PixlePost & Other Sorts of Poopy-Cha

Two Gallants - Prodigal Son

2007-10-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

Here is a group I was introduced to through my brother. This is a great song with a great video. I really like the weird mix of a Modest Mouse feel with Nirvana and Bob Zimmerman.

Headlights

2007-09-12T23:05:00.000-08:00

Who cares who his parents were, just enjoy the music for what it is. Cool phrasing and an interesting sound, I like this song.

There you-go-nate. An update, just for you. :D

Brian....

2007-04-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

Here is What You Missed

2007-01-27T11:38:00.000-09:00

For those who missed what it was that I thought rocked (though I am ashamed to admit it) I will repost. NOTE: The moment has passed, so this isn't nearly as cool as it would've been.

I Thought I'd Seen It All...

2007-01-02T12:30:00.000-09:00

I have to admit, I thought it rocked.

The Regenerations of the Doctor

2006-12-28T10:56:00.001-09:00

THIS PIXLEPOST IS FOR YOU MIKE LOVE

2006-12-27T13:47:00.000-09:00

What I Really Want For Christmas

2006-12-05T08:57:00.001-09:00

If any of you folks are wondering what I really want for christmas click the link.

http://brianwilson.com/store/index.html

Dead Meat

2006-11-27T19:31:00.000-09:00

Good song and a good vocal. Very Elliot Smith.

CIVIL WAR

2006-11-22T10:20:00.000-09:00

This is my signature on the Sideshow Freaks Forum... It was commisioned by me and made by my two buds, Pordey2 and RoboDad!! Thanks guys!

Nelly Furtado Is Awesome and Funny!!!

2006-09-28T12:38:00.000-08:00

Mace Windu, Ladies Man

2006-09-08T06:59:00.000-08:00

Special thanks as always to the wonferfully twisted WOR-GAR over at Sideshow Freaks!

BROKEBACK HAN!

2006-08-22T18:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks again to Wor-Gar!!!!!

ELVIS: American David

2006-08-19T20:08:00.000-08:00

Bono's essay of "Elvis: American David"

Q magazine, June 1995

'The Record That Changed My Life' where various musicians were asked about said record. The following is Bono's reply :

ELVIS : AMERICAN DAVID

elvis
son of tupelo
elvis
mama's boy
elvis
the twin brother of Jesse who died at birth and
was buried in a shoe box
elvis
drove a truck
elvis
was recorded at sun studios by the musical diviner
sam phillips
elvis
was managed by colonel tom parker, an ex-carnie
barker whose last act was a singing canary
elvis
was the most famous singer in the world since
king david
elvis
lived on his own street
elvis
liked to play speedcop
elvis
had a monkey named bubbles before anyone
elvis
wore a cape at the white house when he
was presenting nixon with two silver pistols
elvis
was a member of the drug squad
elvis
wore eye make up, just hangin' out
elvis
wore a gold nudie suit and trained his lip to curl
elvis
was macho, but could sing like a girl
elvis
was not a big talker
elvis
was articulate in every other way
elvis
dyed his hair black to look like valentino
elvis
held a microphone the way valentino held nita
naldi in blood and sand
elvis
dressed black long before he dressed in black
elvis
sang black except in lower registers
where he was a student of dean martin
elvis
admired mario lanza
elvis
delivered the world from crooning
elvis
was a great crooner
elvis
had a voice that could explain the sexuality of america
elvis
was influenced by jim morrison in his choice of
black leather for the '68 comeback special
elvis
invented the beatles
elvis
achieved world domination from a small town
elvis
was conscious of myth
elvis
had pharoah-like potential
elvis
was made by america, so america could remake
itself
elvis
had good manners
elvis
was a bass, a baritone, and a tenor
elvis
sang his heart out at the end
elvis
the opera singer
elvis
the soap opera
elvis
loved america, God, the bible, firearms, the movies, the
office of presidency, junk food, drugs, cars, family,
television, jewellery, straight talkin', dirty talkin' game
shows, uniforms, and self-help books
elvis
like america, wanted to improve himself
elvis
like america, started out loving but later turned on
himself
elvis
body could not stop moving
elvis
is alive, we're dead
elvis
the charismatic
elvis
the ecstatic
elvis
the plastic
elvis
the elastic
with a spastic dance that might explain the energy
of america
elvis
fusion and confusion
elvis
earth rod in a southern dorm
elvis
shaking up an electrical storm
elvis
in hollywood his voice gone to ground
elvis
in las vegas with a big brassy sound
elvis
the first rock'n'roll star with scotty moore, bill
black, and d.j. fontana
elvis
with james burton and ronny tutt
elvis
the movie star made three good films : viva las vegas,
flaming star, and jailhouse rock
elvis
the hillbilly brought rhythm to the white race,
blues to pop, and rock'n'roll to
whereever rock'n'roll is
elvis
the pelvis, swung from africa to europe, which is
the idea of america
elvis
liberation
elvis
the kung fu would come later
elvis
hibernation
elvis
built a theme park he later called Graceland
elvis
woke up to whispers
elvis
thought of himself as a backslider
elvis
knew guilt like a twin brother
elvis
called God every morning
then left the phone off the hook
elvis
turned las vegas into a church
when he sang "love me tender"
elvis
turned america into a church
when he sang "the trilogy"
elvis
was harangued by choice;
flesh vs. spirit, God vs. rock'n'roll
mother vs. lover,father vs. the colonel
elvis
grew sideburns as a protest against tom jones'
hairy chest
elvis
would have a president named after him
elvis
was one of the boys
elvis
was not one of the boys
elvis
had an acute intelligence disguised as talent
elvis
broke pirscilla's heart
elvis
broke lisa marie's heart
elvis
woke up my heart
elvis
white trash
elvis
the memphis flash
elvis
didn't smoke hash
and woulda been a sissy
without johnny cash
elvis
didn't dodge the draft
elvis
had his own aircraft
elvis
having a laugh
on the lisa marie
in a colour photograph
elvis
under the hood
elvis
cadillac blood
elvis
darling bud flowered and returned
to the mississippi mud
elvis
ain't gonna rot
elvis
in a memphis plot
elvis
didn't hear the shot
but the king died
just across the lot from
elvis
vanilla ice cream
elvis
girls of 14
elvis
memphis spleen
shooting at the tv
reading corinthians 13
elvis
with God on his knees
elvis
on three tvs
elvis
here come the killer bees
head full of honey
potato chips and cheese
elvis
the bumper stickers
elvis
the white knickers
elvis
the white nigger
ate at burger king
and just kept getting bigger
elvis
sang to win
elvis
the battle to be slim
elvis
ate america
before america ate him
elvis
stamps
elvis
necromance
elvis
fans
elvis
psychophants
elvis
the public enemy
elvis
don't mean shit to chuck d
elvis
changed the centre of gravity
elvis
made it slippy
elvis
hitler
elvis
nixon
elvis
christ
elvis
mishima
elvis
marcus
elvis
jackson
elvis
the pelvis
elvis
the psalmist
elvis
the genius
elvis
the generous
elvis
forgive us
elvis
pray for us
elvis
aaron presley
(1935-1977)

