Finding a job sucks

So, one of the reasons I haven't posted much lately, is that I'm finishing up graduate school. Lame excuse, I know....but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) its true.

With that comes the horrendous, unenviable task of finding a job, or in my case.....finding yet another place to go to school for the next two years. It really is never ending. But its something that has to be done.

Now the funny thing is, I'm excited about the opportunity to move somewhere new. I've lived in Kentucky and Nashville (the urban version of Kentucky) for my entire life....so this will be exciting. But over the course of the past few weeks I've all but convinced myself that I'm living in like 10 different places. It changes every two or three days. So, I figured I'd give you a small bit of insight into some of those places that I've told myself, "Yep, that's the place. Can't wait to move there" only to change my mind the next morning.

So, let's get going. Here are a few....in no particular order.

1. Boston
Pros: See Picture. A. W. E. S. O. M. E. city.

Cons: Very cold. Gerdon lives there. HA! Just kidding buddy.

Song: Ben Harper - She's Only Happy In the Sun

2. Denver

Pros: Beautiful. Never been there. Skiing.

Cons: Snow. Lots of snow.

Song: Yonder Mountain String Band - High on a Hilltop

3. Louisville

Pros: Familiarity. Lots of Friends there. Comfortable.

Cons: What's the saying......Everything changes, everything stays the same? Something like that.

Song: Ben Kweller - Different but the Same

4. South Carolina
Pros: I like living in the south. Close to the ocean.

Cons: Hot.

Song: Ryan Adams - Carolina Rain


5. Dayton, OH
Pros: Meh.

Cons: Meh.

Song: Elliott Smith - Whatever

6. San Francisco
Pros: Probably the most different than what I'm used to.

Cons: Mapquest says its 2307.83 miles away from Nashville. Damn.

Song: Coconut Records - West Coast

7. Florida (either Gainesville or Tallahassee) Pros: Currently the favorite. I've wanted to live there my entire life. Wife wants to live there, too.

Cons: Hurricanes

Song: The Hold Steady - Citrus


So, I suppose we'll see. I still have a couple months before this process rrreeeaaaalllllyyyyy gets underway. I'm excited though.

RR

A Evening at Home

This fine relaxing evening has been brought to you by Busch Light and a couple of fine singer-songwriters.

Here's four songs. Enjoy.

Elliott Smith - New Disaster: My favorite off the New Moon album.
Elliott Smith - A Distorted Reality is Now a Necessity to be Free: Political. This is a different ES song. In my opinion, it shows his versatility.

Buy these here and here.

Devendra Banhart - Tit Smoking in the Temple of Artesan Mimicry: The hippy Elliott Smith
Devendra Banhart - This is the Way

You can get this album here.

So, I'm just now discovering Devendra. I heard about him forever ago but figured it wasn't my deal (i have no excuse for thinking that, but for some reason I did). I had no idea where to start so I downloaded the Rejoicing in the Hands album. I've thoroughly enjoyed this one so far. For any Devendra fans out there, what do you recommend next? If you've got any input let me know. For those out there that haven't checked him out...quite wasting time and remember....When in rome....

RR

Per Your Request

The mighty Radio KGB readership have spoken, and they are unanimous.....I'm an idiot. The only thing worse than not posting songs (a problem I've had for the better part of three weeks, i'm sorry) is posting songs, and then removing them.

For this I apologize. Here, at your request, is a song that I previously posted, but then removed to post other stuff. Hope you all enjoy it, again.

Elliott Smith - Miss Misery (piano version)

And while I'm at it, here's another Elliott Smith song I've been digging on A LOT recently. Its depressing, but to a completely different tune!!

Elliott Smith - Between the Bars

Google Images definitely has the best pictures out
there....and by 'best' I clearly mean 'most ridiculous'.

So, I saw BK posted his Working Man songs in honor of Labor Day.....Well, you know what's worse than not getting Labor Day off.....well, nothing. Not getting Labor Day off sucks. But, fortunately, there's no better place to vent than here at KGB. So, I'll vent about coming to work on a damn National Holiday here by posting a couple songs. To steal a smarter man's idea, let's call it the Working Man's 4-pack.

