A day's fascinations, infatuations, distractions, etc...

Determination... Yet Another Attempt at Maintaining This Blog!

2011-07-26T02:12:00.004-04:00

Well, here I am yet again with another go at this old blog of mine, a project spawned out of too much spare time and I suppose some loneliness. A place I know again at this current point in my life, but under much different circumstances this time around. When first I started this blog, I was a freshly divorced bachelor regaining my place in the world after surviving a rancorous ex-wife and the fallout of the hostile end to our marriage. Anyone who knows me wouldn't find it surprising that I found consolation in music, though I appreciate the irony in the fact that music was what drew me to my ex-wife in the first place as I met her after she sang in a local coffee shop in 2003. I never imagined on that night I'd be her husband some six months later, her ex-husband another four years later. But such is life, and what's done is done, and now all cliches aside I am on my own again under much different though sad circumstances.

I'm old enough to understand that life is full of relationships that we all begin with "hello" and sooner or later end with "good bye". I also know and accept the hurt that follows the good byes and realise no matter what you may try to bring it down in one piece you're not going to walk away from that crash unscathed in the end. I guess that's where I've lingered the last while, but I'm on my feet. Not flight ready, but I'll be there again. I'm just not in any hurry for it. I am just too weary of all the good byes I have known. So I think until that feeling subsides I'll make do without any new "hello"s. I'll pass the time with my books, with songs, with movies, with people I care for, and the creative endeavours that have recently come my way. I'm lonely at times for certain, and when its really bad then I really take stock in keeping busy or if it's late I take myself to bed and sometimes I can lose those feelings in sleep. I'd thought about trying to find a counselor, but I just simply can't afford it without any insurance. So I'll make due. It'll be alright. I always tried to avoid filling this blog with too much personal stuff, but maybe it'll help to occasionally say something so that I can say it somewhere on nights when there's just no one else. I feel in a way my life this summer is retreading places and hurts I knew very well that summer of 2007, and fortunately I still have the comfort of something that got me through that time which was the music of Jens Lekman. My craze with Swedish indie music really blossomed that summer, and the wonder of the music and the distractions is provided me still remain. It's time to try to sleep tonight, but I think I'll take this with me.

Fascination... Gotye

2011-07-25T23:57:00.000-04:00

Released on July 6th, this is the new single from Gotye, the recording name of multi-instrumental musician Wouter De Backer who is Belgian-born but grew up in Australia. He's one third of the Aussie indie pop band, The Basics, and the only musician I've ever heard of that will be traveling with a ten piece orchestra and a team of animators in order to compose his live shows.

This is his newest single, "Somebody That I Used To Know" featuring fellow Melbourne musician, Kimbra.

Appreciation... Loheem

2011-07-24T08:48:00.000-04:00

I adore this summer perfect song so much that I'm posting both of Loheem's versions of the song and video! If you're unaware of the talent of this lovely French chanteuse, learn more about her music at herofficial site!

Appreciation... Papercuts

2011-07-18T22:44:00.000-04:00

Papercuts of the very best variety! Here's two tracks from the full length album, Fading Parade, available via CD, Vinyl, and MP3 via Sub Pop Records.

"Do What You Will"

"Do You Really Wanna Know"

Appreciation... Shed 7

2011-07-17T16:30:00.000-04:00

Bit of Brit Pop nostalgia here this afternoon while I enjoy some music as I to some stuff around my apartment. I really loved Shed 7's song, "Chasing Rainbows", in 1998. A very good year for me as I was working both at Media Play and got my first go at Comix Connection!

Oddly enough, this video is how I discovered David Lean's film, A Brief Encounter, after I went looking for the book the guy in the train car's reading. Turned out there really wasn't a book, as the film was personally adapted by Noel Coward from his own screenplay, Still Life. From my experience watching A Brief Encounter, I went on to watch a lot of other British films from the time period, such as Carol Reed's films, The Third Man and Fallen Idol, which then introduced me to writer Graham Greene. Thus my appreciation for Lean, Coward, Reed, and Greene was born out of my affection for a 4 minute pop song.

Appreciation... Copenhagen Collaboration

2011-07-14T01:57:00.000-04:00

I think this has to be the most epic assemblage I have ever seen come together, and their rendition of the Band of Horses' song "Funeral" deserves this kind of talented treatment and handling! Just watch this video and experience their love for this song yourself!

Infatuation... Jammie Dodgers!

2011-06-29T20:49:00.002-04:00

I found these wonderful little biscuits in the international foods section today at my local Wegman's and finding them truly made my day! As both a Whovian and junk food connoisseur, I am truly delighted by this discovery!

Appreciation... Birdie "Let Her Go"

2011-02-26T21:16:00.005-05:00

I'm got a miserable cold, nothing to do, and a terrible sense of nostalgia tonight as I'm looking through my music collection. Here's a beautifully elegant bit of pop from Birdie's 1999 album, Some Dusty.

Appreciation... Northern Portrait

2011-02-25T23:22:00.005-05:00

I adore the sound of Northern Portrait, and their write up on Matinee Recordings' website so perfectly captures the elements of what I gravitate to in a band and their sound.

"Formed in Copenhagen, Denmark in the Summer of 2007, Northern Portrait is a band who's raison d'être is the making of sophisticated pop music. Thus, Northern Portrait is the sound of elegantly driving guitars, the energy of sometimes gently outrageous lyrics and the mood of late autumn afternoons in the city. Northern Portrait are (left to right) Michael Sørensen, Stefan Larsen, Caspar Bock Sørensen, and Jesper Bonde."

This is the video for their 2008 track, "Crazy", from their Fallen Aristocracy EP. An EP I was fortunate enough to find a summer ago at Repo Records in Philly!

New year, a new post

2011-01-01T08:07:00.002-05:00

It's that time for a random effort at posting on the old blog! I don't want to say I'm making resolutions per say, but I suppose I've been thinking to do some things differently in this new year, and who knows maybe blogging more frequently will be one of them. It'd at least be a positive way for me to waste time online and it wouldn't drain my cheque book. I have developed a serious habit of online window shopping, and I have nine Amazon.com wish lists to prove it!

So new resolutions and no promises from me, but I would truly like to post more!
We'll see... :) Happy New Year!

Frustration... Films in Limited Release

2010-12-05T11:44:00.007-05:00

When it comes to going to the movies, I wish I lived in a place like New York City. I haven't seen a lot of movies this year, and lately I feel like everything I'm interested in seeing is not available in a theatre in my area. At least there's always the potential for a wider release, especially if Academy Awards nominations are in the future for these films. And of course, there is the promise of a DVD release!

The first film I've been very interested in seeing in The King's Speech, based on the experiences of England's King George VI.

This is a synopsis of the film from its official film site:

"After the death of his father King George V (Michael Gambon) and the scandalous abdication of King Edward VIII (Guy Pearce), Bertie (Colin Firth) who has suffered from a debilitating speech impediment all his life, is suddenly crowned King George VI of England. With his country on the brink of war and in desperate need of a leader, his wife, Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter), the future Queen Mother, arranges for her husband to see an eccentric speech therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a rough start, the two delve into an unorthodox course of treatment and eventually form an unbreakable bond. With the support of Logue, his family, his government and Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall), the King will overcome his stammer and deliver a radio-address that inspires his people and unites them in battle."

"Based on the true story of King George VI, The King's Speech, follows the Royal Monarch's quest to find his voice."

You can read more about the film, the life of King George, and hear the real address he made to the people of Great Britain here.

The other film I'd love to see is The Illusionist, which is an animated feature directed by Slyvain Chomet and based on a never produced script by French director and actor, Jacques Tati, had penned in 1956.

Pathe UK provides this synopsis of the film:

"The Illusionist is one of a dying breed of stage entertainers. With emerging rock stars stealing his thunder, he is forced to accept increasingly obscure assignments in fringe theatres, at garden parties and in bars and cafés. However, whilst performing in a village pub off the west coast of Scotland, he encounters Alice, an innocent young girl, who will change his life forever."

"Watching his performance to the excited villagers who are celebrating the arrival of electricity to their remote island, Alice becomes awestruck by our hero and believes his tricks are real magic. Following him to Edinburgh, she keeps his home while he goes to work in a small local theatre. Enchanted by her enthusiasm for his act, he rewards her with increasingly lavish gifts he has 'conjured' into existence. Desperate not to disappoint her, he cannot bring himself to reveal that magic does not exist and that buying these gifts is driving him to ruin."

"But as Alice comes of age, she finds love and moves on. The Illusionist no longer has to pretend and, untangled from his own web of deceit, resumes his life as a travelling entertainer, a much wiser man."

That's all I've got on my mind this morning other than working on beating this damn cold I'm suffering from at present. I've got a day off to be alone and quiet and hopefully this will aid me in recovering my voice. It'd be so nice to be able to speak audibly on Monday morning.

Frustration... Being Sick and Unable to Sleep

2010-12-03T23:04:00.014-05:00

I haven't visited this blog in quite some time, but a fairly severe chest/sinus cold has robbed me of my voice, left me with a rather nasty cough tonight and an inability to sleep. So in order not to be sucked into a book or a movie which will keep me up even longer, I thought I'd attempt a bit of old fashioned blogging tonight. This desire may be the side effect of being quieted by this cold. I spoke a fair amount today in this rasp of a whisper I now call a voice, but in comparison to how much I usually go on about in a day, I have hours of worth of conversation still pent up inside of me!

So what fascinations, infatuates, or distracts me these days... hmmm... well... let's see.

Christmas is a mere 21 days away now, so that's been on the mind a lot! I am quite proud to report I nearly have all of my shopping done and took sincere and full advantage of many recent holiday related sales and coupons and such!

As I was out searching on Black Friday for stuff for my family, I did make quite a deal for myself finding the new book, Audrey 100, which I was able to score for nearly 90% off thanks to a combination of a weekend sale price, extra discount, and a coupon! It's a beautiful book, of course, but the price allowed me the purchase!

