My Eyes Fastened To The Ground

Here are a few custom made celebrity lunch boxes on ebay to benefit the Food Bank NY.   A couple end tonight.  

Oedipus Records has two new limited releases.   A 7” by New England Roses and a LP by BARR and both available Here at the store.

Limited edition Guided By Voices vinyl Propeller LP’s start shipping this week.   Check out the info at Scat Records.    It’s still a mystery which cover is limited.  

I ‘m not a big fan of Halloween but Scooby Doo seems to be the leading contender for candy hunting tonight.  Be safe

Another round of ebay auctions ended with a gross of $450.   I was too lazy to list my Nirvana stuff, so I’ll do it next weekend.   Strangely, most of my first auctions went overseas but nearly all of my White Stripes stuff stayed in the US.  I was very happy to get $120 for the tour box I picked up last month.   Fall Sale.

Another high price for Love Buzz 7" # 961.  

Today, there seems to be little doubt that the better team won the World Series.    Houston looked out of it from the start and was over-matched when they got no breaks to get them that first win.    Also, good for Jermain Dye.   He seems like a happy, humble world champion who performed consistently in the clutch and deserved the MVP.  

I apologize in advance, but first baseman Ensberg stinks!!!    With a pathetic WS “performance” this guy would never last on a team run by Nilla.     Kinda reminded me of GPedro.  

Did you realize that Jeff Bagwell and Frank Thomas have nearly identical career stats?  The two were born on the same day (5/27/1968) and each won the MVP award in 1994.    My point: If one gets in the Hall, the other must be included.   Bagwell (.297, 2317 hits, 449 hr, 1529 rbi) Thomas (.307, 2136, 448, 1465).  

This is funny and make sure you read the comments below the original post.   The award for worst Little League Player of 2005.    

A couple of the Xiu Xiu LP’s that I recommended last week are showing up on ebay.    I haven’t received my copy yet but some people must not visit the band site.     Also, the signed DCD LP's sold out fast.  

New 7” release from Detroit’s Cass Records.   It’s The Muldoon’s featuring an 8-year old songwriter, 11-year old guitarist and their dad on drums.   Recorded at Jack White’s Third Man Studios.  

Twilight Singers new DVD.  The second show in the Twilight - Live! series of DVDs is now available from our online store and at eBay.   The show was taped in Milan, Italy at Alcatraz on February 11, 2004. 14 songs spanning all Twilight albums. This is a single camera, handheld, back of the room shoot. This is a limited edition of 1,000 and it will not be re-pressed.

One of Variety Magazine’s top 100 icons of the 20th century is one of my musical hero’s, Kurt Cobain, the front man for Nirvana.  

It looks like the ChiSox have everything going their way.    One of the good things about the Astros falling behind is that Houston “writer” (and I use that term loosely) Richard Justice will have to eat his own words again.     This idiot writer, similar to Bunky and Dumpy in the Journal, has nothing good to say and must have pictures to be the AOL sports writer.     Previous bold predictions included a Cardinals sweep in last years series, the BoSox to win the division this year and the Yankees to not make the playoffs.   Of course, he picked Houston to win.  

Lots of things happening on ebay this month.   So far, I sold 23 of 28 items with a net of $560 and I listed a bunch of White Stripes stuff this week. There was $400 is paid merchandise in my e-mail account Monday morning.   However, when Ebay takes their 5% and then Paypal takes their 5%, I am left with just a reasonable sale.    

Limited edition vinyl pressing of the new Xiu Xiu LP, “La Foret”.   It’s only available the old fashioned way, cash and a stamp, in edition of 400 copies with hand screened covers.   The site also has super-limited (20 copies) alternate color shirts.  

Here are two recent and interesting Sub Pop ebay auctions.   The first was an unusually high price for Love Buzz # 711 and a huge lot of 7" color singles from throughout the 90’s.    Also, if you have any of the original, Nevermind LP’s sitting around, beware the original US pressings from 1991 have risen sharply in Value.

There are 25 people watching this Death Cab 7" I’m selling.   That is the most on any item I have ever sold.    The previous high was 23 for an original Sub Pop Bleach LP with poster that went for $300.   Hopefully “watching” transfers into bidding.

As usual the team I was rooting for got beat and I have to pick another “favorite”.   I might as well root for the Astros since they originally broke my heart back in ’80, losing to the Pete Rose led Phillies.   I remember during game 5, while we were on vacation in Florida, I was too young to watch the end of the live action and had to wait until morning to get the result.  

Great editorial in the ProJo today noting how it rained for 8 straight days after the Red Sox got pounded in the playoffs.   It goes on to state.   If there’s a piece of wisdom Red Sox fans should have gained from last year’s championship season, it is that baseball is a game of inches, not a game of curses.   Sometimes you get the lucky hit, sometimes you make a heart-breaking error.   Blame the players if you must blame someone, but don’t blame the gods…  
-  Metro West Daily News (Framingham).

The way the Cardinals went about their business in starving off elimination, like true professionals, has me rooting for them now.   My wife would say that it’s now over for them.  

Here’s a great vinyl related item, wedding invitations. And they are still available here.

