Tis festival season kiddies and though I preferred Voodoo to Virgin last year it doesn't look like I'll be making my way to NOLA this year so it was back to MD. Last year we made the mistake of going to Warped the day before the Virgin Festival and, after two days of 98 degree weather and no shade, bailed way early on day 3. This time around Lisa and I decided to go for just one day instead of the whole weekend.
We hit the road a bit late but travels there were smooth despite crazy rain, oh no it cannot rain on festival day! We finally got there just in time to see Lil Wayne-baby sister's choice :) the only Lil' Wayne song I know was the one he performed on FN MTV. The talent showed up over 20 minutes late for his appearance but luckily we were entertained by some young, drunk thing trying to grind on Lisa. Finally someone took the stage but it was just the entourage to take pictures of the crowd and meander around the stage as the audience actually started to boo. There isn't much I can say about Weezy (no h?), he was fun once he finally graced us with his presence.
Moving on in the strangest line-up I've ever seen, BOB DYLAN!!! I was so excited to see Dylan and we were able to get right up to the stage. I was a little disappointed that he sang mostly newer material but he sounded amazing as did his band. At 67 the only sign of his age was his tendency to walk a circle and stretch between songs. There were ominous clouds gathering before he took the stage, but the sky cleared and the sun started setting for him.
The festival had two stages with overlapping performers so Stone Temple Pilots were on at the same time as Dylan (easy choice for me) and the closers were Nine Inch Nails at the same time as Kanye West. We chose to see NIN. I do like what I've heard of West's music, I do not like his fans. Kanye was playing on the same stage as Dylan and a heard of obnoxious little fuckers in their white plastic shades herded around the stage while Dylan was playing. To be so self-absorbed and ignorant that you cannot recognize the iconic talent standing before you is unacceptable. Whether you like Dylan or not, you have to admit he is a poet with longevity who has inspired countless people. Where will Kanye be at 67? Gaggles of stupid girls stood taking pics of themselves and texting until Dylan was done and they surged forward to get closer to the fad.
Suffice it to say we ended the night with Nine Inch Nails. I went through a Tool, Korn, NIN phase but haven't listened to NIN in a long time. I know mostly the singles and enjoy them when they happen to be playing. They were amazing last night and I will definitely be enhancing my collection. They played the faster more recognizable songs first and then slowed it down a lot with more instrumental pieces. The set design was beautiful with screens not only behind the band but also a screen that hung above and once dropped down in front giving the appearance of a sheet of rain.
I have posted some videos on YouTube from the show. There is one NIN video that I can’t recognize the song from the clip (March of the Pigs potentially??). If you know it, message me so I can add the title. www.youtube.com/mckinlau
Monday, August 11, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Hit the Gym for a Cause
In honor of reaching the $1800 fundraising minimum required to participate in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer this October in NYC I thought I would post my top five songs for the gym.
Melissa Etheridge—I Run for Life
I should point out that I have never been a gym rat; I have a tendency to hit the gym at random moments when the mood strikes and I assure you that it does not strike often. I can be really good and get into a routine for a month or three and then quit cold turkey until the urge returns some months later. This time I have a finish line to get to, literally, the Avon Walk is 39.3 miles over two days this October and after asking friends, family, and colleagues for donations I feel obligated to cross it for everyone who has supported me on this endeavor.
This has been a long-winded intro to my first selection, “I Run for Life.” Melissa Etheridge is a breast cancer survivor and she wrote this song of her ordeal. Her battle is inspiring and her courage and strength most notably remembered in her Grammy appearance performing Piece of My Heart looking fierce with no hair left from her battle. This song helps me leave work behind and focus on what brings me to the gym every day. Other songs to warm you up include “Secret Agent” and “Giant,” which can be found on Lucky.
Heather Small—Proud
OK, I’ll admit this one is a bit cheesy but I still had to include it. You may recognize this one as the theme song for Biggest Loser but it was also on the Queer as Folk Soundtrack. “What have you done today to make you feel proud” says it all. Probably the most literal of the songs on the list but it still gets me moving in the gym. You cannot purchase the individual song on iTunes but the entire album will push you through a workout so go for it, it’s worth it.
Annie Lennox—Sing
This song was written to raise money and awareness about mother to child transmission of HIV. Rather than preachy or depressing this song is upbeat and empowering.
