There must be a way I can dress to please him

I don't remember this video--truthfully I watch far more videos now than I ever did when they were popular--but I loved this record back in the day. Her drummer (name escapes me) was one of the great underrated rock drummers of the '90s and the overall sound is ferocious in its eagerness. PJ is the most devilish of women and this song captures it beautifully: trying to use femininity to transcend femininity. No matter how posed her snarl, everything she does drips of girly-ness!

But ah, even the girly-ness is a red herring here. Did you ever see Altman's film Ready to Wear? We all eagerly anticipated it back in the day and were bitterly disappointed. Only I went back and watched it a second time (by accident) and loved it. The key is to ignore the characters, focus on the clothes. The people are merely vehicles for the clothing. Here, too, PJ stands up and sits down and there's some grainy upskirt action but its not the woman. It’s the dress.

PJ Harvey -- 'Dress'

Being Rachmaninoff

I was hoping to find live footage of a real Rachmaninoff performance but there's only a pittance of actual film of the guy. Would've been cool. This is just a picture with some audio of Rachmaninoff playing live in 1939. It has the lush feel of a film score (it put me in a Fritz Lang mood) though much more expansive.

He went from being primarily a composer to primarily a player, a rarity I suppose though in the 20th century with recording technology and intercontinental transport improving one would think it wouldn't be such a rarity. Why is it that Vladimir Horowitz or Yehudi Menuhin, for example, were such reluctant composers while being such marvelous players?

Sergei Rachmaninoff plays his Piano Concerto #3

I know something you should know

Les Paul guitars, Marshall stack, grainy footage. This rocks.

The Swinging Neckbreakers -- 'Don't You Just Know It'

Get your vibe on

A percussion instrument that puts forth a tuneful melody is a beautiful thing. Stefon makes it look easy too.

Stefon Harris -- 'And This Too Shall Pass'

Seems so very sad for you

For my money Drake is the quintessential hippie singer/songwriter. Compliment or insult? Well, I've liked virtually everything I've ever heard by him so that can't be too bad, can it? He's also now a paradox of corporate media: a Volkswagen commercial brought him back and turned a new generation cynical of him simultaneously. Such is the way of American cognitive dissonance.

Nick Drake -- 'The Day is Done'

I'm a south Jersey mook

The pride of the Bluegrass takes time out from kicking my ass at the poker table to dole out a punk rock ass whippin'. Are you tough enough? This Sunday's Aqua Teen episode features Mr. Luallen as a brutal drill instructor so set your VCR's.

Nine Pound Hammer -- 'Carl's Theme (from Aqua Teen Hunger Force)'

BONUS -- Nine Pound Hammer -- 'Run Fatboy Run' (Guitar Hero style)
I guess this is why God invented the internet.

You're on old slut on junk

The Pogues were always good for songs about booze, gambling and church. The 'Holy Trinity' oeuvre culminated with the song 'Bottle of Smoke' about a guy who gets drunk, bets on a horse then drops the winnings in the collection plate. Their songs swing, they have style and soul and everything in between. Here is one the great drunken Christmas ballads of all time, like Bukowski getting festive.

The Pogues w/Kristy MacColl -- 'Fairy Tale of New York'

Remember when Gretzky played for the Blues?

Just between you and me, I was never a Dave Brubeck fan. His unorthodox style occasionally makes for some funky beats but more often than not it seems like he's fighting the piano. (Not as bad as John Cage who always struck me as angry at the piano--presumably because he never learned to play one!) But Paul Desmond is one of the great underappreciated jazz dudes of all time. Smooth, flexible, playful, fluent and toe-tappingly tuneful. Desmond makes this clip glide. And, hey, I never pass up a drum solo although I gotta admit I don't know this guy. Good clip, great video and audio.

Dave Brubeck Quartet -- 'St. Louis Blues'

What ya gonna do when the world's on fire?

Interesting video. Furry sure gets a lot out of barely touching his instrument. '79 next March' and still kicking ass. Nice work.

Furry Lewis -- 'When I Lay My Burden Down'

A smile relieves a heart that grieves

I always dug this song, one of their finest of the post-Mick Taylor era. Nothing too special, just a chill little tune from weary veterans. And I love the notion that Mick and Kieth can just leisurely roam the bars of Manhattan. And what are Bill and Charlie doing in the background? Rooting around You Tube for Stones clips yielded mostly crappy live clips from around the world or the standard videos they've released over the last 20 years of songs I don't like or never heard. But then there's this.

The Rolling Stones -- 'Waiting on a Friend'