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track Better
artist Twin-A
album Something Good

This album was the soundtrack (excuse the cliche) to my freshman year of college, and I have no idea about who the band is beyond what I heard on this album. I don’t even think they exist anymore. I don’t even remember how I found this album, but it was on my computer and I used to play it over and over and over and really loud. They remind me of a younger, more alternative Hootie and the Blowfish. If you get this album—it’s called Something Good and the band is Twin A—you should check out this song, which is “Better,” and “Safety Net” and “Bitch” and “Between the Eyes” and “Manhattan” because those are my favorite tracks. Ok. Endorsement done.

And, Twin A members, if you are out there in the world somewhere: holy hell good for you! Congrats on a solid, fun, mature album. Let’s work on another one, yes?

I have work in the morning. I should not be up, or continue to stay up. But, I am and I will. I must work on things like this in the coming year. I want to be healthy and happy this year, and organized, and full of joy. I have been missing all of those things in this past year. I am not a happy person. I am not a fulfilled person. I spent the evening with Christopher Smith. He is my roommate and bestfriend. I’m writing it like this because one of the tips for “journal writing” is to include full names so as to facilitate better recollections later. Good tip—might have forgotten him otherwise. We cooked salmon and potatoes and zucchini and squash and a pasta salad that turned out rather well considering how simple it was to make. I want to cook more this year and spend less money on junk. After eating, we spent time reading through Craigslist personal ads and laughing at the mistakes people make. We laughed really hard—which is always nice—and we had so much fun we missed the countdown to the New Year. I don’t mind. Alright, humanity! Who is ready for once more around old Sol!

I have work in the morning. I should not be up, or continue to stay up. But, I am and I will. I must work on things like this in the coming year. I want to be healthy and happy this year, and organized, and full of joy. I have been missing all of those things in this past year. I am not a happy person. I am not a fulfilled person.

I spent the evening with Christopher Smith. He is my roommate and bestfriend. I’m writing it like this because one of the tips for “journal writing” is to include full names so as to facilitate better recollections later. Good tip—might have forgotten him otherwise. We cooked salmon and potatoes and zucchini and squash and a pasta salad that turned out rather well considering how simple it was to make. I want to cook more this year and spend less money on junk. After eating, we spent time reading through Craigslist personal ads and laughing at the mistakes people make. We laughed really hard—which is always nice—and we had so much fun we missed the countdown to the New Year. I don’t mind.

Alright, humanity! Who is ready for once more around old Sol!

I like it when bad people die.
Christopher Hitchens
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
track Jim Cain
artist Bill Callahan
album Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle

Why has Bill Callahan not found me until now. I am in love with this CD: Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle. Two years late. There’s something about his deadpan that is incredibly musical. God, I wonder how many reviews of this album involve the word “deadpan.” That’s got to be annoying to read. What’s so striking to me about this song is the “I started out in search of ordinary things / I ended up in search of ordinary things” stuff and the amazing simmering question how can a wave possibly be? And I am not sure I’ve ever been more satisfied with a lifestory than I am with: I used to be darker, then I got lighter, then I got dark again.

Finally I have definitive proof that I am better than you all. A hundred followers. Wow. I bet you don’t have a hundred followers. Only I have a hundred followers. And they all love me, yes. And they all like and reblog everything I post because they find me valuable. I doubt your followers feel the same way about you. You suck. I have a hundred followers. I have a hundred followers and you don’t. I have a hundred followers and you don’t and that says everything about the difference between you and me, so laughter.

Finally I have definitive proof that I am better than you all. A hundred followers. Wow. I bet you don’t have a hundred followers. Only I have a hundred followers. And they all love me, yes. And they all like and reblog everything I post because they find me valuable. I doubt your followers feel the same way about you. You suck. I have a hundred followers. I have a hundred followers and you don’t. I have a hundred followers and you don’t and that says everything about the difference between you and me, so laughter.

I do not believe in love at first sight, but I do believe that when two people’s knees touch they’ve got just about as good a shot at eternity as anyone is gonna get. Love at first kneebump.

