It's like the end of an era, it is.

Billboard 11-18-2006

• I'm writing this on Monday, November 27, but who know when it will actually go up, since the internet at work has apparently been down since last Wednesday.
• Also, I got so distracted by how amazing Stranger Than Fiction was that I didn't blog this weekend and am, I guess, officially out of the running for nablopomo.
• Maybe next year.
• Tomorrow is my last non-staff day at this job.
• Actually, I really want to talk about Stranger than Fiction, but I don't think the 3 people who actually care what I have to say have seen it yet.
• So I'm being nice.
• Record companies are going to get a share of Zune profits.
• "These devices are just repositories for stolen music, and they all know it."--UMG chairman/CEO Doug Morris.
• That's...um. Yeah.
• Seriously waiting for them to realize the number of library patrons that check out cds and copy them, over here.
• There was also a trailer for Dreamgirls and Lara and I totally have a Christmas holiday date to see it.
• Even if I always think of that little boy and Camp everytime I hear that song.
• All Saints and Take That both have new albums coming out.
• Wait! The Ronettes weren't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame yet!?
• That's a fuckin' travesty.
• I love those girls.
• The new Stars of Track and Field record will be released to indie stores a couple months before chains.
• I wonder how successful that'll be...
• Okay, this feature about comics who tour like bands isn't even going to mention David Cross.
• I mean, I know they're talking about the uber successful guys, but who's been really doing that for awhile now?
• Julien Temple's Strummer movie is premiering at Sundance.
• Hee--I just ordered the Tenacious D soundtrack.
• I really want to see that movie.
• I have officially stopped even caring one way or the other about Gwen Stefani.
• It would take a hell of a gossip item to change my mind.
• Like if she hooked up with K-Fed, or Chris Noth or something.
• Or if K-Fed and Chris Noth hooked up, and she introduced them.
• I think I pretty officially have started babbling now.
• Anyone want to pack up some dishes for me?

Armed robbery. With a replica.

Billboard11-11-06

• Robert Carlysle, who played Begbie in Trainspotting, is going to be in the upcoming movie version of Eragon.
• I'm pretty entertained by this. Mostly, I'm entertained by the careful omission of that fact in the making of...book we just got in at the library.
• The ad cover of this issue is Disney Records' 50th anniversary.
• Hey! Lara nad I had that Children's Favorites record. I believe it was a 3 disc set. Awesome.
• oooo! And a trivia quiz!
• The first question is incredibly dumb.
• "Which of these 'performers' is included in the list of 20 most recorded songs in American popular music?" A. Elvis B/ Neil Diamond C. Jiminy Cricket
• Well, quiz, you're either insulting Elvis and/or Mr Diamond, or it's the cricket.
• My aunt used to say "Jiminy Christmas!" as an exclamation.
• "College Radio Killed in Canada?"!?!?
• What!?
• Cara, say it ain't so!
• "AOL and Microsoft target hipsters"
• Yeah, and that always works...
• Wow. There's a giant, full-page "For your Grammy consideration" ad for Neko Case.
• AOL's got one of the Upright Citizens Brigade helping them on that hipster thing.
• Did you know that Morrissey and Axl Rose have the same management?
• I am totally not making that up.
• OK, here's the Canadian thing: "Under Tariff 22...noncommercial radio stations would be required to pay a total of 7.5% of their gross annual revenure, or $200 Canadian ($177) per month, whichever is greater, for a license to broadcast online."
• That's not cool, yo.
• Oasis are releasing a Best Of this holiday shopping season.
• That's actually kind of exciting.
• I can't help but love Oasis.
• So, I keep watching "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" because I'm too lazy to get up after "Heroes" (despite that whole moving in 3 weeks and need to start packing thing), but it's so irritating.
• Like, seriously annoying.
• I never watched "The West Wing"; was it as "I AM MAKING A POINT. LOOK AT THE FUCKING IMPORTANT POINT I AM MAKING" as this show is?
• ew. The HP pavilion's ad is this extreme close up of an attractive woman (who may or may not be famous) and the copy is "Let's Spend the Night Together". ew
• Madonna sings on a giant mirrored (discoballesque) cross on the Confessions tour?
• Now Will.i.am is working with Michael Jackson...
• Oh! So Britney is divorcing K-Fed?
• See, this is the kind of thing I don't hear when our stupid filter is blocking Trent!
• Chris Isaak is covering "I Want You To Want Me".
• Go listen to this band called the Bon Savants. It's good.

But it’s the warmest night in ages.

Billboard 11-4-06

• You know, I'm not sure how many of these I have left to do. I don't know how much music collection development responsibility I'll have at my new job, and I don't know if they'd order this way anyway.
• I'm sure I'll find enough other things to mock, though.
• But nothing quite like "Ricky Martin: Undeniable" which is the ad cover of this issue.
• You know, I kind of thought I'd never have to deal with Ricky Martin ever again.
• And I really liked that thought.
• It's that stupid Ricky Martin Unplugged which, I'm sorry, is just a terrifying thought and I hate it.
• But now I'm envisioning Ricky covering "Mama Said Knock You Out" and that's kinda cool.
• In a frightening sort of way.
• Speaking of frightening, the real cover is Meat Loaf. A rough looking meat loaf.
• Tim Burton directed a Killers video!?
• Aw, Le Tigre.
• It's always weird when a band like Le Tigre shows up in this magazine.
• Li'l Steven is discussing SpongeBob.
• Apparently, SpongeBob has an album, Li'l Steven was introduced to it by Seymour Stein, it's a good time.
• I can't get "Seymour Stein" out of my head now.
• This Meat Loaf picture is awful. Once you reach a certain age, shirtless is a bad idea. Whether it's his actual body or not.
• Also, I reached my limit of beefcake-y romance novel-esque imagery earlier this week from Fabio's appearance on ANTM.
• You know, I always thought Meat Loaf was one word, not 2.
• So there's a Bat Out of Hell 3 now?
• Enough is enough.
• Wait--didn't he have a falling out with Jim Steinman? How can there be a Meat Loaf album without Jim Steinman!?
• Oh, no falling out. Steinman health issues. But he still wrote 7 of the songs. Phew.
• Wait! Steinman's manager says no to the health problems! I'm so confused! And torn! I need April to sort this all out for me!
• (Yeah, my friend April? Totally obsessed with Meat Loaf. It's a little weird, but makes sense if you know her.)
• Steinman didn't produce the album, though.
• Which I know everyone cares about, but, let's face it, no one reads these anyway. They just keep me entertained while I attempt to stay on top of various kinds of music I don't give a shit about.
• Wait, isn't "It's All Coming Back To Me Now" the Celine Dion video that looks almost exactly like the Meat Loaf video? Because Steinman wrote that song, too.
• OH SHIT. THIS MAGAZINE IS BACKING JOHN "THE ASSHOLE" HOSTETTLER.
• Fucking intellectual property bullshit.
• See? This is why Billboard is creepy and weird and I need to vent to the whole damn internet about it.
• Least they aren't backing goddam Santorum here.
• That's why their asses lost, anyway.
• Waaaay too much about Ricky Martin...
• Except I keep misreading the copy, like thinking an ad is calling him a misanthrope, or "Evolution Denied" instead of "Evolution Defined."
• All kinds of Doors crap...
• Lauryn Hill popped up and played another random private show.
• I wish she'd get her crazy shit together and just write another album.
• OK, there's something that feels very "end of an era" about hearing that Sonic Youth have one more album to go before their Geffen contract is fulfilled.
• Or maybe it's just that I loaned my copy of Experimental Jet Set, Trash, and No Star to one of my crew earlier today.
• Mike Mills and Corrin Tucker and performing together (I think) at some benefit. I bet that sounds amazing.

