Styles of the Times

The year is more than half over right about now. It's a friggin ridiculous thought. Here is my year in review. Everything from events, movies, music and other random stuff.

Events:

So far I have been able to do some awesome things, but for the most part it's been work, sleep, eat, drink with friends and repeat. The events that have made this year worthy of it being good so far are the following:


Trip to L.A.- My first solo flight to the Golden State was pretty awesome. I enjoyed the solitude of the plane flight where I caught up on some sleep, watched Mad Max on my iPod and read a lot of The Iron Heel. Hanging with Justin and Doc was much needed. Those two are equally full of life and enjoy chilling out in a way that we at home are feeling a bit stale. We rocked an E6 show, a UCB Improv show, record stores, book stores, karaoke jams, a trip to Santa Monica and an amazing movie theater experience care of Hot Fuzz. I couldn't have asked for a better time.

Cedar Avenue- The new residence is almost turning two months old. I can't say more how much I love living on my own. I do get lonely sometimes, but it was a nice change of pace from the doldrums that was living at home. I need to have more people and events at my place, although more than 4 people is going to be intense. But yeah, open invite for the summer. Call me up and come by or I will plan a dinner for you guys so I can cook for you.

Music:

Not that this year has sucked, it has just been a little flat for new music but here is my quicky top 5 new albums.


5. K-OS- Atlantis: Hymns for Disco- Thank Dan Hodges of the Nighthawks for the intro to K-OS but this disc is the kind of no bullshit fun hip-hop that I'm down with. I got some Jurassic 5 action to listen to too, but this one has a diverse mesh of sounds including an Otis Redding style track and an apperance of Sam Roberts on a track.

4. Arcade Fire- Neon Bible- A good follow-up to Funeral. I don't think these guys can go wrong. I love their song structures and the variation in song styles. It's a lot more brooding than Funeral although it still has all the baroque charms that make Arcade Fire who they are.

3. The Shins -Wincing the Night Away- Although it has it's dull moments at times, when the Shins write a damn good pop song, they write a damn good pop song. The songs on this album are pretty catchy, a lot of fun. After repeat listens, it's still enjoyable and it fits in well with the "No Complaints" philosoph of lfie I'm trying to grasp these days. Just pure fun.

2. Wilco- Sky Blue Sky- Is it bad for me to say that I already love this album only after a few listens? No it's not. It's simplistic, no bullshit songwriting. I'm kinda sick of people who are like "It's not Yankee Hotel". When I hear that, it shows how retarded that person is. Not everyone can churn out something like that everytime and bands don't want to do the same thing over and over and over again. This is more like Being There where the songs are honest and direct, avoiding flowery emotional speeches when they break the news.

1. Earl Greyhound- Soft Targets- Speaking of direct, this album is no bones about it awesome rock and roll music. With the infusion of Zeppelin and Television in their stlye, the Greyhound doesn't fuck around. The live show is great, and the disc is a great companion to keep me satisfied until the next time they come around. I want Wilco to friggin tour in Philadelphia and have these guys open. It would be the event of the year.

Movies:

I hafta say that only a few movies have really been worth seeing this year and they are the following in order of appearence:

Grindhouse- Sucks that this didn't do as well as it should have. But then again. most of America is retarded.

Hot Fuzz- So far the best of the bunch I've seen. Ridiculously hilarious.

Waitress- God rest Adrienne Shelly. It may be a bit cheesey, but ya know what, it feels good to enjoy a nice sentimental movie. It's well done, quirky and definitely worth a view (esp. on a date. The gals will love you for it.)

That's 07 in a nutshell.... so far.

Paul Is Dead

Or will be. This week has been overbooked with things to do. Not complaining about this, per se, but I do love the idea of having a lot of things to do. Here is the itenerary.

Tonight:
Danno invades the War Room for Wii action, 40's and Pizza (bring your own jitney rag.)

Tomorrow:
Work till 7pm.
These Arms Are Snakes, Against Me!, Cursive and Mastodon... in ONE night! (Let the scenester fights begin!)

Saturday:
Work till 5pm.
Driving to Wilkes to see the lovely and amazing Ms. Tara Fleck. (God I miss this woman!) Sojourning with Ms. Deal shall be a nice treat as well. I miss our car lemgth talks.

Sunday:
Wake up and get some diner action in Wilkes.
Head back to Wiihawken to abduct Danno again and head to Rob Ealer's final party in Ewwing.

Then I work Monday.

Jesus.

Beyond that, life is good. Earl Greyhound is in my veins, Mother Night was a pretty decent flick, I finally started Player Piano after finishing The Iron Heel and just dropped a lot of money getting my car fixed. That's okay though as a paycheck is coming tomorrow and such.

Beyond those updates, the flux of life has not had much in the way of, well, flux

Sleeping Pill

Recently, and ever since moving to Cedar Ave, I have had the most intensely vivid and sometimes effed up dreams. They have ranged from being the tour manager for Prince and being Robert Redford in a kinky fucked up version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I can't really describe a lot of these dreams (minus the Prince one... it was pretty memorable... and the Redford one.. it was pretty, well, disturbing) but I can say one thing...

What the hell is going on in my life that all of a sudden I have to dream every single night? I really don't know. I guess I'm just stressed out about family, the single life and work.

But why dream? I guess no one will ever know why it happens, but it does. Last night I had at least 10 different dreams or at least one with 10 different parts that had no connection. The only one I remember was trying to get my car fixed at some shop and the guy was all annoying about it saying thigns like "What do you want me to do about it?" and I was like "Dude I fucking pay you to do this shit cuz I know nothing about cars." It was annoying because I woke up freaking out every hour and a half. I just want one normal nights sleep, dammit!

Speeding Motorcycle

It's May. It's effing May. What the hell is going on with time? I guess this happens when you get older. The sands of time get sucked through the hourglass a bit faster than usual. That's not a bad thing necessarily. It's just flying by.

Regardless, here are some life-updates.

Cedar Ave is awesome. I love my apartment. I need more people to come visit and I need to get out in the 'hood more often. I walked around the other day when it was really nice outside and I pretty much love my 'hood. I need to get new porch furniture however. I think my landlord chucked the old couch and chair that was right in front of my pad. But that has to change. I'm gonna go to the shady furniture store and rawk out some new chairs. I will be getting some new batteries for my camera and the next time I have off of work and a spare moment to wander, I will do a photo opp of my 'hood. Right now it's pretty gorgeous.

Work is work. Not much to report.

Love life is still no existent. Not really worried about that all too much. I would like to meet some people out there, and I have a few in mind I'd like to enjoy the company of, but as usual environment gets in the way of that.

That's just about it. Things are flying by and life is chugging along.