Applied Luck

Ground Control to Major Tom...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:38:00 +0000

I'm playing around with the design of the site, added a favicon.ico. Let me know what you think in comments, that is, if there's anyone listening.

Blogger Has Some New Features

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:48:00 +0000

Blogger is actually incorporating some of the features I was considering Movable Type or WordPress for. Specifically, comments embedded below posts and editable page layout.

Blogger also hosts my blog. I can keep a backup on my own servers (working on figuring out how to enable that with my web host), and I guess Google can handle traffic way better than I can, but still -- I have to depend on Blogger to host the blog. They took care of that complaint by allowing me to make backups of my blog.

Webmonkey

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:31:00 +0000

In case I haven't told you personally, I'm blogging pretty regularly now on Webmonkey.com.

It's been an interesting process starting at Wired.com - including getting to know AP style intimately (again), a whole new tech style (How do you pluralize OS?) and write quick and efficiently. That means writing without passive voice in the first draft to save time during my rewrite.

We've been working out some tech problems with the site, but it's coming along great. I'm proud of it. And I can't complain -- I'm writing about an intense interest of mine, technology.

I'm saving this blog for another interest of mine, basically modern pop culture and society. Oh, and also personal posts like this.

Music & Art: All Shook Down - Last Night Quentin Tarantino Downed Jim Beam, Got Sweaty at Zeitgeist

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:38:00 +0000

Music & Art: All Shook Down - Last Night Quentin Tarantino Downed Jim Beam, Got Sweaty at Zeitgeist

I find Quentin Tarantino using San Francisco's Zeitgeist completely apropos. The place, with its rough and tumble atmosphere, port-a-potties, and almost-attached tattoo parlor, a fitting set for one of his movies. Apparently he liked it enough to stay long past midnight.

According to the linked article, he walked into a couple people using the port-a-potties and attached the blame on them for not locking it behind themselves. I completely agree. If you're desperate enough to use the portable facilities, you better lock it if you don't want an unexpected guest; even if it is a widely acclaimed Hollywood director.

All this talk about Zeitgeist, and the good weather we've had lately to boot, makes me want to make a return. Anyone game?

Juno Soundtrack Review

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:07:00 +0000

I did a little writing for a friend at about.com. I figure I don't mind writing about this stuff anyway. Why not get a little freelance work... pro bono. Read it direct from the source at about.com - Juno Soundtrack Review.

---

Juno Soundtrack
from Scott L for about.com

There's a reason why the "Juno Soundtrack" topped Billboard's Top 200 list four weeks after its release and it has a lot to do with the movie it was made for. Like the movie, the soundtrack is sharp but innocent, performed as youthful melodies of guitar and rhyme. Barry Louis Polisar's first line of "All I Want is You" sets the tone for both movie and album: "If I was a flower growing wild and free/All I want is you to be my sweet honey bee."

The music is saccharine. The songs are about growing up, and being unapologetically young. These are the kind of songs that could be heard written and played by teenagers in their rooms.

Pros

"Piazza, New York Catcher" by Belle & Sebastian
"All The Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople
"Anyone Else But You" by Michael Cera and Ellen Page
"Loose Lips" by Kimya Dawson
"All I Want is You" by Barry Louis Pollsar

Cons

"Vampire" by Antsy Pants. (Though you can't blame it for being "sucky." Ha!)
Sonic Youth performs a fuzzy melancholic version of the Carpenters' "Superstar."
(As Juno's line in the movie goes, "Sonic Youth ... is just noise." Wait, maybe that's a pro ...)

Description

Topped Billboard's Top 200 list four weeks after its release.
Kimya Dawson's whimsy is infectious, and a great introduction to the Moldy Peaches.
A solid and cute soundtrack for a solidly cute film.

Guide Review - Soundtrack Review

Have you ever been to one of those parties where someone admits they play the guitar, then someone urges them to play and the person refuses until the rest of the group insists--and then they play a simple tune with a slightly out-of-tune voice? The Juno soundtrack sounds like that party. Every song is sweet and innocent, a light tale told from the heart that lightly touches the heavy notes while also masking them with inside jokes about teen high jinks and video games.

