I don’t ever watch CNN’s Crossfire, so I can’t say that I just happened to miss Jon Stewart’s appearance on the show – I didn’t know about it and never would have… if it hadn’t ended up being such a remarkable piece of television. In a nutshell, the show had wanted Stewart to come on, make some jokes and shill The Daily Show‘s new book but instead Stewart wanted to be dead serious (as much as he can be) and tear them a new one for their journalistic failings in regards to their political guests. He calls them “partisan hacks” and singles out host Tucker Carlson as “a dick”, and when Carlson tries to stop his screed by saying, “Wait. I thought you were going to be funny. Come on. Be funny”, Stewart retorts, “No. I’m not going to be your monkey”. So fucking good.

It’s truly fascinating to watch. I think it’s one of the rare times that Stewart seems 100% sincere about what he’s talking about – and I don’t mean that he usually seems insincere, far from it, but here he’s not using irony or “we’re fake news” card to cover his position. When he’s pleading with them to “Please stop” as they’re cutting him off to go to commercial, there’s a real desperation there. I didn’t think it was possible for me to respect Stewart more than I already did, but there you go. Whether he admits it or not, he’s got tremendous influence right now and to see him actually take a serious position on an important issue was heartening. The Big Ticket has a good synopsis of the incident and a slew of links for your further edification, and you can grab a torrent of the segment here – it’ll be a super-fast download ’cause I’m sure EVERYONE is trying to download this as well – download it in non-torrent form here or here, or read the official transcript of the episode here. But really, you have to see it.

Keeping on a political angle, Mother Jones talks to longtime political activist Steve Earle about his activities over the current election season and The Nation talks to newbie political activist Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie about taking part in the Vote For Change tour. Both links from Largehearted Boy.

And in a completely apolitical story, Billboard gets an update on the status of the new Broken Social Scene record, now due out in late March or early April.

The Guardian takes a nostalgic look back at the great British indie-pop C86 boom of the mid-80s and how it’s making a comeback in the sounds of today’s hot new artists. And as a primer for the curious, they offer a list of their top 10 indiepop singles.

You know how last week I posted a couple covers of Wire’s “Outdoor Miner”? If you liked that, you’ll LOVE this – A Houseguest’s Wish isn’t just a tribute album to Wire – it’s a tribute album to Wire’s SONG. You get nineteen – yes, that’s IXX for you Romans out there – different versions of the classic tune. And you know what? I’d actually like to hear this – it’s a great song. The Luna track I posted is NOT on the comp, while the Lush one is. I also hear there’s a Ted Leo cover kicking around – anyone have it?

np – Scud Mountain Boys / Massachusetts

The tank is empty. I have nothing. Now most bloggers would simply not post on days on which they have nothing to say. Not me, though – my weird obsessive compulsive streak simply won’t allow it. So instead, I’ll just take a little wander through the media that’s keeping me occupied right now.

Reading: For periodicals, I’m about halfway through new Magnet, which is always an enjoyable if brief read. After that I’ll take on the new Filter, which I got as part of my complimentary subscription for putting up that little banner dealie up in the corner. I’m once again an issue behind on TapeOp – rather sad that I can’t stay on top of a slim bi-monthly magazine.

When I get back to the books, there’s Milk It!, a collection of essays and articles by Jim DeRogatis on the alternative music explosion of the early to mid ’90s – it’ll be interesting to read about the decade of music I grew up in with the benefit of hindsight. I’ve also got Ways Of Seeing from the library – it’s a slim book of essays about art and the perception of art. It’s based on a BBC television series from the early 70s so it’s a little dated, but still interesting.

Finally, the only comics purchase this week was issue 5 of Ex Machina, by Brian K Vaughan and Tony Harris. This one wrapped up the inaugural story arc and I have to say I was a little let down with the resolution. However, the series still has an excellent premise (ex-superhero becomes mayor of New York City) and the creators have a proven track record for great stories, so I’m sticking around for the long haul. The series also has a neat-looking website which would be even neater if it actually worked. I also finished the massive one-volume edition of Jeff Smith’s Bone. Soooo good. I got burned out on fantasy as a genre some time ago, but even though Bone didn’t necessarily offer any groundbreaking twists to the formula, it was so well-executed and epic in scope that I had to love it. And the single-volume 1200+ page edition is a total bargain – I paid $36 from Amazon.

