art is the new religion

Worthy of our obsession: Okkervil

Worthy of our obsession: Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy.

Listen here. Better yet, buy here.

This album speaks to your inner Jeff Mangum. Literate, passionate, folk-rock-art. (Dave, you'll love this.)


Some lyrics from "So Come Back, I Am Waiting":

A black sheep boy dissolves in hot cream, in sweet moans, in each dead bed and empty home, in each seething bacterium. Killing softly and serial, he lifts his head, handsome, horned, magisterial. He's the smell of the moonlight wisteria. He’s the thrill of the abecedarian. (See the muddy hoofprints where he carried you?) ... So come back to your life on the lam. So come back to your old black sheep man. He says “I am waiting on hoof and on hand. I am waiting, all hated and damned. I am waiting - I snort and I stamp. I am waiting, you know that I am, calmly waiting to make you my lamb.”

Notable tour stops:
05/01 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room
05/06 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
05/20 San Francisco, CA - Slim's
05/21 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

~~~

Today's quote:

"Do not hurry; do not rest."

-- Goethe

Stream "The Beast and Dragon,

Stream "The Beast and Dragon, Adored" from Spoon's forthcoming Gimme Fiction. T minus 11 days and counting...I have to get a copy with the bonus 4-song disc. I can't remember the last time I counted down to an album's release date.

Radio.blog.club will let you stream music from your website. I really want to do this, but the instructions seem a little bit intimidating.

Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley rocked the Boston Film Festival, as usual. Read more about it on Cherry Coloured, Fungible Convictions, and Dykstranet.

In case you were wondering

In case you were wondering what to get me for my birthday, I would like one of these:

I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it's quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen. I'm talking about the tiny animal, not about the boy holding him. No offense to Blu, who I adore because he knows me well enough to send me photos like this.

Take a look at Blu's other camera photos, and click here to read about his funny & touching experience with the late great comedian Mitch Hedberg.

Something new to file under

Something new to file under the aggressively annoying category, along with Mark McGrath's flapping white choppers: Frickin' A.

I caught their video for "Jessie's Girl" on MTV's Fresh New Music show the other day, and had to rub my eyes in disbelief. It's not that I was transported back to 1981 when Rick Springfield's song topped the Billboard charts -- although, Frickin A's cover isn't much of a departure from the original. No, I just thought we were through with the intolerable trend of rock bands trying to achieve a number one hit with an ironic cover from the 80's. Weren't the successes of Limp Bizkit's cover of "Faith" and Alien Ant Farm's cover of "Smooth Criminal" enough? When was the last time anyone even said the phrase "frickin' A"???

My question to the members of Frickin' A -- is it really rewarding to top the charts with a rehash of someone else's hit song? I guess I'm applying my own values of original songwriting and creative innovation where they're really not welcome. Some people just want to rock in a band with no regard to artistic exploration or expression.

It's interesting to note that Frickin' A is the first and only band on an independent label to land a spot on a NOW! That's What I Call Music compilation. Um...positively groundbreaking. Rick Springfield thank$ you.

~~

In other news, my friend went to the doctor while on tour to find out that he has corneal ulcers. That means ulcers. On his corneas! Frickin' A! Sounds like something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. He said it wasn't so bad, except that he couldn't wear his glasses or contacts and therefore couldn't see very well. Beware the dangers of long-wearing contact lenses, people.

I wrote up part of

I wrote up part of my interview with Feist, which is the headline article in the Venus website's music section. Click here to read, please and thanks!

Inspired by my friend's suggestion that ties are sexy on women (hi you), I decided to wear one on Saturday night to Bottom of the Hill. I was taught to tie a tie by my father when I was about 8 years old, so my skills were understandably rusty. Tim had to step in and fix it for me, at which point he became inspired to wear a tie on stage. Instead of grabbing one from his suitcase like he said he would, the next thing I know he's stolen Craig D's tie, as well as the shirt off his back. Craig ended up with Tim's wrinkly plaid shirt here, but it was a noble sacrifice for the rock fans.

Last night I took my

