It has been established that I am going to spend next year at home.

Oh well. I'm happy I got the dorm experience, but I do understand that living 10 minutes from campus, and the economic situation right now DOES mean it's impossible.

Not much will change, except I'll move my bedroom down into the basement. Fuck around, I'd write all this nostalgia shit about how I had memories, but I really don't. Other than lying in bed around 12 telling myself how much 6th grade is horrible and I can't imagine school getting any better.

What this means though, I will put my turntable in position again soon, and just buy LPs probably exclusively throughout the next few years. And it's gonna be GREAT. Ironically my parents and I talked about this a few years ago. So, it's hardly new, but it just kinda fizzled out. I'm up for it. Fuck that, actually lets do it NOW. Fuck history, it means nothing.

In other news, I'm going to try and actually start standing up straight.

Yeah, I know.

Let's try something new and exciting

I want to start off by saying that, next to Lightning Bolt and Mahi Mahi, which hold special places in my heart for being the first Providence bands I've ever seen live, at AS220, Sweetthieves might actually surpass them in terms of being one of my favorite bands, period. Because of the lengthy history I have with the band, I will interject now and again with some ancedote I have if I see fit, but this review is meant for someone with similar tastes to my own. While trying to be as fair as possible while obviously mentioning the rights as well as the wrongs...

On the same day of their last show, Sweetthieves released the new full length "Blood & Curses", almost 3 years after their debut "View From A Glass Tower". Comprised of Dave Martinka (Baritone Guitar/vox), Hilary Jones (Bass/vox) and on this release Michael Viera (drums), the three don't offer the standard Providence, or even rock band aesthetic of trying to blow you against the backwall with the power of sound. (Which so many, while doing it very, very, very well are guilty of.) Instead, the three offer themselves as individuals in their instruments, which is ironic considering that Dave's baritone guitar (which is tuned down from a normal guitar) is in almost the same range as Hilary's bass (which is actually tuned UP). But it's pretty clear when listening who is doing what. The guitar tends to offer subtle counter-points or harmonies to the vocal lines when present, and the bass lends itself very well towards going in the upper registers for a lead line, chordal accompanies or even (gasp) playing a very nice solid bassline with the drum groove.

On first listen, the album opens with the song "Bullet". An ode to what seems like an obidient lover, the track ends with Dave and Hilary singing in unison, "I would take a bullet for you, would you take one for me?" in a hesistant phrasing, which leaves the mystery if they are both trying to decieve. The tone of the album doesn't lighten up at all. "I Am With You As Your House Burns To The Ground" (which would make a great band name) offers up a very rhythmically dyslexic feel on 4/4 time, the basis for almost all western music post-war. "Anchor" is a love song (and a fairly happy one at that), which puts a spin on the old "Dark lyrics, happy music" trick by having "Happy lyrics, dark music". It might even be the first pro-love song in a minor key I've ever heard. The song then drops the lovey-dovey lyrics and kicks into a driving rhythm like a possessed car in the middle of the Mojave desert at 100 miles an hour. "Reactant", which might be some of the best vocal work I've ever heard, is a winner. Dissonance opens the song, with twists and turns by the band which shows that the instruments are free to play as they wish, and not everything in the band has to be connected to each other. And then, that driving rhythm comes back, just as the song seems to be going nowhere. One thing I will say about this record in regards to "Glass Tower" is there seems to be less singing on this than the other, maybe it's just more instrumental sections than I've noticed before, but there seems to be a very nice niche for the vocals to lay in a song, almost like a neighborhood in a patch of woods.

But, like all things, there are some slight flaws. The production is very dry, save for a piano track on "Phantom" which really opens things up, but this is almost like a tease. The guitars and drums are panned the same throughout the entire album, with vocals in the center. It's a reproduction of their live setup, and while I can see the Albini-esque production values, they already went for that on "Glass Tower". There's nothing wrong with adding some sonic depth to some tracks, and while I understand that sometimes things get complicated and you can't really DO anything with the recordings. The songs flow together almost immediately. There is really no room to breath on the album, except for where they make you breath with them, when they tell you to. It's a nice effect on the first listen, but after 5th or 6th track, the instinct to hit the pause button and catch your breath comes over. Luckily, the band is well versed in dynamics, where you never find yourself struggling to keep up with their pace.

