youlookgoodinblack

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:20:00 +0000

Where All The Money Goes

In visual form.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:37:00 +0000

Scott Brown Drives a Truck and Enjoys Pandering

"The British historian Arnold Toynbee argued that civilizations thrive when the lower classes aspire to be like the upper classes, and they decay when the upper classes try to be like the lower classes. Looked at through this prism, it's hard not to see America in a prolonged period of decay."

The above is from a Jonah Goldberg op-ed (that's not really worth reading and doesn't delve into Scott Brown's choice of vehicle he uses to pander to voters), but that quote still amounts to an interesting theory.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:25:00 +0000

A Decade

So I entered this decade in the lowly town of Newark, Delaware which is 48.1 miles to the south of my current home base. I spent those first few minutes of 2000 at a college party in a house I rented with 3/4s of my roommates at the University of Delaware. Those were the waning days of an undergraduate education and I think we were all ready to move on. Bigger and better things weren't necessarily on our minds at that second, we just wanted to move. On.

By that point, I had decided that the state of Delaware had to be one of the worst in the union and was open to packing up my gear that evening and shoving off. Maybe hop a steamship or flag down the next dirigible flying by. As Dick Clark welcomed us all to a new age and 57.2% of the people at the party probably hoped for a y2k-based apocalypse on national television, I heard some unknown asshole yell a phrase that was immediately burned into all of our minds. This certain drunken gentleman exclaimed "2000 more years of fun! 2000 more years of fun! Maybe." It was the pause right before the "Maybe" part that was at first hilarious then ominously frightening. I think I saw a fleeting image of Dubya eating the Constitution as those words exited that guy's Lehigh-educated voice box.

Anyway...That was then. Let's push things forward.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:31:00 +0000

Go Kurt. Go.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:25:00 +0000

File Under: Shit. I've Wasted My Life

When the Beatles ended, George was 26 years old, Paul was 27, John was 28, and Ringo was 29.

Crap.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:59:00 +0000

I'm Searching For My Mainline

During a group conversation a few days before I turned a shocking 31 years old, the greatest song of all-time was briefly debated outside on my small patio. The usual suspects quickly made an appearance: "Satisfaction", "Like a Rolling Stone", "Under Pressure", etc. Now had that conversation taken place in the past week, I could quite possibly opt for the Velvet Underground's "Sister Ray". A song I had never actually heard before until August 22nd, 2009 when it was played over the stereo in a record store in Doylestown, PA.

How I had managed to listen to thousands upon thousands of songs in my 31 years and not hear "Sister Ray" is pretty surprising. I enjoy VU's "White Light/White Heat" (quite possibly the only song I would ever sing background vocals on) from the album of the same name, once watched an entire documentary on Lou Reed on PBS, and I enjoy other long songs of his (that middle section of "Street Hassle" keeps getting better the more times I hear it) but still the track "Sister Ray" escaped my grasp.

Since first hearing it those few days ago, I've probably listened to that song at least ten times in its 17 minutes+ glory. I even searched out the fascinating "Legendary Guitar Amp Tapes" version that someone recorded live in 1969 directly through Lou Reed's guitar amp. Every aspect of the song is muffled in that recording, except for the screaming lead guitar. (Listen to portions of it here.)

I guess it's encouraging that additional great things exist that I've never heard of, seen, or experienced. So here's to finding more holy grails such as "Sister Ray". It may take 31 years to discover them, but they're out there and they're waiting.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:36:00 +0000

He'll Always Be Puff Daddy To Me

After several weeks of trying to figure it out, I'm still completely unsure why I find this short video of Sean Combs dancing to Q-Tip so great.

What an exit.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:46:00 +0000

This Ain't an MP3, Paaale

So I need to pose a small question to the music listening members of society, does anyone have albums they enjoy too much to convert to mp3s? As in, if they're transformed into digital versions of themselves, they'll somehow be compromised in some way. I've found that's the case with a good amount of my favorite albums. I'm no Luddite (or a Heenan), but for some reason, I don't always enjoy the ability to listen to the greatest of the great songs at any time of day. Like a fine wine(?), I take a small degree of comfort that they're sitting on my shelf waiting for me at home and not hiding in a strange corner of my ipod.

