I have been seeing many “Best of 2008″ lists lately, so I’d like to share my favorite songs of the past year:
I hope to return soon with a post on the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, which I recently saw.
December 31, 2008
July 30, 2008
News and Notes, Part 2
What a slow news day! I saw the new Will Farrell/John C. Reilly movie “Step Brothers” over the weekend and thought it was hilarious. I can’t remember when I laughed harder in a movie theater. The movie has been getting so-so reviews, which matter bubkiss because fact is, I was entertained.
• Bob Dylan – Did you realize Bob Dylan recorded 3 Christian albums from 1979 through 1981? Slow Train Coming was his first and was introduced to me by none other than Keith. It begins with the song “Gotta Serve Somebody”, to which I say, true that, Bob Dylan.
Unsurprisingly, Dylan’s Christian recordings alienated his secular fan base to the point a casual music fan like myself never even knew they existed until I unearthed a dusty copy of Slow Train Coming a few years ago from a neglected music collection.
While I’m not the biggest Bob Dylan or Christian music fan, Dylan is a masterful musician who made a few meaningful and spiritual albums before dropping Christianity. I do like the gospel/blues feel of Slow Train Coming. I also like the song “Saved” off the 1980 album bearing the same name. I think I could get into Christian music every now and then, after all, I did love singing along to “I Wanna go to HEAVENNNN!” in Buffalo.
• Where Are They Now? – A few of my former schoolmates have been in the news this year, however, they have been making headlines for shocking, disappointing, and frightening circumstances. As the events and naive optimism of my youth become vintage memories, more and more I’m convinced that depravity and tragedy are inevitable outcomes in this fallen world apart from God. I hope to write more in the future, but 2008 has not been a good year for Bearcat alumni.
• 2 Year Anniversary – Yesterday marked my 2 year wedding anniversary. It’s cliché to say, but it’s hard to believe I’ve already been married for two years. The most shocking thing is, as time goes on I get to know my wife more and more. To think, we thought we were really close when we said “I do”, but today we laugh about how little we really did know about each other.
It is exciting to build a deeper relationship together, although at times it can be challenging. For me, I know the hardest part is fighting the temptation to just vegg out on the couch instead of taking full advantage of the time we have together.
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July 8, 2008
News and Notes
Some random bits of information:
• GIRL TALK: The whole name-your-own-price for an album thing has caught on, no one is complaining, and let’s hope its here to stay. Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails did it recently, however, according to Gregg “Girl Talk” Gillis, he thought of releasing 2006’s “Night Ripper” for free but decided against it fearing the perception that would surround a complimentary album by a little-know artist would likely be negative.
Instead, the mash-up style featured on “Night Ripper” was a success and Gillis was able to release “Feed the Animals” for the low, low price of whatever you want to pay for it. Although I’ve been verbally recommending Girl Talk’s “Feed the Animals” to everyone lately, it is my favorite album of 2008 thus far.
Whereas “Night Ripper” was great, “Feed the Animals” is a tremendous, non-stop adrenaline rush that makes me feel like I’m in a club every time I listen to it (not that I really have much of a clue to what being in a club is like). Gillis successfully mixes old eighties favorites, pop hits and explicit rap with wonderful results. “Shut the Club Down” is the stand out, if picking one is really necessary when we’re talking about an album filled with hits.
• FANNY-PACKS: This may sound strange, but I’m in the market for a fanny-pack. For years I’ve mocked them on vacations and trips to amusement parks, once in high-school even making a game out of counting as many as I could (then taking pictures with the 100th, 200th, and 300th fanny-pack I spotted).
I’m here to express remorse and a change of heart, however, because I realize a fanny-pack really seems like the most convenient way to carry your valuables at a place like Cedar Point. Sure, I will get teased, but it will be by the very same people who will later ask me to carry their cell phones, keys, and wallets.
If you know where I can find a good fanny-pack, drop me a line.
• CEDAR POINT: Speaking of Cedar Point, I’ll be there on Sunday, along with the entire Word high-school ministry. I’m really looking forward to the annual trip, although successfully organizing a bunch of kids can be a challenge.
