Words On the InterWeb

I've been enjoying the Stereophonics and the like, so keep the music coming everyone. Here's some picks:

A Call to Apathy—The Shins: I LOVE "country" music when it isn't made by a hick. If you're making country music because you are a backwards-thinking xenophobe that recognizes no other type of music, I hate it. If you're using country music to tell a story that actually fits that style of music, I love it. This song has a great tone from music to lyrics. LOVE the steel guitar.

Shag—Pinback: Moody song about throwing a baby down spiral stairs. Who wouldn't love that? (Oddly enough Amber "Kindergarten-Teacher-Mother-of-One" loved this song, and that got me loving it.) There's some subtle melodies in the background that I love (especially during the bridge).

I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)—John Mayer: Funky, and full of soul. John Mayer spans so many genres, it's amazing to me. I don't really like this type of music, but this song does it for me. I know he gets a lot of crap, but he's a great musician and I really like all three of his CDs.

So, finally I'm getting around to writing a short review of the Ben Folds concert. To sum it up in a few words: while the venue was lacking, his performance was all it should be.

The opening bands sounded surprisingly good (with the exception of Ben Lee, which wasn't his fault entirely). That is to say their music was clear, sounded good, and involved more than just making the headliner look better. The first band (I don't remember the name) sounded VERY similar to Ben Folds, which was a good thing considering all the opening bands were local except B. Lee. Then there was the mandatory solo-emo-strummmer that sang his bleeding heart lyrics about bathing in his lover's tears ("I want you, I need you...", sigh... Anyway, Ben Lee had some technical difficulties thanks to the craptacular venue, but he did so-so anyway.

Ben came out and rocked the place as he is want to do. Everyone in the place was there for one very apparent reason—to sing along with every song they knew. Honestly, on the more well-known songs it seemed like EVERYONE was singing. Sounded radical.

He played a good variety of old, new, and upcoming. Yes, a new CD is on the horizon, though he didn't spell out when. There were a few REALLY early tunes that I don't remember too.

The show was very similar to the last Ben Folds show I saw, but that didn't make me any less in awe of his talent. For a new song he pulled out an empty altoids can, a maraca, and some other stuff, and placed them in-between the strings while using a modifying pedal. It sounded like nothing I've ever heard. It was AMAZING that he got as many different sounds from his one piano. It was like Super Mario Bros., a marimba, The Postal Service, and a steel drum all in one. AMAZING.

The crowd provided choruses, and in a few songs (like "Army" and "Not the Same") he enlisted our help with the background ba-ba-bas and ahhhhh-aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhs. I know he does the same thing in every city, but it really felt like he tried to make the show unique and rewarding for the people attending.

All-in-all, a great show. I'll think twice about every going out to the stinking bog of a money-pit that is Saltair, but Ben Folds was great.

...this is the bike we have...and it doesn't move.

This was just a thought that I had, and I was wondering if anyone would be interested. Lindsay and myself both have old Schwinn 10 speeds and are wanting to ride them a little more than we do now, which is none. If anyone would be interested maybe we could all meet up on like a Tuesday and Thursday, or whatever works best for whoever wants too, and ride for a little while. I think that most of us have bikes, and if you don't then the D.I. is great for old 10 speeds. I just thought it would be fun to get together and do something that is not the norm. Since school will be out I will have more free time and I hope a lot of you will as well. Just a thought, and yours are welcome as well.

Jimmy Fallon is a douche.

How was Ben Folds??

We all know what it is like...you find that CD that just makes everything better.  The new M83 album (Saturdays = Youth) is doing that right now.  The glitzy, shoegazing, French pop sound is really contagious.

Tonight, tonight, tonight! Oohhhhhhhhh! I'm gonna make it right... (Scott will get that reference).

I'm so graciously stoked to see Benjamin Linus Folds play tonight. I only wish I has gratuitous amounts of cash that I could stuff in his G. Maybe Amber and I will be able to get backstage and talk with him about the weather. Then we'll show pictures of Savana and he'll write a hit single about her. I would do it myself, but I'm too busy.

Hey Everyone, we are blessing Beck this Sunday at 11:00. Everyone is invited. If you can't make no big deal we understand.

