Fall 2011 Mix

Better late than never! Here's a Mediafire link to a zipped file of my 2011 fall mix. Hope you enjoy, and if you have any questions or insights in regards to any of the tracks, please do share.

TRACKLIST

1. "Crow Song" - The Bats (1995)

2. "Toxic Girl" - Kings of Convenience (2001)

3. "If I Needed Someone" - The Beatles (1965)

4. "The Employment Pages" - Death Cab for Cutie (2000)

5. "Quiet Houses" - Fleet Foxes (2008)

6. "Over My Head" - Fleetwood Mac (1975)

7. "Lyric" - The Sea and Cake (2011)

8. "Terra" - Julian Lynch (2011)

9. "Untitled 03" - Panda Bear (2004)

10. "Tugboat" - Galaxie 500 (1988)

11. "Vengeance is Sleeping" - Neko Case (2009)

12. "Into the City" - Teenage Fanclub (2010)

13. "To a Fault" - Dntel feat. Ed Droste (2007)

14. "Little Fawn" - Minks (2011)

15. "Feel Flows" - The Beach Boys (1971)

16. "Baby's Arms" - Kurt Vile (2011)

17. "Too Late, Too Slow" - Shout Out Louds (2010)

18. "Ram On" - Paul McCartney (1971)

19. "Astral Weeks" - Van Morrison (1968)

Parrot Flies/Romantic Comedy

Parrot Flies - Algernon Cadwallader (Hot Green, 2011)
Remember the mid and late 90s when emo wasn't a bad word and instead was a sub-genre of punk music with respectable let alone fantastic bands such as Cap'n Jazz, Braid, The Promise Ring, etc? Yeah, me too. Well, I believe I mentioned this before, but there's this 90s midwest emo revival that's taking place on the east coast, and it's breeding some pretty cool bands. This past summer, the cream of that crop, Algernon Cadwallader, dropped their second full length, Parrot Flies, and it is a doozy. The melodic, yelly vocals and bright, noodly, waterfall guitars make it hard not to compare the band to Cap'n Jazz, American Football, Owls, Ghosts and Vodka or really any of those Kinsella projects. And, while, on each of their releases, but especially Parrot Flies, the songs can kind of run together and start sounding the same, Algernon still has found a way to sound shamelessly classic emo while adding a fresh, modern twist thanks to their pure pop sensibility. I haven't faced any difficulty in getting over the blatant homage paying and lack of variety here, because the band does such an incredible job at recreating this sound and feeling that was so huge to me in high school and early college. I'm tempted to say that Algernon are at least on par with those classic bands mentioned above, and I feel weird about it, but it's basically true. Parrot Flies is simply excellent.


Romantic Comedy - Big Troubles (Slumberland, 2011)
Having just released a solid if not totally good fuzz pop full length debut last year in Worry, Big Troubles were quickly snatched up by indie pop mecca Slumberland Records and here they are with their classy follow-up. While all the fuzz and shitty production on Worry probably brought to mind The Jesus and Mary Chain, Romantic Comedy is a cleaner affair. It's still definitely an 80s album, but there are enough breezy vocals and 60s pop details on a few tracks to make this not a direct clone of The Cure (even though there are songs that sound quite a bit like said band). The band features two young songwriting talents, and their songs are pretty much lights out here (the best being "She Smiles for Pictures," "Make It Worse" and "Sad Girls"). Romantic Comedy isn't quite perfect (there are one or two songs that are just good as opposed to great or one of the best of the year), but it's not far off. The icing on the cake is that the record was produced by Mitch Easter (yes, THAT Mitch Easter). One could argue that as good as Worry was the way it sounded, the production on Romantic Comedy may be a little too nice. But, I'll put the kabosh on that, as it perfectly suits these crisp, finely crafted tunes. I am in love with this record.

Within and Without/Life Sux EP/Widowspeak/Palister Chant EP

Within and Without - Washed Out (Sub Pop, 2011)

For as boring as Washed Out's first full length release is, after spending some time with it, it definitely has its redeeming qualities. Being one of the original "chillwave" acts that Pitchfork championed in 2009, it's nice that there are enough differences between Within and Without and prior Washed Out releases to keep the sound somewhat fresh. Admittedly, there's plenty to roll one's eyes at here: vocal notes that are drawn out way too long, obnoxious melodrama and sexiness, songs that are mostly boring and run together. Knit picky things, for sure. But, there is a sense of beauty that can't be denied, especially in closer "A Dedication" (which also happens to contain the greatest level of melodrama on the album). The highest point here is most definitely "Soft," which I consider the centerpiece of the album. It actually sounds not unlike Dntel at his best, or even The Postal Service. Within and Without has other quality moments, which makes it a good, though, not great, follow-up to 2009's EPs, Life of Leisure and High Times.

Life Sux EP - Wavves (Ghost Ramp, 2011)

Wavves' childishly titled new EP, Life Sux, is simply an even more polished sounding extension of 2010's impressive and much liked King of the Beach LP. And, I didn't think the production could get much cleaner than that album's (in spite of the intentional distortion on the drums). Here, Nathan Williams' songs sound even more like a sped up Weezer, and some of them are even reminiscent of Nirvana's Nevermind singles, though much brighter sounding. Considering how young Williams is, I am taken aback by his songwriting chops (musically, certainly not lyrically), even if his songs are obviously derivative (which is entirely unavoidable at this stage of the game). Opening track "Bug" is absolutely righteous, with the best chorus on the EP, and Bethany Cosentino's BGVs on "Nodding Off" only make an awesome song even more awesome.

Widowspeak - Widowspeak (Captured Tracks, 2011)

Captured Tracks, that awesome Brooklyn record label that keeps churning out excellent 80s synth pop and goth-inspired releases, have found yet another good band, and they are called Widowspeak. I won't deny that a good portion of the tracks on their self-titled debut run together, and are relatively unrecognizable from the next. But, it's nice to see the label take a break from the dark, poppy, synth-dominated releases to drop this short LP of sad, jangly, mid-tempo jams. Most of the reviews I've read compare the band to Mazzy Star, who I don't have much experience with, so I won't do that. Widowspeak can definitely seem boring, but it's easy to get lost in the dreamy vocals and charming arrangements throughout.

Palister Chant EP - Zoos of Berlin (self-released, 2011)

With the surprise release (at least to me) of the Palister Chant EP, I will continue to claim that Zoos of Berlin is not only Detroit's musical secret weapon, they are the city's best band, if not the state of Michigan's. Palister Chant is further proof of this, even if it didn't hit me quite as immediately as 2009's debut LP, Taxis. The band still pulls from a wide variety of genres such as R & B, post-punk, psych, indie pop, kraut rock and whatever you'd call what David Bowie was creating during his years in Berlin, and their sound is still diverse, inspiring and entirely unique, while still maintaining pop sensibility. Each of the four songs here have their own charm and merits, "Haven't Eyes," a blatant experimental and bright sounding 80s pop/rock jam, being unquestionably the best. "Tamarind" rocks like Zoos have never done before, and it is a welcome addition to their repertoire. "Sheets of Solid Gold" is short and sweet, and "Kingston Gates" closes things all slow and pretty like. I assume we can expect a full length sometime next year, and I really cannot wait.

All the Same

"All the Same" by Real Estate, from Days (2011)

Most likely the best song on the new Real Estate album.

About a Boy/Red Ant House

About a Boy - Nick Hornby (1998)
Thankfully this was such a quick read, as About a Boy has been my least favorite Nick Hornby novel I've read yet. I'm not sure if it was my being annoyed by how hopeful the moral of the plot is here, or if Hornby's surprisingly juvenile writing was what killed this most for me. About a Boy is about a strange 12-year-old with a messed up family background who, thanks to completely unrealistic events, chums up with a 36-year-old man who has his own problems. Through both drama and comedy the two main characters grow and mature together, and it is a happy ending. This is a Hornby novel, so there's plenty of charm, and the characters are enjoyable for the most part. I am just shocked by how poorly written this is. It's apparent that Hornby has attempted to portray the voices of two different male figures of vastly different ages, and I would commend him for that if it all weren't so childish and awkward. In spite of only being able to come up with complaints after reading About a Boy, somehow, I still had a decent time reading it.


