2011: a retro prospectus

And thus it was, even so… 2011 is done.  As such, it becomes this not so humble music fan’s (see hipster) duty to tell the world via a lame blog what the correct top albums of 2011 were (just in case the reader wasn’t paying attention this year).  Hipsters have a bad rep these  days, it wasn’t always so… back 10 years or so, the term would identify some cool cat who praised the Strokes and wanted to tell the world about them.  Now-a-days, the term relates to someone who thinks they are cooler than music and therefor can only find satisfaction from liking something that someone else doesn’t know about.  Once this knowledge has been revealed to the general public (see world-at-large), the “hipster” a’band’ons his band and searches for the next big thing.   Reader, you know I love good music and just want to share in its sonic goodness.  Granted I do hate it when songs are overplayed, but mere popularity of new groups doesn’t make me think they are no longer “relevant”.  That’s up to the group to decide.


As a side note, go visit Emily's Blog for a very well thought out 2K11 list. Emily Clay rocks and I can only hope to emulate her blog and try to be as cool as her. (I’m excited to listen to a few on her list as they are yet unknown to me, and I trust her with my ears and you should too!)


Alrighty, now that I, a self proclaimed hipster, am now off the soapbox, it’s time for me to get to the real soapbox for this occasion…the music of 2011.  Mind you, this is my list and I’ll write it how I want.  So “2011” is subject to my own experience (ala, if it was new to my life in 2011, it might as well have come out in 2011 for purposes of this exercise) There are 3 major awards I would like to discuss:


The albums and songs that rocked my Audits/Reviews/Engagements ETC.: These are the albums that looking back on 10 years hence, will always be associated with a specific audit.  As this blog is journal-esque I figure I’d include this section.


Synopsys, Inc. 2010 audit:  The award of my first audit definitely goes to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs.  Much has been said by others and myself about how great this one is.  It was most appropriate that it was the album that transitioned me into the workforce.


Geeknet, Inc.:  I was only on this one for a week, so I don’t have too
much musical memory with it.  What I do have is a Crystal Castles song
featuring Robert Smith "Not in Love".


__:  This one holds a very special album… Illinoise by Sufjan
Stevens.  I had this album before this audit, but for some reason it
had gotten lost in the shuffle as it were.  I gave it its first proper
chance during this audit and it became one of the most fantastic
additions to my musical rotation.  I wouldn’t say it was a “perfect”
album (whatever that means) but the first 12 tracks, if they were an
album… it would be “perfect”


SuccessFactors:  The Strokes: Angles was kind of a let down in many
ways.  After the perfect 10’s of the first 2 albums and the faltering
of the 3rd album, I’d hoped for another 10 after their long break.
That being said, I think it’s a fairly strong album looking back on
it.  Life is Simple in the Moonlight is 10 material.


Applied Micro Circuits Corp: LCD Soundsystem (all of the albums)  At AMCC I continued to gain appreciation for these geniuses. Every album is chock full of insight, wit, and catchy beats that stay with you. Masterpieces

Extreme Networks: The Moldy Peaches (all of the albums)  I had this
band on the backburner for a while…I knew I liked them, but only
really through the Juno soundtrack.  They are hilarious and catchy (if
not a bit crude)


Sanmina:  Sea Wolf: Leaves in the river was an amazing album that I
listened to a ton during the audit.  I think I discovered it a little
late for my hipster cred, but that don’t matter none (see revised
hipster def above), I love it now! Its kind of a strange lovechild of
the Decemberists and BRMC.


Performant Financial Corp:  Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto.  This album
continues to grow on me.  It took a bit to get used to the crazy bass
overdubs (very pop-ish and in vogue in 2011) but it really is a great
album.  I got to know it at Performant as I drove all the way to and
from Livermore.  It was perfect timing to listen to the whole thing
going one way.  Hurts Like Heaven and its bubbly sparky goodness is up
there with the best of them.  U.F.O. is another contender for the best
song of the album.  The album is slightly tainted due to a weird brake
up I had but not nearly tainted enough for me not to enjoy it.  (my
close friends know what I’m talking about, just ask if you’re curious,
if you aren’t interested… why are you reading my blog you stalker!)  I
agree with Emily about the unfortunate guest pop star though… oh well.


