unhappy anniversary, it's ten years since we met

I've been gone for way too long. I've had school stuff and applying to real college and serious life things like those. I've gotten some new tunes and seen some good movies, along with some good new TV starting up. I'm at no shortage of things to post about and hopefully I'll be getting around to that soon.





Right now I just want to share about a criminally overlooked singer/songwriter. Loudon Wainwright's been doing it for years and he's truly great. His songs range from hillarity to tear jerking all in the scope of an album. He has a large enough catalog that I've had no shortage of hearing things from him that are new to me over the past few weeks. A few months ago I got a greatest hits and liked it well enough, but decided to dig a bit deeper after I bought the Knocked Up special edition and there were some live videos of Wainwright doing his thing. So, besides being one helluva artist he's also an Apatow standby which gets huge points in my book. He was the gynecologist they end up picking who's at the barmitzvah when Heigl goes into labor. He was also in Apatow's series, Undeclared, as a father and was real funny. Check him out.

rock n roll,

Luke

buy any jeans necessary

Snubbed for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
James Spader? People really watch Boston Legal? I didn't know he kept working past 1988.

Sing me no hymns when I get home

Most of my posts have been music related recently, so I thought I'd share one on some television that's getting some of my attention recently.
This summer really didn't provide anything worthwhile, Entourage has fallen off hard, I watched maybe two eps of Rescue Me and Flight of the Concords was pretty funny for the most part. I watched The Wire Season 3 for the second time through but that was basically the only show with regularity and that was on DVD.
For the past couple of weeks I've been watching the first season of Friday Night Lights most nights before I hit the sack. This is truely a wonderful show and I'm so excited that the higher-ups at NBC thought it warranted a second season.
I watched a few eps while it was running last year but never in succession, so I was never really drawn in. Since the first season was released on DVD a few weeks ago I've been hooked.
FNL is one of the best, if not the best drama on network television. They encapsulate the feeling of high school football wonderfully. This is coming from a former player, in central Illinois, so I can't say I'm familiar with Texas high school football, so take that with a grain of salt.
The acting in this program is superb. The kids especially are top notch. For the most part they actually look like they're in high school as opposed to Dawson's Creek or something. Along with the acting, the writing can be funny and tear-inducing at the same time. I hate to throw around a word like "real" but I think it's a perfect descriptor for the show's story lines.
The second season will be shown on Friday nights this season, so that just means I'll be staying in a bit later to start off the weekend.

doin' pretty hood in my pink polo

"At the grammy's I went ultra-Travolta. Yeah the tuxedo mighta been a little Guido, but with my ego? I could stand there in a speedo and still be looked at like a fuckin' hero."


Kanye's Graduation has been making the rounds on the internets for a while now, but I wanted to let the album digest before I threw up a post about it. I haven't really listened to anything too much since this leaked (minus the new Springsteen which hit last night, more on that to come) and this is my favorite rap album of the year. It's also one of my favorite albums overall.
I know I'm in the minority in saying that Late Registration did not grab me as much as other people. I felt it was Kanye trying to fit too much into one album. What he had Job Brion do was commendable and I respect that 'Ye was doing something different than anyone else, but the strings and songs like Hey Mama and Celebration were a bit much for me to take.
Ever since Through the Wire dropped I was checking for West and College Dropout was and still is one of my favorite rap albums. Graduation is full of huge synths and Kanye's even larger ego. A great portion of the album is him addressing "haters" and fashion and women.
The production is something serious here. As I just said, the synths on these tracks are not too be messed with. He's almost abandoned the chipmunk soul that he built his name upon, only showing up on one highlight, The Glory. The T-Pain assissted track, The Good Life, should have been one of the first singles. It's feel good nature is just screaming for summer jam status, but will just have to settle for being blasted in night spots and parties this fall and winter.
A lot has been made of the album's closer, Big Brother. It's West's homage to Big Homey and is interesting just for the fact that it's this guy who's ego is so incredibly big right now, but he's still in somewhat of an awe of Jay, "J-A-Y and 'Ye so shy." He also mentions how he told Hov about having a song with "Coldplay" then "next thing I know he got a song with Coldplay." Well, rest assured Kanye, your Chris Martin assissted track takes Jay's Beach Chair to task.
The Chris Martin track on Graduation, Homecoming, is the reinvention of one of West's best non-album tracks, Home. I always loved the original of this record. Kanye went in and rerecorded the vocals and I'm assuming Martin dropped the piano in on it. While it is kind of unusual for Kanye to take a track that's been around since before College Dropout, he couldn't have picked a better one and I'm not complaining about how it turned out.
One beef I have with the record is the lack of guest spots on the album. While I'm a bigger fan of West's skills on the mic than most other people who will write on him, his other records always benefitted from great drop-ins. On Dropout he had Mos Def and Freeway spit hard and Cam'ron's verse on Gone from Registration are a few of the man's best bars for the past couple of years. Wayne's verse here, on Barry Bonds, is alright, but his half-assed drug addled verse feels a bit out of place on such a focused piece of work (the beat is a monster however).
It is yet to be seen if Kanye will outsell Fiddy on the 11th, but this is one dude that will be supporting The Louis Vuitton Don and not shedding a tear if Curtis actually does retire when he's outsold on Tuesday.

we smirked at the Simpson trial

Made a mix last week for the first time in ages.




