The past two days at work have included mostly keeping my head down, headphones on, and coding away. I decided early yesterday to try a theme out with my music listening while I was doing so much coding. I decided that the theme of the day would be female artists. At the end of yesterday, I still hadn't had my fill, so I decided to do it all over again today. I don't listen to a whole lot of female artists on a regular basis, but I did have plenty of variety to keep things interesting for the past two days. Here's the list of albums that I listened to most of:
Hem - Eveningland
Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender
Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken
Julie Miller - Broken Things
Over the Rhine - Ohio
My Brightest Diamond - My Brightest Diamond
Allison Krauss and Union Station - Live
Rosie Thomas - If Songs Could Be Held
Bettie Serveert - Lamprey
Cat Power - You Are Free
Bosque Brown - Bosque Brown Plays Mara Lee Miller
All in all, I would say that the female experiement made for some pretty good listening over the past two days. Here are my three main observations:
1.) I don't care what anyone else says, Joanna Newsom is great. She may not be for everyone, but The Milk-Eyed Mender was possibly my favorite disc of the bunch.
2.) Sometimes I need some angrier music than females tends to make, though Cat Power did work out ok.
3.) I can't believe I made it through the female experiment without listening to a single Patty Griffin album.
I think I will try another theme tomorrow. I am leaning towards all 80s at the moment. I am sure you will be waiting by your computer in eager anticipation of reading how that goes. As a final thought.....everyone should own all three seasons of Arrested Development on DVD.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
A Much Needed Vacation
So we are just under six weeks away from our trip to Kauai. Everything is lined up by way of flights, a place to stay, and a car, but I haven't gotten together much of a plan for what to do once we get there. This is where you folks come in. There are two main categories of things we would like to do in Kauai.
1.) Relax.
2.) See Kauai.
To aid in category 1, suggest me some books to read. I have been reading quite a bit more, and I figure the flight along with having time to sit out on the beach and read will require at least two to three books.
To aid in category 2, those of you who have been to Kauai or know about it, what should we do, where should we eat, and what should we make sure to see? I have done a decent bit of reading, so I have some general ideas, but not too many specifics. Since it is our first time, we plan to do a luau, even though it might be cheesy. We plan to do some hiking, but don't really have anything planned yet. We will be staying on the south shore, but we would definitely like to venture out some.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Okkervil River
I almost didn't go to the Sons of Herman Hall to see Okkervil River last night. It is always a hassle to turn around and go back down to Deep Ellum after getting home from work. I had skipped going the past two times they were in town, so I decided I would suck it up and go.
The night started off a little slow for me. At least the Sons had chairs. I wasn't overly impressed by the one man band that started off the show. The next band to play was Pleasant Grove. It was my second time to see them, and I was left with pretty much the same impression as the first time. They are a good band, but nothing that special. I enjoy the music, but live they just don't pack too much of a punch.
By the time Okkervil River came out, I was ready for some energy to come from the stage, and the band obliged. The one other time I had seen them, I thought they were a good live band. Last night they upped their standing in my mind's list of great live bands. They have been touring nearly non-stop for a while, and it really shows. Will Sheff is a great front man, and the band is really tight. I once heard Okkervil River's music described as "Pirate Rock." I think the person who said that meant it as an insult, but it works as a good description for me. They make interesting music with literate lyrics, and the songs translate really well live. The song selection was great. They hit most of my favorites while throwing in some new songs and even a Fleetwood Mac cover. The high point of the night for me was Westfall. It is a murder song that would make Johnny Cash or Nick Cave proud, and they really tear into it live. This was a great show at a great venue, and I look forward to more shows at the Sons and more shows with Okkervil River.
The night started off a little slow for me. At least the Sons had chairs. I wasn't overly impressed by the one man band that started off the show. The next band to play was Pleasant Grove. It was my second time to see them, and I was left with pretty much the same impression as the first time. They are a good band, but nothing that special. I enjoy the music, but live they just don't pack too much of a punch.
