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Pooftering-Out, With Birthday Money

November 26, 2008 By Jeff 83 Comments

We’re not going to West Virginia for Thanksgiving.  The weather isn’t cooperating, traffic would be horrendous, and the whole thing just seems like a cluster-copulation in the making.  So, when my mother called yesterday, requesting a final decision, I gave her the bad news.

Toney’s been checking the weather obsessively.  And every time she’s shown me the forecasted map of the U.S., during our proposed drive-time, it’s looked like someone stuck a big maxi-pad over everything between Scranton, PA and Charleston, WV.  The maxi-pad of foul weather.  With wings

So, funk dat.  I feel kinda guilty about pooftering-out on it, but am also looking forward to several days of no work, and no obligations.  Oh yeah.

I took today off, and am now at the front edge of a big super-sized holiday weekend.  And is there a better good mood-generator than that?  I submit that there is not.

Yesterday I linked to a really good music sale at Amazon, and last night spent some quality time with it.  And here’s my list of 2 for $10 CDs I’m thinking about buying:

The Clash, London Calling (a remastered upgrade of The Greatest Album Ever Recorded)

The first two Boston albums (good for days when I want to go careening down country roads with a warm 8-pack of Falls City beer on the floorboard)

Donovan, Greatest Hits (what of it?)

Billy Joel, The Stranger (I thought it was the shit when I was in Junior High, and am hoping it won’t take me back to those painful, painful days)

Elton John, Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player (I’m in the process of buying all the 70s Elton CDs, and this is the only one in the sale I don’t already have)

The Clash, Combat Rock (I’ve never owned it on CD)

Cheap Trick at Budokan (I burned myself out on it during the days of wine and vinyl, and never felt a powerful urge to upgrade to compact disc)

Donnie Iris, 20th Century Masters (love is like a rock, dammit)

New York Dolls (the fact that I’ve made it to such an advanced, decrepit age without buying this one on CD is fairly amazing, but there ya go)

Wall of Voodoo, Call of the West (I have a soft spot in my beleaguered heart for Stan Ridgway, and was forced to defend him back in the day, when smart-asses called his band Wall of Doodoo)

That’s eleven CDs, and I probably won’t get them all.  But you never know.  After a few highballs this evening I might pull the trigger on it.  We’ll see how it goes.

Did you see anything that interested you?  I think it’s a damn good deal, especially if you get enough of ’em to qualify for free shipping.

Upon closer inspection, I already had all the Tom Waits CDs they’re offering, and the 60’s Dylan, as well.  But they’re classics.  Classics, I tell ya.

And since I’m going on and on with music procurement talk, someone suggested in the comments that I check out a download service called eMusic.  So I did, and I’m going to give them a shot.

It’s all indie stuff, no major labels, and for $11.99 I’ll get to choose 80 songs during the first month.  Eighty!

And they’ve got loads of greatness to choose from.  Like Arcade Fire, Spoon, early Dinosaur Jr., Guided by Voices, Sloan, The Fall, Flat Duo Jets, the Bottle Rockets, etc. etc.  And they even have one of my favorite 1977 punk albums, by the Adverts.

I’m not too thrilled about spending $11.99 per month, so I don’t know how long I’ll stick with them.  But I might end up loving ’em, and finding it difficult to cut the cord.  In fact, that’s probably the way it’ll go…

Oh, and can you tell I’m flush with birfday money?  It’s true, my parents sent me a check, and it’s all going into music this year.  Music, and a couple Bentley Little books.

Yes, I know I’m in my early sixties (or whatever), but I still love the birthday check.  I can spend it on anything I want, and just be completely selfish and Veruca Salt with it.  The birthday check is something I look forward to, and am not ashamed to admit it.

Somehow this one ended up being mostly about music (sorry Buck), so I’ll leave you with a music-related Question.

Who do you think are the most pretentious artists of all time?  A few people jump immediately to my mind, and for some reason most are women.  Like Tori Amos, and Patti Smith, and Stevie “I’m so mysterious with my shitload of scarves” Nicks.  But, of course, there’s also Sting.  He’s the crown prince of pretentiousness, right?

Help me out with it, won’t you?  Use the comments link below.

And I hope y’all have a great Thanksgiving.  I don’t know when I’ll update again, but I still owe the VIPs a super-secret dispatch.  So, be on the lookout for that one, at the very least.

See ya ’round.

New Surf Report shirts available soon!

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Comments

  1. chrispy says

    November 26, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    “Pompous ass” musicians? Implausible, I know, but I’ve seen Keith Jarrett in concert twice and he was a prima donna both times. Yet, he’s a monstrous talent; IMHO one of the greatest living piano players today. Here’s a link – http://www.amazon.com/Tabula-Rasa/dp/B0000262K7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227754393&sr=1-1 …this is one astounding recording, in which the piano is really pretty minor, but it shows how good Jarrett can be.

