5 Things I Wintnessed While Traveling Yesterday

-The airplane passenger next to me take off their shows right after sitting down

-Someone with their finger buried knuckle deep into their nasal cavity, not caring that everyone was staring at them

-Hear a pilot say that Boise was a real happening place (they were serious)

-Flava Flav

-The most security I have ever seen for a flight arriving from Heathrow, dogs and guns

Thankful

What are you thankful for this holiday season? Here are a few things music and non-music related.

-Gaslight Anthem (New Album 2010)
-Baseball is closer than you think
-The Get Up Kids (Long Awaited New Album 2010)
-Tom and Jerry is still on midday on Cartoon Network
-Ted Leo (New Album 2010)
-Hopefully new health care is on the way
-Black Keys (New Album 2010)
-I am married to my soul-mate
-Lupe Fiasco (New Album 2010)
-I can successfully brew my own beer
-Their might be a Sega Genisis in my near future

I hope everyone has a lot of things to be thankful for. Have a safe rest of the week. I will be abroad in the Hawkeye State.

10 Songs From the Past 10 Years

There have been a lot of fantastic songs over the past 10 years. I am not even going to bother and number these because that would be foolish. Every artist on this list has a number of memorable songs. There are a bunch of others who are not apart of the 10 below. This is simply a list of 10 memorable song to me over the past 10 years. Think of it as a small sample of all the great songs of the decade. Enjoy

Sufjan Stevens - Casmir Pulaski Day
Pete Yorn - Closet
Elliott Smith - Son of Sam
Jay-Z - H to the Izzo
Death Cab for Cutie - Tiny Vessels
Something Corporate - Punk Rock Princess
Ben Folds - Fred Jones, Pt. 2
Talib Kweli - Get By
Oasis - Fuckin' in the Bushes
Death Cab for Cutie - Why You'd Want to Live Here

Emo Tag

When did Emo become a category of pop music? I was around some teenagers lately and they were talking about Emo bands. I listened to a couple of the bands and was appalled, not because the music was bad but because it was not Emo. Too many pop bands with whiny lead singers are placed in this category incorrectly.

Emo stands for Emotional Punk. There are no elements of punk music in Dashboard Confessional, Panic at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, Owl City or a number of other bands that are incorrectly categorized here. I hate categorically labeling music but listen to some of the older Get Up Kids material or Sunny Day Real Estate. You can hear the punk elements in the songs.

Punk is raw and edgy. Over produced pop music should never have anything associate with punk in its name.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns Review

I have listened to a lot of music. Over the past few years, I have come to accept that there is very little that musically surprises me anymore. I am not saying that there is nothing good out there, to the contrary there has been a lot of good music lately, it is simply that the music I have listened to recently lacks staying power. When I say staying power, I mean that I can play the album a week, month, year or years later and not be embarrassed. The Rural Alberta Advantage debut album Hometowns caught me off guard.

Hometowns is a well crafted album. The Rural Alberta Advantage’s sound can best be described as back to the basics. The guitar uses very little, if any, distortion and the bass and drums sound crisp as well. They prove that you do not need added effects to make a lot of noise. What separates Hometowns from other albums is that all of the instruments are front and center. You can hear and feel them. They are not muted or soft, as is the case with so many others. The band harmonizes well with their instruments too. Their voices add depth to the sound.

The other element that works perfectly on this album is the blending of melancholy homesick lyrics with faster tempo songs. It gives the songs more of an it-is-what-it-is feel rather than a completely lost tone. It sounds as if the songwriter has come to terms with not being completely satisfied with their life. This is a way everyone can relate to feeling at one point or another in their life. It is the true to life qualities in the lyrics that makes this a fantastic album. When the lyrics and instruments all come together, The Rural Alberta Advantage have put out one of the best albums I have heard in years.

Score: 6.9 (there is one track I skip over, it is not my favorite. Otherwise, I can listen from top to bottom.)
Scale

1 –3: I was impaired in some way when I bought this album (it’s embarrassing)
4: A few decent tracks, nothing memorable. Selling it back to the record store
5: Some great tracks, a solid album
6: One of the better albums I have listed to
7: These are very few and far between. Flawless from top to bottom

Slacker

I have been quite the slacker lately when it comes to this, my apologies. I am going to try and write on it almost everyday starting now. I was going to write last night but as I was looking around my place at 11:50 pm and what do I see but a mouse, sneaking across the floor. A mouse!

I am not really afraid of them but it was a bit unnerving because I was completely powerless. No traps or anything, so I watched him sneak across the floor. My first thought was to grab a piece of Tupperware barely large enough to fit a sandwich and trap the little bastard. Who do I think I am. There is no way I was going to be able to catch him with Tupperware. Even if I did, what was I going to do leave him under there until he gnawed a hole in my wood floors. Faced with that or the always pleasant option of simply trying to step on him, I decided to let him be until I could get traps. I must include one small detail, I live in a condo building and I know it is one of my neighbors who must have brought him in because I found out today that they tapped one on the 9Th floor last week. I am not exactly Mr. Spic and Span but I do pick up after myself.

More stories to follow. When I get home I am going to see if the trap my building manager owns is sufficient. If not there is always a size 9.5 New Balance with his name on it. I am sure I will get comments that it is inhumane to step on a mouse. I am saving you the complaint comment not because I agree with you but because what reasonable human being would mess up a perfectly good pair of shoes over a mouse.

