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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
The Only 10 Songs I Listen To
I use to write. In all truthfulness, behind Batman movies, going on tour, my dog, playing bass, episodes of Seinfeld, and Diet Coke, writing is one of the few joys in my life. So, hopefully I will start doing it more often. I'm going to try and get into a swing of posting a new "list" of sorts every monday until I go on tour, and then whenever I can form there. Also, as a kind of bribery, I am going to accompany the lists with a mix...here is the one to accommodate this weeks list. It's titled the "The Only 10 Songs I Listen To," and that statement isn't ironic or an over exaggeration; its the honest to god truth.
1. “Ashleys Big Adventure” – Into It. Over It.
2. “Caught Up” – Young Hearts
3. “The One Who Got Us Out” – Ted Leo and the Pharmacist
4. “Lipstick” – Lemuria
5. “Blaaarrgh!” – Into It. Over It.
6. “Breed” – Nirvana
7. “Dead Bodies Skyscraper High” – Glass and Ashes
8. “Vital Joys” – Worn in Red
9. “The Great Plains” – Jena Berlin
10. “22 Syllables” – Into It. Over It
download it here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/06kr76 *
* It's a stuffit file...not sure if those work on PCs or not. If not, let me know and I'll work something out.
1. “Ashleys Big Adventure” – Into It. Over It.
2. “Caught Up” – Young Hearts
3. “The One Who Got Us Out” – Ted Leo and the Pharmacist
4. “Lipstick” – Lemuria
5. “Blaaarrgh!” – Into It. Over It.
6. “Breed” – Nirvana
7. “Dead Bodies Skyscraper High” – Glass and Ashes
8. “Vital Joys” – Worn in Red
9. “The Great Plains” – Jena Berlin
10. “22 Syllables” – Into It. Over It
download it here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/06kr76 *
* It's a stuffit file...not sure if those work on PCs or not. If not, let me know and I'll work something out.
Monday, July 21, 2008
8 Things I Wish I Could Tell Myself Eight Years Ago
I think I use to smile. Before I ever got involved with a female, I think I was a pretty happy kid. Long before I ever had to deal with graduations, college credits, money, jobs, and “real life,” there was actually photo documentation of me being a relatively goofy kid. So I guess what I am trying to say is that life in-and-of-itself has kind of crushed my once ambitious, joyfull soul, and replaced it with one bitter,self loathing and morose motherfucker.
I don’t think there is anyway to undo all of this, and I think I have sort of settled myself into this rut so much that I don’t think I could ever actually see myself being the gleeful youth I once was. The only way I think I could have subverted all of this and maintain the person I once was would be to go back 8 years and present myself with the following truths, so that I could brace myself for the world ahead of me.
But then again, if I knew all of this, my life would probably be incredibly more boring.
1. School: School is not nearly as important as your parents and teachers and professors will try and make you believe. You will graduate college with a 3.0 and you will not get paid a cent for work in your field of interest. Instead, you will walk dogs and pick up their shit to make ends meat. Reconsider your interests and field of study immediately.
2. Alcohol: Drink. Constantly. I know that you think you can have a good time being sober, but over the years, being the sober guy and still maintaining happiness will become a very daunting task. On top of that, those “Hey Zac, you want a beer?” jokes will never stop. Ever. You will hear at least one of these jokes a week for the rest of your life. No one appreciates you driving them around, and more often than not, you will be called something obscene or get yelled at just for offering to drive your inebriated friends home.
3. Guitar: Sell your guitar. The money you get for it will be immensely more enjoyable than the very minimal joy playing guitar will bring you over the rest of your life. Instead, play baseball or something.
4. Vegetarianism: Around the age of 21, you will decide to stop eating meat. Unless you are prepared to be called a “pussy” several times a week for as long as you don’t eat meat, just go ahead and keep eating McDonalds.
