December 30, 2013
2013 Bears Post-Mortem
Basically, the thing I was concerned with most has come to pass: the Bears got Lovie Smith back, but in an offensive guise. One side of the team did a great job while the other side floundered. I could argue that Smith had 1.5 sides intact if we include the stellar play of Dave Toub's special teams units, and that's actually an advantage over Trestman.
The mitigating factor, of course, is that Trestman is brand new as head coach, with an entirely new group of coordinators and position coaches. To get an entirely new system in place, along with a completely new offensive line, and be as effective as the Bears were (regardless of which QB was at the helm) was impressive.
On the other hand, to watch the formerly consistent defense completely flop was deflating. Like the offense with Coach Smith, the defense is what needs to be the measure of Coach Trestman. If the defense was merely mediocre, they could have knocked out the Packers a week before facing them. He was brought in to fix the offense, just as Lovie came to shore up the defense. So far, the Bears exited before the playoffs despite some outlying hope near the end of the season.
I can stomach losses, but I can't stand watching the conservative play of what's supposed to be a powerhouse offense. Turn those horses loose. Learn the unstoppable plays and run them at 4th and 8. Much, much worse is the sloppy, unprepared play of the defense that was #16 overall just two years ago. It's possible that the stars are too old and injury-prone now. It's possible that the guys with remaining contracts are just playing them out with little or no verve. Either way, no Lovie Smith defense would have let a live ball sit there on the turf.
The defense needs someone other than Tillman and Jennings at corner (to relieve them and eventually take over), they need a whole pile of safeties (clean house), not sure what to do about linebackers, and the line sucks, too. It's hard to tell how much of it is a talent deficit, and how much is a coaching deficit, though. Jon Bostic looked unstoppable in the pre-season, and could still be a great player, but he sure looked like a rookie in games later in the season.
Urlacher looked like a world-beater in his rookie season.
We'll see, but unless they get a new coordinator and a phenom or two in the draft, I'm not sure how long I'll stay engaged in 2014. All the bluster about who should be quarterback is wasting valuable time.
Gorillaz - All Alone
Seemed like a good choice for today. All is quiet on the days before New Year's Day when it falls on a Wednesday, I guess. Dead in the office, easy commute in, and likely no line for workout equipment, since resolutions don't kick in for a few days.
Enjoy, if you're in holiday seclusion like I am:
Enjoy, if you're in holiday seclusion like I am:
December 18, 2013
What Quarterback Controversy?
The problem with listening to sports talk radio is that there is a finite amount of interesting information at any given time. Even when sports overlap, there's only so much to discuss. So, I'm not sure if there really is a strong cry from fans to keep Jay Cutler benched, or if it's just bluster created by the media.
It's fantastic to watch Josh McCown succeed. He seems like a genuinely good guy. He was the only guy Cutler seemed to communicate with on the sidelines regularly in the past, and this year, he's prepared himself as though he were starting. So, when he got the call, he looked like he had been the starter all along. He's a good quarterback in a very QB-friendly system.
People forget, though, that the system is here because Jay Cutler is here. The Bears went out and got the tools for Jay Cutler, not McCown. And this is not to diminish McCown's contribution or skills, because I think they surprised lots of people this year, but even Josh is happy as the backup quarterback if you take him at his word.
I think part of the difficulty is how efficient he's been, but more importantly, how much he fits the mold of a Chicago sports hero. He's humble, but then he puts up big numbers. He congratulates guys when they score or do something big. I saw him yelling encouragement to defensive play makers this past week. He's in the mix, not brooding on the bench.
And that's not an indictment of Cutler. I don't care about his methods as long as he's the great QB he's shown himself to be. I don't have warm, cuddly feelings about Jim McMahon, but he's the only QB who brought home a Super Bowl win in my life time. And really, when you look back at all of Jay's "transgressions", he's had plenty of reasons to be crabby.
Cutler needed some refinement when he got here, and instead, he got pummeled and passed from offensive coordinator to offensive coordinator, learning a new system every year, it seemed. The list of OCs is ridiculous when you consider that at least one of them had less experience at the job than Jay himself.
Suboptimal coaches with terrible talent to work with (besides Cutler and Forte) made this a hostile work environment, and it was impossible for Jay to progress as a QB. So, under all new management, the coaching staff was cleared out and people with winning pedigrees were added to help Jay get to the next level. It was a little slow going at the beginning of the year, and then he was plagued with back-to-back injuries.
So back to the so-called controversy. Unless there are teams beating down the door for Josh McCown, everyone on the team should be happy with him as the most trustworthy backup QB that I can remember. And by their own words, they are. Especially after a win with Cutler back at the helm. He's been able to take a breath this season and watch some excellent QB play, which might be what he needed more than anything else. He's got all the tools in place, and now he's had a chance to watch them work.
To me, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, Marc Trestman, Brandon Marshall, and probably lots of others, there is no controversy. Jay is the starting QB and Josh McCown is probably the best backup the Bears have ever had.
It's fantastic to watch Josh McCown succeed. He seems like a genuinely good guy. He was the only guy Cutler seemed to communicate with on the sidelines regularly in the past, and this year, he's prepared himself as though he were starting. So, when he got the call, he looked like he had been the starter all along. He's a good quarterback in a very QB-friendly system.