By the time Okkervil River came out, I was ready for some energy to come from the stage, and the band obliged. The one other time I had seen them, I thought they were a good live band. Last night they upped their standing in my mind's list of great live bands. They have been touring nearly non-stop for a while, and it really shows. Will Sheff is a great front man, and the band is really tight. I once heard Okkervil River's music described as "Pirate Rock." I think the person who said that meant it as an insult, but it works as a good description for me. They make interesting music with literate lyrics, and the songs translate really well live. The song selection was great. They hit most of my favorites while throwing in some new songs and even a Fleetwood Mac cover. The high point of the night for me was Westfall. It is a murder song that would make Johnny Cash or Nick Cave proud, and they really tear into it live. This was a great show at a great venue, and I look forward to more shows at the Sons and more shows with Okkervil River.
Monday, August 14, 2006
An emusic Find Worth Sharing for All
I have given Swaffy a few other emusic recommendations through means other than the blog since my initial post a few weeks ago, but today, I came across one that I thought I would make sure that the masses....all three or four of you who read this....knew about. Some time in the past few weeks, the album Keep No Score from Sleeping at Last has been added to emusic. If you read my post about my favorite albums or have talked to me about music much, you know my fondness for this band.Because I like this band so much, and I pick up extra copies of Ghosts from time to time when I find them cheap, I will make the following offer. First buy the disc from the band at www.sleepingatlast.com or download it from your preferred music service. After you have done that let me know, and if you don't already own it, I will mail or bring you your very own copy of Ghosts. I have about four extra copies of the disc in my stash, so I guess this offer would be limited to the first four people who took me up on the offer.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
City Life
Life in the city is good for me. Nederland was a relatively small town, and College Station all in all wasn't much different. My two years here has been a big demonstration of how Dallas is a whole new world. I love the sights and sounds of day to day life in the city. There are so many people coming from so many different places. In the mass of people and places, there are the sights I see every day. Two guys who work as parking attendants in two separate lots on opposite sides of the street that seem to love their jobs. Whether they do or not, I don't know, but I could certainly learn a thing or two about taking pride in what I do from them. The homeless guy at the corner, some days asking for money, some days drinking malt liquor, and some days just sitting being there. The one lady who always looks like she is in a hurry. I know nothing about her, but for some reason I always assume she is lonely. The older Muslim guy that has taken to talking to me, and I have taken to talking back to. You end up feeling a little bit like you know people. People have their place in your life without even knowing it. I don't know if it sounds creepy, but this is just the way it is for me.
I took a good long walk alone today for lunch. For me these solo lunch walks serve at least three distinct purposes: to go get food, to break up the day of life in a cubicle, and to people watch. Lately I have been exploring more. I make it quite a ways away from that cubicle I sit in the rest of the day. Different areas of downtown are completely different worlds. As I have explored more, my once relatively tiny downtown world has grown to include more worlds. New people in a rush, new homeless people, new places to explore. It has been really eye opening. It has me thinking about things in a lot of different ways.
I bought myself a new tiny Bible that I could easily take with me when I go out for lunch and for other situations when such a tiny Bible might be handy. It was nice to sit down today and read a little bit. The twenty minutes or so I sat down to read was more than I had read in one sitting in months. I decided that I would start today with Acts. The story of the day of Pentecost never ceases to amaze me, though I tend to think that I would be in the group accusing people of being drunk rather than seeing God's presence for its power and wonder.
I ramble on and say all of this to make a point to myself of how much I need God. The only way I can love my wife, love my job, and love people the way I should is with His help. Maybe one day I be better at talking to people and expressing who God is to me, who I am, what I think, how I feel, all of those great things, but I am in constant need of reminders that change and growth do not come from me. It can only come from God. All that is asked of me is to be willing to listen and to be open to His guidance.
