I Like The Fiery Furnaces And So Should You.

Well, this is the brother and sister duo The Fiery Furnaces. "I learn to sleep standing up so I don't have to make the bed." Brilliant!

Monkey Presents: Milestones in American Sociology Pt.1

Happy 65th Birthday to Mick Jagger.

The British Empire is dead - Long live Ray Davies.

Last night in Portland, Ray Davies played at a lovely venue called The Crystal Ballroom. Yours truly was first in line (a first for me), with the lovely Djinn (see A Dizzy Life), soon followed by a guy from New Jersey who appeared to be the biggest Kinks fan in the USA. He and his girl had travelled from the east coast, through Canada and down to Portland following every stop on the tour. For anyone who doesn't remember, The Kinks were one of the first British Invasion bands of the early sixties with hits like "You Really Got Me", "All Day and All Of The Night". Later they became one of the more entertaining bands of the early seventies with occasional hits such as "Lola" and "Celluloid Heroes." Anyway, Ray was the singer and songwriter, along with his brother Dave on guitar. Over the years Ray Davies has written an absurd number of brilliant songs, many of them performed at this show. He is without a doubt in the upper pantheon of songwriters from any era. Witness this clip of him performing one of his best songs.

How to reinterpret Bob Dylan, display effortless lyricism on the guitar; wear orange successfully and charm the pants off everyone in 1967:

Very brief toast to "BLACK BOOKS"

Marc Chagall & Plastic Bertrand

Happy Birthday Marc Chagall (who's dead). This song will celebrate all that is, uh... French Art?
This works for me:


Ca plane pour moi.

Wham! Bam! my cat Splash
lies on my bed with his tongue puffed out
by drinking all my whisky.
As for me, not enough sleep, drained, persecuted,
I had to sleep in the gutter
where I had a flash
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
in four colours

Allez-oop! One morning
a darling came to my home,
a cellophane puppet with Chinese hair,
a plaster, a hangover,
drank my beer in a large rubber glass
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
like an Indian in his igloo

This works for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me
This work for me
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This works for me

Allez-oop! The chick***, what a gas!
what a vibration!
to be sent on the door mat
filed, ruined, drained, filled
You are the King of the divan!
she says to me in passing
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
I am the King of the divan

This works for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me
This workss for me
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This works for me

Allez-oop! Don't mind, don't worry
Don't affect me
It’s not today
that the sky will fall on my head
and I'll be without glue
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This life’s for me

Allez-oop! my chick has gone away,
flew away, finally had enough, to break
the sink, the bar, leaving me alone
like a complete jerk
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
I've put my foot in it

This works for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me
This workss for me
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
This works for me
This workss for me, this works for me
This works for me me me me me

So young. Neil Young - Out On The Weekend.

This song is miraculous perfection: JUDEE SILL - THE KISS

No translation required.