Full circle

I'm (re)starting college this month. I'm signed up for a music appreciation class. I actually took (and failed) a very similar class in 8th grade. The teacher was a bitch, and after "the breaking point" she sat me down and said "music just isn't your thing".

The breaking point I referred to was the moment my life began.
It was another average day, filled with her bullshit "I'm hungover because I'm an 'artist' " lesson plan. I, as usual, didn't give a shit what she thought of music (and when I wasn't 'resting my eyes' I was gladly obliging her with verbal confirmation of that feeling).

Anyways, she loved pop quizzes, where you had to identify the different parts of the song (verse, chorus, etc), and I was damn near asleep as she cued the needle to a track i'd never heard. It was the album version of The Beatle's "Let it be". I couldn't care less.

About 2 minutes into it, the organ part kicks in, and I assume with passing interest that the song is ending. In a moment that lasted both an eternity and a nanosecond, I heard George Harrison kick that (rather pussy, otherwise) song into a gear that I didn't know was even possible.

I was absolutely transfixed, for the first and last time of my middle school career. My "quiz" answer sheet looked rougly like this:

1. Not the solo
2.THE SOLO!
3. Not the solo

As she was giving me the awkward teacher-student-breakup-getthefuckout lecture, I made sure NOT to let her know that for once in her teaching career, she actually facilitated an appreciation for music.

You can hear the song (the good version, not the pussy radio version) at the link below. P.s. it has the worst 'video' ever, but you're not going to be listening with your eyes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEogJacjLTE&feature=related

boondock saints 3

I really can't stress how much I'm looking forward to the new saints movie. If Troy Duffy makes a formal announcement about it this year, I will get a boondock saints tattoo. Straight up. The DAY he makes the announcement, I'll be in the chair. That's a promise.

"Taking Back Sunay" in review

Let's clear something up. This record is not called "Tell all your friends" and it doesn't have a song called "Cute Without The E (Cut from the team). If you want that in a Taking Back Sunday album, then they have one that matches that exact description. Go listen to it.

The opening track "El Paso" caught a lot of flack when it debuted, that's no secret. The real secret, the key to listening to this album if you will, is to disambiguate that song from the rest of the record. View it as an audio "parental advisory" of sorts. A mission statement.

Viewing it this way, "Faith (when I let you down)" is the first stop in our trip down memory lane. If you don't get a little bit of a "Make Damn Sure" vibe, then your ears are broken.

"Best Places To Be A Mom" sounds like it could have been a B-Side from the afforementioned "Tell All Your Friends" album. I wonder why that is.

"Sad Savior" opens with a riff deeply reminiscant of the Gaslight Anthem, and instantly grows into something a lot less familiar. Adam and John really hit their vocal stride in this song.

"Who are you anyway" and "Money (let it go)" both give somewhat of a New vibe. They're both great.

"This is all now" has a bit of a sound of controlled experimentation. You can really hear a bit of John's Straylight Run influence shining through.

"It doesn't feel a thing like falling" sounds absolutely huge. It also has a little bit of a Jimmy Eat World feel to it.

"Since you're Gone" mixes Adam's signature screams of utter helplessness with...The Beatles. Seriously. It's pretty damn sick!

"You got me" turns it back around with another fast tune, kinda like "Money", but definitely not ripping it off.

"Call Me In The Morning" has that sort of...ending sound. It works out well, cause it's the last song.

In all, this half assed review doesn't get the message across the same way LISTENING to the album does.

The message? After 9 years and a nightmare involving a Fred other than Krueger, we finally got the follow up to Tell All Your Friends.

Mormons do it for the kids

The thought of children terrifies me. Not just in a "children of the corn" way, but in the "never ending constantly needing something from me" way.

I truly feel fortunate to NOT have any kids, but not for my own selfish reasons. The thing is, I'm not sure I could take care of a child. I'm not certain I could keep the kid from dying, let alone assist in the creation of a happy childhood.

You know how you act a little different when you're communicating on facebook or twitter? Or when your friend is filming you?

Well, I don't.

This is my personality, and I consistantly bare it all. In fact, instead of "acting up", I'm constantly "toning it down". It's a terrible reality, but I will never fake it to fit in.

That's it. That's my speech.

the news is there, you just gotta open your eyes

Man, lots of crazy/awesome music news these past few days! Hot Water Music is in the studio recording a new album! Their last album (of new music) was 2005's "The new what next".

That was arguably their best record of all time, which instantly makes it one of the top 5 most awesome records ever. I'm only working with the facts here, people.

