Sunday I installed the new version of iTunes - usually I'm pretty lax about my updates but iTunes was giving me weird errors so I thought it would help. With the new install, came "Genius," a nifty little side bar for iTunes that recommends music or creates playlists based on a selected song.
I decided to try it out and see what it would say. To be honest, I was wary. I selected my favorite Buddy Holly song - (I don't care) Baby you're so square (which, by the way, Joni Mitchell covers - how wierd is that?). Genius created a playlist which I have yet to listen to - it was an interesting mix of old rock n roll and punk which, for me, is an excellent sign and Genius recommended a few Buddy Holly songs I didn't own.
So I begin trying this for various other artists, styles, etc. At some point, I click on The Cramps ... and what? iTunes now carries two albums - A Date with Elvis and Stay Sick - that I have had on backorder from Amazon fo-ever! Amazing!
I kept looking and end up on Face to Face. What awesomeness does iTunes recommend?? An EP called So Why Aren't You Happy? that came out with Ignorance is Bliss and was only available from Best Buy!
Dear iTunes - I love you. I know you didn't carry all this stuff before because I've searched for The Cramps album but now that you do, I am forever grateful.
On iTunes:
The Cramps - A Date with Elvis
The Cramps - Stay Sick
Face to Face - So Why Aren't You Happy? EP
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The New Mission - How To Be A Rock Star
I've been thinking of changing the "mission" of this blog. It's not that I won't or don't enjoy posting cd/band/concert reviews and writing about other people's music; it's more that I think I need an outlet for my own process of doing music - my own frustrations really. In jest - seriously - I'm calling it "How To Be A Rock Star." At the moment I actually find that really unfunny ...
When I came to New York 2 years ago, I felt ready. Ready to pursue music for real - not quit my job, starving artist - but pursue it with a responsible gusto. You know, practice once a week, play shows, record. I felt like it was my time - a new beginning - time to do the stuff I wanted to do.
Here I am 2 years later. On the surface, I'm in exactly the same place I was. Only playing for myself; dreaming of something more; lowering my expectations to desperately attempt to accomplish something, anything. It's true that I do practice with a "band" but despite an attempt in the last year to push things into gear, I seem to have hit a plateau. I know what I need to do and I know that it means starting over on some level. While I know deep down this is the right thing to do - getting rid of dead weight will keep me from drowning - it's depressing. It's depressing to feel like you've put a lot of work into something and have nothing to show for it; no sense of accomplishment; nothing but shame when people ask you about it.
Perhaps that's melodramatic. I guess it is. I think this feeling is so raw and poignant for me because it's a feeling I lived with for most of adolescent life ... and we all know how hard those hang-ups can be to get over. I will say this - that connection between my past feelings and my present - is somewhat comforting; it somehow lessens the blow.
To be fair - to myself at least - I have learned many things in the last two years. My voice has begun to bloom and I will actually sing in front of people. I have improved my songwriting and am able to write not just in inspiring flashes but when I need or want to. I've become more comfortable with guitar and with playing with others. I've gained confidence in my own abilities and my own vision. That's a lot.
But what's missing - what, it seems, is always missing from my life - is other people. People who can share my vision and level of commitment. I have sometimes flirted with the idea of being a solo singer songwriter and it always feel like such a cop-out. I want a band! I want to rock! The truth is the community, family aspect of punk has always appealed to me in a 'something i want but don't have' kind of way.' I wish I could say, truthfully, 12 or so years after I discovered The Descendants, that I had that. I wish I could say it, but I can't.
When I came to New York 2 years ago, I felt ready. Ready to pursue music for real - not quit my job, starving artist - but pursue it with a responsible gusto. You know, practice once a week, play shows, record. I felt like it was my time - a new beginning - time to do the stuff I wanted to do.
