Tuesday Tunes – 8/3/10

As always, brought to you by Music Memoirs:

This week's topic is introductions: Tell us about your musical self, what you love about music, your favorite bands, if you play any instruments etc.

My name is Russ.  I’m 30 years old, born and raised in the state of Oregon, and I love music.  I don’t know what my first musical memory is, but I think it had something to do with a Disney album.  I also have vague memories of hearing Jimmy Buffett and Anne Murray, although these early experiences didn’t shape my later musical tastes. 

As an older child and teen, I was very much interested in radio.  I owned quite a few cassettes too, but I listened to a lot of radio too.  I always tuned in to the popular Top 40 station and listened to whatever was playing big on radio or MTV.  I was a big MTV watcher as a youth.  Around the age of 9 or 10, I got interested in rap and hip hop music.  It was quite different back then.  I think I just wanted to listen to something different from my parents.  I claimed to HATE rock and roll, although I think I secretly liked it. 

The less said about my hip hop days, the better.  I listened to a lot of good stuff in the genre, but also a lot of crap.  I also continued listening to whatever was popular on radio.  My favorite CDs were the Jock Jamz collections.  Embarrassing, really.  Of course, I HATED country.

Around my senior year of high school, I started getting into other styles of music.  Jazz, for instance.  It was a short-lived fascination (although I’m getting back into it now).  I was particularly drawn to tunes by the Gershwins after seeing a musical that included many Gershwin compositions.  Later that year, I bought a sampler of modern Scandinavian folk music.  I instantly fell in love with that, and during my first year of college I was listening to and buying many of the albums on that compilation.  To make a long story short, that led to explorations in other types of “world” music including Celtic, Cajun and others.  One thing kind of lead to the next.

A few years later, I started getting interested in rock music for the first time.  A buddy of mine was learning guitar and showed me some songs he really liked.  For some reason, at that point in my life I was more receptive to it and I’ve never looked back.

I do like to explore new genres and bands, yet I’m also kind of set in my ways musically.  I don’t get into the whole indie rock scene where you worship bands that aren’t even signed to a label yet.  I think I’m a generation too old for that sort of thing.  Some of my favorite artists today include:

Afro Celt Sound System, Jeff Buckley, BeauSoleil, Smashing Pumpkins, Elvis Costello, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Altan, The Who, Nickel Creek, Neil Finn, and Los Lobos.  Those are just some of the artists I have in my collection. 

I own somewhere between 200 and 300 CDs.  I prefer to buy my music.  I like having a physical copy with pretty liner notes.  I also like the ritual of buying music.  It’s not always fun to get exactly what you want when you want it.  The hunt, the anticipation, is where the thrill is for me. 

Genre-wise, I’m pretty open, but I tend to prefer Classic Rock, Celtic, Nordic, and Singer-songwriter.  Celtic would have to be my favorite genre.  It’s just so much fun to listen to. 

I don’t play any instruments, unfortunately.  I’ve tried playing guitar, and I own a tin whistle, but I seem to have no musical talent whatsoever.  I guess some people are put here to appreciate music instead of making it.

What do I love about music?  How long do you have?  That could be an entirely new post.  Most of all, I like melody.  A song must have a strong melody if I’m going to really enjoy it.  I like hearing all the little details, the way each instrument plays a part in the whole.  I like music made with passion, and without any desire to become commercially successful.  I appreciate musicians who play because they love it.  Lastly, I love music because of how it makes me feel.  I can’t explain that, but that’s why they’re called feelings. 

That was a long, rambling explanation of my history and present with music.  What does my future hold?  More music, of course.  Stay tuned as I tell you what I’m listening to along my journey, as I always do on my blog. 

Top Five On Friday - 6/11/10

Here's the Top Five.  Shhh, I'm actually posting this on Saturday, but let's pretend it's Friday.

Top 5 songs that make you think of your best friend.

1)  "Konstantine" by Something Corporate
2)  "Bonnie and Clyde '03" by Jay-Z and Beyonce
3)  "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne
4)  "Black Magic Woman" by Santana
5)  "Strong Enough To Break" by Hanson

My 20 Favorite Albums Of The Decade

2000-2009 was a very important time for me, musically.  I bought more music than ever before and learned more about music than ever before.  I was introduced to many new-to-me genres and artists.  This decade has formed the foundation for the rest of my music-listening life.

In honor that, and in response to all the best-of lists going around, I decided to choose the albums that were really important to me in the past decade.  Of all the albums I bought, I think these are the best.  They are some of my favorites.  Some of them are familiar albums from mainstream acts, but others are more obscure and won't be on any other best-of list.  I tried to pick as many actual albums as I could.  Compilations don't count, but live albums do.  They are listed in no particular order.  No way could I ever rank them.

Consider this a submission from someone who follows his ears and heart, not trends.


1)  Rainy Day Music by The Jayhawks
This was the last new album from Gary Louris' legendary country-rock band, and I think it's amazing.  I learned about the Jayhawks after hearing a song from this album, "Save It For A Rainy Day."  I love all the great musicianship on this album -- and especially Louris' wonderful singing.  This is an album that makes me feel connected to real American rock and roll.

2)  Los Lonely Boys by Los Lonely Boys
Los Lonely Boys tore up the charts with their hit "Heaven," but the rest of the album is great too.  The songs featured here will be staples of classic rock stations for years to come.  Not only is there some good old-fashioned rock guitar, but the brothers Garza sing in perfect harmony.  This was a fun album, and still is today.
 
3)  Let Go by Avril Lavigne
Yes, this is pop.  Pop music for teenagers and MTV.  The thing is, it's well-done pop music for teenagers and MTV.  Listening to Let Go is like opening a teen girl's diary.  It doesn't hurt that Avril showed some real spunk and attitude while still retaining some sweetness.  The songs here are catchy and like candy - a guilty pleasure but oh-so-good.

4)  Volume 3: Further In Time by Afro Celt Sound System
I've written about this album many times before, and of course I had to include it on this list.  Afro Celt Sound System were on top of the World Music scene during the past decade, and this album was their most ambitious.  Some big names sing on two of the songs, but the real meat of the album is the heavy percussion and real energy in the music.  This album cemented ACSS' place among the best.

