On Twitter

As you all know I’m a…

…recent father of a newborn child [who] behaves like an old man.
bernard

Whatever.

Just wanted to announce I’ve had a Twitter account for some time now, where I post tweets: tiny messages with a 140 characters limit. Provided you signed up for a Twitter account, this service enables you to subscribe (”follow” is the term they use) and reply to these updates via most mobile devices as well as various desktop or web-based applications. Give it a go, it’s a lot easier than my explanation is making it out to be here.

I plan to use this Twitter gizmo for fast little updates on anything FZ related, announcements of new blog posts and such — but do expect the odd completely non-FZ-related banter every so often though.

Oh, and for my next “tweet”, I had this in mind:

@bernard: I twit, you twat.

Unfortunately, Bernard doesn’t have a Twitter account.

Filthy Fifteen

Bless MetaFilter:

In 1985, Tipper Gore’s PMRC released a list they called the “Filthy Fifteen,” detailing what they believed to be the fifteen most objectionable songs of the time, and the reason they felt each song should be censored…

Just one video that fills me with ’80s nostalgia: The Mary Jane Girls (a Prince vehicle if memory serves) - In My House:

“You’re frothing! I love it when you froth.” — FZ

2009: The Year Of Roxy?

Just a casual update from Balint on the ZPZ Grammy post:

Roxy To Be Released In 2009?

No official confirmation for this at all, but here’s what z dot com forum user Gregory had to say as an addendum to his review of ZPZ’s December 12 ‘08 show at the Roxy:

I almost forgot! DZ announced at the top of the show that he has transferred the footage from his dad’s concert at the Roxy, 35 years ago to hi-def, and will finally be releasing it on DVD!

Yes: it’s hear-say, but (if this is really) coming from DZ I tend to give it a slight bit more credibility than most anything GZ sends out into the world…

Update: Sigh.

A Day In The Desert With Frank

I may have already posted something about The Annual Day in the Desert with Frank: an “intimate gathering of Zappa fans and musicians” in the Lancaster, CA garage of Lou Allred, who has amassed an incredible amount of memorabilia. However, now there’s video:

ZPZ For Grammy

Pete Griffin bassist says:

As you may have heard, Zappa Plays Zappa has been nominated for a Grammy! We’re in the Best Rock Instrumental category for our live performance of “Peaches En Regalia.” Seeing as how I’ve always felt this song was three and half minutes of compositional genius, and that we painstakingly dissected the original recording to reproduce it live, I think we may have a decent chance of winning (over David Gilmour, Nine Inch Nails, Rush, and Metallica).

Update, from the ZPZ forums:

DZ announced at the top of the show that he has transferred the footage from his dad’s concert at the Roxy, 35 years ago to hi-def, and will finally be releasing it on DVD!!!!!

FZ’s Music at Israel Festival in Jerusalem, 1997

Featuring: Ike Willis, Tommy Mars and Tom Fowler.
I’ve collected most of the videos (10 parts) here - nr. 7 is still missing. Have fun!

KUR’s Year In Review

Just kidding. You didn’t really think I was going to do a “year in review”, did you? Some interesting data from my last.fm account however that I thought I’d share.

Top Artists in the last 12 months:

  1. Frank Zappa: 619 plays
  2. Neil Young: 468 plays
  3. Bob Dylan: 350 plays
  4. Elliott Smith: 325 plays
  5. Ween: 281 plays
  6. Rufus Wainwright: 277 plays
  7. The Beatles: 257 plays
  8. Nick Drake: 200 plays
  9. David Bowie: 176 plays
  10. Flip Kowlier: 166 plays

Well… no real surprises there.

Nay, the revelation lies in the Top Tracks for the last 12 months:

  1. Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone: 15 plays
  2. Bob Dylan – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues: 14 plays
  3. Bob Dylan – Ballad of a Thin Man: 14 plays
  4. Bob Dylan – It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry: 13 plays
  5. Rufus Wainwright – I Dont Know What It Is: 13 plays
  6. Bob Dylan – Desolation Row: 12 plays
  7. Nick Drake – Pink Moon: 12 plays
  8. Rufus Wainwright – Oh What a World: 12 plays
  9. David Bowie – Life On Mars: 12 plays
  10. Rufus Wainwright – Vicious World: 11 plays

I have officially become a Bob Dylan junkie!

Of course, this list says more about the limited amount of Bobness I have in my possession than it does about my overall listening patterns — the chances of Peaches En Regalia playing 15 times on shuffle are slim, seeing as how I own pretty much the entire FZ catalogue — but still: this year’s revelation, for me, appears to have been Mr Zimmerman.

Take in account also that Sharleena’s iTunes is playing around here half the time, something which would certainly distort the above results (Eels! Flaming Lips! Ween! Sufjan Stevens! Barenaked Ladies! Spinvis!).

Yourself? Any personal listening trends you wish to share?

(Oh, and hey: have a Happy New Year!)

Jeff Beck feat. Imogen Heap, again


This one above is Rollin’ And Tumblin’, from the Jeff Beck album You Had It Coming. See the rest also:

Err… Sorry for the terrible look. Othervise you’ll love it. :-)

Go Tell It On The Mountain!

A warm xmas interlude brought to you by Stanley J. Zappa.

A Skin Too Few - The Days Of Nick Drake

I just stumbled upon this wonderful documentary on Nick Drake, early 70s singer-songwriter of near mythical fame. We’re big fans here at Barry Towers. Be sure to check out the man’s small but fabulous body of work (if you hadn’t already, of course).

Part two is here; from there use the right sidebar to get to the other parts.