i am about to meet this guy in a few minutes named Matt. I met Matt on mortigi tempo and he will hopefully be traveling with me to florida and back for the shows in a few weeks. Luckily he lives near me so we planned to meet up to talk about the trip and to figure out if we would be good travel partners. We have exchanged so many emails and it turns out we both work in the same field and have similar interests. This should make for interesting conversation on our long drives. I am a little nervous though since he is essentially a stranger, but then i remember that is how i met my best friend john. He and i met in florida at a tori amos show after only chatting online and talking on the phone. That was 7 years ago. So I hope today goes well and that we will travel well together. Wish me luck!-m
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read some stuff on the interweb this morning - as usual when i'm supposed to be getting some work done :o( - about the spooky connection In Rainbows seems to have to the number 10. i went to http://puddlegum.net/radiohead-1010101010 and left me own twopenneth... i'm repeating it here for purely egotistical shameless self-promotional purposes natch...this is in connection with various observations about a seeming obsession with the number 10 harboured by Oxford's favourite sons [certainly in my house anyway]"just to add a little more numerological bollocks to the mix… someone up there noted [correctly] that ‘rainbows’ adds up to 101. in binary, 101 = 5 ie 1×4 + 1×1. the word ‘in’ has a numerical value of 23 - i should have spotted that because i’ve been obsessed by this number ever since i first read William Burroughs at a terrifyingly formative age… 2+3 = 5. 5+5=10"in classic numerology, 10 is equated with god - the one. all the possible names of god in the jewish torah always add up to one. in A Love Supreme, the John Coltrane Quartet incant the words 19 times. 1+9=10, 1+0=1. When Coltrane’s mother realised this, she couldn’t stop crying, because she saw it as an auger that her son was about to meet his maker. he did 19 months later."if any of this means anything, especially if it means any members of Radiohead are about to carc it, i’ll be fookin gutted… :oP"
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I figure this is a good place to blog since no one will read this.Procrastination has taken a toll on my health and happiness. This paper I'm writing was due this morning. My professor is allowing me to turn it in via email. But it's past midnight now, and I still haven't written much. Why?1. I got off work at five.2. I went to buy postcards and to make sure the place where I buy booze hadn't been shut down, as my friend had claimed.3. I waited 10 minutes for the bus.4. I made chiggen.5. Watched Jeopardy.6. What happened after that? I don't remember. I was online for a while I guess. I fell asleep on the floor around 9:30 and started writing this paper at midnight.Man, it's the little things that get you down. Finishing this paper, and not writing this blog post, will make me feel better.I feel sick.
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Eliot famously (and beautifully) said that April is the cruellest month, but I've got some news for him (though he's long dead) -- this April, not so much.There are so many new releases this month, my little heart is all atwitter, and my head can't quite wrap around all the awesomeness that we've gotten. So I decided to give you a few highlights and most anticipated of this month's many amazing offerings. (If you want to check many of these bands out, check my playlist -- quite a few of these artists are there.)Highlighted releases:Foals: Antidotes. Mathrock never sounded so cool. No really, it didn't. These kids are quirky, in the best possible sense of the word. Their lyrics are brilliant, if a bit unconventional; their guitar is phenomenal, if a bit Bloc Party; their lack of choruses amazes me; their ability to subtly work French into the album makes me giggle; their uncanny tendency towards repetition which somehow doesn't bore me but does quite the opposite intrigues me. Oh yes, this album is sheer love.Los Campesinos!: Hold On Now, Youngster... . This is how you spell "HAHAHA I found the most adorably fun ridiculously unpretentious indie pop album ever!" And I'm pleased. Oh yes, I'm pleased. Maybe it's the bookslut in me loves the literary backbone to the lyrics (definitely). Maybe it's the fact that whenever this record is on, I literally have to dance (literally). Maybe it's the brilliance of this album and its intricacies and clevernesses that made me fall in love and keep on loving with every listen. Either way, I'm holding onto every word of this record.M83: Saturdays = Youth. This album is the prettiest album I've heard in ages, and functions beautifully as a true album. The layered textures remind me of MBV in a very, very good way -- I think this album is the heir apparent to MBV, as the prettiest textured shoegaze-esque album around. Kim & Jessie and Graveyard Girl stand out for me, but on the whole, it doesn't get much prettier than this.Clinic: DO IT!. It's funky. It's catchy as hell. It's quirky. It's utterly Clinic, and it's absolute love. I can't stop listening to this record. It's brilliant. There's nothing more to say.REM: Accelerate. Finally, an REM album that sounds like a bloody REM album! Seriously, though, Accelerate is a throwback to the days of rocky REM -- I daresay it's the best album they've made since New Adventures in Hi-Fi. With the exception of the closer (I'm Gonna DJ) which is abominably bad, it's a good solid album, and a glimpse into the awesomeness that REM apparently still has, buried beneath the last 10 years' muck.Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours. These guys make throwback so cool, I'm halfway tempted to sport some crazy 60s hair. Well... maybe not, but damn do Cut Copy make the 60s throwback sound cool. This is another album which works flawlessly as a true album -- the transitions are perfect and seamless, and there really aren't any weak points. There are some amazing high points, though: Lights and Music, So Haunted, Hearts on Fire, and Strangers in the Wind really stand out as brilliant tracks. Like any truly great album, it only gets better with every listen.Anticipated albums:Last Shadow Puppets: The Age of the Understatement. Alex Turner can do no wrong. Literally. His guitar is always catchy; his lyrics always phenomenal. The kid is a genius, and a riot, at that. I've been waiting on pins and needles for this album since I heard the title track. I'll give you a full report when the album leaks; till then, I have to content myself with listening to the single on repeat. And repeat. And repeat.Portishead: Third. There are no words. Literally. The wait was worth it. More than worth it. We're not worthy. Third, though, very much is. The Rip is absolutely gorgeous -- it might just be perfection, with a build that's absolutely astonishing. Nylon Smile, Small, and Hunter stand out for me as favourites, but really, there isn't a low point on the record. Beth has never sounded better. Don't believe me? Watch it live and tell me they're not on top of their game. I cannot wait to hold this album in my hands and marvel at it's brillancy.Echo and the Bunnymen: Works. I have loved Echo & the Bunnymen for ages... and am finally glad to see a decent remastering of their work, and a decent collection. Hence Works. As I haven't actually heard this yet, I can't attest to the quality; however, I can't wait to get my pretty little hands on it. Expect a full report.
