William Shatner

Allow me to take a few minutes of your time to explain why I feel William Shatner is important to our entertainment world.  Bill has been around for a long time and has a lot of fame for being Captain Kirk on Star Trek.  Here is a shocking thought.  Who the hell cares about Star Trek.  Sure it’s what we know him for, but not why we love him.  He is the rare kind of actor who has a wonderful sense of humor about himself.  Look at the priceline commercials.  Have you heard his cds?  Has Been is a wonderful record filled with Shatner talking to music. He tells great stories.  And has a self awareness other artists can only dream of. His duet with Henry Rollins is something everyone needs to hear at least once in their life.  But the best thing Bill has ever done… Boston Legal.  Denny Crane is everything you hope Shatner is like in real life.  Gun Toting, offensive, and blissfully unaware of all the awful things he is doing.  I have missed a lot of Boston Legal, but in the episodes I have seen, he has shot at least 4 people.  Personally, I could watch him do it for years.

Music, everyone loves Music

So not everyone goes hunting for new music all the time.  Personally I try to keep up, because I love new music.  There is something deeply satisfying about finding something unknown or looked over.  So in the spirit of looked over and not so well known music, here is a brief list of some great stuff you might be missing.

Nickel Creek-These guys are a three piece bluegrass outfit.  Before you write them off as mountain music give them a listen.  It has a very modern feel and a fantastic mandolin player.  Some notable tracks: This Side, Helena, When in Rome, Speak, When you Come Back Down, and a fantastic cover of Bob Dylan-Tomorrow is a Long Time.

Morrissey-This man is a god to a lot of people, and yet not everyone knows who he is.  Morrissey was the lead singer of the Smiths, a very influential 80’s band.  Did you see the show Charmed?  The theme song is a Smiths tune. Go see a Morrissey show and watch grown men weep openly.  He sounds very British and regal.  Check out Every Day is Like Sunday, We Hate it When our Friends Become Successful, Sunny, Sing Your Life, or Hairdresser on Fire.

The Raconteurs-I think people keep looking past these guys.  This is Jack White’s band that isn’t the White Stripes.  He is more impressive on every album with the Stripes, and the two raconteur albums don’t disappoint either. Intimate Secretary, Level,  Salute your Solution, and Carolina Drama are fantastic.

Smoking Popes-These guys play a faster, punk themed music set with a smooth croon vocalizing over the top.  The mix works wonderfully and I could listen to them for hours and be happy.  More bands should be like this.  I need you Around, Pure Imagination(yes, from Willy Wonka), No More Smiles, Megan all great songs.

Arrested Development-These guys were huge for me when I was 12.  They were a positive, pro Africa, anti-gangsta, pro woman hip-hop group.  Being white, from the burbs, and young in the 90’s we sure loved rap.  3 years, 5 months & 2 days in the life of… is in my top ten albums of all time.  Fountain of Youth, Tennessee, People Everyday, Mr Wendall, and Mama’s always on stage still make me happy.  Also Speech the leader makes solo music and is also worth checking out.

And Finally Coheed & Cambria, as far as I am concerned these guys are making some the most interesting rock music this decade.  It’s fast, it’s falsetto, it’s involved.  They have 4 albums out all telling one story, with one more album coming I think in it.  It’s a sci fi story based on characters named Coheed and Cambria, all written by the lead singer Claudio Sanchez.  The albums are great the first time through and very rewarding after repeat listens.  They have about 4 hours worth of original tunes and you could listen all the way through and still want more.  Just check them out it’s all good.

Australia

So My wife Jenny and I rented Australia.  We cuddled up on the couch and popped it in after dinner at about 6:00pm.  This was a few days ago.  I am still watching it now, and we haven’t paused it once.  This movie feels to be about 134 hours long.  This would not be a problem normally if the movie was worth watching.  I have seen the 4hr version of Return of the King about 10 times now.  The only thing I took from this movie is that it was long.  I probably could have and should have spent my time more constructively.

I could have

Resided the house, Cleaned out the garage, create the perfect mix for my ipod, fixed the brakes on the car, or watched all three x-men movies in which I liked Hugh Jackman more.  I think I could have accomplished this entire list in the 134 hours that Australia runs.

Graveyard Shift

So I was thinking about something to write about for my first blog entry here, and I decided to write about a wonderful song by a great band.  That song is Graveyard Shift, by Uncle Tupelo.  If you don’t know Uncle Tupelo is one of the biggest influences in the alt country genre.  Think Ryan Adams, Old 97s, Drive By Truckers, or Son Volt but 20 years ago.  Uncle Tupelo had 2 main parts, Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, who respectively started Son Volt and Wilco.  Both are excellent bands, but as far as I am concerned can’t match Uncle Tupelo.  Obviously being young and Angsty makes for some good music.  So Graveyard Shift is the opening track to the No Depression album, and is an amazingly rocking tune.  From heavy guitars to cowbell in the chorus it is perfect.  The song is about the struggle of the common man.  Seems kind of fitting for the time we are living in.  “Some say land of paradise, some say land of pain.  Well which side are you looking from.  Some people have it all, Some All to gain.”  The haves have, but those of us without really can only keep looking up.  “Time won’t wait better open the gate, get out and start what needs to be done.”  Time for us to hustle in this life.  Work for what we have and keep our eyes focused on the things that matter.  “Can’t look away, The powers that be might take it all away.” Seems like this could be more true than we realize, but I take hope in having it all to gain still.