In no particular order
1. David Vandervelde - The Moonstation House Band
2. Apostle of Hustle - The National Anthem of Nowhere
3. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
4. The Good, The Bad and The Queen - The Good, The Bad and The Queen
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
4 on the list already is pretty good for January!
Check other good albums : http://www.revinity.com/2007
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
They might be the next Clash....
Or maybe just the next 7 Seconds.
Yeah Baby.... AGAINST ME!
I put them in the 10 best bands around. They have a new album coming out in the spring.
I've maintained Against Me! could be the next Clash... a band the defies expectations, and creates something amazing.
But maybe....
Anyone remember 1987? Anyone remember 7 Seconds?
7 Seconds had released what was a career-defining album Walk Together Rock Together, were on the verge of something grand, and then released a change of pace record called : New Wind.
The album was released in a hail of angry and narrow minded fans shouting "SELL OUT"
Against Me! recently released a career-defining album Searching for a Former Clarity (the best album of 2005) and are definately on the verge of something grand, and are about to release a new album called.... New Wave
No one has heard a note yet, and there's a hail of angry and narrow minded fans shouting "SELL OUT"
20 years later, perhaps there is some similarity.
Or not....
Perhaps they are the next U2.
Bear with me a second.
Back in 1985 U2 had released 3 albums, and had defined their sound to the point of near-perfection. This culminated with the War album (quite possibly the final, triumphant note of "The Big Sound" era).
With the release of The Unforgettable Fire, U2 started exploring their music a bit deeper.
Bizarre as it may sound, cries of "SELL OUT" rang loudly.
A rabid following put their fingers in ears, shouted "LA LA LA" and refused to accept that a band should grow beyond helicopter guitar riffs and videos of them marching around in the snow.
7 Seconds tried.... U2 succeeded.
I have high hopes for Against Me!
In March, I'm headed up to the wilds of Grand Rapids. Home of DeVos, Van Andel and a bunch of other creepy white christian dutchmen to see the band play.
Slightly less creeepy and quite a bit more fetching is Lil' Ms. Kristin, who is going with me to the show.
Anyone in GR... Go see this band. March 10th, Skelletones.
It may be like 1983, when U2 played Dooley's.
Yeah Baby.... AGAINST ME!
I put them in the 10 best bands around. They have a new album coming out in the spring.
I've maintained Against Me! could be the next Clash... a band the defies expectations, and creates something amazing.
But maybe....
Anyone remember 1987? Anyone remember 7 Seconds?
7 Seconds had released what was a career-defining album Walk Together Rock Together, were on the verge of something grand, and then released a change of pace record called : New Wind.
The album was released in a hail of angry and narrow minded fans shouting "SELL OUT"
Against Me! recently released a career-defining album Searching for a Former Clarity (the best album of 2005) and are definately on the verge of something grand, and are about to release a new album called.... New Wave
No one has heard a note yet, and there's a hail of angry and narrow minded fans shouting "SELL OUT"
20 years later, perhaps there is some similarity.
Or not....
Perhaps they are the next U2.
Bear with me a second.
Back in 1985 U2 had released 3 albums, and had defined their sound to the point of near-perfection. This culminated with the War album (quite possibly the final, triumphant note of "The Big Sound" era).
With the release of The Unforgettable Fire, U2 started exploring their music a bit deeper.
Bizarre as it may sound, cries of "SELL OUT" rang loudly.
A rabid following put their fingers in ears, shouted "LA LA LA" and refused to accept that a band should grow beyond helicopter guitar riffs and videos of them marching around in the snow.
7 Seconds tried.... U2 succeeded.
I have high hopes for Against Me!
In March, I'm headed up to the wilds of Grand Rapids. Home of DeVos, Van Andel and a bunch of other creepy white christian dutchmen to see the band play.
Slightly less creeepy and quite a bit more fetching is Lil' Ms. Kristin, who is going with me to the show.
Anyone in GR... Go see this band. March 10th, Skelletones.
It may be like 1983, when U2 played Dooley's.
McFlickr
So I got an email that says I have to get a Yahoo! account to use Flickr now.
Yes, I know they bought them and are free to do what they feel they need to do. It shouldn't be so odd, I had to change to my Google login to resume using this blog.
But here's the deal....
I really don't like Yahoo!
I never have. I don't like their tools, I don't like their manner, I don't like the look of their face.
They are not my playground friend.
What about Google? What about Picassa?
Well, I like Google only a bit more than Yahoo!
They're like that guy that had a party at his house and had good beer, didn't play any Creed or Nickelback, but was still sort of an ass.
I have Gmail, but rarely use it. I use Blogger, but also have a Wordpress account. In other words, I'm not tied to it.
I'm sure in the next few weeks, scores of people who contribute more to the whole blog thing will be declaring their love for the new great startup photo sharing site.
