The Norman Questions Archive

INTERVIEW KEY: NF = Norman Famous, MD = Mark Doyon

NF: What music are you currently listening to?

MD: Beck, Postal Service, Flaming Lips, Wilco, some Jonathan Richman....

Been spinning Graham Parker's recent album. Love that shuffle version of "Crawling from the Wreckage." Recently went back to Tonio K.'s records just for the inspiration, and to wonder why he isn't as well known as John Hiatt. No justice in this world.

NF: What is your favorite album of all time?

MD: Toss-up.... The Basement Tapes by Dylan and the Band, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society, London Calling by the Clash, John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco, The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips.

NF: What was the first record you owned and how did you get it?

MD: It was a promo copy of Harry Nilsson's The Point. I got it from a friend of my dad's who worked at WBCN-FM in Boston. It was about a kid who gets banished to the "pointless forest" because he doesn't have a pointy head like the other kids. It was funny, and it sort of explained the reasons for non-conformism. The first album I actually bought with my own money was George

Harrison's 33 1/3.

NF: What's your favorite morning music?

MD: Yo La Tengo, Aimee Mann, more new stuff than old.

NF: ... evening music?

MD: The Pixies.

NF: Beatles or Stones? Why?

MD: Beatles. The Stones were great, but the Beatles quit while they were ahead. The Beatles were high-test from start to finish -- even their detours were fascinating and cool. The Stones were toast after Tattoo You.

NF: If Beatles: John or Paul?

MD: John (although George was also great!). Paul wrote pretty tunes, but John, you know... he wrote brilliant songs.

Arms of Kismet have just released their new full length, "Cutting Room Rug", and it's chock-full of their trademark Beatle-esque melodies, spiffy production flourishes and incisive, witty wordplay (see the review in the - you guessed it - review section). Mark Doyon, Mr. Arms of Kismet himself, took time out from his busy promotional schedule to answer The Norman Questions. Thanks, Mark!!!

Jesse Astin

Like Clockwork

Like Clockwork's new CD, A Cross In The Ground has just been released. Jesse Astin, the man behind the name (and the camera), was kind enough to take the time to answer The Norman Questions...

Norman Famous

a mysterious and very opinionated producer/writer/musician

The Norman Questions

Independent artists answer Norman’s queries!

INTERVIEW KEY: NF = Norman Famous, JA = Jesse Astin

NF: What music are you currently listening to?

JA: been listening to a lot of Elvis Costello - I have the
ultimate goal of buying all his re-mastered records
during the next few months. Every song of his is
absolutely amazing. The new Phantom Planet record is
unbelievable! Especially considering that their debut
was so poppy and clean cut - they've come a long way
since "California". Jay-Z's Black Album is constantly
finding it's way into my CD player - Rick Rubin
produced a track on there called "99 Problems" and it's
one of the best rap songs I've heard in a while. Been
re-discovering Stevie Wonder - it amazes me that a
blind man could play like he could - especially since
he played most of the instruments on his earlier
recordings. His voice is more soulful and determined
that most. Incredible.

NF: What is your favorite album of all time?

JA: It's a tie between three - "Clarity" by Jimmy Eat World,
"The Shape Of Punk To Come" by Refused, and "A Day
At The Races" by Queen

NF: What was the first record you owned and how did you get it?

JA: Eagles - Hotel California. When CD playersfirst
became more affordable, I got my first boombox
and my first "mother-approved" Eagles CD. I still have
it to this day.

NF: What's your favorite morning music?

JA: I stay up REALLY late most of the time, so I have to
put on the loudest thing I can find so I can be sure it will
wake me up when my alarm goes off. I'm definitely NOT
a morning person.

NF: ...evening music?

JA: I go to sleep to Billy Joel's "Greatest Hits Vol. 1" almost
every night...no kidding.

NF: Beatles or Stones? Why?

JA: It's really hard to choose between two revolutionary rock
bands, I would probably say the Beatles because they
came first, and their music evolved so much that I think
a lot of people felt really close to them - like they were
growing up with them by watching them on TV and
listening to their records. I think they had the better
collection of songs, but I do respect the Itones' attitude
when it came to just "rocking". They definitely formed a
strong crutch for rock and roll.

NF: If Beatles: John or Paul?

John Lennon seemed to have a better vocal style, while
Paul's was so clean-cut and perfect most of the time. I also think
John had a more imaginative form of writing when it
came to his lyrics - he is definitely my favorite.

To read the review of A Cross In The Ground, click on the reviews tab to your left.

To learn more about Like Clockwork, visit:
www.likeclockwork.net