compulsive CD purchasing

So one thing I hope to do with this Blog is write more about the music I buy, so here goes. Motivated by several factors, I went on a junkie spree at the Tower Records WOW! Expo Center, which is right by Hillsdale Mall. The architecture and name makes me want to throw up, but it redeems itself with an awesome magazine section, and a 7.99 bin and 9.99 bin that usually holds some standards and classics I've been waiting to pick up. So the titles I obtained, and my comments, I'm embarassed to admit I picked up 9 cds, but the majority for 7.99, come on how can I pass that up. I'll go more in depth in each in later posts.
Grandaddy: Signal to Snow Ratio EP - ahh, so happy to find it, now my G'daddy collection is almost complete. Now this EP only has 4 songs (conveniently prices at 3.99) but there's an early version of Jed's Other Poem (from the Sophtware Slump) and I really love the first track, Hand Crank Transmitter. MGM Grand is funny lyric but typical of early G'daddy in terms of melody (a little repetitive and too loosely structured).
Johnny Cash: Live at San Quentin- If this is a find at 7.99, then my name's not Reese Witherspoon as June Carter Cash. Now, go see Walk the Line and lose it (like I did) when they show Joaquin playing Cocaine Blues. I'm glad to finally have the whole album, the new remaster sounds awesome and it works as a whole piece, a whole kick-ass important show.
T-Rex: the Slider. Rhino is re-releasing a bunch of Marc Bolan remasters with bonus discs, so it prices these puppies at $25 and up, but it's worth it if you love the Rabbit Fighter like I do. This is a 1973 release, right when everything was going all glammy. My picks are Metal Guru, Spaceball Ricochet and Main Man. I like this album better than Dandy in the Underworld, but not as much as Beard of Stars.
Soon to be reviewed: the new Franz Ferdinand, Modest Mouse: the Moon and Antarctica expanded and remastered, Blonde on Blonde by Dylan, and the American Graffitti Soundtrack.

Independent school of Art

Today was the first "class" of this new art school I got into, the Independent school of Art (as featured in Readymade!). The bike ride downhill to the SOMA: 10 minutes. The bike ride home: 30 minutes. Total distance biked: 7 miles. I hate living on this steep ass, insane grade hill, coming home feels like an Everest ascent, and then I think of poor Lance Armstrong and maybe if I was coming home to Sheryl Crow that would motivate more because I would punch her for that stupid cover of Led Zeppelin's Dyr Makr. Of course, I arrived home very sweaty, as opposed to just the regular sweaty I get from the hill hike.
Anyway, the school is founded on some pretty neato ideas, read more about it at www.independentschoolofart.org

This session is about 15-16 people, most of us met for the first time tonight and shared our portfolios and talked about what we wanted out of these weekly meetings, it's very free-form and kinda socialist which of course appeals to my Berkeley leanings. Tuition is $100, which we have to raise in a week without getting a job, and we have to barter 10 hours of our time doing something. So Marika and I are thinking of hosting a speed-dating night for all our single friends, charging $10 a head, that doesn't require too many folks, and we'll get them drunk and maybe love connections can be made but it's all for charity so that's a good thing. The other idea I had was testing my trivial pursuit skills at a coffee shop on 24th for $1 a question or something...I have a week before I have to start making the money so we shall see. And my barter hours, what special skills do I have?

In other news: I saw Matchpoint, the new Woody Allen film with Jonathan and Scarlett Johansson and Brian Cox (best actor in the movie). My conclusion is Scarlet J. is pretty but can't act, and I can't stop seeing Mr. Rhys-Meyers as the androgynous Bowie-esque character from Velvet Goldmine (a bad movie I love, more on that category later). Let's face it, Woody is a big ol' misogynist who seduced his (adopted) daughter and left his wife for her, so those biographical facts totally inform the film. But, it had some great shots and imagery and stuff, I think I've just been seeing too many wierd/sad/tragic relationship movies (Brokeback Mountain...so good and so painful). Lessons learned: Matchpoint don't be unfaithful unless you have a good crime to get out of it, and don't be gay in the sixties and seventies in Wyoming.

Alright, goodnight.

what the....

so i just wanted to sign up so i could post to a friend's account, and i ended up with my own blog....let's see if this keeps my interest.