Rants and Ramblings

Better than Mr. Ed

2009-03-02T10:52:00.003-05:00

This month's issue of Blast Magazine includes my profile of my favorite band at the moment, An Horse, and also my review of their excellent debut album, "Rearrange Beds."

Worlds Collide, Excellently

2009-02-28T18:42:00.003-05:00

Anyone who knows me knows I am a veritable music junkie, and also a person who finds disproportionate amounts of pleasure in things of little or no consequence. So, you can imagine my delight when I saw on my iTunes download monitor last weekend that one of my favorite bands, Frightened Rabbit, was going to be a guest on my favorite music podcast, Sound Opinions.

If you have even a passing interest in music, I'd urge you to check out Sound Opinions, which features weekly commentary from two Chicago-based music critics, Greg Kot and my personal idol Jim DeRogatis. And, best of all, it's free (Yes! Free!) from iTunes every week.

Give it a listen, and start with the Frightened Rabbit podcast from February 23rd. It's a good one.

Thanking the Academy

2009-02-22T15:15:00.003-05:00

I won't be liveblogging the Oscars this year, but those who are interested can check out my predictions in the major categories here.

Happy New Year

2009-01-13T21:46:00.003-05:00

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to be better at keeping up with this thing.

For starters ...

Check out my article on Frightened Rabbit in today's Boston Globe.

Live from the CMJ Music Marathon

2008-10-20T23:48:00.001-04:00

I was lucky enough to score an all-access press pass to the 28th annual CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival this week, and I'll be liveblogging for Blast. Check the homepage for updates.

Never Too Young

2008-10-16T18:08:00.006-04:00

Sometimes there's nothing like hearing about other people's struggles to make you realize how insignificant your own problems are.

So it was quite the wake-up call/reality check/whatever cliche you want to call it when I reunited with a good friend from college earlier this year only to find out that, in the time since we had last seen each other, she had been diagnosed with and survived cancer.

Here's a small plug for a piece she wrote about how the shortcomings of our current health care system only compounded her ordeal.

Blast update

2008-10-13T21:22:00.003-04:00

In the October issue of Blast I have pieces on Totally Michael, Dragonette and Land of Talk.

In other news ...

Highlights of this past weekend included my first time seeing Madonna, at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night, which was truly mind-blowing. I wish I had a tenth of her physical stamina. Among other things, the performance reinforced my belief that "Like a Prayer" is the greatest pop song ever written. By the time the show ended, it seemed like most of the audience members (myself included) had forgotten that the time Madge kept us waiting for her to come on (nearly two hours late) was about equal to the length of the concert itself.

Lowlights included the New York Magazine 40th Anniversary Party at Hammerstein Ballroom, where a typical stellar live performance by The National was preceded by an excrutiatingly un-funny performance by comedy troupe Stella - which was particularly disappointing for me since I'm a huge Michael Ian Black fan. Seriously, their jokes felt like they were tied to lead balloons.

New York State of Mind

2008-08-26T23:05:00.001-04:00

Quote of the Week:

"You don't regularly see things in New York that make you go, 'Wow, that's awesome.' You don't see humans interacting in a way that takes you off guard and makes you smile. You see a guy taking a shit on the sidewalk." - Charlie Todd, founder of Improv Everywhere

Since I moved to New York, I've learned a few things about New Yorkers. One is that they have an uncanny ability to take things in stride and be unfazed by pretty much anything. Another is that there's a sort of camaraderie among New Yorkers in embracing the glaring flaws and shortcomings of their city, and sometimes even turning them into endearments. Both of these attitudes I think can be applied to the above quote.

In the past eight months, I've also discovered that the reaction from people who don't live here to the fact that I do generally falls into one of two categories.

The first are the people whose concept of New York living was formed as the result of repeat "Sex and the City" viewings, who believe I spend my nights (and days) drinking expensive martinis with friends, meeting eligible, handsome, rich bachelors on a nightly basis, and not really working ... at all. (Only one of the above occurs in my life with any regularity). I would refer them to the Charlie Todd quote.

The second are the people who can't fathom why anyone would want to pay out the nose for a tiny apartment, brave public transportation for a commute that's longer than most people's lunch breaks, and live in a city with a high crime rate, low air and water quality, and a noise factor that could at times probably make Marlee Matlin wince.

For those people ... there's really no point in trying to respond, because the fact of the matter is that most New Yorkers have probably wondered the very same things themselves.

A friend of mine, whom I met while we were both students in Boston, was recently profiled in a New York Times interactive feature about 20-somethings struggling to get by in New York City. While it would be dishonest of me to portray myself as "struggling," the story really resonated with me. I definitely don't count every penny I spend, but let's just say I'm not going to be owning any property ... or nice shoes, for that matter ... anytime soon either.

But it's worth it. And this is why.

I recently commented to a (different) friend that I've been having all of these what I dubbed "'I Love New York' moments" throughout this summer ... probably owing a lot to the weather. Some of my favorite memories include afternoons spent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, rooftop barbecues, brunches in Brooklyn, and picnics/concerts in Central Park.

What spurred me to publish this post (which I originally composed back in June), was this article in today's New York Times. It says more eloquently than I can what I'm trying to convey here.

Which is ...

When I read Charlie Todd's quote in New York Magazine, my first thought was, "Wow, that's so true." But as I thought about it more, I realized that although it may have some veracity on the surface, I've been finding plenty to smile about here in the Big Apple ... even if it is sometimes just a guy taking a shit on the sidewalk.

Yes We Can!

2008-08-26T22:36:00.003-04:00

Out of everything that's come out of the DNC so far, these guys are by far my favorite. I'm glad someone is finally bringing this issue that I've been bitching about for years to the forefront.

Now I have Culture Club in my head

2008-08-11T23:47:00.002-04:00

I can't remember the last time I read an article that held my attention as much as "The Chameleon", David Grann's profile of a European con artist, in the current issue of The New Yorker. Talk about truth being stranger than fiction.

Don't be deterred by the fact that the online version is a daunting 13 pages. It's one of those stories where your eyes fly over the words just to find out what happens next.

This month's Blast articles

2008-08-06T22:51:00.005-04:00

At long last, my profile of Uh Huh Her is the cover story of this month's issue of Blast (click anywhere on the cover to access the article).

Also in the issue are album reviews of the latest offerings by CSS and The Stills.

Enjoy!

BAM!

2008-06-30T22:30:00.000-04:00

Continuing my recent trend of catch-up posts ...

Last month, I really tried to take advantage of my BAM membership. (It wasn't hard; they always have a ton of great stuff going on that I'm eager to check out). Two events were particularly enjoyable.

The first was a panel discussion and film screening with photographer Annie Leibovitz. The film, "Life Through a Lens," was written and directed by Barbara Liebowitz (Annie's sister) as a part of PBS's "American Masters" biographical series. Ethical implications of nepotism aside, the documentary offered an intimate portrait of Leibovitz, arguably the greatest living photographer. The only downside of the evening? No one - including me, who chickened out - brought up Hannah Montana.

The second night was the kickoff of the Sundance at BAM series, which showcased films that stood out at the Sundance Film Festival. The opening night selection was "American Teen," a documentary that followed five high school students through their senior year in small-town Indiana. I highly recommend it to cinephiles when it opens later this year.

Viva la Rock!

2008-06-24T22:20:00.007-04:00

In the six weeks or so since I've actively blogged, I've been to quite a few shows. Most recently was Coldplay's free performance at Madison Square Garden last night - a cool gimmick the band offered to fans in New York, Barcelona and London to celebrate the release of their latest record, the inanely-titled "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends."