Verse and chapter sat in her inbox.

Billboard

• Why the hell do I never have any damn pens at my desk?
• I need a goddam Ghostwriter pen around my neck.
• Which I never understood:
• Like, if they're all carrying pens around their necks, why can't they also carry a mini version of the alphabet or something, just in case?
• Or maybe I just think waaaay too much about Ghostwriter.
• Wait--is this magazine from months ago, does The Game have a new album out, or am I horribly out of touch?
• Also, Courtney Love's on the cover, too. And sober, apparently.
• Oh, could someone tell me what my myspace picture is right now?
• For some reason, our computers at work aren't 99% of myspace profile pictures.
• Ah, our teen service tech skills are unstoppable.
• Really, I'm just sick of telling teens that it's not us, it's the new filter, and we'll unblock Yahoo games or whatever for you.
• Radio wants teens again.
• "Could Video-On-Demand Be TV's Answer to the Web?"
• Um, I think they mean like The Box.
• Anyone else remember the Box?
• No, of course you don't, because you guys all probably had parents who got cable in the late 80s.
• I, on the other hand, had the extremely grainy, extremely ghetto, Box.
• You'd call and request videos, except they didn't really have a back-up for slow times, so there was a lot of watching, like, 30 seconds of "Push It" and then a scroll of the available videos and my sister and her friends discussing which they wanted to see.
• And a lot of Digital Underground.
• I swear, someone was calling The Box and ordering "Humpty Dance" every hour on the hour for awhile there.
• I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom.
• Except I seem to remember them beeping out "busy", because I vaguely remember expending more 11yrold mental energy trying to figure out what the bleeped word was. I assumed it was something much more than just "busy".
• I'm also pretty fondly remembering the In Living Color "Push It" parody right now.
• Which I tried to find on youtube but couldn't.
• Instead, here's "Mr Ugly Man", the Shaggy parody. Which I totally have running through my head right now.
• OK, who watched "Heroes" this week and was weirded out by Mall Cop's reading his wife's mind, realizing she's had a song stuck in her head for ages, and then PLAYING THAT SONG!?
• Mall Cop, I'm totally with you on the using your powers for sexy and/or romantical good, but if I've got a song in my head for weeks, the last thing I want is to hear it.
• During a romantic interlude.
• Of course, that may have more to do with the quality of song I get stuck in my head.
• "Into Your Arms", for example.
• ...new Weird Al...
• Billy Joel's oldest daughter is dressed in a manner appropriate for an old-timey house of burlesque.
• Speaking of old-timey, I'm reading And a Bottle of Rum right now, and boy-howdy! is it great.
• Some colonial keeps describing himself as being "feloniously drunk", which I believe I'm completely stealing.
• Why does the ALA think I want to buy my own subscription to their publications?
• Yes, I've got a $100 and more to drop on School Library Journal for my home use.
• She's very pretty, though.
• Billy Joel's daughter, that is.
• You know how Joel has those freaky, bug-out giant eyes? They work on a girl.
• I kinda like the shoe The Game designed. It's got checks.
• I'm trying to convince Tiff that Claudia's Room needs a Cafe Press store.
• ...all kinds of Australian crap...
• No surprises here: Courtney Love's working with Linda Perry.
• Who isn't getting paid to do so.
• hmmmm...
• New Shins album January 23!
• That's exciting.
• Ack! Jars of Clay!
• What's the name of X's country/sort-of-joke side project?
• Wasn't it The Wreckers?
• 'cause that's what Michelle Branch is calling herself these days, along with some other chippie.

You wax poetic about things pathetic as long as you look so cute.

So, one of my regulars was looking for some books and the internet catalog told him they were "available in CHECKED OUT". I hate our online catalog so very much.
***
Billboard October 21

• All kinds of country on the cover.
• Also, this headline:
• "Menudo's New Beginning"
• Which is almost as terrifying as Eddie Murphy and Scary Spice together.
• Which I didn't know about until Tiff informed me today.
• So, uh, thanks Tiff.
• I guess.
• Gah! Barry Manilow in a sequined jumpsuit!
• It's kind of weird that Tower Records are closing, but I was actually never that big a Tower fan.
• I don't know--is there even one in Pittsburgh?
• Was it a closed town, more or less, in the National Record Mart days?
• Menudo are going to have a tv show.
• Wow, Ricky Martin had some cheekbones.
• Aw, Mountain Goats.
• Insound didn't have a digital store 'til now?
• I always just assumed they did.
• I ♥ promo items: here's a condom whose wrapper says "I promote records and save lives."
• That's pretty damn sweet.
• Hee, Robbie Williams in a track suit.
• Poor Robbie--he's the opener to an article entitled "Famous Everywhere Else".
• And here's a scruffy Ricky Martin, who is being honored for his work with children.
• You know, in case you were wondering, I am planning on actually writing real blog posts at some point in the future. I'm just in a bit of a lull right now.
• I'm assuming everyone else knew that Johnny Marr was a Modest Mouse now.
• Before he went Electronic?
• And Dinosaur Jr have reunited as well.
• I suppose I have to order Diddy's new album for the library.
• I wonder if I can make Marissa order it?
• And Sarah McLachlan's releasing a Christmas album.
• Marr looks pretty adorable in this picture right here. I couldn't find the picture online, but you're welcome to look for yourself if you'd like.
• There's no back page on this issue. Looks like someone's removed the advertisement cover.

They're foxy to me. Are they foxy to you?

