Drrr...
My room is a mess of books and papers. I used to take some pride in keeping it clean, but I don't even feel the urge to do that anymore. This thesis is getting the best of me. I don't even like being in my room anymore because I feel like I should be working on it all the time. All these books surrounding me just don't help the anxiety. And the research, while going, isn't going in the direction I wanted it to, so I'm going to have to alter my thesis a bit, back to what I wanted it to be in the beginning. Thank you Honors Fucking Council for making this harder than it needs to be.
Well...It's only Feb 21st. I'm giving myself until March 15th to have the first drafts done. I think I can do it. Just not tonight. Probably not tomorrow night either. Friday? Yes. Saturday? Yes. Sunday? Yes. But tonight. No. I did a page this morning, that's as much as I can muster. I feel like I should be working on it, but nothing really makes me want to do it. If this paper was about mastering techniques for vinyl, I think I would be all about that. In fact, that's what I want to do when I graduate. Luckily, AES is touring URP tomorrow, so I'm hoping I can make some contacts that will hopefully lead to a job. Who knows. Enough of this.
-ed
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Amazing
So, Lanzanator, the rapper that I am managing for the Urban Showcase, actually made the live auditions. I can honestly say I was very surprised by this. Not that he is bad, in fact he's quite funny and calls himself part of the "nerd-core" scene, which basically means he's white and he raps about robots and video games. But Belmont Showcases are usually the home to more polished acts, with originality usually losing out to musicianship and percieved quality (i.e. that terrible band Lorien who made the rock showcase for 2 years. I believe they have only made it due to the fact that their insular christian rock/emo scene is thought to actually be of some artistic worth. Which it is not. It's derivative and weak.)
So for David to even make the auditions is quite amazing. Before I was wary of actually making it into the showcase, but now I'm hoping that it happens, because it would be awesome, and people wouldn't know what to do with it. He would be competing against lame-ass R&B acts, which are slick and polished, and are not urban at all, lol. In fact, neither is David. I doubt anyone in this showcase can claim they are Urban. I wouldn't be surprised if they are all white, too. oh well, c'est la vie.
-ed
So, Lanzanator, the rapper that I am managing for the Urban Showcase, actually made the live auditions. I can honestly say I was very surprised by this. Not that he is bad, in fact he's quite funny and calls himself part of the "nerd-core" scene, which basically means he's white and he raps about robots and video games. But Belmont Showcases are usually the home to more polished acts, with originality usually losing out to musicianship and percieved quality (i.e. that terrible band Lorien who made the rock showcase for 2 years. I believe they have only made it due to the fact that their insular christian rock/emo scene is thought to actually be of some artistic worth. Which it is not. It's derivative and weak.)
So for David to even make the auditions is quite amazing. Before I was wary of actually making it into the showcase, but now I'm hoping that it happens, because it would be awesome, and people wouldn't know what to do with it. He would be competing against lame-ass R&B acts, which are slick and polished, and are not urban at all, lol. In fact, neither is David. I doubt anyone in this showcase can claim they are Urban. I wouldn't be surprised if they are all white, too. oh well, c'est la vie.
-ed
Sunday, January 14, 2007
So the semester begins...
...and I still haven't done enough work on my thesis. I've sent out e-mails, I'm just waiting for the inevitable lack of responses. I have the material I'm working on, so I mean, that's a plus.
Speaking of that, it's giving me more trouble than I would have wanted. Obviously, I'm a novice at mastering, and this is really only my fourth album, working on equipment that is not in the ideal set up for mastering. Sooo, I really shouldn't be down on myself for not quite excelling with this one, but it is a bit disheartning when I've done so well before. Really, I think I just need to work on understanding the nuances of Peak a bit more. This whole "no click" thing has gotten me a bit confused, and though I think I've figured it out, there has to be a better way to control a crossfade, or at least make it sound more transparent, as this sort of thing is done all the time on loops. Hmmm. Anyways, I'm meeting with Michael in the morning to discuss a few things, I'm pissed that it's taken so long, mostly because this delays the CD release, but they do need to fix those distortions, and that is something that is not my fault. hokay.
BTW, here's a new recording that could turn into something of a collaboration between the Disco Arts and Crafts Collective and Lanzanator.
http://rapidshare.com/files/11759984/___.m4a.html
-ed
...and I still haven't done enough work on my thesis. I've sent out e-mails, I'm just waiting for the inevitable lack of responses. I have the material I'm working on, so I mean, that's a plus.
Speaking of that, it's giving me more trouble than I would have wanted. Obviously, I'm a novice at mastering, and this is really only my fourth album, working on equipment that is not in the ideal set up for mastering. Sooo, I really shouldn't be down on myself for not quite excelling with this one, but it is a bit disheartning when I've done so well before. Really, I think I just need to work on understanding the nuances of Peak a bit more. This whole "no click" thing has gotten me a bit confused, and though I think I've figured it out, there has to be a better way to control a crossfade, or at least make it sound more transparent, as this sort of thing is done all the time on loops. Hmmm. Anyways, I'm meeting with Michael in the morning to discuss a few things, I'm pissed that it's taken so long, mostly because this delays the CD release, but they do need to fix those distortions, and that is something that is not my fault. hokay.
BTW, here's a new recording that could turn into something of a collaboration between the Disco Arts and Crafts Collective and Lanzanator.
http://rapidshare.com/files/11759984/___.m4a.html
-ed
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Christmas break...
Just got in the Bird Ensemble's album, so I'm excited to work on that. Should be a challenge, due to the extreme dynamics and tape hiss, but I'm ready for it. Gives me a chance to kick start my thesis, also, which is really needed.
I'm in Nashville until Saturday, and then I'm back to Columbia for a day, then onto Decatur on the 18th.
Holy shit, this album is amazing. Oh man.
-ed
Just got in the Bird Ensemble's album, so I'm excited to work on that. Should be a challenge, due to the extreme dynamics and tape hiss, but I'm ready for it. Gives me a chance to kick start my thesis, also, which is really needed.
I'm in Nashville until Saturday, and then I'm back to Columbia for a day, then onto Decatur on the 18th.
Holy shit, this album is amazing. Oh man.
-ed
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Helium?
So I downloaded Joanna Newsom's Y's, and you know what, despite everything I've ever read saying that she has a weird voice, it really doesn't sound that strange to me. Sure, it's not something that the mainstream would latch onto, but I mean, I was really expecting something crazy. It's not to say that I don't love the album. I do. I just think she gets a bad rap for her voice.
-ed
So I downloaded Joanna Newsom's Y's, and you know what, despite everything I've ever read saying that she has a weird voice, it really doesn't sound that strange to me. Sure, it's not something that the mainstream would latch onto, but I mean, I was really expecting something crazy. It's not to say that I don't love the album. I do. I just think she gets a bad rap for her voice.
-ed
Monday, November 20, 2006
Improvement!
So, here's the song that I worked on for my Recording Engineer class, along with Caleb Williams and Garrett Miller.
Rain - The Reed Pittman Band
It's long and a large file, as I encoded it at 320/kbps. I mean, we recorded it at 88.1kHz, I feel like I owe it to the song to encode it that high. I mastered it this morning, and I was so happy to find that it's probably the best sounding thing I've ever been a part of. I also found out that our raw tracks are being used in the Master Mixing class for the song that everyone has to mix. So out of all the people's tracks that were brought in, ours were deemed the best. Amazing. Pretty proud of that fact.
-ed
So, here's the song that I worked on for my Recording Engineer class, along with Caleb Williams and Garrett Miller.
Rain - The Reed Pittman Band
It's long and a large file, as I encoded it at 320/kbps. I mean, we recorded it at 88.1kHz, I feel like I owe it to the song to encode it that high. I mastered it this morning, and I was so happy to find that it's probably the best sounding thing I've ever been a part of. I also found out that our raw tracks are being used in the Master Mixing class for the song that everyone has to mix. So out of all the people's tracks that were brought in, ours were deemed the best. Amazing. Pretty proud of that fact.
-ed
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Archives...
So I was going through my hard drive, looking at all the old crap that I had recorded, and I came across this gem I did when I was a senior in HS:
Again - The Firewheel Project
I'm proud of this song for a few reasons.
1) It's the first song I ever used my banjo on
2) It's the first time I programmed decent sounding drums. Does it matter the pattern stays the same? There's at least one fill. And a crash cymbal.
3) It sorta has a melody
4) I kinda like the electric guitar parts I came up with
And there you have it. Maybe if I feel bored again I'll upload some more winners.
-ed
Edit:
Found this one too:
Yellowrose - The Firewheel Project
Totally wrote this for my girlfriend at the time, I think it was freshman year of college. How lame. But I mean, it's not terrible.
So I was going through my hard drive, looking at all the old crap that I had recorded, and I came across this gem I did when I was a senior in HS:
Again - The Firewheel Project
I'm proud of this song for a few reasons.
1) It's the first song I ever used my banjo on
2) It's the first time I programmed decent sounding drums. Does it matter the pattern stays the same? There's at least one fill. And a crash cymbal.
3) It sorta has a melody
4) I kinda like the electric guitar parts I came up with
And there you have it. Maybe if I feel bored again I'll upload some more winners.
-ed
Edit:
Found this one too:
Yellowrose - The Firewheel Project
Totally wrote this for my girlfriend at the time, I think it was freshman year of college. How lame. But I mean, it's not terrible.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
New Modest Mouse!
I've been excited to hear new stuff since they added Johnny Marr, and now video and crappy live mp3's are out there. I've listened to "We've Got Everything," and it seems to pick up on the heals of Good News with that disco type beat and lilting guitar lead. I've heard some "complaining " about their new material having a Smiths type feel to it...but that has to be expected as, you know, Johnny Marr was, you know in the Smiths, and you know, was responsible for that sound and you know, he kinda sounds like he was in the Smiths. Dumb.
Don't think the album has leaked yet. I'll be sure to find out when it does.
-ed
I've been excited to hear new stuff since they added Johnny Marr, and now video and crappy live mp3's are out there. I've listened to "We've Got Everything," and it seems to pick up on the heals of Good News with that disco type beat and lilting guitar lead. I've heard some "complaining " about their new material having a Smiths type feel to it...but that has to be expected as, you know, Johnny Marr was, you know in the Smiths, and you know, was responsible for that sound and you know, he kinda sounds like he was in the Smiths. Dumb.
Don't think the album has leaked yet. I'll be sure to find out when it does.
-ed
Monday, October 30, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
FIRST POST IN A LONG TIME
So, I have to write a letter to the Honors Council telling them why I believe their objections to my Thesis Prospectus are basically retarded. Here's what I wrote the first time:
Durr. I really, really think that these people do not want me to do anything that is beneficial to myself, or that they are so uninformed as to what a thesis is supposed to do that they don't know how to raise legitimate concerns. I know that these are educated people (supposedly), but to them, mastering is some voodoo crap that doesn't mean anything to anyone besides engineers, when in fact it does affect their listening experience. Whatever. I just needed to get that out.
-ed
So, I have to write a letter to the Honors Council telling them why I believe their objections to my Thesis Prospectus are basically retarded. Here's what I wrote the first time:
This is what I actually sent:
Finally, the last concern deals with “whether your study would have any audience outside of highly trained engineers who care about the issue.” I absolutely fail to see the relevance of this concern. Are you people fucking retarded? Why the fuck does anyone do any study then? You know people who write PHD thesis and papers about fucking black holes and shit? What the fuck does that have to do anyone outside of the fucking physics insiders? Does it make their studies any less relevant because I, as an audio engineer, will never have to deal with a fucking black hole in my life, unless in my lifetime we advance so much that they’re fucking blasting people into space and accidentally there are these black holes that are sucking them into the nether worlds and we have to have some sort of global conference of all the best minds in the world so that they can develop a way to stop people from getting sucked into these fucking black holes. Then, just then, might the research done on black holes have anything to do with anyone besides the highly trained scientists that love them so much. Also, all those English majors who write shit about Beowulf or some other archaic work of literature, are they enlightening anyone besides HIGLY FUCKING TRAINED EXPERTS in their field? Well, maybe some college student WHO IS STUDYING THE DAMNED SUBJECT IN THE FIRST PLACE. Do you think a fucking soccer mom in Idaho is going to give a flying fuck about that? I think she’ll give more of a shit if her Norah Jones CD gives her an earache than she will about motherfucking Grendel and his motherfucking mother. So, to answer your question, people do shit all the time that only applies to those who are interested in the subject. An audience will find the subject if they care about it. If they don’t give a fucking shit about it, then no, there won’t be an audience for it. I don’t even know how to dignify this question without being belligerently profane.
Finally, the last concern deals with “whether your study would have any audience outside of highly trained engineers who care about the issue.” To give you an absolutely honest response, no, there would be very little audience outside of audio engineers. However, this does not mean that a study should not be done. As I wrote in my prospectus, audio mastering is a small field, but it is something that I enjoy and am passionate about. Because it is a small community, there is much interaction amongst engineers, be it through AES meetings or online discussion forums. Information is exchanged freely, and attempts to help each other through difficult situations are common. I also constantly run into students here at Belmont that are interested in mastering, yet have no real idea what it involves. As someone who was once in their place, I want to make it easier for them to be able to get into mastering, and to care about the fidelity of their recordings. If they are educated now about the issue of dynamic range, they might be able to persuade their clients not to try to win the loudness wars, but to allow their recording to retain dynamics, which ultimately leads to a more enjoyable recording. I am not doing this study for the benefit of just anyone, I am doing it for the people who truly care about how audio sounds, and their audience is the only one that I care about. If in turn they decide to head my suggestions, then my audience indirectly includes anyone who hears their recordings, even though they might no be aware of it.
