Monday, December 29, 2008

The "Barack the Magic Negro" song parody has received mixed reviews. How hilarious do you think it is?



The "Barack the Magic Negro" song parody has received mixed reviews. How hilarious do you think it is?

A. Mixed reviews? Did some of them find it reprehensible while others thought it was "f**king reprehensible?"

B. My fiance and I have been looking for a first song for our wedding. It's either this or "One in a Million" by G n' R.

C. As a professional magician who is also extremely racist, I found the use of the term "magic" to be inappropriate. Aside from that, awesome.

D. Look, there's just no better way to address the concerns of marginalized civil rights leaders than through the universally respected art of racist song parody.

E. Limbaugh, you've done it again you obese, pill-popping imbecile!

POLL COURTESY OF 236.COM

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Merry Christmas #9: Aimee Mann's Off The Wall Christmas Concert 2008



Here's a great little holiday treat for you (better late than never)... A Christmas Concert by Aimee Mann from just a few days ago... great sound quality, lots of christmas songs, lots of goofing around, lots of star studded guest appearances, lots of fun. Originally broadcast on WXPN, Public Radio, PA.


Aimee Mann's Off The Wall Christmas Concert
12/13/2008 - Glenside, PA
(FM broadcast)


01 - WXPN intro
02 - Show intro (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies)
03 - Calling On Mary [AM]
04 - Paul F. Tompkins intro & banter
05 - Sleigh Ride [AM & PFT]
06 - Nelly McKay (wearing a big red corset) intro & banter
07 - Sleigh Ride (cont’d) [NMK-sung in high voice]
08 - Grant-Lee Phillips (in snowman costume) intro & banter
09 - Sleigh Ride (cont’d) [GLP]
10 - Aimee banter & film introduction
11 - Film pt.1 (The Ghost of Christmas Past) [GLP, Michael Penn, PFT]
12 - Paul F. Tompkins comedy routine #1
13 - Snow Miser, Heat Miser [AM, PFT, GLP, NMK]
14 - Paul F. Tompkins comedy routine #2
15 - I’ll Be Home For Christmas [AM]
16 - Christmastime
17 - Take Me Away [NMK]
18 - Nelly with Rudolph toy
19 - A Christmas Dirge [NMK]
20 - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) [AM]
21 - Film pt.2 (The Ghost of Christmas Present)
22 - Wise Up [AM]
23 - Save Me [AM]
24 - Aimee introduces Amos Lee
25 - Winter Wonderland [AM & AL]
26 - Christmas In Prison [AL]
27 - Baby I Want You [AL]
28 - Paul F. Thompkins introduces “Willie Nelson”
29 - Voices Carry [as sung by “Willie Nelson” and AM]
30 - Film pt.3 (The Making Of The Christmas Movie) w/Michael Cera
31 - Aimee introduces Grant Lee Phillips
32 - You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch [GLP & AM]
33 - An Old Fashioned Christmas [GLP wAM]
34 - Winter Glow [GLP]
35 - Banter
36 - “The Hanukkah Fairy” (Morgan Murphy) appears
37 - The Immaculate Conception of the Hanukkah Fairy [MM]
38 - Film pt.4 (The Ghost of Christmas Future) [wJohn C. Reilly & Michael Cera]
39 - Freeway [AM]
40 - Dear John [AM]
41 - Long Shot [AM]
42 - Encore Break and Station IDs
43 - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) [All, including GLP in a Rudolph costume]

Download: Aimee Man: Off The Wall Christmas Concert 2008 (zipped)

Friday, December 26, 2008

Some Stuff Santa Brought



Some of the great stuff I got from Santa this year:

Music:

• Ryan Adams, Cardinology
(only 1 new album from Ryan this year? Slacker!)

• Against Me!, Acoustic EP
had a few songs from this, but not the entire thing... awesome

• Kings of Leon, Only By the Night
Am looking forward to hearing this whole thing... review to come

• TV on the Radio, Dear Science
Same with KOL...

• Ike Reilly Assasination, We Belong to the Staggering Evening
I posted 1 song from this a while ago on the blog, nice to hear the whole album!

• AC/DC, Black Ice
Walmart exclusive, and STILL one of Sony's biggest selling albums of the year

• Buckcherry, Black Butterfly
Josh Todd never disappoints!

• Wye Oak, If Children
Local kids (UMBC) make good... on Merge Records, too!



DVDs:

• Monster Road
(Doc portrait of Clay Animator Bruce Bickford)

• The Last 1948 Show
(The Classic Series that preceded and inspired Monty Python)

• The Dark Knight
(along with the rest of America)

• Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Season 6
(Food Items Solve Crimes)


Video Games:

• Dead Space (Xbox360)
Survival/Horror/Action in Space

• Gears Of War 2 (Xbox360)
Blockbuster Sequel to one of my favorite games

• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Xbox360)
dark side of the force... cooooool

• The Orange Box (Xbox360)
5 of the best games ever made (2007's game of the year) all on one disc, on sale for 20 bucks!


Libations:

• Lump Of Coal
(mmmmmm... favorite Chocolate Stout)

• Rogue Chocolate Stout
(mmmmmm...)

• Chouffe Houblon Dobbelen IPA Tripel
(had others from them, can't wait to try!)

• Porto Feist 1995 Vintage Port
(hand painted lettering on the bottle!)

• a Healthy mix of Old Dominion and such from Tim
(awesome! awesome! awesome! thank you!)



Various Awesomeness:

• NYT Obama Victory Issue, sealed in plastic
(GREAT IDEA, DAD!)

• 2 x Vintage Macintosh Ads (Think Different) Framed!

• Radioactive Octopus vs Frogmen

• Mad Magazine collection of Star Wars Parodies over the years

• Colored Pencils (w/ pad)

• Stuff White People Like (book)

• Clothes!

etc... etc... etc....

And the greatest gift of all?

• Delivering the Kidney Stone!
Sniff... It's a Cristmas Miracle!

Thank you everyone for what is probably my best "haul" of fantastic presents, I still can't believe this is the year we all decided to "cut back"!!!! I hope you all like what we got for YOU! I know we sure enjoyed giving them all to you! Merry, Merry Christmas, and I look forward to a new 2009 just around the bend! (Go Obama!)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Wishes DO come True (Merry Christmas #8)



Well, God Willing, it seems like I have passed my kidney stone, just about 10 pm Christmas night. The past 72 hours have been absolute hell, and every muscle in my body is pained and exhausted. The little F#CKER was about the size of a "Nerd" candy and predominantly black.

I don't have much music here with me while in Baltimore (other than the awesome new stuff I got and am still sifting through), so for a late Christmas Night gift, I am posting a collection of all the Pearl Jam Christmas Fan Club Singles from every year released (up until this year, of course!)

A great collection of fantastic rarities (Angel, Driftin', etc) and bizzare ramblings and b-sides (ramblings 1 and 2, Olympic Platinum) and some awesome covers (Ramones, Dead Boys, Split Enz, Elvis, etc), these Vynl 45's come every year* to a member of the Fan Club, and these are every one of them from 1991 - 2007.

Merry Chrismas. I will sleep like the Baby Jesus in the manger tonight.

Tracklist Includes:

1991
-Let Me Sleep (Unreleased)
-Ramblings I (Unreleased)

1992
-Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover)
-Ramblings II (Unreleased)

1993
-Angel (Unreleased)
-Ramblings III (live in Indio, CA 11/5/93)

1995
-History Never Repeats (Split Enz cover, live with Neil & Tim Finn)
-Sonic Reducer (Dead Boys cover, live with Joey Ramone)
-Swallow My Pride (Green River cover, live)
-My Way (Elvis cover with Elvis' cousin Terry, live)

1996
-Olympic Platinum (Unreleased)
-Smile (live in Barcelona, 11/21/96)

1997 (joint effort with R.E.M.)
-Happy When I'm Crying (Unreleased)
-Live For Today - R.E.M.

1998
-Soldier of Love (cover by Arthur Alexander)
-Last Kiss (cover by J. Frank Wilson)

1999
-Strangest Tribe (Unreleased)
-Driftin' (Unreleased)

2000
-Crown of Thorns (Mother Love Bone cover, live)
-Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis cover)

2001
-Last Soldier (live)
-Indifference (with Ben Harper, live)
-Gimme Some Truth (Lennon cover, live)
-I Just Want To Have Something To Do (Ramones cover)

2002
-Don't Believe In Christmas (Sonics cover, live)
-Sleepless Nights (Everly Brothers cover, live with Beck)

2003
-Reach Down (live, with Chris Cornell)
-I Believe In Miracles (Ramones cover, live)

2004
-Someday At Christmas (Jackson 5ive cover)
-Betterman (w/ Walmer High School choir from South Africa)

2005
-Little Sister (with Robert Plant, live)
-Gone (demo)

2006
- Love Reign O'er Me (The Who cover)
- Rockin' In The Free World (N. Young cover w/ Bono and The Edge-U2)

2007
- Santa God (Unreleased)
- Jingle Bells (James Pierpont cover)

Download: Pearl Jam: Fan Club Christmas Singles 1992-2007 (zipped)

* 1994 was the only year they didn't send one, but 1995's made up for it with a double vynl version with 2 albums sent...

