Read:My:Back

Charlie Brooker—How to Report the News

More about Charlie here.

Unspectacular Idea of the Week

CBGB Radio. As if the club and those who continued to celebrate it long after it stopped serving any useful function weren't already insufferable enough, we will now have to hear them brag about "daring" segues between edgy artists such as... The Ramones. And the Pixies. That sounds about as adventurous as the station that plays both The Grateful Dead... and Phish.

Sean Ross has a more informative (and forgiving) analysis on his blog.

News via Steinski.

Hoover Me This, Independent Broadcast Outlet!

Pictured: WPRB's floor in the old Holder Hall studios. Although not immediately evident in this photograph, there is a small civilization experiencing an iron age in that patch of gray scum on the right. (In fairness, WFMU can be just as disgusting, as is the case with just about every other independent radio station I've ever visited.) I guess there's just something about quality broadcast environments that precludes an awareness of basic hygiene, though I've yet to come across anything this gnarly at WNYC.

[Photo by Jon Solomon. Used without permission. Removal = theft.]

Jesus Lizard at the Court Tavern, 1992

This article about the Jesus Lizard's recent reunion tour opens with a brilliantly accurate description of the crowd that gathered to see them at New Brunswick's fabled Court Tavern, circa 1992. The piece was penned by Sam Shiffman, whom locals will remember as Central Jersey's pre-eminent punk rock wise-ass, and frontman for Scott Hall hardcore matinee perennials P.E.D. (Post Ejaculation Depression). Never one to mince words, Sam's characterization of the criminal element drawn to the band and club at that time is nothing if not utterly succinct:

On this night, like most at the Court Tavern, the downstairs bar is filled with some of the most despicable human flotsam that I have ever seen and their assorted hangers on. We are not talking college tattoo wannabes. We are talking real Nazis, real heroin addicts and life's real losers. The obscenely obese man standing next to me smells like what I would expect an obscenely fat man to smell like. He was just shooting up in the backseat of my car ten minutes ago... and I always thought heroin addicts were supposed to be thin.

Read the rest here, then go download a goodly chunk of P.E.D.'s recorded output, now available courtesy of WFMU's Free Music Archive. Here's the mighty "NcO2 Death" to get you off and running.