Synopsys, 2011 audit: Peter Bjorn and John Gimme Some is the album of
my second Synopsys audit.  As a second year associate, I felt a little
more comfortable pumpin up the stereo (of my headphones) and this
album was the one I kept going back too.  Its entirely too short, but
I love every song and it’s a joy to listen to.


There were other engagements (Roamware I’m looking at you) but I won’t
force a song or memory for those audits if it wasn’t there…


The albums/groups/songs I discovered this year:  These are in no particular order of amazing-ness.  Note: songs, albums and other insights in the Audit section above will not be repeated below… this blog is bloated enough as it is.


Songs:


Ivy, Distant Lights:  I’ve loved Ivy for years now, but I wasn’t
prepared for how awesome this song was going to be.  It’s synth pop
perfection.  When I got my new subwoofer in early summer, this song
was repeated with much gusto.


Cults, Go Outside:  This is a new band for me this year… the memory I
have most associated with it is going to a concert in San Francisco.
The DJ beforehand had an amazing mix that I should have asked him
about.  This was one of the songs and it was featured heavily on my
indie satellite radio station… good stuff.


The Raveonettes, Aly Walk with Me:  As part of the aforementioned
playlist, this is a song I actually already had the album at the
time.  At the concert, this song blew me away and I rediscovered it.
It was so loud, raw and intense and I couldn’t get enough of it.  It
has a very indie hipster nerd aura that perfectly captured the fun of
being at a live concert in San Fran.


Metric, London Halflife:  I kind of pinned metric as a new “The
Cardigans”, which is a good thing.  This song took me totally by
surprise and against all my principles; I listened to it on repeat
many-a-time.   It’s tragically short, but her voice and the general
melancholy-cool vibe gave me a newfound appreciation for Metric.  It’s
fun getting to know their other stuff, and I hope to find other gems
like this one.


Neon Indian, Polish Girl/and Terminally Chill…ok the whole album.
Infectious, lovely, charming, with a sonically pleasing landscape,
these guys are a lot of fun.  Lyrically, I can’t hear much, but the
music sets a certain giddy joyful mood that can’t be denied.


Kraftwerk, The Model/ The Robots.  So this was made in the 70’s but I
discovered it this year.  Wow, thanks Indie Old School show on XM…
these guys were genius.  I suppose if you take the work of the Cars
and mix it with The Flaming Lips and add a dash of LCD Soundsystem
this is what would result.  My life is very much enriched for having
discovered these fine folks.


Radiohead:  Lotus Flower.  I saw this on a talk show and it totally
made me go from “this song is kinda out there” to “dang its out there
and I am too!” Watching 2 drummers hammer out the complicated beat was
fascinating and listening to Mr. York croon is always a pleasure.


Foo Fighters: These Days.  So these guys keep surprising me.
As much as I love their old stuff, I always figure that the “next
album” will lose the magic.  Fortunately I’ve been wrong, and this
song is classic Foo Fighters melody and hard rock along with
meaningful lyrics.  Oh David, one of the rock gods of our era…


Albums: (again, those included above are not listed below…)


Unknown Mortal Orchestra: How can u love me? Ffunny Friends, Jello and
Juggernouts, and of course Thought Balloon.  The aforementioned
concert above was for Unknown Mortal Orchestra.  Although strangely
enough, the first band “Gauntlet Hair” has been on the radio more (at
least when I’m tuned in), I really enjoyed the progressive rock of UMO
much more.  Each song was quirky and fun and reminiscent in a way 
to one of my new bands last year "Fitz and the Tantrums" in the a way 
i can't point my finger at, happy listening.  
Also special thanks to Lena Schoemaker for winning the tickets!


Wilco, The Whole Love:  You knew this was coming, of course.  Wilco!
Love these guys.  This was somewhat a return to the more experimental
days of yore, but still straightforward enough for the new fans.  My
favorite song is Art of Almost… so many layers, and the rockout at the
end always leaves me breathless… bravo Mr. Tweedy, bravo.


