Category: The Good Things

Music: Best of the First Half

A recurring feature on elbuzzard that no one appreciates are Brent and Kent’s biannual music reviews. It’s time for the best of the first half of 2007! This year, we made a concerted effort in the month of June to listen to every album that we had released this year. There was a lot of crap. Tons, in fact. We suffered through it, all for you.

Stuff we agree on.

Back to BlackAmy Winehouse – Back to Black

Kent: It was hard for me to decide which album between Amy Winehouse and Menomena as my favorite so far of 2007. I listened to Menomena so much more, but Winehouse is way more accessible, and fits into more situations. The production values on this record are what makes it so worthwhile, it’s beautifully recorded for a modern pop R&B album. Winehouse can really belt it out, too, and isn’t exactly what you would call shy with her lyrics either.

Brent: I have my darling wife to thank for getting this CD. I would encourage anyone I know to buy it. I would not encourage everyone to get the Menomena CD.

Neon BibleArcade Fire – Neon Bible

Brent: Arcade Fire is great. I think bombastic is their strength. They seem to feel they have to balance it out with slower stuff. I do not agree.

Kent: I wasn’t blown away at first by this one, it seemed somehow less than Funeral. Eventually, I came to terms that they weren’t going to do the “Big Finish” thing that I loved on their first album and started to enjoy it more. Plus, they put on one of the best live shows I’ve seen.

We Were Dead…Modest Mouse – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

Brent: 2007 has been a sorry year for music so far. Lots of CD’s that have like 6 good songs, and nothing that is quality through and through. That said, this one, Arcade Fire, and Amy Winehouse come pretty darn close. Here’s my issue with James Mercer being on the album: It’s not bad…but I’d much rather have Isaac Brock singing those lines. If I were him, I wouldn’t let anyone sing with me except maybe Joanna Newsome or Tom Waits. So you cut out the songs that the Shins guy ruins, and you have a very solid album.

Kent: BK likes this album up until the guy from the Shins makes an appearance. I think the album is ok until the guy from the Shins makes an appearance and then it gets really good.

Continue reading Music: Best of the First Half

The National

Last night, I checked out The National‘s show at the Earl in East Atlanta. It was a really good show. If they are touring in your area, and you like indie rock, check them out. The Earl was the most crowded that I have ever seen it.

It’s too bad that Dave won’t go to shows with me anymore after the Menomena show (aka Dave’s Last Straw, or That Time That elbuzzard Died). He would have really enjoyed it. Their energy was on par with The Hold Steady’s live act, but with less spitting and shaking.

In other music news, BK and I have been methodically reviewing the new music of 2007, and are working on a Best of the First Half of 2007 post. Look for it towards the end of the month. Be ready to ignore it and to continue to listen to the greatest hits of the nineties.

Home again

For Lent, I have once again given up smoking. My lungs require it after this Carnival.

I hope everyone had a great Mardi Gras, I sure did.

Who’s the king and queen?

My votes for king and queen come from my stomach. Cap’n Jack cooked all day long on Fat Tuesday and still managed to drink a fair amount of his own urine. Ileana tore up the grill at home when DP abandoned her to the coals. I love a girl that smells like sausage.

Cast your vote in the comments. 

For next year:

Will Dave come out of retirement? Current odds are 30:1 that he cannot resist.
What should we wear? I thought the scrubs were cool, low key, and easy maintenance.

A Loud Color and Holdout

Brent Joseph has released his documentary A Loud Color online. Here’s the summary:

As New Orleans rebuilds, many people are trying to resolve the city’s history of crime and violence. Louis Harding was working on this problem long before the levees broke. Louis spent years trying to open a community center, The Marcus Garvey Resource Center. In 2005, he was finally able to offer his first summer program, then Hurricane Katrina struck and the center was destroyed. Despite the setback, 72-year-old Harding refuses to give up on his mission to combat poverty in New Orleans. While sorting through the debris of his life, Louis discusses the importance of history, heroes, and self-esteem in the black community. He explains how life for African-Americans in New Orleans has changed in the last 50 years and why bringing his dream to life is more important than ever before.

Check it out. Buy the DVD series from NOVAC. It’s only $8.
He also released some information about his upcoming film Holdout, about his Mid-City neighbor who refused
to leave New Orleans before or after the Katrina in order to take care of his 18 pets.

Brent and I went to high school together. He is one of my oldest and dearest friends.