Album Review : La Dispute

I have toyed with the idea of doing an album review many times. I have even typed a few up and done some lists and what not. But, today I was inspired to review an album that I just got 2 days ago, after seeing a video review by The Needle Drop.

The band is "La Dispute" a Michigan band that has been around since about 2004 or so. They have released a few Eps and one previous LP. Their newest release came out on 10-04-11 and is called : Wildlife

It is rare for me to be so impressed or inspired by "agressive music" these days. I feel like as I have gotten older, I've heard it all before. Which may be true, but while this isn't something completely new, I find it refreshing. It brings me back to the days of going to shows, getting excited in the car, reading lyrics to sing along when the mic was put out into the audience. It brings me back to the days when music didn't just fit a mood, it all meant so much to me. It changed my life and made me feel good. It's hard to explain sometimes, what being a part of a scene is like. But, this is as close as I've come in the past few years.

I found familiarity in the singer's shouting. It brought back memories of first discovering one of my favorite bands Seatia. I remember being blown away by their dynamics and the way they took hardcore and spun it on it's head mixing it with quiet breakdowns. It was the first time I had heard something like that. Other bands followed as I searched through genres. Another band they remind me of is Thursday. But with more intense vocals.

The best thing about this album is the way the singer turns the lyrics into stories. They aren't drenched with metaphor. They are very specific to dates, events and when listening to these songs, it's almost like watching a movie. They are that specific. It almost feels like you have experienced the same things that he is writing about after you listen to the song. It's been a while since I've gotten so many chills while listening to music. Also, it's been a while since I've enjoyed a band from first listen. I haven't stopped listening to this album for two days and I can't wait to put it back on.

I hope everyone checks out this band. And while it may not be for you, take a look at the lyrics. The vocals are a little hard to get used to. He goes between talking, singing and shouting every few words and there seems to be no rhyme or reason for how the vocals are placed in the song. But it works. The bass and drums sound great, the guitars are loud and full and the clean parts ring out nicely. Overall two thumbs up.

Thanks!

Fall... Finally

It's Fall again. Thank goodness. The summer proved a bit too much for me. Everlasting heat that baked me in my office, and made me sweat while pretty much doing anything.

The weather has turned for the best. Sweaters and fall jackets are out. Unfortunately so are the morning stuffy noses and sneezing fits. But, with everything good you have to expect a little bad right?

It's also time for different music. I just don't find myself wanting to listen to heavier music. I was quiet, soothing tones. Sad ballads and acoustic guitars. I swear, the best time for acoustic bands to put out music would be the winter. The summer is for rock and blues and dusting off your old punk albums to ride around to.

The Fall belongs to (for me) bands like : Owen, Damien Rice, Elliott Smith, Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon), The Civil Wars, The Sundays, Ray LaMontagne and some old Bright Eyes maybe? Those are just things that came into my head when I thought about comfort bands. Some new, some old. Some favorites. but they all work so well together. Give me a quiet strummed acoustic. Some finger picking and lots of reverb and I'll melt into that bed or blanket. It's just nice to know that you can always go home to music. You always have a safe place in your music collection. You can build a fort with your records and cds and just hide away for hours. Most of us do this daily without even realizing it.

The benefits of still being young enough to love something. Which tends to go hand in hand with the fear of losing the ability to love something. Something like music. I see it all too often in my friends, family and acquaintances. It scares me.

Enough of that. I'll try to put a good fall mix together and list it here.

Enjoy your scarves and sweaters :)

Moving In and Moving On...

So, a lot has happened since my last update. I am currently living in a new city which is about 150 miles west of where I was living for the past 30 years of my life.

The moving was slow and stretched over a few months, which I don't recommend for anyone. Personally, I hate packing and loading, driving, unloading and unpacking. Which is why half my life is still in boxes. But, soon I will have a fully functional adult living space (I hope).