Red Ant House - Ann Cummins (2003)
I breezed through this collection of short stories by Ann Cummins for two reasons: they were easy to read, and I refuse to not finish a book I've started and I was unimpressed enough by all but one of the stories, and wanted to finish this bullshit as quickly as possible. Cummins' style and diction reminded me somewhat of a cross between Tom Robbins and Barbara Kingsolver writing about the clashing of cultures in the western United States, which might sound good to some, but was a major turnoff to me. The mix of cutesy language with edgy material just wasn't any fun to read. There was one exception though, and that was the haunting "Headhunter," which was about a character in a desperate, incredibly messed up situation and showcased beautiful, suspenseful description more in line with Cormac McCarthy. One great short story out of twelve is not good enough, though.

Dead to Me/It's All True/An Argument With Myself EP/Era Extrana

Dead to Me - Girls Names (Slumberland, 2011)

This being released by Slumberland Records, it's no surprise that the music Girls Names plays on Dead to Me is jangly, reverb-y and totally moody. It's got that lazy, surf thing going too, but when I listen to it, I think more about the nice guitars and also sadness. And drama! There are some ridiculous song titles here, like "I Could Die," "I Lose," "Cut Up," "Bury Me," and my favorite, "Seance on a Wet Afternoon." Somehow, this lends some charm to the record. I'm sorry, I don't have much to back Dead to Me up, I just like it fine the way it is.

It's All True - Junior Boys (Domino, 2011)

That Junior Boys' latest, It's All True, is even more sparse than previous albums isn't a bad thing. Unfortunately, it is still my least favorite of theirs, though I am still yet to try out their 2004 debut, Last Exit. The boys are still doing the smooth, sexy and mostly slow 80s synth pop thing, and still rule at it, really, it's just that It's All True is missing some intangible that I can't quite place. Maybe it's that the breathy vocals of Jeremy Greenspan aren't as prevailent, or that there aren't quite as many video game blips. There are even two really great upbeat jams on here in "Itchy Fingers" (it's opening is possibly the single greatest moment on the entire LP) and the epic "Banana Ripple." I just don't know. All of this uncertainty, and yet, It's All True is still a damn fine record.

An Argument With Myself EP - Jens Lekman (Secretly Canadian, 2011)

After a drought of almost four years, all we get from Jens Lekman is a five song EP? For real? Thankfully, it's a doozy. In a text message from a few weeks ago, Bravender mentioned that An Argument With Myself sounds like karaoke music, and as much as I hate to say it, I don't think I can argue against that. It doesn't matter though, because, as we all should know, Lekman is a master songwriter, and he can make whatever accompanies his voice and lyrics at any time sound good. Here, I would say that there are three songs that rival his greatest songs prior. The latin rhythms and ridiculous production on the title track may be cheesy, but the lyrics are clever as hell, and the choruses, which are different every time, simply rule. "A Promise" is smooth and gorgeous (the strings!), and features some incredibly cool chord changes. My favorite, though, is "New Directions," which has an obnoxious intro, but a great beat, nice, prominent bass, an adorable chorus with slightly Sufjan-y (ugh) horns, and takes that funky twist that every Lekman jam should. This will suffice for now, Jens, but come out with that next full length, already!

Era Extrana - Neon Indian (Static Tongues, 2011)

Alan Palomo's follow-up to his critically acclaimed and much loved debut as Neon Indian, Psychic Chasms, should not be a surprise to anyone. Of the three "major" "chillwave" acts now in the national spotlight who have released new records in 2011 (Washed Out and Toro y Moi being the others), the changes on Era Extrana are the most slight and least shocking. Sure, I think everyone saw Washed Out polishing up and getting even wussier, and Toro y Moi's Underneath the Pine sort of came out left field and is without question the best thing any of these dudes have ever done (at least that I've heard). But, Era Extrana isn't all that different from its predecessor, aside from the fact that there aren't as many good songs on it. Zing! Okay, okay, sure, the production value is a bit less purposefully low-fi, and overall it's probably even better as a straight up pop album. I actually do enjoy Era Extrana and all of its video game synths (which I do love) despite my negative claims, and thus express that there are totally some jams on it, like "Hex Girlfriend" and "Fallout." "Future Sick" takes the cake, though.

Fucked Up/Wavves @ The Magic Stick, 9/30/11

Last Friday, one of my top buds, Brian LaBenne, and I made the short, stressful journey out to Detroit for the Fucked Up/Wavves/Mexican Knives show that was to take place at the Magic Stick. We arrived just as Wavves' set had started, so I have no idea what Mexican Knives sound like, though, I would guess they play punk rock of some sort.

I had three complaints with Wavves on this particular night. Singer/songwriter Nathan Williams' ego is a little off-putting. The band played at least 15 minutes too long. And, after hearing three of my four favorite jams, all the songs just ran together, thus making the set seem even longer. All of that aside, Wavves were pretty great. HA. But, for real, they were pretty good. I did not expect the band to be as tight as they were, in spite of how fast they were playing. This was a pleasant surprise. I will admit that King of the Beach centerpiece "Post Acid" was a little too fast, while the title track was perfectly blistering and "Super Soaker," my favorite track from the album, was just as I had hoped. I hadn't listened to the stupidly titled new EP, Life Sux, at this point, so I wasn't really excited about, interested in, or impressed by any of the new songs (I since have listened to it, and it's not too shabby, actually).

Now, believe it or not, but this band, Wavves, played an encore, when they weren't even the closing act. This blew my mind and made me guffaw (figuratively and introspectively) at the same time. I couldn't believe it! At least it was the one good song from Wavves' second LP, Wavvves (such a clever title!), "No Hope Kids."

Overall, and to be completely honest, I don't really see my interest being held by Williams' music for much longer. He's a little too stoner/beach bum/young kid for me really, anyway. However, for now, I'm glad he's ditched the shitty, fuzzy lo-fi punk he was doing earlier on for this more polished, upbeat, Weezer-meets-really bright sounding Nirvana sound.

There were so many cool things about Fucked Up's set. There was, like, only ten minutes from the point that Wavves ended and Fucked Up began. That is uncharacteristic of any show, let alone at the Magic Stick. It always seems like there's at least a half hour wait between the main supporting act and the headliner at a Magic Stick show. Maybe I'm crazy. Regardless, Fucked Up were not shitting around.

The band opened up pretty much exactly as I expected, with "Queen of Hearts" and "Under My Nose," the first two real songs from their 2011 masterpiece, David Comes to Life. It was intense, incredible and seamless. At some point too early on they played my top jam from that album, "The Recursive Girl," and it ruled. Other highlights from David Comes to Life they were played awesomely were "The Other Shoe," "Turn the Season" and "A Little Death." The band played a set that was considerably shorter than I expected (seemed like Wavves played longer), so earlier albums were left out a little, though if my memory serves me correctly, "Black Albino Bones" from 2008's The Chemistry of Common Life and, curiously enough, "David Comes to Life" from 2006's Hidden World were played. And, also, "I Hate Summer," which I believe is from a single, and makes me want to dig into their more exclusively released material. The only way this set could have been any better is if "Crooked Head" and/or "Lights Go Up" had been included.

I am just as surprised as anyone who knows my general taste in music by how much I love Fucked Up, but when you think about it, it totally makes sense. Sure there's all this anger and screaming, but underneath that, it's not hard to notice the inspiring musicianship and blatant pop guitar hooks. I mean, really, Fucked Up are basically an intelligent, heavy pop punk band with a screaming, professional wrestler-type character for a lead singer. Seeing them perform in a more intimate setting than the 2009 Pitchfork Music Festival was fantastic not just because of how much I love the band's music. The charming personalities of each of the members came out, albeit subtly, and they totally seem like people I would love to hang out with. Not to get all sentimental and geeky. But, you know, look at the name of this blog.