Another such deal lured me into making my first film purchases from the Warner Archive! I took advantage of their "Build a Bundle" deal and got a movie for my dad for Christmas, and a few goodies for me! I am very excited to see what the quality of these "Made On Demand" DVDs are like and since they shipped today it shouldn't be long before I know firsthand. I ordered a variety of films: Green Mansions with Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins, None But the Lonely Hearts with Cary Grant and Ethel Barrymore, Golden Arrow with Bette Davis, and the silent classic, Love, with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert. I've been on a huge silent film kick recently so I am extremely excited to watch that one!

My silent film mania was brought on in November thanks to the Moguls and Movie Stars series on TCM. Part six airs this coming Monday and I am sad that there's only one more episode left after that part. I have read a lot about the early days of the movie industry and covered that ground in a film history course on college, but I still find that looking back on those early pioneering days of the industry to be completely captivating and always fascinating. I think part of what I find very interesting about the movies is how the art form developes essentially alongside the industrial revolution and a whole host of industrial practices and values become a huge factor in the way in which films themselves were then made.

Gore Vidal has had a few spots throughout TCM's Moguls and Movie Stars lending his usual wit and wisdom to this look back at Hollywood's Golden Age, and seeing him got me looking at his work again. I picked up his books Hollywood and Empire and added them to my perpetual stack of reading material. On Tuesday, I finished reading Graham Greene's prose for screenplays of The Third Man and The Fallen Idol. It was an Orson Welles film kick that became a Carol Reed film kick that got me to reading Graham Greene again. I find that I have so many sincere interests in things that the cycle of my interests always leads me back to an artist, or author, or director, etc if my original interest was satisfied by their work and the work came to mean a lot to me on some artistic, emotional, or intellectual level. I am not one to boast or revel in one's self but I do like that I continue to stay curious as a person, that I wish to continue to learn and expand the base of knowledge which I possess in this life. I suppose it does no more than to entertain my mind and and keep me content, but that kind of personal joy cannot be taken lightly.

The other good read I finished this week was Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Library Volume 20, which was an incredible edition, focused on the life story of one, Jordan Wellington Lint. I found Lint's life story to be heartbreaking, frustrating, pathetic and loathsome as he moves through his life beginning to end. I don't think I have ever read a character who had my heart go out to him so completely in the beginning but then completely earned my full sense of digust by the end on the book. As always Volume 20, "Lint", was presented in Ware's signature mode of brilliantly designed panels and plot, as he uses the unique manner in which one can tell a story with this particular medium to its fullest and most realised form. This is a unique work of comic art!
Well, off to bed I think. Much to do in the morning and then work until 7PM. I am looking forward to being off Sunday so that I may rest and possibly best this cold for good! Reading and watching movies will be the order of the day!

Appreciation... The Wedding Present

2010-08-12T08:42:00.003-04:00

Last night, my friend, Kate and I had the good fortune of seeing The Wedding Present live in Harrisburg, PA (where I just so happen to live), and it was an experience both incredible and kind of unreal because let's face it... I never expected a band like this to play here! The show was planned to focus on playing their Bizarro album live, but some other favourites like "Corduroy" were featured too! I had the pleasure to meet their leader, David Gedge, and get him to autograph a flexi disc sleeve for me and talk to him for a moment. I thanked him for playing here and he was rather nice. Not a bad night! Not at all!

Anyways... here's some classic Wedding Present with "Brassneck"! Enjoy! I am off to work!

Appreciation... a new single from The Divine Comedy

2010-04-28T00:29:00.004-04:00

Bang goes the new Divine Comedy! I fancy this single!

The Divine Comedy's new single "At The Indie Disco" is taken from the new album
Bang Goes The Knighthood which is out now in the UK & Ireland!

Appreciation... Doves - Andalucia

2010-04-25T19:35:00.002-04:00

This song has been stuck in my head a lot this week.

"Andalucia", the new single from the new Doves album,The Places Between: The Best of Doves out now on Heavenly Recordings.

Anticipation... Adele Blanc-Sec

2010-04-24T23:08:00.000-04:00

I need two things to happen this fall:

1.) I need Fantagraphics Books to release their new additions of Jacques Tardi's Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec in glorious hardcover editions with the promised improved French to English translations.

2.) I need the Luc Besson film of The Extraordianry Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec to be distributed in the United States! Or I need to finally break down and buy that region free DVD player I keep looking at online.

From the Blog at Comix Connection - Looking Forward to Looking Back #17

2010-04-12T06:51:00.000-04:00

As Bill's still busy completing April's Previews orders for both stores, I thought I'd step in with another long winded post about classic comic collected editions on the horizon. Like last time, I'm just going to focus on one upcoming book, because it's easy to say so much about the man it is devoted to cover. The man was Alex Toth, the book is called Genius Isolated, and publisher IDW has scheduled this book for Fall 2010. This book is the project of IDW's king of comic reprints, Dean Mullaney, and he had this to say recently to Zack Smith of newsarama.com:

"We're in the midst of a sprawling biography of Alex Toth, titled Genius, Isolated and due out in October. We view it as sort of a bookend to our 2008 Scorchy Smith & The Art of Noel Sickles, which I think would tickle Alex, since he was such a huge Sickles fan."

"We're working with the approval and support of the Toth family, and in addition to detailed coverage of Alex's life story, we'll be presenting many rare or never-before-seen visuals, as well as complete reprints of several of his stories. We're excited to be offering readers new insights into the mind of Alex the man, and fresh, full-color examples of the work of Alex the artist's artist."

To say I'm very excited about this project would be an understatement. I find the older I get as a fan of comic books and as someone who is still trying to develop as an artist just in my own right, that there's this list I have of creators who inform and inspire me and Toth has taken a firm seat at the top of that list. My first exposure to Toth was the reprint of his and writer Archie Goodwin's story "Death Flies the Haunted Skies"(Detective Comics #442) that saw Batman go up against a killer using a Spad XIII plane as an instrument of vengeance. It was a thrill of a tale. Well paced, action packed, cinematic in its panels' angles and changing points of view, beautifully rendered (of course) with a line style honed to capture the important,elegant, and realistic points of a scene, this mere 11 page story left me wanting more. Okay... back then I just liked the fact that the blacks seemed so stark and the panels felt "simple". But I liked it. I wouldn't know until years later how much thought went into the "simple" simplicity of those well crafted pages. It also took me years to find much more of his work. Original comics with his stuff are hard to find and there was little reprinted by any publisher. When I did have the luck of finding something though I was really in luck because his stuff never disappoints.

Born in 1928, Toth had a long career in comic books from the early 1940s to the 1980s, but sadly to many readers today he is not a creator that has the recognition of a Jack Kirby or Joe Kubert. Maybe this is due to the fact that he didn't produce a body of recognisable work to match that of his contemporaries. Toth certainly produced many early super hero stories at DC Comics in the pages of All-Star Comics, All-American Comics, Green Lantern, and All-American Western, where he created the western hero, Johnny Thunder, with writer Robert Kanigher. As Toth developed as an artist though he seemed to gravitate more to work on genre books, which he enjoyed. He thrived as an artist on westerns and romance comic books. His eye for character interaction and his knack for drawing believably beautiful and captivating women enhanced his work greatly on these comics. He produced some incredible war comics for Standard Comics, DC Comics (see his story, "Burma Sky" in Our Fighting Forces #146) and other publishers, particularly when focusing on his admiration of aviators. In this area, Toth earned a distinction that not even Kirby could claim, as he received work from EC Comics on their two of their war titles.

Toth produced many comics based on TV and movie personalities, his most famous work on Zorro for publisher Dell. He also worked developing cartoon properties for Hanna Barbara such as Space Ghost and also DC Comics' Super Friends. Toth created many memorable horror stories for Warren Publishing and numerous other companies in his day. His sense for shadows lent itself perfectly to the atmosphere of the work and Toth could bring more terror to a scene more even in just using silhouettes than most artists now will ever understand in the violence they portray on page. Toth also had a passion for cars, and his Hot Rod comic stuff is highly sought after by comic and car enthusiasts alike! Toth was particular about projects he was offered and had many frustrations about the direction he saw comics going as a creator, and by the 1980s he bowed out of comics entirely but for the occasional pin up for he felt "the party's over, kiddies" and the comics had become too bleak, the heroes too twisted, the value of the storytelling too weak. Toth was never shy about these feelings, and through his correspondence with other creators and friends, and his magazine contributions often made his feelings known.

"I'm rewriting this for the umpteenth time, in different ways, yet saying the same thing -- that the party's over, kiddies! Since I was born in 1928 -- and was just old enough to applaud the first comic books in the early and mid-1930's, I've witnessed the best and worst of the form from then to now -- I loved the medium of the comic book as I did the syndicated comic strip in its countless forms, subjects, treatments -- in my time. Now in the autumn or winter of my life, my eyes have seen the bad drive out the good, the terminal deterioration and all-but-lost/dead adventure strip -- and the fun and magic, and delicious innocence and surprises in the comic book; which, unless room is made for such again, will not, cannot, should not, survive..."

Maybe Toth would have benefited being born maybe 20 years earlier, as his heart was always in the spirit of classic comic adventure strips of his earliest days. Maybe if he could have worked in that field before "everything changed after the Second World War" as he often lamented, his abilities and his pursuits would have placed him firmly amongst those comic strip creators like Roy Crane, Milton Caniff, and Noel Sickels whom he admired so much. But Toth worked in the time he lived and stayed true to who he was, and showed us the best of what he could do and contribute to the medium of comic books. One can receive a serious art education just reading Toth's work. I have taken his cue of framing shots naturally, not being afraid to obscure a character -even their face if it serves the scene, changing up perspective and point of view, using close ups only as needed... the list goes on and on. It serves my work as well as honouring his work. I think that's why Toth is an artist's artist. For as much as he was ever critical of the work of comic books, he also truly loved it as an art form and has left a body of advice as a creator that any artist could take to heart and apply to their own work.

