Mind Blowing Music

So I downloaded Mastodon's Blood Mountain. I gave in. I have yet to decide if it is mind blowing music or as tasteful as Mastodon's music is perceived. Time will tell. 

The older I get though, I've noticed, the more I appreciated older music. As a kid growing up I wouldn't have thought twice about the Misfits, Billy Idol, The Clash, Black Flag or The Damned. Now in my post-college days, the older the band the better. This is also probably a result of the lack of innovating, creative new music.

Ah well. 

~~~

I think my favorite workout is my back workout. Worked out my back today and enjoyed myself. Back in the day it was all about the pecs just like every other dude on the planet. Now, I'm not too concerned with my chest. It's all about the overall look with a focus on the back. 

I sound shallow and lame. Ugh. 

Second entry in a day. 

Going out tonight. Should be fun to see some college buddies.  

Being a Musical Connoisseur

Having a 120 GB iPod has motivated me to download all types of music so I can truly represent the title and position of Musical Connoisseur. 120 GB iPod equals 30,000 songs. I only have about 6, 389 songs... not even a third of my new iPod's capacity, har har har. 

The main musical focus, at the moment, is... do I really like Mastodon? Do I like this band enough to get their new record, Blood Mountain for cheap and then follow in with their second record Leviathan? 

Leviathan is clearly based on Herman Melville's Moby Dick so that is an immediate point of interest. I have a fascination with the novel and it's characters but would this be overkill? I think not. After all, I am trying to be a Musical Connoisseur. Also, let's not forget, for me, my ideal apartment needs a wall devoted strictly to music... CD player, a record player and all my CDs neatly stacked and organized. 

I'm willing to settle for a small wall in a bedroom of an apartment I'll be sharing since I can't seem to afford a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn at the moment. 

WOOOOOOO!  

And now it begins!

The post-holiday (Christmas, anyway) season has begun. Everyone who received money or wants to exchange any gifts they received will begin, today, to approach all stores in full force. With that said, I'll be on my merry way to Best Buy in an hour or two. As well as to Borders Books and Gamestop... oh joy! 

I have the desire to buy a Gamecube or a PSP but I'm wondering when I'll find the time to play either once work resumes. Just wondering, know what I'm saying? 

Comic shopping is in the plans for next week, that is for sure. 

I need some social interaction with people my age and of the opposite sex. I'm too much of a hermit. 

Saturday Night

And I'm alone. Surprise, surprise. My social life has taken a massive nosedive since graduating college. It's really damning to realize that I no longer go out or do anything really on the weekends. It's also a bit sad. 

2008 is approaching its conclusion and with that I've been seeing numerous "Best of 2008" lists and compilations. They're amusing to read and have kind of motivated me to put together one such list about the best music I heard this past year. 

Back in March, I proclaimed Flogging Molly's record, Float to have been one of the best record I had heard that really rocked in a long time. I still stand by that and, arguably, I think I will bestow upon it best record of 2008 honors. It was a great record on first listen and then second listen and then third and so on. The point is, what Float made me feel hadn't been triggered by any other record in quite some time. Automatic winner. 

Float's success in my life is why I continue to search for great music in the past. Newer bands bore me. That doesn't mean I won't enjoy a new band but I prefer gritty, balding, experienced veterans over the young upstarts. Warped Tour is a perfect example. I go to see the older bands. Bad Religion will be playing Warped Tour 2009 and I will go see them. 

Oh, before I forget. The crown jewel of musical discoveries for 2008 is, without any doubt, The Gaslight Anthem. Their latest record, The '59 Sound is solid and a great listen I still favor their debut, Sink or Swim despite it's cliche title. Another great band. 

The older or classier the sound the better. 

Been a Long Time...

It sure has, indeed, been a long time since I last posted. Been kind of busy and a bit lazy. 

This past weekend the faculty and I went on a retreat. It was fun, had some drinks and got to know people better. Good times. 

I've been interacting with the same group of people since December 12th with no day off in between. Tomorrow is Friday and big snow fall is expected. Yay for the weekend and the Christmas break that is 3 school days away. 

I need to finish some holiday shopping this weekend. No excuses. 

~~~

Did not see the girl on the train in the morning or in the afternoon. I saw her yesterday on my way back from work. She smiled. I should have spoken to her. I really should have. I'm a fuck up. Ugh. 

I need to speak to her next time I see her. Chances are I might fuck it up again. Sometimes, it's just easier to look and say nothing but damnit the possibilities of speaking to her could result in gloriousness. Then again, it can be disaster. 

Shit is tough. 

Still reading The Savage Detectives. Reading The Crucible with the juniors. Wrapped up Othello with the sophomores and we're doing essay writing now. 

Hopefully I won't fuck it up next time. 

Ahoy, I see Palisades!

Leaving for the faculty retreat tomorrow in Rockland County... I kind of regret agreeing to go on this. Get away from the school for the weekend to discuss school matters nonstop. Ugh. The way I'm looking at it is that since I get my own room I might be able to focus on doing a ton of personal and creative writing. This might be the forced situation I need to get the writing back on track. 

Cheers to that happening. 

Still reading The Savage Detectives. It's a good book so far. I totally fell for the character of Maria Font. Ugh. I knew it would end in disaster but I still fell for it. I might never learn. 

 

Twisted Nonsense

Saw Twisted Sister this past Saturday. It was their annual Twisted Christmas show. Half the set was traditional Christmas songs and the other half some classics from the band's career. It was truly a great show. 

It seems the older and more established the band, the better the live performance is. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Twisted Sister, etc are all bands who kill it when they play live. The younger bands should take pointers from these guys. 

Listened to Nevermore today after sometime of not. I'm digging the punk/hardcore music more as of late. This state of preference has been going strong since October. I'm just digging punk and hardcore more than metal right now. It's a bit weird when I think about it since I was always a metalhead first and foremost. 

Strange, eh?

King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime.

Finished King Dork about an hour ago. It was good. The climax is absolutely insane and I love it for being just complete anarchy in the sense of bloody noses and the destruction of a drum kit. Needless to say, this book made me chuckle and laugh at numerous times throughout. The epilogue is a bit drawn out but beyond that it's a terrific novel. 

Now, onto The Savage Detectives. I've been putting this one off for sometime now. It'll be a nice end of the year read. I'm really looking forward to it. Roberto Bolano is one of new favorite writers. 

I hate it when you talk to girls and then in passing conversation find out they have boyfriends. Shit ain't fair. It just ain't fair or right. 

Snip, snip, snip.

I got a haircut today. I like the sensation of the electric razor on my head. It's a nice feeling. 

Listening to a lot of punk lately. Rancid, The Clash, The Gaslight Anthem, Alkaline Trio, etc. 

Twisted Sister this Saturday with the brother and cousin. Should be interesting and fun.