The Day Of Brooklyn

Times goes on but I know just where you are. I wouldn't live like others do. "I'd like to borrow something old and blue. Something to wipe my face with", she said.



Last wednesday I got to witness my first US baseball game ever. The Yankees took on the Atlanta Braves in a remarkably boring, yet well-attended, 5 hour slightly homo-erotic manfest. I played baseball for 10 years and loved it, but I never enjoyed watching others play. We had wonderful seats, directly behind homeplate, see the picture above taken with my glorious camera phone. It was an interesting experience for sure. They sold plastic bottles of beer for $7.75. It ended in a powerful homerun for the Yankees.



Last night I went to what finally felt like a real underground music discovery activity. Some warehouse that was turned into a venue in the middle of nowhere on an industrial lot in Brooklyn. It was slightly scary in an exciting way. Once inside however it was great. Canadian bands selected by BrooklynVegan, cheap drinks, and an interesting mix of dirty brooklyn kids and blog reading Manhattanites that were slightly too manicured for the venue at hand. Some intentionally dirtied themselves up to fit in though. Maybe even bought holed up jeans. The music was great with Land of Talk being my favorite of the night. The picture above is a band called The Ballet who were really fun in a Stars meets Belle and Sebastian indie pop kind of way.



Ramesh of Voxtrot played a short acoustic solo set which was quite enjoyable. Two new songs were played that sounded like they'd come out really nicely full band. They're recording their first full length for Play Louder Records in the upcoming months.



Land of Talk was last, after an enjoyable set by Tokyo Police Club, and they were most enjoyable. The singer's voice reminded me a lot of Shea Seger, who I don't think was ever successful in the US and seems to have dissappeared completely. Great show with a good amount of charisma and memorable melodies. (Pictures of the night by Bow.

Download of the Day
The Ballet - I Hate War (MP3)
Voxtrot - The Start of Something (MP3)
Land of Talk - Seafoam (MP3)

The Day Of The Vegan

Sometimes it seems like that those who could go undefeated aren't willing to fight.



Last Sunday's Undisputed Heavyweights show was tons of fun for us. Unfortunately some people were refused at the door due to the space limitation. That made us sad. The beautiful singing by the crowd on Roll Your Windows Down. (Link goes to a live performance video of another show's rendition of "Roll Your Windows Down"). Photo above via Underrated. Night two of the Undisputed Heavyweights at Rockwood Music Hall live EP recording stretch is coming up July 7th. Before that you have some time to watch this crazy video (all real, no computer animation involved). (Via Indie-Licious.)



Book Finished: The Jordan Rules by Sam Smith
Book Started: The Greatest: My Own Story by Muhammad Ali

Tonight I will be attending BV's event with Land of Talk, Tokyo Police Club and The Ballet with DJ's Ramesh from Voxtrot & Finger on the Pulse at The Syrup Room in Brooklyn. There are some surprises also. Yay for once a show close to where I live.

Download of the Day
Voxtrot - Sunlight Bather The Golden Glow (Felt cover) (MP3) via GreatBodyOfWater
Voxtrot- Raised By Wolves/You Can Hide Your Love Forever (Comet Gain Cover) (MP3) via GreatBodyOfWater
Sufjan Stevens - The Perpetual Self (MP3) via TheLawsHaveChanged

The Day Of Realizations

It's really just a different name for time. When the cost of an item is expressed in units of life, perspectives narrow down to a reality usually hidden beneath layers of nonsense. Nonsense is sometimes called wisdom. Wisdom rarely is what it pretends to be as things agreed on by masses of people might very well be watered down.

Watch this amazing video of Stevie Wonder performing Superstition on Sesame Street in 1973. Watch for the headbanging 5 year old dancer in the background. Via BoingBoing.



Friday June 30th will be one of Liberated Matter's biggest shows yet. Featuring the talents of Kevin Devine (Capitol Records), Stephane Wrembel (Amoebe Records), Benzos (Stinky Records), and Drop The Lime (TigerBeat6). 4 Different genres, 4 different artists, 1 party. It's going to be a blast.