"Study films, photographs, paintings, etc. for composition! For cutting, cropping out of non essentials, pacing, punch, economy, forceful and direct impact. But also for beauty and subtlety -tension, suspense, action, humor, light and dark, balance, line vs mass, ad infinitum! Use it all!"

"Emphasize what is important in a scene. Save drawing!"

"Strip it all down to the essentials and draw the hell out of what is left!"

"See---observe---remember! Build up your memory file!"

"Analyze everything you see-be critical! Positively so!"

"You must be your own best teacher all your life- with no 'middleman' to muck it up/confuse/dazzle you, with peripheral concerns having nothing to do with the truth, as you see it, draw it -your truth! It'll carry you through life."

"Don't play Maestro! It's a killer, for the adding to the accumulation of knowledge! Stay the wide-eyed student who needs to know more! Be curious!"

This isn't bad advice for most fields in life -artistic or otherwise.

There's been some notable books on Toth's work and his career by Kitchen Sink and Auld Publishing, but all of these are long out of print, so this news from IDW's very worthwhile. Toth deserves a retrospective like this on his life and his career. After reading the book IDW did on Noel Sickels, I can't wait to see the material that will be offered in this book!

Appreciation... Cinerama - Health and Efficiency

2010-04-11T10:05:00.000-04:00

I understand this song more and more the older I get. This song always just seems to go with the lazy weather today. Wish there was a proper video here, but this will have to do.

Appreciation... Heroes

2010-04-10T08:51:00.001-04:00

I present a toast to the classic heroes of yesteryear and the creators who gave them to us!

This wonderful piece was a pin-up from Anything Goes #1, published by Fantagraphics Books, October 1986. All through art school, I kept a copy of this pin up on the bulletin board above my drawing table. I still find it to be a simple but wonderful reminder of what I love most about comic books.

Determination... Trying to Make Up for Lost Time

2010-04-09T01:49:00.010-04:00

So here I am again! I must be somewhat serious about this new blogging initiative! I've been passing time this night night making a massive new play list to get me through my work day tomorrow, when it occurred to me to play catch up and post some videos for some of the bands I've been rather keen on these last few months. So without further a do...

The Rifles "Great Escape"

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir "Ellen's Telling Me What I Want To Hear"

Northern Portrait "New Favourite Moment"

The Mary Onettes "Puzzles"

Kitsch Device "Is This Home Now?"

Standard Fare "Philadelphia"

Marching Band "Another Day"

The Crookes "Bloodshot Days"

Resurrection... ?

2010-04-08T00:11:00.006-04:00

I miss my blog. I thought Facebook would be a better alternative to blogging here, but while my my audience there may be 94 friends strong, I think maybe 5 or 6 of them may have any remote interest in what it is I enjoy going on about. So Facebook doesn't exactly cut it, nor give me the freedom to post much substance. Twitter and me, well... it simply wasn't meant to be. So I'll try this again... like I've said before, and we'll see where it goes. I hate making promises I can't keep though, so let's consider this a test.

In my absence, I have discovered my blog is riddled with many videos with expired or removed links. I will see what I can do to fix these. I'd also like to start blogging more about other things that interest me such as books, comic books, and classic and foreign films. I wanted this blog to be a record of what fascinates me, but I think at times that my retail sensibilities shown through more than my aesthetic appreciation. I'd like to correct that a bit. Who knows... this may all be for not, and I'm feeling slightly pessimistic right now about a great many things, but this was always good, clean fun! So I'll give it one more go!

That's all for now... I do leave you with this video for "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" by Okkervil River as I'm off to sleep and reflect no more about the drama of my own life tonight. Enjoy!

From the Blog at Comix Connection - Looking Forward to Looking Back #16

2010-03-08T08:55:00.001-05:00

Good morning! It's good to be back in the Mechanicsburg store after the crazy week of relocting the York store and share the good news on a new collected edition project due out this summer from Titan Books! The project is The Simon and Kirby Superheroes, and Titan is boasting that this book is going to be a massive 480 page omnibus and will be printed at a special 11″ x 7-1/2″ over-sized format, thus reproducing the comic book pages in their original printed Golden Age size. This book is the first follow-up to Titan's The Best of Simon and Kirby, the first volume in The Official Simon and Kirby Library, and for this sequel, Titan owner and publisher, Nick Landau promises that "aside from their work for Marvel and DC, this will be all of the superhero stories Joe and Jack wrote and illustrated together from 1940 through 1960. It's a massive undertaking, but our team is ready to take it on."

I think the efforts of the Simon and Kirby Library publishing initiative are important to honor these men's achievements and contributions to the art of comics. The creative output of these two men in the span of two decades did so much to take the very young medium of the comic book and advanced it to the state of a true art form. These guys weren't just creators of comics, they were pioneers of comics. They were some of the earliest artists to bring a bit of the "cinematic" to comic books by expanding their storytelling beyond simply employing the standard comic strip format which was often applied to a comic page at that time. It was understandable the comics looked that way in their inception as a comic book was initially just a reprint collection for comic strips, but Simon and Kirby broke new ground in using center spreads to expand a scene. These techniques and their use of dynamic perspectives and exaggerated forms in action became the signature trademarks of Simon and Kirby's work! The pair started together on a science fiction story, but throughout their time together they'd work on books creating numerous adventure and super-heroes, they contributed early work to the horror genre of comics with their title, Black Magic, and the pair are credited with the creation of the romance comic with their title, Young Romance. They also produced many fine examples of crime and detective, western, and war comics during the time of their partnership.

Simon and Kirby had both gotten into comic book work in the late 1930s, but their paths didn't cross until Kirby got work at Fox Feature Syndicate where Simon had been serving as an editor. Simon recalled to panelists at the 1998 San Diego Comic-Con(Jack Kirby Collector #25) "I loved Jack's work and the first time I saw it I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He asked if we could do some freelance work together. I was delighted and I took him over to my little office. We worked from the second issue of Blue Bolt." After working on Blue Bolt #2 and then The Champion #9, Kirby followed Simon from Fox and to take a better paying gig at Timely Comics, a comic book publishing arm of pulp magazine publisher, Martin Goodman's Timely Publications Company. Goodman was interested in venturing into comic book publishing and after the hit he had with Marvel Comics #1, Goodman began assembling an in-house staff, hiring writer-artist Joe Simon as editor, making Simon the first official employee of the new Timely Publications. Simon negotiated Kirby's move to Timely and their wages at the company, and they quickly demonstrated their worth by creating Captain America, the seminal patriotic hero of the 1940s. Captain America #1 arrived on newsstands in 1941, sold out in days, and the second issue's print run was set at over a million copies. The title's success established the team as a notable creative force in the industry and the first issue's success established Kirby as the art director at Timely. Oddly enough, these years at Timely also set the stage for the second great creative collaboration of Kirby's career, as Joe Simon hired a young wannabe writer, Stan Lee, to serve as his office assistant. The fabled Marvel Age of comics laid its foundation not only in the characters which emerged from Timely publishing but also in the assemblage of its creative staff. Working with Simon was pivotal in Lee's creative development as he's stated "Lucky for me, when I entered comics Joe Simon was my mentor. In script, art, and editing he was the master."

While time at Timely was good for Simon and Kirby, their working relationship was not just forged in the Timely bullpen but also through the freelance work they produced outside the company as well. One such example of this work is their work on The Black Owl for Prize Comics. In fact, it is with that mysterious costumed hero that this edition of the Simon and Kirby Library will commence their Superheroes collection. This upcoming volume will also include the big-top swashbuckler known as Stuntman, the Runyonesque adventurer The Vagabond Prince, the entire run of the cold-war patriot The Fighting American, and The Fly and Private Strong—whcih were the final Simon and Kirby collaborations before Jack Kirby made the move to help launch the Marvel Universe.

Series editor, Steve Saffel wants readers to know Titan Books has "got some amazing surprises in store” with this project. For example, Restoration wizard Harry Mendryk will take the groundbreaking 1953 adventures of Captain 3-D and convert them to their original line art. These classic stories also feature artwork by Mort Meskin and a young Steve Ditko–who went on to co-create The Amazing Spider-Man at Marvel–and will be published in full color for the first time. “Plus, with a little help from our friends, we’ve located a bunch of never-before-published pages starring Stuntman,” Saffel revealed. “Many of the pages are in the hands of private collectors, with others coming directly from the Joe Simon archives. As a result, we’ll be able to pull together nearly the entire story, 'Stuntman Crowns a Jungle Lord,” and offer up other exciting features for the readers.”

If you'd like to learn more about Titan Publishing efforts to bring the Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Library to new readers, learn about this new upcoming volume, and Titan's plans for future volumes focusing on their work in horror, detective, and romance comics, please visit the project's official website!

Thanks for reading!

From the Blog at Comix Connection - Looking Forward to Looking back #15

2010-02-08T07:20:00.005-05:00

Holy Katz N Jammerkids! It's been a couple weeks now since I've had a chance to do a new post! In my posting absence though, I decided I would work these posts in a direction other than merely relaying information on what classic comic material is available, but I wish to also discuss why the availability of this classic comic material is important as many of you visiting our site may have no experience with the material I cover. And that's okay. Many readers may have no interest in these old comics and strips at all, which is also fine. But... if you're really interested in comics and in where comics as an art form are going then you really should take time to read and learn a bit about where the comics have been and how the medium of comics has progressed and become this thing we know it to be today.

The actress, Lauren Bacall, once said of old movies that "only when you've seen a movie does it make a film an old movie. If you've never seen or tried a classic film, then it's still a "new" movie. I not only agree with her, but I think the notion can be applied quite easily to "old comics" too. In every volume I've allowed myself to discover of books such as Little Nemo or Krazy Kat or Bringing Up Father, I have found an experience that was not only enjoyable but the material was fresh and new! After all, I didn't grow up in the early 1900s, the Teens, or the Twenties, but the comic strips from those days are vastly appealing as the gags and the comedy is still intact, the artwork is just as spirited and often mesmerising, and I often learn something of not only this art form's past but the past of us as a collective people and nation. Just the same, I didn't grow up reading the adventure comics or strips of the Thirties, Forties, or Fifties, but I admire the art, the storytelling, and the heroism those stories had to offer readers. These works are now considered timeless because their best qualities remain intact for readers today. I find the material in these books is gratifying for the cost, I appreciate the restoration efforts that go into them, and I also like to think in some way I am helping to preserve the early days of an art form that has survived long enough to now have a history. A history that deserves to be explored. Fortunately, for us modern readers that exploration is possible with all of the various reprint efforts by publishers today.