"Blood & Curses" is in all-likely hood the major swan song for Sweetthieves, sadly. But, the album is nothing to cry over. All the songs are ones that people will kill to write. The driving rhythms and pounding dissonances giveway to breathtaking melodies and vocal delivery. But find yourself ask for a little bit more, in everything.

Rating: B+

New post.

On break, been playing around with Da Troop (www.atroopofechoes.com) for a little while, it goes alright.

Tried to do battle today with my car, of course I just need to replace the battery, but with me it's never that simple. One busted ratchet and 2 failed attempts to start the car with the new battery in (I really, really, really hope it was just because the connectors were loose), I have to stop because there's not more I can do without the proper tools. It just really really frustrates me because the sooner I can get this car in semi-drivable condition the better it means for me. I need to go to the bank and get a bow for my double bass.

Oh, yes, my double bass. It's fine. My intonation is still iffy, but I haven't had a REAL lesson on it yet. Other than that I like playing classical pieces on it surprisingly more than jazz, which I hope changes soon or else it's major (pun intended) change for me.

Oh yes, the Sweetthieves show was two nights ago, how very, very sad, but they played about an hour and a half, playing almost all the songs they've written, except for two or three. It was great, not a big crowd (not the biggest I've seen) but certainly a good one. I was in the front and center like an idiot getting into it, but I guess it paid off because there were three other people behind me getting into it as well. Afterwards Chris grabbed the setlist for me, and I shook everyone's hand and told them the band means a lot to me and I hate to see them go, but it was a great show. Bought the new record, it sounds great.

Saw Slumdog Millionaire, blew me away, almost didn't go see it because I saw it out of sheer boredom. In Narragansett it's either get out of town or do drugs in the wintertime. I can see why some people pick the latter. Great great movie, go see it, it's worth the money.

Argh, I have 500 messages on my phone and I can't remember the security code to delete them all.

I sit here in the Hope Commons dining hall of URI writing this on my laptop. I brought my laptop to say I was going to read overviews of Russian History as pregaming to my actual study session. (and I still might do that) but I've been listening to my ipod and reading my friend Martin's blog. I've recently come to the attention that all my life I've pretty much tried to go through with the least amount of effort possible, and it's biting my ass right now. I could skate through high school no problem, but that's because everyone knows in the modern infrastructure, high school is pretty much worthless in some respects.

Lately I've been figuring out the program Reason and feel like I am getting better at it. It's pretty much a lot of stuff I've wanted in a program, it's just a pain in the dick to program patterns without a keyboard, but in my history of breaking 2 of them in the last 3 years, I'm holding off on buying another one until I can find one used or one that is absolutely a perfect fit for me.

I would really like to add my programming to my current bands, but in one it would go against my minimalist views I hold for it, because the moment we start adding more stuff than we absolutely physically need for the song to work, it becomes overbearing an
d like THIS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT0IEOArHj0

I don't ever want to play that type of music. Ever.

On the other hand, another band I'm in (I'm in it like Jim O'Rourke was in Sonic Youth) doesn't really seem the best band to introduce electronic programming, but what do I know? Maybe they'd really dig it.

So what does this mean? I think I've added another instrument to my belt, I'll see if I can get a show at AS220 winter break and see what the fuck pops up.

I also really, really want to play music with people again.

I also need to stop being negative, and for god sakes stop slouching!

Congratulations. You've just wasted your day.

http://james.nerdiphythesoul.com/bennyhillifier/

This weekend:


I have managed to see Boris in a club they will never play in again most likely, at a crowd size I will SURELY never see again. Their guitars rumbled so much the sound was palpable. It was amazing and was so glad I saw it. The question remains will I see them ever again, if it means ruining the "picture perfect" filter my mind has placed on the show?

Picked up two new blogs to follow. Chris Curley's are 180 gram and A Duck Pond, while Sarge's is Circle The First. Also is Justin's blog, as you will see of course. I suggest Chris's first as he has just disembarked for Barbados on an all-expenses paid review trip (fucker).