Holiday Shores Review - Hi-Dive, Denver

Denver is a Broncos town. When they play everything else takes a backseat. With the Broncos playing on Monday night, I did not expect Holiday Shores to draw much of a crowd for their show. Deservedly so, they had a bigger crowd than I anticipated. By the end of the night, they were far more interesting to watch than the Broncos.

What makes Holiday Shores unique is their sound. There is a glut of vintage influenced indie bands these days. These guys are different. They seem to draw more from surf rock rather than new wave. This influence, even if it is slight, gives them a more distinguishable sound than many of their contemporaries. While listening to them play, I could not help but think of The Walkmen. What is also striking about this band is their confidence. The band looked at ease as they rolled through their set. Their sound was polished and they managed to successfully create good audio layering. As front man Nathan Pemberton shared with me after the set, “there are a couple of songs we are having trouble with live because we have not had the time to sit down and break them apart. The record is so dense that it is hard to assign four people all of those parts (when touring).”

Interviewing Pemberton was interesting. It gave me a chance to see another side of Holiday Shores. All too often I see a band perform well on stage and take for granted the amount of work that goes into having a successful tour. It became clear during the interview that they are more or less feeling things out as their tour progresses. Pemberton revealed to me that they did not make set lists for their shows, instead opting to play what naturally came to them on stage. “We don’t have a set list. We have the first two or three and go from there. It makes for more breaks between songs but it is fun having no set pattern.” Pemberton’s laid back demeanor can be deceiving. If there is one thing I took away from the interview it is that he is very driven. It was refreshing to see and interview a band that has seemingly found a balance between musically being taken seriously and their youthful inexperience (not a bad thing). On stage, they make it look so effortless. I did not see an up and coming band that just recently released their first LP Columbus’d the Whim. I saw a band that was focused and looks bound for bigger things.

New Music Tuesday 11-10-09

Here is a small sample of music that is available today. Enjoy and go out and support your local record stores.

AC/DC – Backtracks
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Live
Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
Fray – Fray
Gwar - America Must Be Destroyed
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back!
Jerry Garcia Band - Vol. 2-Jerry Garcia Collection
Killers - Live From The Royal Albert Hall
Snow Patrol - Up To Now
Jookabox - Dead Zone Boysjavascript:void(0)

4 Songs of the Week

So all week I have pretty much had 4 songs stuck in my head all week. The list is below. I do not think they are telling but it is what has been rattling around my head. What songs have you been thinking about?


-Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh
-Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces
-David Bazan - Hard to Be
-Sea Wolf - Wicked Blood

David Bazan & Say Hi Denver Show Review

Any Questions? If you have not been to a David Bazan show, you might be caught a little off guard when he solicits questions from the audience. His show with Say Hi at the Hi-Dive was reminiscent of the times I have seen him in the past. He answered questions, joked around and eliminated any barrier that traditionally exists between musicians and their fans.

The show opened with Seattle based Say Hi, formerly known as Say Hi to Your Mom. They played a set that offered a good variety of songs from all of their albums. For the most part, it was an upbeat set. Bazan could not have chosen a better band to accompany him on tour. They were equally engaging with the crowd. Front man, Eric Elbogen told jokes and spoke about vampires. Elbogen and the other two touring members, Andy Fitts and Alex Westcoat, have strong stage camaraderie. Half way through the set someone in the audience dropped a drink on the floor. Elbogen gave the audience member a drink ticket to go get another one. When the same audience member clumsily spilled again Fitts gave him one of his drink tickets. You do not find many bands that go out of their way like this for their fans.

David Bazan's set primarily focused on his latest release Curse Your Branches. He also played tracks from his EP Fewer Moving Parts. There were a couple Pedro the Lion songs worked into the set as well. The strongest part of the set was his new material. He toured with a band which gave the material the necessary depth. Bazan seemed to be in good spirits. During the question and answer sessions he disclosed the meaning behind some of the song lyrics, what he would do if he were attacked by a zombie, his favorite brown liquor and turned down a dinner invitation. What I have always enjoyed about seeing David Bazan is his genuine personality. I have never had the opportunity to meet him, but feel as though I know a little about him based on his stage demeanor.

The show closed per status quo without an encore and the house lights illuminating the cozy bar. Bazan and his band mates said goodnight. The impromptu moments during the concert proved that seeing a great show is about more than hearing talented musicians perform.

New Music Tuesday 11/3/09

Here is a sampling of what is in stores today. Enjoy and go support your local record store.

Weezer - Raditude
Morrissey - Swords
Slayer - World Painted Blood

Gabes Oasis, Iowa City IA

I was happy to see David Bazan, formerly of Pedro the Lion and now out on his own, blogged about the punk venue I used to go to in college. Great to see this place get some press. He is absolutely right with his assessment.

http://www.davidbazan.com/

New Music Tuesday 10-27-09

Here is a sample of some new albums that are out today. Enjoy

Gov't Mule - By a Thread
R.E.M. - Live at the Olympia
The String Cheese Incident - Trick or Treat
Tegan and Sara - Sainthood
Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
Train - Save Me San Francisco
Jack Johnson - En Concert

The D Word

Having divorced parents is awful. Mine got divorced when I was in second grade, so it has been a while. One thing I have come to realize is that the trials and tribulations of having divorced parents never fully goes away. I have long accepted that they will never be together again. Surprisingly that was pretty easy to come to terms with. The part that still completely puzzles me and frankly makes me want to pull my hair out is the holidays or any other major events.

