Okay, the Blizzard (with a capital B) was so honkin' huge that it was almost enjoyable. I dug the novelty of it, the whole surreal experience, and it shore was purdy... a kind of beautiful disaster.

But this new Boston blast, this latest kick-in-the-ass, is puttin' me right over the edge. Stick a fork in me, I need to start thinking about relocation. Mother Nature is one stone-cold whore. My love of Boston threatens to become a love/occasionally-hate relationship.


It was a rough day at the record store yesterday... too little to spend and too many new releases to pick from. I went for the new Low disc and a little Lou Barlow action, but was mighty tempted by the new Matt Pond PA EP and that Will Oldham / Matt Sweeney Superwolf collaboration. Not only that, but two of the three import Field Mice reissues were on the new shelf... oh, the pain! At $19 a pop, and with me already having most of the songs on 'em, I just couldn't do it. So Low & Lou it was.

Good thing that the dvd set of The Wire's Season 2 is so far outta my price range, otherwise I'd have crumbled big-time. I really wanted to pick it up, just in case the rumors that HBO is waiting to see how early sales do before it greenlights another season... but $75 is just too much for even my favorite show. But hey, all you rich folks... go on 'n get it! Ya won't regret it.


Oh man. The Greatest American Hero is coming to dvd. Season one is out on February 8th, it's just $18, and I'm all over that super-hero goodness. I'm really hoping that seeing the episodes again after so many years doesn't give me the same feeling that the Tron dvd did... where fond memories of the show are better left in the fuzzy past, and watching it as a so-called 'adult' (*cough*cough*) only proves that it's actually, well, kinda lame. That can't be true, can it?


I'm slightly peeved that Paul Giamatti was snubbed by yesterday's Oscar nominations... his excellent performance in Sideways surely deserved the recognition. At least a couple of his also-deserving co-stars, Thomas Haden Church and Virginia Madsen (Moles!), got nominated. If you haven't seen Sideways yet, don't let the premise ("two guys on a wine-tasting road trip") keep you away. It's far from high-brow, both touching and funny, and was so damn good I saw it twice in the first couple weeks. Check it out and join me in the Giamatti appreciation society.

And if you got my "Moles!" reference, congrats on that. Ya geek.

Y'know, I just knew they'd shy away from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, too (except for screenplay & actress nom). Best film of the year, and while I'm psyched Kate Winslet got recognized, it shoulda snagged much, much more.

Oh, and Attn Academy: Jamie Foxx was the freakin' lead actor in Collateral. Period. If someone could logically explain how he got nominated for supporting actor, that'd be great. And let's not even get into the fact that the film was fair-to-middlin'...


Speaking of nominations, major congrats to a few of my favorite blogs on being up for awards in the 2005 Bloggies. (page usually down due to bandwidth issues. poor hosting choice there, folks)

Chromewaves got nommed for Best Canadian Blog, although I'd have put him in the Best Entertainment Blog list as well, just like last year. Largehearted Boy is that category this time, though, alongside Stereogum, two other places I visit early n' often (probably too often).

I am actually glad Chromewaves & LHB are up in different categories, though... that way they can both get my vote. If the Bloggies site is ever available again, that is.


Boston band The Information releases their debut full-lengther, Mistakes We Knew We Were Making, on February 9th with a release party at the Paradise. Joining them to celebrate are The Good North, Asobi Seksu, and Emergency Music. Grab a few preview mp3s from the disc over at their soon-to-be-relaunched website, including the first single "I Lose Control".

footnote: While 'The Information' might work as a band name, it sure is brutal if you're trying to Google them.


The lineups on PBS' "Austin City Limits" have been just excellent lately. Here in Boston we've got Guided By Voices with Modest Mouse this week, and the season finale next week is none other than the Pixies. Head over and check your local listings. Upcoming repeats include Elvis Costello, The Flaming Lips, & the Shins. Nice.


Token Arcade Fire mention: As was said in some comments below, they were filming the 3 recent San Francisco shows, and supposedly you can look for a dvd of that in early summer. Their video for "Wake Up" is also finished, and I've got it... but I'm just waiting for permission to share it with y'all.


I'm so, so excited about Mirrormask. Don't know what it is? Go and find out. Interview with Neil Gaiman, and clips, here.


I'm really glad I discovered fellow-Boston-based blog Sushieque, and not just 'cuz I got linked. It's good readin'.


I've got a couple of friends making long-awaited returns to area rock-n-roll stages in the coming week, so take note...

The one & only Keira Flynn, who used to drum with the Mary Reillys (and Me Jane!), picks up the sticks to play in Nice & Easy, and they're playing this Saturday, January 29th, at PA's Lounge in Somerville. Doors at 8 o'clock.

Mike Hibarger, who manned the guitar in the Tulips, Daveiss County Panthers, and most recently, the Takers (and also ran the excellent Sonic Bubblegum Records), is back (on guitar and vocals this time) in a band called Desolation Bells, who are playing at TT the Bears next Tuesday, February 1st at 10:30pm. Glad to hear that Mike's longtime co-hort Chris Keene is behind the drum kit, as well.

If you're in the Boston area (and not trapped inside by freakin' snow), go on and check 'em out.