(feel my heat): Canada vs. America

Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa - Vampire Weekend
2080 - Yeasayer
Lover - Devendra Banhart
People - J Dilla*
You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son - Wolf Parade
Painter In Your Pocket - Destroyer
Dead + Rural - Handsome Furs
Waves - J Dilla
Oceanside - The Decemberists
Little Brother - Grizzly Bear
English House - Fleet Foxes
Apple Orchard - Beach House
Stop! - J Dilla*
7/4 (Shoreline) - Broken Social Scene
Take Me To the Riot - Stars
My Sword Hand's Anger - Apostle of Hustle
The New - J Dilla*
Dramamine - Modest Mouse
How We Know - The Thermals
Phantom Limb - The Shins
The Way We Get By - Spoon
Light My Fire - J Dilla*
Present of Future End - The Most Serene Republic
Sing Me Spanish Techno - The New Pornographers
Nature of the Experiment - Tokyo Police Club
Workinonit - J Dilla*
Bye Bye Bye - Plants And Animals
Wolves - Phosphorescent
The Diff'rence - J Dilla*
Intervention - The Arcade Fire
The Great Salt Lake - Band of Horses

This was harder than I expected because what about Wilco, Ryan Adams, Ted Leo or any number of other bands.

(feel my heat): Theme Time Radio

Welcome to the Working Week - Elvis Costello
Manic Monday - Bangles
Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones
Wednesday - Drive-By Truckers
When We Escape - Minus The Bear*
Thursday - Asobi Seksu
Friday I'm in Love - The Cure
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting - Elton John
Exploding Snowhorse - The Octopus Project*
Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground
Red And Purple - The Dodos
Behind Blue Eyes - The Who
Shine A Light - Wolf Parade*
Red, Yellow And Blue - Born Ruffians
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
The Funeral - Band of Horses*
Angie - The Rolling Stones
Melissa - The Allman Brothers Band
Alison - Elvis Costello
Ada - The National
The Choice is Yours - Black Sheep*
Billie Jean (Single Version) - Michael Jackson
Gloria - Patti Smith
Candy - Iggy Pop & Kate Pierson
She's Mine - Burning Spear
Grass - Animal Collective*
California Stars - Billy Bragg & Wilco
Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
Plans - Band of Horses
+81 - Deerhoof*
New York - Cat Power
Sink, Florida, Sink - Against Me!
New Amsterdam - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles*


*In keeping with theme all background music is by animal bands

(feel my heat): Roots and Influences

What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Whole World - Aloe Blacc
9 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
Monkey Man - The Specials
I Confess - The English Beat
LDN - Lily Allen
1 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
At Last (Single) - Etta James
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse
5 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
My Little Underground - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Run Run Run - The Velvet Underground
Dead Sound - The Raveonettes
6 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
Wrong 'Em Boyo - The Clash
Night of the Living Baseheads - Public Enemy
World Town - M.I.A.
2 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
Artists Only - Talking Heads
The Dignity of Labour (Pt. 1) - The Human League
Whoo! Alright-Yeah... Uh Huh - The Rapture
3 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
DJ 4:02 David Bowie
Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers
North American Scum - LCD Soundsystem
4 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails
Janie Jones - The Clash
So It Goes - Nick Lowe
Accidents Will Happen - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
8 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) - Bruce Springsteen
Heartattack and Vine - Tom Waits
First Night - The Hold Steady

(feel my heat): New eMusic and Old Favorites

Consoler Of The Lonely - The Raconteurs
Midnight Vignette - Evangelicals
Aly, Walk With Me - The Raveonettes
4 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
Quarantined - Atlas Sound
Strange Lights - Deerhunter
Semi-Sorted - No Age
Veni Vidi Vici - Black Lips
3 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
Neighborhood 3 - Power Out - The Arcade Fire
Squalor Victoria - The National
Living Proof - Cat Power
18 Ghosts II - Nine Inch Nails*
Plasticities - Andrew Bird
Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe - Okkervil River
Skinny Love - Bon Iver
20 Ghosts III - Nine Inch Nails*
Take Me To the Riot - Stars
Desiree - Caribou
Take Pills - Panda Bear
33 Ghosts IV - Nine Inch Nails*
To The East - Electrelane
Dr. Strangeluv - Blonde Redhead
Wedding Bell - Beach House
6 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails*
Cause = Time - Broken Social Scene
Baltimore - Stephen Malkmus
Wordless Chorus - My Morning Jacket
Helen - The Cave Singers
24 Ghosts III - Nine Inch Nails*

*Talked

The Paper

I had to write a paper for my history class. It was on the California Law Review from 1950 to 1975 and its interpretation of the 14th amendment. Every word in that sentence I hate with the fury of a nova. The paper took me roughly 18 hours and 49 minutes of pure work. I started it on Monday and did not finish until this morning ten minutes before class, including pulling an almost all nighter last night. I know specifically how long it took because of the albums I listened to. For this paper I listened to 23 unique albums which consists of over 282 songs. Here are the albums that I heard:

1. Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV
2. EL-P - I'll Sleep When Your Dead
3. Battles - Mirrored
4. Black Dice - Load Blown
5. Atlas Sound - Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel
   
6. Deerhunter - cryptograms
7. Deerhunter - Fluorescent Grey EP
8. Jesu - Conqueror
9. Black Lips - Good Bad not Evil
10. No Age - Wierdo Rippers twice
11. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
12. Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
13. Blonde Redhead - 23
14. Interpol - Antics
15. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrsing
16. The Mae Shi - HLLYH
17. Caribou - Andorra
18. The National - Boxer
19. Arcade Fire - Funeral
20. Cat Power - The Greatest
21. Burial - Untrue
22. Death From Above 1979 - Your a Woman, I'm a Machine
23. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas

Not a bad list. I think this may be a potential FMH. Now I need to go to sleep.

Spring Break

So I haven't bloged'd in a while so I decided what better way to do it then a double whammy: a real post and a playlist. I am currently freaking out over a paper and a geology exam but I did well on my Poli Sci test which is good. Here are the highlights of the break:

• A crying baby and a delayed plane the size of a limo
• Sprinting through Houston
• 24 B
• Getting Picked Up By Shareen
• Shareen missing the turn for in-n-out and nearly missing exit for my house
• Visiting Concordia with Ethan, its actually really nice
  
• Harold and Maud with Thai Food
• Cheesecake Factory with Shareen
• Horse Show with Mom
• Going on Hikes
• Getting burnt but not as bad as they think
  
• Hot Tubbing with Shareen
  
• Corona
• Going to the Tourney and th Google Box
  
• Agreeing that I was born to be the Stanford Tree
• Frisbee
• Sleeping in a size appropriate bed
• Finding out that I bring the most annoying traits in all of Colin's Friends
• Eggs Benedict the morning before my flight back

So those were the great moments. Here is the latest (feel my heat):

Strange Times - The Black Keys
Conquest (Acoustic Mariachi Version) - The White Stripes
Ghetto - Oh No*
Time - Pink Floyd Dark
Inertiatic Esp - The Mars Volta
Heavy - Oh No*
Skullflower - The Sounds of Animals Fighting
Nothing Like This - J Dilla
Ox Broil - Oh No*
Angel - Massive Attack
Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix
Two Can Win - J Dilla*
Gravity - John Mayer
Impossible Germany - Wilco*
Bouncers - Oh No*
My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Dime Piece (Remix) - J Dilla*
Angel - Jack Johnson
Pink Moon - Nick Drake
Last Donut of the Night - J Dilla*
Somebody's Baby - Jackson Browne
Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan
Memorial - Explosions In The Sky*
It Beats 4 U - My Morning Jacket
Better Man - Pearl Jam
Shadow of a Doubt - Beth Orton
Alive Alone - The Chemical Brothers*
Massive Nights - The Hold Steady
Teenagers - My Chemical Romance
Won't do - J Dilla*
Counting Down The Hours - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb - Spoon
Dry the Rain - The Beta Band*
Steal My Kisses - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
The Scientist - Coldplay

*Rants Raves and Roars

Metal Health

So the past weeks have totally sucked for me. I am getting smacked around by my classes, which is never a pleasant feeling. I want out of Ohio more then anything. And I am just generally run down. I have now been hit with a presentation on the Thursday before I leave, which is on top of the Mid-term I have due on Monday which might be the hardest of my life and the Political Science Midterm I have the day I leave. And then once I finally get on break I have a 10 page paper for history due and I have a take home quiz for geography due the week I get back. So my break is not really a break but a time when I can fret in a different state. In short I want to just drop out, maybe the homeless guy in the park has it right. He is smiling, has no teeth but he is smiling. Anyway this is mostly a rant.

Music has been helping me through it. I have been listening to a lot of more pop-y music. Jack Johnson has been getting serious spins. So have Pearl Jam, Mars Volta, John Mayer, and Ben Harper. I have grown tired of indie, which might be due to me not getting the new music job. I got rejected for less than fair reasons I believe but I do not know for sure obviously.

Anyway hope everything is well for you all. I might be writing for a culture blog soon. I will let you all know details as they appear.

