Miles Davis - Kinda Blue

I can't think of anything more beautiful than the opening notes to "So What" from Kind of Blue.

When I began my exploration of Jazz, this was the encyclopedic album to begin my journey.

Of all the entries I've done this year, this one is the first one that I haven't really wanted to spend too much time exploring my emotions on this one album.

This is an album that I beg any listener to hear and process their own thoughts an opinions before reading about the album.

Favorite tracks: the Whole Album (it's arguably the most influential album of the 20th century)


Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine

I had originally intended to pen this entry at 4:00am on May 20th...  not only had I been up for nearly 22 straight hours by that point - but I was also in a horrible mood because of work.

My co-workers and I all took turns picking out music to listen to...  when my turn came around, I decided to play Pretty Hate Machine.

An album I didn't really go out of my way to listen to because there were a number of people who I really didn't like that were really into Nine Inch Nails.

It turned out to be my favorite album by the band...  

I can't remember the last time I listened to this album from beginning to end, but I recently saw that it got re-released on Vinyl.  I considered picking it up, but then realized that I rarely listen to it on CD.

Favorite tracks:

Five For Fighting - Message for Albert

In the summer of 1997, I found CD in a discard pile that had some terrible artwork but after giving it a quick spin - it kinda reminded me of Ben Folds Five and the Counting Crows.

Curiously enough it also reminded me a little bit of Eddie Vedder... vocally I mean and that was enough for me to purchase it for shits and giggles and it slowly grew on me.  I actually turned on a few friends to the album after discovering a very tender song at the end of the album titled The Last Great American.

I haven't listened to this CD in a very, very long time - but it brought back a number of great memories.  One of which was driving to Dallas with friends to see Pearl Jam on the Yield/Given to Fly tour in 1998.

Stand out track:

Artists: Five For Fighting
Album: Message for Albert
Producer: ?
Label: Nettwerk
Recorded: ?


Stone Cold Fox - Memory Palace

Citizens of Earth... 

Rollie, transmitting again from his work station in New Braunfels, TX.   Total hours spent in this office over the weekend nearly 23 and counting.

I think that number will crawl over 27 by the time I climb into my car and drive back for an abbreviated night of rest.

Moral is a little low at the moment...  we have a number of programing obstacles to clear and they're time consuming.  One of my co-workers has crossed the threshold of feeling sick and is 'full-blown' sick...   I'm fairly certain that I will catch something before hoping on a plane for the Pacific Northwest at the end of the week.

The best thing to come out of May 18th, 2014 - was my introduction to a band by the name of: Stone Cold Fox.

A band from (um... unconfirmed)  that sorta remind me of: The Walkmen, Voxtrot, a pinch of Phoenix and the Generationals.

I haven't really given the album a "critical" listen, but after 3 listens over the weekend - I plunked down 12 bucks on the pre-release (June 3rd) and will soon add it to my 2014 collection pile of Best New Music.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Stone Cold Fox
Album: Memory Palace
Producer: ?
Label: ?
Recorded: ?

American Football - American Football

Damn.  So where do I begin talking about American Football?

I should totally start by giving credit to Emo V. for turning me onto the band in 1999...  I was immediately taken in when I heard the name of the band for the first time.  The pedigree of the band is also pretty fucking amazing, the band is made up by members who were a part of: Cap'n Jazz, Joan Of Arc, Owen, The Firebird Band and a few more that I can't recall off the top of my head...

Peep the green/yellow marbled goodness

The band only played very few live shows and it's a badge of Emo cred to have seen them in them at the Fireside Bowl...

The band recently had their stuff get re-released on Polyvinyl and the band has announced 4 shows in October.  3 of which (Webster Hall - nYc) have already sold out.

I picked up an "early bird" version of the re-release which means I have a green/yellow marble version of the album.  A second lp (yellow) is also included and it reported has demos and live shit that I haven't gotten around to spinning yet.

I listened to it for the first time at work on Friday, but I gave it a proper listen at home before coming into the office this Morning.

I can't wait to listen to the second part of this re-release later in the week.

