Finished An Exaggerated Murder, which I ultimately liked, even as I didn't completely get it. I've never read Ulysses, so I didn't get any of the numerous references, and they never explain the motive behind the nonsensical crime. Still, the characters and writing made if very worthwhile.

I wrote pretty much this exact thjng before diving into the other comments.

Connor made season 4 of Angel nearly unbearable every time he showed his stupid face. When I rewatched the series a few years ago, I cussed at the TV every time he came onscreen. When I finally connected that Pete on Mad Men was played by the same actor, it all clicked into place why I also disliked that character so…

Yeah, I don't often laugh out loud, but Murray's first scrapbooking attempt had me going. The eyes!

Finally dove back in with Josh Cook's An Exaggerated Murder, which I started in July, but then just set aside for some unknown reason. I don't know how I feel about the overall plot, but the characters are quite entertaining and Cook has a way with a phrase. I don't have the book in front of me now for the exact…

Two awesome Curve tracks!

Dead Can Dance – Echolalia
The Brothers Johnson – Strawberry Letter #23
David Bowie – I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday
Ryan Adams – This House is Not For Sale
Camille – Waves (Live iTunes session)
David Bowie – I Pray, Ole
Queens of the Stone Age – Six Shooter
Ryan Adams – Wolves
Blessed Feathers – George Lassos the Moon
UUVVWW…

Yeah. Pretty much the first thing after I heard was grab my CDS for Station to Station through Scary Monsters, as that run of albums is incredible. His was the first celebrity death I've ever cried over.

No shuffle today, as I've been tuned in to the SiriusXM Bowie channel. All Bowie, all the time.

Reread The Hobbit, which just made me even more disappointed in the movie trilogy. Martin Freeman was such a perfect Bilbo, and they largely shunted his story aside. Oh, well

On Christmas day, I spent the morning rereading The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore, which is just delightful. Then last week, I finally got around to reading the graphic novel Blankets, thanks to the AV Club writeup in their Christmas column. Just beautiful.

Welcome back! And thanks for bringing The Smiths and Portishead with you.

No, I wasn't surprised, because some asshat on Facebook spoiled it for me beforehand. Grrr.

I'm not much of a fan of their music (other than Chant No. 1, which is awesome), and this documentary didn't change my mind about that, but it was still a really good look at the background for 80s new wave and an interesting story about the band themselves.

Sugar is such a great song.

I finished Ian Rankin's The Beat Goes On collection, and was glad I had both the UK and US editions; the US version had two extra stories that didn't make the earlier UK printing, but the UK version included a Rankin on Rebus section discussing how Rankin came to writing and started the Inspector Rebus series which…

Neko Case – Duchess
Moby – Ah-Ah
Big Chill soundtrack – JT Lancer Theme
Public Image Ltd. – Death Disco
Goldfrapp – Deer Stop (iTunes Live Session)
Peter Cook – Memoirs of a Miner, Pt. 2: “Sex and Violence Down the Mines”
Siouxsie & The Banshees – Tenant
New Order – Nothing But A Fool
Buddy & Bob – Soft Place in My Heart…

Gus Gus – Polybackwards
Bear in Heaven – They Dream
of Montreal – Widowsucking
Tori Amos – Professional Widow (Armand Van Helden’s Star Trunk Funkin’ Mix – Radio Edit)
Prince – Under the Cherry Moon
The Real Tuesday Weld – Love Sugar Blood
L7 – Shitlist
Franz Ferdinand – No You Girls [Live]
Mike Patton – Urlo Negro
Thea…

I've been continuing through Ian Rankin's The Beat Goes On, and only have a few short stories left. It's been a great read so far and, since several of the stories were written for Christmas issues of periodicals, also pretty timely.

Rick Springfield and Oak Ridge Boys are giving me serious flashbacks to my childhood.