Durr. I really, really think that these people do not want me to do anything that is beneficial to myself, or that they are so uninformed as to what a thesis is supposed to do that they don't know how to raise legitimate concerns. I know that these are educated people (supposedly), but to them, mastering is some voodoo crap that doesn't mean anything to anyone besides engineers, when in fact it does affect their listening experience. Whatever. I just needed to get that out.
-ed
Monday, August 28, 2006
Where has my life gone?
Why the hell am I senior? It seemed like it took forever to be a senior in HS, and now I'm less than a year away from being done with my higher education. And basically, I feel like I am in no way ready to be a contributing member of society, let alone leave the comforting confines of academia, where I have no real responsibilities and too much free time. I'm sure this thought scares all people who approach graduation, and hopefully I'll be less worried/freaked out about this prospect as the year goes on and all sorts of things fall into place. I mean, shit, it was just yesterday I was drinking beer with Mitch on our cardboard couch in Pembroke, and now I'm wondering how I'll survive once I get a diploma.
Why did I think being an engineer was a good idea again? Someone, refresh my memory.
-ed
Why the hell am I senior? It seemed like it took forever to be a senior in HS, and now I'm less than a year away from being done with my higher education. And basically, I feel like I am in no way ready to be a contributing member of society, let alone leave the comforting confines of academia, where I have no real responsibilities and too much free time. I'm sure this thought scares all people who approach graduation, and hopefully I'll be less worried/freaked out about this prospect as the year goes on and all sorts of things fall into place. I mean, shit, it was just yesterday I was drinking beer with Mitch on our cardboard couch in Pembroke, and now I'm wondering how I'll survive once I get a diploma.
Why did I think being an engineer was a good idea again? Someone, refresh my memory.
-ed
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Well...
I only have one week left in my internship at Georgetown. It's not exactly how I pictured it would be, but it's not a total waste of time either, as I've learned how a mastering studio operates, a subject of which I was in the complete dark about before this started. And I have learned a few valuable tricks, so it's not all been lost. School kicks back up in a little more than 2 weeks, and when Andrew asked me what classes I was taking, I couldn't name them. Is this a bad thing? I should probably look into it before the 23rd. And I need to buy books. Whatever.
As far as my pilaging of the Georgetown CD collection goes, the best find has been Alejandro Escovedo's Gravity, which is a great "traditional" alt-country record. And by that I mean that it sounds like country should, not like what I've been subjected to on a daily basis while interning.
-ed
I only have one week left in my internship at Georgetown. It's not exactly how I pictured it would be, but it's not a total waste of time either, as I've learned how a mastering studio operates, a subject of which I was in the complete dark about before this started. And I have learned a few valuable tricks, so it's not all been lost. School kicks back up in a little more than 2 weeks, and when Andrew asked me what classes I was taking, I couldn't name them. Is this a bad thing? I should probably look into it before the 23rd. And I need to buy books. Whatever.
As far as my pilaging of the Georgetown CD collection goes, the best find has been Alejandro Escovedo's Gravity, which is a great "traditional" alt-country record. And by that I mean that it sounds like country should, not like what I've been subjected to on a daily basis while interning.
-ed
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Disco, Disco...
So last night's Disco Arts and Crafts Collective show was a huge success, so thanks to everyone who came out to the Love Joy House and got down with us. Sadly, it will probably be our last show for quite a while since Sam is moving to NYC and I'll be staying in Nashville, but at least we got to do it one time before she left. Laura videotaped it for us, so hopefully I'll get my hands on that sometime soon, just to see how ridiculous I looked. Remember kids, tuning is relative.
-ed
So last night's Disco Arts and Crafts Collective show was a huge success, so thanks to everyone who came out to the Love Joy House and got down with us. Sadly, it will probably be our last show for quite a while since Sam is moving to NYC and I'll be staying in Nashville, but at least we got to do it one time before she left. Laura videotaped it for us, so hopefully I'll get my hands on that sometime soon, just to see how ridiculous I looked. Remember kids, tuning is relative.
-ed
Monday, July 03, 2006
Friday, June 30, 2006
America...
I have just experienced my first nosebleed...ever. I am sitting at work, watching Law and Order (gotta love working for Belmont), and my nose just decided to bleed. I was pretty amazed and excited. I had to look up how to stop it on the internet (pinching the nostril works wonders). Whoo!
-ed
I have just experienced my first nosebleed...ever. I am sitting at work, watching Law and Order (gotta love working for Belmont), and my nose just decided to bleed. I was pretty amazed and excited. I had to look up how to stop it on the internet (pinching the nostril works wonders). Whoo!
-ed
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Friday, June 09, 2006
Monday, May 29, 2006
Experiment...
This week, I will attempt to spend no more than $25. This does not factor in how much gas I go through, as it's already in my tank. So, I will keep a running tally of how much I have spent, starting today, May 29th, and going through to June 3rd. I think Friday and Saturday will be the deal breaker, but if I can keep it within $10 during the week...I can splurge a bit on the weekend. Whoo!
-ed
Monday, May 29th: $0
Tuesday, May 30th: $12...I didn't factor in getting sick. The unforseen cost of medicine may do me in.
Wednesday, May 31st: $0
Thursday, June 1st: $0
Friday, June 2nd: $6...bought some catfish bait and nightcrawlers for fishing tomorrow.
Saturday, June 3rd: $1...Pringles chips.
GRAND TOTAL: $19....sweet.
This week, I will attempt to spend no more than $25. This does not factor in how much gas I go through, as it's already in my tank. So, I will keep a running tally of how much I have spent, starting today, May 29th, and going through to June 3rd. I think Friday and Saturday will be the deal breaker, but if I can keep it within $10 during the week...I can splurge a bit on the weekend. Whoo!
-ed
Monday, May 29th: $0
Tuesday, May 30th: $12...I didn't factor in getting sick. The unforseen cost of medicine may do me in.
Wednesday, May 31st: $0
Thursday, June 1st: $0
Friday, June 2nd: $6...bought some catfish bait and nightcrawlers for fishing tomorrow.
Saturday, June 3rd: $1...Pringles chips.
GRAND TOTAL: $19....sweet.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Internship, Day 2...
So, after settling in as cleaning boy/message taker, I'm hoping I get some more observation in at the studio. But today, Carolyn DAWN Johnson (as she always introduced herself as), was in, listening to her album w/ Andrew, and her "too old to try to act cool, but still dresses like he wants to be 20" manager was there too. But what I gathered from that thing was this: I don't give a crap about Carolyn Dawn Johnson. I'm sure people would go apeshit over the fact that I got to be in the same space as her for 8 hours, but really, I could have cared less who she was, and I'm not just saying that because it's the nashville cool thing to say. She was nice and all, but she was just a person to me. Now, contrast that with my feelings when Brent said that they might be doing some Death Cab For Cutie tracks. I immediately pictured Ben Gibbard chilling in the lounge, and I got all excited, like a fan of CDJ would have today. So basically, I'm still a fan at heart, especially of bands that changed my musical direction, and as much as I try to minimize that when I do work, it's hard to stay aloof when there is music you get truly excited about.
-ed
So, after settling in as cleaning boy/message taker, I'm hoping I get some more observation in at the studio. But today, Carolyn DAWN Johnson (as she always introduced herself as), was in, listening to her album w/ Andrew, and her "too old to try to act cool, but still dresses like he wants to be 20" manager was there too. But what I gathered from that thing was this: I don't give a crap about Carolyn Dawn Johnson. I'm sure people would go apeshit over the fact that I got to be in the same space as her for 8 hours, but really, I could have cared less who she was, and I'm not just saying that because it's the nashville cool thing to say. She was nice and all, but she was just a person to me. Now, contrast that with my feelings when Brent said that they might be doing some Death Cab For Cutie tracks. I immediately pictured Ben Gibbard chilling in the lounge, and I got all excited, like a fan of CDJ would have today. So basically, I'm still a fan at heart, especially of bands that changed my musical direction, and as much as I try to minimize that when I do work, it's hard to stay aloof when there is music you get truly excited about.
-ed
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Oh No! Oh My!
I'm really loving this song right now...
I Love You All The Time - Oh No! Oh My!
They're playing at Reverb Media on Sunday night around 9pm, and I think Bryan is looking into signing them. I plan on being there, and you, the large audience of this blog, should be there too.
-ed
I'm really loving this song right now...
I Love You All The Time - Oh No! Oh My!
They're playing at Reverb Media on Sunday night around 9pm, and I think Bryan is looking into signing them. I plan on being there, and you, the large audience of this blog, should be there too.
-ed
Monday, May 01, 2006
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Can I get a hell yeah...
For Fiesta in San Antonio?
There's this one incident that will stick with me forever about Fiesta, and King Antonio. It happened when I was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade. We were all sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch, and for those unfamiliar with the SMH cafeteria, it was glass all the way around so that you could see everything that was happening around the campus. Anyways, we were eating, and all of a sudden three police cars, sirens blaring and lights flashing come driving into the campus and out towards the back where the dorms were. Now, having survived 4 years of SMH, there was only one thing that I corellated with police, and that was the arrival of King Antonio.
See, King Antonio visited all the schools around San Antonio during Fiesta. He was usally some rich white guy, and more often than not he was the father or grandfather of some kid at SMH. When he entered a school, he was precceded by SA Police, with their lights flashing etc...like he was some big dignitary. It was sweet because he would give out little plastic coins that had his name on it, and if you were lucky you could score a sweet pin that had some sort of Fiesta symbol on it. It was also cool because we got to waste a lot of time waiting for him to arrive, and then waste more time as he presented the school library with a book. It also meant that we were going to get out of school for the Fiesta parades. All in all, it was a good time.
Anyways, what actually happened that day was some psycho stole a police car and was being chased by actual police and drove it into our campus, which unfortunately for the psycho, did not have any other exits besides the front gate. So the guy gets stuck somewhere in the back and then attempts to flee on foot, only to be captured by the police in what I'm assuming was a pretty epic foot chase. All I'm saying is that I was pretty pissed when I didn't get a King Antonio coin that day.
Like I said, King Antonio is for the rich white guys. For the Mexicans, we have El Rey Feo, or in English, The Ugly King. Here's this years Rey Feo, Ronnie Gabriel:
El Rey Feo was always so much more awesome than King Antonio because they were Mexican and saw the whole fake royalty as what it was; a huge, retarded joke, and had a load of fun with it. Here's to you, El Rey Feo.
-ed
For Fiesta in San Antonio?
There's this one incident that will stick with me forever about Fiesta, and King Antonio. It happened when I was probably in 2nd or 3rd grade. We were all sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch, and for those unfamiliar with the SMH cafeteria, it was glass all the way around so that you could see everything that was happening around the campus. Anyways, we were eating, and all of a sudden three police cars, sirens blaring and lights flashing come driving into the campus and out towards the back where the dorms were. Now, having survived 4 years of SMH, there was only one thing that I corellated with police, and that was the arrival of King Antonio.
See, King Antonio visited all the schools around San Antonio during Fiesta. He was usally some rich white guy, and more often than not he was the father or grandfather of some kid at SMH. When he entered a school, he was precceded by SA Police, with their lights flashing etc...like he was some big dignitary. It was sweet because he would give out little plastic coins that had his name on it, and if you were lucky you could score a sweet pin that had some sort of Fiesta symbol on it. It was also cool because we got to waste a lot of time waiting for him to arrive, and then waste more time as he presented the school library with a book. It also meant that we were going to get out of school for the Fiesta parades. All in all, it was a good time.
Anyways, what actually happened that day was some psycho stole a police car and was being chased by actual police and drove it into our campus, which unfortunately for the psycho, did not have any other exits besides the front gate. So the guy gets stuck somewhere in the back and then attempts to flee on foot, only to be captured by the police in what I'm assuming was a pretty epic foot chase. All I'm saying is that I was pretty pissed when I didn't get a King Antonio coin that day.
Like I said, King Antonio is for the rich white guys. For the Mexicans, we have El Rey Feo, or in English, The Ugly King. Here's this years Rey Feo, Ronnie Gabriel:
El Rey Feo was always so much more awesome than King Antonio because they were Mexican and saw the whole fake royalty as what it was; a huge, retarded joke, and had a load of fun with it. Here's to you, El Rey Feo.
-ed
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Strange...
I saw this:
...on my way to work tonight. There were actually two of them. Apparently, they are called "Tall Bikes," because that's what I searched for and I came up with these pictures. I really don't understand them. Wouldn't it hurt like hell to fall off one of these things? Do you just jump off? I would think it would be a pain to dismount or even get on. Is this like the anti-low rider? Weird.
-ed
I saw this:
...on my way to work tonight. There were actually two of them. Apparently, they are called "Tall Bikes," because that's what I searched for and I came up with these pictures. I really don't understand them. Wouldn't it hurt like hell to fall off one of these things? Do you just jump off? I would think it would be a pain to dismount or even get on. Is this like the anti-low rider? Weird.
