Wednesday, October 26, 2005

The Killing Joke

Music of Choice:
Nora Jones – Feelin’ the Same Way

No post yesterday, due to my work requiring my presence for 11 hours a day. Seeing as how I get up at 4:30 in the morning, I was tired when I got home. Same thing today, but I figured I should post since I won’t be here this weekend. I will be in Long Beach, drinking beer, hanging with some friends, and hopefully participating in sins of the flesh with hot young college girls. Hey, you gotta dream, right?

So anyway, I wanted to post this link. It’s a story I read in Rolling Stone called “The Killing Joke”, and to be honest the story is much better told in the RS issue, but I couldn’t find it online to link to, so here is another article about the same incident. No bullshit, when I was reading the RS article at Border’s, I literally felt sick. These 2 twisted fucks took their friends life for no reason other than they thought shooting her in the head would some how make their night more enjoyable. Hell, the fucking dude couldn’t even pull the trigger the second time to finish her off; he had to have his girlfriend do it. And the poor girl was her best friend. I don’t think I have ever read an article that upset me as much as “The Killing Joke”. When RS website decides to let me actually view more than a picture of Bono on a damn I Pod, I will find out who the author was and do some research on it.

In other parts of my world, it rained today. That was cool. I'm not one for rain but I like the hazy gray days. That’s my favorite weather. Nothing too much from the music world today, that or I’m too damn tired to research it; I promise a better post when I get back from Long Beach.

-B
So many times I wonder where I’ve gone

Monday, October 24, 2005

The Time Of Your Life

Music of Choice:
H2O – Memory Lane

My heart was beating faster than I ever expected. I knew this would be excitement in some shape or form, but I was unable to understand whether it would be good or bad, just that it would be something. As my mouse clicked thru page after page, scrolling down to see the faces of those familiar to me from so long ago, my heart raced even faster. I was approaching the last page and I knew, I just knew, she would be there, the very last entry…but she wasn’t. Thank god.

What was I doing you ask? I was doing something I swore I never wanted to do, but knew I could not resist the temptation. The temptation to take that nostalgic road down memory lane is just too great. No stop signs, no red lights, and no cops to monitor my speed and recklessness which I abused to scroll thru each paging hoping. Hoping to see her, and hoping to not see her. I don’t know if I am disappointed or relieved. I guess everyone feels that way sometimes for someone. That’s the risk we take when we do this sort of thing.

I was scrolling thru MySpace looking for people I went to high school with.

It was kind of funny, I saw more than a few faces I recognized. I only searched people that would be my class, the class above, and the class below. But damn, I didn’t expect to recognize so many. I saw many I would like to re-establish communication with, but knew I never would. If we were meant to be friends now, why aren’t we? Why did we stop talking? Was it falling out of touch? A stupid argument over something we can’t remember any more but sure as shit seemed important at the time? A lost love we can never go back to? I guess in the end it’s all of the above, and more.

I wish I could say I will never go back to it again, but I know I will be tempted, especially with it being almost 10 years (HOLY SHIT) since I barely earned my right to strut the stage and accept my diploma that told the world I gradumanated. So you know what, I am going to swear, here and now, that I will NEVER try that again. Why? Because there are some places, and some people, that you just can’t go back to. I guess now it’s my time to just move along. She wasn’t there anyways. And you know what?

I’m relieved.

-B
Have I wasted all these years, holding back the tears behind a smiling face?”

Want A Cookie?

Music of Choice:
Ash – Goldfinger

I realize that tomorrow is Tuesday, the favorite weekday of any music fan. However, there just isn’t anything really good coming out tomorrow. Sometimes you just get a bad release day. Anyways, I finished Fargo Rock City, and I suggest you pick it up; it’s a decent read for any metal or hard rock fan. Be warned, if you know virtually nothing of the aforementioned musical genres then this book is not really written for you. Hell, he spends an entire chapter explaining the difference between hard and heavy.

So I went to the Soul Distortion show Saturday night. I had a good time, even thought it’s not exactly my type of music. The band played very well, except for the cover of the Toadies song Possum Kingdom. I fucking hate that song, that song made my ears BLEED in high school. But anyway, onto other things; I my go to see Strung Out tomorrow night at the Empire, which would be Muy Bueno. If I do, expect a review.


