Thursday, October 14, 2010

Obama Meets Bob Dylan















You had Bob Dylan here. How did that go?

Here's what I love about Dylan: He was exactly as you'd expect he would be. He wouldn't come to the rehearsal; usually, all these guys are practicing before the set in the evening. He didn't want to take a picture with me; usually all the talent is dying to take a picture with me and Michelle before the show, but he didn't show up to that. He came in and played "The Times They Are A-Changin'." A beautiful rendition. The guy is so steeped in this stuff that he can just come up with some new arrangement, and the song sounds completely different. Finishes the song, steps off the stage — I'm sitting right in the front row — comes up, shakes my hand, sort of tips his head, gives me just a little grin, and then leaves. And that was it — then he left. That was our only interaction with him. And I thought: That's how you want Bob Dylan, right? You don't want him to be all cheesin' and grinnin' with you. You want him to be a little skeptical about the whole enterprise. So that was a real treat.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

The Best Power Pop of 2009






















01 Queen Of Hearts - Bobby Emmett
02 Girl After My Own Heart - Roger Klug
03 Bird Using Bird - The Resonars
04 There's A Light - Reno Bo
05 All Of A Sudden - Telekenisis
06 Anymore - Outrageous Cherry
07 Don't Ask Me Love - The Madd
08 Hope It Doesn't Come My Way - Leave
09 Welcome To My World - Tony Cox
10 You Really Bring Me Down - The Antennas
11 Willing Reason - Cheap Star
12 Let It Rest For A Little While - Boston Spaceships
13 Love Is Real - Bobby Emmett

PART 1

14 Now Or Never - Marc Carroll
15 Damn! - Gidgets Ga Ga
16 Telephone Operator - The Leftovers
17 Tell Me When It's Over - Joe Pernice
18 I Can't Quit Her - Chris Richards & The Subtractions
19 Hi-Hat - Roger Klug
20 Try - The Madd
21 World Apart - The Resonars
22 Feel Real Love - Tony Cox
23 Let Me Play - Biscuit
24 All Used Up - Belleville
25 Jupiter Optimus Maximus - The Tomorrows

PART 2

Photo courtesy of PowerPop Review

Belle & Sebastian Collection
















As a result of two disappointing releases (including the brand new Write in Love) and their upcoming appearance at The Treasure Island Festival in SF, I was asked to put together a collection of their best tracks from 1995-2005. Ask and you shall receive.
Without further ado, I give you in all their twee glory, Belle & Sebastian.
Carry on lads.

The State I Am In
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Wrapped Up In Books
Me And The Major
Step Into My Office, Baby
I Don't Love Anyone
The Loneliness Of A Middle Distance Runner
The Boy With The Arab Strap
Seeing Other People
If She Wants Me
The Stars Of Track And Field
Expectations
Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying
She's Losing It
Like Dylan In The Movies
I Fought in a War
If You're Feeling Sinister
The Chalet Lines
The Rollercoaster Ride

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