Friday Random Ten, Is this the only thing I post edition

Freaky busy, no time to post stuff.

I know this'll disappoint the legions of adoring readers. Refunds available at the side door. Meanwhile go read these:

Norbizness
Tbogg
Wha'd he say?
True Brilliance
Latigo Flint


better yet, go outside. It's nice. Get a beer, play some frisbee.


1. Pavement - Loretta's scars. Gotta be in the right mood for Pavement. Today's not bad. As Berke Breathed once said about America and Betty Crocker, "over-hyped but basically a good broad!"

2. Page/Plant - Heart in Your Hand. Ever hear of any Page's stuff after Zeppelin? seems like he can't do decent work with anybody except Plant.

3. Smashing Pumpkins - By Starlight. More overhyped music. But the Pumpkins were great on the first two albums, Gish and Siamese Dream. Haven't been able to tolerate this Melon Collie (ig) album in one sitting since it's release. In little bits it's OK tho.

4. Genesis - Me And Sarah Jane. One for Nick. Phil ascendant, but before he lost it entirely and turned into a MOR moppet.

5. Metallica - No Leaf Clover. If Metallica had been around when I was in high school, they would have been my favorite band. And I like the symphony backup on this - overdone and unneccesary yes, but it sounds like the hardest movie soundtrack ever. STFU.

6. Beck - Sea Change. Very different sound for our little geeky friend. sounds more like Moby, almost. But then, he's always done what he wanted, right? I even liked his blues album.

7. Marillion - The Uninvited Guest (demo). I'd always stayed away from Marillion because they were always described as sounding like 'early Genesis'. Sounded a little too close for my tastes, like Badfinger sounded like the Beatles. But a now defunct online music column that I learned to trust nearly 100% was always very positive about them, so I finally started to check them out. And they blew me away. Yes, the early stuff with Fish on vocals does sound very baroque and a little too close to Gabriel. But Steve Hogarth has helped them to develop a distinct sound, contemporary prog. I was able to see them in Chicago on the latest tour, and the live show was amazing. Oh, and this is a top shelf song too.

8. Tom Waits - Chocolate Jesus. Talk about another guy who's followed his own muse. I love the new, percussion based stuff, like Bone Machine. It's all so dark. Very Dark.

9. Bill Cosby - Half Man. Bill's early comedy was soooo good.

10. Husker Du - Love is All Around. Finally,peg the NCSA meter. While Prince was filling the airwaves in Minneapolis, Husker Du, Soul Asylum, and the Replacements were filling the basements and warehouses, adding a bit of melody to punk thrash. And yes, that is the Mary Tyler Moore show theme song.

11. Rancid - Daly City Train. People have said that Rancid sounds like the Clash. That's a criticism? valid or no, this is a fine slab of ska-punk from "...and out come the wolves".

and that's it cuz I gotta eat my lunch.