Just Down the Hall

As the white six paneled door slowly opens I am greeted by a long, narrow hallway.  The walls, a light sky blue, are so close together that they seem to dare me to touch both sides as I scuttle down the hall toward the bedroom.  One side of the hall is filled with boxes, stacked neatly in a row about three feet high. The main source of light comes from the ceiling fan.  As the fan blades turn, I notice the smell of cardboard.  I look around at the near empty room and I'm blasted with memories of the past few years that I have lived in this house. 

 I remember hanging pictures down the narrow hall, and helping my son pull out his first tooth.  I remember my daughter asking me if I would marry her, and having to explain to her why I could not.  I remember having arguments with my wife in this very spot. I also remember making up!  The pictures have been taken down and now fill the boxes down the hall.  The lone decorative on the wall is the bachelor’s degree that my wife painstakingly earned just 3 years ago.  It is a source of pride to her, and of inspiration to me . I am sad to say goodbye to this place, and at the same time, I am anxious to see what new memories can be made in our next home. 

Taco Bell saves the elderly

 “Viva Young!” This was Taco Bell’s recent battle cry from this years’ Super Bowl.  From the start, we are witness to a group of grand-momma’s n’ poppa’s sneaking out of their old folk’s home for a night of partying and debauchery. All the while, a Spanish rendition of the song “We are young” plays in the background. When the shenanigans are over, the group moseys on over to a Taco Bell where they chow down in the parking lot before returning to their normal routine.

No actual information or logic was used in this ad instead the viewer was treated to un-realistic (albeit humorous) representations of senior citizen partiers. Viewers are lead to believe that they should eat at Taco Bell, not because they like it, but because that is what “young” people do! Taco Bell reminds us that if you just eat some tacos, pull some pranks, and get inked, then age is only a number! Nevermind the fact that behaviors like these may have an opposite effect with regards to attaining old age…

Is that the best you’ve got? Volume 1

The Best of Silverchair Volume 1

Plus Complete Videology DVD

Tracklist:

1.   1.  Anthem for the Year 2000
2.     Freak
3.     Ana's Song (Open Fire)
4.     Emotion Sickness
5.     Israel's Son
6.     Tomorrow
7.     Cemetery
8.     Door
9.     Miss You Love
10.  Abuse Me
11.  Pure Massacre
12.  Untitled
13.  New Race
14.  Trash
15.  Ana’s Song (Acoustic Remix)
16.  Madman
17.  Blind
18.  Punk Song #2
19.  Wasted/ Fix Me
20.  Minor Threat
21.  Freak (Remix For Us Rejects)

The Australian band originally debuted in 1995 when they released of the album frogtomp. At the time, 3 the members were only teenagers. Since then, the group has gained in popularity worldwide. This album contains some of the hits released by the band ranging from 1995-1999. It was released in November of 2000. Interestingly enough, this “greatest hits” album was released a little more than a year after the release of their 3rd album, Neon Ballroom. When the album was originally released, I thought that it seemed unusual for a band to release a “best of” album when they were still producing radio quality music. I did not, however, investigate as to why.

Flash forward more than a decade and add an online class which requires me to blog…and some light is shed on the situation for me. I learned that Sony Records released the album without the bands consent in 2000 after the band left the label. The ever-reliable website Wikipedia quotes lead singer Daniel Johns as saying:

         “We thought about putting out ads in the street press to make people aware that we weren't endorsing it, but that would have blown the whole thing out of proportion ... If people want to buy it, they can buy it but I wouldn't buy it if I was a Silverchair fan." 

            Having learned this, I feel like I was duped into buying this album, even though I                         

           thoroughly enjoy the music on the album.The accredited artists on this album are main members:

•        Daniel Johns- Vocals, guitars, piano, harpsichord, orchestral arrangements (tracks 2, 4, 10)

•        Ben Gillies- Drums

•        Chris Joannou-Bass guitar

Additional artists:

•         Rob Woolf – Hammond organ

•         Michele Rose – Pedal steel

•         Paul Mac – Piano and keyboards

•         Jim Moginie– Keyboards (tracks 2, 5), piano (track 5)

         It had been a while since I listened to this album in its entirety. In order to do a review, I needed to refresh my musical memory. I had not listened to this album in a while and never with such scrutiny before now. Perhaps this is the reason why I found so many flaws with the albums progression that I had never noticed before. Then again, it was also pointed out in some of the other websites that I found while doing band research. Whatever the reason, the flaws now stand out like a sore thumb. Some examples are the transitions from a hard rock Freak (track 2) to the emotional ballad-like Ana’s Song (track 3), then the grunge style Israel’s Son and Tomorrow are followed by three of the most mellow, easy listening tracks Silverchair has produced.

