Liz Lemon, You're My Hero

Here now, we present The Let's Makeout's homage to Liz Lemon...and our final single for the foreseeable future:



It's ridiculous...and we love it.

P.S. Please don't mock the crappy video skillz. The lovely Falwless is MIA so I had to make something myself (the horror!).

May Album Extravaganza!

Hi InterWeb friends! By some trick of the cosmos, a lot of good bands are putting out albums this month. A few arrive today, others on different Tuesdays this month. (Sidebar: Does anyone know why albums and DVDs always come out on Tuesday? I'd love to know).

Through means both nefarious and completely on the up and up, I got a hold of a lot of these albums early. Some like, crazy early. So allow me to suggest what you should let into your ears in the coming weeks:

Broken Social Scene: Forgiveness Rock Record The Canadian band that has literally had 25 members over the course of its existence - the most famous being Feist, the girl from Metric and the two singers from Stars - releases its fourth (and possibly, in my opinion) best album today. If you get only one rock album with lush instrumentals and soaring choruses this year, make it this one!


The Hold Steady: Heaven is Whenever Listen, I love me some Hold Steady. Me and Red are going to see them tonight, in fact! But ... I was just the tiniest bit disappointed in the band's fifth album, which comes out today. The sound is somewhat flat and tired. It has its moments, like the song "The Weekenders," which includes the line: "She said, 'The theme of the this party's the industrial age / And you came in dressed like a train wreck.'" But if you don't know the band, I'd suggest picking up previous efforts like Separation Sunday or Boys and Girls in America first.


The New Pornographers: Together Here is an example of a band that's been doing it for a while but still making it sound fresh every time. Yet another Canadian super group, The New Pornographer's latest, Together, comes out today, and is awesome. I'd explain more, but this thing is getting long. But I mean, just look at that cover art! Highly recommended.


The National: High Violet The National writes what I like to call "grower songs." They usually start kind of slow and build. Sometimes they just stay slow. They might not grab you the first time you hear them, but pretty soon they've wormed their way into your brain and heart. Their third album High Violet comes out next week, May 11, and while it might not be as good as their last effort (my Best Album of 2007), it's pretty darn good.


LCD Soundsystem: This is Happening This album comes out in two weeks, but I expect you'll hear a lot about it, especially at the end of the year when people start doing "Best Of" lists. Despite the desperate pleas of main guy James Murphy, I got a copy early (sorry, dude) but at least he can find solace in the fact that most of us who have heard it early are talking about how freakin' great it is. More dancy, electronic-rock music with witty lyrics, that somehow keeps getting better with each record.

So that's what I got. Did I forget anything? Do you have differing opinions on these collections of songs? Do you know why new albums always come out on Tuesdays? The people must be told!

RIP: Malcolm McLaren

The guy who put the Sex Pistols together - and more or less launched punk rock - died today. This probably isn't a big deal to most people, but as a person who never fully let go of her punk phase, I'll be pouring one out tonight.

Here's a weird/creepy video for one of McLaren's solo songs:

Randomness Friday

- I picked two of the biggest upsets in the first round of the NCAA tournament – Old Dominion and Ohio. Unfortunately, I had them each on different brackets, and on one brackett I had Marquette going really far. Wah wah

- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Lady Gaga’s music is generic and disposable, but I would still like to be reincarnated as a parrot that lives on her shoulder.

- Yesterday I took a personal day for no real reason. I highly recommend everyone try to do that at least once a year. You know those people who you see drinking beer on restaurant patios at 2:00 on a weekday, making you wonder, “Don’t those jerks have jobs?” Well, I got to be one of them!

- There’s a certain type of girl who just f*cking loves Regina Spektor no matter what the haters say. I am one of them.

- The new Titus Andronicus album is good. They don’t sound the way you’d expect a band called Titus Andronicus to sound. They’re kind of a mixture of The Walkmen, the Hold Steady and Conor Oberst’s rock stuff. Good times.

- I’ve been watching a lot of old movies lately. Hepburn and Tracy really did have amazing onscreen chemistry. It kind of refutes Joey’s theory from Friends that you can't have good acting chemistry with people you’re actually sleeping with in real life.