I remember reading an interview with Michael Ian Black a few years ago in which he mentioned that he didn't want to listen to the song "Buckets of Rain" from "Blood on the Tracks" too many times because he might get tired of it. That's the exact same way I feel about dj Shadow's "Endtroducing" among many others. They'll always be mp3-free for me, pal.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:38:00 +0000

It's 71 Up in Ponca City

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:40:00 +0000

Anyone Can Fall Down

From a quite excellent profile of Zach Galifianakis in the NY Times:

"Zach has a darkness," Silverman agrees. "But at the same time he's mostly silly. We were standing backstage at a club in L.A., U.C.B., that shares a hallway with a restaurant called Birds. On the door that goes into the restaurant, it says 'Birds employees only,' and Zach just took his pen and put a comma after 'Birds,' so it said, 'Birds, employees only,' as if they were telling birds that they are not allowed through this door. He sees every situation as an opportunity."

Also.

What happened to May around here? I guess it's lost to the ages.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:51:00 +0000

Boats of Oates

Fact #92 is the only reason to attend Temple University. Actually, if the entire universe was aware of that small bit of historical knowledge, every child in the country would enroll there and all other institutions of higher learning would cease to exist.

And although not Hall or Oates related, this absolutely rules. Download it all then shut upa you face.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:08:00 +0000

Farm It

After deliberating for several minutes, I still can't fathom why I enjoy the cover art so much for the new Dinosaur Jr. album. Giant, green monster guys who carry people around are the only cure to all of the ills of society.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:40:00 +0000

Art On

Note to self: When it comes to collecting art, be more like Herb and Dorothy.

And just wow.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:26:00 +0000

Worst Channel Ever & Greatest Song Ever #19

Since it's broken and Jon Stewart has already torn it apart, let's fix CNBC. Either way, I get stuck watching 8 painful hours of it each weekday.

However, if this actually happens then we'll all get a reprieve from working because the apocalypse will be upon us. That's about the only way the state of Connecticut could possibly get any worse, if they actually elected Larry Kudlow as their senator. I'll be maxing out my campaign finance donation limit to beat that bastard. Even Connecticut resident, Olaf D., can't overcome the sheer awfulness that Kudlow shoots from his eyes every Monday through Friday starting at 11am.

And the # of times I heard "Rez" (aka Greatest Song Ever #17) by Underworld today: 2

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 22:47:00 +0000

Three Great Things That Only I Probably Care About

1.) Andy Richter to be Conan's announcer on the Tonight Show.

2.) Parker Lewis Can't Lose to be released on dvd in June.

3.) J. Robbins recording Thorns of Life album.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:39:00 +0000

For the Minutiae & that Etc.

Let's all tumbl together.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 03:25:00 +0000

Like Regular Stairs, But Extreme

So I started a new, cheap-ass method of exercising the other day. Instead of paying for a gym membership, I simply started walking up the 16 flights of stairs at my work after lunch. It's quite hardcore. Actually, I'm good through the first eleven floors, it then becomes a pure battle between good vs. evil.

I actually heard on NPR that this activity has a proper "MTV Sports"-ish name and it's called tower running. It's exactly what I'm doing, except I'm walking, wearing dress shoes, and dreading my ultimate destination (which is my place of employment). Apparently, there is some network of stair climbing enthusiasts that hold races across the country. The 86 floors of the Empire State building held a race a few weeks ago. It turns out the course record for that famous landmark is 9 minutes, 33 seconds, which is absolutely insane. I think I could break the half hour mark there after another few weeks of training to be more extreme. Maybe Dan Cortese could shout inspirational one-liners at me for the last few stairs.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:38:00 +0000

