Sam O'Rama's Rack

Top 50 of 2010!

2011-01-02T23:06:00.004-06:00

1. Dum Dum Girls - I Will Be
2. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
3. Robyn - Body Talk
4. Marina & the Diamonds - The Family Jewels
5.Frankie Rose & The Outs - s/t
6. Zola Jesus - Stridulum II
7.Super Wild Horses - Fifteen
8. Woods - At Echo Lake
9. Night Gallery - Constant Struggle
10. Grass Widow - Past Time
11. Tamaryn - The Waves
12. Beach Fossils -s/t
13. Nobunny - First Blood
14. Reading Rainbow - Prism Eyes
15. Ty Segall - Melted
16. Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
17.Effi Breist - Rhisomes
18. Blank Dogs - Land & Fixed
19. Women - Public Strain
20. Wavves- King of the Beach
21. Janelle Monae - The Archandroid
22. Sufjan Stevens - Age of Adz
23. Magic Kids - Memphis
24. The New Pornographers - Together
25. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
26. The Sadies - Darker Circles
27. She & Him - Volume 2
28. Drake - Thank Me Later
29. of Montreal - False Priest
30. Liars - Sisterworld
31. Ted Leo & Pharmacists - Brutalist Bricks
32. Kings Go Forth - The Outsiders Are Back
33. Glasser - Ring
34. Jamie Lidell - Compass
35. The Girls at Dawn - Call the Doctor
36. The Vaselines - Sex with an X
37. Goldfrapp - Head First
38. Belle & Sebastian - Write About Love
39. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
40. Algebro - the Algebro Album
41. Scissor Sisters - Night Work
42. MGMT - Congratulations
43. The Limiñanas - s/t
44. Disappears - Lux
45. Crowded House - Intriguer
46. Best Coast - Crazy for You
47. The Autumn Defense - Once Around
48. Antony & the Johnsons - Swanlights
49. Stereolab - Not Music
50. My Chemical Romance - Danger Days

Top 50 of 2009!

2010-01-20T21:03:00.004-06:00

1. Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers
2. Woods - Songs of Shame
3. Ganglians - Monster Head Room
4. VEEDEE - Public Mental Health System
5. Wizzard Sleeve - s/t
6. Magnolia Electric Co. - Josephine
7. Smith Westerns - s/t
8. Fresh and Onlys - s/t
9. Cheveu - Cheveau
10. So Cow - s/t
11. Static Static - Psychic Eyes
12. Cold Cave - Love Comes Close
13. White Wires - s/t
14. Molina and Johnson - s/t
15. CoCoComa - Things Are Not All Right
16. Almighty Defenders - s/t
17. Zola Jesus - The Spoils
18. Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy
19.The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
20. King Khan and BBQ Show - Invisible Girl
21. Real Estate - s/t
22. Thee Oh Sees - Help
23. Baroness - Blue Record
24. Nothing People - Late Night
25. Meth Teeth - Everything Went Wrong
26. Jacuzzi Boys - No Seasons
27. Coathangers - Scramble
28. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Beware
29. The Yolks - s/t
30. Baby Teeth - Hustle Beach
31. Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall
32. The Dutchess & the Duke - Sunset/Sunrise
33. Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong
34. Blank Dogs - Under and Under
35. Former Ghosts - Fleurs
36. On Fillmore - Extended Vacation
37. John Doe & The Sadies - Country Club
38. Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster
39. The Intelligence - Fake Surfers
40. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
41. Sir Lord Von Raven - Please Throw Me Back in the Water
42. Box Elders - Alice and Friends
43. Dent May - The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele
44. Young Fresh Fellows - I Think This Is
45. Monsters of Folk - s/t
46. Shrinebuilder - s/t
47. Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
48. Ty Segal - Lemons
49. Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
50. Flight of the Conchords - I Told You I Was Freaky

Just Because...

2009-03-29T01:51:00.002-05:00

Songs From My Digital Music Library That Contain the Word Because:

1. Because - The Beatles
2. Because - Alice Cooper with the Bee Gees
3. Because I Do - X
4. Because Of You - Gene Clark
5. Because Of You - Glaxo Babies
6. Because The Night - Patti Smith Group
7. Because The Night - Bruce Springsteen
8. Because You're Young - David Bowie
9. I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You - Jens Lekman
10. Just Because - Lloyd Price
11. Just Because I Do - My Morning Jacket
12. Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All The Way In Bushnell - Sufjan Stevens

(Idea from another blog)

Top 10 of 2008 and more!

2009-01-03T19:58:00.005-06:00

1. Blank Dogs On Two Sides
2. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours
3. Cut/Copy In Ghost Colours
4. Gentleman Jesse and His Men - s/t
5. Liam Finn - I'll Be Lightning
6. Portishead - Third
7. Nobunny - Love Visions
8. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Dig Lazarus Dig!
9. Cheap Time - s/t
10. Vivian Girls - s/t

...AND MORE (unranked):
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night
Thee Oh Sees - The Master's Bedroom is
Worth Spending a Night In
The Goodnight Loving - s/t
Two Cow Garage - Speaking in Cursive
Tilly & The Wall - o
The Wax Museums - s/t
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Lie Down In the Light
Sloan - Parallel Play
No Age - Nouns
Mudcrutch - s/t
Matthew Sweet - Sunshine Lies
Old 97s - Blame It On Gravity
R.E.M. - Accelerate
TV on the Radio Dear Science
She & Him Volume 1
Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Still to come: 7"s...

Coming Soon: Year End Type Thing

2008-12-22T20:06:00.002-06:00

This year my number one is disappointment. Many old faves let me down. I'll get something up before the end of the year, I sorta promise.

Up up up!

2008-11-03T02:08:00.001-06:00

here ya go!

2008-11-01T03:14:00.002-05:00

McCain thumbs up

2008-10-31T01:05:00.002-05:00

Now thru election day I will give you a different McCain photo with his thumbs up:

I Just Broke a Compact Disc

2008-10-14T02:49:00.005-05:00

It was the quite out of print Man Of Colours by Icehouse. I had, fortunately, uploaded it to the hard drive. There's only 2 really great songs on it. I seemed to remember this album as being way better back in 1987 when I owned it on cassette. John Oates co-wrote of the good songs, which helps explain why it's kinda the one GOOD song on the album. I probably would never have reached for this CD to put it on, so it's not that sad that I broke it. Let this be a lesson: don't leave a CD not in a case under a blanket on your bed. You're asking for a broken CD.

New Degrassi Starts Friday!

2008-10-09T04:20:00.001-05:00

Short Rabbits - Dying By Inches

2008-10-07T00:25:00.003-05:00

Pissy dark Cleveland punk strikes again. This is some dark angry shit that absolutely rocks and sounds like it could have come from anytime. Bass player Charlie Ditto used to be in Easter Monkeys (we have their Splendor of Sorrow LP right now too). Isn't it just rad when someone comes back 25 years later still making fresh relevant music? If you want something to keep your blood boiling as it gets chilly, check this out.

Beardo of the Week

2008-10-06T23:29:00.003-05:00

Phil Collins!

He had a beard, briefly.

The Sam O'Rama Halloween 2008 Video Variety Thingy

2008-10-06T02:26:00.002-05:00

Tim and Eric make another creepy video

2008-10-05T14:57:00.002-05:00

You Dont Know Me (Ben Folds featuring Regina Spektor)

Still Loving Liam Finn

2008-10-03T02:46:00.003-05:00

There was a whole lot of great shows in the city tonight: Beck, Thee Oh Sees, Wreckless Eric, Gomez...uh Alanis Morrisette? But I was happy to be with Sooz at Lakeshore Theatre for Liam Finn. It was his first headlining show in Chicago and he had a couple more musicians with him including his little brother Elroy which kinda freaked me out as a long time Neil Finn Fann. Anyhoot, a super great show, go see them! Buy the album!

