Bought a vinyl copy of Either/or on ebay. Wonder if it makes it across the atlantic in one piece... Bought a 7'' previosly that made it, so hopefully.. Don't have shipping insurance.
I love ebay. Or.. It's a love-hate relationship. Love it because I find so many cheap wonderful things.. and it is deliverd to my house. Hate it because loads of cheap wonderful things=the sudden dissaperance of money from my account.. Always surprised to find that I barely have enough to pay the rent.. I mean, I've hardly taken the visa card out of my wallet...
It's easier to resist when in you're in stores, because of the whole having to hand over the money - or taking out the card and punching the code.. Here, thank's to PayPal, you just have to press the buy button..
It's evil - it's addictive - it's fantastic..
Evil consumerism. Why do I have this need to constantly buy things.. Looking for a new laptop - even though my pc is working perfectly fine, well almost perfectly fine.. I'm just sick of the lack of storage on it.. so throw it out - buy a new one.. Do not need, do not need... But I WANT!!
I guess with the money I earn by being a TA on the field course this month, and getting free food there - I can almost afford it.. (Just have to not eat the rest of the time - which actually would be a good thing. Evil sugar and fat - why do you have to be so tasty..) Also going home to my parents for a month in the summer, so I'll be saving some money on food there too.. but I still have to pay rent.. Crap.. Fuck money.

I joined a book club just to get a cute little retro radio for free.. It was cuter in the picture than in reality (actually it looks as cheap as it was..) It will probably end up costing me a lot too. I am horrible when it comes to remembering to cancel the book of the month.. Remembered this month though:) The stupid thing about this bookclub is that - like this month - I want to read the book, it's the new one from Nick Hornby, but I don't want the translated version.
But anyway, the radio - the first thing that plays on it when I turn it on is Mona Lisa by Grant-Lee Phillips. That must be a good sign :)

So my professor wasn't to happy with me not having been at school for the last three days.. Not pleased that I left early to go see Magnet at an in-store concert either.. He's beginning to get on my nerves, my professor that is.. But when I think about it, I guess he's right. I should work harder.. Never going to finish in time..
But let's forget about that and focus on what's important. Good music.
Magnet is brilliant. And although he only played 5 songs (3 new(Duracellia, The Pacemaker, Fall At Your Feet(I think), 2 old(On your side and I forget the last one)) it was well worth the dissapointing look I got when I left the lab early. Everyone should buy The Tourniquet. I think it's his best one yet.. Granted it haven't had time to really sink in yet. But so far - loving it!
It's a tiny recordstore, so I was wondering how they were going to fit him and a crowd in there. The others I've been to have been in a big two-story store.. But it worked - it was only him, a nice looking guitar and two speakers in a corner - and only about 35 people watching. Why were there not more people coming to see this brilliant, and surprisingly short, man..
The positive thing about the tiny crowd was that there were no freakishly tall people blocking the view. Well, maybe they were, but he was kind enough to ask all the people in front to sit down. (What a nice, thoughtful guy..) Also got him to sign the cd. I've never bothered trying to get anything signed before. Not one for standing in neverending lines, or outside hotels, just to get to meet, or see, someone famous. Never understood the joy of autographs either.. ok, not completly true.. collected a few in my younger days.. but I mean, it's just their signature..or not even that. I remember some of the ones I got was just like a swirly inkline.. But since the line was pretty short, I had bought the cd, and he had a silver sharpie in his hand - I got him to deface his cd cover.. (Also it's nice to get too meet someone you admire just to say how much you appreciate their work..)


Even Johansen a.k.a Magnet

Signed: All the best! Even Johansen.. at least I think that's what it's supposed to say..

Why the fuck does it have to be a review article!?! I'm so fucking sick of school. I just want to get a job - any sort of job! But it'll be stupid to quit now..
Crappy, boring thesis. I hate it, hate it, hate it!

