Who needs the extra x: xx = sex

I swear to Prince's bare buttcheeks, The xx is the sexiest band around (see, I wrote it in red just to show you HOW sexy.)

If their 2009 album "xx" (as heard on Rock Rulz episode 1, btw) isn't proof enough, check out this subtle, yet smokin' video for "VCR." (More proof of sexiness: only xx could make the fab player of VHS tapes sexy). When I think of VCRs I now think of slow rewinding . . . and boning.

Enjoy.



The video is courtesy of Pitchfork, who also reports that the xx will soon remix a new album from jazz/spoken word/and badass artist Gil Scott-Heron. If you don't know Mr. Scott-Heron, then perhaps you have heard the phrase "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." (Never-mind the fact that the revolution WAS televised and it's called Jersey Shore.)

It Ain't Gonna Save Me: Jay Reatard Tribute

“Most of the time, what’s wrong with you is more interesting that what’s right. What’s right with you is fucking boring.” - Jay Reatard (in an interview with The Village Voice)



The death of Jay Reatard (born Jimmy Lee Lindsey, Jr.) has affected me greatly. I responded to his music immediately upon first listen. It epitomized the essence of Punk and even Rock in general. Jay was the first to admit that he could barely play his guitar, but it didn't stop him. From an early age (he released his first album at 15) the music poured from him and he kept playing and recording until he died.

He managed to remain completely real and raw and true to who he was, while making this massively accessible garage punk music with wonderful melody and even a catchy pop essence. Leave it to the guy who could give a shit what people think to ride the thin line of artistry and public appeal in such an effortless and uncompromising fashion.

The death of Jay Reatard also pisses me off because it's another case of not fully appreciating something/one until it's too late. I have mixed feelings about this. Sure, his death will bring new ears to his music and hopefully lots of them, but at the same time why does someone have to die before they are truly appreciated? What is it about a career/life/body-of-work cut short that makes their work suddenly important and craved?

Fuck it. I'm over-thinking this shit.

Whatever else I could say would be an understatement. So let me just share a few things that might paint a better picture.

Here's another quote from Village Voice. This one is from King Khan, recounting a pretty defining story about Jay:

KK: Or here's the best Jay story. When he was 17, he played at a mechanic's garage. This guy that was a fan of the Reatards [Jay's former band] set up a show in some garage. So while the show was going on, Jay was getting really crazy. While he was playing, he got naked and he opened up a can of motor oil and dumped it all over his head and was slipping and sliding everywhere. And then some smart-ass in the audience just rolled up a can of something on stage--it was all dirty, so he didn't know what it was. Jay grabbed it and opened it up and sprayed it on his dick. Within 10 seconds he started screaming in agony on the floor in the fetal position--"Ahhhhh!"--while covered in oil. Then he grabbed the can and scrapped the dirt off from it--it was EASY-OFF oven cleaner. He got taken to the hospital. Imagine the doctor's face when a 17-year-old Jay Reatard shows up covered in motor oil with two layers of the skin on his penis burnt off. That's how punk his love is.

Here's some wonderfully done film shorts:

Happy Birthday, King

One of the music labeling stereotypes that I fall victim to is the "Beatles Person" vs. "Elvis Person" school of thought. While I know several people who comfortably sit in both camps (shout out to Jared Smith), I've always leaned far far into the Beatles category.

Of all the songs on my iPod, I only have about 5 Elvis tracks. (South Park made me love "In the Ghetto"). While I may not respond to his music, I certainly respect the King as a cultural icon.

So in honor of Elvis' big 75th birthday, let me share a few of my favorite E-influenced moments:

Velvet Elvis

Buy your own velvet Elvi here

"Elvis is Alive" Rumors

The Lexicon of "Fat Elvis"

• Both as Sandwich
• And as . . . whatever this is

Elvis Impersonators

photo by Chris Bail

Tiny Elvis

I wanted to end this post with the SNL video of Tiny Elvis, (Tiny E, if you please), but despite my hour long internet search, I came up dry. If you know of a link, please shoot it my way. The above pic is really all I could find. It's like they're trying to erase Tiny Elvis from our memories. Maybe Alive Elvis is behind it. (New conspiracy theory.)

"Look at this salt shaker, man. It's huuuuge."

Happy Birthday, (Tiny) King.

Cold Day = No School = Rock!

Music, like one of my other favorite indulgences-- wine, can be enjoyed both alone or in the company of others. Music can console the lonely man in his empty house at night or it can spark love in a couple holding hands for the first time in a mass of concert-goers at Cain's Ballroom. It's this duality and adaptability of music (and other arts in general-- film, dance, etc) that really brings it to life.

Today on this frigid TulsAlaskan day (-15 wind chill, yo) when school's are closed (God bless those bus-stop kids) and it's certainly too cold to do anything else, what better way to spend some unexpected time with my kids than sharing some kickass music.



Yes, our Clark Family Jam is brought to us courtesy of Beatles Rockband. I can honestly say that I never forced The Beatles onto my kids. They took to the Fab Four naturally and have totally ran with it. (Scout, the 3 year old, does a wicked "I am the Walrus.").

Anyway, I'd better get back to it. I have some "Hey Bulldog" to master.

And if the cold leans you more in the "want to stay home alone and cry into my whiskey"/personal side of music, then I suggest you check out my play list for a cold day alone.

