I did not get my morning bike ride in today (on account of forecasts of rain all day) and as a result I am all a-grog this AM. I want to go back to sleep.

Pitchfork talks to The Decemberists about who they are, where they came from and where they’re going.

np – Radiohead / Hail To The Thief

I think I’ve found a place to live. I’ve been sitting here hemming and hawing over the rental application for over a day now, not, as I’ve realized, because of reservations about the place – it’s not perfect but it’s pretty damn good – but because I’m getting cold feet about giving up my cushy lifestyle here at my brother’s place. I’ve been here almost four years, long enough to be pretty comfortable here. Maybe too comfortable? I dunno, I figure this is just a phase, and I’ll get over it. I know that getting out on my own is the best thing to do, even if it means giving up laundry in the apartment and having a car at my disposal. Change is good. I will fax in my application tomorrow and hopefully I’ll be looking for boxes and dealing with the logistical nightmare of actually moving soon thereafter.

I don’t think I’m going to the SARSapalooza shin-dig. Now that Metric has announced their July 25 show at the Lula Lounge, I have seven concerts in 16 days – that’s a helluva lot. Somehow I don’t think that capping that run off with hours of standing at Downsview airforce base watching a concert on giant screens with half a million people is what I really want to do. And anyway, I should be making moving arrangements then…

This Snood thing looks to be pretty damned addictive.

I picked up a slightly dog-eared copy of A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius, on the recommendation of, like, everyone. I don’t even know what this book is about. Are there aliens? I hope there are aliens.

Going back home this afternoon as it’s my brother’s 32nd birthday. As a gift, I’m giving him his second bedroom back after 4 years!

np – Wilco / Summerteeth Demos

Russian Ark is some piece of filmmaking – a 90-minute, 1-take continuous shot through the Hermitage Museum is St Petersburg, Russia. Taken on it’s technical merits alone, it’s amazing, and if I had anything more than the most rudimentary knowledge of Russian history, I’d probably be able to comment on the confusing narrative component of the film. But I don’t, so I can’t, but reading up on the articles on the film’s website is helping me fill in those gaps and provide some context for what I’ve seen while the movie is fresh in my head. What I can say is that the closing ballroom scene is one of the most remarkable things I’ve seen on screen in a long time. If you’re not up on your Russian history, however, I wouldn’t recommend going to see this as it doesn’t make the slightest attempt to let the non-scholar understand what’s going on. Unless you’re prepared to accept great gobs of confusion and resultant boredom as part of the viewing experience, which I was.

Robert Smigel’s cartoon about corporate media monopolies was aired once on SNL, and then removed from later airings. Hmm, wonder why? But thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can see it here.

There’s a complete Britt Daniel live show from the 40W Club in Athens, GA from 2000 available here.

np – Richard Thompson / The Old Kit Bag

Shit, Barry White isn’t supposed to die.

Everyone in a position to do so, make some sweet love in his honour. Rest easy, Barry.

(Thanks to Done Waiting for the pic).

Tanya Donelly says that her next solo album “could be a weird one, so be ready for that” and it “makes the last record look like hardcore. It’s mellow. I mean, like Chet Baker mellow”. Beautysleep didn’t exactly break the Richter scale, so the new one – due out late 2003 but more likely early 2004 – promises to be, uh, mellow.

I was going to go see Russian Ark this afternoon, but slept right through the start time. Whoops. It’s playing at the Bloor all weekend though, so I’ll probably catch it tomorrow afternoon.

I went to see another apartment this afternoon, this one in a pretty fancy-pants condo complex by the Art Gallery of Ontario. It was a reasonable size, big enough for my needs, anyway, and while at the very upper limit of my budget, still within my price range. I even got an application and brought it home, but on further reflection, I am going to pass on it. Little things sank this one, but sort of important things. First, there was nowhere to lock up my bike – I’d have to haul it up and down the elevator 11 floors every time I came and went. And it was not a big elevator. Also, no laundry, no supermarkets anywhere nearby, ridiculously expensive parking (in case I inherit the car down the road)… And all in all, a bit too yuppie for me. Going to see another place tomorrow morning.

Oh yeah, finally picked up Hail To The Thief. This one’s gonna take a little time.

np – Jeff Tweedy / Live At The Vic, Chicago IL. Jan 9, 2003