Breaking the Chain

I would like to say that the new Lindsey Buckingham solo record, entitled Lindsey Buckingham, I believe, is basically astonishing. I don't know if I like it, but it's really really really weird sounding. Lots of megamultitracked acoustic guitar, played at breakneck speeds--not like the Minutemen or anything, but pretty souped up--and spooky echo vocals (also megamultitracked) a plenty. No drums till song 9, i think. After being given a walking tour of Tusk, his (bizarre) response to New Wave, I became aware that LB was a complete freak of nature. He's also a king of melody. This is a very strange record. I think I love it.

I know I love the new Decemberists record, The Crane Wife. It comes out in October. It's a whole 'nother thing for them, full of gorgeous folk-rock, along the lines of The Waterboys Fisherman's Blues.

Lastly, that Minutemen documentary? Really sad and sweet. I couldn't help wondering what the underground today would make of a D. Boon figure emerging from nowheresville, with a bulging body and no fashion sense, with an abstract sense of humor and no fear of pretension in his poetic/ philospohical/ literary/ political/ classic rock reference points. A genuinely populist elitist. A viscerally intellectual artist. I know it doesn't really apply, because he was a product of his moment, and a compeletly original visionary for rock. I'm just saying--as I watched this movie, I kept wondering: what would the music critblogs make of a latter day D. Boon, were his equivalent to arise today? I wonder if they'd recognize him without the cosmetic trappings, the obviousness of gesture, the simplicity that seems to mark out the more significant musicians of the day. I don't think I would, necessarily, just as I wouldn't have/didn't then. I was a pre-teen and teenager in SoCal when Minutemen were happening, and short of seeing their name on a couple of studboy military jackets and the (VERY) occasional notebook cover, I had no idea what they were about, other than Not For Me. I only became aware of how blissful and jubliant and inclusive their explosive sound really was. Seeing the movie reminded me of what a beautiful, noble, and brave self-invention American punk actually was.

I still don't like Black Flag, though. Just the idea of Black Flag.

Update

1. Finished Joni Mitchell book draft. Sent to publisher.
2. Seattle Sound magazine July issue published a few of my New Orleans photos along with an essay by me about my trip and related meanderings about music, community, and the like.
3. HD recorded "live" b-sides today for Barsuk single release of "Little Round Mirrors" in September.
4. Release of Kill Rock Stars edition of Little By Little... nine days and counting.
5. HD tour dates in August (SF, LAx2, SD) and September-October (Minneapolis-DC) confirmed or close to confirmed.
6. Nelson Sings Nilsson basic tracks done, vocals+orchestration nearing completion. Sounds better than I'd ever hoped.
7. Job is improving.
8. Additional recording project with excellent friends (shh...) on schedule for end of July.
9. Renewed energy for KEXP and super secret other broadcasting project.
10. And yet... still incredibly sad all the time. On the street, in the car, at home. Sad sad sad. Can't shake it. Not really trying. Sad is the only thing I know how to be, other than busy. So let's just focus on the busy, shall we? Bzzzz.

Basically...

I am obsessed with this song. I can't say why, but I am. Long live the Brothers Gibb. Even the dead ones.

It Is Accomplished

As of this minute, the word count stands at 30, 092. I laughed uncontrollably for over a minute when I saw that number. Much to elaborate, since I've read none of it (and it's 8 & 1/2 months late...), but the Court and Spark draft is done.

And there was much rejoicing.

By me and me alone.

You'll Believe a Man Can Suck

The real problem with the new Superman movie is just the guy they cast as Superman. He's totally not Superman, not even a little. He reminded me of Evan Sult, who is a great person and a dear friend, but ain't no Superman. Also, Kate Bosworth is a total zero, Parker Posey has nothing to do, and Kevin Spacey, well... He just can't be trusted. I love Bryan Singer and was really on board with a lot of the choices he made, but this one got away from him. The X-Men films were great because the blatant gay subtext is pret a porter from the comics. You can't really make the same leap—and Singer plainly tries—when the "mutation" is that you're omnipotent. Then, as though sensing the queer allegory won't fly (HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA), Singer switches metaphorses midstream and goes for some Jesus juice. That doesn't stick either. Superman is more or less allegory proof as a superhero. No flaws=no drama. I know it doesn't matter. It's just that the Richard Donner Superman and the Richard Lester Superman 2 (more to the point) have aged so well, it seems perverse to remake them so soon. Christopher Reeve has never been more impressive than when he was so conspicuously absent from the new movie. The new guy did a fair CR impression, but that doesn't make you Superman.

I'm sorry... are we still talking about this? I'm gonna go see A Scanner Darkly.

In the immortal words of John Roderick: NEEEEERRRRRDDDS!