Wild Flag

The album has it's moments, but live, they're a different beast entirely.

thoughts........

    Really trying to find a bit of solace for the last couple days. What the hell is this? Am I paying for the one fun night I had this summer? Or just post-concert/back-to-the-grind blues? It's been really hard to shake off work the past couple nights. Fortunately or unfortunately I don't have the luxury of "escaping" after the work day is over. Is that how most people deal with arrogant, condescending fake-ass bosses? Does yoga really work? Questions, questions....Why am I exiled to this shit town where I have no one to talk to while the few friends I have are up north. Well, I know the answer to that, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.......Suck it up, Eric!

GBV

           Guided By Voices is one of those bands that I never really explored until about five years ago or so. I bought Alien Lanes when it came out (95?) but didn't really follow them. Been listening to a lot of their stuff lately. Too me, Pollard is too prolific, a lot of throwaways amidst some real gems. And the lo-fi thing was probably a budget issue, but it also feels like a gimmick. Their music begs for production. I think their albums got better later on. I prefer Isolation Drills and Do the Collapse over Bee Thousand. But a good concise overview is Human Amusement at Hourly Rates: The Best of Guided by Voices. It might just be all I need.

Less than a month away. Ordering tickets next week. Hopefully it all works out. Will be the one exciting thing I do this summer and a nice reward for working hard. Circuital has been my summer album. Oh and Neko Case is opening. Can't wait!

If someone say it's hot outside one more time I'll smolder their ass with my giant magnifying glass!

     What a summer! Exhausting. Seems like I'm always on the run- walking to and from work, or the laundromat or the grocery store while coping with the elements (rain or heat or both). And it's been hard to relax during my downtime. I can't get interested in anything. I'm constantly thinking of things I can do now to make my day easier tomorrow or ways to improve my job performance.
     The new job is beating me up. I ache all the time. Resurfacing pain in my right arm changes to tingly numbness. It's almost a relief to work. I don't notice the pain when I'm busy. I'm being programmed into a machine. Oh, the melodrama!
      But I'm not complaining. I vowed to kiss this summer goodbye as far as trying to do anything fun or exciting, buckle down, get ahead, and save for next year. Hopefully I'll be ready for you-summer of 2012.
      I don't know what I'd do without my mp3 player. Most music listening these days seems to be whilst in motion. Here's my current top 10: Guided by Voices  Do the Collapse, AMM sampler, Smegma Pigs for Lepers, REM Life's Rich Pageant, OHM: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music, My Morning Jacket Circuital, Drunks with Guns Second Verses, Ween Rotten Cheese, Stevie Wonder playlist, Jimi Hendrix Valleys of Neptune.

            Last week I was flipping through a book and found an old receipt from my ex- "pain management" physician. It was dated 7/7/06, exactly five years to the day. Spooky, dawg!

Flushing out the pineal gland...

Fucked Up "David Comes to Life"

      I'm about halfway through this record, and I don't know what to think. I knew very little about this band to begin with. I know they're some kind of progressive hardcore band and this is their big ambitious concept record. All I know is it's really long. I had somewhat of a liking for hardcore when I was a teenager, but always preferred the bands who broke that mold and took risks: Black Flag, Husker Du, etc. I have no idea what the concept is about. There are some interesting moments, music-wise, and the occasional female vocals are a welcome relief. But that same lead vocalist hoarse scream/singing just wears me out. When I get a hankering I'd rather just listen to Poison Idea's "Darby Crash Rides Again" 7 inch. 10 songs in 10 minutes or something like that. The hype is unreal over this record-"The greatest punk record since "Zen Arcade", or maybe, ever!" I'll try and finish listening later. I was looking for something new and aggressive to listen to on the way to work today, but after awhile ended up retreating to good ol' Big Black instead.

7/8/11 3am

sitting here tonight

and also walking the streets

22 yrs ago-

aloof, untarnished.

the fuzzy residue of downtown buildings-


hip record stores & vintage clothing shops


while way over there


out yonder


it's a night sky smeared with stars and magic


22 yrs ago.


a sluggish fever dream


that i never want to end


when we could see ghosts


before we folded over

 and explained them all away.