Sing, my sister, sing
let your voice be heard
what won’t kill you will make you strong
sing, my sister, sing
The beat and hook are great and are guaranteed to make you pick up the pace.
Jimmy Eat World—Here it Goes
I’ll admit I had a hard time with #4. I had to skip to #5 to cool down and come back to this one. My shuffle has 257 songs that take up 977 MB of its 1 GB capacity, never mind the 22 GB of music that live on iTunes. The point being that choosing just five songs to place here is harder than one might guess since my gym tastes range the vast library. I have songs from my middle school years with such greats as “Pump up the Volume” and “Mama Said Knock You Out” mixed happily beside electronic beats of The Chemical Brothers and The Crystal Method with some pop Pink and rock Rage Against the Machine and Rob Zombie shaken, not stirred to keep it interesting. After some thought I decided to keep the vibe of somewhat meaningful songs by choosing this one for #4 rather than throwing you a curve with “Never Gonna Stop” though the latter is played daily.
“Cut it to the left and I rock…Slide it to the right and I roll.” Chase this Light is an amazing album. I was fortunate enough to see Jimmy Eat World live a few months back and can assure you they get better with age! I chose “Here it Goes” for the slot because I love the opening melody and the take home point is to simply just be.
Moby—The Rain Falls and the Sky Shudders
This song is from Songs 1993-1998. Though this album isn’t as known as the single-heavy Play I actually tend to listen to it more often than Play and love the raw feel of it. This particular song is instrumental, as is much of the album. Despite the lack of words the melodic piano heard over the sound of rain brings to my mind a world of peace and calm. I love to listen to this song when cooling down at the gym, you can almost feel the mist of rain instead of sweat. “God Moves Over the Face of Water” is another great instrumental on Songs.
Melissa Etheridge—I Run for Life
I should point out that I have never been a gym rat; I have a tendency to hit the gym at random moments when the mood strikes and I assure you that it does not strike often. I can be really good and get into a routine for a month or three and then quit cold turkey until the urge returns some months later. This time I have a finish line to get to, literally, the Avon Walk is 39.3 miles over two days this October and after asking friends, family, and colleagues for donations I feel obligated to cross it for everyone who has supported me on this endeavor.
This has been a long-winded intro to my first selection, “I Run for Life.” Melissa Etheridge is a breast cancer survivor and she wrote this song of her ordeal. Her battle is inspiring and her courage and strength most notably remembered in her Grammy appearance performing Piece of My Heart looking fierce with no hair left from her battle. This song helps me leave work behind and focus on what brings me to the gym every day. Other songs to warm you up include “Secret Agent” and “Giant,” which can be found on Lucky.
Heather Small—Proud
OK, I’ll admit this one is a bit cheesy but I still had to include it. You may recognize this one as the theme song for Biggest Loser but it was also on the Queer as Folk Soundtrack. “What have you done today to make you feel proud” says it all. Probably the most literal of the songs on the list but it still gets me moving in the gym. You cannot purchase the individual song on iTunes but the entire album will push you through a workout so go for it, it’s worth it.
Annie Lennox—Sing
This song was written to raise money and awareness about mother to child transmission of HIV. Rather than preachy or depressing this song is upbeat and empowering.
Sing, my sister, sing
let your voice be heard
what won’t kill you will make you strong
sing, my sister, sing
The beat and hook are great and are guaranteed to make you pick up the pace.
Jimmy Eat World—Here it Goes
I’ll admit I had a hard time with #4. I had to skip to #5 to cool down and come back to this one. My shuffle has 257 songs that take up 977 MB of its 1 GB capacity, never mind the 22 GB of music that live on iTunes. The point being that choosing just five songs to place here is harder than one might guess since my gym tastes range the vast library. I have songs from my middle school years with such greats as “Pump up the Volume” and “Mama Said Knock You Out” mixed happily beside electronic beats of The Chemical Brothers and The Crystal Method with some pop Pink and rock Rage Against the Machine and Rob Zombie shaken, not stirred to keep it interesting. After some thought I decided to keep the vibe of somewhat meaningful songs by choosing this one for #4 rather than throwing you a curve with “Never Gonna Stop” though the latter is played daily.
“Cut it to the left and I rock…Slide it to the right and I roll.” Chase this Light is an amazing album. I was fortunate enough to see Jimmy Eat World live a few months back and can assure you they get better with age! I chose “Here it Goes” for the slot because I love the opening melody and the take home point is to simply just be.
