Music
Topic archive / 2,076 posts
See also my music library, listening diary, and concert diary
Trying to figure out how to get Devo tickets without paying Ticketmaster's goddamned bastard 25% "convenience" fee.
2008 US Air Guitar Philadelphia Regional
I like adjectives that are both crystal clear and totally vague. For example, you may be coming off a “good” weekend just like I am, but it’s entirely possible that the “good” elements of our respective weekends were completely different. Perhaps you were served an amazing slice of peach cobbler, or your blind date turned out to be George Clooney, or you finally disposed of some incriminating evidence that’s been haunting you for years. But… See more →
Consumption: May 2008
North by Northwest
The ease with which “Pacific Northwest” is abbreviated to PACNOWE made us feel unwelcome before we even got here, but we were able to resist obeying that imperative long enough to have a very fun day in Seattle.
Most of the day was spent at the Experience Music Project, a museum housed in the first Frank Gehry building I’ve gotten to see in person. The building’s effect was much what I imagined it would be:… See more →
One day will not be enough to spend at the Experience Music Project.
Overheard: "I need to close out my tab." "Name?" "Jackson, first name Michael."
Hole
In AC/DC’s 1976 classic “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” the late Bon Scott gleefully lists a handful of his favorite methods for ridding his clients of their enemies, including concrete shoes, cyanide, and TNT. He makes no mention of the Grand Canyon, probably because its Arizona location is geographically inconvenient for an Australian like him. But boy was he missing an opportunity.
Most people who visit the Grand Canyon are stricken by its arresting natural… See more →
Meet the New Mexico, Same as the Old Mexico
I seem to be hitting my stride; the four hours in the car today were nothing. The fact that the drive was equally as scenic as yesterday’s but more populated and less lengthy helped quite a bit. However, had I known what Albuquerque had in store for me, the trip probably would have seemed much longer.
I knew next to nothing about Albuquerque before today, and I now know slightly less than nothing. The little… See more →
CNN has enthusiastically informed me that Mariah Carey got married. This is important news that affects my life.
Consumption: April 2008
On the Web
- We Bleed Design: The style is a bit trendy for my taste, but the site employs some very novel and intriguing transitions using a clever combination of JavaScript, CSS, and transparent PNGs.
In the Stereo
- Pharaoh: Be Gone
- Rupa & The April Fishes: Extraordinary Rendition
On the Silver Screen
Listening to DAT Politics cheat the spelling of "video tape" to fit the 4/4 time of their song of the same name. justsomelyrics.com/1659211/D…
Awake from a long and strange dream of discussing the greater economic implications of the price of coffee beans with Mike Patton.
Just had the most pleasant rejection imaginable to my sheepish request that someone at Hatch Show Print show me the shop on their day off.
Distilling a 60-minute mixtape from a 4-hour playlist.
Decided against ATP tickets. The lineup is worth the expense, but the admirably careful anti-scalping policies force absolute commitment.
On the ATP New York 2008 site, hovering paralyzed over the Buy These Tickets button at the bottom of a fully filled-out form.
May skip OIAF (ottawa.awn.com) in favor of ATP New York (atpfestival.com/events/atpnew…). Ability to get tickets for the latter will decide.
Knock, knock. Who's there? Knock, knock. Who's there? Knock, knock. Who's there? Knock, knock. Who's there? Philip Glass.
Jimmie's Chicken Shack is playing at the bar down the street from me. That place is running out of Miller Lite tonight.
Alanis Morissette must owe a lot to circumstance. There's no other explanation.
Typesetting the whole of Ulysses on a quarter panel of a 7" sleeve.
Dancing with Mr. Brownstone.
Annoyed by the way Jeremy Enigk puts a W in front of words that begin with vowels.
West Philadelphia Orchestra
Wondering what motivates people to spend money to talk over a band.
Apparently I’m a sucker for a cute girl with an accordion.
Why, yes, I do want to go see King Crimson in August. I also kind of want to kick my own ass.
Consumption: March 2008
On the Web
- Binary Marble Adding Machine: An amazingly simple wooden machine that performs calculations using marbles. Don’t miss the video demo!
- Muxtape: Remarkably simple site that lets you make a mixtape online. Check out mine.
- Penguin Classics Tumblr Theme: Beautifully rendered by Max Wheeler.
Interpreting guitar riffs phonetically.
Having a heated imaginary discussion with the very idea of "soft rock."
Watching John Mellencamp on a bar TV, where he is performing at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, which looks more like an AARP banquet.
Just beat my best streak on the iLike Challenge, which required me to correctly identify a lot of really terrible music. Please help me.
Leah, hearing Jesu coming out of my speakers: "Oh, you like this Jesus band."
Thoroughly enjoying the Besnard Lakes while hiking through acres of SXSW prep work.
Consumption: February 2008
On the Web
- Hitchcock Classics: Vanity Fair puts contemporary stars in classic frames.
- Say What You Will (Requiem for a TV News Career): Chez Pazienza recounts the story of being dooced by CNN, and lacerates the television news industry in the process.
- Are Oscars Worth All This Fuss?: Interesting thoughts on what the Academy Awards were, are, and ought to be.
- RIP: Owning Music (1880–2008): Well-reasoned observations on the evolution of music distribution.
In the… See more →
If you find it necessary to put out a special 10th anniversary reissue of your debut record, you need to get the fuck over yourself.
El DeBarge's "Rhythm of the Night" is somehow stuck in my head. Despite the song's best efforts, there are still worries on my mind.
Dio is what this afternoon needs, so Dio is what it gets.
just watched a pristine print of Tenebre. I forgot how awesome the music is in that movie. Fun!
Consumption: January 2008
On the Web
- Opening the Windows Vista Box: Because it seriously can’t be done without a fucking tutorial.
- Brown Tape Art: Mark Khaisman creates some stunning images with translucent brown packing tape backlit on plexiglass.
- Bobby Fischer, Chess Master, Dies at 64: He may have been an asshole, but man could he play.
- Lasagna Cat: A wonderfully bizarre collection of videos putting Jim Davis in his place.
- The Amen Break: The history of the world’s… See more →
Any Philly peeps going to see The Supersuckers tonight?
Dragonforce has been on my radar for awhile, but I'm only just now noticing the humorous redundancy of "Through Fire and Flames."
remembering the first time I successfully sang the "sha na na na na na na na knees" part of "Welcome to the Jungle." I was 12 and stoked.
Retro Format War
I was recently involved in a music exchange with a handful of friends, in which we each put together a compilation of songs, and everyone involved got a copy of all of the compilations. Aside from giving me a good excuse to put together a fun mix, it allowed me the ever-cherished opportunity to do some unsolicited philosophizing, and I thought both were worth sharing with a larger audience.
Here’s an excerpt of an e-mail… See more →
Jimmy's got it wired, law's for hire. Got it made in the shade.
wondering if ever occurred to Zakk Wylde to regret his choice of name.