-Jake

I love this band. Steven and I saw them live a few months ago when Kris Roe came and played in Midvale. I can't pick out a fave song because I think they all rock. I just thought I would share.

(my iPod is always playing them)

I was going to post a bunch of clips of Home Shopping Hilarity, but I thought I'd post a link to this Cracked.com article instead. Their commentary is better than mine would be. The moth/horse, ladder guys, and the Dell-enthusiast are my favorite.

P.S. Don't miss that there's a page two.

Just some thoughts that I've had over the last couple of weeks....

Anybody gots plans this weekend? I think Amber and I are free.

Thanks for the invite guys!! I am a total blogaholic!

WHo are these One Tree Hill people? First they play Band of Horses now they play The Editors! Anyway since Scott is the only person I know who likes them, thought I'd share my "what the ....?" moment.

Trish and I watched this tonight.  I really liked it.  Quirky enough for some laughs...and sentimental enough to make you think.

You know you have a good song when it is 12:30 am...you're in the gym...after a 45-minute bike ride...10 minutes into a run on the treadmill...and Oceanic by Above & Beyond comes on...suddenly you feel rejuvenated...

I watched this show late last night and must say that I really enjoyed it.  It ends abruptly (reminiscent of No COuntry For Old Men) and has some quirky moments.

You would think that the thinning of the herd would lower the world population faster. Some human beings are so severely underdeveloped, I'm surprised they can wipe their own fecal-matter-producing crevice. The more I live, the more convinced I am that everyone on the planet reached their intelligence quota in high school, and it's basically downhill from there. Now I'm no Einstein, but how some people manage to even walk down the street without impaling themselves on a street sign is amazing to me.

I'm not talking about knowledge—you can collect knowledge throughout your life fairly easily. Intelligence is unlearnable and must be gained through experience and practice. Most people would rather turn their brains off watching American Idol and stuffing their face with cheese puffs than to formulate opinions on topics that the tv is already so eager to provide. (I love cheese puffs by the way.)

The same borderline retarded(read: slowed down) people that couldn't formulate a complete sentence or generate one unique idea in their heads while walking down the halls of mighty Bingham High are following me everywhere. I went to college—George Q. McPoppedCollar can't stop saying "like" every two words in class and writes papers on how many friends he has on MySpace. I get a "real job" in Corporate America—Bubbles D. Textqueen can barely operate her keyboard, let alone manage an entire project on which rests thousands of dollars.

My time working in a "real job" is what spurred this rant. One would think that business is so cut-throat that people would be on the top of their game. One would think that people who have spent years in a specific field would gain expertise in that field and become an asset to whoever gets the opportunity to work with them. WRONG! Every corporation in America is filled with idiots that can't think for themselves, and love chicken fried steak day. EVERY CORPORATION—It's inescapable. Actually meeting someone who can tie their own shoes is a rare treat.

Congratulations America, you're stupid!

(1)  We need to get Jer/Chels on here.

The Endocrine test is over....

And his ears enjoy meeting soundwaves that are organized in a pleasing tempo and intensity. Here are some of those soundwaves grouped together:

Like Castanets - Bishop Allen: Well written song with a spanish flavor. The trumpet reminds me of a rag-time radio tune.

Flight 180 - Bishop Allen: I have a soft spot for songs that build momentum. Building intensity makes the collision of sounds even more powerful because there's soft sounds to compare it against. (I had a hard time picking just two from their recent album.)

New Hampshire - Matt Pond PA: What can I say, I'm an old softie. This song reminds me of family, and loving the place you grew up.

Children's Miracle Network is teaming up with Best Buy, Microsoft/Xbox and Landing Zone Gaming to bring you a tournament of epic proportions! Behold, the Guitar Hero 3 tour is upon us! Stay tuned for more info . . .

Here I am, head in hands. Ashamed? No. Awestruck? Perhaps. Somehow, someway I have been brought to this point and I must press onward, I must give credit where credit is due. Scott, may I stroke your ego by saying that the CD you gave me contains an AWESOME collection of great music. You know your music young man and you selected some great music to put on that CD. Well played Scotty... well played.

Since no one else was jumping on it I posted some new music. Not anything really new, just stuff I have been listening to lately.

