new music

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robopanda is horrifying

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jermaine-dupri/a-good-album-is-more-than_b_73413.html article by jermain dupris about the record industry and itunes. he has some points, but keeps stressing the purchase of singles and that if you want a song you should buy the album and not just the single song on itunes….um…did he forget about 10 years ago before mp3s and napster and itunes, there were these things called cassette and cd singles…you could always just buy “the hot song” without the rest of the album. so what’s the difference?

today was the big release day. the year zero remixed album, and rerelease of the joshua tree.

yz remix – overall it seems to be something i’d listen to more than once, which i can’t say about the rest of the nin remix albums. saul’s lyrics over “hyperpower” is neat. and thank god for ali and modwheelmood, for redeeming “the great destroyer” by taking out the worst 3 seconds of nin history. i quite like their version. the fan mix is of “my violent heart” is pretty good. ladytron’s “the beginning of the end” could be absolutely fantastic if not for the synth beeps. leave them in, that’s fine, just turn them the fuck down. why are they so loud? they sound so out of place. otherwise, great remix. the “closer” addition at the end was surprising. saul’s “survivalism” i think is the same version played before the shows, or at least i have heard it before somewhere (and i don’t think i ever listened to the singles…/badfan) “capital g” is mostly obnoxious and i’ll most likely always fast forward. “vessel” doesn’t sound all that different, and it’s hard to improve on perfection anyway :). “the warning” is a great improvement on a rather forgettable song. “me, i’m not”, on right now…i don’t know how people can remix songs like this and still say it’s the same song, or even remotely related (and this one completely isn’t!). why, cuz 9 minutes in they’ll throw in one lyric? i knew when i saw that it was 14 minutes long that i’ll never ever listen to it. oh, there was some trent breathing noises. well that was 14 minutes of my life i’ll never get back. “another version of the truth” string quartet, fantastic. i love that kind of stuff though. the middle kept making me think of the tea party’s “save me”. “in this twilight” is very nice. “zero-sum” interesting, has a groove, pretty good.

i can’t find the vinyl anywhere (er at the places that sell vinyl still), looks like i’ll have to order it eventually now.

and even though i don’t particularly like the joshua tree, i did buy the remastered box set. it has the remastered album, bonus audio cd of bsides and unreleased songs, and bonus dvd with a live show, documentary and videos. and a book and prints. basically i bought it because of the “wave of sorrow” video i posted last week. it just really struck me as being so fantastic, and i’m sorta dying for some u2 that goes back to what they were (even if i don’t like the joshua tree era), poetic and intelligent, and not this fluffy, lyrically disastrous, half hearted attempt at meaningful music that we got on “how to dismantle an atomic bomb”. i’d take JT era over the current one any day haha. my problem with JT…i just don’t think i’ve ever really “gotten it”…i read about what JT stands for, what the songs are about, the meaning, etc etc, but I just don’t get it. there is absolutely no personal connection in the songs for me (except maybe “Running To Stand Still”), they don’t in any way strike me, and for me that’s a big part of the musical experience.

i hope to god they do this sort of rerelease for Achtung Baby :), few more years…

 

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dream

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very strange dream about being at a u2 show…or possibly a sound check situation, i’m not sure…but i was behind the stage with cassie and someone else and at one point during the show larry froze and sorta started having a seizure. apparently this wasn’t the first time. we tried to help him, the rest of the band just sorta stood there until he was ok to play again. the show continued, but then the same thing happened towards the end of the show.

also some dream about going to some abandoned thing in mercer pa, which also turned out to be a hang out for the delinquent kids in town. when i was leaving all these other kids had shown up and this black kid who sorta looked like saul said he was going to cut me. all i said was “no” but he did, huge cut on my leg, i freaked out and since i had no idea where anything was in mercer (aside from the high school ha) i didn’t know how to get to a hospital. 2 guys showed up who apparently owned this abandoned place, saw what happened, and were nice enough to take me to the ER.

an update on my phone. cingular phones sending me txt messages still go to the old phone. but if you send me a picture message, it’ll go to the new phone. when will this end!?!?!?!