Billboard October 14

• mmmm, I made this tasty soup last night. I brought some for lunch today.
• Only problem is, I got a new can opener and it really sucks, so it took a lot longer than it should have to get the chicken stock from the can to the pot.
• So, My Chemical Romance is on the cover.
• And, as I'm sure everyone has realized by now, there's a pretty vocal 16yrold mall goth girl inside me.
• I'm not going to apologize for it and, more importantly, I think it really gives me an edge in the whole teen librarianing game.
• But it also means I have a fondness for things like Emily Strange, goth loli Japanese girls, and My Chemical Romance's ridiculous new single.
• You know, "The Black Parade"?
• Plus, you know how I love ridiculous musical messes.
• So I'm pretty happy they're on the cover.
• Also, this is apparently the top 20 women in music issue.
• woooo.
• Oh, and because it's not a Billboard post lately without a discussion of the Killers' attractiveness or lack thereof, I have to mention that I saw them on SNL this weekend. The singer was very much reminding me of that boy I made out with that I mentioned he sometimes looks like. It was nice.
• Plus, he was rocking the nerdy glasses/plaid button-down shirt combo I'm a sucker for during the new single.
• Then there was a costume change that invited badness, so the less said about that the better.
• Wait, who in Jet died?
• The new Beck album won't be on the UK's chart listing because it "contains cover art and packaging that give it an 'unfair advantage.'" Hunh?
• That doesn't make any damn sense.
• Dave Navarro is wearing an ugly cowboyish hat that has a tag on the front saying, DirtBag.
• Classy.
• I opted to not read the My Chemical Romance article.
• I skimmed and figured it would take all the fun out of the band.
• Twisted Sister are the special feature in this issue.
• This issue sure does seem to have a lot of specialness about it.
• My favorite thing about Twisted Sister is that Behind the Music where Dee Snyder talks about how he started a band to stay off drugs.
• He started a band pretty heavily influenced, at least image-wise, by the New York Dolls--
• --to stay off drugs.
• Something about that just doesn't make sense to me.
• I wonder why?
• ♥♥♥♥
• (One of my patrons just showed me how to make hearts. I'me very entertained now.)
• "Every metalhead in the world is going to want the new Christmas album as a Christmas present."
• That seems a bit redundant, no?
• Surely, there must have been a better way for Eddie Kramer to express himself.
• You'll notice I'm avoiding the terrifying notion of a Twisted Sister Christmas album.
• ...and now I can't get "We're Not Gonna Take It" out of my head.
• Oh, no one in Jet died; it was their dad.
• Which is sad.
• However, I still pretty much can't stand them.
• The End.
• Nick Rhodes is 6 Qestions.
• And he's talking about Second Life!!
• Which I keep meaning to blog about, but haven't yet.
• Apparently, Duran Duran have quite the Second Life presence.
• Also, the magazine refers to it as a "virtual reality game", which is nice considering the way libraries and yPulse keep talking about it.
• But that's a whole 'nother PoBaL.
• I hate to say it, but Joan is looking very plasticy and botoxed in this picture here.
• It's frightening.
• Anyone ever notice how much Miss Jay looks like Nile Rodgers?
• Oh, I'm mad at the CW for not repeating ANTM on Sunday nights around here. I work til 8 on Wednesdays!

I'm hungry.

Thanks to everyone who made attempts to cheer me up on MySpace. I'm having a better day today. I also feel the need to mock Shane some more, because he replied to my "I'm having a crummy day" with "I read that without the R," to which I was forced (FORCED! I tell you.) to respond with, If I hand't needed the R, I wouldn't be in such a shitty mood.
There's like a cat hair, or Lamb's Pride Bulky mohair shedding, or bit of my own hair in my eye. It's probably my own hair. This always happens when I part my hair more over the the side than usual, and it's been worse since that last hair cut where the bitch obviously didn't care where I parted my hair, because they lied to me about her experience with curly hair.
Anyway, you might not have guessed it, but this is the post for Billboard September 30. And I really am hungry. I forgot to bring a snack today.

• Goddam, now that hair-thing's on my nose and being all tickly.
• Fergie, will.i.am and some guy named Polow are on the cover. Apparently, there's a big story inside about the making of "London Bridge".
• I can't wait.
• Think that's pronounced like how Lori Petty as Tank Girl said, "Pa-Paw"?
• hmmm, I haven't seen Tank Girl in awhile. It is a good time.
• I wonder if my crew would check out the books?
• Are the books even still in print? I know for awhile they were real hard to find?
• Aw, one of my regulars just came in. He's got the day off b/c of a migraine.
• And that's when the small shreiking child arrived.
• Oh, and Fergie's got a tiara.
• Does Fergie the Duchess get to wear a tiara? Are there rules about that sort of thing?
• I bet there are.
• This picture of The Fray looks like it was Be A Model day at the local mall.
• Merivale Mall? Does anyone but me even remember those books?
• I just ordered the first Tank Girl. We'll see how well it goes.
• And the 3rd Barry Ween, which we for some reason don't have.
• When did Dane Cook become a big time celebrity?
• Does it have anything to do with Jessica Simpson not being as big a draw now, when Employee of the Month needs her, as she was even 2 months ago? Or did he hit before then?
• See, this is why the library needs to pay for me to have cable--so I can know these things. And it'd be cheaper than buying me a computer and internet.
• Bo Bice's pictures always kind of annoy me. He keeps shooting for Magnum and just not making it.
• Speaking of which, Melissa? Is my copy of Zoolander still at your house?
• Ever notice how, from some angles, Fergie looks like a bad mix of Taylor Dane, Tara from "Buffy", and the puppet that used to be on Solid Gold?
• 
• (The puppet is the one in the middle.)
• How come everytime I type "puppet" I typo "pupper"?
• I looked for a Fergie pic, but the bitch looks different in EVERY. SINGLE. PICTURE. It's kind of uncanny.
• Oh, Jordan Catalano, you are so pretty. This is an especially nice picture.
• Kelly Clarkson is shilling for Vitamin Water, or, as I like to call it and all its ilk, Grown-up Kool-aid.
• I'm just not a Scissors Sisters fan. Too much like Elton John for me, I guess.
• Ludacris gets 6 Questions.
• Stace, you wanna share your Luda story?
• Anyone else think JoJo looks like Lindsey Lohan would have if she had been allowed to grow up non-fucked up?
• Aw, Jane Wiedlin is so the most adorable thing ever.
• I think Billy Idol would look a lot less rough if he'd stop trying to still dress and style his hair as though he was still in his Generation X days.

I don't hate them but I know them.

Special shout-outs to Marissa who, after much hilarity and reference-desk-adjacent Stone Temple Pilots singing, burned me a copy of The Crow's soundtrack. Now we just have to buy the damn movie for the library...
Billboard October 7.

