Family Trip to Spokane/ Cd'A

Two weeks ago we traveled up to Spokane/ Cd'A to visit family and friends. My sister Ev and her family joined us. It has been almost 7 years since I was last there. It was good to reconnect with my Grandmother, my Aunt Dyann, Karl Snarl and his fam, Michelle and her fam, and the Lee family.

Date Night with Amber- The Sound Concert

Last Friday, I finally got a date night with Amber. These are usually few are far between because of my lousy job and being busy parent.

So we jumped at the chance to see one of our musical guilty pleasures, the Sounds. Earlier in the day, I spotted their tour bus at an intersection and decided to stalk it all the way to the venue. The girls were in the care and love the thrill ride and possibility of meeting rock stars. When the bus pulled up to the venue, Amber asked the tour manager if the Sounds were indeed in the bus. He said it was, only they were sleeping still and he didn't want to wake them. However, he assured us that if we lingered after the concert there was a good chance that we could meet the band. The girls were bummed because they didn't meet that band, but at the same time excited that they came so close to meeting "rock stars". They screamed "Sounds rock!" all the way home.

The concert was at a smaller venue, the Marquee in Tempe. I prefer my concerts that way, more intimate. The opening band was Foxy Shazam from Cincinnati (never heard of them when we lived there). They were entertaining to say the least. I could only describe them as a mix between the talented Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears and a seizing hyena. The second band, Semi Precious Weapons, from Brooklyn were ueber-lame. The lead singer is a pathetic Lux Interior rip off. They had the crowd begging for the Sounds by the time their set was done.

The Sounds were worth the wait and price of admission. Lead singer, Maja (pronounced Maya), was always in control of the crowd while the band delivered with precision. The crowd sang along, we all danced, I lost my voice. There were no fights or brutal mosh pits. It was one of those concerts that you hoped would last all night. It wasn't the scene where I was afraid that Amber might be clobbered and everyone seemed to be in a really good mood. That is what the Sounds does to people.

After the concert we were slow to leave. I bought a vinyl for my man room wall. Then we made our way to the back of the venue to where the tour bus was. Apparently 20 other people had the same idea as us. It took only a couple of minutes before the band came out and starting talking to us. We took pictures, had them sign my record, and talked a little bit. They were very kind to us. They made sure to stop and get to know everyone. Maja even did a little video for our girls.

It was a lot of fun. I'm glad Amber had a good time too and that she was there to share the fun with me. Date night- success.

New Music: The Resistance by Muse- Soundtrack to '1984'

In writing this review, I will try to be as nonobjective as possible. It is no secret that the music of Muse is highly regarded in our home. It is also no secret that one of my all-time favorite books EVER is George Orwell's '1984'. So it is no surprise that a combination of Muse + Orwell is going to cause a lot of excitement around here. The correlation cannot be anymore clear or obvious when there is a song entitled 'United States of Eurasia' on the album.

Matt Bellamy, the singer and guitarist of the group, lets all of his interests and influences hang out on this album. Being a classically trained musician, he shows off his genius on the last three tracks with a three part prog-rock symphony. Pretentious? Yes. He and the rest of the band deserve to be. Their musical talent is extraordinary as can be attested by watching their HAARP dvd. Other obvious influences leak out such as Queen and of course Bellamy's penchant for conspiracy theories, political drama, and the supernatural.

So why would I call this a soundtrack to '1984'? Listen to what they're trying to say. The song 'United States of Eurasia' is obvious when referring to the fictional oppressive nation where Orwell's book took place. However, listen also to first three tracks of the album and you can imagine the love affair of Winston and Julia playing out. One difference I see between Muse's and Orwell's approach is that Orwell's book was a prediction of what could happen, whereas Muse's approach is of what they perceive already is.

Being as biased as possible, every rock-loving individual should own a copy of this album. Not many albums come along where I feel the need to listen to it over and over and over. I even like the hip-hop infused 'Undisclosed Desires' (you know those 'Twilight' film people are salivating to get that song on their soundtrack). So, go ahead buy it. It is best listened to with the volume turned up to 12.

Mix Tape: 10th Wedding Anniversay Edition

Today Amber and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Our bond began with our common interest in music. She found me sitting in her apartment that she shared with my sister's friend Mega-deth (Meredith). I was playing the guitar looking my usual hot self. She soon began stalking me and I succumbed to her advances. For real, we all know I got the better deal out of the situation. She is a far better person than I.

So, every year I make a mix CD for our anny. I actually agonize over it for months trying to get the perfect mix. Here is this year's mix with explainations why I chose each song.

1. You're So Rad by the Bouncing Souls: The word "rad" isn't used enough. Rad rhymes with dad, mad, plaid, triad, ad, sad, and nads. All of which are used in this lovely ode to someone being rad. Amber is indeed rad.

2. Midnight Sun by the Sounds: A new song from their latest album. Amber likes this album, Crossing the Rubicon, better than the others. Its a song about someone pining for someone, blah, blah, blah. Great tune though.

3. Hysteric by Yeah Yeah Yeahs: The YYY's are the coolest band in rock right now. Karen O is the coolest rock-chick in rock right now. So, of course I give Amber only what is coolest. This is one of Amber's favorite songs from the YYY's. I was gonna put on their song Maps. But this mix is for Ambi, not me.

4. Human by the Killers: Nothing romantic in this song. Just a fun song from one of Amber's favorite bands. I always like to sing "Are we human or are we Amber?". Amber puts up with a lot.

5. Love My Way by Psychedelic Furs: This is the live version. This got Amber and I talking about John Hughes (R.I.P.) today and what great taste in music he had. We love those 80's brat pack films.

