GHOST HOUSE DESIGN: BLOG

E.A.S.T. Art Show

2009-11-02T13:42:00.005-06:00

My buddy Palmer was kind enough to let me use her studio space for this year's E.A.S.T. Austin Studio Tour. You can check out Palmer's cool guilding work at her website: The Guilt Studio.

I'll have some snacks and whoop juice out and will be spinning some reggae on the hi-fi all afternoon on those dates. Come out and see me!

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Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T11:39:00.001-06:00

Click on my Dia de los Muertos candy skull to check the pics.

DEAD SKELETONS

2009-10-30T17:56:00.001-05:00

DEAD MANTRA BY THE DEAD SKELETONS
I'm loving this! A new Anton Newcombe project.

Choice Tunes

2009-10-23T16:22:00.011-05:00

Aphex Twin: Selected Ambient Works 85-92

A Place to Bury Strangers: Exploding Head
I've been getting back into gigantic guitar sounds. New albums by APTBS and Part Chimp bring the massive fuzz.

Part Chimp: Thriller

Halloween 2009 Mix

2009-10-21T09:22:00.003-05:00

I was making a Halloween birthday party mix last night and thought I'd share some of the hits. Enjoy.

1. Gary Numan - Asylum
2. The Cramps - I Was a Teenage Werewolf
3. Man or Astro-man? - Invasion of the Dragonmen
4. Pointed Sticks - The Witch
5. Quintron & Miss Pussycat - Witch in the Club
6. The Mighty Charmer and King Flash - Zombie Jamboree
7. Ministry - Every Day is Halloween
8. The Vaselines - Monsterpussy
9. Beat Happening - Pajama Party in a Haunted Hive
10. Harry Belafonte - Day-O (Banana Boat Song)
11. Deadbolt - Telephone The Dead
12. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Carcass
13. Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon (The Life At Brian's Sessions)
14. Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - Look Out, There's a Monster Coming
15. Nekromantix - Trick or Treat
16. The Fall - There's A Ghost In My House
17. Dick Dale - Riders In The Sky
18. Peter Gabriel - Intruder
19. The Creepniks - Zombie Stomp
20. Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead
21. Misfits - Halloween

Download the Halloween 2009 Mix

ACL 2009

2009-10-06T15:39:00.001-05:00

My pictures from ACL 2009

Mungolian Jetset

2009-09-01T11:14:00.004-05:00

Mungolian Jetset: I've played this album to death recently. Serious yet lighthearted dance that's really ethereal but still has a very steady chug. You definitely don't have to be a devotee to the genre to enjoy this.

Japanese Graphic Design from the 80s

2009-08-31T17:19:00.006-05:00

80s Japanese graphic design.

RECOMMENDED: MOON

2009-08-28T14:28:00.000-05:00

Summer

2009-06-16T13:32:00.002-05:00

It's been quite a while since I've posted to the ol' blog. The music consumption has been cut drastically as I am saving up for a new computer so I guess there aren't really any new albums to recommend. I know the music press looks to me for all the latest choice cuts and all but I suppose they are just going to have to wait. Jesus. Anyway, when not at work 90% of my time is spent either by swimming, grilling, or going to see shows. Peace out.

Love it and Leave it

2009-05-13T10:31:00.006-05:00

"Come on kids, these guys look like Nirvaner! Buy, buy, buy!"