Bono 1995
IF YOU LOVE ELVIS YOU MUST LOVE ALL OF ELVIS!

The King Is Dead. Long Live The King

2006-08-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

If you would like a book recomendation to go with todays commemoration I recomend "Elvis In The Morning" by William F Buckley Jr.

Whats that?...... Yes, William F Buckley Jr.

A New Ending for Star Wars

2006-08-07T14:29:00.000-08:00

BEHOLD THE SITH!!!!

2006-08-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

Special thanks again to the Kinky Kitchen of my buddy War-Gar from Sideshow Freaks!

I created a Slide Show! Check it out!

2006-08-02T12:30:00.000-08:00

A Little Slide Show of My Stuff...

2006-08-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

San Diego Comic Con 2006!!!

2006-07-19T20:43:00.000-08:00

Sideshow previews its first FIVE offering for the new Scum and Villainy Line. Pretty awesome. Has me pretty excited.

Some New Love For That Special Someone

2006-07-14T12:21:00.001-08:00

H/T Worgar ar Sideshow Freaks for the pic.

Syd Barrett, Founder of Pink Floyd, Dead At 60

2006-07-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

It is strange how the death of someone you never knew personally can effect you. When my brother told me this morning that Syd Barrett passed away my heart jumped into my throat. Apparently he died of complications stemming from his long-time battle with diabetes.

Syd Barrett was the founding memeber of Pink Floyd and wrote the bands first hit single in 1966 "See Emily Play" and "Arnold Lane" as well as penning and singing most of the material for their debut album "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn." After being removed from Pink Floyd and replaced by David Gilmour Syd sank into obscurity living at his mother's house and enjoying his garden.

One friend (I believe THE FRIEND) who got me into early Floyd and Syd Barrett reacted by saying "good riddance. old people get old. crazy people get a lot of cats. what are you gonna do?"... I was tarred with a brush a touch more sentimental, I guess.

Syd was a profound influence on my life (as far as people I never met go) and you were up there with Mozart, Lennon, Elvis, and Kurt on my list.

R.I.P.

Sideshow Announces New Line Of 1/6 Scale Figures

2006-07-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Sideshow Collectibles have announced in addition to the Order of the Jedi, Heroes of the Rebellion, and Lords of the Sith lines of 1/6 figures they are now adding Scum and Villainy to their line-up.

At the San Diego Comic Con in July Sideshow will be announing the identity of the first figure in the new line as well as another from of the previous lines. I predict Greedo will be the first from the new Scum and Villainy line.

Journals of a Sideshow Freak!

2006-07-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

This picture is courtesy of Tomandshell from the Freaks Board. Kit Fisto is arriving earlier than expected. Kit Fisto has begun to ship. I am slated to receive Kit in about a week to a week and a half.

HELL FROZE OVER!!!!

2006-06-14T16:14:00.000-08:00

Looks like the Beach Boys might actually reunite. If that includes Mike Love tied to a spit cooking over a fire while the others sing Kokomo, I might actually catch them live...

Naw, just kidding. I would see them live with BRIAN WILSON anytime!

Anakins 'R' Us

2006-06-12T19:26:00.000-08:00

I got my Anakin in the mail today, finally, after watching everyone on rebelscum and sideshow freaks get theirs.

Billy Preston Dead at age 59

2006-06-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

Sad news. He had been in a coma since last November after having a kidney transplant. I actually met him when I was 17. Shook his hand and everything. Very nice guy and enormously talented pianist.

Cool New Blog Toy to Display My Toys!

2006-05-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

Cool huh?

2 Ton Balls of Steel

2006-05-06T07:56:00.001-08:00

Steven Colbert.... Whoa... 4 feet from President Bush, saying the stuff he is saying. Check out the video by clicking here.

Who books the speakers for these thing? The4 laugh at first.. but as it goes on.. well check it out.

h/t Wade

George Lucas Finally Listens To The Fans!!!

2006-05-03T18:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.starwars.com/episode-iv/release/video/news20060503.html

Han Shoots First!

All those who felt their childhoods were raped can now begin the healing.

To; Wdegraw From: Pixlepost w/ Love

2006-05-02T10:15:00.000-08:00

Just to answer your "queery" from my last post's comments.

Toys for Thought

2006-04-30T20:01:00.000-08:00

I would just like to post a few pics of 2 new figures I have. One is the Hasbro Anakin and the other is the Sideshow Anakin... Isn't the Hasbro version craptastic? If I'd have had a the Sideshow version when I was a kid I would have fallen into seizures...

This isn't the official return of my blog... that will come later. I just wanted to share... :)

And the exclusive Dath Vader Sith Apprentice...

