So sleep and dream of love...because it's the closest you will get to love

It's been one of those weeks. So this is what I'm listening to now. I figured a Moz/Smiths playlist was appropriate. Let the music speak for itself.

Moz on tour

Morrissey to play here in NYC on June 30 at Madison Square Garden. I'm hoping it's at the Theatre at MSG and not the main arena. But I have a feeling it will be in the arena. In any case, I'm glad it's on a Saturday!

Check the True To You website for dates in your area. There are lots of dates.

Class of 1984

TGIF! TGIF! And it's a three-day weekend for me. I'm so excited I can just spit!

Who remembers this movie? Did you see it? I went to see this twice when it came out. I had a "crush" on that wild chick. Every Male Mo in the world loves a bad girl with an attitude. I'm sure if I see it today, I might be a little embarrased that I loved this flick so much that I drew that bad-ass punk chicky a thousand times over in class. I guess I just loved that outfit she had on. I had a pretty big punk fascination at the time though the only band I was listening to was Blondie.

I may have to rent this movie this weekend to refresh my memory of it. The reason why I thought of this movie is because every time I pass by my old school on the way to work, these memories keep flooding in and each day I pass by, I get a "remember this?" thought into my brain.

Next stop - Videodrome starring Debbie Harry herself.

Vinyl Mania

Another one bites the dust. VinylMania closed it's doors on March 18. Off course we are not surprised as every record shop takes its turn to close down. I mean, I guess it had to happen. And why should I be upset at all this when I haven't bought a vinyl record since the early 90s. But it's not even just the record shops but also shops that sell CDs. If Tower Recods could not keep up, how will the small shops do? It was sad to see Tower Records go though because I had special memories connected to that place as do most music maniacs. When I was 17 that would be around 1984, I abandoned the local records stores in Queens to that of Manhattan's Village shops. My first stop on my big venture out in the Village was Tower Records. On my first ever trip to Tower Records, I bought Depeche Mode's Speak & Spell. And when WLIR (The Station That Dares To Be Different 92.7) announced the release of The Smith's Hatfull of Hollow, I dropped everything ran over to Tower Records and dashed my way over to the import section to buy my most treasured and most beloved Smiths record. It began a love affair that is still strong. But soon I would even abandon Tower Records to those of smaller spaces. Those little shops where you walk in and hear the door make chiming noises. One in particular is located still at St. Marks place. SOUNDS was where I went to buy just about all my records. This is where you will find slightly used LPs, promos and imports at half the price as well as bootlegs. I would always find what I was looking for and there was so much music for me to catch up on and SOUNDS had it all. I remember buying Talk Talk, Alphaville, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure, Soft Cell and a bunch of others and not spend any more than $20. And these albums got played plenty. And I always made sure to by blank tapes (chrome off course) whenever I finished my records shopping so that I can make a mix of all the music I had just bought for the walkman or the portable stereo. Imagine if we could blog then.

There was so much warmth in all that. Hunting for your records from store to store and getting home all excited and making those tapes. Now in the digital age, things have gotten so cold and sterile. But I'm mostly reminiscing and romanticizing the exciting days of my youth. I just wish it had the same hold on me now as it did back then so that I cold enjoy life more. Ah well....

St. Marks is losing its charm and I just know that it won't be long before SOUNDS closes its doors too.

Please watch

Perhaps if more people realized that we are not the center of the universe and that we reside on just a mote of dust in this vast universe with a thin layering of life, we might like each other more. Or even me for that matter.

Lunar Eclipse

There was a Lunar Eclipse last Saturday. And what was I doing? I don't even remember, but I had not the slightest hint of this going on. I guess I need one of those calendars.

So, if you're into this and you missed it or if you didn't miss it, watched it and want to see more of it, then head over to this site where there are some fantastic photos of the eclipse from certain parts of the world. There's one link that will show you a movie of the whole eclipse which looked very dramatic.

From APOD website:

"Completely immersed in Earth's cone-shaped shadow during the total eclipse phase, the lunar surface is still illuminated by sunlight, reddened and refracted into the dark shadow region by a dusty atmosphere."

I Satellite - Cover Songs

Sometime ago I posted about a Chicago based synth artist by the name of I SATELLITE. I was checking out his website recently and noticed he's got page with cover versions of some cool stuff out there. You can download them from his site. The mp3s are towards the bottom of the page.

Songs include:

• Alphaville - Into The Dark
• Alphaville - A Victory of Love
• ABBA - I Am The City
• New Order - Your Silent Face
• Japan - Life In Tokyo (two versions)

I was very impressed with his version of Alphaville's A Victory of Love and New Order's Your Silent Face (a favorite NO song!) He sounds like Marian Gold as well as Bernard Sumner.

Good stuff. You should check it out.

Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker

Over the weekend I got the new Skinny Puppy CD - Mythmaker. I've been listening to it since.

The album begins with signature Ogre's vocoded voice titled "Magnifishit" a great opening track.

The whole album is a great deal of Skinny Puppy coming back in full force. My opinion is that The Greater Wrong of Right though a good release does not have that "we're back" feeling. Whereas Mythmaker is saying "We're really back!" Just hearing that opening track with Ogre's signature vocoder voice put a near smile on my face. I thought "finally" a kick-ass beginning. No slow build-up or anything. At each level, the opening track builds to a good dose of synth sounds echoing in stereophonic pleasure. I started thinking to myself that maybe this is as good as it gets, the next song might disappoint me. But it didn't and I enjoy listening to the entire album. I think Puppy's release Last Rights was the first time they began incorporating more melodic elements into their song and you'll find some of that in Mythmaker as well. I like the melodic beginnings and angry harsh choruses in some of their songs.

I have yet to venture out to all the side projects that Ogre and the rest have been involved with. To date, I have some old releases. One from Download, Cyberaktif, and the single Doubting Thomas.

Grey Gardens - Final

Walter Kerr Theatre - 3/2/07

Some reviewers state the women of Grey Gardens are mentally ill and probably didn't even know that they were being exposed through the Maysles' documentary.