Standout Tracks:

Artists: American Football
Album: American Football
Producer: ?
Label: Polyvinyl
Recorded: ?

Happy Belated Birthday - Elliot

One of the most frustrating parts about my current project is that I have lost out on one full year of being with my dog, Elliot.

Because of the long hours I spend at the office, Elliot has spent the past 12 months in the care of my parents.  The time apart from him has been unbearable...

My dad has made the most of it tho'.  They spend an absurd amount of quality time together and I technically get to see him for extended weekends every month.   

I'll get to spend some time with him in about 10 days and when I do, I'll make it up to him.

Drawing by Hellie

Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True

Friday, May 16th 2014 - was interesting because I worked 26 straight hours...  went home for a 3.5 hour nap, returned at 2:00pm and worked until 8:00pm.

Let me be the first person to say that while it may sound insanely crazy to do - it's not exactly unheard of.  I mean, I'm certain that there were enlisted people on the globe who pulled an identical amount of consecutive hours and unlike me, the were in harms way.

I'm pretty sure there was a doctor/nurse in the United States pulled a marathon shift and helped numerous people on a typical shift.

I read somewhere once that Sing has had tantric sex to someone for the same amount of time and I as the reader have never been the same since...

What I'm trying to get at is...  the experience was an eye-opening one.   I kinda tapped into something within me that I didn't know I had.   An inexplicable reserve of "something" that allowed me to propel forward so that we could meet a deadline set for Friday afternoon.

We made our deadline and I couldn't have done it without the help of 3 co-workers, whom I'm incredibly fortunate to also call friends.  We're exactly 29 days away from launching the most time consuming project of my lifetime and I've extinguished any fears of making this leap forward.   I'm actually pretty excited to do it.  The Go Live will require an identical marathon of uninterrupted alertness - but I now know how to channel that indescribable thing out.

During said 26 hours of "awake" - I listened to a shit load of albums.  I technically could have selected 10 to 15 things that listened to from beginning to end but I settled on Elvis Costello's debut album My Aim Is True.

Main for the intro track "Welcome to the Working Week". 

If you're unfamiliar with Elvis Costello and his work - I beg that you stop whatever you're doing and buy this album.  It's easily on my list of Top 5 debut albums of all time...  It's one incredible track after another and it's also a great record to read about.

Other stand out tracks:

Artists: Elvis Costello
Album: My Aim Is True
Producer: Nick Lowe
Label: Columbia, Rhino
Recorded: Pathway Studios

The Who - Who's Next

15 minutes till Midnight and care to take a guess where I'm typing this entry from?  

This work week has been truly unforgiving... due largely in part to working with a big group of people, I have continued to listen to "classic" albums so that everyone can enjoy the shared tunes.

Tonight's selection is The Who's "Who's Next".  One of my favorite albums to listen to on headphones so that I can pick out all the amazing layers of fucking rock.

I'm sorta torn between diving into a long stream of conscious entry about this album or to turn my attention back to work so that I can get home a decent hour...

I'm leaning towards the latter.  There's really nothing that I can say about this album that hasn't been said before.

This album has a deep cut that I have always enjoyed listening too. Going Mobile 

Other Stand out Tracks:

Artists: The Who
Album: Who's Next
Producer: The Who, Glyn Johns
Label: Decca
Recorded: Olympic Studios, Stargroves

Guns N' Roses - Use Your Illusion I

It's roughly 15 minutes after 9:00 PM and I'm penning this entry from the office...  I'm surrounded by a handful of co-workers who are all helping plug away on a project that has a looming deadline of June 16th.

Taking a small break from the grind to flex the left part of my brain for a little bit...  I've opted to keep the Classic Rock Tune theme another day and selected Use Your Illusion I as my album of the day.

I've actually written about this at great length before - so I won't be delving to deep into reflections of the album.  Below are a handful of observations I made while plugging away at some work this evening.

1.) Izzy Stradlin - is herby absolved of all sins and in my eyes he can do no wrong.  In my opinion he's possibly the most important core GnR member.  I just had a conversation with a Co-Worker about how I think Double Talkin' Jive is my favorite track from the double album...   I kinda realized I meant that shortly after it came out of my mouth.