People forget, though, that the system is here because Jay Cutler is here. The Bears went out and got the tools for Jay Cutler, not McCown. And this is not to diminish McCown's contribution or skills, because I think they surprised lots of people this year, but even Josh is happy as the backup quarterback if you take him at his word.
I think part of the difficulty is how efficient he's been, but more importantly, how much he fits the mold of a Chicago sports hero. He's humble, but then he puts up big numbers. He congratulates guys when they score or do something big. I saw him yelling encouragement to defensive play makers this past week. He's in the mix, not brooding on the bench.
And that's not an indictment of Cutler. I don't care about his methods as long as he's the great QB he's shown himself to be. I don't have warm, cuddly feelings about Jim McMahon, but he's the only QB who brought home a Super Bowl win in my life time. And really, when you look back at all of Jay's "transgressions", he's had plenty of reasons to be crabby.
Cutler needed some refinement when he got here, and instead, he got pummeled and passed from offensive coordinator to offensive coordinator, learning a new system every year, it seemed. The list of OCs is ridiculous when you consider that at least one of them had less experience at the job than Jay himself.
Suboptimal coaches with terrible talent to work with (besides Cutler and Forte) made this a hostile work environment, and it was impossible for Jay to progress as a QB. So, under all new management, the coaching staff was cleared out and people with winning pedigrees were added to help Jay get to the next level. It was a little slow going at the beginning of the year, and then he was plagued with back-to-back injuries.
So back to the so-called controversy. Unless there are teams beating down the door for Josh McCown, everyone on the team should be happy with him as the most trustworthy backup QB that I can remember. And by their own words, they are. Especially after a win with Cutler back at the helm. He's been able to take a breath this season and watch some excellent QB play, which might be what he needed more than anything else. He's got all the tools in place, and now he's had a chance to watch them work.
To me, Jay Cutler, Josh McCown, Marc Trestman, Brandon Marshall, and probably lots of others, there is no controversy. Jay is the starting QB and Josh McCown is probably the best backup the Bears have ever had.
December 13, 2013
Bob Schaeffer - DEAD
I never hit the big time or made a record that went gold or played in front of thousands of people, but man, I had some fun chasing the rock and roll dream.
Once, early on, my friend Alex decided to take recording lessons through the university so that he could record our band more effectively. His homework was to book time at the university recording studio, outfitted with ancient (but awesome) gear, and record stuff.
We were used to being up late and there were very few daytime hours available, so we'd get tanked up, set up the mics and cables and stuff, and record until well after the bars in town closed. Since we didn't have any help, Alex would set the levels and hit record, then race into the main room, pick up his bass, and we'd count it in.
During one of the sessions, our friend Bob Schaeffer came in and recorded a few songs with me on drums and Alex on bass. It was in the keys of D, then E, then A, then D again. As you might imagine, it's called DEAD.
So, here's the song. Bob showed us the idea and we played it once for practice, then recorded the second take (this one). There might have been more takes or other songs, but this one made it through the years.
Some of the best times were when I had little or no idea what I was doing. This was one of those times. I feel very lucky and grateful to have landed in Dekalb when I did.
Once, early on, my friend Alex decided to take recording lessons through the university so that he could record our band more effectively. His homework was to book time at the university recording studio, outfitted with ancient (but awesome) gear, and record stuff.
We were used to being up late and there were very few daytime hours available, so we'd get tanked up, set up the mics and cables and stuff, and record until well after the bars in town closed. Since we didn't have any help, Alex would set the levels and hit record, then race into the main room, pick up his bass, and we'd count it in.
During one of the sessions, our friend Bob Schaeffer came in and recorded a few songs with me on drums and Alex on bass. It was in the keys of D, then E, then A, then D again. As you might imagine, it's called DEAD.
So, here's the song. Bob showed us the idea and we played it once for practice, then recorded the second take (this one). There might have been more takes or other songs, but this one made it through the years.
Some of the best times were when I had little or no idea what I was doing. This was one of those times. I feel very lucky and grateful to have landed in Dekalb when I did.
November 25, 2013
Clean Up On Aisle 7
I switched from the old Blogger (née Blogspot) profile to this new, fancy Google+ profile. Next, I need to update the look of Action City. The header image is from the Tennessee state fair, which was easily the worst state fair (or fair of any kind) that I've attended. Maybe all of the energy is spent on music festivals or Vols games, but it was just as sad as that dry-docked bumper boat ride would indicate.
I think I might keep that image, though, because it's a pretty good metaphor. The boats are colorful and inflated, but their environment has grounded them, despite their best efforts.
The previous premise of the blog was more diary-like. I'd ruminate on stuff that seemed important to me at the time. Sometimes I'd edit, sometimes I'd let it ride. The current idea is to expose you, the reader, to things that I enjoy. Mostly, that'll be music. Probably some beer, too.
To your health!
I think I might keep that image, though, because it's a pretty good metaphor. The boats are colorful and inflated, but their environment has grounded them, despite their best efforts.