• Ray Charles is on the ad cover; Diddy's on the real one.
• Seems a bit backwards to me.
• Anyone else watch "Heroes" last night?
• I'm very quickly becoming addicted to that show.
• Even if Jess was totally a whiny little bitch last night.
• And trying to figure out the logistics of Ikin makes my brain hurt.
• Because, yes, I think too much about these things.
• You know what else I think too much about? This picture here of Justin Timberlake.
• He seems to be hatching his face from a disco ball.
• Add a little eyeshadow and lose that milk mustache, and he looks just a few coke binge/orgies away from throwing Toni Collette over for Ewan MacGregor.
• I do like "Sexyback" though. It's ridiculous.
• Apparently, rock stars are planning tv show's soundtracks now.
• On an upcoming "Laguna Beach", Chris Carrarararaba (bad news) has chosen, among other things, "Lloyd I'm Ready to be Heartbroken" (good news).
• We replace the flesh, which is weak, with steel, which is strong.
• Li'l Steven's using his column to talk up Seymour Stein.
• OK, no one is going to be at all surprised by what I'm about to say, but
• The founder of Touch and Go Records is cute!
• Oh, and speaking of Chicago--Raedy, if you're reading this, go read Guitar Girl by Sarra Manning. It's very cute. You'll like it; the main character sings songs about Hello Kitty, art school boys (it's British), and writing a boy's name on her stomach.
• But, back to the cute boy, we all know I'm just a sucker for the heartbroken-seeming, music-obsessed, writerish boy with a good head of hair stereotype, don't we?
• I just don't get many of them down this way...
• Oh, Christ, Puffy/Diddy/I Don't Care is back.
• I guess he couldn't find anyone else to exploit, so he had to release another one of "his own" albums.
• Dre and Snoop are also working together again.
• This is all because I've been listening to the Crow soundtrack right? All this mid90s shit.
• Speaking of, I'm totally bringing 90s Trivial Pursuit this weekend. It's on!
• New ...and You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead album includes a cover of "Gold Heart Mountaintop Queen Directory".
• Which I now, true to form, am singing in my head.
• I'm totally ordering the new Killers album.
• My collection development technique is unstoppable!
• hunh. That sounds pretty awesome. Maybe I should make a shirt.
• Or have a new email signature or MySpace headline or something.
• There's a new Beck, and there's some guy over by the videos who isn't answering his damn phone.
• Emmylou Harris needs to go wigshopping. Maybe she can take Whitney and Jessica with her.

Only compared to some.

Billboard September 23

• The man on the advertisement cover is, I'm assuming, some very soulful, emotional singer.
• However, this is what he looks like he is thinking:
• "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
• It's just not a good day without a Princess Bride reference, is it?
• Unless, that is, you have no guacamole.
• Which, in my world, is pretty damn tragic.
• But then, I'm also kinda hungry right now.
• You know what I really hate about Firefox? I can't alt-tab between tabs.
• Or can I?
• How do I do that?
• The Killers are on the real cover.
• It's very grainy and looks as though it's lost a few copier generation-image quality type things.
• What's 'at called again?
• One of them looks kind of like Jack Fairy.
• Two of them are wearing vests.
• The one that sometimes looks like a drummer I made out with once doesn't look like him.
• None of them are attractive.
• And, no, David, it's not just about the beards.
• Rod Stewart's wearing a vest, too!
• It's an infestation.
• No...
• wait for it...
• It's an inVESTation!
• Heh--I'm so witty.
• And not really a fan of the vest, either.
• Exceptions made for in sweater form.
• At some point, I'm totally going to finish that sweater vest I've been working on. I swear.
• I'm thinking, incidentally, that the current sweater (that lace-leaf one)needs a name matching the cats' names.
• It's certainly shedding like one of the jerks, except green.
• It's also coming along quite well.
• aaaah, Anton Corbijn took the cover picture.
• That explains the graininess.
• I didn't even recognize Axl Rose in this picture.
• I did, however, hear "Knocking on Heaven's Door" this morning.
• And "Hey Jealousy", but that's a whole 'nother thing.
• Beyonce's licensing herself to a phone game.
• I hope it's like that old Barbie video game where you help her get dressed.
• I told some high school kid about The U.S. vs. John Lennon the other day at the school, so I feel like I've done my Beatles duty for the month.
• You know, the Killers are definitely less skinny than they used to be, but they don't look puffy at all.
• I approve of that.
• You listening, DiCaprio?
• I wonder what the Killers are like live; if they're a good time or just their albums, redux.
• Goddam, I hate you, Coldplay.
• Bob Seger's back.
• Berry went into the studio with the rest of R.E.M.
• I don't know how I feel about this.
• I mean, I had kind of washed my hands of R.E.M.
• Like Wilco, they're allowed to grow and change musically, but I'm allowed to prefer their older stuff.
• I just ordered some patrons to go get me some Dairy Queen.
• No dice.
• Ingrates.
• Beyonce looks like she was part of last night's America's Next Top Model challenge on the cover of her album.
• With the crazy wigs?
• This new ad has showed up in the Billboard classifieds under legal services.
• "FATHER'S RIGHTS!!" Phone number: 312-356-DADS.
• yup.
• Someone please buy Whitney Houston a new wig.

He's popping pills and he's calling his ex.

Billboard Sept 16

• I should be reading this magazine, but I'm totally enthralled by the Walkmen's webpage right now.
• I've been in kind of a general funk for the past couple of weeks.
• I've also been watching Velvet Goldmine a lot more than is advisable.
• I don't think the two things are entirely unrelated.
• Plus, all my best stories are kind of unbloggable right now.
• That's annoying.
• And it must be irritating to read.
• Like when your best friend in third grade says they have a secret they can't tell you and you realize, hunh--maybe your friendship isn't that great.
• Or not.
• And the Killers just get uglier and uglier...
• Although one of them looks not unlike a certain AV clerk I made out with once.
• More Envanescence.
• Now, I know I give a lot of lip service to my 16yrold self and what she would have liked, but I just don't know about this one.
• Although, of course, I always support the messy goth princess look in clothing.
• And too much black eye makeup.
• The shirt Ashley Simpson is wearing in this picture looks suspiciously like a cami Janice and I both bought on clearance at Victoria's Secret and rocked the summer after freshman year.
• At least one of us wore it to the Warped Tour that year.
• Except ours was cuter.
• And, keeping in mind that this was almost 10 years ago. Very Gwen Stefani, before her really crazy shit started.
• The founder of YouTube looks like whatshisface from Six Feet Under.
• Claire's art school boyfriend who screwed their teacher.
• The ads in this issue look like they were laid out by a high school yearbook committee.
• At a "special" school.
• Berry played with the rest of REM earlier this month!
• Does anyone see a vague physical resemblance between Fergie and Charo?
• Or is it just all the work?
• What is it about Jared Leto that he can be wearing a stupid hat and what looks like a backwards tie (apparently, if you can't read, you also can't put a tie on right), and I still think he's pretty.
• Damn you, My So-Called Life!