From the official press release:

"It seems like NYC Indie Concert Promoters Liberated Matter have thrown caution and concert billing convention to the wind in serving up a brilliant lineup of widely divergent artists under the banner of “The Spices of Indie-a”. Four genres will be respresented this Friday June 30th, 8:00 pm at Tonic (107 Norfolk St), by four NYC based artists. Kevin Devine (Capitol), Stephane Wrembel (Amoeba Records), benzos (Stinky Records) and Drop the Lime (Tigerbeat6) will serve as ambassadors of their genres; Singer/Songwriter, Gypsy Jazz, Indie Rock and Electronica respectively."



Download of the Day
Ben Gibbard - Joga (Bjork) (Mp3)
Death Cab for Cutie - All Is Full Of Love (Bjork) (Mp3) via Impulsive
Prince - Sign O' Times (Mp3) via timeDoor
The Family – Nothing Compares 2 U (Mp3) via timeDoor

The Day of Jay-Z

Last night's ticket price was the highest I've ever had to pay for a concert, but it was a special one, and upon the curtain opening one look at the stage clarified why it was a $100 show. The audience was slightly dumbfounded when all they saw was a 23 piece string orchestra. I had been sneaking a peek behind the curtain earlier and wondered why there were so many white and asian girls running around, and now I saw them gracefully holding their violins and cellos and I understood. Behind the 23 piece string orchestra there was a 8 piece horn section and finally an 8 piece band led by ?uestlove of the legendary Roots crew.



Jay started out in a white blazer but soon removed it to show off his sequenced t-shirt. I'm thinking Beyonce wasn't in town for surely she would've vetoed that wardrobe choice. You can't quite see the level of gaudiness in these pictures but trust me. The occasion of the concert was a rehearsal for tonight's show at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his first classic album Reasonable Doubt. He took his time and performed most cuts off the album, I think Friend of Foe was missing but somehow I find that hard to believe. Maybe I just blanked out. Sauce Money guested on Bring It On and Memphis Bleek on Coming of Age, but Jaz-O, Foxy Brown and Mary J Blige were missing. I also expected Nas to maybe come out for the chorus to Dead Presidents. Perhaps they'll come out tonight. Just Blaze served as a DJ and was excellent. Especially in the 40 minute encore section where all the musicians left the stage and Jay burned through a set of post-Reasonable Doubt songs. Including Hustlin' (rmx), Hola Hovito, What More Can I Say, Change Clothes, Big Pimpin, Jigga What/Jigga Who, Hovi Baby, and many more.



The orchestra was quite amazing and it was most amusing to see the classically trained string players nod their heads and even sing along with such classic lines as say "Ain't no nigga like the one I got, no one can fuck me better." Highlight of the night was a new freestyle at the end of Twenty Two Twos called Fourty Four Fours where he dropped the word 'four' 44 times in a rhyme and ended it with: "that's fourty four four motherfuckers and I'm nice." Classic hip hop moment. I saw a bunch of cameras out there so I'm sure YouTube will have a video of that one soon. It was a great concert, great experience and I really liked the venue as well. Good sound, nice vibe. Honorable mention for superb DJing pre-show by an invisible ?uestlove.

Photos via Wallace. Many thanks to Rad for being....rad...and enabling me to purchase an extra ticket he had. For face. Because scalpers die and nice people sell for face.

UPDATE 1: Would love to find out what the name of the orchestra is.
UPDATE 2: PARTIAL VIDEO ADDED OF 44 FOURS (thank you Urbanics Media)
UPDAT 3: 5 More Videos here



Download of the Day
Rick Ross ft Jay-Z & Young Jeezy - Hustlin' (RMX) (MP3)
Beyonce ft Jay-Z - Deja Vu (MP3) via SoulSides
Jay-Z ft Missy Elliott & Twista (MP3) via NoFrontin
Freeway - What We Do (MP3) via NoFrontin

The Day of Ryan

Sounds like you really meant it this time. I wish I could say the same about your father, who, by the grace of God, has stopped listening to me altogether. I felt smaller than Rome.



