Ruminations of Unparalleled Ignorance

#4

2011-09-11T22:18:00.001-07:00

You know you're in Eastern Washington when all but three radio stations are Spanish-speaking or country music.

#3

2011-09-07T00:43:00.001-07:00

You know you're in eastern Washington when traffic is being held up by a guy commuting in a backhoe. Downtown.

Rough Draft of a Silly Poem

2011-09-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Rarely can I bring
myself to kill
a spider
when alone.

He skitters so gingerly
across the floor
and nervously up the wall,
he just wants
to bring a snack
or something nice
to decorate the walls
of his warm little corner,

to cut
his journey short
seems a bit too
unkind.

But sometimes,
in the presence
of skittish young
ladies, I'll reach out
with my shoe and
put it down
if only to spare him the screaming.

#2

2011-09-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

You know you're in eastern Washington when the person doing the weather says, "It's only going to be 93 tomorrow, but you should still be careful anyway."

Where I Live #1

2011-09-04T01:43:00.001-07:00

You know you're in eastern Washington when you hear a commercial that advertises "bling," then clarifies that to mean "belt buckles."

More poetry

2010-10-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

I like this one.

Awake at 2:00 A.M.

Pt. 1

A sliver
of light on the floor
is keeping me awake.

Examine more closely to find
it's two or three smaller
beams crisscrossed, much
like the lines
on my cheek
in the morning.

There's an invisible
silver knife
cascading primary colours—

a slice
of moon on my floor.

Pt. 2

The couple above me is making
noise and perhaps a baby.

Twenty feet from my head,
a symphony of cars crescendos
and quickly fades
like ocean waves.

Two sentences wander
aimlessly around the ceiling,
end face-to-face on the same
period, and have
nowhere to go.

Pt. 3

It happens late at night.
When the clouds hold desperately
to silver light, when your fingers
swell and tingle as you rub them together
and you shiver as your car slowly heats up,
when you yawn and tears creep
up around your eyes, when only
sad music sounds right,
it sinks in.

Another Music Post

2010-09-12T23:43:00.000-07:00

This one will be fun. It's about all the great songs you've never heard of, but are written by really good, semi-popular bands! They're usually pretty deep cuts, but definitely worth trying to get your hands on.

1. L. Wells by Franz Ferdinand. - Easily the most uplifting song I've ever heard from a non-Christian band. It's absolutely charming. Only available on the double A-side single, The Fallen, the entire thing is worth buying (which I did because I'm a hopeless FF fanboy) simply for this one song. It even has a sweet music video! And because she's in it (and pretty), I would marry that actress just for that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJM2iCH_XR8

2. Edit the Sad Parts by Modest Mouse - What a gem. In my opinion, it narrowly surpasses Tundra-Desert and Custom Concern for the best song Modest Mouse wrote before The Lonesome Crowded West's unsurpassed Trailer Trash. It's got all their best qualities: a brilliant loping bassline, complex drumming that's not showy, a gorgeous lead guitar line, atypical verse progression, and heartbreaking lyrics. The feedback at the end is a perfect way to finish. Available on the Interstate 8 EP or on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qD-ssGhX7s

3. Dry Drunk Emperor by TV on the Radio - Here's another long song that's worth digging into. I don't know much about where you can find it, but it's the first TVOTR song I ever heard, and I still think it's one of the best. The heavy, buzzing low end is incredibly satisfying to listen to at high volumes. Kind of depressing lyrics, but it's a good example of this remarkable band's overall aesthetic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKxSLfHN3uw

4. Cardinal Song by The National - The first cut from their (in my opinion) criminally underrated second album "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers," this might actually be my favourite song of theirs. It's got a gloomy, plodding, but simultaneously chilled-out feel, with a gorgeous violin interlude to separate the coda from the rest of the song. The lyrics are a sort of cautionary tale about opening up yourself to another. The line, "Jesus Christ you have confused me/Cornered, wasted, blessed and used me/Forgive me girls I am confused/Stiff and pissed and lost and loose" just sticks with you. It's so miserable, but so beautiful. I love it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOk5OFXHD5E

5. Island of the Honest Man by Hot Hot Heat - Okay, the last three songs were pretty long, so here's a snappy tune for y'all. I know "Make Up the Breakdown" is the only really good Hot Hot Heat record, but I think this is their best song. It's just plain fun, what with the way the chorus just feels like it's bursting out of a dark room into the sunlight and the silly quasi-pastoral lyrical accompaniment. (This live clip is a lousy half-time version, but it was all I could find. Sorry.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NRBIUyQlDY

6. Specialist by Interpol - Off their self-titled EP, this offers nothing sonically that any Interpol fan hasn't heard before, but it's just another great freaking song. It's got a great bassline, off of which the jangly, understated guitars are able to build and build and build throughout the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-B2ipW8eaQ (lyrics in the video are a little wrong)

7. Dinosaur Bones by Showbread - If I keep listening to this song in the car, I'm going to blow my ears out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFL1Vi8cQR4

8. Why? by Andrew Bird - This one stems back to his days with his Bowl of Fire, but he still plays it live, which makes me SO FREAKING HAPPY. It serves as a fantastic showcase for his jaw-dropping, violin-shredding, loop-pedaling, spastic-gesturing performance that makes an Andrew Bird show such a great experience in the first place. I also like the bluesy feel to the music and lyrics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZBoZ0sUT3k

9. Tracy by Mogwai - Oh, it's so beautiful. I can't believe how often people talk about how they love songs on the same album, but ignore this gem in favor of Mogwai Fear Satan, Like Herod, or Summer. I suppose it's because Mogwai fans attach to different particular songs, and this one just happens to be the one I like. Anyhow, it's gorgeous - a perfect song to fall asleep to, whether it's the voices having a telephone conversation, the immaculate bassline, or the dreamy glockenspiel motif. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cCw1eHEL2A

10. Pressed in a Book by The Shins - I don't know; I just like this song a lot. It's catchy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3LonXfRDMs

11. Lake Somerset by Deerhunter - Now, I'm not entirely sure how many people know about Deerhunter, but I've heard some folks are big on their newer stuff. In any case, they SHOULD be popular. This song is off the earlier Cryptograms, though, and boy is it creepy! The bass, the skewed vocals, the increasing chaos of the guitars, the insistent percussion, it all just builds into a manic whole that is the stuff of nightmares. On top of that, it's coupled with a surreal video that just adds to the delicious sense of unrest I get when I listen to it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EuzC_eOdAE

I'm sure there's more, and I might get around to it later, but right now I'm tired. Enjoy.