Sam Cooke- Having a Party
Swizz Beats- It's Me Bitches (Remix) feat. Lil' Wayne and R. Kelly
David Banner- So Special
Kanye West- Barry Bonds feat. Lil' Wayne
Akon- 6 In the Mornin' feat. Kardinal Offishal and Pharrel
B.G.- Hustle feat. Young Jeezy
Gorilla Zoe- Hood N***a (remix) feat. Young Jeezy, Big Boi and Trae
Plies- You
UGK- Still Ridin' Dirty feat. Scarface
T.I.- Tell 'em I Said That
Roscoe- Smooth Sailin'
Common- Southside feat. Kanye West
Roscoe P. Coldchain- Whut Itz All
Juvenile- The Verdict feat. Akon
Nappy Roots- Country Boyz
Clipse- Pussy
Kano- This is the Girl feat. Craig David
Flo-Rida - We Got It

Better than The Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Caught the pilot tonight. It was pretty funny and even the family dramatic scenes were well done. Hopefully the rest of this season can build off the solidity of the pilot. I need another comedy in my TV watching since Entourage is a shell of its former self. It's nice to see Duchovny again. It seems he really only ever plays the same guy. That guy is a pretty good actor though.

Life to some is un-bear-able, they tellin' on they homeboys and that's terr-i-ble

Underground Kingz is my rap album of the year so far, so do yourselves a favor and get familiar. It's home to the best rap single of the year and a slew of other classic sounding UGK tracks. Other, better writers than me have already posted about the album, Brandon Soderberg had a great write-up a week or so ago, so I won't go on and on. The album, like most double albums, would work better as one complete record, but I'd rather have two albums worth of UGK bangers than just twelve tracks. Especially if it takes so long between albums again (Pimp C's gotta stay outta lock-up obv.) Grab this!

Quit hatin' the South

Some new stills from the movie were making the rounds on the internets today but keep getting taken down, so I stuck with this first shot of The Joker that was made available. Whenever something new from the movie makes its way to my computer screen I try not to look, but I can't help it, I'm so pumped for this. Also, those new stills? Simply amazing.

Opposite of Hallelujah

I totally slept on this guy. I finished this novel in about three days over the fam's vacation this past week. Really wonderful stuff.


*gotten a lot of hip hop lately, i'll be posting about the good and bad of it soon hopefully.

Cadence Weapon is better than Of Montreal

no doubt



Sunday

Deerhunter started things off at 1. Their singer reallly creeps me out. I've read interviews with him where he denies heroin use up and down, but the dude weighs like 90 pounds and he looks pretty tall, I wanted to buy him a cheeseburger. Cryptograms is an interesting album but this wasn't the show to start the day off with, I really didn't enjoy myself all that much. The band was really into it, and the vocals sounded great however.

The Pony's played at 1:30, this was one show both of us were pretty stoked for. The band sounded great but was plagued by the only sound problems I heard all weekend. What a shame.

We took in The Junior Boys at 3. This was another group who I wasn't sure how their sound would translate to a festival setting. Well, they sounded great. Not much crowd interaction, just a great set of mostly songs from their last record (I think).

Sea & Cake at 4. Excellent show by these indie veterans. They tore through their set and sounded wonderful in the afternoon's haze of humidity.

Jamie Lidell played at 5 and looked mad crazy. I can't even really explain what he was wearing. I really enjoyed his set, even the songs not from his last record sounded pretty good. The tracks from Multiply hit hard, and Lidell crooned the pants off of thousands. While we were walking to the bathroom during this set I heard a kid in a Tool shirt say, "Man, this guy sucks ass." That's all I have to say about that matter.

I probably should have been more excited to see Stephen Malkmus but I wasn't all that pumped. He played a solo set and we lost interest kind of quick. We headed over to the side stage and caught The Cool Kids' set. These dudes are just breaking on the underground hip hop scene but they sounded real good. They played this one "miami bass" song that just beat like no one's business. I'm pumped to hear more from these dudes.

Of Montreal was next. I really can't get into these guys. I gave the new record a couple of chances, I've tried to find what people love so much about this band, but I just can't enjoy it. They were all dressed up and looked mad ridiculous. Dylan and I watched a couple of tunes but ended up heading over to the side stage again to catch Cadence Weapon straight tear up the side stage. He went on later than scheduled and played to a smaller crowd because of Of Montreal, but still sounded great and won Dylan over for sure.

The New Pornographers went on at 8 sans Neko and Dan Bejar. I probably shouldn't have expected to see them but I really had my hopes up. The band still sounded very good and played a mix of songs from their catalog. Really one of the most consistent bands operating today.

9 pm last show of the festival. DE LA SOUL!!! One of the highlights of the weekend, no doubt. Dudes are approaching 40 but still brought energy to spare and rocked a huge crowd that was more than likely not too familiar with the group. Dylan's a big fan and I'm pretty sure he had a mild seizure when they brought out Prince Paul to DJ a couple of tracks at the beginning of the show. Wonderful ending to a memorable weekend.


If you read half of these last two posts I owe you dinner or something.

We didn't stay for Yoko, but I took one of those keychain lights anyways

forget the haters, Girl Talk live shows are mad fun



Last weekend Dylan and I took in the Pitchfork Music Festival. It was a great weekend all around. Cheap tickets, dollar bottles of water, poorly dressed hipsters and great music. We waited too long and missed out on Friday night's festivities but from the sounds of it, the night wasn't as amazing as I would have thought.

Saturday

We showed up a little bit before 2pm and caught Voxtrot's set. I didn't really know what to expect from these guys, but they were really tight and put on a great show. A good mix of there full album and songs from their string of wonderful ep's. There lead singer has a weird patch of bleached hair, I really hope he didn't mean to do that.

