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Lester Bangs Sunday Music

So the playlist:

So I was thinking about Lester Bangs, who basically taught me how to write with his reviews (which explains a lot, you know? I had higher ambitions but some rambling reviews with moments of clarity and profanity are what I can manage), then remembered Bruce Sterling wrote an alt-history biography "Dori Bangs" about him and Dori Seda hooking up, reread it. Fucking fantastic and a little heartbreaking, highly recommend it.

Tech Noir Saturday Music

Styx famously sang:

"The problem's plain to see
Too much technology
Machines to save our lives
Machines dehumanize"

But of course that wasn't the problem at all. People were the monsters all along. Machines only suck because people program them to suck.

The solution is clear.

McSweeney's Classic Wednesday Music

Black Sabbath: Your greatest joy is painting in unventilated rooms.
David Bowie: There is still, somewhere, a Dig Dug or Zaxxon machine with your high score on it.
Mott the Hoople: You are David Bowie.
Rush: You carry a small flashlight everywhere, and use it at least three times a day.

Steppenwolf: You have three or more cigarette burns in hard-to-reach places.
Golden Earring: You have three or more intentional cigarillo burns.

Derek and the Dominos: You have successfully used cooking spray as tanning oil.
Jim Croce: You have worn only socks and sock garters to a nude beach.

(what the heck, three good McSweeney's in a series? Normally they turn whiny after one or two)

So anyway, that's my playlist today.

Seventies Thursday Music

  • ★ '70s Greatest Hits ★: Very K-Tel, but a great collection from my youts. It's always bizarre to hear some of these without vinyl hiss or radio static.

I especially want to call out "Don't Fear the Reaper", "Dust in the Wind", and (not on this collection, but I heard it earlier tonight) "The Grand Illusion" by ELO, for making pop music from death and mortality, not just bullshit about love.