waxing, waning

Ouch

2010-06-05T20:02:00.002-05:00

I haven't posted here since January? I'm the worst blogger ever, not an easy accomplishment.
I think I got distracted playing with Facebook since I activated my account, but that's only good for so much.
Was playing "live" for party guests at my apartment in recent months, which was good because I got some honest feedback from other human beings. That file factory link for the song "running" is just a temporary arrangement. A friend is going to help me establish a new site for posting all song files, and if that doesn't happen SOON then I'll figure out how to do it here, or maybe I'll just do it on myspace or whatever--although I'd prefer to have my own unique site.
At any rate, this will at least continue to be a diary for info on songs and music I've written or am writing.
Been listening to and playing more reggae type music, which I seem to do when it gets warms outside. Seems to go hand in hand.
Will be posting again here SOON. I'm determined to do these things, and make this site much more active again.

Help Haiti

2010-01-17T12:33:00.002-05:00

Give to the Haiti relief effort if you can.

running

2010-01-01T23:13:00.009-05:00

okay, well I need to figure how I can just post my files directly here for downloading, but as for now(and so I can say I got something up at least by the first of the decade), click to this "filefactory" page, scoll down and click the free download button. Can't say for sure how it will work, but I think it's something like magaupload or whatever(which I guess I could use just as well until I figure this all out).
Sorry, still very illiterate when it comes to posting music files. Anyway, this is a song I think I wrote sometime around 1998, when I had moved to Lancaster. Like most, it was written on my acoustic, and I think the original rhythm and melody was a little different. Then I was listening to Belle and Sebastian, and tried to make it sound more like that, even though it doesn't really.
This is just a newly recorded demo, using my telecaster. The "lead" guitar and one vocal track are more to the left, with a "rhythm" guitar part and second vocal more on the right. The vocals are definitely pretty quiet and in the mix, so to speak. But it's just a start and part of an ongoing process. So...

running

(c) 2010
All rights reserved, natch.

the best

2009-12-31T17:12:00.001-05:00

over 40 years now I guess, and still, nobody can touch these guys--

Big Zero?

2009-12-31T10:51:00.003-05:00

I guess that's how Paul Krugman described this past decade, and I have to agree for the most part it's been a disaster--9/11, Iraq war, Katrina disaster, trampling on civil rights, fearmongering and paranoia, total financial meltdown, global warming, etc.
But there were some bright spots, particularly towards the end--historic presidential election, reversing course on failed policies, actually trying to achieve healthcare for all, and for me personally--a good job, a new place of my own, and re-dedicated to music with the equipment I've wanted for years now.
Another big bright spot was joining the old novaforums and meeting people from all around the world who are still friends to this day.
Can't say much for new music, compared to the 90s it really sucked, at least as far as rock music is concerned. Now everyone listens to music by game show winners. Geez. But on the other hand, a whole new world opened up with the music blogs and everyone producing and posting their music online with a great communal spirit. Of course this meant the well-deserved death of the major labels, and that probably contributed to the lack of major acts with national and international followings. It's more a matter of searching for things you like online and more niche-markets. Sure there are still gonna be national acts who break through on a larger scale, but I just don't think there will be as many of them because the music scene has become even more fragmented. I think we're still seeing how it all plays out, but I think in the long run it will be a good thing and that the cream will always rise to the top.
I'm not saying my stuff is the cream, but it's always how I've expressed myself--as opposed to journal writing or whatever--so get ready for a steady stream of music that was written almost 15 years ago and right up through today. For me, it's just something I keep doing, even with long periods of down time, I still can't imagine not having a guitar to strum, listening to the music of others and writing my own.
I might even get something posted before the end of today, the year, the decade.
To everyone else who's glad to say goodbye to the Big Zero, here's to better days ahead.
Sorry, can't think of anything else that isn't cliche--Later!

Vic Chesnutt

2009-12-25T21:50:00.003-05:00

I don't know his music very well, but nevertheless sorry to hear that Vic Chesnutt died.

I do know that a lot of people admired his songwriting. I didn't realize that Michael Stipe helped him get started and produced his first albums.

X-mas

2009-12-25T21:26:00.002-05:00

Ah yes, my annual Christmas address to the world. Oh right, I've let this poor blog sit neglected again for most of the year.
Well, I can say that it has been eventful. Got a new apartment. Literally, the place was just built this year. Not much character, but nice if you like the corporate planned community type of thing.

More eventful, I turned 40 in October. Didn't really bother me, maybe because I was sick for most of the month. Still not sure if I had swine flu or something else, coughed a lot. Couldn't afford to travel like I had wanted, but at least had friends over and played a little for them, from what I remember. I did however get the digital recorder I've wanted for years now. So, I've started the process of learning and working with that to finally post music online. Seeing as how I can't really pretend to be some young upstart anymore, I figure the total DIY pro bono route is even more appropriate than ever. Which is good, because everyone is doing it anyway, to one extent or another.

Look for the first installment by the end of the year--and try not to get too excited!

Hope you're all enjoying a little holiday cheer-peace.

getting there

2009-09-21T22:45:00.003-05:00

I think I post just enough to prevent blogger from canceling my account. Anyway, I ordered a tascam digital 4-track, part of a package with monitors, another mic, cables and another stand. The monitors arrived today, although I'm still waiting on the actual recorder. Once that arrives, everything will change.
Also, my friend finally located a drummer, so I might actually be playing with a band after all these years, although I have a feeling I'll still be doing mostly my solo strumming thing.

Hope anyone who even bothers to check this site is doing good. I noticed my Swedish bud has a blog now--all sorts of neat stuff there. I think she's a really good photographer along with her other talents, although maybe that's because my camera is so crappy that it looks good by comparison, but I think that's only part of the reason. She takes good pics.

polliver

Mountain Country

2009-04-21T21:34:00.002-05:00

I spent last Saturday at a friend's family house in the woods near Huntingdon, Pa. We went to a great little bar called Boxers in Huntingdon that evening. The band that played there stayed out with us at the house, and they rehearsed while everyone else drank and partied Saturday afternoon, along with some nice hikes through the woods. What a nice day it was, I'm glad I got out. The drive from Carlisle(where my friend lives) out there was great as well, we stayed off the turnpike and soaked up the scenery.
Wish I could remember the name of the band, but they were great--a violin, guitar, and flute/harmonica player, and they all sang. The guitarist had an especially great voice. They played a lot of older stuff, but great arrangements--especially a version of the Allman Brothers' "Jessica".

