265 - casual reading

Here are a couple of books that I got for Christmas that I have casually been reading over the last couple of months:

U2 By U2
This is a coffee table sized book. It covers the span of the bands career with personal autobiographical stories, interviews, and great photos. I love it. I am a fan of the band and learning one's backstory and creative process has alway intrigued me.

Rick Steves' Venice 2007
I have always enjoyed Rick Steve's outlook on travel and I am jealous that he has a great job. He loves life, people, and travel. Vernal and I learned some great tips through his other books on our previous travels through Europe. I thought I get a good handle on Venice and the region before I head out.

Sidenote: Rick Steves' has a travel podcast through iTunes that is really good. It captures his quirky personality and informs on great travel destinations around the globe.

264 - february book

To Own a Dragon by Don MillerMy wife picked up this book at the MOPS convention where Don Miller was a guest speaker. Later she got him to sign our copy where he expressed his love to the both of us.Basically, this book is about growing up without a father, the need for mentoring of fatherless boys, and really understanding the concept of Heavenly Father. To Don, having a father was something he read about or saw on TV. The idea of having a father was just as foreign as a story he once read about a boy who owned a dragon. As far as life experiences, he felt he never learned the things he was suppose to about being a man, being responsible. That was a special club and he wasn't invited.

Don writes in his usual humble, matter of fact memoir style filled with humor and personal stories.

I used to tease my friend Brian about wearing band t-shirts, but he said they are always great conversation starters. He is right, I wore one recently and immediately had someone identify that they liked the band.

I found the same thing true with books. When I read in public spaces there is always someone being nosy seeing what your reading and ready to comment if there is a commonality. This happened recently with my Don Miller book. I was at the gym and a man in his '60's told me that he is reading Don's books. He was really excited about his writing and thought that Don was doing good things for Christianity. I was surprised. I agree with him, but I never imagined Don's writing to connect with an older audience. Another person recently told me that she gets mad reading Blue Like Jazz, but realizes that she is mad at herself. She sees herself in the described situations and then the convictions sets in.

It is interesting to see author where people have such strong feelings and emotion. I look forward to read more from him.

263 - january music, part 3

This will end January music.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen

I have to admit, that I was interested in this project because it is as some people call - a supergroup - with members from different bands that I like (Blur, Gorillaz, the Verve, the Clash.) I do like this album and I have come to the conlusion that I like it for its great atmosphere and rich texture. It has great noise between the musical notes. It's that noise, or atmosphere, on the whole of the album that takes me on an interesting musical journey. In movie terms, this album sounds to me like a dream (or nightmare) of a futuristic, western showdown at a carnival late at night played out in slow-motion.

Listen at their myspace.



The Brothers Martin

Another supergroup - no one has called them that - but to many of their loyal fans this is great pairing. Two of my favorite brothers and bands (Ronnie=Joy Electric, Jason=Starflyer 59) joined forces to write songs that they love to write. It is an electronic rock album, as you would expect, much in the vein of New Order, yet sound distinctly like Ronnie and Jason. They both share music writing duties and switch off on the vocals. This album is like a singles album, because every song could be a hit. (in a perfect world, because not many people will hear this album.) Oh well. I love it.

Listen at their Myspace.

262 - january music, part 2

More January music continued...
Hooverphonic - No More Sweet Music

I have a couple of their earlier records and like them a lot. The band is from Belgium and they play an electronic/trip-hop/pop brand of music with female vocals. This was a total impulse buy for me because I had no idea they had any newer albums. This ablum was released in 2005. Anyway, I was just browsing at Border's when I discovered the lone album hidden within the "H's."