More than a feeling.

Billboard September 2

• The advertisement cover is for the VMAs, which I didn't watch this year.
• I think my parents were actually here then.
• So, I saw Hollywoodland last night, and I'm ready to start making some Oscar predictions.
• Diane Lane will be nominated, because Diane Lane is nominated for an Oscar any time she leaves her house.
• Affleck may be nominated, too. Depends on how they split the Leo DiCaprio/Marky Mark lead/supporting actor for Scorsese's new movie.
• The Academy really likes to snub Marty, but they seem to want to have DiCaprio's children, so it's a tough call on nominations.
• Won't win, though.
• Depending on how the midterm election goes and what the cultural climate is this January, I think this is Forest Whitacker's year for an Oscar, for playing Idi Amin.
• Well, we'll see. My predictions are usually the more spot-on the closer I make them to the winner's announcement, as anyone who slogged through all my Oscar blogging last time can attest to.
• I can't decide, but I think I like that new Killers single.
• "When You Were Young"
• It's a weird mess of things and influences, and I like that.
• Weird messes, that is.
• God, Jet sucks.
• They're just boring.
• Oh, I love the part in the Killers song about the Devil's water.
• Ridiculous!
• (I'm listening to the song right now, in case you were wondering why I keep bringing it up.)
• Hey! The Blue Man Group!
• ha
• I took the third season of Arrested Development home this weekend and now I'm sad because there's no more new Arrested Development for me to watch.
• There's a new Primal Scream record?
• I know it's ridiculous, but I really love Hot Fuss. It's such a fun record.
• Ever notice how MTV celebrates every damn birthday it can? I mean, it just doesn't seem like that long ago when I sat through all their 20th birthday crap.
• Plus, this is the 25the for the channel; you know in a couple years we'll be dealing with the 25th anniversary of the VMAs.
• No one toots their own horn like MTV...
• Dear god, they've published a picture of that stupid Britney Spears/Madonna kiss.
• If I really wanted to see bad fake lesbianing designed to make the boys hot, I'd still be going to Saturday night 80s night.
• The singers/frontspeople for Keane and the Darkness are both in rehab.
• There's a really interesting super-group in there somewhere.
• Right now I'm listening to the Cold War Kids. It's pretty okay so far.
• Michel Gondry's going to be directing a Beck video.
• I miss old, scruffy, cohosting 120 Minutes with Thurston, setting his acoustic on fire in someone's backyard Beck.
• He's allowed to grow and change, but I'm allowed to prefer One Foot in the Grave.
• Even though I really secretly can't stand the local bar here, I have to love that "Satan Gave Me a Taco" is on their jukebox.
• Ricky Martin's doing an Unplugged.
• I didn't know that show was still even in existence.
• It's like the elusive Elvis Costello Storytellers, which I used to see commercials for all the damn time but I never actually got to see.
• 6 question is with Trey Anastasio.
• urk
• Hellogoodbye sound like something I would hear on WPTS while I was driving to drop off my Stanley Kubrick final paper.
• Which is kind of pretty awesome, if you're into that kind of hard-core nostalgia for 6-7 years ago.
• "This American Life" is going to have a show on Showtime next year.
• Must. Make. Friends. With. People. Who. Have. Showtime.

I’ll take myself to an east coast city and walk about

Billboard September 9

• "Hey Lloyd" is my current favorite song, pretty much.
• And it's a perfect fall song.
• It may just be my Autumnal Theme Song, 2006.
• (It's also my current myspace profile song, if you haven't heard it yet.)
• Janet Jackson's got a new album.
• I can't help it; I love Janet.
• You can't have been born a girl in 1979 and not LUV "Nasty".
• The only nasty thing I like is a nasty groove.
• Ludacris is on the real cover, with some crazy sideburns.
• And those giant diamond studs that, I guess, the men of hip-hop all got together and decided Weren't Feminine At All.
• heh
• Decembrists are on Capitol now...interesting.
• Did anyone watch History Detectives this week?
• They were talking about records and metal masters and such. It was really cool.
• hee--I made my parents watch it, too.
• Oh, so who wants to hear me be devestatingly mean about a GLBTQ teen?
• So, I'm reading this anthology that proclaims to not be coming out stories, even though every story is about...how that kid came out, pretty much. In one of the pieces written by someone who likes boys that way (I forget if it was a gay boy or a trans kid), there's a mention of squeeing over a favorite New Kid on the Block.
• The unacceptable part?
• It was Danny Wood.
• Let's all give a collective, EW!, shall we?
• Perhaps this is a good distillation of the PoBaL Philosophy: It's OK to be gay, it's not OK to want to kiss ugly people.
• Thoughts?
• Stop the presses!
• Linkin Park are on iTunes now.
• I'm so excited.
• I'm about to lose control, and I think I like it.
• Speaking of NKOTB, their manager just died.
• Billboard asks the hard-hitting questions: "Just how important is an original vocalist to a tour?"
• Streeeeeeeeeeeetlights! People-le-le.
• Did you know that you can get ladies' underwear with a pocket for an iPod?
• It's called...wait for it...the iPanty.
• Have I mentioned how much I hate the word "panty"?
• It's yucky.
• Janet looks good in this picture.
• Plus, she's working this double-breasted long jacket with a gold belt over it ensemble that's quite nice.
• And giant gold hoops.
• I wish I could wear earrings.
• So, the girl in 28 Days Later? The one whose dad became a zombie?
• She's a "goth/pop artist" now, called Betty Curse.
• ugh, Chrissie "I care about animals more than women" Hynde needs a new haircut.
• The shaggy long bangs just aren't working in her favor anymore.
• So, there's going to be a big Dylan tribute in November. Some of the people involved are Patti Smith, Cat Power, and...Philip Glass.
• 
• I wanted to find a picture of the South Park kids in their gray jumpsuits, but no dice.

I wanna ramone you.

