Yes!

Ok, so let's start this record collection rundown. I am going to start at the end of the alphabet because I have yet to upload the pictures from the first half.

L-R, T-B:
1)Various Artists: Globestyle Worldwide Your Guide
2)The Who: Who's Next
3)Wings: Wings Across America
4)YES: 90125

1) This album is SO good. I got it from UCLAradio.com because they didn't want it anymore. They are missing out. I got it because the title was just so great and rhyme-y. Ooh, assonance! The standout tracks are Ofra Haza's "Yachilvi Veyachali" and Dissidenten & Lem Chaheb's "Inshalla - Kif Kif." Now let me delight you with some text from the back of the sleeve. About Haza: "String sections, samplers, electro and traditional yemenite percussion (including petrol can) .... Also available is 'Galbi' -- the first Yemenite tradtional 12" club mix??" Andddd, "What next from Globestyle? More of the same aka more of the different! Worldwide - Your Guide!"

2) I don't know where I got this one, but it was originally owned by someone named "Lee." I actually don't listen to it too frequently, but it's a solid pick with "Baba O'Riley" and "Won't Get Fooled Again," of course. The Decca label on the LP itself is way nice, very colorful.

3) This has 3 records in it. I inherited it from one of my parents. I have listened to it only once. Nothing really to say about this one.

4) This has "Owner of a Lonely Heart." It doesn't have the one YES song I actually like -- "Roundabout." I bought it at Rhino (my favorite, now-extinct record store) for 49 cents. 90125 is its original catalog number, not a zip code. If you type it into google maps, you get Palermo, Italy.

No Scrubs

I went to a record store today to ask for a job. The last time I was at this store, there were maybe four other people. Today, there were at least a hundred people (88% old men). Turns out, their huge sale is happening right now unbeknownst to me, obviously a bad time to ask for a job. No big deal; I'll go back next week and I bought nine records for three dollars!

Anyways, as I was searching through the "12" Singles" category, I found TLC's "No Scrubs" and was excited. This is an example (although not as much so) of a recent phenomenon. Songs that I did not like, even some songs that I could not stand, now are viewed with much greater appreciation. I don't think this is due to a change in taste, rather those songs now fit into my continual nostalgia. This nostalgia is usually for things before my time but seems to be expanding now to my elementary school years.

So, even that is not the point of this post. The point of this post is the old man who was tremendously excited for me finding that record. This man, who was roughly 6'2", almost entirely bald, hunched over, and probably in his late -60s to mid-70s, appeared behind me out of nowhere pointing to the album on top of my pile saying "oh, you like that, too?! I love that song. TLC. So bluesy. I own the blah blah blah blah edition. I also bought the blah blah blah when it was first released. So good!" He went on for probably a full five minutes. Spectacular.

Title

Look at me, actually posting more than once a week again! wooo. Anyways, I took this video in early 2006. But it is now 2008, and flickr has video hosting. woooo (again). Erica, pay close attention. Oh yeah, the details = LA Chinatown Chinese New Year celebration in early 2006.

Brotherly Love.

Dear Robert Carmine,

Why are you everywhere I go? I would much prefer it if your brother was everywhere I go. Can you make that small change for me?

Thanks,
Laura

P.S. Swingers, your cupcakes are good, but four dollars good? No way.
P.P.S. Why do all jukeboxes eat my change?

"Some Fwend, Mostly Chef"

Dear Daniel Boulud,

I really like your programme (yes, I know I spelled it programme), After Hours with Daniel. I also really like the way you pronounce your name like Danielle. However, I really can't handle this sudden influx of Grey Goose advertising during your show. It's beyond product placement now. I was okay with the constant ads and even fine with the constant close-ups on the bottles. But now you have gone too far! Don't get me wrong; I would love to be your best friend and perhaps marry one of your chefs de cuisine, Olivier. You randomly yelling out "that Grey Goose is great, eh?" in the middle is just really bothersome and distracting. Please stop.

Thanks in advance,
Laura

Dear Bloomingdales,
This is incredibly unsatisfactory photography.
You have shamed yourself,
Laura

Knuckles

Guess what? I have a midterm tomorrow (er, today). So it's perfectly logical that I would choose to write an entry now, right? This is just a quick preview of a new feature of this blog: an expedition through Laura's Record Collection. Perhaps I will come up with a witty title for real entries, but this is doubtful. Anyways, to give you a sneak preview of the wonders that this feature will reveal, check out this gem:
Explosive Honky Tonk by Knuckles O'Reilly! Obviously, I bought this record because of the album art. You must admit it is amazing, especially the random vessel/vase/thing behind him, which could be so many things, perhaps a spittoon? I can't remember exactly where I bought this record; it may have been from the old guy who sets up a table on campus and tries to pretend like he's giving me such a good deal by selling records for two dollars, when he always sells them for two dollars. He may be forgetful, but I am not!

Anyways, if I did, in fact, buy this one from him, the record was well worth the two dollars. The music does also not disappoint, especially the strong start--"Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis"--the great song from 1904 which is prominently featured in the Judy Garland movie, Meet Me in St. Louis.

Recommended listening time: sunny afternoons! Perhaps whilst watering plants. Or whilst drinking a weird lime-infused concoction.

'Eye Nosh'

Woooo, on LAist again!

Update: Also, people, I would say at least seven men, are currently singing that soccer Ole Ole Ole Ole song very loudly somewhere nearby. Oh, college.

Anddddd, Jon Brion!

Also, I just love the way Jon Brion comes up in things randomly. Like everyone is just saying whatever and the only fitting conclusion to everything is Jon Brion-related. Even the FollowThatOstrich-approved Robyn Hitchock did so (in an answer to question on a blog post I found through hypemachine in a completely unrelated search--woo internet!):

the gig in this pub in East London. And I think we did ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ there…possibly with Jon Brion; I know he was in town. I love digging that one up at parties.

By the way, I was going to acronym Follow That Ostrich into FTO, like Erica acronyms Read Dance Bliss into RDB, but then I googled FTO and saw it was Foreign Terrorist Organization and decided that might not be the best idea.

You should be happy I don't have a picture attached to this post.

So, uh, er, I just watched the guy from Man Vs. Wild eat a yak's eyeball and have liquid spew out of the eye whilst it's in between his teeth. I didn't want to watch that, David Letterman! Why'd you have to show that clip?! Cringe! oy. Boo you.