I've been listening to the Mountain Goats' new record, Heretic Pride, all night now. There have been background listens, there have been critical listens, active listens, and there have been relistens. I've listened to the record a few times over, and still want to hear it again. This one is something else. I've listened while watching the Patriots run the table, while reading about a way to determine points per possession from basketball box scores, and while doing nothing at all besides listening.
I don't feel like I can write a review of Heretic Pride at this point. It would be lots of comments like, "This is so damn cool!" And it is. But that isn't terribly insightful. So now for the attempt at insight. These were the things that I was curious about before hearing the album, and what caught my ear while listening.
1. The production and arrangement - It seems like ever since John Darnielle first went into the studio and released Tallahassee, the production has gotten increasingly interesting and natural sounding. Heretic Pride definitely sounds more like a full band is in the studio than any Mountain Goats album to come before it. Piano and organ work are featured more prominently on songs here than anything since "No Children." Scott Solter and John Vanderslice really got the sound right on these songs. The string parts are great, and "San Bernardino" features some stringed instrument ostinato from the start that intrigues me greatly. Arrangements are inventive and strong throughout.
2. Bright Mountain Choir - I've always enjoyed the parts of the Mountain Goats' back catalog that featured Darnielle's voice paired with a female singer. Be it Rachel Ware, the BMC, or Kimya Dawson. The parts where female vocals show up are treats.
3. Jon Wurster - I used to think "This Year" was the Mountain Goats' rocker. Not any more. Wurster elevates a number of these tracks to great heights. I hope to see JW on drums along with Peter Hughes and John Darnielle the next time a tour comes through the area.
4. Monsters - Some research would probably reveal more ties, but the monster theme that had been previously suspected is somewhat present. Heretic Pride is not an album about monsters, but perhaps an album about how it feels to be a monster, or be perceived as one. I like that better. Perhaps there will be a video for one of these songs, and monsters will be involved. I'd like that too.
5. Michael Myers Resplendent - One year ago this week, Darnielle posted a demo of this track. It was good. When HP's tracklist was announced, some fans were surprised that MMR was closing things out. Or curious might be the better term. I was very curious as to the changes, if any, Michael Myers Resplendent had undergone from the "Grendel's Mother" esque demo. Well, MMR went in a totally different direction than I had expected. It's big, and it deserves to have the final say on Heretic Pride.
Really, there is only one song on HP that I'm not already sold on, and that is only because it is a little too reggae for my tastes. Lyrically, it is solid. Now I will just wait in anticipation for the liner notes when the record is released on February 19. This record should be one of the best for next year, it would have been for 2007. I just hope that when the end of 2008 rolls around, people won't have forgotten how outstanding Heretic Pride is like they did with The Reminder.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Ska Fans are Proud People
I found out last night that 17-year-old fans of local ska bands do not like it at all when you say you don't really like ska. If you are ever in a tightly packed crowd, waiting for the opening ska act to finish in order to see a band you like more follow them, never say out loud to the person you are with, "I don't really like ska, so let me know if you want to go sit outside." If you do, expect every person wearing checkered Vans slip-ons in the room to glare an evil glare that says, "I want to do awful things to you with my trombone."
That was the scene for the first half of last night for me. I went to the Werehouse in Winston-Salem to see a friend's band, and had to wait through a ska group to see said band. I've tried so hard before to like ska and reggae, but both just do not entertain me in any form. Except for laughing at characters that you see at ska shows and the white Rasta kids who love reggae, there is nothing entertaining about those kinds of music for me. I tried, but just couldn't catch on.
The band I wanted to see, Holland, 1945, played beyond my expectations. All I had ever heard before were some demo-quality recordings, and seeing them live made any mp3 I had heard pale in comparison. I feel the band's name is a tad bit misleading - I don't hear any traces of Neutral Milk Hotel in this two guy, two girl group, but more like Sunny Day Real Estate without any screaming. Kudos to these kids on big, loud guitars, as well as bass lines that aren't boring.
And one other thing - I've never been to a show in Winston-Salem that started anywhere close to the advertised time.
That was the scene for the first half of last night for me. I went to the Werehouse in Winston-Salem to see a friend's band, and had to wait through a ska group to see said band. I've tried so hard before to like ska and reggae, but both just do not entertain me in any form. Except for laughing at characters that you see at ska shows and the white Rasta kids who love reggae, there is nothing entertaining about those kinds of music for me. I tried, but just couldn't catch on.
The band I wanted to see, Holland, 1945, played beyond my expectations. All I had ever heard before were some demo-quality recordings, and seeing them live made any mp3 I had heard pale in comparison. I feel the band's name is a tad bit misleading - I don't hear any traces of Neutral Milk Hotel in this two guy, two girl group, but more like Sunny Day Real Estate without any screaming. Kudos to these kids on big, loud guitars, as well as bass lines that aren't boring.
And one other thing - I've never been to a show in Winston-Salem that started anywhere close to the advertised time.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Day Trip to Chapel Hill
I spent all day yesterday in Chapel Hill, a town that is as much a home to me now as the one I grew up in. I had plans to see some of my favorite people, and ended up running into a long lost friend the moment I arrived.