I am married now so when we spend the holidays with my wife's family, I am secretly a little relieved that I do not have to deal with the heartache and headache of trying to coordinate everything with my family. I realize this may sound heartless but unless you have divorced parents you can never fully understand. The problem is you can never truly make everyone happy. These are the little things that need to be included in a divorce manual. Everyone focuses on, who is going to get the couch or how will we work out joint custody of our goldfish. Honestly, if it were me, why not just flush the fish. That way you can both feel miserable. I realize I am compounding the divorce process and their are bigger struggles than those I have listed. I simply wish that people realized the finality of their decision when getting a divorce. Every time I drive by the sign that says, "Divorce in a Day" I want to call the number on the sign and have them come with me to my next family function. There are no quick fixes.

Hm, this is a music blog so I will say I bought the new Sea Wolf album today. Upon first listen I give it a 5.

Who Sucked Out the Feeling?

I was listening to some Rage Against the Machine at work today. I will save you the what the hell kind of office do you work in comment, it was on very soft almost inaudible. It made me realize how much I miss these guys music. I know they are not gone but I wish they would put out another album. They seem to enjoy touring but how about some new material. I mean they are the godfathers of hip-hop infused rock, not including the whole Run DMC - Aerosmith collaboration.

Whenever I hear these nu metal bands on the radio, all I can think is make up your mind about what you want to be. A mediocre metal band or a craptackular hip hop group. Until then, save your strength. There are only a few bands that can pull it off and Rage is one of them.

Here are the songs I listened to today: Testify, Bombtrack, Bulls on Parade and Guerrilla Radio. My choices would have been a bit more diverse but that is what they had posted to their site.

Rage Website - http://www.ratm.com/

New Music Tuesday: 10-20-09

A Sampling of New Music Availible Today, Enjoy

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
Flight of the Conchords - I Told you I was Freaky
Rammstein - Lieve Ist Fur Alle Da
Sufjan Steven - The BQE
Snow Patrol - Late Night Tales

Why?

If you have not heard of the band Why?, I would highly recommend checking them out. They have a very unique sound. Their latest album Eskimo Snow was released in late September.

Band's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/whyanticon

Pete Yorn Back and Forth Review

Pete Yorn is back...well almost. The title back and forth is very appropriate for his latest offering. It feels as though Yorn has spent a good part of his music career trying to figure out his sound. His first two albums MusicfortheMorningAfter and Day I Forgot were very similar. Both played to Yorn's strong songwriting abilities. Yorn went a bit off course with his third album Night Crawler. Do not get me wrong, Night Crawler has its moments but it is incredibly overproduced to the point that it drowns out Yorn's vocals.

Back and Forth is a bit more back to the basics. The album goes back to strong songwriting and simplistic guitar rifts. The album is by no means stripped down. Various instrumentals are added to tracks but it is not over the top as with Night Crawler. All around Yorn does what he does best. He has created an album that is very well written with tracks that have staying power. If there is anything the album lacks it is one or two faster tracks. I cannot fault Yorn though, you write what you feel and I respect that. I am just happy to have Pete Yorn back.

New Music Tuesday 10-13-09

Here is a sampling of some of the new music out today enjoy.

The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Five for Fighting - Slice
Bob Dylan - Christmas in the heart
People Under the Stairs - Carried Away

Getting Cased

I have a ton of CDs. It is beyond ridiculous the amount I have accumulated over the years. Recently I have been thinking about cleaning house and trying to make some extra cash by selling some of my old ones. One problem, no one will take my CDs unless they have the original case and artwork. This is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. CDs are one step away from being obsolete and you mean to tell me that record stores are going to be picky. I mean they were probably only going to give me a hay penny for them and then turn around and sell them for 10 bucks but it is the principle.

Honestly, if you care about album cover art anymore please comment on this. The artists do not even care about the cover art anymore. Who cares about the artistic statement they artist is trying to make. The real deal is inside the case on the CD. Until they start giving awards for cover art and CD packaging, I think it is insane that record stores will turn down perfectly well taken care of CDs because it lacks packaging.

Fresh Sound

If you are looking for a great site to check out some new music, I would like to recommend the Barsuk Records website. If you are not familiar with Barsuk, check em' out. They have a ton of great artists like Nada Surf, Mates of State, David Bazan, Ra Ra Riot, Say Hi...I could go on forever.

They are a fantastic, Seattle based label that has a free radio station on their site. Enjoy

Barsuk Records Website
http://www.barsuk.com/home

Picture of the Week

New Music Tuesday 9-29-09

Here is a sampling of some new music that is on the shelves today. Enjoy

Zero 7 - Yeah Ghost
Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony
Ghostface Killah - Ghostdini-Wizard Of Poetry
Madonna – Celebration
Melvins - Chicken Switch

Not a bad showing. Of course there are far more releases. These are simply the ones that jumped out at me.

Best Time of the Year is Coming!

There is electricity in the air this time of year. The end of summer signals the start of fall baseball. This is when everything is on the line. Six teams square off for a piece of sports history. The MLB Playoffs are where legends are made. Who can forget Kirby Puckett, Kurt Schilling, Joe Carter or the many others who came up big in the post season. What makes the MLB Playoffs so unique is that the limelight is not simply reserved for the big names. Who can forget Scott Podsednik's home run in the 2005 playoffs or Aaron Boone's walk off winner. There is nothing like the MLB Post Season.

Football fans will cling to the Super Bowl but honestly how many truly great playoff games have their been? I am not blaming football but the format of baseball's multiple game championships leads to more memorable moments. Get ready baseball fans October 7th will be here in no time.

