GhostLife Blog

GREATEST TRAILER EVER MADE - Friday the 13th Part VIII : Jason Takes Manhattan

2009-02-13T07:00:00.006-05:00

To "celebrate" the release of the new "Friday the 13th", on Friday the 13th, I bring to your attention he greatest trailer ever made ... the teaser trailer for 1989's (yes, TWENTY years ago) "Friday the 13th Part VIII : Jason Takes Manhattan". I'm sure it's lost all its effect by now, especially knowing what this trailer is for, but I remember seeing this in the theater and having no clue what it was. But then he turns, and the glory begins! Being a Friday the 13th fan, at that moment, it couldn't get any better than this ...

oh, and just for jollies, Arsenio Hall welcomes Jason Voorhees as a guest to promote the release of Jason Takes Manhattan! ...

Love,
A Nerd

2008 Movie Recommendations

2009-01-04T15:51:00.017-05:00

RECOMMENDED for 'pushing the envelope' and/or just great performances ...
-Be Kind Rewind
-Jar City
-Synedoche, New York
-There Will Be Blood
-W.

AND THE AWARD FOR NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS SOME WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IT OUT TO BE (but still not that great) ...
-The Happening
-Valkyrie

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

2008-12-20T12:14:00.000-05:00

Albums to Kill for from 2008

2008-12-13T15:38:00.003-05:00

1 | TV ON THE RADIO | Dear Science | Interscope-4AD

"Dear Science is a rare thing circa 2008: a headphone record in the age of iPods and decreased engagement with music. This is a band that’s on top of its game: The members of TV on the Radio have done a middling debut and an excellent art-rock heavy follow-up, and now they’ve proved they can make an exhilarating album with great songs from front to back. Dear Science is another highlight from a band whose career has essentially been an extended one." - Prefix Mag

"The songs are brighter, more vital, as energized and beautiful as they are portentous. It's as if the band, poised at the precipice, on a dying planet crawling with ignorant citizens, surrounded by warfare and soulless machines and a precious bit of love, figured it may as well try to lasso the pageant of life. Violins and trumpets are everywhere, replacing distortion with graceful, majestic textures that feel no less forceful than a squalling electric guitar. And the warmth and sparkle make sense on an album so explicitly designed to connect with people." - Boston Globe

maikaʻi aʻe mele
crying | golden age | love dog | dlz

Video for 'Golden Age' :

2 | EL GUINCHO | Alegranza! | Beggars-XL

"El Guincho's debut album Alegranza is as bright as the feathers of the parrot, as sparkly as the fireworks, and as warm as the palm trees that adorn the cover. The music flows like melted butter, twists and turns like a mountain highway, and shimmers like the sun on a scorching summer day. The Spanish producer/singer throws a whole mess of ingredients into the mix, including various strains of world music (like Afro-pop, tango, Spanish folk music), indie pop, techno, and post-rock and sends it spinning into a blurred, whirling rush of sound that never falters." - All Music Guide

"It's fun and light, and even though for all I know he could be singing about the destruction of mankind, it is bursting with joy and happiness. And for once, you can actually dance to a dance record." - Lost At Sea

"Born in the Canary Islands, Mr. Díaz-Reixa makes joyful music from an international assortment of loops and drumbeats — African, South Asian, Caribbean, Brazilian — and vocals, with free-associative lyrics in Spanish, that sound like a bunch of guys in a bar celebrating to endless three-chord refrains full of la-las. The repetition of the loops turns from mechanical to hypnotic to hallucinatory to ecstatic as the songs barrel along." - New York Times

"The 24-year-old's debut is a tropical soundclash of spiralling steel drums, looped, gnarled local songs and untrammelled joy." - The Observer

maikaʻi aʻe mele
antillas | cuando maavilla fui | fata morgana | kalise

Video for 'Palmitos Park' :

3 | AMY WINEHOUSE | Back to Black | Republic Records

(This album came out in 2007, but I didnt hear it until this year, thus is makes the 2008 list.)

"Back To Black has a hook as simple as it is irresistible. Winehouse's boozy, brawling, self-destructive 'tude is hip-hop and contemporary, but her unashamedly retro sound hearkens giddily back to Motown and girl groups of the '50s and '60s. Winehouse might sing about sketchy acquaintances smoking too much of her weed, or a beau who made her miss a Slick Rick concert, but the songcraft is as lush as anything Phil Spector has cooked up." - The Onion AV Club

"At first the songs on Amy Winehouse’s second album, “Back to Black,” could almost be unknown soul oldies from the 1950s and 1960s. The drums, strings and horns have a vintage production style, and Ms. Winehouse’s tart voice and sly, sultry phrasing sound largely unprocessed. Then the anachronisms kick in, from current slang and beats that hint at hip-hop to four-letter words and blunt references to sex and drugs. A 23-year-old English songwriter, Ms. Winehouse is decades too young for ’60s nostalgia, but she has come up with a wonderfully time-twisted batch of songs." - New York Times

maikaʻi aʻe mele
he can only hold her | love is a losing game | tears dry on their own | back to black

Video for 'Back to Black' :

4 | M83 | Saturdays=Youth | Mute Records

"With guitars gliding across translucent synth lines, the songs are big statements rendered in cold neon. The dazzling thing about M83 maestro Anthony Gonzalez’s fifth effort is his uncanny success at recapturing the heart-leaping whirl of his generation’s ’80s touchstones. An admitted John Hughes tribute, “Graveyard Girl” collides Ride and the Cocteau Twins in an Encino arcade while “We Own the Sky” is heady digital shoegaze for a fog-filled ice bar." - Paste Magazine

"The liner notes feature a sun-saturated photo shoot of a gang of sharp-dressed teens that could have been torn from a 1985 issue of Sassy. It’s hard to tell whether they’re the cool kids or the outcasts — but really, it doesn’t matter: romanticized confusion is the heart of Saturdays’ æsthetic. You can marvel at the ringer for Molly Ringwald on the cover while listening to the shoegazy “Graveyard Girl” (an homage to Pretty in Pink); you can take a lonely suburban summer drive to the electro anthem “We Own the Sky”; and “Kim & Jessie” is equally suited to moping or making out in your parents’ basement. This is an album steeped in a generation’s worth of nostalgia, but unlike most rehashed coming-of-age exercises, Saturdays = Youth manages, in its own small way, to offer something entirely new." - Boston Phoenix

maikaʻi aʻe mele
kim & jessie | couleurs | we own the sky | graveyard girl

'Kim & Jessie' live on Pitchfork.tv :

5 | SCHOOL OF SEVEN BELLS | Alpinisms | Ghostly International

"...squarely within the domain of late '80s/early '90s dream-pop in terms of inspiration, (these songs) are relatively individualist, going well beyond the lucid psychedelia and discreet flickers of Afro-beat and contemporary pop." - All Music Guide

"Spacey, ambient, and vaguely tribal, Alpinisms creates a landscape to get lost in. Alpinisms is a sensory experience, like downing a few tumblers of foreign liquor: too much will leave you lightheaded. Then again, everything is a better with a buzz." - Lost At Sea

maikaʻi aʻe mele
half asleep | wired for light | connjur | prince of peace

Trailer for 'Alpinisms' :

6 | BROKER/DEALER | Soft Sell EP | Spectral

"80's italo and disco infected uptempo house tracks from San Francisco's Broker/Dealer with the excellent 'Soft Sell'. The Italo/disco influences are subtle but apparent, with a long playing house track pushed by a perky bassline roll and luxuriant synthlines." - Boomkat

"From the first crack of the kick drum until the very end, Broker/Dealer’s “Soft Sell” is the kind of soulful techno you want to gorge yourself on over and over again. The full analog bass stabs provide a perfect counterpart to the sharp arpeggios and marshmallow synth horn, which plays a sublime midnight melody." - Urlaubshits

maikaʻi aʻe mele
soft sell | save it for later

Video for 'Opening Night' :

7 | THE RAVEONETTES | Lust Lust Lust | Vice Records

"Awash in heavy reverb and in-the-red treble, and drawing heavily from '60s surf-pop, Lust Lust Lust, the duo's fourth album, shakes and wriggles within a self-defined aesthetic that's perfectly suited to tales of the dirtiest of the deadly sins. These songs don't sound like love songs because they aren't love songs. That the Raveonettes understand why that's an important distinction makes Lust Lust Lust a sleazy pop masterpiece." - Slant Magazine

"The Raveonettes' fourth CD crackles like a transmission from some spectral AM radio station — one playing tunes from the supergroup that, in an alternate universe, the Ronettes, My Bloody Valentine, and the Velvet Underground formed on a lost weekend. Laced with languid two-part harmonies, fuzz-addled feedback, and bittersweet Spector melodics, Lust Lust Lust is a gauze-wrapped cocoon of an album." - Entertainment Weekly

maikaʻi aʻe mele
aly, walk with me | hallucinations | blush | sad transmission

Video for 'Dead Sound' :

8 | SANTOGOLD | Santogold | Downtown Records

"You'd have to go back to Grace Jones in the early '80s to find an African-American woman who comes on this strong with avant-garde club funk and weird rock shit. Combining new wave, ska, dub, grime, Baltimore club, and hip-hop in an ear-warping wash of 21st-century psychedelia, Santogold takes listeners on a trip to a hidden black America, where Santi White (aka Santogold) acts as tour guide through the alleyways of her mind and undoubtedly excellent iPod." - Spin

"Severe, sumptuous beatbox dub, punky reggae and black-lit new wave. Santogold bursts with the arrogance of a world-beating hip-hop debut while thriving on vulnerability." - Blender

maikaʻi aʻe mele
you'll find a way | shove it | say aha | lights out | creator | starstruck

Video for 'Lights Out' :

9 | COLDPLAY | Viva La Vida | Capitol Records

"Gone are Chris Martin's piano recitals and gone are the washes of meticulously majestic guitar, replaced by orchestrations of sound, sometimes literally consisting of strings but usually a tapestry of synthesizers, percussion, organs, electronics, and guitars that avoid playing riffs. Gone too are simpering schoolboy ballads like "Fix You," and along with them the soaring melodies designed to fill arenas. In fact, there are no insistent hooks to be found anywhere on Viva la Vida, and there are no clear singles in this collection of insinuatingly ingratiating songs. This reliance on elliptical melodies isn't off-putting — alienation is alien to Coldplay — and this is where Eno's guidance pays off, as he helps sculpt Viva la Vida to work as a musical whole." - All Music Guide

"‘Viva…’ truly goes stratospheric: on the magnificent orchestral pop title track, where Martin imagines himself as a deposed French king reduced to sweeping the streets; on the bruised ‘Yes’, like Dandy Warhols and Depeche Mode lost in a desert duststorm; on the Satanic blues hymnal of single ‘Violet Hill’. As the record rounds up with the thumping ceilidh of ‘Strawberry Swing’ and the disjointed Elbow-ish crescendo of ‘Death And All His Friends’ you can only applaud Coldplay’s daring within their Big Music remit. ‘Viva…’, like those revolutionary French peasants at the palace gates, is steeped in traditionalism (Irish folk, Deep South country and blues, churchy classicism) but striving for something greater, grander, better. And with mainstream success guaranteed, by over-reaching themselves Coldplay are perfectly placed to decree the shape of the new rock order with album five. King Bono is dead; long live the kings." - NME

maikaʻi aʻe mele
life in technicolor | cemetaries of london | lost! | lovers in japan | strawberry swing

Video for 'Lost!' :

10 | MADONNA | Hard Candy | Warner Bros.

"Madonna hasn't delivered this many vapid floor fillers on one disc since her debut, and maybe not even then. Aside from a little careerism on the dance floor, there are few confessions here—nothing political, nothing too spiritual, no talk of fame, war, or the media. It's just what America ordered." - Slant Magazine

"On Hard Candy, she’s like an aging master thief sneaking into the temple of pop goodies for one last big score. Album 11 is good-naturedly smutty, not confrontationally nasty, but it’s a veritable filth bath compared to the C-SPAN sermons and confessional strumming of 2003’s dreadful American Life or the woozily self-actualized club trance of 2005’s Confessions on a Dance Floor. But respect for her originality won out, and (the producers) invoke the bubbly electro synths of early Madonna and the squishy grooves of early -’80s Prince/Rick James funk to invent slinky, playful music with undercurrents of adorable psychosexual intrigue." - Blender

maikaʻi aʻe mele
heartbeat | incredible | beat goes on | dance 2night | devil wouldn't recognize you

Video for 'Give it 2 Me' :

11 | BARRY ADAMSON | Back to the Cat | Central Control

"Things get mighty murky on Back to the Cat, which finds Adamson lurking halfway between the gutter and the neon. It’s a shirk away from the sick caricatures in search of a soundtrack aesthetic played out on many of his past albums. If Wayne Newton is playing at the Stardust, Adamson is across town at the dive bar with all the down-and-out losers just cashing out on their way to a cheap motel after pawning away their hopes and dreams. It’s probably safe to assume that somewhere in Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’s fictional universe of Sin City, the collected works of Barry Adamson are constantly playing. Beneath his cartoon martini lounge jazz-pop lies an openly repressed depravity. His icy exteriors are so slick and cynically confident that you can picture them inhabited by a world rendered only in black and white, eternally clouded by the smoking embers of a seemingly endless supply of discarded cigarette butts." - Pop Matters

"If there's a common thread to what Barry Adamson has brought to music over the last 30 years, it's a sense of drama. Stylistically, he's all over the place – Back to the Cat, like the last few, ranges between jazzy IDM and ornate pop productions. He can’t resist adding layers, be it a layer of sound, a shade of meaning or a musical reference. That's the conundrum of his work – he makes background music that demands close listening. Maybe that's why he hasn't gotten more work doing actual Hollywood soundtracks. Naturally, David Lynch has taken advantage of his work. The two share a knack for making sunshine as unnerving as the shadows." - Dusted Magazine

maikaʻi aʻe mele
straight 'til sunrise | spend a little time | walk on fire | psycho_sexual

Video for 'Straight 'til Sunrise' :

12 | NEON NEON | Stainless Style | Lex Records

"Strap yourselves in, close the gullwing doors, and prepare for the ride of a lifetime. For this is Neon Neon and their concept album telling the story of John DeLorean and his motor car - a tale of speed, drugs, sex, glamour and financial ruin. And now the narrative has music to suit it, as Welshmen Gruff Rhys and his partner in time travel Boom Bip go back to the future in their search for one of Detroit's most flamboyant sons. Rhys may not be a petrol head but Hollon clearly is, and dresses up his music to reflect that. The music could hardly evoke the 1980s more strongly. As a document of its time, Stainless Style is remarkably successful. Taken on the base level of being an enjoyable pop album, it also triumphs handsomely. An indulgence not to be passed over or taken guiltily." - musicOMH

"Car visionary DeLorean created the iconic DMC-12 featured in Back to the Future, and here Rhys plays the story-telling Marty to Hollon's synth-bothering Doc, with Yo Majesty, Fatlip and Spank Rock's Naeem Juwan jumping on board for the ride. Like its subjects' career, the album's highs are heady. Songs about hot girls and fast cars, assembly-line porn and Michael Douglas are wrapped in kitschy, itchy Italo disco softened by Welsh whimsy. I Told Her On Alderaan is a Thompson Twins-meets-the Cars fantasy, while the soulless electro of I Lust You perfectly mirrors the values of DeLorean's decade. Detours into hip-hop and rap slow down the fast-paced action, but Neon Neon have poured as much love and attention to detail in this prototype as their hero put into his." - The Guardian

maikaʻi aʻe mele
i told her on alderaan | michael douglas | dream cars | steel your girl | sweat shop | belfast | luxury pool

'I Told Her on Alderaan' live on BBC2's Culture Show :

13 | AIR FRANCE | No Way Down EP | Sincerely Yours Sweden

"Gothenburg, located on the west coast of Sweden, averages highs in the upper 60s in June; in recent years, however, the city has produced some of the sunniest music in the world. Tropical rhythms and warm-weather themes color releases by Jens Lekman, the Tough Alliance, Studio, and the Embassy. Signed to Sincerely Yours, Air France invited listeners to their "Beach Party" with last year's too-good-to-be-true On Trade Winds EP. Air France's latest, the 23-minute No Way Down EP, is better. If No Way Down is about a place that doesn't exist, it's a place where fairy tales are true and where old pop culture ephemera can-- in Air France's fertile musical imagination, at least-- live happily ever after." - Pitchfork Media

"Air France are yet another product of this brilliant Scandinavian conveyor belt. Their debut EP - 2006’s On Trade Winds- was a cacophonous masterpiece brushed by Tropicalia and flighty, cloud-bursting grooves. Follow-up EP No Way Down (is) equally lush; flooded in Casiotoned symphonies and cut-paste-splatter samples that left the palate whetting, desperate for more." - Spins and Needles

maikaʻi aʻe mele
june evenings | collapsing at your doorstep | no excuses | no way down

Video for 'Collapsing At Your Doorstep' :

.................

VERY HONORABLE MENTION

Adele : 19
The Black Seeds : Into the Dojo
Bloc Party : Intimacy
Bohren & der Club of Gore : Dolores
The Breeders : Mountain Battles
Scarlett Johansson : Anywhere I Lay My Head
Minotaur Shock : Amateur Dramatics
Oasis : Dig Out Your Soul
Thievery Corporation : Radio Retaliation
Ting Tings : We Started Nothing
Tricky : Knowle West Boy
Windsurf : Coastlines

.................

SOME GREAT TRACKS, BUT JUST A FEW

Chairlift : Does You Inspire You
Cranes : Cranes
The Dandy Warhols : Earth to the Dandy Warhols
Sigur Ros : með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
The Verve : Forth

A change of pace.

2008-11-04T23:00:00.000-05:00

When Barack Obama announced he was running for president in February of 2007, my gut told me not only would he beat Hillary Clinton in the primaries, but that he would be able to beat any Republican candidate he would eventually face ... in a landslide. I didn't feel this was possible because of the favorable political climate or the anti-Republican winds that would be at his back, but I felt this was because what of many thought was his liability --> who he was. To me that was his strength. Tonight, we saw happen what most people would have never thought would have been possible 8 years ago; that a skinny 47 year old black man, with a 'funny name' would become our president. But his leadership during an almost 2 year campaign, defeating two of the biggest political machines today, the Clintons and the Republicans, shows just what we have in store for the next 4 years, and possibly 8. Determination, brains, energy and the sharp mind to get the job done.

The long past 8 years is finally over.

Ladies and germs, the 44th President of the United States, President Barack Hussein Obama ...

My Eulogy for 'Captain Fun'

2008-10-25T17:15:00.002-04:00

My father passed away on July 21, 2008, and last weekend on October 18 we had the memorial service at his final church in Hancock, New Hampshire. I wanted to share the eulogy, as well as some pictures I took from the town and church, etc. I thought I had it all together, I thought I would be fine, but then others started giving their eulogies. To hear how important my Dad was to them, to hear how much they loved him, to hear how funny he was to them, to hear how positive he was at every moment, to hear how selfless he was, it was just an amazing feeling. And then it was my turn, and it was so much harder than I expected. My mouth was dry & tasted like bile from being so nervous. I was shaking all over and my voice was shaking. I got through it, but not without pausing for even a minute at a time to compose myself, to take deep breaths, to focus. My voice cracked, I cried, I walked off with tears running down my face. I thought I was ready for it, but nothing prepares you for something like that. The whole thing was so sad and happy at the same time. It was really emotional and I'm glad I went through it, but I'm glad it's over. At the same time, I don't like this feeling of closure. Despite my worries of how I came across, it was amazing that during my eulogy and for the first time in the service I heard a lot of sniffling and crying. And when I walked off and everyone erupted for the first time in applause, I felt good knowing despite how I thought I came across, I had brought a side of Dad to them that they had not known, yet wanted to know, and I guess I did it clearly. Everyone came up to me telling me how wonderful it was, and all I could think of was my Dad. This meant a lot to me as it wasn't about me, it was about him. One gentleman came up and said 'Do you realize you just made an older man cry?'. But it wasn't me, it was my Dad. Another guy said 'I hope my son speaks of me when I pass the way you just did'. But again it wasn't me, I felt like I was speaking for my Dad. It was amazing. Just as cool was my Mom's cousin and his wife showed up from Dallas, PA (betw Scranton and Wilkes-Barre), Ned and Betsy, who are really awesome. AND these two women from Martinsburg, where I grew up from 1980 to 1987! Ginny and this other woman I didn't remember at first, but I started to remember just a bit near the end. It was amazing to see someone from that time in my life as I've seen NO ONE from then, and as some know, I loved my childhood in West Virginia and the place means a lot to me. It was really surreal and touching and just amazing. It felt good to look right at them when Martinsburg came up in the eulogy. She smiled and seemed to be happy that Martinsburg meant so much to me. I cant tell you what a great place that was to grow up in!

Anyway, here's my eulogy for Captain Fun, a nickname his last church gave to him that I had no idea about until this service. It sure put a smile on my face.

Click on the picture after the eulogy for some New England-y Autumn pictures from my trip up ...

It's a few days after my father has passed away, and I'm sitting in his office at home where he was surrounded with some of the simple things in life that gave him great happiness. I'm on his computer, which in itself is so hard to look at, cause as I turn it on there is a screen saver of a picture of Ottawa, Canada which he visited as many times as possible. It's just one of many Canadian items I see as I look around his office. From Canadian military jackets, to Canadian English dictionaries, to books on Canadian parliamentary politics, to a model of an Air Canada plane I gave him a few Christmases ago. When I open the browser on his computer it automatically goes to his personal Google home page, with his email account that will never be opened again. I begin to wonder what emails are in there; from friends that have emailed him wishing him the best and to stay strong, to shipping confirmations for yet another book he ordered to own and even eventually read in just a few days time. I'm surrounded by rows and rows of countless books, as he was constantly reading and feeding his brain with endless information. From religious books, to political books to books on American slang, and "Baseball for Dummies". You'd think he'd never heard of a library! I'm surrounded by notes from his final sermon from July 13, the one in which he gave every last bit of energy he had left to give, and gave to his congregation for which he cared so much and devoted all his self and time to. There are flags all around, like the one of the State of New York, which in his final weeks he used to replace the Canadian flag that was outside the house, to 'show his New York City roots' as he said . There are mountains and mountains of pens, which he could never refrain from buying when he went to Staples. A strange yet harmless addiction. There are political buttons from decades ago such as 'Win with Hoover' and 'We want FDR again!'. I remember going to Hyde Park in New York a few times to see the home of FDR, whom I'm pretty sure was one of my Dad's heros. There are classical and military music cd's all around, his headphones sitting next to his chair, just having used it the other day. He was so proud to tell me he just few weeks prior that he had figured out how to use an MP3 player, which of course made me proud! There are crosses on the wall, along with medals he received for running the 'Run for Canada' marathon in 2005 and 2006. The floor below me is a spaghetti mess of wires and cables, as he had no patience for making his office look 'presentable'. This was his office, so it was presentable for him. There are figurines of former presidents and New Hampshire Fisher Cats baseball players. I remember going to Boston Red Sox games with him on his clergy pass back in the early 90s when even Fenway was only half full with fans. On his pass we could sometimes sit just rows behind the dugout for free, and see that awful Matt Young blow another game. There are notes on his sermon stand from just the other day, with his incomprehensible handwriting, which was all the same beautiful and unique, and i always admired for some strange reason. Theres a digital clock ticking in front of me, it not even realizing it no longer needs to work for my Dad anymore. I see a book that for some reason brings to mind when we lived in Martinsburg, West Virginia. When we lived there my Dad was part of a church program that led him to the local apple orchards in the area where many African-Americans worked and lived in very poor conditions. He wanted to reach out, to say he and his church were there for them. My Dad would take me, and we would make these huge dinners for 100 people and play bingo and listen to music out in these fields with the stars so bright and the fireflies everywhere. It was one of the clearest memories of my childhood that made me so happy, and now that I look back on it, it just makes me so proud. It was fun and incredibly uplifting. My Dad wanted them to feel safe, loved and important, and to just give them a little hope.

I went to see my father in the hospital soon after he was admitted on the night of July 13. My Mom had hoped he would be awake as he had been for the prior few days, so he could see me one last time and hopefully feel closure and know it was ok to let go. I felt nothing but anger as I saw my Dad for the first time with the real final stages of cancer having taken hold. This was not my Dad. This was not my Dad who would come home singing the national anthem or some beautiful church song. This was not my Dad who came home after a long day and wanting to watch "Law and Order" with a big bowl of ice cream. This was not my Dad who dedicated his life to fellow humans, day in and day out, year in and year out, with never a second thought. He never woke up while I was there, but I think he knew I was there, but lacked the energy to open his eyes. It was hard to even look at him. It was hard because it made me so angry that this could happen not just to my Dad, but at such an early age, and to someone who cared and loved people so much. All I could think of was how unfair this was. He said to me a few weeks prior that he felt blessed, which was amazing to hear someone in such a situation say such a thing, but it was his positive outlook, an outlook that I think helped him survive this 10 year battle, physical, and emotional, time enough for him to feel at peace with saying its time to go. In a way it was ok knowing this was in many ways NOT my Dad. His soul and spirit were almost gone and in another place. So it felt ok at one moment to say goodbye, but then when I put my hand on his head and said 'I Love You' and 'Bye Dad', it hurt worse than anything I ever felt. No more high fives, no more hugs. This WAS my dad, and I knew as I looked at him, he knew I was there, and telling me he loved me and that he would see me again.

To now sit in this office, which now feels like a still frame from the last moment he was here, with his jacket drawn over the chair in the corner and a five dollar bill next to the chair that he forgot to put in his wallet, to sit here is nothing but overwhelming sadness knowing he will never be in here again just being my Dad. This isn't fair, its not his time to go, and why in such a manner that leaves a person so weakened and so vulnerable. But as Mark Twain once said, "The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." Knowing how accepting my Dad was of his time, made me see, despite all the years of work and contributions he still had left in him, he had also been happy with his life. When, after his passing, a divorcee let my Mom know how important my Dad was in her getting through her ordeal and piecing her life back together; when a young boy wrote a letter to my Dad to let my Mom know how he cried himself to sleep over the passing of his friend, my Dad; when we received so many letters from people past and present just letting my Mom know how important and thankful they were to have my Dad's companionship and friendship; when I see this effect my Dad had, I know he had led a deeply accomplished life. One I can only dream of emulating.

As my Dad said to my Mom a day after he was back in the hospital, 'this is a heck of a thing'. It sure is Dad, and you are a heck of a human being. You were a man who loved everyone and judged no one, wishing for nothing but peace and love for everyone, and I couldn't be more grateful for you instilling those qualities in me. You fought your battle with such hope and you were so brave during every moment. You stuck around for Mom, you stuck around for me, you stuck around for your congregation. You saved all your energy and love for your final service, which made me for one final time feel such intense pride in not just knowing you're my Dad, but just for knowing you. The sadness is pretty unbearable, but my pride in you is even stronger. You endured this condition with great humility, never letting it stop you from doing your work of helping others, and never letting this roadblock get you down. You always held your head high, even through to the very end. I will think about and miss you every day, but also celebrate what a great person and inspiration you were to so many. I feel so lucky to now and forever be able to call such an amazing person 'MY Dad'. With all my heart, I love you.

"Dear Science" by TV on the Radio

2008-10-11T13:54:00.014-04:00

In 2006 I posted an entry about the fantastic album from TV on the Radio called "Return to Cookie Mountain", and now two years later they have released their follow-up entitled 'Dear Science', and yet again it deserves its own Ghostlife approved blog entry. If you liked their dense unique mix of jazz, rock, shoegaze, punk and doo-wop, but was hoping for something with a little more kick, something that might put a little shake in your hips, well this might do it. They've taken their sound and made it just a tad more radio friendly without losing that unique blend or their sense of experimentation. I highly recommend anyone pick this up or download it, its excellent. Don't just take my word for it ...

"Dear Science is the album David Bowie fantasizes about making." Financial Times (4/4)
“This is one irresistible party… a great, great record.” Q Magazine (5/5)
“They might have just made this decade’s ultimate leftfield pop album.” Uncut
"A class act at their peak." The Sun (5/5)
“Brooklyn art-rockers’ clearest transmission yet.” Mojo
“It’s a real thrill to find TV On The Radio pushing through the portal into the ethereal space-rock paradise that they always seemed destined to inhabit.” Observer Music Monthly
"Career defining stuff." The Guardian (5/5)
"Stunning." NME
"A thrilling album." The Times
“Exhilarating pop heart beats.” Word
“The art-rock album of the year.” The Observer
“They’re still exciting, still mysterious and still incredible” The Fly
"TV on the Radio come lavishly recommended. A thrilling album." The Times of London (4/4)
"Exhilarating." The Independent (4/4)
"TVOTR drive their focused music vision with breathtaking results." Metro (5/5)
"Dear Science is one of the most absorbing albums of the year." Sunday Express (5/5)

www.4ad.com
www.tvontheradio.com

Aoatearoa | Rainbows, Boobs & Dub-Dub-Dub

2008-09-10T21:02:00.008-04:00

Rainbows = Sun showers every day, and this rainbows. Somtimes DOUBLE rainbows!

