Yes, I worship at the altar of Ricky Gervais and his brilliant work as Office-man David Brent.

Yes, I cringed slightly when I heard they were going to make an "American version" of The Office. Such a potential trainwreck, and fairly unnecessary.

Yes, I was as shocked as anyone when the BBC show received two major Golden Globe Awards last weekend. Not because it didn't deserve 'em, but because I just didn't think the Hollywood Foreign Press would get is so right. The man's a genius, the show is funnier than anything that's been on U.S. TV in years, and apparantly, sometimes these awards folks pay attention.

Fast on the heels of the awards comes new hope for the stateside version. Read this.

Ladies and gentleman, they've chosen Mr. Steve Carell to play David Brent. My one-time favorite Daily Show correspondent. Ricky Gervais is here working on the show with him, and he has said "There is an actor who we are all very excited about but we don't want to say his name yet."


Well, now we know his name, and I'm just as excited. I wonder if they'll make him do "the dance"? I can see it now...

posted by brad at 5:13 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

Went to Newbury Comics expecting to spend around $10 for the new Stereolab disc, ended up blowing upwards of fifty bucks. My self-restraint crumbled at the site of...

Speaking as a formerly obsessive Cure fanatic, one who spent hundreds of dollars and too many years hunting down every single one of their b-sides and outtakes (eventually compiling four burned discs full of 'em), this just-released Join the Dots box set is a freakin' gold mine. 70 songs... they're all here, and the packaging is beautiful. (sadly, no Carnage Visors, though)

Y'know, my Cure love may have lessened with passing time, but they've still got a comfy spot in my heart n' head. I was waaaay too into them, they were too damn good at their peak to dismiss due to years of sub-par stuff (*cough* u2 *cough*), and I still listen to their pre-Wish albums every once in awhile.

The next few days suddenly have a soundtrack.

posted by brad at 3:15 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

A trip to your local audio emporium is in order, as Stereolab's latest hit the shelves yesterday, along with a new one from indie stalwarts the Poster Children. The PKids have been selling it online for a few weeks, so head to their site if you can't find it easily. Hey, speakin' of Stereolab, tour dates are being announced, so check 'em. Attention Mr. Gane: Please come to Boston for the springtime? Thanks.

On deck: Pilot to Gunner's second disc is out in the states in just a couple weeks (their new website is now up, too), and Audio Learning Center's arrives in March. From the latest ALC emailing:

Well, it's finally finished - the new Audio Learning Center album "Cope Park" is in the can, and coming out on Vagrant Records March 23rd. Right now we're stressing over the package design and publicity photos, but the music is DONE, and we're damn proud of this batch of songs. Chris Brady put his all into recording and editing most of the tracks, and uber-producer Joe Chiccarelli mixed everything better than we could ever have imagined. We really hope you like it.

"Cope Park" track listing:

1. Waking Up With Eyes Still Closed
2. The Neverwills
3. Cope Park
4. In The Red
5. California
6. The Sun
7. Stereo
8. Car
9. You Get That From Your Mother
10. Passenger
11. Happy Endings

The plan is to hit the road in March, and we'll be touring as long as we can, and playing in as many cities as possible. We're definitely planning on making it at least to the U.K. and Europe this time around, maybe even further.

Someone I trust has heard the whole thing, and the world needs this album right about now. Another reason to hope for a quickly passing winter.

posted by brad at 9:52 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

Yes, I'm still here. Trying to feel more settled, and get a full night's sleep, but both are proving a little elusive. Yawn.

Heads up, you computer (l)users...

The email server-clogging Mydoom virus (and it's nasty new variants) has prompted Network Associates (the McAfee folks) to release a new and improved version of Stinger (v1.9.9), their completely free virus removal tool. Not only will it hunt and kill Mydoom, but it'll check for over 30 other major infections.

Get it, run it, love it.

posted by brad at 9:00 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

Kinda quiet around here, huh? Well, I've got a good excuse... our relocation down the street is in full swing.

Took the week off from work to pack up and bring all our junk to the new place, carload by carload. When I'm not doing that, I'm ripping up carpet, taking a crowbar to the leftover carpet tack, pulling up nails & staples, and helping our friend Steve put down new hardwood floors. My knees and back are already sore, and my hands are nicked up nicely, but I'm getting more satisfaction out of this stuff than a month of sitting in front of a computer. Pride in hard, physical work. Pride in our owning our own home. Pretty damn gratifying. I've already taken apart our toilet and fixed it, installed our dryer's exit hose, and repaired a couple of doors. Next up: install a cat door to the litter box spot, and wire the place with network cabling (geek out!). Home Depot is my new hangout.