The new iTunes Genius thing,

2008-09-10T22:59:00.004-05:00

Genius is an understatement. This thing is a Harvard grad on steroids and heroin. Unfreakingstoppable. You pick a song, it makes you a playlist. For example:
I gave it Lost in Love - Air Supply and it provides:
Babe - Styx
On and on - Stephen Bishop
Reminiscing - Little River Band
Can't Fight This Feeling - Reo Speedwagon
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
Dance With Me - Orleans
The Things We Do For Love - 10cc
True - Spandau Ballet
Who's Crying Now - Journey
Do You Believe In Love - Huey Lewis & The News
Goodbye Girl - David Gates
In Too Deep - Genesis
Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond
Sister Christian - Night Ranger
All Out of Love - Air Supply
Beth - Kiss
How Much I Feel - Ambrosia
I'm So Excited - The Pointer Sisters
Longer - Dan Fogelberg
Still The One - Orleans
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight -England Dan and John Ford Coley
Ride Like the Wind - Christopher Cross
Baby Come Back - Player
Keep On Loving You - REO Speedwagon

AMAZING!! I'll try something more interesting next.

Gentleman Jesse and His Men - s/t

2008-09-08T20:59:00.002-05:00

While we're still in powerpop land (there's that word again!) allow me to bend your ear on this fine release from Douchemaster Records. I LOVE this album. I was singing along on like the second go-thru. The cover is certainly an homage to Mr. Costello, and the music captures the excitement of those first few Attractions records. We have the CD in stock, the vinyl may be gone for good.

Milk N' Cookies - s/t Vinyl Reissue

2008-09-08T20:23:00.003-05:00

Radio Heartbeat has been putting out beautiful vinyl reissues of impossible to find 70s awesomeness (I don't like to pigeonhole it as "powerpop" because that is a dirty word to some ROCK fans) and this Milk N' Cookies reissue is a really lovely thing to behold. The first LP is the scrapped Island full length from 1974 (later out on Sire in 1976) and the second LP is a 45 RPMer of singles. These guys had a timeless look that I'd place as suburban Ramones and the sound is not-as-cheezy Bay City Rollers fuck yeah. If you dig current bands like the Busy Signals and Cheap Time and also have a sweet tooth, I would pick this up ASAP. I can't imagine it being around for long. Serious dance around your room good time stuff here.

Slow News Day?

2008-09-04T03:26:00.000-05:00

Poison stops in Boise, gives $25 tip to server

You almost don't have to read the article with that headline, but you should.

Smith Westerns "Irukandji" 7" and the Temple of Whoomp! There it Is!

2008-08-10T02:53:00.006-05:00

Anyone who knows me is already sick of me yammering about Smith Westerns. I'm sorry. Look, we finally have their first 7" on HoZac so I'm gonna wear it out almost as much as that Men Without Hats "Pop Goes The World" 7" in 1987. It's like shooting up chocolate milk. You might jump on your bed. Your dog probably won't like it. You most likely won't regret it in the morning. Look, a music video:

Best Movie EVER?

2008-08-08T01:00:00.001-05:00

Pineapple Express!! A+++++++++++++!!!

I was here...

2008-07-29T04:10:00.001-05:00

Photos: Bonnie "Prince" Billy [Jeffersontown, KY; 07/26/08] | Pitchfork

It was quite a day, and thankfully I have a commemorative kazoo to show for it. The rock didn't stop though. Got home in time Sunday to walk to Wicker Park fest for Red Sparrowes and Isis, then kept walking to the Bottle for Witch Hats and Cococoma. I thought I would have been dead today, yet I somehow managed to make it back to the Bottle tonite for the Dials. I guess I will rest when I am dead. Or at least super legitimately exhausted.

Lego Album Covers

2008-07-28T12:14:00.003-05:00

A little heavy on the Beatles, but adorable nonetheless. I have a lot of Legos around but not much ambition.

on the road to Louisville

2008-07-26T10:41:00.006-05:00

we're off to see Bonnie "Prince" Billy in a field! For updates see http://twitter.com/samorama !

Oh yeah, the review of that super amazing show July 19...

2008-07-25T03:08:00.005-05:00

I thought it was cruel when Pitchfork divided two of the artists I gave a crap about into different days, so when I initially caught wind of this Bottom Lounge show on Cheap Time's MySpace I was pretty excited. There was also some fear that it would somehow suck since I was so stoked, but it in no way sucked. Tim and I got there early and found regular customer Shaun at the bar and hung out with him 'til doors. I lingered around until it looked necessary to grab a spot at the front of the stage and I somehow managed to maintain it the whole evening. The Duchess and the Duke were pleasant enough and didn't incite the crowd to riot. A/V Murder were tough as shit. I will absolutely make sure I see them again. Cheap Time started out with the slow building then exploding all over your face "Trip to the Zoo" and kept right on going. The crowd was an odd mix of dudes who had been at P4k all day drinking and other folks who knew that was the best thing going on all weekend, and the collision in the "mosh pit" of the two was pretty silly. While I may be a little rusty in the "mosh" department I will say it would have taken like 10 of those kids at once to even budge me. I did get a few hard earned bruises. Oh yeah back to Cheap Time... so good! I could barely contain my pogo during "People Talk". Buy their album! Then there was Jay Reatard! Seeing him live is a whole 'nother story from listening to his records, because they play the songs so damn fast and hard that you barely realize what song it was before they start the next. I know he yells them out to the band but you kinda can't understand that either. Asian Paul flanked Melissa and I up front, which was nice to have someone sing and swoon along with. (Melissa may try and deny this, but I think she was swoony a bit.) While it seems crazy to think anyone could follow up The Jay Reatard Experience, sho nuff King Khan and his Shrines did so! It was their first US tour, and I don't know if this country is yet ready for them. The show was everything I hoped for, though it seems a bit silly that "moshing" continued during their horn-drenched stomping go-go soul, but so it went. There was also the girl kneeling on stage in between the monitors that was a "huh?" Oh well, I was scouring the room for my ass afterwards because I danced it right off. BEST SHOW EVER, and too drained for the Fest on Sunday. Crappy photos here.

(Oh, yet it might get a run for its money with King Khan and BBQ Show back at the Bottom Lounge on Halloween! yeehaw!)

7" Round Up

2008-07-25T02:22:00.007-05:00

My attention span is short lately, as evidenced by the lack of postings, so here's some quick reviews of some singles you might find digging in our 7" section, or on my actual in-store pick rack:

The Barbaras "Summertime Road"
Take some awesome 60s sunshine pop and listen through a paper bag full of airplane glue and you've got this 7". It's the #1 jam of the summer, no foolin'!

Vivian Girls "Tell the World"
Warning: listening to this over and over will put you in a hazy trance. "I Believe in Nothing" is my favorite of the three songs that work together to make a pretty ugly low fi foe funnn sandwich of something I can't put my finger on.

Cococoma/Hipshakes split
Oh this is the sort of stuff that will turn the youngens into rabble rousers. An original by each and a loving cover by each. There will be dirt on your leg when you are done listening to this and you won't be sure where it came from.

Happy P4K Weekend!

2008-07-17T00:46:00.004-05:00

Sorry dear readers, I did not disappear after my vacation as my lack of posting would indicate. My energy has been sapped by these dog days of summer, which means one thing: It is hot enough to listen to rock music in a park! As per tradition, I will avoid Lollapalooza and will probably only be in Union Park on Sunday. There are some super terrific OTHER shows this weekend if hanging out with hot sweaty people and eating meat on a stick is not your thing. Friday Night's Victim of Time Snooze Fest lineup at Beat Kitchen should be rad and weird. After work Saturday I am heading over to Bottom Lounge, of course, for what should be the SHOW! OF! THE! CENTURY!!!! with King Khan and the Shrines, Jay Reatard, Cheap Time, & A/V Murder (I so hope this doesn't suck. It can't suck, right?). If Sunday's weather doesn't suck I'll hang in the park a bit, but what about the metal at the Bottle that night? Boris, Torche, & Nachmystium! F Yeah! Drink lots of water and don't go too nuts on the Sparks!

A Holiday Muxtape

2008-07-04T04:31:00.000-05:00

Buiding up to the Finale...

2008-06-06T04:23:00.001-05:00

So imagine my surprise when I get back from jukeboxing it up at the Gingerman and there's Rhett Miller at my table. How did I know it was Rhett? Well, the guy says, as I sit myself down "Hey Samorama, I'm Rhett." Paul really made this one the most FUN yet as we got out of the cab and Ken immediately starts yakkin' away, but somehow thinks he's talking to a guy named, uh, Daniel. Paul is of course too nice to correct him. Somehow Rhett got me right though. Oh, the show? Tons of fun, the new songs sounded good (I am holding out for the vinyl, for reals!) and the classics (Barrier Reef! Er... Rollerskate Skinny, um, help me out here)... anyhoot, so far the most FUN I have had this week (Jamie still holds best in show). Wow, three more nights left!