Boobs = The annual Boobs on Bikes event that marches down the busiest street in New Zealand. Angry protestors, strippers, the works! There was something strangely comforting that a group of people who were not granted a permit to hold an event in the center of Auckland and filling the streets with people and traffic jams were given a police escort and protection instead of being given any trouble.

Dub-Dub-Dub = Instead of saying dubba-yoo (www.whatever.com), the Kiwis say Dub-Dub-Dub. Maybe they say it in other places, but this is the first Ive heard and I love it! and i LOVE New Zealand. Screw Australia, go to New Zealand, ok?

Amongst all the naked depravity in these pictures are also beautiful pictures of Auckland, some lovely animals at the Auckland Zoo, the town of Leigh, and of course Maria ... and ME!

I also went to Albuquerque, New Mexico on this trip to see Ashley and Matt, and despite me stupidly not taking any photographs, I need to say hello to Ashley here, cause it was an awesome time. Im really craving that New Mexican cuisine! Green chili, please!

Click the picture below for .... pictures!

Letter for my Dad

2008-08-03T20:58:00.003-04:00

After my Dad passed away on July 21, I sent an email to my friends to let them know the news. I added a little snippet in the email about how one of the last things I heard my Dad say was that he wanted to 'stick around' so he could vote for Senator Obama for President. I felt he said this because he saw a lot of the values and aspirations he had in his life and work in Senator Obama. On a whim I decided to forward the email I wrote to the Obama campaign on the contact form on their website, in hopes maybe, just somehow, it would get to the Senator. Low and behold it appears it did, and today I received this letter in the mail. From looking at the signature under heavy lights to see how genuine this was (!!), there is no doubt he at least signed this. But from the words in the letter, I am pretty sure he wrote this as well. Its quite beautiful, and reading it to my Mom this evening, I couldn't be happier and prouder for my Mom.

7 Down, 1 to go ...

2008-06-03T22:00:00.000-04:00

By playing by the rules, Senator Obama has defeated seven opponents in the Democratic primaries, and is now 1 opponent away from becoming the 44th President of the United States.

If a group of individuals had been hired to run a company, but ended up driving it into massive debt, caused massive layoffs, drove away customers, had 3/4 of its employees disapproving of their job performance, and so on and so forth, should they be rehired? The answer is NO.

Obama for America.

FLASHBACK: My endorsement in October 2007.

Our next First Family :

We hardly knew you.

2008-05-09T19:40:00.004-04:00

As David Letterman said this week, she may have won Indiana by less than 1%, and she may have lost North Carolina, but she IS leading in the State of Denial. HA!

Aoatearoa | The Land of the Long White Cloud

2008-02-08T21:12:00.000-05:00

I've gone on a number of vacations, but strangely this was only my second going in the summer, so it was a welcome change of pace. Freezing cold and snow here, and sun and warmth in the South Pacific! This was my second trip to New Zealand to see my best mate Maria who is currently residing there, and this time wasn't a 'microvisit' as she says (last time was for a week, this time for two weeks). Who would think my only real goal in going to the exact opposite side of the planet would just be to hang out with her, but we were able to squeeze in some good trips to the cultural and seat of government, Wellington, as well as Rotorua, and lots of exploration of the Auckland area.

A few things I realized on this trip and that is one, after two trip to Australia, I now see that that lovely country has nothing on New Zealand. While Australia is a perfect mix of England & America, and despite its obvious beauty, its just too large in size and population to give you a feeling of coziness or comfort. Meanwhile, New Zealand is a small nation composed of 2 islands and a smaller population than Massachusetts, and being what is the largest polynesian nation that embraces its Maori past (unlike the Aboriginals in Australia), there's just a stronger positive vibe in the air that you just feel every day you are there. The other thing I learned for the first time, which New Zealand taught me, that its simply impossible to capture the vastness and just plain feeling of AWE you get when you see landscapes like this. Take Auckland for example. It lies on an isthmus, which basically means it is surrounded on both sides by two harbors. One the Pacific, the other the Tasman Sea. Then, because New Zealand is an extremely volcanic terrain, Auckland is dotted with dormant volcanoes all around. Some of the Auckland pictures you will see are taken from Mt Eden, which is the name of Maria's neighborhood, and is a dormant volcano. Insanely beautiful.

There were four words that came into my head as I was there, and those were FRESH, GREEN, CLEAN, BLUE. I remember the last day i was there and the guy on their morning show called 'Breakfast' signed off the show saying 'remember everyone, we live in paradise, enjoy it'. There was something very humbling and charming about it, like he was talking to his friends. In a country this beautiful and intimate in its confines, he couldn't have said it any better.

I've been satisfied before with pictures I've taken (not that they are great or anything, but that they captured what I remembered seeing), but not this time, not anywhere close. New Zealand is that beautiful and inspiring as a country. But I tried my best, and think you will enjoy these pictures!

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE MUDPOOLS in ROTORUA!

Click the picture below for .... pictures!

2007 Movie Recommendations

2008-01-09T19:30:00.000-05:00

Albums to Kill for from 2007

2008-01-01T14:34:00.000-05:00

1 | RADIOHEAD | In Rainbows | ATO Records

"15 Step's clattering beats, the unsettling electronic pulse behind House Of Cards - are pressed into the service of fantastic melodies: the closing Videotape proceeds at the pace of a Soviet state funeral, but the tune is so glorious, it sounds graceful rather than lethargic, dreamy rather than dreary. Radiohead sound like they're enjoying themselves." - The Guardian

"By turns danceable, blissed out romantic, familiar and new, it's technologically and musically fascinating. Its juxtaposition of orga and mecha is one of its many well executed contradictions. Packed but sparse, thrilling, complex, innovative, simple. Without even a dud bar never mind a filler track, In Rainbows is more than any fan could hope for." - Music OMH

maikaʻi aʻe mele
15 step | all i need | reckoner | jigsaw falling into place

Video for 'Jigsaw Falling into Place' :

2 | BJÖRK | Volta | One Little Indian/Atlantic

"Much of the album is moved along by the sounds of ships' horns and bells, gulls' cries and flowing water. Björk moves leisurely into Asian and African landscapes (famed kora player Toumani Diabate contributes there), as well as the tribal trip-hop that's become one of her touchstones. Though the powerful yet childlike voice and yearning lyrics are much the same, the experience is more earthly than mystical this time." - LA Times

"Despite the much-anticipated hook-up with super-producer Timbaland, this is not Björk 'going hip-hop' or having a late-breaking pop reinvention - 'Volta' is something much grander. It's an album defined by its identity crisis - dizzily slipping, as it does, from metal-electronica one moment to spooky chamber-pop the next. Its range is stunning, but then you'd expect nothing less from an album that features a 10-piece, all-female Icelandic brass section, the drummer out of Lightning Bolt and the deep texture of Antony Hegarty's voice (he appears on two tracks, including the stunning 'My Juvenile')." - NME

maikaʻi aʻe mele
earth intruders | wanderlust | i see who you are | innocence | declare independence

'Declare Independence' / Live @ Glastonbury / England / June 2007 :

3 | STUDIO | West Coast | Information Records

"A fifteen-minute instrumental opus that glides through reggae-tinged post-punk guitar shots, glistening keyboard runs, opaque sheets of ambience, and intricate maps of interlocking rhythmic elements, it sets a high bar for the 40 minutes of shimmering, reverbed, hypnotic, and fabricated (in the best possible way) postpunk / disco that follows. There’s a little bit of dub, a smidgen of Krautrock, a whole lot of post-punk, and more than a touch of disco and early ‘90s British and European dance pop in West Coast, all handled beautifully and coalescing into something that, if not unique, is certainly laden with enough individual character as to stand out. Studio’s debut album is one of the best of both 2006 and 2007." - Stylus Magazine

"Their debut provides a solid argument that fun, uplifting, danceable music isn't necessarily at odds with trail blazing experimentation." - Coke Machine Glow

maikaʻi aʻe mele
west side | self service | life's a beach

Promotional video :

4 | OFFICE | A Night at the Ritz | New Line/Scratchie

"A Night At The Ritz is a fairly impressive debut that features track after track of excellent pop hooks and melodies that are sure to become engrained in your mind after only a few listens and often jump back and forth between sounds of the past and present." - Absolute Punk

"Songs like "Dominoes" and "The Big Bang Jump" won't appeal to the people who have had their arms crossed at shows for the last five years, but the people who like to uncross their arms and shake their asses will appreciated these pop gems." - The Tripwire

maikaʻi aʻe mele
the ritz | company calls | wound up | the big bang jump! | q & a | dominoes | possibilities

Video for 'Oh My' :

5 | I LOVE YOU AIRLINES | Fairytale EP | The Ineffable Mr Wright

Here's what I wrote on iTunes: "a glittery driving colorful beat of an EP. lyrics are clever & unique and the vocals show signs of a star on the rise, in a just world of course. try keeping these songs out of your head, it's impossible, and each listen reveals a whole new level of melodies you missed the last time. is it a concotion of curve, method man, bananarama, and just a dash of divine? perhaps."

maikaʻi aʻe mele
march 4th | a mean one | CPR | mi amore

6 | !!! | Myth Takes | Warp Records

"Here it is, then: the soundtrack to your summer house party par excellence, signed, sealed and delivered a good few months early just ‘cause it’s that good. Get your dancing practice in now – come the longest days of the year you’ll be wearing many a sole down to Myth Takes. You’ll be sitting on the bus, in front of the telly, on a park bench, at your mother-in-law’s, it doesn’t matter – you’ll dance to these songs like you’ve never danced to any band with guitars – gasp! – before. Pump the first ten minutes of Myth Takes into any club in the country, in any backwater town full of squaddie fucks and fuck-about forty-somethings, and the floor will go crazy." - Drowned in Sound

"Of all the dance-punk revivalists, !!! has been the most consistently interesting and challenging, not to mention the group most likely to fill the dancefloor on indie rock night. Not too many bands even in heyday of the initial wave of dance-punk released records as full of energy, intelligence, and ferocious funk as this." - All Music Guide

maikaʻi aʻe mele
must be the moon | heart of hearts | yadnus | bend over beethoven

Video for 'Must be the Moon' :

7 | A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS | S/T | self released

"Any metaphor works, really; the guitars bleed with magma (fire and brimstone!), oozing blood (human offerings!), and of course, the shrill swipe of jet engine blades (vrrrrrrr!). And yet, and yet, for all the noise there are songs underneath. Almost laughably poppy ones in fact, with a refreshingly nineteen-eighty-something holographic quality." - Lost at Sea

"A Place to Bury Strangers are a precious gift for those of us who will always carry a torch for the delirious rush of pre-1990s Jesus and Mary Chain, and the glistening chill of late Joy Division. Add in a little Cure circa Pornography and this debut is quite a treat." - Pop Matters

maikaʻi aʻe mele
to fix the gash in your head | i know i'll see you | breathe | another step away

Video for 'To Fix the Gash in Your Head' :

8 | PANDA BEAR | Person Pitch | Paw Tracks

"The artwork of Panda Bear's third solo album is full of clues. The front sleeve is a paddling pool fantastically packed with children and animals (tiger, seal, gorilla, leopard, koala and, yes, panda). Inside the booklet, there are further brightly coloured photographs: kids on stilts facing a sky mad with fruit bats and flying foxes, a boy in a kilt and a crocodile head-dress dancing a jig, a pigtailed girl riding a gondola through a sky swirling with feathers. These images set you up for music that's tribal, ecstatic yet eerie, brimming with child-like wonder. And that's exactly what Person Pitch delivers." - Observer Music Monthly

"60s influences are numerous throughout Person Pitch, from its soaring psychedelic vocal melodies to shimmering layers of guitar and percussion, the panoply of clicks, whirrs and other less readily identifiable blurs of sound that streak its length situate Panda Bear’s fourth solo album squarely in post-techno territory. The result is an album as rich as it is strange." - BBC

maikaʻi aʻe mele
comfy in nautica | bros | search for delicious

Video for 'Comfy in Nautica' :

9 | INTERPOL | Our Love to Admire | Capitol Records

"Our Love to Admire fleshes out the dark edges of Interpol's sound to create a polished, muscular-sounding record that teems with life and bristling potency." - Observer Music Monthly

"Our Love To Admire borrows much of its nervous energy from several obvious English forebears: Echo And The Bunnymen, The Cure, Kitchens Of Distinction, Psychedelic Furs and early Banshees, as well as Joy Division and The Chameleons. The key difference is that Interpol, as Americans, aren’t hampered by the low-key provincialism that stifled the ambitions of much British post punk. Our Love To Admire – their first album for a major label – suggests that Interpol are primed and ready to complete the leap into the arena circuit, a move that Echo And The Bunnymen, for instance, never felt comfortable with. It’s a majestic, grandiose, machine-tooled album, subtly orchestrated with gothic pianos and doomy organs." - Uncut

maikaʻi aʻe mele
pioneer to the falls | the heinrich maneuver | all fired up | rest my chemistry

Video for 'The Heinrich Maneuver' :

10 | THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN | S/T | Virgin Records

"this is an utterly on-target wartime opine, a masterful musical guerrilla action that finds Blur's Damon Albarn, the Clash's Paul Simonon, Verve guitarist Simon Tong, and Afrobeat godhead Tony Allen breaking ranks to create a near-perfect sonic snapshot of London under Blair's blowback blitz." - Austin Chronicle

"The music, however lean, is the most poignant vision Albarn's devout Anglo-centrism has offered: a beautifully dark, boozy, overcast dream of London, cinematic in its scope and careful in its craft." - Village Voice

maikaʻi aʻe mele
80's life | kingdom of doom | nature springs | three changes | the good the bad and the queen

'Kingdom of Doom' / Live @ Camden Roundhouse / England / February 2007 :

11 | I LOVE YOU AIRLINES | A New High EP | The Ineffable Mr Wright

Or maybe it was said best by my friend who manages this band: "I Love You Airlines is PT Barnum's most opium-inspired kaleidoscopic carousel, replete with 2000 chartreuse bells and sapphire whistles, 13 sousaphone blowing cheetahs and 1 accordion playing Ganesh...it's 3001 brass pipes bubbling and belching the symphony a caffeine-fueled Phil Spector composed on the Mighty Wurlitzer that appeared in last night's dream dreamt by Dali, dictated by Roald Dahl: the sonically-glimmering soundtrack to a Post-modern filth fantasia starring Dawn Davenport sashaying through the ghetto of the East Village dripping head to toe in diamond-studded Chanel, shot in glorious Technicolor by John Waters and projected on a huge screen suspended high above Cinderella's Castle in Walt Disney World on a balmy, 72 degree night in late November....the southwesterly breeze carrying fuchsia flamingo feathers down to the Gulf of Mexico...and beyond....."

maikaʻi aʻe mele
diamond disguise | dial you in | glitter sky | the snow leopard

.................

VERY HONORABLE MENTION

Air France : On Trade Winds EP
Blonde Redhead : 23
Burial : Untrue
Celebration : The Modern Tribe
Dinosaur Jr. : Beyond
GusGus : Forever
Kristin Hersh : Learn to Sing Like A Star
The Horrors : Strange House
MyMy : Songs for the Gentle
Ulrich Schnauss : Goodbye
Sigur Ros : Hvarf/Heim
White Rabbits : Fort Nightly

.................

SOME GREAT TRACKS, BUT JUST A FEW

Battles : Mirrored
The Birthday Massacre : Walking with Strangers
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club : Baby 81
Ghostland Obervatory : Paparazzi Lightning
Wolf & Cub : Vessels

Las Vegas, Björk and ME!

2007-12-22T12:35:00.000-05:00

Last weekend I traveled back to Las Vegas (it's been way too long!) with my friend Lesley to see the final date of the US leg of Björk's 2007-2008 world tour, and it may have been the best show of the tour that I have seen. It was a small & new state-of-the-art venue, so it sounded fantastic and I was very close to the stage. The crowd was surprisingly very energetic and very into it from beginning to end, and a lot of quirky characters there which made it a great setting. Didn't take any pictures as I just wanted to get wrapped up into the show, and it was well worth it. But I found a few pictures on the web and some actually great clips on YouTube, so check it out, if you care in the least, haha! Next up, Björk in Auckland, New Zealand in January! OH YEAH!

'Declare Independence' - Pearl Concert Theater @ Palms Resort & Casino, Las Vegas - 12/15/07
ENDLESS ENERGY! ENDLESS CONFETTI! VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

"True to her words, Bjork's albums are moving targets, rootless as tumbleweeds, inherently malleable, hammered into shape by a voice that can be light as a kitten's footsteps and heavy as a murderer's conscience, all in the same breath.

Flanked by a ten-piece, all-female horn section, a drummer, and assorted sound manipulators working on laptops and other digital instruments, Bjork mined the netherworlds of electronica for alt pop gold.

Clad in a flowing red and white blouse with a multicolored headdress that glowed in the dark like a neon croissant, she made sure that the visual palette matched the dazzling hues of her songs, with the brass band costumed in gaudy red, blue and yellow gowns and large crests emblazoned with frogs, birds and fish suspended from the back of the stage.

It all congealed into a fantasia of color and sound that could be as quiet as sweet nothings whispered into a lover's ear and so loud and clamorous it seemed like a Mardi Gras band was storming through the aisles of The Pearl.

But live, Bjork's populist appeal becomes a bit more evident, especially during ecstatic, arms-in-air fire starters that climaxed with ravelike intensity via fleets of diesel-powered beats barreling through the tunes." - Jason Bracelin, Las Vegas Review-Journal

'Pluto' - Pearl Concert Theater @ Palms Resort & Casino, Las Vegas - 12/15/07

Why I Love Christmas

2007-12-10T21:05:00.000-05:00

by John Waters
(director of the original 'Hairspray', 'Serial Mom', 'Pink Flamingos' and 'A Dirty Shame')

"Being a traditionalist, I'm a rabid sucker for Christmas. In July I'm already worried that there are only 146 shopping days left. "What are you getting me for Christmas?" I carp to fellow bathers who haven't even decided what to do for Labour Day. As each month follows, I grow more and more obsessed. Around October I startle complete strangers by bursting into my off-key rendition of "Joy to the World." I'm always The Little Drummer Boy for Halloween, a grouchy one at that, since the inconsiderate stores haven't even put up their Christmas decorations yet. November 1 kicks off the jubilee of consumerism, and I'm so riddled with the holidays season that the mere mention of a stocking stuffer sexually arouses me."

It only gets better, so check it out HERE!

The B-52's

2007-11-11T14:29:00.000-05:00

If you dont own the sonic glory of their first 3 albums ( 'B-52's' / 'Wild Planet' / 'Whammy' ), well then you need to.

New album (first in 16 years!) out on Astralwerks February 26, 2008, featuring production from New Order and Bjork collaborators. Oh yeah!

The B-52's - 'Whammy Kiss' - LIVE - London - 1983

Nuevo México

2007-11-01T22:29:00.000-04:00

Travelled to New Mexico this past long weekend (or long for me) with my friend YungMei for the wedding of my good friend Ashley to her fiancee Matt. It was a great time, and wanted to share my photos!

I think I am now obsessed with the Zia, which is the symbol of the Zia Indians of New Mexico, and is the symbol on the flag of the State of New Mexico. The Zia is explained as follows, per Wikipedia :

* the four points of the compass (north, south, east, and west);
* the four seasons of the year (spring, summer, autumn and winter);
* the four periods of each day (morning, noon, evening and night);
* the four seasons of life (childhood, youth, middle years and old age); and
* the Zia's belief that with life comes four sacred obligations one must develop (a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and a devotion to the welfare of others).

There is a lot I could say about this state, but simply put, I came away with a lot of respect for the New Mexican people. A strangely beautiful and sleepy place indeed.

Click the picture for my visit to New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment!

A Haunting in Jamaica Plain

2007-10-24T19:45:00.000-04:00

It's very easy to be skeptical of ghosts. Ive always had a small fascination with them ('Ghostlife' for example). Not sure why, but I always have. Maybe it was seeing 'Poltergeist' when I was a kid, or even 'Ghostbusters' that created this curiosity in me. Either way it brought upon this slight interest in ghost stories and peoples experiences with possible encounters. Not that I believed them. I kept an open mind, for both sides of the story. Maybe they are true, or just maybe they want to believe something so much that the stories they've created just become 'fact'. Maybe what they believe has some reasonable explanation. A scientific explanation? A rational explanation? Well I had an 'experience' in 2001 at my old apartment in Jamaica Plain that not only made me believe most of the ghost stories I had read in the past or will read in the future, but solidified my possible belief in the paranormal.

Now of course, you may be skeptical of this story and that is absolutely fair enough. Its always hard to believe any of these kind of things until they happen to you, but keep an open mind. :)

I lived on Parkton Road in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston. My street was weird, and it was creepy, but I liked it. It was horse shoe shaped, and it was a one way street, but the weird thing was the bottom of the 'U' was at the bottom of a hill, so the ends of the U were at the top of the hill. In other words you entered the street at the top of the hill, went down to the bottom, right where my apartment was, and then you went back up the hill to get to the end. The street was lined with tightly packed 3 floor apartment buildings, and lots of dark creepy trees. As dearest Maria so wisely said to me, "I just remember sitting on your porch and feeling like all the bad stuff that had ever happened on that street was just collecting at the bottom, all the "bad vibes" just slid down to your house." She couldn't have said it any better.

So I lived on the first floor of this old 3 story building. The doors were old and crickety. The stairs to the other floors were old and needed painting. It was dusty and their were some spiderwebs for sure. But the setting for my story is simple. After going through the front door and into the staircase area, there was the door to our apartment, again as it was the first floor. Walk into our apartment (myself and my two roommates, Lauren and Chris) and its a typical foyer area. Wood floors, cheesy old chandelier. Straight ahead at the end of the foyer is the bathroom. It had a wood door, and right above the door one of those random 2 foot high and width-of-the-door windows which you could open for ventilation. Now if you're standing in front of the bathroom door, then just on your left would be the door to my room, and on the RIGHT, just a few feet back, is the door to a large walk-in closet where my roommates and I stored a whole lot of junk! Now the setting is drawn, and the story begins. All this build up, for a short ending.

So I did my normal work day at my job downtown, took the train back to JP, and walked home. I walked in the front door and the shower was running in the bathroom. I guess Chris is home before me, although that rarely happens. I went to the kitchen and made a snack. Took me maybe 10 minutes to settle down. Then I watched a little TV. Then I got a bit curious. The shower has been running a bit long. So I waited maybe another 20-30 minutes before I started to get worried. Maybe it was Lauren who was in the shower. So I decided to call her cell and see if she would answer, and if she didnt, it must be her in the shower. So I called ... and she answers. Straight away I ask her when she answers why Chris was home so early and taking a shower for so long, cause I was a bit worried. And she says 'He's not at home, he's still at work, I just talked to him'. At that second it felt like the walls were closing in on me. Who the hell is in that shower? I felt violated and scared, and I ran outside. And I just stood outside and waited and waited, probably for like 10 minutes. What was I going to do, and who is in there? This unknown was scarier than anything I had ever felt. There was a stranger in my apartment, in the shower, and I was home alone. Was it a homeless person who broke in and wanted to clean up? Was it our upstairs neighbor for some strange reason? But why would he break in and use our shower? Something just didnt feel right. I had told Lauren what was going on before I hung up with her, and she was a bit scared as well obviously, and said she was coming straight home. Do I want until she gets back? NO! Time to face the music.

I walked back to the front door, and opened it, and at the end of the foyer, the bathroom was still there. The light was on, and the window above the door was all steamed up, and the shower was still running. I just slowly walked towards the bathroom, and knocked on the door quietly. Nothing. I knocked louder. Nothing. I banged on the door. Still nothing. I took a deep breath, and really expecting the worst, I quickly opened the door. The room was filled with steam, and the shower curtain was drawn. I quickly opened the curtain, and there was nothing, nor anyone there. What the hell is going on?!?! I looked back out the bathroom door, and for whatever reason, the door to the walk-in closet next to the bathroom was now open, and the light inside it was on. I really started to get freaked out, as it wasn't like that just seconds ago. I just ignored that fact and walked out of the bathroom and into the walk-in closet. I shut off the light, backed out of the closet, closed the door, and just looked at it for a second. 'OK, it was nothing!' I went back into the bathroom to turn the shower off, and for whatever reason I felt something behind me, some sort of presence. I looked back out the door towards the closet, and the closet door was open again! And the light inside was on again! Every time I think of this story, or tell someone, I always get chills, and its happening right now as I write this. So I quickly went to the open closet door, and motioned to close it to see what the hell was behind the door, again expecting the worst. All of sudden, right after shutting the closet door, as I just stood there, I felt what was all I can really say was a 'mad rush'. It felt like something had passed through me. I got very warm on the inside, but felt a cool chill on my outside, and just felt like SOMETHING had moved through me, like a ghost or spirit or something. All I know is that it was quick, it was powerful, and it was scary as hell, but all the fear and dread I was feeling cause of the whole situation was now gone. It's really hard to explain what that feeling was like, and I'm sure this sounds like absolute nonsense to everyone. If I read this story by someone else I would have been skeptical too, but its natural to be skeptical until something like this actually happens to you, and it just happened to me.

I sat down in the living room for just a bit and then made a few calls, to some skeptical people of course. About an hour later my roommate Lauren came home, and I told her what happened, and she looked at me like I was crazy. It didn't seem like she would even at least grasp the fact that the shower was running like that with no one in the apartment all day, but I think the rest of my story made her think I was making all of it up. Thanks for the support. So this is my story, lots of buildup to something that may seem simple and nothing, but it was the scariest thing that ever happened to me, and affirmed my belief in the supernatural, or ghosts, or what have you.

Love,
Peter Venkman

Imagine Peace Tower.

2007-10-19T22:51:00.000-04:00

Reykjavík, Iceland.

www.imaginepeace.com

'At last, someone REAL.' - Alice Walker

2007-10-14T16:43:00.000-04:00

for President of the United States of America ...

2007-10-01T10:30:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, I follow politics and especially presidential campaigns very closely. This campaign, which is now getting into full swing, has been most interesting as it is the first time time since 1928 where no incumbent in office is running for the presidency. I have been watching the candidates on both sides, and I do always try to keep an open mind with both sides of the aisle. Now that it is three months before voters head to the polls for their respective primaries, I would like to now endorse my choice, and there is no candidate I not only can say I respect and trust, but also agree with on most issues, and that would be Barack Obama, for President of the United States of America.

HOWEVER, lets not be boring. We all know the issues, and we all know where we stand, and some of you will not even be voting in the Democratic primary. But if you are, lets talk about what is most important. I personally believe that when it comes down to it, the Democrats are always stupid enough to vote for the worst candidate in the primary. John Kerry. Walter Mondale. Michael Dukakis?! Need I say more? Well the way things are looking so far, it seems the Democrats are going down the same path of defeat.

The 'leadership' this country has been under for the past 8 years has been abysmal. An unwarranted endless war. Record deficits. Abortions on the rise (under a Republican administration no less). The value of the US dollar sinking daily. American reputation severely damaged across the world. The president's approval rating hovering at Nixon levels for two years at least. I could go on and on. There is simply no excuse for the Democrats to lose the White House in 2008. Especially against the sad lineup of candidates on the Republican side. Willard Mitt Romney? Kill me now. But it comes down to this simple question --> If not now, WHEN? But there is one reason why the Democrats will lose the White House in 2008, and her name is Hillary Clinton.

Let there be no doubt, Hillary Rodham Clinton is a very smart, very tough, very strong, and very capable person to be president. But there are some very serious problems with her candidacy, and I believe Barack Obama fills these voids.

What Hillary has, that Barack doesn't.

First, she has a lack of electability that Barack doesn't. This is always in question, and denied by many, but people need to understand the absolute hatred that Ms Clinton brings to the surface on the Republican side. If anything can unite the Republican Party again and fire up their base, its Hillary Clinton. The GOP is nearly in shreds, with them disliking their own president, and not happy with any of their candidates. This may change, but nothing will bring them together in Karl Rovian fashion again than their complete hatred of Hillary Clinton. She will energize the GOP to not only campaign against her as hard as possible, but will vote in record numbers against her.

'But Republicans are not going to vote for her.'

This statement is true, but it brings up two more issues. Elections are won in the middle, meaning the independent voters. How can the independent voters be swayed? Voters know enough of Ms Clinton already, where her high negatives are so high (bordering on 50%, which is unprecedented), its hard to see where she has room to change that. How she can motivate them to get out to vote, and to be swayed to vote for her? She is simply too polarizing, and if nominated, she immediately starts at a huge disadvantage. Voters will go with someone they will have a chance at liking and seeing in their living rooms and on their computers for another 4 years, especially after 8 years of George W Bush. A few months ago I watched a focus group on C-SPAN of independent voters, and it was just astonishing not only the lack of amount of people who would actually vote for her (1 out of about 20 people in the group), but their reasoning for not even considering voting for her. I think Elizabeth Edwards (wife of candidate John Edwards) said it best. "I want to be perfectly clear: I do not think the hatred against Hillary Clinton is justified. I don't know where it comes from. I don't begin to understand it. But you can't pretend it doesn't exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won't energize them, Bush won't, but Hillary as the nominee will. It's hard for John to talk about, but it's the reality."

