4 posts tagged “garret”

This is a list of albums that I discovered/re-fell in love with this year.

I was thinking of hacking Kirstin's post from her and doing the same thing, but I realized that my music knowledge is rarely 'up-to-date,' and the music I find often has been on shelves for some time.

So, these are the albums that helped give 2008 some musical definition and who/where/how I came across them...

Aesop Rock- None Shall Pass
(Rob took me to an Aesop show and I had a lot of fun. This guy is good.)

Andrew Bird- Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs
                     Armchair Apocrypha
                     Noble Beast
(Rob has been monumental in turning me on to music I'd never listened to.  Earlier this semester Rob treated my earbuds to the wonderful Mr. Bird)

Band of Horses- Everything All the Time
(Rob)

Beach Boys- Pet Sounds
(Re-fell in love)

Black Keys- Magic Potion
(94.9 and all its glory)

Black Mountain- Black Mountain
(Kirstin's recommendation)

Bob Dylan- Blond on Blond
                  Bringing it All Back Home
                  Desire
(Re-fell in love)

Bob Marley- Kaya
                    Trenchtown Rock Anthology
(Re-fell in love/Kirstin's copy of Trenchtown Rock Anthology)

Carol King- Tapestry
(I copied this from Penny at work... she hooked me up with a number of great albums)

Chubby Checker- Selftitled
(Rob)

CocoRosie- La Maison De Reve
(My friend Mike from school had me listen to the single off of this album and I fell in love)

Coheed & Cambria- Second Stage Turbine Blade
                             In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3
                             Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume I: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness
                             Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume II: No World for Tomorrow
(Neverender was an amazing experience and these albums shaped its precedent weeks)

David Bowie- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
(Re-fell in love)

Death Cab for Cutie- The Photo Album
                                 Something About Airplanes
(I just love Death Cab and didn't have these albums. Glad I do.)

Deerhunter- Cryptograms
                    Microcastle
(Rob. Deerhunter... the kind of band I should have been listening to a long time ago)

Donovan- Sunshine Superman
(Rob/Re-fell in love. I've known Donovan's music, but never his albums)

Ellis- Undefended Heart
(I heard of Ellis through Morgan at the Women's Center.  She's a great, folky, live performer with an amazing voice.)

Frank Zappa- Chunga's Revenge
(I'll credit this to Kirstin's friend Barnaby. I saw Zappa in his record collection and wanted to have some too.)

Fred Jones- Life & Wine
(Losing Ray early this summer set his album into full rotation in my music catalogue)

Gogol Bordello- Super Tantra!
(Erin. She mentioned it. I bought it. I experienced it... and I want more!!!)

Grateful Dead- American Beauty
(Re-fell in love)

I Monster- Neveroddoreven
(Charlotte and I dropped acid to this... a good, happy mind fuck at times)

Jay-Z+ DJ Danger Mouse- The Grey Album
(Someone at work mentioned this to me... DJ Danger Mouse mixed The Beatles's The White Album with Jay-Z's The Black Album, and gave us The Grey Album.)

Jeff Buckley- Grace
(94.9's The Big Sonic Chill)

Kings of Leon- Only by the Night
(I've followed Kings of Leon for a while and this album is beautiful!)

Lil' Wayne- The Carter III
(Garret/Jaeger listen to Lil' Wayne a lot, and I've grown fond of his words... he is a true wordsmith)

MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
(94.9 did an interview with these guys and I dug their sound... this album is great.)

Neil Young- Live at Massey Hall
(I found video clips of this on Youtube and learned it's a recorded album. To me... this is the difinitive Neil Young. Him, a piano, and a guitar.)

The New Pornographers- Challengers
(Rob. Much homework was worked on to this album.)

Nine Inch Nails- Pretty Hate Machine
(Re-fell in love)

Radiohead- Gagging Order
                    In Rainbows
(I randomly found Gagging Order and it fulfills two loves... Radiohead and acoustic albums.)

Sigur Rós- Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
(I caught wind of their new album from 9.49 and stole it before it was released. It's just fucking beautiful)

Silversun Pickups- Pikul
(94.9)

Slightly Stoopid- Live and Direct
(Re-fell in love)

TV on the Radio- Dear Science
(Rob)

Ween- Quebec
(I looked into Ween after I hear Kirstin raving about them... and I must say, "Rave-worthy")

There might be a couple I've missed, but, most definitely, these albums shaped and molded my 2008 musical feast.