Am loving Picaresque by the Decemberists. It's so rich, and so theatrical. My introduction to the Decemberists was the song Shiny. Found Castaway and cutouts and 5 songs ep. Loved the music, but couldn't listen too much to them because I though Colin Meloy's voice was kind of annoying. Hadn't listened to them for a while, but then I saw their performance on MBE on KCRW. Got Picaresque, and now I can't stop listening to it.
Much music to come in the near future. Monday we're going to see Magnet in an in-store miniconcert. Release of his new album, The Toruiquet. Can't wait to hear it. And then, june 4th Oslo is going to be filled with music. 300 artists are going to be playing on 23 different stages around town. Hope the weather will be nice. And then on the 5th Magnet is doing another free concert. Outdoors together with Big Bang, Animal Alpha and Sofian. Oh, and of course, Norwegian Wood, june 16-19. http://www.norwegianwood.no/
Ok, need to finish this article now, so I can enjoy these things..

My brain won't allow me to write this damn article.. So I've just been surfing the net.. Stumbled across this performance by Bright Eyes on Leno.
Hadn't seen that one.. Don't get Leno here.. unless you have a dish.. Not that I would watch him either.. They used to send it, but I find him extremly annoing..
But anyway.. Bright Eyes did When the president talks to God. Hadn't heard it before either. Not a favourite, but I thought it was kinda ballsy.
http://homepage.mac.com/onegoodmove/movies/leno050205brighteyes.html

Eels are playing in town the day before my exam.. To go or not to go... I haven't heard all of Blinking Lights And Other Revelations, but what I've heard - I've liked.. Saw them at a festival a few years ago. Was alot of fun.. Man, why does school have to interfere with so many fun things.. Probably won't go.. A bit strapped for cash too at the moment.

Got my copy of Elixirs and Remedies today. Had to buy it..
Also, liking the new Weezer album, am wondering why I haven't heard of Ben Christophers before and may not like The Robot Ate Me as much as I thought (going to give them a try though..)

Uncorrected personality traits

that seem whimsical in a child

may prove to be ugly

in a fully grown adult

*

Lack of involvement with the father,

or over-involvement with the mother,

can result in lack of ability

to relate to sexual peers

*

And in homosexualleanings,

narcissism, transsexuality

girls from the waist up

men from the waist down,

attempts to be your own love object

*

Reconcile your parents to you

by becoming both at once

*

Even Marilyn Monroe was a man,

but this tends to get overlooked

by our mother-fixated,

overweight, sexist media

*

So, uncorrected personality traits

that seem whimsical in a child

may prove to be ugly

in a fully grown adult

*

If you give in to them

Every time they cry

They will become little tyrants

But they won't remember why

Then when they are thwarted

By people in later life

They will become psychotic

And they won't make an ideal husband or wife

*

The spoiled baby grows into

the escapist teenager who's

the adult alcoholic who's

the middle-aged suicide

*

OY!

*

So, uncorrected personality traits

that seem whimsical in a child

may prove to be ugly in a fully grown adult

New music I've found while avoiding writing an article.. Ok, not new - but new to me.. The Robot Ate Me. Strange lo-fi indie stuff.. Made me feel happy. I often don't pay too much attention to the lyrics when I first hear something. Was singing along to some tracks and suddenly realised that I was singing: "How many does it take to be a slaughter? I can't use the word genocide, because I went to the convention, I didn't read what I signed"
Remindes me a bit of Neutral Milk Hotel.. and the Real Tuesday Weld. Have listened a bit more to Tuesday Weld too. But I think I like them/him better live than on cd. I do like the set they played on Morning Becomes Eclectic. Must read I, Lucifer when I'm done with my exams.. Started reading Weathercock, which was quite amusing, but for some reason I never got through it..
Pedro the Lion. Not sure what I think yet. Liked their cover of Mazzy Star's Fade Into You.
Also been revisiting Elliott Smith. Been a while since I've listend to him. My god, he was great. The only artist I can clearly remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard that he had killed himself.
And Roxy Music. Working at a festival where thay are playing this summer, so I thought I should make myself more familiar with their music. I mean, I've heard a bunch of their stuff - much more than I realised.. But you know... never really listened to them.. I like alot of their songs, but I won't be rushing out to buy their albums..
Oh, and I saw My Life without me. Sara Polley is very good. But anyway. Really liked the song Senza fine by Gino Paoli. Also made me feel happy. Which is good, because I've been in a really shitty mood these past few.. well, weeks actually.. Have no idea what he sings about though, so maybe it's a really depressing song.. But it sounds feel-good..
And I finally found the mp3's of the songs Jeremy Enigk did for United States of Leland. I LOVE them. Not helping my mood though.. Was thinking of bidding on a copy of Return of the frog queen on ebay, but decided I don't have the money.. Hmm.. I seem to be drawn to these born again christian artists.. David Bazan from Pedro the Lion... and Rosie Thomas also found Jesus, didn't she.. Still haven't gotten my copy of When we were small.. Maybe I'll be converted.. Maybe they have some hidden messages in their songs. Or maybe not so hidden.. "How am I to define what faith is to a child when the only explanation lies within? How am I to tell them if they never follow Christ that heaven doesn't hold a place for them?" (I have a friend who is truly concerned about me, because I'm going to hell..) I don't mind listening to music where people sing about their faith. As long as I don't feel like they are trying to shove their beliefs down my throath, or that I feel like I'm being judged for not sharing their views..
No, enough time waisted. Back to the article..

