GHOST HOUSE DESIGN: BLOG

VISIT THE NEW SITE!

2010-10-19T17:17:00.001-05:00

PLEASE VISIT THE NEW SITE, GHOST HOUSE DESIGN SHOP!

Illustration

2010-06-30T14:07:00.002-05:00

Ummm, here's a little illustration I did for my cousin. Ha. Don't ask.

Margarita Recipe

2010-06-21T11:17:00.002-05:00

Margarita!!!

So I’m not sure when this site became the imbiber’s blog (which is a good name for a blog) but I thought I’d go ahead and post another drink recipe…my Margarita recipe. It’s pretty standard really but this is exactly how I like to make them at the house.

Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Herradura Tequila 100% de Agave Blanco! (A little pricey but, listen here now, worth it.)
- 1 oz. Cointreau (Again, a little pricey but if you’re going to do something you might as well do it right!)
- Tsp. Agave nectar
- The juice of a lime or two depending on taste. (Always fresh lime juice…always.)

Directions:
Rinse off a highball glass and place in the freezer while you work. Put Calexico’s Carried to Dust on the HiFi. Fill a shaker ¾ the way full with crushed or bagged ice, no big-ass cubes. Poor in the Herradura (pause to take a small nip from the bottle), the Cointreau, agave nectar, and lime juice. Save one piece of a lime you cut in half for garnish later. Shake till the shaker frosts over. Poor into your chilled highball (you can salt the rim if you prefer) and plop the used half of lime in the center. Pretend it’s a little green island in the Margarita ocean.

Southern Baptist

2010-06-10T10:20:00.004-05:00

It's summertime here in Austin, TX. Here, let me help you out...

THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST
(A refreshing beverage for a Southern Gentleman or Gentlewoman)

- Luzianne Sweet Tea
- Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Mint Leaves

First you are going to need to make your own sweet tea as there is no commercially pre-made sweet tea worth a darn. As far as I'm concerned Luzianne makes the best tea when it comes to making sweet tea.

Make yer tea!

2 quart size or 8 cup size Luzianne Tea bags
8 cups boiling water
1/2 to 1 cup sugar (the more the better)

Instructions:
Combine tea bags, water, and sugar in pitcher. Cover and steep for 20 minutes. Remove and discard tea bags. Chill. Makes 2 quarts.

Prepare the beverage:
Fill a mason jar full of ice. Pour the Rebel Yell about 1/4 to 1/2 the way up the glass. The more the better! Fill the remaining with your delicious sweet tea! Take a couple of mint leaves and slap them in the palm of your hand to get the aroma going and garnish your drink.

Tah-dah, enjoy your delicious summertime libation. As far as the congregation knows, you're just enjoying a plain ol' sweet tea fit for any teetotaler.

Father's Day

2010-06-08T13:58:00.001-05:00

Father's Day is coming up! I'm going to have this little graphic I whipped up printed on an apron. Nice! Mmmmmm, I want a burger.

Walden Pond

2010-06-07T16:56:00.002-05:00

I finished reading Walden at Deep Eddy this weekend. This google map is kind of depressing in a way.

4 Walls

2010-06-07T16:26:00.003-05:00

If I were to ever build my own backyard painting studio or maybe even a small vacation hut somewhere, it would probably look a lot like this!

Paintings Updated

2010-06-04T10:08:00.002-05:00

I finally have the art section of the website updated. There will be more coming soon! Anyway, check out some of my recent paintings at the Ghost House Design site!

FUTURISK

2010-06-03T15:25:00.002-05:00

I don't know if this is going to be any good but I'm not sure how it's going to be anything but great judging by that artwork. Should be another great release from Minimal Wave!

Minimal Wave presents the long awaited 30th anniversary release by Futurisk. Originally from Florida, Futurisk was a pioneering electro-punk group that recorded and performed in the pre-midi era of the early '80s. They had two vinyl releases that sold out : The Sound Of Futurism 1980 / Army Now and the Player Piano EP. They played a legendary live show and had some TV appearances and videos (check their video for Army Now here), but for a number of reasons by 1984 Futurisk was history. The Player Piano LP culls material they recorded between 1980-1982, featuring all the tracks from their two 7" releases as well as some early 4 track tapes and rare studio recordings. The record is pressed on 180 gram vinyl, comes in a matte printed innersleeve (with old photos and press) and orange matte outer jacket.

Rock Paper Show signing!

2010-06-01T17:26:00.002-05:00

Flatstock might be my favorite part of SXSW each year. I'm definitely going to check this out Saturday night.

Rock Paper Show documents the first decade of the twenty-first century as the high-water mark in the storied intersection of graphic design and music. Against the backdrop of the digital-music revolution, the rock poster reemerged during this period as the calling card of impossibly talented new artists and design studios brought up on Black Flag, Joy Division, the Flaming Lips, and the Melvins.

Memorial Weekend!

2010-05-28T14:09:00.002-05:00

New Website

2010-05-24T12:00:00.002-05:00

The new website is a go. I just need to take new photos of some of my paintings.

Skull-A-Day

2010-03-17T13:53:00.001-05:00

Hey, my illustration's up on Skull-A-Day!

Kite Festival

2010-03-15T14:22:00.002-05:00

We went to the Kite Festival in Zilker Park this Sunday. Here is the photographic proof.

Chuck

2010-03-10T14:23:00.002-06:00

So I've been watching a lot of Bugs Bunny. It's interesting that Looney Tunes was originally created in 1929 by Warner Bros. in order to promote the sale of sheet music and phonograph records but as stars were born with the creation of Porky Pig (1935), Daffy Duck (1937) and Bugs Bunny (1940), the show became so much more. You have to love a kids show that featured loads of violence, suicidal gags, cigarette smoking, and offensive ethnic caricatures. Many episodes are now edited to remove scenes that may involve things such as smoking, drinking alcohol, ingesting pills and dangerous chemicals freely, playing with fire, and abusing animals. My kids will grow up watching Looney Tunes. They're far less psychotic than teletubbies.

Flash

2010-03-09T08:54:00.001-06:00

Colorado

2010-03-04T09:37:00.008-06:00

Here are a few pictures from my trip to Colorado.

Liquid Galazy

2010-02-15T14:21:00.001-06:00

I love Google Earth and I want to play with this.

