Guess Who Back? Back Again?

It's 26-time World Series Champtions, the New York Yankees! Tonight they will (hopefully) play the Phillies in the Bronx. As a New Yorker, I'm rooting hard for the Yankees to win. Most people have a "love/hate" relationship with the Yankees, aka you either love 'em or hate 'em. I've always been in the "love" catagory. I appreciate their legacy as a team, and I've admired their professionalism in the last decade or so. Yankees-haters focus on this professionalism as the main reason they hate them, but I ask you this... What's so wrong with wanting have the most money and being the best? What's so wrong with buying up the best players money can buy? What's so wrong with baseball uniforms that fit, and facial hair that is kept trim?

Are you watching the World Series this year? Who do you want to win?

The Armpit Collection XXVI: Spectrum

Good Old Boys/Sail Away - Randy Newman
Darkness On The Edge of Town/Nebraska - The Boss
Beggars Banquet/Let It Bleed - The Stones
Music From Big Pink/The Band - The Band
Harvest/Time Fades Away - Neil
Workingman's Dead/American Beauty - The Dead


These albums are all gamers in terms of American or classically American influenced song form and themes (being recorded by Americans, Canadians, and Brits).

I recently got the pleasure of hearing the deluxe version of Good Old Boys in which Randy Newman narrates the sketches of his songs and planned record as he's in the studio demo-ing them for the impending album recording. These are my favorite Newman: thematic, gritty, classy in the arrangements. Look for "Mr. President...".

Darkness is an interesting record in the Boss' canon. The follow up to BtR, it has a very definitive rock sound, but the songs are less dramatic and more a step in the working man direction that Bruce would continue and maintains his grasp upon. Then of course Nebraska has gained a lot of mileage through they years, serving as a pillar for many indie hipster songwriters at this point who wear the lo-fi badge. I think the truth was that Bruce recorded the songs as demos for the band, carried the tapes around in his back pocket and was finally convinced to release them as is. I urge you to find the Hank Williams III version of Atlantic City.

The Stones had quite an evolving sound from the mid sixties to the mid seventies, a very understandable progression if compared to American popular rock n roll's evolution in the same time period. Beggar's is their true homage to American country music, and it's wildly successful in substance. Let it Bleed gives is argued by some to be their best record. It does cover a lot of ground.

The Band opened their career in historical fashion. They opened their first official release with a biting, challenging number cowritten by Richard and Bob, "Tears of Rage," a song that could be interpreted as a serious jab at the counter culture. Since Basement Tapes serves as the unofficial godfather of modern Americana music to many, Big Pink is the Band's extension of that. They crush the competition, if you look at it that way. The self-titled release confirms that.

Despite this record's desperate need of remastering, Harvest is a milestone for the weaker singer songwriters budding in the early 70's. It opened doors. It proved that a few chords, distinctive voice and wistful romantic lyrics could get a long way in folk/country rock. None of them went on to make their Harvest because in hindsight, they couldn't get that real country sound. Neil superseded these shortcomings, something few of his contemporaries did. He went on to make a series of broken,legendary, and extremely honest records that will likely be included later. This is somewhat chronicled harshly by Time Fades Away.

The Workingman's Dead and American Beauty reflect the sound of the Dead that I personally enjoy the most. I side with Workingman because of "New Speedway Boogie" and "Black Peter," two of my favs by them. It's also a great reflection of the times in terms of folk/country "rock." Europe '72 may even be a better choice, but I'm stickin' with my Workingman's. American Beauty is just shake on the packed bowl.

Godless Rails

I wonder if Christian graffiti artists will deface these posters in the subway... "YEAH RIGHT! GOD RULZ!" Stand clear of the closing doors please.

I thought atheists were above spending millions of dollars for a multi-million dollar ad campaign. A Coalition of Reason, huh? Sounds like competition for the Brotherhood of Logic (Ryan and I started Brotherhood of Logic back in college, based on the infinite wisdom of Dr. Fortkamp). I smell a turf war. BigAppleCoR.org's goal is to "increase awareness of secular-minded groups throughout New York City. Once we're FINALLY aware that "I am not alone," are we supposed to hang out? "Yeah, me neither." If this is anything like my old church, sounds like an excuse for people to get together for spaghetti dinners and free babysitting.

But what if God was one of us? Just a stranger on the bus? Are their ads on the bus too? Hope God doesn't get pissed.

Balloon Boy Pukes on the Today Show

All that hype, and it comes to this. Ahhhhhmerica. The dad is so devastatingly grossed out right around second 0:32. He must be thinking, "Why is this happening during my bastardization of 15 minutes of fame? All my friends are watching." The boy can't put up with the bullshit any longer. Something's gotta give.