I took a good long walk alone today for lunch. For me these solo lunch walks serve at least three distinct purposes: to go get food, to break up the day of life in a cubicle, and to people watch. Lately I have been exploring more. I make it quite a ways away from that cubicle I sit in the rest of the day. Different areas of downtown are completely different worlds. As I have explored more, my once relatively tiny downtown world has grown to include more worlds. New people in a rush, new homeless people, new places to explore. It has been really eye opening. It has me thinking about things in a lot of different ways.
I bought myself a new tiny Bible that I could easily take with me when I go out for lunch and for other situations when such a tiny Bible might be handy. It was nice to sit down today and read a little bit. The twenty minutes or so I sat down to read was more than I had read in one sitting in months. I decided that I would start today with Acts. The story of the day of Pentecost never ceases to amaze me, though I tend to think that I would be in the group accusing people of being drunk rather than seeing God's presence for its power and wonder.
I ramble on and say all of this to make a point to myself of how much I need God. The only way I can love my wife, love my job, and love people the way I should is with His help. Maybe one day I be better at talking to people and expressing who God is to me, who I am, what I think, how I feel, all of those great things, but I am in constant need of reminders that change and growth do not come from me. It can only come from God. All that is asked of me is to be willing to listen and to be open to His guidance.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Weird Music at its Finest
It isn't often that I make the trip up to Denton for a show. Plenty of good ones come through, but the trip is such a pain. Saturday night a band came through that was worthy of the trip. I have seen Danielson (in different groupings) several times before and knew that the show was not to be missed. It has always been fun, but this night was the best Danielson I had ever seen.
"I said it would be fun....I didn't say it would be easy." This was a comment made by Daniel Smith on Saturday night during the show. His statement was made in reference to a particular beat for a "clap-along," but it makes for a pretty good summation of the whole show and his music in general. It takes a little bit of time and effort to get into. You probably aren't going to like it on the first listen or maybe even the first ten listens, but eventually you will start to love it.
The show consisted of mostly songs from the new Danielson album Ships with a couple of old songs thrown in for the encore. I was really surprised at how well the new songs translated to a live setting. Ships has a lot of people playing a lot of instruments, but the six members of Danielson pulled the songs off perfectly. The frontline of Daniel, Meghan, and Evan was extremely entertaining to watch, and the backline kept things together nicely.
As much fun as it is to see Daniel in a giant tree costume, I would take this setup any day. The show was much more animated and fun than I had ever seen an incarnation of Danielson be. It was certainly worth the drive and the lost sleep.
"I said it would be fun....I didn't say it would be easy." This was a comment made by Daniel Smith on Saturday night during the show. His statement was made in reference to a particular beat for a "clap-along," but it makes for a pretty good summation of the whole show and his music in general. It takes a little bit of time and effort to get into. You probably aren't going to like it on the first listen or maybe even the first ten listens, but eventually you will start to love it.
The show consisted of mostly songs from the new Danielson album Ships with a couple of old songs thrown in for the encore. I was really surprised at how well the new songs translated to a live setting. Ships has a lot of people playing a lot of instruments, but the six members of Danielson pulled the songs off perfectly. The frontline of Daniel, Meghan, and Evan was extremely entertaining to watch, and the backline kept things together nicely.
As much fun as it is to see Daniel in a giant tree costume, I would take this setup any day. The show was much more animated and fun than I had ever seen an incarnation of Danielson be. It was certainly worth the drive and the lost sleep.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The emusic Recommendations Begin
On the basis of my superior taste in music, I have convinced Swaffy to join emusic and download albums based on my recommendations. About once a week, I will give him recommendations of at least 1 album, and he will at least give it a listen and decide whether to download it. Really I don't have superior taste in music, but I do like to search out new and different bands, and emusic is a fun and relatively cheap way to do it. For you who are unfamiliar with emusic, it is a music download subscription service that maybe you would love or maybe you would hate. You aren't going to find much of anything that you would hear on the radio, but you can find a lot of great stuff from a lot of great artists that are a further outside of the mainstream. If you are interested in joining, let me know. I can send you an invitation...you get some free music, I get some free music...it is a win win situation.
I suppose I will start some recommendations. This week, I will do two eps.