Patrick's Book Club

2010-02-12T09:33:00.005-06:00

I just finished reading Absalom, Absalom! by ol' William Faulkner the other day. I can say without hesitation that Absalom was my favorite out of the handful of his books I've read. It's no revelation that Faulkner is a black-belt writer but I think I'm going to have to say that Absalom was probably one of the best books I've ever read by anyone. I can't remember the last 30 or so pages of any other novel giving me the rush of excitement and adrenaline that Absalom, Absalom! gave! Anyway, the day after I finished the book the New York Times reported that Sally Wolff-King, a scholar of Southern literature at Emory University, had discovered an old plantation diary as a "source for myriad names, incidents and details that populate his fictionalized Yoknapatawpha County." It's a pretty interesting read.

Side note: I got a subscription for the Sunday edition of the NY Times around mid-December and so far have only received three papers, one of which was soaked in rain. Damn you paper boy!

PIZZA = REBOUNDS

2010-02-11T17:01:00.001-06:00

Colorado

2010-02-08T13:59:00.004-06:00

I've never been skiing. Hell, being from the South, I've never even seen an amount of snow that would allow one to ski. This will soon change as I'm going to Denver later this month to give it a shot. I'm likely to suck at skiing as I can't so much as even stand up in a pair of roller skates. We'll see!

"Go that way, really fast. If something gets in your way, turn."

Record Bag!

2010-02-03T11:10:00.003-06:00

Ha, just in case you had no idea what to get me for my birthday!

New Releases

2010-02-02T13:19:00.003-06:00

Speaking of Stones Throw, I'm pretty excited about this upcoming release from Madlib's new jazz fusion outfit, The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble. Also, as far as record covers go, that's some nice look'n packaging. Read more about it here. I've also been digging the latest release from Jaga Jazzist.

Go get a copy. Local yokels and vinyl dorks can check the new online resource, Austin Vinyl, for vinyl in Austin. Tah dah.

The Minimal Wave Tapes

2010-02-01T11:04:00.004-06:00

Picked up this Stones Throw minimal-wave comp. to help me through this last run of wintery days here in Austin. Read more here. Brrrrrr, so minimal!

The Minimal Wave Tapes
Track List:
1. “Way Out Of Living” Linear Movement
2. “Flying Turns” Crash Course In Science
3. “Radiance” Oppenheimer Analysis
4. “Who's Really Listening” Mark Lane
5. “Tempusfugit” Tara Cross
6. “Blurred” Turquoise Days
7. “Mickey, Please...” Bene Gesserit
8. “Moscú Está Helado” Esplendor Geometrico
9. “Reassurance Ritual” Das Ding
10. “Just Because” Martin Dupont
11. “Game & Performance” Deux
12. “Things I Was Due To Forget” Somnambulist
13. “My Time” Ohama
14. “The Cabinet” Das Kabinette

Coachella!

2010-01-20T10:18:00.003-06:00

I am wonderfully excited about going to Coachella this year if for no other reason than I will finally get to see...

Stereo Sounds

2009-12-14T16:21:00.005-06:00

My stereo has been producing these sounds lately...

Ricardo Villalobos: Alcachofa

2562: Unbalance

Tales from Estrus vol. 3

Rhythm & Sound w/ The Artists

Slayer: Reign in Blood

The Answer Returns

2009-12-02T15:57:00.007-06:00

Iverson back in Philly!

To me, Allen Iverson is basketball. Before Lebron James and before the mandatory dress code, Iverson was the face of basketball. Yeah there was Kobe but if you were anything like me then you had a penchant for the scruffy, free-wheeling underdog over the prim and proper gloss of Kobe and his loathsome Lakers! I first started watching the NBA in the 2000-2001 season. Those 5 games of the Finals match-up between the Philadelphia Sixers and Los Angeles Lakers were the first NBA games I ever watched. I was mesmerized by this sports figure that was unlike any other I'd ever seen. Sure, it was amazing the way this guy, who was shorter than me, bolted around those behemoths, breaking ankles and popping fade-away jumpers in everyone's face, but it wasn't just that, this guy was street, he was rebellious, he was overly confident, he was bad-to-the-bone feisty and just downright pugnacious. Essentially I found something that I loved! By watching Iverson, I had found Rock and Roll in Basketball and was hooked from then on out.

Robotic Drums

2009-11-17T11:28:00.004-06:00

Craig Newswanger has the coolest MIDI drum machine set up behind the studio where I'm showing for the E.A.S.T. tour. I took a few pictures and a short video. You can read more about it at his Resonance Studio Workshop blog

E.A.S.T. Art Show

2009-11-02T13:42:00.006-06:00

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!

View Larger Map

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T11:39:00.003-06:00

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

2009-10-23T16:22:00.014-05:00

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.

B&R

2009-03-06T14:10:00.003-06:00

So I was lying in bed around midnight a few days ago when I decided to sketch Batman & Robin for my friend's birthday coming up. He's been wanting me to paint Robin for ages now. These aren't paintings but maybe he'll like them anyway. Click'em for a close up.

Curb Your Enthusiasm!!!

2009-03-06T12:07:00.003-06:00

So apparently Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards will all be guesting on one of my absolute favorite Television series, Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm! That's pretty cool news right there but the mere fact that season seven is currently in production is reason enough to get me excited. Larry David is comedic genius! If you have never watched Curb, well then, you my friend are a fool.

Curb

OMGSFA

2009-02-26T09:20:00.003-06:00

So forget all that stuff about me being sick of music (well just the industry really) because one of my favorite bands, the Super Furry Animals, is releasing their new album in nineteen days and are posting a new random video on their site each day leading up to its release.

I'm pretty pumped.

SFA

Yeeezzz Master

2009-02-25T10:25:00.014-06:00

Goddamn, the music industry really makes it hard on a fan.

Soon to be reviewed by either the Federal Trade Commission or the Justice Department, the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster is well underway. I am now making the gagging finger-in-mouth motion. Anyone who has bought a ticket or been to a concert in what David Balto, fellow at the Center for American Progress, calls "a competitively unhealthy market", knows this is bad news.

More here: Ticketmaster and Live Nation Move to Merge

To me this just looks like the music industry hammering another nail in its own coffin.

For the longest time we have had to hear about the Recording Industry Association of America trying its damnedest to slip a subpoena under the door of every college kid with an internet connection. It's been astonishing to watch the utterly future shocked RIAA refuse to believe that the land(net)scape of popular music (essentially still brand new) and it's consumer could actually change!

"We need to keep them darn kids from download'n their Mah'tallicker songs for free! Why would they wanna get this stuff free when we done just re-released / remastered a 5 year old record for this here 5-year anniversary $200 box set. I mean shit, it comes with a poster!?!"

A few examples from wired.com, which covers this stuff pretty well:

With Landmark Trial Half Over, Pirate Bay Crew Celebrates Early Victories
"The prosecutor became visibly frustrated when he tried to get Neij to identify the kingpin who is ultimately responsible for Pirate Bay and the text and graphics on the site. Neij explained that an extended group of people have privileges on the server, and contribute haphazardly as they see fit. The prosecutor seemed not to grasp the concept."