My Life!

2010-09-08T19:04:00.001-07:00

1. Intro to Biochemistry
2. Environmental Microbiology
3. Genetics
4. Senior Portfolio
5. C.S. Lewis
6. RA Job
7. Newspaper Editor Job
8. Wastewater Management Job

...

Oops.

The Dumbest Poem in the Universe!!!!

2010-02-22T22:20:00.000-08:00

It's called Writer's Block. Subject to change. This might be the most indulgent thing I've ever written, but here goes.

The thought to think
occurred to me when my
thoughts to think were exhausted.
When I think to think I think
of things I think
I'd not have thought of-
like this poem.

I'm Torn

2010-01-04T23:24:00.001-08:00

I should probably be reading about AIDS for my class. But I've got this Sherlock Holmes anthology sitting to my left that's awful tempting...

Maybe I'll just write something instead.

I Can't Tell Whether or Not Caffeine Affects Me

2010-01-04T23:22:00.000-08:00

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

Something I Wonder About, But Would Rather Not Test...

2010-01-04T23:21:00.000-08:00

Do antilock brakes work in reverse?

I like this one.

2009-12-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Reminds me of home. I actually wrote it 'cause I was a little homesick. And because I had to write for class. It's called "Cloudy" and it's really super and I hope you like it!

Cloudy

"Jake, where the hell are we? This isn't the way we came."

"Quit griping. We're almost there. I still can't believe you haven't even tried to enjoy this."

Alex wasn't convinced. All he wanted was to get back to the truck. He couldn't understand how anyone could love a place like this. They had been hiking all afternoon, just the two of them, with only sagebrush and rocks for company. Everything looked grey. There wasn't even anything alive to be seen, save a couple birds that they occasionally startled. No rabbits, no coyotes, not even any of the cows whose dry, whitened droppings Alex had trouble avoiding. The closest thing they found to a mammal was a skeleton or two, bleached by the oppressive summer sun. Only now, it was early October and starting to get cold. As far as Alex could tell, this was a dead expanse, a wasteland, not worth the trouble of driving to.

Jake had told him he'd love it, that it suited his morbid personality. Alex was hesitant, but he had eventually agreed to go on the hike because it was a sunny day, like a relapse of summer. He had to admit it was nice at first; the exercise and the sun on his face were refreshing. During the hike, though, some clouds moved in and the sun became patchy, along with the warmth it provided. It was then that Alex realized that there was absolutely nothing to see. He became chilled, and the sun was well on its way to setting by the time the two headed back to the truck after sitting on a cold volcanic rock, having a dinner of sunflower seeds. Jake had insisted that they take a different route back, that there was more to see, that he had been there before.

But Alex didn't see more. He only saw the same scraggly hills, the same streaks of St. Helens ash, the same dried-up bones, the same boot tracks in the brittle ground. It kept getting colder, too.

"There's the truck," said Jake, stepping over a pile of rusted metal. "I hope you're happy." Alex just grunted while Jake fumbled for the keys. The old grey and red truck was parked in a gravel circle. All around, the ground was littered with aluminum cans, shotgun shells, broken appliances, old tires, big concrete blocks, and a stop sign full of bullet holes. Jake climbed into the truck and Alex had a cigarette while they waited for it to warm up.

Jake had owned that truck for as long as Alex could remember. It was an old 1979 Datsun pickup, and ugly as death. It always took forever to heat up. Alex pulled up the seat cover made of rough woven cloth and sat down. There were holes burned in the cover and every time somebody sat on it, they ripped a little wider.

"When you gonna get a new one of these?" asked Alex, extinguishing the butt of his cigarette on the cloth, opening a new hole.

"Ah, whenever I have the spending money."

The truck had a manual transmission, which Jake always liked, even though reverse never worked too well. He said that he always wished they kept making stickshift trucks. Alex asked if they could turn on the heat. Jake flicked it on while Alex turned the radio knob, trying to find a good AM station.

They drove out the way they came in, on the dirt and gravel road by the irrigation canal, riddled by washboard stretches, past broken wooden fences that still managed to keep the cattle in, dodging the deep puddles that were fed by the sprinklers in the yard full of pigs and goats, turning left at the trailer house with a front yard full of relics from long-past demo derbys, straight past the slaughterhouse, and left again toward Stratford Road.

Just before they got to the main road, and just as they were starting to warm up, a little Geo hatchback flew out of the dirt driveway to their left. Alex only had time to shout, "Holy sh-" before he was drowned out by crumpling metal as the car hit thier truck, just behind the rear tire. The back end lost grip and Jake slammed on the brakes as they swerved toward the ditch on their right. They came to a crooked stop and both young men jumped out to see the damage. As it turned out, the truck did more to the little car than vice-versa. In the steaming, partly crumpled car was a scrawny teenaged kid with long hair and patchy clothes. Jake and Alex helped him out and tried to calm him down; he was shaking and kept repeating, "I'm sorry, I didn't see you. Nobody ever drives on this road. I didn't see you." Alex offered him a smoke.

The three of them sat on the now-crooked tailgate for a while, smoking Alex's cigarettes, eating seeds, and trying to figure out what to do. A few curious cows came by to see what had happened. The sun was going down, shooting its last red rays over the Stuart Range.

"That's pretty," muttered Jake.

A few seconds later, Alex replied, "Yeah, it actually is..."

The skinny kid had finally settled down, so he walked back to his house and brought his dad. There hadn't been much damage done to Jake's truck, so he agreed not to bother about the matter anymore in exchange for ten bucks and three pounds of hamburger. Nobody had gotten hurt and the kid and his dad had more cars anyway. Jake shook the father's hand and then drove off with Alex, but not before they spent a few more minutes, watching the sunset.

Favourite Bands

2009-11-21T22:28:00.001-08:00

Half of the reason for this post is to put a "u" in the word "favorite" for once. My English teachers tend not to like it, even though it's a legitimate spelling. But I thought I'd make a list of my favourite dozen bands. It's a tough one, but I think I can do it!

I'm gonna start with the honorable mention. Those bands that I love, but don't make it into the elite company of those about to be mentioned are: Newsboys, House of Heroes, Interpol, mewithoutYou, My Morning Jacket, Mogwai, Norma Jean, Haste the Day, Bloc Party, Iron & Wine, and Spoon. Yeah, that's a lot and there's definitely more that I was tempted to say, but if you want to see all of those, you can look at my Facebook page or something. ^_^

Anyway, here's the countdown...

12. Harvey Danger: I have to thank Robert Mason for introducing me to these guys. They're terrific! It's pop, but it's full of bile and attitude. I like it a lot.