6. Rather Be by the Verve: One of the greatest bands to walk the planet. Nowhere I'd rather be than with Amber sharing my highs and lows.

7. Somebody by Depeche Mode: Amber and I first hit it off over both of us liking DM. I used to sing her this song when we dated.

8. To the End by Blur: A very honest song about relationships. 10 years of marriage isn't all romance and thrills. We fight and argue, we act selfish. What matters is that we always move forward and apologize. That is what this song is about. Great song. Epic band.

9. Perfect Day by Lou Reed: Very simple song by a legend. Some of my best times with Amber are spent doing absolutely nothing.

10. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros: I love this song. If Amber was a song, this is the song she would be. Its like fresh clean rain on my face standing on a northern beach. Amber's eyes sparkle on a cloudy day. All three of our girls got that from her.

11. Somebody To Love by Queen: We like Queen and this song seemed appropriate. I could care less about folks opinions about Freddy Mercury. He was one of the greatest performers in the last century.

12. Angels by Robbie Williams: A guilty pleasure for us. Yes, he was in a boy-band. So, that kinda squashes any cred I had. I bought this CD when we were dating and I used to sing this to her too.

Here's to another ten years full of ups and downs. I wouldn't want to spend it with anyone else.

The Kitchen Boy

I don't know particularly why, but the story of the fall of the Romanov family in 1918 during the Bolshevik revolution has fascinated me for years. The life and death of the last Russian Tsar, Nikolas II, is one of the most compelling period in history in at least the last thousand years. Hollywood could not come up with a more memorable and terrifying script.

Numerous legends and conspiracies surround the deaths of the Tsar and his family. All that is known is how brutal and horrendous the events occurred at the hands of the Bolsheviks. However, when the bodies were finally uncovered close to seventy-five years later, two of the children's' bodies were missing. So the questions and conspiracy theories arose: did the children survive, were there witnesses besides the executioners themselves?

Questions about the where-abouts of the Romanov children led to the writing of this historical-fiction about the last days of the Romanov family. In Tsaritsa Alexandra's diary, she notes that the day before the family was executed, their trusted kitchen boy was sent away for good for unknown reasons. And it is the account of this kitchen boy's last days with the Romanovs that author Robert Alexander bases his novel on.

Through the eyes of the kitchen boy, Leonka, we learn of the factual bonds between the members of the Romanov family. One can't help but develop a strong sympathy for their plight, no matter how self-inflicted it was. You especially feel for the children, especially because of their faith and innocence.

I cannot divulge to much about the book besides what is already known in reference books. What I can say is that Robert Alexander masterfully brings the reader into the lives of the Romanovs, allowing us to (in a fictional way) get to know a family that was secluded and helps us to develop a relationship with them.

This is a book I recommend for anyone.

Sigur Ros

Please indulge me this strange obsession I have with Scandinavian musical artists. I say this in the wake of my last blog being on the Sounds from Sweden. Other Scandi-flavors I enjoy also include Mew, Tiger Baby, and Millencolin. However, I just wanted to say something regarding my favorite band from Iceland: Sigur Ros (Icelandic for "victory rose").

I've been listening to Sigur Ros for years. I was not an instant convert. Their music is the literal translation of "an aquired taste". For one, all the songs are in Icelandic. The language is totally foreign to my ears. It's not as familiar a sound as french, spanish, or german. Then there is the eerie falseto that their lead singer Jonsi Birgisson often uses. Something you really need to hear to understand what I'm talking about.

After getting past my musical taste comfort zone, I realized that the music that they create literally takes you somewhere. If music could paint a picture, they would probably resemble a Bierstadt. For example, their song "Hoppipola" feels like clean summer rain on the shore of a mountain lake. I'm sure if I could understand what they were saying, I would feel differently. Oh well.

A good introduction to their work is a concert that Current TV filmed last year at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, linked here.

Sigur Ros has really helped to me to appreciate artistry in music. Who knows, maybe in a couple of years you'll be a fan too.

Crossing the Rubicon

Yes, my favorite musical guilty pleasure, the Sounds, is out with their new album "Crossing the Rubicon". Now I can fill my warped brain with new swedish pop hooks and synth beats.

"Crossing the Rubicon" is a stark departure from their previous two albums "Living in America" (2002) and "Dying to Say This to You" (2006). The two albums prior to "Rubicon" can be described as: catchy, naughty, arrogant, bold, addictive, perverse, profaine, snarky, cheeky, fun, and (again) addictive. Although I won't let my daughters listen to a few of their songs, the Sounds style of play is always a pick-me-up. However, the Sounds seem to have grown out of their never-let-the-party-end attitude with this new album. If "Living in America" was the build up to the party, "Dying to Say This to You" was the riot at the disco, now "Rubicon" is the drive home with the windows down with your friend's head on your shoulder.

It seems that once a band has reached a level of notoriety, they tend to become nostalgic and reflective of their career and what has brought them thus far. The Bouncing Souls have made a name for themselves in this manner. The Sounds fall into this schtick with "Rubicon". Like I said, its not as brash as their previous two albums, but they maintain their pop sensibility. Strong singles from the album include "No One Sleeps When I'm Awake", "My Lover", "4 Songs and a Fight", and "Midnight Sun". They get a little too reminescent with "Home Is Where Your Heart Is" and "Underground" which are a bit kitsch.

All in all, the album is a decent effort. I do miss the "finger in the air" attitude that was evident on the last two albums. Its a good pop CD. And finally suitable for my daughters to listen to.