So it's time to start drinking the green stuff, no not piss poor beer dyed green for St Paddy's. If you drink on Paddy's you gotta make it Guinness, and yes, that is for you girls as well. it's funny that Burnt face Jake will be here because we spent a drunk St. Patrick's day together in Wisconsin with Svenjia, who also lives in New york. But what I'm talking about is what makes martino proud.
The Swiss government approved draft legislation to end a ban on absinthe, the mythical herbal liqueur beloved of turn-of-the-century artists and blamed for driving some of them mad.
Political debate has been ongoing in the Alpine country since last year over the green spirit, which is thought to be bootlegged in moderate quantities here but was outlawed in 1908, after a factory worker killed his wife and two children in a bout of madness blamed on the drink.
Absinthe was allowed back into shops in much of western Europe in 1981 after the European Union passed a directive which overturned bans in many countries.
Although the law was later eased in non-EU member Switzerland, the drink nicknamed the "green fairy" has remained outlawed in its high-proof form recognized as real absinthe.
The federal Swiss government said in a report that the 1908 ban no longer was justified, since the quantities of thuyone -- the substance in absinthe considered dangerous -- were now clearly regulated in the drink.
Prost, and cheers. Just don't cut off your ear and send it to a whore.
Drink the Green Stuff
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mccutcheon
- New York Scribbler
- Posts: 4996
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2000 8:01 am
- Location: NYC
- Contact:
McC, I just tried to call your Seattle area code cell phone #. It said the "subscriber was not available". Jeez, what a Bummer 
I'm actually on a Guinness trip at the moment, funnily enough.
I enjoyed reading about your record store adventures in NY. I remember bands like Dumptruck and Green on Red, but can't now recall exactly what they sounded like because I was too preoccupied with the UK at the time.
Just finished listening to the second Sister Sledge LP that Chic did from 1980 called "Love Somebody Today" and I was really surprised by how good it is. It's the one you can't get on CD, only vinyl. Normally I wouldn't go to the trouble of recommending things, but considering the only way a person can even find this record is on vinyl at what will most likely be a cheap price...jeez, anything less than $20 for this would be a bargain.
Another thing that strikes me as interesting is the modesty of the Sister Sledge girls. Today I heard my roomate talking on the phone about how Britney Spears had just played here and he said "she's all sex because she can't sing". It's weird to see these pictures of Sister Sledge, including one where they performed on American Bandstand, where they dress to cover themselves up. People would think you were really weird now if you were a woman trying to perform music on T.V. or on an album cover and you showed no cleavage at all. It didn't matter because the music was fucking great.
One thing I don't understand though, McC - the "European Union" didn't exist in 1981, did it? And where the hell can I get some absinthe before St. Paddy's Day?
I turned 33 on March 2nd. As if it matters.
I'm actually on a Guinness trip at the moment, funnily enough.I enjoyed reading about your record store adventures in NY. I remember bands like Dumptruck and Green on Red, but can't now recall exactly what they sounded like because I was too preoccupied with the UK at the time.
Just finished listening to the second Sister Sledge LP that Chic did from 1980 called "Love Somebody Today" and I was really surprised by how good it is. It's the one you can't get on CD, only vinyl. Normally I wouldn't go to the trouble of recommending things, but considering the only way a person can even find this record is on vinyl at what will most likely be a cheap price...jeez, anything less than $20 for this would be a bargain.
Another thing that strikes me as interesting is the modesty of the Sister Sledge girls. Today I heard my roomate talking on the phone about how Britney Spears had just played here and he said "she's all sex because she can't sing". It's weird to see these pictures of Sister Sledge, including one where they performed on American Bandstand, where they dress to cover themselves up. People would think you were really weird now if you were a woman trying to perform music on T.V. or on an album cover and you showed no cleavage at all. It didn't matter because the music was fucking great.