I meant to post this with the entry about the Rock Mountain hike in De Luz.

The parentals are home now.  They got in last night while I was at work.  They seemed to have enjoyed their time in Italy, a learning experience that I think they needed -- to get the fuck out of the U.S. and gain some perspective.  That the U.S. isn't all we crack it out to be.  That other humans live leisurely, happy lives, unmuddled by freeways and cell phones, world wide web and shopping malls.  Other humans can live comfortably without Biggulps and super size fries.  Other humans live can healthily outside the over-medicated, undernourished innards of the U.S.

I'm glad they got to see it. 

Since they're home now, it also presented the opportunity for me to pose the question that I'd been stewing since they'd left -- if Garret and I move out together, closer to school and work, would they be willing to help out since Garret won't be able to afford it.

I think that I'd do fine, but would still like the cushion just in case something comes up.

I asked them today about what they thought.  Neither of them shot it down and my mom said to do some research on it. Holy shit! This had to be one of the very few times my parents seemed to like an idea of mine. I had all sorts of arguing points ready to throw, but I didn't need them.

So here's how my search is looking so far...

Escondido:
Country Club Villas- 2bd 2ba 960sq.ft. :: $1125

Summer Creek Apts- 2bd 2ba 944sq.ft. :: $995

Morning View Terrace Apts- 2bd 1ba :: $1080
                                         2bd 2ba :: $1130

El Norte Villas- 2bd 2ba 900sq.ft. :: $1185

Vista:
Sycamore Ridge Apts- 2bd 1ba 900sq.ft. :: $1125
                                  2bd 2ba 950sq.ft. :: $1175

Mill Creek Apts- 2bd 1ba :: $1075
                        2bd 2ba :: $1100
 
According to the establishment's names, living by a creek depreciates the value of an apartment.

I've seen the Country Club Villas, the Morning View Terrace Apartments, and the El Norte Villas.  I've had friends live in each of them and none of them seemed uninhabitable.  All three also allow pets.  All three are also really close to Interstate 15, each merely 10 minutes from school and 5 from work!!!

Considering the whole one bathroom versus two... honestly, it would be more of a concern for guests.  Garret and I already share a bathroom, so having to do so again wouldn't be problematic. Yet, for another $25 - $75 a month, we can have our own bathrooms.

I'm going to be doing some more research concerning my finances and such, but I think that this is so 100% doable.

This spring break was much needed. MUCH needed.

Last Friday was technically my first day of Spring Break, but I spent it working on the He Speaks event at school. It was great. It went really well. Garret helped me a lot with setting up and getting things organized. Once the event began I opened with a 'thanks for coming' and some 'domestic abuse 101' for everyone to digest. After I spoke, my poets and musicians took their turns on stage and really commanded a great show.  My writing friends presented some great works, Elevated (a spoken-word duo) gave us some words to think about, and Fred Jones fucking rocked. Everything ended around 7:00 and I was able to get out of there around 9:30 after tear-down and a smoke break. It was awesome.

Saturday I went to the Angels-Padres pre-season game in Anaheim. Max's girl got tickets from her dad so they invited me to go with them. I called out sick and headed up to meet them. We had sweet tickets next to the announcer's box, behind home, and had access to the restaurant meant for people with too much money ($9.50 for a fuckin beer!! And it was a Stella. If it were a New Castle or even Guinness I'd have felt better about it). I ran in to Uncle Jeff at the game. We have a habit of running into each other in strange places. (Big Bear?)

Monday and Tuesday I didn't do much. Played my guitar mostly... watched a couple of movies. I visited Jag at his new place for a while too. Chris thought it would be funny to steal my guitar on Tuesday, leaving a ransom note. That's what explains my previous post's picture.

Wednesday was Max's last day at work so we celebrated with a night at Stone. Before hopping on the Sprinter we popped down a few shots of whiskey to get the blood circulating. We walked from the Sprinter station and ate at Stone tossing back many beers. It was a good time. Augusta came a while later, as did Garret and his buddy Dylan.

Thursday was foggy. I spent most the day with my guitar and a book for school. I did get to cruise over to Hans's for a bit which is always rewarding.  There aren't many people I kick it with and feel like I learn something new every time I'm with them (about myself, them, or life in general). Hans is one of those guys who I can dig into a deep conversation with... I treasure the time we spend together, especially since he's pretty much married now... bros don't come before wives/serious relationships... something I'm learning.

Anyway. Good break. Back to the lion's den on Monday. Hopefully they got fed over break.