-B
She slips into the night, and she is gone

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Stringz


Music of Choice:
R.E.M. – Radio Free Europe

I saw these guys on TV and thought they were pretty good. Their called Nuttin’ But Stringz, and it is essentially 2 guys blending violins with hip-hop, rock and roll, and pop. I don’t know how the album would sound, but I believe they would be an amazing pair for the soundtrack of a Quentin Tarantino movie. You should check them out. Anyways, I’m going to a local show tonight to see Soul Distortion, a local act form Sacramento. I will have a review of the show tomorrow.

On to new topics, I pretty much am over the Jack Thompson thing; the guy is just a fucking joke. He tosses out hollow threats like daily trash, and it’s just getting to the point of absurd. If something large scale occurs I’ll let you know, but as for now I’ll let the gaming community handle it.

-B
Decide yourself, calling all the medias too fast.”

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Killing Yourself To Live

Music of Choice:
Tool - Opiate

I often wonder whether sociologists write to inform, or be discussed. Follow me on this one for a second. I was reading “Killing Yourself To Live”, a great book by Chuck Klosterman, and somewhere between packing his suitcase to tour the dead rock star walk of fame and talking about a hot girl he was in love with, he mentioned that he had met Elizabeth Wurtzel. She is the author of the book “Prozac Nation”. He mentioned that his co-worker did not approve of her demeanor, and you can (and should) go read the book for the whole story, but it got me thinking. I am becoming the person I used to make fun of in high school. And I can’t stop it.

Hear me out on this. I have within the last 3-4 years slowly been more and more drawn into the world of sociology. I find myself now reading 1 book a week straight from the section of books titled by the same name at Borders and Barnes & Noble. The people I always assumed read these books were the loonies who hung out at Starbucks until midnight drinking $12 mocha’s and chasing them with $18 lattes. They are also prone to bitching, whining, moaning, and preaching about society and every damn thing under the sun that was believed to be a conspiracy. Modern day hippies, I believe, was the title I attributed to them. They were harmless if you ignored them, but if you were to engage them in a conversation about, say pie, they would rant for hours on how much of a “sheep” or “lemming” you were. Thankfully they just ramble on unaware that they can aspire to no greater beings than that of unemployed modern socialites commencing in wasted language.

Lately though I have begun to actually enjoy what I read. I still don’t enjoy the people I just mentioned and I never will, but the subject itself makes more sense now than in high school. I wonder why that is? Could it be I have matured? I doubt it. I think it is just that as you grow older you tend to grow out of the things you loved (usually) and begin to take interest into things that actually MATTER (hopefully). Here in lies the dilemma I mentioned in the first sentence; do they really care or are they just trying to make everyone believe they care? I will go out and read “Prozac Nation” within the next 2 weeks so as that I can do a follow up, but until then I am left with that same burning question. I hope that the answer is that they sincerely believe there is a problem with society and it needs to be brought to attention. That would make me feel a whole lot better to know that they didn’t waste all those hours at Starbucks spouting off gibberish and really aren’t trying to just make a buck and a name in the spotlight. Here’s to hoping.

-B
Deaf and Blind and Dumb and Born to Follow

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Like A Rolling Stone

Here's an article I thought you might enjoy, regarding the top magazine covers of the last 40 years. I do like the Lennon and Ono cover, but I doubt it would be the best out there. What do you think?

-B

Goo

Thought this would be an interesting article for you (us) Sonic Youth fans. Can't wait for the new record. Hard to believe they have been around for 25 years. My whole life. Fascinating.