This space is not about my personal life though. The latter half of my evening was devoted to the Carolina vs. Nevada basketball game. The Dean Dome was almost full, with even more in attendance than when school was in session for the last game I went to against Iona.
Bobby Frasor's season-ending injury was hard to watch. When he went down, I had no doubt he had blown out his knee. It was bad, watching one part of his leg go one way and the other half go in an opposite direction, laterally speaking. However, I was rather confused and actually hopeful when Frasor got up and walked to the locker room on his own power, albeit gingerly. I've always thought of getting a torn ACL as something that would keep you from walking without support on the bum leg. I feel so bad for the guy, especially since he had an injured foot for a majority of last season. I believe it is definitely possible that Quentin Thomas can come into Frasor's role and not miss a beat, but it will require him to play a cleaner game than he has been. Bobby's assist to turnover ratio is much better than Quentin's, and it seems like Bobby shoots better from behind the arc. While Frasor has played more minutes, Thomas is a senior - there should be no inexperience in his game. Moreover, if Carolina goes all the way this year, I'd like to see Q have an important part in his becoming the only Tar Heel to ever win two national championships. That is really unimportant for the time being though. I hope Bobby Frasor makes a full recovery, and that Quentin Thomas plays up to his ability. Carolina is really lucky when it comes down to it - not only do we have a guy who is the best point guard in the land (look at those stats from last night), but we also have a backup guy. NC State is going to play their second year in a row without a real point guard. That is bad luck.
Other than the Frasor injury, last night's game against Nevada was entertaining. Four UNC players put up double figures, but Ty Lawson really stood out. Lawson managed to put up 16 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals in 29 minutes. I wanted to be witness to the first UNC triple-double of the Roy Williams era, and if Lawson had pulled out an identical second half to his first he would have gotten it. No dice though, and Rashad McCants still holds the last one, occurring when Matt Doherty was still at the helm. I've never seen anyone go end to end like Lawson - the layup is an automatic when he gets the ball in transition, regardless of numbers. Short man even dunked a ball last night. Good for him. Lawson is almost always a part of my favorite happening when Carolina plays: moving the ball from one end of the court to the other for a layup without any player taking a dribble. That is efficient basketball.
On another note, Tyler Hansbrough put up 26 points in 26 minutes. Sometimes, it seems like Hansbrough ho-hums his way to 25 points. Part of it is the free throws. Through last night's game, Hansbrough is only 92 made free throws behind the program's all time leader. If Tyler keeps shooting ten a game, that won't last long. Fans like me are sort of taking Tyler for granted, I think. When he can put up 26 in 26 minutes and it not feel spectacular, especially when Nevada had two guys taller than him in the game, it is scary. I think once the conference schedule rolls around, we'll see some of those career defining performances. He probably won't score 40 points again like he did against Georgia Tech his freshman year, simply because with Lawson and Ellington playing so well he doesn't need to. Tyler is definitely capable of taking over a game like he did last year against Michigan State at the LJVM in Winston-Salem for the second round of the tournament though. I was courtside for that, and it was without a doubt the greatest basketball performance I've ever been in attendance for.
I should have a post about Cat Power's Jukebox up as soon as I give it a few listens.
Edit: The copy of the new Cat Power I had waiting on me was a promo copy that fades all the songs out around the 2-minute mark, right when they are about to break into the best parts. Matador has me beat. False alarm.
This space is not about my personal life though. The latter half of my evening was devoted to the Carolina vs. Nevada basketball game. The Dean Dome was almost full, with even more in attendance than when school was in session for the last game I went to against Iona.
Bobby Frasor's season-ending injury was hard to watch. When he went down, I had no doubt he had blown out his knee. It was bad, watching one part of his leg go one way and the other half go in an opposite direction, laterally speaking. However, I was rather confused and actually hopeful when Frasor got up and walked to the locker room on his own power, albeit gingerly. I've always thought of getting a torn ACL as something that would keep you from walking without support on the bum leg. I feel so bad for the guy, especially since he had an injured foot for a majority of last season. I believe it is definitely possible that Quentin Thomas can come into Frasor's role and not miss a beat, but it will require him to play a cleaner game than he has been. Bobby's assist to turnover ratio is much better than Quentin's, and it seems like Bobby shoots better from behind the arc. While Frasor has played more minutes, Thomas is a senior - there should be no inexperience in his game. Moreover, if Carolina goes all the way this year, I'd like to see Q have an important part in his becoming the only Tar Heel to ever win two national championships. That is really unimportant for the time being though. I hope Bobby Frasor makes a full recovery, and that Quentin Thomas plays up to his ability. Carolina is really lucky when it comes down to it - not only do we have a guy who is the best point guard in the land (look at those stats from last night), but we also have a backup guy. NC State is going to play their second year in a row without a real point guard. That is bad luck.