Keep It Dark/Over My Head

"Keep it Dark" by Genesis, from Abacab (1981)

"Over My Head" by Fleetwood Mac, from Fleetwood Mac (1975)

My former roommate Julian turned me on to "Keep it Dark" early on in our days living in Ypsi together, and for some reason I just recently decided to go public with my love for it. Awesome sounding drums, cheesy but charming synths, nice melodies and such a great groove.

"Over My Head" is my top jam of fall 2011, so far. 1975-1987 Mac can virtually do no wrong.

2011 MLB Playoffs Preview

What an exciting way to end the 2011 MLB regular season yesterday, huh? Boston out (no qualms), Tampa in (totally stoked), Atlanta out (bummed) and St. Louis in (also, bummed). On to the playoffs!

ALDS

Detroit Tigers over New York Yankees, 3-2

Texas Rangers over Tampa Bay Rays, 3-2

The Tigers have plenty to worry about considering how stellar the Yankees' hitting always is, but, ideally Verlander will pitch twice, which all but guarantees two wins. Plus, believe it or not, Doug Fister has been even better than Verlander over the past month or two. Aside from Sabathia, New York's pitching is in trouble with how hot the Tigers have been to end the season. I am stoked for this series, and way more worried about Texas than New York.

Speaking of Texas, they're also going to have a tricky time with Tampa Bay and their hot streak to close the season. Texas' bullpen is the best in the business, and that is going to give everyone problems, but Tampa's starting pitching is better. Unfortunately, the Rangers have the better hitting, and I think that is going to overpower TB's starters by the end of the series.

NLDS

Philadelphia Phillies over St. Louis Cardinals, 3-0

Milwaukee Brewers over Arizona Diamondbacks, 3-1

The St. Louis Cardinals won yesterday only to be all but humiliated in their opening series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Hunter Pence acquisition doesn't even matter at this point; Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will shut the Cards down in three games.

The Brewers will have a slightly more difficult time with the D-Backs, but not by much. Justin Upton's and Ian Kennedy's magical seasons will come to an end quickly when facing Milwaukee's middle of the order, Weeks, Braun and Fielder, and it seems like the Brewers' pitching is totally underrated. I am so into this squad.

ALCS

Detroit Tigers over Texas Rangers, 4-3

Yes, I can realistically see this Tigers team reaching the World Series. I won't be surprised if they don't, because like I said, I fear playing this Texas team. However, I still give 'em a 50/50 chance to reach the "Who's-Gonna-Lose-To-The-Phillies? Bowl."

NLCS

Philadelphia Phillies over Milwaukee Brewers, 4-2

I love both of these teams, and I'd cheer slightly more for the Brewers than the Phillies, but I can't deny how much fun this series will be to watch. Milwaukee definitely has the better hitting, but, as good as their pitching is, Philly's is just that much more dominant. Just like everyone knew it would, that rotation will take Philadelphia all the way to the World Series (in spite of Roy Oswalt's sever underperforming).

World Series

Philadelphia Phillies over Detroit Tigers, 4-1

I hate to say it, but seeing as Detroit never faced Philly's aces during the regular season, our Tigers would be made to look like fools in this series. Once again, Philadelphia's starting rotation just dominates.

American Gods/To Kill a Mockingbird/Goodbye, Columbus

American Gods - Neil Gaiman (2001)
As much as I want to love Neil Gaiman's work, I'm having a difficult time with it. I've been reading the Sandman graphic novel series over the past few months, and while there are elements of it that are hit or miss, it has mostly been great thus far. His novels are another story. Neverwhere was haphazard and featured some of the least interesting characters I've ever come across. It wasn't a bad book; it had some redeeming qualities. American Gods bests Neverwhere in that the characters are slightly cooler and the story is better and more complex. The book's premise and overarching plot are actually quite awesome. An ex-convict is released from jail to find that his wife died of shady circumstances in a car wreck. Odin, the Norse god of war, hires him as a sort of bodyguard leading up to a battle that is to take place between the "old" gods and the "new," American gods (such as media). Actually, that sounds pretty nonsensical and ridiculous, but there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot that I guess ties everything together. I still think the characters are week, and don't get me wrong, I love fantasy, but it runs a little too rampant within the modern setting of this book. There's plenty to like about Gaiman's imagery and style, but his weaknesses (storytelling, character development, prose) really shine through in his novels. Ah well, American Gods was still enjoyable.


To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (1960)
Believe it or not, this is the first time I've read Harper Lee's famous and important novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. I was not surprised by how much it tugged at my heartstrings while awesome being simply a light, fun read. The feel of Lee's writing and certain parts of the story are reminiscent of Mark Twain, especially the short adventures that occur at the novel's beginning. Lee's portrayal of an Alabama family living through the Great Depression is beautiful, and the way she touches on darker subjects such as racism and rape while still injecting some humor in there is brilliant. As spare and subtle as the story is, Lee's characters are easy to love and invest in. I'm glad I finally got around to reading this classic.


Goodbye, Columbus - Philip Roth (1959)
That Goodbye, Columbus is Philip Roth's debut is pretty mindblowing. The book collects the novella, Goodbye, Columbus and five short stories that showcase Roth's excellent form and knack for subtle and clever storytelling, even as early as his mid-20s. While the actual novella is a very good, slow paced, comical, summer love story that I'm sure was an inspiration to Woody Allen, it is not the best story here. All the short stories were even more impressive, especially "The Conversion of the Jews", "Defender of the Faith" and "Epstein." Throughout the collection, Roth does a great job of underlining the coming-of-age story (or snippets of, in the short stories) with the struggles faced by those Americans of the Jewish faith in the early mid-20th century. This all leads to great drama, and some really funny situations. In Goodbye, Columbus Roth's stories are almost reminiscent of a less depressing, brighter J.D. Salinger, and I would recommend this to pretty much any one of my friends. I can't wait to read more.

Summer Singles 7"/Gloss Drop

Summer Singles 7" - 1994!/Snowing/Boys and Sex/Algernon Cadwallader (Slow Growth, 2011)
I am loving this 90s midwest emo revival that is taking place these days on the east coast. Slow Growth's Summer Singles 7" showcases perhaps four of the best bands doing it. 1994! and Boys and Sex (terrible band name, I know) are a bit more on the screamier side. 1994!'s jam is especially impressive thanks to all its math and how full it sounds, considering the band is made up of only two dudes. The real gems here are the excellent tracks by Snowing and Algernon Cadwallader. Snowing's jam is mid-tempo emo pop at its finest, with the classic bad singing and all. Good thing the melodies and guitar work are tops. Algernon Cadwallader is seriously the cream of the crop involved in this resurgence, though. "(Na Na Na Na) Simulation" isn't even close to one of the band's best tracks, but it takes the cake here. These guys continue to add some pop to their noodly sound, and if people who give them a chance can get past the Cap'n Jazz comparisons, they should reach the top of the world at some point.


Gloss Drop - Battles (Warp, 2011)
I am pleasantly surprised by how much I like Battles' latest, Gloss Drop, when I didn't really get much out of 2007's Mirrored. Don't get me wrong, I was enamored with the creativity and technical ability presented on that record, but I just don't get much enjoyment out of listening to it. Gloss Drop, on the other hand, with all of its cartoon synths and insanely tight (and just insane) drumming, is fun to listen to. Every song is at least decent, most of them are totally good, but "Ice Cream" and "Sweetie & Shag" are just ridiculous. I wouldn't disagree with any argument stating that Mirrored features more variety, but I like how Gloss Drop has more uniformity, yet still sounds like it was composed by aliens. Battles are like no band pretty much ever, and that's one cool thing about them, but I am happy to be able to consider myself a fan, now.

The Larry Sanders Show

The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)

Several months ago, during a trip out to Fenton, my boy Kevin McGorey recommended that I check out the classic 90s HBO comedy, The Larry Sanders Show. My deep relationship with it finally began just over a month ago, when I first moved to Plymouth. My housemate/landlord Ian was somewhere towards the end of the second season or beginning of the third, and I just picked up there. Little did I know how much I would come to love the show's style, feel, and, most of all, its characters.