RIAA Courtroom Webcast in Jeopardy
"Harvard University professor Charles Nesson, is challenging the lawsuit and the constitutionality of the Copyright Act, which allows penalties of up to $150,000 per infringed music track." $150,000 is a lot to pay for "Enter Sandman".

Now let me just say here (hope you are listening RIAA lawyers), I am not the biggest fan of downloading mp3's because a.) I am not in love with the mp3 format and b.) It keeps money out of an artist's pocket, BUT I do "illegally" download music from time to time. I also carry my ass down to the record store and buy 10 times more music than I ever thought about downloading. Many times I am shelling out the ol' hard earned for something I discovered on the dark pirate-riddled seas of the intARRnets. You know, sometimes people just don't feel like forking over $18.99 for something they have never heard and may or may not like...though I have discovered many great albums this way, but still, I'm making a point here. Now I completely realize a majority of kids these days probably have their iTunes filled primarily with pirated music and the very occasional store bought chart-topping album from Wal-mart but I must say, if I was as an executive in the music industry, I have to believe that at some point I would stop asking myself why these kids are stealing music and start asking why I haven't done a better job of convincing these millions and millions of kids how exciting and important music can be to the human adventure and how it is totally worth a little bit of cash from that low paying job. Or, you know, you can continue to irrationally nickle and dime your remaining customer base and try to convince them that 5th row seats at the Leonard Cohen concert at the Long Center Dell Hall in Austin, TX are worth $1,499.00.

Here's a news flash: The RIAA and it's lawyers will never, NEver, NEVER keep people from downloading music. Sorry. This bit of reality is brought to you by the painfully obvious department. Here's an idea - adjust. your. business. model. Music has rapidly changed the way in which it is listened to, produced, conceptualized, and distributed. The people concerned with little more than filling their bank accounts have not.

I truly believe the next big movement in music, the epiphany, the reversing trajectory of the pendulum's swing (which, for the first time, may be put into action more by the culture and the consumer/audience than from the music itself) will hing totally upon this matter. In Rainbows may have cracked the seal.

Or as Simon Reynolds puts it in his argument against the economy having impact on the pendulum...

"The way people surf its shockwaves, or react violently against it, might well lead to the next convulsion in music. Indeed, in the same way that punk rock was prefigured in various forms (the Stooges, pub rock) for a good six years before it happened, we've probably already seen some of the anti-reactions taking early shape: the revived, ever-growing importance of live music and the festival, a resurgence of interest in analogue forms like vinyl, cassette and fanzines. All suggest a craving for unmediated experience, for presence, for the "event". It seems unimaginable, but it's possible the next underground will exist entirely off-line. Equally, the next big thing could be that there's no next big thing…. just further entropy (the "not with a bang…" scenario)."

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'

(more on the pendulum later)

Touch and Gone

2009-02-19T09:39:00.003-06:00

It's unfortunate to hear that record label Touch and Go will no longer be releasing new music. It seems like T&G has been around forever. Jesus, they've apparently been around since 1979. As I was born in '79, that is technically forever in Patrickland. I guess we need five favorite Touch and Go releases listed out right here:

1. Man or Astroman?: Experiment Zero
2. Calexico: Feast of Wire
3. !!!: Louden Up Now
4. Blonde Redhead: Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons
5. The Black Heart Procession: Amore del Tropico

Me'thinks I need some Jesus Lizard records.

You Got To Have Standards

2009-02-13T10:35:00.005-06:00

An old friend of mine turned me on to Tortoise many years ago. "Dude," Ernie said, "you got to check out Tortoise." I'm pretty sure that's how it went down. Anyway, I lost my Tortoise CD's in college - I lost soooo many CD's in college...and liver cells (somehow these facts correlate) - so I was quite happy to see a red vinyl re-issue of Standards by Chicago's "post-rockers" Tortoise starring back at me at the record store the other day. I'll spare you my oh so insightful ramblings on this band and just say, dude, you got to check out Tortoise.

Read the Music

2009-02-13T09:32:00.002-06:00

Simon Reynolds, my favorite music critic, has begun posting every Friday for one of my daily destinations, The Guardian UK's music blog. His first three posts can be read here, here and here.

For perhaps a better introduction into what its all about, check out Reynold's seven essays on the (H)ardcore Continuum that were previously released in past issues of The Wire and are now lovingly pasted up on their site.

Chris Paul Wallpaper

2009-02-10T12:22:00.005-06:00

I was bored the other night and thought I'd make an illustration of Chris Paul. Enjoy.

CHRIS PAUL WALLPAPER
1600 x 1200 - 1280 x 1024 - 1280 x 960 - 1280 x 800 - 1024 x 768

Hey Ladies, No More Cramps

2009-02-05T09:37:00.004-06:00

OH NO! Lux Interior, frontman for the Cramps, has died. Total bummer. I was just talking about The Cramps a little while ago. Booo.

Put Those Fonts Down! We Got Some at the House.

2009-02-04T09:54:00.008-06:00

I would tell you to go to yourfonts.com where you can easily create your own fonts, but since given a nod from lifehacker.com, the site has pretty much caved under the traffic. I was able to create my little block type font around midnight last night when it was apparently no longer rush hour. You simply print out the template, scratch down the alphabet in your handwriting, and boom, you got fonts. The template is small and you're not going to get the best looking fonts but it's fun to have a font of your own handwriting. No, I don't usually write in block letters.

I actually found yourfonts.com through Drawn.ca, a little illustration and cartooning blog who had found it via lifehacker. Yesterday was my first time on the popular lifehacker.com, which left me sort of creeped out.

Mission statement - a daily blog that features tips, shortcuts, and downloads that help you get things done smarter and more efficiently.

I did discover that Marie Callender's Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie is probably the most unhealthy thing you can buy at the grocery store. Well you know what, I kind of like those frozen pot pies! The shortest distance between life and death is an efficient, straight line.

Baptazia yourself

2009-01-30T10:58:00.003-06:00

Now, I laughed a lot when I first watched this little video promoting a drum and bass night called Baptazia, but the thing that really struck me was how exemplary this was of how banded together and homogeneous the human animal really is. It's amazing to me that, whether you are a suburban kid that grew up in Oregon in the 1980's or an old man from Spain in the 1700's, every human brain is essentially "wired" the same and has been since we crawled from the primordial soup. Anyway, you get what I'm saying. We love organization, rhythm and repetition. Since the caveman began banging bone to skull, he realized that organizing the resulting sound into a rhythm or pattern made his cavewoman's butt shake to the beat. It's no surprise there are so many references to the church in rave and club culture. Minus most (but not entirely all) religious aspects, and you pretty much have the same thing going on. Whenever the human mind wants to, oh I don't know, get outside of itself, enjoy itself, "spiritualize" itself, music is usually involved...and sometimes drugs. And yes, as RNOV8TR points out in the comments section, the jump off officially takes place at 2:43.