11: The Blood Brothers: Sorry mom, but I love these fellas. They're vile, rebellious, nasty, profane, and angry, but I simply can't resist the bizarre imagery, bipolar vocals, manic guitar work, brilliant drumming, and underlying catchiness. Definitely a guilty pleasure.

10. Andrew Bird: He's kind of tied with the next guys. It's completely different, though, and I haven't know about him as long, so I put him one down. Anyhow, Andrew Bird is an incredible musician, witty lyricist, and amazing live performer. He gets big points for simply being awesome.

9. Showbread: I'm tempted to rank these guys higher: Their lyrics are gorgeous, their music intense, creative, and ever-changing. Easily the cream of the crop when it comes to any kind of hardcore music. Raw rock kills!

8. Sanctus Real: An old favourite, these guys constantly hit home with great lyrics, great melodies, and great sound. It's Christian music that can be blasted without shame, which, unless you drift into the world of hardcore and metal, is quite rare.

7. Animal Collective: Another band that I'd consider moving up the list; incredibly creative, they never cease to astound me by their expert manipulation of abstract sounds to make something more accessible and catchy. They're super! Only drugs could have produced stuff like this, though; just listen to their early stuff and it's easy to understand.

6. Brand New: These guys are terrific. They consistently change between albums, and the results are always terrific. They come from an interesting, quasi-Christian viewpoint, which allows them to explore some amazingly deep issues. The music is so good, too!

5. Explosions in the Sky: These guys are the classical composers for the rock era. The intertwining guitar work is constantly gorgeous and emotional, leaving words and singing completely unnecessary. As far as post-rock goes (depending on your definition of such), it doesn't get much better than this.

4. Radiohead: I really don't think I can say anything about these guys that hasn't already been said. They cover such a wide range of styles, constantly making music that no one else could pull off. Thom Yorke's voice is incomparable. Their music never gets old.

3. Modest Mouse: Even though Radiohead is incredibly creative, I put MM ahead of them because they are completely, utterly, and indescribably unique. Radiohead draws from Talking Heads and a bit of arena rock (though not so much on their later work), but Modest Mouse is incomparable. It's such a wonderful, distinctive style of music, tied together by talented musicians and Isaac Brock's ridiculously versatile voice. Their lyrics, although often explicit, are very relatable and powerful. They make for great listening on the road or at work. Also, for the record, old Modest Mouse is WAY better than new Modest Mouse.

2. Sigur Rós: The most beautiful music I've ever heard. It makes me cry from time to time. I want to learn a Scandinavian language just because of these guys. I really don't know what to say; their music is powerful, moving, emotional, life-changing, etc. If you don't like Sigur Rós, you don't have a soul.

1. Franz Ferdinand: Still my favourite band, these guys have simply brought it over their first three albums. I hope they keep pumping out more. I have to admit, I'm kind of a blind follower; I've bought EPs and singles from them. Of course, that's where some of their best music is to be found, so I don't feel bad. I simply love the angularity of the guitars, the intricate, yet catchy basslines, stomping drums, and ridiculously catchy choruses these guys produce. They've changed sounds a little bit between each album, but that keeps it fresh and exciting. Considering the quality that they consistently churn out, I can't complain. Also, I like the way they dress.

You know...

2009-11-21T22:24:00.000-08:00

Someday, we're going to look back on Obama's election campaign and see it as one of the greatest acting feats in the history of the world.

Ugh. I don't want more taxes! Let me keep my expensive healthcare!

sigh

2009-11-10T01:08:00.000-08:00

Bugger.

I'm way too busy.

2009-10-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's a sample of my life.

Social: Got up to have breakfast with a bunch of friends who are visiting from their respective post-graduate lives, and I'm just about to go to hang out again to watch baseball.

Personal: Did some shopping, did some laundry, got some coffee, and got some other stuff organized.

Work-wise: Went downtown to do some research/lisaison for a big semester-long project I have to do for writing II, started working on a paper revision, brainstormed for another project, and at some point, I'm going to vacuum my room.

All but two of these little points have I finished since I woke up today. Did I mention that it's Saturday, and I've only been awake for six hours? And, I have a lot more to do. Yeah, pretty leisurely...

I Think I'm Crazy

2009-10-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

Here's another poem. It's a fairly rough, early draft, as I wrote it last night in about 45 minutes, but whatever.

*ahem*

...

I Think I'm Crazy

Whoever's curious, come with me;
we'll eavesdrop on my dreams.
They're already getting fuzzy
and I'll need the help remembering.

We can share an orange apple
and clear Coca-Cola with our Mexican friends
on the beach where the mullet-sporting penguins
sit and stare.
We'll give our regards
to the soft-spoken canine who led us
out of the burning house
to the empty park downtown.

Riding back, my feet
leave the pedals
and insects deign to chat as I'm
flying, flying, flying,
falling, falling, falling...

And look! I've finished
a song, as I of course can sing
and play guitar
and drums
and violin
and horns
and organ.
I'll forget it, but at least
I know it's in there somewhere.

Let's write some poems...

2009-10-01T21:25:00.001-07:00

Hum-dee-dum...

Here's the first two poems I've written for my creative writing class. These are probably happier than they should be. I could use some help with titles, though. :P

#1.

Back from a run, I stretch
on the lawn.
I don't want to cramp up.
Reaching for my toes, I greet
my sinews, "It's so easy
to see your make-up
when you're all stretched out,
muscle far from bone. I know
you are healthy; you
refuse to break" -

like us. The grass
tickles my legs and
I smile, remembering
our feet tread the same earth.

#2.

A sliver
of light on the floor
is keeping me awake.

Examine more closely to find it's
two or three
smaller beams crisscrossed, much
like the lines
on my cheek
in the morning.

There's an invisible
silver knife,
cascading primary colours-

a slice
of moon on my floor.

Good Monday? What is this?

2009-08-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd say this, but the radio saved my sanity today.

It's important to know that I am currently participating in wheat harvest, driving one of these:

...and I'm working 13-15 hour days. Anyhow, I listened to the Bob and Tom Show in the morning (as usual), and that was pretty good. Kind of inappropriate today, but whatever; I don't choose what they talk about.

Anyway, I flicked on music after Bob and Tom were finished and the three first songs I heard were Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen, Don't Stand So Close to Me by The Police, and then My Generation by The Who. It was amazing!

THEN, later in the day, I switched from ESPN radio to THE SAME STATION and they were playing Loser by Beck!