         Though the recordings are high quality, the album seems to have no logical order as it jumps from fast to slow tempo and back again. Perhaps this is because the tracks cover their early years, a 5-6 year period where the band was struggling to find their own identity and their own sound. I enjoy every track on this album, but the track order does seem a bit irritating to me now. That being said, it is quite impressive that this group has been able to work together to achieve so many different sounds. Silverchair showed that, after mastering it, they could go beyond the “Seattle grunge scene” of the 90’s and stay relevant. It seems that no matter what type of mood you’re in, there is a Silverchair song that is applicable. They worked well together as a group and could seemingly do it all!

         After almost 20 years together, Silverchair members parted ways in 2011.  They vowed when they started the band as 12 year-olds that when they stopped having fun with their music, they would disband. After a 2011 attempt to make a record, they realized that the time had come. Seeing as though this “Best of” album was released in the early years of the band, I fully expect to see another true “Best of Silverchair” album in the near future.

Live-ish in Texas

Music plays in the background, as each member of the band gets ready to take the stage. We are behind the scenes with the band as they prepare for the concert. Each member seems nervous but calm in anticipation. Sounds of the crowd fill the air as the band ascends the stairs of the stage. They seem to be moving in slow motion...oh wait; they actually are in sow motion!
The band is Linkin Park and this is Live in Texas, or at least it was. The concert was filmed in August of 2003 over the course of two separate shows. The shows took place in (surprise!) Texas during the Summer Sanitarium Tour. Other bands on the tour included: Metallica, Limp Bizkit, the Deftones, and Mudvayne. This DVD includes only the performance(s) of Linkin Park.
On this DVD, the band hits hard and fast...beginning immediately after reaching the stage. The crowd is cheering and jumping in anticipation. Interestingly, any crowd noise that was there instantly ceases, and returns between songs. The performances by the band appear to be flawless. But, upon further review...
The performances by Linkin Park in this “live” album have been patched, dubbed, and spliced together as if it were one of Dr. Frankenstein’s diabolical monsters! Frankenstein may or may not have had much to do with this production. However, like his monsters, this show has some serious flaws. These flaws aren’t “deal breakers,” as they don’t take away from the experience, but I found it interesting that the producers didn’t think viewers would notice. The flaw that stood out to me most was guitarist Brad Delson’s instrument changing from a red PRS to a black Ibanez in the middle of a song!
Despite many minor flaws, I was impressed with this performance. I wish I could have been there in person. The band fully engages with the audience, even pausing to encourage would-be musicians in the crowd.
Linkin Park has a very unique sound, seemingly blending multiple genres of music to create their own niche within the music industry. The guitars and drums combine for a heavy, all most metal-rock. The dynamic singing/screaming style of Chester Bennington adds a level that is quick to stir up emotions in listeners. If that wasn’t enough, the addition of layered electronic beats and a rap-esque level of vocals add up for a truly exclusive sound. The band wisely changes tempo throughout their performance from the hard rock mosh-pit rock, to techno infused songs to slower tracks and back. I really have no idea how Bennington’s voice is able to keep such a rigorous pace.
Throughout this DVD the crowd seems to be fully engaged, at least those on the ground level do! Unfortunately, due to the level of studio work involved with this production it is impossible to get an accurate representation of the events. It is perfectly blended for home use, in without the images on the screen and the occasional strategically inserted crowd noise, it would be impossible to tell that this was a live album! 

Creeps, Capes, and Cavities...

I think that Halloween is the favorite holiday of many children, and dentists! This year was no different; my children had a blast making me walk several miles. Just as my dentist will have a blast counting his money after the work he’ll get because of the metric ton of candy we brought home.

This year, we met up with friends and went trick-or-treating through the neighborhood. The neighborhood is basically divided into two sections, with each side containing many small mazes of small side streets. Needless to say, it wasn’t long before we got lost…not that the kids cared! It took a GPS function on our phones to help us get out. Like the commercials say, “There’s an app for that!” Too bad there isn’t an app that helps me get rid of all of that sugary goodness…