Not sure why this published so crazy, but you can pick them out.

COMING SOON!!!!

2006-04-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

I will soon be posting new and exciting things (well at least they are new and exciting to me)... So be sure you check back here on May 6th!!!

Weekly Album of the Week II #6

2006-02-24T19:20:00.000-09:00

Sorry I have been absent for so long but I think you will understand after you read this weeks album: The Beach Boys SMiLE.

I have been working hard, using Pro Tools software and various bootleg recordings and rare issues to recreate a close approximation of what Brian Wilson's SMiLE would have sounded like had he finished it in 1967.

Now I don't want to knock what Brian Wilson did in finishing SMiLE in 2004. It is a masterpiece recording. But listening to the original session tapes of SMiLE you hear a quality of expression in Brian's voice that is hard to come by in the 2004 version.

So what I did was take those old unfinished recordings and strung them together and sequenced, edited, and fixed them (using the 2004 SMiLE as a reference) in order to present a sort of guide album to fuel the imagination of "what should have been." The most surprising thing I learned was just how close to finishing SMiLE Brian actually was.

Some things in the 1967 recordings were impossible to match to Brian's 2004 version simply because the audio source on some parts had deteriorated, or vocals were never recorded, harmonies never overdubbed, and in one case (to the best of my knowledge) were never even recorded except in demo form; tape-deck style. But I have filled in the cracks as best I could and I must admit, it turned out beyond my expectations.

If there is enough interest in hearing the results expressed on the comments page I will provide a temporary link so you can hear it.

And you should hear it. It will make you SMiLE!

Weekly Album of the Week II #5

2006-02-10T20:11:00.000-09:00

Have you ever heard of the greatest band ever whose fame lasted a lunch time? NO!??! Well you need to check out the Rutles Archeology. With such hits as OUCH! and Hold My Hand (Yeah Yeah)its a wonder they weren't banished around the known world. They even have a DVD called The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash.

You can hear their songs by clicking on the title-link above.

PS any resemblence to persons either living or dead is purely coincidential and should be regarded as such.

(PPS my favorite Rutles song is Piggy In the Middle which sounds suspiciously like a song by a different artist - - Goo Goo Ga Joob)

David Hasselhoff, Free Us In The Name of Satan!

2006-01-31T19:26:00.000-09:00

Not only is David Hasselhoff the Prince of Darkness, the Leige of Evil, the Proprietor of Doom... He is the Liberator of East Germany as well. Give this link a good read.

Here is a "tasty excerpt" [which was possibly edited]:

"Many Americans joke about my popularity in Germany. But they have no idea how beautiful Europe is and how rich it is in culture and fun and warm yummy children. In Germany, Deacon of Darkness Mike Love brought me thousands of babies to devour."

As you are lulled into security reading that article, please keep it in the back of your mind that this man eats babies. If you are interested in his secret life as LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING, please click the capped link.

[Edit]
If you need extra proof (or just something to laugh at) check out David Hasselhoff's video for "Hooked On A Feeling" video by clicking on the title of todays post.

h/t Ciddity Hat & Kerry, Bill, & Gina.

Awesome Freakie-freakie

2006-01-30T13:04:00.000-09:00

Thanks to Slick for the above link. Chocoreve's blog is full of the most freaky and interesting music I've scene. You should check it out should your bandwidth allow.

Weekly Album of the Week II #4

2006-01-26T08:58:00.000-09:00

After viewing Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, were you asking yourself who that was singing the song at the end (Gollum's Song)? I did. My brother suggested it was Bjork, which is understandable because she did sound kinda like Bjork. But it just sounded slightly off of Bjork's singing style.

Come to find out through an internet search that it was Emiliana Torrini. A singer who, like Bjork, is from Iceland. So I became curious and checked out her stuff and she is good, but I have to be honest. I did not like the album I found (Love in the Time of Science).

Time goes by and I see this new album by her called Fisherman's Woman and I was quite impressed.

Kind of has a laid back summer afternoon feel that I liked and all of the songs had things in them to keep me interested. She does sound like Bjork, but quite different musically.

Favorite track is Lifesaver. It has convincing ambiant noises like the water clinging to the side of the boat and you can hear the ropes on the sails being pulled and relaxing as the wind comes and goes. Very effective. Check it out here.

The W.A.N.D.

2006-01-14T20:46:00.000-09:00

You should seriously check out the new Flaming Lips single for their upcoming album, At War With The Mystics. If I were to paraphrase what it sounds like I would tell you that it is closer to their chunky space band sound of the Satatelite Heart or Clouds Taste Metalic era's! I am really excited about this album!

It is available for download at all on-line outlets (aol, iTunes, Napster, etc... just 99 cents :) )

Weekly Album of the Week II #3

2006-01-06T14:03:00.001-09:00

John Lennon experienced a musical slump in the early 70's which resulted in 2 (relatively) dreary albums; Somewhere in New York City and Mind Games [though both albums have their shining moments] were both somewhat badly produced and overly political.

Add to this Lennon's seperation from Yoko Ono and spiraling alcoholism/drug use, it is no surprise that Walls and Bridges is Lennon's most depressing album. Perhaps as a result of this, it also contains Lennon's most frank confessions about his own perceived uselessness and hypocrisy (Steel and Glass),to his own feelings of hitting rock-bottom (Nobody Loves You When You're Down and Out).

The album also features a collaboration with Elton John (Whatever Gets you Though The Night -- His only post-beatles #1 in his lifetime)and Harry Nilsson (Old Dirt Road). As well as a the instrumental Beef Jerkey (which I recall Paul Schaeffer playing on Letterman alot) and the Beatles-worthy #9 Dream.

Walls and Bridges was also Lennon's final album before disappearing from the music scene for 5 years to focus and raising his second son, Sean.