Saw You Can Count on Me again the other day. I absolutely adore that movie. And then I rented Collateral. Took me a while to realise that the guy playing Fanning was actually Mark Ruffalo. Not to crazy about Tom Cruise, but it was a pretty cool movie. So this of course has sent me on a Mark Ruffalo movie mission. But then I watch 13 going on 30.... And I'm thinking maybe not.. But no, it was just a bad movie. So I think I'm just going to forget that one and watch Eternal sunshine again... How.. Why.. I mean, I can understand that alot of movies can lok brilliant on page, but then turn out completely crap.. But this one can't possibly have been a brilliant read either...

Got some free tickets to see Bo Sundström yesterday. Never listend much to Bo Kaspers Orkester. Well, I saw them last year at the Norwegian Wood festival. But to me it's always just been good background music. It's nice, but I never really listen to it.. Hadn't realised he had released a solo album either. But I never say no to a free concert, so we went. As an opening act he had brought a swedish singer-songwriter called Elin Sigvardsson. Nothing groundbreakingly new, but it was nice and i liked her voice. Might check out her album, Smithereens... Played for about 30minutes. Bo came on with a 5 man band, and they played some songs of his album, Skåne. It was quite similar to what I think of when I think Bo Kaspers Orkerster. But less jazzy and more folkish. It was ok, but I won't be running out to buy the cd in the near future. Played three covers. He did Love Hurts with Elin, and Here comes the sun and ended with We'll meet again. They only played for one hour and a few minutes. Had I payed to see him, I would've been pissed. Maybe he was upset that they moved him from the big room to the small one.. He said something like "when I'm on a big stage I've got a big setlist, when I'm on a small one - a small setlist.." Bo was quite amusing and there was quite a bit of banter in between the songs.
So, not my greatest concert experience, but it was a nice way to spend a wednsday evening.

I am liking the new Brendan Benson album. This one is probably going to be played much on my cd player this summer. If I've had a car this one would be in the cd player there. But need my license before I can get a car... Saw him at a festival a few years ago, never heard of him before that. I wasn't convinced, maybe because I was cold, wet and misrable. But now I'm going to give the other albums another listen. Great title too, Alternative to Love.
Listened to some songs from Rosie Thomas. Never heard of her before either. But I really like her voice. Going to buy When we were small.
Completely forgot that Dave Matthews Band is coming out with a new album soon. Used to be a bigbig fan. But havent listened to them for ages. Wonder what the sound is going to be on this one. Haven't liked their two latest so...
Finally, caved in and bought the Circuit Music Journal 1. All because of an 11 minute bit with Grant Lee Buffalo. Man I wish I'd gotten to see them live. They were in town when I lived here, but of course at that time I wasn't that much of a fan.. I kick myself now.. It was a cheap dvd, so no regrets. Wonder now if I'm going to allow myself to but the Elixirs and remedies dvd.. I already have it on vhs.. But dvd is so much better - and there are some extra tracks...