Now and again it seems worse than it is, but mostly the view is accurate

Josh and I can't stop talking about the new Rilo Kiley album, Under the Blacklight. It's seriously good. Not just, this is fun to listen to good, but this could be an all-time great album good. You really must check it out.

If all you know about Rilo Kiley is "Portions for Foxes" you might be a little surprised. There is more of a Southern California '70s pop feel to this album. There are actual disco beats if you listen closely. You'll be like, "This song is great!" Then you'll be like, "Wait, this sort of sounds like ABBA." You won't care, though. You'll love it anyway.

Speaking of ABBA, I'm also enjoying Our Ill Wills by my favorite Swedish band, the Shout Out Louds. It's a more mellow follow up to Howl, Howl, Gaff, Gaff but I think the lyrics are better. I've got tickets to see them in Columbus in October and I can't wait. They're on tour in the U.S. right now and it's worth checking them out.

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Declan's next album today is Fevers and Mirrors by Bright Eyes. While I was listening to it, I kept thinking this had to be a debut album. It's pretty wide-eyed yet pretentious. It sounds like music from someone who's still sure they're going to change the world.

A little Googling, though, told me that's it's actually Bright Eyes' third album (released in 2000). I found that surprising considering the second from last song, "An Attempt to Tip the Scales" is not actually a song but an excerpt from a radio interview in which a crazy (or very high) Conor Oberst tells the radio guy how very sad he is. It's really, really terrible and did I mention pretentious?

That said, the album as a whole isn't terrible. "The Calendar Hung Itself" and "Something Vague" are classic Bright Eyes tunes and remind me why I love Conor so. That radio interview at the end brings everything to a grinding halt and leaves abad taste in my mouth. At least Bright Eyes is down to just having talking during the first songs on albums. I'm getting used to that, even though it's still pretentious. I love Conor anyway.

More Sir Ranulph

Here's one more photo.

Pray to Sony my soul to keep

It looks like I wasn't the only person who was a little disappointed with the new iPod announcements this week. I love the idea of the touch screen but there's no way I could operate with just 16 gigs of space for music. I love the giant hard drive on the 160 gig iPod Classic, but I really want it with a touch screen. I have a feeling that combo's a couple of years away and I fear Declan won't last that long, so I've started saving my pennies for a 160 gig Declan 2.0. Hopefully, I won't need a new one any time soon, though.

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And now I want to tell you a little story about today's album...

For 90% of the world, Semisonic is a classic one-hit wonder band. "Closing Time" was all over the radio in the spring and summer of '98 and they were never heard from again. For me, "Closing Time" was the beginning of the end of a years long love of the band. Let me explain.

I can't remember the first time I saw Semisonic, but I know I was working at The Blue Note at the time so it was probably 1996 or so. They must have been opening for another band I liked, because I can't imagine going to the show otherwise. Either way I left that night with their first album, Great Divide. As the months progressed, I continued to force that album on my friends, insisting they listen to my favorite tracks or including them in mix tapes (yes, back then it was really tapes).

In January of 1998, I headed out for a semester in London, where I was left with the stack of CDs I brought and the little radio I picked up for a few dollars at a Radio Shack. I came back home in May with a deep knowledge of Natalie Imbruglia and Spacehog but no idea that while I was gone the band I loved had become a household name. Semisonic had released Feeling Strangely Fine and their single was on the radio every five minutes. I was used to always explaining who Semisonic was to everyone and now they were those "Closing Time" guys.

That summer I caught their Summerfest show in Milwaukee and had to put up with one of those terrible crowds that is only there to hear the hit single. It made me sad. Suddenly, there were people everywhere at their shows, but they only wanted to hear one song.

Most people don't know Feeling Strangely Fine is a great album. I can't say I listen to it much these days, but when I dusted it off for this listen, I still loved it. "This Will Be My Year" still makes me feel positive about my life and "California" stands out in that crowded group of songs about the state.

