Morning, y’all, and good Veterans Day. If you’re the remembering type, check out the Big Read radio show episode about The Things They Carried. Top of the news pile: The writing at Idolator sucks now, after only a day; Lady GaGa’s new music video, not so much. The FLOBOTS, makers of one of my favorite music videos of 2008, have announced they will play Towson and Richmond, but not D.C., on their fall tour. Sad face.

Green Day on Broadway, sex trafficking, shit-ton of Muppet love, Playgirl and Levi Johnston explained, fall vinyl giveaway, and more, after the jump.

Read More “Arts Morning Roundup: Muppets in Gulag, Free Vinyl in D.C.” »

What it is: Multi-instrumentalist Julian Koster, of Neutral Milk Hotel and The Music Tapes fame, performs traditional Christmas songs arranged entirely for singing saw–an instrument which produces a sound that is not unlike a slowly deflating balloon.

The bike under the tree: As a devout fan of The Muppets, the guest-Sleigher finds some pleasure in hearing a version “Silent Night” that sounds as if it is being sung by Beaker.

The lump of coal: With its unsteadily oscillating tones the singing saw might rival the slide-whistle for the title of “Most Depressing Instrument Ever.” It is difficult for the guest-Sleigher to listen to Koster’s interpretation of “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” without being plagued by visions of sad clown-hobos shivering in a rail yard alongside a starving dog and a dwindling campfire.

Cheer factor: Zero. Negatory. Practically non-existent. Still, as far as non-traditional Christmas music goes, the ethereal and downright bizarro sounds that Koster elicits from the saw make a preferable alternative to whatever Mannheim Steamroller is up to this year.