This trip will be the last hurrah before moving onto college for some, while for others it’ll be one of the first introductions to the high-school ministry.
Either way, it’s going to be an exciting summer, as many changes are happening in Word. I’m praying that myself and the other leaders involved can rely on God to make this upcoming school year the most successful and fruitful year of Word ever.
In the meantime, I’m anticipating catching a mean case of “zoo-legs” this Sunday in Sandusky, Ohio.
• FEEDBACK: Recently, I received some great feedback regarding my blogging. It was mostly positive and encouraging, so it definitely helps to know people actually read and enjoy what I write. But, most are glad that I’ve moved on from talking about sports and could also do without all the updates on my diet and exercise.
I’ll agree for the most part, which is why you don’t see me talking too much about sports here anymore. Occasionally, I still have to fight the itch to rant and rave about LeBron and the Browns, but I’ll give the people what they want.
• STRATCH THAT ITCH: Speaking of feeling itchy, this article, “The Itch” from the New Yorker by Atul Gawande, which I found via kottke, is the most interesting thing I’ve read in awhile. It talks of itching and phantom limbs, but be forewarned – it’ll have you itching for days.
• GITTIN’ FIT UPDATE: All that being said, I just think everyone’s jealous about my whole diet and exercise thing. I had my 3rd health assessment today and received positive results. I was a little nervous going into it because I had a more than a few hot dogs, hamburgers, and beers over the holiday weekend, but still I lost 3 more pounds of body fat. So, I successfully reached my goal of going under 15% body fat.
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April 24, 2008
First Listen: My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
Now, this will be fun. Bear with me, I’ve an ear bud in one ear while the other must remain on-call while I’m at work. I’m not listening to My Morning Jacket’s new album “Evil Urges” in my sound proof booth, but I’ll do my best and let you know what I think, as I listen along:
1. “Evil Urges” – The title track and the only song I’ve heard previously. I believe this kind singing is called falsetto, which is definitely a different twist for My Morning Jacket. ‘Evil Urges’ is a solid song that’s growing on me by the listen, much as MMJ’s music on the whole tends to. My outlook for the entire album is very optimistic after hearing this track- I think that while this song is good, we’ll hear better before the album is over.
2. “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Part 1″ – Some nice sounds here. Are we setting up for something big in part 2? Only time will tell. A little synth and a whole different feel from the first track.
3. “Highly Suspicious” – if you just played this song for me without telling me this was MMJ, I would have never guessed. I probably would have hypothesized this was Living Colour’s follow up to “Cult of Personality”. This is a fun song that will have people talking when they hear “Evil Urges”. It sounds like Prince featuring Technotronic and Green Jelly. I anticipate some won’t like this, but on the initial listen, I love it. Maybe after time, the novelty will wear, but right now I’m reaching for repeat. This is my jam so far. Judging from the first three tracks alone, this album is better than most I’ve heard in awhile. It’s daring and a definite departure for MMJ.
4. “I’m Amazed” – Now, this is the signature MMJ reverb heavy vocal and we hear some of that southern Skynyrd sounding geetar attempting to burst through. But, this is why I love MMJ- the songs are laid back, jam-like, and reverby, but there’s so much tension there. You feel like its going to build and rock out, but they don’t give it to as soon as other bands do. Finally, when they do it is sweet. But, they don’t give you too much.
So Rock n’ Roll it hurts.
5. “Thank You Too” – “You really brought out the naked part”? Is that what vocalist Jim James just said? I don’t know how I feel about this song; it sounds like someone’s thankful alright. If not for the naked part, I’d say they were thankful for their Grandmother for raising them when Mom and Dad died, despite the fact they never showed it. I do like the straight-up guitar, sounds like I would if I just plugged right into an amp.