We found a great apartment back in February in a great part of the city. We're right near a Wegman's Grocery store (heaven) and a cool bike shop. Lots of great places to eat and it's a duplex I guess technically speaking. We've decided to make this 3 bedroom into a one bedroom, the other two being used as my office and guitar room. The third being used as a living room which just made more sense.

One unfortunate thing that happened was on my last trip back home, my transmission went. I had just gotten on the thruway, so I got off as quick as possible and limped back home. 10 miles an hour on the shoulder of the highway and through 2 towns is not fun. People were confused and one even stopped to see if I was ok. Which was appreciated. I have just sent my car off to be fixed after spending an entire pay check on it. Lets hope it's back in a few days and I can finally explore this city to it's fullest extent.

There were a few good things that came of this no car situation. I've been biking more, to the grocery store and for other things. General rides around the city and to pay rent. This is a very bike friendly city. Much more than the last, there are places to lock up your bike everywhere you go and you always encounter other cyclists at every turn. It's refreshing. I can't wait to start doing some off road and see if I enjoy it as much as I did when I was younger.

For now, I will end this post. More soon.

Blog vs. Music Blog

So, things with this blog have gotten away from me a little. Sometimes the lack of knowing what to write about cause me to not write all together. Now, writing is always something i'm doing. usually quick little lines for my songs or just ideas and things I want to jot down.

I always wanted this to be a blog filled with music and reviews and things like that as I have always flocked to those types myself. I usually found them too wordy or specific. too technical or just too opinionated. I never wanted to be one of those guys.

I once red a review about Cap'n Jazz. I don't remember the album, I don't remember the specifics of what was said. I do find it funny that Mike Kinsella has become one of my favorite musicians since. And I have yet to dive into Cap'n Jazz albums. Anyway, the review was by a kid my age (at the time) around 18 or so. He likened the review to how it made him feel. Not how great the guitar playing was or how deep the lyrical content was. He said (and i paraphrase at best) it was like when your family takes you on vacation and you don't want to be there, you grab your skateboard and go hit the town to explore. That album was his soundtrack, it was first kisses and a new city, spring and summer coming together. The review was perfect. Did I remember anything about it? Not really, did I ever forget that I wanted to check out the band? Never.

So, I think I will do some quick reviews in the near future. Starting today.

Out today is the 4th studio album by Dallas Green. Better known as City and Colour The album is called "Little Hell"

I came across him a few years ago, I was blown away by his 2nd album "Bring Me Your Love" . His voice has always been the focal point of his recordings. It really is striking. Rarely do you find a man singing so soft and powerful. Heart felt and consistent. I'm listening to this album as I write this review. I do have to say, the album hasn't hit me yet.

I feel like Dallas is a phenomenal singer, but his voice always seems too "perfect" for me. Like any flaw is not tolerated. I've seen interviews where he claims that he is a perfectionist. So, that probably has something to do with it. His new album hints at a few different styles wanting to creep out and It seems like he only toys with them for a song here and there and goes back to his standard ballad type song. I could easily put this song on while driving, but it would just become background music. The production is slick to the point of seeming like it lacks sincerity. But, I'm sure these songs will sound great live with the band he has put together to tour.

For me personally, It left me missing the more simple "bedroom" type songs that I found on his previous album. I'm sure fans will appreciate it though. And who knows, maybe one day I'll turn to it as a go to album.

There, I finally got that out, only 2 months after I started the review. I hope that wasn't too bad.

Stay Tuned.

Beavers...

I love this company. What is a better way to show your love than to link everyone to them?

And possibly win a contest. Either way, Busy Beaver Button Co. based in Chicago has been nothing but amazing to me and you should check them out.

Old Vs. New

Different cities have different sounds, different smells and for me, different allergic reactions. I found myself a few hours west this morning. Waking up to the sounds of birds, light traffic but notably, birds. Now, i'm not just talking about one robin in the tree chirping away. If my ear were as tuned as say, my mother or grandmother, I could have picked out at least 10 different kinds of birds talking. Even now as I sit in the living room in front of the window I'm hearing something that rarely I get a chance to enjoy... Nature.

