Please help me with the Haul-idays!

I know, I know. I always complain about the awful C day, but this time, it's not actually about that, it's about helping me win $500 worth of books- and if I'm picked, one lucky commenter on this here blog will get the books listed below!  So comment and enter yourself to win:)

Love and peace,
Reniazen

My list of Chronicle Books favorites I'd love to win:


The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights by Autumn de Wilde and Jim Jarmusch


Elliott Smith by Autumn de Wilde- includes live cd!


Sexy Book of Sexy Sex by Kristen Schaal

Let's Bring Back: An Encyclopedia of Forgotten-Yet-Delightful, Chic, Useful, Curious, and Otherwise Commendable Things from Times Gone By by Leslie M. Blume

The Exquisite Book

Rift by James Jean

Anna Sui By Andrew Bolton, Jack White, Anna Sui, Steven Meisel

DC Comics: The 75th Anniversary Poster Book Quirk Books By Robert Schnakenberg, Paul Levitz

This is NPR by Cokie Roberts et al

Bangs: A Sketchbook by David Choe

Kindling by James Jean

I hope you enjoy finding out about these titles and more over at Chronicle Books.

Thanks!

Happy, Sad

Weird things are happening at fast food restaurants, at least as far as music is concerned.  One day whilst enjoying some chicken nuggets at the hot and juicy redhead, I heard Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Soft Shock" playing.  Not long ago I heard Sea Wolf in both Chick fil A and KFC/Long John's.  Then it happened.  I recognized a melody and some chords, then had my breath taken away from me when I realized it was the most horrendous cover of The Killing Moon I could ever imagine.  WHY???!!! Here is a link so you can decide for yourself: Hype Machine- the awful killing moon cover.  Pavement already kicked everyone's ass covering this song, so why ruin the Bunnymen for fans this way?  I'm not saying Mr. Laswell doesn't have a right to cover the song, just that he doesn't have the talent to do it well.

In other news, Zola Jesus has a fantastical new ep out titled Valusia which I think you should really give a listen.   The best song is definitely number 1, "Poor Animal" which has a similar sound to her previous ep, Stridulum, but expands on the the instrumentation.  Poor Animal

The War on Drugs have released Future Weather, a delightful piece that will win over fans of Tom Petty, Vetiver, maybe even Dylan.  I recommend beginning with "Brothers" a 70s rock extravaganza! Brothers

More excellent new releases include Bird By Snow, Powerdove, and Sharon Von Etten 7in series.

In books, you should definitely give Charles Burns' X'ed Out a try if you dare.  It's quite well illustrated and delves into some interesting psychological arenas, with shoutouts to Burns' biggest influence Herge (Tintin creator.)  Find out more at: Pantheon Graphic Novels.

If you are bored and looking for some movies to watch, I suggest Leaves of Grass, starring Edward Norton and Edward Norton, and Half Nelson, starring Ryan Gosling (thank you Becky:)  Both of these actors give very different performances in these films that what you may have come to expect from them, quite refreshing if you ask me.

I suppose that's all the confusion I have to offer for now.

Ta ta for now,

Reniazen