|
redcrake
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Thomas
Location: Georgia, United States
Birthday: 2/5/1983
Gender: Male
Interests: geology, biology, education policy and theory, pixies, indie rock, alt-country, liberal politics, environmental education
Expertise: estuarine sedimentology, evolution and related science education policy, josh joplin guitar tab
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Government
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  redcrake
Member Since:
4/25/2005
|
|
| So I think its time to deliver my treatise on the state of popular
music today. A quick disclaimer: If you like any of the
bands/people I am about to unload on, Don't take it personally. I
may have no respect for your favorite musical artist (if you can call
them that) , but your opinion certainly has some value and this person
has probably sold many many records which I suppose also means
something. Its certainly more than I have done.
Nonetheless, these are my opinions so respect them as well....and if
you dont like it....tough....I know more than you and I rule!
-- Current R & B is a freakin joke. I mean Alicia Keys...come
on! Some earlier 90's folks are ok (Erykah Badu, D'Angelo,
etc). And Outkast is at least original. But most current
people are one hit wonders or derivative knockoffs. And you can't
tell me they even come close to Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Ray Charles, or
James Brown. Even Boyz II Men at least knew how to
harmonize.
-- Current Rock is a freakin joke. I mean U2 and Linkin
Park....come on! Is that really the best you have?
Again...earlier 90's folks are ok (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Liz Phair,
Cracker, etc.) They at least knew how to rock. But
mainstream rock is pathetic. At least the underground artists are
trying to be a little different. White Stripes and Von Bondies
rawk....but they are more blues anyways. Its just pathetic...the
only thing that even compares to rock nowadays is coming out of
post-punk and retro bands (Arcade Fire, Decemberists, Super Furry
Animals, et al). Come on! Where is the freakin
rock? What happened to the Stones, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin,
Flying Burrito Brothers, Cream, Jefferson Airplane, etc.?
-- Current Country is a freakin joke! I mean Toby Keith and Tim
McGraw...Come on! What happened to the days when country had
something to say....even if it was something to say about heartbreak
and tears in beers? Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson,
even George Jones....I mean what happened. Its pretty sad when
you have to go back 20-30 years to find decent music. "I love
this bar?" Gosh just sad.
Thats all for now kiddies. Enjoy and think about it. See
the posts below for something worth listening to. And
remember...just cause your friends say its cool doesn't mean it
is. Think for yourself and decide if the music speaks to
you. IF Nickleback speaks to you, I will pray for you but lets
hope it doesnt. If it does, go to town but think about it.
Listen to some decent music for once. Maybe if we all do, NY and
LA will stop cranking out crappy records. Remember, your dollars
help decide what records get made.
| | |
| Ok so I am bored and restless... This is pathetic. I am
expressing myself through the computer. What is wrong with
me. Scientists may study and research my behavior for years to
come but there is no answer. So, some random thoughts for this
beautiful April evening...
--Michael Jackson is a sick bastard. I get that he was screwed
around with as a kid...but he's got deeper issues than that. I
mean...first, Vitiligo...please...you have been bleaching yourself for
years. I say prisoners in L.A. strip search him and see if thats
true. Also...you wanna sleep with kids and say nothing
happened...thats like a frat guy sleeping in a bed with a sorostitute
and saying they didnt get down.
--I Believe the Children Are Our Future -- and it scares the crap out
of me. I don't complain much about the kids I teach. In
general, they are great. As a math and science teacher, I have no
complaints. They make an effort and I think they are learning a
lot. But reading their writing is like trying to communicate with
a chimp. I mean its almost as if they have no concept of the
English language at all. Here's to hoping one of their high
school teachers straightens them out.
--Why is Anderson Cooper on CNN? He used to be on Channel One
when I was in high school. Did his resume say Channel One?
Did CNN pick him based on this? God I hope not. I hope he
left it and had some experience in between... Otherwise, I have
completely lost respect for CNN.
--Will and Grace sucks. It used to be an ok show. It used
to be funny and edgy (or at least it was as edgy as network television
would allow it to be). Now it should be called Karen and
Jack. Its not funny and it reinforces stereotypes. Screw
it.
