Friday, February 29, 2008

Bet You Can't Pick Just Once

Pick Your Moment

Recently, many of my compatriots in online discourse have been 'awarded' by their peers for perceived excellence in blogging, and in turn have passed on these awards to others that they feel deserving of such accolades.

I was singled out by some for these laurels (perhaps undeservedly so, in my opinion) and have noted that upon receiving one's award the individual is entreated to 'pay it forward' as it were...but I find myself constitutionally incapable of singling out a handful when all whom I know (and so many that I do not) are deserving of greater attention by the world at large.

Therefore, in the interests of fairness (and search engine recognition) I commend to you my blogroll, presented in no order of excellence, save that they are all excellent...One which has grown by leaps and bounds in the previous months, and will hopefully continue to do so in the foreseeable future.


  • Dependable Renegade

  • TwoTonGreenBlog

  • SteveAudio

  • Colorado Bob

  • This Free Nation

  • iVoryTowerz

  • The Unapologetic Mexican

  • LitBrit

  • My Mind Is Going

  • Its my Right to be Left of the Center

  • Humor Has It

  • Gorilla's Guides

  • Digby's Hullabaloo

  • driftglass

  • DownWithTyranny!

  • Evergreen Politics

  • Majikthise

  • Blue Gal

  • Mock, Paper, Scissors

  • the otherwhirled

  • FranIAm

  • Monkey Muck

  • Left Of Centrist

  • Blue Daze

  • Kirby

  • Rants From The Rookery

  • Media Needle

  • Boxer Rebellion

  • Ice Station Tango

  • Zaius Nation

  • Namaste'

  • Ornery Bastard

  • make-a-(green)plan

  • distributorcap NY

  • TRex

  • Napman57

  • Cogitamus

  • Cap'n Dyke

  • Freida Bee

  • Skippy TBK

  • Yikes! - BAC

  • Comrade Kevin

  • The Culture Ghost

  • The Jade Gate

  • The Aristocrats

  • Progressive Alaska

  • Last Left Turn Before Hooterville

  • WTF Is It Now?

  • Happy Jihad's HOP

  • PhysioProf

  • Jonestown

  • Daily Dia "Tribe"

  • The Sirens Chronicles

  • I Was Just Wondering

  • ex-lion tamer

  • The Dean's Office

  • Firedoglake

  • Crooks And Liars


  • All most worthy, and all worth a moment or two of one's time.

    Salud!

    CanCon Friday - Heart



    Yeah, yeah, I know the Wilsons are hawt Yankee lovemongers and all that, but these guys broke out of Vancouver, BC first and in fact recorded their debut album-and-a-half there, from which this track comes.
    Close enough for my exactingly elastic standards, at any rate.
    They were so over in the Pacific Northwest in those days, it was ridiculous...'Hadda be there, Kids!'

    ...and at least Ann & Nancy can still Cook with Fire.

    ;>)

    "You're Not All Attorneys, By Chance...?"

    Straw_Dick_2

    At this time a heartfelt welcome to the milling crowds upon my lawn, as brought by the good folks at Crooks & Liars
    ...and my special pal that Blue Gal.

    Mind the cacti and dog poop, and enjoy your stay.

    ;>)

    Thursday, February 21, 2008

    CanCon Friday - Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush

    Two (and a few) from one of the unsung masters of hard rock guitar, Montreal's own Frank Marino.
    Unfairly maligned as a Hendrix mockingbird by the unknowledgable, his style and tone are readily distinguishable from the horde of distorted whammer-jammers that arose in Jimi's wake and he continues to have a productive career as a skilled interpreter of the blues to the present time.

    First, from the 1982 album Juggernaut, Strange Dreams...Certainly something I've been accused of.




    And for mes amis Americain...The Star Spangled Banner, from Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, 1975.



    'So if you hear that sound I'm talkin' about
    When you know he's near
    and your time's run out
    Well don't you fear
    There's nothing that you can say
    'Cause he'll appear and take you to that special place...'


    ;>)

    An Offer You Can't Refuse

    An Offer You Can't Refuse

    Bait Talk Expressed

    Bait Talk Expressed

    Tuesday, February 19, 2008

    The Revolution Will Not Be A Podcast

    Guebama


    The revolution will not be obtained by pounding back 4 Red Bulls and a breakfast burrito 12 minutes before work starts and hoping the buzz lasts until lunch.

    The revolution will not be sung by Bob Geldof, Bono and Al Gore at 110 decibels 75 feet from the stage for 35 dollars a t-shirt, and $2.50 for the bottled water.

    The revolution will not be pushed like a downer cow on a forklift into the mass consciousness meat grinder for mental mastication.

    The revolution will not be strapped onto a shiny aluminum wing, and dropped upon a rapt citizenry greeting it as a liberator.

