hello kiddo’s and rump shakers, it’s me schuyler and i’m having an alright day!!! you know, ever since this past weekend, the days that followed have been great to excellent. it’s amazing how things work out sometimes. i’m actually in a good mood as i write this, so anything posted needs to be of that reflection i think.
forgive me for not posting any pics from the christmas play. i still haven’t acquired any of them yet. here’s hoping that i will someday. shoot, you may not see them till the summer!!! lol
okay, so here’s the dillio. i have to work tomorrow, but not all day. after that i’m off until the next monday. i’ll try to make a post sometime during the weekend, so don’t think i’m leaving you all alone and shivering out there. as for right now, i’m making this quickly while i tend to my dramatically long list of music to check out. it’s so far going on 35 pages with three columns and at 10 point font. yes, that’s all bands and solo artists. it’s freakishly long and will take me FOREVER to accomplish, but hey, that’s what a hobby is. i’m ssssoooooooo excited to get to work on making my music collection even more complete!!! i’ll have to dig deep through the internet archives to make this “master” collection of tunes. good thing we have terabyte drives now!!!
jawesome, awesome, blossome!!! okay, now for the music, since i’m in such a cheery mood, here’s some fun stuff by a band known as Slapstick.
slapstick were a chicago, illinois ska/punk band that existed from 1993 to 1996. they are held up as one of the best ska bands to ever come about during the 90’s ska frenzy which most of us should remember. the band is mostly known for the acts that various members sprung up, or joined after their demise, which are, Tuesday, The Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio, Sundowner, The Honor System, The Broadways, Less Than Jake, The Killing Tree, Rise Against, The Falcon, Colossal and Whale Horse. other bands somehow associated through old members and whatnot are, Baxter, Sweep The Leg Johnny, The Smoking Popes, Pines, and The Ghost. this is all true and well documented on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapstick_Family_Tree
alright, so now you know some history and it's time for your main course. what you will find here is the bands discography, nicely collected on one album from the fine folks at asian man records. the discography is self titled, but also goes by the name, 25 Songs. dig it and have yourself a Merry Christmas!!!
my my my, what a weekend i had!!! first off, sorry for the big break between posts. i was gone all weekend and didn't have access to the internetz or computerz for the whole time. (i didn't suffer as bad as i thought i would...) oh, and i didn't get to see the Deftones like i wanted. (the show sold out a week before i was to get my ticket anyway...) so with that, here i am!!! i'm home now and glad to be. i'm refreshed and clean (i hadn't showered since friday...) and ready to start the week off right. over the weekend i worked a ton on my apron doing sequin beading and concentrating like i had a gun to my head in an asian sweatshop!!!
yeah, i wasn't posing for that shot above... anyway, the trip was spent down in lawton, oklahoma. we got the trailer out and dad stowed his harley in it and i got to sleep in the back bunk bed. it was nice and made the hot outdoor weather bearable because we actually had a decent air conditioner in that thing. one of the best parts of the weekend was out second trip to the top of mt. scott. we wanted to see the sunset that saturday night and once we were up there, the size of yourself compared to the earth is a trip. i could see the valleys and fields below, as well as the free range buffalo grounds and all the rivers and lakes of the area. it was nice to be up there, staring off into the distance with thoughts going through your head. a person with an open mind can get inspiration from such a site.
i got the best cell phone signal EVER!!!
quit staring at my sexy legs!!!
after we were ushered off the mountain by the park security, we headed to lawton to eat dinner. funny, but this was my first time going to that town despite all the times i could have when i was younger. honestly, i'm not missing much. the town reminded me of the wild west, or the last place of civilization before the empty landscape beyond. it's actually a military town filled with many bars and strip joints. any hard workin' woman could probably find a job there if really needed... (heh heh) yeah, so our dinner that night was pizza and what a good couple of slices i had!!! it was just the right thing to end the night.
just for you all to know, i wore that same outfit all weekend...
i ordered the boneless buffalo chicken and i got baby cow brains instead...