Billboard August 26

• YouTube is working on a deal with labels to use the site for music videos.
• interesting...
• Probably has something to do with the consistent sucking of MySpace's video capabilities, no?
• My black little heart shrieks with glee everytime I hear that Jimmy Chamberlain is the only original Smashing Pumpkin working with Corgan now.
• hee--Marissa told me the other day that she was waiting to order the new Nelly Furtado, in the hopes that I would.
• We had a "No, you order it!" fight over the last Coldplay album, too.
• 'til stupid teenager page mentioned it, and it became a YA thing.
• I still say I got screwed in that one.
• (For the confused--we only have one cd section here. Marissa and I fight over things both of us hate, but we know we have to order for the library.)
• Although, "Promiscuous Girl" is kind of growing on me.
• I think I'd like it a lot better if it weren't a Nelly Furtado song, because I just hate her so much.
• But the beat is fun, and the lyrics are ridiculous, and I like that in a summer radio hit.
• Plus, c'mon:
• "Chivalry's dead but you're kind of cute"
• That's a great damn line.
• So, the Simpsons 7th season box came in at work yesterday.
• So many great episodes!
• 22 Short Films About Springfield! (Best. Episode. Ever.)
• Homerpalooza!
• The one where they take Cabin de Flanders!
• And the dud in not-Mystery Date looks like Milhouse!
• Interpol has left Matador and will be with Capitol.
• The headline for this bit of news is "Bring on the Major Leagues", which is kind of bitchy, if you ask me.
• And now I've got "Major Leagues" stuck in my head.
• Paul and Tommy are going to be on a soundtrack together.
• Also, Pete Yorn is doing one of Paul's songs for it, which is nice.
• The headline for that one is "'Open' Bar". The movie has the word open in it.
• Also kind of a not-nice thing to say.
• Man, who's bored at their job and writing those headlines? It's like they gave the job to me or something.
• mmmm, Jered Leto in eyeliner.
• You know, I really don't care what 30 Seconds to Mars sounds like.
• ...so pretty...
• Meatloaf has a new single.
• Fat Joe has a big ass I95 pendant.
• You're going to make me say it, aren't you?
• He's got--sigh--I95 bling.
• I hate you.

Wind down your window; I think I'm going to kiss you.

Billboard August 12.

• Tony Bennett's turning 80.
• Hey, remember that brief period in the mid90s when he was cool?
• It was weird.
• Apparently, the Copyright Act can now help artists.
• Madonna's get-up in this tour picture reminds me of the mother/not-a-bordello owner in East of Eden.
• When she's wearing the gloves and lace because she can't bear to look at her old-looking hands?
• That, completely.
• Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman have resolved their legal issues amicably.
• phew.
• I was worried, there.
• I mean, who do you root for?
• No, I won't do that.
• yay
• Joan Jett picture and Yo La Tengo picture on the same page!
• Although it does kind of feel like they're now ghetto-izing Li'l Steven and my beloved indie column guy.
• So, I heard some Pipettes, and I have to say:
• They just might be the greatest thing I've heard in a long while.
• Oh, and I bought the new Walkmen album (and an ironing board for making pleated skirts!) at Target, and it is awesome.
• (as are pleated skirts)
• (but more on my fall fashion choices in another post)
• Li'l Steven's complaining about radio.
• Li'l Steven, you know as well as I do that radio doesn't play Joan Jett's new stuff because she's not the radio-approved badass chick.
• Georgia's so adorable.
• blah blah Tony Bennett blah
• Jesus, this Tony Bennett section is HUGE.
• Camera Obscura's mentioned.
• Tiff burned their new album for me.
• I like it.
• I'm waiting for the fall to get a bit more blurrish before I really rock it a lot.
• Newbury Comics is still looking for a buyer, guys.
• So, Pink might be covering a Britney Spears song.
• $10 says it's "Toxic".
• Not that I'm complaining.
• But I'd rather see Eddie Izzard cover that song.
• (See, because I maintain that Eddie all transvestited-up bears a striking resemblance to Pink.)

Billboard August 19

• Hey, Karen O in the ToC.
• Secretly, I totally want to be Christian Joy and have a crazy rockstargirl to outfit in crazy rockstargirl ways.
• I'd be, like, Librarian By Day, Crazy RocStylist by Night.
• or something
• Like most of my plans (even the realistic ones), this involves moving somewhere else.
• "Depeche Mode Always in Fashion"
• Now, I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours...
• Or we could play Master & Servant.
• Iggy Pop is taking Mr Soundgarden's place as Mr Varvatos.
• Screw you, Audioslave. You'll always be Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine to Me.
• OMG, Karen O's got on this like space robot outfit.
• It's silver and purple and she's got these vertical rainbow-y tights on.
• Actually, it kind of looks like a successful version of what got Bradley aufed last week.
• Man, that's so awesome.
• You know, eye makeup should make a band prettier, not call their prettiness into question and the questioner into confusion.
• Evanescence is back.
• So is Nina Gordon.
• Which is ridiculous.
• So, you know what the best part of the Strangers With Candy movie was?
• Aside, of course, from, "I'm thinking about pussy; the science fair's for queers," which I kind of want to make my myspace headline, but I already get enough skeezes.
• David Rakoff as Matthew Broderick's silent biographer.
• It was genius, and I so love that man.

I thought she said she was in Sweden.

(Not a reference to anything. I just typed it, and thought it was a cool sentence. You know how the randomness goes.)
I'm planning a real post soon, I swear.
Billboard August 5.

• Soundtrack for this post is the old All Songs Considered podcast djed by Tilly and the Wall.
• I can't be bothered to find something else.
• So, I still haven't bought the new Walkmen, or their 2nd album.
• I don't really want the first, based on what I heard of it.
• I suppose I should just order them online.
• I know I ordered #2 from my "local" "record" store, but then they pissed me off.
• Someone with no sense of humor is dissing US Air Guitar in the letters section, saying it's what's wrong with the music industry.
• That they're rewarding faking it and all that.
• Clearly, this guy was never a rock-obsessed teenaged boy.
• Which reminds me of a "discussion" (not an argument!) over on YALSA-BK as of late...
• It pisses me off that the Who still tours as the Who.
• Half the band's gone, assholes.
• It's just sad.
• Much like how R.E.M. should've changed their name if one of 'em was leaving and they were changing direction anyway.
• I'm really hoping I get to move to a place with a real record store before they all die, as this magazine constantly predicts.
• There's an 80s Trivial Pursuit coming out.
• Just in time for Christmas, I bet.
• Which means I'll go to Target in January with my two-holidays-worth of Target cards from multiple relatives and consider buying a new edition of a $30 board game when I already own another one I never play because I don't live in a place that's really populated by people interested in playing board games with anyone other than their significant other.
• Jeez, I'm cranky today.
• Sorry.
• No movie choices on a weekend I want to see a movie tends to do this to me.
• Anyway, it irritates me that Trivial Pursuit is so damned expensive, and that they don't just sell the cards anymore, like they used to.
• Remember?
• You used to be able to just get themed card packs, to use with the board you already bought.
• Really, I should just be glad it's no longer the game you just have to be a boomer to win at.
• Yo La Tengo has a new album out this fall.
• So wait--Panic! At the Disco are on the Snakes on a Plane soundtrack?
• WOuldn't it be awesome if they were in the movie?
• One the plane?
• Rockin' out (or whatever it is they do) with snakes and Sam Jackson all around them?
• I've totally started the countdown for when this movie comes out.
• I saw the trailer last night on tv and it made me very happy.
• Then America's Got Talent came on, so I turned the tv off and read some more Gormenghast.
• Which is awesome, by the way.
• Although I'm absolutely picturing the BBC miniseries characters, settings, etc in my head.
• Of course, that's not really a problem when it comes to Steerpike.
• 
• Newbury Comics is hiring a buyer.
• So, there's a 30 Seconds To Mars picture here.
• You know that's Jared Leto's band, right?
• And he's got eyeliner on.
• 
• And I have to tell you, I just looked through like 15 pages of Jordan Catalano pictures.
• hee
• Kerenq saw him in real life, at Lollapalooza.
• I got very excited when she told me this story.
• OK, so here's a great story:
• Martina McBride's in the middle of her set at the largest outdoor rodeo in the US. From the stage, she asks if her tour manager could hear her. Then she says,
• "I'm pretty sure I left on my curling iron. Can you go onto the bus and turn it off?"