Last night's Ryan Adams show at Bowery was wonderful. I hope all the indie rock bands in town were there to learn about writing an actual song that stands up without having to hide behind a cool synth or guitar part. Sometimes all he had to do was sing over a drum beat and a staccato bassline and it was perfection. Some Zeppelin-esque numbers were bookends to country rockers and dirty garage sounds. I will always prefer the acoustic solo Ryan Adams to the rocker but I had a blast with his rockier repertoire choices. See below for the setlist (via Amrit.

"Love Is Hell”
“This Is It”
“Please Do Not Let Me Go”
“Cherry Lane”
“Note To Self: Don't Die”
“Peaceful Valley”
“Wish You Were Here”
“Magnolia Mountain”
“Easy Plateau”
“Hard Way To Fall”
“Let It Ride”
“To Be Young”
“Dear Chicago”
“Cold Roses”
“Beautiful Sorta”
------
“Call Me On Your Way Back Home”
“Come Pick Me Up”
“Mockingbird”

Also present were Casey, Rachael, BrooklynVegan, and the "Other Wes" ;).



Tonight I'm going to see Jay-Z and then Sunday night of course is the Undisputed Heavyweights live EP recording night at Rockwood Music Hall at 9pm with Paula Valstein, Schram and Mike Grubbs.

Download of the Day
Ryan Adams - Harder Now It's Over (live) (MP3)
Ryan Adams - When The Stars Go Blue (live) (MP3)
Ryan Adams - Mockingbird Song (live) (MP3)
Ryan Adams - Rescue Blues (live) (MP3)
Ryan Adams - Kiss Before I Go (live) (MP3)
Ryan Adams - Magnolia Mountain (live) (MP3)

The Day Of Elvis

He started to swim in the opposite direction as I got closer. As if he didn't want to get rescued. I burned the inside of my mouth drinking faster than I should. As if I didn't want to save face. I faced him later, safely on the shore of his existence and he felt bad about what he had done. We'd write a song about it, I said.



This Sunday will be an excellent night at Rockwood Music Hall. The Undisputed Heavyweights are playing a 9pm show that is part of a run of 2 to 3 shows that will be recorded in our efforts to create a live EP. The night will also feature the talents of the wonderful Paula Valstein, Jeff Schram and Mike Grubbs. The live performance video of "Roll Your Windows Down" below was filmed at Underrated Magazine's Commencement Day event at Crash Mansion.



Elvis Perkins is getting a lot of buzz. I saw him perform a few months ago and it was good. He has a funny name that sounds made up but his dad has the same last name so who knows? Melancholic male singer-songwriter with interesting lyrics.

Download of the Day
Elvis Perkins - Ash Wednesday (MP3)
Elvis Perkins - It's Only Me (MP3)
Elvis Perkins - Moon Woman (MP3)
Elvis Perkins - The Night & the Liquor (MP3)
Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping (MP3)
Elvis Perkins - Without Love (MP3)
Elvis Perkins - Mayday (MP3)
Elvis Perkins - WNYC's Soundcheck (Radio Appearance) (MP3)

The Day I Slept

With just a brief smile she entered the room and turned on the record player. Producing a crackle and a repetitive "only you know and I know" it colored the room, but not before she knocked over a glass of wine. She was such a pretty mess.



The boys in A Brief Smile are making moves. Opening up for The Fray both at the Bowery Ballroom and recently at the House of Blues in Cleveland they're expanding their fanbase and road testing their sound. It seems to be holding up really well. Here's one of a handful of stand out songs I recommend checking out for now while they keep playing and writing. I think an actual record will be released soon also. Video via Underrated.

A Brief Smile - A Pretty Mess



I have said it before, and I will say it again. I like John Mayer's music no matter what anyone with white cowboy boots and a mullet may say. His new single is streaming on his website and I really dig it. See below in the download section.