I'm definitely not a hardcore Coldplay fan ... I only own one of their albums (not "VLVODAAHF" - someone needs to come up with a better acronym) and my familiarity with them doesn't go much beyond the singles they've released. Still, that's about 20 songs or so right now so I consider myself pretty well-versed.

I thought it was great that a band that could have easily sold out Madison Square Garden probably several times over decided to treat fans to a free show. Apparently they did too; singer/Mr. Gwyneth Paltrow Chris Martin reminded the audience members that we didn't pay anything for tickets no less than three times. But, snark aside, the band put on a great show, even trudging to the back of MSG to perform "Yellow" literally in the midst of the audience. And if the production aspects were truly a preview of their upcoming tour in support of "Viva La Vida," it should be a real crowd-pleaser.

A couple minor points of contention:

-Tickets were given out for only the first and floor sections of the venue, so it was about half-full. I can't understand what the rationale was for that; it certainly didn't offer any hint of intimacy if that's what the band was going for. Maybe the rest of the space was needed for Martin's ego.

-No encore, which is understandable, given the fact that the show was free and all. But the band's set list also left out "White Shadows," "Talk," "Speed of Sound," and most surprising to me, "The Scientist." Go figure.

But all in all, it was a great show. And definitely worth the cost of admission.

In a related note, or several, here's a brief overview of some other noteworthy performances I've seen recently.

-Uh Huh Her at Highline Ballroom, May 20: After a mediocre show at Webster Hall last December that was rife with technical difficulties and sound problems, I had low expectations for this one. (Even though their album, "Common Reaction," out August 19th, is amazing - pre-order it now!). But the ladies didn't disappoint, putting on a great show in front of a sold-out crowd that went fairly apeshit despite not knowing the majority of the material. I also had the opportunity to interview the very sweet and talented Camila Grey and Leisha Hailey the day before for a feature I'm working on. Look for it in an upcoming issue of Blast!

-Frightened Rabbit at Pianos, May 27: I was thrilled to be a part of this Scottish band's first ever sold-out U.S. performance ... even if it was in a 120-person capacity bar. Oh well. Gotta start somewhere. Anyway, I've been prattling on about this band to anyone who will listen for the past couple of months and it was a treat to see them live in such an intimate setting. I advise people to jump on the Rabbit bandwagon soon because they're really starting to get some buzz. And, in a return to my old stomping grounds, I had a tiny piece on them published in the Boston Globe's Sidekick section prior to a show of theirs in Beantown. Check it out here.

-Northern State at Knitting Factory, June 3: What's not to like about an all-white, all-girl rap trio from Long Island, one of whom goes by the stage name "Hesta Prynn"? And if that isn't enough, lines like "Enjoy a lemonade spritzer with Elliot Spitzer" should do the trick.

-Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at WAMU MSG Theater, June 10: A great performance from music's most unlikely pairing, plus a bonus mini-set from producer T. Bone Burnett. Plant's pipes are just as strong as they were in Led Zepplin's heyday, and his dance moves, hilariously, haven't changed all that much either. Imagine the lanky blonde swinging the microphone stand like a pendulum to his latest folk-tinged material and you get the idea.

Much overdue Blast update

2008-06-22T22:15:00.003-04:00

So, a mere three weeks after these articles went live, I'm finally getting around to linking to my latest Blast stuff. Been busy - apologies.

Three quick album reviews this month:

Death Cab for Cutie - "Narrow Stairs"

Gavin Rossdale - "Wanderlust"

Ladytron - "Velocifero"

Equines

2008-05-13T23:12:00.004-04:00

So, the Kentucky Derby was a great time - until second-place horse Eight Belles was euthanized after breaking both her ankles during the race.

Needless to say, that turn of events put a damper on an otherwise wonderful day. (Video footage to come). Like many attendees, I put my money on Eight Belles to place, so I'm donating half of my winnings to Save the Horses, a hopefully legitimate charity organization that rehabilitates retired racing horses. The other half of my winnings went to Drink the Juleps, a personal charity I established at about 10:30 a.m. on Derby Day. Unfortunately, DTJ was shuttered about eight hours later due to lack of funds.

Anyway, speaking of horses ...

The greatest thing to come out of Australia since ... ever, maybe? ... is An Horse, who were the opening act for Tegan & Sara at Terminal 5 last night. They are my new addiction - I bought their EP at the show last night and it's been on a nonstop rotation on each of my music-playing devices ever since. Check them out!

New Blast articles

2008-05-02T00:04:00.005-04:00

New issue up today ...

Yada, yada ...

Eisley - my new obsession!
Foals
Constantines
Frightened Rabbit

In other news ...

Patrick and I leave for the Kentucky Derby in approximately 9.5 hours (God, I need to sleep ... ) and are SUPER excited about it. Look for episodes of "Derby Diary" to be posted on YouTube soon!

Gossip Girl

2008-04-16T23:36:00.005-04:00

I feel compelled to rave about The Gossip's concert at Webster Hall last night.

For the first hour or so, the concert was good. No complaints. Here's a clip of "Yr Mangled Heart." But when the band launched into "Standing in the Way of Control," the performance soared to Amazing level. I literally thought Webster was going to implode amidst the energy of a sell-out crowd jumping, singing and rushing the stage during the encore.

Singer Beth Ditto was predictably outspoken, waxing philosophical on politics and media conglomerates' coverage of music and celebrities, and shooing a bouncer away when he tried to prevent a fan from jumping on stage during the show's closer "Listen Up" — which led to about 40 audience members following suit. Ditto eventually jumped (er, tepidly climbed down) into the crowd and it was like Palm Sunday a month too late - with fans clamoring to grab her hand as she led everyone in a self-affirming chant of "You Are Important!" while at the same time probably pondering how the hell she was going to hoist herself back on stage (eventually she just sort of walked back towards the front of the venue and headed backstage). I'm hoping a video of this lands on YouTube. It was really something to behold, and a really uplifting, positive message.

Also, what other concert can you go to where you'll hear both an Aaliyah cover (prefaced by Ditto saying "We're sorry we did this to you") and a rendition of "Careless Whisper" (video to come, I hope)?

King of the Road

2008-04-13T18:25:00.005-04:00

Kaki King's show at the Bowery Ballroom last week was predictably awesome, capped off with a rousing rendition of Bubonix' "Fashion Tattoo." It's nice to see that Kaki is reaching out and exploring different musical genres like, you know, German hardcore.

Check out a clip from the show here.

In other news ...

I received minimal heckling this weekend while I was out and about in Red Sox wear. Probably a lot less than Gino Castignoli.

And finally, for your reading pleasure, here are links to a couple of articles I've come across in the past few days that really held my interest.

First, this depressing piece from New York Magazine about Dr. Ramon Torres, a leading physician in the early fight against AIDS who eventually became a crystal meth addict.

And second, Yvonne Abraham's column in today's Boston Globe — her first after a long maternity leave hiatus — about her personal experience with the naturalization process.

Both really well-written and captivating stories.

Evil Empire in my backyard

2008-04-08T21:23:00.000-04:00

Ever since I decided to move to New York, I knew this day would come, and I've been preparing for it with a mixture of excitement and apprehension, joy and fear. And it's finally arrived (almost).