I just think these were two beautiful and talented people who did not get the chance they deserved and lived a secluded life outside of the world. Where inside Grey Gardens, time seemed to have stood still. Where little Edie still sees herself as a little girl who dreams of taking off to her New York career after the age of 56 and big Edie who believes she's never strained her voice and how she should get it back to the way it was when she was in her 40s.


I don't care much for musicals. I can't stand all that singing and dancing "Broadway" style. The lyrics they use are so silly as in this musical, the song "Jerry Likes My Corn" proved to me that I may never see a musical again. The first act killed me with all the exhausting Broadway routine of song and dance. For most people, the first act was a necessary as we had to see just where these women were coming from. How they ended up the way they did. It was interesting only a little bit to me. You first realize how important music is to big Edie. Well, you'd have to be if you had your own live in pianist. A gay one at that, complete with those neck scarves they they all wore at the time. Total poofster, and one that no rich bitch in East Hampton can do without.

Anyway, it was during the second act that shook me to attention. Everything was familiar and I was amazed at how closely the characters resembled both big and little Edie. This is where little Edie becomes the lovable innocent looking after her mother after all these years and never getting the chance to get out and live. It's a little heartbreaking towards the end when she's all packed up to leave Grey Gardens but hears her mother crying for her because she's starving and can't open up the can. She puts everything down and gets back to tend to her mother.

Morning Rain

There are other rain songs out there. But today I thought of this one only because on the way to work, I pass by my JHS and my HS. They were just a few blocks away from each other. So this classic by the Eurythmics is the obvious choice for me.

The video makes me want to take the plane and head on over to Scotland. Great scenery.

Happy Friday, all!!

Grey Gardens III

Today I purchased my ticket to Grey Gardens! And at a discount too. I'm going to see it this Friday night. Yay!

And you thought I was done writing about this. :)

There is an official site (not the musical site). And a Yahoo! group. From what I've read, the Marble Faun actually posts to that group.

Fortunate

Friday night and we're still celebrating. My friend D and a couple of other ladies took me to Max Brenner again and we actually had dinner before going towards chocolate pizzas and truffles. It was fantastic. After that we headed over to Madame X. You know how you pass a place so many times wondering what it's all about but never finding the reason to be in there? Anyway, one of D's friends was also celebrating a birthday so he was having his party over at this place. We went upstairs to a private area and saw a gang of young and mature people hanging out. There seemed to be a theme going on as a lot of people came in wearing wigs. Both boys and girls. We sat there observing the scene and I'm fine doing just that these days. We sat next to a beautiful Asian girl who was wearing a roaring 20s get-up complete with feathered headband. Turns out she was the entertainment which we missed. I think she said she was doing some tap dancing or some kind of dance. Now she had stationed herself in the corner as the resident tattoo artist. She painted D a fabulous sparkling tattoo on her arm. Met the birthday boy who had just turned 30. I told him how old I had just gotten and he said that it was a remarkable age and I was wondering how he'd know that. Anyway, had some fun and left and I have D to thank for it. Nights like this often make me forget a lot of crap that I usually think of and can actually live through the rest of the weekend feeling fine.

Came home just after midnight to find my light bubs in the living room were all blown up. This is the third time since I've moved here that I had to change the bubs. How often do you have to change your light bulbs? Not such an easy task as the ceiling is high and I have to get up on the chair to do it. By the way, my apartment still pretty much looks like I have just moved in and I'm now in my 6Th month! Time does not go by so slowly.

That Other Place

I know that there were or are a couple of you who have made visits to my other blog. For a while there, even though I was posting in here, I did go back and posted a few more entries.

If you've gone there lately, I'm sure you got a message saying that the blog is private only. Please note that I did not make it private for anyone other than myself. I'm not posting there regularly and I'm not inviting only certain people to read the blog.

I just didn't want to delete it completely and I also didn't want it to be accessible to the public anymore. I want to keep it for myself because I'd like to revert to some of the posts from time to time. I mean, I did write in there for about three years. Would you throw away your journal or your diary? There were some posts there that were highly personal and emotional. And I remember writing them thinking nobody would read them. But then as shocking as it was, there were people actually responding. They were all kind-hearted and respectful responses from some very nice people. It was nice to have people on my side for once.

In the old days, those feelings were either locked-up or written down somewhere in a book for my own eyes only. I don't know whether putting myself out there for a select people made me weak or strong. Only you can answer that, hopefully truthfully.

I really do miss it though. Some of those people are now gone. I guess blogging was a thing they can either take or leave. There wasn't much attachments for them and they can move on to other things. Perhaps they grew and learned something and didn't need it anymore.

For me, it's still a forum for my thoughts which never get the audience they deserve sometimes. And honestly, I do get a kick out of people's responses. I'm happy whenever a comment is made. And I get very excited and I usually post a response to the comments.

Where else can it be all about me? The life I've lived where I always stood in the background and I was never the center of anything.

I'm a very anxious person which is why some of my posts seem to have been done in a hurry or look incomplete. Usually, when I'm writing about something outside of emotions and feelings, I get kind of anxious. But when I write about what I'm writing about now, I can actually blah blah all day long with details filled in. Though I do seem to branch out from one thing to another.

So I guess I should conclude. And in short, please don't be offended if you made way to my older blog to find that it is now private. If you really do want to access it - though I don't see why, let me know and I'll add you in. And for those that were there from 2004 and on, thanks for some memories and support and all that. It may be just "something" to you guys but for me, I think a lot of it was important for me.

Things have been emotionally crazy for me lately though. I'm getting all sorts of negative emotions flooding in yesterday, today and tomorrow. So you've been warned.

The Secret vs. What The Bleep Do We Know

You know for a long time I've been going on about the movie What The Bleep Do We Know. And now out comes The Secret. And because these guys appeared on Oprah, you know they're all gonna flock to it. I'd rather they see What The Bleep because it was enough. Deepak Chopra is enough or even Dr. Wayne Dyer. These guys are all talking about the same thing. These idiots with The Secret are talking about it as if they made up the stuff.

I'm not being fair because I haven't seen the movie they're trying to pull off to the public. Rather I just saw them on Oprah and I'm making a judgement based on that. That one guy that says "I call it intention.." Dude, you didn't call anything. And you didn't make that up so stop trying to make us believe that you're the genius behind all this. That one guy dressed up like he's some kind of guru. I couldn't watch the whole thing.

