Gotta love Google's new Patent Search tool. Find some funny ass shit. Like this one from Eddie Van Hallen:

Musical Instrument Support

Here are some other wacky musician/celebrity patents:

Michael Jackson's "Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion"
Um, a snow boot, Mr. Jackson? 

Lawrence Welk's "Welk Ash Tray"

dear reader: so, everyone is going ape shit over this album and tv on the radio in general, and i just don't get it. even spin magazine had it listed as the best album of 2006. please explain.

I like the version on the album better, but thought you'd want a listen:

[audio:splitNeedlesAlt.mp3] 

it's clinched… i love the new shins.  yup is good.

in the news… your loveable hugable guini from park slope just got two technics and a mixer.  yup now john isn't the only one with nice stuff.  no more singing everybody's got nice stuff but me.  all i gots to do is now is figure out how to work it.  i want to mix in j. mascis whining "your the only one" into a break beat.  something gnarly like that. 

 i will invite you all over for a burning sesssion once i've figured out all the knobs.

happy new year. 

I'm really not in a Clash phase. It just happens to be the second Clash thing I've put up.

So, It's Thursday afternoon (I have the week off), it's crappy outside and I'm working on a website at home. Anyway, taking a look at my dust-collecting CD collection next to me and I pull out this CD that, I believe, Anat gave me for my birthday a couple of years ago. I pop it in for funzzies. It fits the mood I'm in. All covers of 70's/80's songs. I feel like I'm in the Fez again. Is that place still around? 

[audio:04 Guns Of Brixton.mp3]

Last night, I was with John, Sabrina and Ellen at Martin Short's Fame Becomes Me. Which was hilarious. Even if you're not a Martin Short fan, you will love it. If you're a Martin Short fan, you will love it times a thousand. Anyway, the theater was smaller than I thought it was gonna be and we were hanging out by the bar sipping our beverages. Ellen turns to me and says, "Just LOOK". And walking towards me is Mr. Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen! If that wasn't enough, he stops right in front of us. I kid you not, we were in arms reach from Bruce himself for at least 3 or 5 minutes. He's just hanging out at the bar with his wife, 2 sons and maybe a daughter. Though, she didn't look like a Springsteen. Maybe she was friend. Who knows. All I know for those few minutes, none of us could have a conversation with each other. We were just hypnotized by this man. I mean, he was just hanging out right in front of us.

Anyway, they eventually left to get their seats and I hear his wife say to her kids sarcastically, "Follow your fearless leader". Demoting the boss to just a dad. It was amazing. He was probably thinking, "Rosalita never treated me like this."

Alright Anthony and Dan. What are the albums that you can't use for the mix? is there any other restriction? Are we going to post it as a mix on the mix-tape site?

Wow, who would have thunkit, a top 10 albums list on a blog site! Anyway, just to spice it up, these aren't just 10 albums released this year. but more my top 10 albums i've been exposed to. With a couple of track samplers along the way. Ok, still not that different than the rest. Alright, I'm trying here people:

10. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass
Great album. Would be higher in the charts if it weren't for these other great albums.

9. Television - Marquee Moon
Yeah took me awhile, but I just stumbled upon the AMAZINGNESS of these guys. Title track can't go wrong, take a listen:
[audio:television_marqueemoon.mp3]    

8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
So, stupid me, I thought the Stephen Malkmus album came out in '06, but it was '05. Then I forgot about this gem. I know, I was hesitant at first, but this is a really good album and I'm not ashamed to say it. I'm putting this track on specifically for Anthony:
[audio:yyy_phemom.mp3] 

7. My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
Don't get me started on my live albums. Another sampler "One Big Holiday":
[audio:myjack_onebig.mp3]

6. Cheap Trick - Live At Budokan

This falls in the must-have category. I think it's Cheap Trick at its best. Japan + US rock band = Good Times 

5. The Black Keys - Magic Potion
Another solid album. From beginning to end. The production of the album suits this band very well. "Your Touch" to listen to:

[audio:blackkeys_yourtouch.mp3] 

4. Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!

I just discovered Joe Jackson this year. It took XM Radio for me to listen to him. Don't know why I wasn't listening to him in my Elvis Costello days. 

3. Chicago - Chicago at Carnegie Hall (Vol. I and II)
See post 

2. Band of Horses - Everything All The Time
Wasn't crazy about them live. But album is great. It's one of those default albums for me. Nothing to listen to, put this on. 

1. Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
I love this album. I love the album art as well. From beginning to end. It's the tops for me. Here's "For The Price Of A Cup Of Tea":

[audio:bs_fortheprice.mp3]

One of the last lines in the movie:

One of Mick's talents was not punctiality. He was fairly late most of the time. [pause] But then again talent's worth waiting for [pause] when all's said and done.

Quoted from Joe Strummer.

I popped in this DVD this weekend. I'd say it's the third time watching it and yet the first time watching it from beginning to end. Yeah, I'm bad at watching DVDs for some reason.

This has got to be one of the best rock documentaries (Don't Look Back being the best, of course). And not because it's different in style than any other. In fact, it's very industry-standard when it comes to that. But, the interview sessions of Joe Strummer–call him prophetic, passionate, sincere! He's a genius. I'm sure his passing, has made this footage of him even that much more powerful.

The Clash were an amazing band. And it's also shocking that they did all that in 7 years. Which comes to my second revelation after watching this film (the first being Strummer is a genius), I do think the Clash were better off calling it quits when they did. I remember watching this the first time, and seeing Topper mention how if he didn't have a heroin problem that he could see the band together now. I remember thinking, how great that would have been. But now, I'm thinking otherwise. At the end, Combat Rock was a huge money-making hit. Rock The Casbah was in the Top 5 in the US. They were playing Shea Stadium. Not knocking Rock The Casbah, but imagine all the other Rock The Casbah-esque songs that would have followed if they continued.

Anyway, that's what I think. Great fucking movie. 

ADDED BONUS:

**This footage wasn't in Westway, but they did comment on how strange it was performing Career Opportunities while playing Shea F*cking Stadium. 

Only news to report is that i actually start to join.  Will be back!

So for 2006 I've been all about the live albums. If I had to make a list of the best live albums I've heard this year it would be: My Morning Jacket - Okonokos, Cheap Trick - Live At Budokan, and Chicago at Carnegie Hall. Oh, in no particular order.

But, I'm here to talk Chicago at Carnegie Hall in 1971. You will not be dissappointed true believers. This album has a little of everything. Some great rock, great pop, some little lenghthy tracks–hey it's all about that live experience.

The album doesn't even start until like 30 seconds into it. It's just awkward silence, a little shuffling, an introduction, and then HORNS. "BAAAAAH– BAH–BAAH– BUM" That's how i write music notes, you like? Anyway, good shit. By the time you reach the 2nd side, 2nd track "Questions 67 And 68" you're just hypnotized. It's such a 70's/happy song, but you're eating it up. There's also a couple of sort of cheesy Beatles covers thrown in the middle of songs. But, I'll take 'em.

Anyway, that's all I'm gonna say. I did realize that when I listened to this last (Sunday), I made an early new year's resolution to see more shows in 2007. And then Anthony called me up and convinced me to see Brian Jonestown Massacre and they were… dissappointing. Anyway, there's always next year. But in the meantime, pick up this album.

I think Neil Rosen gave it like 8 wormy apples!

quin·tes·sen·tial - the most typical example or representative.

This was the word to describe Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde. My initial reaction, NO. Blonde on Blonde was not Bob Dylan's quintessential album. Danny chimes in and sez, Blood on the Tracks. YES, I agree. Why? When I first really got into Dylan, which was around 97 or 98, everyone would say, "Oh you gotta get Blood on the Tracks". Hands down, this was the "quintessential" album. I remember John got it, and I listened to it. AND, agreed with the masses.

 In April 2003, I got myself a fancy iPod. Danny said, "Come on down to the lab and hook your iPod into my iTunes". I, of course, assumed this was a booty call and accepted his invitation. That's when I got Blonde on Blonde. After listening to that, I was like, wow, this is a f*cking great album.

 From that point on, I loved Blonde on Blonde. But could not officially accept that it was the most typical example of Bob Dylan's work. So, I listened to both albums the other day. I haven't popped in Blood on the Tracks in a few years. Blonde on Blonde is still great. The first jam, Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, I picture Dylan in a bar with a bass drum strapped to his back with a cymbal, with that harmonica strap he wears and a guitar, and an old guy playing the horn.

I think what it is for me is that Blood on the Tracks is more "digestable". Dylan is alittle less whiny. The album is produced. Blonde on Blonde is just more raw. Any way you look at it, they are both amazing.

Whadya think? 

John says, 

"Sister Rosetta Tharpe is a badass gospel rocker. wait for the solo. dig":