floating on

We were talking about traveling and stuff like that on the way home last week and you said "we all float on". that modest mouse song just came on and I was thinking about what you said and one of the lines jumped out at me: 


"I like songs about drifters, books about the same"


the next three lines of the verse are:


"They both seem to make me feel a little less insane
Walked on off to another spot
I still haven't gotten anywhere that I want"




Good call on that lyric!! i totally identify with what he's saying.


In my opinion, he's talking about books by Jack Keruac, Allen Ginsberg, Hunter S. Thompson, Ernest Hemingway, and other people that write about traveling and how some people just don't feel right unless they're moving. 


listen to the song for me when you wonder where I am. i'm gonna write another post about songs like this one, songs that are musical versions of on the road.

Brand New new

got the new Brand New album today. i'm very excited. i'm on track 5 and i'm happy so far. it will take another 10,000 listen throughs before it reaches the level of familiarity that the other albums have.



for those of you who don't care or know what i'm talking about, here is a picture (of me listening to the new album).



p.s. tomorrow is the first day of spring in New Zealand. i'm looking forward to a great spring and a greater summer. i went from winter to winter and now i'm ready for warmth and no shirts.

its going to happen

i'm still hopeful. it has been a while, but i'm still pretty sure they'll come. but news of max's wedding might put off the date for a bit.

friday lyricals

today's song is "hip hop"  by dead prez. one of the best groups ever. this is one of their more popular songs. you might remember it from the chappell show. i have loved this song for years. thanks to the great shea. this is one of my most listened to songs of all time. i can sing it without a mumble. 

Fake, fake records

Uh, uh, uh, 1, 2, 1, 2
Uh, uh, 1, 2, 1, 2, uh, uh
All my dogs

It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip
It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip hop

Once that shit kicks in you have to bob your head. you can't help it.

Uh, one thing 'bout music
When it hit you feel no pain
White folks says it controls your brain
I know better than that
That's game and we ready for that
Two soldiers head of the pack
Matter of fact who got the gat?
And where my army at? 
Rather attack than not react
Back the beats it don't reflect
On how many records get sold
On sex, drugs, and rock and roll
Whether your project's put on hold
In the real world
These just people with ideas
They just like me and you
When the smoke and camera disappear
Again the real world (world)
It's bigger than all these fake ass records
When poor folks got the millions
And my woman's disrespected
If you check 1,2,
My word of advice to you is just relax
Just do what you got to do
If that don't work then kick the facts
If you a fighter, rider, lighter, flame ignitor, crowd exciter
Or you wanna just get high
Then just say it
But then if you a liar-liar, pants on fire
Wolf-cry agent with a wire
I'm gon' know it when I play it

wow. one of the best paragraphs of all time. marley ref. this is why they're in the 'revolutionary hip hop' category. in their words "revolutionary bug gangsta" (that's rbg) 

It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip
It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip hop

Uh, who shot Biggie Smalls
If we don't get them
They gonna get us all
I'm down for runnin' up on them
Crackers in they city hall
We ride for y'all
All my dogs stay real
Nigga don't think these record deals
Gonna feed your seeds
And pay your bills because they not
MC's get a little bit of love and think they hot
Talkin' 'bout how much money they got
Nigga all y'all records sound the same
I sick of that fake thug, R & B
Rap scenario all day on the radio
Same scenes in the video, monotonous material
Y'all don't here me though
These record labels slang our tapes like dope
You can be next in line, and signed
And still be writing rhymes and broke
You would rather have a Lexus or justice
A dream or some substance
A Beamer, a necklace or freedom
Still a nigga like me don't playa' hate
I just stay awake
This real hip-hop, and it don't stop
'Til we get the po-po off the block
They call it

records won't feed your seeds. money isn't what you need! you need justice! you need to be too proud to play games. m-1 and stic.man would still being pimped by rich white guys if they didn't make their own way in the world

Hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip
It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip
It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop, hip
It's bigger than hip hop, hip hop, hip hop

DP's got that crazy shit we keep it crunk up
John Blaze'd and shit what 

Uh, DP's got that crazy shit we keep it crunk up
John Blaze'd and shit

Uh, DP's got that crazy shit we keep it crunk up
John Blaze'd and shit

1, 2, 1, 2

Uh, DP's got that crazy shit we keep it crunk up
John Blaze'd and shit

Uh, DP's got that crazy shit we keep it crunk up

They call it

Fake, fake, fake records

the music in this part is killer. you can't help but feel the dirty bass and the tight snare at about 3:15 in. when they do this last part, think about:

You would rather have a Lexus or justice
A dream or some substance
A Beamer, a necklace or freedom

and then start the revolution. 

burn the house.

find the foundation.

reunion tour

The best CD of the year is Reunion Tour by the Weakerthans.

The Weakerthans are a band out of Canada with indie and punk influences. They use mellow instruments and deep lyrics to tell short stories that are almost often from the 1st person. I always see myself walking through the stories, however sad.
Every song reaches 35,000 ft., but two pierce the thin membrane of ozone and transcend into the cosmos. Civil twilight and Sun in an empty room. Catchy and deep. My favorite combo. In Sun in an Empty Room, I can see so clearly the empty apartment I used to live in and how it looked empty and bright. I think of all the things I meant back then. And how different I am now. How, if I could I would do things differently. And also, I like screaming "SUN IN AN EMPTY ROOOOOOOMMMMM" as soon as I get in the car.
In Civil Twilight, I hear more of the old Weakerthans than any other song. I love the line:

"And they bite their mitts off to show me transfers, deposit change
and I can't stop finding your face in their faces, all rearranged
and angry like you never were;"

Their last three installments are so prized to me that I was afraid of getting "punched in the dick".* He's so right too. Our favorite music is often followed by either a sell out album or something good, but not equal. I'm so relieved to be thrilled with these songs. I was similarly impressed with the newest Rilo Kiley album, but the Weakerthans have always held a higher spot on my heart's playlist than the ever smokin' hot Jenny Lewis.

If you ever have the chance to listen** to the Weakerthans, do it.

I'm going to go listen to the album now. I'll be thinking of you and how much I wish I didn't love angsty catchy music.


*Dude, after the Say Anything cd punched me in the dick, this fucking rules. So fucking good man, so good. -max
**really listen I mean
***http://www.bandoftheday.com/TheWeakerthans/interview.html