Fantastic print on Tiny Showcase last night.   It sold out in a matter of hours and featured the work of RISD grad Katy Horan.

The NASA Earth Observatory has a great photo and geological history of Cape Cod today.  
    

Incredible finish to the game last night and just as I was complaining about waiting until Saturday for the Series to start, it all changed.    As soon as he walked Edmonds he was destined to throw a hanging slider to the best fastball hitter in the game.    Do you think Pay-Rod would give his right arm for one, just one, clutch homer?  

This was only the second time a team facing elimination in the 9th inning hit a go ahead home run to stay alive.   The first was Dave Hendersen in 1986.  I’ll save my praise for former Warren Softball League player Eckstein until later.  

Have you tried Craigs List?   It’s like the classified ads with lots of info.  

Happy Birthday Dad, I miss you so much.  

Well I was completely wrong about the White Sox.   Their pitching is peaking at the right time and look to be the odds-on favorite for their first Series win since Shoeless Joe Jackson played in Chicago.   Hopefully, they will match up against Houston.  

The reality series The Contender wrapped up this past Saturday with rematches live on ESPN.    This was a great series and the boxers seem “genuine”.   I was not a big fan of Peter Manfredo but in 6 months he has a completely new style, out boxed Sergio and looked great.   Too bad the west coast boxers got the home town calls.  The judges completely blew the second and third fights for deserving winners.   This will be the downfall of the show, bad judges, and results should rely on CompuBox stats as much as the judges scorecards.  

My 3-week ebay sale has begun.    Check out all my stuff.  

Another WS Inchophone ended this weekend.  Holding steady.  

Did you see Reggie Sanders flat-out butcher that fly ball and land on his head last night?  Hysterical.   That was one of the worst tries to catch a fly ball since Jose bounced one off his head for a home run.    He should be embarrassed because ALL major league outfielders make that catch.     Anyone starting to question, “the genius”, LaRussa yet?  

I got my 2 Jeff Magnum sketches last week.   Print #1 and Print #2.  

If you think you know balloons.   Why not take a shot at a Sub Pop Contest and guess at how many are in the van?   My guess of 111 was way too low.    Contest ends at midnight.  

Yesterday saw a new $$ high for the super-limited White Stripes Inchophone that I traded for last week.    

Horrible call by the home plate umpire last night to give the ChiSox a new life.   Chuck Vermette could not have done any better.   And speaking of umpiring, I am scheduled to help out at the JP Medeiros Tourney this weekend in Bristol.   But let’s see how the weather holds up.  

Did you see Cede jogging around the bases after his single last night to end the game?  He only had to get to first base to win the game but continued around the bases, like a homerun, all the way to home plate.   What a queer and that’s why they won’t win.    They don’t know how.

Of course, if you want to know the definition of “team player” I could post GPedro’s e-mail blasting me for complaining about his selfish base running in a meaningless game this past season.   A hysterical, classic ALL CAPS response from the new t-a-t-r-o.    If someone requests, I will post it for all to see.  

Ween has 2 new vinyl releases on their website.    Secondly, courtesy of the laughable-lefty, here is a link to some Limited Edition vinyl singles in a cool box.  The Cardigans have a new cd coming out and the first single, I need some fine wine and you, you need to be nicer, has a video to view.   I hope the whole album compares.

Lost was fantastic last night, lots of new information to dissect.  
    

There is a limited, signed LP release available from Dead Can Dance and will feature the Chicago show from their current US tour.  It will be signed and limited to 500 copies but costs $112.    More ridiculously limited releases from Southern Lord.   Get both of them at Southern Lord Records.  

First is by Sunn 0)).  A special limited NUMBERED edition of 2,000 double-cd version of Black One via mailorder, live shows and independent retailers. Disc one is the Black One album, Disc 2 is a live sunn0))) performance from Denmark at the Roskilde festival.   Everything by this band sells out quickly.  

Second, Lurker of Chalice s/t LP is Vinyl version of this kvlt underground essential release from Wrest (Leviathan). Vinyl version is a double LP on red vinyl with deluxe gatefold sleeve contains one bonus track not on cd. These are very limited and there may or may not be a repressing.....act now if you want one!

Great job by the Angels last night!!    Orlando Cabrera once again shines as a defensive whiz and I know Renteria could not have picked some of the grounders he has made with ease.    I’m going with the LAA to get to the series against St. Louis.  

Lot’s of interesting items ended this weekend on ebay.   Let’s start with GBV Propeller # 117 and a DIW 7” single featuring Bright Eyes.   Also, the first 2 inchophones sold this weekend.   A complete 7 single package went for $ 932 and a second (missing “top special”) went for $ 610.  

My unit arrived last Friday with all 7 singles and the two items I traded for it, Sub Pop red/white and the Big 3 red vinyl, sold over the weekend.     Right now it seems like I got the best of the deal.  I started pulling items last night for a big ebay sale I will be having in the near future.  

A local record label, Wishing Tree, was recently profiled in the local paper.   Also, I picked an older release from Magic Eye (now Secret Eye), formerly of Barrington, featuring Bright Eyes.  

