Notes From The Flip Side: 12.23.2001
Things are quiet right now. It's Sunday afternoon. A.M. Vibe plays tonight at The Casbah. Tomorrow, Exile on Kettner. I'm still stuffed from the tofu potato burrito I ate at Pokez this morning. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me in the next few weeks - Web site, zine, label, moving, day job - but all I want to do right now is enjoy a small amount of peace. I want to be alone for a bit and relax. I don't want to argue about what I do or where I go or whether I go to those places or do those things. I simply want to transcribe. I want to write. And drink some bourbon.
Right now, all I want is a nap. Get Up Kids on the stereo behind me, a recently released collection of odds and sods - demo versions, b-sides, outtakes and covers. I'm busily compiling my list of 2001's best albums and shows. And if you had a problem finding albums to rock your world this year, you have my condolences. For the first time in 10 years, I had to expand the Top 10 list that I routinely struggled to fill. And then I had to expand it again. Even without Dillinger Four and Elliott, this turned out to be a great year for music. Even without music, this turned out to be a great year. I rarely feel this content as a year draws to a close. I usually feel restless. Right now, all I feel is the need to wander down to Santos, the neighborhood coffeeshop, and get some espresso.
All I feel is the need to smile.
I'm still laughing about a shopping cart overflowing with purple, green and blue stuffed bears. And that's really all I need. That will keep me going for years.
Site Updates
The Reach The Sky interview is now online. Photos will be coming soon. I'm currently transcribing the Fairweather interview.
In addition, this update includes new essays from Kali on Majuro and Pee Air on the WTC attack. Ceylon Mooney's essay on his visit to Iraq will be included in the next update. There are also some additional archival reviews.
And, as always, there are new links. The best ones so far: Dr. Frank from MTX started a Web Log - all you get are the fruits of his genius. Close runner-up (and leader until I found Dr. Frank's Blog) - Nothingness.org - they have uploaded Raoul Vaneigem's "Revolution Of Everyday Life" to the Web, along with a slew of Debord's writings.
Now Playing:
Furious IV, "... is that you?"; Bane, "Give Blood"; Owen, "Self-titled"; Kosher, "Self Control"; AM/FM, "Getting Into Sinking"; Tobin Sprout, "Demos & Outtakes"; Gunmoll, "Anger Management In Four Chords Or Less"; Get Up Kids, "Eudora"
Now Reading:
Steven Heller and Georgette Ballance, "Graphic Design History"; Farhad Daftary, "The Assassin Legends"; Italo Calvino, "t zero" and "if on a winter's night a traveler"