VAGUE SPACE

Busy Doing Nothing

I'm sorry I haven't had much new material written on here recently, but I've been too busy to write lately.  Busy doing nothing, but still, I haven't had a moment's rest since, I don't know, last Thursday.  My weekend involved bad beats at poker, late night diner runs, and perfectly pink waitresses on Friday; a Saturday spent looking for Halloween costumes and failing miserably, looking for hot pretzels and settling for WaWa's not-hot nor tasty version, and drinking excessive amounts of German beer; a Sunday of football, wings, nachos, beer, and the most tedious six hours ever spent trying to draft a fantasy team for a sport I don't follow nor know anything about; and a Monday spent flopping around 2nd base in a softball doubleheader as temperatures dipped into the lower 30s and my several layers of clothing did little to stem the hypothermia.  So I haven't really had a moment of peace.  I apologize.  And I've been crazy busy at the office as well, negating any time for even a simple Internet browse or two.  On the bright side, I had off school this week, so I don't have any homework to do - oh wait, that's right, I didn't do last week's assignments.  Fuck.

On to the big news I missed writing about over the weekend, congratulations to the Boston Red Sox for sweeping the Rockies to win the World Series.  I am very happy for the Sox and all of Red Sox Nation, of which I consider myself an ancillary member.  Since around 1995 or so, my favorite baseball teams have been, in order: (1) the Mariners, (2) the Phillies, and (3) whichever team is facing the Yankees.  Because the Red Sox have spent most of this decade locked in an immortal struggle with the Evil Empire (before cruising past them in recent years), I have found myself rooting harder for the Sox than any other team besides my top two.  I frequent the Sons of Sam Horn message board, have been to 38 pitches more often than I care to recall, and have developed an affection for both Don Orsillo and the RemDog.  So I'm pretty happy right now.  I wouldn't consider myself a Red Sox fan because I didn't really follow them carefully until 2002 or 2003, so that would be too bandwagonesque.  But I am very happy for them.  And even happier about the horrendous state of the Yankee franchise at the same time.  It's basically a win-win for everybody.

Halloween Music

Here's some scary music, along with songs by indie rock artists who have Halloween-themed words in their titles.  Happy Halloween. Note: Pictures taken from the Halloween/Oktoberfest party I attended over the weekend.

Fright Fest

• Download M83 - "Car Chase Terror!".mp3
• Download M83 - "Slight Night Shiver".mp3
• Download John Carpenter - "Halloween Main Theme".mp3 (from Halloween)
• Download John Murphy - "The Tunnel".mp3 (from 28 Days Later)
• Download John Murphy - "Rage".mp3 (from 28 Days Later)
• Download Theme from "Hush": Silent Night/First Kiss/Enter the Gentlemen.mp3 (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
• Download Explosions in the Sky - "It's Natural to Be Afraid (The Paper Chase Mix)".mp3

An Indie Halloween

• Download Unwound - "Demons Sing Love Songs".mp3
• Download Kevin Drew - "Frightening Lives".mp3
• Download Band of Horses - "Is There a Ghost".mp3
• Download Band of Horses - "Monsters".mp3
• Download Rogue Wave - "Ghost".mp3
• Download Mogwai - "Kids Will Be Skeletons".mp3
• Download Sebadoh - "Vampire".mp3
• Download Thurston Moore - "Wonderful Witches".mp3
• Download Sunset Rubdown - "A Day in the Graveyard II".mp3
• Download Sunset Rubdown - "I'm Sorry I Sang on Your Hands that Must Have Been in the Grave".mp3
• Download Bright Eyes - "Devil Town".mp3
• Download Slint - "Nosferatur Man".mp3
• Download The Mountain Goats - "New Monster Avenue".mp3
• Download The Thermals - "I Might Need You to Kill".mp3
• Download Robert Pollard - "The Killers".mp3
• Download Sufjan Stevens - "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.".mp3

30. The Moon

Song:  "The Moon"
Artist:  The Microphones
Album:  The Glow Pt. 2
Year:  2001
Length:  5:16
Label:  K Records
Rating:  9.2 (out of 10) for the album, via Pitchfork

• Download The Microphones - "The Moon".mp3

"Perhaps the problem is that most pop music doesn't put enough faith in the listener. Everything must be laid out in the most obvious of terms, and eventually, that obviousness obscures whatever the music originally intended to convey. If you want to invoke the quiet beauty of the ocean, for example, you can write a pop song that says, "Hey, the ocean is really beautiful," or you can try to come up with a sonic approximation of that beauty.

