America doesn’t know how to read anymore

Some not so surprising statistics that I found on ParaPublishing’s website:

Who is Reading Books (and who is not)

• One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.Many do not even graduate from high school.
• 58% of the US adult population never reads another book after high school.
• 42% of college graduates never read another book.
• 80% of US families did not buy or read a book last year.
• 70% of US adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.

See more depressing statistics by clickinghere.

Posted by admin Posted in: Books No Comments » January 2007

Astonishing!

I heard this little bit of humor on What’dYa Know this weekend and just had to share.  For all of you who mock my musicand book reviews listen to this guy! JoeQueenan tells it like it is.File Attachment:review-insights.mp3 (13243 KB)

Posted by admin Posted in: Books, Humor, Movies, Music No Comments » January 2007

January CD Club Notes

These are my thoughts of the January CD Club; a selection of music that was sentout by my friend Kevin. I fear posting these notes because they seem a bit critical. But they aren’t meant to be that at all.  They are meant to be pretentiousand snobby.  Maybe even a little bit presumptuous.  And besides if Kevindoesn’t like what I have to say he can smash me with his little finger.For most of the songs you can just click on the title to get the song from iTunes.Some of the allusions and references I’llgive you, some you’ll just have to figure out on your own.DreamTheater - ThisDying SoulThis song is fascinating.  At eleven and a half minutes there’s a lot tosay about this song.  The first thing to catch my attention was the amazing doublebass.In 1966 Shusaku Endo wrote the book Silence, a historical novel, telling the storyof a Portuguese missionary in the early 17th century Japan.  In the book he tellsof the martyrdom of two missionaries; Ichizo and Mokichi.  The missionaries weredragged to the sea to be put to death.“Two trees, made into the form of a cross, were set at the water’sedge. Ichizo and Mokichi were fastened to them.  When it was night and the tidecame in, their bodies would be immersed in the sea up to the chin.  They wouldnot die at once, but after two or even three days of utter physical and mental exhaustionthey would cease to breathe.”That passage came to mind as I listened to those drums being beaten.  Just asthe sea crashed relentlessly against the missionaries the drums crashed against mybrain.  Those drums just beat on and on and on.  It began to feel like itwould lead me to “utter physical and mental exhaustion.”But I took a break and came back to the music a few times.  I began to wonderhow the heck the drummer was able to even play the song.  I wasn’t familiarwith Mike Portnoy’s drumming but after a few Google searches I learned a lot. The guy is pretty impressive.There are two ways to handle a doublebass. A lot of drummers opt for a single bass and a double bass drum pedal foruse on a single drum.  But the true artists go old school and actually have twobass drums.  I had to figure out how Mike did it.  After a little huntingI found that he was old school.  Here’s a video for those who want to seehim in action.Seeing how it’s done is pretty neat and gave me a new appreciation for the music. Now when I listen to the song I don’t feel like I’m being beaten to deathby the waves of the drum, but I’m still not ready to say I enjoy this music.The guitars with their octave harmonizer pedals, waa waa effects, and sixteenthnote riffs were impressive.  But not my style.James LaBrie’s vocals are ok, but at times I was sort of expecting him to breakout with, “Flash! Ahhhhh!He’ll save every one of us!”  There were even times in the song(when his vocals had the EQ mixed to sound like a telephone) that I even thought ofthe Natalie Portmanbad boy parody on SNL.  I just didn’t feel like Labrie pulled it off.Although I didn’t really like the song I did enjoy learning more about MikePortnoy and discovering some neat things about this style of drumming.JakeShimabukuro - ShakeIt Up!Before I read Kevin’s notes about this song I thought, “what is this guydoing?  