Ivan Reitman and Ellen Page were the brains behind bringing in The Moldy Peaches' Kimya Dawson. As discussed in the liner notes, Reitman asked Page what she thought her character, Juno, would listen to. In a manner that befits an actor who knows her character well enough to be nominated for an Oscar, Page recommended The Moldy Peaches. Singer/songwriter Dawson writes her songs like they were children's drawings; they're both whimsical and psychologically telling. In "So Nice So Smart," she balances lyrics about sneaking in your house to do roofies with your spouse and an admission that she likes to wear a bunny suit because it makes her feel cute.

I wouldn't say her songs are shallow. They play almost ethereally, as if they were stream of consciousness. And that is what makes you fall in love with them.

Producers Peter Afterman and Margaret Yen supplanted Dawson's tracks with those of indie darlings Belle & Sebastian, Sonic Youth, Cat Power, and The Velvet Underground. The indie tracks add some legitimacy to the sometimes light album.

Probably the most notable addition is actors Michael Cera (Bleaker) and Ellen Page's (Juno) version of the Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else But You." Compare it to The Moldy Peaches original version (also on the album) and you'll find a surprising amount of heart and sweetness in the movie version--right down to the audible kiss at the end.

MIT Technology Review: "You Don't Understand Our Audience"

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:21:00 +0000

This is a brilliant piece of writing by a former reporter for Dateline NBC. This article touches on a problem with how American's get their information, and probably even more volatile a situation than the American political one. It deserves your attention.

"You Don't Understand Our Audience"

So Much Better Than My Sore Throat

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:08:00 +0000

A little peak into what this week has been like for me. My wife has been very patient with me. I've been a little baby, judging pretty much everything on a scale corrolated directly to the pain of the sore throat I had. Our cat kept me company through the hours of sleeping. That was 100 times better than my sore throat.

I'm coming around now. I'm a little slower than usual, but no worse for wear.

Videos like the one above and the original Office makes me think we're really missing out on some good comedy here in the U.S. We sure offload our sitcoms over there. From what I can tell, the Simpsons are HUGE in the U.K. How about a little loving back, eh? On a related tangent, I think network execs could learn a little from the length of their series in the U.K. They seem to conclude with grace and dignity after two or three seasons and maybe a Christmas special. Hear that Lost, 24, Friends, and Heroes?

I don't even get BBC America any more (just added that to my Comcast gripe list). I think I'll put Fawlty Towers on my Netflix queue.

Let's Paint, Exercise, and Make Turkey Sandwiches

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 06:50:00 +0000

Boyce Leftover Turkey Sandwich

Leftover Turkey
Leftover gravy
Leftover Stuffing
Leftover Cranberry Sauce
Dijon mustard
Mayonnaise
Whole wheat bread

Mix all remaining turkey pieces in leftover gravy. Hopefully you planned for the sandwiches earlier by preparing extra gravy.

Lightly toast two slices of whole wheat bread. Heat the stuffing and turkey to taste.

Spread the mayo and mustard on the toasted bread slices. Spread the turkey/gravy mixture on the bread, add stuffing and a dallop (again, to taste) of cranberry sauce to the stuffing. Put the remaining slice on top and apply pressure to the sandwich Scooby Doo style.

Enjoy!

A Serious Lack of Burgers

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:25:00 +0000

We played a show at Hotel Utah last night and found out that they are no longer having dinner service on Sunday. What the...? Their burgers (and garden burgers) were the highlight of playing there.

The show went well. It was our second with our new Viola player. It was my first after Dana and my trip. I only had four practices before last night's show, and I think everything went pretty well considering. We had some distracting feedback on stage but the video work that played behind us (thanks Whiteyonthemoon) made up for it. At one point, Chris and I caught ourselves watching the video instead of the audience at the end of a song. The sound guy was great. I don't fault him for feedback as much as I can blame a lot of equipment on a very small stage. I must do something about my bass amp. It has deteriorated to the point of sounding flatulent at it's top volume. Luckily, the fact that it is barely audible over the drums saves me from everyone noticing how bad it sounds and my occasional screw-up.

I'm still trying to get a handle on show dynamics and etiquette. I have a hard time in regard to other bands on the bill. We are all pretty much in it together and we're all pulling for a good night. I'd say there's a good amount of camaraderie. But what are the rules here? Stay until the last band finishes? How do you divvy up the money? Where do you put the equipment. Do you move another band's stuff if you need room for your own?