oh, and judging by the above pic, i bet i look like a douche with my dumb cellphone clinging next to my huge head. just to clear the air, i was trying to contact my mother all day to see how things were going with her back home. all is well and exciting because this coming saturday is my little brothers b-day, so i have that to look forward too!!!
overall, what an excellent weekend for me and my family. we spent a good amount of time together away from home, which is always nice, and relaxed our aching backs and shoulders. our next possible trip is probably going to be during the fourth of july, so until then i have the fond memories of this to tie me over. (this really was a surprisingly good time. it's a rarity when stuff like that happens...)
since i'm in such a sunny mood, i want to post some upbeat music that always works well during the summer. let's listen to some ska-punk from the band, Bomb the Music Industry!
bomb the music industry! is a ska/ska-punk/hardcore/punk band led by frontman jeff rosenstock who used to play in the ska band, The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. this is a total DIY band in the finest fashion. there is so much to like about these guys!!! first off, they give away all their music for free!!! second, they only play all ages shows that are 10 dollars or less!!! and third, they don't conform to just one style!!! the music they make not only showcases ska and ska-punk, but also dc style hardcore and punk, electronic/synth flourishes, and 8-bit nintendo noises. it's a lot of things to consider, but somehow it all works very nicely. i got to see these guys back in 2008 on the asian man records tour with Lemuria, Andrew Jackson Jihad and The Queers. these people stood out the most because they were very friendly and open to the crowd. they connected with the audience and the intimacy of the show, as well as the moshing and skanking, was remembered well by me.
for the first time ever, it's okay to post music by an artist on here. yeah yeah yeah, i know i bend the rules by posting music and such, but i truly mean no harm to the bands i mention on here. it's just a way for people to take notice on artists, i believe, are worth much attention. okay, so now on to the music!!! in first place is their debut album called, uh, Album Minus Band. this was recorded by jeff alone, and only latter would full a band get involved with the recordings. after that we have their second album called, To Leave or Die in Long Island. for third place we have, Goodbye Cool World and then my personal favorite album by the band, Get Warmer. this is your best place to start, but it really doesn't matter though, because everything these guys have done is awesome anyway. it's just that this album contains all my favorite songs from the group, including the little ditty called "i don't love you anymore" posted above. after that we come to my second favorite album from BTMI called, Scrambles. this is also an amazing album and more of a mellow effort. the songs are more personal, (like non of the others weren't???) and jeff really goes all out with his singing here. so, after that we have the album called, Others! Others! Volume 1. this is a collection of demo's, b-sides and outtakes from previous albums. and then, finally, we come to the last album here, which is an ep and their latest effort called, Adults!!!: Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited by Nothing!!!!!!! sadly, i haven't heard this latest release since my own personal computer is dead, but from what others have said, it's freekin' fantastic!!! okay, so right here you got it all minus a few splits, but that's okay for now. get this music with the quickness and jam them all summer for some uplifting fun times!!! dig it...
tonight there are two things of importance possibly happening. first is the away game for the oklahoma city thunder. they will be playing in los angeles amongst smug celebrities and liberal hipsters. i really hope we wipe the floor with them. GO OKLAHOMA!!! yeah, so the other thing that might be happening tonight is another episode of LOST. i read somewhere that tonight is a recap episode, so i'm not sure as to whether or not it's a new episode, but regardless, it's finally happening!!! the end is near for the people stuck on the mysterious island and i can't wait to see it all come to a close. (it better be a good one...)
more summer time fun right here. let's check out, Bedouin Soundclash.
not everything is lame up in canada like some people will tell you. no, instead there is a lot of good stuff happening up there, and music just seems to be one of the best. lots of great bands live up there above our border and it's a pleasure to get to see them sometimes. bedouin soundclash happen to be one of the best that i've seen. the three piece band started in 2001 and have released three albums and one ep to date. they have a different drummer as of now, but that doesn't effect their overall awesome take on reggae and old school ska. the simple melodies and soft vocals make your cold days warm and also makes the summer months seem much better than what they may be for you. they are definitely something to chill out with.
