Happy 10th Birthday to the greatest album of all-time...

10 years ago today, Radiohead released my most favorite album of all-time...and I didn't even know it. I wasn't a huge Radiohead fan prior to the release of OK Computer...I enjoyed Creep and High & Dry just like everyone else that listened to KROQ but I just wasn't in awe of them as I am today. Actually, I even gave back Pablo Honey to friend that got me a free copy (he worked at Music Plus)...and I NEVER give up on free! I'm not sure exactly when it was, but my first transcendent moment with Radiohead and OK Computer was when I first caught the video for Paranoid Android late one night on MTV. The cartoonish video was definitely cool but I was more enthralled with the song itself, which over 6 min 23 sec had this multi-layered composition that I found mesmerizing for whatever reason. Once I bought the CD, I found out that I felt the way about pretty much every single track on the album (sorry FRED - the 'fitter-happier' computer voice of track 7. Ok...I guess I even like that 'song'.)

OK Computer was the band's 3rd LP but the first produced by Nigel Godrich (who coincidentally is now my all time favorite producer). Nigel, who is now considered Radiohead's "5th/6th Beatle", definitely added some very cool touches to the album without which the album would be just ONE OF the greatest albums of all time.

More on OK COMPUTER:
OK COMPUTER @ Wikipedia

OK Computer | ateaseweb.com

RH: A bit of tape from the studio

DEAD AIR SPACE

Nigel posted some chopped snippets from the recent studio sessions...so excited for LP7.




Some of the members of the ateaseweb messageboard have cut them up to separate them out:

http://www.citizeninsane.eu/audio/cuttingroomopenpick1.mp3
http://www.citizeninsane.eu/audio/cuttingroomopenpick2.mp3
http://www.citizeninsane.eu/audio/cuttingroomapigsear.mp3
http://www.citizeninsane.eu/audio/cuttingroomallineed.mp3
http://www.citizeninsane.eu/audio/cuttingroomditnu.mp3
http://www.citizeninsane.eu/audio/cuttingroomarpeggi.mp3

Crack...

Wow....I didn't think it would get much better than my iMate Jamin and some geeked up Windows Mobile, but I stand corrected. Blackberries (and specifically my 8800) kick ass! Very sleak and oh so handy. I guess it helps that my work bought it for me. Free is always better. Now I gets all of my emails pushed to me, I gets me some gTalk on the go and I gets the GPS (which I have yet to figure out how to start up).

Ah sweet Funnel Cake

Man...NYC has a ton of "street fairs" everywhere...EVERY weekend. Its kinda cool though...to be able to walk down the middle of normally busy streets...but other than that, it's nothing special...same old street vendors selling socks (???), $5 purses/sunglasses/belts and the assortment of food. My roommate's wife talked me into going to the 2nd "Spring Jubilee" outside of our apt. today and I got to enjoy the so-so chicken kabob, the $1 lemonade and...my favorite...funnel cake! Definitely the highlight of my weekend. Felt like I was back in SoCal at Magic Mountain getting sick off of the powder sugared present that is funnel cake. If only they had deep-fried oreos.

Maya also got me to admit my admiration for Robin Thicke. I find it hard to like any progeny of Alan Thicke (not sure why...what has he done to me??) but he's a mighty good singer. He's like the white Nate Dogg. Really likin' his Got 2 Be Down with Faith Evans.

[Sidenote: Back in the day, Pam got to be on Win, Lose or Draw with Alan Thicke...that's hot!]

SCHEDULE New York City Street Fairs and Festivals
Got 2 Be Down - Faith Evans w/ Robin Thicke (.mp3)



I was supposed to go to Brooklyn this afternoon/evening to catch a benefit show for Domino's Sugar Factory but it looks like its going to start raining any minute now (I love doppler). There are a handful of bands playing but I only really cared to see Nada Surf . Oh well....

New Nada Surf Album news and MP3's at Sonic Itch Music
Killian's Red - Nada Surf (.mp3)

Knocked Up

Saw Knocked Up tonight...good stuff from the people who brought you The 40 Year Old Virgin.
Read YS's review of the movie/soundtrack: The Yellow Stereo

Big Apple BBQ

I'm glad to be going home for a visit but bummed I'll be missing this:

Big Apple BBQ

UCLA First School To Win 100 NCAA Team Championships

UCLA Becomes First School To Win 100 NCAA Team Championships :: Women's Water Polo wins its third straight title, beating Stanford 5-4

Sea Wolf at Union Hall - May 11, 2007

Finally caught Sea Wolf live. Been wanting to see them for a bit now and luckily they came out to Brooklyn within my first month in nyc. I really liked Union Hall (in Brooklyn) too...very cool, intimate venue (felt like I was in some basement library at the Haunted Mansion from Disneyland). Sea Wolf was 1000 times better than I had anticipated. I'm sure they are picking up a ton of fans opening up for SilverSun Pickups. Their EP came out this week so i bought it from the Celloist and even got to shake hands with the Alex Brown Church.