I am having trouble walking after a fun filled weekend. That is not quite as spectacular as it may sound. It's merely a result of not engaging in any type of physical exercise for the past 4 years followed by a 2.5 hour soccer match this saturday on a full pitch. It still clearly is the greatest sport of sports. The world cup has so far delivered a good bunch of great matches and the netherlands are through to the next round. Go USA for keeping Italy to a tie.

Download of the Day
A Brief Smile - Kitchen Sink (rough mix) (MP3)
A Brief Smile - Pretty Mess (MP3)
John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change (stream) via
Tally Hall - Banana Man (MP3) via Underrated

The Day Of Heat

We didn't expect this to happen. We never though the violence of the heart would lash out at the lowly ranks of those who had been among us since day one. Day one. Ukeleles flew across our faces and the wind would blow with rain and snow. We put our fruit in the hands of our mothers and our hands in those of our fathers until they bled. (The man in the picture above is Craig of Cloud Cult.)

Formerly in the top 10 of my favorite music videos ever were:
1. Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)
2. Johnny Cash - Hurt (Mark Romanek)
3. Blur - Coffee & TV
4. Bjork - All Is Full Of Love (Chris Cunningham)
5. Michael Jackson - Thriller
6. Blind Melon - No Rain

The next music video is a 10 minute masterpiece by Chris Cunningham. It will take you by surprise, it will freak you out, it will make you laugh, it will stay with you forever.

7. Aphex Twin - Windowlicker (Chris Cunningham)



Zagat started writing about music also. Below the Zagat rating for the Undisputed Heavyweights.



Book finished: Copenhagen by Michael Frayn ::
Book Started: The Jordan Rules by Sam Smith

This Saturday Beirut is making an appearance at Sound Fix in Brooklyn. RySpace will be there so perhaps we have some quality live recording to look forward to! Check out some tunes off the album below. A lot of bloggers are all over them like....bloggers on obscury snotty bands. But in all honestly, though the show I saw him play sucked, I really dig these recordings. Very impressive considering the kid is 19. Multiinstrumentalist. Kind of reminds me a little of Devotchka but I like it better.

Download of the Day

Beirut - Mount Wroclai (MySpace MP3)
Beirut - Postcard From Italy (MySpace MP3)
Beirut - Scenic World (MySpace MP3)
Beirut - Gulag Orkestar (Download) via CleversAreSo
Beirut - The Bunker (MP3) via IndieBlogHeaven
Beirut - Brandenburg (MP3) via TortureGarden
Beirut - The Canals Of Our City (MP3) via 26
Beirut - Prenzlauerberg (Download) via TortureGarden
Beirut - Rhineland (Heartland) (MP3) via Raven
Beirut - Scenic World (MP3) via Raven
Beirut - After The Curtain (MP3) via IGuessImFloating
Beirut - Interior Of A Dutch House (MP3) via Getecho

The Day We Won

You never feel the way I found on the street, under the stairway, in the eyes of a condensed cup of milk. I think being lost for days is a good thing. An honest thing. If ever you find me wandering around in fields of barley, tap my shoulder and shake your head. I know you never wanted it this way.

Formerly in the top 10 of my favorite music videos ever were:
1. Radiohead - Street Spirit (Fade Out)
2. Johnny Cash - Hurt (Mark Romanek)
3. Blur - Coffee & TV
4. Bjork - All Is Full Of Love (Chris Cunningham)

Today the two next contenders.

#5 Michael Jackson - Thriller



#6 Blind Melon - No Rain



Rachael had introduced me to BestWeekEver's blog a while ago. Very amusing. I of course was unaware of this cultural phenomenon on TV, seeing that I don't watch TV. But they sure have a lot of readers it seems. Evidence can be found in my visitor stats that shot through the roof when they were so kind to link to my previous post. It was most certainly the 'best week ever' in SitDownStandUp.com visitor stats.

My love realizes that it's all a bit overrated. Then at long last she found the wild chicken she had always been looking for.

