Go with a smile

My top 100 films of the decade (That I watched) 81-90

2011-10-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

90. Shrek 2

– And yes the same goes for Shrek. Sure the first one is a classic because it introduced the whole Shrek universe to the world, but #2 did it funnier and better on all fronts. Too bad they dropped the ball on the third one. And the fourth… well I haven’t even seen it yet cuz I suspect it blows that much.

89. Lord of War

– Nicholas Cage is an ever rolling crapshoot. Sometimes he’s brilliant, other times he’s menacingly bad. Case in point compare Leaving Las Vegas and Kiss of Death with the likes of Ghost Rider or The Wicker Man. Enter Lord of War. Raw, biting, real. To be honest, it’s probably one of his best 5 flicks in my book. It’s Tony Montana meets Tony Stark. A rags to riches to emotional rags story of a weapons dealer that truly puts the question, when will too much be enough when it comes to the arms race.

88. Snatch

– Oh man what a hell of a film. Funny, dark morose, funny, well written, superbly acted, funny, messed up, funny and funny. It’s not that this is a laugh fest by the way, it’s just that the movie is so messed up, you can’t help but laugh sometimes and feel bad for doing so. Well not really.

87. Slumdog Millionaire

– I almost hate to put this movie on the list anywhere simply because the hype was so ridiculous and I stand by my stance that this movie is overrated. Good? Yes. Quite good actually. But movie of the year AND song of the year this was not. To be honest, it seems some political interests were being served with all the Slumdog hoopla and it’s a bit disappointing because the movie is actually quite excellent and it might be a preemptor of things to come. Regardless of the collateral BS that comes with the flick, good acting, great editing and a satisfying script means that the movie gets a slot on the list, even if it’s leagues lower than slum fans would like it to be.

86. Sweeny Todd

– The Demon Barber gets the Burton twist. A musical for the Mortal Kombat generation, Sweeny Todd gives Kill Bill a run for its money in the blood sloshing department. Most everyone in the movie does a great job but high notes need to go to Sasha Baron Cohen for taking the pee selling Pirelli to new heights.

85. Finding Neverland – Well shot, well acted, fun, interesting and inviting you to find your own Neverland. This movie was just a great experience for me even though the best parts were the ones alluding directly to the timeless classic. Funny how Johnny Depp was able to land in so many flicks on this list, yet is managing to annoy the hell out of me lately.

84. Dodgeball

– Hear me out. A movie is great for me if it gets me laughing and Dodgeball had me in stitches from the ridiculous story to Ben Stiller’s moustache and his Purple Headed Cobras. BTW, special things happen to me when this movie is on, so I HAD to include this on the list, which is MY list. Feel free to disagree in the comments section.

83. Identity

– Interesting, kind of creepy, unexpected ending. Identity is all the things you want from a suspense thriller, including an ending that isn’t happy.

82. Rocky Balboa
– Finally the venerable series gets the sendoff it deserves. (I’m ignoring Rocky IV and V in this little rant). After the lame fifth outing, round six proved to be the winning round in the contest. The script was pretty damn good, Stallone did a great Rocky and Paulie shall forever be one of the greatest fuckups in existence, which you can’t help but hate and love in one sentence.

81. My Big Fat Greek Wedding

– WHATTTTTT??? A full on chick flick is on this list? Why yes and do you want to know why? Because when you make a movie so good that it’ll become a TBS staple for years to come, you know you did your job right. A thoroughly enjoyable comedy anyone in the family can adopt as their guilty pleasure and one of the reasons why people even know when to say Opa!

My top 100 films of the decade (That I watched) 91-100

2011-10-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

100. Casshern

– I need to mention this movie for one main reason. The story is weird, the acting isn’t always top notch and the overall flow of the movie is just odd, but WOW does this movie look simply incredible. Whether you like the wtf Neo Evangelion concept or not, you can’t deny the sheer visual strength of this movie and this is probably the only movie on the entire list that makes it solely because of one criteria, hence it being #100.

99. Lemony Snicket’s a Series of Unfortunate Events

– This is not the most awesome movie ever, but I think it was so beautifully shot and its wardrobe and stage direction was so amazing, that not mentioning it would be kind of a foul. Tag on an excellent score and you have a sleeper hit of a movie that merits at least one watch, though probably a few. Too bad developmental hell kept sequels from being produced, but it might mean animated features in the future, which might work as well or even better.

98. Spider Man 2

– By far the best Spider Man Movie since the first one was ok and the third one… well let’s not even mention the third one. Effects got a good bump, the storyline was much more solid, Doc Oc was awesome and the movie was pretty much the main reason for me thinking the third one was going to be epic... too bad I simply got Spider Man the High School Musical instead.

97. 28 Days Later

– A good zombie flick needs gallons upon gallons of fake blood and a scene or two where you might even cringe a little. A REALLY good zombie flick is also gruesome but brings a story, innovation within the genre and best of all, running zombies.

96. Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
– Another movie that made my list based mainly on its visuals is FF VII: Advent Children. Add to a stunning CGI film some great music and some pretty incredible boss battles and you can forgive the odd bits in between. Simply put, if you played the series and like animated films, you will put this on your list because unlike Spirits Within, this movie DID NOT suck.

95. Bruce Almighty
– Tell me you haven’t fantasized of parting a bowl of tomato soup ever since you saw this flick. Witty, fun, and without getting remotely close to the hackneyed efforts of its sequel. In short, this movie was güd!!

94. Spanglish
– Call this my Sandler trio. Starting off with Spanglish, Sandler has a knack for making movies I watch and enjoy. True, not all of his flicks are best of the decade worthy, but I can’t deny that I loved the silky smoothness of You Don’t Mess with The Zohan or the predictable fun of The Longest Yard. However, Spanglish was a different kind of movie in the sense that it had a plot you saw and could actually believe. It might be uneven but when you break it all down, it’s pretty real and it has Paz Vega, so #94 it is.

93. Reign Over Me

– Second in the Sandler Trio, Reign Over Me is a movie that surprised the hell out of me. Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler don’t always work well together, but it was Sandler’s show to steal anyway, which he did. A movie about coping with grief and the pain of leaving things unfinished. Clumsy at times, graceful at others; a lot like life if you ask me. And as a huge bonus, Pearl Jam offered a cover of The Who’s Love Reign O’er Me.

92. Click –

The final Sandler flick in this entire list, what sets Click apart is that in addition to good laughs, it has a good message to take with you. Besides, it’s got Christopher Walken as a kooky guy from Bed, Bath and Beyond, Master Hasselhoff and Kate Beckinsale. But apart from that, the whole message of “work too much and life will pass you by” and “make sure you appreciate the people you love” before it’s too late resonated with me.

91. X 2

– Like Spider-Man, the best was left for second. X 2 is all that the first movie wanted to be and all that the third movie forgot to be. The best effects, best action sequences, coolest characters and most solid plot are found in this installment.

You have been gifted

2011-10-01T05:34:00.000-07:00

In life, there are thousands of lessons to learn, but one of the hardest is to learn to value and appreciate every single day of your life. People often morph into creatures of habit living each day as if it is scripted, doing the minimum to get by and complaining just about everything. “My job sucks, my life sucks, this day is lame, I wish it were Friday.” You hear these comments from people throughout the week and it’s as if they wish they could fast forward through life just to get to the good parts.

Luckily, you have them all beat. You have been given the gift of knowledge that makes you a far more complete person than they are. In reality, we are all terminally ill because in the end, no one survives life. It’s just that the time we have varies from person to person… but that’s nothing compared to the QUALITY of the life you live.

Think of it this way, what good is living to be a hundred if you’re bitter, hate life, stop learning and continually settle. Now think of living half that time but being productive, being loved, writing, making music, surfing, loving, having a family, helping people and whatnot. The quality of those 50 years far eclipse someone who achieved the milestone of reaching a century’s worth of life… because it was a bitter century.

Some of the people who live life to the fullest are people who have been diagnosed with what in reality is the most real deadline any of us could ever be given. The veil has been taken off and the illusion of conformity is destroyed, replaced by the reality of how much you want to live. Adverse events have that way of impacting our lives.

In the life of Jesse Billauer, it took an accident at Pipeline when he was 17. Rendered quadriplegic, most people would be bitter with their life. Jesse accepted his situation, adapted his life and didn’t take no for an answer. With the help of a strong support group and unwavering faith in himself and his beliefs, he still surfs. Don’t take my word for it, check the links below.

www.jessebillauer.com

http://www.liferollson.org/site/pp.asp?c=egLLKTNJE&b=79269

Here’s Jesse chargin:

Motorcross superstar, Travis Pastrana knows the value of life from what happened to his friend Matt Bigos. Because of Travis driving irresponsibly, he crashed his car leaving his friend paralyzed. After being told he wouldn’t walk again, Matt showed what he thought of those diagnoses… even in his condition, he does Iron Men triathlons and shows that nothing and no one is going to tell him what he can or can’t do. He also forgave Travis and told him things just happen.

Check his blog at www.mattbigos.blogspot.com

Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham was born with Spina Bifida, which means he’s probably wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. His response? Becoming the pioneer of freestyle wheeling, landing air 360s, double backflips, and a superman air… all on a wheelchair.

Check out his site: http://www.aaronfotheringham.com/

These people didn’t take no for an answer, they didn’t give up and they didn’t let days slip by without doing what they loved. How many people do you know who can say this? How many healthy people? How many people with a smart phone, with Internet, with endless amounts of possessions and heaps of money?

In my personal experience my aunt was diagnosed with AIDS and my father was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of crumbling under the pressures of treatment and pain, my aunt published a book and spoke to people to create awareness and offer support. My father rekindled lost faith, prayed and finally broke down years of emotional barriers to finally show outwardly how much he cared for his family and in those 6 years he told me he loved me more than the rest of my life combined. If that isn’t worth more than 100 bitter years of life, then I don’t know what is.

Unlike countless millions, you have been given the gift of knowledge. You have been exposed to the one undeniable truth that binds all of us and which is your mission to share with everyone you come into contact with and it can be summed up in 5 words:

Every day is a gift

So my best to you and always remember to keep your head high because in everything, life is about quality not quantity.

Cheers,

JDJ

Explosions in the Sky – Take care, take care, take care – A+

2011-06-09T19:41:00.000-07:00

Explosions in the Sky don’t make music, they make soundtracks to life and in their latest installment, there’s a sense of peace which is at times uplifting. Although often inclined to create epic compositions heavily flavored with melancholy, this is the most hopeful album they’ve ever created. Rest assured, if you’ve liked previous outings from Explosions, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care does not disappoint and further puts them at the forefront of post rock. Starting off with Last Known Surroundings, the song is an introduction to the album and that’s something you’ll have to maintain VERY present throughout. Although the tracks on this album can be enjoyed individually, they really do merit a full listen through since this album was made to be listened in one sitting. Tracks mesh into one another and the transition from the first track to Human Qualities is quietly beautiful. This track treads through more familiar Explosions territory, but it’s a wonderful setup to one of the definite highlight tracks on the album, Trembling Hands. Stylistically, this is a definite departure even going so far as to include looped vocals on the track. The echo drenched guitars continue but the pace of the song is the closest they’ve come to being frantic and at 3:31, I’m pretty sure it’s the shorts if not one of the shortest songs by Explosions in the Sky. The tone is at one of its definite highest on this track and it has to be a great song to hear live and territory I hope they explore further since it’s quite an interesting thing to see how much music they can cram into four minutes or less. Then you transition to the gentle Be Comfortable Creature. Another revisit to some familiar ground with some very present new colors in their palette. The synth breathing that enters around the 1:45 mark is beautiful and definitely carries across the title of the song. In this song especially you get a sense that Explosions in the Sky have definitely learned how to let a song grow at its own pace. They might be playing it, but they don’t own it by any means and the songs feel quite organic in that sense. Afterwards comes Postcard from 1952 another great song that shows glimpses of past compositions and stylistic trademarks while creating something entirely new before melting into the highlight of the album. In the background you can hear something that seems like a horn section, which is really the background guitar drumming out notes that could very much work in an orchestral setting before picking up the crunch, and taking you for a ride that grows and grows as has been their nature as a band for some time now. Which is all fantastic, but it’s only a setup for pretty much one of their best songs, the closing Let me Back in. The song begins with more synth whispers and some piano in the mix and it just grows, and grows and grows into forever. Truly, it’s a beautiful song and a definite high point in their catalogue since like other songs, it truly takes its time to develop and the end result is magnificent. Take Care, Take Care, Take Care offers the most new dynamics to the Explosions sound and few bands can even fathom to connect the way these guys do.

Highlight Tracks: Last Known Surroundings – Trembling Hands – Be Comfortable Creature – Let me back in

Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues - A

2011-06-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Fleet Foxes is a band ripped from some sunny hideaway circa 1963. That’s what they sound like but impressively, this band is from Seattle. Trust me, just seeing my record collection you can see I have NOTHING against Seattle and truly am a grunge child. It’s just my way of giving a tip of the hat to a band that has gone their way regardless of what’s expected from said territory. Whereas 90’s bands sounded like they came from the proverbial grey existence that is Seattle at times, you can’t help but feel as if you’re skipping through a sunny field when you listen to a Foxes album. That much is clearly apparent on each of the twelve tracks offered this time around. Montezuma opens with a sunrise track evoking echo laden dollops of hope only to be followed by a more Nick Drake meets America number in Bedouin Dress. Throughout the musicianship is excellent and it’s another album that gets you smiling. I can’t help but feel as if this album sounds like something I would have found hidden in one of my parent’s music collections from their teens. It’s music to inspire and feel hopeful to, which is ironic given the title of the album. The retro folk grandness continues with Sim Sala Bim and it doesn’t let up. Like their debut and First EP Sun Giant, the band doesn’t let up and the quality of the music holds strong throughout. Great band, great album, great listen.

Highlight Tracks: Montezuma - Bedouin Dress - Sim Sala Bim – Grown Ocean – Lorelei The Plains /Bitter Dancer – Someone you’d admire

Recaudando dinero en la luz – un verdadero valor puertorriqueño

2011-05-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

No hay nada mal con querer ir a una competencia en Estados Unidos y necesitar recaudar fondos. Si lo resumes es básicamente tener un sueño y necesitar lograr la manera de llegarle. Básicamente lo único que limita tus esfuerzos de recaudación es el nivel de creatividad que emplees. Desde un venta bajo la carpa, a un bazar, vendiendo limonada, bizcochos, un talent show o hasta ventas de pizza o botellas de agua… la realidad es que HAY maneras de ganarte ese dinero o de justificarlo. Pero en vez de hacer algo para ganarse ese dinero, como muchas cosas, esperamos que no los regalen.

Ciertamente pararse bajo el sol boricua en una luz no es placentero, pero tampoco toma una ciencia ni mucho esfuerzo. Es aguantar calor mientras esperas por el mantengo a base del ay bendito, lema nacional de nuestra querida isla que tanto se le ha olvidado cómo ganarse el dinero. Hay quien dice que tal pensamiento es ignorante de mi parte porque yo no entiendo lo que es pasar necesidad, porque soy un cuello blanco y miles de otras razones para tratar de desvirtuar la atención de la realidad – y es que hay DEMASIADA gente que vive del mantengo y no es por nada, pero me desgarra las entrañas el que yo tenga que dejar artículos de mi compra por falta de presupuesto mientras personas con la tarjeta de la familia tienen dos carritos de compras llenados más a capacidad que si Aventura tuviese un concierto gratis en el Choliseo. No estoy diciendo que todo el mundo que tiene la tarjeta de la familia la usa irresponsablemente, pero es innegable compartir que hay personas que abusan de los beneficios que le dan.

El recaudar dinero en una luz es una acción ignorante, irresponsable y dañina a la sociedad porque le estás diciendo a un chamaquito que es tan especial que le van a regalar los medios para lograr sus metas y sueños. Siendo honesto, la única otra profesión que depende exclusivamente de la recaudación monetaria en cada semáforo de esta isla es el ser un deambulante.

Se le enseña la valiosa lección de poner cara de víctima y necesidad para que llueva maná capitalista y abracadabra, nos fuimos a Washington el equipo entero con sus familiares que no tienen por qué servir de sanguijuela financiera, pero pues, como la limosna fue tan efectiva, por qué no llevarlos. ¿Pues por qué recurrir a esta acción si es tan despreciable? La contestación es simple y desagradable… porque funciona. Y si funciona, ¿pues para qué pasar esfuerzo?

Esa es la misma actitud que le enseña a un joven a quejarse y llorar hasta que le den una A, los mismos valores que usan los corruptos y criminales cuando están en la corte para justificar su desliz con la ley y los mismos valores que nos han llevado al actual estado de crisis financiera y moral del país. Por eso invito a que se mande pal infierno el ay bendito aunque sea por un año como un experimento socio cultural. Quién sabe, a lo mejor recobramos algo de lo que nos hacía un sitio tan agradable para vivir hace dos décadas.

Elbow Build a Rocket Boys - A+

2011-05-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

I’ve said it before, rarely have I recommended a band as much as Elbow. Having discovered this band through chance, I came about their album Cast of Thousands during the summer of 2004 while working as an intern in NYC. Little did I know I’d chanced upon what would turn out to be one of my favorite bands, ever. Thing is that it’s easy to love this band but it’s equally easy to understand why it’s taken them so long to gain the respect and admiration they deserve. This is music with deep seeded influences but a true commitment to the personality of the band members. It’s not pretentious, it’s intricate, it’s beautiful and lush, but it does so by being well thought instead of in your face. Simply put, no one sounds like Elbow and it’s good that no one tries to emulate this band, because odds are it’d be a terrible idea. The nuances, subtleties and unique textures comprised by a ménage of all the instruments are anchored by an everyday guy with a golden voice who has a true knack for writing lyrics that resonate with underlying human threads that know no boundaries.

Build a Rocket Boys is the fifth album by Elbow, and it’s just as rewarding (and possibly more so) than their previous releases, which is saying quite a lot. Musically, the textures are as inventive as ever and the overall mood of the album has you careening from introspective beauty reflecting on life and smiling to wanting to build something while smiling… the key factor is that I can’t help but listen to this album without smiling. Often pegged as sappy sad kids, Elbow have done quite the job of creating music that fills you with smiley jitters. It’s not that they’ve left aside their roots or their identity, or that the album doesn’t include some quietly beautiful numbers, it’s just that at least for this outing, they’re still reaching for the stars, but doing it with a smirk on their face and three beers in their belly.