Elvis Costello - Elvis was bad way before it was cool to be bad.

The Format - Nothing new but a good song that's a little rare

Rx Bandits - Can't go wrong, just an acoustic version I like

The Mars Volta - You have to listen to the 2 tracks together to get the full effect. Listening to Mars Volta usually just makes me want to listen to At the Drive-In

At the Drive-In - The one band I always wish I could have seen live.

Do you know what an oviparous is? Any animal who lays an egg. We learned about that in Kindergarten today. And I was told by a very intelligent 6 year old when you scare a pigeon, it poops and egg out. Who woulda thunk? The things you learn in Kindergarten.

P.S. Only one more week until my spring break and only seven weeks until summer....yipee!

This is how I seduced Tricia....

We're no strangers to love.
You know the rules and so do I.
A full commitments what Im thinking of.
You wouldnt get this from any other guy...

Scott- I got to listen to The Birthday Massacre and Team Sleep without interruptions today (meaning yappy little girls) and I can say I am a fan, officially. The rest I am still working on. I like some of TV On The Radio and the Decemberists and Regina Spektor but have only dipped my toes in the water on those.So .. again thanks for the music

Chevelle - I Get It
Just an arrogant, sarcastic song about somebody who is just clueless about life. Sally Kern comes to mind.

REM - Supernatural Superserious
This has been touted as the best R.E.M album since Automatic For the People. I like the first single... REM has been one of those bands that I buy all their albums even if I don't love them.

I know this is terrible, but I think this is so funny. The sounds that the news anchor makes are just classic.

Then they cut back to the news room...HILARIOUS.

"Youch" --yeah lady, that's how I'd sum it up.

Stare at the dot until the picture changes, then sit back, and enjoy.

So we had a ceiling fan installed in our front room. Not only did I have to go to the hardware store 2 times to get supplies he didn't bring...but he stepped through our ceiling. Now we have to have a drywall guy come and fix that (the electrician's paying).

So we get it all installed and realize that the circuit is overloaded and he has to come back to run more wire. $55/hour...better be good.

Max, I remember when you were funny but I'm still glad you guys are finally here. Now we can blog like its 1999. Now where is everybody else?

Scott,

Do you know anything about this Triathlon? It says it is put on by volunteers from the UofU Med School. I think I'm gonna do it.

http://4thstreettri.blogspot.com/

Ok here is my post to accompany the songs I posted. Good idea Sam. I chose Mexico by Brandston because I love the song over all. From the very beginning the song just grabs me and pulls me. It's about a break up and the pain and feelings that are involved, the bittersweetness that is involved. The music and the worlds perfectly portray the mixed feelings and homesickness that breakups flood you with. I love the words. He says in it that "the sound of little footsteps that echo through the hall... sounds like a heart beat." Every time I hear that phrase in the song I think my heart is going to burst. I just love it... sounds of little feet running through the house compared to your heart beat.. necessary to live. Love it.

I chose The Bravery's song because I like it (duh). And I like the worlds. I like how it says "I am so homesick now for someone that I never knew I am so homesick now for someone that I'll never be.....". I don't know really I just like the feeling of the words too, he says things the way I would. The song is about living in our pasts and looking back at them and thinking and longing for things we'd change. Which I don't condone, however I think it's necessary to grow, to see your past and realize what you did wrong and what you'd change. "If I could do it all again, I'd go back and change everything." If I could go back to high school, college, and premarriage dating days I would do it all different.. well a lot of it. I'd finish school, have more fun and take things less serious. And in a way have less fun! So that is why I chose those two songs.

I'm already finding it a bit hard to digest all the music we have on the playlist. I'm in favor of instituting a rule of posting a couple songs a week per person, and you should post an accompanying blog about which songs you posted and why. For me, that would give time to focus on a song or two, and listen to them with someone else's thoughts in my mind. Thoughts?

Also, the playlist plays at random, so I never know which songs are the newest. Is there a way to post a new song to the top of the list?

I know we said no politics, but I found something interesting that I thought was worth noting. I found a graphic that depicts how much each American President has added to our country's financial woes since Gerald Ford. I won't spend the time debating the information (I haven't even checked the information), so take it at face value. I just found it interesting.