Well ramone me with a Mosrite

This past weekend, my Playstation 2 decided to cause me problems, leaving me with very little sub-intelligent entertainment.

Instead of making little animated hockey players move around on my television, I was semi-forced to pick up the copy of King Dork I had recently checked out from the library.

It's been out for a couple years now, and I've been meaning to buy/borrow it for some time as "Dr." Frank Portman is among my favourite songwriters and he's witty and articulate enough to pull off a novel that doesn't suck.

He totally made THE BOOK that I wish I could have read when I was in high school.

That's not to say that I completely could relate to his main character's tormented (by bullies) existence, nor his dead father and un-dignosed psycho-mother. And I don't know that any of the girls who were in my high school 14 years ago who would have, uh, endowed Tom with the kind of "gifts" they did.

However, I once was that kid who knows that he knew better than every character he runs into.

The main theme to the book was supposed to be The Catcher in the Rye, and part of the reason I hadn't yet read King Dork was because I hadn't read TCITR until just a few weeks ago. It really wasn't horribly necessary to read TCITR, but it helped with some of the references to characters in that book. Instead it was the physical book Tom finds amongst his deceased father's books that starts the "mystery" of this novel.

Mystery aside, King Dork was really an examination of the high school experience from the mind of the social bottom-feeder.

The only recommendation I can give it, is that I could not put it down, literally. I've yet to read a book that commanded my attention with every turn of the page.

Hometown Favorite Maritime Smiles Big

Hometown Favorite Maritime Smiles Big

After releasing one of the most beloved records of 2006 ( We, the Vehicles), Maritime had some pressure and early hype with Heresy and the Hotel Choir, their third full-length release.

"When you work for a long time on something, validation is always pretty exciting. However, you know that the validation will be balanced by the negative. It's natural," explains guitar player & vocalist Davey von Bohlen.

The album charges out of the gate with "Guns of Navarone," an upbeat and fun number that will have just about anyone tapping their toes and dancing. In fact, there are quite a few songs that naturally make you tap your toes. "Guns of Navarone" transitions into "Holes For Thumb-Sized Birds," which features a marching snare-style beat. It's something new and different, which for the first time, Maritime could comfortably write. Second guitarist Dan Hinz and bassist Justin Klug (formerly of Decibully), permanently joined the outfit this time around.

Heresy is a band record, made by a band in the organic environment of a small music space. The interaction is so different in
this venue, that it feels almost like a different thing altogether." One song that could easily be a single, is "For Science Fiction." It starts out with a catchy drum and distorted bass riff that will get the crowd moving.

Justin and Dan really round out the band on "Hours That You Keep" allowing Davey to pull some amazing guitar parts. One song that has a fun feel to it, is "Be Unhappy". Even with a sad title, the song is makes you smile and sing along.

So what does Davey, Justin and drummer Dan Didier do on tour with their Maritime children?

"It has everything to do with how, where, when and why we do it. We try to balance the lives of our families and that of the group as well as we can".

One can only imagine how tough it can be touring and promoting a new album. A band wants to get their new music out to the masses and further their fanbase.

So what does Davey, who's been in the music industry for quite some time (Promise Ring, Cap'n Jazz), think of the ever popular MySpace world?

"It's fine. The internet is here to stay, so it's logical that it drives every kind of promotion. MySpace seems to suffer from that "too cool too quick" thing, where the fast rise is followed by hipsters looking down their nose at it."

Overall, Hersey And the Hotel Choir is an amazing record. Catchy songs, a stable line-up and and an infamous vocals make this album worth picking up. Maritime has done it again.

Aint nothin but awful rapper baby...

