if memory serves, the day after thanksgiving is buy nothing day. and while that particular holiday (a favorite of self-righteous white people—what about the DEALS!) was yesterday, this vid still seemed appropriate. it's neil signin’ “this note’s for you” with the bluenotes. turns out neil young has infinte cred, but i think we all knew that before this video, which is funny/embarrassing/kinda true.

if rockism is a real thing, then this is an amazing example of it:


edit: minimal research reveals that the video was initially banned by mtv but later won video of the year for 1989. interesting...

Oh my.

Jarvis meets Ali G



...& Gaz

what, one often wonders, would a band made up of stones fans who like to get drunk and watch tons of westerns sound like? at least i wondered that, and recently discovered that that band would in fact be the flaming stars. i've been listening to their straightforwardly named 2000 comp “ginmill perfume—the story so far 1995-2000” a lot. it’s really excellent. very garage-y and very enjoyable:

the flaming stars--"the face on the bar room floor"

Six Reasons I Love Teenage Fanclub

1. For the best opening couplet on any album ever:
She wears denim wherever she goes,
Says she’s gonna get some records by the Status Quo.
(“The Concept” from 1991’s Bandwagonesque)

2. For being generally regarded as the most promising new band of 1991 and going on to prove why they deserved that title long after the demise of Nirvana.

3. For not relegating Raymond McGinley to George-Harrison-third-wheel status, but allowing him to flourish into an equal among the band’s other two great songwriters, Norman Blake (John) and Gerard Love (Paul).

4. For being Scottish and sounding so unbelievably American.

5. For a great love song with a progressive message: “I Don’t Want Control of You.” In its own way, it is as overwhelmingly wonderful as anything from Pet Sounds.

6. For the lovely subdued power pop of 2005’s Man Made, which captures, better than any other album I can think of, the exhilaration of watching the sweet, sweet world pass by. It has all the makings of a swan song, but hopefully it will not prove to be so.

The November 1st edition of Liner Notes (Paper copies out by the end of the day today). If you'll notice, I've switched up the rating system for the reviews. Enjoy the issue.