Perfect Song 17

the Decemberists - a Cautionary Song


I believe it was 2003 when I got Castaways & Cutouts. I listened to it maybe once all the way through and put it to the side. It was okay, but it didn't blow me away.
Two weeks later, I load it into my mp3 player (pre-iPod) and the sounds of an acordian strike a chord with me. It's this Cautionary song. I listen to it again. What a haunting tale. I listen to it a third time - and I'm hooked. After that I listen to the entire album and slowly fall in love with this band. They became a big obsession of mine for two years. They have since drifted off, but I'll always have Castaways & Cutouts and this perfect song.

*this video is pretty cool too!

Perfect Song 16

Bright Eyes - the Calendar Hung Itself


There was a time and place for this song in my life. While I still think it is a darn good song - it meant a lot more to me in 2001, the worst year of my life. Big break-up, unemployment, no fun, terrible year. I listened to this song (and album, Fevers and Mirrors) a million times over. I found this video on youtube. It's kind of annoying, but it's the song that counts.

At a time when life was rough, Bright Eyes was the best. Now that things are better than they've ever been... I don't really like Bright Eyes. I still appreciate this song and album, but it's not the same.

Brrrrthday

yikes.

30 years old today. Guess I feel pretty well. I don't know what's happening today and tomorrow, but I've got two evenings of surprises ahead of me. I'm sure it will be grand.

the new spoon album is fantastic.

! ! !

Horn Section / Nick
Originally uploaded by jihaboy

Saw !!! Saturday night at the Metro.
They make me dance.

Nic Offer (singer) is a very nice guy.
They played 9 songs in an hour and fifteen minutes.

It was nice.

end of story.

Transformers

Transformers
Originally uploaded by jihaboy.

Just a warning to all the transformers coming to Chicago...
You probably shouldn't drive down Irving Park between Sheridan and Clark.

Well, you can drive down it, but don't think about transforming.

Hooray for Bollywood

fun.


I guess this song is in Ghost World.
I haven't seen that movie in 5 years.

Favorite Ablums

Yeah. Ablums.

albums

the kind you put on and have to listen to all the way through.
Let's see if I can come up with 10 that I love all the way from start to finish.

Spoon - Girls Can Tell
this is the ablum that got me thinking about this post. I love it. All the way through.

the Black Heart Procession - Amore del Tropico
the first step in a new direction for BHP, this album deserves to be a movie score... and it is.

Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
I thought this album was okay when it first came out.
A few months later I listened to it again... for three years, nonstop... and I continue to.

Decemberists - Castaways & Cutouts
the album that got me hooked on the band. I love it. a lot.

Holly Golightly - Serial Girlfriend
This is a perfect album from a unique kinda woman.

Modest Mouse - the Lonesome Crowded West
The difference in style from song to song, and the way each song takes its time. Perfect.

Rainer Maria - Look Now, Look Again
No other album in their collection comes close to how perfect this one is.

Andrew Bird - and the Mysterious Production of Eggs.
shut up. It's perfect.

the Flaming Lips - the Soft Bulletin
I was turned onto this album one year after it was released. At the time, I couldn't believe I slept on it for a year. It's in a constant rotation in my collection.

We Ragazzi - the Ache
This album is perfect for one reason and one reason only:
Hard Core Make Outs.
It's a make out album and it rules.

Perfect Song 15

Spoon lines in the suit
I'm surprised it took me this long to post a Spoon song.
I love spoon.

This is the song that got me hooked on Spoon, in the year 2000.


this is also a video Matt Larsen, Amber Tillett and myself made three years ago.

Funny

this makes me laugh - even though I hate people video taping a TV set, it's what's on the set that makes me laugh.
Patton Oswalt.

I know where the Wu Tang Clan got inspiration

I'm not much of a rap fan.
I was just thinking about my history with Rap music and what I have liked and not liked. When the Plan B 'Questionable' (skateboarding) video came out, Sean Sheffey used the Fu-Schnickens song "La Shmoove". As a 15 year old skateboarder, I got new music and new band info from skate videos, so I bought the Fu-Schnickens album titled "F You, Don't Take It Personal".

Boy, is this terrible stuff.

I loved it at 15 though...

I'm looking forward to these guys.

terrific

I'm sure full of myself...
I like the last two reviews I've written at LaS.

Battles - Mirrored:
http://www.lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=1637180429461f360c24bdd

Coconut Records - Nighttiming:
http://www.lostatsea.net/review.phtml?id=614913170463a63bb6aa0f

Perfect Song 14

A new Elliott Smith album came out this week. New Moon.
His album EITHER/OR is one of my favorites.