In my city, you get crows, hundreds and hundreds of them black out the sky at certain times of the year. They pick different spots to land in, drive the locals crazy and surely cause more than one concerned citizen to march down to the local town hall meeting to vent their frustrations. But here, you have a crazy thing. An almost perfect combination of City and well, mother nature.

I won't say that I've been all over the country, my travels have been limited to mostly the north east and a little south. But in a city setting, I think they do a great job of keeping it pretty and inventive while still making it fun. Lots of parks, trees, grass, museums, culture and a variety of eateries; and if you're into it, bars and bars and bars.

I find that while every place needs work, they are actively and intelligently going about making this place welcoming and enjoyable.

Now, if they could just get rid of all these one way streets and make it so that I can remember how to navigate the city without my GPS. That would be spectacular.

The Road

I've been known to be a number of things. I'm sure if any of the people that know me, or know of me were asked, they'd all have different responses. The one thing I am not known as is a person who likes to drive. However, I find myself doing this on a weekly basis and for long stretches.

I do a 90 - 120 minute drive about once a week. Now, you're probably saying that it doesn't seem like a lot, but for me it is. I have this tendency to fall asleep. My brain decides that it's had enough and it shuts off. This isn't recommended for late night driving. But, I find myself in the situation of having to pull over into a rest stop and sleeping for a few hours in my car. I actually kind of love this. If I don't have to work in the morning, I'll stretch out and sleep a full 8 hours. I'm fine with it. It's actually refreshing. I feel like I'm a long distance driver when this happens. Even if it's a 2 hour drive. But, over the years, these little sleep breaks have saved my life many a time.

There is something about driving at night on the road that is strange. When you're alone and it's just you and music and the yellow line and the reflectors guiding your way. It's so silent and almost like a blanket that has been put over you. It can all seem very erie. There is nothing but black and it's like a vacuum. It sucks up all the light and makes everything seem like it is skewed in some way. You'd be surprised how many shadows there are at 2am in the middle of nowhere. You'd be surprised at how many things shine when your headlights hit them. It's a totally different world.

I don't know why I find myself in these situations as often as I do. But, I'm sure they're all worth it. Whatever I'm driving to or from must be pretty great.

Growing Up - Meeting Yourself (again)

There is no doubt in my mind that aging is difficult for some people, I remember the first time I realized I was getting old. I turned 30... Now, most people say "that's not old, you're still young"; I know that I'm young still. But, it doesn't mean that I don't feel as if I've hit a wall when it comes to my age. One of my favorite quotes is "I'm on the wrong side of 25"

I remember being in a meeting at work and they brought out a card and cupcakes to celebrate my birthday. There was a big glittery 30 on the card. That is when it hit me. I'm not in my twenties, I'm an adult. I have to be a grown up. I'm mature (sort of) and where do I go from here?

I always told my best friend (who is 7 years younger than me) that she would wake up someday and feel like a completely different person. As if falling asleep and waking up again had changed her somehow. It's happened to me a few times. You get to a point in your life where things don't matter anymore, or they start to matter. You look at things differently and it's beautiful and tragic all at once. But, it doesn't mean it's not you. You're simply growing up, changing, becoming the person you really are.

I've been lucky enough to have a strong sense of self for most of my life. I've never really questioned myself or wanted to be different. I like who I am. Honestly, I think I'm pretty great. I find my morals and my opinions to be top notch and I wouldn't trade knowing myself for anything.

I have a friend who I feel is struggling to find herself again. I wonder if she's too worried about what everyone else thinks, and casts aside how she feels. I worry that she wants to be something she may never be. I understand that women and men are different in the aging process. But, if you haven't found yourself or let yourself change over time. Then how do you know what you should be evolving into as a person?

I guess that is for each of us to answer ourselves.

Real Life and the side effects

I find myself taking comfort in reading and hearing about other peoples lives a lot lately. It's nice to experience things through people sometimes. A good book, documentary or even a blog will do that to you. Just like a really good album can fill a hole you didn't know was empty.