(feel my heat): Revenge

September Gurls - Big Star
Alison's Starting to Happen - The Lemonheads
Tribulation (Original 1975 Mix) - Bim Sherman*
Baby Britain - Elliott Smith
New York, New York - Ryan Adams
For Nancy - Pete Yorn
I'm Not Ashamed - Culture*
Bad Reputation - Freedy Johnston
Mrs. Rita - Gin Blossoms
I've Been Waiting - Matthew Sweet
Knight In Shining Armour - Deborahe Glasgow*
Given to Fly - Pearl Jam
have love will travel - The Black Keys
The Bucket - Kings Of Leon
Jah Live - Luciano*
Gravity's Gone - Drive-By Truckers
Picture of You - My Morning Jacket
The Greatest - Cat Power
Am I The Same Girl - Winsome*
Night is the Notion - Dax Riggs
Stop, I'm Already Dead - deadboy & the Elephantmen
Dirty Hands - Black Lips
Scientist's Winter Dub - Roots Radics Meet Scientist And King Tubby*
Bikini Girls With Machine Guns - The Cramps
Can Your P***y Do the Dog? 3:23 The Cramps
Dead Flowers - The Rolling Stones*
Amanda Ruth - Rank And File
Marie, Marie - The Blasters
Don't Worry Baby - Los Lobos
Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley & The Wailers*
Going Underground - The Jam
Rudie Can't Fail - The Clash
Spanish Bombs - The Clash
Lost In the Supermarket - The Clash
Flip Ya Lid - Nightmares On Wax*
Herbal Jazz Cigarette - Nightmare Of You
The Great Escape - Boys Like Girls
The Future Freaks Me Out - Motion City Soundtrack

(feel my heat): The Missing Pair

Last week - The one Shareen missed:
D.A.N.C.E. (Mstrkrft Remix) - Justice
Easy Love - Mstrkrft
One More Time - Daft Punk
Unexplored Terrain - Dillinja*
Black Mags - The Cool Kids
Nike Boots - Wale
Say Yeah - Wiz Khalifa
The Great Drum+Bass Swindle (Logistics remix) - London Elektricity*
Run - Gnarls Barkley
Closer (Feat. Madvillain) - Quasimoto
The Mercury Craze - Subtle
Soul Control - Dillinja*
Romantic Rights - Death From Above 1979
3's & 7's - Queens of the Stone Age
Get Myself Into It - The Rapture
Mermaids - Muffler*
I Coul'da Been A Contender - The Gaslight Anthem
Pretty Good Year - The Loved Ones
New Wave - Against Me!
Blackout - Logistics*
Can't Hardly Wait (The Tim Version) - The Replacements
Motion Of The Ocean - Fake Problems
Steady Rollin' - Two Gallants
Dark Was the Night (Cold Was the Ground) - Blind Willie Johnson*
16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six - Tom Waits
Way Down in the Hole (87) - Tom Waits
Walking Spanish - Tom Waits
I Will Be There When You Die - My Morning Jacket*
Candy's Room - Bruce Springsteen
Lucky Town - Bruce Springsteen
State Trooper - Bruce Springsteen
Rebellion (Lies) - The Arcade Fire*
Speed Trials - Elliott Smith
Down The Line - José González
To Have and to Have Not - Billy Bragg

Last Night - The one Steve missed

Miss You - The Rolling Stones
Dead Flowers - The Rolling Stones
Sin City - The Flying Burrito Brothers
Jacksonville Skyline - Whiskeytown
The Thrill Is Gone (1969 Single Version) - B.B. King*
Buffalo Soldier - Bob Marley & The Wailers
Walking On the Moon - Cas Haley
I Left My Wallet in El Segundo - A Tribe Called Quest*
If I Had Eyes - Jack Johnson
In the Colors - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Hard Sun (Main) - Eddie Vedder
Who Do You Love Pt. 1 - Quicksilver Messenger Service*
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Live In a Hiding Place - Idlewild
Forever Young - Youth Group
Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley & The Wailers*
Greetings to the New Brunette - Billy Bragg
How Low - Jose Gonzalez
Stir It Up - Bob Marley & The Wailers*
Gideon - My Morning Jacket
Ode to lrc - Band Of Horses
Fiery Crash - Andrew Bird
To Kingdom Come - The Band*
Spring And By Summer Fall - Blonde Redhead
Neighborhood 3 - Power Out - The Arcade Fire
Province - TV On the Radio
Ry Cooder - Tortoise*
Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil
Everyday Is Like Sunday - Morrissey
Like Dylan In The Movies - Belle & Sebastian
The Orchids - Califone*
Let It Ride - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
A Fond Farewell - Elliott Smith

* songs in the background

7 Down, 45 To Go

Book: Shortcomings - Adrian Tomine
Album: Build and Burn - The Loved Ones

Shortcomings is a very interesting book. It is a graphic novel and provides a snap shot of a realtionship and life. It is about Ben, a self hating Asian university theater manager; Miko, Ben's girlfriend an Asian enthusiast and forward moving individual; and Alice, Ben's lesbian grad-student friend. It is a snap shot of decaying relationships and both people's unwillingness to change and desire to change and expand. It takes place in Berkley, which is completely appropriate. As I think about the small amount of time I spent in the Bay area it seems perfectly placed. No, not because many of the characters are gay or Asian. I saw it on a number of best of 2007 book lists and I am very glad that I finally picked it up and checked it out. Plus it was highly recommended by Jonathan Lethem.

Once again this album has little to do with the actual book. For instance I do not really imagine any of the characters listening to this album but the ideas of Building and Burning of relationships is especially characteristic of the book. Plus I saw the loved ones the other night and I am currently loving them. It is also one of the few times where I have read a new book and album at the same time.

Loved Ones and Gaslight Anthem

On Friday night I went to Cincinnati to see the Loved Ones with Gaslight Anthem, totally worth it. It was a very fun show. Gaslight Anthem were great openers, I did not know the songs that well but I was still dancing and doing my best to sing along. Loved Ones were a lot of fun. They clearly looked like they were having a blast and wanted to be no where else in the world. I went with my friend Tim and he and I now have a fairly solid streak, we saw Against Me! as well. We both agreed that if we could see these guys another 5 times in a row we would totally do it. The Against Me! show was a lot of fun but they did not seem like they were having fun, while these bands had a great time.

The bar we saw them in, The Poison Room, was very cool. The showed movies on the wall, the best of which was the cheesy as hell Batman movie with Adam West. I still have X's on my hand which seem to refuse to wash away. I hope to go to Smoke or Fire with Fake Problems next week at the same place.

I desperately want to see Against Me! again but in a small venue like I did last time. I don't want to see them at the Hollywood Bowl with Foo Fighters. I want to see them at Chain Reaction with Matt and Kim or some other smaller band. Speaking of which the Loved Ones are playing Chain Reaction March 30, I will unfortunately be back at school by that point but I would kill to go to that show. I highly recommend it.

Friday Run Down

Ok so I haven't posted on here this week due to midterms, apathy and other reasons. Anyway happy belated valentines day to all. Shareen got me a lovely pound of See's candy which is perfect. I got her the same along with High Fidelity. She has only seen the movie and I think she should read the book because it is better. I have begun to like refereeing, it is fun and I have become more confident in it. I read my book for this week quickly and will post that on Sunday. Tonight I do not have work because the library is closed so I get to go to the Loved Ones/Gaslight Anthem concert which I am excited about. Otherwise I will talk to you later.

Here is the playlist to last Sunday's (feel my heat) by far the worst one ever, you picked a good one to miss dad:

When We Escape - Minus The Bear
Knights Of Cydonia - Muse
Stormy High - Black Mountain
The Comeback (Madlib) - Madlib
Wolf Like Me - TV On the Radio
Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead
Jacking The Ball - The Sea And Cake
Indian Hump - Madlib
Don't You Evah - Spoon
Wet and Rusting - Menomena
Well Thought Out Twinkles - Silversun Pickups
Movie Finale - Madlib
Baby, I'm An Anarchist - Against Me! Reinventing
Six Months In a Leaky Boat - Ted Leo/Pharmacists
Could We - Cat Power
Let's Get Out of This Country - Camera Obscura
The Payback (Gotta) - Madlib
Baby Britain - Elliott Smith
Forever Young - Youth Group
Perfect Fit - Tilly and the Wall
Two Can Win - J Dilla
Everlong - Foo Fighters
I Only Want You - Eagles Of Death Metal
Make It Wit Chu - Queens of the Stone Age
Nothing Like This - J Dilla
Welfare Bread - King Khan & The Shrines
Dirty Hands - Black Lips
Bye - J Dilla
He keeps me alive - Sally Shapiro
Littleblood - Division Day
Two Left Feet - The Holloways
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Gente Ordinaria (Bonus Track) - Aloe Blacc

6 Down, 46 to go

Book: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - Tom Robbins
Album: GA GA GA GA GA - Spoon

The first book read entirely at school this year. And I finished it just in time to post here. I greatly enjoyed this book. It is funny and intruiging, and more than a little outrageous. There are parts that dragged on and I didn't love the Clockworks/Chink aspect of the book but at least they were well written. I did not see the ending of the Rubber Rose coming and everything that happened after it was secondary.

GA GA GA GA GA is the latest by Spoon. It is not quite the audio companion to the book that other weeks have had. Yet it is the album that I have listened to most often while reading Cowgirls. Others have complained that the album is not their best and I am not sure if it is or not. I only have bits and pieces of the other albums. I think it is a great record and one of the best of 2007. A great mix of rock n roll and Motown. If you haven't heard it yet do yourself a favor and pick it up.

As a side note: buy the song Thumbelina by Nightmare of You when reading Cowgirls.

(feel my heat): Gifted

I meant to podcast this but I didn't sorry. Maybe I will throw some of these tracks up on the blog for you guys.

Mistaken For Strangers - The National
Down The Line - José González
I Don't Blame You - Cat Power
Insomniac Olympics - Blockhead*
Does This Mean You're Moving On? - The Airborne Toxic Event
Down In the Valley - The Broken West
Into Your Dream - Foreign Born
Punctual As Usual - The Parson Red Heads
Forest Crunk - Aesop Rock*
A-Punk - Vampire Weekend
Brunettes Against Bubblegum Youth - The Brunettes
C Is the Heavenly Option - Los Campesinos!
Snow Tip Cap Mountain - The Octopus Project*
23 - Blonde Redhead
Backed Out On The... - Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew
15 Steps - Radiohead
Tonto - Battles*
And It Rained All Night (Burial Remix) - Thom Yorke
Lake Somerset - Deerhunter
Sometimes - My Bloody Valentine
Body Language / Interpretation - Booka Shade*
California Girls - The Magnetic Fields
Rag & Bone - The White Stripes
1 2 3 4 - Feist
Tin Cans & Twine - Tortoise*
Over the Rainbow - Rufus Wainwright
The Future - Teddy Thompson
Lead Balloon - Liam Finn
An Ending (Ascent) - Brian Eno*
Your Red Dress (Wedding Song At Cemetery) - Alaska In Winter
Rock Bottom Riser - Smog
My Name is Trouble - Nightmare of You

*Background music

5 Down, 47 to Go

So I have run out of books. I now don't have any in reserve so I need to finish either Acid House or Cowgirls to have material for next week.