Attending Peter Gilli's composition performance made me realize that I come from a productive, supportive but faux-rivalry group of friends. Talking with Astrid, reading Chris's blog, listening to Pete's compositions all make me want to practice or do some things better. They're all very supportive of me, but I want to be better than them. It's nothing personal, and sometimes it sucks because I know I can't be as such a good writer as Chris, but I still like blogging, isn't that what it's about?

On the other hand, I know I can be as good a musician as Nick or Pete. Looking at old etudes on my upright that I haven't looked at since I learned them for my lesson, it's almost faux-sightreading. And I'm playing them fairly well for only playing my upright for a combined time of 10 hours, and not touching it for almost a week. I guess it's just how much I apply my self.

Which is why I am now going to practice and return to this blog later.


And later is now.

That draft was saved at 4:39 PM, it's not 5:23. Having spent 40 minutes practicing, I'm still not getting use to hard pieces of music. I was a big fish in a small pond, and no one really challanged me in high school with music. But having to actually read music again? Fuck, it's hard. There are so many, and rhythms and my fingers can't take it.

On the other side of blogging, being a metablog such as BoingBoing or Digg,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ArlE9oP1l0&feature=related

If you're anything like me, you'll find it funny, but wait for the last one, and it's the payoff.

I'd like to thank whoever ripped In A Roman Mood from their turntable, and the three people online tonight that made the torrent compile incredibly fast.

You know what's hilarious to try?

Watching Jonas Brother videos on youtube with the sound off, and playing Joy Division or Talking Heads behind them.

It's so surreal to watch the video of Lovebug while "Love Will Tear Us Apart" plays in the background, or Camp Rock videos while "I Zimbra" is playing.

I love it.

I also would love the chance to go Eno on their little Disney asses.


"NO I DON'T CARE GET THE FUCK BACK IN THE CONTROL ROOM AND PLAY THAT FEEDBACK SYNTH PART DAMN IT. FUCK THE MONEY AND THE FANS, WE NEED ORIGINALITY"

New blog.

Haven't posted in a while.

I have a fake radio show on the internet, but hopefully I should have a real one soon.

And I'm pretty much going to be posting the playlists on here.

Difficult Radio I: (Song/Artist/Album format)

Don't Come close The Ramones Road To Ruin

Catapult R.E.M. Murmur

Spoke Shellac Excellent Italian Greyhound

Piano Fire Sparklehorse It's A Wonderful Life

Hammond Song The Roches The Roches

Lose My Breath My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything

Rest My Chemistry Interpol Our Love To Admire

Tremelo Mission Of Burma The Horrible Truth About Burma

Trap Robert Fripp & The League Of Gentlemen God Save the King

Sleeper Hold No Age Nouns

Beatown XTC Go 2 (Remastered)

Orange Is The New Black Sweethieves View From A Glass Tower

Avalanche Matthew Good Avalanche

Pyramid Song Radiohead Amnesiac

Mea Culpa Brian Eno & David Byrne My Life in the Bush of Ghosts

Exposure Robert Fripp Exposure

King's Lead Hat Brian Eno Before and After Science

Big Boys Elvis Costello Armed Forces

Sea Battle At Orkusuk Wizardzz Hidden City of Tarumond

Scissor Man (BBC Version) XTC Rag & Bone Buffet (Rare Cuts & Leftovers)

Yellow River Neptune Gong Lake

Six Lane River Banter/3.1 Medicinal Reverb

Coxcomb Red (Songs: Ohia) The Joe Beats Experiment Indie Rock Blues

Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home The Decemberists The Crane Wife

Everything That Happens David Byrne and Brian Eno Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

Day To Day Simple Circus A Simple Paper Collage (1985-1998)

Pennies The Smashing Pumpkins The Aeroplane Flies High

Coast Road A Postmodern John July 4th Pool Party

Time Tom Waits Rain Dogs

Shine A Light Wolf Parade Apologies to the Queen Mary

The World Looks Red sonic youth confusion is sex + kill yr. idols

It Could Be Sweet Portishead Dummy

Spider and I Brian Eno Before and After Science

I'm up way past my bedtime to wonder how to introduce people to artists

Pete: Has been wanting to get into Brian Eno's solo stuff for a long time, I feel that Taking Tiger Mountain might a little too quirky for him, but I'm going back and forth between Warm Jets and Another Green World, heavily towards Green World. (I'd like to stop this blog post to say the middle section of "Mother Whale Eyeless" with the organ and girls singing is fucking AMAZING and I must cover it). 