This weekend marks my first Red Sox-Yankees series as a New York resident. Luckily a friend and fellow Sox fan has offered to take me to a Sox bar to watch the games, where I can don my "2007 World Champions" T-shirt and hat and (hopefully) not get a beer thrown in my direction. I'm picturing a Red Sox bar in New York to be a little like the underground warehouse in "Fight Club." Like, maybe the first rule is you don't talk about Eric Gagne, and I'll have to name the starting rotation in order just to gain admittance.

Life has been pretty easy for me as a Sox fan in the Big Apple so far. While I don't wear my Sox pride on my sleeve, I've "outed" myself as a fan on a few occasions - with mixed results. A guy who works at my gym, happy to find an ally in the city, offered me a free sports drink after I paid my membership fee with a Red Sox check. On the other hand, there was also the MTA worker who responded "Not with that card" when, during my second week here, I inquired about purchasing a subway pass and slipped my Sox MasterCard through the window.

But let's face it. I moved here in the December-January time frame. New York sports fans had other things on their minds. Now it's baseball season, and Sox and Yankees fans know that the race for the AL East practically begins in the offseason.

So we'll see what happens this weekend. I'm feeling pretty good about the series, and I hope the good guys give me at least two reasons to wear my World Series shirt with pride next Monday - even if it is stained with beer.

My poor, neglected blog

2008-03-31T21:06:00.002-04:00

So I realize I've been a little lax with the posting lately. I wrote four articles for Blast this month, and while I'd like to use that as an excuse, the truth is ... I'm just lazy.

Anyway, check out my Blast articles on:

Kaki King
Great Northern
The Raveonettes
and
The Gutter Twins

Highlights of the past few weeks:

-The Great Northern/Gutter Twins show at Webster Hall was amazing. I can't say enough about Great Northern, which you can probably tell from the article.
-The Raveonettes show at the Bowery Ballroom was also great. I still maintain that they are a band whose records don't do them justice. Go see them live if you want to get a real feel for their sound.

And now baseball season is starting! Life is good:).

Hooray for me!

2008-03-12T22:05:00.002-04:00

I'm normally not one to "toot my own horn" (as my mother would say), but I was excited to learn last week that I won the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's Keystone Press Award for Best Feature in our category (Division IV) for "New Arrests, Old Wounds," an article I wrote while I was at the Press Enterprise last year. I'm hoping to get an electronic copy of the story soon that I can post it here.

Gary Busey, Batshit Crazy

2008-02-24T22:41:00.003-05:00

To anyone who missed Gary Busey's amazing red-carpet assault of Ryan Seacrest, Laura Linney and Jennifer Garner before the Oscars, check it out now. Jennifer Garner's face when Busey mauls her ("Where's Ben?!?") is priceless and better than anything she ever did in Juno.

Best exchange:

Ryan Seacrest: "I'm a little nervous."
Jennifer Garner: "I don't blame you."

My favorite moment of the night. I'm giddy right now.

I'd like to thank the Academy

2008-02-24T12:20:00.006-05:00

I'll be liveblogging the Oscars later today over at Blast (provided technology cooperates). Check it out during the show for updates and witty commentary.

Until then, here are my predictions and wishful musings in the major categories:

Best Editing:
Should Win: The Bourne Ultimatum
Will Win: No Country for Old Men

Best Cinematography:
Should Win: There Will Be Blood or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Will Win: Atonement

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Should Win: Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Will Win: Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Original Screenplay:
Should Win: Tamara Jenkins, The Savages
Will Win: Diablo Cody, Juno

Best Song:
Should Win: "Society," Eddie Vedder (Into the Wild) (not nominated)
Will Win: "That's How You Know," Enchanted

Best Score:
Should Win: Gone Baby Gone (not nominated)
Will Win: Atonement

Best Documentary:
Should Win: No End in Sight
Will Win: No End in Sight

Best Supporting Actor:
Should Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Will Win: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Best Supporting Actress:
Should Win: Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Will Win: Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone

Best Actor:
Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Best Actress:
Should Win: Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose or Laura Linney, The Savages
Will Win: Marion Cotillard, La Vie En Rose

Best Director:
Should Win: Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Will Win: Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best Picture:
Should Win: No Country for Old Men
Will Win: No Country for Old Men

"Bitches get stuff done"

2008-02-24T00:28:00.009-05:00

Update: With links!

I was thoroughly psyched for Tina Fey's return to Saturday Night Live as a host tonight to mark the show's first episode since the end of the writers' strike, and she predictably lived up to my expectations. The show was a perfect way to tide Fey fans over until "30 Rock" returns in April. I thought the skits were a bit shaky at times but, you know, the cast and crew are a bit out of practice. The highlights, I thought, were Tina's speech about Hillary Clinton's qualifications ("Bitch is the new black!") during Weekend Update and the hilarious/creepy "I Drink Your Milkshake" parody sketch. The latter, I might add, nicely teased Ellen Page's hosting duties next week, which I'm equally excited for. (Re: Page: If her outfit at the Independent Spirit Awards yesterday didn't settle the "Is she or isn't she?" rumors, I'm not sure what will.)

Also, was it just me or did Amy Poehler look like she could barely conceal her disdain for Mike Huckabee during his cameo on Weekend Update? I have to say, I really admire Huckabee for having the good humor to explore a little humor at his own expense. His awkward exit-cue obliviousness was hilarious. Maybe once he finally drops out of the presidential race, he could find a future in comedy.

My kind of Nationalism

2008-02-23T16:48:00.012-05:00

I was literally moved to tears more than once by The National's performance at BAM last night. I've never been so emotionally affected by a concert before (and no, I wasn't on anything except a beer). My eyes welled during the opening chords of "Start a War" and I bookended the show with a similar reaction during the closing notes of "Gospel." The band's flawless performance, augmented by a nine-member pseudo-orchestra was 90 minutes of bliss. Opener My Brightest Diamond opera/indie/punk mishmash was easy on the ears too. And Sufjan Stevens' guest appearance playing piano for "Ada" was also a special treat.

The album "Boxer" pretty much acted as the soundtrack for my move to New York, which was a perfect fit, since the band's songs are so sentimentally evocative, both musically and lyrically. And having first row, dead center seats less than 10 feet from the stage, enhanced the experience immensely. (Singer Matt Berninger bumped into my foot as ventured off the stage during the first encore ::goosebumps::).

I also signed up for a "Friends of BAM" membership, so I'm really looking forward to checking out all the great stuff they have to offer in the next year.

The National, along with Modest Mouse, are opening for R.E.M. on their spring/summer tour. I'd encourage any music fans to get tickets yesterday.

Set list: (courtesy of The Music Slut)
"Start a War"
"Brainy "
"Baby We'll Be Fine"
"Slow Show"
"Secret Meeting"
"Mistaken for Strangers"
"Squalor Victoria"
"Abel"
"Wasp Nest"
"Racing Like a Pro"
"Ada"
"Apartment Story"
New song (title not given)
"Karen"
"Fake Empire"

Encore 1:
"City Middle"
"Mr. November"
"About Today"

Encore 2:
"Gospel"

Addendum

2008-02-16T00:20:00.002-05:00

My edited top movies list:

1. Gone Baby Gone (doubtful this would change)
2. The Savages
3. Charlie Wilson's War
4. Zodiac
5. No Country for Old Men
6. Juno
7. In the Valley of Elah
8. Michael Clayton

I'm in a movie-watching blitz 'til the Oscars. More updates will hopefully be forthcoming.

Please Don't Stop the Music

2008-02-11T22:11:00.000-05:00

Amy Winehouse sure knows how to put the funk in dysfunctional. Judging by her performance at last night's Grammy Awards via satellite from London, rehab has done Winehouse a world of good. She may not have been able to get a visa from the U.S. government in time to appear at the show, but the crowd's reaction proved that at least some Americans are on her side (Although apparently not all).