Book: Graffiti World: Street Art from Five Continents
Album: J Dilla - Donuts

This is a sort of cheating. Graffiti World is almost entirely composed of pictures but man oh man what amazing pictures. Clearly they highlighted the best artists at large today. Showcasing crews and styles that I had never seen before. I did not see some of the big names that I would expect for instance Sasquatch, Neckface, and Obey, but they are more than made up for by the plethora of talent I have learned about. Admitatedly I have also only flipped through the book, never sitting down and reading or looking page by page. I greatly enjoyed that the book was broken down by contitents. It made it easy to see how different styles changed and influenced each other.

The audiable companion to this book is Donuts or Beat Konducta or really anything off the Stones Throw label. Personally I like Donuts the best. It was produced on J Dilla's death bed in the hospital. Each song is only a minute or minute and half long. They are merely sketches of beats. Much like graffiti is only a sketch of great art work. If a great graf artist were to sit down and truly paint or design one piece it could surely go in a prestigous museum. Just as if J Dilla sat down and fleshed out many of these beats and sold them off, there would have been a lot of hits. But when you have this much talent why waste time perfecting the already amazing and not share the wealth with everyone.

Book: Death By Black Hole - Neil deGrasse Tyson

This is an admission of defeat. I did not finish this book. I read about 125 pages of it or so and stopped. Which means I got about half way through and stopped. The book while interesting was nothing but a collection of articles Tyson had written for various Science and Academic magazines. And while I liked it, it was a little to technical, too science-y. Once I put it down I frequently did not really desire to pick it back up. I was hoping it would be more about planets and stars and what is out there and less about how it happened and theory. While the theroy is important, it does not always make for a great read.

Welcome to the Working Weak

So this week I started both of my jobs. I am now a referee for intramural basketball and work the graveyard shift at the library. I was nervous about both jobs and now have realized they are not so bad. I don't love either. Refereeing is maddening because you are in control of the game and I feel like that is a lot of pressure. Working the graveyard shift in the library I have to imagine won't be hard so much as it will be boring. I have been working for almost two hours and I can't see it changing drastically. On the plus side it seems as if I can just sit around and use my computer and headphones and no one will care.

This week I also considered dropping a class. I wasn't sure if I wanted to stick out my history class it is hard and confusing but ultimately I think I will stay with it. Its not perfect but might as well do something challenging since my other classes do not seem to be particularly hard.

Toys that Kill (Your Wallet)

I have looking around the Internet for cool visuals. Stuff I can post on here or use a screen savor. And in reality not a whole lot has come up. I am looking for new fresh material, so Banksy and Obey and Neckface are not as fresh as they once were just because I know what I am looking for. I have found some really cool stuff but by far my favorite stuff right now are toys that I am finding. They are mostly vinyl toys that are sold in hipster boutiques but I think they are really cool. I would buy them but they are freaking expensive. We are talking between $20-$100 a pop easy, and those aren't the rare or large ones. Oh well one day when I am twenty-five and a multimillionaire with nothing else to spend my money on and all other problems are solved, I will buy them. Until then I will just post pictures.

4 Down, 48 to Go

Book: Best American Non-Required Reading 2006
Album: Endtroducing - DJ Shadow

I picked up this book over Christmas break at the Spectrum Barnes and Noble with Shareen. It was recommended by an employee who also flagged Best American Comics which I had just recently finished. I had heard mixed reviews about this book, but I read the introduction by Matt Groening and decided to give it a shot. The introduction is very funny, which is of little surprise. Groening being the founder of the Simpsons, Futurerama and the comic My Life in Hell is a very smart and funny guy. So I ended up buying this and Skinny Bitch for Shareen.

What was surprising was how much I liked the collection of stories. The fiction in the book was not as good as the non-fiction. One story from the New Yorker further confirmed that the New Yorker needs to be shut down. However the nonfiction was both interesting and topical. From travels in North Korea, to the aftermath of Katrina on New Orleans, to Martyrdom in the middle east, to the creation of Dubai all of these stories kept my interest. The highlight of the book to me was from Kurt Vonnegut. It was from his book A Man Without a Country and was all about fiction. I highly recommend reading it. And Dallas this short piece absolutely sums up your class.

Endtroducing has quickly become one of my favorite albums. And like the book it is entirely a compilation. DJ Shadow mixed, scratched, and sampled god only knows how many albums to create an entirely new album. The album is part electronic part hip-hop and part soul. When put together it creates its own style that makes you sit down and listen. "Building Steam With a Grain of Salt" is probably my favorite track off the album.

Bonus Book: Slaughterhouse-Five - Kurt Vonnegut

OK there is a reason that this is not its own separate entry in the 52, its because I started to read this last semester and then stopped with like 40 pages to go. No idea why I stopped I mean it is not a hard read. Well I saw the book in my room and had just written the review to Non-Required and decided to finish it. And ultimately I felt that Slaughterhouse was not as good as everyone claims it to be. I liked it well enough but I felt that Cats Cradle or Sirens of Titans were better. They were funnier and smarter than Slaughterhouse. That is just my personal opinion however. I do recognize the literary merits of the story and that Vonnegut certainly pushed the envelope with the book.

Ansel Adams Always Sounded Like a Girls Name

I Like This Picture

Shot by Shareen

Kin

So I have deiced that being a folk/rockstars son is the way to go. Probably folk star just cause they seem to put out better albums. Seriously Rufus Wainwright, Teddy Thompson and now Liam Finn. Liam Finn is the son of Neil Finn from crowded house. His new album I'll be Lightening is quite good. Not Bad, Not great, but not bad. Has plenty of good songs and a good sound. Sort of a blend of Broken Social Scene with Crowded House. You can certainly hear his dads influence and that is a good thing. He joined the ranks of other rock kids who make good albums: Teddy Thompson and Rufus Wainwright. Maybe not as good as Paste claims but it is solid. It reminds me quite a bit of Teddy Thompson's album Separate Ways crossed with Kevin Drew's Spirit If. It goes from quiet and acoustic to louder and noisy, never quite rocking but not just noise either. I highly recommend it.

I like to steal

Life Sucks Let's Party!
Cheers

Suburban Noise

Suburban Noise: Theoretical Heat

Down The Line 3:11 José González
Jigsaw Falling Into Place 4:09 Radiohead
Mistaken For Strangers 3:31 The National
I Don't Blame You 3:05 Cat Power
1 2 3 4 3:04 Feist
Rag & Bone 3:48 The White Stripes
Snow Tip Cap Mountain 2:15 The Octopus Project
The Past Is A Grotesque Animal 11:53 Of Montreal
California Girls 3:00 The Magnetic Fields
Backed Out On The... 4:16 Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew
23 5:19 Blonde Redhead
Tonto 7:43 Battles

Lets see if this mix and if my ass won't get sued

DivShare File - Suburban Noise 1.m4a

Visual Arts

So in case you all did not notice I added some links to other blogs that I read regularly. I will be reposting content from them. Mostly reposting visuals since I like graffiti/street art quite a bit and there isn't any here in Oxford really. And I can make my own comments on the music side fo stuff. Anyway I think these are some of the best and highly recommend you check them out if you are in the mood.

Personal fave at the moment: Mumbleville
Dude this is the coolest thing ever. Its like a Toy Machine comic. I freaking love this style. Anyway I like comics way too much, but I guess it is healthier than crack.

Anyway thought this would be cool stuff. Visuals just for fun. If you own these visuals and want them taken down please contact me. That is all have a good day.

Oh Ya Oh No

Ok so some news that was released today...

First this Sunday I am going to see Band of Horses I am excited. I like that band a lot obvious since they were in 2007's top ten for both songs and albums.

Second on April 5th Andrew Bird and Grizzly Bear are playing Cincinnati I am excited not sure if the rest of you care but whateves

Then there is this:



Ya it is pretty massive and good. It lacks some of the superstars of other years but I am a fan. So here is a breakdown on who I plan to see:

Friday - Raconteurs, The National, Aesop Rock, Animal Collective, Spank Rock, Battles, Black Lips, Vampire Weekend, Dan Deacon, Architecture in Helsinki, Professor Murder

Mum and Fatboy Slim would be interesting to see. I have no interest in the verve, madness or Tegan and Sara. Jack Johnson is an odd choice for a headliner.

Saturday - Portishead, Kraftwerk, Death Cab, MIA, Hot Chip, Cold War Kids, DeVotchKa, Mark Ronson, the Teenagers, Bonde Do Role, Akron/Family, MGMT, New Young Pony Club, 120 Days

Probably the weakest day. Certainly the day that I love the fewest bands. Friday I will be forced to choose between bands that I would die to see, today I will roam around looking for my new favorite band. Stephen Malkmus would be good to see since I like pavement a lot but I don't know his new music.

Sunday - My Morning Jacket, Justice, The Field, The Streets, Cool Kids, Booka Shade, Simian Mobile Disco, Autolux, Black Kids, holy fuck, Shout Out Louds

The day that I spent in the dance tent. Seriously Jusice, the Field, Booka Shade and Simian Mobile Disco all great dance music. Kinda wish that Oakenfold, Van Dyke or Teisto were also there just to get my trance on but this will suffice. I would be excited for Dark Side of the Moon if it were Pink Floyd, not Roger Waters solo.

