love, i'd really like a small part of it
Mood:  chatty
Topic: The Organ
I find it hard to believe, as a high school student, that office jobs don't have summer vacations. It just isn't fair, and I don't think I'll ever allow myself to be sucked into that sort of soul-sucking position one day. Maybe I'll become a graphic designer, after my lengthy and successful career as a rock star/sex icon.

Five female rockers from Canada, named The Organ (most likely for the prominence of tha instrument in the music) make catchy new-wave tunes with vocals strangely remniscent of Blondie. In a good way. 2003's Grab That Gun has caused this band to be lauded as Canada's "best kept secret," but not biggest mistake. Music by the Organ has been played on The L Word (the lesbian-themed drama series) and is featured on the season two soundtrack for the series. Fantasmulous. Here's the track played:

Brother // The Organ

Good news, too. On May 5th The Organ was signed to Too Pure Records, which means Grab That Gun will be available worldwide from now on. Fantastic! My favorite track off the album to celebrate!

Love, Love, Love // The Organ

Okay, now buy the album. It's worth it. Have a good day everybody, and go to the drive-in. It'll be a nice night for it.

It's two in the morning and the party's still jumping 'cause my momma ain't home!
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: Is It Wicked Not To Care? - Belle and Sebastian
Topic: Gangsta Pop
Some guy once said that the most important part of an important speech is the joke you tell at the beginning to get everyone into it. This isn't important, and you can't even hear me saying this out loud, but I'm going to tell a joke anyway:

We update this blog all the time, and I'm not going to prattle on for a few paragraphs because I don't know how to shut up!!

If you didn't at least smirk, you haven't been paying attention.


You know what else people haven't been paying attention to?
Gangsta Pop. I know this because at the time of writing this -- 9:38 pm (central time) on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 -- I only have two songs in my entire and immense music collection that I can classify as true Gangsta Pop songs. There might be some songs that are just frontin' (note for those of you who are reading this like a speech: I did replace the 'g' at the end of 'fronting' with the obligatory gangsta apostrophe. Please, pronounce accordingly.) and there may be some close contenders, but the fact of the matter is that George Bush doesn't care about Gangsta Pop.

But let's talk more about those two Gangsta Pop songs wasting away in my collection, and hey, what is Gangsta Pop anyway?
My Crunktionary defines Gangsta Pop as
"White-ass pop-rock bitches singin' hard-ass songs about the ghettofab life in a humorous or cute manner."
Popular Culture defines Gangsta Pop as
"That one Dynamite Hack song that everyone has on their computer somewhere that was, like, a cover of that Easy E song? Maybe? Boys in the Hood?"

Anyway, I'm not here to talk about Boys in the Hood by Dynamite Hack, because I don't have enough webspace to host that mp3 at the moment and I'm too lazy to find more.

I'm here to talk about Sissy Bar, their 1996 album Statutory Grape, and their contribution to the legacy of Gangsta Pop.
Or more specifically, their cover of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice. You remember the last time you listened to Gin and Juice? You were rollin' down the street, and your mind was on your money and vice versa? Do you know what was missing?
Two twin twee voices to complement Snoop's life-affirming message and literary prowess!

Later on that day
My homie Dr. Dre came through with a gang of Tanqueray
And a fat ass J, of some bubonic chronic that made me choke
Shit, this ain't no joke
I had to back up off of it and sit my cup down
Tanqueray and chronic, yeah, I'm fucked up now
But it ain't no stoppin', I'm still poppin'
Dre got some bitches from the city of Compton
To serve me, not with a cherry on top
'Cause when I bust my nut, I'm raisin' up off the cot
Don't get upset girl, that's just how it goes
I don't love you hoes, I'm out the do'
And I'll be

Rollin' down the street, smokin' menthols, sippin' on gin and juice
Laid back with my mind on my money and my money on my mind.

Right Click/Save As: Gin and Juice - Sissy Bar

If I wanna fake it, it's none of your business
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: The Capricorns
Man, I tried out for this play today, and it was really awkward because I got a part as a man and I'm actually a woman! Speaking of awkward things, it's kind of awkward that I haven't updated this in over a month. Well, it's not awkward, I just needed to slip that in somehow. There is no actual reason. Laziness, sloth, etc.

But I have good reason to update today, because I've been listening to The Capricorns quasi-nonstop for a month. They're just so catchy. It might actually give you hope to join a band. I mean, you have some Casio keyboards laying around from your childhood, right? (Maybe not.) The Capricorns' (Heather and Kirsten) entire band is Casio keyboards from the 70s and 90s! It would give me hope, but I suck. They, however, do not.

So the first song I'm going to post sounds a little bit like if Le Tigre and the Dresden Dolls had babies. Really awesome musical cabaret dance babies! Anyway, it's all about how things are about how scene everything is, and how annoying it is when I see a guy/girl walk by with straightened hair obscuring 3/4 of his or her eyesight. Or like, a myspace picture that depicts this.

