Looky here! Best debut albums of all time

"The Velvet Underground & Nico", from 1967, was voted ahead of "Marquee Moon" by Television and "Are You Experienced" by Jimi Hendrix in the survey by Uncut magazine.

01 The Velvet Underground "The Velvet Underground & Nico" 1967
02 Television "Marquee Moon" 1977
03 Jimi Hendrix Experience "Are You Experienced" 1967
04 The Stone Roses "The Stone Roses" 1989
05 The Band "Music From Big Pink" 1968
06 The Clash "The Clash" 1977
07 Led Zeppelin "Led Zeppelin" 1969
08 Joy Division "Unknown Pleasures" 1979
09 Roxy Music "Roxy Music" 1972
10 The Stooges "The Stooges" 1969


Uncut is the Brit rock-snob mag for the rock snob of a certain age, but I'm certain you could infer that by the dates above. That being said, look at #4! Yeah, boy!

I have the albums by the Roses, Jimi, Velvets, Band, Clash and Zeppelin. I'm not quite Rob Gordon enough to enjoy Roxy and The Stooges. The former has to do with I know exactly one of their songs 'More Than This,' and that's due to Bill Murray singing it in 'Lost In Translation.' The Stooges? I'm just meh about them. Yes, I understand how seminal they were, but I can't be bothered to listen to them. Though I really like to read Iggy stories. What a scamp! Hee hee.

Dove-ish goodness

"Pounding."

God, I love this song... Jeez, Jimi has rather nice eyes, doesn't he?

Genius

I worship the goddesses of Go Fug Yourself.

Why? This description will have to suffice.

Girl On The Left looks like a distant cousin of Hilary Duff as reimagined by Anne Rice. Second from the left, we have a facial knockoff of Posh Spice (but dressed like Sienna Miller) from the years when she actually ate food that required chewing. Third from the left, we have a copycat Carrie Underwood in an S&M figure-skating costume.

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about

I maintain that A&R persons in the U.K. should set up shop in any Northern city. Fish in a barrel.

MANCHESTER and the rest of the north west are top of the pops, a survey reveals.

Yahoo Music discovered that musicians from the north west had more No 1 singles and albums since 2000 than artists from other regions.

Manchester and the rest of the region trounced the opposition, recording a No1 hit for every 115,254 people, compared with one hit per 216,647 people from Greater London and one for every 253,125 from the south east.

Doesn't this sound interesting?

Infamous, the next film about Truman Capote, just got a rave from the Independent's film critic.

And here's another thing that Infamous has. In the opening scene of the film, Truman and Babe Paley are at the El Morocco night club in 1959, listening to a singer, Kitty Dean (Gwyneth Paltrow). She leaps into her number and then falters. She breaks down, slowly recovers, and finishes the song. It is the best thing I have ever seen Paltrow do - and it is for us to judge how far the incident is a model for Infamous.

And....

That is not all. Perry Smith is played by Daniel Craig. I noticed him first as the nasty guy in Road to Perdition. He starred opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in Sylvia. He was in Steven Spielberg's Munich, as the hard guy in the group. He is - as I'm sure you know - the new James Bond, shortly to star in Casino Royale. He is also due to appear with Nicole Kidman in The Visiting.

And in a year's time, I suspect, it will be taken for granted that he is one of the best screen actors anywhere - and a great part of that will be because of Infamous, where he is as frightening as any killer, as abject as a person without education, and yet as touching as the man Capote was oddly graced by meeting.

God Love Them

This is one of my fav Jam Songs-

The Jam - Man In The Cornershop (Live)

I'd be lying if

I didn't admit this made me laugh my ass off.....

Heaven knows what James Blunt is doing closing Saturday night at Wireless, when he could have been at Royal Ascot in a top hat, representing the Hillier-Blount clan.

God bless Caroline Sullivan.

This assessment is somewhat (read- extremely) influenced by the fact that I was forced to at work today, listen to "You're Beautiful" 3 FREAKING TIMES. Utter crap.

Well said

Athenae is the reason that I read first-draft.com every day. Her writing is inspired, and this rant on Barack Obama kissing up to the fundies is particularly so.

You want to have a Democratic conversation about religion, Senator? You want to take the religious question back? You want to use religious imagery in order to give your party some sense of moral force?

Then you have to talk about more than your personal Dashboard Jesus, more than just your own quiet time with the Lord. You want God to be public? Then you take Him public, damn it.

You take Him into the public arena not by quoting His words but by dedicating the party to doing His work and then not mentioning one fucking word about His holy name until somebody touched by your obvious moral values flat-out asks.

Dancefloor

Classic Arctics lineup

This is for Joy

Cpt. Jack Sparrow. Yum, yum.

Nearly all of my friends (and myself, of course) have been in unrequited (obviously) love with Johnny Depp since

'21 Jump Street.'

Yes, I realize this dates us. Ask me if I'm bothered.

