tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58574961338047275762024-03-05T20:14:02.738-08:00In This Haze of Green and GoldWinter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-29560076834213876232008-03-06T19:38:00.000-08:002009-05-15T00:04:21.846-07:00# 17<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCpvFVFmDewPhxZx_kcu2-8x2sNdbx6qK_NGAJv3qk4gmgRGA1o9HzEe5Vges5gvt5YALdY2gIvjOJuUVjWxkKTb7FoYFlXjhCLpLyMbZQ5tV1kuQzyGef_Fd1jTj5g-0NTomcFKDDM8/s1600-h/super_furry_animals.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCpvFVFmDewPhxZx_kcu2-8x2sNdbx6qK_NGAJv3qk4gmgRGA1o9HzEe5Vges5gvt5YALdY2gIvjOJuUVjWxkKTb7FoYFlXjhCLpLyMbZQ5tV1kuQzyGef_Fd1jTj5g-0NTomcFKDDM8/s320/super_furry_animals.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174840561841804210" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-44933780215098251782008-03-02T20:40:00.000-08:002008-03-02T21:45:39.767-08:00#18<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ErjvdWOuT01ma7z60VopqF7QD71Fpug-7A443kRIwnjL5P4_P4qEsHdC8P2XYn8ibRII3OkfZBFcjhmHfkzaAaKmgqGZECfE23eKd5lzLNEIWhyyBs9xNlL9gV_83krfSIPvwCJepC8/s1600-h/Deehoof.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ErjvdWOuT01ma7z60VopqF7QD71Fpug-7A443kRIwnjL5P4_P4qEsHdC8P2XYn8ibRII3OkfZBFcjhmHfkzaAaKmgqGZECfE23eKd5lzLNEIWhyyBs9xNlL9gV_83krfSIPvwCJepC8/s320/Deehoof.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173371722895426178" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Runner's Four </span><span style="font-style: italic;">By </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Deerhoof</span> (2005)<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span>Look at the cover of this album....... "Cactus." "Pigeon." "Cat Tent." What do these random items have to do with anything? How does the title tie into the album? These questions really aren't answered and they don't need to be. Part of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Deerhoof</span> logic is possessing no logic. The Japanese/American band is known for their chaotic rushes of noise juxtaposed with singer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Matsuzaki's</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">screeching yet</span> cute j-pop voice. Here they tone things down a bit and and inject a few <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ccs</span> more melody. <span style="font-style: italic;">The Runner's Four</span> is a collage of twenty tracks seemingly pulled at random from the band's constantly whirring brain. Maybe the items on the cover are meant to symbolize the uniqueness of each song on the album... The tracks progress through upbeat pop tunes ("O-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Malley</span>, Former Underdog") to surprisingly pretty ballads ("Odyssey") to noise rock ("<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rrrrrright</span>"). You never really know what you're gonna get with these songs and this is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">definitely</span> part of the appeal. There is great guitar work contained within this album. "Twin Killers" and "Spirit Ditties of No Tone" highlight the band's bright, angular guitar style. It conjures images of multicolored samurai swords slashing through the darkness while <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Matsuzuki's</span> pink voice floats cute and happy over the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">cartoonish</span> carnage. And Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Saunier's</span> percussion must be mentioned: he establishes the backbone of many of the tracks while mixing things up with complex and shifting beats. During the second half, the album suffers from maybe a little too much silliness, but damn.....with this record they threw all the wet pasta at the wall and kept every bit of it, even if it didn't stick, and I fucking love 'em for it!<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-51346820674577039122008-02-28T08:00:00.001-08:002008-02-28T08:39:49.124-08:00#19<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFT1tT8bRFH8VjM4DNDo3K_NvDrcqejjHc4DnxHJqhSLT-uSrRSnm6YXTsQTTRTgsbMB8rLhZMWZsDLXwZexDKxsjZhyirL0Z_MqydknPWFZkrCp5Fz4JN29CNlixjNz_6txkufEj70I/s1600-h/z.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFT1tT8bRFH8VjM4DNDo3K_NvDrcqejjHc4DnxHJqhSLT-uSrRSnm6YXTsQTTRTgsbMB8rLhZMWZsDLXwZexDKxsjZhyirL0Z_MqydknPWFZkrCp5Fz4JN29CNlixjNz_6txkufEj70I/s320/z.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172061759216439570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Z </span><span style="font-style: italic;">by </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">My Morning Jacket (2005)</span><br /><br /><br /><br /> It was hard for me to decide which <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">MMJ</span> album to put on this list. I own two of their other albums, <span style="font-style: italic;">At Dawn </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">It Still Moves.