That Song Survey


You know, 'which song reminds you of...?' Here's one that recently hit my in box, with my responses. Give it a try - answers are considered subject to daily change, so we won't hold you too accountable for your choices...

Reminds you of an ex-friend: Empty Sky - Bruce Springsteen
(the term 'ex-friend' is open to interpretation)

Reminds you of your childhood: I've Been Lonely Too Long - The Young Rascals

Makes you cry: Free As A Bird - The Threetles

Makes you laugh: It's Been A Great 3 or 4 Years - My Morning Jacket

Makes you wanna dance: Sylvie - St. Etienne

Reminds you of the one you want: Hearts On Fire - Gram Parsons & Emmy Lou Harris

Reminds you of an ex-love: Tiny Dancer- Elton John
(I have to go pretty far back in time to get to the ex-loves!)

Makes you very, very sleepy: Through The Hill - Andy Partridge

You wish you wrote: Reckless Burning - Jesse Sykes

You wish had been written for you: I Feel So Smoochie - Mavis Rivers

Fills you with complete joy: I Hate Hate - Cornelius

You never want to hear again: Candle in the Wind - Elton John

You want to get married to: Love - John Lennon
(I'll settle for a renewing vows ceremony)

You want played at your funeral: Why Me - Kris Kristofferson

Makes you want to mosh/slam dance: Rape Me - Nirvana

Sums up your teenage years: Something In The Air - Thunderclap Newman

You used to hate but now love: I'm been stuck on this one!

You like to wake up to: New Morning - Bob Dylan

You like out of your parents record collection: South Pacific s/t

Your parents like out of your collection: Probably the John Denver tribute cd - Take Me Home

You love that you wouldn't know about if it wasn't for a friend: Wild Life- Papas Fritas

You think of someone who died: Hear Me Lord - George Harrison

You love the video more than the tune: A Little Less Conversation - Elvis vs JXL

Reminds you of your first crush: Different Drum - Stone Ponies

You love which is from one of your favourite movies: Serenade For Winds - Mozart (fr. Amadeus)

Makes you think of the moon: Blue Glasses - Smokey & Miho

Makes you think of sex: Miss Riddle - Boz Scaggs

Makes you think of being alone: anything from Red House Painters

You love to hear at clubs: dj cheb i sabbah (i prefer the chill rooms)

This site is so macho!

Motorcycles, Hot Lava, Elvis, er, another Elvis...
Need to work on...balance. Maybe too much testosterone.

So, how about something, for the laydeez?

Elvis vs. JXL


If you watched any of the World Cup, you're already familiar with "A Little Less Conversation, Elvis vs JXL" (a remix of a Presley song, by Junkie XL). I guess it's a commercial now (by Nike), so the song is rapidly becoming something else entirely. But, the video...that still stands. I like it. Want to see it?

Should I buy a Bonnie?


My buddy in blogness, Mikey today mentions VW is bringing back the Microbus. To which I say, okaaay....but what's really beehiving my hairdo is the news that Triumph is recreating the classic Bonneville! The motorcycle that nearly did in Bob Dylan.

I haven't mentioned this news to Deb yet, but I think I'm due for yet another mid-life (we don't use the word crisis...we prefer) indulgence. It's cheap too: only about 7K! And good for the environment. Anything else?

I don't wanna pickle,
jus wanna ride on my motorsickle.
and I don' wanna don' wanna tickle,
jus wanna ride on my motorsickle.
and I don' wanna die...
just wanna ride on my motor....
...cy
...kul
(good ol' arlo gutherie)

Hot Lava

Here's one of my real all-time favorite websites. I go back to it often & it rarely fails to make me go "oooooh."

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatories Kilauea Update page. One of nature's amazing displays of power and beauty - come out and see it with us sometime!

We love the big island! And now, here's the information section of this installment:

The Hawaiian islands owe their existence to a "hot spot" - a large stationary magma concentration in the mantle - that has changed location only slightly over the past 70 million years. This hot spot is now located beneath the southeastern part of Hawai`i. Let's just rename said 'hot spot' "Pele" and be done with it! Here's an interesting picture of the long trail of islands and marine seamounts created by Pele:

More on Pele's Sisters, the earth's hot spots:

A little bit more on Pele (full name: Pelehonuamea) herself (from a Kona Coffee site - the best coffee on the planet!!). And finally, a synopsis of the epic poem of Pele, Holo Mai Pele

Aloha nui loa,
deano

Revisiting Elvis Costello's "When I Was Cruel"

I've been taking flak from "some people" (ahem), due to my negative opinion of Elvis Costello latest 'comeback' album: When I Was Cruel. Je me tiens accusé of dismissing it "on principle." Whoah. Being principled is too close to being predictable, in my book. So I decided I'd better sit myself down and make another attempt to hear the album - as George Michaels said - without prejudice. And I did, last evening. Here's my revisitation review. I tried to be objective. Honestly! After all, I was, I am, a fan.

