We get lots of weird stuff in our mail bins at KSCR, stuff that we wouldn’t play even if pigs flew. Heck, not even if a mastodon flew, and those guys are way fatter and more extinct. Don’t get us wrong. We certainly appreciate the way artists risk ridicule and rejection to get their stuff heard. But sometimes the stench is as pungent as ammonia, and there’s just no ignoring it. Here’s the first in a collection of glimpses into a world of oddities.

As you can already tell from the powder makeup and black lipstick, Batlord’s soul is as dark and desolate as a bottomless pit. Considering this, it’s a bit strange seeing him lurk around KSCR as much as he does. If I was an evil lord, I’d sit in the Oval Office on a throne made of human bones, with a hundred naked virgins laying at my feet, and a hoard of flying monkeys fetching me boxes of PS3s. I certainly wouldn’t spend my time behind a computer, spamming people with emails and trying to plug a third-rate album to a college station.

My initial thought was Hey, this Kevin guy is a smart fella. He’s totally into satirizing the American condition. But Kevin isn’t joking…not even close. He really really wants us to know that he loves America. He’s got 12 tracks of Gaye-lite R&B with Bush-ultra lyrics. He’s even dyed his hair white for that founding father look. Maybe if you look at the back of your $2 bill, you’ll see Kevin in the background, raising the roof as Jefferson signs the declaration. I’m not saying that patriotism is uncool. But a lack of musicianship and all-around bad taste (did you see the cover?) is totally uncool. A few notes…

1. It’s not cool to have the Star Spangled Banner as one of your tracks
2. It’s not cool to call on the services of a Jimmy Stewart impersonator
3. It’s not cool to have inane intro tracks
4. It’s definitely not cool for a black dude to write and sing tracks called “APD Rock (Dedicated to All Law Enforcement Officers)” and “Climb The Ladder”
5. And it’s not cool when your album is on CDbaby.com, and some soccer mom has this to say about your album: “I really like this clean fresh music, that my kids can listen to. I like the message it conveys. It makes you realize how proud we should be for our American Heros [sic]. Keep the music coming, I will be looking for more!”

Want to know what Kevin thinks about capitalism, education, racism, and America in general? Take a listen:
Kevin - “Climb the Ladder”

We get a bit suspicious when a promotional move comes off as being hokey and desperate. It tells us that the artist isn’t confident enough in his/her own material, and thinks it prudent to tie in an incentive for us to play their music. Koko Butta (that’s butta, not butter) had their agent come to us with a Halloween-themed gift basket. We overlooked the CD that came with the offering, but gladly devoured the healthy servings of Dorritos and mini-Crunch bars. On a separate note, a mouse that had invaded the office gnawed through a bag of Lays. It, too, passed on Koko Butta’s album.

Achewood is a fantastic webcomic driven by an idiosyncratic cast of talking animals. Achewood’s creator, Chris Onstad, maintains blogs for each of the comic’s main characters, often detailing side stories that have a textual humor as opposed to a visual humor.

For Kraftwerk fans, I humbly submit to you: a Kraftwerk Thänksgiving.

I’m pleased to introduce LA-based, Santa Fe-bound painter and printmaker Jennifer James Wright. She has a knack for creating whimsical and expressive illustrations that expose a childlike, literary reality.

I asked her about her favorite music artists and their significance. She said, “Music is pretty crucial when I’m trying to get into the creative frame of mind–moments where one idea bursts into a million, and that creative way of thinking completely takes over for a bit.”

Of her own perspective about “elevated” art, Wright says, “Smart design/art is what really catches me. When I can immediately recognize a smart solution in some sort of art piece, that’s what really sinks in, or what I’d consider ‘elevated.’”

Ogle on the Bandwidth front page, or hit up Wright’s site for more.

If you wake up on Saturday morning and find yourself saying that you’ll never drink again, head to Doughboys on 8136 West 3^rd Street. There you’ll find salvation in the form of some good, hearty breakfast.

The menu is packed with mouth watering plates that beg you to indulge yourself such as the Stuffed French Toast ($8.25) which has two long slices of bread filled with cream cheese (who would’ve thought???) and strawberry jam all clipped in egg batter then grilled, or the Scrapple with Dirty Eggs ($8.75) that has the most amazing pan-fried grits. They mix the grits with braised pork making this patty of healthy eating (right) worthy of being microwave leftovers.

There’s much more on their menu but for the hungover, there’s really no point in going through everything. Best to stick to the easy and dependable, the Doughboys Breakfast ($8) which includes a cup of much needed coffee, glass of OJ (for that health of yours you care about so much) and your choice of a made-that-morning muffin, scone or croissant.

Perhaps the only downside of Doughboys is the wait. A popular spot since its 1992 opening, Doughboys might as well institute a Disneyland FastPass system to help control its lines. My suggestion is to call them and ask them to put your name down for an inside table the moment you can roll over to your night stand and dial. By the time you pull yourself from your bed, and bathroom, find a parking spot and make your way through the zoo of people waiting, your table should be ready.

Suggested music for when you almost face-plant into your eggs:
Oliver Future
Modest Mouse
Bloc Party

Doughboys