Photo by Albert Watson

Gnarls

Seriously, I am, at some point, going to think about something that doesn't involve:

1. Bands from the north of England/Scotland
2. My favorite celebrities
3. My actual future, as opposed to my imaginary future, which is fantastic, darling, fantastic
4. Global warming
5. How much 'Riot City Blues' by Primal Scream rules
6. The new Pirates of the Carribean movie
7. Gnarls Barkley

That being said, check out this profile of GB in the Guardian.

Gnarls Barkley befuddled many, and certainly battled the system. Their debut single, Crazy, a disturbing yet danceable account of one man's descent into madness, scuttled straight to No 1 and remained there for nine weeks before the duo had it deleted. At the time, no one knew who Gnarls Barkley was - many thought it was one man, and even when Green and Burton stepped into the limelight they did so in superhero costumes, protecting their identity. Green, formerly of the southern rap troupe Goodie Mob, and an overlooked solo artist (he has won a new solo deal in the wake of Crazy), was responsible for writing the Pussycat Dolls' hit Don't Cha. Burton, meanwhile, is celebrated for stitching together the Beatles' White Album and Jay-Z's Black Album to create The Gray Album. More recently he was drafted in to produce tracks for both Gorillaz and the Rapture's much-anticipated second album. He also works on countless underground hip-hop projects, such as Danger Doom, with the rapper MF Doom, making him the rare artist who appeals to both the experimental music heads and the chart kids.

Caveat

I am not currently married (well, to anyone not in my imagination:), and do not have children. But when I someday do meet, marry and procreate with the Man of My Dreams, I'd like think that I'd be capable of putting up the 2nd sign on the front door to keep solicitors away.

Goldfrapp, Alison Goldfrapp.

Shaken, not stirred, darling.

IT'S Oh Oh heaven for electronica queen Alison Goldfrapp - she's shaken and stirred after being wooed by James Bond.

We can reveal that Alison and pal Will Gregory have been offered one of the biggest honours in the music biz - to record the new Bond theme.

But seriously

Does everyone in the world eat better than Americans?

This is from The Guardian- recipes for halftime during World Cup games.

I'm just saying, you're not going to see smoked Haddock with Creme Fraiche, glazed lamb cutlelts, Entrecote steak with cracked pepper sauce or penne rigate with four cheeses on your average USA Today Weekend Superbowl Special menu editions....

God, we are ugly, aren't we?

This should be interesting

Apparently the Screamers aren't playing any big festivals at the end of July, since Bobby is marrying his baby's mama on the 28th.

Besides the obvious reasons, why exactly am I interested?

1. Bobby's baby's mam is closely associated with Alexander F-ing McQueen. I'm assuming her dress will be fantastic.

2. Kate Moss is reading a poem at the wedding.

So, I'm guessing that most people there won't be wearing pressed khakis and coordinates like the wedding I went to last weekend.

Also, there will be more of a chance of "I went to a wedding, and a concert broke out"- type thing happening.

On a somewhat related note, my copy of 'Riot City Blues' will be arriving on Thursday. Sweet!

Ah, Tanya....

From the NY Times-

To appreciate what Zoe Lucker manages to pull off in every episode of BBC America's crazy evening soap opera "Footballers' Wives," one need only look at the last scene of the final show of the series's third season. Ms. Lucker's character, Tanya Turner, learns that her unborn child's father may not be Conrad, the handsome bisexual soccer-club team captain she stole from his also-pregnant wife, the Bollywood star Amber. Instead, it turns out that her ogrelike husband, Frank, whom Tanya murdered with a lethal cocktail of Viagra and vigorous sex, could also be the dad. How does she discover this? She is given a videotape of Frank explaining that he poked holes in his condoms.

How could you not love this ridiculous show?

Singletons or not

My friends and I? Are Bridget Jones... The following is from one of my dear married but not-smug married friends-

Today I have eaten four small blueberry pancakes with bacon and a very small portion of eggs (because I have to put on brave face for the kids), a large slice of pizza, two large tumblers of water, half a bag of red hots, 2 slices of cheese toast, and now I am working my way through a bag of flavor blasted goldfish (xtreme cheddar).

This is the reason I should not be left alone in the house by myself with only school work to do.

Response from me-

That's hysterical. I'll write more later, but as I'm EXTREMELY hungover/still drunk, I'm not thinking you want me to write anymore. At this time. Also, the cat is tapdancing on the keyboard.
love from,
Me

Ps- It was Peppermint Patty's brother's wedding yesterday. Spent most of the night lusting after a whippersnapper. No, his name was not Gav.

PSS- you would think that I would know enough to not mix Bud Light and Vodka. You would be wrong.

Something obviously failed us at some point. Developmentally, grammatically, ecumenically.*

*With nods to the Captain, my Captain, Jack Sparrow.

Oh.My.God.

I would TOTALLY be all over this!

From The Mirror:

Eddie Izzard is in talks to play Sally Bowles in a West End production of hit musical Cabaret.

Harvey?

