3/21/05: Sorry for the political rants, but I'm just so frustrated about two things...The political atmosphere lately is pretty fucked up. Gas prices are soaring- yeah, I know, we get what we deserve for ruining the environment- but what really makes me laugh is President Bush's 'deep concern' for the high prices we're paying at the pump. C'mon, gimme a break! Ummm, didn't he and his family make lots of money (and continue to make lots of money) off of oil? Yeah, they did. Wake up. Bush doesn't care about any of us.

And what's up with Terri's Law? Congress and the President are butting into someone's personal business for their own personal gain at the polls. If they continue to pander to wacky right-wing Christian nuts, they'll be sure to win the next elections. Congress and the President are trying to save one life, while scores of Iraqis and American soldiers die each day in an incredibly unjust war. Where are our priorities? Terri Schiavo's been in a vegetative state for 15 years! She's probably had enough time to get better, but still has not shown any improvement. It's time to give up, but many are trying to force their own personal religious beliefs onto her guardian, her husband, who said she would never want to live like this. We have the constitution for a reason, and in it there is a separation of Church and State. The last few years have seen this ideal crumble.

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3/13/05: So it's been a while. Sorry. The captain is trying to get his shit together so he can move. Started packing a bunch of stuff this weekend including the vast CD library. Ha ha...

So what's new? Let's start with some movies as I just watched Pedro Amoldovar's new film, 'BAD EDUCATION', which was good and enjoyable, but not anything absolutely jaw-dropping. If you know his movies, you know he's pretty much obsessed with sex. And this film is no different. It's about 2 men who, during boyhood, explore a homosexual relationship in a Catholic orphanage in Spain and then reconnect after several years apart. One writes a story about their experience and the other decides to film it, but it's even crazier than that, involving transvestites/transsexuals as well as a relationship between one of the boys and a Catholic priest pedophile. If you think I've given anything away, don't worry, it's a much more interesting story than I've discussed above. Worth checking it out if like foreign films, Amoldovar, movies or Catholic controversies.

Here's the other film I recently saw at the I-house (www.ihousephilly.org) and it totally knocked my socks off. Sorry for the crappy image of the poster, as it was the best I could find on-line. 'Taking Off' is perhaps one of the greatest drug films of the 70's and one of the most subversive and enjoyable. You think it's about the evils of drugs and how they supposedly tear families apart (I think it's happened once or twice...), but director Milos Foreman's (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, People vs. Larry Flynt) film actually shows how drug-use actually brought one family together and the results, at times, quite interesting, hysterical and extremely enjoyable. I had no idea what to expect when we sat down for the recent double-feature with Skidoo, the notorious acid-fueled piece of shit starring Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, a bunch of villains from the 60's Batman TV show (no shit, there are like three or four of them!!!) along with big time 60's actors and a bunch of really phony spaced-out hippies. We all went to see the seldom seen Skidoo and I really wasn't expecting anything from Taking Off, it seemed more a way to fill some time. And boy, was I surprised. It stars Buck Henry as a very straight and narrow father who's looking for his runaway daughter who gets mixed up with some hippies and drugs and 'takes off' for a little while. Throughout his search for her, he meets up with other parents who have missing teens who've run off, and joins a support group for parents with runaway-children. There, Buck and his very closeted wife meet up with another couple and, in the film's most hilarious sequence, smoke some grass to see why their children find marijauna so alluring. If you can find it, grab it and see it. I'll put a link here as to where you can get a bootlegged copy of it. I may actually try and get a copy myself, as I loved it.

Okay, I'm pooped. I'll put up some music reviews soon. Here's what I've been rocking recently:

Hood: Outside Closer LP

new Spoon LP (oh my gosh, is this amazing!)

Doves: Some Cities LP (a very enjoyable brit-rock record with some great tinges of psychedelia)

Black Mountain s/t LP

Bloc Party: Silent Alarm LP (this will rule your world, the drummer is amazing and it's catchy, hard-driving and stylish without being fake)

new Sleater-Kinney LP (it leaked and I couldn't help myself! It is really really good stuff!)