LISTMANIA

2009-01-14T09:30:00.026-06:00

Inspired by SK's list, I thought I'd make my own list of favorite things of 2008. No grand introduction here, just the list. Oh, and my list only goes to 90 because I really just got tired of this post and was ready to get it out of the way...much like 2008 really.

90. Finally canoeing Lady Bird Lake.
89. Thinking Chris had killed himself after drunkenly falling over a wall and then laughing for days after realizing he had not.
88. Rockstar energy drinks.
87. Having a love/mostly hate relationship with facebook and how connected/alone it makes me feel.
86. The entire Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark catalog.
85. Finally - decades behind the rest of humanity - delving into Pink Floyd.
84. The discovery and discontinuation of Howling Monkey - R.I.P.
83. Music DVD's
82. The Houston foray and Chris Paul's Hornets vs. the Mingled Rockets.
81. Making my first block prints. Crafty.
80. CHAOS Ski Top hats
79. Feeling young/old while nearly everyone I know is popping baybays out.
78. Visiting New Orleans after having not been since before 'Trina payed herself a visit.
77. Elvis
76. Continuing with the mindset and interests of a sixteen year old while decidedly behaving with more maturity than the year before.
75. The beginning and end of bar fights. Ok, so I've had one in '09. The End.
74. ACL this past and every year.
73. Getting raisin-hands at Lake Travis all summer long.
72. Visiting Marcie in San Francisco.
71. Going to Dallas with Kyle and visiting the most ridiculously overpriced used record store on the damn planet.
70. Chris arrives, entertains.
69. Tailgating with the Tejano Tailgaters - nicest folks on the 40 acres.
68. Winning a t-shirt design competition.
67. Going to see Prong, GWAR and Helmet in order to really feel like said inner sixteen year old. (regretfully missed the Pumpkins and Les Claypool)
66. Dubstep
65. The Sound Opinions podcast
64. My Japanese Maple.
63. Skae and Prof. X.
62. Getting to live with two friends I've known 20+ years.
61. All things Psychedelic...music wise.
60. The continuous comedic fodder provided by fixed gear bikes and the girls who ride them.
59. Learning to sit back, enjoy the diversity, and find humor in the ridiculousness of life as I have "...realized that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration, that we are all one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively, there is no such thing as death, life is only a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves." Woa, Dude.
58. Boiling mass quantities of peanuts on several occasions.
57. Searching for the perfect pair of tongs. I had, in terms of aesthetics and functionality, what you would consider the perfect pair. Alas, they have disappeared.
56. Talking about my fantasy basketball team to people who could obviously not care less.
55. My vinyl obsession.
54. Watching Marci and Sebastian swim.
53. A personal record was set for the amount of outdoor grilling in one year. I deserve a sponsorship from Webber.
52. I enjoyed the whole President thing but not as much as the Patrick from four years ago would have enjoyed it.
51. Longhorn Cavern.
50. Discussions comparing and contrasting Texas (all I am now able to have) vs. Memphis (what I grew up on) style Bar-b-que. Memphis wins, get over it.
49. Daytripping to Llano & Ink's Lake with Marci.
48. The nostalgia of seeing Oxford's Blue Mountain at the Continental Club and running into crazy-ass Carl from Laurel.
47. Going to see DJ Keoki at an underground warehouse rave, Chris' look of horror at the whole spectacle, witnessing the worst drum and bass DJ ever, and being too elderly to stick around till the Keoki set.
46. Putting every Gram Parsons recording into the collection.
45. Finally going to the Fillmore - Swervedriver
44. The Ice Cream & Hot Sauce Festivals.
43. Kyle and I going to see The English Beat.
42. Playing volleyball with inexplicable fury at the Architecture Center and then not being able to walk properly for a solid week as a result.
41. Checking out the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and catching the tail end of their plant sale where I filled the back of my van with plants for about $10.
40. My little brother's baby girl can now say "Pat Pat".
39. My beautiful little Vestax mixer.
38. Going to the Texas vs. Baylor game.
37. Getting trashed in Napa Valley and beat boxing while a sommelier rapped about the wine. Now why would you spit that deliciousness out?
36. The Crawfish Festival and fried snake.
35. St. Patrick's Day at the Dog & Duck. I don't remember what happened after the D&D.
34. Ummm, I got an iPhone.
33. Pretending to be a Spur's fan in front of Travis' mom when going to a Suns vs. Spurs playoff game.
32. Going to my cousin's wedding. Everybody wants to get married.
31. Starting up Ghost House.
30. Many swell additions were added to the T-shirt section of the closet.
29. My ghost graphic Ghostly International slipmats.
28. Breakfast tacos - chorizo is my lil friend.
27. The first annual Hootenanny
26. TheQuietus.com
25. Tempa & Hyperdud records
24. Parliament Funkadelic - The Mothership Connection Live 1976 DVD
23. Hurricanes - the drink.
22. Night swimming at the Elk's club...always unusual.
21. Finally finding my favorite Chinese place - Ming's.
20. Camping in Big Sur. Probably the most beautiful place I've ever been. I think about going back all the time.
19. Becoming a little obsessed with Henry Miller after buying and reading Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch at the Henry Miller Memorial Library.
18. My silly Vibram Five Finger shoes that I love.
17. My new camera and Flickr
16. Writing a few more unreleased rap songs. I especially enjoy the one where the beat is comprised entirely of gun claps and rat tats.
15. Dressing as Garth for Halloween.
14. Playing Cranium and getting PISSED when losing.
13. Throwing mops at my loud neighbors.
12. For the first time in my life I found someone that chops my lid the way I like it. Donny cuts a mean head of hair.
11. Tubing the Guadalupe river.
10. The Red River Rivalry and the Yellow Rose.
09. That horse in the French Quarter that laughed & cackled in Marci's face.
08. Seeing Dizzee Rascal with Bun B.
07. Watching Who is Bozo Texino before the Brightblack show at Mohawk.
06. Google Earth.
05. Taking large breaks from news & politics. See #69.
04. I'm running out of ideas. Seems like all I did this past year was swim, shop for records and eat.
03. Seeing family and friends over the holiday break.
02. One night of snow in Texas.
01. Spending those last couple of months with my dog Sebastian.