It's a huge undertaking to attempt to capture something so visual in a song. But for Phil Elvrum, it seems to be second nature.  The Glow Pt. 2, the follow-up to last year's gorgeous brainmelt It Was Hot, We Stayed In the Water, captures the sea, the sky, and the mountains in a sonic panorama that seems to live without beginning or end. A sprawling, swirling composition that is both as varied and as consistent as the landscape itself, The Glow Pt. 2 exceeds even its predecessor in capturing the simultaneous wrath and fragility of nature. And sounding really, really cool."

That's the album description, not the song, but the song is what really drove me to the album and as the third track, one of the most accessible on the masterpiece, it still holds up today as the centerpiece of such a great production of music.  I was obsessed with "I Felt Your Shape" a couple years ago, from the same album, and opener "I Want Wind to Blow", short and sweet "Headless Horseman", ultra-cool "The Mansion" and brilliant "I Want to Be Cold" are also wonderful tracks as well.  The opening of the 9 minute closer "My Warm Blood" is quite beautiful, but it's "The Moon" that really epitomizes the beauty of this music for me.  Or maybe it's the lyrics. 

Kyle Sucks Cartman's Balls: The Trilogy

It's been an uneven season for South Park, to say the least.  Not only did we have an entire episode about Stan's dad's shit (yes, his actual excrement), but now we have a 3 part episode about Kyle - for all intents and purposes - giving Cartman a blowjob.  And that's the normal part of the trilogy.  It's all very strange.  And for the most part, not necessarily all that funny.  Especially the episode about Mr. Marsh's shit, because that was just disgusting.  But this trilogy is nothing if not imaginative.  Almost mind-blowingly so, but very imaginative and original and if I were baked while watching, as I'm sure the writers were while creating it, I might find it a little more enjoyable.  But I have to give them an A for effort.  Any three-part cartoon that makes fellatio between fourth grade boys the secondary plot line is awfully bold.

The trilogy began last week with an episode that begins in the woods near South Park, as Cartman attempts to prove to his friends that he observed a leprechaun by staging a massive search and rescue mission.  Kyle's disbelief of the existence of leprechauns results in the bet that fuels the episode (namely that Kyle will suck Cartman's balls if he can prove the leprechaun is real), but also provides some interesting nicknames for the kids in the mission.  Including Token, the token black character.

Cartman: "Dragonwind to Blackie.  What's your six, Blackie?"
Token: "I don't like the nickname Blackie."

And Butters.

Cartman: "Dragonwind to Faggot.  Come in Faggot."
Butters: "This is Faggot, go ahead."
Cartman: "Faggot, I need you to check positions north by northeast.  I'll check back in five."
Butters: "Ok.  Faggot out."

Most Played Wolf Parade

The following is a list of my most played songs of 2007, according to iTunes.

1. "The Mending of the Gown" Sunset Rubdown     120 plays
2. "Apistat Commander (Xiu Xiu)" Sunset Rubdown    106
3. "Dead + Rural"  Handsome Furs     102
4. "Up On Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days" Sunset Rubdown   93
5. "Cannot, Get Started" Handsome Furs   90
6. "Fucked Up Kid" Kevin Drew   85
7. "Sing! Captain" Handsome Furs    81
8. "For the Pier (and Dead Shimmering)" Sunset Rubdown    81
9. "The Radio's Hot Sun" Handsome Furs     78
10. "Child-Heart Losers" Sunset Rubdown    76

So what do all of these songs have in common?  Well, first of all, they are all by Canadian artists, but since there are only 3 artists involved, it's not entirely shocking.  But secondly, if you remove Broken Social Scene's Kevin Drew and his wonderful track from the mix, the remaining artists are the two creative halves of the band Wolf Parade, from their side project bands.  Sunset Rubdown is of course Spencer Krug's baby - and now a full-fledged band that has recorded my favorite album of the year, while Handsome Furs are Dan Boeckner's other band, in which he records with his wife, and they own my second favorite album of the year.  Pretty amazing stuff.  If Wolf Parade ever comes up with a follow up to their incredible 2005 Apologies to the Queen Mary (yes, I know the band members are quite busy), I'd be more than a little excited.  According to interviews I've read, a new album has already been written and recorded and just needs mastering, but I can't be sure.  They've toured a little in the last couple months - I saw Sunset Rubdown two weeks ago in an absolutely amazing show in Philly but didn't catch the Parade - and sang a bunch of new tracks apparently.  Here's some links to their live material, as well as some mp3s of live material I have.  Obviously, the album versions will be different and/or better.  But for those of you like me who cannot get enough of all things Spencer and Dan, enjoy.

