Reading...

Hero. A so far excellent novel by Perry Moore.

"Everyone in the world should have at least one moment in their lifetime when an entire crowd of people cheers them on for something, one moment to feel expectational, one moment that lets you know you really do mean something in the universe." (Moore, p 191).

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Unless that bear's on E, I can't fathom why this cranial challenged mountain man thinks this is a good idea.

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Just so you know...

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In keeping with the alligator/croc theme from yesterday. I call it "Natural Selection."



Also...who knew? Actually, it sort of makes sense, now that I think about it.

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I think this really only appealed to me because of my recent interest in giant croc/alligator movies and the urban legends that inspired them. That...and I'm pretty sure an alligator penis would kill you. Must investigate.

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The newest in French fashion.

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The "real" Homer Simpson. Frighteningly, it's pretty mesmerizing after a few seconds.

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More vital information for your every day life.

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My friends know my sense of humor all too well. Excellent work, Mattie.

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This features a dry, obvious sense of humor that only strikes a few of you, but it tickles me.

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For the record, I'm rooting for Russia.

EDIT: Can't get the thing to resize correctly. The question reads: "I live in Georgia, but I don't see Russia anywhere, not even sound. I heard we are being bombed.?"

Hilarity ensues.

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Amazing. (Look closely).

Listenings To...

Time and again, without fail, I find myself bombarded with claims that this year, more so than any other year, is the worst year in music. It's always around the midpoint, it seems, rather than the end of the year, which has always struck me as particularly asinine.

First of all, despite what anyone tries to tell me or you, 2008, like 2007 before it, is not the worst year in music. The people who try to convince you that there are more terrible bands making more terrible music than there were in, say, 1998, are dreadfully wrong. There were just as many. The difference between then and ten years ago is that mass communication technology caught up with what the underground kids at the time were doing. Meaning, thanks to the internet becoming a viable, living breath fixture in our culture over the last decade, more bands of varying quality are more immediately available to even the most casual listener than ever before.

Example: AbsolutePunk.Net currently has a feature for up and comers/unsigned bands. Sort of a 100 bands you should get to know type deal. Each small description is accompanied by a streaming song you can chose to click should the write-up interest you. This is being done for 100 bands. Theoretically, I could sound test 100 bands in less than two hours at the click of a button. And this is something any and everyone who visits the site could do at any given time. Not something the common person could accomplish 10 years ago.

Just needed to get that out. As you can tell, I'm bouncing about the webs for new music. Given my freelance profession, it's something I do on a regular basis to get paid, but finding new artists is something I enjoy doing. My calls for suggestions are generally met with a numbing silence. So…thanks for nothing.

Anywho, here's some stuff in 2008 I've had the time to really get into and found noteworthy so far.

Volume One by She and Him: This is why it's not always a good idea to use superlatives before the year is out. At the time of the release, Zooey Deschanel's stunning musical debut seemed like candidate for album of the year. The throwback to 60's girl groups mixed with some Carole King came off honest and ironically refreshing, especially since the new Rilo Kiley was so disappointing. However, now that the album's been out for six months, I've found a few of the tracks aren't quite as memorable and/or don't have much staying power. Not to say it's not a solid album, it's very, very good. Deschanel's an extremely charming vocalist with a very enchanting presence. Just not album of the year material.

Stop, Drop, And Roll!! By Foxboro Hot Tubs (or, The Foxboro Hottubs): Last December, I spazzed out about Green Day's (at the time) "secret" project that found the band brandishing a less produced, more garage rock influenced sound. The 60's influences Kinks meets Iggy Pop style was a complete 180 from the band's American Idiot material, feeling very much like the party after the protest. Well, they took the 6 songs they gave away in December, added 6 more to create the full LP released in May. Nothing heavy handed nor does the band churn out more-of the same. Everything comes off as kinetic from beginning to end. Now, I understand my bias plays a part here. Green Day can do no wrong in mine eyes. Still, I've heard from many people who aren't particularly into Green Day (or didn't realize who it was) that they thoroughly enjoyed this fun little record.

Who Killed Amanda Palmer? by Amanda Palmer: Now this might be a contender for album of the year. I've been a passing fan of the Dresden Dolls for a while now. Loved the self-titled, but their two subsequent releases just didn't do too much for me. Palmer's solo album, on the other hand, finds her unburdened by the niche she found herself with the Dolls. Here, she's clearly more confident, stretching out to experimenting with more instruments and structures. Furthermore, she's just a very solid lyricist with a unique theatrical way of representing herself. Definitely a must for fans of Tori Amos, Ani DiFrano, and Regina Spektor. It's excellent from open to finish and doesn't run together as her other band has been subject to doing occasionally.

