Hec, just wanted to let you know I picked up a copy of the bubblegum book on my way home today from work. Been leisurely perusing it while I stopped for beers and lunch (mostly in that order) on the way home, and it's enormous fun.

Cool! Sales are fun too. I'm glad you liked it, though. A lot of people have noted the high fun of the book even when bubblegum is less than a core interest.

Most of the stuff that interests me vis-a-vis bubblegum is on the fringes, but it's always nice to have good reference/opinion works.

Thanks.

I was especially amused by your defining "Walking on Sunshine" as the ultimate non-goth song, but question the premise that goth=anti-bubblegum. But, that's for a more detailed conversation (in the process of catching up again).

Heh. I showed my friend Betty (a corporate ex-goth) the book in progress and it piqued her interest. Then she came back after listening to the Archies and practically accused me of taking a dentist's drill to her head. I don't think Goth and Bubblegum are mutually exclusive, and neither does Stephin Merrit (The Gothic Archies). Hell Depeche Mode pretty much qualifies. But then I've heard almost every conceivable combination of musics pulled off - except reggae and rockabilly. Those seem to be matter and antimatter.

SO looking forward to the new book. That one is right up my particular musical alley.

It's going to be interesting to see how this book sells, because the Bubblegum book had such a basic marketing hook, and pulled a lot of nostalgia buyers. Then it slowly seeped out to a broader base of music fans and musicians.

Amyp - I went off and took a nap. I'll see if I can find you.

And speaking of The Sweet, I love the commercial with "Ballroom Blitz" where they throw stuff out of the back of a semi at oncoming cars.

I love my collection of Glam Rock videos with The Sweet being particularly silly on the Old Gray Whistle Test.

But then I've heard almost every conceivable combination of musics pulled off - except reggae and rockabilly. Those seem to be matter and antimatter.

I suspect you won't find this convincing... but in "Wrong 'Em Boyo" the Clash lifted the false beginning of Elvis's "Milkcow Blues Boogie" (via "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream": "Start all over again!") as the intro for their reggae version of the New Orleans classic "Staggerlee". New Orleans, the R&B of which was a big influence on reggae, is probably your most likely suspect if you don't like the Clash argument. Big musical gumbo.

But then I've heard almost every conceivable combination of musics pulled off - except reggae and rockabilly

Hmmm - reggabilly or rockgae? Yeah, even Dread Zeppelin favored the one over the other.

I love the commercial with "Ballroom Blitz" where they throw stuff out of the back of a semi at oncoming cars.

It's a *fantastic* commercial, and Ilove that song.

And I am currently ripping Hayden's CDs, so they should be int he mail to Gandalfe on Monday or Tuesday.

I have a reggae/bluegrass-and-other-old-timey-music album with the wonderful title A New Broom Sweeps Clean, But An Old Broom Knows Every Corner.

Mix tape from Mars.

thought you guys might appreciate this

Courtin' Songs

In recognition of the disappointing end to a relationship, I went on a CD spree yesterday. I got:

Norah Jones "Feels Like Home"

Sarah McLachlan "Afterglow"

Nick Drake "Pink Moon"

Vienna Teng

LOTR soundtrack

Sigur Ros "Aegnitelxd Bealksdfh" (uh, their first one)

Unfortunately, I was too busy eating ice cream and lying on the couch watching bad weekend TV to listen to any of them yet. But I look forward to them muchly.

edited to fix the line breaks

What? No country music? The music of pain?

Speaking of Norah Jones, anyone else see her on SNL this weekend? She sounded great, and looked fabulous -- I think she's put on weight over the last year or so?