Bare Chested Ambition

I have tried to diet a little throughout my life, the main things would be to lay off the donuts before I go to sleep and drink light beer if I drink beer at all. Once I thought I’d give Atkins a try but after becoming spaced out and cranky I began devour a baguette with no quarter. I consider eating vegetarian once in a while but really I enjoy the omnivorous diet greatly.
More than dieting I have attempted to get in shape through light weights and running; I haven’t been to a gym in over a year. At my best I was running 5 miles every other day and doing a bunch of upper body work which rewarded me with more energy, less man boob and some definition in my triceps. I did feel better about myself which in the end is what you’re supposed to want.





The truth of the matter is I want a body not unlike Tyler Durden’s sinewy and glistening body in Fight Club and if that’s too much I’ll settle for Scott Weiland’s yoga and heroin physique. No, I have no intention of shooting up but I have done the yoga and it kicked my butt. A little while ago I had found myself in a situation where food wasn’t part of my budget and my waist size shrank to a place it was when I was about 21 and while I was the envy of a couple of my friends I felt weird about the whole thing. I’m not a drastic guy and so I don’t think I’ll be doing anything drastic to get a body that I want, most likely I’ll just think about it a lot and wonder what if . . .
Frankly I don’t have time to get awesome but maybe I’ll give up all that couch potato time to pursue a more athletic cut to my jib.

The Hardest Working Man in Baseball

OK maybe not the hardest working but Kevin Youkilis is definitely the sweatiest! The man has waterfalls pour out from beneath his helmet!
A All Star, Gold Glove first baseman for the Boston Red Sox "the Youk" is heart of the line up and team always involved in a the rallies and on occasion the star power that wins the game. I'll choose him at 1st over the elite guys like the pig man Mark Teixeira who has better numbers and makes tons more money should have never left Texas and should stop eating the donuts he weights his bat with.
Another thing about Youkilis is he really knows how to take a pitch both with a keen eye for the strike zone and bruised up left shoulder from being beaned so often; he leads the league in hit by pitches.

GO SOX! Keep Sweatin'!

Concert Update

So about a week ago I was supposed to Aerosmith play a big greatest hits tour but the Steven Tyler fell off the stage and the tour got cancelled. This development left a big open hole which was fill partially by going to see the Cult play their 25 year old album "Love". I have never seen the Cult live and I don't recall ever really needing to but there I was with a couple friends on the floor ready to rock.



The band today which is Really just the Singer Ian Astburry and the guitarist Billy Duffy is definitely older. While Billy looks more like he did when the album was releaced with platinum spiked hair, Ian is a bit more bloated than those days and looking more like a latter day Jim Morrison than a Native American Warrior. There was also some bassist who seemed to be retrieved from the Elvis Costello vault. So the band played the "Love" album from beginning to end and it was tight even though the vocals seemed drowned and they seemed to rush their way through "She Sells Sanctuary". When the singer spoke to the crowd you could barely hear it making whatever message he was trying to convey totally lost. His other interaction with the audience consisted of throwing tambourines into the crowd. What can I say, Love is a good collection of songs from beginning to end; it's not the great under rated album of the 80s but it is worth a listen after all these years since junior high when I originally heard it.

After a small break the band came back on stage and continued the show with some highlights of their catalog:
Electric Ocean
Wild Flower
Fire Woman
Rise
Dirty Little Rockstar
Love Removal Machine
there was also a song they played that I had no idea about. Anyway these songs showed how rock n' roll the band became after Love. Stating with the "Electric" album which showed a hard on for big 80s riffs and a harder sound, this somehow led to the unfortunate case of "Sonic Temple" which did give us "Fire Woman" but in the end was a horrible metal album that seemed to be the bands sell out and the end of their relative importance in music. It seemed about another 10 years before they released "Beyond Good and Evil" which offered up "Rise" a triumphant rocker that has some grit and pays tribute to "She Sells Sanctuary". By no means was this song a comeback for it was on the radio a little back in 2001 but that seemed to be it for the Brits. The singer went off and toured with The Doors and Fuel (is that right?) anyway here we are and I saw them in 2009.

You know I used to have a Love T-shirt; I think I tossed it because it grew too tight or it was too itchy or it just wasn't en vogue anymore.

