Friday, February 29, 2008

F-MINUS

About a year and a half ago I began to read the newspaper again. Well not so much read the paper as do the crossword every morning. This has resulted in a new appreciation for the comics section (where the crossword lives in the The Statesman). Among the favorites are Non Sequitur and Bizarro, but one that always catches my eye (well it is directly under the crossword) is F-MINUS. Creator Tony Carrillo is rarely off in his ability to give me a great chuckle in the morning and I'd like to share one of my recent favorites with you from a few days ago... Feb. 27th to be exact. For all the writers out there who, like me, make too much use of the comma....

[insert chuckle here]


Thursday, February 28, 2008

NEWS: Irish Christians Dislike What I Have To Say

**UPDATE**
We've all had a good chat and a laugh about this. Supersimbo made more clear his position and point with his post. I'd like to say that there were never any hard feelings coming from either of us just for clarification, and some of his commenters made great points, most notably the person who states that I didn't use the term "shit" in correct context. I didn't, and oh how I laugh at my stupidity. It's all been chuckled off. I love the internet.

*original post follows*

Writing for an online music magazine is a great source of pleasure for me. It gives me the opportunity to speak my mind about something that is a big source of joy in my life. Rarely do I get very emotional about things, I am a laid back guy that is mostly okay with everything that goes on around me. Music and Film are two of the things however that really give me something to get excited about (however lame and apathetic to important global crisis that may make me sound).

I have never pretended to be an authority on anything that I write about, but I hope that my eagerness and love for what I do put into words shows through and that people at least take what I have to say on said subjects with a little bit of seriousness.

With this said,

I checked my email early this afternoon to find that something I'd written actually made its way all the way across the pond to Northern Ireland, in print no less. This is a pretty big thing for me, as nothing I've written has really garnered much attention outside a close circle of people I know.

You see, every now and then, much like with critic's blurbs about films, a quick little quote will make its way onto an advertisement for a band's upcoming album. You'll see these in magazines or on the sides of your webpages.. the little square or rectangular adverts that say, "The Skinny Jeans Band: Their new self-titled release drops on May 13th." Or something like that... then there'll be the quote, "'It's the best thing since pitted olives' - Hip Music Monthly" You must know what I'm talking about.

Well this has finally happened to me, and it has fulfilled my desires of becoming a reputable journalist. Or at least the first step to that desire.

If I had a copy of the ad in question I would show it (I've been scouring the city for a physical copy all afternoon, might have to order it off the net). It is for the artist, Ferraby Lionheart, a man I have actually featured in one or two of my Music Mondays.

Here is the original review I wrote for The Tripwire.

Pretty damn good review if I do say so myself.

The problem arises here, or rather earlier this month (February) when the ad for Ferraby Lionheart's album graced the pages of RELEVANT, a Christian Pop Culture magazine. One of it's readers had a big problem with what I had to say about the album, and with the fact that it showed up in his magazine...

Here's the fan's enthused blog post.

"amongst 'most christians' and amongst most customers i see, it is definitely NOT acceptable! So is it ok? I reckon there definitely are other ways for the Tripwire to 'put it'........don't you?"

Apparently, supersimbo and the other 15 or so commenters are up in arms over the fact that not only did I use the term "shit" in my review, but also that their beloved Christian Magazine ran the ad.

I realize a few of the people I know who read my blog are Christians, and I have no problem with that, in fact, it's part of the reason I love you. I just wanted to bring this up because I thought it amusing. Think what you want. I've just had a VERY good laugh at this whole thing.

note: I am not mentioned supersimbo's blog, or the magazine ad. It simply quotes, "The Tripwire." But it is my review they are referencing.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Music Monday: Cloudless

Figure it's about time for another Music Monday... and why not actually have it come out on a Monday? It's all the more fun that way.

