Music Pick of the Day – Archive (part 3 of 4)
Aug 10th
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“Lights” is a very mixed bag. There’s nothing consistent here that makes the songs feel like they belong together on the same album. I love half the album, the other half irritates me. When they’re good, they’re amazing, and there are some gems here. The highlight is the monster 18 1/2 minute title track song “Lights”. Another ambient slow build electronic rock masterpiece by the boys of Archive. Like the song “Again” from their album “You All Look The Same To Me”, “Lights” exists on a different time dimension than other music you listen to. It doesn’t rush itself, but lets you absorb it deep.
There is a brief return to their Trip Hop roots with the song Headlights. There’s several faster songs that rock out, and they’re cool musically, but ruined by the singer resorting to annoying monotone shouts.
(I skipped reviewing their 4th album “Noise”, for the same reason that while the music is pretty cool there, the singing annoys me)
[Video after the break]
Music Pick of the Day – Archive (part 2 of 4)
Jul 30th
Archive – You All Look the Same to Me
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Archive completely reinvented themselves with this album, you won’t believe this is from the same musicians as Londinium. Which would be really upsetting, because their Trip Hop sound was so well executed and influential; until… you hear this! Wow Wow. This album is even better. Genius. Beautiful. Mesmerizing.
The album begins with “Again”, one of the coolest songs ever recorded. Yeah it’s over 16 minutes, but it’s worth it. Listen to it in full and don’t skip through, you’ll ruin the deliberate buildup. Let yourself absorb it and follow the journey as it slowly develops. Everything about the song is stellar, except maybe the lyrics. But who cares? This is something special; starting off with organs, acoustic guitar and harmonica, the subtle textures, the progression, the production, even the singing.
This is electronic infused 70′s progressive guitar rock. Female lounge singer is out. Rapper is out [thank you god]. Male rock singer is in. If this album was simply released as Pink Floyd’s latest work in the new millennium it would received unlimited publicity heralding the return of the gods. Archive has mastered a totally different sound and has surpassed themselves here.
(btw, this is their third album, I skipped reviewing Archive’s second album “Take My Head” because… well, they lost their way there and it’s mostly painful and embarrassing, don’t bother with it.)
[Video after the break]
Your Boss Is Your Customer
Jul 20th
Your boss is your customer. Your interview is your sales pitch. Your time and skills are your product. Your signed employment contract is your completed sale.
Your boss is your customer. Your power with any customer comes from your value to him. Bring a lot to the table and he will continue to be your customer. Bring even more to the table and you will have even more customers available. Supply and demand works great for you when there is only one of you. That is, of course, only if there’s not an uncountable number of others just like you.
Your boss is your customer. Some bosses are shitty. Some customers are shitty. Some customers are just nasty and unhappy no matter what you do. Some customers are not worth your time. If you’re unable to find quality customers, are you going to blame your customers?
Your boss is your customer. He is purchasing service from you monthly. Customer Service that lacks motivation and enthusiasm is a quick way to give him buyer’s remorse. If better service is provided elsewhere, he should purchase elsewhere. If he does fire you, he is not the asshole, you’re the asshole. Until you realize that, it’s doubtful you’ll fix the problem. Never expect someone to pay you for inferior service. If he does fire you and you have kids to feed, don’t blame your boss for their hardship.
Your boss is your customer. You treat your customers with respect. If you try to show a customer who’s boss, most of the time your customer will be happy to show you.
Continue Reading >>
Music Pick of the Day – Archive (part 1 of 4)
Jul 20th
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Many consider this the best Trip Hop album of all time. Surpassing even Portishead and Massive Attack. Well, I’d say it’s certainly a contender. The beats are intelligent and complex. The music is gorgeous and epic, the female vocals enchanting. BUT!!! Many of the songs are ruined when from out of nowhere this 80s style Rapper needlessly comes in and just fucking kills the vibe, jarring a careful creation of art and beauty. The album would be really sexy if there wasn’t any rapping. What were they thinking?! Londinium is the great masterpiece that almost was. And still could be with a minor tweak. ARCHIVE, PLEASE release a version with the rapper completely mixed out. Then you’ll have a real contender for the greatest trip hop album prize. Seriously, this album is really good. As the title suggests, these guys are from London and apparently this first album of theirs from the 90s was competing with all awesomeness coming out of Bristol. Archive has evolved into a completely different sound now 7 albums later, but you can hear seeds of their current sound here. Still, even though they’re not trip hop anymore, it seems like any one song here could fit somewhere on their latest albums.
Video of the Day – Matt Ridley: When Ideas Have Sex
Jul 20th
Phenomenal! I’ve never heard a stronger case made for Libertarianism and Free Trade from an Anthropological point of view. The opening statement subtly helps put Global Warming Alarmism in perspective. He even quoted the famous libertiarian piece I Pencil. Matt Ridley just gave this presentation several days ago at TED. This is up there with the quality of Richard Dawkins’ Growing Up in the Universe.
In Defense of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg
Jun 5th
Of course some things are nobody’s business. But if you shared it on Facebook in the first place, then why are you complaining that it’s nobody’s business?
This Facebook privacy issue is getting out of hand.
