Lodestar

 

I was listening to some wilco songs for a while, but wilco is a band we kind of discovered together or at least grew to love together. More accurately, i turned her onto wilco and dylan. and now i feel weird listening to them. i turned her on to a lot of the music i love. and now that music feels kinda dirty. so it goes.

I think that's a pretty common feeling... You'll probably always associate that music with her in some way, but it's not a terrible thing. If you're a big enough fan, you'll probably go on to share those same songs with someone else, and someone else after that. But obviously that's a ways off.

I mentioned The Wrens earlier, but if you're going for specific songs, try "She Sends Kisses", "13 Months in 6 Minutes", "Hopeless", and if you really want your heart to fall out of your chest, "This is Not What You Had Planned." I feel cruel even suggesting them right now, but few bands have been fucked around worse than those guys.

And if you're into folk/country, Richard Buckner got me through a really fucking awful winter last year... Bloomed and Devotion + Doubt are the albums to look for, any song off either really, but for specific tracks: "4 AM", "Six Years", "Song of 27", "This is Where", "Lil Wallet Picture", "Ed's Song", "Mud", and many more.

Finally, the best thing you can really do is to be around friends and try not to wallow too much.

I'm listening to Destroyer right now and wondering how it's taken me so long... this is as close to Heartbreaker as anything else he's done.

The Wrens - Meadowlands

Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Hope you feel better.

My only real "good-guy" Ryan story is from when I interviewed Tegan and Sara, and with a bunch of time to spare after I'd gotten all my quotes, I (selfishly) asked what it was like to tour with Ryan Adams, what he was like, etc. And they said he was a total sweetheart, the kind of guy who would leave gifts for them on stage before they went on. I thought that was kind of cool, in an unexpected way.

Mod Edit: Closing at 50 pages. More RA discussion continues here:

 

http://forums.viachicago.org/topic/41648-the-latest-ryan-adams-thread-v2-0/

 

Why did you bold just Pitts? Chicago did that too, that's how they got Toews (3rd 2006) and Kane (1st 2007), and now they're expected to challenge Detroit for the Central Division. That's what LA is doing, that's what Colorado will do. Washington got Ovechkin and Backstrom with high, first round draft picks. It's the quickest and easiest way to go from the bottom of the pack to the top. Generally, a top-5 pick is likely to a future NHLer and perhaps even a franchise player.

I bolded Pittsburgh because they're just way too extreme an example to use in any kind of rebuilding talk. Like I said, Crosby and Malkin were IMO the two easiest draft decisions any GM has made in the last 25 years, and it's virtually inconceivable that a situation like that is going to present itself to a team two years in a row ever again. (You can even reasonably assume that a player of Crosby's or Malkin's caliber isn't going to come along at all in the next 10-15 years, but that's a different story...)

As for the other teams, I understand your point, but MLSE brought Brian Burke in because Toronto fans have become exceedingly impatient with the team over the past several years, to the point where they're seen as an embarrassment nation-wide. Hearing Burke speak when they introduced Kessel, it's apparent he has every intention of making the playoffs this season, and with the players he's added (especially on defense), I wouldn't be shocked if they do finish somewhere about 7th or 8th. Whether that's in the best interests of the Leafs long-term is unclear, but I completely understand the trade from his POV (though not the contract, as I've stated).

Also, it's worth mentioning that Burke did a lot to re-stock the prospect depth this offseason by signing Europeans and college free agents.

Heatley probably will put up big numbers (50 goals, 100 points), but I'm still not convinced he's that well-suited to play with Thornton. For one, they're both left-handed shots, which takes a lot away from Joe's cross-ice pass from the corner, especially on the PP. Cheechoo shoots right, which is how he buried so many goals that year he scored 56. And even Spezza, who was Heatley's best linemate in Ottawa, shoots right.

They should have followed Pittsburgh and Chicago's method.

What, tank hard several years in a row and get lucky enough to draft generational talents not once, but twice? I'm sorry, but Pittsburgh's "method" hardly qualifies -- they were blessed with probably the two easiest draft decisions in the past 25 years. And anyway, Burke could never get away with that in Toronto; it's the biggest hockey market in the world, and the team has simply been too bad for too long.

All that being said, I agree with whoever said it's a risky trade for both teams, but one that could also pay big dividends. The Bruins save money and will likely get two shots at a player of Kessel's caliber, while the Leafs give unknown draft picks for a guy who most teams would probably still spend a top-5 pick on. By far the worst part of the deal IMO is the contract they gave him.

Boxer and Alligator are both fantastic records, and the Cherry Tree EP is worth it for the devastation of "About Today" alone.

From Victoria, Chet is still my favourite local band. Their singer, Ryan Beattie (also has a side project called Himalayan Bear), has one of the most incredible voices I've ever heard live. He's also in Frog Eyes.

