I'm Baaaaack!!

For all of my loyal readers (I'm looking at you, Melissa-and loving you too), I have been indisposed for the last few weeks.  My computer was attacked, crashed and died. Wah Wah.  So, I've moved on with a new computer that is faster and hopefully better.  Goodbye Firefox, hello Chrome.  Goodbye AVG, hello Microsoft Security Essentials.  Let's hope I have a better run this time.

It's weird how a computer glitch like that can knock the socks off of you and derail all of your forward progress, but it did for a few weeks.  So, now I'm back and better than ever.  You heard me.

In more exciting news, I know you're DYING to know what I've been up to, so here goes:

1.  The Psychopath Test:  A Journey Through the Madness Industry by Jon Ronson

Without giving a full book report, I will simply state that I loved this book.  This is a book that we read for book club (and part of the reason that I love book club); it's not a book that I would normally have read on my own volition.  The book was witty, interesting and made me question the mental state of everyone I know.  Like Jon Ronson, I would have reacted the same way...with intense interest and disturbing introspection.  He finds that many of the most successful CEO's are indeed psychopaths.  Interestingly enough, Wall Street loves psychopaths.  One of the subjects, former Sunbeam CEO Al Dunlap, caused Sunbeam stock to catapult upon his hiring.  Al was pretty fascinating.  He seems fairly creepy and disassociated, but philanthropic as well.  He donated a grip of cash to my alma mater Florida State University.  I guess having a building named after you is a big deal to guys like this.  I think the most fascinating person that he interviewed was Emmanuel "Toto" Constant, a Haitian rebel who likes to brag that he once "had dinner with Bill Clinton."  It's pretty intriguing to watch how he tries so hard to make sure that Jon Ronson likes him, and that he honestly does come across as a somewhat likable guy - FOR A MASS MURDERER.  Spoiler Alert: he's a psychopath.

I definitely recommend reading The Psychopath Test.  If anything it gives you something really cool to talk about at dinner parties (and to secretly ponder as you sit on the other side of your boss in meetings).

2.  Cults and Foster the People at The Wiltern

Last Tuesday I went to see Cults and Foster the People.  Initially, I went just to see Cults.  Their self-titled debut is still one of my favorite records of this year.  I have to say that I was really impressed with their live show.  I thought that the singer was really cute, and they sounded pretty tight live.  What I wasn't expecting was to be blown away by Foster the People.  I've heard their record once.  I do love "Pumped Up Kicks," but I hear it all the time so it's kind of lost its luster.  I know that these aren't the lyrics, but I like to pretend that it says:  "Better run, better run....faster than my bubby."  I did think it said that at first and it made me laugh out loud.  I later found out it's bullet.  Bubby is funnier.  I digress.  These kids put on a damn fine show. It's as though someone told them early on, "Always be moving."  Because they all are pretty active on stage.  They dance, they play lots of instruments and they really seem like they are loving what they do and are grateful for it.  It shows.  If they come to a town near you, I definitely recommend seeing them.  For not knowing any of the music, I really really dug it.

3.  Football

Oh Crikey.  Where do I start?  If you follow football at all, then you will know the weekends I have been having just based on my teams:

NCAA Football
#1 will always be Florida State - I went to school here and grew up in Tallahassee, so there ya go.  We're 4-3.  Not happy about that, but we're still "building" our team.  Yeah, whatever.  I just want to win again!!

NFL
Here's where things get sticky.  I have more than one team, which is a little distressing to my fellow football watchers.

#1 - Detroit Lions - we started off hot as shit for a team that went DEFEATED two years ago.  Not counting them out yet.  We've got some pretty awesome players...Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Suh.  Love them!  We're up against Tim Tebow and the Broncos this weekend, so I will enjoy rooting against them more than any other team this year.

#2 - Philadelphia Eagles - since the Lions sucked so hard, and the Bucs weren't doing so great either, I had to pick up another team to root for.  A few of my besties are huge Eagles fans so it made it easy.  And, I like the Eagles swagger...I am a huge fan of the __Seans: DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy.  And, don't hate, but I like Mike Vick. I hate what he did, but he's a good player.

#3 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - I had to pick a Florida team to root for, and they used to be staffed full of former Seminoles, so I got into them.

