California über alles

Best of 2005 - The Music

2006-01-05T02:02:00.000-06:00

Albums

1. Low - The Great Destroyer
2. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
3. Wolf Parade - My Apologies To The Queen Mary
4. The Mars Volta - Frances The Mute
5. Common - Be
6. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Worlds Apart
7. Prefuse 73 - Reads The Books E.P.
8. Kings Of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
9. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
10. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema

Songs(alphabetical order)

1. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead "Worlds Apart"
2. Andrew Bird "Fake Palindromes"
3. Aqueduct "Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights"
4. The Arcade Fire "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)"
5. Beck "Ghettochip Malfunction (Hell Yes)" (Remix by 8Bit)
6. Buck 65 "B. Sc."
7. Calexico & Iron & Wine "He Lays In The Reins"
8. Coheed & Cambria "The Suffering"
9. Common "The Corner"
10. Crooked Fingers "Twilight Creeps"
11. Think Differently Music (Vast Aire, Timbo King, Prodigal Sunn, Byata) "Slow Blues"
12. Dungen "Ta Det Lugnt"
13. Edan "I See Colours"
14. Fruit Bats "The Earthquake of '73"
15. The Go! Team "Huddle Formation"
16. I Am Kloot "No Direction Home"
17. Kings Of Leon "The Bucket"
18. Low "Monkey"
19. The Mars Volta "The Widow"
20. Matisyahu "King Without a Crown"(Live)
21. The Mountain Goats "This Year"
22. The New Pornographers "Sing Me Spanish Techno"
23. Prefuse 73 "Pagina Dos"
24. The White Stripes "My Doorbell"
25. Wolf Parade "I'll Believe In Anything"

if anyone remembers anything...

2005-12-13T02:21:00.000-06:00

please let me know. otherwise, enjoy. oh, and thanks everyone for coming and dutifully taking shots when i asked you to.

whoa.

2005-07-20T00:26:00.000-05:00

oh HELL YEAH you best believe i own THIS SHIT.

L.A. Story

2005-06-08T11:04:00.000-05:00

This scepter'd isle, this other Eden, demi paradise, this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this...Los Angeles.

- Shakespeare

See you all soon.

Things That Made Me Happy On Memorial Day Weekend

2005-06-01T09:56:00.000-05:00

Chicago Music – The one thing I’ll truly miss about Chicago is the music scene. On any given night you can see a hell of a great show for less than ten bucks. This weekend we saw Scotty Karate, a crazy little dwarf sized man with a loud guitar, and he blew my mind.

Oh the Glory of It All by Sean Wilsey – Rich people is crazy. A perfect summer read.

Daaaa Cubs - Finally back over .500. And with Aramis on fire things are looking up.

Summer Blockbusters - I saw Stars Wars, which was just okay, and it got me all excited about watching big budget summer spectacles drunk at Universal CityWalk.

Damn You Dave Chappelle – Jessica and I where taking a cab home and a piece on Dave Chappelle came on the radio. I find him funny, I like what’s he’s doing, but the radio show decided to replay his Nigger Family Sitcom skit. Now at home the idea of a white family named Nigger would make me laugh like hell but in the back of the cab driven by a black man I never felt so white. I gave the driver a very good tip. Damn you Dave Chappelle.

Eating Out – Jessica’s parents came to town for a few nights and we went out to some fantastic restaurants. Great food and tons of wine. And Jessica’s stepdad picked up the tab. So thank you Mike.

What keeps me from thinkin' o' the move

2005-05-31T21:35:00.000-05:00

one

Sleater-Kinney The Woods. I haven't kept up with them since high school when I was completely obsessed with Dig Me Out and The Hot Rock, but after the first thirty seconds of this album I was hooked. And with the classic rock influence and dirty distorted guitar this is one of my new faves.

two
Blue Orchid. Sometimes when I think about the White Stripes I don't like them. But I can't say that's true when I listen to them. I also recently saw Citizen Kane for the first time, and I must say I appreciated being able to sing along with all of Orson's employees.

three
Speaking of Mr. Welles, Tommy n' I just rented F for Fake, and holy moly is that movie mother f-ing good. And in the end, oh yeah, we were totally had.

four
Avoiding work on my website. I had no idea it would be so hard. I wanted one becuase I have a show coming up in September in Michigan and I thought I'd make business cards. If I can get it done by then.

five
Nabokov's Pale Fire. I'm waist deep in Canto Three and deeply absorbed and slightly lost. I assume I'll begin to decode Vladdie's intentions somewhere in the "Commentary."