Moby—The Rain Falls and the Sky Shudders
This song is from Songs 1993-1998. Though this album isn’t as known as the single-heavy Play I actually tend to listen to it more often than Play and love the raw feel of it. This particular song is instrumental, as is much of the album. Despite the lack of words the melodic piano heard over the sound of rain brings to my mind a world of peace and calm. I love to listen to this song when cooling down at the gym, you can almost feel the mist of rain instead of sweat. “God Moves Over the Face of Water” is another great instrumental on Songs.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Ode to the Singer Songwriter
I periodically become obsessed with singer-songwriters. It’s an illness I know, it usually lasts a few weeks and I’m back to Rise Against and Rage Against the Machine for months before the need to hear a tortured soul sing to me creeps back in. It’s not a guilty pleasure, country music is a guilty pleasure, this is therapy. Top five singer-songwriters at this moment:
Joe Purdy
I discovered Joe Purdy on myspace, “The City” was somebody’s profile song and I had to find out more. It is the sadness of “Sinkin Low” and “Ode to a Sad Clown” that I love best; I’ve always been a sucker for a good sad song. “Can’t Get It Right Today” is by far his most popular song and is now gaining in popularity thanks to a KIA commercial. Despite the commercial deals Joe Purdy is not one to sell out, he has no record contract and makes music his way.
Jason Mraz
Everyone knows who Jason Mraz is so I’ll save the introduction. I bought his album Waiting for My Rocket to Come years ago and had no idea that he had developed into such a wordsmith since then until I saw the We Sing, We Dance EPs released earlier this year. I waited until the full We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things was released to buy the entire collection at one shot. This latest album was not far off the summer playlist, definitely top 10 easy.
Amos Lee
Another popular songwriter, Lee is a Philly/Cherry Hill, NJ native with a more soulful voice than the others on the list. “Shout Out Loud” from Supply and Demand is my personal favorite though the new Last Days at the Lodge has gotten a great deal of much deserved attention.
Mat Kearney
“Breathe In, Breathe Out” is one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. It’s not your typical love song, but it’s real and that is what makes me listen to it again and again. He’s most known for the songs that have appeared in various primetime shows, including “All I Need” featured in Gray’s Anatomy and “Nothing Left to Lose” featured in the trailer for Catch and Release. I’m anxiously waiting to see how he follows up such a strong debut.
Jon Foreman
Jon Foreman is the lead singer of Switchfoot, but his solo music is not really anything like his band’s music at all. The concept for his solo adventure was to release four EPs, one for each season, over the course of a year. Each EP has six songs. I will recommend Fall, Winter, and possibly Spring to you but warn that as the seasons go he can get preachy. After hearing parts of Summer on his myspace I decided not to complete the seasons, with songs such as “Resurrect Me” and “House of God Forever” the Christian theme was a bit much for me.
Nearly made the list: Matt Duke, Tyler Burkum, Patrick Park (the last a bit more folky than ss but still worth a listen)
Joe Purdy
I discovered Joe Purdy on myspace, “The City” was somebody’s profile song and I had to find out more. It is the sadness of “Sinkin Low” and “Ode to a Sad Clown” that I love best; I’ve always been a sucker for a good sad song. “Can’t Get It Right Today” is by far his most popular song and is now gaining in popularity thanks to a KIA commercial. Despite the commercial deals Joe Purdy is not one to sell out, he has no record contract and makes music his way.
Jason Mraz
Everyone knows who Jason Mraz is so I’ll save the introduction. I bought his album Waiting for My Rocket to Come years ago and had no idea that he had developed into such a wordsmith since then until I saw the We Sing, We Dance EPs released earlier this year. I waited until the full We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things was released to buy the entire collection at one shot. This latest album was not far off the summer playlist, definitely top 10 easy.
Amos Lee
Another popular songwriter, Lee is a Philly/Cherry Hill, NJ native with a more soulful voice than the others on the list. “Shout Out Loud” from Supply and Demand is my personal favorite though the new Last Days at the Lodge has gotten a great deal of much deserved attention.
Mat Kearney
“Breathe In, Breathe Out” is one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. It’s not your typical love song, but it’s real and that is what makes me listen to it again and again. He’s most known for the songs that have appeared in various primetime shows, including “All I Need” featured in Gray’s Anatomy and “Nothing Left to Lose” featured in the trailer for Catch and Release. I’m anxiously waiting to see how he follows up such a strong debut.