Next up we saw Grizzly Bear who put on a very mellow set as you might assume. Their mess of electronics and broken pop music sounded great in the sunny afternoon heat.

At 4 Battles took one of the main stages. I was interested to see these guys, and how their sound would translate to a live show. It was very technical and I was entranced for about 20 minutes, but both Dylan and I grew a bit bored (I think I was starting to feel a bit dehydrated too, what a weiner).

5 o'clock, Sam Beam took the other main stage in all his bearded glory. I wasn't expecting much from an Iron & Wine set in a festival setting but as evening was approaching the sparse sounds were a wonderful accompaniement to the great weather of the day. It was the first show I saw that the crowd demanded an encore. The new songs sounded really great also.

Mastodon was up at 6, but Dylan and I stayed at the stage I & W played at to get in good position to see Clipse. I have seen Mastodon before and even from far away, they were still loud as all hell and just melting faces.

Clipse was the highlight of the day. Even in the midst of most of the people for whom Clipse is the only hip hop they listen to, it was an amazing show. Malice and Pusha T know how to work a crowd. It was such an intense hour filled set. They played a great deal of Hell Hath No Fury and peppered in some Lord Willin' cuts and mixtape tracks. One of the highlights was when they did their verses from "What Happened to That Boy." Man, I love that song. Pusha is the showman of the group, he does most of the talking throughout the set. He was calling out people who knew all the words. I like to think he pointed at me during "Pussy" but Dylan swears it was the small asian kid in front of us (Dylan sucks). They also did an encore and it was the best song from Lord Willin', "Virginia." Great song to end a great show.

We watched a bit of Cat Power, she looked marvelous but we headed over to the side stage for Girl Talk. It was already packed and we had to stand off to the side. Gillis put on such a fun show. I've read a lot of people hating on his show, just hanging around a computer and jumping around, but it was an energetic, fun way to end the night. At one point he cued up "Knife" by Grizzly Bear as members from the band joined the other fans onstage, dancing like nuts. Great moment.

We peaced on the Yoko set, I'm not mad.

summer jamz

Roll your windows down




When the Sun's out








nighttime

the accountant just gasp at the smell of it

I'm getting hit with mad tests and projects as my summer classes are winding down. In the next few days I'll be back with some of my favorite ish of the moment and a recap of Pitchfork.




Finding that power stroke and Sheets out for 4-6 makes the loss last night a bit easier to digest.

Consistency

Guess who just solidified a spot in my year end top 10

The kinda music that just soothes your soul

"What's become of soul music? It didn't die with Otis Redding; it didn't stop when Al Green quit; it didn't fade with James Brown's voice--it's been in Los Angeles the entire time, under the astute and faithful stewardship of Solomon Burke. Burke, the King of Rock & Soul, the Bishop, is a big man with an even bigger talent, a revered vocalist whose mastery is unmathced by any other proponent of the style he largely originated. Burke embodies deep soul, with a forty plus year career that's produced a series of records consistently prfound in emotional, artistic and spiritual gravity."

See ya later Scorcese on coke

he's jus a rascal

Mix I made for my weekly drive to Chicago on Tuesday

Maximo Park- Postcard of a Painting
Miranda Lambert- Desperation
Common- The People
The Long Winter- Fire Island, AK
Clipse- Hello New World
Lucero- She's Just That Kind of Girl
Animal Collective- Purple Bottle
R. Kelly feat. Keyshia Cole and Polow Da Don- Best Friend
Devin The Dude- Cutcha Up
Dr. Dre- Let Me Ride
Kanye feat. GLC and Consequence- Spaceship
Snoop Dogg- Lodi Dodi
Big Star- The India Song
Dizzee Rascal feat. UGK- Where Da G's
Fonzworth Bentley feat. Pimp C and Lil' Wayne- C.O.L.O.U.R.S.
Wilco- The Thanks I Get
Band of Horses- The Great Salt Lake
Beanie Sigel- Raw and Uncut

The news called it crack, I called it diet coke

If you haven't seen Knocked Up yet, go out this weekend and enjoy its awesomeness. If you're familiar with any of Judd Apatow's other work, then you will adore this film. The cast is perfect as usual, with many returning players from his other projects. The jokes in this movie come by so fast it's impossible to catch everything and Paul Rudd continues to be one of the funniest men alive. Reviews for the film are up all over the place, and if you're actually reading this, we're probably friends and you've seen the movie, but Apatow has made the only two comedies I've cared about in years and I can't wait until his next project.

Also, if you have never watched either of his tv shows, Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared, get on that. Freaks and Geeks is probably my favorite tv show of all time, which should be reason enough for you to get it next from Netflix.

'cept I'm the sexasaurus

I've never really given a R. Kelly album the time of day but I've found myself listening to mainstream pop R&B in the past year or so. I know Double Up won't be spoken of in the same breath of some other Kells albums but this one is a bunch of fun. When the tracklist for Double Up came out it peaked my interest and when this appeared on the internets the other day I grabbed it. The album isn't groundbreaking or anything but Kells is so off the wall at points, Real Talk is an exercise in the talking/singing thing he does so well, and is one of the highlights of the record. I hope people don't stay hung up on his behind the scenes sexual interests (no matter how scary they are) and can put this on over the summer, because it is begging to be played at any party you're at.

I am the streets

Pretty sure this is the pic I used to review College Dropout in my high school paper, made me think popped collars were so cool. I think a teacher called me Mike Seaver one day when I was rockin' it junior year. Then I go away to college and frat dudes in pastel polos had to go and ruin the pop.