Recently added:  #4:  Minnesota Vikings - I'm not really a Vikings fan (unless they come to LA.  Pleeeeease come to LA!!), but I am a HUUUUGE Christian Ponder fan since he was the quarterback for FSU.  Love, love, love him.  Now that he's starting (and did pretty well, I might add), I have another team to watch.

4.  Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks at The Music Box

I'm sure I've mentioned this a few times before, but Steve Malkmus is my boyfriend.  I could not live without him in my life, whether it be through Pavement or his solo work.  I thought for a bit that I could just ignore his solo work and pretend that Pavement was where it all ended.  But, after the Pavement reunion last fall, I was reminded how much I loved him.  So, we're back together.  I went to see him and The Jicks at The Music Box last Wednesday and the show was great as usual.  Although he was complaining of back pain, he seemed to be in a good mood.  He was cutting jokes.  He danced.  Ahem, he DANCED.  I was bummed that I didn't get any pictures, but the show was awesome and I just wanted to mention it to remind everyone that his latest record, produced by Beck, is pretty boss.

WOW.  Well, I think that's it for now.  It's been a busy month away from writing and trying to get my life and hard drive back in order.  Thanks for listening!!

Way Back Wednesday: Dan Hartman

When I was growing up, my mom owned an aerobics studio so she had tons of albums of all the current hits.  A lot were 12 inches with remixes and instrumentals.  They were sorted and labeled by what the good songs were, how long they lasted and for what exercise.  This one was one of my mom's favorites and it will forever remind me of doing DOGGIES.  You probably won't find many people in the gym doing doggies these days, at least that's not what they're calling it.  I stand by the fact that the doggie is still an effective exercise...even though it's not the 80's.  And, this song might still be one of my mom's favorites.  She's old school.

*Please note, I tried to find an 80's video of the doggie, but couldn't weed through all of the videos of dogs doing aerobics to find it.  It's also known as the fire hydrant.  HOT.

Check out the new video from...Dawes!

I fell in love with Dawes on their debut record North Hills with their song "When My Time Comes" and I'm so happy that they are back with a follow-up Nothing is Wrong.  The first single from the record is "Time Spent in Los Angeles" and the video was filmed in the Hollywood Hills this summer with director Sam Jones who also did videos for Foo Fighters and Wilco.  Dawes is co-headlining a tour with Blitzen Trapper this fall and taking along The Belle Brigade and Smoke Fairies for the ride.  I can't wait to see them in November in Los Angeles!  Check them out when they are in your hood:

10/7/11 FRI         Petaluma, CA                     Mystic Theater

10/8/11 SAT        Santa Barbara, CA            SOHO

10/9/11 SUN       San Diego, CA                  Belly Up

10/10/11 MON   Phoenix, AZ                       Crescent Ballroom

10/11/11 TUE     Santa Fe, NM                    Santa Fe Sol Live

10/13/11 THU    Dallas, TX                          Club Dada

10/14/11 FRI      Utopia, TX                         Utopia Fest

10/15/11 SAT     Baton Rouge, LA               Manship Theater

10/18/11 TUE     Atlanta, GA                        Variety Playhouse

10/19/11 WED   Nashville, TN                      Mercy Lounge

10/20/11 THU    Louisville, KY                     Headliner's

10/21/11 FRI     Asheville, NC                      Orange Peel

10/22/11 SAT    Carrboro, NC                     Cat's Cradle

10/24/11 MON Washington, DC                   Black Cat

10/26/11 WED  New York, NY                   Webster Hall

10/27/11 THU   Philadelphia, PA                  Theater of Living Arts

10/28/11 FRI     Boston, MA                        Royale

10/30/11 SUN   Toronto, ON                      Opera House

11/1/11 TUE      Cleveland, OH                    Beachland Ballroom

11/2/11 WED    Grand Rapids, MI               Calvin College

11/3/11 THU     Chicago, IL                         The Metro

11/4/11 FRI       Minneapolis, MN                First Avenue

11/5/11 SAT      Milwaukee, WI                   Turner Hall

11/7/11 MON    Boulder, CO                       Fox Theater

11/10/11 THU   Vancouver, BC                   Rickshaw Theater

11/11/11 FRI     Seattle, WA                        The Neptune

11/12/11 SAT    Portland, OR                      Crystal Ballroom

11/13/11 SUN   Eugene, OR                        McDonald Theater

11/15/11 TUE    San Francisco, CA             The Fillmore

11/17/11 THU   Los Angeles, CA                The Music Box

Download a free EP sampler from the bands on the tour here:

 

Way Back Wednesday: R.E.M.

