Drive-by Truckers

I've been waiting for someone to upload this song - "You and Your Crystal Meth" - on to YouTube.

Indiana, Alabama
Oklahoma, Arizona
Texas, Florida, Ohio
Small-town America right next door

He looks so old

McCain naming a youngish woman (a mom, hunter, and fisher) as the VP nominee certainly seems bold. This pick is supposed to renew his claim to being a change agent and her right-wing credentials throw red meat to the party. But what I notice most of all is how this former beauty queen makes McCain just look old.

And it's like McCain just picked a new, even younger, trophy wife.

Alphabutt

The alphabet as seen through the mind of a kid. BB loves this, although I think he's a little unnerved it's an adult singing it.

Mike Birbiglia

I heard this guy on This American Life talk about his sleep disorder, amounting to something akin to extreme sleepwalking. He's also a comedian. Here's his short skit on Whiffleball Tony.

Built to Spill

Todd Rundgren

In a fabulous "fly-like-a-pheasant" outfit.

Nick Drake - Milk & Honey

I resisted posting his version of Summertime. All of Drake's songs are affecting, but this one stood out this afternoon.

They fade and die
And then I’d know
There’d be no others
Milk and honey
Where they lie

Bumper sticker

Seen today: "Who would Jesus bomb?" WWJB

Cloris Leachman

Roasting Bob Saget.

Jose Feliciano

A cover of "California Dreamin" performed on Soul Train. A bit different from my post of Eddie Hazel's version, but no less soulful. I'm happy to find other versions of this song. I love the song, but hate the Mamas and the Papas.

Kula Shaker redux

I really like this band's mix of pretty boy, post-psych, rocking pop. Less precious than their contemporaries, Oasis, they had (do?) a crush on all things Hindu (other, more psychedelic songs, are "Govinda," "Tattva,"and "Mystical Machine Gun"). Oasis just copied The Beatles best pop hooks; Kuka Shaker wants to recreate the spirit that impelled The Beatles to meditate with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This clip is the more straight ahead "Great Hosannah."

Wonderwall

Oasis covered by Cat Power. The video is homemade by some YouTube user. I used to listen to Ryan Adams' version, but Cat Power leavens the emo quotient down a little.

Kula Shaker

Mid-nineties British psych pop group covering Deep Purple's "Hush." It's a better version, faster and a little less serious.

Happy Birthday to AO. "She's the best girl I ever had."

Keren Ann

Trying to stay chill today. Keren Ann has a fascinating bio. She's French, Israeli, and Dutch, and lives part of the time in the U.S. I'd call this melancholy pop.

Minor Threat

Instead of Duffy's overproduced cover of "Stepping Stone," I give you Minor Threat's version.

Ministry (Guru remix)

Industrial goth with beats.

CSS (Cansei de Ser Sexy)

King Kahn and The Shrines

The latest hotness on the "soul" scene. Kind of like The Bellrays, they bring a punk sensibility to R & B.




And recently in NYC.

Viral ad

Much-discussed ambiguous advertising from the UK. Once upon a time I too used to feel all primal listening to this Genesis song.

Dewey Redman

Soul jazz.

Terry Callier - Lazarus Man

Let me be in France

The whole time I was in France I kept thinking about how well-situated it was to weather peak oil and the energy crisis. Not only are cars much smaller, with small, diesel-sipping engines, but the climate is amazing, temperate and (where we were) green. There are diverse farms, gardens, and livestock everywhere. At the local markets where we were, almost all the products came from France, with a few from Spain and the like. And for a place with a very centralized government, the country, at least, looks incredibly decentralized. It's where I'd like to be when the collapse comes.

See today's NYT for a good article on the hit that globalism is taking from growing transportation costs.

Wu-Tang - Queens Day 88 (Remix)

Super sweet beats, with an amazing Hammond organ sample. Based on the work of the Wu-Tang's DJ, Allah Mathematics.

Psych-Bollywood

New single from Devendra Banhart, another wonderful iteration of New Weird America. Don't miss the squid kissing at the end.

The Pinker Tones

Electronic pop from Barcelona.