M83, A similar band in nature to Neon Indian, again I found it most
groovy.  Actually I can almost copy paste my previous description of
NI and put it down here.  It was a good year for this electronic rock
style hybrid.


Fountains of Wayne: Sky Full of Holes:  You probably knew this was
coming too, this album is a ton of fun.  As always, the fine folks at
FOW populate this album with a fun cast of characters and guitar hooks
that make it a joy for any power pop fan to listen in on.  Someone’s
gonna break your heart is probably my fav, its got that power pop
mixed with melancholy wistfulness.  Next up is Richie and Ruben, got
a ton of classic pop hooks + hilarious characters.


Girls: All the albums:  So this was a random find but Oh So Protective
One and Heartbreaker were too catchy not to put on this list.


Tennis: The first song I remember is actually a cover of the Zombies
Tell her no.  It was fairly true to the original, and very much fun. Upon 
further inspection, I love these guys original stuff too.  Origins is a 
great song, her voice and retro vibe is lovely.

The albums/groups that I think I’ll discover in 2012:


Danger Mouse: Rome:  So after hearing Two against One, I figure I’d
like the rest.  + I like the concept of making a classic Italian
soundtrack… sounds fun.  Also, i'm desperate for more Jack
White.

Fleet Foxes: Helplessness Blues, so this shouldn’t be on this list, it
should be above… The fact is I loved Fleet Foxes when I saw them open
up for Wilco in 2009 and ate up their first EP and Album.  For some
reason (which is really sad) I’ve only heard one song from the new
album.  I liked it, not loved it but moved on to something else.  This
albums day will come, rest assured… in fact in the time it took to
write this section, I probably could have youtubed it :D


Thanks, if you made it this far, you don't need glasses.  Happy listening and please comment on all the amazingness i've overlooked, all thats going to rock in 2012, and what party's you are planning for February 29th.

Movie Magic

So I've noticed a few things lately about my movie collection.  The first being that it is equal parts "traditional classics" and "silly stupidity".  I don't really have much in-between and thats ok with me.  Even my first blu purchases are representative of this condition.

First purchase: 2001 A Space Odyssey
Second Purchase: Hellboy 2

I love classics, for most of them I can see why they are revered.  2001 is a beautiful film that I can watch again and again and find new details to appreciate, new dialogue to interpret, and new messages to sift through.  The cinematography and music take my breathe away and its fantastic.  Hellboy 2? well this one was purchased more on a whim, but I certainly enjoyed its cinematography as well as its wise-crackin lead.  (don't worry reader, in this case I can chose the better film with ease...2001.  But there are a decent amount of classics versus camp that aren't so easy)

This pattern has continued ever since.  Recent extreme's have been Ernest Scared Stupid and...Life is Beautiful.   One being extremely juvenile, the other, uplifts the human spirit and makes me want to be a better person.  Speedracer sits alongside Dr. Strangelove.  Star Trek (great ideas and overall classic) alongside Firefly (lots of fun). (ok maybe you think those are BOTH silly... i'm a Trekkie, what can i say)

Anyways... the point of all this being that the best movies, and the one's worthy of owning are not only the classics that inspire, but anything that stirs excitement, laughter, tears and a good time.  Those are the two primary categories of movies I like and cannot generalize that one is truly better than the other...only that they serve on two different plains.  So yes, Army of Darkness and Beauty and The Beast (that link is the greatest disney song ever!) sit happily side by side on my shelf. (i'm a sucker for Sam Raimi's ingenuity and for Disneys Classic storytelling)

Cartoon Cartoon!

Or how Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network generated a veritable Old Faithful, oozing out classic after classic like clockwork (not orange).

Ah sixth grade, back to New York, new school, middle school awkwardness (which from my eventual escape of said awkwardness is still in question) and... cartoons :D.  Nicktoons... so good that i'm feeling warm fuzzies as i write this.  Started of course with the insanity of Ren and Stimpy, though I don't remember that being on a ton.  The era of Rugrats and Doug was a ton more innocent but nonetheless adventurous creative and tons of fun while teaching mini morals.  Doug had street cred when banging on a trash can with The Beets.  Tommy Pickles was leader among babies. The best parts of the shows were the imagination of the worst case scenarios of Doug in a moral or social pickle, and of course when the babies went on epic imaginary adventures.

