Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Wasn't I Rock Scribe Hat Trick

Again killing time in the Bank Street College of Education library. I love setting myself up in a little corner computer here b/c I can plug in my ipod so I actually have enough juice to get home with and still listen. I have a million homework style things I could be doing right now like "Reflecting on my Experience with Representational Collage" or reading about language development in 3 year olds. If this wasn't my last semester I would consider murder-sucide in the middle of one of my classes. I have been embroiled in the group project from hell. I won't bore you with the details. What was so wrong with an underemploted rock critic/record store clerk anyway? Ok on to the random...

Michael Shelly The Pill Too Many Movies: I love this dude. Very Ben Vaughn/Jonathan Richman, sappy poppy tunes. Always funny. Lately I have been trading messages with him on my space. He even remembered me from some positive reviews I gave him in Eye Deal. He said the Hecklers sounded like the Queers, Nice! Our drummer Paul actually played bass on his first album. Wierd huh? Search the dollars bins for his work.

The Detroit Cobras Find Me A Home Love Life and Leaving: One of the many things I love about the Detroit Cobras is how they always jump out of the headphones like an alley cat. Their albums are produced L-O-U-D. Recently saw them for the first time and loved it. Recent platter was produced by Greg "Oblivion" Cartwright which is like a double helping of fun. My buddy Plumley hates th Cobras.....that dude is wierd!

Paul Westerburg Now I Wonder Folker: By the last major label album by Westerburg I had pretty much written him off as a has been. But ever since Stereo/Mono (including all the Grandpa Boy material) he is having a middle age rebirth that has him again burrowed deep into my aging heart. Rumors of his return drinking may be the reason for his return to greatness. I have so mush of his material on my robot friend he comes up like every 5 songs.

Anita Lane Do That Thing Sex O'clock: Another side product of my advancing age has been my new found love of slightly trip hoppy-poppy femal vocalists. I know the 24 year old chris would kick my ass but so be it. It all started with that damn Dido single. Ms. Lane is an australian sex pot that has worked with Nick Cave amd Mick Harvey. This album makes me so horny its insane. From the first bar of any song on the album I get a rumbling in my loins. Good choice for val day CAL! The lyrics are all about karma sutras, group sex, nipples tweaks....ok I better control myself an elderly woman just sat in the computer next to me...

Peggy Seeger Gonna Be An Enginner Smithsonian Folkways Sampler: Great early feminist folk rant about a smart las who was forced into marriage/kids by society instead of following her dreams of being an engineer. I can never figure out if she means train conducter or the more techinal type of engineer. I guess it doesn't matter the points the same either way. This song even deals with the glass cieling when she is forced back into her dream due to her husband being laid off. "Fight them as a woman, not a lady" Sing it sister! My fave early pre war feminist rant is the Carter Family's Married Girl/Single Girl.

Nina Persson I Could Buy You Unreleased: This song is like one of my all time fave songs. This comes from a solo album by the Cardigan's singer that never came out, stateside at least. My buddy Sopkia championed this album in the 'industry" but could never get it sold. Amazing soft rock country pop (see above for my girl singer sweet tooth) with amazing lyrics about a girl willing to pay some hottie to hang out with her. See is even willing to pay his friends just so he won't leave. I wish I was that guy sounds like heaven, 'Hey Nina the new XBOX just came out and we need more weed, look I promise I will bang you later but I am just about to kill Sauron"

Watts Monkey Chain ST: This band rose from the ashes of the mighty Mono Men. This album is balls out punk n roll fun. An anthmatic fuck you to the work a day birth taxes death world.

The A-Bones Maintaing My Cool Daddy Wants A Cold Beer: The A-Bones do the Sonics! Garage Rock at its primal party best.