Other updates--I signed the lease for a new apartment, and should be moving in sometime in June. It's a nice place, spacious, all the appliances, a nice balcony, swimming pool, etc. Not the house I was hoping to get by now, but my first year of rent can be applied to purchase one of the developer's homes. But after this weekend, I wonder if I'm contributing to the problem by living someplace that was probably built on old farmland, or just woods. Although it is right next to a main road, so maybe not. Anyway, it's also close to a state park area that has a great view of the Susquehanna River, and it's pretty much the same distance to Lancaster, York or Harrisburg. I got central Pennsylvania covered.

One thing I'm really looking forward to is having my privacy again. I can spend the summer playing and recording, and get the "album" out before I turn 40 and this decade ends. Geez, let's not think about that for a while. Anyway, it should be a good summer, even if it means I have to be careful with spending for the first time in a long time.
My fortunes seem to run counter to the rest of the world. When things were still going well back in 2004-2005, I had lost my job and was struggling to find anything as good as I had. When things started to turn south last year, I had worked my way back into a good job in the legal profession and had taken care of most of my money worries. But having my own place again gives me the freedom to work on music without feeling self-conscious.

Green Day

2009-03-17T22:13:00.003-05:00

It's St. Patrick's Day here, which isn't particularly notable for me since I didn't want to get trashed on a work night, but it reminds me that it was almost ten years ago that I took my first trip overseas to Ireland, County Kerrey(or was it Kerry?). We were on the Dingle Peninsula in a cottage that looked directly out over some spectacular cliffs to the Atlantic. That was a great week, I don't think I truly appreciated beer until that time. Awesome scenery, great people, so much history and art--and most of the pubs have live music every night of the year.
If I had to live somewhere outside the U.S., Ireland would definitely be at the top of my list.

Ahh

2009-02-21T12:07:00.001-05:00

soma.fm on a Saturday morning--I like the Digitalis station.

I know...I never call, I never write...

2009-02-09T23:47:00.004-05:00

Holy shit, it's February and I haven't posted since last August? I was pretty caught up in following the election, obsessively. That was awesome, to quote Chris Farley. Most of my family supported him, and my dad and I scored tickets to the inauguration (thanks to my cousin who works for a congressman). Good tickets too, right up front in the Orange section, although we didn't have a direct view of the stage. We were right in front of a big screen though, and I was surprised I could send texts and pics. So that was cool, although it would have been better if the Chief Justice could remember the oath of office, or simply read it.
We left my brother's house at seven a.m., about 20 blocks from the Capitol, but didn't get in to our section until 11 a.m.--what a fucking ordeal. We got stuck in several crowds on the way that were so thick I wasn't sure we'd make it through. Wow. I'd do it again too.

In other news, my new job is great(it's good to be where the action is, and have weekends off! Screw retail!), I'm planning on moving in to my own place again this spring, and looking around for new gear--mainly a digital recorder. I think I like the tascam with the built in cd burner, but either way I need to get my music posted here and finally do what I started this thing for.

Also trying to get things updated and deleting or replacing dead links. I updated the link for my amigo Bruno, but I'll have to figure out if any other buds have new links that they want posted here. I hope everyone is still active somewhere, although I know there are other priorities, most of you have real lives, ha.

I was just thinking, I haven't written much new music lately, for the past couple of years really. I think part of it is I let other things distract me, I'm living with family and I'm also really self conscious when I'm just jamming or writing--I definitely did more when I lived alone--and I also haven't listened to much new music for inspiration. I haven't delved into any other forms of art that would inspire me either, so I can't really blame it on anything but myself. I'm starting to feel more like I did in my late 20s and early 30s again, so hopefully I can finish what I've wanted to do for ten years now--before I turn 40. I know it's just a number, but it just seems much harder to be new or relevant or whatever after you get to be a certain age. Turning 30 didn't bother me nearly as much, but now I'm starting to think about missed opportunities, and I'm sick of regrets. We'll see how it all turns out, but I tend to work better with deadlines, real and imagined.

Guitar talk

2008-08-17T12:02:00.008-05:00

since last Christmas I've purchased two new guitars--a Fender American Tele, and a Gibson Les Paul Studio. They're both great, although I think I'll need to upgrade my amp--this marshall combo isn't a true valve, and there seems to be a problem with the footswitch or the connection. Anyway, they still sound great and its great to finally have an electric again. Whoo--

I think I have a tendancy to listen obsessively to certain music for periods of time--whether days, weeks or months--to the exclusion of almost everything else. There are a few that I always come back to, others not so much. Anyway, at the moment it's the Who and Pete Townshend. I really didn't appreciate bands like the Who or Led Zeppelin when I was in high school--they were badly overplayed on various AOR stations in the Philadelphia area where I lived at the time. Except for the Beatles, I didn't have much interest at all in bands before the 1980s, unless they were punk/new wave groups. It wasn't until I got into college and beyond that I actually delved into their catalogues beyond the stuff that I had been fed ad nauseum.

Obama's Senate Record

2008-08-03T12:46:00.004-05:00

I'm gonna lay off the election here for a little bit, but wanted to post this page which lists Obama's record of accomplishments in the Senate. Save this for the next person who tells you he lacks "substance". You know, aside from being a law professor and state legislator for many years--but that's not as good as sitting in Washington for your whole career making deals with lobbyists./sarcasm

TPM

2008-08-02T00:51:00.003-05:00

More politics/news--I hadn't read Josh Marshall's Talking Points Memo site for ages, and was surprised when I checked it out again recently at how much it had grown. It's almost like a real news site now! And not some bullshit "neutral" reporting that's really just another way of saying "corporate shills who actually favor Republicans, no matter how godawful". Did that make sense?
Anyhow, the major media outlets are mostly a bunch of whores, and they sure as hell aren't "liberal".

p.s. Okay, this wasn't "more" politics, there was another post I had drafted that I never posted, re Obama's Senate record, which I'll post above.

Here we go...

2008-07-30T21:31:00.003-05:00

Okay, it's been a couple more months since I last posted and I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one reading this at the moment, but I swear I'm gonna keep this going. A lot of things have happened since we last met--

-I was promoted to HR at the store, almost single-handedly retrained the entire store when they switched to a new system for the registers. Then, about two months into my new job there, I was interviewed for a legal position that I had applied for a couple months prior to my promotion(when I really wanted out), and was hired for that job on the spot--So now I'm quite happy where I'm at work-wise, going back to a Monday-Friday workweek, with one-hour lunch breaks and a beautiful view from my office. Do I deserve this? You're fucking right I do.
-Then some bad luck--I was hit from behind on my way home from work a month ago, and spent the next few weeks waiting to get it fixed after the insurance company worked things out. I have never had a problem with my insurer, Erie Insurance--and I am not being paid to say that!
-Then some real bad news--We lost our beloved little cat, Rico, very suddenly to some type of infection. I'm glad she didn't suffer a slow demise, but it's painful to lose that unconditional love, and I wish I could have been with her the last two days when she was at the vet. I hope she didn't feel abandoned. I know this is pathetic, mourning a cat, so anyway--
-Back to some good stuff--I purchased a second new electric guitar(did I mention that I got a telecaster before x-mas?), this one is a Les Paul Studio, so beautiful--sound and looks.
-Saw Ben this past weekend and its looking good on forming a band. He knows a drummer, which is what we've been looking for, for the past ten years now.