The previous premise of the blog was more diary-like. I'd ruminate on stuff that seemed important to me at the time. Sometimes I'd edit, sometimes I'd let it ride. The current idea is to expose you, the reader, to things that I enjoy. Mostly, that'll be music. Probably some beer, too.
To your health!
November 21, 2013
Chris Elliott: A Television Miracle
I don't remember this, but it's all kinds of genius.
I think this is the way with Chris Elliott - he did so much great stuff in small doses, usually as part of a bigger thing. His own show didn't last very long, but I remember lots of it. I'm not sure if it was too far outside of the well-drawn lines of what sells, or if it was just ahead of its time, but it was (mostly) great.
Also, how many sitcom scenes become popular musical groups?
I think this is the way with Chris Elliott - he did so much great stuff in small doses, usually as part of a bigger thing. His own show didn't last very long, but I remember lots of it. I'm not sure if it was too far outside of the well-drawn lines of what sells, or if it was just ahead of its time, but it was (mostly) great.
Also, how many sitcom scenes become popular musical groups?
November 19, 2013
Cornelius - I Hate Hate
I had this song on some compilation record from the mid to late 90s (Grand Royal?) and it stood out then, but it could exist in just about any era. Short, sweet, and to the point - it's Cornelius.
My first exposure to Japanese punk was Shonen Knife. I still have the record - Sub Pop 100. Crazy bit of vinyl there.
My first exposure to Japanese punk was Shonen Knife. I still have the record - Sub Pop 100. Crazy bit of vinyl there.
November 18, 2013
Because Dad Says No
One of the most powerful tools I, the parent of a toddler, have at my disposal is bribery. Really, it's one of many diversionary tactics, but I find it more powerful than redirection or threats. It comes into play most frequently when we're out shopping, and recently, it helped to calm a small storm of emotion at a local farm supply store.
Eli was able to pick a small toy animal in exchange for his cooperation, and so he chose a small tortoise. He referred to it as the baby turtle and waged quite a reasonable argument to also buy the larger tortoise (the mama turtle) so that the baby wouldn't be lonely at home. I held my ground.
Weeks later, at the same store, he asked me if we could get the mama turtle, and so I offered him the terms by which I would agree, and he followed them to the letter. On our way out, we picked up the bigger tortoise. I asked him, "What if we got the dad turtle instead of the mama turtle for the baby? He wouldn't be lonely then." His response: "Nah. The dad says 'no' all the time." He's still a little too young to catch the irony there.
On further reflection, I realize that in lots of popular culture (especially Disney), the dad seems to serve a solitary purpose: to say 'no'.
Sure, the focus is usually on the independent spirit of the child, but there needs to be a foil to that spirit, and that is the responsibility of the dad. The mom nurtures, the dad says 'no'.
It's not some kind of power trip thing, though. Maybe it will be when he's 16 and knows everything, but for now he's only 3 and simply has an underdeveloped superego. It's not a fun job, either, to constantly be the villain; to force bath time, bed time, wearing pants in public, etc. It's not bad right now as expectations are pretty low for toddlers in general, but at some point, he'll have to be accountable.
He seems to be bridging logic gaps by the minute, and he speaks in a sophisticated enough manner that I have to remind myself that he's 3 on occasion. For now, I'll just keep denying his requests to fall into peril, write on the walls, or spit without prejudice. It's my job.
Eli was able to pick a small toy animal in exchange for his cooperation, and so he chose a small tortoise. He referred to it as the baby turtle and waged quite a reasonable argument to also buy the larger tortoise (the mama turtle) so that the baby wouldn't be lonely at home. I held my ground.
Weeks later, at the same store, he asked me if we could get the mama turtle, and so I offered him the terms by which I would agree, and he followed them to the letter. On our way out, we picked up the bigger tortoise. I asked him, "What if we got the dad turtle instead of the mama turtle for the baby? He wouldn't be lonely then." His response: "Nah. The dad says 'no' all the time." He's still a little too young to catch the irony there.
On further reflection, I realize that in lots of popular culture (especially Disney), the dad seems to serve a solitary purpose: to say 'no'.
Sure, the focus is usually on the independent spirit of the child, but there needs to be a foil to that spirit, and that is the responsibility of the dad. The mom nurtures, the dad says 'no'.
It's not some kind of power trip thing, though. Maybe it will be when he's 16 and knows everything, but for now he's only 3 and simply has an underdeveloped superego. It's not a fun job, either, to constantly be the villain; to force bath time, bed time, wearing pants in public, etc. It's not bad right now as expectations are pretty low for toddlers in general, but at some point, he'll have to be accountable.
He seems to be bridging logic gaps by the minute, and he speaks in a sophisticated enough manner that I have to remind myself that he's 3 on occasion. For now, I'll just keep denying his requests to fall into peril, write on the walls, or spit without prejudice. It's my job.
November 17, 2013
Tricot - 99.974℃
I'm digging this band from Kyoto. The drummer has that rhythmic psycho thing a la Greg Saunier (Deerhoof) but it's more under control. They'd sound a bit like Hella if not for the lyrical vocals countering the chaos. I'm catching a dash of Souls (Swedish band nobody remembers) as well, but regardless of the input, the output stands on its own.
The trouble with this type of music is that it can very quickly all start to sound the same. The language divide makes it just a tad more difficult to grab onto something, but so far they haven't lost me. That energy is luminous.
