I was listening to a great Tower of Power song the other day called "Only So Much Oil in the Ground". There's a prechorus in the song that says "We can't cut loose, without that juice." AWESOME! Hilarious. Their concern for the earth's over-consumption of petrolium is directly-proporsional to their ability to party.
Then I thought more about it and thought that this would be a genious campaign for Al Gore for all the hipster, downtown, young adult liberals out there who are pretty much all talk and no action. Who bought Save Darfur and the Live Earth cd because it was trendy but still use too much hair spray, drive too much and smoke too much. There won't be any cool downtown loft apartments any more, no facebook, no apple martinis or whatever cool people do. We won't be able to listen to music, check e-mail, makes phone calls, surf the internet, and take pictures on the same machine if the seas start to rise. No spring break in Key West if Key West is under water.
Think about it Al.
We can't cut loose, without that juice.
BB
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The State of Rock and Roll
Last week my brother Andy pointed out an op-ed in the Star about the state of rock and roll music. If I were my brother, I would have links to this article and maybe even remember the name of the guy who wrote the article. I'm sure Andy will include his name in his comment to this post.
Alright, first the article. The piece was based on a recent idea and program from Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's rythym guitarist. It is a lament of the current state of rock music, the individualized and niche market nature of music today, and the general public's and musicians knowledge of American music history. He plans to produce for group who are making good rock music and start public educational programs to teach kids American music history.
Alright, first off, i'm pretty sure that this exact article was probably written about 50 years ago by the parents of these guys when rock and roll first started. It was too loud, too fast, too sexy, too protesting. And now Steven Van Zandt, probably the least important person in the Boss's 7-9 piece band, is that old, fat, bald guy who think music is too loud, too violent, too sexual, too influenced. This is the same old song and dance that we heard from preachers and politicians when Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Elvis started shaking their hips. The unfamiliar is always bad, wrong.
He makes an argument that the Rolling Stones wouldn't make it today if they were just starting out. Because of the niche markets that are out there today, they wouldn't get radio play and any PR guy at a record label wouldn't touch them and wouldn't know what to do with their sound. I agree. And I don't think the Rolling Stones would have any problem with that! In an interview last year, Ringo Starr said that what rock bands should be doing today is tearing down everything the Beatles ever did. That's what they did. They heard their parents music and hated it, and ripped it up and spit it out of their electric amps. That's what rock and roll is.
Next, the writer relates the story of Van Zant's discovery of the Beatles and how it changed his life. And that kids today don't have that experience. This is just another example of old guys not being in touch. Kids are still discovering the Beatles and it's still changing lives. I am a late Beatles convert and yes, it has changed my life. I went to a party over the holiday and met a guy my age who said he probably couldn't name and definately couldn't sing ONE Beatles song. I can't imagine a life without the music of the Fab Four. I know it's only rock and roll (but I like it) but there's so much life and joy and love in the Beatles. There's nothing wrong with the best rock music ever made-the beatles and led zeppelin-never being surpassed. No one will ever make better music than those guys. No matter what Steven Van Zant does.
Finally, I'd just like to say to the author of the letter (a nerdy looking guy with big glasses and the wrap-around-the-sides bald guy hair) and Steven Van Zant (an old, kinda fattening, good-not-great-guitar player who relys on Bruce Springsteen for a career) that rock music is just fine! Inspired by the article, I went to the iPod and created a rock only playlist. Looking across eras (one of the advantages of the ditigal age) with a "no metal" rule, I came up with one hell of a rockin' list. Here's some bands that rock, no niche market-just straight ahead rock and roll, Clutch, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Band of Horses, Wolfmother (who sound a lot like a little band called Black Sabbath), Black Crowes, Guns and Roses (really anything Slash plays), Kings of Leon, Louis XIV, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Arcade Fire, about half of Ben Harper's stuff, Cold War Kids, Eagles of Death Metal, Queens of the Stone Age and so many, many more.
