Archive for August, 2007

Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris

Sometimes, it’s really hard not to believe the hype. I think that when Michael Jordan made the switch from basketball to baseball, we all silently knew, even though we were hopeful, that his talents would always shine the brightest on the hardwood. Being mindful of MJ, it begs the question: Even...
August 27th, 2007 | Music | Read More

The Good Life – Help Wanted Nights

Unfortunately, life isn’t like Madden 2008 – people don’t usually get to choose the degree of difficulty. Some days are simply harder than others; no one gets to decide which days they’ll play at “Rookie” level and which days they’ll play at “All-Madden”...
August 27th, 2007 | Music | Read More

Christopher Buckley – Boomsday

Christopher Buckley’s latest novel takes a satiric look at what arguably could be America’s future. Unlike most futuristic tales, Boomsday‘s realistic storyline (for American politics, anyway), usage of the soon-to-be real Social Security crisis for its main plot, and its setting in...
August 27th, 2007 | Books | Read More

The Western Civilization et al. at Walter’s On Washington, Houston TX

There’s something about great local rock shows that large touring acts are simply unable to reproduce. Local, hometown bands play in comfortable, familiar venues filled with the friends and acquaintances who regularly patronize their shows. From the onset, there’s a comfortable vibe in...
August 20th, 2007 | Music | Read More

Bishop Allen – Live at the Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR

Another month, another show. A twin header from acidic pop kings, Page France and Bishop Allen. I’d already thieved the poster from the Doug Fir bathroom and pinned it on the back of my office door. It was supposed to be a double dip of a show: another chance to sample the Danielson meets Pedro...
August 20th, 2007 | Music | Read More

The Innocent Man, by John Grisham

In The Innocent Man, Grisham takes his first stab at non-fiction after much success in the field of legal thrillers. The Innocent Man tells the story of a brutal murder in small-town Ada, Oklahoma and how the town’s police department and local prosecutor botch the murder investigation so severely...
August 20th, 2007 | Books | Read More

Grace (Eventually), by Anne Lamott

Anne Lamott’s latest work is more of the same. For those who admire Lamott’s writing, this is good news. Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith is further evidence that Lamott is a supreme talent, a writer who can unearth profound truth buried among the mundane. Having already written two...
August 13th, 2007 | Books | Read More

Blue Scholars – Bayani

I came to Seattle for an education. Although my wonderful professors have taught me many valuable lessons, I have learned more about the world, about people, and about life simply from living in my incomparable surroundings. Seattle has an atmosphere like no other, and this is especially true among...
August 13th, 2007 | Music | Read More

Smashing Pumpkins – Zeitgeist

In an interview after one of the Smashing Pumpkins final shows (Summersault 2000 in Ottawa, Ontario), band leader and musical scientist Billy Corgan was dubbed as saying “The music industry has become the entertainment industry and honestly, I can’t compete and nor am I interested in working...
August 13th, 2007 | Music | Read More

Alex Dupree & The Trapdoor Band – Las Meridanzas

Fourteen months ago, I wrote about Alex Dupree and the Trapdoor Band’s self-titled debut. The album was also my 10th favorite album of 2005. But that might’ve been a little generous. While I loved the album, it was rough…a little too DIY in the mixing. The album had great songs,...
August 6th, 2007 | Music | Read More
« Older Entries