JON PRATT (Pate's frontman, for you new visitors) has provided us with an exclusive solo track, “Geologic Time.” It's available — in both .wma and .mp3 formats — in the “Downloads” section via the navigation bar on the left. You can also stream it from the mini-MP3 player our site admin. Lance recently installed on the right. Lance has also posted a bonus Pate track, “Chalk It Up to Fate,” from Pate's first reunion gig at the M-Shop in 1991 — the first time any such recording has been made available to the public, afaik. There are tracks from Pate's 2003 reunion sets streaming at MySpace… I must remember to ask the guys if it's okay to make them downloadable also.
EARWORM: Jon Pratt had not heard the term when I last saw him; I first saw it at Amber Taylor's blog. But a Slate article uses it “to describe the crippling psychological torture of having a song stuck in your head.”
MORE COWBELL! As I know Jon Pratt is visiting now, it's a good excuse to introduce him to the viral SNL skit featuring Will Farrell and Christopher Walken, though if he's reading this on a dial-up connection, I would recommend the eight seconds with the key Walken line. Farrell later reprised his role when he returned to host SNL and Queens of the Stone Age was the musical guest. Of course, there's always the original Blue Oyster Cult, though hearing it again makes me think that it could use… more cowbell.
THE RAMONES: Rolling Stone has posted an archival piece from 1976 on the legendary fathers of punk.
ROBERT POLLARD: Whitney Matheson of USA Today saw the solo tour and reports not only that he remains a “fantastic showman,” but also that he's selling super-cool Robert Pollard bottle openers at the merch table.
VINYL endures. The Emory Wheel examines why. The article also notes that if you buy Robert Pollard’s From a Compound Eye on a big hunk of black plastic, you automatically receive a digital version for your mp3 player. (Thanks, Coolfer Glenn!)
THE RACONTEURS: Pair Jack White of the White Stripes with the fab Brendan Benson, plus Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler — the rhythm section of the garage-before-it-came-back Greenhornes — put 'em at a retro-cool website and you've got a couple of catchy tunes to stream!
VAN MORRISON is putting out an album of oldtime country music in March, including Hank Williams' “Your Cheatin' Heart” and George Jones' “Things Have Gone to Pieces.”
ARCTIC MONKEYS are smashing album sales records and topping the singles chart – but have not seen a penny of their hard-earned profits. The more things change… but at least the hype the band discourages continues unabated in The New York Times, which claims their debut “has been instantly — and accurately — hailed as a modern classic, even though it was only released a week ago.”
BAY CITY ROLLERS singer Les McKeown has admitted taking cocaine but denied conspiring with the band's guitarist, Patrick McGlynn, and a friend to supply nearly £50,000 of Columbian marching powder.
LEONARD COHEN is profiled at SoulShine as he works on songs for a possible mid-2006 release.
CAT POWER: Chan Marshall gets an audio feature on NPR.
NEKO CASE has revealed the tracklist for her upcoming album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, and tells Pitchfork that she's eagerly jumping into the world of podcasting: “For the last two days I've been here with my friend Phil who's the sound engineer for the New Pornographers and for me. We've just been downloading my vinyl collection into the computer and I can't get my head around it. It's like, ‘How am I gonna make this radio show and not make it seem like I'm completely nuts?'” In the meantime you can grab a guilt-free download of “Star Witness” from the upcoming disc.
AFTER THE BOOMERS: Popmatters wonders who will be “the best bands ever” once the baby boom shuffles off this mortal coil.
INTONATION TIMES TWO: The Pitchfork-sponsored festival I attended last summer was such a hit that its organizers are splitting to do two festivals.
MADONNA and GORILLAZ will open the Grammy Awards on February 8, 2006. Gorillaz will appear as live, holographic animation. So Madge may appear lifelike by comparison.
SEEN YOUR VIDEO: In celebration of the new Jon Pratt track, check out Robin Zander joining Aerosmith for “Come Together” Or Cheap Trick delivering a scorching live version of “Surrender” and the video for “Dream Police.” Thinking of some of the great covers Pate did over the years, you could watch a Husker Du twofer of “Makes No Sense At All” and “Love Is All Around.” Or The Police classic, “Roxanne.” Early Pate shows often included The Clash's “London Calling,” where you can see the original or the all-star Grammy tribute to Joe Strummer, featuring Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt and Dave Grohl. Later Pate shows included an edgy take on “Time Of The Season” by the Zombies. And the early Who anthem, The Kids Are Alright, was a recurring staple throughout. But I can't help but recall the infamous Dugan's Deli gig where a broken bass string led Jon Pratt to lead the crowd in the Beat Farmers' “Happy Boy.”
PETE DOHERTY-KATE MOSS UPDATE: The troubled singer is going “soft in the head” in custody on multiple drug charges. The supposedly sober supermodel was finally questioned by police about allegations that she used cocaine. Scotland Yard said that she was not arrested or cautioned and inquiries were continuing. And if things don't work out with her new 20-year-old beau, Moss has Carmen Electra waiting in the wings.
