Doug Martsch. Age 42.

Joyride was recorded in 1993 and released in 1994, when Doug was 25. How long has this song been written, dormantly sitting in Doug’s head?

“He likes his guitar solos meaty and imprecise, but handles his songs like delicate babies that he wants to see grow up and love the world…” – CD Universe .com

Built to Spill recently announced their only tour date of the year. They will be playing Seattle’s City Arts Festival on October 25th.

What can be said when you discover a great American rock band – and I don’t use that term loosely – from 40 years ago? I mean, I know you’ve heard them. I heard them and didn’t know who they were until I made That 70s Connection. The thing about Big Star is people love them. And for someone – me – who grew up strictly on classic rock, it’s bizarro that I had never heard them before. It’s also surprising to me because they were one of Jeff Tweedy’s biggest influences. Lyricism, developed song writing and (well, I guess) pure magic can be found in these records.

#1 Record

Take a moment to appreciate some under appreciated rock and roll from Memphis, TN. When I listen to them, I still want to like them more. But I keep going back because that’s the kind of band they are.

Poet, Canadian, folk hero – call him what you want – this record is still gold.

Neil Young makes me think of a kid I went to high school with. Ray Fallon wore pajamas almost every day, or sweat pants. He was a champ in our AP English class and ended up acting through college. Now I think he still lives in my hometown and has plans to buy land and start a farm. I guess some things never change.

This is his third record, out in 1970. I’m sure you’ll fall in love with it again. Either that or realize that Southern Man is more than just an overplayed song on all radio stations. The guitar solo on that track is a reminder, or education of, the fact that Young is a forgotten guitar hero. You’ll dig it once you forget you’re listening to Southern Man. Don’t forget what your good book says.

not pictured: dill bovre

Farmer’s Market Sundays include – swiss chard, cucumbers, peaches, cherries, white button mushrooms, yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers (that smell fresher than any pepper you’ve never smelled), sourdough bread.

And the best two dollars I’ve ever spent goes to:

Frankie Says Relax

Today’s plans include the usual. Lunch, cooking, soaking beans, watching the newest Netflix arrival, Mystic River, and playing Michael Jackson records – as yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of his death. Saw Dinosaur Jr. last night, and Henry Rollins (real last name: Garfield, and is from Glover Park – right here in DC) interview them on stage before they played BUG (download here.) Even with ear plugs my hearing is still very deaf. Accomplished weekend of writing, drinking pots of coffee and replacing my brake pads.

Found a new band WU LYF. I’d have you download it but the internets removed it due to illegality? Who knew that was a thing? Indie meets screams and shouts of rasp and moanin’. Recorded in an empty church, and used as a sound itself, this record is a new sound and actually quite refreshing. Inquire within.

Need some reading?

A due congrats to New York State for passing Gay Marriage, effective in 30 days. Between that and Obama pulling more folks out of Afghanistan, I say we’re finally getting some things right.

the devil keeps you cool

A majority of conversations I have with people our age lately has to do with no one being sure of what they want to do. It’s like The Graduate, only real. Even if you know your profession or interests – or even have a job that you like, in your field. Sometimes it adds up to just being another month of work for another month of rent. Ebbs and flows come with every job. It doesn’t depend on if you are crunching numbers, filing unimportant scripts or folding clothes and serving breakfast. There are weeks and days that go by where you never want to work again. I guess you can find me in one of those weeks.

Another birthday passed and it’s almost the end of June already. Which means the first of the month is around the corner. A day I know I don’t like to think about. And I’m sure you don’t want to either. The thing is, I love my job. And I love the people I work with. Sometimes I look forward to seeing them more than I want to go to work. Most days the best part of my day is my bike ride to work and then riding home afterwords to spend the night cooking something new in my tiny kitchen. Staring into a computer screen mixing and editing wave forms seems to be my ideal. There are people I am friends with who have been doing what I’ve been doing for just under a year for four years. Apparently four years is the shelf life of my job. I know what comes next. Hopefully bigger and better things. Ya’ll know I want to move out west and maybe start my own station somewhere one day. But then I find myself thinking about my co-workers. They like their job as much as me, and less. But why won’t they leave? My biggest problem is being too happy and never wanting to leave. I get scared the comfort it can, and has been, offering me. Which doesn’t even deserve to be called a problem. Perhaps it really is a curse to think about the future too much. Or is it too cliche to just live in the moment? I am in no way shape or form complaining. I am happy and healthy and really don’t have much to worry about. But there are days that go by where you just think, if I show up to work and the building isn’t there today, I am not going to be disappointed.

something new in my kitchen. birthday strawberry rhubarb pie. i even made the crust and lattice.