</span> Both of these are epic, American rock masterpieces. They ramble through the sunny brightness and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">gothic</span> darkness of Southern-tinged music. And both albums are probably more representative of the Kentucky-based band than the lighter <span style="font-style: italic;">Z. </span>However, <span style="font-style: italic;">Z</span> is the most enjoyable <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MMJ</span> record. With this album, the band cut down on album length and injected variation into their sound. There's a bit of the ethereal here, some soul there, a little jam band over there, some Beach Boys sounds here, and (of course) a hefty serving of Southern fried rock. In fact, My Morning Jacket's real draw might be their unique blend of straight up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">reverb</span> drenched rock with a bright 60's style pop sensibility. This album is perfect for road trips on partly cloudy days. It conjures images of washing cars in July....getting soaked with the sudsy water in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">oppressive</span> heat. It's like going boating on the lake or vacationing at a nice beach. It's also great <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">barbecuing</span> music. This is a summer album if there ever was one. You can almost see the heat shimmering above the pavement. The standout moment for me is track 8, "Lay Low." This is a driving rock song. It begins with an interesting percussion beat with a simple but effective electric guitar riff. Jim James amazing voice enters from whichever dimension it echos from and the song gradually builds momentum. This breaks with the energizing second half in a flurry of guitar soloing. Two guitars get their chance to shine here, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">inter playing</span> with each other over a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">plinking</span> piano and driving percussion. I'm always so energized and just plain happy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">every time</span> I hear this track. The atmosphere chills out a bit with the next song, then the sun finally sets with the moody last track. A great album by one of the best bands around these days.Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-78232879405778123062008-02-26T20:13:00.000-08:002008-02-26T20:48:34.686-08:00# 20<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1BE6LTaJyMft63jcVqRZ24EljhQV0aMR1j97Qd-A1yWlJLBLObOu7wlXn-XZryQG3bsw2zd6uiB2NCQXMOIHwtNJTM6Rclfqc1B_MtKUaCUfsy0NI_hh55w92rPeu4uh6fS2swuotvQ/s1600-h/belle-and-sebastian-480.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1BE6LTaJyMft63jcVqRZ24EljhQV0aMR1j97Qd-A1yWlJLBLObOu7wlXn-XZryQG3bsw2zd6uiB2NCQXMOIHwtNJTM6Rclfqc1B_MtKUaCUfsy0NI_hh55w92rPeu4uh6fS2swuotvQ/s320/belle-and-sebastian-480.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171513270417903874" border="0" /></a><br />I've decided to fashion a return to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">blogosphere</span>. The "indie" music nerd that lives so vividly inside me couldn't resist the creation of an essential album list. However pointless these "best of" lists are, I must take a stab at making one for my own inner peace. Album analysis is actually an extremely fun activity. Sitting down with (or hilariously dancing to) the exciting range of musical styles provides endless joy. Music can enhance the sensations and perception of your own world or they can vividly create their own. And joy can be found in the process of quantifying the very diverse music. So here I am, quantifying what I consider to be the best albums of this decade, the 00's, the Naughties, the Aughts, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">whatevers</span>. Keep in mind the strong subjectivity of this list. I am in no way trying to remove my personal feelings and associations with these albums from this list. Art mingles very strongly with the observer (listener), so I feel I should not try to disassociate my personal attachments to these works of art. These are very much <span style="font-style: italic;">my</span> favorite albums of the 00's...<br /><br /><br /><br />20. <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Life Pursuit </span><span style="font-style: italic;">by </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Belle & Sebastian (2006)<br /></span><br /><br /> Belle & Sebastian have been a staple of the indie scene since their breakthrough album <span style="font-style: italic;">If You're Feeling Sinister </span>in 1996. They basically perfected low key soft pop enhanced by witty storytelling lyrics. Ten years later they shifted their sound towards the rock end of the spectrum. With this album, they released an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">energetic</span> soft rock collection of mini pop masterpieces. The tone is still very much light and fluffy, but the atmosphere contains an extra charge. The songs here are pretty much all major key and upbeat. The great thing about this album is the beautiful simplicity of the songwriting. We have all heard songs like this throughout our