And if she squeaks out a victory in November 2008? Well its like 2004 all over again, just instead of George W Bush in office that half the country already hates and wont give a chance, we now have Hillary Clinton in office that half the country already hates and wont give a chance. That is the last thing this country needs right now. American needs a chance to start fresh.

What Barack has, that Hillary doesn't.

One of Obama's early campaign ideas was this 'Dinner with Barack', where a few donors were picked to sit down and have dinner with Mr Obama and discuss the issues of the day. A bit later, a quick highlight reel was available on his website, and watching it really clinched for me who I was going be be voting for. There was just something that made him seem genuinely caring. Maybe what some deemed a liability, his lack of 'inside Washington' experience, is what became his asset, being able to still connect with normal every day Americans one on one. He was able to talk to people on equal level, converse, without talking down to anyone. He had a conversational manner to him, and I sensed he was able to draw them in, to see his point of view. Yet he was unafraid to compromise, to hear everyone out. Even if they disagreed, he made them feel involved, and treat each others view with respect. This open charismatic personality gives him the ability to bring people together and feel comfortable with his leadership, at least far more than any other candidate. For America, this is very important. On the world stage, this is essential.

Where does this come from? I think his diverse background has helped him be more understanding, more compassionate, and gives him more balanced view of the world. Mr Obama was born in Hawaii, the son of a black Kenyan father and white American mother. He lived there until his teens when he moved to the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta. From there he moved to the United States and attended Columbia University and Harvard University. This background I believe helps him form points of view not only from inside-out, but from an outsiders point of view as well, seeing the US and its role in the world from an outside perspective. This makes someone more understanding and empathetic, and give someone the ability to make sounder judgements, and thus a stronger leader. And this depth of judgement has been tested, when the alarm bells of an invasion of Iraq began in 2002, Obama was against it. He was one of the few voices who not only knew it was wrong, but voiced his view publicly as a member of the Illinois legislature, even when it was politically inconvenient.

But what about experience? Easy question, easy answer. Answer this; what did all that experience that Cheney, Rumsfeld and the rest of this current administration get us? In my view, judgement and wisdom outweighs any perceived so called 'lack of experience' Mr Obama may have, and Mr Obama has demonstrated his ability to clearly think through an issue, and through the smokescreen. And now he doesn't have to go around the country saying he was 'tricked' by George W Bush. (Hillary outsmarted and outplayed by George W Bush? Wow.)

Barack Obama represents change, Hillary represents more of the same. Want proof? She voted for war again this past week, this time with Iran. America needs a change of pace. American needs a new POV. America needs someone more in touch with today's generation. America needs a fresh start, with the judgement and lack of baggage we have been suffering the past decade, and Barack is it.

Don't be fooled, the White House is not for the Democrats taking in 2008, especially with the chance of the continuing of the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton dynasty. I hope I'm wrong, but in the meantime, vote wisely.

"The same old experience is not relevant. ... And you can have the right kind of experience and the wrong kind of experience." - Bill Clinton

Sounds like Bill is voting for Barack Obama.

www.barackobama.com

Me & Miss B @ the MSG in NYC

2007-09-27T20:14:00.000-04:00

Two days before a full moon, I saw Björk for 13th time, at a packed Madison Square Garden this past Monday. Instead of bothering with the hassle of bringing a camera, I decided to go and just enjoy myself, but I of course found some cool pictures and a few video clips from the show. Lasers, confetti, beats, OH MY! Also below is a tour recap from the just completed third leg of her world tour for 'Volta', covering Europe and North America again. Up next is South America, Asia and the South Pacific (WHERE I WILL BE SEEING HER IN NEW ZEALAND IN JANUARY! YEAAHHHH!)

Madison Square Garden - New York City

Madison Square Garden - New York City

VIDEO CLIPS / Björk @ MSG :

Declare Independence

Army of Me

Hunter

Wanderlust

"She's a lot of fun to watch, and as a singer she's just incredible. She may pursue her muse to all sorts of weird places, and her accent might give her voice a tingly alien sharpness, but her range and control are just crazy. And she never even seems to be trying; her face never so much as turns red, even when she draws huge notes out forever." - Village Voice

"Depending on who you ask, Bjork is either a genius or decidedly insane. Few artists can slather some fluorescent glow paint across their forehead, throw on a golden sack with frills to the nines, sing about holding a palm full of stars turned makeshift dice, and yet -- in spite of all the lyrical and visual ornaments, courtesy of a cozy little residence on the fringe -- still make perfect sense" - Spinner.com

.............................................

Toronto

Detroit

Atlanta

Paris

Toronto

Paris

Atlanta

Atlanta

Særún & Brynja of Wonderbrass

Volta Tour Fashions | Europe | Summer 2007

2007-08-23T22:25:00.000-04:00

Now that the third leg of Bjork's 18 month world tour is just starting, time for a recap of all the fantastic get-ups and images from the second leg, which covered Europe from June 22-July 25. The top picture, which must be one of my favorite pictures of her ever, is from San Francisco during the first leg of the tour. Hopefully I'll have some cool pictures of my own when I see her for the 13th time @ Madison Square Garden in NY in September! WOO-HOO!

Color, color, and more bursts of color ...

San Francisco

Amsterdam

Nyon, Switzerland

Bilbao, Esplanada del Museo Guggenheim, Spain

Leuven, Belgium

Gdynia, Poland

London, England

Glastonbury, England

Gdynia, Poland

Segovia, Spain

Bilbao, Esplanada del Museo Guggenheim, Spain

Leuven, Belgium

*photos courtesy of bjorkish.net

Icelandic Winter

2007-08-16T18:53:00.001-04:00

Its HOT out today, so to cool off, a video of snow from Reykjavik! This is me filming my friend Joe after the Sugarcubes reunion show as we walked down the street in the town center from the supermarket back to our hotel.

Uneventul video, but ahhhh, cool fresh glowing snow!

Ashley Couric

2007-08-10T19:05:00.000-04:00

Time for another shout-out! HAHA!

One of my closest and dearest friends, the lovely *Ashley*, was recently asked to do a TV style promo video for her job at bridgeTEFL, which is the largest provider of TEFL courses in the United States. TEFL is 'Teaching English as a Foreign Language".

This was without a doubt the cutest thing to 'come across my desk' this week, and had to share as I just know this is her first step towards stardom! HA! So bravo my good friend, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Click the below picture to check out the video @ YouTube!

Religion.

2007-08-06T19:28:00.000-04:00

"When it comes to bullshit, big-time, major league bullshit, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bullshit story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!

But He loves you."

MORE

My Golden Age of Music

2007-07-29T21:39:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, this blog post has taken me years to do, and after such delicate care & attention, it's still not as good as I'd like. If I was ever articulate, I've lost it of late, and plus I'm not a professional writer, but I've tried my best to present to you what are currently 34 fantastic records that I think everyone would enjoy immensely. A very wise women said to me recently that everyone goes through their own personal 'golden age' of music, when you search out new stuff and really get into music, and you end up finding music and artists that just stick with you and you end up following for years to come. When I thought about it, it really was true, and when seeing that most of these albums below are in the same 10 year span, it was a bit shocking. SHOCKING! So I started this list in 2003, and 4 years later a few new albums made the cut, and the list is complete (until a few new gems are added). These aren't albums that I would ever claim to be the 'best albums' or whatever nonsense, they are just ones that stand out to me, are all so unique, and timeless in my view, and just think everyone should check them out! I showed a little extra attention to the top entry, but the other ones are more simpler. For most I included a video or two from YouTube. Not all videos show highlights of the album necessarily, but for some I couldn't find a lot, or anything! Hope enjoy this labor of love, so have fun illegally downloading all of these somewhere! .....

1 | GUS GUS | Polydistortion | 4AD 1997

Ghostly melodies, rough spooky beats, soulful vocals and icy slick bass lines. The perfect groove filled soundtrack to a snowy winter's night. Mysterious and beautiful, an amazing record from beginning to end.

"Delirious melodies, voices from outer space, and a mother load of spooky beats." - Details Magazine, April 1997

"Gus Gus create a multi-vibe stir with Polydistortion. At times as cold and icy as their frosty homeland (Iceland), at other times a rumbling volcano of pyrotechnic rhythms, the CD is a study in the dynamics of the electronic. Atmospheric without ever being boring, Gus Gus rely on soul-filled or breathy vocals to turn their compositions into some of the more interesting and accessible aural amalgamations ever committed to disc. "Believe" is a rhythmic juggernaut, while "Gun" is a moody study of beats and texture. "Why" is particularly stunning, a sparse torch song carried along by a Fender Rhodes-style piano line. More eclectic than electronica, Gus Gus make aural sculptures out of rhythm." -- Steve Gdula

"it bobs and weaves between chilly techno and sensuous bliss-hop...all topped off with a hefty dollop of machine-age art-school cool. Enough glacially beautiful excursions into glistening ambient space-pop to keep armies of bespectacled buffins arching their post-ironic eyebrows well into the next millennium. Spookily surreal." - VOX Magazine, April 1997

聞きなさい
oh | gun | believe | polyesterday | barry (white pride) | cold breath '79
why? | remembrance | is jesus your pal? | purple | polybackwards

Polymovie :

2 | DOVES | Lost Souls | Heavenly/Capitol 2000

A classic rock album full of jazzy torch songs, folk melodies, dark trip hop grooves, stadium anthems and various majestic and gorgeous sounds that conjures images of a crisp October evening. And I dont say it much, cause there aren't many in my view, but beautiful male lead vocals by Jimi Goodwin. Atmospheric, natural, pastoral and organic. And 'Rise' just may be one of the best songs I've ever heard. It feels like being rocketed into space. Cause I would know what that's like, of course. Well now I do. Beautiful stuff.

"Doves have produced an outstanding debut album in Lost Souls, alternately melancholy and uplifting, sparkling darkly with charged atmospherics." --Mike Pattenden, Amazon.com

VIDEO - "The Cedar Room"

聞きなさい
firesuite | rise | the cedar room

3 | BJÖRK | Homogenic | One Little Indian 1997

Battlefield strings swell as a buildup of marching band electronic beats slowly creep under, a song that ushers in the beginning of 'Homogenic' with what sounds like a theme for the troops in the far off-future. An album mostly of classical strings and rock hard volcanic beats, and throw in a dash of a hybrid of hip-hop and Michael Jackson ('Alarm Call'), and some hard barren techno ('Pluto'), this is a unique and incredible album that will never be matched, possibly even by Björk herself. Many times labeled as being too weird in lyrics or sound, she stays true to herself, but is able to strike the right balance for a more mainstream audience, and its a knock-out. Considered her best by critics and fans, its truly unique and a perfect listen from beginning to end. She said she wanted to create an album that sounded like the Icelandic landscape, and make a modern Icelandic pop album, and she couldn't have said it any better. Truly remarkable stuff that gets better on each listen, even 10 years on.

VIDEO - "All is Full of Love" (live at Riverside Church - NYC)

VIDEO - "All Neon Like" (live in Cambridge)

VIDEO - "Alarm Call" (live in Cambridge)

聞きなさい
joga | all neon like | immature | alarm call

4 | LUSH | Split | 4AD 1993

Sounds like heaven and hell and the road that leads you there. At one moment feeling like you're floating in space with angels singing all around, the next moment being sucked into the waves of hell. If stars emitted music, it would sound like this album. Hypnotic, rippling trance inducing guitars overriding a deep bass line drive this perfect autumn influenced record. A simple, hip, art deco album. Call it art rock I guess.

VIDEO - "Hypocrite"

聞きなさい
light from a dead star | kiss chase | never-never | undertow | lit up

5 | LISA GERMANO | Slide | 4AD 1998

Like a young girl in an old musty attic creating songs and melodies with all the toys and instruments she encounters, surrounded by all the dust and spider webs of generations past. A diverse use of natural everyday sounds, gently overridden by the subtle uplifting groove and dream-like state of the music.

VIDEO - "From A Shell" (interesting fan video)

聞きなさい
way below the radio | tomorrowing | if i think of love | reptile

6 | THROWING MUSES | University | 4AD 1995

Fourteen short stories filled with vivid imagery backed by distorted pop melodies. Rough and smooth at the same time. Incredible grooves, both loud and soft, created by unique guitar work, fluid bass lines and simple, yet unpredictable drumming that takes you through the creepiness and beauty of ghost-town America.

VIDEO - "Bright Yellow Gun"

聞きなさい
shimmer | hazing | teller | flood

7 | TV ON THE RADIO | Return to Cookie Mountain | 4AD 2006

OK, yeah, wow, how do you describe this album. This may be the most unique sounding band I have ever heard. From the vocals, to the songwriting, to the lyrics, to the overall sound, there is simply no other band I can think of that remotely sounds like them. Its odd of course as they do wear obvious influences on their sleeves. From your basic indie rock, to trip hop, to doo-wop, to barbershop quartet, to Peter Gabriel, to My Bloody Valentine, to gospel and on and on. But somehow they wrap these influences up completely into their own sound. It takes awhile to pinpoint these influences, and this is in part their key to success. Their sound and songwriting is truly a stamp on the music scene that easily stands out amongst even the most independent and non-commercial of today's music, while still keeping a strong pop element that can draw in the average listener. A psychedelic electro-gospel bible is what I like to think. Unique and utterly special, I cant recommend this enough, and neither can David Bowie. At the time this album came out last year, I compiled some rave reviews and posted about it, and you can see that here for further information, if you like.

VIDEO - "Wolf Like Me" (live on David Letterman)

聞きなさい
hours | a method | blues from down here | dirty whirl

8 | THE DANDY WARHOLS | The Dandy Warhols Come Down | 1997 Capitol

There are so many bands out there, old and new, who dabble in this sound of droning psychedelic ditties. Some quiet, some loud. Sonic Youth, The Velvet Underground, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, but to me their faults lay in their lack of humor. And that's where the Dandy Warhols stepped up, and took the great style of psychedelic and shoegazer sounds and added a level of humor to it, while still keeping their own version of a rock and roll attitude (by celebrating and mocking at the same time). What does this have to do with the music? Well that's what they sound like. Their songs are droning, but every note is pure pop and irresistibly catchy. Blending influences from the Rolling Stones, to 'southern rock' to bands like Ride and My Bloody Valentine, their music to me is just infectious, and pretty hard to dislike. I will fault them for the one song everyone seems to know them for, which will remain nameless, as I really don't like it, but it is on this album. Anyway all their albums are fantastic, but this one is flawless, balancing hazy drugged up day breakers with wall of sound classic rock foot stompers. Haha.

VIDEO - "Boys Better"

聞きなさい
be-in | minnesoter | good morning | cool as kim deal

9 | OASIS | Definitely Maybe | creation/Epic 1994

One of the few rock albums that transcends the age gap. Has that sound and energy that can make people of every age feel young again. Mixing the simplest guitar chords of the 60's to the punk of the 70's and 80's and couple that with an extreme wall of sound (and don't forget a few stolen melodies) and you've got the perfect mix of sound, attitude and ferocious melodies, that despise its simplicity, is so unique it can never be done in the same way again. Cocky as hell, and thank fuck for that.

VIDEO - "Columbia" (live @ Chicago Metro, 1994)

聞きなさい
live forever | columbia | slide away

10 | HOLE | Live Through This | Geffen 1994

'it smells like girl, it smells like girl'

Not sure who wrote this album, nor do I care, cause it's all about Courtney Love's vocals. The songwriting is just superb obviously, with not one bad track on here, but Love's ghostly, distant and gravely vocals give this entire album an eerie quality. Recorded before her husband's death, released 4 days after his body was discovered, and the subsequent tour all gave the sound and release of this album a haunting aura around it. I remember seeing Hole on the Live Through This tour at the Orpheum in December of 94, and all the events surrounding the tour (the death of her bassist Kristen Pfaff a few months after the release of the album, her husbands death, Love's fragile state) all made the messy racket of a show more creepy and exciting, and yes, quite powerful. Seeing her live on this tour made her sadness seem all the more real. Great rock album, through and through.

VIDEO - "Jennifer's Body" (live in Washington DC 1994)

聞きなさい
asking for it | jennifer's body | she walks on me | olympia

11 | SPIRITUALIZED® | Lazer Guided Melodies | Dedicated 1992

This is a really tough album to put into words, or to be able to accurately do justice to, as it really is incredibly beautiful. Over the course of their career Spiritualized has evoked space in the band imagery and even in some song titles/lyrics, and I really dont think it fits more perfectly than with this band. Their songs truly make you feel as if you are floating in space, in sound and voice (and ironically a lot more in this album than in one of their follow-ups called 'Ladies and Gentleman We Are Floating in Space'). There's also a gospel sound in it, and a lot of Pink Floyd, but never straying away from the idea that if space were to open up and reveal the great creator (not that I think there is one), this is the soundtrack for your trip up. As much as the sound of drugs seems to fill this album, its not a dirty sound, its clear bright and beautiful, and another word that I think describes them perfectly, tropical. There's something in the sounds on this CD that sounds tropical to me, but it seems to match perfectly. Intrigued? I hope so, this album is very much worth the investment. Simply incredible stuff.

VIDEO - "Run"

聞きなさい
i want you | run | shine a light | sway

12 | BJÖRK | Debut | One Little Indian 1993

When The Sugarcubes disbanded I was quite devastated, as the idea that I would never hear her voice again, that voice, was truly terrifying. It was her voice that made me become obsessed with the thought of how adventurous music can be, as up until I discovered The Sugarcubes I was adrift in Top 40 Radio HELL. Foreign to me was the idea that she could go solo, and make music better and even more adventurous that the great stuff her former band had done. Yet she did it. As every album passes, a whole new terrain that no one else has touched or thought of is explored and conquered, while keeping it on a digestible level. 'Debut' sounded like nothing at the time else not just because of her voice, but also because of her songwriting. Incredibly these were songs written privately from being a child up until this came out, which shows her music skills, being able to take songs that are almost 20 years old and meld them with current sounds of the day, but taking it to her own level that's ages ahead of the rest. This album is very bubbly and organic. From the jazzy torch song of 'Like Someone in Love', to the atmospheric club vibe of 'One Day', to the upbeat club vibe of 'Violently Happy, to the folk of 'The Anchor Song', every song is perfect. Breezy, lush, and catchy as heck, just a perfect way for Björk to enter the world of pop. Fun, beautiful stuff.

VIDEO - "Human Behaviour" (live @ Royal Opera House London 2001)
(excellent climax with orchestra at the end)

VIDEO - "Big Time Sensuality" (live)
(beautiful rendition performed by Björk, Talvin Singh and Guy Sigsworth)

VIDEO - "Violently Happy" (live in London 1995)
(um, yeah, that looks like an orgasm at the end)

VIDEO - "The Anchor Song" (live in Cambridge 1996, in Icelandic)

聞きなさい
human behaviour | aeroplane | come to me | the anchor song

13 | SIGUR RÓS | Ágætis Byrjun | Fatcat 1999

I can now officially be a snob. In one of my 6 visits to Iceland I was reading the Atlantica in-flight magazine on my 5 hour Icelandair flight from Boston. In it was a blurb about the release of this album that had just come out in Iceland, and how it was breaking sales records in their small country by being able to appeal to people of all ages. The indie rock scene and their grandparents all adored his album equally. So I went out searching for it in Reykjavík center in the 3 or 4 record shops that existed back then. Every store had a space for it in their top 10 sections (it was in first place of course) but the spaces were empty. It was snowing outside, it was cold. Skífan didnt have it, so i walked across Laugevegur to a more local shop, and there it was, one copy left on the shelf. I had no idea what this was really going to sound like, but I put it on my CD player (no iPod's yet, this was in 2001 maybe? or earlier?) and turned it up and started my walk back to my hotel. It clicked right away. Cliches aside, this album sounded exactly like Iceland, and it made perfect sense why all of Iceland loved it so much. It's Iceland in CD format. Its the sound of a barren windswept landscape. It's the sound of a nation waking up to their newly found independence, the sadness of sunless winters and the sound of a quiet village capital in the middle of the night. It's the sound of blinding fierce snowstorms. Its the sound of volcanoes coming alive in pure pitch black darkness, waterfalls and hot springs. It was a beautiful walk that night, in an beautiful haunting place, with the perfect soundtrack.

VIDEO - "Viðrar vel til loftárása"
(really beautiful video)

聞きなさい
svefn-g-englar | ný batterí | viðrar vel til loftárása | olsen olsen

14 | THE THE | Soul Mining | Epic 1983

A band not really known for 'beats', but to me probably the best mix of beats and instruments ever recorded. A most underrated 80's masterpiece mixing every style of 80's music into one perfect pop album. As fresh and unique as the new day you're listening to it. A very bright, sunny mid-summers's day listening experience.

VIDEO - "This is the Day" (live 1983)

聞きなさい
i've been waiting for tommorow (all of my life) | this is the day | uncertain smile

15 | HELIUM | The Dirt of Luck | Matador 1995

One of Boston's most original songwriters, Mary Timony has written a very catastrophic album full of simple yet loud guitars and choppy mid-tempo riot grrrl melodies. Sounds like a post-apocalyptic nuclear winter. Lyrics, melodies, and sounds put together by instruments and ideas left over from the destruction. Ms. Timony's dry, monotone yet innocent sounding vocals balance the grinding guitars and marching drums perfectly. A weird, jilted rock album, completely unique and hard to shake. Fantastic.

VIDEO - "Pat's Trick"

VIDEO - "Honeycomb"

聞きなさい
trixies star | oh the wind and rain | honeycomb

16 | COCTEAU TWINS | Heaven or Las Vegas | 4AD 1990

Cocteau Twins always had a knack for creating what people would describe as this majestic shimmering wall of sound. They helped create the shoegaze sound, where countless bands named them as influences, such as Lush and My Bloody Valentine, up to todays bands ranging from Sigur Rós to Interpol to the new sound of Blonde Redhead. All their albums and their accompanying artwork were just that indeed, pieces of art. They sound like paintings coming alive in a museum. Everything they put out was better than the last, and led by Elizabeth Fraser's indecipherable lyrics and angelic vocal delivery, their music was groundbreaking, and still sounds as fresh as when they started 25 years ago. This album is my favorite, as it feels more like it came from a modern art museum, like a #1 pop album from a Blade Runner-esque future of the year 3000. Why does this album sound like surfing through space to me? 'Fifty-Fifty Clown' is one of the best songs ever written, and of the best vocal performances I have personally ever heard. Given me goose bumps each and every time to this day.

"And this is safe, flowing, love, soul and light"

VIDEO - "Iceblink Luck"

聞きなさい
fifty-fifty clown | pitch the baby | road river and rail

17 | CRANES | Loved | Dedicated 1994

A dark, raw-sounding pop album often lumped in with many goth bands because of their slight hint of gloom. Every song feels like it belongs in the background of a film, due to the widescreen feel and scope of the songs. Erratic drumming, odd uses of the guitar to evoke the feeling of landscapes and the child-like vocals of Alison Shaw. Her voice is not for everyone and can annoy some, but the range of emotions and bravery to sing using her natural voice is not to be overlooked.

VIDEO - "Shining Road"

VIDEO - "Beautiful Friend"

聞きなさい
lillies | beautiful friend | shining road | bewildered

18 | JOY DIVISION | Closer | Factory/Warner 1980

What hasn't been said about this album almost 25 years later? If you're going to kill yourself why not go out with a good gothic beat and a little inovation? Very modern band in 1980 with a different edge on a musical style that really hadn't even happened yet. Gothic guitars, 80's dance music (yet to exist), a 'post-punk' style bass, medieval drumming, and some of the saddest bleakest lyrics in music. Interesting and irrisistable combination. Cold and icy indeed.

VIDEO - "Digital" (live in the Netherlands)
(they were never able to tour this album, so heres another great live clip)

聞きなさい
isolation | heart and soul | decades

19 | THE WOLFGANG PRESS | Funky Little Demons | 4AD 1994

A smooth, soulful, southern-tinged, gothic funk dance album. Very little known band who were around for 15 years creating the perfect mix of many many styles of music. So utterly unique its hard to describe. Deep soulful vocals, backed occasionally with some gospel choirs, guiding lyrically by stories of history and the present. Every style and instrument is represented. Samples, guitars, keyboards, bass, techno beats, drum machines, horns, trumpets, drums, percussion and piano amongst others used to create a gothic-tinged soulful groove-drenched dance album. Just when you think you have an idea what this sounds like, you realize there's no way to describe it.

VIDEO - "Kansas"
(not on this album, but only good video i can find!)

聞きなさい
christianity | she's so soft | fallen not broken | chains | going south

20 | TRICKY | Angels With Dirty Faces | Island 1998

This album seems to be Tricky's first with a complete vision, a concept album if you will. A very manic collection with indecipherable rambling and rapping about the music industry. All this against a backdrop of music that sounds like a gothic trip-hop voyage through the deep south bayous and swamplands of the delta. Very raw and tense album with frenzied drumming and slow torturous melodies full of rage just waiting to burst. A glowing gospel-tinged gothic rap album.

VIDEO - "Broken Homes" (with PJ Harvey live on David Letterman)

聞きなさい
carriage for two | broken homes | record companies

21 | TARNATION | Mirador | 4AD 1997

Lumped in frequently with the pathetically named 'alternative country' scene, Tarnation has definite country influences and sounds. This album however brings to life the most gothic images of midwest America circa the 1800's. Images of saloons, dusty prairies and rolling sagebush echo throughout. Founding member Paula Frazer has a lilting country-tinged voice that is treated so well as to sound like a distant voice in the back of that very saloon. Coupled with great songwriting, echoey twangy guitar work and great artwork from 4AD to enhance the recordings, this an incredible package. Can't recommend enough.

聞きなさい
wait | your thoughts and mine | idly

22 | PALE SAINTS | In Ribbons | 4AD 1992

An extremely unique rock album, fronted by two angelic voiced singers, one male, one female. Because of this, and when this album came out, I think it was easy for critics to place them in the shoegaze scene of the early 90's. On top of that their sound on this album, to me, sounds very airy. It sounds like when Ferris Bueller woke up and saw the perfect day, bright blue skies and a few perfect clouds in the sky. This album sounds like his morning. Every sound, every note, is airy, and light to the touch. The song titles, the vocals, the melodies, every hit of the drums and every plucked guitar string, its all very gentle, but its a ROCK album. It ROCKS OUT. Bright beautiful atmospheric and lots of rich texture to every song, undeniably unique stuff.

VIDEO - "Throwing Back the Apple"

VIDEO - "Blue Flower"

聞きなさい
hunted | babymaker | liquid | featherframe | throwing back the apple | a thousand stars burst open

23 | SLOWDIVE | Souvlaki | creation/SBK 1994

This album is about air, ocean and space. Sounds of clouds, tidal waves, the surf of the ocean, shooting stars and choruses of angels singing laid-back drugged-up melodies. Mellow album yet loud and as expansive as the galaxies themselves. Reverb drenched guitars and beautiful male and female vocals lull you to sleep and simply drift away to the catchy melodies buried underneath. OCEANIC! A TSUNAMI OF MELODY! But seriously, excellent.

VIDEO - "Allison"

VIDEO - "When the Sun Hits" (live in Toronto 1994)
(definitely a bit distorted, but you get the idea they are able to pull their sound off live, which i think it so great as it sounds like its all keyboards, but its their guitars, with lots of effects)

聞きなさい
sing | when the sun hits | souvlaki space station

24 | HIS NAME IS ALIVE | Ft. Lake | 4AD 1998

A very hard album to describe its uniqueness as it's a hybrid of various musical styles. Gospel music, 60's psychedelia, 80's pop, electronic beats, hippie jams, Motown soul, punk and straight-forward rock and roll are all glazed over with a gloss of basic indie pop.

聞きなさい
spirit needs a spirit tool | always turn me on | cant always be loved | the waitress | last american blues

25 | RADIOHEAD | OK Computer | Capitol 1997

Instantly praised as one of the greatest albums ever recorded, not just in Britain but across the globe. It took me literally over a hundred listens (being force fed this working at a record store) to really enjoy this album. From the first time it was clear the originality and utter uniqueness, but it took awhile for the very straight forward melodies to connect. Clearly a rock album but blends standard instruments with electronic instrumentation that hasn't been heard in a long time and coupled with the abstract lyricisms about the marriage of nature and technology, and you've got one of the most accessible art rock albums around. Well done, chaps!

VIDEO - "Karma Police"

聞きなさい
airbag | subterranean homesick alien | karma police

26 | MASSIVE ATTACK | Mezzanine | Virgin 1998

Very dark and moody rock/trip-hop/dub/reggae album. Repetitive dub-like bass lines keep the mood rumbling and the atmosphere mellow until loud metal guitars come crashing in. All the while vocals from Horace Andy with his reggae/dub singing style and former Cocteau Twins chanteuse Elizabeth Fraser providing her ethereal incomprehensibles. Touches of 80's British rock, shoegaze bands, various trip-hop and smooth soul combine for a darkly beautiful groove. Great album for releasing tension as quietly as possible.

