One-way Fare

Interview with Alex Levine, Bassist for the Gaslight Anthem

2010-07-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

Interview with Alex Levine, Bassist for the Gaslight Anthem
This was an interview I got to do with Alex Levine, Bassist for the Gaslight Anthem before his stop in Denver. Wish the article would have run.

Me : How did the European Tour go?

Alex: It went great. We sold out every show, which is unbelievable. We played all of the academy ones which I guess are pretty much the biggest venues you can play, without I guess jumping to the big arenas and what not. We played to a sold out crowd every night and they were insane. Every night was just unbelievable, it was blowing our minds every single day. To date it was our best tour so far.

Me: Where there any surprises when you were on the road over there? You said it blew your mind.

Alex: You know just the reception that our new record has been getting and just the way people are reacting to it. Actually just so excited to see us once again, it has been about a year since we have been over there. People were just losing their minds, it was awesome.

Me: I know you guys have played Denver a number of times, what do you think of Denver? Do you notice any intricacies about playing here?

Alex: Denver…that is why I wanted to do this interview. Denver is one of my personal favorite cities in the world. I have really close friends, one of my best friends moved over there. It is just one of my favorite cities to walk around and just hang out in, go to bars there and play. People are unbelievable there. Since day one, we have had almost like a cultish following from the beginning over there, where all of the sudden people started popping up in Denver. We would play in front of 200 people in Denver and then we play in front of 10 people in Salt Lake City. That is kind of how it went. Denver from the beginning was a great place for us.

Me: Before you go on the stage are there any superstitions or rituals that you go through before you get ready to play?

Alex: Yeah there are a couple, there is one thing my drummer Benny (Horowitz) and me always say, “you can never get too warm” meaning like stretching and all of that. You get really tense before so we try stretching a lot, we take a lot of pisses that’s for sure, you know have a couple of drinks, um do a couple of push ups, you know just normal things to get loose. We do a fist pound and get ready to go.

Me: Nice. I assume things mellow out once you have been out there on the stage a little bit?

Alex: Yeah, I mean but that’s the thing. The beauty of it is that everyday once 8:30 kicks around, you get the same feeling in your stomach, the same butterflies in your stomach. I feel like that will never go away and if it does go away then I am going to pack up my bags and go home because there is really no reason for doing this then.

Me: With American Slang being out, how does it feel to have 3 albums out there?

Alex: Unbelievable because from the point of view of being a kid 10-15 years ago going into record stores and seeing certain bands, seeing some of my from favorite bands having inserts, whoever you know, the Clash. You have 4 or 5 records in there a b-side in there and now to think that we are one of those bands that has a slot in every single record store around the country or even around the world now, it’s awesome. I never thought it would get to that point.

Me: If you had to pick one song off American Slang that is your favorite song to play which one would you choose?

Alex: To play, Queen of Lower Chelsea, by far. That was a fun song for me to record. I got to really explore my personal influences on that track and that was a track that has kind of always been worked out in my head. The way that song came out, I am really proud of it.

Black Keys Review

2010-06-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

Latest review for the Denver Post. Black Keys "Brothers. Enjoy

http://blogs.denverpost.com/reverb/2010/06/02/cd-reviews-jack-johnson-the-black-keys/

That's Shocking!

2010-06-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

So I went to a dinner party last night. A small affair, one of those where you only know the hosts. Suprisingly, the conversation flowed very well, with few awkward pauses and moments of silence. You know those moments where there is nothing to say so you blurt out something like, “boy it has been hot lately.”

Anyway, we are eatting dinner and somehow the topic of the shocker came up. If you do know what that is, I am not explaining it here as I do my best to keep away the weirdos. If only I could remember how the shocker came up in common table conversation, undoubtedly this would be another great story. I am sitting next to this woman and she begins sharing about how she was traumatized after a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. As she was walking down Bourbon Street she looked up just in time to catch a woman give herself the shocker to the raucous crowd below. Let’s just say this little story was enough to silence the table.

After a couple of moments of silent aw, the majority of the table was amazed, not in a negative way, that she had seen this. It was like someone had announced that they had seen a 4 leaf clover, it is a once in a life time kind of thing. I could not help but laugh as that was the only conversation of the entire evening that brought everyone together and engaged.

Whenever I receive invites to dinner parties, I always imagine a bunch of individuals sitting around a table drinking wine and actively discussing art or movies or politics or some other high brow subject. Dinner parties almost never work out this way. Last night, I was sitting around a picnic table, drinking beer and discussing the shocker. It was one of the better dinner parties I have attended.

Send out the Clown

2010-05-21T13:00:00.001-07:00

I read an article today about a group that is trying to pressure McDonald’s into retiring Ronald McDonald. Do people not have better things to do with their time and money? Just for the record I am a total hater. Their food is garbage and I do not know how anyone who works in corporate can sleep at night knowing their cost cutting is killing people. Opinions aside, when do we stop blaming cartoon characters, celebrities and athletes for issues involving personal responsibility.

The issue is not Ronald McDonald it is that we are overweight and do not have the willpower to say no. We as Americans feel entitled to literally have our cake and eat it too. I am tired of these stories about how fast food has made us fat; we have made ourselves fat. It is as easy as saying, “no, I am not going to eat that because I deserve better.” Fast food exists because we buy it, in gobs.

Instead of wasting money on getting rid of a clown why not do something to make produce more affordable and available in the communities that need it. Get rid of the food desserts and make natural fruits and vegetables something that can be enjoyed by everyone, not simply the top 10 percent. The only real way out of this obesity epidemic is for people to decide they want to make a change. That to me is the saddest thing; we are dying at an alarming rate due to what we eat and fast food restaurant continue to thrive because we do not feel that we deserve better.

Assignment

2010-03-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

So I recently started doing some freelance writing for the major newspaper in town. Nothing big just album and show reviews. Still, I am really stoked about it and it is an awesome opportunity. It is kind of funny though because when I wrote for different music sites people did not seem to make as much of a stink. What really caught me off guard was my dad sent me a copy of a cd of one of his friend's band's. He had told the friend that I did reviews and the guy wanted me to check it out. This is a total trap. Before listening to the album I knew that this was trouble.

I listened to the album for the first time today and I could not make it through song six. I do not think I made it through a full track. The song writing was cliched to the point where I found myself singing the next word well before the lead singer did. Well now I am trapped. My biggest hope is that I am not asked what I thought. It is not very good but I still do not want to be rude to a family friend. One of my friend's suggested publishing a really scathing review, just to send a message. I am not going to do that but the musical snob side of me agrees. If I were to write a good review for this album, I could basically guarantee that I would not be allowed to review even the local childrens choir (who I am sure is quite good).

Instead I will not give a truthful opinion, I will deflect. There will be a time and place for me to tell the truth about my thoughts on the album but now is not it. I should be able to buy myself a little time. My dad does not live in the same city as me and is easily distracted by sports talk. Now my job is to think of natural transitions from music to sports. Baseball is coming and should provide me plenty of ammunition.

The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

2010-03-24T09:10:00.000-07:00

Looks like the release date for the new the Gaslight Anthem’s album American Slang is June 15th. They have also put a track list and the first single American Slang on their Myspace page. Check it out. These guys are fantastic.

Gaslight Anthem Myspace

Industrialize This

2010-03-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

I have been reading the book "The Omnivores Dilemma." It did not hit me over the head how much that book had changed my point of view until I was in Target last night. No wonder our society is so unhealthy, soda, chips and other snacks have entire aisles dedicated to them. Try and find some fruits or vegetables and you are dealing with an area that is barely the size of a quarter of an isle. I am really sick of hearing the talking heads (not the band) go on and on about the poor food choices people are making. You go into a standard grocery store and make some reasonable choices. Since food companies are allowed to use additives that have no nutritional value when processing food, it should be no surprise that people are not getting proper nutrition.

I do not let individuals off the hook here. It is everyone's responsibility to make good choices. What do you do if you live below the poverty line and it is cheaper to buy low grade meat and additive laced snacks than it is to buy fruits and vegetables? I simply wish large food corporations would hold themselves to a higher standard. There is absolutely no reason why higher quality food cannot be produced.

-End Rant-

Meant to Be

2010-03-10T20:36:00.000-08:00

My entire life I have been preached to about the importance of finding what it is I am meant to do. Truth be told, I turn 29 in a week and I am undecided. I would rather take take the physical challenge than try to answer this question. There are a lot of things I am passionate about, education, nutrition, gardening, music but passion and meaning are to completely different things. Take for example education. I am passionate about every kid having an equal opportunity for the best educational experience availible but I am not meant to be a teacher. My wife is a teacher. I love her school stories but there is no way that I could deal with kids all day.

Right now, I am on the track of rather than finding what I am meant to do, finding something I am good at that I is satisfying enough. Many have told me it sounds like I am happy settling. This is not true, settling would be working in a job you hate for your entire career and never attempting to make a change. I just stating that it is okay to find something that you somewhat enjoy to do. It does not have to be the perfect gig but if it gets you by then why not. I am confident that one day I will be in my meant to be job. I simply wish teachers would not make it sound like you are falling behind if you do not have everything figured out right away.

