Heflin's Corner


Warning! This page is under construction, enter at your own risk! And don't forget your hardhat!

Hi there! Welcome to my little spot on the Web. Kick your feet up, relax, make yourself at home. If you like, take a listen to the stereo, check out what's in the fridge, turn on the tube or pop a tape into the VCR. If you want to take a peek into my life, check out my photo album. Or if this all a little too exciting for you, move along to my professional page; it's an instant cure for insomnia!

On the Stereo

You push the PLAY button and suddenly a funky drum beat fills the room. The bass begins to intertwine with it. The guitar, keyboards and short, diverse random samples add color to a very danceable groove. Then the singer, M. Doughty. He sounds like a beat poet who has become obsessed with pop culture. His observations are often witty, always intriguing. So who is this? It's Soul Coughing, perhaps the best band on the planet. After hearing their unique style of music that combines elements of jazz, rap and rock you may be suprised to find that it actually holds up very well live. As a matter of fact, I saw them at the 9:30 club in D.C., and it is possibly the best show I've ever been to (and I've been to a lot!). If you get a chance, check them out. You won't be disappointed!

The next disc has more of a rock feel, and with a name like "Exile in Guyville", you might expect some Stones-like roots rock. Well, this ain't exactly a tribute album, it's totally fresh and original. But what makes this album so good is not just the fact that its full of vigor, but that singer/songwriter Liz Phair makes the songs real. She sings about all aspects of life, even those that artists striving for radio-play would shy away from. The lyrics are thoughtful and often poetic, even if to the casual listener they may seem a little vulgar. However, in "F*ck and Run", Liz doesn't use the F-word to make Beavis and Butthead types chuckle, she uses the word because "making love" doesn't accurately describe the situation that she's in.

The final selection is Cracker, the most mainstream of my favorite bands. Sure you've heard a few of their songs on the radio, seen a video or two on MTV, but you don't know Cracker til you've seen them live. I've been to four shows, in venues ranging from small club to stadium, and every time they have set the place on fire (figuratively, not literally; as far as I know, no members of the band are arsonists). They are an extremely fun band to listen to because they truly love to play live shows. Some of the things that set them apart from other bands are their range (everything from punk to country) and David Lowery's wry sense of humor (e.g., "What the world needs now, is another Frank Sinatra, so I can get you in bed", from "Teen Angst")


Jeff's Radio Picks

These are the newest songs that I like. In general, they are things that have just starting to played on alternative radio over the last month or so.

And here are some of my picks from the past. Recognize any of them? I swear that I picked them before they became huge hits!

In the Fridge

Hey, what's this? There's nothing but beer in here! Well, okay there are your usual foodstuffs, but who wants to hear me prattle on about condiments? No question about it, I like beer. But I can be picky; "No Bud, No Coors, No Miller, no junk" was the slogan of one of my favorite bars in Arlington, VA (may Amdo rest in peace). I am a big fan of American Craft Brews, and I am happy to see the smaller brewers etching away at the market of those yellowy, tasteless mass producers. Here is a sample of some of the beers you may find in my fridge on any given day:

Pop a Tape in the VCR

There are some movies that I can watch over and over and never get bored with them. Here are a few of my favorites:

Done? Don't forget to rewind!

Hey! Did you happen to find my car keys when you were poking around? The dern things just seem to walk off by themselves. If you've seen them, please let me know!

Last updated on March 18, 1998.