Radio radio
This began as a response to a post on Brian's blog, so if it kinda doesn't make sense read his blog, specifically the post entitled something like "Finally a blog post where I don't talk about drinking or places I usually wouldn't be."
I've been going through the same kind of thing lately (finding a lot of new records boring). There hasn't been a lot that's completely knocked my socks off. While I like both new Bright Eyes records a lot, and I really think the Killers record is fun, I haven't had much desire to check out a lot of new stuff. I mean, I always want to hear it, but nothing has really gotten my attention lately, at least nothing "new." I hate to be that guy, but I do think with the rise in popularity of all things "indie" that a lot of what's coming out isn't very good. I don't really get why everyone and their iPods are wacking over Death Cab for Cutie- they're good, but everyone wants to "hit that," so to speak. Now I do think that the new Modest Mouse is better or as good as previous records, in fact I like it more than Moon and Antartica which is still a fabulous record. But whatevs.
I've been listening to a lot of old stuff too, my collection, and stuff from the library. I've probably checked out 75 cds since I started here, and one book. I've been really into Elvis Costello/Elvis Costello and the Attractions/Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach. Which reminds me, last night there was a movie on cable called Prison Song starring Elvis Costello as (in the 20 seconds that I watched it) a Jewish looking middle school teacher. I could be wrong. I only watched maybe 20 seconds worth. I have also been listening to a lot of jazz, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, St. Germain (a lucky find), and this one disc thats really hot, Frank Sinatra live with Count Basie and his Big Band, or something like that. Also been listening to a lot of movie music, specifically weirder stuff- Twin Peaks/Angello Badalmenti stuff, Moulin Rouge, Trainspotting. I also finally checked out The Cocteau Twins (BBC Sessions). They were always one of those bands that I had seen in Magnet and such, but had never checked out. I was pretty impressed. I've found myself listening to more stuff like that lately. The funny thing was I picked up that disc when I was working and listened to it at work, but I had to listen to it quietly. Some of the bad 80's-ness of it disappears at lower volumes. But still good.
As far as the no good new music thing, I have two thoughts:
1. When we were younger/junior high/high school/early college, music was really good. Maybe more than we recognized.
2. A lot of bands do put out really great early records and then kinda filter off later on. There's nothing elitist in saying that.
3. (Yeah I know I said I had two thoughts) I think also when we were younger, we had less of a database of music in our minds, which meant that everything new and interesting was way more new and interesting. Now, we're so overloaded that it takes more to get us going. But there is good stuff out there. Keep looking for it. Let me know when you find it.
Three-way action
So I was checking out Pedro the Lion's website, and found out about The Soft Drugs and Headphones.
Pedro the Lion is David Bazan and TW Walsh (and whoever else they get to play with them).
The Soft Drugs is TW Walsh, David Bazan, and Ken Maiuri.
Headphones is David Bazan, TW Walsh, and Frank Lenz (Starflyer 59). Now, The Soft Drugs music is written and sang by TW Walsh, who still
does solo stuff. Headphones is all synthesizer and drums and vocals. But here's what I think. There's something incestual about those bands. Secondly, where is
Damien Jurado? Anyways, looks like PTL will be on the back-burner for a while after the scheduled shows. But then again, that was the rumor like three or four years ago, so we'll see.
Delaware, are you aware of the air supply?
Five things that I've been doing/listening to/thinking about lately that have made me reminiscent:
1. The Promise Ring. I've been listening to them lately, because I like them. And they make me think of a few very specific times in high school.
2. Third Generation Mafia. I listened to their cd a week ago, because, damn, life was good then. No worries. Rock n roll.
3. Mase. I saw one of his cd's at Goodwill, and everytime I think of Mase I think of Marcus' Monte Carlo, the bowling team, and bass.
4. Swimming. Specifically at Tricia's house. Good times. And Steve's house. Fun times. Good times.
5. Matt Moore and Alex Tabb. Yeah. I found some pictures of us on stage at Cornerstone. Dear God.
(sigh) the memories...
Whoop. Back to reality. Actually, I have to get my thoughts together on reality. More on that later.
To be covered later today:
The Pope
Grilling
May & June
iJustin Perkins
...and more
Crack my back.
New post coming today. Look forward to it.
Drinking drinking drinking drinking coca coca cola
I'm working on making my blog more interesting. Though I know everyone in the world wants you to read their blog, you should WANT to read mine. The whole blogging phenomenon is a whole other cake altogether, but I'll go into that at some later point. First of all, if you know Aaron Weinberg, you should be reading
his blog too. Secondly, I'm stealing a couple things from it in case you don't want to.
Directly quoted from Aaron's blog:
"David Byrne of the Talking Heads started his own internet radio station. He got tired of people asking him what he was listening to and he figured this was the easiest way to let people know. It turns out that his playlist is pretty good and even has some stuff I haven't heard yet. It's makes for some pretty good background music so check it out.
You can use just about any music player to listen to it.... Just scroll down and click 'Stereo MP3 Stream'."
It's actually pretty decent, and I think the bigger internet radio/satellite radio/rebel radio gets, the better. If it can save the youth of tomorrow from 97 ZOK, dear Lord is it worth it!
And stealing another thing from Aaron's blog, this is definitely the
sweetest thing ever.As for anything interesting on my end, I sort of thought more people (than zero) would have weighed in on the whole T.V. thing, but that's ok. I don't really know that anyone does read this. Dog sitting is going great. I love that dog.
This morning I took out the garbage, then got a glass of water, then walked upstairs, and by the time I got upstairs and looked out of my bedroom window, I swear to God, at least 6 gulls had converged on our driveway and had ripped open a little hole about the size of a croissant in one of the garbage bags and had taken a croissant out of the garbage and were fighting over it. It couldn't have been more than a minute and a half. They're like vultures.
The other big news outside of my life is the Pope and Terri Shiavo. They're everywhere. First of all, though I never really weighed in on the Shiavo thing before, I felt like it was selfish to try to keep her alive for years more in a vegetative state. However, I don't think that she should have been starved. I honestly think this was a perfect example of the need for legalizing assisted suicide. I'm glad that that side stayed out of it though. As far as the media and politics go. It's so sad how the whole thing was turned into this big political moral media blitz. She should have been allowed to die in peace, and now to rest in peace. The protesters there, especially the people who thought that she should have been kept alive, turned it into a circus to try and get coverage of their cause. That's not the time or place. Now all of these conservative Republicans in Congress coming out against the judges with veiled threats, be it towards them or their careers, are turning this whole tragedy in even more negative. I don't know, I guess I might be rambling a bit, but the whole thing just upsets me so much.
As for the Pope, I wish him well as millions of others do, and I'm sure for him it's a time that he looked forward to much of his life. I do have my problems with Catholicism, but the Pope is obviously an intensly strong believer. And that's that.
More interesting stuff later when I wake up a little more.