Lesson Learned

2010-03-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

The older I get the more I am humbled by how truly little I know. I do not mean this as a negative connotation. It simply amazes me how much I learn about myself on a given day. Think about it. How well do you honestly know yourself? Most would say they know themselves pretty well. Still, I bet there are times when you surprise yourself for better and worse.

Before I go further with this, I want to say that my wife and I do not fight very often. I know I write about it from time to time and if you read my posts you might assume we fight all the time. We do not, I just tend to write about the cloudy days rather than the sunny ones. The sunny ones are not as easy to write about because they are perfect so there is so little need to say anything.

Lately, I have been dealing with some internal conflict, it has spilled over a bit to my outside relationships. My struggle stems from things in the past that continue to haunt me. Everyone has things from their past that they are not proud to admit. I cannot seem to put these things behind me. It as if I enjoy tormenting myself. I used to be able to move forward and for the past few months I am stuck on the same ghosts. They keep me up at night. I cannot completely shake them from my thoughts. I was looking over some old stuff I wrote and I came accross a list of life lessons. One of them were lyrics from the Pearl Jam song Present Tense. The lyrics say something to point of that you can spend your life alone revaluating past regrets or you can forgive yourself move forward and live in the present tense. I have been living too much in the past and trying to fix my old mistakes. Nothing I say or do can change what I did in the past. The only way I can make things right is to learn from my past mistakes and move on. I am writing this post because I am finally ready to release my demons and have come to terms with them. They do me no good cooped up inside my head. It feels good to be back.

I am greatful to have such an understanding wife.

Learning to Keep My Mouth Shut

2010-03-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

When will it stop? My mouth always finds a way to get me into trouble. It is my double-edged sword. It makes me charismatic but also gets me into heap loads of trouble by the way it says the worst things possible with impeccable timing. Does anyone else have to deal with this? I am just ready to grow up and grow out of saying foolish things. Sorry if this reads like a pity party. I do not deserve any pity for I am in control of my mouth. What I really deserve is a good whack to my coconut.

I just wish I had a better understanding of why I say the things I do. My too biggest issues are that I like to talk quite a bit and I over-analyze everything. The sad thing is I mean everything. If I could just put my head on auto pilot sometimes I think things would go better. The horoscopes and my friends keep saying this is going to be my year. I do not need this to be my year. As long as I can keep my mouth in check, I am satisfied.

Any advice?

Slow Down

2010-03-01T13:44:00.000-08:00

I spent sometime away this weekend. To be completely truthful, I was in the Bahamas for a wedding. It was really good to be away. The best part was that since I was out of the country my cell phone did not work. It gave me the opportunity to truly disconnect and slow down and focus a bit on the things that have been running around my head. This was also a fantastic weekend because I learned a lot. For my time away with my wife and her family I am very grateful. It is in those moments when everything slows down that I seem to find myself again. I am not sure if that makes sense but when I have a lot going on, I tend to focus on quantity rather that quality. I spend my time completing many things but not taking the time to complete them well.

Has it ever happened to you when you go and go and go for what it seems like to be a month and then things slow down and you think where the hell have I been the past month? I get that and need to find a better way to balance. I do not have the cash to travel out of the country every time I get overwhelmed. It is weird. I feel like the past couple of years have been like this. A lot has changed and I have had some huge things going on and now I wonder where the hell did the past 2 years go. I realize that my upcoming 29th birthday has me being pensive but I look around at my friends from 4 years ago and it seems like everything has changed. My social circle has shrunk and changed. I know that this is apart of life, it is just strange.

When I look through my address book in my phone or email it is as if I see ghosts. I still have a lot of people's contact information but know nothing anything else about them as we have not spoken in years. It is funny how these things sneak up on you. I wonder what my social circle will look like in another 4 years.

Cashed

2010-02-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

I have finally hit my wall, so tired. This is what I get for burning the wick at both ends these past couple of weeks. For the past 2 months I have been getting up at 5:30 AM to run before work. Initially, it gave me an energy boost for the work day but now it makes me feel sleepy. I wonder if I need to up the distance and time I am running. My body feels as though it has adjusted to my new found workouts.

The problem with getting up so early is that I refuse to adjust my nighttime schedule. This leads to me feeling burned out and having erratic sleep behaviors. It also leads me to writers block where I am forced to pass off my tiredness and complaints as a legitimate blog entry. Sorry for this. I am out of town for a few days, hopefully I can get some sleep. Peace

Working Morals

2010-02-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay with this post. I had family in this past weekend. Here is what I have been thinking about all weekend. I work for a large corporation. It works for now. It is a job that pays me a living wage. I have a job so I really should not be complaining. PS I hate that expression. Anyways, I can tolerate my job because I can compartmentalize it. When I leave, I completely check out. No more thinking about work until another 15 hours have elapsed.

I hustle and lie for my company. I am told it is okay because there are different rules. This got me thinking. I wonder what I would think of my job if I had kids. How would I feel telling my kids that they should always tell the truth and look out for others knowing that I did not practice what I preached. I wonder if I would truly hate myself. Are there different rules in the workplace? It got me thinking further about how some people in the world live with themselves. I know I know, they have piles of money so what does it matter. Seriously though, how do the heads of some of the evilest corporations get up everyday and go to work. It is just something that is difficult for me to wrap my head around.

Nothin'

2010-02-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

I got nothin'. I have been carrying around this great blog entry to write but I always forget when I am home. Now I am at work and it is not something that is 100% work appropriate. You ever get that when you have a great idea to write something but you are somewhere where you cannot do it? Like when you are signing someone's yearbook it is never appropriate to write, "who are you again." Then when you have free time you forget and end up shopping for miniatures on Ebay? Maybe that is just me. Well, have a good one. Hopefully I will have some time this weekend to write. Thanks for stopping by.

Avatar: A Blockbusters Take on History

2010-02-17T08:58:00.000-08:00

I saw Avatar on the IMAX last night. I will spare you a description of the movie. If you do not know the plot and storyline yet, you are out of luck. I am not going to go into that here. As for the visuals, they are incredible. I cannot say enough about the visual elements.

What I find to be the biggest disappointment is that the Oscar selection committee let me down. Avatar is nowhere near picture of the year good. The storyline is hackneyed and the acting leaves a little more to be desired. I also find it troubling that James Cameron has essentially tried to undue the wrongs that were done to the Native Americans by producing a blockbuster. It is silly to think that rooting for a group of blue savages can change history. Let me guess, does the sequel involve the US using brut-force to impose its will upon the blue people but then lets them open casinos and names its sports teams after them to show that everything is all good. I do not blame Cameron for making this film. I blame the Oscars for putting it on a pedestal.

Love

2010-02-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

What is love? Love is boundless. Love is kind. Love is believing in the person you share your bed with more than anything else in the world. Love is amazing and strange at the same time. Love is coming home from a long day and having your best friend excited to see you. Love has tails and feathers and is not simply reserved for the human race. Love is going to see that same romantic comedy with a different title once a month. Love is not all about you. Love is about faith. Love is about believing in nothing at all. Love is a way for some people to make it through. Love is not always planned. Love is knowing that no one can live forever. Love is a place to find hope and redemption. Love is a lot of different things. Love is such a simple word to spell but nearly impossible to describe. Love is too big for a blog post.

Finding Comfort in a Pair of Shoes

2010-02-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

For a blog that has New Balance in the description line, I really do not do much talking about shoes. What is there to say, they are fantastic shoes, end of story. Truth be told, a week or so after I started this blog I realized that writing about a shoe brand and life would be tough. Since I was so stoked about the graphic for the logo and am a bit lazy, I left the tag line. I wear New Balance shoes all the time so really it is more of a statement about me rather than the shoe company. Anyway, here is a shoe story to satisfy my obligation. Enjoy

I was so pissed when I heard that New Balance was discontinuing the 574's. I know it is pathetic and they are just a pair of shoes but I have had a pair continuously for the past 5 years. It was as if a part of me was being discontinued. It got me thinking about my brand loyalty. As weird as it sounds, I have clung to these shoes because they have been through a lot with me. If I look for consistency in my life, the two things I can think of are my wife and these shoes. In the go-go times of the internet think about the consistencies in your life. Wasn't that hard? If you have kids and a dog your list may be a little longer.

When I needed a new pair of shoes 3 months ago, I hoped to send a message. I had tried other New Balance models and they were not the same so I purchased a pair of Saucony's. My initial thinking was that all quintessential retro running shoes were the same. I had heard good things about Saucony so I took a chance. They initially wore fairly similar. The smaller toe box I could get over. There is not as much cushion, okay. Where I have really noticed the difference is now. They do not have the same workmanship of my New Balance. I always considered my 574's as something that got better with age. Every pair I have owned has lasted at least a year. My Saucony's already have me thinking about new shoes. The padding has worn down, the materials feel cheap and they just do not feel sturdy anymore. I never realized I could miss a shoe so much. So here I sit, surfing the net, looking for a store that still sells 574's. I am hoping to recapture a little bit of my past.

PS - I realize I am mourning a pair of shoes and that it is a bit over the top. Still we all have our brands. I am a product of my environment.

Winter's Final Homestand

2010-02-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

While the snow continues to fall outside, hope springs eternal with one of the greatest days less than two months away, opening day. First, I want to congratulate the city of New Orleans and its fans. Enjoy the moment in the sun, they never last long enough. Now to the business of baseball.