Best Lyric: Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)

Nobody loves you when you're down and out
Nobody sees you when you're on cloud 9
Everybody's hustling for a buck and a dime
I'll scratch your back and you knife mine.

I've been across to the other side
I've shown you everything, I got nothing to hide
And still you ask me do I love you (what it is, what it is)
All I can tell you is its all showbiz.

Well I get up in the morning and I'm looking in the mirror to see.
Then I'm lying in the darkness and I know I can't get to sleep.

Nobody loves you when you're old and gray.
Nobody sees when you're upside down
Everybody's hollering about their own birthday
Everybody loves you when you're six feet in the ground.

Weekly Album of the Week II #2

2005-12-31T11:18:00.000-09:00

There are few albums which are both lovely and, at the same time, heart-breaking. Lady In Satin by Billie Holiday is one such album. Some would say that, because of its lush orchestration, this classic album is a titch on the schmaltzy side. But this album couldn't have been done anyother way.

This album was made 17 months prior to Lady Day's death caused by a bad heart rattled from withdrawl from heroin. Her voice, though not at its most brilliant, is caught in its most beautiful fragile and pulls the heart-strings of this blogger.

My favorite track is The End of a Love Affair (stereo version). If you are not moved by her aching vocals than you are in sad need of an emotional transplant.

(update: The link to listen is now working)

I've Been Tagged!

2005-12-22T11:14:00.000-09:00

1. Seven things to do before I die
Write a symphony.
Write an opera.
Visit Salzburg and Vienna to pay homage (that should count as one).
Visit Europe.
Learn a measure of self-control.
Motorcycle trip to the northern-most destination in Alaska reachable by road.
Finish School.

2. Seven things I cannot do
Trust the T.V.
Trust the news.
Trust the papers.
Learn to trust everyone.
Be comfortable at certain parties around certain people.
Pretend I am having fun when I am not and vice versa.
Be friends with someone I don't respect.

3. Seven things that attract me to (...)
My wife (also): Great sense of humor, simple beauty, hard working, strong sense of family, thoughtful, musically gifted, and honest.

4. Seven things I say most often
Put that down!
Go in timeout!
I love you.
Whatever happens happens.
Brian Wilson is awesome.
SUV's are for Stoors and Stiches.
Let me introduce you to your TURN SIGNAL!!!!

5. Seven books (or series) that I love
Farseer series.
Lord of the Rings
Wheel of Time Series
Pillars of the Earth
Observatory Mansions
Anne of Green Gables series.
Mozart by Maria Davenport

6. Seven movies I watch over and over again (or would if I had time)
Amadeus
Star Wars Saga
Lord of the Rings Extended Edition
Vanilla Sky
Beautiful Dreamer(the documentary about Brian Wilson and SMiLE)
Ken Burns' JAZZ
The Beatles Anthology

7. Seven people I want to join in, too.
Jocekins
cidity hat
Agrumentatron
Paul Bunyon
Malasado
Moronic Wade
eibborgo

The Metamorphisis of Peter Jackson

2005-12-17T07:38:00.000-09:00

I would like to extend my heart-felt gratitude to Peter Jackson for shedding his weighty figure. It has inspired me to get my health back on track. Here is how he did it: http://www.ezinearticles.com/?Whats-the-Peter-Jackson-Weight-Loss-Secret?-Introducing-the-Skull-Island-Diet&id=86111

Look Ma! He really does have neck!

Weekly Album of the Week II #1

2005-12-16T10:56:00.000-09:00

I'm Back! This weeks Weekly Album of the Week begins a-new with Volume II (Volume I preceding) and this weeks pick was not a difficuly one.

Rolling Stone Magazine wrote that the Flaming Lips album Clouds Taste Metallic" sounded like little kids high on Robitusen [sic] playing the Beatles and the Beach Boys on Mickey Mouse instruments. How could this line not quicken a little bit of warm curiosity in your hearts?

The album begins with a song about an alien hospital ship which has landed and is examined by Government experts and the existence of Aliens leaves the narrator with a feeling like: Altho I know I am not as unique as I once thought I was, at least now I know that we are not alone in the univers. (The Abandoned Hospital Ship)

Other tracks are love songs about 2 astronauts who fall in love while training for a mission that would take them both away from the planet Earth forever and when it comes to be time to leave, one of them is late and left on Earth forever without the one they love. (They Punctures My Yolk)

And my two favorites Evil Will Prevail and Bad Days. The former is about fatalistic people try to make everyone believe that the world is fatalistic and as a result the world is fatalistic. The latter is about a hope that we all have that, someday, we will just pack off and leave everyday problems like jobs and money and find alittle peace.

On a historical note: This albums marks the end of the Lips' time as a "traditional" 4-piece rock band (were they ever traditional?) since guitarist Ronald Jones was to leave the group after this album was completed.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002MYC/qid=1134762884/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-3163010-6616029?v=glance&s=music&n=507846

The Late, Great Johnny Ace! and Mr. Mojo Rising.

2005-12-08T13:52:00.000-09:00

25 years have marked the passing of one of the most influential and imaginitive forces in Rock 'N' Roll. John Lennon was shot to death by He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named in front of his upper westside apartment building in New York City.

Also today is Jim Morrison's 62nd birthday.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)

2005-12-05T07:57:00.001-09:00

Today is the 214th anniversary of the death of the great Wolfgang Mozart. Not of being poisoned by a jealous rival or angry freemasons. The most likely cause of death was a chronic heart condition made worse by a nasty strain of rheumatic fever making its way through the poorer classes of Vienna at the time.

R.I.P. Wolfi...

Weekly Album of the Week on Hiatus

2005-11-19T09:22:00.000-09:00

Hello all! There will be no Weekly Albums Of The Week from now until Friday December 16th. The reason for this is that I have too much to do at school and little time in which to do it.

I am also planning on making a quarterly mix. So expect your christmas presents (for all those who have posted on this site who I am personally aquainted with) to be along this vein.

Warts and Crutches...

