Sure, why not...

While we're on the topic of music videos...

It's like they told The Edge, "Ok, just sit here in front of the camera and let people do stuff to you."



It's like they told Bryan Adams, "Ok, lets get together and make the most epic music video ever."

Whatever bubbles, bubbles up!

Remember this video? It's awesome on so.many.LEVELS! Watch it! JUST WATCH IT! I dare you to deny it's awesomeness. It's like M.C. Escher free flowing with swingin' hip hop. I remember buying the cassette single and romping around with my walkman. Shucks, I'd do the same now if I cared enough to carry around an iPod.

Awesome tune, Awesome video - Good stuff, man. Good Stuff. Defying physics, defying musical genres. Proof positive that one thing can appeal to everyone. Sure to put a smile on your face and get your foot a'tappin'. Dig it.

The yin & yang of it all

Me 'n Pelican have had a bit of a rough past. No, not rough - I take that back. Misunderstanding, perhaps? That sounds better; Yes, an askewed relationship that continues to this day. Even now as I listen to their latest album, "City of Echoes."

The band is an instrumental quartet that... well... here's what Hyrdahead Records has to say:
When the quartet's first full length, Australasia, came out in late 2003, it was an experiment in crushing heaviness, albeit melodic and compositionally a breed apart from their contemporaries.

And I can, and do, appreciate this kind of sound. But, during the physical act of listening to Pelican it always feels like we're not quite on the same frequency: I should be enjoy this; I applaud their solid compositions and guitar work/tones, but I just can't sink my teeth into this! I.JUST.CAN'T! I've inquired with several longtime Pelican fans about what it is I'm overlooking, what misunderstanding that's obstructing that longed-for Eureka! moment when one can officially declare, "OH! Ok, I get it now." All of the answers were pretty much in the same vein of praising the guitar work and song-writing skills.

I've always likened listening to HELMET to being force-fed a stale loaf of bread. The sound is right there in your face, filling and obvious, but very little actual nourishment is gained by its consumption. Part of me wants to write off Pelican with this same description. Time and time again while listening I feel.... meh....

Sure, the theory is something to take note of, but I would rather sacrifice unusual chord progressions and/or off-beat time signatures for some good 'ol fashioned FEELING! You've got three guitars and a solid drummer! Quit sounding like you're taking yourselves too seriously. JAM OUT A LITTLE BIT! Lock into a wicked groove and see where it takes you! Your music feels like you're site reading. I feel like I need to keep looking for the "Quantize" button on my media player but can't seem to find it. Come on, guys!

I want to enjoy Pelican. I really do. I don't know why, but I'm holding to the instinct that one day - someday - we can enjoy a fulfilling relationship. I will casually continue my psychological and academic investigation into this band.

But, for now, Karma to Burn and their bouncing 4/4 grooves are sustaining me just fine.

Mitchell looooooves corn on the cob

Dude, corn on the cob Mitchell! Try it! It's good.


Atta boy, You've got the idea! What do you think?


Sweeeeeeeeet.

You can admire my Pandora station now

Pandora is fickle and fun. It's got the excitement of not knowing what song the station will play next, but the comfort in knowing it'll stay in tune with what genre(s) you're trying to mingle together. While listening you've sometimes gotta nudge Pandora back in line. Sometimes it is of more benefit to let a song go without giving it a thumbs up or down.

Example: If you say you like a particular Foo Figthers or Weezer song Pandora will play a song by them once every 45 minutes - depending on the station's mood this statement may or may not be an exaggeration. But, if you give it a thumbs down Pandora will deny you other great tunes that share the same vein as these bands. But, this is the kind of spontaneity I embrace when in the mood. Sure, little 10 seconds ads will sometimes creep in in between songs but it's easy to dismiss them. Sure, free accounts are only limited to 40 hours a month now, but, y'know what, that's fine. A little Pandora goes a long way.

- Anyways, to the topic at hand -

It's through the methods described above that... Dude, I think I've been able to sculpt pretty much the greatest station in the history of Pandora Internet Radio, the Internet, and the Radio - oh yeah, this is serious business. It's taken some time but I think I've got the station locked into the vibe I'm going for.

"Gritty and Good For You" is an irreverent romp in celebration of Orange fullstacks and clouded judgment - a sound that I get the itch for and indulge heavily upon. Here's an abbreviated playlist of the past hour or so:

My Wave - Soundgarden
Ghosts Along the Mississippi - Down
World of Fire - C.O.C
Malfunction - Don The Reader
Let's Lynch the Landlord - L7
Won't Tell - Babes in Toyland
Thirty Nine - Karma To Burn
Plush - Stone Temple Pilots
Shake it Loose - Fu Manchu
Undertow - Tool
Rats (Live) - Clutch
In The Meantime - Helmet
Descent - Knut
Bifter - Staring Problem
*currently playing* Riddles are Abound Tonight - Les Claypool's Frog Brigade

*sigh* It's a beautiful thing, it is.