You Shall NOT PASS!



This exact scene is happening in my Kidney and Urinary tract right now.

The stone is still there, frolicking around, knocking me out for about 30-40 minutes every 4 hours or so. today has been better, but YESTERDAY was a nightmare. I had to excuse myself from Alicia's family's dinner to go upstairs on their sofa and shiver and teeth-chatter in utter misery. I fell sound asleep, then woke up feeling fine, came down for them to open presents, then we were off to Bob's house to exchange presents there. On the way in the car, I was hit with round 2, and I was down for the F'ing count. I seriously thought I was going to pass out in the car, and by the time we arrived at the house I was delusional and frantic, and I walked straight in, and straight upstairs immediately and fell asleep there for about a half hour or so. Again, I woke up feeling fine, and I came downstairs for presents and holiday merriment. Coming home I was rough, and I just collapsed in bed and fell sound asleep. Got a good night's sleep, and this am we got up early and went over to Grandmom Smiths, then off to Dayna's house in the evening.

6:30, and we are back in the hotel, and I am in for the night. Mild pain, but NOTHING like yesterday (yet).

Christmas presents have been fantastic though, I can't wait to share some of the new music, probably not until I return to NY though...

Tomorow we visit with Grandmom Luh in the hospital, then Mom and Amanda and Chris for early evening and dinner. All in all the pressure has been very low, and the visits have been very pleasant. With the economic downturn, we (along with most of the country, I suspect) just really all seemed to appreciate getting together, eating, drinking and being merry. ChristmasCrazyFest has been kept to a dull roar, and maybe it's just my majorly drugged up percoset outlook, but I sure do like it this year!

Merry Christmas to all. And to ME a good night (hopefully)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Q: When are 2mm more painful than 35mm?



A. When It's a Kidney Stone.

Yesterday evening Alicia and I had dinner with my Mom and Amanda, and during dinner (possibly before) I started getting a weird, dull ache in the lower portion of my back. I assumed it was from carrying presents for the past few days, especially the TV we got for Alicia's Mom and Dad for Christmas, which I was carrying all by myself. Although Back pain is not really a problem I usually have an issue with, I thought " Oh well, I guess I'm getting older..."

After dinner we did a touch more shopping, finishing off the complete list, but the back ache was a bit worse. I laid on the floor, and Alicia showed me some back stretching and relaxation excercises, which DID feel good, but nothing seemed to work.

I went to use the restroom, and while there, became CONSUMED with a ferocious pain now in my front and abdomen. I got a terrible chill, teeth chatering and most of my muscles spasming and contracting involuntarily.

I really wasn't that scared, because at this point I pretty much knew exactly what it was.

11 Years ago, at the ripe old age of 21, I had my first kidney stone. I took an ambulance to the ER in Brooklyn (a. I didn't have a car. b. seriously thought I was dying). Once I passed that one, the doctor told me that if I was 21 and havng a stone, then my body just is going to keep making them, and he could pretty much gurantee that I would have them for the rest of my life.

11 years go by with no incident, but the loaded gun has been pointed at the back of my head the entire time.

I came out of the bathroom last night, and told Alicia with nearly 100% certainty that I had a stone, and needed to go to the ER right now. (it was now 11:30 at night, David Letterman had just come on the tv) She drove us to St. Joseph's er, mercifully only a 5 minute ride (have I mentioned that the Holiday Inn we stay at is in just about the most convenient location in the world?)

Checked in to the ER, was in triage about 15 minutes later (15 looooong minutes of agony, as well as a TV in the waiting room blaring Mike Huckabee on False News) and they weeled me into a room where I proceeded to die and ressurect, not unlike the Phoenix.

4:00am the worst appeared over, so they sent us home with a doping of morphine, a prescription for Percoset, and a bunch of paper strainers to pee into until it passes.

Got a few hours of sleep, awoke for 2 x conference calls for work, and I am officially taking it easy today (not that my body would allow me to do anything differently, anyway!

And to my ever anxious parents, Congrats, you are now Grandparents for the second time! This new baby's name is "Calcie" and she is 2 mm...

let's hope I get 11 more years of peace after this one...

Merry Christmas to me.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Still (Crazy) Busy



My first full day "off" today in Baltimore had me on the phone, texting, setting up meetings, checking freelancer availabilities, turning down freelance work from other companies and getting FedEx info for sending out discs. Checking Animations for errors (found one!) revising and reposting, and coordinating others to send out the final delivered masters. Downloading and viewing boards, talking about them, and setting up 2 x phonecall meetings for tomorrow. (Whew.)

Christmas shopping for "ChristmasCrazyFest 2008" is officially done, as of 8:30 pm this evening. Probably the coldest day I could imagine, no less. (Although I can remember some cooooold days in High School Color Guard with the band for some St. Patricks Day Parades from hell!)

Although it's been stressful to manage, quite frankly I am relieved that it's happening... every year for the past 10 yeas has ended this way, and with the economy in total meltdown, I was getting nervous that this year's quiet phones were a sign of bad things to come. (I was reassuring myself that "steady" was the new "busy") But now I can sleep easy, knowing that all is right in the world, since my phone is melting and the office is on fire and everyone is in tears that I am not at the office for a few of the Holiest and most widely celebrated holidays in the United States.

No sweat.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Out With A Bang



After a truly terrible end of the year (Botulism Toxin, et al) the last project of the year that snuck in was for Sony Music / Epic / Legacy and it was not only for my favorite band of all time, but for the MASSIVE anniversary re-release of their classic debut album!

We were hired to direct and animate a 60+ second animation showcasing everything that's in the massive box set. It's simple, and fun, and a really nice reminder why I like doing motion graphics. I can't post it yet (since it isn't officially approved yet) but once it is, I will post it here for you to see...

Another reason to smile? this job wraps the last day I am in the city before taking 2 weeks off in Baltimore for ChristmasCrazyFest 2008. And this job was, drumroll, please.... number 111 for the year... In all my years of owning and running my own business (that is many a moon, now) I have never broken 100 jobs in a calendar year. I just broke the record by well over 10 percent, and you figure 2 of those jobs were 10-12 month nightmares.. imagine how many we could have done if THOSE giant turds weren't on the schedule?!??! Ha!

Thanks to all those who have worked with me over the past year, and I look forward to seeing you all in the fresh new year of 2009... let's put 2008 out to pasture, already!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

An Offer I Couldn't Refuse



Last night after class I had a pretty terrific email sitting in my "inbox." I was invited to be one of the judges for I.D. Magazine's Design Annual! I had been asked to judge another (smaller) competition earlier this year but was unable to do so because of their last-minute invitation (somebody famous had to back out at the last minute, and they needed a replacement!) but this is a much bigger deal.

I will be judging the interactive segment, which is both fun and curious, because while my training and early career experience was interactive, my niche for the past 10 years has pretty much been Motion Graphics. I think they liked that though, that I am not wholly consumed by the Interactive world but participate in the discipline of Design at large, and hopefully will bring a fresh pair of eyes and a fresh point of view to the category. (Hopefully nobody will see the Botox piece of $.H.I.T. I have been doing for the past year, lest they rescind the invitation!)

Needless to say, I was blown away and honored, and I RSVP'ed promptly for the date of February 26th to judge. I will post more as it develops, but for now I can just be pleased.

Class Is Wrapped (10 Years Down)



Last night was the final critique for the Cooper Union class I teach, "Design In Motion." It wrapped pretty well, all things considered. This was my 10th year teaching, which really astounds me, since I have only been OUT of Cooper for 10 years. There has not been a September that I have not gone back to school since I was 3 years old. All the years at Cooper, the course curriculum has always been the same, but this year I gave them something new, which seemed to have a pretty good success rate. Their enthusiasm for the project, and the field of Motion Graphics in general was very high, which translated pretty well into the work, and most importantly, into their work ethic.

The assignment was to "Persuade. Change. Influence." Pick a cause. Anything. Political, sarcastic, comedic, social, anything you think you will be interested in for an entire semester. Then create 3 x promotional "spots" that advocate your cause, or change someone's mind or convince them of your cause. After all, what else IS a 30 second commercial other than someone trying to convice the viewer of something. Use the airwaves to get a message out that wouldn't normally be able to connect with a mass public.

The student solutions were great. We had a person champion (quite seriously) the plight of the oppression of Left Handed people in our society. We had a campaign maligning and criticizing the suburbs and sprawl. There were public service announcements about unwritten rules of courtesy for New York City (Don't walk four-side-by-side down the street). Cautionary spots about the dangers of Credit Cards. And my personal favorite, a propaganda campaign to convince people to move to Mars ("Red Is The New Green!")

Thanks to Joseph for being a terrific guest critic (especially on such short notice), and of course to Emily (who kicks butt as always with the final crit!) Sorry that Scott couldn't make it, but there's always next year! And thanks to They Might Be Giants, without whom the 10 years running of the 1-week assignments just wouldn't be the same!

After a Spring Semester hiatus,, I will return again in the fall, for another September spent in the world of academia. Here's to 10 more.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Happy Birthday Alicia!