Y'all. Y'ALL. You know I love Oasis, right?
Adore the mouthiness, working-class background, Beatles-themed kitchens of associated band members and all? How I howl with laughter at the wit and wisdom of the Gallagher brothers? How I regard 'Acquiesce' and 'Whatever' to be some of the finest songs of the past 20 years?

Okay, now that we've established that, can anyone explain to me what the hell is going on with Liam's suit?

He looks like a Goddamned imaginary rabbit! Or that he's morphing into Simon LeBon.

I've got to go watch the 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' video to get my head back in the right place.

Jesus, 'Our Kid,' go put trackie bottoms on, or something. Baggy trousers that ARE NOT PASTEL-SHADED. Great sunglasses, though. As usual.

(Nicole, you look cute. Make your boyfriend stick to neutrals. Thanks, love).

I love the Internet

New Musical Express has a digital edition. You can get 51 issues for 40 bucks. It's delivered to your email the day it hits the stands in the Motherland. This is a bargain, as I gladly, with a shit-eating smile on my face, buy the magazine for 5-6 bucks a pop. Not to mention, Brit music magazines take some serious effing effort to find in the Hawkeye State.

Guess what I just purchased? You got it.

Am totally Snoopy dancing right now.

Also, my German import of 'Riot City Blues' should be arriving via UPS soon. YAYAYAYAY!

Captain Jack will take you high tonight

Oh, yes. Pirates 2 premieres in less than a month. More Johnny happiness.

Well, this is just an ef-ing tragedy

COMEDY legend John Cleese has confessed: "I can't do the silly walk any more."

Cleese used the routine in a number of Monty Python sketches.

But the star, 66, said: "I can't do it because I've had a hip replacement - probably because I did so much of it. I don't know how I even managed in the first place.

Jokey, jokey

I didn't actually find 'the funniest joke ever' that amusing, but some of the poster's funnies, are indeed that. (Though I feel I should put the Not All Jokes Are Tasteful-disclaimer on this).

Yes, that is

the 'masturbating Welshman' from Notting Hill AKA Rhys Infans in "The Importance Of Being Idle" video.

I think this may be my fav Oasis tune from Don't Believe the Truth, though I do love me some "Mucky Fingers."

The paranoid

edge to the beginning of the song is what originally sold me on the tune. Helicopters? Me thinks a fair amount of Peruvian Marching Powder was consumed during the making of (What's the Story) Morning Glory?.

(Though, really, my favorite tunes off the album, aside from Wonderwall and Don't Look Back in Anger? She's Electric and Some Might Say. Why? 'Coz they're fun, that's why)!

Also, this video feels like it would have made a nice plot point for an episode of Alias. The Bristows and the Gallaghers. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the havoc they could wreak!

"There will be blood tonight!"*

*With apologies to The Princess Bride

See what all the fuss

is about. (Cee-Lo is Darth, Danger Mouse is Obi-wan Kenobi. With his semi-trademark 'fro).


Also, I cannot believe that voice comes out of that person. Simply wonderful, and they're on Leno tonight. Again, the American music media is now catching on to something (Gnarls Barkley) that has been rather a big deal in the U.K. for the past 2 months.

Wouldn't you think that U.S. music mags would have people on staff who watch out for emerging bands in other markets? Or, maybe they do, and the previously mentioned staffers are complete crackheads.

As much as I

adore her, I have to say, your average Iowa State sophomore would have more sense than to drink Jager, then ride the Tilt-a-Whirl. The carnival ride. Not Mr. Gillespie. Though there have been rumors about that... just rumors, mind.

(Though I love the fact that La Moss did the puke-and-rally thing. Yes, I realize that says something about my personality. And not something attractive).

Okay...

Political Affairs aside, Rolling Stone magazine has peaked, in my opinion. I swear, they look at issues of New Musical Express (U.K. music mag) from 6 months previous, then pick whom they're going to hype as a potentially interesting band.

Case in point- I've been reading about BYOP for at least a year in NME. Seriously. Their lead singer, Jemima, barfed while on stage at Glastonbury 2005, wiped it up with a towel, then threw the towel into the audience. Again, seriously.

I haven't heard any of their stuff (Be Your Own Pet). I know they're from Nashville, and y'all know I really don't 'do' bands that aren't from the north of England. Except for The Killers. And Neil Young. And the Dixie Chicks. And Gnarls Barkley.

Just ignore me. I'll dither in the corner, alone with my incomplete and grammatically incorrect sentences.

One- U2 with Mary J

Y'all- this is truly fantastic. When Mary kicks it in with the "have you come here to play Jesus, to the lepers in your head," part-
I actually start to cry. And have, repeatedly.

This version originated, I believe, at the benefit for Hurricane Katrina victims.

There are certain bits of songs that can reduce me to a sniveling mess. The aforementioned bit is one of them.

Simply perfect.

Semi-weekly top 10

1. Rolling Stones- All Down the Line
2. Primal Scream- Call On Me
3. Oasis- Stay Young
4. The Jam- Smithers-Jones
5. Rhianna- S.O.S
6. Stone Roses- Something's Burning
7. U2 and Mary J.- One*
8. Happy Mondays- Lazyitis
9. Doves- Pounding
10. Libertines- Time For Heroes

*Yes, Bono annoys me the vast majority of the time. But my darling Mary J elevates this song to something quite sublime.

