my favorite albums of 2000's

This list doesn't mean anything except that I loved these albums because they integrated themselves into my life like living beings, and sometimes they acted as stronger friends to me than my actual friends in the way they listened to the silent yearning and raging of my heart and body, like we were connected by some invisible magnetic thread, and the way they spoke to me and for me when I had no power to use my own voice to sing. It's been a really hectic 10 years! So fuck Pitchfork and Rolling Stone and Spin and Fader and NME. These ten albums mattered most to me.*

*Honorable mentions: The Libertines: The Libertines, Myths of the Near Future: Klaxons, Oracular Spectacular: MGMT, Fever to Tell: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Amnesiac: Radiohead, The Marshall Mathers LP: Eminem and anything else recorded by the 10 acts below.

10. Back to Black, Amy Winehouse, 2006

I'm surprised too. But the more time I spend with this album the more I feel like Amy Winehouse knows what she's talking about, even a little bit more than Pete Doherty and The Libertines who she kicked out of my top 10. A song like "Love is a Losing Game" perfectly describes the futility in trying to find a trustworthy and permanent partner. "Five story fire as you came/Love is a losing game" means you can find yourself floored by a man and want to start new with him and give it your all (like, know, meeting the love of your life in a frat house basement) but ultimately you will wind up alone and heartbroken again (4 years later). "Back to Black" is a beautiful, bittersweet reminder to watch your own back in the dirty dealings of love and sex because everyone's out for himself in this world. You should be too.

9. We All Belong, Dr. Dog, 2007/Takers and Leavers EP, Dr. Dog, 2006

Dr. Dog opened for The Raconteurs on tour in 2006, and I kinda fell in love with them due solely to the fact that Toby Leaman looks like a short hipster version of my favorite professor and the gut-wrenching, Bob Dylan-leaning Beatness of "Die Die Die," quite possibly one of the best songs ever written.

8. '07, The Virgins, 2007/Self-Taught Learner, Lissie Trullie, 2009

I highly prefer The Virgins' EP to their full-length debut because Donald Cumming's the kind of boy who deserves to keep it simple and dirty. He does better with his sinus infection vocals and rough, homemade 8-track production. (He does best naked in photos by Ryan McGinley or on stage in telephone-patterned red skintight leggings.) Songs like "Fernando Pando" and "Radio Christiane" made me feel at home in a big city like New York, and seeing the Virgins as much as possible from NYE 07 to the present has helped me to love this place more than any other. Not to mention, Donald's kinda my dream man, after Julian Casablancas, of course.

I put Lissy Trullie into the same position because she's friends with the band, and I found her thru loving The Virgins. In reverse, though, I like her full-length better than her demos because she collabs with everyone's favorite crack addict Adam Green on a poignant cover of "Just a Friend" and she includes the song that got me into her, "You Bleed You." Also "Don't to Do" was pretty much my anthem during my break-up over this past summer, and I love love love Lissy's man fashion-influenced style.

7. Little Joy, Little Joy, 2008

Fabulous Moretti doesn't let us down with his "solo"-ish debut with Rodrigo Amarante and gf Binki Shapiro. Songs like "With Strangers" and "Play the Part," with their quiet acceptance of failure and sadness, made me feel okay this summer when I ate anxiety for breakfast and swallowed disappointment like anti-depressants (in lieu of health insurance and its over-medicating benefits.) "Unattainable" sung by Binki with her innocent, assured voice makes me want to love a man that deserves it. Out of all the Strokes' solo/side efforts, Fab and Little Joy take the cake.

6. Album, Girls, 2009

I can't help it; I'm obsessed. I listen to this one non-stop because it's so damn good. Christopher Owens could come into my apartment and stay for 56 weeks without paying rent, or I would cook casseroles for him and leave them outside in a dog house beside baggies of weed that I personally bought (shock!) and sew him a delux set of sheets and pillows so he could sleep all day long. Or he could curl up in my bed in a ratty thrift-store sweater knitted circa 1972 and sing with his Elvis Costello croon into my ear all night. I don't do drugs, but I'd drop a Valium or 2 with him and let him cry over my naked body all night long. Some people say sex is the motivation behind all creative endeavors, and I kind believe it because Owens and his band mate JR White made this awesome awesome awesome sunshine-in-hell breakup album on pills of all kinds, and you know a breakup hangover is really just the sick realization that you'll never get to fuck that girl (or boy) again. This album makes me happy that I'm sad and sad that I'm happy in spite of myself. It's like the record that spins me round, round, baby, right round, like a record baby round, right round, round, which must explain why this sucker's been on repeat since I bought it.