Download of the Day
Happy Signed a Record Deal day to Voxtrot.
Voxtrot - Soft & Warm (MP3) via TheLawsHaveChanged
Voxtrot - The Start Of Something (MP3) via EardrumsShallFail
Voxtrot - Raised By Wolves (MP3) via EardrumsShallFail
Voxtrot - Four Long Days (MP3) via CleverTitlesAreSoLastSummer
Voxtrot - Missing Pieces (MP3)

The Day Radiohead Rocked

I can confirm that Radiohead is still the biggest, best and most important band in the world right now. They kind of remind me of Undisputed Heavyweights that way. That whole undefeated thing. They played a bunch of new songs and they were mostly amazing. My current new favorite is 15 Step. Can't wait for this album.


Amazing pictures via SlothsAreFunny's flickr. Setlist via StereoGum

01. "You And Whose Army"
02. "The National Anthem"
03. "2+2=5"
04. "15 Step"
05. "Morning Bell"
06. "Arpeggi"
07. "Videotape"
08. "Kid A"
09. "Fake Plastic Trees"
10. "Climbing Up The Walls"
11. "Nude"
12. "Bangers 'n Mash"
13. "Idioteque"
14. "There There"
15. "Street Spirit"
16. "Bodysnatchers"
17. "Lucky"

Encore 1
18. "I Might Be Wrong"
19. "Down Is The New Up"
20. "The Bends"
21. "Silent Night" > "Everything In Its Right Place"

Encore 2
22. "House of Cards"
23. "How to Disappear Completely"

Download of the Day
Some of the new songs, recorded at the recent Boston show. Via MusicIsArt.
Radiohead - 15 Step (live) (MP3)
Radiohead - Arpeggi (MP3)
Radiohead - Videotape (MP3)
Radiohead - House Of Cards (MP3)
Radiohead - Bangers & Mash (MP3)
Radiohead - Bodysmashers (MP3)
Radiohead - 4 Minute Warning (MP3)
Radiohead - Dollars and Cents (MP3)
Radiohead - Spooks (MP3)

The Day After Sunday

Saturday I walked around and saw a bunch of bands perform. They included.

The Picture played at the SESAC BBQ event at Union Pool in Brooklyn and did a great job. I had so far only seen them play acoustic and this full band version was a welcome change up. Indie rock that sounds like they live in Brooklyn. They're doing well in the UK and Brooklyn I hear and maybe a few other cities also. Download below.



Dawn Landes played the fabulous Joe's Pub in the late afternoon and this was the first time I got to see her perform. It was a really nice show in which memorable rockout moments (with just her acoustic guitar and a drummer) were juxtaposed with delicate softer folk moments. She has opened for Jose Gonzalez before and having seen both I can definitely tell why that would be a good combination. Great stuff. Download below.



Next up was Chris Garneau who was just a little too Regina Spektor for me to be honest. He let his real voice out for a song or two in the beginning and though I didn't like the songs much I was impressed with his range and beautiful voice. After that however he went into Regina mode and was so affected in his singing and lyrics that it was no longer enjoyable for me.

Next up was the Mercury Lounge where I went to see Van Davis and The Voyces. Jon, bass player in Van Davis, was amazing. Really blew me away with some of the solos and grooves. The Voyces were fun as always with a huge catalogue of great songs.

Download of the Day
The Picture - Patterns (MP3)
Dawn Landes - Kissing Song (MP3)
Chris Garneau - Castle Time (MySpace)
Van Davis - Monster Patrol (MySpace)
The Voyces - The End of Everything (MP3)

The Day Before Sin-E

It makes no difference to me what happens outside. I will stay in and listen to the rain lead the way percussively in between the steady bass drum that is the pulse of Brooklyn. I play my travel scrabble set with letters that lock in and words that resonate. I had my reservations when at first my opponent knocked over the board in anger, but as the dust settled the letters were still in place. Old photographs of family tell a thousand stories much like the cuts in the table beneath and my grandmother's writing along the edge of the paper that holds the photographs.

#4 Bjork - All Is Full Of Love (Chris Cunningham)



Watch the Making Of.



The Queen Is Dead was released 20 years ago. How crazy is that? Listen below on how it's still great and relevant.