Happy Birthday to Alicia! Go over to her blog and wish her a happy one!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Pretty Early Machine (Merry Christmas #7)



To any NIN fan who felt gypped by the last (funny) post, here is my apology...

the complete (?) demo recordings of Pretty Hate Machine, in all of their unfinished (and sometimes embarrassingly terrible) glory. PHM was a seminal album, and these demo tracks mostly represent that, showing a neat glimpse into the early creative process. But a few of them are simply 80s-pop-terrible! thank GOD they got majorly reworked!

But for the rarities-seeker, or the music fan or the demo track hunters out there, this is a rare find presented in fantastic quality. Your list of christmas gifts from this site continues to rise!

Tracklisting is as follows:
Nine Inch Nails
Pretty Hate machine Early Demos


01. Intro
02. Sanctified
03. Maybe Just Once
04. The Only Time
05. Kinda I Want To
06. That's What I Get
07. Purest Feeling
08. Ring Finger
09. Down In It

Download: Nine Inch Nails: Pretty Hate Machine Demos (zipped)

Enjoy!

Nine Chip Nails



Anyone who has seen my wallet or has read this blog before pretty much know my obsessions with Nintendo and my fanboy worship of Nine Inch Nails. (the guitar hanging on our home studio wall is testament enough).

Well in a "you got YOUR chocolate in MY peanut butter" tradition, 2 of my guilty pleasures have just been merged into one bizzare creation...

A free album tribute to Nine Inch Nails made entirely with an 8-bit video game sound system... all trent's hits, sounding as if they are the final boss battle in the original Metroid.

It's weird. And Fun. Not terribly GOOD, but worth a listen and great for a laugh. Interested in either of the 2? then this DL is a no-brainer...

Download: Nine Chip Nails: Various Artists (zipped)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Rejected Commercials



This is old as the internet itself, but it needs to be shown.

Botulinum Toxin #1 (Merry F'n Xmas #6)



Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is one of the most poisonous naturally occurring substances, and it is the most toxic protein. Though it is highly toxic, it is used in minute doses both to treat painful muscle spasms, and as a cosmetic treatment in some parts of the world. It is sold commercially under the brand names Botox, Dysport, and Myobloc for this purpose. The terms Botox, Dysport, and Myobloc are trade names and are not used generically to describe the neurotoxins produced by C. botulinum. (-Wikipedia)

Even though I shipped the big broadcast project last week (the previous post has been edited since I posted it on the internet prematurely... sorry!) I am still saddled with the frights and horrors of This interactive CD-ROM, the other god-awful P.O.S. we've been dealing with for almost 12 months. Again, I can't stress enough how long 12 months is to be working on a single project for me... at least the Channel ID was with world famous Graphic Designers and will air across 22 countries of the Middle East. THIS? I wouldn't show this finished piece to my worst enemy, even if they were looking into getting some Chemical cosmetic work done!!! I mean, really... is this the sort of procedure that is BENEFITED by an interactive CD-ROM experience? I mean, does allowing the "user" to control a needle and inject an eyeball really illuminating in the medical sense? The amount of money these morons dump into this crap is staggering, and yet, with a 3 month budget that is now in month 12, all that cash is long dried up. Now I am just finishing it so I can have such an awesome piece in my portfolio. Because, you know, I haven't really been working on anything too good these past few years, I thought it was time to get some Botulism Toxin on the reel.

Sorry about the rant. things have been particularly bad and difficult over here with this crap, and I just wanted to rant and share my pain. Plus I thought it would give a good laugh or two! I kept muscling through hoping that I could finish it this calendar-year, but it seems the fates have aligned against me yet again. Oh well, you never know.... Christmas wishes DO come true sometimes I guess (although if I had only a single Christmas wish, I guess I'd use it for my lawsuit, not waste it on botulism!)

Anyway, a presription for this misery (take these 7 songs and call me in the morning):

Download: Radiohead: Fake Plastic Trees (Live, Acoustic 2003)

Download: Foo Fighters: Stacked Actors

Download: Amen: California's Bleeding

Download: Bon Jovi: Bad Medecine

Download: Faith No More: Midlife Crisis

Download: Hole: Miss World

Download: Radiohead: Fitter, Happier

I'll post more as the turd continues to burn...

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Merry Christmas #5: Paul Simon



Here is a fantastic 2-disc bootleg of Paul Simon Live at the Beacon theater in NY, December 2000. A fantastic show with fantastic sound quality. This will make a great gift for someone who's hard to buy for, trust me!

Paul Simon
Beacon Theater, New York, NY
December 8, 2000



(1) That's Where I Belong (3:31)
(2) Graceland (5:06)
(3) One Man's Ceiling Is Another Man's Floor (3:36)
(4) You're The One (5:02)
(5) 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (4:52)
(6) That Was Your Mother (3:31)
(7) Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard (3:11)
(8) The Teacher (4:14)
(9) Spirit Voices (4:38)
(10) Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes (7:18) =>
(11) You Can Call Me Al (5:13)
(12) Old Friends/Bookends (2:59)
(13) Homeward Bound (2:59)
(14) I Am A Rock (3:50)
(15) Darling Lorraine (7:02)
(16) Old (2:27)

(1) The Boy in the Bubble (6:39)
(2) American Tune (4:21)
(3) The Coast (5:35)
(4) Late In The Evening (6:48)
(5) The Late Great Johnny Ace (4:13)
(6) Hurricane Eye (6:07)
(7) Proof (5:48)
(8) Still Crazy After All These Years (5:52)
(9) Pigs, Sheep, and Wolves (4:09)
(10) Mrs. Robinson (5:11)
(11) The Boxer (6:58)
(12) Kodachrome (3:32)


enjoy!

Download: Paul Simon: Live at the Beacon Theater, NYC, December 2000 (zipped)

Merry Christmas #4: String Theory / Plush Christmas Party 2008

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Merry Christmas #2: G 'N R First Sessions



Holy crap, the Christmas presents just continue... can I keep it up for the next 23 days? This site might just turn into an Advent Calendar of unreleased rarities!

Today I have the first complete 1987 recordings of Guns N' Roses before the release of Appetite For Destruction.

It is pretty damned thorough, and absolutely a fantastic rock treasure. check out some of the covers: Jumpin' Jack Flash, Heartbreak Hotel, Mama Kin...

And notice 2 songs that made the much-later Use Your Illusion albums: Don't Cry and November Rain! Amazing. I knew nothing of this stufff, till I found it quite by accident trolling around the intertubes.

Here's the description that came with it:

GUNS N'ROSES SESSIONS - Liberated Bootleg
Japanese Silver Pressed Discs
Label: 'Uzi Suicide' - Unofficial
Matrix: GNR871/GNR872

*PROMOTIONAL COPY NOT FOR SALE*


This 2CD Japanese silver set features almost all of the tracks recorded during Guns N' Roses 1987 demo sessions.
Hence the name "Sessions". The only tracks missing are 'Out Ta Get Me', an alternate take of 'Rocket Queen', and an acoustic version of 'Move To The City'. Why these tracks were omitted is beyond me.

These discs have also released as No Refrain (CD1) and November Rain (CD2).

The tracks on 'Sessions' seem to come from a better source/transfer as there are less audible artifacts present in the background.

Highlights of 'Sessions' include two completely unique versions of 'November Rain', as well as raw early versions of 'Paradise City', Nightrain', 'Don't Cry','Back Off Bitch', 'Shadow Of Your Love', and multiple takes of two unreleased covers; 'Heartbreak Hotel', and, 'Jumpin' Jack Flash'.

This incredible document of the early years of Guns N' Roses career is a must for any hard rock fan.

CD I 60:06

[01] Jumping Jack Flash
[02] You're Crazy
[03] Reckless Life
[04] Heartbreak Hotel
[05] Shadow Of Your Love
[06] Welcome To The Jungle
[07] Move To The City
[08] Mama Kin
[09] Mama Kin
[10] Heartbreak Hotel
[11] Instrumental Jam
[12] Jumping Jack Flash
[13] Jumping Jack Flash
[14] West Coast Junkie....
[15] November Rain

CD II 64:35

[01] Rocket Queen
[02] Night Train
[03] My Michelle
[04] You're Crazy
[05] Paradise City
[06] Move To The City
[07] November Rain
[08] Shadow Of Your Love
[09] Wreckless Life
[10] Think About You
[11] Welcome To The Jungle
[12] Don't Cry
[13] Nice Boys
[14] Back Off Bitch
[15] Anything Goes


Download: Guns 'N Roses: First Sessions (zipped)

as always, enjoy! (and we'll see what I can dig up tomorrow!)

Monday, December 1, 2008

Merry Christmas #1: Fecal Matter



Since it's December (already) I decided to start to break out some real rarities and nice finds from deep in my collection, the type of stuff that might even make a good Christmas present for someone you know!

What better place to start than Nirvana? Here is their first demo tape from 1985, called Fecal Matter. The sound is not great, but it sure is a piece of history.

