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11.24.06 It's about time. # 11.13.06 An interesting, brief article on a potential AIDS vaccine model, written for the average arm-chair scientist. Meaning, I only had to read it # 11.11.06 I feel pretty safe saying that I hate Deerhoof. "Strongly dislike" might be more judgment neutral, but it lacks the oomph of "hate". For example: when they opened for Radiohead recently in Berkeley, I couldn't get high fast enough to make their music tolerable. And then it wasn't even that. It was just funnier. Let's take, for example, the classic Deerhoof ditty Panda Panda Panda. Lyrics? Hardly. But that's really the source of my frustration. I think, musically, I'm almost able to get into it. Their sound is unique, above all else. And often, they come up with the neatest, most inviting melodies. And then, when you're just about to start tapping a toe, the sound jerks, cymbals crash, guitars screech and the song stops. Wait a beat. Restart. It drives me nuts. Like an overwrought art school project. And the vocals are the rotten whipped cream on top. Mostly this is my own taste at work; I only like discord only when there's some kind of payoff. I don't like music that teases my tastes. And I don't like their lyrics. So it's been more than little surprising to me to realize how much I like their song Wrong Time Capsule off the almost-occasionally-accessible album The Runners Four. This track came on the other day, as I was walking to work, and the repeating initial guitar lick caught my ear. When the song shifts gears around 0:35 and the soft drum and driving bass pick up, the song makes the first of many transformations. There's even a little fuzz out around 2:10 — and I don't mind it! Because I've already bought into the song and the promise of more payout further down the line. If only all of Deerhoof's music had this kind of seamlessness, I could forgive them their prior transgressions (Panda Panda Panda being excepted from that offer of amnesty) # 11.08.06 I'm struck, quite suddenly (here, as it is, in the middle of the night) by the difference, or observed difference, between river cities and port cities. River cities, it seems to me, are more relaxed (casual), more reserved (quiet), less dogmatic (judgmental, uppity) and less darwinian (ruthless). This isn't to say that they're sleepy, or inherently nice, although I think they might be. Port cities, on the other hand, are more awake (exciting), more adventurous (risk-filled and risk-taking), more prolific (self-promoting) and less logical (orderly, planful). They're also, I think its safe to say, more successful. River Cities
More examples? Counter examples? # 11.04.06 I knew the restaurant scene in San Francsico (and ensuing foodie culture) was pretty big, but I didn't have any idea just how much happens in this town in the food business until I started reading tablehopper. Make it your first stop if you're looking for new and notable in the city. # « October 2006 | archive index | December 2006 » built with movabletype |
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