-ed
Friday, April 21, 2006
Disturbing News...
Admittedly, I haven't been to a San Antonio Missions game since 2002, but apparently they now have another mascot to go along with Henry The Puffy Taco. His name is Ballapeno, and he looks like this:
I really don't remember this guy being at the games. It was all about Henry and how he would get tackled by the kids before he could reach home plate between innings. Henry was f*cking awesome. Ballapeno? Lame. Check this picture out:
What's this shit? The Ballapeno beating up Henry? That has got to stop. San Antonio Missions front office, please, get rid of the Ballapeno.
-ed
Admittedly, I haven't been to a San Antonio Missions game since 2002, but apparently they now have another mascot to go along with Henry The Puffy Taco. His name is Ballapeno, and he looks like this:
I really don't remember this guy being at the games. It was all about Henry and how he would get tackled by the kids before he could reach home plate between innings. Henry was f*cking awesome. Ballapeno? Lame. Check this picture out:
What's this shit? The Ballapeno beating up Henry? That has got to stop. San Antonio Missions front office, please, get rid of the Ballapeno.
-ed
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Now gather around, and check this shit out...
So I'm at this position where I sort of know what I want my senior thesis to be about, but not exactly what it is. In the broad sense, it is about mastering, but what about mastering? My original idea was to do a study of the rising "loudness" of masters in the past 2 decades, starting with vinyl releases, comparing them to original CD remasters in the laste 80's-early 90's, and then newer remasters from recent years. I would focus on the diminishing dynamic range of today's recordings, and look at how it affects the consumer at home (or how it doesn't affect, if that's the case). I would also look at factors that led to where we are now, and if there are harmful things that occur when pushing everything to 0dBfs.
However, I'm worried that this isn't sufficient enough. I'm going to try to broaden it out to include interviews with mastering engineers from across the board and eras, firsthand experiments, random tests to see what sounds better to people (i.e. playing a classically mastered recording versus a newer one at the same volume level and see which one they find more pleasing, or musically interesting). For all these examples, I would take it upon myself to record a band, mix it, and then do various types of mastering. Then I would make a DVD of it. Or something. Until I put it in front of the Honors Council, I really don't know if this will fly. I'm hoping that because Belmont offers nothing about mastering, that they will see that this is going beyond the average student here and beyond what the program here can give me. I really think that will be a selling point. Hmmmm. Let's hope this thing works.
-ed
So I'm at this position where I sort of know what I want my senior thesis to be about, but not exactly what it is. In the broad sense, it is about mastering, but what about mastering? My original idea was to do a study of the rising "loudness" of masters in the past 2 decades, starting with vinyl releases, comparing them to original CD remasters in the laste 80's-early 90's, and then newer remasters from recent years. I would focus on the diminishing dynamic range of today's recordings, and look at how it affects the consumer at home (or how it doesn't affect, if that's the case). I would also look at factors that led to where we are now, and if there are harmful things that occur when pushing everything to 0dBfs.
However, I'm worried that this isn't sufficient enough. I'm going to try to broaden it out to include interviews with mastering engineers from across the board and eras, firsthand experiments, random tests to see what sounds better to people (i.e. playing a classically mastered recording versus a newer one at the same volume level and see which one they find more pleasing, or musically interesting). For all these examples, I would take it upon myself to record a band, mix it, and then do various types of mastering. Then I would make a DVD of it. Or something. Until I put it in front of the Honors Council, I really don't know if this will fly. I'm hoping that because Belmont offers nothing about mastering, that they will see that this is going beyond the average student here and beyond what the program here can give me. I really think that will be a selling point. Hmmmm. Let's hope this thing works.
-ed
Saturday, March 25, 2006
I love you to the max.
So, since it seems that Kory is banging the entire 20 and under female population of Prestonburg, KY this month, I keep meeting these girls (who are always blond) under the same circumstances, which is me, sitting on the couch, watching something like 'Real World" or "Sportscenter." This weekend, I've seen this one girl probably 4 times, and three of them have found me in the same situation. Which makes me think that this girl probably thinks I am the biggest loser in the world who just sits and watches TV all day.
But this is not the case, I swear.
All these incidents have occured when I've come back from class, or been up in my room doing work, etc. I'm really not that lazy, Prestonburg women, really. And maybe I just so happened to be watching the Real World. Who doesn't? The fourth time this newest girl came in, I made sure that she saw me washing the dishes as she left, to prove that I'm not a one-dimensional person. I'm a real boy!
-ed
So, since it seems that Kory is banging the entire 20 and under female population of Prestonburg, KY this month, I keep meeting these girls (who are always blond) under the same circumstances, which is me, sitting on the couch, watching something like 'Real World" or "Sportscenter." This weekend, I've seen this one girl probably 4 times, and three of them have found me in the same situation. Which makes me think that this girl probably thinks I am the biggest loser in the world who just sits and watches TV all day.
But this is not the case, I swear.
All these incidents have occured when I've come back from class, or been up in my room doing work, etc. I'm really not that lazy, Prestonburg women, really. And maybe I just so happened to be watching the Real World. Who doesn't? The fourth time this newest girl came in, I made sure that she saw me washing the dishes as she left, to prove that I'm not a one-dimensional person. I'm a real boy!
-ed
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
If you can't beat them...
Colts signed Adam Vinatieri, and got rid of that Vanderjadt fool. Hallelujah.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-colts-vinatieri&prov=ap&type=lgns
-ed
Colts signed Adam Vinatieri, and got rid of that Vanderjadt fool. Hallelujah.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-colts-vinatieri&prov=ap&type=lgns
-ed
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Seriously Dad, wtf...
I got this e-mail from my dad this morning:
I am now undefeated as a coach of junior high soccer. I am 1-0. We beat Hickman County yesterday evening 3-1. One great goal, one gift off an opposing defenseman, and a PK because the goalie tripped one of our players going after a ball. The game was in Centerville(aka Grinder's Switch, home of Minnie Pearl one of your alums.) There is a statue of her in the town square.
Wow. You have to wonder who died to make him coach. I volunteered my services as a goalie coach, and told him to make sure the kids keep wide.
If anything, it would be a great Disney movie: Old, grumpy coach with little soccer coaching experience takes group of young rascals and under his wing and molds them into a cohesive unit that wins the championship in shootout against a much better team. It would be called "I have a full tank of gas, and we're headed north. We'll make it there eventually: The Alex Domkowski Story"
-ed
I got this e-mail from my dad this morning:
I am now undefeated as a coach of junior high soccer. I am 1-0. We beat Hickman County yesterday evening 3-1. One great goal, one gift off an opposing defenseman, and a PK because the goalie tripped one of our players going after a ball. The game was in Centerville(aka Grinder's Switch, home of Minnie Pearl one of your alums.) There is a statue of her in the town square.
Wow. You have to wonder who died to make him coach. I volunteered my services as a goalie coach, and told him to make sure the kids keep wide.
If anything, it would be a great Disney movie: Old, grumpy coach with little soccer coaching experience takes group of young rascals and under his wing and molds them into a cohesive unit that wins the championship in shootout against a much better team. It would be called "I have a full tank of gas, and we're headed north. We'll make it there eventually: The Alex Domkowski Story"
-ed
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...
I do believe I would like to read that again, as I used it as a basis for one of my Analytics exams. Also, my Simon and Garfunkel example was greeted with joy, not confusion, as I suspected might happen. I simply cannot write an essay without some ridiculous pop culture analogy. But hey, that's what makes life fun, huh?
-ed
I do believe I would like to read that again, as I used it as a basis for one of my Analytics exams. Also, my Simon and Garfunkel example was greeted with joy, not confusion, as I suspected might happen. I simply cannot write an essay without some ridiculous pop culture analogy. But hey, that's what makes life fun, huh?
-ed
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Survived!
So I survived my two tests on Monday, hopefully passed them too. We'll see. A few more days until spring break, which will be a whole lot of needed nothingness. Talked to Viking about maybe living in his house, and he said there might be room, so that's a good thing, because I need to solidify this living situation thing soon, as well as searching for a job and an internship. I just hope I don't procrastinate this too much.
BTW, the new Destroyer album is pretty much perfect.
-ed
So I survived my two tests on Monday, hopefully passed them too. We'll see. A few more days until spring break, which will be a whole lot of needed nothingness. Talked to Viking about maybe living in his house, and he said there might be room, so that's a good thing, because I need to solidify this living situation thing soon, as well as searching for a job and an internship. I just hope I don't procrastinate this too much.
BTW, the new Destroyer album is pretty much perfect.
-ed
Friday, February 24, 2006
Sigh...
So it's been a while since I've written anything of substance, and for that I am truly sorry. This is going to be the weekend/Monday from hell. Class until5 ish on Saturday, and work until 1:30. Then on Sunday, we have a session booked from 10am-10pm at Ocean Way, but hopefully it won't last that long. And of course, on Monday, I have two huge tests in Analytics and Maintainence which I won't get to study for as much as I would like. I already started on the Maint. stuff, but really, I'm sure I'm going to fail that anyways. There's so much crap in Analytics, that's probably what I'll spend Saturday night cramming for. Synapses. Glial cells. etc... And then write the out of class part. woot.
I'll be glad when this is over and I get to leave for SC for spring break. I've never really needed a spring break before, but this year, it's very, very welcomed.
-ed
So it's been a while since I've written anything of substance, and for that I am truly sorry. This is going to be the weekend/Monday from hell. Class until5 ish on Saturday, and work until 1:30. Then on Sunday, we have a session booked from 10am-10pm at Ocean Way, but hopefully it won't last that long. And of course, on Monday, I have two huge tests in Analytics and Maintainence which I won't get to study for as much as I would like. I already started on the Maint. stuff, but really, I'm sure I'm going to fail that anyways. There's so much crap in Analytics, that's probably what I'll spend Saturday night cramming for. Synapses. Glial cells. etc... And then write the out of class part. woot.
I'll be glad when this is over and I get to leave for SC for spring break. I've never really needed a spring break before, but this year, it's very, very welcomed.
-ed
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Sigur Ros, Ryman Auditorium, 2/14/06
So that was amazing. They started out with the whole shadows on the curtain thing, which I saw a video of prior to the concert, so I waited in eager anticipation for that to happen. We happened to have seats in the very back row of the balcony, but the view wasn't bad at all. It was ameliorated by seeing that Ben Folds had to sit in the balcony section too, stupid fedora and all. They played a lot more from ( ) than I thought they would, but I'm not complaining. The first song was Glosoli, which was awesome, but I just wish that they'd played it live with the video, because that would have given me chills. They played Olsen Olsen, which is my favorite song, so I was the guy who was cheering as soon as they triggered the sample of Jonsi singing the melody. That song is so beautiful, I'm surprised it didn't get more of a response. Who knows. Anyways, it was a great concert, and a great Valentine's Day.
-ed
So that was amazing. They started out with the whole shadows on the curtain thing, which I saw a video of prior to the concert, so I waited in eager anticipation for that to happen. We happened to have seats in the very back row of the balcony, but the view wasn't bad at all. It was ameliorated by seeing that Ben Folds had to sit in the balcony section too, stupid fedora and all. They played a lot more from ( ) than I thought they would, but I'm not complaining. The first song was Glosoli, which was awesome, but I just wish that they'd played it live with the video, because that would have given me chills. They played Olsen Olsen, which is my favorite song, so I was the guy who was cheering as soon as they triggered the sample of Jonsi singing the melody. That song is so beautiful, I'm surprised it didn't get more of a response. Who knows. Anyways, it was a great concert, and a great Valentine's Day.
-ed
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Ballz uses the word "analogous"...
Kyle wrote this to the Belmont paper after the Sexy Decoys were written about in it. Glorious.
Dear Vision Editor,
In your recent article concerning intermural sports, I was deeplyconcerned to see one glorious dynasty viewed in a bad light. As theonly graduating member of the Sexy Decoys(tm)Inc I must tell you thatI was extremely displeased with the way you portrayed all of our hardwork and total domination of Belmont Intermural sports. With the spotlight turned to the newly formed "sticky bandits", the point spread differential was one obvious detail left out of the article.
Currently, the Sexy Decoys have 3+ times the points of their nearestcompetition, the Sticky Bandits. Even with the obvious conflict of interest that is the intermural referee system, the Sexy Decoys have all but secured their 2nd straight Bruin Cup. Back to the article, we did not appreciate being compared to "the big guy" in prison who sodomizes small "new guys in prison". Even though our current domination of the intermural world seems analogous to a stitches-inducing prison rape, we do not want it compared in any way to such an act. Please consider this our forma lstatement.
Respectfully,
Decoys Graduating Senior,
Ballz(Kyle Duquette)
-ed
Kyle wrote this to the Belmont paper after the Sexy Decoys were written about in it. Glorious.
Dear Vision Editor,
In your recent article concerning intermural sports, I was deeplyconcerned to see one glorious dynasty viewed in a bad light. As theonly graduating member of the Sexy Decoys(tm)Inc I must tell you thatI was extremely displeased with the way you portrayed all of our hardwork and total domination of Belmont Intermural sports. With the spotlight turned to the newly formed "sticky bandits", the point spread differential was one obvious detail left out of the article.
