coupersetique denpa

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 08:50:44 GMT

Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan by Jake Adelstein

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jake Adelstein's page turner of a memoir about being a police reporter at a large daily Japanese newspaper in the 90s. The material is fascinating, funny, scary and heartrending. The book is partly about the business side of crime in Japan and partly about what it's like to be a reporter in Japan. You also get that horrible gut churning feeling of knowing these 'characters' are all real people. The crimes have real victims. The toll of the job on Adelstein (and the people he loves) is significant. Part of whether you will enjoy this book will depend on whether you like Adelstein as a narrator. If you do not, you will loathe this book. The tone is pretty casual, as if this guy were telling you about all of this at a bar. It's not poorly written. But it isn't really artistic or stylish as prose goes.

I enjoyed the book very much in a gut churning vicarious kind of way.

There are significant portions of this book about sex workers and human trafficking. There are also some portions that include descriptions of grisly violence. If that is something that is going to be very upsetting to you, I would avoid reading this. Obviously, due to the subject matter, I would not recommend it for children.

View all my reviews >>

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:41:01 GMT

Favorite songs:
Lorraine Ellison - Stay With Me
Sunset Valley - G.B.78.s.
Beach House - Gila
School of Seven Bells - iamundernodisguise
The Breeders - Fate to Fatal
Black Nite Crash - Losing Kind
Halo Benders - Don't Touch my Bikini
Bonnie Prince Billy and Cheyenne Mize - The Girl in Me
Espers - Afraid
St. Vincent - Actor Out of Work
Micachu - Vulture
Plastiscines - Zazie Fait de la Bicyclette
ELO - Telephone Line
Chorus Reverendus - Dans son Euphorie
Macbeth the Great - Buy Me a Zeppelin
Judee Sill - The Kiss
Colleen et lest Boites a Musique - Your Heart is So Loud
Ane Brun - Big in Japan
Deerhoof - Eaguru Guro

Favorite albums
Sunset Valley - Goldback 78 Stack
School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms
The Breeders - Fate to Fatal
Bonnie Prince Billy and Cheyenne Mize - Among the Gold
St. Vincent - Actor
Micachu and the Shapes - Jewellery
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Deerhoof - Offend Maggie

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:04:52 GMT

Oh snap.

It's time for the the annual music post. Commentary on all EPs and full albums I got during the year. There will be a separate post listing only the favorites and/or recommendations.

Feel free to comment away or recommend/suggest other albums.

On and on until the break of dawn...

Lorraine Ellison - Stay with me: The Best of Lorraine Ellison

Wrist slitting soul goodness. Ellison's voice is smoother than Doris Duke, or the Winehouse, so if this is your concern, you may also dig this. IT'S GOOD.

Sigur Ros - Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust

It took me a while to warm up to this. It is spacious like the previous albums, but seems joyous where the previous ones seemed more bittersweet.

Nikka Costa - Pebble to a Pearl

Worth checking out if you are a fan of retro soul vocals. This came out in the wrong year for anyone to pay attention to it. This is not my top of the heap retro soul vocals record, but I pretty much like all of them. Except Duffy, which is only because I can't not compare her unfavorably to Dusty Springfield.

Beach House - Devotion

Gila is far and away the best track off of this. This is some sort of hazed out 90s style that went out with heroin, but it's still nice music. It's a little like Mazzy Star.

Sunset Valley - Goldbank 78 Stack

I bought this right after the 'last show.' It's KILLING ME HOW GOOD THIS IS. It's like the logical cross between Devo and Cheap Trick.

Herman Jolly - Bunker Life

More varied than 'Mad Cowboy disease' but like all of the solo records, quieter than Sunset Valley.

Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light, Motion to Rejoin

Hippie-soul arrangements plus the vocals of, let's say, the Ravonettes, but super warmed up, like a very stony slowcore His Name is Alive. Or maybe Mazzy Star, but even fuzzier. I guess this is out of the freak folk group of musicians? THIS VERY STRONGLY DOES NOT SOUND LIKE FOLK MUSIC. I DID NOT LIKE THESE GUYS LIVE ONE BIT. I like the records ok though.

Prototypes - Synthetique

If possible, this sounds even more like Stereo Total than the other Prototypes album(s.) (The first one on Minty Fresh is a comp. of the best tracks from their first two French albums.)

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast

Very much an extension of the last album, but more songs. Recommended.

Lullatone - Computer Recital

This is some very quiet, very pretty ambient music. In the vein of Four Tet or Colleen. But yet, reminds me of Plone! YOU GUYS, I LOVE PLONE!

Asteroid No. 4 - These Flowers of Ours

On 'The Committee to Keep Music Evil' with the BJM. It sounds like BJM/Clientele/Las mixed with some more shoegazy/baggy influences.

Blonde Redhead - Elephant Woman

I can't like Blonde Redhead from before 2000. I don't know why. It probably has something to do with my 'I used to like Sonic Youth, but one day woke up and didn't' thing. I think for me Blonde Redhead begins and ends with 23, which I am pretty much obssessed with. This is fine music, though it is not 23. DID YOU KNOW THEY ARE RECORDING AGAIN?!? I AM EXCITED!

Mice Parade - Mice Parade

This bears a resemblance to bands I don't particularly get into, but know are good (such as Yo La Tengo). However, I like this, and I think it is because it is poppy but VERY HEAVY on the complicated drums.

