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

HATER!

So apparently I'm a hater. Curious to know why?? Check this out and scroll to the last bit about the Neutral Milk Hotel sing-a-long. Who knew, huh? Well, obviously I don't know the backstory behind such an idea, but I stand behind my initial opinion on the issue. (For those too lazy to click the link, my opinions are stated as follows: a capella singings of Neutral Milk Hotel's The Aeroplane Over the Sea - Against. Free pudding Snack Packs - For.) That being said, I'd like to issue a formal apology to the creator's of the idea....

"Sorry I made fun of your bad idea."

There. Now all is well.

Two things I'd like to mention today.

#1. The new Smashing Pumpkins album. I'd absolutely love to post two of my favorite songs from the album, but if you ask me Billy Corgan seems like the kind of guy that would stay up all night googling his name just so he could report us to the RIAA. So, i'll just tell you about the songs. If you could only download two I'd go with Doomsday Clock and United States. They both sound like old Smashing Pumpkins. And honestly, is there anything else we would've wanted out of this album? I didn't expect it to break down any musical barriers or unite us all together in one love and appreciation for music. I expected (read: wanted) it to sound like an old Smashing Pumpkins album. These songs are the most old-Pumpkinesque.

I had a mini-argument with a friend of mine this past weekend about why we should even bother to care about this album, "Its not even the Smashing Pumpkins, its only one guy." Well, actually its two. Billy and the drummer. But I was always under the impression that BC never let anyone else do anything in the studio. Its not like the Pumpkins lost anything with D'arcy left and they replaced her with Auf der Maur before Machina. Same thing here. Still sounds like the Pumpkins, and because of that I will recommend it. If you liked the Pumpkins before, you will like this album. If you never liked them before, don't waste your time.

#2. Heard the new Ben Harper single called "In the Colors" and I really like it. Here's the video:



Finally, we've been bombarded recently with emails of groups we're supposed to listen to and attempt to distribute to the masses (i use the term very liberally). Well, i've been busy as can be recently so I've never actually managed to get around to those. I suppose I'll spend an evening here soon and give some a listen. I have a feeling its going to be a needle in a haystack kinda thing, but if one good band comes out of it, then so be it.

Take care everyone.

RR

The Not-So Midweek Shuffle

Shuffle's back, bitches. Time to open up the iTunes, spin the roulette wheel and see what we're listening to today. Here's hoping it finds my new Kelly Clarkson CD....

1. Radiohead - How to Disappear Completely: For some reason I've come to the realization that I've never posted about Radiohead. That would almost give you the indication that I don't care for them too much. Well, that couldn't be any further from the truth. If I was stranded on a non-Lost-esque island and could only have one bands CDs with me, it would be Radiohead's. This song ranks up there with Paranoid Android as one of my favorite songs of all-time. The string-arrangements are mesmerizing. Its easy to get lost in this song, so in that since, the song has the perfect title. And if you don't know what I mean, put your headphones on, turn the volume up, and just listen to this song. (buy the Kid A CD here).

2. Nick Drake - Which Will: Just did a thing on Nick in my last webcast. This is another song off the Pink Moon album (get it here). Its his plea for a girl to make up her mind. His voice is very soothing, and not nearly as melancholy as Kendall's impressions had led him to believe.

Editor's Note: So as not to tempt the iTunes shuffle god's, full disclosure is expected on my part. I am currently listening to Say Yes by Elliott Smith, but I believe I've already done a little ditty somewhere here on this glorious site, so I'll skip the write-up and we'll continue on. Thank you for your attention.

3. Jack Johnson - The News: This is off his first CD Brushfire Fairytales. (Want it? Yeah, I thought so. Try here.) Honestly not too much to say about this one. I ususally brush past this one. The only line I regularly hear is the one about "Why don't the newscasters cry when they read about people who die? At least they could be decent enough to put just a tear in their eye."

4. Wilco - Kicking Television (live): This is the live version off the 2CD live album (get it here) of the same name. It was recorded from a couple shows in Chicago. I love this freakin album. I had always loved Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but was sort of impartial to A Ghost is Born. This CD opened my eyes up to that album. I began to appreciate that album more. This song is off neither of those albums.....so, whatever.

5. Ben Harper - Please Bleed: Speaking of live albums, this song is off the 2CD Live from Mars. (You should give it a try.) I've always liked Ben Harper. He's got like a bajillion cds though. I'm not sure how many I have. This is my favorite though. Its composed of a heavy first CD, followed by a more acoustic based second cd. If you couldn't guess, this is off the second one. I really like the "Good lovers make great enemies" line. Sounds like something out of a Modest Mouse song. It also sounds like he could use a glass of water in this one, though.

I'm happier with where fate has taken us this fine Saturday morning. Time to do some work and think about drinking some beer. Gotta love some extended weekends. Have great Memorial Weekend everybody.

RR