Now, I do like "Langford" and "Raymond Douglas". I'm partial to "Quine," too, but my wife thinks that it'll only get him beat up every day.

She's got to like a name like Sally.

This gives me hope. iTunes, ho!

I really like Modern Life Is Rubbish. Here's the AMG review:

As a response to the dominance of grunge in the U.K. and their own decreasing profile in their homeland — and also as a response to Suede's sudden popularity — Blur reinvented themselves with their second album, Modern Life Is Rubbish, abandoning the shoegazing and baggy influences that dominated Leisure for traditional pop. On the surface, Modern Life may appear to be an homage to the Kinks, David Bowie, the Beatles and Syd Barrett, yet it isn't a restatement, it's a revitalization. Blur use British guitar-pop from the Beatles to My Bloody Valentine as a foundation, spinning off tales of contemporary despair. If Damon Albarn wasn't such a clever songwriter, both lyrically and melodically, Modern Life could have sunk under its own pretensions, and the latter half does drag slightly. However, the record teems with life, since Blur refuse to treat their classicist songs as museum pieces. Graham Coxon's guitar tears each song open, either with unpredictable melodic lines or layers of translucent, hypnotic effects, and his work creates great tension with Alex James' kinetic bass. And that provides Albarn a vibrant background for his social satires and cutting commentary. But the reason Modern Life Is Rubbish is such a dynamic record and ushered in a new era of British pop is that nearly every song is carefully constructed and boasts a killer melody, from the stately "For Tomorrow" and the punky "Advert" to the vaudeville stomp of "Sunday Sunday" and the neo-psychedelic "Chemical World." Even with its flaws, it's a record of considerable vision and excitement. (The American version of Modern Life is Rubbish substitutes the demo version of "Chemical World" for the studio version on the British edition. It also adds the superb single "Pop Scene" before the final song, "Resigned.") — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Parklife and The Great Escape are also excellent.

by a jumbo jet

Oh, crap. I'll never get on a plane again without humming "by Erma Bombeck" to that tune.

A Salon article about the 20th anniversary of the release of Hüsker Dü's Zen Arcade. The article is kinda' annoying, though (I take exception to the way the writer disparages Nirvana and The Velvet Underground). But still, it's nice to see Zen Arcade recognized as one of the best and most important rock albums ever.

But still, it's nice to see Zen Arcade recognized as one of the best and most important rock albums ever.

"Turn on the News" - a definite contender for rockingest rock song ever.

When I think of Zen Arcade I have the image of sticking my head into a jet engine. But in a good way. Not the bad way that winds up with me being incinerated and chewed up in the turbines.

Have you ever noticed that if you name a child John Wayne Lastname, you're guaranteed to end up with a serial killer?

Patrick Smith should stick to piloting. Azerrad's take on the Huskers is a much better read.

Joe -- I saw it, but didn't make the NewsRadio connection. I'll be darned.

Hayden -- have you seen the Shins video in which they reenact the covers of various alt-rock classics?

Hec - I've never heard early Vox, but they're becoming The Name To Drop over here at the moment.

Sadly, my wife has declared Thelonious, Miles, and Lemmy off-limits for kids' names.

My old boss's sons were called Louis and Dexter. Which are both respectable names...

And Hec, if you think that Blur (with whom I admit I have personal Issues, but still) are even the same species as Pulp, you crazy.

I got all the Beatles albums this week. I'd forgotten just how awesome they really are.

I got all the Beatles albums this week.

Did you get 'em in that nifty rolltop box? I picked up the set on eBay last year and it is very cool.

Did you get 'em in that nifty rolltop box?

I wish. No, I downloaded them (on the grounds that I have vinyl copies of them all, so you can't touch me, Allan Klein!). I will buy the box - it's like Shakespeare, you gotta have it - but I can't afford it right now.

Anyway, The White Album is where I am right now. Yesterday was Revolver on continual repeat.