I've also sent a copy of a demo tape to Julia, so now it's out there--in Europe somewhere. It's gonna start to flow a lot more now, especially after I get my next new toy--a digital recorder. A lot will finally start to get posted here, maybe a different page for the full "album". We'll see.

The main purpose of this enterprise hasn't changed: to document the musical activities of myself and others, as well as writing on various other cultural and political issues. I actually hope to do even more of the latter, what with an election coming up and a lot going on around the world. Things seem to be in flux, I think we could be living in interesting times...

Chabon on Obama

2008-04-27T18:05:00.003-05:00

Phobocracy is a new one to me. Anyway, this is an article about my preferred candidate written by one of my most preferred authors. I was watching the Wonder Boys movie recently, was reminded how much I liked it(especially considering how many adaptations don't work), and was also reminded that my copy of the novel had never been returned by a friend of mine.
So, today I bought myself a new copy. I was really interested in re-reading it. Chabon is such a great writer. Although my new copy is a new edition with a different cover--I miss my first edition. For some reason, I always viewed this book as the second of a "Pittsburgh Trilogy", but the third installment never materialized.
But what do I know? His next book won the Pulitzer prize, and although I own a copy I've still never read the whole thing. I guess I feel more of a connection to his stories set in the city and state that I know so well.

Long time, no write

2008-03-09T12:35:00.002-05:00

Wow, it has been a while, but thought I would get active here again. A lot has happened since we last posted("we" being "me"), some very good, some not so good, some very frustrating. I may touch on some of it later, but the most important news with regard to this site is that I got myself a new guitar(beautiful telecaster, of course), and an amp along with several effects pedals.
Coming soon is a digital recorder, and then things will be happening...

did it

2007-07-01T17:02:00.000-05:00

Finished a new demo tape during my week off, just like I wanted. About half of it is made up of songs that I re-recorded(for the umpteenth time), the rest is culled from old tapes--I have some four track demos that go back to late 2000, or 2001. A couple of the songs are about ten years old now, although a couple were also written just this past year.

So, some unnamed individuals might be receiving a "gift" in the mail. It's rough and sloppy in places, but at least it's a foundation to build on, and you get the idea of what I sound like. It's all acoustic, so it only represents a part of what I do, I also have a bunch of electric stuff, and even the songs on this tape can be played electric and sound great. But with all of this tape recorded with the acoustic guitar, basically dueting with myself, there is a unity of sound even though the songs are in different styles. It works as it's own album, rough as it is.

Anyway, moving on..

a is for asparagus, b is for barbeque

2007-06-05T20:39:00.001-05:00

As the summer solstice approacheth, I think I'll have a long needed week of vacation by myself--which means I will, without a doubt, have a new demo tape to send around by July.

I'm still rubbing two sticks together while the rest of the world is recording and mastering on their home computers.

Buy the Porta 2

May Daze

2007-05-14T10:04:00.000-05:00

it has been really nice around these parts lately, and I'm lucky to have two days off in a row. I didn't really do much yesterday, I drove around more than I actually walked outside. Although I did re-work a half-written song that I've been playing for a while. I think the new rhythm sounds better--less typical.

Well, I'm going to try and get out today, maybe wash the car, do other suburban domestic shit.

festivals

2007-04-30T08:57:00.000-05:00

info from Coachella and New Orleans Jazz...

I want to hear Dumpstaphunk.

bump

2007-04-25T19:41:00.000-05:00

okay, that previous post looked so pathetic when I read it back that I want to post this just to move it from the top. jeez.

there's people being ethnically cleansed, starving, dying from horrible diseases--and I'm whining about this bullshit? Enough.

apathy

2007-04-25T17:24:00.000-05:00

It's been a little over three years since I entered the wilderness, and although I try not to dwell on it too much, sometimes I can't help but think how much better off I'd be now financially if I had just sucked it up and stayed where I was. Sure, I'd be bored, unhappy, and probably still going nowhere, but at least I'd have a large chunk of debt paid off. Oh well.

As it is, I've worked several different jobs--independent contractor legal assistant, assembly line, preparing tax returns, and now customer service in men's apparel. I guess at this point I'm halfway to where I want to be, only in terms of finances, because at least I'm making half as much as before. But I'm certainly not doing anything interesting that I enjoy. The best thing that's come of it is that I now have a completely new wardrobe since last year, at a small fraction of the price that I would have paid otherwise. That's certainly nice. And at least my boss and the people I work with are cool.

I just feel like I've failed to take advantage of all the help I've had from friends and family, the contacts, the interviews, etc. No matter what I do, it all ends up the same--nothing--and after three years, I've just lost the will and energy to continue doing what I need to do in order to get the kind of job I need. It's not that I won't keep trying, but just the thought continuing with more applications and interviews is depressing, when it seems that I won't get any results.

Then again, when I reached the same point about ten years ago, boom, I landed something good.
I hoping that cycle will repeat itself now.

The Red Studio

2007-04-22T22:54:00.000-05:00

Something else by Matisse, just because. When I saw this painting at MOMA, it really left an impression on me. It's also a good representation of something I like about many of his works-pictures within pictures.

A Must

2007-04-20T08:25:00.000-05:00

Do we need a blog dedicated to analyzing every R.E.M. song? Yes, we do.

Still listening to Lifes Rich Pageant repeatedly. Some albums just sound perfect to you--the music, lyrics, and themes all seem to fit together as one work. The interplay between the lead and background vocals is particularly beautiful on this album too, although it's always been good throughout their career.

Buy it--nice to see that I'm not the only one who considers this the best R.E.M. album and one of their all time favs.

Easter factoid

2007-04-08T13:35:00.000-05:00

from Cracked.com--

"The computations for determining the date of Easter are highly complicated and have been determined through formulae devised by such historical figures as the Venerable Bede and the mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss. However, during the 1980s jangle-pop music scene, the holiday was simply observed on the birthday of Mitch Easter, noted as the frontman of Let's Active and the producer of the R.E.M. albums Chronic Town through Reckoning."

new find

2007-04-06T10:38:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Yee, who drew my attention to rbally, which has instantly become my favorite music blog--mainly because of this, an R.E.M. bootleg from 1983.