Courageous Coups & Minute Jazz

So I engaged in a sort of coup at work the other week and started listening to my ipod. Although this may seem like no big deal to you, the internet reader, this is an epic declaration that I made. Not on the level of freeing the slaves or anything, but it's up there. You see, any music listening is quite taboo in the world of high finance. (Actually, at my place of employment, it's more low finance than high.) My previous department head viewed any music ingestion as a complete and utter distraction, but when she recently lost her job to the downsizing (or "rightsizing" as CNBC callously refers to it), I broke out my headphones in celebration. (Actually, she was pretty cool in every other respect, just at odds with me about mp3 player usage.)

Anyway, so I started listening to my ipod during work hours and jazz has lately been ruling my mornings. Anything by Bill Evans makes my weekdays survivable. I've also been knee deep in the podcasts. One listen to The Bugle will change your life in a modest, tiny way. Why are British website addresses so regal looking? I guess it's the "co.uk" extension. Few website names have more class than www.belleandsebastian.co.uk.

And I forgot how downright, kick ass the theme song to "Courageous Cat & Minute Mouse" was/is. Take a listen.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:23:00 +0000

New Year's Resolutions #78 & #109

#78 - Relearn all fifty state capitals in order to prove your brain can still retain facts. A test will be taken on December 31st, 2009.

#109 - Play badminton this summer. Crush any and all opponents.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:54:00 +0000

Wendy, Lucy & Meat Suits

Since I was listening to the Byrds the other day, I was going to write something about how I read that David Crosby refers to his body as his "meat suit", but I couldn't think of anything else to say. There's not much more to delve into there.

Instead I wanted to note about how we saw the movie "Wendy and Lucy" the other week. Besides being a road movie that ends up standing still in a small town, it will guarantee to make anyone immediately hug their dog when they get home. Not to give anything away, but I'd like to think the ending could segue into the first track of the new Bon Iver ep. If they made "Wendy and Lucy 2", the great lyric "Well I met you at the blood bank, we were looking at the bags..." could and should start it off.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:30:00 +0000

The Damn Stupor Bowl

Despite this being an ever-so-sad Super Bowl Sunday that the Eagles should've been involved with, there are some encouraging signs ahead. In our household, we've been fighting Old Man Winter lately by getting out much more and I've been drinking more beer. Two good things. If I could hook Breckenridge Vanilla Porter directly to my soul, I would. As for 2009, there are several musical things I'm moderately psyched about. They are as follows:

Thorns of Life: Individuals of my age will probably be interested in this new band consisting of Blake Schwarzenbach from Jets to Brazil and Jawbreaker with zine-ster guy Aaron Cometbus playing drums. When and if they release an album, I'll be listening.

Ars Nova Jazz Workshop: This local series of jazz shows appears of prolific quality. I went to a show with Kieren Hebden (of Four Tet) and Steve Reid back in December that was quite high on the awesome scale. Any upcoming show that mixes electronics, jazz, and weirdness I'll be attending.

The new Mountains record: I've enjoyed their last two albums of minimal, acoustic electronics. This new one to be released on Thrill Jockey should be cool. They remain the greatest group on the planet to listen to if you're sick.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:17:00 +0000

Top 6 of 08

So after detailing every single move I made purchasing music in 2008 (as seen below in almost every post from last year), it wouldn't be complete without a list discussing some current acts I favored. Of the tens of records released in 2008 that I've heard, I only listed those I really enjoyed and felt deemed listing. There were many others that had great moments or even a good run of several songs, but didn't match the levels of below:

01: Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago"
02: Let's Wrestle "In Loving Memory Of..." ep & "Let's Wrestle / I'm in Fighting Mode" 7-inch.
03: Fleet Foxes "s/t"
04: Brightblack Morning Light "Motion to Rejoin"
05: Vampire Weekend "s/t"
06: The Breeders "Mountain Battles"

And my favorite song of the year was Beck's "Chemtrails" and from an album I thought was pretty mediocre.