Other than the Frasor injury, last night's game against Nevada was entertaining. Four UNC players put up double figures, but Ty Lawson really stood out. Lawson managed to put up 16 points, 10 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 steals in 29 minutes. I wanted to be witness to the first UNC triple-double of the Roy Williams era, and if Lawson had pulled out an identical second half to his first he would have gotten it. No dice though, and Rashad McCants still holds the last one, occurring when Matt Doherty was still at the helm. I've never seen anyone go end to end like Lawson - the layup is an automatic when he gets the ball in transition, regardless of numbers. Short man even dunked a ball last night. Good for him. Lawson is almost always a part of my favorite happening when Carolina plays: moving the ball from one end of the court to the other for a layup without any player taking a dribble. That is efficient basketball.
On another note, Tyler Hansbrough put up 26 points in 26 minutes. Sometimes, it seems like Hansbrough ho-hums his way to 25 points. Part of it is the free throws. Through last night's game, Hansbrough is only 92 made free throws behind the program's all time leader. If Tyler keeps shooting ten a game, that won't last long. Fans like me are sort of taking Tyler for granted, I think. When he can put up 26 in 26 minutes and it not feel spectacular, especially when Nevada had two guys taller than him in the game, it is scary. I think once the conference schedule rolls around, we'll see some of those career defining performances. He probably won't score 40 points again like he did against Georgia Tech his freshman year, simply because with Lawson and Ellington playing so well he doesn't need to. Tyler is definitely capable of taking over a game like he did last year against Michigan State at the LJVM in Winston-Salem for the second round of the tournament though. I was courtside for that, and it was without a doubt the greatest basketball performance I've ever been in attendance for.
I should have a post about Cat Power's Jukebox up as soon as I give it a few listens.
Edit: The copy of the new Cat Power I had waiting on me was a promo copy that fades all the songs out around the 2-minute mark, right when they are about to break into the best parts. Matador has me beat. False alarm.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to anyone who happens upon this site.
I spent my eve of Christmas watching the new Sigur Ros DVD, Heima, and I'd say it is on par with the group's studio work. The footage isn't a necessity, but it is definitely enjoyable, and watching it made me remember how epic and mind blowing the last half of the final track to ( ) is.
After enjoying myself on Christmas day, I'll be spending the 26th with family. On the 27th, I plan to go spend a day in Chapel Hill. Definitely plans to see one great person, maybe a couple more friends if they can swing it. Hopefully, I'll be able to take in the North Carolina vs. Nevada game. The 27th has me more excited than the 25th.
Go over to the Mountain Goats' website. John Darnielle put up a demo of a collaboration that he and John Vanderslice hope to work on. Let him explain it to you.
Hope everyone has a great time over the holiday.
I spent my eve of Christmas watching the new Sigur Ros DVD, Heima, and I'd say it is on par with the group's studio work. The footage isn't a necessity, but it is definitely enjoyable, and watching it made me remember how epic and mind blowing the last half of the final track to ( ) is.
After enjoying myself on Christmas day, I'll be spending the 26th with family. On the 27th, I plan to go spend a day in Chapel Hill. Definitely plans to see one great person, maybe a couple more friends if they can swing it. Hopefully, I'll be able to take in the North Carolina vs. Nevada game. The 27th has me more excited than the 25th.
Go over to the Mountain Goats' website. John Darnielle put up a demo of a collaboration that he and John Vanderslice hope to work on. Let him explain it to you.
Hope everyone has a great time over the holiday.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
In the Craters of the Moon
The first few tracks from The Mountain Goats' new album, Heretic Pride, are making their way to the internet. The album is due February 18th, and JD has explicitly stated not to link or share the tracks, so I'm not going to be that guy. Will I download it when I get the chance? Yes. Will I buy it the day it comes out? Yes. No sharing though. Don't ask.
Anyway, the track I've listened to the most, "In the Craters of the Moon," is pretty spectacular. Epic sound, and beautiful too. So, consider this a hype entry. I'm not going to search out the HP's tracks one by one. I have a feeling HP might have a thematic strain running throughout, so I want my first exposure to be an intact one for the most part.
Anyway, the track I've listened to the most, "In the Craters of the Moon," is pretty spectacular. Epic sound, and beautiful too. So, consider this a hype entry. I'm not going to search out the HP's tracks one by one. I have a feeling HP might have a thematic strain running throughout, so I want my first exposure to be an intact one for the most part.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude might be the best piece of writing I've ever read. I can think of a few poems I've read that make me feel the same way this book does, except this book is 400 pages long. Often, One Hundred Years of Solitude feels like poetry - like the same amount of consideration was invested in each syllable as the best poets put into the sounds they produce. I am stunned. Please read this book. Please.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Blinded by the White
The good people over at Storming the Floor just made fun of a Duke basketball player, and that is something I can get behind. We no longer have JJ Redick's poetry to laugh at in Chapel Hill, and Chewbacca graduated a few years ago.
This post, concerning Kyle Singler and his paleness made my day. Singler is so white, he looks like this guy.
I can just feel a new nickname coming along for Kyle "Powder" Singler when Duke plays in Chapel Hill this year.