So as I was making a quick drive to Pick n Save to pick up some Lite Whole Wheat buns, I flipped on the radio. No point on sticking a CD on. First channel I turned on must have been the rap/R&B station. They were playing an apparently new Mike Jones song called Turnin Heads. I tell you, he is the most unoriginal rapper ever. Even this new single, he is yellin "mike jones" before the rap begins. He is STILL rapping about girls he used to diss, are all up on him, and how they used to make fun of his belly, now they wanna rub it. He's pathetic. He even was rappin about his MYSPACE PAGE!! what is that all about?
anyway, there can't be any really good rap anymore. Possibly it's because I dislike it so much, that nothing impresses me. Eminem is finished thankfully.
Wouldn't it be different for someone to rap something other then bling, money, hoes, cars, rims, or designer threads?
SPEAKING OF WHICH, aren't these hardcore rappers supposed to be raw and have street cred? How does one have street cred when said rapper drives a Benz with the interior coated in Gucci? That's not hardcore. No gangs would allow a member wearing a Dolce and Gabbana coat. Talk about a sissy.
That's enough ranting for now.

Taco Bell gives free food to bands heading out on tour, but who really needs it?

http://www.punknews.org/article/25996
Apparently, Ted Leo + the Pharmacists, Armor For Sleep, Strike Anywhere and others were awarded 500 dollars worth of free Taco Bell on the FEED THE BEAT promotion. Ted Leo, who is a member of PETA, was outraged. His band had nothing to do with the contest, and someone sent in from a gmail account to Taco Bell. No one's quite sure if the other bands were legitiment either.

If Taco Bell can offer to give bands that don't really need the food, shouldn't they be giving it to bands that can hardly afford to tour? I would like to think setting up a promotion in a sort of "battle of the bands" formula for bands going on tour that are just starting to get their name out there. These bands that are on tour, are established enough where they could afford to pass up 500 dollars of food to some kids traveling in a busted Econoline van they bought for 2,000. Most likely, Taco Bell is looking to appeal to a different "alternative" crowd. Are emo bands going to be doing commercials for Taco Bell? who knows. Would it be funny? Oh yeah

I'll drink to that

Quickly, Ben Weasel - who is one of my favourite songwriters ever - has a new collaborative radio show which can be heard here.

In the first episode, Ben rips into Nickelback and Plain White T's modern radio hits.

He says he's never heard either band. My reply: which rock have you been living under and can I please join you?

I too, am a music snob

I was knighted "Music Snob" a few years back from my fiance because of my distaste of EVERYTHING that is radio friendly, and Godawful. That's fine. I'll admit I am. I'm totally upfront and honest with someone if they enjoy or a fan of any or all of the following:
Country Music
Hip-Hop
Metal
Sum-41
Fall Out Boy
Avril Lavigne
Nickleback
Panic! at the Disco
Good Charolette
Scream-o
and probably more...

I'm not sorry your taste in music doesn't qualify as good. I'll never line dance at a wedding put songs on my iPod that rap about rims or booty. Do I like any radio friendly stuff? Not really. Some bands that I do think are interesting that have some mainstream success are Interpol and Muse. I think both (which got big from the underground) offer catchy, yet unique songs to the music world. Does Avril off anything to the music world? No. She is just a wannabe Alanis Moresette that will fade away. Just like Scream-o....in time

Snobbery?

I will readily admit that I'm a snob when it comes to music.

Pretty much every song that comes on the radio will be dissected and torn apart to reveal it as utter crap.

However, in listening to my iPod today, I've come across some radio songs from the past 15 years that I've enjoyed.

There are two Fastball songs which enjoyed considerable airtime in the late 90s. I think everything about "The Way" was brilliant and "Out of my head" is the best Bracket song never written.

I've also got the Smashmouth song "Walking on the Sun" which catapulted them into the spotlight many years ago. My excuse there is that it reminded me of the Doors and we played it in college, with me faithfully and flawlessly reproducing the organ line.

I have two Soul Asylum songs, "Just like anyone" and "Somebody to shove" which were rock radio smashes when I was 16 and 17 years old. Mention Soul Asylum to a Twin Cities rock fan and they'll shake their head while talking about how great they were back when they were on an indy label. I disagree.

One of the slightly more obscure radio songs I have is Harvey Danger's "Flagpole Sitta" which I always thought was just a great, catchy pop song.

I think the fact that I'm having to defend having these songs makes me a snob. What do you think?