1. Iron and Wine - Boy With a Coin: This one's going to be on I&W's new album, The Shepherd's Dog. I can't remember if its been posted here yet or not, but here you go anyways. (It doesn't come out until Sept. 25, but you can preorder the album here, I recommend doing so, its gonna be a good one.)

2. Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah - Over and Over Again (And Lost and Found): I still don't have their newest one. This one's super duper. But I'm ready to get the next one. (Here's the old one.)

3. Arcade Fire - Intervention: The Arcade Fire have an interesting flair for the dramatic that is quite evident on this song. I'm picturing a GIANT pipe organ in an ancient church, not like a Neil Young in concert sized pipe organ, but like a Handel's Messiah Hallelujah Chorus size pipe organ. You can't really go wrong with pipe organs...they're rarely used to ill-effect. (Arcade Fire can be purchased here).

4. Bryan Scary and the Shedding Tears - Desdemona's Leaving Town: Well, I'm lazy and for that I also apologize. I've been meaning to feature Mr. Scary as well as a few others in a long overdue Webcast. But Gerdon's the only one that seems to find the energy to do one. I'll just post this song here, its my favorite of his. Maybe someday if I ever do that Cast I'll hit you up with some more. I hope you like this one.

So, i just realized I need some new music. Either just new CDs put on my computer or I actually need to go purchase something. Either way its something that needs to be done. If you've got any good recs, let me hear them. But until then, there you go. Keeping you cool like a 4-pack of Samuel Smith's Taddy Porters.

RR

Happy Independence Day, Bitches!!!

That's right, 231 years ago today our country was birthed. I still remember it like it was yesterday. She was so cute, but just wouldn't stop crying. Damn near kept me up every night that first week. But that's ok, ya know, because I loved her. And here we are today, a-celebratin' again. So, have a safe holiday, eat some good food (I'm ironically having German food tonight, is that even allowed???), drink some good beer, watch some fireworks and listen to these few songs about (or by a group named) America. Take care.

Elliott Smith - Independence Day
Simon and Garfunkel - America (live)
America - Ventura Highway

And you know what.....I wasn't going to do it. But here goes.....just to piss Kendall off:

Neil Diamond - America

Goodnight everybody.

RR

My Obsession With A Song

Lost in the hubbub of the past two week's activity was the release of previous unreleased Elliott Smith songs. The 2-disc album New Moon (buy it here) was released two weeks ago, but I just got it sometime last week. There are a few gems, a few duds, but overall just two discs worth of good Elliott Smith tracks recorded in his early years around the time of Roman Candle and Either/Or (my favorite Smith album). To be honest, its probably difficult to truly appreciate this album unless you've been a fan of Elliott's for a long time now. Otherwise, its probably just some more good Elliott Smith songs.

However, I've been anticipating this CD since I first heard about its conception. And after purchasing it, there is one particularly stand out track for me. What's odd, though, is its not exactly a new song. The album contains a version of a song that would eventually become Miss Misery, Elliott's standout "hit" that earned him accolades and recognition (perhaps even unwanted, on his part) due to its inclusion of the soundtrack to Good Will Hunting.

Miss Misery was the first Elliott Smith song I had ever heard, and I was instantly a fan. I heard it in the movie, and rewound the credits like 10 times to keep listening to it (this was pre-Napster days), watched him perform at the Academy Awards, and went on to follow Elliott's work right up until this day. So, the inclusion of new version of this song immediately had my curiosity peaked.

So, before I talk anymore about the song, I suppose everyone needs to be on the same page. By that I mean, I need to make sure you've heard the song. Here is the final version, the first version I ever heard:

Elliott Smith - Miss Misery
'
Now, here's the early version of the song off the New Moon album. Its an 'Elliott and an acoustic guitar version' well before the song officially became Miss Misery.

Elliott Smith - Miss Misery (early version)

Very unpolished, but you can already see in this version, the foundation that would become the final. It probably wasn't even called Miss Misery at this point (that phrasing came later). Aside from the obvious melody, you can already hear the phrasings that make the final cut (including my favorite, the intro line about Johnny Walker Red). But there's a lot missing as well. Certain lines sound unfinished as if they were just fillers until he thought of a better idea (that's the way the line about the tarot cards sounds, this would become the line about the palm reader in the park).