Lady Sovereign - Public Warning

I know, you thought I surely must already have this, but I did not. There is substantial song overlap with 'Vertically Challenged' (most of the strongest material here comprises VC). If you like Sov and do not have either, you should get this instead of VC, because it has more tracks, and having 'Blah Blah,' which is not on VC is probably worth it.

Dandy Warhols - October Dandy Downloads

Part of the 'membership downloads' - consisting of available bonus tracks (from iTunes and Amazon) plus an acoustic version of Mis Amigos. Not bad, but not great.

Dalek - Gutter Tactics

New one from the My Bloody Valentine of hip hop. I am still letting this grow on me. It's good, but I don't know where I rank it based on other Dalek albums.

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You, Alright Still

You know about this, right? Semi-autobiographical English lady sing-speak rap pop with four letter words. I like it, I think you can probably tell by listening to one song whether you will like Allen yourself. That being said, I think my favorite Allen track is the cover of Oh My God on Mark Ronson's Version.

Enon - Grass Geysers... Carbon Clouds

This MOSTLY alternative - power pop, with the drums actually up far enough (a la Pavement). But then again, not like Pavement. I got this because the woman from Blonde Redhead is in this band too.

Booker T and the MGs - Melting Pot

This is pretty good, but it's like... always. No vocals. I know they were the house band, but the lack of vocals makes it hard. Especially when you can hear the instruments doing the equivalent of vocal lines. This is great for when you want a personal soundtrack for walking around with your own funky self though.

Amon Tobin - Bricolage

This kind of takes me back to the days of amp! Oh amp. I miss you. More varied than most drums and bass, in that I can tell the songs apart, and there's a nice sort of jazziness. This is really a good album. I like Supermodified a LOT BETTER though, but I think that has to do with my own preference for downtempo.

The Delgados - The Complete BBC Peel Sessions

This is good, but not recommended as a first purchase. Great cover of Mr. Blue Sky. If you are a fan, there's nothing from 'HATE' on here, but you should buy it anyway. If you do not know the band, I would start with 'HATE.'

Asobi Seksu - Hush

They are on the quieter side of shoegazer on this record, but LOUD AS HELL and kind of punk in person.

Lady Sovereign - Jigsaw

This is not as strong as the first record, but not bad either.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz

This is much slower than either of the last two. I am not totally sure about this record. The more I hear it, the more it sounds like the bits of Metric's last album that I don't like very much. FWIW, I think the songs are good, but I don't like the production. Don't expect it to be punky yowly getting ready to go out music.

Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball

People say this is a cross between grunge and roots rock, but I am seeing more Calexico and post rock here or gothic alternative country, plus some sort of Pink Floyd-y chord progressions. I really like the giant depressing sprawling rock epicness, but have trouble listening to it for long periods of time.

Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It

Unlike most neuvo soul, this is actually not Memphis-y. It is Motown-y. There is some stuff here you headphones people will love, like the perfectly chopped resonant background vocals.

Raphael Saadiq Tiny Desk Concert (video) from NPR:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113214222

OK Go - Oh No

I like this album overall, in the same way that I like the Louis XIV and Franz Ferdinand, it's hugely bright and power poppy, but there is something about the production/arrangement/sound that just bugs on headphones. It ALREADY SOUNDS LIKE FM RADIO even on the CD, and I don't like that kind of thing.

Chaka Khan - The Best of Chaka Khan

I don't know if this is really me (as in, this does not feel like my music, emotionally), but I think Chaka Khan has a good voice.

Shelby Lynne - Just a Little Lovin'

This is hard. This is kind of a tribute to Dusty Springfield. WE ALL KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT DUSTY RIGHT? You can't really top Dusty doing Dusty. Shelby has a nice voice. I'd listen to this over Duffy anytime, but I should probably go get some real Shelby Lynne albums.

Pat Benetar - Greatest Hits

I like listening to the Pat from time to time. She has a good voice. Love is a Battlefield is a pretty ridiculous video, but it has a definite place in my mind/heart.

The Bravery - The Sun and The Moon Complete

I absolutely hate the all 'The Moon'/new versions, but like the original version of this album from 'The Sun'. I would have been better off with the one disc version.

Camper van Beethoven - Tusk

This is much more lackadasical than I remember back in the day. I would only recommend for people either super into Cracker, the original record, or covers to take a listen. I do not really need to own this.

Bosque Brown - Baby

I don't know if my hearing is just changing. This is a good album, but Mara sounds off key in places. That being said if you are a fan of new school Memphis style Cat Power, you will almost certainly like this.

Metric - Grow Up and Blow Away

This is more like Splashdown or the Bird and the Bee/Inara George than it is like 'Live it Out.'

Malajube - Labarynthes

Malajube, you almost make me wish I hadn't dropped French when I was 13. I can't understand what the hell these guys are singing about, but it sounds great. In a power poppy sort of way. These guys are sort of Sloan-y and Of Montreal-y. There is also some sort of Scandinavian soaring quality in there too. I love that.

Gomez - A New Tide

From what I can tell this is pretty good. It's hard though, because I can't see them topping 'Get Myself Arrested' in my eyes, ever. That's a freaking great song. Anthemic, even. A room full of people should be singing it at the top of their lungs. Get on it, people!

