Category Archives: music

How can it be bullshit to state a preference?

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High Fidelity Movie Poster

I’d feel guilty taking their money…if I wasn’t one of them.


-Rob

I wish I could remember the backstory reason for why people often recommend High Fidelity to me. It’s probably not too crazy to assume that if someone got to know me that they might think I would love this movie. Even after all those recommendations, and reading other books by Nick Hornby, I still managed to never see High Fidelity. Until today. These are my notes while watching the movie. I even notated the elapsed time, in case you want to follow along. Just for the record, if someone had mentioned a relatively unknown Catherine Zeta Jones was in the movie, I might have made it happen sooner. *Also…I probably should have watched it alone.

:17 I love vinyl. I love looking at vinyl. I love listening to vinyl. I love watching vinyls spin on the platter. They have me locked 17 seconds in.
1:29 ah. The chicken or the egg dilemma.

What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

3:50 I too have had a relationship this short! 6 hours. My day at the YMCA started off awesome as I had attracted the interest of a cute girl with a ponytail and a pink and green jacket. She realized she had better options by the end of the day.
7:40 Belle & Sebastian
8:02 Belle & Sebastian is not really Barry’s (Jack Black’s character) cup of tea. Although for me, sometimes you gotta be in the right mood for Belle & Sabastian.
9:37 how can it be bullshit to state a preference
9:51 top five records to play on a monday morning and all that (But it’s Monday afternoon now.)

Rob Gordon (John Cusack)

13:33 look into this Johnny Cash book: Johnny Cash’s autobiography “Cash” by Johnny Cash.
14:35 Snobby record store employees are the bane of my existence. Ever since the guy in the Ween shirt at the store Balcony Lights shunned me.
17:22

Some people never got over Vietnam, or the night their band opened for Nirvana. I guess I never got over Charlie.

20:17 chronological. NO. AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. Holy shit!
21:39 man. I can relate to this feeling. All these parents want is marriage and grandkids. And if it hasn’t happened it must be you who fucks it up.
22:20 Peter Fucking Frampton (baby i love the way) “Baby, I Love Your Way” went to No. 12 on the charts.
23:49 Jack Black wants to date a musician. I kinda want to date a musician too. That would be nice to discuss music, be a part of the process of song writing and creation. I’m just a groupie looking for love…

27:19

Top 5 Side Ones. Track Ones

1. “Janie Jones” by The Clash from The Clash (meh.)
2. “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye from Let’s Get It On
3. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana from Nevermind (Barry: That’s not obvious enough)
4. “White Light/White Heat” by Velvet Underground from White Light/White Heat
5. “Radiation Ruling the Nation” by Massive Attack vs. Mad Professor off No Protection

34:34 LOL Rob Gordon was a dj! I was a DJ. I had a short lived career though. I quit right around the time I realized that DJ’s get paid free drinks and barely any money. That and I hated having to take requests.
35:12 I’ll make you a tape!
41:54 BRUCE! Have you ever had conversations with someone you admire? Like, have you ever discussed life’s problems with Trent Reznor or Kurt Cobain? Maybe in your mind you discussed relationship problems while smoking joint with Tupac Shakur?
45:55 Remember phone books?
46:12 oh…and answering machines!
46:52 Green Day was influenced by the Clash…and oh..it’s the physicist slut from The Big Bang Theory
48:23 The Beta Band Beta Band’s 3 EPs: The album was released in 1998 by Astralwerks, after their self-titled debut. The song, “Dry the Rain,” from he EP Champion Versions put them on the map.
48:34 shoplifters – my first shoplifting episode?…I stole Danzig’s Mother from a local record store. (ashamed)
54:21 LOL, ROFL, ha ha ha… We are the Champions!
55:38

I agreed that what really matters is what you like, not what you are like… Books, records, films — these things matter. Call me shallow but it’s the fuckin’ truth, and by this measure I was having one of the best dates of my life.

57:01 “Behind Closed Doors” by Charlie Rich: A No. 1 for Rich in 1973, taken from the album of the same name. It’s one of Rob’s favorite songs. Need to check that out.

John Cusack and Lisa Bonet

57:44 Lisa Bonet IS HOT!
1:14:16 For the record I would die to open a record store like this. Maybe that’s what I should do…LOL
1:17:22 I like the way The Little One smells and tastes…i would miss that if she broke up with me.
1:19:44 Pop Abrams and the Smurfs? Gotta look that up later…
1:21:52 is this where Jack Black realized he should create Tenacious D
1:22:24 Songs Rob wants at his funeral: “Many Rivers To Cross” by Jimmy Cliff, “Angel” by Aretha Franklin and “You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” by Gladys Knight.
1:30:01 “And so we got back together!” …after an awkward my dad just died…and I feel numb, let’s screw in the car scene. ew.
1:30:39

Rob: Liking both Marvin Gaye and Art Garfunkel is like supporting both the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Laura: No, it’s really not, Rob. You know why? Because Marvin Gaye and Art Garfunkel make pop records.
Rob: Made. Made. Marvin Gaye is dead. His father shot him.

1:33:58 “You’re making something,” his girlfriend tells him approvingly. “You—the critic, the professional appreciator—put something new into the world.”
1:34:48 I’ll just make you a tape. This is the standard way a music snob picks up a music snob
1:36:38 The marriage proposal…I don’t think she said “yes“?
*1:38:00 ah! Those cotton panties that have been washed a 100 times… (Nodding my head approvingly gets me slapped in the head.) Edit by TLO: Uh, that is because TLO owns NO SUCH THING, so thinking about someone else’s ratty underwear isn’t going to brighten the day!
1:40:49 Definitely watching the beginnings of Tenacious D. Right?
1:42:44 Great Movie…why did I wait so long to watch this? It’s a break-up movie mash-up! I loved the “Top 5” theme that Cusack’s character employees throughout the movie. so….