Currently, the Sexy Decoys have 3+ times the points of their nearestcompetition, the Sticky Bandits. Even with the obvious conflict of interest that is the intermural referee system, the Sexy Decoys have all but secured their 2nd straight Bruin Cup. Back to the article, we did not appreciate being compared to "the big guy" in prison who sodomizes small "new guys in prison". Even though our current domination of the intermural world seems analogous to a stitches-inducing prison rape, we do not want it compared in any way to such an act. Please consider this our forma lstatement.
Respectfully,
Decoys Graduating Senior,
Ballz(Kyle Duquette)
-ed
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
The Whole Chicken
Tales of Turning 21
Today I turned 21. I can now do everything but rent a car and not pay ridiculous amounts for car insurance. But yeah, as far as birthdays go, it was a good one. Nothing really happened until around 5ish, when we all went out to eat at Otter's, and then somehow Tara put Blue Bell ice cream in my freezer w/o me knowing and everyone got to eat the best ice cream in the world.
Later, Mitch, Zach, Viking, Kevin, and I went to the Flying Saucer for my first legally purchased beer. The bouncer wished me a happy birthday. I bought, well I should say Mitch bought, a Grolsch, which is the beer my dad used to drink before I got conscious of what beer was and my mom made him stop for fear of my being turned in to a elementary school drunk. Not a bad choice, dad. It's from Holland and comes in sweet green bottles with a little flip top stopper. Anyways, the best part was this drunk old guy who sat across from us who would toast us randomly and tell dirty jokes. He also told me he uses Grolsch bottles to make wine with pot in it. He was hillarious.
One joke: What's the difference between erotic and kinky? If you're erotic you use a feather, but if you're kinky you use the whole chicken.
Then he said something in Polish and walked away. Amazing.
-ed
Tales of Turning 21
Today I turned 21. I can now do everything but rent a car and not pay ridiculous amounts for car insurance. But yeah, as far as birthdays go, it was a good one. Nothing really happened until around 5ish, when we all went out to eat at Otter's, and then somehow Tara put Blue Bell ice cream in my freezer w/o me knowing and everyone got to eat the best ice cream in the world.
Later, Mitch, Zach, Viking, Kevin, and I went to the Flying Saucer for my first legally purchased beer. The bouncer wished me a happy birthday. I bought, well I should say Mitch bought, a Grolsch, which is the beer my dad used to drink before I got conscious of what beer was and my mom made him stop for fear of my being turned in to a elementary school drunk. Not a bad choice, dad. It's from Holland and comes in sweet green bottles with a little flip top stopper. Anyways, the best part was this drunk old guy who sat across from us who would toast us randomly and tell dirty jokes. He also told me he uses Grolsch bottles to make wine with pot in it. He was hillarious.
One joke: What's the difference between erotic and kinky? If you're erotic you use a feather, but if you're kinky you use the whole chicken.
Then he said something in Polish and walked away. Amazing.
-ed
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
$4.98
Went to All You Can Eat $4.98 w/ Tara, Ashley, Stuffy, Viking, Amanda, Lauren, and Charles. It was glorious. I ate way too much. Damn you, egg rolls.
Saw Kory absolutely kill on the keytar on Saturday, and his band still did not win the Other Showcase. What a scam. I think I want to get his band to do my project for Recording Techniques, but I don't know if they'll be free or not. Basically, they are the best musicians at Belmont, and it would be amazing.
-ed
Went to All You Can Eat $4.98 w/ Tara, Ashley, Stuffy, Viking, Amanda, Lauren, and Charles. It was glorious. I ate way too much. Damn you, egg rolls.
Saw Kory absolutely kill on the keytar on Saturday, and his band still did not win the Other Showcase. What a scam. I think I want to get his band to do my project for Recording Techniques, but I don't know if they'll be free or not. Basically, they are the best musicians at Belmont, and it would be amazing.
-ed
Friday, January 20, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
And yes, I have been drinking...
So just when I didn't really think I needed another folky singer/songwriter in my life, I hear this song by Paul Duncan. It's pretty perfect for rainy Nashville days.
Paul Duncan - Oil In The Fields
-ed
So just when I didn't really think I needed another folky singer/songwriter in my life, I hear this song by Paul Duncan. It's pretty perfect for rainy Nashville days.
Paul Duncan - Oil In The Fields
-ed
Thursday, January 12, 2006
It's the middle of the day, and my phone is ringing...
I've been listening to this song since break began, and it's pretty freaking awesome.
The Changes - When I Wake
First day of classes came and went, nothing too exciting.
-ed
I've been listening to this song since break began, and it's pretty freaking awesome.
The Changes - When I Wake
First day of classes came and went, nothing too exciting.
-ed
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
The Secret Machines
This came on randomly on my iTunes "party shuffle," and I remembered how much I loved it. Enjoy.
The Secret Machines - Sad and Lonely
P.S. Here's a link to Ben Gibbard's solo performance of (This Is) The Dream of Evan And Chan
-ed
This came on randomly on my iTunes "party shuffle," and I remembered how much I loved it. Enjoy.
The Secret Machines - Sad and Lonely
P.S. Here's a link to Ben Gibbard's solo performance of (This Is) The Dream of Evan And Chan
-ed
Monday, January 09, 2006
Winter Break EP
So here's the entire creative output of my winter break, some ok, some terrible. Some songs need explaination, and all need excuses. First off, I can't sing. Most obviously in my Pedro the Lion cover intro (and countless other instances). The one called "Someday" I recorded 2 years ago, but never mixed it or anything and basically forgot about it until this break when I was looking over old files. So I mixed it, and it's pretty hillariously bad. I think I was going through a phase when I thought that alt-country was awesome and was still bitter about certain things. Of course all my songs still sorta have a crappy folksy feel to them, but that's b/c I don't rock hard at all. The "Water Kissers" song was done in my bathroom w/ my Tascam 4-track, and I have no idea what the lyrics mean. The phrase just sounded funny. Anyways, don't laugh too hard if you do download this.
Download Here
(zip file)
Track Listing:
1. After the Life Rush
2. Rivers
3. Take Me Down
4. Options
5. Oh, Right (New Years Eve)
6. Water Kissers
7. Someday
-ed
So here's the entire creative output of my winter break, some ok, some terrible. Some songs need explaination, and all need excuses. First off, I can't sing. Most obviously in my Pedro the Lion cover intro (and countless other instances). The one called "Someday" I recorded 2 years ago, but never mixed it or anything and basically forgot about it until this break when I was looking over old files. So I mixed it, and it's pretty hillariously bad. I think I was going through a phase when I thought that alt-country was awesome and was still bitter about certain things. Of course all my songs still sorta have a crappy folksy feel to them, but that's b/c I don't rock hard at all. The "Water Kissers" song was done in my bathroom w/ my Tascam 4-track, and I have no idea what the lyrics mean. The phrase just sounded funny. Anyways, don't laugh too hard if you do download this.
Download Here
(zip file)
Track Listing:
1. After the Life Rush
2. Rivers
3. Take Me Down
4. Options
5. Oh, Right (New Years Eve)
6. Water Kissers
7. Someday
-ed
Friday, January 06, 2006
Our Girls Are Looking So Good...
And it's my last day in Columbia! Accomplished a few things on my list (I mean, we can't expect me to finish it all, right?), and didn't go insane, amazingly. Back to Nashville tomorrow, gonna see Page France w/ Sam @ the Muse, that should be a blast. Ok, enough! Sleep!
-ed
And it's my last day in Columbia! Accomplished a few things on my list (I mean, we can't expect me to finish it all, right?), and didn't go insane, amazingly. Back to Nashville tomorrow, gonna see Page France w/ Sam @ the Muse, that should be a blast. Ok, enough! Sleep!
-ed
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Hooray for CBS
The TV I have at home gets exactly one channel clearly, and that is CBS. So that means that I ingest a good quanity of CSI and its ilk. As I watched my doubleheader of CSI tonight, I noticed something that really started to piss me off: NO ONE EVER TURNS ON THE LIGHTS.
Am I to believe that these people live their entire lives in the dark? Like, when they go into a house, no matter what time it is, or if it's broad daylight outside, they use flashlights to look at things. Does no one realize that they can turn on LIGHTS? Electric? Florescent? Why? Why do they use flashlights? Just because someone just died doesn't mean the electric service died with them!!
And at work? ALWAYS DARK. I guess it's supposed to add to the show's mystique. But all it does is annoy me. Eff you, CSI.
-ed
The TV I have at home gets exactly one channel clearly, and that is CBS. So that means that I ingest a good quanity of CSI and its ilk. As I watched my doubleheader of CSI tonight, I noticed something that really started to piss me off: NO ONE EVER TURNS ON THE LIGHTS.
Am I to believe that these people live their entire lives in the dark? Like, when they go into a house, no matter what time it is, or if it's broad daylight outside, they use flashlights to look at things. Does no one realize that they can turn on LIGHTS? Electric? Florescent? Why? Why do they use flashlights? Just because someone just died doesn't mean the electric service died with them!!
And at work? ALWAYS DARK. I guess it's supposed to add to the show's mystique. But all it does is annoy me. Eff you, CSI.
-ed
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Bragel
So Tara introduced me to the concept of the "bragel," or "breakfast bagel" this past week while I was at her house. Basically, it's an egg, some bacon, and a bagel. So I decided to try it out by myself today. It seems that since I've always only made scrambled eggs, no one informed me that an egg will stick to a skillet. And it will burn. So unfortunate. Tomorrow I will correct my mistake.
Details about my trip will come soon, it was a blast. I rode a horse.
-ed
So Tara introduced me to the concept of the "bragel," or "breakfast bagel" this past week while I was at her house. Basically, it's an egg, some bacon, and a bagel. So I decided to try it out by myself today. It seems that since I've always only made scrambled eggs, no one informed me that an egg will stick to a skillet. And it will burn. So unfortunate. Tomorrow I will correct my mistake.
Details about my trip will come soon, it was a blast. I rode a horse.
-ed
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Just When I Was Coming to Terms With Religious Institutions...
This crap happens. Read the article, then read what I have to say.
So this is just flat out ridiculous. Ever wanted to just yell out curses in the middle of church, just to shock people into reality? Maybe that's just me, but I want to do that to this preacher so badly. This sort of stuff is what angers me so much about The Suburban Christian. They're in an insular world, shielded from, as the preacher puts it "all that revelry going on," and giving themselves a pat on the collective back and giving away a $120,000 house. WTF. Of all the things that a church can do, such as get off its ass and maybe help people, these idiots plan on serving themselves a nice big piece of "We're Holier Than You," complete with "Twelve finalists — symbolizing the 12 apostles," as if they needed religous symbolism to make this act of selfishness palpable.
And this guy who builds it, he charges the church for this? I mean, let those fools do as they may, but at least give the thing away. Or maybe, here's a f*cking good idea, use that $53,000 you used to build a house for a probably non-deserving American family and sent it someplace like Sudan where they are wiping out more Christians than these people can even comprehend. Who actually understand the meaning of sacrifice. Maybe you can save a child from death instead of chanelling money into a f*cking tax write off.
This, this is why I cannot identify, nor wish to identify, with Christianity as it is today. Instead of helping people, these zealots do the best they can to seal themselves off from the world and live like a commune, shielding people from the "dangers" of life, when in reality, they are the most dangerous group of people in the world. In the best possible scenario, whoever wins this thing will sell it and use the money to set up a soup kitchen. Or build a school in Africa. Who knows. In reality, the person who wins this will probably praise God for helping them, focusing on the "me, me, me" mentality of Christians (i.e. "God's plan for MY life"), move into this house and go in to debt decorating it to keep up apperances. All the while praising God's plan for their lives. Disgusting. Please, prove me wrong.
-ed
This crap happens. Read the article, then read what I have to say.
So this is just flat out ridiculous. Ever wanted to just yell out curses in the middle of church, just to shock people into reality? Maybe that's just me, but I want to do that to this preacher so badly. This sort of stuff is what angers me so much about The Suburban Christian. They're in an insular world, shielded from, as the preacher puts it "all that revelry going on," and giving themselves a pat on the collective back and giving away a $120,000 house. WTF. Of all the things that a church can do, such as get off its ass and maybe help people, these idiots plan on serving themselves a nice big piece of "We're Holier Than You," complete with "Twelve finalists — symbolizing the 12 apostles," as if they needed religous symbolism to make this act of selfishness palpable.
And this guy who builds it, he charges the church for this? I mean, let those fools do as they may, but at least give the thing away. Or maybe, here's a f*cking good idea, use that $53,000 you used to build a house for a probably non-deserving American family and sent it someplace like Sudan where they are wiping out more Christians than these people can even comprehend. Who actually understand the meaning of sacrifice. Maybe you can save a child from death instead of chanelling money into a f*cking tax write off.
This, this is why I cannot identify, nor wish to identify, with Christianity as it is today. Instead of helping people, these zealots do the best they can to seal themselves off from the world and live like a commune, shielding people from the "dangers" of life, when in reality, they are the most dangerous group of people in the world. In the best possible scenario, whoever wins this thing will sell it and use the money to set up a soup kitchen. Or build a school in Africa. Who knows. In reality, the person who wins this will probably praise God for helping them, focusing on the "me, me, me" mentality of Christians (i.e. "God's plan for MY life"), move into this house and go in to debt decorating it to keep up apperances. All the while praising God's plan for their lives. Disgusting. Please, prove me wrong.