5. Girls: Somewhere, you did something very wrong. No one is really sure when exactly it was that you punched a baby or choked out someone’s mom, but, somewhere in your life, you have done something very terrible, and constantly taking a knee to the nuts from females for the rest of your life will be your punishment. Most of them will dump you, and a couple will get married soon there after. On more than once instance, a female will very intensely pursue you, only to pull out as soon as things start to get moderately serious. And when you tell them how this makes you feel, they will get mad. Do no try to employ logic with their kind…it simply doesn’t work. Instead, play baseball or something
6. Music: Every band you love or will ever love will start putting out bad records or break up at the peak of your enjoyment. Just start listening to talk radio now and save yourself the two lost/stolen iPods. If you can learn to avoid becoming a music listener, you will save yourself substantial amounts of frustration and enough money to buy a small boat and a fishing pole, which would probably be a much more enjoyable hobby than “record collecting,” which you will get involved with for some reason.
7. Money: English Majors don’t make any money. Reevaluate your life and passions now, and see if maybe you can’t find an interest in like, accounting? Business management? Any of these will make you more money than anything you are remotely interested in. Refer back to Item number one for more examples.
8: Tattoo’s: By the age of 23 you will have a large tattooed dedicated to the Batman Movie franchise. Are you prepared for that? If the answer is no, reevaluate your life immediately.
Fifteen year old Zac, you had no idea what you were in for.
I don’t think there is anyway to undo all of this, and I think I have sort of settled myself into this rut so much that I don’t think I could ever actually see myself being the gleeful youth I once was. The only way I think I could have subverted all of this and maintain the person I once was would be to go back 8 years and present myself with the following truths, so that I could brace myself for the world ahead of me.
But then again, if I knew all of this, my life would probably be incredibly more boring.
1. School: School is not nearly as important as your parents and teachers and professors will try and make you believe. You will graduate college with a 3.0 and you will not get paid a cent for work in your field of interest. Instead, you will walk dogs and pick up their shit to make ends meat. Reconsider your interests and field of study immediately.
2. Alcohol: Drink. Constantly. I know that you think you can have a good time being sober, but over the years, being the sober guy and still maintaining happiness will become a very daunting task. On top of that, those “Hey Zac, you want a beer?” jokes will never stop. Ever. You will hear at least one of these jokes a week for the rest of your life. No one appreciates you driving them around, and more often than not, you will be called something obscene or get yelled at just for offering to drive your inebriated friends home.
3. Guitar: Sell your guitar. The money you get for it will be immensely more enjoyable than the very minimal joy playing guitar will bring you over the rest of your life. Instead, play baseball or something.
4. Vegetarianism: Around the age of 21, you will decide to stop eating meat. Unless you are prepared to be called a “pussy” several times a week for as long as you don’t eat meat, just go ahead and keep eating McDonalds.
5. Girls: Somewhere, you did something very wrong. No one is really sure when exactly it was that you punched a baby or choked out someone’s mom, but, somewhere in your life, you have done something very terrible, and constantly taking a knee to the nuts from females for the rest of your life will be your punishment. Most of them will dump you, and a couple will get married soon there after. On more than once instance, a female will very intensely pursue you, only to pull out as soon as things start to get moderately serious. And when you tell them how this makes you feel, they will get mad. Do no try to employ logic with their kind…it simply doesn’t work. Instead, play baseball or something
6. Music: Every band you love or will ever love will start putting out bad records or break up at the peak of your enjoyment. Just start listening to talk radio now and save yourself the two lost/stolen iPods. If you can learn to avoid becoming a music listener, you will save yourself substantial amounts of frustration and enough money to buy a small boat and a fishing pole, which would probably be a much more enjoyable hobby than “record collecting,” which you will get involved with for some reason.
7. Money: English Majors don’t make any money. Reevaluate your life and passions now, and see if maybe you can’t find an interest in like, accounting? Business management? Any of these will make you more money than anything you are remotely interested in. Refer back to Item number one for more examples.