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Posted by The Jen Smith on April 15, 2008 at 10:39pm
Ok, I am not going to 10 shows this tour. I am going to two. I am going to Ireland and floatind down the Liffey and I have pit tickets for San Diego!"Screw you guys. I'm going home!"The Jen Smith
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new and not so new, somewhat forgotten pop songs. every possible pop genre, from baroque and orchestral to britpop and dream pop, is included.1. Linda Scott - I've Told Every Little Star(1961, I've Told Every Little Star)2. Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why(2008, Fleet Foxes)3. John Phillips - April Anne(1970, John Phillips)4. Jean-Claude Vannier - Danse des mouches noires gardes du roi(1972, L'enfant assassin des mouches)5. Talk Talk - Hate(1982, The Party's Over)6. Lou Christie - Paper Song(1971, Paint America Love)7. Tindersticks - Traveling Light(1995, TIndersticks (II))8. Serge Gainsbourg - Bonnie and Clyde(1968, Initials B.B.)9. Piana - Early In The Summer(2005, Ephemeral)10. Scott Walker - Thanks For Chicago Mr. James(1970, Til The Band Comes In)11. Tocotronic - Verschwör dich gegen dich (2007, Kapitulation)12. Blur - Theme From An Imaginary Film(1994, Parklife (Single))13. Gene Clark - Echoes(1967, With the Gosdin Brothers)14. Love - Always See Your Face(1969, Four Sail)Read more…
Finally I got my tix yeii!.. I got lawn, but I least I got tickets! .. this is barely my second RH concert and after being 3 feet away from Thom last time, this time is going to be... traumatizing :Sif anyone of you guys are going to that show, we can meet there...
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This be a favorite leprechaun drinking song of mine. I said it be a favorite but I realized none among you would know it.It does speak of ungentlemanly things so fair madiens be warned as it may be too vulgar at times for thy tastes.When The Dogs Did Run from Me4 Leprechauns be in a bar drinking away their painand having fellowship at the end of their dayOne kept complaining to everyone who'd hearof the farmer's dog that did give him the fear.When getting the farmer's vegatables the dog was awareand this poor one complained it did bite his underwearHe sat right down and told this tale to the other 3who each in turn told their tales of when the dogs did run from me!Chorus:Though theres much greater and full of brawnthere be none braver than the wise leprechaunOur speed of thought escape even the sharpest of teethso raise your ale up high and get off your seatsinging la la la la hidey ho li!now sit back down drink and hear as another tells you whyThe first told the bitten one his tale of vicitoryhe went to steal vegatables when the farmer he did seeHe became much afeared as the dog did towards him ranthought himself a wise yet very foolish planHe pulled off his hat and pulled his coat over his headand instead of running away ran at the dog insteadThe dog did yipe and was a afraid as a monster he did seeand that be the day the dog did run away from merepeat chorusThe second leprechaun told them of the dayhe went to collect a wager but the farmer would not payHe let loose his wolflike beast but he did not fleesaying it will take more than this to scare a leprechaun like meThe dog did snarl but the leprechaun put out his armand the dog clamped down upon it like a lucky charmThe farmer thought of the leprechaun he now had no worryuntil the leprechaun kicked his dog in his goolyThe dog did run hurt having been kicked in its ballsand the farmer gave up the gold: "problem solved"the second leprechaun did say "thats how it worked for meon the day that the dog did run away from me"Repeat chorusThe third leprechaun said those be mighty talesbut I found a way with dogs that works and never failsI did drink much ale and from the farmer stole me a snackbut the farmer saw me take it and sent his dog on attackThe beast he did come growling and I did freezein my very boots I thought this would be the end of meThe dog nearly reached me with his shiny teethbut soon recoiled when on his face I took a mighty leakI did piss a stream upon it it ran and did screamthe day the dog did run away from meSing chorus yet a bit slower and ends with clapping and then it is free to all to speak of other ways to avoid dogs in their own poem form.There are many more ways told in lyric form as time goes on and more is added but I remember only fully clearly these three.I hope this gives you the merriment