Also, Brian Fallon's side project "the horrible crowes" has been in the studio recording their (currently unnamed) debut album, which is gonna be a full length.

Brian posted a photo of himself playing the piano, and it's the same piano that Meatloaf used on his "bat out of hell" album, so fully expect Meatloaf sized sales figures from this record. Or full on Tom Wait's style awesomeness. One of those expectations should become realised.

Someone just pulled a fire alarm in an adjacent building, and it wasn't me. FML, the cops are gonna harass me over this one.

Butterfingers

Damn, I was craving a butterfinger, so I walked over to our candy aisle (I'm at work). Some dick BROKE all of them. Like, crushed the shit out of them.

In an act of asshole collaboration, I left them there. I think it was a pretty innovative prank, and I'm nothing if not appreciative of such fine (albeit minimalist) art.

C-c-c-Combo!

I'm about to leave to pick up Mike M and see Chuck Ragan open for Social Distortion in a bit. I used to really care about what I wore to such events, but now, I am sitting in some fuckin basketball shorts with an old "The Sleeping" shirt on. I'll change the shorts (to dirty blue jeans), but that's about it.

Interesting story, I was arrested in this shirt once. In fact, it's so interesting that I won't tell the story. I'm just gonna reiterate the fact that they should NOT sell liter bottles of that 99bananas (or other fruits), and it should NOT be like $6.99.

Seriously, that shit is strong.

Oh yeah, I cut my hair today, and it's the best haircut I've ever had. I seriously looked at it in awe for like 10 mins throughout the day! I mean, it's still only like $6 day at supercuts good, but I did it myself, which is sweet.

P.S. for the record, I realised that over half of the haircuts I've gotten in life I gave myself. 10 years, and I'm only "$6 day at supercuts" good. Wtf.

Its been a while

I haven't posted anything on here in a long time, but I've been sorta busy behind the scenes, going through possible new band members. The main thing is that they need to be cool with me not drinking. Well, the main thing is they need to be good. And I think we got it covered.

I've gone like 5 months almost without drinking, and it's... it's a fucking doozy. I still don't feel like I was ever a full on alcoholic, I just think my anarchaic self destructive nature likes to poke it's head in while I'm drunk.

I laugh to myself a lot, and the crazy things I think of and shrug off when I'm sober turn into drunk/disorderly tickets when I'm drunk. I've met a LOT of alcoholics in my day, and I've also met an equal amount of people who will tell you you're an alcoholic.

It usually creates a gain for them, either monetarily or egotistically (usually both), and they can take their "wisdom" and shove it up their asses (unless you're a serious alcoholic, in which case heed their advice).

The point I'm trying to convey is this... you can't quit drugs or alcohol or cigarettes, or coffee (even any occasional use of them) for anyone but yourself. You have to want to change, and NOTHING in the world can force you to want that. It is literally the epitome of egotism that drives the addiction, the constant thought that you know better than they do.

And guess what boys and girls, you do know better than they do. You've got an x-ray machine and they've got a flashlight and a light brite.

Just keep in mind that, in a dark room, your best bet of finding your way out is by using the flashlight (or bulky and obtuse metaphorical light brite).

The new band starts now

Well, I just pulled the trigger on a new drummer. I'm pretty psyched, and it's gonna be a lot different than anything I've ever played before. We're both psyched on getting things moving forward and starting to play shows and record. Rob (DeAngelis, the new drummer) has a recording studio and has recorded a lot in the past, which is sweet. Unlike me, though, he has the dedication and attention span to RELEASE them, which should be great.

I've never gotten past pressing one copy of a cd, and doing so scares me. I've always felt that if it isn't on a record it's not finished, and I can still tweak it and re-record it forever and ever and ever. Hopefully we'll get some sweet demos out shortly.

The only songs I KNOW I want to carry over to this band are "Miles Away", "shock and awe", and maybe "not for me". I've written one new one already (tentatively called "Vault 101") to bring to the table. If everyone was half as excited about Vault 101 as I am, 90% of the world would die of a stroke. The other 10% would roll their eyes at my nerdy video game references sneaking their way into song titles.

"Vault 101. It was here you were born...it is here you will die."

Oops

I realized just now that there's been a few...er...mistakes. look, you know how you get really bored during conversations? Exactly. Well, you know how you say more and more outrageous things until people realize you're joking? Right. Well, I just realized that some conversations have ended before the other party(s) deduced that I was pulling their leg.