The Nerves One Way Ticket Children of Nuggets Box Set: The Nerves (Jack Lee/Paul Collins/Peter Case) were one of the original and best power pop combos. They are best known as the band that wrote and recorded "Hangin on the Telephone" that Blondie made famous. All three members went on to do other things (Paul Collins Beat/Case The Plimsouls/Jack Lee solo) before they could take over the world, and I am always on the lookout for their one 7" EP even at collector prices. This track is like the coolest thing I have ever heard and could be my anthem about how I feel about my last semester of grad school.


OK, time for "Art for Teachers" Y-U-C-K!

Till next time,
Teacher Man Larry

Monday, February 13, 2006

Quick Hits!

The Return of Dick Buttons

I just scoured the internet for a pic of this Figure Skating legend and can't find one. I am super excited to have Mr. Buttons joining the NBC team. For decades he did the Olympics and other figure skating events for ABC. I have missed him since NBC took over. I missed his bitchy queen delivery, his ability to translate the sport to normal viewers and his openness to enjoy a routine even if it isn't technically perfect. Looking forward to his calls the next few weeks...

Speaking of Dicks

To me this whole Cheney quail hunting accident and its cover up is a perfect microcosm for the Bush/Cheney administration. The White House spin has been to push the responsibility of announcing the accident to the Ranch owner and has hinted that it was the victims fault. Pass the buck, blame the victim are mantras and policy for these hoods.

NEW BLOGS GET YOUR NEW BLOGS HERE!

Some great additions to the Chris Larry blogesphere

Here Comes Trouble:Phoebe Plumley Great pics of Memphis' favorite daughter!

Ruminations From a Raleigh Court: My old buddy JB pontificates and educates.

Stu Overdue:
The propetier of the legendary Stooz Records finally has a mouthpiece for his ramblings and random thoughts. Make his day and give him some comments!

Hookers on Stilts: Discovered this one via myspace. I like reading blogs by people I don't know. Sassy and brash!

Neal Pollack's The Maelstrom: I love Pollack's book satirizing music journalism and the myth making of Rock music. I have also loved his recent New York Times Magazine essays no matter what Jeremy Paquette says! I am very much looking forward to his new book on parenthood. This blog had the best coverage of the James Fry fiasco I saw.

TV/Video Game Champion Steven Berlin Johnson: My fave pop theorist has good posts and good links.

Myspace Obsession

So I will admit that I am hopelessly lost in the world of myspace. I haven't and won't start a personal account but do maintain the Hecklers site and it has provided me with hours of useless fun. I have listened to tons of great songs, reconnected with old friends, created a superficial social network, aided my love of snooping, and given me yet another thing to obsessively update. The refresh button is my best friend. Click here for the Hecklers page, and please be our friend.

Coming Attractions!

More Winter Olympic thoughts. So far I have been semi into it, maybe not yet to my norm craziness. The Hockey will get me going. I do love the Red Tomato, best story weekend 1! And I could feel Youthlarge's glee as Apollo couldn't even make the final 1500 short track race.

The full Chris Larry band discography: From Papa Smurf and the Shrooms to the Hecklers looking back on a rock career of futility.

Yours in ADD/ADHD
Chris Larry


Friday, February 03, 2006

Work A Day Kill A Day


Check out this amazing All Things Considered piece about General Motors Job Banks. Its where they pay laid off employees to not work. They have the option of doing community outreach work at union wage or sit in a room. This long piece looks at all angels of this mindbending story. Listen, marvel and comment below!

LISTEN


Yours in lazyness,
Chris Larry


Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Hecklers News!!!!

So a few new updates in the ever mundane world of The Hecklers:

Our My Space page is freshly updated with songs and what not. Check out our friends like Nancy and the Knockers, Four Deadly Questions and even Joan Jett and Nikki Corvette!

Also our new 7" single is out on Go Ape Records



And said new single has actually gotten a few spins like on WFMU and East Village Radio's Dot Dash Show.

I even know of three additional stations it has gotten spins! Wild......

Also apparently we got a mixed review in the issue of Maximum Rock and Roll but did make the reviewers top 10 of the issue, havent read yet though....will post the review here when I get it!


Yours in budget rock,
Chris Larry Heckler