Needless to say, my faith in radio was partly restored and it gave me something to hear on a day I couldn't find the thing to connect my ipod to the tractor.

2009-08-03T21:09:00.001-07:00

I was listening to the radio today and I was kind of taken aback by someone saying that recycling was useless and functioned only to make us feel good about ourselves. I'm not sure if it was regular talk radio, sports radio, or just a spot on some random station (don't ask me; I don't remember, and I'm going to blame my work hours for it), but in any case, their reasoning was that it still uses a ton of fossil fuels and therefore isn't worthwhile.

Well, I disagree. I'm not going to argue that recycling uses a lot of power (I learned that from playing Sim City), but that really isn't the point. I thought the point was to reuse the resources that go into the actual products, thereby lowering the need for harvesting new raw materials, which in turn will reduce the need of using those same precious fuels for that particular job. Plus, it reduces waste. I'm not sure why this bugs me, and maybe the fact that I've not cut my hair all summer has put some sort of hippie aura about me, but I think it's important to know that recycling is an important thing.

Or maybe I'm just ignorant.

I Have Writer's Block

2009-05-12T02:45:00.000-07:00

...and my mind is overflowing. There's a lot that I want to say and I have not the time, nor the creativity right now to do so. It sucks and I don't like it; I'm an English writing major, for crying out loud! Oh well. I guess I just have to get this week over with and get back to the grind of blue-collar, physical labor until the summer's end. Maybe during that time my mind will free up.

Poop.

Awesome purchase

2009-04-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

The complete works of Edgar Allan Poe for eight bucks? Yes please!

New Favourite Thing Ever

2009-04-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

If you've not seen this show before, you should. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Excellent Day

2009-04-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

First, I slept in and had breakfast with Timothy. Always good.

Second, we went to the baseball game where I saw the guys play some of their best ball of the season. Even though they lost, it was fun to watch.

Third, we watched the MSU - UConn game in JJ's room. However, I didn't get to see the whole thing because...

Fourth, I briefly saw my parents and sister, then went to a gun show with Michael, Taylor, Sam, Jared, and Erin. It was awesome! There were so many cool guns and knives and stuff! It's also kind of funny to see the complete antithesis of liberal America in there. There was this Finnish girl with us and I think she was a little bit horrified. I feel like my neck is a little redder because of it. Not to say that there's not a part of me that loves it...

Fifth, we went out and played frisbee golf which I don't think I've done since last fall. I still suck, but it was a lot of fun. Good times.

Now, I'm sitting at my computer, contemplating watching a movie and then church in the morning. It's been a good day. :D

It just hit me

2009-03-20T02:16:00.001-07:00

Spring break starts tomorrow at one forty-five p.m. I wasn't really excited before, but now that I'm not sick, I think it's going to be AWESOME!!!!

I cannot stop listening to these albums...

2009-02-19T02:36:00.000-08:00

The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place. Sheer beauty produced by one of the best, most underrated bands in the world. This is perfect for both background study music or intent listening. It never gets old and has more than twice as many plays as any other CD in my music library. I can always listen to this, no matter what.
Armchair Apocrypha. Any time I listen to Andrew Bird, I'm automatically transported into a cerebral world of irony and beauty. The music on this particular album matches his wonderful lyrics perfectly; it's just solid. It's a unique listening experience, too, and I can't seem to find a mood where I don't want to listen to it. Another album I can always fall back on, this CD will be stuck in my stereo for a long time.
At Dawn. Oh, my gosh, its close to country! It doesn't matter, though, because My Morning Jacket here makes some of the most solid, catchy, enjoyable songs I've ever heard. I can't explain why it's so good, but it has a sort of lovelorn, sadly content feel that makes it irresistible. It's a well-balanced album, too, running the gamut from acoustic guitar or banjo-only songs to full-blown classic rockers. I love it.
Little by Little. Harvey Danger snuck up on me with this one. When I first heard it, I really liked it at face value, but recently, its true brilliance has hit me. Musically, it is full of indie-pop gems, and Sean Nelson's voice is to die for. War Buddies is one of the smartest protest songs I own, and Little Round Mirrors may be one of the three most perfect pop songs I've ever heard. This is essential, and it's a shame it isn't better known. For now, I'll continue my addiction to this wonderful little band.
The Moon and Antarctica. I don't know what it is about Modest Mouse, but I just "get" them. I normally have a bit of an aversion to swearing in music, but Isaac Brock's lyrics are so down to earth and relatable that I find myself not minding the profanity. I'm still not sure whether that's a good thing or not, but nonetheless, I absolutely love this CD. The music is organic, yet cerebral, beautiful and edgy. It's probably their most meandering album (which is really saying something for a band that always has at least 15 songs on a full-length CD), but it's supremely addicting. Like I said, it strikes a chord with me, and it doesn't get old.

Also of note:
Centuries Before Love and War by Stars of Track and Field
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco
The Lonesome Crowded West by Modest Mouse
Cotton Teeth by The Snake The Cross The Crown
The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me by Brand New
Redeemer by Norma Jean

I should write something here...

2009-02-12T18:30:00.000-08:00

Maybe later.

English Project (Tim's Gonna Hate It)

2009-01-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

I don't know how I cranked this out in two days, but I'm pretty happy with it.

Weird mood

2009-01-22T23:41:00.000-08:00

Ever have that feeling of a sort of contented melancholy?
Like you're kind of down now, but you know it'll get better?
And then you smile at yourself for being so foolish?
The sadness makes you look around?
And time slows?
And somehow the world's beauty comes into sharper focus?
When two seconds ago you felt lonely, but now it's 'my me time'?
Small things become important?
Perspective returns?
And then you smile at yourself for being so foolish.

This is already a crappy week...

2009-01-15T03:18:00.001-08:00

This will be the third night out of four this week that I don't get to bed before three in the morning. I need to figure it out. At least I have skiing to look forward to this weekend. :/

Words cannot express how excited I am for this.

2009-01-14T11:33:00.000-08:00

Franz Ferdinand's new album drops on the 26th of this month! Here's a link to the first song off of it. http://www.twelvemajorchords.com/?p=1348 Stoked!!!

This is going to be a fun one...

2008-12-13T16:44:00.000-08:00

I like lists and I haven't made one in a while, so I'm going to make one now about the best concerts that I've seen. So here we go.

#'s 11 & 12. Thrice and Brand New. I put them on here together because they're here for the same reason and it was the same concert These guys are on here simply because they sound so stinking GOOD live. Seriously. Thrice sounded even better than they do on their CDs. Plus, I hadn't really heard much of either band's stuff before I saw them perform and that was what got me into their music.

