Heard some of the new Spiritualized album in Soundscapes today – someone had a burned version from the internet. It wasn’t the ultra-stripped down garage record that some had said it was – I still heard gospel choirs and some orchestration, but the production was a good deal drier and more immediate. It didn’t sound like Spaceman had spent weeks mixing one channel of one song, and while there has been some good music that’s come out of his obsessive-compulsiveness, it’s probably a good thing that he’s letting loose a little bit. There’s still no release date for Amazing Grace, but I wouldn’t expect anything any earlier than mid-Fall.

I picked up The Decemberists while I was there, to celebrate my new raise (yes I got a raise). I’ve already sang the praises of the Decembersists, so I won’t repeat myself, save to say it’s good.

Though initially they had said that tickets would be available at Rotate This, it looks like Ticketbastard is the only place to get ducats for the Billy Bragg show at the ElMo on July 11. For fuck’s sake, as if being taken up the ass for Radiohead tickets won’t be bad enough, now they get a second go-around for Billy Bragg? Wankers.

There’s a very interesting music festival going on in St Catherines on Sunday, July 13. S.C.E.N.E. will showcase 74 indie bands from Southern Ontario in downtown St. Kitts for only $10. I think that’s worth the hour’s drive? Pencil me in.

Speaking of local bands, From Fiction has been tagged to open for Wilco tonight. Chart describes them as “Dense math-rock with thrashy overtones. King Crimson goes indie-rock.” Okay, WHO thought this was a good idea? Bah.

Friday half-days allow me go see matinees at the Bloor, like The Good Thief this afternoon. Good times.

Oh shit, must remember to get a wedding card for tomorrow. Musn’t forget musn’t forget musn’t forget.

np – The Decemberists / Castaways And Cutouts

As predicted, a much… less sucky rehearsal tonight. We made up some set lists for upcoming shows, which provided a little more focus. Speaking of upcoming shows, here’s the (brief) itinerary for the next couple months:

Jul 21 @ The Silver Dollar Room, Toronto with Elephant Micah from Indiana

Aug 3 @ Wavelength 174, Sneaky Dee’s, Toronto. Other acts to be confirmed.

So yeah, after almost a year out of action, the Lake Holiday rock machine returns to terrorize the streets of Hogtown. Hide your daughters.

Where do you rank on the Political Compass? I sit at:

Economic Left/Right: -5.12

Authoritarian/Libertarian: -4.87

I’m comfortable with those results.

np – Pavement / Wowee Zowee

I’m feeling compelled to offer a little commentary on some of the headlines in today’s paper.

‘No court martial’ for U.S. airmen. All of those who are surprised by this, hands up. You’re excused. No sir, gotta support our boys in uniform during these troubled times. Even the drugged-up, homicidal ones who don’t follow orders. After all, they only killed four Canadians, and last we checked they weren’t it the “With us” column – it was probably only a matter of time before someone decided the Canucks were hiding weapons of mass destruction in our beaver tails and hockey rinks and came up here to bomb us anyway.

Coffin linked to Jesus is a fraud, experts rule. Now I’m not religious by any stretch of the imagination, but I have to admit I was excited when this ossuary first made the news last year, and I’m disappointed now that it’s likely a hoax. I’m always willing to have my notions of things challenged – even the veracity of Christianity – particularly with something resembling hard concrete proof. Maybe next time, guys.

Why Ottawa said yes to making it legal. The ‘it’ in question being gay marraige. Based on the timing of the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision last week (a week and a half before Pride Week), I can only surmise it was to try and boost tourism dollars as gay couples from all over North America and tie the knot. Very canny, fellows. And congratulations to everyone to whom this is a victory.

I am an official BLUE STAR ebay-er. 50 happy transactioins for me! I would like to take this opportunity to dedicate this blue star to those out there who, because of circumstances beyond their control, will never even get the chance to acquire 50 positive feedbacks… You know who you are…

William Katt. Why on earth do I have the name of the actor from The Greatest American Hero at my instant disposal? In my utility belt of useless facts and trivia? Surely that sector of my grey matter can be better used for stuff like, oh, shopping lists or something.

You know what’s creepy? Baby corn, that’s what. I mean, they taste fine and all, but they’re certainly not naturally occurring. And whose sick idea was it to genetically engineer such a thing? “Man, this corn is good. But you know what would make it even better? If it was TINY…”

Fucked up.

np – Pavement / Westing (By Musket And Sextant)

Lisa Cholodenko’s Laurel Canyon is about a straight-laced couple (Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale) who move to California to temporarily stay with Bale’s successful and eccentric record producer mother (Frances McDormand). The two are slowly absorbed into McDormand’s bohemian lifestyle – Beckinsale willingly, Bale not so much – with predictable results.

A reasonably enjoyable movie, mostly for McDormand’s performance, with some pretty cool scenes/reference points. Choice among them: The band McDormand is recording (which sounds like Chris Martin from Coldplay fronting the Folk Implosion – mostly because if IS some British mook with Lou Barlow and Russ Pollard as his backing band) playing Sparklehorse’s “Someday I Will Treat You Good”. Kate Beckinsale doing a striptease to Serge Gainsbourg’s “Bonnie & Clyde”. Mark Linkous and Daniel Lanois playing guitar together at a CD wrap party. Kate Beckinsale frolicking in a pool in her underwear. A really impressive soundtrack featuring Mercury Rev, Sparklehorse (Linkous was all over this film), Baxter Drury and Anna Waronker, among others. And Kate Beckinsale. Oh sorry, did I already mention her?

See the trailer for Masked And Anonymous starring Bob Dylan here. This may be the first time I’ve ever heard him speak a coherent sentence. A pretty all-star cast surrounding the peculiarly-mustachioed one – I suppose one of the perks of being Bob Dylan is that you can have Penelope Cruz cast as your love interest and no one would question it.

In case I never mentioned it, Tiny Mix Tapes is a terrific music site for as-it-happens music news and tour dates.

Speaking of other blog links, thanks to Done Waiting and The Minor Fall, The Major Lift for funnelling all sorts of traffic here over the last couple days. I feel loved.

Some cool Flash experiments.

np – Pernice Brothers / The World Won’t End