The Great Defector

Blogging ebbs, blogging flows. Mostly ebbing lately.

Because I've been busy. Mucho time spent helping Chris Isaak and David Byrne file stolen identity complaints.

It was the music

Everyone alive in 1985 knows that John Hughes shaped the middle part of the decade for a lot of people.

But it was his spot-on knack for new music -- alternative or college radio that was only available via MTV's 120 Minutes -- that was the foundation of it all.

Pretty in Pink used this (so did Ferris, I think).


Sixteen Candles benefited immensely from this.


This defined Ferris.


Even Planes Trains and Automobiles pulled great music out of it's ass. Remember Book Of Love?


This single handedly saved She's Having A Baby.


Pretty in Pink may have set the gold standard.




And the obvious anthem.

New Rancid

Picks right up where Indestructible left off. Which is a very good thing.

Strictly Game

I've got Harlem Shakes in heavy rotation. Make a little money, take a lot of shit, feel real bad, and get over it. Sounds like a plan.

Soundtrack to the Summer

The early leader for Soundtrack to the Summer honors is going to Fanfarlo.

Sort of a less spastic Clap Your Hands Say Yeah meets David Byrne (which sort of goes without saying since Clap spliced some of David's DNA) meets Arcade Fire.

Apply Gun To Foot

I would actually be inclined to like their late eighties Smiths meets John Hughes meets Aztec Camera teen drama pop. Except they went and gave themselves the douchiest band name ever.

Titus Andronicus

I'm assuming the sweat sprayed on the first couple rows tastes like bourbon.

Multiple Entries

So when I'm sitting at the computer doing my "work", I'm usually streaming something and jotting down bands I want to learn more about. And I looked at my scribble page today and saw Parts & Labor written down about six different times.

Check out Nowhere Nigh.

Even Newer M. Ward. Yea.

I like a site with an obvious big honking pink play button.

New Andrew Bird. Yea.

Rules are meant to be broken. Musically, one of my guiding principles has always been a simple one: No whistling (I'm looking at you, Andy Griffith).

Okay, one exception.

Singing Your Own Name

Meta awesome. Peter Gabriel covering Vampire Weekend.

Battle Lost

Matt and Kim's Good Ol Fashion Nightmare has officially taken possession of the space between my ear holes. At this point, I'm just hoping to get custody back for the weekends.

Matt and Kim

The d.j. in my head has Matt and Kim in heavy rotation. I suspect payola.

Summertime Clothes

Heard this new Animal Collective song a week ago and it's been running in a continuous loop in my brain ever since. Continuous. Endless. Song ends, song starts again. Repeat.

And I still like it.

a poignant rememberance

I'm a little slow with my year in review, but that's because I was having trouble even thinking about that year. The one between 2007 and 2009. The one I won't speak to directly. The one I will only address in the third person even when it's in the room.

But I'm past that now. I've come to terms with that year. Part of the healing process was starting to refer to that year by my own little pet name for it. Fucktard. Cute little fucktard.

From here on out it will go something like this: Michael Phelps won who-knows-how-many gold medals in the fucktard summer Olympics. Or, remember when Tina Fey took over the world, oh yeah, that was back in fucktard.

If it hadn't been for the Obama election I would have enlisted an extension cord to make sure the toaster reached the bath tub.

BUT, one awesome thing about fucktard was that, musically, I was in sixth grade again. Nothing but singles. I'm not sure I bought a CD.

So, in no particular order, the 12 best singles of fucktard.

Sigur Ros - Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur

Tokyo Police Club - Your English Is Good Yeah

Passion Pit - Sleepy Head

Air France - Collapsing At Your Door

Hold Steady - Sequestered In Memphis

MGMT - Time To Pretend

Pela - Lonesome Hearts (the Cassettes Won't Listen Remix)

Frightened Rabbit - Head Rolls Off

The Soft Pack (formerly The Muslims) - Bright Side

Delta Spirit - Motivation

Air France - No Excuses

Born Ruffians - Hummingbird

Asleep At The Switch

So I'm late to the game. Somehow The Touch Alliance managed to dodge my radar for at least a couple years. Not sure how they managed that when they're like a speedball of Bubble Yum and Pop Rocks.



Followed by a line of pure, uncut Pixy Stix (straw conveniently included). You know, as an eye opener.



Then, just to take the edge off, there's the Gummi Bear suppository. Don't ask. But hear more here.

And, yes, I was alerted to the fact that The Tough Alliance was recently seen sharing a booth at the Racine Comfort Inn with ...

I'll Stay Forever

While I can see these guys being a bunch of douche nozzles tipping 8% in an IHOP, the song is indisputably way cooler than me.

Stay Away From The Foos

Still in the lounge at the Racine Comfort Inn, while Longwave read their press clippings comparing them to a cross between Radiohead and The Strokes...


They happen to see the four dudes at the foosball table and reconsider the skinny pants.

C'est Beau

More socialist rooftop music from Air France.

air france - no excuses songs
Download free music | Download free mp3

Into The Dish Room

And back at the Racine Comfort Inn lounge, Dawn Of The Dead push back from their table...



And stroll -- all bass lines and synthesizer -- into the steam of the dish room to bum a smoke from ...



And a light from...