That was the first round of Nicktoons, I remember the premiers of many of the later ones.  Hey Arnold premiered on SNICK and I was pretty excited for it.  Turns out it was filled with sweet Jazz, cool handshakes and amazing urban legends such as Stoop Kid.  My favorite of the second gen of Nicktoons however was KaBlam!  It was a lil comic book variety show with such classics as Sniz and Fondue (my favorite was the the previous link and the one with the Scorpion... Sniz's voice makes me happy)  Next favorite was Action League Now!  It was pure kid fun, and I loved the intro (and not just because the Flesh was Super Naked).  Prometheus and Bob asked the timeless question of what would have happened if an alien came to our planet in the cave man days to teach us.

Ok Ok i promised some Cartoon Network goodness here too.  Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Cow and Chickin, and of course What a Cartoon,... i heart you guys but my real favorites were Courage the Cowardly Dog, Dexter's Laboratory and Two Stupid Dogs.  Cartoon network was really outlandish, epic and ridiculous.  Actually they still are, but they aren't "indie" anymore (same with Nick) {yes i went there, prideful hipsters unite}  The voices alone were amazing, the animation choppy (not always on purpose, but always unique).

Next post, more cartoons!

-Mr. James E Harrington

Hello Everybody

Hi Dr. Nick!

So its been a while my faithful reader. Its not from a lack of care, or concern for your entertainment needs. In fact, i've got fantastic... nay a creativity that needs to escape my brain (since its working overtime) and invade yours so without further fanfair, here's the latest and/or greatest.

So the new Arrested Development uhm, development had me thinking about my favorite shows of yore. So begins a TV collection of posts.

So TV and I have had a good relationship over the years, which is not to say it was always accessible. In fact, the France and Japan days were pretty sparse on content from the Etats-Unis. My only TV memories in France are of Nintendo so... that wasn't even worth mentioning. Sorry for wasting your time.

Japan was one step better with riveting international shows like "Danger Bay". MTV Japan was always a good time (its always great to hear a foreign language with random English band names inserted). Luckily Japan had a great video rental store. They not only introduced us to amazing indie movies, ala High Strung (there's some language in there, its one of those old school PG movies. We rented it because it had Jim Carrey on the cover and it was 1995... he was in it for like 4 minutes tops. Its a huge sketch comedy act, uber negative and ironic and over the top, but hilarious). Anyways, point is, my brother Matt introduced us to the X-files at the rental place. We rented the tapes, it was fantastic, I had nightmares and much trouble sleeping. I remember staying up past my bedtime and watching it from around the corner, then totally regretting/loving it. The show is still creepy and alien abduction and subsequent drop off in a dark forest still is one of the scariest notions to this, your humble author (though the giant mutant worm probably isn't as scary as it was back then). I haven't seen the show in many a years but I would love to revisit it again (preferably with a ladyfriend...well i guess i could use that qualifier on everything...so i guess its not really a qualifier then... again with the time wasting, sorry)

We only had a few American channels there, mostly just ran old reruns ala Remington Steel, Family Ties and Macgyver... good times for sure...but i wanted me cartoons :)

Throughout all this, we did spend summers in New York, and had a little bit of TV. 3 channels to be exact. So while my mom ended up watching the Trinity Broadcasting Network preachers, I was more interested in cool shows such as "Unsolved Mysteries"(i always liked anything alien related... and the theme song was fantastic) or local Poughkeepsie news. We also spent a week or so up in Vermont with my Grandma and cousins. This was TV heaven for us. She had cable! So I bonded with my siblings watching MTV, Nickelodeon and the like. Oh Ren and Stimpy... charming creatures really :)

Next post will focus on the move back from Japan to Hopewell Junction circa 1996 when our home officially got cable and never looked back... (well besides this past year when i didn't have cable :)

We'll meet again, don't know how... don't know when

Later my friends :D

James Elvin Harrington of Poughkeepsie township

Money

or how i used to have a lot of it.

