In case you missed it, and I did, Pitchfork recently interviewed Midlake singer Tim Smith about a few of his favorite things. The takeaway? Half Price Books is awesome, Denton’s Recycled Books and Records is, perhaps, more awesome, Russ Martin is a better-than-average talk show host, and Gretchen is a good name for a dog. (Since Eric is on vacationassignment and Rod is long gone, I don’t mind pointing out that the Gretchen in question is a pit bull mix. Smith has one, and I recently acquired one, a three-month old named Bendis. If you don’t like it, don’t come over.) Also, now is as good a time as any to point out that “The Pills Won’t Help You Now,” Smith’s contribution to the extremely recent Chemical Brothers album, We Are the Night, is easily the best song on there.