#10. Newsboys. I don't care how dorky I sound; I like these guys' music and they put on an awesome show. I can honestly say that they have the best lights I have ever seen, not to mention their drum platform and wonderful devotion to their faith. Plus, they simply know how to perform and they sound fantastic live.

#9. Project 86. Hot, bumpy, choking, noisy, angry, and intense, seeing P86 at Creation was so much fun. These guys' fans are insane. Theirs is a show that is more fun to participate in than to watch. That's not to say they're slouchy performers; they're just not the best (though Andrew Schwab gets right out into the crowd, egging on the violence and screaming). They sound good, too.

#8. MuteMath. These guys are so underrated, and as good as their recorded work is, it sounds even better live. When I saw them at Creation, there were only like two dozen people there at first, but these folks were RABID. Their performance didn't hurt, either; once I saw their drummer take out a roll of duct tape and wind it around his head to keep his headphones on, I knew we were in for something good. Even Tim liked them.

#7. mewithoutYou. Fantastic performers, these guys are so much fun to watch. Although when I saw them, they had a criminally short set, it was still a quality concert. They sound great; scratch one off the list of bands I need to see before I die.

#6. Andrew Bird. All I have to say is that I want to be Andrew Bird. It was fascinating to watch his incredible display of violin virtuosity, as well as how he looped everything in order to construct his songs one element at a time. He also took the time to stop and make jokes to the audience, which was quite nice. I don't think there is anybody out there quite like this guy. Overall, he is nothing short of jaw-dropping live.

#5. Family Force 5. These guys give a pretty unique concert experience. They interact with the audience a lot and they possess this goofy sort of energy that encourages lots of dancing, jumping, and singing from the crowd.

#4. Phil Keaggy. His was the single most impressive concert I have ever seen. No exaggeration, I don't think that there is another human being alive who is as good at guitar as this old man. When he was done, he literally got a ten-minute standing ovation. I think seeing him was one of the defining moments in my life. Well, maybe not, but it was still awesome.

#3. Showbread. Narrowly eclipsing Keaggy's prowess is Showbread's energy. I was giddy when they first came onstage and was not disappointed. I'll never forget seeing that keytar flying wildly through the air. There is so much movement that Showbread onstage kind of reminds me of an antill. I don't know how they don't hit each other with their instruments. Always entertaining, Showbead comes in at number three.

#2. John Reuben. Didn't see that one coming, did you? I have never seen another artist who gets the audience involved as much as this singular rapper does, and for that reason, his concerts have been the most fun for me to attend. He's witty, funny, and wild, his music is surprisingly good, and he sounds great live. Nothing like a good John Reuben concert to put you in a good mood...

#1. The Chariot. The top three were hard to put in order, but I put The Chariot at number one because they're like nothing I've ever seen. I mean, when their equipment first came into view, I did a double-take because it was so trashed! There was a huge gash in one of their big amps, the microphone was horribly dented, and the guy's bass looked like it was about to come apart. Then they started playing, throwing themselves (and their instruments) all over the stage in a manic fashion that I can't even describe. It was so fun to watch and they sounded surprisingly good, despite all the chaos. This sort of thing could only come from the South. It's great.

Hooray for all-nighters!

2008-12-03T05:29:00.000-08:00

I'm such a good student.

2:15 P.M. Tomorrow

2008-11-24T23:56:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving break begins. I am so stoked.

Whoa!

2008-11-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

I just hiccuped and sneezed at the same time. I didn't even know that was possible!

Hmm....

2008-11-13T21:01:00.001-08:00

I wonder if there are swimming pools that play music underwater so you can hear it while you're doing laps.

I really like punk rock...

2008-11-13T20:54:00.001-08:00

And that's just what I need: another temptation to spend money I don't have.

In other news...

Thanksgiving dinner in Saga was way early, but just what I needed. Two evenings of good food (thanks, Dad) in a row is a rare thing around here. I seriously think that was the most all-around enjoyable on-campus meal I've had this year. I was quite content.

I wish I had more latter halves of weeks like this one. I hardly have any homework and I'm free to enjoy myself. Life is good.

Tropic Thunder is at the Garland, which is pretty much the greatest movie theater ever. Movies are just three bucks and only one on Wednesdays. Tempting...

Just finished my francais homework for now. Great success!

Go Lions!!!! Heading home tomorrow for Tim's soccer game this weekend. Soooooo stoked!

Love, love,
- Andrew

Ho-Hum

2008-11-05T12:28:00.001-08:00

I'm sitting in Chem and I don't have my notebook, so I can't copy down any of the stuff that he's drawing. Bummer.

Ben Is A Tool

2008-11-01T23:55:00.001-07:00

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking...

2008-10-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

When I finally get the right prescription for my glasses and contacts, I'm going to feel like a god. I'll be able to see for miles! It's going to be great.

It's great when it's already Wednesday and you don't even realize it.

I want to grow a beard, but I'm scared.

Cooking dinner...

2008-10-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

Let's hope pork chops will cook fully if they're put into the skillet partly frozen. Mom told me that overnight in the fridge was enough to thaw them! I hope I don't kill my friends.

College Life

2008-10-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

What's this? I have two exams tomorrow and I actually feel ready for them? Wowie! I am king of the world right now! Also, my professors are all pretty cool.

Funny story. I went to sleep Sunday night (or should I say, Monday morning?) at 4:30, and managed to get through the day alright. Of course, I went to bed at around 7:00 last night. It was cool, though; I woke up real early (before 7) and felt like a million bucks all day! Maybe this sleep thing really is worthwhile...

What I've been listening to: Mew, Bloc Party, and The Shins

Maybe I should get back to work. I do have a midterm this Friday, after all...

In other news, it was really cold and windy today. It finally really felt like fall. I'm kind of excited because I like cold-weather clothes and how warm I feel when I'm all bundled up. Of course, I'm probably going to go broke buying coffee.

Fun, fun.

I'm pretty proud of myself

2008-09-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

I have five papers to do. However, none of them are due tomorrow, so it was really tempting to go play basketball instead of write them. I denied myself, though, and here I sit. Of course, I'm writing here instead. NOW I'm going to write. Au revoir.

So I was going to do my homework...

2008-09-24T03:14:00.000-07:00

But I left my backpack in the HUB, and it was locked by the time I noticed. Idiot. At least I live on the safest campus ever and I have complete confidence that it will be in the exact same place tomorrow. I love Whitworth. Who wants to take a backpack with nothing but a notebook and chem book in it anyway?

*gasp!* It has my fingerprints in it!

