Lessons in Post-Rock, Episode Two: This Will Destroy You

20 Dec

When this band was first described to me, at one point I heard the term beardgaze, which actually ended up being a pretty apt description. This Will Destroy You tries to get away from the post-rock label by venturing further and further into outer space. There are a few things that TWDY do that few of the other bands on this list do, like use drum machines and record tracks of nothing but ambient feedback and reverb.

They’re not my favorite band, but I do feel that they merit mentioning. They have this kind of “fuck you and your categorization of musical genres” attitude, which Continue reading →

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Mario Kart 7

19 Dec

I could not contain myself when I heard about the release of this game.  Mario Kart is the only series that I’ve purchased two systems in order to play: Nintendo 64 and the 3DS.  The only Mario Kart game that I do not own is Mario Kart Wii and that’s because I had two roommates at the time with Wiis. I apologize for the review being a little bit tardy.  I made a promise to myself that I couldn’t post a review until I’d gotten all golds on Mirror Mode.  Right now I have six out of eight golds on Mirror.  Whatever, I’ve promised myself things in the past…

For those of you who are interested in a brief history of the series, please continue reading…otherwise skip down to the same picture shown above.  I don’t mean to preach to the Mario Kart choir. The first Super Mario Kart was released Continue reading →

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2011 Winter Seasonal Beer Guide

17 Dec

About a month or so ago, I ran down a list of some of my favorite pumpkin beers for the Fall brewing season.  Since that was a lot of fun, I decided that the Winter brews deserve some love too.  Generally, most winter brewed beers are going to be heavier in style, as well as higher in alcohol percentage (for them cold, cold nights).  There are gimmicky beers brewed with all kinds of fruit, champagne beers, spicy winter warmers, and other beers not themed so specifically for Christmas, and will sell late into the season.

Hibernator by Long Trail Brewing Co. (Bridgewater Corners, VT) – We start this list with one of my favorite beers for winter.  I am a completely biased, unabashed devotee to Long Trail for their session beers.  Hibernator is Continue reading →

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Ryan Braun’s Purist Problem

15 Dec

Major League Baseball has a problem that the other three major sports leagues in this country don’t have to worry about.   I’m not talking about steroids or other performance enhancing drugs, (since, let’s be honest, they ALL have that problem.)  You see the NFL, NBA, and NHL have all embraced change and progression as their particular league evolves, as well as when technology allows them to.  The problem baseball has is the nagging, tired idea of the purist; an unorganized group of people who believe that baseball should never change, and that the game is still as good as it was back in them good ‘ole days.  Things such as instant replay on home run calls, or computerized strike zones can never truly get off the ground because of them.  They worry about the “integrity of the game.”  That is a phrase purists use Continue reading →

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Lessons in Post-Rock, Episode One: Red Sparowes

14 Dec

I hate calling it Post-Rock. Not in a self-important “categorization of art kills it” way, I just don’t think it really captures what it is. Other people might call it experimental metal, post-metal, instrumental metal, metalgaze, but I just call it what it is: contemplative experi-instrumental post-metalgaze.

This is part one of six, where I will be examining one band per post. I would recommend using headphones when listening to these bands (or any music for that matter) and, in most cases, cranking it. Sure, I’m probably Continue reading →

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Tycho – Dive

12 Dec

My friend Andy recommended this album to me calling it a “solid effort.”  If I were in the business of writing two-word reviews, I could have stopped there.

Tycho (Scott Hansen) is a San Francisco based producer, graphic designer and musician…a sort of modern day, electronic renaissance man.  “Dive” is Tycho’s second LP and evidence of his range of talent.  Aside from gorgeous cover art, the songs themselves force you to Continue reading →

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Appeal to Basketball Reason

9 Dec

As of 6:30 PM yesterday, Chris Paul was a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.  He was a part of a three team trade involving Pau Gasol going to the Houston Rockets, and Luis Scola, Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic, and Kevin Martin heading to New Orleans.  The Hornets also got a first round draft pick  (formerly belonging to the New York Knicks) in 2012.  It seemed to help every team involved.  The Lakers get the first piece of a grand scheme to net two of the top five players in the league.  Houston needed size up front pretty badly.  The Hornets were looking to go lower in payroll, while at least appearing to want to remain competitive and sell tickets.  The deal on paper actually seems to be the least beneficial to the Lakers, and they get the superstar point guard in this scenario.  The deal was met with a considerable amount of Continue reading →

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The City Lights Pocket Poets Series

8 Dec

I didn’t start reading books for enjoyment until 2001 (as sad as that is).  I didn’t start reading poetry (outside of class) until 2002.  I didn’t start collecting books until the spring of 2004.  I didn’t start collecting the City Lights Pocket Poets series until early 2005.  Late bloomer.

There have been 60 volumes released in the City Lights Pocket Poets series from Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s (poet and co-founder of the City Lights Press) 1955 Pictures of the Gone World to David Meltzer’s When I Was a Poet earlier this year.

Above: the City Lights Pocket Poets Anthology released in 2008, edited by Lawrence Ferlinghetti with excerpts of poetry released in the series.

I was introduced to the Pocket Poets series with Continue reading →

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Beard of the Week: December 8

8 Dec

Let’s take a trip across the pond, over to our dear friend, Russia!

While there we’re going to visit one of the most prolific realist fiction authors and greatest novelist of all time, Mr. Leo Tolstoy!!

All that greatness aside, wouldn’t you want this dude to just be your grandpa?

Continue reading →

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The Black Keys – El Camino

5 Dec

I was introduced to the Black Keys in college in 2004 right after the release of “Rubber Factory” by a girl who was trying to court yours truly.  Like a modern-age Duckie, she decided that burning a copy of her favorite new album would win the key to my heart.  Instead, I listened to the album, liked it a lot, and then stopped answering her texts like a total jerkoff.  She was wrong about me being cool, but she was right about the Black Keys.

The Black Keys have been going strong since 2002 and have set themselves apart from Continue reading →

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