You could say that this album is celebratory and maybe it has to do with their success on their last outing – the fantastic Seldom Seen Kid, which also happened to be their breakthrough. You can actually say a lot of things, but what you can’t say is that this album isn’t ridiculously good or crafted with passion, love and talent.

Apart from a rocket, these boys are also building something many bands are taking for granted: a legacy. We just happen to be lucky enough to tag along for the ride. From the beautiful opening of The Birds, with its electronic flourishes, to the college kid’s reflection of Jesus is a Rochdale Girl, to pretty much every track on the album, Build a Rocket Boys shows a band growing and evolving in talent and scope but keeping it very real.

Cheers

R.E.M. - Collapse into Now - A+

2011-05-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

For believing albums are dead, R.E.M. have put out one of their best ever. Even more so, something I really think needs to be said about this album is that unlike most R.E.M. albums, Collapse Into Now doesn’t have their typical mid-album slump (something also very apparent in their last outing Accelerate). But if anything, I think R.E.M.’s reaction to the album is interesting because although in interviews they almost sound as if they’re full of it, they play on the album with as much f%^& you conviction as ever. Actually, it often sounds like they’re having a really good time.

True, many lyrics may have them taking the role of curmudgeonly journeymen talking to “the kids”, but if that’s my main complaint of this album… then I’ll take it, because at 30, I often feel completely out of sync with lots of things that are happening nowadays and the music here says that loud and clear. Whatever you’re doing now, we’re not interested, this is how we rock.

Collapse Into Now maintains the focus seen on Accelerate, but a hell of a lot of variety has been added to the mix to offer up a great solid collection of songs that lyrically, musically and thematically matter. Peter Buck even pulled out the mandolin to reminisce on greener and less socially-networked pastures of the days of old.

Great lyrics, good choruses and impressively so, one of the most intelligible I’ve ever heard Michael Stipe. Although the interviews and the album title might project a sense of pessimism and nihilistic tendencies towards their relevance, Collapse Into Now is the work of great musicians, making great music just for the hell of it apparently.

Soundgarden – Live from the I-5 – A -

2011-05-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

It’s been a long time in the making, but there is finally a goddamn Live Soundgarden album. If you read the reviews, you might find some hater reviewers who aren’t too fond of the band giving it an ok review. Since I’m a fan, this is a review for fans. So if you’re a hater, take it elsewhere.

If you ask me, the track listing is interesting, varied and showcases some definite high points. The only thing that could have some sort of question mark regarding Soundgarden live is Chris Cornell’s voice, and to be honest, that’s the only thing I could sort of complain. As I mentioned to a friend of mine, it’s not that Cornell sings songs in a greater range than Robert Plant, it’s that song after song in the Soundgarden catalogue are punishing on anyone’s vocals. Let me drown is a particular track where your own throat might hurt just from listening to Chris shredding his chords. But occasional vocal blips aside, this is a great collection of live tracks, so let’s look at Live on the I-5 track by track.

1. Spoonman: Hell of a start to a live album and shows that when Soundgarden delivers, they REALLY deliver. The band is beyond punched and you feel the riffs rip at you. Kim Thayill is smoking on this opener.

2. Searching with my good eye closed: Definitely one of the highlights of the album with Matt Cameron showing that this is his band. Add to this the guitar led vocal riff at about the 2:22 mark which then leads into all hell breaking loose on the rhythm section.

3. Let me Drown: One of those songs that just hurt to listen to not because it’s bad, but because Chris Cornell is on the verge of losing his voice on occasion. Again, the band rips the hell out of this one.

4. Head Down: Along with Mailman, this is one of my favorite Superunknown songs. Odd time signature, weird tuning, weird song. It’s a cool song to have them play but not one of those marquee moments in a concert or on the album, which shows that not all in this collection is perfection. Highpoints in the track go to Ben Shepperd and Matt Cameron who give a nice musical breakdown at the 3:15 mark and are a highpoint throughout this track and at the end.

5. Outshined: Hell of a great song live. Period. Sabbath channeled through 90’s alt metal, what’s not to like.

6. Rusty Cage: Dirty, powerful, scary fast songs are a plus for any Soundgarden experience and their rendition of Rusty Cage rocks.

7. Burden in My Hand: One of those songs that has a lot of color in each particular instrument, Burden is a track that translates pretty good live and especially showcases Ben Sheppards talents on the bass.

8. Helter Skelter: Truly a unique version of this Beatles song that leads into one of my favorite random Soundgarden songs.

9. Boot Camp: The segue is flawless and definitely works like a charm on a live stage.

10. Nothing to Say: Sludging guitars drop like sonic lava on your body… that’s a pretty good way to describe this song as Chris Cornell shreds his voice to pieces. Highlights are on the offbeat drumming of maestro Cameron and the 6 string licks of Kim Thayill. Definitely a sound that feels like the true essence of grunge at its best.

11. Slaves and Bulldozers: Another sludgy song which is vocalizingly punishing but very satisfying since you feel the slight desire to break something.

12. Dusty: Dusty is one of those songs that definitely does not sound like a single but was. It’s a good song, odd sound structure, interesting verse and guitar work with some nice improvisation work throughout.

13. Fell on Black Days: Fell on is a song that doesn’t get you pumped but it’s always a nice treat to listen to. It’s more an album song to plug into and really listen to, but it’s probably a great precursor to a gut busting track… and with what comes afterwards in this setlist, that seems an appropriate approximation

14. Search and Destroy: Quite soundgarden like to follow a mellow number like Fell on Black Days with a scorching rendition of Search and Destroy that would make the Stooges proud and a little afraid. Where the stooges were pure raw power, Soundgarden takes this song and spruces it up enough to make it their own without losing the essence and definitely hitting hard. The two covers on this live album truly stand out for being great takes on classics and Search and Destroy does not disappoint. So how to top it?.....

15. Ty Cobb: By playing Ty Cobb… a raw weird, pumped up song that gets your adrenaline rushing at the energy and your head scratching at the great playing. Seriously, few people can be so punk and prog in their approach as these guys.

16. Black Hole Sun: Which obviously means they throw a curveball with a guitar driven rendision of Black Hole Sun… a lovely aperitif or an adieu before ripping the heads off the crowd with one of their best live songs.

17. Jesus Christ Pose: Now that’s the song to end a Soundgarden concert. Thumping drums and bass, screaming guitar, vocals straight through the roof. If there’s no tomorrow and this is the last song they play live, it’s a good choice.

BONUS DISC

Most bands wish they could have the energy and talent these guys have on a soundcheck on any given performance. That being said, I think it’d be great to see more of this because it’s the first time I’ve listened to full-fledged sound checks. Hell this disc makes me wish I was a roadie.

50 Best albums of the Decade Part 7 - the Top 10

2011-05-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

10. Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium

When it comes to quantity vs. quality, you should always pick the latter… but when you get both, who the hell are you to complain. To be honest, Stadium Arcadium is not an album in the sense that the songs need to be played in the sequence they’re laid out. It’s a statement said in various reviews and one I tend to agree with on certain occasions though if you’ll take the 28 tracks as a whole, Danny California is the perfect opener and Death of a Martian is quite an appropriate closer. It’s in the middle that things get a little dicey, but that’s a small complaint when you see the quality of music dished out by this group of veterans. A while later after the release and subsequent tour of Stadium Arcadium, John Frusciante parted ways amicably with the band and I think a lot of that has to do with this double dose of Red Hot Goodness. Although Flea and Chad Smith do a great job as always, the band member who stretched out the farthest was Frusciante and when you listen to the tracks and the variety, an honest question arises… what the hell else can John do in this scenario that he hasn’t done before? Truly, listening to things so drastically different as Animal Bar and Storm in a Teacup shows that John can push to new boundaries and maybe he wants to explore new ventures before possibly returning to the RHCP after he’s figured out that this is where he can excel as a guitarist. Truth be told, a mind as hyperactive as Frusciante’s is capable of pumping out multiple albums in a year and maybe he just wanted more flexibility to do all of that. The treasures he’s left behind in this outing though serve as a perfect canvas for Anthony Kiedis to excel as a singer and often times, he delivers, coming up short on just a few occasions. For their part, Flea and Chad Smith could very well be a two headed Siamese beast since they are that much in sync. Some people think this could have been an epic album if it would have been trimmed to the barest necessary tracks or if it had been spliced into two distinct albums but for my part, I’m happy they released a double album. Most fans want at least one double album from their favorite artists just to see what they can do with that scenario and a lot of times we have been surprised. The Beatles released the White Album, Zeppelin had Physical Graffiti, Pink Floyd built the Wall, The Who released Qudrophenia, Nine Inch Nails released the Fragile, and even the Smashing Pumpkins released Melloncollie and the Infinite Sadness. For their part, The Red Hot Chili Peppers did the double album proud and it makes me wish for the same from some other artists just to see what they can do.

Highlight Tracks: Dani California – Charlie – Stadium Arcadium – Hump de Bump – She’s only 18 - Especially in Michigan – Wet Sand – Tell me Baby – Readymade – Animal Bar – Storm in a teacup – Death of a Martian

9. Sigur Ros – ( )

( ) is the title of one of the saddest yet most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard in my life. If anything, Sigur Ros know how to make music that only they can pull off. It’s beautiful, it seems like music made for winter mornings and the attempts nature sometimes gives to try and thaw and be happy, while still remaining frozen. It’s slow and it unravels and it’s an album that demands from its listener because you’re either contemplative, pensive or sad when you listen to this music. It does have its jeering moments when the band puts forth some of the most wonderfully aggressive music in their catalogue and truth be told, with the glimpses we see here, I’d like to see and angry Sigur Ros album. I’m not expecting heavy metal, but I am expecting the amazing heaven seizing grandeur as seen on some tracks that will remain nameless. Sure, they’ve been given some pseudonyms, but in essence, the tracks are without title. There are no liner notes, no thank yous, and no lyrics, only two words… Sigur Ros, and that’s on the cover sleeve. The songs have no real words as it was sung completely in hopelandic and you can see how this plays with your mind, because you want to adlib and fill the blanks with whatever is inside you. They say there are two sides to every story, well it also turns out that there’s two sides to an album. The first half of this collection is more hopeful, beautiful and even sunny. The second half is bleak, despondent and as mentioned above, at times angry. But no matter which side or which track you’re listening to… there’s no doubt that this is pure Sigur Ros.

Highlight Tracks: The entire album

8. Jorge Drexler – Eco

Sometimes the measure of a great album is the fact that you can listen to it from start to finish three or four times in a row. That’s how I feel with Eco. A warm, smartly produced and intimately performed album by an Uruguayan singer that also happened to win an Oscar. The measure of importance of an artist in each and every person’s life directly correlates with what a song means in your particular life. For me, Eco the album holds enough great memories to elicit smiles on cue and a spot on the top 10.

Highlight Tracks: Eco – Deseo – Todo se Transforma – Guitarra y Vos – Don de Fluir – Salvapantallas – Al Otro Lado del Río – Polvo de Estrellas

7. At the Drive–in – Relationship of Command

Few bands could pack a punch like At The Drive In. Listening to them you felt like you were on a cart on some maniacal roller coaster and that at every turn you could fly off… but you didn’t, because this wasn’t pure reckless aggression, it was concise, precise and deliberately out of control, like some race car driver skidding on turns. Relationship of Command is the tightest most aggressive ATDI album, and that’s saying something. It’s also an album that pushed the band to the brink creatively and heralded the creation of two bands when members of this one couldn’t reconcile. But this album represents some of the best and most raucous rock music you will find this past decade or anywhere. You see, before a bunch of boyish fruity punk bands urinated all over the moniquer Emo, At the Drive In was showing what the real deal was. Posers have long listened to it to try to emulate, but unfortunately for them, they lack the musical gonads to match this band in half its prime, much less when they were going out guns a blazing.

Highlight Tracks: Arcarsenal – One Armed Scissor – Enfilade - Mannequin Republic – Cosmonaut – Rolodex Propaganda – Invalid Litter Dept… in all honesty… the whole damn thing

6. Queens of the Stoneage – Songs for the Deaf

Desert rock has never sounded this good. Also, Songs for the Deaf is an appropriate title for an epic album that starts off with audio that is barely listenable, prompting you to crank up the volume only to have your eardrums shattered by the real track a few seconds later. After that hell of an intro, what follows is a sequence of excellent songs that never lets up, never disappoints, consistently surprises and never ceases to reward generously. With excellent contributions by Mark Lanegan and the drumming of Dave Grohl, going wrong wasn’t a likely choice for this album, and it never takes its foot off the gas. Not even in the slower songs. This is an album for all occasions if all occasions happened to be epic and inspired greatness. People often remember No One Knows and Go with the Flow, but the Queens pulled off an album where every track is just as solid.

Highlight Tracks: You think I ain’t worth a dollar, but I feel like a millionaire – No One Knows – First it Giveth – A song for the Dead – The Sky is Falling – Hanging Tree – Go with the Flow – Another Love song – a song for the deaf

5. Beck – A Sea Change

Some of the best albums don’t need to be played by virtuosos, they just need to have soul and Sea Change has that in spades. This collection of songs was inspired by a breakup and it shows. It feels as if it’s a soul trying to cope with the loss and doing a sometimes good job of it. Pretty much if you ever needed a reason to know why there’s an idealization of sadness and the beauty of teetering on the edge of despair, Sea Change shows why. Face it, sometimes we show the most beautiful part of who we are as people when we are at our lowest. You see, not everyone manages to be happy in life, but sadness often binds us to one another… and if the tides teach us anything it’s that though sometimes you are high, and other times you are low… there’s always a sea waiting for you to lose yourself into… and that’s life.

Highlight Tracks: The Golden Age – Paper Tiger – Guess I’m doing Fine – Lonesome tears – Round the Bend – Already Dead – Sunday Sun – Side of the Road

4. Pearl Jam – Back Spacer

Past 40 and still ripping rock and roll a new one, Pearl Jam’s last album of the decade is also one of their best. With the 1-2-3 combo of Gonna See My Friend, Got Some and the Fixer you know the boys are revitalized as ever. Then you have the beautiful Just Breathe that tugs at heartstrings while Ed Vedder channels his Into the Wild persona on this track and the closer. As if that weren’t enough, you have the soaring Amongst the Waves, a true surf fan track if there ever was one plus another helping of crunchy goodness with Supersonic only to end on one of the most breathtaking PJ tracks ever in The End. Pearl Jam proves once again that when it comes to straight up Rock and Roll, few do it better than them while veering far enough from the path to touch on punk, folk and even a song about the late great Johnny Guitar Watson. This is an album to throw in the faces of bands half their age, who consistently put out albums half as good and play shows half as long. If you want the full-on satisfaction of music, get Pearl Jam or get bust.

Highlight Tracks: Got Some – The Fixer – Just Breathe – Amongst the Waves – Supersonic – the End – Speed of Sound

3. Tool – Lateralus

There’s something about Tool’s music that sounds as if it were the soundtrack to an HP Lovecraft Dream Cycle. It is timeless, it is scary and it is beautiful. The images inspired by the music alone is worth the price of admission and if you need a further description, consider this the most beautiful version of that dark side of your soul expressed in music. Tool has never been a band to elicit light imagery, but with Lateralus, they break new ground in the aim to allow people to transcend rather than simply transport. The music is complicated as only they can make it and the synergy between Adam Jones, Justin Chancellor and Danny Carey is frightening in its darkness. Danny Carey especially proves with this outing why he’s one of the best drummers to have ever roamed the Earth and you just need to listen to the Grudge, Ticks and Leeches or Reflection to see why. Maynard James Keenan offers up some of his most introspective lyrics to date and again, the purpose of all the music on this album is to help you transcend to higher darker regions of consciousness to find the beauty in the shade.

Highlight Tracks: The Grudge – Schism – Lateralis – Ticks and Leeches – Parabol/Parabola

2. The Mars Volta – Deloused in the Comatorium

Rarely does a debut album exceed the hype… for Deloused in the Comatorium, people had some very high expectations regarding what they would offer the world. Their Tremulant EP gave a hint at where they were going, but no one had any idea of how intense the ride would be. Simply put, Deloused in the Comatorium is a masterpiece. It has so much energy you’d be scared that the disc would explode during the pressing process, but somehow they managed to keep it under wraps. If you’re looking for logical lyrics and verse-chorus-verse songs, don’t even put this album on. It’s not conventional and it’s far from predictable. What it is however is a musical behemoth, breaking down walls of genre, time constraints and polyrhythm. The album tugs, pulls, pushes and creates new ground with salsa inflexions, the energy of true post punk and guitars that attack like a sonic maelstrom to create one of the best albums I’ve ever listened to.

Highlight Tracks: Inertiatic ESP – Roulette Dares – Drunkship of Lanterns – Cicatriz ESP – Televators – Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt - Ambuletz

1. Radiohead – Kid A

Everything in its right place indeed. There is just no other place for Kid A on this list that isn’t on the top. That an album so alienating as Kid A was embraced by so many people is a testament to how great it is. From the beginning bleeps of the opening track to the beautifully sad Motion Picture Soundtrack, no track is filler since even the quiet sparsely produced Treefingers and the intelligible Kid A are wonderful in their own random way. For harder tracks look to National Anthem and Idioteque and the sheer musical beauty of Morning Bell at around the 2:08 mark is something to wonder at. Kid A is an album that ebbs and flows. That has a beginning, a development, an end. It tells a story, it serves as the soundtrack for your life, it inspires you, it makes you want to dance, it makes you think and it is rewarding in each and every listen you give it.

Highlight Tracks: All of them

50 Best albums of the Decade Part 6 - 11-20

2011-05-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

20. Kings of Leon – Aha Shake Heartbreak

If you’re looking for the most successful release by the Kings of Leon, look two albums ahead. If however you want their best work, look to the followup to Youth and Young Manhood. Aha Shake Heartbreak does not contain songs as anthemic as some found on Only by the Night, but there isn’t one so-so track on this 37 minute testament to southern rock. From the great opener in Slow Night, So Long to the whiskey laden Rememo, the Kings take their brand of sound and crank it up while broadening their collective musical chops. True, their next album had them almost venturing into a prog rock version of southern rock, but on Aha Shake Heartbrake, they find the right balance and deliver the goods in spades. Crank it up, roll down the windows and enjoy the ride.

