I'm quite happy to see the end of the Tour de France. Even more so, the end of Lance Armstrong's career. With his retirement comes the end of the yearly media blitz attempting to persuade us all into believing what a terrific human being he is. I wonder if anyone else finds it coincidental that he is deciding to retire now after questions of his steroid use are heating up. I'd also say most "terrific" men I know don't ditch their wives right after having three kids with them. Yeah, it's true he overcame great odds in winning race after race after a battle with cancer. Still, I have to wonder if such a struggle might have been avoidable if, say, he hadn't been injecting himself with liquid muscle in the first place.
I wonder if men cry this much on English speaking soap operas. These guys on El Cuerpo del Deseo sure are weepy.
Can we put an end to calling the Decemberists an original band? I know the kids get all excited over the use of an accordion, but really they aren't at all an original sounding band. I'll admit that Picaresque is a moderately decent album, and even confessing to being rather fond of We Both Go Down Together, but calling the Decemberists anything more than a Neutral Milk Hotel cover band is really overstating things.
On the topic of music, 2005 has been overwhelmingly disappointing. At present I can really only think of 4 albums I could confidently recommend to people, despite already listening to probably twice as many albums as last year. In order they are:
Sufjan Stevens Invites You to Come on Feel the Illinoise:Rolling Stone magazine actually featured this album in their last issues reviews, and rightly so gave it 4 out of 4 stars. Look for his popularity to grow and grow over the next few months as this album starts to sink in with casual music fans.
Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy:Complete with the knock your feet from under you, have you curled up in the corner before tearing your heart out lyrics rabid fans have come to expect out of Will Sheff.
Architecture in Helsinki - In Case we Die:This my be the funnest album since the Unicorns (a moment of silence for the Unicorns please) made Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone. Quite a good live performance as well, you Chicago kids can look forward to them coming back this way in the Fall.
Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs:This one is still growing on me. I'm not sure who Bird reminds me of (I think maybe Rufus Wainwright, OH NOS!) but he's quite the musician, as it turns out quite the whistler as well.
Folding laundry must the most boring endeavor man can commit himself to.
18 comments:
Now that is quit a post. So random.
It's weird that I have never talked with you about Lance Armstrong but we share the same feelings.
I love your top 3 albums of the year. I agree with you 100%! AIH is for sure the most fun. Okkervil IMHO is the deepest, and dear ol' Sufan is the prettiest.
Can't wait to see AIH again in the fall and hope we get to see Okkervil again this weekend!!!
I know exactly how you feel about laundry. Thank you for helping me out with it tonight. I enjoyed a night off. You are the best husband ever!
I dont know enough about Armstrong's possible steroid use to comment on that. However, I understand that he's easily one of the biggest jerks in all of sports. I'm glad it's over too.
I totally agree with you about him leaving his wife. I had no idea they were even separated, until I saw a picture of him in the paper with his gf, Cheryl Crow. Made me sick. I remember seeing interviews with him and his wife, how she went through everything with him, standing by his side. Made me really want that kind of love.
Mamma Traynor shares your feelings on Lance Armstrong...
And I think whistling is an under-appreciated art form and commend you for not overlooking great whistling when you encounter it.
I think I heard something by Andrew Bird on XRT and dug it.
When I watch english-speaking soaps I wonder "is there this much humping in Spanish-speaking soaps?"
I didn't notice any humping, but I wasn't really paying that much attention since I was writing this post.
I'd be surprised if they played Bird on XRT. I posted one of his songs on here a few weeks a go.
btw, by Mamma Traynor, do you mean your Mother?
You know what, I have seen some of these Spanish soap operas while flipping channels at my mom's (since we don’t have TV) and a couple of times I thought I landed on a porn channel (which I thought was weird since I knew my parents don't have "adult" television). So I am sure there is a LOT of humping going on. Eewwww... I feel gross now.
Yeah, she came into the room, saw his smirking mug on TV and went off on the guy! Ma's tough side comes out when folks start forgetting where they came from.
I've got a terrible memory, but I think I do remember hearing Andrew Bird on XRT...if not during main programming maybe one of the shows?
I see you added "wikipedia" to your favorite spots?
There's a smart one, an encyclopedia that anyone can edit!
I want to quote them...........
sooo...post much?
Well, more than some people anyway.
I just might have to attend that Furnaces show.
Wow. Jon is alive.
I think you're right, John.
Scott will you post something new already?!?!?! You have had a lot of good ideas for posts and for some reason didn't post them. I am really disappointed. =o(
I really want you to get to work on you other blog too!
I agree with Crystal... Cool blog buster.
You are officially off of my favorite blog list! Adios!
but I still love you!
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