I also realize that making jokes about ben weasel hitting girls on facebook might leave a sour taste in the mouth of someone who still thinks I hit my girlfriend and beat my dog as a hobby.

It's a little late for me to be like "I was kidding", but it's never too late for me to push the joke beyond the bounds of good taste. =)

Do it!

Lots and lots of shitty news lately. Rumor has it I don't deal with death so well, so we'll move on.

Here's some news style headlines from my life.

-pretty sure my maintainence man is either a pimp or he hunts humans. I decided I shouldn't fuck with him (to his face) anymore.

-there's never been a point in my life where id choose alcohol over chocolate milk

-we reached a point as a nation where it was okay to make jokes about hiroshima, but now a possible nuclear fiasco in japan is suddenly off limits.

-I'm one ep (senor and the queen) away from having the gaslight anthem's entire library on vinyl.

-the chicago code is a pretty sweet show

-house is still the best drama on tv. It always is, until dexter comes on. Then its a tie. it's always sunny in philadelphia is the best comedy.

I'm done. I'm gonna play my guitar till it's time to go to work.

The bird's eye view of a cigarette garden

Man, I thought the cigarette butts I threw off my balcony would just...I don't know...disappear. they didn't, and there is hundreds of them scattered across a 10 foot by 10 foot section of grass. My neighbors understandably called the apartment manager and bitched.

Actually a real man (or at least less of a douche) would have came upstairs and said something to me, but barbed wire and tribal tattoos are surprisingly misleading.

Anyways, I'm super happy that the gaslight anthem is safe and sound in Tokyo right now. The future of rock n roll was precariously close to being doomed this week.

I really use this as a forum for reminding myself of events in my past worth writing about, and find it amusing that anyone in the world has even read this (let alone laughed along with me). I am constantly posting inside jokes that only I will laugh at, with crazy raging opinions sprinkled in for good measure.

I mean, you could use this time for a lot worse than reading up on my pseudoinsanity, but you could spend it a lot better. Benny Horowitz has a pretty great blog (that I unfortunately, relate to a little too well). Check it out at http://www.ohlookhoworiginal.blogspot.com/

Of course you've got the man himself's blog over at www.cassettesinthemailbox.blogspot.com

Yeah, I just promoted a much more popular set of blogs at a not popular blog, but if you're reading this you're probably dying for something interesting to cleanse your pallette of my bullshit.

-Kevin

I feel old

Man, I've been having all sorts of old people pains. I keep telling myself its only in my head, but it appears my head is in my back now. Fuckin weak.

Something I can't understand

It's been a while since I've posted something on here, but I'm sure no one is crying over it. Lately, I've been listening to Circa Survive. On repeat. From the time I wake up till the time I go to sleep.

Shelica asked me a minute ago why I'm so obsessed with them now, and it got me thinking that I really didn't know why, it just happened. So anyways, I've been thinking and here's what I came up with.

Every once in a while (a great while) I come upon a band or an album that I just can't understand. I mean, I can understand it in the traditional sense that it's 10-12 songs that you listen to and then it's over... but I can't really UNDERSTAND it.

The last time it happened was with Gaslight's American Slang album. I had heard their previous records, but my brain couldn't process the leap from the 59' sound to American Slang. It was a progression that was so illogical that it became the only logical point of succession.

It's happened a handful of times in the past, where I just hear something that I can't fathom. Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends album was one of those moments, where you hear it and just think to yourself "Did these kids really just do that?"

The "problem" for me is that once I've wrapped my head around it, I want to know exactly HOW they did it. I want to understand it further.

You can't tell me "The Ugly Organ" didn't blow your head off the first time you heard it. I didn't know what the hell was going on for like a week after hearing A Gentleman Caller.

Good records make you smile and sing along, but truly great records disorient you. They take everything you thought you knew about music and invalidate it.

And that, my friend, is the story of Charlie Sheen's addiction to #winning

Blue Sky Noise and the truth about Bowser

I'm quickly realizing that Circa Survive is the band music critics (and even people who matter) expect to hear when they pop in a new radiohead album. I HEARD their newest album "blue sky noise" when it first came out, but I didn't actually LISTEN to it until recently.

I feel like I had a $100 bill tucked away in my wallet but I didn't find it til now. Let's face facts here. (By facts, I clearly mean my opinion) "strange terrain" is just about the best way to open an album. I get the same feeling listening to the album starting as I do when I hear the beginning of "Floorbound" (The opener from Punch Drunk's 2004 album "pure unadulterated hate is the best medicine").

