best description of a squirrel i’ve ever read
Isabel watched a squirrel ribbon the telephone pole, begin to scurry across the fence top. The squirrel moved as an oscillating sequence of humps, tail and spine bunching in counterpoint. Some humped things are elegant, Isabel mused, thinking of her own shape.
– Jonathan Letham, The Fortress of Solitude
norah jones covers wilco?!?
happy birthday, bob
Today is Bob Dylan’s birthday. He is 68.
video games aren’t my thing
as I’ve said in the past, but Braid looks like a pretty intelligent title, with a bit of a metaphysical bent. If I were any good at video games, this is the type of title I would buy.
Braid trailer from David Hellman on Vimeo.
we three links
Stereogum’s “Decomposed,” featuring great bands performing in a stripped-down, all acoustic environment. Including The Soft Pack (above).
Mozilla’s Prism liberates web apps from the browser in much the same way Fluid does. But Prism uses Firefox and Fluid uses Safari.
SugarSync lets you share files across computers and devices, but not all files to all devices. Because, you know, not all files are created equal.
the jolly banker
Wilco covers Woody Guthrie’s relevant-again, “The Jolly Banker.” Download it here and throw some change at The Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archive.
(Photo by Damon Green, used under a Creative Commons License.)
two from m. ward
Jim James & M. Ward at St. David’s Church from Texas Music Matters at KUT on Vimeo.
rave on (official video)
get yer geek on: at-at anatomy t-shirt
What’s inside the At-At? redbubble knows. (via Coudal Partners Fresh Signal blog.)
from: a tale about the boy who went fourth to learn what fear was
You see that tree over there? That’s where seven men were wedded to the ropemaker’s daughter. Now they’re learning how to fly.
Sit down beneath the tree and wait until night comes. Then you’ll certainly know fear.
(the Brothers Grimm)
wilco: ashes of american flags
Aquarium Drunkard has posted a quick review of Wilco’s new concert film Ashes of American Flags. According to the review — and alluded to in the trailer above — the film does more than just show a band at the height of its creativity, it also makes the case that the band is touring a country very much past its own creative nadir.
The film was made while the band was playing in smaller venues in big and medium-sized cities. A format that Aquarium Drunkard says provided members with a first-hand view of the strip-mallification of the country — stripping away the unique character of American regions and paving them over with something less human and more generic.
If that’s the case, I’m intrigued and a bit surprised. I was fortunate enough to see one of two Wilco shows at the 9:30 Club during filming and the show was — well, hopeful.
It took place during the height of the Democratic Primary, when it was close, but it looked like Obama would very likely win. Jeff Tweedy made reference to this, noting Wilco “comes from the Land of Obama.” At the time, it felt like no matter who won — McCain hadn’t shown his evil yet — America was about to get it’s second shot.
Maybe because I’m from the DC area and I see most things through a political lense, but I remember those days as a time of renewal, not a time of cultural decline. That said, as someone who lives in a suburban area I think Wilco’s point in this respect is more than valid.
At any rate, I can’t wait to see this film — if not for the cultural commentary, than for some kick-ass music.