The interesting thing about this ablum is that it is a double disc with the same songs in the same order on both discs. One disc is call More Sweet Music and the other is No More Sweet Music. The second disc is not a remix of the original song, but rather re-recordings of the same songs. I don't think the band gave preference to which disc is more important. There is not a number 1 and 2 for the disc, so I don't know what was intended as the original. The band probably meant it that way. Think about it...when you write a song, usually it is done really basic on a piano or guitar. You get together with the band and record it during the studio. The recording can go in any number of different ways with different instruments, vocal takes, etc. But only one version appears on the record. This was kind of cool to see songs can take different shapes and yes, maybe one version is better than the other, but maybe not.

Listen at their myspace.


El Perro Del Mar

Oh My Gosh! I don't know how to begin to tell you how much I love this disc. Amazing. This band or rather girl is from Sweden and her music has been discribed as folk pop, but I don't think that accurately discribes her sound. Yes, she uses and acoustic guitar as the main instrument, but their is nothing folky about it. Her music has a shimmery cosmopolitan sound that might remind of the 60's girl pop bands. The music is simple, the percussion is simple (handclaps or a tamborine), and the voice is achingly beautiful. Can happy music sound so sad? The lyrics are simple - often two or three lines repeated over and over. The music and voice is amazing. The music will build and the voices are layered. Really the music is simple but all the vocal tracks make it feel big. Lots of ooohs and aaaahs, and sha-la-la's. There is not a dud track on the record; it's hard to pick a favorite, because they are all so good.

Listen at her myspace.
Watch the delightful video God Knows (you got to give to get) here.

261 - january music, part 1

I have had a great time this last month going to the stores and seeking out new music. These were all purchased with gift cards from Christmas.
Joanna Newsom - Ys

I may have a hard time describing this album.

There has been much talk about this album...people really love it or really hate...really beautiful or really grating. Ys ended up on many critics top 1o of 2006 list and I had to find out. This is the kind of risk I am willing to take with music.

What is the music like? I think some describe it as folk or classical or fantastical (otherworldly in a very organic way.) Some compare her voice to Bjork, but only in the sense that it is very unique. Joanna Newsom plays the harp and that is the main backbone to all the songs, which are then accompanied by standard classical instruments. The album consists of 5 songs ranging from 7 minutes to 17 minutes - not your standard pop fare. She sings throughout the bulk of the songs with no long instrumentals. The song structure is very story oriented without your typical verse, verse, chorus, verse format. It reminds me a bit of the long songs in the Lord of the Rings and the music does have a bit of the medieval, renaissance, middle earth feel.

This album rides the fine line of being completly nuts or completely genius and I haven't made up my mind yet, but I am leaning toward the genius side. I find myself coming back to it. I haven't figured it out yet; it's interesting - and that's a good thing.

Watch documentary here .
Listen here.

Juana Molina - Tres Cosas

Juana Molina has been one of my favorite finds of the year. I got here newest album last month and Tres Cosas is an earlier album from 2004. I love her style: minimal electronics and layering of vocals with acoustic instrumentations. The power of her music doesn't hit you with a quick sample or one stand alone song. You have to soak in the whole album to get the full essence of the music. It is very down tempo and chill out, so it makes a great background sountrack for painting, reading, eating, or conversation.

Listen here.

260 - january book

"Evil is beyond the reach of no man."
"But can a man remove himself beyond the reach of evil?"

This months book to read was Thr3e by Ted Dekker. What I like about Dekker's writing is the way he can take a spiritual concept and use the story to flesh it out in a way that allows me to ponder those concepts versus being hit over the head with a sermon.

This thriller is about a seminary student who is targeted by a serial killer who works in riddles. The killer wants the protagonist to solve a riddle and confess his sin in a certain time amount and if he fails something blows up. The killer works in sequences of threes - 30, 60, 90 minutes, etc. and has a thing for opposites. The killer believes he is really no different form the seminary student - that sins of murder are equal with sins of gossip.

The themes of this book are inspired by the age old dilemma stated by Paul in Romans:
"For what I do is no the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing."

259 - good time of the year

This is a good time of the year. Why? Because one of my favorite hobbies is finding and listening to new music. January is a good month for me because I usually have gift certificate and such from Christmas and my January birthday.