I was able to get the NL correct with a Houston/St. Louis matchup for a spot in the World Series and hope I’m completely wrong about the AL.    The Sox played the playoffs the same way they played all year.  

Recently got an e-mail from Tiny Showcase  telling me my payment for a print from two weeks ago got “lost” and there were no prints remaining.     So, now my collection is missing one and disappointed that something I supported from the start is now incomplete.  

Although not a big Bob Dylan fan, I was able to catch major portions of the PBS Special No Direction Home this past weekend.    I have never been able to listen to a complete Dylan song, but in pieces, it’s fascinating.    The guy broke thru in 1961 (??) and there is great footage from his first electric performance and Newport Folk Festival.     Recommended.  

Here’s Pitchfork’s review of the new Liz Phair Record:  Now this is a terrible Liz Phair record. Somebody's Miracle is mostly generic pap that any number of next-big-has-beens could have cranked out, a useless piece of plastic poking a pointy heel in the eye of the carcass of the artist Liz once was.   Ouch.

The new Fiona Apple LP is available on vinyl and you can hear a couple of songs and a video at her My Space page.  

My White Stripes Inchophoe  arrived in Bristol this morning and I expect it to be delivered this afternoon.   Yahoo.  I just hope the Sox can make my weekend a little bit interesting.   Otherwise, it’s my next favorite team:   Whoever is playing the Skankees.      

The Staggering Statistics have updated their web site and added a new video for the song “New Vocation”.   It’s a live shot.   I can’t wait to see the band live.   The site also has “let out the secret” regarding the first release from 75orLess Records.    We are truly excited.   A couple of other songs are available on their My Space page.

Free, limited edition recipe postcards from the California Olive Industry.  

Is this the safest spot for a 3-year old?    After surviving the roller coaster, and vowing never to do it again, we somehow convinced her to get on the ferris wheel.    The panic started to set in as soon as we left the platform.    After 2 spins it couldn’t end fast enough.   Classic tale from Santa’s Village.

Lots of chatter regarding The White Stripes portable, plastic record player that I mentioned yesterday.    The message boards are abuzz with complaints and Mr. Jack White has now responded (on their site) about the situation.   Originally, the Asian company said they had 4000 units, but actually destroyed most and could only come up with 400 players for the band.   Stay tuned.  

What is an Inchophone?  

It’s the greatest piece of limited tour merchandise ever.   This was produced by The White Stripes and was only sold at their Detroit shows this past weekend.    It’s a plastic, portable record player that runs on AA batteries and comes with seven 3” vinyl records.    Extremely limited to 100, they will showing up Ebay over the next couple of months.  

Did I get one?  Well, I have secured a trade with someone in MO and it should be here by the end of the week.   It cost me Three Records plus other stuff.    I can’t wait to get it.  

Well, the playoffs start today and every team has flaws.   However, I think we will see another Red Sox – Yankee Championship Series.    In the other league, it will be Houston – St. Louis.    

Want to catch up on the entire Of Montreal CD Collection?    Click the link and bid away.  

Pirate Press Records have released their 1st annual picture disc box set featuring 12 bands I never heard of.   But it’s limited to 1500 hand numbered copies and will sell out.   It can be picked up at Interpunk.  

You have to love the ProJo Sunday paper.   They have been running sob stories every week for the past month.  This includes the girl who “walks to work” at Wal-Mart (turning that into 30K in donations) and last weeks profile about another baby-mama who got her education thru a work assistance program and now, amazingly, has a real job.   But this week profile takes the cake.   I couldn’t make this up about a displaced Katrina “victim.”

Toby Clark and her husband, Will, say they are done with N.O.   Clark also says she is done with exotic dancing, which she did at the French Quarter under the stage name, Scarlet Begonias.   Now she says Scarlet Begonias “died in the flood” and offered this assessment of her previous work.   “It’s not really a good job.  A lot of people drink and do drugs.”  She hopes to find a job as a waitress and also plans to write a book about her experiences in N.O.  Also unclear is how long evacuees will be able to receive free housing, medical and health care and who will pick up the tab.  

Make sure you ‘look’ at the photo that is a “Lead In Photo” to the story.   Everything a woman on federal assistance needs:  a cat, bottles of hard liquor, open candles on a wood table (is that a violation?), a case of krispy kreme donuts and a bag of dum-dums.   Ah, America.

My guess:   She’ll be dancing at the Foxy by Feb. 1st and all of us will be picking up her tab for years to come.  

Just like I mentioned last Thursday morning, the Yankees got their 1 win this past weekend and made off with the East title.   So you weren’t surprised, like the rest of red sox nation, when Derek Jeter figured out they could win it on Saturday morning.     He mentioned that he was always “good in math.”    Too bad he doesn’t read this blog, he could have had a couple of more hours sleep Friday night.  

We had a great time in NH this past weekend and pictures to follow over the next couple of days.    The biggest difference between driving North and driving to PA or VA.   Tractor Trailers.    We did not see more than 3 the entire trip up and back.  Amazing.  

Also, every Southern Lord record I mentioned last week is now Sold Out.   Hope you got your copies of Earth, LOMT and Frost.