As of this coming Saturday, we're officially free. Not necessarily unpacked, just extricated from our old pad and out from under the noisy hellbeasts above. So long, suckers.

Oh, the show on Sunday was loads of fun... after just a couple of practices, we somehow pulled of a set full of Mike Nesmith songs. My favorite Monkee. We toyed with the idea of calling ourselves The Drunkees, but thought better of it ...


So, yeah, the computer's getting packed up, and the moving marches on. Probably won't be hearing much outta me this week, but I'll be back to bloggin' come Monday. Until then...

posted by brad at 7:19 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

So it's official. The Pixies are reuniting on stage in May, California-style. As tempted as I am to head west, I'll hope for word of an East Coast show or two.

More news in the "hope it doesn't tarnish my much-valued memories" department: Ridley Scott has been confirmed as the director, and Tom Stoppard as the screenwriter, for a movie based on Phillip Pullman's brilliant, magical His Dark Materials trilogy. I can't imagine the story translating to the big-screen in a non-animated form (or in anything less than two films), but I'm excited nonetheless. The stage adaptation currently in production in London is getting raves, and it's done in two parts, so here's hoping.

Speaking of London, I'll be there for two weeks in March, and every. single. showing. of the play is sold out while I'm there. Curses!

posted by brad at 3:54 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

Pardon me while I indulge in some brief personal pimping ...

Assuming that Boston is not some kind of frozen, deserted wasteland by the weekend, your host (that would be me) will be sitting behind the drums on Sunday night, along with three-fourths of the very fine band Mistle Thrush. Valerie, Matt, & Scott have graciously (carelessly?) invited me join them in opening up for April March at TT the Bears in Cambridge.

We're not playing any Mistle Thrush songs, but the first person there to figure out exactly what we are playing wins, um, our respect? Or maybe a beer. That's probably worth a little more to ya.

So, yeah, Sunday the 18th. TT the Bears. A quarter to ten. Don't laugh.

posted by brad at 12:02 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

Is it too late to add something to my best cds of 2003 list? No? Good.

Home Volume V - Benjamin Gibbard & Andrew Kenny

Whoa. How exactly did I miss this one? This summer 2003 release from the Post-Parlo label somehow slipped through the cracks... didn't even know it existed 'til last week, when I immediately ordered it. It showed up fast and I dived right in.

Post-Parlo's Home EP series splits each disc between two artists, in this case Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie and American Analog Set's Andrew Kenny. Each gentleman offers up four acoustic tracks, including a cover of a song by their co-conspirator's main outfit. Kenny tackle's "Line of Best Fit" (originally on Death Cab's debut disc) and Gibbard has his way with American Analog Set's "Choir Vandals" from Know By Heart. Seeing these two bands play together last fall seemed so right, and hearing these two frontmen share a cd and swap a cover shows just why.

I've been slacking in my "Mp3 of the Week" duties, so I'll offer up a couple if you make me a promise: Send Post-Parlo some cash. Order something up so they can keep putting out these stellar EPs (the series also includes Eric Metronome, Britt Daniel from Spoon, & Bright Eyes), along with stuff like exclusive John Vanderslice vinyl.

So, is it a deal? Excellent. For your listening pleasure: American Analog Set's original Choir Vandals, and Ben Gibbard's cover of it, from Home V. This is just a little taste of the EP, so get over to Post-Parlo and make with the buyin'.

posted by brad at 1:32 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

The award winners for Moveon.Org's "Bush in 30 Seconds" political advertisement competition have been announced, so head on over there and check 'em out. All the finalists are worth viewing, especially my personal favorite, "What Are We Teaching Our Children?".

The star-studded lineup of judges included Jack Black, James Carville, Margaret Cho, Hector Elizondo, Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Jessica Lange, Michael Mann, Moby, Michael Moore, Mark Pellington, Tony Shalhoub, Russell Simmons, Michel Stipe, Eddie Vedder, Gus Van Sant, and more. The winning ad, the excellent "Child's Pay", will run nationwide January 17th through the 21st, paid for by the MoveOn.org Voter Fund. It will coincide nicely with our appointed prez�s State of the Union address on the 20th.

posted by brad at 11:50 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

Today marks the long-awaited (by both owners and curious patrons) opening of a brand new restaurant near Copley Square in Boston called b.good. It's a much-needed alternative to ordinary, gut-punching McFast food joints, serving up healthy menu items for calorie-conscious downtowners and travellers looking for something different.

