All the Magic!

I love my president

2009-02-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

In the past few days, I've heard criticisms that this [stimulus] plan is somehow wanting, and these criticisms echo the very same failed economic theories that led us into this crisis in the first place . . . I reject those theories. And so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change.

"I might go back to the Army.”

2009-01-17T04:15:00.000-08:00

Circuit City is down.

Your brain on duh

2009-01-12T05:01:00.000-08:00

I really don't understand this (governmentally funded) TV ad with the mom breaking in on her teenage son's shower to ask if he knows "what weed is." She stops there, but concludes that she's gotten his attention, which is a start. He showers on. Er?

Ron Asheton 1948-2009

2009-01-06T23:38:00.001-08:00

Now can the Stooges has Hall of Fame membership?

"The president broke his bond with the public."

2008-12-29T18:47:00.000-08:00

With Katrina. That is when the polls started going down, but I can't wait to see what the Vanity Fair oral history of the Bush Administration says about Iraq.

Rolling Stone

2008-12-18T15:57:00.000-08:00

Out now: a Time-Life-style Obama commemorative special issue of the magazine. It includes the magazine's interview texts as well as speeches and photographs. I believe this is the first time they've moved onto this turf.

Hillary

2008-11-24T18:34:00.000-08:00

OK, I know that she's indicated that her plan is to repay her debtors, not refill her own coffers, first. Still, maybe she should consider digging in there again.

Gimme some money

2008-11-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

I somehow ended up on Hillary Clinton's e-mail solicitation list. Just got this, after a long period of silence:

We are living in a very special time in American history, with an election that has redefined the boundaries of possibility and set our nation on a positive path with new leadership.

Things are changing in Washington and we have reason to hope that the next four years will look much different and better than the last eight.

As we look forward to a new era in Washington, there is still one piece of unfinished business where Hillary needs your help.

We need to do all we can to help Hillary by acting now to reduce her remaining debt.

OK, didn't she spend/throw away eight figures' worth of her own money to keep attacking the guy who's now the president-elect? After the race was hopeless for her? My problem why, etc.

Fittingly, this mail is signed by someone named "Capricia."

OBAMA

2008-11-04T20:10:00.000-08:00

Eugene Robinson just now on MSNBC: "To think that when we tell our children, as I've told my sons, you can grow up to be anything, you can grow up to president, I'm now telling the truth."

My home state

2008-10-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

So this kinda pisses me off. On the other hand, the McCain campaign is so obviously desperate -- and losing in the state, big, according to the polls -- that in the end, whatever.

Wit

2008-10-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

In handing over MSNBC debate-hosting chores to David Gregory tonight, Keith Olbermann displayed enough of it to refer to Belmont University's Curb Center's namesake as Mike Curb "of the [early-'70s] singing group the Mike Curb Congregation." Curb, of course, is the former California lieutenant governor, Nixon supporter and record producer responsible for Sammy Davis Jr.'s "The Candy Man" and Davis' slightly more obscure "I'm Over 25 (But You Can Trust Me)."

Worst

2008-09-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Alessandra Stanley has long been one of the worst voices in Criticland. Even when rightfully taking down the terrible series "Love Monkey," she committed this colossal boner:

No woman really loves Bob Dylan.

His music is something that women pretend to enjoy to please men, like camping or golf.

So it was fun to see her celebrated, after slapping Charles Gibson in print today for his treatment of poor old Sarah Palin, as "today's worst person in the world" by Keith Olbermann.

"Barracuda"

2008-09-06T01:17:00.000-07:00

Second time in a week the McCain/Palin campaign has stepped in it with unauthorized and unwanted use of classic rock.

In a statement posted Friday on the EW.com site, the Wilsons wrote:

"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late '70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."

Previously.

"Authenticity"

2008-09-05T01:39:00.000-07:00

It's a mighty big word -- five syllables, by my count. It also has been widely adopted by people, like commenters on Sarah Palin, for whom it signifies rather than meaning anything real.

A lot like "Americana," which for someone like Johnny Cash would have equaled "something I hang on the wall" -- if he used it (the word) at all.

Please spread the word

2008-09-04T23:25:00.000-07:00

I'm watching a replay of John McCain's speech, in which he refers to the widespread help unemployment insurance brought to those in the 1950s -- by which I think he means the 1930s. Don't know if there's been comment on this yet.

Sarah Palin

2008-09-03T22:07:00.001-07:00

So reading a largely ghosted speech in the style of a 10th-grader gets you praise?