8: Tattoo’s: By the age of 23 you will have a large tattooed dedicated to the Batman Movie franchise. Are you prepared for that? If the answer is no, reevaluate your life immediately.
Fifteen year old Zac, you had no idea what you were in for.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
My life is not a horror movie and that sucks.
tried to kill me.
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Thursday, July 10, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
5 Most Pathetically Sad Punk Records Of All Time
I haven’t had a good weekend. And as I am often wont to do when things aren’t really going to way I planed them, my iPod has been stuck on nothing but the saddest of sad songs. I suppose I just have an affinity for depressed music, because it seems as though I am only interested in listening to records when I am sad or upset about something. When I am feeling fine or happy, I would much rather be out doing things with the people that make me feel that way, as opposed to sitting in my room listening to that same Tim Barry song over and over again.
But sad songs certainly have their place in the world, if for no other reason than to let you know that you aren’t the only one in the world that has ever been dumped or felt like shit for any given reason.
But then again, if you honestly belived you were the only one to ever go through any of those things, then you have more issues than a Rumbleseat song can cure...
6. Dashboard Confessional – The Places You Have Come To Fear the Most
What Makes it so Depressing
I haven’t listened to this record since highschool, and they didn’t make the cut when I cleaned out my iTunes a couple years ago (I swear), but, in highschool there was nothing better than getting dumped by your first (sorta) real girlfriend and sitting around sulking with Chris Carraba. There is nothing more sad and depressing than a man in his early 30s singing songs about highschool heartbreak. I guess that’s more sad in a pathetic way though. Or just plain creepy.
Particularly Morose Songs
"This Ruined Puzzle," “Screaming Infidelities,” "The Brilliant Dance."
Lyrical Proof
“So this is odd, the painful realization that has all gone wrong. And nobody cares at all, and nobody cares at all. So you buried all your lover's clothes and burned the letters lover wrote, but it doesn't make it any better,” (from “The Brilliant Dance”).
“This basement's a coffin. I'm buried alive. I'll die in here just to be safe. I'll die in here just to be safe. 'Cause you're gone. I get nothing and you're off with barely a sigh. I never said, ‘Goodbye.’” (from "This Ruined Puzzle")
5. Lucero – That Much Further West
What Makes it So Depressing
Everything sad about Lucero can be defined by the following lyric: “when you decided to leave, I never asked where you'd gone. when you decided to leave, I left you alone. it don't mean much to me what all you did while you're gone. it don't mean much to me as long as you come home.”
Particularly Morose Tracks
“The Only One,” “Tears Don’t Matter Much,” “When You Decided to Leave,” “That Much Further West.”
Lyrical Proof
There is a song where Ben Nichols sings “my tears don’t matter much, don’t matter much” over and over again. So, yeah.
4. Weakerthans – Left and Leaving
What Makes It So Depressing
John K Sampson must have been dealing with some real shit when he wrote Left and Leaving, because I assure you leaving Propagandhi didn’t cause this collection of auditory sadness. Perhaps it’s the quiver in his voice, but Sampson somehow finds a way to make the upbeat pop punk tunes “Aside” and “Watermark” make me want to drive my car off a bridge
Particularly Morose Songs
“Everything Must Go!” “Left and Leaving,” and “Aside.”
Lyrical Proof
“My ribs that show through t-shirts and these shoes I got for free. I'm unconsoled, I'm lonely, I am so much better than I used to be” (from Aside).
“Memory will rust and erode into lists of all that you gave me: a blanket, some matches, this pain in my chest, the best parts of Lonely” (from "Left and Leaving").
3. Against Me – the Disco Before the Breakdown
Why Its So Depressing
Tom Gable use to write amazing lyrics. Before he joined the pop rock notion that a chorus just needed to have one line mixed with a decent hook, he use to write choruses like “And we’ll make it up so that we’ve got a smile painted on all the time, no matter what its like on the inside,” which appears on this EP’s title track. What makes this three song party stopper so great is that its not just songs about girls. The Disco Before the Breakdown is one of the saddest songs ever, and its written about a gay couple who will never be able to be gay and happy in public society because of the perception of that. Its pretty fucking heartwrenching to say the least.
