More on the House of Brothers

So beyond studying for my health law final, this weekend will be all about catching up on my reviews that I have promised but haven't delivered upon yet...first up is House of Brothers...I have previously talked about them here.

Over Thanksgiving break my sister visited Seattle and while we were driving around one day I brought some of the new music to review with me to see what she thought...by far her favorite was the House of Brothers EP...In her words David Grey-like lyrics and Damien Rice-like music...and thus began her love for her new favorite band, "Damien Grey."

House of Brothers -- Deadman

House of Brothers -- These Days

Both tracks are from the House of Brothers EP which is available here.

We're Baaaaaack

The week and a half of hell is over and I'm only staring down the barrel of my Health Law Final next week...CS started a group on Facebook called "I went to law school...and it ruined my life"...I have more appreciation for that feeling everyday...

Babyshambles -- Back from the Dead
From the Down in Albion album.

Warren Zevon -- Back in the High Life Again (Demo)
This track is a demo from the recently released Preludes album.

Neil Young & Crazy Horse -- Get Back On It
This is from the little known or appreciated Re-ac-tor album

Love, Actually

Think you've found the perfect gift for your parents this Christmas? Find a great sale on the power drill dad wanted? Buy a sweater you think your mom will adore?

You can give up now. You won't be able to top the present that Alexis Goggins gave her mother:

DETROIT -- A 7-year-old-girl is being hailed as an "angel from heaven" and a hero for jumping in front of an enraged gunman, who pumped six bullets into the child as she used her body as a shield to save her mother's life.

Alexis Goggins, a first-grader at Campbell Elementary School, is in stable condition at Children's Hospital in Detroit recovering from gunshot wounds to the eye, left temple, chin, cheek, chest and right arm.

I don't even know what to say. I can only imagine the emotions going through her mother's mind and heart as she looks at her little girl and realizes that her little girl took those bullets for her. Wow.

Beautiful Girl -- INXS

Busy

These next couple weeks will be a busy one for me with papers, presentations, and reading so posting will be cut back on my part...until things return to normal enjoy these selections...

Dan Wilson -- Breathless
Dan was the singer from the great Minnesota band Semisonic and he just released his first solo album Free Life.

Neil Young -- From Hank to Hendrix (from MTV Unplugged)
From Neil's MTV Unplugged concert it can originally be found on the Harvest Moon album.

Orba Squara -- Perfect Timing This Morning (iPhone theme)
Here that semi-annoying theme song to those iPhone commercials...with lyrics...

Rollins Band -- Liar
A forgoten 1990's classic...from the Weight album.

Shout Out Louds -- Streams of Whiskey
This is a b-side on the Tonight I Have To Leave It EP...the Swedes do their best Irish impersonation.

The Moldy Peaches -- Lucky Number Nine
The Moldy Peaches debut was my favorite album of 2001...next to The Strokes' debut.

The Turtles -- Me About You
This is my favorite Turtles' song that never became a hit...it can be found on pretty much any Turtles collection or Happy Together.

Vince Guaraldi -- Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal Version)
Christmas break can't get here fast enough...this can be found on a Charlie Brown Christmas.

Best Wishes to a Player I Can't Stand

As a devoted Cowboys fan, it isn't hard to fathom why I would despise the Washington Redskins. It is an organization run by a midget tyrant whose sole goal in life is to be the George Steinbrenner of the NFL. They have the worst team name in professional sports and have been a thorn in the Cowboys side since time and memorial.

And up until today, Sean Taylor was the epitome of what I hated about the Skins. He was a cocky player with a nasty reputation coming out of The U. He didn't have the solid game to match the hype. But what happened today was tragic and I sincerely wish him nothing but the best. Right now, his biggest battle will simply be surviving. But if he is able to play again, I will stand up and cheer for his courage....and then hope that Jason Witten flattens him on the way to the end zone.

Read this blog for the best updates on the situation.

UPDATED: RIP Sean Taylor.

Craig Kilborn

Gin-Soaked Craig Kilborn Shows Up Broke, Homeless At SportsCenter Studio

BRISTOL, CT—Craig Kilborn, the former host of The Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn, actor from the film The Benchwarmers, and SportsCenter anchor from 1993 to 1997, was spotted at 5:30 a.m. this morning broke,...

Dirty Pretty Things -- Gin & Milk
From the Waterloo to Anywhere album.

Young Dudes

I'm hearing some early and late Primal Scream influences (I'm talking Screamadelica era Primal Creamhere and not Evil Heat the type album they did for a few years) in the Young Dudes and I like it a lot. This is the first single from their debut album.

Young Dudes -- (Doin') Crimes
From the Young Dudes album.

Primal Scream -- Counrty Girl

From the Riot City Blues album.

And although I have no evidence Young Dudes derive their name from this song, here is a 1970's classic:

Mott the Hopple -- All the Young Dudes

From the All the Young Dudes album.

Presidential Photo of the Day

President Bush:

Neil Young & Crazy Horse -- Danger Bird
From the Zuma album.

The Liars -- Do As the Birds, Eat the Remains
From the Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack EP.