Highlight Tracks: Slow Night, So Long – King of the Rodeo – Taper Jean Girl – Milk – The bucket – Four Kicks - Rememo

19. The White Stripes - Elephant

Just how much variety can a guitar drum duo make? How loud can it be? Just listen to Elephant to find out why. Starting off with the dirty blues glory of Seven Nation Army, Elephant possibly turns out to be the best album in the Stripes catalogue. It’s dirty, raw energetic, anthemic and superb just to use some superlatives that though overused when describing this album, are remarkably apt. Elephant is a raw angry album that is unapologetic in its musical approach and shows Jack White can definitely make enough crunchy goodness with his guitar to keep you headbanging throughout while Meg White keeps the basics on full drive to get the message through of what a memorable beat should truly sound like. Well, headbanging as long as it isn’t a mellow acoustic number, which this album has to balance the whole thing out. Honestly, the fact that the track selection is excellent and has no easily discernible weaknesses means that though this band has recently announced their demise, they left for us a yummy red and white nugget of musical greatness that ranges from dirty blues, to raucous punk and everything in between.

Highlight Tracks: Seven Nation Army – Black Math - There’s no Home for you Here – ball and biscuit In the Cold cold Night – The Hardest Button to button – Girl you have no faith in medicine

18. Elbow – Cast of Thousands

If there’s any band I’ve recommended to no end, it’s Elbow and it has a lot to do with this album. During the summer of 2004, I came across this album at a job I had in NYC. They had an extra copy and told me to take it with me. What has ensued is a little love story between a fan of music and a band that makes music in their own vein, without saying excuse me, or minding any of what’s going on. It’s great music based on great lyrics, with one of the best voices currently swooning into a microphone. Cast of Thousands has so many memorable moments, that you can get lost in it all, and without exaggerating, it’s probably one of my favorite albums because much like the band, the album came into my life out of left field. I wasn’t looking for them; I wasn’t desperate for that new band to see my feelings reflected… they just arrived. The level of influence these guys might have on me might actually come full stride if I ever become a successful writer, but that there tells you something… this is music to listen to, to get inspired by, to use as a backdrop to a life… not a killer epic life, but just life in all its ordinary glory. Add to that the fact that they seem fully committed to always developing an album and not just a collection of singles and you see why it all resonates. They’re bringing something new without forgetting the old. They’re classic, but revolutionary, prog but minimalistic, and every day people who do amazing things with just instruments and words.

Highlight Tracks: Ribcage – Fugitive Motel – Switching off – I’ve got your number – whisper grass – buttons and zips – crawling with idiot – grace under pressure

17. Fugazi – The Argument

It’s cute to see bands trying to be as do-it-yourself, innovative, relevant, and talented as Fugazi. It really is, because for every indy band labeled as such, they owe said denomination to one of the few truly independent stalwarts of rock music. Then Fugazi go and release The Argument, which is their best album yet. From Cashout to Argument, the entire album is a collection of great songs delivered raw but refined. On the album you often have two guitars going in very distinct directions and on their own, they could make their own track… but they’re collaborating to create a wall of sound. Behind that wall of noise you have a tight rhythm section that is inventive, distinctive and above all else original. I wouldn’t be surprised if people mentioned any of the musicians in Fugazi as their favorite in their respective instruments. Melodic, uniquely structured, catchy, yet always pushing limits… this could describe The Argument or the essence of Fugazi equally well.

Highlight Tracks: Cashout – Full Disclosure – Life and Limb – The Kill – The Argument

16. Tool – 10,000 Days

Tool is that band that spooks other musicians, because there’s no way human beings can be this good as a collective. 10,000 is another installment in a stellar catalogue that though with waiting periods bordering on the ridiculous, when you see the end result, you can’t help but feel the wait is justified. Tool is a band that has pretty much created a subgenre of its own and spawned dozens if not hundreds of clone bands like Chevelle wanting to cash in on their sound. The problem for half ass bands like them is that though they are quite capable of making pleasant music, they are not Tool, they will never be Tool and they will never be compared favorably to Tool. With 10,000 days, Tool cements their legacy as the band to look up to.

Highlight Tracks: Vicarious – Jambi – Wings for Marie 10,000 days – Right in Two – Rosetta Stoned

15. Explosions in the Sky – All of a sudden I Miss Everyone

Sometimes music is just supposed to transport you… It just so happens that with Explosions in the Sky, you can go farther than many bands. Every one of their albums seems to be a voyage of some sort and this time around you can see landscapes of a thousand horizons welcoming a thousand suns. You float and soar with the music and you realize that like the album, no matter how far you tread from home… missing people is something that comes natural to us since nostalgia is simply desire expressed towards the best times of our lives. When I listen to an album like this, I can’t help but be more thankful for everything I have and every experience I’ve lived… if that doesn’t merit a place on this list, I don’t know what does.

Highlight Tracks: The Birth and Death of A Day – Welcome Ghosts – It’s Natural to Be Afraid – What do you go Home to - Catastrophe and The Cure -

14. The Mars Volta – Frances the Mute

Occasionally music is so amazing that you can transcend the physical and achieve new found heights of consciousness. That’s what I think would happen to me if I did shrooms and listened to Frances the Mute. Mazelike, intense, odyssey-esque, uniquely complex, beautiful, powerful, transcendental and yes, weird… very weird. This is the work of true musicians who give a rat’s ass about what’s going to sell a record. They’re here to show you something new. Some cosmic post space punk with latin flourishes and enough string bending guitar greatness to let you ascend. But then you also have the drumming of Jon Theodore, a true highlight of my listening career because the groove this guy has is utterly amazing. The entire band behaves like an organic maelstrom of musical power vent on ebbing and flowing energy, pulsing back and forth between tempos, time signatures and wails to let you the listener, listen to something that doesn’t necessarily belong in any space time continuum. It’s something new, it’s always been here, it’s grandiose and it is amazing. Lest you be fooled by the length of the album, there is only one song that doesn’t clock in over ten minutes, and one song that lasts a full half hour. This means there are five tracks and in between each track, there’s layers of white noise that float about. It can be excessive at times (4 minutes of full blown Puerto Rican coquis is a bit much if you ask me), but overall the caliber of the music is astounding. That they recorded this is a testament to greatness, that they are able to pull it off live is a testament to the human spirit, and that you can listen to it is a testament that you are very fortunate.

Highlight Tracks: Cygnus Vismund Cygnus – The Widow L’Via L Vazquez – Miranda The Ghost Just Isn’t Holy Anymore - Cassandra Gemini

13. Pearl Jam - Binaural

Pearl Jam shall always be considered one of the most sincere uncompromising bands in all of rock history for the fact that they never try to make an album to cater to the masses. Binaural is no exception and on this collection of great tracks the once gods of grunge have turned to their influences to open new paths of musical revelation. Breakerfall and Evacuation has a 70’s era vibe more akin to the Who than any of their contemporaries. Actually that trio of openers is the type of start Pearl Jam are known for only to throw in Light Years, a pensive folksy rock ballad that tells you that this isn’t a one trick pony. To further show their repertoire and versality they come back with Nothing as it Seems, an epic reverb soloing delight that soars as much live as recorded and after that track, you have Thin Air… an airy folk ballad that offers such sincere lyrics as “There's a light, when my baby's in my arms” And “And I know she's reached my heart in thin air.” This lovely tune gives way to Insignificance, one of the many drumming highlights of the disc and one of their most powerful songs on the album, especially due to the weird musical structure and soaring guitars. To add another screw ball into the mix, the set is followed by Of the Girl a kind of bluesy, Middle Eastern folk song if that makes any sense. And then back to another powerful offkey rocker in Grievance. These aren’t conventional rock songs by any means and when you listen to them live, you see that the recorded songs are great but are just precursors of what you’ll be assaulted with in a live setting. Two other highlights of the album include the mystic Sleight of Hand and the wonderful closer, Parting Ways. To be honest, Binaural is not as immediate as Yield or as offbeat as No Code. It treads familiar ground while taking various twists and turns to go into new territory for a band that are all about the journey and about not being complacent. If you don’t believe that, then just skip to track 12 to listen to a catchy ukulele song and realize that it shares territory with punk numbers, bluesy delights and folk ballads. Diverse and satisfying.

Highlight Tracks: Breakerfall – Light Years - Nothing as it Seems – Thin Air – Of the Girl – Grievance - Sleight of Hand – Parting Ways

12. System of a Down – Toxicity

How do you top one of the most raw demonstrations of metal music? System of a Down’s answer was to make it all accessible. Their debut album is a visceral affair that always seems as if it’s going a few miles per hour faster than what it can withstand, but through sheer will power, it all stays together. Toxicity is the well oiled version of System of a Down. It’s damn near perfect in execution. It’s not as raw as their debut, but it’s just as intense. At times funny, at times raw, at times manic, and always SOAD. While their self titled debut is the album you put on your playlist when you want to surf mean and hard, toxicity is the one you also listen to when you want to surf fast and crazy.

Highlight Tracks: Jet Pilot - Chop Suey! – Bounce – Aerials – Forest – Shimmy - Toxicity

11. Radiohead – In Rainbows

Radiohead have a way of coming out screaming with an excellent track on their albums, that being said, 15 step is quite possibly the second best opening after Everything in its Right Place. Then you have their crunchiest track in years with the lively dynamic and headbanging worthy Bodysnatchers. After making a series of avante garde albums that either had people saying they were geniuses or that they were full of it, they release In Rainbows, their most accessible album and a given to be on most any best of lists of the year, the decade and eventually all time. The ability this band has to mesh into one another and present new music that sounds truly different is something to admire. If anything is very present while listening to In Rainbows is that this was an album to give repeat listens to, not to unlock some musical mystery but because it calls for repeat listens. The question many people have is what the hell is over the rainbow for a band that seems to push the envelope with every album.

Highlight Tracks: 15 step – Bodysnatchers – Nude – Weird Fishes / Arpeggi – Reckoner – House of Cards - Videotape

50 Best albums of the Decade Part 5 - 21-30

2011-05-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

30. Incubus – Morning View

A great followup to Make Yourself, and the most consistent Incubus album in their catalogue, Morning View turned Brandon Boyd into a genuine heartthrob, but one who could sing and write without venturing into the hackneyed, corny or sappy bullshit subsequent albums occasionally ventured into. Unlike those albums, Morning View is tight, relaxed, varied and ultimately one of their two best records. If it’s too commercial for people who want their top 50 lists more indie, then tough shnoogans and feel free to file a complaint with the comments department.

Highlight Tracks: Wish you were here – Echo – Aqueous transmission – Warning – Just a Phase – 11 AM

29. Norah Jones – Come away with me

It’s not all about revolutionizing music… sometimes you just need a great album to drink wine to, to slowdance to, to talk on a Sunday morning to. Come away with me is a superb collection of tracks by Norah Jones that most certainly deserves a mention on this list. Classic, mellow, beautiful and timeless… all adjectives that describe this artist and this album.

Highlight Tracks: Come away with me – The Nearness of you – Cold, Cold Heart – Don’t know Why – Turn me On – Feelin the Same Way

28. Sigur Ros – Takk

Sigur Ros makes beautiful music… they always have (well maybe not on Von, but I’m not really counting that album). It’s music so beautiful, you can’t help but cry… so what happens when you take a band that makes epic music that can rip your soul and let them shine a bit of sunlight? An album called Takk. Where Agaetys Bjyrnum and ( ) were sublime but ultimately grueling in their sadness, Takk levels off and allows quite a few moments of sheer beauty, painting musical landscapes filled with wonder and light that would do C.S. Lewis, L. Frank Baum and Lewis Caroll proud.

Highlight Tracks: Glósóli – Sé Lest – Saeglopur – Milanó – Andvari – Svo Hljótt

27. Bjork – Vespertine

Bjork has ALWAYS been an intriguing exercise in music because it’s not like anyone phrases music like her. She’s genuinely peculiar… but like the singer, the more you look at her work, the more you might be fascinated with the subject. Vespertine is her best work of the 2000’s for a bunch of reasons, but above all else it is a weirdly beautiful album with enough layers to compete with a Peter Gabriel outing. A collage of instruments flutters about the whole album and honestly, it’s a great disc to put in a music appreciation class since you can identify strings, horns, harps, xylophones, other wind instruments, generous amounts of electronic and lord knows what else. It’s a meticulous album that really feels alive like some majestic musical jellyfish, glowing in the depths of some mysterious ocean. To be honest, I’ve had this album for over 10 years and two things: 1- it doesn’t get old and 2 – it always shows little new surprises depending on where I listen and how much attention I put to the music while I’m listening. The only thing keeping this from being near the top albums from this artist’s catalogue is the fact that the tone never really pushes speed to offer sonic surprises and that the emotion of peace is executed so perfectly, that sometimes you’d like something to punish your heart and soul a little more. This is music to put to a slow motion film of a flower blooming. It’s beautiful, it’s dramatic, it’s heartwarming, it’s existential and pensive, but even in all its wonder it’s above else calm. The thing is who knew that peace and quiet could be this marvelous?

Highlight Tracks: Hidden Place – It’s not up to you – Pagan Poetry – Aurora – Harm of Will - Unison

26. My Morning Jacket – Z

In life, my favorite bands have come at a time when a song or an entire album resonates with who I am and what I’m going through, but that’s not the case always. By 2006, I hadn’t heard of My Morning Jacket at all… then I saw them live as the opening act for Pearl Jam. I’ve seen some great shows, but rarely have I seen a band I’ve NEVER listened to and loved it as much as MMJ. Once I heard them live, I was hooked and went on a rampage to buy every single album. To be honest, with maybe one exception, they’re all great but in the case of MMJ, I forced myself to pick the album that made me a fan. The rest are great and have some wonderful tunes, but once you put Z on your record player, you’re in for a treat. Southern harmonies that echo The Band jump at you with some of the best guitar licks this side of the 21^st century. It’s music with soul at a time where soul is actually not that easy to come by. If that weren’t enough, they even took the riff from Hawaii Five-O and put it into one of their songs. But if you want a descriptive of what Z is… imagine walls of echo slow cooked to perfection, seasoned with timeless southern rock goodness and basted in delicious blues.

Highlight tracks: Wordless Chorus – It Beats 4 U – Gideon – Off the Record – Lay Low – Knot Comes Loose - Dondante

25. Fleet Foxes - ST

There’s just something about bands and artists that sound out of their time that truly fascinates me to no end. Fleet Foxes sounds like a tour mate of America or CSNY and in reality, they’re just a bunch of kids from Seattle. Yes THAT Seattle, the birthplace of grunge. So how the hell can music so beautifully sunny come out of a place theoretically dominated by overcast grey skies? Who cares? This is a great album full of rich music, lush harmonies and it’s just a treat to hear, even if the album itself is a bit on the short side… but that isn’t a bad thing, because if the best albums can teach us anything is that true worth merits repeat listens, and Fleet Foxes never disappoints.

Highlight Tracks: Sun it Rises – White Winter Hymnal – Ragged Wood – Your protector – Meadowlarks – Blue Ridge Mountains

24. Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero

Out of all the NIN albums released throughout the decade, Year Zero is the one that captures the best of the NIN essence. Ambitious, sprawling, complicated, angry, sexy, dark and meticulous as only Trent Reznor could create. When even Maestro Reznor admits an album is too long, you can imagine just how stuffed the album is. At over 63 minutes, it’s not massive, but it definitely feels massive. But in that grandeur, it’s impressive to see tracks that have sheer aggression coursing through them while other tracks are just ideal dirty sex music.

Highlight Tracks: Survivalism – The Good Soldier – Capital G – My Violent Heart – God Given – Zero Sum – Meet Your Master – The Great Destroyer – in This Twilight

23. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

Neo post-americana… that sounds about as close to a description of what Wilco pull off on this excellent album as I think I can get to. Another album I chanced upon during my summer of ’04, Wilco craft an excellent eclectic collection of tracks that spin seamlessly from start to finish. Jeff Tweedy’s raspy voice perfectly complements musical compositions that melt in your ears like honey. From the sprawling I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is one of those albums that manages to be fantastic without swinging for the fences. There’s nothing here which is over the top and everything sounds seamless and relaxed. The lap steel guitar and string flourishes in Jesus Etc. embody this perfectly, showing how small details can go a long, long way to make a great song. Then Ashes of American Flags rolls around and you swear you’re looking at the US through a lava lamp. Throughout, Yankee hotel Foxtrot is an album that does not blow you away immediately but the more you listen to it, the more you get out of it. It’s mellow but surprisingly intricate and wouldn’t surprise me if it became that album that every time you listen to you are reminded of how good it is.

Highlight Tracks: I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Radio Cure, Jesus, Etc., Ashes of American Flags. Poor Places, Reservations

22. The Mars Volta – The Bedlam and Goliath

From a sonic perspective, I think I’ve never heard anything as overwhelming as this The Bedlam in Goliath. Sure, we’ve heard harder or louder, but more overwhelming? I can’t think of ANYTHING that comes to mind that has so much momentum and is so crazy intense throughout. This is not an album to go to sleep to; this is an album to conjure black magic with. Dark, scary, intense, fast, and bombastic are just some of the adjectives that come to mind, but seriously, overwhelming is right up there because though there are better Mars albums, nothing hits as hard or as continuous as the Bedlam in Goliath, and that’s a very very good thing. You see, there’s intense music and then there’s the crazy shit the Mars Volta does…

Highlight Tracks: Aberinkula – Metatron – Ilyena - Agadez – Askepios – Goliath – Ouroboros

21. Gustavo Cerati – Fuerza Natural

Last year Gustavo Cerati had a stroke and he’s been in a coma ever since, but before this unfortunate incident he put out what I think is his best work since the masterwork known as Bocanada. Fuerza Natural isn’t a sequel to Bocanada but you can’t call it a return to form because it’s not like he was ever out of form. Cerati is pretty much the only Latin Rock star that has never disappointed me and with his last album, he showed he still had the goods to make memorable and epic music that moves the soul as well as your head. Some people might say that I put this album on the list because of the stroke, but unfortunately for them, there’s only one problem regarding that opinion, and that’s an album’s worth of music to prove naysayers wrong.

Highlight Tracks: Fuerza Natural – Deja Vú – Amor sin rodeos – Tracción a Sangre – Rapto – Cactus – Dominó – Sal – Convoy

50 Best albums of the Decade Part 4 - 31-40

2011-03-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

40. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

Sigur Ros have always been true greats in creating moody walls of music measuring leagues instead of stories. So what happens when they make an album that has music that is happy and poppy and shines through the darkest of days? Well you have the #40 album on my list. It’s not that they abandoned what they’ve done in the past, it’s that they want to paint a world of musical colors instead of staying in the same place and while other titles from their catalogue have you scratching your head as to what they’re doing, here you not only have a better idea of which instrument is being played, but you can get a real feel for the heart of the band as a whole.

