S/FJ

PATTI SMITH, BOWERY BALLROOM, DECEMBER 29, 2006

Patti's son, Jackson, played guitar. He is pictured on the far left (stage right). Tony Shanahan played bass and, on this song, keyboards (placing him out of the frame). "HAPPY BDAY" was spelled out in red masking tape on the back of the keyboard. December 27: Lenny Kaye. December 30: Patti Smith and Bo Diddley.

For what she described as the "stragglers night," Patti and the band played all of the "Dream Of Life" album, in order. She told many stories, and commented several times on the back spasms that had prevented her from rehearsing with the band. It was a loose set, not particularly Patti-like, if you think of Patti as the one who conjures and rattles. After "Dream Of Life," the band did a b-side from the "Dream of Life" sessions, then "Frederick" (recognition, wooh), and some covers: "Hey, Bo Diddley" (is that the right name?), "Soul Kitchen" and "Gimme Shelter," on which a member of the road crew played bass. I am not sure if these songs are going to be on her new covers record.

Some of Patti's comments: there is no reason to celebrate Saddam's hanging; Michael Jackson is a better dancer than Prince; "Frederick" is about her late husband, Fred "Sonic" Smith; all the music on "Dream Of Life" was written by Fred; it snowed the night Andy Warhol died, making "everything white, like Andy's hair, and I think that was New York's tribute to Andy"; that Eleanor Roosevelt had great shoes; an extended riff on critics who didn't adequately acclaim "Dream Of Life," and one critic who misinterpreted a line about "Shakespeare's child"—he mistakenly thought Patti thought herself that child; "I can't remember the fucking words"; and "We're gonna be really good tomorrow and the next night."

WHO'S THAT CABDRIVER?

Ben Greenman asked The Internet™ about John Phillips, and promptly sent us the dope: he was more than just a bouncer.

IF YOU WANNA RIDE

People say things in cabs. Strangers tell you that the dust from a construction site near their apartment gave them red eyes like a bunny's; strangers tell you how much they like the light in Norway; friends of strangers ask you about breakups and nursed grudges; drivers ask you where they might buy a stepladder; drivers ask you not to curse in exchange for a promise to drive sanely.

Very late on Christmas evening, I got into a cab. A conversation with the driver started quickly and headed straight for music. (I tipped him off but I don't remember how.) The driver was naming various members of the 1980s harmolodic army—Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Blood Ulmer—and then asking me about Bob Christgau, who he claimed to know. The driver said that he had worked the door at Hurrah's or Trax in the 80s. I wish I remembered more clearly what he said; I am pretty sure he said Hurrah's. He introduced himself as John Phillips and handed me a business card, which listed his profession as "astrologer."

The email address on the card does not work, so I haven't been able to confirm where John worked in the 80s. His brief reading of my stars seems to be holding true.

PUT YOUR MONEY DOWN (OR UP)

I think maybe it is time to speak about James.

TALKIN' LOUD AND SAYIN' NOTHING

IT'S A WRAP

Let's end the "data" festival right here.

THE INTERNET SURGES ON

I am enjoying this free mixtape and the website hosting it.

I am not immune to Matt & Kim's "Yea Yeah."

I should have paid more attention to The Thermals' "The Body, The Blood, The Machine." I usually pay attention to The Thermals. I cannot explain the oversight. (Wait—I can. Hutch only has one melody.)

THE BIG PAYBACK

Jody Rosen told us the news this morning:

"Holy shit. I guess the 20th century is over now."

11 SPRING

Working on it...

THESE DATA

My complete and total 2006 takedown, loaded with plenty of hot snark, reference-heavy opinions you won't get, and the names of 423 albums you won't buy!

JOIN THE CLUB

LATE EDITION

I just received a polite but slightly peeved email from someone who asked me to "stop changing" my 2006 list. What is the polite way to say "Start your own blog"?

Like all of the lists here, 2006 moves until it stops. Turn to another year-end wrap-up if the fluctuating data here do not work for you.

Late additions: Don't have any strong feelings about the Green Velvet disc, but the Cajmere disc of this double disc set is subtly mind-squeezing. The Afrobeat thread running through the last ten years of house music is a beautiful thing.

The "downtempo" assignment elicits some truly gorgeous ideas of selection, combination and segue from DJs. I offer, as evidence, the first disc of Jimmy Van M.'s three-disc mix and Henrik Schwarz's remarkable mix, which fell off my 2006 list for reasons that can only be traced to my clumsy fingers, as my mind had no intention of deleting it.

BEST OF 2007

SONGS
1. Ghislain Poirier f/Face-T “No More Blood (Megasoid remix)”
2. Dizzee Rascal “Old Skool” (XL)
3. Dude ‘N Nem “Watch My Feet” (TVT)
4. Santogold f/Switch and FreQ Nasty “Creator” (Lizard King)
5. Sophie Ellis-Bextor “Me and My Imagination” (Universal)
6. Mary J. Blige “Just Fine” (Geffen)
7. Rihanna f/Jay-Z “Umbrella” (Def Jam)
8. 50 Cent “I Get Money” (Interscope)
9. M.I.A. “Bird Flu” (XL/Interscope)
10. Britney Spears “Piece Of Me” (Jive)
11. Eve “Tambourine” (Aftermath/Interscope)
12. Cassidy “My Drink n’ My 2 Step” f/Swizz Beatz (RCA)
13. Jesca Hoop “Summertime” (Sony BMG)
14. Arcade Fire “Keep The Car Running” (Merge)
15. Sara Bareilles “Love Song” (Epic)
16. Timbaland f/Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake “Give It To Me” (Interscope)
17. Lil Mama “Lip Gloss” (Jive)
18. Charlotte Hatherley “Behave” (Little Sister)
19. Natasha Bedingfield “I Wanna Have Your Babies” (RCA)
20. Junior Senior “Take My Time” (Rykodisc)

