Also

This just came into my head in the shower. I'll post all the lyrics to this song. "The Poison" by Pedro The Lion.

the poison makes its way through my body slowly
into the pleasure centers of my brain
if you were here i would admit that i'm an asshole
but now it's over and i can't stay sober
though it isn't like i've tried
on the front porch or on an airplane on vacation
or out for dinner in a nearby town
i was so proud just to have you sitting with me
but now it's over and i can't stay sober
pour and swallow follow one drink with another
i'll keep on til you agree to come back over
or until there are x's on my eyes
my old man always swore that hell would have no flame
just a front row seat to watch you true love pack her things and drive away

Can't find the mp3, sorry. Those last two lines. THOSE LAST TWO LINES.

Sorry guys

This blog sucks. However, the good news is that after reading David Foster Wallace's "Big Red Son" I am motivated to write some essays. I also just remembered the moment that sparked my interest in cooking. There will be writing.

Back in the day

Rap lyrics I wish I had written if I were at all interested in writing rap:

"Back in the day was so great, the hardest decision we had to make was iced tea or lemonade" - ZC

A Praise Chorus

This is the coolest thing ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Praise_Chorus

Also, I spoke to Arthur Schwartz on the phone an hour ago about street food. It was cool. Used to listen to him on the radio in the car with my mom.

http://www.thefoodmaven.com

It's weird talking to someone about a subject they know a lot about... and you're not totally familiar with all their work.

Off to work.

Los Campesinos at Bowery Ballroom

Really unbelievably fun. Gareth, Neil and Tom jumping into the crowd to play "Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats" was one of the best concert moments I've ever experienced. Pure euphoria.

Titus Andronicus killed it also. Super fun show.

Oh Sarah Lawrence. I am home, at 6:15am. Good morning?

Teen.

I wrote a quick poem for my class.

Teen.

a peculiar thing happens when the sun goes down
the lights go up and they are
BRIGHTER
than the sun
an island in the sun
is no match for the transformation
the transmogrification
into a nocturnal metropolis
the city that has poor sleeping habits
comparable eating patterns
a constant hunger
cloaked in everyday
satisfaction
an irregular heartbeat
a thick presence
someone
call
a
doctor
but there's nothing wrong with ol' NEW York
city of bad habits
dirty deeds
stuck in a liminal state
constant, effervescent
identity crisis
sneaking out
to grab a drink
get high
not necessarily on drugs
on the car emissions
the heat of good times passing
the warm air rising from the subway grates
the impossible smell of the seasons
the near-death
the far-life
the teenager

Casiotone

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - "Old Panda Days" (Mediafire)

I've dreamt of this haunt
The ghosts of 1666
The hazy lecture halls
Lund cathedral in wisps

The bells get carried aloft
By the strong nordic wind
But don't remind me of how oft
I got carried away with them

At uni we went
Insane when we took cocaine
Now I don't think I ever want
To hear "genius of love" again

Ive been searching this town
And all I have found
Are nights of bad sex
With stupid boyfriends I shouldn't have kept
In a stupid flat I never swept

So taxi take me away
The sullen students and corner cafes
Remind me of old panda days
Give me old panda days

Always

Even if you can't stand the song (Tom's voice is particularly nasal), the video is fantastic.

Inches and Falling

I forgot about this album. The Format released Dog Problems in the summer of 2006. Totally amazing. Will write about it sometime.

This Will Be Our Year

The Impression That I Get

No words.

The Wrens at Bowery Ballroom 3/13!

The Wrens are playing at Bowery Ballroom for a KEXP Benefit on 3/13! Ah!

Los Campesinos!

"OH WE KID OURSELVES THERE'S FUTURE IN THE FUCKING BUT THERE IS NO FUCKING FUTURE!"

One of my favorite bands. Hopefully I can see them on Valentine's Day or the day after.

"By the light of the LED display of a VCR recorder
You kiss my neck, I whisper in your ear, "this is my downfall"
As you squint and you grimace, we both know your heart's not in it

By the glow of a thousand fireflies in a travelodge en-suite:
They think the future's bright as halogen, we know it's pretty bleak
And I'm trying to be sexy, biting at the air that falls in front of me.