Now, I love the music that came out of the 90s! I loved all of it: alternative, metal, electronic/rave, rap, and hip hop. It's what I grew up on. I feel that the 90s, for the latter three genres, was a time of great innovation and progress because they were basically brand new and weren't depending on too many past reference points to develop their sound. At least there was less sentiment when considering influences. Electronic music also had the advantage of having new inventions, toys and instruments coming along with regularity with which to work. I think Alternative, to a large degree, was the rockist 60s remade for an irony-obsessed, disconnected youth who weren't so much uprising or reacting against the status quo or the glossy pop factories of the 80s, as they were more simply bored to death with it. The anger and disillusion was there but it was a more internal and private affair as opposed to the hyper-aware (culturally and politically) rockers, punks, and postpunkers that broke out in the late seventies and early eighties. When the nineties came around everyone decided that looking like you were having a good time, much less dancing, was not cool and, opposed to past incarnations of bona fide guitar music, discussion moved from the cultural and political to the internal and psychological and any semblance of groove was removed from the music. Now don't get me wrong, I loved "alternative" music and the movement produced loads of great music. Like any great scene though, the music factories eventually caught on and imitation and market saturation eventually lead to its demise...and what an ugly demise it was. The (Korn filled) shit leftover from alternative's dying breaths was some of the worst music we've had...I think anyway. Sometimes I think Prozac nation, errr, America is still a bit hungover from 90s and as much as I love the period, I plan to have little to do with any expected revival of the scene. People are just now uncrossing their arms and swaying to the music just a bit. Anwyay, whatever, here's a take from the Quietus

Recommended: The Horrors

2009-05-05T13:47:00.007-05:00

The Horrors - Primary Colors
This isn't going to be a review as I am only going to give this album a pretty high recommendation. On paper I would normally have nothing to do with a band like this. Jesus, just look at them. My fingernails aren't painted black and I'm not a depressed 14 year old girl so why would I care about this? Yeah well Ben Hewitt pretty much has it pegged when he asks, "What's the auditory version of rubbing your eyes in disbelief?" Believe it or not, this is good stuff.

No, I did not buy this at my local Hot Topic. Ok, I'll admit there's a rather gushy soft spot in my heart for goth kids.

EMALKAY

2009-04-30T13:16:00.007-05:00

So I think I might be going to see UK dubstepper Emalkay at the Flamingo Cantina this Saturday! It's been a long time since I've been to a dubstep show so I'm kinda looking forward to this. I'm fairly certain I won't be able to find anyone willing to attend this show with me but I guess it beats sitting about the front stoop all night. I don't own any Emalkay but it sounds fun enough. How have American MC's still not discovered dubstep?

NBA Playoffs, Round 2

2009-04-30T10:18:00.003-05:00

Did you ever see the scene in season 3 of The Wire where Cutty approaches the girlfriend of a drug dealer, who is suspect of stealing profits from the Barksdale gang, and very unexpectedly and very forcefully full-hand slaps the enamel off her teeth? Well, that's what the Denver Nuggets did to Chris Paul and the New Orlean's Hornets. Sigh. My other team, The Mavericks, get a chance to spar with the Nuggs next. I would like to think that Dirk is listening to "Bring the Ruckus" or something comparable in the picture above, but I'm sure it's probably a Hasselhoff tune...which is cool too, you know, whatevs. Anyway, I can't get enough of the Buzzcocks recently. The End.

The Original Birdman

2009-04-29T10:29:00.002-05:00

.wav your hands in the air

2009-04-27T13:24:00.001-05:00

Let it rip - I love coming up with bad blog titles!

2009-04-24T11:01:00.006-05:00

So I've been reading/obsessing over Simon Reynold's Post Punk bible, Rip It Up And Start Again. I hardly ever read non-fiction on music but Reynold's book has been highly informative, well written, and very entertaining. Post Punk has been a genre that I've regretfully neglected to a large degree over the years and have had my eyes opened to some pretty amazing tunes while working my way through the book.

Anyway, Henry Rollins digs the book as well and is dedicating his upcoming radio show to Post Punk. I believe the show airs tomorrow night and you can check it out on KCRW's website. I can't wait to check the archive broadcast Monday morning. Maybe I'll read Henry's latest book next.

Summer Tunes

2009-04-16T11:21:00.007-05:00

So I've been mentally and, ummm, musically preparing myself for summer. Multiple consecutive days of ninety (plus) degree temperatures is something one needs to brace themselves for. I'm also working on my island beat summer mix that should but out in a few weeks so my stereo has definitely been set to "summah time" mode. Anyway, here are ten records that I've been playing quite a bit in preparation for all the approaching sunburns and margaritas!

Stimming - Una Pena (12", EP)
This came out last year and I have been playing this to death. 'Una Pena' is an organic, breezy dance track that seems to be perfect for chilling or dancing. You feel like you are in a field of swarming bees, locusts, and grasshoppers towards the end of this track. This is going on the mix without a doubt.