Anyway, I urge you that if you're interested in that sort of stuff, skip it and see What The Bleep Do We Know instead. It's only fair since they're the first people to make a movie out of it.

Labels

I keep forgetting about the "labels" feature! I keep having to go back and put them there.

Grey Gardens II

Here's a little taste of Little Edith Beal in all her glory. To the tune of Madonna's "Hung Up" off course. Madonna would be proud.



Little Edith Beale's fashion show.

Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens - The Beales of Grey Gardens:

Aw forget it! I thought about writing a "review" of this and then remembered - I'm not a strong a reviewer. You guys can do that and what seems to me - with ease. I just can't throw all those words around and make it sound like it came out of some newspaper column or something.

By the way, when I post about a CD, DVD or anything like that, it's not really a "review" rather than just me saying "I got something and I like it." Or maybe write a few words about how I feel about the whole thing.

So here's how I feel about this DVD. It started out with a friend at work who started talking about it and I had no interest whatsoever in it. Until she lent me the Grey Gardens DVD and I was hooked. I have to credit my friend who pushed this on me somehow knowing that what's going on with Little Edith Beale is something I can relate to.

It's about a bird trapped in a cage. She longs to break out of the cage and hit the city of New York to finally make a career for herself. She likes to dance and sing. So does her mother big Edith Beale. Which is why they ended up living the way they did. A 28 room mansion in the Hamptons which is falling apart. Garbage everywhere, raccoons getting in the house, cats all over the place (imagine the smell). These two were part of the richest family in the world. The cousin and aunt of the late Jackie Onassis. They were once ordered to leave the house or fix it up. Ms. Onassis came to the rescue that one time but since then the house has deteriorated.

I feel so much for little Edith Beale when all she can think of is to leave that house and get to the city. "Any rats nest will do." Exactly how I felt all those years living in Arizona. When for some reason, I couldn't leave because of my father. Edith can't leave because of her mother who must be looked after.

Edith still dreams of becoming the dancer she always wanted to be. She often talks of never getting a chance. Missing out on everything. All on the account of her having to take care of her mom for 30 years. But I fell in love with her. Little Edith. The fashion icon. You've gotta see the makeshift outfits she puts together for herself. It's like a fashion show. And in later years, fashion designers have used little Edith's look on their runways!! As little Edith sometimes calls them "revolutionary." Her head is always covered. It's either a scarf, a towel, a sweater or something and all holding it together is this one broach which makes the entire outfit. She's got nowhere to go. They are both recluses but she takes the time to put outfits together and parades around in them just doing whatever.

Then there are the old pictures that they pass around to show to the film crew (Maysles brothers). These two were quite lookers in their young age. Breathtakingly beautiful pictures of both Ediths. Including in the room is a beautiful painted portrait of big Edith. At one time one of the cats gets behind it and does it's business. Memorable quote from big Edith: "No, I'm glad. I'm glad somebody's doing something what they want to do!"

Towards the end of the movie you see a bird taking off away from the roof of Grey Gardens. But inside you see little Edith Beale dancing around in this little room. All trapped, all wishing to spread her wings and fly away to get her life started. And she's only 56 years old.

In this DVD you are taken inside the lives of people who once had everything that they wanted. Money and all. Then all of it was stripped away and they were left to live in a home that would fall apart round them. And them along with it. You get to see a mother daughter relationship like no other.

I went out and bought the boxed set of this DVD. There's been quite an interest in the story. Now it being on Broadway and a movie about to be made starring Drew Barrymore. But this documentary was out in 1976! So it's had some kind of cult following. And usually I know about these things. Somehow, this one has passed me by until now. The boxed set included another DVD full of footage that was not seen in the first one. So much footage that it's a movie entirely on it's own. Here you can see so much more iconic fashion from little Edith. More singing and dancing and little Edith's philosophies.

Memorable quote from little Edith Beale: "You know what stays the same? Nature! The sun and the moon and everything else go on. In spite of man. He crumbles."

I do love her. After he mother died, little Edith Beale stayed at the mansion for another 4 to 5 years and then sold it. She moved to Bell Harbor in Florida and finally lived the remaining years of her life in luxury. She was given the chance to do some cabaret. But it never took off. But now, she's a star. She died in 2002.

I'm buying a Ouija board to contact her.

I know this was badly written.

Sarah Nixey - Sing, Memory

Some good songs here, namely, When I'm Here With You, Strengelove, The Collector, Endless Circles, Masquerade and... The Black Hit of Space.

I'm not the only one who has been praising the genius of the old Human League (coincidence? - And thanks XO!). It's a pretty good version of it in my opinion. This is not a U.S. release. I bought it on import. More of an impatient buy on my part. Not wanting to wait for a domestic release and thus getting burned by spending way too much for a CD. I might want to stop doing that and just head straight for the iTunes downloads rather than handing over my hard earned cash for a glossy CD packaging. But it's a choice you make.

Visage - DVD video collection (edited)

Coincidences never cease to amaze me. Just after posting about the whole Blitz scene I found this Visage collection of videos at Virgin yesterday while out doing some browsing. Well, I did intend to get the one thing, but then you know how it goes. I could not resit buying this.

I just like the scene in which Steve walks out of the Limousine to enter his Blitz night club. The quality of the videos are surprisingly well done.

The videos are presented in a seamless fashion. One video leading to the next.

Beat Boy was not such a great album. It was their last release in 1984. Love Glove possibly being the only listenable track in that album. Visage ended there. I guess it was interesting that the later videos were filmed in Egypt and other parts of Africa and some excellent scenery and shots were taken there. Steve is seen interacting with the locals engaging the kids of Egypt to style their hair and whatnot. I guess if I was in Egypt and had all those amazing scenes to film, I'd incorporate them into the videos even if the song had nothing to do with it. What does Love Glove have to do with the pyramids of Egypt? But still interesting to see a flamboyant Steve Strange amidst the locals and villagers of the land.

Still, it's a good buy for any fan of early masters of the VISual AGE.

It's just a day like any other day

I forgot my pod today. And I really needed some of those songs on the way to work. Today, of all days.

