Emmett's made a great mix there.

So, trying to pick least favorite songs from favorite artists, I was trying to think of a Minutemen song I hate, and the best I can do is "The Cheerleaders," which is just pretty cruddy. My Replacements choice is the hair-metallic "Shooting Dirty Pool," and I find "Gary's Got A Boner" kinda silly-stupid-fun. The Meat Puppets produced way too much bullshit to pick one worst song, but in their great run from MP II through Huevos, I'd take the robotic sub-King Crimson title track from "Mirage." Husker Du's "Keep Hanging On" is my least favorite song from their three great albums. Skipping their flawed final album, my least favorite Pixies song is "There Goes My Gun." From Sonic Youth's almost-perfect run from EVOL through Daydream Nation, I could go the rest of my life without hearing "Master-Dik" again. Did any other post-punk bands have a near-perfect run of albums in the 80s? I mean, my beloved Mekons are way too easy to pick on with So Good It Hurts, and I think I'm physically incapable of being annoyed at Camper Van Beethoven or The Feelies.

The Wheel of Fortune tour was amazing.

And I believe he was calling himself Napoleon Dynamite for those particular shows.

Favorite EC story: a friend of mine was in New York with a friend of his, and they are in Manhattan talking face to face. Other person says "Hey that looks like Elvis Costello", to which my friend responded while turning around to look, "can't be; why would Elvis Costello be in New York?" just before EC walks by him and says "I might be playing Saturday Night Live, but then again, I might not." and keeps walking.

Emmett has made his first mix.

::sniffle:: You must be so proud!

Emmett has made his first mix.

That's a pretty sophisticated mix there - good show on the rearing there Hec. Did he actually do the burning/taping, or did he just make the list?

Emmett is too cool for school.

On a completely different topic, Oh, as usual, dear...

Last night I had dinner in Grand Rapids. I was tempted to ask the waitress if it was true that they grew the best blueberries in the US of A. But then I probably would have gone on about pirates and the children of Hong Kong, and that would not have been good.

EC walks by him and says "I might be playing Saturday Night Live, but then again, I might not." and keeps walking.

How much do I love Elvis?

And I totally wish I had been at the Wheel of Fortune Tour.

Well, Blueberry Boat is ace (as is the Soft Set) but right now I'm being blown sideways by the Streets' Grand Don't Come For Free, the first authentically British rap concept album. It's almost impossible to describe the Streets if you haven't heard them - imagine a lot of UK Garage, a bit of Kinks, a whopping slab of Ian Dury and a fair bit of Virginia Woolf putting together an album about going to clubs and fighting with your mates. Astonishing. Hec, if you don't have this you should really pick it up.

Jim, I've downloaded a few Streets songs, and it doesn't quite work for me. So much of what he's doing is about the lyrics, but the rhythm/accent of his speech is hard for me to understand. So I lose about 2/3 of the words and it just sounds like some English dude muttering over music. Which is a shame, because when I read reviews of his stuff, I love the concept.

(And, somewhat defensively, I feel obligated to note I'm usually pretty good with accents, just something about his throws me off.)

I've heard a couple of tracks from the Streets. I'm with LJ -- I don't get it. Though "Dry Your Eyes" is really starting to grow on me.