secret comics

Harry's Secret Comics

My friend Harry gave me one of these a while back:

I really enjoyed it.  I didn't put it on my car, but I enjoyed it. Not as much as these guys, but enough. Then one of the cats attacked it and sort of chewed it to death. Sigh...

Gimme Gimme Gimme My Steel Reserve

Oh my sweet zombie Jesus...  "Fill My Cup" and "Gimmie My Steel Reserve" -- maybe the two best jingles** you'll ever hear.  Ever.  OK, I am still in a bit of shock over these... they're actually better than 99% of the music that's being recorded out there anywhere.  And they were (apparently) recorded for Steel Reserve Lager.  Confirmation of same here.  Which I've never had (not being a hobo), but maybe now, since Joey says so...

**There's a third, "High Gravity Lager", but it's the weak sister of the batch.  I have been a little mp3 crazy lately... so, a little restraint.

Update!  Some cool Ramones snaps.

Tom's Secret Comics

Tom posted the following comment, which I hereby raise to level of "post" for your edification and enjoyment:

Pick the best song on Jawbreaker's Dear You:

a)  "Save Your Generation"
b)  "Accident Prone"
c)  "Sluttering"
d)  "Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault"
e)  "Jet Black"
f)   "Boxcar"

I wonder if he thought including "Boxcar" was some sort of trick question, seeing as it wasn't on the original issue.  "Boxcar (second version)" is included on the current re-issue, so the joke's on you.  And yes, it was recorded during the Dear You sessions.

Anyway, the correct answer is "Million", followed shortly by "Fireman" and then "Chemistry".  Next "Oyster".  Tom included none of these choices.  Read into that what you will.  After that, the b-side "Shirt" -- if it were on the record, it would be in the third place ahead of "Chemistry".  Then I'd have to put "Boxcar (second version)", "Save Your Generation", and "Jet Black" all sort of in a cluster there together.  "Sister", too -- another b-side.  I bet Tom will go with "Save Your Generation"... read into that what you will.

Feeling Like a Bowl of Spaghetti

I forgot what a good song Daniel Johnston's "Casper" (from the Kids soundtrack) is -- I definitely remember "Casper the Friendly Ghost" being prominently featured (wasn't there a character called Casper?), but "Casper" sort of slipped my mind.  Strangely enough, they're actually different songs -- different aspects of the overall "Casper mythology", I suppose.  Come to think of it, Daniel's soundtrack contributions might be the sole redeeming aspect of the entire Kids project.  I kind of hated the movie, and the soundtrack sans D.J. didn't impress. 

Brief aside... when did I actually hear the Kids soundtrack?  A roommate must have owned it, because pretty I'm certain I never did.  Think some more, Metal.  Oh yeah, I remember now.

Additional material: Do people really like Lou Barlow?  I mean, really really?  I always thought he and Sebadoh were kind of overrated -- they're good for like 2 songs per album, but the rest was pretty much filler.  Sebadoh was always one of those bands that was much more appealing in theory than in practice -- I know I bought Bakesale and Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock (and maybe one other) because I wanted to like Sebadoh.  I just couldn't.  What was the album with baby on the cover, because I think I had that one too -- was that Bakesale?  I guess I never listened to the Folk Implosion much, but I know people like(d) them.  I guess they were OK... I think.

Oh yeah, I didn't take this picture.  Someone named Maurice Narcis did.  It's pretty awesome.  I have taken some Daniel Johnston pictures, though, just not this one.

Tied A Reed 'Round My Waist

More righteous "circus rock": Watt's The Secondman's Middle Stand, live 4.10.05 in Heidelburg.  That's Mike Watt (bass, vocals), Raul Morales (drums), and Paul Roessler (organ, vocals).  Photo by Watt.

     But if a lady come from Heaven speeds and helps you, as you say, there is no need of flattery; it is enough, indeed,

     to ask me for her sake.  Go then; but first wind a smooth rush around his waist and bathe his face, to wash away all of Hell's stains;

    for it would not be seemly to approach with eyes still dimmed by any mists, the first custodian angel, one from Paradise.

-- Purgatorio, Canto I: 93-101 (Allen Mandelbaum translation)

† † †

     Ma se donna del ciel ti muove e regge, come tu di' , non c'è mestier lusinghe: bastisi ben che per lei mi richegge.

     Va dunque, e fa che tu costui ricinghe d'un giunco schietto e che li lavi 'l viso, sì ch'ogne sucidume quindi stinghe;

     ché non si converria, l'occhio sorpriso d'alcuna nebbia, andar dinanzi al primo ministro, ch'è di quei di paradiso.

-- Purgatorio, Canto I: 93-101

Update!  Another great live Secondman's Middle Stand, this time with Mr. Jerry Mazich on organ/vocals -- 10.23.04 @ Southpaw, Brooklyn, NY.

Another update!  Watt's got a new boat!

How much you wanna bet I can throw this football over them mountains?

Look At Me! I'm A Book!

You're Watership Down!
by Richard Adams
Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

Note: the lovely Becky S. at Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Big? sent me there.

Cameramail!

Cameramail!** is quite a fun little experiment/art project that I think you'll enjoy.  Actually, I have no idea whether you'll like it.  I'm not really worried about it.  I'm focusing on my suggestive selling right now, thanks.

**I don't think the original "Cameramail" includes the "!". So that's all me.

Update!  Thanks to Lela and Sven for a lovely birthday dinner at Uchi!  Damn, that was some good sushi and hot rock and the other things.  Chai tea Crème Brûlée a must.

Burn My Eye '78

Ben's Secret Comics

Ben sent this to me:

I thought it was funny.  Then Ben suggested I should post it.  I said I "wasn't in the pope-posting business", which was kind of a lie.  Ben countered that the picture should be seen -- so here it is.  Ben also used to like Mission of Burma when I allegedly didn't, and I apparently made fun of him for that.  He wanted me to mention that.  I'm listening to Mission of Burma as I'm writing this, as a matter of fact.  Signals, Calls and Marches.