Christmas In Tuscany, an offer. For your best travel destination, please see below.

Irish traditional sounds. The Italian Gian Castello, All ireland Poetry Day and Irish traditional music.

25.09.09 The Birds, the Eagles, Counting Crows and an “ad”…

25.09.09 The Fray will play on Friday, September 25, in Jonesboro, at the Arkansas State University. And on Saturday, September 26… Please read this text again in the afternoon of that day and I hope it will be updated.

Anyway, don’t you think the text of the group about swine flu is a bit exaggerated? Do you? In their blog… Too much Sun and too little reading of The Observer?!

Obama and Steely Dan?! What about Montreal?

17.09.2009 The Fray will be on Thursday, September 17, in Kenosha, at the Tarble Athletic Center at the Carthage College.

29.08.2009 The Fray will be on Saturday, August 29, in Syracuse at the New York State Fair…

15.07.2009 – Mia Martini. There would be a Mia Martini’s official fans club. Here there is its website in Italian. It could be useful for all of you from Finland, for example, who are looking for the Finnish versions of her songs… Please let me know…

- Your favourite travel destination (please vote)

- Which is your best song? (please vote)

Little Jackie, The Fleet Foxes and… Here there are the websites of The Fray and The Fleet Foxes. I don’t tell you how I get to know of them and when… Good music and good pop music…And what about Little Jackie’s music and “The World Should Revolve Around Me”?

Moreover, here there is a live song by Chris Rea, one of the most famous of his, and two songs I found in a page about Richard Page, who was the singer of Mr. Mister, the group who played “Broken Swings”. What a dog in a video…

Opera, an European browser, and Mozilla, Linux and Apple

Vanilla icecream, Vanilla Toffee Crunch and Chunky Monkey

Vanilla Bean, Strawberries & Cream, Double Chocolate, Mango & Passion Fruit Madness, Lemon Meringue, Cappuccino and Sticky Toffee Fudge

Mango & Banana Smoothie, Banana & Strawberry Smoothie, Frozen Yogurt, Cappuccino and Chocolate Icecream

Tuesday February 10, 2009

updated on Monday December 21, 2009

calogeromira.wordpress.com – e-mail

Does this search engine save watts/hour?

This Thanksgiving, as you are likely planning to indulge (and most of us overindulge, but that’s between us and our gym memberships) in a feast, look for ways to bring abundance into other lives as well.

There are 36.2 million Americans, and more than a billion people worldwide who do not get enough to eat. WHY is a non-profit charity working to end world hunger and poverty. The annual Hungerthon is a radio broadcast each Thanksgiving to bring awareness and appeal for donations (of dollars and/or hours of your volunteering time) to help feed the world. “Imagine There’s No Hunger” is the theme (approved by Yoko Ono who generously allowed John Lennon’s lyric and images to stand for the project). Other giants of the music industry are on board and have donated items for auction to raise money. Some of the big ticket items are: *A signed photograph from Henry Diltz, courtesy of the Morrison Hotel Gallery.
* A signed guitar from Sarah McLachlan, courtesy of Nettwerk Management.
* A signed deluxe box set from The Dave Matthews Band, courtesy of Red Light Management.
* A signed guitar from The Counting Crows, courtesy of The Artists Organization.
* An autographed photo and signed copy of the new album ‘Battle Studies’ from John Mayer, courtesy of Mick Management.
* A signed special edition of “21st Century Breakdown,” courtesy of Green Day.

Bid on these items, make a general donation, and volunteer some time for other events and spreading the word.

It is what being thankful is all about.

Do NOT Stop Spreading these Videos!

The Salvation of 3 Generations could depend on it!

1. Go to GoodFight Theater! http://www.theater.goodfight.org

 Check out the AWESOME exposes and eye-opening clarity of the surprising spiritual motivations of entertainers! You will want to spread the news and the link, and order the dvds… then go to these youtube videos and spread them like a virus! The salvation of your generation depends partly on the LABORERS. We are going to wear satan out with God’s Grace & Truth just like he tries to wear us out with his sin & lies!

2
ICP think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-_3-YB2XMo

3
MTV and Madonna and Eminem and Method Man and Jimi Hendrix and Garth Brooks and Kid Rock think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.

The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKfGNEuGWMo

4
Dr. Dre, Eminem and others think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oify6AtKkFs

5
Korn and Ozzy Osbourne and Frank Zappa and Limp Bizkit and Red Hot Chili Peppers think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRPxkkP-ZGM

6
Do you realize the satanic plan in secular music and in the United Nations is the same plan that God foiled in Genesis 11. Why are these people doing it again? They will fail again!
Pick your team! Kingdom or Babylon!
Go hard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMDF4_zekbM

7
Carlos Santana, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Hitler, have a lot in common… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wv9ldtDGds

8
This clip tells the story of Robert Johnson, a Black man who is called ‘THE FATHER OF ROCK & ROLL’ admitted that he sold his soul to satan in the 1950s. The roots of rock in satanism…  But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Aml1RZsxqw

9
Robert Johnston blues star and founder of Rock, actually sold his soul to satan. This is the root of the secular music you listen to. That’s why it does what it does to your soul. satanism…  But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvMfM_87tec

10
Eazy E, Bone Thugs & Harmony, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Master P, DMX, Three 6 Mafia, and others think they think they sold their soul to the devil… But Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC0WRXRrp2w

11
Wow… this guys testimony is amazing. He actually was writing music for satan when God delivered him! From Elvis to today… Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p0MruAg8wM

12
More mind-blowing footage about Elvis, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, and other stars that masked themselves as harmless. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yusiv3JDng