    Well, actually I have mixed feelings about Jarrett’s ridiculousness. I saw him most recently at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, before the renovation. It was KJ, Gary Windo and Jack DeJohnette. After the first or second song he stood up, said Hello, introduced the band, and said “Has anyone else noticed how bad the acoustics are in this room?” On the one hand, he’s a bit of a whiner for saying such things – to the audience! On the other hand, he was perfectly correct in that it was one of the worst sounding halls in which I’ve ever tried to hear a show.

    Having said my piece, I’ll shut up and put on some Joy Division.

    Reply
  2. Shiny Rod says

    November 26, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Rod Stewart
    Mary J Blige
    Beyounce’
    All Rap eh “artist” and I use that term losely
    Prince or what ever monicker he goes by now
    Boy George
    George Michael
    Jimmy Buffet

    Reply
  3. Shiny Rod says

    November 26, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    Oh and when will Angus (AC/DC) put on some long pants! That is very pretentious that any one would want to see is pudgy knees tromping around the stage.

    Reply
  4. The Qweezy Mark says

    November 26, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    I always hear about The Killers being major egotistical poofters but yet I like some of their songs. What does that say about me…..Joe T? George?

    Reply
  5. The Qweezy Mark says

    November 26, 2008 at 11:49 pm

    Then again, I’ve had a ten year affair with Mr. Jim Beam……….

    Reply
  6. The Evil Twin says

    November 27, 2008 at 12:22 am

    Bill Speer – I’ve been under the completely wrong impression that Hendrix played Charleston warming up for The Monkees for about 35 years now! Where I got that information or why I took it as gospel I can’t remember. But, just like you said – he played in Charleston on May 10, 1969 and warmup acts were Chicago Transit Authority and Fat Mattress! Thanx for posting that, It’s good to get the facts right after all this time! That must have been one hell of a show!

    Reply
  7. Jenn says

    November 27, 2008 at 12:28 am

    ‘Ey! Yinz better get dat Donny Iris CD. Dat’ dere is a classic — an’ any Pittsberger knows ‘at Donny Rocks!!

    Reply
  8. The Evil Twin says

    November 27, 2008 at 12:42 am

    Further info:

    Hendrix was the opening opening act on the Monkees’ Summer, 1967 Tour on only seven dates: July 8th at The Coliseum in Jacksonville, FL; July 9th at The Convention Hall in Miami, FL; July 11th at The Coliseum in Charlotte, NC; July 12th at The Coliseum in Greensboro, NC; and July 14th, 15th and 16th at Forest Hills Stadium in New York City.

    Reply
  9. Eugene B. Sims says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:10 am

    I send my honors Bono’s way too and I still say that Ted Nugent should sue them over the “Bullet The Blue Sky” (or whatever the song is called). It sounds a little too much in places like Nugent’s “Stranglehold”.

    Forget ‘At Budakon’, the single CD. Go for the gusto and get the new box set. The complete show with a DVD of it? A must have for anyone that appreciates one of the greatest live albums ever. Seeing Rick Nielson’s stage performance when he was in his prime makes the DVD so worth it.

    Gotta go… I have to blow Tom Petersson now.

    Reply
  10. TxTy says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:17 am

    Caught Wall Of VooDoo’s ‘Call of the West’ show with Rez & Julian @ Mars (of ‘The Little Ducks from Mars’ fame) in Corpus Christi. Badass show and album. That should be mandatory. It’s in regiular rotation on my playlist. Love ‘On Interstate 15’ & ‘Lost Weekend’.

    Most pretentious: Bono

    Reply
  11. OnaWho says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:41 am

    Jeff is in his 60’s???? I figured him to be in his late 40’s ????

    Reply
  12. JCIII says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:51 am

    Happy Thanksgiving Surf Reporters!!

    be thankful you weren’t driving anywhere this >>>
    http://tinyurl.com/5pgkxp

    Reply
  13. JCIII says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:52 am

    <<<< or that

    Reply
  14. TxTy says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:54 am

    …& ‘Tomorrow’ & ‘Call of the West’…

    Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!

    Reply
  15. Great Googly Moogly says

    November 27, 2008 at 2:04 am

    Most pretentious musicians? The Evil Twin done stole my list.

    Speaking of pretentious, the $129.95 hip flask in Hammacher Schlemmer? Cheaper Than Dirt ( purveyor of bulk ammo, army surplus, gun parts, knives, swords, hunting junk and general redneck supplies) has the same thing for $19.97.

    You just know the Cheaper Than Dirt catalog shows up in my mailbox every month.

    Reply
  16. Tim says

    November 27, 2008 at 2:16 am

    I can’t believe you would consider Donny Iris. I would rather listen to Zoogz Rift.

