cleaned. Though a little off, I felt the need to wear pumps or perhaps a scarf around my neck. Bing was waitng out back in the convertible sedan. Sedan. What an awesome word.

Went to the market for some pad thai, which oddly the kids can't get enough of, though we unfortunately missed the Cirque du Soleil's random pass-through. The regular balloon clown was there again. I wonder how he must of felt when the "professional" clowns passed through his territory? I should've asked.

Had on the first disc of the John Martyn anthology on our way to Lowes. Sleepy, full music. Background music. Floating, rolling and easy. The wife didn't make me take it out so that tells you it's easy on the ears. At the store she does her shopping while I chase the kids hither and yonder. We make it out to the garden center where the future attic insulation known as Christmas decorations filled the aisles. The kids brilliantly turned on every musical snowglobe within a two shelf space, making the most beautiful melody of the day. Ten digital pianos churning out their own holiday racket, in unison producing a cacophony of sound, like androids singing a holiday tune. It was awesome, so of course they had to do it again for the wife.

Fallen Angels, a country rock comp, was next in line for a mediocre day of listening. The Jayhawks started off strong with the amazing Two Angels, but after that I lost interest. Maybe, because I thought the whole thing was a Gram Parsons tribute!? I guess being biased against something will influence you even when you are wrong! Well, peas in a pod, right?So, had friends over, who all brought over their kids. Good food, good times. Lotsa kids running and screaming and grabbing and shouting and, and....

My disc changer was stuck at the end with the Pink Floyd Sine On boxset, but it was too low for anyone to really care or comment. Anyways, it's Pink Floyd, what's there to say?

Okay, really, too tired to type. Maybe I will change my blog name to that. I like it. It could be my sign off, every post ending with me saying, "I'm too tired to post",.....and cut.