He’s trying to play a ukulele like a guitar.”  To methis song just had too much repetition.  Some solid percussion but the rest ofthe music didn’t inspire me.SarahBrightman - AWhiter Shade of PaleT.S. Elliot said, “Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal; bad poets defacewhat they take, and good poets make it into something better, or at least somethingdifferent.”This tune takes the second movement of Bach’s 3rd Orchestral Suite and,um, doesn’t make it better or different.  Ok, I’m a snob. But a drumtrack Sarah?  This reminds me of those 80’s cassettes of classicalmusic set to 4/4 time and a clap track.  To me this track is the equivalentof WalterMurphy’s “Fifth of Beethoven”.To hear a very interesting story about Bach’s Chaconne check out the NPRstory broadcast on January 18th.  It will give you a new appreciation forBach’s work.As far as Sarah’s vocal – simply amazing.  She’s an amazingsinger, it’s just too bad she has such bad taste in music.Pink - RunawayYes!  Now we’re talking.  I’m a huge P!nk fan. She has somegreat tunes.  Her band is great and she’s true to herself. I really likeTry This, “God is a DJ” is a favorite.  And for those who don’tbelieve P!nk has amazing pipes (I’m talking about her vocals here) then youshould listen to “Misery” from M!ssundaztood.  P!nk is the new Madonna.BrothersJohnson - TomorrowGroovy.  This tune is so mellow that Muzak would probably dig it. This song is so cool it required two wood blocks instead of one.  The 70’sarpeggios are pretty impressive too.  This is sort of what you’d expectif you threw a Fender Rhodes, The Captain, a triangle, an elevator, a DX7, andsome hash in a blender.ImogenHeap - Goodnightand Go“Mmmmm, Wendy Peffercorn.”  Wait, I mean Imogen Heap.  I findImogen Heap’s songs to be mesmerizing.  I love her lyrics and the way hersongs are layered so you get something new every time you listen to them.  Thepost production is just wonderful.  She’s one of my favorites.“Hide and Seek” from this CD is a terrific song.  In fact, it’ssuch a great song let’s take a break and give a listen:ConcreteBlonde - Ghostof a Texas Ladies ManI’d never heard of Concrete Blonde but really liked this track.  This sortof reminded me of Blondie’s “Man from Mars”.  The tribute to FrankieLaine is great.  This is a good example of a good poet making somethingbetter.The bass line in this song is a winner.  I love how it isn’t just a steadynote but a 2 bar repetition.  It gives the song some drive. The guitars are justrock solid.  Nothing super flashy but the sum of the parts is near perfection.I love the lyric “my ectoplasmic lover from the other side”.  Andwhen I first heard the song the line, “I reached for my towel on the floor/Ididn’t think it was exactly where I’d laid it” I thought of Douglas Adams.SpyroGyra - DelCorazonAnother blender song.  This time some new ingredients have been thrown into themix; Zamfir, a glockenspiel, the original Alesis MidiVerb, Kenny G, and bottle ofXanax.  Help, I’m falling asleep.  I think the actual PhytoPlanktonis a little more exciting.Toto - Fallingin BetweenI really like the beginning of this song.  It’s audible caffeine. Ithelps me recover from Spyro Gyra.  I was a big fan of Toto in the 80’s. I think Toto IV is my favorite.  This song is interesting but lacks the tightfeel of their early work.  But I’ll certainly give the rest of the CD alisten and see if it grows on me.BenFolds Five - Don’tChange Your PlansSometimes I think Ben Folds sounds like Kermit.  But a really cool Kermit. This song has a soul.  It’s layered with music and meaning and mystery.  There’seven a Burt Bacharach rip-off right in the middle of the song (stolen and made better). I just love songs like this.  I think this is my favorite on this month’sCD.The lyrics are so open ended.  When I heard the lines, “Sometimes I getthe feeling/That I won’t be on this planet/For very long/I really like it here/I’mquite attached to it/I hope I’m wrong” I had another Douglas Adams moment. Is this Ben’s way of saying “So long and thanks for all the fish”? I doubt it.  