Here I am 2 years later. On the surface, I'm in exactly the same place I was. Only playing for myself; dreaming of something more; lowering my expectations to desperately attempt to accomplish something, anything. It's true that I do practice with a "band" but despite an attempt in the last year to push things into gear, I seem to have hit a plateau. I know what I need to do and I know that it means starting over on some level. While I know deep down this is the right thing to do - getting rid of dead weight will keep me from drowning - it's depressing. It's depressing to feel like you've put a lot of work into something and have nothing to show for it; no sense of accomplishment; nothing but shame when people ask you about it.
Perhaps that's melodramatic. I guess it is. I think this feeling is so raw and poignant for me because it's a feeling I lived with for most of adolescent life ... and we all know how hard those hang-ups can be to get over. I will say this - that connection between my past feelings and my present - is somewhat comforting; it somehow lessens the blow.
To be fair - to myself at least - I have learned many things in the last two years. My voice has begun to bloom and I will actually sing in front of people. I have improved my songwriting and am able to write not just in inspiring flashes but when I need or want to. I've become more comfortable with guitar and with playing with others. I've gained confidence in my own abilities and my own vision. That's a lot.
But what's missing - what, it seems, is always missing from my life - is other people. People who can share my vision and level of commitment. I have sometimes flirted with the idea of being a solo singer songwriter and it always feel like such a cop-out. I want a band! I want to rock! The truth is the community, family aspect of punk has always appealed to me in a 'something i want but don't have' kind of way.' I wish I could say, truthfully, 12 or so years after I discovered The Descendants, that I had that. I wish I could say it, but I can't.
Monday, June 23, 2008
iPod shuffle-age ...
I just have not been in a specific music/artist mood lately. To quelch my musical needs, I've been turning to iPod's shuffle feature lately. Just because I can, I thought I'd share the suffle-age.
(Beginning from #12 because that's where I'm at right now)
That's all for tonight kids!
(Beginning from #12 because that's where I'm at right now)
- Dear Girl by The Steinways (feat. Hallie from The Unlovables) - "p.s. where the fuck's my sweatshirt?"
- My My Metrocard by Le Tigre - I wish I liked Le Tigre half as much as I love Bikini Kill but I just don't ... "next stop: Atlantic Avenue"
- Basket Case by Green Day from Bullet In a Bible (Live Album) - I love Green Day for not editing this album (which I know because they occasionally fuck up and you can hear it)
- Even Angels Fall by Jessica Riddle from the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack - um ... love this song ... love the movie ... sad but true
- Sick Boy by Social Distortion - I wish Mike Ness, in his old fat age, wouldn't hit on girls in the audience anymore ... it's getting kinda gross. sorry but it is. in other thoughts: this song. great. classic.
- Help Save the Youth of America by Billy Bragg - I can only tolerate Billy Bragg's brit-rockness (I know it's wrong, I just can't help that post-the 60s and not including The Clash, I kind of hate British rock) because he's just so fuckin' talented and awesome.
- Volvare - Dean Martin
- I Wanna Live - The Ramones - dude! this is the 3rd Ramones song I've heard! I love them but I think Apple could improve their shuffle algorithm. To be fair, they have released A LOT of albums and we have all of them.
- Anchor Grill by The Descendents - This album (Cool to be You) was such a phenomenal dissapointment. 'Merican was an awesome teaser EP and then ... the 'Merican songs were the only good songs on the actual album.
- Educated Guess by Mxpx - awww ... it's my high school era fake-boyfriend ... haven't listened to this for years.
- Teenage Labatomy by The Ramones - See!
- Four-Eyed Girl by Rhett Miller - He's so freakin' cute especially when he does his butt-shake-dance on stage ...
- O Holy Night by Mariah Carey - uh, skip. this is only semi-ok during Christmas.
- Breathless by Wanda Jackson - if you get a chance to see her live, do it. she's ADORABLE!
- A Man Can Cry by Freddie Fender
- You Do It So Well by Name Taken - this is from my sister and I am reserving judgement ...
- Billy Be Bad by George Jones - I don't actually know who this or where this came from but it ain't bad ... a little Hank 2 pop-country-ish ... ultimately, it's skipper ...