Martin/Dad/Jon: I want to get them into the sweetthieves, I think they'd all really like them. My dad does already, but I really think Marty and Jon would dig them a lot. I think they'd also really dig some other bands. Oh god, Marty would fucking LOVE Arcade Fire and The Decemberists

I wanted to get Nick and Chris into the Residents, but I have no idea which album to give them, literally none.

I skipped my first class today. yaaaay. I'm sick/have allergies, and needed to stick around the coffeehouse to learn how to close, so instead of feeling like shit and hauling ass at 7:55, I figured I'd feel less like shit and wake up at 9:30. Good plan, just need to study extra hard. 

Weekend:

Friday-ToE show at the union. Good respectable crowd, but for a Musician's Guild show expected more, but what can you do. Got a weird vibe from the crowd, but Jon and my Dad assured me it was just in my head, and people seemed to enjoy it. Was pumped for Sick Electric but Jimmy had car trouble, got delayed. Jon and Dad split before they went on, too bad, they would have liked them but not the best show they've ever put on, maybe it was for the best. Was planning to go Julia's afterward, but ended up going to Kingston Pizza with Dan, went home and watched episodes of Harvey Birdman until some ungodly hour.

Saturday-Meccalily recording. Went with dad around 2, set up equipment, figured out the best setup for instruments/mics. Finally started tracking around 5-6. Had to drop Dad off at home and then get back to find that no one knows how to work the damn thing. I stay out of it as it's pretty jury rigged to begin with. Out of nowhere, my dad shows up again in the nick of time before people start getting angry. Fine going the way it was, but I really wish that in the future we could try the "build everything from the ground up" method, as I think everyone is competent enough to work this way.

Overall, went well. Started feeling iffy when I woke up, kinda got worse throughout the day, but got much much much better when Melissa made me huge water bottle of tea. Felt good. Hung around at Jon's until around 11. Jon mentioned before I left that everyone is really happy that I'm in the band and are really happy with what I'm doing. Still don't believe him.

Sunday: Up around 12, feel worse than before. More tea and medicines help me out. Go to the grocery store to pick up stuff for dinner. Listen to A Postmodern John, very relaxing and always puts me in a good mood. Back at home, nice homemade pasta, then to school for meeting at 193. Interviewed two nice girls. Both got the job. Stuck around for closing and...well yeah, that leads us to now.

Philosophy class in ten minutes. Have a shift tonight closing 193 from 9-12. Will try and close around 11 if not busy, which i don't plan on. I'm going to drink my body weight in tea and listen to ambient music all night. Hooray!

I'm thinking about doing a house of fire show.

I know I said I would stop it. But the main thing that was stopping me before was I felt sorta limited in just using guitar. I would revert to Frippertronic rip-offs. But I'm thinking of incorporating the moog and the laptop into the setup via the mixer, maybe sending the guitar through it too with an amp modeler or something, and hooking it up through the house PA system.

When I talked to Chris, Nick and Dean about this, I said that it's pretty much in the can for right now, but I'm getting that itch to do solo sets again. I said to them that I'm not really breaking new ground at every show, and some of the improvisations were actually just pieces I had rehearsed for 30 seconds to remember them, and just see where they go from there.

But Nick busted my balls about how I'm not breaking new ground every show. And I thought, why should I have to? I like playing them (sometimes, if the vibe is right) and I have fun (sometimes), so why should I beat myself over not sounding different every night?

It's interesting that they Smashing Pumpkins have stayed with me throughout 3 schools. I got into them in 8th grade by happenstance basically. Went to an Evanscence or whatever they're called with Martin and Lily, and they did a cover of "Zero". My 14 year old brain goes "hey, wait, this is a good band that does this song". But most people know the story already.