I'm sure there's a bunch of records that I should've heard, so let me know your viewpoints since your taste is probably far superior to mine.

And my prediction of 2009 proving to be the year of B.Dawk won't ring true since the Eagles just lost to a team constructed of pure garbage. I still think the starting lineup of the Phillies should've just played football as the Eagles this year. No linebacker could stop Cole Hamels after the post-season he had.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:46:00 +0000

2008: In Delayed Summation

So I ended the year 2008 by signing up for the Facebook and with my arrival probably signaled its imminent decline. See, I got in line with the Myspace much too late and by the time I'd enrolled, everyone else had moved on to greener, digital pastures. I'm assuming by now the coolest of the cool people are probably using something akin to nautical flags to keep in touch, but I lack both the sea legs and patience with communicating via cloth for that.

After ditching the Myspace months ago, we'll see how long I last with this. I'm still coming to grips with the idea of it all. It's so strange to remember that some people I knew years ago even exist, let alone that they are now my friend and are apparently currently doing laundry.

Anyway, after much debate, research, and review I hereby deem 2008 mostly the tops. Despite the pain and the yearning of the Great Recession, I somehow kept my job and managed both a bonus and raise at year-end. Unlike previous years, we opted not for a giant vacation to a distant land (Scotland can't be topped anyway) and instead invested the money into our house, so home renovations made the best-of list this time around. (Note: Including home renovations on your year-end "best of" list automatically means you are old.)

As follows are the rest of the line items that made 2008 a winner in my book, in no apparent order:

The addition of our dog, Porter.

For years, we've been talking about getting a dog and I kept delaying. I liked things the way they were, but I was wrong. Vastly wrong. Mr. Dog Man rules, except when he eats Christmas presents.

The Phillies Winning the World Series

I stopped paying attention to major league baseball when the Pittsburgh Pirates kept losing to the Atlanta Braves and Joe Carter broke my 14 year old heart by hitting that homerun off Mitch Williams to eliminate the Phillies. I started paying attention this year and reveled outside on Broad St. after that last pitch. Those two hours afterwards were probably the coolest moments I've ever had living in this city. High fives for all regardless of income, color, or creed.

Weekday P.O.P.E. Outings with K

We support our local tavern. One of my favorite places on the planet, especially on a week night when its just me and my wife. Sea Dog beer for all.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater

Our four day trip to Pittsburgh was more bust than boom, but Fallingwater absolutely ruled. Both being fans of modern architecture, we thought the house might dissappoint, but it doesn't. At all. Get there.

Completing the City to Shore Bike Ride

Although almost everyone I know who initially agreed to ride this did not show up, but I did and completed it. 80+ miles of flat NJ riding in September for charity. Will I ever do it again? Ehhhhhhh.

More Charity. Much More.

Since we're able, we gave more money away this year than ever before. Of the twenty organizations we gave to Kiva and Rock Camp for Girls remain two of our favorites.

Bon Iver @ Johnny Brenda's

I was lucky enough to see Bon Iver play to a handful of people at Johnny Brenda's last winter before their album was out and I was amazed. Easily my favorite album of the year. The sound of snow.

The Election

For the first time in years, we did something right as a country. Plus I got to vote right after a guy named Richard Simmons.

Finally Discovering the Greatness of "The Big Lebowski"

How did I miss this? The dude abides.

The Windows, the Kitchen, & the Captain

This was the year of paying others to retool our home. It was time and the ends justify the means. The means being a large sum of cash that now lives within the walls of this home. The ends being a pleasant living experience with a wooden sea captain watching over us.

Beach Gymnastics

There are few better ways to turn 30 than attempting to do drunken forward rolls & cartwheels on a lawn at the beach. Backwards roll, I'll master you yet.

