Wall Sit (live@55, Tonto)

Starting Summer, Remembering

I have been so busy for the past four-five months. I have never experienced anything like it. The person I was before died. I became something different, and now that person, has died (retreated?) as well. With the return to the social/personal I hope to be able to string together some interesting information on this site over the next five-six months.

I feel a desire for completion-organization-release. We shall see.

The cottage should help to allow the creative juices to flow.

The Experimental Farm

After much difficulty with Myspace.com (and never being a fan of the site in the first place), I have decided to use imeem.com as the site to host my music (it's listed as the link MusiqueuqisuM).

There are two tracks up right now. There are both very short. Give 'em a listen and tell me what you think.

The Experimental Farm is the latest incarnation of a band consisting of my brother, sister, and myself. We recorded a couple of our jam sessions two years ago. Over Easter I will try and get some of those songs up on the site.

imeem.com is a great site to share music. Check it out, set up a profile, and sing some songs.

I'm happily housebound due to the snow storm and I will be working on some new tracks today.

Twenty-and-One Days

The approach of spring.

I've reached the point of winter where I've actually forgotten about summer. That's the best part of winter. Summer for Canadians is such a treat, a reason for celebration. "It's a good life, if you don't weaken."

Spring is rebirth and release and I think that is what Easter is truly about. Keeping with the fine tradition of said holiday we'll be jamming and letting the planet and the heavens above know that we are still here and we're happy about it.

I spend a lot of my time searching for, thinking of, music that will help elevate the party. Music is a motivator and I like to use it for the forces of good (dancing, carousing, merriment).

Hemingway wrote that "the sun also rises." He's reminding you that there are positives in this world.

I like to say "the sun always rises." I'm trying to put some perspective on the world we cloak ourselves in.

The Funeral . . . Again (trailer) Explanation

The trailer posted below is for a short film written , directed, and executive produced by Matt West. I’ve worked with Matt for the past four years and it has been a treat. Matt shot the film on 16mm over three days last November. Almost everyone who worked on the picture did so out of respect for Matt and on their own time.

Matt is preparing to send the film for festival consideration but he is also quite busy with the birth of his daughter, Scarlett Valerie Hamilton West. Ever the filmmaker, Matt has created a web page featuring videos and photos of his pride and joy. Check them out at:

http://web.mac.com/editpoints/Scarletts_Web/Welcome.html

The Funeral . . . Again (trailer)

Empathy

I really don’t understand these people who go into a school and shoot students and then themselves. I can relate to a lot of different people and I can understand how people do a lot of different, sometimes terrible, things. I honestly can’t understand the selfishness, hate, and depression it would take to march into a school and shoot a whole bunch of people, and then, to add to your cowardice, kill yourself.

There is special place in hell for that poor soul. I’m not sure an infinity of nothing could undo that evil.

Thoughts

Thoughts/Statements on the day:

Valentine’s Day is strange but okay if you are in a relationship. Otherwise, it must be strange and annoying/stupid.

Roger Clemens received very poor advice from his legal team. He continues to take steps to make himself look more foolish in the public’s eye and to position himself closer to being charged with perjury. When the Mitchell report came out he should have just said, “I didn’t know what I was taking at the time. I didn’t break any of Major League Baseball’s rules.” But he didn’t do that.

Myspace.com is one of the most annoying, and poorly organized “social networking” sites I have ever used. I was able to upload a new song for ya’ll but I can’t figure out how to access it. I will get to the bottom of this over the weekend. Boogie Men Carpenter Records apologizes for the delay.

Boogie Men Carpenter Records presents . . .

I recorded two songs last night that ended up being okay. I am getting into a nice little groove with GarageBand. I’ve added the link to The Experimental Farm’s myspace page. I think I’ll be able to get a couple of choice tracks from the unreleased albums “Still Blind” and “The Marathon” up tonight. All tracks will be available for download in the mp3 format. Let me know what you think.

I am trying to acquire some Experimental Farm live jams from the past two summers recording sessions. I’ll try and get those up as soon as possible. Plus, all the details surrounding the unreleased album they were meant to be featured on.

As usual, Amgod Media is going to get you the goods.

Jest Cheque In Inn

Been out of action for a while. Great ski in Quebec. Le Massif is . . . well massive. One of the best hills I've ever been on. Gorgeous. Pictures to come this weekend. I'm excited to pick up Hot Chip's new disc this weekend. To be honest with you, I am more pumped to get the Vampire Weekend album. I've hear three songs and they were all great. Download "Oxford Comma." It is the sound of a spring party less then a month away. I'm going to try and organize my youtube account this Sunday so look for a new/old video to be added for Monday.

Belle Ville

I’m heading to Quebec City with a group of friends tomorrow.

It seems that whenever I have a day of driving ahead of me there is always a colossal snow storm. What would have been a day of a relaxed, yet long, drive has become one of anxiety as I monitor the weather reports.