Lukid - Foma
I just picked this up the other day so the official verdict still isn't out. Very FlyLo/Dilla, Lap-Hop-esque beats and atmospheres, only Lukid seems to let things unfold and breath with a little more ease. Great for chilling on a hot evening. For fans of Flying Lotus, of which I am obsessed with.

Vetiver - Tight Knit
First off, I love this album cover. Things that come to mind whilst listening to this band - saltwater soaked sandalwood, sand filled bathing suit pockets, carbonated beverages in glass bottles, weather-beaten wooden structures, and, uh, coconut shrimp. I should really write descriptions for expensive candles. Only California can legitimately export this stuff.

Soul Jazz Records - Singles 2008 - 2009
I'll go ahead and tell you that I'm a total label whore for Soul Jazz and usually dig just about anything they release. You get a little bit of everything on here with some glitchy house, baile funk, italo-disco, and some dubstep heavyweights. Many choice summer riddims, if you will.

Extra Golden - Thank You Very Quickly
Vampire Weekend gets name dropped in just about every review you see of this record. Only, you know, these guys are from Nairobi.

Zomby - Spliff Dub (Rustie Remix)
For whatever reason, I can't get enough of this track. I've been obsessing over Zomby for the past couple of weeks as well. A dubstep/wonky (I despise the term "wonky") record with that American west coast gangster rap vibe that them limey kids are gaga for.

Junior Boys - Begone Dull Care
I like this record. I just haven't spent enough time with it to really know for sure though. Seems less cold than previous outings but still sultry. Summer = sultry.

Tarika - D
What we have here is some nice island music from Madagascar. Some of it is a little "world-music-cd-from-Starbucks-ish" but what the hell is wrong with that? There's a time and a place for everything. I heard one of Tarika's songs on a local radio station here and tried to track down this album for a while. Come to find out most of their records are out of print but I suppose iTunes saved the day as you can get it there if you want it.

Zomby - The Lie EP
It's Zomby so I like it. I real dubby/chewy bass boomer for your hi-fi.

The Congos - The Heart of the Congos
A reggae classic. I'm pretty new to this and have almost run the needle down to the cartridge on this bad boy.

There it is, some summer fun tunes that I've been digging.

Schroeder

2009-04-10T11:53:00.001-05:00

Indeed.

Graphtar Hero

2009-04-10T09:30:00.002-05:00

I guess, but I think getting old and rich had more to do with it.

Area man to have beers with Dirk

2009-04-07T11:13:00.002-05:00

I haven't been posting much lately. I don't know if there's been too much or too little going on for me to post anything! I'm going to see CP3 take on Dirk this weekend in Dallas! This will be my second time to see the Hornets play this year. Time for a playoff run!

Muffy

2009-03-30T14:11:00.000-05:00

I want.

Dub Echoes

2009-03-27T17:20:00.000-05:00

I'm totally ordering this!

Psch Fest 2

2009-03-12T11:53:00.002-05:00

I may try and go to one night of Psych Fest 2 this weekend. I'm torn between going to see Dead Meadow and Indian Jewelry on Saturday or A Place to Bury Strangers and The Warlocks on Sunday! I haven't seen The Black Angels in a while either. Hell, maybe I'll have to go all three days. This should be GREAT!

Official press release:

Friends, Austinites, countrymen, lend us your ears: THE BLACK ANGELS and LIVE MUSIC CAPITOL present PSYCH FEST 2 Friday March 13th through Sunday March 15th, in Austin, Texas, spiritual birthplace and global epicenter of psychedelia. What better way to honor the cradle of consciousness than a festival of hallucinogenic sights and sounds celebrating the town’s musical heritage and spotlighting the best new vanguards of the most mind-bending music ever played? Your three-day key to the doors of perception is a scant $45 (or one day doses for $15 ) available online on www.livemusiccapitol.com and Austin record stores beginning Friday the 13th, 2.13.09. With a lineup featuring such acclaimed acts as Austin’s own THE BLACK ANGELS, joined by A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, DEAD MEADOW, THE WARLOCKS, Sky Sunlight Saxon of legendary garage rock innovators THE SEEDS and a constellation of rising underground stars from Austin and around the world including THE WOODEN SHJIPS, INDIAN JEWELRY, THE STRANGE BOYS, THE GOLDEN ANIMALS and many more, those doors will be rocked off their hinges. This year’s Fest also features Austin’s psych cult heroes, THE GOLDEN DAWN performing their 1968 album ‘Power Plant’ from start to finish. Prepare your earthly vessel for lift-off.