The Larry Sanders Show starred Garry Shandling as late night talk show host Larry Sanders himself, Jeffrey Tambor as Hank the sidekick, and Rip Torn as the show's producer. One couldn't have asked for better chemistry between actors within the context of these storylines. The minor characters, namely the show's booker, played by Janeane Garofalo, Scott Thompson as Hank's assistant, and Bob Odenkirk as Larry's agent, only added to that chemistry. In addition to all of these performances, the show featured incredible cameos. Most memorable were David Duchovny, John Stewart and Ellen DeGeneres.

While I would say that my favorite aspect of The Larry Sanders Show is easily the extensive list of intelligently crafted, hilarious characters, this comedy had so much more to offer. It's criticism of the "show business" is still fresh for today, considering the early to mid-nineties timeframe of the show's run. I'd also argue that it was ahead of its time; sort of a precursor to the critically acclaimed quirky comedies of the 2000s, like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Arrested Development and The Office. And, last, but certainly not least, the show's writing was just brilliant, the situations that the characters found themselves in were unique for that particular decade (some of them are dark and even heart-wrenching, which gives the show more of a human element), and again, I cannot stress how much chemistry there was between everyone on the cast. That totally made the show.

If you have never seen an episode of The Larry Sanders Show, and you consider yourself my friend, then chances are you will absolutely love it. Stop watching whatever stupid television show it is you're trying to catch up on, and let your mind and heart become subject to the power of Larry Sanders.

2011 NFL Preview

The most wonderful time of any year is finally upon us, people: Fall, aka football season. The 2011 offseason was short and completely insane thanks to the lockout, and thus should make this coming season sloppier and less predictable than previous ones. Still, I will try guide you as best I can through what should happen during this NFL season. Here we go.

DIVISION PREDICTIONS

AFC East
1. New England Patriots (13-3)
2. New York Jets (10-6)
3. Miami Dolphins (5-11)
4. Buffalo Bills (3-13)

After the dominant regular season the New Englad Patriots had in 2010, plus with all of the risky but likely beneficial acquisitions they made this offseason (Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth in particular), this could be the year Tom Brady finally wins another Super Bowl. It's going to happen at some point before he retires, and the way that Bill Belichick can coach disgruntled ex-greats, the time is pretty much now. I am still not convinced by Rex Ryan and his bold, obnoxious claims. The New York Jets are a fine time, with a potentially championship winning defense, but Mark Sanchez cannot really be the answer, can he? The Miami Dolphins will probably come back down from Planet Mediocrity, and actually be pretty bad this year. The Buffalo Bills showed some promise last year on offense, but they made no improvements and I see them playing at pretty much the exact same level. Perhaps Andrew Luck will save the day for them next year.

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
2. Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
3. Cleveland Browns (4-12)
4. Cincinnati Bengals (3-13)

I think it's safe to say that we once again can expect an excrutiatingly tight race between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. I am way into Pittsburgh's well-balanced offense and think they have something really special in the trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace. The defense showed a few minor holes in 2010 that might be a cause for some worry in the coming years, but they still have one of the best defenses in the NFL. Their time might be running short though. If Baltimore can start acquiring some younger defensive studs for the great turnover that should be occurring over the next couple of years, they could totally overtake Pittsburgh (and New England, New York, Indianapolis and San Diego as well). I am completely sold by Joe Flacco and Ray Rice, and see them only getting better. Cleveland and Cincinnati both have some decent running games, but that's about it.

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
2. Houston Texans (9-7)
3. Tennessee Titans (6-10)
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11)

With this Peyton Manning injury, 2011 might see the beginning of the downfall of the Indianapolis Colts. Without Manning, the Colts are a three or four win team. With Manning, they could potentially win every game they play. However, he's getting up there in age, and the climate of the team is not what it used to be. It hurts me to say that Peyton may never get that second Super Bowl ring. The Houston Texans have been on the up and up for the past two or three years, yet their win-loss record has never really improved. It could finally happen this year, with that killer offense, and the slight improvements they made to an underperforming defense that actually has a lot of talent. In spite of having the best, albeit whiniest, running back in the NFL (Chris Johnson), the Tennessee Titans are pretty much screwed in 2011, and I guess the same could be said of Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers (11-5)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
3. Oakland Raiders (6-10)
4. Denver Broncos (4-12)

I only have San Diego slotted as the winners of the AFC West out of obligation. Sure, they had both the #1 ranked offense AND defense last year, but, how many games did they? Nine. And, they missed the playoffs. Vincent Jackson returns to form in '11, and that should be a huge help to Philip Rivers and co. I really think the Chargers are quite overrated, and will be rooting hard for the Kansas City Chiefs to repeat as division champs. Matt Cassel gets one more season to prove he's not a fluke, and if he succeeds again in 2011, he's the real deal. The KC running game is the best in the league, and they're defense ain't too shabby. The Oakland Raiders took a huge blow thanks to Nnamdi Asomugha moving on to greener pastures in Philadelphia, but at least Darren McFadden and Michael Bush are proving to be a formidable one-two punch at running back. The Denver Broncos are a complete mess, and it's going to take John Fox several years to get things back in order. There are plenty of players not named Tebow with potential on that team, and it seems like no one in the city of Denver cares about them. Maybe in 2012 Kyle Orton will be tearing it up for a playoff contender.

NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles (12-4)
2. Dallas Cowboys (9-7)
3. New York Giants (9-7)
4. Washington Redskins (5-11)

With the exceptional offseason the Philadelphia Eagles had, they all but have the NFC East in the bag. There are so many young studs on offense that Michael Vick should make even better, and the teams pass defense got exponentially better with the acquisations of Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominick Rodgers-Cromartie. The Eagles are arguably the team to beat in the entire NFC. I hate the Dallas Cowboys, and it bums me out to say that their atrocious 2010 season is most likely a fluke. Tony Romo is a stud, and he has a lot of weapons to work with and DeMarcus Ware is one of the greatest defensive players the NFL has seen in years. I'm not exactly sure what to make of the New York Giants. Part of me thinks that that team is loaded and is way better than everyone thinks they are. Their excellent defensive is on its way back, and suddenly they have an extensive passing attack (in spite of Eli Manning's mistakes). As far as I'm concerned, the Washington Redskins have nothing good going for them.

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
2. Chicago Bears (9-7)
3. Detroit Lions (8-8)
4. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

Pretty quickly, the NFC North is returning to the glory days of the Black & Blue Division. It is becoming one of the strongest group of teams in the NFL. If it weren't for all the moves that the Eagles have made, the Packers would pretty much have a fast track back to the Super Bowl. No team in the NFC, and maybe even in the entire NFL, is better. There are definitely questions in the team's running game (which I think will be answered once Ryan Grant quickly returns to form), but their passing attack and defenses are easily amongst the best around. It is likely that Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears overperformed last year, but that doesn't mean they're bad. In fact, with Matt Forte, the addition of drama queen extraordinaire Roy Williams, and Mike Martz running the show, the offense should be even better. And we all know that Chicago defense is usually great. The Detroit Lions are improving by the day. That defense can now be considered top notch, and I don't think Jim Schwartz will stop there. If Calvin Johnson isn't the best wide receiver in the NFL, he's second or third. If Matt Stafford can stay healthy for the entire season he will put up some incredible numbers, I am sure of it. I am not convinced of Jahvid Best yet, but am definitely rooting for him to succeed in this offense. Detroit is already close to contending for a playoff spot, and I'll be shocked if they don't make it in 2012. Now with Donovan McNabb at QB, I think the Minnesota Vikings will be better than everyone is giving them credit for. Adrian Peterson should be the focal point of the offense again now that Brett Favre isn't there, and I think that can only lead to good things. The defense underperformed last year, and I can't imagine Jared Allen and his crew doing that again.

