Fighting Off the Pricks with One Hand

Hi.

I like this video. It's from New Radiant Storm King and it's called "Quicksand Under Carpet." File under: Still got it! Enjoy.



I need to continue editing mine psychology paper now. More later.

Hugabees,

mitchconnor.

From Bed to Sink and Back Again

Hi.

If you are Chinese, Happy New Year.

If you are everyone else, happy Birthday.

Party.



Best bass line ever.

Maybe you like this instead, non?



Not exactly "Fun, fun, fun on the Autobahn" now is it?

Anyway I'm back with an all new minglewood resolution to update this blog on occasion. It will contain writing with the following subject matter:

1. Music by other people.
2. Music by me - especially the recording thereof, slated to begin in March.
3. Hockey, specifically related to the Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames.
4. Sundry bits of wisdom, both self-righteous and otherwise.

Let's get right to point number 4.

After looking at this and especially this, suffice it to say that I'm a little confused, and more than a little concerned. Yes, I know that second link is old news.

Dear Artists Who Claim to be Independent:

I love you. I really do. I understand that you want to eat meals. I understand that you don't want to sleep in a van all of the time. I understand that it's okay to be on a major record label now. I understand that I have no business telling you how to live your lives.

But NIKE? Is it really okay to do shit sponsored by Nike now too? You know what Nike does, right? You can read about it here, or you can take a look-see:



If you're going to go "major-label" or whatever, fine. But that doesn't mean you have to sell your souls. Shame on you! And I mean that sincerely.

Love,

mitchconnor

Do You See What Happens When You Find a Stranger in the Alps?

This is what happens, Larry.

The above gentleman/Bill Bruford lookalike is Alexander Semin from the Washington Capitals hockey team. I wanted to quote some relevant passages from an interview conducted on the Alexander Ovechkin blog, here. Follow the link for the whole interview. It's quite interesting. Questions are in bold, Mr. Semin's responses in plain text, my comments in parentheses:

Isn't the (NHL) rink too small for a dozen men in armor? It creates a spectacle.

Because it is crowded? Well, of course. More shots, more physical battles.

But in overtime when it's four on four, it's more spacious, and it looks better. I disagree. The crowd is bigger on every game, that's the criterion...

Why (is it harder to play in New York than in DC)? Because we are young and everything is interesting for us. And New York is like second Moscow, everything is open there for 24 hours. Too many temptations, and the buzz and the noise.

Plus there are two NHL teams. Even three. New Jersey is based nearby.

How about exotic hockey south? Florida, home of Panters or California, the residence of Ducks? There, I think, is even harder to play. Florida, Miami, always sunny, the beach. You understand what's there.

(I understand what's there too, even though I live in Philadelphia, the residence of Flyers.

Suddenly we get a glimpse into Russian life through a simple real-estate question...)

You said before that you were renting a house in Washington. Now I got the house. I bought it this year. A lot easier now.

Are you satisfied with the land? Over there the house prices depend on the size of the land. It depends also on location, in what part of the town. I live next to the training arena. 15 minutes away. I am happy with everything.

No exhaust from huge trucks? No, they dont have it. It all seems like outside of the city and surrounded with green trees. The green trees are all over.

(This makes me realize that I am lucky to live in a place with no exhaust from huge trucks.

NOW it gets interesting... what is the meaning of life, Mr. Semin?)

Is there a God? I think so.

Just a hockey God or universal God? God throughout the universe, of course. He directs all that there is on Earth.

The Americans as a nation are very religious. Their whole families go to the church, and there are many churches. I don't know about it.

When you'll have a family, will you go too, maybe? I go to church already. We have this option. We go to church all the time.

In the States most churches are Protestant. I don't know, I go to the Russian Orthodox Church.

(The interviewer knows more about organized religion in America than a lot of Americans do, apparently. However, he does NOT know about how wealthy Americans spend their money, nor does he know about the American president.)

Who among NHL players lives a glamor life? Those who have already played five or six years or more.

Some may have built a house with 60 floors? No such thing? Or someone has a car that is 20 yards long? And why would you need one?

Is it inconvenient? I think so.

Do they talk about George W. Bush? No, I did not hear.

Well, at least is there such person? I know who he is. Like he will be replaced, as far as I know.