I'll be checking them all out, too.
Pity tho, Flickr was pretty fucking cool.
Yes, I know they bought them and are free to do what they feel they need to do. It shouldn't be so odd, I had to change to my Google login to resume using this blog.
But here's the deal....
I really don't like Yahoo!
I never have. I don't like their tools, I don't like their manner, I don't like the look of their face.
They are not my playground friend.
What about Google? What about Picassa?
Well, I like Google only a bit more than Yahoo!
They're like that guy that had a party at his house and had good beer, didn't play any Creed or Nickelback, but was still sort of an ass.
I have Gmail, but rarely use it. I use Blogger, but also have a Wordpress account. In other words, I'm not tied to it.
I'm sure in the next few weeks, scores of people who contribute more to the whole blog thing will be declaring their love for the new great startup photo sharing site.
I'll be checking them all out, too.
Pity tho, Flickr was pretty fucking cool.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
10-Minute Presentations
This may be crap.
I've been working on a long-form book / presentation / manifesto for a while now. I make progress from time to time, but realized that it, most likely, will never be finished.
So, I'm chiselling off small pieces.
My goal : A concise discussion of a single topic in 10 minutes.
This means no fat, no fluff, none of the usual shit.
The audience will either get it completely or not at all.
That's fine, it's only 10 minutes of their lives.
I'm posting the first shortly.
I've been working on a long-form book / presentation / manifesto for a while now. I make progress from time to time, but realized that it, most likely, will never be finished.
So, I'm chiselling off small pieces.
My goal : A concise discussion of a single topic in 10 minutes.
This means no fat, no fluff, none of the usual shit.
The audience will either get it completely or not at all.
That's fine, it's only 10 minutes of their lives.
I'm posting the first shortly.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Darwin in the backyard
I'm watching survival of the fittest unravel in my backyard.
I put out food for the squirrels as I think the cold took them by surprise.
There are two that I see often : 1 scrawny and patchy one and a healthy, robust one.
Photo of Scrawny one (from summer '06)
Photo of Healthy one
Each are after the food, and each have their tactics to drive the other off.
The scrawny one has no fear of me walking by the windows, where the healthy one bolts anytime he sees something move.
My cat, Spoon is an added wrinkle, wanting to kill and eat both of them.
Known killer evidence : Exhibit One | Exhibit Two | Exhibit Three
Results of the Darwinian smackdown are pending.
I put out food for the squirrels as I think the cold took them by surprise.
There are two that I see often : 1 scrawny and patchy one and a healthy, robust one.
Photo of Scrawny one (from summer '06)
Photo of Healthy one
Each are after the food, and each have their tactics to drive the other off.
The scrawny one has no fear of me walking by the windows, where the healthy one bolts anytime he sees something move.
My cat, Spoon is an added wrinkle, wanting to kill and eat both of them.
Known killer evidence : Exhibit One | Exhibit Two | Exhibit Three
Results of the Darwinian smackdown are pending.
Still looking for a great writing program
I got spoiled by VoodooPad.
I'm looking for a writing program with a few basic (I consider them basic) features:
Multiple documents in a browsable list
basic editing features
single portable file
ability to synchronize with other computers (e.g. desktop and laptop)
Export to Word (for the suits)
Ability to post to blogger
Pagination for printing
Nice to look at
I've been sampling pretty much everything out there.
My current faves are :
VoodooPad - Link
Notae - Link
Journaler - Link
Scrivner - Link
But somehow, none of them accomplish all of what I need.... anyone have any other thought?
I'm looking for a writing program with a few basic (I consider them basic) features:
I've been sampling pretty much everything out there.
My current faves are :
VoodooPad - Link
Notae - Link
Journaler - Link
Scrivner - Link
But somehow, none of them accomplish all of what I need.... anyone have any other thought?
Dreaming like Andrew Bird's Violin
My dreams have been becoming increasingly bizarre.
I've been trying to take notes in the morning, to remember what occurred as it's far more fascinating than my current waking life.
I had one last night where I was discussing the current state of online design in the Detroit area. I have a lurking fear that this city is dead to me, and that the "business of design" is beating any real innovative thought.
Out of the dream, all I can recall is one line that sums up all my feelings :
Retards working hard to make it to baseball cards.
I'll be putting that one in a song shortly.
I've been trying to take notes in the morning, to remember what occurred as it's far more fascinating than my current waking life.
I had one last night where I was discussing the current state of online design in the Detroit area. I have a lurking fear that this city is dead to me, and that the "business of design" is beating any real innovative thought.
Out of the dream, all I can recall is one line that sums up all my feelings :
Retards working hard to make it to baseball cards.
I'll be putting that one in a song shortly.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Joe Strummer
Of course everyone knows the Clash. They were and still are the greatest band in the world. 6 albums and countless EPs and singles of the best music of the punk era (yes I count Cut the Crap, since the first Big Audio Dynamite album was equally as crappy).