I've listened to the new Kanye track numerous times since it hit the internets a few days ago and as much as I was expecting to be let down, I'm now legitametly pumped for the new record. I still love College Dropout and could put it on any time and still be totally in love with the whole thing. Not only is that record special to me for nostalgiac reasons but it's just a great hip hop record. Full of Kanye's bravado and ego that I now find hard to swallow, at the time of the record's realease it was fresh and exciting to hear this cat with so much promise. I know the new record won't be anything like Dropout but I'm still looking forward to hearing where he takes things.


by the way, Kells kills it on the We Takin Ova remix, puts Jeezy to shame.

Her life was magazines and faithful TV screens

I was going to do a whole post on this album but Status Ain't Hood put up a very good one the other day. It's been out for a minute on torrent sites and such and really kicks your A. She's got the perfect blend of sassiness and sexiness to make the first country radio record I've cared about in a good while.

Let's push things forward

So far, '07 has been somewhat of a slow year for hip hop releases. It's safe to say I'm pretty pumped for some upcoming projects that should see release this summer and before the end of the year.

B.G.- Back to the Future (Summer '07 on Atlantic)
B.G.'s been showing up on tracks here and there and just ripping every beat he graces wide open. It'll be nice to get a full album again of his nasally flow.

David Banner- Greatest Story Ever Told
Banner's been missing for a minute and his name has started to pop up recently after a couple of high powered leaks of new tracks. 9mm feat. Akon, Snoop and Lil' Wayne being the first and Suicide Doors feat. UGK (who's double album is coming out this month hopefully). These two tracks are hinting at one intense album, full of Banner's usual dirtiness.

T.I.- T.I. vs. TIP (July 3rd, 2007)
After the release of King last year T.I.'s next release is being crazy anticipated. Cliff Harris has been quotes as saying that the record is a battle between his two personalities. T.I. being the party/chill ladies man and TIP bringing that talk about slangin. Big Shit Poppin' is this first single. It's not What You Know, but it still beats and promises of great things to come.

Lil' Wayne- The Carter Vol. 3 (end of '07)
This is the one I'm anticipating the most. That should be no surprise to anyone who's ever read this blog. Wayne's been killing it for awhile now and Vol. 3 should be no different. The record has been pushed back a few times because Wayne's working on other projects like protege Curren$y's debut and mixtapes (and we all know Wayne's mixtapes are better than half the albums put out by rap cats these days). He's also said he's got Kanye doing some beats for the album and I'm excited to see what the pairing of the two will produce.

We like our coffee bloody!

I can count the number of Nic Cage movies I like on one hand. Bringing out the Dead is probably my favorite after Leaving Las Vegas. This is such an underrated Scorsese flick. It's dark, depressing and has Tom Sizemore at his craziest. The scene where Rhames pretends to save the kid, screaming for Jesus the whole time, is priceless.

Started recreational, ended kind of medical

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7bK4Vee36M

Hovi's home

Song of the summer, 'nuff said.

Girl can we chill?

Love is in the air peoples.


(pic jacked from TSS)

Remember when Entourage was funny?

I didn't have big hopes for this second part of season 3 after the weak beginning of it last summer/fall. However, I was excited to have it coming back. Sadly, I'm thinking the show peaked during season 2. These past few episodes have lacked seriously in Johnny Drama content and he's the best part of the show. There needs to be a scaling back of Ari, because he's hillarious in small doses. Hopefully the show will strike a balance between Ari and Drama screentime. The producers and writers should know that my enjoyment rests fully on the usage of these two characters.

p.s. The Sopranos is off to a great start.

rock n roll,

Luke

You've got your life, he's got his

Remember that Kevin Spacey movie where he was having relations with one of his students? Life of David Gale or something, yeah, that movie sucked. This one's really great though. Dame Dench brings it.

The Exploding Hearts were your favorite rock band's favorite rock band

It's been awhile since I gave these guys a listen and their tunes have aged wonderfully. This must be because they're timeless songs. They play straight up, snotty rock 'n' roll. The songs aren't complex, ranging from drugs to chicks to... chicks. If you haven't heard these guys before get at me and I'll give you a proper introduction. Sadly, the band was no longer in July of 2003 after a car accident claimed the lives of three of the four members. I'm seeing Lucero tomorrow night and I'm starting to freak out. I'll post about the show this weekend.

rock 'n' roll,

Luke

She spoke softly and said, "I've been drinkin' again."

New mix time, I'll post about The Sopranos/Entourage premieres later?

The National- Apartment Story
Harry Nilsson- Many Rivers to Cross
Timbaland feat. MIA- Come Around
Andrew Osenga- Photograph
Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons- Pale Blue Dress
Bright Eyes- I Must Belong Somewhere
Hot Chip- My Piano
Clipse feat. Bilal- Nightmares
The Band- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
Cam'ron- Tomorrow
Coyote Bones- Let the Burden Be Mine
Young Buck- Black Gloves
Willie, Merle, and Ray- Still Water Runs the Deepest
Nick Lowe- She's Got Soul
Miranda Lambert- Famous in a Small Town
The Beatles- Good Day Sunshine
Cash Money Millionares- Family Affair
UGK feat. Outkast- International Players Anthem

I Need a Project B

The Shield started up again last night and daggummit if it didn't start up right where it left off. Watching last night reminded me of last year when Mike and I would dominate some Rollins pizza late and watch each Tuesday. Good times, good times. Forrest Whitaker is back as the IED lieutenant trying to bring Mackey down. His character is so taken over with a personal vendetta against Vick that he can't be around much longer. This is one of the most consistent shows on tv and is really worth grabbing on DVD and starting from the beginning if you have the oppurtunity.