5)   Unclassified by Robert Randolph and the Family Band
This wasn't Robert Randolph's first release, but it is the one that made the music world take notice of his unique talent.  Randolph and his Family Band offer something a little different.  Instead of typical electric guitar, Randolph plays pedal steel guitar.  After the release of this album, Randolph became highly respected among guitar players.  This energetic, passionate album shows why.

6)  Out Of Exile by Audioslave
The musical marriage of Chris Cornell and most of Rage Against The Machine was doomed to failure and was not very well received among most music fans.  Even so, the group managed to release one truly great album -- their second, Out Of Exile.  The songs are all solid and hang together better than the songs on their debut.  This album has beauty, but also rocks.  It's a great-sounding album and was an immediate favorite of mine.  The cover art is spectacular too.

7)  Live In Gdansk by David Gilmour
The Aughts saw Pink Floyd reunite for one gig, and also saw the release of another solo album from guitarist David Gilmour called On An Island.  There is one other live performance of songs from that album, but this performance is especially intense and special.  It was recorded in Gdansk, Poland on the anniversary of the Solidarity Movement, and was Richard Wright's last recorded performance.  David and company rip through many well-known Pink Floyd classics as well as the entire On An Island album.  There's also a symphony orchestra.  The pomp and circumstance isn't what matters, though  -- the killer guitar playing is.

8)  Home by Dixie Chicks
Before they became persona non grata in the country music community, the Dixie Chicks released this wonderful, Grammy-winning back-to-basics album.  Bluegrass and old-timey sounds were all the rage in the mid-aughts, and the Chicks took their inspiration from that to craft a solid album full of great playing, traditional instruments and heartfelt songs.  As I mentioned above, this won Grammys and deserved to do so.

9)  Nightcrawler by Pete Yorn
Pete Yorn released all his albums in this decade, and I think this is his best so far.  The melodies are incredibly catchy and Pete finds a good match between his softer, folky side and the hard rock of his native New Jersey.  It's impossible for me to pick a favorite song from this album because there are so many great ones.  I think it was unfairly overlooked and deserves more acclaim than it received, as well as a hit song.

10)  Rain by Joe Jackson
Over the years, former new-waver Joe Jackson has continued to put out quality material.  Rain is possibly one of his very best albums.  Recorded in Berlin, it's a mature collection of songs featuring only piano-bass-drums.  Joe is in fine voice, and his bandmates give him very complementary support.  This album didn't yield a hit single, but that's alright with Joe.  He'd rather put out good music, and that's just what he gave us with Rain.

11)  A Rush Of Blood To The Head by Coldplay
This is the album that made Coldplay huge.  The group had some big hits off this collection, but the album cuts are great too.  Yes, there are guitars, but the soft piano and voice of Chris Martin are what these songs are really about.  Coldplay brought beauty back to rock, and this album is their most beautiful.  Others may hate them, but I appreciate what they do.

12)  Alligator Purse by BeauSoleil
Cajun superband BeauSoleil had a very busy 2000-2009 with the release of three live albums and two studio albums, as well as two performance DVDs.  Alligator Purse is their latest studio effort, and it's packed full of fun, energetic tunes.  Never before has the band seemed so full of creativity and vitality.  They take some chances and come out on top, while still keeping the traditional Cajun sounds in mind.

13)  Water From The Well by The Chieftains
The Chieftains have spent a lot of time collaborating (a trend they continued this decade in Nashville), but for 2000s Water From The Well they brought it all back home.  They're joined by some special guests, but these guests speak their language.  That language is traditional Irish music  Songs, ballads, and tune sets fill the track listing here, and there is plenty of magic to be found.  This is the Chieftains doing what they do best and doing it very well.  Personally, it also marked my entry into the love of traditional Celtic music..

14)  American Idiot by Green Day
I've fallen out of love with this album over the years, but even I can't deny that it is an incredibly ambitious work.  Green Day took the political atmosphere of the day and combined it with the universal of teenage angst to create an emotional, powerful rock opera for the 21st century.  American Idiot showed a real maturity from Green Day, aside from the whiny lyrics.  Like it or hate it, it's an important album.

15)  Nickel Creek by Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek took a fairly unhip genre of music, bluegrass, and gave it a youth movement.  The songs here are uncomplicated and straightforward, but very well-crafted.  The singing is gorgeous and the instruments really shine.  The songs are charming.  This whole album is charming and is one of my favorites.  It's good to pull out when you want something honest and good for the soul.     

16)  Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends by Coldplay
Coldplay's third album, X&Y, was decent but did not live up to the promise of the band's past output.  Expectations were high for their 2008 release.  What they gave us was something bold and fresh.  Helped along by the creative Brian Eno, Coldplay laced their multi-part songs with handclaps, percussion, strings, and weird guitar noises.  Fear not, because the piano is still there like an old friend.  With Viva La Vida, Coldplay made an album as grand and inventive as their reputation and sowed the seeds for future greatness.

17)  Why Should The Fire Die by Nickel Creek
Over time, Nickel Creek did something few bluegrass bands will ever accomplish -- become an accepted part of the indie rock scene.  Their third album took their sound even further, mixing their acoustic bluegrass instruments with the attitude and youth of the 21st century rock scene.  Most of all, Nickel Creek made a very good album full of both lightness and darkness, humor and intensity.  Failed relationships seem to be the theme, and the mature direction made for a very powerful statement.  Not only that, but the instrumentals are insanely good.  The band took a hiatus after this, but left us with something to really savor.

18)  Yours Truly by Natalie MacMaster
The title is no lie.  Natalie MacMaster spent years perfecting her blend of traditional Cape Breton Scottish fiddle music and pop music.  This album takes her in exciting new directions.  She wrote quite a few of the tunes she plays here, showing a real increase in her compositional skills.  She made a very daring, personal album and was not afraid to take chances.  Her heart will always be with the sounds of Cape Breton, but Natalie has never before taken those sounds in so many directions.  The studio debut of her touring band doesn't hurt, either.