I get embarrassed when I complement another band. It is hard to sound authentic when complimenting a band member. "Jeez man, I really like your stuff" sounds so fake no matter how much you really mean it. That said, whiteyonthemoon were fantastic last night. They are really evolving their sound and I'm a fan. They were gracious hosts and good people. We were honored to open for them.

We are anxious to play again, but probably not at the Hotel Utah. We've played there more than any other place and I think we all agreed that we need to stretch our legs a bit and maybe even get a proper weekend show. Besides, life is about priorities. And without burgers, what have you got?

The Voice That Haunts You

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 01:53:00 +0000

Diablo Cody: "Even if you hate Fleetwood Mac, you have to at least watch the end of this. The way she looks at him when she sings 'Never get away...' CHA-HILLS runnin' up my spine, brother!"

It's been a while since I blogged so I figured this would be a good re-introduction. A blog post of a blog post? Is that cheating? I cut corners. Especially when someone's post looks and smells like mine, but, you know, a lot better.

Anyway, this Blogger's spot-on with Fleetwood Mac. Watching this video gives you the chills. All those years of being a gypsy; I think Stevie Nicks learned a thing or two about black magic. If anything, it shows the amount of love still flowing between those two, in a relationship that is never to be. Check out this video and be prepared to be haunted. This woman is every man's worst breakup nightmare.

While you're at it, check out Diablo Cody's cool name and bitchin picture. Very L.A. Rockabilly hipster, don't you think? She got that little 40's pin-up 'tat, black hair, and that devil-may-care punk attitude. I can't wait to check out her new movie Juno. By the way, Juno's director Jason Swartzman (Thank You For Smoking, Ivan's son) is also blogging in the entertaining fashion only Hollywood writers and directors can.

Out of Office

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:56:00 +0000

The blog started to go in a new direction with the Vivienne Westwood post and then I just abandoned it entirely. "Screw this, I'm out of here," I said with a wistful tear in my eye as my wife and I packed up and high-tailed it to travel Asia, Africa, and Europe.

You can hear of our exploits at loganbilian.com. I'll most likely be writing there occasionally in spots that have cheap Internet on the road.

Vivienne Westwood - She's So Unusual

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:43:00 +0000

My friend wrote up a good review on Vivienne Westwood's exhibit at the De Young museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate park.

Only yesterday did I have the pleasure of observing the exhibit myself. I thought I would lend my two cents as well.

I agree with my friend's take on the lack of music. It was a little sterile without it. I also think adding more lighting to the later pieces might've pleased the color palette more. But I was actually really inspired by the dark setting! I mean, especially with her early stuff, that's the environment the clothes were designed for. Dark, musty, hot underground spaces with live music. Now that she points it out, it seemed like the music element of her work was noticeably absent while we were there. Then again, punk music may be grating to the average museum goer. It seems to go hand-in-hand with Westwood's work though. I was practically humming Siouxsie and the Banshees while observing her shoes.

The videos were kinda annoying. I like video in museums when done well as an accompaniment or even cleverly designed as it's own installation (think Bill Viola et. al.), but not really as a center piece. It felt like these videos were meant to substitute a piece of exhibit. I did appreciate when it would show a model acting out a piece that was on display near the video, but for the most part it was just brain candy that could've been easily replaced with more cleverly posed mannequins.

And her quotes on the wall were pretty much shit. I mean, taking up a whole wall to say that theres a clock that reacts to anything ordinary is redundant and slightly patronizing. We know she's unusual! She doesn't have to announce it at the entrance. We could all figure it out ourselves in the time it takes to say the word "Sex." If Ms. Westwood put those quotes up herself, I think I'd feel a bit embarrassed for her.

It was also nice to see her return to the early stuff with her last line. The t-shirt that featured "I'm not a terrorist, please do not arrest me" superimposed on a giant heart is brilliant, and so reminiscent of her classic Westwood/McLaren partnership. The shirt's message is controversial and thought provoking, much like when "Sex Pistols" was overlaid on top of a British flag reminiscent of a ransom note. Indeed, if the government of now were transposed to the seventies when punks were introduced and misunderstood, I do think that most of our favorite punks would have seen terrorist charges for no other reason than their identity and demeanor. They were practically there anyways in the seventies. Now with habeas corpus in question...