13
Singers like Spice Girls and Brittney Spears teach children to reject God’s laws and their parents laws like “Keep your mouth shut Keep your legs shut” Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJCWydWB9tY

15
The Truth about Elvis Presley… he was not a Christian. His bodyguards, the “Memphis Mafia” reveal his demonic forces and deception.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX7FJgtOti8

16
The Truth about Elvis Presley… he was not a Christian. He was deep into occult and actually thought he was a false christ and read from satanist Madame Blavatsky at his concerts! Also notice how SIMILAR Michael Jackson’s life ended the same way Elvis did – with PILLS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8AOzOvXwu4

17
More on Elvis… and Jerry Lewis actually condemns himself to Hell, he thought he sold his soul to satan. I wish he had repented before he died. Same thing with Little Richard. They don’t know how merciful Jesus Christ is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0wHc10VGMw
19
Most rock & roll artists have been influenced by Aliester Crowley… he taught drugs, sex, and “Imma Do Me.” In order to promote satanism and the Anti-Christ. How Timothy Leary and the Beatles helped spread satanism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6vLnAYjK2A

20
How Aliester Crowley sowed seeds of satanic discipleship (Harry Hayes and Dr. Alfred Kinsey) for the sexual revolution and how promotion of homosexuality and the rape of little boys is related to the Anti-Christ.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnNkmNPptk0

21
HOw the Beatles promoted satanism under the influence of Aliester Crowley… they brought yoga (yoking yourself to a demon) to America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGy0Sk80amQ

22
“Making Movies is casting spells…” how the Rolling Stones and the Beatle helped promote satanism in 1967…. the end of this is DEEP!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgOzb_1wjig

23
Let’s look at the FRUIT of satanism, idolatry, and rebellion against God, from 1967. NOT Freedom- addictions, broken lives, sexual diseases, suicides, abortions, and broken families
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRcHT14oQr8

25
How drugs are related to witchcraft. Jimi Hendrix testifies to his servanthood to satan. Whoever is taken captive to this, there is still time. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die.
The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDH9j_f0YPk

26
Demon worship and Jim Morrison of The Doors – the connection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6duGqjEFoVQ

27
satan is a lie. Even thru the greatest entertainers (false prophets) in the world. How the Beach Boys created the culture of southern California and created witchcraft music. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKmh1mmjHV0

29
Michael Jackson spread sexual perversion and contacted demon spirits for his music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRf7wM6vLuI

31
Kurt Cobain… 90s grunge satanist, (I think he may have gotten saved before he died… Hallelujah!). Also NIN and U2 are covered in here! Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdWHjFhIvcs

32
U2 and CREED still has time to repent from their sins and trying to decieve Christians into the New World order. U2 is more blasphemous than Marilyn Manson. CREED signed their record deal in blood. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever, and His Truth endures to every Generation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp26vedLKDM

33
Charles Manson, rock musician and mass murderer, a satanist who worked with the Beatles and Beach Boys and taught his family to kill. Jesus Blood is powerful and can still redeem their soul into life, before they die. The Mercy of the Lord endures forever,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqt2DLXDE7c

34
Anton Lavey and the satan worshippers who love Hitler and the soon coming antichrist, and national socialism. This is CRAZY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXs7Xd4JBXA

35
How the music is leading to anti-christ. Son of Sam was a satanist murderer as well, but I heard that he got saved in prison thanks to the mercy of the Lord. He sold himself to the devil but Jesus brought him back!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd3v4tR0sM8

Help! I need a new musical obsession to propel me into tomorrow. The old ways of finding new music aren’t working anymore and the new ones are coming up short too.

I used to stay up to speed with the latest bands and artists through Rolling Stone, local newspapers, friends, and radio. But most of the time I haven’t heard of the “musicians” on the Billboard Top 20 chart. I’ve subscribed to Sirius satellite radio for a couple of years and like it, but even with all their commercial-free music channels, they have repetitive playlists. If you listen to one channel all the time, you’ll hear the same “obscure” tracks over and over again, sometimes at the same time of day every day!

The College Rock chart used to be a great source of up and coming artists, but check out the college chart on last.fm (thanks to my nephew/musician Billy for turning me on to this site that lets you listen to full tracks for free)!  College students appear to be listening to the music I grew up with!! I can’t say I really blame them.

The top downloads on sites such as Rhapsody indicate musical tastes across the map. Here too, popular downloads seem to be old music other than Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga (and her latest seems absolutely ancient—good thing she has some new songs coming out on November 23). Sites like these tend to suggest, based on my preferences, classic rock bands, not new music.

I have already worn out the latest Indigo Girls CD, Poseidon and the Bitter Bug, which has great lyrics and some catchy tunes, if less of their classic harmonies.

But my obsession with their CD was nothing like my biggest obsession ever: an unknown alternative rock band called Ours from New York City who has never really made it. I listened to their debut CD Distorted Lullabies from start to finish 2-3 times a week, every week, for over a year, mostly during workouts. Besides the incredible voice of lead singer Jimmy Gnecco, something about the flow of the album, and the perfect meld of music and lyrics, got under my skin. It immediately spoke to my sensibilities and life philosophy. And because of that their music is cathartic. I’ve seem them/him perform live now six times.

It would be nice to find new music that does the same thing.

Below is a list of past and latest musical obsessions to give you a more complete idea of my preferences. In general, I gravitate towards singer/songwriters and alt-rock performers who have distinctive voices. I like songs with thoughtful lyrics and intense (some would say bombastic) delivery, whether ballads or up-tempo. I left off obvious unavoidable stalwarts like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, the Doors, Stevie Wonder.

