'tis the season...

OK, just about everyone does a “best of” list this time of the year. I’m far too lazy to write more than a few words. But, I must gush about the songs that had people wondering if I was having a seizure in my car or, possibly, if I was on my way to an audition for “The New Dance Show” (remember that one? Come on. Channel 62. …Coming to you from The Brotherhood Club!? And “The Count” - The guy who always wore the cape!). Anyway, the following songs were played over and over and over in my car this year….

Wilco - Theologians
I totally have a thing for guys singing in a falsetto…

Wilco - I’m a Wheel
I love it when Tweedy says, “Um…” Is that a weird reason to love a song?

Loretta Lynn w/ Jack White – Portland, Oregon
I love this song for two reasons. 1) I’d listen to country music if it were all this amazing. 2) The line “Portland, Oregon and sloe-gin fizz. If that ain’t love, then tell me what is.” A sloe-gin fizz was my Busia’s drink on the rare occasions that she drank. My mom has old, old videos of Busia drunk on a sloe-gin fizz, dancing with a pole (not in a gross way – you perverts!) at a party in my uncle’s basement. It is hilarious. The mere mention of a sloe-gin fizz makes me think of Busia! Awe…

A.C. Newman – Secretarial
I thought that I loved the New Pornographers until I heard Mr. Newman on his own. Genius.

Killers – Somebody Told Me
Not even a guilty pleasure. Just an awesome song.

A late entry… The Faint – Desperate Guys
This one causes me to attempt “The Shelter Dance” while driving. Anyone who ever went to teen night at the Shelter in the late 80’s knows what I mean. I’m getting old, but this song makes me feel like I’m seventeen, haven’t been out in the sun in years, have the bottom half of my hair shaved off with the front longer and the rest sticking up, have been dancing until 11pm when the bouncer yells “If you’re not 18, get the fuck out”, and are about to go to Denny’s to spend the remaining time before curfew eating mozzarella sticks. I love The Faint.

Beulah – Landslide Baby
I’ll refrain from telling you how much I love Beulah and how sad I am that they broke up. But, I do and I am. I just want to know where the tour DVD is???

And, for the past few weeks, I’ve been singing along to the best Christmas carol EVER…
The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping.
You mean you forgot cranberries, too?

There were a lot of runner’s up: Sloan - Step On it, Jean, Ted Leo / Pharmacists – Me and Mia, The Dirtbombs – F.I.D.O., just about anything by The Witches…

Hugs and Kisses and Merry Christmas!

29 and Holding.

Since the 3rd anniversary of my 29th birthday is fast approaching (1/13/05**), for right now (I reserve the right to change my mind) I propose that the “MOTHER OF ALL CELEBRATIONS” be at…
Troy Gregory and the Step Sisters w/
The Beggars
Friday January 14th 2005
At The Painted Lady in Hamtramck

** Perfect gifts would be black shoes, music and Beulah.
Of course, attendance will be mandatory. How often will I celebrate an anniversary of my 29th birthday?

Anyway, Randy was reprimanding be for being a blog-slacker. All this Xmas shopping, work, family birthdays, my party, Matty’s graduation, blah, blah, blah, has had me in a tizzy. I promise to be better in 2005. That’s my resolution. I always keep my new year's resloutions...

Hugs and Kisses...

Friday, finally.

New Doves soon. I’m excited about this…

“Jez, Jimi and Andy have now finished work on their new album Some Cities, the genuinely long-awaited follow up to 2002's The Last Broadcast.

Black And White Town [the 1st single] gets a full release on February 7th, 2005 followed by Some Cities on February 21st.

Be sure to check out next weeks NME for more details on the album release and an exclusive announcement of Doves 2005 tour.”

I’m not sure if Feb. 21, 2005 is a date for the U.S. release, too. Regardless, it’s coming soon (or I’ll probably buy it as an import).

20 days until the BEST NEW YEARS EVE EVER! 24th row, center!

Hugs and Kisses…

Grrr. Stay out of my way today.

TWICE in ONE week I’ve overslept. Now I get to spend all day with my effing afro in a massive ponytail. I know that the damn alarm clock did not go off this morning. It was still set for 5 am when I finally work up at 6:05 – I’m positive that I didn’t sleep through the snooze for over an hour. First stop after work today: Target for a new alarm clock.