Download of the Day
The Smiths - Frankly Mr Shankly (MP3) via IGuessImFloating
The Smiths - Bigmouth Strikes Again (MP3) via AndiMania
The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (MP3) via HelloGina
The Smiths - Vicar In A Tutu (MP3) via MarathonPacks

The Day I Slept

This Friday the Undisputed Heavyweights will play a show at Sin-E that will be attended by some excellent photographers. It will be the last big full band show until September with two smaller shows at Rockwood still coming up and it's surely going to be a blast. Our last show was attended by the excellent Kimberly Bellinger, who took the shots in this post.



Another one of my all time favorite music videos is by Blur. I've never been a huge fan of the band though I generally enjoy them, but this video is just so great.

# 3 Blur - Coffee & TV



Download of the Day
Kings of Convenience - Little Kids (Ladytron Remix) (MP3) Via LookingAtThem
Murs - Murray's Law (MP3) Via Raven
Aphex Twin - Windowlicker (acid edit) (MP3) Via MookaMotel

The Day...You Know

After posting my favorite music video, Radiohead's Street Spirit (Fade Out), I went to look for a few of my other very favorite music videos. I will be posting 9 more that together with Street Spirit fill out my top 10 of best music videos ever. IMHO.

#2 Johnny Cash - Hurt (Mark Romanek)



Watch the making of here.
Watch another great Mark Romanek video: Fiona Apple - Criminal + its Making Of.
Also watch Nine Inch Nails - Closer.

This song was of course part of the great set of cd's that Johnny Cash recorded with producer Rick Rubin. Mostly covers this set of songs left us with some great (re)interpretations of classic pop and rock songs. Some below for download.

Download of the Day
Johnny Cash - One (U2 cover) (MP3) via AUPG
Johnny Cash - I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty) (MP3) via MookaMotel

The Day I Wrote

Last night a slightly inebriated Casey asked me what made an MC great in my opinion. It wasn't a random question. It followed my enthusiastic reception of the DJ's choice of playing Mobb Deep's Drop A Gem On 'Em, from when Mobb Deep was still excellent. I am a Hip Hop Connaisseur, a long time fan and it was my first musical love (aside from my Wham tape) as a genre. I exclusively listened to Hip Hop until my early twenties when I started to broaden my horizons.

To get back to the original question of what makes an MC great. In no particular order (and with the example rappers/songs picked not necessarily being limited to or being the best/only examples their category):

1. Lyricism

Which words an MC chooses to use and the complexity of his thoughts and sentences. Her/his intelligence will shine if done well. This is where words turn into poetry.

For an example of rappers with great lyricism listen to:
Nas - It Ain't Hard To Tell (DangerMouse Remix) (MP3) (Via PalmsOut)
Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader (MP3) (Via ABlogSoup)

2. Flow

The way words are used. The ability to manipulate words and sentences in creative ways so that they resemble the motion characteristic of fluids.

For an example of a great flow listen to:
Eminem - Monkey See, Monkey Do (MP3) (Via BerkeleyPlace)

3. Presence/Personality
Lyricism and flow don't mean much without a larger than life personality. This is where an MC's personal charisma, credibility and sense of humor come in. He/she has to make you believe in the words.

For an example of MC's with great presence listen to:
Redman - How To Roll A Blunt (MP3) (Via WFMU)
Beanie Siegel & Freeway - Roc The Mic (MP3) (Via CallMeMickey)

4. Songwriting Ability
You can flow all you want to but if all you can do is drop a hot 16 bars here and there, you're still not a real 'rapper'. Songwriting ability in rap is much like songwriting ability in rock/pop. It takes good structures, the ability to tell a story that draws people in, and a knowledge of music to be a great MC.

To listen to an example of rapper with great songwriting ability listen to:
Public Enemy - By The Time I Get To Arizona (MP3) (Via TreesLounge)
Slick Rick - It's A Boy (MP3) (Via PalmsOut)

5. Versatility
Both in topic matter and style. A true MC must be able to battle, tell great stories, do a club record, rock a crowd live and on record, and more.