Anyway, back to the point at hand. I love her fashion - even her later couture stuff (and her pirate line, of course). If it was practical to buy, I'd be shopping at her store. Most of her fashion, besides maybe some of her eighties collection, stand the test of time. It makes me think Betsy Johnson and Gwen's L.A.M.B. labels should have an obligatory thank you to Ms. Westwood on the labels.

I was most impressed with the crowd. It was as if many attendees dressed that day in reverence to Vivienne. The fashion of many museum goers were so much more of a tribute to her than the exhibit itself, and vividly so in comparison to the real deal exhibited in pictures and mannequins. I like to think that if Vivienne Westwood was watching from the wings she would be proud. It was particularly striking to see the leather and chain clad youth among the other exhibits. It was a breath of fresh air to see punks still live in or around the city. Their absence is (mostly) missed.

The Man-Crush

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:49:00 +0000

Males have a lot to be insecure about, what with all this rampant homophobia and their diminishing role as breadwinner. Did I say diminishing? I like to think of it as evolving.

Males, as a bare-bones grunt-and-be-heard species, are slowly warming up to social equality with their feminine equals. Whoa, not so fast metrosexuals! It's uncharted territory. I like to chip in where I can. So I cooked up an extra strong cup 'o joe, sat in my favorite chair, and wrote up a top 5 list of what I call "man-crushes." Males can't overtly say that you love another male, it's in the man-man-ual (page 1. It's a short book -- more like a pamphlet). Males can't even say you admire someone without a friend questioning your sexuality. However, admitting a man-crush is the hetero-safe way of admitting that some guys have got "it." A man-crush is just what it sounds like. If I weren't born a straight male, I'd be putting posters of these fella's on the wall.

So here's a small list. Extra credit if you notice common traits.

5) Bruce Campbell - He's not the brightest guy on the list, but this established B-movie actor and author seems to have done nothing but follow his passion for better or worse. Turns out it has worked out for the most part. He's childhood friends and a long-time collaborator with director Sam Raimi (Spiderman movies). This guy has a gift when it comes to smart-alec comments and quick wit. He steals his scenes and gets the best lines. Only thing is, they're not exactly lines - they're more Bruce than anything. You'd have to read his work or see him in person to believe it. The ability to spit off lines like, "First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow." is nothing short of genius. I wouldn't call Bruce famous, but the fact that it suits him just fine makes me love him all the more.

4) George Clooney - He grew up hanging with his famous aunt Rosemary, his Dad was a contributor to a noble age of journalism. He looks like he was taken straight out of the silver screen. This stick-to-his guns actor lives his life to the fullest. He's known on sets to go to great lengths to pull off practical jokes on those who seem very deserving. He's got the charm to pull them off without a hitch too. He is a limoncello swirling world-traveller with what appears to be down-to-earth company. Well, as down to earth as one can be in Hollywood. He's not afraid to lose money on things he believes in; He pay-rolled "Good night and Good Luck" among other movies. He is more intelligently outspoken than any other public figure in, and sometimes out, of Hollywood. Love his opinions or hate them; despise that he voices them in the first place; his arguments have a well-thought perspective and one that he will back with his bare hands. Look to his journalism and activism in Darfur for evidence. He won't bow down to provocation but he won't succumb to it either. He can handle his own PR and speak for himself, thank you very much. He's got the swagger and smirk of a legend. This guy seems like the real deal.

3) Ira Kaplan - First off, he is a genuine rock-and-roll encyclopedia in flesh and blood. He started as a music journalist and I guess figured he could drop a quarter in the jukebox himself. Ira had me at his guitar part in "We're an American Band." If I could stream of conscious my emotions through a guitar, it would sound kinda like that. He once said it was easier to sing intensely personal stuff to strangers on stage than to... umm, express them any other way I guess. I forgot exactly. That's the beauty of paraphrasing. This unassuming rock star certainly doesn't look the part, but he can play the guitar just like he's ringing a bell.

2) Steve Martin - He seems to me an unappreciated genius. He mingles primarily in the art world nowadays. In fact, it appears that he has a history of dedicating most of his considerable resources to the arts. His art collection is almost as famous as he is. He has wrote some brilliant little novels, novellas, and plays. He's extremely well-read. But he's well-known to the rest of us for revolutionizing comedy. The thing that really gets me about this guy is his awareness. The things he picks up on in everyday life and finds humor in, as seen in L.A. Story and Shopgirl, for instance, is nothing short of extraordinary.