2009, let's do this. This is B. Dawk's year.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 23:11:00 +0000

2008 Catalog: Part 14

So this is the final entry of all my purchases of music in the year 2008. In the end, I purchased 82 separate albums, eps, or 7 inches in those 365 days. 43 of them were in mp3 form, 33 on cd, and 6 on vinyl. It was an interesting project to see all the stuff I listened to this year and not one that I'll likely do again, but worthwhile nonetheless. To the future. To 2009.

Von Hayes "Evident Eyelid"

File Under: Low Fidelity Rocking.

Where and Why Did I Buy? From emusic. With a name of a classic, Philadelphia Phillies player from the 1980s, how could I not.

Do I Enjoy? I do. I wish it sounded a little bit less like GBV, but it's still interesting.

v/a "Torque"

File Under: The Classic from 1997.

Where and Why Did I Buy? From the Princeton Record Exchange. It's a classic.

Do I Enjoy? Thoroughly and completely. The sound of a time and place that can't be replicated.

Stephen Stills "Manassas"

File Under: Freedom Rock?

Where and Why Did I Buy? At that place on Passyunk that doesn't sell records anymore. Oh yeah, it's called Sweet Jane.

Do I Enjoy? I only listened to it once and wasn't paying attention, so I can't be a judge in this situation.

Fleet Foxes "s/t"

File Under: Easy Listening.

Where and Why Did I Buy? From Long in the Tooth. I'd heard good things.

Do I Enjoy? I do. This is one album that I must have listened to at least 30 times, but only as background music. That's not an insult though because it's great background music and sounds wonderful.

Brian Eno "Ambient 1: Music for Airports"

File Under: Ambient. Music for Airports

Where and Why Did I Buy? My mom gave this to me for Christmas. Not that my mom is a Brian Eno fan though, it was on my Amazon wishlist.

Do I Enjoy? I haven't listened to it yet. I think I'll enjoy.

Brightblack "Ala.cali.tucky"

File Under: Slow country-tinged jamz with steel guitar.

Where and Why Did I Buy? As with Brian Eno, this is another gift from my mom.

Do I Enjoy? Yes. Much like Jefferson Airplane went on to become Jefferson Starship, Brightblack transformed into Brightblack Morning Light on their next album.

Let's Wrestle "Let's Wrestle/I'm in Fighting Mode" 7 inch

File Under: Young British kids rocking.

Where and Why Did I Buy? From emusic. I celebrate their entire brief catalog.

Do I Enjoy? I do. Two short blasts of good times.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:27:00 +0000

2008 Catalog: Part 13

Just a few left from my year in buying music:

Carl Perkins "The Complete Sun Singles"

File Under: Classics.

Where and Why Did I Buy? From emusic. My friend, Mr. Clark, always extolled the virtues of Carl Perkins, so I had to check him out.

Do I Enjoy? I do. Man, Elvis really ripped him off.

Julie Ocean "Long Gone And Nearly There"

File Under: Powerful pop music

Where and Why Did I Buy? From emusic.com. One of the guys from Velocity Girl is in this band and I'd heard good things about them.

Do I Enjoy? It's okay. The songs that feature the guy from Velocity Girl on lead vocals are good, but the other songs don't do it for me.

Lindstrom "Where You Go I Go Too"

File Under: Bad bad bad electronic music.

Where and Why Did I Buy? Through emusic.com. Every review I read said this was the greatest.

Do I Enjoy? I find it terrible. Seriously sounds like an album of casio keyboard preset songs from 1987.

Collections of Colonies of Bees "Birds"

File Under: Electronical instrumental rock music.

Where and Why Did I Buy? From AKA. This band features most of the guys from Pele, a band that ruled.

Do I Enjoy? It's okay. Basically sounds like a recorded set of jams. Maybe it'll reveal itself after multiple listens.

Deconstruction "s/t"

File Under: 90s rock.

Where and Why Did I Buy? At Long in the Tooth. I had a song of theirs on this ancient compilation on tape.

Do I Enjoy? Buying this cd was unnecessary. The song I remember on the tape was plenty.