Tuesday - Wednesday

2008-06-05T15:05:00.003-05:00

Tuesday: The show at Martyrs was a sit-down-spectacular good time. The first openers were good, Jeff Parker trio was fantastic, and Nels Cline Singers made a lot of really great noise. Sadly, I didn't try to get a picture. It would have been all blurry. They even played something off my favorite Nels album which isn't a Singers albums: the Inkling.

Wednesday: Holy Cow, Jamie Lidell was AMAZING! It's going to be hard for any show to top it. The Abbey was packed with a sold out sweaty hot dancing crowd. He was great solo at Pitchfork fest a few years ago, but he had a band (including a sax player!) and the new songs were so totally rad live! Seriously, he is so GOOD. The album is great, but live, holy shit!! Besides Lollapalooza, I'm sure he'll be somewhere much bigger next time he comes.

Old 97s tonight! I still haven't heard the new album...

Saturday-Monday

2008-06-03T14:18:00.004-05:00

Saturday: Started out at "Do Division" with Meg and Bob, mostly heard and sort of saw Mucca Pazza. Meg is fortunate enough to live in the middle of the fest, so we saved a lot of dough on beer. Bob and I made our way over to Metro, with a brief pitstop at the Gingerman, and got in right as the Breeders were starting, and we mainly heard them. They played the hits, the new weird stuff, it all sounded good. One more brief pitstop at Gingerman and then I made my way to Quenchers to catch the tail end of the Boogie Band, aka Baby Alright. Adam, LeRoy, myself and Wassup! magazine and who knows who else all crammed in the photobooth for posterity.

Sunday: Did Division with Sooz and Paul. We caught the opening set from Tullymonster, and there was totally a kid with a pet rooster. After lunch and hanging in Meg's hospitality suite we did make our way out for 1900s, Gil Mantera's Party Dream and Ted Leo and Pharmacists. I know it was a $5 street fest, but man the sound was terrible.

Monday: I actually went to possibly my least favorite venue (Logan Square Auditorium) for Islands. The sound wasn't too terrible, and despite being there COMPLETELY alone I had had a good time. I was amongst a bunch of loners, I guess I should have introduced myself.

Nels Cline Singers/Jeff Parker Trio tonight!

Craigslist Post of the Now

2008-06-02T00:44:00.001-05:00

This seems like a good deal. Unless you're against that sort of thing, sorry!

Going on Vacation (In Chicago)

2008-05-30T03:30:00.002-05:00

I am taking a week of vacation starting Saturday to stay in Chicago and go to shows. Yes, there is actually a show I am going to every night (and some days) for one whole week. I get to go to almost all my favorite Chicago venues, and some that I really hate (i'm not naming names). However, there is some sort of fun tax being imposed upon me by the city of Chicago; I have to report for jury duty in Rolling Meadows at 9:00 am Friday, and work afterwards. As you can see, I am still awake per my normal sleep cycle at 3:33 am. I have to "wake up" in 3 hours.

I'm going to do my best to post about every show, the schedule looks something like this:

Saturday May 31: Do Division with Mucca Pazza, Breeders @ Metro
Sunday June 1: Do Division with Tully Monster, Ted Leo & More!, Johnny & the Limelites, the Spits @ Beat Kitchen
Monday June 2: Islands @ Logan Square, Baby Alright @ Sonotheque (looking for someone to come with me this evening!)
Tuesday June 3: Nels Cline Singers @ Martyrs
Wednesday June 4: Jamie Lidell @ Abbey Pub
Thursday June 5: Old 97s at Metro
Friday June 6: MAYBE R.E.M., Modest Mouse, the National @ United Center
Saturday June 7: Detholz!, Baby Teeth, Danny Black @ Hideout, with DJ Bobby Conn dance party to follow!
Sunday June 8: the M's, Centro-matic @ Schubas

The New Weezer Single/Video

2008-05-28T03:34:00.000-05:00

OMGWTF I kinda like this!!!

Beardo of the Week

2008-05-21T00:55:00.005-05:00

Sesame Street's Bert as Beardo! Dude, I would totally go out with him. Isn't that a great look for him? So one day Ernie was painting Bert's portrait and somehow made him into a beardo (Ernie's longing for Bert to be a bear?). Bert of course gets pissed so Ernie somehow makes Bert look just like the portrait! It's on the Sesame Street Video site, Grover's introduction about it being in beta is adorable.

Emmett Otter Bound for the Stage and Muppets Etc.

2008-05-21T00:29:00.005-05:00

I'm not sure how a live action otter puppet musical is really going to work, but Paul Williams is involved. I've yet to hear his Happy Days musical. That Muppet Central site is pretty cool, the news about the Sarah Marshall guy writing the next Muppet Movie is pretty interesting. For further Muppet information, get lost in the Muppet Wiki. Finally, we have The Muppet Show Season 3 in stock. The first two are great of course, but it gets really super awesome with this one. I've just started disc 2 but there's already a few standouts: Gilda Radner paired with a giant carrot doing songs from Pirates of Penzance, Alice Cooper's "School's Out" with giant monster choreography, and Loretta Lynn's appearance taking place in a train station instead of the usual theatre.

Planet Earth Is Back!

2008-05-20T12:29:00.002-05:00

Melissa and I will be womaning a table at the new Planet Earth at Subterranean this Saturday! I'm very excited since it had been a while since I went to Neo for the Thursday nights, but how can you lose with a Saturday night of dancing close to home?

Check it out! Buy tix in advance for $5!

Bonus video: (Is Simon LeBon wearing knickers?)

Why no child is safe from the sinister cult of emo

2008-05-15T10:23:00.003-05:00

Wow, I thought this sort of media idiocy was rampant only in the US. I actually went to a My Chemical Romance concert and didn't even want to kill myself. Hannah Montana is more likely to cause that.

Beardo of the Week

2008-05-07T22:36:00.004-05:00

Devendra Banhart! Dude is dating Queen Amadala. Yeah, that last record was okay. I just want to go to a party with them.

BubeTube #3 - Salute to the Golden Age of Silver Screen Music Videos of Platinum Caliber!

2008-05-04T21:56:00.005-05:00

1. El Debarge - "Who's Johnny?" - Short Circuit
I'm starting out strong with this one. Amazing interaction between the stars of the film and El Debarge. Even the robot Johnny 5 makes an appearance, as does a cardboard Steve Guttenberg. THUMBS UP!

2. Peter Cetera - "The Glory Of Love" - The Karate Kid Part 2
Does anyone remember the song from the first Karate Kid? I doubt it. Peter Cetera really gives his all in this slow dance favorite of the mid 80s. Nearly all of his solo hits after this sounded EXACTLY THE SAME but they don't remind of us cute lil' Ralph Macchio and a sexy tea ceremony. 4 and a half stars!!

3. Phil Collins - "Against All Odds" - Against All Odds
This one hits the ground running by morphing Phil's mouth with a movie prop. He had a whole lot of "great" movie hits but this one just has legs of its own. A++!! (bonus for weird neon set pieces)

4. Kenny Loggins - "Footloose" - Footloose
This was a tough choice, as most of Kenny's great hits are from movies: Top Gun, Caddyshack, Over The Top, uh, Caddyshack 2... none of those have Kevin Bacon cuttin' a rug though! 5 Degrees of Kevin Bacon!!! Kenny Loggins gets a lifetime achievement award!!

5. Ray Parker, Jr - "Ghostbusters" - Ghostbusters
Aw hell yeah! This one is classic for so many reasons: Neon set pieces, acting of the lyrics, movie scenes popping up in weird shapes and (drum roll please) random celebrity lip synching of the word "Ghostbusters!" John Candy! George Wendt! Al Franken! Then the finale... Ray and the Ghostbusters dancing through Times Square! Green Slime Covered Two Thumbs Up!!

6. Billy Ocean - "When the Going Gets Tough the Tough Get Going" - Jewel of the Nile
Okay, this one is not that great until they work the stars of the film into Billy's already large band (THREE SAX PLAYERS?!). Who would have thunk Michael Douglas, Danny Devito and Kathleen Turner could learn such complex choreography?! B-.