Sea Wolf

Blonde Redhead & Fields at Webster Hall - May 8, 2007

Went to my first NYC concert and it was an amazing show...both bands were fantastic live. Looking forward to seeing Fields again next weekend at Union Hall and Blonde Redhead over the summer at Mcarron Pool.

Blonde Redhead
Fields

YouTube - Travis - Selfish Jean

Travis - Selfish Jean
with Demetri Martin

Coachella in NYC...

...on my computer. Although I didn't get tickets this year (wasn't looking forward to the crowds/heat...and probably deep down knew I would get a job in NY), I definitely wish I was there this year. Thankfully they are webcasting some sets over at the Blue Room so I'm enjoying it from the east coast when I can. Also got to talk to my friend Amy who is there right now so its kinda like being there (I could hear the heat on the phone). Like she said, its damn hot...but that makes for really nice nights. That's when Coachella is the best...warm nights in the desert under the stars with really good bands. Right now I'm listening to a small band though...one of my favorites...a band i'll get to see at my first NYC show in 2 weeks. Fields...a band so small, they are literally the 2nd band to play today (the earlier, the less well known). Their tourmates Blonde Redhead go on later.

Fields - MySpace

KCRW

Thank god for KCRW.com - my favorite. And glad to find Indie1031 streams. Now if i could only get some Zankou and some Spitz out here. Rumor is that Zankou is looking to expand to the NYC....my friends better not have been pulling my leg. Until then, I settle for Chirping Chicken.

LA to NYC

Seems like forever since my last post but its all cuz I finally got a job and I have since relocated from LA to the NYC. So far, so good. Weather has been relatively nice...until today's 36 degree/snow flurry Easter (atleast its kinda sunny still). I don't mind though...I'll stay indoors today and watch the Laker game.

That's one of the new things I'm adjusting to...I used to live in LA and see NY based tv shows (Law & Order, Seinfeld, Sex & the City) and it all looked the same. Now I'm starting recognize neighborhoods and a lil NY city street details. On the otherside of that, now living in NY, when I see LA on tv (Entourage, Laker games, etc) I miss my wonderful Southern California. Its good to see it of course...but its still kinda torturific. Then of course there is the whole sporting event time difference. I used to love waking up to sporting events already being on. On the east coast, nothing really starts until noon and can go late into the night (laker games typically end after I'm asleep now). No more checking NBA box scores at 4pm at work.

Other things I've learned:

• Traffic is traffic: Yeah the 405 sucks when there is a sigalert...but so does the 4/5 express train when some passenger 'got sick' at the next station down the line.
  
• Speaking of subways...I've always been a fan, but I'm learning the downside - alot of people really really smell bad. I can't wait for the heat to come. Ugh. Yet this is no reflection on NYC. The absolute worse smelling person I've ever smelled on a subway was on the blue line in LA (pam knows exactly what I'm talking about).
• Music Scene: The few bars/restaurants I've been to in nyc have all had amazing DJ's/Playlists...very cool. I'm going to my first 2 concerts in a few weeks so we'll see how the live music situation is. Just looking at listings though (and seeing how some shows DON'T sellout), I'm thinking LA's live music scene is better. Maybe I still have a lot to learn.
• I'm going to get fat: That or I'll break even at least. There are so many places to eat here and so many places to eat DESSERT. I've always been fond of a lil latenight dessert but this is ridiculous. In the past 2 weeks I've had ice cream like 5 times, cupcakes 3 times, and the list goes on. On the plus side, I walk a lot. Break even?
• Rivalry? So far, most people I meet have all had very high opinions of LA - love it, always wanted to go there, can't wait to get back. Not what I was expecting. Maybe its just the circles I've been around. Oddly enough, most LA people that hear I'm in NYC speak very highly of NY - oh how they miss it, etc. I guess the grass is always greener. (i think I'm adapting a new life mantra...the grass is greenest EVERYWHERE)

I'm sure I'll have more groundbreaking revelations...just hope i have time to write them down. Bottom line, I like it here a lot but I do miss my friends, family and my LA.

Earlimart @ Getty, 3/9/07

Wow...that was definitely unexpected and one of my favorite shows. Los Anjelous couldn't have put it better:

Earlimart @ Getty, 3/9/07: See?! What’d I Tell You?!

Really looking forward to the new album.

February Favorites

My End of February Favorites:

Fields - Heretic (.mp3)
website - myspace

What Made Milwaukee Famous - Mercy Me (.mp3)
website - myspace

LCD Soundsystem - North American Scum (.mp3)
website - myspace

Explosions in the Sky - Catastrophe and the Cure (Fourtet Remix.mp3)
website - myspace

Bloc Party - Emma Kate's Accident (.mp3)
website - myspace

The Softlightes - The Microwave Song (.mp3)
website - myspace

Sea Wolf - Black Dirt (.mp3)
Sea Wolf - You're a Wolf (.mp3)
website - myspace

Guster - Satellite (Astronauts Remix .mp3)
website - myspace

The Animation Show 3

Went to see the 3rd installment of Mike Judge and Don Hertzfeldt's The Animation Show last Thursday at The Rialto. These are my two favorites...