Bumbershoot

2008-09-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

"This shit is like Woodstock," T.I.'s hype man enthused, looking over the Memorial Stadium (a.k.a. Samsung Mobile Mainstage) crowd on Sunday afternoon at the festival. (Which I'm writing about belatedly here, despite or because of having so much fun there over the long weekend.)

The Atlanta native put on an expectedly hot set of hits and new stuff from the forthcoming Paper Trail, though billing himself "King of the South" would seem to bang against pal Lil Wayne's self-proclaimed "greatest rapper in the world" tag. Or maybe they have some sort of leadership table worked out. Funny moment: shouting out to this hugely adolescent, apparently suburban crowd's family members "behind the wall."

Estelle, one of the acts I was most looking forward to, proved a great Bumbershoot booking: welcomed by tons of pop-radio/hip-hop kids, she also brought plenty of multi-culti appeal -- lots of older reggae and indie fans here. Some of the highlights from her album Shine were rearranged for the stage. She apologized to parents for her salty language once or twice, while gamely tackling requests from audience members to be her "American boy" (and "girl"). Watch her.

The Tiptons Sax Quartet are Seattle's bridge to Europe's summer jazz festivals. Seattle Center was lucky to have them back in town; it couldn't have gotten much more local than tenor player Sue Orfield's answering a nearby train horn's honk with an imitation. One of the Tiptons' great gifts is rolling their Eastern European influences into material that could easily serve as second-line material. Their groove and wit were incredibly welcome here.

Watching Superchunk blow through a set of classics before Death Cab For Cutie's Samsung Mainstage festival closer was another really fine moment. The Chapel Hill pop-punkers played only their fourth show of the year (and hopefully of a longer-lived comeback) to hundreds or thousands of welcoming listeners who were too young to have caught them when they were last active. Energetic, tight, rocking, funny.

Howlin Rain were a comfortable throwback to early-'70s hard rock: Think Deep Purple. (Though HR could have been more organ-saturated, even if that sound was produced by a small synthesizer.) For a moment, they even reminded me (happily) of Three Dog Night's heavier moments. At least until they started in about the "hungry insects [who] are gonna eat you alive."

Jerry Reed 1937-2008

2008-09-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Sad news. The great country triple threat -- singer, songwriter, guitar wizard -- has died. (You can make that "quadruple threat" by counting his acting career.) CMT.com has a good, thorough obit here.

Born Jerry Reed Hubbard, he wrote killer, irreverent songs for himself ("Amos Moses," "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "She Got the Goldmine [I Got the Shaft]") and, before that, came to Elvis' attention. (Presley's super-fine "U.S. Male" was a Reed composition. Reed's unhinged style also had a deep influence on Les Claypool.) Unfortunately, the topic of his hilarious, masterful talking blues "Another Puff" (not on YouTube, but I urge you to download it) apparently caught up with him: He died of complications of emphysema.

Just walked in to hear this

2008-09-02T15:46:00.000-07:00

MSNBC's David Gregory, broadcasting outside the RNC, just read the results of a USA Today/Gallup poll that puts Obama ahead by a seven-point 50-43 lead.

Huge cheer. Outside the RNC.

There you go again

2008-08-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

Heh.

Good line

2008-08-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

From homeboy Mark Warner:

America has never been afraid of the future, and we shouldn't start now.

Daddy Yankee

2008-08-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

Boo.

Elitism

2008-08-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

Paul Krugman on "negativity" vs. just plain telling the truth:

[I]n the world we actually live in, pro-corporate, inequality-increasing Republicans argue that you should vote for them because they’re regular guys you’d like to have a beer with, while Democrats who want to raise taxes on top earners, expand health care and raise the minimum wage are snooty elitists.

And in that world, stripping away the regular-guy facade — pointing out that everything Rush Limbaugh said about Mr. Kerry applies equally to Mr. McCain, that Mr. McCain lives in a material world few Americans can imagine — is only fair. Yes, Mr. Obama vacations in Hawaii — and Cindy McCain says that “In Arizona, the only way to get around the state is by small private plane.”

And yes . . .

2008-08-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

I am also mourning Bernie Mac.

Isaac Hayes 1942-2008

2008-08-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

King of the bathroom record:

''Jocks would play it at night,'' Hayes recalled [of Hot Buttered Soul] in a 1999 Associated Press interview. ''They could go to the bathroom, they could get a sandwich, or whatever.''

Seriously, what the fuck at his sudden death? And rest in peace.

Smarter than we thought . . . or acknowledged

2008-08-06T01:54:00.000-07:00

And smarter than Tucker Bounds.