It no longer matters who won the World Series last season, the Yankees. A new season quickly approaches. It brings with it a chance for redemption. Opening day is the only day of the season when the playing field is truly level. Anyone can win. There is no insurmountable number of games to be made up on Opening Day. Everyone is even. It is a day where everyone can dream big. Hold your head's up high Royals and Pirates fans. This could be your year. Less than 2 months left of winter we are in the home stretch. Baseball is coming. Hope to see you there.

Dog Names

2010-02-04T12:30:00.000-08:00

So my wife and I have been discussing getting a dog. I am hoping something changes in my schedule so that I can go home during lunch to walk the dog. The time thing is the only thing that is really holding us back. When I say us, it is more me than her. I just cannot help but feel guilty about leaving a dog at home for 8-10 hours alone. Not to say that my wife is okay with this but she gets caught up in the cuddly factor of dogs.

Anyways, I am such a nerd that I have already started compiling a list of dog names. I know I have to wait to see what the dog looks like before picking a name but I figured having a list helps. I do not want to end up with the misfortune of having a dog named Fluffy or Pumpkin. I am not much or a guys guy but there is nothing more emasculating than having to be at the park and yell out here Tinkerbell. That is why I am going to be prepared. Suggestions welcome?

PS - The Dog pic is from the Maxfund Animal Shelter

Welcome to Snoozeville the Grammy's are on

2010-01-31T09:46:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but I am going to be watching the best thing on TV tonight, the X-Games. I think I would rather stab myself in the hand than have to chose between the Pro Bowl and the Grammys. Both are a lame excuse for self congratulations.

My biggest qualm with the Grammys is that I do not listen to the style of music they reward. Truth be told, this is not the award show's fault. I simply think it is a major flaw that as an artist you have to be on a major label to be rewarded. To me, it is as if the Grammys are saying that if you are not on a major label than you do not matter. Case and point Death Cab for Cutie. They had put out 4 albums with Barsuk Records before signing with Atlantic. Included in those 4 is Transatlanticism which many consider their best. In their 4 fantastic albums with Barsuk, they received zero Grammy nominations. Now they are on Atlantic and have received nominations for the 2 lps and 1 ep they have released. What a joke! The Grammy formula seems to be let's take the most popular artists and see what they have released. Good or bad we will nominate them for Grammys. There is no creativity or surprises when it comes to the Grammys. Pick out the same 10 artists every year add one or two and nominate them.

Until the Grammys open up their judging process, I will do what I do every year. I will watch something more meaningful.

White Denim Pics

2010-01-29T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of pics I took from the White Denim Show at Larimer Lounge. The article should be posted soon on www.gratefulweb.com. It is kind of funny that I write for for a hippie site but I am not one. Have a good weekend. Sorry there are only 2 pics.

Getting Old

2010-01-27T12:28:00.000-08:00

You ever feel like you are Danny Glover in every Lethal Weapon movie? I am too old for this. I notice that I hear myself saying this more and more. The sad thing is that I am only 28, soon to be 29. I am going to a show tonight to review the band White Denim at the Larimer Lounge. It should be a real good time but I noticed on the Larimer Lounge website that White Denim does not go on until 11 PM. Back when I was in college and could sleep until noon, 11 was no big deal but when I have to be up for work at 5:30, 11 is a bit daunting. Granted I am still youthful enough that I can run on a good 4-5 hours of sleep from time to time.

This makes me chuckle a bit. Lately I have noticed that things that start super late, I am less apt to do, especially on work nights. Someday I will be able to make this a job and having a real 9-5 will not get in the way of my decision making. In all seriousness though having the headliner not go on until 11 makes little to no sense to me. Especially when you consider the show is 21+. Most 21+ I know work. I realize that they want to keep their bar busy all night but why not put the headliner on at 10 and have them play a two hour set. Instead the band will probably take the stage by 11:15 and will play a 45 minute set. I hope I am wrong in my estimate but this is how I have seen shows go over the years. Either way, I know I will have something exciting to report back in the coming days. Until then Take care.

John Mayer the Money Maker

2010-01-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

I read an article last week on John Mayer in Rolling Stone. I know two quick strikes against me. Please keep reading before you judge. It was interesting because he sounds totally broken and out of sorts. The main stream media always associates money and power with happiness. He simply sounded lost.

Reading the article lead me to a conversation with my wife about the relationship between music and headcases. Not that music has a higher rate but it seems that the more musically brilliant one is the more demons they have to wrestle. I think there are two major contributors to this occurrence. The first being that creating music has a lot of similar elements to writing. Writing, whether it is music, an article or even a blog seems to draw things out of an individual that other activities do not. It is almost as if you need to have issues to create great music. That is what makes bubble gum pop music so disposable, there is no connection or staying power.

The other reason I think issues haunt musicians is that many songwriters use music as escapism. It is a vehicle to temporarily take a break from the world around oneself. Sometimes the only thing in the world that can truly understand what you are going through is a song. I realize this sounds ridiculous but it is true. The escapist side of music can be dangerous. It can allow people to not completely address their issues. The issues then boil over when the musician looks in the mirror and wonders what they have become. By avoiding their skeletons in the closet, they do do not recognize themselves.

It is sad. With the way the record industry works you have a lot of people who only see music as money. Sure they say they like music but do they truly like music. Does it pulse through their veins. These people take musicians who deeply care about music and chew them up and spit them out. John Mayer sounds absolutely broken in the Rolling Stone article because he is love song hit maker for Columbia. No more no less. Columbia does not care about his musical talent. They just want him to keep writing songs like "Your Body is a Wonderland." That way everyone can pat themselves on the back and feel good about themselves except Mayer.

Blogging

2010-01-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

When I decided to start a blog six months ago, I did it because I was selfish. I wanted to be big and have a spotlight on me. I figured getting a blog and writing would be easy. Day 1: Start a blog, Day 2: 1000's of people will want to read you musings. It was a bit idealistic but I never realized how tough it would be to write sometimes. What makes it all the more difficult is that the theme is my life. If there was a more consistent theme such as donut of the day, I would not have to work so hard. I could just say, "long-John" or "double chocolate glazed" and I would be set for the day.

Finding things to talk about in my life is hard. One of the big mistakes I made when starting this is I told friends and family about it. Now that they occasionally check it, I feel like I cannot post some of my more personal feelings. I do not mind a group of total strangers thinking I am a little iced tea short of an Arnold Palmer but not people I converse with regularly. My few pieces advice for those out there who are thinking of starting a blog.

1. Pick a theme. Really any theme works. Then on the days you are lazy you do not have to try so hard.

2. Keep it as secretive as possible. That way your family and friends will not figure out that you are the weirdo with the blog dedicated to Happy Meal toys

3. If you are going to make it about yourself pick a simple formula, like this person here has done. Sorry I am really into this blog, so concise and simple
http://thehigh5.tumblr.com/

YesterYear

2010-01-19T20:57:00.000-08:00

When I was in college I got a video camera for Christmas one year. I proceeded to do what any college sophomore would do with a video camera, I filmed everything. To be fair not everything. Most of the footage I have is from when we returned from the bars and were acting as typical college males do, immature and drunk.

When I originally filmed, I thought it would be hilarious to watch how stupid everyone acted and that the events would be comical. I watched the footage for the first time tonight in 8 years. There were definitely parts that made me laugh but what jumped out at me the most were the little things. The photos and posters that covered my dorm room walls served as reminders of my interests. There was not a bare space on the wall. A few years ago I was going to trash all of the footage. After watching it, I realize that it is not all about the few embarrassing moments but a reminder of the close knit friendships I had in college. The nostalgia that I took away from the footage is that we were a bunch of strangers coming together and becoming real friends. The best part about video is that it gives you a real sense of what you were like in that phase of your life. Photographs are great but they do not tell the whole story.

To the dismay of my friends, I have decided to keep the footage not because I want to relive college but it is a piece of me. Who knew that something that was supposed to be for making throw away junkie films turned into something more personal.

My Brightest Diamond: Shark Remixes

2010-01-15T14:34:00.000-08:00

When I first heard the word remix I was a bit skeptical. Many of the remixes I have listed to over the years have been nothing more than a cheap and easy way for the record companies to make money. Throw down some new backgrounds and you have yourself a remix. My Brightest Diamond’s Shark Remixes are the furthest thing from sounding budget.

My Brightest Diamond’s Shark Remixes
Shark Remixes is a textbook example of the elements that go into creating a high quality remix. You take strong vocals and pair them with a new accompanying sound to create an entirely new song. What makes this remix unique is that the listener gets four remixes by four separate artists. Each artist has their own volume. The four artists are Alfred Brown, DM Stith, Son Lux and Roberto Carlos Lange. Although the remixes are different, they work well together in a set. The common element in all of them is Shara Worden’s strong vocals are pushed to front on all of the tracks. Her voice jumps out of the speakers. All four remixers were good at creating a sound that complements her vocals.