1) Ira Glass - Another Ira on the same list? What would Freud say? Ira Glass is the host of NPR's and Showtime's "This American Life." I couldn't imagine a cooler job. He shares with Steve Martin a genius in spotting the miraculous in the mundane. Ira is able to lovingly interview his subjects with respect and dignity. He can make a typical 24 hours in a diner seem like a historic event. More than anything else, his work makes me proud to be an American. Who would've guessed that he's of my generation (or just slightly before), wickedly intelligent, and with such a keen sense of style? You get extra points in my book if you capitalize on the fashion of times when men wouldn't leave the house without a tie on. Oh, the spectacles!

Top Ten Best Arm-Wrestling Movies Of All Time

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 01:08:00 +0000

10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4. Over The Top
3.
2.
1.

(Thanks Heuristic Squelch)

Great Me

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:23:00 +0000

"'Great Scott, who would have thought that this would be the destiny of the Union Volunteer in 1861-2 while marching down Broadway to the tune of 'John Brown's Body.''"

-Private Robert Knox, May 3, 1864. The first known usage of the saying "Great Scott."

Who is the "Scott" in the saying "Great Scott!"?: It turns out the Scott is most likely my namesake, the 300 lb aging Mexican-American war hero also known as "Old Fuss and Feathers." He was later chosen by Lincoln as as a mildly successful Union Civil War general (one of the handful of generals before Grant finished the job).

Although I'm really named after my great-great-(great?)-grandfather (a much thinner man) who was named in honor of the General , I'll still take the credit when people say "Great Scott." Why not?

I'm just glad I wasn't named after Jumpin Jehoshaphat or Caesar's ghost.

A modern day warrior, mean mean stride...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:12:00 +0000

[The synthetic and guitar heavy chorus of Rush's futuristic sounding Tom Sawyer plays on the car's radio]

Me: [mimicking laser guns with my hands to the beat of the music] "Who is this spacey invader Tom Sawyer? He certainly seems to get high on you."
Dana: "He'll let you whitewash his spaceship for a dollar."

One Shin on the Pulse of America

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:12:00 +0000

Rolling Stone : Bruised Shins: "'I think indie bands like us and Modest Mouse are becoming popular for the same reason I bought my 1904 house, and for the same reason that downtown neighborhoods are gentrifying,' says Mercer. 'Growing up in the age of Wal-Mart and 7-Eleven -- which was the landscape of my youth -- I'm craving authenticity. I think everyone is. You know, there is something real out there you can buy, but you just have to scratch the surface to find it. I think people are sick of fakeness.'"

Well said. I wish I could afford a 1904 house.

Back with a brand new edition

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 22:17:00 +0000

I love me some pop culture references.

As for applied luck, I'm planning some nifty changes in the upcoming months. For instance, I plan on redesigning the blog and refine the content to give it a better raison d'etre. In the meantime, I'm on hiatus.

However, another web site of mine is getting updated a little more frequently. You might want to checkity-check it out, you know, before you wreck yo self. Look at me. I'm 2 legit 2 quit. Word is bond.

Blonde Redhead is at it Again

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:59:00 +0000

This Billboard Article reports Blonde Redhead is in the process of finishing their next album. The article offers great insight into the band's writing process. Their music is intricately textured. It is interesting to hear how they add those layers. It turns out the music is layered long before the lyrics are added and the product is mixed. It works really well for them.

I am tending toward a more curmudgeonly perspective: The Bob Dylan school of recording. He was recently quoted in Rolling Stone as saying (from the Reuters article):

"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past 20 years, really,

"You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them," he added. "There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like ... static."

I see what he's getting at. Maybe people took Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" a little too far, muddling the music's delivery in the process.

A tech disclaimer via authors note: I'm a very gadget-hungry guy. I love top of the line technology. But when it comes to music and sound recording, give me that warm sounding 50's vacuum tube-powered technology any day. I read from some Beatles bio that some "genius" sound engineer attempted to wire a bunch of mic's to their studio walls attempting to get the next generation in sound. It flopped and the Beatles returned to their original studio method (no reference here, sorry. The bio might be on Amazon). Sounds like a good idea gone awry, but also an indicative anecdote of how sound recording got to where it is today.