Pixletwin

The Worst Christmas Song Of All Time!

2005-11-15T08:41:00.000-09:00

I love Christmas songs. I just joined BMG and all 7 cd's I got were Christmas themed (Mel Torme, Ella Fitgerald, Garrison Keillor, etc...). So you should know I am not the sort of person who hates Christmas music.

That being said, the last few years on a local radio station (106.5 KOSY) they begin playing Christmas music the day after Halloween, and most of the stuff they play is quality (every now and then they play crummy Celene Dion or some Michael Bolton, but they do alot of the traditional stuff too so I can listen past the crap). There is this one song that every time I hear it I want to bludgeon, decapitate, smash, and cudgle [sic?] everyone and everything in site.

This song is The Christmas Shoes by some over-the-top sappy country singer who I admire his technique, because how he could sing this without laughing uncontrolably is beyond my imagination! This song is the sappiest song, I can just imagine the writers cackling like hyenas at the thought of how many stupid people (read: country music's target audience) will sob, cry, and buy this piece of garbage.

I apologize if I offended anyone. I needed to vent. I HATE THIS SONG!!! GRRRRRRRR

Weekly Album Of The Week #16

2005-11-11T20:50:00.000-09:00

Some albums become so fused with certain parts of a person's life, that it is difficult to seperate the critical from the sentimental. This fall is the 10th aniversary of the pinnacle of my youth.

In 1995 I was freshly 21 years old, healthy, active, and in love for the first time. My days were filled with writing and recording songs with my friends, drawing and painting, driving around with friends till 3 A.M., and generally enjoying life and enjoying, what John Lennon called, the hunger of youth.

The album that was in constant rotation during this period was Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins. The album opens with a piano track which makes me think of driving home from work just as the sun is going down and seems to be contemplating and anticipating what exciting things are to follow. Every song on this album penetrated me so deeply, that I felt like Billy Corgan was singing about my life (and I know what a cheesy cliche that is, but there it is anyway).

Mellon Collie was the Pumpkins masterpiece and sadly the last album by them worth owning. Every track on this album is deeply rooted in the sepia toned memories of what I believed life to have been about, namely: Freedom, Beauty, Truth, and above all Love. Though youth eventually gives way to school, kids, minivans, and work, I still believe...

If you don't own this album, repent and sin no more.

Superman Is A Dick!

2005-11-07T18:03:00.000-09:00

Check out this and other authentic comic book covers at SuperDickery. The covers get more and more surreal.

Thanks to Nate for the heads-up.

Mike Love Is One Pathetic Loser!

2005-11-04T13:07:00.000-09:00

Mike is the Pathetic looking guy on the top wearing a green hat to hide his lack of brain.

In lieu of my Weekly Album of the Week I bring you this sad story. The ugly meanspirited, green eyed monster of a jealous and balding banal rock dinosaur Mike Love has crawled out from his place of yuckiness to file suit against Brian Wilson . Mike says that the release of Brian Wilson's SMiLE has adversely effected Mike's waning career and tarnished the Beach Boys name (like the London Symphony would be tarnished by having to play Beethoven's 9th Symphony...). He is also seeking damages because Brian authorized a free give away where 2.6 million copies of a Beach Boys compilation were given away in a British publication.

Mike Love is seriously in need of a high-cholonic and a hair plug. Not just that, but Mike's seemingly unending jealousy of Brian's genius and his need to bully others is something that truly makes me sick.

Check out the story here.

Mike Wilson in '67 explaining to Brian why surf ditties are better than brian's rock symphony, SMiLE (Weekly Album of the Week #6)

New Flaming Lips Album May Be Good After All!

2005-10-30T17:19:00.000-09:00

I must admit that I was worried when I heard the disco vibe in the Flaming Lips latest release, Mr. Ambulance Driver, about what direction the Flaming Lips may have been heading. But I just read this news which I found encouraging.

Excerpt:

"After two albums of lushly orchestrated pop that brought them to a new level of acclaim, the Flaming Lips are returning to guitar-based rock'n'roll as they finish up their next studio set. "At War With the Mystics" is due in February or March via Warner Bros. Lips frontman Wayne Coyne tells Billboard.com the group was inspired to plug in after featuring a cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" in its live shows."

Weekly Album of the Week #15

2005-10-27T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is one of the most incredible bands I have heard in a long time. While the full album is only 30 minutes in length its so full of interesting bitties and cool sounds (imagine if the Flaming Lips taught Roger Waters how to write music and made him be an optimistic guy) that by the end of the album it makes you want to hear more.

My Favorite songs on this album are Come Together and Tonight. Check it out here if you please. The samples amazon provides are not very good, but check them out anyway!

Jek Porkins, We Hardly Knew Ye!

2005-10-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

Matthew Hootkins, whom most people will remember as Jek Porkins, the fat Rogue pilot who dies in the original Star Wars, has, in fact himself, died. He was also in Raiders of the Lost Ark, A River Runs Through It, Batman (the Micheal Keeton version), and the upcoming Colour Me Kubrick as well as many other movies.

FYI

Weekly Album of the Week #14

2005-10-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

Imagine if Rabbi Pfitzowitz and Bob Marley had a love child and you may very well get this weeks artist for the Weekly Album of the Week; MATISYAHU.

Finding a link for this album was tough, and I'm not quite sure why. Matisyahu could be called an endangered species since (to my knowledge) he is a one of a kind Hassidic-Reggae groove-man. He has a smooth sound and a keen way of expressing his spirituality which is draws you in whether you share his views or not. There is a quality in his voice that is a wee bit reminiscent of Marley; and yet a very distinct Semite quality that at times you are not sure if you are listening to reggae or if its a cantor at a synagogue.

Give it a try by clicking the hypo-link above. I promise that you will, at the very least, find it interesting, and glad that you did.

Bin-Laden cares about you.