VIDEO - "Teardrop"

聞きなさい
inertia creeps | angel | man next door | black milk | group four

27 | CURVE | Doppelganger | Anxious/Capitol 1992

Taking the ethereal qualities of bands like Ride, Slowdive and Lush and adding a bit of attitude and stomp to the sound is what Curve is all about. Basically sporting a slight industrial tone and letting the buried bass lines carry the melody and this album becomes quite a rollercoaster ride. Equally balanced with the tough, sexy, icy, gothic vocals of Toni Halliday, this album will stick in your head all day.

"It's just a little too late
it's never enough to swallow those pills
Now I'm sick and always will be"

VIDEO - "Fait Accompli"

VIDEO - "Coast is Clear" (live)
(ahh nice to kids rocking out to the sweet sounds of Curve)

聞きなさい
lillies dying | fait accompli | wish you were dead | split into fractions

28 | THIEVERY CORPORATION | The Mirror Conspiracy | ESL/4AD 2000

The perfect chillout album ever, hands down. As their name suggests they blend a mix of musical styles including Indian sitar, French 60's pop, bossa nova, Middle Eastern, Brazilian, reggae and dub. Add smooth beats and an airy cinematic elegance and just sit back with bottle of wine, some Cuban cigars and close your eyes. Not that I've done that, but it sounds about right, hehe.

VIDEO - "Lebanese Blonde"

聞きなさい
indra | lebanese blonde | air batacuda

29 | COLDPLAY | Parachutes | Parlophone/Capitol 2000

This one is truly hard to describe without describing the feeling of having the coziest evening in a tiny town called Denmark in the state of Western Australia with the most wonderful person ever, then driving in the middle of the night through the most peaceful and beautiful landscape full of hills and odd trees. This was the album I heard for the first time during that drive and now every time I hear it, every sound from voice and instrument is just as delicately beautiful as my surroundings that evening. An incredible subtle rock album.

VIDEO - "Trouble"

聞きなさい
spies | trouble | don't panic | high speed

30 | KRISTIN HERSH | Sky Motel | 4AD 1999

Ms. Hersh's knack beyond creating haunting moods with her fancy guitar work is her beautifully abstract lyrics that always paint a picture from beauty to insanity. A truly panoramic album of white trash backyards, humid hot southern nights, midwestern star-gazing, cheap dates, serenades, indie foot stompers and smoky drunken evenings at the local cocktail lounge. Slow rockers, sing song melodies and clearly one of the best songwriters in the past 20 years, its impossible for her to ever let you down.

VIDEO - "Echo"

VIDEO - "Your Dirty Answer" (live @ Borders, DC, 2001)

聞きなさい
echo | cathedral heat | spring | clay feet

31 | SING-SING | The Joy of Sing-Sing | Poptones 2001

Melodies that are absolutely impossible to get out of your head driven by deep bass lines and thoughts of train rides through Europe. Vocals that infect and give you goose bumps. 60's horns and techno beats that get your feet tapping and your head nodding. Sounds of nature and echoes of distant beats and rain-drenched guitars keep summer buzzing in your head. The perfect soundtrack for your vacation, whatever kind of vacation that might be.

VIDEO - "Feels Like Summer"

聞きなさい
me and my friend | feels like summer | panda eyes | far away from love | you don't know

32 | CUBA | Leap of Faith | 4AD 1999

Gritty urban cinematic instrumentals, fist-pumping stadium big beats, ethereal brit-pop guitar solos, cheeky repetitive rap vocals and big brand bass. Sunny, windswept road songs, chunky bass lines, haunting piano ballads and summery guitar/trip-hop combos. Featuring vocals from former singers of Massive Attack and Slowdive, as well as Fidel Castro! The sound of the city at 3am.

聞きなさい
urban light | winter hill | cross the line | fiery cross | starshine

33 | DEAD CAN DANCE | Spiritchaser | 4AD 1996

This last album by Dead Can Dance was a bit of a departure in a sense from their previous albums, which was tagged most often as gothic that was rooted in renaissance elements, but at their core was what you could call a world sound. It was just the balance of their music slanted more towards the darker elements of their songs. All fantastic stuff. But depending on what you preferred, the earlier 'work' might not have been some people's cup of tea. But then came this album, which shifted the balance more towards a world/global music sound, but still with the darker tones intact. At the core was always the vocals of Australia's Lisa Gerrard (now an Academy Award winning soundtrack composer) and Brendan Perry, and seeing them live is truly an amazing near mystical experience, walking away feeling you've seen the most passionate musicians in music. Using electronic elements and more traditional instruments, this album is filled with hypnotic repetitive songs that take you through the sounds of Africa, the Amazon, the Middle East, South America and much more. It's the sound of ancient nature coming alive, resulting in a remarkable and completely enjoyable album from start to finish. A hard album to describe for me, and nothing I can think of to say does it proper justice, you just have to hear it for yourself.

"It could have been played around bonfires by African tribesmen before the dawn of our civilization. It could have come from European mystics in the time of the Renaissance, South American cultures in the middle ages, goths in a dark underground club in modern America.. maybe even by tribal cavemen scattered through Gondwana before our continents of today were even made" - Amazon.com reviewer

The following videos are not from songs on this album, but show how great this band is live, especially both vocalists :

VIDEO - "Cantara" (live 1994)

VIDEO - "Rakim" (live 1994)

聞きなさい
indus | the snake and the moon | song of the nile | niehika

34 | THE SUGARCUBES | Stick Around for Joy | One Little Indian 1992

There was one strange moment when this album really hit me, 'like a ton of bricks', and that was in high school. I had just gotten into The Sugarcubes thanks to the vocals of Björk and just the sheer silly nature of the band. I really don't remember what it was for, but there was a school trip where we had to go out onto a boat, me and a bunch of other classmates. Maybe it was a whale watch or something, I can't remember, but it was in either Boston or Plymouth Harbor. I brought my tape Walkman with me, and listened to this album while avoiding everyone else. I was leaning on the wooden railing of the boat, as it moved quickly through the water, and it was cloudy and very cool as it was autumn, and very misty. It was just a perfect cozy atmosphere for the day, and for the music for some reason. Im not sure if I thought that maybe this is what weather was like in Iceland (where they were from, and I had not been there yet). Maybe it was the windy, care-free full of life vocals coming from Björk that matched the moment, or the drums that sounded to me very 'Caribbean' (there's that ocean connection again). Maybe it was just feeling like the music was tearing me away from the hell of a high school outing. I just remember more than anything just feeling happier than ever during the freak-out in "Lucky Night" and during the happy lazy-day vibe in all of "Leash Called Love". The mix of everything just hit me so hard I have never forgotten that trip, and now every time I listen to this fantastic album, its all that comes to mind. A fun breezy upbeat album with the always incredible vocals of Björk, who shows she can sing anything from electronica, to rock, to jazz, and to acapella, and she makes it all her own. A truly joyful album that simply can't fail to put a smile on your face.

VIDEO - "Walkabout"

VIDEO - "Hit" (live on the Arsenio Hall Show, 1992)

VIDEO - "Birthday" (live on Saturday Night Live, 1988)

聞きなさい
leash called love | lucky night | i'm hungry | gold | hetero scum

____________________

MORE PERFECT ALBUMS FROM BEGINNING TO END (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

!!! : Myth Takes

50 Foot Wave : Golden Ocean

Barry Adamson : Oedipus Schmoedipus

Björk : Vespertine

Björk : Volta

The Breeders : Pod

Broker/Dealer : Initial Public Offering

Chapterhouse : Blood Music

Cocteau Twins : Treasure

Cranes : Wings of Joy

Cranes : Forever

Doves : Some Cities

Echo and the Bunnymen : Heaven Up Here

Echo and the Bunnymen : Ocean Rain

Galaxie 500 : This Is Our Music

Laika : Lost in Space

Lush : Gala

Mojave 3 : Out of Tune

My Bloody Valentine : Loveless

Portishead : Portishead

Prolapse : The Italian Flag

Public Image Limited : Metal Box (also known as Second Edition)

Rage Against The Machine : Rage Against The Machine

Red House Painters : Red House Painters 1

Ride : Nowhere

Scheer : Infliction

Spritualized® : Pure Phase

The Sugarcubes : Life's Too Good

Talk Talk : The Colour of Spring

Thom Yorke : The Eraser

Throwing Muses : The Real Ramona

Tribe : Abort

Tribe Called Quest : Anthology

Tricky : Maxinquaye

Ulrich Schnauss : ...far away trains passing by

Ultramarine : United Kingdoms

Underworld : Beaucoup Fish

Bush in Martinsburg

2007-07-05T15:30:00.000-04:00

Obviously I am not a big fan of our retard-in-chief, but it's always exciting when the president comes to town. Unfortunately I was not there to see his trip to my hometown of Martinsburg, W.Va. for Independence Day yesterday, but here are some photos. Yeah Martinsburg!

Taking off on Marine One for the quick trip to Martinsburg from the South Lawn of the White House ...

At the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard ...

Volta Tour Fashions | USA & Canada | Spring 2007

2007-05-30T21:17:00.000-04:00

let's celebrate now, all this flesh on our bones.

George, WA - Sasquatch Festival

.......................
did i imagine it would be like this?

Vancouver - Deer Lake Park

.......................
i adore how you simply surrender to high.

New York - United Palace Theater

.......................
the beast is back.

San Francisco - Shoreline Ampitheater

.......................
the thrill of fear, now greatly enjoyed with courage.

Reykjavik - Laugardalshöll

.......................
lets open up, SHARE!

Chicago - Auditorium Theater

.......................
this is an offer to better the last let-go.

New York - United Palace Theater

.......................
grinding the skeptics into the soil.

New York - Radio City Music Hall

.......................
Damn colonists ...

Indio, CA - Coachella

.......................
...ignore their patronizing...

Indio, CA - Coachella

.......................
...tear off their blindfold...

Denver - Red Rocks Amphitheatre

.......................
...OPEN THEIR EYES!

San Francisco - Shoreline Amphitheatre

.......................

.......................
can you spot a pattern?

EARTH | FIRE | WATER | AIR

2007-05-10T20:16:00.000-04:00

(United Palace Theater, May 5, 2007)

"The resulting sound is fiercely, ecstatically tribal: the sound of parties around beach fires." - Telegraph UK

"...at this point, like Prince, she's a legacy artist. Her best work's not necessarily behind her, but what is behind her is kinda genius, and whatever happens now is postscript. She has become this century's zeitgeist artist ... that alarming sonic tongue she uses to zap her diversity-conference audience's sense of emergency, fragility, and pure animal panic. She also operatically exalts and exudes that most elusive and fanciful of human desires: untrammeled, untamable freedom, laid out to the pomo techno-tribalist beat all you earthbound E.T.'s now call home. What the funk were the Wachowski Brothers going for in that Matrix Reloaded rave scene? Nothing less than the pagan gospel church of Bjork in full-spectacle throw-down mode." -Village Voice

PICTURES

Apollo Theater
May 8, 2007 w/Spank Rock

United Palace Theater
May 5, 2007 w/Konono N°1

VIDEOS

Pluto
(Audio really bad, but you can see some energy)

Hyperballad
(Great energy and better audio on second half of this short clip)

"An international traveller and a homemaker on various continents, Björk's ancestry might be Icelandic, but she is the epitome of a global artist, a child of the Earth rather than merely an export of an island on a wind-blasted and ice-sheeted northern hemisphere. This is no sidestep, despite the recalling of past achievements; it takes one step back to fly a dozen forward, and leaves the listener bewildered at its incredible execution." -Drownedinsound.com

"...beats and colour are back, and it's time to party. Yet it's not at all as simple as that. Volta is a hotch-potch, a heady brew of strange and unsettling ingredients hop-scotched around by an artist who, a decade and a half since launching her solo career, still sounds like no-one else. Björk's mind remains artistically open to just about anything, and on this album she sounds like she's enjoying recharging it with another tranche of skewed new ideas." - musicOMH.com

(United Palace Theater, May 5, 2007)

"Stunning, absolutely essential listening from a truly great artist of our time. No other artist can be credited with introducing such an array of avant-garde elements and production techniques so directly into the mainstream. It's astonishingly beautiful." -Boomkat.com

"Björk's vocals growl and rise in ecstasy in ways we've sorely missed since the '90s. Björk, though, creates with the mind frame of a painter, with at least as much concern for the possibilities of the palette as for what the finished piece might communicate. If you get it, great; if not, at least you've exposed yourself to a potentially enriching experience. And, the deeper you delve, the more it has to offer." -Popmatters.com

"Here's a mark of just how special Bjork is, how defined her artistic character: she can invite any amount of guests into the studio – African junk-percussion groups, futurist hip-hop producers, improv drummers, emotive torch-singers, Warp Records techno heads – and still come out with an album that sounds like no one but herself. Joyful, expressive, brave, intelligent: in short, another great Bjork album. (First single) Earth Intruders (is) an ecstatic, bounding war march." - BBC

(Coachella, Indio, CA, April 26, 2007)

"Volta is an intense jumble of rhythms and counter-rhythms that blend with her breathy free-form vocals to give the songs a tribal feel. It's almost claustrophobic at times, as complex layers of percussion build and multiply until they're not merely driving the music, they are the music. An album so confident in its experimental spirit that its eclecticism seems nothing short of captivating." - Hartford Courant

"With its pounding percussive rhythms, elaborate instrumentations and at times industrial beats, the music has a propulsive quality that is nearly engulfing." - Yahoo

"Forest fire-warmth." -Stylus Magazine

"Volta is Björk's best album yet." - Tinymixtapes.com

(United Palace Theater, May 5, 2007)

(United Palace Theater, May 5, 2007)

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Annual Spring Benefit "The Downtown Dinner" honoring Bjork, held at 7 World Trade Center, NYC (May 3rd 2007)
(L-R : Björk Guðmundsdóttir, film and video director (including numerous Björk videos) Michel Gondry, actress Natalie Portman, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer)

'palatably appealing'

2007-04-05T20:48:00.000-04:00

The Ineffable Mr. Wright announces ...

"PT Barnum's most opium-inspired kaleidoscopic carousel, replete with 2000 chartreuse bells and sapphire whistles, 13 sousaphone blowing cheetahs and 1 accordion playing Ganesh...it's 3001 brass pipes bubbling and
belching the symphony a caffeine-fueled Phil Spector composed on the Mighty Wurlitzer that appeared in last night's dream dreamt by Dali, dictated by Roald Dahl: the sonically-glimmering soundtrack to a Post-modern filth fantasia starring Dawn Davenport sashaying through the ghetto of the East Village dripping head to toe in diamond-studded Chanel, shot in glorious Technicolor by John Waters and projected on a huge screen suspended high above Cinderella's Castle in Walt Disney World on a balmy, 72 degree night in late November....the southwesterly breeze carrying fuchsia flamingo feathers down to the Gulf of Mexico...and beyond....."

Hear the Fairytale EP on MySpace

March 4th

What you see's the Republic of Me.
What I see's the Republic of You.
At the end of the day,
just the breadth of a rainbow gaze.

This is our sterling chance
to collide our stance.

Let's go let go

I had a dream. I have a dream.

It's all so revealing. Palatably appealing.

a 'shout-out to joe'

2007-02-13T20:56:00.000-05:00

... to my friend joe (the sprinter of gotham), who not only got to work in the art department of a major motion picture as an intern, but it was working on the set of one of his favorite pieces of twisted entertainment imaginable, a film prequel or something like that of the hit Comedy Central show 'Strangers with Candy'

sometimes he's a bit humble (just sometimes, trust me), so i wanted to recognize this. so joe, you win the 2006 GhostLife Job of the Year Award. its in the mail ...

whats next, Jerry Bruckheimer? :) (sorry, did that make you sick?)

RFK on MLK & The Need for Peace

2007-01-15T19:43:00.000-05:00

On April 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy, a candidate for President for the Democratic Party, gave a short, yet beautiful and passionate speech, just a day after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated. On MLK Day, I wanted to share with you this speech, as it is not only echoes Dr. King and what he stood for, but its message and demand for peace, for a stop of the violence of that era, domestically, and certainly overseas, is still strongly relevant today.

The speech, called 'On the Mindless Menace of Violence', can be read here.

2006 Cinema Recommendations

2007-01-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

R.I.P. - The President & The Godfather

2006-12-27T19:45:00.000-05:00

President Gerald R. Ford

....................

James Brown

....................

INLAND EMPIRE

2006-12-19T22:33:00.000-05:00

www.inlandempirecinema.com
www.davidlynch.com

Ahhh yes, another film from one of my two favorite directors, David Lynch (the other being Woody Allen, fyi!). If you dont know much about him, well he created 'Twin Peaks', and wrote and directed 'Mulholland Drive', 'Blue Velvet', 'The Straight Story', 'Lost Highway', 'Wild at Heart', amongst others. All beautiful, odd, mesmerizing and hilarious movies, and 'Inland Empire' is no different, although it's probably more comparable to his first film 'Eraserhead', as it has almost the same surreal dark vibe to it, combined with this aura and look of experimentation. Its a long movie, a strange trip through a neverending maze of offbeat humor, electricity, violence, love & tension, and an amazing performance by long time Lynch collaborator Laura Dern. The supporting cast includes Justin Theroux, Harry Dean Stanton, Grace Zabriskie (Laura Palmer's mom!) and Jeremy Irons, and features cameos by Mary Steenburgen, William H Macy, Diane Ladd, Nastassja Kinski, Naomi Watts and others. If youre up for something different and fresh, I can't recommend this great film enough!

TRAILER (1 Minute) :

"Laura Dern, in a monumental performance that holds the line of humanism even as reality and illusion blur" - Rolling Stone

"a work of profound, unnerving impact. The way to watch it is to skip uneasily along its surface and steel yourself for those moments when Lynch pulls you into the vortex. More than any working filmmaker, he knows the dreamlike power of undertow. "Inland Empire" may be the most aggressively surreal feature film ever released to movie theaters in this country, and it's possibly close to the movie David Lynch carries around in his head." - Boston.com

"One of the few films I've seen this year that deserves to be called art. Dark as pitch, as noir, as hate, by turns beautiful and ugly, funny and horrifying, the film is also as cracked as Mad magazine, though generally more difficult to parse." - New York Times

Albums to Kill for from 2006

2006-12-06T22:10:00.000-05:00

Khonnor – Handwriting
(Type)

www.typerecords.com

highlights : 'megan's present' / 'crapstone'

VERMONT REPRESENT! :) I really dont know how to describe this CD (which yes is about 2 years old, but i learned about it this year, so leave me alone!), maybe because its totally unique, I really dont know. And maybe because Khonnor was only I think 17 years old when he made this CD, at home, in the most basic 'music studio' you can imagine. Basically a kid screwing around with some equipment, some tape players, and a few random lyrics. The whole album sounds like a slow moving tidal wave of soft white noise, with haunting electronic samples drifting in & out in the background, but all in the realm of an acoustic folk album. It really is a creepy yet insanely beautiful album that I almost get the feeling that, if Sofia Coppola had heard this album, it would have been the entire soundtrack to 'Lost in Translation'. One song called 'Megans Present' to this day gives me chills every time I hear it, and as I listen now, my jaw drops, especially knowing this came from a kid screwing around with some musical equipment. It's a short song (as all are, another stroke of genius), and it changes tone in the middle with these sort of 'yearning' lyrics and this mellow techno melody that sounds like the skies opening up. This album takes some time, and even some patience, but its just incredibly beautiful. Can't recommend it enough.

“Using only an old PC, a microphone from a 'Learn Japanese' boxset and a single low quality PC speaker, Connor creates something highly original...Dreamlike digitally manipulated guitar disruptions and wavering synths form the foundation for most of the tracks, as Khonnor frankly and openly charts the ups and downs of teenage love, pocket change and lost hazy nights. Khonnor's music offers something different. The punk rock attitude, the seemingly innate understanding of distortion and electronic manipulation, the fresh and heartfelt emotion, the unhidden fragility and anticlimaxes of adolescence. This seventeen year old from Vermont, in his debut album, has compiled something so personal and original that its frightening to imagine where he might take us next.” – Boomkat

.......

Hafdis Huld - Dirty Paper Cup
(MVine)

www.hafdishuld.com

highlights : 'ski jumper' / 'tomoko'

People say it must be something in the water in Iceland, and it could be, but I think it's the smell of sulfur that permeates there that gives Icelandic artists this creative quirkiness, and Hafdís Huld Þrastardóttir is certainly no exception. One year later, and another solo album from a former GusGus'er, and this release is even more satisfying than last years release from Daniel Agust (also formerly of GusGus). All the songs are short and quirky, mostly acoustic based, and insanely catchy. As much as I loved the sound of GusGus, it's great to hear both artists tackle new territory instead of staying on the electronic side of things. Why do I imagine this album being sung next to a campfire out in the great wide open? Just has that sort of feel to me somehow. If the chorus of 'Ski Jumper' doesn't stick in your head and come out during the day via random bursts of lip-synching, well, then, i dont know what's wrong with you ......

“Are you ready for some more quirky lo-fi Icelandic femme folktronica? You should be, despite the less than enticing album title or her mouthful of a moniker. Like the soundtrack to some hip indie film, this album doesn't shout, scream or push for your attention. Creeping in with the hush, strum and sigh of organic instrumentation and the odd splash of electronics these are tunes that intrigue, entice and beguile with the brush of the artist not the brashness of the arsehole. Behind the wide-eyed innocence, childlike imagination and pop sensibility there is an unmistakable sense of joy on these recordings that rolls along without tipping over into the jarringly saccharine. If Iceland can keep serving up gems like this one every few years it may be reason enough alone to emigrate.” – MusicOMH

........

TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
(4AD/Interscope)

www.tvontheradio.com

highlights : 'hours' / 'blues from down here' / 'a method'

As if I havent gushed about this album enough, now comes time to add it to my top cds of the year, and this really is the best album of the year, hands down. It may seem like a slightly challenging listen at first, but I havent met one person yet who hasn't said after repeated listens that it's perfection doesnt unfold before them. On paper its easy to say mixing doo-wop, shoegaze and 'indie rock' together creates something completely unique, but I think if we placed a bet, you would not be able to find anything that sounds like this band. To me they sound like a bright neon light in a gospel-tinged southern bayou on a cool foggy night. Yup, thats sums it up.

“'Return to Cookie Mountain' is beautiful to within a millimetre of its weird and wonderful life, despite sounding like a lurid Technicolor Sesame Street gone big screen. In short, to be unashamedly decadent, this is the gospel for the summer. A majestic epiphany, a spellbinding antidote to World cup anthems and the guilty pleasures of the Euro-pop that's soon to making its way back from the Med, along with lobster tans and herpes. By contrast to such tawdriness, 'Return to Cookie Mountain' is fascinatingly dense, soulful and utterly divine.” – Playlouder

........

Thom Yorke – The Eraser
(XL Recordings)

www.theeraser.net

highlights : 'and it rained all night' / 'analyse' / 'harrowdown hill'

Kind of hard to grasp exactly what I love so much about this album, but as I listen now, I think I can narrow it down to the vocals, and the synths used all throughout this album. I'm usually not a huge fan of Thom Yorke's vocals. I mean, I like Radiohead, and he's got a great voice, but at the same time, sometimes I also can't listen to them because of his voice. On this 'solo album' of his it's quite the opposite. Mr Yorke seems to concentrate more this time on letting his voice be another element of the music, another sound, instead of trying to be above the music, by reaching those high notes and belting out the choruses. This time he seems more relaxed, cause this is all him, and the music shows. The synth sounds used in this album have their entire own identity. Usually synths and keyboards are a background element used to add a little 'flair' if you will, or if its electronic music, its the main element. Here it strikes a good balance with the vocals, and the balance is quite soothing. This album has a sound to me that would be a modern day soundtrack to an old silent horror film, like Nosferatu or something of that ilk. The synths in 'Harrowdown Hill' are like an old dusty moviehouse organ with one of Yorke's cathiest vocal melodies to date and a slight groove to the bass line. 'And it Rained All Night' sounds like an Edward Gorey come alive on an electric rainy night. (Yes, the song title makes perfect sense.) 'Black Swan' is quite the pop song, and 'Analyse' sounds like Carol Anne coming towards the light. A dark, groovy, electric, spooky Halloween of an album. I highly recommend it.

“If The Eraser is indeed a travelogue of Yorke's psyche, the first half proves it's a concrete jungle in there. It's one of the least psychedelic albums ever made—timbres tend to fall within a narrow spectral range between ash and steel. And yet these cold, gray slabs of sound create a humid, all-encompassing atmosphere that begins as alienating but ultimately becomes familiar. It certainly sounds monochromatic on first try, but close listens reveal intriguing details crawling about; tongue clicks, wood blocks, twitchy shakers, and undulating serpents of bass among them. After the wall-of-Yorke echoes on the opening title track, "Analyse" follows breathlessly on its heels with a seductive, near-tropical sway. "Black Swan" is the easiest entry point for toe-dippers. A swampy, hypnotic take on Radiohead's riff-based material, Yorke offers subtly ingratiating "ice age coming" frustration and typically sly humor .” – Stylus Magazine

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Office – Q & A
(self-released)

www.reachoffice.net

highlights : 'the big bang jump' / 'wound up' / 'dominos'

This album actually came out in 2005, but it is entirely self-released, and thus didnt get much attention outside of their hometown of Chicago until one of their songs was posted as a free download on iTunes, which is where I heard about them (this year, thus its on my 2006 list!). Like their name and their album cover, this album is fully office-themed, in the lyrics, and in their sound. "In their sound?" To be honest I think this is the perfect album to end the work week, after what more than likely was a week of pure hell. Every song is incredibly poppy and incredibly catchy. Lots of 'oooooooo's and 'lalalalalalalala's, handclaps, trumpets, driving bass lines, beautiful background female harmonies and sing along choruses. The songwriting is very strong, with a a slant towards a 1980's sound. The best way I can describe them is a mix of The Cars, XTC and The Dandy Warhols, with a dash of Ben Folds. How this band hasn't been signed to a label, caught someone's ear, or even made it to Pitchfork (based in Chicago no less), is beyond me*. Brilliant stuff, fun, and really just irresistible.

*Scratch that, they were just signed to a small indie label called Scratchie Records/New Line Records. This self-released album I mention is no longer available via their site, or iTunes, but the new record out in 2007 will 'consist of singles from our "demo" record, Q&A, some older music, as well as some new songs. All tracks are being remixed, re-mastered, cleaned-up, and enhanced with help from James at Stratosphere Sound in NYC.'

“Q&A sounds like Daniel Lanois and Nick Rhodes ganged up and produced a record for Franz Ferdinand - the album is loaded with hook-filled, pop-rock songs and is wrapped in a thick, warm atmosphere that recalls Phil Spector’s “wall of sound.” I haven’t been this happy with an album from beginning to end in a loooong time - every single song on the album is a winner. No skipping necessary.” – Forepac Blog

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Brightblack Morning Light – Brightblack Morning Light
(Matador)

www.thebrightblackmorninglight.com

highlights : 'friend of time' / 'star blanket river child'

Every time I listen to this CD it gets better and better, and for the reason my good friend Matt said, this really is the perfect morning CD. It sounds like nothing less than the sun coming up in the morning, specifically in sunny California somewhere I'd say. I think I say that cause there is one sound in all this that doesn't seem to get mentioned in the reviews I've read, and I think thats one of a 70's funk sound, just slowed down about 100 paces perhaps. These guys are real 'hippies', without making some crappy hippie music, if that makes any sense. Best way to describe them I guess is that droney light atmospheric spacey sound of Spiritualized, mixed with that slow tempo 70's funk, some light jazz, and even a little blaxploitation film scores sounds in there. Such a strange mix, but yet again, very original, a real grower, and just a beautiful wake up call of an album if there ever was one.

“Closer to a band of gypsies than any group Hendrix ever conjured, Brightblack Morning Light understand the responsibility that comes with playing off-the-red folk-blues that pitter-patters down the sidewalk like a paranoid goose-stepper. The Southerners-turned-Sanfranciscans whisper more than shout, but they know how to demand attention. Let this self-titled debut steep in its own warm juices for a spell; you'll see. The porno horns bleating through the misty ten-minutes-plus maze of "Star Blanket River Child" are the first sign of expansion. From there, an ever-widening chasm of ghostly chants, swamp-water rhythms, rusty trombones, hand-drum swats, and low-in-the-mix guitar swipes will swallow you whole.” – Tiny Mix Tapes

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Squarepusher – Hello Everything
(Warp)

www.squarepusher.net

highlights : 'hello meow' / 'planetarium' / 'rotate electrolyte'

All I can really say about this album is it pops and bubbles from beginning to end. A fantastic jazzy electronic pop album. FANTASTIC!