Christmas Ideas

Lego Imperial Walker:

Ash -- Walking Barefoot
From the Free All Angels album.

Ben Folds Five -- Eddie Walker
From the Naked Baby Photos album.

The Beach Boys -- Walk On By (Mono Version)
A bonus track from the Friends/ 20/20 double album.

The Kingsnakes -- Walk of Shame
The Kingsnakes are from my hometown of Eau Claire, WI and are now known as the Eau Claire Blues All-Stars.

Remember the Beer Next Time

Thanks to my buddy Dan for forwarding this article to me...it doesn't look good the motherland...

WAUPACA, Wis. — A man who was upset with his wife for not buying beer took
vengeance by shooting one of the family's two pet goats, prosecutors say.

Peter W. Mischler, 48, was charged this week in Circuit Court with mistreatment of animals, possession of a firearm while intoxicated and disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon.

The complaint said Mischler came home Saturday from hunting and became angry with his 22-year-old daughter for letting the goats out and making a mess. While she was talking on the phone to her mother, authorities said, he told her to tell his wife to bring home some beer, but his wife refused.

He then threatened to shoot the goats, according to the complaint.

After his wife arrived home, she and the daughter heard four gunshots and went outside and found one of the two goats with its entrails hanging out, authorities said. They said that goat had to be killed later by a sheriff's deputy.

A judge scheduled a hearing for Tuesday.

Beck -- Beercan
From the Mellow Gold album.

Siberian -- Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls
From the With Me (Dig) album.

The Simpsons -- It Was A Very Good Beer
From the The Simpsons: Songs in the Key of Springfield soundtrack.

Abandon All Hope

For the first time in several years, I didn't get up early today and hit the stores in the early AM of Black Friday....it's not from a lack of desire; I would have gone if there was anything worth risking my life for...




Bruce Springsteen -- Land of Hopes & Dreams (Live)
From The Essential Bruce Springsteen collection.

Oasis -- I Hope, I Think, I Know
From the Be Here Now album.

The Who -- My Generation/Land of Hope and Glory
From A Quick One album.

10-1

Another week, another feel good win. But it all comes down to next week's Cowboys game. I think I will be writing my Congressman that the game will be on a Thursday night on the frickin' NFL network which my cable doesn't have...

Jimmy Eat World -- Ten
From the Clarity album.

Led Zeppelin -- Ten Years Gone
From the Physical Graffiti album.

R.E.M. -- Rotary Ten
From the Dead Letter Office album.

Proof That Norwegians Can Be Evil

As I prepare to go home for Thanksgiving and see my family, I think of my full-blooded Norwegian grandfather. And when I think of him, I think of lutefisk. And then my gag reflex kicks in.

For those of you not from the upper Midwest (WI, MN, IA, ND, SD, etc.), you probably have no idea what lutefisk is. Here is your first idea of what you are dealing with. Wisconsin state statutes specifically state that lutefisk is not a hazardous substance (see Wis. Stat. 101.58(2)(j)(2)(f)). When state laws are necessary to say that your ethnic delicacy is not the equivalent of pesticides or nuclear waste, you begin to see where the problem lies.

Take a perfectly good piece of cod. Soak it in water until it has the consistency of jelly. Soak it in lye. Soak it in water again. Cook it in a pan. Pass out from the smell, which approximates a chemical spill at an animal rendering plant. Wake up from the smell. Try to eat it by just swallowing little bits, hoping that if you don't chew it, you won't taste it. A sickened grimace crosses your face as you realize that you can still taste it.

There is your Cliff Notes recipe for lutefisk. And now you understand why aquavit is necessary. Clay Shirky put it best.

To understand the relationship between aquavit and lutefisk, here's an experiment you can do at home. In addition to aquavit, you will need a slice of lemon, a cracker, a dishtowel, ketchup, a piece of lettuce, some caviar, and a Kit-Kat candy bar.

1. Take a shot aquavit.
2. Take two. (They're small.)
3. Put a bit of caviar on a bit of lettuce.
4. Put the lettuce on a cracker.
5. Squeeze some lemon juice on the caviar.
6. Pour some ketchup on the Kit-Kat bar.
7. Tie the dishtowel around your eyes.

If you can taste the difference between caviar on a cracker and ketchup on a Kit-Kat while blindfolded, you have not had enough aquavit to be ready for lutefisk. Return to step one.

I love my grandfather. But not enough to eat lutefisk.

Holidays In The Sun -- The Sex Pistols

Mean, Mean World -- John Lee Hooker

"He's got the leg into it......"

If you know anything about IU football, you know that this video needs no introduction.





RIP, Coach Hep.

The Clash of the Titans

I suspect that this post might make Blugold Matt regret bringing me on....

But I cannot wait for Thanksgiving and even more so for the following Thursday when the Green Bay Packers actually have to play a good team when they travel to Big D to take on my Dallas Cowboys.

Even though the teams have the same record, the Packers are having a magical season. GB's season feels like something out of a movie as a good team is getting all of the right breaks. Cowboys fans knew that this team had potential to be very good, but there were plenty of question marks (especially Tony Romo). Essentially, this Cowboys team has been living up to its best case scenario. I can't wait to see the two teams meet. I'll save the story of how a teenager living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, ends up becoming a rabid Cowboys fan for another post.