So being an auditor is actually kinda tough. After an Extreme summer year end audit, I needed some pick me up (calm down, i enjoyed the team and the client, just not the hours). So I rewarded myself by spending about what i earned that last month on 3 Hi-Fi speakers (2 CM 8's and a CM Centre) and another subwoofer. 2 of which are important for this discussion as stereo is the recording staple. Remember, this blogger has no apologies for bragging, in fact, i'm even more awesome than the aforementioned speakers, but as I have difficulty in expressing my own awesometasticness, think of these speakers as a metaphor of your humble author. Anyways, i progress... when the amplifier is set to Stereo, there is nothing between you and the music. As my mother mentions whenever we go to an orchestra or really any live performance, the music of the ancient masters is being brought back to life and the concert hall is effectively a reanimation hall. Its an interesting thought that the music can be brought to life again. I say this because the goal of any Hi-Fi system is to replicate reanimation halls. While recently listening to Ravel's phenomenal Daphne and Chloe, my dad noted that one could practically hear the instruments being plucked, banged, or bowed... as opposed to only hearing the end sound. It was as if you could hear the music being brought to life.

Anyways, i've been having heaps of fun reanimating my collection. Radiohead's Everything in its Right Place transports me to a postmodern computer isolated landscape like never before. I'm tempted to get the Beatles box set so i can get the best sound quality... ah come on, might as well get reanimated properly to the swingin sixties. Ben Folds stomping on his Piano...Jack White shredding the blues...Pinback with their perfectly crafted pop, Weepies for some mellow love songs... all this and more really do have an added depth now.

So moral of the story, i used to be rich :D now you all should come over and behold their beauty.

Summer Jams: or Now Thats What I Call Music #27:"Summer Jams"

First Day of Summer! well almost, but i felt that I should follow the Scout Motto so here we are. This is your one stop shop for all things chill, the uses of this post include but are not limited to:

-preparing mixtapes for pool/beach days

-'' basketball, baseball or volleyball at the park

-painting fences, general fix up house projects

-riding down route 9 to go to the galleria mall on your way to see Independence Day

ok ok i'll get to it eh. Songs have a way of getting into your head and setting the stage for memories. Some songs are totally summer songs for me just because thats when I listened to them. Sometimes its because i listened to them a ton, others are just associated with a particular event. On occasion, some songs just feel like summer and are categorized as such w/o a memory.

Some of my earliest summer songs stem back to the Poughkeepsie days (i can't remember, did we come back every summer from France? anyways, i'm placing these at about 1987-1992ish) Need You Tonight: so this song is a great example of the power of a sweet riff. I bet this was from my oldest bro Nate, though I think the whole fam liked it.

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Moving into the nineties, this song was more of an influence of my other bro Matt. I remember having this one on many a mixtapes. I thought it was profound when i was little (testament to the power of a melody) Now that i've had a few years on me, i still think its fantastic...but more from the hilarious lyrics and its association with Dumb and Dumber.

Lump and Peaches Now these songs have an admittedly more summer feel to them then the previous ones. These are just pure fun and always bring a smile :) see?

The Air Conditioned Nightmare speaking of smiles, dear reader...you must experience this song. This came out the summer we moved back from Tokyo. It has a strong association with cleaning out our Poughkeepsie home (specifically the basement dehumidifier for some reason) Also reminds me of baseball with the boys at the IBM country club, with ensuing big Gulps on the way home. The album was THE summer album so i best be linking a few more classics: "Golem II The Bionic Vapor Boy" and my personal favorite (title at least) "None of Them Knew They Were Robots" While crazy (seriously, they are nuts), these songs are genius and I think that Album (California) is rock solid summer music. They are from Mike Patton, the guy behind a far more famous band, Faith No More. They had some sweet summer Jams. The music video was a huge deal for defining summers back in the 90's. Epic was one such summer defining video. I remember always looking forward to Grandmas house in Vermont for the Lake and for cable...she had MTV and Nickelodeon! Needless to say this song, Ren and Stimpy...cough cough Beavis and Butthead were very much good summer times. Also, while i'm on the subject "We Care A Lot" also is very summerish. And another Summer Grandma's house song was the Offsprings finest song "Come Out and Play"

Now its middle School time, Fastball had The Way. I'll skip Spice Girls, Will Smith, sister Morissette and Eminem and head straight to The Wallflowers brilliant summer capturing device: "One Headlight" and "Heroes". So as most American kids, I wanted Godzilla to be as fantastic as Independence Day and rock me with special effects and mayhem. Unfortunately it did not, but the soundtrack did. I happen to like this version better then sir David Bowie's original.

