Tom Waits is a rare and difficult interview; unless he’s been paired up with a patient and dogged reporter, you’re probably better off just trying to parse his ramblings on your own. But what, you ask, if he were to interview himself? His post on the Anti Records blog proves that this outlandish idea doesn’t only work, it might be the best way to get a straight answer out of him. For example:
“George Burns was a vaudeville performer I particularly loved. Dry and unflappable, curious, and funny — no matter what he said. He could dance too. He said, ‘Too bad the only people that know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair.’”
Then there’s this burst of lucidity:
“Q: How would you compare guitarists Marc Ribot and Smokey Hormel?
A: Octopus have eight and squid have ten tentacles, each with hundreds of suction cups and each have the power to burst a man’s artery.”
On second thought.... (http://tinyurl.com/6gdnn7)
GARAGE ROCK ROYALTY
Montreal has garage rock in a chokehold, and the world is starting to take notice: Exhibit A is King Khan (pictured) getting signed to Vice. The Supreme Genius, his latest album with the Shrines, is due out June 17, and Gorilla Vs. Bear has two tracks for you to salivate over. Enjoy the extremely topical soul stomp “Torture”: “Your love is like torture, baby.” Deep! (http://tinyurl.com/5vhvs8)
STORMY NEW HIGHS
Speaking of Canadian bands getting the proper respect, do not miss Black Mountain’s spacey set for Pitchfork.tv, recorded in Brooklyn, which blows the NPR set they recorded in Washington, DC out of the water. Highlights include: all of it. (http://tinyurl.com/5qcu2d)
MP3 OF THE WEEK
Various, “This is … The Fuckin Hardcore”: Two solid hours of ‘90s rave classics, from Altern8 to Alec Empire vs Elvis Presley, lovingly compiled by members of Ninja Tune’s forum. Hardcore? You can say that again. (www.gas
comm.org/this.is/this3/)