I Love Pants

At one point in my younger days I wore a pair of green, no pleat, twill pants that were for whatever reason pretty special. I liked them because they fit very well and could be worn with just about everything I owned, T-shirts, button downs with long sleeves or short, my vintage, black, leather car coat. I guess it would have been in the mid 90s when they were prominent, before I got snagged on some sort of sharp edge or barb and was left with pants I felt couldn’t be worn any longer.
The pants seemed to impress the ladies as I recall; on at least two occasions did they become a major player in the circumstances that came to be. One young lady even wanted to seal them.
I can’t deny that they made me feel more slick and fashionable. People have questioned my taste when I mention green trousers but they never saw them and just don’t know how good they looked and how comfortable they felt.

Aging Myself

I've had this conversation with friends before and nobody has quite disagreed yet I would like to meet the people who will challenge the idea and mean it; I mean mean it so much they start throwing things. I would suppose the challenger would be about 10 years younger than I am or maybe only 5.
What the debate concerns is the fact that "Nevermind" by Nirvana isn't as good as Alice in Chains' magnum opus, "Dirt". Before you start to go all agape or feint like some old lady in a 1930's comedy I need this point to be clear: Nevermind is a more important album than Dirt; it's just not as good. While Nirvana's grunge classic changed the face of Rock n' Roll form pretty to pretty ugly, from glamorous to gutter and eventually gave birth to The Foo Fighters who are making adult oriented rock that even my 60 something year old mom enjoys, Dirt which was released just a year later is a comprehensive story from beginning to end as opposed to a collection of songs that are more self deprecating barbs than anything else.

Both Albums have a raw power and a desperation while keeping their pop melodies accessible for radio play which can be said about many great rock albums and is in many ways the great trick of hard rock. With Dirt I can listen to the whole album from beginning (Them Bones) to end (Would?) without wanting to skip any songs, granted the music and lyrics have sometimes left me in a depression for a bit but it is an album that keeps one interested. Nevermind on the other hand loses me after track 5, "Lithium"; it seems to get to heavy for it's own good. Don't get me wrong those first five (Smells Like teen Spirit, in Bloom, Come as You Are, Breed and Lithium are all solid but by the time "Polly" is done so am I and I want to move on to something else.
Alice in Chains also has some lovely/haunting harmonies going for it, especially in "Down In A hole" and "Hate to Feel" (these harmonies got better on their follow up EP, Jar of Flies but that's a side note because Nirvana's next release, Incesticide which was B-sides had some cool stuff too)

Listen, Dirt maintains throughout the whole album while Nevermind sags and loses focus and this isn't a battle between which singer did more heroine or who's death was more tragic or that I would like to listen to "Would?" more often than "Smells Like Teen Spirit" just about any day it is about the quality of the whole album not just iconic imagery and Mtv airplay.

Saw my reflection and cried oh well, whatever, never mind . . . Black Sabbath and the Pixies couldn't ask for better tributes.

Sweet Lou

Lou Piniella is a Major league manager currently working for the Chicago Cubs and trying to get into the post season again. Mr. Paniella has been a manager since 1986 starting with the Yankees, Cincinnati, Seattle, Tampa Bay and now the Cubs. His biggest successes would be winning a Major League record 116 games in 2001 and his World Series championship with the Reds back in 1990. As a player he was a career .291 hitter with barely over 100 home runs and just 32 stolen bases to his credit. Most of this came with the Yankees and Royals while he spent a bit of time with the Indians and the Orials. More than this he known for his temper.





I'm guessing that ones drama appeal can keep them desired and keep things interesting for he even does commercials where he plays with his reputation. I think I need a hook where my mediocrety can be superceded by my flamboyant outbursts.

Let the countdown continue 90-81

So really what more is there to say but something over due and well after the point. When Kurt Cobain died so did the future. Let's face it once he passed into Rock n' Roll here after all music dried up and became retro and forever pulled backward but then again that is the fate of the Generation X, to insist on looking back to their beginnings like some dumb founded lab bred species wondering where the hell they came from. To spend far too much time probing the question of why did these mixed up people who bred us bother, what did they get out of it? It seems like my ge-ge-ge-generation is as selfish as the folks we were supposed to loath in the 80's; those god dammed yuppy scums who's blind ambition ruined the country . . .at least they got new wave.
What did I get after 1994? The revenge of pop and the dominence of hip hop which were both just nice things for MTV to broadcast sinse the performaers involved all seemed to have nice bodies and fancy things. Now music is sort of rolling somelace that I can't be bothered with to examine.