19)  Thirteens by Leona Naess
After her career and personal life hit a few walls, Leona decided to get back to basics and just write, write, write.  She recorded this album in a very low-key way and the results are amazing.  This is perhaps one of the most intimate, heart-warming albums I've ever heard.  Leona has never sung better and her melodies are as sweet as sugar.  This album is like having a very musical friend play just for you in the quiet of the night.  It's music for the soul, full of comfort and heart.

20)  Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
This was one of the more surprising albums of the decade.  The Led Zeppelin rocker and Union Station songbird might not initially seems a very complementary pair, but they manage to find a common musical ground nonetheless.  The word the comes to mind when listening to the songs here is performance.  There isn't much here to get you moving on your feet, but you have to enjoy the emotional punch the two voices provide.  Producer T-Bone Burnett is an essential ingredient in this mix, choosing very intense and incredible songs to really showcase the abilities of his two singers.  The music is as heavy as the singing and creates a real atmosphere.  Some of the music is very traditional-sounding, which works well for these two.  I wouldn't call this an enjoyable album, but it's an album to appreciate and respect.

Five Years Of Firefox

The Firefox web browser is five years old now!  I've been using it for most of those five years.  I love it because it's so customizable and because using it makes me feel part of a larger community.  Firefox is the first browser to be seen as 'cool' and 'in.'  I'm still using it, and I'll keep using it as long as it still works for me.

In honor of Firefox's fifth birthday, here are my Top Five Firefox Add-Ons:

1.  Session Manager

This is a life saver.  If you need to restart your computer, or if it crashes, or if your browser crashes - you're covered.  

2.  Toolbar Buttons

Keyboard shortcuts are great, but they don't cover everything.  I like the ability to add buttons for functions and extensions that I can place wherever in the browser I wish them to be.

3.  Quickdrag

This makes opening links and searching so much faster!  Just highlight or click and drag.  Very, very useful.

4.  Stumbleupon

You need never be bored again with Stumbleupon.  I've found many great sites with this tool.

5.  NoScript

It makes browsing much safer, yet it's easy to use.  Just keep in mind that it's not a replacement for your brain.

Ya gotta have themes too, and my favorite (in fact, the only one I really use) is Whitehart

Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change

This post is my participation in today's Blog Action Day with the theme of climate change.

In the United States, there has been much debate about climate change and its effects.  Questions abound: Is it really happening?  Is it important?  Can we make a difference?  Are we worrying about nothing?

I happen to believe in climate change and global warming.  The U.S., and other locations around the globe, have seen increasing numbers of large, destructive storms in recent years.  Polar ice caps are melting.  Our atmosphere is changing.  If we don't act now, we will suffer later.

What does it matter if climate change is real or imagined?  I think we should take action to slow carbon emissions and slow global warming because it's the right thing to do.  If we really are in trouble, then doing something about it will save lives and help the planet.  If the data about climate change turn out to be wrong, then taking action will help prevent future global climate changes!  Compare this issue to the issues of eating heart healthy.  You may or may not have heart problems later in life, but if you eat well today you can protect yourself no matter what your health is now or down the road.  Changing our planet's "diet" of carbon will bring great benefits.

So, what am I doing to help?  Sadly, not enough.  I really need to learn more about this issue and learn more about how I can improve my own behavior.  I think I will start by reading the blog entries for Blog Action Day.

There are a few things that I know I'm doing right now to help slow global climate change.  I turn my computer off every night before I go to bed.  True, I do have it on during the day, but I think having it off during the night is a good start to reducing my energy consumption.  Also, I do not drive a vehicle.  To get around, I usually take the bus, walk, or a combination of the two.  I'm not sure how much carbon I'm saving by riding a big bus versus riding in a car, but I think of all the other people who also aren't driving.  If there are, say, forty people on the bus, that's potentially forty cars not on the roads pumping out pollution.  I'm sure someone has a breakdown of how much pollution a bus creates and how much forty cars create.  I'll have to look into this further, but I'm proud of what I'm doing even if it's not much.

Beatles Songs I Love

Today is the day. All of the Beatles' original albums are being re-released in new, improved, remastered versions. We've bought these albums before, and we're buying them again. They're worth it, aren't they? I can't afford to buy too many right now, but I'm starting with the must-have: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

In honor of this special day, I am presenting here a list of Beatles Songs I Love. This isn't an exhaustive list, nor is it a definitive list of my favorite tracks. These are just Beatles songs that have moved me, made me say "Hell yeah!" and have become part of my life. A few things to know: I haven't heard every Beatles song yet, and I strongly prefer the late-era Beatles. The White Album is my favorite Beatles album thus far. With that in mind, in no particular order, here are some Beatles Songs I Love:

I Want To Hold Your Hand

This is it. The perfect love song. This is, in my opinion of what I've heard, the cream of the crop of the early Beatles recordings. It has a great melody and a very simple but powerful message. It's also quite innocent considering what kids today want to hold.

Revolution

Crunchy electric guitars! This is Heavy Metal Beatles. I just love the layers upon layers of thick, loud guitars. The lyrics are quite deep, too. The Beatles progressed quite a bit by the time they released this. It wasn't all about holding hands anymore.

Dear Prudence

This song has a wonderful sound. Absolutely wonderful. I love the chiming guitar, the punctuation of Paul's bass, and John's lazy melody. I also love how the song gets more and more frantic as it nears the end. "Dear Prudence" is my favorite song on the White Album. This song is really inspirational. The sun is out, and the sky is blue. Come out and play.

Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Never before had there been a perfect synthesis of lyrics and music to create an image in a listener's head. This song is pure candy, an audible dream. It takes you to a place of magic and wonder. This is a good song for getting out of whatever rut or trouble you're in and surrendering to the dream world. This is one of my favorites. It still sounds great 40 years later.

And Your Bird Can Sing

As soon as that happy guitar melody kicks in, you know you're in for a treat. The Beatles were changing by 1966, but they could still make a perfect pop song. That's what this is. The harmonies, the melody - it's all a big bundle of joy. I always want to sing along, and sometimes I do.