Whatever

Oasis (Top Of The Pops)

This B-side is one of my favorite Oasis tunes. Okay, I know that everything on TOTP's is totally canned, but this song is fan-freaking-tastic. Lovely Noel. Lovely Liam. Lovely Guigsy. Lovely Bonehead. Lovely Tony. Okay, disregard that last part. Boyfriend isn't exactly Bonzo, you know.

Roses

The Stone Roses - She Bangs The Drums

I love them. Love. Them. God (or Goddess) Bless Ian, John, Mani and Reni for creating such inspired (though not Inspiral, heh), blissed-out, vaguely menacing tunes.

(If any of my buddies would ever question my sanity in fancying Mani, I would direct you to the first part of this video. The dancing, the bass. Direct me to the fainting couch. Quite similar to Sam Rockwell doing-the-splits-while-smoking-thing during 'Charlie's Angels).' That's hot.

Chock Full of Awesome

Primal Scream ROCKS MTV LIVE

My first CD (single) purchase ever.

Have I mentioned?

that I sort of love Charlotte Church? Don't really listen to her music, but, hell, she's really funny. And a fantastic trash-talker. I appreciate this.

"I feel like an a***hole because I look like the top of a f****** wedding cake."

Oooh

Primal Scream - Country Girl

Love Bobby's Nudie-esque suit. Chick in the video totally looks like a combo between Heather Graham and Tara Reid. With a bit of Lindsay Lohan thrown in.

Talladega Nights

That would be the name of the new Will Ferrell, NASCAR-themed movie. Also featuring Ali G and John C. Reilly.
Will's name in the movie? Ricky Bobby.

This is the tagline for the movie promos-

The story of a man who could only count to #1

The sound you hear? Me laughing my ass off.

Also, Gnarls Barkley, whom I love, love, love, performed. Dressed up as characters from Star Wars. Whole lotta Darth Vader fabric for Cee-Lo, I'm thinking.

Harper

This sounds interesting... new book about Nelle "Harper" Lee.

Jean Louise Finch is one of my all-time favorite fictional characters. And Bridget Jones. And Holden and Phoebe Caulfield. And Harry Potter. And Rob Gordon. Okay, this is something that needs to be addressed in another post.

For thousands of postwar American women, Scout is a touchstone of childhood authenticity. In some Mary Pipheresque prelapsarian state, we were all Scout once: unfiltered, free-ranging, with a physical confidence rooted in a prepubescent androgyny -- qualities inevitably poisoned by the idiotic affectations of adolescence. (When she senses the feminizing agenda her stuffy aunt has in store for her, Scout feels "the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary closing in" on her.) Lee's magic (which some early critics perceived as a failure) was in ventriloquizing the experiences of a 6-year old in the voice of a grown woman, offering a bridge back to childhood. As a motherless child, Scout demonstrates how children treat life's curveballs as what happens, not what shouldn't happen, and adjust their expectations accordingly.

Adorable

Though this was on 'Countdown' with KO this evening, I spotted this on Cute Overload last night.

I kind of want an Alpaca. So fluffy! Obviously not going to happen, as I already have one fluffy pet. No need for another.

Diamond Dave Does Deliverance

But what about "Hot For Teacher?"







Maybe change the name to "Hot For Schoolmarm?"




As odd a concept as the record might seem, it mostly works. Hard rock classics like “Panama” and “And the Cradle Will Rock ...” retain the energy of early Van Halen, but with mandolins and fiddles instead of electric guitars and drums. The first single, “Jamie's Cryin',” takes a new, mournful tone with the acoustic instrumentation.

If you would ever

want to know why I would, in theory, of course, chuck my knickers in the general direction of Alan Wren, John Squire or Gary Mounfield, I would immediately direct you to the linked Roses DVD.

Okay, Ian, too. But definitely Reni and Mani, first. Rhythm section, indeed.

All right, all right, all right

I'm just sitting here, watching my special-edition DVD of the Greatest Album of All Time.

I'd like to also point out, in my CD case, at this exact moment, are 8 of the top 10 albums, 16 of the top 20.

Damn, I'm good.

Though, I would definitely, not maybe, flip the #7 and the #4. Who the eff cares what a damned computer sounds like?

Okay, I'd bump Sgt. Pepper's to #7, Revolver to #1, and put the Roses in at #2. And The Queen Is Dead in the top 5.