“Dazzling chord progressions override fiendishly intricate beats as Jenkinson combines the elation of rave with the complexity of jazz. Theme from Sprite positively twinkles with melody and the pacey Hello Meow combines chiming xylophones and virtuoso bass playing. It is not all a ball - Vacuum Garden is six minutes of beatless ambience that ebbs, flows and spooks - but, for the most part, this is Squarepusher on full beam and Hello Everything is a thing of unbridled joy.” – The Guardian

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Working for A Nuclear Free City – Working for A Nuclear Free City
(Melodic)

www.workingforanuclearfreecity.com

highlights : 'troubled son' / 'forever' / 'innocence'

It seems every review of this album I come across has to throw in the Stone Roses reference, and there is certainly some validity to that, but despite some bands that go for that early 90's 'MADchester' sound, this group seems to have taken that sound, but with the ability of advancing the sound to their own songwriting style, instead of just emulating. They either concentrate on quieter more atmospheric moments, or go for the attack on all the others, with beats and melodies you just want to go on and on and on. They are smart enough to keep the more upbeat tracks to a short time to make you want to get through the whole album, and its worth it. Oh, and there are hardly any vocals, which I like in this case. This album has a strange magnetism to it, ebbing and flowing, one moment lulling you to sleep, the next knocking you out of bed. 'Troubled Son', the leadoff track, makes me want to star in a 'Trainspotting'-esque bank robbery flick (with Scarlett Johansson as my leading lady of course). Maybe its the David Holmes/'Ocean's 11'-esque sound of the track 'Innocence' that does it too. A strangely soothing beautiful scenic sludgefest. Just listen, you'll know what I mean. Simply put, a great British rock and roll album, with a dash of electronics.

“With the likes of Nathan Fake and Amusement Parks On Fire making it okay to admit a fondness for the previously-derided fey and foggy shoegazing scene of the early ‘90s, more and more bands are smudging out the vocals, plastering on the fuzz and cranking up the reverb. Manchester’s Working For A Nuclear Free City are one such group using My Bloody Valentine’s monolithic Loveless as their set text, but they avoid becoming pointless revivalists by adding a hard, Warp-esque electronic edge to their lovely, woozy sludge. An occasionally bewildering but ultimately rewarding experience.” – BBC.co.uk

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Mojave 3 – Puzzles Like You
(4AD)

www.mojave3online.com

highlights : 'breaking the ice' / 'truck driving man' / 'big star baby'

Well if the review below doesn't sum up this album, I don't know what could, as this really is the sound of a cool glass of lemonade and the sizzling southern pavement on a hot yet beautiful clear day in the middle of summer, waiting for the fun and fireworks to begin once the sun begins to set. Ive always been a fan of these guys, especially when they were 'dream-poppers' Slowdive, but their new country sound had a lack of pretentiousness that all the other 'alt-country' bands had, and to me this was a very good thing. This may also explain why they were not quite embraced by that scene, almost equal to the lack of embrace they received in the shoegaze scene (aka 'the scene that celebrates itself') of the early 90's when they were Slowdive. Why? Who knows. Who cares really, cause the music speaks for itself. Their first album was very quiet, like an acoustic Mazzy Star, but oh so beautiful. Then 'Out of Tune' came out and they took on a mid-tempo atmospheric country rock sound, with a little bit of a lazy day at the beach vibe. Then they lost it for me for a few albums (sans 'Billy Oddity' off the 'Spoon & Rafter' album), despite the always strong songwriting of Neil Halstead. But now 'Puzzles Like You' comes out this year, and it blows me away. It's what I always hoped they would put out, and knew they should have out out. The songs are more upbeat, very catchy, and with a crystal clear production, the songs really just jump off the record. All the while keeping their country sound (and those beautiful slide guitars), but making it their own. Don't shy away from the country tag, cause its not country per say, but you will know when you hear it. A perfect idea of what it would sound like if a britpop band with a conscience made a 'country' record. Oh wait, thats what this is.

“Mojave 3's new material isn't an abandonment of any strengths; it's an embrace of the simple pleasures of the classic '60s garage-pop style of songwriting -- a style that Neil Halstead has certainly flirted with and referenced throughout the years. It's a gift that 4AD chose to release Puzzles Like You during the advent of summer. It's a twisting-by-the-pool record. It's a driving-with-the-top-down record. Hot like the pavement. Cool like lemonade. It's midday instead of sunset. If this is not the dynamic you expect from Mojave 3, prepare to be pleasantly surprised.” – Prefix Mag

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Mew – And the Glass Handed Kites
(Sony)

highlights : 'chinaberry tree' / 'special' / 'the zookeeper's boy' / 'why are you looking grave?'

www.mewsite.com

This album really says ambitious if anything else, and luckily they succeed here. This band is from Denmark, and with this, they have created a really unique rock epic, combining a lot of 70's prog rock, stadium torch songs, new age rockers, some 90's dreampop, and all wrapped up into a concept album. I would even say you could thrown some 'Jesus Christ Superstar' influence in there, as it just has this slight 70's hippie glam vibe to it. Whatever that is I dont know exactly, its just what pops into mind as I hear this. Its a unique album, with some beautiful vocal melodies, melding all the songs together into what really is an album experience, as you can almost barely tell where one song begins and one ends. And on top of that, there are a few songs that just might get your hips a rocking. HAHA! A very rewarding special album that gets better on every listen.

“Redefining both "album" and "concept album," And The Glass Handed Kites is a mind-blowing 60 minute rock maelstrom flinging musical ideas, distorted nightmare images and heartbreak choruses at the listener with skull-cracking ferocity. One minute we're looking toward Valhalla from a "Chinaberry Tree," moments later we're asked "Why are you looking grave?" by guest artist J Mascis over a throbbing guitar squall and next thing we're in the middle of an ethereal ballad about foxes. What initially sounds like ten bands playing ten different albums at the same time, tuned in and out of sync by some ADD-riddled studio engineer, reveals itself after repeated listening as a remarkably sustained and unified work, picking up the experimental challenge of cutting edge Britpop from Wire to "Kid A" and drenching it in Mew's otherworldly sonic brew.” – Jive Magazine

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RJ Valeo – September
(Type)

www.typerecords.com

highlights : 'jarus' / 'cypher'

You know that kind of music you hear when you go to see a show at a nightclub by an artist that you know is just going to be a whole different kind of show? Like these beautifully strange electronic yet organic tones and beats right before the first time you are gonna see someone like Bjork or Tricky or Squarepusher, and its so modern and atmospheric and sexy and creepy, like you feel you are on the set of Blade Runner or some other futuristic kind of movie? Everything feels new and unknown while this super modern rain drenched spy theme rumbles through the floor and David Lynch is sitting off in the corner chatting with Donnie Darko and 'The Man from Another Place' (oh Michael J. Anderson, you are oh so great). Thats what this CD sounds like. Brilliant stuff, for your headphones, or even an interesting little dinner party.

““September” paints a rainbow of fragile sounds with percussive ingenuity and a feel for deep textures – shimmering neon sweeps of melody engulf tricky percussive pops and clicks in a way not a thousand miles removed from the sparse love-story-telling of Dub Tractor or the lullaby minimalism and effervescence of Mr Xela himself. Music that doesn’t necessarily stick to conventional means but that somehow manages to make itself accessable to all who approach it – a combination of ingenuity and emotional vulnerability that sets this label off to the kind of start we dreamt of when we launched CCO a good few years back. Absolutely gorgeous.” – Boomkat

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Martin Denny – The Best of Martin Denny's Exotica
(Capitol)

highlights : 'coronation' / 'caravan' / 'quiet village'

Obviously this music is not new, and in fact, about 40-50 years old, but that is precisely the point I think, that to me at least it still sounds so fresh, and refreshing really. Martin Denny and Les Baxter were the two artists who were considered to have started the 'exotica' music style, the same one that kind of came back for a while in the late 90's (remember Combustible Edison from Providence? Ill never forget seeing them open for Dinosaur Jr at the old Lupos, now that was a weird billing!). Anyway I really like Martin Denny cause I think his music stands out above all that 'exotica' stuff, and this newly released compilation shows why. Not only are the songs very catchy, but they really are very lush, and with all the bird calls and sounds of animals throughout all the songs, it really feels like you are walking through some Hawaiian forest sometime in the carefree futuristic 50's! Haha. You can even here some influence on future film scores, like 'Ore (God of Vengence)' was a precursor to some of Danny Elfman's scores for Tim Burton's film, and even on 'La Pampa Y La Puna', you can see where the score for some of 'Donnie Darko' got its influence. All in all, its sorta corny, sorta fun, but oddly beautiful background music.

“Denny's late-1950s/early-'60s heyday, a time when the Hawaiian "tiki" trend reached mainland America with the force of a tropical storm. Marked by a global arsenal of light percussion and animal calls, Denny's chiming tunes are almost immediately identifiable, with a spare melody always providing the springboard for a stunningly eclectic array of literal bells and whistles. Among the many charming and breezy songs on the collection are Denny's dreamy hit single "Quiet Village," the sparkling (and aptly titled) "Hypnotique," and "Miserlou," a slow, slinky counterpart to Dick Dale's revved-up surf rendition. ” – CD Universe

“his music retains the power to transport you away from the land of super malls and freeways to a place where nature, men and women live in a Technicolor paradise.” – Rhapsody.com

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Helios – Eingya
(Type)

www.typerecords.com

highlights : 'dragonfly across an ancient sky' / 'coast off'

I would say this is more of a background music version of Boards of Canada, with guitars, and more of a jazz feel. The tempo is mellow, yet beautiful. A very seasonal feeling to this record, with a strong soundtrack vibe to it. Not exactly cinematic really, but a soundtrack to really beautiful powerful independent film. A lot of natural sounds like birds chirping, the waves of the ocean, someone walking on a pier, they all make up the environment of this record, while the quiet guitar drives the melody. And like the Khonnor album I 'reviewed' above, this is also from a bright young kid, and this one being his first release since leaving Berklee College of Music here in Boston. Dont worry kid, one day you'll have the musical integrity of Britney Spears.

“a protracted sunset of an album guaranteed to see you through the longest days of summer and into the twilight of the autumn. Gently counterpoised piano and guitar lines haunt each other against a glimmering background of electronic tones while subtly measured beats come and go so discreetly you'll wonder if they were ever there to begin with. A thoroughly artificial piece of pastoral from start to finish, it's also a reminded that the sun passes by this way only once a day. Enjoy it while you can.” – The Wire

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RUBBISH OF THE YEAR

I generally don't feel the need to go negative with my albums of the year list, but this year has to be an exception, as the following are probably two of the worst albums I have ever heard in my life .... EVER! All in the same year no less. Avoid these travesties at all costs ...

The Killers – Sam's Town
(Def Jam/Island)

www.thekillersmusic.com

lowlights : every single track

There's no doubt, The Killers' first album, 'Hot Fuss', was a great album, and it was on my top CD list of 2004. Even so, they already seemed like a band destined for disaster. They had this aura of getting ahead of themselves, over-reaching, almost grand-standing. Well surprise surprise their new album is complete shit. Brandon Flowers vocals are atrocious, the dusty western vibe and look of the band is just plain sad (we get it, you're from Las Vegas, thats nice fellas, good for you), the stadium anthem sound of the songs is just pathetic, the songwriting is absolutely terrible, the 'is that supposed to be irony or something?' album cover is just embarrassing, and then there are the stupid mustaches they have now. Seriously, one of the worst things I've ever heard (although I just described their new look more than anything). When you try to reinvent yourself so hard, you obviously never had an idea of who you are in the first place or what you're trying to say, so give it up. Avoid this at all costs. Ugggggh.

"When a New Wave lad suddenly trades his velvet dinner jacket for a bandoleer, there is only one logical response: uh-oh. On the painful, Americana-themed “Sam’s Town” (Island/Def Jam) the band scraps its dance-pop for pretentious stadium rock, grasping for the grandeur of 1970’s Bruce Springsteen and “The Joshua Tree”-era U2. “I’m sick of all my judges/So scared of letting me shine,” Mr. Flowers gripes in the title song, referring to naysayers who consider him a shallow pretty boy. But what about the five million people who bought the excellent 'Hot Fuss'?" - The New York Times

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Scott Walker – The Drift
(4AD)

www.4ad.com

lowlights : every single track

Whether it's a bad thing or not, I have the ability to listen to this album on it's own merits, never having heard any of this 'legend's other records. Maybe I need to hear his other stuff to somehow 'understand' what this album is all about, but if I have to buy his other countless albums to understand this, then that is pretty damn sad. Why did I buy this then? Well it's on 4AD of course! I am such a fan of the label, and am rarely let down by any of their releases, so I had to give this a shot. If you think 4AD is just full of depressed arty pretentious creeps, well then, this album would prove this theory. However, bands like Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, The Birthday Party and This Mortal Coil are straight up pop bands compared to this drivel. This album is beyond any doubt one of the worst records I have ever heard, which is beyond me as every review you are bound to find says its brilliant and unforgettable, but then they throw in the words 'difficult' and 'challenging', which should clue you into how unlistenable this shit is. Why the music press in the US and UK feel they need to kiss up to this guy, I can't figure it out, but please be warned ... it is probably the most depressing, unlistenable pieces of crap ever recorded. Its 60's acoustic goth. It's progressive prog. Whatever. Anyway, I could go on and on, but its not worth it. So the point of all this is to just help you avoid this dross at all costs. You're welcome.

"What once was a glorious instrument tuned for maximum revenue in the recording industry has now become a siren intent on creating a disquieting version of music — one more likely to induce nausea than nostalgia." - Tiny Mix Tapes

"It could be high art. It could be utter bollocks. Either way, it's lovely when it's over." - Q Magazine, June 2006, page 119

The Sugarcubes : Reykjavík Part VI

2006-11-20T14:38:00.000-05:00

Björk Guðmundsdóttir - vocals
Sigtryggur Baldursson - drums
Einar Örn Benediktsson - vocals, trumpet
Þór Eldon - guitar
Bragi Ólafsson - bass
Margrét Örnólfsdóttir - keyboards
Johnny Triumph - vocals

O.k., so I didn't snap this particular picture from The Sugarcubes reunion concert that I went to see in Reykjavík this past weekend, but I need to represent the show with the best photo possible at first, before you move onto my pictures from my trip! Haha. I do think I got some good pictures, but since we (my friend Joe and I) weren't sitting all that close to the stage, and because the security at the stadium took my much nicer camera until the show was over (and it's 'all important for this situation' zoom lens), I didn't get exactly what I wanted, but that o.k. It was more about the show obviously, and seeing my favorite band ever play a show for this one time only. The purpose was to raise money for the non-profit music label they have run for the past 20 years to promote Icelandic music, called Smekkleysa (Bad Taste). No price was too high to go see this, as I was quite a 'Cube obsessive even before the phenomemon known as Bjork occurred, and to see them in their home country, and my favorite country to visit no less, it was truly special to me. It was a great trip and a memorable concert for all I am sure. So please take a few minutes to check out my pictures, if you are so inclined :

My pictures of The Sugarcubes
- Concert photos, show merchandise, band memorabilia, local newspaper coverage

My pictures of Reykjavík
- from a clear sub-arctic day, to blizzard conditions, from all over 101

My video clip of 'Water' performed by the 'Cubes
- performed in Icelandic, and Einar speaking to the foreigners in the crowd.

My video clip of an Icelandic supermarket
- and 'real live Icelanders in action!' :)

Set list, more video clips, etc. are at the bottom of this post!

It was a pretty exciting show and experience really. With 5500 people at the show, 1000 of them had traveled to Iceland just to see it, so the small village of Reykjavík was basically invaded for this pilgrimage from the likes of France, America, Sweden, England, Germany and many others I'm sure. We all got to feel what this Icelandic woman sitting next to me on my return flight on Icelandair called 'the coldest weekend I can remember in a long time'. It was very very cold, and although it was a cold that I have felt here in Boston before, it was the coldest I had ever felt in Iceland, this being my 6th visit. It was typically quiet in the city (although Reykjavík has it's moments of pure chaos, natural and unnatural) , but there was an exiting energy in the air this time around with all the vistors in town, the buzz of the event, and the general feeling of pride that Icelanders clearly have for this band that helped put Iceland on the map just a bit more.

As for the show it really was fantastic, and the band truly sounded like they hadn't missed a beat despite not having played in 14 years. They were much louder than I expected, with a full sound and a lot more depth than they have on record. One of my favorites, 'Coldsweat', was the standout song in my view, sounding the tightest of them all. Its pretty amazing to me they could have such a layered deep sound, despite the time having passed and the lack of real rehearsal time they had for this show. They were a tad rusty at the beginning, with Bjork's voice even cracking during 'Leash Called Love', but it was smoothed over pretty fast, and they all seemed to be having a great time, and especially feeding off the crowd's energy. Just a fun, surreal, memorable night. I will never forget it. Also opening were fellow Icelanders and Smekkleysa labelmates Rass (translates to English as 'Ass'), who's loud tight Icelandic punk meets Motorhead sound provided a great mix of music for the night. Not entirely my cup of tea, but no doubt they had a full sound that filled the room, and their songs were catchy and short, thus the 10 minute set. You can download one of the songs they played that night here. Also opening were múm, who were horrendous. People seemed to enjoy them, but Joe and I were able to see through their laughable attempt at being quirky. The women singing had horrible voices, and the entire band looked like the whole cast from Friends. Courtney Cox and Lisa Kudrow were on vocals, if you must know. Atrociously bad.

And as for Iceland, well, the smell of sulfur in the air was stronger than ever, my fingers were numb from taking pictures in this cold, and the combination of the weak American dollar and the simple fact that the most basic expenditures you need to survive are just beyond expensive in a country as pricey as Iceland (and thats putting it mildly), it all created an interesting environment. Of course there was also the group of midgets on my flights, the tour that led us out into the middle of nowhere until 1:00am on a bus full of silent strangers in pure darkness drinking cocoa served by someone you cant even see and made us doubt the actual existence of these so-called 'northern lights' (hehe), and then my second Icelandic blizzard experience that left about a foot to maybe a foot and a half of snow through Sunday morning, and the fact that the Sugarcubes did their press conference in this small club just 2 doors down from our hotel in the city centre. Well, that's just Iceland, really!

The Sugarcubes
2006-11-17
Laugardalshöll
Reykjavík, Iceland

20th Anniversary Reunion Concert

Setlist:
01 Traitor*
02 Leash Called Love
03 Deus*
04 Water*
05 Bee*
06 Planet
07 Shoot Him*
08 Walkabout
09 Mama
10 Pump*
11 Regina*
12 A Day Called Zero
13 Birthday*
14 Coldsweat
15 Blue Eyed Pop
16 Motorcrash
17 Delicious Demon

Encore:
18 Hit
19 Fucking in Rhythm & Sorrow
20 Luftguitar * / **

* Sung in Icelandic
** with Johnny Triumph and various band members' children

Icelandic televsion recap of show here (in Icelandic).

Icelandic news interview of Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals) and Sigtryggur Baldursson (drums) as doors open here (in Icelandic).

Iceland Review show recap here

The Guardian UK show review here.

Post Meridian Records span the Globe

2006-11-13T20:41:00.000-05:00

My friends Lesley & Lora and their lovely little music label got some nice coverage in the Boston Globe last Friday. Congrats ladies!! ....

The little label that could

By Caitlin E. Curran, Globe Correspondent | November 10, 2006

SOMERVILLE -- Last summer, Lesley Katzen and Lora Valante had an epiphany. The friends, former co-workers, and twee-pop enthusiasts were walking on the beach, scheming about the future. At the time, Katzen was working for American Express, and Valante had just returned to Boston after a brief interlude in Chicago. The 20-somethings were edging closer to 30 every day -- so what should they do with their lives?

Valante had an idea ...

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2006/11/10/the_little_label_that_could/

Governor Patrick

2006-11-08T12:50:00.001-05:00

This has never been my campaign. It has always been yours. You are the young man from Boston who took the midnight bus from college in New York to be at the polls to vote this morning, then hopped on the next bus back to New York so that he could be back in time for his internship. You are the mother who thanked me this morning for running a campaign her kids could watch and be proud of. You are the retiree who told me the other day that this campaign changed her life. You are the homeless man who figured out how to register and vote without an address, because he did not want to be left out again. You are the venture capitalist in the office tower who organized other VCs to help, and the cleaning crew who stopped us in the lobby on the way in to say, 'I'm with you, too.' You are the new citizen who says with such pride that you cast your first vote for Tim and me. You are the tired and frustrated public official, who just got your second wind. You are every Black man, woman and child in Massachusetts and America, and every other striver of every race and kind, who is reminded tonight that the American Dream is for you, too. - Massachusetts Governor-elect Deval L. Patrick, November 7, 2006, Boston, Hynes Convention Center, Acceptance Speech

Unbelievable Negligence - Fung Wah Bus

2006-09-05T20:31:00.000-04:00

Ok, last year two different Fung Wah buses caught fire in the middle of a trip from Chinatown to Chinatown, with the last instance passengers barely getting off the bus before it burst into flames. Now yet another serious incident bad enough that it made it to the AP wires.

People, please, STOP taking the Fung Wah bus. Do not ever take it ever ever again. Seriously, what the FUCK are you thinking? Maybe it seems attractive, a roundtrip from Boston <--> New York City for only $30! WOW! Well guess what, pay just $10 more with Greyhound for a roundtrip ticket(by purchasing at least a day in advance, online only), and save yourself a trip to the UMass Medical Center, or any of our other fine medical institutions located between the Boston and New York City metro areas. I am sure Greyhound has issues as well, but not bad enough where buses explode 2x in a few months time, and turn over sending half the bus to the hospital cause drivers dont know to slow down when riding a curve.

They are a sad bunch over at Fung Wah. Ignorant, negligent and careless. Why South Station allows them as a tenant I have no idea. Pathetic.

Australia Pictures

2006-08-28T10:25:00.000-04:00

Oops, I forgot to add a note that all the pictures from my trip to Australia in July with Brooke (and Maria's quick visit from Auckland) are up! Better late than never i 'spose ...

Check them out at my website!

Love,
Clark Griswald

National Lampoon's Australian Vacation

2006-07-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

Hello from Sydney, and good evening! Just a quick sample from the many pictures I will share when we get back. :)

Brooke and I in Daintree, Queensland :

Petting Kangaroos (not eating them! how on earth could one eat these sweet creatures?!) in Port Douglas :

Brisbane, from a CityFerry :

Great Barrier Reef at the Phill's :

TV on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain

2006-07-06T17:13:00.000-04:00

"a delight - an experimental album with a pop heart"
The Guardian (4/5)

"spellbinding ... wonderful"
Observer Music Monthly (4/5)

"evidence of fearless imaginations at play, Cookie Mountain is a triumph of psychedelic melody, drone and eerie groove"
Mojo (4/5)

"more than deserving of your worshipful attention. Hallelujah !"
Time Out (5/6)

"excellent ... an album full of playful daring"
Q (4/5)

"ceaselessly inventive and tuneful"
The Observer

"underlying it all is a glorious pop sensibility"
Independent On Sunday (4/5)

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http://www.drownedinsound.com/release/view/7604

...on the surface Return To Cookie Mountain sets the mind to images of a hot summer’s evening in California but deeper down there is a state of unrest; for a perfect example listen to the paranoid explosions of distortion underneath the shrieks of David Bowie collaboration ‘Province’, a song which would have been the result if Andre 3000 of Outkast had taken inspiration from Kevin Shields rather than Prince when creating ‘The Love Below’.

Further on set an ear the unsettling synthesiser loops that threaten to strangle ‘Wolf Like Me’ into submission. Descending from the relaxed nature of the albums opening triumvirate here the clouds that billowed in the distance now cloister and have turned soot-black, with lead vocalist Tunde Adebimpe’s shouts of “…been howling forever” searching for a full crimson moon.

It's this struggle between light and dark that makes …Cookie Mountain so thrilling; and this is evident not only in the music but the lyrics, which provide a perfect accompaniment. In ‘Province’ the opening pairing of “Suddenly, all your history’s ablaze/ Try to breathe, as the world disintegrates” stands out against the upbeat tempo and falsetto vocals, while ‘Playhouses’ offers some abstract views on alcohol.

(snip)

Return To Cookie Mountain is a party soundtrack for a fucked-up generation and an opus that inhabits the midpoint between the scarcely conjoining circles of eclecticism and enjoyability whilst maintaining consistency throughout. Somewhere in the distance the dark is gathering, but TV On The Radio are absolutely phosphorescent.

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http://www.skinnymag.co.uk/content/view/1672/

This is one revolution that will be televised

Written by Billy Hamilton

Every so often a record emerges that perfectly encapsulates the heart of contemporary culture – a record so reactive to its time it unifies even the most chaotic community.

The Clash, Public Enemy and Nirvana have all produced albums that injected fervent passion into a disillusioned generation, creating cohesively sovereign subcultures that were the antithesis of their oppressive surroundings.

And here in 2006, society has seen little change – war continues to be good for absolutely nothing, the world is melting from its own synthetically generated heat and democracy is still the idyllic creation of sycophantic governments.

So where are the voices of this generation?

Well, as these post-modernistic times are blurred by an array of mass-media messages it seems only right that avant-garde New Yorkers TV On The Radio take the mantle of societal renegades with the release of sophomore record 'Return To Cookie Mountain'.

Veneering and situational, this is the electro-gospel equivalent of guerrilla warfare. Militant drumming pounds with the mesmerising intensity of Liars and, combined with the southern scowl of Tunde Adebimpe, creates the foundation for a suffocating and skewed vision of angst-driven intensity.

Maintaining the opaque dysfunction of Desperate Youth Blood Thirsty Babes, Cookie Mountain sees the aural development of a rhythmically ravenous and politically perturbed band, fusing grizzle-led funk with scathing metaphoric beat poetry.

From the barren introversion of Blues Down Here to the toxic psychedelics of Wash the Day Away, Return To Cookie Mountain is a hollering call-to-arms. This is one revolution that will be televised.

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http://www.new-noise.net/list_698.html

You’ll also soon find that ‘Return To Cookie Mountain’ is one of those records where you forget just how many good tracks there are. Each play, you assume your mind was playing tricks on you last time out, and that the highlights must only have numbered five really. This next song is bound to be a duffer… no? OK, then definitely the next one… Erm… And try as you might, there’s just not a bad moment. The brooding ‘Playhouses’, the Bowie-aided potential single ‘Province’, the captivating waltz of ‘Dirty Whirl’ – in fact, everything here, without exception.

Now, I’m not one to get moist over Next Big Things, or pander to ‘Album Of The Year Already’ pretences, but ‘Cookie Mountain’ is special, there’s no getting round that. It’s an album free of inhibitions, free of constraints, which just allows you to marvel at what’s possible when musicians take the blinkers off and ignore the genre pigeonholes so neatly laid out for them. An über-cool indie record it may be, but as understated and underplayed as the most touching acoustica, as overtly experimental as free-form jazz, as soulful as proper RNB (not Mary J Bilge) and as instantly accessible as the most finely crafted pop.

Put plainly, it’s an album that should embarrass 99 per cent of bands out there currently claiming that their latest is really – honestly, Guv – the best they’ve got to offer. Yeah, it really is that good. And sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say so.

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http://www.music-dash.co.uk/releases/release.asp?item=3305

:: TV On The Radio ::
03 July 2006 / 4 AD / 11 Trk CD
By Parker Knoll

“Return To Cookie Mountain” is TV On The Radio at their experimental best. With reams of samples, the laid back melodious fusion of jazz and indie suffused in piano, trumpets and sax along with extensive bouts of electronica, effects and far away scuzzy guitars, ensure every track haunts. Dripping in soul and the kind of ghostly sounds from the 80’s 4AD / Creation stables that begat the post goth, there are plenty of alt.indie sounds that for so long seemed consigned to history. Resurrecting the echoey melodies and dark, foreboding soundtracks of Mr Shields and The Cocteaus / This Mortal Coil and wrapping them up as semi-progressive songs, with an ever so slight hint of a Ziggy Era Bowie, adds up to this sumptuous long player. It’s not worth extracting a track for a special mention –they’re all good - Darken the room – Lay back and dream..

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http://www.playlouder.com/review/+return-to-cookie/

A 'difficult' second album is surely less of a daunting task if you're a pretty difficult band to begin with. But, as someone wise once quipped, all that is difficult is beautiful, and 'Return to Cookie Mountain' is beautiful to within a millimetre of its weird and wonderful life, despite sounding like a lurid Technicolor Sesame Street gone big screen.

(snip)

In short, to be unashamedly decadent, this is the gospel for the summer. A majestic epiphany, a spellbinding antidote to World cup anthems and the guilty pleasures of the Euro-pop that's soon to making its way back from the Med, along with lobster tans and herpes. By contrast to such tawdriness, 'Return to Cookie Mountain' is fascinatingly dense, soulful and utterly divine.