...And you will know us by the Trail of Dead: World's Apart LP, which is really good, despite the poor review pitchfork gave it.

Crooked Fingers: Dignity and Shame LP - crazy good album and very enjoyable live. Can't wait to see Eric play at the new World Cafe Live at the end of the month. Should be a lot of fun. You should all go. You will not be disappointed in his mostly acoustic tales of love, loss and life.

And there are many more records, but I'm at a loss now, as it's 11pm on Sunday night and I haven't even watched Arrested Development yet. Keep watching this show or it will be canceled this season!!!!!!!

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2/28/05: So, according to Yahoo news on Friday, new studies suggest that smoking increases your chances of impotence. I know it's hard to believe, but smoking does have some negative effects, as studies are continually proving all the time. I caught this news on www.suicidegirls.com and had to see exactly what it was. Basically, the findings, are summed up here:

"The new findings, according to the researchers, support the idea that smoking is a direct cause of ED because the study found a "dose-response" relationship between the condition and men's smoking habits. This means that the more men smoked over their lives, the greater their risk of impotence was."

SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, Feb. 15, 2005

Wrangler Brutes: Zulu (Kill Rock Stars)

Loudmouth and professional Pisser-offer Sam McPheeters is back and more brutal than ever. If you've been missing something in your life since the dissolution of Born Against and his hardcore antics in the early 90's, your prayers have been answered. These 18 super-fast n' crazy thrash tracks were recorded by Steve Albini, but this reviewer couldn't really tell, as it's too darn speedy to note the thick cavernous drums and low-ends that Albini is famous for. Most of the lyrically tongue-in-cheek songs clock in at under a minute or so, with my personal favorite being "Shitsearch". It's tight and solid with the occasional breakdown to give you a breather when you need it. The riffs are courtesy of Andy Coronado, axe-man from Monorchid and Skull Kontrol, and mimic the guitar sounds of those classic Touch & Go bands. To be honest, I didn't really get this record at first, but it's a definite grower. There aren't many choruses to sing along to and the guitars feel, well, like they should be on one of those Skull Kontrol EPs. But somehow it is smart and it all works out, bringing back that severe 80's thrash we all know and love. For fans of: Born Against, Skull Kontrol, Monorchid, early DRI.

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2/27/05:

11:30 AM: What a great F- face! Apparently there is a Fred Durst porn film that has leaked to the internet. If you've ever wanted proof as to why he "did it all for the nooky", here's your chance! By the way, if you are looking for some pure comedy, you should check out some of the 'adult' headlines on www.avn.com. They are absolutely hysterical. Can you spot the fake headline?

a. John E. Depth Goes Deep for Juicy Entertainment

b. West Coast Drops Azz Like Whoa: West Coast Productions is set to release what may well be the Citizen Kane of big ass films, Azz Like Whoa!

c. Pop My Ass Rears It’s Head

d. Ron Jeremy Poses for PETA
 

Ha, the joke's on you- they're all real!

1:00 AM: Okay, so I just got done watching Napolean Dynamite, and I have to say it is probably the most over-rated movie I have seen in some time.  Not sure what the appeal is, but about 98% of the people I know claim it's one of the funniest movies they've ever seen. Sure, there were a few laughs (Uncle Rico's character was great- him wishing there was a time machine so he can relive past high-school football glories), but nothing remotely close to something like Disorderlies, or even Night at the Roxbury. Hell, any of the last eight Martin Lawrence movies were better. Don't mess with the Black Knight!

Still making it through The Other Hollywood : The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry, which is pretty goddamned fantastic. This book does not disappoint.

I submitted an application to some landlords today for an apartment in the Art Museum/Fairmount area. Cross your fingers in hopes that the weeks to come I'll be relocating to center city Philly.