Highlight tracks: Gobbledigook – Inni Mer Syngur Vitteysingur – Via Spilum Endulaust – Festival - Með suð í eyrum - Flyotavik

39. The Strokes – Room on Fire

Say what you will, but the Strokes rock and are relevant to the hundreds of post punk bands that have spawned after Is this it. Yet even with the huge competition of slightly younger bands eager to be the new kings and queens of SPINNER Magazine and the new tween generation, The Strokes released Room on Fire and it was scorchingly good without caring for any of those bullshit audiences.

Highligh Tracks: 12:51 – Reptilia – What ever Happened – You talk way too much

38. Kings of Leon – Youth and Young Manhood

The Kings of Leon have been a great band from the starting gate. One listen to Youth and Young Manhood and you ask yourself if these were the nephews of some Hell’s Angels. or something Southern fried rock and roll is the order of the day and the special is greasy, delicious and very filling.

Highlight tracks: Molly’s Chambers – Dusty – Trani – California Waiting - Holly Roller Novocaine

37. Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam

Instead of taking the easy way out and writing more albums like Ten, Pearl Jam said screw that, that’s not what we’re about and after long years of incessant touring, the respect and appreciation they deserve has finally arrived. So of course they put out an album with a piss poor gradient, no title apart from their band name and half an avocado on the cover. It is also a sensational album with balls, grit and channeled political anger to get their point across but still rock. Hell of a way to let younger kids know that they are not a band to be messed with, even if they’re creeping towards 50. Oh and children, if you want to know what a real live show is, take a spin in one of their concerts.

Highlight Tracks: World Wide Suicide – Marker in the Sand – inside Job – Parachutes – Comatose – Big Wave – Army Reserve

36. Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots

So how good can an album be about a Japanese girl who battles pink robots? Well we don’t know, because this album isn’t necessarily about that exclusively although some songs are. The point isn’t whether this album is a concept album or not though. The point is to ask yourself, does it rock? And the answer is one melodically robotic Hell yeah Mr. Roboto.

Highlight Tracks: Fight Test – One More Robot – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pts. 1 and 2 – Do You realize

35. Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales, On and On & In Between Dreams

Ok so this isn’t necessarily a list including 50 albums. Sue me. But when I talk about Jack Johnson and his music, I really do not want to pick favorites among these three fantastic albums. I put them all here for very different reasons. Brushfire Fairytales is our introduction to Jack, On and On is a consolidation of talents and In Between Dreams is the evolution of all things Jack Johnson. So what’s so important?

Well thanks to Jack surfers are once again mellow friendly people who surf to soothe their soul. You see, for years surf music had gone to the side of punk rock and there seemed like no way of pulling it back. Then comes Jack and people start mellowing out a bit and smiling more in the water. Second only to Bob Marley's Legend, Jack Johnson tracks have become the new anthem to surfers the world around.

Highlight Tracks – Constellations – Banana Pancakes – Taylor – The Horizon Has been Defeated – bubble Toes – Belle – Sitting, waiting wishing – Middleman

34. System of a down – Mesmerize/Hypnotize

Seeing each album as a separate entity is like separating Use Your Illusions 1 and 2 from Guns N Roses, it just doesn't make any sense. Which means you can do so, but why bother? Both albums wreck some serious carnage and prove that when it comes to fast vicious, crazy music, you need look no further.

Highlight Tracks: Hypnotize – Soldier Side – BYOB – Cigaro – Viscinity of Obscenity – Lonely day – Lost in Hollywood - Attack

33. The Strokes – Is this it

A great album in and of itself to be sure, but what we didn’t know is that this was actually a musical game changer because although it’s a great album, it doesn’t sound particularly revolutionary. Just a solid kick ass album. Actually, it’s been a while since a debut album by a band created that much fuss and it’s with great reason. It rocks. At 36 minutes, I won’t bother picking favorites, just listen to the whole damn thing.

32. Queens of the Stoneage – Lullabies to Paralyze

Absolutely the darkest disc in the QOTSA catalogue, Lullabies is a murky, brooding masterpiece that though not as catchy as the preceeding album is a solid collection of emotions that twist and turn with dark, funky riffs. It has enough fuck you attitude to show the signature Josh Homme but enough substance to differentiate it from other QOTSA albums. Face it, if you have tracks called Burn the Witch, The Blood is Love, You got a Killer Scene there man, etc. you have a dark album. Guest collaborators include Mark Lanegan and other usuals. It's a wonder that so many people overlook the album . Funny thing iecause from what I’ve talked to with friends, it’s one of those albums that once you put it on, you ask yourself how you went that long without hearing it. It’s got dark brooding songs, churning bursts of rock and enough Queens goodness to satisfy ANYONE in need of some good ole rock.

Highlight Tracks: This Lullaby - Everybody Knows that You’re Insane – burn the Witch – Little Sister – I never came – Someone’s in the Wolf – You got a Killer Scene There Man – Long Slow Goodbye

31. Explosions in the Sky – The Earth is not a cold dead place

At times, the greatest music is so great because it stirs the emotions. Sometimes it’s a chorus that resonates with us, sometimes it’s a verse… sometimes it’s just music. Explosions in the sky are not just music… it is a sonic existential revelation. Guitars, drums, and bass pick and tease at what you would picture to be your soul and churn into a sonic maelstrom that makes you want to cry solely because of the notes that are picked and stacked until forming a wall of noise higher than the Tower of Babel… and like said tower, in the end it doesn’t matter what language you speak since beauty, melancholy and reflection is timeless and universal. This album could serve as the soundtrack to both the beginning of time or the end of the world.

Highlight Tracks: The entire album

An ailing healthcare system

2011-03-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

There’s a reason why healthcare is such a big issue in the US right now… actually there are a couple of reasons. When you see statistics, mortality rates, percentage of chronic conditions and the overall state of health in the US, it’s a bit scary to say the least. To be honest, it’s frightening.

First off, “legendary” legislation was passed in healthcare, but since it was from Obama and he slighted Republicans to no end by ignoring their requests, which let’s be honest, were only being drafted to stall the effort and ultimately filibuster healthcare reform out of the water. So off the bat, there’s a problem since it’s a polarizing topic that will serve to push Democratic or Republican legislative power instead of what’s best for the country.

As if that weren’t enough, health insurance plans are finally being called to cut their illicit tactics out and it’s amazing to see how many plans called foul when it was made illegal to cherry pick patients. Pretty much they wanted all the profit but none of the risk and don’t worry, if you get diabetes, we’ll just drop you from the plan. That was the case a few years back and luckily things have gotten better.

To boot, then you have hospitals, physicians and all types of healthcare providers doing anything in their power to save a buck or earn one. From putting a patient in a cab and dropping them off at another hospital, to prescribing medications people don’t need and ordering a CAT scan for someone who has allergies, the variety of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse issues are countless.

This should be enough to raise a flag that things are far from kosher, but no… it gets worse. Rising levels of diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart failure, kidney failure, obesity, heart disease, and hypertension means that people are getting sicker… not better. The reasons for this abound, but more sedentary home lifestyles, coupled with overworking company cultures, a broken economy and stress levels going off the Richter are some of the culprits… but it’s not like the healthcare system does anything to help… after all, this is all just business.

And THERE lies the problem. Healthcare shouldn’t be exclusively about making money… and that’s just what it is. That’s why fraud is so popular and costs the US billions of dollars every year… because it’s treated as a business. I have no idea why universal healthcare translates into socialism, but that’s what people apparently believe.

The point is that regardless of your stance or opinion, the fact is that healthcare in the US is not that great to put it lightly… the question then has to be posted: how long are we going to let politics and ignorance get in the way of the best healthcare for the people? The clock is ticking, the water is rising, the bomb clock is ticking and the time for opinions is past… we need decisions and change, or we’ll continue slipping further down the spiral.

Resolutions 2010 - Final Tally

2011-03-21T19:50:00.000-07:00

Wow it took me to March to post this... yowza. Regardless, here's my tally for 2010. Again, physical injuries did not allow me to do much exercise wise and I have to get better... period because not only am I not staying in shape... I'm leaving undone resolutions.

Bicep Curls

280 / 5,000

Butterfly curls
280 / 5,000

Pushups
280 / 5,000

Sit-ups
450 / 10,000

Jumping Jacks
600 / 10,000

Squats
600 / 10,000

Pullups

100 / 1,000

Tricep press

100 / 1,000

Workout 40 times with Wii Fit, Insanity or Active for the Wii

11/40

Miles run/walked
25 / 100
Better than 2009, that's for sure and I have to retake this goal... seriously.

Category #2: HEALTH. without counting the meditation goal, I did pretty friggin good. Let's hope I keep it up.

Meditation/Reflection/Goal setting hours/ Breathing exercises
4 /100
Sad to say I did better in 2010 than 2009 when I just got 4 hours in... but hey, can't hurt to try.

Eat less sugar

Spend two weeks in the year without eating candy or desserts

2/2

Spend two weeks in the year without drinking soda

2/2

Go to the dentist

1/2

Go to gastroenterologist

3/1

Go 4 times to the chiropractor with my fiancée

6/4

Go to general practitioner

0/2

Category #3: PROFESSIONAL

I actually ruled in this category, hallelujah.

Freelance jobs
17/10

Work proposals
16/10

Category #4: ACTIVITIES

Fell short on a lot of categories but the best thing about a new year is the chance to do things right for a change.

Surf Sessions
28/50

Tocones

Aviones

Único
Sheraton

Machupichu

La Selva

Swim / bodysurf / water activities
1 / 10
Didn't achieve this in 2010 either... crap...

Local tourism
1/ 4
4 local trips with my fiancée/wife

Only one trip? Ugh...

Movies
15 / 25

Had to cut a lot because of wedding and honeymoon, now for 2011, I have no excuse and I'm lagging behind... ugh.

Up in the Air - A+
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassuss - A+
It’s Complicated - B
Avatar - C -
Cop Out – B -
Alice in Wonderland – C-
Iron Man 2 – B
Grownups - B
Toy Story 3 – A++
Predators - A
Despicable Me – B+
Inception – A+
Knight and Day – C+
SAW 7 – C-
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows – A+

Watch DVD’s I’ve bought
21 / 20

I FINALLY started watching the stuff I own and it felt great.

1. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me B-

2. Eddie Murphy Delirious A

3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon A-

4. Fists of Fury B-

5. The Orphanage A+

6. Love and Sword C+

7. Nine inch Nails - The Slip Bonus DVD - B

8. At The Drive In – This Station is non Operational Bonus DVD - C

9. Sideways – A+

10. It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown – A+

11. Blue Velvet – A

12. Afro Samurai – Afro Samurai Resurrection – A+

13. The Devil’s Backbone - A

14. Easy Money - B

15. Back to School – B+

16. Airplane – A+

17. Where the Wild Things Are – B+

18. Alice in Wonderland - A

19. Planet Terror - A

20. A man called Hero – C

21. A Charlie Brown Christmas – A

Finish Videogames
3 / 15

Actually didn't finish much last year though this year I'm already about to pass my 2010 mark.

Mad World - A-
Okami - A-
Ratchet And Clank B+

Finish Reading 20 Books
28 / 20

Finish reading 20 books

Last year I read like I want to read... this year, it's a bit harder, but I'm hoping I pick it up soon.

The Fountain Graphic Novel - A
We3 - A+
Fantastic Mr. Fox - B-
The Inferno – B+
Death, The Time of your Life – A+
Coraline Graphic Novel - A
Charlie and the Glass Elevator – A-
James and the Giant Peach – A+
Story of the Tao Volume 6 – B-
Story of the Tao Volume 7 – B-
Story of the Tao Volume 8 – B-
Artemis Fowl Book 1 - A
Artemis Fowl - The Arctic Incident - A
Artemis Fowl – The Eternity Code - A
Artemis Fowl – The Opal Deception - A
Artemis Fowl – The Lost colony - A
The Dream Cycle of HP Lovecraft – A+
Artemis Fowl – The Time Paradox - A
The Graveyard Book - A+
1984 – A++
Into the Wild – A –
Artemis Fowl – The Atlantis Complex A –
Old man Logan – A
Skin Tight – A
The Wonderful Wizard of OZ – A-
The Marvelous Land of Oz - A
Ozma of Oz – A
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz – A-

Playing guitar

77 / 100

This year I'm off to a much better start and I'm glad about that. I love playing guitar and I really think I always should play a lot more often.

Category #5: KNOWLEDGE

0 / 15

Continue learning every day, such is my mission but I’d like to also put down in writing stuff I’m learning. Let’s say 15 knowledge posts for the year to be able to document and track my progress.

Learn Random Info

0 / 100

I know I learned a lot of stuff, I just didn't specifically write about it. Let's see if I take this and change it up.

Read the news and post a blog entry

6 / 20

Same with this category.I know I did more of it, but this year I'm more focused on achieving goals so off to a better start.

Category #6: WRITING

Definitely this is one of my passions and I want to pick it up in regards to some projects that were dangling last year.

WAS

91 / 150

I know I did more, I just don't want to do a total tally on any of my blogs. But suffice to say, I surpassed one and fell WAY short on the other.

Posts in other blogs

19 / 75

Finish book
I finished the book

44 / 44

Transcribe book
I haven't finished transcribing the book.

5 / 44 + prologue

Write short stories
2 / 10

I really should write more short stories.

Essay project
0 / 20
For two straight years I haven't touched this goal even though it was on my list.... will I finally dorp the shtick?

Draft story arcs for Novels
2 / 3
Have two and a half full blown story arcs waiting for me to finish the book to get writing. Very nice indeed.

Draft Movie Script Idea
0/1

Finding time for this goal sounds easier than it is.

Progress reports
1/4

Standup piece
0/1

I think 2011 will be the year I finally do this full on.

The Mega Music review

0 / ?

I haven't started.... I know I such.

Category #7 Wedding stuff

You bet I’m going to include my wedding stuff here. I need to organize myself and what better way than to always have a list staring me in the face.

Confirmation

1/1

Get coordinator

1/1

100%

Meet and greet with coordinators and pick one.

Plan honeymoon

1/1

Look at destinations once again and also cost and start making arrangements.

Invitations

1/1

Flowers

1/1

Decorations/Decorator

1/1

Dance Classes

0/1

Find an apartment to live

1/1

RANDOM ACTIVITIES

Buy a box of contractor bags and take one with me to the beach to pick up garbage.

0/4

Make a great Halloween costume duo concept.

0/1

Have our first house dinner with family.

0/1

Invite two couples over for dinner.

1/2

Have at least one jam session before the year is over.

1/1

Cook for my fiancée four times.

1/4

Take my car for maintenance twice in the year.

1/2

Clean up my MSN messenger list

1/1

Clean up my Facebook Friend List

0/1

Organize my room and throw away anything that isn’t necessary

0/1

Fix light bulb in garage

1/1

So all in all, 2010 was a pretty decent year... let's see how things pan out for the new year.

UFC 128 Review

2011-03-21T19:36:00.000-07:00

Let’s make this quick, I’ve always been a fan of all combat sports. From Pro-wrestling (which I haven’t watched in years) to sumo wrestling (which I also haven’t seen in years) to boxing (which I’m an utter freak). The sheer nature of combat sports has always been alluring to me and although I’ve seen the momentum garnered by MMA, I’m still a boxing fan first and foremost. Which is all that more curious since this weekend I saw the UFC pay per view event instead of the Showtime boxing matchup of Lucian Bute. The reason is simple though, in one I had to go to mom’s house to see the fight which I DVR’d anyway and in the latter, me and my wife were invited to friends’ house to see the card. So we went to share ribs, cupcakes and a nice night of violence.

But throughout the card, something funny happened. Sure, I could see a crowd of 30,000 strong witnessing the event, but I could also see me and my wife falling asleep for most of the event because there was a genuine lack of interest and action on our part. Maybe it wasn’t the best pay-per-view to assess my interest in MMA… actually I’m sure of it, which is why I’m going to give a quick recap and review.

I will go from crappiest and work my way from there.

5. Marquardt beat Dan Miller

If ever a fight showcases why I sometimes get bored with MMA, it was this one. A lot of man humping, a lack of clean, effective punching and just a whole lot of clinching with no one truly going for blood. Basically for me, you know an MMA bout isn’t that great when there’s a decision had. I want a submission, I want a knockout or I want blood.

4. Brendan Schaub KOs Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Two things I’m very sorry to say,1.) Cro Cop should consider retiring, 2.) don’t be fooled by the headlines. Sure the KO came in spectacular fashion in a fight Cro Cop was actually winning, but a lack of true aggression for most of the fight and silly clinches had me yawning. To boot, to me the KO was tainted and Schaub should have been fined for the extra hit he gave an already down and very out Cro Cop.

3. Urijah Faber Vs Eddie Wineland

There’s just no way around it, physically Urijah Faber annoys me. From his pretty boy looks, to his designer hoodies to his luscious locks of hair to his name. The guy is a little douche and physically reminds me of people I don’t like so I was rooting for an overmatched Wineland to land a hail mary. It didn’t happen but Faber didn’t get the finish either. Sure Faber has wrestling skills, but highlights were few and far between and actually referred to takedowns., not a finish. So though Faber got the win, the fans got the loss.

2. Jim Miller KOs Kamal Shalorus

One of the few genuine firework shows that night came from this matchup. Jim Miller is like some Tasmanian devil and his mind is set on three things, KO, KO and KO. Kamal Shalorus is by no means a slouch and for someone who is 38 and I didn’t even have a clue who he was, the guy is tough as nails, taking bonafide bombs from Miller and not backing down. I swear, there were at least 8 shots that could have KOd most mortals and this guy kept coming until a mean uppercut stunned him, followed by a flurry and a knee that caught Shalorus flush. Funny thing though, if Miller hadn’t pinned the Texas based Iranian fighter against the cage to launch a flurry, the guy might have gotten up. I swear, the guy is as tough a fighter as I’ve ever seen and I want to see both fighters duke it out again, and who knows, it’s not like I would mind a rematch.

1. Jon Jones Vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua

But the highlight of the night came courtesy of Jon Bones Jones showcasing talent that tempts me to say best light heavyweight in the world. Mauricio Shogun Rua is no slouch. That’s a big duh, but in this fight he was bullied for 3 rounds until Jones caught him with a variety of strikes and then a lethal body shot that had me wincing in my chair. Signs of a true champion is to control the urge to head hunt and commit to the body and Jones did just that… apart from launching a flying knee, a spinning back elbow and showing power, reach, speed, take down defense and wrestling skills that had everyone asking just who can take this guy on.

So all in all, two of five fights were worth watching... but really, would I rather watch this than boxing?

Not a chance.