This will keep me busy for weeks. I love it. I have a set amount of money that I can spend guilt-free on music. This is a chance for me to run through different scenarios of how I am going to spend it. This is a chance for me to be a bit risky and check out bands I've never heard, but only read about in magazines or the internet. There is a risk involved...sometimes they are winners and sometimes they are losers. Sure, I can easily sample the music now online, but 30 seconds of a song doesn't tell a story let alone describe the plot of an album. So, I hate to base decisions on 30 seconds.

I have had many conversations with Brian about why I still love to buy CD's as opposed to going all digital. We agree on many aspects: going to the store, searching for the only copy, ripping the plastic cover, reading the linear notes, etc.

I just read this article with Jeff Cloud, who runs Velvet Blue Music and has been in many bands - Starflyer 59, Joy Electric, Pony Express, and he sums up my generally feeling about music:

How do you feel about the state of music right now ?

Hmm, as far as the actual music goes, I think it's better than it has been for the past few years. The actual music industry, I think is at a weird spot. All this online, down loadable, cd burning, myspace, text messaging sonsg, ballyhoo has made things weird. For music listeners it's great. You could listen to music for the rest of your life and never spend a penny. For independent labels such as mine, all this will probably be the nail in my coffin.

You are opposed to this digital revolution ?

Don't want to say opposed. I just think it's made most people lazier. When I young I used to read about bands first, then I would wait for their single or ep to make it to the states, then I'd have to pay like $10/$12 (import price) for 3 or 4 songs. There was no preview, no 45 second sample, you couldn't buy just 1 of the songs. It took some commitment, some risk. Now people listen to 30 seconds of a whole record and may decide to pass on it. Or they figure why even buy the record when you can hear 4 of the 10 songs on the bands myspace.

Do you feel that with so much music being easily available that records aren't being listened to as closely ?

I would like to think this isn't true, but it probably is. I mean I'm a guy who is putting out vinyl, while the kid next door is complaining that it took 45 seconds to download an entire album into his wrist watch. I think true fans of music still appreciate the whole record, music, lyrics, package.

Here is the full interview.
http://www.velvetbluemusic.com/home.php

258 - remote control

We still have a VCR and still record shows.

With kids our remote controls have taking a bit of a beating.

Our VCR remote lost it's battery door and makes this horrible rattling sound.

Like three pennies in an otherwise empty piggy bank.

Some sort of machinery is loose on the inside.

It must not be that important.

The remote works just fine.

257 - December Music

Here are the new albums I picked up in the month of December. Thanks to Santa and gift certificates the month of December and January have been good.


Bill Mallonee - Yonder Shines the Infant Light

This is a Christmas album, but it is not necessarily Christmas music. They are songs about Christ's birth and it's effect on mankind. I bought this as a digital download through billmallonee.net. Originally, this release was a 5 or 6 song e.p. but fans requested the inclusion of a few of his older Christmas songs that were released through various compilations throughout the years. So now the album fleshes out around 11 songs. I must say I love it. I find Bill at his songwriting best and musically it is also steller. It is guitar jangle-pop delight. There are also a couple of instrumentals that are really good. Oh, did I mention that all the songs are orignial with the exception (I think) of an old hymn.


Over the Rhine - Snow Angels

This is Over the Rhine's second Christmas album. The first (the Darkest Night of the Year) has been a favorite of mine and was released 10 years ago, so they thought it was about time for a new one. This collection also contains orignal songs about the Christmas season covering everything from Christ's birth to the homecoming of a soilder to holiday romance and maybe heartbreak. The music is cozy and warm with piano, acoustic instruments including guitars and upright bass, voice, and subtle percussion. Their song "Darlin' (Christmas is coming)" has the makings to be a classic in the holiday canon if it was given the chance. But such is the life of an independent artist.Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope

A Russian born, New York bred singer/songwriter who has been tagged as writing quirky songs...This album ranges from left of center pop songs with drum loops and synth effects to intimate piano and voice. Listen here.

