quarter23cd

From one rock-dweller to another, here's my analysis. I was really impressed for about a week or two a couple years ago, then I promptly forgot about that record and haven't had the urge to listen to it again. Verdict: Worthy of a listen if a spare copy gets left near your rock, but will not ruin your life if that doesn't happen.

I'm on the fence about Eggers, too. I seem to like all the things he's involved with (Might, McSweeney's, various compilations he's put together as editor, and I applaud the above-mentioned tutoring programs and stuff), but his own writing sometimes leaves me a little cold. He's a very good writer, but sometimes perhaps a bit too smartassy for his own good. I'm not sure I'd call him a complete asshole, but he sometimes seems incapable of dropping the smirking attitude, even when his subject matter is otherwise very serious and touching. I never did make it all the way through "A Heartbrea

Nice plug, Lou. I dunno if I'll buy this, but would love to hear it if the local library can get their hands on a copy. I think you're right that stuff like this could make for a fantastic classroom tool. Putting an era into a cultural context is a great way to get people "into" the subject matter, I would think. As for this comment: I was born at the tail-end of that particular conflict and my history classes avoided the subject altogether when I was in school. (too new? too controversial?) I dunno how it is handled in schools nowadays, but if they ever make a Vietnam-era set like this

Yeah, but using them as a supplement means that you end up doing more reading!!!1! I'll be the first to admit that, even as a former English major, I once or twice went the Cliff's Notes route when I was particularly backlogged in reading. You're right, it is not the same experience. Then again, it got me through a few jams in terms of classwork--and at least it gave me a good insight into whether the book in question was worth returning to for a full-read once the class was over. I'm guessing most students aren't thinking about that, tho, when they reach for Cliff.

I got really excited for a minute until I realized these Whigs you speak of aren't of the Afghan variety.

I'm pretty sure his will be spelled "liberry". And will consist mostly of those hollowed-out fake books that you can hide stuff in.

Like that jeans commercial with "Fortunate Son" playing in the background and the opening lyrics are snipped to "Some folks are born made to wave the flag" while an American flag waves dramatically in the background. That one seems taken WAY out of context. I don't know who is buying those jeans, but "It ain't me/It ain't me".

Is this the new date on the doomsday clock?

Wow. The list of environmental and education cuts (while clearly insane) aren't surprising, but I don't see how this one can possibly win him any applause from anyone:

My long search for a new signature is over.

Not sure I've heard One Big Holiday. The only album I've listened to entirely is "Z" and parts of it I feel like I want to like--like the first track is pleasant enough, I guess. I tried another of their records at one point, but I never made it past track 2. But, yeah, in my experience, "sleepy" fits. Maybe its the reverb that gives it that effect. I'm not looking to turn this into a "Hate MMJ" thread or anything. I'm actually pretty indifferent to them up to this point, but maybe there's something that just hasn't clicked for me.

I've tried a couple different records by these guys since everyone raves about 'em, but whatever it is that other people see in them is completely lost on me. Maybe I should try the live album? These guys make me sleepy.

Disc 1: "Side With the Seeds" Disc 2: "Side With the Leaves"

I agree with you, to a point. My take on it is that as much as I was once addicted to UT's directness and "back to basics" approach, I feel like they had painted themselves into a corner by being so heavily indebted to the sound, style, and attitude of their influences. I really have no idea where they could have gone after March and Anodyne--in retrospect, they almost had to break up so they could move on, musically. I do miss the looseness and energy of early-Wilco (BT will likely always be the Wilco record that gets the most spins by me--my musical "comfort food"), but at the same time

Is it "Beams" or "Dreams"? I've seen it both ways recently, and I have to say that I'm heavily in favor of "Beams". If so, great title. If not...not so much. Sky Blue Sky works better as an album title than a song title.

My gut tells me that "Walken" will be the first song, if only because I think it has a strong intro and would set the mood for a very different kind of Wilco record than we've heard in a while.* * This is assuming that the studio version bears a resemblance to what we've heard so far.

If its ever going to happen, that would be my guess for when/how it would come about. Really, I see no need for it. Musically, Jeff/Jay's paths have diverged and I'm not sure how interested they are in what one another is doing anymore--let alone revisiting stuff they did together when they were kids. The only draw for me would be that it would be fun to see them rock out again on the early UT material. Other than that, meh, I'd rather hear Wilco. (which is interesting b/c I once worshiped at the UT altar)

Yep. This seems along similar lines of his token pro-environment soundbite he typically slips into his state of the union addresses. Gives people a warm fuzzy feeling for about five seconds before they realize that all evidence points to such statements being overwhelmingly full of it.

My desktop (XP Home) is running fine, albeit slower compared to newer, sleeker models. And my laptop that I use for work purposes--heck, that poor thing kind of struggles with 2000 Professional when I'm running any servers on it. So Vista is somewhere way on the distant horizon for me. Or maybe not. I'm overdue for a new laptop (and probably a new desktop for the fam isn't too far off), so the only way I see upgrading my OS is with new machines. Which is really the only way I see anybody upgrading. Vista is such a resource-hog that most people's existing computers can't handle the load.

Because it is clearly less important than the need to "get get the edge".

I only recently got the remastered version of The Band's "Rock of Ages" that has a Dylan/Band version of Like a Rolling Stone as one of the bonus tracks and that is quite possibly my favoriteist thing in the world right now. Somehow, the part where Bob forgets the words and just starts making sounds actually makes it more endearing, which is probably something only Dylan could pull off.

Right now the songs sticking in my head are: The Weight (The Band) The Harder They Come (Jimmy Cliff) Box of Rain (Grateful Dead) I'm really not sure that any of those are necessarily even my favorite of all time, let alone the best of all time. But I like them enough to list em here, I guess.

Wow, I'm already dressed for this party and I didn't even know it!

I'm not sure which one you're suggesting is more of a career-highlight. Please advise. On second thought, it might have made sense to reprise "Beat It" for the latter release...

I'm still contemplating "rocket surgery".