To the Path!

My wife and I got up and going today and actually got a lot accomplished. By noon, we had gotten all of our errands run and even got to eat at the legendary donut place Jim's Donuts. Feeling in an overall good mood after accomplishing so much, I decided do a reboot on my iPod.

Since it is April, the weather is nice, and daylight is extending further and further into the evening, this is usually about the time I recommit every year to getting into shape. This year is going to be a little more difficult because I did not make much effort at getting out this past winter. Add that to the extra drinking weight from this past basketball season (we had a lot to celebrate in Dayton this year!) and I have some work ahead of me at getting back in shape.

To help kick this into action I took off much of what was currently on my iPod and added the music that has helped me get back in the swing of things in the past: Jazz and Krautrock. I am not sure why this always works, but I have a suspicion that long instrumental passages helps make the time I spend out walking not seem as long. That, or I just associate this kind of music with being out of shape and walking up hills that almost kill me. Either way, it seems to work.

So today, armed with Neu! '75 and Genius Of Modern Music Volume One (by Neu! and Thelonious Monk, respectively) I got off to a good five mile start. I am a little sore right now, but I feel pretty good. I am actually looking forward for tomorrow's hike. I wonder what the odds that I'll be listening to John Coltrane's Ascension?

Things I Want to Tell You

I'm stuck at work for a couple of more hours and then on to final four weekend. Not sure where I am going to watch tomorrow, but I will be rooting for MSU. Honestly, I am just looking for a couple of good games. To help pass the time, here are a couple of songs that I will probably put on as soon as I get home.

"Since K Got Over Me"-Clientele
"Fearless"-Pink Floyd
"Floating"-Clouds Forming Crowns
"Northern Sky"-Nick Drake
"No Reply At All"-Genesis
"From a Motel 6"-Yo La Tengo
"Things"-Paul Westerberg
"Angelica"-Scott Walker
"Cold Morning Light"-Todd Rundgren
"Bye Bye Kitty Cat"-The Mice

Once again, I think this would be a killer start to a mix tape. Maybe I should just merge these with yesterday's list.

Three

How about that? Three days in a row. Too bad I have nothing to say.

I checked allmusic for songs named "three." They list 239, none of which I care enough about to write about. Instead, I will I list the third tracks from some of my favorite albums. How is that for creative?

"Watch Me Jumpstart" from Alien Lanes
"Quadrophenia" from Quadrophenia
"I'm Only Sleeping" from Revolver
"Glass Onion" from The Beatles
"Only Love Can Break Your Heart" from After the Goldrush
"The Imposter" from Get Happy!!
"Taxman, Mr. Thief" from Cheap Trick
"Way out West" from Radio City
"Wild Horses" from Sticky Fingers

None of these are my favorite songs from these albums, yet, the above list would make for a nice start to a mixtape. Maybe I should look into that.

Hooray!

I checked my account today at the library and it seems that I will be getting this DVD soon:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjhTBZaVYfA&feature=PlayList&p=062C4545AD2C3D86&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=22


I got the soundtrack a couple of weeks back and really enjoy it. Normally, children's music isn't my cup of tea, but this is Nilsson. I am beginning to think that every thing that man does is gold.

Gold Nilsson, gold!

Awaiting Terror Twilight

On Saturday I went up to West Jefferson to see my good friend George Dustin Combs play. I used to play with GDC in the legendary Kid Gruesome back before electricity was invented. Anyway, it was great hearing some of the old jams like "Fallen Angels Wings." I also like his new(ish?) "Johnny Cash Is Dead." Check out his myspace to hear some of his tunes:

http://www.myspace.com/GeorgeDCombs

I had threatened to blog from the concert (free wi-fi with purchase!) but pre-gaming for the gig was more important. Honestly, I firmly believe that pre-gaming for anything is very important.

I got the new Pavement Brighten the Corners re-issue this past week. First off, I must say that Matador has done a fantastic job with these re-issues. I always thought that this album was underrated, so it is nice to see it getting the full two disc treatment. So many fantastic songs, but I think my favorite is "Starlings of the Slipstream." Man, that one gets me everytime. I always liked "Transport Is Arranged" because it reminds me of Abbey Road for some reason. I am probably the only person who thinks that.

My only complaint is that it does not have "For Sale! The Preston School of Industry" on it. I guess I'll just have to wait for the Farewell Horizontal re-issue.

Diamond?

I am making an effort to add to this more. After all, what is the point of having a blog, if you don't update but once a month?

So what to say? A couple of weeks ago I dropped my wife off at school. On the way home the CD I was listening to ended. I switched on the radio and heard "Supper's Ready." Score! So, two big thumbs up to the wonderful folks at Flyer Radio, the UD radio station.

All day I have been thinking about this song and how I haven't heard it in a while:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql4IiP__5ck

We actually used to make fun of old Neil Diamond when I was younger, but when you hear a song like this, you realize your past mistakes and get on with life. Now I think twice about bashing old Neil.

Plus, the Monkees covered some of his songs. The Monkees rule.

March Madness

My Dayton Flyers won a game in the tournament this year. This makes me very happy. I was in the 5th grade the last time they won a tournament game. God knows what I was listening to back then.

I have slowed a little on my mix making, but I did make two solid ones this past month: Guaranteed Sweetness by Tobin Sprout and Haunted By American Dreams by Neko Case. I also figured out a way transfer my records to sound files. This means I now have a CD copy of Neil Young's long forgotten Time Fades Away.

File this under "Good Things in Life."