Lolla3: Built to Spill

Another band I'm not that familiar with, but familiar enough to own five of their albums.
Loud, feedback power chords with structure to impress an architect.
I started listening to this band in college when I picked up "Keep it like a Secret" on a whim. It impressed me quite a bit, but I didn't give it too many repeat listens. On later listens I would notice it's crescendos more, it's peaks and valleys, it's light/heavy/light structure that reminded me of the way Kurt Cobain structured so many of his songs. The lead singer's voice is somewhat entrancing. Soft enough to play on a date, but crackly enough to remind me of a 6 a.m. phone call to a 73-year-old with a hangover.
"You in Reverse," their latest album, was released earlier this year. Again, I picked it up ... because it was on sale.
It knocked me out. Solid riffs, lengthy, progressive jams and powerful chord driven fury. Their live stance on Friday could make or break them as a band for me. I'm betting on 'make.'
"Keep it like a Secret" - "Carry the Zero," "The Plan"
"You in Reverse" - "Goin' against your Mind," "Wherever you Go," "Conventional Wisdom"

-DJr-

Lolla2: Kanye West

I'm not too educated on Kanye, or why he's such a phenom in the rap world. I understand the girls think he's cute. The guys wish they had his style and money, but I've always questioned his talent.
We bought 'Late Registration' and was pretty happy with it. Of course, like most rap albums, it has the filler tracks of stupid skits and the sort. I listened to them once and skip them any time I listen to the album now.
It is the only exposure I've had to Kanye. That, and his appearance in "Dave Chappelle's Block Party." In 'Block Party,' Kanye puts on a pretty solid live performance. So we decided to make it a point to stay late into Saturday to catch his hometown appearance.
It should be interesting ... an experience at least.

Selected tracks from "Late Registration"
"Gold Digger"
"Touch The Sky"
"Diamonds of Sierra Leone"
"Roses"
"Hey Mama"

Band No. 1: Ween

Friday we'll split our time between Ween and Death Cab for Cutie. April hates Ween, but we both love Death Cab. It's only fair to miss half of one show to make my better half happy.
Ween is a duo of serious weirdos/pill-poppers from Philly with extreme muscial talent. To say they have a cult following is the same as saying 'Star Wars' has a few fans. Ween turns the world "Brown" with seriously rocked out jams with punk rock attitude but grace as well. They also aren't afraid of making fun of everything in the world. For their "12 Golden Country Hits" album (which only has 10 tracks btw) they hired a bunch of top notch Nashville talent to record a 'serious' twangy album. Only the lyrics ripped into the fake country scene "Japanese Cowboy," ex-girlfriends in "Piss Up a Rope" and the dogs in cowboy songs with "Fluffy."
"Chocolate and Cheese" is a fantastic album with some great funk, instrumental and pop tracks along with another solid ex-girlfriend song in "Baby Bitch" and a stab at consumerism in "Roses are Free."
My top Ween suggested albums / tracks that will turn your day Brown ...
• "12 Golden Country Hits" - "Piss up a Rope," "Japanese Cowboy"
• "White Pepper" - "Bananas and Blow," "Flutes of the Chi," "Even if you Don't"
• "Chocolate and Cheese" - "Spinal Meningitis," "Freedom of '76," "Buenos Tardis Amigos"
• "Quebec" - "Transdermal Celebration," "If You Could Save Yourself," "Happy Colored Marbles"

-DJr-

Comic show blues

So this weekend is the biggest comic-con in the country "San Diego Comic-Con." Four days of geeking out about all things comic and media related. I won't be there because it's on the other side of the country.
We missed the Charlotte Heroes Con this year due to family. Not that we're upset, even though we missed some time with our friends Mike and Rachael, family is always No. 1.
Now, I'll be missing the Chicago Comic-Con. I've been attending this con every year since 1997. For at least one day, though many years I'd go for two or three days, I'd go, pick up some comics, listen to a panel or two, rub elbows with Kevin Smith in the back issue area, get some sketches, autographs and the sort. This year I'll be missing it because ...
.. we're going to Lollapalooza!
Swweett huh? Stacy and I (as the duo of Mile 44) did some artwork for the music festival and in exchange will be guests for the weekend. I'll only be going Friday and Saturday with a NASCAR race on Sunday with April, dad and my sister.
So, for the next two weeks, I'll be writing about all things Lollapalooza related. Bands that we hope to see.

back to work

So I've made it back to work. After a nice weeklong vacation away from the desk, I return to sit and ponder the future of print media. Slowly going the way of the buffalo I believe.
Anyway, my week went like this. Friday: bought a new car for April - a nice Saturn Vue. Bige enough for the dogs, small enough that it gets better gas mileage than my old Malibu "Miles."
Saturday: dumpster delivered to the house so me and four friends can remove the concrete in the backyard. We also drank a lot of beer and saw "Superman Returns" that night. Great movie - until the last ten minutes - then it sucked to high heaven.
Sunday: Continue concrete work. Now we are laying a patch from our side door to the patio in the back. All 50 feet of it.
Monday: More concrete work (see a pattern here)
Tuesday: More concrete work. In between dodging stray firework explosions and comforting the dog April and I just sit inside.
Wednesday: Drive downtown to the studio. Print all day long. All day ... 12 hours worth.
Thursday: Drive back downtown to finish printing. Head home around six, take a nap and hit the midnight showing of "Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest." We liked it a lot. Lot's of action, lots of fun.
Friday: More concrete work .. almost done.
Saturday: Farmer's market day - yay! Fresh corn and cheeses, snacks and cheap flowers to boot! Finish off the concrete work that evening.
Sunday: Clean the house, play some video games and do a lot of sleeping.

So, in all, my vacation was not really a vacation, but I wasn't tied to the desk all day. I have another week off in September where we're hoping to put in a new fence.

I honestly listened to nothing on my break...kinda weird huh?

-DJr-