A neat Pandora feature is that a user can share stations with friends. I could email this to you, very easily, but I won't. This is my personal stash. Git yer own.

Twitter is dumb

So, it was Thursday night, 9PM, top of the hour. I’m plopped down on the couch indulging in some good ‘ol fashioned channel surfing. Seeing as how we have the uber-basic cable plan my options are extremely limited, but nonetheless…

*click* I come to channel 8…

There’s a young lady sitting in the window seat of a city bus. She looks somewhat fidgety and distressed. Oh dear, what ever could be the problem? It becomes quickly apparent that something is terribly amiss with this character. She tugs away at her scarf like it’s a boa robbing her of breath. Regardless, her breathing then becomes rapid and shallow. Panic attack, perhaps? Her face blushes a deep, painful hue. Heart attack, perhaps? She leans against the window in growing despair. Condensation begins to form around her head. She glances feverishly to newspaper sitting in the seat in front her, which looks to be slowly catching fire! What the?? The lady starts totally freaking out and forces her way off the bus. She darts out in front of the bus, shrieking and flailing, and crosses the street with no awareness of her surroundings. Pedestrians are caught in the same state of alarm that I share: What is wrong with this chick?! Acid Flashback? Wicked cramps? Appendicitis? WHAT!?! Then what happens? Right there, broad daylight in the middle of a busy metropolitan area this young lady frikkin SPONTANIOUSLY COMBUSTS!!!!! BOOM!!

*cue: FRINGE opening credits*

Okey dokey! So, THIS is Fringe. I’ve heard good things. Many good things. Well, the opening scene has sure as you-know-what earned my attention! I shall continue watching…

Doopty doo watching Fringe doopty doopty doo… I know this actor, I’ve seen him is something else – I wanna say Into The Wild but I know that’s not right. And this older guy, he looks really familiar too. Anyways. Doopty doo watching Fringe… Ok, clearly I’m watching a story that is well into itself. Is this season one or two? Or three? How long has this show been on the air? Dylan would know, probably. Well, hey, this seems pretty cool so far. I’m diggin’ it….

Wait, what the…

WTF is this? “Twitter chat”? Huh? This…This is annoying. Get this crap outta here. Ok, these little chat bubbles are taking up half the screen. Are these, like, the producers or something? Is all this behind-the-scenes information really necessary RIGHT NOW; y’know WHILE the show is broadcasting? I can’t… I can’t see what’s happening. Wait! What was that? Something happened on the show! Was it important? What was it? I couldn’t tell because the people in these little twitter tweeter bubbles are talking about BooBerry cereal! Why won’t this stop? Shut up, all of you! How much more distracting could this possibly be? Whichever FOX executive approved of this idea should be shot in the foot. This is not POPUP VIDEO! If I cared so deeply about the production of the show I’d visit the website or something! Wow! This is dumb. My attention is quickly fleeting. What an unfortunate turn of events! Three minutes ago I was all hyped up to see what this show was about. But now...

No, I’m done. I think This Old House is on PBS right now.

*click*

Epic Ambient Rock

Just what does Epic Ambient Rock sound like? Click the cover to download Kelbach's new album "The Last Sunset" and experience it first hand. Blow-your-mind-stuff, man. Check out his commentary at http://quasiimado.blogspot.com/

These Guys - Sept 09 Monthly Mixtape Brigade

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0L3OKT0X

Perhaps it's a pang of guilt? Perhaps that ain't hunger gnawin atchoo belly. If you succeed at failing are you a success or a failure? STOP! Who stole my lighter!? It's the one with a grizzly bear catching a trout. That's it, everybody uses their own lighters from here on out. No, Harold is fine, I'm not using barbed wire this time. No, really! I must be going soft in my old age. Gangly, gnarled, salty. Maggots will clean the wound. Remember that part in Fantastic Planet? When they...Ugh, Just why are flashlights black, that never made sense to me. This is taking too long... oh wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... yeah, this is taking too long... oh wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, w -w-w -w-w -w-w-w-w-w---w-w -w-w-w -w- w-w-www.icanhascheezburger. That's it, I'm calling Gregg. Why? Because. Because Why? He's upstream and doesn't like the shenanigans. Did you just say "pods of grilled bananas?"