Merry Christmas to me – Mr Postman must have been dressed in a red fur-lined suit today. Waiting for me in the mailbox were my Joe Pernice CD, which I’d fear MIA in the mail, and the Yo La Tengo Christmas EP which they’d been giving away at their 13 Nights Of Hannakuh shows earlier this month, courtesy of Ivan in NYC.

Big Tobacco sounds like another Pernice Brothers record (obviously) – I had thought it was a solo acoustic sort of record, but it’s full band and sounds great. Not as orchestrated as the Brothers stuff, but the comparitively stripped-down sound gives it a little more emotional urgency. I can’t believe I went so long without it. The YLT EP is a fun quickie. I can MP3-up the 3 tracks if anyone wants.

Christmas vacation started 1 hour ago. I am having futo maki to celebrate.

np – Joe Pernice / Big Tobacco

Welcome to the Christmas Eve Day entry. Sitting here at the start of a delightful 3-hour work day, then off till the 2nd. There were more people on the subway this morning than I’d expected.

Check out this very impressive Top 20 of 2002 list at Intersection. There’s some serious thought and writing going into this, cheers.

Ross swung by last night on his way up to the parental homestead for Christmas. I hadn’t seen him since Jeff’s wedding in August, so there was some catching up to do, not least of which was him explaining to me exactly why he was getting married to a girl he’d met in June. And no, shotguns aren’t involved. My mind still reels at the idea, but I wish them all the luck in the world.

I’m not sure exactly what demographic Mattel is targeting with this, and I’m not entirely sure I want to know. Just in time for Christmas!

np – Golden Smog / Weird Tales

“The phase of your hallucinations reminds me of those balmy days when the championship mould was breeding, when the fish were long, and so were the valued floats of men we drank through narrow straws…”

This was the first return I got from the Surrealist Compliment Generator.

So… would that do it for anyone? Should I write this one down for future reference?

np – Emmylou Harris / Red Dirt Girl

Still bummed about the Strummer news. 50 is still young, and he was still so creatively vibrant. I saw him with the Mescalaros three years ago, and it was an intense rock-n-roll experience. Such a shame. Rest in peace, Joe.

The lineup for the Los Angeles All Tomorrow’s Parties is up. Matt Groening is doing a pretty damn good job – here’s the list of confirmeds so far :

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead…….

Bangs

Blonde Redhead

Boredoms

Brave Combo

Breeders

Neko Case

Coldcut

Danielson Famile

The Fall

Daniel Johnston

Jah Wobble

The Magic Band

The Melvins w/ Cameron Jamie

Melt Banana

Ooioo

Moris Teper

Wire – (NEW ADDITION)

Yo La Tengo

Good luck to Malkmus topping this. How much is a flight to LA in June?

np – Buffalo Tom / Besides

Joe Strummer passes away at 50.

WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!?!

God, this sucks so hard.