New Music Tuesday: 9/22/09

Here is a sampling of some of the new albums in stores today. Enjoy

Basement Jaxx - Scars
Brand New - Daisy
David Gray - Draw the Line
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom
Castanets - Texas Rose, Thaw & The Beasts
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - White Lunar
They Might Be Giants - Here Comes Science

Status Update: Facebook is Lame

I try to steer clear of any sort of politics on this blog but I cannot help it. I just read that Sarah Palin has been getting her message out through Facebook. Leave it to Sarah Palin to rid Facebook of any coolness factor it had left. Granted, I have cut back on Facebook since the term "social media" came to fruition. It also felt a little strange when my parents became friends with me. I want them to know what is going on with my life but like having a filter. Leave it to Sarah Palin to prove that things are way cooler until your parents get involved.

What is the deal with Fleet Foxes?

Is there anyone else who is just not that into them? I feel as though I am the only person in the world who does not dig Fleet Foxes. It has become so bad that when people ask me if I listen to them I have to preface my answer with, "I don't know what my deal is but..." It is as if I feel guilty not liking them. Their self titled album is on all of my trusted media sources top albums of 2008 lists. No I am not referring to Rolling Stone and Spin. The album appears on nearly every single reviewer for Pitchfork's list. Maybe I am just missing something here. They sound a lot like the Byrds, I get that but what makes their music so special? There is only one other band that has alluded me like these guys do, Arcade Fire. What bands are just not that into?

Pitchfork's top albums of 2008 list

The Gaslight Anthem, Ogden Theatre, Denver CO

Say hello to the crowd, tell some stories, play a few songs, crack a couple of jokes and say goodnight. The format for a live concert is fairly predictable, even for those who have not attended very many. The Gaslight Anthem’s ability to take this simple formula and turn it into something memorable is what separates them from many of the others bands I have seen. The band exuded confidence, charisma and lightheartedness as they tore through their set. It was evident that they thoroughly enjoy playing live together. What impressed me the most was the way they connected with the crowd. They were genuine. I was not just seeing another band go through the motions. This was a band that cared and was real. They laughed and joked around with each other. It was like watching a group of my friends play. It was refreshing to see a band that does not take their fans or popularity for granted.

It is rare that I go to a show and not have any complains. The crowd was electric, the setlist fantastic and the band sounded perfectly gritty. I felt a bit nostalgic as the show reminded me of the hardcore shows of my youth. All in all, The Gaslight Anthem puts on a show that is not to be missed. This is their final tour before the release of their next album, hopefully in early 2010.

The Gaslight Anthem Website: http://www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem

New Music Tuesday 9-15-09

Here are a few albums that are in stores today. Enjoy

Muse - The Resistance
Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson - The Break Up
Kyle Hollingsworth - Then There's Now
Mason Jennings - Blood of Man
Ministry - Last Dubber
Q-Tip - Kamaal The Abstract

Stay Classy Kanye

For the record I do not watch MTV or see Kanye West's display during the Video Music Awards. Actually I think it is kind of humorous that MTV gives awards for music videos and they do not even show music videos anymore. Anyway I watched Kanye on Youtube this morning and once again he proves that money and fame can buy a lot of things but it cannot buy class. Between him and Jay Cutler I do not know who did a better job of representing the windy city yesterday.

Rockabilly Surf

So I went to a show last night. My friend said they were of the rockabilly surf variety. I was intrigued. I had not heard rockabilly surf before and it was pretty good. The bands we saw were The InSinerators from Gunnison and Mad Dog and Smokin' Js.

Both bands were fantastic. I am honestly not much of a rockabilly fan but Mad Dog and the Smokin' Js are definitely worth seeing. The InSinerators definitely have a fresh sound as well. If you want to hear something a little different check out these two bands.

Mad Dog and the Smokin' Js

Hometown Pride

No matter where you go, you can never truly escape your roots. This became evident to me the other night at the Colorado Rockies game. The Rockies are in first place in the Wild Card Race and have had a phenomenal second half to their season. Still, as I watched the Rockies and Reds I could not help but anxiously watch the scoreboard for Chicago White Sox score. Even though the White Sox are nearly mathematically eliminated, they hold my attention.

When I moved to Denver 3 years ago, I figured that the Rockies would become my team in the National League. I grew up a White Sox fan so cheering for the Cubs has never been an option. In fact, I quietly enjoy watching the Cubs flounder year after year. As I watched the game last night, I strange feeling came over me, much like the one that did in 2007 when the Rockies made it to the World Series. As exciting as the game was, it did not create the same euphoric feeling when the Rockies won in the 9th as when the Sox won close games. I cheered for the home team because I am a baseball fan but it was not the same. I am not emotionally vested in the Rockies. Last night, I came to the realization that this is the closest I can get. Even if I live in Colorado for the rest of my life, nothing can capture the magic of following the White Sox in my youth. Those magical nights in the outfield bleachers when the Cleveland Indians or Milwaukee Brewers would come to town. The crowd would stand for the entire game as you could feel the electricity in the air. All of the 2nd place finishes were worth it when the White Sox won it all in 05'.

Baseball has not quiet been the same for me since they won the World Series. I never thought it would happen in my lifetime. It is strange when you have wished for something for so many years and then it happens and you do not know what to do. A giant weight was lifted off your shoulders.

I go to Rockies games to take it all in. The magic of being at the ballpark is still there. I may have reached my ceiling for how attached I can get to the Rockies but love watching the emotionally vested fans around me. It is hard to match the excitement of watching your favorite team accomplish everything you have ever wanted. Go Rockies.