This song, Angeles is a perfect song.


This is apparently from a short film made about Elliott Smith.

a different column

My goodness.
This is a different kind of perfect...

my Two Weeks

So
I put my two weeks notice in at my crummy day job. I feel good about having done that - as the job was sucking all the fun, energy and creativity out of my life - but now I'm scared about the future. I've got some plans for the rest of the year - and without a steady source of income, those plans will most certainly have to change.

Mostly, I don't want to get lazy. There's a lot I want to get done, but without something getting me out of bed at 7am every morning - I fear I may grow useless. Hopefully I can keep that in check, but I'm not quite sure how to do that. I have no problems being lazy (as much as I tell myself otherwise). It's an odd and frustrating place to be in.

windowsill

When Stacey and I first began researching dogs to find the right one we wanted, we didn't know what we were in for. Stacey is a fan of sporting dogs. She had a Yellow Lab named Rosa for eleven years. I was with Rosa for the last year - she was a great dog, that's for sure...
So, some time after Rosa left us - we realized there was a bit of a hole in the home. We needed to fill it, but we didn't want to jump at the first chance and fill it with whatever dog came our way. We put some work in.
I prefer breeds of dogs that have smushed faces and breathing problems, but they're so cute - you can't go wrong. I've always wanted a Bulldog (or better yet, a FRENCH bulldog - who is just like a regular bulldog, but smaller and has stupid Bat Ears... i love it).
We eventually found a breed called Buggles, which are Beagle/Bulldog designer dogs. Beagles for the Sporting/Hound dog Stacey likes, Bulldogs for ME. The problem with Buggles - we never saw any pictures of them as adults. They make cute puppies, but how big do they grow? We both felt Rosa (at 90 lbs.) was too big for a city dog. We wanted something that made sense. Maybe a small to midsize dog that could live comfortably anywhere. We found Puggles.
Puggles are Pug/Beagles and they're weird, smushed faced versions of beagles.
That's what Arlo is supposed to be. If you look at any pictures of him, let me know if you see ANY pug in there. He's a long-legged 34 pound Beagle, through and through.

Recently he found he can get up onto the windowsill from the back of the couch. He has made that his little daytime bed - which is why we're now convinced Arlo is a BEATTIE. Beagle/Kittie mix. He's got long legs, he bats balls around with his front paws, he spends HOURS staring out the window - and now, he sleeps in the windowsill.


What a weirdo.

I think I just found the best thing ever.

I've been Tagged (again) thanks Gena.
A - Available or Single? Neither. These waters have been calmed by an adventurous young lady named Stacey.

B - Best Friend? David Cady Jr.

C - Cake or Pie? boo. diabetic cake, I suppose.

D - Drink of Choice? I'm dangerous. H2O

E - Essential Item(s)? a fucking STOLEN ipod I'd like to get back, Arlo, Stacey, friends, skateboard.

F - Favorite Color? Kelly Green

G - Gummi Bears or Worms? again, Diabetic Bears I suppose. grrr...

H - Hometown? Chicago, IL.

I - Indulgence? the indie rock music.

J - January or February? febRUary

K - Kids? none. But I think most of them are cute.

L - Life is incomplete without... things that bring you joy.

M - Marriage Date: In the next few years... maybe?

N - Number of Siblings. My wonderful sister Mandie in Cumberland Maryland.

O - Oranges or Apples? Gala & Granny Smith Apples please.

P - Phobias/Fears. I always feel like I'm going to jump to my death when I'm way up high. I'm scared of myself at great heights.

Q - Favorite Quote: "When I turn my hat around, I'm like a machine"

R - Reasons to Smile? All my ridiculous friends that make me laugh every day.

S - Season? Fall....

T - Tag Three.... great. I'll make enemies. Maher, Biddle, DiMarco.

U - Unknown Fact About Me: I can't play any musical instruments. At all.

V - Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals? I'm surviving because I'm fittest.

W - Worst habits? Fingernails. I chew them when I notice they're too long.

X - X-rays or Ultrasounds? I've only had Xrays.

Y - Your Favorite Foods: S&P Cobb Salad rules.

Z - Zodiac. gemeni. both of me.

Perfect Song 13

This is an attempt to show my roots.
Catherine Wheel Black Metallic


the Catherine Wheel album FERMENT is from my late high school/early college days and shows just how much I love the shoegaze genre. I can hear everything from Interpol to Depeche Mode to Death Cab For Cutie in this song. It's pretty, full of reverb and soft vocals. sigh.