Let's get out of this country

Alright, I'm heading outta town tomorrow, so I leave you with these CO tunes. See ya'll in a couple weeks.

Let's Get Out of This Country
I Love My Jean

Laugh and Peace

Okay, this one is really trippy, it's a song from a video game called Vib Ribbon. The band are a Japanese outfit called Laugh and Peace, and the song is "Polaroid". Somebody sent it to me a long time ago and I dig it out now and then. It's kinda, I dunno, strange and haunting. You can find some info on the video game here, and there are some songs available to download. Only problem is that I can't seem to be able to download them. Maybe someone else can grab them and share them. I can't even find any info on whether they released a proper album or not. The guy who owns that site is right, the lyrics are sorta sad.

Laugh and Peace > Polaroid

Walking by the ribbon
Up its spiny side
Raindrops falling me
I have no umbrella

Search in my car
Search in my house
I can't find just anything I want
Search in my heart
Search in my hopes
There's no rules so
Any time, any place

Walking by the ribbon
Up its spiny side
Raindrops falling me
I have no umbrella

Walk until I find it
Such a happy time
Please say "Good night" to me
I feel all alone

Ready for you
Ready for me
I don't know what I'm just looking for
Ready for life
Ready for death
There's no rules so
Any time, any place

Looking for my answer
Looking for my dreams
Starting over
Looking for my answer
Looking for my future
Hey, I gotta watch, I know

Step by step
Walk through mountains
Step by step
Walk through oceans
Step by step
Walk forever
I'll be running

Jumping down
Walk through mountains
Jumping down
Walk through oceans
Jumping down
Walk forever
I can guess everything

Chocolat

I have time for another quick one. I can't find much on this artist, the only thing I can figure out is that this single ("Twinkle Starberry") was released in 1997. I also found an album called "Hamster", which is pretty cool. If anyone knows anything, I'd appreciate the info. Check out these tracks, they're very catchy. Kinda half indie pop and half J-pop, I'm liking them quite a bit.

Kaze Ha Miracle (I'm not entirely sure this title is correct)
Like a Starberry

Do you have the time to listen to me whine?

Yes, it's another of my dreaded Puffy posts. Some Bowlie peeps were in town this weekend, so we took a trip up to Amoeba Records. In an act worthy of ultimate fanboy completist geek status, I bought the Japanese import version of the latest Puffy album, "Splurge", for $30. Yes, I splurged...big time. Now, I have no problem admitting that this album is not their best. I bought it for one reason: the cover of Green Day's "Basket Case", which is not on the American release. I've seen them play it live and I really enjoyed it, so there you go. Ultimate fanboy geek status: Achieved.

In listening to the album, I've made a pleasant discovery. A few of the songs from the American release which were sung in English are sung in Japanese on this disc. I really think they should try to do that more often, it sounds better to my ears. And maybe not have the next album as over-produced as this one.

Anyways, check it. Maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't.

Puffy > Basket Case

Oh daddy, when are you gonna be a big star?

Insomnia sucks. 4am and I'm looking for some info on one of my favorite musicians, Adrian Belew. If you don't know his solo stuff, you might know him from when he played with Frank Zappa, The Talking Heads, or King Crimson. I came across this old video of his, the song is called "Oh Daddy" and it's on the "Mr. Music Head" album from 1989. It's really cute, his daughter, Audie, is in the video, singing and dancing. It's a catchy pop song that would have been a big hit in a parallel universe, but we all know how that goes. Enjoy...

I think, last night, you were driving circles around me

I just ran across this mp3 (seriously, what did we do with our time before Al Gore invented the internet?). It's the 50 Foot Wave version of Kristin Hersh's "Your Ghost". Now, as you may or may not know, 50 Foot Wave is Kristin Hersh's latest band/project or whatever you want to call it. You can find all the info you handle over at throwingmusic.com.

Her first few solo albums were largely acoustic affairs, as compared to the Throwing Muses albums. "Your Ghost" is the opening track on her first solo album, "Hips and Makers". Spare and haunting, it's about someone dialing an old phone number in an effort to summon the ghost of a dead lover. Michael Stipe lends a hand on the background vocals.

In an effort to describe the differences between the two tracks, here's my crappy analogy. The original solo version would be something like the movie, "A Tale of Two Sisters". Something pretty on the surface but tortured and heartbreaking underneath.

Now, this 50 Foot Wave version would be somewhere along the lines of, hmm...something smoldering, sexy, and sinister. For some reason, the movie "Underworld" comes to mind. Yeah, I know it sucked, but I like vampires, I like Kate Beckinsale, and I like Kate Beckinsale in leather. Yup, Kate Beckinsale as a leather-clad vampire; where do I sign up to give blood?

Anyways, I think you get the picture.

Compare and contrast:
Kristin Hersh > Your Ghost
50 Foot Wave > Your Ghost

I'm only just a man of steel

I've begun watching the X-Files, yet again. I've just finished with Season One. I got into the show late, perhaps around the third or fourth season. I started going out with this girl who loved it and made it a point to be home to watch it, so I of course watched it with her. I hadn't heard of it before, I don't watch much telly, but I was quickly drawn into it. Anyway, I was inspired tonight to put on the "Songs In The Key of X" album. One of my favorite songs on the album is Frank Black's "Man of Steel". I love the reverby surf guitar sound goin on, and the song sorta evokes a lonely, wistful feeling.

Frank Black > Man of Steel

Fall into me, the sky's crimson tears

There was some talk of Slayer over on bowlie.com. I haven't listened to them in years, but apparently they have a new album ("Christ Illusion") out today. Inspired, I dug out "Reign in Blood", which is perhaps one of the finest metal albums you can find. We used to listen to this so much way back when, it's been too long since I've heard it. Check out "Raining Blood", and just for kicks, Tori Amos' cover version. How's that for an unlikely post?

Listen:
Slayer > Raining Blood
Tori Amos > Raining Blood

Misheard Lyrics #7890234893452346749

I swear she says, "I have no time for anal love", in the opening line . Listen for yourself.

PJ Harvey > No Child of Mine