At what point do we stop living through others though. At what point do our words become the comfort for someone else? And if you were aware of it, would it make you act any differently?

Good questions. I've always found comfort in hearing other people's stories. Their journies and struggles, the good times and the not so good times. It almost makes you feel not alone. Even when you're sitting by yourself somewhere. It's a big blanket that wraps you up tight and doesn't let go until it knows you're safe.

At least, that's what it feels like.

Miles and Miles

Change is needed in every one's life. It keeps it interesting, it lets us feel like we're constantly moving and not just standing still.

I will be drastically changing my life soon, while somehow keeping it calm and happy at the same time. I will leave the area in which I was born and raised and spent literally 31 years growing and learning in. While I'm not leaving the state or the country, I'll still be moving into an entirely new space to start the next chapter of my life. To me, this isn't scary at all. I can not wait. I am comforted by the fact that I will be surrounded by everything I could ever want in a city and the person I love most.

Unfortunately, for the past two months, I've been living in two cities. Or should I say, paying to live in two cities. On one hand, I have this amazing life waiting for me and then I come back to reality. Traveling via car and or train every other weekend to spend a few quick days in my new home only to be thrust back into my normal routine a mere 48-60 hours later? It's hard, it's tiring and it's wearing on me.

I find comfort in the fact that I don't miss half of the things that clutter up my life in my old apartment. All that "stuff" that has been carried around with me for years are just weighing me down. While I obviously want my Guitars and gear with me. The only other things I want are my DVDs, Cd's, clothes and maybe a few favorite items that I've carried with me. I don't think about the piles of things I've collected. The books are great, but I could live without them. The toys from my youth are reminders, but I don't play with them. Even all the expensive boutique toys that I couldn't live without when I bought them are in boxes, easily forgotten. This leaves me to ask myself.

Do i collect just to collect? Or do these "things" really make my life better. I guess we'll see.

Shoes and Vegetarianism. The Hidden Struggle

This struck me as odd this morning. While sitting at my desk at work, I discovered an unusual connection between shoes and vegetarianism.

Where is he going with this you ask? Well, I have been Vegetarian for the better part of 8 years now. Plus 5 years served as being Vegan. So, that's around 13 years total. I usually never have trouble finding something delicious to eat, I've been known to settle for less than healthy substitutes, but generally can find something good and meat free.

I work for a large company that has a cafeteria located conveniently inside the building. Although they do make claims to have healthy alternatives and vegetarian options, I find it difficult to enjoy a lunch that isn't a $9 bland salad or a $1.50 bagel that I already had for breakfast. This was my dilemma yesterday. After carefully circling the cafeteria 2-3 times and most likely making the workers nervous, I discovered that my only vegetarian option was french fries. Which I also was unable to know if they were cooked in the same oil as the meat was. Well, this did not sit well with me or my appetite.

Now, on to the foot wear connection. I have also had the pleasure since the tender age of 10 to not be able to find shoes that fit my feet. I am now somewhere between a size 13 and 14; this is all depending on the company of which I purchase my shoes. Now, to small footed people, this may not seem like a big deal; most companies however, do not stock shoes in abundance above a size 12. And they usually do not come in a wide size.

Where have we gone wrong people? I just want to wear a comfortable pair of shoes, I want to be able to walk into a store and purchase a pair just like I want to be able to purchase an affordable healthy lunch with the added convenience that a cafeteria inside my place of business should afford me. But, to my dissatisfaction, I am not.

I guess I am not meant to have shoes that I will not fall on my face in the winter while wearing. Ones that won't let the wet rain in through the bottom, or ones that will keep my feet warm in cold New York Winters. I wish I could easily purchase my favorite pair of shoes in multiple colors at a good price. Right now, I've been looking for another pair of Dr. Martens Zack Elastic Slip-On Shoes in size 14. Why is that so hard? I have a pair of Brown ones that are on their last leg. Sad news. Maybe they'll read this and discover I am having so many problems.