HP Cover Art
4AD has the cover art for Heretic Pride, the Mountain Goats' upcoming release, on their website. This graphic is rather small, but the cover seems much more different than I would have expected. Expect something a little more badass? The approaching storm and totally heavy metal font say "YES!" I heard from one person who has given a listen to a watermarked copy (no, I don't have it and haven't heard it) that this album was much edgier and used the full band more often. This album may or may not be monster themed, so I'm hoping that John Darnielle's appearance in Aesop Rock's zombie themed video for "Coffee" won't be the last footage of JD with ghouls we get. I plan on buying the vinyl when the record drops on February 18, 2008, because framing a compact disc and putting it on the wall is dumb.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Small Labels Play it Smart?
I'll always remember Christmases when I was younger for the wealth of new music I got my hands on. I got my first cd player for Christmas, along with my first cd's. Growing up in a house that was still operating on cassette tapes and vinyl, I remember my older, cooler cousin explaining to me that, "no, you can't flip over your Space Jam Soundtrack cd and have it play on the other side." Sorry R. Kelly. Christmas was a great time to be a music fan - when else were you going to wake up and have that hot new Chumbawamba or Wallflowers album waiting on you (guess which one of those bands I still like)? Christmas as a kid who loved music was monumental until I stepped outside the music box and started listening to artists who weren't so popular or weren't recording for major labels with big distribution deals. Once we age a little and our musical tastes mature in leaps and bounds, we can't really expect Grandma to find that album from the Mountain Goats back catalog. Do they have it at the Wal Mart or the Best Buy? Sorry.
What got me thinking of all this is that since I've started writing here again, I thought I would give a little review of a new album I was listening to. And then I realised that besides Radiohead's In Rainbows, nothing new and exciting had made its way through my speakers in a couple months. And the last thing the internet needs is another review of Radiohead's LP7. It seems to me that during this time of year, the musical giants like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones all put out best of albums, and the contemporary independent artists delay new releases. What I believe is happening is that smaller record labels (think Matador, 4AD, Merge sized labels and smaller) recognize that a majority of pre-Christmas record sales come from people buying records as gifts for other people - and the chance of Aunt Bettye or even Mom or Dad going into the local record store in the alley to buy Magnolia Electric Co.'s new box set is unlikely. If you look at the slated releases for the past week, along with the coming weeks, only major label artists are dropping their albums before Christmas. It isn't until the 8th of January when smaller labels begin to release albums. I don't think this is a "our small staff is off during those weeks" things either. These small labels know kids are more likely to go purchase records themselves than have them purchased for them, especially the week or two after the holiday when they might have some Christmas money. All of this sounds like smart business practices to me as well. The better the Secretly Canadians of the world know their niche in the market, the better chances the artists they put out will be successful. John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats summed the entire situation up perfectly last month with this quote about his intentions for his new album, Heretic Pride:
So until I can get my hands on Heretic Pride or Cat Power's Jukebox, no reviews. Unless someone gives me some Queen for Christmas.
What got me thinking of all this is that since I've started writing here again, I thought I would give a little review of a new album I was listening to. And then I realised that besides Radiohead's In Rainbows, nothing new and exciting had made its way through my speakers in a couple months. And the last thing the internet needs is another review of Radiohead's LP7. It seems to me that during this time of year, the musical giants like Led Zeppelin, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones all put out best of albums, and the contemporary independent artists delay new releases. What I believe is happening is that smaller record labels (think Matador, 4AD, Merge sized labels and smaller) recognize that a majority of pre-Christmas record sales come from people buying records as gifts for other people - and the chance of Aunt Bettye or even Mom or Dad going into the local record store in the alley to buy Magnolia Electric Co.'s new box set is unlikely. If you look at the slated releases for the past week, along with the coming weeks, only major label artists are dropping their albums before Christmas. It isn't until the 8th of January when smaller labels begin to release albums. I don't think this is a "our small staff is off during those weeks" things either. These small labels know kids are more likely to go purchase records themselves than have them purchased for them, especially the week or two after the holiday when they might have some Christmas money. All of this sounds like smart business practices to me as well. The better the Secretly Canadians of the world know their niche in the market, the better chances the artists they put out will be successful. John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats summed the entire situation up perfectly last month with this quote about his intentions for his new album, Heretic Pride:
It will be released by 4AD, and features artwork by Vaughan Oliver. It was
recorded at Prairie Sun, and produced by Scott Solter & John Vanderslice. We
are really excited about this album, and we wish it were out right now, but
there is a law against releasing albums in December unless you are Queen. Any
album you see released in December is actually by Queen, no matter what it says
on the cover. Then in January everybody is recovering from having listened to
too much Queen. Hence, February. See you then!
So until I can get my hands on Heretic Pride or Cat Power's Jukebox, no reviews. Unless someone gives me some Queen for Christmas.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover
ice.