THE SKYGREEN LEOPARDS: Child God in the Garden of Idols 12"  and Life & Love in Sparrow's Meadow cd/lp (Jagjaguwar)

Both of these new Skygreen Leopards LPs are fantastic trips into the Psych-folk arena. Expand your mind while listening to these two troubadours create beautiful harmonies recalling the Beach Boys or the Byrds, mixed with sounds straight out of the terrestrial forest or a dewy meadow. Seriously, the band has recorded out in the wild on several past releases, and infuses these unique field recordings into the background of most of the songs, whether it be birds chirping, the rustling wind or a meandering stream. Each are filled with absolutely gorgeous, delicately picked and strummed instruments, but don't be fooled- they have slightly distinct differences as well. Life and Love is the more accessible of the two, relying not only on the folk-styled acoustic guitars, but on minor percussive sounds as well, which help keep the beat. I guess you could say it's the more upbeat of the records, where as Child God is softer, utlizing whispered vocals mixed in with the drone of nature and relying less on a drum, tambourine or what have you. (Child God is a limited vinyl-only record, so get it now before the ebay scum do).

Pig Destroyer: Terrifyer (Relapse) Bet half of you didn't know or think I still listened to wicked-fast or heavy music. Suckers. Pig Destroyer is it. One of the the heaviest of the heavy (and yes, I do have the Jesu LP), these DC boys can create one hell of an incredibly scary image. I've seen them live too, and they are masters at their respective instruments (guitarist has humming bird hands!). Vicious zillion-beat-per-minute grindcore mixed with blurring guitars and  distorted rants and shouts is really what takes the cake. There are lots of bands that do this sort of thing, but PD is different, not only because of the technical dynamics of the record (math-metal fans, check this out), but because of the variety of hard/harder styles represented here (metal, grind, death-metal, hardcore, punk). None of the 20+ tracks are boring or too repetitive, and just when you think you know what a song will do next, it either ends abruptly or they throw in slower moments that include some hardcore and metal breakdowns. These guys should be a heck of a lot bigger than they are and I'm not sure why metal fame has eluded them. I highly recommend this record, as it will destroy any out-of-control parties or will certainly scare away any of those pesky neighbors.

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2/21/05: Home sick today with an excruciating headache which is finally starting to fade. Started last night at my first "sleaze-fest" in NYC. We watched a few films on a very large projection screen TV, including a new documentary on legendary Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki. The film is called Arakimentari. He blurs the line between art and porn, infusing bondage and floral arrangements into his work. And he produces some amazing works of art. You may know him from his work with Bjork, or may have seen some of his stuff. The documentary will be released here in the US sometime soon. We also watched Kung-Fu Hustle, which is a fun film, but very over the top, relying on some very noticeable (and not so noticeable) CGI effects and tons of different films and kung-fu styles as fodder for laughs. It's enjoyable, but hardly serious. Director Stephen Chow also helmed the ridiculously titled Shaolin Soccer. We also started to watch Dear Wendy, the new film from Thomas Vinterberg and writer Lars Von Trier. Unfortunately only a few of the 10 people in the room wanted to see this, and the film was shut off after 20 minutes or so. I liked what I saw of it and can't wait for more. Von Trier's last real film, Dogville, was absolutely incredible and well worth a rental, even at 177 minutes. Nicole Kidman is amazing and it's filled with excellent supporting actors and actresses. You have never seen a film like this, for real. You can get many of the foreign films I mention here at diabolikdvd.com. Check them out.

Hunter S Thompson is dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 67. He will be missed. He wrote two of my favorite books, Hell's Angels and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, both of which I highly recommend. It's almost too weird that we just started a book club and to read Hell's Angels. Both of the books I mention above are just absolutely insane. Hell's Angels tells of his tenure as an almost semi-official Angel in the mid to late sixties. He went on several runs with them, drank frequently with them and partied with them, getting close enough to get the inside scoop on the legends themselves. Fear and Loathing is an autobiographical trip to Las Vegas in the 70s on a weekend bender fueled by bucketfuls of narcotics and alcohol. It's a gripping book that's very descriptive and fast paced. I loved both.