This has nothing to do with Valentines Day.

The weather decided to be extra crappy (I'm not surprised). Just that the thing is, I can no longer say I'm a thirty-something anymore. And I don't lie. Maybe the face could if I keep moisturising regularly.

This Friday I'm going to try and get discount ticket for Grey Gardens. Something I'm falling in love with and I'll write more about it soon. I despise most Broadway musicals, but I'm obsessed with these women and must see it. But, I can't really afford the $110.00 they're asking for orchestra seats. I guess I could go balcony. I don't know. I'll have to see tomorrow or Friday how I want to go about it.

I just felt a sudden jolt of joy and pleasure in thinking about all this. I hope it lasts the rest of the day.

Beautiful Darling

I got an e-mail today notifying me that there is in fact a movie in production on the life of Candy Darling. The e-mail came from a member of the production team and a friend of Candy Darling, Jeremiah Newton.

"Hello: You mentioned in your FACTORY GIRL review that someone should do something about Candy Darling. Well, we are. The documentary is called BEAUTIFUL DARLING/The Life and Times of Andy Warhol Superstar Candy Darling. We have been in production for 6 months now, and along with me, the producer is Gill Holland and the exec prod is Paul Morrissey."

More info can be found here and here.

Photo by Laura Rubin.

Factory Girl

Well, both of you know that I love the whole Warhol scene. I was all set to see this last night until I read the reviews. Every one of them bad. I know we can't always go by the critics but for this one, I really wanted it to work. Kind of like Capote did. So if any of you have seen it, kindly report and maybe I'll spend the $11.00 they want to watch this 1 1/2 hour movie.

You know besides Edie, there were many other superstars worthy of the spotlight. Candy Darling, Holly Woodlawn. These were the people in which Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" was about. Perhaps a movie with a focus on these "superstars" would be good idea. Throw in some Nico and Divine and you've got a great cast. But you'd have to get a really good Warhol. Bring back Bowie!!

Blitzed!!

Question: You have opened up a nightclub of your own. You make your own rules. You play your own music. So what would be your DJ list of songs for your night club?

So I was thinking of putting together the ultimate Blitz play list.

Back in the late 70s Rusty Egan and Steve Strange got together to open up a nightclub called Blitz. This is where you went to if you wanted to party to the sounds of all the newcomers at the time such as The Human League, Soft Cell, Japan and Simple Minds as well the more established greats like David Bowie, Iggy Pop and The Velvet Underground.

I taught I needed a little help with my play list so I searched around the net to see what I can find and I bumped into this DJ website that had a Rusty Egan play list that reflects those times at Blitz. I was pretty happy to know the those tracks that I had already thought of appeared on this play list. I won't be able to complete the list because I don't have all these songs so I would probably add a few more that are not on the list such as Duran Duran's "The Sound of Thunder" and Simple Mind's "I Travel.". But I have enough to make a good sized list to last me the commute to and from work.

You can check out Rusty's website where there is even a more complete play list of Blitz songs. I'm not quite sure how long Blitz ran but it sure sounded like a fun place to be at the time.

Below is Rusty's play list. Make one yourself, spike your hair, put on some makeup and dance like it's 1979. I'll be in the corner drinking along with George, Siouxsie and Marc.


RUSTY EGAN'S BLITZ PLAYLIST

David Bowie - Heroes
Cabaret Voltaire - Nag Nag Nag
Brian Eno - No One Receiving
Eno/Moebius/Roedelius - Broken Head
Gina X - No GDM
Nina Hagen - TV Glotzer
Human League - Being Boiled
Japan - I Second That Emotion
Japan - Life In Tokyo
Grace Jones - La Vie En Rose
Kraftwerk - The Model
Kraftwerk - Radioactivity
Kraftwerk - Showroom Dummies
La Dusseldorf - Viva
Landscape - Einstein A Go Go
Thomas Leer - Day Breaks Night Heals
M - M Factor
Magazine - Permafrost
Giorgio Moroder - The Chase
The Normal - Warm Leatherette
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Electricity
Iggy Pop - Nightclubbing
Iggy Pop - The Passenger
Wolfgang Reichman - Wunderbar
Rinder & Lewis - Willie And The Hand Jive
Roxy Music - Trash
Shock - R.E.R.B.
Simple Minds - Changeling
Siouxsie & The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
Soft Cell - Memorabillia
Sparks - Number One Song In Heaven
Telex - Cafe De La Jungle
Telex - Moscow Diskow
Throbbing Gristle - Hot On The Heels Of Love
Ultravox - Hiroshima Mon Amour
Ultravox - All Stood Still
Visage - Visage
Yello - Bostich
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Computer Game
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Firecracker

Noodles, Chocolate and Sketch Comedy

Last night a few of us got together to celebrate a friend's birthday. We'd been planning for months! So yesterday was the day to do it. We had dinner at a place called Republic. Pan-Asian, mostly noodle dishes. I'm afraid mine was a little bland at best. I had ordered the tofu udon and I usually like the udon soups especially with vegetable tempura. But this one, not so great. I did also try the tofu appetizer which was pretty good. It had a nice spicy peanut sauce that came with it. I will still go there another time to try out some of their other menu items. The place itself was nice so I recommend to anyone visiting.


Next we went over to Max Brenner Chocolate by the Bald Man which was quite an experiance. Who doesn't love chocolate? This restaurant offers all things chocolate and chocolate drinks. Hot, cold, frozen, any way you like. They do have other food items, but you want to come here for their chocolate "dishes." You have to know that I've never made smores before. So we ordered smores and some other stuff. The smores was for two but they give you plenty for at least four people. We had a blast here and stayed for quite a while. Nice atmosphere and a must for anyone visiting New York City.


Next we went across the street over to Virgin Megastore and I bought this.

I remember Kids In The Hall when they first started showing it on HBO. Funny stuff. Canada's version of Saturday Night Live and created by SNL'S Lorne Michaels. Lots of drag and all the funny characters like the "I'm crushing your head" guy, Cabbagehead and my favorite, Buddy Coles. I don't find every single sketches to be all that funny. But for the most part, there are some pretty good ones enough for this to be of a worthy purchase. They way they do drag alone is worth it. Sketch comedy these days are not so funny so I'm glad these are around for us to go back to when sketch was really funny. I would also like to get some of SCTV stuff as well. Remember that one? What about FRIDAYS? Where we first saw Michael Richards of Seinfeld fame.