Read More . . .

My Top Ten Favorite Episodes of "No Reservations"

I'm a huge fan of Anthony Bourdain's Travel Channel series "No Reservations." Each episode offers wonderful photography, amazing locales and people, and, oh yeah, food. Each episode is unique, and you never know what you'll see each time you tune in. Of course, some episodes stand out. The following ten are my favorites, inspired by this week's most excellent entry:

1) Tokyo (Season 4)

I really enjoyed the peacefulness, the beauty of the Tokyo episode. Tony Bourdain is usually snarky and seeking pork, but in Tokyo we see a completely different side. A, dare I say, zen Tony Bourdain.

2) Azores (Season 5)

I had never, ever heard of the Azores before this episode, and watching it made me want to go there immediately. The scenery rivals anything you'd see in the Caribbean or Hawaii, and the people seem super-friendly and welcoming.

3) Quebec (Season 2)

Between, the seal hunting, the crazy maple syrup guy and the huge feast of meat, the Quebec episode is one of the most memorable I've seen yet.

4) Ireland (Season 3)

Pints of Guinness dark as the night. Seafood so fresh it's almost swimming. Warm, comforting bowls of stew. Echoes of troubled times nearly gone. Street bowling. This episode has it all.

5) Hong Kong (Season 3)

If the bright neon lights and endless maze of streets aren't enough to grab you, the Noodle Man surely will.

6) Laos (Season 4)

I don't remember anything about the food on this episode, but I'll never forget the people. This one shows why Anthony is not afraid to face the hard truths of reality and accept them for what they are. The scenery's pretty, too.

7) Egypt (Season 4)

Ok, so we didn't get to visit the pyramids. We did, however, get to see Anthony get all poetic out in the desert after a night of eating from a fire.

8) Uruguay (Season 4)

It's always good to get Chris Bourdain involved in his older brother's adventures. Watching the Brothers Bourdain try to find their roots while also eating enormous portions of fat-dripping meat was highly enjoyable.

9) Cleveland (Season 3)

Tony loves the unusual, and Cleveland has plenty of unusual to offer. Large bookstores, lakeside surfing and Harvey Pekar himself are some of the treasures Cleveland has to offer.

10) Thailand (Season 5)

As of now, this is the newest episode, and it's spectacular. It's so different from any other episode of No Reservations before it, what with the title screens and little videos. Tony and his companions encounter adventure everywhere they turn. They also find some really wonderful food. This one was very enjoyable and just excellent all around.

My Obama Playlist

At this very moment, Barack Obama is about to take the oath of the President of the United States of America. This is a great moment in history, and to honor that moment I'm going to post the Obama-themed playlist I've been working on. Some of the songs are here because of their title, and others because of their message. I hope they will, as a group, inspire you:

1) The Finn Brothers - Anything Can Happen
2) Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Going In The Right Direction
3) Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come
4) Sheryl Crow - A Change Would Do You good
5) Nas - I Can
6) Robert Johnson - Crossroads
7) Joss Stone - Change (Vinnie Jones Intro)
8) Robert Johnson - Sweet Home Chicago
9) Coldplay - Fix You
10) The Who - Sensation
11) Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
12) U2 - Beautiful Day
13) James Brown - Say It Loud -- I'm Black and Proud
14) Buckwheat Zydeco - Make A Change
15) The Beatles - Blackbird

My Favorite Book of 2008

I read quite a few books in the past year. Looking at the list of what I read, I've picked my favorite:

A Cook's Tour by Anthony Bourdain

It was highly entertaining from start to finish.

My Year In Music

Here's my traditional list of all the albums I bought in the past year:

January:

U2 - Achtung Baby
Elvis Costello - Armed Forces

February:

Joe Jackson - Look Sharp

March:

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
The Bothy Band - Best of The Bothy Band

April:

Joe Jackson - Night and Day
Crowded House - Recurring Dream
Liz Carroll - Lake Effect
George Harrison - All Things Must Pass

May:

Triona Ni Dhomhnaill - Triona

June:

Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Rush - The Spirit of Radio
July:

Joe Jackson - Rain
Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison
Los Lonely Boys - Live At The Fillmore

August:

The Who - Quadrophenia

September:

Los Lobos - Kiko
Ashley MacIsaac - Hi, How Are You Today?

October:

Billy Joel - An Innocent Man
Duffy - Rockferry

November:

Robert Randolph and the Family Band - Live At The Wetlands

December:

Coldplay - Prospekt's March
David Gilmour - Live In Gdansk

Total number of albums: 23

Favorite album of the year: "All Things Must Pass" and "An Innocent Man." Those are the two that I enjoyed the most, and that I would not be willing to give up. Truthfully, there are many albums I bought this year that I wouldn't want to give up. I bought some good ones!

Welcome To The Pond - Year In Review 2008

Once again, this year I'm taking a look back at my favorite blog posts from the past 365 days:

January 19 - FFS 'Market'
January 20 - Ultimate Music Survey
January 22 - BeauSoleil concert
January 29 - Build A Best Of/Pete Yorn
January 31 - Funny 80s music videos

February 5 - There Will Be Blood review
February 9 - FFS 'Love'
February 15 - Top Five songs to tell someone off
February 23 - Memories
February 29 - Top Five changes to the music industry

March 11 - Irish Tuesday Tunes
March 14 - Top Five songs from the 60s
March 15 - FFS visits Ireland
March 16 -Ants!
March 18 - Fish and chips

April 4 - Top 5 songs that shouldn't be in commercials
April 5 - FFS visits Hawaii
April 22 - Tuesday Tunes/Music you don't like
April 23 - My birthday, and my 2000th post

May 3 - FFS in NYC
May 4 - Google Earth
May 18 - Scottish Festival
May 22 - Top Ten non-rock albums
May 31 - FFS/Gift for a friend

June 3 - Tuesday Tunes/Favorite albums
June 7 - FFS at night
June 16 - Wedding trip report
June 17 - Tuesday Tunes/Beatles
June 17 - Viva La Vida Live Blog
June 21 - FFS/Random
June 22 - Bye, George
June 23 - Wedding trip photos
June 28 - FFS at the University of Oregon
June 29 - Live, From New York, it's Saturday Night
June 30 - Memories of Hayward Field