- No, All! by The Descendents - Does this even count? It's 2 seconds long!
- 30 Days by Run DMC - Skip! It's only very very very occasionally that I have any desire to listen to rap ... no disrespect to Run DMC though, he's the cream of the crop ...
- Gonna be a Blackout Tonight by The Dropkick Murhpys
That's all for tonight kids!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Open Questions for Greg Graffin, Lifetime Acheivement in Cultural Humanism Award winner and all-around inspiring dude
This past Saturday, April 26th, 2008, Greg Graffin, lead singer of Bad Religion
, Phd in evolutionary biology, and generally inspiring dude received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism from the Harvard Humanist Chaplaincy (Watch it here; Listen here.). Being the big fat nerd that I am, Adam and I headed to Boston to witness this blessed event.
The church(!) pews were filled with an odd assortment of mostly punk rock kids/adults, a few parents, and other middle age adults. The front pew was filled with Greg's dad and his fiance. Sadly (well sad for the stalker in me), I couldn't catch a glimpse of her. I did already know that they were getting hitched because Brett & Jay don't seem to understand the peeping tom potential of their beloved myspace. But I digress ...
The event began with introductions by the president of the Harvard Secular Society and the all important radio intros (it was being sponsored by and broadcast on NPR as well as on local tv). Then Greg came out, in a suit, along with the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard (seriously, how do you get that job?) who gave a long, mildly incoherent, nervous introduction to the award, Graffin, and why it was awarded to him. During this time, Greg stood in the middle of the altar looking awkward.

Students from the society then read leaders to Greg from his PhD advisor, Will Provine, his co-author of Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?: A Professor And a Punk Rocker Discuss Science, Religion, Naturalism & Christianity
, Preston Jones, and Brett Gurewitz. Provine's letter consisted of a story about how they didn't expect Greg to finish his dissertation so quickly but he did ... and not much else which was mildly amusing. The letter reading was a sweet touch though.
Finally, they presented Greg with the award and he came up to the podium and gave a very professor-ish lecture on the history of humanism. Frankly, it was a bit hard to pay attention to - especially considering we hadn't got much sleep the night before and the fact that I didn't have to take notes or write a paper on it (Grades are apparently quite the motivator. Who knew?).
After finishing his speech, Greg took off his suit jacket - proclaiming that he'd never played in a suit, rolled up his sleeves and played a few acoustic songs. He played: Highway off his solo album,Cold as Clay, Suffer off Bad Religion's album Suffer
, and Sorrow off Bad Religion's album The Process of Belief
.

After he finished playing, there was a Q&A session with the audience. Although I had a few questions in my head, I didn't go up to ask them for a few reasons. Firstly, by that point, I was utterly exhausted and knew I had a 45 minute T ride preceding my collapse into bed. Secondly, I know how judgmental I am of the people who ask questions (especially the pretentious "i'm an aaartist music snobs" and that overweight red-headed dude who felt entitled to sit in the front row despite the fact that it had been roped off ... for Greg's family. Seriously, what a douche. Seee?)
Anyway, Adam and I spent much time discussing the questions we might have asked on the subway ride to the hotel so I thought I'd pose them here where they may live on in internet oblivion.
The church(!) pews were filled with an odd assortment of mostly punk rock kids/adults, a few parents, and other middle age adults. The front pew was filled with Greg's dad and his fiance. Sadly (well sad for the stalker in me), I couldn't catch a glimpse of her. I did already know that they were getting hitched because Brett & Jay don't seem to understand the peeping tom potential of their beloved myspace. But I digress ...
The event began with introductions by the president of the Harvard Secular Society and the all important radio intros (it was being sponsored by and broadcast on NPR as well as on local tv). Then Greg came out, in a suit, along with the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard (seriously, how do you get that job?) who gave a long, mildly incoherent, nervous introduction to the award, Graffin, and why it was awarded to him. During this time, Greg stood in the middle of the altar looking awkward.
