Quasi//Little Lord Fontleroy

I don't know why I want to post this song today, but I do. I love Quasi. Ex-married couple Sam Coomes (who was in Heatmiser with Elliott Smith) and Janet Weiss (of Sleater Kinney and The Jicks) just make the best fucking sounds. Coomes' lyrics are often angry, bitter and paranoid, but they also tend to ring true set against his signature warped keyboard sound. And I maintain that Janet Weiss is basically the best drummer ever.

These guys put on one hell of a live show and are still at it. Try to see them, please. Make sure you get a spot where you can watch Janet.

This song is from one of my favorite albums, The Sword of God.

Its title is a reference to the late-1800s children's novel, Little Lord Fauntleroy:

"Little Lord Fauntleroy" is now most often used as a term of derision. It describes a pompous spoiled brat, usually a young male, who takes his wealth and privilege for granted (while this is obviously not consistent with the original character, it is inspired by the perceived self-righteousness of the little lord, and an assumed odiousness in his overweening goodness).



Little Lord Fontleroy.mp3

You're all alone
On your velvet throne.

(Slightly) unrelated reminder: if you're in NYC, I'm DJing tonight at Outpost in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. Bring us some records to play!

Stephen Malkmus (and the Jicks)//Church on White

Hello. Today OSS comes live from day two of intensive Palmyra recording sessions at Karl's apartment. It's hot as balls here and when we're not tracking, we're all camping out in Karl's bedroom with the AC and the fan.

I asked my bandmates what the song should be today and Kenny helpfully suggested something from Stephen Malkmus's Pig Lib. Karl specifically suggested “Vanessa from Queens,” because it's summery (so summery, it made it onto Ali and I's summer mix, long long ago).

Don't get me wrong—I really like Pig Lib and I REALLY like “Vanessa from Queens,” but I've always fancied myself more of a self-titled album girl. Oh, those Jicks. Oh, Janet (even though she's not actually on this album).

Q: Karl, why do you like Steve Malkmus?
A: He sounds like he embraces his guilty pleasures and makes them sound good. He'll do what normally would be super cornball, but then it will actually be kind of cool.

Q: Kenny, why do you like Steve Malkmus?
A: Because I like Pavement...And I wish Pavement were still together.

And there you have it.



Church on White.mp3

When enough is enough
Do the fakers drop out?
Promise me
You will always be
Too awake to be famous,
Too wired to be safe.
But all you really wanted
Was everything
Plus everything
And the truth.
I only poured you
Half a lie.

Quasi//Two by Two

Being in a two person band with your ex-husband: DOUBLE TROUBLE!!!

Yes, yes, I decided we should start the weekend with a rare treat! That rare treat is Janet Weiss singing AND playing the drums, something that doesn’t happen very often at all.

I love Janet Weiss. That’s why (in addition to a very drunken phone call of Kot’s) I named my first and only shot at a record label, I AM JANET! (pardon our mess of a site--I am planning to update it, in my free time!!!).

The times I’ve gotten to see Ms. Weiss on the kit at a slew of Sleater-Kinney and Quasi shows, I’ve always been blown away. In both cases, all members of these groups more than pull their weight. That said, it’s impossible to take your eyes off of Janet, as she kicks the ass of the kit in a way I have never seen before. It is a sight to behold.

Unrelated to almost any of this: I have a pin of Janet holding a Koala bear on my leather jacket. Most people are very confused by this.

This song is a lot mellower than most SK or Quasi songs, but it’s still quite enjoyable.



Two by Two.mp3

Double Trouble: Some other bands that have double word names: Duran Duran, Man Man, Lisa Lisa, The The, The Go Gos, Taxi Taxi, Goo Goo Dolls, Tapes ‘n Tapes, Talk Talk, Frou Frou, Tom Tom Club, Was Not Was, Bow Wow Wow, Xiu Xiu, Mr. Mister,Tap Tap!


You've left at last,
I knew you could,
Leaving nothing to remember you by
Except how to be happy
And how not to care anymore.
Two by two - these things weren't meant for you.

The Gossip//Fire Sign, Bikini Kill//Rebel Girl, Sleater Kinney//Get Up

Hi darling! You look fabulous. It's OSS’s Queer Week!!!!

First and foremost, I would like to apologize for breaking format a lot this week. I’ll be taking three days off over the next two weeks, and I want to make sure the tune-to-biz day ratio stays on the up-and-up, so I’m throwing in some extra sweet songs this week. That said, without further delay, I present to you a feature:

My Super Queer Rock and Roll Crushes Countdown, Part 1: The Ladies

3. Beth Ditto of The Gossip

Beth Ditto is pretty damn sexy. She has one of the most entrancing stage presences of any performer I’ve ever seen. Bonus points for her On Our Backs spread with her tranny boyfriend. Hell yeah! Unrelated and weird sidenote: Ditto and Kate Moss have somehow become BFFs .



Fire Sign.mp3
by The Gossip


2. Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill, Julie Ruin and Le Tigre

OMG, Kathleen Hanna. This ultrasexy godmother of riotgirl is one pretty hot topic (get it!?!?!). Jokes. Yeah, Kathleen Hanna is gorgeous in every sense of the word and each of her musical projects kicks ass in a new way.



Rebel Girl.mp3
by Bikini Kill


1. Carrie Brownstein of Sleater Kinney and The Spells

Yeah, I know. I'm predictable. My biggest rock and roll crush http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifever is Carrie Brownstein. And she has been ever since I first bought The Hot Rock and fell head over heals for both her and SK (my previous favorite band, knocked out of position only recently by FFs). Carrie is an amazing guitarist and singer, a great performer and friends with Miranda July. Also, she's totally the finest human being ever. Did I mention she blogs for NPR? REPEAT: BLOGS FOR NPR. What else could a girl want?



Get Up.mp3
by Sleater Kinney

One Gay Fact: The word "dyke," originally a derogatory label for a masculine or butch woman, has been reappropriated as a positive term implying assertiveness and toughness, or simply as a neutral synonym for lesbian.


Rebel girl, rebel girl,
Rebel girl you are the queen of my world!