July 9 - Slade!
July 15 - George Carlin videos
July 16 - Ghostbusters thoughts
July 20 - Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys concert
July 25 - Top Five first albums from your favorite artists
July 27 - Blog books?
July 28 - Used memories

August 1 - Top Five songs you wish you wrote
August 2 - FFS in Louisiana
August 2 - Published!
August 13 - Things I'm proud of
August 23 - Mike Rowe on QVC

September 2 - In a world without Don LaFontaine
September 4 - Chocolate Oreo Shake
September 5 - Top Five TV theme songs
September 6 - FFS/Beverages
September 6 - Another wedding
September 10 - Bourdain's hair
September 10 - Introductions/Los Lobos
September 11 - A message from Craig Ferguson
September 16 - Tuesday Tunes/Concerts
September 21 - Saturday Market photos
September 29 - Favorite Firefox Extensions

October 14 - Billy Joel mini-review
October 14 - Natalie MacMaster concert report
October 18 - FFS/Universities and Colleges
October 21 - Tuesday Tunes/The importance of music in your life
October 25 - FFS in Chicago
October 28 - George Harrison video

November 3 - A few words about Barack Obama
November 4 - More than a few words about America
November 8 - FFS/States part one
November 12 - Goodbye, Mitch
November 15 - FFS/States part two
November 15 - Mitch Mitchell's greatest hits
November 16 - Introductions/Robert Randolph
November 22 - FFS/States part three
November 29 - Robert Randolph concert report

December 12 - Top Five non-traditional Christmas songs
December 13 - FFS/Hockey
December 20 - FFS/Best of 08 part one
December 25 - Christmas report
December 25 - The Perfect Heathcliff
December 27 - FFS/Best of 08 part two

Mitch Mitchell's Greatest Hits

Mitch Mitchell, drummer for Jimi Hendrix, passed away a few days ago. As I said I would, I have made a list of my favorite performances by Mitch on Jimi's songs. In no particular order . . .

1) Crosstown Traffic (from Electric Ladyland)

Mitch wasn't merely a psychedelic jazz rocker. He could funk it up too, as this groove-based ditty shows.

2) Manic Depression (from Are You Experienced)

This is one of Mitch's greatest. People always comment that this is Mitch's song as much as it is Jimi's. He keeps pounding away and doesn't ever let up.

3) Can You See Me (from Are You Experienced)

Here, Mitch simply attacks you with his drumming. Each hit of the drumstick is like a gunshot exploding.

4) Ain't No Telling (from Axis: Bold As Love)

Mitch's crazy drumming keeps the tempo as high as it can go. Mitch brought the ability to rock just as much as Jimi did.

5) Voodoo Chile (from Electric Ladyland)

This long jam is a feast of amazing musicianship. The guitar squeals, the organ screams, and Mitch Mitchell pounds away like his life depends on it. I don't know how he kept his energy going that long.

6) Up From The Skies (from Axis: Bold As Love)

This is the closest Jimi Hendrix ever got to playing jazz. Mitch brings his jazz background to the foreground here, laying down a silky groove with the brushes.

7) Third Stone From The Sun (from Are You Experienced)

This is another example of Mitch's jazz playing. He mixes it up with jazzier sections and sections that rock. He could do it all.

8) Fire (from Are You Experienced)

Here, Mitch is basically playing lead. The verses feature his strong playing, punctuated by the guitar and bass. This is one of Jimi's best songs, and Mitch's performance makes it happen.

9) Wait Until Tomorrow (from Axis: Bold As Love)

This is some of Mitch's heaviest drumming. It sounds as if he's going to puncture the drums with his sticks at any moment.

10) Catfish Blues (from Blues)

Jimi wails away on guitar, and Mitch keeps up with him every step of the way. Mitch even gets a solo, and puts it to good use.


I would say that Mitch's best drumming album is Axis: Bold As Love. His playing is commanding and spectacular on most of the album's cuts. He played in several different styles on this album, but all of them are pure Mitch Mitchell.

Here's a video - Mitch's solo on "Machine Gun" from the Isle of Wight concert:

A few more words, this time about America

Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States of America.

The first thing that probably comes to mind is "He did it!" That might be true, but it doesn't tell the true story. The truth of the matter is that we did it. America did it. Of course, not all Americans voted for Obama, but a majority of Americans did. I hope that those who did not vote for Obama will accept him as their president. Because, you see, he is their president. He is our president. This is a man who cares about America, and that includes each and every American. That's change we can believe in.

What happened today is what America is all about. The most American thing is the right to vote, the right to decide who runs the government. That is why thousands of brave men and women from the original thirteen colonies sacrificed their lives against the British forces. That is why even more brave men and women sacrificed their lives for their country in the Civil War. Imagine that concept for a moment - going into battle, horrible and terrible battle, because you believe so strongly in the concepts written down by our founding fathers. That is why an even greater number of men and women sacrificed their lives in Europe, in Japan, in Korea, in Vietnam and, as we speak, in Iraq and Afghanistan.

You register to vote, you go to the polls (or mail in your ballot if you live where I do), and you choose your candidate. You make your voice heard. That is America.

The concept of voting is a great one. We choose our own laws. We make decisions about our own lives. Of course, not all laws are voted upon, but we have another choice - the choice to complain to our congressmen and senators if we don't agree with the laws they make. We choose those individuals to represent us. We give them the power and the mandate to speak up for us, to do what is best for us. If we do not like what they do, or what they have to say, we have the option of giving their job to someone we deem more qualified.

It doesn't end there. Oh no, it doesn't end there. Our right to choose extends to every level of American society - state government, county government, local government. We even decide who represents us at school. America may not always be perfect, but we always have the option of making a change. Today, we did just that.

I'm not saying America is the greatest nation on earth. I'm not saying our way is the best way. But, for me, I prefer our way, and I am glad I was born into a nation that gives me a choice.

