New MP3 for this week, this time The Flaming Lips covering “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” – I got this off a CD of material recorded live at XFM in London which came free with an old issue of Select.

Was at Five Seventeen’s birthday party last night, a pleasant, low-key affair. Despite raging allergies I played with his cat Jean for a good while. It was especially nice when she took a shine to my lap and just sat there for 10 minutes or so while I pet her. Furry animal therapy, good for the soul.

Bringing Azra her Christmas gift today and going to see Adaptation, or at least that’s the plan. A plan I’ve made before, to no avail…

Rolling Stone has posted their year-end critics lists. I admit to being surprised and unsurprised by the quality of the stuff listed – it just proves that the writers are being told what to promote as opposed to being able to discuss the music they actually like. Mags like RS get equal parts contempt and pity from me. Well, far more contempt really, but there’s still some pity.

np – All-Time Quarterback / All-Time Quarterback

One of my favorite holiday season traditions is Muchmusic’s Fromage. Now they’ve been doing this for as long as I can remember, but in the beginning the show itself was a contender for stinker of the year – Christopher Ward (and later, Natalie Richard) couldn’t possibly have been more annoying and their ‘picks’ were almost always totally obscure Latvian polka-punk bands or whatnot – bands and videos who Much had never played anyway – no doubt in fear of offending someone at the record labels if even a disparaging syllable would be uttered about one of their artists.

Well no longer, thank god. Ed The Sock has been host for a few years now, and he is no-holds-barred in taking the piss out of heavy rotation artists. The segment I just watched was merciless in attacking Madonna, Britney, J-Ho, Christina SKANK Aguilera… it was marvellous. I rarely if ever watch MuchMusic, but this is the sort of programming you want to make a bowl of popcorn and curl up under a big warm blanket for. Booyaka.

np – Sleater-Kinney / All Hands On The Bad One

Someday I will perfect the over-easy egg. But that day was not today.

So this has been my least-spendy Boxing Day/Week ever, I think. 6 CDs overall – that’s hardly anything. Granted, there were probably at least that many more I could have gotten, but I can’t wipe out everything on my list in one fell swoop – where would that leave me? WITH NO REASON TO LIVE, that’s where. And yes, I am fully conscious of how sad that is.

But seriously, I am going to be dropping upwards of a couple grand in the next few months on a new computer, so I shouldn’t be too concerned about being thrifty right now. To say nothing of the fact that I will probably be paying taxes instead of getting a return for the first time ever this year, and need to finally contribute to my RRSP’s again (my other ones are doing job of losing money as is)…

Tonight is 517’s birthday party. Well his, as well as two other people I don’t know. I’m wondering how many people will be there – his place isn’t very big. Well it should be interesting, anyway. How many times have I gotten to say, “I’m in the band” in a social setting, anyway?

np – The Magnetic Fields / Holiday

Boxing Day part two – Headed out to Soundscapes first to grab more stuff that I didn’t get yesterday – got pretty much what I expected to. Some stuff that I wasn’t sure about, the 15% discount wasn’t enough to persuade me. I did come away with The Kinks’ Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire and Are The Village Green Preservation Society, as well as the Pavement reissue of Slanted & Enchanted. I’ve never ‘gotten’ Pavement, but I figure I should own some – and this extended deluxe repackage of their best album seemed as good a candidate as any. I’m actually enjoying it – not enough to run out and get their entire catalog, but I may add Crooked Rain Crooked Rain to the collection.

I’ve got the comic book itch back again, so it’s just as well that Hairy Tarantula’a Boxing Week sale is 35% off all Marvel and DC trade paperbacks. I grabbed The Ultimates paperback on recommendation from Kevin, and he’s right – it’s excellent stuff. I will probably go back for more books after I do some homework about what’s good and what’s not. I’ve been out of it for so long. I’m obliged to the store for the sale, but man – some of the conversation that goes in there… it’s just scary.

Andrea and Bryan are in town tonight, I don’t think I’ve seen them for months though it doesn’t really seem like that long. Time really does sneak away from you when you’re not looking.

np – Pavement / Slanted & Enchanted – Luxe & Reduxe

For the record, I generally think Robin Black is a dink, but in this article, he speaks truth.

np – Doug Martsch / Now You Know