"Let the Beat Build"

2008-08-06T01:40:00.000-07:00

This was clearly added to Tha Carter III after the initial run of booklets were printed; it's identified on the back tray cover as a "bonus" and in the book not included at all. I'm surprised only because this is the most dazzling track I've heard by anybody this year. It's the kind of thing that really earns the "next-level shit" compliment. Imagine Born to Run without "Jungleland." Really.

Safety and security

2008-07-25T03:40:00.000-07:00

This.

Message in the music

2008-07-15T02:19:00.000-07:00

On Nov. 9, 1964, [Les] Crane, just 30 years old, went up against Carson, who had taken over NBC’s “Tonight” show from Jack Paar two years earlier. The Crane show was canceled just a few months later, in spite of Mr. Crane’s interview with Bob Dylan, during which Mr. Crane asked Mr. Dylan, then 23, about the songwriters who influenced him and about the overall message of his songs. Hank Williams and Cole Porter were the answers to the first question. To the second, Mr. Dylan said: “Eat?”

"100 songs with guitars"

2008-07-11T00:25:00.000-07:00

I've been reading and posting on I Love Music for five years. This is one of the most salient and funny threads I've seen there. (Disclosure: My screen name at ILM is "If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up.")

Jesse Helms: Dead

2008-07-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

The conservative blogosphere seems to be mourning his death on the Fourth of July as fitting for his ideals of "freedom" and the Cause. Maybe it's just that "God" has an appropriately mordant sense of humor.

Who knew?

2008-07-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

ASBURY PARK, N.J. - Asbury Park fortune teller Madam Marie, a figure of rock 'n' roll mythology thanks to Bruce Springsteen, has died.

Sally Castello tells the Asbury Park Press her great-grandmother, Madame Marie Castello, died Friday. . . .

The psychic reader and adviser was in her mid-90s.

Castello told fortunes on the Asbury Park Boardwalk since the 1930s.

She became famous worldwide in 1973 when Bruce Springsteen paid homage to her in the song, "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)."

His lyric, "Did you hear the cops finally busted Madame Marie for tellin' fortunes better than they do," cemented her fame.

(Corrected comma splice in original.)

George Carlin

2008-06-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

Rerun of Larry King's tribute show tonight. In a clip describing the "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" radio-broadcast case that went to the Supreme Court, Carlin said, "They made up a whole new category of filth for me" in distinguishing "indecency" from "obscenity."

After all . . .

2008-06-28T22:57:00.000-07:00

Drinks or whatever Shawn Carter wants are on me after this fuk-you to Noel Gallagher.

My hometown

2008-06-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

I grew up. It didn't. Press release:

Norfolk, VA – A music performance at the Bayou Boogaloo & Cajun Food Festival by Boots Riley, the well-known front man for The Coup, ended abruptly with police charges of "abusive language." Boots was charged with an obscure law even the police had difficulty finding; citing him with § 18.2-416. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+18.2-416. This law has never been applied to a performer.

Taking kid to school

2008-06-12T02:37:00.000-07:00

"[E]very weird rock scene — and every era of New York bohemia — eventually gets its coffee-table book moment," writes the Times' Ben Sisario of No Wave: Post-Punk. Underground. New York. 1976-1980. Hee hee.

"Not too important"

2008-06-12T02:31:00.000-07:00

Forgot to mention this earlier, but it's in The New York Times. Not on the front page of their site, though.

Senator John McCain, when asked whether he now had a better idea when American troops could return home from Iraq, replied, “No, but that’s not too important.”

He went on to blather about bringing down casualties, which he claims to think is going to happen soon(ish).

Strong words

2008-06-12T02:09:00.001-07:00

David Letterman hosted Scott McClellan Wednesday night. Citing the executive branch's cronyism with major figures in the oil industry, Halliburton and the mercenary field, and theorizing about its own future profiteering, Letterman said:

My feeling about Cheney and also Bush, but especially Cheney, is that he just couldn't care less about Americans. And the same is true of George Bush. . . . Is there any humanity in either of these guys?

Chuck Berry endorses Obama

2008-06-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

This made me smile when I discovered it yesterday.

There you go again

2008-06-04T02:22:00.000-07:00

I honestly don't remember hearing the words Geraldine Ferraro claims have been all over the place in regard to Hillary.

Plus: God, what a problem child GF is. Obviously some deep-seated problems there, etc., etc.

Thoughts

2008-06-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

Ally has them.

(Pointed out by Matos.)