School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms

I am so all over this album, because there are both places where you can hear the lyrics in the forefront, and there are other places where the vocals are thick, textured, and shoegazy. This album is good from front to back. This is one of the only neuvo shoegazer albums that really takes the shoegaze and goes somewhere beyond MBV with it. It goes in a pop direction as opposed to going in a difficult critical listening direction most of the time, so you may end up listening to this and be all 'WTF, you are overanalyzing this, it is just some pop record.' Maybe. Just know that I really like it. The songs are also great acoustic, which you don't get here, but you should still be able to get from KEXP's live podcast rss feed. I was less than happy with them electric in person, which means I ended up feeling really divided about the album in the end. Still, when I started listeng to this album, I felt like if I could express physical love to an album, it would be this one. I even bought the shirt and everything.

http://feeds2.feedburner.com/kexp/liveperformances

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Vs. Children

This has a possibly M. Doughty/Stephen Merritt/Tuesday Weld quality to it. Your mileage may vary.

Blitzen Trapper - Furr

For me BT is like some meeting of the best qualities of the beardy sensitive music and the psychadelic/retro.

Josephine Foster - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, Hazel Eyes I Will Lead You

'Wolf' is more spooky and Germanic, and Hazel Eyes is more English folky like Vashti Bunyan. Her voice is similar to Judy Collins or Mia Doi Todd and not similar to Vashti. Foster sounds oldie timie in a really lovely way.

The Breeders - Fate to Fatal (EP)

Probably my favorite Deal sisters thing for a long while. My old favorites were nearly always the demo tracks versions. This is more like the old demo tracks than the Last Splash finished versions. This is fantastically hazy and rough, everything I ever wanted in the old days, when the production was cleaner sounding. I wish this was longer.

Skip Spence - Oar

People SAY he is the American Syd Barrett, but this sounds more like Rodriguez or Lee Hazlewood to me. Would recommend to fans of Barrett or the BJM.

School of Seven Bells - My Cabal, Half Asleep, Face to Face on High Places (singles)

The remix B sides are to be avoided. The original B sides are alright. Except for Caldo they are not as good as the album material.

Black Night Crash - Array

This is derivative of a lot of bands that are derivative of Spacemen 3. That's not neccessarily a bad thing though. This is like This Picture's 'A Violent Impression' was for me in the 90s-- an encapsulation of everything I like, but nothing really original. Anyway, most of the album is pretty good, and 'Losing Kind' is GREAT.

On! Air! Library! - s/t

The album that the twins from School of Seven Bells were in, in the before time. This is supposedly experimental, but really comes off as more eclectic (meaning it lacks transitions/stylistic coherence, and not the awesome kind of 'Wow, Klezmer beatboxing! Neat!' eclectic.) There are some good songs interspersed, mostly the ones focused on vocals.

Oneida - The Wedding

Eclectic, in a good way. Lots of styles, and not unsuccessful in any of them. How do I talk about that?

Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs

I know the people love the Death Cab, but what I'll say here is that there's nothing wrong with this album, except that I can't stand the vocals, which means I basically never want to listen to it again.

Joss Stone - Introducing Joss Stone

You can cap on me or whatever, but the Joss has a great voice, and that's all I need. This is not emotional, it is just SMOOOOOOTH and beautiful retro soul/r&B.

Outkast - Idlewild

This has a great relaxing but energetic beat.

Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope

I really liked Fidelity, but honestly I hate the way her voice is recorded on this album so much that I can't comment on the material. I will be running back to the safety of Feist and the McLachlin's Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.

The Halo Benders - God Don't Make No Junk

It's hard to sell people on Calvin (Beat Happening, Halo Benders, Dub Narcotic Sound System.) You either love or hate his voice with the intensity of 1000 suns. Or have no idea that he exists. Me, I love Calvin. Halo Benders is probably the most accessible of his bands. This has all the great danceable songs, off key singing, ridiculous lyrics, and countermelodies of Doug (Build to Spill) and Calvin singing totally different things at the same time with their completely opposite voices that you remember. Or have never heard of. This one has 'Big Rock Candy Mountain' on it.

Jenny Owen Youngs - Transmitter Failiure

This is less jaded sounding and more like the first Joan as Policewoman album than it is like the first JOY album.

White Rabbit - It's Frightening

I know it's a totally separate band from Spoon, and Britt Daniel produced it and isn't really in the band, but if you put a blindfold on me and made me listen to it I would swear up and down it was a Spoon album. That's not neccessarily a bad thing.

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca

Combination of influences including Deerhoof, Vampire Weekend, Jeff Buckley. For all the Vampire Weekend haters (you know who you are WILLIE RANDOLPH) this just means it is African influenced and weird and singer songwritery so you might still want to check it out.

Metric - Fantasies

People say '80s.' This actually sounds a fair bit like the last Delgados album. I'm not sure why they picked Help I'm Alive as a single. IMHO it's the weakest track on the record. Not loving the production and unsure on the songs. MEH on this vs. either of the other two Metric albums that I have, and double MEH vs. the solo Emily Haines record. I don't like Broken Social Scene so don't ask.

NOMO - Invisible Cities

This one is more like New Tones and less lo fi than Ghost Rock is.

John Kongos - Kongos

This is an encapsulation of all the things I like from the 70s... dig the T Rexy goodness of the original version of Step On!

Amadou et Miriam - Welcome to Mali

The autotune on Sabali is actually well used and (gulp) SUBTLE. Thanks Damon Albarn!

