French and Saunders Do America

WHAT DO YOU DO when you've already created a pop culture touchstone? If you're Jennifer Saunder, you put down that last "Absolutely Fabulous" martini and start a show called "French and Saunders." It's British and hasn't crossed the pond, but M recently had linked me to this clip, and it's phenomenal.

"Come Stateside, ladies," I thought. "I beg you."

Jodie and Jordan Peel a Potato

"You lucky bitch."

And then I found this clip and I realized why they haven't crossed the pond. They already know America so well - what would be the point?

Jill and Jo's American Retirement

"There's only one size here... BIG!"

The National - "Mistaken For Strangers"

THE NATIONAL, an indie rock outfit from New York, recently released their moody and fantastic album, Boxer. A lot of the reviews talked about how the album is a slow-opener, which is to say that you have to listen to it a few times before it reveals itself to you. I disagree. It hooked me immediately, and I think it ranks up there with the best indie rock releases of 2007.

"Mistaken for Strangers" is representative the album's tone. It's brooding and stylish, with a strong forward propulsion and a subtle but memorable hook. I love the way Matt Berninger's vocals rides the baseline, the way the drum beat is relentless, and the way the chorus grabs you without falling into the standard "quiet-loud-quiet" formula.

The lyrics also hit home. The song is about the way people deflate and acquiesce their way into adulthood; the drum and bass line capture that the transformation to your adult self can feel sort of inevitable, inescapable. About six months into my first job, I was spreading mayo on a sandwich for lunch and all of a sudden it hit me that this was the new life - making five sandwiches a week for the next 40 years. I think I've gained a lot in the years since college - perspective, certainly - but sometimes I wonder what was lost.

Anyway, the video is of the low budget "watch the rock band play their music" variety, and isn't much to write home about. In fact, I would recommend plugging in your headphones and listening to the song without the visual, as the song creates an atmosphere and a depth that the video works against by being rather claustrophobic.

The National - "Mistaken For Strangers"

"Another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults"

Do you like fajitas and other Tex-Mex specialties?

Stevie Nicks Fajita Round-Up

"There you go again you say you want burritos."

And because I found this when looking for the first clip, a beautiful, backstage jam from 1981 by the actual Stevie Nicks. The album version of this song is sort of a shambly, shapeless mess, but the clip shows that there's a gorgeous song in there somewhere.

Stevie Nicks - "Wild Heart"

"Don't blame it on me. Blame it on my wild heart."

Feist - "I Feel It All"

LAST WEEK I POSTED a couple of videos off of Feist's easy-to-remember album, The Remainder. I like the songs I posted, but I was wishing hard that I could post a song off the album called "I Feel It All." The song highlights my favorite things about her voice - the way it can envelope those high notes, and really sink into the middle range. The way it naturally sounds like you're hearing her off a well-loved record.

And then my wish was granted. Last night, she performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live. To make matters more awesome, she performed it on a municipal bus. I'm not sure whether it's just this clip, the bus lights, or if the show used a filter, but I love the golden tone - it gives the clip an appropriate late-70s vibe, as if she was somehow projecting forward from the past.

Feist - "I Feel It All"

The wheels on the bus go 'round

In which I entertain preposterous American Idol fantasies

LAKISHA JONES WAS ELIMINATED from American Idol Season 6 a few weeks ago, but I can't get her rendition of Bon Jovi's "This Ain't a Love Song" out of my skull. She blows the roof off. Simon was so impressed that after Randy quit "Yo Yo Yo-ing" and Paula stopped saying that her voice was sparklepants and the special-est unicorn rainbow, he kissed her.

I downloaded the Bon Jovi version, but she just demolishes it. I can't even listen to the original. I load this puppy up and sing my face off, fists pumping, arms stretching out, face all screwed up and feeling it too too much.

Please watch for the "I'm selling this bitch tonight" face at the 2:00 mark.

LaKisha Jones - "This Ain't A Love Song"

A little somethin' somethin'?

Dan Deacon - "Crystal Cat"

THE INTERNETS RIGHT NOW are all about Dan Deacon, an electronic artist from Baltimore. Deacon is known for his bat crazy live performances, and for his recently released album, Spiderman of the Rings. The music is propulsive and frenetic, with references to Devo and Talking Heads. The video is unsafe for even the mildest of epileptics, and it makes you wish you were wearing 3-D glasses, not only because it would blow your mind, but because you get the impression that all the cool kids should be wearing them. And a full-body tiger costume.

Don't everyone go for Deacon's buddha belly all at once. I'm looking at you, J.

Dan Deacon - "Crystal Cat"

"Get your dance dance on."

We can break these things because we have before

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I went away to a summer writing camp. At the end of the program, we pulled together a compilation of the writing we did that summer, and titled it, "I can break these things because I have before." Although the writing was, for the most part, high school angst poured into high school prose and poetry, I've always thought the title's sentiment was beautiful.

I came out a few years later, and although I was blessed to have a relatively uneventful coming out process, the decision to come out was incredibly hard. Today, when I'm going through a tough spot, I remember that I've faced down bigger demons, and came out better for it.

With everything our country is going through, sometimes I wonder why we don't take a stand more often. Maybe it's because we don't think we'd be effective, or that in the long run it really doesn't matter. Maybe it's because we don't live in a world of clear rights and wrongs. This video, set to the song "Hold On" by Mavis Staples, is a reminder that if we stopped paying lip service to change, stopped spending our nights and weekends in the office or at the bar, and actually tried to make it happen, we could do tremendous good.

Mavis Staples - "Eyes on the Prize"

"Keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on."

What the eff, David Blaine?

IMAGINE PUNK'D, but with David Blaine, and David Blaine's creepy demon eyes staring directly into your soul.

(Thanks A!)


"Stop putting orange soda in our mouths!"

Feist - The Remainder

MY BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP, and I'm hoping that when I show up at the bar, an impromptu dance breaks out along the lines of this video. It's happy, hand-clapping good time. The video practically radiates hippy joy... plus it has sparkly, color coordinated jumpsuits!

The song, by Feist, is called "1234" and it's the second single off her new album, The Remainder. Feist, aka Leslie Feist, sang the song "Mushaboom," which was a minor sensation about two years ago. Her voice is a gorgeous instrument, and even in happy-sounding songs like this one, it has a heartbroken edge. "1234" feels like a day early on in the summer when you want to sit under a fan because the air feels so good and you just want more of it. Fans of Jose Gonzales or the Kings of Convenience will approve.

Feist - "1234"

"I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony."

And for good measure, here's the first single off the album, "My Moon My Man." I love this woman; she's not a great dancer, but she doesn't give two shits and just wants walk to the beat. The video reminds me of what you would want to have happen if the song came on your iPod when you were walking through the airport.

Feist - "My Moon My Man"

"What do you mean, I'm strutting?"

Planet Unicorn, Episode Three

THE LATEST PLANET UNICORN episode just popped up, and I know you're excited to see it.

Also, watch in amazement as I use my newfound blogger skills and assist you watching Episodes 1 and 2. <-- Look at that hyperlink, man!

Episode 3

"It's fun!" "I like to have fun!"