Gigposters

2009-01-13T09:30:00.002-06:00

I would so pre-order this little baby if I wasn't totally broke. 208 pages of 11x14 rock poster goodness.

Gigposters - Rock Show Art of the 21st Century!

Oh, and if you live in Austin and you likey the records, go by Backspin this Saturday. Er'thang is 20% off and there are Dj's spinning all day.

Mashed Potatoes

2009-01-09T10:46:00.002-06:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day!!! It's everybody's favorite sample on a damn t-shirt. Wow.

Getchu one.

New Orleans

2009-01-08T14:11:00.006-06:00

I went to New Orleans for the first time since before the storm and totally fell in love with the Big Easy all over again. I was down there around ten times a year before Katrina made a mess of the place (which is still very much on the tip of everyone's tongue down there), so I was very excited to make a return after having been away for so long. I know Austin thinks they are "keeping it weird" but no place in the states has anything on New Orleans. It's the only place I've been where crazy people seriously outnumber the "normal" people. It's perfectly acceptable to walk about town shopping early on a Sunday morning while getting totally buzzed on a frozen daiquiri. I also noticed that the Quarter was cleaner than I had ever seen it. I walked down Bourbon for about 5 minutes and was amazed I wasn't overcome with the stench of stale booze, piss and garbage. I never really left the Quarter or Uptown so I didn't get the full picture but was totally ready to pack up and move back to the South. Of course I didn't have to deal with the Military Police, high crime and one hundred degree, humid-as-hell, weather while visiting.

A few pictures

HACK

2008-12-30T16:38:00.002-06:00

I'm back in town so I guess I'll makes more posty's. I hit up New Orleans on the way home to Jackson last week. I forgot how much I love New Orleans. More on that later...and pictures. I'm back in ATX with a horrible cold and all I know is that cereal boxes are psychotic!

Joe Johnson

2008-12-17T12:33:00.004-06:00

Does anyone want to come over and watch Joe Johnson, unquestionably the most underrated player in the NBA, and the Hotlanta Hawks take on the Beantown Celtics? There's no reason for this post other than the fact that I wanted to post this picture of Joe Joe. I'm bored.

Recommended: Flying Lotus

2008-12-16T12:46:00.002-06:00

A quick recommendation - I just picked up Reset, the new EP from Flying Lotus, and must say that I now love nearly every single thing he cranks out. His Long Playah, Los Angeles, is top notch and will find steady rotation from the cut&paste, J Dilla-esque Lap Hop fan. I'm trying to find all those previous & elusive F.L. EP's with little luck.

The Best of The Best of 2008 Lists List!

2008-12-10T12:12:00.013-06:00

Saying "lists list" like that does something for me - not sure why or what.

I must say that I'm not the biggest fan of the annual need for every music publication, website or blog to gather up all of their favorite records released within the year and rank them out (from best to, like, totally the bestest) for all to behold their divine and discriminating taste. Now just because I usually hate these masturbatory lists doesn't mean that I don't love reading every last one I can get my hands on! (Yes, I love getting my hands on masturbatory lists.) I just love that "what the hell were these idiots thinking?" moment when reading a "best-of" list almost more than I like being reminded of or being made aware of something great I missed that year. Anyway, I thought I would rank all of the "best of 2008" lists (from "alright, I can see that" to "my mouth just filled itself with vomit") that I could find.

10. THE PITCHFORK READERS POLL
If you wanted to know what these fudgetards have been listening to on their ipods this year, this is the list for you. Major negative points for having Vampire (uhg, dry-heave) Weekend and MGMT in the top 10. If the PF staff come out with a list (and you know those bug-a-boos will), it should be a little better. I read Pitchfork everyday but it's just so much fun to pour hateraid all over that ho while she's dancing to M.I.A.!

9. A.V. CLUB BEST OF
Lame-0

8. GUARDIAN.CO.UK Critics' poll 2008
Mmehh - kudos for having Elbow and Glasvegas in there, I guess.

7. DROWNED IN SOUND
Not bad...not great (because, you know, I'm obviously the expert). No surprises, which is kinda boring.

6. METACRITIC
A really good list actually. The list is ranked by an album's score in the Metacritic database. The Bug is #2 and Harvey Milk makes the list!

5. RESIDENT ADVISER TOP 10 REMIXES
BOOM CHIC BOOM CHIC BOOM CHIC BOOM CHIC

4. PASTE MAGAZINE - Signs of Life 2008: Best Music
The "best" thing about this list is the fact that TV on the Radio, which seems to be the consensus numero uno on many lists out there, barely makes the Paste list coming in at #50. It's not that I don't like TVOTR, I just like Paste for being anti-cool, which is cool...but then you have to be cool so as not to be anti-cool because being anti-cool makes you cool and nobody wants that. This makes the best catch 22's of 2008 list. Was She & Him the best of 2008? Really?

3. POPMATERS BEST MUSIC OF 2008
They divide their lists into categories: best hip hop, best world music, etc. which is probably the best way to go about this here business.

2. FACT
Pretty good list sans the MGMT. What does MGMT stand for? Oh wait, I don't care. Flying Lotus should be on every list out there.

1. The QUIETUS' Reductive & Subjective Albums Of The Year List
You have to love that Sun 0))) is #5 on their list. Don't know about British Sea Power being #4. Perhaps the most sensible list out there. They do a pretty good job at picking albums that people might still buy a couple of years from now while also making some picks that don't show up on every other best-of. The Quietus rarely disappoints. While you're there, check out The Quietus' Self-Indulgent Reissues, Comps & Mixes Of The Year List!

"Lists list"

BLUR

2008-12-09T11:23:00.002-06:00

Ok, I know this is already old news but I don't care.

Deep down I feel mostly cheesed out by all of these bands that have been recently reuniting. Something usually smacks of a disingenuous pat-on-the-back victory lap and/or last hopeful cash-in when I see that whatever bygone band is getting back together. I think many people kind of feel this way...until they discover that one of their old favorites is getting back together. Then they're all like, "Oh I know this might not be the best idea BUT I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED!"

So now let me just say - I know it might not be the best idea, BUT I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED THAT BLUR IS GETTING BACK TOGETHER!

I haven't posted anything in a while (he says to the empty void of the interwebbings), so I thought I'd post two albums that I've really been enjoying lately.

The Aliens: Luna
This is the second release from ex-Beta Band members, The Aliens. Be sure to listen to this album on a pair of headphones as you enjoy the pop-psychedelic studio mastery of Luna! Throw the Beta Band, The Beach Boys, a tie-dyed t-shirt, brit-pop, and a mythical studio wizard into a blender and this is what comes out.