For an example of diverse MC's listen to:
Jay-Z - Can I Get A...(MP3) (Via ScatterOLight)
Common - I Used to Love H.E.R. (MP3) (Via SweetNothing)

6. Voice

An MC's voice needs to be instantly recognizable, distinct, able to bring across emotion and full of soul. It's like the great Guru said: "It's mostly the voice.".

For an example of MC's with a great voice listen to:
2Pac - Young Niggaz (MP3) (Via AlTrap
The Notorious BIG - Machine Gun Funk (Primo rmx) (MP3) (Via MoistWorks)

7. Beat-picking Ability
Underrated and underestimated! Being able to pick the right beat is vital. Just think of how great Nas's albums post It Was Written could've been with great beats to match with his amazing lyrics. Nas is the posterchild for bad beat choices to the point where some are putting out mixtapes of nas vocals with replaced beats. Same thing goes for Eminem to a certain degree.

For an example of an MC that knows how to pick the right beat check listen to:
Jay-Z - Dead Presidents II (Snippet) (MP3) (Via UltraGraphik)

So who does that make the best rapper ever? Opinions? I say Jay-Z is the highest scoring rapper if all categories are combined.

The Day It Rained

One day I will move to Virginia, or some place like it. Where meadows meander and streets are paved with that slightly gravelly crackling sound underneath car tires. It might not be Virginia, but it will be like Virginia. I am realizing I will be a child until I hit 93 years old and I am trying to make my brain disperse this knowledge beyond just the rational logics part of my body.

When I was 13 I thought I surely would know most everything about life once I doubled that number. Now that I am one year past the double mark, I realize I know a lot more than I did then, yet I am still a child that knows nothing. Perhaps my parents are children still as well. Perhaps my friend Erykah was right when in 1996 she told me "The man that knows something, knows that he knows nothing at all." I was 18 years old in 1996 and on Friday the 13th of September Tupac was shot to death. On Friday the 13th of September of 1978, 3 months before my birth, my grandfather passed away. I was to be his first, only and long-awaited grandson after a female run of success culminating in 9 grand daughters. Years later I heard his voice on a cassette tape and recognized a person I had never known. He was concerned about carrying on the family name. He had 8 children, 10 grandchildren, but I, and I alone, will carry on my family name. Maybe I will do so in Virginia, or some place like it.



Ever since Rachael sent me an MP3 of Oh No! Oh My!'s "I Love You All The Time" I've been very interested in this band. It's an interesting combination of acoustic music and throbbing indie electro dance. I'm hoping they'll come our way soon to see what they're all about live. Some MP3's below including a hilarious exclusive new recording for I Guess I'm Floating, a Kentucky based blog.

Download of the Day
Oh No! Oh My! - Jane Is Fat (MP3)
Oh No! Oh My! - Walk In The Park (MP3)
Oh No! Oh My! - I Guess I'm Floating (To Kentucky) (MP3) Via IGuessImFloating

The Day I Previewed

Lord willing, I will put my feet on Indian soil come mid-July. I am looking forward to wearing a Dhoti. I have made solid promises however to not wear the loincloth/man diaper. Ms. K has already taken her first few steps and recounts her experiences so far here.



Surely most of you have at least heard one or more tracks off the brand new Thom Yorke solo album. I received my pre-release copy in the mail today and thoroughly enjoyed the few listens I got in. I would even dare to say it's my favorite release of the year so far. Think Radiohead's Kid A/Amnesiac pushed a tad bit further into Autechre land. And unlike a lot of people I adored both aformentioned albums so this solo record is making me all tingly and excited. And what a great cover it is also. It's actually part of a 12 foot piece by a Japanese artist. Go read about it and see it in the full here.

I wonder if Thom will do a video for this 9 track album. If so I can only hope that maybe it would be something along the lines of Street Spirit (Fade Out) my favorite Radiohead video ever, or really my favorite video ever by anyone. Watch below.



Download of the Day
Thom Yorke - Black Swan (MP3)
Thom Yorke - The Eraser (MP3)
Both via Jesse