NFC South
1. Atlanta Falcons (12-4)
2. New Orleans Saints (12-4)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
4. Carolina Panthers (3-13)

It's hard to tell who is going to come out on top of the NFC South between Atlanta and New Orleans. Both offenses are incredible, and both got better with excellent picks in the draft (Atlanta picking WR Julio Jones and New Orleans getting a steal with RB Mark Ingram). Both defenses are subpar, and it seems that only Atlanta tried to get better in that department, so that's who I'm going with. However, I see Ingram becoming a franchise running back in New Orleans, which takes a lot of pressure off Drew Brees, which could lead to another Super Bowl run. As good as Matt Ryan is and all those weapons he has between Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and now Jones, I just don't think they're ready quite yet. Tampa Bay surprised everyone last year, and I'm not sure why, but I'm sort of buying the hype. For as subtle as Josh Freeman's stats were, when you really take a look at them, they were insane. And, I'm excited about Mike Williams and LaGarrette Blount in that offense. Carolina has two of the most talented running backs in the NFC, and maybe they'll both return to their dominant performances of 2008 and 2009, but that's about the only bright spot on this team. I think Cam Newton will be a bust, and when Steve Smith doesn't have anyone of worth throwing to him, he just disappears. This team is still doomed.

NFC West
1. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
2. St. Louis Rams (7-9)
3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
4. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)

Any of the four teams in the NFC West could win the division crown, but that's not because it's tough and competitive there. It is just that weak. Arizona and St. Louis have half-way decent quarterback situations thanks to Kevin Kolb and Sam Bradford respectively, and while I'm convinced that Bradford will have a successful career in the NFL, Kolb hasn't actually played enough to prove himself, if he's actually as good as everyone seems to think he is. Throwing to Larry Fitzgerald definitely will help, and that's the only reason why I think the Cardinals will be slightly better than the Rams, but still not great. The 49ers have some real talent on defense, and Frank Gore gives them maybe the best running game in the division, but that quarterback situation does not look pretty. The Seahawks made the most moves, and made a lot of improvements in the passing game by adding Sidney Rice and Zach Miller, but who the hell is going to throw to these guys?

POSTSEASON AWARDS

Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick (New England)
Comeback Player of the Year: Albert Haynesworth (DE, New England)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Patrick Peterson (CB, Arizona)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Mark Ingram (RB, New Orleans)
Defensive Player of the Year: Clay Matthews (LB, Green Bay)
Offensive Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson (RB, Minnesota)
Most Valuable Player: Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay)

PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

AFC
1. New England Patriots
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. San Diego Chargers
4. Indianapolis Colts
5. Baltimore Ravens
6. New York Jets

NFC
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. Arizona Cardinals
5. New Orleans Saints
6. Dallas Cowboys

AFC Wild Card Round
New York Jets over San Diego Chargers
Baltimore Ravens over Indianapolis Colts

NFC Wild Card Round
Atlanta Falcons over Dallas Cowboys
New Orleans Saints over Arizona Cardinals

AFC Divisional Round
New England Patriots over New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers over Baltimore Ravens

NFC Divisional Round
Philadelphia Eagles over Atlanta Falcons
Green Bay Packers over New Orleans Saints

AFC Championship
New England Patriots over Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC Championship
Green Bay Packers over Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl XLVI
New England Patriots over Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl XLVI MVP
Tom Brady (QB, New England)

Emotional Listening #13

Static Prevails - Jimmy Eat World (Capitol, 1996)
Into the month of August, I continued the nostalgia train by revisiting Jimmy Eat World's pre-Clarity material. Between that album and Static Prevails, these Arizona boys (well, men, now) had quite a run on Capitol Records (albeit short). Having started with Clarity back in early high school, I was pleasantly surprised by how fast and raw the songs on Static Prevails are. This is not the glossy, heavily orchestrated, ballad heavy emo pop record that Clarity is. Sure, a good portion of these songs can be considered pop songs, they're just heavier, which is pretty damn enticing. Jim Adkins' screaming on "Thinking, That's All" is a chilling touch, and the intensity of his vocals only let up a handful of times throughout the record. That the songwriting duties were split up on Static Prevails between Adkins and Tom Linton is sort of a bummer, as Linton's songs are not nearly as good (though, there are parts in "Seventeen" that are brilliant). "Claire" and "Digits" are outright highlights, and "In the Same Room" might just be Jimmy Eat World at their best. So emo, but so so good.
Top jams: "Thinking, That's All," "Claire," "Call It in the Air," "Seventeen," "Digits," "World is Static," "In the Same Room," "Anderson Mesa"

Singles - Jimmy Eat World (Big Wheel Recreation, 2000)
Before Bleed American, their ticket to the mainstream promised land, Jimmy Eat World released a collection of songs from 7"s and compilations released before and around Static Prevails, appropriately titled Singles. And, whoo boy, are there some gems. "Opener" absolutely should have been on Static Prevails. It is easily Tom Linton's best song, and "77 Satellites" is probably his second. "Spangle" is a very nice Wedding Present cover that I actually like much better than the original. The jagged rhythms of "What Would I Say to You Now" and "Christmas Card" and its emo dynamics have Jim Adkins and the rest of the band at the top of their game. They are two of the band's greatest jams and should have been included on a full length somewhere.
Top jams: "Opener," "77 Satellites," "What Would I Say to You Now," "Speed Read," "Spangle," "Ramina," "Christmas Card"

Cat's Cradle/The Broom of the System/Post Office

Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut (1963)

For my second attempt at a Kurt Vonnegut novel, I went with Cat's Cradle on my friend Brian's recommendation. While I still didn't completely love it, I would say its still an improvement over Slaughterhouse-Five (even if it was published earlier). From my knowledge Cat's Cradle seems to be typical Vonnegut fare, with symbolic, flowery language laced with clever puns. The plot pretty much runs the gamut. It begins with a writer who decides to research one of the inventors of the A-Bomb, and then ends up meeting a variety of zany characters, including the inventor's children, in the process. The story quickly unravels into a journey to a foreign island with apocalyptic results. With themes touching extensively on science, technology and religion, Vonnegut's analogies and imagery is varied and often times quite beautiful. There are a lot of characters, which isn't surprising at all, and they are all fun, weird and charming in their own way. I guess my main issue with the book is how difficult it is to keep track of all them. Also, I will admit, sometimes Vonnegut's way with words gets a little on my nerves. But, while my high expectations for Cat's Cradle weren't quite met, it was still a very enjoyable read.

The Broom of the System - David Foster Wallace (1987)

I wouldn't say that The Broom of the System, the debut novel by post-modern fiction's tragic god, David Foster Wallace, is necessarily the best book I've read all year, but, it comes damn close. Not only could I barely put the book down, it was the most fun I've had reading any book since I can remember. Infinite Jest is definitely the better (technically speaking) and more mature work of art, but I think the flaws and perhaps juvenile nature lend a certain charm to The Broom of the System. Wallace, who probably owes quite a bit to Thomas Pynchon here, still has woven an utterly complex and outright zany tale that is brighter and infinitely less dense in plot and emotion than his masterstroke, thankfully. That's not to say that TBotS isn't littered with intermingling story lines that are easy to get lost in, they are just less difficult to follow than I expected. All the characters are lovable, even the most loathe-worthy ones. Wallace's love of language is apparent and perhaps the most enjoyable element of the novel. I want to divulge as much as I can in regards to the story and all the layers within, but then this post would read for a mile, and I'd be up way too late. Trust me that you should definitely read The Broom of the System. I don't think I can recommend another book that I've read in 2011 any higher, with the exception of maybe A Confederacy of Dunces. I absolutely cannot wait to read Wallace's posthumously published third novel, The Pale King, when it is released in paperback form.

Post Office - Charles Bukowski (1971)

A little over a year ago, my friend Leah was telling me I should read some Charles Bukowski, and I hadn't put much thought into it since, until I discovered that my new housemate Ian owns his debut novel, Post Office. It was an incredibly quick read as, for one, Bukowski's style and flow are easy to follow, at least here, and two, it's not even 200 pages long. I easily devoured the novel in one day, but I'll admit that while I don't necessarily wish it was a longer book, I wouldn't have minded spending a little more time on it. The novel's title is a good indication of what the plot is: dude works for the post office for 12+ years, first as a carrier, then after a relatively short break, he returns as a clerk. Slightly deeper down (though Bukowski makes it obvious), Post Office really is about smoking, drinking, screwing, finding ways to not have to work hard, and putting up with overbearing supervisors and ridiculously demanding "customers." It is simple, dark, fun and hilarious most of the time. Read it.