I made my choice. I hope you did too. I don't know how to end this, so I'll leave it at that.

A few words about Barack Obama

I don't usually post political thoughts on this blog, but this is the eve of an historic election. I feel I must speak up about the candidate for whom I voted.

What I like best about Barack Obama is his ability to inspire people. America is full of great potential, but what use is potential if no one is inspired to use it? We are facing very tough times right now, and I think we need a president who can encourage our country's citizens to work through our problems.

The President Of The United States of America should be a leader. A leader is much more than a 'decider.' A leader shows the way through words and action. A leader believes in those who follow him, and trusts them to do what is right. When people are trusted and given dignity, they give respect back to those who trust them. America needs a leader we can respect. Of course, a leader also inspires. Inspiration gives strength, and we really need some strength right now. Not violent strength, but mental strength. Strength to fix what is broken by the power of talent, dedication and work.

Another thing I like about Barack Obama is that he truly wants to help make America better. True leaders lead because they care about those they lead, not because they want to control those they lead. The past eight years have been about control - control of behavior, control of ideas, control of other countries. We need a president who wants to help, not control.

Barack Obama has a history of providing leadership to others. He is a dedicated public servant. I hope he'll soon have the opportunity to give the highest of services possible in this nation.

My Favorite Firefox Extensions

Inspired by my friend Beth's post about her favorite online tools, I thought I would make a similar post of my own. These are a few of my favorite extensions for Firefox 3. If you use Firefox, you should look into these cool extensions, if you aren't already using them.

UPDATES:

10/5/08 - Cool Previews (get a preview of nearly any web link.)

All-in-One Sidebar

This extension gives you a powerful, useful sidebar to make everything easier to access. What can you do with this sidebar? Quite a lot! You can view your history, your add-ons, your downloads, and site information. The best thing about it, I think, is the ability to view your bookmarks in the sidebar. You won't have to mess around with the drop-down menu again! You can also view any webpage in the sidebar (very handy for RSS readers, for example). If you use Showcase, you can view all your tabs in the sidebar.

The sidebar lives in your browser as a thin bar on either side of the window. Click it, and the sidebar opens. There are buttons on the side panel where you access all the features. This extension also has a great number of options you can play with.

Copy Plain Text

This is a very simple, yet useful, extension. All it does is add an option to the Firefox right-click menu that allows you to copy the selected text without any formatting. This is very handy if you're blogging, posting on a message board, or copying text into a word processor. Sometimes, all you want is the text, and this Copy Plain Texts allows you to do just that - copy the plain text.

Extension List Dumper

This is a very important one. It takes information about all of your Firefox add-ons and copies it to the clipboard so you can save it in a word processor. Why do you need this? Well, if for some reason you lose your extensions, or have a corrupt profile, you now have a list of what you installed. You won't have to remember what you were using before your information was lost.

This extension is also great if you simply want to list all of the extensions you have installed. This could be especially helpful if you need some help in the Firefox forums.

Firefox Showcase

I don't usually use too many tabs, but I know some people use dozens. This extension opens a window (or new tab) giving you a view of all the tabs you currently have open. Viewing all the tabs allows you to quickly access what you want without needing to scroll on the tab bar. I use this when I'm making my Flickr Fun Saturday posts. I can quickly see which photos I've opened and easily delete the ones I'm not going to use. The best thing about this extension is the ability to middle-click any tab in the Showcase window to get a larger view of it.

PDF Download

Adobe Acrobat's browser plugin can frequently crash your browser when you open a PDF on the web. PDF Download fights that by allowing you to open a PDF in the external Acrobat software. You have other options too, like saving the PDF or viewing it as an HTML document.

Unfortunately, some websites seem to bypass this extension and somehow force their PDF files to open in the browser. I haven't had any crashes lately, but it's still annoying when it happens.

Quickdrag

Isn't it bothersome to copy and paste URLs just to see a page that isn't linked? Quickdrag makes things much easier. With this, you only need to select a URL and drag it anywhere in the window to open it. I haven't found a way to make the URL open in a new tab except by dragging it to the tab bar. That's not too hard a task, though, so it's not much of a pain. You can also select any text and drag it to make a search. The engine used will be whichever engine is focused in your search bar.

Read It Later

I never thought I would download this one, but it is actually quite useful. It's also quite simple, which I really like. Basically, with this extension you mark links to read later, and they appear in a list accessible via a toobar button. To save a page to read later, just click the check mark in the URL bar. You can also save links through the right-click menu. When you're done reading, just click the check mark again.

If you frequently come across interesting links that you just don't want to read immediately, this is the extension for you.

Session Manager

Browser crashes. Restarts. People who snoop. There are many reasons why you occasionally need to close your browser while you're viewing sites. Session Manager allows you to save your current session so you can open it again at a later time. Firefox does this too, but usually only in the case of a restart. The advantage with Session Manager is that you can save as many sessions as you'd like. You could create a session with just news sites, or your favorite blogs.

When you close the browser, Session Manager asks you if you'd like to save the session, not save the session, or save the session and load it the next time Firefox is started. If you've chosen the first option, Session Manager asks which session you'd like to open when you start Firefox.

Stumbleupon

Stumbleupon goes beyond being a mere extension. It's a bookmark service, social site, and discovery tool. To use it, you sign up for an account and install the Stumbleupon toolbar. You don't have to use the full toolbar - you can move it to another bar if you'd like. I have mine on the menu bar.

How do you use it? What does it do? There are three important buttons - Stumble, thumbs up, and thumbs down. To get a new site, click the Stumble button. When you sign up, you tell the service what you're interested in. There are many categories and many dozens of topics to choose from. When you Stumble, the service gives you a randomly-selected page that matches your selected interests. You can also stumble through Wikipedia, news sites, other stumblers' pages, or do a search.

If you like a site, give it a thumbs up and it will be saved to your Stumbleupon profile. You can edit tags and give the site a review. You can give a thumbs up to any site you like, even if you didn't stumble it. If you don't like a site, give it a thumbs down. The more you use it, the better it gets.

Stumbleupon is an excellent time-waster and one of the best extensions out there.