So in the weeks ahead, I'm going to endeavour to cover a lot of comic ground and spotlight artists and strips and comics that deserve your attetnion, or if you're already familiar with them, maybe then a second look. There have been substantial efforts in the last twenty plus years to bring comic readers a selection of the best that the early days of this medium had to offer, but for these efforts to continually thrive these works need exposure to new readers and not just us who already appreciate the look back.

Stay Tuned!

Anticipation... Phoenix and Chairlift Show on Sept. 28th

2009-09-18T22:49:00.005-04:00

Looks like this may be Lexi and my next concert experience at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia!

Here's the video for Chairlift's newest single "Evident Utensil"!

Chairlift - "Evident Utensil" Music Video from Data Mosher on Vimeo.

Video directed by Ray Tintori
Cinematography by Rob Leitzell
Datamoshery by Bob Weisz
Shot at Maison du Z, July 11th, 2008.

And I can't forget to include something by Phoenix! This is the incredibly catchy "Lisztomania" single from the new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix!

Directed by Antoine Wagner
Produced by Gangfilms
2009

Appreciation... Robert Benchley

2009-09-15T15:31:00.005-04:00

Turner Classic Movies has been honouring Robert Benchley all day as its his birthday. Benchley was born on September 15, 1889 and died on November 21, 1945. To those unfamiliar with Benchley, he was an important American humorist best known for his work as a newspaper and magazine columnist and critic and as an actor and Hollywood personality. To go on about Benchley would swiftly devour the spare time I am afforded this afternoon, so I'm including this link for the curious to his wikipedia entry.

Before I turn my attention back to the film marathon in his honour, I thought I'd include some examples of the humourous short films of Mr. Benchley. Weekend at the Waldorf begins now.

Enjoy the shorts!

Anticipation... New Dappled Cities

2009-09-03T00:45:00.006-04:00

Tuesday, September 15th, Australian indie rockers, Dappled Cities, will be releasing their third full length studio album, Zounds! This is an ablum I have really been looking forward to since hearing the first single "The Price" and adds yet another fine addition to the growing list of albums I need to buy this fall! It's a good season for music!

Well, isn't it always!

Here's the video for that single!

Learn more at their official album site!

Frustration... The Month of August

2009-09-01T00:34:00.004-04:00

I've had a fine summer, but the month of August and I did not hit it off. The summer heat that I detest so much finally set in and the move I was all excited and had begun packing for never happened at all. There was other minor business going on, but all and all I really can't complain. Just glad summer's nearly over... I am so ready for fall! I also still very much wish to move. I think I'm waiting until spring on that one though. It's time to say good bye to Harrisburg, but I think Lancaster city sounds very nice indeed!

Appreciation... Kate Bush on German TV

2009-08-02T11:17:00.006-04:00

Performing two singles, "Kite" and "Wuthering Heights", here's Kate Bush's first appearance on German television in 1978! I am convinced the internet exists to find cool stuff like this!

KATE BUSH kite/wuthering heights
Uploaded by rizzio - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Jubilation... I'm Moving to a New Apartment!

2009-08-01T08:51:00.000-04:00

If my new blog effort really drops off this month, I actually have a good excuse for my absence because I'm moving out of my old place. I'm really going to miss it and I am dreading the prospect of moving all of my stuff, but I am so anxious to have a bigger apartment! Especially with a kitchen that I am really have some space in!

So yes... if the posting diminishes this is why and I'll post more as soon as possible! Also if anyone wishes to help me move, please let me know!

Appreciation... Chairlift

2009-07-29T00:09:00.000-04:00

The song "Bruises" was the catchiest and cutest indie pop song I had heard in forever and it finally has a video! Not just the track from an I-Pod commercial anymore, this is the single from Chairlift's album "Does You Inspire You".

Anticipation... The Smiths Vinyl Reissues Hit Soon!

2009-07-28T12:05:00.001-04:00

Now this is something! If you've been waiting anxiously like I have for remastered editions of The Smiths' albums, then save your pennies and mark August 25th on your calendar! The four original studio albums all will finally see a quality reissue on that day on vinyl with the inclusion of a digital copy of the tracks. As of right now there's no word on any reissue of the US singles compilation album, Louder Than Bombs, or the live album, Rank!. I would love to see the British singles compilations, Hatful of Hollow and The World Won't Listen in the future too!

Frustration... Video Shutdown

2009-07-23T11:03:00.001-04:00

Well, thanks to a lot of new efforts by recording companies to control and restrict how their bands' videos are shared online, I seem to have a number of videos disappearing from my blog. I had debated scrapping this whole effort, but I am confident through other sources I will be able to find something to post on here. I understand why these policies are in order. I am merely promoting my interests with this site and collecting mementos of my fascinations, curiosities, and guilty pleasures into one place. I own none of the material presented and do not upload any material for one to consume and violate copyright laws of any kind. I credit each artist and state what album one could obtain to buy such songs. I encourage real album buying, but if mp3s are your thing there's plenty of legal sources for that. I personally am divided in my feelings regarding downloads and even online shopping, because I am tired of watching brick and mortar stores shrink their inventory of CDs and DVDs. But that's a whole other topic for ranting...

Appreciation... New Coldplay Video

2009-07-21T00:05:00.002-04:00

Here's a video I really like right now! This is the official music video for Coldplay's "Strawberry Swing", from their album Viva la Vida! This video is directed by the creative/animation team Shynola. If you'd like to learn more about this team's work, just check out this link for a list of their video credits.

Coldplay - Strawberry Swing
Vezi mai multe video din Muzica

Recognition and appreciation... 40th Anniversary of a Man Walking on the Moon

2009-07-20T08:01:00.003-04:00

Forty years ago today, July 20th, 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully put the first man, specifically Neil Armstrong, on the surface on the moon.

Armstrong was joined in his exploration of the moon's dusty surface by Buzz Aldrin, while Command Module Pilot, Michael Collins remained in orbit circling the moon. They embarked on the lunar bound mission with the launch of the Saturn V rocket on July 16, 1969, and some four days later President John F Kennedy's goal of reaching the moon by the end of the 1960s was fulfilled. A famous aspiration he had expressed during his speech given before a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961: "I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth."

For anyone interested in celebrating the day in true cinephile fashion, Turner Classic Movies is showing a variety of "Moon" related films to honour the occasion all day long. I highly recommend the prime time showing tonight of director Al Reinert's 1989 documentary, For All Mankind. It airs at 8:15PM. Also recommended is Philip Kaufman's The Right Stuff (1983), then at 10:00PM. The prime time segment tonight also features introductions by TCM host Robert Osborne with special guest host, Buzz Aldrin.

In the meantime here's some video from the ReelNASA channel on YouTube which is certainly marking today in high clip fashion! This is a wonderful resource collection for anyone looking to remember the history of NASA's accomplishments or to learn more about these missions for the first time. The general public doesn't quite follow the exploits of the work NASA continues to do in space, but here's hoping an anniversary such as this may ignite some new imaginations regarding the possibilities in space that still lay ahead for all of humankind.

Appreciation... The Sundays

2009-07-19T11:13:00.004-04:00

Just time for a quick post for today! I'm off to do some shopping and enjoy a day of rather idle activity. I thought this track would be most appropriate for a sunny summer Sunday afternoon!

The Sundays - "Summertime"

The Sundays - Summertime - Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Appreciation... The 50% Off Criterion DVDs Sale at B&N!

2009-07-18T23:14:00.005-04:00

I am connected to Barnes and Noble merely on a consumer level, so this post is merely to state my satisfaction as a DVD buyer because hot damn has 50% off Criterion DVDs made my weekend a little more special! I know other places have run good deals on them online, such as Criterion themselves, but to walk into a store and be able to drool over the assortment and then take my purchases immediately home... well, that is where it's at for me! I made the fine purchase of two British films, The Red Shoes(#44) and the D-Day saga,Overlord(#382), the French New Wave masterpiece, Last Year at Marienbad(#478), and the landmark German film, The Testament of Dr, Mabuse(#231). It will be a fine movie watching weekend, indeed!

Thank you Criterion and thank you Barnes & Noble!

Here's some trailers for my picks!

The Red Shoes(1948)

Overlord(1975)

Last Year at Marienbad(1961) - (a re-release trailer)

And finally... The Testament of Dr. Mabuse(1933)

Appreciation... Kate Bush

2009-07-17T22:53:00.005-04:00

I am not sure why but I have had Kate Bush's song "Wuthering Heights" in my head all night! It was the first video track of her video collection The Whole Story, which I still proudly hold in my VHS tape collection but I'm unfortunately without a VCR at present. Fortunately thanks to the magic of the Internet I can indulge in viewing this video on occasion! I also learned there's an alternate "Red Dress" version, so I am including them both!

Version one...

And version two...

I'll have to do further research to find all the other twelve videos from the collection some night!

Appreciation... Franz Ferdinand

2009-07-16T23:49:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post of Franz Ferdinand's rather clever video for "Can't Stop Feeling"! Sadly I have to admit their third album Ulysses took some time to grow on me, but seeing them live back in May certainly helped! It was an amazing show! I have to say they are the most energetic band I have ever seen live! I've been enthralled by this album ever since!

I hope to have more time to post tomorrow, as I still want to rave about the Camera Obscura show!

Thanks to Sphere of Repugnance for the video recommendation!