This film is on a maddening loop.

Summer Reading ended Saturday with a block party and a dj. I also worked all day Saturday pre-block party and Sunday afternoon. I'm pretty fried now, but, on the plus side, I feel like my own summer can start.
That's the fun thing about being childless and not in school. Summer starts when I feel it should (which is usually around the beginning of May, thanks to Pitt), really gets going when it can for me (when Summer Reading Program ends), and continues until I want it to be fall (usually around when I buy the year's first pair of cords or sweater I really love).
So bring on the squirt guns, cheap beer, dancing horses, giggling about boys, and parking lot dance parties. I'll be stretched out on my floor, directly under the ceiling fan, listening to Out of Time.



Billboard July 29

• I love that fabric there.
  
• I think I want to make a wrap skirt out of it.
  
• I don't know who this woman in the ToC is, but she looks a mess. Like, a feathery dress with a big black bow.
  
• MESS
  
• I tried to find a pic online, but I'm not getting anything.
  
• YouTube has been sued on copyright issues.
  
• By the guy who filmed Reginald Denny getting beat up during the 1992 LA Riots.
  
• Does that seem kinda fucked up to anyone else, that he wants royalties for footage of some guy getting beaten?
  
• Would Denny see any of that money?
  
• Janet Jackson's going to let fans make the cover art for her next album.
  
• Oh my.
  
• Christina Aguilera has a new album to promote, and yet she's clothed in these pictures.
  
• I am curious about her new album.
  
• I'm always interested in pop stars attempts to gain credibility, whether they succeed or not.
  
• Especially if it's overdone.
  
• For example, JT did not need to:

1. Change his moniker semi-officially to JT ('cause it worked so well for NKOTB).
   
2. Start working with people with cred out the ass.
   
3. AND Use his next big single/video to talk shit on his ex.

• I think just one of those, or maybe 2, would have been fine.
  
• Oh dear.
  
• There's a John Mayer giant 2 page ad in here.
  
• It looks like a pin-up.
  
• Suddenly, I'm reading Tiger Beat.
  
• John Mayer is one of those people whose music I can't stand, but he's so funny in interviews.
  
• Plus, he was on Dave Chapelle's show.
  
• And he likes popsicles!
  
• mmmm, popsicles.
  
• I've got 3 lime ones (the good, fruit ones--I don't like fake lime) in my freezer right now.
  
• I had to buy the fancy-schmancy real fruit ones because my stupid grocery store didn't have what I really wanted: rocket pops.
  
• Of course, this is also the grocery chain that has no refridgerated 6 packs yet keeps boxed wine in the cold case, so what are you going to do?
  
• This John Mayer interview isn't that good.
  
• I'm going to blame the magazine for that.
  
• Seriously, Billboard interviews always suck.
  
• I don't know why I read them.
  
• And for some reason there's a "congratulations" ad for Mayer with an illustration of him all dolled up Rocky Horror style.
  
• It's a bit terrifying.

Daphne was not so chaste as she was changing.*

Billboard July 22

• So, um, reviews of the new Outkast? Not that great.
  
• Which makes me sad.
  
• Although I cheer back up again when I think about how Stacey and I both have certain The Love Below spoken interludes memorized.
  
• I just want to lay in her hair.
  
• So, I got stood up Sunday night.
  
• I predicted it, but still--I'm kinda pissed.
  
• Jessica Simpson is looking Anna Nicole-esque in this Yahoo Music ad.
  
• It's not pretty.
  
• Hey, remember those tapes your mom could buy for you that were personalized with birthday songs with your name in them?
  
• Jessica Simpson's doing that with her new single.
  
• She'll call out the buyer's name in the lyrics.
  
• Lara's birthday is coming up...
  
• Idlewild looks cool, though.
  
• 6 questions with David Johansen.
  
• Looking quite rough and wearing what appear to be women's flared jeans, I might add.
  
• My local 80s night has been playing "Putting on the Ritz" for the last couple weeks, and that is very fun.
  
• At least for me.
  
• And Melissa.
  
• I'm sure no one else cares, as long as they've got someone to grope.
  
• "a lot of songs about stabbing your friend in the eye with a ballpoint pen"
  
• hunh?
  
• Is this an actual song that I don't know about?
  
• You know, I'd like "Promiscuous Girl" a lot better if it was all chorus.
  
• ahh, crap
  
• Now I've got "Dirty Little Secret" stuck in my head.
  
• My nerdy shame: I've watched that video, on mute, because the song is irritating but I wanted to see all the Post Secret cards.
  
• Aw, and look at that--Post Secret is blocked by our filter.
  
• New adorable green 1920s little house!
  
• Possibly even cuter than the last one!

*Thanks to Tiff for the title. It's the title of an Elizabethan song that I'm going to assume she was cataloging.
Funny Tiff aside: So last night, post pizza'n'beer noshing, I'm watching History Detectives. I love that show; they just drive around and do research and it's so damn cool.
Anyway, this guy had a snippet of a silent Western, mislabeled, no credits, and the Detective took it to a film archive in Dayton! Where Tiff lives! And I called her, ready to blurt out, "How come you never told me there was a film archive in Dayton? Did you know about this!? We should plan a field trip!"
The first thing she said when she picked up the phone was, "You're watching History Detectives; did you know there was a film archive in Dayton!?"
mmmm, nitrate.

So, I found my other 10 1/2 needle, but I lost the first one.