Your telegrams are more and more less detailed by the day
And all the characters are strangers and the pubs have different names
I tell a joke that I'd like to meet them but they loathe me and I hate them back

Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Fondness makes the absence longer
Length loses my interest, I'm a realist, I'm insatiable
Swapped counting days until I fly, with hours before your reply

You said he got his teeth fixed
I'm gonna break them
I've got a heart on fire
He said he's got his sights set
On getting to you
I've got a fist on fire

You feel terrified at the thought of being left behind
Of losing everybody, the necessity of dying
Oh, WE KID OURSELVES THERE'S FUTURE IN THE FUCKING,
BUT THERE IS NO FUCKING FUTURE
I'm just practising my accents, picking at old sutures

I taught myself the only way to vaguely get along in love
Is to like the other slightly less than you get in return
I keep feeling like I'm being undercut

Charlotte says, "It's more constructive than the one in Canada,
When you got drunk,
Ate loads of crisps
And threw up by a football pitch"
I know it is,
And really that's what worries me,
I feel like I should
Hurt.

You said he got his teeth fixed
I'm gonna break them
I've got a heart on fire
He said he's got his sights set
On getting to you
I've got a fist on fire

I cannot emphasise enough that my body
Is a badly designed, poorly put together vessel,
Harbouring these diminishing, so-called 'vital organs'
Hope my heart goes first,
I HOPE MY HEART GOES FIRST!

And
We are beautiful,
We are doomed."

Fire Alarm

4:55am.

It's 5:19am.

Some of the best news in a long time

Blink-182 is back together. No band has really meant as much to me as them. It's going to be a good summer.

Joe Ades on TV

Joe Ades Memorial

Reverend Billy led the Joe Ades memorial service in Union Square.

"You can see above us... George Washington's hand is reaching out... for a peeler..."

Pic of the Day

http://gothamist.com/attachments/jen/2009_02_islapan.jpg

Yes.

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=853742&page=2

Deja Entendu

I'm going to start writing again. Soon. I don't know if anyone else thinks the topic is interesting but I've been writing a lot about music and its connection to memory. It will probably end up being an essay collection. I love music not just for music but how songs become marked with memories. It's something that never fades.

One album that means a lot to me is Deja Entendu by Brand New. I know that a lot of my friends don't like this band. Brand New was a band that came at just the right time for me. Songs that are perfect for syncing to high school life. Songs about girls, friends, etc. Pretty immature stuff. In any case, it's really something to watch a songwriter's maturation. Jesse Lacey was a great songwriter to being with but he became even better.

Most people think he's whiny and "emo" and all those stupid tags that people can't seem to get past but he's a truly special songwriter.



Yes, he writes sad songs and yes, I have a penchant for writing about despondent tunes. Give it a listen. You may be surprised.

"If it makes you less sad I will die by your hand. I hope you find out what you are, I already know what I am. And if it makes you less sad we'll start talking again. You can tell me how vile I already know that I am.

I'll grow old and start acting my age. I'll be a brand new day in a life that you hate. A crown of gold, a heart thats harder than stone but it hurts a whole lot and its missed when its gone.

Call me a safe bet, I'm betting I'm not. I'm glad that you can forgive, I'm only hoping as time goes on you can forget.

If it makes you less sad, I'll move out of this state. You can keep you yourself. I'll keep out of your way. And if it makes you less sad I'll take your pictures all down. Every picture you paint I will paint myself out.

It's cold as a tomb and its dark in your room when I sneak to your bed to pour salt on your wounds. So call it quits or get a grip. You say you wanted a solution, you just wanted to be missed.

Call me a safe bet, I'm betting I'm not. I'm glad that you can forgive. I'm only hoping as time goes on you can forget. So you can forget.

You are calm and reposed, let your beauty unfold. Pale white like the skin stretched over your bones. Spring keeps you ever close, you are second hand smoke. You are so fragile and thin, standing trial for your sins. Holding on to yourself the best you can. You are the smell before rain, you are the blood in my veins.

Call me a safe bet, I'm betting I'm not. I'm glad that you can forgive. I'm only hoping as time goes on you can forget."

I mean, come on. It's worth listening to the song just for the line "You are the smell before rain, you are the blood in my veins." If that doesn't hit you... you may or may not be cold blooded.

There's also this song:


Shipwreck as metaphor for love gone wrong. Got it. Trite, but so well executed. He also mentions Montauk which scores points.