I heard the news today, oh boy
A band I used to love has gone away
And though the news is very sad
I just have to laugh-

I saw the photographs...

Oh wow.  I loved and still love me some R.E.M.  While I wasn't a huge fan as of late, they were the soundtrack to many years of my life.  "Pretty Persuasion," "Radio Free Europe," "I Believe" ...all amazing songs that I still love today.  My BFF Michele and I knew all the words to "It's the End of the World" (harmonies and all) and would annoy everyone around us by singing them at the top of our lungs.


R.I.P. R.E.M.
and I feel fine....

New Music: Girls

Love Love love this record!!  I seriously can't get enough.  I'm new to the Girls fan club, but after this record I might become president.  Father, Son, Holy Ghost is addictive.  It's 60's rock.  It's 70's rock.  It's not really 80's or 90's rock.  It's just awesome.  The record could be described as being all over the place...in a good way.  Some of the songs are very AM radio, others lean toward prog rock/metal and some are shoegazy romps.   You'd think with all of that, the record would be incongruent.  But, it's not.  It blends together and wraps you in a musical burrito of yumminess.

The common theme of this record is love.  And, Girls have done a great job of spooling together a record that gets ya right where it hurts.  Whether you are falling in or out of love, there is something for everyone.  The album opens with the very upbeat "Honey Bunny" and rolls into one of my favorite songs "Alex" with it's simple lo-fi melodies and lazy vocals.  It's really simple: "Alex has blue eyes. Well, who cares?  Well, I do."  It has this summer fun quality about the song that you can just picture a sunny day in the park.  "Die" is an homage to 70's metal, almost sounding like Muse, but not as produced.  "Saying I Love You" is a really sweet love song that feels like something I would've heard in the back of my Mom's VW Bug driving to Florida in the 70's.  "My Ma" is reminiscent of Cat Power's "The Greatest" or something by The Promise Ring and is sleepy and sweet.  While the name of "Vomit" is not something that is flattering, it's probably the most complex song on the record.  I can't help but think Pink Floyd when I hear it, but then it hits the crescendo with janky guitars and takes a My Morning Jacket turn, with Christopher Owens ranting "Come into my heart" over and over as this wailing female vocal comes in just as the emotion washes over you.  I have a feeling that this is the song to hear live.  My next favorite song is "Love Like a River" which also features that same Gospel choir as the perfect backdrop to another song that gives me chills.  The heartbreaking "Forgiveness" is the opus of the record at almost eight minutes and it's quite the tugger of heartstrings:

"Nothing's gonna get any better
If you don't have a little hope
If you don't a little love
In your soul

Nothing's gonna get any better
If you're drowning in your fear
If you've got nothing but sorrow
In your soul

And you'll have to forgive me brother
And you'll have to forgive me sister
And I'll have to forgive you if we're ever gonna move on

No one's gonna find any answers
If you're looking in the dark
When you're looking for the reason
To give up

No one's gonna find any answers
If you're just trying to hide
From the things you know inside
Are the truth"

Father, Son, Holy Ghost is not a record to be missed and is one of my favorites for this year so far.  You can stream it below for a limited time:

It's TV Season Premiere Party Time!!!

The Fall TV shows are here!  The Fall TV shows are here!  YAY!!  Most people I know are not as open as I am about their obsession with TV.  But, I LOVE it.  I have so many shows that my DVR is often overflowing.  I watch three soaps, Judge Judy, Letterman and Jimmy Fallon, which are all dailies. On any given week, I would say that I take in a good 30+ hours of TV a week.  I know that's a little much, but I'd watch more if I could.  Until Time Warner gets with the times and has the "tape four shows at a time" DVR, I will have to make some tough decisions.  (Sorry, Glee: you didn't make the cut a few years ago).  I'm hoping that the following shows will not disappoint and make my DVR and I the happiest people on earth:


1.  Prime Suspect

Now that my beloved Law & Order is in the tanker, I'll be looking for a new procedural drama to keep me warm in the winter months.  I feel like Prime Suspect is going to nicely fit the bill.  Mario Bello is great.  Aiden Quinn?  Like him too.  Only complaint?  It's up against The Mentalist.  This better not mean that only one can survive.  Because The Mentalist that had the most intense season ender that I literally was on the edge of my seat.  I can do both.  Let's hope America can too.

