Baby Ghost

Amy Winehouse's cell phone was stolen in London last week, and apparently the thief or thieves managed to hack into her voicemail. The following voicemail from Ms. Winehouse's cell phone was leaked onto the internet this morning and transcribed by yours truly:

“Hi, Amy, it’s me, Crack. Look, I know I just saw you a couple hours ago, but… Shit. I had this rehearsed. (Sigh) God, this is hard. Ok. (Deep breath) Ok. Amy, this is from all your drugs… We had a meeting at my house, and we decided that you need help. Quite frankly, we’re sick of you using us—that’s to say, we feel used, if you can believe it. You’re giving us a bad image, and it’s starting to affect us all in a really negative way. Take my cousin, for example: Cocaine says he’s getting so depressed about the whole thing that he’s going to start cutting himself. Did you hear that? Cutting himself! Well, just with baking soda, but still! When Cocaine wants to cut himself just to wean your dirty ass, I think it’s safe to say you’ve got a problem—a big problem! Which reminds me: the squirrels nesting in your hair say that they know of a great rehab center. I told them they’d be nuts to suggest such a thing—hahaha!—but they figured it wouldn’t hurt to mention it. (Pause) Oh, and before I forget, Hoodie Mike says you still owe him for that last sack. You have his cell number, right? Anyway. (Sigh) Well, we’re praying for you, Amy. Call me when you get this, yeah? Or, uh, maybe I’ll just tell you when I see you. Which will probably be really, really soon.”

If you haven't, you should read Richard Price's Lush Life.

To paraphrase a line spoken in the book:

"If that [band] ever had an original thought, it'd die of loneliness."

Now, what bands/musicians fit that profile?

Hmmm...

Very happy about:
Dennis Wilson Pacific Ocean Blue Reissue
Jaded Lover EP
Awesome Color's sophomore effort: Electric Aborigines

sounds like outer-space laser synesthesia:

i need suggestions, please.

i know can, neu!, faust... all the heavy hitters from germany from the 70s. but if anyone has any suggestions for legit contemporary or obscure bands that invariably employ motorick rhythms and minimalist aesthetics, i'd really appreciate it. preferably bands that are less electronic-driven and/or house/dance-influenced (lcd soundsystem), and more based on traditional (use that term very loosely) rock 'n' roll.

thanks.

think we're going to see thievery corporation/federico aubele/gilberto gil and friends at the hollywood bowl this sunday. if anyone else is going and wants to get in on our picnic/boozefest, let me know!

i like having songs playing in the background when "my mind has changed my body's frame," as tv on the radio's tunde adibempe so eloquently sings on "wolf like me." (probably on of the best songs about sex, ever, although it's probably not good during sex. unless you're a meth whore.)

so what are you favorite bedroom jams? or do you prefer no music? not only will this give me some new suggestions, but i feel that what songs people listen to during coitus says something--exactly what, i'm not sure--about who they are.

for instance, i could never get in the mood--much less get off--to "closer" by NIN. just not my style. but i guess it didn't help that back in middle school, a friend casually informed me one day that "closer" was her parents' song. as in "their song." (i did not ask how she happened to find that out.) naturally, i could never look at mrs. peterson--slim with skin leathered from a life of too much sun--and mr. peterson--chubby with a crew cut--the same way again; i just pictured them in a room with a ball gag, lots of leather, and trent reznor masturbating in the corner, growling "i wanna fuck you like an animal..."

i never had nightmares until that indelible image got burned into my mind. and now i pass it on to you guys. (that shit's like the video from the ring--it ruins lives!)

half-kidding and back to the point...

lately, i've found that the following work well:

aa bondy
brightblack morning light
cat power
massive attack
portishead (as in "roads," not later stuff.)
federico aubele
spiritualized
francoise hardy (especially "la question" album)
cowboy junkies
beach house
jesus & mary chain's "dark lands" and "stoned and dethroned" albums

give me suggestions if you've got 'em.

(suggestions for the worst songs to have sex to are welcome, too. ...actually, they're preferred. but don't be obvious and list norwegian death metal bands.)

postscript: you know the old "let's watch a movie" move? it's a great prelude to gettin' down, but i don't recommend the big lebowski. it's way too distracting. the other night, my lady friend got mad because i'd start laughing everytime i heard, "SHUT THE FUCK UP, DONNY!" also, creedence's "lookin' out my backdoor"--which is featured prominently in that film--takes on an air of grand perversity in such context...