Rosie Thomas - These Friends of Mine
I love this album. This was released only on iTunes. It will be released as a proper cd sometime in March I believe. She has good friends. Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer recorded, played, and sang in all these songs with Rosie. The music is very beautiful, with acoustic guitars, minimal percussion, and layers of voice. It has a very cool and dreamy sound with lots of references to New York in the wintertime.
Listen here.

Juana Molina - Son

This was my surprise album of the year. This is so good. It's a late night or when you need mood music in the background. She is from Argentina and all the songs are sung in Spanish. It's hard to describe the music. It has elements of folk with acoustic guitars, but I think it would more fairly be described a electronic, but that is not to fair either, because it has an organic feel to it. The voice work is amazing...lots of vocal effects and layering. All the electronics are subtle, meaning there is nothing techno about this. With each listen the songs reveal a bit more. Very interesting and very good.
Listen here.
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open

I had heard so many good things about this album. It does not disappoint it is a very solid album. It is straight ahead rock without many suprises - good songs though. The more upbeat songs remind me of Switchfoot in music and vocals. I like their more mid-tempo songs best.
Listen here.

256 - December Books

The Promise by Ted Dekker
I picked this book up earlier this summer at a bookshop in Branson for 2.99. I like his other books, so why not a Christmas tale. It is a short story, one that you can read in15-30 minutes, and it is also ilustrated. It is the story of an orphaned mute boy set at the time of Baby Jesus' birth. Overall, it was a little too sappy and hokey for my liking. Oh well!


A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Miserable Mill and the Austere Academy by Lemony Snickets
I guess I am slowly reading this series of kids books. Well actually, they are quick reads, but I am taking my time on finishing the series. These were the 4th and 5th books in the series of 13. They are fun little reads. Not much to say about them.

255 - November book

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I just finished up a heady book on theory and architecture with Looking Around, so I was ready for something fun.

Ready the Harry Potter books are like going on vacation to a familiar area. I had the book a few weeks prior to when I was able to read it...the anticipation was building and I was ready to return to this land with known characters and sites and see what unknown bumps may be in the road.

Overall, it was a pretty good trip. I think it was the longest of them all. Harry, though, does seem to be getting a bit whiny...very misunderstood, but communication skills are something he needs to improve on.

254 - November Music

Damien Rice - 9
The second album from this Irishman. This ablum deals with the emotions of betrayal and infedility in and aching and beautiful way...singer/songwriter folksy.
Watch video for 9 Crimes here.

Leigh Nash - wishing for this
This Chirstmas e.p. was only avaible as a digital download. This album features some traditionals along with some suprises like Dolly's Hard Candy Christmas as well as an orignal.
Listen at http://www.myspace.com/leighnash

Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong
This years "late night" Christmas album almost in the vein of Over the Rhine's Darkest Night of the Year, but not quite as magical and mysterious. Very good, though. Some songs have an Enya quality to them.
Listen at http://myspace.com/sarahmclachlan

Sufjan Steven presents Songs for Christmas
This boxset was a joy...yes boxset. Inside this box was 5 e.p.'s, stickers, a cheesy family photo poster of Sufjan and family by a tree, and a booklet with all the lyrics, chords, short stories, and essays. In 2001, Sufjan recorded a few christmas songs and sent them to family and friends as a gift. He did the same the following year and soon these songs were sought after on the web as people were share the mp3 files. I had the first 3 years. You know the Charlie Brown Christmas Special and his quest to find the true meaning of Christmas, that is probably the best way to describe the boxset. The music identifies more with the baby in the stable, the charlie brown christmas tree, than glitz and glamor of holiday lights.
Watch the video for Put the Lights on the Tree.

