Friday, October 30, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Going for a hike
This weekend/next week I will be in Havasupai - the only permanent Native American village inside of the Grand Canyon. It is one of only two places in America where mail is still delivered by mule - the other, of course, is New York City.
Havasupai is known for it's lush gardens/waterfalls, which are, surprisingly, not found elsewhere in the arid, drought-laden, desert southwest.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Update: Drunkest Guy Ever
Some genius on the internets decided to turn this video (posted earlier this week) into a silent film. I found myself LOLing. I think U 2 will find urself LOLZing.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tonight
Some nights, like tonight, I find myself lost in front of the computer at nearly midnight watching videos of whatever I'm led to. The nights never start out that way - I just find myself here. These days, I feel like I'm too busy to listen to music anymore, but occasionally find the time to really focus on it.
It's a very personal thing for me. I don't generally talk about how a song or album makes me feel, but they almost always move me in some way. It's hard to describe the feeling that all of us must get when we hear a beautiful, surprising song for the first time that somehow connects with you and makes you feel nostalgic for things you've tried to forget. This happened to me tonight when I listened to John Lennon's Real Love demo from the Dakota. I know that a lot of Beatles purists look down on this song for its simplicity, but how much more beautiful and personal can a song get? I listen to this and I can see him in the Dakota waiting until Sean heads to bed before sitting at the piano, practicing the chord changes a few times, and finally clicking on the tape recorder on top of the piano to run through this little idea he had - having no idea that anyone would be listening to his private recordings nearly 30 years later and be so incredibly moved by his performance.
I also checked out some clips from a documentary on Wilco called I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. I was first introduced to these guys through this documentary and, I admit, wasn't convinced upon my first listen. Maybe I was listening to too much classic rock, but at the time I just didn't get it - their music wasn't easily classifiable, which put me off. The more I listened and learned about them, the more I realized that this is the sort of band that I need to pay more attention to - the kind of American band that makes music they would want to listen to and doesn't worry about radio play or selling records or publicity - they remind me a bit of The Band. The documentary follows them while they make the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Here are some clips which are worth your time if you're interested:
Opening credits (great cinematography of Chicago)
Demoing "Cars Can't Escape"
Another Man's Done Gone (from Woody Guthrie project with Billy Bragg)
(Editorial note - not a huge fan of Wilco's newest album, but I'm having a hard time thinking of any American band that has a better 4 album run than Being There, Summerteeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and A Ghost Is Born - any thoughts?)
It's a very personal thing for me. I don't generally talk about how a song or album makes me feel, but they almost always move me in some way. It's hard to describe the feeling that all of us must get when we hear a beautiful, surprising song for the first time that somehow connects with you and makes you feel nostalgic for things you've tried to forget. This happened to me tonight when I listened to John Lennon's Real Love demo from the Dakota. I know that a lot of Beatles purists look down on this song for its simplicity, but how much more beautiful and personal can a song get? I listen to this and I can see him in the Dakota waiting until Sean heads to bed before sitting at the piano, practicing the chord changes a few times, and finally clicking on the tape recorder on top of the piano to run through this little idea he had - having no idea that anyone would be listening to his private recordings nearly 30 years later and be so incredibly moved by his performance.
I also checked out some clips from a documentary on Wilco called I Am Trying to Break Your Heart. I was first introduced to these guys through this documentary and, I admit, wasn't convinced upon my first listen. Maybe I was listening to too much classic rock, but at the time I just didn't get it - their music wasn't easily classifiable, which put me off. The more I listened and learned about them, the more I realized that this is the sort of band that I need to pay more attention to - the kind of American band that makes music they would want to listen to and doesn't worry about radio play or selling records or publicity - they remind me a bit of The Band. The documentary follows them while they make the album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Here are some clips which are worth your time if you're interested:
Opening credits (great cinematography of Chicago)
Demoing "Cars Can't Escape"
Another Man's Done Gone (from Woody Guthrie project with Billy Bragg)
(Editorial note - not a huge fan of Wilco's newest album, but I'm having a hard time thinking of any American band that has a better 4 album run than Being There, Summerteeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, and A Ghost Is Born - any thoughts?)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
COACH!...wait..what?
I guess I'm late on this, but apparently Craig T. Nelson was on Glenn Beck's esteemed program a few months back. Not surprisingly, this sought-after guest didn't pull any punches, hitting hard on a variety of topics from taxes to desk shininess.
A couple of highlights from our favorite coach:
"This desk is very shiny"
"No one is accountable anymore for anything"
"I've been on food stamps and welfare. Did anybody help me out? No."
I'm inclined to agree. Where was the government to help him out when he was on government-sponsored, tax-payer funded welfare and food stamps? Where is our tax money going, people?! GAH!
A couple of highlights from our favorite coach:
"This desk is very shiny"
"No one is accountable anymore for anything"
"I've been on food stamps and welfare. Did anybody help me out? No."
I'm inclined to agree. Where was the government to help him out when he was on government-sponsored, tax-payer funded welfare and food stamps? Where is our tax money going, people?! GAH!
Friday, October 2, 2009
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