Speaking of great books, I just started one that I'm sure will be absoutely amazing. It's by Legs McNeil (Please Kill Me, the absolutely must-read book if you are reading this site and have any interest in the history and rise of punk.) and is called The Other Hollywood : The Uncensored Oral History of the Porn Film Industry.  It interviews everyone in a very candid, no-holds-barred style and is extremely pleasurable to read. You can get both books for wicked cheap at amazon.com. The Other Hollywood is is hardcover and only $18.45 at the time of this writing!

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2/17/05: Heard about a great new site that you just have to check out. Click here. It's pretty funny stuff and very enjoyable!

A lot of you, at one time or another, have been curious about what's vegan/vegetarian and what's not. I found this to be a pretty interesting site run by the kid-friendly division of PETA that has some quick-reference lists for the sweetest of sweets, candy, as well as some snack foods. I like how this is set up and it even has a small glossary of some bad stuff to watch out for. One of the candies I love so much- Good N Plenty - actually uses Kosher Carmine as a food coloring. This ingredient is made from dried and crushed beetles. It's kind of gross if you think about it. Don't worry though, the greatest candy, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews (dark choco version) always has been and hopefully always will be a vegan treat.

Here's my PiratesPick 'album you've probably never heard about, but should- and why':

Blinker The Star: August Everywhere (Dreamworks) Ugh. It saddens me so much that this is an album you can get off of half.com for as little as $0.99. Why? Because it's a pop-rock masterpiece with soaring  harmonies, incredibly bouncy hooks and beautiful arrangements. Ken Andrews of Failure and On recorded this particular album with the group to give it clean and rocking feel- and created what could be one of the most overlooked gems of the 90's. I'm not shitting you here. Go find $3 or $4 (for postage/shipping) and buy this please- it'll change your life. Well not really, but if you like to sing along to songs in the shower, or do it while you drive, you can't miss this one. It's also my favorite record to listen to during the springtime, driving around with sunroof open, or pedaling along the bike path. If you like this album, you should try and find Blinker's follow-up, the obscure Still In Rome, which I had to purchase from cdbaby.com. It's still got the harmonies, but this time the brains behind Blinker, Jordan Zadorozny, turns it up a notch, in an ode to hard and classic rock. Recommended Track: "September Already". Download this hard-to-find (and incredibly rad) b-side for a a taste of Blinker The Star: "Deaf Angel Ears"

What, you're still here? Still not enough Blinker The Star? Check out their website for more mp3s and details on the band.

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2/16/05: Okay, there's a screening of the new movie INSIDE DEEP THROAT, on Thursday evening in Philadelphia, which looks absolutely amazing. Unfortunately I have other plans, but if you should check it out, let me know what you think. Have you ever seen the original DEEP THROAT? It's pretty funny and the bushes are absolutely monstrous until the shaving scenes, but you have to admit it's an interesting concept. It's a classic, and quite honestly, it's dirtier/filthier than I thought it would be. This is a documentary about the film and the cultural/sexual revolution it started. If you're adventurous, you should check it out, if only for Harry Reems as a silly doctor and the theme song. Don't worry though, it's considered a classic, but not an absolute necessity. RIP Linda Lovelace...

So I got a bit of feedback about what the site could be. So thank you. I'm going to focus more on reviews and opinions and less on the sappy diary crap. Hopefully you'll all enjoy.