TANGENT ALERT: Wade Phillips has been the most pleasant surprise for me. He is currently throwing a monkey wrench in my theory about teams that hire Larry Brown in the NBA or Bill Parcells in the NFL. My Brown/Parcells theory is that when teams hire them, they are essentially making a Faustian bargain. The team will get better immediately and will contend for titles. Considering where the Cowboys were as the Dave Campo era ended, I was happy to make that bargain. But the guy that follows Brown or Parcells is essentially set up for failure. If the next coach is a relaxed players coach, the team will treat him the way a classroom of sixth graders treat a nice guy substitute teacher when their strict teacher is out sick (think Pete Carroll with the Pats and to a lesser extent, Flip Saunders with the Pistons). And if the new coach is a tough guy type, the players won't respect him. They were willing to put up with Parcells/Brown because they knew that it was worth it. But the new guy likely hasn't proven himself and the players aren't going to take more yelling from a guy who isn't as smart as Brown/Parcells. At least for now, Wade Phillips seems to have busted this theory and I'm not sure how he has done it. Then again, Pete Carroll went 10-6 his first year with the Pats. END TANGENT.

This week, the Cowboys essentially get a bye week as the 2-8 New Yawk Jets, led by whistle blowing coach Eric Mangini, come to Dallas. Meanwhile, the Packers face a 6-4 Detroit team whose season is in some turmoil. Both make rather disappointing preludes to the big event.

The Race Is On -- George Jones

Welcome to Paradise -- Green Day

Dead Solid Perfect

We have something for everyone in this post.

College football fans: Read this article by ESPN's Ivan Maisel. It is an appreciation of one of the greatest sportswriters and college football fans to ever walk the Earth, Dan Jenkins.

Non-college football fans: You can enjoy Dan Jenkins' Ten Stages of Drunkenness.

1. Witty and Charming
2. Rich and Powerful
3. Benevolent
4. Clairvoyant
5. Fuck Dinner
6. Patriotic
7. Crank up the Enola Gay
8. Witty and Charming, Part II
9. Invisible
10. Bulletproof

Presidential Photo of the Day

Check out all of David Hume Kennerly's photos from the Ford years here.

Nice Work If You Can Get It -- Thelonious Monk

Face Off, Newsweek Style

Newsweek has new contributors as Karl Rove and "Kos" (Markos Moulitsas) have penned their inaugural columns for the magazine. A Cliff Notes version recap.

Rove: Hillary will likely be the Democratic nominee. She is tough, smart and focused. The Republican nominee cannot expect to win just by being "Not Hillary," and must create a narrative about who he is and how he would govern.

Kos: The Bush Record is abysmal and the Democrats need to run on it and club the Republican nominee with it. Unless the Democrats get soap opera-style amnesia, this will not be a problem.

Verdict: I think Rove's article does a better job with dealing with the political realities of 2008. He talks about the Republican will need to show the voters who he is and where he stands, even if his stance is unpopular. He also said that normally Republican issues like crime and welfare won't have much salience in 2008, so the nominee better be prepared to talk about the rising cost of education and health care, which are normally Dem issues.

The Democrat can not run solely as "I'm against Bush." Political campaigns are as much about the future, if not more, than about the past. In some ways, every campaign turns out to be "how can we rectify the failings of the last president." We elected Reagan because he wasn't a wimp. We elected Clinton because he understood how domestic issues affected every day Americans. We elected Bush II because he campaigned as a Clinton-style moderate who would keep it in his pants. So the Democratic nominee will have to show the personal qualities that make him/her different from the current occupant. Simply running against the Bush record doesn't do that.

Kos does not deal with how the nominee can create a narrative of who they will be. The better strategy with the Bush Record is to set up situations where the press asks the GOP nominee, "Do you agree with the Bush Administration on X," and let the press drag down the Republican with the comparisons while the Democrat articulates his/her vision for America. The Bush Record is a good weapon for the Democrats, but Kos' article makes it sound like the only weapon.

Business as Usual -- Blues Traveler

Politician -- Cream

A Blast From The Packers' Past

Remember when the Packers drafted Tony instead of Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, and Derrick Thomas?

Rufus Wainwright -- Do I Disappoint You?

From the Release the Stars album.

I'm From Barcelona -- The Saddest Lullaby

From the Let Me Introduce My Friends album.

Yip Yips

The New York Times has an interesting article about the arrival on DVD of the first episodes of Sesame Street and the shock and horror that a parental advisory will appear saying that these episodes are not really for kids.

The first season of Sesame Street came out in 1969 and I really didn't start watching until the early 80's. Yet, I remember being terrified by some of the skits on there at the time. For example, there is this skit, titled by fans as "The Yip Yips Meet the Telephone."

This is my warning to you, this video is the Sesame Street version of the video in the movie The Ring.



Where was my warning Jim Henson? Where?

The Blakes -- Streets
From The Blakes album.

The Kinks -- Deadend Street
From The Kink Kronikles double album.