If you are a fan of My Brightest Diamond, I would say this set is a must have. All four volumes offer a little something different. Volume 1 (Brown) has Worden’s vocals paired with a classical orchestral arrangement. Volume 2 (DM Stith), my personal favorite, has more of a dance background with elements of funk laced through it. Volumes 3 (Lux) and 4 (Lange) sound a bit softer with random ambient sounds creating a complex layered background. In the end, the strength of this album is evident when considering all 4 volumes are incredibly well crafted.

Finding My Way

2010-01-15T08:26:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay. I have not had a lot to post about music wise. I will post my latest review after this.

Something that I have learned is that no matter how comfortable you become in your relationship, there is always room for improvement. My wife and I get along really well 95% of the time. Sure there are things that we both need to work on. I have learned that I need to do a better job listening, communicating my plans and work on a number of smaller things. The other thing that I have really learned is that I am a pleaser. The other night I was trying to help my wife out and offered to go to the store for her so that she would not have to go after work. I am not sure if it is because of the cold weather in the south but buying fruit was insanely expensive. I wanted to please my wife so I swallowed hard and paid the inflated prices.

Here is where the problem lies, the entire time I was thinking to myself that I was being ridiculous for paying so much. Unfortunately everything blew up in my face when I returned home. This happened for 2 reasons. First, I more or less insisted upon going to the store to help out. Second, I showed a complete lack of commonsense by overpaying because I thought I would make my wife happy. I was illustrating the two things I listed above that I need to work on. Not only did I not listen to her very well but I also tried to please her with things she did not want.

2 big strikes and the third one came when we argued. I am a terrible arguer. Too many movies characterize men as callous bastards when it comes to arguing. I on the other hand am super emotional. I feel like fights with my wife always end with me in tears. The issue is I am fatalistic. My mind runs wild. I cannot stop it. It gets itself into a frenzy over what the future of my marriage will hold and the type of person I have become. There is way too much going on. If a 6 dollar bag of grapes. poor decision I know, is going to be the demise of my marriage, then I am in trouble.

Am I the only one who does this? I need to learn to take my foot off the gas and let my mind slow down a bit. Then I can focus on the issue that has presented itself. Sometimes it is not necessary to connect all of the dots. The thing that I have learned in the early years of my marriage is that you can always change and improve yourself. My problem is that I have become complacent and have not put the time into changing the things that I need to change. As long as there is always that fire inside my body to want more, I will be fine.

Sorry for the long post. I am not sure where it went but I needed to vent a bit.

5 Things I Wintnessed While Traveling Yesterday

2009-12-28T08:50:00.000-08:00

-The airplane passenger next to me take off their shows right after sitting down

-Someone with their finger buried knuckle deep into their nasal cavity, not caring that everyone was staring at them

-Hear a pilot say that Boise was a real happening place (they were serious)

-Flava Flav

-The most security I have ever seen for a flight arriving from Heathrow, dogs and guns

Thankful

2009-12-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

What are you thankful for this holiday season? Here are a few things music and non-music related.

-Gaslight Anthem (New Album 2010)
-Baseball is closer than you think
-The Get Up Kids (Long Awaited New Album 2010)
-Tom and Jerry is still on midday on Cartoon Network
-Ted Leo (New Album 2010)
-Hopefully new health care is on the way
-Black Keys (New Album 2010)
-I am married to my soul-mate
-Lupe Fiasco (New Album 2010)
-I can successfully brew my own beer
-Their might be a Sega Genisis in my near future

I hope everyone has a lot of things to be thankful for. Have a safe rest of the week. I will be abroad in the Hawkeye State.

10 Songs From the Past 10 Years

2009-12-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

There have been a lot of fantastic songs over the past 10 years. I am not even going to bother and number these because that would be foolish. Every artist on this list has a number of memorable songs. There are a bunch of others who are not apart of the 10 below. This is simply a list of 10 memorable song to me over the past 10 years. Think of it as a small sample of all the great songs of the decade. Enjoy

Sufjan Stevens - Casmir Pulaski Day
Pete Yorn - Closet
Elliott Smith - Son of Sam
Jay-Z - H to the Izzo
Death Cab for Cutie - Tiny Vessels
Something Corporate - Punk Rock Princess
Ben Folds - Fred Jones, Pt. 2
Talib Kweli - Get By
Oasis - Fuckin' in the Bushes
Death Cab for Cutie - Why You'd Want to Live Here

Emo Tag

2009-12-08T09:47:00.001-08:00

When did Emo become a category of pop music? I was around some teenagers lately and they were talking about Emo bands. I listened to a couple of the bands and was appalled, not because the music was bad but because it was not Emo. Too many pop bands with whiny lead singers are placed in this category incorrectly.

Emo stands for Emotional Punk. There are no elements of punk music in Dashboard Confessional, Panic at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Something Corporate, Owl City or a number of other bands that are incorrectly categorized here. I hate categorically labeling music but listen to some of the older Get Up Kids material or Sunny Day Real Estate. You can hear the punk elements in the songs.

Punk is raw and edgy. Over produced pop music should never have anything associate with punk in its name.

The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns Review

2009-11-20T14:30:00.001-08:00

I have listened to a lot of music. Over the past few years, I have come to accept that there is very little that musically surprises me anymore. I am not saying that there is nothing good out there, to the contrary there has been a lot of good music lately, it is simply that the music I have listened to recently lacks staying power. When I say staying power, I mean that I can play the album a week, month, year or years later and not be embarrassed. The Rural Alberta Advantage debut album Hometowns caught me off guard.

Hometowns is a well crafted album. The Rural Alberta Advantage’s sound can best be described as back to the basics. The guitar uses very little, if any, distortion and the bass and drums sound crisp as well. They prove that you do not need added effects to make a lot of noise. What separates Hometowns from other albums is that all of the instruments are front and center. You can hear and feel them. They are not muted or soft, as is the case with so many others. The band harmonizes well with their instruments too. Their voices add depth to the sound.

The other element that works perfectly on this album is the blending of melancholy homesick lyrics with faster tempo songs. It gives the songs more of an it-is-what-it-is feel rather than a completely lost tone. It sounds as if the songwriter has come to terms with not being completely satisfied with their life. This is a way everyone can relate to feeling at one point or another in their life. It is the true to life qualities in the lyrics that makes this a fantastic album. When the lyrics and instruments all come together, The Rural Alberta Advantage have put out one of the best albums I have heard in years.

Score: 6.9 (there is one track I skip over, it is not my favorite. Otherwise, I can listen from top to bottom.)
Scale

1 –3: I was impaired in some way when I bought this album (it’s embarrassing)
4: A few decent tracks, nothing memorable. Selling it back to the record store
5: Some great tracks, a solid album
6: One of the better albums I have listed to
7: These are very few and far between. Flawless from top to bottom

Slacker

2009-11-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

I have been quite the slacker lately when it comes to this, my apologies. I am going to try and write on it almost everyday starting now. I was going to write last night but as I was looking around my place at 11:50 pm and what do I see but a mouse, sneaking across the floor. A mouse!

I am not really afraid of them but it was a bit unnerving because I was completely powerless. No traps or anything, so I watched him sneak across the floor. My first thought was to grab a piece of Tupperware barely large enough to fit a sandwich and trap the little bastard. Who do I think I am. There is no way I was going to be able to catch him with Tupperware. Even if I did, what was I going to do leave him under there until he gnawed a hole in my wood floors. Faced with that or the always pleasant option of simply trying to step on him, I decided to let him be until I could get traps. I must include one small detail, I live in a condo building and I know it is one of my neighbors who must have brought him in because I found out today that they tapped one on the 9Th floor last week. I am not exactly Mr. Spic and Span but I do pick up after myself.

More stories to follow. When I get home I am going to see if the trap my building manager owns is sufficient. If not there is always a size 9.5 New Balance with his name on it. I am sure I will get comments that it is inhumane to step on a mouse. I am saving you the complaint comment not because I agree with you but because what reasonable human being would mess up a perfectly good pair of shoes over a mouse.

Holiday Shores Review - Hi-Dive, Denver

2009-11-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

Denver is a Broncos town. When they play everything else takes a backseat. With the Broncos playing on Monday night, I did not expect Holiday Shores to draw much of a crowd for their show. Deservedly so, they had a bigger crowd than I anticipated. By the end of the night, they were far more interesting to watch than the Broncos.

What makes Holiday Shores unique is their sound. There is a glut of vintage influenced indie bands these days. These guys are different. They seem to draw more from surf rock rather than new wave. This influence, even if it is slight, gives them a more distinguishable sound than many of their contemporaries. While listening to them play, I could not help but think of The Walkmen. What is also striking about this band is their confidence. The band looked at ease as they rolled through their set. Their sound was polished and they managed to successfully create good audio layering. As front man Nathan Pemberton shared with me after the set, “there are a couple of songs we are having trouble with live because we have not had the time to sit down and break them apart. The record is so dense that it is hard to assign four people all of those parts (when touring).”

Interviewing Pemberton was interesting. It gave me a chance to see another side of Holiday Shores. All too often I see a band perform well on stage and take for granted the amount of work that goes into having a successful tour. It became clear during the interview that they are more or less feeling things out as their tour progresses. Pemberton revealed to me that they did not make set lists for their shows, instead opting to play what naturally came to them on stage. “We don’t have a set list. We have the first two or three and go from there. It makes for more breaks between songs but it is fun having no set pattern.” Pemberton’s laid back demeanor can be deceiving. If there is one thing I took away from the interview it is that he is very driven. It was refreshing to see and interview a band that has seemingly found a balance between musically being taken seriously and their youthful inexperience (not a bad thing). On stage, they make it look so effortless. I did not see an up and coming band that just recently released their first LP Columbus’d the Whim. I saw a band that was focused and looks bound for bigger things.