One thing I don't understand though, McC - the "European Union" didn't exist in 1981, did it? And where the hell can I get some absinthe before St. Paddy's Day?
I turned 33 on March 2nd. As if it matters.
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sara
It always seems to matter.
So I ended my class today, and I celebrated with a lot of alcohol and a little Tupelo Honey -- men, if you want to woo your girl, this is the song with which it can be done. It's precious, really. I remember a time. But now I'm going to be twenty-nine or thirty three, just some age that is older than me.
Even if it's twelve days late and ten dollars short,
Happy Birthday, Mark!
So I ended my class today, and I celebrated with a lot of alcohol and a little Tupelo Honey -- men, if you want to woo your girl, this is the song with which it can be done. It's precious, really. I remember a time. But now I'm going to be twenty-nine or thirty three, just some age that is older than me.
Even if it's twelve days late and ten dollars short,
Happy Birthday, Mark!
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mccutcheon
- New York Scribbler
- Posts: 4996
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2000 8:01 am
- Location: NYC
- Contact:
Thanks ya'll. I've been told Pisces people are terrible about mentioning their birthdays. I apologize about that. I mean, either I should have mentioned it at an appropriate time or I shouldn't have mentioned it at all, right? Pisces just don't like a lot of attention being paid to them, and I'm no exception. I prefer to hide in the dark cracks of the wall if I can. I don't even know why I mentioned it, frankly. Must have been the Guinness.
I found the best present ever today, though when I went record store hopping for the 1980 Diana Ross/Chic Deluxe edition "Diana" double CD with the original previously unreleased Chic mix and found it for $15! What a stroke of luck considering I'd already been to several stores and even weighed the idea of getting it online, but just wanted it right now today and didn't want to pay $25-35 at one of the damn chain stores. I also found the Chic 1980 album I'd wanted for only $3 on vinyl at the same store. Beautiful.
Sarah is right. Ordering online leaves something to be desired, even if it can give you exactly what you desire. I had fun looking around today for what I wanted, and finding the bargain of my dreams, the old fashioned way. I envy you in a way, McC, I think you tend to buy a lot more stuff at one time than I do. Today made me realize I miss the $150 record store spending sprees I used to do every now and then.
Next I'll probably have to check out the Debbie Harry/Chic album "Koo Koo" (her first solo album). Even though everyone says it sucks, can I really afford not to find out? Anyway, I know soon I will land on earth and have to realize I have scraped the barrel of the best of Chic. I've already faced up to this, but I just wanted to get this stuff today, get it overwith. One of the very first 45's I ever bought as a kid was Diana Ross' Upside Down.
Sorry the Jackson Browne wasn't his song, Sarah. I too have been disappointed at such things. I wouldn't mind hearing some Jackson Browne from the 70's I hadn't heard before. I'm sure it would be interesting. He's a good songwriter. I've also become interested in this Scottish act called Average White Band from the mid 70's, they did "Play That Funky Music White Boy" but they also did this really pleasant funky instrumental you'd recognize from radio if you heard it called "Pick Up The Pieces". I've also become interested in what Russ Ballard might have done besides the well known radio song "Voices" ("Don't Look Back/Look Straight Ahead...Voices...I hear Voices..."). He was British, too, apparently.
I just feel really energized musically right now. I'm finally moving past the insanely obscure UK punk stuff my friend keeps sending me and I feel good about it, because a lot of that stuff is mediocre anyway, and even if you like one of the bands/songs you can't find anything else by them.
I got Sun Kil Moon (the latest project from Red House Painters' Mark Kozelek) and the latest album from The Church. I used to be a huge Church fan, but probably no one else here is. I was more disappointed in their last album than I've ever been with them, so the jury is out. I also have the latest Robyn Hitchcock album coming to me. I may even be ready for some folky kind of stuff. Anything BUT balls-to-the-wall rock and roll or punk is fine by me these days. I'm even checking out Big Star, which considering my history with all their cover versions and people influenced by them is long overdue. But they're American, you see, give an anglophile a break! Ha ha.
