May 13th, 2005

Choice excerpts from the Weezer Make Believe time-line style press release that landed on my desk today:

Spring 1993- After a year of slogging through the clubs of L.A., Weezer makes a fresh commitment to stop sucking and get signed to a record label. Confidence soars to new slightly less low lows, and they do get signed, in June to Geffen Records, when their tape is discovered by an A&R man on a desk of a colleague who had already passed on the band.

5/10/94- Blue Album released. The first week sales of 600 copies prompt careful tallying of everyone's friends and extended families. Only 550 people are accounted for, prompting an intensive nationwide search for the remaining 50 people. The record sells less in subsequent weeks as relatives can only buy so many copies.

5/22/94- The Berkeley Square Club, Berkeley CA- Weezer sets the bar high by putting 2 people on their guestlist. Neither one shows up, in fact no one shows up to the show, and by the band's accounting practices they become the first band to play in front of negative 2 people. Band concludes none of the 50 non-relatives who bought the album in the first week live in the Bay Area.

Late 1994- Buddy Holly video released, revitalizing dormant cultural adoration of Fonzie. Fans start to seriously outnumber relatives. Things get weird for a band whose ambition was simply not to suck.

11/19/94- Ace Frechley of KISS shows up to a show at the Academy in New York City, praises the band. Childhood KISS Army member Rivers, stunned.

I just made another mix for my roommate Allie. She is a good roommate. She wants to hear good music.

Allie's Second Mix This Month Tracklist:
1. Everyone Knows Everyone- Helio Sequence
2. Jenny and the Ess-Dog- Stephen Malkmus
3. Know Your Onion- The Shins
4. Another Travelin' Song- Bright Eyes
5. Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)- Arcade Fire
6. Public Service- The Bravery
7. Get Him Back- Fiona Apple
8. Divorce Song- Liz Phair
9. Worn Me Down-Rachael Yamagata
10. The View- Modest Mouse
11. Falling Man- Blonde Redhead
12. Popular Mechanics for Lovers- Beulah
13. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)- Arcade Fire
14. Fill Me With Your Light- Clem Snide
15. Why Do You Love Me- Garbage
16. People's Parties- Joni Mitchell

The really deep theme here is: Good Songs! Some say, You violated the Golden Rule of Mixes by including TWO songs by one artist. Normally, I would agree with some. Today, however, I am proud of myself for including the Arcade Fire song that's garnered the most critical praise, "Power Out," simply because I wasn't bananas for it until recently. The one part of the song that bugs me, though, is when he says "..some strange land." For whatever reason, I keep waiting for him to say "..some strange race," like in my favorite Emily Dickinson poem "Funeral," so it's kind of un-satisfying. OK. I'll stop bitching now.