I think I know why I had an earlier problem with the CD. I was letting the stinky songs dominate my opinion. I couldn't hear anything else. And for sure, there are some huge dumps on this one: Soul For Hire, Spooky Girlfriend, the title song, My Little Blue Window and worst of all, Dissolve. They all suffer from a sense of EC trying too hard to live up to his Clever Songwriter Role. Either they're too fussy, too busy, or they're simply silly.

* Dissolve: Obvious lyrical metaphors. Very unbecoming. Is it a protest song? A breakup song? I see EC at his breakfast table, dropping a tablet of sugar into his cup and going 'oooh, dissolve...like dissolving relationships.' The dissonant repetitive chord thing is trite. The huffing on the harmonica sounds like something I would do at karaoke. Yikes all around.

* My LIttle Blue Window: The verse melody echoes earlier EC; Blue Chair, maybe. The chorus is an entirely another matter. Horrid. Lyrically, there's an implication that he is aware of his listening audience. How we wait to hear him spout poetry and wisdom (we do / we did). Perhaps there's also something about him confessing not being able to bring the tune-smithing like he used to. Is he asking someone to take over; pick up the baton? Or is he saying he's counting on us to help him let him know what he's doing wrong? Either way, it comes across as a voice from above, talking down to the unwashed, the unclever.

* Soul For Hire: Musically, an attempt at atypical instrumentation, sounds and time signature. But as with too many of the songs on the disc, the vocal dominates the mix. The music is too oppressed, by the words. But that's a secondary peeve. The primary is this songs' subject: jaded jurisprudence? Wha? Why? Eh?

* Spooky Girlfriend: Yuck. Hate it. Any wonder why Kate is 'Of The Antarctic?' Shane MacGowan's auto-bio has some interesting perspectives on ol' EC, the ladies man.

* When I Was Cruel: Like Soul For Hire, this is a passionless morality play. The music bores me and the lauded-in-the-press ('so modern, so Naughts') repetitive sample tells me rock critics need to listen to more of todays' musicians. They'd be amazed by the likes of Cornelius, Enon, DJ QBert, Dan The Automator, etc, etc.


OK, breathe. Don't get mad at me. Next up are some of the things I like about the album!


* 45: almost a showcase for why Bruce Thomas is no longer here. The song fade is the best part of this song.

* Dust 2... ....Dust: Cute titling, looks good on the jacket and liner notes. Musically, I think I prefer ...Dust, over Dust 2... Lyrically-speaking, it goes along really well until we hit the Juggernaut part. Loose that verse and it's the standout track(s) on the album. Also his vocals are more natural. He sounds best when he isn't wearing his 'I Am A Singer' hat.

* Daddy Can I Turn This?: Blood & Chocolate-esque, EC's guitar playing borrowed from electric Neil Young; both good things. I think I'd like it even more if the band became totally unhinged. Tear it up. But that middle eight about the flashing lights seems orphaned. Otherwise, no prob.


In the 'mixed reviews' category:


* Tart: I was really enjoying the lyrical visuals of fruit in spanish gutters, but EC vocals get sort of whacked on this one. Nieve's keyboards open it nicely, but he leaves the studio during the verses. A little piano intermezzo would be welcome. Throughout this record, EC seems hesitant to let the band help him carry the weight.

* Alibi: Clever lyrics, but musically, this sounds like a tiny snippet, an afterthought, from Brutal Youth. This one would be as interesting to me as a spoken word piece.

* 15 Petals: The drums, bass and keys get a nice percolating syncopation going. Then, then, EC adds...a horn arrangement. The bubbling becomes bumbling. It turns the streamlined silverliner into something like a runaway gypsy wagon. But the scene is a hollywood version - you see the rails beneath the wagon. The wagon isn't really out of control, kids. Don't worry, everyone will be safe, by commercial. Enough! Roy Nathanson is right there, playing on this; I'll bet this could have been another song entirely if a horn man was allowed to do his thing. Lyrically, my first thought was 'cheapskate!' She oughta leave the deadbeat. But I've misunderstood lots of EC's lyrics in the past, so maybe I am again.

* Tear Off Your Own Head: Like Tart, I was merrily enjoying the Revolver-esque ride, listening to nice womanly empowering sentiments, using puppets and dolls very suitably. So why does he have to dumb it down with "You could make somebody a pretty little wife, But don't let anybody tell you how to live your life." Sheesh, uh yeah, EC, we got the message. To answer his much-older question: no, you don't need to draw us a diagram.