All right, my actual top 6-

1- Beatles- Revolver
2- Stone Roses- The Stone Roses
3- Oasis- Definitely Maybe
4- Smiths- The Queen Is Dead
5- Beatles- Sgt. Peppers
6- Oasis- Morning Glory


Top 20, via MEN

Greatest 100 Albums of All Time:

1. Definitely Maybe, Oasis

2. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, The Beatles

3. Revolver, The Beatles

4. OK Computer, Radiohead

5. (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis

6. Nevermind, Nirvana

7. The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses

8. Dark Side Of The Moon, Pink Floyd

9. The Queen Is Dead, Smiths

10. The Bends, Radiohead

11. The Joshua Tree, U2

12. London Calling, The Clash

13. The Beatles (The White Album), The Beatles

14. Abbey Road, The Beatles

15. Up The Bracket, The Libertines

16. Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols, Sex Pistols

17. Four Symbols (Led Zeppelin IV), Led Zeppelin

18. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, David Bowie

19. A Night At The Opera, Queen

20. Is This It, The Strokes

Cash

Oooh- this sounds great. The VF article was very moving, and shows the depth of respect between Rick Rubin and Mr. Cash.

The only thing about this album that gives me pause is its brevity–just twelve songs over forty-odd minutes. Rubin had told me he’d been toying with making American V a double, given the wealth of material he had at hand, and pointedly said he did not want to keep releasing posthumous albums, Tupac-style, because “there’s something that doesn’t feel good about the Tupac-ing.” I have to think that more of the 2003 recordings will somehow see the light of day, per

Rock on, ladies

525 thousand records in the 1st week? Fan-freaking-tastic!

Also, I would feel badly, as a rock nerd, if I didn't point out that I'm not quite certain about whether a session musician's (AKA Chad Smith from the Chili Peppers who played on the DC's CD) album that they worked on (AKA 'Taking the Long Way') had ever knocked their actual band's (RHCP) album from the number 1 slot.

That train of logic made sense to me.....

Yay, Martie, Emily and Natalie!!!

Boy, they're sure smartasses at Mugglenet

Hee. Hee.

I'd just like to point out

The sheer lust that I feel for Mani (bass- Stone Roses, Primal Scream) is quite relative to the longing I feel for Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller. And Hooky. Okay, for most musicians from Greater Manchester. And Woking. But I digress.

NTodd is cool

Go there.

Loving. LOVING.

Gnarls Barkley's song, 'Crazy.' Sounds, I don't know, for lack of a better made-up word, Mayfield-ish.

Also majorly loving this 'Clockwork Orange' pic. Alex, look out!

I love this

Hunter Thompson-esque stuff.....

(Not meaning to be all-Screamers, all the time, but hey, there's a lot of stuff out there about them right now. And I really like the libertine-aspect of the interviews:)

Back then, the group's singer, Bobby Gillespie, rang up Eggleston to ask permission, and was invited around for breakfast drinks. 'Bill was wearing jodhpurs and leather boots,' Gillespie later told me, 'and was walking about with a rifle and bayonet. It was surreal.' He played them a Bo Diddley record, plied them with vodka and then sent them on their way with his blessing. You could say he out-Screamed the Scream.

One of the interesting aspects of this image refers to Eggleston's suggestion that a photograph is a kind of little death, freeze-framing its subject forever. According to Eggleston's son Winston, who handles his father's business affairs, his father always refers to Untitled, 1975 as 'Marcia whacked out on Quaaludes'.

Which, come to think of it, may be the best title for a Primal Scream song anyone has ever come up with.

Paris Hilton's new single

is entitled 'The Stars Are Blind.' And hopefully deaf, too. Hee.

Oh, and she's remaking 'D'ya Think I'm Sexy.' Not kidding.

Oy.

OHMYGOD

Summer 2007 is shaping up to be the best summer EVER!

While on her visit to India, Bloomsbury co-founder Liz Calder said in an interview that she suspects the final Harry Potter book will be released in 2007.

I'm really a grownup, I swear. I just really love the Harry Potter books. Note- I didn't say I was mature. Just an adult.

Alias

I've now had a bit of time to digest the Alias finale. Verdict- fantastic. They did a better job of wrapping up loose ends than I thought possible. And my boy, Sark, walked away to be hot, British and morally ambivelant another day. Mmmmmm....

The only possible way

that Primal Scream's new single, 'Country Girl,' could kick more ass, would be if you heard it performed live in an outdoor bar in the Deep South, with a whole bunch of Anglophiles who appreciate the Screamers, on a hot, muggy summer evening with a million stars overhead and an ice-cold beer in your hand. The beer should be wrapped in a napkin or a brown paper bag, so the 'sweat' doesn't make your hand overly cold.

Jumping up and down, full of the sheer wonder of being alive, drunk and listening to rock and roll as it should be played. Most of the time. I can just see Joy trying to teach me how to move my upper and lower halves in a relatively-coordinated way (dance) for the millionth time. Poor thing, she's certainly tried.

That's what the song sounds like to me.

It's official

NME is trying to kill me.



Paul Weller is to play a one-off free gig in London. The star will play KOKO in Camden on June 13 as part of the Jack Daniel's JD Set series of shows. Tickets will be fans, lucky competition winners and invited guests.

Levon

My favorite drummer-who-sings-ever (only slightly behind my beloved Reni. And Ringo), just got his own 'day' in Woodstock, New York, home to the Big Pink, birthplace to much fantastic music by Dylan and The Band. Oh, and that festival you may have read about.