Kindof ironic McC, you had said that thing about bands copying other bands...today I read things about people saying the Von Bondies copy the White Stripes. Now, why on earth would anyone copy the White Stripes? The White Stripes are good because they're talented not because they're innovative. It would make more sense to copy Radiohead if you were going to copy someone, but even that is a bad idea. For example, even though the last Elbow album is rather compelling, I don't feel any great desire to play it. Even Radiohead themselves know the gig is up, they've done their deal. You watch. Their next album will be like nothing anyone expects. They may even fall flat on their faces, but they're not stupid. They know they're in a rut.
I found the best present ever today, though when I went record store hopping for the 1980 Diana Ross/Chic Deluxe edition "Diana" double CD with the original previously unreleased Chic mix and found it for $15! What a stroke of luck considering I'd already been to several stores and even weighed the idea of getting it online, but just wanted it right now today and didn't want to pay $25-35 at one of the damn chain stores. I also found the Chic 1980 album I'd wanted for only $3 on vinyl at the same store. Beautiful.
Sarah is right. Ordering online leaves something to be desired, even if it can give you exactly what you desire. I had fun looking around today for what I wanted, and finding the bargain of my dreams, the old fashioned way. I envy you in a way, McC, I think you tend to buy a lot more stuff at one time than I do. Today made me realize I miss the $150 record store spending sprees I used to do every now and then.
Next I'll probably have to check out the Debbie Harry/Chic album "Koo Koo" (her first solo album). Even though everyone says it sucks, can I really afford not to find out? Anyway, I know soon I will land on earth and have to realize I have scraped the barrel of the best of Chic. I've already faced up to this, but I just wanted to get this stuff today, get it overwith. One of the very first 45's I ever bought as a kid was Diana Ross' Upside Down.
Sorry the Jackson Browne wasn't his song, Sarah. I too have been disappointed at such things. I wouldn't mind hearing some Jackson Browne from the 70's I hadn't heard before. I'm sure it would be interesting. He's a good songwriter. I've also become interested in this Scottish act called Average White Band from the mid 70's, they did "Play That Funky Music White Boy" but they also did this really pleasant funky instrumental you'd recognize from radio if you heard it called "Pick Up The Pieces". I've also become interested in what Russ Ballard might have done besides the well known radio song "Voices" ("Don't Look Back/Look Straight Ahead...Voices...I hear Voices..."). He was British, too, apparently.
I just feel really energized musically right now. I'm finally moving past the insanely obscure UK punk stuff my friend keeps sending me and I feel good about it, because a lot of that stuff is mediocre anyway, and even if you like one of the bands/songs you can't find anything else by them.
I got Sun Kil Moon (the latest project from Red House Painters' Mark Kozelek) and the latest album from The Church. I used to be a huge Church fan, but probably no one else here is. I was more disappointed in their last album than I've ever been with them, so the jury is out. I also have the latest Robyn Hitchcock album coming to me. I may even be ready for some folky kind of stuff. Anything BUT balls-to-the-wall rock and roll or punk is fine by me these days. I'm even checking out Big Star, which considering my history with all their cover versions and people influenced by them is long overdue. But they're American, you see, give an anglophile a break! Ha ha.
Kindof ironic McC, you had said that thing about bands copying other bands...today I read things about people saying the Von Bondies copy the White Stripes. Now, why on earth would anyone copy the White Stripes? The White Stripes are good because they're talented not because they're innovative. It would make more sense to copy Radiohead if you were going to copy someone, but even that is a bad idea. For example, even though the last Elbow album is rather compelling, I don't feel any great desire to play it. Even Radiohead themselves know the gig is up, they've done their deal. You watch. Their next album will be like nothing anyone expects. They may even fall flat on their faces, but they're not stupid. They know they're in a rut.