6. “Sec Walkin’” – a definite country feel at the start. Okay, this song and the last one remind me of something seventies, just can’t put my finger on it. James Taylor…something off of a soft rock station my mom used to listen to in the car when we were little. Sounds really familiar and comfortable like an old pair of shoes you forgot you had buried back in your closet. I like the background vocals and I’m picturing a seventies lounge band. I just wish I could identify which singer this song reminds of. Over the last couple tracks, the guitar has a dream-like kind of sound I just can’t think of how to describe. Maybe if this wasn’t just the first listen…who thought of this idea anyway?
7. “Two Halves” – love the reverb. The middle of the album is really soft and laid back. Not bad, but after the first few tracks, maybe I was expecting something more up tempo. I don’t want to say this is a sad album, because it isn’t, but it’s definitely melancholy. Reminds me of driving to your Grandmother’s house when you were little on a sunny Saturday morning in a station wagon. I don’t know if I ever drove to my grandparent’s house under those circumstances, but listening to this, I think I might have.
8. “Librarian” – Just name dropped “Karen of the Carpenters” and this whole time I’ve been holding back a Carpenters comparison of my own. This is Carpenter-quese, I should know. My parents used to listen to that group all the time. “Sexiest librarian”…weird, all the songs are about someone. Not just the usual vagueness that’s often present in most songs where they could really be about anyone, this album and this song have so much detail and personal touch- they are being sung to someone specific. I can’t tell on first listen from the lyrics if all the songs tie together to one person or not.
9. “Look At You” – seems to have a similar feel to the previous tracks. This is a really personal album, “Look at you..you”, sounds like Jim James is singing to someone he had a friendship or a relationship once, but maybe doesn’t now and is fondly recalling it.
10. “Aluminum Park” – Rockin’ now. Some big, driving guitar with a little distortion. “Aluminium Park” fitting name for MMJ, most of their vocals and sounds bring to mind like a big metal airplane hanger for me. I don’t know why, I’ve just always pictured one of those big, rusty metal air plane hangers in the middle of nowhere on an overcast day when I hear MMJ. I love how MMJ do their “rock-out” songs: they still maintain that reserved feel, even when they’re going “Wahhooow!” I like the piano coming in over the guitar buzz.
11. “Remnants” – two up-tempo numbers back to back, this time with some really howling guitar. That guitar been begging to be released since “Highly Suspicious”. Another thing about MMJ striking me again, they always have that urgent sounding feel, it doesn’t matter what tempo or style the song is. The Music always comes across as genuine- like they wrote it because they wanted to, not because they were trying to sell records or felt obligated to.
12. “Smokin From Shootin” – Wow, I really like this song. It’s sort of slow, but definitely not boring. There’s anticipation here and it feels like it might build to something. It has that urgent MMJ feel to we were talking about, despite the successful use of that country whining instrument (wish I knew what that was). This is a nice track. I like the way James sings “Do…you…see” short and longingly, as if he really is hoping whoever this is written to is watching him. Without a doubt, my favorite song of this album.
13. “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Part 2″ – got some wind blowingish sounds and we’ve got 8 minutes left…I wonder where this is going. Now, some synth again, as we heard in part 1. Wait, the driving drums just kicked in and for a split second or two, they reminded me of some “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring…they still do.
14. “Good Intentions” – screech! What? Done.
Overall, not something I’d want to pop in at just anytime. The album feels too mature and laidback to do that. The album, however, is way too complicated and different from what’s coming out now for me to just push aside. It also seemed familiar to me, for reasons I still can’t put my finger on. “Evil Urges” probably won’t go down as a classic for me, but there’s something to be said for music that takes you away somewhere. The album has a distinct beginning, middle, and end. I feel this album must be examined further to appreciate.
My Morning Jacket’s “Evil Urges” will be released officially June 10, 2008.
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April 2, 2008
You Kids Are Killin’ Me
I’m feeling inspired by B’s rambling, tell-you-everything that happened in his day style of blogging, because that’s how yours truly used to do things. Sometimes, I wish I could access my old posts from yesteryear, but thinking back, I didn’t have much to say (probably still don’t) and probably would be embarrassed reading a lot of thinks I wrote that I thought were awesome then but really aren’t now. Dr. Hughes likes to make a joke out of how few people will read my or your blog, but it’s true. It’ll be alright though, B. You’ve got at least one loyal reader…yourself.