Rome ended a week ago and this is a show I'm sad to see go. I totally got wrapped up in the story and characters this season and it's a shame that it no longer has a home at HBO. I don't know that they could go on without Marc Antony however, he was one of the best likeable villians on TV.

rock n roll,

Luke

old souls know

So a lot of people aren't digging the new Ted Leo LP, Living With the Living. Personally I've been really getting into it. A good portion of the naysayers have been writing that the album falls short because Leo's not doing anything new or it's the same album as the last two, blah blah blah. It's a great rock album and has been getting better with each listen for yours truly.


rock n roll,


Luke

My Sweet Brotha Numpsay

Here's the mix I made for my 5-close delivering shift tonight.


Dienel

Lucero- 1979
Casey Dienel- Frankie & Annette
T.I.- Bezzle feat. 8Ball, MJG and Bun B
Bloc Party- Atonement
Common- Come Close (J Dilla Remix) feat. Q-Tip, Erykah Badu and Pharrell
Kanye West- Gone feat. Cam'ron & Consequence
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists- La Costa Brava
Maximo Park- Nosebleed
Andrew Bird- Heretics
Kings of Leon- McFearless
Warren Zevon- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Bruce Springsteen- Prove it All Night
Field Music- A House is Not a Home
Devin The Dude- Lil' Girl Gone feat. Lil' Wayne & Bun B
Hi-Tek- Where It Started feat. Jadakiss, Papoose, Raekwon & Talib Kweli
Spoon- Sister Jack
The Ponys- 1209 Seminary
Rich Boy- Hustla Balla Gansta Mack

What if I run out of shirts to fold? What if I run out of lawn to mow?

Last Friday night Tyrone and I took in Zodiac and I'm pretty sure we both came out of the theater pretty impressed. I for one loved this movie. It's Fincher's best work to date and that's the truth. This film just looks and feels like it was made thirty years ago. The San Francisco that exists in this film must be like what it was in the late sixties early seventies. Me being born in '87 doesn't really give me much insight into this but I've got a feeling it's spot-on. It's basically a police procedural movie that follows the case of the infamous Zodiac killer that terrorized California for years in the seventies. The story in this film follows Gyllenhaal's character, a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle, who becomes obsessed with the case, Robert Downey Jr.'s character, Roger Avery, the Crime reporter who covered the case and Mark Ruffalo's character who was the detective signed to the case out of San Fran PD. Downey's performance was my favorite in the film. The case overtakes him and basically ruins his career as alcohol and presumably cocaine leave him a riddled shell of his former pompous self. Ruffalo is terribly good, as he usually is as the detective and Gyllenhaal, well I never really like him and I think his role was miscast. One of the few missteps in the making of this film. Even when his character is crazy obsessed with the Zodiac his hair is still perfect and he doesn't really look disheveled at all. I don't know who I would rather have seen in this role but it could have been done better. I really recommend you take in this flick soon, it's truly great.

Be your husband if you'll be my wife

I'm for real this time about getting back up on my blog game. It's been way too long everybody.



(I'm so pumped)


Yesterday I got an Archers of Loaf "best of" and I've listened to all 24 songs three times each since yesterday. I never really got into this band but had heard Crooked Fingers (frontman Bachman's newer group) and AOL must have been a force to be reckoned with in the mid '90s. Think Pavement at their most non-experimental. I mean that as a good thing as these AOL tunes are meat 'n' potatoes indie rock that I will be re-visiting sooner rather than later.

I'll be trying to keep people up to speed on new tunes I'm getting and other music that's peaked my interest, so check back often.

rock n roll,

Luke

I don't wanna work for no minimum wage

I've gotten a million new albums in the past couple of weeks. A lot of good ones and some not soo good. I will post tomorrow on the worthwhile of the bunch. Arcade Fire leaked, and it's grand.

Somebody from the Chi that was iiill got a deeal on the hottest rap label around

I'm back on the first day of classes ya heard.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Some Loud Thunder
I've listened to this all the way through about two times and I'm liking it, I think. I'm still not totally sold. It doesn't sound like Dave Friddman produced it, it still has the very "we recorded this in our apartment" sound and it's not grabbing me like the debut. Future listens will probably reveal more, check it out.

The new Kanye track, I Still Love H.E.R. has got me way excited for his next record, Graduation Day (?). On some more College Dropout type ish here.

I saw Children of Men the other week and it was simply amazing. When I have more time I'll write a longer post on it. If you haven't gone to see this movie yet, get on it.

Good luck with classes starting today and the upcoming semester friends.

rock n roll,

Luke

good grief man this world is quite heavy on my achin' back

http://nymag.com/arts/popmusic/reviews/24987/

awesome

All the other girls here are stars, you are the northern lights

After my nearly month long hiatus I'm back. I've been home for Christmas break and had some life-changing ish goin on. I'm not going back to Mizzou next semester, but instead just knockin' some classes out at Heartland. Livin' at home and enjoying our fast internet there and hopefully getting a job I enjoy (I despise you food industry). I have however gotten a good deal of tunes over the past couple of weeks and I think it's about time I tell all five people who read this about them.

I tried catching up on all the big stuff I missed over the past year when I got home and caught some winners. A couple records that really caught my ear were:

Comets on Fire- Avatar, This record just rocks, plain and simple. It's big and messy and sounds like it's some lost gem from the seventies. Drug addled guitar music that you need

Annuals- Be He Me, A great, atmospheric pop record. Don't get me wrong, it's not Spiritualized or Mercury Rev or something, but it's expansive and just real pretty.