But through out the winter of 2004, all I listened to was The Pumpkins and Sonic Youth. Not a bad combination. The thing is that I became a completist. Starting downloading boots and B-sides and imports that I could physically buy. This was back after the Zwan (who are still a good band) disbanded, and during the break of February, teh b0lly had posted a blog saying that he was working on a solo album which nobody noticed (before AND after it's release date). So they were well enough under the radar for a popular band that all their first singles and imports were not being re-released. So I got to downloading, spent money on all their albums I did, and got myself a nice little collection. And this stayed with me in high school. I still listened to them pretty religiously. But somewhere along the line they died out, midway through freshmen year, then sophomore. Did I really grow out of it? In some ways yes, in some ways no.

There seems to be a very common simile for relationships of a fan to a band, and a relationship between two people.  In general, it's said that you can grow out of bands, and never listen to them again. The equivalent to breaking up with them. This is true with a band like Tool for me. Haven't listened to them since 2003, have no REAL reason to. They're a good band, but I guess I'll take king crimson. Not to say Tool copied Krimson, but Krimson is really just all over the place in terms of sound. Tool kinda sticks with the dirges. For all intents and purposes, Tool was a band I broke up with. Primus as well. I never listen to Primus anymore and once in a GREAT while I'll go "I need to listen to that again" but will never follow through.

The Smashing Pumpkins and I never really broke up. 

One thing I hear and read about The Pumpkins is that they're a good band, but they also allow people to get deeper into more bands. The similarites between My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless" and "Siamese Dream" all VERY obvious, but I don't know if I would have even gotten into MBV had it not been for The Pumpkins. One other band I would not have gotten into would be Slowdive. Siamese Dream was said to be influenced by Slowdive's sound. 

But through all of the changes, one things that never slouches is the songwriting. Billy Corgan knows how to write a good song. I will say Zeitgeist is their worst album so far, but it's not a horrible record. I give it a 6. 

But for from Siamese Dream to Machina II, everything in that period, b-sides included, is very, very good.

With that out of the way, today was alright. Did a so so audition today. First day of classes tomorrow. Scared shitless. I really hope I don't party so much and flunk out like my dad did.

I am officially moved into the Gorham Hall, room 432.

And me and my roommate are spending our first hours watching TV and being on the internet. 

The third one hasn't moved in yet. Hope there is enough room. 

Also, no A/C.

Hanging out with Justin tomorrow, should be good way to cap off the summer.

Holy shit what a summer. I really can't talk about it because I think I've told everyone about it, anyone who would listen and on here.

But you all know what happened anyway.

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

Ok, first off, I am not going to talk about the tour in here. Mainly because I wrote my feelings in a journal on the way there, but second of all because some of those were totally not true to how I feel now, and I was kinda a tool. That being said, it was fun. We made 197 dollars. We played to crowds that loved us and to no crowds at all.

Now, I am moving into college sunday.

And I am fucking scared.

Mainly for the course work and holy fuck I haven't picked a piece to play yet and have I fucked myself over?

But also, I'm going to college.

Now let me explain. I am an only child, so I have no siblings to break the "myth" of college. When I was 8-10 years old, my cousin Katie, who for all intents and purposes is like my big sister, was in college, so all I would hear were these stories. In high school, most of my good friends were at URI. I crashed in dorms for weekend shows, I was mistaken for a student more times than I can count, hell, I'm even in the fucking year book for 2006. But now i'm going to be an actual student. 

And hopefully Justin is too. He's talked about going back to school and I'm behind him 200%.

That being said, the new Byrne+Eno record.

HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT.

It's really good. 3/4 alt-country-gospel, 1/4 trip-hop-electronica.

Who really buys an osciliscope? Who has one anymore? Do we really need them anymore? Didn't 15 dollar tuners become the norm?

Meg and I basically had a big ass fight that I can't really summarize except the end of the argument was an ultimatum (as much as you can get). If I'm really causing you that much grief, then lets just not talk to each other. As far as I can tell, that proposition was 2 days ago. But, yesterday I was not around much online, nor was I today. Right now, her usual method of communication is IM. When we were closer, it was text message. She did not send a text.

I actually think I fucked this one up, which is interesting to me. If she really, REALLY wants to not see me again, fine with me, but it will make for a future of interesting run-ins. We come from the same circle of friends that ultimately, will want to see each other when college is out for breaks and such. If she really doesn't want to see me, the whole circle will have to revolve around opposite plans for us, and in the long run will basically piss everyone the fuck off. 