Fastforward to now, the rest of these entries for your summer consideration fall under the category of chill. If you want a summer album for 2011, go back to Ivy's Apartment Life. Its from the mind of Fountains of Wayne writer (also a fantastic summer band) and is very mellow due to the swooning chic French frontwomen. (that last link isn't the official, its from Avatar but the songs there... ) I'm excited as there is a new album coming out soon and the first single already promises a ton more summer chillin.

Admittedly i'm leaving out some true gems, a beach boys greatest hits will always fit the bill, along with a Billy Joel Greatest hits. My personal favorite greatest hits for the summer would have to be The Cars... but thats me :)

So i'm tired and am gonna call the post good cause i'm lazy (its summer afterall)

Regards,

-James Elvin Harrington

Merenia B-Day Mix 2… The revenge of Kitty Galore!

So after much care & thought, I’ve produced another mix worthy of being knighted “a lot”. This past year I’ve grown a lot and my mix is much more mature…Not! (not that my fist allusion gave that away) Actually this one’s much goofier but still packs a wallop when you least ‘spect it. That’s the old one-two right hook your mother warned you about. Its what I do.

So to start off, I figured a dreamy brit-pop landscape would introduce the cd with an introduction that says “ok the cd’s starting again”.

Badly Drawn Boy: Exit Stage Right

Next I move across the pond to a new hero of mine, movie star/musician Jason Schwartzman. Mainly I included this track because I’m like, in the west coast, also it has a cheesy but very catchy lil riff that could.

Coconut Records: West Coast

Next Stop, Andrew Bird. I had to throw a lil indie-ish stuff in here in honor of my glasses. The video is kinda creepy, the song is unique, and its fun (kinda like me?)

Andrew Bird: Imitosis

So my brit-pop introduction might have had more purpose than previously stated. My love for Blur and Parklife has raised them over Oasis w/o hesitation. So as such included the title track since its hilarious and over the top catchy fun. I love that guest “speaker”’s accent, fantastic!

Blur: Parklife

Again we take a trip back to magic America with some folksy kid rock… and not that the bawitaba dude. I showed this in the “music game” (a topic I should probably devote a post to) and think it’s a lot of fun…you know, for the kids!

Great Lake Swimmers: See you on the Moon

Next up, we continue with some Meowing and a lost cat it suburbia, but in a very oddly moving song. I described there album “Sumday” as Weezer goes through a midlife crises. Anyways its simple why I included this one: Meow J

Grandaddy: Where I’m Anymore

In order to keep things from being too heavy doc, I moved to some Classic Homestar

The Cheat: The Cheat’s themesong

Next I figured it was time for a dance party. The Strokes very own Julian Casablancas (fantastic name bytheway) fit the bill. I like this song a ton, mainly because it sounds lie a fusion of The Strokes with the 80’s!

Julian Casablancas: 11^th Dimension

For an American version of the dreamy intro I figured I’d throw in Mates of State. I’ve never seen the music video, but the songs nice. Its simple and that’s what was needed here.

Mates Of State: My Only Offer

Another Happy song, a lil louder. This time I have seen the music video, and it has ping pong in space… so I was smitten at hello.

Moonbabies: War On Sound

Insert Super Nintendo Mario Kart Sound effect here*

Ok, in an effort to reinvigorate the second half I needed something special. Of Montreal can always bring on the melody and the dancin’. So I decided on them for some fun. “When I feel like an ore, in a sunken canoe, all I gotta do is climb a ladder to you”

Of Montreal: Climb a Ladder

Now that the energy was up I needed to kick it into overdrive. Yay for Sleater Kinney. She has an amazing rock voice. She’s a punk rocker. I figured my sister would love her voice or hate it, either way I win!