"Sent out an SOS call
It was a quarter past four in the morning
When the storm broke our second anchor line
Four months at sea
Four months of calm seas
To be pounded in the shallows off the tip of Montauk Point

They call them rogues
They travel fast and alone
One-hundred-foot faces of God's good ocean gone wrong
What they call love is risk
'Cause you always get hit out of nowhere
By some wave and end up on your own

The hole in the hull defied the crew's attempt
To bail us out
Flooded the engines and radio
Half-buried bow

Your tongue is a rudder
It steers the whole ship
Sends your words past your lips
Keeps them safe behind your teeth
But the wrong will strand you
Come off course while you sleep
Sweep your boat out to sea
Or dashed to bits on the reef

The vessel groans
The ocean pressures its frame
To the port I see the lighthouse
Through the sleet and the rain
And I wish for one more day
To give my love and repay debts
The morning finds our bodies washed up thirty miles west

They say that the captain stays fast with the ship
Through still and storm
But this ain't the Dakota
And the water's cold
Won't have to fight for long

(This is the end)
This story's old but it goes
On and on until we disappear
(This is the calm)
Calm me and let me taste the
Salt you breathed while you were underneath
(We are drowning)
I am the one who haunts your
Dreams of mountains sunk below the sea
(After the storm)
I spoke the words but never
Gave a thought to what they all could mean
(Rest in the deep)
I know that this is what you want
A funeral keeps both of us apart
(Washed up on the beach)
You know that you are not alone
I need you like water in my lungs
(This is the end)
This story's old but it goes
On and on until we disappear
(This is the calm)
Calm me and let me taste
The salt you breathed while you were underneath
(We are breathless)
I am the one who haunts your
Dreams of mountains sunk below the sea
(After the storm)
I spoke the words but never
Gave a thought to what they all could mean
(Rest in the deep)
I know that this is what you want
A funeral keeps both of us apart
(Washed up on the beach)
You know that you are not alone
I need you like water in my lungs
(This is the end)"

I think there is some fantastic songwriting buried under not-so-desirable vocals (for some people) and I think that's really unfortunate. You wouldn't not read a book because of the author's speaking voice would you? Eh? Lyrics aren't necessarily looked at as writing but I think they should be. Lyricists are writers in a different medium, that's all. THIS STORY'S OLD BUT IT GOES ON AND ON UNTIL WE DISAPPEAR.

Pernice Brothers

Another band I doubt anyone has ever heard of. Found them on Pandora. Fantastic band. I wish I could find more songs to post. http://www.pernicebrothers.com/av.php Click on "Nobody's Watching," the album on the right, and listen to "Clear Spot."

Detachment

College is a weird fucking time. Things change on a very regular basis. I looked at the photos I was tagged in on Facebook so far this semester and, first of all, there aren't that many. Second, I feel so detached from these images, even ones taken a few months ago. I'm not totally sure what it is. And it's impossible to feel this way until a significant enough amount of time has passed to make it so. During the summer I wasn't thinking that I would feel like a completely different person this school year, but in retrospect it was inevitable. It's always inevitable.

So what do I do about it? Nothing. If I was out of my mind, I would untag every photo of me until this semester started because the more current ones hold a "better" representation of who I am in 2009. Aside from what some friends of mine think about Facebook, I think it serves as a really interesting control to see what we've become. It's difficult not to be very aware as a Facebook user and this awareness lets us keep some sort of ground. You know all of those embarrassing photos from your seventh birthday party? It's like having those online to be seen by anyone. In this way, it's somewhat passive, but we are more open. Sure we can choose to hide photos but by not hiding them are we not allowing ourselves to be more human, exposing what we may see as our own flaws? This is not to say that Facebook is great because I can feel Mark Zuckerberg slowly pulling at my brain from the inner-cavity of my ear. Do you think he gets laid because of Facebook? That's where this discussion will go.

Dirty Pop

Pop music from the 90s was so hypersexual. It's almost unbelievable to pay attention to some of these lyrics. That'll be a post for another time.

I recorded a cover of Jordan Knight's "Give It To You." You can listen to/download it here: http://www.myspace.com/nickrkmusic. The song has the most absurd lyrics. "Anyone can make you sweat, but I can keep you wet."