* = will buy every CD even if I only listen to it once.

Major Obsessions

Lifelong Obsessions

Moderate Obsessions

Like But Not Obsessively

Madonna
Lady Gaga
Amy Winehouse
Cazwell
Kelly Clarkson
Atmosphere
The Killers
Travis
Keane
Tracy Chapman
kd lang
Brandi Carlile
KT Tunsall
Death Cab for Cutie
Ray LaMontagne
Pete Yorn

Sorry if I’ve given you too much information–it’s amazing how much music I like and listen to. But clearly, hip hop, rap, R&B, and pop like Mariah Carey don’t speak to me much. On November 23 there’s a slew of new albums being released including the first CDs for Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, but I’m not holding out much hope that they’ll become obsessions.

So let me know your suggestions of artists you know, or if you (or one of your music-obsessed friends—pass it on!) can suggest an online blog or music service that can sift through my preferences and spit out the next great thing, for me anyway, I will be very grateful.

And if you are the one to turn me on to my new obsession, I’ll buy you the box set of your choice ($50 or less)!

“This clip from a video entitled “How to be a Real Man,” found at a flea market in Berea, Ohio, shows hip teenagers that life isn’t only about Demolition Man posters, Counting Crows CDs and dressing like a bumbling undercover cop at a gay bar. It’s also about slightly incorrect Spanish translations and punching your friends in the face for no reason.”

Four videos in a series of Philip Glass video resource dumping…

1. “Metamorphosis One,” from Solo Piano, and used in that episode of Battlestar Galactica. It was used quite effectively and also, in that one episode in the last episode where Starbuck jams with the piano player, if you didn’t think that guy was supposed to be her dad after having seen this episode, well…

…then again, with the butchering of “All Along The Watchtower” that was so heavily incorporated in the final cycle of that show, I think I have to remain incredibly happy that Glass was used at all. It gave this show a certain touch of class that so many people mistakenly thought it retained it’s entire four seasons (and well into straight-to-DVD money grabs). But I digress. See a little of how “Metamorphosis One” was used here and here.

2. The trailer for Glass: A Portrait Of Phillip In Twelve Parts, the documentary on the composer who is a master of “existential dread” and “repetitive structures” by director Scott Hicks.

3. Einstein On The Beach, the approximately five or so hour long opera composed by Glass.

…of which there is an excerpt above. The opera is where the Counting Crows got the title for their song, “Einstein On The Beach (For An Eggman)” from. I don’t really like the Counting Crows except for just a handful of songs, but there’s just something infectiously wonderful about that one.

Though, musical side note: When I think of their song, with that subtitle in parentheses, I can’t help but think of, of course, the Beatles’ “I Am The Walrus,” a lovely bit of juvenile Lewis Carrolling about and complaining abotu capitalism, and the eternal debate that followed over who exactly the Walrus was and who was the fucking Eggman. In “Glass Onion” on The White Album, it’s suggested that the Walrus was Paul, though in John Lennon’s solo song, “God,” naturally, he suggests that it was himself. But the Eggman was actually Eric Burdon.

4. How to play piano like Philip Glass.

Just fascinating. If I had ever taught myself how to play piano, well… now I’d be playing like Glass, wouldn’t I? Well, more soon, I imagine, but for now, enjoy the Phillip Glass. And… suck it, Michael Nyman, ha ha.

Video do tema “Mr. Jones” dos Counting Crows. Um clássico dos anos 90…

Site: Counting Crows

Site MySpace: Counting Crows

Grupo: Counting Crows

Álbum: August and Everything After (1993)

Tema: Mr. Jones

#199 – Counting Crows – “Hanginaround” – (1999)

This Desert Life was the follow-up album to 1996’s Recovering the Satellites, whose most memorable Top 40 hit was “A Long December,” which was good, but not as much fun as “Hanginaround.” Unfortunately, this is the last great song from the Counting Crows… they’ve since covered Joni Mitchell and appeared on a Shrek soundtrack.

Sometimes shit goes wrong. A friend of mine just had her relationship end, and she doesn’t sound too happy about it. Vengeful, in fact. Nice time for this:

Links to included bands: Beck, Carolina Liar, Counting Crows, Elbow, Florence and the Machine, Frightened Rabbit, Incubus, Keane, The Low Anthem, Miike Snow, Pela, Pictures of Then, Radiohead, Secret Machines, The Stills, The Helio Sequence, The National

“Today is just a day fading into another, and that can’t be what a life is for.” – Counting Crows

Life at times feels like just another day like the one before it fading into the one after it. We move at a crawl through each day without any sense of direction or reason.

When our days are limited, coming to the end of a day like that seems pointless and disappointing. At the end of today, will I be able to say it was significant?

Will today have been intentional in any way?
Will today have made any difference at all?
Will I have made any significant step toward a vision?
A goal?
A purpose?

Today does not have to be just a day fading into another!

Significance is not an issue of fame or even recognition.
Significance is an issue of making a difference where you are.

If you are a person of faith, significance is making a difference where God has placed you now
today
at this moment.
(Eph. 2:10)

The main thing that will make this day significant is intentionality.

Intentional about relationships around you now…today.
Intentional about resting and taking it all in now…for a second.
Intentional about creating something now…no matter how tiny…

Run with that idea…

Here’s the songs that are topping my playlist this week. As always, a couple of these will be used in the music round on Dec. 16. The link will take you to iTunes to hear a sample of the songs.