Their motto is "real.food.fast.", and it's right on. A bunch of us were lucky enough to attend a preview lunch last week, and while they may still have a couple kinks to work out in the prep process (they were a little overwhelmed by the crowd-size... the normal lunch-line may be smaller), the food itself was just ace. We all noted that even though our meal portions weren't massive, we felt surprisingly full post-lunch. It was just enough to satisfy, and helped keep away the afternoon food-coma that can hit after a little too much.

Y'see, b.good is a new beast... you can't go in expecting a four-patty burger, jumbo salad, or super-size fries. Think of a normal size McD's burger and fries, and that's what b.good serves up, but with real ingredients, organic toppings, and special attention to taste. The fries aren't even fried; they're "air-cooked", and just perfect. Crispy, thin-style, tasty, and oil-free.

Just take a look at these numbers...

Big Mac? 33 grams of fat, 600 calories
Whopper? 43 grams of fat, 710 calories
b.good's new "Cousin Oliver" burger? just 14.5 grams of fat and 480 calories.

And check out the french fry comparison...

Mickey D's: 3.7 ounces of fries, 16 grams of fat, 320 calories
Burger King: 2.6 ounces of fries, 11 grams of fat, 230 calories
b.good fries: 3 ounces, only 4.5 grams of fat, and a mere 140 calories.

Not much of a contest, huh?

If we're lucky, owners (and friends since 6th grade) Jon and Anthony will be able to spread b.good beyond the Back Bay. It's a great idea that the ever-widening American waistline has needed for a long time. Check out b.good's online menu to figure out what you'll be eating this week, and for a laugh, check out their written history. Jon and Anthony's sense of humor, and their hopes for the future, seem as genuine as the food they're serving up.

The very first b.good is located at 131 Dartmouth Street, next to the Back Bay T Station. Lunchtime's in an hour, see ya over there.

(note: Having returned from lunch, I give a big thumbs up to their honey mustard turkey sandwich, and their caesar salad rocked me. Really excellent homemade, lemon-caesar vinaigrette. Yum. Oh, and whatever kinks they had in the prep line have been flattened right out... that was some fast food.)

posted by brad at 10:49 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

It's that time of year again... order up your Girl Scout Cookies (now made with real Girl Scouts!). In a remarkable show of self-restraint, I've been able to limit myself to just a single box of Thin Mints for each of the past three years. To satisfy your inevitable Boston-area craving, go here.

Y'see, I think the Girl Scouts have this all wrong... why start selling cookies just after New Year's, when so many potential customers have expanded post-holiday waistlines? When so many resolutions involve eating better and exercising more? Are they so confident in their cookies that they believe they can crush the average American's willpower, force them to abandon their personal promises, get them to jump off the low-fat wagon?

Yes. Yes, I bet they're just that cocky. Nasty, evil little Girl Scouts. Foul shortbread temptresses. Cookie monsterettes.

Hmmm... now that I think about it, maybe this year I'll get a box of Thin Mints and some Peanut Butter Patties ...

posted by brad at 3:49 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

For our curious friends, interested acquaintances, and voyeuristic onlookers ...

It's official... as of 10 o'clock this morning, we own our first home.

Our closing went off without a hitch... dozens of papers were signed (see Amie in the upper right there), a monster check was handed over, the keys to the place are ours. It's one of those momentous life-event type-things that completely overwhelms, excites, and terrifies. We're in debt up to our necks, but I feel frighteningly free. Free of landlords. Free of stomping feet and badly-played instruments from above. One of my little dreams has come true. We own. We 0\/\/Nz0rZ!

So now the moving starts. We have three weeks to get it done, and it's just down the street, so it's gonna be (relatively) easy. The carpet's getting ripped up, hardwood's going down, walls are being painted, the cable guy is scheduled. Amie's got her mind set on a superbowl-type party, and I'm game... but that might be a bit optimistic. Something to shoot for, though.


Waitaminute... I just bought a house... and I'm married to someone who actually wants to have a superbowl party. How about that?

posted by brad at 2:14 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

I suppose this can be considered a New Year's resolution, but it's something I've done many times before and hope to do a few days a week from here on out: Spend my lunch hour walking around downtown Boston, ending up in the Commons, feedin' squirrels. I did it again today and was overwhelmed by the number (and flat-out fatness) of the ones that gathered 'round, looking to score some peanuts. At one point I counted well over a dozen, most on the ground, some on the bench around me, even one sitting my freakin' lap.


Obviously, these suckers aren't shy. I don't know anyone with a squirrel fixation deeper than mine, but even I was kinda freaked out with one sitting on my Doc Marten, one on my knee, and another leaping up onto my shoulder. A hungry little bugger even jumped straight inside my package of peanuts (insert your own custom 'nutsack' joke here). Greedy, but cute, little guy.