Top 50 albums of the last decade - Part 3 (41-50)

2011-03-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

50. Four Tet – Rounds:

Nearly left off the list, upon closer inspection of my compilation, I had to include Rounds for being one of the most creative sonic adventures I’ve ever heard. Try marrying Trip-hop with Industrial music in the sense that juxtaposing noises are put side by side to create memorable soundscapes. Visionary, bold, mellow, and rewarding with every listen.

49. Grandaddy – the Sophtware slump

The Sophtware Slump was actually an album I bought because of one song and really didn’t give a couple of deep listens until a year or two after I bought it. What I found in those subsequent listens was a mellow album with strong tracks, a sense of robotic imagery that hinted at something grand beneath it all. Simply put, it’s an album that sounds like a concept album, might have a concept behind it but doesn’t necessarily depend on a concept to be enjoyable. It also plays great from start to finish or in shuffle, which is a tricky thing to accomplish. I think it took a while to get into it because it’s not a long album, but it does feel like one, mainly because of the first track which almost reaches the 9 minute mark. Regardless, it’s a great listen and a unique album in all regards.

Highlight Tracks: The Crystal Lake - He’s simple, he’s dumb, he’s the pilot – Miner at the Dial a view

48. Nine Inch Nails – The Slip:

Take everything Trent Reznor has done from Pretty Hate Machine to Ghosts I-IV and trim it down to the bare minimum to get the best out of everything. That’s what The Slip represents. A consolidation of strengths to produce one hell of an album, even if it does fall short of other works by Maestro Reznor. But maybe it was his way of showing that he doesn’t need to produce a 70+ minute behemoth to get his message across. Actually, this time around it took less than 44 minutes.

Highlight Tracks: Discipline - 1,000,000 – Lights in the Sky – Corona Radiata

47. Peter Gabriel – Up:

It’s not So, it’s not Us, it’s not Scratch or Security, it’s Up. A beautifully dark album with long complex tracks that unravel rather than reveal. Simply put, if you’re looking for another In Your Eyes or Solsburry Hill, this is the last album you should ever listen to. If you enjoyed OVO however or Red Rain, then you should check this album out. From a musical point of view, Up has so many layers, it’s ridiculous. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t satisfying. Just one listen to the brooding Darkness, the Blind Boys from Alabama accompanied Sky Blue or the Epic Signal to Noise and it’s clear Gabriel has grand visions for grand music and nothing else will satisfy him as an artist.

Highlight tracks: Signal to Noise - Darkness – Growing up – Sky Blue

46. Coldplay – A rush of blood to the head:

There’s a reason Clocks was played to death, it’s a great record, with great tracks to keep it company. Whereas some albums are epic because of the spontaneity they captured though, A rush of blood to the head seems like a deliberate album, crafted to please casual fans of Radiohead who wanted something less avante guarde and more mainstream. There’s nothing wrong with that, and unfortunately for all the haters, there’s nothing wrong with A rush of blood to the head either.

Highlight tracks: Clocks – Daylight – A rush of blood to the head – the Scientist

45. Mogwai – The Hawk is Howling:

Picking one album from Mogwai over the others is a bit of a hassle, especially since they’re all pretty solid. But unlike other bands that got repeats, I only selected one album from this Scottish band. The Hawk is Howling sees them tread sonic textures they’d hinted at before, but unlike other releases, there are no vocals on this album, even for the purpose of singing a couple of notes. And they actually sound more full than ever giving one of their most satisfying albums which forces me to not be able to pick one track over another. So simply press play, and enjoy.

Highlight tracks: the whole thing.

44. Coldplay – Parachutes:

If there’s any need to be apologetic about liking Coldplay, it has all to do with Christopher Martin’s posturing and the existence of Viva La Vida. Though Viva isn’t a poor album, it did feel forced and designed to please fans and the masses rather than any artistic desire within the band. It also bothered me a bit the whole thing with Joe Satriani and the very plausible ripoff of a song of his. But this has nothing to do with Parachutes. Possibly Coldplay’s finest effort (although you can debate between this and A rush of blood…), the deliberateness of their performance was there from the beginning, this is music to please, but there’s also the freshness of the band and tracks that have you humming them against your will. There’s also a bit less production and I think that’s something that helps the band since with every subsequent release, production has become more of a necessity, which might explain why X & Y and Viva la Vida sound so watered down. So if the essence of Coldplay sounds like something interesting to you, here’s a great start.

Highlight Tracks: Yellow – Sparks - Spies – Everything’s Not Lost

43. Oasis – Don’t Believe the Truth:

Fans tend to bash Oasis for the release of Be Here Now and Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and although these albums were far from epic, they didn’t suck either. They just weren’t up to par with Morning Glory or Definitely Maybe. Then came Heathen Chemistry and you knew something was brewing though it wasn’t yet there… and them comes Don’t Believe the Truth. In comparison, this album is worthy of standing alongside their two first albums. The flatness of Heathen Chemistry is gone and it’s been replaced by what worked for these lads. It’s got grit, energy and the cocksureness that made Oasis such an enjoyable band in the first place.

Highlight tracks: Turn up the sun – Lyla - Part of the Queue – Guess God thinks I’m Abel

42. Elbow – Asleep in the back:

Elbow is the kind of band that you hear and don’t know where they came from actually. Their sound is so distinct that you’d have to scrape through some obscure bands just to find the roots of where they came from musically. That’s not a bad thing at all. Quite the contrary, it means that unlike other bands they have their own sound. Unique, mellow, at times blissfully bleak and songs that sound simple but really aren’t. It’s the type of band that rewards dedicated listeners just as much as the casual bloke who puts a track on. Peculiar lyrics, offbeat phrasing and instrumentation that sounds sparse but oddly full. Couple the lush tunes with Guy Garvey’s fantastic voice, and you have something that connects deeper than far more successful bands.

Highlight tracks: Scattered Black and Whites – Powder Blue – Don’t Mix your Drinks – Newborn – Asleep in the Back

41. Franz Ferdinand – ST:

Dirty, groovy, post punk goodness is rarely pulled off this well. From all the bands that fall in this retro punk vintage, Franz Ferdinand definitely rank among the best, ripping 39 minutes’ worth of great tracks to show the other wannabes how it’s really done.

Highlight Tracks: Take me Out – The Dark of the Matinee – This Fire – Michael – Cheating on you

Top 50 albums of the last decade - Part 2

2011-03-17T19:02:00.000-07:00

Here is part 2 of my notable mentions. Feel free to give an opinion.

Foo Fighters – In Your Honor: The fighters of the foos did a great job with their last two albums. First off was the great double disc In your Honor, a concept I wish some other bands would adopt to see what they could do putting one predominant style of music on one disc and a different one in the second. Regardless, a great buy if there ever was one and yet more evidence that the Foo Fighters are doing a hell of a good job keeping the flame of accessible rock burning bright.

Foo Fighters – Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace: Think of Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace as the one disc consolidation of In Your Honor. A great disc from start to finish with a well rounded albeit predictable album scheme (rocker-mixed bag of songs including some slower numbers- mellow closer). Definitely makes me wonder what else they’ll put out of their collective hat because to be honest, it’s a perfect Foo Fighters disc, but the next album seems like the perfect time to present fans with something new.

Tom Waits – Alice: Dear Tom Waits is a weird cat to be sure, but he also happens to always carve a slice of unique sonic bliss that no one else could even begin to pull off. The songs on Alice are based on a play dealing with the forbidden love between Lewis Carroll and the real life Alice which inspired his tales. Messed up? You bet. But still a great listen.

The Snake the Cross the Crown – Cotton Teeth: Who the hell are these guys? Don’t worry, I asked myself the same thing. Rather than bore you with some background information, just buy the album.

Highlight tracks: Cakewalk - The Great American Smokeout – Gypsy melodies – Behold the River – Hey Jim – Floating in and Out – Maps – Back to the Helicopter

Tom Waits – Real Gone: Another Waits album simply here because he released it. Real Gone has a couple of clunker numbers, but for every weak track there are 3 amazing ones. Quite a bit more than your average top 40 piece o crap.

A Perfect Circle – Mer de Noms: There’s only one reason why Mer de Noms is not on the top 50 albums… and it’s because after track 6, there’s nothing remotely as interesting as the first half of the album which actually contains one of the best 3 song combinations in Judith, Orestres and 3 Libras.

Asian Kung-fu Generation – Sol Fa & Fanclub: One of my favorite bands to be sure, but in the grand scope of things, other albums might have been more significant on a larger scale. Maybe it’s also because I can’t speak Japanese, but how good is an album when I can’t understand most of it yet still rock to it. Simply put, if I could find Sol Fa and Fanclub at less than $15 retail, I’d buy them in a heartbeat, but since they are both imports, prohibitive prices have forced me to settle for downloads.

Top 50 albums of the last decade - Part 1

2011-03-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

I’m a big fan of lists. A while back I said I’d be writing a whole bunch of lists. It’s not that I forgot to write the lists, it’s that I’m so ridiculously anal about lists, that it’s taken me this long to finally be satisfied with where my list is at. Regardless, I’ll obviously chop things down a bit so as not to do a huge long post no one will read. So first off, the first half of my notable mentions.

Notable Mentions Part 1:

As per usual, every single list I’ve ever compiled has or at the very least could have a list of notable mentions. This list is not the exception so here we go, the almost weres in my list of top 50 albums of the last decade.

Radiohead – Amnesiac: One of two Radiohead albums that didn’t make it to the album, and by the way were a little on the ignored side of life. The only thing wrong with Amnesiac is that it was released 8 months after Kid A. As an album it is actually quite solid and offers a variety of sonic textures which had been hinted at on Kid A. The main thing with Amnesiac isn’t that it has to be play second fiddle to Kid A, it’s just that it was released to close to its slightly older brother and after Kid A, haters had something to hate. So while compiling this list, I decided to put it at the top of honorable mentions because truth be told, this album is better than some of the ones placed on my top 50, but since I had to gauge impact and other nuances, I put it here as a tribute, since it is the #1 best overlooked album of the decade.

Pearl Jam – Riot Act: By far the most misunderstood and overlooked Pearl Jam album in their catalogue, Riot Act actually boasts quite a great set of tracks. The problem is that in between great numbers, there are not so great numbers that curiously work rather well live. Cropduster, Ghost, Bushleaguer and Get Right all come to mind when referring to numbers that aren’t that epic and really could have been B-Sides. But for every B Side, you get three A sides of solid material. From the beginning of Can’t Keep to the guttural Save you and the happily epic Love Boat Captain, that’s a great start to the album. Add introspective tracks like Thumbing My Way, the grand vocal instrumental Arc or the wonderfully sad All or None and you find more material that’s great. As if that weren’t enough, you push in I Am Mine (A great Drinking song if there ever was one) and you go whoah, this is a pretty great album. But no, they have to pull out You Are from left field which sounds like NOTHING they’ve ever put out and then the bluesy ½ full and

Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul: What a shock to fans of the band to realize that this would be the last Oasis album they would ever have the pleasure of listening to. To be honest, it’s a hell of a way to go out. Dig out your soul picks up right where Don’t Believe the Truth left off and had the band pushing their British bravado to new cohesive directions that sounded like a reenergized Oasis hell bent on taking over the world. It’s too bad that it was their last album because I really did feel as if the momentum was there and that the sibling rivalry had finally been put to rest. Now we’ll just have to see what Beady Eye and Noel on his own can pull off. Come to think of it, maybe that break might actually be a good thing. Only time will tell.

Highlight Tracks: Waiting for the rapture – The Shock of Lightning – High Horse Lady – Soldier On

Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth: under any other pretext, this album would have been a triumph, but with the buildup, it was just short of the mark. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t kick some serious ass and it’s a worthy NIN album if there ever was one. It just means that the two other titles released during the decade impressed me more for other reasons.

Radiohead – Hail to the Thief: The other Radiohead album that didn’t make it on the list is also another solid work of art by Britain’s favorite anti rock heroes. Unlike Amnesiac however, I have no qualms over Hail to the Thief not being in the top 50 because although it is a wonderful album in and of itself, in comparison it fails to hit the mark by mere inches… or that’s what most people say. Truth be told, when you listen to Hail to the Thief it’s actually a challenge to find a weak track, because honestly, there isn’t one. What there isn’t is something groundbreaking or ultra anthemic. It’s just a solid ass album that showcases a consolidation of forces to produce an album that even at its length is still tight enough to get you wondering exactly what is wrong with this album that so many people didn’t get into it.

Elbow – Leaders of the New World: Variety is one thing, creating music no one else creates is another thing. The closest I can compare them to would be Tool in the sense that though you get a general sense of where they’re coming from, this music lives on its own. Maybe they’re not as transcendental as the aforementioned troupe, but no one else sounds like them, and they simply come off as a band that’s always existed, because even on their debut album their songs were mature, polished and beautifully unique. Leaders of the New World continues the trend of excellence set by their two preceding albums and the only reason why this and the next album weren’t included, was because other bands deserve recognition too.

Elbow – Seldom Seen Kid: Is it just me, or are Elbow incapable of releasing a bad album? Seldom Seen Kid is the fourth album in a row where they produce memorable and unique tracks that are witty, beautiful and colorful. Like nothing else on radio, Seldom Seen Kid keeps proving that Elbow deserve your attention.

Great tribute to the Greatest

2011-03-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

When it comes to who was the best boxer of all time, I answer with one of two options: Sugar Ray Robinson or Hank Armstrong. When asked about who the greatest boxer of all time was, that’s where Ali’s name shines in big bright headlights.

The difference between best boxer and greatest boxer has to do with impact versus skill. If you talk about skill, Sugar Ray Robinson is hands down the best boxer of all time and Hank Armstrong was a close and very worthy second. The reason is that although Manny Pacquiao is a 7 division champion (I think the 8^th division is debatable because for a 154 lb. fight he weighed between 146-148 lbs and he fought a poor excuse for a Mexican. If today’s titles would be the same as when Robinson was around, lord knows if he would have won upwards of 8 divisions since weight classes used to mean something. For his part, Hank Armstrong would have been a simultaneous multi division champion in a time when competition was fierce. Oh and he wasn’t about outpointing people, Hank liked KO’s like I like sushi. (101 of his 140 fights were won via knockout). But when you talk about impact, star power and changing the world of boxing, few people can hold a candle to Ali.

Not only was Ali a heavyweight who moved like a welterweight, he could punch, he could jab, and he could talk. Unlike jackasses like Mayweather Jr. who talk a great game, Muhammad Ali could walk the walk as well. His knockout wins over Sonny Liston and George Foreman are some of the most courageous and brutal fights you’ll ever see. His thrilogy with Frazier is one of the best in history and his impact on the media, was overwhelming.

Some people might make the case that he was a pawn of the Black Panthers who preached Islam because he was convinced to do so, but focusing on that would be to ignore his presence. Cocky and brash, he made fights bigger than what they already were. He took things to the eight level and the reality is that he was the Greatest, because he didn’t only have boxing skill, he had oratory skills, showmanship and the power to move a country and raise awareness.

It’s true, not everyone was an Ali fan. Actually, quite a few people hated him with a passion, but being the greatest doesn’t mean you are the most liked… it just means EVERYONE knows who you are. And in that realm, Ali stands tall atop the boxing world.

Here is a fascinating tribute to him, using steel, punching bags and perspective: three things fighters should consider having in their repertoire.

Flowers bloom in a garden of waves

2011-03-17T18:53:00.000-07:00

And on the 8th day God made waves

It’s not often a news story truly inspires me to write so effusively, but move over sliced bread, one of the greatest inventions of humankind has been born.

If you want the story from the source, just click the title of this post. There are images, videos and a brief description that will not spill beans as to how they did it, for good reason. Apparently God decided to give some people in the Basque country a visit so they could give the gift of fun ridable waves anywhere on the planet… and yes, I mean anywhere.

The Wave Garden concept seemingly only needs a decent space of water, less than a football field and seemingly less than an Olympic size swimming pool. The technology baffles me to no end, but that pales into comparison to the fascination with the possibilities and the warm feeling that people anywhere who want to learn how to surf, can do so without having to travel or even risk their lives much.

I’ve seen firsthand the mechanisms for standing waves from Flow Rider and Schlitterbahn lore as well as wave pools in the vein of Typhoon lagoon, but I’ve never seen anything like this. Unlike those other wave pools I mentioned, this is the closest to the pure thing I’ve ever seen, and something to think about for a videogame which is more than due.

One ocean - one love: Surfing Orcas

2011-01-12T18:10:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while amidst stories of rape, famine, war, economic crises, and the general malaise that is spewed forth from your local news network, there are positive stories to help remind you that life isn’t all about bad news.

This is one of those cases where I saw something that motivated me to smile from ear to ear. Recently orca whales have been spotted in New Zealand doing something other species have loved for a long time. Joining the ranks of humans, sea gulls, pelicans and humans, orcas have been spotted taking to the waves and having themselves a good old surf.

For years it had been documented that dolphins surf waves for fun. There is no other purpose for them to do what they do except entertainment and they have a great time at that. Now Orcas are joining in the lineup.

So what does this have to do with anything? Well quite simply that no matter who you are or what you do for a living, life should be enjoyed and it’s up to you to enjoy it.

Cheers

Pena que el ay bendito es para la gente y no la isla

2010-11-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

En una isla tan linda como la nuestra, frustra ver lo poco que la gente la quiere. Desde súper compañías que desechan todo en caños, desembocaduras de río y nuestras playas hasta el individuo que encuentra demasiado difícil aguantar una bolsita de Frito Lay hasta llegar a un zafacón. Diciéndolo de la manera más simple posible, es que da pena lo puerco que somos.

Desde el más riquitín hasta el más pobre, todos hemos pecado de alguna manera u otra a llevar el mensaje de contaminación directo al ambiente. Nuestras playas llenas de basura. Botellas, latas, bolsas, vasos plásticos, lámparas, tampones, neveras y hasta carros. Menciona la chatarra que se te ocurra y es muy probable que la gente lo deposite en el receptáculo más inmediato… el piso.

Lo cómico es que esta misma gente es la que se queja que nuestra isla está hecha un vertedero. Lo cómico es que ellos se quejan del papel que está en el piso, pero no se doblan a recogerlo. Lo cómico es que esto no es nada cómico y que el verdadero chiste somos nosotros, que tanto puño al pecho nos damos, pero no podemos abrir las manos para recoger nada.

Listy Time: 21 Bass Salute Part two- Top 10

2010-07-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

10. Paul McCartney (The Beatles)

If you need a definition of who Paul McCartney is, you have probably lived under a rock for too long. One of the Fab 4, Sir Paul’s contributions to the Beatles is as obvious as anything. As a song writer, as a singer and most definitely as a bass player. He helped push the instrument to a whole other direction and if you don’t believe that, well you don’t listen to rock.

