poonkorama

^ yup it's a great one! NP:

I've only listened to about half of this album (thanks to a temperamental iPod) but so far it sounds great. The harmonies on "Down in the Valley" make me feel warm and fuzzy. I can see where the Byrds comparisons are coming from.

Sounds like the BCS is at least considering a playoff system, but not for another few years.

^^ But the game just wouldn't be the same without hearing John Mellencamp sing "This is Our Country" every 5 minutes

A friend of mine was telling me a couple days ago that the NFL Network might be doing replays of some of the bowl games sans timeouts, commercials, etc (might just be BCS bowls). I don't know any details but you may want to check there and see. That Boise St game was great. I had to leave at the end of regulation when it was still tied up, and didn't find out the final score until this morning. Exciting game all the way through, though---good for Boise State. Looks like Wake Forest couldn't pull off that kind of upset tonight.

I was huge into the Cure in high school. Don't listen as much now, but I still have a lot of their albums and pull them out to enjoy from time to time. Favorite albums: Head on the Door (Kiss Me)^3 Pornography Disintegration Boys Don't Cry The Top (pretty good album from a band so in shambles at the time) I used to watch the "Staring at the Sea" video compilation and always found it interesting to witness the metamorphosis of Robert Smith (and indeed, the band itself) over the years. Starting off young and skinny (ca. 1977), with short straight hair and no make up, then gradually experimen

Head on the Door is such a great album. Although I do prefer the remixed version of "Close to Me" (with horns) that is featured on Standing on a Beach over the original version on HOTD. Given the dark raininess of today, I may have to listen to Pornography later.

Then again, Thee Parkside does have sort of a reputation for attracting well-known musicians (mostly to hang out and drink at the bar, not as much to play shows), so I suppose it could actually happen. But I agree, it does seem a bit fishy. Think I will try and check this one out.

Oingo Boingo - "No One Lives Forever" Let's have a party, there's a full moon in the sky It's the hour of the wolf and I don't wanna die Then again, pretty much anything by Danny Elfman would be a good Halloween song The Specials - "Ghost Town" has a spooky feel to it, too...

First time through on this one. I do like Van Dyke Parks' arrangements and find Joanna's voice to be a lot more palatable than before. I could see this one growing on me, but too soon to tell.

Yeah, I've heard that Kimock is an ultra-perfectionist and that he can be pretty difficult to work with at times (similar to the reputations of Arthur Lee and Kevin Shields).

I've seen Steve Kimock numerous times (w/ KVHW, Steve Kimock Band, Zero, etc.) and he is simply astounding, especially live. Technically and virtuostically speaking, he is ridiculously talented; improvisationally, he is in another world. That may sound like hyperbole, granted, but Kimock is truly a gifted guitarist. You really have to experience it first hand to appreciate him, though. I'm not even into the whole jam band thing that much anymore, but I still admire the hell out of this guy. The story goes that Steve Kimock was one of the guitarists that Jerry Garcia most admired in his final y

In addition to many of the bands already mentioned in this thread: The Court & Spark: These guys are on the top of their game right now, and currently on a streak of really solid records (Bless You --> Witch Season --> Hearts). Opened for Wilco in Berkeley last year. The Mother Hips: No longer on hiatus, with a new album tentatively coming out this Spring. Recent shows have been on fire. And no, they're not a hippie band, as everyone seems to think. Billy Midnight: Relatively unknown band out of San Diego. Self-titled record from 2001 is one of my favorite albums...ever

Though I don't drink them that often, I do like me a Young's Double Chocolate Stout (or any chewy complex brew) during those harsh California winters. This Miller deal sounds like another marketing department "bad committee idea du jour" more akin to caffeinated beer or Tequiza than to an actual chocolate stout. I once tried a "chocolate Port" that actually had chocolate extract in it; completely ruined it. I picture the Miller offering being similar to this, given their usual output. Who knows, though....maybe they'll actually brew a decent chocolate stout. I'm skeptical.

Ahh, Full Sail. We visited the Full Sail Brewery in Hood River, Oregon last summer---what a cool place. On a hot summer day you can sit on the outdoor patio overlooking the river, put down down pints of Pale or Sessions stubbies and watch the (literally) dozens of sailboarders do their thing. The brewery itself is pretty much centered around two things: beer and windsurfing/sailboarding. Nice people running the place, too.

Wow, I didn't realize they'd closed that one. I grew up in LA, and as a kid every so often my uncle would take me to the Tower Records on Sunset (followed by chili dogs at Carney's), and that was always such a treat. Found 12" remixes on vinyl that I would never see in the mall Wherehouses. I remember seeing Social D do an instore there when I was in high school. Always held that place in high regard, before Tower became too chain-y. Sad to see it go, even though I haven't been there in a gazillion years.

^ good to know, thanks!

You can mail order it from Aquarius Records. They also have a few sound clips on their website. Used to be vinyl-only, apparently, but it's now out on CD. Good stuff...

Sitar Beat Vol. 1 (Indian Style Heavy Funk)....This is a great compilation!

Are these guys good live? They're playing here next week, but not sure if I'm going to go yet. Worth seeing?