 

Posted in: Dreams \ Tagged: , ,

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aud demolition expected in 2009 after asbestos abatement. as per channel 7 news tonight. peace bridge expansion in 2009 too.

a huge deer just ran past my window. ha

i got an email from Live Nation to do a survey about u2…it’s asking me how much I’d want to pay to see u2 in various locations inside an a stadium…is this a hint of things to come? a rebirth of zoo or popmart? ha i can dream can’t i? anyway. the front section, ie the entire center stadium floor, has a price range between 160 and 300$ LOL. edges of floor, or possibly first level seats 100-160$. the other 2 seating sections between 30-60$. all have an option of “wouldn’t buy” hahah. after that it’s asking what u2 cds i own, and other merch i own, q’s about when i’d buy merch, before or after a show, online, from a street vendor etc. then my general feelings and activities regarding concerts. and now they gave me fun facts about u2 lol gee thanks. what a reward for completing the survey. thanks live nation, i love you!

so i was bored tonight, so i made a cat toy. kitty LOOOOVES it.

so if anyone with a cat wants one…i’m gonna be experimenting. i had to hand sew this one because after doing the arms, ears and eyes the machine decided it hated felt and it would not sew it at all! also the felt looks all pulled apart immediately after kitty got his claws into it. so we’ll see how long it lasts. regular fabric would last longer me thinks. oh, it’s stuffed with catnip also hahaha. hence the kitty loving it part.

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so bono has an appearance in this new movie Across the Universe, which could possibly be the worst ever movie for me to watch. it’s a musical based on beatles music. please bono, don’t make me go see this movie. ha. cassie, maybe you know? how much is he actually in the movie? i’ll prob wait til the clip shows up on youtube haha

someone on interference finally found the discobus clip. i still hate that it’s in real media cuz it’ll disappear again. anyone know how to record .rm files? tube hunter ultra won’t do it. i love how bono laughs during the 2nd “lets go…” and dancing machine edge.
http://limelight.pcdome.hu/Temp/disco_bus.rm
discotheque-a! pre-cursor to a-with-a-teeth-a

 

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u2 quotes

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i dreamed about there being a new version of the muppet show.

i also spent yesterday redoing my shopping cart on institutional green, so now it actually works: http://www.institutionalgreen.org/store

i finished reading U2 Popaganda last night, so now the u2 quote post

Adam: I’d have to say that within the u2 camp, I would definitely be the most diminutive of all the members.
Edge: Adam is the most well-endowed member, no contest, but he wouldn’t know because he’s blind.
Bono: Some people think u2 should be hung. All I’m saying is that we are, in fact, particularly well hung.

“I love women, they’re definitely the stronger sex. Some of my best friends are women. Some of my best friends dress up as women too.” – bono

Interviewer: What do you plan to do after the tour ends?
Bono: Extend the tour… reality isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

“It’s a mad thing we do. There’s nothing natural about it. I mean, I hit things for a living…and people clap.” – Larry

This next one is for adr2
“Strange things happen, like certain pieces of music you’ve used as intro tapes…you’re at home and somebody puts that on the record player and you suddenly start crawling up the walls, the adrenalin starts going. It’s like this Pavlov’s Dog reaction. There’s a song called “4th of July” that we used to use all the time, and I still can’t hear it without thinking we’re about to do a show.” – Edge

“Religious people, generally they freak me out. Honestly, I start twitching when I’m around them. But sometimes, maybe weirdos are the only people who really know they need god.” – Bono

“It’s really the most expensive demo session in the history of music.” – Bono on Pop.
but it’s such a great one!! i hate that u2 (esp larry) hates pop.

“We’re on a roll. Its getting more like the early u2 records. Really simple, stripped down arragements. That’s what we’re hungry for – music with that life force.” – Edge on how to dismantle an atomic bomb, 2002….
edge…seriously? simple? stripped down? those are not the words i use to describe that album

“I went into that record looking good. Then one day they had a guy doing hair in the studio. Bono said, “dan, why don’t you get a hair cut?” I came out with a fucking mullet. I’ll never forgive them.” – Daniel Lanois

“The lights came on during “Where the Streets Have No Name” and there must have been 10,000 people with tears running down their faces. And I told them they looked beautiful, which became the line in “City of Blinding Lights.” – Bono on u2 playing NYC after 9-11

“One of the ancient privileges of being a freeman of the city is the right to graze sheep on open ground. So the next day Bono and I borrowed a couple of sheep and took them out to eat the grass on St Stephen’s Green. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” – Edge

HA!!!!