Winehouse's performance (sans crack!) was undoubtedly the most anticipated of the show, and she surpassed my - and I'm assuming many other people's - expectations. Her defiant smirk as she belted out smash single "Rehab" made it clear that she understands the irony of her smash single and is perfectly comfortable laughing at herself. At the same time, she seemed truly grateful to the fans who have continued to support her throughout her struggles and to the show's producers for allowing her to perform - albeit from across the ocean.

The best was Winehouse's completely gob-smacked reaction when she won Record of the Year for "Rehab." Her stunned silence made it seem like, after winning five awards, she might have realized her true potential for the first time. She's drawn innumerable comparisons to Britney Spears for her tabloid-y exploits, but in my view there's no similarity between the two. For one thing, Winehouse has genuine talent and an incredible voice. Compare her performance last night with Spears' at the VMAs earlier this year. Britney's was a disaster. Winehouse's offered a glimmer of hope that she can overcome her personal problems and continue to make contributions to the music world for years to come. That's what I call a comeback.

A few more thoughts on the Grammys:

-I totally have a girl-crush on Rihanna and I'm not afraid to admit it:). Her performance with The Time was the best of the night. And while I loved Winehouse's shout-out to "Blake Incarcerated" in her priceless acceptance speech, "Umbrella" should have taken home the prize for Record of the Year.

-Kanye West's tribute to his "Mama" was genuinely moving. Too bad his inflated ego prevents anyone from feeling too sympathetic toward him.

-I wish Feist would have won at least one of the four categories in which she was nominated. Sigh. But maybe her lack of mainstream awards will keep her indie cred intact. Oh, wait.

-And last (and least), Herbie Hancock?!? No wonder the Grammys have a reputation for being out of touch with the current music scene. Given that the theme of the show was a 50th Anniversary celebration of stars from the past, I guess it's only fitting to give the award to a legendary old-timer. But what a letdown for mainstream music fans. Hopefully the upset won't send Amy back into the bottle.

It's lonely on the fringes

2008-02-08T17:02:00.000-05:00

It's not an easy thing to admit.

All right. Deep breath.

I didn't like "Spring Awakening." There. I said it.

(Gasp). You mean the critically acclaimed Tony Award-winning musical that tourists are flocking to like adolescent girls to a Hannah Montana concert? Yes, that one. It was just ... meh.

It's a familiar position for me, being on the outskirts of what are typically held as self-evident truths in the pop culture world. I have no interest in Harry Potter. I don't see how people find Scarlett Johansson attractive (from the shoulders up, anyway). And don't even get me started on "Sex and the City."

But back to the show. Let me be clear. I didn't dislike it. I went in expecting to love it; I've been waiting for months to see it. I think it's a great story, both dramatically and metaphorically, and thought Lea Michele and many of the supporting cast members were outstanding. The final "graveyard scene" was incredibly moving and even brought a tear to my eye.

Still ...

I was too distracted by the sprays of spit flying from Jonathan Groff's mouth every time he said a line to appreciate his abilities as a lead actor. Blake Bashoff overacted too much for my taste as Moritz. I thought Duncan Sheik's score was nothing special. (Let's just say there's probably a reason he was only a one-hit wonder). And the choreography (when there was any) was a bit too spastic and seizure-like.

So maybe I'm missing something. Maybe if I had seen "Spring Awakening" before all the hype I would have had a different reaction. And maybe if I see it again it will strike more of a chord. But for right now, I'd tell people to save their money and go see "Avenue Q" or "Hairspray." Contrary to what its name implies, "Spring Awakening" left me feeling a bit drowsy.

My latest review

2008-02-06T20:31:00.000-05:00

The March issue of Blast is up, and in it is my review of Kate Nash's "Made of Bricks." Check it out.

Dying Young

2008-01-22T21:05:00.001-05:00

Heath Ledger, 1979-2008

2008 is not turning out to be a good year so far for male heartthrobs. Two of my childhood crushes have died within the past week. First, Brad Renfro last Tuesday (admittedly, not entirely unexpected).

But then today the devastating news that Heath Ledger was found dead in an apartment in Soho completely floored me.

Both were talented actors in their 20s (although Renfro's career kind of peaked while he was a tween, I believe Ledger's was just getting started). Both had small children. Both deaths were supposedly drug-related.

I don't think I've ever been as in shock over a celebrity death as I was when I heard the news about Heath Ledger. I went online at work, saw the headline on MSNBC, and literally felt my jaw drop. After I left work, I discovered that I had three text messages and two voicemails about the news. I'm not sure what this says about me that my obsession with celebrity gossip is so well-documented that friends and relatives felt it necessary to immediately get in touch with me with updates like this. Oh well.

I passed Ledger walking around in Union Square a couple of months ago. He looked slightly disheveled, but definitely not like a junkie on death's door or anything. It's so sad that we'll never get to see the full potential of his talent.

His death drew my mind immediately to the criticism AP writers have faced recently after admitting they've already prepared an obituary for Britney Spears. Seeing how quickly some Heath Ledger bios went up this afternoon, and assuming that editors had no prior warning about this one, I can only imagine all the multimedia packages that have been put together for Batshit Britney's inevitable end. I don't think the AP's being callous or insensitive in preparing the obit, but merely realistic. Reporters have a responsibility to do whatever they can to give themselves a jump start on what will be "breaking news." I don't think anyone's going to be shocked if she turns up dead one of these days. Ashamed for feverishly following her downfall for personal amusement, perhaps. But shocked? No.

Heath Ledger, on the other hand ... well, that's a different - and truly tragic - story.

Blondes have more fun

2008-01-20T19:19:00.000-05:00

Blonde Redhead put on a good show at Terminal 5 last night before a sellout crowd. They have great chemistry on stage and captivated the audience as they barreled through their set with minimal banter. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that singer Kazu Makino's accent makes it sound like she's saying "Fuck you" every time she thanks the crowd.

For me, though, even more impressive than them were openers The Raveonettes. Their music is definitely more accessible than BRH's to a casual listener, but their stage presence, anchored by a stand-up drum kit consisting of only a snare and a floor tom, was great. I'm excited that they're coming back here in March.

After seeing Editors there on Thursday night, Saturday's show also solidified my love for Terminal 5 as my favorite concert venue in New York. Within three tiers, it holds 3,500 people, but it has the atmosphere of a tiny club. The bars are fully stocked, bathrooms are plentiful, the coat-check is efficient and the sound is crystal clear. Couches on the second and third floors provide ample space to comfortably lounge while you're trying to tune out the opening band's set.

Today I saw guitar goddess (and Golden Globe nominee!) Kaki King at the Apple Store in Soho. I had heard about her wizardry on the gee-tar, but was completely dumbfounded to see it in person. She uses a really interesting technique of recording parts of songs as she's playing them, so she can set them on a loop begin playing a different track of the song. In other words, she created bass, percussion, rhythm and lead guitar parts completely on her own. My words aren't doing her performance justice; you really need to see it for yourself to truly appreciate her talent. And, she became probably the first artist to cover both Morrissey and Justin Timberlake in the same set, with awesome, innovative covers of "Tomorrow" and "LoveStoned."