The Aliens

Zomby: Where Were U in '92
I've always enjoyed my music LOUD! Whether playing live, listening to the car stereo, or throwing a tune on the record player, I usually have the volume much louder than what the average person would be comfortable with. I just so happened to be playing the new album from Zomby on the ol' home stereo when I eventually heard the Austin Police Department knocking on the front door of my house. "Ummm, we're going to need you to turn down the music sir," says Mr. Officer. To which I respond, "Oh, I didn't think it would be that terribly loud outside, what with all of the windows and doors closed." "Well I could hear it outside, from across the street,...inside of my car,...clearly." I'm sorry, Where Were U in '92 is just that good. Zomby was obviously on the rave floor in 1992 taking notes. This is a fresh twist on the dubstep genre by infusing the dark warbling/wobbling bass of dubstep with all of the wonderful stabbing synths, dancehall sirens, and ambient diva vocals from the glory days of old. I haven't been this excited about a dance record since Studio's West Coast came out a year ago.

Zomby

Small Thanks

2008-11-25T12:08:00.022-06:00

Thanksgiving is upon us. I have always loved Thanksgiving because, well, I love food...and family, the Thanksgiving day parade, and the part about not having to go to work or school that comes with most major holidays. However, this will be the second consecutive year that I haven't been able to return home for Turkeyday because I, much to my chagrin, have to work. Yes, I am thankful that I have a job - beside the point.

I'm not terribly pissed that work has kept me from another family holiday (though I'm extremely excited to see them all come December) because my friend Kyle and I have finally overcome the perplexities of roasting the perfect bird, and have made an annual event of cooking an enormous grandma-esque Thanksgiving meal for essentially the two of us and any other "holiday orphans" that may straggle in throughout Angstgiving day. This year's menu includes the 5-star brined gobbler, southern-style cornbread dressing, heart-attack-at-29 garlic mashed potatoes, steamed french-style beans with bacon, and a hearty pear and Gorgonzola cheese salad! Not bad for two dudes who regularly spend most of their time playing with records and comic books.

Of course I'm seriously thankful for my family and the great friends in my life but I thought I'd make a list of some of the other little things that make me a happy and sane person. Ahhh, blogging.

PODCASTS - Nothing gets you through the day like a couple of good podcasts. Some of my favorites are as follows:

- The Moth Podcast
- All Songs Considered
- Sound Opinions
- The Resident Adviser Podcast
- The Rinse.FM Podcast
- This American Life

THE NBA / COLLEGE FOOTBALL - You know, it has more or less gotten to the point where these two sports are the only thing I can stomach to watch on TV. I can hardly even watch the news without getting extremely perturbed. If there is anything else worth watching then I certainly don't know what it is. As far as the notion of "reality television" is concerned, I believe that in sport you experience and observe more of what constitutes the human experience than what you will find in most tv drama/reality shows. Besides, nothing cheers up a boring Thursday night like hanging with Kenny, Ernie, and Charles on TNT's NBA Game Night.

ART - Take your kids to ~~Church~~ (the museum), they need and deserve it.

VINYL - I fell into this drug late in life and now suffer a full blown addiction. I reason my weekly trips to the record store with the fact that, hey, at least I'm not dropping this cash for crack on a weekly basis. It's a fun thing to nerd out on. Unlike Stones Throw honcho Peanut Butter Wolf, my vinyl does not weigh a ton...but it's getting there.

FOOD - I don't cook like I did when I was living in Hattiesburg. I'm sure this has something to do with the fact that if you wanted to eat anything worth eating in that town, you had to cook it yourself. I must revise an earlier statement - I can watch cooking shows like mad. My favorite was Cajun Cooking with Justin Wilson. It was good times, "I gar-on-tee!".

BOOKS - The ultimate in escapism! I don't really read nearly as much as I have in the past. I'm making an effort to read much more in 2009. As Henry Miller said, "We should read to give our souls a chance to luxuriate." I think most of us could handle a little more luxuriating, na'h mean?

SHEED!

2008-11-21T18:39:00.001-06:00

Just little sheed for the weekend.

Album Cover Quiz

2008-11-21T11:01:00.003-06:00

It's Friday so I know everyone is bored with nothing but this evening's plans swirling through that work-rattled brain. Well then, you might as well take the album cover quiz over at The Quietus. I love The Quietus. Just try it. I'm not going to tell you my score but it was embarrassingly low.

It's A Question Of Mime: Play The Quietus' Album Cover Quiz Game

Highly Recommended: RTX

2008-11-20T09:45:00.009-06:00

Ok, so I knew I was going to like JJ Got Live RaTX, the new album from RTX before I even bought it. I've been a fan of Jennifer Herrema's previous band with former husband Neil Hagerty, The Royal Trux, for quite some time. Unlike the Royal Trux, which was more of a controlled chaos of artsy, psyched-out rock and roll, Herrama's new project (minus Hagerty) lets it's (her) hair down and turns the damn amps up to, well you know, ELEVEN! You know you're in for a ride as the album opens with swirling talk box guitar riffs and menacing synths before the whiskey fueled rawk'n roll comes crashing down on you. If you're not privy to the growling vocal stylings of Jennifer Herrema (pictured below), then you are missing out on what I consider to be the current female face of American rock and roll. Simply, she has more balls than all the dudes in your boyfriend's band.

Read the Quietus review here.

"We’re a thousand miles from the late and frankly fucking awfully idiotic Darkness, and JJ Got Live RaTX will make the new preposterously named Guns ‘N’ Roses album (due out in 3045) sound like the limp-wristed has-been that it will inevitably be."

If you like RTX then go back and check out The Royal Trux. Singles, Live, Unreleased is a good place to start.

...And Justice for All

2008-11-18T23:15:00.007-06:00

I'm sure you don't (I know I sure as hell don't), but just in case you needed another reason to hate the nauseating, hip-electro duo Justice, then look no further than the little picture posted above. The little MIDI controller that homeboy to the left is so expertly tweaking is, ummm, not plugged into a damn thing. Someone give that man a glow stick to twirl instead! Earlier this week they also came out and confessed the use of over 400 uncleared samples used on their debut album. You know, I seriously doubt that boastful amount of samples used. I doubt these guys own 400 records from which to pull to achieve their crunching bluzz of synth-diarrhea.