- Even if Gerard Butler promised to make out with me afterward (and I got the OK from my boyfriend), I still don't think I would see The Bounty Hunter.

- My Mom told me Mad Men is coming back on March* 21. Is that true, or is she confusing it with Breaking Bad?

* I originally wrote May 21 by accident.

Well, maybe ...

Talking 'bout my generation

Some friends and I played trivia last night (and won, of course. Woot woot!) and one of the categories was The Beatles. It’s widely accepted that they’re the defining band of our parents’ generation, and that got us wondering: What is the defining band of our generation?

“Our generation” for this particular group of people is the Gen Y/Millennial generation. We were all born between 1980 and 1984. For my money, our defining band is Radiohead. They came out when we were roughly in junior high, at the age where you start obsessing over music; they grew with us, putting out increasingly adventurous albums; and they have mass appeal.

The only other band that comes close is Pearl Jam, but they really had their height in the mid-to the late ‘90s, and haven’t been as relevant this decade (sorry, Beckeye). Our generation is also arguably the first that could have a hip hop star as its “defining artist,” like Jay-Z, but we all know I’m hopelessly white and can’t really speak to that.

So what do you think? Also, I know some of you guys are more Gen X-ers (I'm kind of on the cusp), so maybe you have your own defining band/artist. The stock answer is Nirvana, got a different one?

Remember, this isn’t necessarily your favorite band, but the one that will soundtrack the inevitable remake of the Big Chill that will come out in 2018 and discuss the woes of people who graduated from high school around the turn of the 21st Century.

Happy Birthday Liz!!!

It's the Fantastic Ms. Liz's birthday today. She's still not as old as me, but she's getting there! Here are some of my favorite things about Zombie Liz:

- She lets me call her Zombie Liz...an homage to the book-we-loved-before-we-ever-actually-read-it-and-realized-it-was-better-in-concept-than-execution, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.

- She always introduces me to the newest, coolest music. Seriously, I'd be musically lost without her.

- She wrote and produced the catchiest damn song in history.

- Even though everyone told me to watch Lost, I never listened until the advice came from Liz. Where would my life be without her?!? And John Locke?!

- Her willingness to go on vacation with me without The Boyfriend. Girls trip! Look out New Orleans and your lack of open container laws!

- She really is, in all seriousness, a fantastic friend and I cherish her.

Won't you please join me in extending your birthday wishes?

The List: Vol. 7

Once again, some things worth checking out/chatting about:

TV: Lost - So what did we think of the premiere, kiddos? Pretty freaking awesome if you ask me. As I told Liz earlier, everyone is totally gonna jump on my "I Heart Terry O'Quinn" bandwagon now, I can just see it.

TV (Part 2): Damages - I don't have any in the theater movies to recommend (it's the crappy time of year), but you know I have an endless supply of TV shows. Damages is back with a new season on FX. Glenn Close rocks my world. This show would actually be pretty easy to jump into without seeing previous season. I mean, you'd miss out on a lot of great backstory, but it's definitely doable.

DVD: Der Baader Meinhof Komplex - I recently watched this Academy Award nominated German film about the early years of the Red Army Faction. It's pretty damn good...especially if you like communism and chicks with machine guns and I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Who doesn't?!"

Music: Stars Set Yourself on Fire - So apparently, this album is 6 years old and this band has been around for 10 years, but this is the first time I've heard it/them (I mean, c'mon...they're Canadian). I'm obsessed with the first track, however. I was shocked (SHOCKED!) to learn they were not comprised of skinny English hipsters! Wonders never cease.

WWW: Unhappy Hipsters - Speaking of hipsters, this site is hilarious.

Your turn to share!

Your Weekend in Pop Culture

I'm thinking of trying this as a weekly thing. We'll see how that goes.

Here's what you should be doing this weekend (when you're not, you know, going outside and socializing and making out with your significant others you lucky bastards!!@!). Anyway...

Tonight!

Series Freaking Finale of Dollhouse - Oh, Tahmoh Penikett, I'll miss you so.

Second Episode of Caprica - The Battlestar Gallactica prequel had a promising first episode. Tonight, we finally see if it's really any good. (Christ, I'm a nerd.)

Tomorrow!