Sleater Kinney: Oh!

Ok lets step back a bit, its time for indie again. Well sort of, its time to feel the Illnoise! I’ve recently come to think this album is about a 9.7 outta 9.8. Not quite perfect but pretty dang close. Its all about Illinois, who woulda thought. The transition between the first and second halves has a Cure feel to it. Anyways, its fantastic and who(m) ever says otherwise is lame.

Sufjan Stevens: Come on! Feel the Illnoise

In keeping some continuity from the last mix, I included some Weepies. No references to Sam and Libby, but I think it’s a nice cool down to the excitement hitherto felt.

The Weepies: Red Red Rose

Ok, lets not calm down too much! Lets bring back some Rawk with the White Stripes. I chose this one because it has rats! I figured that might appeal to the nephews :D

The White Stripes: I Think I Smell a Rat

Keep the energy coming…

The Hives: Inspection Wise 1999

I remembered Nia saying she liked an Interpol song from Rockband…I couldn’t remember which one. This one’s from Turn off the Red lights and is one of the first I heard from them… its got style. He knows how to sing-talk

Interpol: Obstacle 1

I needed something light and triumphant to start the encore portion. I chose another Of Montreal. This song is adorable and just makes me smile inside J

Of Montreal: An Eluardian Instance

Smile on the inside to a smile on the outside I enlist The Flaming Lips! Yeah Yeah Yeah!

The Flaming Lips: The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song

Insert Super Mario Kart Intro song here*

Super Mario Brothers: level complete fanfare to end it all off… nice!

-Love your lil bro

(ps that wasn't a command, just forgot the comma in order to make this ps)

Story of My Life

Story of My Life:

Or how Power Pop and The Flaming Lips describe my personal sine curve.

So everybody’s got that song that he or she can point to as an expression of his or her life’s battle royal. I’ve got 8. In listing them in blog form I realize that I’m revealing a ton. Feel free to speculate why these songs ring so true to me-self. Wild conspiracy theories and conjecture are not only welcome, but are what I’m aiming for you, the intelligent reader, to carry out.

-Side note, these aren’t necessarily my favorite songs of all time, though I certainly do love them. I also fancy story-of-other-people’s lives too!

Power Pop is a classification that often tells stories, which makes it naturally a Fountain spewing forth story-of-my-life kind of songs. And yes, the capitalization was most intentional…(note: other grammar items might not be intentional, so back off). So first batch of story of my life songs comes from Fountains of Wayne… no I’m not talking about Stacy’s mom :v. I’ve always loved these guys for their storytelling/slice of life style and now that I’m a “young professional” I can relate even more to their stories. Sick Day has been more relevant to me recently, “lead us not into Penn Station”, listen to all the fantastic lyrics. In fact I’m taking time off right now :D. Anyways I think the closest thing they’ve got to me is “Someone to Love”. Smart hip catchy, and hauntingly beautiful [ok maybe not that, but it’s very relevant to my life (even more so if I decided to work in NYC) with some more amazing lyrics] One song from them that is more a “story of the Harrington Family’s life” is New Routine. I think we’ve lived in most of the places mentioned and are always restless for the titular theme.

While on this subject of fountains of wayne I need to mention “Michael and Heather at the Baggage claim”(an unlikely title to one of the greatest love songs of our time). I be keen on this song, it feels like you are people watching and spotted a couple at the airport after a long trip. Also Red Dragon Tattoo makes me happy, though I only relate to the sentiment of trying to impress a lady cooler than me. (a universal theme in music)

Next up, Weezer

I know, I’ve had a lot of weezer on this here blog, but…well never mind that train of thought, I make no excuses and brake for nobody. Strangely enough, Make Believe holds most of the story of my life songs. Perfect Situation is pretty spot on, though The Other Way is my choice. (again, the pattern here is listen and conjecture)

Now its Ben Kweller time, Don’t Know Why… (actually I do)

Ok its time to delve into psychedelic space rock, something that I totally relate to (???) Most particularly I wanna talk Flaming Lips. Frontman Wayne Coyne is pretty crazy, but hits at some heavy topics through simple allegory, by way of spiders, messengers from the future, robots learning love, ambulance drivers, fights, autumn transformation and scientists racing for the prize and so much more.