I'm totally listening to "Ophelia" right now.

Marla Singer IS Bellatrix Lestrange

Ooooo, I am way, way too excited about this! I could totally see Bella as a chain-smoking, big hat and prom dress-wearing scary woman. Though she's obviously more unhinged than Marla. With the whole Death Eater thing and all. And Marla never killed Sirius Black. Stupid Bella.

I really need to quit temporarily confusing actors with the characters they portray. Could lead to trouble in the form of dreams where Tyler Durden blows up the Ministry of Magic as a statement against the bureacratic sector of the magical world. Cool.

Dear God, I really need to shut up now.

Big & dumb rock and roll?

I LOVE big & dumb rock and roll!

On Primal Scream's new album-

The distorted blues of We're Gonna Boogie leaves you reeling with shock: firstly that someone in 2006 has, in all seriousness, called a song We're Gonna Boogie, secondly that the end result is compelling rather than laughable

I could not be happier at this moment

Great things that happened today:

1. Arrived at Traci's on time to pick her up for road trip
2. Successfully purchased wine for store
3. Did not wreck delivery vehicle on Interstate while driving at rapid speeds with 10 cases of vino in the back
4. Got the following new Brit music mags, Q- with Oasis! on the cover, Uncut- with The! Stone! Roses! on the cover, and the new NME (alas, with Razorlight on the cover)
5. Recieved my B&N order, with the following items-
a. Joy Division- Unknown Pleasures
b. Happy Mondays- Platinum Hits
c. The Jam- The Complete Jam DVD set
6. Remembered Casey Jo's b-day with lovely gift
7. Discovered on aforementioned Mondays' CD an absolutely awesome cover of Stayin' Alive. Yes, That One by the Bee Gees.
8. Am currently watching Young! Wellah! in the 'Town Called Malice' video. Mmmm, mods.

Warsaw's later incarnation

Absolutely fantastic picture of Stephen, Ian, Barney and Hooky. (Since we're on a Joy Division-related digression here...)



via Gawker

My new snark idol

Meet Zoe Williams.

So sad. I have a sudden surge of sympathy for the man. He said at the time, "I'm lucky to have found a good woman who is strong like Linda". He went on and on, actually, about how "good" Heather Mills was, which always sounded a bit morally self-regarding, as if the more often you assert the goodness of another person, out loud, the more you ram home your own qualifications as an arbiter of such things. Oh, I've changed my mind again. Maybe he is an ass, after all.

Anyway, they announced their engagement really quite soon, which is when it was reported that Paul and Linda's three children - Stella, Mary and James - disliked Heather. This is uncharacteristic of Stella, particularly, since whenever you see a picture of her, anywhere at all, she is always holding hands with somebody. She absolutely loves humanity! She wants to hold its ha-a-aa-a-and.

Congrats, Johnny Borrell

You've joined my very prestigious list of people who need, for the love of the Baby Jesus, shut the hell up.

1. Bono
2. Gwyneth Paltrow
3. Katie Couric
4. Chris Matthews
5. Jamie Foxx (because of his extremely icky album. No double entrendre was left unmolested)
6. Johnny Borrell

Seriously, the latest addition pains me. I really like Razorlight.

Oh. My. God.

MACCA DIDN'T HAVE A PRENUP? ARE YOU JOKING ME?

WHEN Paul McCartney wed Heather Mills in 2002 he decided against a prenuptial deal to keep his £825million fortune.

The couple said they were "too in love" to think about it.

But if they eventually divorce, Lady McCartney could walk away £200million richer.

Y'all, I think I could marry a guy in his 60's if I knew I could potentially walk out of the marriage with approximately 380 MILLION DOLLARS!

Someone needs to be canning their lawyers for letting them be that freaking stupid.

Handmaid's Tale, revisted

I don't know which part freaked me out most, this-

Check out the first paragraph of today's Washington Post story "Forever Pregnant," which explains that new federal guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ask "all females capable of conceiving a baby to treat themselves -- and to be treated by the health care system -- as pre-pregnant, regardless of whether they plan to get pregnant anytime soon."

Or this-

Apparently, all women "between first menstrual period and menopause" are now supposed to take supplements of folic acid, refrain from smoking, maintain a healthy weight and watch chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes. Other recommendations, mentioned lower down in the Post piece, are that women stay away from cat feces and "discuss the danger alcohol poses to a developing fetus."

I swear that tonight, just to stick it to those sick *&cks at the CDCP, I'm going to get drunk and clean out my cat's litterbox.

Y'all, The Handmaid's Tale was a CAUTIONARY STORY, not a freaking how-to manual.

Oh God

Yahoo just about gave me heart failure with this headline-

Oasis on hiatus

Till the next album, that is. Man, that headline is just MEAN. My first thought was, "Jesus, did Liam question the paternity of Noel's daughter, AGAIN?" But, all is apparently as well as it ever gets.