-ed
Road Trip!
So I don't know exactly how this is going to turn out, but hopefully I'm leaving tomorrow, headed for somewhere North. The main objective is to be in Decatur on the 30th. What happens in the two days prior to that is kinda up in the air. Anyways, anyone have any good driving music suggestions?
-ed
So I don't know exactly how this is going to turn out, but hopefully I'm leaving tomorrow, headed for somewhere North. The main objective is to be in Decatur on the 30th. What happens in the two days prior to that is kinda up in the air. Anyways, anyone have any good driving music suggestions?
-ed
Sunday, December 25, 2005
So...
Maybe I was a bit overly cynical on the last post, but I do think some of my statements are valid. Anyways, Christmas has come and gone, and all in all today wasn't too bad. My mom bought me a new wallet, but she bought an eel skin one, so it's all shiny and looks like something a pimp would use. So I talked my dad into trading with me. Sorry, Dad. They also got me that book by Bob Katz that I wanted, so I've been going through that most of the day, he has some pretty good pointers.
I'm working on a short story that's turning out to not be very short at all, maybe I'll figure out its direction soon. I don't know how writers are supposed to write, but I find myself not knowing the ending of whatever I write until I get there. I'm just not good at formulating things like fiction beforehand. So yeah, Merry Christmas, world.
-ed
Maybe I was a bit overly cynical on the last post, but I do think some of my statements are valid. Anyways, Christmas has come and gone, and all in all today wasn't too bad. My mom bought me a new wallet, but she bought an eel skin one, so it's all shiny and looks like something a pimp would use. So I talked my dad into trading with me. Sorry, Dad. They also got me that book by Bob Katz that I wanted, so I've been going through that most of the day, he has some pretty good pointers.
I'm working on a short story that's turning out to not be very short at all, maybe I'll figure out its direction soon. I don't know how writers are supposed to write, but I find myself not knowing the ending of whatever I write until I get there. I'm just not good at formulating things like fiction beforehand. So yeah, Merry Christmas, world.
-ed
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Eve...
There's this part of me that has to wrestle with the fact that I might indeed be an uncaring jerk, especially around the holidays. I really don't know what my problem is, but I think it might stem from the fact that I'm stuck here in Columbia without much interaction with people that I like, and that in turn, coupled with the sense of utter boredom, makes this quite an unpleasent Christmas season. I used to get excited for Christmas (even last year, but I suspect that was because of my selfish desire to unwrap that iPod -RIP) , but ever since I've gotten home I haven't been very enthusiastic about it. I think my pissed off college student self has gotten the best of me, because I can't stand the commercialism and cheerfulness for the sake of appearences that seems to pervade this time.
Like the whole thing about how Christians are upset because they think that Christmas is being compromised by secular society into something less than holy. I mean, give me a effing break. No one, on Christmas morning, is giving a crap about Jesus. Let's be honest, it's all about the gifts, and the commercialism. They might talk a big game about how Jesus is the reason for the season, but what does Christmas build up to? A huge ass tree and presents and a myth. Let's all just agree what Christmas is now actually about (material things) and quit bitching about loss of meaning. Christmas lost meaning when gifts were given, regardless of the religious symbolism. When it turns to "what did I get" it automatically shuts out what is supposed to be remembered, and tacking it on over a prayer during lunch isn't going to change that fact.
Anyways, I'm just going to go on record and agree with all those who want to call it "happy holidays," because I'm tired of pretending that his day has religious significance, since it's common knowledge that Jesus was born in like April of May, instead of this arbitrary day that was co-opted from some pagans to make them feel better about becoming Christians.
Really, I want to be happy this break. I think that when I get out of here and visit people I love, my mood will change, but right now, I'm just not feeling it.
-ed
There's this part of me that has to wrestle with the fact that I might indeed be an uncaring jerk, especially around the holidays. I really don't know what my problem is, but I think it might stem from the fact that I'm stuck here in Columbia without much interaction with people that I like, and that in turn, coupled with the sense of utter boredom, makes this quite an unpleasent Christmas season. I used to get excited for Christmas (even last year, but I suspect that was because of my selfish desire to unwrap that iPod -RIP) , but ever since I've gotten home I haven't been very enthusiastic about it. I think my pissed off college student self has gotten the best of me, because I can't stand the commercialism and cheerfulness for the sake of appearences that seems to pervade this time.
Like the whole thing about how Christians are upset because they think that Christmas is being compromised by secular society into something less than holy. I mean, give me a effing break. No one, on Christmas morning, is giving a crap about Jesus. Let's be honest, it's all about the gifts, and the commercialism. They might talk a big game about how Jesus is the reason for the season, but what does Christmas build up to? A huge ass tree and presents and a myth. Let's all just agree what Christmas is now actually about (material things) and quit bitching about loss of meaning. Christmas lost meaning when gifts were given, regardless of the religious symbolism. When it turns to "what did I get" it automatically shuts out what is supposed to be remembered, and tacking it on over a prayer during lunch isn't going to change that fact.
Anyways, I'm just going to go on record and agree with all those who want to call it "happy holidays," because I'm tired of pretending that his day has religious significance, since it's common knowledge that Jesus was born in like April of May, instead of this arbitrary day that was co-opted from some pagans to make them feel better about becoming Christians.
Really, I want to be happy this break. I think that when I get out of here and visit people I love, my mood will change, but right now, I'm just not feeling it.
-ed
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Best Albums of 2005...
According to me. I make no apologies.
15. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cold Roses – Never thought I would enjoy a post Whiskeytown Adam’s album, but this is surprisingly awesome. Better than the Jacksonville City Nights album because he doesn’t seem like he’s trying, which is a welcome change of pace.
14. The Russian Futurists – Our Thickness – That reverb that guy uses, it kills me. And his thousand tracked vocals? So cool. So cool.
13. Stars – Set Yourself on Fire – They could have just released the first song, “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” and still have ended up on everyone’s best of list. I’m actually not sure if this is 2004 or 2005, but I just found it, so it’s new to me.
12. Giant Drag – Hearts and Unicorns – Really, this belongs in 1997 alongside a PJ Harvey record. But the best song titles.
11. Death Cab For Cutie – Plans – Seriously, I loved this album. Walla’s production continues to improve, and the melodies are strong, and Ben Gibbard’s voice is still my all time favorite.
10. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! – S/T – I really think they deserved the hype. I hate all the crap that gets said about “influences” which is overplayed by critics. Sure it might sound a bit like NMH, but shit, I think we could all be happy if everything sounded like NMH.
9. Sigur Ros – Takk – Beautiful. End.
8. The Silver Jews – Tanglewood Numbers – I never listened to the Silver Jews before I saw all these write ups about the new album and how David Berman lives in Nashville. I really hope someday I see him at Grimey’s or something, even though I probably would never be able to tell who he was. Anyways, this is awesome.
7. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm – This probably would have ranked higher a few months ago, and really, it should be. It’s as solid as the come; I just really hope they can deliver on the follow up.
6. Broken Social Scene – S/T – The production gets knocked a bit on this album, but I think David Newfeld did an amazing job, coming from an engineer’s perspective, with managing everything, and I loved his use of distortion on practically everything.
5. LCD Soundsystem – S/T – Definitely lived up to the hype, best live show of the year as well.
4. The Juan MacLean – Less Than Human – There was this one point during the Juan MacLean show where John kept flinging apart the two mics he was using during “Tito’s Way” and at the same time the Theremin player would freak out. It was perfect. Just like this.
3. The National – Alligator – I had been high on these guys since freshman year when they played 2NMC, and I really didn’t think anyone else knew about them. This album stayed in constant rotation since its release, a beautiful record from start to finish.
2. Sufjan Stevens – Come On Feel the Illinoise! – This was my album of the year until I saw him live, which was a terribly disappointing experience. But besides that this album is perfect. I remember driving up to I-57 and “Come On Feel The Illinoise” came on just as I hit the entrance ramp. Tears of joy.
1. Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary – When I first heard this album, I was in awe. I downloaded “You Are A Runner” a long time ago on the Sub Pop website, but I didn’t give it much of a listen. I was an idiot. Hands down the most exciting release of 2005.
-ed
According to me. I make no apologies.
15. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cold Roses – Never thought I would enjoy a post Whiskeytown Adam’s album, but this is surprisingly awesome. Better than the Jacksonville City Nights album because he doesn’t seem like he’s trying, which is a welcome change of pace.
14. The Russian Futurists – Our Thickness – That reverb that guy uses, it kills me. And his thousand tracked vocals? So cool. So cool.
13. Stars – Set Yourself on Fire – They could have just released the first song, “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” and still have ended up on everyone’s best of list. I’m actually not sure if this is 2004 or 2005, but I just found it, so it’s new to me.
12. Giant Drag – Hearts and Unicorns – Really, this belongs in 1997 alongside a PJ Harvey record. But the best song titles.
11. Death Cab For Cutie – Plans – Seriously, I loved this album. Walla’s production continues to improve, and the melodies are strong, and Ben Gibbard’s voice is still my all time favorite.
10. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! – S/T – I really think they deserved the hype. I hate all the crap that gets said about “influences” which is overplayed by critics. Sure it might sound a bit like NMH, but shit, I think we could all be happy if everything sounded like NMH.
9. Sigur Ros – Takk – Beautiful. End.
8. The Silver Jews – Tanglewood Numbers – I never listened to the Silver Jews before I saw all these write ups about the new album and how David Berman lives in Nashville. I really hope someday I see him at Grimey’s or something, even though I probably would never be able to tell who he was. Anyways, this is awesome.
7. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm – This probably would have ranked higher a few months ago, and really, it should be. It’s as solid as the come; I just really hope they can deliver on the follow up.
6. Broken Social Scene – S/T – The production gets knocked a bit on this album, but I think David Newfeld did an amazing job, coming from an engineer’s perspective, with managing everything, and I loved his use of distortion on practically everything.
5. LCD Soundsystem – S/T – Definitely lived up to the hype, best live show of the year as well.
4. The Juan MacLean – Less Than Human – There was this one point during the Juan MacLean show where John kept flinging apart the two mics he was using during “Tito’s Way” and at the same time the Theremin player would freak out. It was perfect. Just like this.
3. The National – Alligator – I had been high on these guys since freshman year when they played 2NMC, and I really didn’t think anyone else knew about them. This album stayed in constant rotation since its release, a beautiful record from start to finish.
2. Sufjan Stevens – Come On Feel the Illinoise! – This was my album of the year until I saw him live, which was a terribly disappointing experience. But besides that this album is perfect. I remember driving up to I-57 and “Come On Feel The Illinoise” came on just as I hit the entrance ramp. Tears of joy.
1. Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary – When I first heard this album, I was in awe. I downloaded “You Are A Runner” a long time ago on the Sub Pop website, but I didn’t give it much of a listen. I was an idiot. Hands down the most exciting release of 2005.
-ed
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Why is it...
That whenever I have a dentist appointment coming up, I brush my teeth about 50 times more than I usually do, thinking that all this concentrated dental care will make up for my lack of it the past year? Maybe, just maybe, I'll fool them tomorrow.
Do I floss? Why, yes, yes Miss Dental Assistant, I have been flossing, can't you tell?
Oh, of course sir, it looks like you've been doing it for at least 3 years!
Sweet.
-ed
P.S. That will totally not happen tomorrow.
That whenever I have a dentist appointment coming up, I brush my teeth about 50 times more than I usually do, thinking that all this concentrated dental care will make up for my lack of it the past year? Maybe, just maybe, I'll fool them tomorrow.
Do I floss? Why, yes, yes Miss Dental Assistant, I have been flossing, can't you tell?
Oh, of course sir, it looks like you've been doing it for at least 3 years!
Sweet.
-ed
P.S. That will totally not happen tomorrow.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Growing Up...
Guys, ever had that moment when you think that maybe you're actually becoming a competent man? Where you take a look at yourself and are like, hell yeah, I can take on the world! Bring me the newspaper! I want to watch the News Hour with Jim Lehrer! 9 to freaking 5! It usually occurs when you do something that the world deems "manly," like fix something. Or eat a whole lot of something. Then, just when you think you're awesome, something comes up that you just can't fix or eat, and you feel worthless again. It sucks.
This happened to me today. I was living off the high of fixing my car cd player, and then my dad goes "We're going to fix your car today." Now, I can handle a cd player, but the entire car? SOL. So what this really consists of is me standing behind my dad as he fixes my car's brakes and handing him wrenches and saying crap like "I dunno." All of this is a horribly demasculating experience, which culminates with my dad's acknowledgement that I probably will never do anything like this myself. And it's probably true, but at least I know what a brake pad looks like now. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to drink my black coffee.
-ed
Guys, ever had that moment when you think that maybe you're actually becoming a competent man? Where you take a look at yourself and are like, hell yeah, I can take on the world! Bring me the newspaper! I want to watch the News Hour with Jim Lehrer! 9 to freaking 5! It usually occurs when you do something that the world deems "manly," like fix something. Or eat a whole lot of something. Then, just when you think you're awesome, something comes up that you just can't fix or eat, and you feel worthless again. It sucks.
