finally i found it, after a real long time of internet searching: the soundtrack to Michael Crichton's The Andromeda Strain, composed by Gil Melle. It's a barrage of bleeps and blips, primitive electronics that for its day were incredible (probably about as incredible as the effects in the movie were). Speaking of, I can't help but think of the movie when i listen to it, and since it is one of my favorite movies (and books, too) ever, there is no complaint in that department. never have underground decontamination chambers sounded better, and i must say [...]
i was worried about the new beatles record, love, when i first heard about it. but when i heard the vocal line for "within you without you" over the rhythm track for "tomorrow never knows," i was amazed. there is some really cool stuff going on, like taking "good night" and putting the "octopus's garden" vocal melody in there instead. later on in the record there is some pitch-bending and such, which is understandable, cuz if you've ever tried to play along to some of the [...]
Since Tyler's too busy doing... I don't know, Tyler-things, I thought I'd pick up some of his slack. If you've ever had any sort of conversation about music with me-- and more specifically, pop music-- you know that I subscribe to the "Swedish people write the best pop songs" theory. And I've thought of creating a detailed post to prove this point. Then... I discovered that the argument has been made already. In a more succinct, far catchier way than I could ever manage. Meet I'm from Barcelona , a 29-piece supergroup of nerds, dweebs and geeks. Swedish [...]
Since it's football season once again, I've been watching more consentrated blocks of television than I do during other parts of the year (otherwise known as "the dark times"). As a result, I've seen more than my fair share of commercials. Now, I mean, I majored in communications, so I know what to expect from advertisers. However, there's only so much I can take sometimes. Vonage, you should be ashamed of yourselves. I've never dreaded watching a Notre Dame home game until now, and it's all thanks to you. However, during the breaks, while I'm wishing away these little slices [...]
So, turns out that this fall actually does just keep getting better. First, the Fightin' Irish help Michigan State yank defeat from the jaws of victory , then I score tickets to both Robert Pollard (November 9th @ the Bluebird) and the Decemberists (November 11th @ the Riviera), and now, perhaps the best news of all: the Pernice Brothers have a new album on the way. Scheduled for release this coming Tuesday (October 3rd, for anyone [...]
I wrote a postcard yesterday. Here's what it said: I'm standing in the post office, watching the leaves turn at the church across the street, and there's nowhere else I'd rather be right now. I hope you can say the same about whatever place you're in. When I finished, this song came on my Walkman. I just thought I'd share. Paul Simon - Hearts and Bones. Is Hearts and Bones the most underrated
Unless you're a band looking for a street team, random MySpace friend requests rarely amount to anything more than a solemn click of the reject button. However, on the flip side, sometimes they're totally awesome. This is Phil Aiken, piano player and my new friend. According to his website, Phil's worked with pop luminaries including Buffalo Tom, Ben Kweller, James Taylor, Ken Stringfellow, and, of course, sportscaster Peter Gammons . Not a bad musical CV, if you ask me. Aiken's also [...]
If you're already anxious about what surprises 2007 will hold for music fans, here's an early one: the Polyphonic Spree have have become *gasp!* a focused pop band. At least, that's what the group's new EP, entitled Wait , would have you believe. Amidst some truly inspired covers (a Daniel Johnston-esque romp through Nirvana's "Lithium", a Polyphonic retconning of Tripping Daisy's "Sonic Bloom"), Tim DeLaughter managed to sneak out some original songs scheduled to appear on the Spree's third album, The Fragile Army . In spite [...]
A note to all future Notre Dame quarterbacks (i'm looking at you, Claussen): when you play a game like this... ...and make this man look like a competent quartback... ...then it only follows that this will happen. 47-21. At home. To Michigan. I just wanna wake [...]
I'm back in Bloomington, relatively unmolested and brimming with updates. Like, you know, this one: Herbert - Moving Like A Train (Smith 'n' Hack Remix) . Here's a little something for a Friday night. German dance duo Smith 'n' Hack transform this track, originally taken from jazz-house guru Matthew Herbert's Scale , into an entirely different animal. Excised are the disco flourishes and sass-coated female vocals; instead, it's a pulsing beat and staggered, [...]