New Music Tuesday 9/8/09

Here are a few of the new releases that are in stores today. Enjoy

Phish - Joy
Rodrigo y Gabriel - 11:11
Jay-Z - Blueprint 3
Yo La Tango - Popular Songs

Writting From the Past

I came across a piece of writing I typed up after I graduated college. It is interesting to be able to look through a window into my past. I am posting it as a message. Life gets better I promise. I think everyone feels a bit of shell shock after they graduate college. Enjoy

It didn’t end with a zip or a bang or a huge drunken party.  There wasn’t even a scene like those of a movie where a bunch of friends are sitting at a bar giving endless toasts to the past adventures of the last four years.  Nothing said about the future and how bright it may be.  It ended with a snap like that of a pull firework or the fizzle of a cheap sparkler.  There was supposed to be cheers and jeers, laughter and tears.  There was none of that here.  It ended end when uncharacteristically the Dean of Students pronounced my name correctly, a dead meaningless handshake and an empty congenial nod.  For others it ended with the words with honors preceding their name.  For many that will be the last time an adjective will precede their name. With honors or without, going to be bed early the night before graduation or getting half-cocked it’s all one in the same.  It marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new day.  Your agenda is empty.  For some it ended with impossible promises like I’ll see you again and we’ll definitely stay in touch.  With others it occurred over a phone conversation in a vacant hotel room, a plea to move to DC or a great new job in Omaha.  This is life, the next step, right.  At times I feel like a Vietnam Vet who can’t get over the fact the war is over.  I spent four years of my life being sprayed with napalm, thinking that 10 was the start of the day and sure enough that a hangover was enough to garner one’s sympathy.  I was living in a foxhole of college bliss and now I’ve been thrown back into the working world. I am expected to be humble and shrug it off.  I’ve been robbed of my youth and everyone expects me to help the burglar named time load up his get away vehicle.  All I have left are memories that serve me well.  They allow me to easily forget about the things I have regretted over the last four years. The mind is a curious thing.  It alters things.  Not intentionally but just enough to allow us to get by.

Change

I have had a friend staying at my place the last week and it made me realize how much I appreciate my few moments of solitude. Do not get me wrong, our friend is a fantastic guest and company but I am looking forward to having things back to normal next week.

Earlier in the week, I was thinking about how nice next week was going to be and then it dawned on me that my view on solitude has changed. I could not help but chuckle. The word solitude means alone or single. I have not been alone or single for over 5 years. My view on this word has changed. Five years ago my excitement was for complete dictionary definition solitude and now solitude includes my wife. It is funny how the little things change. My adjusted definition is proof that I am married to my soul mate. It must be a sign.

As a child, I was never 100 percent confident in my abilities to do anything perfectly correct. I would frequently do something and then ask for a sign from God to prove I did it correctly. I never asked for earth shattering signs because I was never confident God existed and if he did, why would he waste his time turning the sky purple just to tell me that I had chosen the correct answers on my grade school quizzes. I asked for little signs like, "if this is the correct answer then make the classroom clock bell ring at the top of the hour as it did every hour or if I am not correct make the clock stop working completely." I always wanted to give God choices. If neither one happened, I knew he was too busy. The funny thing is that I was a straight C student. It was comforting to know that God scored average on grade school quizzes as well. He saved his real powers for much bigger things.

Nowadays, I am more confident than I was as a child. I would be a complete liar though if I said I did not still ask for signs from time to time. I think we all do. The signs I use today are based upon the sheer amount of happiness I have in my life.

New Music Tuesday 9-1-09

Here is a sample of some of the new albums that are in stores today:
David Bazan - Curse your Branches
Black Crowes - Before the Frost...Until the Freeze
Beanie Sigel - Broad Street Bully
The Used - Artwork
Dr. Dre - Chronic Re-Lit
John Fogerty - Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again
Reverend Horton Heat - Laughin & Cryin
Drive By Truckers - The Fine Print

First Listen: Modest Mouse – No One’s First and You’re Next Review

My feelings towards Modest Mouse have always been lukewarm. They are one of the few bands whose albums I cannot listen to from start to finish. To be perfectly honest, I usually only like a couple of the tracks on their albums and then find the other songs pretty unlistenable. When I heard they had a new EP, I was pretty indifferent.

No One’s First, and You’re Next was a pleasant surprise. I never expected for their latest release to be one of my favorites. Even though the EP is mostly b-sides from Good News for People who Love Bad News and We Were Dead Before the Ship Ever Sank, the album sounds fresh. It has a classic rock feel mixed with an ambient tone and a hint of folk rock. As with most Modest Mouse, it is difficult to classify this album. The first track Satellite Skin sounds like it could be a Rolling Stones song where as track 2, Guilty Cocker Spaniels, made me think of bluegrass. Modest Mouse has a varied fan base so I am certain this EP will not be for everyone but I really enjoy it. I may not like all of their material but appreciate Modest Mouse’s constantly evolving sound. I am eagerly anticipating their next LP.

Mall Kiosks: Glorified Street Performers

I was at the mall the other day for the first time in a long while. As mentioned in earlier posts, I abhor the mall. Before the recession set in, I could tolerate it. I dressed a little grubbier and would avoid shaving a couple days before I planned to go. This would ensure me the glory of being left alone at the mall. I could get in and get out with minimal questions. These days the mall is emptier and businesses are so desperate for customers that I bet I could walk around completely naked and still have sales people trying to drum up a conversation.

