So, the last 8 of the World Cup is set. 7 "big countries", I would say...more so than the last several World Cups. This time we have Ukraine making it as an outsider; 2002 had USA, Senegal, Turkey/S. Korea (maybe), 1998 had Denmark, Croatia, 1994 had Romania, Bulgaria, Sweden. Other than just a sense of what "big" means, I'm going to consider the quality of domestic leagues of each country as influential in determining whether it's big or not. Anyway, Spain managed to sabotage itself again, but there are still a lot of players I'd want to see in this tournament.

Here's the list of free shows in the old brooklyn swimming pool.

Village Voice has a pretty intensive look at TV on the Radio. Thanks to their major label, no one's sure when the album's coming out here.

In my e-mail came an update on the new Pernice Brothers album: It's now called "Live a Little." Details:

The lineup this time around included Peyton Pinkerton, James Walbourne, Patrick Berkery and Bob Pernice on their usual instruments, with Joe Pernice playing bass in addition to the stuff he usually does. Kara Pernice Coyne and Anne Pinkerton make vocal appearances. And Mike Deming did the string and horn arrangements. That’s right, strings. And horns. The record was produced by Mike Deming and Joe. It was a tearful reunion for Mike and the Pernice Brothers, who haven’t worked together since “Overcome By Happiness,” but they hugged it out, and once all the tears were dried, they rocked.

Supposedly it's coming out in September.


Here's the NY Times review of the Strangers With Candy movie.

goodbye, Sleater-Kinney. Of course, their NY show is now sold out.