Blondes, Guns, and Booze, Etc., Etc. - Music for the Week of September 19, 2010

Not much happened this week...that is, until an old friend of mine contacted me with a jaw-dropping update on a mutual acquaintance, whom for privacy reasons, I'll refer to as Matilda Cherokee.

This update about Matilda arrived simply enough in a brief email.  Old Friend asked how life has been, told me what he had been up to lately, and then concluded by saying,

"Hey, remember that crazy chick, Matilda? Check out the link to the story below."

The attached link led me to a news story about Ms. Cherokee, and a level of hi-jinks one engages in usually only after consuming no fewer than four straight gallons of anti-freeze.  Suffice to say, Ms. Cherokee managed to careen through an evening that involved untold amounts alcohol, police officers, hiding from said police officers, riding in a police car, crying, screaming, guns, and of course, the inevitable being taken into custody.

Fortunately, no one was injured.

Unfortunately, the evening's events made the news.  Not just local popcorn headlines.  Like, Washington Post, Associated Press national news...and a cache of links on YouTube...and page after page of blogs, videos, stories, etc. on Google.  All you have to do is enter her first and last name in the search field, and away you go.  Yowsa.

Now, I'm not making any value judgments - we all drop the ball from time to time, and I have committed more than my share of mistakes, especially while under the influence of alcohol.  Rather, I think my response to her tale of woe resembles something of how it must feel to say, "Henry Winkler got expelled from my high school," or maybe even, "My college girlfriend used to bang Mario Lopez."  Whatever it is, satisfaction, pride, or amazement at how small the world can be, it felt pretty unique to look at someone who is the focus of a million pairs of eyes, and say truthfully, "Wow.  I know that person."

And, to be honest, it felt even better to follow up the previous sentence with, "I'm glad that didn't happen to me."

Well, Matilda Cherokee, wherever you are, I hope that as the attention wears off, you pick yourself back up and keep on moving.  Everything's going to be OK.

In the meantime, as temperatures start to fall and football season kicks into gear, there will be plenty of excuses to cut loose and enjoy a pint or two.  That being said, if you're going to drink, do yourself and the rest of the community a favor and stay away from automobiles and firearms.   I'm just sayin'.

However, if armed intoxication is your idea of a good way to unwind, then this week's music may make a good soundtrack for your pursuits:

1) The Black Keys - Brothers - 2010 - The sixth studio album from the Akron, Ohio duo who have previously  worked with Danger Mouse, Mos Def, and former Roc-aFella Records CEO Damon Dash, to name a few.  The verdict?  Nothing groundbreaking here, but nothing disappointing, either.  A straight-up rock record with tones of blues, soul, and enough of a sneer to keep it interesting.  Probably sounds best when paired with Miller High Life - The Champagne of Beers.

2) Dwight Yoakum - Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. - 1986 - Honky tonkin' Dwight Yoakum's first studio album and Jake's Doom Guild pick for the week.  This is the album that put the guy on the map and probably played on many a jukebox through the rest of the 80's from Texas all the way through Kentucky.  For me, this album reminded me of the greatest love story ever told, "Urban Cowboy," and seemed like a good choice of background music for drinkin', cussin,' fightin', or screwin'.  Try this album with Old Milwaukee to really bring out the twangy guitar and two-steppin' rhythm.

3) Radiohead - Pablo Honey - 1993 - Radiohead's first studio album, and my third Radiohead album to cover in the last three months.  The album's lead single, 'Creep' had a whole generation of early 90's teeny boppers singing, "You're so fucking special," while learning to play electric guitar.  Overall, not a bad album, and a great lead-in to the classically perfect sophomore effort, The Bends, but not much here indicated what was to come from this band once they truly took off in the late 90's.  Given the hipster darling status Radiohead has occupied for the last decade or so, I almost recommended pairing this album with a current, hip, ironically trendy working class beer, but I'm going to stick with the early 90's zeitgeist, and suggest sipping on a tasty Bud Ice while spinning this album.

4) The Who - Tommy, Part 1 - 1969 -  The Who's first rock opera, rock-n-roll's first rock opera, and my second The Who rock opera to cover in the last three months (luck of the draw, not by choice).  I'll refrain from a saying much more until I complete part II next week (double albums bore the shit out of me), but I will say that it is next to impossible trying to shake images of a wide-eyed Roger Daltry swaying to and fro Stevie Wonder-style as I delve into this album.  Since it's the beverage most likely to cause to some form of blindness, try this album out with a Matilda Cherokee helping of Steel Reserve (that's 8.1% ABV, kids).