But also, and I could be wrong about this, I think the tone of the song changes. The early version sounds depressing, but hopeful. He keeps anticipating this "enchanted night" he's with his girl. The final version sounds less hopeful. Whether they're together but can't bring themselves to break up, or whether they're not together with little hope of ever being together, or whether its actually a song about Elliott's depression (another theory). It comes across as less hopeful, despite the music sounding more upbeat.

So, I've loved this song for a very long time, but this new version helps me appreciate it that much more. I hope you all like it as well. I'll leave you with a couple other fun Miss Misery tidbits I have. One is a piano version of the song, and below you'll find a YouTube clip of Elliott's awkward performace at the Academy Awards when the song was nominated for an Oscar.

Elliott Smith - Miss Misery (piano version)


Take care.

RR

Saturday Six Pack IV

These guys got me drunk.

It's Sunday, I apologize.

This week's Six Pack is a tribute to the Live Music Archive. This site is the tits and it includes many great bands. This is my first drunk post and it rules! Enjoy!

Drive-By Truckers -- Women Without Whiskey from 4.27.07
This is from the first night of the Dirt Underneath Tour that DBT is currently rocking. These shows are great. Another Cooley gem!
[Buy DBT here]

Ryan Adams -- Nobody Girl from 12.5.06
Great clip fuckers. Nobody Girl from Gold is sick. Live is almost always better, especially when a pedal steel is involved!
[Buy Ryan Adams here]

My Morning Jacket -- Oh What A Night from 3.7.2007
Something about MMJ covering this song makes it cool!
[Buy MMJ here]

Elliot Smith -- A Fond Farewell from 1.31.2003
A great fucking song. Much props to RR for his continued recs for this guy. Is he not the greatest singer-songwriter of the 1990s? I think you could make a compelling argument that he is.
[Buy Elliott Smith from here]

Toad The Wet Sprocket -- Something's Always Wrong from 8.30.1997
I didn't realize Toad was on the LMA. Good stuff from Santa Barbara of all places.
[Buy Toad the Wet Sprocket here]

Cast Iron Filter -- Americana Hotel from 7.23.2004
Thanks to Gerdon for these guys. As he mentioned in another post, this is a great roadtripping song.
[Buy Cast Iron Filter here]


BK

I hate squirrels......

Seriously, I do. And here a Vanderbilt, it's like the little bastards are domesticated. They're everywhere!! And, for some reason, they're totally not scared of people.They jump out from behind trashcans at you, they jump out of trees, from behind buildings...EVERYWHERE!!! One scared the absolute crap out of me while I was walking into school this morning. He ran right in front of me not 1 foot from where I was walking....

Don't let this one fool you. He may be cute, but this one's got diseases

So, in honor of me not liking squirrels (and the fact that I haven't posted in over a week) here's a couple of links to some songs that deal with other topics that I'm not particularly fond of. The songs themselves are good, but the topics they deal with aren't my faves. Hope you enjoy the songs.....

1. Ben Folds - Prison Food: Everytime I've been to prison, the food has been absolutely atrocious. So, if you're looking for a place to get some decent eats, I don't recommend committing a crime.

2. Death Cab for Cutie - Crooked Teeth: For all you younglings out there with braces, here's a bit of advice: When you get your braces off, don't forget to wear your retainer. Because there's nothing worse than being stuck with braces for 4 years only to have your teeth drift right on back to being crooked, only because you were too lazy to where your retainer.

3. Elliott Smith - Waltz #2: I've included this song to represent my aversion to dancing. Whether it be to rap (which I particularly hate) or classical dancing (for which I have taken a few lessons) doesn't matter. I don't like dancing.

4. Radiohead - I Might Be Wrong: It doesn't happen often, but I hate being wrong.....

5. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun: Now I don't mind foreign people, BUT what I don't like is when I'm on an elevator with two people that speak a totally foreign language than me and they speak it right in front of me. That just seems rude. I have no idea what they're saying and I always assume they're making fun of me, when approximately 98% of the time that's not true. It is my opinion that they should either A) Speak English on the elevator, or B) Wait until either they or I get off the elevator to resume their conversation in the foreign language. I don't think that's asking too much.

Enjoy.

RR