7. Soul Asylum - "Can't Even Tell" - Clerks
This is probably the last of the golden era of movie music videos. Nice job getting it in under the wire Kevin Smith. Certainly the only one with a 90s alt-rock star huffing Easy Cheez. This should have been a hit! 37 STARS!!!! In a row?!

8. Cyndi Lauper - "Goonies 'R' Good Enough" - Goonies
Oh WTF. Somehow Cyndi brings the WWF and the Goonies together for a long form music video. Too bad the song is lackluster and forgettable. Thumbs DOWN. Please don't try and watch the whole thing. I mean it.

9. Philip Oakley and Giorgio Moroder - "Together in Electric Dreams" - Electric Dreams
I'll admit I have never seen this movie, but you can pretty much pick up on the plot from the video. I love the song though, because how can you lose with the dude from Human League and electrowhiz Moroder (who is apparently the boss of the radio station in the video). 4 Bytes!!

10. Limahl - "The NeverEnding Story" - The NeverEnding Story
Wow, Limah's vocals are pretty terrible. Who's the chick singing with him? Is he completely stoned? Is this movie as terrible looking as this low rez you tube video has me believe it is? I saw it on cable once as a kid. I think I hated it. F--.

11. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - "If You Leave" - Pretty In Pink
The quintessential 80s movie song? You do know original ending has her getting together with Duckie and dancing to David Bowie's Heroes, right? Oh well, this is a winner despite. 5 Popcorn Boxes!!

12. Simple Minds - "Don't You Forget About Me" - The Breakfast Club
Okay, the second of a one-two punch from John Hughes, not quite as great as the OMD though. 2 Popcorn Boxes.

13. Paul Westerberg - "Dyslexic Heart" - Singles
This is a great song, and the tying in of the movie bits to the song is handled in an inimitable 90s manner. Everything about the 90s looked like this video. B-.

14. David Bowie - "Underground" - Labyrinth
I don't know why, but I place this song in the upper echelon of Bowie songs. The video is very well made. GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER!!!!

15. Starship - "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" - Mannequin
Weird Neon Set Pieces? Check. Band performance incorporates movie theme? Check. All the best scenes from a terrible film? You got it!! Song you can't help but sing along to? Hell Yeah!! KEYTAR!?!? How did this song NOT get an Oscar!? It was nominated!! Oh. That Dirty Dancing Song won instead. BOOOOOOOOOO! Techincal Achievement Award.

16. Bryan Adams - "Everything I Do" - Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
A rare 90's entry to my chart. Not so hot, I mean, how did they get power out in the forest for all those electrical instruments? Also, showing scenes of people conversing does NOT a good montage make. If Robin Hood stole this from the rich he should give it back. IT STINKS!

17. Madonna - "Get Into The Groove" - Desperately Seeking Susan
Yeah!! Madonna at her cutest, playing pretty much herself in a really dumb movie involving amnesia and mistaken identity. Points for inspiring so many custom video makers on YouTube by trying to get as much lyric narration from actual movie scenes. C+ though for completely lacking original footage.

18. Irene Cara - "What A Feeling" - Flashdance
MORE-oder here. Yuk yuk. This pretty much mirrors the last entry with no use of original footage, but this is such an undeniable song that I couldn't deny it. Plus once in high school I got really wasted and put this song on repeat and sang and danced in the yard of someone's house one nite. 2 and a half cut off sweatshirts!

19. Bangles - "Hazy Shade Of Winter" - Less Than Zero
Surprisingly competent cover performed on a stage full of monitors showing footage. The late 80s were lazy. I give it a thumbs sideways.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO:

20. Huey Lewis and the News - "The Power of Love" - Back to the Future
This is without a doubt the finest example of the Golden Age of Movie Music Videos. There's no actual movie footage, but they didn't need it. What living person didn't see that movie the week it came out? You do get a weird crossing of the forth wall and appearance by two of the films stars which is way cooler.

What The Hell this new Portishead is the tops!

2008-05-01T01:06:00.003-05:00

My memories of Portishead were pretty much as the Barry White of indie rock. When someone wanted to "borrow your Portishead" CD in the past you knew what was going down. I don't think many people will be getting it on to this one. Last night I could not stop listening to it over and over again. It is weird and uncomfortable, maybe a little itchy, but then you just don't want it to leave. Seriously, I recommend this to anyone. Soccer Moms! Too cool people! My bus driver! That tiny Boston Terrier Puppy that chewed on Melissa's chin last week! You will all LOVE THIS.

Tim and Eric: Beyond Awesome!!

2008-04-28T01:55:00.004-05:00

Wow. Just wow. The DVD of Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! Season One was released this week. I don't know why their random, creepy, inappropriate "comedy" resonates so highly with me, but it does. Many are repulsed by this show, I eat it up with a spoon. The DVD is great, and the commentary (particularly David Liebe Hart's discussion of his alien abduction) is a must for any fan.

Tonite I had the honor of seeing them live for the second time, the first being the oddly spiritual show at South Union Arts a few years ago. Thankfully my pals are geeks and we got to the Empty Bottle early and got a spot right in front of the stage which got us prime territory for Papa John's pizza to be tossed at us, hot dogs hurled by Casey and his brother, and Casey puking! The entire show was incredible, but the medley by Casey and his brother was really the best thing EVER! I never thought I'd hear "Cops and Robbers" live, seeing as Casey died in that explosion, but there they were! The live stuff was fantastic, and the video bits of season three (Dr. Steve Brule in an informercial!) were, well, awesome!

Okay wait. It did get better. Somehow I got called on stage for a dance contest! They invited up people in Rats Off To Ya shirts, but I was wearing the Hats Off To Ya shirt ("That's a rarity!")and got to dance to James Quall's Beach Blast. By popular vote, I won SECOND PLACE~!!! I got a copy of their CD (which I had bought upon getting in there, but hey, great gift!) and recognition from many nice people afterwards. Oh, and DJ Dougg Pound's way too brief opening set was super great as well! (Didn't I used to see that guy at Heaven Gallery or somewhere?)

GREAT JOB!!

PS - Way dorky pictures abound here.

Happy Record Store Day!

2008-04-18T00:21:00.006-05:00

This whole Record Store Day thing kinda came out of nowhere, but if you want to give us snacks and drinks then by all means go for it! I will now remember some of my favorite record stores for you:

1.Yesterday and Today, Jacksonville, FL

This guy was strictly used, but I went through all my phases with him, LPs, cassettes, CDs. He'd also just get in super cool random posters, magazines, etc. He was conveniently located next to a grocery store so I could get there with my mom pretty easily. I was very sad the day he closed.

That One Place I Can't Remember the Name Of, that was once in 5 Points and then moved to near UNF, Jacksonville, FL

I loved it so much I cannot remember the name of it. I saw a Reel Big Fish instore there that I remember being super awesome (this was like 11 years ago, come on now!) and I bought that April March sings Serge Gainsborg upon hearing it played in the store. Got my first Stereolab there.

Theory Shop, Five Points and Jacksonville Beach

It was totally the best when you could go dancing at Einstein-A-Go-Go and buy 7"s! The 5 Points location was cool too, I bought Sloan Between the Bridges there.

Manifest, Columbia, SC

Another sad sad RIP. It was big and beautiful.

Radio KAOS, Stevens Point, WI
The $1 vinyl at the sidewalk sale was the place to be! Morrissey! Wilco! Other things nowhere near as cool but it was only $1!

Mad City Music Exchange, Madison, WI
The one off the beaten path and near an Indonesian restaurant was my fave in a city of pretty good record stores.

Laurie's Planet of Sound, Chicago, IL
Hey! That's where I work! Back in the day I was a customer too! If I didn't work there I would surely be in there way too much and drive the super great people who work there crazy. Happy Record Store day, everyone! Thanks for coming to see me at POS and being cool enough to buy records, etc.

Tonight's Muxtape

2008-04-08T03:56:00.007-05:00

Black Sabbath - Behind The Wall Of Sleep
The Monkees - Circle Sky
Jay Reatard - My Shadow
Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
Kristin Hersh - Your Ghost
Gary Higgins - I Can't Sleep At Night
Guided By Voices - As We Go Up, We Go Down
Hall and Oates - You Make My Dreams
Hot Butter - Popcorn
Songs:Ohia - The Moon Undoes It All
Pavement - The Killing Moon
R.E.M. - Feeling Gravity's Pull
don't just sit there, click the damn tape!