Is he suicidal?  Dying?  Just resigned not to move?What’s with the little whistle that is thrown in toward the end?  Maybe GeertChatrou snuck into the studio for a second while they were recording. And whocan make the line “Don’t change your plans for me/I won’t move toLA” sound so good?  I don’t know many who could pull it off. Not even Kermit.OliviaNewton-John - CountryGirlI think it’s interesting that Kevin chose three songs about leaving.  FirstBen tells his girlfriend goodbye.  Then Olivia tells her mom goodbye.  Nextit’s Mr. Dolby’s turn to tell us adios.I think this song is ironic.  Here’s the grandchild of the 1954Nobel Prize winner in Physics who was born in Cambridge telling us that she’sa country girl.  Sure you are Olivia.I think I’ll let Olivia stay on the eight tracks.ThomasDolby - ILove You GoodbyeThis song has almost the same baseline as Thriller.  What are the odds? And then I ask myself, isn’t this the guy who invented noise reduction? Oh,right, that was the other guy. This Dolby is in love with the Guiro and rim shot.  Ugh, the laser sounds. Sorry Thomas, I don’t love you – goodbye.Goldfrapp - FlyMe AwayYeah!  Goldfrapp.  Another rip off going on here.  A clear theft of“Sunset People”. Donna didit first in 1979 but Goldfrapp does her justice.  This song is sweet!  It’sthe lyrical opposite of Don’t Change Your Plans.  She’s going togo to the ends of the earth to be with this person.  Cool.  I hadn’treally heard much Goldfrapp.  Another band to add to my Zen.Spaces - Songfor JeremyCongratulations!  You’ve been nominated as a member of the Grocery StoreMusic Hall of Fame. With songs like this we may just have to expand the AuditoryRelief Bill.AimeeMann - SusanThis song is very interesting to me.  Looking at the lyrics it’s clearthat Mann was writing poetry.  But her skills as a poet are not so good. The meter is off (perhaps that’s why she sings instead of reads her work) andthe chain rhyme is a little repetitive.  Her ababccc structure forces her touse some strange words; parade, played, grenade is stretching it a bit.  Themore I listened to this song the more this bugged me.  She even changes “Susan”to “Suzie” in order to rhyme “to me”.  Alsothe unnatural pronunciation of “wearying” started to wear on me. I have OCD. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.But despite her strange poetic structure and forced rhymes I think this song works. Aimee’s voice has some interesting qualities and it keeps my interest. Overall I like this song and I’ll give Aimee some air time on my Zen.I have to note the weird similarity of the beginning of this song and U2’s “MysteriousWays”.  The opening bars of music are like brothers from different mothers.One other minor gripe I have with this song is the mix.  I think the vocals arejust a little too present. But this is something that isn’t really noticeable unless you’relistening with headphones or on a good pair of speakers.AlanParsons Project - Silenceand IWhat a ride.  This song is all over the place.  The orchestral sectionholds the most mystery for me.  The beginning part of the orchestral sectionsounds very similar to Karl Jenkins’ “Palladio” (1st movement). It’s even more interesting that “Silence and I” was written in 1981and “Palladio” was written in the early 90’s.The other interesting thing is the collision.  Yep, that’s right. We’re cruising right along listening to this Palladio sounding tune and forsome reason I’m thinking of going to DeBeers and then wham!  At 2 minutes and 39 seconds the MannheimSteamroller just smashes right into the song.  We get dragged along by the Steamrollerfor about 27 seconds and then GioachinoRossini comes to our rescue.  And just when things are getting out of handwe get back to the groovy sounds of silence.  Well not really, that’s aSimon & Garfunkel tune, but you know what I mean.Well that about sums up my thoughts of the January CD selection.  Wow! What arange of music.  I’m impressed at the musical palate of my friend Kevin. Maybe someday my audible taste buds will be as finely tuned as his.

