Even though I don't have anything really bloggable to write about, I didn't want to end the month with paltry two posts ('oh, the shame!'). So here's the quick round up of the month:
1.) I estimated (probably while waiting in the airport) that I spent 25% of my time away from Bonn in 2007.
2.) I got a favorite bar in Bonn finally. Blow-Up has a cute little dance floor, lots of couches, and always interesting music (Motown and Funk one night, French covers of American rock standards another).
3.) I'm patiently waiting until 6pm to pick up my bike from the shop ('Ich habe ein Problem mit meinem Fahrrad.').
4.) January represents the fourth straight month of obsessively listening to the Mountain Goats (hell, I spent month one, obsessively listening to just 8 songs). I've mentioned them briefly in other posts (and Tim's blogged about them twice too), but let me say it one more time. If you've ever had any inclination to take my advice about anything, the advice to follow would be to spend some time listening to the Mountain Goats. And once you get your grubby little hands on some songs, don't just play them while you're working or doing the dishes, etc.: it's all about the lyrics. A roomful of monkeys on typewriters may produce Hamlet in an amount of time smaller than the age of the universe (I'm not clear on the probability of this), but I could never imagine to produce anything as beautiful, smart, and funny as John Darnielle manages to pack into a few lines in his many, many great songs. Is that enough of an endorsement? Sound off on your favorite lyrics in the comments.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wrapping Up January
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12 comments:
"I am going to make it through this year if it kills me"
If that's not an academic's credo I don't know what is. The start to "This Year" is also really great.
After a single listen through I'm not thrilled by the new album, but it may just need a few repetitions.
Hi Doug - I'd say "This Year" is one of the most accessible songs, so the others may need a few more plays. Which album is the "new album" you're talking about?
Off the same album:
"Held under these smothering waves by your strong and thick veined hand, but one of these days I'm going to wriggle up on dry land."
And randomly:
"I hope that our few remaining friends give up on trying to save us. I hope we come up with a failsafe plot to piss off the dumb few that forgave us."
"There are no pan-Asian supermarkets down in hell, so you can't buy Golden Boy peanuts there."
Hee. Now I need to go listen to that song again.
"I didn't want to end the month with paltry two posts ('oh, the shame!')"
Ah indeed, the blog archive counter is a harsh mistress =)
Yeah, I agree about "This Year" and probably why it, "Lion's Teeth" and "Love Love Love" are my current favorites off of Sunset Tree. I tend to listen to music while coding and so don't focus stronly on the lyrics.
As to the new album, I was referring to Heretic Pride which has been leaked.
Doug
(strongly)
Tim - And it's February now, so it begins again!
Doug - I've only heard two songs off Heretic Pride but I really like "Sax Rohmer #1" ("And I am coming home to you with my own blood in my mouth."). So you also have The Sunset Tree, what else do you have?
Just Sunset Tree for now, I think it'd take more time and patience than I have right now to go back through the rest of their catalog.
I sampled a bit from Get Lonely and Sweden, but it doesn't work well for the obvious reasons.
I've heard good things about Sweden but I'm more interested in acquiring Ghana (Golden Boy peanuts!) or Nine Black Poppies ("And the Chicago Cubs will beat every team in the league"), or maybe even that new album, even though you don't seem impressed. Sean's going to a show (I converted him) and I presume they'll play a lot of the new album; I'll see what he thinks.
Well I hope you weren't planning on basing any purchasing decisions on my opinion...
I've listened to it a couple more times, and enjoyed it enough that I'll delete it and wait for the actual album to be released.
For "legal" music I use emusic.com where I get 75 tracks for $20/month (damn you netflix, soon everything I do will be subscription based). They have all the Mountain Goats albums, and they end up being a few dollars per album, about what I consider a fair price.
My only concern is I'm not sure how much actually gets back to the artist.
Enjoy them live Sean, you're supporting the band for the rest of us :)
After Jackie gave me 3 of the songs, I bought the whole album on Itunes. I have not listened to it a lot...despite some attempts the music just doesn't appeal to me. I do like the 3 songs that Jackie gave me though. I might go back to it and listen to the lyrics a bit more carefully.
Doug - I don't think I buy enough to go with a subscription although I still miss my Netflix account.
Eugene - It really is all about the lyrics, but I'll send you some more if you're interested.
Jackie, I do have the Sunset Tree album, but I'll take your offer on more songs :).
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