Bo Diddley 1928-2008

2008-06-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

A few of my favorite things about Bo:

1. "Girls like it . . . They say it sounds nice" ("The Story of Bo Diddley")

2. A former editor of mine once took him on a tour of Richmond, Va., pawnshops.

3. "My ears are still ringing" (from his 1979 tour with the Clash)

4. Alan Freed, upon playing the then-new "Bo Diddley": "This guy calls himself Bo Diddley."

5. Square guitar, and those jackets.

David Gahr 1922-2008

2008-05-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

The great photographer has died. He abandoned economics after taking a master's, because, as his daughter said, "He loved music."

"Whether I am effective or not"

2008-05-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

Quiz: Which phrase seems to contradict the mighty stance here?

“Our defeat in Iraq would be catastrophic, not just for Iraq, but for us,” [McCain] said. “I cannot be complicit in it. I will do whatever I can, whether I am effective or not, to help avert it.”

WTF LOL

2008-05-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

West Virginia rally for Hillary Clinton was on MSNBC a couple of minutes ago. Among the songs playing as she met the crowd after her speech: "I Won't Back Down," "9 to 5" and -- "Free Ride"???

Eddy Arnold 1918-2007

2008-05-08T16:16:00.000-07:00

The country Johnny Mathis?

"I got to thinking, if I just took the same kind of songs I'd been singing and added violins to them, I'd have a new sound. They cussed me, but the disc jockeys grabbed it. ... The artists began to say, `Aww, he's left us.' Then within a year, they were doing it!"

Mindblowing: He's listed as the Number One country artist in Billboard history in Joel Whitburn's books.

I've decided I like Bob Geldof again

2008-05-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

From Popbitch's weekly e-mail newsletter:

>> When Bush met Bob <<
Geldof in sense of humour shock

Bob Geldof gave President George Bush a copy
of his book “Geldof in Africa" during a recent
flight on Air Force One.

“Who wrote this for ya, Geldof?” joked Dubya.

Quick as flash Saint Bob replied: “Who will
you get to read it for you, Mr President?”

Hillary

2008-04-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Got an e-mail from her campaign this afternoon. Title: "Turning the Tide."

I don't know exactly what that's supposed to mean.

Bigger WTF

2008-04-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

MSNBC reports that the North Carolina Republican Party tomorrow will unveil an ad focusing on "controversial figures" in Obama's life. Helms much?

LOL

2008-04-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

WTF at the Abercrombie & Fitch product placement behind Obama during his speech in Pennsylvania tonight.

Keith Olbermann noticed it, too.

Now, that's great television

2008-04-07T22:23:00.000-07:00

A timely interruption:

McCAIN: Faced with the prospect of defeat, we had two fundamental choices. We could retreat from Iraq and accept the horrible consequences of our defeat. Or we could change strategies and try to turn things around. It was, I believe, a critical moment in our nation’s history, and a time of testing for our nation’s political leadership.

In the year that has passed, our nation showed its strength –-

MSNBC: And speaking of Iraq, we do have breaking news out of Iraq, where at least four mortars have been fired into the heavily-fortified Green Zone today. It’s unclear at this time if there are casualties or any major damage. Now the news comes just a day after five U.S. soldiers were killed in Iraq. Two, again, inside that Green Zone.

Greenery

2008-04-04T00:31:00.000-07:00

I almost never call anyone an idiot, so I've got a few of those saved up for people like Deana Falk, the West Seattle woman who had the city dig up and remove an oak tree it had just planted on "her" parking strip (in other words, the space between the sidewalk and the street in front of her home). KIRO-TV's Graham Johnson had a suitable smirk on his face as she explained that it's all about her choice.

Israel "Cachao" Lopez 1918-2008

2008-03-24T02:03:00.000-07:00

Ned Sublette makes some grand claims for the great bassist and mambo king in this moving obituary. It's funny that Robert Christgau once mentioned Duke Ellington in the same breath as Cachao, because Cuba Linda has served the same function as later Ellington albums for me -- late-night listening with drive and a dollop of mellowness. Anyway, as a non-expert but an eager dabbler in Cuban music, I recommend that record to anyone who thinks she'll dig it. Rest in peace.

Darcy

2008-03-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

Darcy Burner is making moves toward becoming a more serious national presence than Dave Reichert.

"I wholeheartedly endorse this plan as a responsible and forward looking plan for ending the war in Iraq. As Burner and her colleagues correctly note, bringing our troops home is the first, but not the only step that must be taken to ensure a debacle like Iraq never happens again," said Dr. Lawrence Korb, former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration. "This plan addresses the root causes that allowed the Bush Administration to lead this country into this mess, and sets us in the right direction. I applaud their efforts on this ambitious and sound strategy. This is progressive strength on national security in action."