Speaking of good venues, Kaki's performance marked my first time seeing an in-store performance at an Apple store. Obviously, like all of Apple's ventures, the "theater" setup in the store was really cool - comfortable plush seats, great sound quality and an intimate feel with less than 100 people watching the performance. All in all, It was definitely worth standing out in below-freezing temperatures for a half hour waiting to be let in.

Editors razzle-dazzle

2008-01-18T22:21:00.000-05:00

I was completely blown away by the Editors' concert at Terminal 5 last night. I mean, wow. I can't remember the last time I've seen such a powerful live performance.

Thanks to the cold, icky weather, I was undecided about whether or not to go to the show, but I ended up saying "what the hell" and bought a ticket at the box office, figuring I would leave if I got bored or tired. I'm so glad I went. The band was amazing, the sound was impeccable, and Terminal 5 is a great venue. I ended up chatting extensively with a musician/deejay in the crowd, mostly about how much singer Tom Smith resembles a Morrissey/Ian Curtis hybrid. But we also both remarked on the incredible feeling of straightforward positive energy among what felt like a sell-out crowd. Smith has a stunning ability to command an audience's attention, and the band's hopeful lyrics and soaring melodies make for a great live music experience. I think this is definitely going to be one of my favorite live shows this year.

Supporters Hot Hot Heat put on a good show, as well.

All in all, it was a great way to kick off what will be a music-filled weekend for me. Check back early next week for my updates on tomorrow's Blonde Redhead show and Kaki King's performance at the Apple Store in Soho on Sunday. I heart New York:).

My Golden Globe picks/Top movies

2008-01-13T01:02:00.000-05:00

I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm simply not going to get a chance to see many of the better movies 2007 had to offer at any point in the near future, so here's a partial list out of the ones I've seen so far:

1. Gone Baby Gone (doubtful this would change)
2. Charlie Wilson's War
3. Zodiac
4. No Country for Old Men
5. Juno
6. In the Valley of Elah
7. Michael Clayton

(Ed. note: I haven't seen I'm Not There, There Will Be Blood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Once, Atonement, The Kite Runner, No End in Sight, American Gangster, Into the Wild or 3:10 to Yuma, all of which I think would have stood a decent shot of making my top 10).

Along the same lines, I have to make my picks for the Golden Globes with only limited information. Oh well. The list below is for the categories for which I have an opinion.

Since the awards show has been canceled in light of the writers' strike, reading this blog entry will probably be about as exciting as watching the awards get doled out press conference-style tonight. Interesting though: I wonder how many members of the general public were even aware of the WGA strike (which has been going on for weeks) before the Globes were canceled.

Best Picture, Drama: No Country for Old Men
Best Picture, Musical/Comedy: Charlie Wilson's War
Best Actress, Musical/Comedy: Ellen Page, Juno
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Best Supporting Actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Best Screenplay: Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Wilson's War

Television:
-Best series, Drama: Grey's Anatomy (in all fairness, I haven't seen any of the other shows. But Grey's experienced a wonderful return to form this year that I think would be hard to top. Although I hear Damages is great.)
-Best actress, drama: Sally Field, Brothers and Sisters
-Best actor, drama: I haven't seen any of the nominees, but based on reviews and word of mouth, I would say Michael C. Hall, Dexter
-Best series, comedy: 30 Rock, hands down
-Best actress, comedy: Tina Fey, 30 Rock
-Best actor, comedy: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
-Best supporting actress: Rachel Griffiths, Brothers and Sisters

The British continue to come

2008-01-10T23:08:00.000-05:00

I saw one of my new favorite artists, Kate Nash, at the Bowery Ballroom last night. She put on a great show, and I was pleasantly surprised that it was sold out, considering her album was just released on Tuesday.

Nash is the latest sassy Brit to come stateside. She reminds me of Lily Allen - but is more musically diverse (and less pregnant!) Edit 1/18: not anymore:(.

Although she hasn't yet developed a strong stage presence (she seemed a bit awed by the crowd's enthusiasm, and her banter was limited to a few "thank you"s and a "Happy New Year"), the live performance as a whole was top-notch. Nash has a real set of pipes on her, and she didn't miss a beat when pounding out quirky rhythms on her piano.

I'm supposed to be interviewing Nash by the end of the month, so look for a feature on her in an upcoming issue of Blast. And in the meantime, give her a listen. You'll be glad you did.

Also, on a side note, now that my move to New York is complete, my blogging should become more frequent:).

Best Songs of 2007

2007-12-29T23:24:00.000-05:00

My obsession with year-end "Best Of" lists continues. My movie list will have to be postponed until I've seen everything that's out. As of right now, I only have a Top 5. What can I say, movies sucked this year. And the few good ones didn't come to Bloomsburg, or opened in New York when I was in the middle of moving and didn't have time to go to the theater.

Anyway.

To be clear, these are songs for which I didn't feel the entire record warranted a slot in my top 10 album list. Combine these songs with my recommended downloads from my Top 10 Albums and you get my idea of a perfect mix CD.

1. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z, "Umbrella"

2. Timbaland
(I'm cheating a bit here, because I couldn't pick just one Timbaland song among the trio of "The way I Are," "Give it to Me," and "Apologize." More of a magician than a producer, in my opinion.)

3. Amy Winehouse, "Rehab"

4. A Fine Frenzy, "Almost Lover"

5. Alicia Keys, "No One"

6. Kate Nash, "Foundations"

7. Britney Spears, "Gimme More"
(Say what you will about her personal life, this song rocks.)

8. Bruce Springsteen, "Radio Nowhere"

9. Ingrid Michaelson, "Keep Breathing"

10. Northern State, "Better Already"

And, to give myself a little breathing room, some songs that were technically released in 2006 but which provided a partial soundtrack to my life this year:

1. CSS - "Music is my Hot Hot Sex"

2. Beyonce - "Irreplaceable"

3. Silversun Pickups - "Lazy Eye"

4. Shiny Toy Guns - "Rainy Monday"

5. Lily Allen - "Nan You're a Window Shopper"

Best CDs of 2007

2007-12-28T00:44:00.000-05:00

List subject to change:)

1. The Con, Tegan and Sara
I can't say enough about this band or this album. It's flawless, both musically and lyrically, from start to finish. Chris Walla's production is astounding as well. Hands down the best record of the year.
Download this: "The Con"

2. Boxer, The National
The songs on "Boxer" tread a fine line between being hopeful and heartbreaking; leadoff track "Fake Empire" literally brings tears to my eyes each time I hear it. I really regret that I didn't discover The National until this year, but I'm super excited to see these guys live at BAM in February.
Download this: "Fake Empire"

3. Under the Blacklight, Rilo Kiley
A musical rollercoaster of a record. I'm a little late to the Rilo Kiley bandwagon, but I think I picked a good time to jump on.
Download this: "Close Call"

4. I See Red EP, Uh Huh Her
If the rest of the album (set to be released in early '08) is as good as this, Uh Huh Her will definitely have a spot reserved on my top 10 next year.
Download this: "I See Red"

5. New Wave, Against Me!
Definitely a harder sound than I typically prefer, but also really catchy. An album that boasts lyrical intelligence as well.
Download this: "Thrash Unreal"

6. Trading Twilight for Daylight, Great Northern
Pretty much the polar opposite of Against Me!. This album makes me smile.
Download this: "Just a Dream"

7. The Reminder, Feist
I must admit, I didn't fawn over Feist like everyone else did when I first heard her. But then one day, all of a sudden, I was hooked. Maybe this had something to do with it. And her SNL performance sealed the deal.
Download this: "1234"