2005-10-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

This is one weird idea which Mexican authorities are trying to stop bribes and double parking. Pictures of Maria Theresa pleading with you not to offer bribes, Saddam asking you not to double park, and bin-Laden pleading with you to drive safely because he cares about your life.

Hilarious and surreal idea. Check out the full story here

Weekly Album Of The Week #13

2005-10-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

I usually post albums which I currently own but this week I am choosing an album on my "To Get" list.

While the "gray heads and long hairs" of the American Music Institutions of higher learning (ala Juliard) where agonzing over trying to find the great American equivalent to the music of Bach, they failed to recognize that he was allready among them in the spectre of one Louis Armstrong.

Armstrong took a true American music and made it into something more than it was (a novelty act), into high art. These recordings from the late 1920's with the Hot Fives/Sevens represent Armstrong at his finest period (before he was well known among whites and singing "What A Wonderful World"). If he were Elvis, this would be Armstrong's Sun period. His creativity was young, raw, and on fire. You can give the tracks a listen here. I suggest you start with "West End Blues" on CD 3 track 5.

Weekly Album of the Week #12

2005-10-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

After the Beatles broke up, George Harrison was quoted as saying that whatever the spirit which manifested itself through the Beatles transferred to the comedy troup Montey Python. I am making a similiar analogy when I say that whatever spirit it was which manifested itself in the music of kurt Cobain (or demon) upon his suicide was transferred a few miles away into the music of Elliott Smith.

Elliott Smith was a wonderful songwriter who exhibited through his music a very fragile and yet threatening soulfullness. One of the highlights of the movie "ROYAL TENENBAUMS" was the scene where, while shaving his beard and cutting his hair, Luke Wilson's character prepared to commit suicide to the tune of Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay." A haunting tune with wicked quips, especially when he sounds like a snake on the line "I'm taking the cure so I can be quiet Wherever I want So leave me alone You ought to be proud that I'm getting good marks." Something about the overall tone of his music just hits a chord within me, I'm not a drug addict so I don't why, but his music definately flows with me.

This album is full of great moments like that which is why Elliott Smith by Elliott Smith is my Weekly Album of the Week.

Gues who's birthday it is today?

2005-10-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

Todays birthday belongs to this little chap who was almost born in a McDonalds so long ago...

(it's me!)

John Densmore: Man of Integrity

2005-10-05T08:48:00.000-08:00

Found this on the net today. John Densmore: Man of Integrity. I think it is cool I guess. Not like they actually need anymore money. Just goes to show you what butt-tards the other two guys are.

Weekly Album Of The Week #11

2005-09-30T14:28:00.000-08:00

This weeks Weekly Album Of The Week is actually two releases and 6 CD's. The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll as well as its companion The Golden Era of Rock 'n' Roll are fantastic complilations that anyone who considers themselves to be a devotee of history/rock needs to listen to. There are people on here that I had never even heard of that are absolutely great!

Some Standouts from the Roots collection:

The original version of Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton is greater than Elvis' version. Little Richard's Boogie is such a raw anbd energetic recording. Work With Me Annie on disk 3 is such a great recording. Check these out at the Roots link above.

Standouts from the Golden Era collection:

This has the typical stuff you would expect (Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and Comets, Big Bopper etc...) but the rare stuff is to die for. Mr. Lee on disc 2 (for some reason amazon.com has the track listed simply as "4") is both angry and sexy; great performance. The Coaster's There Goes My Baby. The Venture's Walk Don't Run. I'll Come Running Back To You by Sam Cooke is great.

Sorry to say not many listenable links at amaon on this one. But check it out at your library or buy it and NO MATTER WHAT MUSIC YOU ARE INTO I GUARANTEE THIS IS ONE PURCHASE YOU WILL NOT REGRET.

Weekly Album of the Week #10

2005-09-24T12:53:00.000-08:00

Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused?

I don't usually like preachy political albums ... (ok well maybe I do have a soft spot for them) but this week Roger Waters' Album AMUSED TO DEATH has been on constant rotation in my car stereo. Released in 1994, this album's production, song writing, and performance is closer to the Pink Floyd sound than that same years Floyd (David Gilmour and a host of studio musicians parading as the real thing with token $$$ appearences by Rick Wright and Nick Mason) release the dismally boring The Division Bell.

Although this album is a-wash in Waters' political ideaology, it is so genuine and sincere that it still gets through to me. This album is a classic alone for the line "And the Germans killed the Jews and Jews killed the Arabs and the Arabs killed the hostages and that is the news. Is it any wonder that the monkey's confused?" This album is a classic IMHO and you should give it a listen here. Contrast this with the Division Bell link above and let me know what YOU think...

UPDATE ON WEEKLY ALBUM

2005-09-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

Blogger is having problems uploading images right now. So check back later and I should have the Weekly Album of the Week #10 blogged.

Weekly Album Of The Week #9

2005-09-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

So much has been written or said about this album recently that I felt I had to weigh in on what the truth is.

First Off: THIS IS NOT PAUL'S BEST ALBUM SINCE "MCCARTNEY"! The album as whole is stronger than what the majority of his solo albums have tended to prove (i.e. alot of filler and one or two memorable songs). The songs are interesting and each have individual characteristics which are memorable. Paul even sings like he (GASP!) means what he is singing and gives heart-felt performances (Jenny Wren sounds like its from the White Album and Follow Me which is receivably optimistic are the standouts) and with an easiness which actually seems alot less forced than he has in the past.

Second: Paul coudn't have gone wrong with Nigel Godrich(Radiohead's "OK Computer" and Beck's "Sea Change") as producer. Nigel is generally more interested in making an album which is cohesive and faithful to what the songs say than making a million dollars.

Lastly: This is Paul's best album since "Band on the Run". However "McCartney" still beats it by some and it is far and away from even touching "Band on the Run." Check it out here.

BOTTOM LINE: Macca's still got it.

Dammit Kid Stop Bothering Me!