Jon Foreman
Jon Foreman is the lead singer of Switchfoot, but his solo music is not really anything like his band’s music at all. The concept for his solo adventure was to release four EPs, one for each season, over the course of a year. Each EP has six songs. I will recommend Fall, Winter, and possibly Spring to you but warn that as the seasons go he can get preachy. After hearing parts of Summer on his myspace I decided not to complete the seasons, with songs such as “Resurrect Me” and “House of God Forever” the Christian theme was a bit much for me.
Nearly made the list: Matt Duke, Tyler Burkum, Patrick Park (the last a bit more folky than ss but still worth a listen)
Must Everything be Digital?!
At 30 my earliest music memories involve cassettes. The first I remember owning is Bon Jovi’s New Jersey. I also remember the excitement of getting bootleg copies of Aerosmith’s Pump and Guns and Roses’ Appetite for Destruction from a friend for my 12th birthday. Even then all you needed was scotch tape and a double player to steal some music.
Apparently CDs have been around since the late 70’s and the first CD player was released by Sony in 1982. I couldn’t tell you the first CD I bought but I assure you it was probably sometime mid-90. If the rise of the compact disk has led to the fall of the cassette does this mean that the rise in digital music will lead to the fall of the compact disk? I was late to the world of digital music; I was given a 1st generation iPod nano for Christmas 2006. It took about a year but I moved all of my CDs over to iTunes and after backing them up to an external hard drive have sold them in advance of their complete downfall.
It seems that DVDs and books may be heading for the same fate as CD’s. You can already download movies on iTunes and Netflix has many movies available to play instantly rather than wait for snail-mail. But digital books?!
I love books. I rarely read a book more than once with the exception of a handful of absolute favorites. Despite this I buy them, new. I like the feel of a new book-the crack of the spine as you open it, the smell of the new pages. I don’t keep them. I don’t need to be surrounded by them as affirmation that I am intelligent and capable of reading. I generally pass them on to friends and family, sell them in yard sales, or donate them. I realize this is a waste of money considering I can borrow them for free at the library, yet my Amazon wish list is made up almost entirely of books that I will happily wait until Christmas to have wrapped under the tree waiting for me.
Will I and others like me move to digital books? I already read the newspaper online (is it really still a newspaper without paper and if not then what?). I actually prefer the online version to the actual print version. I never liked newspapers though. I’ve always thought them cumbersome and difficult to finagle in buses and planes without hitting the people around you.
I really don’t see myself reading digital books. No spine cracking. No pretty cover. I admit I am one of those people that will at least pick a book up if it has an interesting name or cover (I use the same process for picking wine). How will I pick books in the digital world?
Late last year Amazon released Kindle, which allows users to download an entire book in less than one minute. It also enables users to download blogs and newspapers, is wireless and weighs less than a pound. Imagine if you weren’t limited to the 20-something titles that Hudson News carried at the airport. I’m still forcing my way through John Grisham’s The Appeal because I feel guilty for paying full price at the airport on my last business trip. I had brought The Memory Keepers Daughter with me on the trip but finished it before the return flight. For this reason I must admit even I am a bit intrigued by this new little gadget though maybe just for travel.
Apparently CDs have been around since the late 70’s and the first CD player was released by Sony in 1982. I couldn’t tell you the first CD I bought but I assure you it was probably sometime mid-90. If the rise of the compact disk has led to the fall of the cassette does this mean that the rise in digital music will lead to the fall of the compact disk? I was late to the world of digital music; I was given a 1st generation iPod nano for Christmas 2006. It took about a year but I moved all of my CDs over to iTunes and after backing them up to an external hard drive have sold them in advance of their complete downfall.
It seems that DVDs and books may be heading for the same fate as CD’s. You can already download movies on iTunes and Netflix has many movies available to play instantly rather than wait for snail-mail. But digital books?!
I love books. I rarely read a book more than once with the exception of a handful of absolute favorites. Despite this I buy them, new. I like the feel of a new book-the crack of the spine as you open it, the smell of the new pages. I don’t keep them. I don’t need to be surrounded by them as affirmation that I am intelligent and capable of reading. I generally pass them on to friends and family, sell them in yard sales, or donate them. I realize this is a waste of money considering I can borrow them for free at the library, yet my Amazon wish list is made up almost entirely of books that I will happily wait until Christmas to have wrapped under the tree waiting for me.
