First things first. THANK YOU for your feedback regarding The Daily Dose. Please do keep it coming because we can only achieve world domination together. I’m totally serious. That said, our winner is (through random selection)…
Congratulations Pat! I actually have two prizes for you, one is secret so give me a call and I’ll tell you what’s what, 202-316-1193. The other is super-cool and not secret, thanks to my friend Kevin at Jawbone Press:
Million Dollar Les Paul: In Search Of The Most Valuable Guitar In The World
Even if you’re not a guitar player (which I happen to know you are, Pat) this book is freaking cool. It makes me feel cool just owning a copy. Merry Christmas.
Next on the list… heads up that we’ve got a guest post next week in our series “Letters from the Road” featuring the lovely Colin Devlin of The Devlins. Colin’s got a new record out but to remind you here’s one of my faves from his past:
And lastly, this month’s brief compendium of music/music lifestyle related whatnot — as it pertains to our tribal interests: a tribal shortlist.
Feel free to add to it!
1. Bubble Calendar
Dear Santa, please deliver me one of these every year for the rest of my life:
The thrill of bubble packaging popping every single day. Genius.
2. Go Wanus Music Club
Tracy Bonham’s rock camp for kids. Perhaps another idea for Santa should you wish to plan ahead 
.
3. Urban Daddy
Daily Candy for men. Uber-hip tastemaker resource re: goings-on in your hood (thanks for the tip Merritt!).
4. Someecards
Offbeat e-card site whose tagline is: “when you care enough to hit send.” Utterly brilliant.
5. Cameron Carpenter
Glam organist. Who knew? The shoes! Original accompaniment to a showing of Nosferatu.
Wicked!
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Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, IN SHORT, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
Who knew that when I moved to Saugerties, New York (think Big Pink) a few years ago that my next-door neighbor would be founding psychedelic art legend Isaac Abrams?
Far out.
And miraculously, close by. Just in the converted antique auction house loft adjacent to ours. Yes, I’ve borrowed sugar. Not only are Isaac’s paintings stunningly visceral but the “mysterious everflowing workings of [his] mind” (his description) have yielded many a lingering front porch discussion.
Hence, perhaps my favorite:
The Seven Characteristics of Humanity*
KB: Isaac, what was that list again you made up, the Noodles, the Bummers, etc.?
IA: Noodles, Nurdles, Flukes, Flunkies, Hummers, Bummers, and Banana Brains.
KB: (Laughter) right. Can you run through them?
IA:
NOODLES: Top-flight mind, complex and fun (Albert Einstein, Stephen Wright).
NURDLES: The dark side of the Noodle, a curdled Noodle, a Noodle gone bad (Richard Nixon).
FLUKES: Rarities, extremely unusual.
FLUNKIES: Someone who attaches themselves onto the ideology of a Noodle or Nurdle or Bummer (a good thing, say if you are Henry Kissinger, for example, but a bad thing for obvious other reasons).
HUMMERS: Mindlessly repeating whatever they’ve heard (Hari Krishna, Nazi).
BUMMERS: Create problems (Adolf Hitler was a MAXIMUM Bummer, for example).
BANANA BRAINS: Appear to be something they’re not (perhaps a fake, perhaps a wolf in sheep’s clothing, perhaps seemingly shy but really a spitfire).
KB: So give me some more examples, of famous people.
IA: Henry Kissinger: Noodle, Fluke, Flunky, Bummer. Pat Robinson: Nurdle, Fluke, Bummer — with strong Hummer tendencies. George Bush: Nurdle, Fluke, Bummer, Flunky.
KB: Okay (laughing). On that note, how about the nominees?
IA: Obama: Noodle, Fluke. Joe Biden: Noodle, Fluke, Flunky. McCain: Fluke, Bummer. Sarah Palin: Nurdle, Bummer, Hummer, Fluke, Flunky — a FIVER!
KB: Totally (more laughing). What about musicians?
IA: Madonna: Noodle, Fluke. Barry Manilow: Fluke, Banana Brain. Neil Diamond: Noodle, Nurdle, Fluke, Flunky. The order is important by the way!
KB: How about Mick Jagger?
