Amen!
2.03.2008
1.30.2008
1.25.2008
I love it when you call me big poppa
It's been awhile, and I really wanted to keep this thing going. I really did. But let me tell you the truth: I can't do this stuff unless I'm really happy or miserable, and my mood over the past month or so has been somewhere in the range of ecstatic to beyond anxious. There are reasons for this, of course. The holidays are always stressful and the beginning of the calendar year presents an increased workload and ambition for new projects. Mrs. TNOTD and I celebrate our birthdays eight days apart, so that always takes up some time. And then there's gin. Sweet, sweet gin.
But most of all, there's one thing that has swung me from the dizzying highs to the moments of sheer anxiety: We're fucking having a baby.
Don't get me wrong — this, next to marrying my wife, is the greatest thing ever. And I'm totally psyched for it. But also, there's the fact that this tiny human will be totally reliant on me. Seriously. It wasn't that long ago that I spent 48 hours consuming nothing but coffee, sugar, cigarettes and a half a bowl of salt (don't ask). And now another person is reliant on me for survival?
Ha! Good luck kid!
I'm just kidding, of course. I can't wait for him or her to get here — I've been going to all the appointments. And when we saw him/her two days ago (at exactly 3 months), he/she appeared to have two arms and legs, a brain and a strong heart. And that's all I could ask for.
Sweet Fancy Moses. I'm gonna be a dad.
Which, I guess, excuses my fondness for Steely Dan and Bruce Springsteen.
I think I had some funny stuff to write here, but it seems I have forgotten it. So in the meantime, listen to this song I'll no doubt be making my son/daughter listen to in the crib in seven months (seriously, this song has like seven different catchy hooks):
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - "Glue Girl" (from the album Pershing, out April 11)
But most of all, there's one thing that has swung me from the dizzying highs to the moments of sheer anxiety: We're fucking having a baby.
Don't get me wrong — this, next to marrying my wife, is the greatest thing ever. And I'm totally psyched for it. But also, there's the fact that this tiny human will be totally reliant on me. Seriously. It wasn't that long ago that I spent 48 hours consuming nothing but coffee, sugar, cigarettes and a half a bowl of salt (don't ask). And now another person is reliant on me for survival?
Ha! Good luck kid!
I'm just kidding, of course. I can't wait for him or her to get here — I've been going to all the appointments. And when we saw him/her two days ago (at exactly 3 months), he/she appeared to have two arms and legs, a brain and a strong heart. And that's all I could ask for.
Sweet Fancy Moses. I'm gonna be a dad.
Which, I guess, excuses my fondness for Steely Dan and Bruce Springsteen.
I think I had some funny stuff to write here, but it seems I have forgotten it. So in the meantime, listen to this song I'll no doubt be making my son/daughter listen to in the crib in seven months (seriously, this song has like seven different catchy hooks):
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - "Glue Girl" (from the album Pershing, out April 11)
1.10.2008
We got more fans than Lowe's
For once, I feel sorry for The Ohio State University:
The lyrics are just tremendous, but this is also notable for probably being the first rap song to give a shout out to a punter.
(via Awful Announcing)
The lyrics are just tremendous, but this is also notable for probably being the first rap song to give a shout out to a punter.
(via Awful Announcing)
1.04.2008
Cheer me up, cheer me up
More depressing "Ziggy" editing.
Too many channels?
Or is our melon-headed friend teetering on the brink?
Also going back to our top 100 of 2007 at random...
40. Voxtrot - "Kid Gloves" (from the album Voxtrot)
I found the first full-length from Voxtrot to be a little disappointing. Their EPs had been very strong, so it was surprising they couldn't sustain that on their self-titled LP. Nevertheless, there were some standouts, most notably "Kid Gloves," which bounces energetically from verse to chorus and best represents the strong twee Brit pop that was so successful in their earlier work.
Too many channels?
Or is our melon-headed friend teetering on the brink?
Also going back to our top 100 of 2007 at random...40. Voxtrot - "Kid Gloves" (from the album Voxtrot)
I found the first full-length from Voxtrot to be a little disappointing. Their EPs had been very strong, so it was surprising they couldn't sustain that on their self-titled LP. Nevertheless, there were some standouts, most notably "Kid Gloves," which bounces energetically from verse to chorus and best represents the strong twee Brit pop that was so successful in their earlier work.
1.03.2008
The Best of 2007 on Shuffle
Just for fun, let's take a random look at our Top 100 Tracks of 2007:
85. Illinois - "Screendoor" (from the album What The Hell Do I Know?)
A delightful blast of scruffy indie pop infused with a 70s rock vibe (can't beat those "woo-hoos") from the band Illinois, which is not at all confusingly from Pennsylvania's Bucks County. Also not confusingly, Uncle Tupelo, a band from Illinois, recorded a song called "Screen Door," for their debut album. This is not that song.
27. Blitzen Trapper - "Wild Mountain Nation" (from the album Wild Mountain Nation)
Probably the most direct ancestral heritage of this song can be traced back to the early 70s studio works of the Grateful Dead, mixed up with some of The Band's funkier moments. But you know what else this reminds me of? The Faces. It just has that loose, freewheling, good time sound.
46. Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have to Leave It" (from the album Our Ill Wills)
Oh Sweden, how you continue to produce terrific British bands. Shout Out Louds first caught our attention in 2005 with the deliriously awesome "Very Loud" from their well-received debut Howl Howl Gaff Gaff. Eschewing that album's uplifting and dance-inspiring tones for a more morose mood that is more than a little reminiscent of The Cure and at times The Smiths. And that's to say, the album, and this song, aren't mope in the corner Belle & Sebastian deep cuts. Through the mourning, there's a good beat, driven here by some swelling orchestration and, of course, cowbell.
96. Jens Lenkman - "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo" (from the album Night Falls Over Kortedala)
A late find for us, but Night Falls quickly became one of our favorite albums of 2007. Lenkman — incidentally, another Swede — is a masterful songwriter, effortlessly blending genres in gorgeous melodies. At first blush, at least, the guy is a genius pop songwriter. This song is a sweet rocker embellished by horns and piano to give it at moments an almost '50s pop feel.
Also on the list (Sorry, no free mp3s for these):
47. "Postcard to Nina" - The highlight of the album for me. Lenkman relates the story of traveling to Berlin and pretending to be a lesbian friend's boyfriend in order to fool her family, only to feel guilt over what a nice guy her dad is. Listen at NPR.
73. "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" - A disco love song. See the video here.
6. Iron and Wine - "Boy with a Coin" (from the album The Shepherd's Dog)
Sam Beam's voice is unmistakable, but his newest album is his farthest removed yet from the bare bones recordings of his early years. What seemed to be hinted at in snippets on 2005's Woman King comes full bore here, with I&W sounding like a band pumping up its old style with some new, and worldly sounds. The spooky, backwoods feel is still there. But now the drums nd weird guitars have joined the campfire lullabyes.
Also on the list (sorry, no free mp3)
88. "White Tooth Man" - The album's second track sets the mood by picking up the beat and delivering Indian-flavored rhythms. Check it out with other tracks at I&W's Myspace.
Back with more later. In the meantime, you can find out more about music on the Internet.
85. Illinois - "Screendoor" (from the album What The Hell Do I Know?)
A delightful blast of scruffy indie pop infused with a 70s rock vibe (can't beat those "woo-hoos") from the band Illinois, which is not at all confusingly from Pennsylvania's Bucks County. Also not confusingly, Uncle Tupelo, a band from Illinois, recorded a song called "Screen Door," for their debut album. This is not that song.
27. Blitzen Trapper - "Wild Mountain Nation" (from the album Wild Mountain Nation)
Probably the most direct ancestral heritage of this song can be traced back to the early 70s studio works of the Grateful Dead, mixed up with some of The Band's funkier moments. But you know what else this reminds me of? The Faces. It just has that loose, freewheling, good time sound.
46. Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have to Leave It" (from the album Our Ill Wills)
Oh Sweden, how you continue to produce terrific British bands. Shout Out Louds first caught our attention in 2005 with the deliriously awesome "Very Loud" from their well-received debut Howl Howl Gaff Gaff. Eschewing that album's uplifting and dance-inspiring tones for a more morose mood that is more than a little reminiscent of The Cure and at times The Smiths. And that's to say, the album, and this song, aren't mope in the corner Belle & Sebastian deep cuts. Through the mourning, there's a good beat, driven here by some swelling orchestration and, of course, cowbell.
96. Jens Lenkman - "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo" (from the album Night Falls Over Kortedala)
A late find for us, but Night Falls quickly became one of our favorite albums of 2007. Lenkman — incidentally, another Swede — is a masterful songwriter, effortlessly blending genres in gorgeous melodies. At first blush, at least, the guy is a genius pop songwriter. This song is a sweet rocker embellished by horns and piano to give it at moments an almost '50s pop feel.
Also on the list (Sorry, no free mp3s for these):
47. "Postcard to Nina" - The highlight of the album for me. Lenkman relates the story of traveling to Berlin and pretending to be a lesbian friend's boyfriend in order to fool her family, only to feel guilt over what a nice guy her dad is. Listen at NPR.
73. "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" - A disco love song. See the video here.
6. Iron and Wine - "Boy with a Coin" (from the album The Shepherd's Dog)
Sam Beam's voice is unmistakable, but his newest album is his farthest removed yet from the bare bones recordings of his early years. What seemed to be hinted at in snippets on 2005's Woman King comes full bore here, with I&W sounding like a band pumping up its old style with some new, and worldly sounds. The spooky, backwoods feel is still there. But now the drums nd weird guitars have joined the campfire lullabyes.
Also on the list (sorry, no free mp3)
88. "White Tooth Man" - The album's second track sets the mood by picking up the beat and delivering Indian-flavored rhythms. Check it out with other tracks at I&W's Myspace.
Back with more later. In the meantime, you can find out more about music on the Internet.
12.28.2007
Reinventng Ziggy
I've done some editing to make this particular Ziggy....
Reflect the title character's struggles with faith, and sanity, as he sums up his emotionally and spiritually devastated worldview to a bird.
Reflect the title character's struggles with faith, and sanity, as he sums up his emotionally and spiritually devastated worldview to a bird.
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