This happened to me today. I was living off the high of fixing my car cd player, and then my dad goes "We're going to fix your car today." Now, I can handle a cd player, but the entire car? SOL. So what this really consists of is me standing behind my dad as he fixes my car's brakes and handing him wrenches and saying crap like "I dunno." All of this is a horribly demasculating experience, which culminates with my dad's acknowledgement that I probably will never do anything like this myself. And it's probably true, but at least I know what a brake pad looks like now. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to drink my black coffee.
-ed
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Goals...
I've accomplished too many things, way too fast. I seriously need to slow down. I started working out, built a cable to connect my computer to the RCA inputs on my stereo, fixed my car cd player, started reading All The Kings Men, and, the absolute highlight, bought a sweet bathrobe for $4 at Goodwill. This stuff was supposed to last me at least 4-5 days. I'm going to run out of things to do by Christmas Eve, and that gives me 5 days or so of nothingness until I take my trip. Maybe I'll connect that stereo to the dirt room like Tara suggested...
-ed
I've accomplished too many things, way too fast. I seriously need to slow down. I started working out, built a cable to connect my computer to the RCA inputs on my stereo, fixed my car cd player, started reading All The Kings Men, and, the absolute highlight, bought a sweet bathrobe for $4 at Goodwill. This stuff was supposed to last me at least 4-5 days. I'm going to run out of things to do by Christmas Eve, and that gives me 5 days or so of nothingness until I take my trip. Maybe I'll connect that stereo to the dirt room like Tara suggested...
-ed
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Dynamics...
Reference this
This topic has been bothering me for a while, and is of great interest to me due to my desire to be a mastering engineer. The article is an interview with top mastering engineers about the lack of dynamic range in today's music. Particulary in today's recording environment, there is pressure to make things as loud as possible, pushing the 0dBfs to its limits, resulting in what, when analyzed in a waveform editor, look like square walls of waves. There's a great image in the article comparing a song from 2005 with a Whitney Houston track in 1985. The Houston track has actual dynamics, while the 2005 song looks like 2 stereo bricks.
Recently I mastered my first album, and I sent demo tracks to the band to see how they liked it. The first track I did, I left quite a bit of dynamic range in the master and sent it off to them. Immediately I was requested to make it louder. Someone, I forget who, maybe Bob Katz, had a great suggestion for that once..Turn up the volume knob! (Also had a great idea to force stereo manufacturers to install compressors in their devices and if people wanted brickwall sound, they could just turn on the compressor button and everything gets squashed without compromising the original source in case someone wanted to listen back with dynamics preserved. I thought it was a good idea) But of course there's the pressure to make their recording sound as loud as everyone else's, and a "quieter" album would not be perceived as good quality. So I ended up mastering that album with about 12dB gain on my compressor (with a 0dBfs limiter) so that I could get the loudness they wanted. Of course, the waveforms look like bricks now, I'm embarassed to say. But it's what the client wanted.
So what's the point of this? None, really. It's just that topics like this highlight the increased degredation of musical quality, sacrificed for commercial profit, even by the most indie of bands. It's not just major label artists getting huge radio play that now have this louder is better mentality, it's nearly everyone (See jazz musician mention in article). At some point, you have to wonder if it's worth fighting it, as it seems that the only ones giving a crap are engineers themselves.
Audio Rant of the Night...Complete!
-ed
Reference this
This topic has been bothering me for a while, and is of great interest to me due to my desire to be a mastering engineer. The article is an interview with top mastering engineers about the lack of dynamic range in today's music. Particulary in today's recording environment, there is pressure to make things as loud as possible, pushing the 0dBfs to its limits, resulting in what, when analyzed in a waveform editor, look like square walls of waves. There's a great image in the article comparing a song from 2005 with a Whitney Houston track in 1985. The Houston track has actual dynamics, while the 2005 song looks like 2 stereo bricks.
Recently I mastered my first album, and I sent demo tracks to the band to see how they liked it. The first track I did, I left quite a bit of dynamic range in the master and sent it off to them. Immediately I was requested to make it louder. Someone, I forget who, maybe Bob Katz, had a great suggestion for that once..Turn up the volume knob! (Also had a great idea to force stereo manufacturers to install compressors in their devices and if people wanted brickwall sound, they could just turn on the compressor button and everything gets squashed without compromising the original source in case someone wanted to listen back with dynamics preserved. I thought it was a good idea) But of course there's the pressure to make their recording sound as loud as everyone else's, and a "quieter" album would not be perceived as good quality. So I ended up mastering that album with about 12dB gain on my compressor (with a 0dBfs limiter) so that I could get the loudness they wanted. Of course, the waveforms look like bricks now, I'm embarassed to say. But it's what the client wanted.
So what's the point of this? None, really. It's just that topics like this highlight the increased degredation of musical quality, sacrificed for commercial profit, even by the most indie of bands. It's not just major label artists getting huge radio play that now have this louder is better mentality, it's nearly everyone (See jazz musician mention in article). At some point, you have to wonder if it's worth fighting it, as it seems that the only ones giving a crap are engineers themselves.
Audio Rant of the Night...Complete!
-ed
Things I Want To Do Over Break: The List
- Mount the speakers on the wall
- Figure out how to hook up my DVD player to that old TV
- Write a decent song
- Fix my car cd player/install a new one if that fails
- Read All The Kings Men, as recommended by Ashley Strosnider
- Find a good coffee place, or at least some diner where I can just sit and drink black coffee and read
- Practice the violin
- Work out every day
- Read more books
- Find a way to heat my basement
- Hook up a cable from my computer to the Stereo Reciever in the main room
- Write
- Play with my dog
- Eat at Bucky's Diner w/ my dad
- commadeer a drum set from the school music dept.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Creating vs. Documenting...
I came across this article on the EQ website, an interview with Howard Bilerman, the engineer for Godspeed You! Black Emporer and the Arcade Fire. At the bottom of the page where the main interview concludes, Bilerman says,
I came across this article on the EQ website, an interview with Howard Bilerman, the engineer for Godspeed You! Black Emporer and the Arcade Fire. At the bottom of the page where the main interview concludes, Bilerman says,
"I I think we need to move back to a place where going into a recording studio is more about documenting, rather than creating. . . . If you take that approach, then you serve the music in a completely different way, and are generally far more sensitive to the artist and their songs. Finding space to be creative within that is the true art of recording."
This presents an interesting debate, particularly for engineers coming up right now. We're all so used to the DAW system and its ease of editing, and how we can create perfection and amazing sounds just by clicking "Process" on a plug-in. I am certainly guilty of this method. I love creating weird sounds from regular audio in ways that are never natural or even replicable in the real world. For instance, I'm a big fan of reversed sounds. When used correctly (i.e. not the stupid way I used to use them on drum loops), they have a lot of power. However, this cannot be replicated or even created by the original source. Now, the obvious jumping off point on this debate is the use of Auto-Tune. I pretty much refuse to use it, but it is so prevalent in engineering these days that to not know how to use it is a handicap. There is too much "Fix it in the mix" mentality, and this in turn affects the musicians, who think that they should be able to play whatever and still have it sounding good.
Also, I've always been told that engineering is another art form, that it's not just technical bullshit, and it's true, the best engineers usally are great musicians in their own right. However, when does the engineer influence the creative process too much? It's a question that I struggle with sometimes, to let the musician handle all the creativity and perfection and let me simply "document" it or to use what I can do to create perfection? Is it lying to your audience? Now it's obvious to me that things like EQ and Reverb, delay, etc, are not things that drastically alter the original performance of the musician, despite being things that can alter it. Such things are not destructive or decietful (well, yes, they are...but in an entirely different way). Where as reverb does not fool you into thinking that a guitar solo was in perfect time, Beat Detective can.
Bilerman adds,
"Tinkering with tempo and pitch diminishes the feel of a song."
Anyone who listens to modern pop music with a critical ear knows that it's all processed and quantized to perfection, and the vocalists are generally doctored up in the studio. It's my opinion that if an artist cannot hit their notes, it's really not my fault. Are they not comfortable enough in their work to present it as is? Do they need me to create the illusion that their intonation is amazing? To do such a thing cheapens the artistic value of the recording. Quite simply, if you cannot hack it, then live with your imperfections. Jeff Mangum wasn't always in tune, but his songs are brilliant. If your material is good, people can live with a missed note, as the emotion is what sells.
That said, I cannot see myself ever recording in a world where I don't have to do destuctive editing. And to be honest, this type of thing has been going on since analog days, ever heard of comping a vocal or guitar solo? I think the key of that though, is the artist was still doing it on her own, without the help of software. But I love the ease and the ability to insert 15 1176 compressor plug ins on my tracks, so while I still have reservations about certain things, I'm not going to be swear off digital by any means.
Ok, enough ranting. The only one who will even really care about this is Ben Stein.
-ed
Monday, December 12, 2005
Ideas...
I need some things to occupy my time while I'm in Columbia over the break, so if anyone has ideas of things that I can do, let me know. I've already decided I would read books. But I need something else, ok? I can only handle the hateful stares of the Maury Co. librarians for so long. Maybe I'll write a song? Give me subject matter and I will write one for you. Really, people, it's going to be boring. I need entertainment. Anything!
-ed
P.S. I just bought Illinoise on vinyl, which is the perfect medium for that music. Plus the artwork looks so much better when it's record sleeve size.
I need some things to occupy my time while I'm in Columbia over the break, so if anyone has ideas of things that I can do, let me know. I've already decided I would read books. But I need something else, ok? I can only handle the hateful stares of the Maury Co. librarians for so long. Maybe I'll write a song? Give me subject matter and I will write one for you. Really, people, it's going to be boring. I need entertainment. Anything!
-ed
P.S. I just bought Illinoise on vinyl, which is the perfect medium for that music. Plus the artwork looks so much better when it's record sleeve size.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Friday, December 09, 2005
Best Songs of 2005
I'm just going to assume that I will hear no other good songs between now and 2006 and go ahead and post this.
1. "Sugar, We're Going Down" - Fall Out Boy: I wrote about this a week or so ago. Basically, it has the best chorus of the year, despite my total lack of knowledge of the subject matter. Plus I saw the video, and it has a guy in deer horns.
2. "I'll Believe in Anything" - Wolf Parade: The little effed up synth in the beginning? Brilliant. The lumbering drums? Brilliant. That riff? Brilliant. The build up to the "chorus" is such a, for lack of the better word, tension builder, that when he sings "Nobody knows you, and nobody gives a damn," I dare you to try to listen to this without yelling along.
3. "Tribulations" - LCD Soundsystem: I sold my guitars and bought synthesisers.
4. "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson: There was a reason Pat Benetar was awesome. It's because she embraced the rock. Now we all know Kelly Clarkson was the American Idol winner. We all know that this is manufactured. That still doesn't diminish her enthusiasm for THE ROCK.
5. "Come on! Feel the Illinoise! -Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition -Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream" - Sufjan Stevens: I wrote that I was in love with this song during the summer, and someone, don't know who, called me and left this song playing as the message. Whoever you are, you are awesome.
6. "Abel" - The National: I think I have a thing with the cathartic vocals this year (see #2 and #8) , but when the song starts out with Matt yelling "My Mind's Not Ready!" you just can't help but be sympathetic for the guy.
7. "Chariot" - Page France: So a song about the rapture is probably one of the most upbeat, fun songs of the year. The little glockenspiels and xylaphones are obviously the instruments of heaven.
8. "Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Half) - Broken Social Scene: All these songs are just covered in distortion, that's probably why I love them. They're so dirty and pushing the edges, making them more immediate and beautiful.
9. "Like Eating Glass" - Bloc Party: I really thought they couldn't top "Banquet," but then they lead off their album with this.
10. "Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood" - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: My vote for best bass line of the year/coupled with the best line "There's nothing left to fear, now that big foot is captured."
11. "All Night" - Damian "Jr Gong" Marley and Stephen Marley: WTF. Why is this so awesome? Those guitar hits are perfect. And the doo-wop backing vocals come out of nowhere. That's why it's so awesome. Screw "Welcome to Jamrock," this is the best Marley song of 2005.
12. "Tito's Way" -The Juan MacLean: This song didn't really reveal itself to me until I saw them live w/ LCD Soundsystem. Then I saw the guy use the theramin and I about lost it. Dance, dance, dance.
13. "So Begins Our Abalee" - Of Montreal: I really don't know why this album doesn't get more press, it really is amazing. I first heard this in Aaron Graves' car, and that choir in the beginning was just too good to be true. But it is true, and it's fucking good.
14. "Glósóli" - Sigur Ros: This song combines the best elements of Sigur Ros. Plodding basslines, their new uses of tinkly bell things, huge crescendos, and Jonsi's voice. Sometimes a bit tame (I do wish they'd cut loose a bit more), but always beautiful.
15. "How Can I Love You (If You Won't Lie Down)" - The Silver Jews: 2005, the year in which I learned to love the Silver Jews. "T-t-t-ime is a game only children play well" So brilliant.
16" Oh Mandy" - The Spinto Band: Those Mandolins! Those Mandolins! Those Mandolins!