(Finally, Mr. Semin is grounded in reality and humility. We all should be so lucky.)

What is done wrong in the world? This is not for me. I won't even try.

Shouldn't young man think about it? And what will it change? Even if I say something. What's the point?

God can hear you. You go to church. I still won't say anything condemning anyone.

Bravo.

Love,

mitchconnor

Holiday Mix Aught-Six

Hello children. Slappy Nude Year to all.

Some of you have received "Holiday Mix Aught-Six" from me. I have received praise from some of you, and I'm glad you like it. For those of you who haven't heard said mix yet, it doesn't have much to do with the holidays. It's more of a personal statement, a "Gee, what a year that was / Hey, wha' happen?" if you will. Each one has a different cover, designed by yours truly and targeted toward each recipient. The above is an example - it was given to a colleague who constantly makes references to strippers, so there you go. And for those of you who read waaaaaaaay too deeply into things, I am not a misogynistic pigheaded fuck, thank you very much.

The tracklist is below. Keep checking this space - I'll add comments to each track in upcoming posts. As I implied above, there is a reason why the mix turned out the way it did. I'm sure you'll all lose sleep until I explain every last little detail.

(By the way, remember that one post where I said that I wasn't going to be long-winded? Well, I lied. Deal with it, children. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.)

1. Tex La Homa, "Something Good"
2. Q and Not U, "So Many Calls"
3. The Knife, "Silent Shout"
4. Caleb, "Baby Your Phrasing Is Bad"
5. Damien Jurado, "Like Titanic"
6. The Mountain Goats, "Scotch Grove"
7. Bauhaus, "In Fear of Fear" (Live, Nokia Theatre, New York City, 11/11/2005)
8. Envelopes, "Isabel and Leonard"
9. Sebadoh, "Hassle"
10. Manitoba, "Skunks"
11. The Evens, "Get Even"
12. Joanna Newsom, "Sprout and the Bean"
13. Hot Chip, "And I Was a Boy From School"
14. Josef K, "Chance Meeting"
15. Javelins, "Two-Sided Fame"
16. Pavement, "Grounded"
17. Siouxsie & The Banshees, "Spellbound"
18. The Clientele, "K"
19. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, "According to Plan"
20. Sam Prekop, "Magic Step"
21. Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, "If Fingers Were Xylophones"
22. MF Doom, "Sumac Berries"
23. Jens Lekman, "A Higher Power"

Re-Make / Re-Model

Hello children.

This will be the first of undoubtedly many music-oriented posts on Open Air Gas Leak. Before I begin, please be advised of the following: This is not going to be another long-winded indie rock blog space. I'm going to say what I want to say and that's it. I'm not going to masturbate over any artist's importance. I'm not trying to impress anyone with my knowledge. In short, I have nothing to prove to you. Deal with it.

That being said, let's begin with the Open Air Gas Leak reissue / reunion extravaganza...

"Check that expiration date man, it's later than you think..."

I can't say anything about Pavement that hasn't been said. So why am I writing this? Wowee Zowee has been reissued and bonus-tracked, silly! You already know this. The boys did a fine job on Wowee Zowee: Sordid Sentinels Edition to be sure. I find their reissues useful since they incorporate additional session tracks, companion singles/EPs, radio sessions and live treats. In other words, they incorporate bonus material which is good to hear, and not as pointlessly exhaustive as it could be. Of course, the original album is great too. I think it's the last weird indie album they did. It's been a while since I've heard Brighten the Corners, but chunks of that seem like a Crooked Rain rehash to me... Anyway, if you haven't gotten WZ, maybe you should. But you don't have to if you don't want to. If you want to try before you buy, go here.

Anyway, the main reason for this post is to comment on the "Pavement reunion" rumors which accompany each reissue. Folks: It's not happening anytime soon. Sleater-Kiney's Janet Weiss just joined the Jicks if you haven't been paying attention. S.M. et. al. have done some really nice work so far, and with Weiss in the fold we should be hearing even more. Besides, Pavement haven't even been on hiatus for 10 years yet. That's an unofficial rule, isn't it?