Listening – getting back into a shoegaze mode right now. Lots of Ride on the (figurative) turntable at the moment, Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine — you know, the staples. Looking to draw some inspiration for future musical endeavours… Right now, I’m thinking LOUD.

I’ve also been spinning the new Saturday Looks Good To Me, which I had originally pegged as a disappointment but which has been growing on me. They’re at the Silver Dollar on Monday and I hope they bring a slightly larger band than they did last time when there were just three of them. They were entertaining but the songs really deserve to have a fuller presentation.

Also been listening to a lot of American Music Club/Mark Eitzel and Mojave 3. Threw The House Of Love’s BBC Sessions disc in the player last night. Terry Bickers = God. On a related note, the House of Love’s new album – their first in about a decade – has been recorded and is being mixed, they’re looking at an early Spring release. And the Alejandro Escovedo tribute album Por Vida is also quite good.

I got the Doves DVD Where We’re Calling From the other day – used, so it was nice and cheap. Only taken a quick skim through it but there seems to be a lot of decent material on the disc. They’re one of the few new British bands who genuinely excite me these days – I’m looking forward to their new one, which should be out in February of next year. I’ve been trying to find a used copy of Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, but have only turned up the fullscreen editions so far. Why on earth do they still make fullscreen DVDs? Surely no one actually wants these things?

I’m not really much of a video gamer, but I got Deus Ex: Invisible War a couple weeks ago and am very slowly working my way through it. It’s not especially addictive, but it’s a good time killer. I really enjoyed the first one, but can’t say the sequel is really grabbing me yet. For some reason, my copy only came with French instructions, so I don’t really know all the controls yet. Interestingly, eye ran an article on the game in this week’s issue, even though the game is over a year old.

And there you go – a post completed simply by looking around my living room. That was easier than I thought it’d be. Maybe next time I’ll blog about the contents of my kitchen cupboards.

…And as it turns out, there is some news to report. Bits and pieces, like.

In an exclusive interview, Pitchfork finds out why Dean Wareham is disbanding Luna.

“We’ve been around a long time, and I think it’s different in your twenties than when you hit forty. In your twenties you don’t have a care in the world, and you’re out there sleeping on someone’s floor, but you’re like, ‘Hey, isn’t this great!’ And after awhile…”

Sniff. For the record, Dean, I’d have let you guys have the bed and couch and *I* would have taken the floor.

Gary sent me this item about iTunes coming to Canada very soon. I don’t know, man. Downloading music makes baby Jesus cry.

np – Sugar / Copper Blue

Spoon have finished recording their next record – finally – and have posted a mostly final tracklisting:

The Infinite Pet

The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine

The Delicate Place

Was It You?

My Mathematical Mind

I Turn My Camera On

Sister Jack

I Summon You

Merchants Of Soul

The Beast And Dragon Adored

They Never Got You

This isn’t a final running order, there’s no finalized title (The Beast And Dragon Are Adored was the last nominee) and no release date (I’ve got February written down but who knows). So really, there isn’t anything especially useful in THIS news blurb either. I’m sensing a trend here. There are some nice studio photos on the band’s website, however, and a gallery courtesy of Britt’s watchcam. Tip-off from Catbirdseat, who also has some artwork suggestions for the new record.

Billboard gets not a lot of useful information from Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips about another of 2005’s big releases, their next record At War With The Mystics, and their eternally ongoing movie project Christmas On Mars.

PopMatters grills Emily Haines of Metric about the creative process, cultural identity and being a sex symbol (in an interesting junction of the two topics, Haines was recently voted sexiest female Canadian musician by Chart). From Largehearted Boy.

In what’s becoming an annual tradition, The Sadies will be rocking in the New Year December 31 at the Horseshoe. Oh God, did I just say, “Rocking in the New Year”? That’s it. I quit.