A Return of Sorts

Ok so I have been blogging about the 52 and a couple other things here and there but I have not given you guys what you want most...a playlist. (Feel My Heat) hasn't return yet, it will almost certainly be back next week. So since I am not spinning records tonight I figure the least I can do is give you a playlist. A list of what I am playing and what I bought recently and playing heavily. So here we go:

(feel my theoretical heat):
Jose Gonzalez - Down the Line
Radiohead - Jigsaw Falling into Place
The National - Mistaken for Strangers
Cat Power - I Don't Blame You
Feist - 1234
White Stripes - Rag and Bone
Octopus Project - Snow Tip Cap Mountain
Of Montreal - Past is a Grotesque Animal
Magnetic Fields - California Girls
Kevin Drew - Backed Out On the...
Blonde Redhead - 23
Battles - Tonto

In other news, the best new music committee is up and running and I am still amazed at the number of sucky cd's there are. Seriously half of the albums I got this time sucked and I am upset about this. So from now on only artists I like can make albums.

I went to the basketball game today. Miami was playing SUNY Buffalo which makes me laugh since the two schools are far away and the conference is 90% Ohio schools seemingly. Anyway the thing that shocked me most is that I believe either Mater Dei or Santa Margarita could have beat both teams, or at least been competitive with them. It was a kind of boring game but it was fun to go out and do something.

3 Down, 49 To Go

Book: Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer
Album: In Our Nature - Jose Gonzalez

Into the Wild is a tough book. Not tough in any of the traditional senses though. It is not conceptually difficult nor is it difficult to read. It evokes an emotion thought that is difficult to place and haunts like a spector over you. Clearly the author relates to McCandless and attempts to convey the feeling that McCandless would have experienced during the story. The author did an admirable job of portraying the story without being heavy handed nor cold and unfeeling.

The book makes me both never want to leave the developed world and completely disappear. The boy's story is at once compelling and frustrating. Demonstrating the stuborness that people have inside them and how some absolutely refuse to back down from their principles. However there is something inspirational about how McCandless refused to give up on his principles and how he wanted to return to nature. He was able to survive for much longer than I expected and was able to succeed in conditions I doubt I could.

In Our Nature is the back to basics approach that McCandless certainly agreed with. An album composed of just a guy and his guitar. The songs are largely about peoples own selfishness and greed, anti-war and anti-suffering style songs. Yet the songs do not come off as preachy. Maybe it is the fact Gonzalez is more subtle and less blatant than most other singer songwriters. Either way this albums feeling and sound leaves an impression similar to the book.

2 Down, 50 To Go

Book: Best American Comics 2007
Album: Hello, Avalanche - The Octopus Project

Since I can remember my Dad has read the Best American Essays and Short Stories compilations. So when I saw that they put out a Best American Comics I had to get on it. I liked it pretty well. It was not amazing but it certainly had some really good comics and things that I want to check out. It gave me a good half dozen books to buy and look for. Most of the stories in the book were not about super heroes or extraordinary feats, but rather everyday life and situations. I also want to read this years Best American Short Stories because I have been told that Stephen Kings complains that the form of short story is dying.

Hello, Avalanche completely compliments the idea of comic book. It is music that is nothing but vibrant colors and fun sounds. Very much like Black Moth Super Rainbow's Dandelion Gum except happier and less deep beats. Also there are no vocals which make you focus on the sound complimenting comic books seeming lack of words and emphasis on art. It is little surprise that this band is currently popular on the blogs and was selected last year to open Coachella. I suggest both very much.

Winter Break: Summary

Winter Break is sadly over and it is time to go back to school unfortunately. I want to stay with Shareen and the Fam but I know I have to go back. So I feel it is appropriate to list the important events that happened over the break, or if not important at least memorable. Anyway here are a couple:

• Shareen picking me up from the airport
• Going to the Beach at night
• Finding out I actually went to the entire semester on my last paycheck from work
• The San Diego excursion
• Shareen: Santa's Little Helper
• Colin's Basketball
  
• Criticizing my Brothers basketball games with my dad
  
• Playing Guitar Hero with Ethan
• Through the Fire and Flames
• My Grandfather's visit
• The Christmas Tree
• My losing streak with the microwave/murdering of frozen food
• New Year's Rock Band
• Talking about, but never going to, LA and the Desert
• Finding out my grades
• Social Distortion
• Jack Haley
• Coming up with the idea of 52
• "Buying This They Don't Need, For People They Don't Like, and Can Not Really Afford" - The Family Xmas Moto
• South Coast
• Seeing Every Movie Released
• The House Renovation Talk
• Going to Costco with my Mom, a lot
• Talking about, but not actually doing it, driving my car to school
  

Anyway that is a partial list there is more but that is what stands out in my mind.

What I Hope To Do

So I know most of you do not think I am going to be able to read a book a week and you are probably right. Right now I am a head of schedule which is easy when you do not have distractions such as class, papers, tests, and failure. Anyway just because this is going to help me keep track of what I actually accomplish vs. what I hope to accomplish here is a partial list of what I want to read in the up coming months:

• 1984
• A Clockwork Orange
• All the Kings Men
• White Noise
• Snow Leopard
• In Cold Blood
• As I Lay Dying
• Even Cow Girls Get the Blues
• Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
• The Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
  
• Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army
• I Just Want My Pants Back
• Electric Church

And then there will be the books I have to read for class and graphic novels I will read. Maybe a couple plays thrown in for good measure or even poetry. Most of those books were started and never finished for one reason or another or I have already read them and want to reread them for various reasons. Anyway I doubt most of these books will ever actually be read but its good to have goals.

Dream

Ok so I have been talking about this for a while now but I really do want to open up a record/bookstore in Ohio. I have told people about the idea and they seem supportive. However I am not sure it would work since it is epxensive to start a business and they frequently fail. I would think it would be cool to own/run an indie record store that sold some books with it. Compete with borders by specializing or something. Anyway sort of a dream I have.

1 Down, 51 to go

Book: Blankets - Craig Thompson
Album: Orphans - Tom Waits

I have been meaning to read this for a long time but never bought the book and finally got it for christmas. As Shareen can tell you I read it really fast. I loved it. All about your first serious romance and falling in love and growing up. I highly recommend it. Plus the art work is amazing. Craig Thompson did the art work for Menomena's latest album. Truly giving new meaning to the idea of a graphic novel.

I have loved Tom Waits for a while but I only recently tried listening to this album again. Good Lord it is good. Listening to Tom Waits is like reading a book. And even those these songs are supposed out takes they are still incredible. I got this album last year for Christmas but never listened to it, just the song "Long Way Home". Now that I have listened to more of it I highly recommend it. It does not exactly go along with the feeling of "Blankets" but it was a new-ish album that I listened to. Plus it was last years Christmas meeting with this years Christmas.

Birthday, Sucker Punches and Growing Up

My birthday was ok. I turned 20 which was cool but I mean hardly noteworthy really. I went out to lunch which was nice, good to talk to Taylor without Julian. The family dinner was good, despite what my mom thinks. Ethan got me gifts that I literally handed to him. Shareen gave me a really cool graffiti book, it will appear in the 52. What was noteworthy was that I got my nose busted during Social Distortion.

Shareen very sweetly bought me tickets to them. And I went and saw the show. At the start of "Mommy's Little Monster" I ran to the pit and was able to make one circle before a skinhead punched me in the face. It felt like my nose broke, I couldn't see and was suddenly really dizzy, and then I started to bleed. Anyway I missed about a third of the show and never went back downstairs.

At the show I realized I was growing up. The songs now longer meant much to me and the themes were no longer applicable really. The idea of no future and embracing failure and that you maybe be smart but I am tough, never really described me and do even less now. I have a future, I have not failed so far, I have not screwed up, and I am both smart and fairly tough. At least tough enough to be punched my a nazi at a concert.

the human victory cigar

That would be Jack Haley. The man my family nearly got into a fight with. My dad said that his kid pushed my brother in the back causing him to get hurt, it looked like that. He called my dad a mother fucker, hes classy like that. I got into him for the hell of it, I am proud and stupid like that. The man said fuck more then any grown and supposedly educated man should. He called my dad and I ignorant, I believe he meant insular. Although being called ignorant like that reminds me of South Park. Anyway it was stupid although it brought to light some problems, but that is not important. What is important is to point out just how god awful a player he was. It takes a special kind of jack ass to be that proud and suck that hard. This is the most ink he has ever gotten.

For a Laugh:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/haleyja01.html

52

52 weeks in a year. For my new years resolution I am going to try to read 52 books this year. A book a week basically. I haven't decided if I am counting books I have to read for class or not. And I will count graphic novels (read: long comic books) as books. And not just read but finish them since I am a great half reader. So a book a week is the goal. I am also going to do this with albums. Much less difficult but whatever I have goals and I am going to try and meet them.

By the way, if any of you are looking for a new book: And Then We Came to the End. I highly recommend it. Kind of like the office but in book form, and missing Steve Carrell.

And I really want to see There Will Be Blood. It looks like an even gritter version of No Country for Old Men.

Ok I am done name dropping for now. Happy Holidays!