While I really have enjoyed the indie rock I've caught up on in the past few weeks the record that has really grabbed me is the new Dierks Bentley album, Long Ride Alone. Now I know you're all like "Can he say that?" But it's such a solid country record and it's miles ahead of the other popular country polluting listener's ears these days.

Also, when I decide to peace out to Hollywood or New York and begin an acting career and get all famous and ish Ima just holler at this lady, and be all like "sup, let's listen to the new Bloc Party record and ditch paparazzi."



rock n roll,

Luke

"...these little demons ain't the reasons for the bruises on your soul..."

Oh finals week you are one serious sunuvabeesting. Between countless hours reading about biology, the art of acting and rock 'n' roll I've been on facebook way too much, watched Dexter episodes (Showtime's on a roll for reals) and spent alot of time on the hipinion forums (what's good sean, thanks for the tip). I've had this study mix on itunes that's been playing for most of the past few days. Also, J Dilla's "Donuts" and Thom Yorke's "Eraser" are good background tunes for studies.

STUDY MIX DEC '06
Andrew Osenga- Kankakee
Neko Case- At Last
Brad Paisley- When I Get Where I'm Going
Stars- Reunion
Billy Bragg & Wilco- Another Man's Done Gone
Josh Ritter- Good Man
Bright Eyes- Landlocked Blues
Bloc Party- This Modern Love
Antony & The Johnsons- Fistful of Love
The Arcade Fire- Une Anee Sans Lamiere
The Decemberists- Yankee Bayonet
The National-All The Wine
The Shins- Red Rabbits
The Drive By Truckers- Gravity's Gone
Grizzly Bear- Knife
Tom Waits- San Diego Serenade
LCD Soundsystem- All My Friends
Bruce Springsteen- The River
Death Cab- Brothers On A Hotel Bed
R.E.M.- Nightswimming
The Righteous Brothers- Unchained Melody
Paula Cole- I Don't Want To Wait (sup Dawson's Creek)
Damien Rice- Coconut Skins
M.Ward- To Go Home
The Kinks- Animal Farm
Spoon- June's Foriegn Spell
Bloc Party- Always New Depths
Matt Wertz- Counting to 100
The Notwist- One With The Freaks
Counting Crows- Perfect Blue Buildings
Bob Dylan- Simple Twist of Fate
Sufjan- The Avalanche
Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire- Two Way Action
Exploding Hearts- Sleeping Aides and Razorblades
The Mountain Goats- Up The Wolves
Destroyer- Your Blood
The Hold Steady- First Night

Just bought a Cadillac

Here's a quick list of some of my favorite songs of the year. If you can tell me what song the title of my blog comes from I'll hook you up with the new LCD Soundsystem record.

M. Ward- Magic Trick
Josh Ritter- Girl in the War
Clipse- Keys Open Doors
Project Pat- How It Goes in the Gutta
Nas feat. Jay-Z - Black Republican
Crime Mobb- What is Love
Lil' Wayne- Famous
TI- Top Back
Young Jeezy- 3 am
Bloc Party- Song For Clay (disappear here)
Cam'ron- Weekend
Damien Rice- Coconut Skins
The Decemberists- The Crane Wife 3
Destroyer- Looter's Follies
Field Mob- Blacker the Berry
The Futureheads- Burnt
The Game feat. Kanye West- Wouldn't Get Far
Ghostface Killah- Whip You With a Strap
Girl Talk- Smash Your Head
Gnarls Barkley- Just a Thought
Grizzly Bear- Knife
Guster- C'mon
The Hold Steady- Southtown Girls
Hot Chip- The Warning
Islands- Rough Gem
JR Writer- Grill 'em
Jay-Z - Trouble
Juelz Santana feat. Young Jeezy and Lil' Wayne- Make it Work for ya
Justin Timberlake- What Goes Around/Comes Back Around
Juvenile- Break a Brick Down
Killer Mike- Deuces Wild
The Knife- We Share Our Mother's Health
Lily Allen- LDN
The Long Winters- Fire Island, AK
Lucero- I Can Get Us Outta Here Tonight
Lupe Fiasco- Kick, Push
Midlake- Roscoe
Mistah FAB- Hey
My Chemical Romance- Teenagers
Neko Case- Hold On, Hold On
Nelly Furtado- Promiscuous Remix feat. Lil Wayne
Nump feat. M.I.A.- I Got Grapes remix
Okkervil River- The President's Dead
Outkast- Hollywood Divorce
Peter, Bjorn and John- Young Folks
The Pipettes- Pull Shapes
Plan B- Kidz
Razorlight- America
Rhymefest- Dynomite (Goin' Postal)
Rich Boy- Throw Some D's
Rocky Votolato- White Daisy Passing
The Roots- Don't Feel Right
The Shins- Red Rabbits
Snoop Dogg feat. The Game- Gangbangin' 101
Sonic Youth- Jams Run Free
The Streets- Pranging Out
The Thermals- Pillar of Salt
Thom Yorke- Atoms for Peace
Trae- Real Talk
TV on the Radio- I Was a Lover
LCD Soundsystem- All My Friends

If the Sun comes up and I still don't wanna stagger home...

Daft Punk played at his house


I've gotten tons of tunes in the past couple of days.

The new LCD Soundsystem is quite enjoyable after the first couple of listens. More dancey goodness from Mr. Murphy. My favorite track, All My Friends, will not get the dancefloor movin'. It begins with some piano then the rest of the band joins in, one instrument at a time. This song and a couple of others give me a earlier New Order vibe, quality stuff. All My Friends is one of my favorite songs this year, but it doesn't really come out until next year, so I'll worry about that later.