Highlight Tracks: All of Revolver, Taxman, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Come together.

9. Sting (the Police)

Mix rock, new wave and ska and you have what are the basic ingredients of the music produced by The Police. But behind that rather bland description, you have three of the most talented musicians at the end of the 70’s making music that made headlines and changed the face of rock. Though far and above the most unique instrument in the Police’s arsenal shall forever be Sting’s voice, the rhythm he and Stewart Copeland maintained was downright awe inspiring. Funky, groovy and tight, that was their law and that is why they are one of the premier power trios in the history of music.

Highlight Tracks: Roxanne, Walking in your Footsteps, So Lonely, Next to you, Demolition Man, Spirits in a Material World, Canary in a coal mine

8. Justin Chancellor (Tool)

All members of Tool are freaks. Justin Chancellor is no exception being a very, very, very gifted instrumentalist that has helped put Tool on the map as “that band that plays too good”. Though Justin’s talents are not as freakishly freaky as Danny Carey’s, his contributions to the rhythm of the band, his inventive playing, and the sheer dreary beauty of the aural landscape he paints with the bass are more than enough reason to pay much respect.

Highlight Tracks: Schism, Wings for Marie Pts 1 and 2, Right in Two, Forty Six and 2, Aenima, Pushit

7. Jack Bruce (Cream)

Before the implosion of Cream, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker produced some of the best music known to rock. A talented bass player and a hell of a singer, Bruce was never modest and he really didn’t have to be, because when you’re that good and you influence that many people, you get Carte Blanche to do whatever it is you want to do.

Highlight Tracks: Sunshine of Your Love, White Room, I Feel Free, NSU, Swlabr, We’re Going Wrong

6. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

What bass player list is complete without the mention of Flea in the Top 10? When it all comes down to the wire, the magic between Flea and his band mates stems often enough from his groove. Seriously, what would Anthony Kiedis’ riffs be without the funky combustion of Flea pushing him along the way in unison. I’m not saying Flea is Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I will say that The Chili Peppers without Flea would be lacking a whole lot of Red Hot.

Highlight Tracks: Danny California, Give it Away, Hump De Bump, Around the World, The Power of Equality, Blood Sugar Sex Magik

5. Geddy Lee (Rush)

Power, melody, dynamics and more power. That’s Geddy Lee’s bass playing summed up in 4 words. And power does count as two. With a career spanning over three decades, the tight riffs keep on coming and the entire band, though aging, shows no signs of letting up anytime soon. Sure you might have complaints of his singing voice, but last I checked, not a single person complained about his bass playing.

Highlight Tracks: Driven, YYZ, 2112, Anthem, Bastille Day, Closer to the Heart, La Villa Strangiato, New World Man

4. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures)

Everything about Led Zeppelin is epic in scale. There was no such thing as a weak link in the band and John Paul Jones helped make some of the best rock music known to humankind. That said, Jimmy Page is widely considered one of the best guitarists of all time… and I agree, but he was able to be that good because holding down the fort was the two man army of John Paul Jones and Jon Bonham. Great groove, powerful playing and excellent all around. Now he plays with two of modern rocks elite in Them Crooked Vultures, and decades after Led Zepplin truly played their career Coda, he’s still showing kids how it’s done.

Highlight Tracks: Trampled Under Foot, Dazed and Confused, Elephant, Black Dog, Caligulove

3. Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel)

One damn fine user of the Chapman Stick and inventor of the Funk Fingers, Tony Levin’s contributions to all things bass are simply astounding to behold. Playing in King Crimson, you can’t help but marvel at the sound that band makes and at the contributions of Maestro Levin. As if that weren’t enough, he’s probably helped Peter Gabriel be as big as he is by giving Gabriel’s sonic landscapes the touch of a master.

Highlight Tracks: Anything with King Crimson, Peter Gabriel or Liquid Tension Experiment

2. Les Claypool (Primus)

Les Claypool is officially one of the craziest musicians I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to. Rhyming like a crazy guy from the bayou, he also one of the greatest bass players of all time. There’s always that debate whether Metallica didn’t hire him because he was too good, or because he was too out there. I for one just think that he was both. To try and describe him, imagine a Seussian acid trip expressed through a bass, then put the tape at full speed. If you need something a little less cryptic, just consider this one of the most talented and inventive musicians I’ve ever heard.

Highlight Tracks: Southbound Pachyderm, Jerry Was a Race Car Driver, Mr. Krinkle, my Name is Mud, Fish On, Over the Electric Grapevine

1. John Entwhistle (The Who)

When you have Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey and Keith Moon as band mates, you really don’t have to, and probably shouldn’t move that much. The Ox was never a jumping bean on stage like Flea or other people on this list. He just stood there and proceeded to rip the crap out of his bass, changing the way people see the bass and refusing to just be a simple member of the rhythm section. What people don’t know is that there is a reason why he didn’t move that much on stage and it’s actually pretty basic… When you’re a force of nature, nothing can move you.

Highlight Tracks: 5:15, Boris the Spider, Dr. Jimmy, Water, My Generation

Obligatory Top of the Charts mention:

Jaco Pastorious

I did not include Jaco on this list because it’s almost unfair to include him on a list with other humans. A jazz bass player that had everyone scratching his head with what he was doing, Jaco showed the world what it would sound like if God or the Devil picked up a bass and played… the curious thing is that often times it sounded as if there was a bit of both thrown into the mix.

Listy Time: 21 Bass Salute Part one - 21-11

2010-07-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

When it comes to bands, the most sorely overlooked member of rock is and shall always be the bass player. The thing is that you can be a real crappy bass player and still have a job. Just ask the troll looking guy from the Goo-Goo Dolls. To be honest, it’s one of the more thankless jobs in music because the strings are thicker, the sound is not as obvious as a guitar and just because you sometimes have two less strings, you’re not taken as seriously. But when you listen to great players and you educate your ear, things change quite a bit and you start discerning the crap from the good from the elite. Here’s my list of elite bass players that for some reason or another have taken it up quite a few notches in my ear canals.

21. Ben Shepherd (Soundgarden)

In the debate of who was the best band of the 90’s, one of the forerunners has always been Soundgarden. You just can’t be that good without calling attention to yourself. But far from being a one man show, Soundgarden proved that great musicians don’t need to overshadow each other and can actually collaborate. With the voice known as Chris Cornell, the off time greatness of Matt Cameron and Kim Thayill’s screeching guitars, there was one solid bass player that demanded attention for his skill and for the fact that his bass swung almost to his shins. Ben Shepherd was never a show stealer. Far from it actually. He was understated, looked pissed 24/7 and is massively talented. If you don’t believe me, sit down and really listen to Down on the Upside, you’ll thank me later for reminding you how good it is.

Highlight Tracks: Zero Chance, Ty Cobb, Burden in my Hand, Jesus Christ Pose

20. Nick Olivieri and Scott Reeder (Kyuss)

Stoner rock is not something new. It’s been around since the 70’s with crazy bands like Ash Ra Temple, Eloy, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd, etcetera. In comes Kyuss in the 90’s and therein you have one of the greatest bands no one knows about. Large part of the desert stoner rock sound in this band came from the guitar licks of Maestro Josh Homme and the blues cringe of John García, not to mention that their jam sessions were held in the middle of the desert with generators. While Brandt Bjork nailed it all down with some great drumming, Nick Oliveri and Scott Reeder gave the music great part of its desert flavor. When Kyuss passed to the great beyond, Nick then had a stint in Queens of the Stoneage until his destructive ways got the best of him. For his part, Scott later formed part of other unknown bands, but the work on Kyuss though brief is still epic.

Highlight Tracks: Demon Cleaner, Hangin’ Tree, Green Machine, One Inch Man, Hurricane

19. John Deacon (Queen)

Once you scroll down the list it might even seem silly to put John Deacon here but humor me and try to mention two bass lines that are more memorable than Another One Bites the Dust and Under Pressure. He wasn’t a powerhouse of a bass player, he just knew how to lay down a solid riff that got your ass moving. Advantage, Deacon.

Highlight Tracks: Another One Bites The Dust, Under Pressure, I want to break free

18. Adam Clayton (U2)

While The Edge and Bono shall forever be the show stealers (well except in the last album), Adam Clayton shall always be part of the oh-so-solid bedrock for that band that starts with a U. In the last album especially I was impressed with Clayton’s work and he’s been solid for the entire run of the band. You just don’t notice because the other two pretty much suck up all things limelight. But rest assured, beneath the effects laden wall of The Edge and Bono’s theatrics, there be a damn fine bass player keeping it all together.

Highlight Tracks: With or Without You, Magnificent, Get on your Boots

17. Simon Gallup (The Cure)

Simon Gallup is one of those bass players whose main calling card shall forever be the way they tune their instrument. Simply put, pretty much no one else sounds like Simon and he has always been instrumental in giving the Cure’s best music its signature sound.

Highlight Tracks: Anything from Pornography, Bloodflowers, 17 Seconds or Disintegration.

16. Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)

When you think of Pearl Jam, you think of Eddie Vedder. But when you’re a psychotic fan that owns as much music from them as possible, you love the entire band for their talent and for never being complacent with themselves or the audience. It’s one of the few bands that really does away with what’s popular and does what it wants. Each member is integral to the flavor of the band and you just have to see how much the sound changes from album to album especially when they change drummers. But Jeff has done a great job of sitting in with 4 drummers and always going above and beyond the call of duty, bringing out the upright bass, knowing when to hold back and knowing when to rip shit up.

Highlight Tracks: Jeremy, Hail Hail, Daughter, God’s Dice, Indifference, My Tree, I’m Open, Army Reserve, Save You, Once, Why go, Black, Porch, Garden, Go, Rats, Faithful, All those yesterdays

15. Chris Squire (Yes)

Yes is not everyone’s cup of tea, because not everyone can handle 15 minute songs with 3 solos and lyrics inspired by a Tolkien acid trip. I’m not one of those people and actually enjoy the tea because unlike some other prog rock bands, you really get a sense that these guys are defined by the music they play and that they love their job. Among all the great musicians that have played for this band though, Chris Squire stands well above for being one of the most enduring members, and just for being that superior in his instrument. Fast, precise, inventive, pounding. All of these adjectives and more are no match for how good this guy really is. So if you can stomach the Middle Earth goodness, by all means, check out anything from their catalogue.

Highlight Tracks: The entire Yes discography

14. Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)

Greatness by any measure is not something easily chanced upon. Radiohead is a great band and it has achieved a level of success that’s incredible since it’s such an organic band in the sense of the word. Everyone contributes, and though Thom is the centerpiece, each and every member of Radiohead brings their A game to every single track. Colin is not the exception and without any one member, they are a lesser band… and they know it.

Highlight Tracks: Air Bag, ‘Packt Like Sardines', Planet Telex

13. Mike Inez (Alice In Chains)

This is a very personal selection simply because if I ever played bass, I’d want more than a couple of songs to sound like Mike Inez. Honestly, the tuning he has on his bass is rich, deep, and just resonates with what I think a bass should sound like most times. Is he the most versatile player I’ve ever heard? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t one of my favorites.

Highlight Tracks: Nutshell, Rotten Apple, No Excuses, Heaven Beside You, I Stay Away

12. Aston Barrett (Bob Marley)

Quite honestly, Bob Marley would have been pretty big even without his rhythm band… or so we’d like to think. The reality is that behind one of the most iconic voices in music, there was a tremendous band and a key figure in the music was the Family Man Aston Barrett. In basic terms, good reggae needs great bass lines and there’s no way around it for me. Luckily for us, the dub was full on, Bob was given onto the world and even the uneducated know who the Wailers were. That’s thanks in large part to father Marley’s greatness, the confidence he had with an epic band watching his back, and a dub line that let him express his soul.

Highlight Tracks: Exodus, Stir It Up, Get Up Stand Up, Jamming, Buffalo Soldier

11. Mike Watt

When a normal person sees a bass, they see a thick heavy guitar with two strings missing. When Mike Watt sees a bass, he sees a weapon for mass destruction. To sum it up succinctly, if you want to know just what you can do with a bass, look up Mike. He’ll educate you and then some.

Highlight Tracks: his work with the Minutemen, FIREHOUSE or solo… just listen to the guy.

Listy Time Intro

2010-07-08T18:36:00.001-07:00

In the great tradition of overanalyzing things and making pretentious lists as if they were anywhere official, I’ve compiled a series of lists that I’ll be jotting down in the coming days. From music, to movies, to people you’d like to marry... Call this the semi Olympics of lists. Feel free to opine, disagree, comment and let yourself be heard.

Every single action has a butterfly effect

2010-06-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

Just in case you’re wondering, the title of this post isn’t a fact, but it is a rule that you may want to live by. Regarding people’s actions, it’s amazing to see how many people simply don’t take into account the repercussions of any of their actions. I’m not talking about pulling the trigger of a gun, robbing a bank or something as terrible as throwing a grenade at a gas station. I’m talking about the little things in life that people take for granted and simply choose to ignore rather than address.

If you want simple tangible examples, you don’t have to go very far. Just get in your car and you’ll see what I mean. People texting and driving, talking while going in reverse in their car, drinking hot coffee, picking their nose or screaming at a member of their family. These are just five examples I came up with in less than four seconds so imagine how many things you can think of if you really put your mind into it.

“Ok, so what’s the big deal with any of those examples?” you may ask. Ok, let’s take each one, analyze and see possible outcomes.

1. Texting and driving: it’s stupid, it’s retarded and yet a lot of us do it because we live in the age of multitasking. Call it ego or being too bored with putting your entire attention span to driving, but people text and drive and here are some possibilities that stem from doing this act. First one, you can crash. You send a text while driving, don’t see that the car in front of you stopped and you hit it. Pretty simple and quite common. Thing is if it’s an angry text or a sexy one, odds are that your body reacts in certain non verbal ways that you don’t necessarily take into account while clicking away. Namely that you tense up and possibly press on the accelerator more than you have to. Second off, since your brain is divided, you’re not all there when writing the message so you may send the wrong message while writing since you’re not all in it. Then there’s typos and it can be something simple, or you may call the person by another name (not making that one up and that little mistake almost cost the relationship because the whole infidelity thing came into play). So that’s you, but what if you texting reminds someone that they have to text someone else? Great. Now we have two multitaskers adding blades to their juggling set. Ok so what if someone who’s not texting sees this? They may not care, but they might get infuriated which takes their attention from the car in front and voila, another crash in record time. And this is just thinking for less than two minutes about this example.

2. Talking while going in reverse in your car. Yet again we have a case of an overachieving multitasker. In case you’re wondering, I’m not even referring to people who drive and talk. I’m talking about the people who get into the car and insist on calling someone up while putting the car in reverse. To sum it up simply, your visibility will be shot, you won’t take into account all of your surroundings, you can crash and what’s more, there’s 32% probability you’ll drop your phone and your call. By the way, holding the phone with your shoulder and head prompts unwanted button presses etc. As if that weren’t enough, you are probably setting yourself up for a nice case of torticollis AKA wry neck. Fun times.

3. So what about drinking hot coffee while driving? Two words for you: burnt genitals.

4. And picking your nose? Well unless you think it’s sexy to let people know you keep a collection of nose nuggets in the arm rest of your car, I’d choose the option of waiting for home, unless it’s mandatory that you pick that sucker.

5. As for screaming to your family, well maybe it’s better you do that so people know who lurks behind the façade.

The point is that I just took five casual and everyday occurrences and showed that each one has its own set of repercussions. Now think of every time you hit your keyboard, every time you call someone an asshole, every time you spit gum on the sidewalk or street, that can you tossed on the floor, that call you didn’t make, that vote you didn’t cast and you realize that every single one of our actions has repercussions of varying degrees and some results will probably surprise you since you didn’t think what you did mattered. After all, it’s just one in six billion right? Well that’s exactly the attitude that leads to complacency, mediocrity, and disharmony.

So next time you are about to do something that doesn’t matter, think twice because it does matter and you can make a difference if you only give a damn.

Waves are my support group

2010-06-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

At my most joyous, my saddest, my most frustrated and at my most serene, nothing has been there longer for me than the ocean except my mother. Equal parts mistress, best friend, lover, confidante and reality check, the ocean has treated me like a sea side cliff. It’s had its hand into shaping the way I am, the way I see life and all the existential ponderings that came natural to me after almost drowning twice.

But through it all, the scrapes, bruises, spankings and close calls, the ocean has always been there for me. It’s the place where I can truly see how many voices are rambling in my brain as I soothe and sort the chatter to get back to balance. Ask most any surfer and they’ll tell you that at least once, surfing has helped them cope with some traumatic situation in life. In my case, it’s been a couple of times and it’s been more than just a few issues.

To be brutally honest, if it weren’t for surfing, writing and music, I’d have cracked a long time ago. Instead I’m able to channel energies in different lights so as not to damn the emotional well that is my soul.

Se le fue el Kayak

2010-06-23T16:20:00.000-07:00

Pensando libremente, sin presiones políticas, opiniones imperialistas ni intereses económicos, a la verdad que me parece que Tito Kayak debería coger un buche, tomar unas vacaciones y dejar de ser un roba cámara. Hace un tiempo ya me está que más que nada, es por fama que hace sus protestas. Ya el mensaje que pudo haber tenido en algún momento se ha evaporado. Porque si fuese por hacer una diferencia, ¿dónde estuvo el querido Kayak al derramarse petróleo a las costas de Cabo Rojo? ¿Dónde está Tito reclamando los derechos de las mujeres y los homosexuales que son tan boricuas como él y que sufren abusos a cada esquina? ¿Dónde estaba el prócer Tito cada vez que un hospital vertía desperdicios biológicos en fuentes fluviales y caños?

Bien simple. Estaba lejos de esos verdaderos problemas porque no tienen la atención del público y por ende, no vale su tiempo ya que no le dan esos titulares que tanto atesora. ¿Hay una huelga? ¿Hay un paro nacional? ¿Suben el precio del Teodoro Moscoso? Pues ahí está él porque eso sí es noticia y eso sí vale la pena. ¿Están haciendo un hotel que está aprobado? Pues vamos a reclamar que derrumben el edificio y cien otras cosas que no hacen sentido y le quitan credibilidad a personas que sí aman esta isla.