A.H.W.O.S.G.

2005-05-18T14:26:00.000-05:00

After sitting on my self for about two years I've finally gotten around to reading A Heartbreaking Work of Straggering Genius. When you start packing you find all sorts of crap. Anyway...I just got through the Real World stuff and found it quite interesting. I liked how he turned pop culture trash (the Real World, which I love) into different pop culture trash (A.H.W.O.S.G. which I am also loving). I really wish I had some sort of insight to share on this point but I do not. Good day.

oo-oh Joshie, please believe me...

2005-05-13T23:01:00.000-05:00

I totally would have posted earlier on the subject but Tommy and I were busy taking tequilla shots. And now here I am, with a flaw in my knee, wishing the Pres of Fagistan all the best. You're my hero. I think its all those wacky and delightful stories you tell about the Ol' Folks Home you sometimes live in.

And I'm sure we will spend many more nights together like the one that provided Tom all the source material he needs for these sillysick alterations he creates. Remember that random keg in that kareoke bar? That was wierd. And I believe it is part of that keg that you referenced as being a "shaved vagina" in the pic below.

Sorry this is a letter to Joshie on the blog, but it is his birthday. And I'm really wasted. Happy Birthday Mr. President.

Make a Wish

2005-05-13T12:09:00.000-05:00

Ho Hum

2005-05-13T10:39:00.000-05:00

Random Thoughts:

So the Cubs seems to be coming out of the darkness after taking down the Mets by the skin of their teeth. Sorry Tim. With Wood wavering (and "hurt") and Dempster not really pulling his own weight we're going to need to improve our pitching staff if we want to get back in this thing. The bright spot is of course Derek Lee who managed an 18 game hitting streak throughout the Cubs 7 game losing streak. Lets hope he can stay on top of things this year and not fall off like last season. I have faith. Even when the Cubbies lose I still love them.

I got my Westside Rentals account yesterday and had a major panic attack. The move is just so close and looking at apartments was a bit overwhelming. I had to stop immediately and get some whiskey. Which helped. I can't help but think about everything that can and will go wrong. I'm just a mess. Baby steps. Baby steps.

Is it just me or does Weezer really suck now. So boring and bland. What happened man. Maybe Rivers is too happy. Someone should kill his dog or cat or something. Maybe burn down his mansion. I'll give the new album a little more time to grow on me but I'm not promising anything.

Okay, that's all for now.

Screw your previous plans!

2005-05-02T22:10:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, now's the time to use this blog for its explicit purpose: to spread information on Tom's and my move back to Cali.

We will be in LA looking for some new digs from June 9-17, and that weekend (the 10-12) all you working stiffs are ours.

So, Benny, make sure the Gold 9 knows we're comin. Oh, and Pier, if you could locate some Optimator, so much the better.

So we'll be arriving to stay around July 1. Then you'll be stuck with us and the partying can drop to a more low-key, everyday kind of level. Hell yeah.

Smoke On This!

2005-04-30T10:39:00.000-05:00

Workers distracted by phone calls, e-mails and text messages suffer a greater loss of IQ than a person smoking marijuana, a British study shows.

So shutdown this computer, light one up, and give that crossword puzzle another try.
(via Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me)

my new idol

2005-04-28T21:39:00.000-05:00

Joanna Newsom is simultaneously creepy and sweetly moving. Her very anti-melodic, unusual voice balances the hyper-femininity and melody of the harp she accompanies herself with. She sounds a bit like Bjork and Azita's five year old.
I had heard a little bit of her music through freinds that were nuts over her, but last weekend I sat stoned in the backseat of a car when someone threw it on. Needless to say, I was completely entranced and shocked and teary-eyed and now its done. I'm smitten.

