Shoegazer Sunday: Pale Saints’ “Sight of You”

January 1st, 2012

Pale Saints of Leeds were among the original UK Shoegaze wave of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

This is off their debut album The Comforts Of Madness. I could do without the noodly part at the very end…

As a Golden Retriver Owner, This Made Me Smile

December 31st, 2011

At over three and a half million hits since December 22, I’m obviously not the only one.

Happy New Year, everyone!

A Winter’s Day in a Deep and Dark December

December 30th, 2011

Well, not so much. It’s 72° here in Austin right now. But this was running through my head, so I thought I would share.

Too bad it cuts off at the end. I prefer the guitar part on the studio version, but Art’s voice is quite lovely here.

Boxing Day: Nils Lofgren’s “No Mercy”

December 26th, 2011

For this year’s Boxing Day, here’s two live versions of Nils Lofgren’s “No Mercy,” one acoustic, one electric:

What do you mean I’m doing it wrong?

Shoegazer Sunday: Laboratory Noise’s “Things That Fall From The Sky”

December 25th, 2011

Since the band themselves were kind enough to comment when I posted their previous song, I’m happy to give them more exposure for “Things That Fall From The Sky” (another one off their debut album When Sound Generates Light), especially since it’s rather good.

And there are few Shoegazer songs that don’t benefit from a pretty, whispy-voiced female lead singer, which Kerry Ramsay (if I have the name right) provides here. She sounds a bit like Slowdive’s Rachel Goswell (always a good thing), with maybe a touch of Alison Shaw from Cranes.

A Christmas Story, in 30 Seconds, With Bunnies

December 24th, 2011

Pretty much self-explanatory.

Thanks, Angry Alien!

And a Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Austin: Christmas on 37th Street

December 22nd, 2011

It’s that time of year. If you haven’t been to the Austin’s 37th Street display of lights, this video from illustrator Doug Potter gives you an idea of what it’s like.

Merry Christmas!

Recipe for Frustration

December 20th, 2011

1. Have flat wheelbarrow wheel.
2. Buy solid, never-go-flat replacement wheel.
3. Unscrew bolts holding on flat wheel.
4. Wrench flat wheel off axle with difficulty.
5. Be unable to remove rotatory cuff for old wheel that has fused to axle, and thus be unable to replace old wheel with new wheel, which has its own rotatory cuff.
6. Just when the trees finally decide to shed their leaves.
7. Be unable to find a suitable replacement axle anywhere online.

Shoegazer Sunday: Laboratory Noise’s “Here, She Is Evergreen”

December 18th, 2011

Today’s dollop of Shoegaze goodness comes from Laboratory Noise. Love the band name. The YouTube description says they hail from Manchester, the birthplace of classic Shoegaze, but their bio says they hail from nearby Bradford instead.

Their debut album, When Sound Generates Light, is available through Amazon.

Finally, a Christmas Film I Can Get Behind

December 16th, 2011

A Very Calvin & Hobbes Christmas