When the semester comes to an end and I am able to relax back home, I tend to spend the hours on end that I would normally be reading assigned texts by reading for pleasure. Life moves a bit slower in Walnut Cove, and the only activity I have available to entertain me when the weather is poor is reading. This week, I have started to make progress on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. I've been holding out on reading this 'must read' until I become fluent in Spanish and can read it as intended, but I have growing doubts as to that whole fluency thing ever coming to fruition. I'm only halfway through at the moment so I won't say anything about the novel past this - the big technical aspect of the book has me thinking about magical realism.
Magical realism is a strange territory for me. Fantasy literature, as well as science fiction, have never been appealing reads. I catch intense shame fairly often when friends discover that I haven't read the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter series. I fully understand why others enjoy those books. It is simply a case of me not being sold on the fantastic. Maybe my distaste for Beowulf should be chalked up to this as well. Maybe not.
I think magical realism should share some common ties with fantasy and science fiction. It makes sense that it does. It would make sense that I would have a similar distaste for magical realism. Yet, I don't. All of the magical realism I've come across has been enthralling. I've loved it. Obviously, using magical realism in poetry is a different game, but James Tate is never boring. His poems are great. Coming across a pair of W.S. Merwin poems in Poetry Daily earlier this year was a treat too. Magical realism can do some great, great things.
I am rather intrigued by magical realism, which is why I am kicking myself at the moment. I had the opportunity to study stylistics in fiction next semester with Daniel Wallace, of Big Fish fame. Wallace seems to have mastered to use of magical realism, and I should have taken the opportunity to work with him since he is a visiting professor at Carolina who leaves after the spring semester finishes.
Here's a promise I am making to myself - take whatever class the writer in residence is teaching next year, no matter who they are and what their forte is. If that means learning from the authority on metaphysical novels written in the fourth person, so be it.
When the semester comes to an end and I am able to relax back home, I tend to spend the hours on end that I would normally be reading assigned texts by reading for pleasure. Life moves a bit slower in Walnut Cove, and the only activity I have available to entertain me when the weather is poor is reading. This week, I have started to make progress on Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. I've been holding out on reading this 'must read' until I become fluent in Spanish and can read it as intended, but I have growing doubts as to that whole fluency thing ever coming to fruition. I'm only halfway through at the moment so I won't say anything about the novel past this - the big technical aspect of the book has me thinking about magical realism.
Magical realism is a strange territory for me. Fantasy literature, as well as science fiction, have never been appealing reads. I catch intense shame fairly often when friends discover that I haven't read the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter series. I fully understand why others enjoy those books. It is simply a case of me not being sold on the fantastic. Maybe my distaste for Beowulf should be chalked up to this as well. Maybe not.
I think magical realism should share some common ties with fantasy and science fiction. It makes sense that it does. It would make sense that I would have a similar distaste for magical realism. Yet, I don't. All of the magical realism I've come across has been enthralling. I've loved it. Obviously, using magical realism in poetry is a different game, but James Tate is never boring. His poems are great. Coming across a pair of W.S. Merwin poems in Poetry Daily earlier this year was a treat too. Magical realism can do some great, great things.
I am rather intrigued by magical realism, which is why I am kicking myself at the moment. I had the opportunity to study stylistics in fiction next semester with Daniel Wallace, of Big Fish fame. Wallace seems to have mastered to use of magical realism, and I should have taken the opportunity to work with him since he is a visiting professor at Carolina who leaves after the spring semester finishes.
Here's a promise I am making to myself - take whatever class the writer in residence is teaching next year, no matter who they are and what their forte is. If that means learning from the authority on metaphysical novels written in the fourth person, so be it.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Local Music Roooooooools!!!!11!
Anyone who knows me in the slightest is probably aware of my love for Married to the Sea, Toothpaste for Dinner, and Natalie Dee, three webcomics put up by a husband and wife. You can read them at the MttS link I posted to the right under 'humor.'
I read those three daily, and I always end up laughing nervously when I could be who is getting made fun, especially on Married to the Sea. TFD makes fun of bloggers a lot, but I don't consider myself in the crowd he pokes fun at so much. People don't really read this thing as far as I can tell, I don't schill for my blog outside of it, when I don't let it consume me. However, these two comics hit a little close to home:
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Appalachian State Fans
To anyone who happens upon this posting who is not familiar with the state of North Carolina, I feel I must clarify something. If you saw the end of the Appalachian State v. Delaware football game for the Football Bowl Subdivision title tonight, you saw something really ugly moments. App's fans all decided to storm the field - with 3:30 left in the game. The whole scene looked extremely unsafe, and I know I wouldn't want to play in that environment. At one point, a Delaware player made it into the end zone and slung the ball at a group of App fans, accidentally hitting a police officer in the process. Then you see an ASU fan enter the field on the corner of the screen and shoot the Delaware player two middle fingers. And you know what, I don't blame the Delaware player. Fans have no place on the playing surface or sideline with time left on the clock. It is completely dumb, and I am embarrassed that these fans represent a state I live in. I saw the state flag of North Carolina being waved at the game, and then people who grew up in the state were making complete fools of themselves in the next frame. Yes, you should celebrate like there is not tomorrow because you just won your third straight D-II championship. But have some class. Players can't come up in the stands, you can't come down on the field.