David Byrne's predictions

2007-03-24T09:33:00.000-05:00

Perfect timing with regard to my previous post, David Byrne held court in Austin during the SXSW Festival, offering his thoughts on the future of music and the music industry. Interesting thoughts in the comments to this Stereogum post too.

circling the drain

2007-03-21T10:47:00.000-05:00

An article on the increasingly rapid decline of the old music industry. I have no sympathy for those people, but at this point I'm not sure what, if anything, will take the place of the album/cd format. I think this is related to my lack of interest in any new albums in recent years. People are looking to iTunes and music blogs for new music, which results in more individual songs being downloaded, as opposed to complete albums or collections of songs. I'm hoping that something comes along to fill this gap, but not sure. At this point, there seems to be a sort of diaspora of listeners, roaming the internet searching for new sounds that they like, wherever they might find them.
Everyone knows now that they don't need to be gauged by the music industry, paying twenty dollars for a couple of good songs and mostly filler, but at the same time there have always been many great albums released with overarching themes or sounds--and I'd hate to see this disappear altogether.

this, that, and the other...

2007-02-26T01:15:00.000-05:00

JFC, yesterday, or should I say Saturday, was pure hell at work. Had a customer who was such an asshole that he completely ruined the rest of my day, and the next day too.

If it wasn't for all the good discounts on clothes, the job would be complete shit. There aren't even many people for me to socialize with outside of work. But for now it will do.

Who is my next "it" band? I was just thinking that there isn't anyone new out there(band or solo) who has released their first album in the past four or five years that I'm really interested in right now. In fact, I don't think I've been really into a new artist since the mid-nineties. Since then it's just been listening to older albums and bands.
I mean, I hear about all sorts of new bands, and listen to their songs from various blogs, but none of them have captured my interest in the way that others like the Police, R.E.M., Husker Du(during my junior/senior high school years), Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Oasis, PJ Harvey, Heather Nova, and the Pixies(during my college, grad school, working/not working years in the '90s and post-millenium to present) did. At different points in time and even now, those were bands and musicians whose music was always in heavy rotation. I would always want to listen to their stuff and learn as much as I could about them--but I don't feel that way about any new acts now. I know about the Arcade Fire, and Death Cab For Cutie, and the New Pornographers(not sure exactly how new they are though), but none of them have that spark for me, that obsessive need to always listen to their music, repeatedly for months and years. And it never takes many listens for a band to light that spark in me, so I know that none of the new ones I've heard have it.
I don't know why that is, except maybe I need to look around more and broaden my horizons. But I don't feel like combing through MySpace.

"The Ultimate Artist Development Resource"

2007-02-01T18:20:00.000-05:00

Ever heard of Aristopia? I just found it accidentally, looks interesting.

Aaron Brooks

2007-02-01T17:57:00.000-05:00

I was walking past a place called the Isadore Gallery in Lancaster this afternoon and my eye caught some paintings by this artist. Maybe because they mostly depict warmer, more colorful times of the year.

One example above--"Path"

Finally?

2007-01-30T11:29:00.000-05:00

So a Police reunion is confirmed for the Grammies (one of the few times that I'll bother to watch that atrocity of an awards show), and looking like a tour this year.
Cool, I think this is happening just in time to save Sting from his descent into some lute-playing ghetto. WTF was up with that?

Since I first discovered the first two Police albums, and realized how much more rocking and reggae they were before the Synchronicity stuff, I've been a huge fan. Unfortunately, I discovered this after they had already broken-up.

Hey, better later than never.

"Monsoon Night"

2007-01-28T22:10:00.000-05:00

This is a piece by someone named Susan Gottleib, an artist whose work I first discovered at a gallery in Lancaster back in 1998. I always liked everything of hers that I would see, I think maybe because it reminds me of artists like Matisse--the use of primary color and cross-cultural qualities. I don't know, hard to explain, I just know I like her stuff.

Hey

2007-01-24T22:13:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I guess I haven't posted much in recent months, although the whole x-mas season insanity was a friggin' nightmare that I hope I never see again.
Anyway, I'm going to try and get back to what I started this thing for, to get an album online. So I have at least one demo tape that I wouldn't be completely ashamed to use, but I wanted to replace one of the songs that has a bad mix. I lost track of how long I've been telling myself to do that, and enough is enough. I'll either get that done now, or just quickly put together a different mix from the numerous unmixed demos I have in a drawer.
This is happening. I still think one good option for the next phase would be to use the Steam Powered Studio, but not sure if I could make the cut--we'll see.

Assessment

2007-01-24T11:14:00.000-05:00

Holland Career Assessment

Strong Theme Code (Enterprising, Artistic, Social/Investigative)

You most consistently show an interest in creative problem-solving and using interpersonal communication to help and inspire others. In addition, you are adventurous and energetic, enjoying taking moderate risks. You are creative and independent.

Your values (communication, other's welfare, creative expression, innovative thinking) align nicely with your skills (relationship, communication, creative problem solving).

You need to communicate and express your ideas and would enjoy a work environment that provides you freedom, flexibility, and an opportunity to solve problems and learn.

Sales and Marketing: Advertising, Public Relations.
Instruction: College Teaching, Corporate Training, Instructional Design.
Creative: Web Design, Multimedia Development Film production, Literary Agent.
Healing Arts: Psychiatry, Psychology, Music Therapist, and Counselor.
Law/Politics, Advocacy, Mediation
Corporate training, teaching, Instructional Design

Typical Majors

Drama/Theater Arts

English

Education

Foreign languages and Literature

Radio and TV Broadcasting

Social Psychology

Music Theory and Composition

Landscape Architecture

Interior Design

You have similar interest to people in these careers:

College Professor (investigative, Artistic, Social)

Education Administration, Elementary and Secondary (AES)

Secondary School Teacher (SAE)

English Teacher (ASE)

Actor/Actress (AES)

Drama Coach (ASE)

Audio Production Specialist (AES)

Writer, Critic, Editor/Newspaper, Reporter (AES)

Corporate Trainer (AES)

Politician, Lawyer/Attorney (ESA)

Foreign Service Officer (ESA)

Social Service Director (ESA)

Advertising Executive (ESA)

Banking Manager (ESA)

Customer Service Manager (ESA)

Entrepreneur (ESA)

Interpreter (ESA)

Lobbyist (ESA)

Sales Manager (ESA)

Broadcaster (AE)

Marketing Executive (EA)

Intelligence Research Specialist (AEI)

The day after

2006-12-26T11:42:00.000-05:00

Hope you had a good Christmas. I was the last person to get a cell phone, and now I think I'm the last person to finally get an iPod.