In other news, I just bought a Beck CD for very cheap and it's excellent!

I'm hungry.

Animal Collective Makes Really Happy Music

2008-09-19T00:49:00.001-07:00

It makes me feel a bit better.

Friday Comes, and Not a Moment Too Soon!

2008-09-19T00:49:00.000-07:00

Wowie. I'm worn out. I should be asleep, but I'm not. Want to know why? Because my mind has been going at about 100 miles an hour since about five o'clock today. That's also why I haven't done all the homework I want to do. Oh, and I just saw that I have a huge load of French homework to do. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Well, at least everything should get better at about two o'clock tomorrow. Until Saturday, that is, when I give my live utterly away by dropping off my nicely filled job applications. Poop.

I've Been Sick

2008-09-13T18:53:00.001-07:00

...but I kicked it in the butt! I slept for 13 hours last night and I did the absolute bare minimum of homework on Thursday and Friday, opting instead to take three-hour naps both days. It paid off, too; I felt pretty good today. Hopefully I'll be fully recovered by tomorrow or Monday.

Now, off to study!

Soundtrack of my Summer

2008-09-09T01:42:00.000-07:00

Here it is. I'm kind of sad summer's over...

- Custom Concern by Modest Mouse
- Banshee Beat by Animal Collective
- The Skin of my Yellow Country Teeth by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows by Brand New
- Flannigan's Ball by Dropkick Murphys
- King of the Rodeo by Kings of Leon
- Million Pieces by Newsboys
- Tracy by Mogwai
- Boo by Pinback
- Hospital Beds by Cold War Kids
- Cowboy Dan by Modest Mouse
- Balaclava by Arctic Monkeys
- Uppers Aren't Necessary by Rocky Votolato
- Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly) by Sanctus Real
- My Eyes by Travis
- R U Still In 2 It by Mogwai
- Creating Something Out of Nothing, Only to Destroy It by Norma Jean
- Death Valley Queen by Flogging Molly
- Price of Gas by Bloc Party
- Armchairs by Andrew Bird
- Turn it On by The Flaming Lips
- Maps by The Snake The Cross The Crown
- Matthias Replaces Judas by Showbread
- Glósóli by Sigur Rós
- Austrailia by The Shins
- Secondhand Dreaming by Ruth
- Divine Romance by Phil Wickham
- A Glass Can Only Spill What it Contains by mewithoutYou
- We Need Each Other by Sanctus Real
- A Different City by Modest Mouse
- One Night by Travis
- Stare at the Sun by MuteMath
- Everyone's Someone by Newsboys

Yeah...good music...

School Is...

2008-09-06T22:42:00.001-07:00

So I had my first (half) week of class and here's how it's shaping up:

British Literature before 1800 is going to be glorious, but difficult. I was told it's probably the hardest 200 level class that Whitworth offers. I like it, already, though. It's nice to be around folks who are actually enthusiastic about the same things I am.

Reading Literature is going to be a very different sort of fun. It's so much more laid-back and the prof is hilarious. It's not meant for English majors, so it has a different, more enjoyment-oriented feel. Plus, it's going to be a cakewalk. ^_^

French might be hard, but I already love my teacher. She's one of the most enthusiastic people I've ever met, and she's funny to boot. I think it'll be a decent class.

I can't believe I'm excited for chemistry. It's the only science class I'm taking, and for some reason, I'm stoked. I think since I'm actually interested, I'll do well.

Finally, there's Interpersonal Communication. It's going to be boring as watching grass grow, but I've been told it's super easy, so I'll take comfort in that. I know some folks in that class, too, so it should be alright.

All said, I'm pretty excited. I can already tell that most of my professors are really cool and that should make things very bearable. I just don't expect to have much of a social life this fall.

I draw on my arms too much

2008-09-03T16:28:00.001-07:00

There's just four things that gross me out: ticks, leeches, flies, and barf.

Oh, and Moby Dick is a brilliant book. Go read it now.

Hey Looky!

2008-09-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

I managed to go all summer without posting anything here! Cool!

Another Music List

2008-05-15T03:25:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm real excited for this one. This will be a list of my favourite albums and I'll throw in a few sentences to summarize and kind of review each. Perhaps the most difficult thing I've put together this year, I hope it's good. Enjoy.

11. Business Up Front/Party In The Back by Family Force 5
- What better way to start than with a party? Perhaps the most lighthearted, shameless, plain old fun album I own, this has something for everybody, whether it be heavy guitar licks, catchy, rappy lyrics, or an overriding sense of childlike fun. This band is a gem.

10. Robbers & Cowards by Cold War Kids
- Just plain brilliant. This band's singer possesses one of the most unique, inimitable voices in rock music. The fusion of old-school jazzy influences with modern indie sensibilities makes for one heck of an enjoyable experience.

9. Funeral by The Arcade Fire
- Sad, yet full of life, this album is a smörgåsbord of styles, ranging from classical to ballroom to indie pop. It's an acquired taste, but for those who fell in love from the start (such as myself), there is always something new to be found here.

8. Brother, Sister by mewithoutYou
- Lyrical perfection defines this album. Love him or hate him, Aaron Weiss manages to touch a chord with listeners and his bandmates provide an excellent backdrop for his half-sung, half-shouted, half-spoken (Yes, it is possible. Shut up.) words. This is essential.

7. OK Computer by Radiohead
- I'm limiting myself to just one Radiohead album, so I'll go with this one. Although all their records are different and brilliant in their own individual right, if you put a gun to my head and made me decide, I'd say this one is best. Nobody does rock like Radiohead. I can only dream of making music like this...

6. No Sir, Nihilism is Not Practical by Showbread
- The lone screamo project to make it onto this list, Showbread does so by sheer creativity and diversity. I've never heard anything like this album. Brilliant lyrics, brilliant music, brilliant performance. If nothing, one must at least appreciate this band's fearlessness and creativity.

5. Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand
- For a long time, these guys were my favourite band and they easily are in my top five now. The mixture of pop accessibility with angular, old-school guitars and Alex Kapranos' beautiful voice makes for an almost perfect record. Sheer perfection. It's only this low on the list because of the strange, disturbing song "Michael."

4. Z by My Morning Jacket
- Called "The American Radiohead" by some, My Morning Jacket puts forth an excellent effort here. Very original, very catchy (in their own strange way), and very high-quality, I do not get tired of this. The words are excellent.

3. Ágætis Byrjun by Sigur Rós
- Just plain gorgeous, this album never ever ever gets old. It gives me goosebumps every time I listen to it. Not to hear this band's lush, string-heavy, atmospheric sound is criminal. I can't even describe it properly. It just needs to be heard.