8. Disco Romance, Sally Shapiro
I distinctly remember hearing this record on independent radio back in April when I was driving aimlessly around Philadelphia after I missed the exit for the airport. I loved the sultry ambience and Shapiro's whispery voice at first listen.
Download this: "Anorak Christmas"

9. An End Has a Start, Editors
This album rekindles my love for 80s alt-new wave and makes me want to jump around. 'Nuf said.
Download this: "An End Has a Start"

10. Combinations, Eisley
This slot was sort of a crapshoot between Eisley, Northern State and Arcade Fire. I've had Northern State's "Better Already" in my head for about a week and counting, but Combinations is a better album as a whole.
Download this: "Invasion"

Honorable Mentions:
Kaiser Chiefs, Yours Truly, Angry Mob
New Pornographers, Challengers
Northern State, Can I Keep This Pen?
Arcade Fire, Neon Bible
The Pipettes, We are the Pipettes
Okkervil River, The Stage Names
Rogue Wave, Asleep at Heaven's Gate

I feel like I should be allowed to include We Are Pilots by Shiny Toy Guns on this list, because they're nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award, and I only discovered them this summer. But since the album technically came out in October 2006, I'm leaving it off. Had I included it, it would definitely make my top three.

New York: If you can make it here, you probably have a trust fund.

2007-12-20T23:09:00.000-05:00

They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. Over the course of a weeks-long apartment search during which I had my cell phone stolen, got sick and encountered some of the strangest people and living situations I've ever come across, the truth of this statement slapped me in the face over and over again. So you can imagine how relieved I was when I finally handed in a deposit on a room in a lovely three-bedroom in Brooklyn tonight.

Before I came to New York, friends warned me that the housing search was going to be a nightmare, and it certainly wasn't something I was looking forward to. But it was something I embarked on with the idealistic optimism of the naive transplant that I was. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

One of my friends compared hunting for apartments to the birthing process, saying that the joy felt when it's all over is enough to make you forget all the pain and suffering that led up to it. All I know is, I never want to have kids and I also never want to look for an apartment in New York in the winter again, so they must have something in common. I'm writing this post first to say thank you to all my friends in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey that made my move a little easier by providing beds/couches, food, support, transportation, help packing, advice, company, and car care. I'll never be able to repay you or adequately express how truly grateful I am.

The second reason I'm writing this is to act as a reminder to myself in case I get the inkling in the next year or so that I want to move again. Let's hope redecorating goes a bit more smoothly!

Music makes the people come together

2007-12-16T00:29:00.000-05:00

A brief update on some live music I've seen recently in New York City.

-Last week I saw Uh Huh Her (Leisha Hailey from "The L Word"'s band) at Webster Hall. The sound was terrible, probably the worst feedback I've ever heard at a show, but I was impressed with their performance. I'm a fan of their "I See Red" EP and am looking forward to a full-length album that's scheduled for release next year. Their sound is sultry electronica, and they remind me a lot of Goldfrapp. The Webster Hall show featured only a keyboard, bass and guitar, but they said they'll be touring with a full band in 2008. Can't wait.

-Friday night I saw The Most Serene Republic at the Mercury Lounge. They put on a pretty good, albeit short, show. If nothing else, singer Adrian Jewett's onstage antics were pretty fascinating. His red hair and manic eyes gave me an idea of what Ron Weasley's and Iggy Pop's offspring would look and act like. Oh, and he played a trombone on stage, which is always cool in my book.

My Grammy picks

2007-12-12T22:12:00.000-05:00

Here are what my picks would be, if I had a vote, for the 2008 Grammy Awards. I haven't included all the categories (110?!? WTF.) I've left out those for which I've heard few if any of the nominees (i.e. Best Metal Performance), or about which I don't care (i.e. Best Jazz Instrumental Solo).

Record of the Year: "Umbrella," Rihanna feat. Jay-Z (although "Irreplaceable" is a close second for personal reasons:))
Album of the Year: Not voting, haven't heard three of the nominees. But as of now I would vote for Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black."
Song of the Year: "Umbrella"
Best New Artist: Feist
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: "1234," Feist
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: "What Goes Around...Comes Around," Justin Timberlake
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group w/ Vocals: "Window in the Skies," U2
Best Pop Collaboration w/ Vocals: "Give it To Me," Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake
Best Pop Vocal Album: "The Reminder," Feist
Best Electronic/Dance Album: "We Are Pilots," Shiny Toy Guns
Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Radio Nowhere," Bruce Springsteen
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group w/ Vocals: "Instant Karma," U2
Best Rock Song: "Radio Nowhere"
Best Rock Album: "Magic," Bruce Springsteen
Best Alternative Music Album: "Neon Bible," Arcade Fire
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "No One," Alicia Keys
Best R&B Song: "No One"
Best Female Country Vocal Performance: "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood
Best Country Song: "Before He Cheats"
Best Score Soundtrack: "Pan's Labyrinth," Javier Navarrete
Best Compilation Soundtrack: "Once," Glen Hansard & Markete Irglova
Best Song Written for a Motion Picture: "Guaranteed" (from "Into the Wild"), Eddie Vedder
Producer of the Year: Timbaland
Best Short Form Music Video: "1234"
Best Long Form Music Video: "Trapped in the Closet Chapters 13-22," R. Kelly

December issue of Blast is up

2007-12-03T09:44:00.000-05:00

Check out the latest issue of Blast Magazine for my article on Tegan and Sara. Click anywhere on the cover to access the article.

Random (quick) thoughts

2007-11-22T17:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I've been neglectful regarding my blog recently because, as you probably know if you're reading this, I'm in the process of relocating to New York to take a job with a transcription firm.

But here are a few musings/subjects of interest from the past week or so:

-Emerson in the news! This sounds like the type of incident/person that would have annoyed me while I was a student at Emerson. But frankly, I don't see what the big deal is and why the story has become FOX News fodder.

-Beckett was robbed.

-But thank God our World Series MVP is staying. What a class act. The thought of Alex Rodriguez in a Red Sox uniform still sends a chill down my spine.

-I saw Tegan and Sara at Webster Hall in New York on Monday. They put on a great show. Check out my pictures here, and look for my article in next month's issue of Blast.

For interested parties, this was the set list, from what I can remember (not in order):
-Dark Come Soon
-Like O, Like H
-Floorplan
-Nineteen
-Soil Soil
-Monday, Monday, Monday
-So Jealous
-Where Does the Good Go
-Hop a Plane
-When I Get Up
-Speak Slow
-Relief Next to Me
-Walking With a Ghost
-Knife Going In (?)
-Back in Your Head
-The Con
-Call It Off

Encore:
-Umbrella
-You Wouldn't Like Me
-Are You Ten Years Ago
-Take Me Anywhere
-Living Room

A good read

2007-11-08T13:58:00.000-05:00

Former New York Times correspondent Charlie LeDuff has a really heartfelt and humorous piece in the current issue of Men's Vogue about his transition from Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist to stay-at-home dad. Even I, a self-described loather of children, found it touching — especially the last couple of paragraphs. Trust me, it's worth your time.

From Romenesko.

Ouch

2007-11-06T21:27:00.000-05:00

It seems Radiohead's "pay what you want" experiment for their latest album, In Rainbows, failed — in terms of profits, at least.

You have to wonder if, going into this endeavor, the band expected its fans to shell out a reasonable $10 — or even more — per album. My guess is, considering their zealously devoted fanbase, they probably did.

Speaking as someone who still buys CDs and loves looking through liner notes, I know I'm in the minority here. But I was truly surprised to learn that most Radiohead fans didn't even open their wallets when "purchasing" In Rainbows.