Jon Hamm on SNL - The second hottest person on Mad Men (behind C. Hend, natch) hosts for the second time. I might tune in. I heard he shaved his beard though. This gives Red a sad face :( She likes beards...a lot...

Sunday!

Go to the Movies - I'm thinking of seeing Sherlock Holmes or It's Complicated (don't you judge me!) or 44 Inch Chest or The White Ribbon. We'll see how the mood strikes me.

The Grammys - As Liz mentioned last week, there's some 3D element. I mean, obviously. Absolutely everything MUST be in 3D these days. It's like the 1950's all over again!

TBD!

Also, sometimes this weekend, Liz and I are getting together to record some music. So think lovely thoughts that all goes well and maybe I'll post our debut single here on Monday! The excitement never ends 'round these parts!

Happy weekend, friends!

More on The Sing Off

Because I so love posting things no one cares about but me, my favorite number from The Sing Off...Styx "Come Sail Away" by Tufts University's Beelzebubs:



How adorable is that lead singer?!

Also, Ben Folds need to host something full time...anything. He is amazing.

That is all.

UPDATE: Ugh! Stupid YouTube. The performance can still be seen here. Scroll down to the second video.

The Best Albums of 2009

It’s that time of year again: When I tell you my favorite albums from the past 12 months, and you tell me that you’ve never heard of any of these people!

(Note: This is not to be confused with our controversial list of the best albums of the ‘00s).

Obviously I didn’t get around to hearing every single album released in 2009, and obviously I have a certain taste, so if there is an album not mentioned here that the people simply MUST know about, tell us about it in the comments section. And, as always, please excuse the whiteness of my picks.


10. The Decemberists: The Hazards of Love Indulgent and nonsensical? You bet. Initially disliked and dismissed by yours truly? Oh yeah, totally. More satisfying and likeable upon further listening, especially when taken on its own merits rather than compared to the band’s previous work, to the point where I have done a complete 180 and included it among the best of the year? A doy!







9. The XX: xx An album full of songs this restrained and yet so sexy could only be made by the British. London-based The XX’s spare arrangements and entwining male and female vocals have a way of sneaking up on you, luring you in with their tentacles of deceptively simple bass lines and keyboard beats. Let them.








8. Neko Case: Middle Cyclone With her tales of untamable animals and heartbroken weather patterns, Neko Case bouys her reputation as a force of nature, and reminds everyone how awesome she is, as if we’d forgotten. And no, she didn’t make the list just because she’s a ginger. (Although it certainly didn’t hurt).






7. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart If The Onion was going to invent a precious little shoegaze group that indie rocks fans were predictably fawning over, it would probably have a name like "The Pains of Being Pure at Heart." So believe me when I say I didn’t want to like this band. And yet.... So maybe I'm a lemming. But hey, if being a lemming means I get to listen to this catchy, lo-fi fuzz pop which conjures up images of those few teenage moments when you didn’t feel crawling into a hole and dying and actually enjoyed being young, march me toward the cliff.




6. Antlers: Hospice The most depressing album of the year was also one of the most beautiful. God, that’s such a “music writer” thing to say. Sorry. But hear me out: As the title suggests, Hospice is an album about dying, in all its shapes and forms. It’s dark and moody, but in the midst of all, there are glimmers of … not hope exactly, but perhaps catharsis. Death may be sad and scary and disquieting, but it’s also the only time we’ll ever really let go.





5. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca “Arty,” “experimental” and “weird” are three words that come to mind when describing the Dirty Projectors, but by borrowing from the best parts of the Talking Heads, Led Zeppelin, the Velvet Underground and …. pretty much every other band you’ve ever heard, the bizarre stew somehow comes out charming and fun. You just might have to give it a few listens.







4. Grizzly Bear: Vekitimist A band that makes cabin-in-the-woods folk learns how to rock a bit, and explores a dark side. Haunting harmonies and freaky keyboard flourishes help this record defy the “acoustic band” label.









3. St. Vincent: Actor John Mellencamp once said that aside from Joni Mitchell, there are no female artists. I’m not sure where Mr. Our Country gets the authority to declare artistry, but I’d like to give him a copy of Actor, the latest album by Annie Clark, a.k.a. St. Vincent. “Singer/songwriter” doesn’t begin to describe her complicated, intricate songs that are also somehow highly listenable. Clark plays every guitar, piano, clavieta and xylophone you hear, and tops it off with her Disney princess voice to create something you’ll probably never hear in a Chevy ad, but won’t ever want to take off your iPod.



2. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion For years now, the members of Animal Collective have been making lush, textured music that’s equally inspired by late ‘60s psychadelia, late ‘90s electronica and the entire catalogue of Brian Wilson. On Merriweather Post Pavilion, the band pulls their eccentric creation out of the fringes, creating something that music fans who don’t buy everything on vinyl despite being born after the invention of the CD might want to explore. It’s accessible, yet fascinating. It came extremely close to being my No. 1 of the year, but …







1. Phoenix: Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Every song sounds like a hit. Not a note is wasted. The dance floor sheen would have been an overproduced wasteland in lesser hands, but here it’s the sound of a great band just nailing it, over and over again. The second track’s appearance in a car commercial couldn’t even make me hate it. That’s unheard of. Best of the year.

The Sing Off Will Be Epic

Not since Clash of the Choirs have I been quite so excited about a singing show. Tonight, NBC debuts it's week long singing extravaganza of acapella groups from around the nation. Now, I'd always planned on watching, because I love a signing show, but then...THEN...I saw a preview and learned Ben Effing Folds will be one of the judges!!! OMG, how I love Ben Folds. This totally makes sense as Ben released an album of groups singing his songs acapella this year (which is amazing, btw. Definitely worth picking up.) Also involved are Nick Lachey, one of the dudes from Boys II Men (holla!) and the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls (Meh). Basically, to sum up, I can't wait!

And speaking of awesome rock stars, The Let's Make Outs (fka No Seriously, Let's Make Out fka Let's Make Out) played our first open mic night last night and it went pretty well. Our best song is our ode to everyone's second favorite philanderer, Don Draper. We're trying to record the sure-to-be-future-hit and we'll post it here for your listening pleasure whenever we accomplish that goal.

Anyway, what about you? Are you excited for The Sing Off? Or am I alone here...as usual?

Best of the Decade: Music

In part two of our attempt to recap the Decade in Pop Culture, Red and I give you our picks for the Top Ten Albums of the ‘00s!

We tried to weigh artistry and all that snobby stuff, but mostly it just came down to what we enjoyed listening to the most. The best part is, unlike our television lists, our choices here are really different. I’ve listed them in descending order (10-1). Red goes first, because she included key lyrics.

Red’s Picks

10. The Magic Numbers: The Magic Numbers A little known band from England, my ex-boyfriend once called them “The least attractive band in the world” and, while that assessment may be true, they certainly know how to rock.
Key Lyric: “Take a chance/with a women who lets you”

9. Counting Crows: Hard Candy Perhaps the best record from the band from the Bay. Adam Duritz is so sensitive, he bags all the fine ladies. Hard Candy shows us why.
Key Lyric: “I really love the redhead girls/I’m just like all the boys from Texas.”

8. Wicked: The Musical The musical of the decade produced some of the best songs of the decade. It’s now everywhere, so go see it already!
Key Lyric: “And if I’m flying solo/At least I’m flying free.”

7. Los Campesinos!: Hold On Now, Youngster Rarely have I found a band or an album so infectious. I still cannot stop listening. I love how they blend super upbeat music with the most depressing lyrics you’ve ever heard. Ahhh, contrasts.
Key Lyric: “When our eyes meet/All that I can see/Is you’re the b-side.”

6. Hem: Eveningland So mellow, it can almost lull you to sleep, but as I’ve said a zillion times, this is what my band would sound like if I had a band. (Though, now, Liz and I have a band which sounds nothing like Hem, but whatever. That’s not important right now!)
Key Lyric: “I don’t want us to believe in the gravity of solid ground/The world below is not so big that it can keep us down.”

5. Justin Timberlake: Justified JT does what no one else can…he’s insanely likable and still so freaking cool. He can “Rock My Body” anytime.
Key Lyric: “It wasn’t like you only talked to him and you know it/(Don’t act like you don’t know it!)”

4. Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous My favorite Rilo record, back to front. I fell in love with them after I heard “Portions for Foxes.” End of story.
Key Lyric: “Plannin’s for the poor, so let’s pretend that we’re rich/And I’m not my body or how I choose to destroy it.”