(Tip of the hat to Atrios.)

Rock critic of the year

2008-03-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Lover killed for saying no to 'The Boss'

A woman snapped and stabbed her partner to death after he objected to her listening to Bruce Springsteen music, a court has been told.

The Supreme Court in Brisbane today heard Karen Lee Cooper, 50, used a long-bladed kitchen knife to stab 49-year-old Kevin Watson once in the chest because she "just got tired" of him bossing her around. . . .

"I mean, who the hell doesn't like Bruce Springsteen, for God's sake?" she later told arresting police.

Lucky star

2008-03-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

Some talk on the Web today about whether Madonna deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If there's gonna be a HOF anyway, why shouldn't she? I love Pink Floyd, who are also in, but they're not exactly my idea of rock and roll -- that's Chuck Berry or the Ramones. Robert Christgau once wrote about "the great tradition of Elvis Presley, Esquerita, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Sex Pistols, and Madonna"; in other words, great, often transgressive singles artists.

Madonna Ciccone's music is full of pleasures big and small, a version of the rock and roll ideal. And not only have disco and disco-influenced pop been "rehabilitated" critically, Madonna's stuff can be heard as pretty close in spirit to '60s girl groups. ("Papa Don't Preach" is the "Love Child" coin, flipped.)

Someone spitefully threw the word "bubblegum" at her in one comments section. If you agree that fitting in that category is a bad thing, I respectfully suggest that you read Lester Bangs' essay on bubblegum music in The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll. Then listen to the Archies' "Bang-Shang-a-Lang." (Or, hell, Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me.") Now that's rock and roll.

Walk, don't run

2008-03-10T16:42:00.001-07:00

A big local story right now is the Ventures' induction tonight into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. One major personal favorite is their 1965 Christmas Album, which grafts holiday songs to the intros of hits of the day ("I Feel Fine," "She's Not There"). Also, they made the Mosrite, later picked up by Johnny Ramone and the B-52s' Ricky Wilson, famous. Hooray to the guys.

Just sayin'

2008-02-19T22:17:00.000-08:00

If Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) wants to defend Hillary Clinton's Senatorial accomplishments against Barack Obama's thin legislative record, as she just did on MSNBC, that's fine. She might want to reconsider, though, praising Clinton's efforts to effect change "all across the world." Iraq is over on the other side of the globe, isn't it?

In mourning

2008-01-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

For Suzanne Pleshette.

"Duh"

2008-01-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

Atrios points to this L.A. Times piece about Bush's scaled-back foreign-policy expectations:

Only a few months ago, senior officials predicted that before their exit, they could deliver the Middle East peace deal that had eluded so many predecessors. But this month, as President Bush toured Israel and the West Bank, officials made it clear that the deal he's now talking about is not a long-awaited final agreement, but a preliminary pact to set the terms for talks.

I never understood why he of all people thought (or even claimed to) that he was the one to broker the deal. Even if he hadn't started so late.

Pants off

2007-12-12T15:41:00.000-08:00

From Rock & Rap Confidential's December issue:

This fall Wrangler Jeans has been running a Back to School radio promotion featuring country stars such as Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Hank Williams, Jr. Listeners can win autographed Wranglers as well as gift certificates for free jeans "to get kids dressed in style for their first day of class."

The only problem is that in many cities, including Nashville, students are not allowed to wear jeans to school.

"I'm Not There"

2007-12-09T00:56:00.000-08:00

It's easy to see why Todd Haynes wanted to make a movie about, or "about," Bob Dylan: The music is undeniably great, which is both reason and a big part of I'm Not There's method. From the opening strains of "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again," the sound makes the emotional backbone of Haynes' film. But despite all the critical hosannas (A.O. Scott), existential praise (Greil Marcus) and killer performances (I'm ready to single out Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Marcus Carl Franklin), it's not hard to feel that this is ultimately a very well-made picture that adds up to a pat on the back for hardcore Dylan fans, a long (-ass) game of recognizing "Newport, heh heh. Tarantula, heh heh." If Haynes' work were more substantial, I'm Not There probably wouldn't need the liner notes available in the lobby.

"Here Come the Girls"

2007-12-06T16:20:00.000-08:00

Listen to this superfine Ernie K-Doe track once and it's stuck in your brain. The YouTube page also includes the web address of the people trying to make it England's Christmas Number One based on its use in a Boots ad.

Luther

2007-12-05T19:58:00.000-08:00

Sweet, affectionate piece on a preview of his estate sale.