ALBUMS
1. Lil Wayne “The Carter III” (Young Money Entertainment)
2. Radiohead “In Rainbows” (Radiohead)
3. Battles “Mirrored” (Warp)
4. Tobias Thomas “Please Please Please” (Kompakt)
5. Tracey Thorn “Out Of The Woods” (Virgin)
6. Prodigy “Return Of The Mac” (The Infamous/Koch)
7. Burial “Untrue” (Hyperdub)
8. Mary J. Blige “Growing Pains” (Geffen)
9. R. Kelly “Double Up” (Jive/Zomba)
10. Spoon “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” (Merge)
11. Odd Nosdam “Level Live Wires” (Anticon)
12. LCD Soundsystem “Sound of Silver” (Capitol/DFA/EMI)
13. No Age “Weirdo Rippers” (Fat Cat)
14. Miranda Lambert “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (Sony BMG)
15. The Good, the Bad and The Queen (Honest Jons/EMI)
16. Fall Out Boy “Infinity On High” (Island)
17. The Cool Kids (internet)
18. The Cribs “Men’s Needs, Women’s Needs, Whatever” (Capitol)
19. Dirty Projectors “Rise Above” (Dead Oceans)
20. Kelly Willis “Translated By Love” (Ryko)
21. Wale “100 Miles and Running: Mixed by Nick Catchdubs”
22. Tabu Ley Rochereau “The Voice of Lightness” (Sterns)
23. Gui Boratto “Chromophobia” (Kompakt)

TAKE ON HIM, A-HA

RAPPAZ R N DAINJA.

11 SPRING STREET, DECEMBER 17, 2006

Over the next few days, I am going to use this post as a source for pictures of 11 Spring Street, on its last day, in its finest hour. I will add as many links and IDs as possible; please send any corrections or relevant information to frerejones AT the google mail domain.

Jordan pointed us to the 11 Spring Street Flickr page.

MORE SOON

RECORD STORES, PART 958

Cortney Harding:

"When I was a high school kid in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, circa 1996, I would take the bus downtown to Ozone Records almost every day. I had a massive, raging girlcrush on a bespectacled lass named Rachel, who worked the counter and played in a noise band called Sissyface. Although I probably came across as the world's nerdiest fan-girl, she was sweet enough to turn me on to some excellent bands, and I spent hundreds of dollars on seven-inches thanks to her guidance. Ozone is now long gone, and God knows I haven't set foot in a record store in ages, but I always feel a little bad for music nerd kids these days. Reading a blog isn't nearly as much fun as tailing a hot clerk around the store while she piles records in your arms."

I WISH I COULD SAY I WAS A VEGAN

but I am a mere vegaquarian.

If stats strike you as geeky and boring, tune out now.

It is always nice to get a link from Mr. Dr. Vegan of Brooklyn, as the hits go through the roof, and some interesting person usually gets in touch with us as a result.

Of Vegan's assertion that I prefer major labels over indies: Around here, we see two (or more) communities investing different energies in different forms. If you're talking singles, I did prefer the free-standing songs released by major labels. If we're talking albums, it's even between majors and indies in the top ten, and decidedly pro-indie if you take all thirty-odd albums into account.

THIS MORNING'S COFFEE

isn't coffee. Go to Elana Herzog's website, click the "Panels" button on the right, and look for "Untitled #1," from 2000. That's what's happening right now.

I AM NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO SAY

about this, other than thank you.

So.

Thank you, mysterious person.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND BUTT

"This toilet is going to be famous, because I am going to be famous. We say a prayer—'Aaaah'—when it goes up, and a prayer—'Aaaah'—when it goes down."

THANK YOU, KAOS AND SAL

Here is the moment you've been waiting for all year, conveniently popping up at Sentimental Spending Moment Numero Uno: the chance to buy an Ui song you already have, mixed into a sequence of very classy songs by other people. You can buy "Collectors Series Pt. 2: Danse, Gravité Zéro," mixed and curated by Kaos and Sal Principato, here and here. (Sal is the singer in Liquid Liquid.)

Relatedly, if you feel a dub moment coming on, I would like to recommend a large chunk of the On-U catalog, which while having been sung enough to disqualify it from being categorically unsung, could use some more singing. Start with early African Head Charge, Dub Syndicate and The Missing Brazilians. (Sorry about the prices—wish they were in print.)

ANOTHER ONE

"OK. Iron."

"I have an idea. But you tell me."

"I-Y-R-N."

"Really?"

"No, no. I-Y-U-R-N. That's right."

NYC LOVE

If you want to frame a photograph or piece of art, go to L&O Frame on Duane Street, near West Broadway. The shop is run by two native New Yorkers who are exceedingly friendly. Their work is impeccable, and the prices so reasonable that it is hard to imagine what exactly other framers are providing for their elephantine fees.

NU SHOOZ

"Dad, you know how English is crazy, how there are words that don't make sense the way they look? I have a game. I'll come up with a word and you have to guess my better way of spelling it."

"OK."

"True."

"I don't know."

"C-H-R-O-O-W."

LE MEEX

I encourage you to download this excellent Certified Bananas mix from the hegemonic Discobelle. (What is that—a gang?) I also encourage you to dial it back one decade and consider a first draft of the current blend-up.

LOSING MY PLACE

Let the machines go home.

BLOODY COUP

Restart the party. Scroll down and click on the "Make a Donation" button. Please.

YOU ARE THERE

Or maybe you were.

THE BAD NEWS

THE DAYTIME NIGHTTIME SKY

The wind shifts, the paint lifts.