Next up, TOM WAITS. I picked up The Heart of Saturday Night and it's the first time I've ever really, really enjoyed a Tom Waits record. Maybe I'm just getting old and can appreciate the guy more now?

Other stuff I picked up that's gooooood: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Tender Prey, Ghostface Killah- More Fish (full post on this later), Exploding Hearts- Guitar Romantic (been looking for this since I lost my copy in high school), Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire- The Swimming Hour and M. Ward- Post War

If you love livin' yo life, leave me alone

So, The Hold Steady on Tuesday night? AMAZING!!! After the first time I saw Wilco, this is the best show I've ever witnessed. It was magical watching a band enjoy playing their music sooo much. All band members just looked to be having such a good time on stage, rocking and drinking heavily. The setlist was heavy on new songs but still fair to songs from the first two records. The new tracks sounded great in a live setting also. One reason I really loved this show is how happy everyone there was. There was some people there that are acquaintances or I know through people who I've seen at shows before who just look like they'd rather be anywhere else. But, everybody was feeling the Steady on Tuesday. Fistpumps and serious head nodding was going on. Being there felt like seeing Kanye on his Late Registration tour, something truly special. If these guys are anywhere near you in the future GO SEE THEM!

The new Z-Ro record, I'm Still Livin' is some fiyaaaah. I'd put it up there right with Trae's Restless as one of the best southern rap albums of the year. Every song is dark and sad and his flow is just real dirty.

I'm downloading the new LCD Soundsystem right now, let y'all know how it is later.

rock n roll,

Luke

Go Getta

I'm goin' to see The Hold Steady tonight! I'm incredibly excited for this, I'm expecting one of the best shows I've ever seen. Catfish Haven is opening and I've heard a few tracks from them that are pretty good, so I'm looking forward to seeing them too.

The new Young Jeezy record, The Inspiration leaked and it's awesome. Basically picking up from where Thug Motivation 101 left off, it's huge and dark and is full of more dope boy imagery. If Hip Hop is Dead is as good as I expect this has been one helluva fourth quarter for hip hop.

Two new Clap Your Hands songs popped up today and they're not bad. I'm not falling in love like when I heard their debut but they sound pretty good, more melodic would be a good start I think.

Oh, Heros is BA, eff a midseason I wanna keep watching this show.

I didn't have class today so I stayed up a little later than usual last night after studying and watched Noah Baumbach's Kicking and Screaming. Baumbach is the man behind The Squid and the Whale, a great movie in its own right. Kicking was his debut and it's a look at the lives of some friends after they graduate college and are basically stuck in life. It's pretty funny and wonderfully acted. Check it out if you have time.

Lots of studying to do, I'll see if I can't post about the show on here tomorrow.


rock n roll,

Luke

Christmas isn't a four letter word

I've stopped taking naps. If it doesn't happen in the first five minutes I just give up and find something to do. I used to be a big nap guy. Ya know a two hour nap here an hour nap there, but lately i've basically halted them all together. This is a huge revelation.


Sufjan's "Songs For Christmas" box-set is some serious fun. It's beautiful and funny and just plain great. Basically, this guy can do no wrong (minus A Sun Came, I just didn't get that one)

I've been listening to the new Akon album today, "Konvicted" and I like it? Dude rocks some serious sweaters too.

I reviewed the new Jay-Z record and it's up on the Maneater site today. www.maneater.com go to the arts section. I gave it quite a lackluster review, but I have a feeling I'm going to like this record a lot more a year from now for some reason.

I hope you all went out today and bought the new Clipse record "Hell Hath No Fury." Support Malice and Pusha T, best rap record of the year deserves it.

I want a new name for the blog too. This one, inspired by two african american males fighting in our apartment pool over the summer, continuously shouting "WHATS GOOD" at each other, has lost its luster. Any ideas?

Jenny lights her cigarette, wonders how she got in this mess

I like this band

I hope everybody's thanksgiving breaks were good. Mine was nice and low-key and was capped off with a Mizzou football win over Kansas, a beautiful thing.

The most recent Lucero record "Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers" is well worth your time. This is one of the most consistent bands around. They put out great southern rock-esque albums every two years or so that I like more and more I listen to them. "Tennessee" is still my favorite Lucero album but this one is creeping up on it. The record is full of young love, doubt and sad times. Listening to it I just picture a band gathering at a garage in some small midwestern town, sharing beers and too many cigarettes while they have a helluva time pounding out these great songs.

I'm still on the fence on the new Shins record "Wincing the Night Away." The two times I've listened to it all the way through I can sense there's a great album in there somewhere, it's just going to take some time for me to find it.

I'm reading Brennan Manning's book Ruthless Trust and it's heavy man. The dude is so smart and has me beating myself up and totally loving my spiritual life at the same time. A great read indeed.

I am also trying to get back on track knocking out some novels. I brought back Mark Helprin's, Memoirs from an Antproof Case and am expecting good things after reading Winter's Tale and Refiner's Fire in high school.

If you're a Mizzou friend, let's get together before the semester's over. Hangout or study, I wanna see you, for reals.

rock n roll,

Luke

If hip hop should die before I wake...

So I haven't posted for a loooooong time. I've gotten loads of new tunes however and I'm back. First of all, Happy Thanksgiving everybody!

