The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone

Take heed, all Decemberists fans.

Another song from their new album "The Hazards of Love" is here to please our ears with melodies both rhapsodical and fair.





For those of you who require your Decemberists in slightly higher quality (like myself) you can also hear the song on their Myspace page here.

Grammar Police

Ill admit it. While my grammar isnt the best (note the lack of an apostrophe), I tend to be a member of the grammar police. When I saw this I just couldnt stop laughing.

This is my new favorite of the "Hitler upset about ______" series of YouTube remakes.

"...and who put these pencils in my hand?!" Priceless.

The Stripes are always Whiter...

Per Brian's comment I just had to go check out Conan's last episode. I didnt know that it was his last or I would have gone out of my way to actually watch it live. Thank God for the internet.

Its not really a sad thing, hes only moving to a new time slot, but it did have that hint of sadness hidden in there. I dont know whether his band, writers, and other staff are coming with him to LA or not, so in that sense it was a farewell.

Conan is the Johnny Carson for our generation. Say what you want about Jay Leno and David Letterman. While theyre funny, I never really laughed watching their shows like I did Conan. They appeal more to the older late night crowd (if such a thing exists). Conan was just stupid enough to alienate the older crowd while, simultaneously gaining a huge following of us twenty somethings who stay up way too late.

As for The White Stripes, Im really glad they were there. Im 100% sure that Mr Jack White had a thousand other things he could, or had to, have been doing but, theyve built a relationship with Conan over the years and it showed. And, again, say what you will about Jack and Meg but it says a lot about a person (people) when they go out of their way to do something like that.

Ill definately miss the 12:35 to 1:35 timeslot version of Conan but, at the same time, Im looking forward to the new (improved?) version.

Thanks for the laughs you giant pale irishman.

Im moving to Denver!

In my usual before-work routine I check many a website and read many an article. Most of the time its the same old news, same old sports, and same old people hyperventilating. Today, however, had a little epic surprise for me.

One of the sites I frequent is Digg. Its not really a news site, its more of a place where people gather stories, pictures, and videos from around the internet in one place. Anyway, while I was there today someone had posted a picture of a 'controversial' statue at the Denver airport, which, upon further investigation really is real.

See it here.

Im moving to freaking Denver!

Sea of Sound

I think we take for granted the amount of music we can carry around in our pockets these days. I know I do. I was driving to work today and decided I would hit "shuffle songs" on my iPod and see where Id end up. The first few songs were to be expected. A few Modest Mouse and White Stripes tracks, since my collection seems to be dominated by them, at least in the sheer number of songs. Followed by Colin Meloy singing to me about the Shankill Butchers and how if I dont mind my mothers words then a wicked wind will blow my ribbons from my curls just before a collective moan, followed swiftly by a just-as-collective shake.

Im all about Isaac Brock informing me of 3 inch horses as well as two faces monsters. And Im all about Jack White melting my face with his...well...face-melting guitar solos, and just as equally all about Mr. Meloy telling his tales.

But then something happened. I skipped to the next song and it was like I discovered a new band. The song that played was "Young Pilgrims" by The Shins. Now Im a Shins fan, as Richard has pointed out when discussing the fact that I probably hear James Mercer singing "We Will Become Silhouettes" rather than Mr. Gibbard, but its been a while since I actually listened to any of their stuff. This is going back to the 'taking for granted how much music we can carry' thing. This great band was (is) there the whole time and Ive just been so caught up in my newer music that I threw them on the back burner.

So heres what Im suggesting: grab your iPod, or cd player, or cassette deck, or whatever it is you kids use these days, and rediscover a song (or band) that you thought was the greatest thing since ever. I did it today by accident and its a nice feeling. Its like cleaning out your closet and finding your favorite shirt. Yeah, you know what Im talking about!

P.S. I figured I would post the song. :)

YES

Every once in a while I come across one that really does make me laugh out loud.

(Note the determination on his face.)

Thank you Mr. Auerbach

So our buddy Dan Auerbach (of The Black Keys fame) just released his new solo album. Some people would argue that being part of a two piece band is a bit of a solo career in itself, and his solo work shares a lot of the same sounds with the Keys. Yet, at the same time, it somehow sounds different. Ive only listened to it once or twice all the way through and I must say...Thank you Mr. Auerbach.

While I'm here...

Sufjan Stevens is a bit of an enigma.

He makes a lot of music in a lot of different ways. Now dont get me wrong thats not a bad thing by any means, it just presents the opportunity for some people to be turned away.

"Enjoy Your Rabbit" is a perfect example of this. I, being accustomed to his other ablums (Illinois, Seven Swans, etc.), kind of wrinkled my nose at his album full of nothing but electronic beats and strange noises. Now thats not to say its a bad album. Its the album he wanted to make and he made it and that I respect, and Im sure there are people out there who think its his best work, its just not for everyone. Then again, since when is Sufjan (period), for everone? I will say his new song (the Castanets "You are the Blood" cover) on the "Dark Was the Night" compilation is a good example of electronic Sufjan that I happen to enjoy.

I guess all Im saying is, I love Sufjan and do not love "Enjoy Your Rabbit" (sorry world).

This is the Sufjan I love:

#50.2 - Sufjan Stevens (MusicNow) - The lakes of Canada
by lablogotheque

My Brighest Diamond indeed

Just to clear the air: Yes, I have a very strong hunch that, were I to see Shara Worden in the flesh within the next several months (perhaps years), there is a high likelihood of me taking a knee and asking for her hand in marriage.

Now that thats off my chest, enjoy.

#50.3 - My Brightest Diamond (MusicNow) - Like a sieve
by lablogotheque

New Blog

So this blog thing, I tried it once (with mixed results (mostly of the terrible mixture)).

I decided I would start over, a new leaf, a clean slate as it were.

Here goes nothing...