Half Handed Cloud ~ What's the Remedy? - I think I have mentioned this ep in a post about going to see Half Handed Cloud. HHC is a bit hard on the download count since the albums have over 20 songs a piece, but this is a good start into a fun band. It clocks in at about 7 minutes, but these are some really good songs.
Jens Lekman ~ Maple Leaves - This is my favorite of the three Jens Lekman eps I have. All of the songs are included on the Oh You're So Silent Jens album that was released earlier this year, but I think this is a good start into his music.
I'll be interested to hear what Swaffy thinks. I think he has heard both of these with me before, but he might not have given them too much attention. If anyone else wants to play along, feel free to do so and post comments. It would be pretty fun to do this on a bigger scale. I did open up comments to anyone, so you don't have to have a blogspot login to post.
I suppose I will start some recommendations. This week, I will do two eps.
Half Handed Cloud ~ What's the Remedy? - I think I have mentioned this ep in a post about going to see Half Handed Cloud. HHC is a bit hard on the download count since the albums have over 20 songs a piece, but this is a good start into a fun band. It clocks in at about 7 minutes, but these are some really good songs.
Jens Lekman ~ Maple Leaves - This is my favorite of the three Jens Lekman eps I have. All of the songs are included on the Oh You're So Silent Jens album that was released earlier this year, but I think this is a good start into his music.
I'll be interested to hear what Swaffy thinks. I think he has heard both of these with me before, but he might not have given them too much attention. If anyone else wants to play along, feel free to do so and post comments. It would be pretty fun to do this on a bigger scale. I did open up comments to anyone, so you don't have to have a blogspot login to post.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Albums Pt. 2
So here I figured I would finish my listing of favorite albums. Enough talk, here goes with 5 more of the albums that are amongst my favorites at this point in time.
Over The Rhine ~ Drunkard's Prayer - This album has so much to it. This is a great album for everyone, but it is especially great for those folk who are married. Here's a quick back story on this album. Karen and Linford, the two main people who make up Over the Rhine, are married. Shortly after the beginning of a tour for their previous (and also really good) album Ohio they realized that though the music was good, their marriage was on auto-pilot, and was going nowhere. They dumped the rest of the tour and went home to work on that part of their lives. Out of that hurt, healing, confusion, prayer, and time came this amazing disc. Together they have put together an album that is as raw and beautiful as any album I have ever heard.
The Cure ~ Disintegration - I always thought I hated the Cure. Robert Smith still creeps me out to a certain degree, but this album was my introduction to what has become one of my favorite bands. Dark brooding songs, fun pop songs, interesting music is all over this disc. It is one of those 80s albums that everyone should own.
Vigilantes of Love ~ Audible Sigh - Bill Mallonee is one of my favorite songwriters. I have just about every album he has ever put out, but this one is in my mind his most complete album. The songs are strong, the playing is top notch, and the themes are stirring. On top of that, I'll always love his fascination with trains. If I ever got around to a listing of my favorite songs, it would surely include several Bill Mallonee songs, and there is a good chance that none of them would be from this album, but when I want to listen to a lot of Bill Mallonee, this is the album I go to.
Low ~ Things We Lost in the Fire - On paper Low sounds like an extremely boring band. Three people playing their instruments pretty very slowly. When it comes together though, it makes for such a great listen. This disc has some great atmosphere and vocal harmonies. I think I could fall asleep to this disc every night (and I mean that in a really good way).......if it wouldn't drive my wife nuts.
Sufjan Stevens ~ Michigan - I will preface this blurb by saying that I think Illinoise is a better album. This list isn't about best albums though, it is about my favorites. This album is quite an adventure. It was my introduction to Sufjan, and as such, it will always be one of my favorites. He does so many things so well, and this album shows a lot of that.
Well, there's the list, and for today, I'm sticking to it.