Rim shot, cymbal crash!
Maybe I’ll give you a taste of the awesome right now and expand on a rambling, mostly stuff you don’t care about post from yesterday. You like that?
So, while I wait trying to back up my entire iTunes library because my laptop screen died at work and they’re probably going to take iTunes away forever, I just gotta say: You kids with your outdated, not for public use photographs. You’re in a journalism class? What are you getting, a C-?
Rim shot, cymbal crash!
Get out of the way of my Tattoos!
People always say the media is ruining this and ruining that. So, they probably ruined Britney Spears, I forgive them because the amazing thing about the media is we now have so much information at our disposal we actually have too much information. It is all just too much to sift through, so the media outlets do that for us to and as a result we know all about people we don’t care about like Heidi Montag.
So, when someone tells me they can’t find a picture of Delonte West, newly acquired Cleveland Cavalier, in a Cavs uniform I scoff at them. There are literally thousands of pictures of Mr. West playing basketball for the Cavs. This is because there is an entire sect of people who support their families by taking pictures and compiling statistics for professional sports. I’ve often thought it would be cool to have one of these jobs.
Another job that I thought would be cool is a librarian. I’ve talked about this before but on my list of what would you do if you didn’t have to worry about money, librarian and working at a Record Exchange would be up there in the top ten.
Readers probably don’t even know who Delonte West is, but there’s photo galleries of him, stats, and more information available then anyone ever wanted to know. Its why you’ll be watching the game on television and the announcer can say something like, “You know” as if everyone knew, “Delonte West is shooting 45% and averaging 4.7 assists in games on Wednesday against teams with purple as one of their colors”.
Also, while we’re talking about Delonte West: he’s definitely an upgrade from Larry Hughes. I’m not even talking in a basketball sense; I’m talking in a tattoo sense. Sure, Larry looked like a walking doodle pad, one of the things I liked about him, but he was so dark you could hardly make all the tattoos out. Delonte, on the other hand, is much fairer, yet still looks like he’s trying to win some sort of tattoo competition with LeBron. With Larry off the team, it’s a West versus LeBron race for most tattoos on the team.
While I mourn the inevitable loss of my iTunes library, which is in blatant opposition to my employer’s corporate policies, as I burn and delete the mountains of music I obtained from the Akron Library, let’s reminisce and look back on some great tunes I jammed to while working away for the man. I’ve already deleted more music than I still have and artists like John Frusciante, The Arcade Fire, Spoon, and The Rogers Sisters are no more. Someday, they may live on again when I have a personal computer of my own with ample storage space or a nice, big external hard-drive. Damn, I had an awesome cover flow going. Here’s a little playlist consisting of the remaining music on my laptop:
1. Dusty Springfield – The Look of Love
2. Lily Allen – LDN
3. Nelly – Roc The Mic (remix)
4. Ramsey Lewis – The In Crowd
5. Genesis – I Can’t Dance
6. The Misfits – Where Eagles Dare
7. Placebo – Johnny and Mary
8. The Vaselines – Son of a Gun
9. Huey Lewis and the News – If This is it?
10. Squeeze – Black Coffee in Bed
11. Eric Burdon and War – Spill the Wine
12. Foo Fighters – Come Back
13. Steve Miller Band – Take the Money and Run
14. Smoking Popes – Rubella
(right click, save links…found using cr3ation b3ta)
Also, I’ve been working out in the mornings with Wonder. Seems like just about every part of my body with a muscle in it is sore and tired, but it is good to start the day of right with some exercise and fellowship. I’m just telling you because getting up so early I feel like I’ve been up for days. If I drift off to sleep here due to the mixture of boredom and quietness, please wake me up.
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November 19, 2007
Gossip Girl Plays Guitar Hero
Welcome to the first edition of Gossip Girl Plays Guitar Hero.