Students from the society then read leaders to Greg from his PhD advisor, Will Provine, his co-author of Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?: A Professor And a Punk Rocker Discuss Science, Religion, Naturalism & Christianity
After finishing his speech, Greg took off his suit jacket - proclaiming that he'd never played in a suit, rolled up his sleeves and played a few acoustic songs. He played: Highway off his solo album,Cold as Clay, Suffer off Bad Religion's album Suffer
After he finished playing, there was a Q&A session with the audience. Although I had a few questions in my head, I didn't go up to ask them for a few reasons. Firstly, by that point, I was utterly exhausted and knew I had a 45 minute T ride preceding my collapse into bed. Secondly, I know how judgmental I am of the people who ask questions (especially the pretentious "i'm an aaartist music snobs" and that overweight red-headed dude who felt entitled to sit in the front row despite the fact that it had been roped off ... for Greg's family. Seriously, what a douche. Seee?)
Anyway, Adam and I spent much time discussing the questions we might have asked on the subway ride to the hotel so I thought I'd pose them here where they may live on in internet oblivion.
- In Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?, Graffin discusses Steven Jay Gould assertion in Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and the Nature of History
that, if the Big Bang were to happen again, i.e. if we could start the world & evolution over again, humans wouldn't exist. While discussing this, he argues that evolution isn't logical. This struck me as a huge contradiction for someone who calls himself a naturalist. It seems to me that logic, and by logic I mean mathematical logic not our colloquial logic-as-a-synonym-for-reasoning, is the very underpinning of the experimental method: if A given B then C. Verifiability is essential to science and naturalism and verifiability requires replication; it require that, given the exact same circumstances, you will obtain the same results and if you don't, it means that the initial experiment was invalid and there are likely causes that aren't being taken into account. While I can completely believe that if the world were to start over again, the existence of humans would be highly improbable; I cannot believe that if the world were to start over again and every determining event happened exactly the same, humans wouldn't exist. I cannot believe the latter because it, in essence, disproves the scientific method itself. Having never read Wonderful Life, but having read another book by Gould, Full House: The Spread of Excellence from Plato to Darwin
, I would have asked Graffin to elaborate on Gould's assertion and his own statement on the matter.
- In Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?, Graffin displays a disdain for philosophy. I'd love to hear him expand upon this.
- It seems to me that the issue of creationism vs. evolution; religion vs. science is always set up as a strict dichotomy - including and perhaps especially by Graffin. (His PhD dissertaton was on religious belief amongst evolutionary biologists). As the daughter of two scientists (PhDs in physiology) and regular church goers, I grew up totally (blissfully?) unaware of this inherent conflict. Granted, I did not end up religious at all but my sense is that among scientists in general (not to mention the plethora of people trained in science and biology for other professions - medicine, pharmacology, nursing, teaching, engineering, etc) people are able, however tenuously, to rectify their belief in science with their belief in god. Regardless of how illogical or bullshit I may think that reconciliation is, the fact is that it exists. I'd be interested to hear Greg's thoughts on the matter.
- Since Graffin's father was at the award's ceremony, I would have loved to ask what his dad thought of Bad Religion.
- Graffin mentioned, in a response to a Q&A question, that he had not grown up religious at all and while that was good in many respects, there are essential questions of the world and our place in it that are taught in places like Sunday school; questions that he didn't have answered until he discovered science. I have occasionally missed going to church, especially during turbulent times in my life. For me, I think what I was longing for was the sense of community and roots that are found in religious institutions. (Happily, I have learned that many atheist parents are starting "Sunday schools" in their area to combat this very issues. Perhaps the existence of humanist societies also fills this void.) I would be interested to know how he, as a parent, instilled his values in his children and combated this issue.
- When introducing Graffin, the Humanist Chaplain quoted a song from How Could Hell Be Any Worse?
