Out Of The Sinking

My favorite song off Stanley Road. Well, other than Wings Of Speed. And Changingman.

Also, great shoes, Paul.

Ready To Run

What? You changing your tune, Toby Keith? You need to shut the hell up. Dick.

And here's a song dedicated to you. Shithead.

via Atrios

Stay strong,

Ms. Molly. Ann Richards and maybe Molly in one year? Fucking hell.

I think it says a lot as towards her legacy, that upon hearing of her not-so-fantastic-sounding condition, that a random 30 year-old in Iowa broke into tears.

I've read Ms. Ivins since I was in high school, and she's had more to do with the evolution of my political viewpoints than anyone. Bless her.

Liberal Texas columnist Molly Ivins has been hospitalized in her ongoing battle with breast cancer, her assistant said Friday.

La Winehouse

Speaking as a rock snob, we do not compare female singers to "classic Aretha Franklin" lightly. I've had both Frank and Back to Black on near constant rotation for the past week. Amy is unbelievable. Go buy them now already.

(And Hova and Mos were there. Nice, girl).

Live Review: Amy Winehouse, Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, New York, 1/16/07

“Mr. Bartender, can I get another amaretto sour?”

UK soul singer/quote machine Amy Winehouse is on stage for her second sold-out show Tuesday night at New York’s Joe’s Pub and looks slightly nervous. Or slightly drunk. Or most likely both.

While currently holding down the #1 album in the UK with Back to Black, Winehouse marked her live debut stateside with a brilliant set that showcased a singer who seems to thrive on contradiction. Her demeanor is equal parts uneasy and confident. Her personality, depending on when you get her, ranges from innocent angel to vulgar devil. And her soulful, resonant vocals, recalling jazz legends Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan, belie the oftentimes hysterical, irreverent lyrics. (Her album is probably the first #1 album to include the word “Fuckery,” and a chorus about refusing rehab for alcohol abuse.) In stark contrast to her lyrics, the music backed tonight by deep funk & soul group The Dap-Kings, conjures up images of both a Phil Spector production and the musical lockstep of a house band that sounds like they’ve been playing together for decades.

Despite the inevitable comparisons Winehouse will receive to contemporaries like Norah Jones or Diana Krall, it’s doubtful either singer will write songs dedicated to Nas, as Winehouse does on show highlight, “Me and Mr. Jones.” “I don’t take my Nas or my Mos Def lightly,” she tells the crowd, the latter of which took in the early show along with URB cover star Mark Ronson. On slower tracks like “Just Friends,” Winehouse recalls classic Aretha Franklin and, if her nervousness was evident between tracks, it was nowhere to be found in her melismatically-enhanced singing voice.

Dressed in a slinky, black cocktail dress, with hair in bouffant, 1960s girl group style, Winehouse performed virtually the entire Black album and, while singing, currently has three moves:

1. The shifting, if not slightly awkward, alternating of weight from one leg to the other while lifting up one side of her skirt

2. The crouch into a “baseball catcher” position

3. The slight bend of her knees while looking upward

Regardless of her actions-- singing, sipping amaretto sours and chewing gum between (and sometimes during) songs all were equally employed -- her presence was undeniable; A goth girl meets 50s pinup who, despite claims of nervousness bolstered by stutter-heavy banter between songs, always warranted the attention.

“Anyone here from Universal, get me more gigs,” she yells mid-set to no one in particular. “Just wheel me on stage.”

If the states embrace her like her home country, she’ll get her wish.

Set list:

1. Addicted

2. Just Friends

3. Cherry

4. Back to Black

5. Wake Up Alone

6. Tears Dry On Their Own

7. He Can Only Hold Her/Doo Wop (Lauryn Hill Cover)

8. F**k Me Pumps

9. You Know I’m No Good

10. Rehab

11. Me and Mr. Jones

11. Love is a Losing Game

12. Valerie (Zutons Cover)

Hot Fuzz Trailer

New movie from the boys of Shaun Of the Dead. Credits include the magic words, Steve Coogan, as well as Paddy Considine.

The Jesus and Mary Chain - North London Poly Riot

Lookee! Baby Bobby Gillespie! (in the bowl cut)


Only in my (undiagnosed ADHD) mind could you go from issues of national security to the Jesus and Mary Chain in two short steps.

via Uncut

HOT DIGGITY DOG!

Rove and Bartlett supoenaed by defense in Libby trial! Nail 'em to the wall, Fitz!

Seriously, if I didn't already have a lovely glass of wine in my hand, I'd be getting one.

Left arm! Left arm!