My sister quit her job because she didn’t want to crunch numbers every day to make an already rich man who she would never meet even richer than he needs to be. And when I compare my situation to that – life sounds like a daydream. I get to wear shorts to work and show up on time around 10:30 or even 11 or noon if I want. And no one will say anything to me. What do I do all day? I make sure music is always playing somewhere. I also get to sit and listen to music all day every day and talk to every one around me about music, old and new. They make jokes and laugh at mine. It’s really the nicest work environment and I hope it only gets better from here. I’ve always said the same thing about radio folk. I love them – and I can hope that they can love me.

I don’t believe in existential thinking, or over-thinking about my cerebral being. I’m pretty sure that all I can offer to this mindless mind conversation I have with you here is that even if we feel like we are living through The Graduate while being happy, successful and comfortable, is that people need their moments. Everyone needs to be saved and woken up into a new reality that doesn’t belong to them. For the weeks that go by that offer me nothing more than going to work six days a week and having drinks with friends, sometimes more not than often, to return home to a place that has constant dripping noises – I can just try something new. Ordered a new salad dressing on a make-your-own-salad at a mom & pop coffee shop in Adam’s Morgan. Saw Aziz Ansari live with Angeline and her cousin. Decided to go out on the shortest limb and buy kettle corn microwavable popcorn (something I’ve always hated until recently) from CVS at 12:30 at night while everyone around me was drunk, fighting and buying condoms, cigarettes and soda. I like, and need, those strangely distinct moments to myself in order to make me see that the everything is so wonderful. Homemade ice cream and bourbon on a Sunday night. Erica Levine getting hired back at TeenNick. Hearing Home in my headphones walking up Connecticut and thinking about how music and cities never make me feel alone.  And finding old friends on Facebook having new happy lives that continue on without me – and managing to feel happy for them.

Paying bills and growing up seems to be the worst sometimes. But I know it’s worth it. Mary sent me a birthday card with an e.e. cummings quote that she wrote inside. And I know it’s cliche and expected to leave you with a quote – but sometimes it’s others’ words that seem to do the best explaining. “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” Even if you aren’t sure who that is, it’s better to be someone than to be nowhere.

But the one time I watch something, I am so glad it was this.

You can hate IC if you want to (Angeline.) Maybe Green Man is the only saving grace to this video. (Angeline.)  My saving grace is seeing a twin Mary Buehler among faceless faces. Was just recently informed that it isn’t her, but it’s strange how much it looks like her! She pops up out of nowhere. [Watch out for bizarro Mary in the beginning of the Spice Girls part right by the smoothie place Fed worked. ]

Or you can love IC and appreciate some strange, geeky creativity for people to get their shit together, dance poorly, and make something we can all laugh at. Which is what I intend to do.

Having just finished pissing on Bear Grylls

Name: James Walker

Age: 26

Hometown: Midland Park, New Jersey

Responds to: James, Jim, Jimbo, Big Money, Buffalo Boy

Allergies: Hay, shit like that

Self-portrait, below. During his time in the Jersey Highlands, Jim studied white-tailed deer and drank whiskey. In a small steno pad he recorded his observations of the wildlife, as well as documentation of his shelter and surroundings. This self-portrait was created one night while he drank whiskey and watched Bambi. They say that life imitates art, and in this case, Jim’s art imitated the life he lived alone in the woods.

Self-portrait

euphoria! live!

Recorded in 1969 in Dallas and San Francisco, released in 1974, there is a volume 1 & 2 (on CD. Vinyl is two discs.) Lou Reed chats up the Texas crowd before the first track for about a minute. And by chat up I mean he offends them. Full of long Velvety drone jams, on vinyl the quality is old and has been passed around. But that is just how you want your live Velvet Underground. Rare and gritty.