-B

Freak Of The Week

Music of Choice:
The Rolling Stones – Paint It Black

I would have to agree with my PJ companion (see below) that every PJ album is different, and great in its own way. I believe that is one of the many qualities that set them above the barrage of cloned corporate endorsed pop music today. And while I may have come off a bit rash, I must admit, no matter what their new record sounds like I’m going to buy it. And I have no doubt it will be great in its own way. They could do an entire album dedicated to G&R and Mars Volta (I hate that band) covers and I would STILL buy it. As he correctly stated in his reply, they can do no wrong having said that lets move on to the next topic: Penny Arcade. I love this web comic. I have been following the whole Jack Thompson thing, and I find it amusing that he has to call the police on them for harassment. He’s a fucking lawyer; he should know the following mistakes he made:

1 – He has never stated “cease all communications with me or I will be forced to file a police report for harassment.” He simply said “or else”. That is a threat, which qualifies under the law as assault. Remember assault and battery are 2 different things.

2 – Both parties have been publicly open with their opinions and no personal information (i.e. social security #’s, credit records, etc.) have been displayed.

3 – The freedom of speech still, as of right now, protects them to publicly debate the issue as long as no laws are broken. They can post their opinion as well as his reply.

Basically he is just using his threats as if the guys at PA were dumb teenagers not aware of the consequences of their actions. I doubt he even takes them seriously. Besides, shouldn’t he be out trying to ban guns, knives, staples, teenagers, and fun? If he really wanted to attack them, he would have donated the money himself and called them, and the gamer community in general, out to the corral for a shoot out. The best thing he can do for himself is acknowledge that he lied, admit he underestimated the charitable contributions and social unity of the gaming and comic community, and move on to something else where he can still salvage an ounce of his career and respectability.

Ps – go read Penny Arcade. Now.

-B

I See A Red Door And I Want It Painted Black

Monday, October 17, 2005

5-1


Oh yeah, go Wings. 5 and 1, Baby!

-B

Jack Thompson Is Full Of Shit

So let me get this straight. The offer to donate $10k to a charity was satire? Wow, I bet the unfortunate people that COULD have benefited from Jack's so-called Charity just found that satire funny as hell. How witty of him. And here we all thought he was just a dick, man were we wrong. He was just being FUNNY! Oh Jack, you kill us.

-B

Hot Coffee

Ok, now not only do we have to listen to Jack Thompson's religious fanatical bullshit, but now we have to listen to him act like a high schooler who got caught cheating while passing a note to Susie in the back of the classroom.

-B

Spin The Black Circle

Music of Choice:
Pearl Jam – Drifting

I feel I am obligated to speak about the upcoming Pearl Jam album. As of now there is no release date and they are still working on the record. Hell, I don’t even think they have a title for it yet. Here’s what bothers me. I have been a PJ fanatic since Ten was released. I have purchased every record, every DVD, half the damn bootlegs, all the singles, every soundtrack, you name it I got it. What I don’t want to purchase is a record comprised of G&R covers and songs that sound like The Mars Volta. I fucking hate The Mars Volta. Granted, this is all just speculation as of right now, and from what I have read and understood, it sounds like their just fucking with everyone. I really am hoping for a return to the VS and Vitalogy days. That would be nice. Not that I didn’t like every record, but I think a trip down memory lane would do the band some good. All I can do is hope for the best, and in the mean time keep spinning the black circle of Ten and throw on a flannel coat and feel sorry for myself. Oh, go buy Lost Dogs if you haven’t yet purchased this collection of songs, it truly is worth the money.

-B
I Sometimes Wonder If They Know That I’m Gone

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Goodbye To Romance

Music of Choice:
Ozzy Osbourne – Goodbye To Romance

One of Hockey’s greatest players, Brett Hull, has retired. This is a sad day for the sport. He has always been one of my favorite players, and it’s a shame he couldn’t retire with Detroit. Goodbye and good luck Brett.