* Episode of Blonde: Maybe more here than meets the eye. Which is risky business for me and I'm glad Mr. Costello can still make me feel slightly uncomfortable. However, it also might not be that dangerous and therefore it gets a mixed review placement. I know, I'm not being specific in my distaste..probably not fair...I'm far from perfect....

* Radio Silence: This should have been *The Song.* It's clearly echoing and updating the sentiments within the once monster 'Radio Radio.' Not only has radio died, it's not even human anymore. Why not another call to arms? EC, lead us to the walls of Jericho and a mighty horn we shall blow. But....oops, he forgot to bring it. His vocal is sing-songy and there's barely a melody here, let alone a marching anthem. Maybe that's the point - 'signal fading, listen to what I'm saying.' It's too late to rush the radio ramparts. Guess EC is already past the point of no return. Also, how much of the songs' sentiment is "Play Me" and not "Play Some Real Music." In Radio Radio, he was saying kinda the same double message; only then he was making real music. The two requests were interchangable. Interesting that now there seems to be a distinction. He says, 'From this distance, it's hard to tell the difference between a poet and a hack.' And the furthest distance is the one pointing inward....eh?


All in all, not a record I will listen to in the PM. Maybe in the morning, while I'm still trying to sort of what's going on with the day. There are no answers on 'Cruella,' but confusion is well served.
dmmm

"Beat Gecko" CD-r compilation offer

Here's a CD-r compiliation I just burned. I think it came out decent.
Write me if you'd like a copy.
It ends with a bunch of covers, so it has some singalongability.

1. KINKY - Ejercicio # 16
2. CORNERSHOP - The London Radar
3. ENON - Biofeedback
4. MATES OF STATE - Hoarding It For Home
5. FAUNA FLASH - Mother Nature
6. JAMES HARDWAY - Speak Softly
7. SMOKEY & MIHO - Blue Glasses
8. PETTY BOOKA - Bla Bla Bla Cha Cha Cha
9. GAULOISE - Gauloise
10. PRINCESS SUPERSTAR - Bad Babysitter
11. CORDUROY - Motorhead
12. I AM THE WORLD TRADE CENTER - The Postcard
13. CHATEAU FLIGHT - Lola Rastaquooere (serge gainsbourg cover)
14. KARMACODA - Free To Be
15. CAPSULE - On A Plane (nirvana cover)
16. STORM INC - Rape Me (another nirvana cover)
17. JOHN B. STROHM - Nobody Wins (kris kristofferson cover)
18. ANN MAGNUSON - Moonage Daydream (bowie cover)

Arts & Lit

Saw 2 notable shows this week.

* Wednesday - Cornelius at Bimbo's 365 Club. Fantastic. An amazing performance of an amazing record - his latest "Point." Highly recommended (both show and CD).

* Friday - Nadine's Wild Weekend. A 4 day showcase of local (Nor Cal) bands. I went primarily to see a friend, beckie play her first gig in a while. She's just released a self-produced CD titled "God's Empty Chair." If it was titled "god's empty head" the zen import would boggle, eh? Anyway, it's very good and she's shopping for a little label now...

* I'm still reading and enjoying The Botany Of Desire - A Plant's-Eye View Of The World.


Politics & Social

A counter proposal to Bush's "Forests" initiative: NRDC


Personal & Miscellany

We're so fortunate to live where we do. Every day deer forage on the hill behind our home. They usually migrate through, but this week, a loner has set up a local base camp. Bedding down every evening and during the day helping me trim the bushes around the fence. The dogs haven't been barking at him. We had a golden eagle hanging around for a few weeks. Now that is an impressive bird! Fairly fearless too. He (she) began to hunt at our birdfeeders. Hey, what can you do - survival of the biggest and baddest. When he would catch a sparrow, he would then land on our fence, or gazebo top, to feed. I've got some pictures, I'll find a place to put them up soon. Haven't seen him in a while - the sparrows seem less stressed.

Finally, a few websites that need no introductions:
Airline Food Check out RyanAir..

Theo's wunderbare Welt der Bandfotographie

deano

Mike Wolf pushed me into this. Blame him

I'm still testing, practicing and getting the feel of this thing. Like the uke (but that's going better than this!)

dmmm

First Entry

Personal vanity and shareware conspiring to produce another bitstream of internetto textural dialog. I figure the blog is at best less intrusive than posting on mailing groups. At least you intentionally came here. Why is a question you should ask yourself, or feel free to add a comment.

Welcome & thanks for stopping by.

First comment: I like my ukulele.
Want to play a beatles tune with me?
Try this...

Hello!
dean