    The revolution will not be brought to you by anyone who thinks they can put a dollar from your pocket into theirs from it.

    The revolution will not be a battle of semiotics, semantics, semi-colons, and who stole which trite stump speech phrase from whom and when.

    The revolution will not be handed to you by bank presidents, ex-presidents, or dead presidents as your birthright.

    The revolution will not have a zesty catch phrase that will make it easy to 'go viral' on the populace, perhaps with the aid of a nifty jingle or a celebrity pitchman fresh from rehab looking to score.

    The revolution will not help you to come to terms with all your traumatic past lives or right the wrongs of previously ignorant generations, but not necessarily those that may include your own bloodline of course.

    The revolution will not be on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CPAC or anything else that people sit in front of and listen incuriously to other sitting people telling them what to think.

    The revolution will not follow Britney Spears around until she does something zany to amuse you.

    The revolution will not be downloaded for free and burned to a cheap CD-R as a way of 'sticking it to the man'.

    The revolution will not leave a luscious taste in your mouth like cheap lead paint on a Chinese children's toy.

    The revolution will not be supported by anyone who has a vested interest in the status quo, or who wants one just like it for Christmas.

    The revolution will not be debated seriously by any pundit intent on playing the incessant game of three-card Monte for fun and profit that passes for political discourse in America.

    The revolution is not guaranteed under the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Pledge of Allegiance, or the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

    The revolution will not be emblazoned across a pair of jiggling chesticles or a deliciously curved rump in order to appeal to your lower nature, nor will it help you to find the ideal mate who is sensitive, caring, yet dynamite in the sack.

    The revolution will not be offered as a bonus feature on a director's cut DVD, after the blooper reel.

    The Revolution will not be a podcast.

    The Revolution will be live.

    ;>)

    'Respect to the originator'

    Ever Had The Feeling You've Been Anointed?

    Ever Had The Feeling You've Been Anointed?

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    Sunday Overnight

    Tonight...a twofer, as tribute to one of the great composers of the 20th century, Mr. Edward Kennedy 'Duke' Ellington.



    Medley - Black & Tan Fantasy, Creole Love Call, The Mooche, 1966.



    Black Butterfly, 1969, with Mr. Johnny Hodges on alto saxophone.

    Wish You Were Here

    Wish You Were Here

    Friday, February 15, 2008

    Max And The Marginalized

    Enchanter

    Regular and occasional readers of my musings might infer from my music-related posts that I don't really dig a lot of new music ('new', meaning released in the last decade or so), although that's not necessarily true.

    The reality is that there is so much music in the world that just barely catching up with the near-infinite back catalog available to thirsty ears (in addition to indulging oneself in old favorites) leaves precious little time for the future, especially a future perceived in explicitly corporate or predictably commercial terms.
    Being somewhat cynical about the machinations of industry and the preponderance of mockingbirds that outweighs genuine talent, I hesitate to poison the well for those younger than myself who may find grandeur where I find studied derivativeness. Inculcating disappointment in the New Heroes is not what I'm about.

    I'm also hesitant to wrap my extremely limited infamy like a burning tire around the neck of a young band by way of endorsement..."That sicko with the skeevy pictures says he likes them?" - Just what a burgeoning talent needs, that sort of anvil to the foot.

    However, it is always a pleasure when one finds that they can reciprocate appreciation.
    These stalwart fellows contacted me asking permission to use some of my works, and as is my wont I gave them a listen in return. I found a lot of things to like...Aggression, consciousness, stylistic depth, and prolific creativity.

    Thus, I recommend to those with an interest...Max and The Marginalized.

    'A few more bands like this, and our troubles will be over very quickly'

    ;>)

    http://maxmarginal.blogspot.com/

    http://www.myspace.com/maxandthemarginalized

    crossposted @ SteveAudio

    Now You Look Presidential

    Now You Look Presidential

    CanCon Friday - Strange Advance



    The duo of Drew Arnott and Darryl Kromm (along with Vancouver session bassist Paul Iverson) began their claim to the airwaves with this title track, Worlds Away, in 1983.
    They had several other hits in their '80's career span as well, including 1985's We Run. But the fleetingly fickle finger on the public's pulse moves on...

    Saturday, February 09, 2008

    Friday, February 08, 2008

    Welcome To Your Nightmare

    Welcome To Your Nightmare

    CanCon Friday - Doug And The Slugs



    This band bestrode the Vancouver scene like an alternative colossus during the 1970's and '80's, with catchy ska-influenced tunes that made a night out with them a party to remember.
    They were true road warriors, relentlessly touring the country to packed clubs and concert halls during their peak, and even after.

    Sadly, upon the passing of lead singer and founder Doug Bennett in 2004, they have ceased as a creative entity. Check out their back catalog if you're so inclined, especially the earlier albums like Cognac & Bologna.