An obit on the Godfather of Soul. Whether you know it or not, if you play music, you've been influenced by him.

I guess it's been ages since I've posted anything, I've been working in retail and the last month was hell. Now everyone will be returning everything they bought.

I've also been seeing someone who is trying to help me figure out what to do next with my life. I haven't been able to work on much music lately. I played at a party up in Erie a few weeks ago, although I don't think it was as good as my performance last year--the sound system they got for me had volume problems.

Also received a DVD of the The Last Waltz, a great concert film--check it out if you haven't ever seen it.

In other news

2006-11-11T09:54:00.000-05:00

George W. Bush has finally been neutered by a newly elected Democratic Congress. His lame duckery is now complete.

I've been asked to play at the same event I did last year, so that should be good. Hopefully I won't break my leg three days later.

What else? Um, nothing much I guess. Did I ever mention that the Jeff Buckley Live at Sin-E recordings are fucking amazing? Because they are.

Best Rider Ever

2006-11-10T11:03:00.000-05:00

The guy who wrote this should win some sort of literary award--

Iggy Pop's Concert Rider

"How could this day get any worse?"

2006-10-24T11:55:00.000-05:00

I don't care what the South Park creators say, Family Guy is hilarious, and this is why--

Family Guy--Hiroshima

Just another day

2006-10-12T10:01:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you wake up in the morning, and everything comes together. Finished the words to a song that I'd been strumming since last year, and recorded a complete demo on the 4-track. A very mellow thing that uses a lot of sevenths, inspired by the first few numbers on the second side of Abbey Road("Here Comes the Sun", "Because", etc.).
I guess I would say it's about those brief but very enjoyable moments in your life, you want to stay in those moments but you can't. Also inspired by Lost in Translation.

So now I think I'm just going to go out and celebrate the rest of my birthday, and maybe fall into one of those moments.

Stuff

2006-10-09T09:32:00.000-05:00

Haven't posted in a while, I guess. Not a lot happened in the past month, aside from working, and being very tired during the times that I'm not working. But I'm certainly better off than a year ago.
Made a good new friend, got to watch her get a new tatoo and celebrate the beginning of her new phase in life. I think something might be happening here, but not getting my hopes up at this point--I've been let down too many times for that(boo-hoo!)
Interviewed for a better job that I would really like to get, but not getting my hopes up for that either, since I interviewed for the same thing a year ago.
And then I'm looking down the barrel of another birthday...

Interesting discussion/argument of the music blogs' influence on new bands here.

Writing

2006-09-06T17:46:00.000-05:00

During my bedbound days this past winter, I wrote several things, even one or two with lyrics. I'm usually slow with lyrics. Since my early 20s I discovered that songwriting was much more natural for me when I developed the music first and wrote lyrics afterwards. That's still how I do it, but I'm terribly lazy about it--aside from a few lines, a verse or chorus or whatever, I have to just sit down and then do it all in one shot.
That's where I'm at now, three or four new songs with little or no words. There were actually a couple songs where I wrote the music and words all at the same time, but that's rare.

Anyway, when I first started out, I tried writing lyrics before music and it definitely didn't work for me. I guess I thought I was Elvis Costello or Bernie Taupin or whoever. Actually I'm not sure which famous artists write their lyrics first. Aside from a line or two, or a song title, I definitely don't.

Then there's the long saga of the demo tape, ahh the demo tape. I discovered that the first song I had on the acoustic demo side had a fucked up mix, so I re-recorded that song as opposed to searching through my numerous other recordings. Now I think that I want to add some electric stuff on the second side. I'll figure that out in the next week. I want to send this thing to somebody--probably
Steam Powered Studios-- before my next birthday.

It takes many actors to portray Dylan...

2006-09-06T17:43:00.000-05:00

...including females.

Looks cool.

Preach it Bob

2006-08-28T11:34:00.000-05:00

I agree.

In fact, I'm starting to wonder if production/mixing techniques are the reason that so many recordings by new bands fail to interest me, or move me one way or the other.
As one of the commenters in the thread notes, it's a lot of white noise.

I <3 my four track.

The music industry is filled with clueless assholes, pt. 1,006

2006-08-22T13:05:00.000-05:00

In their neverending quest to make my life even more joyless and miserable, now they want to shut down sites where musicians can post tablature and chords to songs. I think this might be why I've had trouble accessing ultimate guitar lately. That's one that I've used to find chords and tabs for various songs that I wanted to play.

I just think this is ridiculous because, (1) the vast majority of song chords and tabs aren't available or sold in music books and (2) there has never been much of a profit in music books anyway. I suppose eventually they'll get a clue and realize that the amount they could make in ad revenues online far exceeds any profit from songbooks.
The major labels seem to have too many busybody lawyers with too much free time on their payroll--they could probably save a lot more money there.

not dead, again

2006-08-02T18:27:00.000-05:00

Between the crushing heat and this new job I've been working, and trying to find a different job at the same time, I just haven't had the time or energy to post anything--or to even try to think of anything worth writing.

plus some personal stuff that's been kind of stressful.

so anyway...what's goin' on? I bought a new strap for my acoustic, I guess that's something. Now I just depressed myself even further...

I've got several things that I've been working on since my injury and bedbound status last year. Actually finished off and demoed a couple, but still need to finish off a couple others. So there's that...I just need to summon the energy and desire again.

I bought a cd by My Morning Jacket recently, but haven't listened to the whole thing yet. A lot of people in music blog land seem to like them, so we'll see. Or we'll hear, or whatever...

Cat's back

2006-07-13T20:17:00.000-05:00

I was listening to my dad's Cat Stevens box set of cds, reading the enclosed book, and generally taking a renewed interest in the man and his music--particularly his conversion to Islam and his work since he took the name Yusuf Islam.

Anyway, I guess I missed this, but he's actually going to be releasing a new album of pop music later this year--so I'm definitely looking forward to that.

Independent article here.

RootsRockReggae

2006-06-25T10:30:00.000-05:00

I'll probably only be able to get to one concert this summer, and I'm thinking it'll be this one.

Bob Marley had some talented genes.

Three Lions

2006-06-25T10:20:00.001-05:00

Now that the U.S. is out of it(that was our best team ever? uh, no) I'm going with England. Playing Ecuador right now...

Something you don't read every day...

2006-06-25T10:18:00.000-05:00

"Possibly Drunk Pelican Hits Windshield"

Tom Petty kicks it at Bonnaroo

2006-06-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

I've been listening to him for years and years now, and he's still got it.