5. Friends of Mine, Adam Green, 2003

I've sung his praises on this blog before. The guy's the sad song writing maestro, and with his unpredictable antics he puts on one of the most entertaining and ridiculous live shows. Adam Green, I bow to you. Your drug-addled craziness belies your musical seriousness and talent. But if you can write a song like "Bungee" that has become an actual component of my soul I will follow you down whatever roads your music takes you for the rest of my life.

4. The New Fellas, The Cribs, 2005

The Cribs came to me by accident; I'm pretty sure I found them while cyber-stalking Misshapes protege Jackson Pollis, aka Kids Meal while I was living in Tremont. I fell in love with their bad vocals (especially Ryan Jarman's) and lo-fi-ish production. "I'm Alright Me" became my nihilistic anthem and made me feel okay when I over-imbibed and over-caffeinated and didn't care and didn't sleep. Seeing the Cribs for the first time made me fall in love for life, and with each album they've grown consistently, showing that hard work pays off and bad teeth and bad hair and bad fashion in general make for the output of some damn fine songs about living young and fast in a tour van.

3. Favourite Worst Nightmare, Arctic Monkeys, 2007

They might be young and they might have been hyped up the wazoo in 2006, but Alex Turner can write inner anger better than anyone I've yet to find (except for Kurt Cobain.) His relentless use of Matt Helders' immaculate and powerful drumming over atmospheric guitars and 1950's obscure rock song loops make music so haunting and potent and dangerous that you just want to stab yourself in the face. I hold anger in my body for years, and it takes me a long time to get over anything, so to have this album confirm the rightness of such an unhealthy and wrong harboring of negativity makes me feel like it's a little bit okay, or at least like I'm in good, hot company. "Do Me a Favour" and "505" make me die a little bit every time, and when I finally make my movie (you know, a neo-New Wave crazy train semi-autobiographical coming of age flick featuring a blonde with a chic haircut and black-lined blue eyes) the music from this album will pretty much take over the entire soundtrack.

2. White Blood Cells, The White Stripes, 2001

Jack White's a force of fucking nature, and I could listen to this album for the rest of my life. "The Union Forever" starts with a flippant, fuck-you guitar riff and says, "It can't be love, for there is no true love." How true, Jackie, how true. The song then devolves into a grunge-tastic, bitter, slightly out-of-control reinterpretation of Citizen Kane... Egomaniacs must love each other, I guess, and Orson Welles and Jack White will surely meet each other in Hell or wherever geniuses go when they die.

1. Room on Fire, The Strokes, 2003

Duh! What did you expect? Oh, yeah. Is This It? Like every other countdown on the planet. Well I'm no first album lover. I like sophomore efforts, and while Is This It? changed my life and personality and goals and dreams (I stopped worshipping fuck face Billy Corgan's melodrama and traded it in for sleek, magnetic structure; I let my neurotic nature and demands fly; I decided I would one day move to New York City and make out with drunken bed-headed dirty boys; I would see the Strokes LIVE ONE DAY) Room on Fire solidified all that. When Julian Casablancas wrote "12:51" he wrote the perfect pop song. When he wrote "Under Control" he wrote the song of my life. When he wrote "I Can't Win" he wrote about the failings every artist faces at the hands of his own worst enemy: himself. Some people say that they like all music and all songs and all things, but I'm the kind of girl who loves ALWAYS one of whatever it is the best, and Room on Fire is not only my favorite album of The Aughts, it's also my desert island album, one of my best friends, and pretty much the only thing that can make me close my eyes and sob for sheer amazement and gratitude when I'm not absolutely wasted. So thank you, Jules and Co. for this little gem. You've made my decade and life worth living, and that's a cliche and an overstatement (classic Brittany hyperbole) but it's also very true (classic Brittany doesn't lie.)

DON'T TO DO

Lissy Trullie's album Self Taught Learner is being re-released on Tuesday October 20 by Downtown Records, and Filter Mag has a free d/load of my favorite LT track "Don't to Do." This is the first time I've heard this song in a non-live situation! It kinda ruled my life from May to August and it's about to happen again. Whenever I feel like a shitty piece of sad shit because I'm single and self-sabotage everything that happens to me, I just blast this song because it's true! THERE'S A WHOLE LOTTA DON'T TO DO, and I'm happy to be alive to do it, baby.