3. Dixie Chicks: Taking the Long Way The Chicks are amongst the most daring artists in American music and this is the ultimate F-You album. Refusing to apologize for trashing George Bush and playing music no one puts on the radio, they still managed to sell records and win awards. They are amazing.
Key Lyric: “In the easy silence that you make for me/It’s okay when there’s nothing else to say to me/In the peaceful quiet that you make for me/And the way you keep the world at bay for me.”

2. Postal Service: Give Up Ben Gibbard makes electronica cool and listenable.
Key Lyric: “I’ve been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound like a movie.”

1. Ben Folds: Rockin’ the Suburbs Ben Folds first solo effort contains some of his best songs. Obviously, my favorite artist’s best album must be THE best album of the decade.
Key Lyric: “Everybody knows it sucks to grow up”


Liz’s Picks

10. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema The Canadian power pop super group was at its best on this 2005 album, finding a pitch perfect blend of all the different voices and songwriting talents within. If you’ve never heard the song “The Bleeding Heart Show,” you’ve never really lived.

9. Death Cab for Cutie: The Photo Album From missing out on the perfect chance to tell your crush how you feel, to emptying an absentee father’s ashes at sea only to have the wind blow them back in your face, this record is full of intimate moments that make the listener feel like they’re in on a secret. A secret worth being in on.

8. The White Stripes: Elephant One of the most interesting groups of the decade decides to announce they’re not a novelty or a fluke by turning in a hard rock masterpiece. Not a bad strategy.

7. Bright Eyes: Lifted or … I understand why a lot of people are turned off by Conor Oberst’s histrionics and self-obsession, but I’m also slayed every time he sings lines like, “Where was it when I first heard that sweet sound of humility? / It came to my ears in the goddamn loveliest melody / How grateful I was then to be part of the mystery, to love and to be loved.” No, he’s not the next Bob Dylan. He doesn’t need to be.

6. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Jeff Tweedy is trying to break your heart. With Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, he succeeds, and man does it hurt so good.

5. Rilo Kiley: The Execution of all Things My favorite album by my favorite band. Jenny Lewis’ gorgeous voice and Blake Sennet’s underrated guitar licks create charming Americana about growing up, getting old and moving on.

4. Sufjan Stevens: Come on, Feel the Illinoise Part history lesson, part magnum opus, all fantastically original. It prominently features both the banjo, and a backup group called the Illnoisemakers. What’s not to love?

3. The Postal Service: Give Up The glitchy electronica of Jimmy Tamborello turned out to be a surprisingly perfect fit for Ben Gibbard’s boyish tenor and prose-like lyrics. What began as a work-on-it-when-we-have-time side project somehow managed to capture the best of what was happening in music in the early 21st Century.

2. Radiohead: Kid A The cover of Spin Magazine proclaimed in 2001 that, “To save themselves, Radiohead had to destroy rock and roll.” I’m not sure Radiohead necessarily “destroyed rock and roll” with Kid A, but they certainly took it to strange and new places, places that are still more and more revaltory with every listen.

1. Arcade Fire: Funeral If you were unfortunate enough to live in the Northeast in the winter of 2003-2004, your toes probably still curl at the memory. It was one of the coldest on record. I remember one day, the newly launched Mars Rover reported back that a spot on the red planet was warmer than the city of Boston. In the midst of this, The Arcade Fire was recording Funeral in Montreal. Images of empty neighborhoods full of snow haunt the record, and the whole thing is ultimately about death in all its forms. But listening to Funeral isn’t chilling; it’s the opposite. Funeral is the roaring bonfire you want to gather around when everything looks desolate. It's one of the few albums I’ve bought based on buzz alone that not only lived up to the hype, it exceeded it.

What do you guys think?

The List: Vol. 5

I know things have been rather pathetic around these parts lately. I can't guarantee they'll improve, but you should totally keep visiting anyway (I am a terrible salesperson). Here, though, are 5 things I'm digging at the moment:

Movie: An Education - While perhaps not as great as some critics would have you believe, this Nick Hornby penned film is a nice evening at the (movie) theater. Carey Mulligan IS as good as the critics say, but Peter Sarsgaard's accent is atrocious (I really don't understand why they didn't cast an actual Brit). Also, it's set in the 60's which is so hot right now. See it now if you are one of those people who like to see all the Oscar nominated films (buzz has it Mulligan will be nominated) or wait for DVD if you have an actual life.

