Song of the Day: 'Modern Love Is Automatic' by A Flock of Seagulls

When I read yesterday that the original line-up of A Flock of Seagulls had reunited it got me reconsidering the band. Because of their unique appearance -- most notably singer Mike Score's long-gone hair -- A Flock of Seagulls has sort of become a shorthand punchline for the look (and sound) of the '80s New Wave. But as a fan at the time, I wanted to go back to those first two albums that I played so often in high school to see if they still stood up -- and I'd say they do rather nicely. The hits "I Ran (So Far Away)," "Space Age Love Song" and "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)" are as infectious as you recall. And tracks like "Messages," "Nightmares," this song and the Grammy-winning instrumental "D.N.A." are awfully good too, like a slightly less cerebral OMD,  which isn't entirely a put-down.

P.S. Headline writers are still riffing off the band nearly 40 years later!

They Ran So Far Away

Flock of Seagulls' van found, but gear's gone

CNN has the heartbreaking news:

A Flock of Seagulls' friends and fans are watching Craigslist, eBay and pawn shops for band leader Mike Score's stolen amps and instruments. 

While the singer's signature floppy hair was lost years ago, Score's keyboards, guitars, drums, mics and clothing disappeared last weekend when a thief took the band's van from in front of a hotel in Downey, California, Score said. 

"The van itself was found, but all the gear was taken. The van was empty," he told CNN Wednesday. Investigators are searching for fingerprints and other clues on the vehicle. "The word, though, is out and we have lots of other band members scouring eBay and Craigslist for signs of the equipment," Score said. Southern California guitar stores have lists of the stolen gear in case someone tries to fence it there, he said. 

While equipment is replaceable, Score is especially anxious about a hard drive that contained songs for his upcoming solo album. The music "was just about ready to go" when it disappeared with the van, he said.

Yes, I think the most distressing part of this story is the missing, um, solo album.

Aurora Borealis Comes in View

A stunning picture of the northern lights as seen near the city of Tromsoe in northern Norway, late Tuesday. The Seattle Times reports: The most powerful solar storm in six years created a spectacular showing of the northern lights. There's a fair chance the lights could be seen from Seattle if skies clear.