the entire discography of the band is right here. we first start with the album, Root Fire then come to the album, Sounding A Mosaic. their second album is fantastic and a great place to start with the band. okay, so next we have the album, Street Gospels. this is the bands high mark so far. it's an album rich with deep reggae tunes and soft, lush vocals over the excellent band musicianship. and last we have the ep titled, Where Have the Songs Played Gone To? dig it...
a quick one here for tonight. gotta get ready for tomorrow and the hopeful wish that the oklahoma thunder will beat the livin' snot outta the lakers. our state needs a big win such as this to help us out. we always seem to get the short end of everything going on in our nation and with this hopeful win, we can come back together as one. i love my home state and i want it to feel good about itself sometimes. we aren't all hicks an' hillbilly's here!!! no we aint' gosh darnit'!!!
okay, more of the summer vibe goin' right now. here's something to make you people skank!!! a big helping of, Less Than Jake.
i've had the pleasure of seein' these guys perform two times and each was better than the last. they are a ska-punk band with a long history behind their belts. they are from gainsville, florida and started their careers in 1992. over the years there have been several members that have come and gone, but the current lineup is as solid as a rock and a great bunch of personalities to boot.
this band is all about fun, and if you ever get the chance to see them you will understand what i'm talkin' about. i always get a summer feeling when listening to them, and it's something i can't help but notice every time. there is a huge mix of musical styles here. you get a great dose of punk/pop/ska/reggae/ and even some metal thrown in to mix it up. it's a great combination of ingredients to make the ultimate fast music-food package.
right here you will find all their immediate full length albums, minus a ton of other stuff i just didn't feel like posting. yes, i'm leaving out countless splits and 7inches along with compilations and live albums. (it's my blog you know...) anyway, we first start with the album, Pezcore, then follow that with the album Loosing Streak. this album is my ultimate favorite and possibly one of the best ska-punk albums to ever be made. so, right after those first two we now come to album three which it titled, Hello Rockview. this is considered the best album by the band from many of their old school fans and rightfully so. it contains a lot of their popular hits and it's a great combination of punk and ska. next we have the album Boarders and Boundaries and then the album, Anthem. anthem is my other personal favorite because it contains my favorite LTJ song, "the ghosts of me and you". (very personal to me) okay, so we have already mentioned quite a bit if music so far, but what's next for the band??? well we now come to the album that cornered a lot of fans and brought the question of, "is it time for them to hang it up???" that album is called, In With the Out Crowd. it's really a radical departure from their usual ska-punk style and a more pop-rock progression. people could see this coming, but not many expected them to take it to this level. putting that album aside, we come to the last and latest album from the band, GNV FLA. this was made over the course of a few years and released on the bands own music label. it's a great return to form and a reminder of how awesome they can be when playing to their hearts content. (ha ha cheese...) ssssssssssssooooooooooooooo, with all of this under you nose, you know what to do. try them out and get to skankin' in the pit and befriend a rude boy. GO, NOW!!!
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I’ve been down Wandering past 2nd Street And looking at the ghosts of you and me And thinking back on all those memories Of how we used to be
I’ve been hearing I hear those voices over the noises of the breaking glass And all those plans we had to get us through They’re never coming true
And I hope and hope that you won’t forget And I’m hoping... Hope you know that I can clearly see the ghosts of you and me And I’m just a moved on memory And you’re still alive And I’m still getting by On these dead end streets The ghosts of you and me
I’m still talking I talk of what we’ll do to the ghosts of me and you And I’m still looking back into the past When we were all we had
And I hope and hope that you won’t forget And I’m hoping... Hope you know that I can clearly see the ghosts of you and me And I’m just a moved on memory And you’re still alive And I’m still getting by On these dead end streets The ghosts of you and me The ghosts of you and me The ghosts of you and me
I hope you won’t forget I hope you know that I’ll always regret Those things I’ve said
I hope you know that I can clearly see The ghosts of you and me 'Cause I'm just a moved on memory And you’re still alive And I’m still getting by On these dead end streets The ghosts of you and me The ghosts of you and me The ghosts of you and me The ghosts of you and me
i can feel the heat starting to creep up on me here in oklahoma. when the summer officially hits, i start to melt like ice cream. we don't have dry heat here, nope. instead we have humidity which, in my opinion, is much much worse. it's the kind of sticky heat that annoys more than hurts. (it does hurt also...) imagine getting all cleaned up and ready to hit the town when you notice, that the second you stepped outside your cool zone, you begin to sweat like someone who's been playing street hockey all day. it totally sucks and makes you feel like some sort of overweight walrus that just sweats all the time anyway. (that's how i feel...) yeah, summer is almost here. good thing the concerts and powwows keep me going.