As you know, Gossip Girl is my new Veronica Mars, although it’ll never replace her.
It the most recent episode, Seventeen Candles, there’s a scene where two girls, Serena and Vanessa, who both like Dan battle it out like rich, privileged upper class high-school girls do: A Guitar Hero Duel!
Ok, Vanessa. You go first. We actually get to see you with the guitar hero guitar. But, now it’s Serena’s turn. Remember, if she plays Guitar Hero really well, she’ll retain the title of most popular girl all the other girls want to be like. Her song: Free Bird.
Ok, Serena. Wait, is that you Serena? I’m not sure. This scene is reminiscent of the episode “Air Jesse” of Full House where Uncle Jesse learned to play basketball with a lesson from Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Kareem told Uncle Jesse to find his “sweet spot” and when he did, he kept swishing shots. Only problem was, as is so typical of basketball scenes in TV and movies, we never actually see Uncle Jesse make a shot. Sure, we see him shoot the ball and then we see the camera cut to a shot of the ball swishing through the net, but something doesn’t feel right. Serena, honey, something doesn’t feel right here either. We can’t see you actually playing Guitar Hero.
See, son of a bitch if I wasn’t right. We’re hearing Free Bird, we’re seeing Serena bob her head like she’s playing free bird, but we don’t actually see visual evidence she’s truly Guitar Heroing free bird!
I smell a rat. Here’s the classic tell-tale sign we’ve been had: the shot of Serena bobbing her head and cut to the shot of fingers playing Guitar Hero. The minds behind Gossip Girl want us to just see some set of random mystery fingers moving and mindlessly believe it’s not the same Uncle Jesse “sweet spot” trick. Wait, the fingers aren’t even moving to the music. How hard is it to play Guitar Hero, I mean really!
This is where things really get good. The expression on the token black friend’s face says it all: “Damn, girl! You can PLAY!” But seriously, how absurd is this whole scene getting? A high school Guitar Hero showdown in upper class NYC between two beautiful girls fighting over the same guy- this is why I love this show! Not only that, but we’re supposed to believe Serena is some kind of dyanimo at Guitar Hero. This is so silly. One, it’s not that hard to play Guitar Hero. Two, I did not know amazing Guitar Heroing was the easiest way to impress prep schoolers who never actually seem to be in school. This would be like a Yo-Yo competition attracting a huge crowd- it would never really happen. But, she’s wowing the crowd and even the minorities have to stand up and applaud ’cause, “Damn, that white bitch can shred!”
More shredding, obviously fake. No shots of actual Serena playing actual guitar. We’ve seen guitar and we’ve seen Serena, but never Serena and guitar.
Sell it with the facial expression, Serena! Everybody knows when someone makes a face like this, they’re actually playing, right?
Do star power! Do Star Power!
This is awesome! Watching people play Guitar Hero is awesome! I’m wetting my pants!
That’s right I’m the shit! You know I’m the shit because I’m playing Guitar Hero! This is my I’m the shit face.
That’s right! I’m Serena van der Woodsen, bitch! I’m constant fodder to the rumor mill! My parents are on the boards of all major charities and art organizations in the city and live in a luxurious penthouse! I got the high score and the guy!
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November 15, 2007
The Almost Impossible Rock and Roll Quiz
Not sure why, but I love stuff like The Rolling Stone’s Almost Impossible Rock and Roll Quiz. I got a 32, but after looking at the answers, I should have gotten more!
For most of the questions I was thinking, how would I know this?!?!?, but then there were some that I was 100% sure about. I think the portion of my brain that is reserved for useless trivia is the largest, because I knew what song the Strokes left off of Is This It? and the Isley Brothers’ first names. However, there was a lot I just plain didn’t know like who was nick named “Beat Weeds” or I thought I knew, but didn’t like who first recorded Nothing Compares 2 U. Then there were some I marked the right answer for, or so I thought but didn’t get credit!
By the way, I know why Puff Daddy wanted his image removed from Nas’ “Hate Me Now” video too.