"But here" -- he gestures to a pair of beaded denim pants on a hanger -- "these are the pants Sean Combs gave him to sing 'A House Is Not a Home' to Jennifer Lopez. She'd left him, and he got Luther to go sing that for her in a private performance, to try to get her back. . . ."

Sigh

2007-11-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

Springsteen in Spin: "Pop records are fun -- 'Umbrella' I can enjoy tremendously -- but what I'm drawn to are bands where" blah blah blah Arcade Fire.

There was a time when he might've added Rihanna's song, whose message isn't a million miles away from that of "The Promised Land," to his set.

Principles

2007-11-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

Of open-ended "friendship and cooperation" with the Maliki government.

Even if Bush doesn't take the audacious step of signing a so-called Status of Forces Agreement -- the basic document for garrisoning U.S. forces on foreign soil -- while he's a lame duck, the simple fact of negotiations will create a diplomatic expectation that his successor will find difficult to reverse.

Wonder what the candidates will say?

"Microscopic Americans"

2007-11-14T17:20:00.001-08:00

Science!

The Colorado Supreme Court cleared the way Tuesday for an anti-abortion group to collect signatures for a ballot measure that would define a fertilized egg as a person.

The court approved the language of the proposal, rejecting a challenge from abortion-rights supporters who argued it was misleading and dealt with more than one subject in violation of the state constitution.

If approved by voters, the measure would give fertilized eggs the state constitutional protections of inalienable rights, justice and due process.

Atrios almost hopes it passes so that "the people of Colorado can spend the rest of their lives going insane because of all the ramifications."

I shoulda been a producer

2007-11-12T18:22:00.000-08:00

I've been moving songs onto my iTunes, and it hit me that these would look great credited as samples on someone's record. They'd also sound pretty good:

"Boo Boo Stick Beat," Chet Atkins
"Manassa With the Tight Foot Pants," Lord Fly (from the Mento Madness comp; scroll down)

Stand up

2007-11-08T02:36:00.000-08:00

Patty Murray votes against.

Murray and other Democrats said they were troubled that Mukasey refused to recognize waterboarding as torture and to say outright that it is illegal. Waterboarding is a brutal interrogation technique that creates the sensation of drowning.

"My fear is that his failure to simply answer the question is an indication of a willingness to mold laws to the desire of the president, rather than to ensure the president abides by the law," Murray said.

"This One"

2007-11-08T01:59:00.000-08:00

Paul McCartney makes one of his better cases for his post-Beatles work on the new McCartney Years (really?!) DVD box; although the three-disc set's packaging boasts "the definitive collection of McCartney music videos," dude was smart enough to leave off the clip for "Mary Had a Little Lamb." (Check for Flip Wilson reruns if you absolutely must see it.) The quality of this set is not only upgraded to Criterion standards, it makes a case for oddball records like "Waterfalls" and presents nice, if judiciously abbreviated, views of McCartney's "Unplugged" and Glastonbury performances. During the latter, just imagine Noel weeping as Liam throws up.

I've always held that the lumbering title tune for Spies Like Us was McCartney's last U.S. Top 10 record because, despite its success, such drivel finally wore out his welcome. The four songs here from the later Flowers in the Dirt demonstrate just how frustrating and sad that is, even for those of us who count John Lennon as our favorite Beatle. "This One," full of regrets that sound painfully real even for this public super-nice-guy and apparent great husband to Linda, stands among his best work. Released as a single around the time of a massive American stadium tour, it sadly peaked here in the 90s on Billboard's Hot 100 -- just two years after George Harrison had gone to Number One with "Got My Mind Set On You."

I'm not saying The McCartney Years is cause for a rethink of Wildlife and Wings at the Speed of Sound. It is, however, a reminder that smarts, humor and moves from left field weren't completely leeched from the guy's work after he parted company with Lennon. At least, it's a well-timed Xmas gift for semi-casual fans who never heard "This One" -- and a perfect alternate choice if you know someone who's gonna receive three copies of the new Help! remaster.

Work harder

2007-11-04T16:21:00.000-08:00

Guy Hands hahaha:

The new owner of the music group EMI has said some of its artists are not working hard enough and its labels will become more picky in future.

Get tough

2007-11-02T21:12:00.000-07:00

John Dean:

Since Judge Mukasey’s situation is not unlike that facing Elliot Richardson when he was appointed Attorney General during Watergate, why should not the Senate Judiciary Committee similarly make it a quid pro quo for his confirmation that he appoint a special prosecutor to investigate war crimes? Richardson was only confirmed when he agreed to appoint a special prosecutor, which, of course, he did. And when Nixon fired that prosecutor, Archibald Cox, it [led] to his impeachment.