P.S. Donald, I know I said I would follow you to the depths of crypt keeper hell, but I think you might be going a little too far. What is up with your face???????????? (photo from itscorykennedy.wordpress.com)

on repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat

and a crooked smile

Check out Lissy Trullie's new video for "Boy Boy." I spy some familiar faces, like Harley and Cassie, Chrissie Miller from Sophomore and Jen Brill. And, oh hey Chloe Sevigny (1:58, right???)
You may also notice that the bridge Lissy walks across is the same bridge from the Spring 08 lookbook for Sophomore, also shot by video director Cass Bird.
Oh what a tangled web they weave downtown. Love it.

funky strokes

So many things are right/wrong with this video, where to begin? First the teeth, always the teeth. How can you not love Donald straight away? Homeboy's looking a little more homeless than usual, but who cares? He's staring right into the camera the whole time like a dead stick figure dressed in the red flannel Brooklyn heart palpitations are made of. On drugs or drunk? Probably. But he could also be suffering from borderline somnambulism. It doesn't matter, everything he does works in the end.

Now the real reason for the post. I had a heart attack when I misheard "funky Strokes" for "fuck the Strokes" no less than 4 times in the video. Do I sense a little annoyance in Donald's slur? Probably, and I totally support it. WHY does every new young band, esp those that come out of NYC have to be compared to the Strokes? Don't get me wrong, I love that Jules & Co. are the touchstone for what matters in this town, but sometimes the comparisons can be over-top-top, or worse yet, relentless.

First Arctic Monkeys (recording 3rd album now in Brooklyn!!!) were plagued so much by the press pre-Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not release, that they lashed back with EP Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys? I foolishly boycotted due to the Alex-Turner-is-the-next-Julian-is-the-next-Kurt-Cobain bullshit that swamped the blogosphere. Turns out the lads became one of my favorite bands and went on to win the coveted Mercury Prize for their debut. Mr. Turner has since been nominated for his full-length efforts AM's Favourite Worst Nightmare and Last Shadow Puppets' The Age of the Understatement.

Countless other bands were forced to live up to Is This It? standards (including the Strokes upon releasing First Impressions of Earth, but that's another story). Vampire Weekend was immediately hailed THE NEXT STROKES when the 1st notes of "Kwassa Kwassa," etc, hit the net. WHY? Because they formed a band while studying @ Columbia? Because they wear polo shirts and Cape Cod khakis? Because they use strings at their live shows to fill in the barebones tracks, and the Strokes layer their shit like a Charlotte Ronson look book? Don't get me wrong, I am a minor fan of this band, but Strokes they are not, and this particular Venn Diagram experiment really drove me up the wall.

Then the Virgins, bless them. The first time I saw them at Mercury Lounge NYE 07 they could barely play their guitars. They were sweet, smokin' hot, and they had good songs, but honeyyyyyy they could NOT hold a candle to a Strokes live show. Out of Strokes-comparison context, the Virgins kick fucking ass, and I think their heralded "funk" comes more like an inheritance from Mick Jagger circa "Emotional Rescue" than any Wiz Kid recordings. Of course I could always be wrong. Point is, the Virgins have had to deal with facing up to the Strokes almost mythological status (since their undeclared hiatus) in this city, and unfairly, too. The Virgins now play like pros, cover amazing NYC (and not) songs from the rock and roll cool canon, and as Donald mentions above, their shows are really "fun."

The latest Strokes-addled performer is Lissy Trullie. Read this article written by Lizzy Goodman from NYMag. Can't you hear the breathless praise in a smoker's rasp? The end of the article is so romantic and cliche and abs. insane (I was at that show) that you just have to laugh. Lissy's music can stand on its own without having to put her into the NYC Cool School of Rock and Roll. I know it's fun to talk about Lou Reed and J Cas and The Ramones etc. in the same paragraph of a glossy mag, but I think Lissy's music is much more 60's girl-band influenced, with a dash of Live Thru This and a pinch of Nico's solo album. Certainly Eben de Amico's musicianship plays a role as well. (He used to play for Saves the Day.)

