cryptique

Sigh. Maybe someday this doofus will learn the difference between "cache" and "cachet." That said, it's not a bad review ... for Pitchfork. As for the rating, I'd give it something in the high 7s, maybe even low 8s.

Pretentiousness.

The production, though certainly not to my liking, doesn't ruin this record for me. I wish I could hear certain instruments better in the mix (piano, especially), but the muddiness almost seems like it was by design. Not a choice I would have made, but it's not too awful. On certain Springsteen albums in the past (BITUSA, I'm looking at you) the keyboards were way too high in the mix, and this album goes in the opposite direction. Altogether, it's a damn good album. Probably won't make my Top 10 of the year, but a solid effort.

Now that I know you're a criminal, you're even sexier than before.

Beat me to it.

OK.

Along the same lines, we had access to the marquee at our school, and one morning during the spring of my senior year it said "SCHOOL FOR SALE" and gave the principal's office number.

I like the Cubs, but I'll dispute this too. On the other hand, if the Cubs finally end the drought, maybe some of the "lovable loser" mystique will finally wear off, and Cub fans will become less obnoxious. Maybe, but not likely.

I'm seeing them at the Palace of Auburn Hills in a few weeks. I missed a few chances to see the original Roth-era lineup ~25 years ago so I'm definitely looking forward to this. I'll miss Michael Anthony, but oh well.

Wasn't he the guy that Vito Corleone killed when he went back to Sicily?

Nice with the golf ball prank. People who buy houses next to golf courses and then complain about golf balls in their yard are morons. My league plays in a golf-course community -- large houses and condos lining most of the fairways, often close enough to be hit by errant shots. The official position of the golf course is that damage done to houses is the responsibility of the golfer, but it seems that the act of buying a house ON A GOLF COURSE involves the assumption of risk on the part of the homeowner. If you don't want an occasional broken window, buy a house elsewhere, dumbass.

Somehow I missed that. SHART!

Fox baseball broadcasts suck ass ... even worse than their football broadcasts, and that's saying something. TBS's coverage was pretty close to what I want from my baseball broadcast: pleasantly dull so as not to distract from the action on the field. Fox could learn a thing or three (hundred) from TBS, but of course they won't.

First listen.

This was one of those extremely rare nights when insomnia pays off. Wow. I don't think I've ever seen Hoffman hit so hard. Even that last one (which was caught) was a rocket. Four of 'em in a row. I'm not convinced that Holliday got any of the plate, but I guess we'll never know.

Not saying that I'd vote for him myself, but it's at least arguable that it should go to Piniella.

I own every Alvin & The Chipmunks record ever released, plus endless bootlegged live shows, B-sides, unreleased demos, alternate takes, and other rarities. I have other music too, but when I listen to it I always speed it up.

...except that it's a charity show, right? Are LZ making any cash themselves off of this?

Sold out before I remembered to try to buy tickets. Did some dude get taken out by the police at that show? There was something in the paper about an incident at The Ark a day or two afterwards and I figured it had to be that show.

It was my first listen. Sounded decent, but nothing was jumping out at me. Certainly not bad, but... That's just an initial impression. I need to spend a little more time with it.

I don't know if I'll ever get over the RTT.

I will name them "Guido."

Awesome. I'm starting to think my buying a ticket wasn't such a bad idea.

No, I believe it's "Free your mind and your ass will follow." Seriously, though -- that's cool. I hope your statement comes out great!