“I am Lazarus, come from the dead, Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all”— This was originally going to be a post about this generation’s (the “forever alone” generation) hijacking of Prufrock and how it’s all a show and how none of us are deferential or glad to be of use or even happy just to be around. What we are is glib about our own isolation and our own indecision, and we’ve never given a piece of fruit the slightest bit of pause. And I think that’s ugly. And I feel much of our anti-social behavior stems from some current clichéd ideal as opposed to genuine feelings of “That is not it at all, That is not what I meant, at all.” But I decided not to make that post.

“I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all”—

This was originally going to be a post about this generation’s (the “forever alone” generation) hijacking of Prufrock and how it’s all a show and how none of us are deferential or glad to be of use or even happy just to be around. What we are is glib about our own isolation and our own indecision, and we’ve never given a piece of fruit the slightest bit of pause. And I think that’s ugly. And I feel much of our anti-social behavior stems from some current clichéd ideal as opposed to genuine feelings of “That is not it at all, That is not what I meant, at all.” But I decided not to make that post.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
track It's Too Late
artist Otis Redding
album The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads

Sometimes the blues don’t have to be dark. Sometimes the blues are just mopey and eeyorish. Sometimes the blues are sticking your tail between your legs and walking around hanging your head down and wondering does she really know? does she really know? does she really know? Otis Redding got that better than most people.

Say you’re a kitten. “I’m a kitten.” Ok, now say you’re a kitten looking for a way to shoot yourself into space, or perhaps into the ocean with all them fish. Or say you were a kitten in a land without mirrors and you had never seen another kitten and were curious just how cute you were. Or say you were a kitten from a cold climate or simply had bad circulation and needed something to protect your paws. Or say you had baby kittens and you and your partner couldn’t decide what to call them. Or say you were feeling rather empty and bored by your own kitten-creative-expressions and needed something to show you that kittens could be more. Or perhaps you were a post-Lincoln kitten and were in the market for another kitten to do some work around your farm. Perhaps that farm was located in North Carolina. Perhaps you had a older parent-kitten who depended on you for all its needs and you needed to know how to do things for it because you are definitely not gonna put it in a home for elderly-kittens because you were raised better than that. Or perhaps you want to go out on the town and impress lady-kittens or perhaps just put them on and prance around the house like the dirty kitten-whore you are until your kitten-wife comes home. Or perhaps you really enjoyed your favorite kitten-band, Kitten’s, latest album and are curious to know if any other kittens had covered any of the songs from it.

Say you’re a kitten. “I’m a kitten.” Ok, now say you’re a kitten looking for a way to shoot yourself into space, or perhaps into the ocean with all them fish. Or say you were a kitten in a land without mirrors and you had never seen another kitten and were curious just how cute you were. Or say you were a kitten from a cold climate or simply had bad circulation and needed something to protect your paws. Or say you had baby kittens and you and your partner couldn’t decide what to call them. Or say you were feeling rather empty and bored by your own kitten-creative-expressions and needed something to show you that kittens could be more. Or perhaps you were a post-Lincoln kitten and were in the market for another kitten to do some work around your farm. Perhaps that farm was located in North Carolina. Perhaps you had a older parent-kitten who depended on you for all its needs and you needed to know how to do things for it because you are definitely not gonna put it in a home for elderly-kittens because you were raised better than that. Or perhaps you want to go out on the town and impress lady-kittens or perhaps just put them on and prance around the house like the dirty kitten-whore you are until your kitten-wife comes home. Or perhaps you really enjoyed your favorite kitten-band, Kitten’s, latest album and are curious to know if any other kittens had covered any of the songs from it.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
track Fistful Of Love
artist Antony & The Johnsons
album I Am a Bird Now

The horns, the guitar, the horns. It’s all the horns and the guitar on this song. Great use of horns and guitar. Antony can be a song’s best friend when the transgender thing doesn’t become a distraction or gimmick. This song met Antony in elementary school and they used to hang out every day and talk about the future. Lou Reed speaks the opening lines and provides the guitar track, which is awesome like Lou Reed. I have no more thoughts on this.

If you turn this song up rather loud when you’re getting dressed or hopping out of the shower in the morning, it can be a good groove that’s hard to get out of.