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT see the 'Night of a Thousand Plays' thing I mentioned below. It's absolutely horrid, unfunny and tried way too hard. A friend and I left after the first act, thinking of anything that could get us out of there the quickest- finally opting on using the bathroom at her house for respective breaks instead of asking for directions to the closest one inside the playhouse. We sat through15 or so short monologues and poorly scripted musings that were too predictable (making fun of Ikea) or just didn't go anywhere (you choose which one...they were all like this). Sorry, but it's the truth. I did get my $17 worth though as I'll be able to tell this story like 50 times.

Did you know that you can modify a car, truck or van to run on common household vegetable oil? I didn't until I heard about RAMBO's recent tour (they used a van, to drive to Florida and back, that was fueled by both diesel and vegetable oil) and I read this article. Makes you question why we're still stuck on mineral oil/fossil fuels which aren't renewable and damaging to the environment.

Here's the part where I list some albums that I love and most people couldn't give a shit about. I think this might be a recurring thing here. Hopefully you'll dig this a bunch...

Morrissey: Southpaw Grammar (Sire) Not sure why most Morrissey fans hate this record. Hell, it only gets two and a half stars from allmusic.com. I heard that a lot of people weren't to down with the fact that half the songs are really long. And the music is aggressive- more than your average Morrissey or Smiths record. But for some reason this album is so goddamned good. Why? Imagine a Morrissey record that actually has some disparate moodiness mixed with some buzzsaw guitars and riffs that just totally rock out. Still not getting it yet? Imagine the tone and mood of the Cure, circa Disintegration, mixed with any number of driving emo-rock bands from the mid 90s, like Mineral, or Sunny Day Real Estate. I urge you to give this one another look. The best way to approach it is to pretend it's not a Morrissey record. Recommended track: "Boyracer"

Public Image Ltd: Compact Disc/Cassette/LP (Elektra) This was one of the first records I ever purchased that was in the realm of punk and metal and look at me now. Maybe it's a nostalgic thing, or maybe it's the fact that Ginger Baker or Steve Vai were uncredited guests, but this album is one of the best alt-rock records I own. I'll let you in on a secret- I had no idea what they would sound like, or who Johnny Rotten was at the time I bought it. I was in sixth grade and just trying to find an identity, and friends of mine were into skating. I wanted to be cool like them, so I saved up my money and bought the tape. I listened to it over and over and over again and memorized ever riff and lyric. Only later did I realize that this sounds nothing like their most-revered post punk LP, Metal Box (or Second Edition), which integrated dub, rock and punk into one 'heavy' set of LPs (they were originally sold as a set of 12"s in a metal film cannister).  Compact Disc/Cassette/LP is different though. Gone are the dub influences and experimental loops and renderings. They've been replaced by incredibly catchy heavy rock songs, each with great riffs, blazing solos, spectacular production, awesome keyboards and memorable lyrics. And isn't the generic packaging just too frickin' cool? Reminds me of 'Beer' and 'Food' in the movie REPO MAN. Recommended track:  "FFF"

Tarentel: From Bone to Satellite (Temporary Residence Ltd.) I have no idea why more people aren't into this particular record. Take everything that makes Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor great, and you have Tarentel's first full length CD (or double LP with two exclusive 'songs'- I was suckered into this one. They're just droning noises for the most part and help break up the album a bit). Spacious, expansive and wordless: The songs are influenced equally by kraut-rock/post-rock groups of the 90's and the soundtracks of Ennio Morricone. The CD is about 74 minutes and has 5 lengthy tracks. But don't be fooled- the album just whizzes by. Guitars are interlaced intricately, creating that feeling you get from watching old spaghetti westerns, building to a climax or crescendo that you just want to hold onto for hours. Some parts of a song make you feel like you're relaxed and floating into space (hence the brilliant title, which itself is an homage to 2001: A Space Odyssey), while others turn up the power and/or aggression. The band have since moved away from this sound, and I really miss it quite a lot.  Instead they opt for some more experimental drones, noodlings and loops that just can't match the intensity of this platter. The album cover photography and booklet are stunningly beautiful still life shots which help set the tone and feel too. If you're into some great instruMetal rock (spelling was done on purpose there, folks), or dig any of the above bands mentioned in this review, I'd suggest you follow the link to  label's site and drop $12 for it. Recommended track: "For Carl Sagan".