Its the feeling that there's a freight train barrelling down on you. There's nothing you can do to stop it. There's nothing that could make you WANT to stop it. It's that feeling of curiosity combined with adrenaline that silently urges you to keep your eyes open. To watch the train connect with your body.

Basically, if you haven't felt this feeling from music before, you're buying the dust jacket and ignoring the book it was meant to protect. You're getting cliff notes when you wanted the unabridged version.

Here's the point I'm trying to make:

There are literally zero radiohead album reviews that describe the sensation I'm flailing to convey. Check out blue sky noise, but also check out anything else you can get your hands on until you've experienced this feeling. I gotta warn you though, once you've felt it you can't unfeel it.

Also, I'm working on writing a short cartoon or comic about the truth behind Bowser "kidnapping" the princess all the time. It will NOT be G Rated, but it will NOT play off that tired notion that Bowser wants to get in her pants.

He's some sort of reptile, and he clearly exhibits his lack of genitalia. I can't believe the numerous discussions online where this glaring fact is miraculously overlooked.

-Kevin

Recording

So I read an article online that really psyched me up to record. I don't know why, but whatever.

So here's the plan, I'm about 25% done with an acoustic demo ep, and when I'm done with that I'll re-record it with all the instruments. It'll all be available online for free, and it'll hopefully turn out pretty sweet.

-Kevin

Here's lookin at you, kid

I recorded a cover of the song "here's lookin at you, kid" while I was sound checking. It's a straight through, live, one off track. I'm never gonna release it, and that my friends, proves that I am a better person than those people on youtube.

I might play it live though, which is a completely different bad idea alltogether.

-STEVE HOLT!

This one's by the gaslight anthem!

Dudes and dudettes, there are literally 8 million acoustic gaslight anthem covers on youtube. It's out of hand! Anyone with a guitar and undeservedly high self esteem jumps in front of their webcam and starts playing something.

The problem (besides the obvious) is that no matter how well you play guitar, or how well you sing, you can never perfectly mimic Brian Fallon. Regardless of the emotion you may feel from a gaslight song, it's still a second hand experience, and it will show no matter what you do.

This goes for all covers, but covering a gaslight song is like covering "layla". Or something. I don't know. Who am I to tell these people NOT to do that? I mean, on one hand it is really cool to see people taking a stab at it, but on the other hand I wanna break out the squirt bottle on them.

There is a profound lack of full band covers of tga songs. That's because in any band of 4 or more people, you're gonna have one dude who's like "no."

And you're gonna have a minimum of 3 people who can't play it correctly. Fuck, even CLOSE to correct! The 59' sound is my alltime favorite song, and it literally kills me a little everytime I hear someone butchering it.

Look, I play more gaslight than my own songs...at home. Or in practice. Or whatever, just not on a fucking webcam. If you were doing that on chat roulette, and the only other option was braving the sea of dicks which seem to be whipped out 24/7, Id dive into that ocean in a heartbeat.

Actually, I wouldn't go to chat roulette, cause its all dude's weiners, and at very best you might see an acoustic gaslight cover. By someone not wearing any clothes.

-Kevin

I wish I knew a dentist

Man, the broken tooth they repaired about 2 months ago started hurting today. They said either the nerve would heal itself, or it would die and I would have to have full on surgery to keep the infection from killing me.

Anyways, its been approximately the amount of time they said it would be before I saw some sort of indication of nerve death or complete regeneration.

I'm not sure if the pain is because the nerve has healed and there's something wrong with the tooth, or because toxins are slowly being released. You can totally die from that.

I'm pretty confident that I'm gonna die on a Monday, so its probably just a minor inconvenience with a major price tag. That's how all my illnesses are. Its always "good thing we caught it early, here's a bill for more than you've ever made in your life."

I don't pay medical bills. I'm hoping when china takes over they clean the slate, otherwise I'm going to canada.

-Kevin

Hahahahha!

So here's a little backstory before you hear what just happened to me.

Last night, the phrase that paid was "go packers!" Team spirit had nothing to do with it. You see, we were lighting off some very illegal fireworks, and when someone saw us (because I was doing it in the middle of a fairly busy street), we would yell "go packers!", and the people would conveniently forget about calling the cops. It worked like a swiss watch, hence me writing this from walgreens instead of bitching about it in jail.

Anyways, one of the pharmacists was talking to the others about these crazy guys lighting fireworks and yelling go packers last night. I'm not 100% sure she was talking about us, but she got really quiet when she saw me.

The moral of this story? Go Packers!

(Go anything that gets me out of a ticket!)

-Kevin