253 - Christmas Holiday

Some activities over my Christmas vacation:

• Took time off work. I had 11 consecutive days away from the office. Coming back to work hit me hard. I had to set my alarm clock and find work clothes.
• Saw the movie Rock Balboa with a group of guys from church. I really did like the movie. Good job, Sly.
• Did some last minute Christmas shopping.
• Stayed up late. I slept in a bit relative to my normal time of getting up, but not enough to offset me staying up late. The last couple of days, it hit me hard and I crashed big time.
• Ate lots of food - to much food...to much yummy, not good for you food.
• Made a point to hit the gym to try in the tiniest way possible to offset all the food I couldn't stop eating.
• Enjoyed Christmas lights around town and made a trip to see the Longview Lake light display.
• Listened to a lot of Christmas music. I really enjoyed the new Over the Rhine - Snow Angels Christmas album.
• Attended a Christmas Eve service in a barn with live animals. We saw this advertised in the paper and thought it would be a nice change from the normal cantata.
• Spent Christmas Eve with my side of the family.
  
• Delivered bags full of food to a family in need. Someone in my family organized this with a family from Pastor Ben's church. This was part of our Christmas Eve activities.
• Sang Christmas Carols to a couple of families we knew. This was something my mom planned and was also part of our Christmas Eve activities.
• Spent Christmas morning with Verna's side of the family.
• Went to a Christmas night party at my Cousins.
• Painted our Living Room, Dining Room, and Hall over the break. It has been about 9 years and it was time for an update.
• Did some after Christmas shopping.
• Read a couple of books.
• Spent an evening with Kerry, Neecy, and Tim. We all went out to eat at Manny's on Southwest Blvd. for some Mexican food. Kerry told stories of Mullets.
• Watched a few videos: Lucky Number Slevin, Thank You for Smoking, Little Miss Sunshine, Talledega Nights-the Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Just Friends, Polar Express, Elf.
• Watched a KU basketball game in Lawrence at Allen Field House with our new YA Pastor.
• Satisfied my BBQ fix with a Z-Man from Okie Joe's.
• Took some long, hot soaks in the tub.
  
• Bought some new music with Christmas funds.
• Went to a New Year's Party at my Cousin's.
  

252 - october music

Junior Boys - So This is Goodbye
...an electronic album with icey minimal laptop beats and male vocals.

Denison Witmer - Safe Away
...this is a re-issue of his first album with a bonus disc (Are you a Sleeper E.P.) It is very minimal acoustic guitar and voice.

Asobi Seksu - Self Titled
...Their debut album that I picked up at their show. It was the last show the Brian and I went to before he left for portland. Good show, good times, and a great Roman dancer with a lyre.

251

Let me see if I can resurrect this old blog and put it back into action.

First, I should probably switch to the new version. I'll give that a shot.

250

249 - 21 Oct 1998

[sketchbook]

I don't remember anything about this day.

It was a Wednesday.

It looks like a Wednesday picture.

248

Friday 13 October 2006

[sketchbook]

This picture is made up of a couple events from that day. The cattle is taken from a picture of a cattle drive that happened right outside our office at 11:30. Some cowboys and cowgirls in the spirit of the American Royal thought it would be grand to drive the cattle up Wyandotte in downtown Kansas City. We all took the opportunity to leave our desk to cheer on the effort. The people in Spain do it right when they run with the bulls. This cattle drive was anti-climatic and was over as soon as it started...but I would watch it again - every year.

Later that evening after my soccer game and after we put the kids to bed, I met up with BB to see a dreampop band from New York play at the Record Bar. It has been a while since I have been to a show. We had a great time, Asobi Seksu was really good and really loud. By the time we left our ears were ringing and we smelt like cigarettes.

247

wednesday, october 11, 2006

So, looking back at my old sketchbooks has put me in the mood to try be more mindfull of the 3 or 4 half empty sketchbooks that I have lying around.

I did this quick sketch for the "beagle" series of paintings that I have done. Maybe I will paint it next.

246 - October 15, 16 1998