Toolbar Buttons

Firefox's toolbars are very useful, but the number of buttons available is limited. If there's a task you wish you had a button for, it might exist in this extension. Toolbar Buttons gives you many more buttons to add to your toolbars. Name a task for Firefox, and this extension has probably given it a button. I downloaded this specifically to get a button for the Bookmarks manager.

UpDown

This extension is so useful, you'll wonder why it isn't already a default feature in Firefox. When you download this, it adds a button to your statusbar. Left click on the button, and you're taken to the top of whatever webpage you're viewing. Right click it, and you'll be taken to the bottom of the same page. This saves you so much scrolling! I find it especially useful for Flickr pages, where I can instantly go to the bottom to add a comment.


If these extensions sound good to you, click on the links and download them! If you have any good recommendations for me, leave them in the comments.

Flickr Fun Saturday - 6/28/08

This week, we're going to take a look at photos of my alma mater - the University of Oregon! Today, I have more photos than ever! Put on your Nikes, get out your duck calls, and take a look:

Welcome to the U of O.
Windows of PLC.
Lazy days at the Memorial Quad.
All quacked out.
Historic Villard Hall.
Autzen Stadium from the outside.
Autzen Stadium on gameday.
Bench.
Art museum courtyard.
Winter view of Gerlinger Hall.
Deady Hall from the outside.
Deady from the inside.
Hidden places.
Knight Library.
The Pit.
Mac Court and Pioneer Cemetery.
Willamette Hall.
Hayward Field, home of the 2008 Olympic T&F trials.

I didn't even have to use any of my own photos!

Flickr Fun Saturday - Gift For A Friend

Today is my friend Beth's birthday, and I wanted to do something special for her. Today's Flickr Fun Saturday is a list of many of the things she enjoys the most.

Happy birthday, Beth!!

Civil War
Cheeseburgers
Lincoln
Haggis
California
Harry Potter
Boston
Scrapbook
Cemeteries
Pirates
David Bowie
Bass guitar
Ghost hunting
Tolkien
The Breakers
Ireland
Monty Python
Anthony Bourdain
GI Joe

Once again, happy birthday, Beth! I hope you liked this post in your honor. Have a Guinness on me!

2000th post and birthday report

Welcome to my 2000th post on this blog! I started in September of 2002, so I've been at this blogging thing for a while. I don't have any profound things to say about this occasion except - wow! Also, how cool is it that this post number comes on my birthday?

What did I do on my birthday? I listened to a lot of music, and I ate a lot of food. We went to a local BBQ joint, "Hole-In-The-Wall," for dinner. I had the brisket and ribs. I only ate a portion of it, and I have a big box of leftovers for future meals. It was yummy! An hour ago, we had some chocolate fudge ice cream, which I requested. You gotta have a dessert on your birthday! That was yummy too.

Here's a short report on the music:

Lake Effect by Liz Carroll: Very awesome. This woman is a fantastic fiddle player. I could have used a few more fast reels, but overall it's excellent. It has very well-designed liner notes too.

Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House by Crowded House: Another excellent disc. I chose well. The melodies here are already digging their way into my head. Neil Finn is worth his weight in gold and then some.

All Things Must Pass by George Harrison: This man had a ton of talent. The songs on this album rock, but they're also very beautiful. I do think, though, that Phil Spector's production buried George's beautiful voice too far in the mix. George himself thought as much. I also don't care too much for the 'jams' on the second disc. They sound fine, but they go on far too long. A few minutes for each would have been sufficient. I also wish more new material had been included in the 'bonus songs' section, if any new material exists. The instrumental version of "What Is Life" is unnecessary, but the other bonus songs are fine. Not essential, but fine.

Night and Day by Joe Jackson: A good album, but not a great one. The second half is better than the first. There are a few 'filler' songs that keep this from being a great disc. It's worth the purchase for the singles, but without those, I wouldn't bother with it.

Fish and Chip Memories

Newman's Fish Market

I had my first taste of fish and chips in 2008 this afternoon. It's not sunny yet, but I was in the mood for Newman's (maybe from St. Patrick's Day?) I tried the halibut and chips, which I've never had before at Newman's. It was good, but not as good as the salmon.

Today's adventure got me thinking about all the yummy fish and chips meals I've had. I thought I'd blog about it and tell you what I've had, where I've had it, and if it was any good.

Newman's
1545 Willamette
Eugene, OR 97401



The word around town is that Newman's is among the best fish and chips in town, and I think that word is basically correct.

Newman's started as (and still is) a market selling fresh fish, seafood and other goods. It has changed locations at least once in its life, and at some point started selling fish and chips out of a little window in the back of the store.

Obviously, you cannot get anything fresher when in Eugene. The market sells quality fish, and uses quality fish for its walk-up window. They use a cracker-crumb crust for their cod, salmon, halibut, salmon and daily specials. Some might call the portion size small - you get three little chunks of fish, each about the size of a playing card, and a small boat of fries. What you don't get, though, are high prices. The most expensive item on the menu, halibut, is only $8.50, well below the price of other places. Sodas are only one dollar, and you can get additional pieces of fish if you want. You could even skip the fries and just order four or five pieces of fish.

How does it taste? Very good! The cod and halibut are fresh, juicy, and fishy (in a good way). The crust is crisp and not very greasy. You will, however, get sticky fish oil all over your hands. The real gem of the place is the salmon. It's fresher than fresh, and somehow tastes better than normal when wrapped in a fried crust. The fries are real potatoes, medium-size, and most have a bit of skin on them. They're salted well, but not over-salted.

I've had better fish (well, better batter at least) and I've had better chips. But the whole package - fish, chips, and price, is best at Newman's. You get free atmosphere - a little take-out window, slightly sticky tables, birds flying around, loud, heavy chairs, wind taking your napkins away, and whatever weather happens to make an appearance that day.

McGrath's
1036 Valley River Way
Eugene, OR 97401

McGrath's is a semi-upscale fish restaurant with locations mostly in Oregon. Being as such, you'd expect the fish and chips to be superb.

Well, they aren't superb.