90. No One Knows by Queens of the Stone age
They get a nod due to their awesome friends
89. Fallin' By Alicia Keys
Moonlight Senata never sounded so top 10.
88. Make it Clap by Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star
Busta's the man and even though isn't his best song it's was the best in new millenium
87. When the Man comes Around by Johnny Cash
Gone but not forgotten, Johnny served us a nice tail of revelations on his way out the door
86. The Rat by the Walkmen
Heart ache and breakup sound perfectly angry and scared on this gem of a song by a band I don't know anything about
85. Do You Want to by Franz Ferdinand
I love the beginning of this song and the way it makes me move is good too
84. Lovely Head by Goldfrapp
In the 00's Goldfrapp was better than Portishead but really the same aside from all that weird dance music
83. Float On by Modest Mouse
This was a big hit for these guys and so they get to make an appearance on the the top 100 of the 00s
82. Crazy by Gnarles Barkley
Another big, big song. These guys will never have to work again. I saw The Racontuers cover this live; it was the high light of the show
81. Fuck the Pain Away by Peaches
If you aren't familiar with the teaches of peaches there are thousands of girls with scars on their arms who are. Why so high on the list? Because it is an anthem of sorts for the alterna-slut culture

Lost in Space

There is a struggle I that I have had for the past 4 years which is how to best set up my studio apartment. I know interior decoraters and people who adore the interior design aspect of life enough to appear that they know what they are doing so I should be able to get plenty of feed back and ideas but it never worked out that way. Actually I did ask one of these types but I never really got the answer I needed. I should be able to read a book and get all the ideas I could ever want but it's hard to make my studio more than what it is. I've even moved my office space (desk and chair) into the kitchen to find some relief from over crowding but I constantly found myself wonder what was going on in my living room and would turn the TV or stereo on just to ensure I knew no supernatural shenanigans were afoot.
I've moved my bed all sorts of ways and had my couch all sorts of angles none of which satisfied. I had the bar in the kitchen and in the main room, I've had large wardrobe pose as a TV cabinet all in the name of better usage of space. Now what I have really realized is that I need to get rid of the clutter in my pad. I too much stuff and stuff I haven't touched in years at that; this is stuff I don't need, right? I'm sort of a pack rat but I'm not horrible. I have too many magazines; they need to be tossed in the recycle bin. I have a closet of collectibles, clothes and bullshit. I need to figure out what I can part with.
I have friends that have no need for anything extra and don't have this issue which I am jealous of. It seems that I am collecting possibilities and memories that are getting in the way. This could be a trite metaphor couldn't it?
Whatever, the point is I need to unload all the crap and streamline the goods.

That should be my motto for everything!

The Suggestion Box

So I've been advised by my people to make this blog an all music venture which isn't a bad idea but I don't know if I can focus that long on one topic without getting scared of the commitment. The only thing I can promise is this, I have compiled my top 100 songs from the 70s, 80s, 90s and the 00s . The idea of this nearly gave a friend of mine an aneurysm . . . actually it wasn't the idea as much as the songs I told him that were in the top ten; he's easy to mess with. So we'll start with 00's because the other decades are so, so analogue. Here's the start with #100-91; try not to get too bent out of shape or laugh too hard:

100. United States of Whatever by Liam Lynch
Stupidest/awesomest song to come out the whole decade . . . Whateveh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz7_3n7xyDg

99. I Don't Wanna Stop by Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy goes for it and proves that with some help of Zack Wylde he can rock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yt_Bu1r-Ovg

98. Flavor of the Weak by American Hi-Fi
Props to the Heavy Metal Parking Lot refernce. This song came out and got me ready to rock. Also I like to give props to Boston bands
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n87oD8E98MM

97. Boyz-N- The Hood by Dynamite Hack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNDMBfyO2ww
It's just funny!

96. Milkshake by Kelis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ-FAV9fBII
Sex sells and I buy!

95. Entertain by Sleater Kinney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gkiYkqGU6Y
I love a group of chicks who can rock! This song does not back down!

94. Sex On Fire by Kings of Leon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHhhcKxflMY
Kings of Leon learn to write a melody and score a hit


93. There is An End by the green Hornes and Holly Golightly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwq_sksL_6o
This is one to shake your fist at but it's a great little gem from the Bill Murray movie where he's looking for . . . I don't remember anything but this song and the naked girl.