Rock and Roll is meant for two things and sometimes a third: 1. piss off parents 2. get girls and (sometimes) 3. call for political change. Now, Steven Van Zant and the guy who's name I can't remember are the parents that are pissed off by the noise their kids are listening too.
Just because you're out of touch with rock and roll, doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it.
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, B
Alright, first the article. The piece was based on a recent idea and program from Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's rythym guitarist. It is a lament of the current state of rock music, the individualized and niche market nature of music today, and the general public's and musicians knowledge of American music history. He plans to produce for group who are making good rock music and start public educational programs to teach kids American music history.
Alright, first off, i'm pretty sure that this exact article was probably written about 50 years ago by the parents of these guys when rock and roll first started. It was too loud, too fast, too sexy, too protesting. And now Steven Van Zandt, probably the least important person in the Boss's 7-9 piece band, is that old, fat, bald guy who think music is too loud, too violent, too sexual, too influenced. This is the same old song and dance that we heard from preachers and politicians when Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Elvis started shaking their hips. The unfamiliar is always bad, wrong.
He makes an argument that the Rolling Stones wouldn't make it today if they were just starting out. Because of the niche markets that are out there today, they wouldn't get radio play and any PR guy at a record label wouldn't touch them and wouldn't know what to do with their sound. I agree. And I don't think the Rolling Stones would have any problem with that! In an interview last year, Ringo Starr said that what rock bands should be doing today is tearing down everything the Beatles ever did. That's what they did. They heard their parents music and hated it, and ripped it up and spit it out of their electric amps. That's what rock and roll is.
Next, the writer relates the story of Van Zant's discovery of the Beatles and how it changed his life. And that kids today don't have that experience. This is just another example of old guys not being in touch. Kids are still discovering the Beatles and it's still changing lives. I am a late Beatles convert and yes, it has changed my life. I went to a party over the holiday and met a guy my age who said he probably couldn't name and definately couldn't sing ONE Beatles song. I can't imagine a life without the music of the Fab Four. I know it's only rock and roll (but I like it) but there's so much life and joy and love in the Beatles. There's nothing wrong with the best rock music ever made-the beatles and led zeppelin-never being surpassed. No one will ever make better music than those guys. No matter what Steven Van Zant does.
Finally, I'd just like to say to the author of the letter (a nerdy looking guy with big glasses and the wrap-around-the-sides bald guy hair) and Steven Van Zant (an old, kinda fattening, good-not-great-guitar player who relys on Bruce Springsteen for a career) that rock music is just fine! Inspired by the article, I went to the iPod and created a rock only playlist. Looking across eras (one of the advantages of the ditigal age) with a "no metal" rule, I came up with one hell of a rockin' list. Here's some bands that rock, no niche market-just straight ahead rock and roll, Clutch, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Band of Horses, Wolfmother (who sound a lot like a little band called Black Sabbath), Black Crowes, Guns and Roses (really anything Slash plays), Kings of Leon, Louis XIV, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Arcade Fire, about half of Ben Harper's stuff, Cold War Kids, Eagles of Death Metal, Queens of the Stone Age and so many, many more.
Rock and Roll is meant for two things and sometimes a third: 1. piss off parents 2. get girls and (sometimes) 3. call for political change. Now, Steven Van Zant and the guy who's name I can't remember are the parents that are pissed off by the noise their kids are listening too.
Just because you're out of touch with rock and roll, doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it.
Long Live Rock 'n' Roll, B
Monday, November 12, 2007
No Love
Hey, ESPN! Start talking about Missouri. We're number 5 in the nation. What do we have to do to be taken seriously? Last night on Sportscenter it was, "when KU beats MU", not if but when. No respect. We beat the living snot out of the Huskers!
Mizzou-rah, Mizzou-rah, Mizzou-rah, TIGERS!!!
B
Mizzou-rah, Mizzou-rah, Mizzou-rah, TIGERS!!!