From Wikipedia:
Fecal Matter was a short-lived band from Aberdeen, Washington, that formed in late 1985. It was the first band conceived by Kurt Cobain, who would become famous as the frontman of the seminal grunge band Nirvana. Other significant members included Dale Crover and Buzz Osborne of the Melvins, which would also become highly influential. The band's only known demo tape, entitled Illiteracy Will Prevail, has become a much sought-after rarity among Nirvana fans, as it features the first songs written and recorded by Cobain.

History:
The band was formed in late 1985 and consisted of Cobain on guitar and vocals, Dale Crover on bass, and Greg Hokanson on drums. In December that year, Hokanson left the band. Later that month, Cobain and Crover went to Cobain's aunt's house in Seattle with a large book of lyrics and recorded the demo Illiteracy Will Prevail on a 4-track.[1] Cobain performed guitar and vocals, while Crover played bass guitar and drums.
In January 1986, Buzz Osborne joined as bassist and Mike Dillard joined as drummer. According to Michael Azerrad's Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, Cobain thought Osborne did not take the band seriously enough and refused to buy a bass guitar amplifier.[2] In February, Fecal Matter disbanded and the Melvins recorded their debut EP.
After Fecal Matter disbanded, Cobain began passing the demo tape around to friends and peers in hopes of starting a new band. Cobain was particularly proud of the tape. To him, the tape showed that he did have talent. He had wanted to start a band with friend Krist Novoselic for some time. After hearing the tape (and particularly liking "Spank Thru") Novoselic agreed to form a band in mid-1986. That band would later be known as Nirvana.
The song "Spank Thru" was the only one from the tape to be officially released; it featured on the 2005 Nirvana rarities album Sliver: The Best of the Box. However in March 2006, incomplete poor-quality clips of many of the songs were leaked on a Nirvana website. One week later, three full songs from the demo were briefly hosted on a MySpace site; "Sound of Dentage", "Bambi Slaughter" and "Laminated Effect". The clips were confirmed as authentic by Mike Ziegler (and others who have heard the demo) on a website popular with Nirvana collectors. The source of the three full songs remains unknown.


here's the tracklist:

01. Sound Of Dentage
02. Bambi Slaughter
03. Laminated Effect
04. Accusations (Clip)
05. Class of '86
06. Class of '86 (Clip Version)
07. Boatakk (Clip Version)
08. Boatakk (Full w/ Instrumental)
09. Anorexorcist (Clip Version)
10. Love My Family (Unknown) & Anorex
11. Vaseline (Unknown)
12. Spank Thru
13. Blathers Log (Clip Version)
14. Blathers Log
15. Buffy's Pregnant
16. Buffy's Pregnant (Part 2)
17. Downer


Download: Nirvana: Fecal Matter Demo Tape, 1985 (zipped)

Like I said, the sound quality is about what you would imagine the first recored demos of Kurt Cobain would be (rough at best) but for a collector or rock fan, this might just make their Christmas!

enjoy.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Are You Gonna Pay Your Citibank Bill This Month?



Are you gonna pay your Citibank bill this month?

A. Yes. I never miss a payment. Every month I send in my check, making sure to dab a small blot of my own fecal matter in the memo line.

B. Yes, it's perfectly justified that I'm being charged a 33% APR while they get $20 billion in free money.

C. I don't have any food, clothing or shelter. So no, I might go with the late charge this month.

D. Why start now? Oh my God, did I cause this?!

E. Since Citigroup laid me off last week, no, I don't think I'll be able to get them their monthly minimum just now. But congrats on the $20B guys!


POLL COURTESY OF 236.COM

(Of Course, Citi is not the bank giving me hassles, but hey, if it can happen to THEM, there is hope that it will happen to Capital One... may they all burn in hell. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.)

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A Masterpiece?



The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is not the movie the trailers would have you believe. Described by some marketing department somewhere as a cowboy tale of obsession, revenge and betrayal, this film has those elements of course, but is so much more beautiful and poetic and deeply serious and thoughtful than any trailer could possibly try to encapsulate.

The cinematography is unbelievable (the bizzare lensing that gives the distorted depth of field and rainbow-like visual artifacts is a beautiful, artistic sight to behold) the acting pitch perfect, the narration intelligent and thoughtful as it is sparse and poetic, the score (by Nick Cave!) haunting, piercing and deeply resonant, I simply could not look away from this movie. It is LONG. It is ponderous. it is morally ambiguous. It is documentary. It is drama. It is the movie I would like to think I would make if I made a movie on my own.*

Every year I keep my eyes peeled for one film that defies my preconcieved expectations... I think Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" was the last time I have been so wrong about a film before actually seeing it. No Country For Old Men (although I had issues with it immediately after my first viewing) haunted my thoughts and dreams obsessively for the 3 months following. And I think I have this year's winner (although the year isn't over yet!).

This movie is definitely NOT for everyone. Hell, it's probably not even for MOST people. (Alicia fell asleep before the opening title sequence, and didn't even blink her eyes open until the closing credits) but my imagination was completely absorbed.

I cannot possibly reccomend this movie more for those cinefiles out there (you know who you are!) It's NOT Deadwood. It's NOT the Unforgiven. It's NOT Tombstone. It MIGHT be a masterpiece.





* (funny enough, it was given to me by a client/friend who is starting work on a new doc about Wyatt Earp, and wants to involve me not only in the design of the doc, but on visual/art direction for principal photography as well, and she told me to check this out and we'll have lots to talk about... fingers crossed if they want to go down such a creative route as this for OUR doc! talk about an opportunity!)

Like Reviewing a Unicorn...



Chuck Klosterman Reviews "Chinese Democracy"

An amazingly good read for such a monumentously long-awaited album opus 15 years in the making.

It's an intelligent and thoughtful review that is blisteringly funny and smart and empathetic and told from a true rock fan (and GnR fan's) point of view...

some particulary good lines:

"A song like "Shackler's Revenge" is initially average, until you get to the solo—then it becomes the sonic equivalent of a Russian robot wrestling a reticulating python. "

"What finally made him decide, "You know, I've weighed all my options and all their potential consequences, and I'm going with the Mexican vampire accent. This is the vision I will embrace. But only on that one line! The rest of it will just be sung like a non-dead human." Often, I don't even care if his choices work or if they fail. I just want to know what Rose hoped they would do."

"Sometimes listening to this album feels like watching the final five minutes of the Sopranos finale. There's no acceptable answer to these types of hypotheticals."

read his whole review, and see what he gave it (I completely agree, by the way!)

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Cooper (re)Union



This Saturday was my 10 year college reunion of the little school in the Village nobody's heard of. All in all it was a good time. Turnout was just about as low as I expected it to be (after all, Cooper Students are not really known for their common courtesies, much less actual friendship or bonding.) It was a solitary school experience, so having maybe 5 of the art students show up is I guess par for the course.

Any chance to see Theo is always fun (although I see him all the time... no need for a reunion) and of course I was excited to see Heather and Catherine and Eric and Shaun, as well as some engineer friends (Felicia, Sanjeevanee) and was disappointed that Grace (whom I spoke to last year) and Rob and Mark were MIA. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

First there was a non-tour of the new academic building being erected in the footprint of the old Hewitt Building. I say non-tour because it was ludicrously uneventful. We walked inside the construction about 10 feet... stood there while the guy told us nothing, then asked if we had any QUESTIONS about the nothing he just told us, then we walked outside to the street and around the building... I could have just done that on my own (as a matter of fact, I DID do that entirely on my own a few months ago!!!)

Then we stood around (outside in the frigid element, no less) for about 2.5 hours while we waited for the actual reunion to sart, down the street at a little bar called Sophe's. Most people who WERE there just grumbled and left.

Once we hit Sophe's the atmospphere picked up alot. More people showed up for the evening event, and once the beer was flowing it all loosened up alot. Most people didn't recognize me at first (a fact I braced myself for a few moths ago) but Catherine didn't reconize me at ALL, actually ignoring me a bit while I tried to say "hi" to her 3 times, then doing a double take, freaked out and laughed and jumped on me with a giant hug (nearly knocked me over) when she realized who I was!!!

Heather walking in, and across the room, didn't recognize me, but saw me standing at the bar rapidly shaking my leg in the nervous way I always have, and she came over cautiously until she saw it was in fact me, then just lit up like a Christmas Tree with smiles and hugs.

We all mingled for a while, then as the evening wore on we broke out for dinner with Theo, Heather and Patrick, and Alicia. It was nice to actually sit and talk and catch up (although I feel like I drank too much to actually talk clearly)...

After dinner, it was back to Upstate NY for Heather and Patrick, back to Park Slope for Theo, and back home for Alicia and I. I regret not keeping more in touch over the past 10 years, but it sure was nice to actually see these folks and I am glad to hear how well most of them are doing in their respective careers and lives.

And to all of those who DIDN'T show? That's ok... we just talked shit about you anyway...

Well, see you in 10 more years I guess!

Download: Beach Boys: Be True To Your School

Download: Foo Fighters: (How good it is to) See You

Download: The Hold Steady: Certain Songs

Download: John Mellencamp: Jack and Diane

Download: Hole: Rock Star

Download: Mike Ness: Don't Think Twice (Dylan)

enjoy.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Spiders! Spiders!