Here’s MY top 5 of favorite songs from live shows this year!

1. Neon Trees – 1983
I’ve seen this band twice already this year. This song rocks so much…I love it! Tyler Glenn, the front-man/keyboardist/songwriter for the band says 1983 is about his mother…spreading her legs…to give birth to him. Um…it’s better than what I thought it was about.


Electric Toys

2. The Dig – She’s Going To Kill That Boy
It’s a great song, especially in concert. Saw them when they opened for Thrice this year. Bought the album “Electric Toys” afterwards. Great album cover, but be sure to flip it over to get a giggle.



3. Thrice – Image Of The Invisible
It was nice to hear this relatively old song (5 years ago) since the last time I saw Thrice it was notably absent.


4. Cypress Hill – Insane in the Brain
I saw Cypress Hill in 2010 at the Mandalay Beach Pool. With my feet in the pool…and well…a smoke in between my fingers. Surely you have heard Insane in the Membrane a gabillion times…so I offer this awesome remix by the 2 Bit Thugs instead.



5. Imagine Dragons – I Don’t Mind
Vegas band that blew my mind. This band is a must to look into, because we’re sure they will be a force to be beckoned by in the near future. Yes. Beckoned. You can TRY and ignore them…

Vacation and a Large Popcorn!

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It needed to happen. It seemed like everything was against it happening. Schedules and stress made even planning the vacation a chore. The word of the week is inertia. It’s what really keeps us from stopping to smell the roses. The inertia of work and everyday life makes it so difficult to change course. It must happen though. For the sanity of yourself and the health of your relationships.

Even a funeral threatened to take the train to relaxation off its tracks.

Three days in to some rest and a change in perspective, and I feel like I am returning to the person I remember I was. Hi Mookie! Meet my old friend George!

One of the main things that helped to spur a reason for some get away time was that TLO’s high school friend is premiering her film at the Newport Film Festival. We are going to watch the film for the first time tonight. The movie is called NONAMES. Here is the description of the film from the official website for the movie.

Inspired by true events, NONAMES follows Kevin and his family of friends as they struggle within the confines of a small town. After his mother’s death, Kevin decides to make a life for himself in his childhood home in spite of his father’s decision to move. In the wake of tragedy, Kevin must end his extended adolescence or lose the things he holds most dear. Haunted by unsettled scores, it becomes clear that he must leave the town he loves in order to save himself from it. A new beginning is only a bus ride away.



They have picked some great tracks for the soundtrack of the movie: Dago, New Kentucky Quarter, Ronnie Hayward, and White Iron Band to name a few.

One track from the film that I especially like is a track from American folk singer Joe Purdy called “Too Young”.


Download Joe Purdy – Too Young

I met the producer/director/writer for the movie, Kathy Lindboe yesterday so that TLO could catch up with her and have a few drinks. She asked me if I thought I would cry during the movie. I told her that I cried during Cool Runnings, and that it’s likely I will. I have to remember to bring a box of kleenex today.

Bunchin’ up…..

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Anyone remember Buffalo Bunch? Yes? No? Well, it’s more French stuff from the early part of this decade. And it’s house music, to boot. I’ve been back through some records of mine again, and I have to admit there’s some stuff I sort of cringe thinking I actually own it. These aren’t some of those tracks, however.

Well, here I have two tracks remixed by the Buffalo Bunch that I own. The remixes are of Modjo – they of “Lady” fame, of which the Harry “Choo Choo” Romero remix I used to play often – and of Phoenix. On top of that, I have a couple of other cuts posted here that go right along with what the post is about. So all in all, a fun post with lots of French house that oughta make you boogie in your chair. So enjoy!

[Download Modjo – Chillin’ (Buffalo Bunch remix)]

[Download Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better (Buffalo Bunch remix)]

[Download Phoenix – Too Young (live)]

[Download Modjo – What I Mean (The Crayon ‘Aloud’ remix)]

And I have a beatin’ stick here for anyone that doesn’t go buy this stuff. Now I need to go do stuff. And be productive. Yeah. That’s what I’ll do. Stuff.

More stuff I just really like……

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I had a bit of a buying spree on digital download site Stompy recently. They handle mostly electronic stuff, so there’s your warning for what’s listed here today.

The first of the two is another DFA track that just is a huge winner in my book. It’s Shit Robot’s “Lonely Planet” off of the Chasm – EP. I’m pretty surprised I haven’t seen this track floating around on the blogs, to be honest. This is just a gorgeous track. My only gripe is that it could’ve easily been twice as long, and still been just as good. That’s not really a complaint, however. So enjoy!

[Download Shit Robot – Lonely Planet]

Next is a track that I used to play all the time when I DJed. Anyone that’s seen the movie Snatch and is a huge fan of it will know the bass lick that you hear right off the bat. This is a house track, so it does get repetitive, but I can easily listen to this over and over, if only to figure out what the fuck Brad Pitt is saying in the quote used! Don’t bother trying the DVD. I did that. Under any subtitles? This one line is the only one that doesn’t come up as intelligible. Fuck! Well, here’s “Dirty Snatch” off of the Igloo label. Oh, and it’s supposedly common knowledge that house legend Derrick Carter made this, but I’ve never had that confirmed. Anyone that can? Get’s a big prize. A smile on my face.

[Download – Korin Ladke – Dirty Snatch]

Yes. Buy this stuff. Or you can buy some flowers for your mom. She deserves some nice flowers. Especially if she has a kid that doesn’t buy the fuckin’ music they listen to, because that makes her sad!