The Peak, 2/7/06: 1982

[RGMike]

just in time for one of my fave Billy Joel singles, "Allentown".

DON'T YOU WANT ME - HUMAN LEAGUE
SLIT SKIRTS - PETE TOWNSHEND
A MILLION MILES AWAY - PLIMSOULS
WHO CAN IT BE NOW? - MEN AT WORK
LOST PLANES - THE FIXX
ALLENTOWN - BILLY JOEL
ONE OF OUR SUBMARINES - THOMAS DOLBY
GYPSY - FLEETWOOD MAC
THERE SHE GOES AGAIN - MARSHALL CRENSHAW
FAVOURITE SHIRTS (BOY MEETS GIRL) - HAIRCUT 100

can't wait for the Haircut 100 -- one Dave eschews in favor of "Love Plus One".

[Gazoo]

BOS to "Allentown," easily.  Billy Joel takes a drubbing in the NY press regularly -- including in this week's Voice -- but this was easily one of his best efforts, a poignant lyric with effectively understated music simulating the machinery of the region.  And "Every child had a pretty good shot / To get at least as far as his old man got" is a simply awesome lyric, perfectly presaging the notion that the present generation may be the first to not have it better than their parents.  Hits me especially hard today, having gotten the news last week that the young brother of a good friend, who didn't escape the region, is now struggling with heroin addiction.  Hard to fathom.

[RGMike]

BOS to "Allentown," easily.  Billy Joel takes a drubbing in the NY press regularly -- including in this week's Voice -- but this was easily one of his best efforts, a poignant lyric with effectively understated music simulating the machinery of the region.  And "Every child had a pretty good shot / To get at least as far as his old man got" is a simply awesome lyric, perfectly presaging the notion that the present generation may be the first to not have it better than their parents.  Hits me especially hard today, having gotten the news last week that the young brother of a good friend, who didn't escape the region, is now struggling with heroin addiction.  Hard to fathom.

Nylon Curtain was a big comeback artistically (it and Innocent Man, IMHO, are quite an amazing one-two punch). I always wonder if the brickbats he got for Glass Houses inspired him in a sort of "I'll show them!" kinda way to really go deep into himself for some lasting "art".

Sorry about your friend's brother -- this hasn't been your month for good news.  We'll make your week here memorable, I promise.

and here's me Haircut 100! I always said this was T.Heads "I Zimbra" speeded up.

[mshray]

BOS to "Allentown," easily.  Billy Joel takes a drubbing in the NY press regularly -- including in this week's Voice -- but this was easily one of his best efforts, a poignant lyric with effectively understated music simulating the machinery of the region.  And "Every child had a pretty good shot / To get at least as far as his old man got" is a simply awesome lyric, perfectly presaging the notion that the present generation may be the first to not have it better than their parents.  Hits me especially hard today, having gotten the news last week that the young brother of a good friend, who didn't escape the region, is now struggling with heroin addiction.  Hard to fathom.

Nylon Curtain was a big comeback artistically (it and Innocent Man, IMHO, are quite an amazing one-two punch). I always wonder if the brickbats he got for Glass Houses inspired him in a sort of "I'll show them!" kinda way to really go deep into himself for some lasting "art".

Sorry about your friend's brother -- this hasn't been your month for good news.  We'll make your week here memorable, I promise.

and here's me Haircut 100! I always said this was T.Heads "I Zimbra" speeded up.

At least his Stillers won!

[Gazoo]

At least his Stillers won!

The victory is nice, but I won't deny that it's tainted by the officiating (I didn't think Ben crossed the goal line, etc).