New single here.

USA kisses sister, ties with Italy

2006-06-17T22:19:00.000-05:00

I'll take that, thank you very much. We're still alive.

Baby Blue

2006-06-16T09:50:00.000-05:00

Watching Argentina totally dominate Serbia-Montenegro, 6-0 now. The refs have mercifully stopped play at 90 minutes.

I expect to see Argentina go very far in this one--not sure if it's possible for them to play Brazil in the finals, but the next game against the Netherlands should be very good.

just win, dammit

2006-06-14T10:18:00.000-05:00

All I heard here was how this was the best U.S. team ever, blah, blah, blah--then they get totally owned in their first game. Now they have to play Italy. I guess they don't have to win that one, but they can't lose either.

update: Germany v. Poland is just starting, this should be good...

Lost In Translation

2006-06-09T20:54:00.000-05:00

Still my favorite movie of the century so far.

not even summer yet...

2006-05-31T18:41:00.000-05:00

It is nice to walk outside in the evening and feel so warm. Ahhhhhhhh....oh and to eat outside...and to sit outside and have a nice drink, and stare into the trees.....

yeah, good times.

Surprise

2006-05-31T18:24:00.000-05:00

I haven't heard the whole thing yet, but I definitely like the parts that I have heard from Paul Simon's new album. Produced by Brian Eno, so you know it isn't gonna suck.

The Beautiful Game

2006-05-27T20:19:00.000-05:00

A good article in National Geographic.

I don't care what the so-called sports experts and journalists in this country say--I can't wait for the World Cup.

Saturday morning art...

2006-05-27T09:08:00.000-05:00

"Exploding Sun", from Todd Snader's Gallery in Lancaster. I still miss living there, especially when I had work-free weekends.

tradebeer.com

2006-05-25T12:23:00.000-05:00

If you brew your own beer, or if you like homebrews and microbrews, then you might be interested in this new site that is being started by a friend of mine.

Another good site for beer lovers(and who isn't?), is ratebeer.

That's a bottle of Troegs, which is brewed nearby here, in Harrisburg.

Happy B-Day

2006-05-17T22:37:00.000-05:00

And before the clock strikes midnight--happy birthday to my brother, who just turned 30 years old today.

30 wasn't so bad for me, it's the next couple of years after that when it all starts to fall apart. But hey, we don't look bad for our ages(thin, still have hair). It could certainly be worse. It could be better too...for me anyway...

Freedy Johnston

2006-05-17T22:26:00.000-05:00

I have a copy of his cd, This Perfect World, that I was listening to recently for the first time in years. I still love the first track, "Bad Reputation". It's one of those perfect songs in my mind.

For some reason, I bought that cd back in the '90s when I was still in college, and never followed his career after that. Anyway, he's an excellent songwriter, and still very much active in the music world.

I'm In Love

2006-05-16T13:37:00.000-05:00

This is Norah Jones, the piano playing singer-songwriter who never did much for me but help to induce sleep.

I have no idea what this new "punk" band sounds like, but damn, I like the new look. It's gotta be more interesting than what she was doing before.

Picture via Stereogum.

See The Truth

2006-05-16T09:47:00.000-05:00

On a personal side note, my sister's publishing/media firm did some work on the book for this film. She even met Al Gore.

Oh, and if the world does flood, not to worry--they make waterproof books!

Beauty in Simplicity

2006-05-12T10:19:00.000-05:00

Is there any electric guitar more perfect than a Fender Telecaster? I submit that there is not.

Careful who you call

2006-05-12T08:36:00.000-05:00

This is just fucking outrageous. Enough is enough, after another two years with this administration, we'll all have cameras in our bathrooms. We can at least get a Congress that actually does its job, and isn't just a bunch of bootlickers who rubber stamp everything that Bush wants to do.

I'm with Neil Young--Let's Impeach the President.

okay mp3

2006-05-09T20:49:00.000-05:00

I'm not as totally into them as many others are, but it's at least nice to be able to hear a live performance from a band that I've wanted to see live, but haven't.

Radiohead's recent Danish gig available here.

Public Bathroom Etiquette

2006-05-09T18:41:00.000-05:00

I've been waiting for someone to address these issues. From the funny, and crude, Phat Phree.

Tribute: Stephen Stills

2006-05-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

I guess when I read about a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tour this summer, it caused me to pull out my discs from the CSN box set, which helped to pass the time on a long car trip this past weekend(back up to the Erie area). That in turn reminded me of what a stone cold great guitar player Stephen Stills is--whether he's on acoustic or electric, the man is a master, and I never see him listed among the best by the "mainstream" music media, or the alternative/blogger/self-annointed experts.

But I tell you, if you haven't already explored his work, you should--all of it. Buffalo Springfield, CSN, CSNY, Manassas, solo, whatever. A couple that I would particularly recommend are his first solo album(which includes "Old Times, Good Times" with Jimi Hendrix, who he played and practiced with while he lived in England), as well as his live album(divided into electric and acoustic halves).

I just don't feel that he gets the credit he deserves, especially considering how proficient he his in so many styles. While Clapton seems to have spent most of his career mired in the blues, that's just one part of what Stills does. Latin, jazz, folk, rock, blues, reggae, he can do it all. His most recent solo album includes contributions by Herbie Hancock, as well as Neil Young. Let's just say that when Neil Young speaks so admirably about a person, you might want to check him out.

So here's to you, Mr. Stills.

radio, radio

2006-04-25T12:48:00.000-05:00

Been listening to WXPN and Soma a lot lately. Soma's "Beat Blender" and "Groove Salad" remind me of the music I heard a lot in Amsterdam.

Thanks for calling, asshole

2006-04-24T16:45:00.000-05:00

I had a phone message on Friday from the person who I had interviewed with a couple months ago, for a job that I kind of wanted. It at least would have been a reliable source of income with good benefits--while I continued to do my crazy stuff on my own time.

Anyway, when I receive a call back from a job interview, I tend to think that I'm going to be offered the job--if not, then I almost always get a simple rejection letter. So when I call the guy back, I continue to think that I'm about to be offered the job, he leads me right up to it and then the kick in the nuts--"We finally got through the bureaucracy, and we're now able to make an offer, and we're offering it to someone else."

Um, okay, thanks.

"Never Again" Again

2006-04-23T16:42:00.001-05:00

Now matter how many times we say that, it continues to happen, right now in Darfur, Sudan.

We can do something. For some it's too late, but for others it's not.