Remember Matilda: Alcohol + Car + Gun = Bad Day.

Happy autumn, happy listening, and be careful out there,

-A

Realfun Music, Even if You're Dead

By day, I stalk the streets of downtown Austin, Texas practicing law as an estate planning attorney.

Unlike the fictionalized versions of attorneys we've come to know, love, and sometimes loathe, estate planning attorneys spend a majority of their time drafting, editing, reviewing, revising, and executing documents.  What do our documents do?  For the most part, we help our clients get all of their ducks in a row for when the client, or someone the client loves, curls up and dies.

Yawn...or ick. Maybe both.  Either way, there's not much in the way of comfort with this particular subject.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday

At the core of the practice lies and understanding that dying sucks for the bereaved. The death of a loved one catalyzes a perfect storm of anguish and woe for those left behind.  However, a wise decedent can help mitigate some of his or her loved ones' frustrations through proper planning for the big send off.  To that end, an adequate estate plan takes into consideration tax implications, creditor claims, liquidity, spendthrifts, evil step-relatives, and so on.

But in my opinion, the best estate plans provide handsomely for the first step of the journey: the funeral.

What about setting aside money to pay for the backyard kegger / wake thrown in your honor after your funeral?  Or what about scheduling a rocket ship to blast your urn into the farthest reaches of the galaxy immediately following the eulogy?  To me, those are the estate planning maneuvers that make the best delivery of your final 'I'm gonna miss you' to your friends and loved ones.

As an estate planning attorney, I often ponder the effectiveness of my own estate plan, funeral arrangements included.  So while I continue to tweak the design to my haunted house roller coaster funeral parlor theme park, I do have one component of my funeral covered - the music.

While I'll most likely request that the stereo be turned up and the music library set to 'shuffle,' the following songs are my top ten 'Must be played because I'm dead' songs.  So pay attention, or I'll find a way to come back and haunt your ass:

I'm Dead, Please Play Me Playlist

1)  Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World - for all of the things in life towards which I felt positive and grateful...like sunshine, rainbows, and the sound of golf cleats walking on concrete.

2)  Faith No More - A Small Victory - for all of things in life towards which I felt less than positive, yet nonetheless overcame...like law school, learning that there really is no Santa Claus, and getting arrested.

3)  The Beatles - In My Life - for all of my friends and loved ones, living and deceased.  I hope to see each and every one of you again someday.

4)  Nirvana - All Apologies - for any one I've ever pissed off or disappointed.  Sorry, y'all.

5)  Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out) - while this is a great song, I'm mainly including this to attempt appeasing any elitist assholes who will deduct points for any of the other nine songs featured on this list.

6)  The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Castles Made of Sand - even if we all melt into the sea eventually, it'll all work out in the end.  You'll see.

7)  Metallica - Fade to Black - just in case in members of Metallica decide to show up.

8)  Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah - just in case there really is a god...and he / she was watching the whole time.

9)  Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence - just because I'm dead doesn't mean my survivors should stop feeling sexy.

10)  311 - Waiting - for my best friend and soulmate...and in case any members of 311 show up.  Once again, you can never be too careful.

Honorable Mentions: Anything by 6 Feet Under, anything by Megadeth, Knocking on Heaven's Door, The End, Stairway to Heaven, Say Hello 2 Heaven, Tears in Heaven, Heaven Isn't Too Far Away, Up in Heaven (Not Too Far From Here), How the Gods Kill.

I realize that this list may evolve over the years, and i realize that no matter what winds up on the final cut, not all of my attendees will be pleased with the music I will have chosen for the occasion.  Therefore, as a back up plan, I'm also going to request that a "This is Spinal Tap" screening room and a karaoke bar be set up as well. 

But enough about me.  I want to hear what you think.  What would your funeral march sound like?  Feel free to share your thoughts, talk shit, whatever.

In the meantime, enjoy all there is in luck, life, and love.  See you at the end of the road (which is hopefully many many years from now).

-A

Music for the Week of September 12, 2010

The other day, I found myself chatting with complete stranger about modern music, past, present, and future.  In the middle of making his point, the stranger paused, and a puzzled look began to spread across his face.

"I don't really have hope for music anymore," he said.

I spent the rest of the conversation citing examples of current demonstrations of hope-worthy potential, but I left the conversation feeling like I never completely won him over.  Worse yet, as more days passed after that conversation, the more his statement haunted me.

