If they told me you'd be the one, I wouldn't have believed them

So when my stress levels get high enough, I have a habit of buying more music, only blindly. This is usually an incredibly stupid thing to do, as you can easily end up with some really terrible stuff no matter how good that 30 second clip is. Surprisingly, I'd had some really good luck in the last couple of years.

I saw a quick article about an new artist named Liz Tormes, never heard of her before, and apparently her stuff was folk/rock/blues which means the reviewer had really no clue how to classify. I decided what the hell and got her on iTunes (Limelight is the name of the album), and as a back up I bought some more David Gray since I figured he's be a safe bet, and because spending MORE money is always the answer...

Anyway, after listening to her, I agree with the reviewer, we have no freaking clue how to classify this person, but damn its a good album. If you're in the mood for something different, yet fantastic, download "Black Luck", its more of an emotional/musical painting rather than a traditional song. The whole album has this off-the-cuff, raw live feel. This won't be for everyone, if you only listen to very structured music stay the hell away from this one. But if you're in the mood for something different, give it a try.

As for the David Gray album "A New Day At Midnight", quite good, and the man continually finds ways of pissing me off. I should NOT LIKE the song "Be Mine". Its a freaking simple cheesy poppish song....but he has a way of perfect execution that takes stuff like that and makes it irresistible. Frankly the man is a genius when it comes to instrumentation, and can perfectly layout a track so it shines no matter what genre he decides to tackle. All my years of writing and playing music, and the knowledge that I couldn't even think of the stuff he comes up with in the most subtle ways to craft a song irritates me.

Speaking of stuff I shouldn't like. I hate cover albums. I usually hate most cover songs in general. Played live they're usually OK, but in recorded form they usually just fall apart. Either they're not even trying and just copying the song (so why am I buying it?) or putting a 'twist' on the song that usually involves a drum machine to turn it into a dance tune.

So why the hell am I enjoying "Reproductions" from Charlotte Martin so much? When I saw she was putting out a cover album I pretty much avoided it until I heard a clip on her site. That was "Bizzare Love Triangle", and it was a complete re imaging of the song that sounded incredible. I played it for Pam and she liked it as well. She even took songs I wasn't that fond of ("Cloudbusting" by Kate Bush) and made them not only listenable, but loveable.

Charlotte is definitely embracing the iTunes system, while she is putting out albums she's also putting other bits and pieces on iTunes as EPs. And I can't resist gobbling them up (see, thanksgiving reference, you can stop looking now). If you want to try one new artist, try her. Give her some love so she keeps the good stuff coming.

Everybody wants to know the score

Its been hard to blog, since really the only things noteworthy deal with work. And remember what my first post said...

What do you mean you haven't read the first blog post? For heaven's sake, start at the beginning and work your way back here.

While those people are off reading, I can talk about what else is going on.

Gavin is definitely in the imaginative stage, he makes up lots of games (I think we're on 5 variations of his "baseball game"), he practices conversations with himself, he talks to his bunny, its all quite cute. He doesn't always explain the rules of the game at first, but he'll teach you as you go. And he's very gracious, when I roll a ball down the banister for him to hit with a drum stick (baseball variation #2) and he misses. He calmly picks it up and tells me "I missed. Try again daddy". I highly enjoy the imaginative stage, some parents do get weirded it out by it though, especially the self-conversations. I just think its cute, I think that speaks for itself about my personality.

At this point, I've completely lost track of who we've told, so if you don't know, Pam is pregnant. If I tell you again, just live with it. I really should keep a chart of who we've told and who we haven't. Both Pam and I though the other told our next door neighbor, so she was the last on the block to know. And no, we don't know what it is. And I won't mention what I'm hoping for in case our future child reads this blog at some point in time because well, they just had a boring day. But if you know who you have to free from the Big Daddys in Bioshock, then you know what I'm wishing for. No way my kids will know what that game is when they get old enough :)

Speaking of video games, it seems slightly strange to me that a 32 year old guy like myself is still into that kind of thing. Apparently it isn't something you out grow. Though I do find myself passing on a lot of the normal action bang-bang boom games that are in the market, and really get engrossed in the ones with a great deal of attention to the world & the story. Bioshock is becoming one the best games I've played, frankly they should take the story and make a movie/book. It is that engrossing.

Music wise I'm addicted to Vanessa Carlton's "Home" and "More Than This". The album as a whole is ok, if a bit uneven. Definitely listen to those two songs. I've been listening to some clips of a new artist Liz Tormes and will probably download her sometime soon when I remember to take the iPod out of the car.

In reference to my last post, I've long resolved never to be "that parent" who pushes their kids to excel in something with an irrational passion. Like football, or some other sport. Yet, I find myself on the brink when it comes to hide and seek. Seriously. You have to understand, my family are at the professional level of hide and seek. Some of my siblings had no patience whatsoever, but would sit in a hiding spot for hours. I'm not kidding. The kid's got to step it up, the family's reputation is at stake!