One of these years I will write consistent and faithful little entries that illustrate my fascinating life in quaint detail. I will respond to all of the lovely emails I receive in a timely and decorous manner, and I will never let my reading get behind.

Right.

While I am behind on a million, squillion things this December, one thing I am current and ahead of is Christmas shopping. Wait, no I’m not.

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Have you noticed that it’s sort of March already? You’ll get that. I guess.
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Here’s what I programmed on my iPod’s On The Go playlist the day I gave notice:

Whip It - Devo
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Brass in Pocket - The Pretenders
Circle Sky (live version) - The Monkees
For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder
Goin’ Down - The Monkees
I Get Knocked Down - Chumbawamba
More - Bobby Darin
Come On Eileen - Dexy’s Midnight Runners
That’s The Way (I Like It) - K.C. and the Sunshine Band
Lights Out - Lisa Marie Presley
S.O.B. - Lisa Marie Presley
Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins
Tear Me Down - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again - The Monkees
Innocence - Kirsty MacColl
The Ugly Truth - Matthew Sweet
Universal Appeal - The Misfits
Does He Love You? - Rilo Kiley
Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley
Hummer - Smashing Pumpkins

I’m only missing These Boots Are Made for Walking, eh?

(Check out their site, and you’ll be treated to a free listen of ‘It’s a Hit.’)

I can’t stop listening to this disc. Jenny Lewis’ vocals are crisp but sweet, with a clarity and sincerity I haven’t heard in a long, long time. She can belt and whisper and simply tell the truth in songs like ‘Portions For Foxes’ that surprise with their wry and wide-eyed lyrics.

And the range of the group is astounding. They take us from sweeping pop epic (’Does He Love You’) to post-modern Croce (’Absence of God’) to cheerful techno-pop (’Accidental Deth’) without losing one ounce of their incredible stamina and integrity. Listening to them, I’m taken back to the best of the early 90s indie scene, before it was all co-opted by the big labels. I can’t recommend it more. It’s the tightest, most refreshing album I’ve come across in years. Give it a try.

Featured in my iPod’s ‘On The Go’ playlist this week:

Happy Phantom - Tori Amos
Crucify - Tori Amos
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
Dizzy - Tommy Roe
Reminiscing - Little River Band
Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins
Today - Smashing Pumpkins
Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins
Spaceboy - Smashing Pumpkins
Feel Like Makin’ Love - Bad Company
Wishing Well - Terrence Trent D’Arby
Tear Me Down - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Angry Inch - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Wicked Little Town - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Midnight Radio - Hedwig and the Angry Inch
I Won’t Be The Same Without Her - The Monkees
Tear Drop City - The Monkees
Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again - The Monkees
Smells Like Cartoon Planet - The Cartoon Planet Band
Un-American - Ian Rhett
The Things We Do For Love - 10CC
All Those Years Ago - George Harrison
Innocence - Kirsty MacColl
The Longest Time - Billy Joel
Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
The Ugly Truth - Matthew Sweet
The Promise - When In Rome

It’s a terrifically fun list. As I walked from the office to the train station last night, I found myself fighting the urge to dance. This was especially difficult when “Dizzy” came on. It has this great opening tom-tom thing, and I could picture my Dad rocking out to it, as he is wont to do. So, I stood there at the northeast corner of Franklin and Madison, surreptitiously tapping my toes and rocking my hips and cursing myself for being such a square. Maybe next time, I won’t fight so much.