Roll out the carpet, cut up a rug, don't be the spider, don't be the bug

I got the new Hypnotic Clambake album, Mayonnaise, today. I must admit that I'm a little disappointed. All of their other albums have been pretty much immediately catchy and fun. I've listened to this one twice so far, and not much has stood out. I like "Psychedelic Polka" (as I guessed I would when I first saw the title), but even that's a little subdued for the band. "Just A Mountain" is a good song, and "Turn Your Brain Off" and "Woe Is Me" are pretty amusing. I wouldn't be surprised if the other tracks grow on me over time, but they don't have the immediate likeability of most Clambake output. Incidentally, while most Clambake songs have been written by band leader Maury Rosenberg, a lot of the Mayonnaise tracks are written by some guy named Chris Reynolds. I'm not sure who he is.

I do like quite a few aspects of the CD art and packaging. The "thanks to" credits are identified as "Nutrition Facts," and the CD itself advises you to "refrigerate after opening." Pretty clever, if you ask me.

Speaking of Hypnotic Clambake, I want that Live in Rutland, Vermont thing that they're selling on their website. I had thought of ordering it with Mayonnaise, but I decided that was too much spending to do at one point. Maybe I'll get it after I receive my income tax refund, assuming I get one. That reminds me that I should start my taxes soon.

I should go to bed soon. I have to be up to volunteer at WHYY in the morning.

( Virtue quiz )

There's nobody here but us frogs

So, bethje and I met in Philadelphia today, to volunteer for the pledge drive at WHYY, the local NPR affiliate. I took the train in, and a fair number of people riding it were going into the city for a car show. Anyway, both of us had volunteered at WHYY before, but it was the first time we'd done a pledge drive. It wasn't as hard as I had feared, although it was a little hard to hear the people on the phones, what with all the noise in the background. I think it's something I would do again, albeit maybe not all that regularly.

While on the train, I finished reading The Frogman of Oz, and I have a few things to say about the book.

( Oz-related stuff that I doubt anyone will read, but I'm writing it anyway )