Music

Well-read Lobster

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10 September 2011

Good evening lovers and interlopers,

I am hungry for art.

In a fit of hunger, I recently purchased several books and compact discs:

Books

  • Nation of Rebels: Why Counterculture Became Consumer Culture by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter
  • god is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
  • Supergods: What Masked  Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, And a Sun God From Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human by Grant Morrison
  • Improvise: Scene from The Inside Out by Mick Napier
Compact Discs
  • Scott by Scott Walker
  • Scott 2 by Scott Walker
  • Scott 3 by Scott Walker
  • Scott 4 by Scott Walker
  • Take Offs And Landings by Rilo Kiley
  • The Monitor by Titus Andronicus
I shall begin reading the books and listening to the cds (or possibly vice versa) and report back when ready.
In the meantime, hear and see the epic tale of two people starved for seafood.
GF and I wanted seafood a couple of weeks ago. We went to Baltimore to cure the craving, but came away having eaten no crab legs.
But, we still wanted crab legs.
One afternoon, after watching a commercial for Red Lobster’s Crab Fest, GF says, “I want a crab fest. I want a pound of crab. Bring it on.” I agreed.
Thus, we sought and found a Red Lobster in Alexandria, VA. Below is our journey in pictures.

GF waits for the Zipcar

I wait for the Zipcar

We made it! (Well, someone else made it, but we arrived.)

How do I feel about my dish?

This is how I feel.

Crab-ohydrates and more

Cancerian cadavers

Oh snap

Foot in mouth? Try a leg.

Headphones case

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6 September 2011

Good after 10 PM (Eastern) loves and lovers and loyalists.

Music in headphones. Sometimes the only way to go. But not earbuds. (Like my canals need more pals.) Headphones. The kind that make you look like a real radio disc jockey.

Tonight’s obsession is The Hold Steady. I only own Separation Sunday and Heaven is Whenever, but the solid rock electric guitar is golden with the talk-sing vocals and lyrical storytelling.

When I feel the need to take the headphones experience up a notch I choose to put in post-Transmissions from The Satellite Heart Flaming Lips (especially The Embryonic).

With the need to send the songs directly to my brain, I ordered Scott Walker’s first four solo albums. My new music goal is to listen to his entire solo career in chronological order. I realize I need a method. So, I will listen to each album until is know every bit by heart. Until I hear the rhythms in my sleep. Only then will I move on.

Other albums worth listening to entirely via headphones:

  • The Antlers – Hospice
  • Any Arcade Fire album
  • Bjork – Homogenic
  • Any The Books album
  • Brian Eno – Another Green World
  • Cathy Foy – We Build it Tall
  • Centro-Matic – All The Falsest Hearts Can Try
  • DJ Shadow – Endtroducing…
  • Erykah Badu – Baduizm
  • The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, At War with The Mystics, The Embryonic
  • Joanna Newsome – Have One on Me (be sure to listen to this album in one sitting)
  • Morrissey – Viva Hate
  • Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane over The Sea
  • Paul Simon – Graceland
  • Radiohead – In Rainbows and The King of Limbs
  • Say Hi To Your Mom – Impeccable Blahs
  • The Smiths – Meat is Murder
  • Songs:Ohia – Didn’t It Rain
  • Suede – S/T
  • Weezer – Pinkerton
Yes, I know this list seems close to alphabetical. That is because I ran through my list to double check.
Clearly this list is missing many albums, but these are some of my favorites to beam into my face.

Sooner or escalator

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30 August 2011

Another good day to you lovers, friends, family and visiting extraterrestrials.

GF and I use Metrorail to get to and from work every day. I would find it quite easy to turn this blog into a continual self-absorbed groan on the frequently inoperational Metrorail escalators.

But I won’t.

First, I don’t really mind out-of-order motorized incline devices. I like walking. Walking makes me remember I’m alive. Walking makes me realize the world and I are the same. Sometimes walking is the only thing that feels real to me.

Second, we have a functioning Metro system. It could be better, yes. But it could also not exist. I would not enjoy that alternative.

However, sometimes I feel like I should complain about Metrorail. There are lots of things about which I feel I should complain even if they don’t really make me angry. I can’t explain (and neither can Pete Townshend).

Today, two of three escalators leading out of the Court House Metro station were broken (or at least not running). The other escalator was [pretentious description ALERT] transporting humans and luggage down into the bowels of public transit.

So, GF and I walked up the escalator. The person in front of me was wearing a book bag, carrying a book (defeating the purpose of the book bag?) and was wearing exercise gear. My face felt magnetically attracted to her book bag. I stared at it and it stared back. The abyss is a book bag.

Yeesh. If you made it this far in today’s post, I apologize. I don’t remember reading or hearing anything so schmaltzy and pretentious that would have influenced me so lately. Perhaps it is the combination of whisky and Icelandic chocolate.

"There's more to life than this"? I don't think so Bjork.

And yes, I did eat the chocolate while listening to Bjork. I think it intensified the effect.

By the way – Did you remember the video competition from yesterday’s post? No? Then read it and enter to win a parcel from…me!

Is Kim Jong-Ill?

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22 August 2011

I am in a band called Joey Cougar & The Starfish. We formed in Salt Lake City, UT. We went on tour the summer I had a vasectomy.

Somehow our drummer, Kelly Styxxx, booked us this gig where we were headlining an open mic night. I am not sure people were pleased to see a headlining band during open mic. The guy prior to our performance looped his music and played a didgeridoo. He was a hippy and I wanted to throw a hard biscuit at his face.

For tonight’s post, please enjoy this brief video of us playing our song, “Is Kim Jong-Ill?” at Johnny’s on Second in Salt Lake City.

Am I convulsing with anger in this clip? You decide.

 

Down tempo

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19 August 2011

I am listening to the song “Scene #2” by Gagle on the album Mushroom Jazz Six.

I really like this song. It makes me miss my time in Athens, GA sitting in a tea bar called Infusia.

Oh Infusia. So many memories there, but too many to write tonight.

My eyes are tired.