A thousand people showed up to last year’s Psych Fest, and it became a word-of-mouth phenomenon:

“The daylong happening elicited the high baptismal glow of the bygone Vulcan Gas Company.”
-Austin Powell, The Austin Chronicle

“The Black Angels are making history come alive…[Psych Fest is] ground zero for Austin’s post-millennial psychedelia.”
-Sean O’Neal, The Onion

Psych Fest 2 resurrects the free-thinking spirit of the sane-minded individual through the universality of great music, honoring The Vulcan Gas Company and the innovators that played there. Non-conformists and seekers are welcome, and the uninitiated are invited to come explore outer and inner space and in an atmosphere of psychotropic bliss, because blowing minds is our business.

With liquid light projections by Adam Demetri and Scott Conn, artwork by Christian Bland and The Vulcan Gas Company (1967-70), and classic trip sequences by I Luv Video and Austin Underground Film.

Event Hours: FRI 8:30pm-close, SAT noon-close, SUN noon-close

Psych Fest 2 will be held at the future home of Radio Room, located at 508 E. 6th St., Austin, TX, 78701

“Tune in, turn on, drone out.”

Psch Fest 2

URGH!

2009-03-09T14:09:00.004-05:00

Klaus Nomi was a strange fellow.

Who the hell is Klaus Nomi? You may be asking yourself this as I was asking myself the same question during the introduction of URGH! A Music War at the Alamo Ritz this past Monday night. I was excited to see this movie because, for whatever reason, I've recently become an increasingly bigger fan of Post-punk and the lineup looked amazing. I mean, just check out the awesome punk/new wave/post-punk set list.

1. Opening credits
2. The Police – "Driven to Tears"
3. Wall of Voodoo – "Back in Flesh"
4. Toyah Willcox – "Dance"
5. John Cooper Clarke – "Health Fanatic"
6. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – "Enola Gay"
7. Chelsea – "I’m on Fire"
8. Oingo Boingo – "Ain’t This the Life"
9. Echo & the Bunnymen – "The Puppet"
10. Jools Holland – "Foolish I Know"
11. XTC – "Respectable Street"
12. Klaus Nomi – "Total Eclipse"
13. Athletico Spizz 80 – "Where’s Captain Kirk?"
14. The Go-Go's – "We Got the Beat"
15. Dead Kennedys – "Bleed for Me"
16. Steel Pulse – "Ku Klux Klan"
17. Gary Numan – "Down in the Park"
18. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – "Bad Reputation"
19. Magazine – "Model Worker"
20. Surf Punks – "My Beach"
21. The Members – "Offshore Banking Business"
22. Au Pairs – "Come Again"
23. The Cramps – "Tear It Up"
24. Invisible Sex – "Valium"
25. Pere Ubu – "Birdies"
26. Devo – "Uncontrollable Urge"
27. The Alley Cats – "Nothing Means Nothing Anymore"
28. John Otway – "Cheryl’s Going Home"
29. Gang of Four – "He’d Send in the Army"
30. 999 – "Homicide"
31. The Fleshtones – "Shadowline"
32. X – "Beyond and Back"
33. Skafish – "Sign of the Cross"
34. Splodgenessabounds – "Two Little Boys"
35. UB40 – "Madame Medusa"
36. The Police – "Roxanne"
37. The Police – "So Lonely"

This 1981 phunk fest cannot be released on DVD due to legal complications and is apparently only available if you can find the very rare and very expensive VHS version. Although, it looks like a high quality boot can be purchased here. Man, I'm thinking about ordering a copy. It was just so good.

Oh, and check out Klaus Nomi. Son was crazy.