The trouble with this type of music is that it can very quickly all start to sound the same. The language divide makes it just a tad more difficult to grab onto something, but so far they haven't lost me. That energy is luminous.
October 31, 2013
Part Chimp - Sweet T
There's a crossroads between the precision playing of heavy metal and the fuck-all abandon of punk rock. Grunge was that to a degree, but there was a folk element somewhere near its root. I'm not sure what to call the genre that contains the grunt and crunch of punk rock, but also has the melodies and skill of metal, but I like it.
Spotify suggested, based on some other bands I like (Fu Manchu, Clutch, High on Fire, I suspect), that I might also like Part Chimp. I don't always take Spotify at their word, but in this case, the album cover roped me. Every aspect of the band that I've encountered thus far can be described as "kick ass".
Here's a taste:
Spotify suggested, based on some other bands I like (Fu Manchu, Clutch, High on Fire, I suspect), that I might also like Part Chimp. I don't always take Spotify at their word, but in this case, the album cover roped me. Every aspect of the band that I've encountered thus far can be described as "kick ass".
Here's a taste:
October 24, 2013
Hiatus Kaiyote - The World It Softly Lulls
I first became acquainted with this band randomly, through some artist channel on Spotify. The song I heard was Nakamarra (featuring Q-tip) and it reminded me of an even groovier Brand New Heavies. I love that kind of stuff. They clearly have jazz-trained roots, and chops galore.
Further investigation uprooted this song, which I could listen to on a loop forever, I think. It's almost a journey in how it moves through it's completely transformative progressions. None of them are particularly jarring, even though the loop sometimes feels like a tone arm that can't stay situated on warped wax. That's not by accident, either - they're stretching a groove until it flaps, then bringing the whole shebang back into the pocket nicely.
Just when I fear for the state of music, a band comes along that reminds me that people still do practice every day and care about every single note they play. It's heartening.
Please grab a cup of warm whatever and enjoy Hiatus Kaiyote:
Further investigation uprooted this song, which I could listen to on a loop forever, I think. It's almost a journey in how it moves through it's completely transformative progressions. None of them are particularly jarring, even though the loop sometimes feels like a tone arm that can't stay situated on warped wax. That's not by accident, either - they're stretching a groove until it flaps, then bringing the whole shebang back into the pocket nicely.
Just when I fear for the state of music, a band comes along that reminds me that people still do practice every day and care about every single note they play. It's heartening.
Please grab a cup of warm whatever and enjoy Hiatus Kaiyote:
October 10, 2013
Fatso Jetson - Light Yourself On Fire
Nirvana had The Melvins, and Kyuss/QOTSA had Fatso Jetson (Boomer, anyhow). Boomer had the generator that fueled the infamous sessions in the desert that spawned more than a few great bands. Haven't heard them? Here's a start:
The desert scene was basically influenced by lots of the same random music that I grew up listening to, and the distillation of those disparate sounds into various other bands works for me. There's a distinct feel to this music - hard to describe, but languid guitars permeate harder rock formations. Good stuff.
One more, with a title for a pal:
August 15, 2013
As Tall As Lions - You Can't Take It With You
Here's a group I've never heard of before, which verifies that I've lost my grip on what's out there. This song has a nice groove, with a killer little hitch in the drum beat. Subtle as all get out, but it gives a decent song a real personality.
Listen for the part that sounds like it's dragging in the verse. Switching times or patterns is not hard, but changing the entire feel of the song - but only for a fill, and without derailing the song - that's impressive.
May 20, 2013
The Shins - Sea Legs
I've always wondered if there are just a few natural tempos that work for pop songs. I know there are chords that are used over and over again in pop music - undoubtedly because there's just something physiologically appealing to them.
This song has a lilting tempo and feel that Beck made a living with, but it has as much in common with a vintage Bowie tune as well. I've always liked the Shins, but I think I love this song:
Funky Chimes!
This was the ending credits music after every episode of Sesame Street way back in the day. (Skip to 1:43 to get right to it.)
They have "classic" episodes up on streaming Netflix now and I think I'm as excited about them as Eli. It's numbers and letters repeated all different ways over the course of an hour, but with monsters and comedy.
I like Yo Gabba Gabba best of the current crop of options, but it doesn't hold a candle to classic Sesame Street.
They have "classic" episodes up on streaming Netflix now and I think I'm as excited about them as Eli. It's numbers and letters repeated all different ways over the course of an hour, but with monsters and comedy.
I like Yo Gabba Gabba best of the current crop of options, but it doesn't hold a candle to classic Sesame Street.
May 9, 2013
Clarence Wheeler and the Enforcers - Right On
Time to get funktified, brothers and sisters. This came out the year I was born, but I somehow missed it until this very year. Great stuff, if you like bass riffs for days and funky, funky beats.
May 8, 2013
Bullish
It's hard to imagine that the Bulls are in the playoffs, but even more difficult to fathom that they beat the Heat in the first game of the second round. If you've followed the NBA at all this year, you know that Derrick Rose is still out, despite the fact that he's been practicing (and according to his teammates, "dominating") and apparently cleared to play by the medical staff.
