Werf

Anybody know what that stripper music that is associated with the (cinematic) portrayal of strippers in the 50s and 60s is, and where it originated from? It seems to have jazz influences. And, for you older guys, was this actually played in real strip clubs? (In my days of going to strip clubs it was all Aerosmith and Z.Z. Top).

Now I want to stop hating, and start drinking.

I picked up "Boys and Girls in America" by The Hold Steady on vinyl last week (nice package, quality platter). It's Indie Rock influenced by Springsteen ( a la vocals). So far I'm enjoying it. Also, picked up Beirut "Gulag Orkestra" which is Balkan rock pop from a New Mexican dude, lots of brass, piano, some guitar. The singer (who is essentially the band) has a Thom Yorke thing going on. I don't have it yet, but I've been hearing songs from The Broken West on-line. They have a record out on Merge that I'll pick up.

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is one of my all-time favorite records. I missed the last studio record and her live record. How does this compare in her overall body of work?

Just reading that interview got me high.

Was your source Ahmad Chalabi? (i.e., that claim is false) 'twas one of his beloved students, who was also a close friend of Braxton's assistant, and this person adores the Brax Master. I emailed Anthony with a question about one of his compositions and never got a reply, which is where my train of thought figures into this. No reply? No biggie, for me, 'cause I LOVE Braxton. I'd eagerly sit down and share a platter of Wimpie burgers with him, and talk the music.

His books were so good my mom hid them in her closet.

Did he reply to your email? I was told (by a very reliable source) that he doesn't know how to access his email account.

I burned through the first 800 pages, but put it down just after Christmas, and haven't resumed. This weekend, I'll lay on the couch, and finish it up. This is the most readable of Pynchon's books, for me. The flow is infectious.

I've loved Bruckner since I was in my early twenties, but this middle-aged chap will be rocking out to Guided by Voices tonight, with a side of creamy pop from Camera Obscura, after an afternoon of listening to various Roscoe Mitchell and AEC recordings.

I haven't heard any music yet, but the word I'm getting from like-minded folks is that it's another good Sparklehorse record.

The Neil Young is on vinyl Ex-celllent!!

I can't make up my mind on my favorite jazz releases, so far. There are just too many of them. But, on the pop rock front: Number one: Robert Pollard "From a Compound Eye" (along with the other Pollard projects, Takeovers "Turn to Red," Psycho and the Bird "All That is Holy," The Keene Brothers "Blues and Boogie Shoes," and Robert Pollard "Normal Happiness"). The rest, in no particular order: Belle and Sebastian "The Life Pursuit" Cat Power "The Greatest" Swan Lake "Beast Moan" Yo La Tengo "I Am Stronger Than You, and Will Beat Your Ass" Destroyer "Destroyer's Rubies" The Decemberists "The Crane's Wife" Sonic Youth "Rather Ripped" Mission of Burma "The Obliterati" Mountain Goats "Get Lonely" M.Ward "Post-War" Joanna Newsome "Ys" Bob Dylan "Modern Times" I got all of the former on vinyl. This year I've neglected those that only were released on CD, and still have these to check out: Neko Case "Fox Confessor..." TV on the Radio "Return to Cookie Mountain" Neal Young "Living with War" and some vinyl releases I've yet to hear: Bonnie "Prince" Billy "The Letting Go" The Hold Steady "Boys and Girls in America" Camera Obscura "Let's Get Out of This Country" P.J. Harvey "The Peel Sessions" Sparklehorse "Dreamt For Light Years In The Belly Of A Mountain" Loose Fur "Born Again In The USA" The Thermals "The Body, The Blood, The Machine"

I'll be interested to find what people think about this. I generally have enjoyed Pynchon's novels, but thought Mason & Dixon was long, overindulgent and worse of all quite boring. I'm 600 pages into "Against the Day" now, and loving it. The book is hilarious, fast moving, and yet very dense with description. It's almost a comical prose poem, with interludes of tragic violence, epic spectacle, and a stage that stretches from the American West, the Arctic, and Europe. There's penny dreadful adventures, miner anarchists, advanced mathematics, magicians and actors, science fiction, a revenge tale, and lots of slapstick. I can't wait to get home to read more.

I bet he slags him. I mean, Bird was one avante-garde motherfucker.

I think Art Pepper is in White Jazz, if memory serves, and in the background. I'll have to dig the volume out to check it.

I love Chan (pronounced Shawn), and "The Greatest" is her greatest (although I do like her earlier, more dissonant stuff a la "Nude as the News"). Her record is one of my favorite pop platters of the year, and Matador released it on vinyl in a gorgeous RTI pressing. Tasty.

I never read his novel, but loved his short stories which were collected in "San Diego Lightfoot Sue and other stories." "The Detweiler Boy" affected my adolescent imagination when I read it originally in "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction" when it was originally published. The guy reportedly died of a heart attack while banging away at the typewriter. Currently I'm 140 pages into the new Thomas Pynchon "Against the Day" which I'm enjoying. Only 980 pages left to go...

Happy Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for... White Castle. WHITE CASTLE TURKEY STUFFING Recipe By : Serving Size : 1 Preparation Time :0:00 Categories : Poultry Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 10 White Castle hamburgers, Pickle removed 1 1/2 c Celery, diced 1 1/4 ts Ground thyme 1 1/2 ts Ground sage 3/4 ts Coarse ground black pepper 1/4 c Chicken broth In a large mixing bowl, tear the White Castle hamburgers into pieces and add diced celery and seasonings. Toss and add chicken broth. Toss well. Stuff cavity of turkey just before roasting. Makes about 9 cups (enough for 10-12 lb bird). NOTE: Allow 1 White Castle hamburger for each pound of turkey, which will be the equivilent of 3/4 cup stuffing per pound.

Phil Collins is a great drummer, who has devolved into a shameful schmaltz-monger. That said, props must be given concerning this reunion--- he was working hard trying to influence Gabriel to do a Genesis reunion, and wanted to retain the spotlight for his true talent: hitting the skins. The only reason this isn't a genuine Genesis reunion, with Steve Hackett included, is because of Gabriel.

A dozen White Castle sliders.

CHUCK ROCKS n' ROLLS!

I love it when Pete Cosey fucking FREAKS on that Strat, that gigantic mo-fo knows his feedback FREAKOUT!! It makes ripples of electric happiness wriggle and crackle

ZABADOW!! YEAH!

GREETINGS! MY NAME IS WERF!! AND THERE ARE MOTHERING FUCKING SNAKES ON THIS MOTHERFUCKING PLANE!