23 October 2008
Hiatus
So it's looking like I'm going to be taking a break from the blogging for a while. Just found out the campaign here is really strict about blogging from its campaigners while under their employ, so I've gone ahead and removed all the posts I've made from the trail and am going to stay off here until November 5th. The last thing I'll say is this: VOLUNTEER! If you're around the Summit County area, give me a call for sure; and if not, give your local Obama office a call. This election won't just be determined by the efforts of the candidates, but also by the efforts of the volunteers.
16 October 2008
Whirlwind Changes
It's looking like this blog, and my life, are going to be shifting focuses for the next couple of weeks. As of yesterday, I was a new hire at Pizzeria Uno's, and planning to take the weekend off to go visit Denison for homecoming this weekend. Now, it's looking like I may be putting that job on hold until November and staying out in Ohio. Here's why:
Today, I got an e-mail from someone with the Obama campaign, offering me a position starting immediately out in Ohio. After I called back to get the details, I found out it's actually a deputy field director job (location tbd), and I'd basically be spending the next two weeks working 14 hour days for little to no pay and sleeping on the couch of local Obama supporters. Ironically, that actually sounds fun for me. So, my only dilemma is how to balance these two jobs. Since I'm leaving tomorrow for Ohio, my plan is to go into work tomorrow, explain the situation and ask for a three-week hiatus. And if that doesn't work, beg. And if that doesn't work, quit. Hell, it's just a waiting job. I'm sure I can find another one somewhere.
Since I'm going to have to make this decision within minutes of heading out to Ohio, the next post in this blog'll have to be from the Buckeye State.
Today, I got an e-mail from someone with the Obama campaign, offering me a position starting immediately out in Ohio. After I called back to get the details, I found out it's actually a deputy field director job (location tbd), and I'd basically be spending the next two weeks working 14 hour days for little to no pay and sleeping on the couch of local Obama supporters. Ironically, that actually sounds fun for me. So, my only dilemma is how to balance these two jobs. Since I'm leaving tomorrow for Ohio, my plan is to go into work tomorrow, explain the situation and ask for a three-week hiatus. And if that doesn't work, beg. And if that doesn't work, quit. Hell, it's just a waiting job. I'm sure I can find another one somewhere.
Since I'm going to have to make this decision within minutes of heading out to Ohio, the next post in this blog'll have to be from the Buckeye State.
11 October 2008
Some Music I'm Digging
I've recently realized that me continuing to try to give real reviews to albums on this site is pretty pointless, since I'm only really going to bother with albums which I'm going to give good ratings to in the first place. So, in lieu of giving album reviews, I'm just going to periodically post a blurb about music I'm currently digging. That's what I really started this blog for anyway (to share music I'm getting excited about), so this'll just be a more upfront and honest way to go about that.
Anyway, here's a quick rundown on what I've got on heavy rotation at the moment.
TV On The Radio - Dear Science:
This is TVOTR's third full-length album, and is easily their best. The album as a whole has a much higher production value, and the songs range from catchy to infectious to haunting. What ma This is the newest album from TVOTR, and just dropped on September 23, 2008. This is theirkes me like this album even more is that it's another one of those albums that's being released on vinyl with a free mp3 download. I got my copy off a third party seller on Amazon, but as the mp3 download code is packaged inside the sleeve, you can get the download anywhere you can find a vinyl copy.
Great on album, TVOTR is also an amazing live band. I saw them for the first time headlining in Columbus, OH in 2007, and again recently in Columbia, MD opening for Thievery Corporation. Both shows were amazing, never leaving you disengaged from what was happening on stage for a second. If you ever get a chance to see them live, be sure to capitalize on the opportunity.
Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations:
This album has been out for a while, but I've recently been rediscovering it. It's the most recent work from Mark Oliver Everett, more commonly referred to as E, and is actually a two disc compilation of songs recorded in E's house over the past seven years. As E puts it, Blinking Lights is about "God and all the questions related to the subject of God. It's also about hanging on to my remaining shreds of sanity and the blue sky that comes the day after a terrible storm, and it's a love letter to life itself, in all its beautiful, horrible glory." Almost every emotion that you could associate with that statement is hidden somewhere in this album, which makes it definitely worth checking out. Bonus fact: Tom Waits actually performs as a member of Eels on a few of the tracks in Blinking Lights.
Girl Talk - Feed The Animals:
I reviewed this album a while ago, but as it turns out, I was reviewing a forgery. Having had time to dissociate my impressions about the fake from the real thing, I finally got around to giving it an honest chance. Listening to it with new ears, I couldn't put it down. Simply put, it's a great hour-long party dance mix. Half of your attention will be focused on trying to identify the flurry of throwback samples, while the other half is just getting down with the beat. Right now, it's really one of those albums I don't have a problem listening to on repeat for a while. Bottom line, check it out if you like rap, 90s music, and music you can have a dance party to.
Okkervil River - The Stand Ins:
This is the follow up album to the widely-successful and highly-acclaimed 2007 album, The Stage Names. It's sound picks up right where The Stage Names left off, which makes sense seeing as how the two were originally going to be released as a double album. Like the last album, the second track off this album, "Lost Coastlines", has quickly become one of the most
listened-to tracks on my iPod and turntable. It's just freakin infectious.
In conclusion, the same themes are present, both musically and lyrically; so if you like The Stage Names be sure to check out The Stand Ins.