Download: Wilco: TheSpiders (Kidsmoke)

This Wilco song has one of my favorite guitars of all time, bar none. It's a long one, and takes some time to build, but once it does, it sure does burn! I hope you enjoy!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Analog to Digital Television Conversion PSA



As you all may (or may not) know, come Feb. 2009, all older, analog televisions need to be upgraded to digital in order to continue to receive picture. Here is a video guide to help you with the transition.

Enjoy. (I just about cried!)

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

We went to bed early last night... what did we miss?



We went to bed early last night... what did we miss?


(joke courtesy of 23/6)

a righteous wind



Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.


Download: Eddie Vedder: The Times (They are A Changin')(B.Dylan)

Download: Edddie Vedder: I Am A Patriot (Little Steven)

Download: Edddie Vedder: I Won't back Down (T.Petty)

enough said.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Under The Covers With Wilco



Not a long post tonight, I am too fried. But I have been waiting for a WHILE to post this, so hold on to your hats.

I have (thanks to Heather at Fuel/Friends) a fantastic career-spannning collection of rare live cover songs from Wilco. It is a 2 Zip set, and it is fantastic. Audio quality ranges from song to song because of the different sources (and age of some of the recordings) but has a great overall feeling. A MUST for any Wilco fan, and a real treasure-trove for those who love a good cover!

here's the tracklisting (as best I have, anyway):

##################################
WILCO: SOMEONE ELSE'S SONGS - DISC ONE
##################################

Listen to Her Heart (9/10/95): Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Peace, Love and Understanding (4/17/96): Nick Lowe - (Golden Smog)

Love & Mercy (4/17/96): Brian Wilson - (Golden Smog)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (1/11/97): Jane Taylor

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (2/15/97): Carole King

Color Me Impressed (5/10/97): The Replacements

I Wanna Be Sedated (5/10/97): The Ramones

Drown (5/23/97): Son Volt

True Love Will Find You in the End (9/4/97): Daniel Johnston

Ever Fallen in Love (10/30/97): The Buzzcocks

Sunday Bloody Sunday (11/4/97): U2

Sugar Baby (11/7/97): Doc Boggs

Tear Stained Eye (11/7/97): Son Volt

If It Makes You Happy (11/7/97): Sheryl Crow

Won't Get Fooled Again (11/7/97): The Who

Ingrid Bergman (3/26/98 ): Woody Guthrie/Billy Bragg

John Wesley Harding (3/26/98): Bob Dylan

100 Years from Now (6/12/98): Gram Parsons

James Alley Blues (8/30/98): Richard "Rabbit" Brown

A Fool Such As I (10/19/98): Elvis Presley

I'm Only Sleeping (11/12/98): The Beatles

Yesterday (11/15/98): The Beatles

Rainbow Connection (12/30/98): Kermit The Frog

She's a Jar, hip-hop version (6/15/99): Wilco

Oklahoma USA (10/20/99): The Kinks

Thirteen (10/20/99): Big Star

Dreaming (10/21/99): Blondie

Any Major Dude (11/5/99): Steely Dan

Cock in My Pocket (11/5/99): The Stooges



#################################
WILCO: SOMEONE ELSE'S SONGS - DISC 2
#################################

Give Back the Key to My Heart (11/22/99): Doug Sahm

Kingsport Town (1/4/00): Bob Dylan

Lookin' for a Love (1/4/00): Neil Young

King of Carrot Flowers, Part 1 (1/9/00): Neutral Milk Hotel

Rock Salt and Nails (5/14/00): Bob Dylan

Organ Blues (5/14/00): T. Rex

Reflections in a Crystal Wind (9/12/00): Richard & Mimi Farina

I'm Into Something Good (9/13/00): Herman's Hermits

Colon song (11/16/00)

Stairway to Heaven (12/20/00): Led Zeppelin - (Golden Smog)

Ripple (2/25/01): Grateful Dead

I Wish I Was Your Mother (9/15/01): Mott The Hoople

No Depression (11/18/01): The Carter Family

It's Alright to Cry (2/17/02): Rosie Grier

Three Is a Magic Number (2/17/02): Schoolhouse Rock

Yellow Submarine (2/17/02): The Beatles

We Will Rock You (2/17/02): Queen

Be Not So Fearful (4/6/02): Bill Fay

TV Eye (5/26/02): The Stooges

Henry & the H-Bombs (6/10/02): Mott The Hoople

Here are the zips

Download: WILCO: Other People's Songs Disc 01 (zipped)

Download: WILCO: Other People's Songs Disc 02 (zipped)


Download and Enjoy.

Monday, October 27, 2008

A Moral Defense, Not a Legal One



My lawyer just informed me that North Fork Bank is coming on strong right now, ratcheting up the attacks and pushing for some sort of immediate judgement of "No Contest" saying that my defense, while a strong moral one, has no legal strength.

I am sorry, call me naive, but I somehow still thought the 2 of those were sometimes the same thing. Stupid me.

Stupid me for believing that this system wouldn't screw an innocent person. The lawyer is going over the paperwork today/tonight with fresh eyes (it HAS been a year, after all!) and we'll try to get a plan tomorrow. His questions to ME were:

"Is your business still financially in peril like it was when we last spoke?"
(translation: you are in jeopardy.)

"Do you want to continue to fight?"
(translation: probably going to lose)

"How about Settlement?"
(translation: Banks are so desperate, they need to get SOMETHING")

My answer to all the above is an exasperated "Who the F*CK KNOWS???"

I feel like if we just plain out lose, I should have just skipped on the whole lawyer thing. Could have saved countless thousands of dollars.

Also, I figure if I AM being held liable, at least give me the freaking EQUIPTMENT/FURNITURE in that place!!! I KNOW it's still there, because I pass the old space once a week and look up into the big window and can see it all sitting right there!

I could sell it and get 30-40k I'm sure. Of course, had we all sold it over a YEAR ago like I TOLD them to, the bank would have gotten every red cent I'm sure. No harm, no foul.

If I SETTLE, then for how much? what is the rule of thumb for something like that? I have no frame of reference because I never saw DIME-ONE of that money to begin with... how can IIIII say how much imaginary loan I should have to pay back?? It might as well be a Quadrillion dollars. It might as well be McDonalds Monopoly coupons. Or Marlboro Bucks.

Stay tuned I guess. As It develops I'll post here.

What a joke.

In honor of the moment, here is a short but sweet Bootleg I have of Rage Against The Machine reunited in 2007 for the Coachella Festival.

The show is short and blistering. Sound quality's not very good, but hey, these songs aren't really about clear crisp audio and harmony. It's pretty much just about Rage. Against machines. Or something.


Rage Against The Machine: Live @ Coachella 2007
01. Testify
02. Bulls On Parade
03. People Of The Sun
04. Bombtrack
05. Bullet In The Head
06. Know Your Enemy
07. Down Rodeo

Here's the Zip!

Download: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE: Live @ Coachella 2007 (zipped)


Download and enjoy!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Some Folks Inherit Star Spangled Eyes



This blog has been posting a lot of youtube political clips lately, so I thought it was time to steer it back (momentarily) to it's more musical pursuits. I swear, I don't think I am going to MAKE IT 12 more days... my tension/anxiety level is through the roof...

Shuffling the iPod during my nighttime walk saved the day again, when REM's cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?" came up. I then remembered some great OTHER covers and collaborations I had of CCR and John Fogerty, so I thought that this election season would be a timely time to post them!

Culled here are 6 x tracks, R.E.M. (1985), Pearl Jam (Rock for Choice 2004), Foo Fighters (Hurricane Katrina Benefit), and Bruce Springsteen with John Fogerty (Rock for Choice 2004).

Download: R.E.M: Have You Ever Seen The Rain? (CCR)

Download: Pearl Jam: Fortunate Son (CCR)

Download: Foo Fighters: Born On The Bayou (CCR)

Download: Bruce Springsteen w John Fogerty (1993): Who'll Stop The Rain?

Download: Bruce Springsteen w John Fogerty (2004): Proud Mary

Download: Bruce Springsteen w John Fogerty (2004): Bad Moon Rising

And, as an added bonus for all you John Fogerty/CCR lovers out there, I have a big ol' ZIP file of a bootleg of John Fogerty "Swampfox." Unfortunately I don't have a lot of notation on it (Where? When? Setlist?) But the sound quality is A+ and the setlist is fantastic.

Here's the Zip!

Download: John Fogerty: Live "Swampfox" (zipped)

Download and enjoy!

P.S. I have a metric TON of the concerts, collabortations and rarities from the 2004 Rock For Change Tour (Bruce, PJ, REM, John Fogerty, Bonnie Raitt, the list goes on and on) so if this post proves to be a hit, let me know, and I'll dig out some other stuff and post it! Feedback is the only way I can tell who's liking what, and what more I should post!

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Republicans Voting For Obama: In Their Own Words



This brought a completely non-sarcastic tear to my eye. Bringing people together is the only way this country is going to heal. Enjoy.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Like Fleas Jumping Off A Dead Dog



This website just made my day. I bookmarked it. I can't WAIT to see this list grow!!!! It made me smile all day reading it.

The Jed Report: Ship Jumpers

McTitanic is about to hit the Obamaberg.