The part I despise most about the mall are those little kiosks. If a mall were a city street, where the shops represented free standing stores and the mall commons were the city streets, kiosks would represent the street performers. They are aggressive, conversational and incredibly annoying as they hock cell phones, moisturizer and sunglasses. I wonder if they are paid differently then the standard mall shop employee. I can go into a store and not be bothered but walk outside and I am swarmed by sales people armed with cucumber exfoliates and free texting. It is to the point where I would rather just shop on the city streets where ignoring the street performers is sufficient. If I ignore a kiosk vendor they are liable to chase me down or yell louder. Now that would be a site, imagine someone running after you in a mall full sprint to tell you that you are paying too much for your current cell phone plan. The next time I am asked something by a kiosk vendor I am tempted to say to them, "learn to play an instrument or bang on some empty milk jugs." At least the street performers in the city briefly entertain me as I ignore them.

Maxfund Lucky Mutt Strut 8/30/09

This is a reminder to all those animal loves about the Lucky Mutt Strut that is going to be taking place this Sunday at Washington Park in Denver. Hope to see everyone out supporting a great event and great shelter.

Click Here to Register for the event.

I'm Sorry

Sorry for the lack of posts. It has been a crazy week. That is no excuse but there is more content on the way.

Shed a Tear for Grunge

What ever happened to grunge rock? I miss the distorted guitars and angst filled lyrics. It was music for a generation that felt left behind. Nobody else seemed to care so why should they. Anger filled rock still exists today it is just not the same. Today's heavy rock acts prefer to integrate hip-hop into their music. It makes sense. Many of today's rockers grew up listening to an eclectic mix of music and do not want to be pigeon holed into one music category. Personally, I think this leads to a lot of mediocre music. You have bands that cannot decide what style of music they want to create and they produce albums that are a misguided mess. I am not here to complain. There is a lot of good music out there. I just miss grunge. The closest thing I get to that these days is seeing someone in a flannel shirt as it is the latest trend. I cannot help but get nostalgic when I see someone in flannel. I ask them if they have heard the latest Sub Pop compilation. They give me a confused look wondering if that is a new club in LoDo.

Song of the Day 8-26-09

Pedro the Lion - Indian Summer

New Music Tuesday 8-28-09

Here are a few new albums being released today
Artic Monkey - Humbug
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Matisyahu - Light
Willie Nelson - American Classic
Cheap Trick - Sgt. Pepper Live
Collective Soul - Collective Soul
Jet - Shaka Rock

Must See: Ben Folds

For everyone who does know Ben Folds is touring. Even if you are not a Ben Folds fan, go see him. He puts on one of best shows. He is engaging, funny and makes sure that the crowd has a great time. I have seen him 4 times, once with Ben Folds Five and 3 times solo. My only complaint is that he is not stopping in Denver on this tour. I would really love to see him at least one more time. If you have the opportunity to see him, go. He is one of the best songwriters.

BenFolds Website: http://www.benfolds.com/

Song of the Day 8-20-09

Fountains of Wayne - Hey Julie

Family Time

I have family coming in this weekend. My dad, step mom and little brother will be coming out to visit. It is going to be great to see them. I have not seen them since January. Past visits have always been a little strange for me. Some people have problems with their parents, my issues mainly stem from my little brother.

He is 15. I cannot relate. I used to try so hard. I did everything from trying to get into the same music (total crap) as using the same slang. It is just not natural for a 28 year old to say that had a BA factor of 8 or 6 or whatever arbitrary number you assign to it. For all of those who do not know, BA stands for badass. When I questioned, "why not just say the word badass rather than soften it by saying BA," I got the eye roll. I used to obsess why I could not fit in with him. Then it finally dawned on me, this is because I am 28 and he is 15. I would have bigger issues to deal with if I could fit in with 15 year olds and not 28 year olds. I have come to accept that I will never be cool in the eyes of a 15 year old which means my family's visit should be less stressful. Now that is Badass.

Song of the Day 8-19-09

Lucky Boys Confusion - Breaking Rules

New Music Tuesday: 8-18-09

These are a few of the artists that have new albums out today
Ramona Falls - Intuit
Divisible - Less Than Lion
Arlo Guthrie - Arlo Guthrie: Tales of '69
Nathan Maxwell And The Original Bunny Gang - White Rabbit
Sister Hazel - Release
Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major
Antlers - Hospice
Boulder Acoustic Society - Punchline
Division Day - Visitation
Gwar - Lust in Space

Song of the day 8/18/2009

Ambulance Ltd. - Primitive

Picture of the Week

Old Friends

I am not a materialistic person except when it comes to shoes. Let me clarify, there is not a single pair of shoes in my closet that cost me more that 65 dollars and the average age is 1.5 years old. I just really like shoes. I can dress in absolute tatters from head to ankle but when it comes to footwear, I want style and comfort. My shoe of choice is New Balance. They are the most comfortable shoes. They are also reliable to the point that they are like old friends. Do you have apparel like that? My wife does not always agree with me but they are acceptable in any setting. Wear a black pair to a wedding and you send the always popular message, "I value comfort more than tradition." Honestly, if I was not married I would try it.

I have a routine when it comes to dressing up. I put on what I think is a great outfit and then I ask my wife what she thinks. I try to smirk a little because that way she thinks I am joking. 9 times out of 10 she gives me a confused looked as if all I have on is a necktie. "Are you for real" she questions. I grin as if to say "gotcha" but am a bit disappointed as my outfit did not pass. I count on my wife because if it were completely up to me I would wear my Asthmatic Kitty Records shirt or the one with the eagle on it. I do not even dare put those on and ask. That "joke" as been done too many times. I dress as nice as I can and the slip on my New Balance right before we leave our place. That way she does not realize I have them on until we are already out and it is too late. Maybe next time I ask her opinion I will go with just a tie my New Balance and nothing else.