2005-09-15T19:19:00.000-08:00

"No more autographs, even after you've fixed those power converters."

The family of Phil Brown (the man who played Uncle Owen in the original Star Wars) has requested that fans no longer bother the aging 89 year old actor for his autograph. I thought he had died 10+ years ago! Check out this little blurb from TFN.

Weekly Album Of The Week #8

2005-09-09T22:26:00.000-08:00

In 1603 Maria de Medici married Henry IV King of France. To celebrate the occasion, a local composer named Peri wrote the first (surviving) opera L'Euridice. The story is about a man named Orfeo who is going to marry his love, Euridice (yer-ee-dee-chae) and she is tragically bit by a snake the morning of their wedding and dies. So he travels to the underworld to bring her back. Peri's version had a happy ending with Orfeo finding her and bringing her back to the land of the living and "happily ever after" etc.... Meanwhile in Mantua, Claudio Monteverdi believed he could write an opera based on the same material (basically) and do it better. He changed the ending to better refelect the original Greek drama and had Orfeo agreeing with Hades that he could only bring her back if he didn't speak to her or look at her. He is unable to resist the temptation and when he looks at her she is taken back to the underworld and he dies.

The result of Monteverdi's hubris is what most educated people agree is the first operatic MASTERPIECE ever written: ORFEO. This is such a cool piece of music I couldn't even begin to gush about how awesome it is to listen to. How smartly this guy composed this piece has sent ripples into the opera world and can still be heard rumbling past us today. Check it out at a local library (like I did after studying it in my music literature class) or buy it on DVD (it is a faithful rendition of the premiere and gives you a pretty good into the past, if you're into that sort of thing). Either way it is time and money well spent.

Weekly Album of the Week #7

2005-09-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

Nelly Nelly Nelly Nelly. Unfortunately the name conjures up a young rap artist with a band aid and gold teeth. But I am talking about the awesome singer, Nelly Furtado, from Canada who deserves to be bigger than she is. Her ablum Folklore is an awesome mix of hip-hop, rock, and a couple other things so that each track has a unique and distinctive personality. My personal favorites are Forca and Childhood Dreams. This album blew her debut album completely out of the water (her debut included her big hit singles Turn Out The Light and I'm Like A Bird)! Check it out here at amazon and buy the album. It is definately a worthy addition to any ecclectic CD collection.

Michael Sheard's Passing

2005-09-02T09:32:00.000-08:00

I would just like to post a memorandum on the passing of Michael Sheard. Probably best known as Admiral Ozzel from The Empire Strikes Back. I believe he is the first person we actually see killed by a force choke in the star wars universe. He was also on Doctor Who quite a bit (he played Mergreave in Castrovalva).

Rest in peace Michael Sheard, you have failed me for the last time Admiral.

Weekly Album of the Week #6

2005-08-26T13:20:00.000-08:00

This album's history is almost as interesting as the album itself. In 1966 the Beach Boys lead songwriter (and arguably one of the only good singers in the group) Brian Wilson has a nervous breakdown. The cause: too many drugs and too much competition from the Beatles. Their 1966 album Pet Sounds was the impetus behind the Beatle's Sgt. Pepper and Brian Wilson was working on his "responce" to the Beatles entitled "SMiLE" (Wilson was even featured on Leonard Bernstein's show playing some songs that would have been on SMiLE).

Long story short: The album became increasingly incoherrant as Wilson also became increasingly incoherrant and eventually Brian Wilson took a vacation from the Beach Boys at which time he was replaced by Bruce (whatever his last name is) and SMiLE was released as a vastly inferior Beach Boys album and effectively took them off the radar as an important band.

Fast forward to 2003. Brian Wilson is approached by his biographer and asks him if he would ever consider revisiting the songs he wrote and rerecording them the way he intended them. It took awhile to convince him but he eventually relented and the result is one of 2004's most incredible albums. SMiLE is an awesome piece of work and full of symphonic beauty that really caught my ear. Check it out here. The new version of Good Vibrations (with different lyrics than the Beach Boys version) is my favorite.

Happy Happy Birthday!

2005-08-24T21:49:00.000-08:00

Every dog should have his day so I would just like to shout out a Happy Happy Birthday to my Bro! May your day be as happy as this dog's was.

Weekly Album of the Week #5

2005-08-21T22:04:00.000-08:00

This weeks Weekly Album of the Week is Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited. It represents Dylan's transition from folk balladeer to wanna-be rock star. This is the album that had coffee drinking folk-niks thumbing their fingers and shaving their goatees in anger at Dylans use of electric guitar and a backing band (no longer the loner with the guitar and harmonica) and has helped me appreciate what a bunch of idiots those folk-niks really were.

Weekly Album of the Week #4

2005-08-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

Well folks, I really agonized over which album to post this week. I thought maybe I would post The Killers debut album or Modet Mouse's Good News for People Who Like Bad News... What to post? Both worthy choices. I finally decided on The Divine Comedy by Milla Jovovich. Sure she is kinda whackey and hard to figure out. I don't think she even makes albums anymore. (This one may even be the only??) But there is something about it that I like. The Gentleman Who Fell has some interesting things musically and her voice isn't what you'd expect. But I guess what I really enjoy is there is this slightly Russian flavor that runs through the whole thing, which I guess makes it more suitable for a November WAOTW, but who cares? The final song is my favorite. Listen to it here.

EDIT: Looks like she has another album which looks interesting. Checkit out here.

Weekly Album Of The Week #3

2005-08-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

This weeks Weekly Album Of The Week is an interesting choice. It represents the end of Tom Waits career as a lounge singer/songwriter and a few songs even tip-toe on the edge of some of his more edgier weird stuff. And on top of all this it features Crystal Gayle.... Which is really quite strange in itself. The best track is actually an instrumental titled "Presents." If you ignore the cheesy vocals by CG it is quite a cool album and worthy to be featured on my lofty blog. Check out more info here. (this time it actually does have audio samples!)