(feel my heat): The Best of 2007

Wet and Rusting - Menomena
Fake Empire - The National
Imitosis - Andrew Bird
Fa-Fa-Fa - Datarock*
(top 5 old songs of the year)
Greetings to the New Brunette - Billy Bragg
She Bangs the Drums - The Stone Roses
My Little Underground - The Jesus and Mary Chain
Sometimes - My Bloody Valentine
Five Years - David Bowie
Outta Sight - Osborne*
(Artists with Multiple Entires)
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Take Pills - Panda Bear
Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem
Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Bout Ready to Jak - Osborne*
(Top Songs that Will Never Be Played on the Radio)
Archangel - Burial
To Fix The Gash In Your Head - A Place to Bury Strangers
Sailing to Byzntium - Liars
Heatherwood - Deerhunter
Jah - M.A.N.D.Y.*
(Pop Artist of the Year: T-Pain)
Good Life - Kanye West Feat. T-Pain
Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin') - T-Pain featuring Yung Joc
Kiss Kiss (Feat. T-Pain) - Chris Brown
Jah War (Loefah Remix) - The Bug featuring Flowdan*
(Top 10 Songs of the Year)
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) [UGK featuring OutKast] - UGK
The Sons of Cain - Ted Leo
Pom Pom - Matthew Dear
Is There a Ghost - Band of Horses
Smithereens - El-P
New Wave - Against Me!
None Shall Pass - Aesop Rock
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb - Spoon
Keep The Car Running - The Arcade Fire
All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
BONUS XMAS SONG: Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

*Interlude Music

(feel my heat): For Shareen

Blonde Redhead - Spring by Summerfall
Shocking Pinks - This Aching Deal
A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You
Cat Power - BabyDoll
Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
Arcade Fire - Neightborhood 3 - Power Out
Interpol - No I in Threesome
Deerhunter - Cryptograms
Liars - Houseclouds
Tv On the Radio - Dreams
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Down Boy
The Moon Upstairs - Never Throught Twice
Spoon - Don't You Evah
My Morning Jacket - Lowdown
The National - Fake Empire
Division Day - Little Blood
Long Blondes - Once and Never Agian
Camera Obscura - Lets Get Out of This Country
Jens Lekman - Opposite of Hallejuah
Wooden Shjips - Loose Lips
Band of Horses - Plans
White Williams - Route to Palm
Working for a Nuclear Free City - Rocket
Massive Attack - Safe From Harm
Joe Smooth - Promise land

Top Albums

And now for the completion of the trifecta!

Top Albums of the Year:
In no real order...

1. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver: I love LCD Soundsystem. They are like a new Talking Heads/David Bowie to me. I probably like this record too much.
   
2. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible: Personally I think this album was every bit as good as Funeral but I know a lot of people don't feel that way. I loved a bunch of tracks on this record (see best songs). In think this is the only way to follow up being made into Indie Kings.
   
3. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga: Uneven and inconsistent. Probably the biggest problem with Spoon. But when they are firing on all levels they are amazing. This album has more hits than misses and I recommend it. There are some skipable tracks but "Got Yr Cherry Bomb" makes up for everything.
   
4. EL-P - I'll Sleep When Your Dead: This is one that you love or hate. Either the beats are too loud and too intense for you or you share his paranoia. Kinda like Black Flag doing a Rap record, only better.
   
5. Against Me! - New Wave: A lot of people did not like this record. I can appreciate that. The album is way way too glossy but there is a lot of good music underneath it. See the band in concert and you will see how great the record can be.
   
6. Panda Bear - Person Pitch: This is an epic album. It is a beautiful and overwhelming. The sounds that come out are amazing. White Noise meet Melody, and great tracks that are both soothing and energizing. It is a maximal minimal record.
   
7. Band of Horses - Cease to Begin: I originally trashed this record, and now I like it a lot. The melodies are sweet and the band is trying new things. It grew on me and there a couple killer songs. I say go for it.
   
8. Ted Leo - Living with the Living: People love Ted Leo. And it is impossible not too love him. He sings great songs with out forcing greatness, he cares about people genuinely, and the man is a punk/rock god. So this record was not as great as Shake the Sheets, it was still great. The world is just waiting for that one perfect album from Leo because we know he can do it.
   
9. The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive Your Home: I wanted a British album and I got one. Along the way they update "Every Picture Tells Story Don't It" but from a girls point of view. Anyway this is solid and I think everyone should get it.
   
10. Burial - Untrue: Other than the first two and this album the rest of the albums are not in order. Untrue is a good record but I am not sure if it is a great record. It is dark and twisting, able to interest the listener but not overwhelm. Yet I don't know in six months from now if I will still be listening.
    

Other Notable Releases:

• Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
  
• Black Dice - Blown Load
• Los Campesinos! - Sticking Fingers into Sockets E.P.
• Matthew Dear - Asa Breed
• Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum
  
• Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond
• Okkervil River - Stage Names
• Justice - Cross
• Caribou - Andorra
  
• !!! - Myth Takes
• Bonde Do Role - With Lasers
• Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrophya
• Feist - The Reminder
• Menonmena - Friend or Foe
• Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future

Great but shouldn't go in a new music since they are collections:

• Sigur Ros - Hvarf/Heim
• Elliott Smith - New Moon

Biggest Disappointments:

• Bright Eyes - Casadega: Too much. Too many words, too many sounds, too many ideas. Maybe someday he could pull this off but not now. Also it sounded as if Oberst took himself even more seriously this time around.
  
• Kanye West - Graduation: He had to fail. there was too much pressure too high expectations. Was it terrible? No. Just wasn't good as Dropout or Late Registration. It had some good songs but it had some really bad ones. For every "Stronger" there was "Drunk and Hot Girls".
  
• Bloc Party - A Weekend in the City: Loved the first album and hated this one. What happened to the dancing? the pointyness? the chorus? Bloc Party went from a Gang of Four inspired band, to a bad Smith ripoff bad.
  
• The Stooges - The Weirdness
• Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah - Some Thunder
• James Murphy - Fabric Live Series Comp
• Interpol - Our Love to Admire: This was not so much bad as it was the same. They have a sound and for two or three songs it is good, but they need to change it up. If I want to hear an entire Joy Division album I will put on Closer.
  
• Prodigy - Return of the Mac
  

Top Songs

Top 15 Songs (Not In Order)

1. Arcade Fire - Keep the Car Running
2. LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends
3. MIA - Paper Planes
4. EL-P - Smithereens
5. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
6. The National - Fake Empire
7. Kanye West - Good Life
8. T-Pain - Buy U a Drank
9. UGK - Intl Players Anthem (I Choose You)
10. Spoon - Got Yr Cherry Bomb
11. Against Me! - New Wave
12. Burial - Archangel
    
13. Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost?
14. Panda Bear - Bros
15. Ted Leo - Sons of Cain

That was quite hard so there are a lot of other great songs and here is a list.

Other Top songs: (Repeat Bands)

• LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
• Arcade Fire - No Cars Go
• Arcade Fire - Intervention
• El-P - Run the Numbers
• Sage Francis - Got Up This Morning
• Bright Eyes - 4 Winds
• Queens of Stone Age - Sick Sick Sick
• Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing
• Kathy Diamond - All Woman
• Dan Deacon - Wham City
• Liars - Sail to Byzantium
• Panda Bear - Take Pills
• Panda Bear - Comfy in Nautica
• Against Me! - Thrash Unreal
• Battles - Leyendecker
• Animal Collective - Peacebone
• Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
• Explosions in the Sky - Birth and Death of a Day
  

There are lots and lots more but that is what I can think of at the moment so enjoy!

Fire Alarms and Incompletes

Someone in my building has been pulling the fire alarm. This morning at 4:30 AM and then again around 4 PM. I am organizing a lynching party and we will start to randomly execute people if this does not stop.

In other news it is the end of the year and I am thinking about doing what everyone does at this point in the year and making best of lists. It will probably be best albums, best old albums, best movies, best singles, and lastly best stuff I never heard. So lets get it on:

Best Stuff I Never Heard - to be eligible they are songs and albums that I never bought all of:

MIA - Kala

• I never got into MIA. Seemed too gimicky. She has so really good songs, but it seemed to be too fake. Then I heard "Paper Planes". I still have doubts but man oh man is that a good song. The other songs I have heard from Kala have been solid as well. So maybe I will buy this album and it will leap to the top of the heap.
  

The National - Boxer

• In an interview I read the lead singer said that people constantly say their songs grow on people which he took to the mean he could write a hook. This is partially true, the songs do not quite bet you over the head with greatness but they are good. "Fake Empire" is my favorite and in my top songs of the year.
  

Radiohead - In Rainbows

• I am not a huge Radiohead fan. I think what they have done with digital downloads is revolutionary. Personally I still like to be own the album, the physical case and the artwork. I haven't heard this album but have heard a lot of good things. I will buy it when I can get a hard copy.
  

Les Savy Fav - Lets Stay Friends

• I got into Les Savy Fav at the beginning of school. They are kind of a hard band to listen to but they are pretty awesome. Loud and Absurd and I have heard the live show is amazing. "Best Before Year 2000" is my favorite song from the album that I have heard.
  

Battles - Mirrored

• Meshing human and computer in ways that Kraftwerk nor T-Pain could imagine. I am not sure that an entire album of this would be enjoyable, but a couple songs are good to break up the playlists. My favorite is "Leyendecker".
  

A Place to Bury Strangers - S/T

• This year I got really into Jesus and Mary Chain. These guys are a lot like Jesus and Mary Chain but with My Bloody Valentine technology. The songs are loud and overwhelming like swimming in a sea of guitar. Ultra hard to find, I guess, but they are on itunes. "Ocean" or "I Know I'll See" are the songs.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

• This and Modest Mouse's new album are the two albums I can not figure out why I did not buy. I really like Of Montreal and have no idea why I don't own this album. All the tracks I have heard are solid. And the EP they released right after this is also very good.
  

Deerhunter - Cryptograms

• I alternate between hating and liking this group. Pitchfork is way too in love with them and the lead singer annoys me, but the music is pretty damn good. Maybe a little to homo-erotic for my taste but it is interesting and invigorating. "Crytograms" which is track one is my favorite song, sounds a lot like Joy Division.
  

Liars - Liars

• Seriously weird guys but seriously good tunes. They seem to go all over the place with their records but not in a kitsch way. I am interested to hear all of this one. "Sailing to Byzantium" is my personal favorite track.
  

Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam

• Another wild album. Panda Bear, who is a member of Animal Collective, put out an album that I loved. Thus I checked this out. Sometimes the songs are a little too long and wild but other times they are great. "Peacebone" is the track I would check out and if you like it then try the rest of the album.