As in, I'd give my left arm for tickets. (I'm right-handed:)

Most people reach a point in their career where they just need a clean break, a chance to try something new and spread their wings. That's exactly where Paul Weller was in 1982, when he shut the door on the Jam, a U.K. phenomenon that was finally making inroads in the States with the single "Town Called Malice."

Twenty-five years later, Weller is returning to the Jam canon for two immediately sold-out stands in New York and Los Angeles that mark the 30th anniversary of the Jam's debut album, "In the City." In both cities, he is playing three shows. On the first night, he's playing an entire Jam set, with the second dedicated to his post-Jam act the Style Council and the third to his solo catalog.

The dates are more blatantly meant to promote a new string of retrospectives on the indie Yep Roc label, all sharing the title "Hit Parade." Arriving on January 23 was the first single-disc U.S. collection to span Weller's entire career, encompassing Jam favorites, the hits of the Style Council and the highlights of his celebrated solo career. "Hit Parade" was also issued as a four-disc box collecting every solo, Jam and Style Council single. On February 6, a two-DVD, career-spanning set also bearing the same name will be released featuring all of Weller's videos, plus rare performances by the Jam.*

I hear echoes of the following in interviews with many Brit musicians. Music really is a universal language. Though it's most specifically American soul, not particularly pop. Maybe because there were similar economic issues? I'm not sure, though I should know. I actually took 2! classes in college on the history of rock and roll.

But back to the interview....

BILLBOARD: I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT AMERICAN SOUL AND R&B. WERE THERE SPECIFIC ALBUMS OR SONGS THAT REALLY GOT YOU HOOKED

AS A YOUNG MAN? WHAT REALLY REELED YOU IN AND HOOKED YOU?

Weller: Well, that sort of goes way back to 1966, "Reach Out (I'll Be There)," by the Four Tops, and hearing Motown as a kid. It's been an ongoing love affair for me, really. That connection has always been there, I think. There's a very strong connection between American R&B music and English people. There's always been that really strong bond, for whatever reason. But I don't know if there's one specific record. I mean, I'm still getting knocked out by stuff that I haven't heard before.

*Okay, I just noticed the bit about the performance DVD coming out in February. I'm forseeing myself and my girl, Jen, watching it and fawning, "Fwaaaaah, Mr. Weller," much like Bridget, Shazza, Tom and Jude did in Bridget Jones's Diary with the Colin Firth lake/wet shirt scene in Pride and Prejudice. Only with guitars and Saville Row suits.

Random ten

1. Does He Love You?- Rilo Kiley
2. Detroit- Primal Scream
3. River Deep, Mountain High- Tina Turner
4. Good To Be Gone- Sugababes
5. Billie Jean- Ian Brown
6. The Beach- New Order
7. Me Plus One- Kasabian
8. I Heard Love Is Blind- Amy Winehouse
9. Slide Away- Oasis
10. Otis- The Durutti Column

Bonus-
11. Hip Hop Is Dead- Nas
12. Here With Me- Dido

Holy crap!

I've been obsessively reading about the CIA-leak case from the beginning, thank fuck, as it is way confusing. I'm not sure what piqued my interest initially- I'm completely and horribly addicted. (I have a sneaking suspicion it was because Amb. Wilson referred to his wife, former CIA agent, Valerie Plame, as "a real-life Sydney Bristow"). I know, shallow. But are you surprised?

I digress.

The team from Firedoglake are in the courtroom for the Lewis "Scooter" Libby trial, and things are getting EXTREMELY interesting. Christy Hardin Smith from FDL is of the opinion that team Libby has made a rather large mistake.

Seeing as she's all whip-smart and stuff. I can't see how she's wrong.

Ted Wells, lead trial counsel for Libby, completely overstepped in making an argument regarding some handwritten notes of the government's witness, Cathie Martin. Libby's trial team had been given copies of these notes a year or more ago, but just got around to asking to see the originals of the notes this past Saturday. Wells was arguing that the copies given by the government were illegible (Fitzgerald countered that they were not and that, were there problems reading any pages, Wells' team had had a year to notify the government and request a better copy, and had failed to do so until last Saturday). Wells then argued that they had not had enough time to read the notes, due to the number of documents which needed review — Wells made a big deal about the sheer volume of documents.

Huge error.

As it turned out, the sum total of all of Cathie Martin's handwritten notes in their original form totaled less than an inch of paper, most of which were not relevant to the proceedings at all. Those documents which corresponded with the government's intended exhibit proffer were a grand total of six pages. In making an argument which was built on a foundation of very hot air, Wells lost credibility with the judge, with the government, and worse for his client, with those in the media and public gallery.