Also, this is Narragansett. You do never "Not see people again". I'm going to run into her one way or the other. 

But what does it mean to destroy a relationship so much that you can never have it the way it was again? First off, I have a knack for saying jokes at the most inappropriate times, especially on the internet, where emotion, empathy and sympathy are left at the door by the coat rack. No clues to pick up on if a person is sincere, unless you've been with that person long enough to notice when their mannerisms in speech transfer over to text.  To say that I just annoyed her and was a jerk to her so much that someone really doesn't want contact with me again?

At least I got a reaction out of her. Which honestly was sometimes one of the reasons I talked to her. I knew I was going to get a reaction. Better one than none. 

Radiohead last night. One of the best shows I've ever seen. At from the lawn at greatwoods no less! Great setlist, though no "Climbing Up The Walls" or "Pyramid Song". Oh well, still was worth it for "National Anthem" "Exit Music" "Videotape" and 20,000 singing "This is what you get when you mess with us" during Karma Police. Just great. Afterwards, tailgated and made some good burgers while everyone sat in traffic. Left around 1 am. Back home around 3.

Met Pete's new girlfriend. She's a total cutie. Way to go man.

Why the fuck do I constantly exploit music as the only thing I'm good at? It's sickening. As proof of a family friend who I am going to name check, Bradley, having good music taste doesn't make you a good person.

And yet I continue to be a jerk with no self-esteem who judges people on wither or not they've heard of the residents or Brian Eno or it they've had an emotional experience at a show. I don't have any hobbies, it all relates back to music, and anything long lasting that gives me pleasure has to do with music or Neko Case laying down naked on a bear-skin rug while Liz Phair stands in the doorway to my lakeside mansion in her underwear, asking me where I keep the whipped cream in my fridge.

Maybe I'll just stop at that image.

I have spent all day in my room with my macbook. I need a life. But it's gotten better. Explored garageband, not bad. Iphoto works with my camera, so I'm happy. I'm listening to Exile in Guyville, having a good time.

Luau went well. I thought the meccalily set went alright. First public perfomance on guitar. I definitely feel I'm a better musician on bass. Everyone else agreed it was one of the best Meccalily sets, if not the best. Alright then. Set with Dad went alright, some of my worst playing but who cares, no one was there and everyone that was, were drunk. Oh well, made an easier crowd to play to.

Packed up, then spent the rest of the night in a good feeling. Kinda over did it, but it was fine. Went out on the dock and was completely enamored with the lake. It looked like a perfect reflection, plus whenever I looked up at the sky, it seemed to be falling down on me, but not in "OH FUCK" but more of some sorta of weird mobile that got more and less slack in the string. 

Was very cool, makes for a good birthday party. Woke up, still out of it from the last night. Lasted until 4-5 in the afternoon. Went over to  Bills. He had a bouncey house from his graduation party. Blew it up and bounced around with Bonnie and Allie. Was a lot of fun. 

Yesterday, saw Fiasco at AS220 which has Steve Buscemi's son in it. Talked with them for a while. Drove to Nick/Dean/Chris walked down before the show. Saw show, walked back and played pool, had a beer and listening to Captain Beefheart. Left around 1:30. 

Tomorrow. Radiohead, need to go to walmart/the bank before hand.

Just got my new Macbook. So far, really nice. Can't wait to unlock it's potential! 

Not much happened. Two days ago went up to Amherst to practice with the band. Practiced, got food and beer, came back to his house and just had a good time. Ended up with the smallest couch to sleep on. Not fun, until I had the dream with Liz Phair. Woke up and practiced again, left at 12. Back at 1:30. 

Meccalily rehearsal went alright. Nothing special. Not that good either but not as bad as I thought. 

Dad's rehearsal... wee-ow.

Lets just say that Wayne said he was embarrassed so much hes coming over to rehearse today after work.

While I am going to The Flobots concert tonight with Martin and Lily! Should be lots of fun, taking a risk here as I don't know either of the bands very well.

and, I am also seeing Radiohead on the 13th! hooray!

But for now, borderline-sexual-contact with my macbook will do just fine.