I would like to say that this week has been a STRUGGLE for finding content. Like fighting off rabid hamsters with a whiffle bat. Some weeks these things write themselves. This is not one of those weeks. That is all.

np – Doves / The Last Broadcast

Six months after her carpet-bombing of Toronto during NXNE (three shows in three nights), Feist returns to play the Phoenix on December 2. I’m not sure if I’ll go to this one, I’m damn near concert-ed out for the year, but I recommend the show to anyone else. I wonder what sort of band configuration she’ll be playing with? I can’t find any other details yet – when I did a Google search for “Feist Phoenix Toronto”, I got my own site. Sigh. Thanks to More Cowbell for the tip.

You can download “Ageless Beauty”, the first single from Stars’ new album Set Yourself On Fire, here. Word is this record is much more ‘rock’ than Heart or Night Songs – the single is nice, but I like hearing Amy sing pretty much anything. The album is already out in Canada but the rest of the world will have to wait until early ’05. Or you can order it from Amazon.ca for $16.99. Borders be damned!

Mercury Rev’s new album is finally complete. According to their new official bio, “If Deserter’s Songs was Autumn, and All Is Dream winter, then The Secret Migration feels like spring: fresh-cheeked, maybe a little mischievous, infused with hopeful spirits”. Aww, sounds darling. The Secret Migration (if you didn’t catch the album title) will be out January 25.

Steve Earle tells Billboard why it’s so crucial that Americans vote in the upcoming election and mentions that touring to support The Revolution Starts… Now will continue in North America early next year.

The big news around indie-world is that Slint have reformed and will be curating the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in the UK next February. While I own Spiderland, that was a mandatory hipster purchase more than anything else – it’s definitely interesting if disquieting listening, but I don’t spin it very often.

I don’t usually post anything from the plethora of unsolicited mp3s I’m sent as I fear that will just lead to more unsolicited mp3s, but this one is too bizarre not to let loose onto the world. It’s by a guy named David Boyle who… hell, I can’t even begin to try and explain it cause I don’t actually understand it. but check out his website, check out the mp3 he sent me and… well, you tell me. Fluxblog also got sent a copy of the song (and I thought I was special!) and he’s also posted an excerpt from the email that came with the file. There’s also a big discussion going on at ILX and the lyrics have been posted as well. Words fail. I’m a little ashamed of myself for biting and helping out the guy’s obvious ploy at becoming some sort of flash-in-the-pan internet phenomenon, but it’s a slow news day, okay?

np – Mercury Rev / All Is Dream

Mint Records’ new official Neko Case bio details the rationale for and making of her new live album The Tigers Have Spoken, out November 9. She says that she deliberately wanted to make a more vibrant, positive-sounding record to contrast her darker, torchier stuff. “When we play,” says Neko, “people always come up and say, ‘Are you going to do some upbeat stuff? Are you ever going to bring a drummer?’ This record’s sort of for them.” Having attended one of the seven shows that was recorded to produce this album, I’m very excited to hear the finished product. If the streaming sample track provided on the website is any indication, it’s going to be an amazing record. Her new studio record should be out next Spring.

Gothamist finds out about Ted Leo’s New York City. Thanks to The Real Janelle for sending me the link.

The new Ivy record is complete and has a release date scheduled for February 1. No title or tracklisting yet, but they hope to have some samples up on their website sooner rather than later. The band has also contributed a cover of “A Peanuts Christmas” to this year’s Nettwerk Christmas album.

The Constantines are playing a double-header at Lee’s Palace on November 27 – one all-ages matinee and a licensed evening show. Because, obviously, they are fun for the whole family. Pick Grandma up at the rest home and bring a picnic lunch.

Sam Raimi tells Superhero Hype that the Spider-Man franchise will likely wrap after the third film (for the best, I say – quit while you’re ahead) and discusses the extra 30-40 seconds of action footage he wants to add to the Spider-Man 2.5 DVD that’ll come out early next year. The non-special, integer edition DVD is out end of next month.

Just noticed that Ryan Adams’ “My Hand Ain’t Broke No More So I Can Give Jim DeRogatis The Finger” tour will also be coming through Chicago the same weekend I will be there, as will the Pixies cash-grab roadshow. I’ve already got my Luna and American Music Club tickets and those were my absolute first choices for both nights anyways, but wow that’s a lot of good shows to pick from for one weekend.

np – Old 97’s / Wreck Your Life