So, anyone from around the world who reads this, don't let App State fans sway you opinion of this fine state called North Carolina. I have many friends who did go or still go to Appalachian, and I've heard mostly good things about the school. I hope no one I knew was one of the idiots on the field. Apparently this is a newly developed tradition at ASU home games, and the school officials/football staff condone it. That sounds like the first problem to me. The other thing is this: App State fans, act like you've been there before, because you have. I know high school athletics have little in common with collegiate athletics, but when I was in high school we had an equally successful baseball team that the community lived and died with. Our baseball teams and fans were the classiest of each kind every single year. It reflects on your organization in a much better light if you act like you have some common sense, and decency to go along with it.
Here is a video of App State fans rushing the field in a similar manner from a home game this year. Imagine tons more people than this video, and you have what happened tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekBoNQ9nmI8
So, anyone from around the world who reads this, don't let App State fans sway you opinion of this fine state called North Carolina. I have many friends who did go or still go to Appalachian, and I've heard mostly good things about the school. I hope no one I knew was one of the idiots on the field. Apparently this is a newly developed tradition at ASU home games, and the school officials/football staff condone it. That sounds like the first problem to me. The other thing is this: App State fans, act like you've been there before, because you have. I know high school athletics have little in common with collegiate athletics, but when I was in high school we had an equally successful baseball team that the community lived and died with. Our baseball teams and fans were the classiest of each kind every single year. It reflects on your organization in a much better light if you act like you have some common sense, and decency to go along with it.
Here is a video of App State fans rushing the field in a similar manner from a home game this year. Imagine tons more people than this video, and you have what happened tonight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekBoNQ9nmI8
Friday, December 14, 2007
mp3 Journal
I've finished classes now for what has been a fairly easy semester. I'm going to miss it come January when I have more hours and more difficult classes.
Since it is the end of the semester, I'll post a list of the songs I rocked extra hard during the last few months. I got the idea to keep a running diary of sorts on iTunes from a good friend, and am glad that I did it. Each time i realized I was obsessing over a song, I just added it to a play list entitled sophomore. Here they are, in chronological order.
1. CC Rider - Old Crow Medicine Show
2. Aeroplane - the everybodyfields
3. Out on the Highway/Worker's Playtime - the everybodyfields
4. Tournament of Hearts - The Weakerthans
5. Sun in an Empty Room - The Weakerthans
6. Over and Done - the everybodyfields
7. 1/1 - Brian Eno
8. Stronger - Kanye West
9. The Old Home Place - The Dillards
10. The Opposite of Hallelujah - Jens Lekman
11. A Postcard to Nina - Jens Lekman
12. Detlef Schrempf - Band of Horses
13. Lamb on the Lam (In the City) - Band of Horses
14. Nude - Radiohead
15. Boyz - M.I.A.
16. Birds - M83
17. Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice on Ice, Alright - Modest Mouse
18. Speed of the Whippoorwill - Chatham County Line
19. Blue Factory Flame - Songs: Ohia
20. Rock of Ages - Gillian Welch
21. Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia
22. I've Been Riding with the Ghost - Songs: Ohia
23. I Gaer - Sigur Ros
24. Goin' to Acapulco - Jim James & Calexico
25. People Gonna Talk - James Hunter
26. Cataracts - Andrew Bird
27. Lull - Andrew Bird
28. Pretty Girl From Raleigh - The Avett Brothers
Since it is the end of the semester, I'll post a list of the songs I rocked extra hard during the last few months. I got the idea to keep a running diary of sorts on iTunes from a good friend, and am glad that I did it. Each time i realized I was obsessing over a song, I just added it to a play list entitled sophomore. Here they are, in chronological order.
1. CC Rider - Old Crow Medicine Show
2. Aeroplane - the everybodyfields
3. Out on the Highway/Worker's Playtime - the everybodyfields
4. Tournament of Hearts - The Weakerthans
5. Sun in an Empty Room - The Weakerthans
6. Over and Done - the everybodyfields
7. 1/1 - Brian Eno
8. Stronger - Kanye West
9. The Old Home Place - The Dillards
10. The Opposite of Hallelujah - Jens Lekman
11. A Postcard to Nina - Jens Lekman
12. Detlef Schrempf - Band of Horses
13. Lamb on the Lam (In the City) - Band of Horses
14. Nude - Radiohead
15. Boyz - M.I.A.
16. Birds - M83
17. Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice on Ice, Alright - Modest Mouse
18. Speed of the Whippoorwill - Chatham County Line
19. Blue Factory Flame - Songs: Ohia
20. Rock of Ages - Gillian Welch
21. Farewell Transmission - Songs: Ohia
22. I've Been Riding with the Ghost - Songs: Ohia
23. I Gaer - Sigur Ros
24. Goin' to Acapulco - Jim James & Calexico
25. People Gonna Talk - James Hunter
26. Cataracts - Andrew Bird
27. Lull - Andrew Bird
28. Pretty Girl From Raleigh - The Avett Brothers
Gone to Mars, Be Back Soon
One of my best friends is going to Mars for Christmas. Don't believe me? Check out Zena Cardman's blog at http://goingtomars.wordpress.com/
Go ahead and subscribe to it so that when the action picks up you won't miss you.