The New Sound // The Capricorns

And then there is a slower sweeter one from their album Go The Distance!, which is the only album of theirs that can be bought at Amazon dot com. So I advise you to check that out immediately. I do believe copies of other discs are on sale at the Capricorns's website, so check that out too.

"Slow 80s Song" // The Capricorns

p.s. Happy last day of February!

I know all about chemistry.
Mood:  special
Now Playing: CSI rerun
Topic: songs from Kate's youth
You know what I loved when I was ten or eleven? Generic Mid-Tempo Pop-Rock Songs.
And not surprisingly, at the tender age of sixteen, I still can't get enough of them.
I went on a downloading spree a while ago, looking for songs for a theme mix CD I'm making, and these are the songs that I just had to download, even though they don't fit. God, I love generic pop songs!

Chemistry by Semisonic

You have to remember Semisonic. Since it came out, their ubiquitous single "Closing Time" has graced the jukeboxes of second-rate bars packed with the kind of guys who got into college on lacrosse scholarships and started balding around the same time graduation began. Yes, it's a song for the pre-mature middle-agers who are asking life's questions and they want to drink some cheap liquor while they do it, damn it! "Closing Time" is the kind of generic piffle that those guys find slightly profound after they've chugged a few beers and smacked their buddies on the back to show camaraderie. It's kind of boring.

But somehow, Semisonic managed to throw out one single that didn't try to be deep, was catchy and fun, and that was completely forgotten by the rest of the world five weeks after. I'm talking about Chemistry. CSI is playing in the background, and I don't think it's a coincidence that Warrick is currently smacking his head against some lockers.
So download this forgotten gem, and wonder why the hell Semisonic wasn't cooler.




Let's keep it going with a song I'm pretty sure you're all probably acquainted with: Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon

You remember them, right? They had a bald lead singer (see photo at right) who just happened to sound a bit like the genetic horror that would occur if Michael Stipe mated with a glass of milk (Did that make sense? That didn't really make sense in the way I had intended it to make sense.), a music video that featured the aforementioned bald guy walking around and singing to fat, extremely tattooed people, and a really "clever" name. Hell, you probably heard this song yesterday when you were standing in line at the DMV, wishing the guy in front of you would quit humming along, cut that ridiculous rattail off the back of his head, and possibly quit dousing himself with Eau d'garlic.

Of course, I don't generally listen to lite-rock radio. It's possible that this song rocks a little too hard for it.

I know that Leaving Town by Dexter Freebish does.

Oh, just check out the menacing strum some guy in the band plays as the lead singer growls the first verse,

Oh, your reputation's so golden
You're never lonely and you're never home
I know you've been talking about leaving
You've lost all your feelings for this town.
Paint your nails and put on your lipstick
You don't want to miss your ticket out.
Just because you graduate from school
So high in the gene pool, that's your point of view.

When I was ten, I thought this song was "badass," and I totally commiserated with the chick he was singing about. In 5th grade, I hated where I lived (which isn't that hard to believe - a small town in Iowa? Seriously, people.) and I figured the only person who understood mah payne oh noez was the chick in that song. And I hated the lead singer for trying to call her back. I wanted to say to him,

"Hey, man. I am a free spirit. I go where the wind blowblowblows me. I don't need you hanging
AROUND
and pulling me
DOWN,
because I'm totally running away and joining the circus!!!"
I should mention I also wanted to be a beat poet, or what I thought beat poets were like when I was in 5th grade.

This song doesn't really say much to me anymore, but maybe it will inspire some of you to run away and become beat poets under the big top.

Before I leave, I should mention: for technical reasons, I'm afraid that the songs posted here tonight will be hosted on Megaupload, which means they will expire eventually. So if it's important to you, just leave a comment and if I don't hate you too much, I'll reupload them. Free of charge.

What are you saying?
Mood:  lazy
I have been called here today to discuss with you the reigning queen of twee-pop, Amelia Fletcher. Known primarily for her participation in the band Talulah Gosh (86-88), and possibly Heavenly and/or Tender Trap. This is important knowledge for you, as it is vital you accept "Pebbles," into your heart to lead a full and healthy lifestyle.

It may be possible to live without the signature girlish twee pop (with a generous dash of punk), but I would not know, as I have not tried.

Talulah Gosh once had a lineup of Amelia Fletcher (vocals, guitar), Peter Momtchiloff (guitar), Elizabeth Price (vocals, tambourine), Robert Pursey (bass), Chris Scott (bass), Mathew Fletcher (drums), and Eithne Farry (vocals). Several other revivals of the whole or part of the operation have appeared under different names over the years.

To get you started on your immediate twee-tment (give me a break, I'm real tired here), here is my favorite track from Heavenly's debut mini-album 'Heavenly vs. Satan':

I Fell In Love Last Night // Heavenly

Mood:  lucky
Now Playing: Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
Topic: Mash-ups!
Mash-ups don't get a lot of respect. Oh, sure, everyone downloaded West Sounds, the internet sensation that proved Pet Sounds + Kayne West does actually = something near cool. Everyone loves to hear the violins from Eleanor Rigby layored over Kraftwerk. Everyone secretly loves mash-ups.