Lemonheads - It's a Shame About Ray Deluxe Edition

2008-04-08T03:10:00.001-05:00

This is probably my most High School album. There's a great story with it too. I made Evan Dando sit through it once, so now you will.

I went to high school in Jakarta, Indonesia. The American/European CDs the one chain of CD stores would stock were pretty erratic; you never knew what you would walk in and find. Imagine my delight when I found It's A Shame About Ray nestled in the racks during a Sunday of leisurely shopping at Pondok Indah mall! I listened to it all day long! I told everyone I knew about it Monday, including this boy I sort of had a crush on, Daniel Eiland (boy, I hope he doesn't Google himself EVER). He then proceeded to get mad at me because he claimed to have "hidden" it in the store so he could go back and buy it, and tomorrow was his birthday!

I felt kind of bad, but didn't really feel that the CD was "hidden". When I got home (this part gets complicated, I lived with a friend and her family, and her mom did commercial baking in the house) "Mom" was excited to show off this giant sheet cake and cupcake display she had made for the Boy Scouts. The cake was pretty big, and she encouraged us to touch it. We did, tentatively, and discovered it was hard as a rock! She had made the icing into a gluey substance that looked just like the real thing and "iced" a box. I immediately had a brilliant idea.

The next day at school I presented Daniel with a beautiful white sheet cake with green icing border and, written in my own unmistakeable handwriting, "Happy Birthday Daniel!" with all sorts of little doodles. He was shocked, to say the least. I also let him have the CD. I ran off before the secret of the phony cake was exposed, but eyewitness reports were pretty detailed. He was impressed by both moves, he later told me, and I found a copy myself at another less popular mall's CD store.

Oh yeah, the deluxe reissue! The music sounds great, the bonus tracks really should have included the actual b-sides, but the demos are interesting. The DVD is where the action is though. That Evan Dando was quite the hottie back in the day, and I swear there are multiple videos here of him sitting on a beach/cliff with the wind blowing his hair around and he just looks all high.

I will now present a video not from Lemonheads, but of Superchunk. I love the slumber party scene which prominently features a picture of Evan looking sexy in his PJs from Spin Magazine which I totally had hanging up.

The New Jay Reatard Single!!

2008-04-05T04:05:00.004-05:00

"There's really nothing nothing to it, and that is all that I know." How does this guy write the catchiest pop songs in this galaxy? This is pure jump around your rumpus room arms flailing having a blast. Seriously, Melissa and I just kept flipping it over. and over. and over. I was planning on skipping Pitchfork until they announced Jay (and the two of a fucking amazing one two punch with King Kahn and his Shrines) on Saturday. You can take your Lollapalooza and chug it with your Miller Lite. I will be on a slightly ramshackle foldy lawn chair with my lukewarm Goose Island being creeped out and crapped in. 7 inch of the year!! Oh wait, he has more. Jerk.

BubeTube #2

2008-03-30T02:41:00.001-05:00

Everybody's doing it.

2008-03-29T03:36:00.003-05:00

Muxtape
Note! This one is no longer available.

Fascination - The Human League
Chains Of Love - Erasure
The Way That I Found You - Ladytron
Hold Me Now - The Thompson Twins
Elegia - New Order
Are 'friends' Electric? - Gary Numan & Tubeway Army
Walking Away - Information Society
Nothing Better - The Postal Service
Homosapien - Pete Shelley
One More Chance - Pet Shop Boys
I Don't Believe You - The Magnetic Fields
Kiss Me - Stephen Duffy

I find this a little disturbing.

2008-03-27T23:15:00.001-05:00

Which Battlestar Galactica Character Are You?

More on Battlestar Galactica. Created by BuddyTV

Chinese Democracy When?

2008-03-26T21:10:00.003-05:00

What could be better than listening to the LONG AWAITED Guns N'Roses album Chinese Democracy this year? Enjoying an ice cold Dr. Pepper with it, that's what!

Beardo of the Week

2008-03-25T23:46:00.005-05:00

Congratulations William T. Riker of the USS Enterprise. You are probably the first beardo that has his own collectible plate. Although, now that I'm thinking about it, maybe I will do a series of Beardo Collector plates. Hirsute men on china. There's no way this isn't going to make a million dollars!

Please enjoy this musical tribute to Riker. Warning: It uses the music of Right Said Fred. I did not want to be held repsonsible for that one. Okay:

Malkmus at the Vic

2008-03-25T02:45:00.002-05:00

(Not an actual scene from the show, but where quality time was spent before and after the show, over at the L & L. Classy restrooms!) This is the only mid-sized theatre show I have EVER been to where the ladies line was no waiting, yet the men's went on and on. Why don't ladies like Malkmus? He is certainly handsome, but his music is very dudical, despite the presence of Janet Weiss and Joanna Bolme. The show was very heavy rock, and they covered pretty much the whole new album. While it sounded great, I feel like the show may have benefitted from a Pink Floyd Layzer show or something.

Reissue-o-rama-palooza-mania

2008-03-20T20:08:00.004-05:00

Being slightly disenchanted with the current state of indie rock (I feel like everything new coming out sounds like the same three bands!) I am just going crazy with reissues! Yes, I am spending my hard earned money to buy music I have already purchased in the past! First up is the freaking gorgeous trilogy of Mission of Burma LPs and CDs from super awesome Matador. I opted for the LPs, and man, they know what they are doing! Signals, Calls and Marches, Vs., and (then) posthumous live album The Horrible Truth About Burma all look and sound like a dream! The LPs all include LIVE DVDs (which I haven't watched yet, but I think they are all three different full length shows), full size booklets loaded with photos and interviews AND codes for digital downloading. You might want to hold on to your original LPs though, these guys are HEAVY. The CDs include the DVD and CD sized booklets. Next is Gary Numan + Tubeway Army's already excellent Replicas Redux CD. You get the original album with a handful of B-side type stuff and a second disc loaded with "early versions". Also the prerequisite very interesting booklet with the same sorta stuff I mentioned on the MoB's. While a money grubbing major label (just kidding, I love you majors too) would charge like $25 for something that awesome, each CD will only set you back $14.99! (Those LPs are under $25 though, not bad!) Also out now are 4 Men With Beards Scott Walker LP reissues. While I have not personally bought them because my dear friend Paul picked up Scott-3 while on holiday in the UK for me and I got some weird Phillips reissue of 4, I have heard my coworkers playing them and they sound great. Heavy jackets and very faithful to the original sleeves (maybe better, the originals are really flimsy!) these are a must own for any sentient being with a turntable. I'm still thinking about the Whiskeytown Strangers Almanac deluxe CD, but with the vinyl coming out soon (probably without bonus stuff) I'll probably hold off. Next week the Lemonheads It's a Shame About Ray is out, expect me to gush beyond belief over that one.

Editorial: Hooray for the Racounteurs.

2008-03-19T02:14:00.003-05:00

If you don't know the story, read this.

Good on these guys! I know I am probably in the minority here, but I do NOT want to hear a leaked copy of an album I am eagerly anticipating. I miss the days of midnight sales that mean something. I am doing my damndest to not listen to the upcoming R.E.M. album. I saw the video for the first single on MTV2 Sunday night, which is fine. I do not want to hear the album until I am looking at a thing that is that new album. It's going to be officially streaming on Facebook, but I'm not going to crack! I like that the Raconteurs are taking such care to get it out to everyone. Okay, so I have to give kudos to Radiohead too. While I'm kudoing, I'll sling some the way of the Black Crowes who got their latest album reviewed by Maxim magazine without sending out a single copy! Wait, back to the Ranconteurs. Take a look at that cover art, that must have taken longer to make than the whole album!

Does anyone know where this is?

2008-03-19T00:50:00.000-05:00

This is the house Larry Appleton bought in the seventh season of Perfect Strangers. All the other major locations have been identified, but this one hasn't. Logan Blvd maybe? Lincoln Park?