Over The Rhine ~ Drunkard's Prayer - This album has so much to it. This is a great album for everyone, but it is especially great for those folk who are married. Here's a quick back story on this album. Karen and Linford, the two main people who make up Over the Rhine, are married. Shortly after the beginning of a tour for their previous (and also really good) album Ohio they realized that though the music was good, their marriage was on auto-pilot, and was going nowhere. They dumped the rest of the tour and went home to work on that part of their lives. Out of that hurt, healing, confusion, prayer, and time came this amazing disc. Together they have put together an album that is as raw and beautiful as any album I have ever heard.
The Cure ~ Disintegration - I always thought I hated the Cure. Robert Smith still creeps me out to a certain degree, but this album was my introduction to what has become one of my favorite bands. Dark brooding songs, fun pop songs, interesting music is all over this disc. It is one of those 80s albums that everyone should own.
Vigilantes of Love ~ Audible Sigh - Bill Mallonee is one of my favorite songwriters. I have just about every album he has ever put out, but this one is in my mind his most complete album. The songs are strong, the playing is top notch, and the themes are stirring. On top of that, I'll always love his fascination with trains. If I ever got around to a listing of my favorite songs, it would surely include several Bill Mallonee songs, and there is a good chance that none of them would be from this album, but when I want to listen to a lot of Bill Mallonee, this is the album I go to.
Low ~ Things We Lost in the Fire - On paper Low sounds like an extremely boring band. Three people playing their instruments pretty very slowly. When it comes together though, it makes for such a great listen. This disc has some great atmosphere and vocal harmonies. I think I could fall asleep to this disc every night (and I mean that in a really good way).......if it wouldn't drive my wife nuts.
Sufjan Stevens ~ Michigan - I will preface this blurb by saying that I think Illinoise is a better album. This list isn't about best albums though, it is about my favorites. This album is quite an adventure. It was my introduction to Sufjan, and as such, it will always be one of my favorites. He does so many things so well, and this album shows a lot of that.
Well, there's the list, and for today, I'm sticking to it.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Favorite Albums of My Lifetime
On a long roadtrip by myself to meet my wife at her parent's house, I started listening to some albums that I hadn't listened to in a long time. It got me thinking about a bunch of my favorite albums. I love finding new music, and as such there are times that I tend to neglect my old favorites. As I have grown up, my favorite albums have changed a lot. I pulled out my favorite album from eighth grade a month or so ago. Stone Temple Pilot's Purple just doesn't connect with my quite like it used to. I think I would rather gouge out my eye than listen to my favorite album from fifth grade. That one is embarrassing enough that I won't even admit what it is. All in all at this point in my 25 years I have listened to a lot of albums. Here are ten in no particular order that right now I would consider my favorites:
- The Prayer Chain ~ Mercury - I picked up my first Prayer Chain disc Antarctica in the bargain bin when I was in 9th grade. I thought the chanting at the beginning of Crawl was pretty cool, but there wasn't much for my tastes to latch on to at that time. Five years later after reading about how much people loved Mercury, I picked up a copy. I understood more about music at that point and knew that I was listening to something that really was special. After getting to see those guys perform their songs in 2003, Mercury was cemented in its place as one of my favorite disc from one of my all time favorite bands.
- The Violet Burning ~ Lipstick and Dynamite Wonder - Different songs have hit me like a brick at different times. The words and tones all across this album hit me differently everytime I hear them. I wish I could better explain how much this album effects me, but I can't.
- The Normals ~ Coming to Life - This album was the theme of a great year in my life. I learned so much that year, and this album got so many listens because it went so well with what I was being taught. When I need a reminder of God's grace, I pull this album out. This album is probably the most up front "Christian" of any album I have ever loved in it's entirety. Andrew Osenga continues to be one of my favorite songwriters to this day.
- Sleeping at Last ~ Ghosts - As sort of the Anti-Coming to Life, this album was the theme of one of the worst seasons in my life. After I graduated college, but before I got a job was one of the toughest times I have ever faced. This album comforted my like no other album ever had. I was listening to this disc just about every night for 2-3 months. Like many of the others on this list, these guys should be huge, but they are criminally overlooked. They are about to release a new album. Go to www.sleepingatlast.com and buy it.