Exactly

2005-04-28T09:26:00.000-05:00

The review in The Onion is right on -

Eels fans who've been waiting for Mark Oliver Everett to conceive another album as focused and moving as 1998's meditation-on-mortality Electro-Shock Blues should be both pleased and disappointed with Blinking Lights And Other Revelations.

"Disappointed" may be a little over the top for this album. He'll never be able to top Electro-Shock Blues and you can't possibly expect him to. Blinking Lights is as close as I ever hoped for.

And Shootenanny! was the disappointing album.

P.S. You Rock My World

2005-04-26T22:26:00.000-05:00

Finally a new Eels album I can really get behind.

The reviews are little too kind (it's not Electro-Shock Blues) but it is way better than his last two efforts. I'd easily put it on par with Daisies of the Galaxy. I'm sure I'll really fall in love with it over the next few days. I already can't stop listening to if you see natalie and trouble with dreams.

Also check out the iTunes B-Sides collection. Some gems. Dog's Life is fantastic.

Mr. Wind-Up Bird

2005-04-20T08:26:00.000-05:00

After in fast succession I noticed a reference in Old Boy to Norwegian Wood, and read an article on Takashi Murakami in some art mag which said Takashi's only real companion to bringing Japanese history and culture to the front line of the arts is Haruki Murakami, I decided, what the hell. I guess I'll read one of his books.
And so I began The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I am still in the thick of this noir-style mystery (think Pynchon) and I am both absorbed in and devoted to this story. It's a subtle commentary, with psychic war veterins, 16-year-olds in string bikinis and men in the bottom of dried up wells. And its lovely.

BASEBALL!!!

2005-04-08T14:24:00.000-05:00

I am soooo happy that baseball season is here again. I have been so stressed out over planning for the big move that baseball season is a welcome distraction. And with the Cubs first blow out against the stupid D-backs (let's ignore the other two games) I couldn't be in better spirits. I was at the local sports bar, with Wrigley Field across the street, drinking myself giddy last Monday during the season opener. Sometimes that long cold winter is worth waiting out. And today I can hear the crowd screaming out my window at the home opener. Kerry Wood Pitching. Can't get much better...until Monday when Jessica and Me get to see the Cubbies play live at Wrigley with a set of sweet ass seats behind home plate(ish). High-fives all around.

the General Idea

2005-04-03T20:01:00.000-05:00

One of the coolest artists that I should have known about forever and just discovered. He was part of the artist trio General Idea for 25 years (they hosted transvestite beauty contests in the 70's, playfully recontextualized Duchamp, and painted with poodles for brushes). And his cohorts' pseudonym, Felix Partz, was the title of a song on the Peaches' Fatherfucker.

It all comes around.

Anyway you all should take a look. He also talks a lot about his favorite magazine, Butt, which for some reason reminded me of Joshie.

the Best Day of my Life

2005-03-31T18:55:00.000-06:00

This is the moment I've most looked forward to since the invention and wide spread use of the DVD player.

Taxes Suck and Blow at the Same Time

2005-03-17T16:29:00.000-06:00

I just finished my freaking taxes and I'd just like to say that doing taxes blow.

This year was the worst ever because my stupid company miss filed my checks for half a year and so I got taxed in both Illinois and Michigan. This caused me to fill out about fifteen extra forms and about a million extra man hours. I even had to go to a my local tax man and ask for a little help because my W-2's weren't even filled out entirely (he said not to worry about it and so, with the help of a little Jack, I will not).

Stupid guy at my office who did this to me. I hate you. And If I ever meet you face to face I will shit on your head.

I telefiled my federal taxes, which is just a delight, and it took about ten minutes. I already got my refund check back.

What really gets me is that next year is going to be another pain in the ass because I'm moving and will have to fill in two states again.

Damn taxes suck. I quit.

Gridlock'd on the 405

2005-03-15T11:12:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure anyone is doing their list of 5 anymore but here's mine.

