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.