After the demise of the Clash, Joe went on to some strange times. His first solo album was poorly produced and seemed half-hearted. The soundtrack to Walker (available now as a re-issue from Astralwerks) was a much better album, despite being almost completely instrumental.
And then the long spell of no music from Joe. Oh, he was around, doing guest vocals, touring with the Pogues, soundtrack work, even jumping in on BAD for a couple of songs, but no albums of his own.
Then in 1999 came a disc with a horrible cover and brilliant music inside, Rock Art and the X-ray Style. Joe was back and sounded like he had something left to say. The flawless Global-a-Go Go followed in 2001 and it was like Joe had never left. The music was amazing, the lyrics funny and sometimes biting, and the touring was relentless.
Then Joe died. December 22nd, 2002. Three years to the day.
Joe Strummer was one of the last honest men in rock and roll. I miss Joe being in this world. I miss knowing he's out there with an endless enthusiasm and optimism. I miss waiting for his next song.
In an era of crap bands, well-rehearsed and produced revolution, image over substance, and lack of real soul; you all owe it to yourselves to pick up one of Joe's solo albums. It's good for you.
Joe's final release was called Streetcore, it followed his other albums by having a horrible cover over top of brilliant songs. It's unintentionally sad, most of the songs being real corkers. I named this song as my favorite song of the year 2003.
This is Burning Streets by Joe Strummer, from the album Streetcore
The Song
Burnin Streets (6.9MB MP3)
The Site
Official Site
The Album
Streetcore
After the demise of the Clash, Joe went on to some strange times. His first solo album was poorly produced and seemed half-hearted. The soundtrack to Walker (available now as a re-issue from Astralwerks) was a much better album, despite being almost completely instrumental.
And then the long spell of no music from Joe. Oh, he was around, doing guest vocals, touring with the Pogues, soundtrack work, even jumping in on BAD for a couple of songs, but no albums of his own.
Then in 1999 came a disc with a horrible cover and brilliant music inside, Rock Art and the X-ray Style. Joe was back and sounded like he had something left to say. The flawless Global-a-Go Go followed in 2001 and it was like Joe had never left. The music was amazing, the lyrics funny and sometimes biting, and the touring was relentless.
Then Joe died. December 22nd, 2002. Three years to the day.
Joe Strummer was one of the last honest men in rock and roll. I miss Joe being in this world. I miss knowing he's out there with an endless enthusiasm and optimism. I miss waiting for his next song.
In an era of crap bands, well-rehearsed and produced revolution, image over substance, and lack of real soul; you all owe it to yourselves to pick up one of Joe's solo albums. It's good for you.
Joe's final release was called Streetcore, it followed his other albums by having a horrible cover over top of brilliant songs. It's unintentionally sad, most of the songs being real corkers. I named this song as my favorite song of the year 2003.
This is Burning Streets by Joe Strummer, from the album Streetcore
The Song
Burnin Streets (6.9MB MP3)
The Site
Official Site
The Album
Streetcore
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Angry Red Planet
So I was like 16 or something and Angry Red Planet was playing at this place called the Hole in the Wall, which was really just a big open space above Isis, you know that bar in Pontiac. So anyway, me and this guy Chuck went to see them but this really crappy band opened (Scott Campbell's Band) and we threw the empy brown bottles of Rush that we were huffing at this guy as he played Syd Barrett-era Floyd songs. We came to see Angry Red Planet man, not some washed up hippy shit! So then another opening band comes on, and they suck, they called themselves Black Rose and the only reason they got to play was because the bass player Gino was a bartender downstairs and scored the room for the show. Then there was some fight over whether or not some guy was a poser, probably initiated by the Apple Sids, the toughest punk gang to ever come out of the rich areas of Farmington and Bloomfield Hills. No posers there! "Daddy! Can you buy me Walk Among Us? It's only $50" And then some girl got sick in the only bathroom in the place, which didn't matter since the toilet was broke anyway. Then I drew a skull on the wall with my sharpie and finished the bottle of Mad Dog that I brought in.
So then Angry Red Planet comes on and they're great. And we all slam. It was good.
Angry Red Planet was this really good Detroit hardcore band back in the mid-80s. They release a couple of records through Touch and Go, and played quite a bit around town. They were a favorite of mine and have long since broken up. Their first full length (Little Pigs, Little Pigs) had a hand screenprinted cover and was numbered. I have number 165.
If anyone knows Cory Rusk, have him get off his ass and re-release all the old Touch & Go stuff digitally. Emusic would be a great place.
This song is called Mediocrity and is from the 7" Gawker's Paradise, which sadly is unavailable.
The Song
Mediocrity (2.3MB MP3)
The Site
Touch and Go Profile
So then Angry Red Planet comes on and they're great. And we all slam. It was good.