This is a pretty long rant. Bottom line, stop comparing every fucking single band to the Strokes. None of them will ever live up to it... and they'll probably just get annoyed that people can't listen to their tunes without calling it "funky Strokes" or "sober Strokes" or "disco Strokes" or "post-Apocalyptic Dharma Initiative coconut Strokes." You get the point.

i got a whole lotta don't to do

Last night Scott and I R-trained it to Park Slope to see Lissy Trullie. First time at Union Hall, 408th time at an LT concert. I kid, I kid.

US Royalty opened. They are pretty derivative of bands like Kings of Leon and sound a lot like Young Lords (some of whom happened to be in the audience) and Japanese Motors. But they put on a fun, upbeat show, and their bassist wildy/awkwardly resembles Julian circa Room on Fire, hair, style, and all. They play Webster Hall tonight.

Then Lissy. She had a denim, zip-up vest on over her trademark leather jacket and tight black dress. They played the usual set: Forget About It, She Said, Don't to Do (fave new song!), Money, Billy, Ready for the Floor, Self-taught Learner, and Boy Boy. Fun times, as usual. Her songs are like crack; I've had the EP for months and the pre-EP even longer, and I can't stop listening.

i wanna be your boyfriend

This week I saw 3 shows! Great to get out of the APT for something fun + important. On Wednesday Scott and I went to Mercury Lounge to see Lissy Trullie. We got there pretty late, so we only saw Frank Pollis play 2 songs. As they left the stage, Jackson said into the mic, "Now I get to go home and watch LOST!" Damn right. (I was freaking out all night about having to delay my hour in Crazyville  w/ Sawyer and Locke. DVR I love you!!!)

After Frankpollis, Linfinity played. They're an incredibly earnest band from NYC and they have a little bit of a Pearl Jam vibe, mixed with Fleet Foxes if they weren't boring/overrated, and as Scott pointed out, the lead singer channels Chris Isaak. I could dig it.

Then Lissy Trullie came out, kind of on time, which surprised me. They played a short, tight set, as usual, with a new bassist. Their sound has filled out incredibly over time, and songs like "She Said" and "Forget About It," which I always loved sound even better! I can never say enough how much I love this band... Lissy is a girl who can really rock without sounding like a blahblahblah singer-songwriter whose shit could be used in a bad romantic comedy starring Jessicas Alba or Biel, or on the opposite end, another super pseudo-angry crazy person cracked out on booze and pills. Lissy strikes the balance between poetry and anger and manages to write really good songs that get stuck in your head.

Next up, Friday the 13th, John and I went to Virgin Megastore to see the Virgins. A short set, which I think went Teen Lovers, Radio Christiane (with a new rhythm thanks to the new drummer in the chorus) Murder, Rich Girls, One Week of Danger, and Hey Hey Girl which Donald sweetly dedicated to a fan who talked to him about it on the street outside. John had never seen them before, and he really liked them! I was impressed at their new line-up's ability, and Wade's usual antics which included kicking the drum set in time with the beat. Really fun. Short and sweet.

Valentine's Day was the Virgins at Music Hall of Williamsburg. This was the best show I've ever seen them play. They went thru their entire album, but the night was studded with covers... AND LOVE IS COLDER THAN DEATH THE DEMO VERSION. It fucking rocked...... haven't heard it in so long. Covers were: "Countess from Hong Kong," by Velvet Underground, "Up the Junction" by Squeeze, "Devil Inside" by INXS and "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" by The Ramones. Perfect for Valentines Day. Donald gets his model on at all the shows; he sings into the cameras when kids videotape, and he struts the stage with his Mick Jagger swagger. So imagine all the swoons when he sang "Sweet little girl, I wanna be your boyfriend" to all the girls in the crowd, with the "I-swear-it's-true" face that all boys have... Kids were out of control. 

Scott and I had so much fun!! 

you're my #1 guy

New songs up on Lissy Trullie's myspace. They sound much more new wave than the pre-existing demos, but I like them! You can feel the absolute need to dance that's so overwhelming at her live shows ooze from the computer speakers into your living/bed/bathroom. Shake it!
Check out the tracks, including my new fave "She Said" and her addicting cover of Hot Chip's "Ready for the Floor," or better yet, buy tickets to see Lissy Trullie at the Mercury Lounge on February 11.

In "My Life" news, I went to The Scene's record release party in the Bronx on Saturday night. It was my first venture deep into the mysterious 4th boro, and I have to say I got more than I bargained for: a headbandtastic evening complete with kegs, "Last Night" and "Paper Planes" renditions, and hot gangsta pot smokin (younger) boys! Here's a shot of Lox and Beef at their finest (as always, duh!)