Oil!/Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas/The Neon Bible

Oil! - Upton Sinclair (1927)

Because P.T. Anderson's excellent 2007 film, There Will be Blood (one of my absolute favorites of all time), is loosely based on this 1927 Upton Sinclair novel, I was pretty stoked to tackle Oil!. When I realized early on exactly how loose of an adaptation it was, I lost interest pretty quickly. There Will be Blood is a brilliant, stark, intense satire on American religion and the oil industry in the early 1900s and a character study on a truly evil oil tycoon (superbly played by Daniel Day-Lewis, duh). Oil! unsurprisingly and satirically touches on the scandalous nature of U.S. politics and the oil industry at the time, and blatantly champions the socialist banner. While I appreciate Sinclair's perceptive and insanely descriptive writing style, and tragic endings are usually my jam, but the density of the material turned into a total bore and Sinclair's preachiness is a bit overwhelming. When you get down to it, the novel and the film are really nothing alike, and the plot, pacing, mood and characters in There Will be Blood make it the far more superior experience.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - Hunter S. Thompson (1971)

I've been planning on reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson's most famous work, for several years, and I definitely wouldn't say it was a disappointment. It is a novel with autobiographical tendencies (I get the feeling that only the names used are false, the drug-induced fantasies are exagerated, and that's it). It is sometimes difficult to sort through what is real vs. what is surreal. Despite the lack of anly real narrative, the plot is pretty fun: Raul Duke (Thompson) and Dr. Gonzo (his attorney) take two trips to Las Vegas on journalist duty, but instead get lost in a haze of substance enhanced insanity. The drug imagery is pretty interesting and usually funny, and a hefty portion of the dialogue and Thompson's style and way with words were entertaining and gave me a good chuckle. But, that's pretty much all I got out of Fear and Loathing (which is fine), even though I know that there's supposed to be some grand statement on the American Dream hidden underneath all of the druggy talk. Perhaps my capability to relate with anything in this book is hindered by the fact that it's the first and only thing I've ever read of Thompson's. C'est la vie.

The Neon Bible - John Kennedy Toole (1989)

John Kennedy Toole, most notable for his authorship of A Confederacy of Dunces, died far too young and tragically. It also is unfortunate that there are only two novels posthumously published by this talented writer. I read A Confederacy of Dunces earlier in the year and my mind was completely blown. It it is one of the best works of fiction I've read in my entire life. The Neon Bible was published nine years later, though it was written at a considerably earlier time in Toole's life: AT THE AGE OF 16. That fact definitely has a little to due with how impressed I am with this short novel. However, The Neon Bible is not just good for a 16 year-old. It is a southern gothic tale of growivg up in the American south in the 1940s, facing such adversities as poverty, ultra conservative Christianity, an uncaring father, the second World War and insanity, to name a few. While A Confederacy of Dunces was painstakingly detailed and utterly hilarious, The Neon Bible is dark and subtle. Toole's language and imagery is simple in the most charming and appropriate ways, and the meandering pace and tone of the story is pulled off exceedingly well. And, unlike most books I read, this one's ending was slightly unexpected and absolutely fantastic. I wish there could be more published works by John Kennedy Toole, but the two novels we have of his will most definitely suffice.

Shed/In Blank

Shed - Title Fight (Side One Dummy, 2011)

Thanks be to Bravender for introducing me to these Kingston, Pennsylvania purveyors of nostalgic emo and hardcore infused pop punk. Remember the late 1990s and early 2000s, when emo, punk and hardcore were united by record labels like Equal Vision, Initial, Jade Tree, Revelation and even Fueled by Ramen and Vagrant? Well, that's what Title Fight sound like on Shed, and it rules. It's not even close to may favorite record of 2011 or anything, it's just really nice to hear bands doing this kind of music again. I feel like I'm in high school again when I listen to this, and I love it.

In Blank - Title Tracks (Ernest Jenning, 2011)

In Blank is the sophomore full length from Title Tracks, the latest project from musician extraordinaire John Davis, who is most relevant to me as the drummer for defunct DC melodic art-punk band Q and Not U. I will admit, it is nothing special, but man, is it fun! All 11 tracks consist of the same jangly guitars, bouncy rhythms and excellent melodies, which can totally get old and/or forgettable, but is permissible due to how well Davis pulls everything off (assuming he played every instrument on the record like on Title Tracks' debut). The power pop of In Blank is an obvious nod to Elvis Costello and even The New Pornographers in places, and that is a-ok to me.

God Bless America

"God Bless America" by Joan of Arc, from How Memory Works (1998)

More 90s emo nostalgia. The first half of this jam is especially great.

In the Same Room/What Would I Say to You Now

"In the Same Room" by Jimmy Eat World, from Static Prevails (1996)

Revisited Jimmy Eat World's major label debut, Static Prevails, the other day for the first time in a good while. This is is still the record's best song, let alone one of the band's best ever.

"What Would I Say to You Now" by Jimmy Eat World, from Jimmy Eat World/Jejune 7" (1997)

And then the following day I continued on this trip down memory lane with the band's collection of 7" and rare tracks, Singles, and was reminded of the greatness of this jam as well.

The Moonlight Butterfly/Go With Me

The Moonlight Butterfly - The Sea and Cake (Thrill Jockey, 2011)
The Sea and Cake's latest, a mini-album by the ridiculous name of The Moonlight Butterfly, is exactly what I've come to expect of the band. I am not offended at all that the band's sounded hasn't changed all the much over their 15+ years of existence (aside from maturing). In fact, considering how vastly different The Sea and Cake sound from everyone else, I don't think any considerable changes were ever needed. Sure, these classy Chicago men have experimented more with synths and different musical cultures over the years, but the overall feel of their music has remained the same. All of this to say that, even though there are no drastic surprises here, The Moonlight Butterfly still might showcase the highest number of subtle ones out of any Sea and Cake release. Also, it is in no way their absolute best work, but I believe it to be their most mature. These songs are more wide open than usual: their structures are not as straightforward and their backgrounds are much more ambient. This might even be drummer/producer John McEntire's greatest work behind the board. That these recordings have a lot more atmosphere to them really lends itself to the mood of the record. Also, I'm loving the added jangle to all of lead vocalist Sam Prekop's guitars. While The Moonlight Butterfly probably isn't close to being my favorite release by The Sea and Cake, it is a long awaited and much appreciated follow-up to 2008's stellar Car Alarm, and "Lyric" and "Up on the North Shore" specifically are on par with the band's best songs from their more recent resurgence.


Go With Me - Seapony (Hardly Art, 2011)
Surprise, surprise. Seattle's Seapony are yet another band with jangly guitars, lo-fi production (much closer to mid-fi here, actually) and sunny/summery/surfy undertones. Are you getting tired of this brand of indie pop yet? I am, except when it's done well, like on Seapony's debut full length, Go With Me. Part of me thinks that there is nothing to these songs and a lot of the melodies are cheesy. But then again, half of them have been stuck in my head for the past three days straight. Seapony could easily be tossed aside as yet another twee or jangle pop revival band, but there are a few elements that take Go With Me above that. These songs are not blatantly in your face happy sounding. I mean, some of them are, but there are some nice moodier pieces too. Also, there is an undeniable 80s accent throughout the record in some of the guitar riffs and tones (a lot of it might have to do with the overwhelming presence of drum machine, too). Though I'll probably be done with them within a year, Seapony have wone me over for now. "Dreaming" and "Always" are excellent standout cuts that should be checked out immediately.