since it's almost summer, i need to start busting out my heat quenching music. these tunes keep me cool and happy and they also make me wanna go crazy. one of those bands that kill the angry sun are Madness.
alongside other two-tone ska bands like, The Specials and The Selector, madness were held up in high regards and often mentioned as being the best of the bunch. the band started in 1976 and lasted until 1986. they reunited in 1992 and have been together ever since. they had early success with a few singles and the eventual release of their debut album, One Step Beyond. they were also controversial because they were often talked about in regards to the national front and nazi sympathy. they latter denied such rumors and disappointed many skinheads. the band changed up their style to a more pop friendly sort of way and had some of their biggest hits in the 80's. one such hit was the song, "our house" which reached #7 in the US charts.
today you will find only one album here. it is the debut record, One Step Beyond. as mentioned by tons of other people before me, whenever you put this record on, you can't help but move your feet!!! it's a seriously fun album and one that can make any party spring to life quicker than a fight or someone using meth for the first time. get in on this and ENJOY!!! (oh, and just for some quick history, in the video below, the crowd went so crazy that they caused an earthquake that measured 4.5 on the richter scale!!!)
http://www.mediafire.com/?42zywjyz1jt
Hey you, don't watch that Watch this! This is the heavy heavy monster sound The nuttiest sound around So if you've come in off the street And you're beginning to feel the heat Well listen buster You better start to move your feet To the rockinest, rock-steady beat Of madness One step beyond!
last night team u.s.a. beat canada five to three in hockey. it was an awesome game to watch and one to remember. it seems it was the game of the century for many people. canada claims to be the ones who invented hockey, so they have really high standards when it comes to the sport. the must win EVERY game they play and last night was no joke. they played it rough!!! too bad for them though, because they gave it their all and tried to get the puck in many MANY times. if it wasn't for the excellent defense of goalie, ryan miller, we could have lost that game quickly. this is sweet news and makes me excited for their possible, olympic medal winnings.
how about some punk rock??? here is the classic punk group, NOFX.
this band really needs no introduction because they've been around since, like, FOREVER, but in case you didn't know, here we go. the band formed in 1983 and claims los angeles, california as their home base. they originally started as a melodic hardcore band before adopting the pop-punk aspect later on, as well as ska-punk. the band consists of original members, fat mike (lead singer/bassist), erik sandin (drummer), eric melvin (guitarist/singer) and el hefe (guitarist/singer). fat mike is the owner of punk label, Fat Wreck Chords, which alongside label, Epitaph, dominated the punk rock underground and mainstream during the 90's. you couldn't go anywhere without hearing some band or two from both labels. it's not so much like that in today's time, but if you happen to glance punknews.org or the org summit, then you will find like-minded orgsters with a love for this style of music.
not ones to be pushed around, nofx have made a reputation for themselves by being outspoken, extremely rude, hilarious, and awesome all at the same time. at one point, i became very tired of their antics and music, and took a break from them. like most of their fans, there comes a time when we need to grow up and move on. the band hasn't done that yet and i applaud them for it. so, if you are interested in some snotty, bratty, completely dumb, but awesome punk music, then look no further than nofx to fill your cup.