Aside from the contents of the album itself, this is one of those albums that's great because they're selling it on vinyl with free mp3 downloads. Okkervil's record company, Jagjaguwar, even gave the download code away pre-ordered the vinyl on the album's immediately to anyone who drop date. The last thing I'll mention about this album not related to the music is that the cover art of The Stage Names and The Stand Ins were designed to go together. If you look at The Stage Names above The Stand Ins, you get the complete picture that the band had thought up for the two albums. Seen above on the right, this image is supposed to give the idea that The Stand Ins is depicting what's going on just beneath the surface of The Stage Names. Interpret as you will.
Last thing I'll bring up is this video I recently re-discovered. The song is "War Photographer" from Jason Forrest's album "Shamelessly Exciting." It's pure awesomeness, plain and simple. The song itself is comprised almost completely of samples, including stuff from Earth Wind and Fire. The easiest way to describe the video itself is basically the duel from "the Devil Went Down To Georgia," but with Vikings. And horn sections. And zords like the ones from power rangers. Just watch it and figure it out for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Anyway, here's a quick rundown on what I've got on heavy rotation at the moment.
TV On The Radio - Dear Science:This is TVOTR's third full-length album, and is easily their best. The album as a whole has a much higher production value, and the songs range from catchy to infectious to haunting. What ma This is the newest album from TVOTR, and just dropped on September 23, 2008. This is theirkes me like this album even more is that it's another one of those albums that's being released on vinyl with a free mp3 download. I got my copy off a third party seller on Amazon, but as the mp3 download code is packaged inside the sleeve, you can get the download anywhere you can find a vinyl copy.
Great on album, TVOTR is also an amazing live band. I saw them for the first time headlining in Columbus, OH in 2007, and again recently in Columbia, MD opening for Thievery Corporation. Both shows were amazing, never leaving you disengaged from what was happening on stage for a second. If you ever get a chance to see them live, be sure to capitalize on the opportunity.
Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations:This album has been out for a while, but I've recently been rediscovering it. It's the most recent work from Mark Oliver Everett, more commonly referred to as E, and is actually a two disc compilation of songs recorded in E's house over the past seven years. As E puts it, Blinking Lights is about "God and all the questions related to the subject of God. It's also about hanging on to my remaining shreds of sanity and the blue sky that comes the day after a terrible storm, and it's a love letter to life itself, in all its beautiful, horrible glory." Almost every emotion that you could associate with that statement is hidden somewhere in this album, which makes it definitely worth checking out. Bonus fact: Tom Waits actually performs as a member of Eels on a few of the tracks in Blinking Lights.
Girl Talk - Feed The Animals:I reviewed this album a while ago, but as it turns out, I was reviewing a forgery. Having had time to dissociate my impressions about the fake from the real thing, I finally got around to giving it an honest chance. Listening to it with new ears, I couldn't put it down. Simply put, it's a great hour-long party dance mix. Half of your attention will be focused on trying to identify the flurry of throwback samples, while the other half is just getting down with the beat. Right now, it's really one of those albums I don't have a problem listening to on repeat for a while. Bottom line, check it out if you like rap, 90s music, and music you can have a dance party to.
Okkervil River - The Stand Ins:
This is the follow up album to the widely-successful and highly-acclaimed 2007 album, The Stage Names. It's sound picks up right where The Stage Names left off, which makes sense seeing as how the two were originally going to be released as a double album. Like the last album, the second track off this album, "Lost Coastlines", has quickly become one of the most
listened-to tracks on my iPod and turntable. It's just freakin infectious.In conclusion, the same themes are present, both musically and lyrically; so if you like The Stage Names be sure to check out The Stand Ins.
Aside from the contents of the album itself, this is one of those albums that's great because they're selling it on vinyl with free mp3 downloads. Okkervil's record company, Jagjaguwar, even gave the download code away pre-ordered the vinyl on the album's immediately to anyone who drop date. The last thing I'll mention about this album not related to the music is that the cover art of The Stage Names and The Stand Ins were designed to go together. If you look at The Stage Names above The Stand Ins, you get the complete picture that the band had thought up for the two albums. Seen above on the right, this image is supposed to give the idea that The Stand Ins is depicting what's going on just beneath the surface of The Stage Names. Interpret as you will.
Last thing I'll bring up is this video I recently re-discovered. The song is "War Photographer" from Jason Forrest's album "Shamelessly Exciting." It's pure awesomeness, plain and simple. The song itself is comprised almost completely of samples, including stuff from Earth Wind and Fire. The easiest way to describe the video itself is basically the duel from "the Devil Went Down To Georgia," but with Vikings. And horn sections. And zords like the ones from power rangers. Just watch it and figure it out for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed.
03 October 2008
02 October 2008
Jamie Lidell and Janelle Monae
Ok, so SF pics will be coming soon, but before I go through all the hassle of uploading and posting them, I have to share some videos of the bands I saw last night. The opener: Janelle Monae; the headliner: Jamie Lidell. Haven't heard either of them before, but my friend Andy assured me I'd love Jamie Lidell, so I went. I'll spare you all the rant of an instant convert, but Lidell was an insanely good live show. That isn't to say Monae wasn't either, though. Walking into the Fillmore more than halfway through her set, we were instantly blindsided by her intense sound and quirky stage presence. Everyone who I went with almost instantly agreed that we wished we got there a half hour earlier.
Anyway, here's some live videos of each. Enjoy.
Janelle Monae:
Jamie Lidell:
Anyway, here's some live videos of each. Enjoy.
Janelle Monae:
Jamie Lidell:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