And I'm reading Roberto Bolano's 2666... I really believe he's the best writer I've ever read (sorry, JD.) But I think the best thing about Bolano's work is that he gives ultimate authority to language... and poetry, specifically. I could get into a crazy rant right now but I'm only 100 pages into the epic, so I better wait.

Also, if you watched GG tonight (Oh, Chuck, you fool!!!), did you catch the Paul Rudd allusion??? Cher's step brother in Clueless? Yeah, that's P-Funk. That's what I'm talkin about, baby! WIKI WIKI.

is this it?

Last night Scott and I saw Lissy Trullie and The Virgins (aka the 2 bands of 2008) at Bowery Ballroom. Awesome show.

Lissy played all her best songs (including Hot Chip cover "Ready for the Floor") and despite the short set, it was perfection as usual. I wish more people knew her music, but I guess I can't hold anyone accountable until they release an album... let's hope we'll get some tangible tunes in Spring '09.

Sets change pretty fast at the Bowery, so imagine my absolute shock, surprise, and JOY at the fact that not even 30 minutes after Lissy left the stage, THE VIRGINS WALKED OUT TO THE STROKES' "IS THIS IT!!!!!" Scott and I screamed the words, along with Jules, and it was pretty much the most exciting moment in the concert. So appropriate. I have liked the Virgins for a while now, but this makes me absolutely adore them forever. I remember reading an interview one time where the Virgins were asked if they minded being compared to the Strokes, and Donald said something like, "not at all. We love the Strokes." Doesn't everyone?

The show was so much fun. Wade channeled my 8th grade friend Albert with black duct-taped pants. He also channeled a reverse Ross Jarman by standing on top of the drums.

Donald rocked the show with his Mick Jagger moves and sweet suspenders. I think they played every song on the album, but I was dancing around so much and singing that I can't be 100% sure. They played "Sweet Emotion" for the encore, which Drunkles (yes, Scott had devolved by this point) loved. It kicked ass, and I don't even really like that song.

I was sorry when it ended, as usual... but I have to say that I woke up today feeling extremely happy about the fact that I live in New York City and awesome music pervades this place. Some mornings all the little things come together, and no matter how brisk and teeth-chattering the wind is, you can't help but grin at the buildings shooting up around you and that glorious song, whatever it may be, that's blasting on your iPod. Of course you can guess I played today.......

baby youuuuu you got what i need

So I saw Lissy Trullie on Monday night at Santos Party House. Lissy was wearing the Sophomore skirt I want and her huge high heels. The band played tight and clean through their usual set, and I had a great time singing along. Pleeeeease come out with an album soon.

Speaking of new merch, the band finally has a tee shirt for sale, in collabs with Sophomore. It's a pretty sweet iron-on tee.
So it turns out that Adam Green came out to play a duet ("Just a Friend," holler!) with Lissy. Let's just say he wore silver patent-leather jazz flats, and a Jewish star on plastic "beads." The duet was cute, and then Adam had the chance to play some songs of his own while Mark Ronson manned the DJ booth.

Adam started with "Jessica," but forgot his lyrics mid-song. He seemed pissed off at the non-commital hipster crowd, so he busted out "Kokomo."

(Aside.) Adam recorded his infamous cover of the Beach Boys' "Kokomo" with Ben Kweller on the B-side of the "Jessica" single. In April 2005, at his Bowery Ballroom solo show, Adam took requests from the crowd. One brave soul wanted "Kokomo," and Adam gave it so good he gave it twice. I believe his words were, "I'm hazing your asses with a double 'Kokomo.'" Scott couldn't handle it, and he left the concert early, but us true AG fans knew we were watching history, or something like it...

So Adam made his way to the very center of the stage and stood on top of some speakers, right where I was standing with Scott, Callia, and Arinn. He started singing the song and tried to dive into the crowd, but this crowd wasn't close, nor ready, so he kind of toppled to the ground, while trying to grab my friends' heads on the way down for support.

No worries, Adam got back on stage and began a new song. After 30 seconds, he stopped, and said he'd do "Kokomo" again, this time acapella, with help of Ronson's sound effects. Some kind person posted this video on youtube... so check it out for the awesomeness that followed. Scott threw out his back holding up Adam's deadweight 100 lb. body, and I couldn't use my camera for fear of Adam kicking it out of my hands, or worse, him plummetting to the ground and smashing his head open.