Big things have been afoot (and will be in the next month) here in Austin. Last week's debate was a pretty big talking point amongst nearly everyone here in town. My roommate's little brother actually had a front row seat after winning a ticket in the student lottery (1/100 chances, not bad), and another friend spent about 20 minutes waxing poetic with Chelsea Clinton at Guero's later that night (about hair no less - they've got the same type apparently). But that's neither here nor there in relation to this edition of Music Monday. I just thought you might like a little update from your friendly blue dot in Texas.

There was a post a couple weeks ago that was nothing but an exclamation about how absolutely beautiful it has been here lately, so this week's playlist is just a good summation of the vibrations felt as the the sun roof rolls back and you're able to smell the fresh water emanating throughout my fair city. This is why we put up with 100+ heat in the summer...

Music Monday: Cloudless

1. The Mountaineers - I Gotta Sing -- From the album Messy Century. The Mountaineers are a Welsh group that has just not had any luck commercially despite releasing critically solid records. I myself picked this album up out of the "trash bin" at my college radio station. After hearing one track I decided to keep it and a month later when I made my first trek to the UK, this album accompanied me and now represents the Scottish Highlands and sunny days. This is their only full length, they've got a few EP's that have received on par reviews, but after being dropped by their label in 03/04 due to restructuring they've been on a permanent hiatus. There is rumor of new material, but I think it's just fanboys like myself hoping that they'll release something more to bide our appetites. This is a great album on the whole, and it contains one of my favorite songs of all time - UK Theatre - to be utilized in a Music Monday playlist in the near future to be sure.

2. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side -- from The Queen Is Dead. Oh Moz, oh Marr, you'll never reunite despite however much we hope. Enough has surely been said about The Smiths. I have only become a fan within the past year or so, but that's not to say I haven't just taken ahold with a clenched jaw. Morrissey definitely has a penchant for slightly morbid, somber lyrics, but coupled with Marr's uplifting arrangements these songs sound eerily uplifting. This is an eyes-closed-face-up-basking-in-the-sun track for this Spring.

3. The Thrills - Restaurant -- from Teenager. I said I'd make use of this album months ago, yet I never did, until now. The Thrills, despite however much they may or may not try, will never cease to be a band that makes music for the summer. They didn't help matters from the beginning by coming out with a sound that was nothing but The Beach Boys. Their second release, Let's Bottle Bohemia, was a little darker and harder, but still... think of the Beach Boys with a slight attitude. Now on Teenager they've seemed to have accepted who they are, they are comfortable with that and have opened up the sound they so instinctively (and near perfectly) arrange. Utter Happiness.

4. Coconut Records - Summer Day -- from Nighttiming. Jason Schwartzman and Zooey Deschanel. Coconut Records is his solo moniker and she's helping on a few tracks. It's sweet and it's simple. She's got an amazingly soft voice that works perfectly. He sounds like he's still in Phantom Planet, but hey when he was in Phantom Planet, they weren't too bad. Pop, but not bad, perfect for a.... Summer Day.

5. Albert Hammond, Jr. - Well... All Right -- this is from an odd little B-side record I picked up somewhere, I have no idea where though. It's easy and melodic, and very apparent where a lot of that early Strokes sound came from (they've evolved a bit). I love The Strokes, therefore I love Hammond's work. His, Yours To Keep, was another great Spring/Summer album and I hear he's got another one on the way, since The Strokes seem to be on a permanent hiatus themselves (goddamn hip people).


Thus concludes Cloudless. Have a great time with this one, that what it's purpose is. Roll down your windows and breathe in that fresh air... if you've got it. I apologize if you don't have amazing weather right now... just imagine if you did though. Don't worry, Global Warming will hit soon enough and we'll all have a permanent summer to enjoy. YAY!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

I Don't Know, I'm Making This Up As I Go

Um my favorite film of all time is about to get a third sequel. I am beside myself, and both of us are geeking out pretty hard.

[the pic will send you to the NEW TRAILER]


It's cool, I know you're skeptical. Watch the trailer. It looks like way too much fun.

Friday, February 08, 2008

I Gotta Sing

News Flash: It's Inexplicably Gorgeous Outside.


Go Check It Out For Yourself.
(Why Can't I Stop Capitalizing Words?)