Autumn Souvenir

If only he could serve again. This morning on Fox News Sunday, President Bill Clinton handed it to Chris Wallace of Fox and it's about damn time. Why didn't John Kerry do this? Why doesn't Hillary do this? When will the democratic party understand that 50% of the country detests the conservative right and all that goes with it. W, Cheney, Frist, Santorum and the rest of those sickos are the most corrupt and yes, EVIL, leaders that this country has ever seen. SOMEONE NEEDS TO SPEAK UP ABOUT THIS!!!! Sure, maybe Clinton went a bit overboard for a president. But there are millions out there who feel the same anger towards these crooked, narrow-minded, greedy bastards. Tangent: Singer-songwriter Tim Easton sums up my feelings about how the conservative right has co-opted religion and turned it into a political tool. That's all it is folks. George W. and his cohorts contradict the teachings of the bible nearly every minute of every day. They're thirty for war. They aband...

And here's the tally of the artists I've listened to most since June of 2005. 1 Bob Dylan 600 2 Wilco 585 3 Bruce Springsteen 575 4 Josh Rouse 494 5 Elliott Smith 472 6 Eels 451 7 M. Ward 450 8 Damien Jurado 391 9 Centro-Matic 341 10 Richard Buckner 302 11 Uncle Tupelo 291 12 Iron & Wine 284 13 Bonnie 'Prince' Billy 283 14 Aimee Mann 274 15 The Jayhawks 253 16 Neil Young 240 17 Son Volt 227 18 Kenny Roby 225 19 The Wrens 222 20 Nick Drake 218 21 The Gourds 216 22 Sufjan Stevens 203 23 The New Pornographers 188 24 Beck 183 25 Tim Easton 171 26 The Decemberists 166 27 Okkervil River 165 27 Townes Van Zandt 165 29 Spoon 158 30 Richmond Fontaine 157

I've had a minor resurgence in my listening. Here's what's been hitting me the past month: RICHARD BUCKNER - MEADOW STEVE EARLE - GUITAR TOWN THE FORMAT - DOG PROBLEMS VETIVER - TO FIND ME GONE BONNIE 'PRINCE' BILLY - THE LETTING GO THE ROLLING STONES - THE SINGLES COLLECTION, VOL. 1-3 OKKERVIL RIVER - BLACK SHEEP BOY RAY CHARLES - MODERN SOUNDS IN COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC CENTRO-MATIC - LOVE YOU JUST THE SAME THE BAND - MUSIC FROM BIG PINK BAND OF HORSES - EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME ELLIOTT SMITH - FROM A BASEMENT ON A HILL

In January of 2005 I departed the East for the West while simultaneously labelling myself as single for the first time in close to three years. I left behind quite possibly the most wonderful person I'd ever met, but something drove me to break ties. Freedom? Uncertainty? I still don't know. And neither does she. It still stands as the greatest relationship of my life and provided memories that I will reflect on until the day I die. Since supplanting myself in the Bay Area, my romantic life has been quite possibly worthy of a weekly column. I've had one sort-of relationship that lasted about two months. Ironically, she was in New York. I knew from the outset that it wouldn't last, but there was a passion to it that kept me around for a while. Right before Christmas of last year that came to a close. There have been a smattering of dates throughout 2006, but none seemed destined for anything beyond a few good nights out. However, there were two. The first I met one night...

Where is the San Francisco that I thought I'd find? I've now lived in the Bay Area for close to two years, and I must admit, this is not the city I thought it would be. I lived in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn for six years prior to moving to SF. After just six months of living there, I felt at home. I knew the owners of the local shops. I had stumbled upon the local bars that played the right music and served the right drinks. I found the parks. I met the right people. Brooklyn became home. There was the Italian Ice shop on 7th Avenue. There was Holy Cow Records (RIP) on 7th. There were great shows at Southpaw on 5th. There was that classic tavern beside Southpaw. There was the classic Polish family at the local laundromat. Here in SF, I've yet to find much. I have yet to locate a bar that feels like home. The neighborhoods leave much to be desired. The people are, well, just not that welcoming. Sure, the weather and scenery is absolutely stunning. But it feels like a...