I will also wish for a nice tasty lunch. Which I will try to locate right now.

Thanks as always. This rant has been brought to you by the sounds of The Decemberists. Enjoy

The Silent Blogger

It's strange to be able to write without a filter. Knowing that no one reads this (at least to my knowledge) and that no one I know is aware of this blog.

It allows me a freedom. A blank canvas. The ability to do what ever I choose. There is no worry as to whom I will offend with a specific topic or idea. I don't mention names or specific places, all my posts have been informative but vague as far as who I am. I wonder if I'll ever make this public to my friends and loved ones. While it would be nice to have some followers, so far I'm just another random person typing in a random blog site.

It feels nice; It is overwhelming almost. I try to put a lot into my writing, or at least a lot of thought. I try to tackle subjects that are important to me. But, why? That is a good question. I guess it goes back to the tree in the forest. If no one is around to read the blog, did the blog really happen? Yes, I know what you're thinking. I really just wrote that. I am not proud, but I feel like it made the point.

Well, I guess I got that out of my system. I now return you to your normal blog reading activities. Enjoy !

A Year In Review - The Music of 2010

I've been thinking and plotting about doing a "Best of" list for 2010. I've been reading the lists compiled by magazines and online blogs and I'm not really agreeing with them. Most people found 2010 to be this huge and amazing year for music. While I'm not totally disagreeing, I never found that one album that blew my hair back, there was no new "favorite band" or anything like that.

I feel that overall I purchased a lot of cds and records and that I was satisfied, however, it could always be better. I'm still waiting for that magical year where all my favorite bands release an album. One can dream right?

Anyway, I figured I'd break it down into a couple categories and highlight some of my favorites. The Let Down list and the Best Of list. Lets get started.

Best Of 2010 ( In no particular order )

Blunt Mechanic : World Record - Finally Ben Barnett of Kind of Like Spitting is making music again, and it rocks. Riff heavy tight jams. He focused more on the Positive side of things instead of the doom and gloom that KOLS usually found him dwelling in. Got to see them live and catch up with Ben, he is happy and his music reflects that. Great live band, great album.

The Black Keys : Brothers - Now, I'd love anything that The Black Keys had released, but this album is down right good. It's a departure for TBK in that they've added a touring bassist and keyboardist to the live show, which means this album relies less on Dan Auerbachs blistering fuzz guitar and more on the groove. While this sounds more like the Blakroc album they released in 2009 it is very different (in a good way) from their previous albums. This may be my favorite for 2010.

Deftones : Diamond Eyes - I will admit, I've been a big deftones fan since I was in high school, I've always hated the Rap/Rock thing. But deftones have always seemed to be above that genre. They have consistently put out albums that I love to listen to. In my eyes, they faltered a little bit with a couple of their recent releases, but I went into Diamond Eyes with an open mind, and it didn't let me down, seems like they got a breath of fresh air in them and I enjoy this album a lot.

Tim Kasher : The Game of Monogamy - This is the first solo album By Tim Kasher of Cursive and The good Life Fame. Now, I'll admit I'm a total fan boy for anything with Tim's name on it. But i wondered how different could this really be? It turns out, just different enough. It has some elements that I didn't expect from Tim. It tells a great story which I expected, but some of the songs surprised me when the full band came in. It's a nice start to what will hopefully be a bunch of solo releases from TK.

Bad Books : Bad Books - This is a new band comprised of Kevin Devine and members of Manchester Orchestra. Both bands that I love, I was very excited to hear this mash up upon listening to a couple of early teasers they released. While I do really like the album, I think it would have been better if it was written as a band, instead of Kevin writing half and Andy writing the other half. I enjoy their harmonies together and while the songs are all great, I think they will be even better in the future.

Sun Kil Moon : Admiral Fell Promises - Mark Kozelek can do no wrong in my book. While I've loved and followed him since my teens, I don't have all of his albums, some are released without my knowledge on his small label or just never pop up into the record stores i frequent. I waited for this one with anticipation. It's a solo album really, Mark and a nylon string classical guitar. It is beautiful. The Spanish influence on his playing is impressive. I never knew he could play like that, after hearing lots of Neil Young inspired riffs it was great to hear him on his own in this new setting. Awesome record.