As always, the offer is open for me to make a CD of these for you. Just let me know and it will be done.
-ed
I'm just going to assume that I will hear no other good songs between now and 2006 and go ahead and post this.
1. "Sugar, We're Going Down" - Fall Out Boy: I wrote about this a week or so ago. Basically, it has the best chorus of the year, despite my total lack of knowledge of the subject matter. Plus I saw the video, and it has a guy in deer horns.
2. "I'll Believe in Anything" - Wolf Parade: The little effed up synth in the beginning? Brilliant. The lumbering drums? Brilliant. That riff? Brilliant. The build up to the "chorus" is such a, for lack of the better word, tension builder, that when he sings "Nobody knows you, and nobody gives a damn," I dare you to try to listen to this without yelling along.
3. "Tribulations" - LCD Soundsystem: I sold my guitars and bought synthesisers.
4. "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson: There was a reason Pat Benetar was awesome. It's because she embraced the rock. Now we all know Kelly Clarkson was the American Idol winner. We all know that this is manufactured. That still doesn't diminish her enthusiasm for THE ROCK.
5. "Come on! Feel the Illinoise! -Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition -Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream" - Sufjan Stevens: I wrote that I was in love with this song during the summer, and someone, don't know who, called me and left this song playing as the message. Whoever you are, you are awesome.
6. "Abel" - The National: I think I have a thing with the cathartic vocals this year (see #2 and #8) , but when the song starts out with Matt yelling "My Mind's Not Ready!" you just can't help but be sympathetic for the guy.
7. "Chariot" - Page France: So a song about the rapture is probably one of the most upbeat, fun songs of the year. The little glockenspiels and xylaphones are obviously the instruments of heaven.
8. "Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Half) - Broken Social Scene: All these songs are just covered in distortion, that's probably why I love them. They're so dirty and pushing the edges, making them more immediate and beautiful.
9. "Like Eating Glass" - Bloc Party: I really thought they couldn't top "Banquet," but then they lead off their album with this.
10. "Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood" - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: My vote for best bass line of the year/coupled with the best line "There's nothing left to fear, now that big foot is captured."
11. "All Night" - Damian "Jr Gong" Marley and Stephen Marley: WTF. Why is this so awesome? Those guitar hits are perfect. And the doo-wop backing vocals come out of nowhere. That's why it's so awesome. Screw "Welcome to Jamrock," this is the best Marley song of 2005.
12. "Tito's Way" -The Juan MacLean: This song didn't really reveal itself to me until I saw them live w/ LCD Soundsystem. Then I saw the guy use the theramin and I about lost it. Dance, dance, dance.
13. "So Begins Our Abalee" - Of Montreal: I really don't know why this album doesn't get more press, it really is amazing. I first heard this in Aaron Graves' car, and that choir in the beginning was just too good to be true. But it is true, and it's fucking good.
14. "Glósóli" - Sigur Ros: This song combines the best elements of Sigur Ros. Plodding basslines, their new uses of tinkly bell things, huge crescendos, and Jonsi's voice. Sometimes a bit tame (I do wish they'd cut loose a bit more), but always beautiful.
15. "How Can I Love You (If You Won't Lie Down)" - The Silver Jews: 2005, the year in which I learned to love the Silver Jews. "T-t-t-ime is a game only children play well" So brilliant.
16" Oh Mandy" - The Spinto Band: Those Mandolins! Those Mandolins! Those Mandolins!
As always, the offer is open for me to make a CD of these for you. Just let me know and it will be done.
-ed
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Feeling a bit daring....
I'll upload some more fun music that I recorded this summer. This was the original incarnation of the "Cigars" short story (http://paxford.blogspot.com), I just used cigarettes because it sounded better, lol. The bass is too loud, but it was one of those instances where I had to mix down b/c my computer was threatening to shut down on me and I never bothered fooling w/ it again. Also, I think the chorus is kinda lame. Enjoy!
"Cigarettes and Dusty Roads" - Dime Store Keats
For this one, I was obsessed with creating a song similar to "The Moon" by The Microphones, but with keyboards. I just don't think I got there. But that's the reason for the distorted organs and obscured vocals. But there's no excuse for the Yamaha keyboard drums. None at all.
Fun fact - during the "interlude," for the metallic drum sound, I used a soccer ball and hit it with a drumstick.
My Streets Have Names - Dime Store Keats
-ed
I'll upload some more fun music that I recorded this summer. This was the original incarnation of the "Cigars" short story (http://paxford.blogspot.com), I just used cigarettes because it sounded better, lol. The bass is too loud, but it was one of those instances where I had to mix down b/c my computer was threatening to shut down on me and I never bothered fooling w/ it again. Also, I think the chorus is kinda lame. Enjoy!
"Cigarettes and Dusty Roads" - Dime Store Keats
For this one, I was obsessed with creating a song similar to "The Moon" by The Microphones, but with keyboards. I just don't think I got there. But that's the reason for the distorted organs and obscured vocals. But there's no excuse for the Yamaha keyboard drums. None at all.
Fun fact - during the "interlude," for the metallic drum sound, I used a soccer ball and hit it with a drumstick.
My Streets Have Names - Dime Store Keats
-ed
Monday, December 05, 2005
Saturday, December 03, 2005
This is a song that uses banjos and guitars...but no shaker.
So I never really upload my own music anymore (since that wonderful spurt of Columbia Sponge Factory Experience tunes, the well has been dry), but I got bored tonight and threw together a little thing, so yeah, enjoy if you would like to:
10:58, Saturday Night - Dime Store Keats
(rapidshare, so follow instructions!)
-ed
So I never really upload my own music anymore (since that wonderful spurt of Columbia Sponge Factory Experience tunes, the well has been dry), but I got bored tonight and threw together a little thing, so yeah, enjoy if you would like to:
10:58, Saturday Night - Dime Store Keats
(rapidshare, so follow instructions!)
-ed
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
One time I told a girl I was in an emo band...
...because I was embarrased that the band I was in only played Metallica covers and the guitarists played ESP's. That unfortunate claim, however, does not detract from the fact that I have been in love with that Fall Out Boy song "Sugar, We're Going Down" for about 3 weeks now. Now, this isn't really the emo that I grew up with and once pretended I was. That was like Rainer Maria and Sunny Day Real Estate. That was freaking awesome.
This is Motley Crue II.
But what a great chorus. I don't really know what he's singing, and he sounds like a tard when he sings "Downtown," but that melody. Brilliant. It almost makes me want to buy the entire album, but there's no way they can surpass that song. I don't want to ruin their image in my mind. Basically, they are the pop-emo Gods of 2005. When I hear that song, I smile. I don't even know the lyrics, and I've listened to it about 50 times. They don't matter. They're probably about a girl. Whoopdedoo. It makes me want to hold my fist in the air and wear tighter jeans, all so that I can fully appreciate the songs awesomeness. I think I'll go do cartwheels now.
-ed
...because I was embarrased that the band I was in only played Metallica covers and the guitarists played ESP's. That unfortunate claim, however, does not detract from the fact that I have been in love with that Fall Out Boy song "Sugar, We're Going Down" for about 3 weeks now. Now, this isn't really the emo that I grew up with and once pretended I was. That was like Rainer Maria and Sunny Day Real Estate. That was freaking awesome.
This is Motley Crue II.
But what a great chorus. I don't really know what he's singing, and he sounds like a tard when he sings "Downtown," but that melody. Brilliant. It almost makes me want to buy the entire album, but there's no way they can surpass that song. I don't want to ruin their image in my mind. Basically, they are the pop-emo Gods of 2005. When I hear that song, I smile. I don't even know the lyrics, and I've listened to it about 50 times. They don't matter. They're probably about a girl. Whoopdedoo. It makes me want to hold my fist in the air and wear tighter jeans, all so that I can fully appreciate the songs awesomeness. I think I'll go do cartwheels now.
-ed
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
If anything in this world is timeline worthy...
Then what happened this afternoon would be it. Thank you Kyle, and your drivers licence.
So I'm at work again, I have a few books to read so hopefully I won't get as terribly bored. The kid today, I can't tell if he's actaully competent or just wanted to sound impressive, but he asked for "cans" today when checking stuff out. Now, for those who don't know, "cans" is studio slang for headphones, except no one ever says that unless they want to show that they know what's going on. With all the engineers I''ve worked with that were competent, no one actually says that when they talk about headphones. It's douche-jargon. There is some slang that is acceptable, but that's basically just abreviations of stuff like, "DI" or "2 inch" or "pancake" etc..."cans" is pushing it.
EDIT: I had a chance to be a hardass tonight, b/c the guy tried to guitar on the session. While this is one of the rules I find most annoying about Belmont's policies, I got a kick out of enforcing it. Ha! Ninja kick!
Also, I had M83 blarring when the assistant came in today. I think he might have been weirded out by the dramatic spoken word part.
-ed
P.S. I was looking through amazon.com for some ideas on what to read next, and I keep coming across used books for $0.01. I'm tempted to buy these things, yet I don't quite believe that they're only a cent. I bet I'd get screwed on the shipping costs.
Then what happened this afternoon would be it. Thank you Kyle, and your drivers licence.
So I'm at work again, I have a few books to read so hopefully I won't get as terribly bored. The kid today, I can't tell if he's actaully competent or just wanted to sound impressive, but he asked for "cans" today when checking stuff out. Now, for those who don't know, "cans" is studio slang for headphones, except no one ever says that unless they want to show that they know what's going on. With all the engineers I''ve worked with that were competent, no one actually says that when they talk about headphones. It's douche-jargon. There is some slang that is acceptable, but that's basically just abreviations of stuff like, "DI" or "2 inch" or "pancake" etc..."cans" is pushing it.
EDIT: I had a chance to be a hardass tonight, b/c the guy tried to guitar on the session. While this is one of the rules I find most annoying about Belmont's policies, I got a kick out of enforcing it. Ha! Ninja kick!
Also, I had M83 blarring when the assistant came in today. I think he might have been weirded out by the dramatic spoken word part.
-ed
P.S. I was looking through amazon.com for some ideas on what to read next, and I keep coming across used books for $0.01. I'm tempted to buy these things, yet I don't quite believe that they're only a cent. I bet I'd get screwed on the shipping costs.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Monday, November 14, 2005
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Not only are they pretty, but they're unique!
Taken from 2 sorority girls profiles....I just had to laugh.
///
"Today we salute you Miss Phi Mu Sister. Not only do you have the looks, brains, and glamour, but most importantly the class to back it up. Sure, frat boys may talk to other ladies, but don't worry, their only dream is to date-a-Phi Mu. With that ladybug flying high and that Phi Mu sparkle in your eye, you are every guy's dream and every girl's envy. You can party like a professional, yet still keep that frat-tastic class. And remember: There's only one thing to be...and that's a Phi Mu!!!"
"Today we salute you miss Chi O sister. Not only do you have the looks, brains, and glamour, but most importantly the class to back it up. Sure, frat boys may talk to other ladies, but don't worry, their only dream is to date-a-Chi O. With
that Owl flying high and that Chi O sparkle in your eye, you are every guy's dream and every girl's envy. You can party like a professional, yet still keep that frat-tastic class. If you're dating a Chi O, raise your hand. If you're not, raise your standards. Then crack open an ice cold Miller Lite you sexy Chi O's, and remember: There's only one thing to be... and that's a Chi O!!!!"
///
So, the only appreciable difference that I can determine is that Chi O's like to drink. I really hope that they both think that their little rallying cry things are unique.
-ed
Taken from 2 sorority girls profiles....I just had to laugh.
///
"Today we salute you Miss Phi Mu Sister. Not only do you have the looks, brains, and glamour, but most importantly the class to back it up. Sure, frat boys may talk to other ladies, but don't worry, their only dream is to date-a-Phi Mu. With that ladybug flying high and that Phi Mu sparkle in your eye, you are every guy's dream and every girl's envy. You can party like a professional, yet still keep that frat-tastic class. And remember: There's only one thing to be...and that's a Phi Mu!!!"
"Today we salute you miss Chi O sister. Not only do you have the looks, brains, and glamour, but most importantly the class to back it up. Sure, frat boys may talk to other ladies, but don't worry, their only dream is to date-a-Chi O. With
that Owl flying high and that Chi O sparkle in your eye, you are every guy's dream and every girl's envy. You can party like a professional, yet still keep that frat-tastic class. If you're dating a Chi O, raise your hand. If you're not, raise your standards. Then crack open an ice cold Miller Lite you sexy Chi O's, and remember: There's only one thing to be... and that's a Chi O!!!!"
///
So, the only appreciable difference that I can determine is that Chi O's like to drink. I really hope that they both think that their little rallying cry things are unique.
-ed
BEST. SHOW. EVER.
Jensen Sportag/Shit Robot/The Juan MacLean/LCD Soundsystem - Exit/In
Ok....maybe an overstatement, but absolutely the best show of 2005, hands down. Sam and I were the first ones there, @ like 7:15, and doors didn't open until 8:30. Not that we really needed to get there early, the place didn't fill until around 10pm...but we were there, ready to dance. To our great disapointment, Shit Robot never made it up on stage, instead DJing from behind the sound booth. Jensen Sportag was the first live act, 2 guys with sequencers and a keytar, and despite my initial ambivalence, I really liked them by the end of the set. I'll be sure to check them out again. After a long delay, The Juan MacLean made it on stage and freaking rocked out. They had a theramin/Keytar player who was amazing, and they started out with "Tito's Way." I danced, and I danced hard. Then they launched into "Give Me Every Little Thing," and it was pretty much perfect. When the bass and drums dropped in, it was life affirming. They closed with an extended/awesome version of "Shining Skinned Friend." Oh, so, so good.
