Please Forgive the Words I Use, My Mind it Tends to Run, Away With the Small Ideas (I Know I'm Not the Only One)
I like American football a lot. I like other sports, but football is the one that I by far follow the most. But this isn’t about football, it’s about baseball. I like baseball, but as I just mentioned, I don’t get all crazy over it. That being said, I have to give it up for the local team, the Colorado Rockies. Ok, I admit it. I haven’t been watching them since the season opened back in April. I haven’t even been watching them up until a week ago. So, yes, I am a bandwagoneer. But you tell me this: if your home team who has only been to the playoffs once in their existence (12 years ago) just won 13 of their past 14 games, pushed a one-game playoff game just to get into the playoffs, then stretched out that game 13 innings to finally break the tie, wouldn’t you be just a little bit excited for them? Yeah, I thought so.
So, I don’t know if they will go far in the playoffs or not. But I do know that it’s pretty cool to see them get in after all of these years. Plus the Rockies’ star player, Todd Helton, once played quarterback for the University of Tennessee, my favorite college football team (he started one game after the regular QB broke his leg. The next game the staff went with a little-known true freshman by the name of Peyton Manning…). You see, it always comes back to football.
I haven’t done any music posts in recent memory, so I figure that it’s about time to do a quick rundown of some new tunes I’ve been listening to lately:
Tegan & Sara. The critically acclaimed sister act. I kept hearing all this hype about their new album, The Con, so I figured I should check it out. I have been avoiding them since they have been featured prominently on Grey’s Anatomy, a show that I’ve never seen, but also prominently highlights musical samplings of acts that suck completely like The Fray and Snow Patrol (yes, I know that The Fray is from Colorado. That doesn’t mean that they still don’t suck). However, Grey’s Anatomy also plays Brandi Carlile, who is super good, so I figured it was worth a shot. I picked up The Con and So Jealous. They’re ok. Not bad, but no Brandi Carlile.
And speaking of Brandi Carlile, she put out an album a few months back called The Story. That gal can sure belt it out. If you dig acoustic/folk rock by really strong female vocalists, then you should for sure check her out. I dig her.
Hmmm… what else. I recently picked up Challengers by The New Pornographers. I dug their old stuff, like Mass Romantic, so I figured this one would be good, too. It is. There are some really good cuts on this album. The title track has been stuck in my head a lot lately. It probably hasn’t helped that it is getting pretty heavy rotation on the local college station as well.
I got the new Iron & Wine. It sounds like Iron & Wine. Not that it’s a bad thing, since I like Iron & Wine. If you like Iron & Wine, you’ll probably like it, too. Boy, wasn’t that a deep analysis…
A few months back I picked up Songs We Sing by a guy named Matt Costa. It has been one of my favorite albums lately. It is kinda single guy folk-guitary. The songs are pretty catchy, though I have to admit a couple are a bit Beatlesque. But, then, who wasn’t influenced by the Fab Four? You gonna knock every band in the past 40 years?
A while back Sass recommended a group called Mother Mother. I took her up on that recommendation and picked up one of their albums. They have a very original sound, that’s for sure. I can honestly say that I have never heard anything like this band before. They aren’t bad, just very hard to describe. You should check them out, even if just for the opportunity to hear something completely different.
I’m sure there is a whole lot more lately that I’ve been listening to, but I can’t think of any more off the top of my head. If you faithful readers have any recommendations for me, please send them my way. I depend on word of mouth to know what the really good stuff is, so let me know if you’ve heard anything good lately.
* Update* I started this post the other day and didn’t finish it. As of the publishing of this post the Rockies are already up one game in the playoffs. Sweet.
So, I don’t know if they will go far in the playoffs or not. But I do know that it’s pretty cool to see them get in after all of these years. Plus the Rockies’ star player, Todd Helton, once played quarterback for the University of Tennessee, my favorite college football team (he started one game after the regular QB broke his leg. The next game the staff went with a little-known true freshman by the name of Peyton Manning…). You see, it always comes back to football.
I haven’t done any music posts in recent memory, so I figure that it’s about time to do a quick rundown of some new tunes I’ve been listening to lately:
Tegan & Sara. The critically acclaimed sister act. I kept hearing all this hype about their new album, The Con, so I figured I should check it out. I have been avoiding them since they have been featured prominently on Grey’s Anatomy, a show that I’ve never seen, but also prominently highlights musical samplings of acts that suck completely like The Fray and Snow Patrol (yes, I know that The Fray is from Colorado. That doesn’t mean that they still don’t suck). However, Grey’s Anatomy also plays Brandi Carlile, who is super good, so I figured it was worth a shot. I picked up The Con and So Jealous. They’re ok. Not bad, but no Brandi Carlile.