They serve two kinds of F&C - cod and halibut. I've never bothered with the cod. If I want fish there, I'm going for the best. They serve three chunks of fish along with a generous portion of fries and a little Union Jack flag for decoration. Not listed on the menu is the large amount of grease. The fish tastes good, and has my preferred smooth batter, but it's so greasy and wet! You taste the fish, but you also feel the oil sliding down your throat. You feel quite guilty eating it, and your stomach isn't at its happiest after you've finished. All this for a price around (or perhaps a little higher than) Newman's, and a tip, and whatever drink you want. If I'm at McGrath's, I may order it, but I would never go out of my way to get this plate.

Chelsea Pub & Grill
in the 5th Street Market
296 East Fifth Avenue
Eugene, Oregon 97401

A non-alcoholic pub? Only in Eugene. When I was last here, $9.00 would get you fish and chips, and $1.00 more for soda. I think this is cod, the most common of fish for F&C. The portion size is huge! Three fairly large chunks of fish, plus a mountain of fries. The fish is decent, but wrapped in a cracker crust. As stated above, I prefer a smooth batter on my chips, so the batter here is not my best friend. This F&C plate is good enough, and you certainly get a lot for your money, but it would not be my first choice. The atmosphere is nice, though. It's very pub-like, even amidst the hustle and bustle of the 5th Street Market dining area.

California Grill
65 Division Ave Suite M
Eugene, OR 97404

Now this fish and chips made my day! I can't remember when I ate there (I think it was a year and a half ago), but I was pleasantly surprised. This place is more upscale than the "grill" part of the name would have you believe. I also don't know what makes it Californian. I do know that you can get a good meal here.

The fish and chips is halibut. I don't remember the price, but it's around $10.00. The halibut is nice and firm, the batter smooth but not too greasy (like McGrath's). There's enough grease to please, but not enough to be overpowering. The fries are amazing. They dust them with some sort of power - I'm guessing it was garlic powder. They tasted different from most other fries, so that makes them a winner for me. I'd gladly eat these fish and chips again, as long as they keep them the same.

Mo's Florence
1436 Bay Street
Florence OR



Mo's is a famous chowder house with several locations on the Oregon coast. I ate at the Florence location in July of 2007.

I suspect their fish and chips are the most expensive I've ever tried - $14.00 for the halibut. But, oh man, was it worth the money!

The halibut was very fresh, firm, juicy, meaty - everything I look for in a piece of halibut. The batter was smooth, slightly crisp, only a little greasy, and clung to the halibut like a child to its mother. I enjoyed every single bite of this fish and I'd gladly pay $14.00 for more. The portion size was okay - three decent-sized chunks. I savored every little bit.

The chips were not very good, though. They had an 'off' taste, like they'd been swimming with the fish in the oil. Normally I'd consider that a negative, but the fish part of the plate was so delicious that I really did not care.

McMenamin's North Bank
22 Club Rd.
Eugene, OR 97401

This meal was two years ago, but I still remember parts of it. My memories of the meal are good.

I think McMenamin's fries would have to tie with California Grill for best fries I've had with F&C. They're shoestring style, very skinny with a powerful potato flavor. They're somewhat greasy, but quite addictive. McMenamin's gives you your money's worth on the chip portion.

The fish was halibut, and it comes in either two or three pieces. I do not recall which portion size I had. The fish was a normal F&C portion for this area: not too big, but probably a little bigger than Newman's. I remember it tasting fine - as good as halibut can be. The fries are must-have, and I would definitely order this again, expensive though it may be (about $10.00 for the two-piece).

Shari's
various locations in Eugene and Springfield

Shari's is a diner chain in Oregon (and probably other places too). I've eaten there three times, and the food was not good the first two visits. The third visit is when I had the fish and chips. I can't remember if it was halibut or cod, but it was a white fish for certain. It was not the best I've had, but definitely not the worst. It's not easy to screw up fish and chips. Shari's F&C is not award-winning, but it is a good, filling meal and a safe bet if you're at this restaurant.

I have yet to try . . .

Fisherman's Market
830 W. 7th St.
Eugene, OR

Those who don't think Newman's is best in Eugene usually mention this place. This is also a fish market, so freshness is assured. They do some wild variations of coleslaw and tartar sauce, but I don't like either of those. They also fry up mahi mahi and probably other exotic types of fish, so that's a plus. This isn't very bus-accessible, so I may not try this for a while. But it is on my 'to-try' list.

Rose & Thistle
398 E. 11th Ave.

This place does fish and chips and little else. I haven't tried theirs yet, and I've not heard good things about it. I may try it one day just to see how they do it. I can walk an equal number of blocks from the bus station and get to Newman's, so I'm more likely to go to Newman's instead of Rose and Thistle.
Eugene, OR

What's best?

Best fish: Mo's halibut, by far. Any time I think back on that meal, I get happy.
Best chips: (tie) California grill and McMenamin's. CG has a different flavor, and McMenamin's has very addictive fries.
Best overall: As I've stated above, Newman's. They have the best product as far as fish goes. Their fries are pretty good. Their prices won't hurt your wallet so much. Their food will not make your stomach rebel. Perhaps most importantly, they have a long history here and are very accommodating.

I apologize for not having photos for each place. If I have a camera and I'm eating a F&C meal (except perhaps in McGrath's and California Grill), I'll be sure to take a photo of what I'm eating.

More favorite things - top songs of 2007

I came up with this tonight for Scooter McGavin's readers' poll of the Best Songs of 2007.

1. Peter, Bjorn and John - "Young Folks"
2. Sara Bareilles - "Love Song"
3. Amy Winehouse - "Rehab"
4. Missy Higgins - "Where I Stood"
5. Pete Yorn - "The Man"
6. Smashing Pumpkins - "Tarantula"
7. Paul McCartney - "Dance Tonight"
8. Missy Higgins - "Steer"
9. Feist - "1234"
10. Joss Stone - "Tell Me What We're Gonna Do Now"

Really, though, they all rocked. The first two are my favorite two, and all the others tie because they are so good. Many of them come from CDs I bought this year.