But relating back to the topic at hand I submit these two as story of my life songs. Feeling yourself Disintegrate, the simple life themes/message is combined with such a lovely tune. I feel I relate to it somehow, but I don’t know why. Lastly I submit Ego Trippin, again I say conjecture.

I leave you with this beautiful instrumental, please comment folks, tell me your theories/your songs.

Thank you, you’ve been a lovely audience, its certainly been a thrill …I’d like to take you home with me,

Affectionately yours,

-James

On Broadway…

or “Now for something completely different”

So last weekend my parents treated me to a show in San Francisco called “Rain”. I start with this observation because this must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.

A Christmas Carol references aside, I wanted to catalogue all the wonderful shows that my folks have taken me to over the years, which not so coincidentally usually happened around Christmas time. You see I was raised for the most part in the great state of New York (recently made famous by Jimmer). As such, I was able to partake in the happenings of the city with that state’s namesake. The capital of the world/universe (not to be confused with the capital of the federation of planets…San Francisco) is not only a financial center, but a cultural cornucopia of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Broadway shows ensued…

Admittedly, my memory is terrible… in fact, me-pops, told me I left out Steely Dan in my supposedly complete listing of concerts in an earlier post. So I’ll need similar reminders from yall. I do not attest of completeness and accuracy or timing, only existence and valuation. (audit joke… hardy har har)

Ok ok, I’ll get down to business. I historically have always acted as if I didn’t like musicals…only because some people in the family tend to play the same song over and over, but alas I digress. Truth is, I actually like, nay, love a good musical (though it’s also good to finish them instead of skipping the Nazi part in The Sound of Music like the aforementioned family member… sound oddly specific? Indubitably). Some musicals are better than others (some are winning! Duh!)(that’s my topical reference of the blog…). I’ve seen most of the classic movies, but seeing them on stage is another thing entirely. It elevates some of the mediocre movie versions to be something special.

Oklahoma: I went in thinking it was gonna be boring like the state, but it was entertaining.

Thoroughly Modern Millie & Annie get your gun: Great fun, but not lifechanging.

Flower Drum Song: I’ve seen it twice, very funny (more so than TBS)

The King and I: Can’t remember if I saw it live, mom? If I did, it was fantastic I swear. I mainly have memories of going to Siam…err Singapore and thinking about the movie.

Beauty and the Beast: So I recently acquired the blu ray and remembered how it’s a perfect movie. All the elements are there including comedy, drama, and most importantly for this discussion: a perfect musical score. (that I submit is the greatest Disney song, so many themes the interweave throughout the movie, and a great introduction of the characters) So I already knew I was going to love it before I saw the broadway version. But dang, they didn’t disappoint. Gaston was fantastic, hearing the music live was a treat.

Les Miserables: Unlike Beauty and the Beast, I did not know much about the music or the story. I knew it was classic, but up until I saw the show I was, well ignorant n such. My what a wonderful show, its classic for a reason. It’s story is inspiring and appeals to the better angels of our nature. Its music? Wowsa (I knew some of the songs from me madre singing them but didn’t know they were from this show) (also don’t click on this if you don’t like songs to be stuck in your head)

Phantom of the Opera: I knew more about this one going into the show. I likes me the music of the night. This show for me is made a step above the rest by the score. Again, nothing like live music.

Jersey Boys: So this one was out of left field. I had never heard of it before but well, I knew all the songs. It’s the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Very entertaining, fantastic harmonies, though it swore up a storm (whatya expect, they are just a couple of kids from Jersey). Loved it.

Rain: So its basically a Beatles concert, whats not to love! They go through all of the stages, connect them with historical footage and play a great gig. Hearing I am the Walrus, Sergeant Pepper, and A day in the Life live? Yes please J.

I probably missed a few, but this probably a good majority of the shows i've seen that are somewhat Broadway Proper, as opposed to Ballet, Opera, Plays, Pride and Joy etc.

Yours Truly,

James Elvin Harrington