Porter Wagoner 1927-2007

2007-10-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

So he was 80, but this is sad. I have a fading memory of a tight shot of his boots walking down the hallway at the beginning of his TV show, but wasn't totally aware of some of the coolest things he did:

Wagoner, who sported a pompadour until he changed his hairstyle to curls, annoyed some Opry performers when he invited Soul Music King James Brown to perform on a stage not regularly graced by black performers.

At the time, Wagoner said he invited Brown to add to the Opry's reputation and "I hope none of the opposition by some members was racial but people have a problem accepting anything that's new."

He was also criticized by some for producing an album by soul artist Joe Simon to which he replied that "that's strange because there is such a similarity between black music and country music."

Another reminder that rock and roll heroes don't always play rock and roll.

He also got some much deserved love from the White Stripes this summer.

It's only a movie . . .

2007-10-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

But Juliette Binoche matched with Dane Cook?

Paging Mr. Orwell . . .

2007-10-26T15:35:00.000-07:00

The reporters were lobbing too many softballs. No one asked about trailers with formaldehyde for those made homeless by the fires. And the media seemed to be giving Johnson all day to wax on and on about FEMA's greatness.

Of course, that could be because the questions were asked by FEMA staffers playing reporters. We're told the questions were asked by Cindy Taylor, FEMA's deputy director of external affairs, and by "Mike" Widomski, the deputy director of public affairs. Director of External Affairs John "Pat" Philbin asked a question, and another came, we understand, from someone who sounds like press aide Ali Kirin.

High school

2007-10-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

David Chase hahaha.

In the days, and even weeks, after the finale aired June 10, "Sopranos" wonks combed that episode for buried clues, concocting wild theories. (Was this some sort of "Last Supper" reimagined with Tony, wife Carmela, son A.J. and daughter Meadow?)

Chase insists that what you saw (and didn't see) is what you get.

"There are no esoteric clues in there. No 'Da Vinci Code,' " he declares.

He says it's "just great" if fans tried to find a deeper meaning, but "most of them, most of us, should have done this kind of thing in high school English class and didn't."

Lucky Dube

2007-10-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

Dead in a carjacking attempt.

[Increases in murder and carjacking] reflect a disturbing shift toward violence by certain kinds of criminals, said Dr. Johan Burger, a 36-year veteran of the South African Police Service who is an analyst for the Institute for Security Studies, based in Pretoria.

“This is a change for the worse,” he said. “A psychosis of fear is spreading, and this has dangerous, dangerous implications if it is not stopped.”

"Slave."

"Victims."

"War and Crime."

Filibuster

2007-10-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

Fite!

Just last night, we heard there are plans to disregard Senator Dodd's intention to place a hold on a FISA bill that includes amnesty for telecommunications companies.

That would be a pretty extraordinary move, but Chris Dodd has pledged to stop this horrible bill any way he can.

So if the hold is not honored, he is prepared to go to the Senate floor and filibuster.

Chris Dodd

2007-10-18T14:34:00.001-07:00

Standing against the FISA bill in its current form.

So that's, what, 44 musicians?

2007-10-18T00:14:00.000-07:00

The Arcade Fire joined none other than Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band onstage at a Sunday show in their native Canada, Billboard reports. The indie-rockers joined the more seasoned squad for a rendition of "State Trooper," then performed their own song "Keep the Car Running" with backing from the E Street Band at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place. ...

Oh yeah, that Ramones thing?

2007-10-18T00:00:00.001-07:00

Definitely the greatest bargain ever.

Although at least one Amazon reviewer says the complete "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" appearance is available as a bootleg. Does it include the episode's other guests -- the Ohio Players? Gimme gimme.

"I Am a Man"

2007-10-16T22:43:00.001-07:00

Ernest Withers 1922-2007

Ten dollars

2007-10-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

For New Orleans.

Under my . . .

2007-10-11T00:33:00.000-07:00

Umbrella ella ella.

"Well-heeled novelty pimp"

2007-10-11T00:27:00.000-07:00

Not a new Beck song. John Richards.

Alan Greenspan hahaha

2007-10-10T02:49:00.000-07:00

As part of a promo interview for the former Federal Reserve chairman's book on Tuesday, David Letterman asked him his impression of one-time boss Richard Nixon. "Well, I got along very well in the beginning, when I thought he was a former vice president who was staid, articulate and smart." Perfectly timed pause. "And then they let me in the inner circle."

One guy in the audience laughs appreciatively, then the rest of the room slowly builds to a roar.