A Band to Checkout: The Gaslight Anthem

Recently a friend asked me if I wanted to go see The Gaslight Anthem when they played Denver in September. I agreed and then decided I should check out some of their stuff because I was not all that familiar with them. I have yet to be disappointed. All of their songs are very good. What drew me in is that they remind me a little bit of Hot Water Music. Lyrically their songs are strong and their sound is tight. I would almost classify it is as bluesy punk-rock if that makes sense.

I found an Alternative Press Interview online with Brian Fallon from The Gaslight Anthem and that is what sold me on these guys. He sounded very real. I liked it that he identified the band as being music fans playing music. There are too many musicians these days who think that they are larger than life. It is refreshing that The Gaslight Anthem does not come off as one of those bands. They are a bit of a throwback in that they are growing their fan base by touring nonstop. The Gaslight Anthem epitomizes the type of bands that are missing from the mainstream music scene. They are a humble and connect with fans to make truly great music.

The Gaslight Anthem Website: http://www.gaslightanthem.com/site/

The Gaslight Anthem Tour Schedule: http://www.gaslightanthem.com/site/shows

Alternative Press Website: http://www.altpress.com/

Jeans Anyone?

I think I am the proud new owner of a pair of tapered jeans. Not the way I wanted to start this entry but I think I accidentally bought jeans that cut off the circulation in my ankles. Lately, I have been on a quest to be as frugal as possible when it comes to buying clothing. Jeans are jeans, shirts are shirts, right. Well, my latest mission was to find jeans for around 15 dollars. I refuse to pay almost double when they are just a form of pants. I was delighted to find a deal on a pair for 14.

I have been fooled before by off brand clothing. About a year ago, I bought a pair of tapered jeans because I failed to read the label and did not understand that Kohl's and The Gap have two completely different demographics. Those went straight to Goodwill. There are way too many options when it comes to jeans. I get that they can all fit differently but I do not need an explanation of the wash style. I have eyes, I can tell if they are lighter or darker. I do not know anyone who goes jean shopping for a pair of antique colored ones. Honestly, all of the options makes my head spin. I just want a pair that are reasonable priced and do not make me look 40. My demands are pretty reasonable. I have given up trying to be hip or cool a long time ago.

I like the color of my new jeans, it is just when I sit in a chair I feel like I have a pair of flood pants on. My exposed ankles are telling me it's breeze today. The thing that really pisses me off is that I went to a whole bunch of stores and the label clearly started "Straight Leg." A friend told me that I need to be looking for something that says "Straight leg throughout." That is real obvious. Clothing companies are just as bad as food companies when it comes to labeling. Why are they trying to sell me jeans that I have to tie a sweater around my waist and wear a golf shirt with.

Song of the Day 8/13/09

Imogen Heap - Say Goodbye and Go

Song of the Day 8/12/09

Ben Folds Five - Army

New Music Tuesday 8/11/09

Here is a listing of some of the new albums are being released today. Enjoy.
Behemoth - Evangelion
Black Mold - Snow Blidness Is Crystal Antz
Cobra Starship - Hot Mess
Holmes - Holmes
Erika Jayne - Pretty Mess
Raekwon - Only Build 4 Cuban Linx II
The Roots - How I Got Over
George Strait - Twang
Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor

Song of the Day 8/11/09

Sunday's Best - Pearl Harbor Day

Radio Daze

I was listening to radio the other day in my car and started wondering if the DJ's who play music really like the music or just being on the radio. This thought came to mind because I think of the radio as more or less white noise unless I am tuned into the AM dial or NPR. There is nothing new or challenging, it is more or less just there. I realize that everyone has different musical tastes but it is odd to me that every top 40 radio DJ loves the same poppy contrived flavor of the week song. You know which one I am talking about, the one about being broken hearted and has something about, "I will do anything for you" or "you are my everything" in it, wait they all sound like that.

My point is, do DJ's like playing the same 3 or 4 songs? Back when I was on high school radio, all I wanted to do was expose people to new rare tracks that could not be heard anywhere else. I forget sometimes that leaving the power in the hands of the DJ's is not exactly marketable to advertisers. This is why the radio is white noise; the people who chose the play lists for mainstream radio stations are not music fans, they are business people. They only understand music in the sense that it has earning potential. Do not confuse the two.

Song of the Day 8-10-09

Verbow - Dying Son

Song of the Day 8/9/09

The Get Up Kids - I will catch you

Gomez – New Tide Review

Have you ever been in the situation where you go to the music store for a particular album and you end up buying something you never intended? It seems like a foolish question, everyone has been there right? I have been in this situation countless times, I am looking for something and I find that one of my favorite artists has new material out as well. What makes my purchase of New Tide by Gomez more remarkable is that I did not know anything about the band before I walked into the store. The album drew me in while I was listening to something else far less inspiring. I realized I needed to buy the album when I found myself turning down what I was previewing to hear what was being played over the store speakers.

New Tide is a special album. It is one of those that has grown on me with every listen. Every time I pick up something new. Gomez sound on this album is folk rock. The lyrics are punchy and smart to the point where I hear myself inadvertently mumbling them. What really makes this a fantastic album is the subtlety of the sound. Do not get me wrong there is a lot going on here but it does not hit the listener over the head and sound overproduced. The different instruments and sounds meld together to create one of the best albums I have heard this year.