Ok so there are the top ten albums I haven't heard all of. There are plenty more and honorable mentions goes to:

Dan Deacon - Spiderman of the Rings
Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
The Field - From Here We Go Sublime
Akron/Family - Love is Simple
Jose Gonzales - In Our Nature
High On Fire - Death is Communion
Black Octopus Project - Hello, Avalanche
Shocking Pinks - S/T
Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release
Wiley - Play Time is Over
Dizziee Rascal - Maths + English
Two Gallants - S/T

Hint - All of these Albums would make excellent gifts - Hint

A Recomendation

If you like dark music or electronic music, I highly recommend the new Burial album - Untrue. It is an incredibly dark album. The whole album sounds like a dark foggy alley. Lots of reverb and deep bass. Distorted vocals and unconventional beats. I have not decided if it is a top ten album yet, but it wouldn't surprise me. It is a labyrinth of an album twisting and turning going from light and beautiful to dark and cold in the course of ten seconds. Truly something that has to be experienced.

Another album that I reviewed this was Sigur Ros latest album Hvarf - Heim. It is a solid album. Show casing the light and beauty that Sigur Ros is capable of. The first half of the album is all new material, the second half is live versions of tracks. They are all solid and continue to inspire and perpetuate belief in humanity and good. The songs sound like sunrise on a glacier or at least what I hope it sounds like since I have never experienced that.

Anyway those are two albums that are recently released and I recommend. They serve as a point and counter point to each other. The dark and the light.

All That Could Have Been

Last nights show sucked. I am sorry that it did not work out. Anyway here is what was and what could have been.

(feel my heat):What was
Live Forever - Oasis
What Became Of The Likely Lads - The Libertines
Generator - The Holloways
Sleep Deprivation - Simian Mobile Disco
God Knows - Mando Diao
Apply Some Pressure - Maximo Park
pacThe Prayer - Bloc Party
We Danced Together - The Rakes
Archangel - Burial
The New Pollution - Beck
Say It All - Sondre Lerche
Little Dawn - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks
Oxford Collapse - Please Visit Your National Parks
Youth Group - Forever Young

(feel my heat) - What Could Have Been
I Feel Space - Lindstrøm
Snuff on Digital - Blaqk Audio
Here (In Your Arms) - Hellogoodbye
Thumbelina - Nightmare Of You
Body Language / Interpretation - Booka Shade
23 - Blonde Redhead
Phantom Limb - The Shins
Lost In the Supermarket - The Clash
Sorrow - Bad Religion
Jane - The Loved Ones
Massive Attack - Unfinished Symphony
Movin' Too Fast (Bump & Flex Mix) - Artful Dodger & Romina Johnson
Weak Become Heroes (Royksopp's Memory Lane Mix) - The Streets
Take Me Back To Your House - Basement Jaxx

(feel my heat)

A couple of yall have been asking about podcasts here is the link:
http://www.feelmyheat.podcastpeople.com/

So now you know and hope you all can tune in

(feel my heat): Blonde on Heat

K-39 - Challengers
Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath
Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin
Like a Hurricane - Neil Young
Evil Plans Of Planet Spectra - Man Or Astro-Man?
Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
Nearly Lost You - Screaming Trees
Plowed - Sponge
Somebody To Shove - Soul Asylum
Pressure - The Pyramids
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley
Impossible Germany - Wilco
Hoppípolla - Sigur Rós
Teen Angst - M83
Goin' To Acapulco - Jim James & Calexico
No Ones Gonna Love You - Band Of Horses
To Fix The Gash In Your Head - A Place To Bury Strangers
I Miss You - Blink-182
The Con - Tegan & Sara
It's All Been Done - Barenaked Ladies
Helium Heels - Darker My Love
All Along The Watchtower - Eddie Vedder & The Million Dollar Bashers
Despite What You've Been Told - Two Gallants
Gravity's Gone - Drive-By Truckers
The Man In The Long Black Coat - Mark Lanegan
Dark Was the Night (Cold Was the Ground) - Blind Willie Johnson
Where Did You Sleep Last Night - Nirvana
Salome - Old 97's
One Big Holiday - My Morning Jacket
Can't Hardly Wait (The Tim Version) - The Replacements
Statesboro Blues - Blind Willie McTell
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Bob Dylan

I'm Not Blue Grass

Ok I decided to do a Non-(feel my heat) post. This about the records I want because I have heard good things. I want the new Bruce. I do not need to explain this. I want the new Robert Plant/Allison Krauss disc. I like both artists and I think it would be interesting to hear. Blue grass meets zep, now there is a mash up. Forget about Sri Lanken rappers, I want to hear Whole Lotta Love with an extended fiddle jam.

The best record I have received from WMSR is by far I'm Not There the soundtrack to the new Bob Dylan movie. I kid you not when I say, throw it on random and it will be nothing but good songs. If the movie is as good as this disc then it should sweep the Oscars. More importantly it is form a wide range of artists, all doing their best Bob Dylan impersonations and tunes.

Ok thats enough for now.

(feel my heat): The Boss

About a Girl - Nirvana
The Day I Tried to Live - Soundgarden
Hunger Strike - Temple of the Dog
Soul to Squeeze - Red Hot Chili Peppers
I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) - The Electric Prunes*
Alive - Pearl Jam
Live In a Hiding Place - Idlewild
Indefinitely - Old 97's
Pictures of Matchstick Men - Status Quo*
Stuck Between Stations - The Hold Steady
Intimate Secretary - The Raconteurs
Could We - Cat Power
You're Gonna Miss Me - The 13th Floor Elevators*
Saving Grace - Tom Petty
Someday Baby - Bob Dylan
Radio Nowhere - Bruce Springsteen
Incense and Peppermint - Strawberry Alarm Clock*
Counting Down The Hours - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
My Doorbell - The White Stripes
(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet - The Blues Magoos*
Waltz, No. 2 (XO) - Elliott Smith
Sweet Avenue - Jets to Brazil
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procol Harum*
New Wave - Against Me!
Sowing Season (Yeah) - Brand New
Understanding In a Car Crash - Thursday
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen*
Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young
And Your Bird Can Sing - The Beatles
Time of the Season - The Zombies*
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine - The Killers
Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
Speed Of Sound - Coldplay

* Interlude music

Random Notes

So I once again I have A) Stopped Blogging B) Kinda Fucked Up C) Starting to do well in classes. I probably won't get straight A's this semester, but I am moving toward that direction hopefully. Its not so much I stopped blogging but rather I forget about it or don't have much to say. You don't really need to know how I fucked up, I did and I am trying to fix it and make it better. And doing well is just motivation maybe.

The fires in California are crazy. I guess that is what happens when there is drought and people living in areas they probably should not. Anyways I hope that no one is loosing their home and that everyone is safe.

This post was kinda worthless and boring sorry.

(feel my heat): Look Back In Anger

Can't Hardly Wait (The Tim Version) - The Replacements
Going Underground - The Jam
Janie Jones - The Clash
Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go (Extended Version) - Soft Cell*
Kiss Me Deadly - Generation x
Mirror In the Bathroom - The English Beat
I Melt With You - Modern English
Contort Yourself - James White And The Blacks*
The Last of the Famous International Playboys - Morrissey
Local Girls - Graham Parker & The Rumour
Lipstick Vogue - Elvis Costello
Chromophobia - Gui Boratto*
Smalltown Boy - Bronski Beat
Enjoy the Silence - Depeche Mode
Girlfriend Is Better - Talking Heads
Virginia Plain - Roxy Music
Nightclubbing - Iggy Pop
Unflug - Ricardo Villalobos*
Transmission - Joy Division
The Hanging Garden - The Cure
Autobahn - Kraftwerk*
Cherry-Coloured Funk - Cocteau Twins
Song to the Siren - This Mortal Coil
No Sad Goodbyes - Swayzak*
She Bangs the Drums - The Stone Roses
Unfinished Sympathy - Massive Attack
Retina - Apparat & Ellen Allien*
There's No Such Thing As Black Orchids - Lilys
I Only Said - My Bloody Valentine
Alison - Slowdive
vapour trail - Ride
Sour Times - Portishead*
Sonnet - The Verve
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out - The Smiths

*Background Music

Signs of the Apocalypse

Signs of the apocalypse:

• I did not hate the new Kid Rock Album
• The Bon Jovi song I heard on SNL was pretty good
• Did not love the Band of Horses
• Bush is still in office
• The Democrats are still not keeping up with the liberal base
• Rudy Gulliani

I ran out of this sorry.

But seriously as much as I wanted to hate Kid Rock he did a surprisingly good job. I would never buy it but since I got it for free, it was ok. Anyway I don't recommend it unless you can get it for free.

The Bon Jovi song was sounded a lot like modern Springsteen and Petty. I am looking forward to come home so I can hear the new Springsteen. I have heard good things about the album, sorta a pop-y sound much like the River. The Bon Jovi song is worth a listen, but if it sucks don't blame me.

This is a solid follow up to Everything All the Time. However it lacks the anthems that made Everything spectacular. Cease to Begin is by no means a bad album, in fact it probably comes in third for sophomore albums this year behind LCD Soundsystem and The Arcade Fire not bad company to be in. In fact this album is infinitely better than Bloc Parties Weekend in the City in my opinion. However the album lacks a song as strong as Funeral. Is there a Ghost? is a great song, but the album never again quite matches the greatness of that song. There are several good songs on here and all of the songs are in the solid to good range and no bad songs to speak of. However it lacks the anthems that made Everything all the time so appealing.

The other ones I don't really need to explain.

Updates

Ok, I have not blogged in forever. I am sorry. I have had crazy amounts of work and unlike high school I decided to do it. Anyway class are going well but I do not blog so I guess it is a trade off. I have also joined the new music committee for the radio station and I got the best release this yer: KID ROCK - ROCK N ROLL JESUS, more on that later. So here comes a dump of massive proportions.