B
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Here's some stuff I'm currently excited about:
NFL football week 9. It was almost as if since the Pats were playing the Colts, everybody raised their game. Disappointed that the Colts couldn't pull it out. I hate Tom Brady sooo much. Anyway, the most yards on the ground in NFL history, the longest touchdown play of all time, a 158 passer rating for Big Ben. Incredible football games. I don't even really mind that the Chiefs lost, it was such a good football game. The last team Brett Favre had to beat in the NFL. Great weekend.
30 Days of Night. The best vampire movie since Interview. Truly sinister. Horror fans should all go check it out.
Across the Universe. A love story movie set in the time during which I KNOW I was supposed to be a young man, end of the 60s in to the 70s, set to the soundtrack of all Beatles sung in musical format. Think Moulan Rouge without the can-can. The lead guy is unbelieveable as is Evan Racheal Wood. Joe Cocker, Bono, Eddie Izzard. Great movie!
My current project to purchase a couple of Bob Dylan albums (on iTunes, mom for $10 a piece) per pay check. I've never really listened to a lot of Dylan but what i have now-The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan and Highway 61 Revisited-is truly genius. I know what folks were always saying. If you haven't heard much, the time and the world situation call equally for more Rage Against the Machine and more Bob Dylan.
My Christmas present ideas for my Mom and my girlfriend, Lindsey. You girls are going to flip out!!
My idea for a proposal to General Conference for a 5 year minimum appointment and an equal salary for all elders of the United Methodist Church: $45,000. I guess I'll expand this later. Basically, preachers make too much money and our churches are being hurt because of it.
Lil Caldwell. You guys could've left that one of your voice mail message, I might've called you back!!
The new seasons of the Office, Family Guy and Heroes. Brilliant.
Degree Medical Strength Anti-persperant. Finally. I'm so sick of ruining shirts.
Here's some things I'm absolutely not excited about:
Fantasy Football. I have Big Ben, LT, Dallas Clark, Sebastian Janakowski and I can't win a game. Sebastian kicks the longest field goal in NFL history and gets me 5 points. We need to change the way points are tallyed. I guess I'm just a sore loser.
Giving my sermon in preaching class and listening to a semester's worth of other student sermons from here on out. I'm much more nervous about preaching in class than I ever am at church. I was recently called "dynamic" from the pulpit by my church members. Now I have to write out a sermon (which I never do) and present a sermon in a classroom (not a worship space) at 8:00am during class time (not a worship time). Not looking forward to it. I think it's gonna be called Incarnationality. (incarnation+nationality) It's our incarnationality, the fact that God became one of us, and not our nationality (patriotism, boarder fences, national secruity, etc.) that defines us. I don't know, something like that.
The UPS Whiteboard guy. Mustoe? Gets creepier everytime I see him.
Lindsey going out of town this weekend. Feel like I haven't seen her in weeks.
Not having an XBox or Nintendo Wii. I'm tired of Madden '06 and I need to see Halo 3 already. Guitar Hero 3. Tiger Woods golf on Wii. I gotta get one or the other someday soon. Oh well, far from the most important thing in the world.
Uh, oh yeah, the world. Um, are we dying? Is the world in grave danger? Is the earth going to fall into the sea or are we going to blow each other up first? I recently read a fatalist artical in Rolling Stone that said the population of the earth will be 500 million in 100 years. The Russians are going to go to war with China, when all those billions of people run out of space and try to move north. America is going to war with Iran and that guy's crazy. I mean actually insane, sociopathic, psychotic. Maybe they'll join in with North Korea (an equally crazy man). There's not enough water, oil, land, atmosphere, trees. There IS enough money, food, medicine, but the rich people are keeping it all. Andy, I'm trying not to be fatalist here, but shit. It's hard.
People who read my blog on a regular basis and never comment. Dru, my sister, Ron. Let me know who's out there.
Not having time to blog. I hate being busy. Who doesn't.
Alright, I know it's been awhile, but everything's going good. Just school and work. You know, life.
