s with a key

"S with a Key" 2006 picture from a parking garage.

Downton Abbey + Tivo = Yo Momma

While searching for Downton Abbey Tivo decided that what we must really be looking for was "Yo Momma".

Mausoleum Seating: Queen of Heaven Mausoleum in Hillside Illinois

Hear are a few pictures of the seating options at the the Queen of Heaven Mausoleum in Hillside Illinois. The chairs and couches make you feel like you're stepping into a whole other era. I'll be quite bummed if the day comes that they upgrade to something more modern.

[ CLICK PICTURES TO ENLARGE ]

There are a few more pictures in my flickr set Mausoleum Seating

Vinyl! Vinyl! Vinyl! Jazz Record Mart in Chicago

I was going through some old photos and found a batch of pictures of Jazz Record Mart from 2006 and 2008. That wall of 78's just fascinates me.

A Jazz Record Mart t-shirt autographed by Iggy Pop in the 80's.

MP3 Shuffle-a-gogo

And now we shuffle...

1. the TROGGS - Summertime (Archeology 1867-1977) This is not the George Gershwin tune (which was a standard for many of the British Invasion bands to tackle). Instead, it's an easy going ode to the joys of Summer, with Reg Presley's vocal delivery that makes everything sound just a little bit naughty.
2. JON LANGFORD - Hard Times (All the Fame of Lofty Deeds 2004) The former Mekon in full blown Johnny Cash mode.
3. TENPOLE TUDOR - Fashion (Wunderbar: the Best of) Edward Tudorpole could hardly carry a tune, but he had a grand sense of sing-along fun. And thanks to his association with the Sex Pistols (namely for singing "Who Killed Bambi" in the the Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle) he achieved enough notoriety to get a few records out.
4. REM - the Sidewinder Sleeps Tonight (Automatic for the People 1992) Not one of my REM faves.
5. DISPOSABLE HEROES of HIPHOPCRISY - Water Pistol Man (Hipocrisy is the Greatest 1992) One of the more laidback tunes with a hypnotic groove from Michael Franti's post Beatnigs/pre Spearhead band. Michael always has a bit of Gil Scott-Heron in his delivery, but here it seems extra Gilesque.
6. the BEACH BOYS - I'm the Pied Piper (Holland 1973) One of the bonus cuts from the Mount Vernon and Fairway EP. This is probably my least favorite Beach Boys record of their first decade and a half.
7. SAM the SHAM & the PHARAOHS - (I'm in With) the Out Crowd (Best of) Dumb fun 60's pop. "We don't have fancy clothes and cars but we're as groovy as can be"
8. the STOOGES - LA Blues (Fun House 1970) The crazy-ass freejazz closer to the band's second album with Iggy kicking out some even-more-freaked-out-than-normal howling.
9. the SHOP ASSISTANTS - Nature Lover (Will Anything Happen collection) A manic and delightful number from the Edinburgh band's self titled 1987 debut.
10. POP WILL EAT ITSELF - She's Surreal (Box Frenzy 1987) From the band's debut.

My bedroom circa 1984

This was my bedroom shortly after graduating high school. A year earlier all 4 walls were 100% Who stuff (posters, record sleeves, and pictures cut out of one of the three copies of Maximum R&R I bought - one to keep and 2 to cut up). It looks like here it's down to 2 Who posters. I see a few Sparks posters, a Sid Vicious poster, a Fleshtones sleeve, a Big Black flyer, and a poster for the Chicago film fest. That appears to the be the cleanest the room ever was, which is probably why a picture was taken.

surf-a-gogo: the Wonderfully Eerie Cinematic Photography of Alex Prager

I keep going back to the absolutely stunning portfolio of LA photographer Alex Prager and noticing new things in her pictures. Her staged photos have the feel of film cells and as soon as you see one you can't help but to start putting together a back story.