Angry Red Planet was this really good Detroit hardcore band back in the mid-80s. They release a couple of records through Touch and Go, and played quite a bit around town. They were a favorite of mine and have long since broken up. Their first full length (Little Pigs, Little Pigs) had a hand screenprinted cover and was numbered. I have number 165.
If anyone knows Cory Rusk, have him get off his ass and re-release all the old Touch & Go stuff digitally. Emusic would be a great place.
This song is called Mediocrity and is from the 7" Gawker's Paradise, which sadly is unavailable.
The Song
Mediocrity (2.3MB MP3)
The Site
Touch and Go Profile
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Chris Whitley 1960 - 2005
Wow, what a horrible fucking birthday present. To wake up and find that Chris Whitley had died.
For those of you who have heard his music, or seen him perform, you already know that there was no one else like him.
For those of you who don't know, he was one of the last great keepers of American music. He made many of his own guitars. He didn't really try to sell a ton of records. He could alternate from a solo acoustic dirge to a raucous punk noise in a matter of seconds. Danial Lanois counts him as a favorite artist. He played a mean guitar and sang like a tortured angel. His latest effort Soft Dangerous Shores is on my top 10 list for 2005. He never made a bad record, and few of them sounded alike. You should get to know him.
Rest in peace.
This is Poison Girl by Chris Whitley from the album Living With the Law
The Song
Poison Girl (3.2MB AAC)
The Site
Official Site
The Album
Living With the Law
For those of you who have heard his music, or seen him perform, you already know that there was no one else like him.
For those of you who don't know, he was one of the last great keepers of American music. He made many of his own guitars. He didn't really try to sell a ton of records. He could alternate from a solo acoustic dirge to a raucous punk noise in a matter of seconds. Danial Lanois counts him as a favorite artist. He played a mean guitar and sang like a tortured angel. His latest effort Soft Dangerous Shores is on my top 10 list for 2005. He never made a bad record, and few of them sounded alike. You should get to know him.
Rest in peace.
This is Poison Girl by Chris Whitley from the album Living With the Law
The Song
Poison Girl (3.2MB AAC)
The Site
Official Site
The Album
Living With the Law
Friday, November 18, 2005
Poi Dog Pondering
In 1988, I was stationed at Ft. Bliss, El Paso. What a shithole. But it wasn't so bad, I drank a lot at the El Paso Surf Club. Met many of El Paso's lovely ladies to the dismay of my current Michigan-based girlfirend, did the whole Juarez thing, and visited a record store / head shop where I picked up the 4 song, self-titled EP from Poi Dog Pondering.
Hi Frank! I loved you immediately. The band was led by Frank Orrall, lead singer and songwriter and consisted of anywhere from 3 - 14 other people. Someday I'd like to meet Frank Orall. He seems like a really groovy cat, and in a way I've known him for almost 20 years.
Poi Dog Pondering was a band from Hawaii, that moved to Austin, and then later to Chicago. In each town, they seemed to pick up the vibe of the city and incorporate it into their music. Or maybe it's the other way around.
Initially a folky, gypsy style band with guitars, violins, and various other exotic instruments (my pal Jake played a bizzare Brazillian percussion thingie on one of their tracks), Poi Dog have made their way to being a funky rockin band complete with a hip-hop dance troupe.
This song catches them at one of my favorite spots, a transitional point where the songs became very focused, and the subject matter grew to new areas. This song also illustrates that they might be the best live band on the planet. And I, one of their largest fans, have to humbly admit to never seeing them live.
This is Big Constellation by Poi Dog Pondering from the live album Liquid White Light
The Song
Big Constellation (8.0MB MP3)
The Site
Official Site
The Album
Liquid White Light
Hi Frank! I loved you immediately. The band was led by Frank Orrall, lead singer and songwriter and consisted of anywhere from 3 - 14 other people. Someday I'd like to meet Frank Orall. He seems like a really groovy cat, and in a way I've known him for almost 20 years.
Poi Dog Pondering was a band from Hawaii, that moved to Austin, and then later to Chicago. In each town, they seemed to pick up the vibe of the city and incorporate it into their music. Or maybe it's the other way around.
Initially a folky, gypsy style band with guitars, violins, and various other exotic instruments (my pal Jake played a bizzare Brazillian percussion thingie on one of their tracks), Poi Dog have made their way to being a funky rockin band complete with a hip-hop dance troupe.
This song catches them at one of my favorite spots, a transitional point where the songs became very focused, and the subject matter grew to new areas. This song also illustrates that they might be the best live band on the planet. And I, one of their largest fans, have to humbly admit to never seeing them live.
This is Big Constellation by Poi Dog Pondering from the live album Liquid White Light
The Song
Big Constellation (8.0MB MP3)
The Site
Official Site
The Album
Liquid White Light
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