To cope with this fear, I thought about the best moments I experienced listening to music over the years.  I thought about the 1991 summer road trip to Galveston when I heard the Red Hot Chili Peppers sing about sex for the very first time.  I thought about the Christmas Day of 1993 I spent reading the CD booklet for Primus's Sailing the Seas of Cheese from cover to cover.  And then there was the time I eagerly jumped at the chance to buy Rage Against the Machine's Evil Empire on tape after a four year wait since the release of their first album.

Going beyond music released during my generation, I can fondly remember going on car rides with my dad through Houston and listening to ZZ Top's Tres Hombres, while he talked about the quadrophonic sound system that he had in his car when he was a teenager.  Without even realizing it, I learned the lyrics to Abbey Road over the course of my early teen years before I ever learned about who The Beatles were later on in high school.

I even thought about how no matter how much the music of Third Eye Blind makes me want to gag, two dear friends of mine nonetheless consider themselves rabid fans.  And then there's Katy Perry, whose songs have no redemption value for me...at all...whatsoever.  Yet some people, god help them, listen to a Katy Perry song and actually give in to the urge to smile or even dance a little.

Absorbing all of these experiences, good and bad, brought me to the conclusion that yes, modern music has hope, and that hope lies in whatever it is you make of that music.

If you want your music to sound like a math project (Mr. Bungle, Sigh, Captain Beefheart), get after it.  If want nothing beyond the boundaries of saccharine pop radio (B.o.B., Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber), go get you some.  If you only want to surround yourself with all things Slayer and Morbid Angel, then follow your dreams and don't look back.  It's all about what you like, old or new, how it makes you feel, and letting the good times roll.

To that end, this is what the universe gave me for consideration this week:

1) Fiona Apple - When the Pawn... - 1999 - Great album, hands down.  Plus, if I was a female, angry as fuck, starving for a sandwich, and a better piano player, I would be Fiona Apple.  Don't be frightened by the 400+ character long album title - this album yielded a legit series of spins through the week.  Tight arrangements, catchy songs with a variety of emotional content, and an album closer that reminded me a bit of Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day.'  Highly recommended.

2) Male Bonding - Nothing Hurts - 2010 - I was totally pumped to check this album out based on the samples that I previously heard, and for the most part, this album did not disappoint...save and except for one major critical flaw that I've noticed more and more over the last couple of years - the production squashed the vocals way way way back in the mix.  Maybe that's the point of noise punk or 'lo-fi' or whatever label best fits here, but to me, it sounded like the producer submerged the vocals mic in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench and hit 'record.'  Catchy album, major flaw, buyer beware.

3) Pantera - Far Beyond Driven - 1994 - Like all of Pantera's major label albums, this one in particular suffers from the 'Side B Slump.'  Perfect start, soporific finish, however, some mighty fierce songs lurk within.  This album still plays like a Metal-by-the-Numbers coloring book, complete with power drill guitar distortion and vocals that sound like singer Phil Anselmo recorded in between taking shits.  Hit up the singles as a must, but you will probably find greener pastures with Vulgar Display of Power.  

 

4) Radiohead - Hail to the Thief - 2003 -I seem to suffer from an affliction that keeps me from completely swooning about most stuff that Radiohead releases.  I mean, this album was pretty good, but I'm still trying to figure out what catapulted this album into the stratosphere of adulation in which it resides.  Nonetheless, this album manages to excel at some of what Radiohead does best - it's emotive, disturbing, and a little sleepy.  Fortunately, another common quality of Radiohead albums is that claiming to appreciate the album gives you bragging rights and indie credibility.  Don't get too relaxed with your Pabst Blue Ribbon, though - you may have to put it down and skip a song or two on the iPod to keep this album moving.

As a post script, Saturday, September 18th, marked the 40th anniversary of Jimi Hendrix's death.  And while this undoubtedly signals an unleashing of a new round of Hendrix-affiliated merchandise, one thing remains certain:

I will always have hope that Katy Perry will not be invited to appear on any forthcoming tribute album.

Here's to a good week,

-A

Music for the Week of September 5, 2010

Thank baby Jesus for 3-day weekends, even if it means I can't wear white until next May.  Karate practice is simply going to have to wait.

After last week's human resources hi-jinks, the additional day of recovery could not have arrived any sooner.  I can't completely describe the intangible feeling that permeated the working environment during the week that followed, but the feeling reminded me of an awful rotten egg / boiled cabbage fart stench that simply would not quit...or the feeling of wearing a dirty pair of underwear for the third day in a row.  Bearable, but miserably uncomfortable.