And then there’s the songs about wanting to die because a girl hurt you. And those are awesome too.
Particularly Morose Songs
All three of them
Lyrical Proof
“We'll keep this, keep us like a secret, because if my family and friends ever found out about the things we could never be, haunts we'll always keep, so fucking bittersweet” (from The Disco Before the Breakdown)
“I Can't believe how naive I was to think things could ever be so simple.” “It’s got me on my knees in a bathroom praying to a god I don’t even belive in, ‘dear jesus, are you listening?’ If this is the one chance that really matters, don’t let me fuck this up.” (from Toonight Were gonna give it 35%”)
“With your thought in mind I walk to streets down to the shores and I sink into the pacific. If this is everything up till now ending, it was nice to believe for a while.” (from "Beginning in an Ending").
2. The Good Life – Album of the Year
What Makes it so Depressing
Written in the wake of Tim Kashers divorce with his wife, there is not a metaphorical light at the end of the tunnel for Album of the Year. Every song is another forrary into the abismall doom that is Tim Kashers life. What makes this album so great though is when you compare it to Kashers content as he pulled himself out of depression: the new Cursive record and that new Good Life record weren’t that good. Something is to be said for a songwriter who can only write masterpieces while living in a constant state of wanting to hang himself.
Particularly Morose Songs
“Album of the Year,” “a New Friend,” “October Leaves,” “Inmates,” and “Under a Honeymoon.”
Lyrical Proof
“You used to call me on your break, but you’ve been so busy. You used to bring me tomato soup, but you keep forgetting. As the groundskeeper rakes up the October leaves, it occurs to me, trees can’t hide anything… “ and “I woke up this morning, you were off to work. No kisses, no coffee…. No morning paper.” (from October Leaves)
“And your mom’s got you convinced that he’s the one. He’s all you need, so forget me – marry him at once. But if you ever change your mind… I could still buy that box of wine. I still have your copy of Harold and Maude…” (from “A New Friend”)
“We started laughing til it didn’t hurt.” (from “Album of the Year”)
1. Park – Entire Catalog
What makes it Depressing
Goddamn EVERYTHING. Everything from the tone of the songs, to the brutally honest delivery of the lyrics, combined with the overtly whiney vocals, everything Park has ever done will unquestionably go down as the saddest bunch of songs in the modern era of punk, which says a lot given that we are in the Emo Gilded Age. While Ladd’s vocals are never quite dead on (they always seem to be a little flat or a little sharp), no one can question the sincere honesty in all of his lyrics and the way he sings them. Every song on every Park record (or at least of the three I own) is saturated with undeniable honesty. These lyrics seem so believable and sad that I feel like I should take it upon myself to personally monitor Ladd Mitchell in a 24 suicide watch.
Particularly Morose Songs
“S is for Susan” (off of No Signal), “Dear Sweet Impaler” (off of It Wont Snow Where You Are Going), “Clue Me In” (off of No Signal), “La Amoureux” (off of Building a Better _____), and pretty much everything off of It Wont Snow Where You Are Going (this record had the number for suicide prevention hotlines and a disclaimer, that’s how fucking terrifyingly sad it is).
Lyrical Proof
“nights like this, it's you I miss. Is this the effect you expected to get? So caught up and clueless and all these conclusions? Sorry i let you down just being myself.” (From “Clue Me In,” off of No Signal).