Will I and others like me move to digital books? I already read the newspaper online (is it really still a newspaper without paper and if not then what?). I actually prefer the online version to the actual print version. I never liked newspapers though. I’ve always thought them cumbersome and difficult to finagle in buses and planes without hitting the people around you.
I really don’t see myself reading digital books. No spine cracking. No pretty cover. I admit I am one of those people that will at least pick a book up if it has an interesting name or cover (I use the same process for picking wine). How will I pick books in the digital world?
Late last year Amazon released Kindle, which allows users to download an entire book in less than one minute. It also enables users to download blogs and newspapers, is wireless and weighs less than a pound. Imagine if you weren’t limited to the 20-something titles that Hudson News carried at the airport. I’m still forcing my way through John Grisham’s The Appeal because I feel guilty for paying full price at the airport on my last business trip. I had brought The Memory Keepers Daughter with me on the trip but finished it before the return flight. For this reason I must admit even I am a bit intrigued by this new little gadget though maybe just for travel.
Love, Honor, Inspire
Extravagant Spirits
BY MAYA ANGELOU
Without their fierce devotion
We are fragile and forlorn,
Stumbling briefly, among the stars.
We and our futures belong to them
Exquisitely, our beliefs and our
Breaths are made tangible in their love.
By their extravagant spirits, they draw us
From the safe bordersAnd into the center of the center ring
There they urge dance upon ourLeaden feetAnd to our sullen hearts,
Bright laughter.
Not the crowd’s roar nor the gasped
Breath of the timorous can stay their mission.
There is no moderation in their nature.
They spit upon their fingersTo test the wind of history,
They slip into our bonds and steal usAway from the slavery of cowardice.
They skin back their thin lips over fanged teeth and
Rocks in hand, in our presenceFace down our Goliath.
These mothers, fathers, pastors and priests,
These Rabbis, Imams and gurus,
Teach us by their valor and mold us with their courage.
Without their fierce devotion
We are only forlorn and only fragile
Stumbling briefly, among the stars.
i carry your heart with me
ee cummings
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
BY MAYA ANGELOU
Without their fierce devotion
We are fragile and forlorn,
Stumbling briefly, among the stars.
We and our futures belong to them
Exquisitely, our beliefs and our
Breaths are made tangible in their love.
By their extravagant spirits, they draw us
From the safe bordersAnd into the center of the center ring
There they urge dance upon ourLeaden feetAnd to our sullen hearts,
Bright laughter.
Not the crowd’s roar nor the gasped
Breath of the timorous can stay their mission.
There is no moderation in their nature.
They spit upon their fingersTo test the wind of history,
They slip into our bonds and steal usAway from the slavery of cowardice.
They skin back their thin lips over fanged teeth and
Rocks in hand, in our presenceFace down our Goliath.
These mothers, fathers, pastors and priests,
These Rabbis, Imams and gurus,
Teach us by their valor and mold us with their courage.
Without their fierce devotion
We are only forlorn and only fragile
Stumbling briefly, among the stars.
i carry your heart with me
ee cummings
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
Summer Playlist
After family and friends the top things in my world are music, books and coffee, therefore, Barnes and Noble is my nirvana. If you stop and think about it both music and books enable you to transcend time and space and be something other than what you actually are. The best among them will take you on journeys to far off lands, ignite emotions, and leave you wanting to share them with everyone you love so they can know what you have known. The coffee is just lagniappe as my NOLA friends would say. This blog will be the home of my obsession. Here I will post whatever reading, listening, and occasional watching catches my interest.
For the inaugural blog I thought I’d focus on my summer playlist since it’s already August and fall is fast approaching. I must say I have been somewhat disappointed with new music offerings of late. It seems every artist is putting out live albums or, and I hate this, re-releasing previous albums. Does U2 really need MORE money? As a result much of the music I’ve been listening to this summer is not all that new.
I’ll start with what is new:
John Mayer—Where the Light Is: Live in LA (2008)
New and live, I know. This is one of the few live albums that is actually worth purchasing. I’ll go so far as to say it’s my favorite live album, dethroning Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College. I will admit that I was not a huge John Mayer fan prior to this purchase. I have his previous albums, but after a while it all sounds the same and I get bored with his music. I am a convert; I would love to see him live. The live CD shows a bluesy side to Mayer and adds a lot of depth to his melodic songs. Definitely check this one out.