- Counting Crows ~ August and Everything After - Ok, ok, so Counting Crows might have sort of a bad reputation. Many music fans would immediately ignore your opinion if you considered anything by Counting Crows as one of your favorite albums. This disc is solid from start to finish and contains some of the best story songs of the 90s. I can say with 100% honesty that I love this album more than I did when I bought it after hearing Mr. Jones on the radio when I was 12. When you find a "pop" album with songs better than Round Here, Anna Begins, and A Murder of One, let me know.
Well, I have written way too much so far. I will stop at five for now and continue when I have some time later this week. Life should be a little slower with not having to go out of town along with the Mavs not playing until Thursday.
- The Prayer Chain ~ Mercury - I picked up my first Prayer Chain disc Antarctica in the bargain bin when I was in 9th grade. I thought the chanting at the beginning of Crawl was pretty cool, but there wasn't much for my tastes to latch on to at that time. Five years later after reading about how much people loved Mercury, I picked up a copy. I understood more about music at that point and knew that I was listening to something that really was special. After getting to see those guys perform their songs in 2003, Mercury was cemented in its place as one of my favorite disc from one of my all time favorite bands.
- The Violet Burning ~ Lipstick and Dynamite Wonder - Different songs have hit me like a brick at different times. The words and tones all across this album hit me differently everytime I hear them. I wish I could better explain how much this album effects me, but I can't.
- The Normals ~ Coming to Life - This album was the theme of a great year in my life. I learned so much that year, and this album got so many listens because it went so well with what I was being taught. When I need a reminder of God's grace, I pull this album out. This album is probably the most up front "Christian" of any album I have ever loved in it's entirety. Andrew Osenga continues to be one of my favorite songwriters to this day.
- Sleeping at Last ~ Ghosts - As sort of the Anti-Coming to Life, this album was the theme of one of the worst seasons in my life. After I graduated college, but before I got a job was one of the toughest times I have ever faced. This album comforted my like no other album ever had. I was listening to this disc just about every night for 2-3 months. Like many of the others on this list, these guys should be huge, but they are criminally overlooked. They are about to release a new album. Go to www.sleepingatlast.com and buy it.
- Counting Crows ~ August and Everything After - Ok, ok, so Counting Crows might have sort of a bad reputation. Many music fans would immediately ignore your opinion if you considered anything by Counting Crows as one of your favorite albums. This disc is solid from start to finish and contains some of the best story songs of the 90s. I can say with 100% honesty that I love this album more than I did when I bought it after hearing Mr. Jones on the radio when I was 12. When you find a "pop" album with songs better than Round Here, Anna Begins, and A Murder of One, let me know.
Well, I have written way too much so far. I will stop at five for now and continue when I have some time later this week. Life should be a little slower with not having to go out of town along with the Mavs not playing until Thursday.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
A Weekend of Extremes
After another crazy week, it was good to be able to enjoy the weekend. On Friday night, I pretended to still be a single guy and went out to see what was possibly the loudest concert I have ever been to. I think Mogwai's amps go to at least 20. In spite of (or maybe because of) permanent hearing damage, it was mesmerizing watching the band play.
After a late night at the concert, I had the day Saturday to regroup for another rowdy night. On Saturday night, I got all dressed up (well as much as I ever do) and escorted my lovely wife to the ballet. I guess on top of it just being a ballet with lots of people jumping and spinning around in tights, since the ballet was Cinderella, there were about a million little girls dressed up with wands and tiaras and puffy dresses. The ballet itself was enjoyable as ballets go. I am becoming an old pro at this ballet stuff. Two down, many more to go.
begin sappy.....
I guess I am getting old or something, but of the two nights, there is one that I wouldn't trade for anything. It wasn't the loud concert of a band that really enjoy. It was the night spent with my wife at the ballet. Ten years from now, I probably won't remember the much about the concert (that is if my ears do in fact recover), but as cheesy and sappy as it sounds, I will have great memories of a night of tights, tiny princesses, and time well spent with my wife.