Go ahead and subscribe to it so that when the action picks up you won't miss you.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Mitchell Report
I'm right in the middle of studying for an exam on Henry IV, Part 1, John Donne's "The Ecstasy" and Paradise Lost, but I felt the significance of the Mitchell Report warranted a quick post.
- The only good part for me was seeing none of my favorite players named in the body of the report. That means no significant Atlanta Braves players, besides David Justice were named. From skimming through it, the only recent players to suit up for Atlanta was Todd Pratt and Gary Sheffield. I don't quite know when Sheff would have gotten into steroids or HGH, so there is a possibility he could have been juiced in Atlanta. And John Rocker, but that guy and roid rage go hand in hand. I like to think Justice got into the juice while he was playing for the Yankees, a point I will get to in a moment. So yes, the silver lining of this whole mess (and it is one) was no Braves greats. No Maddux, no Glavine, no Smoltz, no Chipper. Definitely not Mark Lemke either. Have there been/are there guys who are getting an illegal edge while on the Braves roster? Of course. Did the team come out relatively unscathed? Yes.
- Paul Lo Duca is a pretty big douchebag. He seemed about as likable as a guy can be while playing for the Dodgers and Mets, but the Mitchell Report has changed my perception. Apparently, Lo Duca is responsible for putting multiple players in contact with Kirk Radomski, the ex-Mets employee who was shipping steroids and HGH to MLB players. Off the top of my head, I remember seeing that Kevin Brown and Eric Gagne were two of the catcher's referrals. From the sound of things, I wouldn't be surprised if there are Facebook pictures of Miguel Tejada doing bodyshots of anabolic steroids off of Paul Lo Duca's manboobs.
- Kevin Brown is a shady dude. There are multiple accounts in the report of Brown overnighting envelopes full of cash, sometimes as much $10,000, to Kirk Radomski's doorstep. Radomski tells at one point of coming home to find a rain-soaked envelope sitting on his doorstep from Brown with $8,000 in cash inside. Brown had checked 'waive signature' when he mailed it. Kevin Brown lacks common sense.
- The two teams that seemed to have more players than others listed were the Yankees and Dodgers. Granted, both teams tend to have lots of free agents come through for a few years at the end of their careers because both franchises can afford high dollar players. Yet, the Yanks had Clemens, Pettitte, and Chuck Knoblauch along with David Justice, Denny Nealge, Kevin Brown and Mike Stanton named, not to mention Giambi. Two of MLB's flagship franchises with some bad, bad press.
- The MLBPAA isn't doing what is right. Head of the player's associating, Donald Fehr, sent out memos to all players recommending they not cooperate in the Mitchell investigation. That really disappoints me. I understand they want to protect their players, but be reasonable. These ball players did something very wrong. Done condone it.
- Barry Bonds was not named. I've decided that the government didn't want to waste ink and paper printing something everyone already knew.
- I'm really scared what happens after this. This will not fade away. I'm scared for baseball. I'm scared that my childhood favorites are going to be implicated soon. That would break my heart.
Now back to studying. Take care everyone, and I'm sorry if your boyhood idol was just outed as a big time user.
Edit: Something I forgot to include up there that is of definite significance: the General Manager. There are multiple cases of the GM having good sources tell him that a player was cheating and using, and went ahead with acquiring/resigning said player. Not just Brian Sabean in San Francisco with Barry Bonds either. Theo Epstein had full knowledge of Eric Gagne's use of steroids, a year in advance, before Gagne was shipped over from Texas. True, Epstein is one of those new wave of baseball guys that I like so much because they are embracing the scientific and analytical aspects of the game. However, that doesn't keep the Red Sox GM from being a 'win at all cost' type of guy. Remember, being a win at all costs type of guy doesn't make you heroic or worthy of worship. It makes you they guy who gives someone a bloody nose while playing ultimate frisbee. It makes you a doucebag.
Yeah, I'm a little pissed off about the state of baseball right now. It is a great game, but money has totally corrupted it.
Now back to Henry IV, Part 1.
Matt
- The only good part for me was seeing none of my favorite players named in the body of the report. That means no significant Atlanta Braves players, besides David Justice were named. From skimming through it, the only recent players to suit up for Atlanta was Todd Pratt and Gary Sheffield. I don't quite know when Sheff would have gotten into steroids or HGH, so there is a possibility he could have been juiced in Atlanta. And John Rocker, but that guy and roid rage go hand in hand. I like to think Justice got into the juice while he was playing for the Yankees, a point I will get to in a moment. So yes, the silver lining of this whole mess (and it is one) was no Braves greats. No Maddux, no Glavine, no Smoltz, no Chipper. Definitely not Mark Lemke either. Have there been/are there guys who are getting an illegal edge while on the Braves roster? Of course. Did the team come out relatively unscathed? Yes.