, which Greg wrote when he was 15. I know that I did and said some stupid, embarrassing things when I was 15 and I wonder how Graffin feels to hear those words now. I also wonder how it feels to be 42 and to influence 15 year olds.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
CD Reviews: The Loved Ones, Horrorpops, and Tim Armstrong
Some thoughts on recently purchased CDs:
The Loved Ones - Build & Burn
After listening to The Loved Ones new cd, Build & Burn
, I missed the intense drive of Keep Your Heart
which begins with pounding drums and an energy-filled yell. I think it's safe to say that The Loved Ones grew up ... at least a little.
On some level this is disappointing since I credit The Loved Ones and their song "Jane" to re-awakening my love of cheesy pop-punk and, in many ways, re-awakening myself. Nonetheless, after a few listens, I have come to really enjoy Build & Burn - and get its songs stuck in my head.
Despite the decrease in intensity, Build & Burn offers all the catchy-ness of Keep Your Heart. "Louisiana", a song about rebuilding New Orleans, is the first song that stuck in my head. It's gospel-esque repetition seems fitting for the subject and pulled me in immediately. After my obsessive singing of Louisiana, the next song to catch me was "Pretty Good Year". The catalyst for my love of this song, I believe, is the very good lyric: I'm reinventing happiness again. Amen.
The Horrorpops - Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
My first impression of The Horrorpops third album, Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
, was that it was the link between The Horrorpop's more rockabilly and psychobilly first album, Hell Yeah
, and their pop-punk influenced second album, Bring It On!
: a little harder and more rockabilly than Bring It On! and more pop-punk-esque than Hell Yeah.
Like Build & Burn from The Loved Ones, I thought that Kiss Kiss Kill Kill lacked the drive of their previous album, Bring It On! After seeing them live, I realized that part of this was the use of one guitarist as a opposed to two. Especially live, some of the songs fell a little flat without another guitarist.
Regardless, this is a rocking album ... surely far more rock 'n roll than any of the popular punk bands out there. Patricia's voice, as usual, has the perfect tone, scratchiness, and volume for the music. I think she has one of the best rock n roll voices out their today.
Truthfully, my biggest beef with the album is some of the lyrics. For example, the second song on the album, "MissFit," has the line:
While I love and appreciate the sentiment of the lyric - the intersection of class and gender and the double prejudice that comes with it - I find that the word "female" stands out every time I hear it - and not in a good way. It's like reading a book and finding yourself correcting grammar and awkward sentences: distracting, to say the least.
This isn't an isolated incident either. There's the song "Copenhagen Refugee." Again, I relate to the theme of best friendships falling apart when one person moves forward in their life, even if it's in a direction that both desired. But, come on. Copenhagen Refugee?? That has to be one of the most 15-year-old-I-just-learned-about-punk-lame lyrics ever. Sorry but it's true.
However, the more I listen to the album the more I'm able to let the obnoxious lyrics go and enjoy the power of the music and appreciate the theme of the songs. Despite my bitchy, obsessive, nit-pickiness, I would definitely recommend this record.
Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life
It seems that more and more I find myself having "God I'm old" moments. Often these occur when I find out about a band or album way after it's come out. Discovering that Tim Armstrong had put out a solo album was one of those moments.
In my own defense (and in an attempt to make myself feel better), I haven't bought a Rancid album in years and I haven't really been into one since ...And Out Come the Wolves
. Everything since then has just seemed like the same old, same old.
This made me pretty excited that Tim was doing something new. Apparently, he started making songs available to download for free while fans waited for the new Rancid album. Fans responded so positively to the songs, especially "No Action", that he decided to release the songs as a solo album.
The album, A Poet's Life
, is like a reggae version of Operation Ivy
. Tim's husky, smoker's voice lends a rock n roll-ness to the reggae music. Combined with female vocals on "No Action," it stands heads above the other songs.
A Poet's Life didn't knock my socks off but it is the perfect album far chilling (preferably with a cold beer) after a long, grueling day.