• Genius of Love – Tom Tom Club
• Mr. Jones – Counting Crows
• How I Got Over – Vickie Winans
• Love Song – Sara Bareilles
• We’re Not Gonna Take It – Twisted Sister
• Let It Whip – Dazz Band

I have been charged with writing the family Christmas letter this year. This would be the first letter the Mel Thompson’s have sent around in a number of years and I’m pretty freaked out by the task of renewing the tradition.  Not so much a tradition. We sent out one letter. Well, two. There was a year when we just re-printed lyrics from  Counting Crows A Long December. That went over well. Friends started sending us samples of Xanax and the county put our dog under protective custody. This year I really want to get the letter right. The message must embody the best and most heartfelt sentiments of the holiday season. You know-love, warmth, peace. All of that crap. I spent several minutes wasting time at work today mulling over the holiday greetings. Yes, it’s hard to write a letter while flipping burgers, but I’m a multi-tasker. Yeah, thats it. Here are some beginnings of letters I was working on.

• “We had another good year here down at the Bada Bing. The girls can’t wait for Santa to stuff their stockings.”
• “This was the year I discovered my inner child. I also discovered at least three other children I never knew I had.”
• “Santa Claus gave us everything we asked for this year. Since he fulfilled his end of the deal, we’ll untie him and let the old guy out the basement now. Man, I hope he’s Santa.”
• “We had a kind of frugal year. Not only did we subsist on bologna, but we found a way to re-caulk the tub with it.”
• “The family has been truly blessed in 2009. After all, we could have been the Detroit Lions.”
• “I would take a moment to honor those in our family that passed this year, except no one did. All of the relatives are still hanging on and I’ll be damned if any of them show signs of weakening.”
• “After unsuccessfully trying to find professional electro-shock treatments we’re doing them at home.”
• “Every dark cloud has a silver lining. After our meth lab exploded, we noticed that the side of the house looked like Elvis and sold the pictures on Ebay.”
• “Our oldest boy Blinky got his own special on the Discovery Channel. I guess more kids should eat deodorant and start to believe they’re Diana Krall. Even though he looks kind of hot in a gown, I wish he was our old Blinky again.”

Okay, that does it for that idea. Everyone is getting pre-printed cards this year.

BD and I went out last night on a real, live date.  We usually go out to eat once a week sans kids, but it’s usually a quick dinner around 6 – when all the old people are just finishing up.  Last night, the kids stayed somewhere else and for once, we didn’t have to be home at any given time.  We went to dinner late when all the cool-people-without-children eat, drank a lot of wine and went to a late night Christmas-themed burlesque show a friend of mine was in, which was a first for both of us.  The dancing ladies paid particularly close attention to BD, (maybe because my friend told them to), and we just laughed and cat called and a tipsy BD even was pulled up on stage to dance.  It felt like we were 22 again and I was transported back to a time before marriage, mortgages, and motherhood. And apocalypse planning and terrible hang overs.  But I won’t lie — it was totally. mindblowingly. awesome.

And at some point during the evening, “Round Here” by the Counting Crows came on (which is the best heaping helping of awesomeness ever served up in a pop song, EVER) and we discovered for the first time, after being together 10 years, that both of us distinctly remembers exactly where we were the first time we heard that song.  It was a defining moment for both us, like where we were when the Challenger blew up and JFK Jr.’s plane went down and 9/11.   And it was the same moment for both of us too– when the Counting Crows were on SNL in 1994 — that we both heard it.  Proof that across time and space we were totally meant to be (don’t fight me on this, quantum physicists).  Anyway, that got me thinking of a note I wrote to myself a month later when I was a senior in high school, after a particularly bad relationship, which turned out to be eerily prescient.   Its one of the only things I wrote that year that isn’t both hilarious and atrocious in its over-the-top ridiculousness, although it is still both of those in many parts.

Anyway, it’s time to put it out there, but not without my additional comments in red. This one’s for you, BD:

February 1994

To The ‘One’:

I wonder what you’re doing now.  I wonder where you live and I wonder, God forbid, if I know you.  My guess is that I’ll meet you in college and I guess that’s about the right time for me, but we’ll see.  Well, I just broke up with another boyfriend, and probably things which I had experienced with him, I’ll remember when I’m with you.

Like I hope that you aren’t obsessive, whether it is with a drug, a person , an idea, or even me.  I also hope you aren’t the jealous type, someone who smothers me and demands all of my attention and time.  Although I hope to spend my entire life with you, and be in love with you always and forever, I just don’t want us to lose OURSELVES.

I won’t define myself as YOUR wife, but a huge part of me will be dedicated to our relationship and your happiness and well-being.

So, a friend is setting me up with another guy. Who knows? It could be you.  Then again, I could do something or experience something with this guy which may, even in a small way, affect us (hopefully I wasn’t talking about contracting HIV).  Kind of strange, huh? I mean, everyday I get closer to the one that I’ll meet you, and I wonder if I’ll even know the significance of it.  Have you ever thought that the first time you set your eyes on someone, you could know in that instant that you were going to fall in love with them?   It’s never happened (obviously) to me, but I think that when and if it does, he will be you (HA! This part came true).   I don’t know if this is strange, because I’m only 17, but all I want to do right now is find the one I’m going to marry (you) and do it ASAP.  If I’m 20, and I know it’s you, I’ll be ready to get married as soon as it’s convenient. (Really? As soon as it’s convenient?) I guess I assume you’ll feel the same way, but I guess I also assume we’ll agree on almost everything (um, no.).

I wonder if you’ll be as in love with me as I will be with you.  My last boyfriend says that my husband will be whipped (meaning able to make all of his opinions, beliefs and thoughts fit to my own) also meaning (when asked to do something, does it for no other reason than that he was asked) (My last boyfriend was also a total ass).  Well, I know if that’s being whipped, its where I’ll be.  I guess I believe a married couple should be (um, no.).  Well, cheers to one day less I’ll have to wait before meeting you, love.