Por esto no me refiero a los independentistas, macheteros y compatriotas de la República de la Universidad de Puerto Rico que con sus barbas mal atendidas, ojos de yerba buena y camisas del Ché opacan a los estudiantes que si tienen el deseo de obtener lo mejor por sus compañeros y tienen dos dedos y medios de frente en un intento fútil de combatir el .35 de frente que tiene el resto de los neandertales artísticos, que por cuan creativos se pongan sus mensajes, continúan demostrando que no tienen idea de ni por qué se quejan.

El Kayak saca a relucir lo peor de un independentista. De ser alguien que podía hacer una diferencia, se ha vuelto un Toño Bicicleta de la ignorancia socio política de este país. El problema es que para una verdadera revolución, se requiere acción y verdadera acción. Por acción no me refiero a comprarte un semí, que te pintes de brujo y que proclames la protección de nuestra versión de Pandora después de ver Avatar quince mil veces. Me refiero a salir y votar por los mejores candidatos, me refiero a no ser un puerco y botar la basura donde va y a reciclar cada vez que se presente la oportunidad, me refiero a darle la mano a alguien que necesita ayuda, me refiero a exigir un programa de rehabilitación de adictos en vez de mera relocalización, me refiero a ganarte la vida y no pretender que te la regalen, o peor, que te la bequen aunque no te la merezcas.

Este país tiene problemas que ni botando y aún así estamos mejor que muchos otros sitios y no sólo porque tengamos la libertad de escoger entre Burger King y McDonald’s. Hay problemas de corrupción, hay problemas de educación, hay problemas de información y hay problemas de administración. Hay problemas de todo tipo y lo menos que nos hace falta es que un ridículo se pare sobre un puente reclamando sobre nuestro derecho de no pagar tanto por un peaje.

Me parece que hay problemas más importantes que ese, aunque reconozco que es pura opinión.

If sheep were meant for heaven, call me a goat

2010-06-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

I’m not calling for all out revolution. I’m not recommending Anarchy in the US. I’m just saying that having your own opinions and thought patterns wouldn’t be half bad. That the US has a higher voter to viewer ratio on American Idol than on Presidential elections should be a source of worry. Technology advances with leaps and bounds, but human intellect is stunted.

Why read when I can see the movie? That’s pretty much the general attitude of at least half the population, and you know that’s a kind statement. At best, people might have opinions they share on their blogs, but like many church goers, the love of all mankind and respect to one’s brethren ceases as soon as you exit the double doors, get in your car and are faced with the choice of accelerating or letting someone else pass first. That last bit means that people might be righteous online, but in the real world they are a lot tamer.

It’s quite an interesting contradiction: “I want everything for myself except my thoughts. For that I’ll just read my favorite news source, see where people are trending towards and I’ll mold my personality accordingly.”

Sounds like a stretch, but most people seem to behave in that way. Case in point, the worldwide adoration to Avatar. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is super well made, but best movie of all time? Come on. I don’t even consider it the best movie of 2009, much less the 2000’s and certainly not all time. But people still dress up in blue, tickle themselves in their tender places and insist on regurgitating what they were offered as fact instead of opinion. And don’t get me started on the people who learned the Na’vi and were suicidal because they couldn’t live on Pandora. WTF people.

It may be human nature to gravitate towards like minded people, but that isn’t the problem. The problem is that people are treating opinion like an organized religion. They accept all they’re offered without questioning a single point and when they see dissent, they cry witch and get their tar and feathers ready for a lynching. The worst thing about adopting someone else’s opinion is that you can’t change it directly. That’s why it should be your opinion. That’s why you should desist on being a sheep. You don’t have to wage all out war. You don’t need to be a terrorist threat. You just need a brain and the nerve to stand behind what you think.

Otherwise enjoy the grass and the company.

Blind Faith: Trusting what’s printed on nutrition labels

2010-06-21T16:19:00.001-07:00

People count calories, they compare fat content, they raise an eyebrow at sodium percentages and many shudder at reading the phrase high fructose corn syrup. That’s a good thing because people are reading and comparing and trying to control what they put into their body. There’s only one problem, none of us really know if what we’re reading on a label is really what is in a can, a box, or a bag.

Every single day we put Blind Faith into effect and I don’t mean by putting the Blind Faith album from the 60’s into their stereo or MP3 player of choice. I mean that we trust that something doesn’t have fat, something really is low sodium and that the product we consume doesn’t contain something that could make us sick. It’s not that a cereal box has rat droppings, but who’s to say that a cereal contains what it says on the side of the box. Who guarantees that the salmon we’re eating really isn’t halibut.

Recently a group of students ran DNA* studies on cafeteria food and found that what they were being offered as beef was something else. I won’t get into specifics because the technology is still in development and there are questions to the validity of the results. That being said, what guarantee do we have that it isn’t right, and that instead of beef we’re not eating dog? Truth is we have no idea what we put into our bodies. Sure we read labels, but many are misleading and others go through the traditional routes of saying natural flavor, artificial flavors, but don’t really go into specifics. If you don’t believe me, just read a couple of nutritional labels and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

So next time you’re not feeling too good stomach wise, ask yourself a very simple question… what the hell have I been eating?

(*NOTE: if you want to see an article on what I’m talking about in regards to the DNA food testing, click the title of the post. Not the event I referred to, but scarier, especially if you love sushi.)

Authority was made to be questioned

2010-06-21T16:18:00.002-07:00

When you think about the powers that be, public opinion and what’s considered to be normal, one could be quite tempted to simply not accept everything we’re offered as a truth, a given, a more or even a law. Some things are elemental and no brainers and don’t have to be questioned such as heinous crimes or attitudes of a dubious moral nature.

A paradigm by definition requires an overthrow to continue with evolution on pretty much every level, in any industry and in any quasi structure where the norm has been established. It happens with music, it happens with fashion, it happens with art, it happens with religion and it happens with politics.

What’s most interesting is that dissent and the power of breaking a paradigm begins with doubt, questioning, and the use of reason by people who are tuned to a different wavelength, a new zeitgeist if you will. From worshipping mother Earth, we switched to a panel of anthropomorphic deities that more often than not, showed character flaws we could relate to. Then Rome plagiarized the Greek system, changed the names and said it was a new religion. In other parts of the globe, Nordic mythology brought a rich mix of fiction and nature veneration, Zoroastrianism and Islam brought different spins to the Messiah story, Taoism brought a series of beliefs and pagan rituals to the masses, Buddhism ascribed godly attributes to the worldly, Hinduism professes its own series of mores and rules through a richly textured religion, Confucianism and Shintoism offer vastly different ways of seeing life in the same country and that’s without taking into account the beautiful religions from Native Americans, Amazon tribes, African tribes, Eskimos and all other aborigine tribes to explain what is this life we live. And this is just religion and just what we know without taking into consideration something as extensive as the Incan, Mayan and Egyptian religions. But trends have been found and they have changed. Catholicism is fighting tooth and nail to stay as the dominating super power religion while secular trends are trying to bring it down. If history serves as a frame of reference, what this means is that eventually something will replace it.

The same goes for economic systems. Feudalism, monarchies, fifes and capitalism are all wonderful isms for as long as they work to keep the participating parties happy. Politics have the eternal battle of the isms vs democracy. The progress of science is even based on dissenting voices questioning what has been established as knowledge. And as if that weren’t enough, a technological gestalt is pretty much impossible at the rate we’re delivering advances.

What does this hefty intro mean then? Well to quote Dylan: ‘The Times are a changin’. People don’t trust their governments, economic systems are collapsing, a desire to unify the world is in conflict with those who would rather facilitate segregation and knowledge in general has the daunting task of having to convince an ever growing society of cynics that what they’re living is not only normal but that they should be thankful for what they receive.

In this current economic state and even if you hate what you’re doing, it seems you have to be thankful for the cluster rape of work you offer at bargain prices while company magnates expect you to not notice that they have plenty of pie on their face, which they obviously don’t want to share. The debate over what is just and unjust is coming into play and people don’t like the results their observations are offering, and they want an explanation.

Why is it possible that healthcare can put a family on the street? Why do we have to give money to bail out an industry that is based on greed? How can we be expected to trust a government that thrives on backstabbing and scapegoating? Why are the powers that be surprised that we aren’t biting on the red herring? Why are they so scared?

Think, question authority, have an opinion. After all, it is your right... for now.

An obsession with inches: waist vs penis

2010-06-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

In a material world such as ours, few measurements have more selling power than the inch. Miles per hour might sell cars through speed and gas efficiency, pounds might sell a variety of nutrition programs and is quite close on the scale to inches, but nothing can compete with the almighty inch. You see, only the inch can be responsible for billions of dollars in sales for fitness, weight loss, penis enlargement, bust reduction or augmentation, height, sexual paraphernalia, food and lord knows what else.

No other measurement is as malleable in its applications to sell. In fitness you can lose fifteen inches from your waist or increase two inches in your biceps. In weight loss, Body Mass Index (BMI) depends on the measurement of your body vs your height and build. In penis enlargement, well it’s self explanatory because rarely if ever will you see anyone want to trim anything from their pole vault. Breasts are another matter altogether because the search for the perfect bust can last several years thanks to the sheer materialistic excellence of plastic surgeons saying less is more and more is just wonderful. For height, heels are sold to varying degrees thanks in part to the size of their heel and size dictates needs, tastes, trends, and personality. Men don’t stray too far behind because often times they need that extra oomph to not look like an overachieving Oompa. In the phallic paraphernalia department it’s similar in concept to some of those mentioned above but the applications obviously differ somewhat since you can literally tailor make your own “best friend” no matter what weird ass pubic pet peeve you may have. As for food? Well Subs and Pizza depend on the almighty inch because remember, a foot long is always shown with a ruler showing twelve inches.

But the obsession over the almighty inch when it comes down to genre is just awe inspiring. If you’re not too keen to accept this hypothesis, then by all means tell me what you think about when I mention 36-24-36. If you’re thinking Power Ball numbers you have a problem. Most likely you’ll think of those fictitious Barbie measurements we’re sold as the ideal and what all women should strive for. If I happen to say 6 to 10 inches, what do you think about? Odds are that something meaty comes to mind, and I’m not talking value menu items.

The funny part is that in the obsession competition, I really don’t know who wins. I’m inclined to say men simply because male enhancement products sell so much, and because I’m pretty sure most men any of us know have measured themselves at least once in their lives, and yes that does include myself because I was a teen and my hormones did rage. But women in their pursuit for beauty do anything to trim their waist line, even if they look worse after losing the weight.

What’s best is that the base reason for the obsession is the same. Call it vanity, self pride, self worth, confidence or what have you; the quest for the perfect inch is something that crosses demographics, religions, boundaries, age, gender, etc. I’m not saying everyone in the whole world is obsessed with inches, but I will go out on a limb and say that most first world countries that don’t have the real problems severely impoverished societies do face have an obsession with what they’re packing around their midsection.

Pretty sad we don’t put the same focus and energy about two and a half feet northward huh? Excuse me, I meant 30 inches north of the mid section.

What the hell is artisan water

2010-06-21T16:17:00.001-07:00

In a world where we can literally sell ANYTHING and get away with it, water has become the weapon of choice to reach new heights of idiocy. It wasn’t that long ago when I remember that I could drink water from a garden hose and only have to worry about maybe adding a rubbery hint to my flatulence. But nay, those days are long gone and we are left with a world that has to pay for something that pretty much makes ¾ of our body.

Oh and if you haven’t noticed, business is booming. From Dasani to Naya to Aquafina, Deer Spring, Evian and Fiji water, that little cocktail consisting of two parts hydrogen to one part oxygen sells like hotcakes and just like cars, apparel and neighborhoods, each brand caters to a specific person looking for basic hydration.

If you’re like me, you go to Costco, pick the cheapest brand that doesn’t taste like plasma from a Styrofoam monster and chug away, often refilling from your work’s ample and free water supply. But of course, this isn’t enough for some people and for these little wonders, we came up with artisan water.

In case you’re wondering, artisan water is not made by artists. It is also not the water used to clean brushes between color strokes while painting on a canvas. Just in case, it isn’t water used to make moving pieces of art either. In fact, there is actually no such thing as artisan water. What some people sell as artisan water is actually artesian water, which comes from ground wells dug up. Artisan water is just the trendy name given to the water type just to sell easier and pique intrigue in passersby from around the world.

Which brings me to one more point: just how much are we willing to pay for water in the long run? A bottle of Pellegrino can set you back almost $6 (US) in some places. Fiji water goes upwards of $2 (US) in most places. Dasani sells for $1-$2 depending on your venue and guess what, it’s treated tap water (I say treated because purified this ain’t, and in case you were wondering, Dasani is a made up word). The varying hydro markets shift and change with the greatest of ease and in the end, what do we get? Something that we used to be able to get from the faucet for little or no cost.

So next time your sipping on your premium water of choice, just remember that once upon a time, water, unlike you, was free.

Few things hurt more than listening to Sarah Palin speak

2010-06-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

Politicians by nature are filled with crap. Sorry, that's just part of the job description as are empty promises, going against what you really believe to win votes and being an overall hypocrite, though luckily there are a few exceptions. That lovely intro being established, Sarah Palin is one of the few politicians who isn't afraid to be herself. The problem is that herself includes being idiotic, reading scripts worse than George W. Bush and basically tarnishing the image of women in politics, Alaskans, and republicans in general. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Republican loving person in the political sense of the word, but I do think good competition leads to better results hence me wishing upon a star for better GOP representatives because if Democrats will be running the show for a while, I prefer sharp Republicans to force them to do a good job. Actually that's all I really want, you can worship the donkey or the elephant, I could care less, just do your job right.

Back to Palin though.

It seems that every time she decides to open her pie hole, something stupid comes out. From her position on offshore drilling where she pretty much blames environmentalists for the crisis, to calling reporters by made up nicknames. There's being personable and then there's being a jackass. That's you Sarah.

You aren't smart and the simple fact that you're female shouldn't give you a boost because Hillary Rodhman Clinton's great toe is more of a woman than you'll ever be, and she didn't get elected. You're just a dishy soccer mom who caters to religious nuts and conservative freaks that seem to have a short term memory, and forget that white north americans were the first immigrants... they just happened to have better weaponry and diseases.

As for your entire agenda... thanks for the entertainment but I seriously hope people don't take you seriously because if you happen to have a shot, I just might move out of the US. And I mean it this time.

Change of Focus

2010-06-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

After some time with this blog I realize that writing on here isn't as easy as any of the other places I write. When I analyze this, the most important thing that comes to mind is that this is my optimistic blog, my happy blog and also the one I don't curse at. Seeing my difficulty with this, I've decided to say one simple thing:

Fuck that.

A blog exists to speak one's mind and mine just happens to be filthy and some other places I write I have complete freedom in content... so it's a bit frustrating to see that I've taken so long to even surpass 50 posts on this blog while I've written hundreds of random things on others. So if anyone is reading, which seems doubtful, rest assured the times are a changin and this blog is going to become quite a vent... so though I may not go with a smile with what I write, I will have the satisfaction of not having a crutch.

Cheers

What does faith feel like?

2010-05-06T15:16:00.001-07:00

What an utterly fascinating question. It’s almost like trying to effectively describe love. Some people describe love as a warm and fuzzy feeling you might have inside, but think about it, what exactly is a warm fuzzy feeling on the inside? For warm you can think of a soup on a cold day or maybe a shot of brandy as a night cap, or how about a hot shower when you’re still groggy? For fuzzy you think of texture, something completely sensorial; which is funny because you can’t really grasp or touch love. Yes you can feel it, but you can’t touch it.

So when you ask what faith encompasses physiologically, you will get a variety of metaphorical answers that try to explain something that can’t truly be explained effectively. I recently did my Catholic Confirmation, and I think it’s funny that some people have the suspicion that I drank some magic Kool Aid and have suddenly gone all Christ loving. For some reason, saying I’m agnostic consistently gets people thinking I’m atheist. It’s like if I said I were bisexual everyone would think I was gay, because once you suck cock, well, it’s hard to make a case that you are not a one reproductive organ lover. But as with most things with me, it’s not that simple.

I have a Catholic upbringing so that’s my frame of reference to explain something that I don’t get, but I feel. Does that mean I deny my Buddhist, Hindu, or Muslim sisters and brothers? Certainly not. I find different religions deeply fascinating, as I do the one I’ve been brought up on. Does that mean I deny my Science loving brothers and sisters? Certainly not. That’s because none of us have any clue as to what’s really going on and why we’re here, but we all have the right to search for answers.

Science and religion have fought since their beginnings pointing a finger at each other and saying each one has the real explanation of why we’re all here, and that is simply bullshit. Being agnostic, I question most things and accept the possibility of most things as well. Do I believe there’s a man in the sky dressed in white robes who gives pieces of delicious tasting bread to people for behaving? No. Do I believe that there is no God and that we are merely products of ribonucleic recombinations, ever adapting to our current environment? No. Reality just isn’t that simple or clear cut, if you ask me.

If you break it all down, one explanation is rational while the other one is emotional. My problems with science stem from the fact that when you control conditions to produce a result, you’re nothing more than a glorified magician. You might have changed your cape and wizard’s hat for a lab coat and notebook, but you’re no different. You’ve just upgraded to fit the times and refined your magic work to convince people of your truths with complicated numbers, charts and calculations. If you wonder how I could say such a preposterous thing, it’s simple. If you accept the words anomaly, probability, and error, you accept that science is flawed. On the other hand, you have religion. Purely emotional and offering some explanations that don’t make a whole lot of sense. But if you simply look at them that way, obviously you won’t see any benefit in either.

Bill Maher is a cynic of the times and though he makes a lot of sense a lot of the time, he can be such a smug prick about his opinions that he doesn’t accept there’s some grey middle ground to be discussed as well. I love how he gets all pissy and preachy when someone has a differing opinion that irks him, because though he can accept arguments on certain topics, he’s quite incisive towards others, especially faith and religion. People have said that for ages religion has been the reason why we’ve had wars and conflicts for as long as we know. I say false.

Before your eyebrow hits the ceiling, hear me out. Religion by itself is harmless, as is science. They are trying to explain something we don’t understand. Some of the things might not make any sense, but we take the answers we’re given until a better one comes along. Just in case, religion hasn’t killed people. Religious people however, now that’s a whole other story. Religious institutions, which are governed by people who use religion for their own ulterior motives, now that’s where evil does reside. Because you take something harmless like a book, let’s call it the bible, and you misquote it to justify some pretty heinous actions and then have the balls to say that God told you to do it. Well let’s put it this way, if you change the character of God for Satan, then a person goes from being divinely enlightened to possessed, and from righteous to villainous, just because you changed one character. But in its essence, it’s still just a book trying to explain what the hell is going on. Is it factual? No. Is it historical? Slightly. Is it the truth? Well exactly WHAT is the truth? It’s just a book and religion is just a set of mores, rules and guidelines to try and get you through your day without stepping on other people’s toes.