• I took most of this live material from Trendwhore.  They have a ton of live shows from Canadian venues.  Just an awesome site.  Check it out. 
• Unreleased Tracks
  
  • Download Wolf Parade - "Soldiers (live)".mp3
  • Download Wolf Parade - "Stevie (live)".mp3
  • Download Wolf Parade - "Chinese Way (live)".mp3
  • (older) Download Wolf Parade - "Things I Don't Know (live)".mp3
  • (older) Download Wolf Parade - "Cathedral Bells (live)".mp3
  • Download Handsome Furs - "Heaven (live)".mp3
  • Download Sunset Rubdown - "Iccarus (live)".mp3
• Available on Released Albums (live versions)
  
  • Download Wolf Parade - "This Heart's on Fire (live)".mp3
  • Download Wolf Parade - "I'll Believe in Anything (live)".mp3
  • Download Handsome Furs - "The Radio's Hot Sun (live)".mp3
  • Download Wolf Parade - "Shine a Light (live)".mp3
  • Download Sunset Rubdown - "Three Colours I & II (live)".mp3
  • Download Sunset Rubdown - "Up On Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days (live)".mp3
  • Download Sunset Rubdown - "Shut Up I Am Dreaming of Places Where Lovers Have Wings (live)".mp3
• Album Versions
  
  • Download Sunset Rubdown - "The Courtesan Has Sung".mp3
  • Download Wolf Parade - "Killing Armies".mp3
  • Download Wolf Parade - "The National People's Scare".mp3

NMT

That's short for New Music Tuesday, for those not familiar with the lingo of the youth today.  And speaking of youth, I'm still depressed about the appearance of Matthew Broderick during the haltingly unfunny "Bee Movie" shorts starring Jerry Seinfeld in the midst of recent The Office episodes.  I'm not sad that Seinfeld no longer appears to be funny, or that Broderick's film career has been reduced to cartoon voiceovers.  No, I'm sad that Ferris Bueller himself looks older than my father.  Wow.  I mean, I know I haven't seen him in anything in recent years - I don't go to Broadway - and I was only 14 when Ferris was released, so he was always somewhat older than me, but Jesus Christ, did he get fucking old.  For an actor who has always gotten by on his boyish charm, it's not a good sign.  And for a fan whose favorite movie of all-time remains the John Hughes opus to leisure, I'm still a little devastated.  The last thing I've actually seen him in was 1999's Election, and he still looked like Ferris then.  Now?  He looks like Mr. Rooney.  Except older.  And if you're as shocked as I am, don't click on his imdb page to find out his actual age.  Wow.  Let's just move on the music please.

• Download Arcade Fire - "Surf City Eastern Block".mp3
• Download British Sea Power - "Down on the Ground".mp3
• Download Robert Pollard - "Current Desperation".mp3
• Download Band of Horses - "No One's Gonna Love You".mp3
• Download Division Day - "Every Shining Time You Arrive (SDRE Cover)".mp3
• Download Mum - "A Little Bit, Sometimes".mp3
• Download Mono - "Memorie dal Futuro".mp3
• Download The Octopus Project - "Truck".mp3

The Irrigation Room

On this week's episode of the Office, Michael runs out of money, Dwight opens a bed-and-breakfast, and Jan's breasts continue to be huge.  Oh, and Ryan makes another appearance, Kelly hooks up with Darryl from the warehouse (seriously, guys!), and Andy finally gets Angela to agree to a date, much to Dwight's chagrin.  And of course, there's a whole lot of Jim and Pam shipping, starting with their first overnight stay somewhere - a date at the Shrute Farms Bed & Breakfast... which doesn't go exactly as Jim planned for his first vacation with Pam.

Jim:  "I always imagined less manure.  I mean, some manure.  Just less."

31. Bad Blood

Song:  "Bad Blood"
Artist:  Bright Eyes & The Album Leaf
Album:  Collaboration Series No.1
Year:  2002
Length: 4:55
Label:  Better Looking Records

• Download Bright Eyes/Album Leaf - "Bad Blood".mp3

This 7" vinyl release from the label of Jimmy LaValle of Album Leaf's main band Tristeza was part of a pair of records featuring collaborations first between LaValle and Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes and later between LaValle and Her Space Holiday.  This track was the first of two tracks featured on the Oberst/LaValle pairing, the other being the lesser "Hungry for a Holiday."  But this rare and at one time, difficult to find track (it was made available on Bright Eyes' 2006 rarities collection Noise Floor) has become one of my favorites, perfectly balancing Oberst's quiet, understated vocal talents with The Album Leaf's majestic musical backing.  A wonderfully sad, yet strangely hopeful beauty of a song.

