I don't know nothin' about it, either, but I'm opposed to the death penalty on principle, so I say sign it.

Done, and forwarded to you.

And on that note I'll recommend the Dead Man Walking soundtrack (the one that says "And Songs Inspired By"), especially for Steve Earle's "Ellis Unit One," the two Eddie Vedder/Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan tracks (go figure, but they're both beautiful and heartbreaking), and "The Fall of Troy" by Tom Waits (don't like his other song, "Walk Away"). I'd link to AMG but since I find, as I often do when I'm familiar with the album, their choices of "track picks" horribly misguided, I won't. For the record, I like the Johnny Cash song, but it's about the seventh or eighth best song on the album, and I don't like Springsteen's title track at all. Do the AMG reviewers even listen before submitting their take?

ETA: Buffistarawk info's on the way, dw.

Thanks, Joe. And thanks for the Doug Sahm rec -- I've added it to my "save for later" pile (tho I may pick it up with the Booster Pack I'm about to buy).

And on the NOT Perfect Pop Songs list? "To All The Girls I Loved Before."

Oh, iPod, why hast thou forsaken me?

And apropos of... I dunno, my Weltanschauung maybe, the Slurpee's 40 and so's "Hang On, Sloopy".

And apropos of the above & New Orleans on my mind, one of my favorite quotations from A Confederacy of Dunces: "You must realize the fear and hatred which my Weltanschauung instills in people." Bonus inspirational quotation from Ignatius J. Reilly: "Employers sense in me a denial of their values."

I love that book. Of course, my writing teacher told us its meta as a cautionary tale, but the book justified it.

Employers sense in me a denial of their values.

This should be my tagline.

All these PPS suggestions, and not one mention of Elvis Costello.

I've got it on Tinkers To Evers to Chance.

Of course, of course. I didn't recognise the name so I had a look through the Game Theory catalogue on loudfamily.com, presuming it was on one of the early eps. When I saw it wasn't, I thought it was distributed as part of a fan letter or something. I didn't even think of Tinkers to Evers to Chance (which I don't own), or that there was material on it that predated Game Theory.

I could load it on Buffistarawk if you need/want it.

I'm sorry, but Buffistarawk?

I don't know if you have the Loud Family album "Interbabe Concern" or not but the fourth song's titled "I'm Not Really A Spring". So leading with my tasteless, obsessive geekitude - it's nice to meet you.

You do know that Scott Miller played a promotional event for my last book, right? After we featured both Loud Family and Game Theory records in the book.

No, I didn't know that. Those two sentences are in the running for the highest "excitement to words used" ratio of any I've ever met. You were involved in writing a music anthology? What's it called? What was its focus? What were the Loud Family and Game Theory records featured? How did the promotional event go? What was Scott Miller like?

That's really, just, wow.

I got to request "Regenisraen" - gorgeous.

Alas, I do not own "The Big Shot Chronicles". "Real Nighttime" alone cost me 50 quid and an overseas shipping headache you couldn't imagine.

I didn't even think of Tinkers to Evers to Chance (which I don't own), or that there was material on it that predated Game Theory.

It is one of his pre-Game Theory records, but he re-recorded several of those tracks just for Tinkers.

I'm sorry, but Buffistarawk?

It's where we trade songs sometimes. Let me know where to email the information to you and I'll do so.

You were involved in writing a music anthology?

I co-edited and contributed to the book as a writer.

What's it called?

Lost In The Grooves - Scram's Capricious Guide To The Music You Missed

What was its focus?

Ninety different writers enthusing about 300 different records which we felt were critically underappreciated for one reason or another.

What were the Loud Family and Game Theory records featured?

Interbabe Concern and Real Nighttime.

How did the promotional event go?

Small, intimate, very cool. Scott solo with an electric guitar doing a set of songs from each record we wrote about. Then he threw in "Regenisraen" at my request. Some of his friends from the audience got up to sing the harmonies with him. It was gorgeous.

What was Scott Miller like?

Very nice. Really appreciative of our support. He looked good - lean and healthy. He had a new wife. I introduced him thusly, "When Kim and I put the book together only a select few musicians and bands were considered worthy of having two albums included: The Beach Boys, Curtis Mayfield, The Mekons, Marvin Gaye and Scott Miller."

Alas, I do not own "The Big Shot Chronicles".

I'll put "Regenisraen" up at Buffistarawk too.

The original "Beach State Rocking" was on Painted Windows by Altenate Learning, which was Scott's band before Game Theory.

My Scott Miller brag: The Loud Family stayed here for 2 nights during the 2000 tour. And I'm on the DVD documenting the tour.

ETA: Can someone send the Buffistarawk pwd to my profile addy? TIA.