Jon, your bio is safely in the book, and Kim will update the website.

The web site update isn't necessary -- I was more worried about the book. Thanks though!

In the current Entertainment Weekly, they declare The Clash's London Calling to be the "best album ever." Interesting article (the online version of EW is only available to subscribers or folks who buy the magazine, so I can't link to it).

I think it's pointless to declare an album "best album ever," but they could have picked worse. I'm tired of Sgt. Pepper's Lonley Hearts Club Band being declared best ever, and I don't think Never Mind the Bollocks deserves the title either.

London Calling was my introduction to Punk. I have fond memories of opening all the windows of my parents' Mercury Marquis and cranking the stereo when the title track came on the radio.

It's also the 25 anniversary of London Calling, prompting a re-issue with extra stuff. 25 years? That means the AOR station I used to listen to was playing the title track four years after the album's release.

Because there's no way in hell you can ever reach anything approaching a majority agreement, most magazines don't even try, so declarations like that are always a little controversial and clearly based on maybe three people's opinions at most. Kind of like when Blender declared the Doors one of their top ten worst bands ever. I mean, they gave ICP the top spot, so they're not entirely wrong.

There is an NYC event for the book at Housing Works, so I will try to bring my coworkers over to it! Hayden, I would love to see you perform.

In the current Entertainment Weekly, they declare The Clash's London Calling to be the "best album ever." Interesting article (the online version of EW is only available to subscribers or folks who buy the magazine, so I can't link to it).

It's a better choice than Sgt. Pepper at least. (Probably my second to least favorite Beatles record.) I think it's a legitimate contender anyway. To me, it's a perfect concept record about British rock and roll. It takes all of the elements that were floating around and distinctively British from Brit-abilly ("Brand New Cadillac") to lover's rock to dub to Kinksian songwriting and absorbed them all into The Clash. Not unlike what The Beatles did with American rock and pop circa 1963 (rockabilly, Motown, Girl Groups, Everlys...)

Hayden, I would love to see you perform.

Oh, yeah! I'd love to do that, too. But NYC is too, too far on this babydaddy's budget.

Sweet Donna Gaines tribute to Johnny Ramone in the Voice:

Sometimes Johnny played his guitar till his fingers bled out, till the white instrument turned red. On Sunday, September 12, 2004, the remaining Ramones and their friends put on a 30th anniversary tribute concert in L.A. Johnny had been sick for a long time. Three days later, he died—his work was finished. Every Ramones fan has his or her own personal Ramone—sort of like a personal savior: Dee Dee's the outcast's outcast, a home for the displaced psyche. Joey's the patron saint of lonely kids even now; some say he's their only friend. Johnny's Army is all the angry fatherless boys, disposable heroes who work hard, fight wars, and never get anything. Johnny's their Captain; he'll never leave a soldier for dead, never betray the trust. He's the father Ramone.

Three Ramones killed-by-death in just over three years' time. First Joey from lymphoma, then Dee Dee from an overdose. Now Johnny from prostate cancer. The Ramones gave their fans hope; now our love will give them immortality.

Hey, tommyrot: Of Montreal is coming to Schubas Monday. (And hey, Butterfly Boucher is coming there Friday! You should see her too.)

I posted this in natter, too, but here's my wrap-up on the Austin City Limits Festival this past weekend.