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http://www.urb.com/music/cds_tvotr.shtml

Is Brooklyn's best band actually ready for radio?

by Andrew Parks

What if Cookie Mountain was TV on the Radio's final broadcast; what if their Interscope deal was a take-the-money-and-run affair to fund their animation (Tunde Adebimpe), production (Dave Sitek) and solo (Kyp Malone) aspirations? This would be one spectacular swan song, then, a creative leap of faith so now it doesn't matter that David Bowie's backup vocals are buried beneath the soft piano/scattershot percussion jam that is "Province." Sure, some of it sounds awfully similar, like the graveyard duet harmonizing of "Tonight" and "A Method," but the former is an epic upended by Joy Division bass lines and what may or may not be a friggin' oboe. As for unfamiliar territory, TVOTR explores cold hip-hop fusion on "I Was a Lover," compact, creepy pop on "Hours," and arty punk on the sole likely single, "Wolf Like Me." That's not even including the layers you'll expose on further headphone listens. Give up now, guys, because it rarely gets better than this.

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http://observer.guardian.co.uk

...they're experimental and summon the spirit of Spiritualized, Lee Perry, the Beach Boys and Radiohead into a glorious, life-affirming entity.

(snip)

When the band decide to propel their songs forwards they even come close to the kind of indie-pop that has been fuelling dancefloors everywhere this decade. 'Wolf Like Me', which features Celebration's Katrina Ford, might slow down in the middle - this is TVOTR and there must be a twist - but it is after-midnight mayhem incarnate. Spellbinding, frustrating, wonderful.

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North Korea

2006-06-15T13:29:00.000-04:00

My friend sent me these amazing photos of life inside North Korea. There are alot of pictures here, and on a few different pages, but really worth your time to check out. The subway photos on page 2 are pretty impressive I think. Anyway check them out!

Photos

Giant Drag

2006-05-13T13:37:00.001-04:00

So yeah I've recently become obsessed with this band recently, Giant Drag. Its just a girl and a dude, but unlike the White Stripes, they are good. I guess best way to describe them is like a mix of grunge/Liz Phair/My Bloody Valentine/Helium/The Breeders and even some hints of trip-hop, and one strangely sexy sultry voice. Plus they dont take themselves too seriously, with cheeky songs like 'You Fuck Like My Dad' and 'Kevin is Gay', and the girl has a good sense of humor, seems humble. Great songs, and the album is one that gets better and better on each listen. Below is a video clip of them performing 'This Isnt It' at this years Coachella. Their album 'Hearts & Unicorns' is in stores now and available for download.

www.giantdrag.com

'I was wrong to have voted for George W. Bush'

2006-05-06T21:13:00.000-04:00

'With a belated tip of the cap to Ralph Nader, the system is broken, so broken, it’s almost inevitable it pukes up the Al Gores and George W. Bushes. Where are the Trumans and the Eisenhowers? Where are the men and women of vision and accomplishment? Why do we have to settle for recycled hacks and malleable ciphers? Greatness is always rare, but is basic competence and simple honesty too much to ask?

I believe that George W. Bush has taken us down a terrible road. I don’t believe the Democrats are offering an alternative. That means we’re on our own to save this magnificent country. The United States of America is a gift to the world, but it has been badly abused and it’s rightful owners, We the People, had better step up to the plate and reclaim it before the damage becomes irreparable.'

Read the entire apology

He Shapes My World

2006-05-01T21:48:00.001-04:00

http://ministryofhoward.blogspot.com

Well said ...

2006-04-30T09:09:00.001-04:00

(TBA) for President 2008

2006-01-29T14:12:00.000-05:00

So, yes, the 2006 midterm elections have not happened yet, and its still two and a half years away until the 2008 presidential elections, but one year from now candidates from parties on both sides of the political spectrum will begin announcing their candidacy for president. As of now 2008 is especially unique as the sitting president is not eligible for a third term, and the sitting vice-president will not be running (unless as is constantly rumored Cheney will resign for health reasons and Condi Rice will be named successor). Thus 2008 is a wide open race on both sides. Despite Republican claims that Hillary has pretty much sewn up the Democratic Party nomination, this is horse shit. Just in 2004 for example even all Democrats said Howard Dean had the nomination sewn up, and out of nowhere John Kerry swept his way to victory. Republicans can ask for it all they want but they aren't going to get their wish. Even 99% of my friends friends are Democrats and I don't know a single one who wants her! So I wanted to list off my top choices thus far for both parties. Some may surprise and I'm sure I'll get people yelling at me for it, but as liberal as I think I am, I think the president needs to be moderate, otherwise their is division. This is one reason why Bill Clinton was such a great president, or Dwight Eisenhower. All in moderation my good friends.

Democrats

Mark Warner
Former Governor of Virginia.
This man is very popular in Virginia and left with office a 75% approval rating in a fairly conservative state. He did an excellent job of getting people to come to common ground, and that shows alot of leadership skills. Young, passionate and moderate, and the Southern vote never hurts.

Gen. Wesley K. Clark
Retired General, US Armed Forces.
This was my candidate in 2004 and if he runs, will remain my candidate in 2008. Highly intelligent and widely popular former General, and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO during the crisis in the Balkans. Moderate liberal, obvious leadership skills, and actual skills to know what it is to be Commander-in-Chief without anyone holding his hand.

Russ Feingold
US Senator, Wisconsin.
Popular liberal senator in a moderate state, and only senator to voted against giving the president authority to pursue action Iraq. In other words, the only senator that was thinking on his own. To me he seems to be a candidate who can appeal to both sides of the spectrum.

Republicans

Chuck Hagel
US Senator, Nebraska.
I think I have seen maybe a maximum of 2 senators in the GOP who have had the guts to stand up to President Bush and his policies and say he needs to be held accountable, from the Abramoff scandal, to the Iraq war, to the wiretapping illegalities. A real small government conservative who puts country above party. Immensely popular in Nebraska with great crossover potential. I would highly support his candidacy.

John McCain
US Senator, Arizona.
I obviously dont agree with him on everything, but bottom line is he is a moderate conservative who is able to work and build bridges with Democrats. He cares about the environment, the over-reaching of lobbyists in Washington, campaign funding, and he can disagree with his political opponents without insulting them. He's a professional in every sense, and if a republican is elected, we would be in good hands with him in the Oval Office. RepubliCain.

Condoleeza Rice
US Secretary of State.
Yes shocking I know, but I do think she would be a good president. I could be wrong, but as much as George W. Bush is a puppet of the radical right wing, I think Condi is a puppet of the administration. It's simply my gut feeling. She's highly intelligent, well educated and in my view has done a good job as Secretary of State despite this administrations policies. I can already hear my friends keyboards typing as you are saying 'Are you out of your mind?'. Well take this into account first, which may outrage you more, I also think it would be a very good thing for this country to have a woman as president, and even more so a black woman president. I wouldnt vote for her for that reason alone. If I did I would have voted for Lenora B. Fulani years ago. But on top of her qualifications I think it would help break down alot of racial division to have a black woman take the role as Commander-in-Chief. It could help erase alot of prejudice, in my view. Unless shes horrible of course, and it might make things worse!

Ok thats all folks, let me know what you think! :)

Miss World 2005

2005-12-10T13:12:00.000-05:00

Unnur Birna Vilhjálmsdóttir of Iceland!!!

Currently a law student and part-time police officer.

The Icelanders couldnt be any prouder, with their top news agencies making this todays headlines at Visir and Morgunblaðið!!

Albums to Kill for from 2005

2005-12-04T22:09:00.000-05:00

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
(Wichita)

One listen to this album and you understand why it just makes no sense whatsoever to compare The Strokes or Franz Ferdinand or any of that pop rubbish to this group. Incredible energy, an under-bearing political message, and sounds and a tightness to their songs you cant figure out how they got so good. A truly incredible album with not one single bad track, with enormous range.

“they have a sense of adventure, romance, belief and intelligence, of art, a desire to explode preconceptions and exceed expectations that marks them out way above and beyond any of their perceived peers. Silent Alarm is a debut about desperation, about being desperately angry at injustice, about being desperately confused with the world, about being desperately in love. It sets its aim high from the off, drums deliberately mixed too loud in opener “Like Eating Glass” in order to make you fully aware that something important and intense is about to happen. Is happening. “Price of Gas” is an oppressive military stomp possibly about the Kyoto Agreement and impending ecological collapse, a maelstrom of sharp guitars, cacophonous percussion and abstracted, luminescent electronic swoops that would probably terrify the type of band obsessed with recording on ancient equipment in order to capture some indistinct and ideologically suspect notion of “soul.” Soul isn’t something you find in a mixing desk—it bursts outwards from your chest and guts.” – Stylus Magazine

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Boards of Canada – The Campfire Headphase
(Warp Records)

If the slow buildup to ‘Satellite Anthem Icarus’ doesn’t give you goose bumps and bring tears to your eyes because the sounds are so beautiful, you’re not human. Every note feels like the joy of opening an old photo album. And all this with a good subtle beat to keep your head nodding oh so slowly.

“…the duo remain extremely adept at creating lacunae at the heart of their music, spaces into which you can project your own feelings and memories. As you do so, you'll slip into a gentle whirlpool of slowly emerging sonic details. The effect is seductive and remarkably subtle. A perfect accompaniment to summer evenings as dusk falls, The Campfire Headphase provides a key to the lost art of daydreaming.” – BBC.co.uk

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Bohren & der Club of Gore – Black Earth
(Ipecac Recordings)

The band calls their music ‘horror jazz’, and that describes it perfectly, and would fit right into pretty much any film by David Lynch. Creepy = beautiful.

“Creeping, plodding, yet gorgeously, sleepily melodic. Each note played on the piano, each hit of the snare, carries great weight, and beauty. Their music falls like thick drops of liquid into a still, dark, black pool, rippling the surface with unknown echoes. Foreboding, and entrancing. The sultry, smoky saxophone … only adds to the noir-ish vibe, great for wandering the rainy streets of night-time San Francisco with this playing in your Walkman, let me tell you.” – Aquarius Records review

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Celebration – Celebration
(4AD)

Its funny cause I wasn’t able to find really any good reviews for this album, other than on the 4AD messageboard! But I have this one below where they are criticizing basically, although I think it all sounds like a compliment. Celebration have made a very tight, very sexy (yes, sexy), very energetic record that sounds like a ride through a haunted ride at a carnival, with a dash of Siouxsie & the Banshees and some fanastic bass lines thrown in. Could be my favorite album of the year just for its sheer uniqueness.

“(Celebration) sounds something like 4AD's entire catalogue being chopped up and fed through a meat-grinder, those glistening synths and ethereal harmonies and lilting whale songs agonizingly mashed into an ugly, Frankensteinian chamber-jazz. Nearly every track begins with a deceptively calm and fluid keyboard melody before slowly piling on more and more elements, becoming denser and more chaotic while Ford gets further and further from anything resembling pop music. It's a neat trick, one that stays interesting over the course of the album, but don't expect it to keep you warm at night.” – PitchforkMedia.com

........

Cocteau Twins – Lullabies to Violaine
(4AD)

How many times have I been asked ‘Who sings the vocals on that Massive Attack song ‘Teardrop’?’. URGH!! Its Liz Frasier, and ill be damned if that Massive Attack album wasn’t heavily influenced by Ms Frasier’s band Cocteau Twins which had released an album and EP pretty much every year for 17 years before that Massive Attack album came out. This is a 4CD collection of all their EP’s, of which the songs were never repeated on any album! Pick this up and rejoice in its umcomparable beauty.

“At the center were Liz Frasier's multitracked, quasi-operatic vocals, sugar-hiccupping their way through the reverb-drenched mix, with Robin Guthrie's proto-shoegazing guitars…tangling underneath. Melodies were soaring, arrangements so gauzy they left a residue and tempos uniformly sluggish - only periodically would a piano or keyboard slip into the mix, and even when they did you barely noticed. In any other group, the brutal, relentlessly-pounding drum machine would grind it all to an anvil-dropping halt - here, it merely adds a touch of levity to the proceedings. For the Cocteau Twins, that was template: soaring vocals, cascading guitars, pounding drum machine, buckets of reverb. Trends be damned, there would be no hip hop experiments, no dancefloor moves and zero concessions to the marketplace. It was as if no one else existed.” – Stylus Magazine

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Coldplay – X & Y
(Capitol)

This was strangely the hardest album to pick the perfect song to represent the greatness of this album. Why? Cause every track is just beyond beautiful. I fell in love with the first album (after being a skeptic cause of ‘Yellow’) while on a trip to Australia with my best mate Maria. Then album two was a stinker sans one or two tracks. Then this came out and I couldn’t believe they could top their original album, but they pretty much did it. Every track is so inspiring in some weird way. And if one more person calls them ‘the new U2’ im gonna pull a Hitler. They don’t sound like U2 or have any quality that sinks to the level of that Mr Goodbody suit wearing moron Bono and the rest of those jerks.

“These aren’t songs so much as the aural equivalent of suspension bridges, at once massive and graceful—constructions perfectly suited to Martin and Buckland’s metaphysical ponderings about the unanswerable questions of existence. At this point it’s apparent what’s in store, and we wait for the next moment of grandeur to arrive—anticipation of the Big Moment is a key ingredient of the dynamic—as Coldplay proceeds to fashion one monument after another.” – Paste Magazine

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The Dandy Warhols – Odditorum of Warlords of Mars
(Capitol)

Probably the funnest band to listen to or see live, and basically some very underappreciated songwriting. If the Velvet Underground were a bit poppier and didnt take themselves so seriously, youd have the Dandy Warhols. Each album pretty much continues on their path of very very catchy pop rock songs and spacey hook and bass driven 'sonic cathedrals'. Each album bounced back and forth between putting you in a trance and then snapping you out of it the next song and repeating the process for an album worth of material. A great great album by a fantstic band.

“Neo-psychedelia is still the Dandies’ bread and butter, and on the swirling, dreamy “Down Like Disco,” they retrofit the Jefferson Airplane with shoegazer atmospherics. With its languid vocals and trippy, melting walls of organ, “Holding Me Up” is an after-hours party in a scary carnival funhouse and “Did You Make A Song With Otis” is a warped version of The Lemonheads, as played by clowns on acid.” – LostAtSea.net

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Daniel Agust – Swallowed A Star
(One Little Indian)

I never really liked male voices at all until I heard Mr Agust, one of the 3 singers from Icelandic art-troupe GusGus, and this album seems to have been written to showcase just that. A collection of classical music esque pop songs with one heck of a voice. Smooooooooooooth ........

“Electronic hisses, fizzes, squelching bass and Eleanor Rigby-esque strings announce the arrival of …Daníel Ágúst – former lead singer of Icelandic trip hop outfit GusGus with five gold records and an Icelandic number 1 to his name – along with Bix – remixer to Madonna, Sigur Ros and Beck – have created a rich tapestry of orchestration, eerie bleeps and rousing soulful vocals. A blissful mini sympathy with an infectious pop edge.” – One Little Indian

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Doves – Some Cities
(Heavenly/Capitol)

“(Doves) sound – pounding backbeats swathed in glittering, soulful melodies that swelled and crested like the black waves off Gibraltar – was unique in a way others were not (hello, Elbow). Some Cities builds on the band's propensity for melodic grandeur and achieves pure sonic bliss in the bargain. …The urban stomp of breakneck single "Black and White Town," the greatest hit Phil Spector never produced. "Snowden"s gossamer vocals and glistening guitar crescendos reach for the clouds, adrift in the sort of aural ecstasy fans of Britrock have been pining for since the heyday of Johnny Marr and you-know-who. And then there's the haunted, piano-based "Shadows of Salford," a hushed, elegiac phantom of a song birthed to be heard best, one suspects, emanating from an aging, pre-Blitz Victrola.” – Austin Chronicle

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Engineers – Engineers
(Echo)

“It seems almost criminal to be listening to a record as summery as ‘Engineers’ on a day when the snow is building upon the windowsill outside. Everything abou t the album evokes dreamy days, lying in tall grass and looking up at blue, cloudless skies. Songs build with layer upon layer of gorgeous textures like a sweet but never sickly knickerbocker glory of aural bliss. An incredibly warm and organic sounding debut, the songs all belie the band name of Engineers, who, thankfully, never feel manufactured or contrived.” – Drowned In Sound.com

“Engineers don’t shift the paradigm in any radical new directions; they simply enliven it by paying it no attention and taking their own route through the oceans and smoke of sound. Engineers exists in a confused, semi-industrial wasteland where mist merges with smoke from factory stacks, where blackened buildings are bordered by canals, where empty warehouses stand close by like the disorienting walls of a charcoal maze. Which is to say that you could get lost there, but you probably wouldn’t mind.” – Stylus Magazine

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50 Foot Wave – Golden Ocean
(4AD/Throwing Music)

Art rock doesn’t get much heavier than this, and anger never sounded more clean and sunnier. Kristen Hersh’s new musical venture shows what a little class can do to music so dirty. When she whispers ‘You know what? You know that? You know what?, and then thunders into your head ‘SHUT THE FUCK UP’, you can’t help but get chills. Best lyric ever as well ‘Im gonna wash that man right out of my hair, and soap him into my eyes, and soap him into my eyes, and soap him into my eyes, and soap him into my eyes.’

“It’s a perfect mess. It’s artwork made of garbage, where each soiled and pungent piece is laid with great precision to create something great, then lit on fire for dramatic effect. Each step is planned to look drunk and uncoordinated, each breakdown, dropout and rebel yell is right on target. They make visceral trash rock look easy, and what’s more, they make it stick to your fingers, clothes and subconscious. “Golden Ocean” is a bounding, surreal piece, putting the rest of the disc in a mystical perspective. As it suggests, it moves and rolls like the tides, and as Dali would paint a shining seascape, brimming with irony, so has Hersh created her very own Persistence of Memory.” – LostAtSea.net

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M83 – Before the Dawn Heals Us
(Gooom)

It's amazing how futuristic and groundbreaking this music sounds, and really isnt, as it sounds pretty much what a new My Bloody Valentine album would sound like if it ever happened, this being 14 years later.

“M83 layer(s) electro-acoustic sci-fi backdrops atop often-campy dialogue, and then buoying it all with by a massive noir choir. From the buzzing nighttime Blade Runner skyline of the cover art to lyrics investigating car wrecks and dislodged brains, this is a mammoth collusion of synth gasps and distorted swirls, darker and more urban than its meadow-bound predecessor. (M83) weaves a rock backbone into their tangerine-dream landscape with steady doses of highly effective live drums, gigantic post-My Bloody Valentine guitar, and sharper, more defined songwriting that helps to beef up the diaphanous symphony, and creating a massive, teeming, gaudy edifice that at its best dazzles like its own misty solar system. And even when it implodes, the unintentional fireworks of its collapse create compelling, stunning patterns that leak like colored ink through the nocturnal cloud cover.” – Pitchfork Media

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Minotaur Shock – Maritime
(4AD)

“Maritime, is a joyous, positively sun drenched blend of organic instruments and electronic twiddlings. Indeed, as the name suggests, the album feels as if it were crafted in a cabin overlooking a beach in the midst of a northeastern Canadian spring. These aren't just some glitched out beats slapped onto a piano loop; instead they're beautifully composed pieces that thoughtfully blend both worlds together. Clarinets, flute, strings, drums and guitars are all featured throughout the album, standing proudly alongside some nicely tweaked beats. But what ultimately makes the disc enjoyable is Edwards' balance of skill and accessibility. He is a very talented programmer, but it never comes at the expense at inviting the listener into its bright, Technicolor world that is worth every minute exploring.” – Popmatters.com

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Oasis – Don’t Believe the Truth
(Big Brother)

“Don't Believe the Truth is a real shock. It's confident, muscular, uncluttered, tight, and tuneful in a way Oasis haven't been since Morning Glory. It doesn't feel labored nor does it sound as if they're deliberately trying to recreate past glories. Instead, it sounds like they've remembered what they love about rock & roll and why they make music. The consistent songwriting to the loose, comfortable arrangements and the return of their trademark bravado makes Don't Believe the Truth the closest Oasis has been to great since the summer of Britpop, when they were the biggest and best band in the world.” – Allmusic.com

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Sigur Ros – Takk …
(Geffen)

“(Sigur Ros) still sound hauntingly beautiful. The eleven songs on Takk..., a few of which are transitional pieces, each develop concurrent melody, dynamism, and swelling atmosphere to ravishing effect. In fact, one of the difficult things about assessing Sigur Rós … is finding a suitable explanation of precisely why their music is so peculiarly emotive. The best that I can do, insofar as cathecting emotional power-points is possible, is point out how lead singer Jónsi's celestial vocals, both in their timbre and their avoidance of conventional lyrics, create a primal, non-linguistic impression. By avoiding words, he centers attention on the actual sound of his voice, and thus reaches more directly to a listener's emotional consciousness. That chanting voice, combined with the fury of the group's percussion, their shoe-gaze tendency for explorative guitar-textures, and smart cultivation of space, creates an ideal sonic landscape for emotional identification. One doesn't have to read into it too far to understand that these elements create, conceptually, a sense of evanescence, a sense of the uncertain and consequently precarious beauty of sound.” – CokeMachineGlow.com

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Sing Sing – Sing Sing and I
(Aerial)

“It's a record, that, for its occasionally trip-hop leanings, is really about the songs, rather than about sound textures and breathy singers. Together with their many collaborators, O'Neill and Anderson, by sheer force of personality, have outstripped their musical pasts -- the former chiefly working as vocalist on others' electronic-based projects, and the latter in all-about-the-ethereal Lush -- and created a glamorous, evocative sound with a solid pop base, rather than mood pieces with pop trappings. It ends up being even moodier for all the genuine heart and wit behind it. Now there's style for you!” - Splendid

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Thievery Corporation – The Cosmic Game (ESL Music)

“Though Thievery Corporation's trademark confluence of chilled trip-hop, time-stretched dub, and casual musical globetrotting initially appears as tranquil as ever, beneath this false serenity churns an undercurrent of political anger, disillusionment and alienation that helps charge the album with enhanced fervor and vitality. The Cosmic Game is a veritable tour-de-force of trance-inducing fusionist bliss, carrying the listener from Jamaica to Rio to India with magic carpet ease before the quiet, hookah-puffing "A Gentle Dissolve" ends the game with a sigh rather than a scream.” – Pitchfork Media

........

Ulrich Schnauss – Far Away Trains Passing By (reissue)
(Domino Recordings)

I cant say enough about this musician. This album came out about 3-4 years ago but was just reissued, and with a bonus disc of songs released on other compilations. His music is probably the most exciting Ive heard in years. Beautiful beautiful electronic music that doesnt sound one bit electronic, and sounds more organic than anything in Whole Foods. HA! Very blissful sounds with gentle beats and melodies that seem to pull at some sort of heartstrings, I guess you could say. What can I say, intensely gentle and beautiful stuff

“Infusing the emotional intensity of classical compositions from J.S. Bach or Ludwig Van Beethoven with the electronic warmth of Richard James (Aphex Twin) or Global Communication's more ambient work, Ulrich Schnauss has created a bit of a minor masterpiece with this six track album of unprecedented beauty. Simply put: Far Away Trains Passing By is elegant, simple and beautifully refined ambient techno. These melodies aim straight for the heart and capture it, embracing you in a dance of pure bliss that will have you spinning around the room like a whirling dervish. Quite frankly, this is one of the most stunningly beautiful releases of the year.” - BBC

.......

Honorable Mention :

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Howl (Echo)
Cass McCombs – PREfection (4AD)
Foo Fighters – In Your Honor (RCA)
Interpol – Antics (Matador)
The Juan Maclean – Less Than Human (DFA/Astralwerks)
Lil Kim – The Naked Truth (Atlantic)
Madonna – Confessions on a Dancefloor (Warner Bros.)
Serena Maneesh – Serena Maneesh (Honeymilk)
She Wants Revenge – Out of Control EP / These Things EP (Geffen)
Sleater Kinney – The Woods (Sub Pop)

Albums to Kill for from 2005

2005-11-19T19:19:00.000-05:00

"WHAT?!?! You've got to be kidding me!"

Why YES, I am! So if you're not satisfied, please see my real list by clicking here.

2005-11-17T13:22:00.000-05:00

2005 - The 25th Anniversary of the Greatest Music Label Ever Known

Pixies I Cocteau Twins I Bauhaus I GusGus I The Wolfgang Press
Throwing Muses I Mojave 3 I TV on the Radio I Dead Can Dance
This Mortal Coil I Thievery Corporation I His Name Is Alive
The Birthday Party I Celebration I Blonde Redhead I Tarnation
Insides I A.R. Kane I Scott Walker I Lisa Germano I Clan of Xymox
Belly I Air Miami I Colourbox I Mass I Unrest I Minotaur Shock
Ultra Vivid Scene I Modern English I The The I 50 Foot Wave
Red House Painters I Johan Johannsson I Wolf & Cub I Spirea X
Heidi Berry I Rema Rema I Scheer I Swallow I Kristin Hersh
Breeders I Lush I Magnetophone I Cuba I Dif Juz I M.A.R.R.S.
Pale Saints I Xmal Deutschland I The Hope Blister I Dance Chapter

"It’s a labour of love, even a calling, if you want to get really spiritual about it. This is why 4AD should be championed to this day. 4AD never sold out; it never bought the major label lie; it still releases records many would probably find wilfully obtuse or impenetrable; for all its high-end production values, it’s mesmeric and mood-altering artwork – courtesy of Vaughan Oliver – it’s not a slick operation. 4AD release records because they need to be heard, not because they need to be sold. A subtle point maybe, but its ramifications are powerful enough." - TuneTribe.com

Post Meridian Records Label Launch

2005-11-16T11:23:00.000-05:00

a couple friends of mine have started a music label, and to celebrate, have a label launch show coming up. show up if you can. heres the info :

POST MERIDIAN RECORDS PRESENTS LABEL LAUNCH PARTY @ THE LIZARD LOUNGE FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY LOGAN 5 AND THE RUNNERS (SHELLY WINTERS PROJECT), JOSHE HENRY, THREE NOUNS (THE MODELES), MIDDLE DISTANCE RUNNER,DECEMBER 15

BOSTON, November 21, 2005 – Boston’s new Post Meridian Records presents its Label Launch Party at the Lizard Lounge, Thursday, December 15, at 9:00 pm. Performing will be Logan 5 and the Runners (featuring David Berndt of the Shelly Winters Project); Burlington, Vermont lo-fi cult songwriter Joshe Henry; Three Nouns (featuring Bill Hewett of the Modeles); and Middle Distance Runner (DC shoegazer). Tickets are $8.00 (available at the door).

Doors 9:00pm; 9:15 - Three Nouns; 10:15 - Logan 5 and The Runners; 11:15 - Middle Distance Runner; 12:15 - Joshe Henry. For more information, visit www.lizardloungeclub.com.

Who says record labels are becoming a thing of the past? Tell that to Post Meridian Records, a grassrootslabel started by two friends, Lesley Katzen and Lora Valante, who’re on a mission to pump a little life and diversity back into the Boston scene. Post Meridian Records is currently working with Joshe Henry, The Westward Trail, and Logan 5 and the Runners. Visit the label’s website www.postmeridianrecords.com.

Artist information:
70’s glam-rock meets 80’s synth-pop as Boston guitar maven David Berndt – formerly of Rick Berlin’s beloved Shelley Winters Project – unveils his new band, Logan 5 and the Runners.
Joshe Henry, who calls himself "lo-fi mono,” writes songs that are irreverent and endearingly juvenile yet insightful and side splittingly funny. A staple of the Burlington, Vermont music scene for the past decade, he's built a cult following by constant touring and self-releasing over nine albums.
Washington DC’s Middle Distance Runner specialized in sad music in 1998, when its members were all teenagers. In 2005, they’re making happy music as angst-free young adults. Go figure. Middle Distance Runner has a plan – no, a promise – to spiral out of control and implode by 2015.
Guitarist and vocalist Bill Hewett – formerly of the Modeles – opens the night with his newest venture Three Nouns, a thoughtful punk pop trio.

Contacts:
Lesley Katzen, Booking & Publicity
Lora Valante, Business Development & Operations
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lesley Katzen, 617-628-2191,
booking@postmeridianrecords.com

Japan Pictures

2005-10-26T20:35:00.000-04:00

Here

With patience, you will see every picture has its own interesting tale to tell.

Japan Day X-XIV : 大阪美しいの

2005-10-22T04:32:00.000-04:00

日本からの挨拶

As the title says, it really was 'Osaka the Beautiful'. Im getting to the point where Im forgetting all the great things I see every day, so even though I was only in Osaka less than 24 hours stretched over 2 days, im going to keep this shorter than usual and make this the only part of this 5 day post. Let me see if I can run by some observations first that ive noticed and wanted to mention. Well the other day at the Park City shopping centre (centRE maria, happy now?) i was walking around with Ash and her friends and ran into Pepsi Shoes! Yes, they make shoes. I got the impression they just havent been able to get a good hold into the Nippon market in the beverage business (Coke is really the only Cola you see here ever) so they might us well try to crack it somehow, so why not shoes? They look ok, normal looking casual sneakers, but you can tell they are cheaply made by the feel of them, and the price of 1998YEN, which is around $18. But of course I had to buy a pair, so even though I hate Pepsi, i will proudly wear their crap shoes. :)

CLICK BELOW TO CONTINUE READING, and learn abour Harajuku Free Style! DO NOT MISS THIS!