this list of music is not an entire collection like i usually post. instead it's just the essentials that make up my collection. you will find here, five albums and an ep. sorry to those looking for all the other stuff. the internet is useful for a lot of things!!! okay, so first up is the lp titled, White Trash, Two Heebs and A Bean. next we have the lp titled, Punk In Drublic. this is probably their most popular album to date and a great place to start. next lp in line is called, Heavy Petting Zoo, which is then followed by the lp, So Long, and Thanks For All The Shoes. following that we have the ep called, The Decline. this is an awesome experiment in punk music because the ep is just one 15 minute song. it's a fan favorite and often asked to be played live. the first time i got to see the band they played it. it was during a rain storm at the warped tour. very cool. aaaaaaannnnnnnddddd last but not least is the lp called, Pump Up the Valuum. (the name is misspelled on purpose so the band could avoid a lawsuit. he he) so that's it now, enjoy!!!
it's thursday and i'm sick. my head is stuffy and my nose runny. ugh, i even missed church again last night, so i'm not in the best of moods. well, i'm alright actually, but it just seems that my energy is zapped right now, so things aren't all too good. things like eating, sleeping and typing this post. i'm doing this though, because it's honestly one of the few things i look forward to each day.
last night i did a crazy all nighter of playing Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. usually when i play my games, i tend to turn the volume down low on the television, and then plug my ipod into my computer speakers to listen to instead. while doing this last night, i listened to one of the best ska bands to ever grace our planet. they have reunited and are going to be playing at Coachella 2010 this year. i want to go real bad in order to see them amongst all the other awesome artists. so, now it's time to get your pork pie hats, polish those black loafers, strap those suspenders over your mod style outfit and get ready to "pick it up" because here are The Specials.
the specials formed in 1997 and were a huge part of the classic, two-tone ska label and punk movement in england. they were known for their energetic live shows with punk influenced music, mixed with reggae, ska, and post-punk/nu-wave all rolled into one. their fellow peers included other classic ska acts like, The English Beat, The Selector, Madness, and The Clash. the band released two full lengths with the classic lineup before members started dropping off from playing. the band broke up in 1984, but in some form or another, the specials kept on playing around the world, releasing more albums and keeping the kids skankin'.
in 2008, word got out of an official reunion for the bands original lineup minus jerry dammers who was the main song writer and keyboardist. feelings aside, the band played a few shows and rocked out at some overseas major festivals and the spirit and fun from the old days still seemed to be there. if i get a chance to go, seeing the specials at coachella will be amazing!!!
ssssssooooooooo, minus all the later albums, we have here the first lp, which is self titled, then the "Ghost Town" single, the finally the second lp, More Specials. that first album is a classic, and quite frankly, i haven't heard anything more awesome than that in ska in forever. it still sounds fresh and new everytime i play it. look for the songs, "a message to you rudie" "little bitch" "do the dog" and "it's up to you" for my faves. now, it's time for some skankin'!!!
well, as of right now, i can't seem to get any good connection to the call of duty modern warfare 2 servers. even though i have full signal strength, i still only get one bar, and with that comes miss after miss after miss after miss... I HATE IT!!! i absolutely hate it. there is something very wrong here, and i need to get to the bottom of it. i just hope i can find an answer somewhere in the internets...
just to make a quick post, i have here some really energetic music. they are a classic bunch, and held up in high praise for their awesome style. they were short lived, but like always, the best usually are. here is the almighty Operation Ivy!!!
one of the most influential punk bands ever, operation ivy got their start in albany, california. often held as the pioneers of ska-core or ska-punk, operation were way ahead of their short time. yes short, because they only existed from 1987 to 1989. members include lead singer jesse michaels, guitarist tim armstrong, matt freeman on bass, and dave mello on drums. after the band broke up, tim and matt went on to be one half of the band Rancid, which is another story all together.