Realisation... Today is the Birthday of Ian Curtis

2009-07-15T22:42:00.003-04:00

If he had not hung himself on May 15, 1980, Ian Curtis, the front man of Joy Division would have been 53 years old today. I thought I'd post the video for "Atmosphere" tonight in remembrance of him.

If you don't know about Ian's life and work but would like to do so, you can read more here.

Appreciation... New Regina Spektor album!

2009-07-14T00:02:00.000-04:00

I had been anxiously awaiting a new album from Regina Spektor and on June 23rd the album, Far, finally arrived and well worth the over three year wait since Begin to Hope which hit back on June 13th, 2006! Wow... where does time go!

So let me share some tracks with you! First up is "Laughing With" with a video directed by Adria Petty that is visually beautiful as the song is lyrically!

Equally gorgeous is the song and the video for "Eet"

Appreciation... Anni Rossi

2009-07-13T19:52:00.003-04:00

I have to admit that I had never heard of Anni Rossi before attending the Camera Obscura show in Philly recently, but seeing her live made me an instant fan! She was the opening act for the evening and when she took the stage with just her violin and her drummer, Devin Maxwell, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I was instantly astounded by her songs, her voice, and her versatile handling of her instrument. I can't think that I have ever seen someone handle their violin not only as a classical string instrument but as a percussion instrument as well. But you don't need my meager assessment of her work, just watch the videos here and let her performance speak for itself!

Live from The Interview Show hosted by Mark Bazer at The Hideout, in Chicago, here's the track "Machine".

Also here is her official video for "The West Coast" off of her new album Rockwell, out now on 4AD Records. This was directed by: Rollin Hunt.

Greatest appreciation... God Help the Girl

2009-07-12T01:42:00.006-04:00

On June 22ND, I had the good fortune to see Camera Obscura in Philly at the Theatre of Living Arts and the show as well as the entire day was incredible! I forgot how much fun shopping on South Street can be. Especially cool was devoting some serious time to some serious searching for music at Repo Records! I came out of there with some cool finds like an Adorable collection, an old Idlewild CD, a Voxtrot EP, and several other older items, but the two new album purchases for the day were the new Regina Spektor and the Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian spin off concept musical story project, God Help the Girl.

It's an ambitious project and the result is an infectious album that I can't stop listening to even now some three weeks later. The project is supported by a fine website featuring music, videos, news, and all sorts of information on the players and the tale. While I've been lamenting the lack of a new Belle and Sebastian album for some time now, I will say I couldn't be more pleased with this distraction for the band. This project musically offers all the classic sophisticated pop sounds one expects from Stuart and the gang with the flavour of the best girl groups of the sixties thanks to the musical addition of a cast of superbly talented female vocalists.

Here's the video introduction to the project!

Also check out the video for the single "Come Monday Morning"

And if you are still with me, here's a behind the scenes clip I'm including mostly because you can catch a bit of guest vocalist, Neil Hannon's contribution on the track "Perfection as a Hipster" during the beginning of this segment.

Next posts will cover the Camera Obscura show, Anni Rossi, and the new Regina Spektor album! Stay tuned!

How about a new post!

2009-07-11T23:22:00.004-04:00

I thought it was time! It's been too long since my last one, but I guess I am not ready to abandon this effort quite yet! I have all kinds of things in fact to go on about like new shows, new albums, new books, my rekindled fascination for Twin Peaks and cherry pie... the list goes on and on! I am also going to try to get many of the incomplete drafts of posts that I started here and there over the last couple months completed to fill some holes in my posting breaks. I can do this and I am getting ready to create another blog with my girlfriend, so that's coming too!

Please stay tuned!

Also I want to wish my little sister a Happy Birthday! Love you, Jen!

Fascination... Twin Peaks!

2009-06-27T09:28:00.002-04:00

I've been the proud owner of the Definitive Twin Peaks box set since it came out, but unfortunately have never made the time to sit down and watch the entire set. My last attempt was back in January of this year and my girlfriend and I stalled around episode 6 or 7. But now our interest has been jump started and I am confident after last night's viewing of episodes that we are going to finish it! I hope to thoroughly geek out will a lengthy post once we reach the conclusion of Season Two and take in Fire Walk With Me.

May we spend our next several nights facing the evil of those woods in earnest with coffee, pie, and perfect courage.

Compensation... a fill-in post!

2009-06-16T11:53:00.001-04:00

I wanted to post something for today but I've got nothing cooking for the blog today! It's my day off and I'm lazy... lounging and old movie watching is the order of the day!

Fascination... Lost Coastlines

2009-05-02T08:32:00.001-04:00

Okkerville River's "Lost Coastlines" is a song I cannot get out of my head lately! Allow me to share it with you!

The video is not what I would have imagined for the track. I suppose I was too literally imagining some sort of shenanigans at sea and less men with TV heads. Love it all the same though!

Appreciation... New Art Brut Album

2009-04-23T20:21:00.003-04:00

I love this band and this new album Art Brut vs Satan had me sold as soon I saw the song title "DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake"! What else does a guy need?

Life is especially hard
When no one trusts you with a credit card
I love the taste of cereal
I have it for almost every meal
Five people to a tea bag?
My life never really got that bad
Not while we still had...

DC comics and chocolate milkshake
Some things will always be great
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
Even though I'm 28
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
I guess I'm just developing late
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
I never got over that amazing taste

I've been accused of some things
I'm not sure what they've meant
Peter Pan syndrome, and arrested development
Now I've been working since I was 10
But the money's always gone by the weekend
Delivering post to serving beer
I've never had much of a career
So I made sure I was always near...

DC comics and chocolate milkshake
Some things will always be great
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
Even though I'm 28
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
I guess I'm just developing late
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
I never got over that amazing taste

I'm in love with a girl in my comic shop
She's a girl who likes comics;
She probably gets a lot

DC comics and chocolate milkshake
Some things will always be great
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
Even though I'm 28
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
I guess I'm just developing late
DC comics and chocolate milkshake
I never got over that amazing taste

(DC comics and chocolate milkshake)
Some things will always be great
Even though I'm 28
I guess I'm just developing late
I never got over that sweet, sweet taste

Now that's a song I understand!

Appreciation... New Camera Obscura album out today!

2009-04-21T09:05:00.000-04:00

That's right, Camera Obscura's My Maudlin Career arrives in US record stores today! I gotta make the trip to Barnes and Noble if not today then soon! I love this new single so much!

Here's the video for "French Navy"

Appreciation... Of Montreal Live!

2009-04-15T03:29:00.000-04:00

It is April 15th now... we are home and exhausted from the surreal experience that is Of Montreal live and soon sleep will come. Already video is up from some showgoer other than I, and while the sound quality is off the video does capture a bit of the theatre of the absurd antics of the evening!

This band is amazing live! Amazing! Their crazy tiger man guy is totally going to show up in my dreams though... I just know it! Now you can see him too!

Congratulations... TCM turns 15 years old!

2009-04-14T00:37:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday TCM! You continue to be the television channel my TV stays set on! As an avid devotee of classic films, I keep paying for cable each month just to support and enjoy this network! I buy a lot of classic movies but I I have found so many obscure pictures thanks to TCM, and I own a DVD recorder so there's that great advantage of being able to record a lot of this stuff! Thanks to programming each month like the Star of the Month, The Essentials, Silent Sundays, TCM Imports, Guest Programmer nights, and all the various spotlights on directors, stars, etc. there's just such a wealth of film info available if you love classic movies! So Happy Birthday TCM! Here's to all that's yet to come!

I also have to confess that I kind of really want to order a Robert Osborne Bobblehead...

...too cool!

Appreciation... Lady of a Certain Age live

2009-04-12T02:45:00.003-04:00

Idle time spent on YouTube led me to this little gem -my favourite track from Neil Hannon's Divine Comedy album Victory for the Comic Muse.

Anticipation... New Maximo Park Album

2009-04-04T22:48:00.000-04:00

Here's some good news! I just found out tonight that there's new music from Maximo Park on the horizon and here's the new single "The Kids Are Sick Again" to prove it! Video taken from the forthcoming album Quicken the Heart, available in stores on May 12th!

Anticipation... Upcoming Concert Calendar!

2009-04-01T20:27:00.008-04:00

Since July of 2008 I have kind of slowing been getting back into the thrill of enjoying live music and getting out to see shows. I get frustrated that living in Central PA there's not a lot of cool stuff to do sometimes, but we are within driving distance of all kinds of big cities! Once upon a time, I took advantage of this a lot and roamed to Philly and Baltimore and NYC for shows, but as things go in life, I gave it up. I can't even think of a reason why... maybe just how things go with your attention span as you grow up, etc, etc. But I have really been enjoying going to shows again and seeing the bands I adore live and having someone to share my adoration for these bands has done the most to inspire this renaissance of activity in my life! And quite fortunately I have a number of cool events coming up I can report that Lexi and I will be attending in the weeks ahead!

First up... April 14th @ Sonar in Baltimore, Lexi and I are seeing Of Montreal!

Next, we have tickets to see Franz Ferdinand with an opening act I am very excited about, Born Ruffians, on May 6th @ The Electric Factory!

Then for Lexi's birthday on May 16th, I have got us tickets to see The Shins in Philadelphia again @ The Electric Factory!

And the last show immediately on our horizon is the Camera Obscura show @ The Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia! They're touring in support of their new album that hits store on April 20th!

So that'll give me some stuff to blog about in the weeks ahead!

Good times, good times...

Compensation... a fill in post!

2009-03-28T07:24:00.001-04:00

Enjoy some good clean fun with a game of hipster bingo! Print copies of this card for you and your friends!

That's all I've got for today!

Appreciation... Recent Heavy Rotation Favourites!

2009-03-27T09:57:00.000-04:00

I'm the type of person who gets easily stuck on a good album and it doesn't leave my attention if it strikes that certain chord inside of me upon discovering it! There's been a number of great albums and bands that have come into my attention the last several months, but in my blog neglect have never mentioned much here. So I'm going to do a little musical catch up today with this post and mention Glasgow, Scotland's, Glasvegas, whose first full length album which hit in the UK back in September 8th, 2008, finally made its State-side debut on January 6, 2009 with two bonus tracks! Their sound was exciting right from the beginning reminding me of the best sonic guitar moments of The Jesus and Mary Chain meeting that brand of lyrical sensitivity UK and Irish songwriters simply excel in writing!

