elvis is dead and I don't feel so good myself

all right, so it’s been a few days. and I’ve missed some stuff. but ti-i-i-i-me ain’t on my side (no it’s not).

the day job has become even more restrictive. not only has the access to personal e-mail disappeared (months ago), but now I can’t even access this very site and access to my occasional blog feature at the Voice has been gone about as long as the personal e-mail.

and that’s just one of the things I missed.

Nicole Atkins and the Sea (they sold out the Bowery Ballroom last Friday night) is up (and has been) on Possibly 4th Street (supposedly there’s more video which might actually launch one day).

I was at the Bowery myself last night taking pics (I must be rusty – didn’t come out with much that I liked) at the first of two Vampire Weekend shows (also hard sell-outs) to celebrate the release of their eponymous debut album this week (my favorite cut is “Oxford Comma”).

which means that the Vampire Weekend ‘backlash’ is already being discussed.

today’s Voice and the online edition of New York mag both broach the topic, the yeas and nays if you will.

last Sunday’s Times piece, “A Night Out With . . .”, will definitely make you lean towards the nay camp.

but it’s a nice, catchy disc.

don’t know that the infinite Paul Simon Graceland "Afro-pop" references aren’t just a little too easy (it's more pop than Afro for one thing) as I believe there’s a strong possiblity that these guys aren’t really any heavier than Bow Wow Wow, Haircut 100 or the English Beat. you know, kind of a West Indian sound filtered through working class Britain (or in this case Columbia University).

but it’s not like that’s going to hurt anybody.

I’m interviewing John Darnielle (a.k.a. Mr. Mountain Goat) on Friday afternoon for a March piece in Philadelphia Weekly. haven’t written for that paper in a while and it’s an assignment I’m looking forward to. though, as is often the case with veteran acts, I’m having a lot of difficulty narrowing my focus already. just so much to talk about. and, of course, it helps that the Mountain Goats’ new album, Heretic Pride (out on February 19th), is a good one (some strong discs out already this year), one I can recommend (pick cuts here are “San Bernadino” and “Lovecraft in Brooklyn”).

so for the past week pretty much all I’ve listened to is either Vampire Weekend or Heretic Pride.

last movie I ever saw: Reign Over Me (lots of all over the place reviews of this one. I don't know that it necessarily helps to have a particular connection to NYC in the days of 9/11 (like being here), but it'd probably make one's reaction, good or bad, more intense. uneven? sure. simplistic? at times. Liv Tyler's part and her portrayal of it, for example, could be improved upon greatly, and I liked the movie better before seeing the special feature with writer/director/actor Mike Binder. but like it or not, this is some pretty powerful stuff. definitely worth a look. four out of five)

the one before that: The Notorious Bettie Page (fine. good. acceptable. no biggie. three out of five)

Rudy Giuliani is expected to depart the Republican presidential race today and John Edwards is expected to fold up camp on the Democratic side.

and my friend Will Kimbrough hits town today for a live radio thingie at WFUV this afternoon. tomorrow night (earlyish) he’s got a set at the Living Room. which is where we’ll be.

please don’t break into our apartment while we’re gone.