Versus


Rabbit

SNL's Samberg vs. Levi's Flat Eric

Watching SNL on Saturday and this Digital Short reminded me of one of my favorite commercials...I'm pretty sure its the music...although, Andy could play Flat Eric on the bigscreen.

SNL's Andy Samberg

Levi's Flat Eric

Previously on LOST...

Woohoo! LOST is back tonight at 10pm. Thank god! I was able to last the 2+ month long hiatus and boy oh boy am I excited. Started preparing by watching the last 6 episodes over the past week (thank you Tivo). Here's some of the scoop:

• "Not in Portland" will be a Juliet-centric episode...first episode about an Other, no?
• Juliet arrived on the island on or close to September 11, 2001 (3 years, 2 months and 23 days ago) making the current island date December 4, 2004.
• Ok that's enough...

Also, EW.com has an interview with the producers of the show, Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. Lots of good info...but is any of it spoilerish? I guess so. So don't read if you don't like some spoilers.

• Michael and Walt will be back in the story, but "that's most likely a year 4 story."
• Juliet came off the island and was recruited by the Others...versus some Others being born on the island.
• The connection between the Others and Dharma gets revealed in episode 11.
• We'll be getting more of an understanding of the apparitions (Kate's horse, Jack's Dad, etc.) during the course of this season. (and Sayid's cat will be in season 11)
  
• There will be an anagram in tonight's episode that hints at a larger mythological mystery that will start to unfold later in the season.
• In the next six episodes, the show will answer the burning question/conspiracy theory: Is Claire Jack's half sister?
• "That's the one thing that when the show ends, you won't have a causal explanation for why did all these people interconnect."
• "Penelope's story continues in episode 8 [Feb. 14] in Desmond's flashbacks. We put that scene at the end of the season finale for a reason, and like the anagram, they're components to a larger revelation. You'll learn more about why we put that scene at the end of season 2 by the end of season 3."
• We will see the smoke monster again this season. Its origins, however... we'll have to wait.

JJ Abrams - LOST Opening "sound" (.mp3)

70's SlowJam Battle

So last weekend my mom had me look up some song she used to love back in the day that she hasn't been able to find...let alone come up with the title. After finally tracking it down for her (and oh was she happy), we had a debate over which was the better slow jam. I've always been partial to the KOST classic that is Always & Forever. She obviously favors Billy Preston & Syreeta's With You I'm Born Again (yeah, I had never heard of it either). I say, let the public decide.

Billy Preston w/ Syreeta - With You I'm Born Again (.mp3)

vs.

Heatwave - Always & Forever (.mp3)

I'd like to give Billy points for that afro...but the real ace up the sleeve goes to the video footage of Heatwave. Not only do they have AMAZING outfits, the white keyboardist. who they credit with writing the song, is...well...words can't describe...check it out:

**So the clip is no longer on youtube...bastards! I guess Boogie Nights will have to do...

PB&J @ Roxy / 2.1.07

Well I wasn't sure what to expect from Peter, Bjorn and John but needless to say, my expectations were blown away. Despite having to wait for-friggin'-ever (not that long, just got their way earlier than I needed to) and despite it being a thousand degrees and a packed house inside the Roxy (not an exaggeration), I found myself fully enjoy the band's first appearance in LA.

After listening to their latest CD for the past couple of weeks, I knew the swedes had the talent to write very catchy, fun songs. What worried me was whether they would have the entertaining stage presence that really makes a band. I only based this on the band's seemingly blah performance on Conan earlier this week. Thankfully I was relieved right from the start as they tore into Lets Call It Off and had the crowd moving. I later realized the blah-ness of the Conan performance was mostly due to the TV audience, who were unfamiliar with PB&J and a ways away from them. In the hot and friendly confines of The Roxy, Young Folks, with its whistle-track and all, absolutely killed. Anyways, you get the point...rest of the show rocked. Peter can REALLY play the guitar (didn't expect that from him). Bjorn...well, mostly felt bad for the guy during his quiet rendition of Amsterdam in which he forgot some lyrics. And John...well, John was Mr. Perfection on the percussion.

I was looking for a good vid clip from the show on YouTube and by far the best just happened to be from the brother of one of my good music buddies...unfortunately no embedding for it. So go check it out on YouTube yourself:

Peter, Bjorn and John - Let's Call it Off (live at Roxy YouTube)

* * * *

And check out the LA Times pre-show review of the band and their thoughts of being a one-hit wonder. I don't think they will be...plenty of other catchy, solid hits.

*Whistle, and it works - LA Times - calendarlive.com:

"'Maybe in 10 years we'll be one-hit wonders,' Morén said. 'But that's OK. It comes down to what sticks out. We aren't so cool, no one knows who we are.'"

SIDENOTE: The crowd, although tolerable, ultimately sucked at this show...I really hate when people go to shows and just talk loudly like they are at a bar...especially during quieter songs. Show some respect. Clearly those people weren't there for the band...probably just wanted to be at the HOT sold-out show. A welcome to our new Swedish friends. No wonder everyone hates LA.