lives and the listener instinctively "knows" each song. While this doesn't provide much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">excitement</span> from the exploration in new sound, it evokes a sense of comfort. The listener feels like they have always experienced good memories with this album. The familiar chord changes and sparkling melodies conjure a joyous sense of fun and happy nostalgia. Another great aspect of the album is the expansive production. All the songs sound vast and thick. Each instrument sounds heavy and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">syrupy</span>. This adds a colorful dimension to the potentially boring songwriting. This is an album to dance to at parties (or on your own), it's for Sunday afternoon drives, it's an album to create bright, joyous memories to. One of the essential pure pop releases of the decade.Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-61210758333406286852007-06-02T20:19:00.000-07:002007-06-02T20:44:48.527-07:00"....In this place circling all round the sun.""In The Aeroplane Over the Sea" is an album cherished by many, many people. It's creator emerged from the depths of friends' closets, intense dreams, and ashy nightmares to channel the higher power of the universe, thus forging a tragic, but empowering fanfare of lost spirits, wondering souls and beautifully wretched creatures. Afterwards, the creator <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">dissappeared</span> again, folding into a world that has no love for starry-eyed poets and mystical prophets.<br /><br />However, the world will always have that brief, transcendent slice of one man's dreams and nightmares to treasure and love and hold onto.<br /><br />Here's the lyrics to the last phrase of the title track:<br /><br />"what a beautiful face<br />I have found in this place<br />that is circling all round the sun<br />and when we meet on a cloud<br />I'll be laughing out loud<br />I'll be laughing with everyone I see<br />Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all" -Jeff Magnum (Neutral Milk Hotel)<br /><br />Just contemplate on that very last line...<br /><br />I'll be leaving for Africa in almost 24 hours. While I'm there, having my mind blown, I'll be thinking how very strange it is, indeed, to be anything at all. I'll feel more connected to and more in awe of simply being a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">conscious</span> entity living, loving and dying on this place that is circling all round the sun.Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-56591967826838765482007-05-26T07:55:00.000-07:002007-05-26T08:33:54.089-07:00TearsI actually don't cry very often. Most of the time when my emotions are being tugged, I'll just get a little teary eyed, but it hardly ever develops into full blown crying. Maybe I like to think of myself as a rugged stoic who can handle anything. Besides that being a delusion, resistance to crying is unhealthy. Having a good cry now and then releases stress and gives your body and mind a good cleansing. So I'm glad that I had a good cry last night. It felt sort of liberating.<br /><br />I'm not exactly sure why I cried for so long and so hard last night, but I do know what triggered it: Tom Waits. Yes, crazy old Tom Waits. I have recently been obsessing over this man who's entire aura has completely captivated me to the point where I can't believe that he is just a mere human. So I was scrounging around the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">internet</span> yesterday trying to find some more songs to hear by him (I had just bought my first Waits album) and I came across a blog entry where some art student had uploaded some Waits ballads. I downloaded them all, and I put them on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">iPod</span>. Then I started listening to them to try and lull myself to sleep.<br /><br />It was working very well. I was feeling comforted by the lilting strings, the warm piano, and that unmistakable rumbly voice. And I thought, I'll listen to "I'm Still Here" one last time before I fall asleep. So I went back and started that song again. The simple but achingly beautiful piano line began and I knew something was different......I was feeling very emotional all of a sudden. A few moments went by, then Tom's voice entered. All it took was that gruff, sincere growl to say "You haven't looked that way at me in years" across the piano melody and I completely lost it. The tears shot out with no warning and I was hit by an atomic bomb made of pure emotion.<br /><br />I pictured all the sad things in my life, all the beautiful memories that I carry with me, all the experiences that I've had just being alive. Everything was flashing in a green and gold haze and I just cried and cried and cried. I saw all the homeless people in Memphis. I saw all my best friends and the great times we've had. I felt the beauty of just staring up through the trees. I relived all the deaths of my pets. I remembered the thrill of change. I recalled the exhilaration of love and belonging and the crushing sadness of rejection and loss. I experienced the confusion and joy of simply existing.