In a town where reputation and power is everything, Libby's entire legal team was diminished in a matter of minutes with this one, petty, groundless and unnecessary stunt.

And.........

All of these arguments were done outside the view and hearing of the jury, which was sequestered in the jury room at the time the motions took place. So there is no question that this misstep has prejudiced the jury in any way, since they will not hear of it from any of the members of the court. But, in all honesty, irritating a Federal judge this early in a high profile trial by stating something completely unfounded and conflating a tiny misstep (that likely was a result of some lack of preparation issue on the part of some segment of Libby's trial team) is a huge error.

And the entire episode led to Judge Walton saying this on the record in open court about Patrick Fitzgerald: you are "one of the most scrupulous prosecutors I have ever had appear before me," in response to the judge having to deal with the, by comparison, unnecessary conduct that Wells pulled over Cathie Martin's notes.

Oh, this could get ugly. *rubs hands together*

Arctics. Glastonbury. Headliners.

I'm acting all "Oh, that's not surprising," but am doing the happy dance at the same time about this announcement from the Eavis family. Yes, the band that my girl, Case, and I saw at the Metro in Chicago last March, is one of the m-effing Glasto headliners. That is chock-full of awesomeness.

Going to break out my "Dancing Shoes" right now!

In a declaration likely to surprise very few, the Arctic Monkeys have been unveiled as one of the acts to headline this year's Glastonbury festival.

When the last Glastonbury took place - the flash-flooded festival of 2005 - the Sheffield band was still four months away from releasing its debut single, I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. Two years on, they will headline this summer's event, topping off their rapid rise with a place on the Pyramid Stage at Michael Eavis' Somerset farm. Icelandic singer Bjork, a veteran of the festival, will also perform.

This is why I read ABB

Angry Black Bitch, y'all. And by the way, 'Scooter B' is our esteemed Preznit. I'm now off to download The Winner Takes It All.

The State of the Union as Interpreted through the music of ABBA

Scooter B.’s Thoughts While Giving the State of the Union...as Interpreted through the music of ABBA The Winner Takes It All

Actual Transcript

Note – Yes, black people know about ABBA...for the love of all that is Swedish!

Ahem.

I don't wanna talk

About the things we've gone through (like my cowboy diplomacy and refusal to negotiate)

Though it's hurting me (more than you know...like a paper cut dipped in acid)

Now it's history

I've played all my cards (I’m no good at poker, but someone needs to take a gander at Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare)

And that's what you've done too

Nothing more to say

No more ace to play (okay…I know…it’s called a veto)

Modfather

Paul Weller, originally uploaded by ant217.

Goodness, Wellah is rather attractive, isn't he?

Hammersmith Palais, RIP

I suddenly want to listen to my Clash albums. Well, more than usual.

Hammersmith Palais - the legendary London music venue immortalised in song by The Clash - is to be demolished.

The decision to close the venue was taken by Hammersmith and Fulham councillors in a meeting on Monday.

The building is expected to be bulldozed to make way for office blocks by developers Parkway Properties. No date for the closure has been given.

The venue, which opened after World War I, was hailed in The Clash's (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais in 1978.

This? Effing appalling.

Since there was no mention of New Orleans in the SOTU, the nation would not know that 300 children have been "wait listed" because for the forgotten Americans there is neither enough room or teachers.....

In an exceedingly rare move for a public school system, hundreds of children seeking spots in the city's schools have been turned away -- "wait-listed" -- and told that the campuses have no room, school officials said Tuesday.

In the state-run Recovery School District, where 300 students have been placed on a waiting list since Jan. 8, officials are scrambling to open additional buildings and hire more teachers.

Meanwhile, an unknown number of students have been turned away from the various other types of public schools in the emerging system, including 31 independent charter schools and five still run by the Orleans Parish School Board.