I really love electronic music but I'm really tired of the "live dj set". Just because there's some pasty boob wearing his sister's tight jeans, constantly fiddling with his laptop on stage doesn't mean there is much of anything "live" going on. Why do we need to even see you playing (whether you actually are or not) with your knobs and gadgets anyway? A kid with nothing but two dusty slabs of vinyl and two record players with ye ol' mixer plopped between the two is working harder (and usually with more skill), and giving more of a "live" set than said pasty boob. You know I think this is the main thing that irritates me about the hipster-electro-dance scene. Why has it become necessary to turn the DJ into the rockstar? DJ culture came about as the antithesis, the destroying of the hero-worship in rock and roll, the pure celebration of the music. Jesus, I could carry on like this for a while.

People aren't coming to your show to see you, they are coming to hear you. Everyone please leave your laptops, goofy Serato records and Abletons at the house, put your head down, shup up, and play some damn songs (at least a minute and a half of each before you go screeching off to the next). Now if you are making your own electronic music then go ahead and bring all the toys you'd like, but unless you are really going at it to give us that real-time "live" show, don't try to convince us you are doing more than essentially hitting the play button.

The zombies...no, not those English lads.

2008-11-13T17:04:00.005-06:00

A fun collection of the zombified can be found at Portraits as Living Deads. This would have made for a great Halloween costume.

New Orleans Hornets

2008-11-12T11:21:00.002-06:00

I'm going to see Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets take on the Houston Rockets this Saturday! You know, I've lived in Austin almost three years now and have never really spent any time in Houston. We plan on leaving early Saturday morning and spending the whole day bumming around town before tipoff at 7:30. Maybe next week I'll have a few pictures of us hanging with the Hornets at the Cracker Barrel or something.

- CHRIS PAUL

Where are the posters?

2008-11-11T13:23:00.006-06:00

There's a nice article over at Popmatters.com on the current state of affairs in the rock poster art world. As the giant corporations of the music industry continue to piss and bully their customers for the cheapest dollar, and as the tangibles are increasingly replaced with the .mp3 and the low-res .jpg, the art form of the rock posters is slowly going the way of the Dodo. I have to believe the "enduring allure of the artifact" will weather the storm of the broadband connection.

"Unfortunately, venue support of the independently produced gig posters has flagged. As the New York rock club scene is slowly consumed by entities like Clear Channel and Bowery Presents, bulletin boards and glass showcases that once boasted bold, event-specific, silkscreens now display too-slick, label-supplied glossies that blend in with other mass-produced visual noise. Venues don’t want to spend the cash to produce materials they can get from the labels for free. Peripheral’s Buxton says, “As long as profit is the sole motivator and it’s just about kind of appealing to mass audiences, the clubs are not a good incubator for really cool, hands-on creativity.”

Hung Up: The State of Rock Poster Art

Here are some more little snippets on the today's music industry from the Guardian:

Behind the music at Musexpo: Can we fix a 'broken' industry?

Is the music industry calling time on the double album?

Fancy hiring a personal 'music stylist'?

Inky Fingers: Maggoty Lamb picks over the flyblown carcass of this month's music press

Dizzee for Prime Minister!

2008-11-06T10:49:00.005-06:00

So Barack Obama is our new president! That's so awesome but now it's time to move on to a new campaign. Dizzee Rascal for Prime Minister! We need tha dirtee stank in her majesty's gub'ment. That doesn't sound right.

The Dizzy Dizz

Gigposters.com

2008-11-05T14:09:00.003-06:00

Gigposters.com Coloring Book: Volume 1
40 pages of deranged childish fun from today's top underground artists!

I love gigposters.com! One of my favorite stops for "online inspiration" has come out with its very own coloring book - and just in time for christmas! Be sure to check out the posters of the week section.

Gigposters Coloring Book

Halloween Albums: Misfits

2008-10-31T09:16:00.005-05:00

Happy Halloween! The final album pick is kind of a cheat because it's a single. The last pick is the Halloween single by America's horror punk darlings, the Misfits. In my opinion "Halloween" is the ultimate song for All Hollow's Eve. It's dark, rock'n and fun to sing along with. So there it is...my Halloween picks.

Misfits

Halloween Albums: Black Sabbath

2008-10-30T11:18:00.002-05:00

Today's pick is Paranoid by the grandpaws of heavy metal, Black Sabbath. I don't think this pick really needs any explanation. Be sure to eat a bat while you're jamming out to these gnarly riffs. Oh wait, or was it Alice Cooper that ate the bat? Oh well, go ahead and add some Alice Cooper to the set list while you're at it. I'm sure there's a plethora of suitable Cooper songs for Halloween. Ok, Halloween is tomorrow! What will be the final Halloween album pick? Only my mom can hardly wait. Hi mom.

Black Sabbath

Halloween Albums: Fantomas

2008-10-29T13:58:00.006-05:00

Only two more days until Halloween! Today's pick is The Director's Cut by Fantomas! Fantomas is one of those bands where if you haven't already heard of them or singer Mike Patton, then you probably will not like them. It's not that I'm trying to be a condescending snob or anything, it's just that if you know inescapable bands like Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, or Peeping Tom, then you damn well know about Fantomas. So if you don't know about Fantomas then you probably don't know about Patton's other bands and this kind of music is probably not your thing...which goes back to my original point - if you haven't heard of them, you probably won't like them. But what do I know? I like them. One of my best friends LOVES them and could tell you whether Mike Patton wears boxers or briefs and what his favorite color is.

Anyway, The Director's Cut is a cover album of popular movie themes. The track list is evidence enough that it belongs on my Halloween album list...

1. "The Godfather" (Nino Rota) – 2:45
2. "Der Golem" (Karl Ernst Sasse) – 2:38
3. "Experiment in Terror" (Henry Mancini) – 2:40
4. "One Step Beyond" (Harry Lubin) – 2:57
5. "Night of the Hunter (Remix)" (Walter Schumann) – 0:58
6. "Cape Fear" (Bernard Herrmann) – 1:49
7. "Rosemary's Baby" (Krzysztof Komeda) – 3:20
8. "The Devil Rides Out (Remix)" (James Bernard) – 1:37
9. "Spider Baby" (Ronald Stein) – 2:25
10. "The Omen (Ave Satani)" (Jerry Goldsmith) – 1:49
11. "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" (Robert McNaughton) – 3:07
12. "Vendetta" (John Barry) – 2:03
13. Untitled – 0:05
14. "Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion" (Ennio Morricone) – 4:00
15. "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" (Angelo Badalamenti) – 3:28
16. "Charade" (Henry Mancini) – 3:04

Fantomas

Halloween Albums: Siouxsie and the Banshees

2008-10-28T10:53:00.005-05:00

Keeping with debut album theme, today's Halloween music pick is The Scream by Siouxsie and the Banshees. The song "Suburban Relapse" was inspired by the stabbing strings of Bernard Herrmann's Psycho, and the song "Carcass" is about, umm well, we'll let Sioux explain...