Love always, Love

So it didn’t all turn out like I thought it would.  BD and I met after college, but it turns out we were actually in the same class at the same university and just never met, even though we shared several mutual friends.  And it turns out that the first time I saw BD, I did know he was to be my husband.  Because I’m psycho psychic like that.  However, I wouldn’t say that either of us is whipped, by my ex-boyfriend’s definition at 17. We do not agree on everything, especially as it relates to the best way to mix up packets of instant oatmeal (hot tap water, obviously), whether LED light bulbs are the worst things ever invented, or the best (they are the worst), or how many dish towels are necessary for one household (the more, the merrier, I maintain).

But all in all, I did alright.  Sure, I had to stalk him, and it took a year for that first (terrible) date, but with Oprah’s encouragement, I finally landed him and started living my best life — and now I have BD, bacchanalias and burlesque. What else do I need?

There are still times when I am perfectly content to stay inside all day, ensconced in an enforced solitude that is as much withdrawn as it is literary. I’m sure it’s very difficult for most “normal” people to understand, but there are days when the mere act of venturing into the world is more than a little…frightening. I know at these times that I’m becoming withdrawn; I know it and yet there are times when I can do very little about it.

Don’t wake me, cause I was dreamin’
And I might just stay inside
I don’t go out much these days
Sometimes I stay inside all day*

The odd fact is that I can be incredibly productive on such days; office work seems to take very little time at all, and my literary work sometimes assumes a new music and poetry. Somehow it seems easier to concentrate, to focus, to think, to write, to create, to produce. Which doesn’t mean that I don’t become…lonely…on such days. I do, sometimes very much. Sometimes I reach out to someone, usually with only mixed success. But there are days, though (still), when all I want to do is sleep. There are still days when all I want to be is dead to the world.

You wouldn’t think it would require such great effort to accomplish one of the simplest things in life, that of venturing out into the world. But sometimes it does, and all I can do is force myself to keep going. I don’t always succeed, but I do try. And yet there are still times when I must say: “I don’t go out much these days…”

*Counting Crows, “Miller’s Angels” (from the album Recovering the Satellites, 1996)

There are four levels of my tolerance for pop musicians:

1. Those I love (Beyonce, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake);
2. Those I don’t love but respect (Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Britney Spears);
3. Those who compel me to change the radio station (Miley Cyrus, Blackeyed Peas, Kings of Leon); and
4. Those of whom the very thought makes me want to pour lava in my ears.

Let us file John Mayer in category 4.  At this level it’s not even about the music, in fact, the music is probably the most redeeming thing about level 4-ers.  And that is not saying much because the music is terrible.  John Mayer plays his little acoustic guitar and sings his sweet sappy songs about how much he wants to love you and be good to you because you’re a woman and that is so neat.  What’s that?  You have a blog and you tweet?  You write for Esquire?  You are so down to earth and in touch with reality.

He does not fool me.  I think John Mayer thought early on that he would never be one of those sell-out musician tools obsessed with their own fame (as evident by his expressed disdain for “famous” musicians in interviews), and oops, it happened, and everyone knows it but him.

I’m talking about singing about being a considerate woman worshipping romantic and then indiscriminately entertaining every model, actress, trashy celebutante and Hooters girl that he can get his hands on in rapid succession.  How about “fathers be good to your daughters” so they can grow up and share a hot tub with John Mayer in Mexico or be his “secret girlfriend” on his tour bus after a college concert?   The worst part is that he acts all surprised and feigns hurt feelings when he’s called out.

I went to his blog today because I was told that it was called “140 Plus” (grr) and I came across this quote:

“TV commercial holiday cheer can be nearly offensive if you didn’t happen to have the kind of year that saw you making friends with an omni-ethnic fully gorgeous group of friends who like to dance in unison.”

Exsqueeze me?  Baking powder?  You are making fun of a Gap commercial?  YOU making fun of the GAP?  It would be really easy to assume that John Mayer and his music have played a focal role in every Gap commercial since the beginning of bootcut jeans.  John Mayer and the Gap fit happily into the same relaxed fit, untucked shirt, rolled-up sleeves, barefoot and all-American good clean fun category.  John Mayer, you, like Gap clothes, are seemingly innocuous but actually cheap imitations of class.  Except the Gap has cleaner clothes.  Take a bath hippy!

I’ll end by admitting that I’ve actually been to a John Mayer concert.  I’m at least pleased to report I didn’t pay for it.  The year was 2003 and I got to go to some planning event for college activities boards that culminated in a concert with John Mayer and the Counting Crows, which is really just that one crazy guy anymore.  Even then John Mayer was second in quality to a band that consisted of one washed up singer clinging to his 1990’s fame, covering Joni Mitchell songs as a last resort and ending every number in “Yeeeeeeeeeeah.”

Apologies readers for my last 4 or 5 days of inactivity. I’ve been dreadfully sick, but last week, before the sickness hit me, I had the unique pleasure of strolling into town, at around 7pm. I walked into a bar, and this bar had so much energy, fuelled by the customers; the atmosphere, the band. A band who’s known as Porcelain Coins, consisting of four, laid back, energetic and hilarious men who look as if they’re in their early twenties. As lady luck had it, I got a front row seat reserved to be able to see Porcelain Coins, who have previously supported major indie rock band, Bloc Party. Not only was I able to enjoy the musical genius that radiated from them, but I was blessed enough to get to interview Pablo, Sam, Ben and Gypo (Matt to his friends), throughout the evening!