Enjoy!

Appreciation... All You Need is Morrissey

2009-03-25T08:41:00.001-04:00

Here's a quick daily dose of Morrissey for the Moz fan in you and he gives you a new boast and a classic track for good measure!

Enjoy! You are welcome! Thank you Morrissey! Thank you Jools Holland!

Appreciation... For the English Romantic in you! Poetry meets Music meets Film.

2009-03-21T00:56:00.001-04:00

I just discovered a fan made video for Neil Hannon's setting of Wordsworth's fifth "Lucy" poem to music from the Divine Comedy album Liberation which is used here to soundtrack a segment of A Journey to Avebury which is avant garde filmmaker, Derek Jarman's 1971 silent short landscape film. I am impressed how such various works of art cross paths with this video.

This is Jarman's original film.

Recollection... Morrissey Show = Amazing!

2009-03-20T23:42:00.002-04:00

I am so much later posting this than I wanted to be but it's been a crazy busy week, but I had to finally do a quick post to say the Morrissey show in Pittsburgh was everything I hoped it would be and more! I suppose the big thrill my girlfriend and I were anticipating for this show was seeing him perform songs from his days with The Smiths, and he certainly did not disappoint! The first song of the show was "This Charming Man", which he belted out as if a personal anthem, and how him how could it not be?!? He also performed "How Soon Is Now?", "Ask", "Death of a Disco Dancer", and "I Keep My Hidden" (remember that little B-side gem from their final time as a band). I had seen Morrissey in 1991, and he performed material from that period of his career obviously, but this time around he visited it seemed mostly solo material from after that point, so nothing from Viva Hate or Kill Uncle or the intervening eps of that time were part of this show. The oldest solo material I recall hearing was "The Loop" a b-side from the "Sing Your Life" single. He did work a number of sad songs like "The World Is Full of Crushing Bores" and "Let Me Kiss You" into the set, and an obvious inclusion for a show on St. Patrick's Day was "Irish Blood, English Heart". Tracks he performed from the new album included "Something is Squeezing My Skull", "I Am Throwing My Arms Around Paris", and "That's How People Grow Up". I would say it was every bit as good as a show I enjoyed the first time with Morrissey, and honestly as a performer I think he has only improved with age. This show was extremely special to me! We had amazing seats near the front, but the best part was easily having Lexi and her mutual love of Morrissey at my side the entire night!

I could say so much more, but I think sleep beckons for tonight! I also want to make mention quick though of my old buddy, Eric Orchard, who commented on my previous post asking for a review of the show! His website is listed in my links, and his illustration work is amazing so please pay his blog a visit!

Here's some video clips that have already made their way onto YouTube! Enjoy...

My Blog is One Year Old Today!

2009-03-11T08:20:00.002-04:00

It's a rather minor cause for celebration but here I am one year later with the blog!

Where does the time go... well, here's to year two!

Anticipation... Seeing Morrissey in March!

2009-03-01T00:09:00.001-05:00

So it's now officially March, and in a mere seventeen days Lexi and I are venturing to Pittsburgh, PA for Morrissey's show at the Carnegie Music Center! Very excited we are... as our love of The Smiths and mutual appreciation for the great Moz was an immediate interest for us to bond over as a burgeoning couple!

From the new album, Years of Refusal, this is Morrissey and the boys performing "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" on Tonight with Jonathan Ross. Watch they entire clip too for they also play another little diddy you might recognise!

Appreciation.... Ironville

2009-02-28T22:39:00.003-05:00

I haven't gone on about any Swedish bands in a while now so here's a wonderfully animated video by Henrik Öhberg for the song, "Roses" by the band Ironville. I truly love this track! They're a band that pull off something I always thought would be fun with being a band and that is just making music that morphs and moves through whatever genres and styles appeal to them using multiple singers and as many instruments as they can fill a stage with at a time!

This is the video for "Roses"!

Appreciation... Yea Yeah! The Matt & Kim Show Equalled Awesome!

2009-02-27T08:42:00.004-05:00

Last night, my girlfriend and I took in the Matt & Kim show at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD, and it was an amazing time indeed! We even got to meet them before the show and they kindly autographed the sleeve to their EP for us, and Matt in particular was very talkative and excited for the show as it was their first in the city for 2009.

Their set was incredible! We were right up front, and they parked the drums and keyboard so close to the edge of the stage that we could read their "Matt & Kim" masking tape name tags on their equipment! The show was all high energy... stop to finish! So much fun and such a great night! This being the first show Lexi and I have ever hit together makes it rather special too!

Anticipation... Matt & Kim at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD Feb. 26th!

2009-02-13T11:14:00.004-05:00

I haven't been to a show in since the fall, so I picked up tickets to see that cool cute indie couple, Matt & Kim, in Baltimore as part of a Valentine's Day gift for my girlfriend. We're bursting with crazy, hyper excitement for the show! So in the meantime we've been frequently blasting tracks from the new album in the car and learning the lyrics to all the cool new songs because isn't that what an awesome new album is for after all!

From their new full length album, Grand, this is the video for "Daylight"!

Confession... Failed Blog Effort

2009-02-12T08:52:00.001-05:00

Modern life has been keeping me busy, busy, busy and I really have let this page go! My time is precious and I have been so busy doing this and doing that, that blogging has not been on my list of things to do!

Truth be told, I have also been suffering a bit of blog envy, because I follow so many amazing blogs that showcase new music, and I feel they cover more bands and do a better job than I will ever possibly do. But ultimately, this blog was just for me to kind of put the things I like to look at or hear somewhere that I could find them easily and in turn showcase them a bit too to the people I know and care about -along with anyone else who happens to stumble across my page!

So I'll give it another go... see where it goes... and try to have some fun with it once more!

Stay tuned!

Jubilation... New Bird and the Bee Album in Stores Today!

2009-01-27T08:31:00.002-05:00

I'm very excited for this one! Enjoy this video and buy the album! There's no better way to start the day!

"Polite Dance Song"

Polite Dance Song - the bird and the bee

Lamentation... Where, oh where has my blog efforts gone?

2009-01-05T23:49:00.002-05:00

It does seem like I have rather abandoned this endeavour, does it not? Well, I have been in debate of it for some time now, because I am trying to reduce the time I spend online and devote it to making art. One only has so much free time, you know! I may begin though to shift my posts to other topics too as posting videos is getting to be trickier and trickier business online these days... who knows! I have tried to feature musicians properly and respectfully and make no profit for any of my efforts. But nonetheless, I don't wish to step on any corporate copyright toes!

For tonight... a particular favourite from The Divine Comedy, "The Perfect Love Song"

For my Lexi-Love!

Assertion... Getting Back into the Swing of Regular Posting

2008-11-30T16:20:00.000-05:00

I haven't been posting... but I'm gonna try to get back into the swing of it this week a bit! Working retail this time of year eats up a lot of time and energy, but let's see what I can do for the month of December!

So for today just to get a post up, I'm throwing out a quick song I've had stuck in my head by the Vancouver band, 16mm. This is from their TBA release date self-titled EP.

"S.O.S."

Enjoy!

Anticipation... New Franz Ferdinand Album in 2009!

2008-11-19T23:46:00.000-05:00

I am very much anticipating this release! Franz Ferdinand's third album, Tonight is set to be a 12 track album featuring the following track list as of now:

#1. "Ulysses"
#2. "Turn It On"
#3. "No You Girls Never Know"
#4. "Twilight Omens"
#5. "Send Him Away"
#6. "Live Alone"
#7. "Bite Hard"
#8. "What She Came For"
#9. "Can't Stop Feeling"
#10. "Lucid Dreams"
#11. "Dream Again"
#12. "Katherine Kiss Me"

January 2oth is the street date for this release here in the States, but in the meantime here's a preview of the first single, "Ulysses". I'm also including a preview of the track "Lucid Dreams" which the band been previewing already this year, but they final album version is said to be different. Hopefully this is the sign of a very strong album to come!

"Ulysses"

"Lucid Dreams"

Appreciation... Snow Patrol "If There's a Rocket Tie Me to It"

2008-11-10T01:37:00.000-05:00

I think this is a beautiful song. It's hard to not to be with that someone you love. Sometimes it's just the fragments left behind, the moments that you shared and store up in your head as all you have to hang onto to.

"A fire, a fire
you can only take what you can carry.
A pulse, your pulse
it's the only thing I can remember..."

Dedication... Bright Eyes "The First Day of My Life"

2008-11-09T12:14:00.003-05:00

Back to blogging with a song for someone very dear to me...

Realisation... A Union Can Be Perfected!

2008-11-05T00:26:00.004-05:00

To say I am happy tonight, to say I am satisfied tonight would be an understatement... I knew this moment could be achieved and this day has been won! But it's only the beginning... I am so anxious to see what's next... and I think I would somehow like to be some part of the call to service that we will see in our country. The is the most triumphant moment of history I have witnessed in my lifetime! I am proud to be an American. I am proud to call Barrack Obama my president.

Realisation.... We Still Have A Lot Of Work To Do!

2008-11-04T00:25:00.003-05:00

This is it people! Let's bring about some change! I'm going to be up in 4 and a half hours, and I'm going to vote, and if I can do anything else to help tomorrow in my time before or after work, I would like to do that too!

Anticipation... Election Day November 4th, 2008!

2008-11-03T22:44:00.007-05:00

It's almost upon us! Finally! I am excited! Not because I am tired of all the campaigning stuff, the commercials, the signs everywhere but because I am very thrilled to cast my ballot tomorrow. I hope my vote joins enough other votes to effectively end the reign of an administration that has held this nation in a stranglehold of ignorance and fear for the last eight years and replace it with an opportunity for hope and real change.