I didn't buy In Rainbows and haven't even checked it out on iTunes yet. And I generally gripe about paying more than $9.99 for a CD. But as soon as Radiohead announced their experiment, I immediately asked myself how much I would pay for an album by a band I truly, truly loved. I came up with $25 — based on the fact that I recently spent about that much purchasing two copies of Tegan and Sara's The Con after I wore out the first one by overplaying it.

It's interesting (and depressing) that a band like Radiohead, with such a cult following, can't even inspire fans to cough up more than six bucks for an album. Imagine if an artist (term used loosely) like Britney Spears decided to release an album and told buyers to pay whatever they wanted for it. Would anybody really bust out their credit card? I doubt it.

Also, apparently at least one band rep spoke too soon.

38 (still) Pitches

2007-11-06T17:09:00.001-05:00

Good news all around for Red Sox Nation today.

First, I think everyone can be happy about the announcement that blogger/postseason powerhouse/aspiring politician? Curt Schilling will be returning to the team (and, incidentally, probably finishing out his career in Boston). Everyone knows pitching wins in the playoffs, and as far as I'm concerned, the Red Sox just secured a central cog in their 2008 Fall Classic machine.

Schilling has become such an integral part of the Sox' lineup that it's hard to imagine he's only been playing in Boston for four years. I, for one, suspected the right-hander had pitched his last game in a Red Sox uniform when he walked off the mound in Game Two of the World Series. I think he did, too.

So I felt a huge sense of relief to learn that his 11-2, 2.38 ERA playoff stats will be back in Boston next season. Say what you will about his age and injury-prone regular seasons. In my opinion, for what he brings to the team in terms of morale and clutch performances, a one-year, $8 million contract is a bargain.

Let's hope the front office displays the same sensibility in regards to Mike Lowell.

Second, congratulations to Gold Glove winner Kevin Youkilis. Let's hope this is the first of many off-season accolades for the Red Sox. Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, anyone?

Twice in a Lifetime

2007-11-01T23:07:00.000-04:00

I've been on hiatus for the past week or so because I was up in Boston watching the Red Sox win their second World Series in four years — a victory I can't imagine celebrating anywhere else.

It's things like singing "Sweet Caroline" in a bar at 1:00 on a Tuesday afternoon with 150 people that make me realize (to quote The Standells) that Boston truly is my home. Thankfully, this year's celebration was much more subdued than 2004 and none of my classmates was killed this time.

I'll resume blogging this week and probably post more about the Sox' victory, but right now I'm trying to catch up on about six days' worth of sleep.

I leave you with this blissful image...

"30 Rock" is a microcosm of American politics

2007-10-24T12:09:00.000-04:00

At least if you're Mitt Romney.

Romney's gaffe immediately reminded me of the hilarious "Hard Ball" episode of "30 Rock" last season, in which Jenna (Jane Krakowski) mixes up Osama and Obama in a misguided attempt to win back the hearts of American voters ("That's why I'm voting for Osama in 2008! Oh, no comeback? Ya burnt!").

This, after Jenna's faux pas of confusing the troops in Iraq with theatre troupes during a photo shoot for Maxim: "They think what they do is so important. But it's just a bunch of gay guys that like to get in silly costumes and prance around!"

Ah, that show is brilliant. The image of an oil-covered Jenna slipping all over a leather chair while trying to pose with a rubber chicken in her mouth will always bring a smile to my face.

Watch Jenna's blunder here.

I wonder if Tina Fey is Romney's new speechwriter?

Goodbye, Old Friend

2007-10-23T22:19:00.000-04:00

After nearly four years as my gym partner, subway entertainment and trusted companion in general, my iPod mini has finally succumb to the iPod battery curse.

The long and the short of it is, iPods' batteries wear out over time and what's supposed to be an eight-hour playback time (on my model, anyway) slowly deteriorates to a fraction of that. From what I've heard, I should be happy mine lasted as long as it did. I know several people whose iPods crapped out after less than three years, so I wasn't completely surprised last week when my little green Mini barely had the juice to get me through 30 minutes on the elliptical. And a road trip in the car? Forget it.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit I've disregarded some of Apple's recommendations about how to get the most out of your battery (which, incidentally, I only discovered after mine was already on its last legs. I'm not one for owner's manuals.) I leave my iPod in the car during the summer heat and winter cold. I use the equalizer and the backlight. I use the skip function. (Side note - WTF?!? I'm too indecisive to just accept whatever comes on in shuffle mode).

I realize that planned obsolescence is one of the most effective ways for a company to generate revenue, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating for consumers.

But here's where the genius of Apple's marketing and constant reinvention of its products comes into play. Let's be honest. Rather than being annoyed that I'm going to have to shell out a couple hundred dollars to ~~replace~~ upgrade my iPod, I'm actually really excited to be getting a Nano.

My mentality — and Steve Jobs knows this — is, if I'm going to pay $66 to merely replace the battery on my old, out of production mini, I might as well just buy one of the pretty new models — a Shuffle, maybe — for just $13 more.

But a Shuffle holds just 240 songs. And for twice the cost, I could get one of the amazing new Nanos, which has a screen and plays videos and holds four times as many songs and...you get the idea.

And so on.

For financial reasons, I'm opting for a first-generation Nano through Apple's refurbished discount program. (A ~~blue~~ silver one. Only 99 bucks!)

But my heart's still set on one of the new video Nanos.

And don't even get me started on the iPhone. ::Drools::

YESSSSSS!

2007-10-22T01:32:00.000-04:00

Tonight I celebrated the Red Sox' ALCS victory by dancing to "Tessie" on the streets of Bloomsburg. Hopefully next weekend will involve a World Series celebration in BOSTON!!!!!!!!!

Nas totally ripped off the title of my forthcoming solo album

2007-10-19T17:26:00.000-04:00

All the old white men who run record labels and radio stations are shitting their pants right now.

Ellen DeGeneres realizes she was kinda starting to look psycho

2007-10-19T17:13:00.000-04:00

No more dog talk!

Whew!

2007-10-19T00:30:00.000-04:00

God bless Josh Beckett.

Onward to Boston!

Saving the world from terrorism, one indie record at a time

2007-10-17T23:14:00.000-04:00

Add song demos to the list of things you shouldn't try to smuggle across the northern border.

Death Cab for Cutie guitarist/producer/genius Chris Walla's song files for his much-anticipated solo record Field Manual were confiscated by ~~mounties~~ Homeland Security officials this week when a courier from his record label tried to bring them into the U.S. from Canada, where Walla is recording the album.

Walla says he has master copies of the songs on tape and plans to mix the songs himself so the record can be released in January. He sounds like he's, predictably, taking the setback in stride and with a sense of humor.

"I can't just call their customer-service center and ask about my drive. There's nothing I can do. I don't know if we can hire an attorney ... is there a black-hole attorney? You can't take a black hole to court."

According to Walla, the album does have "very political" undercurrents. The title refers to a World War II-era guide about how to build IEDs, he says, and some of the songs deal with topics such as Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq, and morning-after pills. Sounds like it will be the dance hit of the summer!

But seriously, this is ridiculous. Why can't Homeland Security seize, like, Fall Out Boy's records or something? That would show the terrorists!

A different side of Ellen

2007-10-17T21:02:00.000-04:00

Talk show host and normally happy person Ellen DeGeneres made headlines Tuesday after her daytime show turned into a sobfest.