TV: Parks and Recreation - The Amy Poehler vehicle kicked it up a notch this season and people are finally on board. I'd just like to point out I liked this show last season...when everyone else said it wasn't funny. I'm a trendsetter people. Ya better recognize!

Book: Armageddon in Retrospect by Kurt Vonnegut - A posthumously published collection of his stories of WWII. Funny, touching, scary...classic Vonnegut.

Music: It's Not Me, It's You by Lily Allen - I didn't much care for Lily's first breakthrough album, but this follow up is awesome. Still listening to it like crazy, what? Nearly a year after it's release? Good stuff.

Sports: San Diego Chargers - Not that I'm biased or anything, but we do have the best team song ever.

Raves (Nov. 2009)

Sherpas – Target has this sweatshirt right now called the Sherpa. Its basically just a hooded sweatshirt, but with extra-fuzzy lining. It's like, crazy comfortable. I bought two. They are getting me through these harsh days of San Diego autumn, where the temperature has been know to drop below 60°!

Mad Men finale – [[[Spoiler Alert]]] Sterling, Cooper, Draper & Pryce!?!?! Great finale. I read a news story about a year ago where some guys who actually worked on Madison Ave. in the ‘60s said that Sterling Cooper, the ad agency on Mad Men, was kind of behind the times – the anti-Semitism, sexism, that was all on its way out by then. Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner said that’s the point: Sterling Coop is supposed to be a dinosaur. And now, two weeks after the Kennedy Assassination, it’s all changing. Just like America! Can’t wait for ’64.

Hot Chocolate at Twiggs – I’ve lived in my neighborhood for about 3 years now, and I just last night discovered that a coffee shop in the corner makes AMAZING hot chocolate. I highly recommend everyone in San Diego give it a try.

Scott Pilgrim – I’m not hip at all when it comes to comics (or anything, really) so I might be waaaaay behind the times on this, but a friend of mine introduced me to the Scott Pilgrim books recently and I love them. They’re this quirky little story about a guy from Toronto whose life is pretty mundane, except when it’s occasionally like a video game. You need to read it to understand. They're making a movie out of it though, so you can be cool and know things before other people!

Weddings I’m not in – I’ve been a bridesmaid 4 times in 3 years. I’m always honored, but I’m also always out like $700 bucks. (Airfare, dawg. Airfare). So it was lovely to just be a guest at a friend’s (local) wedding Saturday night. Everyone should get married and let me just come!

Andrew Bird – Singer/songwriter Andrew Bird doesn’t have anything new out (unless you count his album "Noble Beast," which arrived in January) but I’ve been listening to him a lot lately. I’ve been sick, and something about his dulcet tenor and pitch-perfect whistling has made the hurting stop, just a little bit. Bless you, Mr. Bird.

Note: Red is on vaca until later this week. I’ll try to get you guys through the next few days. Tell her how much you miss her in the comments.

There's gotta be more to life than "The Monster Mash"

Red and I are throwing a Halloween party this weekend (we're gonna look super '60s sexy as the cast of Mad Men) and we're at the point in our planning where we're thinking about the music.

As always, we need your help: What are some good, creepy Halloween party songs? Obviously there's "Thriller," and probably a lot of stuff my Metallica and Slayer, but we're trying to think outside the box here.

Ideas in the comments section, please!

Mid-week Ramble

Here's a few thoughts and observations swirling in my head on this lovely hump day:

- The big headline across Monday’s Wall Street Journal was “Colleagues Finger Billionaire.” Were there no 12-year-olds in the Journal offices to explain how that headline was hilariously inappropriate?

- There’s an ad that always pops up in my Yahoo! email inbox that says, “Find black singles in your area!” We all know that these companies have software that reads our emails so they can better tailor ads to our tastes, so I’m wondering what in my email is causing this ad to keep popping up? Maybe it’s related to my Salt N Pepa Fan Club membership.

- Seriously though, I do love Salt N Pepa.