Tags: music, cd+club, humor, review

Posted by admin Posted in: Humor, Music No Comments » January 2007

Sorry Luan!

Well I guess more people read this blog then I knew.  LuanParle sent me a little note about myreview of her song Corporate Culture.She wrote:

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the mention, listen a little deeper into the lyrics…

I’m playing the Crawdaddy Dublin Feb 16th, would love to see you there if you’re free,

Best wishes,

Luan xx

Luan,

I’d love to zip over to Dublin andsee your show.  But I think the flight from Arizona (USA) to Ireland might bea bit much.  I’ll see if my friend Seamus can go in my place.  Helives in Ireland and I’m sure he’d love it.

And I promise to listen a little deeperinto your lyrics.  I’ll even write up my thoughts once I’ve listeneda lot more.

If you need a photographer for you next album cover just let me know.  I’dbe happy to help you with that.

-Mark

For all of you people over in Europe,check out Luan on Feb 16th.  It looks like the last song of her show.  Don’tmiss it.

 

>

Posted by admin Posted in: Music No Comments » January 2007

Blogjet post

If you’re using the new BlogJet you’lland want to use the automatic music detection feature you’ll need to installthe Blogging Plug-in. You can download it for free from Microsoft’s web site: DownloadBlogging Plug-in for WMP9

Once you do that you can let the world know what you’re listening to.

Now playing: AlanisMorissette - FrontRow

Posted by admin Posted in: Useful Info No Comments » January 2007

Patches the Horse

I saw this on YouTube and thought it was hilarious.  I hope you enjoy it.

Update: very sad news aboutPatches.

>>

Posted by admin Posted in: Humor No Comments » January 2007

Blogjet 2.0

BlogJet 2.0 has (finally) been released.  It a huge improvement over the alreadyimpressive BlogJet.  The BlogJet homepage has a new look and a video thatshows all the groovy new features.Click here to see the new BlogJet.

Posted by admin Posted in: Blogging No Comments » January 2007

Agent Provocateur

Charlie Todd likes to play pranks, but only the good kind.  He formed a smalldrama troupe to act out little scenes in public, the catch, nobody knows it’sfake.  Marriage proposals, rock stars, crazy shoppers; it’s all funny.

“Our goal is to make people laugh, smile, or at least have an interesting or unusualexperience.”

via: GOODMagazine | Agent Provocateur.

Posted by admin Posted in: Humor No Comments » January 2007

Dirk Pitt is stupid

I recently read Clive Cussler’s book Valhalla Rising.  It was pretty darn bad. But I read the entire thing so I could give an honest opinion in a later review. Then I decided a review wasn’t even worth writing because anyone who likes goodliterature will see for themselves how bad it is if they read a few pages.  ButI did see the following list on Wikipedia andthought it was very true.  In Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels a few things almostalways happen:

• The novels almost always open with a flashback to a historic or ancient event.
• The next sequence is often a heroic rescue by Pitt which foils or reveals informationlater linked to the antagonist.
• Next, Pitt is usually given a NUMA assignment that at first appears unrelated to theevents causing the rescue, but which will relate back later in the book.
• Pitt often meets or saves a woman who is involved in the plot in some way.
• A villain or villains cause events to occur which either deliberately or accidentallywould cause serious and dramatic worldwide injury to people or the environment.
• The main villain tries to kill Pitt which often leads to the destruction of one ofPitt’s classic cars.
• The main villain becomes personally agitated by Pitt and/or Al Giordino, despite thefact that the villain is always the head of a huge criminal organization.
• At some point the following happen:
• “Clive Cussler” makes a brief appearance (see above).
• A historic or classic automobile or aircraft is momentarily featured, and often wreckedor destroyed.
• High tech NUMA technology is employed.
• Eventually Pitt discovers the facts surrounding the introductory historical eventand may keep a memento of the event, which is mentioned in subsequent books (usuallyas part of his collection at his residence).
• Corrupt government officials are revealed.
• By the end of the book, said destroyed car is always rebuilt, and used in the seductionof said saved woman.

Posted by admin Posted in: Books No Comments » January 2007

Jesus Camp

Jesus Camp, the documentary, looksfascinating to me and I can’t wait to see it.  As a son of a SouthernBaptist Preacher I had a very unique childhood.  I’m curious how the crewdocumented this camp and the culture around it.  Could they have possibly beenimpartial?  Could they adequately show this without making these families outto be nuts?  Are these families nuts?  I’ll give you my thoughts afterI see the movie.  Stay tuned…

Posted by admin Posted in: Movies No Comments » January 2007

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