New Music Tuesday 11-10-09

2009-11-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

Here is a small sample of music that is available today. Enjoy and go out and support your local record stores.

AC/DC – Backtracks
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Live
Dashboard Confessional - Alter The Ending
Fray – Fray
Gwar - America Must Be Destroyed
Jackson 5 - I Want You Back!
Jerry Garcia Band - Vol. 2-Jerry Garcia Collection
Killers - Live From The Royal Albert Hall
Snow Patrol - Up To Now
Jookabox - Dead Zone Boysjavascript:void(0)

4 Songs of the Week

2009-11-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

So all week I have pretty much had 4 songs stuck in my head all week. The list is below. I do not think they are telling but it is what has been rattling around my head. What songs have you been thinking about?

-Say Hi - Oh Oh Oh
-Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces
-David Bazan - Hard to Be
-Sea Wolf - Wicked Blood

David Bazan & Say Hi Denver Show Review

2009-11-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Any Questions? If you have not been to a David Bazan show, you might be caught a little off guard when he solicits questions from the audience. His show with Say Hi at the Hi-Dive was reminiscent of the times I have seen him in the past. He answered questions, joked around and eliminated any barrier that traditionally exists between musicians and their fans.

The show opened with Seattle based Say Hi, formerly known as Say Hi to Your Mom. They played a set that offered a good variety of songs from all of their albums. For the most part, it was an upbeat set. Bazan could not have chosen a better band to accompany him on tour. They were equally engaging with the crowd. Front man, Eric Elbogen told jokes and spoke about vampires. Elbogen and the other two touring members, Andy Fitts and Alex Westcoat, have strong stage camaraderie. Half way through the set someone in the audience dropped a drink on the floor. Elbogen gave the audience member a drink ticket to go get another one. When the same audience member clumsily spilled again Fitts gave him one of his drink tickets. You do not find many bands that go out of their way like this for their fans.

David Bazan's set primarily focused on his latest release Curse Your Branches. He also played tracks from his EP Fewer Moving Parts. There were a couple Pedro the Lion songs worked into the set as well. The strongest part of the set was his new material. He toured with a band which gave the material the necessary depth. Bazan seemed to be in good spirits. During the question and answer sessions he disclosed the meaning behind some of the song lyrics, what he would do if he were attacked by a zombie, his favorite brown liquor and turned down a dinner invitation. What I have always enjoyed about seeing David Bazan is his genuine personality. I have never had the opportunity to meet him, but feel as though I know a little about him based on his stage demeanor.

The show closed per status quo without an encore and the house lights illuminating the cozy bar. Bazan and his band mates said goodnight. The impromptu moments during the concert proved that seeing a great show is about more than hearing talented musicians perform.

New Music Tuesday 11/3/09

2009-11-03T09:16:00.000-08:00

Here is a sampling of what is in stores today. Enjoy and go support your local record store.

Weezer - Raditude
Morrissey - Swords
Slayer - World Painted Blood

Gabes Oasis, Iowa City IA

2009-11-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

I was happy to see David Bazan, formerly of Pedro the Lion and now out on his own, blogged about the punk venue I used to go to in college. Great to see this place get some press. He is absolutely right with his assessment.

http://www.davidbazan.com/

New Music Tuesday 10-27-09

2009-10-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

Here is a sample of some new albums that are out today. Enjoy

Gov't Mule - By a Thread
R.E.M. - Live at the Olympia
The String Cheese Incident - Trick or Treat
Tegan and Sara - Sainthood
Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg
Train - Save Me San Francisco
Jack Johnson - En Concert

The D Word

2009-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

Having divorced parents is awful. Mine got divorced when I was in second grade, so it has been a while. One thing I have come to realize is that the trials and tribulations of having divorced parents never fully goes away. I have long accepted that they will never be together again. Surprisingly that was pretty easy to come to terms with. The part that still completely puzzles me and frankly makes me want to pull my hair out is the holidays or any other major events.

I am married now so when we spend the holidays with my wife's family, I am secretly a little relieved that I do not have to deal with the heartache and headache of trying to coordinate everything with my family. I realize this may sound heartless but unless you have divorced parents you can never fully understand. The problem is you can never truly make everyone happy. These are the little things that need to be included in a divorce manual. Everyone focuses on, who is going to get the couch or how will we work out joint custody of our goldfish. Honestly, if it were me, why not just flush the fish. That way you can both feel miserable. I realize I am compounding the divorce process and their are bigger struggles than those I have listed. I simply wish that people realized the finality of their decision when getting a divorce. Every time I drive by the sign that says, "Divorce in a Day" I want to call the number on the sign and have them come with me to my next family function. There are no quick fixes.

Hm, this is a music blog so I will say I bought the new Sea Wolf album today. Upon first listen I give it a 5.

Who Sucked Out the Feeling?

2009-10-22T16:18:00.000-07:00

I was listening to some Rage Against the Machine at work today. I will save you the what the hell kind of office do you work in comment, it was on very soft almost inaudible. It made me realize how much I miss these guys music. I know they are not gone but I wish they would put out another album. They seem to enjoy touring but how about some new material. I mean they are the godfathers of hip-hop infused rock, not including the whole Run DMC - Aerosmith collaboration.

Whenever I hear these nu metal bands on the radio, all I can think is make up your mind about what you want to be. A mediocre metal band or a craptackular hip hop group. Until then, save your strength. There are only a few bands that can pull it off and Rage is one of them.

Here are the songs I listened to today: Testify, Bombtrack, Bulls on Parade and Guerrilla Radio. My choices would have been a bit more diverse but that is what they had posted to their site.

Rage Website - http://www.ratm.com/

New Music Tuesday: 10-20-09

2009-10-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

A Sampling of New Music Availible Today, Enjoy

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes for the Young
Flight of the Conchords - I Told you I was Freaky
Rammstein - Lieve Ist Fur Alle Da
Sufjan Steven - The BQE
Snow Patrol - Late Night Tales

Why?

2009-10-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

If you have not heard of the band Why?, I would highly recommend checking them out. They have a very unique sound. Their latest album Eskimo Snow was released in late September.

Band's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/whyanticon

Pete Yorn Back and Forth Review

2009-10-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

Pete Yorn is back...well almost. The title back and forth is very appropriate for his latest offering. It feels as though Yorn has spent a good part of his music career trying to figure out his sound. His first two albums MusicfortheMorningAfter and Day I Forgot were very similar. Both played to Yorn's strong songwriting abilities. Yorn went a bit off course with his third album Night Crawler. Do not get me wrong, Night Crawler has its moments but it is incredibly overproduced to the point that it drowns out Yorn's vocals.

Back and Forth is a bit more back to the basics. The album goes back to strong songwriting and simplistic guitar rifts. The album is by no means stripped down. Various instrumentals are added to tracks but it is not over the top as with Night Crawler. All around Yorn does what he does best. He has created an album that is very well written with tracks that have staying power. If there is anything the album lacks it is one or two faster tracks. I cannot fault Yorn though, you write what you feel and I respect that. I am just happy to have Pete Yorn back.

New Music Tuesday 10-13-09

2009-10-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a sampling of some of the new music out today enjoy.

The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
Five for Fighting - Slice
Bob Dylan - Christmas in the heart
People Under the Stairs - Carried Away

Getting Cased

2009-10-07T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have a ton of CDs. It is beyond ridiculous the amount I have accumulated over the years. Recently I have been thinking about cleaning house and trying to make some extra cash by selling some of my old ones. One problem, no one will take my CDs unless they have the original case and artwork. This is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard. CDs are one step away from being obsolete and you mean to tell me that record stores are going to be picky. I mean they were probably only going to give me a hay penny for them and then turn around and sell them for 10 bucks but it is the principle.

Honestly, if you care about album cover art anymore please comment on this. The artists do not even care about the cover art anymore. Who cares about the artistic statement they artist is trying to make. The real deal is inside the case on the CD. Until they start giving awards for cover art and CD packaging, I think it is insane that record stores will turn down perfectly well taken care of CDs because it lacks packaging.

Fresh Sound

2009-10-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a great site to check out some new music, I would like to recommend the Barsuk Records website. If you are not familiar with Barsuk, check em' out. They have a ton of great artists like Nada Surf, Mates of State, David Bazan, Ra Ra Riot, Say Hi...I could go on forever.

They are a fantastic, Seattle based label that has a free radio station on their site. Enjoy

Barsuk Records Website
http://www.barsuk.com/home

Picture of the Week

2009-09-30T22:21:00.001-07:00

New Music Tuesday 9-29-09

2009-09-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a sampling of some new music that is on the shelves today. Enjoy

Zero 7 - Yeah Ghost
Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony
Ghostface Killah - Ghostdini-Wizard Of Poetry
Madonna – Celebration
Melvins - Chicken Switch

Not a bad showing. Of course there are far more releases. These are simply the ones that jumped out at me.

