Popularity

Bush's approval rating hit 29% in a Harris poll yesterday.

So about a quarter of Americans, by and large, aren't so much clueless as they are slow. It's a minor distinction, but probably important. Not that it wasn't plain that he and his crony-based assministration were corrupt, inept, and venal long before the 2004 election. Also not to mention that prior to 2000 Molly Ivins' book Bushwhacked was published to, as she says in the foreword, let the rest of the country know what they're in for. Texas not only became the testing ground for bad public policy, but also the model for America.

Also to be noted: Hi, General Hayden! We're all looking forward to Phase II!! I love Big Brother.

And isn't just the most apt demonstration of the sheer suckitude of our modern journalistic institutions that USA Today is the paper that actually breaks, you know, the NEWS? With what used to be called Investigative Reporting (you youngsters today don't know what I'm talking about, I know. Dinosaurs, roamed the Earth, etc...)

Since nobody chimed in on the title of last week's post, an extra beer for anyone who correctly identifies the inspiration for today's without Googling.

Lot's of new stuff on the computer, we could take bets on it coming up in the Random. Neil Young's Living With War, Arcade Fire's Funeral, Pearl Jam's new one, Hammell On Trial's Tough Love, Lots o Bill Hicks, Buzzcocks, Mighty Mighty Bosstones A Jacknife to A Swan, Pretty Girls Make Graves, the Walkmen, the Toasters Enemy of the System...


Summerfest update: Okay, we've got nine days that have worthy headliners. Looking quite good for an eleven-fecta. One potential problem: a friend has reportedly scheduled a party for July 5th. Recently announced: Lewis Black, and Blue Oyster Cult. Shut up, BOC is on tour forever. Trivia note: Howie Klein reports that Jackson Browne (yes, The one that dated Darryl Hannah) was briefly vocalist for an early incarnation of BOC when they were known as Soft White Underbelly. I did not know that.


1..One World (Not Three) from the album “Message In A Box: The Complete Recordings (Disc 3)” by The Police I can tolerate Sting when he's in the group.

2. Another Man's Woman from the album “Crisis? What Crisis” by Supertramp Ouch. Quite a black mark on my IMS record (Insufferable Music Snob). Oh well, at least it's not Journey.

3. Merry Christmas Emily from the album “Forever” by Cracker I like Cracker. I like CVB. This is kind of a nothing song though. He should have sold it to Hootie.

4. She Got Everything And You Got Me from the album “Believe Me” by Jake Brennan & The Confidence Men Wow. Odds against that one coming up. Just a little album from a guy who was touring with the Figgs a while ago. Good songs though, and definitely worth checking out. What station plays this one, Zelmo?

5. Give My Love To Rose from the album “Misery Loves Company” by Jon Langford sah-weet. Mekon Jonny doing Cash Johnny. I'm sure it gets better, but I don't know how. A rare one.

6. institution from the album “Devil's Rats & Piggies” by Mekons Followed by the Mekes. I guess THAT'S how it would get better. DIY gem, and may go a long way to repairing my IMS cred damaged by #2 above. I was waiting in the bar, WHERE WERE YOU?

7. Keeping the Blade from the album “Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness” by Coheed and Cambria Well. followed up by a mellow bit of Prog. That'll leave a mark.

8. I Don't Know What To Do With My Life from the album “Operators Manual” by Buzzcocks Not the new stuff, but pretty close. Good old whiny vox, buzzsaw guitars, rapidfire drumming and irrepressible hooks. Ear Candy.

9. Sugar Machine from the album “Suck” by Boris the Sprinkler Old school snot-punk from Green Bay's fastest Reverend. They ALSO opened for The Figgs, this time at Linnemann's.

10. Beggars Day from the album “Hair Of The Dog” by Nazareth Ouch. Another guilty pleasure. Obscure 70's metal.


Let's try to cleanse that out of the palate with a few bonus tracks.

11. Woman Driving, Man Sleeping from the album “Souljacker” by eels Another goodie. Been a fan since he just called himself E.

12. Work For Food from the album “Hi-Fi Sci-Fi” by Dramarama Dramarama is a great lost band of the late 80's. Did manage to see them at Shank before they broke up. Great.

13. High Plains Drifter from the album “Paul's Boutique” by Beastie Boys

So good, we'll do two more, to round it out to fifteen:

14. Pardon Me (I've Got Someone To Kill) from the album “The Executioner's Last Songs Volume 1” by Lonesome Bob
Oh, this is good. From the benefit albums for Illinois Artists Against The Death Penalty from my favorite Label, Bloodshot. Three separate albums of country songs of death and murder. Get out your Idiot Whistle, and Blow.

15. Why? from the album “Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits Of The '80s, Vol. 15” by Bronski Beat One of the Great Gay Dance Bands from the Eighties. Lovin the falsetto. The guy from The Darkness could learn a thing or two from these guys.


That's it. No new stuff came up, but that list was pretty good, so we'll take it. Take your music and head into the weekend, secure in the knowledge that there are just 48 days to Summerfest. Remember, ya gotta love the song that's on or life's just not worth living.

Brand New Announcement: Paul Simon at the Marcus. Not my bag, but I saw him at the Marcus with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. THAT was a show.

Final note. A very nice piece of sarcastic work from the dKos Darksyde, as a divergence from the normal Science Friday. Help The Billionaires. Go read and get your RDA of high-pure snark. Goes to show that you shouldn't irritate scientists.