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JIMMYBOND
Age: 24
Location: Bristol, TN
Joined On: Jul 19, 2004
Ritter... Josh... Ritter
An update. Of sorts. Last Friday I had to formally eat my words, well I guess not 'formally'. But still, reparations had to be made. I retracted, altered & re-released my statement about Josh Ritter. For those of you who don't yet know about Josh Ritter, he is an amazing folk writer and musician from Idaho. He's been labeled as the next Dylan. He's begun getting compared to his heroes/influences like Dylan, Springsteen, Baez; sometimes even to the point of being confused with them. I was introduced to Ritter by my cousin Clint several years ago via the song 'Girl in the War'. I thought it was an amazingly well written song, albeit a little long winded and too Dylan-like for my choice (yes I know, I understand the sin some see in that). Clint and the rest of my compatriots continued to enjoy his music. I not having heard much of it let him fall by the wayside. I heard a few more of his songs and even learned to play one for Clint's wedding ('Kathleen'). Fast-forward to Friday. I was offered a chance to go see Ritter & Ingrid Michaelson in Asheville. I'm a big fan of hers (especially after seeing her in Portland with the Hotel Cafe Tour) so I lept at the opportunity with the mindset, "She'll be great, and even if I don't enjoy Ritter it isn't a total loss." Ingrid was as amazing as I knew she'd be (she even covered 'Creep' using a ukulele). But when Josh Ritter took the stage with his band (looking like they'd escaped from the early 19th century) I was more than floored. They proceeded to organize the crowd into one big sing and dance along. Everyone knew the words to most every song. His music has such intensity in a live environment that just can't be conveyed on a cd. He also seems to be such a genuine guy singing such richly colorful songs about all sorts of things with layers of meaning. In short, I loved it! He had me sold. So, I'm here to say that I love Josh Ritter live! If you get a chance, go see him play. You won't regret it. He's such a great character and his music has such great impact in person.
What will become of Mae?
Its been a little while since I've posted anything of relevance on here, so I thought I'd change that.
I'm gonna write a little about one of my favorite bands (one that helped change both the way I look at music, and the kinds of music I listen to in general) Mae. In 2002, I graduated High School and was about to go to one of my most hated places at the time Newport News, VA. I used to attend a conference there with several other (poor unfortunate) like-minded individuals. Though through this horrific experience I did meet a girl that introduced me to a VA Beach band that was generating a lot of buzz called Mae.
Mae had a really unusual sound to me using lush keyboard and guitars combined with some spectacular bass playing that made a sound like I'd never heard before. So there began my journey into trying to download songs (back in the days before it became illegal), or find a store that actually carried the album. And Mae led to other amazing bands like Copeland, and Sherwood, and Daphne loves Derby, and Waking Ashland...and the list goes on and continues to this day.
Mae first blew my mind with "Destination: Beautiful", and then completely awestruck me with "The Everglow" and their rise seemed imminent with the movement from label Tooth and Nail to Capital. The re-released "The Everglow" (just as they did with "Destination: B-Sides") and introduced a new song entitled "Where The Falls Begin" which just made me so pumped to see what Mae could do with the backing of Major Label Funding.
And then "Singularity" hit the internet. I streamed it for a few days and was very unimpressed. Gone was the intricate Bass and Keyboard. Also gone was a lot of the cohesive writing. MAny of the songs sounded unrefined and very unpolished (as if little time was spent turning them from demo stage). Then the album hit shelves, and I picked it up hoping it would grow on me. And some of them did, but just not with the quickness and without the love that the previous albums had.
Then the final blow. Rob Sweitzer (Keyboards/Synth) & Mark Padgett (Bass, Production) decided to leave Mae. There wasn't a lot of 'reason' as to why they left. Even though they did both recently get married and are listed as pursuing other endeavors. Though I personally can't hear much of them in the new cd, which could perhaps also be a reason.
So now with the heart and foundation of Mae waining, Can Mae continue at "All Deliberate Speed" or are they poised "Ready & Waiting to Fall"??