“If you really hate me or u2 don’t shoot me – that will only sell another 5 million records…I’m worth more dead than alive! If you really hate me, don’t make me a legend” – bono 1988

“I’m famous because I know Bono. That’s pretty much it.” – adam

“Anyone is welcome to tape our shows and pass them around to their friends. But if you start selling them, we will find out where you park your car and we will pay you a little visit!” – bono 2000
promise? haha

“Be brilliant or fuck off.” – bono

“u2 is not a particularly great name.” – larry

“I had one of the worst haircuts of the 1980s. I know that it launched a million second-division soccer players. But the truth of it, if I’m really honest, is that I thought I looked like David Bowie.” – bono…LOL

“I need them for when I’m being insincere…” – bono on his sunglasses

“You know, it’s no surprise to me how ugly the world can be, but I have to remind myself to pay attention to how beautiful it can be. To see a wave crashing in, or a beautiful tree. Or a beach full of breasts, heh heh.” – bono

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yesterday’s game at work i wanted to shoot myself. tonight i watched college football. then i watched a recap of college football. then i watched close to 4 hours of sportscenter. i can tell you every single stat shown on sportscenter. like how the red sox pitcher was the first rookie in red sox history to pitch a no-hitter. he’s the 2nd pitcher since 1900 to have a no-hitter in his first 2 games. he’s the 21st rookie to have a no-hitter since 1900. (tho oddly, i couldn’t tell you his name) the red sox also had a no-hitter in 2001, and 2002. in addition to today, jason veritek caught for all 3 games. Appalachian state beating michigan 34-32 is the first time a 1-a football team has been beaten by a 1-aa team. biggest upset in college football. what else can i tell you…:P and in between i managed to count 16 decks of cards. but i did not deal a single hand tonight. i’ve never been so tired from doing nothing.

it also turns out that my breaks were completely shot on my car. how should i know? they still worked ha. don’t you think they should have noticed they were bad when i had my inspection in june? they didn’t totally disintegrate in 2 months. dad put new ones on and i do notice a difference, now haha.

i listened to most of joshua tree today. i still find it fairly boring. some of the songs i didn’t even remember when they started. maybe it’s because i hear the first 4 so out of context most of the time, but it feels like the first half and second half are 2 different records. the first 4 tracks don’t seem to fit at all with the rest. i also don’t like bono’s vocal style at that point – sort of singing out of the back of his throat. i had downloaded a rattle and hum outtake awhile back, and it was the worst thing i have ever heard. bono sounded horrible, that throat singing thing (that’s the only way i can describe it). and in a way, because i like 90s u2 so much, the u2 of joshua tree doesn’t even seem like the same band as achtung u2. what a freaking difference. how ever did they come up with achtung to follow joshua tree? haha some illuminati conspiracy i’m sure 🙂 running to stand still, album version, isn’t too bad once you get past the first twangy guitar notes. and bono’s performance is very good on it. still, you haven’t heard that song until you’ve heard it live…

and i love trent. pissed off youtube clips from europe haha.

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u2

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so in my u2 mood i listened to how to dismantle an atomic bomb for the first time since..well since it came out ha. decided to give it a 2nd chance – since in the complicatedness that is my u2 fandom, i never like a u2 album at first listen. it has to sit on the shelf a bit and age before i can appreciate it. so htdaab is not as bad as i remember, i listened to the entire thing except yahweh. i just couldn’t. that song is SO bad. it has fun moments, it has way too sappy moments (miracle drug), it has mature moments (songs towards the end), it has the suck moments (yahweh) but over all it’s not too bad. it’s certainly no achtung, and it will never be a “desert island” record, but it’s tolerable. it also will forever remind me of someone.