To start things off, the new Clipse record, Hell Hath No Fury is amazing. It is my second favorite record of the year and the best hip hop album that will be released in all of '06. I want to say this record is worth the wait, but it's so good it's just not fair the public had to wait so long for it. The Neptunes aren't dead but have been saving most of their good beats for Pusha T and Malice. The production is dark and grimey which fits the content of the record perfectly. Coke and guns and more coke. The lyrical skills of both of these MC's is matched by few in hip hop today and they just bring a realness that seems distant in the tales of drugs that Jeezy or Santana spit. BUY THIS RECORD ON 11/28!!

I just recently go the new Shins record and I'll let everyone know my feelings on it sometime this weekend.

Oh yeah, Casino Royale is BA

Play it cool boy

The new Bloc Party record, A Weekend in the City, leaked recently and I'm totally engrossed in this record right now. All I've been listening to for the past week or so were new hip hop realeases (Hov, AZ, Game) and this record has taken up all my listening time for the past day or so. It's layered and dark and epic and I just want to stay up and give it repeated listens. I've been reading from some dudes that the album lacks because of it's softer side (compared to Silent Alarm's brashness) but I think that's one of the record's strong points. Bloc Party hasn't gone out and re-recorded their brilliant debut but has continued to evolve its sounds into something grand. I don't think this comes out until early '07 so it will have to stay off my year-end list but it would definitely be up at the top. Plus they shout out some Breat Easton Ellis on "Song For Clay (disappear here), and I will not argue with one of my favorite bands using one of my favorite authors as inspiration.

I've been watching Six Feet Under re-runs on Bravo on Monday nights and I'm falling in love with this show. I attempted to get into it during high school but I just didn't really connect. I guess it's just my advanced college brain (mwhahahahha) really diving into and appreciating this show's brilliance. Each episode was just a stark and haunting look at mortality, love, religion and other assorted aspects of life. Also, the acting was top notch.

Thanksgiving Break is coming up and it is much needed and the possibility of taking in a My Morning Jacket show in St. Louis has me seriously pumped.

rock n roll,

Luke

30's the new 20

So Kingdom Come leaked this weekend and I wasn't as excited as if the new Nas or Clipse leaked but I was still pretty pumped. It's no classic but definitely a great rap album. Lots of Dre and Just Blaze beats and who's going to argue with that. I've been reading on the internets about the Doc beats being lackluster but I'm digging them nonetheless. Hov's lyrics are on point as usual, but he just doesn't sound hungry. When the Black Album dropped my junior (?) year of high school that was in the car for months man. Kingdom Come doesn't have those tracks that just get a smile creeping across my face wondering how the man does it. This record finds Hov in a comfortable spot just spittin' about his wealth and status. I will buy this record on the 21st, believe that.

On the sports tip, how awesome was Thomas Jones doin' the Jim Jones BAAAALLLLINNN jump shot in front of all the Giants fans after his touchdown in the second half? Compliments of the windy city Capo!

You rappers ain't safe

So Lost isn't new again until February? How's ABC gonna pull a HBO on this? This last episode was one of the best of the season and I'm officially back on the LOST bandwagon after fallin off last year for a while. In the rest of the tv world, I still really like Studio 60 and am enjoying it because it probably won't be on the air too much longer.

The Weezy remix of Show Me What You Got has been all over the internets. Wayne kills it, find this and thank me later.

I saw Borat last Saturday and it's great, believe that.

rock n roll,

Luke

I'm on my grind cousin, got no time for frontin'

Titch

I watched the Daniel Craig flick Layercake again tonight. I'm just gettin in some Craig before Casino Royale comes out (which I'm pretty excited for). Layercake is a wonderful film man. Just complex drugs and crime stuff with great acting all around.

Crazy Titch got sentenced to thirty years for the murder of a British producer the other day. Titch was a prominent figure in the grime movement and could spit, and spit harshly at that. Get your hands on any of his stuff if you get the chance.

At Streetside I picked up the new Lyndsey Buckingham and Blood Brothers releases. The Buckingham is excellent and the Brothers is alright.

Borat tonight fools.

I've had kisses that make Judas seem sincere

I'm throwin up my top ten for the year so far. I'm sure I'll forget some albums, this is just a quick one since I'm bored

10. My Chemical Romance- The Black Parade
- I'm serious on this one. I've been listening to it alot. So don't go callin' me emo or some junk like that. This record is freakin' huge. The songs are anthemic and will be stuck in your head for daysss.

9. Trae- Restless
- What a dirty, dirty southern gem. Two words... REAL TALK

8. Rhymefest- Blue Collar
- The man who penned Jesus Walks finally drops his solo disc and it's full of social commentary and humor

7. The Thermals- The Body, The Blood, The Machine
- Punk Rock.

6. The Game- Doctor's Advocate
- The Game silences critics by droppin' another record full of West Coast gangsta ish. I just posted on this, read up

5. Ghostface Killah- Fishscale
- Ghost does what he's been doin for years. Spittin out that fire over some great beats

4. The Decemberists- The Crane Wife
- This is the best Decemberists record to date. No pirate sounding funny stuff, just great rock n roll.

3. TI- King
- This record is great, might actually be the best of the year, who knows how I'll feel in a few months.

2. Josh Ritter- Animal Years
- I've listened to this the most out of anything in the past year. One of the best singer-songwriters doin' it right now.

1. The Hold Steady- Boys and Girls in America
- Like you didn't see that one coming. This record is a beast, if you don't have it, get it, NOW.

The year still holds releases from Hov and Nas so we'll see if those can make the cut. Hell Hath No Fury drops next month and that will definitely be on here. I can't wait for that record, I get chills just thinkin' about it.

Borat comes out on Friday and I will see this movie.