Distraction 186: Pirate Radio aka The Boat That Rocked

This trailer kind of sucks because it makes it sound as though the movie is about some American dude saving rock n roll in the UK, and it's not.   That said, this movie is wonderful! 


Depending on where you are in the world, it's either called "Pirate Radio" or "The Boat That Rocked."   Rhys Darby steals the show and is second only to the soundtrack.

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Distraction 184: Tom Jones - "It's Not Unusual"

We watched "Mars Attacks" on the 4th of July and this song has been stuck in my head ever since.






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Distraction 181: Gorillaz - "Superfast Jellyfish"

If you get the chance to check out Gorillaz live, DO IT!


They were in the Bay Area last year, the night before Halloween and it was one of the best shows I've ever been to.




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Distraction 180: The World's First Tickling Spa

Make your reservations now!  The world's first tickling spa is now open in Spain.  I'm not sure if it's meant to relax or torture.

As I was imagining what the place must be like, Tex Avery's "Shhhh!" popped into mind; about a poor jittery man just trying to relax, despite the crazy folk in the room next door.  It's based off of "The Laughing Record #1," originally from Okeh records, but can also be found on the cd "Only in America" from Arf! Arf! Productions.

Distraction 178: Sulic & Hauser

It's not often that the terms "bad ass" and "celloists" are used together in the same sentence, but Sulic & Hauser are some BAD ASS CELLOISTS!!!






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Distraction 173: Run-D.M.C. - "It's Tricky"

Not much is more fun than singing along to this with a 6 year old.






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Distraction 172: The Death Set - "Can You Seen Straight?"

I've always been a sucker for power pop punk songs, and this is no exception.  La-la-love it!


It's slightly reminiscent of "Ca Plane Pour Moi" (but this video is way better and I suspect won't look nearly as dated 20 years from now).




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Distraction 170: The Suicide Machines - "Sometimes I Don´t Mind"

Aw, a song for the doggies... and the ages!  :)

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Distraction 169: Chris Isaak - "Wicked Game"

Eee-yow!  Still one of the sexiest songs/videos ever.




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Distraction 167: Asobi Seksu - "Trails"

I stumbled on Asobi Seksu a few years ago while putting together a list of songs with titles featuring the days of the week.  I couldn't think of a "Thursday" so on a whim searched for it on iTunes.  Sure enough, there it was.  




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Distraction 162: The Stone Roses - "She Bangs The Drums"

Still not sure why "I Wanna Be Adored" got more attention than this song; this one is SO MUCH BETTER!!

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Distraction 157: Stump - "Charlton Heston"

23 years later and it's still one of the strangest, most wonderful songs ever.


"Lights!  Camel!  Action!"




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Distraction 154: Gil Scott-Heron - "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised"

Rest in peace Gil Scott-Heron.

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Distraction 152: Goober & the Peas - "Hot Women (Cold Beer)"

Good times.  :)






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Distraction 150: Lykke Li - "Love Out Of Lust"

Testimonial:  I purchased this album recently and have found it to be enjoyable through and through.




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Distraction 143: Ride - "OX4" Remembrance

One of the best unofficial videos I've ever seen. Love this song.

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Distraction 141: My Favorite Python

I love Michael Palin; favorite member of Monty Python (sorry Terry Gilliam), actor, writer, reality show traveler and oh, so cute & wacky!!


"Yes, I love the ocean...  God, how I... how I love her.  She's so... so damn..."
"Wet."
"Wet, yes.  Yes.  So damn, damn... wet."


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Distraction 140: The International Silver String Submarine Band

These kids are pretty good on their junkyard instruments, but I wonder how they would do pitted against Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids band...  Fat Albert plays one hell of an airbag radiator.  Nah, nah, nah, gonna have a good time!

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Distraction 139: TV On The Radio - "Killer Crane"

R.I.P. Gerard Smith



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Distraction 138: Breaking Up With Your Favorite Bands

The All Songs Considered blog has an entertaining post about the different categories of break-ups people have with their favorite bands:

"1. Band You Really Thought You Had Something With — They Said They'd Call But You Never Heard From Them Again
This is a relationship that never quite gets off the ground. It's over before it's begun. For me, this is Neutral Milk Hotel or My Bloody Valentine. They put out an amazing record, you get excited about the great life you're going to have together, but then you never hear from them again. What happened? Was it something I said?


2. Your Best Friend's Girlfriend Or Boyfriend You Secretly Want To Hook Up With

I see all my friends with My Morning Jacket, and I think, "I so want to hook up with My Morning Jacket!" They make loving My Morning Jacket look so awesome. Then we finally get together and it's a total disappointment. Basically, it's bands you want to love because everyone else you respect loves them, but it's never what you thought it'd be.


3. The Rebound: Bands You Start To Date After Everyone Else Is Through With Them
When early Weezer fans broke up with the band (around the time Make Believe came out, or possibly sooner), you know there was a whole new group of fans that discovered them for the first time. Early Radiohead fans broke up with the band when OK Computer or Kid A came out, but that's when I started to love them.


4. Band You Broke Up With, Then Got Back Together
I broke up with R.E.M. about 10 years ago when the band released Reveal. I never thought we'd get back together. But then R.E.M. released this year's Collapse Into Now and I found myself falling back in love. I broke up with Bright Eyes for a few years, but then the band returned this year with one of the most amazing albums I've ever heard (The People's Key), and I was head-over-heels in love again.


5. Band That Broke Up With You
This is a band that says it's done with you before you're ready to end it. I really thought The White Stripes and I would spend the rest of our lives together. Then, a couple of months ago, the band told me it was ready to move on. I'm still heartbroken over the breakup."

I broke up with REM quite a while back.  We simply grew apart over the years.  I still look back on those wonderful IRS and early Warner days fondly, but ever since "Monster," things were just never the same.  I wish them well, appreciate all of what they've given me and when I run into them, I always smile and wonder what could have been.

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