I Just Broke a Compact Disc

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!

Short Rabbits - Dying By Inches

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

Phil Collins!

He had a beard, briefly.

The Sam O'Rama Halloween 2008 Video Variety Thingy

Tim and Eric make another creepy video

You Dont Know Me (Ben Folds featuring Regina Spektor)

Still Loving Liam Finn

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,

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

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

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?

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!

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?

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

I was here...

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

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

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...

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

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!

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