LCD Soundsystem made it up to the stage around 12ish, or a little after, I'm not entirely sure. When they started the beat to "Yr City's a Sucker," I started smiling, and that smile never left my face the entire night. James Murphey is an intense frontman, and he commanded the audience's attention throughout the whole show. They played everything I wanted them to play, with a sped up "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" being the highlight for me, as the crowd went apeshit over it. "Losing My Edge" was good, but I think that he's probably tired of playing it...he did a fun adlib about verses and choruses in it, so the variation was good. "Tribulations" kicked ass too, a song I never wanted to end. The encore song was something I'd never heard before, probably a new song, but it was much more guitar/rock based, so it'll be interesting if that's the direction their going in for the next album.
Anyways, a freaking great show. I'm still dancing.
-ed
Jensen Sportag/Shit Robot/The Juan MacLean/LCD Soundsystem - Exit/In
Ok....maybe an overstatement, but absolutely the best show of 2005, hands down. Sam and I were the first ones there, @ like 7:15, and doors didn't open until 8:30. Not that we really needed to get there early, the place didn't fill until around 10pm...but we were there, ready to dance. To our great disapointment, Shit Robot never made it up on stage, instead DJing from behind the sound booth. Jensen Sportag was the first live act, 2 guys with sequencers and a keytar, and despite my initial ambivalence, I really liked them by the end of the set. I'll be sure to check them out again. After a long delay, The Juan MacLean made it on stage and freaking rocked out. They had a theramin/Keytar player who was amazing, and they started out with "Tito's Way." I danced, and I danced hard. Then they launched into "Give Me Every Little Thing," and it was pretty much perfect. When the bass and drums dropped in, it was life affirming. They closed with an extended/awesome version of "Shining Skinned Friend." Oh, so, so good.
LCD Soundsystem made it up to the stage around 12ish, or a little after, I'm not entirely sure. When they started the beat to "Yr City's a Sucker," I started smiling, and that smile never left my face the entire night. James Murphey is an intense frontman, and he commanded the audience's attention throughout the whole show. They played everything I wanted them to play, with a sped up "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" being the highlight for me, as the crowd went apeshit over it. "Losing My Edge" was good, but I think that he's probably tired of playing it...he did a fun adlib about verses and choruses in it, so the variation was good. "Tribulations" kicked ass too, a song I never wanted to end. The encore song was something I'd never heard before, probably a new song, but it was much more guitar/rock based, so it'll be interesting if that's the direction their going in for the next album.
Anyways, a freaking great show. I'm still dancing.
-ed
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Thursday, November 03, 2005
So maybe we did find David Gresham...
So I haven't mentioned this in a while, but I'm part of an awesome writing group on Tuesday nights, and we publish our stuff on a blog (http://paxford.blogspot.com), which I recommend anyone reading this blog go to immediately to read things of actual value. Check it out!
-ed
So I haven't mentioned this in a while, but I'm part of an awesome writing group on Tuesday nights, and we publish our stuff on a blog (http://paxford.blogspot.com), which I recommend anyone reading this blog go to immediately to read things of actual value. Check it out!
-ed
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Halloween...
Ashley asked me to put together a mix for the Honors Halloween party (ok, laugh now), so I threw one together today, it's about an hour long. It's pretty decent, but I missed some of the transitions about 30 min in and I didn't really care to start over. I doubt anyone will care but me. I also got bored and threw on a filter during the bloc party song that I missed a cue for, so it's kinda funny and wrong. oh well. Tracklist:
-ed
Ashley asked me to put together a mix for the Honors Halloween party (ok, laugh now), so I threw one together today, it's about an hour long. It's pretty decent, but I missed some of the transitions about 30 min in and I didn't really care to start over. I doubt anyone will care but me. I also got bored and threw on a filter during the bloc party song that I missed a cue for, so it's kinda funny and wrong. oh well. Tracklist:
- Do They Know It's Hallowe'en (Cadence Weapon Remix) - North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative, Inc
- Bochecha Ardendo - Os K-Rrascos & Vanessinha Do Picatchu
- Warning Siren - Tiefschwarz
- Hollaback Girl - Gwen Stefani
- Thriller - Michael Jackson
- Destroy Everything You Touch - Ladytron
- Another Excuse (DFA Remix) - Soulwax
- Close To You - The Avalanches
- Hombre - M.I.A.
- All Night - Damian Marley
- Sign, Sealed, Delievered (Remix) - Stevie Wonder
- Give Me Every Little Thing - The Juan MacLean
- (Shine Your) Light Love Hope - Bob Mould
- Chicken Payback (Madlib's Soul Distortion Vocal Remix) - The Bees
- Romantic Rights - Death From Above 1979
- Banquet (Phones Disco Edit) - Bloc Party
-ed
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Seriously...
I cannot even begin to describe how much I hate the song/music video of "Something To Be Proud Of" by Montgomery Gentry. I've run across it twice this weekend while flipping through channels, and to be honest, I watched it all the way through, but my disgust for it built throughout my experience with it.
First off, on purely asthetic grounds alone, the video is the worst piece of crap I have ever seen. It's these two guys in a f*cking desert, or plateau, or WTF, I don't know. And one tall guy wears a duster and a cowboy hat, while the feminine one plays guitar and looks like a reject from a Matchbox20 band. Ok, so they're in a desert (which is computer generated so it looks horrible already) and then images of the stuff they're singing about are flashing on screen. And this f*cking F16 keeps flying over through the entire thing, along with a GT) that drives across. THAT'S THE ENTIRE THING. They filmed it on a green screen and then used the computer animation of the 90's to make them seem, I dunno, badass? How about CRAP.
I know who they're aiming the song towards. It's basically listing all these things where guys have had shitty lives, because 1.) They were in the army 2.) Didn't go to college and had to work bad jobs because of a lack of education PURELY BY THEIR OWN CHOICE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE BADASSES. F*cking GTO.
Anyways, the chorus goes like this:
"That's something to be proud of:
"That's a life you can hang your hat on.
"You don't need to make a million:
"Just be thankful to be workin'.
"If you're doing what you're able
"An' putting food there on the table,
"And providing for the family that you love:
"That's something to be proud of.
Granted, it's a nice sentiment. But I can see this becoming an anthem for people who have no motivation in life.
"I haven't done anything worthwhile, but dammit, I put food on the table. Give me another beer."
Anyways, get ready for your redneck neighbor to be singing this with his buddies at the bar. Loudly. That's something to be proud of.
-ed
I cannot even begin to describe how much I hate the song/music video of "Something To Be Proud Of" by Montgomery Gentry. I've run across it twice this weekend while flipping through channels, and to be honest, I watched it all the way through, but my disgust for it built throughout my experience with it.
First off, on purely asthetic grounds alone, the video is the worst piece of crap I have ever seen. It's these two guys in a f*cking desert, or plateau, or WTF, I don't know. And one tall guy wears a duster and a cowboy hat, while the feminine one plays guitar and looks like a reject from a Matchbox20 band. Ok, so they're in a desert (which is computer generated so it looks horrible already) and then images of the stuff they're singing about are flashing on screen. And this f*cking F16 keeps flying over through the entire thing, along with a GT) that drives across. THAT'S THE ENTIRE THING. They filmed it on a green screen and then used the computer animation of the 90's to make them seem, I dunno, badass? How about CRAP.
I know who they're aiming the song towards. It's basically listing all these things where guys have had shitty lives, because 1.) They were in the army 2.) Didn't go to college and had to work bad jobs because of a lack of education PURELY BY THEIR OWN CHOICE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE BADASSES. F*cking GTO.
Anyways, the chorus goes like this:
"That's something to be proud of:
"That's a life you can hang your hat on.
"You don't need to make a million:
"Just be thankful to be workin'.
"If you're doing what you're able
"An' putting food there on the table,
"And providing for the family that you love:
"That's something to be proud of.
Granted, it's a nice sentiment. But I can see this becoming an anthem for people who have no motivation in life.
"I haven't done anything worthwhile, but dammit, I put food on the table. Give me another beer."
Anyways, get ready for your redneck neighbor to be singing this with his buddies at the bar. Loudly. That's something to be proud of.
-ed
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Travelling, Swallowing Dramamine...
Being in a state that I haven't visited since freshman year, everything's just a little fuzzy today. I wouldn't say that I feel "sad" or anything like that, but just really tired and exhausted. And fittingly enough, when this does happen, my music selections are a tad on the melancholy side. I tried listening to the new Deerhoof cd, but that made my head hurt (I do plan on remixing one of their songs though, tracks are available at http://deerhoof.killrockstars.com/remix.html), so I threw on some American Football. Hopefully I'll pick up before work and in time to do some more reading. I rather enjoy this now.
American Football - "Never Meant"
-ed
Being in a state that I haven't visited since freshman year, everything's just a little fuzzy today. I wouldn't say that I feel "sad" or anything like that, but just really tired and exhausted. And fittingly enough, when this does happen, my music selections are a tad on the melancholy side. I tried listening to the new Deerhoof cd, but that made my head hurt (I do plan on remixing one of their songs though, tracks are available at http://deerhoof.killrockstars.com/remix.html), so I threw on some American Football. Hopefully I'll pick up before work and in time to do some more reading. I rather enjoy this now.
American Football - "Never Meant"
-ed
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
LACK OF SUBJECT HEADING
So I guess I only have time to write in this thing when I'm at work, which reminds me of all those surveys we take in business classes about if we would use the computer at work for personal use and I always said I wouldn't or something. I totally lied, as if I had ethics. But I mean, if I actually had something to do it would be different. Tonight is especially boring due to the fact another staff guy is doing a session so that means that I basically just open doors and check out mics. Lame. I need weak A1 students so I feel powerful! But the singer for the session brought pizza and encouraged me to eat it, so yeah, I indulged her. This should happen more often.
Oh yeah, I recieved a $50 ticket from B-effing-Po yesterday. For parking in the only open spot, where everyone else had Belmont stickers, and where there is NOTHING that says I cannot park there. I don't feel like writing everything I think about this situation, but at least I don't have to pay it if I take some stupid test. But yeah, screw you Belmont.
-ed
So I guess I only have time to write in this thing when I'm at work, which reminds me of all those surveys we take in business classes about if we would use the computer at work for personal use and I always said I wouldn't or something. I totally lied, as if I had ethics. But I mean, if I actually had something to do it would be different. Tonight is especially boring due to the fact another staff guy is doing a session so that means that I basically just open doors and check out mics. Lame. I need weak A1 students so I feel powerful! But the singer for the session brought pizza and encouraged me to eat it, so yeah, I indulged her. This should happen more often.
Oh yeah, I recieved a $50 ticket from B-effing-Po yesterday. For parking in the only open spot, where everyone else had Belmont stickers, and where there is NOTHING that says I cannot park there. I don't feel like writing everything I think about this situation, but at least I don't have to pay it if I take some stupid test. But yeah, screw you Belmont.
-ed
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Lesson...
When, if you are ever doing a session at RCA B, and I am the staff engineer, I come in the check on how you're doing just to make sure things are going smoothly, NEVER, NEVER answer me smugly "Yes, if we have any problems we'll come and get you," like you are the hot-shit Audio One engineer. You will run into problems, and I will be very, very uninclined to help your ass.
FYI.
-ed
When, if you are ever doing a session at RCA B, and I am the staff engineer, I come in the check on how you're doing just to make sure things are going smoothly, NEVER, NEVER answer me smugly "Yes, if we have any problems we'll come and get you," like you are the hot-shit Audio One engineer. You will run into problems, and I will be very, very uninclined to help your ass.
FYI.
-ed
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Wow.
So I found this Rolling Stones cover I recorded sometime this summer. And since I already sent it to Sam, I figure she'll try to blackmail me and the only way to defeat it is to make it available to all. Please laugh, it'll be the best way for you to enjoy it.
Dime Store Keats - Miss You
Yes, that's a new recording alias.
-ed
So I found this Rolling Stones cover I recorded sometime this summer. And since I already sent it to Sam, I figure she'll try to blackmail me and the only way to defeat it is to make it available to all. Please laugh, it'll be the best way for you to enjoy it.
Dime Store Keats - Miss You
Yes, that's a new recording alias.
-ed
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
So it struck me today...
as we watched movie clips in my post techniques class, that I think Twister is the worst movie ever made. I was overcome with just disgust and nausea at the stupidity of the premise, and I really hope that people like that do not exist. If they do, eff them, and I hope they get sucked up into a tornado and die.
-ed
as we watched movie clips in my post techniques class, that I think Twister is the worst movie ever made. I was overcome with just disgust and nausea at the stupidity of the premise, and I really hope that people like that do not exist. If they do, eff them, and I hope they get sucked up into a tornado and die.
-ed
Monday, October 03, 2005
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