Walking outta the park I was the pied piper o' peanuts. A horde of squirrels followed me to the gate, stopped as I left, and stared longingly at me as I headed down Boylston. Fat, fuzzy little food whores.



posted by brad at 4:14 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

Well, here it is. The first of my year-end favorites lists, the records that helped me make it through 2003, in no particular order ...

Mogwai - Happy Songs for Happy People

Scotland's sons are still making the sounds of stars colliding.

download Hunted By a Freak (mp3)

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Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlanticism

Their most beautiful record yet. 'Passenger Seat' gets me every time.

download The New Year (mp3) / Title & Registration (mp3)

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British Sea Power - The Decline of ...

My second favorite discovery of 2003, beat out only by the next band...

listen to Remember Me (realaudio)

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The Stills - Logic Will Break Your Heart

Some say they're the New Order to Interpol's Joy Division, but they're more than just that. Catchy as hell, stand-out bass lines, chiming, melodic guitar parts, fronted by a great singer. A well-hit homerun of a debut record.

listen to the entire album (stream)

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Pretty Girls Make Graves - The New Romance

Energetic, angular, meticulously arranged, driving dual guitars... all enough to pull me in. But it's Andrea's vocals that set them apart, put them right over the top. Buy it, jump ahead to 'Teeth Collector', and play it loud.

download Something Bigger, Something Brighter (mp3)

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Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle

The long-awaited return of Afghan Whig Greg Dulli. Not quite as rockin' on record as the Whigs, more on the slow-burning side, but the songs take on a whole new weight after seeing them live. The guys he brings on the road are just amazing... do not miss 'em if they come near you this year.

sample some clips.

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Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Hearts of Oak

Ted's catchiest and most cohesive recording to date, ranking up there with the best his old band, Chisel, ever released. A genius guitar player, songwriter, and all-around rock star. Another live experience you've gotta have, either full-bandish or solo.

download Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone? (mp3)

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The New Pornographers - Electric Version

The greatness of a few songs make up for the weakness of a couple others. A pure pop record that needed more Neko. But doesn't everything?

download The New Face of Zero and One (mp3)

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The Postal Service - Give Up

A total treat from start to finish. Death Cab's Ben Gibbard brings brilliance to what could have been a simple new-wave-retrofest, his lyrics and vocal melodies revealing details in the tracks that could have easily been lost. This collaboration deservedly sits on many best-of-the-year lists, and here's hoping a follow-up is planned.

download Such Great Heights (mp3)

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American Analog Set - Promise of Love

Not as all-out amazing as some of their earlier stuff, but even lesser AmAnSet is so much better than the rest.

download Hard to Find (mp3)

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Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway

I'll always be a sucker for Mark Kozelek's songs, and while this is no Red House Painters, there's enough magic inside to suffice. "Duk Koo Kim" is a masterpiece.

sample clips (amazon)

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Nada Surf - Let Go

A super-solid pop album (marred only by that throw-away French song), full of hooks, ups n' downs, and an occasional bit of beauty. A rare record that gets better in the second half. I never woulda thought I'd be so into the 'Popular' guys... that song screamed "one hit wonder" to some, but "Let Go" shows it just ain't so.

check out audio clips and video (realplayer)

posted by brad at 10:58 AM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |

... and I don't feel any different. Yeah, I'm still kinda sick.

Happy happy joy joy and rah rah rah to everyone out there. It's two thousand and four. Doesn't that sound strange? I mean, 2003 was a number I could wrap my head around, but 2004 sounds just a bit more futuristic. Maybe that's just me, though. So now we get to scream "It's 2004! Come on! Where are the flying cars! Where's my personal teleporter! Promises were made in cartoon form!".

So I'm starting to work on this little page here. It's an ever-changing, ever-updating page of mp3 download links out there on the not-so-inertnet. Relatively stable places to grab live shows, rarities, and randomness from bands I like and you just might. It'll also include a few invaluable links to sites that regularly feature a rotating song or two, or provide great linkage themselves (like Chrome Waves, Largehearted Boy, and Kingblind, already listed on the right). I can't thank those guys enough for keeping the good stuff comin'.

(Got any good mp3 resource links to throw at me? My email addy is in the lower left over there. Much obliged.)

Speakin' of the good stuff, you should be checking out Jenn's radio playlists from her show on WMFO, the Hedgehog's Dilemma. She's got it goin' on. Better yet, you should be listenin' every week. There's 'MFO streaming audio here. Great way to start yer Sunday.

In progress: My Best of 2003 Lists. I know, the anticipation is just killing you.

posted by brad at 12:01 PM | direct link | rss (1:2) | |