In Twilight Regalia: PEOPLE I WANT TO HIT THIS WEEK

Recently giddy over:

All at Sea
Jamie Cullum: Twentysomething
This is a guilty pleasure song; I don't profess to like everything he does. But this is strangely echoing a number of old tunes from my schooling times... freedom without any borders... Some of Seal, some of Coldplay, some of what we grew up with that harkens to Motown and Jazz. But it blends into a neat watercolor.
Angelhead (feat. Lili Hayden)
Supreme Beings of Leisure: 11i
Mysterious chemistry indeed: Indian melodies, a great black female lead singer, smooth triphop beats. I heard them on an ad for some liquor or something and found them to be a nice addition to my Massive Attack-type-genre. The other favorite is "Never the Same" on their self-titled album.
An End Has a Start
Editors: An End Has a Start
The Editors just make me want to go run out into the street and just keep going until I lift off. The band being almost entirely carried by Tom Smith, I was surprised it kept so energetically charged. But they need visuals to match his wonderful voice.
Never Give Up On the Good Times
Spice Girls: Spice World
I discovered this guilty pleasure very late, and I like it only because it reminds me of a DeBarge tune. Wonder if he had a hand in it. Sure does bounce.
The Bones of An Idol
The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
I honestly don't know what I like about this song. And it isn't an obnoxious stick-in-your-head thing. And yet it just does. Their stuff does that. Noble? no. Superior musicianship? Not really. Just damn interesting.
Cante E Dance
Pink Martini: Hey Eugene!
This is a bossa nova gem done by Pink Martini - the huge Portland-based cabaret/ orchestra/ I-Love-Lucy-Ricardo-latin-band band. They are not always to my taste, but salvage up so much good stuff from the past you can't help sing their praises. The translation is loosely: "Sing and Dance, What will come God only knows, but follow the light."
Let it Whip
Dazz Band: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Dazz Band
I got an itch for some retrofunk and found this waiting to pounce on me and make me into boogymaterial. Why were they so unfamilliar a name to me when they have Earth Wind and Fire rhythms, vocals a la Rick James, and a Princelike groove that's unstoppable?
Lithium
The Polyphonic Spree: Wait
This is the most peculiar thing. It's an honest cover of the famed Cobain song -- and I hate covers unless they are amazing new twists. Here there really isn't a twist, but it's so sincere and dorky (while staying firmly devoted to the original) that it holds a great geeky power. I adore it.
Yuhi Chala Chal Rahi
Shahrukh Khan, A.R. Rahman, Ashutosh Gowarikar, and Javed Akhtar: Swades [Soundtrack]
A great Road Trip song -- in Hindi! I'll post the lyrics and encourage everyone to see the film, SWADES, about an Indian NASA scientist who returns to India to find his birthplace. And, no, this is not the album cover. That's Amazon's stupid fault.
Emily
Joanna Newsom: Ys
Don't let her voice scare you away, and it Will Scare You. Just read the words and listen: she makes jewels of harp and poems. She's one of the best poets and most interesting crafters of song to come along since early Dylan. And I can't pass up someone who actually looks like an elf. She makes things you've never heard before.
Blues in Hoss' Flat
Count Basie: The Swingin' Machine, Live!
Ah, magical Basie. If you've heard a lot of student jazz bands, you'll really be surprised by this. I had heard it played so many ways, and forgot to check the original. It was much MUCH better, so light, so carelessly tight like a well-toned dancer. It's best! I don't go for "old" music. This will never get old.
Deep Impact
Dragon Ash: LILY OF DA VALLEY
Yes, my older friends will think I've lost my marbles. But I love Dragon Ash. I mean, listen to these speech rhythm patterns. Listen to it abstractly. It's a really great piece of work, and it's fun, and it's a trip to hear Japanese hip-hop anyway. The Best Way to hear it: you should see the video (it's posted on You Tube). I can't resist the jingle bells.
Just For Now
Imogen Heap: Speak for Yourself
Yes I know. A SECOND one of Imogen. But it's the audible condensation of my favorite Christmas film, "Home for the Holidays," which has Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr. Have a listen and kvetch with the rest of us.
I Wanna Take You Out in Your Holiday Sweater
Pas/Cal: StarTime International Presents: Super-Cuts
This thing sounds like 70s TV shows. And Glitter. And the giddy stuff of holiday romances, which .... we kind of need more of.
The Moment I Said it
Immogen Heap: Speak for Yourself
This whole album is a stunner. Although entirely electronic-based, Imogen wrote and produced this richness all by herself (w/Apple of course!) and it is warm, breathing, delicate, and heart tugging. I adore the bubbly "Goodnight and Go", which is popular. But this "Moment" is the most incredible auditory description of a catastrophic argument I have ever heard. I could not have thought this one up. Immi is a wonder.
I Can't Sleep
The La's: The La's
This is true original old style gut Brit-pop. You can tell because you can make out about five words in the whole thing, and you're suddenly overtaken with the urge to buy some serious dancing boots and go stomp.
Do What You Want
Ok Go: Oh No
Yes yes so it was a commercial. But I couldn't stop BOUNCING!. You know, the lyrics are great too? You've just Gotta.
Girl and the Sea
The Presets: Beams
Ignore the "popcorn" intro on this tune, and a velvet voice and electronica pull you into an 80s throwback. I hate mimicry but I really can't help loving this tune, it's such a good synthesis. Harkens back to Depeche Mode, Delirium and Legendary Pink Dots.
Aftermath
Tricky: Maxinquaye
Tricky is probably overshadowed by Dangermouse lately, and this one's not new either, but it still has an atmospheric groove that hangs around like a gritty shimmery innercity cloud. It's my rain-walking music.
This is Me
Flora Purim: Flora's Song
Even if you're not into World music, this quick-beat samba is the most joyous thing I've heard in a long time. Flora has been around forever, and she is the classic Brazillian singer; look her up. Her husband, percussionist extraordinaire Airto, is the rest of its energy, and one of the finest improvisationalists to be found.