I feel this is my little corner of the internet, so yes... I can proudly say I am voting for Obama/Biden tomorrow! I don't care how anyone else votes, that's an individual choice each of us makes, I'm simply stating my preference. I haven't gotten too political on this blog, but I think there's a place for it now. I had the opportunity to volunteer a bit during this campaign and I think the thing that frustrated me the most during my time phone banking was talking to voters who simply feel there vote doesn't even matter. No matter how you vote, no one should feel they have no interest in this process.

This is the moment! I am very excited to have witnessed a man such as Barrack Obama politically take shape in my lifetime. Tomorrow I choose hope!

Frustration... Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before But I've Been Too Busy To Post!

2008-10-27T22:46:00.003-04:00

I had been doing so well with regular posting, but with everything going on lately my best efforts have been lost. But my goal is to recover this week with some regular posts.

Stay tuned! Enjoy some classic Smiths!

Morrissey hair galore!

Appreciation... new Keane album, Perfect Symmetry in stores today!

2008-10-14T09:08:00.004-04:00

Well, I've been a bit surprised by the sound of what I have previewed of Keane's third album, but it's kind of growing on me. It seems the trio is now a quartet and they've moved beyond their piano driven happy-sad pop sound in favour of something more bold and brightly sonic in nature. But check it out for yourself, as Perfect Symmetry is in stores today.

This is the video for "Spiralling"

This has been my polite critique of new work for an established artist I used to really enjoy, but now mostly wonder what happened?

Anticipation... new Snow Patrol album on October, 28th!

2008-10-13T22:08:00.005-04:00

Just two weeks away as of tomorrow! Snow Patrol's brand new full length album A Hundred Million Suns in stores October 28th, 2008. This will be the band's fifth album, and their first release since May 2006 when Eyes Open was released.

This is the official video for the first single, "Take Back the City"

Take Back the City Video

Credits: Alex Courtes [Video Director], Paul Weston [Video Producer] (C) 2008 Polydor Ltd. (UK)

This is a performance video for another track from the album, "Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands"

Appreciation... Rachel Yamagata

2008-10-11T23:24:00.006-04:00

My fellow co-workers were teasing today that much of my taste in music can be described as "music a girlfriend would listen to", and I suppose this post qualifies too! Thanks guys!

Rachel Yamagata's new 2 CD or LP album, Elephants... Teeth Sinking Into Your Heart is out as of October 7th, and I highly, highly recommend it! I haven't had it and lived with it as long as I have Happenstance, but so far especially with the mood I've been in lately I really am enjoying this new album. This is the video for the beautifully sad single "Elephants".

And from that 2004 album, Happenstance, this is the video for "Worn Me Down".

Appreciation... Sarah Blasko

2008-10-09T23:39:00.012-04:00

I have been looking through my playlists and CDs tonight trying to make a list of artist's I have never featured on this blog, and it's astounding how many artists and bands I have never featured while others I have mentioned multiple times. So for tonight I have picked three tracks from Australian artist, Sarah Blasko. The first track is from her first full length album, The Overture and the Underscore, which was released in 2005. I have heard her compared to the usual female singer/songwriter artitsts like Fiona Apple and Sarah McLachlan, but I think she's got a style and sensibility as a songwriter that are strong enough for her own recognition without such comparisons to other established female artists. I appreciate her lyrics, they sink in with the close of each line she projects and her voice is almost at all times soft and ethereal yet works well on tracks both playful or sad. Musically her body of work encompasses songs composed as airy acoustic tracks to elaborate and lush soundscapes backed by synthesized orchestras.

But don't listen to me... I'm not a music critique. The only qualification I have for blogging about anything is just appreciation and enthusiasm. So enjoy the videos!

"Always Worth It" from Overtures and the Underscore.

Sarah Blasko - Always Worth It via Noolmusic.com

"Always on This Line" from the album What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have

"Planet New Year" also from the album What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have

Appreciation... Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

2008-10-08T01:37:00.002-04:00

Here's a band I haven't thought about in a very long time! This is Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, an indie three piece (last time I checked) from Springfield,MO. This song, "Oregon Girl" is a very catchy track you may remember from their 2006 album, Broom. But if you're hearing it now for the first time, don't feel bad... just listen, watch, and enjoy!

Frustration.... Money

2008-10-07T23:19:00.004-04:00

It's all we hear about these days, and I understand why... it' serious business, the stuff that makes the world go around. Money, or should I say lack or want for money, leads to recession, depression, but the world's had it bad before. So let's keep our wits and a song about it, yes!

That's all for today! I've got to get some sleep so I can get up for work and go make more of that stuff that makes "that clinking, clanking, clunking sound!"

Cheers!

PS: Thanks to the blog moderator over at Sphere of Repugnance for initially sending me the YouTube link to this video and thus inspiring this post!

Appreciation... Hello Saferide and getting over this cold!

2008-10-06T21:24:00.008-04:00

From the album, Introducing... Hello Saferide, here's another great track, perfect for flu and cold season plaguing so many of us, especially if you have someone dear to take care of who's home with a cold. The track is "Get Sick Soon", and if you're sick or they're sick now may you get better soon! I'm finally getting to the end of my cold now.

Be well and take care!

Self Congratulations... My Return to Regular Posting

2008-10-06T20:53:00.005-04:00

Well, this little blog of mine really snapped back to life in September, and I'm off to a good start thus far in October. I know of one of two people who visit my page and are "fans", but for anyone else who has stopped by I hope you've discovered a song or found some observation of merit here.

I don't have a lot of time tonight to post, but here's a video for today of a track I am rather fond of! It's full of all the questions and insecurities and little things you wonder about as you're getting to know someone and fallen for them too! From the EP Would You Let Me PlayThis EP Ten Times a Day, this is "The Quiz" by Hello Saferide.

Enjoy!

Jubilation... Moments from the Tegan & Sara Show on YouTube

2008-10-04T10:12:00.005-04:00

Okay... I promise this is the last post regarding this show, but I'm mesmerised by the fact that with shows this days you can attend the event, come home, and the next morning there's all kinds of footage from the event on the internet, particularly YouTube!

Since I enjoyed the banter inbetween the tracks so much, it's rather cool to have the ability to see it again. So here's a couple of clips of some of the antics at the show further imbedding the memories of the "laugh inside" Baltimore crowd enjoying quips over the Presidential debates, the sad state of the U.S. economy, and the assortment of undergarments that were tossed onto the stage during the show!

Good times, good times!

Satisfaction... Back from the Tegan and Sara concert!

2008-10-03T02:04:00.004-04:00

What an awesome night! I had my doubts whether I was going to pull off attending this thing tonight, but this cold I'd been fighting subsided, and I hit the road for Baltimore around 4:30PM after seeing my mom quick and paying my rent. Everything about tonight was smooth and that's exactly what I needed... I got there easily, no real traffic, scored some $5.00 parking, got in line early, ended up right up front for the show, scored some cool band stuff to take home, and got back on the road for home with no trouble at all. Got a little sleepy along the way, so I hit up a Rutter's around York for coffee (which kinda explains why I'm posting now even though I am so physically tired), but yeah... awesome show, awesome night!!!

The opening act was a band from San Antonia, Texas, named Girl in a Coma. I''d never heard of them until seeing them on the bill for the show. Their stuff is edgier than I normally go for, but I really enjoyed their set and seeing them live! I picked up their disc Both Before I'm Gone. This is a video for the album's second track, "Say".

The second act of the night was St Catharine, Ontario, Canada's City and Colour, which is a side project of Dallas Green, who serves as rhythm guitarist and singer for the Canadian post-hardcore group Alexisonfire. I'll admit I've never been exactly a fan of Alexisonfire, but Green's stuff I really enjoy! For a lone guy and a guitar he put on a damn fine set, and the crowd really enjoyed his stuff. My favourite track is "Coming Home", and I fortunately got to see him perform it tonight! The song was the 2nd single from his 2005 album, Sometimes. The Nova Scotia reference was probably what really caught my heart's attention the first time I heard it.

"I’ve been through Nova Scotia, Sydney to Halifax
I’ll never take any pictures cause I know I’ll just be right back"

I've lived that line. Damn I miss The Maritimes...

And last, but certainly not least... Tegan and Sara. They performed all the stuff I wanted to hear, but "Monday, Monday, Monday"(my only minor complaint), their banter between songs was hilariously top notch, and they crammed such a variety of their older and newer material into the set plus two new songs which I was very thrilled to hear!

I've posted so much about them already this week, but here's two tracks I truly loved hearing tonight...

"Living Room"

"The Con"

And that's my post concert run down... and speaking of rundown, I really need some sleep now! It's been fun to post though about such a fantastic night! And I have a cool new T to sport at the shop tomorrow! Keen indeed!

Anticipation... Tegan & Sara Tonight!

2008-10-02T11:01:00.003-04:00

Well, my health seems to be rebounding quite nicely, so it looks like I'm going to get ready and head to Baltimore! I'm quite jazzed for this little solo adventure!

So I'll report more tonight on the show, but for now here's a video for what's probably my favourite track off of Tegan and Sara's album The Con. This is the album's last cut, "Call It Off".

I'll post again after the show!

Anticipation... Tegan & Sara Show Tomorrow Night!

2008-10-01T23:36:00.003-04:00

If my cold permits, I have one ticket to see Tegan & Sara tomorrow night at Ram's Head in Baltimore! I am very excited! I'll probably post just to expel my excitement after the show, but for tonight I'm just posting vids for a few track I really hope to hear tomorrow night... this should be so much fun!

"Monday, Monday, Monday"

"Speak Slowly"

"Back in Your Head"

"I Hear Noises"

That's sadly all I've got for tonight! I'm just so spent!

Frustration... Too Sick To Post!

2008-09-30T23:49:00.003-04:00

I wanted to post so bad yesterday, but I have been sick, sick, sick ever since the Baltimore Comic-Con with a head cold that won't quit! I was going to skip an effort for today, but I thought I'd post at least something...

...so here's to naps and daydreams, cold medication and songs I have in my head tonight!