M: What are your personal influences?
S: “‘In my opinion, my personal influences are Pearljam, Eleven and Led Zeppelin. Especially Led Zeppelin, the greatest band since someone said ‘hm, that sounds good, I’ll call it music’.“ Sam, who is a fan of the classic old-school rock legends, is the band’s bassist, and a killer one at that.

P: “Bernard Fanning, Powderfinger, I mean I like him in Powderfinger, but I love some of his solo stuff. Counting Crows, Cold War Kids, Simon and Garfunkle, Cat Stevens, and you can’t beat a bit of Bare Naked Ladies.” What sounds like a collection of obscurities from a teenagers life (apart from the Bare Naked Ladies!), actually proves to be a unique insight into what fuels vocalist and acoustic guitarist Pablo in his quest, which we’ll delve into later.

B: “The Pixies, Rage Against The Machine, Be Your Own Pet, Cold War Kids.” After talking to Ben in-depth about his influences and what it means to the band, he agreed that it’s generally about experiences, it’s a band where everyone brings something to the table. The electric guitar enthusiast’s tastes, along with Gypo’s (the drummer!) are slightly on the heavier side of things.

G: “It’s a tricky question, I mostly love things like Metallica, Chilli Peppers, and Rage Against The Machine.” Short and sweet, much like Gypo himself! But height related jokes aside, he had this to say, “Enjoyment comes through playing your instrument, but teamed with other people, it’s amazing.” It seems Gypo is full of words of wisdom, despite his crazy headache that evening, he ended with “Your creative side… It’s gotta get out somehow!” Hm, I never asked him if he was a Buddhist.

After a few drinks, and a couple of songs, the atmosphere was far chilled than it was since I had entered. And whilst we sat and enjoyed the performances of the stunning Jenny Reid (with an equally as stunning voice), who was performing solo that evening, despite her commitment to ‘The Penny Rogers Incident‘, we had discussed what they see themselves doing in five years time.

M: Where would you like to be in 5 years time?
G: “Still playing music, hopefully with bigger crowds! It’d be nice to reach more people, and it’d be great to experience some travelling” Big aspirations for a little man, who would’ve known. (Alright, it’s too tempting, sorry Gypo!), they may be big aspirations, but they’re certainly respectable.

B: “I see myself spending 6 months in a temple with my wife and kids, and spending 6 months touring with the band.” Ah, a family man, it’s nice to see someone who’s certain about their priorities, but being unsure isn’t always a bad thing!

S: “At The Rose Bowl! Playing to hundreds of thousands, that’s where I wanna be!” Well, there’s always one who truly appreciates their time in the limelight, Sam will be no exception. The rocking enthusiast has written previously for websites such as ultimate-guitar.com and has a pretty amazing taste in films!

P: “I’d love for us to get signed, it’d be a relief to have a good record deal. I’d essentially like to take the money from that and go to South America. I’ve always wanted to establish a community project, where everyone can benefit. Cafés, art galleries, that sort of thing, where people can get their work out and have a good time doing it. A self-sufficient system where everyone can escape the pressures which you and me do today.” I have to say, I loved Pablo’s answer, it’s one of those things which makes you stop and think about what you’re really doing. He’s a truly dedicated man, which was easily seen whilst he was on stage. His beautiful girlfriend, Zoe, seemed to agree  ”He’s one of the most driven and determined people I’ve ever met.” Watch out Zoe, his charms are pulling even me in!

It was by this point that the evening was drawing closer and closer to an end, with not only performances by the talented Jenny Reid, but also by another rising local band; At Last, who has an awesome vocalist. Porcelain Coins got up and stage and wowed the audience with one of their better (in my opinion!) songs, The Redemption of John Doe! If you’re a lover of Counting Crows, you’re bound to appreciate the edgy, unique flair which is personified by Porcelain Coins themselves. A group of aspiring, talented, young men who are truly dedicated to music and even through the ups and downs, still remain concrete on the idea of making it big. A well deserved idea, at that.

M: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians out there? Any regrets?
G: “Listen to drum, I mean really listen to it, focus on nothing but the drum, listen to different styles, and be confident to try new things, don’t be afraid.” Grand, solid advice from Gypo in regards to drumming, he then told me about regrets “I’ve been playing drums for 7 years, I taught myself. My only regret would probably be not starting earlier, I love it!“

B: “Feel it.” Was all that Ben could muster after his amazing performance on electric guitar that evening, but it’s true, you can’t be a good musician unless you feel the music inside of you. “I have no regrets, because life is too short.“

S: “Perseverance is the key, keep at it and you’ll get there“ sound advice which is only surpassed by the sounds this crazy murdock was making all night with his insane bass and harmonica skills. “I haven’t got any regrets man, whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, right?“

P: “Never give up, one of the most important things as a musician, or as a band is to talk to your crowd, involve them. Do it because you love it, a job is something you can give up, this is a lifestyle. Keep at it, because the hardest thing to do is usually the right thing.” The ever wise Pablo shed some of his philosophies to newcomers, and there are some crackers in there, believe me. “My only regret is taking it so head on, it’s pretty physically draining, but it’s a learning curve, approaching it slightly slower would’ve made a little less pressure.”

And so concludes my interview with Porcelain Coins, an upcoming local band who I predict will be rising to stardom pretty darn soon. If you’d like to know more about them, or hear some of their music, you can join their facebook group here, myspace here and bebo here. I recommend Panama Guitars and He’s Got a Gun (loving that harmonica!)

Because this played while I took my shower, and I absolutely adore this movie.