“I could hold my breath till I blow up and make this all seem. real no matter how hard I try I cant seem to win this stupid game, I apologize for keeping you up wasting all your time…So I'm stuck with the image you walking me to my car and how nice it felt to be alive in someone's arms. last night felt like the only time that we made sense and every moment after which shook it up chalk it up to coincidence.” (from the hidden track off of No Signal)
AND the winner of the scariest saddest lyric of all time:
“So why not end it all in one shot; this rope, tied in a perfect knot. Its better than anything ive ever had, it wont lose its grip or stop kissing my neck.” (from "Dear Sweet Impaler" off of It Wont Snow Where You Are Going)
God.damn.
But sad songs certainly have their place in the world, if for no other reason than to let you know that you aren’t the only one in the world that has ever been dumped or felt like shit for any given reason.
But then again, if you honestly belived you were the only one to ever go through any of those things, then you have more issues than a Rumbleseat song can cure...
6. Dashboard Confessional – The Places You Have Come To Fear the Most
What Makes it so Depressing
I haven’t listened to this record since highschool, and they didn’t make the cut when I cleaned out my iTunes a couple years ago (I swear), but, in highschool there was nothing better than getting dumped by your first (sorta) real girlfriend and sitting around sulking with Chris Carraba. There is nothing more sad and depressing than a man in his early 30s singing songs about highschool heartbreak. I guess that’s more sad in a pathetic way though. Or just plain creepy.
Particularly Morose Songs
"This Ruined Puzzle," “Screaming Infidelities,” "The Brilliant Dance."
Lyrical Proof
“So this is odd, the painful realization that has all gone wrong. And nobody cares at all, and nobody cares at all. So you buried all your lover's clothes and burned the letters lover wrote, but it doesn't make it any better,” (from “The Brilliant Dance”).
“This basement's a coffin. I'm buried alive. I'll die in here just to be safe. I'll die in here just to be safe. 'Cause you're gone. I get nothing and you're off with barely a sigh. I never said, ‘Goodbye.’” (from "This Ruined Puzzle")
5. Lucero – That Much Further West
What Makes it So Depressing
Everything sad about Lucero can be defined by the following lyric: “when you decided to leave, I never asked where you'd gone. when you decided to leave, I left you alone. it don't mean much to me what all you did while you're gone. it don't mean much to me as long as you come home.”
Particularly Morose Tracks
“The Only One,” “Tears Don’t Matter Much,” “When You Decided to Leave,” “That Much Further West.”
Lyrical Proof
There is a song where Ben Nichols sings “my tears don’t matter much, don’t matter much” over and over again. So, yeah.
4. Weakerthans – Left and Leaving
What Makes It So Depressing
John K Sampson must have been dealing with some real shit when he wrote Left and Leaving, because I assure you leaving Propagandhi didn’t cause this collection of auditory sadness. Perhaps it’s the quiver in his voice, but Sampson somehow finds a way to make the upbeat pop punk tunes “Aside” and “Watermark” make me want to drive my car off a bridge
Particularly Morose Songs
“Everything Must Go!” “Left and Leaving,” and “Aside.”
Lyrical Proof
“My ribs that show through t-shirts and these shoes I got for free. I'm unconsoled, I'm lonely, I am so much better than I used to be” (from Aside).
“Memory will rust and erode into lists of all that you gave me: a blanket, some matches, this pain in my chest, the best parts of Lonely” (from "Left and Leaving").
3. Against Me – the Disco Before the Breakdown
Why Its So Depressing
Tom Gable use to write amazing lyrics. Before he joined the pop rock notion that a chorus just needed to have one line mixed with a decent hook, he use to write choruses like “And we’ll make it up so that we’ve got a smile painted on all the time, no matter what its like on the inside,” which appears on this EP’s title track. What makes this three song party stopper so great is that its not just songs about girls. The Disco Before the Breakdown is one of the saddest songs ever, and its written about a gay couple who will never be able to be gay and happy in public society because of the perception of that. Its pretty fucking heartwrenching to say the least.
And then there’s the songs about wanting to die because a girl hurt you. And those are awesome too.