Expectations dropped for this year when D. Rose went out with his injury in last year's playoffs, but under the stalwart and thorough coaching of Thibodeau, the team just kept winning. Yes, they're in a relatively weak conference, but they're starting their bench at this point, and still winning games.
Here's where it gets dramatic.
From the information available to the general public, it appears that Rose could play. If he could play, many people think that he should play. If he's got lingering physical issues, then that's that, but then he should be forthright and shut it down now, instead of allowing his teammates and fans to hope for a return when it's really not an option. If it's just a mental thing, as he's stated to more than one press person, then there's no better way to get his head right than to get back in the game.
One interesting consideration is the fact that the team has been successful without him. They play solid defense and a few guys have emerged as genuine stars (Jimmy "Buckets" Butler, Nate Robinson) and superstars (Joakim Noah) in the absence of Rose. Inserting Rose into the mix right now could be disruptive to a team that appears to be on the same page. His style is to take a game over, where the rest of the team seems to be good at spreading it out amongst themselves.
And so, if the common thought is that Rose should play, but Thibodeau believes it would not be in the best interest of the team right now, then I would change my tune accordingly. It's hard to imagine that a team in such disarray, medically speaking, might not need a league MVP, but it's also not out of the realm of possibility with this team.
Even more perplexing is the fact that the Bulls have been without Rose all season, have been hit with other injuries, ineffective players (Rip Hamilton), the flu, and who knows what else. They have good core players and a good bench, but the glue that holds the whole thing together is Tom Thibodeau. His system works and he has the buy-in of his players. It's taken his depleted team from low expectations to the playoffs to looking like world-beaters against the Heat in round 2, game 1.
Meanwhile, coach of the year honors go to George Karl this year. Not Thibs. In fact, Thibs ranked 8th when the voting was done. This is one of the best coaching jobs I've seen through a season, and with the Nuggets already out of the playoffs, this seems like one of the most egregious oversights I can remember.
Ultimately, Thibs is not a magician and Jimmy Buckets can't play 48 minutes every game and continue to be effective. Joakim is playing with plantar fasciitis and Nate the Great has had down games, too. If Rose were to come back now, there's the possibility that his lift could carry the Bulls to another win against the Heat, but if he comes back and they lose the series (which is what almost everyone predicts), then there will be speculation that he distracted them when they were on a roll without him.
I like Derrick Rose a lot but I've had my doubts this year about just how essential he is - especially with his handlers, his Adidas contract, and his own propensity to allow drama to fester and swell. Sure, his team has his back and supports him, but he appears to be taking advantage of that courtesy and stretching it to the limit. Listen to sports radio for any length of time and there will be callers talking about trading Rose.
That seems like a stretch, even with this season playing out as it has, but it also seems difficult to imagine trading away anyone other than Boozer or Hamilton. They have to run out of bench guys eventually, right?
Expectations dropped for this year when D. Rose went out with his injury in last year's playoffs, but under the stalwart and thorough coaching of Thibodeau, the team just kept winning. Yes, they're in a relatively weak conference, but they're starting their bench at this point, and still winning games.
Here's where it gets dramatic.
From the information available to the general public, it appears that Rose could play. If he could play, many people think that he should play. If he's got lingering physical issues, then that's that, but then he should be forthright and shut it down now, instead of allowing his teammates and fans to hope for a return when it's really not an option. If it's just a mental thing, as he's stated to more than one press person, then there's no better way to get his head right than to get back in the game.
One interesting consideration is the fact that the team has been successful without him. They play solid defense and a few guys have emerged as genuine stars (Jimmy "Buckets" Butler, Nate Robinson) and superstars (Joakim Noah) in the absence of Rose. Inserting Rose into the mix right now could be disruptive to a team that appears to be on the same page. His style is to take a game over, where the rest of the team seems to be good at spreading it out amongst themselves.
And so, if the common thought is that Rose should play, but Thibodeau believes it would not be in the best interest of the team right now, then I would change my tune accordingly. It's hard to imagine that a team in such disarray, medically speaking, might not need a league MVP, but it's also not out of the realm of possibility with this team.
Even more perplexing is the fact that the Bulls have been without Rose all season, have been hit with other injuries, ineffective players (Rip Hamilton), the flu, and who knows what else. They have good core players and a good bench, but the glue that holds the whole thing together is Tom Thibodeau. His system works and he has the buy-in of his players. It's taken his depleted team from low expectations to the playoffs to looking like world-beaters against the Heat in round 2, game 1.
Meanwhile, coach of the year honors go to George Karl this year. Not Thibs. In fact, Thibs ranked 8th when the voting was done. This is one of the best coaching jobs I've seen through a season, and with the Nuggets already out of the playoffs, this seems like one of the most egregious oversights I can remember.
Ultimately, Thibs is not a magician and Jimmy Buckets can't play 48 minutes every game and continue to be effective. Joakim is playing with plantar fasciitis and Nate the Great has had down games, too. If Rose were to come back now, there's the possibility that his lift could carry the Bulls to another win against the Heat, but if he comes back and they lose the series (which is what almost everyone predicts), then there will be speculation that he distracted them when they were on a roll without him.
