Pitchfork

Welcome to the latest edition of Pitchfork's Guest List. Each week, we'll ask one of our favorite artists to fill us in on what they've been up to lately: Which tracks they can't stop spinning, what books they can't put down, and what new bands they've caught on tour. This week it's Walter Martin from the Walkmen, who discusses the Beatles tribute band that played his wedding, the satyriasic dancehall DJ Yellowman, and the radio show that might put the last nail in the coffin of Whoopi Goldberg's career.

>> Favorite Songs of the Past Year

I regret to say that I haven't heard much new stuff in the past year that I've liked enough to mention, but I never hear the radio and I don't have cable. I don't know if I'm a snob or if I'm uninformed-- or both. I got Cat Power's record, The Greatest, and I like it. I like the "Lived in Bars" video. Also, my old friend gave me the newly released Neil Young and Crazy Horse Live at the Fillmore East from 1970 for Christmas. I don't know if that counts as new, but I love the version on "Wonderin' "on it.

>> Favorite Older Songs at the Moment

I'm stuck on Dion and the Belmonts again, especially their ballads like "No One Knows" and "Where or When". And I've been listening to the Grateful Dead's first record again a lot, especially "Viola Lee Blues". And I've been listening a lot to Roy Orbison, because we're trying to steal some of his tricks for our next record.

And I really like Yellowman for some reason. I bought a Yellowman record called One in a Million about two years ago because it was one dollar. It very different from the tasteful reggae I've always loved. He has songs about Michael Jackson and one about getting divorced from the reggae singer Fathead. And one about how he (Yellowman) looks like a piece of yellow cheese, but mostly his songs are filthy tales about wanting or having sex.

>> Favorite New Band

Yellowman
I'm going to have to say Yellowman, even though he's not new, and he's not a band.

>> Favorite Song Ever

The Kingsmen: "Louie Louie"

>> Best Recent Concert

The Strawberry Fields
The best Beatles tribute band in the world. They sound exactly like the Beatles, and I mean exactly. They do their first set in the black suits, playing the early songs. The second set they wear the Sgt. Pepper suits and play the psychedelic stuff. And the third set they wear beards and wide-brimmed hats and do the late stuff. I saw them first 10 years ago, and I just got them to play at my wedding in October, and everyone from the children to the grandparents was in awe.

>> Last Great Film I Saw

Richard Pryor: Live in Long Beach
I just saw Richard Pryor: Live in Long Beach for the first time in 10 years, and it was great. His impersonations of animals really knock me out.

>> Last Great Book I Read

Truman Capote: In Cold Blood
After all the Capote fuss last year because of the movie, I recently got In Cold Blood, and I thought it was really great.

>> Favorite Piece of Musical Equipment

A Hammond Chord Organ I bought the day I graduated from high school. We've used it on all the Walkmen records.

>> Favorite Record Store

Gimme Gimme Records, New York City
It's the only good record store in New York. I just bought the third volume of Chuck Berry's Rock 'n' Roll Rarities. Like volumes one and two-- and everything Chuck did on Chess Records-- it kicks ass.

>> Best Purchase of the Past Year

I bought those clear cylindrical containers that yuppies/hippies keep their cereal in. They basically hold about a box of Cheerios, so I keep Cheerios in one and oatmeal (which I never eat) in the other. They make my kitchen look more sophisticated and smart.

>> Best Thing I Did This Year

I decided never to play the card game "Set" again. "Set" is a new card game that my mother got into and gave to all her kids for Christmas. It's fun enough and we all played it over the holidays and enjoyed it somewhat. But my brother Harry was quoted as saying that the best part about "Set" is the moment you realize that you are never going to play it again as long as you live. He was right.

>> Favorite Music Venue

Fort Reno Park, Washington, D.C.
It's a free outside rock venue they do two evenings a week in the summer. It's like a teen indie rock meat market.

>> Favorite TV Show

"Live with Regis and Kelly"
But I hate Kelly. Regis is funny enough that I can get past my strong dislike of Kelly. Kelly is an irritant.

>> Favorite Video Game

I don't know any video games, but generally I go for the ones at the arcade that cost a dollar, and you get inside the thing and you get a machine gun and shoot anything that moves.

>> Favorite Radio Program

Recently I heard "Wake Up With Whoopi", a morning show with Whoopi Goldberg. It wasn't funny or informative at all. They did something where people called in and talked about words that people use that don't exist. Someone called in with "Nowati'msain?" (like "You know what I'm saying?") It wasn't funny. Nothing on the show was funny. But I sorta like Whoopi Goldberg anyway.

>> My Ringtone

I think its called "Notify"; it's like a very short, impossible to hear, mid-frequency beep. It's very mature. When I see people with the ones with songs and flashing lights and shit, I feel a quiet, personal satisfaction that I am not such a child.