Thanks To Phil Roc for sending it my way. Enjoy.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Best Shot Ever?



pickle back:
noun
—a shot of Jameson with a shot of pickle-juice brine

Sounds terrible, I know... but if you love pickles (and I certainly do) then it's out of this world.

Ok here goes:


How do you say Pickle in French?
Pickle in French.


Should you ever eat a pickle on an empty stomach?
No! You should always use a plate.


What's the phrase most commonly heard at pickle card games?
Dill me in!


What's the difference between a ten cent pickle and a quarter pickle?
Fifteen cents!


Why did the pickle wear red suspenders?
The blue ones broke!


How do you make a pickle sour?
The same way you make a whiskey sour only use a pickle.


Why did the pickle take a ladder to school?
It was going to High School.


IQ test: A pickle worker was five feet tall and wore a size eight shoe. What did he weigh?
Pickles, of course!


How do you make a green pickle?
Cross a blue pickle with yellow one!


What business does a smart pickle go in to?
He opens a dilly-catessen!


Hoo boy. It's going to be a long day.

Friday, October 17, 2008

This last debate already happened!



This last debate has a lot of similarities to this clip. check it out, see if you agree. Enjoy!

Letterman Rips McMaverick A New One




With hundreds of press, pundits, experts, interviewers, etc all covering this campaign, I can't believe it took a Late Night Talk Show Host / Comedian to give the candidate an actual intense interview proper. Go Dave. I won't blather on about it at all, it's an over 20 minute clip (with commercials and all) but it is worth the watch. Probably the best interview I've seen YET of the candidate. It makes my heart fill with glee to wonder just how MANY people watched this last night. Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

McMaverick: My Fellow Prisoners



Wow. He didn't even NOTICE.

Thanks to Mike E. for this awesome clip!

Monday, October 13, 2008

No School Like The Old School



Alicia and I went to see Guy Ritchie's new movie "RocknRolla" last night, and boy was it awesome. With so many terrible copycat movies out there, aping his style (Smoking Aces and Shoot 'Em Up are two god-awful ones that come to mind) it is great to see Ritchie back in his natural habitat, with smart characters, triple crosses, thick accents and a healthy dose of just plain terrible luck. Far superior in every way to the clones and knock offs, as good or better than his other ("Snatch" and "Lock, Stock"...) and it downright demolishes the waste of film that was the Cohen Brothers latest opus, "Burn After Reading."

If "Snatch" wasn't your thing, then skip the movie alltogether. But if it was, don't hesitate to see this one on the big screen! Great performances by all. Great looking. Fast moving. and smarter than the average shooter. The soundtrack was a blast too, with The Clash, Lou Reed, The English Beat, The Sonics, Black Strobe, The Subways, and lots more.

A real treat for true RocknRollas.

* EDIT: Alicia reminded me to mention... it was a great HBO cast, with Stringer Bell, Benjamin Franklin, and Ari Gold!!! All were fantastic. It's good to see the beloved characters from HBO do well on the big screen!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

The Hand That Feeds



One of the shows of the latest "2008 Lights In The Sky" Tour. Lots of new songs from his latest (free) album "The Slip," released online as much as a thank you to fans as a fuck you to the industry.

The sound quality is excellent (it was broadcast over the radio in South America) unfortunately, it's just audio, because the visuals of these shows are a graphic designer's absolute dream.

I was so blown away when I saw him at the Garden that when the (smashed) guitar from that show came up on auction to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims, I dug deep and won the auction. It now hangs in our home studio office, in all it's smashed glory.

I have a ton of rare NIN stuff, but this boot is so new I haven't even listened to the entire thing yet. I was so excited about finding it, I just wanted to share it immediately!

I Figure it's the perfect soundtrack for the (soon to be) end of the world.

Here's the Tracklist:

Nine Inch Nails
Movistar Arena
Santiago, 2008


01. 999999
02. 1000000
03. Letting You
04. Discipline
05. March of the Pigs
06. Piggy
07. The Frail
08. The Wretched
09. Head Down
10. Closer
11. Gave Up
12. Corona Radiata
13. The Warning
14. Vessel
15. Pinion
16. Wish
17. Terrible Lie
18. Survivalism
19. The Big Comedown
20. 31 Ghost
21. Only
22. The Hand That Feeds
23. Head Like A Hole
24. Encore Break
25. Echoplex
26. Reptile
27. God Given
28. Hurt
29. In This Twilight
30. Zero Sum


Here's the Zip!

Download: Nine Inch Nails: Live in Santiago, 2008 (zipped)


enjoy!

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Acoustic Submarine



I have no topical reason for posting this, other than I just came across it the other day, and have been listening to it non-stop, and just had to share it. What we have here is an AMAZING bootleg of The Beatles, culled from several (unfortunately unlisted) sources, but this 39 track collection is excellent in sound quality, song selection, and really, just rarity. I'm sure this boot is "old hat" to serious Beatles traders out there, but for the casual (or younger) music fan out there, this is the best place I can imagine to start. I simply LOVE this setlist. There are even a few instrumental versions of great songs, as well as completely reworked versions too. If you have a passing interest in the Beatles, or are a lifelong fan but don't have access to deep rarities, then this boot is for you! Not to mention, how fresh and modern these tracks sound still today. Do yourself a favor. Download this set, and begin enjoying it immediately! Also, forgot to mention: there is even artwork and CD inlay graphics in the download too! Perfect Audio and Creativity Bliss. I am at work right now (as I have been all weekend) and this is just the perfect setlist to while away a working weekend.

Here's the Tracklisting:

1. Do You Want To Know A Secret?
2. And I Love Her
3. I'm A Loser
4. Help!
5. Yesterday
6. Yes It Is
7. Norwegian Wood (The Bird Has Flown)
8. I'm Looking Through You
9. We Can Work It Out
10. I'm Only Sleeping
11. Yellow Submarine
12. A Day In The Life
13. The Fool On The Hill
14. Christmas Time Is Here Again
15. The Happy Kishikesh Song
16. Jubilee
17. Child Of Nature
18. Goodbye
19. What's The New Mary Jane

1. Heather
2. Back In The USSR
3. Dear Prudence
4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
6. Blackbird
7. Rocky Raccoon
8. Julia
9. Mother's Nature Sun
10. Hey, Jude
11. Because
12. I Lost My Little Girl
13. Teddy Boy
14. Mama You've Been On My Mind
15. For You BLue
16. Two Of Us
17. Across The Universe
18. I Me Mine
19. Maggie Mae

here's the Zip!

Download: The Beatles: Acoustic Sumbarine (2 Discs, Zipped)

Enjoy!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Democrats can wear red white + blue too...



Alicia and I went to see Lucinda Williams play at the Theater at Madison Square Garden last night, and boy was it a great show. By my count there were at least 3 new songs from her forthcoming new album, not to mention a huge back catalog of fantastic tracks, topped of with a smattering of great (and unexpected) covers. A recipe for fun if there ever was one.

The opening act, Buick 6, was a 4-some who played a FANTASTIC (and actually pretty experimental and exciting) set of instrumentals, ranging from rockabilly and blues to straight rock and some Wilco-esque alt country jamming. I was thrilled with their musicianship, and was dying to see more by the time they wrapped their last song (Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl," the only track that had vocals)... Boy was I thrilled when they came back out and were Lucinda's band! Ha!

Lucinda came out decked out in punk-style black (a surprise) and just jumped into a few songs, singing only. By about the third song in, she had donned her acoustic guitar and began to make some noise along with the band. She kept marveling at the excellent sound quality at the Theater space (I agree) and how big it was. She was all smiles, and very conversational and joking around.

For her encore, she and the band came back out, and broke into a Fats Domino song, then Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth." She lamented the need these days for a "protest song, and said this song was still (unfortunately) as true today as it was 30 years ago. She avoided getting too "high-horse preachy" (since it was pretty obvious that her crowd there that night did not particularly lean very "left" - Alicia and I being the youngest person in the crowd by a margin of, say, 50 years!) but said emphatically that "Democrats can wear Red, White and Blue TOO!" Ballsy. Funny. A bit Bawdy. And a completely honest and engaging performance. I can't wait to see her again!

Here are a few great tracks of hers, in no particular order. If you aren't familiar with her, run, do not walk, to get her back catalogue (especially "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road," one of my Desert Island Albums!) These are my 4 favorite songs from her, and strangely enough, she played none of them... oh well.. better luck next time! Ha!

Download: Lucinda Williams: Meal Firecracker

Download: Lucinda Williams: 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten

Download: Lucinda Williams: Greenville

Download: Lucinda Williams: Passionate Kisses

Enjoy!

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Thank God all MY money's in CDs!



Sorry about the delay in posts around here. Busy times all around. The Missus and I went to Cancun for a week (more on THAT later!) so of course the work-week BEFORE was hell, and the work-week AFTER was double hell. It's really not even worth going away to "relax" if you just have to double or triple up your workload in order to do it. But of course while we were away (and returned) the whole world seemed to catch fire and spiral out of control. I'm no economic genius by any means... as a matter fact, I went to art school. So I have no advice or solutions or ideas as to what to do or what's right. All I know is that I just bought a 2 terabyte drive, and have been working on getting ALL my music onto it, so that I'd be able to comb through the collections better and more easily for this blog. I have no stocks (other than some retirement accounts) so it looks like the all-CD (and cassette, and album, and MP3) investment strategy is really paying off in these trying economic times.