After that, Adam debuted his "Birthday Mambo." My favorite part of the whole night was when A-ron "the Downtown Don" came out to tell Adam to stop with the ceaseless mamboing because, you know, the show must go on, and Adam said something like, "Aaron, where's my beer? Bring me my beer," as he shoved him off with a limp wristed gesture.

Such a rebel........................................... love it!

baby if you want me, let it go

Saturday: SNL Stalk-out in honor of James Franco. Rebecca and I forgot our state of residence and age and decided to give it a go. We got nice and toasty (not drunk, toasty) at Rudy's in their sweet back patio and after some business (yes, we are engaged in a TOP SECRET PROJECT OF AWESOMENESS) hoofed it to 30 Rock. I could hardly contain the excitement as we joined the crowds and waited to catch a glimpse of Daniel DeSario and his 1000 watt smile.

1st out: Jason Sudekis. Short but super sweet to all the fans. Wearing a hat.

2nd out: new kid Bill Moynihan. Short.

3rd out: WILL FORTE. Took all I had not to scream out "MacGruber!" Also short. But cute as a button and (trend here?) really nice to all the fans. He even took some time for photo ops.

4th out: Bill Hader (the secret sex). Hey, he's short too... wtf? But I like his hair a lot, and following suit, he spent a ton of time with people.

5th out: HOLY SHIT................ it's Blake Lively and Penn Badgley. I kid you not. Rebecca and I, up until this point playing it uber-cool, totally lost it. Like high school girl lost it. We grasped hands, and Rebecca screamed out, "It's Serena!" Thank God we didn't have cameras on hand. They walked fast, one in front of the other (Blake first) and kinda smiled a little. Spoke to no one. Couldn't let GG get her shot, I guess. Oh yeah, Penn is short. Theme of the night?

6th out: Kill me now, God, just put a bullet in my soul. Andy Samberg is the cutest, sweetest, most amazing person of all time. Not only is he responsible for the digital shorts that keep me alive (to name a few: Lazy Sunday, Space Olympics, and Lazer Cats) but he also bears a striking resemblance to Scott. Samberg took total time out for all the fans. People were most excited to see him, screaming ANDY when he emerged from those revolving doors of magic. Flashes abound, digital cams stuck in his beautiful face (god, those LIPS!) he looked the exact opposite of annoyed and hassled. He looked like a slab of 6 inch thick bacon, greasy hot bacon, which I haven't eaten in over 5 years.......................................

*breath*

Sadly we did not stick around to spy Franco... let alone Kristen Wiig, A. Poehls or Keenan... The 2:15 AM mark had passed, people. But we watched the show on DVR and it was pretty good. Not bad to look at, not bad at all, esp. Franco dressed like an emo kid.

Last night Scott and I saw Lissy Trullie at Cake Shop. Killer, as usual. I love her music because it's good to have girl rock and roll stars. Real ones. She writes and sings about feelings, about being a little bit of an outsider, being in love, being fucking sick of it, and she does this all with sweet pop sounds mixed with pure rock and roll power. God, I love her. go go go to her myspace. DO IT!

oh come on baby work it out

Kaitlyn came to NYC for the 1st 1/2 of the week. Fun times.

Highlights included: 28 Days Later at McCarren Park Pool and the fries at Empire Diner.

Pre Santos Poison Party. Rebecca: "I only drink when I'm drunk."

Last night Rebecca, Scott and I went to AWK's aka Santo's Party House to see Frankpollis and Lissy Trullie. You should all check out Lissy Trullie because she's damn good. MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/lizzytrullie A great night of music, but the shit drinks at the bar tasted like bad Dimatap. Thank god for that magical super drink on the subway. Sightings@Santos: Nate Lowman (incredibly sexy in person), super-tall Dan Colen, Dash Snow snapping photos all night, Erik from the Virgins, and JACKSON duh.

Dead Trees posted a new song on their myspace. They also put up a bulletin which mentions a possible tour of AMERICA after they get back from Japan. In the meantime, listen to their song, buy their music. The guys are kind and awesome live. www.myspace.com/thedeadtrees

Tonight is the night I hope that my dreams of "riding the express" (aka James Franco as a sexy drug dealer with long hair) will finally come true. CHECK YA LATERRRRR.