New Portishead Song

Portishead has joined forces with Amnesty International to release their new single "Chase the Tear." The team-up is in honor of International Human Rights Day. The following is from the 7 Digital website where you can buy the MP3.

International Human Rights day marks the anniversary of the United Nation’s historic ‘Universal Declaration Of Human Rights’ on 10 December 1948. The UDHR set out for the first time in a single document the fundamental rights to which everyone, everywhere is entitled - including the right to life, liberty, security, the freedoms of opinion, association and expression, and the right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment.

Here's a video for the song which is just simply great. I loved their "comeback" album Third and from the sound of it, more good things are to come.

Portishead - Chase The Tear from Mintonfilm on Vimeo.

Never Too Late: Another Bad Creation

"Boys II Men. ABC. BBD. The East Coast Family."

Welcome to the first installment of Never Too Late, in which I'll review (read: ramble) an album that has been released for some time, judge it with both contemporary snark and sentimental appreciation, then make some grand statement about its ir/relevance.

Someone told me this is how serious music blogs are done. (Thanks, mom).

Today's Never Too Late review is an album that is dear to my heart and pretty much personifies my 7th grade self. It's Another Bad Creation's 1991 opus Coolin' At The Playground ya' Know!


First off, it must be stated that Another Bad Creation (ABC) could kick Kris Kross' ass anyday. First of all, there was 6 of them. Secondly, we all know you can't fight while sporting backwards pants (proven statement). But say Kris Kross pulled some wiggity wack shit and fought dirty. Fear not because the entire East Coast Family has ABC's back. And you don't eff with dudes wearing long shorts, denim shirts and ties. Plus, DeVoe will straight cut your ass.

Maybe I should talk about the music now...

Basically, this album has 2 things going for it: "Iesha" (btw, you are the girl that I never had.) and "Playground."

While they both certainly have 1992 and Starter Jacket written all over them, they are both extremely fun to listen to and, better yet, to sing the crap out of. These are the kind of songs that are a blast to put on your iPod. Throw them in the middle of a playlist at a party and watch the room light the hell up when they come on.

Of course, if your party is full of people BORN in the 90s, you'll probably get a different reaction. It'll lack the nostalgic irony. Kind of like when someone plays Andy Gibb's "Shadow Dancing" for me. (No one has actually done this, btw. This is me being clever. Andy Gibb makes me giggle).

While I did hear a few beats that could've influenced J Dilla (R.I.P.), the rest of the album is pretty much crap. (I say "crap" with love, DeVoe, please don't knife me).

Now enough of me. Enjoy this:

Rock Rulz Episode 1: Debut

Here it is-- Rock Rulz (Because misspellings are hardcore and "Rulz" fit nicely on my fist). Consider this your musical lesson to keeping up with the rock Joneses (and the George Jones-es too).

The theme for our pilot is "Debut" (how appropriate, right? I know, I know-- I'm cute). This was made next to a bathroom using a green electric blanket, thumbtacks, some shop lights clamped to a chair, coffee, a whole lot of moxie and some old fashioned hard work-- kinda like all the best rock and roll.

Please watch it and give us your feedback. We would love to know what you think both about the music and the production of the show. We're already thinking of ways to make it better (like WTF is up with my hair?) and hope to make it a weekly show.

Big thanks to Erin McHenry and Rob Walters, my partners in rhyme. Look for more to come from our newly formed production company-- Seven Tummy.

Thanks for watching.

Playlist: Cold Cold Heart

Christmas is long gone. New Years came and went. Essentially, the fun part of winter is over and we are left with the stark, cold, blunt and ass-sucky part known as January and February.

The snow in Tulsa has been on the ground for well over a week now and no change is in sight. Instead of waiting for a defrost of our freezer town, why not embrace it? During this time of resolutions and other life-changing goals, what better backdrop for self-reflection than the cold, white canvas of our long winter?

And like all good indulgent inner montages, you need a soundtrack. Since you can only listen to Bon Iver (For Emma = The most wintery of winter soundtracks) so many times, here's a playlist with an emotional coldness to match your shivering bones.

It's heavy on country and folk tracks because there is such an emotional bluntness to those tunes. I found them quite a match to the atmosphere of things.

I lack the ability to stream this right now, but most of these are easily accessible. Since I am in a generous mood, though, and something of an attention whore, if you pass along a link to my blog via Twitter or Facebook and ask nicely via a comment to this post, I'll send you a copy on CD.

1. "The Grand Tour" - George Jones
2. "Fifteen Keys" - Uncle Tupelo
3. "Smith & Jones Forever" - Silver Jews
4. "A Song for You" - Gram Parsons
5. "Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold" - Townes Van Zandt
6. "Antonia Jane" - Lightning Dust
7. "Alcohol" - The Kinks
8. "Tree Bones" - Port O'Brien
9. "Hollywood Hopeful" - Loudon Wainwright III
10. "Scissor Tales" - Samantha Crain
11. "Broken Heart" - Alexander "Skip" Spence
12. "Lua" - Connor Oberst & Gillian Welch
13. "As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone" - Loretta Lynn
14. "Let's Dance"(Cover of David Bowie) - M. Ward
15. "A Girl In Port" - Okkervil River
16. "Avalanche" - Leonard Cohen
17. "Three Days" - Castanets
18. "Write It Down In Red" - Cheyenne
19. "Romulus" - Sufjan Stevens
20. "Dark as a Dungeon" - Ramblin' Jack Elliott & Guy Clark