Berlin is big

2006-04-23T09:29:00.000-05:00

I had recently fallen into a rut of only checking out a few of the same web sites every day, to the neglect of some very good ones such as the Music for Robots collective music blog.

With several different contributors, there's always something interesting, and today it was brought to my attention that the music scene in Berlin is really happening. For some reason, this is about what I'd expect music from a Berlin group to sound like, don't ask me why. At any rate, I like it.

Artwalk

2006-04-21T17:07:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's been a year already, but it's time again for the Lancaster Artwalk weekend--check it out if you're in the area.

50 Worst Albums Ever?

2006-04-21T09:18:00.000-05:00

This list from Q Magazine barely scratches the surface, and many are only the worst albums by various well-known artists, but hardly the worst ever.

As you can tell from the comments there, many take issue with Beck's Midnight Vultures being on the list, and I have a problem with the inclusion of Oasis' Standing on the Shoulder of Giants--it's not even the worst album by Oasis. That honor goes to Be Here Now. Although SOTSOG does include Liam Gallagher's "Little James", which is probably one of the 50 worst songs ever.

Pete Doherty: Super Genius

2006-04-21T09:09:00.000-05:00

Okay, I've never listened much to Pete Doherty, Babyshambles(that name seems more appropriate by the day) or, um, that other band of his that I can't think of at the moment--but the guy lives a rock 'n roll lifestyle that puts all of Motley Crue to shame. That is, if the rock 'n roll lifestyle consists of doing drugs every waking hour of your life, even after you've just been sentenced for drug law violations.

The only thing left for him to do is actually snort blow right at his courtroom table in front of the judge. I expect that to happen at his next sentencing. And check the pic of those teeth, yikes. He could pay his fines doing community service as the poster child for English dentistry.

Monkey Man

2006-04-13T13:46:00.000-05:00

There's a good interview with Michael Nesmith here, discussing the future of music and the music business. Excerpt:

WN: Now that indie musicians and filmmakers are selling direct to their fans -- sometimes hundreds of thousands of units -- what role can the corporate media play?

Nesmith: I don't hold much hope for Warner Music Group or Sony being a player in the future…. The problem with those kind of companies is that they don't have any good way to add value anymore.

For years, they'd support the artist in their nascent stages and get the goods to market. Those are old-time, Methuselean economics…. There are whole new businesses that will wander in and boot these guys out.

WN: So we can write the obituaries?

Nesmith: Those obituaries were written two decades ago. What you are seeing here is an inertial burn (laughs).

Windless Days, Cloudless Skye

2006-04-03T11:15:00.000-05:00

My buddy Julia Skye has a MySpace page now with a sample tune. Of course she also has her own site(see link to right) and full length album available. It's all good.

Whine

2006-03-29T21:11:00.000-05:00

It never ends. My car died on me this past weekend, what turned out to be some sort of fuel line leak. So that's three hundred dollars that I can't afford to be spending right now.
I totally understand what people are talking about when they say that one medical emergency can ruin your life. In my case, the medicial situation wasn't too bad, but bad enough to fuck me over financially. But at least I'm a broke man who can walk again. Whatever, God hates me.

I don't even think anyone is reading this anymore, so I'm just doing this for my own entertainment. I also thought that it would be a way to motivate me to get an album completed. It's just very hard to get anything done or focus on creative things when I'm so preoccupied with just trying to get my head back above water and not default on my student loan. I feel like the main character in Sideways, I'm halfway through my life and I've accomplished nothing.

Anyway, I read something about the Pixies playing some European dates this summer, but it looks like the whole reunion thing is going to wind down, with no new album to show for it. That sucks. It's not like they lack material either, because Frank Black has a double cd coming out. Apparently Kim Deal is working on another Breeders album, but that last one took about ten years to finish, so I'm skeptical there.

Tom Jones is now a knight--about fuckin' time!

I saw a clip of Snow Patrol playing live in what looked to be some sort of European city square. I have no idea what the song was, and I can't even remember if I've ever heard their music before. At any rate, they might be another overhyped "next big thing", but whatever I heard sounded pretty good.

Sambassadeur, from Sweden, is a good band that I discovered through one of the music blogs a while back. They have a full length album out now. Ch-check 'em out.

New South Park is starting now, one of my few sources of happiness anymore. Sad, but true. Later...

Rock Hall

2006-03-14T19:13:00.000-05:00

From what I read at Rolling Stone, this year's ceremony kind of sucked. I guess that's what happens when most of the inductees don't show up or don't play. Or if they're Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Pandora's Box

2006-03-13T21:49:00.000-05:00

I discovered(probably much later than most everyone else) an interesting site called Pandora.

You enter a particular artist or song that you like, and they create a playlist or "radio station" consisting of similar types of music.
I like the concept, because it's another way, along with various music blogs and online radio, to find new stuff.

SXSW

2006-03-11T18:52:00.000-05:00

I have seriously got to get to this thing. Unfortunately it won't be this year. Even if I could afford it, the leg still isn't 100%.

The list of bands is impressive. I don't actually know most of them, but sometimes just the name interests me enough to check them out("Gingerbread Patriots", "Yuppie Pricks", "Sailboats Are White"). Hey, and Jules Shear, I haven't heard anything about him in years.

Austin is really the only place in Texas that I would like to visit.

Creation Studios

2006-02-27T22:53:00.000-05:00

This seems nice, although I have no idea what the average rates are for professional recording studios, this is about $500 a day(w/engineer). I'm guessing that it was started by Alan McGee, since he was the founder of Creation Records. He's listed as a client.
Looks like they've got a lot of nice gear/instruments/amps/etc. too, although compared to a four track tape deck in your bedroom, anything seems pretty nice.

10 Worst Celebrity Albums

2006-02-27T11:19:00.000-05:00

Actually, I wouldn't say "worst" in the case of the ones by Charlton Heston and Samuel L. Jackson--those are totally awesome. Click.

Gimme Some Truth

2006-02-19T11:13:00.000-05:00

I received a copy of the latest John Lennon "best of" collection, Working Class Hero(buy it), as a Christmas gift. It's actually one of the best of those types of retrospectives that I've seen, a double cd that includes about half the tracks from each of what I consider his three best albums(Plastic Ono Band, Imagine, and Double Fantasy), plus a lot more--including all his stand-alone singles such as "Cold Turkey". There's also a live version of "Come Together" and his home demo recording of "Real Love".

Anyway, listening to "Gimme Some Truth", I thought that song seemed just as relevant today as it was when he wrote it. Hell, I suppose it's just as likely that he'd be wiretapped or spied upon today as it was during the Nixon/Hoover era.