-B
And I Feel The Time Is Right Although I Know That You Just Might Say To Me What’cha Gonna Do

Limited Edition

Music of Choice:
3rd Strike – No Light

Hello. I am now attempting to publish from Microsoft Word. God help us. Anyways, thought I would bust out a list of new releases coming out Tuesday the 18th. Here you go:

CD’s:
  • Depeche Mode – Playing the Angel

  • Martina McBride – Timeless

  • Mest – Photographs

  • Rev Run – Distortion

  • Simply Red – Simplified

  • Ashlee Simpson – I Am Me

  • Thrice – Vheissu

DVD’s:
  • Batman Begins

  • The Big Lebowski (collector’s edition)

  • Toy Story (10th anniversary)

  • Saw (uncut)

It should be noted that I only put in the shit I figure people will care about, except for Ashlee Simpson. Hey, there’s got to be SOMEONE who will buy it, right? Right? Anyways, while we’re on the subject, I have a rant. I find it very annoying that these production companies feel the need to release 20-30 versions of the same DVD. They feel it is justified to release the normal version, the uncut edition, the collector’s edition, and then the super secret unreleased material edition. This is criminal. Just release all the shit at once, on a single 2 or 3 disk DVD. Quit fuckin’ everybody. No one needs to spend $30 on the collector’s edition, only to pay another $40 6 months later for the new edition with one deleted scene that makes no sense to the story and was taken out for that reason.

-B
If I’d Only See The Light, Maybe Then I’ll Be Alright

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Insane in the Brain

Just a quick note, Jack thompson is insane. Also, he is not quiet the bigshot he thinks he is with fellow right-wing conservative advocates.
-B

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Doin' The Chicken Dance


Music of Choice:
Pearl Jam – Light Years

So, I have had this Blog up and running for 24 hours and I already have 2 spam comments, so I have been forced to turn on word verification only because it will just get worse. On second note, my pic thingy for my profile did not work, again. I'm still trying to figure that one out. So, here are some tidbits for you to enjoy:

There’s an interesting article on an even more interesting musician at RollingStone.com. I am talking of course about Buckethead. Here’s what you need to know about him. He wears a KFC bucket on his forehead, because he was raised in a chicken coop by chickens and he was badly scratched in the face so the bucket is homage to all the chickens that have died in the name of food. Obviously. But more importantly, he has produced many a fine albums, is an amazing guitar player, toured with Primus/Les Claypool, and was in Guns & Roses for a few years. The whole Primus thing validates any time he spent with Axl.

I had the chance to see Buckethead perform with Les Claypool’s Bucket of Bernie Brains a while back, and he is a very good musician, even if he does speak thru a chicken puppet.

In other news, Detroit’s 3-1, and 1st in the Central Western Conference. Go Wings!


-B
“We were but stones; your light made us stars.”

Pill Popper


Music of Choice:
Pearl Jam - Breakerfall

So, I am starting to get this sorted out, got all my sources for info lined up and shit, I am now posting this pic so that I can put it on my profile. I'm not very photogenic I'm afraid.

-B
It's Like She Lost Her Invitation To The Party On Earth

WHOOHOOO!



A nice pic of Juliana Hatfield for you, in celebration of me figuring out why I could not post pics.

-B

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Why the FUCK Won't My Pictures Post?!

Music of Choice:
Muse - Hysteria

Ok, here is the latest report from the field:

Op: Photo post
Status: Complete Failure
Contingency: assassinate the Computer

Yeah, my fucking pics won't load. Their less that 50k, all .jpg's, and they are not of the graphic (i.e. dead bunnies) nature. I am not happy about this. I will solve this mystery. Oh yes I most certainly will*.

-B

*I doubt it.

"I'm not breaking down, I'm breaking out."

RPM

Music of Choice:
Incubus - Talk Shows on Mute

Hello, and welcome to Revolutions Per Minute, the site about music for music lovers. This is my first real journey into a music dedicated site, so while I do have a little experience with album and concert reviews, I’m still a little hazy on the ol’ HTML, so please bear with me. The site will be going thru many changes in the next couple of weeks as I include additional material and get the general layout of the site designed. Unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of a team of code monkeys and press junkies contributing to this site, so it’s just me right now.

• As to what you can come to expect from this site, here’s a list of the “so-far”:
• New release reviews (music/film)
• Concert reviews (mostly Nor-Cal)
• Music news
• The occasional political rant and rave
• Absolutely NO references to pop-culture and its affect on society*

So, there you have it, all nice and neat and professional. Look, I even put bullets in it! Look out, I may even, and don’t quote me on this, put in a pie chart. Aw Shit.

-B

*This is Total Bullshit.