The Motel Life was a great read, and apparently is being made into a movie.

Wow, I didn't know that. I read that book in about a couple days and loved it. Just lent it to one of my old writing teachers, actually. I ordered Northline a couple weeks ago, but it hasn't arrived yet.

I've ordered all my Richmond Fontaine CDs from the band's website (10 bucks a pop, including shipping) and the last one came with a personalized Oregon postcard from Willy Vlautin, where he reminisced about a Vancouver writers festival and said it was great to hear from me again and "hope you like this one." And the funniest part of that is the fact that so many of his songs are written kind of (or directly) postcard-style, and I could imagine exactly what he'd sound like reading the letter... Anyway, I thought it was cool that he recognized me as a repeat buyer. Hope they tour around here sometime.

I love this thread... Probably going to pick up 4-5 of the albums mentioned if I can find them.

I second (or third?) what's been said about Richard Buckner. I listened to his first record, Bloomed, on the way to work today for the first time in a while, and remembered exactly why he took over my life last winter. It's a much more country-sounding affair than his later work, but still extremely dark and brooding. I'd rank it right up there with Devotion and Doubt, which is also an incredibly moving record. My next favourites are probably Since, which has a bit more rock and roll on it, and his latest, Meadow. One of my fave songwriters for sure.

I'd also give Richmond Fontaine a shot if you haven't already. Like Lambchop, it's pretty minimal in terms of arrangements and melodies, but songwriter Willy Vlautin has a real knack for telling stories in song. It's maybe how you'd imagine Raymond Carver or Ernest Hemingway would sound if they recorded a folk album. Vlautin is actually a very good (and pretty well-published) fiction writer himself. Anyway, my faves are The Fitzgerald and Thirteen Cities.

They also announced upgrades/price-cuts to all the iPod/iTouch lines... one day after their MacBook-iPod student-rebate deal ended.

Saw him at No Depression Festival and enjoyed every minute of his set. Not sure if I'd buy his record, but a great performer. And his legs are crazy skinny.

Just wondering, we are having a random draft order correct? I don't care either way, just curious

Yes, I'm pretty certain it's randomized 10-15 mins before the draft.

The Wrens - This is Not What You Had Planned

Chabon rocks my world.

 

Also, expect some of these songs in their top 20:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps

LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends

Walkmen, The - The Rat

Beyonce - Crazy In Love

Animal Collective - My Girls

M.I.A. - Paper Planes

Outkast - Hey Ya

Rapture, The - House Of Jealous Lovers

Annie - My Heartbeat

Jay-Z - 99 Problems

Kanye West - Heard'em Say

Hercules And Love Affair - Blind

Portishead - Machine Gun

The Go! Team - The Power Is On

Bolded are stone cold locks IMO. I'd say "My Girls" too, but there's an outside chance they go with "Summertime Clothes." But one of the two for sure.

Pitchfork's list is clearly an American list. It's not a world list. Maybe Justin Timberlake and Rhianna would be on the list if Pitchfork was from the UK (for example), but Kelly Clarkson wouldn't even make a shortlist. Nor would a lot of those other bands like Weezer be on it. It'd include Sugababes and Girls Aloud instead of Clarkson, to fulfill that quota; and that's the case for most of Europe. Probably Asia and Africa and The Arctic Pitchforks would have an entirely different list too.

Wait, what's being argued now?

It's a Pitchfork list, compiled by Pitchfork editors and contributors. If you've been a Pitchfork reader this decade, few of the selections so far should surprise you. Least of all "Since U Been Gone," which Pitchfork LOVED.

Songs have nothing to do with it, it's a barometer of relevance that doesn't extend beyond the bubble of internet music journalism. All three Wilco entries are from the span of time Wilco was relevant to said bubble.

But they're also many Wilco fans' favourite songs (as seen in that poll here, if I remember correctly). What does that say?

Aside from most of the rap, which I just don't have too much first-hand knowledge of, the list seems pretty decent to me. I'm not sure what would make a list like that a "fucking joke."

I'm normally pretty skeptical of anything Pitchfork-review-related, but I actually agree with this. I've quite enjoyed the list so far, and it's featured my favourite songs by a whole host of bands.

There are two spots available now.

I expect "Sexyback", "Crazy in Love" and "Umbrella" to all be in the top 50 as well. Frankly, I'd be shocked if Wilco makes another appearance.

A lot of people think Cat Power's "I Don't Blame You" is about Kurt Cobain, though it's never been confirmed.

Here's my loser tale of woe: I'm in Vancouver...

Agggh, you stopped my heart thinking there'd been a Vancouver show announcement I wasn't aware of!

I'm in as Skeleton Wings... though I may change to Pop Quiz Kids.