SOUNDTRACK: MEAT PUPPETS-KEXP in studio November 10, 2009 (2009).
According to my stats, this is my 1000th post. Wow!
I had liked the Meat Puppets somewhat when I was into SST back in the 80s, then I really got into them in the late 90s (when Nirvana introduced us to them). I thought Too High to Die was a great album. But they kind of fell from those heights (and Cris Kirkwood fell into serious trouble–drugs and jail) by the end of the decade. So Curt Kirkwood continued without Cris and I kind of didn’t care anymore.
This session from 2009 sees the return of Cris (who came back for their 2007 album) with songs taken from their 2009 album, Sewn Together. I don’t know what the album sounds like but this session is heavy on the country feel. The new songs seem quite mellow, and a bit less bizarre than some of their earlier songs.
They sound good though. Even with the drummer playing garbage cans and recycling bins. As a sort of encore, they play “Plateau” (a Nirvana cover, ha ha). About midway through, Curt messes up the lyrics and gives up singing. But they play the extended coda regardless.
Curt doesn’t come across as the nicest guy in the world, but he’s been through enough to not give a toss what anyone thinks. I’m glad the Puppets are back together and recording, but I don’t think I’ll be delving too deeply into their new stuff.
[READ: April 19, 2011] Five Dials Number 3
Five Dials Number 3 ups the page quantity a bit (26 in total) and also includes several art print reproductions from Margaux Williamson, an artist who is mentioned in one of the articles. This issue really solidifies the quality of this magazine. It also introduces the possibility of correspondence with the readers.
CRAIG TAYLOR-On Alibis and Public Views
As mentioned, this letter introduces the idea that people are writing to the magazine. Sadly there is no letters column (even if Paul F. Tompkins hates letters to the editor, for this magazine, I thought they’d be interesting).
CHERYL WAGNER-Current-ish Event: “The Ballad of Black Van.”
This is a true account of Wagner’s life in post-Katrina New Orleans, where a man in a black van is squatting in abandoned properties and selling everything imaginable. And there’s no cops to help. It’s a sad look at the state of New Orleans.
DAVID RAKOFF-A Single Film: Annie Hall
I haven’t read much David Rakoff, but he persist in amusing me whenever I do (hint to self: read more by David Rakoff). This is an outstanding piece about the beloved film Annie Hall. It’ s outstanding and goes in an unexpected direction too. (more…)
NDTRACK: JOHN PRINE-“New Train” & “Ain’t Hurtin’ Nobody” (1995).
We’re staying at a beach house for the 4th of July. There’s John Prine on the iPod. I’ve never heard him before, although I have of course heard of him.
This week’s New Yorker contains a list of the 20 authors under age 40 that they predict we’ll be talking about for years to come. Their criteria:
SOUNDTRACK: DO MAKE SAY THINK-Other Truths [CST062] (2009).
I’ve always enjoyed Do Make Say Think’s CDs. They play instrumentals that are always intriguing and which never get dull.
SOUNDTRACK: PEARL JAM-Vs. (1993).
Ten was a solid record, and although it had diversity within it, overall the sound was pretty consistent. On Vs., Pearl Jam mixed it up sonically and otherwise.
Zadie Smith is the editor and she wrote the introduction. I like to cover all of the written pieces in the book, but there’s not much to say about the introduction except that it fills you in on the details of the collection. She thanks Sarah Vowell for the idea but I gather that the rest of the work was done by her.
I Just Read About That... 