    Reply
  17. Big Bear In OH says

    November 27, 2008 at 2:34 am

    Great Googly Moogly, good to see I’m not the only CTD shopper on here. They’ve always got good deals on stuff you couldn’t find elsewhere, and always good pricing on ammo too. They even have decent prices on spare parts, and sometimes will get rid of whole parts kits for the price of one part!

    Reply
  18. Bill in WV says

    November 27, 2008 at 10:04 am

    Psssssttt…..Jeff will be 46 on Sunday. Don’t let him know that I spilled the beans. He’s got 6 months on me.

    Reply
  19. Debra says

    November 27, 2008 at 11:47 am

    I bought up some Steely Dan CD’s. Damn they sound good remastered! I also bought (Abba’s Gold greatest hits and A Wagner compilation) Not on Sale. Thanks for the heads up Jeff. Most pretentious? In the metal world …..Yngvie Malmsteen , Dani Filth, King Diamond

    Reply
  20. Elton John's Brother says

    November 27, 2008 at 11:53 am

    Elton John is an ass.

    Reply
  21. JCIII says

    November 27, 2008 at 12:20 pm

    Well, I see someone(me) was drunk and on the computer last night.
    This morning coffee has never tasted so good.
    Off to start preparations for the feast. I’m doing all the cooking today so I best get.

    Reply
  22. LunaCHickNYC says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    Prince is the king of pretentiousness

    Reply
  23. lucas says

    November 27, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    HAPPY THANKSGIVING SURFREPORTERS!!!!

    halloween and thanksgiving are the only holidays i like.

    slow cooked birdmeats and monsters…. the rest of the year i drink myself into a lobotomy.

    as for the asshat musicians…

    any highschool cover band…

    johnny rzesnick from the goo goo dolls has always pissed me off, even though i like them.

    jay farrar from uncle tupelo/son volt pissed me off in 06 when he released that studio/live album that was all about impeaching bush (or whatever liberal crap)

    i can’t believe nobody mentioned neil young, eddy vedder or axl rose… or even bob mould.

    Reply
  24. Ian the Errolite says

    November 27, 2008 at 9:53 pm

    Most male R&B artists are quite foolish.

    What gives with todays picture?
    Why is the bespeckled boy cupping the old lady’s breast?
    It don’t seem right I tells ya!

    Reply
  25. WVKay says

    November 28, 2008 at 2:45 am

    One persons pretentiousness, is another persons idol.

    Reply
  26. The Jenkem King says

    November 28, 2008 at 4:45 am

    Jeff….grow a sack and drive to your parents on Thanksgiving.

    What are you….85 years old?

    You need some Old Spice Swagger.

    Reply
  27. Kathleen says

    November 28, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    The entire band New Order – friggin’ idiots played a 20 minute concert the only time I ever wasted seeing them…and they were the headliners and were so lame-ass that they had some really horrible local band open for them. There were a lot of pissed off punks that day.

    I have to agree with all who said:

    Sting (sorry, Gordon, but no woman wants to have sex for 26 hours, so we don’t care if you can keep it up that long)
    Bono (I’m a friggin’ liberal bleeding heart and he annoys me)
    Prince
    Ted Nugent (although I don’t think the person who mentioned him was considering him a pretentious douche)
    Madonna (without a friggin’ doubt – I’m amazed Guy Ritchie put up with her for 8 years, to say nothing of the accent – you’re from Michigan, you bitch)

    Someone mentioned Celine Dion which made me think of Whitney Houston, Sheryl Crow and Mariah Carey – first off, their “music” is unlistenable…and then they think they’re all that.

    Reply
  28. knucklehead says

    November 28, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    I’m jumping firmly on the Prince bandwagon. First one to pop in my head

    And Jeff, we used to call it BALL of DooDoo, not Wall of DooDoo!

    Reply
  29. Dave to You says

    November 29, 2008 at 8:51 am

    Perry Como. He used alot of string players too… Go figure.
    🙂

    Reply
  30. Kelly says

    November 29, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    most pretentious artists:

    #1 of all past, present and future artists Has got to be
    CELINE DION! I have never ever been able to stand
    that bitch.

    Reply
  31. pagan says

    November 30, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Celine Dion moved in with her Manager (Who is now her Husband!!!) When she was 13 with her parents permission!!! WTF! Even Tom Cruise is not that manipulative!

    Reply
  32. Will says

    December 1, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    eMusic’s great, Jeff. It’s certainly not a universal solvent, but good for bargain indie shopping–and classical and jazz, too, though I’m not sure that’s your bag. At the site, check out the “Dozens” feature–curations from the holdings by guest editors. Email me if you want to be my eMusic “friend.”

    Reply
  33. strangeart1 says

    December 1, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    What about the ass-wipe from “Smashing Pumpkins”? Can’t even recall his name-must have flushed it out with whatever other chemicals I had in my system in the 90’s….

    Reply
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