Broke: The New American Dream

I caught this documentary yesterday morning before running out the door to see Ryan's Upright Citizens Brigade performance (great job btw, Ryan). The movie did an excellent job breaking down where America is going disastrously wrong financially; projects some interesting comparisons between poker and trading. I caught it on NYCTV, Time Warner Cable's channel 25. I'm sure it'll be on again if you're interested in seeing it.

New Banner

I decided to update the banner this time, going with a Halloweeny theme.

A Diamond In The Rough

Top Eight Ugliest Guy Cities:

8. Houston, TX
7. Philadelphia, PA
6. Detroit, MI
5. Mobile, AL and Huntington, WV (tie)
4. Greensboro, NC
3. Miami, FL
2. Hagerstown, MD
1. El Paso, TX

[study]

36 Hours in Richmond, VA

Hmmm, this building looks vagely familiar... New York Times

Charlie Rose Theme Song

I caught the tail end of Charlie Rose Rose recently and for the first time noticed that he has a Theme. It plays over the credits. Well, at first I wasn't sure if it was "the theme" or just some instrumental music that was placed in "as a theme." Turns out it was written specifically for the show by a couple of guys in Brooklyn.

I decided to send an email:

Subject: About the Charlie Rose Them Music

"Greetings,

First off, thanks for providing a great show, always thought-provoking.

I was watching recently and was intrigued by the music that played over the credits as the show ended. Accomplished musicians, writers, arrangers as they may be, the sound and tone of the instrumental was stale and relatively outdated - and please do understand that I write this in complete humility. I have nothing but respect for Charlie Rose Productions, which is why I'm writing this.

I'm unsure if this is the same song that plays at the end of each show or if this is a choice by local syndication, nonetheless, it got me thinking. Have you thought about commissioning a new Theme? A fresh tone and sound could bring vigor and relevance to your audience, possibly confirming the inspiration one may feel as they think about the guests and ideas of a given show.

For example, the theme's from Bill Maher's Real Time, Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm or Mad Men, this is the sound of today's Television themes and each tailored to the specific tone of the show while also remaining current in terms of sound and production.

I appreciate your time and consideration. I would be more than happy to speak further about this, as I am an accomplished musician, songwriter and have the pleasure of knowing some of the finest working NY musicians.

Thanks again"

Then I signed it "J Seger, NY Musician"...and my phone number.

I have not received a reply. It was difficult to find a full example of the theme, a clip is linked from the references in his wikipedia article, but you can get the full deal below. Your gonna want skip to just before 55th minute.



One of the classic Theme songs from a Television show, granted, a little different format of a show.

Sensory Deprivation Chamber

1905-1906 Russian Underground Press

Blood and Laughter: Caricatures from the 1905 Revolution

"Sunday 9 January 1905: Hundreds of thousand of workers assemble in the streets of St Petersburg. They are in their Sunday best and accompanied by their elderly relatives and children. There are no banners or slogans though some carry icons or church emblems, for this is to be a peaceful demonstration led by an Orthodox priest, Father Gapon. They set off for the Winter Palace, bearing to the Tsar their petition for a constitution. ‘Sire!!’ it reads. ‘We workers have come to you to seek justice and protection. We are in great poverty, we are oppressed and weighed down with labors beyond our strength. We are insulted, we are not recognized as human beings…’

For two cold hours they stand waiting in the snow for Tsar Nicholas to appear and receive their petition. A shot rings out, and they stamp their feet. Another, and they laugh that it must be blanks. A third, and suddenly women and children slump lifeless int eh snow. Still they assure themselves that this must be a mistake, for the Tsar would not shoot down unarmed civilians. But now the gendarmes are galloping in the crowd, and the slaughter has begun. The shooting continues all day long. The dead are counted in the hundreds, the wounded in the thousands, their blood spilt on the Schlusselberg Highway, the Troitsky Bridge and the Nevsky Gates. But the police cart away the bodies so quickly that it is impossible to know the full toll.

source

Dear Andy,

Letter from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol, discussing the design for "Sticky Fingers" (according to LettersofNote.com)

J Seger "With His Hat On"

Enjoy! Here's the link if you want to watch it in High Quality (HQ).

Something Interesting: Nobel Peace My Ass

(enter explanation here)

The 90's

It has been almost a decade since we gathered together panic-stricken in our homemade backyard bomb shelters awaiting the apocalypse disguised as the Gregorian calendar year of 2000. I have since overcome my fear of new millenias and have embraced the 21st century as my home and also as the little brother I never had. Some argue we had it right with harem pants, silk shirts, and George Constanza, but I much prefer the Now and Later®.

Julian Casablancas "11th Dimension"

Julian's new single... wanna mingle?

Mac or PC?

This is a hilarious article I found from across the pond. Read it in a British accent, and it's even funnier.