I flew into London yesterday morning, and my arms aren’t tired. And surprisingly the rest of me isn’t either. I got almost ten hours of sleep last night, and while I did wake bolt upright at 4:30 this morning I’m still feeling pretty good and not particularly jet lagged. It’s been gorgeous here, much nicer than it was when I last visited twelve years ago (granted, that was in February).

Things I’ve done so far: 

1. Walked around the south side of Kensington Park, taking in the sights.
2. Gotten lost in Harrods.
3. Watched people queue around a city block for hours to go to the French Embassy to vote in yesterday’s election.
4. Learned how much you can pay for unreliable hotel wifi.
5. Evaluated several pubs in the vicinity of my hotel and found a keeper. 
6. Figured out how to navigate the Underground (or reminded myself) and to get my tickets for the National Rail Service.

And that was the first day. Should be a fun trip.

So there’s some party time stuff, both benign and wild; some funny tracks (I dare you to listen to “Bloody” with a straight face);  and some contemplative stuff. There’s not a lot of deep digging (outside of the Tom Waits/John Lurie track and maybe “Amen Brother,” which features what must be the most sampled drum break in the prehistory of hiphop), just some really fun listening. Just right for early spring.

1. River of Men – Tom Waits/John Lurie (Fishing With John – Original Music From The Series By John L)
2. Getting Better – The Beatles (Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band)
3. Just Like Heaven – The Cure (Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me)
4. Mondo ’77 – Looper (The Geometrid)
5. Amen’ Brother – The Winstons (Color Him Father (Original Masters))
6. In The Street – Big Star (#1 Record – Radio City)
7. Happy Kid – Nada Surf (Let Go)
8. Don’t You Just Know It – Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns (Don’t You Just Know It [EP])
9. Pictures Of You – The Cure (Disintegration)
10. Near Wild Heaven – R.E.M. (Out Of Time)
11. Friends Stoning Friends – Mclusky (Alan Is A Cowboy Killer)
12. The Ox (Original Mono Version) – The Who (The Who Sings My Generation)
13. Head On – Pixies (Trompe Le Monde)
14. No Hiding Place – Elvis Costello (Momofuku)
15. Bloody – Golinski Brothers (The John Peel Singles Box)
16. Do You Wanna Hit It? – The Donnas (The Donnas Turn 21)
17. Yard Of Blonde Girls – Jeff Buckley (Sketches for My Sweetheart The Drunk)
18. Codex – Radiohead (The King of Limbs)
19. Steam Engine – My Morning Jacket (It Still Moves)
20. Calling My Children Home – Emmylou Harris (Spyboy)
21. Things behind the Sun – Nick Drake (Pink Moon)