Rearview Mirror

This song is dedicated to a future former employer.  I'm not about to give thanks or apologize.  I can't wait to see things so much clearer.

You, Me and Pete Yorn - On Your Side

We went to Pete Yorn's You & Me Acoustic tour last night and it was fun.  I am sorry to say that this is a blast from the past.

Ain't That Easy

29/365 and I can tell it's going to be a weird year. Let's get weird. It ain't that easy.

Lost In The Dream

Lately, I can't sleep at all. Probably something to do with all this work, moving, school, more moving, more school, and more work. The same reason that I haven't listened to any new music lately...at least until now. I like this album a lot. It's sounds like a cross between Lord Huron, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan, and Arcade Fire. Maybe tonight I will sleep. If not, at least I'll have something to listen to.

Stream of consciousness

We moved to temporary housing and left our record player behind. Since then I have bought quite a few records but have listened to no music. I just learned that Elton John - Madman Across the Water is a very difficult record to find on vinyl. My two favorite Elton John songs are Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters and Levon in that order. I think I will listen to some streaming music now.

Bon Iver - Minnesota, WI

Doing some very Adult things these days. Domesticating if you will. It is definitely a daunting experience. These people will soon know me more than I know myself and they ask for more than I have ever been asked. I just want in the game. This song brought me solace today at a point where I thought I might break, but I'm never gonna break, never gonna break.

The Black Crowes - Sometimes Salvation

I've been running into some old friends lately and find that we usually pick up right where we left off. After seeing The Black Crowes in Tulsa a few weeks ago, I scrounged up The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. Damn it is so good. Here's one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Yeezus wept.

So, there have been approximately 3,000,000 viewpoints written about this album since it was leaked last Friday. I think most of them are absurd, so here's mine.

Full Disclosure
I really, really like Kanye. I never really got into him until a couple years ago, so I was late to the party, but he's quickly become one of my favorites. His earlier stuff is fun and clever and damn catchy (except the insufferable 808s and Heartbreak).

Then I heard "Monster," and it all changed.

There have been three rap albums from the last 5 years that I truly love: Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne, Good Kid, Mad City by Kendrick Lamar, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye.

Fantasy is actually in my top 20 albums of all time. Kanye combined the creative lyrics (not the typical "Rolex-this" and "Bentley-that" and $$$$$ shit that ruined his Watch the Throne Jay-Z collaboration and his Cruel Summer feature) with rich, layered, jack-hammer tracks to make the most original album since Outkast stopped being Outkast.

The Issue With Rock Critics
Fact #1 - Rock writers LOVE to talk about how much they love rap.
Fact #2 - White rock writers REALLY LOVE to talk about how much they love rap.
Fact #3 - Once an artist/group reaches a certain level of credibility in the rock writer community, the best thing they can possibly do is put out an album that is both a departure from their normal style, and commercially unpopular and/or subversive.

Rock writers (and music snobs in general) love to feel like they understand something that the normal fan "doesn't get." This is why Kid A is a more highly regarded album than OK Computer.

Rock writers ADORE this album. They tout it's "bravery" and "boldness" and "groundbreaking" lyrics. They also rave about the well-chosen samples, bleak tracks, and minimalist beats. All of which really just gives them a chance to show that they know who Billie Holliday, Daft Punk, and Trent Reznor are.

Granted, some of them are truly writing how they feel about it... ...but most of them are just full of shit.

My Relationship With Jeezus
The best word I can use to describe this album is "interesting." It's not a fun listen. It's not an album that you would put on while sitting on the porch having some drinks with friends. When it came on, everyone would started exchanging uncomfortable looks - sometimes because of the lyrics, and sometimes because of the music.

But it's worth a listen. It's worth a dozen listens. Kanye isn't a genius. He's not a visionary. He's not 2Pac. He's not Madonna.

He's an insanely talented rapper and a guy who's not afraid to take risks.

So, let's appreciate this record (and it's most palatable track, linked above) for what it is - not what we want to make it into.