First a little bit about Mark
I am SO impressed with this kid. I’ve looked at a bunch of 30 under 30 lists. Compared to Mark, their accomplishments are a joke. Compared to Mark, our accomplishments are a joke. And I feel like that has a lot to do with the flak he’s getting. You can’t rise too high without hands grabbing at your legs to pull you down. A 20-something kid is not supposed to become a billionaire and own the most popular site on the web. That’s upsetting to some in their 20s. That’s even more upsetting to some in their 40s. Friendster and MySpace are cesspools of intrusive spam. They’re still available, but no one is criticizing their founders for the lack of privacy there. If you are upset with Mark Zuckerberg for any reason, be careful that your words don’t reek with envy. This happened to Bill Gates when he and Microsoft were at the top, and then we were left with Ballmer and Vista. PLEASE tread lightly.
Facebook has done more to bring people together than any technology in human history.
Opt In vs. Opt Out
Continue Reading >>
Music Pick of the Day – The Cure
Jun 5th
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Holy fuck!
Many of my favorite bands were heavily influenced by The Cure. So many friends that I respect love The Cure. And I’ve always responded with “Yeah, they’re ok, not really into them.”
I only just heard “Disintegration”. Wow! Now I understand. This is truly epic.
This is the spacier, darker, prettier side of The Cure.
If this album didn’t happen in 1989 I think music today would be worse.
[Video after the break]
Movie Review: Robin Hood – A Tea Party Tax Avenger?
May 19th
Today I just saw the new Robin Hood movie directed by Ridley Scott. I was SURPRISED. Not just because I liked it better than I thought I would. Not because it was political, but because the message was so different from what you expect of the man who steals from the rich to give to the poor. And mostly that the message was so eloquently SPOT ON.
I never judge a movie’s quality by what it’s trying to say. I judge it by how well it says it. Avatar was an amazing movie, expressed itself powerfully, even though its message was juvenile. Not only did Robin Hood have an excellent message, but it brought it out in dramatic form so expertly.
This movie was about taxes. Yes, taxes. And it drives home the point of what taxes mean in the backstory. Showing how in 12th Century England people of the country are breaking their backs to support themselves in harsh times, only to see what they’ve produced and earned ripped from their hands by rulers demanding that everyone pay their fair share. Their fare share for the rulers’ endless wars and other endless expensive spending projects. Eventually it gets to be too much and the people organize together in mass for a tax revolt. Hmm… Tea Party?
I’m google-ing online now and finding many critics are very upset that this is not the classic steal from the rich to give to the poor Robin Hood. There’s no other such socialist undertones that imply rising higher than others is inherently wrong. No, instead there’s a demand on the King that a charter be drafted to limit his powers so that he cannot spend or tax without the consent of the governed. Robin Hood shouts to the crowd “What we ask for is Liberty. Liberty by Law!”, and makes the case to the King that a land of free people will create a stronger more prosperous England, as well as create citizens more loyal than any King enjoys.
[Check out the Trailer Below]
Yup, the movie’s message is a nearly explicit rallying cry for the Tea Party movement. And feels like an attack on both Bush and Obama. Continue Reading >>
The Four Words You Will Never Say Again in Business: That’s Not My Job
May 18th
If you ever answer someone important with “That’s Not My Job” you will be RIGHT! It won’t be your job when you’re terminated for being unimportant or useless.
Those words are banned if you’re an entrepreneur, and even if you have a salary. If those words ever come out of your mouth, don’t expect to go very far. It’s as simple as that. Your job is to put food in your stomach. Your job is to ensure that your operation is successful. Your job is to do whatever the fuck you need to do to make that happen.
That is the path of the achiever. He goes over and above. He doesn’t lose money and opportunities by being snotty. Of course the division of labor is important. Of course you shouldn’t always try to do everything. Of course you need to decide what is legitimately worth your time, not to waste time on time wasting things. But when push comes to shove and you have a real problem or a real opportunity, you do everything you can to handle it. I don’t care if you’re dealing with clients or you’re a salary employee, if you would ever like to move beyond your current position, you need to go beyond what you think is your job description.
Music Pick of the Day – Does It Offend You, Yeah?
May 18th
Does It Offend You, Yeah? – You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into
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With A Heavy Heart (I Regret to Inform You) |
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These guys are definitely one of the best electro house indie 80s new wave synth-pop punk metal hardcore raver break-beat bands out there. Yeah, this album is ALL OVER the place. Nothing is consistent here except insanity and genius. I am SO impressed. I think the album title just about sums it up. It’s not that these different styles haven’t been done before, but their attitude and take on everything is fresh, so unique and so much fun. “Does it Offend You, Yeah?” is definitely not for everyone, and even my first jarring impression left me wondering what the fuck is wrong with these maniacs. I forced myself to try and figure out just how anyone could actually enjoy this (an exercise I often do with adored bands I’m not feeling) until it quickly grew on me to the point where I felt bored with everything else. The only song here I still just can’t get into is “Attack of the 60ft Lesbian Octopus”; it’s too ‘eating paint and bouncing off the walls’ for me. Some of the songs here do sound like they’d fit right into place on The Killers’ “Hot Fuss” album, but those pieces are excellent and much better than what the Killers are putting out lately anyway.
This album slams with a sledgehammer, and yet it maintains a high level of subtlety and sophistication, while it incites rebellious disobedience, out of control slam dancing, and a deep philosophical reexamination of the purpose of music.
I can’t wait for their next album due out hopefully sometime this year.
(Free tip for guys: If your romantic overtures aren’t working and some girl is giving you a lot of shit; change up the mood, put this cd on loud starting with track 2 ["With a Heavy Heart"] and she’ll know not to fuck around anymore) ;)
[Video after the break]