Music Edition:

1. Worlds Apart - ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead - Dark, Gothic and Pop. You gotta love a combination like that. Fun songs with full rich music. It's nice to know that the "Wall of Sound" is still around. (Download: "You Will Smile Again For Me" and "A Classic Arts Showcase")

2. Frances The Mute - The Mars Volta - I bought this album because Target has it on sale for $6.49 and I had forgot to bring any CD's in my car. It just blew me away. Led Zepplin reborn. (Buy the Album)

3. Madvillainy - Madvillain - I recently discovered that I really like rap music and this album, 22 tracks - most under two minutes, is the reason why. Incredible beats and ridiculous lyrics. It's unbelievable and incredibly entertaining. (Download: "Figaro" and "All Caps")

4. This Right Here is... - Buck 65 - Right when I was getting into rap music I found this guy. My long standing love of country music now seamlessly combined with rap. It's the Drive-by Truckers running over MC Doom and it fucking rocks. And he writes the best lyrics ever:

The desperado knows just how at peace we are
In the bed naked watchin movies on the VCR
Color me see through and tickle my favorite inch
Turn the ringer off and thank God for David Lynch

(Download: "B.SC." and "Centaur")

5. Aha Shake Heartbreak - Kings of Leon - Slurring through an entire album of country rock music. It's the music my nuts would make if they weren't so busy getting laid. (Download: "Slow Night, So Long" and "Razz")

May 10th: Best Day Ever!?!

2005-03-03T10:37:00.000-06:00

I couldn't be happier. This isn't even on DVD at all right now. Thank the lord it'll be done right.

CUA's Official Darlings & Stinkers of 2004

2005-02-26T23:00:00.000-06:00

Just to clarify: This is a list created as the combination of Tom and my opinions. This certainly does not mean that we are in constant agreement. But we do see every damned movie together and then discuss it for however long afterward, and after a while you end up with a joint list. So, voila.

Darlings

10. The Five Obstructions

9. Baadasssss!

8. I'm Not Scared

7. A Door in the Floor

6. A Very Long Engagement

5. Good Bye Lenin!

4. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

3. Million Dollar Baby

2. Sideways

1. Kill Bill Vol. 2

Stinkers

5. In the Realms of the Unreal - A disappointing documentary that manages to explain one of the most interesting artists to ever come out of Chicago a little too tidily.

4. Team America - We expected more than this recycled-South Park, marionette-slapstick dribble.

3. Troy - Apparently Brad Pitt is less than a pretty face.

2. I, Robot - Mr. Smith sums it all up, "Stupid for a stupid person."

1. Garfield, The Movie - How can you make Nermal a full grown Siamese and Odie the crafty one? This movie is insulting to a childhood spent vaguely amused by this comic.

Best Gadets of 2004

2005-02-10T11:10:00.000-06:00

The gadgets that made 2004 exciting (and a necessity for 2005):

1 iPod – It’s hard to remember life before the iPod. I remember it was a lot quieter. I now have trouble running to the mailbox without tossing in my earphones. (Update: Although I listen to more music now, my dancing has not improved any.)

2 Senseo Coffee Maker – “Would you care for a mediocre cup of hot fresh coffee?” 45 seconds later...“Here ya go!” The taste of the coffee may take some getting use to, but it’s fast, fresh and full of caffeine so it’s hard to complain.

3 Affordable Digital Cameras – When I was a kid I got a Polaroid camera from my grandmother for Christmas one year, but the bitch only gave me one fucking packet of film. Woo-hoo! ten goddamned pictures of my stupid aunts, uncles and cousins. Polaroid can tongue my digital camera wielding ass.

4 Playstation 2 (still)– It’s been four years since the PS2 first hit the U.S. and it still hasn’t lost its luster. And with games like GTA: San Andreas and the Sonic Mega Collection (and the fact that the PS# is still a pipe dream) this babies gonna be around for at least another year. The PS2 has managed to occupy many a night in 2004, nights I probably could have been having some sex...stupid video games...and screw the internet while I’m at it...stupid all the porn I can handle.

5 Swiffer Sweep+Vac – We have hardwood floors and I hate sweeping. This little bad boy is a gift from god. It sweeps up the dust and sucks it right up, just perfect for my lazy ass. The one problem is that while looking for a picture of it I stumbled onto this recall notice. This does not make Tom happy. But I’m keeping my swiffer goddamnit.