The Woody Guthrie Center opened last weekend in Tulsa. I highly recommend a tour. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it is! On that note, have you guys heard this song? How have I never heard this? It is so freaking good!!

Well, I'm quite embarrassed. You  know that childhood development concept where the child believes that when it leaves the room, the room ceases to exist? Well... ...I didn't feel like that at all. I just erased all my bookmarks, then I forgot to add it back in.

Anyway, I haven't particularly cared for Iron and Wine in the past. The music is beautiful and ornate and precious, and all... ...but you can't DANCE to it. Well, my friends, get ready to boogie!

Laura Marling - Ghosts

Death Grips - Hustle Bones

Death Grips. It's hard to sum it up much better than that. It hurts so good. Please, listen to this at max volume, but BE CAUTIOUS.

Ryan Adams @ Royal Albert Hall

I'm fairly certain that there isn't a better music venue than this in the world. What an amazing show/out of body experience.

David Bowie - Be My Wife

David Bowie is perfect for some drunk saturday nights. It may just be the booze, but I really feel like he looks like somebody's crazy aunt in this video. At least the music is good.

Foxygen - No Destruction

I'm not going to post a long excuse as to why I've been absent again. This song is great and the album is great. They are great live as well. I got the chance to see them in Norman at the Opolis with UMO, who also puts on a great live show. I'd heard of them but their live show was the persuasion I needed to actually get the album. Lots of great influences from Dylan to the Stones, but I feel like they keep the sounds fresh.

The Royal Concept - Goldrushed

Bah Humbug

Tis the post title, only a little tongue in cheek.  Sorry folks, I'll fake a lot of things but this year I'm just not in a Christmas mood.  I wish I were but, I'm going to let it ride and wait until next year.  I have however been nostalgic lately for the "guitar god".  "There is no guitar god" you say?  Oh ye of little faith. For this post I have two goodies. The other day I attempted to make a list of my top 10 favorite guitar solos OF ALL TIME but, I failed. Because I could never narrow it down to 10 I ended up with almost 18 minutes of some of the greatest moments in music history. I hope you enjoy that, if you have the patience (pun). My other goodie is the guitar god that I speak of. There are humans that are extremely proficient at the guitar these days but, I would not call them gods. I call them guitar heroes. A wise and awesome movie once said that, "Heroes are remembered but, legends never die." The guitar gods...legends, may not have played as many notes as some of the new guitar heroes but they somehow took the notes that were available to everybody else and played them like nobody (not even the guitar heroes) could play them. They changed volume knobs forever (car & home stereos, Walkmans, Discmans, iPods, etc). There haven't been many guitar gods/legends in the last 20 years but I'm convinced that Derek Trucks is one. Here is another great example of one of the guitar greats. The guitar solo fun is at the bottom but only in flash for those that aren't slaves of the evil apple mobile empire.

The Derek Trucks link on Youtube was removed

Link to guitar solos mix

It is that time of year and for the first time in a long time I have been enjoying some Christmas music. Last year She & Him came out with this album and I have been waiting to break it back in this year. It has quickly moved up my list of favorite Xmas albums. My first of course being Bing Crosby's Christmas Album. I can see Papa Jarrett right now singing along to Bing. Have a Merry Christmas Everyone!
Cheers!
Clint.

'tis the season

So, I'm obsessed with Christmas in general, but particularly with holiday music.

Off the top of my head, in no particular order, are my top 10 (and note that they change every year...)

White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Merry Christmas From the Family - Robert Earl Keen
All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Christmas Time is Here - Vince Guaraldi (and the Peanuts kids)
Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano

The worst Christmas Song ever? That is easy - 12 Days of Christmas

Now, for your enjoyment, is the Christmas song that gets me most pumped up. It starts out hilarious and ends in full rock mode. Come for SNL, stay for Julian Casablancas...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!


i wish it was christmas today by workprint

A running timebomb

There's nothing that is more important to me during a run than having a good playlist. There are really no rules for which songs work and which ones don't. It's kinda like the supreme court justice's definition of porn, "I know it when I see it."

So, there's no explanation of why this song gives me the boost when I need it, but it does.