"I love Jesus but...."

A little funny for you. I don't usually watch Ellen, but I saw this one on youtube and thought I'd share.

88 year old Gladys kills on the Ellen show. Really, watch this through. You'll laugh! Listen to her as she takes on the local weather news and so on...

I love Gladys!

NIN

New 15 track Nine Inch Nails to come out soon. According to Side Line, the ablum was recorded mostly with laptops in various hotel rooms around the world. Guest vocalists and such.

I'm interested but not holding my breath. Can't remember the last time I bought into any of his stuff. For me "Pretty Hate Machine" was the only great NIN album ever made considering who was involved with the making of that album.

I'm Your Karma

I'm the voices in your head
I'm in everyone you've said
In every step you tread
I'm the news you'll always dread

I'm your karma
I'm' your karma
I'm your karma

I'm the terror in your eyes
A demon you despise
I'm the rain on your parade
I'm all the mistakes you made

I'm the door that always slams
The window when it jams
I'm the heaven in your head
The hell you choose instead

I'm your karma
I'm your karma

For what goes around
It comes around
My love you've been around
Now it's time to bring you down

I'm the motorcycle wreck
The death card in your deck
I'm the loss of a close friend
The grief that never ends

I'll be your heart attack
The sense you'll always lack
The phone that never rings
A clip upon your wings

Your world that falls apart
Your heaviness of heart
The judgement from above
A final lack of love

The only tear you shed
The last thought in your head
I'll be the one beside your grave
who cries
When you are dead

I'm your Karma
I'm your Karma

But who will be
my karma?

Maybe you will be
My karma

For what goes around
It comes around
My love you've been around

Is it time to bring me down?
It's time to bring me down
It's time to bring me down
like I brought you down

You're my karma
You're my karma

like I was your karma

And the clock ticks on
And the clock ticks on

I'm your karma

Marc Almond

I was felling awfully low this Saturday. I decided to check out Marc Almond's MySpace and he had up four songs. All of them good. This one especially. I had to make up the lyrics as there weren't any available on the net. So I hope I got it right. It's just him and Martin Watkins on piano.

Addition: Looks like the songs have been taken down except for one. I guess I got there just in time. Just when I needed it. And then, poof. Sorry if you wanted to hear it.

Listen

Junior Boys - so this is goodbye

I finally got my hands on this. It is an electro treat to the ears full of clean beats and single sounds. Lots of great tracks here. "When No One Cares" is so Morrissey. Fantastic bass lines as in "The Equalizer." This I think is the second release from the Canadian duo. I imagine more great things coming from these new artists.

Simple Minds - Early Gold

Handpicked by the artists themselves. This is a collection of some pretty good Simple Minds songs covering their first five releases. Some great tracks like "I Travel" and "Love Song" are among my favorites. But their last four is among the best Simple Minds songs ever: "Promised You a Miracle," "Glittering Prize," "Someone Somewhere in Summertime," and "New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)."

Everything But The Girl - like the deserts miss the rain

Another collection of songs (I think) chosen by the artists. I have to say I've only owned a couple of their albums. One was their self titled album which included the great track "Native Land" which is the reason I bought it. I bought it for a $1 from some guy selling used records on the street downtown New York. Sadly, this song is not included in this collection but does include "Each and Every One." Another great track from that first album. Off course, every one remembers the over played "Missing" definitely included here.


Pink Floyd - The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here

I grew up in a household where this is the music my older brothers were playing all the time. Among other artists like The Doors, The Police, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Van Halen and some southern rock bands as well as heavy metal bands like Judas Priest. These two Pink Floyd albums were released over 30 years ago. While growing up, there was in the back of my head a certain liking for these songs but at the time I was probably thinking something like "How could I like the same things THEY do. It's not possible." Though one of my brothers was also a Clash fan and I had found some Ramones in their collection as well. I was strictly a Blondie fan at the time. Also, I was talking to a close friend of mine recently who said I would really appreciate their recordings and that I should take a closer listen.

It's when you get nearer the cash register - as there are a couple of people left in front of you as you begin counting up the damage in your wallet. And you just know you have to let go a couple of them. But which ones? You want all of them but you also have to be sensible. I hate making that last minute decision. I had to put away Christian Death's "The Decomposition of Violets" which was originally only released on tape and a collection of songs from The Chameleons. I have most of the Chameleons albums on CD but thing with them is that they recorded so many versions of the same song. So I was just curious as to which ones they were and if there was a version I hadn't heard. I know that the one CD I can't find from them is "Here Today ... Gone Tomorrow" which includes better versions of songs that I already have and some songs not found on their other recordings. I shouldn't say their better, rather than different. Depends on the mood I guess.

R.I.P. Lily

Yvonne De Carlo also known as "Lily" has passed away.

Girl, You were the Munster in that family. You played that harp and sang that really cool dark song that I dug at such a young age. I thought you were cool. You wore a hooded cape made out of coffin linings. You always went to bed placing a lily on your chest as if you were dead.

Their phone booth was a coffin. They had a pet dinasour named "Spike" that would breathe fire. Always funny seeing people running away (in fast motion) at the sight of Herman Munster. And what kind of car was that anyway?

Anyway, Yvonne (Margaret Midleton) was 84 and died of natural causes on Monday, January 8.

Playlist by way of YouTube.

Echo & The Bunnynmen - The Cutter



The Eurythmics - Sex Crime 1984 (with scenes from the move of same)




The Jesus & Mary Chain - Just Like Honey



The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side



The Chameleons - Don't Fall



The Chameleons - In Shreds (wish more people knew this great 80s band)



Killing Joke - A New Day (never available on any of their compilations)



Laurie Anderson - Sharkey's Day



This Mortal Coil - Song To The Siren



Propaganda - P Machinery



Some songs seem out of place with the rest. They clash. But so am I and so do I.

Men's Synchronized Swimming - SNL classic favorite

Again, I gotta thank YouTube for being able to find these clips.