A quick Sidenote/Question:
With all of the bank failures going on around here, why on freaking EARTH can't one of them be North Fork Bank (and or Capital One), my sworn and mortal enemy? (see previous posts for details). I swear to GOD the day that bank fails is the night that drinks for the entire bar are on ME!

I DID get a great email suggesting an alternative to use the billions and billions of dollars proposed for bailing out the financial institutions. I'll post it here, if for nothing else than a good laugh. Thanks to Phil Roc for sending it my way!

####################################

I'm against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a 'We Deserve It Dividend'.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child.. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billion that equals $425,000.00. My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a 'We Deserve It Dividend'..

Of course, it would NOT be tax free.

So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.

That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.

A husband and wife has $595,000.00. What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be there

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( 'vote buy' ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion

'We Deserve It Dividend' more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

####################################


And, just for fun, here are some tunes to get you though the meltdown. It's pretty Pearl Jam heavy, but filled with some fantastic covers and ultra-rare collaborations (Bono, Robert Plant!?!??! Need I say more?) But besides Pearl Jam, there are some other great ones in there, not to mention my new obessive-favorite-listen-to-it-over-and-over song by Easyworld! Drink Up. Drink another. Kick back and watch it all burn.

Download: Easyworld: U Make Me Want to Drink Bleach

Download: Bloc Party: Like Eating Glass

Download: Pearl Jam w/ Robert Plant: Money (That's What I Want)

Download: Pearl Jam w/Bono: Rocking In The Free World (N. Young) (+ Improv)

Download: Nine Inch Nails: All The Pigs, All Lined Up

Download: Pearl Jam w/ John Doe: The New World w/ Revolution (Beatles)

Download: Pearl Jam: The American In Me (Avengers)

Download: Pearl Jam: Grievance

Download: Nirvana: Pay To Play (early demo of "Stay Away")

Download: R.E.M: The End Of The World As We Know It (Live)


As always, Enjoy! (And F#CK Banks. Seriously)

Friday, September 12, 2008

* * * * * * * * * *




I tried to write this yesterday, but it was a crazy day (with work and class) and time got away from me.

Funny how I just described yesterday as "crazy." How quickly my brain forgets just what a crazy day IS. A truly crazy day finds you running late for work, hearing a "boom" outside as you scramble to get dressed and get out the door for work. You think to yourself "Sounds like rain... better bring the umbrella."

Crazy thing is, when you get outside, it's a beautiful sunny day. Your neighbors are all in front of your building, staring straight up at a smoking tower. You ask what happened? Malfunction? Pilot had a heart attack? Small plane? Big one? Nobody knows. You can smell the jet fuel burning. You look up at it. Away towards your neighbors. Back up. Back to them. Out of the corner of your eye, another "boom."

A crazy thought crosses your mind. "How could there be TWO malfunctions, only minutes apart?"

You go back upstairs, call the office, and tell everyone to go home.

You turn on the TV. You expect to see the towers burning on the screen. INSTEAD you see a burning Pentagon.

The day had only just BEGUN to get crazy.

I've been back to the site (or passed it) every year since on September 11th, but for some reason this year I just couldn't make time. Because, you know, it's been 7 whole years and all. And besides, I'm a very busy guy. Nothing stops. But today I regret it. I'm embarrassed that I didn't get to, but I figured If I posted here at least I could make up for it. I pulled a few songs and I really should leave it at that. Those stupid bumper stickers that say "Never Forget"? Well, they're not wrong for reminding us.

I'll be back to cheerier stuff tomorrow. Enjoy the music for today!

Download: Pearl Jam: The Long Road

Download: Pearl Jam: Untitled

Download: Pearl Jam: I Am Mine

Download: Eddie Vedder: Goodbye

Download: Eddie Vedder: Satellite

P.S... A day later, talking with a friend, we came to the conclusion that it takes a lot more than international terrorism to take ME out. God knows, bigger men have tried. Good Luck with that, North Fork Bank.

P.P.S... Happy 33rd birthday to Marty. Could anyone POSSIBLY have a worse birthdate?!?!?! Here's to at least 1 more!

Saturday, September 6, 2008

The Black Angels' Second Coming



I have waited patiently to post The Black Angels here on this blog, and for you readers, my patience has paid off in dividends! Oh sure, i could have just rushed a post of one of my favorite bands, and probably put up a few standout tracks from their first, unbelievable album "Passover." (Don't worry, i'm still going to post a few!) But now, with their release of album number 2, "Directions to See a Ghost" I am so much more in awe of them, I have a new track or two to post as well. But love them so much that I do, not only do I have these tracks for you, but I had been holding out to see if I could get you guys anything more cool or rare... And the other day I hit a jackpot! A full live show bootleg of them from Sheffield, May 20th, 2008!

These guys sound like if The Velvet Underground and The Jesus and Mary Chain had a 60s love-child who grew up and protested the religious right and the war machine. Like penut butter and chocolate, it's pretty much my ultimate combination of flavors!

Here we go, off their first album, Passover:

Download: The Black Angels: Young Men Dead

Download: The Black Angels: The First Vietnamese War

Download: The Black Angels: Bloodhounds On My Trail

And off their brand new, second album, Directions to See A Ghost:

Download: The Black Angels: You On The Run


And the prize of the day, an entire live show (in WAV format, so the file size is kind of big)

Download: The Black Angels: Live In Sheffield - May 20th, 2008

Enjoy!

Friday, September 5, 2008

Guest DJ #001



Feedback has started to trickle in regarding some of the music postings on this here blog!! We created a few more obsessed fans for The National, a few others are going to check out Everclear and Cracker playing a free show in New Jersey this weekend, and the other day I just got my first submission of tracks I had not heard, suggesting that they might be blog-fodder!

Well, without further delay, let's start a new (hopefully recurring) episode of "User Submitted" tracks, this first one being from Bob L. in Baltimore.

First up, we have Neko Case, with her FINE cover of "Train From Kansas City" first done by the 60's girl group The Shangrala's. This song was just right up my alley... very hard to not sing along with. She combines punk's do it yourself ethic, a strong business sense, and frequently infuses humorous narratives into her live sets. She's touring this summer (mostly across the Southwest and West Coast) but if you have the chance, check her out!

Download: Neko Case: Train From Kansas City

Next up was a real surprise for me, with an artist I had not heard, which just blew me away, Sam Roberts. The track suggested (and posted) is the second track from his latest CD "We Were Born In A Flame" called "Where Have All The Good People Gone?"... once I listened to it (and really liked it) I poked around some more and found another track which I loved as well, called 'Hard Road." Check them out, I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

Download: Sam Roberts: Where Have All The Good People Gone?

Download: Sam Roberts: Hard Road

Just for fun, I am adding to this playlist, my favorite Jack Johnson song (look for many future posts with HIM featured) called "Where'd All The Good People Go?" since the titles are so similar, I thought it would be a fun counterpoint to Sam. Working in broadcast television, this song could simply not be any truer. If you hate the evil, corporate, base, crass divisive and obscene direction the media has taken over the last decade, then you will LOVE this song!

Download: Jack Johnson: Good People

And to finish it up in a fun way, our guest blogger (enjoying my last x-files related posting with Bree Sharp) suggested I post another great one by her, a fantastic cover of "The Boys of Summer." Really really fun.

Download: Bree Sharp: The Boys of Summer

There you have it, our first guest DJ! (With a bit of editorial on my end! Ha!) Thanks again for the submission, please send me more! If there's something YOU'VE been listening to and loving, and think the rest of us should hear it, shoot me an email or leave me a comment in the blog, and I would be thrilled to post it! After all, community interaction is really the entire point of these blogs, no?

As Always, Enjoy!

Monday, September 1, 2008

I Still Believe



After reading so many horrible reviews about the new X Files movie "I Want to Believe" Alicia and I resigned ourself to the unpleasant fact that it must be terrible and that we would wait until cable or Netflix to watch it, if at all. Like an old relationship, we both thought it might be better to remember it fondly for the good times, rather than try to rekindle it only to have it burn and disappoint worse than ever before.

It's no secret that we were both horribly sad to see our beloved series die the way it did, way back in 2002. So when the reviews started piling up, and when B'More John said he was disappointed, we figured we'd let the dead rest in peace.

But after such a huge party weekend, we were so dead tired on Sunday that after brunch we bit the bullet and prepared for the worst, and ponied up for 2 tickets to see it.

Boy were we pleased! Maybe it's because our expectations were so low, or maybe because we were so tired.. but it really WAS just like a great longer version of an X-Files episode. Don't get me wrong, the critic's points are true... this episode was stand-alone, not following or furthering the mythology in any way, and doesn't even TRY to answer any of the 8 million loose ends the series left... but for a few fans who enjoy the characters and aren't expecting the second coming of film, this is MORE than a great way to spend a lazy Sunday evening. It was great to see the characters again, the cinematography was great, acting above what I expected, no "cringe" moments, a suitably creepy crime to investigate, and some deeper themes that made a summer popcorn film watchers brain feel well creeped-out.

