- I think Frank Sinatra perfected that fine line of sounding credible both while singing "Softly as I Leave You" and making mafia-backed death threats.
- When I'm at work, I'm fine. I come home and late at night, I find myself coughing. I am worried that I am becoming allergic to not goofing off at work.
- The world needs another Cat Stevens. Willing to trade in the current one.
- I began yelling at myself because I had Van Halen's (or van Hagar to you purists), "How Do I know When it's Love?" in my head. I felt like I wasn't hard enough on myself.
- Related: how the hell did that song get in my head? It wasn't on MTV, VH1, the few radio stations I listen to (NPR BBC), and I've seen nothing Halen-related in a long time. I'm concerned it may be directly related to me giving up soda for lent. Crazy things have been happening. Crazy, non-carbonated things.
- Indie music: 90% crap, 5% a forceful will to believe that 90% is good, and 5% so freaking incredible, you tolerate the rest.
- I shouldn't be so general. When I say "crap" I mean kids who can't sing playing instruments they haven't mastered, recorded by engineers who don't understand levels or basic acoustics all rolled into one protective umbrella phrase: supposed to sound like that.
- After those last two bullets I have approximately 10 less friends.
- Reading " We Wish to Inform you that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed Along With Our Families" and I'm asked by a nice enough fellow subway rider what my book is about. Is there a way of saying "Genocide" without a.) making someone uncomfortable; b.) not simplifying a very complex ethnic and geopolitical catastrophe; and c.) not sounding like a dick?
- The Decemberists "Bachelor and the Bride" has the best second guitar part of any other song. It just sneaks right in and augments the tempo, feel, and somehow softens a still-haunting song without sacrificing quality. It's remarkable that way.
- The Commodores had a great song called "The Night Shift" which I can't believe has not been covered by any other band. This song is near universal - from death metal to Dolly Parton.
- One of my friends drinks a ton of water throughout the workday so he can pee and have something to do. No it's not me. Not yet anyway.
- And finally, I'm thinking about starting some sort of clearinghouse for album names that are automatic hit records. Currently in the hopper: "Confessions of an Argonaut" "Flirting with Disaster's Sister" "That Giant Sucking Sound" "Beethoven Can't Fight" "Ordained & Ordinary" and the instant classic "Calling all Office Peers"