All for now... Going to bed. Hopefully....
| | |
| Ok, so I forgot some things. I know its like 2 minutes later but
thats just how my brain works sometimes. Anyways...I though of
some more lists. They are a pathetic attempt to provide a sketch
of myself but I gotta say...I think they provide a fairly accurate
portrait.
TOP 5 Singles of All Time
5. Monkey Gone to Heaven by PIXIES
4. Lake of Fire by THE MEAT PUPPETS
3. Miss Misery by ELLIOTT SMITH
2. Freak Scene by DINOSAUR, JR.
1. Where is My Mind by PIXIES
TOP 5 Monday Morning Songs
5. Every Day is Like Sunday by MORRISSEY
4. I Am a Scientist by GUIDED BY VOICES
3. L.A. Song by BETH HART
2. Fight Test by THE FLAMING LIPS
1. The World at Large by MODEST MOUSE
TOP 5 They Might Be Giants Songs
5. They'll Need a Crane
4. Dr. Worm
3. James K. Polk
2. Don't Let's Start
1. Ana Ng
TOP 5 Songs for a Broken Heart
5. We Are Nowhere and Its Now by BRIGHT EYES
4. Grey by ANI DIFRANCO
3. Say Uncle by VIENNA TENG
2. How Soon Is Now? by THE SMITHS
1. A New England by BILLY BRAGG
TOP 5 Songs for Being in Love
5. Flowers in the Window by TRAVIS
4. First Day of My Life by BRIGHT EYES
3. Punk Rock Girl by THE DEAD MILKMEN
2. In My Life by THE BEATLES
1. Find the River by REM
Okay..fo sho...that is it for now. I promise.
| | |
|
Well, I gotta say, I have had one of these bad boys before and it
didn't work out so good. I ended up neglecting it. I made
it promises I couldn't keep. I said I would be there and I
wasn't. Frankly, I may do the very same thing here. In all
likelihood I will. I mean lets face it, I can be reliable
about some things, but ultimately the synapses between the neurological
pathways die and my memories of such things die with them. One
day, I will surely forget that this even exists. Nonetheless, I
am going to make an effort. Strangely, my opinion of blogs and
the like are not overwhelmingly positive. I mean, frankly, who
cares about the lame opinions or feelings or thoughts of what are sure
to be average, upper-middle class, white high schoolers and college
students. I sure don't ... unless I know you personally in which
case I may care but I will at least have the cojones to talk to you
about it personally. However, I suppose there is some value in
being able to express yourself through the written word. And
frankly, if you have nothing better to do than read this, I pity you
but I guess I understand the curiosity. So as an introduction, if
you don't already know me (which I must assume you do or else why would
you bother), I begin with this. In the words of High
Fidelity: "A long time ago Dick, Barry, and I decided that its
what you like not what you are like that matters. Books, Movies,
Music...call me shallow but these things matter"
My Favs:
Books:
*Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
*Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
*Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland
*The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
*Slapstick by Kurt Vonnegut (again)
*The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
*Hey! Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland (again)
Movies:
*Chinatown (Directed by Roman Polanski)
*Bonnie and Clyde (Directed by Arthur Penn)
*Sideways (Directed by Alexander Payne)
*Army of Darkness (Directed by Sam Raimi)
*Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb --
(Directed by Stanley Kubrick)
*Young Frankenstein (Directed by Mel Brooks)
*The Godfather Trilogy (F.F. Coppola) -- Hey, I'm a guy
*Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry)
*Rushmore, Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic (Wes Andersen)
Television (Past and Present):
* Sports Night
* Family Guy
* Grey's Anatomy
* Seinfeld
* Arrested Development
* Iron Chef: America ( I am an addicted idiot)
Music (Top Ten Albums of All Time):
10. PAVEMENT -- Slanted and Enchanted
9. RED HOUSE PAINTERS -- Down Colourful Hill
8. ANI DIFRANCO -- Living in Clip
7. ELLIOTT SMITH -- either/or
6. TORI AMOS - Boys for Pele
5. MORRISSEY -- Bona Drag
4. THE SMITHS -- The Queen Is Dead
3. PIXIES -- Bossanova
2. MODEST MOUSE -- The Moon and Antarctica
1. PIXIES -- Doolittle
Thats all for now boys and girls. Hopefully I will return and you will as well. Be good. Lata.
| | |
|