One of the best skits SNL had done during their greater days when they had Martin Short, Christopher Guest & Billy Cristal as some of their players.

Enjoy this. It doesn't get any funnier.

What happened to skit commedy these days anyway? In my opinion, SNL has got nothing funny going on anymore. I started watching MAD TV for a while and even that show went into the un-funny category.

With your mascara and your Fender guitar/And you think you can arouse us?

I don't know that I have a good grasp or a good concept of reality. All I know is I need a few little crutches to get through life sometimes. So what if I'm making up for the last 20 years. True, there were other things I needed more and probably my priorities aren't that straight right now. Or is it? I'm not sure. I just know that I can't let something eat at me and me not do something about it.

I'm rationalizing and justifying my need for material things. You know all the things you'll tell yourself when you're about to embark on a new something or other. Things like: "Life's too short" or "I've always wanted one but was never able to get it until now." and "It's about time." True, I'm a little late in the game but it's the soul talking. It wants this so I gave it. Who are you to judge me?

I went middle of the road with this. I didn't want something so cheap that it wouldn't last and I could not afford the Standard Strat which would cost about $300 more.
This is the Fender Stratocaster HSS otherwise known as "Highway 1." It's an upgrade from the previous version they had out before. For those that know about guitars and Fender brands, this not a "Made in Mexico" model. I suppose if I was 16 and had all that time to learn and then get something better afterwards, a MIM strat would have done well. But like I said, I'm a little late. The only guitar I've owned was an old acoustic bought second hand from some guy in Arizona. So I went with a USA model that would serve me well for a long time.

I'm happy with it. Love looking at it and learning on it. I won't be doing any recordings with it for a while. But just to test it out, I hooked it up to my computer to hear how it would sound with all those effects. It sounds pretty good, except that I was picking up radio stations!

That's probably because it was too close to my computer. I bought a direct box so that might solve the problem.


Ok, back to practice.

*Title of post from Morrissey's "Get Off The Stage."

Oh, I know that you say
How age has no meaning
Oh, but here is your audience now
And they're screaming :


"Get off the stage"
Oh, get off the stage
Because I've given you enough of my time
And the money that wasn't even mine
Have you seen yourself recently ?

Moon Over Andromeda

Christmas:

While not exactly the "holiday blues," I'm somewhat on the downside at the moment. Christmas was OK and Oh, I can smile about it now but at the time it was terrible. Then I realized, this is what I've been given. Make of it whatever you can to keep it interesting. Boy, did I try. I played melodies with my knife on several glasses of wine each filled to a certain level in their glasses.

Some things I've vocalized at the table:

"It's 'shaken not stirred, not stirred not shaken'"

"Martini is spelled with a 'i' at the end not 'y'"

"It's made with gin, not vodka, unless that's how you want it and yes it DOES have Vermouth! Don't tell me I'm wrong!"

And I thought "If I stick a fork in my eye, I might just be able to get out of this."

That sort of thing.

But that's all just funny now and nothing to be down about. And this type of thing happens all around the world.

Depeche Mode Interview:

Check out this fun Depeche Mode interview on YouTube. Kinda nice to see them in this way. I love Martin's responses. Listen to what Simon Lebon had to say when he first met Dave.

My Obsession:

It's all about getting this electric guitar lately. And you know that once you begin thinking about something and begin to obsess over it, it's everywhere. Not only that, but everyone around you seems to be thinking the same way and getting theirs. Just want one, that's all. And I'll get it too. Just watch me. It's about the music, man - it's not about having toys to play with or to show off with. I just want to make music.

Music (making of):

I was playing around with Apple's Logic Express and I might just start using this over Ableton Live. At the moment anyway. But I can do with a new Mac Pro though. Again, it's about the music. I need power. But that's thousands of dollars away from here. Sigh

Conclusion:

If you were celebrating or that you had time off to go see family and occasion to celebrate, I hope that it was all fun filled and joyous and everything good.

Picture above from the website Astronomy Picture of The Day.

The Keys to Attraction

Here's little clip of Dr. Chopra talking about how to be attractive to others. Not much mystery here. Easier said than done though. The more interesting thing here is what he says about negative traits. Someone too positive = unattractive. De we know these people?

It's a little dangerous that this is the sight I see every time I exit the train station to walk home. A Guitar Center walking distance from my apartment - not quite a good thing. I had actually planned on going there today. I wanted to buy a new audio interface. I wanted to look at guitars and basses. I plan on getting these instruments as I haven't touched any for years. And I'm afraid I'm going to have to learn to use them all over again. But the plan failed as I had one of those weekend long headaches again. What's up with that? Keeps happening more and more lately. I had to sleep it off. Now it's late in the evening and there's not much to do.

So Friday (I'm going backwards), I wanted to get off at Union Square and do a little CD shopping and get a hair-cut. But that didn't go either as I was having some awful pains coming from my left foot and legs.

So is this the pattern? Every time I think of shopping, I get all these pains keeping me from going. The result of the pains that came on my left foot was from hanging out at Toys R Us the previous evening, shopping for toys for Santa letters that we get in our office for underprivileged children and toy drive. I had stopped buying my niece and nephews gifts in favor of this sometime ago. They get plenty of stuff. I'd rather give to those that really need it, even though I don't know who they are.

I'm watching Cartoon Network right now. Assy McGee - That's some twisted shit, right there. Yeah, I'm laughing my ass off.