As it is my birthday I moved my stereo out to the living room. Angeline is celebrating her sister’s graduation from Drexel in the Philly heat today and then heading to the cooler Buffalo for most of next week. That means loud records all the time.

On slate for today: homemade tzatziki, falafel and white bean hummus. And for dessert homemade strawberry rhubarb pie and homemade vanilla ice cream. To the sounds of This Year’s Model, Speaking In Toungues, The Specials, Some Girls, Highway 61 Revisited and lots of Jefferson Airplane. But I will say there is nothing quite like live Velvet Underground. Doug Yule has stepped in for John Cale but the rest of the gang’s all here – Moe Tucker, Sterling Morrison and (with) Lou Reed. Here to download.

Today’s high is 97. I know that it is getting hot everywhere and we all are going through heat waves. But something about living on a swamp and below the Mason Dixon line makes me feel like my complaints rank higher above your dog days of New York City, or Boston. Don’t think LA counts. At least you live in California.

After a visit to Ithaca I am feeling the financial drought of spending a hundo on vinyl at Angry Mom. But hey, it was totally worth it. This Year’s Model, Physical Graffiti - with the cool building window cut outs – Easter, Joe Cocker, The Velvet Underground Live 1969, Best Of Vince Guaraldi, Charlie Parker Big Band, Miles Davis Live at the Black Hawk in SF, Four & More Miles Davis Live, Allman Brothers Band Live At The Filmore East, Blonde on Blonde (finally!) and my favorite five dollar find, The Specials (self titled.) Then I managed to find more of my records and get them down here on the train. Recent new favorites like Rain Dogs (thanks to my crazy Aunt Angela) found my Highway 61 Revisited and my Nashville Skyline, Surrealistic Pillow, Parallel Lines, …you know what – the list goes on.

As for new. There is a lot of stuff including new Battles (a band I hadn’t heard before.) Gloss Drop.  Despite the drawingly-cool cover photo there is really only one track to pay attention to if you just want to, well, gloss over it. Ice Cream.

NPR has a lot going on. You can stream all the Sasquatch! Music Fesitval shows – I hear the Wilco one is just to die for (including a new song. Stay tuned new Wilco this september. Expect a full press obsession.) Their first listens haven’t impressed me. Only because I am not drawn to the music of Fucked Up, Marissa Nadler or BOBBY BOBBY. But I will say, the Givers’ In Light is a keeper for later.

Apple announced its iCloud – cloud computing. Nothing scares me more. People tell me it’s the wave of the future. I think its just the future of huge energy eating buildings that store our data files. We never have to see them or deal with them, but who does? Where are the? Big brother called……he knows Steve Jobs.

Gil Scott-Heron died. And last night I found myself watching a VH1 produced one-on-one interview with Lady Gaga about her life growing up in NYC/BK (her and her best friend named their bikes Karen and Henry from Goodfellas - winning my heart? Maybe?) and how she was a young classical pianist and took singing lessons. I’ve never been more fascinated with something I could care less about. Isn’t life interesting? The stories never end. Granted I was at work till 1a (back again at 9:30 the next morning) for the kick off of CMA music week and a special night of the Grand Ole Opry filled with Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood and friends. So. Fun.

Pitchfork is raving about Fucked Up and Cults - neither of which I think is really worth anyone’s time. Too bad I can’t decide for you. Yo La Tengo and the National (why is this band popular?) are touring together (why the hell are they paired together?) Broken Social Scene and TV On The Radio are touring together too. But they aren’t coming here – so why should I care? There is new Steve Malkmus. And in scary news, E.Coli is a very real thing. Thanks Mark Bittman.

Yes, I know this is quite a random-fleeing collection of findings and interpretations. But I needed a kick start back. Enjoy the links. And hopefully I will get back on the wagon. Also, Saturday is my birthday. There is nothing worse than a Facebook birthday wish. I never partake in them. I try to find a more ‘intimate’ way to wish someone a Merry Birthday. So how about a challenge? Try something new.