I enjoyed his cover…
…of Daniel Johnston's "Like a Monkey in the Zoo"—but there ends my knowledge of him and his sound. Time for some online listening.

There's a movie…
…called TORSO?

Way to class this thread up with a Shakespeare reference, CW.

It's good to be serious sometimes, especially about serious things.

Oh man, EXPELLED was terrible. I can't remember the last time a movie left me so involuntarily pissed. But, yeah, 2008.

THAT LIST
is chipping away at the goodwill I gained for him INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS.

Zack Handlen…
…Jesus, man. That story is jaw-dropping. Just excruciating. Holy…

Well…their band name is awesome, anyway.

In Albuquerque,
we have Rage Against Martin Sheen.

THIS
is excellent. Every time I hear the Black Keys I'm reminded that I ought to be obsessed with them. And this collaboration really seems to work.

Just read their Wikipedia page. Maybe I'll give Phoenix another chance. I didn't know they had connections to Air and Daft Punk; I just wasn't crazy about their recent album, and have found that I like it less almost every time I hear it.

Prediction: Phoenix's music will not age well. Neither will Vampire Weekend's. Or most of these other frantically eclectic twee-pop outfits.

Fred is the absolute nadir of American popular culture. I can't recall anything else so instantly repugnant to me. It physically pains me; I've never even finished a video of his. There's no ironic value in it, even, because it's just so integrally wrong.

Wait, did I say "a Christmas present"? I meant "some poison."

I don't know why, but I have a strong desire to buy Fred a Christmas present. If I can find something suitably affordable something with quality.

I worship at the altar of IN THE AEROPLANE OVER THE SEA, but this year was a great year for music. I can barely recall a single week in which I didn't joyously discover some new musical treasure.

That Flaming Lips album has got to be the prettiest, most soothing thing I've ever heard. Now if only they could give a concert without talking for ten minutes between every song.

I don't think I bought ten new albums this year…
…which makes a counter-list impossible. I'll just wait for the best songs list.

Bangs' best—like his piece on the death of Elvis, or some of his writing on the Troggs and the Stooges—will live forever. But his rambling Beat influences are sometimes way, way too apparent.

Right on, Andy Pants—CONTROL was my absolute favorite as well. That performance was amazing.