- Paul Lo Duca is a pretty big douchebag. He seemed about as likable as a guy can be while playing for the Dodgers and Mets, but the Mitchell Report has changed my perception. Apparently, Lo Duca is responsible for putting multiple players in contact with Kirk Radomski, the ex-Mets employee who was shipping steroids and HGH to MLB players. Off the top of my head, I remember seeing that Kevin Brown and Eric Gagne were two of the catcher's referrals. From the sound of things, I wouldn't be surprised if there are Facebook pictures of Miguel Tejada doing bodyshots of anabolic steroids off of Paul Lo Duca's manboobs.
- Kevin Brown is a shady dude. There are multiple accounts in the report of Brown overnighting envelopes full of cash, sometimes as much $10,000, to Kirk Radomski's doorstep. Radomski tells at one point of coming home to find a rain-soaked envelope sitting on his doorstep from Brown with $8,000 in cash inside. Brown had checked 'waive signature' when he mailed it. Kevin Brown lacks common sense.
- The two teams that seemed to have more players than others listed were the Yankees and Dodgers. Granted, both teams tend to have lots of free agents come through for a few years at the end of their careers because both franchises can afford high dollar players. Yet, the Yanks had Clemens, Pettitte, and Chuck Knoblauch along with David Justice, Denny Nealge, Kevin Brown and Mike Stanton named, not to mention Giambi. Two of MLB's flagship franchises with some bad, bad press.
- The MLBPAA isn't doing what is right. Head of the player's associating, Donald Fehr, sent out memos to all players recommending they not cooperate in the Mitchell investigation. That really disappoints me. I understand they want to protect their players, but be reasonable. These ball players did something very wrong. Done condone it.
- Barry Bonds was not named. I've decided that the government didn't want to waste ink and paper printing something everyone already knew.
- I'm really scared what happens after this. This will not fade away. I'm scared for baseball. I'm scared that my childhood favorites are going to be implicated soon. That would break my heart.
Now back to studying. Take care everyone, and I'm sorry if your boyhood idol was just outed as a big time user.
Edit: Something I forgot to include up there that is of definite significance: the General Manager. There are multiple cases of the GM having good sources tell him that a player was cheating and using, and went ahead with acquiring/resigning said player. Not just Brian Sabean in San Francisco with Barry Bonds either. Theo Epstein had full knowledge of Eric Gagne's use of steroids, a year in advance, before Gagne was shipped over from Texas. True, Epstein is one of those new wave of baseball guys that I like so much because they are embracing the scientific and analytical aspects of the game. However, that doesn't keep the Red Sox GM from being a 'win at all cost' type of guy. Remember, being a win at all costs type of guy doesn't make you heroic or worthy of worship. It makes you they guy who gives someone a bloody nose while playing ultimate frisbee. It makes you a doucebag.
Yeah, I'm a little pissed off about the state of baseball right now. It is a great game, but money has totally corrupted it.
Now back to Henry IV, Part 1.
Matt
I'm Back
Hi everyone.
It looks like I'm back on the blogger. It has been a while, but I have to find something to amuse me while I'm on break from school. Because I've been absent since the Al Green concert, let me fill you in.
I quit writing on Without Music for a few reasons. The most important reason being that I go to one of those universities where one must do large amounts of work in order to do well, let alone not fail, even if they are pursuing a 'fake major' like English with 'fake minors' like Music Theory and Creative Writing. The second reason for my hiatus is linked to the first one - I'm in college. College provides the opportunity to do many marvelous things that just aren't there once you graduate. Parties, dates, free tickets to see your #1 ranked basketball team, photo scavenger hunts. All things I won't be participating in when I graduate and join the real world. So why spend loads of time telling you how the Avett Brothers concert I attended was a waste of time and money (it was)? Look for updates when I have time. I might even try to do some form of posting occasionally when school starts back in January. People might even read this, though it is doubtful. If no one does read this, I won't mind - I'll just assume they are going to parties, dates, basketball games, and scavenger hunts where you have to dress up as robots.
Feel free to say hello,
Mattpoin.
It looks like I'm back on the blogger. It has been a while, but I have to find something to amuse me while I'm on break from school. Because I've been absent since the Al Green concert, let me fill you in.
I quit writing on Without Music for a few reasons. The most important reason being that I go to one of those universities where one must do large amounts of work in order to do well, let alone not fail, even if they are pursuing a 'fake major' like English with 'fake minors' like Music Theory and Creative Writing. The second reason for my hiatus is linked to the first one - I'm in college. College provides the opportunity to do many marvelous things that just aren't there once you graduate. Parties, dates, free tickets to see your #1 ranked basketball team, photo scavenger hunts. All things I won't be participating in when I graduate and join the real world. So why spend loads of time telling you how the Avett Brothers concert I attended was a waste of time and money (it was)? Look for updates when I have time. I might even try to do some form of posting occasionally when school starts back in January. People might even read this, though it is doubtful. If no one does read this, I won't mind - I'll just assume they are going to parties, dates, basketball games, and scavenger hunts where you have to dress up as robots.
Feel free to say hello,
Mattpoin.
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