2. The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place by Explosions in the Sky
- Another incredibly beautiful work, this is less melancholy than Sigur Ros and a bit more hopeful-sounding. Completely instrumental, this music can be fit to a variety of moods and maybe that's why it is the most-played album on my computer. This is the classical music of our day, and it's a shame more people don't know about them.

1. Cotton Teeth by The Snake The Cross The Crown
- This was tough to put ahead of The Earth Is Not... but since this list is off of how I feel right now, I'll put it up here, because right now, this is definitely my favourite album. I absolutely love the world-weary feel (probably because I am right now mired in finals) and often easygoing instrumentation of this album. Lots of brilliant acoustic work with a singer's voice and delivery perfectly matched to the melancholy lyrics. It sounds quite blue-collar, easy to relate to. The perfect fusion of country and rock (thankfully with rock overwhelmingly prevalent), this record is a shining light for me. It somehow manages to be catchy and unforgettable, while also deep and meaningful. Buy it and listen to it until you die.

There isn't enough I can do by myself

2008-05-13T02:08:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about life and stuff and how some people kind of strike out or get just plain unlucky. So I wrote a poem that kind of expresses how I feel. This one's for the down-and-outs: may you never be ignored.

Squinting sadly toward the sunset

Sucking on his cigarette

He’s lonely and unloved much like his college years

The families all have moved away

Left dusty trails and unshoed bays

They never thought again of him or shed a tear

As he reaches into his coat

He pulls out a jagged old note

Wond’ring how the world so quickly got away from him

And oh, how we all knew

This would eventually happen to one of us

And we all breathed a sigh of relief

That it was Jim and not us that turned out this way

He knows just what this trail holds

Gradually just growing old

And every single time he thinks of it he cries

The bright glad sun it cheers him not

He savors every gloomy thought

Although he wishes they would all just go away

We never knew what came of him

We all just figured poor old Jim

Had done disappeared into the bitter past

And oh, how we all knew

That he would eventually lose himself

And we all breathed a sigh of relief

That we had gone through school and turned out okay

Well, you will imagine my surprise

When Jim appeared before my eyes

One cold fall afternoon around dinnertime

His beard is grey with blistered lips

Cold as wintry fingertips

He looks like something straight out of a book

Life rolls like an avalanche

Jim’s was fast approaching death

It’s a shame he never knew what it could have been

And oh, how we all knew

That life’s bounty isn’t given equally

And we all breathed a sigh of relief

When we all got a liberal portion

P.S. Brian, I want to set this to music, so you better get practicing that acoustic of yours. ;)

The Evolution of Andrew's Nickname

2008-05-08T16:14:00.001-07:00

This is too good a story not to be written somewhere. It's kind of embarrassing for me, but whatever. I think it's funny, too.

Being a Gjefle, I've been dubbed with a number strange nicknames over the years, usually related to my unusually-spelled surname. I expected no less going into college, but what has happened this year quite exceeds anything that has yet happened. People here often pronounce my last name "jeffles," which is quite common for me. It's quite prevalent, too; it's probably what people call me more than any other name. So it was no surprise when my friend Chelsea called me that early in the year. No big deal, right? Well, my other friend, Kip, misheard her and thought it sounded like she said "chuckles." So he thought that sounded funny and for most of this school year, Chuckles has caught on and I am now called so by a good number of folks (keep in mind that none of this bothers me; I just think it's funny). Well lately, due to laziness or simply a strange sense of humor, my RA has simply shortened it to Chuck. Now this I find quite funny. My nickname has gone from a strange last name to a bastardization of that same surname to an utterly unrelated word to an actual name. Funny how things like that work.

...though I think I still would have preferred Jonny Awesome. XD

School's a Pain

2008-05-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

So I'm stupid and stuff and found out that I have a term paper due tomorrow. Oh, and I'm only like half done with it. Hooray for me.

So I'm sick...

2008-04-16T22:04:00.000-07:00

But Family Force 5 is in two days! I'm so excited! If I can get through this week and next Monday, I will be a happy man.

Homework sucks.

I'm thinking about making an arty video of some sort. However, that would require a camera, so it'll probably have to wait till summer. Oh well.

Oh, and I just realized that my creepy song list is missing a very important addition: Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge. It seriously should be number two. Listen to it at your own risk. (They make really freaky music videos, too)

I finally got a haircut. Hooray for me. It actually feels really good and is one of the few haircuts I've been immediately satisfied with.

So yeah, there's my life right now. Send me food and I'll give you a giant hug when I see you next! Yeah for incentive! Now I'm off to study...

Andrew's Creepy Song List

2008-04-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

Because creepy songs are the best! I'm going to offer a small explanation for each as I go. So here they are...

15 "The Sinner In Me" by Depeche Mode
- Who better to start off a creepy song list? These masters of dark synth pop manage to throw an unsettling doozy with this one. With the skittery effects and lines like, "I'm still recovering, still getting over all the suffering. More known for my anger than for any other thing," it manages to give me chills just about every time.

14 "A Cautionary Song" by The Decemberists
- A song about a prostitute. 'Nuff said.

13 "Hunted By A Freak" and "Moses? I Amn't" by Mogwai
- These first two songs off their album "Happy Songs for Happy People" instill an unsettled feel before the happier middle section. The organ, especially, in the latter of these instrumentals gives an uneasy mood. The name of the first says it all.

12 "Time To Waste" by Alkaline Trio
- Perhaps the most depressing pop-punk band out there, these guys really need to open the windows every once in a while. I think I'll send them some chocolate.

11 "Your Algebra" by The Shins
- At the least, the Shins are always depressing. Always. This song, though, just sounds evil. Plus, there's the line, "Cole and Macey lost their eyes on the finer points. Roll them up in the coffee cake and dine." The fact that they use an inhuman amount of reverb in this song does everything to enhance the total wrong-ness of their lyrics.

10 "Mein Teil" by Rammstein
- I don't want to talk about it. All I have to say is DO NOT watch the music video to this song!

9 "Scorched Earth Policy" by Far-Less
- This is actually a really cool song with some excellent screaming. The lyrics are a powerful call to rely on God, but overall, it's a rather scary picture painted with screamed lyrics like, "I witnessed you caught the Judas sickness," and "We're burning everything down." It's all about the self-destructive nature of humanity, which is always rather scary.

8 "Yes Please" by Muse
- The thing that makes this song so disturbing is the manic laughter and guitar work by Matt Bellamy. You don't even have to hear the words (every single one is distorted anyway). Muse is weird. (but oh, so good!)