The Editors—An End Has A Start (2007)
My friend Alex turned me on to The Editors and this CD will forever be associated with the memory of speeding through New Orleans after the Voodoo Festival trying to get to Whole Foods before it closed. We weren’t successful in our adventure and ended up back at his place crashing for a few hours before I had to leave for an early flight home. I bought the album as soon as I got home and now, nine months later, it still lives in rotation. The Editors are British Indie rock at its best. Tom Smith’s voice is amazing and will live in your head long after he’s done singing.
The National—Boxer (2007)
The National is another new to me band. They are indie rockers from Brooklyn, actually Cincinnati but you can’t blame them for not wanting to claim that one. They were the opener for Modest Mouse who opened for REM. When did bands start having two opening acts? As far as I’m concerned they blew Modest Mouse out of the water. I bought the album after I saw them live and though I will say they are much better live than recorded, I do enjoy Boxer and have listened to it often since I saw them in early June. “Start a War” was the highlight of the live show and is the highlight of the album. Another great rock voice, in fact they’d fit well with The Editors on a mixed disk :)
Innerpartysystem—The Download EP (2007)
Innerpartysystem are an indie rock outfit from PA. They deputed their EP in late 2007. My friend Kristi recommended this one to me while we were waiting for Paramore and Jimmy Eat World to take the stage in AC earlier this year. The only problem with this is really are begging them for me, the EP is six songs, one of which is a remix, so really five songs. Their music is a glorious blend of rock, electronic, dance madness. Love it. My only concern is their music will be popified before they can release more. The myspace versions of their songs sound produced compared to the EP I have.
Owl City—Maybe I’m Dreaming (2008)
Owl City came up as a “Listeners Also Bought” artist when I purchased Innerpartysystem-yes, I actually pay for music. I wouldn’t say they sound like innerpartysystem though. I would call Owl City the melodic, electronic counterpart to innerpartysystem—their music is a bit slower and dreamier. Where Innerpartysystem makes you want to jump around Owl City makes you want to float on a hammock, get it?! It seems the band is actually one dude named Adam Young. Relax and enjoy.
For the inaugural blog I thought I’d focus on my summer playlist since it’s already August and fall is fast approaching. I must say I have been somewhat disappointed with new music offerings of late. It seems every artist is putting out live albums or, and I hate this, re-releasing previous albums. Does U2 really need MORE money? As a result much of the music I’ve been listening to this summer is not all that new.
I’ll start with what is new:
John Mayer—Where the Light Is: Live in LA (2008)
New and live, I know. This is one of the few live albums that is actually worth purchasing. I’ll go so far as to say it’s my favorite live album, dethroning Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College. I will admit that I was not a huge John Mayer fan prior to this purchase. I have his previous albums, but after a while it all sounds the same and I get bored with his music. I am a convert; I would love to see him live. The live CD shows a bluesy side to Mayer and adds a lot of depth to his melodic songs. Definitely check this one out.
The Editors—An End Has A Start (2007)
My friend Alex turned me on to The Editors and this CD will forever be associated with the memory of speeding through New Orleans after the Voodoo Festival trying to get to Whole Foods before it closed. We weren’t successful in our adventure and ended up back at his place crashing for a few hours before I had to leave for an early flight home. I bought the album as soon as I got home and now, nine months later, it still lives in rotation. The Editors are British Indie rock at its best. Tom Smith’s voice is amazing and will live in your head long after he’s done singing.
The National—Boxer (2007)
The National is another new to me band. They are indie rockers from Brooklyn, actually Cincinnati but you can’t blame them for not wanting to claim that one. They were the opener for Modest Mouse who opened for REM. When did bands start having two opening acts? As far as I’m concerned they blew Modest Mouse out of the water. I bought the album after I saw them live and though I will say they are much better live than recorded, I do enjoy Boxer and have listened to it often since I saw them in early June. “Start a War” was the highlight of the live show and is the highlight of the album. Another great rock voice, in fact they’d fit well with The Editors on a mixed disk :)
Innerpartysystem—The Download EP (2007)
Innerpartysystem are an indie rock outfit from PA. They deputed their EP in late 2007. My friend Kristi recommended this one to me while we were waiting for Paramore and Jimmy Eat World to take the stage in AC earlier this year. The only problem with this is really are begging them for me, the EP is six songs, one of which is a remix, so really five songs. Their music is a glorious blend of rock, electronic, dance madness. Love it. My only concern is their music will be popified before they can release more. The myspace versions of their songs sound produced compared to the EP I have.