My Absence

2005-02-08T13:38:00.000-06:00

Last week I had the last of my wisdom teeth out and have been in a Vicodin haze. It’s been nice. The pain has finally begun to subside and I am feeling like myself again. I tell you what though, Dentistry is no picnic. As you can imagine, not going to the Dentist for over 6 years, and an obsession with eating ice cubes has left my teeth in less than perfect condition. And, I have learned, getting teeth back to perfect condition is not an in and out kind of procedure, all though, with three appointments down, and two to go, I am well on my way to resolving any and all dental issues. I upside of all this, is that I still have like 10 Vicodin tablets left, and will be enjoying them when ever I may stub a toe, or get a hang nail. It’s nice to have a little something with more of a kick than aspirin. Honestly, I can see how people can get addicted to this stuff. I spent the two days following my extraction, in bed, watching the same three episodes of Freaks and Geeks over and over again. Sometime I found myself just watching the menu screen on the DVD. It is a great show, but the Vicodin made it a religious experience. So, if you find yourself in pain, or bored, take a Vicodin, it'll cure all that ails you.

The Dentist

2005-01-25T14:28:00.000-06:00

I went to the Dentist yesterday for the first time in six and a half years. It was alright.

The Snow Storm

2005-01-24T16:31:00.000-06:00

Or: a great reason to get the hell out of the Midwest and move to sunny Southern California.

To the left, the front of our building the day after the big snow storm. Our apartment is the window with the air conditioner still in it (and yes it is a bit drafty). You'll notice my bike carefully chained to the bike rack buried in the snow. Since losing the key to the lock two years ago, the bike has not gotten a lot of use.

The right, me. Thought it would make a good picture, but was not worth all the snow that went into my boots and melted (they are still wet).

And here is my car hidden in the snow (first on the right). Thankfully I work from home and have a bus pass so I can just wait until spring to drive it again. And I heard that salt was great for your paint job, so I have nothing to worry about.

I want my TomTV

2005-01-19T20:49:00.000-06:00

In case anyone was thinking that LA was possibly not the place for Tom, see: below.
Obviously it was meant to be.

And, just to expound on the subject a bit, I would like to provide a direct quote from the big T himself, recorded not two days ago:

Man, if I saw me on TV I'd be like, "I wanna be just like that guy."

Amen.

Who's the Boss?

2005-01-19T01:46:00.000-06:00

I have an unhealthy love for sitcoms. It started when I was a child home alone after school with my younger brother (I guess it's a cliche now to have the TV as babysitter image but that's my generation). I would watch the entire afternoon line up on our basement set. An old color TV made of MDF that turned on with a tweezers (when we could find them) or a pair of skewers from the kitchen held like chopsticks. The latter was a little unreliable and could take upward of half an hour to manage (I believe this may be why I get so upset when my tools are missing now). My brother and I eventually figured out we could just unplug the set to turn it off and on but that was a few years later (you can't expect 8 year olds to be so inventive). Shows like "A Different World" and "Growing Pains" where on endless loops on channel 20 WXYZ and I watched the same episodes month after month on my knees way to close to the screen. That all came back to me last night when I flipped to Nick at Night right as the "Who's the Boss?" theme song was starting. It was a comforting feeling, like the smell of your old kitchen when you visit home. It's nice to know that all though my family has sold my old house and moved from that city, I can still go home for a visit, if only for the length of a theme song.

There's a time for love and a time for living. You take a chance and face the wind.
An open road and a road that's hidden a brand new life around the bend.

There were times when I lost a dream or two.
Found the trail, and at the end was you.

There's a path you take and a path not taken the choice is up to you my friend.
Nights are long but you might awaken
To a brand new life, brand new life, brand new life around the bend.

über alles

2005-01-17T18:01:00.000-06:00

I looked up "über alles" on the internet and had a hard time figuring out exactly what it means. Perhaps someone can help me out. I only took four semesters of German in high school and barely made the required C- average needed to get credit.

Regardless, this blog exists to keep everyone up to speed on the big move back to L.A. I have included Jessica as well and with any luck we'll both start blogging again. (But lets not get anyone's hopes up.)

Under Construction

2005-01-17T15:10:00.000-06:00

This web log is under construction. Please try again in the future.