Hey Bono!

I don't give a rat's ass about what music Condi Rice 'likes'.

I mean, Aretha? Cream? Elton John?

Okay, maybe that last one. And Clapton was quite a right-winger in the '70's.




(Comments he made directly led to the Rock Against Racism concert series, featuring The Clash and The Buzzcocks).

But Aretha? PUHLEASE!

Maybe she listened, but she didn't listen to the Queen of Soul. Ain't no freaking way.

Pic from www.thedivas.org.uk/aretha

A-Freaking-men

See, ya'll, the Brits get it with the rock and roll. Four of the best frontmen to ever stand behind a microphone- Moz, Liam and Ians Brown and Curtis. Not going to quibble with the #2 selection. Also, yay Noel!

All-Time Best Rock Heroes (according to NME readers)

01 Kurt Cobain
02 Pete Doherty
03 Morrissey
04 Liam Gallagher
05 Carl Barat
06 Thom Yorke
07 Noel Gallagher
08 David Bowie
09 Ian Brown
10 Ian Curtis

Songs of the week

As I'm working for a florist, and it is Mother's Day weekend, and the grad weekend of both my actual brother and the poor-guy-that-is-unfortunate-enough-to-be-married-to my social-climbing sister, here's the week's tunage recap early. That run-on sentence made sense at the time of typing.

1. Libertines- Boys In the Band
2. Stone Roses- Bye, Bye Badman
3. Paul "I DJ'd at Spike Island" Oakenfold Featuring Brittany "I am Tai" Murphy- Faster Kill Pussycat
4. Happy Mondays- Step On
5. Primal Scream- Rocks
6. Morrissey- Suedehead
7. John Mellencamp- Pink Houses
8. Charlatans UK- The Only One I Know
9. The Smiths- Sheila, Take a Bow
10. Whiskeytown- 16 Days

Extra Awesome-ness tracks-
11. Gorillaz- Dirty Harry
12. Oasis- Stand By Me

Looky!

I'm hanging with the cool kids, if only for a self-promoting moment....

OhMyGodICan'tBelieveIt

I love Veronica Mars. Kristen Bell rules. That is all.

Excuse Me?

I love music lists. They tend to reassure me that my musical taste is vastly superior/ underappreciated compared to that of mere mortals. Snerk.

I was dinking around on the Crooks and Liars site, looking at video clips that tend to raise my blood preassure, and I saw that John (the C&L guy) linked to the Rolling Stone list of the top 100 guitarists of all time.

When I went to the list, I nearly passed out. Johnny Marr? Nowhere on the list. Joan Jett? #87. John Squire? Nada. Jack White? #17. Jesus.

They ranked Jack White higher than Steve Cropper (Booker T and the MG's), Mick Ronson (Bowie) and Jimmy Burton (Elvis). So not kidding.

I know that my raving Anglophillia tends to blinker me a bit, but for the love of the Baby Jesus, Marr or Squire didn't make the list at all? God. GOD.

Hey Willy Wonka! Are you missing someone?

Via the insanely gifted wenches from Go Fug Yourself-

Oompa-loompa doompety-doo
I've got another fugging for you.
Oompa-loompa-dumbety-dee
Tanorexic fame-whores are frightening to me.

Jen Garner rules

For many, non-Sydney Bristow-related reasons.....

Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, Cicely Tyson, Regina King and Deborah Santana are scheduled to travel to New Orleans today to highlight the special health and psychological needs of Gulf Coast children. The group will be led by the Children's Defense Fund.

Hee. On rock managers...

#4.

In Britpop's stag-night atmosphere, order of a kind undoubtedly still had to be kept. For excitable Oasis, a particularly firm hand was needed - as road manager they employed ex-soldier Ian Robertson, famous for his strong-arm tactics. Ultimately, these were his undoing - he was allegedly fired while holding Liam Gallagher aloft by the throat. As his legs bicycled frantically in mid-air, the singer was nonetheless still able to gasp the words: "Yerfookin-sacked."

Keith. My man.

Hon, just because the tree is there, doesn't mean you need to climb it in order to prove it exists. I don't care what that Ronnie says....

Embarassing

I tend to be, shall we say, a bit obsessive. And right now, I'm completely and utterly obsessed with bands from the Greater Manchester, England metro area. I mean, ALL bands. You name one, I have recently purchased an item from their back or current musical catalog. Or bought one of those incredible Brit rock mags analyzing every detail of their work, personal life, substance use issues/preferences.

The Smiths? Heaven knows I'm not miserable now. Stone Roses? I wanna be adoring them! Happy Mondays? Step right on, man! Joy Division/New Order? No blue Monday here! Oasis? I'm mad fer it, me!

See? Rather pathetic isn't it? And the really bad part is, I talk about my bands so much that I can drop references into conversations with my family/friends/co-workers-about say, Bez from the Mondays, or my slight crushes on Johnny Marr, Mani or Hooky, or my deep and abiding love for Noel Gallagher- and they ARE AWARE that these individuals not only exist, but probably could name a few legal issues experienced, songs written, famous concerts attended/given by previously mentioned persons. .