#31 of All-Time

no news
that's good news,
when someone's gonna break
see things change, yeah I've been changing everything
it's peaceful, the pitch black
when the last light on goes out
i'm stranded in my bed
so i think about

the bad luck, the bad blood
that may have come between
two good souls, that's one heck of an offering
so take these gifts that have been given
and ended up with an alphabet
but some words are too wrong to define
now the whole world is waking up
a ribbon cut for the opening
we all knew that day would arrive

up all night, all upset
the outside's growing light
no breakfast, just not much of an appetite
so be cool and believe in the things you haven't learned
'cause you've lost and it's gone
but it will return.
now it's all laid out in front of you
and that's half murdered the mystery
are you still to shy to describe?
now the whole world is waking up
a ribbon cut for the opening
yes, finally the day has arrived

so seek
and rejoice
fill your hands with something tangible
and fly your love
like a flag
and destroy the desire
for that which is impossible
and accept what you get with a smile

High Comedy

Is it wrong that I started cracking up uncontrollably when Howard Stern led off yesterday's show with the following clip from Ellen Degeneres as she starts sobbing uncontrollably because a dog she adopted and then gave to her hairdresser ended up being reclaimed by the shelter.  It's truly hilarious.  If you're a warped bastard like me at least.  The opening (not shown is this clip) involves Ellen rambling about how she has good days and bad days but is always able to suck it up for this show - but on this day, of all days, she is not able.  Because of a freaking dog.  That is still alive and fine.  Oh my god, does she need medical help.  Enjoy.  The sobbing starts a few minutes in.

The Price of Free

There's been a lot of discussion about Radiohead's surprise release of a new album In Rainbows, for download, for "free," since last Wednesday.  Pitchfork gave it a stellar review.  USA Today did the same in Tuesday's edition and also included an article that was slanted negatively towards fan reactions of the giveaway, most notably because the mp3s were only encoded in 160 kbps, instead of the more standard 192 kbps minimum.  And on the blogs and on Sirius Left of Center, I've heard discussion of exactly how much people should pay to donate for the "free" album, especially for the lower quality mp3s - especially if you plan on purchasing the CD for real during its release in January.  In fact, in the USA Today article, one of Radiohead's managers was quoted as saying if they didn't think people would eventually buy the actual CD, they would have never released the album in this way.  So basically, instead of some anti-establishment new media experiment, Radiohead is really just charging (or asking for donations) for an early leak of an album, which almost every other band gets subjected to, but doesn't get the privilege of accepting donations for their album.  In fairness, I absolutely respect their choice and hope they make money off of this concept and kind of wish less popular (and less rich) artists had a way of doing this - making direct money off their album leaks that didn't go to the label at all - but that's probably not going to happen anytime soon.  I'm pretty sure labels wouldn't exactly enjoy this practice, and it's really only because Radiohead are big enough to subvert the label system that this works for them.  As someone who loves new music, and posts all kinds of it all over this website, I would love if my favorite artists made more money off their music - especially the music I post here - but I just don't know how that can happen. 

For the record, I "donated" the equivalent of about $6.50 for the album (it was in British pounds), which now feels excessive.  I don't really love the album yet, but Radiohead albums typically take a while to grow on me, so I'm reserving judgment.  There are some great songs - I love the middle section "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi", "All I Need", and "Faust Arp" - but I'll feel a little gypped if I end up buying the CD for the better quality (unlikely) or additional songs (possible).  Fans in the USA Today article paid between $2 and $20 (although one guy says he got it for free with the intention of buying the CD).  On Sirius, the female DJ (Jenny?) kind of recommended $5 max for the purchase, saying that in a regular CD purchase, the band would only make a buck or two at most, so a few bucks that go directly to the band (without any distribution costs required) would actually give it more money.  And she correctly noted that Radiohead probably has a lot more money than the people buying their music, so don't feel guilty if you only donate a couple dollars.  Here's another sample for yourself to help you decide... if you love it, maybe you'll go "buy" the whole album, available here.

• Download Radiohead - "All I Need".mp3