Sondre Lerche with Lillian Samdal - "Modern Nature"

Regina Spektor - "Fidelity"

That's all I've got!

Good night!

Exhaustion... Result of the Baltimore Comic-Con

2008-09-28T23:56:00.004-04:00

I had such a good time this weekend! But all the hard work and stress and hub-bub of the show, I managed to get a cold that is now wrecking my will to be the least bit productive, so this is kind of a no post for tonight.

I'll post something decent tomorrow! What a great weekend though!!!

Appreciation... Kate Nash

2008-09-26T22:50:00.000-04:00

Not much time to post today... Baltimore Comic-Con set up madness today, but here's a quick post! I've had this song in my head all day for some odd reason...

"I'm singing oh, oh on a Friday night..."

Fascination & Appreciation... Swede-Pop, Part 1

2008-09-25T00:06:00.003-04:00

Here's a post I really wanted to compile months ago, but somehow my interest to do so got sidetracked or lost in the mix of things. If you haven't noticed a lot of artists and bands on the blog right now are from Sweden! You know, Sweden!

My fascination with all the bands from this wonderful breeding ground of indie pop goodness happened with a mere bit of investigation to learn more about the few bands I knew from Sweden like Suburban Kids With Biblical Names and Jens Lekman. When I'm bummed out and can't sleep I spend time online... and I spent a lot of this past year bummed out and therefore online. But in the midst of all my occasional woe is me blogging on myspace, I'd take breaks here and there to browse through the music section. And I have to say that for any amount of complaining one can do about myspace, it's a damn good tool for social networking and to discover artists, filmmakers, and of course new music! I love too that by finding one artist and some info on them I have been able to find so, so many other similar artists and bands to enjoy. The internet really is about discovery to me, and apparently boredom can be a valuable commodity in life, it all depends on how you use it!

So here's some fond discoveries of my bored nights online... maybe you'll find a band you really like here too!

Stars in Coma - "Invisibility Track"

This is the video for the first single from Stars In Coma's newest album You're Still Frozen In Time, released back on March 12, 2008.
Director: Music Is My Girlfriend

Lykke Li - "Little Bit"

Her very first video! I could post a lot of videos for Lykke Li... so many good, good tracks!

Billie the Vision & the Dancers - "Absolutely, Salutely"

Live from this summer's Malmofestivalen, August 15th, 2008! I love this song, but the performance was all I could find! This was a particular favourite of mine to sing along with in the car this summer!

Suburban Kids With Biblical Names - "Rent a Wreck"

From their amazing 2006 album, #3. This geek-chic band has been a favourite since I learned of them back in 2006! I have enjoyed this album a lot the last few years!

So this post is a start in explaining why I go on and on about bands from this central Scandinavian land... stay tuned! I'll post more soon!

Salut! :)

Appreciation... Who Killed Amanda Palmer!

2008-09-24T19:58:00.008-04:00

I have been trying to be good and save a bit of spare mad money for the Baltimore, but I finally broke down and picked up the new solo album from Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls. I'll have a few fewer bucks in my pocket at the Con this weekend, but it's sooooooo... good! So I'm pleased!

If you haven't heard it, share my bliss with the following clips from the Who Killed Amanda Palmer video clip series!

Enjoy!

"Guitar Hero"

"Ampersand"

"Strength Through Music"

For more info on new videos and songs coming all this year, please visit her page on myspace!

Appreciation... Erik Halldén

2008-09-23T23:36:00.000-04:00

Jens Lekman's not the only Swedish indie pop crooner I'm bit-boppin' around to these days! If you don't recognise this post's object of appreciation, please allow me to introduce you to Erik Halldén! This track is his newest offering, called "If I Ever Get Married", and I think it's probably one of the most charming and clever pop songs I have heard in a long time!

I hope you enjoy it!

Video credits and other info:

This is a non-budget video directed by Mats Udd.
Cinematography by Johannes Helje
Edited av Anton Skott & Mats Udd
Aftereffects support by Hannes Paulsson

Actors
Erik - Erik Halldén
gorilla - Ale Ottenby
Rabbits - André
Chicken - Maria Gromova
Cheerleaders - Ellinor Belvén & Emma Preisler
The nude ones - Rasmus Jonsson & Kristin Zetterlund

http://www.myspace.com/erikhalldenmusic
http://www.youtube.com/matsudd
http://www.cosyden.com/

Dedication... April March - "Cet air-là"

2008-09-21T00:17:00.004-04:00

Some things are just easier to say sometimes with a song...

"Au fond de moi ton nom résonne..." ...sigh.

Appreciation... Pelle Carlberg

2008-09-20T23:59:00.005-04:00

Another favourite to come out of Sweden... "I Love You, You Imbecile" by Pelle Carlberg, from his sophomore album In A Nutshell.

Oh, to be in love...

But enough thinking about that! How about the semi regular posting I've got going here again!

Woot!

Appreciation... The New Verve Album!

2008-09-19T23:44:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I never thought I'd have this pleasure again in my lifetime, but after being apart for nearly a decade The Verve are reunited and the new album is out now! This is the first single, "Love Is Noise".

Enjoy!

Appreciation... Hello Saferide

2008-09-18T00:22:00.001-04:00

A rather bittersweet single... "Anna" by Hello Saferide.

This is the first single from More Modern Short Stories from Hello Saferide, which sees its release on September 30 2008! This import is going to cost me... ouch!

Credits:
Directed by Sandra Löv.
Production company: Add Management.
Cinematography: Iga Mikler / Sandra Löv
Cast and crew: Lovisa Svensson, Minik Julén, Rickard Krantz, Benjam Orre, Sverrir Gudnason, Vally, Alba and Ugglan.

For more information please view:
www.razziarecords.se
www.hellosaferide.com
www.sandralov.com

Infatuation... Tina Fey

2008-09-17T00:39:00.001-04:00

I appreciate her humour and wit... what else can I say... her husband's a lucky man. I hope to meet my own nerdy, brainy, smartly dressed, brown-eyed brunette someday too. If she can get me tickets to SNL, even better!

Oh, and I need to go buy 30 Rock on DVD now!

Appreciation... Montt Mardie and his song of Holly Golightly

2008-09-16T11:18:00.004-04:00

My love of Swede-Pop meets my love of the film Breakfast at Tiffany's thanks to Montt Mardie. This is him and The Clocks performing, "Set Sail Tomorrow", live from the morning show on Swedish TV4.

Enjoy!

Appreciation... Silent Starlets

2008-09-15T23:58:00.000-04:00

I've been busy looking up some info tonight on silent films and came across a new video morphing video of Silent Film actresses, posted to YouTube by user: blackmagictea.

Credits for this video:

Music: Annette Hanshaw - "If I Had a Talking Picture of You"

Featuring: Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, Joan Crawford, Pola Negri, Jobyna Ralston, Dorothy Sebastian, Mary Pickford, Leila Hyams, Dorothy Dwan, Anita Page, Theda Bara, Mae Murray, Gwen Lee, Bebe Daniels, Lillian Gish, Norma Shearer, Mary Eaton, Alice White, Betty Compson, Sally O'Neill, Marie Prevost, Bessie Love, Viola Dana, Nancy Carroll, Dolores Costello, Virginia Lee Corbin, Lilyan Tashman, Mary Brian, Betty Boyd, Sally Eilers, and Billie Dove.

Enjoy!

Distraction... Video Alphabet "S", part two

2008-09-08T23:41:00.000-04:00

So many good bands to touch on for this letter.

"S" is for The Second Band - "The Flood"

From their very first full length album The Definite Form comes a delightful video from Sweden's The Second Band. If you're unfamiliar with the band, they offer the following description via their website:

"The Second Band is a popband which consists of about five people. Most of them are nice and easy going, got a decent taste in music and are able to stay in beat for at least four consecutive minutes."

I can only speak for myself, but that's really all I require out of a band. The video was directed by Fabian Lundmark.

I've really been addicted to their new single "No Song", but it's currently without a video. If you'd like to try out the track though, visit their site and enjoy a free download which even includes some nifty cover art.

"S" is for The Shins - "Phantom Limb"

Have you ever seen a school play with better production values? I love this track and it reminds me of my trip to Atlanta two years ago for a music retailer conference. I won the company's Rookie of the Year Award for my management skills at that event, and I got paid to sit on my butt and watch videos (including this one) and other promo material from record companies, got a duffel bag worth of free swag, and then flew home. Not too shabby...

"S" is for The Smiths - "This Charming Man"

Does anyone remember having Daffodil Day when you were in school to raise money to fight cancer? Well, as much as I had the sincerest desire to assist in raising money, my urge in 8th grade to buy lots of daffodils and carry them around sprouting out of my rear blue jeans pocket can mostly be attributed to this band, and more specifically the man known as Morrissey. The Smiths were the band that saved me when I was young! I loved plenty of bands before them, and numerous bands since discovering them, but they were the first band that really had songs that said something to me about my life. I was ackward, shy, dreamed of loving girls but too meek to chase them, I liked hidng in my bedroom with my books and my music. But you have to eventually leave that world, and I think Morrissey's lyrics helped inspire that first bit of courage. He also inspire me to not eat meat for two and a half years, and plaster the deli counter and meat section at the old Mechanicsburg Weiss Market with 50 little post it notes that said "Meat is Murder".

I also tried adding beaded necklaces to my wardrobe for a very, very brief spell, but once you start raiding your mother's jewelry box for the stuff she hasn't touched since the 1970s... well, it's a slippery slope if you're not careful!

So yes, they are still my all time favourite band! So many great singles, and I always loved the album covers with their moody celebrity photos.

Some favourites...

"William, It Was Really Nothing"

"Ask"

"The Boy With the Thorn in His Side"

Okay, at least their songs were well crafted, because the videos are rather dreadful.

Here's some singles covers I compiled though for the sake of nostalgia... see if you remember these!

And that's all I have to post tonight... very sleepy here...

I'm going to try to post more in September, so hopefully I can keep with it!