.....end sappy
After a late night at the concert, I had the day Saturday to regroup for another rowdy night. On Saturday night, I got all dressed up (well as much as I ever do) and escorted my lovely wife to the ballet. I guess on top of it just being a ballet with lots of people jumping and spinning around in tights, since the ballet was Cinderella, there were about a million little girls dressed up with wands and tiaras and puffy dresses. The ballet itself was enjoyable as ballets go. I am becoming an old pro at this ballet stuff. Two down, many more to go.
begin sappy.....
I guess I am getting old or something, but of the two nights, there is one that I wouldn't trade for anything. It wasn't the loud concert of a band that really enjoy. It was the night spent with my wife at the ballet. Ten years from now, I probably won't remember the much about the concert (that is if my ears do in fact recover), but as cheesy and sappy as it sounds, I will have great memories of a night of tights, tiny princesses, and time well spent with my wife.
.....end sappy
Friday, April 28, 2006
Half-Handed Cloud
It has been a busy week of events for me. With my new found enjoyment for the game of basketball and particularly the Mavericks, I made it out to both of the first two playoff games to see them beat up on the Grizzlies. My lack of knowing many people here that I hang out with has led me to partake in most of these things by myself (aside from that first basketball game that my wonderful wife came to). Tucked away in a week of work, basketball, and another concert (Stavesacre, maybe I'll post about that one day) was a little instore show at Good Records featuring Half-Handed Cloud.
I first stumbled upon Half-Handed Cloud a couple of years ago with Justin and Rebecca at a showcase at SXSW. Based on the Sufjan Steven's connection, we decided to go to an Asthmatic Kitty showcase, where HHC played with Bunky and Castanets. It was a fun night, and ever since I have been hooked on HHC, so it was really fun to get to see him again. One could think of HHC as sort of a Danielson lite. Don't let that scare you though if you don't like Danielson (which by the way would mean that you are really missing out). Even Adrian has willingly listened to HHC. It is mainly one guy from California, John Ringhofer, who sings 1 to 2 minute songs that often sound like twisted Sunday School lessons with some extremely great melodies. If you are itunes or vinyl inclined and want a good introduction pick up the What's the Remedy ep, which I think are some of his best songs. Otherwise, I am also a huge fan of the two newest albums Halos and Lassos, and Thy is a Word and Feet Need Lamps.
I first stumbled upon Half-Handed Cloud a couple of years ago with Justin and Rebecca at a showcase at SXSW. Based on the Sufjan Steven's connection, we decided to go to an Asthmatic Kitty showcase, where HHC played with Bunky and Castanets. It was a fun night, and ever since I have been hooked on HHC, so it was really fun to get to see him again. One could think of HHC as sort of a Danielson lite. Don't let that scare you though if you don't like Danielson (which by the way would mean that you are really missing out). Even Adrian has willingly listened to HHC. It is mainly one guy from California, John Ringhofer, who sings 1 to 2 minute songs that often sound like twisted Sunday School lessons with some extremely great melodies. If you are itunes or vinyl inclined and want a good introduction pick up the What's the Remedy ep, which I think are some of his best songs. Otherwise, I am also a huge fan of the two newest albums Halos and Lassos, and Thy is a Word and Feet Need Lamps.
Monday, April 24, 2006
A Blog Called Hear Them Humming
at the foot of the cross | |
The Lassie Foundation
So I decided I would start one of these guys and see where it went. I figure that a lot of these posts will be about music since that tends to be my main hobby. I am sure life will figure its way in too though. The audience will be small, but I am strangely excited about it.
I thought I would try to come up with some sort of interesting name for my blog since that is what bloggers have to do. I have always been one to steal my words from someone else though. I have been on quite a kick of the Lassie Foundation since before seeing them and especially after see them a couple of weeks ago. They have sucked me in quite a bit in a bunch of ways that they never had before.
Take what you will from the lyric, but there is just something about it I find beautiful. I'll spare you my thoughts on it though.
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