blood for oil

General update on the whopping two topics previously mentioned.
Re: below entry. Guys who were standing in front of us at Cracker show videotaping posted almost entire show online: cracker.vontay.com. Despite early promises, I'm not sure if we'll see the last four songs. I've created audio from the video and am sated. Was going through semi-crises before that show concerning purchasing of music--keeping abreast with the world and pitchfork, or setting into the comfort of the ark already constructed. Cracker tipped the scales to the comforts. Actually, they gave the first push, but the discovery of archive.org really toppled things. archive.org is my new best friend. That and my good ol' computer speakers (del oso). Now that 97x is back in my life, I don't have to stress as much about not hearing anything new.
Of course, none of this has prevented new cd purchases. I did cave to Joe Pernice's sweet charms and now have a rockin' 42 minutes of sugar. And the winner is...Wait to Stop. Also ordered up Arcade Fire from Merge, finally. Kudos to Merge on availability of streaming audio. I have just become living proof that listening to music online does not cut into CD sales. Also see M.I.A., which even Amber is kickin'. Other CD news = found a used copy of Black Light, well worth the pesos. And que onda Guero?? I just don't know. I can't shake the sadness about that one.

Abbeyfest: Currently on Monkey Wrench. Went through Slickrock and Cactus Country (lively reads, but obviously for the cash), and Black Sun, which does work quite well, despite all the rash fcking. Moving tribute by Bowden, altogether a well packaged read. It's amazing how frontloaded the fiction is in the bibliography--after Monkey Wrench, the thunder begins. Brief inner debate on reading Abbey in constant circuit--perhaps adding a third to the back and forth.

Of course, the big news, The News, concerns Upton Sinclair. I knew PTA had it in him, and if it does come to pass, it is going to rain some fcking black gold judgement all over the screen in a wonderful way. No sense in the usual bandying about for how it will play--it will kick all your asses and mine through the seat. And with the DDL? Me-ow.

Anyway, some things on the horizon to keep tabs on--Hotlanta and Slickrock being chief among them. Amber also owes me a hike on Sunday, so we'll see if the soul gets enough salve.

Away with your pixies, vaya con Russ

jwk