And speaking of Brandi Carlile, she put out an album a few months back called The Story. That gal can sure belt it out. If you dig acoustic/folk rock by really strong female vocalists, then you should for sure check her out. I dig her.
Hmmm… what else. I recently picked up Challengers by The New Pornographers. I dug their old stuff, like Mass Romantic, so I figured this one would be good, too. It is. There are some really good cuts on this album. The title track has been stuck in my head a lot lately. It probably hasn’t helped that it is getting pretty heavy rotation on the local college station as well.
I got the new Iron & Wine. It sounds like Iron & Wine. Not that it’s a bad thing, since I like Iron & Wine. If you like Iron & Wine, you’ll probably like it, too. Boy, wasn’t that a deep analysis…
A few months back I picked up Songs We Sing by a guy named Matt Costa. It has been one of my favorite albums lately. It is kinda single guy folk-guitary. The songs are pretty catchy, though I have to admit a couple are a bit Beatlesque. But, then, who wasn’t influenced by the Fab Four? You gonna knock every band in the past 40 years?
A while back Sass recommended a group called Mother Mother. I took her up on that recommendation and picked up one of their albums. They have a very original sound, that’s for sure. I can honestly say that I have never heard anything like this band before. They aren’t bad, just very hard to describe. You should check them out, even if just for the opportunity to hear something completely different.
I’m sure there is a whole lot more lately that I’ve been listening to, but I can’t think of any more off the top of my head. If you faithful readers have any recommendations for me, please send them my way. I depend on word of mouth to know what the really good stuff is, so let me know if you’ve heard anything good lately.
* Update* I started this post the other day and didn’t finish it. As of the publishing of this post the Rockies are already up one game in the playoffs. Sweet.
posted by john at 1:09 PM
6 Comments:
Have you heard Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew? It's called Spirit If... Man, it's good stuff.
Also, the new Stars album is really good. (hmm... title escapes me... something about Bedroom...)
I haven't heard the new BSS album yet, but I read a quick write up on it in the Onion and made a mental note to check it out. Thanks for reminding me. I'll see if I can get it tonight.
Is the new Stars album In Our Bedroom After the War? That's what came up when I googled it. I'll have to check that one out as well. Thanks!
I picked up the new Iron & Wine the other day... Meh. Its OK.
I haven't heard anything thats blown me away lately. But I am giving Brandi Carlile a spin as you suggested. Thus far, I can dig it.
As you know, I share your affinity toward American Football. I am a bit perplexed by those that are super fans of baseball. Don't get me wrong, I like the game. Its fun to play. Last year when the Tiger's went to the series, I went to a Tigers game party. But overall, baseball doesn't get me fired up as much as football. Then again, I'm the only person on the planet that finds a tactical boxing match with no knock downs to be an entertaining way to spend the evening. So what do I know.
I do route for Colorado based teams with you. When the Lions aren't playing the the Bronco's I always wish them the best.
If you like The Story, check out her first self-titled album. It's pretty good, too. I think I might like that one better, actually. But they're both good.
I read an article the other day that compared baseball to art house film. It was a pretty good analogy; i.e., both tend to be long and tedious, both have a steadily declining audience, the appreciation of the finer details gets lost on the mainstream, most people get more excited over violence than drama, etc. So, based on that I have decided that I must immediately become a baseball fan if I am going to continue to try to keep up this elite hipster facade...
I've been rooting for the Lions as well. Hey, 3-1 and tops of their division. Not bad. You know, however, that our two teams are going to be meeting up in a couple weeks, don't you? :-0
Shit. I'm totally the biggest baseball fan EVER now. Go ball player guys. Get to home base. Yeah, give me some f$%@ing peanuts.
Unfortunately the Lions do not sit atop the division. That would be the surprise jugernaught, the Green Bay Packers. Leave it to Brett Favre to pick this year to once again return to his MVP form. I still haven't forgiven him for making that choking gesture a couple of years back. Asshole.
But anyway, I say for now we remain friends. Our teams are in different conferences and divisions. But when they do meet, you are no football brother of mine sir;)
Agreed and understood :-)
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