In which we finally catch up with a few new and soon-to-be-new titles. This round: The Hands, Peasant, Chris Walla, Baby Dee, Darla Farmer, Dengue Fever.

1. The Hands - The Hands (Selector Sound; out 2/19/08)
   Hailing from Seattle, The Hands epitomize what may have been created had Seth Brundle thrown Jet, 1972 Jagger and Grand Funk Railroad into pod #1, waited ten seconds, and opened pod #2. After that comparison, throw aside all references to molecular physics. Make no bones: The Hands are out to rock – loudly – and in this attempt they succeed triumphantly. Lyrically they pose no threat, but who cares when it’s this loud? Note to The Hands: Given all the cheese graters and bloody digits on the album art, consider changing name to The Bloodied Hands – it does have a ring, yes?
     »continue reading New Release Roundup

Dissecting Four Vinyl Gems Unearthed Last Saturday

1. R.E.M., Superman 12″ promo single (IRS; 1986)
   Condition: CASE: NM VINYL: M
   These are the kinds of oddities I live for. Goofy baby sketch by Kaleb. Photo in triplicate by Sandra-Lee Phipps. You know the song. Here it is on vinyl. DJs, use either side: the song remains the same. Why spend £15 plus shipping and handling ($29.23 + shipping if you prefer) on this rarity when Amoeba serves it up for one (Peter) Buck? Buy it from me today; yours for only $125.89 (tax not included) (autographed by losanjealous ryan, $20 extra)

»continue reading Tales From The Amoeba Dollar Bins, 1/26/08

Set to take it’s rightful spot on your bookshelf, next to your Strunk & Whites and Funk & Wagnalls’s, comes the indispensable new reference guide to be penned by two authors, Hoffman & Rudoren’s COMEDY BY THE NUMBERS©. Published by McSweeney’s, this book catalogs almost 170 universal archetypes of Comedy. Each numbered entry includes examples, often illustrated, demonstrating appropriate usage so that you may check your own comedic usages. The book is sure to become an essential manual for homemakers, script puncher-uppers, eccentric know-it-alls of all ages and many others. Rather than “review” the book which would require actually “reading” said book, I conducted a hard-hitting Q&A with the authors. The frequently hilarious results are “cut and pasted” below.

If you wish to skip the Q&A portion and go straight to purchase the book, you may do so by clicking here.
»continue reading “Farts and Dwarfs–Does That Answer Your Question?” A Q&A with the Authors of Comedy By The Numbers