Thursday, July 10, 2003
The reasons for the delay in updating the web site this time around are twofold: 1) I was on vacation in Minnesota and North Dakota for a week, and 2) I’m pretty lazy and this is basically a complete waste of time anyway. Regardless, after enduring a complete lack of music while on vacation (any music would have been drowned out by screaming nieces and nephews), I feel fully refreshed and ready to attack the pile of new CDs I’ve accumulated. As usual, I’ve got way more new music available than I will ever be able to fully appreciate.
On another note, I went with my friends Dave, Joe, and Susie to the Phish show at Cricket Pavilion on Monday night (July 7th). Despite the intense heat, we had a blast, and the band seemed to be in top form. The local show was opening night of the summer tour. As usual, the pre-show parking lot scene was hopping with young Phish Phans hawking their wares (tie-dye shirts/ glass pipes/ sandwiches/ posters/ stickers/ beer/ liquor/ beads/ water/ etc.) and the occasional guitar player or drum circle. We bought a couple rounds of beers from two young phans from North Carolina, who said they quit their jobs to follow the tour for a month or so, as well as some $1 grilled cheese sandwiches from a caravan of three VW microbuses. Good people, those Phish Heads.
Anyway, here’s what’s currently loaded in my CD player:
1) The New Pornographers - The Electric Version
I downloaded (I’m not stealing, I’m just testing the copyright laws….) the second and latest album from this ‘supergroup’ of indie recording artists, and so far I like what I’ve heard. The band plays a kind of electric pop reminiscent of early-80s new wave, sort of like hearing The Cars with female vocals and four part harmonies. Pretty cool stuff.
2) Jack Johnson - On And On
My friend Pete gave me a copy of this second and latest CD from surfer turned singer/songwriter Jack Johnson. The guy (Jack, not Pete) obviously leads a charmed life, having grown up in Hawaii to become a professional surfer and sometimes movie actor, only to record a debut album that recently went platinum. The sound is very laid back reggae-tinged acoustic strumming over Johnson’s sunny vocals. Although maybe a bit too breezy for my tastes (similar to the like-minded John Mayer), this is consistently soothing and relaxing stuff, and likely to sell like crazy.
3) Ellis Paul - Sweet Mistakes
4) Ellis Paul – The Speed Of Trees
My friend Curtis (a fellow engineer similarly cursed with a penchant for seeking out obscure music) loaned me these two CDs by one of his favorite artists, a singer/songwriter from Boston. While not altogether distinctive, these earnest folk songs sound like they’re sung from the heart. I think Curtis may be onto something here.
5) Phish – Recorded Live July 7, 2003 Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix AZ Set One
6) Phish – Recorded Live July 7, 2003 Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix AZ Set Two
Phish records all of their shows off the soundboard and makes them available for download within 48 hours of the show. Just two days after the show, I paid $12.95 to download Monday’s Phoenix show (see above) and burned it onto two CDs. Pretty cool. Phish may be the most fan friendly band in the business today. Check them out somtime.
TURNTABLE CORNER: Believe it or not, I still have a turntable. These are the most recent albums to cross it.
The Phones – Changing Minds
I remember writing a record review of this 1984 album for the student newspaper in college. I think I gave it a rave review; I’m not sure why that didn’t catapult the Minneapolis based Phones on to superstardom. Regardless, I still do like the album.
Thanks to all of you that have e-mailed using the link at the top of this page. Keep the e-mails coming, as it makes me feel like this is somewhat less of a waste of time. Fee sihetak (that’s “cheers” in Egyptian)!
On another note, I went with my friends Dave, Joe, and Susie to the Phish show at Cricket Pavilion on Monday night (July 7th). Despite the intense heat, we had a blast, and the band seemed to be in top form. The local show was opening night of the summer tour. As usual, the pre-show parking lot scene was hopping with young Phish Phans hawking their wares (tie-dye shirts/ glass pipes/ sandwiches/ posters/ stickers/ beer/ liquor/ beads/ water/ etc.) and the occasional guitar player or drum circle. We bought a couple rounds of beers from two young phans from North Carolina, who said they quit their jobs to follow the tour for a month or so, as well as some $1 grilled cheese sandwiches from a caravan of three VW microbuses. Good people, those Phish Heads.
Anyway, here’s what’s currently loaded in my CD player:
1) The New Pornographers - The Electric Version
I downloaded (I’m not stealing, I’m just testing the copyright laws….) the second and latest album from this ‘supergroup’ of indie recording artists, and so far I like what I’ve heard. The band plays a kind of electric pop reminiscent of early-80s new wave, sort of like hearing The Cars with female vocals and four part harmonies. Pretty cool stuff.
2) Jack Johnson - On And On
My friend Pete gave me a copy of this second and latest CD from surfer turned singer/songwriter Jack Johnson. The guy (Jack, not Pete) obviously leads a charmed life, having grown up in Hawaii to become a professional surfer and sometimes movie actor, only to record a debut album that recently went platinum. The sound is very laid back reggae-tinged acoustic strumming over Johnson’s sunny vocals. Although maybe a bit too breezy for my tastes (similar to the like-minded John Mayer), this is consistently soothing and relaxing stuff, and likely to sell like crazy.
3) Ellis Paul - Sweet Mistakes
4) Ellis Paul – The Speed Of Trees
My friend Curtis (a fellow engineer similarly cursed with a penchant for seeking out obscure music) loaned me these two CDs by one of his favorite artists, a singer/songwriter from Boston. While not altogether distinctive, these earnest folk songs sound like they’re sung from the heart. I think Curtis may be onto something here.
5) Phish – Recorded Live July 7, 2003 Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix AZ Set One
6) Phish – Recorded Live July 7, 2003 Cricket Pavilion, Phoenix AZ Set Two
Phish records all of their shows off the soundboard and makes them available for download within 48 hours of the show. Just two days after the show, I paid $12.95 to download Monday’s Phoenix show (see above) and burned it onto two CDs. Pretty cool. Phish may be the most fan friendly band in the business today. Check them out somtime.
TURNTABLE CORNER: Believe it or not, I still have a turntable. These are the most recent albums to cross it.
The Phones – Changing Minds
I remember writing a record review of this 1984 album for the student newspaper in college. I think I gave it a rave review; I’m not sure why that didn’t catapult the Minneapolis based Phones on to superstardom. Regardless, I still do like the album.
Thanks to all of you that have e-mailed using the link at the top of this page. Keep the e-mails coming, as it makes me feel like this is somewhat less of a waste of time. Fee sihetak (that’s “cheers” in Egyptian)!