Fortunately, I managed to distract myself by tracking down a wedding DJ, staring at Mount Vinyl from afar, and spinning the following:

1) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs - 2010 - Don't ask me why, but I've always been wary of this band for the simple fact that they are based in Canada.  So I was subsequently surprised to learn that front man Win Butler and his brother/bandmate William hail from  the mega residential community known as The Woodlands, Texas, and this album is conceptually linked to the Texan suburban childhood experience.  I too, come from a Texas suburban upbringing, and I dialed in to the tone of this album immediately.  Overall, I enjoyed the album, but I couldn't shake the memories of tee-ball practice and hanging out at West Oaks Mall that kept pervading my listening experience.  Maybe that was the point of the album, but I still blame it on Canada.

2) Jethro Tull - Aqualung - 1971 - This was Good Jeff's Doom Guild pick for the week.  I had no prior experience with this album, but I do remember my dad purchasing this album on CD when I was a kid (which only heightened the memory lane trip of The Suburbs), and I've always known about this band's preference to rock out with the most rockinest of rock n roll instruments: The Flute.  All Anchorman jokes aside, I could see why this album is so highly regarded, even if some moments felt like I was listening to Frodo's backing band.  And surprisingly, the rock flute approach worked.  I mean it.  This is a good album, renaissance magic and all.

3) Pink Floyd - The Piper at The Gates of Dawn - 1967 - Recorded four years prior to Aqualung, and at the same time and studio as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pink Floyd's debut album is worth a listen if you have any appreciation for their work done on Dark Side of the Moon through The Wall (i.e. the good stuff).  This album reminded me of my experience with David Bowie's debut album - very English and hilariously bizarre.  This is also the only full album featuring Pink Floyd's original front man, the late and certifiably bonkers Syd Barrett, whose personality ultimately influenced the concept behind The Wall, both the album and the truly awful film.  Final vote?  Probably best left for hardcore fans only.  You may want to pass on this.

4) Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Uplift Mofo Party Plan - 1987 - When things got too heavy with the childhood memories, rock n roll flautists, and the darker side of the 60's, I could always count on the Chili Peppers to lighten the mood.  Party Plan pretty much offers the same as its predecessor, Freaky Styley, and certainly nothing has changed with the band's favorite subject matter.  Yet the songs here show a bit more maturity than the last album (even if they still take a moment to let you know they want to party on your pussy, baby), and you start to get a glimpse of the band they eventually became.  Good listen from start to finish.

Maybe it was the office turnover, maybe it's my upcoming wedding, but I genuinely feel that it was this week's music that motivated me to engage in some introspection at a time when I probably needed to do so.  And it's contemplative moments such as these that I love most about this Project.  I didn't plan for the reaction I got, and I couldn't if I had even wanted to.  I guess the tagline for the MetaList Project rang especially true this time around - this week's list truly gave me a moment to reflect.

Now it's time to repeat.

-A

Scaling Mount Vinyl, pt. 1 - Know Your Enemy

In the pursuit of cleaning the house out, I have thrown myself into combat against a foe that weighs a ton, reeks like a barroom ashtray, and lurks within my music studio closet: The Vinyl Pile.

The vagaries of life have deposited box upon box of these records on our doorstep with no other place to call home.  Despite my love of all things music and getting stuff for free, one truth has remained constant since my foe's arrival - whatever we keep, we will love and listen to forever; everything else has got to go.

Sizing Up the Beast

 

My opponent hails from the collected efforts of two Houstonian disc jockeys, who acquired, purchased, and possibly pilfered hundreds of LPs through the 60's, 70's, and 80's. I, the challenger, have a history of collecting odds and ends, alphabetizing the components of such collections, and possess a knee-jerk aversion reflex to clutter.

By my estimation, the collection exceeds 1,500 long-playing (LP) record albums. The albums are packed upright into U-Haul 'Small Boxes,' approximately 100 albums per box. No method seems to have been employed to organize the packing process. Some boxes are alphabetized, some are not. The boxes themselves bear no markings to assist me in my endeavor, ultimately resulting in a colossal  unknown of the contents lodged therein. 

As a warm up, I decided to casually thumb through the contents of randomly selected boxes, and it became instantly apparent how thoroughly these records preserve a period of time in popular American music. The genres contained within span rock 'n' roll, country, jazz, soundtracks, film scores, and all points in between. Akin to a Whitman's Sampler or a can of assorted nuts, they can't all be zingers, and I will undoubtedly have to sift through fleets of junior varsity-tier LPs before stumbling across the occasional holy grail or two.