Apparently Ellen and her partner Portia de Rossi adopted a puppy, a Brussels Griffon mix named Iggy, from a shelter last month. But the dog was too rambunctious and didn't get along with their other pets, so DeGeneres gave it to her hairdresser's family. Unfortunately, DeGeneres wasn't aware she had signed a contract saying she would return the dog to the shelter if she couldn't take care of it. Long story short, the pet adoption agency came and seized the dog from its new owners.

I don't typically have a lot of sympathy for people who adopt pets without knowing what they're getting themselves into. My parents own two rescue dogs and the agency they adopted from gets dozens of dogs from families who are too lazy to take care of them, or whose kids aren't interested in the dogs after they've outgrown their puppy cuteness. But Ellen's story seems genuine and her plea to get the dog back is fairly heartbreaking. She gave the shelter free (if bad) publicity on her show; I wonder if they'll respond to her request in return?

Random: There's a great picture in this week's Entertainment Weekly of de Rossi wearing an old, ratty Iggy Pop shirt. Wonder if she named the dog?

Update: A much cheerier DeGeneres reiterated her plea Wednesday, but apparently shelter officials still aren't buying it. Maybe the death threats they've gotten from angry housewives have something to do with that.

Also, TMZ.com has eye-popping video footage from Sunday night, when de Rossi and DeGeneres rushed over to the house after the family had a standoff with the shelter folks.

Questions: Who called TMZ? How many times does Ellen cite her monetary contributions to shelters? And who watches this stuff?!? (Answers: dunno, too many, me.)

Note to self: Don't piss off Page Six...

2007-10-16T15:25:00.000-04:00

...or you might get raped.

It seems the editors at Page Six took offense to Vanessa Grigoriadis' article in New York Magazine about Gawker.com, in which she describes Page Six as "emasculated by the Murdoch hierarchy after the Jared Paul Stern scandal." (link mine).

(Side note: It's a great article. Check it out.)

So, in an effort to prove her wrong, P6 Editor Richard Johnson offers, along with his male co-workers, to assault Grigoriadis — if she were better-looking. Um...right. Cue "Whatta Man."

Not a drive-through

2007-10-16T00:29:00.000-04:00

This is why, if I were in a position of power, I would support mandatory yearly driving exams for people over the age of 65.

Update: Second person dies.

A slap in the face

2007-10-15T23:45:00.000-04:00

Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is deservedly on the receiving end of harsh criticism over his recent comments encouraging the media to ignore a mass shooting in Crandon, Wis. and discouraging residents from responding to reporters' questions.

Telling journalists to stop asking questions is like telling Eric Gagne to throw strikes. It's just impossible.

State officials said Van Hollen was trying to respect the victims' families by invoking his gag order. Well, that's not his job - and, harsh as it may sound, it's not a reporter's obligation to be sensitive to grieving relatives when pursuing a news story.

An editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gets it right.

"The news media must give the survivors room to grieve in private. But they must also do their job — report on a matter of great importance to the state. Unfortunately, Van Hollen has signaled that he may make the media's job harder."

It's the Fourth Estate's responsibility to act as a watch dog, pestering public officials in cases like this to make sure justice is carried out, and raising important questions as to why such acts are committed in the first place. I'm sure plenty of people would have preferred it if Woodward and Bernstein had held off on their questions as well.

At a time when public officials across the country are trying to combat the "Stop Snitchin'" campaign, Van Hollen just gave the movement a boost. Witnesses to violent crimes are already reluctant enough to talk to the press out of fear for their personal safety. This is evident by the prevalence of anonymous sources in newspaper articles about such crimes. Most public officials entreat residents to open up and speak out as witnesses to help solve cases of murder, rape and gang-related activity. It's ludicrous for anyone in such a position of power to suggest otherwise.

Since my earliest experiences in journalism at the Berkeley Beacon, I've lost track of how many complaints I've heard from readers about the media's "gratuitous," "insensitive" coverage of tragic events. My current editors recently devoted more than an hour at one of our bi-weekly writers' meetings to discussing what, if any, obligation we as reporters have to grieving families. At issue was a controversial front-page photo we published of a woman's body, covered by a sheet, after a fatal DUI accident. We didn't come up with a definitive answer, but several very strong opinions were tossed around.

Journalists can't please everybody. In fact, more often than not, we don't please anybody. Someone once told me that, as a reporter, if you're not pissing someone off, you're not doing your job. We certainly don't need public officials to tell us what that job entails.

"Everybody Sucks"

2007-10-15T23:33:00.001-04:00

There's a great piece in the current issue of New York Magazine about Gawker, which is probably my favorite Web site and which I check at least 20 times a day. (I'm also a lowly commenter on the site. When I got approved, it was the highlight of my week).

Author Vanessa Grigoriadis brings up some interesting points about Gawker's form of snark reporting and the role it plays in the modern journalism industry:

"Consider the Gawker mind-fuck at a time of rapid deterioration of our industry: Young print journalists are depressed over the state of the industry and their inability to locate challenging work or a job with health insurance. Although the situation may not be as dire as they might imagine—a healthy magazine is constantly on the hunt for young writers, because it wants the fresh take on the world found only in the young, and because young writers tend to be cheap—they need a release, the daily dose of Schadenfreude offered by Gawker’s gallows humor, its ritualistic flogging of working journalists and relentless cataloguing of the industry’s fall (e.g., items like “New Republic Page Count Watch”). Though reading Gawker subtly reinforces their misery, they generate an emotional bond and soon begin to tip it with their own inside information..."

Anyway, the article is long, but fascinating (at least for nerdy people like me). It's well worth a read for anyone interested in current media.

MyTube

2007-10-14T18:36:00.001-04:00

Check out the latest issue of Blast Magazine for my Fall TV preview package (and other great content, of course). One show I didn't review (it premiered after the issue came out) was "Friday Night Lights", so let me go on record here as saying that's the best show on television. If you haven't seen it, watch an episode for free on NBC.com, or go rent Season 1 to catch up. You can thank me later.

The Parlance of our Times...

2007-10-14T16:07:00.000-04:00

"It's Britney, bitch."

That computer-generated badass assertion (a line from Britney Spears' new single "Gimme More") kicked off the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards on September 9 and told audiences to watch out. Britney was back.

Obviously we all know how that turned out.

If anything positive can come out of Britney's disastrous comeback performance at the show and subsequent downward trajectory, it's a new colloquialism.

I'm hereby proposing that "Britneybitch" be added to modern vocabulary.

Britneybitch — verb
1. to exercise a misguided attempt at a comeback, thereby ruining any chances of said renaissance;
2. to set outrageously high expectations for oneself and then fail to live up to, really, any expectations at all

Example: "The New York Mets really Britneybitched their playoff chances toward the end of the season."

"Gimme More" is undeniably catchy, and it's tearing up the charts even as Britney continues to reach new lows every day in her personal life. But after the promising, cheer-inducing "Britney, bitch" introduction, raised eyebrows gave way to stunned silence and eventual guffawing among Britney's peers at the show, and in homes across America.

With one exception.

One might say MTV Britneybitched its attempt to revitalize the slumping awards program by relying on an (alleged) drug-abusing basket case to open the broadcast.

Trust me, it'll catch on.

Come one, come all

2007-10-14T15:23:00.000-04:00

Greetings, friends, family and other guests. I've decided to create a blog to act as a forum for my opinions on all things related to pop culture, the Red Sox and media, as well as random musings. Those interested can also keep up with my latest clips from the Press Enterprise and Blast Magazine here. Thanks for visiting!