Best Time of the Year is Coming!

2009-09-25T08:40:00.001-07:00

There is electricity in the air this time of year. The end of summer signals the start of fall baseball. This is when everything is on the line. Six teams square off for a piece of sports history. The MLB Playoffs are where legends are made. Who can forget Kirby Puckett, Kurt Schilling, Joe Carter or the many others who came up big in the post season. What makes the MLB Playoffs so unique is that the limelight is not simply reserved for the big names. Who can forget Scott Podsednik's home run in the 2005 playoffs or Aaron Boone's walk off winner. There is nothing like the MLB Post Season.

Football fans will cling to the Super Bowl but honestly how many truly great playoff games have their been? I am not blaming football but the format of baseball's multiple game championships leads to more memorable moments. Get ready baseball fans October 7th will be here in no time.

New Music Tuesday: 9/22/09

2009-09-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a sampling of some of the new albums in stores today. Enjoy

Basement Jaxx - Scars
Brand New - Daisy
David Gray - Draw the Line
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Sea Wolf - White Water, White Bloom
Castanets - Texas Rose, Thaw & The Beasts
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - White Lunar
They Might Be Giants - Here Comes Science

Status Update: Facebook is Lame

2009-09-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

I try to steer clear of any sort of politics on this blog but I cannot help it. I just read that Sarah Palin has been getting her message out through Facebook. Leave it to Sarah Palin to rid Facebook of any coolness factor it had left. Granted, I have cut back on Facebook since the term "social media" came to fruition. It also felt a little strange when my parents became friends with me. I want them to know what is going on with my life but like having a filter. Leave it to Sarah Palin to prove that things are way cooler until your parents get involved.

What is the deal with Fleet Foxes?

2009-09-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Is there anyone else who is just not that into them? I feel as though I am the only person in the world who does not dig Fleet Foxes. It has become so bad that when people ask me if I listen to them I have to preface my answer with, "I don't know what my deal is but..." It is as if I feel guilty not liking them. Their self titled album is on all of my trusted media sources top albums of 2008 lists. No I am not referring to Rolling Stone and Spin. The album appears on nearly every single reviewer for Pitchfork's list. Maybe I am just missing something here. They sound a lot like the Byrds, I get that but what makes their music so special? There is only one other band that has alluded me like these guys do, Arcade Fire. What bands are just not that into?

Pitchfork's top albums of 2008 list

The Gaslight Anthem, Ogden Theatre, Denver CO

2009-09-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

Say hello to the crowd, tell some stories, play a few songs, crack a couple of jokes and say goodnight. The format for a live concert is fairly predictable, even for those who have not attended very many. The Gaslight Anthem’s ability to take this simple formula and turn it into something memorable is what separates them from many of the others bands I have seen. The band exuded confidence, charisma and lightheartedness as they tore through their set. It was evident that they thoroughly enjoy playing live together. What impressed me the most was the way they connected with the crowd. They were genuine. I was not just seeing another band go through the motions. This was a band that cared and was real. They laughed and joked around with each other. It was like watching a group of my friends play. It was refreshing to see a band that does not take their fans or popularity for granted.

It is rare that I go to a show and not have any complains. The crowd was electric, the setlist fantastic and the band sounded perfectly gritty. I felt a bit nostalgic as the show reminded me of the hardcore shows of my youth. All in all, The Gaslight Anthem puts on a show that is not to be missed. This is their final tour before the release of their next album, hopefully in early 2010.

The Gaslight Anthem Website: http://www.myspace.com/thegaslightanthem

New Music Tuesday 9-15-09

2009-09-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few albums that are in stores today. Enjoy

Muse - The Resistance
Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson - The Break Up
Kyle Hollingsworth - Then There's Now
Mason Jennings - Blood of Man
Ministry - Last Dubber
Q-Tip - Kamaal The Abstract

Stay Classy Kanye

2009-09-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

For the record I do not watch MTV or see Kanye West's display during the Video Music Awards. Actually I think it is kind of humorous that MTV gives awards for music videos and they do not even show music videos anymore. Anyway I watched Kanye on Youtube this morning and once again he proves that money and fame can buy a lot of things but it cannot buy class. Between him and Jay Cutler I do not know who did a better job of representing the windy city yesterday.

Rockabilly Surf

2009-09-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

So I went to a show last night. My friend said they were of the rockabilly surf variety. I was intrigued. I had not heard rockabilly surf before and it was pretty good. The bands we saw were The InSinerators from Gunnison and Mad Dog and Smokin' Js.

Both bands were fantastic. I am honestly not much of a rockabilly fan but Mad Dog and the Smokin' Js are definitely worth seeing. The InSinerators definitely have a fresh sound as well. If you want to hear something a little different check out these two bands.

Mad Dog and the Smokin' Js

Hometown Pride

2009-09-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

No matter where you go, you can never truly escape your roots. This became evident to me the other night at the Colorado Rockies game. The Rockies are in first place in the Wild Card Race and have had a phenomenal second half to their season. Still, as I watched the Rockies and Reds I could not help but anxiously watch the scoreboard for Chicago White Sox score. Even though the White Sox are nearly mathematically eliminated, they hold my attention.

When I moved to Denver 3 years ago, I figured that the Rockies would become my team in the National League. I grew up a White Sox fan so cheering for the Cubs has never been an option. In fact, I quietly enjoy watching the Cubs flounder year after year. As I watched the game last night, I strange feeling came over me, much like the one that did in 2007 when the Rockies made it to the World Series. As exciting as the game was, it did not create the same euphoric feeling when the Rockies won in the 9th as when the Sox won close games. I cheered for the home team because I am a baseball fan but it was not the same. I am not emotionally vested in the Rockies. Last night, I came to the realization that this is the closest I can get. Even if I live in Colorado for the rest of my life, nothing can capture the magic of following the White Sox in my youth. Those magical nights in the outfield bleachers when the Cleveland Indians or Milwaukee Brewers would come to town. The crowd would stand for the entire game as you could feel the electricity in the air. All of the 2nd place finishes were worth it when the White Sox won it all in 05'.

Baseball has not quiet been the same for me since they won the World Series. I never thought it would happen in my lifetime. It is strange when you have wished for something for so many years and then it happens and you do not know what to do. A giant weight was lifted off your shoulders.

I go to Rockies games to take it all in. The magic of being at the ballpark is still there. I may have reached my ceiling for how attached I can get to the Rockies but love watching the emotionally vested fans around me. It is hard to match the excitement of watching your favorite team accomplish everything you have ever wanted. Go Rockies.

New Music Tuesday 9/8/09

2009-09-08T08:50:00.001-07:00

Here are a few of the new releases that are in stores today. Enjoy

Phish - Joy
Rodrigo y Gabriel - 11:11
Jay-Z - Blueprint 3
Yo La Tango - Popular Songs

Writting From the Past

2009-09-07T19:36:00.001-07:00

I came across a piece of writing I typed up after I graduated college. It is interesting to be able to look through a window into my past. I am posting it as a message. Life gets better I promise. I think everyone feels a bit of shell shock after they graduate college. Enjoy

It didn’t end with a zip or a bang or a huge drunken party. There wasn’t even a scene like those of a movie where a bunch of friends are sitting at a bar giving endless toasts to the past adventures of the last four years. Nothing said about the future and how bright it may be. It ended with a snap like that of a pull firework or the fizzle of a cheap sparkler. There was supposed to be cheers and jeers, laughter and tears. There was none of that here. It ended end when uncharacteristically the Dean of Students pronounced my name correctly, a dead meaningless handshake and an empty congenial nod. For others it ended with the words with honors preceding their name. For many that will be the last time an adjective will precede their name. With honors or without, going to be bed early the night before graduation or getting half-cocked it’s all one in the same. It marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new day. Your agenda is empty. For some it ended with impossible promises like I’ll see you again and we’ll definitely stay in touch. With others it occurred over a phone conversation in a vacant hotel room, a plea to move to DC or a great new job in Omaha. This is life, the next step, right. At times I feel like a Vietnam Vet who can’t get over the fact the war is over. I spent four years of my life being sprayed with napalm, thinking that 10 was the start of the day and sure enough that a hangover was enough to garner one’s sympathy. I was living in a foxhole of college bliss and now I’ve been thrown back into the working world. I am expected to be humble and shrug it off. I’ve been robbed of my youth and everyone expects me to help the burglar named time load up his get away vehicle. All I have left are memories that serve me well. They allow me to easily forget about the things I have regretted over the last four years. The mind is a curious thing. It alters things. Not intentionally but just enough to allow us to get by.

Change

2009-09-04T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have had a friend staying at my place the last week and it made me realize how much I appreciate my few moments of solitude. Do not get me wrong, our friend is a fantastic guest and company but I am looking forward to having things back to normal next week.

Earlier in the week, I was thinking about how nice next week was going to be and then it dawned on me that my view on solitude has changed. I could not help but chuckle. The word solitude means alone or single. I have not been alone or single for over 5 years. My view on this word has changed. Five years ago my excitement was for complete dictionary definition solitude and now solitude includes my wife. It is funny how the little things change. My adjusted definition is proof that I am married to my soul mate. It must be a sign.