IA: Noodle, Fluke.
KB: Eric Clapton… but before he found Jesus, B.C., as it were?
IA: Fluke, Bummer.
KB: Post-Jesus?
IA: Fluke, Hummer, Banana Brain. Then there’s Van Morrison: Noodle, Fluke — professionally, an amazing songwriter — Nurdle, Bummer personally, a Bummer because well, he’s kind of a prick.
KB: (Laughter). And me?
IA: Noodle, Fluke, perhaps even a new category — I mean this in all sincerity — you’d like to be a Flunky but don’t know who to Flunk to.
KB: And you?
IA: Noodle, Fluke.
Indeed.
*according to Isaac Abrams, occasionally loosely paraphrased, mostly directly quoted.
10/20/08 | Comments (0)
Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
Likely, you’ve occasionally wondered what exactly it is we do here at Outlandos Music (other than blog). The easy answer is that we’ve been plotting and scheming to remedy a lot of the stuff you hear me bitching and moaning about each week. Actually, the plotting and scheming was over ages ago… like most startups, we’ve been bogged down by production and various unplanned events that just go with the territory — the sort of stuff I like to call adventure. Now, at least, we have something to show for it. It’s not the whole picture but it’s an essential piece. And what we need from you is feedback.
So, as a personal favor to me, I’m asking each and every one of you to test drive our widget, located here:
It’s my hope that you’ll leave comments on this post about your experience. The owner of each comment will also be entered into a drawing and one person will win. Positive or negative, constructive is the only requirement. The prize is a good one, something you can’t get anywhere else…. You’ll have to trust me on this because I’m unable to say what it is. I’ll e-mail the winner next week.
Chances are though, you don’t care about some mystery prize. But you do care about music. If I’m lucky, this will be enough.
I can’t do this without you.
Kate
10/13/08 | Comments (0)Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
Likely, you’ve occasionally wondered what exactly it is we do here at Outlandos Music (other than blog). The easy answer is that we’ve been plotting and scheming to remedy a lot of the stuff you hear me bitching and moaning about each week. Actually, the plotting and scheming was over ages ago… like most startups, we’ve been bogged down by production and various unplanned events that just go with the territory — the sort of stuff I like to call adventure. Now, at least, we have something to show for it. It’s not the whole picture but it’s an essential piece. And what we need from you is feedback.
So, as a personal favor to me, I’m asking each and every one of you to test drive our widget (located page-right).
It’s my hope that you’ll leave comments on this post about your experience.
I can’t do this without you.
Kate
10/11/08 | Comments (0)Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
Here’s what’s been keeping me company as of late:
Lizzie Grant, Gramma SparkalerTrailerHeaven [sic]
Who is this girl? Un-freaking-believable. Don’t let the bad graphics scare you away.
Men at Work, Overkill
They always somehow find a way onto my mixtapes. If you haven’t heard Collin’s solo work, you must. Transcendental Highway‘s my favorite.
Lykke LI, Little Bit
Kate Bush meets Thompson Twins. Kind of looks like that broad from The NeverEnding Story. Thanks Karl!
World Café
Thought I’d give it a try again and listened all day every day last week. Too much new music. David Dye bores me. Yes, I said it.
Sultans of Ping, Where’s Me Jumper?
Again, all Karl but I forgot how God damn funny this video is. Freddie Mercury meets The Clash.
Violent Femmes, Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)
I drove my dad crazy with these guys, he couldn’t understand how we could possibly like them, especially because they can’t sing! But still, they made us feel badass. Ballsy cover. Thanks for the tip Chris!
Cake, Prolonging the Magic
Excellent music to clean to! Forgot how much I loved this. Long live the vibraslap.
The Beatles, Rain
Yes, you’ve heard it a million times. But still. Gives me the tingles. And George was so damned hot.
The Flight of the Conchords, Boom Boom
Just started Netflixing it (a little slow to the, punch I know). She’s like a curry.
Does that dance look familiar?
xo
10/6/08 | Comments (2)Tags: CUT THROUGH THE NOISE, KATE BRADLEY, NOW PLAYING, OUTLANDOS MUSIC —