Demolished Thoughts/Innings/Tomboy

Demolished Thoughts - Thurston Moore (Matador, 2011)
I'm not really one to champion Sonic Youth much. I like Rather Ripped, and intend to give Daydream Nation more listens than the few that I have, but I honestly don't know or care much beyond that (I'm open to anyone changing my mind). So, I'm not sure why I decided to take a chance on Thurston Moore's latest solo record, Demolished Thoughts, but I'm glad I did. This LP showcases Moore's skill at stripping things down and just getting real. The songs are laced with interweaving acoustic guitars and accented by sparse strings and some harp here and there, all of which make way for Moore's flawed and wounded vocals. Overall, the sound is simply gorgeous, but the real selling point is how Moore integrates such beauty in songs that are made up of chord progressions that are so haunting and even unsettling at times. Demolished Thoughts should truly shine come fall.

Innings - Nodzzz (Woodsist, 2011)
I unfortunately still haven't listened to lo-fi jangle pop band Nodzzz's self-titled debut aside from the one time that Bravender shared it with me. From what I remember, it seems that LP #2, Innings, picks up right where they left off: rough around the edges production, very short and succinct guitar pop songs, clever, quirky and innocent lyrics, and fun as hell melodies galore. There isn't anything particularly special going on here, but I'm not really requiring that from the band. Innings is just a quick, enjoyable listen featuring simple yet impressive song craft. "Old Clothes" and "Spirit & Soul" are especially jams.

Tomboy - Panda Bear (Paw Tracks, 2011)
The long wait is over. Tomboy is finally arrived. Well, it's been here for a few months now, but, you know what I mean. Back in April, Jensen shared his sentiments on Tomboy and remarked that it is a gray album. While I agree that it is nowhere near as vibrant as Panda Bear's 2007 masterpiece, Person Pitch, I don't think that Tomboy is necessarily lacking color. And, the vast differences between the two make it quite a charming listening experience. Here, Noah Lennox depends more on live instrumentation and naturally created sounds, which ended up leading to more sparse arrangements and darker moods. Still, Lennox's immaculate melodies and harmonies dominate almost every measure on Tomboy, and is obviously the element that ties everything together. Opener "You Can Count on Me" and standouts "Surfer's Hymn" and "Last Night at the Jetty" are the brightest moments on here, but they still fit in perfectly with all the darker ones. I love every song but one on the record, but "Slow Motion," "Last Night at the Jetty" and "Alsation Darn" are far and away the best. Tomboy is not perfect, and probably not quite as great as Person Pitch, but it is definitely a satisfactory follow up, and easily one of my favorite albums to be released in 2011 so far.

The Dark Knight Returns/The Jungle/The Sun Also Rises

The Dark Knight Returns - Frank Miller (1986)
What a great twist on the Batman story. This time through it probably wasn't as mind-blowing as my first, but still, The Dark Knight Returns is just incredible. Frank Miller spends the entire book focusing on Batman's morality, his stance on city and national government, and it gets way deeper than that. In The Dark Knight Returns, Bruce Wayne is an aging, insanely rich man (obviously), and had retired as Batman, until Gotham City is tortured by a large crew of wretched souls dubbed Mutants. He triumphantly and scandalously returns as Batman to save the city once again, but only sort of. Do Batman's vigilante actions cause more harm than good? That is the main question in this book. Then things sort of take a turn, and shit gets really crazy with arch-nemesis The Joker (their somewhat symbiotic relationship is touched on artfully) and perhaps his second greatest enemy, Superman. The ending is just perfect. If you haven't read The Dark Knight Returns (and you're crazy and probably don't actually exist if you're a fan of comics and haven't), there is maybe only one singularly collected graphic novel that I can recommend higher (Watchmen). The Dark Knight Returns is challenging, brilliant, fun as hell and tremendous in the all encompassing way that it further complicates and darkens the character of Batman and answers many questions and then asks a shit ton more in return. Get on it, duh.

The Jungle - Upton Sinclair (1906)

Perhaps Upton Sinclair's most popular and important work, The Jungle is probably the most difficult novel I've read since I tackled One Hundred Years of Solitude last fall. Not so difficult to follow as that novel or, say, Infinite Jest, The Jungle's neverending spiral of tragedy just wore so much on the emotions. I'd argue that it is almost as overtly heavy handed as Sapphire's Push, albeit much better written and more realistic. I know that's a ridiculous comparison that a serious reader would probably be offended by, but let's consider the heavy subject matter that Sinclair covers here. The Jungle is about so much more than just the meatpacking industry. It is more broad than that. Here, Sinclair describes the life of a United States immigrant in the early 1900s. He covers all of the following: the worst possible working conditions, poverty and homelessness and a hopelessness that was dominant amongst the working class. Without giving away too much, main character Jurgis faces horrible tragedy after horrible tragedy, and at times it was just too much to read. However, The Jungle is exquisitely written, and if you read my reviews on here, you know I like messed up shit in novel form. Between all of that and all of the insight gained from Sinclair's investigative work turned novel, The Jungle is definitely a great novel in every technical way. I'm not sure I would call it an enjoyable read by any means, though.

The Sun Also Rises - Ernest Hemingway (1926)

Supposedly Ernest Hemingway's greatest work (according to some), The Sun Also Rises started off just as I had expected and hoped, then I sort of became bored with it. In rough summary, a group of American and British expatriates hang out and drink in France, then decide to basically go on a bender in Spain, hang out, eat and drink a ton, watch bullfights, fish, and generally yuck it up. There is interesting dialogue and some truly great relationship drama that is handled in the most childish of ways. Themes such as sexual freedom, masculinity, travel, culture, and leading a fulfilling and enjoyable life into adulthood are touched on in ways that I could see having been controversial back in the late 1920s. I also appreciate how all of the dialogue and descriptions are so understated. There were a few minor emotional sentiments (put to text quite wonderfully by Hemingway) that hit me in the right way, but other than that, I had difficulty relating to any of these characters. Again, I ended up getting bored because, well, nothing really happens. And, I like meandering stories. Call me jaded or ignorant or below this or whatever, but The Sun Also Rises ended up not being all that it was cracked up to be. Not that I hated it, because I really did enjoy a lot of the character interactions and the simple, yet beautiful language. I guess I just wasn't engrossed with any of the events that took place nor did I care very deeply about any of the characters. I'm sorry, people.

Emotional Listening #12

Addicts and Drunks - Ghosts & Vodka (Six Gun Lover, 2003)
Showcasing the immense guitar playing talents of Cap'n Jazz's Victor Villareal and Sam Zurick, it's no surprise that Ghosts & Vodka is a musician's band. As much of a fan as I always have been of this bright, mathy, wanky, guitar-centric style of music, it took me until now to fully appreciate G&V's output. Releasing only one 7", one LP and a reissue (which is the focus of this blurb) collecting the two and adding an unreleased track, it shouldn't have been so difficult for me, considering how gorgeous and fun all of these songs are. Villareal's trademark noodly, waterfall guitars are ever present here, and Zurick's jagged rhythms present a great counterpoint. Add a tight rhythm section on top of that and you have quite a beast of a collaboration. I think that the initial hurdle for me to get over is the fact that there is no real variance on this sound throughout all of the songs. They just run together. However, now that I consider myself a fan of repetition in music, this isn't an issue at all anymore. Addicts and Drunks is an excellent collection of Ghosts & Vodka's minimal discography, and "It's All About Right Then" and "Futuristic Genitalia" are two of my all-time favorite instrumental jams.
Top jams: "It's All About Right Then," "Good Luck With Your Multiple Personalities," "Laser Guided by God," "Futuristic Genitalia," "Hot Dot Above, Tan Man Below," "Four Red Brains," "Cowboys and Sailors," "Doo Dee Doo Dee Do," "Bizarre Funeral"

