Test Post #1

Yes. It's fucking Monday. Feel free to gripe, complain, and whine about how shitty this week will be. You have permission.

Jonah Matranga - I'm So Lucky from the album, The Three Sketchys

I hate the dentist

Sometime I wish I had just brushed my teeth much better, mainly because I absolutely despise going to the dentist. For some strange reason you have to play Michael McDonald and Bill Medley/Jennifer Warnes to be an official Dental Office. Honestly, do I really want to hear the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack while I’m getting my teeth drilled? Also, as much as I appreciate the numbness to help relieve the pain in my mouth, I would like to eat at some point. It doesn’t make me feel very good that after eating a sandwich I find that I bit my lip…really hard. Now my lip looks like it got stung by a bee!

There are just so many other places I’d rather be…

the song that takes me back

Sean Hayes - Alabama Chicken

This song reminds me of when I went to California (Petaluma) for school. Driving the Northern Cali landscapes, seeing Gratitude (and Jonah finding my phone), hanging out with my Katie in San Fran, and so many other great moments all compiled into this one song. It's just a great way for me to look back on one the best moments of my life.

I ended up seeing Sean Hayes at this show at the Great American Music Hall with Jolie Holland when I was in Cali. He turned out to be the star of the show so just bought his ridiculously overpriced CD. It turned out to be one of my favorite albums of all time. His Bob Dylan/Nick Drake rawness paints a lazy NorCal day so perfectly.

Click on the picture to hear the song...

my take on the gas prices...

Björk - Volta Review

I have been a fan of Björk for over four years now and I have always been amazed by everything she does. Most people I know don't totally understand my admiration with the Icelandic pop princess, so I'm going to try and explain and express my thoughts on her newest creation, Volta.

I first heard of Björk from Chino from the Deftones. He said in an interview that she was his biggest influence vocally. Now I love Chinos voice, so I had to hear this Björk person. I bought her Greatest Hits album in early 2002 and was instantly blown away by the immense originality and creativity in her music. It was like I found treasure in the CD section of Best Buy! But I didn't fully appreciate her art until I saw her live at the Fleet Boston Pavilion in Boston, MA. Her performance made me once again realize how little I knew about music and art. I distinctly remember the long trek home to my apartment in the North End thinking about how astounding the show was. The next week I bought all her CDs. Every single one. I also eventually purchased a few DVDs of live performances and music videos as well as a few singles. I slowed down my devotion to her once I got a girlfriend (thanks Katie). But I still bought her 5th album Medulla and her 6th album Volta the day they came out. I did not however buy her soundtrack Drawing Restraint 9 because of "creative differences." I guess I like her because no one compares to her. I admire that so much in an artist and she has it down to a science. Even the record companies are like, "Go ahead! I don't care how you do it or what you do; it will most likely sell." Yup, and it does. And I love it all.

Now on Björk's newest disc, Volta, she touches new ground yet again. There are some really great upbeat songs on this album that remind me of past albums like Post and Homogenic. Earth Intruders: which is a great single and sounds better on the actual album than the single version. Innocence: The beats are a little too big for her, but overall the song is danceable and very fun. Declare Independence: This is now one of my favorite Björk songs. This track is a bombastic explosion of technoclash and revolution-like lyrics. It's just awesome. Wanderlust: This is old school Björk mixed with the newer "brass" side of Björk that seems to have taken over this album. Very moving.

Those are the songs that have really hit me so far. Tracks like Hope, Pneumonia, My Juvenile, I See Who You Are, and The Dull Flame of Desire have impressed me on how diverse Björk can be with songs that range from slow 7 minute long love duets to full out techno-core rebellion anthems. I think I have to listen to it a bit more to get used to a few eclectic songs (i.e. Vertrabrae by Vertabrae) but so far I am very impressed. After all, it took me 2 years to like All Neon Like from Homogenic.

That's all for now. I'll going out tomorrow to explore Newburyport with my favorite person in the world.

Later!

Yet Another Day...

Sitting here wondering what I should write in my Mothers Day card kind of makes me think about her more than I usually do. I guess I beat myself up every once in a while over the fact that I don't really act like I appreciate her enough. But now that I think about it, I believe I do better than most. I'm actually quite proud of how I've helped my mother through the past few years. After all her husband (my father) is over in Iraq as a contractor; so she has to take care of two boys on her own. I do my best to take them out and give her a break for a bit. So tonight I think I will have no problem telling her how special she is and how I plan of continuing my support.

In other news I saw Spiderman 3 this past weekend. I would probably give it a 3/5, mainly because of its impressive action sequences and shitty acting. I didn't really expect that the movie theater would be packed with human trash that brought obnoxious attitudes and babies. Or maybe I did since it was at the Boston Common movie theater near Downtown Crossing. After that experience I promised myself I'd never see another Hollywood movie at that theater again. It was not my idea of a good time.

The upside of seeing the film was that the character Venom being well represented in the movie. He looked exactly how he's supposed to, but didn't have enough screen time. The creators really should have focused on character development and story instead of cramming in so many characters and storylines that you couldn't really get involved in the film. Also the Spiderman movies usually have cheesy scenes that make you laugh and roll your eyes, but this time around those scenes almost engulfed the movie; kind of making you feel cheated and insulted. I guess I'm not completely surprised with that fact that the movie turned out that way. Most of the time a movie will do so well as a franchise that the 3rd (or second) time around it will cram its best material into one movie and end up being a crapfest. For example X3 and Pirates 2 ended up having a huge following and in the end, failed to develop any substance from its predecessors.

That's all for now, buh bye.

- Shawn

Björk Radio City Music Hall Concert Review

BRILLIANT!

On May 5th, 2007; she was in full force. Luckily I was able to bring my 10 yr old brother Cully to the show, which happened to be his 1st concert. Needless to say he had a great time.
The setlist was...

01. Earth Intruders - this song is one of my favorites from the new record. She did pretty good but I would've liked her to sing a little more in the chorus. The best part of this song was the fact that the opening band Konono No1 showed up ask special guests with their thumb pianos. Also at the end of the song, huge flames rose up on stage. Very cool.
02. Venus as a Boy - This was a nice surprise. It was done with a harpsichord and very 1930s singer/piano style stage presence.
03. Aurora - I liked how the chorus got involved like the original recording.
04. I See Who You Are - This song was amazing! She brought on Min Xiao-Fen, who played the pipa on the new record. I can't wait to hear the actually recording of this.
05. Oceania - This song didn't have the all-voice arrangement like the original, it was done marching band style. Quite good if you ask me.
06. Dull Flame of Desire - Antony Hegarty showed up to sing his part on this great love song. I really didn't like his voice until I heard it live. Now I can't stop listening to it. Great song!
07. All Is Full Of Love - This is one of my favorite songs by her. She was flawless, that is all.
08. Pleasure Is All Mine - It was like a horror movie soundtrack remix. I was very impressed that she did this song this way and pulled it off well.
09. Pagan Poetry - If you've seen the Vespertine Tour DVD, you'll notice that this song was almost identical to that version. Very emotional.
10. Jóga - My second favorite song by her. She obviously did this perfectly. Also some random stage dancer got tackled by security in the middle of the set. Everybody laughed, even Bjork I think.
11. Where Is The Line - I didn't see this one coming. It almost felt like a slow metal song. I liked it a lot.
12. Army of Me - She rocked it with "lasers." Haha! My brother and I headbanged through the whole song. One of the more fun songs of the show.
13. Innocence - I love this new song so I thoroughly enjoyed hearing it live. I wanted to dance but I would've looked stupid.
14. Wanderlust - this song sounds amazing, I honestly can't wait to hear this on the record.
15. Pluto - She blew me away with this one, so much energy and power. I love when she plays this song live.

encore
16. Anchor Song - Yet another surprise. Beautiful as usual. She sung this half in english and the other half in icelandic.
17. Declare Independence - This song was fucking sweet. This is the kind of song that you play at full blast in your car. Cully and I were singing along as much as we knew. Definitely the most fun song of the show.

All in all, it was fantastic. It ranks about equal with my last Björk show (which is still my favorite concert). She ended each song with a delightful "shank you!" No, Shank you Björk.

- Shawn