RUNNING TO STAND STILL

First things first, I am days away from hearing Art Brut's new, Frank-Black-produced record. SO FUCKING STOKED. New Brut eye candy:


I love the Brut, and if the tricklings of stories from their Oregon trail of a recording experience are anything to go on, this record will be just as smile-inducing as their past output, and lord knows we could all use some smiles.

That said, in an attempt to either be contrary or energized, I've been watching a ton of horror movies lately. I finally got around to seeing that Alaska-based vampire flick, 30 Days of Night. Sad to say, it falls under the category of amazing concept/crap film (Cloverfield being another recent, glaring example of such). Maybe it's cuz I can't get past the image of Josh Hartnett banging a girl in the window across the street from Hanger Bar, but I could not take him seriously as the star of such a stark film. Credit points for featuring some seriously scary vampires and for giving me a whole lot to think about in my dreams (namely the metaphorical connection between a top-of-the-world town like Barrow, Alaska and their 30 days of snowed-in darkness, and...).

In happy news, Andrea bullied me out of the house to meet her and Mark's bundle of joy.


How freakin adorable is their baby girl??? We got along great. I'm gonna teach her how to DJ. We're gonna open up for Ash on their next tour. Karenplusone and Millerminushamilton. Shit's gonna rule.


Yeah, she was bummed when I had to leave. Anyway, one more point for now - I was re-watching that amazing VH1 Classic miniseries 7 Ages of Rock, and was struck by a clip of REM performing "Radio Free Europe." Ok, so like, I knew we all (we being our friends and the rock press alike) give Roddy shit for being sooo Michael Stipe... but like, wow:



(Here's a lil Idlewild for comparison):



Have I ever mentioned how much I love Idlewild? So much more so than REM, fyi, btw, ttyl.