PJ Harvey & John Parish - A Woman A Man Walked By

More in the vein of Louse Point. Parish writes for the pair, but has worked with PJ for years, so it's not really jarring to me. It is on the more Yoko side of her work, as is Louse Point.

Bonnie Prince Billy and Cheyenne Mize - Among the Gold

Standards/traditionals. Mize's voice is beautiful, and the duo is well matched vocally.

Louisville is for Lovers 2009 - various

I got this for Bonnie Prince Billy/Cheyenne Mize's transgender duet 'The Girl In Me' but this is a good compilation, and a great ad for Louisville music overall.

Espers - The Weed Tree

Covers, esp. nice folky version of Nico's 'Afraid.'

Glenn Gould - Bach: Goldberg Variations (1955 Version) - Expanded Edition

My best friend's mom had this when I was 12 or 13, and I used to listen to it a fair bit. RIYL classical piano music at all.

St.Vincent - Actor Out of Work

Annie Clark of the Polyphonic Spree's second solo album. Well produced, but I have heard at least one person say that she's holding back vocally to make this sound balanced. WHICH IS TRUE. But everything is really well put together. One day, I have faith she will put out an album with her full voice and great production. I really like this one a lot.

Micachu and the Shapes - Jewellery

The way Bob Boilen (All Songs Considered) talked about Micachu, I was convinced it would be avant garde and just sound like noise or something, but it's really a lot more like Deerhoof (though I'm not quite sure either is 'easy' to listen to for most people) -- off kilter, but always danceable. Also fun live.

Optiganally Yours - Exclusively Talentmaker!

More pop/analog sampling... this time using the Talentmaker and Orchestron, not the Optigan.

Spoon - Got Nuffin (single or EP)

I think I like this better than the last album.

Stars of the Lid - Avec Laudenum

More great ambient/post rock. Stars of the Lid is my goto music for when I am asleep. Or meditating.

Plasticines - LP1

This is a cross between French pop and girl garage bands (the Donnas, Sahara Hotnights, Botswanas).

Marianne Dissard - L'entredeaux

Great French singer songwriter. More 'world weary' than 'off key ingenue.' Co-written by one of the guys from Calexico.

The Stone Roses - Second Coming

More of a Primal Scream/stoner influence than their first album. I like this A LOT, but I don't think it's popular. In places sounds a lot like BRMC.

Airborne Toxic Event - s/t

I like the music, but am not totally sure about the vocals.

The Dead Weather - Horehound

Some great songs. As an album, not consistently great. May end up well liked by people who wish the Raconteurs were more 'rock.' Note that I am also really NOT INTO the Kills/Alison Mosshart's vocals AT ALL.

BRMC - Baby 81, Howl Sessions Vol. 1, Howl Sessions Vol. 2

I keep trying to explain to the people: They are a rock band. They are great touring. Buy their stuff. Howl is my favorite album of theirs, worth getting both vols. of bonus Howl tracks if you liked it at all. Baby 81 I don't like quite as well as the s/t. But it's all good.

Carole King - Tapestry

CLASSIC. There are at least 3 all time top classic lady singer songwriter great songs on here. Also you can tell the production is perfect even on crappy PC laptop speakers. My favorites of hers are from the Goffin King years, but this is wonderful too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_King#Hits_by_Goffin_and_King

ELO - A New World Record

This is the one with Telephone Line (my all time favorite ELO song), Rockaria!, Livin' Thing, So Fine, Do Ya. Personally, I think Jeff Lynne has the perfect male pop voice.

Ratatat - Ratatat, Classics

Ratatat, for me, goes right where the MGMT goes wrong. That's just a personal thing. There's a song on Classics that reminds me of Chaz Jankel's Number One.... (I had never heard of it either, but it's in a montage in Real Genius.)

The Clash - London Calling

All time classic album. REBUY.

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - Fruit

Scandinavian pop. The vocals are like Tegan and Sara on steroids or possibly nitrous. Funnily I don't like T&S at all.

The Vaselines - Enter the Vaselines

This is 'The Way of the Vaselines,' (which I already have) remastered, with extra mixes and extra tracks. This is preferable if you don't have either.

Jim Noir - s/t, Tower of Love

Noir is some cross between Brian Wilson and English retro psychadelic pop. Of the two, the s/t is better.

Andy Votel Presents Brazilika

This is the kind of set I wish DJs really played in person. By which I mean, I didn't know any of this beforehand and it's all GOOD. Psychadelic Brazilian 60s/70s rock. There's also some sort of shibuya kei vibe here.

Wizzzz French Psychorama 1966-1970 Volume 2

I really got this for Chorus Reverendus' Dans Son Euphorie, which is like some sort of gorgeous French psychadelic Mamas and Papas track. It's a lot like the In Kraut Vol. 2... wacky, odd, psychadelic European stuff.

The Pretenders - The Singles

After I saw them live I said to myself, there are A LOT of hits by the Pretenders. There are a lot of tracks here. There's no filler. And the singing is pretty great. And the production is probably the BEST AND MOST ACCURATE TRANSLATION OF A SINGER'S VOICE to recording I have heard in all of rock. Chrissie Hynde's voice is exactly like that live. Just in case you're wondering My City was Gone isn't on here since it is officially a B side. That has got to be the only song of theirs that just bores me to death, musically. Lyrically, as a midwesterner, having grown up and watched the Chicago suburbs take over more and more of the state and creep ever further down in this big undifferentiated mass.... I totally get it. 100%. Good lyrics Chrissie.

