Originally published 4/9/09
Archive for: June, 2009
Radiohead is too good for the music industry
So I sat through 2.5 hours of the Grammy telecast in order to see Radiohead perform. Radiohead was awesome, and their 4 minutes on primetime in the US revealed something that, I’m guessing, most of the music industry didn’t want to be let out: that everything in the regular music industry (from Kenny Chesney to Coldplay to MIA) is crap. It’s easy for mildly talented artists to shine when put in a spotlight with other mildly talented artists. But throw a great artist into the mix–one who creates complex and interesting music that defies most of the standard pop cliches–and everything else pales by comparison.
No wonder the audience provided lukewarm applause after their number (which came accompanied by the USC marching band–brilliant idea). Radiohead just revealed them for who they actually are.
Originally published 2/8/09
Comments are off for this post
Ten Things I Learned in 2008
- That I can support a winning candidate for President. With one exception, before this year, the person I supported and voted for in the primary either wasn’t nominated or lost in the general election [the one exception? 1996 when Clinton was the only choice.] I decided to support Obama back in 2007, and I stuck with him all the way, and somehow he won. It was a great year, but it was an election grounded in my support of sports teams that always go to the brink before crashing and burning (Angels, Seahawks). Hence, I never took anything for granted–up to 7:59 (my time) on election night, just before the results of California and Washington put Obama over the top. The elation that I felt at that moment, when the victory was confirmed, equaled anything that has ever happened in my life. Right now, it can’t be January 20th fast enough. Continue Reading »
Comments are off for this post
President-Elect Obama
Other than the day I got married and the day that the (then) Anaheim Angels won the World Series, this is the greatest day of my life. Continue Reading »
Comments are off for this post
The Three Most Important Questions in Life
Courtesy of The Venture Brothers:
What happened? Why did we suck? How can we not suck in the future?
Originally published 10/10/08
Comments are off for this post
Sigur Ros Live in San Diego: October 1, 2008
Finally got to see the best band in the world! Here are some photos as proof. Continue Reading »
Comments are off for this post
In Praise of Aeroplane (In Search of Lost Sound Part III)
I bought Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea years ago and have enjoyed it for most of those years (took a few listens to get it, but I got it fairly quickly). Still, I never really LISTENED to it until about two months ago.
By LISTEN, I mean actually sitting down, not doing anything else, just LISTENING to it listening, the kind of listening I reserve only for the absolutely greatest music I’ve ever heard in my entire life. Now, I love music and have for a very long time, but albums I will drop everything to LISTEN to are rare. There was Bob Dylan’s Biograph, a few Stones albums (definitely Exile, possibly Beggar’s Banquet), the first Tricky album, Richard and Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out the Lights, Arvo Part’s Tabula Rasa, most everything by Boards of Canada and Sigur Ros and William Basinski, The Conet Project, and Joanna Newsom’s Ys. And now Aeroplane. Continue Reading »
Comments are off for this post
David Foster Wallace RIP
David Foster Wallace died over a week ago, and finally someone has written a tribute worthy of the man.
I can say no more.
Originally published 9/22/08
Comments are off for this post
Obama Knows the Future
You have to check this out–proof that Obama knows more than he’s letting on about the future.
Originally published 9/11/08
Comments are off for this post
Meanwhile, in Mr. Moreno’s Office
For Angels fans everywhere.
Originally published 9/4/08
Comments are off for this post