Two of the worst shows I have done this year:

The Worst - Two Weeks Ago:
3's & 7's - Queens of the Stone Age
Colony of Birchmen - Mastodon
MURDERERS - JOHN FRUSCIANTE*
Are You Ten Years Ago - Tegan & Sara
Passion's Killing Floor - H.I.M. (His Infernal Majesty)
Inertia Creeps - Massive Attack*
Inertiatic Esp - The Mars Volta
When We Escape - Minus The Bear
Supermassive Black Hole - Muse
Heavy - Oh No*
Gideon - My Morning Jacket
The Great Salt Lake - Band of Horses
Goodnight Rose - Ryan Adams
Tuxedo Hat - The Octopus Project*
Spider Pig - Hans Zimmer
Romantic Rights - Death From Above 1979
Alala - CSS
Solta o Frango (Edit) - Bonde do Role
I Want You So Hard (Boys Bad News) - Eagles Of Death Metal
The Crystal Cat - Dan Deacon*
When Did Your Heart Go Missing? - Rooney
Poison Oak - Bright Eyes
Despite What You've Been Told - Two Gallants
Post Mortem, Post Bordem - Darker My Love
thickfreakness - The Black Keys
Sour Smoke - Comets On Fire*
Love and Happiness - Al Green
King of the Rodeo - Kings Of Leon
Hard To Explain - The Strokes
Ain't No Easy Way - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) - The White Stripes
Remember Me As a Time of Day - Explosions In The Sky*
Anenome - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Let It Dive - ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
The Great Gig In the Sky - Pink Floyd
Bikini Drag (From "Bikini Beach") - The Pyramids*
Alone Again Or - Love

Second Worst - Last Week:
Comfy In Nautica - Panda Bear
Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem
Tokyo - The Books*
Come Out, Come Down, Fade Out, Be Gone - 120 Days
I Zimbra - Talking Heads
Forever Heavy - Black Moth Super Rainbow*
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb - Spoon
Melody Day - Caribou
Intervention - The Arcade Fire
Rollerdisco - Black Moth Super Rainbow*
A New England - Billy Bragg
Don't Stop Now - Crowded House
Teardrop - Jose Gonzalez
Teardrop - Massive Attack*
Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead
Qawwali - Pinch
Leyendecker - Battles
Blood Rainbow - Tim Hecker*
Anenome - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Claws & Paws - Darker My Love
Bohemian Like You - The Dandy Warhols
A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails*
Fireworks - Animal Collective
Gimme Danger - Iggy Pop
Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers
Academy Fight Song - Mission of Burma
96 Tears - ? & The Mysterians*
The Bomb (Original Version) - New Young Pony Club
52 Girls - The B-52's
Sex And Dying In High Society - X
Alex Chilton - The Replacements
Walk Don't Run - Ventures*
Glamorous Glue - Morrissey
Hot Pants - James Brown*
Day And Night - The Jim Carroll Band

*Interlude Music

(feel my heat): Diminishing Returns

Cities - Talking Heads
Heart of Hearts - !!!
Don Gon Do It - The Rapture
Tribulations - LCD Soundsystem
Destroy Everything You Touch - Ladytron
Acceptable In the 80's - Calvin Harris*
Tonight I Have to Leave It - Shout Out Louds
Show Your Hand - Super Furry Animals
Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
Two Sevens Clash - Culture*
Peace And Quiet - The Rifles
Generator - The Holloways
The Wildfire (If It Was True) - Mando Diao
Grumblin' Dub - The Upsetters*
Valerie - Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse
Golden Years - David Bowie
Can't Get Used to Losing You - The English Beat
My Ever Changing Moods (12" Version) - The Style Council
Sneakin' Sally through the Alley - Robert Palmer
Telstar (LP Version) - The Challengers*
If You Want Me to Stay - Sly & The Family Stone
I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever) - Stevie Wonder
fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (sad song) - Otis Redding
The Makings Of You - Curtis Mayfield
Baby Sitter - Betty Wright
Walk Don't Run - Ventures*
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Don't Look Back In Anger - Oasis
Motorcycle Emptiness - Manic Street Preachers
Men's Needs - The Cribs
City of Delusion - Muse
Anenome - The Brian Jonestown Massacre*
Under My Thumb - The Rolling Stones
Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
Budapest (Joakim Italo Dub) - Poni Hoax*
Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

*Background music for when I mumbled about stuff

(Feel My Heat): The Return

Fist Show of the New Year:

Indian Hump - Madlib*
Greetings to the New Brunette - Billy Bragg
1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson
If I Should Fall Behind - Bruce Springsteen & The Sessions Band
Gladius - Oh No*
Almost Blue - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
My Funny Valentine - Chet Baker
Movie Finale - Madlib*
Broken Record - Sweatshop Union
Got Up This Morning - Sage Francis
Building Steam With a Grain of Salt - DJ Shadow
Deserter - Matthew Dear
I'll Be By Your Side - Sally Shapiro
E=MC2 - Big Audio Dynamite
Excerpt 1: Slew Test 2 / Mosquito vs. Water Buffalo / Slew Test 3A - Kid Koala*
Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson
Town Called Malice - The Jam
Multiply - Jamie Lidell
Sound and Vision - David Bowie
Sock It to 'Em Soul Brother (Instrumental) - Bill Moss*
Gente Ordinaria (Bonus Track) - Aloe Blacc
Stop Me - Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather
Is There a Ghost - Band of Horses
Sweet Avenue - Jets to Brazil
The Payback (Gotta) - Madlib*
Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups
Another Morning Stoner - ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
Oh Messy Life - Cap'n Jazz
Keep The Car Running - The Arcade Fire
Nothing Like This - J Dilla*
Time of No Reply - Nick Drake
This Is the Way - Devendra Banhart
Rose Parade - Elliott Smith
Your Bright Baby Blues - Jackson Browne
Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen
Bye - J Dilla*
Time - Tom Waits

*Musical Interlude. Thank You Stones Throw

Ennui/Melencholia with For FAP/BP

A long relationship has just ended. If it ended like most relationships do it was not because you caught the other cheating. It ended because the two of you were changing. Because the spark that was once there does not seem to be there. Because one person is becoming colder and more distant while the other is still head over heals for the other. And while being broken up with sucks, breaking up with someone hurts as well. If you have been in a longer term relationship then clearly you care about that person. And you are the one who has to tell them that things have changed. That while you care for them you don't want them romantically any more. And you hold out hope that they will return to that special place in your heart, you are still worried that it might not. And while you may not vomit and cry in the same violent manner, you do cry and vomit and try anything to let yourself forget for a moment about how much it hurts. And the only position that feels good is the fetal position. And your friends don't understand why you are blue because they claim you are free. All you are really free from is the person that you care about and would have given the world for. Because while you are no longer in a romantic relationship you still care about them more than yourself.



In honor of all the playlists I have received from my dad here are my ten saddest songs:

Elliott Smith - Rose Parade
Trying to pick the saddest Elliott Smith song is like choosing your favorite child. You can do it but man is that an evil process. This is just the Smith song that I have been listening to the most lately.

Leonard Cohen - Famous Blue Raincoat
When you want a laugh you go to Cohen. This is a pretty morose song. About the one that got away or you let get away. A love letter to her.

Elvis Costello - Almost Blue
Elvis works for both break up playlist and broken up playist. This is the the broken up. I knew he was angry I did not know he could go sad, at least not quite like this.

Tom Waits - Time
"And its time/And its time/And its time, time, time that you loved me/And its time/time/time" If there has been a sadder lyric I haven't heard it. Description of the morose night owls.

Nick Drake - Time of No Reply
A hall of famer for the mopey sad guys. I could explain why the song is on here but why bother?

Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine
I haven't decided if that is actually one of the saddest songs or not but it is in heavy rotation right now. It sounds sad to me but it might just be my brain connecting the dots.

Pearl Jam - Black
Its a hit. You have heard it. You may have even cried to it. Certainly helped bring down your day.

Jackson Browne - Fountain of Sorrow
I grew up on Jackson Browne therefore I do not nessicarly associate him with sadness. then I listened to the lyrics. I thought about jumping out my window and then I remembered it was a second story. So instead I just lay in bed.

The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
This is sad. This is so sad that it only makes sense after the relationship has just ended.

Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost
Not that sad compared to the others. In fact I think there is hope in the song which makes it a good end note but its still not happy. As I lay here I see a possible speck of light with this song.

And I know what you are thinking right now, "What about Bright Eyes?" Well, they just don't really do it for me right now. They are angst-y and I like them but they are not blue.

thoughts

There are somethings you can only listen to on your headphones, ...and you will know us by the trail of dead is one of those bands. Nothing else to say about it.

I am thinking of putting all my one acts together as one monsterous play/movie/idea they all sorta fit together

I really should drop geo but why bother? Not hard just boring

Shows, no Class

College sorta sucks. Its hard to say deffinitively that is totally does or totally doesn't. I have fun on the weekends when I am with my friends but when I am stuck in my room I want to transfer. I can't stand my roommate or the people I live next too. So maybe if I just transfer rooms I will be happier.

Class aren't great but that is simply because I am in gigantic classes.

I went to Against Me! Last night and had a lot of fun. Its always good to go to shows just to do something and meet new people. Something I will say in for the punk community it is pretty welcoming. I guess you can't be the community of outsiders and then shun people. I am pretty sure I am going to make my buddy go to Bad Religion and go to Social Distortion over thanksgiving.

There are not enough random comics in the world. Scratch that there are plenty but I don't have enough.