JESSICA SIMPSON: The pneumatic blonde is desperate to start dating again, but her creepy dad-manager has told her to wait in order to protect her image. She'll be delighted to learn that Nick Lachey has been spending time with Elizabeth Ann Arnold (Miss Kentucky 2002), so she can stop the secretive walk of shame. There's something about these two nitwits that causes even the paparazzi-plagued Jennifer Aniston to track them with the tabloids.
…AND THE OSCAR NOMS GO TO… these folks. Brokeback Mountain “leads” with eight — which is fewer than many thought. Nevertheless, it remains the frontrunner for Best Picture, with some in the Academy admitting that politics is a factor. Some of the stranger noms and snubs: Batman Begins for cinematography (the dude, who must be popular, might have suggested that the fights not all be filmed in close-up); Memoirs of a Geisha for sound editing; David Cronenberg and A History of Violence getting the big snub; William Hurt getting a (deserved) nom for A History of Violence; Stephen Gaghan's original screenplay nom for Syriana — it was nominated as an adapted screenplay in other awards races; and Revenge of the Sith getting snubbed for visual effects. BTW, bloggers had better predictions than the trad media.
LOVE MONKEY, contrary to yesterday's entry, was not on last night. Instead, President Bush was on TV. There were no cool songs in the background. There were people that jumped up and down and clapped along, but no mosh pit.
LIZ HURLEY has sparked rumors she is pregnant with her second child after she was spotted leaving an antenatal clinic.
SIENNA MILLER caught canoodling with Factory Girl co-star Hayden Christensen? No! Egotastic has the skinny.
GEORGE CLOONEY and TERI HATCHER caught chatting at the SAG Awards. When Clooney’s spokesman was asked about dating rumors, he cagily replied, “What is your definition of a date?” As Elizabeth Snead wrote, “That sounds distinctly Clintonian.”
THE (CREEPY) BURGER KING caught canoodling with supermodel Brooke Burke?
BILL CLINTON has a “Teen Obesity Task Force.” Too. Many. Punchlines.
VINCE NEIL was “puffy” and barely able to get through a Motley Crue classic before being carted offstage by the hostess of a recent charity benefit.
THE FUTURE OF FILM: Ken Russell plans to distribute his latest works through his own website and the auction site eBay. UK indie studio Vertigo Films plans to raise the money to make its film Outlaw from fans of its earlier movies through the company's website. “Investors will not get a cut of film profits but in effect will buy a copy of the movie when it appears on DVD and receive an executive producer credit.”
DAVE BARRY: The humorist says that newspapers are dead and he's not kidding. Barry is a believer in podcasting (when it makes sense) and blogging.
HALLE BERRY, no relation to Dave, may have problems finding the right man.
BRITNEY SPEARS reportedly went speeding after hubby Kevin Spenderline after he stole their son to have his ears pierced. And she's apparently very angry that Spenderline makes pig noises when she eats. The pop tart should avoid the Gallery of the Absurd.
IS GOOGLE BUYING NAPSTER? Both Napster and Google are denying any talks on the matter, but Search Engine Watch explains why it would make sense.
NANOTECH: In his State of the Union speech, President Bush proposed “to double the Federal commitment to the most critical basic research programs in the physical sciences over the next ten years,” specifically mentioning nanotech. Jon Pratt, the folks at NIST and the NNI had to be happy for the shout out.
IRAQ: Iraq's national security adviser believes the number of Coalition forces would fall to below 100,000 by year's end and that the overwhelming majority would be out in two years. Iraqi bloggers Hammorabi and Ibn Alrafidain have different opinions about the former chief judge in Saddam's trial — and it's great that they can without the government lopping off their limbs, as Saddam would have done. The National Guard has had a turnaround in recruiting and predicting that it will continue to rise this year. This will be a subject of debate between the Administration and Congress, as it could be argued that bolstering the full-time forces is more important.
IRAN: The US, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia agreed to report Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear program, though Russian and Chinese officials will play “good cop” in talks sheduled for today in Tehran. A leaked IAEA report said that the Iranians had begun preparations for full-scale uranium enrichment, prevented inspectors from questioning key scientists and had refused to produce documents related to the production of nuclear weapons. Regular visitors here knew that last bit in November. In retaliation, Iran threatened to stop IAEA surprise inspections of its atomic facilities, but if the mullahs were really worried, wouldn't they play their oil card?
GIANT OCTOPUS attacks submarine off of Vancouver Island. There's video at the link.
RAGING BULL: A half-ton bull named “Little Bird” leapt into a packed crowd of Mexico City bullfight fans, injuring seven in a panicked frenzy. The BBC has video. The report says no one knows why the bull did it, but I have a theory.
BEST IN (DIGITAL) SHOW: A dachshund-cocker mix named Tillie, rescued by a no-kill shelter last year, won best of show Monday in an online competition. Dog Show USA, sponsored by NBC and Purina, gives equal standing to purebreds and mutts. Tillie seemed unimpressed, but Purina's award presenter declared, “This is a classic Cinderella story.”
GIGANTO: Somehow, I missed the History Channel show on the ancient ape, Gigantopithecus blackii, that may have inspired the legend of King Kong. But one expert is from the U of Iowa.