In March, 2001 when the band finally got around to releasing All About Chemistry, it had been too long between albums, and no one seemed to remember who they were. Chemistry wasn't their best work either, and I'm sure their label had high expectations. I can't say I know what happened, but now the band is no more. Lead singer Dan Wilson did win a Grammy last year for writing "I'm Not Ready To Make Nice" with the Dixie Chicks, so maybe a few other people will go back and check out the band they wrote off as a one-hit wonder.

The children are our future

I'm guessing a lot of you have seen this by now, but if not, you must watch it. So funny!

Declan deathwatch

Declan froze up again the other day and it took another trip to the Apple Store to get him going. This time the genius warned me that his hard drive is going bad and it's only a mater of time until he completely craps out. Decaln worked for four months between fixes last time, so maybe he can make it that long again if I'm gentle with him.

I do want to get a new iPod eventually, but I've been holding out for a new version. I've heard rumors of a new release coming in September, but I'm just hoping it's actually new new iPod version and not just a Nano. They've had their time in the sun.

So I guess I'll start saving my pennies, while also being sure to take extra care of Declan. No pressing buttons too quickly or making too many demands. He deserves to enjoy his golden years.

Slow down, think it over

I've spent the last few days trying to remember where I picked up my copy of Fedra by the Pittsburgh band Shade. I know I saw them at Alchemize (back when Alchemize was in Over The Rhine) before a Boys and Girls night. I have a feeling it was the weekend that Josh and all his friend were in town, but I was so exhausted by the time we got to Alchemize that everything is a little fuzzy.

I've spent all this time thinking about when I bought the CD because the album itself isn't that great. The band is awesome live and I highly recommend you go see them if they come to your town, but the CD sounds flat. I think this happens with new bands a lot. I don't know if it's actually being in a studio and all the bells and whistles they offer or what. Maybe I just need to listen to the CD with a beer so it will feel more like a live show.

So to sum it up:
Shade is a nice band.
Go see their show.
Don't buy Fedra.
Maybe buy any new recording instead.

Meet Sir Ranulph!

After months of distrust between Benecio and I, I had to break things off. So I gave up my sultry Latin man for a British adventurer. Today I picked up my new Mini Cooper, which I promptly named Sir Ranulph after this guy. (You can call him "Ran" for short.) I took a little drive this evening and I think I'm in love. So here's to a long and happy relationship.

Stop making eyes at me

You must listen to this now! Proof, once again, that Tom Jones is the greatest Welshman of all time.

Come back from San Francisco

OK, they are - photos from the San Francisco trip! I used all my photo editing skilz to pick a few shots that pretty much encapsulate the trip. I think they (more or less) speak for themselves.

Me on a cable car. It's very Mary Tyler Moore.


The first day we all went on a bay cruise where Carrie and Dayna learned they are the same person what with the being cold all the time and the computer geekery. It's good they live on opposite coasts or their power might be unstoppable.


The next day we went to a Giants game. They killed the Diamondbacks but we were pretty much into the view and the beer.


On Monday it was off to Berkeley and the Scharffen Berger factory. Melissa let out a startling whoop when they passed out hairnets. I think it made her week.


That afternoon we ran into Josh's friend Nick at a bar on Haight Street (as you do). He invited us out for karaoke and that's when the party really got started.


At midnight, I turned 30!


And Josh sang a song.


Then I sang a song with a little help from Jeff.


The next day, we were all feeling a little rough for our tour of the Anchor Brewery.


But somehow Melissa had the energy to take pictures.


There was more after that but I ran out of photos. I'll just leave everyone with beautiful shot from Carrie. It was an awesome trip and I'm glad so many people could make it.

Wow, 30 feels a lot like 29...

...except during warms ups for my first flag football game as a 30-year-old, I jammed my finger pretty badly. Now it's all purple and swelly. As I'm still one of the youngest people on my team, my teammates have assured me that it only gets worse from here.

My brother made me a birthday card that as pretty awesome and I wanted to share it with the world (or at least the six cats that read this blog). Enjoy!