You say its been too long
since you had some
You say I turn you on
like a fire that's burning inside
You think that I'm the one
You see in your dreams
I know what you mean yeah
It's creepin around in your head
me holding you down in my bed
You don't have to say a word
I'm convinced you want this

Chorus:
Baby you know I can give it to you
I can't deny you do it right
Just let me know and I'll give it to you
Just show me where, I'll take you there
Baby you know that I'll give it to you
Your body needs a man like me
Anything goes when I give it to you
You know without a doubt, I'll turn you out
I'll give it to you
The feeling is fine, giving you everything of mine

I'm the place to be
and soon, you'll see
I don't care who leads
As long as we move horizontally
Anyone can make you sweat
But I, can keep you wet
It's creepin around in my head
Me holding you down in my bed
I can't wait to give you some
I'm convinced you need it

Chorus

It's creepin around in my head
Me holding you down in my bed
You don't have to say a word
Just relax, I'll do the work
I can't wait to give you some
I'm convinced you need one

Chorus

I want to satisfy your every wish and mine baby
I know just what you need and I could get you off baby
No one could ever do you like I do you right baby
There's nothing we can't do once we're together, oh baby
The feeling is fine giving you everything of mine

Okay, so I took artistic license with the lyrics. I promise I will stop referring to this song.

David Bazan

Making posts provides the illusion that I'm being productive.



David Bazan is one of the greatest songwriters not known to too many. There seems to be a pattern here. He was the force behind Pedro The Lion. If you enjoyed that, check out his cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" (which is essentially a cover of Jeff Buckley's cover). He has an intensely robust voice.

He also does a fantastic cover of "Political Science" by Randy Newman.



If you haven't heard this song before, listen to it right now. No, Randy Newman didn't just create the music for Toy Story.

Walk Away Renee

I've been attempting for a while to delve into music from the 60s to see what was popular/what still sounds good. This song is just awesome. Simple, short, killer melody.

RIP

On my lunch break today I went to Serious Eats and was horrified when I read that Joe Ades, the Union Square peeler guy passed away.

I don't even know what to say about him. He captivated audiences so simply with the confident power embedded in his thick, booming British voice. He was cutting potatoes and carrots for chrissake! But the man was a genius. He was a salesman, a man practicing an art lost to the slimy car dealer. Joe baked in the sun during the summer, dressed to the nines in a suit every day he was out there. I saw him only about a month and a half ago, drawing in his usual crowd. It was hard not to smile at his enthusiasm. I purchased one of the peelers once and he made some joke about me not having any friends because I bought only one.

Living in New York City is depressing. An overwhelming sense of nostalgia hits us young and it never stops.

RIP Joe.

Vanity Fair article: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2006/05/grafter200605

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26976442/

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2009/02/video-legendary-nyc-vegetable-peeler-guy-salesman-joe-ades-dies.html

Obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/nyregion/03ades.html

Aluminum

I was at a party at Water Street one night. A song came on and I asked people what it was. No one knew. I walked up to the iPod, typed it into my phone and saved it as a note. Great song. Not sure how it fits into my mood at 1:41AM on a Tuesday but I'd like to share it.

Kettle Brand Baked Potato Chips

Unreal. I grew up on health food and never had potato chips in the house. I convinced my mom to buy a shiny blue bag of Wow! Ruffles, made with the mysterious oil-substitute Olestra. They were delicious. Then I shat oil slicks. Then Lays introduced Baked Lays which were horribly disgusting and sweet. My dad like(s/d) them. I love Ruffles and Lays and Kettle chips but they're too high in fat for the serving size. It's just not worth it even in moderation. The geniuses behind Kettle brand potato chips introduced a line of baked chips that are just incredible. They are crunchy, salty, tasty and just oily enough to make you love them like regular potato chips. AND THEY'RE BAKED. THE SERVING SIZE IS TWENTY CHIPS! THAT'S LIKE 3-4 FINGERFULS. 120 Calories in a serving. 3 grams of fat, 0.5 grams of saturated fat. And of course, potassium. Re-dick-you-lus.

The Dodos

Polyrhythmic drumming and really interesting fast, textured guitar parts with a tinge of blues. The Dodos put out one of my favorite releases of 2008, Visiter. One of the most original acts around. Only two guys but they can really fucking play.



Stream "Walking"

Best quote

Stealing this from Ausar.

"Silence is Golden. But Duct tape is silver." -Corinne

Bruce

I didn't watch the Super Bowl. Sorry everyone. However, I'm currently watching the halftime show on YouTube. Holy shit can Bruce work the crowd. Unbelievable. I'm late in the Bruce phenomenon as my parents were never fans. I grew up on Billy Joel. I know, I know, Bruce is pretty much better all around (sorry, LI). Both have some great songs, both have songs that I find undesirable. That's how it is. Don't really like the new single.

Went to the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre to check out Asssscat 3000, Sunday night improv show. Great time.

Shout out to Genesar for looking out.

More posts coming.