And doesn't Tom look alittle embarassed to be sharing a cover with Ms. Gayle?

Weekly Album Of The Week #2

2005-07-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

This weeks Weekly Album Of The Week (tm) is an oldy but a goody. It may make you cringe, it may make you wanna dance, and for some people it may make them wanna go out and meet other "boys" (not me incidentally. I don't swing that way.) This album was the first Depeche Mode album (1981) and the only one to feature Vince Clarke (later of Erasure and Yaz) as the lead song writer. All of the songs are great, especially "Any Second Now (Voices)" give it listen here or go to your local library and check it out or better yet, BUY THE SUCKER!!!

Also of note: Depeche Mode did nothing worth listening to after 1988's Music For The Masses.

Interestingly Weird Stuff

2005-07-29T21:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Slick for sending me this weird link of Satan-ish Satan People.

Run! Batman, Run!

2005-07-23T21:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry. I spent the day outside again tilling ground so I am too spent to post any thoughts. But I am always willing to entertain with a GIF OF THE DAY. Enjoy...

Weekly Album Of The Week #1

2005-07-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

This is the first of what will be weekly postings on what my favorite album of the moment is... and this week its.... An American Prayer by Jim Morrison and the Door s. I don't think I have even thought about the Doors since the summer of 1991, but lately for some inexplicable reason I have been hankering for a bit O'Jim. I imported all of the Doors into my itunes library except for this one album which I just got today from the library and I have been listening to it over and over. This is really a unique album though at times it seems like its somebody trying to imitate Morrison's poetry style (immitated by millions of teenage mensa wanna be hippies everywhere). The flow of the album is very interesting. My favorite track is A Feast of Friends (which I suspect is every fans favorite off this album).

Anyroad if you can past the associations of bad poetry you may have heard (see above) this really is a cool album to steam clean yer carpets to.

Oh My Gawd!!! What Must she be thinking??!!!

2005-07-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

In a world where bobbies in the UK are shooting people while looking for terrorists; where resorts in Egypt are bombed weekly; where soldiers and local militia men in Afganistan are trying to find Bin Laden or any other Al-Queda nut; it's nice to know that we have the people of Unity freaking out and slobbering over a report that Enya might be feeling pressure to finish her new album.

These people's posts read like a 12 year olds wistful diary (and I am afraid alot of these people must be 40+!). But I guess in these troubled times we all need to worry about something. I would provide a link but it really is even more a waste of time than todays post (OK I gave you a link anyway).

How Was Your Day?

2005-07-21T21:11:00.000-08:00

I got to do my work today in an office that i figure was somewhere between 110 - 125 degrees, sweat pouring down the back of my neck, and generally wanting to die or go to Washington for Moosefest 2005 (click here for more info on that). Thanks to Slickerpdgjkdfjkgjdfg (or whatever your name is) for todays GIFt of love.

OKIENOODLING and the BLAHS

2005-07-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

I drove my good buddy all the way to Rigby, Idaho today and I think I have had my fill of Idaho for awhile. Rigby (which has a fine gas station by the name of Taylor's) has the most CORN-FUSIN' street coordinate system I have ever had the displeasure of driving though. Your on North Yellowstone Highway then BAM! it is Hwy 47 then its back to Yellowstone then it winds around and its 45th street. Anyway... Long story short: I dropped them off so now I can dedicate my time to making this blog alittle more worthwhile (while maintaining its general feeling of "i just wasted a few precious minutes of my life looking at this page).

So as usual I will post a pic to make you think... (By the way, the lady sneezing is a gif i picked up at MF.com from the Benny Hill Show!

Oh, untimely sickness!

2005-07-18T20:44:00.000-08:00

So my friend has been spending the week here with us and I break my back running he and his wife thither and yon. Enduring all sorts of things like giant spiders, burning sand, and planting grass and here I am at the end (almost) of their stay and I manage to get sick. Rotten timing on my part, I suppose...

Rest assured when they are gone I will begin to post wonderful things. In the meantime, here is a pic to make you think. Its supposed to be animated. Hopefully this works!

Time: Fill In Blank

2005-07-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine and his wife are here visiting me from Canada this week (so I haven't been able to update like I want to) so i won't be posting for a few days...

Junior High School Burns Down

2005-07-12T18:15:00.000-08:00

I am about to vent:

Would you mourn the passing of your junior high school as if it were your favorite dog passing, or a favorite relative tragically murdered? Well some people in Salt Lake City seem to think a fire gutting the local junior high school is a tragedy (if it was full of kids at the time, yes, i would agree). These people need to reevaluate their priorities!

Excerpt: "Teachers, students, parents and leaders at the scorched Wasatch Junior High say it's a devastating loss. Watching the school burn, some had tears in their eyes, and some worried about the future."

Read the whole article here: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600148001,00.htm l

Incidentally, I went to this school... lemme check... nope, no tears here.

the horror... the horror... the horror

2005-07-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

This morning I post this blog with a very sore back. Yesterday I endeavored to take matters into my own hands and chopped down all the weeds in the back yard (which were more like great stalks of hay), raked them up and threw them away. Then my bestfriend came over and we tilled the ground.

I was going to put sod down today, but everything is pointing towards a need to flatten the ground first. My dad has been silghtly adversarial in getting things done, but oh well. As soon as my brother gets back I will have thingts figured out.

In the meantime... There is a web site that features archived web pages from "back in the day". Click here for an instant time machine for star wars fans: http://web.archive.org/web/*sa_/http://starwars.com

Here is also a cool pic I found of Syd Barrett (founder of Pink Floyd) during the making of Wish You Were Here:

A BLOG IS BORN!!!

2005-07-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

O.K. So this is one of a million blogs. So what? I will tell you this: a cool forum to visit is found out www.millenniumfalcon.com if you are into star wars. So hooray! I just made my first post.