92. Prepare to Fight by The Lovemakers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6jWUeyb7X4
Melodious and retro

91. Playground Love by Air
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAgX1jO3No0
Let the dreaming begin. I don't think I ever heard this song anywhere but the movie

So there's the first part of this list, there will be more coming up at some point but don't count on it being too soon. Think of this list as something that just happens and you're stumbling upon it

Was this not my 80s?

Do you know what this is about yet? If you can't tell by the pictures and you haven't been paying attention, John Hughes is dead; he passed away from a heart attack a couple of days ago. This is sad as all deaths are but now we must take a step back and look at the work the man left behind; I wish it was only the brat pack movies for even though "home Alone" is a phenomenally successful movie I don't care for it much. So we have "16 Candles", "The Breakfast Club", "Pretty in Pink" and "Some Kind of Wonderful".The message in all these movies is that no matter who you are you are a weirdo but you are ultimately loved; not a bad message even though it's a bit rose colored. My problem is I can't recall ever relating with any of these characters, not Judd Nelson's Bender, not John Cryer's Ducky (though girls have said I remind them of him), not Eric Stoltz' as . . . whatever his name was in "Some Kind of Wonderful". Now believe me when I say that I wish I related to Ferris Bueller, I wish I was Ferris Bueller; I think we all do; I mean why can't everything we do work out no matter how dodgy it may be. Truency problems, grand theft auto, identity theft, hacking into and changing official documents, tresspassing, lying to just about everybody he comes in contact with, conspiracy, and I'm fairly certain statutory rape. Whatever Ferris was awesome, fine taste in food, art, cars and women. I don't think he goes o to be a fry cook on Mars I think he joins a frat and cheerfully goes on to be a spin man, getting politicians out of trouble. Where's my charmed life?

As I was saying I never related to any of these characters and I was made to feel like I should by some peer pressuring classmate or another. Have I felt like an outsider? Of course ! The thing is I always felt that these kids were forcing themselves to be in such turmoil, a relentless insistence on not getting what they want seemed to be their M.O. (aside from the young Mr. Bueller) I suppose being a teenager is an excuse for not quite being able to put your finger on what you want or being too insecure to grab it but I recall an understanding of what was and what wasn't within my realm of reality which was one of the reasons I was sullen (just like you).
My appreciation for Hughes though comes because he didn't make teens out to be simple kids who have not a real problem outside their acne and curfew (I had neither and both).
The real question would be is "The Breakfast Club" a modern day "No Exit"? These character all torture each other . . . But there's a happy ending so I think not but it's an interesting concept, right? No? Bite me!

Somebody cue the Simple Minds; we have to listen to "Don't You (Forget About Me)"

Changing Out

So what, now I'm over this and think it's time to move on to something else that makes me go.

"Teenage angst has paid off well but now I'm bored and old" - Nirvana

This is in no way to say these dozen entries or so have any stature next to a genre defining rock band from nearly 20 years ago but I'm considering the ideas that I have held before to be rather obtuse and outdated now. So this means I have to find something to motivate me or I will become something of a useless human being which I may already be.

What will be the answer?

Middle Meal

I can say that I enjoy a nice lunch with a certain strange pride. A lovely sunny day accompanied by a great selection of light tastes. Starting with a glass of wine and half a dozen oysters while mid day sounds curly through the ear and pleasantries abound. Sometimes a soup if it;s something nice will do the trick. A well made sandwich with almost fancy ingredients prepared with a chef's delicate precision served next to complete the meal.
This sort of thing just puts a silly smile in me and makes me feel like a better person.

Strange but there it is.

I Just Want You To Know

It continues; my weird fascination with Lady GaGa has made me into some sort of teenage boy. I don't think she's amazing or even that hot I just can't stop thinking about what the heck she's doing here on earth. I think she's a snack from Venus, that is to say on Venus you eat pop stars for something to fulfill your snack needs. She probably tastes like tofu fried, dipped in a Tang and chili flake powder. When you eat the pop star snack the music plays.
On the wilder side of things I think her music is the proper music to do blow to and I have some suspicion that her and Paris Hilton probably listen to "The Fame" do lines, have a straight girl make out and laugh at all the mooks ogling them like it's the most important event in history. Do they make T-shirts that read "disco stick" with an arrow pointing down?
Continuing in the blue department I wander if she's a good lover . . . I'm gonna' guess not. I mean she probably can do a good solo show in front of a mirror or a spectator but I think that's what her "Poker Face" is for.
Question: When was the last time somebody thought Madonna was hot, I mean really hot? Like a fantasy.
Answer: 1984

I'm dumb!