Studios have long been into the idea of segregating tracks and bringing out the most sound in each one independently. I'm no sound engineer, but I bet the expensive and technologically advanced method eclipsed the benefits of previous low-tech methods. I tend to think the end result is too clinical. The previous lo-fi efforts may have had some scratchy and imperfect sounds, but the effect was a warmer more personal sound. Almost like you were in the room with the artists. Guided by Voices understood this and I think made some LP recordings straight from the 4 track. Well, maybe this isn't what Dylan meant when he described modern recordings as "atrocious." However, you can't deny the musical power of the early rock 'n roll recordings we're talking about here.

There are extremes, of course. Some Guided by Voices tracks are a good example of a negative extreme. A track could be a 2 minute gem, but barely listenable through the tape recorder's recording quality. Another is that this lo-fi method is automatically equated with "garage rock" which was once and is once again a bad word in the music scene. Pro Tools ushered in an age where even the worst vocals could be put in pitch by software. I'd hate to hear Paris Hilton's voice without it.

Hyper-layering in these recordings lends itself to another problem. ProTools "artists," like Ashley Simpson, are resigned to get the sound they want by lip-syncing or by way of singing over their doctored recordings.

I would NEVER put Blonde Redhead in the same league as the artists mentioned above. Recording styles differ for every band with equally differing results.

Still, my only gripe with Blonde Redhead's live show is how they play over a recorded track operated somewhat invisibly by the drummer. I can see how it's necessary to add a track unless they sacrifice the music's heavily textured orchestration. Or they could add several band members and sacrifice their aesthetic and ever-valuable income. But I think pre-recorded tracks are a crutch for the music. It leads to that clinical performance you're not particularly looking for in a live act. It doesn't leave much room for movement or musical exploration - the kind that thrills fans like me.

My gripe isn't one that would keep me from their music. They are a phenomenally colorful band. They're non-effacing with their musical sound. They honor its' rich musical texture without shoving it down listener's throats. Their onstage personalities are mysterious and their atmosphere lends itself to their dense music. Their music is wise, cultured, and emotionally intense. Overall, the Blonde Redhead package can be defined as beautiful. Blonde Redhead has always been a band to watch. I can't wait to hear their new album.

Runnin around in circles all night long...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 03:00:00 +0000

I love this band. LOVE this band. Top of the list! But don't listen to me, a lot of people I know shrug them off while muttering "indie-pop" like they're dropping a penny in a bucket. Eh, what do they know. Hmm, what do I know?

Here's a really fast version of Cherry Chapstick. Bring the noise...

I think you might like this song...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 02:39:00 +0000

Here's a two for one. The man in black and Pete Seeger doing some cheezy dated describing his banjo before going into some pretty cool music exposing on why this line of music will always remains strong in our culture.

But the house is haunted and the ride gets rough...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 02:33:00 +0000

Bruce is hot and cold with me for some songs - but nobody, nobody, can discredit the Boss for his lyrics.

I don't think anyone will really get a real understanding of what he's about until you see him live, but I think this handheld video of Bruce's "Tunnel of Love" comes kinda close. Just try to ignore the dated E Street Band, who drag down his mastery significantly.

I have to tell myself it's only music...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 02:18:00 +0000

Blonde Redhead, art-rock extroadinaire. I think they're much more accessible than given credit for. Under-appreciated genious. Currently opening for Depeche Mode on a world tour, and previously for Interpol. They deserve any success they get.

Hoping every slip's not a slide...

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 02:09:00 +0000

A 1988 live version of Provisional by Fugazi. Nobody poured their heart into their music and its meaning than Fugazi. I don't think their greater audience ever really got over Ian MacKaye's involvement in hardcore punk band Minor Threat to listen to what he was really saying.

Also notable is the singer of this particular song, Guy Picciotto, went on to produce the best albums of art-rock protege's Blonde Redhead.

Street Jazz Became Hot

noreply@blogger.com (Scott) — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 02:06:00 +0000

While I'm roaming the archives of Youtube.com for music genious, I came across Django. It's a rare thing to see video of Django - I'm not sure much exists. Note he only plays with two fingers. His pinky and ring were fused together in a childhood accident... wow.