Sophie Says Sooth (2002.09.02): "Avoid graduation at all possible costs. This may sound crazy now, but by the time you're out of school for a year you'll know exactly what I'm talking about and you'll really start to miss caring about back-to-school sales. Enjoy this time while you can."

Sophie Says Sooth (2002.08.26): "When you call your children unexpectedly, do not express concern if they were out until 4, 5 or 6 AM. They are now the masters of their own bedtimes. If someone of the opposite sex answers the telephone at 7 AM on a Sunday, say nothing."

Sophie Says Sooth (2002.08.19): "It was once required that ten witnesses be present at a marriage ceremony to outsmart jealous demons. (I don't know who really thought this would work but let's play along for the sake of the story.) Bridesmaids dressed similarly to the bride and groomsmen's attire resembled the groom's in an attempt to confuse the spirits who wanted to harm the couple."


Silverchair / Diorama: "Musically, it is one of the best of the year. Rich orchestrations sweep across beautifully arranged songs, a feat quite remarkable for a band unaccustomed to such complex string and horn work. This is due, in part, to help from the legendary Van Dyke Parks, whose resume boasts such names as U2 and the Beach Boys."

Miniviews 2002.08.02: "While reining his noodling tendencies way in for the two Guided By Voices records released by TVT, his side projects exploded. The Fading Captain series, home to numerous collaborations and throw-away 7" singles, has probably had a release or three just since you started reading this piece."

Miniviews 2002.07.28: "If John Lennon and Yoko Ono had been in little-known power pop bands, then decided to do a record together with John's brother and a pseudonymous drummer for a Spanish label you've never heard of, Double Fantasy would've sounded a lot like Sound It Out."


San Diego Comic-con 2002: Part 1: "A lot of it sounded like standard conspiracy theory bullshit; I would like to believe him about the income taxes, though. Apparently it has something to do with the improper ratification of the 16th Amendment and taxing our privilege of earning money."

"Glamour Hose": A 14-piece photographic series from Natalie Meyer


"Pixel Worship": A new short narrative work from Aaron Veenstra





2002/08/02

More quick doses of musical knowledge to be dropped on you today. Come on in, join me in mourning trip-hop.
posted at 13:57


2002/08/01

More server problems today, so this update may not actually appear for a while.

I've been listening to the last Letters to Cleo album, Go!, quite a bit lately. In point of fact, I couldn't get to sleep for hours last night because the title track (3.1MB) was so thoroughly stuck in my head. Lead singer Kay Hanley's debut solo album is due in a couple weeks and I guess that's what's gotten me listening to the Cleos so much.

It's going to be an interesting thing to compare to Anna Waronker's solo debut, I think. Letters to Cleo and Anna's that dog. always seemed like complimentary acts to me, one going for studio gloss and Melrose Place soundtrack placement, the other going for rock edge and please-buy-it discount pricing on their final album. Kay sang Anna's "I Wish You Well" on the "Josie and the Pussycats" soundtrack, further cementing the link in my mind. I don't imagine Kay's record will include anything so confluential as Anna's own version of "I Wish You Well" but it'll definitely be interesting to see where her songwriting's gone in the five years she's been away.
posted at 15:45



2002/07/29

Don't get on Sophie's bad side. This week's column is loaded for bear and that's just the benefit of some poor letter writer.
posted at 13:07


2002/07/28

Because I've let myself get buried under new music without reviewing most of it, today you get the first of several handfuls of quick shot miniviews. This time out it's Avril Lavigne, Superdrag, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ze Malibu Kids and Anna Waronker.
posted at 17:16


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