Take care of yourselves, B
NFL football week 9. It was almost as if since the Pats were playing the Colts, everybody raised their game. Disappointed that the Colts couldn't pull it out. I hate Tom Brady sooo much. Anyway, the most yards on the ground in NFL history, the longest touchdown play of all time, a 158 passer rating for Big Ben. Incredible football games. I don't even really mind that the Chiefs lost, it was such a good football game. The last team Brett Favre had to beat in the NFL. Great weekend.
30 Days of Night. The best vampire movie since Interview. Truly sinister. Horror fans should all go check it out.
Across the Universe. A love story movie set in the time during which I KNOW I was supposed to be a young man, end of the 60s in to the 70s, set to the soundtrack of all Beatles sung in musical format. Think Moulan Rouge without the can-can. The lead guy is unbelieveable as is Evan Racheal Wood. Joe Cocker, Bono, Eddie Izzard. Great movie!
My current project to purchase a couple of Bob Dylan albums (on iTunes, mom for $10 a piece) per pay check. I've never really listened to a lot of Dylan but what i have now-The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan and Highway 61 Revisited-is truly genius. I know what folks were always saying. If you haven't heard much, the time and the world situation call equally for more Rage Against the Machine and more Bob Dylan.
My Christmas present ideas for my Mom and my girlfriend, Lindsey. You girls are going to flip out!!
My idea for a proposal to General Conference for a 5 year minimum appointment and an equal salary for all elders of the United Methodist Church: $45,000. I guess I'll expand this later. Basically, preachers make too much money and our churches are being hurt because of it.
Lil Caldwell. You guys could've left that one of your voice mail message, I might've called you back!!
The new seasons of the Office, Family Guy and Heroes. Brilliant.
Degree Medical Strength Anti-persperant. Finally. I'm so sick of ruining shirts.
Here's some things I'm absolutely not excited about:
Fantasy Football. I have Big Ben, LT, Dallas Clark, Sebastian Janakowski and I can't win a game. Sebastian kicks the longest field goal in NFL history and gets me 5 points. We need to change the way points are tallyed. I guess I'm just a sore loser.
Giving my sermon in preaching class and listening to a semester's worth of other student sermons from here on out. I'm much more nervous about preaching in class than I ever am at church. I was recently called "dynamic" from the pulpit by my church members. Now I have to write out a sermon (which I never do) and present a sermon in a classroom (not a worship space) at 8:00am during class time (not a worship time). Not looking forward to it. I think it's gonna be called Incarnationality. (incarnation+nationality) It's our incarnationality, the fact that God became one of us, and not our nationality (patriotism, boarder fences, national secruity, etc.) that defines us. I don't know, something like that.
The UPS Whiteboard guy. Mustoe? Gets creepier everytime I see him.
Lindsey going out of town this weekend. Feel like I haven't seen her in weeks.
Not having an XBox or Nintendo Wii. I'm tired of Madden '06 and I need to see Halo 3 already. Guitar Hero 3. Tiger Woods golf on Wii. I gotta get one or the other someday soon. Oh well, far from the most important thing in the world.
Uh, oh yeah, the world. Um, are we dying? Is the world in grave danger? Is the earth going to fall into the sea or are we going to blow each other up first? I recently read a fatalist artical in Rolling Stone that said the population of the earth will be 500 million in 100 years. The Russians are going to go to war with China, when all those billions of people run out of space and try to move north. America is going to war with Iran and that guy's crazy. I mean actually insane, sociopathic, psychotic. Maybe they'll join in with North Korea (an equally crazy man). There's not enough water, oil, land, atmosphere, trees. There IS enough money, food, medicine, but the rich people are keeping it all. Andy, I'm trying not to be fatalist here, but shit. It's hard.
People who read my blog on a regular basis and never comment. Dru, my sister, Ron. Let me know who's out there.
Not having time to blog. I hate being busy. Who doesn't.
Alright, I know it's been awhile, but everything's going good. Just school and work. You know, life.
Take care of yourselves, B
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