Particularly Morose Songs
All three of them
Lyrical Proof
“We'll keep this, keep us like a secret, because if my family and friends ever found out about the things we could never be, haunts we'll always keep, so fucking bittersweet” (from The Disco Before the Breakdown)
“I Can't believe how naive I was to think things could ever be so simple.” “It’s got me on my knees in a bathroom praying to a god I don’t even belive in, ‘dear jesus, are you listening?’ If this is the one chance that really matters, don’t let me fuck this up.” (from Toonight Were gonna give it 35%”)
“With your thought in mind I walk to streets down to the shores and I sink into the pacific. If this is everything up till now ending, it was nice to believe for a while.” (from "Beginning in an Ending").
2. The Good Life – Album of the Year
What Makes it so Depressing
Written in the wake of Tim Kashers divorce with his wife, there is not a metaphorical light at the end of the tunnel for Album of the Year. Every song is another forrary into the abismall doom that is Tim Kashers life. What makes this album so great though is when you compare it to Kashers content as he pulled himself out of depression: the new Cursive record and that new Good Life record weren’t that good. Something is to be said for a songwriter who can only write masterpieces while living in a constant state of wanting to hang himself.
Particularly Morose Songs
“Album of the Year,” “a New Friend,” “October Leaves,” “Inmates,” and “Under a Honeymoon.”
Lyrical Proof
“You used to call me on your break, but you’ve been so busy. You used to bring me tomato soup, but you keep forgetting. As the groundskeeper rakes up the October leaves, it occurs to me, trees can’t hide anything… “ and “I woke up this morning, you were off to work. No kisses, no coffee…. No morning paper.” (from October Leaves)
“And your mom’s got you convinced that he’s the one. He’s all you need, so forget me – marry him at once. But if you ever change your mind… I could still buy that box of wine. I still have your copy of Harold and Maude…” (from “A New Friend”)
“We started laughing til it didn’t hurt.” (from “Album of the Year”)
1. Park – Entire Catalog
What makes it Depressing
Goddamn EVERYTHING. Everything from the tone of the songs, to the brutally honest delivery of the lyrics, combined with the overtly whiney vocals, everything Park has ever done will unquestionably go down as the saddest bunch of songs in the modern era of punk, which says a lot given that we are in the Emo Gilded Age. While Ladd’s vocals are never quite dead on (they always seem to be a little flat or a little sharp), no one can question the sincere honesty in all of his lyrics and the way he sings them. Every song on every Park record (or at least of the three I own) is saturated with undeniable honesty. These lyrics seem so believable and sad that I feel like I should take it upon myself to personally monitor Ladd Mitchell in a 24 suicide watch.
Particularly Morose Songs
“S is for Susan” (off of No Signal), “Dear Sweet Impaler” (off of It Wont Snow Where You Are Going), “Clue Me In” (off of No Signal), “La Amoureux” (off of Building a Better _____), and pretty much everything off of It Wont Snow Where You Are Going (this record had the number for suicide prevention hotlines and a disclaimer, that’s how fucking terrifyingly sad it is).
Lyrical Proof
“nights like this, it's you I miss. Is this the effect you expected to get? So caught up and clueless and all these conclusions? Sorry i let you down just being myself.” (From “Clue Me In,” off of No Signal).
“I could hold my breath till I blow up and make this all seem. real no matter how hard I try I cant seem to win this stupid game, I apologize for keeping you up wasting all your time…So I'm stuck with the image you walking me to my car and how nice it felt to be alive in someone's arms. last night felt like the only time that we made sense and every moment after which shook it up chalk it up to coincidence.” (from the hidden track off of No Signal)
AND the winner of the scariest saddest lyric of all time:
“So why not end it all in one shot; this rope, tied in a perfect knot. Its better than anything ive ever had, it wont lose its grip or stop kissing my neck.” (from "Dear Sweet Impaler" off of It Wont Snow Where You Are Going)
God.damn.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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