Alien Lanes - Guided by Voices (Matador, 1995)
It's about time I get into Guided by Voices. Apparently I wasn't ready when I first purchased 1995's Alien Lanes a bit over one year ago. I felt that it was indulgent and obnoxious, in spite of a select few great jams (opener "A Salty Salute" still probably being the best). I also was completely overwhelmed by the 28 tracks cruising by in only 41 minutes. I feel much differently now. Still a little overwhelming, and yes, indulgent, I've come to terms with the amount of songs, and now I can regard the lo-fi guitar pop of Alien Lanes as a charming experiment in pop songwriting and recording. Somehow, each song sounds drastically different, and vary in quality by insane degrees. What a fun way to go about a record. Plus, I can take away 11 songs that I consider to be fantastic at worst. "As We Go Up, We Go Down" and "Blimps Go 90" revealed themselves as two of the album's strongest points, and "My Valuable Hunting Knife" probably rivals "A Salty Salute" as one of the greatest songs of the 90s.
Top jams: "A Salty Salute," "They're Not Witches," "As We Go Up, We Go Down," "Game of Pricks," "Closer You Are," "My Valuable Hunting Knife," "Striped White Jets," "Blimps Go 90," "Strawdogs," "Little Whirl," "Alright"

Pirate Prude EP - Helium (Matador, 1994)
A while ago, my buddy Matt encouraged in me an interest in Sleater-Kinney and the mid-90s era of the Riot Grrrl movement in general. This led me to download two full lengths from Mary Timony's Helium (which I am yet to spend much time with) and to purchase their debut, the Pirate Prude EP. I had pretty high expectations, and was still pleasantly surprised. I anticipated a badass, angular punk group not unlike Sleater-Kinney. Pirate Prude is more like a bad ass, heavy, mid-to-slow tempo, slightly emo take on the male dominated indie rock style of that time. Timony's voice is strong here, but undeniably melodically challenged, which can be distracting at certain points. The thick, heavy guitars and more than capable rhythm section make up for it, and the subtle flaws throughout the EP are sort of appealing. "XXX" and "Love $$$" are especially good songs. Timony certainly proves herself a force to be reckoned with on Pirate Prude, and I can't wait to dive in to the rest of her work in Helium and her newest project (with Sleater-Kinney members Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss), Wild Flag.
Top jams: "Baby Vampire Made Me," "XXX," "000," "Love $$$"

Real Estate @ The Magic Stick Lounge, 7/18/11

In preparation for the October release of their second full length, Days, I could not pass up the opportunity to see Jersey by way of Brooklyn band, Real Estate, live. The smaller, stripped down version of Detroit's Magic Stick, the Magic Stick Lounge, was an appropriate setting. The band's jangly and chimey guitars sounded perfect in that room, and though their sound is tame, it seemed like the boys were truly enjoying themselves with the intimate and enthusiastic crowd.

I couldn't really have asked for a better set. Real Estate played my two favorite jams from their 2009 self-titled debut, "Beach Comber" and "Fake Blues," plus "Suburban Dogs," which features some of the most gorgeous, shimmering guitars since, I don't know, early 2000s Death Cab for Cutie? Believe it. The highlight was probably their latest single and best song yet, "Out of Tune." Beyond that, their set was dominated with new material, and I had no complaints.

Real Estate are the perfect band to spend a hot summer evening with. Their ballads and more upbeat numbers have a lazy feel that is perfect for this time of year. I was really blown away by all the new songs, especially the one they opened with, which featured a wonderful extended jam that I never really wanted to end. The songs on Days seem to be more focused, upbeat guitar pop, and I am totally okay with that. I wouldn't be surprised if the album ends up being my favorite of the year.

2011 MLB Mid-Season Report

Ok, so last week reached the All-Star break and are now beyond the half-way point of the 2011 MLB season. Per usual, there have been some nice surprises so far, but not so many to make this season shocking or substantially more exciting than the previous. But, don't get me wrong. 2011 has been great so far. Pitching once again is proving to be the strong point of the entire league, and it is really fun to watch the results of that. Unsurprisingly, the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies are looking like the absolute best in all of the MLB. Surprisingly, the Atlanta Braves are on their way back to that elite circle, the Tampa Bay Rays are still quite good after all of the players they lost, and also, the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates are in first place in their divisions (albeit bad ones)? Exciting stuff!

Here's how I predict the rest of this 2011 season to pan out.

AL East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

The only real surprise in the AL East this year has been how good the Tampa Bay Rays have played in spite of the losses of Crawford, Pena and Garza. Hower, that doesn't mean they're getting a playoff spot this year, because they're not. This division will be an even tighter race in coming years, but things seem to be going exactly as I expected in 2011. I like how close things are between the Yanks and the Red Sox, but Boston is definitely the superior team this year.

AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Kansas City Royals

The AL Central is just awful. Even though both the White Sox and Twins currently have losing records, either one of them could nab the title here. But, if the Tigers make a move for Carlos Beltran or someone of that ilk, or somehow nab an awesome pitcher, I think they'll sneak away with the division. That's not usually the Detroit way though, so who knows. Cleveland has been a pleasant surprise, but I don't see them running away with the Central. It should be a really tight finish.

AL West
1. Texas Rangers
2. Los Angeles Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Oakland Athletics

They started off on a roll and are on another one now, but overall, the Rangers have been just about as good as expected. They're solid hitting combined with how good their young pitching has been should easily give them the AL West title. Jered Weaver and Dan Haren have been immensely successful if not Cy Young caliber for the Angels, but their hitting is whatever, so they shouldn't present any real challenge for Texas. Seattle's young pitchers are starting to look quite dangerous, and add Felix Hernandez, who is also quite young, on top of that and they might be competing more in the next few years.

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Florida Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. New York Mets

Even though Roy Oswalt has underperformed and been struggling with injury all season, you couldn't really be asking for better performances from the other three Philadelphia aces. Roy Halladay should be on his way to yet another Cy Young award, while Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels have been almost as dominant. The Phillies definitely need hitting help if they're going to beat Boston in the World Series. Or, maybe if Oswalt gets healthy, they're pitching will be just enough. Atlanta is looking to be a serious roadblock for Philly this year and years to come. They're pitching has been insane, and apparently they have a few top pitching prospects still to be brought up. Florida should be better than they are. Jose Reyes has had an MVP caliber season so far for the Mets. I can't believe the Nationals are still at .500, but all that really matters is that they get Stephen Strasburg back next year.

NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Houston Astros

The Milwaukee Brewers are doing it pretty good this season, and I'll stand by my decision that they'll win the NL Central thanks to their immaculate hitting and improvements at pitching (which should actually be performing better than it is). St. Louis has done a good job battling all their injuries, and they've had some pleasant surprises in Lance Berkman and the outcome of all their bullpen drama. No one saw Pittsburgh doing what they're doing, and part of me thinks they'll keep it up, especially if they make a move before the trade deadline, but Milwaukee, St. Louis should overpower them. Cincinnati could too. I'm not sure what they're deal is, because they have quite the offense, and promising young pitchers, who aren't throwing so hot right now. The Cubs and Astros just suck, though Aramis Ramirez, Starlin Castro and Hunter Pence have been bright spots for their teams.

NL West
1. San Francisco Giants
2. Colorado Rockies
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Los Angeles Dodgers
5. San Diego Padres

It's weird that the Giants are where they're at while Tim Lincecum's record is just barely over .500. They're pitching has been pretty sick though, and that is all that's going to carry them to another NL West title. The Rockies have been pretty disappointing, but they have tons of talent and are always a second half team anyway. Who knows, maybe they'll run away with the division. I'm perplexed as to why Arizona is so good right now. I'm not counting on that lasting. LA and San Diego are just about where I expected them to be, though Matt Kemp is having a monster season for the Dodgers.

ALDS
Boston over Detroit, 3-1
Texas over New York, 3-2

NLDS
Philadelphia over Milwaukee, 3-1
Atlanta over San Francisco, 3-1

ALCS
Boston over Texas, 4-2

NLCS
Philadelphia over Atlanta, 4-3

World Series
Philadelphia over Boston, 4-2

Now, here are my top three choices for MVP and Cy Young in each league.

AL MVP
1. Adrian Gonzalez, Boston
2. Jose Bautista, Toronto
3. Paul Konerko, Chicago

NL MVP
1. Jose Reyes, New York
2. Matt Kemp, Los Angeles
3. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee

AL Cy Young
1. Justin Verlander, Detroit
2. Jered Weaver, Los Angeles
3. CC Sabathia, New York

NL Cy Young
1. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia
2. Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta
3. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles