Editor’s note:  I really couldn’t think of a snappy title for this week’s Radio Dick post. I’m much too beaten up to think of witty bon mots and clever jangles this morning.  In fact, I’m a salty bastard today.  I never do well with July 4th festivities because I’m one of those party crashers. I wander around from cookout to cookout until I’m about sixty pounds heavier and slurring my speech. Yesterday was no different, except the cookouts ended early and I found myself sitting at home following inane twitter posts for a majority of the evening. This picture is of potato salad and, for the record, I’m never touching the shit again. Every year I eat piles of this knowing full well that warm mayo-based picnic food does not do well with liquor. I’m feeling it hard today, and when I hit “submit post” this morning, I hope two things happen: One, I hope you enjoy the music. Two, I hope I find a comfortable position to sleep in, because I’ll be lights out the rest of the day.

To make matters worse this morning, my next door neighbor has decided July 5th at 9 AM is a grand time to trim all of the trees in the front yard.  This is both mildly ambitious and extremely bile-inducing. I’ve got a hangover the size of Montana and he’s out here pruning away with an electronic bush trimmer.  Yardwork is great, but not today, man.  My only hope is that he’s finished with his lofty effort before I hit the pillow.  Since I’m awake for now, and obviously a little bit left of center, I’d thought I’d point out a few things that annoyed me this weekend.  I’ll get to the killer tracklist we’ve got below in a minute or two.  Sit tight.

1.  White Trash Neighbors Who Have No Business Igniting Mini-bombs All Night: Seriously, not only is it illegal in Ohio to light off fireworks (few comply), but the thousands of dollars my hootin’ and hollerin’ illiterate neighbors spent on these things boggles my mind.  We’re not talking black cat firecrackers, here.  They bought the gigantic ones that, no doubt, probably require a little expertise to set off safely. I saw shells blast into trees, casings land on roofs, and some blew up right in the front yard to uproarious laughter and hollers.  Secondly, the City of Cleveland puts on a brilliant fireworks display that anyone in our neighborhood can see from the road.  These numbnuts lit off their own shit while that one was going on.  Nothing like trying to watch the real deal with one eye cautiously looking backward at roman candle flares wielded by idiots.

2.  Lee Greenwood on Repeat: I’m a patriotic dude, don’t get me wrong, but I’m tired of “God Bless the USA.” I must have heard this twelve times yesterday at the cookouts I visited. I suppose the good thing is that I don’t have to be blindsided by it until next year when the emotionally lacking picnic builders blow the dust off the CD for its annual pummeling.

3.  Gigantic Sparklers: I thought it would be a cute idea to buy “gigantic sparklers” at the local deli/tobacco/beer/drug mart yesterday. A lady friend and I watched the city fireworks from my rooftop and at the opportune moment, I whipped out the sparklers.  It was really a smooth idea, except the bastards didn’t work.  Boo to that.

4.  Guy Who Rode Mini Dirt Bike Past My House 400 Times Yesterday: Okay, bro, I realize that you’ve got a nifty bike and it revs up nice and loud.  I also understand that it goes real fast and impresses your pals.  But to ride that bike back and forth on my street from noon until five yesterday was a bit much.  You’re a meathead shithead, and if I could have thrown a stick into the spokes of your glorified mo-ped I would have.  Nobody likes you and I was happy when the neighbor three doors down called the police.  Call it Karma, because when you flipped the bird to the elderly couple walking down the block, I almost took vigilante justice to a new level.  Ass.

For time’s sake, I’ll cut this list short, but you can probably tell what kind of mood I’m in today.  I’m irritable and edgy and need a big long nap.  The one bright side to the weekend was the music I was able to listen to (minus the Lee Greenwood).  On Friday I had some pals over for after hours drinks and we blasted through some of these newer tracks I’ve posted today.  Yesterday, I essentially spun the Sunset Rubdown vinyl on perpetual repeat, and made a few playlists for the later hours of the night.  We’ve got Spoon’s new track, along with a live cover of a Kinks track for you to enjoy.  The Generationals (Park the Van Records) is a band that Citizen Dick unveiled for PTV several months ago and the buzz is getting heavier and heavier.  Lightning Dust’s second track from the upcoming album has been leaked and we’ve got it here, as well.  There’s a live Blur track from Glastonbury, a killer Spiral Stairs track, and the Cass McCombs song that I’ve been playing for weeks and can’t take off any playlist I make these days. I appreciate the opportunity to piss and moan this morning.  You folks are great listeners.  Enjoy the badass playlist below and good luck getting back to the grind tomorrow.  Cheers.

Spiral Stairs – Maltese Terrier

Mew – Repeaterbeater

The Generationals – When They Fight, They Fight

Spoon – Got Nuffin

Spoon -Situation Vacant ( Live Kinks Cover)

Neon Indian – Terminally Chill

Lightning Dust – Never Seen

Little Dragon – Blinking Pigs

The Darlings – If This is Love

Blur – End of a Century (Live at Glastonbury 09)

Blue Roses – Doubtful Comforts

Cass McCombs – Harmonia

Tiny Vipers – Dreamer