Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Colin Meloy sings Sam Cooke


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You got to love Colin Meloy. He has the craziest looking mouth ever. Not crazy looking like Mick Jagger or Steven Tyler...just crazy. I'm glad that he uses it for good and not evil that's for sure. If he used it for anything other than singing to his fans, we'd be in a heck of a lot of trouble. Think about that.

This tour goodie can be filed under his other CD only releases: Colin sings Morrissey and Colin sings Shirley Collins.

This time he's taking on the hot, buttered soul of Sam Cooke and it's done really well.

Camera Obscura - Rare UK Bird


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Today is the last day of 2008. Was it a good year? I'll leave that open to discussion. As I write this post I'm on the phone, actually I'm on hold, with everyone's favorite Swedish retailer, Ikea. I've been trying to get a new couch seeing as I didn't lug the old one with me to our new flat.

They've been out of stock and all of this floor squatting is reminding me too much of G.G. Allin.

Anyway, if I actually had a couch right now I'd definitely pour myself a glass of chilled, boxed wine and listen to this album.

Enjoy Rare UK Bird from Camera Obscura.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

From the personal files of the Robot: Landlord Hell!


Hey gang, how's it hangin'? I hope you all got some good stuff for Christmas this year and I hope that everyone is well. The holidays haven't been too sweet for Mrs. Robot and me though. For this, I have to blame my landlord. Actually, my former landlord of eight days. He's a real piece of work I tell ya. It's amazing that some people could be so cruel for no apparent reason other than their pride.


When we returned to Los Angeles from our Nashville escapade Mrs. Robot was as pregnant as a cute little thing could be. If you haven't read any of my earlier posts, she was carrying twin babies. Anyway, we ended up renting a house. It wasn't anything special. It had a little yard for my two dogs and washer dryer hookups. That was really our only specification because with her about to give birth, it wasn't like she'd be out walking the dogs and carrying bags to the laundromat.


We called the telephone number from an ad in Craigslist and the guy agreed to meet us at the apartment about an hour later. He said he was out at a dinner, but he could get away. Excited to go look at a place, we hopped into the car and drove over there. When we arrived we met the man who would ultimately become the subject of this story.


Fast forward exactly 11 months later which brings us to the present. The man is either a professional idiot or he's certifiably insane. Our relationship began to sour after our cozy little home became an icebox. The winter was upon us and there was no heat in the apartment at all. Of course we didn't notice this when we moved in, but we did address it shortly after we unpacked the last box. When we told him that we were freezing he suggested that we buy space heaters. We did. When we plugged them in the power blew out. More than once.


Then the babies came and feeling their cold little bodies broke my heart. I'd had enough. I called the landlord and the fact that I was asking for heating must have been too much of a hassle. He told us that if we were unhappy, we could get out of the lease without penalty and we'd get our security deposit back in full. We thanked him for the offer and said that we would consider it. We just wouldn't up and move again with newborns, you know?

Fast forward to now: we decided that the babies could no longer stand the cold so we sent him an email giving him our 30-day notice to move. Well, apparently he's changed his mind and is denying his verbal agreement to let us go. On top of that he's stated that he will be keeping out security deposit as well. Since the actual lease is not up until the end of January, he's keeping our money to pay for that month.

We've sent him emails that detail our plan and his responses, but he's denying everything. Now, he's even trying to accuse of us of, dare I even say it? Having dogs!

That's the funniest thing yet! He knew we had dogs, two of them, when we moved in on our very first day because he was there. Though upon closer inspection it seems as though he's left it off the lease. How convenient.

There is so much more to this, but just writing about it now is making me feel nauseatingly "UN-fun."

I'm just keeping you guys in the loop.


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Weakends from France...


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The Weakends might just be one of my favorite bands to come around in a long time. I know all you hip bastards probably know all about them, but in the small chance that you haven't had a chance to listen to some of their fantastic, hip shakin', beer guzzlin' rock and roll....here you go.

This is not the album, just a sprinkle of songs because you need to get up off of your ass and buy it from Rob's House Records.

Another Girl...another planet


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It's the Christmas season once again. Some of my readers might be having their own winter wonderland, playing in the snow and making angels and snowmen. Others may be in some snowless place where the only reminder that the holidays are upon them are the bent tinsel hanging from their office windows, the festive sweaters, and the endless loop of the Alvin and the Chipmunks album playing somewhere within earshot. This is for them.

The Only Ones were/are and English punk pop band that release this debut record in 1978. We all have a lot of records, but this is one of those that shouldn't be collecting dust in your collections.

Friday, December 12, 2008

I was wondering....


Like I've said before: This blog runs on a special "thank you" fuel. You guys can help keep it going by saying thanks once in a while. I'm only asking because sometimes feeling like you're appreciated doesn't come easy.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Reigning Sound indeed!


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I don't remember where I actually got these from, but hopefully they're new to some of you. I really can't wait until they put the new album out. I swear, the stalker in me wants to fly out to Asheville, NC just to hang around suspiciously near a diner in hopes of coincidentally bumping into Greg Cartwright. If that happened I'd be like:

"Oh, excuse me. Hey...aren't you...Man, I'm sorry...what's your name? It's on the tip of my...wait! You're that guy from Reigning Sound??!? Yeah, man... do you live around here? My friend is a big fan so that's how I recognize you."

That scenario would be plausible until I began showing up everywhere he ever went.

Anyway, enjoy this semi-acoustic set from Thacker Mountain Radio. It's good.

Little baby Robots!





It's been a joy having kids. Really! Except for those times when you want to strangle them because they will not stop crying. Well, you never actually want to strangle them.....maybe. Hee hee...

Lou Reed - Early recordings


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Way before the Velvet Underground were the toast of the New York art scene, a teenage Lewis Reed was singing his little heart out with a band that called themselves The Jades. Two of the songs from this 7" were culled from those sessions. These recordings are actually quite good. Enjoy! Ripped for your enjoyment.