Beardo of the Week

2008-03-18T03:57:00.006-05:00

Congratulations, Zach Galifianakis, you are my Beardo of the Week. You are funny and make Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job just a little bit more awesome. Let's take a look at them together in this short film they did for Absolut Vodka. (Please note, if you work for Absolut and want to send me Vodka, I am over 21 and like those fruity ones.)

Will I EVER get to see Paul Williams?

2008-03-18T03:50:00.002-05:00

My friends Paul and Brianne are in Australia. Freakin' Paul Williams is playing there! When oh when will he play somewhere nearby. Nearerby than the Grand Canyon. Branson, maybe? Ho-chunk Casino? Come on Paul!!

BubeTube #1

2008-03-17T02:05:00.003-05:00

Inspired by the blocks of good music video programming on Sunday Nights I present to you "Sam O'Rama's Rack Presents BubeTube!"

1. Andrew Bird - "Imitosis" Official Video
Gee, this looks good! I actually saw it on MTV tonight, awesome!

2. The New Pornographers - "Myriad Harbour" - Official Video
Animated Dan Bejar. Neat!

3. R.E.M. - "Supernatural Superserious" - Official Video
Also saw this on MTV tonight. I am SHOCKED I really like it! Thax didn't like the album when heard it, so I was kinda worried.

4. Faith No More - "Easy" - Official Video
FNM and men in drag do a really good job on this Commodores classic.

5. Velocity Girl - "I Can't Stop Smiling" - Official Video
This was such a great freaking album.

6. Fuzzbox - "Love is the Slug" - Official Video
These gals should have been HUGE.

7. Bolshoi - "Sunday Morning" - Official Video
I dunno, I always liked this song.

8. Wilco - "Jesus Etc." - Official Video
Whoa, there were only 4 guys in that band for a while.

9. Thompson Twins - "Hold Me Now" - Official Video
This video takes advantage of 80s video technology.

10. Le Tigre - "Deceptacon" - Fan Video
UTTERLY BRILLIANT. Of course Jem is Kathleen Hannah.

11. The Magnetic Fields - "I Don't Believe You" - Fan Video
Set to clips from, uh, House. The TV show House starring Hugh Laurie. Dude, I didn't make it. I don't know!

12. The Monkees - "I'll Be Back Upon My Feet" - Fan Video
YES YES YES! Perfectly AWESOME!! Man these tv show fan vids are the BEST!!

13. The Osmonds - "Down By The Lazy River" - Live Video
People talk shit about the Osmonds, but look at them electrify the State Fair!!

14. The Brady Bunch - "Sunshine Day" - Official Video
You WISH you could write a pop song like this!

15. The Flat Five - "Kites Are Fun" - Live Video
Scott, Kelly and Nora nail those otherworldy harmonies.

16. Tarkio - ? - Live Video
Colin Meloy a long time ago.

17. Gary Louris - "We'll Get By" - Live Video
I think it unsynchs at some point, which makes it a little trippy, man!

18. "MacArthur Park" - Wayne Newton - Live Video
If you make it 'til the end you get a prize!

19. Ernie and Hoots - "Put Down the Duckie" - Official Video
features some amazing guest spots by Edith Prickley, Pee Wee Herman, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.. trust me.

20. Gnarls Barkley - "Run" - Official Video
Oooh yeah!

Magnetic Fields played a bunch of shows at Old Town School.

2008-03-17T00:01:00.006-05:00

I was fortunate enough to attend the late Friday show. It was the oddest show I have seen, and I mean that in a good way. Stephin Merritt played only the bazouki. Astounding! The OTS was the perfect venue for the very quiet show. Felicity Shagwell was totally sitting behind us with Neil Gaiman. (I have since found out Stephin did music for something he wrote.) Oh yeah, the show. I had no expectations, and they were all fulfilled! A woozy lovely evening.

Addendum: Here's a little more -

If you're not familiar with the Old Town School it is a super intimate little theatre, there are maybe ten rows on the floor, and truly not a bad seat in the house. The sound is always amazing, and the show totally felt like some weird high school music recital, except with some of the most exquisitely crafted songs being played instead of the crap you would normally get at a high school recital. I had never seen TMF live (hell, I barely knew what they looked like, save for the pics in 69 Love Songs), and I guess they just do one super short tour when they put out an album nowadays. Stephin Merritt has some problem in his left ear and I guess applause feedbacks in his head and is really uncomfortable. I didn't know this beforehand, so I was a little confused as to why he put earplugs in following the songs. The dude only wears brown too. Oh, and he only played a Bazouki. I'll admit I'm a sucker for quirk, so I am totally won over now. The performance is not one that would come off in a rock club at all, and the audience was so quiet and polite during the songs. Which leads me to the Distortion issue: they played nearly every song off the album sans distortion. They were barely recognizable and extremely beautiful, especially Stephin doing lead vocals on "Nun's Litany".

Earlier in the week I saw Vic Chesnutt and Jonathan Richman at the Abbey, which is the oddest speedball combination ever. It was also a good show.

Larry and Balki worked here

2008-03-13T19:35:00.001-05:00

Larry and Balki worked here
Originally uploaded by Sam O'Rama

apparently the Chicago Chronicle was owned by Cain. That almost makes sense. That fictional newspaper is not far from the actual Chicago Tribune, a block or two away.

Larry and Balki lived here

2008-03-13T18:21:00.001-05:00

Larry and Balki lived here
Originally uploaded by Sam O'Rama

this is the apartment Larry and Balki lived in from Season Three onwards. It's at Clark and Dickens. I'm currently on the bus from there to the Chicago Chronicle offices on Michigan Ave.

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Real Emotional Trash

2008-03-12T01:21:00.004-05:00

I decided that I miss rock. Malkmus is keeping the rock dream alive. At first I didn't think I was going to dig it. There were no fun sing-a-longy lyrics and keyboards like on Face the Truth which is now the album formerly known as the only Malkmus solo album I like. This is the one now! Sprawling, loud rock! Heavy!

Beardo of the Week

2008-03-06T00:41:00.005-06:00

Off the momentum of that show and this Letterman performance, Liam Finn is Beardo of the Week. Did you know he's Neil Finn of (my favorite band that I'm really too young to like) Crowded House's son?! Watch this, really! Dave's intro about the really big CD is good too.

I vote for some Manlove

2008-03-06T00:36:00.001-06:00

"It's important to have a congressman that understands our area."

Wow!

Liam Finn @ Schubas

2008-03-01T00:51:00.002-06:00

It was so packed at the Liam Finn show that is as close as I could get. Dang, though, what a dynamic performer that kid is! (I can call him a kid, I am severely older than him). He is going to be a powerhouse, if he's not ruling the world in like ten years with his charisma and talent and presence and ability to drink then I no longer want to be a part of that world. It's like all pretty pop song, la la then total guitar flaily freakout! Drum freak out! Underneath all the freak out there is still a really great song though. I think perhaps he should have been the headliner, call me crazy.

Stephin Merritt only wears Brown.

2008-02-29T15:01:00.003-06:00

I knew his albums as of late were all pretty single minded, but I had no idea it also applied to his fashion sense. Read more about it here.

Beardo of the Week

2008-02-29T01:56:00.005-06:00

Congratulations Will 'Bonnie "Prince" Billy' Oldham. You are the Beardo of the week. Why? I finally got your 'new' "Live Album" (Wilding in the West) this week. You are pretty cool because your live shows are all super rock and then your albums are all quietly pretty. You can get away with both. You are lucky.

Andrew Bird and Dianogah played at Hideout tonight.

2008-02-29T01:40:00.002-06:00

It was a benefit for Barack Obama. If I was going to make a donation to a political candidate I guess this was the incentive I needed. For as big a Jay Ryan art freak I am I had never seen his band before! Who knew there TWO bass players?! Everyone but me I suppose. They sounded super great and Andrew played some songs with them and it was like some slowcore shoegaze love ca. 1991!

Andrew's set was great. Oldies, recenties, THREE Handsome Family songs with Nora O'Connor, their beautiful version of Dylan's "O Sister" and new songs that didn't sound too bad! Dianogah joined him on a few of his songs and it really sounded beautiful. As not enthusiastic about his last collaboration this one made me very very happy.