Moon Safari (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

This is sort of a rebuy, and also a rerelease with a second disc. I lost my original copy and never ever found it. The second disc is mostly worth it for the live, rock backed versions of Kelly Watch the Stars and J'ai Dormi Sous L'Eau, and the demos are also nice. The rest of the second disc...eh. Nothing compared to the finished album. Air is probably the most underrated band of the 90s. MARK MY WORDS. This album sounded great 10 years ago, and it sounds just as great now. I feel that the Bangles were possibly the most underrated and least seriously taken band in the 80s. You hear a lot more about the Go Gos now, but GODDAMNIT, the Bangles had FOUR GOOD SONGWRITERS. HOFFS GOT ALL THE SINGLES. I like her, but that is a crying shame.

Blitzen Trapper - Field Rexx

I am not as much on the cusp of falling in love with this as I did with Furr. But it's all good.

Polvo - In Prism

I am not sure how I wasn't listening to Polvo in the 90s. I mean, I was sort of, but only in an offhanded compilationy way. Very good.

The Beatles - Let It Be... Naked

The reviews of this (on amazon at least) are pretty negative, but not having Anthology 3 or 'experienced the hype' or whatever, I kind of like this. KEEP IN MIND however, that I really spent the bulk of my time listening to The White Album, Sgt. Pepper, and Yellow Submarine and really did not spend a lot of time with Let it Be, or even Abbey Road.

The Flaming Lips - Embryonic

This album is great. And when I say great, I mean classic, for all times. I MEAN IT. Gemini Syringes is my favorite.

The Raveonettes - In and Out of Control

This is like an upbeat Julee Cruise pop/rock record.

Laura Gibson - Beasts of Seasons

I am not in love with the Decemberists, but I do like Tucker Martine's production. This is sort of in that Cat Powery vein AGAIN. Are you surprised? I'm not.

Macbeth the Great - Buy Me a Zeppelin

I fell in love with this at the library in my tiny town when I was 10 years old. GUYS GUYS GUYS. Buy me a Zeppelin is a great song, and this album is good too. It's calypso.

Deerhoof - Offend Maggie

Guys, HOW THE FUCK DID I NOT FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS BAND UNTIL NOW? Seriously. This is like the perfect replacement for the specific place that Sonic Youth used to have in my brain. And directly next to it is the place that loves Micachu.

Lou Barlow - Goodnight Unknown

I think I could be on the verge of having a Lou Barlow renaissance at my house. Yes, I know I'm a girl, and I know that's weird. BREAK OUT THE FOLK IMPLOSION ALBUMS.

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (mono remaster)

This is SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT than the stereo version, which is what I grew up with.

APSE - Spirit

Post rock? Brooding. Psychadelic-ish.

Halo Benders - Don't Tell Me Now

This is the roughest of the Halo Benders albums. I mean, if you like them get them all, and you'll be happy with this one too, but I like the other two better.

Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (Legacy Edition)

Re buy. Extra tracks though.

Pixies - Doolittle 20th Anniversary Live Sampler

From 10.16.09 in Paris, apparently. Good stuff. Also free.

Music from the Motion Picture Stranger than Fiction

Britt Daniel was in charge of this, so there is a fair proportion of Britt/Spoon tracks, plus some other nice stuff, like Wreckless Eric and the Jam.

Pixies - Live at the Hult Center 11.14.09

AH MEMORIES. This is the show I went to, kindly sold to me by the band. EVERY BAND I LIKE SHOULD DO THIS. Thanks.

Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3

Good. You can tell I'm not hardcore though because I need it wrapped up in hooks.

The Natural Yogurt Band - Away with Melancholy

This is somewhere in the realm of Greyboy, Lemon Jelly, Nobody, Tim Love Lee, Tipsy.

Judee Sill - Live in London - The BBC Recordings

This is Laurel Canyon style Bach influenced religious 'pop' songs with the perfectionism of Richard Carpenter and the doomed beauty of Karen Carpenter (FIGURATIVELY ON THE CARPENTERS, literally on everything else) from a woman who learned the organ in reform school. This is fucking beautiful.

Colleen et les Boites a Musique - s/t

This is the Colleen album (EP?) that is all music boxes. This album is like a cross between the most delicate parts of Four Tet and Bjork. All of the albums are lovely. Some of them are more orchestral and some are more post rock. They are all the kind of electronic albums that don't sound electronic.

Silverchair - Young Modern

Something happened when I wasn't looking. Silverchair went from being a not that interesting but musically sound grungy 90s band to being really flipping good pop band? This album makes it sound like they have the best record collection ever. Pleasantly surprised.

Rhythms of Change - Portland Taiko

HEY I KNOW THEM. Good. Very tonal compared to a lot of drumming stuff I have. They make me smile when I see them play every time.

Kate Bush - The Sensual World

Rebuy. I always went for this over Enya or Tori.

Choir of Young Believers - This is for the White in Your Eyes

I was trying to figure this out... this album doesn't sound recent AT ALL. It's got some sort of soaring Scandinavian thing, copious reverb. If I was forced to say anything, it's kind of like a more emo Andrew Bird, only just vaguely like Tears for Fears. Hard to peg. I like this. But I'm not in love with it.

Kenny Endo - Hibiki

I bought this from Kenny at a taiko workshop. The man is inspiring and amazing. Sincerely.