XOXO
Monmons

It’s come to that time of the year/decade where innumerable lists will come out touting writer’s knowledge of music by saying what the best album, songs or artists of the decade/year are. Some are interesting reads, others are banal wastes of time & yet others are pretentious attempts at musical superiority while showing you have little knowledge about “real” music. It is this final category that Paste Magazine’s 30 best covers of the decade falls into.

Covers are a delicate subject with me. A cover song must be at least similar to the original. Otherwise, you’re not covering another artist’s song you’re simply saying you think they did a shitty job the first time around instead of paying homage. Jimi Hendrix did not cover Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” he dissected it & made it better. Dylan provided the blueprint for Hendrix & Jimi ran with it. Dylan himself has said as much:

It overwhelmed me, really. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn’t think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to this day…I liked Jimi Hendrix’s record of this and ever since he died I’ve been doing it that way…Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it’s a tribute to him in some kind of way.

Paste has a reputation for thinking they’re better than everyone with obscure references to obscure songs & praising them from the mountain top as being immortal & themselves as fore bearers to the band’s success. Their list is full of songs that hold little relevancy to anyone except the artists themselves.

It’s a bit disgraceful to see a list of songs with The Polyphonic Spree at #7 with Nirvana’s “Lithium” or Calexico at #8 with Stereolab’s “Peng! 33″. What? Really? Stereolab was an obscure band from the ’90’s that never found success in part because they were bad at making music. The Polyphonic Spree is a band from today that suffers from the same problem. I’m all for opening eyes with new artists. I try to introduce new artists to the masses on this blog regularly, but to indiscriminately toss out labels like “best of the decade” is hyperbolic to the core.

There are a few I agree with on the list, but none above number 9 (they are 28, 20, 18 – which may be the best on their list, 10 & 9). In large part I think Paste is, once again, showing they’re rightly regarded as a magazine strictly for the arrogant hipster, who thinks he knows more about music than you. It’s like saying Sgt. Pepper is too commercial of an album to be the best of all time or the “Godfather” is too widely known to be the best film of all time. Everyone has their opinion & rightfully so, but when an opinion is there to show you how shitty your musical tastes are then it becomes a practice in musical bullying & I think it’s an abhorrent practice.

Music is there to spark conversation, to create unity, to educate, not belittle (unless you’re talking about Gangster Rap). Every time I give an opinion on this blog (or any other place I write) I try to give it context, not to dumb down my point, but to educate in one way or another. I happen to know a lot about music, mostly because I have no life, but also because it happens to be my passion. I do not claim to be the end all be all of musical critics. I’m simply a conduit to better understanding for those that have lives or seek some better form of musical knowledge.

So here is my list of the 15 best covers of the decade with short explanations as to why I enjoy them & why they’re great in my opinion:

#15 – Love Vigilantes – Voxtrot (originally: New Order)

A classic ’80’s song that is faithful to the original without being a complete replica. While expressing the emotion that many families are feeling, it is apropos of the moment in which we live.

#14 – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie (Originally: Cyndi Lauper)

Another ’80’s song many consider trite pop, but Gibbard turns it into something much more. An anthem of parental & societal oppression. The audience laughs but if you really listen to the lyrics you realize that it is a plea to stop worrying about social mores that tend to pigeonhole people into groups that have no true bearing on who they really are. A beautiful interpretation.

#13 – You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – Counting Crows (Originally: Bob Dylan)

Redone by many artists, this is faithful to the original from Bob Dylan’s Basement Tapes version with The Band. Marketa Iglova & Glen Hansard do a fairly competent version on the I’m Not There Soundtrack, but it really doesn’t compare to Adam Duritz belting this classic out.

#12 – The Long Way Home – Norah Jones (Originally: Tom Waits)

Tom Waits has that writing quality that makes everyone want to redo his songs. Norah Jones is a phenomenal songwriter in her own right & has the perfect voice for this Waits composition. There’s something to be said for a steel guitar & a Tom Waits song that just reeks of awesomeness.

#11 – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam (Originally: Nina Simone)

While the Animals may have popularized this song, it was written for Nina Simone by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell and Sol Marcus. The song correlates with Yusuf’s own struggles after he changed his name from Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam & his subsequent inclusion on the Terrorist watch list in the early ’00’s.

#10 – Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – She & Him (Originally: The Smiths)

Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward covered this song for the 500 Days of Summer Soundtrack perfectly. The echo behind Deschanel’s voice creates a haunting version while staying succinctly true to the original. You can almost hear the anguish in her voice as she desperately emotes Morrissey’s plea for a change in his luck.

#9 – Glory Days – The Avett Brothers (Originally: Bruce Springsteen)

The issue I’ve always had with this song is that instead of saying fastball at the beginning he says speedball. When I hear Bruce say “He could throw that Speedball right by you.” it always makes me cringe as a baseball fan & someone who had a lot of friends who did a lot of drugs. That’s my only complaint, though, I love the song & the Avett’s doing it with a banjo, a kick drum & a tambourine is magical.

#8 – The Weight - Gaslight Anthem (Originally: The Band)

The seminal song in the Band’s career is faithfully done by the Gaslight Anthem’s lead singer Brian Fallon. There’s a lot to be said for a man & his guitar. Fallon has that kind of voice that is suited for a song such as this. It’s a story song, almost in the same vein as The Beatles “A Day in the Life”.

#7 – Sunday Morning – Beck’s Record Club (Originally: Velvet Underground & Nico)

When Beck started his Record Club project it was considered a bit of a lark (especially when I read he considered doing Digital Underground’s album Sex Packets in it’s entirety), but when you hear this song you realize otherwise. I have never been a fan of Beck’s music. I’ve interviewed him a number of times, smoked out with him & find him to be a fascinating person, but musically I’m not evolved enough to enjoy what he does, though I do recognize his talent. Be that as it may I do love this cover so much. When stripped down Beck’s voice is incredible.