As a child, I was never 100 percent confident in my abilities to do anything perfectly correct. I would frequently do something and then ask for a sign from God to prove I did it correctly. I never asked for earth shattering signs because I was never confident God existed and if he did, why would he waste his time turning the sky purple just to tell me that I had chosen the correct answers on my grade school quizzes. I asked for little signs like, "if this is the correct answer then make the classroom clock bell ring at the top of the hour as it did every hour or if I am not correct make the clock stop working completely." I always wanted to give God choices. If neither one happened, I knew he was too busy. The funny thing is that I was a straight C student. It was comforting to know that God scored average on grade school quizzes as well. He saved his real powers for much bigger things.

Nowadays, I am more confident than I was as a child. I would be a complete liar though if I said I did not still ask for signs from time to time. I think we all do. The signs I use today are based upon the sheer amount of happiness I have in my life.

New Music Tuesday 9-1-09

2009-09-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a sample of some of the new albums that are in stores today:
David Bazan - Curse your Branches
Black Crowes - Before the Frost...Until the Freeze
Beanie Sigel - Broad Street Bully
The Used - Artwork
Dr. Dre - Chronic Re-Lit
John Fogerty - Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again
Reverend Horton Heat - Laughin & Cryin
Drive By Truckers - The Fine Print

First Listen: Modest Mouse – No One’s First and You’re Next Review

2009-08-31T12:52:00.001-07:00

My feelings towards Modest Mouse have always been lukewarm. They are one of the few bands whose albums I cannot listen to from start to finish. To be perfectly honest, I usually only like a couple of the tracks on their albums and then find the other songs pretty unlistenable. When I heard they had a new EP, I was pretty indifferent.

No One’s First, and You’re Next was a pleasant surprise. I never expected for their latest release to be one of my favorites. Even though the EP is mostly b-sides from Good News for People who Love Bad News and We Were Dead Before the Ship Ever Sank, the album sounds fresh. It has a classic rock feel mixed with an ambient tone and a hint of folk rock. As with most Modest Mouse, it is difficult to classify this album. The first track Satellite Skin sounds like it could be a Rolling Stones song where as track 2, Guilty Cocker Spaniels, made me think of bluegrass. Modest Mouse has a varied fan base so I am certain this EP will not be for everyone but I really enjoy it. I may not like all of their material but appreciate Modest Mouse’s constantly evolving sound. I am eagerly anticipating their next LP.

Mall Kiosks: Glorified Street Performers

2009-08-28T12:31:00.000-07:00

I was at the mall the other day for the first time in a long while. As mentioned in earlier posts, I abhor the mall. Before the recession set in, I could tolerate it. I dressed a little grubbier and would avoid shaving a couple days before I planned to go. This would ensure me the glory of being left alone at the mall. I could get in and get out with minimal questions. These days the mall is emptier and businesses are so desperate for customers that I bet I could walk around completely naked and still have sales people trying to drum up a conversation.

The part I despise most about the mall are those little kiosks. If a mall were a city street, where the shops represented free standing stores and the mall commons were the city streets, kiosks would represent the street performers. They are aggressive, conversational and incredibly annoying as they hock cell phones, moisturizer and sunglasses. I wonder if they are paid differently then the standard mall shop employee. I can go into a store and not be bothered but walk outside and I am swarmed by sales people armed with cucumber exfoliates and free texting. It is to the point where I would rather just shop on the city streets where ignoring the street performers is sufficient. If I ignore a kiosk vendor they are liable to chase me down or yell louder. Now that would be a site, imagine someone running after you in a mall full sprint to tell you that you are paying too much for your current cell phone plan. The next time I am asked something by a kiosk vendor I am tempted to say to them, "learn to play an instrument or bang on some empty milk jugs." At least the street performers in the city briefly entertain me as I ignore them.

Maxfund Lucky Mutt Strut 8/30/09

2009-08-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder to all those animal loves about the Lucky Mutt Strut that is going to be taking place this Sunday at Washington Park in Denver. Hope to see everyone out supporting a great event and great shelter.

Click Here to Register for the event.

I'm Sorry

2009-08-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts. It has been a crazy week. That is no excuse but there is more content on the way.

Shed a Tear for Grunge

2009-08-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

What ever happened to grunge rock? I miss the distorted guitars and angst filled lyrics. It was music for a generation that felt left behind. Nobody else seemed to care so why should they. Anger filled rock still exists today it is just not the same. Today's heavy rock acts prefer to integrate hip-hop into their music. It makes sense. Many of today's rockers grew up listening to an eclectic mix of music and do not want to be pigeon holed into one music category. Personally, I think this leads to a lot of mediocre music. You have bands that cannot decide what style of music they want to create and they produce albums that are a misguided mess. I am not here to complain. There is a lot of good music out there. I just miss grunge. The closest thing I get to that these days is seeing someone in a flannel shirt as it is the latest trend. I cannot help but get nostalgic when I see someone in flannel. I ask them if they have heard the latest Sub Pop compilation. They give me a confused look wondering if that is a new club in LoDo.

Song of the Day 8-26-09

2009-08-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

Pedro the Lion - Indian Summer

New Music Tuesday 8-28-09

2009-08-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few new albums being released today
Artic Monkey - Humbug
Imogen Heap - Ellipse
Matisyahu - Light
Willie Nelson - American Classic
Cheap Trick - Sgt. Pepper Live
Collective Soul - Collective Soul
Jet - Shaka Rock

Must See: Ben Folds

2009-08-21T07:53:00.001-07:00

For everyone who does know Ben Folds is touring. Even if you are not a Ben Folds fan, go see him. He puts on one of best shows. He is engaging, funny and makes sure that the crowd has a great time. I have seen him 4 times, once with Ben Folds Five and 3 times solo. My only complaint is that he is not stopping in Denver on this tour. I would really love to see him at least one more time. If you have the opportunity to see him, go. He is one of the best songwriters.

BenFolds Website: http://www.benfolds.com/

Song of the Day 8-20-09

2009-08-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

Fountains of Wayne - Hey Julie

Family Time

2009-08-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

I have family coming in this weekend. My dad, step mom and little brother will be coming out to visit. It is going to be great to see them. I have not seen them since January. Past visits have always been a little strange for me. Some people have problems with their parents, my issues mainly stem from my little brother.

He is 15. I cannot relate. I used to try so hard. I did everything from trying to get into the same music (total crap) as using the same slang. It is just not natural for a 28 year old to say that had a BA factor of 8 or 6 or whatever arbitrary number you assign to it. For all of those who do not know, BA stands for badass. When I questioned, "why not just say the word badass rather than soften it by saying BA," I got the eye roll. I used to obsess why I could not fit in with him. Then it finally dawned on me, this is because I am 28 and he is 15. I would have bigger issues to deal with if I could fit in with 15 year olds and not 28 year olds. I have come to accept that I will never be cool in the eyes of a 15 year old which means my family's visit should be less stressful. Now that is Badass.

Song of the Day 8-19-09

2009-08-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Lucky Boys Confusion - Breaking Rules

New Music Tuesday: 8-18-09

2009-08-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the artists that have new albums out today
Ramona Falls - Intuit
Divisible - Less Than Lion
Arlo Guthrie - Arlo Guthrie: Tales of '69
Nathan Maxwell And The Original Bunny Gang - White Rabbit
Sister Hazel - Release
Third Eye Blind - Ursa Major
Antlers - Hospice
Boulder Acoustic Society - Punchline
Division Day - Visitation
Gwar - Lust in Space

Song of the day 8/18/2009

2009-08-18T05:21:00.000-07:00

Ambulance Ltd. - Primitive

Picture of the Week

2009-08-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

Old Friends

2009-08-16T20:46:00.001-07:00

I am not a materialistic person except when it comes to shoes. Let me clarify, there is not a single pair of shoes in my closet that cost me more that 65 dollars and the average age is 1.5 years old. I just really like shoes. I can dress in absolute tatters from head to ankle but when it comes to footwear, I want style and comfort. My shoe of choice is New Balance. They are the most comfortable shoes. They are also reliable to the point that they are like old friends. Do you have apparel like that? My wife does not always agree with me but they are acceptable in any setting. Wear a black pair to a wedding and you send the always popular message, "I value comfort more than tradition." Honestly, if I was not married I would try it.

I have a routine when it comes to dressing up. I put on what I think is a great outfit and then I ask my wife what she thinks. I try to smirk a little because that way she thinks I am joking. 9 times out of 10 she gives me a confused looked as if all I have on is a necktie. "Are you for real" she questions. I grin as if to say "gotcha" but am a bit disappointed as my outfit did not pass. I count on my wife because if it were completely up to me I would wear my Asthmatic Kitty Records shirt or the one with the eagle on it. I do not even dare put those on and ask. That "joke" as been done too many times. I dress as nice as I can and the slip on my New Balance right before we leave our place. That way she does not realize I have them on until we are already out and it is too late. Maybe next time I ask her opinion I will go with just a tie my New Balance and nothing else.

A Band to Checkout: The Gaslight Anthem

2009-08-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend asked me if I wanted to go see The Gaslight Anthem when they played Denver in September. I agreed and then decided I should check out some of their stuff because I was not all that familiar with them. I have yet to be disappointed. All of their songs are very good. What drew me in is that they remind me a little bit of Hot Water Music. Lyrically their songs are strong and their sound is tight. I would almost classify it is as bluesy punk-rock if that makes sense.