Bob Dylan??
*NEWS STORY*
Bob Dylan says modern recordings sound "atrocious," and even the songs on his new album sounded much better in the studio than on disc.
"I don't know anybody who's made a record that sounds decent in the past twenty years, really," the 65-year-old rocker said in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine.
Dylan, who released eight studio albums in that time, returns with his first recording in five years, "Modern Times," next Tuesday.
Noting the music industry's complaints that illegal downloading means people are getting their music for free, he said, "Well, why not? It ain't worth nothing anyway."
"You listen to these modern records, they're atrocious, they have sound all over them," he added. "There's no definition of nothing, no vocal, no nothing, just like ... static."
Dylan said he does his best to fight technology, but it's a losing battle.
"Even these songs probably sounded ten times better in the studio when we recorded 'em. CDs are small. There's no stature to it."
*NEWS STORY*
Bob also revealed on Monday that he's been deaf since birth thus explaining his love of his own voice and hatred of music. =) I love Dylan's songs but he needs to stick to writing.
Last Kiss
Its funny you can pre-date these blogs. I could make this one whenever I wanted back to 2001. Thats pretty cool.
Anyhow.
Here's an article that I picked up from Billboard.com. I thought mabye some of you guys might be interested in what it has to say. I am because I'm a big fan of Zach Braff. Here goes:
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Braff Drafts Coldplay, Snow Patrol For 'Last Kiss'
July 19, 2006, 11:10 AM ET
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
As he did for the soundtrack to 2004's "Garden State," Zach Braff has rounded up a range of rock acts for the soundtrack to his new film, "The Last Kiss." In addition to songs by Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann and Rufus Wainwright, the album features an unreleased duet, "Paperweight," between Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk.
Due Sept. 12 via Lakeshore, three days prior to the U.S. opening of the film, "The Last Kiss" also boasts tracks from Turin Brakes, Athlete, Amos Lee, Remy Zero, Ray Lamontagne and Rachael Yamagata. In addition, Braff will direct a video for the Cary Brothers track "Ride."
Braff stars in "The Last Kiss" alongside Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck, Rachel Bilson, Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson.
Braff's prior turn at both directing and soundtrack compiling, "Garden State," was a surprise hit, selling more than 1.2 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album boasted tracks from Coldplay, the Shins, Paul Simon, Frou Frou, Remy Zero and Brothers.
Here is the track list for "The Last Kiss":
"Chocolate," Snow Patrol
"Star Mile," Joshua Radin
"Pain Killer," Turin Brakes
"Warning Sign," Coldplay
"Ride," Cary Brothers
"El Salvador," Athlete
"Hide and Seek," Imogen Heap
"Reason Why," Rachael Yamagata
"Hold You in My Arms," Ray Lamontagne
"Prophecy," Remy Zero
"Paper Bag," Fiona Apple
"Today's the Day," Aimee Mann
"Arms of a Woman," Amos Lee
"Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk (Reprise)," Rufus Wainwright
"Paperweight," Schuyler Fisk and Joshua Radin
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nicoleywoley
Thanks. I\'m quite fond of it myself. I got it for my
birthday last year.
posted Feb 15
shadowpixie
Hello I\'m Pixie. Thanxs for the add :D btw that\'s
awesome you play bass! So what\'s up?
posted Feb 13
jenn walsh.
god, i love you so much sometimes. :]
posted Feb 08
xdarlingxkaylax
thanks. (:
posted Jan 05
jenn walsh.
haha. you have cute comments from me on your page. aww.
posted Dec 03
bruux3
Hi, i`m from Brazil and saw u on the standard of living
page. Do you have the patience ep? Because I would like
to have the musics in my pc. Can u send me by mail or
rapidshare? Thanxxx.
posted Jul 05
jenn walsh.
you really should get on aim more often. my life is on
fastforward and it mores faster by the day.
i miss your face<3
posted Apr 13
jenn walsh.
hiii. i\'m Jenn. how are you?
posted Dec 13