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2/13/05: I forgot to note that Artskull did the pirate artwork. His stuff is awesome and Chris is the nicest. Check out his site.

So the gym seems to be working out well, so far. I did some cardio on Saturday morning and it felt pretty nice- biking, eliptical, treadmill. I'm going to try and continue at least 3 times a week. Looks like a busy week again though. Monday is a play call "Night of a 1000 plays" at the Adrienne theatre in Philly.  It seems pretty neat and I'll let you know how it all turns out. It's Valentine's day, and lately this is like the vilest day of the year. Tuesday is a show at the Church with High on Fire (Ex-Sleep, brutal stoner metal)/Kylesa (ex-Damad sludge metal)/Planes Mistaken for Stars (chaos!). I'm either hitting this show, or seeing Hotel Rwanda. Wednesday I'm bowling with Derek and Thursday I'm bowling with the team. And Friday is a possible Secret Cinema show called It's a Wonderful Lifestyle: A Valentine to the 1970s. Sounds like an awesome show, and the Secret Cinema picks are usually good- stuff you'd never ever see elsewhere.

Exhumed Films has a few new shows popping up, including Evil Dead 2 and Devil's Rain, as a double-feature. I love the Devil's Rain, as it has Ernest Borgnine as the head of a satanic cult. In the last 15 minutes, all the devil worshippers melt like butta'. It's pretty fantastic for a 70's horror film and a lot of fun.

Got a few new records today. New Six Organs of Admittance LP 'School of the Flower' (the only other album I have is 'Dark Noontide' and it is fantastic psych-folk mixed with some awesome drone), Charalambides 'Joy Shapes' (more droney psych-folk) and both Black Eyes CDs (crazy tribal DC post-punk...like black dice with more beats and much more harmonies). I like them all so far.

Took a walk too today in Fairmount Park, specifically Valley Green. I used to love this place as a kid and it's got this amazing 200+ year rustic history. The Wissahickon creek runs through the park and used to be an area full of mills and expansion. It also has a park bench which is dedicated to my deceased grandfather. I took a stroll with my ipod, just thinking about things. It was kind of a nice day- a tad too cold though and seemed to help invoke a lot of sadness. It didn't help to listen to Espers.

So what else this weekend? Saw Million Dollar baby, which I liked an awful lot. It plays well, at least for the first 2/3rds, as a comedy/drama, and then just switches over to a heart-wrenching drama. Eastwood, Swank and Freeman were all tops. Very good, but never better than the Aviator, which I liked even more.

I'm looking for an apartment downtown too. If you hear of one, drop me a line.

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2/8/05: So I joined a gym. Seems like a nice gym, but I was kind of scared to try it out again. I had been working out a few years ago when I started to develop this thing where I'd start to feel nauseous during the work out and get sick. It happened a lot, and kind of forced me to stop. But lately I've been feeling sluggish and I feel like I'm getting heavier. I started again last night and it did not bode well. The doc suggests I try not to push so hard, stay mainly with the cardio machines until my body is able to handle it and work with a personal trainer to learn the right routines for my body. Sounds like a deal to me. Let's hope it works.

I volunteer with Big Bros/Big Sisters, and it's a lot of fun helping out someone. They ALWAYS need more people, so you may want to check it out if you have the time. I did their bowling fundraiser last year, and not that I'm in a league, I may do it again. I should ask the teammates to join me this year. It was a ton of fun and all the money raised goes into Big Brother/Big Sister events. Hmmmm....

Goddamn. If Boyracer aren't the catchiest band around. I think I seriously have to order their whole discography. Amazing 90 second pop gems.