But instead of posting the Lennon original, I thought I'd provide a link to Sam Phillips' cover version, from one of my favorite albums of the '90s--produced by her husband, the also great T-Bone Burnett.

Sam Phillips--"Gimme Some Truth"

Remember this is for review purposes only, please support the artists if you like what you hear.

"Slutabulous"

2006-02-17T13:47:00.000-05:00

Well, Valentine's Day has come and gone, but I just happened to come across this list of the most slutty songs and thought it was kind of funny. Some of my old favorites are on there, such as Liz Phair and Heather Nova(not sure if the author realizes that she didn't write "I Have the Touch", or that some of her own songs actually have much more suggestive lyrics), and of course--Prince.

More Prince

2006-02-10T12:17:00.000-05:00

The video for Prince's guitar solo on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" can be found here.

Please fasten your seat belts and keep your arms inside the vehicle.

Payola

2006-02-07T21:11:00.000-05:00

Wish I could say that this surprises me.

ABC News has learned the focus of a two-year long payola investigation by the New York attorney general is turning to the nation's nine largest radio conglomerates.

Attorney General Eliot Spitzer says evidence he has gathered clearly shows some of the radio conglomerates have participated in the illegal practice of accepting payments from record companies and middlemen for guaranteed air play for certain songs.

"The behavior has been unethical, improper, illegal and a sanction of some severity clearly should be imposed," Spitzer told ABC News chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross.

Spitzer and music industry officials told "Primetime" that millions of dollars in payments, gifts and trips are exchanged each year to get music stations to add songs to their weekly play lists.

Spitzer says record company documents obtained in the investigation of Sony Music and Warner, both who have settled with the attorney general, reveal payments for songs that became major hits, including Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" and John Mayer's "Daughters."

I'm definitely not surprised that they had to pay in order to make hits out of those two songs.

Damn!

2006-02-07T00:04:00.000-05:00

Stereogum has an mp3 of Prince's latest performance on Saturday Night Live. I love it.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is a guitar player.

The hour approacheth...

2006-02-05T15:03:00.000-05:00

...C'mon, just one more game!

The next Elvis...

2006-02-05T00:51:00.000-05:00

Many songwriters over the years have been compared to Elvis Costello due to their great lyrical abilities, but I've never thought the comparison was so apt as it is with Thea Gilmore. The poetry just seems to pour out of her, and combined with a lot of very melodic and catchy tunes, I'm surprised that she's not getting more attention. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places, but with all of the other "next big things" coming from the U.K., here's one that's really worthy of such praise.

She's certainly not some flash in the pan, she's already released several albums, and I don't think she's even twenty-five yet. Like with EC's early work, I like almost every song, but here's one called "Benzedrine"(from Rules for Jokers) . It's got a great little cello part, and I always like cello. Click the link for the download--

Thea Gilmore--"Benzedrine"

and what the heck, one of my favorites from her most recent album Avalanche--

Thea Gilmore--"Heads Will Roll"

Just sayin'

2006-01-26T22:32:00.001-05:00

I checked my copy of the Constitution, and there's nothing in there about the President being able to ignore laws passed by Congress, or violate Constitutional amendments(like conducting searches without a warrant) just because he's the President and he thinks he can do whatever he wants. Nothing under Article II that says anything like that. Wait a minute......nope, nothing.

Just sayin'.

In other news, I had a dream where I was watching Angelina Jolie play for the Boston Celtics--and she sunk a 3-pointer. WTF is that all about?

Matt Pond PA

2006-01-23T11:36:00.000-05:00

I was checking out various bands on Epitonic again, and found this one that I really like called Matt Pond PA--I guess they're not too far from me here. Anyway, they have a more earthy, organic sound that distinguishes them a bit from various other indie rock bands.

Official site

Update: Well, don't that beat all. I'm sitting here with the t.v. on next to me, the Conan O'Brien show starts, and guess who the musical guest is? Are these guys more well known than I realized, because I never heard of them at all until just the other day. Actually, I think I've been missing a lot in recent years, away from high school and college, or any sort of urban area with any sort independent or college radio stations to speak of--I have to go foraging through the internet now.

Supreme Court punts on Blackberry case

2006-01-23T11:32:00.000-05:00

I don't own a Blackberry, or even a cell phone for that matter, but I think this is going to be sort of a big deal.

Destiny...

2006-01-23T11:27:00.000-05:00

The "smash hit" that never was?

2006-01-19T11:57:00.000-05:00

I was reading this article in Pitchfork Media about a single by a group called the Cloud Room. The name of the single is "Hey Now Now" and apparently the group's record label thought it was such a sure-fire hit that they had the band hastily record an album, even though they hadn't yet written an ablum's worth of material. Then they had to engage in some form of negotiations with various radio stations in different markets, trying to convince or induce them to play the single.

After reading this, it just reinforces my decision that I want nothing to do with this type of system. Of course, after reading about what a great song it is, I had to hear it for myself, and I have to honestly say that I don't think it was worth all that trouble. Yes, it's a good catchy song, but it's a bit too repetitive for me. I certainly wouldn't put it in the category of great, finely crafted, melodic singles of the past. When I think of great pop/rock singles, I think of Sugar's "If I Can't Change Your Mind", just about any single by Oasis, maybe even Natalie Imbruglia's "Torn"--and I know there must be many other better and more current examples, maybe something by the New Pornographers. This one seems like something that could certainly get a lot of radio airplay, but it strikes me as the type of single that is played ad nausium and then completely forgotten until years later when people are asking "hey remember that, whatever happened to them?" You or someone you know will probably have that album, which you only bought for the single, and which quickly gets lost in the rest of your record collection.
I guess I just can't believe that bands are still forced to do this, especially by a label that gives the impression of being more artist-friendly. Give the musicians some time to write and craft more good material, and hopefully a much more substantive and cohesive album. If there's a great single on there, it will find its way to a larger audience in due course. Maybe they should have focused more on internet and satellite radio(apparently they've finally come to that realization), as well as sending it out to every music blog. Then let the band tour and build a more solid audience.

Whatever, wtf do I know anyway. You can decide for yourself if it was worth it--click here.

On the other hand, Headphone Sex has a good track by a newish group called Voxtrot. I think I like this one better, as far as indie pop singles go. A little more to sink my teeth into. Also check the December 3 entry at Hushreality, a song called "Lemons From Lemonaid" by the Celebrity Pilots. I think I like this one even more.

"Slacker Divas"

2006-01-15T20:34:00.000-05:00

A positive article on the latest from Cat Power and Beth Orton in today's New York Times.

They said it couldn't be done...

2006-01-15T20:31:00.000-05:00

...but WE SHOCKED THE WORLD!