looking up the cats online can be a tough one. it seems there is a serious lack of footage of them playing around... oh, and they got their attention by frequenting the local venue 924 gilman street, which is located in berkely california. this is where they got huge along with other gilman bands like Crimpshrine and Mr. T Experiance. their last show was may 28, 1989. at that show a little unknown band called Green Day would be opening up for them. in future years, green day would always do a cover of the operation ivy classic, "knowledge" at their earlier live shows.
so as you can see, this band was highly influential. today i have the one album that is the only thing out there for people to have from the band. it's titled Energy, and it consists of pretty much their entire discography. it was originally released on the now ghost like label, Lookout Records. in 2007, the album was remastered and re-released through tim armstrongs label, Hellcat Records and Epitaph Records.
in that re-release, jesse wrote a message for the people to read: "Music is an indirect force for change, because it provides an anchor against human tragedy. In this sense, it works towards a reconciled world. It can also be the direct experience of change. At certain points during some shows, the reconciled world is already here, at least in that second, at that place. Operation Ivy was very lucky to have experienced this. Those seconds reveal that the momentum that drives a subculture is more important than any particular band. The momentum is made of all the people who stay interested, and keep their sense of urgency and hope."
just a bit of the bands philosophy for ya!!! so go ahead and try this out. energy has become one of my favorite punk albums and summer albums as well. it's just youthful, energetic, angsty punk music.
tomorrow i'm leaving for the holidays. i haven't been out of town in a while, so this is perfect timing. today i want to make a big post because i won't be able to have access to the internet for a few days. i hope all of you out there who might read this blog have a wonderful week and time off from work or school. be sure to eat lots and lots of good food and enjoy the company of others.
okay, so this next band is one of my favorites. they are totally awesome and use to hang on my wall in poster form during college. they were at the start of the late 70's early 80's punk movement and are often considered to be the best in many circles. i know that when compared to the other punk bands of that time, these guys stand out as being the best. (in my humble opinion of course!!!) here for you to enjoy is The Clash.
what is it about these guys that makes them so amazing??? well for starters they just rock. it's as simple as that. while their peers may have been all over the place in their punkness, the clash went aside and just made great music. while i could hum along with The Ramones and The Sex Pistols, the clash made actual songs that got stuck in my head for days on end. whenever i discovered their masterpiece double album London Calling, i fell in love with the entire thing. just like the other days post on The Minutemen and their double album Double Nickles on the Dime, the clash's london calling is just as amazing, if not more so because every freekin' song on that album is awesome. there is not a bad one in the bunch. i can't skip anything because they are all good!!! how many artists can you say have done that huh???
the band formed in england around 1976 and were part of the first wave of british punk. they played with styles ranging from punk, to dub, ska, reggae, funk, rap, and even rockabilly. for most of the bands career, the membership included lead singer joe strummer, lead guitarist mick jones, paul simonon on bass, and nicky headon on drums. headon left the group in 1982 and eventually mick jones as well the following year. the band recruited replacement members and played until their breakup in early 1986.
in november 2002, the rock and roll hall of fame announced that the clash were to be inducted. the original members wanted to reunite to play a few songs in honor of being selected into the hall of fame, but paul simonon refused due to the bands original legacy of not playing for such an expensive organization. in december that same year, joe strummer died from a heart defect which put a stop to any possible reunions for the future. in march 2003, the original remaining members along with those who came later all shared the stage during the ceramony.
the bands legacy still lives on today. rolling stone honored them by stating london calling as "the best album of the 80's". it is ranked at number 8 in the Top 500 Greatest Albums by rolling stone as well. still today, they are often called, "the only band that matters", and with that comes many agreements by people. they did matter and they left us with a legacy of great music.
here today is their entire discography minus their final studio album and a few live albums. first is their self titled debut, then second is Give'em Enough Rope. coming in third is the double album masterpiece, London Calling and then the triple beast of an album which found the band going in all sorts of directions but none the less amazing still, Sandinista!. and finally, in last place is their swan song, Combat Rock. get these now and jam them all because music doesn't get much better than this!!!
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