Is it a great film? No. Is it the key to the X-Files universe? No. Does it do the franchise proud and make you want to see lots more? Without question!

In honor of the film, and David D's hit show "Californication" on Showtime, and also I guess in honor of his checking himself into Sex Addiction Therapy, I'll post for you a great one-hit wonder song by Bree Sharp, played (at Aliciia's insistence) every time we are in the car headed for Baltimore (without fail)...

Download: Bree Sharp: David Duchovny (Why Don't You Love Me?)

Friday, August 29, 2008

Hitting The Ground



Fried beyond all belief. When I woke up this morning I wasn't hung over at all... I was STILL DRUNK. A great way to start the workday. B'More John left this morning after his 28 day tear in NY... at least HE gets to sleep on the train.

Today's post is short and sweet, a medley of tunes I thought would be great considering the night I just had. Thanks again to the Peculiar Pub for such a great selection of beers to waste a Thursday night to! Seriously, I can't think of a bar with more of a beer selection.

Enough typing. The sunlight is melting my brain. Just skip to the music.

Download: Gordon Gano f. P.J. Harvey "Hitting The Ground"

Download: Ike Reilly "When Irish Eyes Are Burning Bright.mp3"

Download: LCD Soundsystem (by Joy Division) "No Love Lost"

Download: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts "I Love Rock n' Roll"

Enjoy! Now get some sleep!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Against Me! (Notice a Theme?)



One of my other favorite bands I "discovered" this year (late to the party, as usual) is Against Me! (Excalmation Point included!) I figured what with the lawsuit and such, I might as well continue my anti-establishment theme in style...

Up first, the most beautiful and poetic and insightful song of love lost between an anarchist and a hippie communist liberal. Funny as hell, nicely observed, and GREAT to drink big pints to. To quote another Against Me! songtitle, "Pints of Guiness Make You Strong."

Nothing makes you feel better than hearing about other people's problems, so why not follow it up with another great one from them, "Problems".

Then Just for Fun' we'll wrap it up with their single from their latest (and greatest) album "New Wave" with their song "Thrash Unreal" about a slightly aged, slightly used party girl who "still hears the rebel yell just as loud as it was in 1983"... good stuff.

Download: Against Me! "Baby, I'm an Anarchist"

Download: Against Me! "Problems"

Download: Against Me! "Thrash Unreal"

Again, if you like the intelligent Nihilism, go see them live (we just saw them open for Foo Fighters at MSG!) or buy their amazing albums!

Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

They're Out To Get Me!



Coming home late after a great Indian dinner at the Bombay Palace, I checked the mail on the way up to the apartment. A large envelope from a law firm loomed dark and dreary in the box. It would seem that last year's nightmare lawsuit is not only not OVER (as a nearly 12 month radio silence might have some people believe) but is proceeding full force, with the Evil Empire, er, I mean North Fork Bank (recently bought by Capital One) releasing the hounds once again on me.

The only difference between LAST YEAR and NOW is that while last year was right before my wedding (bad timing, huh?) THIS year is right when we have just recently (as in, 3 weeks ago) had to move our entire business. Actually, it's hard to believe, but I actually think THIS timing is actually far, far worse. I can't imagine how my business could continue in this point in time if judgement went against me and I owed the amount of money these chimpanzees seem to think I owe.

Alternating between tears and rage, I went out to walk Chalupa (see post #1) and set the iPod to shuffle, having NO idea what I was going to post for you guys on my (new) blog, MUCH LESS how to deal with impending financial destruction.

Shuffle saved the day. Guns and Roses. Live. 1988. The Ritz. "They're Out To Get Me" The first song out of the cannon. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't have PICKED a better song to hear at that moment. So I knew immediately I had to post.


Here's a link to hear "Out To Get Me" live from the Ritz, 1988... Take a listen, share my rage...

Download: Guns N' Roses "Out to Get Me"

Just a quick note about the show: forget the bloated corpse that GNR became by the 90's (all the marriages/divorces to supermodels, $70 million videos, playing with Elton John at the VMAs, etc) In 1988 these guys were living (squatting) in one vomit covered rat's nest room in LA, playing at night, boozing and wasted till dawn, then driving (crashing) a van on the way to the next gig. No exaggeration, these guys were the most destructive force Rock had ever seen. And this is a great gig... they are young, hungry, angry and belligerent, and the energy this gives off in their performance is still to this day unrivaled.


Here's the link to the entire show:

Download: Guns N' Roses Live at the Ritz Feb. 02, 1988

I may be in misery, but that's no reason you all shouldn't at least enjoy some rock! God knows it made MY night! F@ck Banks. Seriously. My next posting will be about Fight Club. Or from Prison. Or Both.

Monday, August 25, 2008

National treasure



So I know I'm late to this party, but Brooklyn's The National are continuously amazing me with each new nugget I hear from them. A favorite of blogs, festivals, hipsters and critics alike, I still managed to not hear them till well after their 4th(?) album "Boxer" was already on every critic's top ten pick.

Well if you are anything like me, and have put off finding them out, delay no further! RUN (do not walk) to the store and buy buy buy "Boxer." Then when you're done, buy their others as well. Then see them live. Then buy a shirt. Then tell your friends.

Their opening track "Fake Empire" is one off the most beautiful and moving songs I've heard in years, and standout tracks like "Start a War" and "Apartment Story" smack of 80s alt pop but with a remarkably mature, modern and edgy sound that doesn't the least bit sound derivative or cheezy. Simply put, these guys are smart.

Here's a link to hear "Fake Empire" from their album...

Download: The National "Fake Empire"

But the REAL treat for your listening pleasure is their 2008 Lollapalooza set, in pretty great audio quality. I apologize in advance that it's not cut up into separate tracks, but instead one looong mp3... but hey, beggars can't be choosers! Download it, listen to it, and leave a reply if you love it as much as I do (well, leave a reply even if you DON'T love it, too... I just want to know that someone out there is actually reading!). Here's the link:

Download: The National: Live at Lollapalooza 2008

As always, Enjoy!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

(Nothing But) Clanking



Alicia, B'More John and I went downtown on this beautiful Sunday to see David Byrne's art installation "Playing the Building". Alicia has been wanting to go all Summer, and as it turns out, when we showed up at the Battery Maritime Building at about 3:00pm it was, in fact, the last day of the exhibit (already held over for 2 extra weeks)! Whew! We JUST made it!

Admission was free, but everyone entering needed to sign some form/waiver... it was not entirly clear to me WHY, but we dutifuly signed it anyway, then proceeded up the stairwell to the exhibit.

Immediately upon seeing the dark, unmaintained and just plain SCARY stairwell, we knew why Waivers were necessary! I have seen horror movies that had better looking facilities.

At the top of the stairs, there was a loooooong line, so again, we just started to stand in it... we could see a giant room up ahead, and figured it was the line to get in. An aide came by and said, however, that this line was for PLAYING the musiic only... if you just wanted to SEE or HEAR the exhibit, to continue into the room. We ditched the line and went in, to a cavernously big industrial room with a single organ and a TON of wires coming out of it to each of the peripheral walls and heat vents and pipes and windows all around the room.



As the user played each key, a certain trigger would go off around the room, from window latches to steam pipes clanging to heating units moaning to life. Some sounds were percussive, clanging over and over while the user held dowen keys, while other sounds were long and deep and would sustain a tone as long as the user was pressing. the Instrument itself was impressive looking, with a deconstructed and kind of scary bunch of wires, looking more like something from H.R. Geiger than a musical instrument.

Unfortunately, as interesting and impressive as it all was, it really underwhelmed when actually EXPERIENCED, because each person sitting down and subjecting the room to their "music" really were just pushing random keys... often just over and over and over. Sure, it's fun for the 4-year-old, but it's not so fun for the audience having to LISTEN to the 4-year-old. I think I might have been more impressed had there been a control/tour guide or demonstration of some sort... SOME kind of order or system to the Chaos would have gone a long way to making it more of an experience for everyone in the room, not just the single person pushing a key.

All in all, I don't regret going, and WAS duly impressed by the concept and the great idea... but just walked out mostly being happy that I didn't PAY anything for it! That's not what you want to feel coming out of an art exhibit, especially from someone as artistically influential to me as David Byrne. (Nothing But) Flowers is one of my favorite videos of all-time, directed by M+Co. and in particular Emily Oberman, now principal of Number 17 in NYC, with whom I teach After Effects and Design in Motion at The Cooper Union.



And, lest you think that I stoped posting downloads for you ALREADY (after only 3 x posts!) here is an AWESOME MP3 of one of my favorite bands, Guster, covering "(Nothing But) Flowers" live.

Enjoy!

P.S. Just to reinforce how scary this place was (in a cool way, but still) here is a picture I snapped on the way OUT, where someone had made in a far off, abandoned, darkened corner, a single noose... yeesh. There were 4 artists/photographers taking picture of it along with me!






Download: Guster: (Nothing But) Flowers by Talking Heads