Another entry level observation - people had so much more hair back then. 

In any case, mission accepted.  Engaging in such open warfare will require time and motivational energy to remain focused and see the battle through to the bitter end. An undertaking of this size will not be accomplished in a single blitzkrieg assault. I must be deliberate...

...and methodical...

...and persistent...

...and patient....

Wish me luck.

-A

(photos by Gallo Photography)

Music for the Week of August 29, 2010

I didn't see it coming, but this week turned out to be a shitshow and half.  On Monday, I lined up my list for the week, I went into work, and right after the weekly team meeting, one of our employees was terminated.  

Bummer.

But, these things happen, so, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep on moving with poise, dignity, and verve...until Wednesday, when a coworker turned in a resignation letter, effective immediately. 

Double bummer.

Ok, but no matter what happens, you can't stop believin', you gotta hold on to what you got, and what you got is the eye of the tiger...all of which will come in handy when employee #3 is fired minutes before the office closes for the Labor Holiday weekend.

Well, kiss my grits.

At least I had a soundtrack to my week as my office lost approximately 25% of its work force.  Here's what has kept me sane for the last few days.

1) Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan - 1963 - I've listened to quite a bit of what's considered Bob Dylan's 'golden era,' but this album (his second) is the earliest one I've listened to in his catalog so far.  Lots of guitar strummin' and talkin' 'bout the war time's a comin' blue train blues.  Great stuff to listen to as you await the apocalypse.

 

2) Incubus - S.C.I.E.N.C.E. - 1997 - a favorite album of mine from way back when, released before Brandon Boyd cut his dreads off and Incubus became the biggest post-90's alterna-band in the world for about 18 months.  I got into this album after the band dropped off a bit, but I can't help but smile at how adroitly it captures the artistic aesthetic of the late 90's: Slap n pop bass, barky piccolo snare, and songs about science and aliens.  311 would be proud.

3) Motorhead - Iron Fist - 1982 - This week's Doom Guild pick, brought to us by Jake.  Until this week, all I know about Motorhead was Lemmy, his cocoa puffs, and 'Ace of Spades.'  Nonetheless, I still expected something in the way of early 80's hairy balls punk rock, and Motorhead did not disappoint from start to finish.  My impression after this week also confirmed my notion that Motorhead is good music to sharpen your knife collection to. Good tunes for a bad mood.

4) Wavves - King of the Beach - 2010 - I heard through the grapevine that this album was a good summer album for 2010, which comes to a close in just a few weeks.  This album reminded me of what would happen if Tripping Daisy were still around and started playing surf rock.  A winning combination in my book.

As good as this soundtrack was, I'll probably always associate the above albums with how delightfully shitty this week turned out to be for so many.  Lots of gratitude and wishes for the best of luck to my former coworkers and all of their respective life endeavors.  You've been released from the madhouse; enjoy your new found freedom.

Kisses,

-A

Music for the Week of August 22, 2010

This week yielded a nice blend, even if that blend mixed in tones of punk, glitch, metal, and um, Creedence...

1) Body Count - Body Count - 1992 - I remember hearing about this album and its associated controversy when I was in 7th grade. I came across it a few times after that, but this week was my first full-length journey into what ultimatley resulted in a fairly ridiculous album. What was all the fuss about back then? How mad can you get at a former pimp with a lithp?

2) Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River - 1969 -Went into this one with a vague familiarity with 'Bad Moon Rising,' 'Green River,' and 'Lodi.' My other initial impression stems from childhood memories of 'Sounds of the 70's' compilations TV ads, and thoughts of how much lead singer John Fogerty reminds me of something off of Fraggle Rock.

3) Flying Lotus - Cosmogramma - 2010 - Flying Lotus is brought to us by Steven Ellison, who is the great-nephew of John Coltrane. He also does the bumper music for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. That's about all the convincing I will ever need.

4) Metallica - ...And Justice for All - 1988 - Last but not least, is an album with which I am completely enmeshed, and will forever rate among the highest of my all-time top favorites. A flawed, yet endearing masterpiece that never fails to put a smile on my face, and the flames of hell in my balls. 

The 3rd phase of 2010 is coming to a close, and I'm thrilled at what I've covered thus far.  Be on the lookout for 1st and 2nd phase playlists, album reviews, and updates on the vinyl collection that's slowly consuming my living room.