when you're bored sitting at your computer, it's always hard to remember the links that people drop in conversation every now and then. today i got lucky and remembered that i was supposed to check out bushwatch.com (redirects to bushnews.com). i'm glad i did. i've been on such an awful anti-bush binge over the past few days that i've actually been overheard contemplating armed revolution (put on the back burner for now while i look into getting the clutch on my car fixed). if you have ever looked for a one-stop, "bush is a fuckin' moron" information depository, this place is the jackpot. give it a few reads. be a liberal. let your heart bleed.

and through that site i found this one. too damn bad that guy beat me to that idea. my personal favorite.

ever wonder why they already had that patriot act written, pre-9/11? hmmm…

so we have a new downstairs neighbor. it's kinda weird not having rob down there. he was always quiet and unassuming, and we never had any problems. sometimes rob and i would sit on the front porch with a few cans of beer and talk about whatever. it was nice. now we have a girl down there. a girl. the boy's club has been invaded.

to be honest, she's really nice and we both work for the same company, but still…a girl. i've already noticed scott going about strange new rituals like listening to his music with headphones on, so as to not disturb the new tenant. she's never even home, anyway. and she's one of those hippie type people. who knows if she'd even be bothered by us, anyway?

went to cahoots last night. hung out with the lady and william. john was there. big buck hunter was played. many digital deer were laid low. many high life's (high lives?) had their life essence drained from them. it was a wretched affair.

and now, after a great breakfast of french toast, i'm gonna sit here and try to work on the new double malt music site.

the operative word is try…

another week, another complete lack of anything to write about. i did go see gangs of new york. i guess that might be something. it was three hours long and daniel day lewis was awesome in it. that's about all i can really say about it.

75 or less has run a couple more reviews of mine over the past week. check out the seluah and the live neurosis write-ups. i also wrote a review for the hot charity reissue, but it looks like someone beat me to the punch. just for the sake of pleasing my own ego, i'm going to print my review here and then post a link to the other review.

rocket from the crypt – hot charity + cut and play (swami records)

i bought this record while i was supposed to be out christmas shopping, but since it was the season of giving, i decided to "give" myself a little holiday treat. it's no surprise that a reissue of older, out of print rocket records blew away their newest record with ease. tracks like "lorna doom" and "if the bird could fly" rock you so hard that you think you might crap your pants. after hearing this, you may change your new year's resolution to "throw this thing on repeat and ride around giving beer to homeless people."

and the pretender…

you decide.

just a quick check-in on my way to work…

one of my new reviews is up over on 75 or less. the lucky record getting reviewed: twenty years of dischord. i should have a bunch more reviews popping their heads up soon enough. i kinda went on a review writing binge the other night. keep your eyes peeled for 'em.

now i have to dash to work…

okay…new year. still haven't gotten around to some of the posts i planned on making last year. oh well…that's the way the cookie crumbles, i guess. maybe i'll make a new year's resolution to be more timely with these posts. or then again…maybe i won't…

so…let's kick the new year off by doing that thing everyone does: listing my top ten records of last year. here goes (in no particular order except the first one)…

hot snakes – suicide invoice
hands down the best rock record to come out last year. hell…for a couple of years, really. this thing will kick your ass up and down the street and still leave you begging for more.

rocket from the crypt – hot charity + cut and play
it's weird that a reissue of a couple of way out of print rocket records would be on this list while the proper album that they released around the same time is conspicuously missing. did i say weird? maybe i meant…fitting.

the flaming lips – yoshimi battles the pink robots
tripped out space rock/pop about giant pink robots and a little japanese girl that fights them. this record made me smack my head and say "oh yeah…i really like the flaming lips."

wilco – yankee hotel foxtrot
i almost shouldn't count this record since i've had it since 2001, but since it was actually released this past year, i'll allow it. wilco steps up to the plate and refuses to be pigeonholed as "alt-country." an awesome record with enough depth and a wide enough range of sounds to keep even me entertained.

queens of the stone age – songs for the deaf
skullcrushing stoner metal with grohl back behind a drum kit. throw in mark lanegan (ex-screaming trees, an old guilty pleasure) and you have a bona-fide rock masterpiece. now where'd i put that bong?

neurosis – live in lyon, france 11.02.99
the first in (hopefully) a long series of "official" bootlegs from the best live band to ever roam the earth. the sound comes across just as huge on the cd as it does in person.

nirvana – nirvana
who'd think that i'd put a whole record on this list just for one song? well…that song is just that damn good. the other 13 tracks are no slouches, either. damn any of us that forgot that nirvana rocks harder than six hookers on pcp.

shipping news – variegated
the last in the limited run of eps with handmade packaging, this one clocks in as the best of the bunch. throw kyle crabtree's track "haymaker" on repeat and feel the rock.

the roots – phrenology
the roots do rock the old school way. ?uestlove and black thought deliver the album that i've been waiting a few years for, and boy do they do it with style. this should be on everyone's "must-have" list.

the dillinger escape plan – irony is a dead scene
four insanely crushing and elaborate songs from the kings of schizo-core. throw in mike patton on lead vocals and a aphex twin cover and you've got a smokin' little ep that hits you straight out of left field.

there you have it…my top ten. take it or leave it.