The Loved Ones - Build & Burn
After listening to The Loved Ones new cd, Build & Burn
On some level this is disappointing since I credit The Loved Ones and their song "Jane" to re-awakening my love of cheesy pop-punk and, in many ways, re-awakening myself. Nonetheless, after a few listens, I have come to really enjoy Build & Burn - and get its songs stuck in my head.
Despite the decrease in intensity, Build & Burn offers all the catchy-ness of Keep Your Heart. "Louisiana", a song about rebuilding New Orleans, is the first song that stuck in my head. It's gospel-esque repetition seems fitting for the subject and pulled me in immediately. After my obsessive singing of Louisiana, the next song to catch me was "Pretty Good Year". The catalyst for my love of this song, I believe, is the very good lyric: I'm reinventing happiness again. Amen.
The Horrorpops - Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
My first impression of The Horrorpops third album, Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
Like Build & Burn from The Loved Ones, I thought that Kiss Kiss Kill Kill lacked the drive of their previous album, Bring It On! After seeing them live, I realized that part of this was the use of one guitarist as a opposed to two. Especially live, some of the songs fell a little flat without another guitarist.
Regardless, this is a rocking album ... surely far more rock 'n roll than any of the popular punk bands out there. Patricia's voice, as usual, has the perfect tone, scratchiness, and volume for the music. I think she has one of the best rock n roll voices out their today.
Truthfully, my biggest beef with the album is some of the lyrics. For example, the second song on the album, "MissFit," has the line:
And I'm, I'm from the wrong side of town,
Now frown,
On top of that I'm female.
Now frown,
On top of that I'm female.
While I love and appreciate the sentiment of the lyric - the intersection of class and gender and the double prejudice that comes with it - I find that the word "female" stands out every time I hear it - and not in a good way. It's like reading a book and finding yourself correcting grammar and awkward sentences: distracting, to say the least.
This isn't an isolated incident either. There's the song "Copenhagen Refugee." Again, I relate to the theme of best friendships falling apart when one person moves forward in their life, even if it's in a direction that both desired. But, come on. Copenhagen Refugee?? That has to be one of the most 15-year-old-I-just-learned-about-punk-lame lyrics ever. Sorry but it's true.
However, the more I listen to the album the more I'm able to let the obnoxious lyrics go and enjoy the power of the music and appreciate the theme of the songs. Despite my bitchy, obsessive, nit-pickiness, I would definitely recommend this record.
Tim Armstrong - A Poet's Life
It seems that more and more I find myself having "God I'm old" moments. Often these occur when I find out about a band or album way after it's come out. Discovering that Tim Armstrong had put out a solo album was one of those moments.
In my own defense (and in an attempt to make myself feel better), I haven't bought a Rancid album in years and I haven't really been into one since ...And Out Come the Wolves
This made me pretty excited that Tim was doing something new. Apparently, he started making songs available to download for free while fans waited for the new Rancid album. Fans responded so positively to the songs, especially "No Action", that he decided to release the songs as a solo album.
The album, A Poet's Life
A Poet's Life didn't knock my socks off but it is the perfect album far chilling (preferably with a cold beer) after a long, grueling day.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Girls Rock: Kathleen Hanna & The Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls
As some of you may or may not know, I am currently on the Advisory Board of the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls and an alumni of their inaugural Ladies Rock Camp. I don't think I could ever express how amazing I think this camp is and the awesome experiences that come out of Rock Camp.
Check out Kathleen Hanna and rock camp volunteers talking about the camp on Current TV.
Also, mark you calendars for the premier of the film documenting the Portland Rock Camp for Girls, Girls Rock! The Movie. It comes out March 7th and the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls will be holding a Mini-Rock camp in honor of the movie.
Check out Kathleen Hanna and rock camp volunteers talking about the camp on Current TV.
Also, mark you calendars for the premier of the film documenting the Portland Rock Camp for Girls, Girls Rock! The Movie. It comes out March 7th and the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls will be holding a Mini-Rock camp in honor of the movie.
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