Prime Suspect, Thursdays 10-11pm on NBC
The Mentalist, Thursdays 10-11pm on CBS

2.  Castle

Castle stars my boyfriend, Nathan Fillion, so this is a no brainer.  When they left us last season, Beckett was shot at the funeral of her former mentor turned bad guy and Castle whispered, "I love you" as the credits closed.  I'm not really into Beckett and Castle getting together (hello, he should be with me) and I actually liked it when she was with Michael Trucco (hello, hunk #2).  But, I have a feeling that the romantic tension this season will be off the charts.  Either way, I can't wait for more hunkiness and laughs with Captain Hammer.

Castle, Mondays 10-11pm on ABC

3. Up All Night

I love Christina Applegate, I love Will Arnett and I love Maya Rudolph, so this one should be a no-brainer.  It's a comedy from Emily Spivey, who was a writer on Saturday Night Live, so I'm hoping for my new favorite 30 Rock. 

Up All Night, Wednesdays 8-830pm on NBC

4.  Revenge

I loved Emily VanCamp on Brothers & Sisters, so I'm looking forward to watching her be devious and somewhat evil on Revenge.  The show starts with Emily's dad being murdered, and her avenging his death throughout the season.  They're comparing this show to Dallas with the "Who shot JR?" premise, but I'm hoping that it will bring enough drama to satiate my loss of my favorite soap One Life to Live.  ABC owes me.

Revenge, Wednesdays 10-11pm on ABC 

5.  Big Bang Theory

I was so excited that Jim Parsons won another Emmy for his performance as Sheldon on Big Bang Theory.  Jim Parsons brings an amazing performance and convincingly delivers lines with terminology that might as well be Mandarin to those outside of Comic-Con circles.  I'm hoping that Leonard and Penny get back together this season.  *fingers crossed*

Big Bang Theory, Thursdays 8-8:30pm on CBS

6.  Parks & Recreation

While I do love Modern Family, I think that Parks & Recreation was robbed by not winning the Emmy this year.  This last season was brilliant with the additions of Adam Scott and Rob Lowe.  I still have the episode on my DVR where Rob Lowe plays the "air banjo" in the back of the car.  It is sheer genius.  And, don't even get me started on Nick Offerman.  He could read the phone book and I would cry laughing.

Parks & Recreation, Thursdays 8:30-9pm on NBC

Still on the fence:

Whitney: I'm not sure how to feel about this one.  On one hand, I want to like it.  She's funny at roasts and I've heard that she's a really nice person.  I'm just not sure if I can get behind this show like NBC has.  Jesus...I can't go anywhere without seeing her face.  It's a little much.  Speaking of, did she have plastic surgery?  She looks like she did something.  Fillers?  Chris D'Elia was hilarious as the perv on Workaholics, so I may end up tuning in for him

Thursdays, 9:30-10pm on NBC


2 Broke Girls: I'm just not sure what to think of this one.  It has the potential to be funny, but the previews are just meh.  Entertainment Weekly put it in their top 5, so we'll see.

Mondays, 8:30-9pm on CBS

Person of Interest:  Sadly, this one is up against The Office and Grey's Anatomy so I'm going to have to go to my backup DVR for this one.  Again, Entertainment Weekly put it in their top 5, so I'm going to give it a shot.  J.J. Abrams, Jonathan Nolan...definitely a show of interest.  It may get the ax if I don't have time.

Thursdays, 9-10pm on CBS

I'm exhausted already!! 

Way Back Wednesday: Human League

Talking about Men At Work hitting the road with Human League last week made me think of my all-time favorite song by Human League.  It's not "Fascination" or "Don't You Want Me."  In fact, it's not a song that most people have probably heard, even though it's from their biggest hit Dare.  The DJ used to play "Seconds" at Club Park Avenue when I was in college and it was one of my favorites.  It could probably go down as the happiest sounding song about the JFK assassination that has ever existed.  For me it goes down as being in the long list of Jeannie-Emo songs.  I listen to it and am transported back in time to the early 90's and all of the shenanigans that ensued: my friend Gidget driving us around all night going from party to party, using her leg to guide the steering wheel, coming home with sludge all over the bottom of my Laura Ashley dress that we all thought was so cool to wear to Goth night and being at parties on Columbia Drive doing a lot of unmentionable things.  Ahhh...those were the days.