I like Derrick Rose a lot but I've had my doubts this year about just how essential he is - especially with his handlers, his Adidas contract, and his own propensity to allow drama to fester and swell. Sure, his team has his back and supports him, but he appears to be taking advantage of that courtesy and stretching it to the limit. Listen to sports radio for any length of time and there will be callers talking about trading Rose.
That seems like a stretch, even with this season playing out as it has, but it also seems difficult to imagine trading away anyone other than Boozer or Hamilton. They have to run out of bench guys eventually, right?
April 25, 2013
Manchester Orchestra - Mighty
Chevelle and Pinback had a baby, and it's Manchester Orchestra. Okay, that analogy might not hold for entire records, but it does for this track. I like how this song has parts that could have been plucked from different decades, but the song as a whole makes sense. It's also sticky - I can't get the melody out of my head.
I'm off to Spotify to see if the rest of their stuff is worth listening to, but in the meantime, dig this:
I'm off to Spotify to see if the rest of their stuff is worth listening to, but in the meantime, dig this:
April 11, 2013
Cody Chesnutt - Til I Met Thee
Don't know much about this guy, but I like his voice and the music under it. I caught him on Later... with Jools Holland (love that show) and he pretty much took over the room. He's got a comfortable, old-soul vibe with some new tricks.
Dig, if you will...
March 27, 2013
Farewell to a Friend
We lost a friend yesterday. After two heroic battles with lung cancer, complications took their toll, and his wife (Sue) told me he succumbed yesterday morning.
I am tremendously sad about this for obvious reasons, but even more so because when we found out he was in jeopardy again, we never got an opportunity to visit. For the last 3 or 4 months of 2012, my family had some kind of illness or another, and we didn’t want to risk worsening his already compromised health.
His wife sent a message on Monday letting us know that John had gotten much worse and that he had been moved to hospice care. This was shocking, as their combined wills had overcome so much during his cancer nightmares. I had been under the assumption that once the issue was diagnosed and understood that they would be able to get past it.
And so, we planned to visit John either Thursday or Friday this week, and now it’s too late. I know that John would not have held this against us, and I’m sure his wife does not, either. It is what it is. (That has become my least favorite phrase.)
She has asked me to put together a song list for his services and I am honored to do it. Music was one of our favorite things to discuss, and I liked talking to him about different records because he didn’t pull punches. If he didn’t like something, he didn’t patronize, he just said so. I did the same. And when I’d suggest something that he did like, it was great, because I knew it was genuine.
He turned me on to Calexico. I hadn’t heard of them, and had I heard a description of them first, I’d have never bothered. Turns out I love them. This is the kind of thing that I will remember forever about John. There are lots of other examples.
We also loved to meet John and his wife (and our other friends) at the fish fry in Maple Park. Bringing Eli along was even more fun, as he really liked John and it was pretty easy to tell that John was also fond of him. The food was almost irrelevant; we were there for the conversation and the good feeling we had by the time we parted ways.
I am sad that Eli will not be able to visit John at Garfield Farm this year. I will miss our lengthy discussions about music and beer. I am sad knowing that a philosophical ally will no longer be available.
Another story: Jennie and I were driving to Wisconsin one Saturday morning, listening to NPR and discussing how much we enjoyed NPR on Saturdays. It was a pledge weekend, and we were considering contributing for the first time, when we heard “...and a pledge from Sue G. and John E. from Maple Park...” We made our first pledge as a couple after that.
Goodbye, John. Thanks for being a good friend.
March 17, 2013
Gary Numan - Down in the Park
This is a great song, and the video below is the best performance of it. I've heard a number of versions of it from different eras, but always preferred this one. Then, I saw the actual film footage and now there's no debate on any level. From the concert Urgh: A Music War!, the stage and props are spectacular and put the perfect atmosphere around a dark and moody groove.
March 13, 2013
Tune-Yards - Gangsta
4AD has popped back up onto my radar in a big way in the past couple of years, particularly with St. Vincent, but also with the very unique sounds of Merrill Garbus in Tune-Yards. I can't even offer a reasonable comparison, or a combination of other artists who might give an idea of what she's doing. Probably the closest thing would be a mix of Zap Mama and Laurie Anderson, but that's not terribly accurate.
Regardless, it's energetic and imaginative, with a dash of technical wizardry added in for good measure. This is the song that got the most attention, but the entire W H O K I L L album is great. Cohesive, even.
Enjoy:
March 10, 2013
Beer Beer Beer
Here's a blurry photo of the first beer I've brewed:
I say that I brewed it, but in reality, I visited a friend (Matt P.) who has all of the equipment and the means to get very good ingredients in a kit. He is also quite experienced and happens to have a son the exact age of mine, so we had a couple of play dates that resulted in the Irish stout pictured above.
Further, he really did all the work. I dumped in ingredients and filled bottles, but he set up the equipment, timed the boil, and measured the gravity at the correct times. I suppose when you have the gear and have experimented a few times (or many times, in Matt's case) it becomes rote.
Anyhow, it turned out to be pretty good! I'm not sure I've been bitten by the brewing bug, but I'm game to try again. Perhaps a little research on other styles is in order.
Prost!
