Sure -- you say the word on the radio and next thing you know they want to marry each other!

Heh. I happened to read Jon's post right as I was thinking about the Scissors Sisters, and "Tits on the Radio" suddenly earwormed me. Things got even stranger from there.

Belated birthday happies to Jon - sorry I couldn't make it Sunday, but I really needed to spend the day getting the new digs into some state of order.

Good write-up for the book in the North Bay Bohemian

Also, a lovely review of X's The Unheard Music, which has finally been released on DVD. (It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest rock movie ever made. Definitely top five.)

The funny thing is -- I had always assumed the lyric was "Maybe I am a fucking American," because it's bleeped on radio and starts with "f", right?

It's not. It's "faggot."

I did not know that was a word that needed to be censored.

Same thing happened to me, Lyra. As far as censoring it, it's a derogatory term like "nigger," and we censor that, right?

My favorite censoring is a line from Dynamite Hack's cover of "Boyz in the Hood."

I reached back like a pimp and I slapped the ho

The stupidist censorship was MTV forcing the band James to change their lyrics - the line was "She only comes when she's on top" and they made them change "comes" to "sings".

Especially annoying, because MTV can show women in skimpy outfits in videos, and guys can sing about bitches and hos, but they can't sing about a woman having an orgasm?

As far as censoring it, it's a derogatory term like "nigger," and we censor that, right?

Sure. I'm not honestly surprised radio stations would bleep faggot (I think it's unnecessary editing, but suspect Michael Powell would disagree), it's just that it's not the f-word I suspect most people who hear the song on the radio or MTV expect.

That whole Dynamite Hacks song is hysterical.

The stupidist censorship was MTV forcing the band James to change their lyrics

I remember that. And then, I think MTV only showed that video at night anyhow. Which is too bad, because it was fantastic -- pretty English men in housedresses and wigs, plus the song is one of my favorite one-hit wonders from that era.

(Does James count as a one-hit wonder in America? I know they had a second song on the radio and --I think -- played Woodstock '95 and stuff, but I doubt most people would remember anythiing about them except "Laid.")

Seth Green is on Fresh Air right now. Unlike Oz he had terrible SATs.

Don Byron was interviewed Monday, talking about his recent Lester Young tribute Ivey Divey. He also talks about a show he did at Symphony Space at which he "covered EW&F, Henry Mancini, Sly & the Family Stone, and Herb Alpert," as well as Stravinsky and the Sugarhill Gang -- although cover isn't really the right word since he was joined by Wonder Mike, Master Gee and Big Bank Hank. (The concert review is by Francis Davis, a.k.a. Mr. Terry Gross. I have the feeling he picks a lot of the interlude music for Fresh Air.) I really like Byron's music, and he's an interesting guy.

And for the Fresh Air hat trick, here's their tribute to John Raitt (Broadway legend, father of Bonnie), who died last weekend.

I'm commiting those Iris Dement tracks to a burn.

Thanks, David. I'll send you some stuff, too. The computer, which has been living at my apartment, is about to be moved to the GF's apartment, where I've been living, so (famous last words) many of the long-promised burns soon should move out of the theoretical realm and into actuality. Did you ever pick up a copy of Who Is Teddy Villanova?, the Thomas Berger comic noir? It's one of a few books that I always pick up when I see it so I can pass on copies to the unconverted. If you don't have it & I have a spare I'll send one.

Surely James' 3 singles from Gold Mother - Come Home, How Was It for You and , most of all, Sit Down got at least serious college play in 89-90? They were the biggest student anthems of that year over here.

Hey, folks! Just wanted to pass a belated happy birthday to Jon.

All's well here. Baby Abe's been a bit colicky, but we finally figured out that he needs a bit of formula to supplement the breastmilk, because he's getting a bit shy of what he needs to maintain his weight through the boobie.

And to bring things on-topic, let me heartily recommend Sigur Ros - especially the album () - to anyone with a fussy newborn. Abe usually falls into either deep sleep or wide-eyed wonder by the 2nd song.