I don't think anyone reads this, but if you do and wanna say hi, or just say something nasty, write me at rwalker138@comcast.net. If you can guess where the 138 comes from, I'll give you a big wet sloppy kiss. No one has ever guessed it right. Seriously. You all suck. Heh heh heh...

I think I'm going to Coachella this year as a nice little birthday present to myself again. Last year was so fucking amazing. Seriously. Best. Festival. Ever. This year's line-up isn't as choice, but can you pass up a chance to New Order play in the desert during a 105 degree day? I didn't think so. The line up is good (Weezer, Coldplay, Keane, NIN, Wilco, Gang of Four, Bauhaus, New Order...wait, what year is this? 1981?). Check out my link above for the full deets. Hopefully USAir will stay in business long enough for me to cash in some frequent flier miles for a nice little trip to LA.

Pumping on the stereo:

Gang Gang Dance "Revival of the Shittest"

Doves "Some Cities"

Ice T "O.G."

Converge "You Fail Me"

No Neck Blues Band "Letters from the Earth"

GG Allin

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2/6/05: It's about ten of one in the morning (late Saturday night) and I'm just updating this for the first time in a while. I promise that I'll be updating this more often. So I just got a My Space account that you should check out, as you can a) become my friend, b) meet some of my friends and c) check out some other shit about me and my friends.

Just got back from seeing the Aviator tonight. Oh my gosh, was this film superb. Leonardo DiCaprio was exceptional as germophobe toolbit magnate/aviator/legendary film director Howard Hughes, giving a top-notch performance that could lead the pack this year at the Academy Awards. Hats off to Scorcese for yet another awesome movie. Do yourself a favor and check this film out.

I bowled a 188 on Thursday night. Hot Damn for me.

What I'm rocking lately:

Two new albums by the Skygreen Leopards.

The new Mercury Rev LP

Sleep: Jerusalem (wicked-heavy stoner metal)

JESU s/t (Hydrahead)

I'm totally rocking Jesu's self-titled LP. It's Justin Broadrick of Godflesh, and you really shouldn't need to know much more about it. Is it Doomgaze? Dream-doom? You can call it what you will, but it's essential, incredibly original and pretty f-in amazing. Broadrick hinted at the atmospheric heaviness with Godflesh songs like "Don't bring me flowers" from his PureLP, but it finally comes to light here. He drops most of the menacing vocals and replaces them with whispered echoes and slows the pace considerably. The heavy riffs are still here, but more in line with what Earth and Sunn 0))) do with riffs: endless repetition that builds on one another to create a sort of dull pummeling. Broadrick uses this to his advantage to create an almost entirely new genre of music: atmospheric shoegaze doom metal with touches of dreamy pop. Yeah, you read it right. It's drenched in waves of layered reverb and space-cake worthy drone. Fret not though, my attention was held for the entire record, as the hooks and subtle subharmonic- rumblings kept me fascinated to see what would come next. For fans of Earth "Earth 2", Ride "Smile, My Bloody Valentine "Loveless" and any Godflesh LPs.

Swell Maps: A Trip to Marineville

Swell Maps: Jane from Occupied Europe

(Secretly Canadian)

Check out the song Midget Submarines by the Swell Maps. It's a pretty great track and well worth owning from these gorgeously re-mastered post-punk LPs from '79-'80.

This is perhaps my most favorite Pavement song ever, "Spit on a Stranger"

Saw Bright Eyes this past week too. His set was fantastic, playing songs from the highly lauded "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" LP. I think he ended up playing every song from the album, including a new song, which I liked, but a friend of mine hated, called "When the President talks to God". It was what you think it would be: a jaded barb at W. The show was at the Academy of Music and filled with lots of 15 year old kids. Seeing Bright Eyes at the academy was awesome though, and one can only hope R5 books more shows there. The sound was amazing, and so was the show within this 100+ year old opera house.

The Superbowl is tomorrow. Party at Jesse's! Check out how cute his daughter Audrey is:

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