Bug Sessions Volumes Two and Three by Saves The Day: Another one of my favorite bands. These two releases are compilations taken from the band's Fall 2007 acoustic tour. There's no new material, per say, rather, acoustic offerings from every era of the band's career. Probably not of too much interest to anyone except fans of the band, I prefer some of these versions to the studio originals. A notable favorite is the acoustic version of A Drag In D Flat, which finally offers what the hell Chris was singing in the background in the original b-side off Vagrant Records' Another Year On The Streets compilation 7 or 8 years ago. Just a damn fun release and I hope the band continues this semi-annual project.

Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie: I love Narrow Stairs. It seems to ferment and grow even better in my mind with each listen. I assume this chia-like growth (thanks, Max Bemis!) will eventually sprout into a full formed unashamed love for the album. I love "Long Division." That, Bixby Canyon Bridge, and "No Sunlight" rank among some of my fave DCFC tracks. I have yet to stop loving virtually everything Death Cab For Cutie and/or Ben Gibbard records. Also, if you haven't heard Ben Gibbard's acoustic cover to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," you have not lived.

Pretty.Odd. by Panic(!) At The Disco: Fuck. Did these kids ever prove me wrong. People have been quick to call it a faux attempt at maturity or other such things primarily because they want to continue to dislike Panic At The Disco. I can get that, somewhat. However, this effort really shouldn't be overlooked. While lyrically silly at times, this throwback rock record really steps it up a notch for a band I had completely written off.

Raise The Dead by Phantom Planet: Another band I had written off after that atrocious self-titled album a few years back. I'm happy to announce Phantom Planet is back in full form, finally achieving the promise of their earlier material. Alex Greenwald's vocals are distinctly more confident this time around and the band comes off as much more genuine instead of that wretched attempt at indie-rock chic. The choruses are often epic and the band planned many turns along the way to keep the album from getting stale.

That's all for now. More to come later…

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I try not to often post the parodies of motivational posters, but this bit was funny without the banner.

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And sometimes...there just are no words.



Plan to blog/bring out the web presence a bit today...

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Attempting to get back in the swing of things, despite having no glorious Internets at home.

Monica continues to improve. She may be out as early as late tonight or early tomorrow. Very exciting news, indeed. Took some photos of a romp through the hospital one night, which is under the album "We're Only Chasing Safety." (on MySpace)

Which reminds me, I should relisten to that album sometime, I can't remember if I thought it crap or enjoyed it. Underoath isn't exactly an impressive band to me, but I remember a one-time interest in them. Perhaps that was it.

Also

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A Softer World. Excellent Web comic. Special thanks to Aaron Phelps. (Click for larger pic)







Also, much appreciation for the well wishes concerning Monica.

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I have been severely absent from the Internets this past week for two reasons. However, it's the second that has taken priority.
1). I've been moving from my apartment into a house and we've had problems with our services "providers."

2). One of my best and dearest friends, Monica Wallace, was admitted to Mary Black Hospital last Wednesday. She had been sick since the previous Monday. At first it just seemed like heavy flu symptoms. She went to the doctor twice and, though they weren't entirely sure, they theorized she had a kidney infection that would soon pass and as long as she kept hydrated. Last Saturday through Tuesday she had begun to feel a bit better. We had lunch and dinner most days so I knew she was at least improving.

Last Wednesday, I texted her twin sister who had just come back into town asking how Mo was doing. Turns out, she regressed and they were taking her to the doctor for a third time. She was admitted to Mary Black late that evening. Since Thursday, if I have no been at work, I've been at the hospital. They ran a Lumbar puncture (spinal tap), CT scan, EKG, MRI, and blood tests. We still don't know what's wrong.

However, she is slightly improving. Yesterday, she ate solid food for the first time since Tuesday. she's trying to walk around a little at least twice a day and her sensitivity to light is less severe. She's still extremely sick, but these are good signs. It means at leas tone of the treatments they're giving her is working, they just have to figure out which so they can properly administer her back to health. Or...at least to the point where she won't need hospitalization.

Obviously, while I'm at work, I'm online, but for the most part, due to not being home (where I have no nets), being blocked by the hospital (they blocked MySpace and Facebook), and helping taking care of a best friend, I'm going to be pretty sparse.

That's the short version.

Also, someone tell this gentleman: "ur doin it wrong"