XTC - Mayor of Simpleton early work tape

I suppose you're familiar with XTC's 1989 pop gem "Mayor of Simpleton." The early work tape for this song (released on the excellent Coat of Many Cupboards boxed set) reveals its genesis to have been something far removed from what finally emerged.

You Are Here

Saw Brian Eno last night at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. He talked for 2 1/2 hours using an overhead projector and his voice - no audio, no props (besides a set of screwdrivers). He was talking about the ideas that inform his artistic practice in various media and he framed them within some BIG IDEAS (how Copernicus & Darwin levelled out our ideas about our own importance for starters, wrapping up with What Is the Purpose of Art?).

It's a little odd to me how closely his talk mirrored some of the things I've been trying to turn over in my head about the approach a critic 'should' take, what makes an artwork or artist 'important' or 'relevant', and how to negotiate the maze of cultural signification that one's response to art (music in particular) projects to the outside world.

It didn't turn on any big lightbulbs for me, but it was well worth the dough ($45 for seats way up in the rafters, but that includes admission to his exhibition at the Glenbow as well). Lots of little nuggets to chew on.

New Gruff Rhys on the way

Available February 14th, Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys' 3rd solo album Hotel Shampoo promises to be super-duper great. I don't know if he could do anything to displace Yr Atal Genhedlaeth in my heart (it's so weird and so catchy and it's sung completely in Welsh) but I love the first single (great low-budget video here) and the song samples from the rest of the album (available pour ecouter ici) sound right up your alley.

The French Bob Dylan

Tiens, this track is great - check out this Parisian guy (the unimonickered "Chris" - try googling him!) doing his damnedest to be the French Bob Dylan.

Chris - Plan de Fugue

Wait! Found some info on him.