<br /><br />After twenty minutes, I calmed down. I was done. This unexptected burst of internal passion died away, and with the settling of the dust I felt light and relieved. I was content and calm. So I stretched out in bed and imagined a glittering staircase wandering away from my window, gliding down to the lake outside. I pictured myself walking down there in the moonlight and then floating up into the stars. Up, up, up I went, until there was nothing.......only dark.<br /><br />I fell asleep.Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-9632183189972448382007-05-21T21:16:00.000-07:002009-05-15T00:03:05.395-07:00Can't Bi Me Love<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-7392058057712153542007-05-17T19:41:00.000-07:002007-05-17T20:34:21.387-07:00Still StumblingFor the past few days, I've been going <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">internet</span> crazy. I have been reading all sorts of people's blogs as well as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">amateur</span> and professional pop culture critism. I have always been excited by the idea of just basking in each other's thoughts. I truly love to get inside the thought process of another human being and attempt to understand what and who they are. The internet is full of other souls and their take on life. I find the easy access to this array of thought intoxicating. All day I've been reading random blogs and other people's thoughts on music (from rateyourmusic.com).....and <span style="font-style: italic;">i've loved every moment of it</span>! All the honesty, all the drama, all the comedy, all the bits of genius; little snippets of people are everywhere, and their content is <span style="font-style: italic;">real.</span> I can't quite find the words to say what I'm trying to say, so I'll just jump to the bottom line:<br /><br />I love people and their thoughts on life. I love art and pop culture and I love what people have to say about art and pop culture.<br /><br />So I started this blog to allow myself to take part of the infinetely growing pool of ideas and thoughts.<br /><br />The problem is, I am not a great writer. I feel like I cannot organize my thoughts into a seemless flow of ideas, nor can I write very clearly and succinctly. I hope that continually writing in this blog will eventually improve my skills enough to satisfy me. I will also continue to read other blogs to look for good writing and figure out why it is good writing, so that I may apply it to my own writing process.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday, I wrote my first review on <a href="http://rateyourmusic.com/">rateyourmusic.com</a> and it is not very good. The review was on Wilco's new album Sky Blue Sky. Click <a href="http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/wilco/sky_blue_sky/">here</a> to read it. Scroll down until you see the review by Shoakley (that's me!). I am not so sure why it isn't a good review, so I hope that some of you can help me.<br /><br />I once thought that I was a good writer. After being in college for two years, I realize that I am still very much stumbling through the art of expressing myself.<br /><br /><br /></div>Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5857496133804727576.post-46502799619872409902007-05-17T13:51:00.000-07:002007-05-17T14:17:46.338-07:00BeginningsSo I've decided to re-enter the blogging world. And this time I will take this seriously. There is no use in setting up a blog without wanting to put effort into it. In high school I had a Xanga. This was dominated by mostly immature rattlings of an adolescent. Then I graduated to Myspace. I grew up a little when I reached this stage, but I felt uncomfortable by all the extra stuff one could put on one's profile. It just seemed so messy and too self-indulgent. Now I feel like I have matured enough to write on blogger.com. This time around I want to celebrate only my thoughts, my words, and the vast audience from which meaningful discussions and connections can arise. This time it's for real.<br /><br />I lifted the title of my blog from the title of the third section of the novel "The Dark Tower" (7th book of the Dark Tower series) by Stephen King. That phrase strikes some resonant chord in my brain. "In this haze of green and gold".......That section of the book was very disjointed. The protagonist was scattered, confused, determined, scared, depressed, content, lost, alone, happy, as well as in and out of touch with himself in that section of the novel. Most of the time I can identify with this swirl of emotion and the conflicting feelings of aimlessness and determination in my spirit. I feel like I know what I am and where I am going, but I also don't have a damn clue. The only thing that I know for sure is that I love living. No matter what I am experiencing, I love being alive. I am content, I am happy. I am sinking into a warm haze of green and gold.Winter Dude (summer version)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02556025876574394964noreply@blogger.com1