Last night I took my friend who's in town to the Opera Plaza Cinema on Van Ness, which I've never been to before. We were shocked to see that there were a grand total of thirty seats in our theatre. THIRTY. The screen itself was only about twice as big as a large television. But once the lights went out, we got used to it.

We saw Dot the I starring the always toothsome Gael Garcia Bernal, the excellent James D'Arcy, and the stunning Natalia Verbeke. Aside from the beauty of the main actors and many of the shots in the film, I can't really recommend seeing it, unless you're a big fan of crazy plots. I wish the whole "Two Thumbs Up!" rigamarole came with a money-back guarantee. But Verbeke, she's amazing. She basically scowls and/or cries throughout the entire film, but she does it well, and you never get tired of looking at her.

Most of the soundtrack was really good as well. Here's a tracklisting:

.Doris Day - Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps
.Pink Martini - Sympathique
.Space Raiders - Beautiful Crazy
.Ozomatli - Super Bowl Sundae
.Doves - There Goes The Fear
.Bentley Rhythm Ace - T-Spot
.Carlos Jean - Mira Pa Dentro
.Idlewild - Out Of Routine
.David Danvers - Cross The T
.Rachid Taha - Barra Barra
.Lotte - Empty
.Tito Herido & Olayo Guiminez - Dot The I Flamenco Song
.Omar Faruk Tekbilek - Red Skies
.Aqualung - Just For A Moment
.Christian Basso - The Movement
.Iota - Gears
.DJ Shadow - Blood On The Motorway
.Fun Lovin' Criminals - Fun Lovin Criminals

I think "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" is my new favorite song of all time.

Read my brief interview with

Read my brief interview with the singer of Electric Six on SFist here. And if you're in San Francisco, go see them tomorrow night. Thanks to my good man Mr. "Dequindre" for the hookup.

At last night's Chillin event,

At last night's Chillin event, a nice stranger came up to me weilding this sign. It said "You are beautiful! And so much more." He wanted me to pin it to his shirt. The little sign was so cheesy, but he was too genuine and cheerful to be annoying. I dug around and found a straight pin, and wished him luck with his pick-up line. He balked at my assumption, so I called it an icebreaker instead, and sent him back into the crowded venue to spread his message. It was interesting participating in a sample sale at night at a crowded club with people drinking, dancing and chatting you up. There are never that many men at a normal fashion event.

It was a lot of fun but exhausting. As the long day (two sample sales back-to-back) and night drew towards a close, my friends appeared out of the clear black night! Xavi, who has been gone a long time, is back and we took it as a good reason to celebrate.

Pick up the current issue

Pick up the current issue of Bitch Magazine to read my reviews of Client's City and Esthero's We R In Need of a Musical Revolution EP. Actual hold-it-in-your-hands, ink-on-paper style.

Sometimes I fantasize about moving to a small town, but living in the city has its advantages, not the least of which is the fact that sooner or later most of your friends come to visit, whether they're on tour, on a business trip or on vacation. Plus, the weather is just too perfect today; I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. And in a big city, it's easy to disappear completely.

I need to get back to work. If you have a copy of Kid A nearby, throw it on, and climb into spring:

"Eyesight" by A.R. Ammons It was May before my attention came to spring and

my word I said
to the southern slopes
I've

missed it, it
came and went before
I got right to see:

don't worry, said the mountain,
try the later northern slopes
or if

you can climb, climb
into spring: but
said the mountain

it's not that way
with all things, some
that go are gone

One of my fellow -ists,

One of my fellow -ists, Jen from Gothamist, is buzzing about The National. I saw the first song of The National's afternoon set for WOXY at SXSW and was enthralled. My dear friend Brandon, who I only get to see once a year, knew one of the sets of brothers in the band (there are two sets) and encouraged me to stay. I would have stayed, but I promised a friend I'd see his band's show so I dutifully left.

Jen posted a link to this player where you can preview their record Alligator, which I listened to yesterday. I'm having an unusual reaction to it. I'm officialy on the fence. Part of it is brilliant, and speaks to me in a way that favorites like Criteria and Shiner know how to do. But part of it irks the crap out of me -- maybe it's some of the lyrics, or the way he sings them, can't put my finger on it yet. So far the like and dislike are head to head -- I don't know what will win out. Frustrating.

I am happy to report that South San Gabriel's new record The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation's Through is gorgeous. It's one of those records that can take you somewhere if you give it your full attention. I haven't focused in on the cat-centric lyrics yet, but I've decided that whatever inspires Will Johnson to make music is OK by me.

The Dark of Garage mp3
I Am Six Pounds of Dynamite mp3