Lamb

I found Joshua* at the synagogue, listening to the Pharisees lecture on the Law. I stepped through the group of boys sitting on the floor and whispered to him.
"Bartholomew says that he knows you are the Messiah."
"The idiot? did you ask him how long he's known?"
"He says the village dogs told him"
"I never thought to ask the dogs."
"He says that we should live simply, like dogs, carry nothing, no affectations - whatever that means."
"Bartholomew said that? Sounds like an Essene. He's much smarter than he looks."
"He's trying to learn to lick his own balls."
"I'm sure there's something in the Law that forbids that. I'll ask the rabbi."
"I'm not sure you want to bring that up to the Pharisee."
"Did you tell your father about the angel?"
"No."
"Good. I've spoken to Joseph, he's going to let me learn to be a stonecutter with you. I don't want your father to change his mind about teaching me. I think the angel would frighten him." Joshua looked at me for the first time, turning from the Pharisee, who droned on in Hebrew. "Have you been crying?"
"Me? No, Bart's stench made my eyes water."
Joshua put his hand on my forehead and all the sadness and trepidation seemed to drain out of me in an instant. he smiled. "Better?"
"I'm jealous of you and Maggie."
"That can't be good for your neck."
"What?"
"Trying to lick your own balls. It's got to be hard on your neck."
"Did you hear me? I'm jealous of you and Maggie."
"I'm still learning, Biff. There are things I don't understand yet. The Lord said, 'I'm a jealous god.' So Jealousy should be a good thing."
"But it makes me feel so bad."
"You see the puzzle then? Jealousy makes you feel bad, but God is jealous, so it must be good, yet when a dog licks its balls it seems to enjoy it, but it must be bad under the Law."
Suddenly Joshua was yanked to his feet by the ear. The Pharisee glared at him. "Is the Law of Moses too boring for you, Joshua bar Joseph?"
"I have a question, Rabbi," Joshua said.
"Oh, jeez." I hid my head in my arms.

*Joshua = Christ

The preceding was from the book "Lamb" by Christopher Moore.

Christmas - Siouxsie style

You know how on YouTube you can post directly to your blog? Well, it didn't work on this one. Waited and waited and nothing happened.

This is Siouxsie & The Banshees singing a Christmas Carol in French called "Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant."

There was a much better version of this months ago on YouTube but didn't think to post it cause, you know, it wasn't the season. But then thinking back, it would have been perfect to post about Christmas in July.

This was around the time Robert Smith was with The Banshees for a short time around 1983/1984.

Jack Nasty! You didn't go up there to fish!

So during the weekend, I wanted to sit and get a little creative with the keyboards, but headaches prevented me from doing any concentrating of any kind. Kind of robbed of my Sunday. I get a headache from anything. Too much wind, too much sun, when I bend my head down, when I wear a hat and so on.

So I had nothing else to think of but to flip channels.

I have video on demand and HBO and I was looking to see if there was anything interesting to watch. And I figured I'd give this a try.

When this movie first came out, I admit that I couldn't really figure out what the hell the fuss was about. Everyone was saying how they watched it and cried and all that nonsense. I'm really not that big on Hollywood hype. But Mr. Lee did win a bunch of awards for it. Still, that doesn't say much to me. Especially a movie about lovers. I figure it's something I can't much relate to so I ignored this whole phenomena.

Ok, I have to say as I was watching this movie, I did feel for these guys and what they were going through. Forbidden love in 1963 where no love should go. And how so many lives get ruined because you can't share your love with the one you want.

The message I get from this movie is this. People, get over it and let humans be humans and let them love who they want. Otherwise they're going to do things that they don't want to really do. And in the process ruin lives. Or something to that effect.

I'm really the last person in the world to give opinion about the lifestyle since I don't really "live" much of it myself. But there are those that do but are so trapped in all this fire and brimstone world that they end up getting married and again ruin lives.

So as the movie finished, I thought "Damn! That was a good movie and I freakin hate all that cowboy crap!" But I didn't cry or anything. But it did do something. I felt something. I just thought it was very well made. The story was wonderfully put together in all its brutal honesty. It was the kind of movie that after you watch it, you don't really don't want to watch anything else.

So you can shoot me or throw me off a train, but I had to go back to Brokeback Mountain and watch it a second time.

A crow and a baby had an affair

If you know where the title of this post comes from than we should be the best of friends. But please don't run away if you don't think so.

I listened to that whole album the other night and thought how genius the whole thing still is. *

"Toyota City" indeed does make me think of cars. Driving on a lone highway with streetlamps glaring off the windshield. During the night off course when the stars are seen. And off to the left, on a mountain, a tiny house with one window lit. Perhaps the bathroom. One of those drives where it's all too quiet and very late at night and everyone is tired and dreaming of sleep.

The above is an actual memory from when I was just a mere child. In a land far away from here.

Here are lyrics to "Life Kills." Something I know you all can relate to.

When you fall into your seat, you know you feel you might be dying
As the breath rasps in and out of your burning throat
You can't control your lungs because you're so tired
You're half awake with one arm in your coat

Well thank God that there is someone there to drive you
You know you couldn't make it on your own

He helps you through the door
You sit down on the floor
And you're asleep before you are alone

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills

For a while it seems exhaustion has subsided
The day is over and the moon is high
But your period of work is predecided
Funny how the hours of freedom seem to fly

Well thank God that there is someone there to drive you
You know you couldn't make it on your own

He helps you in the door
You sit down as before
Another shift to pay another loan

Your life is like a schedule
You run to meet the bills
No one's awake to tell you
Life kills

words and music by The Human League
published by Virgin Music (Publishers) Ltd.

* I am speaking about The Human Leagues 2nd album Travelogue. Before they went all cute-sy.

Some music

Simply called "Thanks" cause I worked on it Thanksgiving evening using Abelton Live.

I used the sounds from within Ableton's Operator synth. I still have to learn to tinker with it to produce more original sounds. Anyway, it was just a quick thing with not much thought put into it. I plan on doing more stuff. It's just been a little hard as I don't have all the things I need to comfortably sit and record.

So I hope you like it and I'd appreciate any remarks.

Here's the link: Thanks

She got hungry and ate the wolf.

Thanks to This Twilight Garden blog, I was linked to this site where you can listen to many recorded concerts of such artists as The Cure, Duran Duran, Culture Club, Echo & The Bunnymen and more.

I listed to a Cure concert from 1984 and yesterday I listend to a Duran concert from 1982.

There was a time when some radio stations would broadcast these shows. I used to tape them. Among my tapes I've had concert recordings of Yaz, Duran Duran, Depeche Moe, Erasure, Thompson Twins. Can't remember if there were others. Some of these tapes have gone missing now but I remember listening to them over and over on my Walkman (remember those?).

