How would you like to write for a much read weblog for once? Well, if you want to try your luck you should submit something over at The Reverse Cowgirl's blog, because from tomorrow she's giving over her blog over to her readers. Postings should be some combination of edgy, or creative, or provocative, or original, or whatever, which is why I won't be participating, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go.

I realize stabbing someone to death for singing out of tune is a bit extreme, but I understand where he's coming from.

And while we're being mean you might want to check out ESPN's Most Overrated poll [via Monoki]. Here you get to vote on who's the more overrated actor - Al Pacino or Adam Sandler - or the more overrated musician - Jewel or J-Lo. However, I don't understand why they need to dog Luke Wilson. So Home Fries and Bongwater won't ever be considered masterpieces, but he's always good in good movies.

I've been listening to Clem Snide a lot lately. They have an amazing ability to bring you down and lift you up during the course of a single song. Like the title track from Your Favorite Music, where the lyrics go "Your favorite music/Well it just makes you sad/But you like it/Cause you feel special that way" and goes on to talk about loneliness and not loving oneself. And when you're finally totally bummed out towards the end of the song they've added the laughter of children as if to indicate that everything will be okay after all.
Most the songs are slow and country sounding in a sort of Willard Grant Conspiracy way I guess, but the wry humour makes the records about more than just bumming you out. I'm never quite sure what Eef is singing about (And take me down south/with Hall & Oates in her mouth/my first love/my Joan Jett of Arc), but little stupid lines about partying like it's 1989 or singing The foot's on the other shoe so it rhymes with No one's more happy than you are funny to me. And their cover of Richie Valens' Donna is truly beautiful.

Their new record, Soft Spot, isn't out here yet, but I definitely want to check it out as soon as I get a chance. And if you haven't bought Your Favorite Music or The Ghost of Fashion you might want to consider it. I don't have You Were a Diamond, but it's being re-released in October with bonus tracks, so I might check it out later this year.