People, this is SE Iowa. "Honkytonk Badonkadonk" is a hip tune for most residents in this neck of the woods. And as a result of my compulsive self, my 50 year-old mom (who loves Eric Clapton's solo work and the Eagles- not judging, just a fact) could tell you why the Sex Pistols concert at Manchester Free Trade Hall was important. And some of the bands that resulted from that concert. And sadly, probably that the original name of Joy Division was the Stiff Kittens. And who Martin Hannett was.

The previous items show me several things-

1. I really need a career change
2. May possibly need to get a life
3. I CAN influence people. Not so sure about winning friends, though

Anglomania, continued

But I forgot Victoria Beckham! Doesn't she look great? Loving the shoes! Glad you didn't bust out the chaps tonight, Posh!

















Sky News picture

Met Anglomania Gala

I am gonna die. Look at Kate's outfit. The skinny leather pants,the jacket, the hair, the smoky eye, the pale lip. I bow down before the Queen. Though not McQueen..... at least at this moment.










Compare with:
I have no idea what posessed Sarah Jessica Parker to don this travesty. I know it's McQueen. I GET McQueen. This, not so much. I think he was going for a Vivienne Westwood homage, only to have it go dreadfully wrong. Yeech.

*pictures from Sky News

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

No more Footballers Wives! AARRRRRRRRRGGGGGHHH! No more thinly-disguised versions of Coleen McLoughlin (Wayne Rooney, Man U) and Posh Beckham? Repeat, argh!

They can't take my Tanya Turner away! I mean, look at her, standing between her fat football-managing husband, Frank, whom she eventually kills with a combo of Viagra and cocaine and her swings-both-ways lovah, Conrad! And even wearing the same dress as Conrad's former Bollywood star wife, Amber, and the fact that she once slept with Hazel, the chick in the red hat, does not appear to bother her in the slightest.

What will I do for my bleached-blonde, coke-addicted, manipulative wench fix?

I have not adored a TV character like this since Sydney Bristow on Alias, who thanks to freaking ABC, is ALSO being cruelly wrenched from me. And don't even get me started on Mr. Sark, the ever-so-delightfully evil British! accented spy on Alias.... Sob. No more possibility for Sarkney action? I am bereft.

Damn you, Footballers Wives, damn you!!!!! Also, damn you, ABC, damn you, too!

*Piccie from http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Songs Currently On Heavy Rotation

1. Tart, Tart- Happy Mondays
2. Jailbird- Primal Scream
3. Cruel To Be Kind- Nick Lowe
4. She's Tight- Cheap Trick
5. Badge- Cream
6. Had Me A Real Good Time- Faces
7. Not Ready To Make Nice- Dixie Chicks
8. Rockin' In the Free World- Neil Young
9. Higher Ground- Stevie Wonder
10. This Is The One- Stone Roses

Bonus-
Slip Away- Clarence Carter
Man In the Cornershop- The Jam

I suppose....

that even if I lined up for tickets, say, now, I still wouldn't stand a chance of actually obtaining tickets to Glastonbury 2007.

Go Uncle Neil!

Awesome.

Possibly the cutest thing ever

Amazing bass, indeed

It always makes me happy to find written evidence that others think in the same way that I do. I had just finished raving about the quality of bassists from Manchester, when, lo, what do I find on the MEN website? An article about Freebass. Yes, that would be the band with Mani, Hooky and Andy Rourke. And a poll. Obviously, my boy, Mani won.

Spinal Tap jokes are not appreciated. Also, I think Andy needs a nickname. To fit in properly.

Chock full of awesome-ness

To say that my new DVD, "Gorillaz- Demon Days, Live at Manchester Opera House," is chock-full of awesomeness, would be the understatement of the century. When I saw it at in the music section at Target today, I blinked, rubbed my eyes, then repeated the process. One does not expect to see DVD performances of Brit cartoon supadupa stars at Tar-Jay in SE Iowa.

'Feel Good, Inc.' is fantastic. That bassline is fierce.De La Soul, so stinking, effortlessly cool.

'DARE' kicks butt, mainly because everyone (musicians, audience) seem visibly thrilled to pieces that Shaun nearly hits all his marks, no one being more suprised and happy than the Reverend Ryder himself. Crowd was going craz-y. Craz-y.

Also, 'Dirty Harry' rules. And I want to look like Rosie Wilson when I grow up. That is all.

Graphic from http://www.asthetik.com/sentimentalist/images/gorillaz.jpg

I worship these women

The ladies of Go Fug Yourself.

The best from the post?

"Look. When InTouch and US Weekly are speculating that the pregnant starlet girlfriend of one of the biggest stars in the world is wearing a prosthetic belly, you are, at the VERY LEAST, in the middle of the most poorly -managed public relations disaster this city has seen in many, many, many a year."

Ooo, BOY!

My right-winger brothers are going to have KITTENS!

Keep on rockin' in the free world, Neil.