#6 – Dancing in the Dark – Pete Yorn (Originally: Bruce Springsteen)

Another Springsteen song covered by a talented musician. Pete Yorn’s first album spoke to me so much that I don’t think I listened to another album for a month after it came out. Yorn with a piano slowly singing this mournful song about escaping the everyday doldrums of life. It’s something we can all relate to, especially in this context.

#5 – I Don’t Wanna Grow Up – Cold War Kids (Originally: Tom Waits)

Hearing the Cold War Kids acoustically is a sound to behold. Hearing them sing Tom Waits’ song about having to accept responsibility as an adult & wanting to stay a child forever is a moment. It’s much like when the Beach Boys released A Beach Boys’ Party where they covered a few Beatles songs among others & made it a sing along. This recording, while much less hokey, has that feel to it.

#4 – The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carol – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Originally: Bob Dylan)

While not completely factual this song still does speak to the injustice that was still going on in 1960’s America. Lead Singer, Peter Hayes, expresses the difficulty in remembering all the lyrics before he starts actually singing noting it is a Bob Dylan song. He doesn’t sing it with tonal precision which makes it even that much better. What he does give it is slightly more melody than Dylan (as many often have). The harmonica in the Bridge is not overstated or too intense to overpower the audience.

#3 – My Oklahoma Home – Bruce Springsteen (Originally: Pete Seeger)

When Bruuuuuuce decided to make a tribute album with all Pete Seeger songs I never thought it would work. I love just about everything Springsteen touches, but even this seemed like a stretch to me. I was wrong. The true merit of an artist is the ability to reinvent oneself & make it work. Dylan did it, the Beatles did it & Springsteen did as well. This song about the Oklahoma Dust Bowl holds as much connotation in today’s current economic climate as it did 80 years ago. No one today speaks of the hardships of the blue collar society like Bruce & before him there was no one better than Pete Seeger & Woody Guthrie.

#2 – The Drugs Don’t Work – Ben Harper (Originally: The Verve)

Ben Harper has a way of making songs better as with this Verve song about as Richard Ashcroft put it:

There’s a new track I’ve just written [...] It goes ‘the drugs don’t work, they just make me worse, and I know I’ll see your face again’. That’s how I’m feeling at the moment. They make me worse, man. But I still take ‘em. Out of boredom and frustration you turn to something else to escape.

Harper brings a subtle vulnerability to this track as if he were actually speaking this to a loved one. The Verve version was a little more gruff, but beautiful nonetheless. Richard Ashcroft is a highly underrated lyricist & never was that made more evident than in this version.

#1 – Long, Long, Long – Jim James (Originally: The Beatles)

Earlier this year Jim James of My Morning Jacket, quietly released a 6 song EP under the moniker Yim Yames covering some of his favorite George Harrison songs. It went mostly unnoticed by critics as it was released primarily online, but it was perhaps the best thing recorded all year. This is one of my favorite Beatle songs from the White Album & James captures the essence of the track with the echoed brilliance of the vocals. If ever a cover song moved me I can not remember when one did it like this one. It is not merely faithful to the original, but luminous in it’s own right.

Everyone disappears. Everyone runs. Nothing lasts forever. Sometimes things end before they’ve even begun. And only the few, the very, very few, even bother to say goodbye.

I understand that everyone goes disappearing,
into the greatest grey
that covers over everyday,
and hovers in the distance and the distance and the distance…*

Maybe goodbye is the cruelest word of all. I’m not sure; I just know that there have been many times when I needed to hear it. Without a goodbye you can remain for years–even decades–in the moment of parting, the hurt so fresh it feels that it will never go away.

Sometimes I go out for an errand and forget my phone, and foolishly think I’ll have missed a call by the time I get home. So I pick it up from the table or kitchen counter, power it on, and stare a second in disappointment at the blank screen. It’s funny, I think. Maybe if I stare at it long enough a call will suddenly materialize; maybe the phone will even ring while I hold it in my hand. But it never does. Of course, it never does.

You would think I would go slightly…daft…after a while. Start talking to myself or something. But no: I read, write, listen to music, play guitar, and when I have the nerve and feel like it, even go to the pub. But I’m not going to the pub much these days…

Who knows? Perhaps tomorrow will be different somehow. Perhaps I’ll feel better; I might even feel like going to the pub. But I’ll carry with me memories of all the disappeared. They’re not here, of course, but they’ve never really gone away.

*Counting Crows, “Up All Night” (from the album Hard Candy, 2003)

A long December
By: Counting Crows

A long December and there’s reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can’t remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving
All the days go by so fast

And it’s one more day up in the canyon
And it’s one more night in Hollywood
If you think that I could be forgiven
I wish you would...

The smell of hospitals in winter
And the feeling that it’s all a lot of oysters, but no pearl
All at once you look across a crowded room
To see the way that light attaches to a girl

And it’s one more day up in the canyon
And it’s one more night in Hollywood
If you think you might come to California
I think you should…

Drove up to Hillside Manor sometime after two AM
And talked a little while about the year
I guess the winter makes you laugh a little slower
Makes you talk a little lower about the thing you could not show her

And it’s been a long December and there’s reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself
To hold on to these moments as they pass

And it’s one more day up in the canyon
And it’s one more night in Hollywood
It’s been so long since I’ve seen the ocean
I guess I should….

…eu sei que ainda não é dezembro!