Also in soft drink news, one of my biggest complaints is that you are unable to get Coke with Lemon at home. Of course they have Diet Coke with Lemon, and Pepsi Twist, but not regular Coke with Lemon. Well even though Cola isnt as big here as at home, they are smart enough to have it here! I bought a small can of it on Thursday and it was delicious of course. Not as good as I had hoped, but I liked it none-the-less, and have saved the can for all eternity. Oh and another thing I love here is that it so easy to pay bills here. They do not have checks whatsoever here, you dont get paid by check and you cant pay anything at all by checks, they simply dont have them. So when you get paid its either by cash or a direct deposit into your bank account. So since you cant pay bills by check and you cant obviously go to company headquarters to pay your bills, you go to the convenience store! You take your receipt to any convenience store and hand them the receipt and give them cash and they mark your account, throw the money in the register, and give you a receipt. They also take these utility bills very seriously. Ash paid her electric bill just a few days late here, and one day when she came home they shut off her electric right away, so she went to pay it at the store around the corner, and when she walked home there was already a serviceman putting it back on! Efficiency is key in Japan and its quite an amazing thing. One other thing I love about Japan is it being a collectivist society. Unlike America and more western societies that are all about the individual, alot of countries in Asia (Japan, China, Korea) are more about the 'group'. There are obviously good things and bad things about both ways of going about society, but its very refreshing to be in a place like Japan where everything is thought about in the sense of how what you do will effect the whole, and the good of the community or nation as a whole. Simple things show this. For instance when you are walking around here and you just finished a nice cold Pocari Sweat, you find you have nowhere to throw out the bottle. NOWHERE! Its very hard to find a rubbish can anywhere because recycling is taken VERY VERY seriously here and it shows in having a clean place to live everywhere you go. If you had rubbish cans everywhere like at home it actually tends people to litter more, cause if you cant find a trash can, then 'fuck it, ill throw it wherever I want'. In Japan you hold onto your trash until you are lucky enough to find a recycling bin (hardly ever to you really find a 'trash' can here), or you hold onto it until you get home. Its happened to me alot just being here just 2 weeks. Many times ive had to hold onto my trash until the end of the day when i get home. But its worth it cause not only are you recycling which benefits everyone around you, but you keep everything clean which benefits all around you as well. Of course this isnt true everywhere as Mexico and India are considered 'collectivist' and they are not exactly clean, but in Japan at least this is an example of how they are.

Anyway, Osaka. In short, it was fantastic. We actually didnt get into Osaka until around 7pm, at which point we got off at Shinsaibashi subway stop. Shinsaibashi and Namba are probably really considered the heart of Osaka. Its very crowded, very packed, lots of shopping in all aspects, including high end stuff like Hermes and Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana, all that kind of stuff. We really lucked out in finding that the Comfort Inn of all places has a hotel right in the heart of this massive area with cheap rooms (about $90 a night). Of course the rooms are tiny although modern, especially for Comfort Inn, with flat screen TV's and the works. All rooms in Japan are tiny as space is limited, wherever you go, places are small. But it was a nice hotel room and it was very comfortable. The trick was finding the place. You see, they dont have street names here! I think its Japan in general, but i dont know how they do it outside of the city, cause in Osaka, everything is pinpointed by where the nearest subway stop is. So ok yeah we get off at Shinsaibashi, then what? No joke, you just get out of the stop and walk around and go down random streets and turns and try to find it! We probably could have taken a cab, but whats the fun in that? It didnt take us that long actually, maybe a half hour after getting out of our stop, but imagine getting in Osaka for the first time and youve never been abroad and dont read any Japanese (as Ash luckily can), you would LOSE your mind. SO do taxi drivers just somehow know where everything is? I dont get it. Even when youre walking around you get lost easily if you dont pay attention to anything cause their are no street signs to use as markers to guide you back home! We were lucky as we had another cool little view from our hotel room, and even a nice clean rust fee (of course, its Japan) fire escape to walk out on and see the view. I took plenty of pictures to share which ill post early next week so you can see. At least we didnt get a capsule hotel, which is big here in Japan, again because of space issues. You really have this space age futuristic white capsules that are just big enough for a person to slip in and and fall asleep in for the night. So you can stack these up and have a large amount of people staying in your hotel, and you each still have your own 'privacy', and for a cheaper rate! They also have 'love hotels' here, where you can either pay for a 'REST' or you can 'STAY'. Im sure you can figure out the difference between the two! I thought I had a sense of what Tokyo might be like from Hiroshima, but i knew the second we got to Osaka that i still had no idea until arriving here. Ashley says I definitely have an idea now as Osaka is quite similar in terms of neon lights, and crowds at least, but I cant wait to see Tokyo one day. Osaka is the second smallest prefecture land wise in Japan, yet has the second largest population, so basically they pack just under 9 million people in a very very small area. Tokyo is considered I guess the more modern metropolitan city while Osaka is the more dirty, 'real' city of Japan. To be honest I didnt see that dirty side of it, as it felt very modern here. One dirty thing though is the Japanese businessman here. They all seem like scumbags and they probably are. They travel in packs (collectivist!) and they never ever seem to take those damn suits off. Maybe cause they work 7 days a week i guess, all i know there are so many factors and reasons why they all seem so sketchy and sad, and they all seem to be on the prowl after these Japanese girls. They never ever feel threatening in anyway, they just seem very sketchy and scummy. Off with their heads! We walked around for about 4 hours that night. We went to a Mexican restaurant that Ash likes that was on the 8th floor of this building (everything is about going UP UP UP in terms of living and building new businesses. You take the elevator and one floor is one store. So in other words buildings can be quite small and narrow so a tiny restaurant on the 8th floor has its own floor). It was really good and a good atmosphere except for these horrible awful Americans who were waiting to be seated who just looked at us like we were the creeps when we asked them a simple question. Anti-social rich kid morons. URGH. Speak when you are spoken to you fucking fucks. :) Also we sat next to this big rough Japanese businessman and his lady friend who were chain smoking right next to us. I thought he could have been the Japanese mafia (as Osaka is the hdqtrs. of the mafia here supposedly) but i guess you can tell if one is in the mafia here supposedly if he has one fingertip missing! After dinner we walked around these packed open air and closed air streets I guess you would say. Some buildings looked as if each and every side of buildings were just completely made up of neon signs, edge to edge neon signs as far as the eye could see. It was so bright and bizarre. For the first time I really felt like I was in a city of the future, the kind of image you think Japan to be like from pictures and movies. Everywhere is just spotless clean, everyone is polite and kind beyond imagination, the bright neon everywhere and gigantic mega screens like you have at sports stadiums, but 300x as large, everyone speaking this strange language that makes no sense, and millions of people packed in like sardines moving as fast as ligthing, dressed in their haphazard BIZARRE clothing of the future! The way people dress here is just psychotic. And this is a good thing. People just where whatever the hell they want, what I mean is just pick up whatever is on the floor, doesnt matter how big or how small, and you especially dont have to worry about the clothes matching. Just put it on and go out, you will look good, and they do look good, most of them. One thing that is really out of control is hair. You feel like you are in the future but its like you are in the 1980's all over again. Guys LITERALLY look they all have haircuts out of the 80's band A Flock of Seagulls. All teased and feathered and the guys even have the big puffs of hair that looks like a hair explosion on their foreheads. As Ashley said, its every hard to tell sometimes if someone walking towards you is a guy or a girl. Girls have big hair as well, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt, but alot of the time its just to big for their heads. Ok i was supposed to keep this short! HA! The bottom line is Osaka was fantastic. Futuristic, beautiful, friendly, intense, colorful and bizarre. I really cant wait to come back here soon.

So this is my last post from Japan and I must say I have nothing but amazing feelings about this place. Beautiful people, positive vibes and just a magical place in all respects, and I leave here with but nothing but admiration for the landscape and all the people here. I had a great trip, and again, Ashley was a fantastic host and thank her so much for letting me stay with her for so long.

I cant wait to come back here.

Arigato gozai mashita!
本当にありがとう

PS That picture isnt mine, but I got a few of my own of this Harajuku Free Style!

Japan Day VII-IX : Hiroshima vs. The Hives

2005-10-18T03:39:00.000-04:00

So we got up early to begin our trip to Hiroshima and hoped to get there by late afternoon, which was a good goal because we did have slight delays in Osaka when changing trains. Basically we had to take the train from Nabari, the Kintetsu Line, to Osaka-Tsuruhashi Station, which takes about an hour, and much of it through beautiful hills and valleys and then through the dense outskirts of Osaka proper. Once at Tsuruhashi we then had to switch trains to get to Namba station. You have to know that basically Ashley has been a savior on this trip, as she knows the basic Japanese you need to just get by getting around here. She has learned and is able to read a bit of two of the three different 'alphabets' here, and if she didnt know these basics we would be in big trouble. So at this station we then had to take the Osaka subway Midojouri Line to Shin-Osaka station, which is where the JR trains leave from.

CLICK BELOW TO CONTINUE READING!

It was actually pretty hot and this station was a HUGE maze, and took us probably 45 minutes to find, granted we were taking our time as we had no deadline or schedule to attend to. One thing I remember vividly was walking through this open area inside the station where there was no ceiling, and there was a bunch of kids hanging out there, and there was this group of girls, some in their school uniforms, and some in the crazy Japanese dress you see pictures of sometimes, and they were doing this weird break-dacing type dance together in front of this huge mirror. They looked almost professional. When we finally found where the subway line was everything was written in Japanese on the lines, which was strange as so much was in English to be able to find your way around the station! Anyway Ash could make out some of the subway map, but as usual, a local older man from the area approached us and asked in English if we needed help and he led us on our way, with a polite bow as well i might add. Once we went beyond the turnstiles all the signs were in English, so it was just a pain the one most important sign, that helps us get INTO the subway, was only in Japanese. When we got downstairs this older man was already in the train and he saw us and he was waving to us and trying to get our attention telling us to get on that packed train, but for that reason, we waited for the next train. What a stand up guy! Boarding the subway cars was interesting because I learned here that everyone lines up to get on the train, even in the subways, where it is clearly marked where the doors will be when the train stops, so we stood in line until the train came. As we were waiting i noticed there were these huge signs in pink on the ground next to where a few subway cars would stop, and they said 'Women Boarding Only'. Unfortunately cause the trains are usually so packed, men feel they can just touch and grope women on the trains, so now there are special cars where women only can get on to avoid this problem. I thought it was so sad and weird in such a manners-centric place, but Ash noted than its partly the women's fault cause they are so timid and dont speak up so that when they are touched by these guys, they do nothing. Of course in America you would get your ass kicked, and the Japanese men know this, so they wont even attempt such disgusting moves on an American girl, or any girl that doesnt look Japanese i guess! Another thing I noticed in Japan, which is prevalent more than anywhere is on trains, is that people sleep whenever they get a chance to 'sneak in a few Z's'! Because the culture is here is so GO-GO-GO and nonstop and working 100 hours a week and going to school 7 days a week, people dont sleep much, so whenever they can get a chance, they try and sleep. When you are on the subway or commuter lines you look to your left or right, and EVERY person is slouched over, eyes closed, and sleeping! Its unreal, and not an exaggeration, EVERY person is asleep!

So at Shin-Osaka we then had to buy our next and final fare which was for the Shinkansen, which is the bullet train, to get to Hiroshima. I heard that trains are very very expensive here and was prepared for it but for some reason it caught me off guard when was told the fare for a reserved seat was 14,440 YEN, which is just under $140.00! This is for a 1 hour and 10 minute ride! But when you board the train and see how immaculate it is, how great the service is (hot towels and smiles anyone?), and how SMOOTH and INSANELY FAST the trains you are, you understand. For instance when we came back from Hiroshima we went with the unreserved cars to save some money (costing us around $90) and of course we had to stand for the first third of the ride and we were going 300 km/hour and hardly even had to hold onto anything, thats how fast and smooth these train rides are! So we lined up at our car number spot on the platform (trains arrive about 1 min before it is scheduled to leave, and then leaves right in time, talk about efficient) to wait for our train. A different train pulled up to let people off and this large contingency of white very European people started getting off the train. Each one of them as they got off were giving us this look of 'Look, other WASP's!' and i decided not to look at them much even though it was interesting, cause i didnt want to look like this obnoxious fool getting excited at the thought of seeing other white folks. Anyway one guy came out with a bright green shirt of the band 'The Hives' and then i started thinking these guys must be models or something, then at the last second both Ash and I realized they werent looking at us cause we were making that fellow white man bond, it was cause they thought we were some crazy groupies, and i looked back and going down the escalator was the lead singer of The Hives going down the escalator! Its especially odd cause I know nothing of this band other than one time seeing them on Letterman and thinking they were good and i noticed at the time how energetic the lead singer was. Strangely he was even wearing the white and black suit thing they always wear in unison. Worse part this is the ONE time i didnt have my camera out and ready, but I did take a picture of the spot and train where this happened, which ill post soon!

So I was expecting Hiroshima to look kind of like DC or Canberra, which were both newly designed cities that were created and designed from scratch, and very very modern and looked very thought out. There were parts in Hiroshima that looked like this, mostly the memorial areas, but despite being a rebuilt city of only 60 years, it definitely looked much older than I had expected, but was clearly much more modern than other Japanese cities, other than Tokyo probably. Ash has been to Tokyo and said she said Hiroshima defnitely looked like Tokyo in many parts, especially at night with all the neon and bright lights. Hiroshima was HUGE. There are about 1.5 million people living here now (compared to just over 300,000 in 1945), but felt even larger than that. The downtown was huge and PACKED with people, and was just never ending looking. Many times I thought it looked like NYC. People there were very nice, but the only thing that made me sad was the fact there was clearly a military base there or nearby, cause we saw alot of American military (sadly, all KIDS, around 18-21 years old) and then families as well, who must be there visiting. It made me sad cause I really hope the Japanese do not get their only impressions of Americans from these people, cause they certainly dont represent most people I know. Huge clothes, gold chains, backwards baseball caps, and clearly preying on local Japanese girls who dont know any better, or what these guys 'goals' are.

So our hotel was the Hiroshima Prince Hotel which was right on the water in Hiroshima Bay, and the view was just amazing. We were on the 18th floor, and we had a HUGE window to look out from. Beautiful mountains and a big bay with boats travelling about all day. I cant wait to post these pictures as the view was quite impressive. After checking in I really wish I had taken a Japanese airline to Nagoya, as the women working at the hotel were all just beyond beautiful. Kind of the image people think all Japanese women look like, which is certainly not the truth! And they even spoke English. Ash's friend Charli actually just said that she just met with a girl who's big dream was to learn English and work at one of these hotels, so it must be a big deal here. It was strange after we got back the first day from eating downtown we went to the water's edge, as the hotel was right at the water, and sat down to chat and we were noticing right then that the water went right to the edge of the area we were sitting at, and I said it aloud that 'are we at the ocean or is this a lake or something, does the water never rise?' and at that VERY second these weird little waves started coming in and washing over the edge and almost seemed menacing especially at night. My first thought was a tsunami was coming at us! Ash jumped up too but then it stopped and we were ok. But it was so freaky, as if something or someone was listening and telling us to GET OUT! Oh one other thing about the hotel which ive never seen in another hotel anywhere else. When you come out of the shower, in the mirror there is a big square that is completely clear, not steamed up at all, right above the sink!!!! Why in hell does this not exist everywhere! GENIUS, and common sense really. And one other thing about bathrooms. At public ladies restrooms, there is a button you can press that will play the sound of a toilet flushing over and over and over. WHY? Cause its un-ladylike to for women to making 'bathroom sounds' when they are using the toilet, and women use to just flush the toilet over and over, so instead of wasting water/energy, they came up with this for the ladies. My goodness!

So on Sunday we spent the day at Miyajima Island which is about a 20 min boat ride away, with a departure point right at the hotel too! When we were waiting for the boat people were staring at Ashley like crazy, which she never got in Nabari that much or in Osaka either, but in Hiroshima people stare like theres no tomorrow. Maybe they thought she was a movie star or something. Anyway the only people not staring was this Japanese couple whom we couldnt tell at first if they were Japanese as they had white sneakers and white socks and shorts on, clearly an American way of dressing. They came up to us and it turns out they were from California. They said they didnt speak Japanese but whenever an announcement was made they knew exactly what to do! Anyway they were really nice people and it was nice to talk to them for a bit. They were on a long vacation starting in Seattle, up to Juneau, then an Alaskan cruise, then to Russia, then Pusan South Korea, then Osaka, and their last stop Hiroshima. The gentleman (his name was Sammy!)had actually been to Hiroshima during the Korean war on leave in 1952, so it was cool to talk to someone who was there only 7 years after the bombing. The boat ride cost $28 to get there and back, and it was worth every cent. Its what you expect scenery wise Japan to look like. Lush forests, streams, waterfalls, friendly deer walking around all over the place, high mountains, and numerous temples of the Shintoism and Buddhist religions. The main temple is the Itsukushima shrine, which during high tide, appears to be floating in the water. In front of the shrine is the giant 16 meters tall torri gate, which is the symbol of Miyajima Island, and stands freely in the water. It looks beautiful during high tide, and during low tide you can go right up to the base of this giant symbol. We also took one of the cable cars over the tops of the trees to the top of the highest peak on the island, called Mount Misen. At the top monkeys run around freely and you are able to walk around with! I have alot of pictures of all this, which I will let do all the talking when I post them next week! Oh and a weird bathroom thing, this time on Miyajima Island! When we got off the boat and was walking to the terminal we walked past the bathrooms, on the outside of the building mind you, and the men who were using the urinals had a HUGE open wall to look outside. So as you are walking past the bathroom you look to the right and their are 2-3 guys about 2-3 feet away from your face just blankly staring straight ahead! The open space goes down to about their stomachs, so, hopefully, we know exactly what is going on below, or what is supposed to be going on below. Ash almost threw up she was so disgusted!

The rest of the day we went back downtown to go to Peace Memorial Park, the A-Bomb Dome, and the museum about the Atomic bombing. I really did not do my research about what any of this was, and I am glad I didnt, cause when I saw what the A-Bomb dome was it really hit me. Evn though I knew the bomb that was dropped in 1945 actually exploded a few hundred metres above the city, for some reason with the word 'dome', I expected a huge crater in the ground, but in actuality is the remnants of the one of maybe 10 buildings that survived the explosion, in parts of course. This building was also just over a hundred metres away from the hypocentre of the bomb explosion, and was originally the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall designed by a Czech designer. We were walking along the river and then took a left over a bridge towards the museum and then looked towards our right and down the river saw this building and it was just chilling. Even if you didnt know what the A-Bomb Dome was, as I did, the second you see this, you know what it is. Almost compleltely in ruins, the remains have been kept intact exactly as it stood right after the bombing in August of 1945. So we kept going across the river towards the Memorial Centograph, which is an arch that covers this tomb which inside contains the names of all the victims killed in the explosion. When you look through the arch you can see in a perfect line beyond the arch the eternal flame that will stay lit until every nuclear weapon has been removed from the face of the earth, and beyond that the A -Bomb dome, which is across the river. For some reason the fact that this straight line is actually going diagonal through the rest of the layout of this city makes an impact as well. It was really a very beautiful thing to see, and much sadder than I expected. We checked out the museum as well, for which I have some picures from the inside also. It describes the history of Hiroshima from its origins right up until the bombing, and through the reconstruction up until today. There is a whole seperate wing that focuses on the details of the effects of the bombing to the city and to the people, and some very disturbing artifacts and pictures to show the horror of what happened that day. The one thing that effected me and impressed me the most what a display of these numerous letters. Since the day of the bombing the mayors of Hiroshima, past and present, have written letters to the leaders and ambassadors of nations that have nuclear weapons urging them to rid of them forever. What hit me is these letters are written DAILY. Over and over the mayor writes these figureheads telling to stop. It was very moving to see, and I bet means alot to the victims and their families, of which both still survive today. Currently there are still 30,000 survivors of the bombing living in Hiroshima alone. I read that the temperature at the instant the bomb went off, reached 100,000,000 degrees celsius, and witnesses who survived said it was like seeing the sun fall to earth. I have a picture of a display if a picture of a man's eye who looked right at the blast, and his entire pupil was bright yellow, a direct effect of seeing the explosion from the bomb.

ON A BRIGHTER NOT AND ENDING, to keep you updated, i got the Air Greenland sweatshirt in the size I needed at UniQlo in Hiroshima!

ALSO hats off to Ashley, who I know must be getting sick of me by now, seeing me every day and staying in her place. I almost feel bad! She has been a great host and so much fun to be with, I love her to death, and will be out of her hair soon enough, until next time! :)

Japan Day V-VI

2005-10-14T03:09:00.000-04:00

So yesterday I walked around what I am sure is considered to be 'old town' Nabari, the area closest to the mountains/hills that surround this small city. This area is more what you are expecting, or hope to get out of Japan. All the streets are narrow and are lined with tiny tiny homes and apartments and Japanese gardens in front of the homes that have 'front yards'. There are also many many little canals i like to think of them as that line streets and go right under some homes, but I am pretty sure, using my detective skills, that they are simply drainage for rainwater, although it hasnt rained for a few days so not sure where the water is coming from. Maybe its a small power source that constantly goes through certain areas maybe? Whatever it is its very picturesque and soothing to hear the sounds of. This area of town like a maze. Even the tiniest streets have alleys that shoot of them and those are lined with apartments and shops as well. Now this is no Tokyo or anything, remember I am only in a town of 85,000....but its fantastic none the less.

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Its funny today I was thinking how I havent gotten any curious looks from people here really, and then wouldnt you know it as I was passing by an elementary school today as they were letting out, and this group of 5-6 little kids came running across the street yelling 'HELLO!, HELLO!'. They completely surrounded me but let me walk, and they were trying to hold my hand and were saying 'good morning, good morning', and tried to say back to them 'good AFTERNOON', and at least one kid got and repeated it. I just kept walking along my merry way until I was about to cross a major intersection and one kid was able to say 'where from?' and i replied back 'America' and all the kids kinda gasped and giggled. It was pretty cute, and it was nice to feel like a celebrity! I took my longer lens out today to try and get some far away shots and i got a few good ones, but its been a bit hard the past few days as its been so sunny with no clouds, but I tried my best as always, and hopefully will have some good pictures to post when I get back. I must add when I leave I am really going to miss all the drinks that you can buy at convenience stores here. There are 2 very popular energy/electrolyte booster type drinks here that i like. One is called 'Polcari Sweat' and is quite good. Its hard to describe, but to say it has a foggy misty feel to it, thats the best way to put it I think. The other energy drink is called 'Aquarius' which is the same as 'Polcari Sweat', but it has a more of a lemon flavor, which is my favorite fruit taste, so you can imagine im obsessed with it. I hope this stuff makes it to America one day. One more drink I had yesterday I have no idea what the name is, but its a fruit drink which is very very light, and consists of banana, apple, pear and milk, and its weird and delicious. Another drink is simply called 'Lemon flavor' (or 'Lemon Drink' maybe) which is just a good non-tart lemonade energy drink again. They love these energy drinks. Maybe cause they arent nearly as nasty as the ones at home, which I hate (david brent), so I see why they like them here. Oh I went back to that restaurant that that I went to on the first day, which Ash & crew nicknamed 'The Cantene'. I LOVE that place. I got the same as before but also got this Japanese friend chicken thing called Karage, which Yung Mei told me to get today actually. weird. and i got a large rice this time. i really stuffed myself and the food was BEYOND good. I have also gotten good with the chopsticks, with previous training from Yung Mei as well, so I must thank her! Im surprised I used them so well yesterday.

Anyway a simple couple days, hence the one post. I am going to Ash's favorite bar tonight so I will update this post later. Then I wont post til Tuesday as ill be gone to Hiroshima for 3 days without computer access! How primitive :)

UPDATE :
Ok it is becoming unbearable how fantastic people are. Obviously there must be this weird creepy undercurrent of hate and venom here, like Blue Velvet, but for now, a 2 week visit, i DO NOT care. It is so nice just to hear that for instance Ashleys friends bike got a flat while we were at this bar, and that she was just going to leave it outside overnight in front of this big supermarket/shopping mall, because, why not? Nothing is going to happen to it and no one is going to steal it. People dont lock their doors here, they leave expensive motorbikes out right in the street in front of their homes, no worries, cause NOTHING will happen to them. There is just this feeling of safety and politeness and R.E.S.P.E.C.T. here that I have never felt anywhere. The darkest ally you pass by, GO DOWN IT, cause their is nothing to hear, nothing to worry about, and their is something special there waiting for you. Ash and I went down this alley, well not an alley, more like about 6 inches of space between 2 buildings, and its dark, but you walk down it and low and behold there is this cute little cafe that is open serving coffee at 10pm. You would never know its there unless you explored this dark cavern of a 'street'. And the bar we went to tonight. Keep in mind this is the old town ive been exploring alot, and its Friday night and still very sleepy and quiet even at night, and we took a right down this slightly larger alley, maybe 12 inches across, and lanterns lit on the street and this little stream has just enough room to exist, and you walk over the tiniest bridge to go into this bar called 'Bless You' and you go in and its dark and mysterious and no one is inside yet with some cool electronic music playing and two brothers who own the place are getting the place ready for the maybe 10 people who will show up all night. Its a lounge, so relaxing with big sofas and the most delicious gin and tonics ive probably ever had, and its spacious somehow in such a tiny place and candles and they give us some free snacks such as hardened french toast which is so sweet and delicious. The brothers are very hip and trendy but without pretense and very very nice and accomodating, and like the Japanese i have experienced, almost feel honored you are there. Afterwards we walked around the back streets and found some more alleys i need to go back and explore cause they are just amazing. Its just beautiful that somehow the Japanese are able to, with having SO many millions crammed into such a small space as Japan, find a way to be tranquil and peaceful with one another and have just a relaxing environment to be in. Its just so inspiring i cant even explain it.

Off to Hiroshima and Miyajima Islandm, and an update to follow on Tuesday (Monday evening EAST COAST)

Japan Day IV

2005-10-12T21:35:00.000-04:00

So yesterday I walked around Nabari and took numerous photos, as is my plan today. It seems like im doing nothing, and in a way I am, but I am enjoying it. Im getting to know the town a bit and sort of living day to day life in Japan. I walked around this nasty area that looks like Route 2/Bald Hill Rd in Warwick, just a very long road of crap chain stores, but here if you look in the nook and crannies you can see some very pretty things, which is what I wanted to do to try and get some good photos. I went food shopping as well and searched around the food store. I guess they dont get deliveries at stores here as often as at home because half the food store was empty! But luckily they had the toast again that i liked. A loaf of this bread comes in 5 slices only, as they are the TEXAS TOAST style that i cant get at home, and im gonna miss very much here. I like the loafs of bread here too cause there are no ends. Just 5 slices, and thats it, no ends to cut off. GENIUS!

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I also had an ice cream thing from the market and ate it on this bridge over this not too attractive river, and some other white guy walked back and we both glanced at each other as he passed by. Us white folk gotta stick together!!! When I got home I had a bag of cashews that were good but I think aggrivated the hunger I wasnt aware I had. I havent been all that hungry here but am not used to not having big meals!, and also didnt realize there could be some jet lag, even though i sleep normal hours and im not tired during the day. Anyway I got insanely dizzy and was bit worried but just rested for a few hours and it went away. Then Ashley and I went to BIG BOY restaurant with her friends Katie and Charly. This is their Weds night ritual to go there and then go rent movies (but they dont watch any together which I found funny, they just rent them and go home!). Anyway BIG BOY, like BOB's BIG BOY, was ok. The steak fries were real good, and i got this chicken filet with herbs or whatever and it was ok. Had a strage consistency in parts but it filled me up. Again when we were there they saw some of their students, which they see everywhere. The kids there were Charly's kids, a group of 8 or so high school girls. Its nice here that when kids see their teachers they are happy and get excited and want to talk. At home its usually quite the opposite, and usually involves some planning on how to slash their tires. Anyway the kids were all very sweet. We went to the video store and when we left there we saw the kid from the komona store or however you spell it that I mentioned in a previous post. He was with his girlfriend and was wearing normal clothes (Ash had never seen him outside his school uniform or work attire) which consisted of a black tshirt that had a drawering of a hamburger and it said 'I AM DELICIOUS'. he seems like a free spirited class clown kinda guy. reminded me of some people from home. When we asked who the girl was he made a sign of a heart with his hands and his entire body and said 'LOVE, LOVE'. they were a very cute couple, with bad teeth. Everyone has bad teeth here cause there is no flouride in the toothpaste! On the way home we passed the train station again as we always do and there was one of Katy's students there waiting for a train, and as we approached him Katy explained hes probably going to say 'what up bitches?' or something to that effect. Anyway we approached him and started rapping some Eminem lyrics 'im the slim shady, the real slim shady', something along those lines. i guess he was obsessed with Eminem. Very nice kid. When we left he said 'peace out mother fuckers'! I dont know if its like this in all of Japan but people are so nice here, and just relatively peaceful. Its a nice feeling walking around and saying HI to normal people and being courteous. Its hard to explain the nice feeling you get, but if youve been here before or go sometime, you should know what I mean.