A wish list for any reading who want to send something to me: Flannel Shirts, Size 12 Chuck Taylors, 40 of Malt Liquor, Skateboard, Black Sweatshirt, Random Stuff

Punk Rock Love...A Favorite

Punk rock love is fucking behind the dumpster down the street from the show. Fucking in the shower at the Hotel Carlton. Making out in the recycle bin. Looking at her tattoos while she's asleep. Taking showers together. Playing checkers with cigarette butts. Watching her band play. Dumpstering veggies together and then going back to her place and cooking up a feast. Knowing the same parts of the same songs. Both of you having the same ex-girlfriend. Punk rock love is having to tie her shoes for her cuz she's too drunk. Kissing under the overpass. Her sending you her whole diary to read. Her giving you ten rolls of duct tape for your birthday. Her beating up skinheads. Going to the prom on her motorcycle and checking in the helmets at the coatcheck. Getting astonished stares from all the jocks who thought you were gay, now they feel dumb cuz you're with an older punk rock bombshell and they're with their friend's little sister. Punk rock love is meeting her outside the club and her saying come home with me or I'm gonna kick your fuckin ass. Going home with her and she almost kicks your ass anyway. Sharing hairdye. Riding double on a bike. Being loud and not caring. Sneaky eyes and sleeveless t-shirts. The sun coming up and you realizing that there's other people on the beach. A good sleazy one week stand. Still being friends afterwards, most of the time. Punk rock love is her sneaking out in the middle of the night to meet you in the park. Running your fingers over her spikey hair. Her chewing on a flower and you having to call poison control when her tongue swells up. Bringing her to the laundromat for a date. Sharing a sleeping bag and waking up freezing in the middle of the night and her, bleary eyed, trying to heat it up with a blowdrier. Social Unrest playing "Ever Fallen in Love?" at the gig you're both at the night after she dumps you hard. Starting smoking again after that night. Punk rock love is her drawing on you. Her sleeping on your back. Her being mad at you for being such a jerk. Her thinking it's cool that you stink and your hair stands up by itself. Her having weird roommates who worship eggs. You waiting in the doorway for hours hoping she might pass by. Even in the snow. Her singing along with Descendents records over the air on her late night radio show. Her picture on the front page of the morning paper, getting arrested. Her borrowing your favorite black hat and never giving it back. Punk rock love is finding a girl who drinks as much coffee as you do. Going into the cafe where she works and she looks up and smiles and doesn't notice as she trips over a pile of 50 dishes. They hit the floor one by one and when it's all done everyone in the cafe applauds and you both turn beet red. Punk rock love is both of you doing fanzines. Years later her teaching English to college freshmen, you still doing fanzines. Her wearing glasses through her eyes are fine, using crutches though her legs are fine, and talking with a fake speech impediment. You just thinking it's rad girl style, until later when someone brings up the concept of self-imposed handicaps. Punk rock love is getting your first kiss and almost losing your virginity at the same time, meanwhile you're trying not to wake up the other person sleeping in the same bed. Groping in the bushes by the freeway and later you realize that all the passing cars could see you. Exploring the wasteland together. holding hands out on the fire escape. Lying in the grass in her backyard. Lying on the astroturf in her bedroom. Drinking tequila on her porch, on your birthday. Riding on her motorcylce early in the cold morning and you're holding on tight and steam is rising off of the river and you're thinking how she is maybe even better than the Ramones. Punk rock love is both being broke. Love letters. Finding out she sang "Stay Free" at her high school talent show. Finding out she's a little crazier than you thought when you finally get her in bed. Her boyfriend getting mad. Walking around with her and her nephew and everyone giving you dirty looks cuz they think he's your kid. Walking around with her and being happy and proud. Being sad together. Being sad by yourself. Missing her.'

Fashion

Can some explain fashion to me? I thought I had a gripe on it and then people do things I don't get. Like I understand that what is worn on the runway will not be worn on the street. I also understand that some people have bad or unique fashion. But what the fuck is with all these guys trying to look like Dads? Tucked in dress shirts, cargo shorts, baseball hats trying to covert the bald spot and 5 o'clock shadows. I am not sure if they are students or parents coming to get their kids.

Also what the fuck is with polo shirt dresses. I see girls wearing them everywhere. I looks like they stole an incredibly fat, incredibly tall guys shirt and decided it would work as a dress. It doesn't. It basically makes you look fat/poorly formed. And stop poping your damn coalar.

Who knows maybe I just don't know how to dress.

Return

After a year of not blogging I have returned. I decided to start up again after blogs like One D at a Time and Sex, Drugs, and Narcissism. I wish my blog would be as good as theres but thats probably not going to happen. I just hope I will get more than two people to look at it.

Feel my heat 9/16

bloc party - helicopter
arctic monkeys - fake tales of san fransisco
dizzee rascal - fix up, look sharp
chemical brothers - block rockin beats
lcd soundsystem - daft punk is playing on my house
bright eyes - take it easy(love nothing)
of montreal - Requim for O.M.M
Beck - girl
Toots and Maytals - pressure drop
bob marley - punky reagee party
Matisyahu - youth
Murs - L.A.
danger doom feat. talib kweli - old school
the dandy warhols - smoke it
death from above 1979 - blood on our hands
franz ferdinhand - the fallen
flogging molly - seven deadly sins
the flaming lips - yeah yeah yeah song
violent femmes - kiss off
gnarls barkley - gone daddy gone
ryan adams - to be young
my morning jacket - one big holiday
bright eyes - make war
whiskeytown - 16 days
wilco - jesus, etc.
tom waits - make it rain

Feel My Heat

That's right continuing the long trend of me being a rock nerd I have my own college radio station. The name of the show is Feel My Heat, and I will be playing all sorts of stuff. Not suprising if you have seen my ipod. But you can count on hearing a fair amount of Tom Waits, Elvis Costllo, Bowie, and Johnny Thunders. Along with my favorite new artists.

Oh and if you are interested Butch Walker should be famous. His new album The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the lets go out tonites is great. It 70's British glam with a modern La feel.

Butch Walker - Hot Girls in Good Moods
Head Automatica - New York is Burning
Dirty Pretty Things - Gin and Milk
Tom Waits - Way down in the Hole
Elvis Costello - (I don't want to go to) Chelsea

ASP Redux

Hello from Ohio...I am good thanks for asking but we have more impotant business A Sophmoric Production has been updated. And its finally returned to form. No more story pieces that are connected and making a story. No more random scenes for my brothers friends in a fast food joint. Just pure slacking. Same Characters as before. Mike and Tommy just continuing to waste thier potential. But this time with commentary on modern television. Thats its two guys watchin tv. Pure Brillance.

Top 5
Social Distortion - Prison Bound
Replacements - Waitress in the Sky
Kings of Leon - Four Kicks
Mike Ness - Don't Think Twice
Adolescents - Who is Who

gaye marriage

I sincerely stand against gay marriage. No its not because it is an attack on the scared practice of marriage or it is not supported by the bible. When you can get married drunk at 4 am in Las Vegas by an Elvis impersonating Mr. spock with one blood shot eye, clearly your institution is in trouble. No I stand against it because I believe in the sanctity of divorce. Divorce is between a man and a woman who clearly hate each other. And with any luck this divorce can occur when after the couple have had a couple kids. And as we know gays can adopted but they can't have children through the relationship and what fun is a divorce with out running the lives of several innocent children aswell? So keep up the good fight Mr. Bush just change our rationality about gay marriage, just like you did with the war in Iraq. Because we all know that when we can't find a link between al-queda and gay marriage, we can then say that gays have wmd's and once that doesn't work we can believe that we are protecting the sancitity of the gay people.

top 5
blondie - x offender
x-ray spex - I am a cliche
the queers - punk rock girls
tom waits - way down in the hole
the jam - going underground

Apathy

There was a new york times editorial today which pointed out that world war three can be started by several diffrent scenarios and each one is likely. Which really just depresses me. Dallas wrote about the lack of protest songs by young hip bands. And he is totally correct there isn't much. Mostly because the youth no longer feel the urge to do anything. It seems like there is no passion in my generation, no one wants to protest, no one wants to fuck authority, seems like my generation just likes to be raped over by Bush. My generation - generation Apathy.

top 5
seu jorge - five years
Diverse and Mos Def - Wylin' out
desaparecidos - popn' off at the F
TSOL - World War III
(What's so Funny about) Peace, Love, and Understanding

bands

So in the past two days I have seen two of the best live shows ever: Gnarls Barkley and the Flaming Lips. Seriously if you have the chnace to see either band I highly suggest seeing them. Gnarls Barkley was very entertaining and funny. And the Flaming Lips show was amazing I can not describe the show. It was sorta like a kids birthday party, an acid trip and a rock concert mixed with plenty of technicolor. Seriously after a string of lesser concerts, warped tour, and less active and visually pleasing concerts but great sounding, pearl jam and sonic youth, it was fun to see bands that mixed both aspects so well. So ya my life has been changed.

Anyway I saw clerks II today, in fact I saw the first show at my local movie theater. It was okay it had its moments, but it was not as good as the first clerks. But then again it was better than Mallrats or Jay and Silent Bob. So it was a return to form for Kevin Smith but it just isn't quite up to his original work.

Top 5
Gnarls Barkley - Go-Go Gadet Gospel
Flaming Lips - Bohemian Rapsodey
The Black Keys - All Hands His Own
Ted Leo - Six Months in a Leaky Boat
Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind

Conspiracy and Concerts

So does anyone else find it interesting that Kenneth Lay is dead? I mean this is one of the most dangerous men in the world for George Bush, and he happens to die. Now some people think it is a suicide and others think it is a murder, me I just think it is an impossible coincidence. But then again what would happen to Bush? Nothing its not like his numbers can go any lower.

On a happier not I saw Pearl Jam last night. They put on a great show and really are the biggest band in the world, not necessarily the most popular but goddamn can they play. They are in a hard place since they can play there greatest hits every night like there hero's, the who and rolling stones; or they can play whatever they want and lose people who go who like the music but just the greatest hit and only have their fan base, similar to Neil Young. But Pearl Jam did a great job of mixing the two. Plus they had Rodney on the rock introduce them which is just cool. Oh and for those of you wondering the opening band was Sonic Youth. I believe that this is the perfect 90's show. And as Eddie said SAVE TRESTLES

Top 5
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Ain't no Easy Way
Tom Waits - Heartattack and Vine
Pearl Jam - Off he Goes
X - Fourth of July
Rolling Stones - Dead Flowers

nothingness

Hurray I got my laptop to connect to my internet, so now I freedom of motion where I type and I am not dependent on my ipod for music. It seems like a minor miracle that it worked since I am techology illiterate.

I highly recomend the book Nothing Feels Good by Andy Greenwald. It is all about teenagers, punk rock, and emo. Audrey and I both enjoyed reading it.

top 5
alkaline trio - mercy me
smashing pumpkins - daydream
tom waits - cold cold ground
Nas - N.Y. State of Mind
Kanye West - two words