I found an Alternative Press Interview online with Brian Fallon from The Gaslight Anthem and that is what sold me on these guys. He sounded very real. I liked it that he identified the band as being music fans playing music. There are too many musicians these days who think that they are larger than life. It is refreshing that The Gaslight Anthem does not come off as one of those bands. They are a bit of a throwback in that they are growing their fan base by touring nonstop. The Gaslight Anthem epitomizes the type of bands that are missing from the mainstream music scene. They are a humble and connect with fans to make truly great music.

The Gaslight Anthem Website: http://www.gaslightanthem.com/site/

The Gaslight Anthem Tour Schedule: http://www.gaslightanthem.com/site/shows

Alternative Press Website: http://www.altpress.com/

Jeans Anyone?

2009-08-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

I think I am the proud new owner of a pair of tapered jeans. Not the way I wanted to start this entry but I think I accidentally bought jeans that cut off the circulation in my ankles. Lately, I have been on a quest to be as frugal as possible when it comes to buying clothing. Jeans are jeans, shirts are shirts, right. Well, my latest mission was to find jeans for around 15 dollars. I refuse to pay almost double when they are just a form of pants. I was delighted to find a deal on a pair for 14.

I have been fooled before by off brand clothing. About a year ago, I bought a pair of tapered jeans because I failed to read the label and did not understand that Kohl's and The Gap have two completely different demographics. Those went straight to Goodwill. There are way too many options when it comes to jeans. I get that they can all fit differently but I do not need an explanation of the wash style. I have eyes, I can tell if they are lighter or darker. I do not know anyone who goes jean shopping for a pair of antique colored ones. Honestly, all of the options makes my head spin. I just want a pair that are reasonable priced and do not make me look 40. My demands are pretty reasonable. I have given up trying to be hip or cool a long time ago.

I like the color of my new jeans, it is just when I sit in a chair I feel like I have a pair of flood pants on. My exposed ankles are telling me it's breeze today. The thing that really pisses me off is that I went to a whole bunch of stores and the label clearly started "Straight Leg." A friend told me that I need to be looking for something that says "Straight leg throughout." That is real obvious. Clothing companies are just as bad as food companies when it comes to labeling. Why are they trying to sell me jeans that I have to tie a sweater around my waist and wear a golf shirt with.

Song of the Day 8/13/09

2009-08-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Imogen Heap - Say Goodbye and Go

Song of the Day 8/12/09

2009-08-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

Ben Folds Five - Army

New Music Tuesday 8/11/09

2009-08-11T09:24:00.001-07:00

Here is a listing of some of the new albums are being released today. Enjoy.
Behemoth - Evangelion
Black Mold - Snow Blidness Is Crystal Antz
Cobra Starship - Hot Mess
Holmes - Holmes
Erika Jayne - Pretty Mess
Raekwon - Only Build 4 Cuban Linx II
The Roots - How I Got Over
George Strait - Twang
Patrick Wolf - The Bachelor

Song of the Day 8/11/09

2009-08-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday's Best - Pearl Harbor Day

Radio Daze

2009-08-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

I was listening to radio the other day in my car and started wondering if the DJ's who play music really like the music or just being on the radio. This thought came to mind because I think of the radio as more or less white noise unless I am tuned into the AM dial or NPR. There is nothing new or challenging, it is more or less just there. I realize that everyone has different musical tastes but it is odd to me that every top 40 radio DJ loves the same poppy contrived flavor of the week song. You know which one I am talking about, the one about being broken hearted and has something about, "I will do anything for you" or "you are my everything" in it, wait they all sound like that.

My point is, do DJ's like playing the same 3 or 4 songs? Back when I was on high school radio, all I wanted to do was expose people to new rare tracks that could not be heard anywhere else. I forget sometimes that leaving the power in the hands of the DJ's is not exactly marketable to advertisers. This is why the radio is white noise; the people who chose the play lists for mainstream radio stations are not music fans, they are business people. They only understand music in the sense that it has earning potential. Do not confuse the two.

Song of the Day 8-10-09

2009-08-10T06:30:00.001-07:00

Verbow - Dying Son

Song of the Day 8/9/09

2009-08-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

The Get Up Kids - I will catch you

Gomez – New Tide Review

2009-08-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in the situation where you go to the music store for a particular album and you end up buying something you never intended? It seems like a foolish question, everyone has been there right? I have been in this situation countless times, I am looking for something and I find that one of my favorite artists has new material out as well. What makes my purchase of New Tide by Gomez more remarkable is that I did not know anything about the band before I walked into the store. The album drew me in while I was listening to something else far less inspiring. I realized I needed to buy the album when I found myself turning down what I was previewing to hear what was being played over the store speakers.

New Tide is a special album. It is one of those that has grown on me with every listen. Every time I pick up something new. Gomez sound on this album is folk rock. The lyrics are punchy and smart to the point where I hear myself inadvertently mumbling them. What really makes this a fantastic album is the subtlety of the sound. Do not get me wrong there is a lot going on here but it does not hit the listener over the head and sound overproduced. The different instruments and sounds meld together to create one of the best albums I have heard this year.

Notable Tracks: Mix, Win Park Slope & Airstream Driver

Gomez plays at the Fox Theatre in Boulder on August 4^th
http://www.foxtheatre.com/Store/ChooseTicket.aspx

Song of the Day 8/6/09

2009-08-06T07:43:00.000-07:00

Weezer - My Name is Jonas

Song of the Day 8/5/09

2009-08-05T09:22:00.000-07:00

Grasshopper Takeover - Forever Young

Pondering

2009-08-04T20:50:00.002-07:00

I have had quite a few people asking about my lists and wondering why there is a lack of variety to them. I admit I have mentioned Sufjan Stevens, Elliott Smith, Ra Ra Riot and Death Cab for Cutie in quite a few posts. In defending my decision, these artists make great music and have been influential in my life. Here is something to think about, if I mention an artist multiple times, I tend to get stuck on certain artists, then they are fantastic. I would never waste time writing about a band that is weak sauce.

The other thing to note is that I promise there will be more album and show reviews posted very soon. I have been working on buying a house and that really sucked up my free time. Thanks for reading.

Song of the Day 8/4/09

2009-08-04T20:50:00.001-07:00

The Breeders - Canonball

Song of the Day 8/3/09

2009-08-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Spoon - You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb

Movie Script Ending

2009-08-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in one of those funks but you can't explain where it is coming from? You feel a bit detached and it is as if you are watching your life as you would a movie. You watch but have little control over what happens. As you watch you chuckle and think to yourself that will never be me. The scary thing is you are watching yourself. It does not happen very often to me but when it does I am at a total loss of words. I can see the mistakes before they happen but cannot change the outcome or veer off course. This description is a bit mellow dramatic, I know, but it is just the way I felt last night. Maybe it was just a sign that I was ready for some sleep and the needle on the record inside my body had finished for the day.

Front to Back List

2009-08-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

To keep with the tone of the last post, here are 5 albums in no particular order that I can listen to from front to back without skips. What are yours?

-Weezer - The Blue Album
An absolutely fantastic debut album

-Green Day - Dookie
The best Green Day album of all time. It was the mainstream advent of pop-punk.

-Elliott Smith - XO
A beautiful heartfelt album by one of the finest song writers. who ever lived.

-Oasis - What's the Story
Great band making one of many great albums.

-Something Corporate - Leaving through the Window
This album is so catchy it is hard not to like.

Front to back

2009-08-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

I had a conversation the other night with a friend about music. He mentioned that the Smashing Pumpkin's album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness was the only CD that he could listen to from start to finish without skipping a track. It got me thinking about my own collection and which albums I enjoyed front to back without skips. With the advent of mp3 players and digital music this quality has become much less relevant. You can download the tracks you like a disregard everything else. With the emphasis on singles rather than full albums will this lead to more casual music fans who only know a couple of songs by an artist? Will the self life of musicians' be shorter because a single can only keep you in the limelight so long? Remember the Macarena or Who Let the Dogs Out. I wonder if at the next show I attend I will hear someone yell, "play that song that was featured on Itunes last week." I wonder if someday albums will disappear completely.

Song of the Day 8/1/09

2009-08-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Fiest - The Park

Song of the Day 6/31/09

2009-07-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Timorous Me

Word Play

2009-07-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

I was standing around the other day and could not help but overhear a strangers conversation. Really I only caught one line. They were asking the person on the other end to guess-estimate the cost of something. The word guess-estimate makes me chuckle. I realize I use a lot of foolish phrases but guess-estimate is one of the most nonsensical words.

A guess and an estimate are the same thing. In all fairness, a guess is not always logical like an estimate which is an educated guess. Still, the word confuses me. Maybe a guess-estimate means that if you are guessing then this is the best estimate. Maybe I am just too literal with my language. The word guess-estimate is a hybrid word much like hybrid fruits and vegetables. The hybrid has an essence of the original but it is not quite the same. Eating a hybrid tomato is not as satisfying as an heirloom but it passes just as guess-estimate is not a real word but it works.

Song of the Day 7/30/09

2009-07-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Gaslight Anthem - Great Expectations