Ane Brun - Sketches

This is the demos/acoustic version of Changing of the Seasons. ESSENTIALLY. There are two bonus tracks (that I know of) on Seasons that aren't on here (one of which I don't have), and there are two bonus songs on Sketches that aren't on Seasons. I think I prefer this to Seasons because it is stripped down and thus even more intimate sounding, and for her singing style that works... her voice is, I think, a good deal like Dolly Parton though this is not country music. My FAVORITE song of hers is a cover of Alphaville's Big in Japan, and that isn't on here or Changing of the Seasons.

Brigitte Bardot - Best of BB

Of the women associated with Serge musically, Brigitte, no disrespect, is not really up there. HOWEVER, that's not to say this is bad. If you're already listening to yeye, you'll probably like this. Though if you do, you will already have the best tracks, which are, of course, the tracks with Serge.

The Flaming Lips - Dark Side of the Moon

I have as of yet to form an opinion of this.

Lee Hazlewood and Ann-Margaret - The Cowboy & The Lady

Something about the production and Ann-Margret's voice makes this seem more country than the other Lee Hazlewood albums I own. I feel like the songs are good, but I am not really interested in most of the Ann-Margaret heavy super country sounding songs. I'm here for the LEE. The bonus songs (the last four on the reissue) are very much worth the purchase, and are the best on the record. Overall I'd go for the first Nancy Sinatra / Lee Hazlewood record over this, though I am not sorry to have it. And if you don't know Lee, start with 13.

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:28:29 GMT

Nymphomation by Jeff Noon

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Nymphomation is a story about lottery fever in Manchester. It's a scifi/mathfi thriller about math majors, gambling, MUDs, computers, mazes, genetics, greed, and luck. The writing style owes something to cyberpunk, but a lot more to Anthony Burgess/A Clockwork Orange. 100% unassailably British. You will either love or hate the writing style. Whether the substance is fulfilling is something that will depend on your personal taste. If you enjoyed Vurt, you will probably enjoy this one. I thought it was a fun read, but in no way was it deep. I found the ending deeply unsatisfying. Also worth noting, for something starting with 'Nympho' this book doesn't really have an awful lot of sex scenes in it.

View all my reviews >>

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 06:42:23 GMT

Circle socks

Pattern by Anne Campbell
Needle US 1 / 2.25 mm Yarn
2 skeins Schachenmayr nomotta Regia Color 4-ply /4-fädig, color 5166

Easy pattern. Stripe pattern of the yarn is about 8 rows, pattern stitch is 10 rows.

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:34:28 GMT

Just so you know, the annual thing where I comment on the music I got during the year is in the works. This year I am definitely well over 100 albums. If you are unfamiliar with it, I will do a sentence or sometimes a paragraph and sometimes a rant for each one. BE AFRAID. Seriously, I love talking about that stuff.

Also I love this song. I don't know why it took me forever to warm up to this album.

Also I will be posting... again... today. THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:24:33 GMT

Pattern: Bellatrix by Monkey Toes
Yarn: Abstract Fibers SuperSock (City of Roses)
Needle: US 1

The dropped stitch pattern is easy enough, but I wasn't paying attention and spaced the pattern rows differently on each sock. The yarn was a custom color for Sock Summit. Would recommend this pattern for short length variegateds (anything that would look good in feather and fan.)

Pattern: Infinity Wrap by Kristin Omdahl
Yarns: Noro Kureyon (color 31) and Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool (natural)
Hook: H

Swatching. I like the pattern, but this is not the color combo I want. This is a pattern suited to long length variegateds.

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:29:36 GMT

Until such time as someone jams music down my throat... I will continue providing that as a service to others.

I would also accept a link to an active full album mp3 blog as good as gyeeker.
http://gyeeker.blogspot.com/

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:48:55 GMT

I am getting rid of a clothes rack on wheels. It's not fancy. If you want it let me know. FREE!

I think the Buddhist house cleaning thing is starting again.

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:49:20 GMT

The Education of a Very Young Madam by Ma-Ling Lee

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ma-Ling Lee's memoir from her early life as a black market Korean orphan, her early years as a runaway, starting her first brothel at the tender age of 16, and subsequently running a successful brothel in New Jersey. Mostly this is about her road to being a madame, including a string of abusive boyfriends. Typical passages there would include things like 'I was really in love with him' and then paragraphs or pages later, the guy would be stalking her/screwing her over/beating her/having sex with her BFF in front of her/stealing her money. The most interesting portions of the book are about the business of running an illegal business. It also includes the handbook that she handed out to employees. THAT STUFF IS PRICELESS. A real page turner, but I doubt I would read this twice. Very quick read.

Not pornographic overall, but prurient in places, and definitely too much sex and drug use for the kids. On the other hand, this does NOT come off as a great life. Sure there's cash, but people end up dead, nobody seems happy, and very few people get away from 'the life' unscathed. It is also abundantly clear that the author doesn't like either prostitutes or johns as people. She likes business. And cash.

There's definitely echoes of 'The Great Happiness Space' in the author's emotional life. ( Documentary about Japanese host clubs: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493420/plot... )

Also I have to wonder:

A. If there is sexual abuse in her history that she's glossing over.
B. HOW MUCH OF THIS IS REAL? I am dubious. Some of it? All of it? None of it?

Worth noting this is available for about a penny from Amazon.