2.) Is there a contemporary "November Rain" out there?  By that I mean a power ballad with soaring soundscapes and ridiculous guitar solos? 

3.) Coma - I'm not sure why, but I fucking love this song.  I'm tempted to leave the office in a few hours, visit a local bar and play this song 10 times on one of those digital jukeboxes and clear the entire place out because of my bizarre song selection.  Have you ever bothered to read the lyrics to this song?   There's a part at the end that I find incredibly rewarding...  so rewarding that if I listen to this with headphones on, it kinda gives me goosebumps and the hairs on my arm goes nuts.

In the song - Axl has been zapped by those heart paddles a few times and he's not waking up.  Slash is kinda phoning in a guitar solo before the song enters into it's last chapter and there's a lyrical reprise.

Drums begin to fill back in and they sorta mimic the sound of heart.  The sound of 100 women begin to fill the ears...  then the song comes back.

10:16 second mark

Live your life like it's a coma
Won't you tell me why we'd wanna?
With all the reasons you give it's
It's kinda hard to believe

But who am I to tell you, that I've seen
Any reason why you should stay?
Maybe we'd be better off without you, anyway

You got a one way ticket on your last chance ride
Gotta one way ticket to your suicide
Gotta one way ticket, and there's no way out alive

An all this crass communication
That has left you in the cold
Isn't much for consolation
When you feel so weak and old

But is home is where the heart is
Then there's stories to be told
No, you don't need a doctor
No one else can heal your soul

Got your mind in submission, got your life on the line
But nobody pulled the trigger, they just stepped aside
They be down by the water
While you watch 'em waving goodbye

They be callin' in the morning
They be hangin' on the phone
They be waiting for an answer
When you know nobody's home
When the bell's stopped ringing
It was nobody's fault, but your own

There were always ample warnings
There were always subtle signs
And you would have seen it comin'
But we gave you too much time

When you said that no one's listening
Why'd your best friend drop a dime
Sometimes we get so tired of waiting
For a way to spend our time

And it's so easy to be social
It's so easy to be cool
Yeah, it's easy to be hungry
When you ain't got shit to lose

And I wish that I could help you
With what you hope to find
But I'm still out here waiting
Watching reruns of my life

When you reach the point of breaking
Know it's gonna take some time
To heal the broken memories
That another man would need just to survive

Stand out Tracks

Artists: Guns N' Roses
Album: Use Your Illusion I
Producer: Mike Clink, GNR 
Label: Geffen
Recorded: A&M Studios, Record Plant Studios, Studio 56, Image Recording, Conway Studios, Metalworks Recording Studios

Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (I)

A big part of me right now wants to vent about my day and briefly touch on why this album helped me calm the fuck down at about 5:30 PM...

I feel a lot better now that I'm at home and I'm getting to spend time curled up on the couch, catching up on things that are completely unrelated to work.

Led_Zeppelin.png

That however wasn't the case earlier and I needed to hear something familiar on in the background that I could work to and not find myself entirely distracted.

I've said this before on the blog, but I've always been a little ashamed for not owning any Led Zeppelin albums in my collection.   I'm intimately familiar with their work... and I'm planning on purchasing their first three albums when they get re-issued on Vinyl this June, but I couldn't really until then to listen and weigh in on this album.

I forget how old I was when I first listened to this album...  I didn't listen to their stuff in the order that they were released.   I'm pretty sure I listened (and loved) Zeppelin II - first.  ZoSo was probably the second album I heard by the band and Houses of the Holy was likely the third...

I do however remember the feeling I got when I heard Babe I'm Going to Leave You for the first time tho'.  I couldn't believe that a group of kids in their late teens and early 20's recorded and produced this album.  I still can't believe it... 

Well...  there's that plagiarism thing that sorta hangs over their head.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Led Zeppelin
Album: Led Zeppelin
Producer: Jimmy Page 
Label: Atlantic
Recorded: Olympic Studios