Ah, knitting humor. Billboard July 15

• Jesus, these people think I'm a factory.
• THis is the second Billboard I've done today, and I still have to finish the neverending ALA blogging, so I can write the professional version.
• The professional version, which drops the F-bomb a lot less.
• I'm lobbying for "F-Bomb" to become the official YALSA euphemism for fuck, by the way.
• A committee will be formed; I need a bunch of signatures on a petition.
• It'll be great.
• Anyway, I wasn't going to blog this issue, because there's other things I could be doing, but then I look at the cover and it says:
• "Mariah Goes Crazy (For Branding)"
• How tasteless is that!?
• Bravo, BillboardM. Bravo.
• It's not every magazine that would refer to a celebrity's Pepsi deal my mocking her battles with craziness.
• Pete Yorn's doing a tour diary.
• The US Air Guitar competition is apparently big bucks.
• The world championships of air guitar are held in Finland, surprising no one.
• Aw, Danger Mouse is so cute.
• The listening party for St. Elsewhere was held in a Johnny Rockets.
• "...I truly believe that no matter how the evolution of digital distribution affects the brick-and-mortar store, indie merchants will be the last man standing, if it ever comes to that."
• That's Ed Christman, who write the "Retail Track" column.
• I'm glad to see someone finally saying that in this magazine.
• Let's be realistic. What has more of a chance of succeeding:
• the chains that only carry the newest cds and are expensive
• or the hole-in-the-wall indies that are frequented by the people who are still interested in the materiality of records and cds.
• Yes, I said "materiality".
• Don't you love when my pretentiousness is showing?
• Mariah Carey never had to worry about branding before because she was either married to a very very rich man or her singles were everywhere.
• Now that she's more of a joke than a hit-maker, she needs ads.
• Plus, Glitter.
• Which even me 'n' Tiff couldn't get through, and that's saying something.
• Her next movie is from the same guy that produced Monster's Ball.
• So, you know, she'll show us her (fake) tits and magically become integrious.
• Yay, Halle Berry.
• X3 had the world's worst wig.
• Urgh, Thom Yorke's solo album.
• I'm falling asleep just looking at the cover art.
• Soul Asylum have a new album, too.
• Remember that video where Claire Danes was an angel?
• "I was like, don't waste the match."
• You should totally go watch the Christmas "My So-Called Life" if you don't know what I'm talking about.
• "It was one of those fights, where it feels like the fight is having you."

I'm racing emo boys and wearing rulers.

Billboard July 8

• Tim, Faith & Busta on the cover.
• "Can Busta Rhymes save hip-hop?"
• This week's featured artist for watching videos is Morrissey.
• Gimme a minute; I'll find the link.
• While MySpace takes forever to do library-related stuff.
• Except now it's Placebo.
• Liars.
• I think there's a Built To Spill video featured on MySpace today?
• "Music videos--the next QVC?"
• But people have always gotten fashion tips from videos, and before that, album covers.
• It's just that now everyone in the clothing business acknowledges it.
• Sleater Kinney on hiatus is sad, but maybe they'll be kickass side projects, right?
• And they're saying "hiatus" instead of breaking up, so that's a good thing, right?
• Right?
• Li'l Steven's all about the Go-Gos this week, a move I can totally get behind.
• Ever notice how no one ever gives the Go-Gos their punk rock due?
• I can't help but think it's at least partially because Belinda's got such a cutesy, round babyface.
• From one babyface to another: I know how it goes.
• You never get to really come across as badass when you look like Belinda, and it's totally not her fault.
• Plus, not being junkieskinny in the LA punk scene had to have sucked.
• And there's a Ramones musical.
• There's news here, because the official site pretty much is useless.
• Sprite's got some new teen video diary thing on their new website.
• I suppose I've got a professional reason to check that out, but Sprite's ad desperation has always annoyed me.
• Weren't they the "Obey Your Thirst" people?
• I remember them doing a lot of that "Don't drink pop because famous people tell you to" BS, meanwhile famous people are in their damn commercials.
• Eh, I'm sure YPulse will cover it.
• The guy who writes the "Making the Band" column looks like the food and wine Queer Eye guy.
• Who's my favorite Queer Eye guy, by the way.
• Aah, Busta isn't going to save ALL hip-hop, just bring back New York City.
• I guess that's a bit more realistic a goal.
• I suppose we have to buy the new Nelly Furtado album.
• grumble

I've been sitting on this, pretending to accomplish things.

Billboard July 1

• So I've cleared all the cds from my work iTunes because I was bored of it all.
• I'm just keeping it for podcasts and fun music blogs, like the one Tiff told me about where Nick Cave covers "Disco 2000".
• Where's my granola bar?
• I'm hungry.
• I've discovered that the Nature Valley lemon yogurt granola bars taste an awful lot like the Girl Scout lemon sandwich cookies, and that makes me happy.
• Remember when Girl Scout cookies had cool names? But you could never remember what the hell any of them were?
• Now the names are more descriptive but less fun.
• I've also discovered the tastiness that is the plout.
• It's a combo of plum and apricot, and a good time.
• Pretty color, too.
• Suit + moire does not = a good idea, Jamie Foxx.
• SOrry that I have to be the one to tell you this.
• Pete Seeger!
• Pete Seeger's in this issue!
• I love Pete Seeger; I grew up on the guy.
• He's talking about Springsteen's thing, which I've also heard good things about.
• From my mom, who I'm apt to trust when it comes to this kind of thing.
• We also both love the Mermaid Avenue albums, and I really need to burn that Billy Bragg double cd I got for her a couple years ago.
• My dad, on the other hand, has spottier musical tastes.
• My favorite Dad music moment is when I was listening to One Foot in the Grave with him around and he commented, with surprise in his voice, on how much it sounded like old folkies.
• Man, One Foot in the Grave's a great album.
• I need to listen to that again.
• I was disappointed in Sea Change, though.
• And you'll notice that I can say that without worrying about the loss of my IndieRockStereotype status, since I talked up an earlier, lesser known album.
• Involving Calvin Johnson.
• Aw, here's Pete.
• Yay.
• Read it yourself here.
• 6 Question is with Chris Carrabba.
• I can't believe he's still around.
• I think Unfortunately Large Pants was a fan.
• Annie Lennox is back in the studio.
• Carrabba collaborated with Adam Duritz.
• ew
• Hey!
• New Pet Shop Boys!
• Have I mentioned this before?
• Feels like I have...
• Anyway, I ordered the stupid Dashboard album for the library.
• Why am I reminded of the argument Marissa and I had over who had to put their initials next to the Coldplay album?
• My little cottage is no longer on the market.
• And I fear it's too far after my birthday for it to have been bought as a gift for me.
• Frank DeCaro's Sirius radio show is counting down the 10 gayest songs ever.
• Love are reuniting for a benefit concert for their singer. It was on June 28. I wonder if it's online anywhere.