Some people might say “But science and technology have come a long way in helping us understand the cosmos?” If that’s so, then why do we underuse our brains? If that’s so, then why do new theories oust old theories? If you want my perspective, it’s simple: data + results do not equal the truth. It equals a possible truth. And if religion was used as the scapegoat to start wars, science and technology developed the means to carry them out. It’s not like people were fighting each other with crosses and hard cover versions of the bible. So which one is worse?

Since I was 13 I’ve had a crisis of all faiths resulting from almost drowning and not seeing a tunnel of light, not feeling a hand pulling me from the depths towards safety. I’ve been thinking and pining over death since I was about 9 and had already lost four close relatives. But does that mean I won’t pray and speak to a higher power I know nothing about? Does that mean I’ll look at scientists and religious people and scoff at their explanations of why we’re here? Simply put, no. I’m not one to judge anyone on their preferred set of explanations. I just try to get something out of everything I come in contact with because it’s always easier to write something off, but it isn’t that easy to see a positive in something that may not make sense. So would I say I’m religious? Not necessarily. Would I say I’m scientific? Not necessarily. For me, a non logical combination of spiritual and rational aspects is more towards my liking… and no, I’m not going to become a Scientologist either.

As for religion, to me it offers examples and issues a set of guidelines. Regarding Catholicism and Christianity, I actually really like the figure of Jesus and his values. From what I’ve read and what you may grasp, he tried to help people, tried to talk sense to them, was the first feminist, accepted lepers, hookers, Moors and Samaritans. He decried institutions and criticized temples that divided and categorized people hierarchically. He invited people to look at themselves before criticizing others and he stuck to his values, even if it meant dying. Now you can speculate whether he was the son of god, a savior, or what have you, but at the very least, you can’t deny that what’s been written has him being a pretty cool cat. He said if you are slapped, offer the other cheek, which I interpret it as saying that it takes two to fight or that if someone loses their cool, it’s up to you to keep the cool (but that’s my interpretation). He was pissed at Pharisees and called them hypocrites because they were more concerned with money, influence and power rather than faith. He also said that whoever looked at their brother and cried fool would face the fires of hell. Now if you take the hell connotation out, it seems like he’s asking people to do something better than to criticize or judge others.

Now do I think all of this is factual and happened as is written? Well I’ll answer a question with a question: Why are there different versions of the bible, why are their scrolls we are not allowed to read and why do we need others to interpret the “word of god”. Why is there even an interpreter or a middle man? Hell, last time I checked, if you played the telephone game with eight people, the message that starts out rarely gets to the end without changing significantly. I think religion is much the same way. True, they try to maintain the tradition and what have you, but time passes, needs arise and greed edits to its own satisfaction, be it science or religion. Honestly speaking, I could just as well quote Star Wars, Fight Club, The Sandman, Dune, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Niebla and Lord of the Rings and some of their characters to show what aspects I resonate with and base my theory of life on.

But to answer the question, what does faith feel like? Well, I have no idea, but if I had to offer a description, it’s that split second when you jump off a ledge, after you took that step and before you begin to freefall where you don’t know what anything is going to feel like, but you have already accepted the direction your going and that in the end, the outcome won’t matter, because you’ll be ok with it if you look at it with an open mind. If you fall to your death, it’s a logical explanation; if you land on a lower ledge, it could be divine intervention or luck; and if you sprout wings and float away, it’s a miracle. The middle explanation is the only one that accepts personal interpretation and offers a choice, whereas the other two lean completely to rational or emotional. What they all have in common is that before the outcome, you took a step and said screw it, what will be will be and the peace in that moment, though brief it may be, is what we may know as faith. It is the happiness of a decision without taking into account the consequence; it is not caring about anything but the moment. It is freedom in its purest form.

Other people describe how faith feels more in tune to the definition of joy, enlightenment, celebration, security, etc. I’ve simply chosen to describe it as peace. Is this the right answer? Instead of replying with, “who knows?” or saying “maybe”, I ask another question: “why care?”

Draft your definition, edit as you see fit and be happy if you find an answer that makes even the slightest bit of sense for you.

Hope this perspective in some way helps anyone reading in their quest to find a definition.

Cheers

Random things that make you smile

2010-04-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of doing lists, here's a list of things that make me smile:

Waking up and not feeling tired.

Having your bath or shower water be the perfect temperature.

Waking up refreshed and realizing you still have three hours to sleep.

Saturdays.

A message in your voice mail box that makes you laugh instead of just informing.

A real letter in your mailbox.

An email that isn't a forward.

Finding that song that has eluded you for months or even years.

Getting something free in a restaurant you go to all the time because they know you by name.

Having an old friend over for dinner.

Seeing someone in your local book/music/department store and hanging out for the entire afternoon or evening.

Being able to snuggle with your dog.

Having your nephew say your name for the first time.

Drinking or eating something you've been wanting for months.

Smelling something that reminds you of something from when you were eight.

Seeing someone from your youth who has matured and become a much better person.

Finding that candy that you used to eat when you were in sixth grade.

Opening a file only to find a prize you won when you were in junior high.

Finding a shoebox full of funny pictures.

Drinking the most delicious tea on a chilly day.

Putting on an album that makes you dance.

Cooking to Van Morrison.

Sharing a bottle of wine while listening to Miles Davis.

Calling someone by mistake and talking for hours.

Time makes you smile more than money

2010-04-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

For the longest of time, people just wanted money, money and more money. You'd think they'd just want peace of mind, but the reality is that they just wanted different types of power be it acquisitive, social, influential, or any other thing that results from having mucho dinero. Slowly though, I see people who are more interested in quality time to enjoy with their families, to have to do their own thing or whatever. I'm not calling it a paradigm shift by any means, but I will call it the response to years of generating capital only to not be able to use it.

Think about it, some of the richest people you know (not all of them mind you), have an amazing house, a slick car, snazzy clothes and regularly work thirteen hour days. Then other rich people you may know have a broken home, are actually in debt and never get to enjoy anything because they aren't happy.

Then I see people who are making ends meet, make a decent salary but actually spend time with their loved ones or have a small art studio which they don't neglect or actually give themselves the opportunity to write the next great American novel. Those people actually seem to be better off than filthy rich people, though rest assured, some rich people are just fine in their lives because they are appreciative of their wealth and don't feel a need to compare themselves to anyone else.

Then you read polls in major magazines or just talk to people you know and though it's obvious that quite a few people could use more money, it's incredible how across the board the wish for more time is. And then you wonder if people could choose free time or a little extra money, which would they pick and something tells me that unlike the US dollar, time has not devalued and has actually sky rocketed in market value.

But you don't hear anyone ask for some spare time. You don't see anyone begging for a few minutes of anyone's time. That's because instead of being top of mind, it's actually burried deep beneath stratas of worry and stress.

So one day, just to find out how much you miss free time, might I recommend taking one of those 15 sick days you rarely use and simply do what you want to do... just a thought.

Cheers

Oldschool has never been more stupid

2010-04-10T05:41:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the release of the hot Tub Time Machine, Wisconsin's Mauston community has just defluxcapacetered itself into 1955 regarding their involvement with teen sex education. If you haven't read, click the title of this post to see yahoo's coverage of a wonderful little article talking about how sex ed teachers can now face jail time and a $10K fine if they actually show kids how to use contraceptives and other forms of birth control.

Juneau County District Attorney Scott Southworth last month sent a letter to area school districts warning that health teachers who tell students how to put on a condom or take birth-control pills could face criminal charges.

In a move that can at best be called ignorant, Southworth along with his conservative mob insist that teaching sexual education including the proper use of contraceptives is one of the leading causes for teen pregnancy and delinquency, since people under the age of 17 having sex can be tried on a misdemeanor charge. I'm not a huge advocate for offering opinion and judging people merely on what they say, but when it comes to this topic, I think people should really take a break from keeping their head where the sun doesn't shine.

Luckily, there are people that along with sex educators, feel that this law does not hold water:

Janine Geske, a Marquette University law professor and former state Supreme Court justice, said she didn't understand Southworth's legal logic. She said that if he tried to prosecute a teacher for adhering to guidelines approved by the Legislature and governor, the case would likely be dismissed.

"To be frank, I can't follow exactly what he's trying to get at," Geske said. "If a teacher is educating a student pursuant to state law ... I don't see how under any examination (that) could be criminal."

Just in case, I don't understand the logic either, though that doesn't matter because I don't live there. But Audrey Jensen does, and she has an opinion I highly agree with.

"Audrey Jensen, whose 16-year-old daughter, Justina, is a sophomore at Mauston High School, said Southworth is trying to censor what students learn, usurping the role of parents. Children will have sex regardless, she said, and they need all the information they can get."

Censoring education has never been a pretty thing and being told what people can or can't read or learn has simply been something nations have had to cope with for centuries since governments obviously don't want us to know certain things that can but thoughts in our brains and restlessness in our souls. But this isn't some refusal to distribute classified and anarchy feeding knowledge. This is basic teachings every teen should receive so they at least have some information to juxtapose with real life situations when faced with someone that is also responding to crazy hormones and wants to know what happens when you put one and one together. Without the proper education, they might actually find themselves getting a poor definition on synergy and see that one plus one can equal three or more without the proper birth control.

But alas, some people need to champion ignorance:

Matt Sande, the legislative director of Pro-Life Wisconsin, which opposes the new law, said every district attorney in Wisconsin should follow Southworth's lead.

"We commend him for his courage, his frankness in exposing the consequences of this irresponsible new law," Sande said. "If I were a district administrator, I would want to know the impact."

If you're confused as to what law it refers to, it's a state law that mandates that any school choosing to teach sexual education (which isn't mandatory) is required to teach teens about birth control and practicing safe sex. Yes I know, in a beautiful, pristine and pink conservative reality, kids would marry their high school sweethearts, would make love only after they get married, would have 2.3 kids and would never cheat on their taxes. But this isn't lala land. Kids nowadays are even crazier than when I was a teen and teenage pregnancy continues to rise and ages for pregnant teens continue to lower.

Just the thought of a law against teenage sex is ludicrous enough for me because to prosecute teens you'd need one of three things to happen: that a teen who has been conditioned to feel shame for having sex confesses because of the guilt they have inside, that an officer knocks on some steamed windows and actually goes through the prosecution or that teens become pregnant, which could then be debated because what happens if two kids were just masturbating on top of each other and one of those crazy pregnancy stories came true?

The fact of the matter is that more likely than not, teens are going to continue having sex and conservatives will continue to preach in their underwear since most of them since enough to make any messiah weep in disgust. I'm not usually this brutal when it comes to judgment calls because I sincerely do think people are entitled to their opinions, but I do have a problem when people insist on shoving and imposing their opinion onto others. Think of it as me rebelling against Jehova's Witnesses for their house visits offering me the path to Christ. I don't mind that you're a Jehova's Witness. Seriously, whatever gets you through the day without imposing on someone else, then bring it. But waking me up at 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday because you're on a door to door crusade is butting into my life and I do resent it... as I resent being told what I shouldn't learn, especially when sex ed teachers are doing their best to help kids, not throw them to the wolves.

If you still think that sex ed is all about breeding curiosity, might I invite you to sit into one of those classes. That's because I STILL remember all the pictures of herpes, gonorrhea, syphilis and genital warts that put me in the mindset of never having sex without a condom. Oh and I'm about to turn thirty and I've yet to get anyone pregnant... so maybe, just maybe, I benefited from sex ed... or maybe God doesn't want me to have children, whereas I'd owe an apology to Pro Lifers who insist that we should be fruitful and multiply even if we don't have the means to properly support a child.

But hey, that's just me babbling.

Resolutions 2010

2010-01-13T03:01:00.000-08:00

A new year, a new chance to set goals to see if I can achieve whatever I can think of. Being the second year of resolutions, I can definitely say I’ve learned quite a few things about myself and the positive effects of tabulating what I do in a full year. First off, I’m inclined to accomplish things rather than let them marinate for another decade or so. Second of, I can actually see where the year has gone. I see movies I saw, games I played, books I read, trips I took etc. So what’s new for 2010? Well let’s see.

Category #1: PHYSICAL. Last year I had a decent rate going until I had a neck spasm and injured my neck. Then lack of mobility and laziness settled in and I finished up way under par with lots of what I wanted to do. So for this year, I’m simply going to repeat my ’09 goals and add onto them.

Bicep Curls
0 / 5,000

Butterfly curls
0 / 5,000

Pushups
0 / 5,000

Sit-ups
0 / 10,000

Jumping Jacks
0 / 10,000

Squats
0 / 10,000

Pullups
0 / 1,000

Tricep press
0 / 5,000

Workout 40 times with Wii Fit, Insanity or Active for the Wii
3/40

Miles run/walked
1 / 100
Last year was pathetic at best. I need to pick this up this year, no excuses allowed. Hell running or walking more than 3 miles is laughable at best.

Category #2: HEALTH. Some things that used to be in physical are being changed to health and various new goals are being added.

Meditation/Reflection/Goal setting hours/ Breathing exercises
0 /100
Last year I sucked at this. This year should be somewhat better or so I’m hoping. Here’s to a more focused 2010.

Eat less sugar
Spend two weeks in the year without eating candy or desserts
0/2

Spend two weeks in the year without drinking soda
0/2

Go to the dentist
0/2

Go to gastroenterologist
0/1

Go 4 times to the chiropractor with my fiancée
0/4

Go to general practitioner
0/2

Category #3: PROFESSIONAL

Professionally I think 2009 was a pretty good year though I was kind of tentative with a couple of things. Let’s bring it to the 2010 and beyond.

Freelance jobs
0/10

Work proposals
0/10

Category #4: ACTIVITIES

One of the good things about 2009 is that I kept pretty busy between work and all the things I wanted to accomplish. There were truly few or no boring moments of my year and I like to keep it that way. Plus, all work and no play makes me a dull boy.

Surf Sessions
6/50
Repeating the number of surfs from last year. It was great to almost make the final tally and pushed me to ride and find surf instead of stay home and widdle time away. My goal is 50, but I have all intentions of surpassing this number. Let’s see by how much I can do it.

Swim / bodysurf / water activities
0 / 10
Didn’t achieve this 2009 goal, let’s bring it into the new year and do it.

Local tourism
0/4
4 local trips with my fiancée

Movies
1 / 25
Gonna bump this down to 25 which is a full 15 movies less than last year. I need the money for the wedding.

Watch DVD’s I’ve bought
1 / 20
Watch even more of the stuff I’ve bought just to put it to good use. I’ve enjoyed watching what I’ve bought and don’t want to stop. As for a specific number, let’s put 20 to be able to quantify this goal.

1. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me B-

Finish Videogames
0 / 15
Finish 15 games during the course of 2010. I have three games already started so that’s one hell of a head start. Let’s see if I can pull it off.

Finish Reading 20 Books
0 / 20
Finish reading 20 books
Also have some books I started reading and really want to pick up where I left off last year and get a lot of reading done.

Playing guitar
2 / 100
Keep playing like I’m playing or more so. Recording and learning songs will most probably come later. To be able to quantify it, let’s say I have to sit down to play guitar at least 100 times for at least 15 minutes or more.

Category #5: KNOWLEDGE
0 / 15
Continue learning every day, such is my mission but I’d like to also put down in writing stuff I’m learning. Let’s say 15 knowledge posts for the year to be able to document and track my progress.

Learn Random Info
0 / 100
Every single day I try to find new random information, now the trick is to find other sources that aren’t wikipedia. Lol. To put a number to this let’s say 100 new things to learn.

Read the news and post a blog entry
0 / 20
Did this last year and actually enjoyed not being disconnected from the world. Might actually start posting about stuff I read about on the blogs just to add incentive to the thing. Let’s say 20 news blog entries.

Category #6: WRITING

Definitely this is one of my passions and I want to pick it up in regards to some projects that were dangling last year.

WAS
1 / 150
I actually reduced the amount of blog posts for that blog for a very good reason, I have been feeling as if writing there isn’t what it used to be and people don’t care as much and not to sound like a wuss, but well, it gets to me because if what I write is boring, then why the hell write it in the first place? Still the single best thing to vent in my life though, so can’t drop it altogether.

Posts in other blogs
2 / 75

I’m going to insist on writing on these other blogs just for the sake of it all. This isn’t a priority, but would enjoy getting it done for the sense of accomplishment.

Finish book
Up to Chapter 41 so let’s say I’m 41/44 and I want to get to 44 before May.
40.5 / 44

Transcribe book
0 / 44

Write short stories
0 / 10
It was so satisfying to write that one short story that I need to repeat the experience at least ten times.

Essay project
0 / 20
I did NONE of these last year. Will 2010 be the essay breakout year? Who the hell knows?

Draft story arcs for Novels
0 / 3
Let’s pick this one off from last year and put it to good use. I jotted down tons of ideas for the novels but didn’t write down a proper story arc.

Draft Movie Script Idea
0/1
I still want to do this one and hopefully I’ll make time for this.

Progress reports
1/4
This is the first one so I’m off to 25% woohoo. Actually I saw last year that making a progress report every month was a super pain in the ass, so I’m going to be trying just 4 posts for every quarter this year and see if results vary.

Standup piece
0/1
I’d forgotten this one in the midst of it all and I insist on being able to take it up again. Let’s friggin do it.

The Mega Music review
0 / ?
Review each and every album I own. This is not a one year thing, but want to start this year with full blown reviews for all of my albums.

Category #7 Wedding stuff

You bet I’m going to include my wedding stuff here. I need to organize myself and what better way than to always have a list staring me in the face.

Confirmation
0/1

Get coordinator
1/1
100%
Meet and greet with coordinators and pick one.

Plan honeymoon
0/1
Look at destinations once again and also cost and start making arrangements.

Invitations
0/1

Flowers
0/1

Decorations
0/1

Dance Classes
0/1

Find an apartment to live
0/1

RANDOM ACTIVITIES

Buy a box of contractor bags and take one with me to the beach to pick up garbage.
0/1

Make a great Halloween costume duo concept.
0/1

Have our first house dinner with family.
0/1

Invite two couples over for dinner.
0/2

Have at least one jam session before the year is over.
0/1

Cook for my fiancée four times.
0/4

Take my car for maintenance twice in the year.
0/2

Clean up my MSN messenger list
1/1

Clean up my Facebook Friend List
0/1

Organize my room and throw away anything that isn’t necessary
0/1

Fix light bulb in garage
0/1