So, it seems that I've stumbled into yet another Peoria adventure. I guess unemployment has its advantages sometimes, though I think I might be getting too comfortable with the rambling life. Speaking of rambling, Bobby Bare, Jr. is readying for a new album release on September 26. Titled The Longest Meow , it was (according to AllMusic.com) "recorded in eleven hours one Saturday in March, 2006 with members of My Morning Jacket, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, Lambchop, and Clem Snide sitting in as the current incarnation of Bare's Young Criminals Starvation [...]
Yesterday evening, the Bluebird played host to shitkickers and hellraisers from all walks of life, as the Reverend Horton Heat held his own special brand of revival in downtown Bloomington. Aside from the usual bowling-shirts-and-leopard-pri nt set, crowd was amazingly varied. I was esoecially struck by how many older, seemingly normal baby boomers showed up read to rock...abilly. [...]
I'm going to see His Holiness, the Reverend Horton Heat, tonight at the Bluebird, so I'll have pictures and post-game thoughts up tomorrow. For now, though, I thought I'd take some time to look at a few of the albums that I've been listening to over the past couple of weeks. The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely If you've ever had a breakup that literally made you forget how to live, this is the album that you've been waiting for. As for [...]
Well, Labor Day is officially gone, and with it go the long days of summer. As much as I love all things autumn (Oktoberfest beers, college football, apple orchards), summer's power over me is undeniably strong. With that in mind, here are a couple of songs to usher out firework days and usher in bonfire weather. Loudon Wainwright III - The Swimming Song . I'm not sure why this one gets to me so much. Maybe it's the hint of bittersweetness in the plucking of the banjo that's [...]
A few things of note before we get to the music. - Happy Football Christmas ! Me? I'm asking for world peace, an Irish National Championship, and this poster: - On a related note, I'll be in Atlanta this weekend to cheer Notre Dame to victory over the Ramblin' Wreck of Georgia Tech, so Saturday's update may not happen. This goes double if we lose; then, I plan to a) drink myself blind [...]
I'm not dead, only wounded. The "settling in" portion of the move to Bloomington is nearly complete, so expect regular updates to resume relatively soon (and yes, I know my track record on these promises is shoddy at best; I'm working on that.) The Vetiver review and the rest of the Lollapalooza pics will be up... when I feel like it. I'll probably backdate the posts to preserve some semblance of continuity for future generations, but I'll make an announcement when they actually go up. After all, I like you guys. [...]
Moving sucks. Be back later this week when I can actually use the internet without stealing my neighbor's wireless.
Hear ye, hear ye! New Decemberists track's a-comin'! So, The Crane Wife has leaked. If you just can't wait until October, you probably know where to find it. If you just want a taste, read on. If you've read any reports, you might've heard that the Decemberists have again tapped into the same prog-rock outlet that produced 2003's The Tain . For the most part, it's true. The [...]
Here's Day Two. Quickly! After missing the early train home the night before, we vowed to keep our travel affairs in better order for Saturday. This basically meant waking up at the seemingly inhuman hour of 9am and hopping the 10:30 Metra out of Downer's Grove. On the train, we consulted our schedules while trying to figure out how many of our fellow passengers were headed to the festival. Krystiana and Alex decided to make Nada Surf their first act of the [...]
So, my Lollapalooza pictures are a week late, and my Vetiver review is pushing 10 days. Sue me. While you're doing that, check out these long-awaited shots from last Friday's opening day. Arriving at Lollapalooza this year was an adventure in and of itself. I was staying out in the suburbs, and decided to take the El into the city as a means of avoiding the twin hassles of traffic and parking. This tactic was marginally successful, but also fraught with peril. [...]
My Bird Performs
Boards of Canada – Reach For The Dead
L D R U – The Tropics
Ace by @thebigsleepnyc #nowplaying
Spicy Tempeh and Broccoli Rabe Protein Punched by City Light, Magic Man and Smallpools
