things things things

i'm tired. pretty much all the time, now. i'm constantly torn between all the things i need to do and the things i want to do.

i need to

really start looking for a job in chicago

keep up with my schoolwork

stay motivated with the punkbands.com redesign

edit the video interviews i have

move out of my apartment

take care of my fucking taxes

i want to

get back to writing and my music

record the split 7" with Christian i've been talking about forever

go to philly more often for shows

curl up and sleep for a week
update this blog more often

not always worry

spend time with barb

i wonder if it'll all be a wash or if i am working in the right direction...and to think i won't really know for two years. i've hit a ceiling at the library; the demographic just isn't what i want. the midwest needs me back and then i can pick up on faint whispers from the west coast. i'll get there...like i said, within two years.

so yeah, we're completely redesigning http://www.punkbands.com/. Paul is helping me and he's doing a stellar job, but there's so much to do and most of my contributions involve slogging through the archives and cleaning shit up. this is literally the most mind-numbing thing i have ever done. i have written a few reviews though! here's one:

It took a while, but I finally heard Drag the River...and I like it. Bad at Breaking Up gathers together all the various tracks the band contributed to 7"s, splits and comps as well as some b-sides. From the sound of it (and having since heard some other stuff by them) I would say this is an excellent introduction to the band and, considering the fantastic packaging that accompanies the album, well worth the investment.

There are a few major selling points here; the acoustic and clean electric guitars are fantastic complements, the duel vocal approach courtesy of Jon Snodgrass and Chad Price, and all the references to drinking. These guys keep the instrumentation sparse and let their clean, deeply twanged (is that a word?) voices do all the talking. Some of the tunes remind me of Mike Cooley's acoustic songs for Drive-By Truckers, just a bit higher pitched. Some remind me of Limbeck's older records, where the emphasis was less on arrangement and more on immediacy. And there is definitely a large dose of The Replacements here, and maybe even a bit more of Paul Westerberg's solo output; I can definitely hear the Stereo influence. Regardless, it's a great mix of sounds spread out across a great collection.

If I had to pick some favorites, opener "Having a Party" would definitely be one of them. I always loved the swaying r&b sound of the original, but this version, sung by both guys, gives the song a whole new feel; the DIY nature of Drag the River makes the song sound almost like a plea for the DJ not to just keep playing music, but to play some quality music...any kind of quality music. With the awful state of radio in this country, I couldn't agree more. Another gem would have to be "Beautiful & Damned," which is certainly a bit of a risk. Featuring solo vocals accompanied by only a swirling, distorted pedal steel guitar, it's a beautiful side-step to the rest of the album and I have a hard time not jumping right to it when I put Bad at Breaking Up on.

I don't feel like it's fair to judge collections by normal, album standards. Instead, I'm interested in how well the release flows and if it accomplishes the idea of introducing someone to a new artist. Bad at Breaking Up does both of these things well and though it may start to sound a bit alike towards the end, there is no denying the excellent songwriting and delivery by these alt-country troubadours.

Austin Lucas Review...

Wow, it’s been a long time since an album grew on my like Austin Lucas’ Somebody Loves You…and I think I know why. See, I’m usually a southern drawl/scruffy voice folk guy; I like Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry, Sundowner, etc. Lucas’ approach is so traditional that it’s off-putting at first. But then something struck me as I made my way through the record for the third or fourth time; Lucas represents the first artist that I would have loved to let my Grandfather hear. It was a bit of a downer to realize this because he passed away this past autumn, but I am certain that he would have loved this record. He liked old country music, but he also loved Appalachian style folk music with clear, powerful vocals and minimal accompaniment beyond an acoustic guitar. Lucas fits this description perfectly.

The talent that Lucas displays here is electric. While the songwriting and arrangements are dead on, the vocals and lyrics are what seal the deal for me. Lucas’ voice is so delicate and powerful at the same time; I just don’t think I’ve ever heard anything like it. His storytelling skills are employed perfectly on the track “Singing Man,” which tells of a lowly musician attempting to court someone much higher up on the social ladder. And then there are all the sings about heartbreak, but with an ear towards moving forward, not wallowing. “Go West” puts the idea of parting ways with someone in such an understanding and romantic light while still portraying the pain that accompanies any type of meaningful goodbye.

This record, which was recorded by Lucas’ father at the family home in Indiana, rings of truth and a personal touch that works its way right into the center of your heart. Whether he’s pickin’ and yelpin’ through the hurried pace of album closer “Farewell,” or crafting a beautiful atmosphere like the one found in “She Said,” Lucas seems to be able to do no wrong. I don’t give out a five star rating without some serious consideration, but this record has shaken me. I didn’t react to it immediately; it took time and some of my own personal feelings for my true impression to surface. The only thing I wish is that I could have put this on while Gramp and I cracked a few beers.

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the Chicago trip was pretty great. a lot of time to just unwind, visit friends, drink and introduce everyone to heather. i'll post some pictures we took when i have the time. being back, on the other hand, sucks. grad school started last week and it's insane. so much reading and then little projects that remind me of the busy work your teaching aides would give you in undergrad when they were hungover...ugh. ohh! and i got my mac, who has affectionately been dubbed "macattack" by someone with much more creativity then myself. so far, it's friggin' crazy cool, but i gotta get used to it.

i'm applying for a few library positions in Chicago that an old friend pointed out and one of them is at the DePaul University Rinn Law Library, where i used to work! seriously thinking about moving back there now that school has started and it's a distance learning thing that i don't need to be at campus for. if i could get a job out there in my field (like i have here) and go to school and work on the website...i think that would be awesome. and heather's gonna come...friggin' sweet!

alright, back to work...in every sense of the word.

Something New

people have been telling me for years that i should have a blog. i used to indulge in the myspace blogging (and still do on occassion, though probably not anymore), but this seems interesting enough...so far. not sure what to focus on with this thing...i've read blogs, but they're all so personal that it's hard to decide what (if anything) people wanna hear about.

so i'm going to do this...just start...and see if creativity strikes me somewhere down the road...though probably not today, at the library, as i yawn and smile while ice falls from the roof.



*photo from Everything is Illuminated