"Yeah Carcass -- it's about a butcher's assistant who can't get girls and so he falls in love with a lump of meat on the slab and so that he can be like the object of his affection -- he cuts off his arms and legs."

Ah hold on! I say (thinking I've deduced a flaw in their logic), How can he cut off ALL his arms and legs -- it would be really difficult for him to cut off his last arm -- wouldn't it?

"Not at all", comes the reply "he just leans his shoulder on the Bacon Slicer!"

Sounds like Halloween to me.

Siouxsie and the Banshees

Halloween Albums: Man or Astroman?

2008-10-27T15:12:00.004-05:00

Monday's Halloween music pick is the debut album from Man or Astroman?. Now this isn't necessarily your typical "Halloween" music pick, none of these selections are really meant to be, which is why you won't see Thriller on this list, but it is a great instrumental sci-fi surf-rock album.

I've loved this band for many years. I was actually able to meet the band once and had them reluctantly sneak me and my other 17 year old friends into the 18 and up show. The performance culminated with the bass player running around the stage with a hollowed out computer monitor on his head that had been set on fire as a tesla coil placed in the middle of the stage shot bolts of electricity through the air. Good times. This one comes highly recommended!

Man or Astroman?

Halloween Albums: Howlin' Wolf

2008-10-24T10:55:00.000-05:00

Friday's Halloween music pick is Evil by the great Howlin' Wolf, born in White Station, Mississippi. Howlin' Wolf didn't sing the blues, his 6 foot, 300 pound mass would belt the growling lyrics out of his guts. Music critic Cub Koda once declared, "no one could match [Howlin' Wolf] for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." It's true, I've got American Folk-Blues Festival: The British Tours 1963-1966 on DVD where Howlin' Wolf plays a few tunes and the man will definitely creep you out. I mean after all, Blues is the original Devil's music!

Howlin' Wolf

Halloween Albums: Bauhaus

2008-10-23T09:45:00.008-05:00

So I've decided to post an album suitable for the Halloween season every weekday until the 31st...that is, if I can think of that many albums perfect for gettting yourself creeped out.

Today's choice is The Sky's Gone Out by the original gothfathers, Bauhaus. I believe this is their next to last album before they broke up and a few of the emo's went on to form another good band, The Love & Rockets. Now that I think of it, "Haunted by your Love" is a pretty good Halloween song by the L&R. Any of the Bauhaus albums would probably work for this post. Also pick up "Bela Lugosi's Dead", the first single from Bauhaus.

Bauhaus

Halloween Music

2008-10-22T10:28:00.002-05:00

Halloween is almost here and I love Halloween. If you are looking for some music to jam while carving your pumpkins (which I will be doing this Saturday), then I would recommend Bad music for bad people released in 1984 by The Cramps! Nothing says Halloween like grungy horror-tinged psychobilly! I haven't listened to this album in over ten years but decided to pick it up again last week. I forgot how much I love this record! Pick it up! The obvious Halloween hits are "Human Fly" and "Goo Goo Muck".

The Cramps

Control

2008-10-21T12:26:00.001-05:00

Last night I finally watched Anton Corbijn's Control, a biopic about Ian Curtis from everybody's favorite post-punkers Joy Division. Despite the depressing yet beautiful black and white imagery and downright melancholy story, I really thought this movie came across as a real celebration and tribute to Joy Division and the oh so fruitful Manchester music scene. Toby Kebbell (who I believe won a supporting actor award of some sort) as the band's manger, Rob Gretton, was a definite highlight for me and provided a much needed splash of calming and comedic relief. It was like Corbijn was using Gretton's role as Joy Division's manger to, in a way, help manage the audience work its way through the tragedy and turmoil. It's one of those movies you will probably never watch again but are glad you did.

CONTROL

Oxford American

2008-10-14T14:47:00.002-05:00

Here's a nice story from the Oxford American on how Lil Wayne helped school teacher David Ramsey survive his first year of teaching in New Orleans. The Oxford American was originally published in Oxford, Mississippi in 1989, until 2002 when it was bought out and moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. It is now published out of The University of Central Arkansas in Conway as a quarterly. I stopped buying the OA on a regular basis after it moved to Arkansas but it has always been a lesser-known, quality publication. The annual Southern Music issue was always worth taking home. You know, now that I think about it, I just might renew my subscription.

I Will Forever Remain Faithful by David Ramsey

The Oxford American

FREE T.I.

2008-10-13T14:36:00.003-05:00

Just in time for Christmas! Order your "Free T.I." shirts today! Ok, I got a little bored this weekend.

"FREE T.I." T-SHIRTS

McBess / Fowler

2008-10-09T15:59:00.002-05:00

I love the illustration work of MCBESS! I think I enjoy it so much because, had I discovered something like this at the age of sixteen, I would have been obsessed. Peter Fowler is another illustrator that, for me, has that same appeal. Peter Fowler was long-time "resident" artist for a favorite band of mine, the Super Furry Animals. You can tell both artists have a love for music.

- MCBESS
- Peter Fowler

PodMix

2008-10-07T14:33:00.010-05:00

I've really enjoyed the recent Resident Adviser podcast mix by Lee Jones. It's a rather subdued mix of cinematic embellishments and minimalism which is perfect for, say, cleaning up the house. I know that doesn't particularly sound like the most ringing of endorsements but it's good, I promise. Minimalism bored me to tears a while back but now I've really begun to enjoy a lot of it. Much of it can still be boring and uninventive but it has its merits.

If you like dance music then the Resident Adviser podcasts come highly recommended. But I mean, if you like dance music then you probably already know about RA. I love the Stimming mix as well.

Resident Adviser Podcasts

Cool

2008-10-07T13:10:00.006-05:00

I guess you have to love the entrepreneurial spirit in Hip Hop. This is probably the cool(io)est idea (well, besides Wu-tang Financial) that has come from said entrepreneurial spirit. Rapper Coolio is coming out with his very own cookbook, how awesome is that! Thank you for not creating your own line of sports wear and thank you for not making music anymore, but I think this is genuinely a good idea and totally plan on buying this thing when it comes out so my ass can learn how to make the Coolio Caprese Salad. This is just fun and, I think, a great idea.

Chartsengrafs

2008-10-02T16:54:00.004-05:00

Found on Changethethought

ACL Photos

2008-10-02T10:32:00.004-05:00

I have a few pictures from the 2008 ACL Festival posted here. No band pics, you'll have to visit Pitchfork for that.