But once you get called "Bastard Pop" by wikipedia.org, there's no way to salvage your dignity.

This year, Bebop Golems would like to change that. As our Christmas present to the world, we are going to put the cool back in mash-ups.



To begin with, Micheal Jackson ("Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough") + Le Tigre ("TKO!") for
Don't Stop 'Til You TKO!



But maybe you need a little more flava. No worries! We've got The Human League ("Being Boiled") teaming up with TLC ("Scrubs") for Being Scrubbed.

And that's not all! To kick you into a holiday mood, we get a Holiday Mash-Up!! Note the over-use of exclamation!!
The first person to identify both componants of this mash-up gets a prize. Maybe Put Your Head On My Shoulder/All Falls Down by West Sounds. You can't buy that in stores!

White Christmas

I have no words to sell.
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Avenge Vegas
Avenge Vegas would be an indie-rock ensemble from Georgia, founded in 2003 by Lauren McGinnis and Micah Silverman.

They have been compared (by fans) to Belly, Veruca Salt, Sleater-Kinney, Interpol, The Cranberries, and loads of other bands, but most of their inspiration is drawn from bands like The Cure and Radiohead.

One good reason to live in Georgia is the spoke-slow accent, and the fact that oranges grow there sometimes. But another good reason would be that Avenge Vegas is playing their last show there this Friday at Vinyl in Atlanta. If you live near, you should make sure to check it out.

Here's a song from their six-song release, Half-Devised Plots, which, though never officially released, is still very good:

The Hearts & The Knees // Avenge Vegas

Shake it out like a polaroid picture!
Now Playing: Eau D'Bedroom Dancing - Le Tigre
Topic: Tilly and the Wall

If someone asked me to pick the one band that, in my mind, best defines adolescence, I'd quickly respond,
TILLY AND THE WALL.
Maybe not my adolescence, but someone's adolescence. Just listen to their call!

We will sing pretty songs about love
And we will fight if that's what it takes
And we won't back down
No, we won't shut our eyes and go to sleep
We will write all over your walls
And we will dance to no music at all
We will do what it takes to get through to you!

Something about their tap-dance percussion and shout-along choruses is so deliciously personal that you can't help but feel like you're hanging out with the Tillies and listening to their new demo in their basement. They've got that "cusp of adulthood" thing going for them, but they still know how to play the bright-eyed innocence schtick as well (and not just because they're stuck on Conor Oberst's label, Team Love, hahahwit,etc).

Of course, they're far from making people listen to new demos in their basements. Their first full-length album, Wild Like Children, has been out for a while and has made its rounds with the hipsters. Right now, they're working on a new album, but just because it's important to drum up excitement before the big drop, I give you:

Wild Like Children for your listening pleasure, legally! from their label.

And if you want to just try one song to test the water, try Shake It Out.

Hands down, that was the best part of my week.
Mood:  lazy
Topic: The Secrets
I think sometimes a band is overlooked because of the sheer lack of material available, and people can't go around listing these bands as their New Favorite Band. People then lose interest. I mean those bands that make a couple of EPs and then decide, hey, this is a lot of work! So they quit (or join another band, or something like that). I don't blame them, I don't have the motivation to even start a band.

One of these bands is The Secrets. The Secrets are (were) comprised of Casey, Isaac, Martin, and Paul. They released an EP, Thin Cities, back in 2001, and then they had a collaboration with Stuttgart for another EP, The Secrets/Stuttgart Outstanding Handstands in 2002.

Sadly, The Secrets disbanded that same year. End of story. Pretty much.

I still really like the stuff that they've released, though. Thin Cities was a solid venture into electro-pop that everyone should own. Here's a track from Thin Cities:

Loneliest Duet // The Secrets

baby, I'm determined, and I'd rather see you dead
Mood:  suave
Topic: Rubber Soul Tribute
Due to my recent birthday cash flow, I've been buying a lot of albums lately. One of the more recents ones that I've loved has been This Bird Has Flown (A 40th Anniversary Tribute To The Beatles' Rubber Soul). You'll probably like it too, because it features lots of indie favorite for the covers, like The Fiery Furnaces, Low, Sufjan Stevens, Ted Leo, etc. So highly recommended. How can you go wrong with a Beatles tribute album, anyway?

Two of my favorite tracks are the Cowboy Junkies' Run For Your Life, and Dar Williams' You Won't See Me.

The Cowboy Junkies (official site here) cover is really amazing, the song is completely transformed from a weak album capper to something gritty and gorgeous.

I like the Dar William's (website here) cover because, although it doesn't do anything that covers much new ground, I love Dar Williams' voice. She also has a new politically themed album you should check out, My Better Self.

Run For Your Life // Cowboy Junkies

You Won't See Me // Dar Williams