I say that I brewed it, but in reality, I visited a friend (Matt P.) who has all of the equipment and the means to get very good ingredients in a kit. He is also quite experienced and happens to have a son the exact age of mine, so we had a couple of play dates that resulted in the Irish stout pictured above.
Further, he really did all the work. I dumped in ingredients and filled bottles, but he set up the equipment, timed the boil, and measured the gravity at the correct times. I suppose when you have the gear and have experimented a few times (or many times, in Matt's case) it becomes rote.
Anyhow, it turned out to be pretty good! I'm not sure I've been bitten by the brewing bug, but I'm game to try again. Perhaps a little research on other styles is in order.
Prost!
The Breeders - Do You Love Me Now?
Cannonball got the attention from this record, but it's solid from front to back. This particular track is one of my favorites:
February 24, 2013
My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow
I became acquainted with MBV in the early 90s as they were becoming popular. I listened to the demo disk at the record store where I worked and couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had heard other music by them, but this record as a whole was unlike anything I had heard before from any band.
That's the other thing - they're a band. The folklore is that making this record killed the label that supported it. The sound is so worked over that it's not hard to imagine the strain it would have caused. To seem them play the songs live seemed like some kind of slight of hand trick - it still seems impossible that they could reproduce those sounds (and more) with a standard, four-piece outfit.
But they did. And it was one of the most intense live shows I've ever seen. Here's the official video that probably helped to ruin Creation, but you'll see what I mean:
That's the other thing - they're a band. The folklore is that making this record killed the label that supported it. The sound is so worked over that it's not hard to imagine the strain it would have caused. To seem them play the songs live seemed like some kind of slight of hand trick - it still seems impossible that they could reproduce those sounds (and more) with a standard, four-piece outfit.
But they did. And it was one of the most intense live shows I've ever seen. Here's the official video that probably helped to ruin Creation, but you'll see what I mean:
February 14, 2013
Know It All (Nothing)
I’m not so much a renaissance man as an adult with attention deficit disorder. I have always maintained that I just have varied interests, and it’s part of my character to learn about as much stuff as possible. It especially applies for things I enjoy, like bikes (built my own), music (learned to play drums), computers (built my own), and now beer (toying with brewing some).
Sometimes, seeing how things work is enlightening and opens up whole worlds I never knew existed. Sometimes, it’s a lot of investment into nothing.
February 9, 2013
Alice Donut - The Son of a Disgruntled X-Postal Worker Reflects on His Life While Getting Stoned in the Parking Lot Of A Winn Dixie Listening to Metallica
One of the most fun live shows I can remember and some of the most underrated music from the 90s, in my opinion. The vocals might be the difference for lots of people, but if you can acquire the taste, it’s worth it.
February 8, 2013
U.S. Maple - Stuck
Some old friends at what I think of as their best. Frequently termed “experimental” - a label I disagree with - they were more about sarcasm and de/reconstruction. Really, that might be an overstatement. They were well-rehearsed, skilled musicians that simply did not use 4/4 or Gm7 or trimeter as guideposts. It’s not “nonsense” but I’d acquiesce on “un-sense”. Even that is selling them short; there was nothing left to chance in the songs except the reaction they would garner. Decide for yourself:
If that interests you at all, you should check out the documentary done by the skilled and affable Tony Ciarrocchi:
If that interests you at all, you should check out the documentary done by the skilled and affable Tony Ciarrocchi:
February 5, 2013
Beak> - Mono
Beak> is an offshoot of Portishead, one of my favorite bands. This video was procured by a fan and applied to this particular song because “the track worked in almost perfect unison”. I would concur. Here’s the video:
Beak> - Mono from Rich Davison on Vimeo.
And more info on Portishead and Beak> here: http://www.portishead.co.uk/home/
Beak> - Mono from Rich Davison on Vimeo.
And more info on Portishead and Beak> here: http://www.portishead.co.uk/home/
January 31, 2013
English Beat - Rotating Heads
Before Bloc Party came English Beat. This is one of my favorites by them:
January 29, 2013
Riddle of Steel - Aquiline
Some songs just transcend expectations or explanations. This track is from an okay record by a decent band, but it’s so much better (and different) than anything else on the record. It’s that lush, pulsing groove that gets me.
January 28, 2013
Bull and Bear
Forget them - the Hawks are undefeated. 6-0 is their best start yet. I'm a fair weather fan when it comes to hockey, so when the Blackhawks have been good, I've been there. This year, I've been slow to get on board, and apparently I'm missing some outstanding hockey. I'm a little reticent to start now; if they lose, I'll have to stay away indefinitely.
I have a way of killing off things by liking them too much. I've worked at two companies (my favorite jobs) that have either ceased to exist or have gone on life support while I was there, despite looking strong when I started with them.
My track record with computer software is nearly as damning. Lala.com was my favorite music service (now folded into iTunes - disappeared, if you will) and MusicMatch (bought by Yahoo! - also disappeared) are some prime examples. There are plenty of others.
Back to sports - I cite the Chicago Bears. I can't even complain about the last ten years under Lovie Smith. Every year, there were a reasonable amount of wins and the defense was always good or great. It wasn't enough to win a Super Bowl, but it was respectable. On the other hand, I only barely remember the 1985 season and I would love to see a current Bears team go the distance.