1. People who make those sites where you click on the thumbnail, and you get a thumbnail.

2. Girls who ask you if you've Gottany gum?.

3. Smokers who pollute indoors and out wherever they go and then insult my rare-occasional clove.

4. That monkeyface in the oval office when he looks from side to side like, 'Hey, y'all know I'm right? Right? RIGHT??'

5. My lawyer, who actually touts the fact that he can't spell or proofread.

6. Aetna Insurance peons who tell me I can't have my flexible spending money back, Sorry sucker.

7. Psychologists, who never aim for resolution. Trust me, they don't.

8. Tom Cruise.

9. Those two poofy furniture-guy twins on Antique Roadshow. And not because they're poofy.

10. Veterinarians who won't treat pocket pets. Invent some damn technology.

11. Anyone who is, or is remotely connected to, Paris Hilton.

12. People who own toy dogs bearing strong resemblance to mops.

13. That chick with the lips on Dancing with (Almost) Celebrities.

14. Mexican grandmothers, for not disciplining their mijos.

15. Designers who refuse to acknowledge the existence of humans weighing over 115 pounds.

16. The makeup artist who decided shaving the sides of my face was a good idea.

17. The inventor of the parking meter.

18. Charlton Heston (in any capacity)

19. Knee sock manufacturers that actually make calf socks.

20. The entire design team of Microsoft. Daily. Particularly the Word autonumbering pallette team.

21. The Kinkaku-ji Palace guards.

22. Virtually any Chinese Government official.

23. The insolent moron who came up with the hypothesis that Japan should own Dokdo Island.

24. The keyboard guy who didn't want to teach a 12-year-old jazz & set an impossible price for piano lessons on purpose.

25. Those guys who sound like they hack up a hedgehog every morning in the bathroom.

26. People who have never lived in Europe and constantly say "Ciao!"

27. That Jessica person. Oh hell, any of them.

28. Internet Radio squelchers.

29. That cowardly unfathomable slob who leaves used Q-tips on our elevator floor.

30. The entire French Postal System. Where is John Cleese when you need him?.

Places you should go.

