I bought a live X cd cuz it was cheap $4 online (whiskey a -go-go) and it has a song from the last x cd i bought for $2, Ain't Life Grand---"Around My Heart"--when i first heard it i thought to myself, this song is really great, if it wasn't immersed in shitty 80's shit-rock production. So anyway the song, track 4, came up today and I was like "THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!". Call me a fag (Mass vernacular), but I love this song. Funny, I had another reaction like this to another X song when I saw John Doe like 8 years ago---"See How We Are", but I didn't like it on record as much. In fact, only the Bottomless Pit 12" has made me perked my ear this year that way.

trying to get the writing rust out...the deli had me vote on the top 3 up-and-comers of the nyc scene (besides, of course, A BUNCH OF GIRLS) and my friend Molly had me review a couple records for her NYC Seen, but she thought they needed more song description so I have to go back and relisten...

MAD JUANA

A few years ago I was introduced to lovely French accordion extraordinaire Marni Rice, who told me she was joining up with the current New York Dolls guitarist Sami Yaffa's band. Little did I realize the explosion of sexy rock they were. The focal point, as with most charismatic bands, is the vocalist, Karmen Guy, who provides a nice feminine counterpoint to the gypsy-rock shot Gogol Bordello fired worldwide. With Yaffa's punk rock cred melding with horns, congas, violins and guitars both acoustic and electric, Mad Juana call on traditional strains to create something new and relevant to the New York scene. After viewing the party in their new video "Valhalla", on their 2008 release, Bruja on the Corner, plus their sweaty live shows infused with smuggled Ouzo and mid-grade weed smoked discreetly, I had no choice but to vote Mad Juana as my 1 up-and-comer of the year.

WHITE HILLS

I met a late-night adventurous lady-friend about a year ago, and we were looking for a party. So, we followed some girl she just befriended to some guy friend of hers at 4 in the morning. Well fortunately the apartment owner was a good host and had good taste, cuz he had White Hills on vinyl. So we shot the shit and drank some beers as the record played. It turned out White Hills were playing Midway in a few weeks, so I had it in my mind to see 'em. All shoegaze, smoke, and a cute bass player. Made me hearken back to Loop. I think, more than anything about this band, I'm heartened to see the potential of the obscurest still there in the flesh, not too cute, not too hip, but resolute in it's stance of hair, feedback, guitars, wah and oblivion.

LUCINDA BLACK BEAR

I've always considered C. Gibbs one of the great unsung performers of NYC well through my years of hearing his old band Morning Glories crank "Fully Loaded" out of the Marz Bar jukebox. Sometimes ya gotta retool, regroup and come back anew. What I like about Lucinda Black Bear is that Christian Gibbs has kept his masterful rich vocals a focal point, but hasn't just changed his moniker. While Morning Glories had a noisy mid-90's Albini grime and Gibbs stripped-down solo rock records, both indie and major, explored Americana and wound up on Neil Young's doorstep with his last, Parade of Small Horses. With the Lucinda Black Bear debut Capo My Heart and Other Bear Songs, Gibbs now seems to be going down a different conceptual path, more in keeping with the current "bear" of modern indie rock orchestration (violins, pianos) rather than riding the same old trusty "horse."

TAP TAP TAP GOES MY LEFT FOOT INVOLUTARILY
Marked Men "Fix My Brain" (Swami)
Who are these Marked Men? I was handed a burn of their new album, and of course I was harkening back to Rocket From the Crypt, when lo and behold I looked at Molly's penmanship to see that yes this band is on John Reiss's Swami label. What can I say, the man has an ear for bands that make my ears perk up even as I get old and bitter. Further myspace research tells me they hail from Denton, TX, so it's nice to see this particular strain of rock spreading beyond San Diego. These guys ride the rails of a garagy Naked Raygun, with a general feel of a Reiss band.
KEY TRACKS: (3, 4 & 5 all in a row) "It's Not A Crime", "A Little Lesson" (the foot tapper) "Wait Here, Wait For You" (another foot tapper).

OH SHIT, I PISSED ON YOUR COUCH….
Guinea Worms "Trying Is Pathetic" (Botulism Music)
I had a friend that told me a nightmare story about a soon to be ex-boyfriend that pissed her bed. The impending mattress removing job description reminded me of listening to this 4-track spew. These loveable lumps from Columbus, the Guinea Worms, are a kinder, gentler house guest. They merely piss on the couch and write a song about said event. Songwriting in the local tradition of Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments with a dash of late 80's adult children noise-rock like Happy Flowers and the Thrown Ups. Musically, they dabble in a kinder, gentler Mudhoney (garage-"Suck You Dry" era). No fear factor here, even the urine is clean. Bleats about going to the "After Hour Party" kinda makes me wonder if I should care to join. Nah, fuck it, go have your fun without me.

Just spoke to my dad, who was down. Seems he's got to bury his beloved cat Toby tomorrow morning under his favorite bush. Toby in the recent year was a sick emaciated cat with a stomach tumor, but he still probably had a year or so left in him. Unfortunately, he got hit by a car on one of his increasingly rare ventures outside yesterday morning.

I remember Toby in healthier days when he was a fat black tom who loved a rough deep scratching on the nape of his neck. He was not one to be held until the last few years of his life. However, in the last year whenever I'd stay at my fathers place in Marlborough, Toby would curl up to my feet at night and wouldn't budge even if I was crashed out for 12 hours from escaping NYC insanity and accidentally kicked him. I'm glad he didn't have to suffer prolonged sickness and have to be put down, but you suburban bastards shouldn't get too cocky on the road!

Rest in peace Toby.

think the mid-90's wasn't that long ago...ha ha. check this out

http://jimmyfountain.org/BUTT-OX/MEMBERPROFILES/DAVEPAGE/Dave.html