Black Mountain : Wilderness Heart - This is something that came out without my knowledge. I just got on the Black Mountain train mid 2010 so I didn't know this was out. It is for me, completely different than their previous release. But, it isn't as trying to listen to. But it is a great album to put on and get some work done. It seems the fuzz riffs have been replaced with more catchy hooks and acoustic guitars while still keeping with the electric vibe. The female vocalist is highlighted a little more, and her vocal performance doesn't feel as forced. It sounds like they had a fun time writing and recording these songs, and while I'm only 5 days into owning this, I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoy it.

Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs : God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise - I love Ray, I think his bluesy folk voice is warm and inviting. I feel like his songs mean a lot to him and they mean a lot to me too. I haven't spent that much time with this album. But, I know that it sounds nice. A little more produced, more of a band album for him. But, his band is great and they really don't make it too big. It's still soulful and raw. I'm looking forward to more time with this album.

Circa Survive : Blue Sky Noise - I love this band, I think they're making amazing music that challenges their listener and takes them on a journey. It's great, it's full of emotion and their live show is spectacular. I can't say enough good things about this band. I always look forward to their releases, they pay as much attention to the art and packaging as they do the sounds contained within. Love it.

Danielle Ate The Sandwich : Two Bedroom Apartment - This is a semi or little known act that you'll hear about soon enough. She is what I'd call "Youtube Famous" she's a very talented multi instrumentalist named Danielle Anderson from Colorado. She has an amazing voice and writes great songs, sometimes with a quirky twist. She's known for her live act in which she sometimes resembles a stand up comedian, she is funny and isn't afraid to show it. She has great banter and she keeps her fans feeling like they're part of all of it. Which we thankfully are.

The Scarlet Ending : Ghosts - This is the local band that I discovered and was blown away by this summer. They were opening (acoustic) for a show I was attending and I liked their 3 part harmonies and fun songs. Got the CD and it was a whole other band, I haven't had the chance to see them live and electric yet, but I can't wait, they have a loyal fan base who even helped fund their music videos and cross country adventure. They are lots of fun and they have talent to spare.

Draculatron : Hatemusic - My Next door neighbor's band. Simply put, they are the best live band in my city, and arguably within 100 miles. This album was more of a solo project almost, but it is full of risky lyrics and pounding, unrelenting beats. You can't help but love it. It's fucking good.

Sufjan Stevens : All Delighted People EP - It's one of my favorite albums he's ever done. I could listen to it all day. It's so full of orchestrated sounds and textures that it's almost hard to imagine it coming together. I'm just sad that it isn't longer. It's just fantastic.

Henry Rollins : Spoken Word Guy - I know this isn't music, It's spoken word. But, He released it in 2010 so I get to talk about it. Henry is one of my heroes. Plain and simple; I respect him. He is intelligent, well spoken and I enjoy his books and his opinions. I agree with him 99% of the time. I can't wait to see him again. I did get the chance to see him for the 3rd time this year. Always a great time.

2010 Let Downs : The above was long winded and drawn out, so I'll be short and sweet with these. I was surprised by some of these.

Kanye West : Muse :
Cee Lo Green

My Chemical Romance :

Rufus Wainwright :

The Dead Weather :

Portugal. The Man :

MUSE :

Honorable Mentions : Didn't quite make either list, Just something I got that i dug on and thought it deserved to be mentioned, and they deserve more spins on my Itunes.

Jenny and Johnny
Margot & The Nuclear So and So's
Ok Go
Rocky Votolato


So, there it is. It's long, I'm sorry if it was a lot of information to get through. But, seeing as no one reads this. It is for my entertainment only. 2010 has been summed up musically (to my memory) I'm sure I missed some albums that I loved and hated. I hope this is a good insight into my year musically.