View all my reviews >>

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:26:22 GMT

Happy Birthday or Whatever: Track Suits, Kim Chee, and Other Family Disasters by Annie Choi

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Essays about Annie Choi's life growing up in a loving but dysfunctional Korean American family. This is not a bad book. As memoirs go, it isn't a great one either.

The funny parts are not as funny as Shalom Auslander's Foreskin's Lament. The quality and selection of the funny/neurotic parts varies too much. The family stuff isn't as deep as Amy Tan. When you put it up against something like Angela's Ashes that has both in spades? It comes up sorely lacking. Granted, I don't think Choi set out to make this deep, just funny and thoughtful.

I feel bad about saying it because this is the author's life, and I feel like if we met, I would like her. She has the kind of bold personality that I look for in a friend, and she's clearly OK with making fun of her own more embarrassing moments and just being herself.

All of that being said, I did enjoy the book, and laughed more than once. I don't regret reading it. I don't think I would reread it though.

View all my reviews >>

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:57:09 GMT

There are (at least) two things worth mentioning that are going on when I'm out of town:

Oct 17 Orphee/La Belle et la Bete, NW Film Center
Oct 23/24 Blitzen Trapper, Doug Fir

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:30:39 GMT

The Joy of Mixology: The Consummate Guide to the Bartender's Craft by Gary Regan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Thoughtfully written cocktail book that divides drinks into related families, giving the reader a framework to create new drinks. History of mixed drinks, Prohibition, and instruction/description on barware, glassware, garnishing, and drink recipes.

The most useful section of the book is the chart of drink families. The families give you a structure to make drinks that aren't in this book or any book. I also found the section on Prohibition to be evocative. I knew about how booze made its way into the country and was how it was made in the country at the time, but not really how people drank it.

There is no attempt to index the drinks by primary or secondary ingredients. If you look at the charts, it's not a problem to find a drink by spirit (gin, vodka, etc.) If you know one of the secondary ingredients but not the name of a drink or if you want to know how other people have combined a secondary ingredient? FORGET IT. You just have to flip through the book. You can use the internet to get around most of that, but really, there's no reason this couldn't have a better index.

It would be nice to have a secondary grouping of drinks by flavor (drinks that are fruity, drinks that are savory, drinks that are nutty, etc.) I could enjoy drinking 'international sours' for a long time, but sometimes I just want something LEMONY. I want to know how to make something new, but I also want to be able to see what is already there. You can't neccessarily do that quickly with the book. Depending on what you are looking for, sometimes the families of drinks will help you find a drink, and sometimes not.

The book also does not teach you how to think about how and why drinks go horribly wrong and how they can be fixed or adjusted (which could be taught.) That is not something that has to be in the book, and I will not fault it for that.

So to recap... the focus is how to MAKE your own drink, but not to neccessarily FIND an existing drink. I would recommend the book. But I hope it will be released someday in digital format or rereleased with a better index.

View all my reviews >>

Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:46:59 GMT

If you don't know about NPR's first listens, you probably should. I always space out about it until I listen to All Songs podcasts, and by then it is generally way too late to take advantage of it.

Until Tuesday there are upcoming Lou Barlow, Roseanne Cash, and Noah and the Whale albums. After that, you get the new Flaming Lips.

I like music, if you didn't know. Enough so that I think I need multiple headphones, I have more than one on my Amazon wishlist that I think I need to get, and am wondering what other people like me do for headphone storage. THERE ARE HEADPHONES ON THE WAY RIGHT NOW ON A UPS TRUCK OR PLANE OR SOMETHING. I AM A NUT, OK?

Also advice on headphones is one of two areas where you should not trust dp. The other one is CHINESE FOOD.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98679384

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:26:40 GMT

It's a picture of someone taking a picture of a chinchilla at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. Chinchillas are so amazingly cute, not even I can resist them.

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:11:03 GMT

There are times when the word 'knitted hat' totally fails to describe the awesomeness involved.

Witness the following:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloudberry72/2924941863/in/set-72157605044253011/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloudberry72/3089673069/in/set-72157605044253011/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloudberry72/3233081901/in/set-72157605044253011/

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:39:01 GMT

I am probably going to go see this when it comes out. It is actually one of my favorite books. I think they should have let Ewan do the English accent. Because it's better than the American one here. Also the reporter who wrote this (Jon Ronson) is English.

The book has that fascinating, funny, and kind of creepy quality that a lot of This American Life episodes have. Also, it's all true. YOU CAN'T MAKE UP CRAP THIS GOOD. In any case, I will let you borrow the book if you want to, and I see you semiregularly. If not, get it from the library.

PS I'M FINE. Thanks for asking.

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:45:42 GMT

That was the LAST thing you were expecting from me.

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:25:56 GMT

Guimauve hat

I think I like this, but I'm not sure it's me. I'm not ready for the hippie beret. It's also too big despite the fact that it is knit to gauge? May be reknit later. I like this yarn. (Thanks C!)

Guimauve hat, pattern by Wooly Wormhead, from Going Straight, A New Generation of Knitted Hats. Knit on US#4 bamboo straights. Miner Creek Alpacas Prime Alpaca Fiber Variegated.
1 skeins / 250 yards in Gorge Sunset.

This is knit as written, but I prefer it inside out, which is how it is pictured. Yarn color changes over very short length (could be several times per row over a 4 in. by 4 in. swatch.)