Notable Tracks: Mix, Win Park Slope & Airstream Driver

Gomez plays at the Fox Theatre in Boulder on August 4^th
http://www.foxtheatre.com/Store/ChooseTicket.aspx

Song of the Day 8/6/09

Weezer - My Name is Jonas

Song of the Day 8/5/09

Grasshopper Takeover - Forever Young

Pondering

I have had quite a few people asking about my lists and wondering why there is a lack of variety to them. I admit I have mentioned Sufjan Stevens, Elliott Smith, Ra Ra Riot and Death Cab for Cutie in quite a few posts. In defending my decision, these artists make great music and have been influential in my life. Here is something to think about, if I mention an artist multiple times, I tend to get stuck on certain artists, then they are fantastic. I would never waste time writing about a band that is weak sauce.

The other thing to note is that I promise there will be more album and show reviews posted very soon. I have been working on buying a house and that really sucked up my free time. Thanks for reading.

Song of the Day 8/4/09

The Breeders - Canonball

Song of the Day 8/3/09

Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb

Movie Script Ending

Have you ever been in one of those funks but you can't explain where it is coming from? You feel a bit detached and it is as if you are watching your life as you would a movie. You watch but have little control over what happens. As you watch you chuckle and think to yourself that will never be me. The scary thing is you are watching yourself. It does not happen very often to me but when it does I am at a total loss of words. I can see the mistakes before they happen but cannot change the outcome or veer off course. This description is a bit mellow dramatic, I know, but it is just the way I felt last night. Maybe it was just a sign that I was ready for some sleep and the needle on the record inside my body had finished for the day.

Front to Back List

To keep with the tone of the last post, here are 5 albums in no particular order that I can listen to from front to back without skips. What are yours?

-Weezer - The Blue Album
An absolutely fantastic debut album

-Green Day - Dookie
The best Green Day album of all time. It was the mainstream advent of pop-punk.

-Elliott Smith - XO
A beautiful heartfelt album by one of the finest song writers. who ever lived.

-Oasis - What's the Story
Great band making one of many great albums.

-Something Corporate - Leaving through the Window
This album is so catchy it is hard not to like.

Front to back

I had a conversation the other night with a friend about music. He mentioned that the Smashing Pumpkin's album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was the only CD that he could listen to from start to finish without skipping a track. It got me thinking about my own collection and which albums I enjoyed front to back without skips. With the advent of mp3 players and digital music this quality has become much less relevant. You can download the tracks you like a disregard everything else. With the emphasis on singles rather than full albums will this lead to more casual music fans who only know a couple of songs by an artist? Will the self life of musicians' be shorter because a single can only keep you in the limelight so long? Remember the Macarena or Who Let the Dogs Out. I wonder if at the next show I attend I will hear someone yell, "play that song that was featured on Itunes last week." I wonder if someday albums will disappear completely.

Song of the Day 8/1/09

Fiest - The Park

Song of the Day 6/31/09

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Timorous Me

Word Play

I was standing around the other day and could not help but overhear a strangers conversation. Really I only caught one line. They were asking the person on the other end to guess-estimate the cost of something. The word guess-estimate makes me chuckle. I realize I use a lot of foolish phrases but guess-estimate is one of the most nonsensical words.

A guess and an estimate are the same thing. In all fairness, a guess is not always logical like an estimate which is an educated guess. Still, the word confuses me. Maybe a guess-estimate means that if you are guessing then this is the best estimate. Maybe I am just too literal with my language. The word guess-estimate is a hybrid word much like hybrid fruits and vegetables. The hybrid has an essence of the original but it is not quite the same. Eating a hybrid tomato is not as satisfying as an heirloom but it passes just as guess-estimate is not a real word but it works.

Song of the Day 7/30/09

The Gaslight Anthem - Great Expectations

Song of the Day 7-29-09

Hot Water Music - At the end of a gun

Song of the Day 7-28-09

Elliott Smith - Enemy is You

Turning Up the Sound and Down the Quality

This song sounds like garbage. I find myself uttering this far more frequently than I did a few years ago. The garbage seems to be appearing on everything from the bands I abhor to some of my favorites. It starts with a muted sound from the drums or a fizzing sound like a cheap sparkler off the guitar and becomes something that is almost unbearable to the ear. It sounds as if you are trying to listen to your favorite song through a stereo where one of the speakers is blown out. My garbage issue is sound quality.

There was a little stir about this issue with Metallica's last album but ardent audiophiles were made out to be whining babies. If you cannot take the heat then get out of the kitchen. My reply is why do you need to turn up the noise, let the listen do that. Truth be told the issue of sound homogenization is quite common. Take a CD that you have recently purchased or a song that you downloaded and play it. Now take an older CD and listen to it. Notice how with the older CD you have to change the volume setting from time to time. Some parts are softer so you turn it up while some parts are louder so you turn it back down. With the newer recording notice that there are no adjustments to be made. On newer music the production company has turned up the lower tones so that they blend well with the highs. In doing this, the instruments' audio levels are all the same. The drums do not sound like they once did. Rather than hitting the listener between the temples it is as if the drummer is playing an empty milk jug. If the listener turns up the audio levels to compensate for a weak sound, the guitars go fuzzy and distorted because they are over the proper levels. In essence, modern production has created a cheap uniform mess of sound.

I write this not to create change, the music industry was bought and sold long before my time, but to inform. Not all music production has a cheap feel. There are still a lot of independent labels that are producing quality albums. It is too bad that audiophiles are tagged by the media as dorks when all we really want is superior sound quality.

Song of the Day 7/27/09

Hot Hot Heat - Get in or Get out

Picture of the Week

Wish I did not have the Sunday night blues.
Can you guess the city where this street sign resides?