Life on Mars animated commerical

Promo for Season 2 of Life On Mars. And speaking of which-

It's been a fabulous awards week at BBC AMERICA. First, we got those twin Golden Globes earlier this week. Now, we're the leading network up for Edgar Allan Poe Awards, which are handed out by the Mystery Writers of America. The nominations were announced today, and we received five nominations, including four out of the five nods for Best Television Feature/Mini-Series. Here are the categories in which BBC AMERICA shows are represented:

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY The Closer - "Blue Blood" Teleplay by James Duff & Mike Berchem (Turner Network Television) Dexter - "Crocodile" Teleplay by Clyde Phillips (Showtime) House - "Clueless" Teleplay by Thomas L. Moran (Fox/NBC Universal) Life on Mars - Episode 1 Teleplay by Matthew Graham (BBC America) BEST TELEVISION FEATURE/MINI-SERIES TELEPLAY Conviction Teleplay by Bill Gallagher (BBC America) Cracker: A New Terror Teleplay by Jimmy McGovern (BBC America) Messiah: The Harrowing Teleplay by Terry Cafolla (BBC America) Secret Smile Teleplay by Kate Brooke, based on the book by Nicci French (BBC America) The Wire, Season 4 Teleplays by Ed Burns, Kia Corthron, Dennis Lehane, David Mills, Eric Overmyer, George Pelecanos, Richard Price, David Simon, & William F. Zorzi (Home Box Office) The awards will be handed out April 26th.

SOTU

I was going to watch Chris Matthews and Tim Russert analyze the State Of the Union address, but I chose to watch something more reality-based. Doctor Who.

And seriously, if Matthews refers to Senator Clinton as 'Hillary" one more time, I'm going to reach through the screen and slap his as-orange-as-Tom-Jones-in the-1970's-fake tan off his face.

Show some respect. Would he call Senator McCain "John?" I'm not thinking he would.

This made me cry

This article about the N'Awlins Saints fans made me bawl like a little kid with a skinned knee. And I say this as a life-long Bears fan- born and raised in a small Iowa town, 3 hours from Chicago.

A fine piece of writing.

Then it hit him, like it hit thousands around this heartbroken town.

"I'm going to the airport," he announced. "They brought hope to this city when nobody else could. The mayor sucks. The governor sucks. The legislature sucks. The president sucks. The only thing that doesn't suck is that team. They brought hope to this city, and I'm going to the airport."

So much in professional sports is canned, and this was something real, something spontaneous and pure. Through a neighborhood they drove, down a winding, dark road to a private terminal where the team's charter would land. Cars parked, one after another, the headlights looking like that scene from "Field of Dreams." Fans brought coolers and bottles of wine, standing in the pouring rain, giving something back to the team that gave them so much.

via First Draft

Kaisers

Oh, hell yes! Kaisers do America!

Kaiser Chiefs have confirmed a north American tour for April - and NME is going along for the ride.

The NME Presents Kaiser Chiefs tour will see the band introducing American and Canadian fans to their forthcoming second album 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' for the first time.

They play:

Philadelphia Electric Factory (April 6)
Washington 9:30 Club (7)
Boston Avalon Ballroom (9)
New York Roseland Ballroom (12)
Montreal Spectrum (17)
Toronto Kool Haus (18)
Chicago Vic Theatre (20)
Minneapolis Trocaderos (21)
Vancouver Commodore Ballroom (24)
Seattle Showbox Theatre (25)
Portland Crystal Ballroom (26)
San Francisco Warfield Theatre (27)

Not sure which date I'll be attending. Depends on whether Stace (Minneapolis) or Case (Chicago) are available on those dates. Mmmm, Ricky Wilson.

This sounds promising

Although she was in danger of becoming better known for her hard-partying ways and tumbling BMI, singer Amy Winehouse has redeemed herself with a triumphant debut performance in New York.

With her second album, Back to Black top of the charts in the UK, the 23-year old husky toned singer performed in front of a tough New York audience, at venue Joe's Pub.

Depsite showing some nerves, Amy won over the crowd which included rappers Jay-Z and Mos Def, with her jazz-infused vocals perfectly backed by her tight funk band.

Coachella

Oh, this sounds interesting. I could give a shit about the headliners, but Arctics, Arcade Fire, Kaisers, THE HAPPY MONDAYS!!!!, The Good, The Bad and The Queen, "Uncle" Willie Nelson and AMY? Jesus, I'd sell a kidney for tickets!

Rage, Bjork, Chili Peppers headline Coachella

Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire and Kaiser Chiefs also on the bill

A newly reunited Rage Against The Machine will headline this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, along with Bjork and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The annual music extravaganza will take place Friday, April 27 to Sunday, April 29 at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California. It has been expanded from two to three days for the first time.

Also on the bill are such notable acts as Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Happy Mondays, The Good, The Bad And The Queen, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Interpol, Jarvis Cocker, Sonic Youth, Kings of Leon, !!!, Kaiser Chiefs, Faithless, Willie Nelson, LCD Soundsystem, Air, The Kooks, The Fratellis, CSS, Peter, Bjorn and John, Manu Chao, Blonde Redhead, Amy Winehouse, and several other new and veteran performers.