Lessons in Post-Rock, Episode Three: Pelican

4 Jan

Pelican is one of my favorite bands of all time. In fact, my long and torrid love affair with heavy instrumental rock began with this band. I was listening to ISIS, whose lead singer is also one of the owners of the Hydra Head label which Pelican was on (until they made the switch to Southern Lord).

Earlier Pelican leans toward long song structures that focus on building up to heavy driving metal riffs. In a musical genre where it’s difficult to get to know the names of songs, I know Continue reading

Is GSP Still the Best?

4 Jan

There is no discrediting Georges St-Pierre’s accomplishments in MMA and the victories that have secured his place as an all-time great and current top three pound-for-pound fighter. But with that said, there is also no denying his biggest victories are no longer over the top fighters in the welterweight division. There is now, finally a new group of welterweights ready to take a shot at his throne.

John Hendricks was able to take the luster off St-Pierre’s biggest victory on Friday night by accomplishing two equally impressive feats in one punch: knocking out Jon Fitch and making a Fitch fight exciting. Continue reading

I Probably Don’t Like You.

4 Jan

I was going to write an article about my favorite things about 2011, but then I realized I am not in fact Oprah, and no one probably cares about what my favorite things are.

I have decided to write about something else though, something that has been coming up more in recent months than it ever has before. Apparently people are often confused about my feelings for them? Now, with a little alcohol I’m pretty much an open book about any of my thoughts, but honestly, I’ve always considered myself pretty friendly and usually approachable. I do tend to wear my feelings Continue reading

Edwin Jackson’s Value

4 Jan

There are 3 reasons why Edwin Jackson is about to make a bunch of money: he’s an above-average pitcher; he’s in his prime; Scott Boras is his agent. Boras, according to an a study by baseballprospectus.com, earns his clients an extra 14 percent over market value, and in-prime above-average pitchers never sign for less than 10 million a year for fewer than 3 years. Making 3 years 34 million a minimum after the Boras factor. But the market for starting pitching may be collapsing after the signings of CJ Wilson, Mark Buehrle, and many of the bargain options. Jackson is at risk of becoming the next Johnny Damon Continue reading

2011 Self-Hating Superlatives

3 Jan

Right before midnight on New Years Eve, while I was still plugging away at my Top 11 Albums article, I received an email from wordpress.com outlining some of the site’s statistics in 2011.  I’m proud to say that in the first six months we had almost 5,000 views, we published a combined 129 articles and, believe or not, we’ve had visits from readers on the six inhabited continents: North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia.  When I first started the site, I knew that I couldn’t do anything by myself.  So, I solicited some of my gifted (and opinionated) friends to write.  I want to thank all of you who have contributed this year and I hope that you stay interested and active in 2012.

What wordpress didn’t do was highlight the major players on The Self-Hating Hipster this year and so I thought I owed it to my friends who were extremely dedicated to posting, collaborating with me (i.e. putting up with my bullshit) and ready to offer creative criticism despite how busy they are.   Continue reading

ON NOTICE! Brewery Edition

3 Jan

Hello and welcome to the inaugural edition of ON NOTICE!  The idea here is a really bastardized and far more serious version of what Stephen Colbert does on his television program.  We’ll look at people, places, things, organizations, or whatever needs to be documented to let you know who’s peddling bullshit.  This week, we’ll look at a few breweries that need to get their act together and quit skating by.  All too often people fall into traps with some blind devotion to a brewery that really just wants to get as much of your money as possible.  I’ve mentioned a few of these companies before, and not in a particularly flattering light.  While this isn’t intended necessarily to accomplish anything, perhaps I can help you make more informed choices for your beer purchasing dollar.  We’ll get right down to it and work our way from five to the number one.

5.  Fort Collins Brewery – Fort Collins, CO: 

The beer scene in the state of Colorado is one that I’m pretty jealous of.  While their distribution can vary, (No Lagunitas!) a few good friends live out that way and Continue reading

The Self-Hating Hipster’s Top 11 Albums of 2011

2 Jan

This year in music has been a bit lackluster, but that doesn’t mean that there weren’t a few diamonds in the rough.  2011 seems to have been the year of dubstep/chillwave and indie rock rehashes of the past four decades in music. Some did it better than others.

Due to the fact that I drag-assed on this article which was supposed to be released in 2011 (i.e. two days ago) but instead finds itself released on January, 2nd 2012 and because there were a few albums that were almost too close to call, the Top 11 has become the Top 12.  Consider it either a late penalty or a bonus. Continue reading

SHH’s New Years Resolutions

1 Jan

It’s that time again.  That 3-5 week period where we pretend like we’re going to start exercising or flossing.  Where we forget how old we are because we assume that our birthdays are in someway related to the calendar year.  Where we are reminded that we are now one year closer to the apocalypse…whoops, now it’s months away.

I have made a list of a few things that I want to make happen in 2012:

1)  Try more competitive eating challenges.  I always had a knack for it and I’d like to start making some money for going to pound town. Continue reading

Clubhouse Confidential

1 Jan

Clubhouse Confidential, weeknights at5:30 pm on the MLB network, accomplishes something I thought was as unlikely to happen on a baseball show as another player hitting .400 is on the baseball field. It provides insightful, easily understandable analysis  and all the while remains entertaining without lowering itself to pitting two polarizing figures arguing a’ la everything on ESPN.

Brian Kenny compliments the show’s SABR slant because he is not some baseball outsider trying to be Billy Beane’s character in the Moneyball movie. The show is for Continue reading

Happy Retirement, Brock

1 Jan

Brock Lesnar was never shy about his motivation for becoming mixed martial artist; he wanted to make money and feed his competitive urge. He was able to accomplish those goals and claim a UFC Heavyweight title along the way.

Lesnar’s relationship with the UFC was a mutually beneficial one. They made him one of the sport’s highest paid fighters and he provided them with some of their best Pay-Per-View numbers. Maybe he was pushed into the title picture before he was ready or deserving, but Continue reading