Mooncakes Fascionable
I stumbled across this page too late for last September, but MAN these look fun. Will try to find them next time around.
Another Fun iPod Story
This soldier's story had better not be fabricated. I'd love it if it were really true. Could be!
Godiva Mocha Gets My Vote
This reviewer is funny but he seems to like the product only somewhat; I absolutely ADORE (and should not have) it. Just don't think of it as COFFEE. It's not.
All My Sick Friends...
will like this silly penholder. Just gave me a chuckle.
Is Corn Fuel a Joke?
This blog has some pretty interesting figures. If this is true, I would go with good old solar collectors. Er, well, new ones.
Made in Taiwan: Flourescent Pigs
Yup, you can get just about anything in Taiwan, but you won't find these in the food markets. Not yet anyway.
Why snowflakes do what they do
Somehow I never bumped into an explanation of this atmospheric phenomenon. It's so logical! Of course! Duh! Why didn't I think of it.
A SNOW Museum??
YES!, and where else, but in Japan. Lovely pics, from a CalTech-er.
Simmer Catering
I wish these people didn't exist only in Sydney, Australia. Everything they make looks wonderful and sounds yummy. Why aren't they here?
one red paperclip
Bumped into this and had never heard a word before this article. It's a guy who traded a paperclip all the way up into a two-room farmhouse. You might enjoy the serendipitous story between the two objects.

Much Ado About Nothing:

1234
Feist: The Reminder
I knew it was a Mac commercial ditty, but expected some substance upon examination. What I found was Joni Mitchell Lite in the vocals, and lyrics that made only a vague hint of sense. Then there's the scary multicolored people in her video.... just pretty much of nothing.
5:55
Charlotte Gainsbourg: 5:55
I have always loved Charlotte as an actress, what with her Patti Smith-like quirky looks and serious, soft voice. So I tried her album. A few tunes are nice, but I found it surprisingly unsophisticated musically (for a person who I suspected might be) and rather too Claudine Longet. Nothing but a soft breath of frost, and it dissipated too quickly.
Miss Murder
AFI: DECEMBERUNDERGROUND
Can I just say how old they looked and plasticly made to younger on SNL? It was just Wrong. Worse, they've been lame not just lately, but for years. WORST, they snagged the cover artist that did The Birthday Massacre's album art and STOLE THEIR RABBITS!!
One Road to Freedom
Ben Harper: Fight for Your Mind
Bleghhhhhhh. Badly executed, uninteresting, and shamelessly promoted. I think I had someone else in mind (whose name was it then?) when I chose this freebie.
Atlantic
Keane: Under the Iron Sea
I adored the opening section of this tune -- magical drama. But it was suddenly dragged away into Queenland/Rufus imitation, like most of the rest of their stuff. I tried, guys, I really did.
Thinking Underage
Teddy Geiger: Underage Thinking
I feel sorry for this uncontestably beautiful child of 17 who has been fed media all his life, spat it back cleverly, and been packaged like a Calvin Klein ad when he is really not very special. I would hope someday he will be, but signs point to "no". He will have a lot of lucky groupies, though.
Bom Bom Bom
Living Things: Ahead of the Lions
This was described as "glam" in feel. Uh, what unresearching 20 year old decided that? It was also described as an anti-war protest, and that the band is iconoclastically political enough to get banned from the Viper Room in L.A.. That falls when you listen to the lyrics. It's sarcastic, but I could just as easily see it be used by a film like Jarheads, glorifying as well as not. And most of all, it's a lame 70s riff that's not been tweaked at all. BOSTON would have been more original than this. Plus side: Lead singer Lillian Berlin (who used to have a boy's name back in Missouri) has a beatiful husky dark voice. Maybe they'll get better with time, but I'm bored.
Bliss
Muse: Origin of Symmetry
Queeeeeeeeen!! QUEEN! Have I mentioned before that Muse makes me CRAZY? Have I mentioned they are a fuzz pedaled revamp of Queen tunes? This piece is purely that. I like two of their later tunes, and that's about it. Not this album.
Pistol of Fire
Kings of Leon: Aha Shake Heartbrake
Garage band raw dry recording, rehashed traditional rock structures, and a vocalist I don't care about. That being said, I think they'd be very fun in concert. But nothing I want to buy, really. Everything Secret Machines is truly, this band is falsely. This doesn't seem synthesized into a new form, it just feels cribbed.