No matter. Once I am warm at the chalet we have rented at the base on Mont Sainte Anne all will be well. We’ll ski and then we’ll après ski. What more is there?

Well . . .

It is the 400th Anniversary of the founding of Quebec City and we will be heading in to the city to help the locals with the revelry & celebration. Four hundred years can seem so long and so short at the same time. Either way, the wine will taste just as good.

Like the founders of the Beautiful City we too will have to battle through wind and snow to arrive at our destination. And like them, we will find that it was well worth it.

Sensispimps

I’ve said it before, and I am quite sure I will say it again: His name is Rayzor.

I said it all last year and the guy took us to the finals. Martin Gerber has won one Stanley Cup Playoff game. One. Rayzor has battled it out with the Dominator on his shoulder. Ray can not only handle the pressure but thrive on it. How many goalies out there can you say that about?

Rayzor’s competitive spirit and confidence help this team in win games they must win. Granted, Ray needs to buckle down a bit, but he knows that, and he will do.

Anyone who thinks we should trade this guy is very bold. That would mean the season would rest on the shoulders of Gerbs. Darth Gerber can be good, no denying, but can he be great when it counts? I’m not sure.

I’ve got confidence in Ray because, as I said before, and will say again:

His name is Rayzor.

Apologies

Okay, so I didn’t get a video or song up for you this weekend. I put up the photo at the bottom of the page. It was taken during the protest against George W. Bush’s first visit to Canada. The police had blocked off Wellington & Sussex. This cop took a balloon full of paint to the face.

I am so tired today it is insane. Spring is less then sixty days away.

Capitalism

The stock market is volatile which is never really very good for anyone. It basically means that the people with money are wondering if they can actually make any money by investing it. When they don’t think they can make cash they stop investing which means that companies aren’t starting up, new products aren’t being created, and money, in general, is tight.

I sensed this was going to happen a couple of months ago (there were signs everywhere).

The thing that is weird about our economic structure is that we really need it to always be growing for it to work. Growth is needed for stability. How is that sustainable? How can an economy always grow? Won’t it eventually plateau?

I find stock market volatility stressful. I remember the recession in the late 80s and early 90s as being a stressful time. Perhaps in those formative years of life my parents were stressed and that resulted in me having an adverse reaction to any economic instability.

sensispimps

People need to chill on the Sens. Obviously we want them to win every game they play but we all know that isn’t going to happen. While we can get angry at them for their lack of effort let’s try and keep in mind the important goal for this season.

Win the Cup. If the Sens make the final and lose this year will be a failure. Winning the Cup is the only level of success that is acceptable for this team.

It has to be pretty hard for a team that has that in mind (because they do) to get excited to play their best hockey in the dog-days of January against pathetic teams like Tampa Bay and Florida. The only game the Sens needed to win this month was against Detroit and they did that.

The Sens will take a nice break for the All-Star game and they will come back to begin the tune-up towards the playoffs. They needed a statement game going into the break and they did that with the help of Alfie/Future Hugo.

Go Sens Go

PS The story behind Future Hugo will be featured next week. Stay tuned . . .

The Blood of the Earth

There Will Be Blood is a fantastic film about the two most important things in America: capitalism and religion. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an astonishing performance. Working with an actor of his caliber must be a wondrous experience for all involved. The score is stressful and foreboding. The shots and sets are meticulously composed and beautifully lit. When a movie is truly great it converses with the audience. This film serves as a 2 hour and forty minute discussion of obsession, isolation, and value. Paul Thomas Anderson has created a fantastic work that has taken him to the level of the new master of Hollywood film.

Thrilling.

The death of Heath Ledger is sad. Those of us who enjoyed his performances feel as if we know him, or, are connected in some way. What relationship do we have with another human who we communicate, albeit one-sidedly, through machines and screens?

There is no such thing as invincibility. Death has wrought its sword and left distress in the strike it cleaves.

rhythm

If I can get into some type of routine here I should be able to post something of interest (in the interest of something) every day. On the weekend I will post either a video, or song.

So . . .

written word = week
audio-visual = weekend treat

Regimentation is the lifeblood of productivity.

Today’s note of interest:

I got Alone: The home recordings of Rivers Cuomo for Xmas and I just gave it a listen last night as I drove through the blistering cold to go play hockey. I am heartily enjoying it. It has re-kindled my affinity for Weezer as well. Weezer used to be an important band to me. Alone has reminded me that Rivers really likes making music and that I should just forget/ignore all the baggage/expectation that gets thrown onto Weezer. They make rock music. Dig it or don’t.

I am going to have to give the Green Album another try.

What I also like about Alone is that I can relate to Rivers just putting some music down on tape and working it out by himself. It encourages me to do the same with whatever art I am working on.