It only gets worse. I don’t think anyone will be around to go to this with me tomorrow…
Lager House, 12/10: Troy Gregory & The Steps Sisters
I’ll just go home after my work Christmas party and be sad that I have to miss this and The Witches show on the 18th. Pobre Kathy…

But this might be fun…
THIRD ANNUAL DETROIT SOUNDS AND SPIRITS
Magic Stick, 12.23.2004 @ 8:00pm
“An old-fashioned holiday spectacular and benefit for COTS. Come all ye faithful music fans and tipple an egg nog or three and take a sleigh ride down the face of Mt. Magic Stick, as a constellation of Detroit music stars lead you on a caroling chorus to warm the cockles of even the hardest of hearts. Admission to this event is $15, 18 and older please. Doors at 9, performance at 10 sharp!“

¿qué más?
A new Sleater-Kinney album on the way…

A new Kills single and album soon…
“The British garage-rock outfit will drop its "The Good Ones" in early February from Domino Records. The single precedes No Wow, which is set for a spring release.”

And, finally, CHECK THIS OUT: The 300 visitors who voted for Madame Tussaud’s Christmas Nativity Scene this year are going to HELL. The nativity features “Posh & Becks” as Joseph and Mary; Kylie Minogue as an angel; Tony Blair, The Duke of Edinburgh, and George W. Bush as the Three Wise Men (huh???); Samuel L. Jackson, Hugh Grant, and Graham Norton as shepherds. (via gloriousnoise...).

Hugs and Kisses...

I could be a gold digger?

My boss is hilarious. He sent me the following email last Friday. It seems that, despite his nerdy exterior, Ken Jennings (the guy who won like a trillion dollars on Jeopardy) has some good taste in music. Read on….

12/03/2004 08:25 AM
From: KJ’sboss@evilpharmaceuticalcompany.com
To: KJ@evilpharmaceuticalcompany.com
cc:
Subject: Kathy and Ken Jennings.......separated at birth?

I just had to let you know......

On the drive in this morning I was listening to Drew and Mike on WRIF and they had set up a phone interview with Ken Jennings the Jeopardy phenom. The interview started out with nice chit-chat, but in typical Drew and Mike fashion evolved into a slam-fest where the guys attempted to embarrass and stump Ken for being a game show dork. But somewhere in the middle of the attempts to stump Ken we learned important personal information about Ken that I thought would interest you. The interview essentially went like this:

Drew: Ken, it seemed like there were several Jeopardy categories that you totally sucked at....sports for example.
Ken: I wouldn't say I "sucked" at sports, but it is probably one of my weaker areas.
Drew: Okay, if you don't suck at sports who was the MVP of SuperBowl IV?
Ken: No idea.
Drew: Exactly my point. Everyone knows it was Len Dawson of the KC Chiefs.
Ken: Right.
Drew: How about Rock-and-Roll Ken? Are you a rocker and do you know R&R trivia? Who are your favorite bands?
Ken: Current bands or all-time?
Drew: Right now, whose music do you really get into? (I think everyone was expecting Ken to answer 'Donnie and Marie' or 'The Carpenters', but then came the impossible response)
Ken: Right now I love Wilco. They are easily my favorite band. I also really like The Flaming Lips and Deathcab for Cutie.

Dead serious, I am not making this up. I almost spit out my coffee. The interview stalled for several seconds as Drew (and I) attempted to gather ourselves, jarred by Ken's unexpected answer. I really don't know what I thought the small dorky Mormon from Utah would list as his favorite bands, but I'm almost certain it wasn't what I heard.

So all this is just to let you know that you might be seeing Ken rockin' out at any number of future shows you are likely to attend. Additionally, it is apparent that yourself and Ken have lots in common. And now he's a celebrity with bags of cash....and the best part is he lives in Utah in an environment where the fact that he is already married does not necessarily mean he is off the market. I felt it was my duty to provide you with this information....do with it what you wish.

I may be moving to Utah... I might be wife #4, but I’d get to ski and go to cool concerts!

Hugs and Kisses….

Why did they have to pick the 18th???

I knew there was a reason not to have a party on Dec. 18! Alas, I've already invited everyone and their sister (you’d better all show up!), so I am going to have to miss
THE WITCHES
at the Belmont on Dec. 18 (w/ Outrageous Cherry)

Sucks. We’ll have to drink a lot at my Christmas party to dull the pain.

I know how annoying I can be when I love bands (see Beulah), so I’ve kept this on the down low (not the same "down low" as the Oprah version). But, I L-O-V-E The Witches. Just yesterday, I was dancing around my kitchen to I Luv’d Wrong. It was fun. Due to numerous scheduling conflicts (they don’t consult me before they book shows), I’ve never been able to see them live… Next time.

Hugs and Kisses…