Gary Louris - Vagabonds

2008-02-27T20:33:00.005-06:00

I am a long-time Gary Louris lover. I probably liked the Jayhawks and Golden Smog before I ever got into that Wilco band. This first solo album from Louris is not going to shock any Jayhawks' fans. If you like easy 70s midtempo rock you will totally dig this, and as a fan of said genre I do not mean that as an insult. Chris Robinson (yeah, that guy) produced it and I think he did a really good job! The vinyl (released a few weeks before) sounds beautiful and has a gratuitous sepia-toned jamming in the studio gatefold that also hearkens back to the 70s. There are also more marijuana references on this one album than on any previous Jayhawks release (which I don't think there were any). There are lovely harmonies used sparingly and to great effect. I read that Robinson also produced the forthcoming Gary Louris/Mark Olson album also due this year, so yay!

Slappy and the Stinkers

2008-02-27T02:32:00.005-06:00

I actually made it through this film. What does it say about me that I enjoyed this 1998 children's screwball comedy more than License to Wed? I watched this film solely for Bronson Pinchot, who was described on Netflix as a heartless mercenary. Thankfully he does NOT play that role, instead he is an Ottoman-type bus driver/groundskeeper at the snooty private school the Stinkers attend. So these meddling kids, unpopular amongst the snooty kids, torment the principal (played by B. D. Wong) and rescue a sea lion from an aquarium field trip. Oh yeah, there is a heartless mercenary after Slappy trying to steal him to sell him to a Bulgarian circus. Whatever. Jennifer Coolidge is also in it playing... I'm not really sure, her role is never defined. Lackey to the principal? I guess this is the best sea lion slapstick children's comedy I have ever seen. The children are pretty decent actors, and not too irritating, which was surprising. It probably would have been better if I had a lot of beer or something.

I get David Gray, but Raspberry Beret?

2008-02-27T00:01:00.006-06:00

From Mother Jones:

Head of the Class was also a good show.

2008-02-26T23:42:00.002-06:00

Garfield Minus Garfield

2008-02-25T23:32:00.005-06:00

I used to enjoy Garfield back in the early 80s. Remember his "roommate" Lyman? What happened to that guy? Gay lover scorned? Jon killed him? Odie ate his toes off? Anyhoot, Garfield sucks now. Get rid of Garfield though, and it immediately improves!!

Whoa. SNL was funny!!

2008-02-25T21:35:00.001-06:00

I watched in preparation for Wilco being on next week. I was shocked that there was a funny skit in the middle of the episode:

Jay Reatard is going to explode!!

2008-02-24T03:00:00.003-06:00

(Note: photo not of Jay Reatard, taken on the way to the show)

I popped my Reggie's cherry last night with Jay Reatard, Submarine Races and Daily Void. I forgot my ID and called ahead and they were cool about it, since it was an all ages show. They said as long as I looked over 18 it was fine, and it was. It is an interesting room with that concrete bunker feel most new rock clubs have. It was super packed so I watched from the balcony, which was designed with giant cross beams in the line of sight. Hmmm. The sound was good up there. First show I've been to with a "mosh pit" in a very long time. Someone got pulled out by a bouncer by the shirt! Double Flying V power on stage. He's gonna be selling out Metro soon.

5 Nights of Wilco

2008-02-22T16:20:00.002-06:00

If you went to any of Wilco's five nights at the Riviera maybe you noticed the Laurie's Planet of Sound banner on the merch table (although it was pretty deep so maybe you didn't). Thanks to that arrangement I got to enjoy all the shows! Wilco played EVERY SONG ON A REAL ALBUM. That's pretty admirable! They sounded great, and even greater joined by Andrew Bird. I took a whole lot of pictures. A LOT of Pictures.

Beardo of the Week

2008-02-22T16:12:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to Sam Beam of Iron and Wine. You are my Beardo of the Week. Before Iron and Wine played at Metro last time Kristina and I were drinking at the Gingerman he walked in and she said he looks like a getty. I think she meant Yeti.

The Grammys 2008

2008-02-10T21:56:00.000-06:00

I can't remember the last time I cared about the freakin' Grammys. Chicago was well representing this year, and of course I was curious about Amy Winehouse's performance, so I figured I could endure.

Ugh.

The majority was intolerable. Kanye and Daft Punk were awesome! Kanye's speech was great too, chiding them to turn off the "hurry up" music and when he started talking about his mama he really stuck it to them.

Breaking update: the death montage was stirring. Have now tuned out of the Pavarotti tribute.

Anyhoot. Tina and Beyonce was tolerable, would have been better without Ms. Bootylicious. The Time would have been better without whoever that was...

I never really thought Wilco would win, but the brief glimpse of Jeff Tweedy and Susan Miller in the crowd was pretty cool. I really thought Bruce would win, but hey, go Foo Fighters? At least Pat Smear is hanging with them again.

Then there's Amy. I really wanted to hate that album. I have this attraction to... women with issues? I don't know how to put it really. I mean, I like to party, I can understand how you can just... get caught up in that? Whatever. She can sing, she sang well, and I am glad she won those awards. She seemed nackered however.

In the old codger department: would you believe Little Richard is younger than Jerry Lee Lewis? Maybe Jerry Lee should hire his makeup artist!

The Best American Sitcom FINALLY on DVD!

2008-02-07T13:29:00.001-06:00

Well, of course it is! Don't be reedikulous! Alright, I'll amend that to "Best American Sitcom Of My Lifetime". Yes, Season 1 and 2 of Perfect Strangers is here! Season 1 was a mid-season replacement and only 6 episodes long, but Balki and Cousin Larry had an amazing chemistry from the very first episode. The physical comedy is up there with I Love Lucy and Three's Company, and yet they manage to squeeze some heart warming message in to nearly every episode. Don't forget the always awesome "comic misunderstand" too! Toss in the fact that it takes place in Chicago and how could you have a more Perfect Sitcom?!

Here's a nice montage of some musical scenes from throughout the show:

I'd also like to present to you the simple Perfect Strangers Drinking Game! Take a shot or drink each time:

•Balki says "Of course...Don't be ridiculous."
•Dimitri, Balki's stuffed sheep appears on screen.
•Balki wears suspenders or a vest.
•A popular song is sung.
•Larry corrects Balki's grammar.

Dwight Yoakam's Chicken Lickin' Buffalo Style Bites

2008-02-06T15:12:00.000-06:00

I am always eager to try music related food; Kenny Rogers Roasters, Rap Snacks, Linda McCartney's Frozen Veggie meals, Yo La Tengo Taquitos... I was especially thrilled to find these Chicken bites from one of the only good crossover country stars at my local Walgreens for $1!! Seriously, how could I refuse? They were sold out of the other variety of Chicken Fries, so someone was buying them! Upon opening the box I found 5 nuggets, some of which were vaguely boot shaped! I went for the recommended cooking method (over over microwave), and let 'em bake! (Note: you might want to get baked yourself while waiting for them to cook.)

I pulled them out of the oven with great anticpation and partnered the bites with a ramekin of ranch dressing. They were... spongy. The buffalo styleness was tangy. Certainly worth one hard earned dollar and not a penny more. I'm not sure if they are available anywhere but Walgreens. Hmm..

Top 25 of 2007

2008-01-19T15:36:00.001-06:00

Reviews, maybe later.

1 Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
2 New Pornographers - Challengers
3 LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
4 Sloan - Never Hear the End of It
5 Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
6 Okkervil River - The Stage Names
7 Baby Teeth - The Simp
8 Bobby Conn - King for a Day
9 Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
10 Crowded House - Time On Earth
11 Scout Niblet - This Fool Can Die Now
12 Panda Bear - Person Pitch
13 Grinderman - Grinderman
14 Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound
15 Josh Ritter - Historical Conquests of
16 Bat for Lashes - Fur and Gold
17 Bill Callahan - Woke on a Whaleheart
18 Jens Lekman - Night Falls on Kortedala
19 Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis
20 Lavender Diamond - Imagine Our Love
21 They Might Be Giants - The Else
22 Busy Signals - Busy Signals
23 Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
24 Miss Alex White and the Red Orchestra - Time and Space
25 White Stripes - Icky Thump

The Night They Saved Christmas

2007-11-13T17:30:00.000-06:00

They don't make TV movies like this anymore, yet the message of environmentalism is as fresh as Al Gore's green necktie. Follow your typical nuclear family circa 1983 of fed up, pilot license possessing mom (Jaclyn Smith) and stereotypical children (the bully, the brain and the girl) as they are pitted against geologist Dad who is totally going to blow up the North Pole if he continues with his oil drilling! Santa sends his head elf Ed (played by tiny freaking genius PAUL WILLIAMS) to win mom and kids over with a harrowing trip to the North Pole. Of course nobody believes them, and the theory of them being dosed with mind altering drugs is postulated several times by dad's
grumpy boss. This will rise like froth on eggnog to the top of your
Christmas movie viewing.

