Waking Ear

Some mysterious man has put record reviews here. I wish I knew who it was.

Okay, so I know that Phant already posted today, but I have nothing to say about Morrissey except that I really think that he's a deranged lunatic. So, in complete Schmubby style, I am going to change the subject to something that I want to talk about. I promise that it won't be sappy (please note almost every post Phant has published since his recent engagement) (please also note that I am happy for the both of them..yea! Go "Team Ball and Chain") ( and lastly note that the name 'Team Ball and Chain' is not a derogatory remark, simply in jest, I don't want to step on any toes, or feet, or clams, whatever you call them.) Okay, where was I? Oh, yes, my post about something not sappy. I would like to discuss the songs of the year so far. I always like hearing Paul and Paz's selections, so hopefully they will comment. Uus, comments....mmmm...par. Phant of course has good songs except the ones done by that artist whose first name is Marshall...there are a few, apply where you see fit. So far this year has been a dud for me. Not that the music is any less than par, but I haven't REALLY GOTTEN INTO A FUCKING ALBUM, MAN! There are a few songs that I believe make the cut of excellence with a seal of Schmubby approval. This seal does not do any tricks with a beach ball, but has been known to swim with remarkable speed.

1) The Walkmen- "The Rat"- fastest, greatest song this year. Just powerful.
2) Modest Mouse- "Bukowski"- Paul's favorite song this year, I am sure. Just has some great licks and lines....could've been an Ugly Cassanova song though.
3) The French Kicks- "One More Time". Harmonies galore! Love it!
4) Franz Ferdinand- "Jacqueline" -obvious choice...but aren't all mine so far?
5) The Streets- "Dry Your Eyes, Mate"- okay...I cried...I admit it. BUT SO DID YOU DAMNIT!

That's what I got so far. How about all you Yardbirds?

Yes yes yes yes yes yes YES.

Although the Will Rogers Auditorium is actually in Fort Worth.

My parents' advice in this whole getting married thing was to talk a lot about the values we have in common, that those are the things that make the difference when it gets tough. They're probably right. But I've known for a long time that Girlfriend and I could make a go at this. She has great taste in music.

The prelude to our romance was made up of mix tapes and CDs. I made one for her that sent her shopping for some new CDs based on what she gleaned from my mix. (She never has warmed up to Cat Power, whose songs she refers to with Jack Black derision as "sad bastard music." But you can't win 'em all.) She made a mix for me that finally opened my eyes to the beauty of Biggie Smalls. I had never met someone who so embraced hip-hop radio, and she's always had a knack for separating the hits from the duds. We bonded over several forms of Latin American music. We went to shows. I tested bands out on her, playing them in my car, determining what struck a chord and what fell flat.

She once told me that she liked how I didn't get mad if she changed the radio station from the one I was listening to. Other guys did this, she said. They were missing out on the best opportunity to know her.

With music, you can peer into another person's history. You can see what they were doing from about 7th grade on, like you're examining the stump of a tree and counting the rings as they expand outward. I kept liking what I was seeing.

Since we started thinking seriously about getting married, I've urged her not to buy a CD I already own. It would mean that eventually we'd have duplicates. I like to think about our CD collections blended together on a shelf, Morrissey fitting perfectly next to Mos Def.

Girlfriend has started a blog to chronicle the travails of planning our impending nuptials. Which is way harder than it should be. The planning, I mean.

Has anybody heard anything by this Van Hunt character? Because I'm going to see him play Sunday.

The Wrens really are that good. Bravo.

Wedding fever continues. Girlfriend -- er, Fiancee -- and I are gettin' hitched, probably a year from October. There will be an open bar.

More regular posting will resume when I'm not so fucking busy.

Apologies in advance, but I have to introduce you to Rodeohead.


Yeah, I'm sorry.

Shit, nobody told me Papercities was back! And Martin's armed with MP3s!

Back in the blogroll he goes.

Has anybody else heard the version of "Lean Back" with the guy rapping in Spanish, apparently over a telephone or some shit?

I don't know what Inskeep's beef with Fat Joe is, but I wouldn't call "Lean Back" so-so. Those Bollywood violins sound like the bad-ass equivalent of the wokita-wokita guitars in Shaft. And, incidentally, I think Bill Cosby would endorse a song where rappers talk about pulling up their pants.

Now we know why the Beta Band canceled their Austin City Limits tourdate.