7 "Morning Bell" and "Knives Out" by Radiohead
- Ah, Radiohead, how do you creep us out so? I'll tell you why! It's all in the lyrics. Knives Out is actually quite pleasant until you hear the words. With Morning Bell, though, you know something is wrong right off the bat, especially on the remake on the Amnesiac album. Then you hear the stark words, "cut the kids in half" without any reconcilable reason. Ugh. Let me go die now.

6 "Obstacle 1" by Interpol
- When Interpol isn't being sexual with their lyrics, they're bound to be creepy. Besides the words in this song, Paul Banks' wailing and bellowing of lines such as, "It's different now that I'm poor and aging, I'll never see this place again. You go stabbing yourself in the neck," in an incredibly pained fashion manage to put this song high on this dubious list.

5 "Michael" by Franz Ferdinand
- It's all in the words here, as the music is undeniably excellent (I should note that I enjoy the music to each and every one of these songs immensely), but the apparently blatant homosexuality of the lyrics is rather shocking. It was only later on that I found out that they were making fun of a friend who got plastered at a party, but the impression had been made. It's still the one and only song in Franz Ferdinand's repertoire that I do not enjoy.

4 "We Suck Young Blood" by Radiohead
- The slow, plodding piano line, plus the handclaps give an ominous backdrop to the utterly disturbing lyrics of this song. Thom Yorke sounds like a tortured banshee on this song.

3 "Chimes" by Project 86
- Lyrics partially about demons and death + hypnotic bassline + Andrew Schwab's wrenching vocals = one freakin' creepy song.

2 "Time Is Running Out" by Muse
- Always paranoid, always expressive, always brilliant, Matt Bellamy manages to express deep fears. This song is terrifyingly great.

1 "Climbing Up The Walls" by Radiohead
- As well as Matthew Bellamy expresses deep fears, not even he holds a candle to the disturbed, paranoid brilliance of Thom York and the rest of the Radiohead gang. This song effectively captures a fear that I think we all in part have of intruders coming into the house and killing you. Not to mention the music itself sounds like the soundtrack to every slow-motion nightmare you've ever had. Always the creepiest song on every creepy song list, this is should be appreciated for its expressiveness if nothing else.

So there you have it. Some of my favourite creepy songs. They're all worth listening to (except maybe for "Michael") and, of course, they're good for when your life gets boring and you just need a little jarring experience.

Springtime in Spokane sucks

2008-04-04T16:06:00.000-07:00

Dude, the weather past couple days was gorgeous: sunny, warmish, and generally pleasant. Now it's raining and I've got nothing to do but sit here and whine. So that's what I'm doing. Blasted weather. I was just beginning to enjoy myself...

Guess What!

2008-04-01T23:45:00.001-07:00

I know that nobody at Whitworth looks at my blad, as it is only like a week old, but I feel that I should put it out there that I'm running for McMillan Senator! Hooray! Vote for me!

I hope I don't have much homework next week

2008-03-30T01:14:00.001-07:00

...because my sleeping schedule has been absolutely DESTROYED by Spring Break.

Music Review

2008-03-30T00:44:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start doing this once a week: I'll take a record I like, listen to it, then talk about it here.

Since it's almost one o'clock, I'm going to cheat on this first one and just talk about House of Heroes' three new songs that they so generously are offering for free before their new album comes out. Thanks to this little sample, I'm super excited for the full offering. It definitely carries the old HOH feel, especially in the guitar playing, but there are definitely some new progressions. Most obvious is in how Tim Skipper has taken almost complete control over vocals, a far cry from their debut, where he and A.J. Babock split almost 50/50 with drummer Colin Rigsby throwing in background stuff every once in a while. Now, the latter two are mostly used for background harmonizing. It's not bad, but I kind of liked A.J.'s voice in the forefront on some songs and kind of miss it. As for the music itself, it is much slicker, the bass is much less noticeable, and as a whole, it is catchy and enjoyable as ever. I'm pretty sure they added another guitarist/keyboardist recently, which has led to a much more full sound. It kind of reminds me of what Sullivan did between their two albums, except this is better. The song Sooner or Later is excellent, though a little predictable, with an impossibly catchy singalong chorus. I'm not a huge fan of the acoustic By Your Side, but it is by no means a bad song. Neither, though, holds a candle to the fascinating and fantastically misleading In The Valley of the Dying Son. This song is the entire reason I want to buy their new record when it comes out. There are surprises around every turn. From its initial driving bassline to the bouncy falsetto chorus to the little keyboard effects sprinkled throughout to its epic ending, this song is incredible. What's most incredible is that, despite its multiple changes and touches, the it manages to be enjoyable on the first listen. I don't know how they do it. Overall, this little set of songs has me shaking with excitement to buy The End is Not the End.

New Blog

2008-03-13T00:36:00.000-07:00

So I finally jumped on this bandwagon! Or something. Cool.

I'll think of something interesting to put on here later. It's late and my brain is numb.

Ruminations of Unparalleled Ignorance

#4

#3

Rough Draft of a Silly Poem

#2

Where I Live #1

More poetry

Another Music Post

My Life!

The Dumbest Poem in the Universe!!!!

I'm Torn

I Can't Tell Whether or Not Caffeine Affects Me

Something I Wonder About, But Would Rather Not Test...

I like this one.

Favourite Bands

You know...

*sigh*

I'm way too busy.

I Think I'm Crazy

Let's write some poems...

Good Monday? What is this?

I Have Writer's Block

Awesome purchase

New Favourite Thing Ever

Excellent Day

It just hit me

I cannot stop listening to these albums...

I should write something here...

English Project (Tim's Gonna Hate It)

Weird mood

This is already a crappy week...

Words cannot express how excited I am for this.

This is going to be a fun one...

Hooray for all-nighters!

2:15 P.M. Tomorrow

Whoa!

Hmm....

I really like punk rock...

Ho-Hum

Ben Is A Tool

I was thinking...

Cooking dinner...

College Life

I'm pretty proud of myself

So I was going to do my homework...

Animal Collective Makes Really Happy Music

Friday Comes, and Not a Moment Too Soon!

I've Been Sick

Soundtrack of my Summer

School Is...

I draw on my arms too much

Hey Looky!

Another Music List

There isn't enough I can do by myself

The Evolution of Andrew's Nickname

School's a Pain

So I'm sick...

Andrew's Creepy Song List

Springtime in Spokane sucks

Guess What!

I hope I don't have much homework next week

Music Review

New Blog

sigh