- A few months back, my boyfriend was looking into starting his own business, but the bank wouldn’t give him a loan. The loan officer said, “Don’t you have a rich uncle or something who can give you the money?” It got me wondering, is it really that common to have a rich uncle who will lend you money? Like, is this the big secret to getting rich that all these so-called "self-made" millionaires aren’t telling us? If so, guess I'll never be rich.

- The Yankees are totally winning the World Series this year. I know - Vom. It.

- Have you guys been watching ESPN’s "30 for 30" documentaries? I mentioned them once before in this long, rambling blog entry. They’re really good though. I didn’t know anything about the USFL until last night, and now I’m mad at Donald Trump for killing it. Bandit Ball looked rad!

- I occasionally write music reviews for this Web site. We’re compiling a Top 100 albums of the decade list, and all us contributors had to compile our own Top 100 lists. Here’s my personal Top 10:

1. Arcade Fire – Funeral
2. Radiohead – Kid A
3. The Postal Service – Give Up
4. Sufjan Stevens – Come on, Feel the Illinois
5. Rilo Kiley – The Execution of all Things
6. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
7. Bright Eyes – Lifted or…
8. The White Stripes – Elephant
9. Death Cab for Cutie – The Photo Album
10. The New Pornographers – Twin Cinema

Prove me wrong, nerds!

Exclamation Marks Make Everything More Exciting

Two new songs from Los Campesinos!! I, naturally, prefer the second, more melancholy song. I'm so deep that way...

There Are Listed Buildings from Los Campesinos! on Vimeo.

The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future from Los Campesinos! on Vimeo.

The List: Vol. 4

Some things I've been digging lately...

Movie - The Hurt Locker: The story of bomb dismantlers in Iraq starring the hotness that is Jeremy Renner. I enjoyed the character development...which is actually minimal. Really, the film is about American heroes doin' work. And who would have guessed the best action director in America would be female? Grrl Powa!!! I don't think this is still in theaters, so look for it on DVD soon.

TV - Curb Your Enthusiasm: Christ almighty is Larry David hilarious. The Seinfeld cast begins showing up this week. I can't wait!

Book - The Girls from Ames by Jeffery Zaslow: The real life story of 11 women who've been friends since childhood, growing up in the small town of Ames, Iowa. It made me laugh and cry and realize how special friendships between women truly are.

Music - Phoenix: Liz hooked me up recently with 2 albums by this French pop band and I Cannot. Stop. Listening.

Blog - APOCALYPSTICK: I've spent the entire morning reading the hilarious posts by this would be actress in LA (errr...I mean, I've been working super hard, boss!). Seriously funny stuff. Che-che-che-che-check it out...on non-company time, obvs.

Umm ... OMFG!!!!!

I just always picture you guys together.

Where have I been that I didn't hear Pavement is getting back together?!?!?! (Oh right, in Massachusetts for a wedding and then busy playing catch-up at work). Still no excuse! Apparently the seminal late '90s indie rock band is getting back together for a show in New York next year and then a subsequent tour. Someone please lend me $500 and important standing in society so I can into one of these shows!!

This (mostly) Just In...

Alexander Skarsgard and Evan Rachel Wood Dating - Dude, Evan Rachel Wood gets around! Yet another romance born on the set of True Blood. At least they're both vampires...or something. (For the record, this does not make me totally jealous. Really. It doesn't...at all. *sniff*)

A Day Without Cats - Today on the interwebs, 40 sites have decided to refrain from posting pictures and videos of cats being adorable (I Can Has Cheezburger is not among them, obvs). Why? Why would the world want to be so cruel?! I mean, I get a Day Without Megan Fox, but cute pictures of kittehs gets me through the day!!!

Why would anyone want to me deny this kitty?!?!?!?

Glee Returns Tonight - After geeking out before the initial "premiere" and kind of being the slightest bit disappointed, I'm moderately excited for the series to begin for reals. Even if the show itself continues to be on the "Meh+" side, the tracklisting for the show's soundtrack looks ah-mazing!

Three Things I Never Want to Hear About Again - The Gosselin's (DIE), the Obama school speech (not to get too political, but conservatives are retarded), Tila Tequila and Shawne Merriman.