The Carpenters + Carol Burnett do Paul Williams Medley!

2007-11-12T04:06:00.001-06:00

Top Ten of the Last Ten Years Part One!

2007-09-23T04:47:00.000-05:00

1997

I was not working at Laurie's Planet of Sound in 1997. I had just turned 21 and was still stuck in Jacksonville, FL. With the gift of hindsight, I present to you:

Sam O'Rama's Top Ten Albums of 1997!

10. Flaming Lips - Zaireeka

In an awesome exhibition of the excesses of the uber-crummy mid 90's I give you an album you have to listen to 4 cds at once to experience it correctly, and whilst I own it, I have never listened to it in its intended form. Hooray, 1997!! Good start!

9. Smoking Popes - Destination Failure

I would be fired for not including this one. Last studio album, yet 10 years later we are hoping for a new one! Come on Caterers!!

8. Matthew Sweet - Blue Sky On Mars

Probably his worst, which gracefully exhibits what a crummy year this was. Aw, hell, still better than a lot of crap happening then. Matthew makes an amazing pop song under TWO MINUTES!

7. Jayhawks - Sound of Lies

First post Olson offering, hell yeah! One of the best albums you can sometimes pick up for like $2.99 in a cutout bin. We know better, if we have it used it's a mere $6.99, and a damn steal!

6. Ween - The Mollusk

Spend some time with this one, I once poo-pooed these fuckers, but now I'm in awe.

5. Stereolab - Dots and Loops

I cannot recommend this enough, especially in the Drag City-made vinyl version. The music is incredible enough on its own, but once you pull out the white and aqua vinyl from the lime and aqua sleeves you are just consumed by this entire entity. Beautiful all around.

4. Will Oldham - Joya

His first non-Palace album, and a really incredible entity. Nothing by this guy sucks. I was put off for so many years because of his reluctance to pick a moniker, now I could care less what he calls himself, so long as he keeps doing what he has to do.

3. Pavement - Brighten the Corners

Not the most popular from the beloved Alt-rock posterboys of the days of Alternative Nation, but the most rewarding if you give it a 16th chance. So very rewarding. Everybody wants one, everybody needs one, oh my god. oh your god....

2. Sloan - One Chord To Another

Wake Up America! Go out and buy every single Sloan record!! This one holds a special place in my heart as the first one I ever purchased (not until 1999, mind you) and dang, no, it's just that good, please buy it!!!

1. Radiohead - OK Computer

Well duh. Also purchased 2 years after release. What was I doing in 1997? Oh yeah, listening to crummy "ska" music. Seriously, this will be the one you play for your rugrats 10 years from now. They will HATE it, but maybe when they turn like 17, they will embrace it in a fit of rebellion.

Baby Teeth The Simp

2007-07-22T12:03:00.002-05:00

You know an album is good when you can invision a montage to a few of the songs. Anyone can write an anthem, but a good montage song is hard to come by. This is music for a summer camp underdog story, the geeks vs. the jocks, the stoners vs. the matheletes... Did I mention the disco strings? It's perfectly paced too, with a good cool-down period right in the middle, just when you think you might explode from all the joggin' in place. Oh! They are playing Schubas on Saturday July 28. I highly recommend the live show, but come in and buy the CD first!

This DVD Will Change Your Life, I Promise You.

2007-04-13T13:05:00.002-05:00

The premise of Tom Goes To The Mayor is easily summed up in that title: Every episode, Tom Peters, Jefferton's resident entrepreuer goes to see the Mayor of the town with an idea for improving life in Jefferton, an abysmal burg of strip malls and chain restaurants.

The animation style is unlike anything you have seen before: photos of the actors are taken and treated with a photoshop filter, the background are drawn, and the food is photorealistic. Some things are completely live action though, like Jefferton's Married News Team. Oh and like every episode has some special guest: Tenacious D, David Cross, Sarah Silverman, Brian Poesehn, Zack Galiafinakis, John C. Riley... It's a surreal absurdist comedic entity of geniosity that may never be matched again. The complete Adult Swim-run series is on 3 DVDs, and every episode has commentary and tons of bonus stuff. I cannot recommend this more highly if you are in to "indie" comedy. It's that amazing.

P.S. - The creative team behind Tom has a show currently on Adult Swim - Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job that is also very very good.

Why Keith Richards is a legend.

2007-04-03T20:53:00.000-05:00

"I snorted my father."

Also, on the state of modern music:
"Everyone's a load of crap," he said. "They are trying to be somebody else and they ain't being themselves. Libertines, Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party? Load of crap, load of crap. Posers, rubbish."

edit: now he's changing his tune. boooo.

I had no idea Lawrence Welk was so hip.

2007-03-29T00:50:00.001-05:00

VH 1 Classic's Top 20 of the 80s.

2007-02-23T21:41:00.000-06:00

So far 2 videos in a row have featured a band member wearing the t-shirt of their own dang band. I always thought it was bad enough when fans wear the t-shirt of the band they are seeing, but can you imagine like the guy from the Shins wearing a Shins t-shirt? Maybe that would be some cosmical ironic paradox and the world would implode and we'd live out existence in the Eurythmic's "Sweet Dreams" video instead. When that video came out, I was 5 years old I think and I drew a picture of the Eurythmics and a cow.

Breaking News

2007-02-10T21:08:00.000-06:00

I'm pressing stop now...

2007-01-30T01:03:00.001-06:00

Fishbone doing a song based on "It's a Wonderful Life".

2007-01-30T00:54:00.000-06:00

Crowded House! So far Neil Finn is the only person who can actually sing. They did "Don't Dream it's Over" and played a smidge of "World Where You Live" actually live, and now "Now We're Getting Somewhere". They are making it obvious that they are not actually playing, with over the top solos and windmills.

2007-01-30T00:42:00.000-06:00

Bon Jovi are being piped in via satellite. They are all live, but Jon cannot sing for a damn. Whoa oh, living on a prayer. They are also a very sparkly bunch of guys. OOH! Pyrotechnics!@!

2007-01-30T00:38:00.000-06:00

Wow, I think most everyone involved in this show was on something. Especially MTV personality Kevin Seal.

2007-01-30T00:28:00.000-06:00

The Bangles are REALLY badly fake playing "Walk Like an Egyptian" but obviously are really really singing, as it's NOT GOOD. Oh, and there are midgets in the crowd doing the dance.

2007-01-30T00:11:00.000-06:00

An MTV promo just aired about how people want to see less heavy metal, so they are putting it on mostly on Headbangers Ball. Currently the MTV logo is in the corner of the screen while old time movies of things blowing up. Glenn Fry is talking to a VJ from MTV Australia, and now he is introducing Cyndi Lauper who is wearing an awesome dress she might fall out of. She is presenting the "Experimental Video" award, and i think she just made a Captain Lou joke. Peter Gabriel beat out Huey Lewis's "Hip To Be Square". Tina Turner is presenting best male video via satellite from Chicago, I think she may have had a few bumps.

2007-01-30T00:06:00.000-06:00

oh no Bryan is doing a second song, which I recognize. The power ballard "Victim of Love". It is getting more and more difficult to not fast forward, but I am determined to stick this out. He may be lip synching.

2007-01-30T00:02:00.000-06:00

Oh lord. Bryan Adams is singing and not playing a song I have never even heard. It's the most non hit song of his I have ever heard.

2007-01-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

Peter Gabriel is receiving the "video vanguard" award. I wonder where he keeps that statue?

2007-01-29T23:48:00.000-06:00

The "pre show" was hosted by Penn and Teller. The opening performance was Los Lobos singing but not really playing "La Bamba". Julie Brown just introduced a Michael Jackson-dressed Howie Mandell who is now doing miserable stand up and giving the award for best new artist. Crowded House managed to beat Timbuk 3 and Bruce Hornsby and the Range!!