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u2

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still in my u2 mood…

the amazing thing about the boston 05 bootleg is not the band, and it’s certainly not bono or the setlist. it’s the incredible amount of crowd participation. u2 crowds are usually up on every single song – you don’t get alot of casual fans at the shows because the tickets are so hard to get. but the boston bootleg in particular is RIDICULOUS. you can hear the crowd singing, loudly, on almost every song. it’s pretty surreal. i can’t imagine what it’s like for the band.

i also had forgotten how rude/funny bono was in the buffalo 01 bootleg. during “in a little while” a guy had crowd surfed up to bono on the tip of the heart. bono said “you’re a little overweight…for flying. you weren’t designed to fly, friend.” hahaha.

and “where the streets have no name” is one of the most incredible live song experiences ever. there is really nothing that compares to how “streets” builds, and the band comes in, and it’s just…as close as i’ll ever get to a religious experience. the lighting the band used for it during the elevation tour was the most perfect too. the spinny light things. honestly, i can’t remember what the lighting was like on vertigo tour, so it must not as been as good haha.

since the boston 05 bootleg had 25 songs i’m adding 4 more to my setlist (i’ve excluded all songs that bono’s voice can’t handle anymore, like “the unforgettable fire” and “lemon” etc, tho lemon, especially as macphisto, would be so fantastic)
1. last night on earth
2. do you feel loved
3. stay
4. so cruel 🙂

on top of this kate sent me an article about daniel lanois, where he says that him and brian eno are working on u2’s new record, and the whole thing feels like the achtung baby era again. exciting tho i’ll believe it when i hear it. they also said that how to dismantle an atomic bomb was a guitar record and look how that turned out LOL!

i also dreamed that boyx came exploring with me somewhere. and about jehovah witnesses going door to door and having doors slammed in their face at each house. and that i was in london, or rather, had recently been and forgotten to go to camden market.

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ideal setlist

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my hand looks like i punched someone. boyX has been the only one to notice, and so he’s started telling people i punched someone hahah. if only that was true, instead of my blood vessel randomly burst for no reason.

so since i heard a song at work a few days ago that reminded me of “Running to Stand Still” i’ve been in a big u2 mood. that has included going through bootlegs to find a good live version of above song, and actually listening to the boston 05 bootleg for the first time. i was reminded of how shit ass the order of that setlist was. there are still moments that make me smile, and moments i wish bono would shut up, and songs i wish weren’t in the setlist. and i was reminded about songs i didn’t like and still don’t (ie miracle drug). i also listened to pop giants, the last popmart show, which is great great great.

so that led to me thinking of my ideal u2 setlist…
1. mofo
2. until the end of the world
3. beautiful day
4. city of blinding light
5. the unforgettable fire
6. out of control
7. love and peace or else
8. hold me thrill me kiss me kill me
9. gone
10. with or without you w/shine like stars
11. acrobat
12. please
13. love is blindness
14. mysterious ways
15. sunday bloody sunday
encore
16. bullet the blue sky
17. running to stand still
18. dirty day
19. discotheque
20. where the streets have no name
21. walk on

i limited it to a fair 21 song set heheh. they’re getting old you know 🙂 and for the fun of it, songs i never ever want to see ever/ever again
1. yahweh
2. the playboy mansion
3. miracle drug
4. grace
5. the wanderer
6. peace on earth
7. miss sarajevo (sorry haha)
8. miami

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running to stand still

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And so she woke up
Woke up from where she was lying still
Said I got to do something
About where we’re going
Step on a steam train
Step out of the driving rain
Maybe run from the darkness in the night

Singing ha la la la de day
Ha la la la de day ha la la de day

Sweet the sin
Bitter the taste in my mouth
I see seven towers
But I only see one way out
You got to cry with out weeping
Talk without speaking
Scream without raising your voice
You know I took the poison from the poison stream
Then I floated out of here

Singing ha la la la de day
Ha la la la de day ha la la de day

She runs through the streets
With her eyes painted red
Under a black belly of cloud in the rain
In through a doorway she brings me
White gold and pearls stolen from the sea
She is raging, she is raging
And the storm blows up in her eyes
She will suffer the needle chill
She is running to stand still

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