Sadly, my interest in the Bears is also the thing most likely keeping them from getting over the top again. Well, it might have also been Lovie's inability to adjust to Peyton Manning's adjustments at half time. He'd have a restaurant in the loop by now had he been able to adapt and overcome. C'est la vie.
He's gone, but I'm locked in, as I share initials with the Chicago Bears. Sorry, Bears. I will point out, however, that Michael Jordan won six titles with me watching. So, maybe just step it up, Bears. Overcome the me factor.
I have a way of killing off things by liking them too much. I've worked at two companies (my favorite jobs) that have either ceased to exist or have gone on life support while I was there, despite looking strong when I started with them.
My track record with computer software is nearly as damning. Lala.com was my favorite music service (now folded into iTunes - disappeared, if you will) and MusicMatch (bought by Yahoo! - also disappeared) are some prime examples. There are plenty of others.
Back to sports - I cite the Chicago Bears. I can't even complain about the last ten years under Lovie Smith. Every year, there were a reasonable amount of wins and the defense was always good or great. It wasn't enough to win a Super Bowl, but it was respectable. On the other hand, I only barely remember the 1985 season and I would love to see a current Bears team go the distance.
Sadly, my interest in the Bears is also the thing most likely keeping them from getting over the top again. Well, it might have also been Lovie's inability to adjust to Peyton Manning's adjustments at half time. He'd have a restaurant in the loop by now had he been able to adapt and overcome. C'est la vie.
He's gone, but I'm locked in, as I share initials with the Chicago Bears. Sorry, Bears. I will point out, however, that Michael Jordan won six titles with me watching. So, maybe just step it up, Bears. Overcome the me factor.
January 1, 2013
This is the End...
...only of 2012. Sorry to be dramatic, friends, but this year sucked. Even my sister's wedding (which went even better than I expected) was marred by the fact that I could barely emit sounds from my flu-ridden throat. I have become very familiar with the concept of an upper-respiratory infection and I can tell you that whiskey does not fix it.
For the rest of the year, besides having been sick more than any other single year I can remember, ground I had thought to be solid (or at least had had no trouble standing on in the past) turned to quicksand. Luckily, my foot ended up touching a rail, and I could sort of work my way out, albeit slowly and unsteadily. (Doggone near lost a $400 hand cart!)
My focus for the coming year will be again on being a better me. That missive got lost by the end of January last year, and then the me that had been cruising along, avoiding grief, took a line drive to the nuts. I continued to get shelled until the bitter end of the year, when the New Year's Eve party we've enjoyed for the past few was cancelled due to yet another illness.
I should point out that all of the family and close friends who were sick have recovered, or are at least stable by now, so there is that silver lining. Two people I knew did not survive the year, and both cases were incredibly sad. They were also not much older than me, which is probably what triggered an existential crisis (midlife?) at some point this year. I'm not young and this is when I start noticing it, I guess.
Anyhow, it's just a few minutes into 2013 and nothing bad has happened yet. Oh wait, our internet seems to be crapping out. Perhaps nobody will ever see this. If you do, I'm glad we survived the end of times. Perhaps, if this does publish, you'll see that I'd enjoy getting together with you for a beer or two this year. You'll have to be a little understanding that my schedule is somewhat tricky, but my intent is to reconnect.
There may be a move in our future, I have rough plans for both a blog and a brewery, and as I just mentioned, I plan to be a friend you actually see once in a while. Not sure which of these endeavors will fall away first, but I'm hoping it's the blog and/or brewery. I probably miss you.
Here's to a 2013 of better luck and happier times.
For the rest of the year, besides having been sick more than any other single year I can remember, ground I had thought to be solid (or at least had had no trouble standing on in the past) turned to quicksand. Luckily, my foot ended up touching a rail, and I could sort of work my way out, albeit slowly and unsteadily. (Doggone near lost a $400 hand cart!)
My focus for the coming year will be again on being a better me. That missive got lost by the end of January last year, and then the me that had been cruising along, avoiding grief, took a line drive to the nuts. I continued to get shelled until the bitter end of the year, when the New Year's Eve party we've enjoyed for the past few was cancelled due to yet another illness.
I should point out that all of the family and close friends who were sick have recovered, or are at least stable by now, so there is that silver lining. Two people I knew did not survive the year, and both cases were incredibly sad. They were also not much older than me, which is probably what triggered an existential crisis (midlife?) at some point this year. I'm not young and this is when I start noticing it, I guess.
Anyhow, it's just a few minutes into 2013 and nothing bad has happened yet. Oh wait, our internet seems to be crapping out. Perhaps nobody will ever see this. If you do, I'm glad we survived the end of times. Perhaps, if this does publish, you'll see that I'd enjoy getting together with you for a beer or two this year. You'll have to be a little understanding that my schedule is somewhat tricky, but my intent is to reconnect.
There may be a move in our future, I have rough plans for both a blog and a brewery, and as I just mentioned, I plan to be a friend you actually see once in a while. Not sure which of these endeavors will fall away first, but I'm hoping it's the blog and/or brewery. I probably miss you.
Here's to a 2013 of better luck and happier times.
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