Japan Day Three

2005-10-11T21:55:00.000-04:00

So yes ive seen the movie Dodgeball before, but since its the only decent thing here in English to watch, i watched it yesterday morning, and this morning as well. Its worth it, its very funny, but ive watched some Japanese TV which is interesting for awhile, and is as crazy as you are led to believe, buy you can only take it for so long. Im going to the video store today with Ash and her friends tonight as Wednesday is movie night, and will rent a few extras myself to watch when i get up at 6am everday cause of the time difference etc etc. The other choices I have in Ash's collection are 'I am Sam', 'Sideways', 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Hotel Rwanda', so you know, i think ill pass.

CLEAR BELOW TO CONTINUE READING!

Anyway yesterday was Day Three and it finally cleared up from raining around 4pm or so when Ash got home from work and ate, I left with her to her Japanese class and then I continued walking towards this old part of town which was just so beautiful. The streets were tiny, and some lined with lanterns on the ground, and some lined with streams that you could fall into and break your ankle if you werent paying attention. It was beyond beautiful and I did get some great photos to post when I get home. Its funny when you review your pictures on the camera monitor screen thing-a-ma-bob, and EVERY picture looks perfect, but then you download them and they are blown up to normal size and you realize you are lucky you get a few good ones. Granted night photos are tough, and i took about 160 pix. I deleted then down to 80 on my camera, then downloaded the others, so out of 80 i probably got about 10-20 good ones! But for night pictures that aint bad. When i walked back to the train station all the high school kids were getting home. All students here where uniforms, and like Japanese culture, kids work their butts off too. Getting home from school around 8pm is normal. Very strange to me. Anyway they were all getting SODA POP at the convenience store i mentioned before. When I walked down the underpass under the train station there was this group of Japanese girls who were giggling and saying 'goodbye' 'goodbye' as i walked past them. I just put on a big smile. I learned today too that when people here get their pictures taken in a group photo where you are supposed to say CHEESE or whatever, people here ALWAYS do the peace sign! I took a picture of this picture on Ash's refrigerator that was taken of her and her fellow teachers and all the 'locals' are doing the peace sign!!!! Why are these people so adorable?? Oh as well I learned today that alot of places in Japan you will see the year listed as year 17, not 2005. Reason is alot of people and places still base the number of the year on how long the current Emperor has been in power. SO the current Emperor as been in power for 17 years, thus the date is 17.10.12 (year, month, day). Ahhhh the Empire of Japan. I think my book about this trip will be called 'The Umpire of Japan', just cause it sounds so stupid. Tomorrow I dont know what the deal is, and Friday im going out to Ash's favorite bar here which is guess is pretty hip and cool and sleek and modern, and its down an alley in the little old neighborhood I was in yesterday. Then this weekend going to Hiroshima and Miyojima Island which is about 2-3 hours south of here by train. Going to Osaka next week. Thats all for now.

Japan Day Two

2005-10-10T22:06:00.000-04:00

'All right lets see if we can do this in one toke, TAKE!' - Dandy Warhols

Its hard to concentrate as i cant help but sing along with the new Dandy Warhols album im listening to on my iPod, but lets give it a try. So day two i wake up at 830am, and Ash was getting up at 10. i sat there for an hour and a half just thinking about things and then right at 10 i fell back asleep and didnt get up until 1pm. I felt bad, but i needed the sleep and the jet lag was hitting me just a tad, but not bad. Last night I went to sleep at 11 and got up at 630am. Not bad. Anyway we made breakfast and chatted and blah blah blah and didnt leave the house til 3pm! It was drizzling all morning and afternoon anyway and already put a damper on the day, so whatever, laying low this day. We walked back towards the train station (Nabari-eki) and the little village looking area and then under a train track to the other side of the tracks and started walking towards this place Ash likes to go to eat alot. I noticed on the ground something i thought was so cool. On all the sidewalks here, right in the middle, there is this plastic track that runs along the entire sidewalk, and the tracks have straight lines in them all the way to the end of at the street, where the lines become dots. These tracks are for blind people to help them get around. The straight lines mean you can keep walking and the dots mean you have to stop. In a society that concentrates so much on helping other people and being courteous it certainly doesnt surprise me in the least and find it so comforting for some reason.

CLICK BELOW TO CONTINUE READING! When we got to the place Ash likes to eat, no idea what the name is, it had started pouring rain like crazy. This place was so simple and delicious. I got these two litle patty like things, one was a sweet potato type food. There was something else in it definitely but had no idea what it was, but it was good. The other one was a pork/meatloaf kinda filling. They were basically hashbrowns, but with differnt fillings and they were cold. I also got this little meat on a stick, as well as a small rice and green tea and water. At first you kind of get thrown off by the small portions of everything but then its quite refreshing that you are not eating so much and you walk out of there not feeling like a bloated mess. The rice was really really good, different from home, but maybe thats the rice cooker talking. At least it sticks together more, cause if it didnt i think it would be impossible to eat with the chopsticks. Everything really is smaller in Japan. There are a few doorways where I needed to duck my head just a bit, the ceilings are just a bit lower. Its not a big deal but you definitely notice it. Food in smaller portions is very obvious. Cups are so much smaller. Everything is in smaller sizes. For instance cereal isnt that big here. So at the supermarket they have corn flakes, but picture the smallest box at an American supermarket, but cut that box into thirds. One third of that is the size of a box here, and its costs $5-6!! But its ok cause you dont eat as much here. However their bread here is so good, just the normal white bread you get at a supermarket. You can get thin sliced or you can get the thick slices which I bet is like 'Texas Toast' at home. Anyhow Charly met us at this restaurant and then we went to the mall called Park City. Today was a holiday by the way, its called 'Sports Day' but not sure what it involves. Maybe it was for the NASCAR like event that happened when I arrived. Anyway at Park City and at alot of places in Japan when you walk into a building when its raining there are these contraptions that you put your umbrella in and pull back out, within a second, and when you take it out there is a plastic bag over your umbrella so you dont get water over everything in the place youre in. My first thought was that its a waste of plastic over something as simple as water, but they recycle here, and they take it seriously, so all is well. Great idea i think. Anyway we walked through the mall to get to the other side of the building and back outside so we could get to this store called 'Uni Qlo' which is like a Gap or H&M back at home, or more appropriately a mix of the two. Ash shops here alot and wanted to show me something I was gonna freak out about. There were two sections, one for sweatshirts and 'hoodies' (i hate that word) and then regular t-shirts, that had airline logos on them. Most of you know how obsessed I am with airlines so i was freaking out. The best part is they had an Air Greenland hoodie. It was bright red, very soft, the new funky logo huge on the front, and yeah i wanted it so bad. they had Icelandair sweatshirts but sadly the Icelandair one was ugly cause it was on an ash gray meterial. All the other ones were so nice. Nice quality and definitely commissioned by the airlines cause they had their logos and professional advertising going on with these. They had Swiss, Virgin Atlantic, Egypt Air, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, you name it, they had it. Heres where the small factor comes in! I tried on the Icelandair shirt, which was ok, different than the sweatshirt, but the XL didnt fit at all. The Air Greenland hoodie they only had in L, and that didnt fit either. DAMN IT! Japanese people why are you so damn SMALL??? But luckily they had an XL Finnair hoodie, that was in my fave blue color and it fit if i stretched it just a bit. And it was only $19!!!! This would hav cost me $40-50 at home for sure. Anyway I was happy. The sweetest part was when we walked into this store, one of Ashleys students recognized her. Now my friend Yung Mei had told me to warn Ash that she would be treated like a celebrity when she was there, and she does get recognized alot by her kids who get so excited yet shy when they see her. They just stare and giggle but in a sweet way, and I saw it before we went into that restaurant. But when we went into Uni Qlo right when we walked in we walked past this aisle and this girl came out of the aisle and all you heard was this gasp of astonishment. She was in total awe that she saw Ashley. She backed up a bit and covered her mouth and made this 'ooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' sound and Ash just said 'Hi' and the girl just said 'Ash-uh-ray, Ash-uh-ray' and kept staring like she was Madonna as she walked away. Very cute. Then when I bought my shirt the girl at the counter asked me who Charly was (she spoke English a bit so i guess Charly and Ash are doing a good job!) and said 'oh thats Ashley' (as i thought she was pointing at Ashley). The girl kept saying 'Ash-uh-ray' and i asked if she was her teacher and she just replied 'high school, high school'. So yeah i feel like im walking around with celebrities. Oh yeah parking lots? Yeah no one pulls into parking lots. You back into them. When we were walking through the one at Uni Qlo EVERY car was facing the same way, as they all backed into them. Very weird, I wonder why its a big deal but for some reason it is! We went back into the mall and went to a 100 store (a dollar store) and i bought these two little signs that were in Japanese. (again, obviously! why do i keep clarifying that?) and the woman who rang me up and bowed (i love the bowing SOOOO much i cant even tell you). Then we walked past this store that sold those dresses or whatever they are called that you see geishas wear alot. why cant i remember the name of them? anyway one of Ash's students worked there and he as well was so excited to see all of us. he tried to say my name and kept calling me Andrea. i punched him out. HA! he was a nice guy and spoke just a BIT of english, but he said 'expensive' really well when he showed us this one KAMONA, thats it, not sure if spelling is right but you know what i mean. it costs 700000 YEN. ok im getting tired of typing. lastly we went to one of those machines where you get your picture taken in a booth and then make crazy drawings over them and then stickers come out. Japanese girls are obsessed with them and Ash has students who has NOTEBOOKS FULL of these things, and they are all trying to drag her to the mall cause they want pictures with her so bad! SO now im not sure what to do. Ash works til 430 then has a class tonight so this is the day i have all to myself so now that the rain has stopped for a bit im gonna walk around her town and take pictures. Im a bit worried about the time i have during the week. For the trains i can figure out how to buy a ticket, and i could count between stations, but everything is in KANJI or however you spell it so it will be impossible to figure out how to switch and which platform to use etc etc. At least i have one 3 day weekend im Hiroshima and Miyajima Island, and my last weekend in Osaka! I could sit in one place on this town and just observe people for hours on end and be happy so ill be ok. BYE!

Japan Day One

2005-10-10T19:38:00.000-04:00

SO my flights were ok. Without realizing it I think im so paranoid about flying that i just sit there and do nothing. In other words both my flights took off just fine and I think that I thought to myself that the flights took off fine with me just sitting here doing nothing, so if I do something, Im gonna jinx myself. So my 6 hour flight from Boston to San Francisco, and my 11 hour flight from San Francisco to Nagoya, I just sat there. I didnt listen to my iPod, I didnt read my book. I just watched the little TV in front of me, which is torture in itself. I watched Batman Begins 2x, and I had already seen it once. I saw Mr & Mrs Smith. Enough said. And then I watched The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. At that point I realized I must have been delerious cause I thought that was a really good movie. Maybe I just liked that girl from Gilmore Girls who was in it. But it was actually kinda good.

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Anyway we flew over Mt Fuji as we passed Tokyo. Just seeing it from up there was pretty intense. We were maybe 25000 to 30000 ft up and it was just below us, with the top of it just peaking out above the clouds. No snow at the top but just realizing how tall this beautiful mountain was and i was looking down at it was fantastic. I landed at Nagoya airport and had to walk through the airport to get to the boat I was taking to a town calles Tsu, which i guess means 'Port' in English. The airport was brand new and was just so bright and beautiful. Nothing exciting really. So i followed these access tunnels to the water where I had to buy a oneway ticket to Tsu, which for a 40 minute ride was $19.00. Typical airport prices, same as home. I got through the airport I think in 30 mins so I was very very early. Buying the ticket was my first interaction with someone who didnt speak any Emglish. I just said 'Tsu' as best i could, its harder than you think, to get them to understand, and he just held up his finger as to say 'one?' and i nodded and paid. Easy breezy. Everything is so efficient here, just like youve probably heard. Even on a boat like this all the workers have uniforms and head phones to talk to each other, about 5 people working the passengers alone. When I boarded there were two guys standing there and they bowed and I bowed back, and they did the hand gesture which is basically showing you to 'walk this way' towards a seat. People do that alot here, like they are clearing a path for you to walk and kindly gesturing you to walk. SO i got to Tsu and it was this very clean and immaculate small little boat terminal. I had to wait there for an hour so I just stood around and observed the few people that were around. It was dark but there was a good amount of light. There were two taxis there with lights on them that glowed green and of course two vending machines that were so bright it could have blinded you, hopefully I will get a picture of those later. Ashley showed up on time, an hour later (as I was early) with her friends Katie, who is a live wire from Texas, and Charly who is from Seattle. Shes got a rough exterior, but a sweet bad ass basically. We took a taxi to Tsu center to get to the train station, and they got ice cream there. I was too out of it to even think of food, I was so tired after being up for 24 hours at this point. There were so many people walking around with these red outfits which turned out there was this big NASCAR sort of thing going on so everyone went to it, I guess its big here. When we were buying our train tickets there was some American kid, seemed quite nerdy, who was sitting on the station floor and Katie talked to him a bit and all he could talk about was CARS CARS CARS, it was sorta odd to see this kid in the middle of nowhere who was just there for a NASCAR event. The trains werent too packed, got to sit all the way to Nabari, which took maybe 40 mins. There was this group of Indonesian kids on the train who were friends with Katie, and they kept staring at all of us. You get stared at more by other foreigners than you do the Japanese. I learned that way back in the day trading between Brazil and Japan was very strong, and now to this day this bond has kept, and you see alot of Brazilians even in Nabari. I guess its as bad as how we use Mexicans for cheap labor, they do the same with Brazilians. Anyway got to Nabari station and Ashley's town is very cute, at least the area she is in. It feels very small, and kind of has this village feel. Outside the station there is this convenience store we went to where I got apple juice. And its REAL apple juice, not the urine look alike apple juice we are used to. You go to the counter and there are two perfect cute little Japanese girls working the counter. One charges and collects the money and one bags up whatever you purchased. They both had picture ID badges on their uniforms, which was so odd cause in America you are lucky if the convenience store workers have fresh breath, never mind two of them, looking like models, with uniforms, with name badges (how official does the job have to be?!??!!). It was also very very bright in there, and was so cozy cause you walk outside and its just this little village with tiny narrow streets with this bright futuristic convenience store in the center of it all. Anyway went to Ash's apartment which was smaller than expected, but nice. Its 3 rooms. You walk into the house right into the kitchen/dining room. Attached to that is the shower room, and then the toilet room which is seperate, and kinda makes sense doesnt it? However the neither has a sink, there is only a sink in the dining room area of the kitchen/dining room. So 2 sinks in the room. A word about hot water here. You dont just turn on the hot water. First of all you strip down in the kitchen, then you walkin into the shower room which has a small basin which you stand in, and use the hose to wet yourself down. Outside the basin there is a standing area which is a big mat with a drain in the middle. So basically the room is one big shower which has a basin, but all water goes to the same one drain. Now for hot water, its very weird. You feel like youre in a dentists office. There is a machine, literally a machine, next to the basin. There are i think 3 dials on it. Next to the machine is the has valve. SO first you turn on the valve. Then on the machine you turn the dial from 0 to 1, and hold down the dial at 1 firmly, and turn this crank for maybe 3-4 second, then keep holding down at 1 for 20 seconds, then turn to number 2 and let go. Then you go to another dial and turn the shower head on. Basically every place you get hot water in the house has a seperate machine all its own with different ways of turning it on to get hot water! And oh yeah the other two rooms are the bedroom and the living room. Ok some sound is going off that sounds like a nuclear bomb warning you hear 'in the movies' i kid you not! TIME TO GO! End of day one.

'W'alker Texas Ranger

2005-09-07T00:09:00.000-04:00

The Bush administration is so far in over their heads over this Katrina disaster (and everything else they touch), that they are the ones drowning now.

Disgraceful.

Live Forever

2005-08-31T12:52:00.000-04:00

Does it get ANY better than Live Forever by Oasis? I think not.

'We're gonna live forever,
We're gonna live forever,
We're gonna live forever,
We're gonna live forever,
We're gonna live forever,
We're gonna live forever,
We're gonna live forevaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa'

with Noel's genius solo and Bonehead's rhythm. In the top 5 songs of all time.

And incredible live i might add. Truly intense.

Lightning has struck twice ...

2005-08-29T20:11:00.000-04:00

... as I must say I agree with Pat Buchanan, for the second time, and this time for the call of the impeachment of US President George W. Bush :

A National Emergency

Wouldn't it be nice ...

2005-08-29T14:13:00.001-04:00

...if we were luckily enough to have a president as smart, intelligent, and thoughtful as Wesley Clark? This op-ed he wrote for The Washington Post on August 26 is a perfect example of how beneficial it would be to have someone who has a full grasp of the issues we are facing in Iraq. If Bush was forced to write his same assessment it would read 'Stay the course, freedom is on the march' blah blah blah.

President Clinton on Terrorism

2005-08-06T02:19:00.000-04:00

President Clinton:

-- sent legislation to Congress to TIGHTEN AIRPORT SECURITY. (Remember, this is before 911) The legislation was defeated by the Republicans because of opposition from the airlines.

-- sent legislation to Congress to allow for BETTER TRACKING OF TERRORIST FUNDING. It was defeated by Republicans in the Senate because of opposition from banking interests.

-- sent legislation to Congress to add tagents to explosives, to allow for BETTER TRACKING OF EXPLOSIVES USED BY TERRORISTS. It was defeated by the Republicans because of opposition from the NRA.

-- Developed the nation's first anti-terrorism policy, and appointed first national coordinator.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up 12 U.S. jetliners simultaneously.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up UN Headquarters.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up FBI Headquarters.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up the Israeli Embassy in Washington.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up Boston airport.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up Lincoln and Holland Tunnels in NY.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up the George Washington Bridge.

-- Stopped cold the planned attack to blow up the US Embassy in Albania.

-- Tried to kill Osama bin Laden and disrupt Al Qaeda through preemptive strikes (efforts denounced by the G.O.P.).

-- Brought perpetrators of first World Trade Center bombing and CIA killings to justice.

-- Did not blame Bush I administration for first World Trade Center bombing even though it occurred 38 days after they had left office. Instead, worked hard, even obsessively -- and successfully -- to stop future terrorist attacks.

-- Named the Hart-Rudman commission to report on nature of terrorist threats and major steps to be taken to combat terrorism.

-- Tripled the budget of the FBI for counterterrorism and doubled overall funding for counterterrorism.

-- Detected and destroyed cells of Al Qaeda in over 20 countries

-- Created a national stockpile of drugs and vaccines including 40 million doses of smallpox vaccine.

-- Robert Oakley, Reagan Counterterrorism Czar says of Clinton's efforts "Overall, I give them very high marks" and "The only major criticism I have is the obsession with Osama"

-- Paul Bremer, Bush's Administrator of Iraq disagrees slightly with Robert Oakley saying he believed the Clinton Administration had "correctly focused on bin Laden. "

-- Barton Gellman of the Washington Post put it best, "By any measure available, Clinton left office having given greater priority to terrorism than any president before him" and was the "first administration to undertake a systematic anti-terrorist effort."

http://www.mikehersh.com/Clinton_vs_Terror_Republicans_...

Thank you, President Bill Clinton.

Wild at Heart, Missoula Style

2005-08-01T01:22:00.000-04:00

David Lynch Forms Meditation Foundation

Film director David Lynch, a longtime practitioner of Transcendental Meditation, has formed a foundation that will encourage schools to use the technique in the classroom. "It's knowledge in terms of the self and it works wonders in the kids," he said.

The David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace will raise money for TM peace groups and provide scholarships for students taking part in meditation programs.

He met some of those students during a visit to Maharishi Vedic City in rural southeast Iowa, considered the spiritual center of the TM movement in the United States.

"I'm convinced there are hundreds or thousands of kids who will see the truth of this and want to take part in one way or another," he said.

The meditation technique involves sitting comfortably with the eyes closed for 20 minutes, twice a day, according to the Web site of the Transcendental Meditation Program. It helps students overcome stress and perform better in the classroom by using their entire brain, rather than just a portion of it, Lynch said.

Barry Markovsky, a sociologist at the University of South Carolina, has spent years studying the Maharishi movement and Transcendental Meditation. Although he said meditating can be good for students, he's skeptical of the group's insistence that only their method is beneficial.

Lynch, who directed such films as "Mulholland Drive," "Elephant Man," "Blue Velvet," and "Wild At Heart," is currently working on a film in Los Angeles called "INLAND EMPIRE."

___

On the Net:

David Lynch: http://www.davidlynch.com/

University of South Carolina: http://www.sc.edu/

Maharishi Vedic City: http://maharishivediccity.net/

Transcendental Medication Program: http://www.tm.org

story courtesy of The Associated Press

'Conservative' Values

2005-07-04T16:13:00.001-04:00

George W. Bush : Impeach this TRAITOR Now

2005-06-12T15:40:00.000-04:00

President Bush lied. He and his cronies betrayed the American People, and they betrayed Congress, a direct violation of Article II, Section IV, of the United States Constitution.

www.downingstreetmemo.com
www.afterdowningstreet.org

further information:

Sunday Times: Ministers were told of need for Iraq war "excuse"
Sun Jun 12th 2005
The London Sunday Times
by Michael Smith

MINISTERS were warned in July 2002 that Britain was committed to taking part in an American-led invasion of Iraq and they had no choice but to find a way of making it legal.

The warning, in a leaked Cabinet Office briefing paper, said Tony Blair had already agreed to back military action to get rid of Saddam Hussein at a summit at the Texas ranch of President George W Bush three months earlier.

The briefing paper, for participants at a meeting of Blair's inner circle on July 23, 2002, said that since regime change was illegal it was "necessary to create the conditions" which would make it legal.

This was required because, even if ministers decided Britain should not take part in an invasion, the American military would be using British bases. This would automatically make Britain complicit in any illegal US action.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1650822,00...

......................

New British memo: U.S. gave 'little thought' to Iraq war aftermath
Sunday June 12, 2005
The Washington Post
By Walter Pincus

WASHINGTON — A briefing paper prepared for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his top advisers eight months before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq concluded that the U.S. military was not preparing adequately for what the British memo predicted would be a "protracted and costly" postwar occupation of that country.

The eight-page memo, written in advance of a July 23, 2002, Downing Street meeting on Iraq, provides new insights into how senior British officials saw a Bush administration decision to go to war as inevitable, and realized more clearly than their American counterparts the potential for the post-invasion instability that continues to plague Iraq.

In its introduction, the memo "Iraq: Conditions for Military Action" notes that U.S. "military planning for action against Iraq is proceeding apace," but adds that "little thought" has been given to, among other things, "the aftermath and how to shape it."

< snip >

Saying that "we need to be sure that the outcome of the military action would match our objective," the memo's authors point out, "A post-war occupation of Iraq could lead to a protracted and costly nation-building exercise." The authors add, "As already made clear, the U.S. military plans are virtually silent on this point. Washington could look to us to share a disproportionate share of the burden."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

......................

SIGN THE PETITION: Call for Investigation Begins This Week in Congress Thursday June 16

Because of previous efforts, Congressman Conyers now has 1/2 million signatures to take to Congress, helping his case in demanding an investigation into these memos. If you havent done your part to hold President Bush accountable, please do so now.

www.johnconyers.com

click on link at bottom of homepage titled "Letter to President Bush concerning the Downing Street Minutes".

White House : Please take your own advice

2005-05-17T17:41:00.000-04:00

"The White House's response of "outrage" to the recent Newsweek
story is truly a new milestone in hypocrisy for the Bush
administration. Just look at their official response yesterday:

"It's puzzling that while Newsweek now acknowledges that they
got the facts wrong, they refused to retract the story,"
White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters. "I think
there's a certain journalistic standard that should be met
and in this instance it was not...The report
has had serious consequences. People have lost their lives.
The image of the United States abroad has been damaged."

The irony of this White House "outrage" at inaccuracies in
light of all the lies about Iraq the Bush administration has
fed America is really incredible. Here's what the Democrats
should say in response:

"It's puzzling that while the White House now acknowledged
that they haven't found WMD or a link between Al Queda and
Iraq, they have refused to retract their claims. I think
there's a certain standard of governing that should be met
and in this instance has not. The claims
the administration used to send this nation to war has had
serious consequences. People have lost their lives. The image
of the United States abroad has been damaged."

-David Sirota
http://www.davidsirota.com/

The Wonderland Hotel

2005-04-24T19:32:00.000-04:00

When I was young I went to this hotel a few times with my parents, in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee I think it was. It was fantastic. It was way up in this mountain, and the hotel was around since like the 20's or 30's or something. It was quite big and quaint and quiet, but tons of people stayed there. It had a wraparound porch where we would just sit on rocking chairs. It felt like the hotel in The Shining and really had this spooky feeling to it since it was so old. Anyway i looked it up and I was quite depressed and sad when I saw this place was closed down and a fire gutted it. This place was quite legendary in the region.

These pix freaked me out cause I remember going to this place a few times, and being on that porch and walking up those steps, and now its just a sad deserted memory. I dont know why but this really made me so sad.

Water

2005-04-07T00:55:00.000-04:00

For some reason I seem to have this fondness for 1980's comedies that take place on forgotten Caribbean island nations. Ok maybe there are only two. Of course there is 'Club Paradise', which has the second best soundtrack ever made (behind 'Breakin 2 : Electric Boogaloo' of course), but there was also this small British film called 'Water' from 1985 that starred Michael Caine, Scottish comedian Billy Connolly (and star of 'Head of the Class' on ABC after the departure of Howard Hessman), Brenda Vaccaro ('Supergirl'), Fred Gwynne ('The Munsters') and Jimmy Walker ('Good Times'). Ok doesnt sound like a winner, but its pretty enjoyable and is about this British colony nation called Cascara, which instead of oil, has discovered bubbly effervescent lemon-scented water underneath their shores. Its hard to find but worth a look. Anyway this was my tribute to one of favorite movies ever.

Water

Dead Can Dance 2005 Tour

2005-03-25T13:54:00.000-05:00

They have re-formed for a world tour! I only saw them once when they were touring for the Spiritchaser album, and it was fantastic. Strongly recommend, and here are some photos from the European leg of the tour so far this year. North American tour dates below.

SEPTEMBER:

17 - United States SEATTLE - Paramount Theater
18 - United States SEATTLE - Paramount Theater
21 - United States OAKLAND - Paramount Theater
22 - United States OAKLAND - Paramount Theater
25 - United States LOS ANGELES - Hollywood Bowl
27 - United States SAN DIEGO - Humphreys
29 - Mexico MEXICO CITY - Auditorio Nacional

OCTOBER:

1 - Canada TORONTO - Massey Hall
2 - Canada MONTREAL - St Denis Theater
4 - Canada MONTREAL - St Denis Theater
5 - United States BOSTON - Orpheum
8 - United States NEW YORK - Radio City Music Hall
10 - United States WASHINGTON DC - Music Center
12 - United States CHICAGO - Auditorium Theater

You Built a Time Machine? Out of a DeLorean?

2005-03-20T22:52:00.000-05:00

as Marty McFly once said. I must admit im only posting this since im a big fan of the fantastic Back to the Future movie, but regardless, this eccentric car maker passed away yesterday....

AP Article

The Office : An American Workplace

2005-03-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

Or now simply called, like the original, 'The Office', debuts on NBC Thursday March 24 at 9.30 pm. I certainly cringed at the thought of their being an American version of this classic British TV show, as of all the remakes that would bomb (and have so far), this was the worst choice to try and recreate. Obviously the verdict is still out, but its getting very positive press, and I've seen a few clips online (link below), and it looks promising!

NBC's The Office

Downfall (der Untergang)

2005-03-15T23:09:00.000-05:00

Just saw this excellent movie yesterday, and would recommend it to anyone into history, or even just great acting, which this movie had plenty of. Bruno Ganz played Adolf Hitler and was just incredible. His looks, manerisms, etc made the character absolutely terrifying just to see on screen. One of the best performances ive seen in a long time.

www.downfallthefilm.com

SONG OF THE DAY : Priest Alley Song by Red House Painters

Pneuma

2005-03-11T13:52:00.000-05:00

50FootWave
Originally uploaded by neonair.

Did I just hear you try
To lemon scent the sky?

Sulphur
Yellow sulphur
Yellow sky

I tongue a socket
You feel the jolt
You're like a warped godmother with your baffling love

I know what's in the air
I know what's in the air
I know what's in the air

You know what?
You know what?
You know what?
Shut the fuck up!
Oh oh oh
...
Aquamarine
And video green
Hot water and pink soap
Our teeth full of holes
And our guts full of holes
And our thighs stick to hot vinyl

Sex is for Fags

2005-03-11T00:36:00.000-05:00

www.sexisforfags.com

"I understand that abstaining from sex protects me from the regret and guilt caused by the disgusting, squishy act of stupid sex, which is basically like going to the toilet from the front side."