SOUNDTRACK: THE FLAMING LIPS-Clouds Taste Metallic (1995).
Clouds Taste Metallic is a clear precursor to later Lips albums. The opener “The Abandoned Hospital Ship” even sounds like it could come from Soft Bulletin (in fact it sounds more than a bit like “The Sparks That Bled”). Wayne’s high voice is finally finding its range nicely. The chord progression is also great. The only thing that makes it sounding off the wall is the fuzzed out guitar solo (and the tubular bells, of course). “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles” returns to the fuzzy rock of old. On “Placebo Headwound” the acoustic guitar is back but it is buttressed by the wonderfully full bass sound that the Lips have started using (and will continue to use on the next few discs). “This Here Giraffe” is one of my favorite early songs: a loping bassline over a cute and catchy chorus (“This here giraffe…laughs”).
“Brainville” is probably their nicest ballad to date. It has a sweet feeling and a goofy chorus. “Guy Who Got a Headache and Accidentally Saves the World” is yet another great alternapop song. “When You Smile” could also come right from Bulletin.
“Kim’s Watermelon Gun” is a fast and fun rocker. The next two tracks “They Punctured My Yolk” (later sampled by the Beastie Boys on To the 5 Boroughs, and “Lightning Strikes the Postman” are instantly classic fast alternapop songs.
“Christmas at the Zoo” is another pop gem like “Giraffe”; what is it about their poppy animal songs? Despite its message “Evil Will Prevail” is another seemingly happy poppy song. And the last song “Bad Days” is listed as (Aurally Excited Version) although it doesn’t sound any different from the rest of the disc but it sure sounds good.
The major labels have been very good to the Lips, sonically. And the Lips are about to repay them by releasing the most ridiculous album ever….
[READ: January 26, 2009] The Lump of Coal
In what seems to be a new tradition, Lemony Snicket has written another holiday book. Unlike The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming, this book is not published by McSweeney’s and it features art by Brett Helquist (the artist from A Series of Unfortunate Events).
Also unlike pretty much everything else he’s done, this book is actually sweet and heartwarming. There’s nothing sinister about the book at all. (more…)
SOUNDTRACK: SUFJAN STEVENS–Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage-Songs for Christmas Vol. VIII (2008).
I downloaded this disc from an online source. And no I don’t feel bad about it because it wasn’t officially released, so no one is losing money. If it ever gets released I’ll surely buy it.
This EP comes very close to being my favorite; it may even beat vol 3. In part because the disc is 35 minutes long (still short for Sufjan Stevens but longer than some bands’ full lengths).
I feel like I never really knew this song until I heard Cartman getting cattle-prodded for not knowing the words. I listened to that version all the time (but I can’t tell if I like that version or the one on Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics better [“Fall on your knees, and hear the angels… something” “VOICES!”]), and what it did was give me a real appreciation for what a cool song this is. The chord changes are very satisfying without being really obvious. And, it’s not an easy song to sing. But I have liked every 
version I’ve heard: from Cartman to Avril Lavigne (whose first two verses on Maybe This Christmas, Too are the most vibrato-free singing I have ever heard. I’m quite certain she’s flat all the way through, and yet her voice is so unaffected it’s totally disconcerting. Tell me what you think…it’s available 
Boy I can’t stand this song. I know it’s supposed to be cute and racy and risque or whatever, but I simply can’t stand how crassly materialistic it is. And I’m not one who thinks Christmas is all about, like, Jesus’ birth or being good or anything. I know it’s all about the presents; however, this song is just….so…wrong. And if the Eartha Kitt version (the one you hear most of the time) 
weren’t bad enough, the Madonna version (on A Very Special Christmas) is just abysmal. She sounds like a sexually deranged Betty Boop (which I suppose is not unusual for her circa this release, but still). Stop trying to seduce Santa! Make it go away!
This is the long awaited follow up to Mike Ford’s first Canada Needs You CD. Volume Two covers Canada’s history in the 20th Century.
I am Canadian. Okay, I’m not, but I’ve had the beer, and I’ve seen the 
SOUNDTRACK: LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III-Career Moves (1993).
SOUNDTRACK: THE HOUSEMARTINS-Live at the BBC (2006).
I found out about the Housemartins after enjoying the Beautiful South, and since they only released two albums, it was easy to get into them quickly. This is a collection of live tracks from the BBC, some have an audience and some do not. What is most striking about the record are the amount of acapella works that are on here, and the, surprisingly religious aspect of many of the songs (especially for a bunch of guys who on the latest Beautiful South album say “No thanks to God, he did fuck all.”)
I Just Read About That... 