It just seems like the Walkman is such an ancient piece of technology now in this age of mp3 players an phones that do everything. We can't call them "phones" anymore now can we? I mean, they take pictures, play music, they have video games, Internet, and don't forget the tip calculator. So I guess in the coming years, you will replace all gadgets with just one. At least there will be more space in your briefcase/purse/man-bag/man-purse/back-pack now.

I think I want to change my template again.

Ann Druyan & Carl Sagan

On Genesis:

"Their father is a terrifying, disembodied voice who is furious with them from the moment they first awaken. He doesn't say, "Welcome to the planet Earth, my beautiful children! Welcome to this paradise. Billions of years of evolution have shaped you to be happier here than anywhere else in the vast universe. This is your paradise." No, instead God places Adam and Eve in a place where there can be no love; only fear, and fear-based behavior, obedience. God threatens to kill Adam and Eve if they disobey his wishes. God tells them that the worst crime, a capital offense, is to ask a question; to partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. What kind of father is this? As Diderot observed, the God of Genesis "loved his apples more than he did his children.""

And..

"Perhaps Genesis should be read as an ironic story. Here's a god who does not give us the knowledge of good and evil. He knows we don't know right from wrong. Yet he tells us not to do something anyway. How can someone who doesn't know right from wrong be expected to do the right thing? By disobeying god, we escape from his totalitarian prison where you cannot ask any questions, where you must never question authority. We become our human selves."

Read more here.

This coming December marks the 10 years since Carl Sagan's death. The weird thing is that the time he died was when I first acquired my first telescope (I did not know of his death until after the purchase). The owner of a small Astronomy shop in Phoenix Arizona where we would get our equipment from was surprised that there was suddenly a big boom in the interest in Astronomy and could not keep up with all the new orders he was getting.

So to commemorate this date, a new book is now available written by Carl Sagan. I'm very excited about it and can't wait to read it.

Based on the Gifford Lectures in Scotland, it is called "The Varieties of Scientific Experience - A Personal View of the Search for God." Edited by his longtime companion and collaborator Anne Druyan (pronounced Dreen).

Strangely enough, I *just* got done re-reading COSMOS. I think Carl Sagan's COSMOS ought to be on the required reading list of books in all schools.

Also, if you have cable, check out the Science Channel to see the Emmy award winning show COSMOS which is shown every Tuesday night. I watch it even if I've seen all the episodes. It's more than just "Billions and Billions."

Debbie Does Moby

Debbie Harry is featured on Moby's latest (Go - The Very Best Of), the song New York New York.

Below is the video which starts out being real funny but sadly, Debbie is not in the video. Though you do get to see "Moby" break dance.

Is there really a rumor that there will be a Blondie movie? Well check out this site and see the contenders. Who do you think should play Debbie's role? Gwen Steffani? I'm looking at a picture of Nadia Auerman and she seems dead-on.

The Myrmidons!

So I was completely surprised when I went to check out the Book of Love website to see if there was anything new going on. I was so happy to find out that Lauren and Ted have formed with vocalist Lori Lindsay the band THE MYRMIDONS. The name is based on Greek Mythology that basically means Ant People (?) And their sound is a treat! Check out their website and hear for yourself. The Book of Love signature "bellsy" sounds are all there and I can't wait to get my hands on their CD.

I'm just glad knowing that Ted and Lauren are working together and I hope there's a full length CD coming soon.

Clap (See The Stars) is their first single and I tell you it's the best pop song I've heard recently that took me back to the days of the first Book of Love release. The lyrics are fantastic:

Alcor Mizar Andromeda
Alpha Centauri
See the shapes in the sky
I never could
Cepheus Polaris Deneb
Eagle Arrow Dragon
...and understand their meaning
I never could
See myself and feel
My trepidation
Of the Earth against the sky
I never could
Pulsing our Crystal Blue persuasion
See the real yearly Motion
I never could

I LOVE it!

The Myrmidons MySpace site.

Marc & The Mambas - Black Heart

Marc Almond (Marc & The Mambas) performing Black Heart live. This may be one of my favorite songs that Marc has ever written. It speaks volumes to me. I was fortunate to have seen him perform live during the late 90s at a place called The Bowery Ballroom. As he performed this song I have to admit I got very emotional.

Did he notice?

I think so. While performing the song Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, Marc decided to come off the stage and walk into the crowd. He stood right in front of me and he gave me the opportunity to give him a big hug. Twice. Then he made his way back up the stage ignoring all other grabbers and huggers.

A moment I won't forget and at a time when I needed a hug so much, there couldn't have been a better person to do it with.

Marc recorded two double albums with the Mambas right after Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. The insanity of fame caught up with him and because he was so young and inexperienced with such fame, could not handle it. These two double albums, Untitled and Torment & Torreros explain much of what he was going through. I remember one reviewer wrote for Torment that the album should have come with a razor blade to slash you wrists to. I know, a bit much, but you can feel it in a number of the songs how unhappy he was with the whole experience of being a pop star. He was also becoming addicted to a number of drugs. Imagine being high all the time and being the person Marc was with all the themes he was presenting, all the life of a seedy person living in an underworld of pain, sorrow and desperation - doing numerous TV show appearances in America performing Tainted Love. It just doesn't fit.

Both albunms have a certain feel to it. That being they're not so overly produced. He incorporates only accoustic instruments and very little keyboards. A complete departrue from Soft Cell.

It was during these two albums Marc introduced us to the world of Jacques Brel. Untitled contained the song If You Go Away while Torment included The Bulls. Also a cover version of The Velvet Underground's Caroline Says.

On this dreary and rainy day, this songs fits right in with the mood.

Classix Nouveaux - Guilty

Ah - Another great song of the early 80s New Romantic era. Don't know much about the history of Classix Neouveaux except that I've had their album on vinyl and the lead singer's name is Sal Solo. Love that whole vampire look and I guess I should have posted this yesterday.

But - A great song to go crazy and dance to. It has one of those great guitar beginings. When the keyboards come in, that's when you just start moving. Real crazy. It's got one of the great choruses of all time with:

Guilty, guilty you found me
Guilty, guilty you found me
(wooooooooooooo)

Sing along!

I'll have to look see if I can find their stuff on CD.

YouTube makes nostalgia so much more fun!

Well, it looks like this video has to be watched from the Youtube site, here's the url for it.