solitary poor nasty brutish and short

"caution: sucky post ahead"

"Discover the world of young people who dress up in furry costumes and get off on it."

I couldn't believe it either, but MTV actually has a special on people who get turned on by stuffed animals and/or dressing as big stuffed animals. It's called Sex 2K: Plushies and Furries, and it's some funny ass shit. The show will re-air January 13 at 12:30 a.m. and January 23 at 12:00 a.m.

[clears throat]

On February 19, Dan "the Automator" Nakamura will release the compilation LP Wanna Buy a Monkey? featuring the Gorillaz song "Latin Simone" along with other tracks by artists Nakamura has been involved with over the past 10 years.

"Probably the most interesting thing on this record is a song called 'Smoothness,' which is me and Black Rob," said Nakamura. "Rob and me used to work together back in 1992, and this stuff has never, ever come out. No one has a copy of it. It was six or seven years before [Rob] was with Puffy, and about five years before I was starting to come out where people knew me. It's real hot, though – straight-up hip-hop, and it's real special to me."

Wanna Buy a Monkey? will also include Nakamura's remix of Air's "Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi," and "X-ecutioners (Theme) Song," his collaboration with the X-ecutioners for the turntablists' upcoming album, Built From Scratch. Also featured are songs by his groups Lovage ("Stroker Ace") and Deltron 3030 ("Positive Contact").

In addition to songs Nakamura had a hand in, Wanna Buy a Monkey? includes tracks he likes, but had nothing to do with: RZA/Bobby Digital's "La Rhumba," Brand Nubian's "Rockin' It," Tortoise's "Seneca," Doves' "Firesuite," De La Soul's "Bionix," Dilated Peoples' "Clockwork," Masta Ace's "Don't Understand," Zero 7's "Destiny" and Jigmastas' "Don't Get It Twisted."

Nakamura has other things on his plate at the moment…

Feb. 23: Toronto (Docks)
Feb. 25: Boston (Avalon Ballroom)
Feb. 26: Washington, D.C. (9:30 Club)
Feb. 28: New York (Hammerstein Ballroom)
March 1: Philadelphia (Electric Factory)
March 3: Chicago (Riviera Theater)
March 5: Seattle (Paramount Theater)
March 7: San Francisco (Warfield Theater)
March 8: Los Angeles (Palladium)

"The live Gorillaz experience is an experimental thing…there's no actual band that you see on stage – it's one big cinema screen. It's kind of taking a ride back to the sort of silent-movie era, really. Except it's a lot louder." – Damon Albarn