Don't get me wrong - I'd be more than happy to see Stevie and the Stockton Boyz Jazzmaster it up like in days of not-so-old. But give it time, people. Like a fine wine or cheese, reunited bands become better with age. People become more mature and don't bicker over the same old stuff. If J. Mascis and Lou Barlow can set aside their differences, so can S.M. and Spiral Stairs. Hell, if Lou and J. can forgive and forget, then maybe there is hope for Lou and Eric Gaffney. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

"We're not here to crawl away or find blame for wasted time..."

I'll confess that I got into Sebadoh with Bakesale just like everyone else. It's a fine place to begin since it points to their more straightforward/safe mid-late 90s stuff while also featuring a few songs with Eric Gaffney on drums (the best songs on the album, IMHO). But as I got into their "classic" period material, III remained elusive (read: out of print). I could have gotten it for like $50.00 on Amazon but Lou B. had long been talking of a reissue so I waited and waited and waited. So it finally came out and showed up in my mailbox one day. Turns out I waited so long that I forgot I had pre-ordered it from Insound... Christmas in August, as it were.

So how is it? Awesome, that's how. To be brief: III is even more gloriously uneven than Bubble and Scrape. The "properly" recorded songs don't sound too shiny, and the lo-fi tracks are especially inviting. There's not an outright bad song here, although Jason's contributions are not his best... he saved those for Bubble and Bakesale. Eric has some real gems, and Lou is Lou, but it's some of the most interesting Lou you'll hear. Like Pavement, Seb-ba-dough includes useful extras - the Gimme Indie Rock! EP, demos and outtakes from III, and a copy of their "introducing the band" tape they used to play during their 1991 shows. To hear some tracks, go here. If you're curious about other Seb output from the late '80s - early '90s, go here.

Now the reunion news: Lou and Eric patched things up enough to tour for the first time in about 13 years. (I told you that a minimum 10-year break is mandatory!) The tour happens in February - March of 2007. This is a good thing for people like me who never experienced the group at their best. But I say unto thee: Enjoy it while it lasts because it ain't gonna last long, children. I get the impression that the schism between Lou and Eric was even wider than that between Lou and J; while time heals all wounds, it also wounds all heals. Besides, the group's best days are well behind them. Wait, so are Pavement's. But that's okay. It's all about the music, especially if you're Rolling Stone and you say "This reissue is good but we can't WAIT till they give us Harmacy!!!!!!" Do they mean that? Of course they do. They're Rolling Fucking Stone.

Hey Umplink!

Some of you may have noticed the resurgence of a peculiar dialect in the greater Philadelphia area of late. It is not uncommon to go out in public and hear sentences such as these:

"Back when I was apple juice I had a real French host beast!"
"Keep your grapes peeled when that hobo's out mending the fence. He's a real leaky cup!"
"That wrinkly baglady is real done up in the frontpan!"
"Duck and cover! It's a whole bunt of umplinks!

This, friends, is the lingo used by the Forksti Boys.

For those of you who don't know, the Forkstis were a group of gangsters during the Great Depression who stole food from peoples' plates. One Forksti would distract an eating person while the other would steal food from his/her plate. They originally settled in Nether Scrappleton (currently Old Nether Scrappleton) before relocating to New Nether Scrappleton. They had to move because Old Nether Scrappleton was too close to Levvittown, home of their rival Levvittown Boys. (Some folks refer to the latter as "Levvitton Boyos" or just "Boyos".)

I am afraid that the resurgence of this lingo means that the Forkstis are on the comeback trail. Please be safe when you go out to eat at a restaurant. Be aware that Forkstis and/or Boyos could be there too, and that they will stop at nothing to eat whatever it is you're eating. A bit later I'll post a dictionary of Forksti / Boyo terminology so that you'll know to watch your back when out and about - or, as the Forkstis would say, "Keep your grapes peeled!"

Barry Bonds? No. Sticky Bonds? Yes.

Well well well. Welcome to Open Air Gas Leak.

Today I played a Panthertone synth for the first time. Have you not heard of Panthertone? They've been providing pulleyed and water-powered synths to the professional leprechaun community since Nineteen-Aught-One. They're quite impressive. Mine is water-powered, as you'll see below.


BEWARE OF IMITATORS! A company called Lycanthrope makes similar synths, but in my experience they are not nearly as good. Panthertone is the way to go for your pulleyed and water-powered synth needs.