I am VERY PLEASED with my purchase of the digital pattern book. The patterns are wonderful, and so are the sections on PCO (done non awkwardly) and grafting (going beyond stockinette.)

Bellatrix socks, partial

Bellatrix pattern by Monkey Toes. Knit on US1 bamboo dpns. Abstract Fiber SuperSock in City of Roses.

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:40:32 GMT

You didn't think I had a post backlog... but I do!

Cinematic Titanic - "Danger on Tiki Island" - Newmark Theater - 2009-05-30

The crew from MST3K - Joel (uh, Joel?), Trace (Dr. F, Crow), Mary Jo (Pearl), J. Elvis (Crow), and Frank (TV's FRANK!!!): warmup (standup), movie/riffing, and signing.

After forgetting it was the night of the Starlight Parade (ok, I admit, I never pay attention to when it is) we get to the venue late (no parking, even for the motorcycle), but in time for at least fifteen minutes of standup/warmup. J. Elvis being Steve Perry and us yelling at him to get off the stage (SUPER CATHARTIC), Frank's tv theme song for 'Convoluted Man'(funny), and Joel answering audience questions.

Following was the movie, which was a Phillipino B-movie horror thing with a frowsy wanton woman, 'virgin' sacrifices, screaming trees, and a dance sequence. Classic B movie, fantastic riffing. Like the time P and I went to see Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner (who btw did the 2000 year old man, among other things) expensive, but HILARIOUS AND ENTIRELY WORTH IT. Even though the seating at the Newmark is very 'where do I put my legs' and squirm inducing, even for me. I'm not tall.

If you did not go they have DVDs, which AFAIK, you can't rent from Netflix, but they are about $15 a piece from Cinematic Titanic. I would characterize the show and the two DVDs that we have as being around PG-13 material. You *could* take the kids, but don't be too surprised if there is a vibrator joke in there somewhere.

After this (and I think every show), the cast did a signing/meet and greet. I totally spazzed. I don't think I acted abnormal for a 'excited and happy to meet you fan' but normally I can come up with something semi intelligent, and my brain just shut down and made with the squealing glee. Anyway, our copy of 'The Wasp Woman' is signed by all of them. Also I got my copy of 'I Accuse my Parents' signed, which apparently at least MOST of them wrote on.

ALSO FRANK'S HAIR IS BEAUTIFUL. JUST LIKE I THOUGHT.

https://cinematictitanic.twinvision.com/products/
http://www.cinematictitanic.com/showguide.php?showname=Danger_on_Tiki_Island

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:36:36 GMT

That's crying out to be ringtone'd or sampled. Probably the 2nd or 3rd coolest theme song after

which was a Canadian game show theme

or

From Cowboy Bebop (the best anime EVAR!)

D. told me my personal theme is 'Hot Freaks' by GBV, about 15 years or so ago. I think that's because I'm kind of cool, but I kind of don't make sense.

I spent a bunch of my day trying to export playlists and track down music produced by Germinal Tenas...

The following isn't by Tenas

The amazing surf-type guitar... I want to wake up to that... it's 'sampled' from a song called In the Past by We the People.

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 21:33:29 GMT

DUNGEN NEXT WEEK (TUESDAY) AT BERBATI'S PAN. I WILL NOT MISS IT.

Today, Cat Power at Edgefield. Almost too tired... almost.

kthxbye

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:10:21 GMT

Seen today on Glisan near the 205/84 entrance: two lady bikers, one with the OR license plate THELMA and the other with LOUISE. Though it was not exact, it was in license plate-eze. I wish I had taken a picture. I will if I see them again.

casadetodd, if you see them first, take a picture of them for me.

Also, both weekend shows:
Oct 2 Datarock at Holocene with my friends. The only reason I wouldn't go is if I decide I don't like them by October. (I am more in the 'I barely know them' phase.)

Oct 23 and Oct 24 Blitzen Trapper at Doug Fir. I can't tell you how proud I am of Erik M., but I can tell you I don't see his band enough. Probably I will only go to one of two nights.

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 04:35:35 GMT

For iconoclastastic-

There is a short but wonderful acoustic live set from the Vaselines at the KEXP live podcast. It has Rory and all three songs that were covered by Nirvana.

Streaming here http://www.kexp.org/live/liveperformance.aspx?rID=29734
mp3 here http://feeds.kexp.org/kexp/liveperformances?format=xml (control f is your friend)

For willie_randolph-

Petra Haden does a really excellent cover of Journey's Don't Stop Believin' which you can find amongst other good things (such as Jenny Owen Youngs' version of Hot in Herre, which I was totally obsessed with for a while) in an episode of the podcast Coverville linked below. I know it must be excellent because normally I hate arranged acapella music. With a white hot rage. I am sure it is probably elsewhere on the internet as well.

http://www.coverville.com/archives/2007/12/coverville_405_1.html

For the rest of you, I don't know if you know this, but traditionally I do my laundry on Friday, and I sing 'It's Friday night, it's laundry night, oh what a night' to myself EVERY TIME. I know you are fascinated.

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:11:21 GMT

Also I forgot to mention:
Pretenders, Cat Power, Juliette Lewis, Edgefield, Aug. 25
Pixies (Doolittle live) Holt Center, Eugene, Nov. 14

I will actually be buying tickets when I get paid. I am sure we will have two extra seats in the car for the Pixies.

Also, wasp spray: neurotoxin, cheaper than pepper spray. Better range. Also good for killing non wasp insects from far away.