Some records are just waiting for Greil Marcus to put them in their proper place

2007-10-10T02:36:00.000-07:00

Or to SoundScan six thousand . . .

Cruel to be kind

2007-10-10T01:55:00.000-07:00

The downbeat strain in Nick Lowe's music is anything but a recent development, as he reminded us on what he called (accurately) "a rainy Tuesday night in Bothell" -- characterizing previous tour dates as having taken place in old rock clubs and "decommissioned porno theaters," presumably so as to not make us feel too bad for his appearance in a (pretty packed) 600-seat Northshore Performing Arts Center. The promised "pop" middle section of the show was inhabited by "Cruel to Be Kind" and a midtempo "Heart of the City" that demanded you listen for the song's loneliness, rather than rev yourself up inside the propulsion of earlier days.

Immediately after that was "Man That I've Become," which envisions a guy who, for instance, leaves church because the choir's singing hurts too much to listen to. (The protagonist, if you can call him that, seems too tired even to yell at any kids who might cross his lawn uninvited.) The juxtaposition of jolly sick humor and real blood is old turf for Lowe: The suicidal "Endless Sleep," worthy of Richard Thompson or Robert Johnson himself, appeared alongside the Hollywood Babylon tribute "Marie Provost" on 1977's Bowi EP and on the U.S. B-side of, er, "(I Love the Sound of) Breaking Glass." It makes even "The Beast in Me," a dark touchstone for Sopranos and Johnny Cash fans, sound a right sing-along.

Funnily enough . . .

2007-10-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

Paul Krugman has more today on the nature of conservative humor:

Today’s leading conservatives are Reagan’s heirs. If you’re poor, if you don’t have health insurance, if you’re sick — well, they don’t think it’s a serious issue. In fact, they think it’s funny. . . .

In anticipation of the [State Children's Health Insurance Program] veto, William Kristol, the editor of The Weekly Standard, had this to say: “First of all, whenever I hear anything described as a heartless assault on our children, I tend to think it’s a good idea. I’m happy that the president’s willing to do something bad for the kids.” Heh-heh-heh.

Better guest

2007-10-05T01:55:00.000-07:00

Letterman to Rihanna: "Where ya gonna be Christmas?"

Cool

2007-10-05T01:33:00.000-07:00

Letterman guest Tony Snow:

The fact is, one of the cool things about this White House that people don't know is that people actually make a lot of jokes at each other's expense. It's, it's, there are a lot of laughs in the White House -- not with the polls.

Laugh line receives silence.

And so the president likes to poke fun at people and at himself.

Funny guy.

"Big Enough"

2007-10-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

The newly announced Mick Jagger "best of" has me checking for this again.

And if that Mick link gets you anything more than a nice pic of the guy smiling, let me know. Always hire the best, eh, Mick?

The defiant one

2007-10-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

[Eighty-six-year-old Edith] Macefield refused to sell her little old house where she has lived since 1966 to developers, forcing them to build an entire five-story project, which includes a grocery store, fitness club and parking garage, around her.

She was offered $1 million to leave. She turned it down flat.

"I don't want to move. I don't need the money. Money doesn't mean anything," she said last week.

New rules

2007-09-30T23:50:00.000-07:00

Radiohead's In Rainbows, out more or less the day after tomorrow.

Ray Smuckles on the move

2007-09-28T01:59:00.000-07:00

On his way to Australia:

Whoah, I just had a thought about Australians. Their reputation is that in, like, the 18th century, England sent all their "criminals" to live in Australia and that's who Australians are based on now. Crooks. That's a rough one.

I have a theory, though. You know how Australians are all about a big fat-ass crazy time, always havin' fun and crackin' twelve-inch lagers and just shootin' a gun at a big dirt hill? England exported all of its fun people!

Just wait and see . . .

2007-09-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

But the excellent "Gossip Girl" will be damned as the next threat to teenage morals.

Hollywoodland

2007-09-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

Mistrial in the Spector case.

Matos digs Miles

2007-09-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

Great piece about the new On the Corner box.

Master vocalist

2007-09-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

One of the few classical discs I own -- and almost the only one I ever play -- is Dawn Upshaw's Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Here's news of the MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant she won today.

"If it ain't fun . . . "

2007-09-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Missed the opening for this, but the show runs through October 24. If you don't know who Jim Flora was, a quick image-Google will clue you in to stuff like this, displayed on an impressively international array of sites. (The Krupa above comes from divus.cz.) I'm most familiar with Flora's '40s and '50s album covers, but his work hardly ends there. Looking forward to catching the Georgetown show -- and happy to see Flora's reputation growing.