Owl City—Maybe I’m Dreaming (2008)
Owl City came up as a “Listeners Also Bought” artist when I purchased Innerpartysystem-yes, I actually pay for music. I wouldn’t say they sound like innerpartysystem though. I would call Owl City the melodic, electronic counterpart to innerpartysystem—their music is a bit slower and dreamier. Where Innerpartysystem makes you want to jump around Owl City makes you want to float on a hammock, get it?! It seems the band is actually one dude named Adam Young. Relax and enjoy.
This is My World...
and I am the world leader pretend.
“World Leader Pretend” is a song written and recorded by R.E.M. and originally released on 1988’s Green album. It happens to be one of my all time favorite songs and for some time wrldleaderprtnd was my email address (the vowel-equipped version had already been taken). It was only fitting that when I first created a myspace page I would use it as my url there and now, twenty years after its’ release, it still has great meaning to me so this little blog will hold the name. I couldn't get the url here either and if you go there some idiot used this perfect url for the purpose of posting absolutely nothing, thank you jessica.
R.E.M. World Leader Pretend
I sit at my table and wage war on myself
It seems like it’s all…it’s all for nothing
I know the barricades, and
I know the mortar in the wall breaks
I recognize the weapons, I used them well
This is my mistake. Let me make it good
I raised the wall, and I will be the one to knock it down
I’ve a rich understanding of my finest defenses
I proclaim that claims are left unstated,
I demand a rematch
I decree a stalemateI divine my deeper motives
I recognize the weapons
I’ve practiced them well. I fitted them myself
It’s amazing what devices you can sympathize…empathize
This is my mistake. Let me make it good
I raised the walls, and I will be the one to knock it down
Reach out for me and hold me tight. Hold that memory
Let my machine talk to me. Let my machine talk to me
This is my world
And I am the world leader pretend
This is my life
And this is my time
I have been given the freedom
To do as I see fitIt’s high time I’ve razed the wallsThat I’ve constructed
It’s amazing what devices you can sympathize…emapathize
This is my mistake. Let me make it good
I raised the walls, and I will be the one to knock it down
You fill in the mortar. You fill in the harmony
You fill in the mortar. I raised the walls
And I’m the only one
I will be the one to knock it down
“World Leader Pretend” is a song written and recorded by R.E.M. and originally released on 1988’s Green album. It happens to be one of my all time favorite songs and for some time wrldleaderprtnd was my email address (the vowel-equipped version had already been taken). It was only fitting that when I first created a myspace page I would use it as my url there and now, twenty years after its’ release, it still has great meaning to me so this little blog will hold the name. I couldn't get the url here either and if you go there some idiot used this perfect url for the purpose of posting absolutely nothing, thank you jessica.
R.E.M. World Leader Pretend
I sit at my table and wage war on myself
It seems like it’s all…it’s all for nothing
I know the barricades, and
I know the mortar in the wall breaks
I recognize the weapons, I used them well
This is my mistake. Let me make it good
I raised the wall, and I will be the one to knock it down
I’ve a rich understanding of my finest defenses
I proclaim that claims are left unstated,
I demand a rematch
I decree a stalemateI divine my deeper motives
I recognize the weapons
I’ve practiced them well. I fitted them myself
It’s amazing what devices you can sympathize…empathize
This is my mistake. Let me make it good
I raised the walls, and I will be the one to knock it down
Reach out for me and hold me tight. Hold that memory
Let my machine talk to me. Let my machine talk to me
This is my world
And I am the world leader pretend
This is my life
And this is my time
I have been given the freedom
To do as I see fitIt’s high time I’ve razed the wallsThat I’ve constructed
It’s amazing what devices you can sympathize…emapathize
This is my mistake. Let me make it good
I raised the walls, and I will be the one to knock it down
You fill in the mortar. You fill in the harmony
You fill in the mortar. I raised the walls
And I’m the only one
I will be the one to knock it down
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