derringer's music guide - ProfilesArchive

About Me

MyGen Profile Generator My own music page with a smattering of feeble songs (some in the roughest demo phase) currently posted can be found at www.myspace.com/nightowloscillator.
First off, I've been told on more than one occasion that I'm too humble so I'm trying to work on that without coming across as arrogant. Arrogance is such a turn-off. With that written, it is with no exaggeration nor arrogance that I can write that I'm ALWAYS told by an endless number of people that I'm the "sweetest guy they've ever met" and that I exude an indescribable peaceful vibe/spirit that is enjoyable to be around. I'm a soft spoken guy and shy-until-I-get-comfortable-around-you type.
I'm just your average walking, talking Rubix Cube. More of a pub guy. Guiness and wine are my drinks of choice. Living in Chicago and not enjoying it much after six months here.
A recovering Southern Baptist (from the womb until my early 20's). Weed-eating all the fear and "b.s." that was planted internally as a result has proven to be a pretty heavy undertaking, but I'm certain that I'll evolve and stabilize as I take things day by day. One thing I just try to express to my friends and family who still firmly hold their Christian beliefs is that I'm not just a non-believer now so as to be a rebellious bastard for the heck of it. I respect them for what they hold tightly to their chests and all I ask is for them to do the same with me. I still believe that an elementary driving force of faith, hope, and love is the heart of life, the pathway to prosperity on this fragile earth. It's just that I don't attach this faith, hope, and love to an institution or religion because real life has taught me that things are not so easily boxed and labeled as I was taught growing up. Despite the tanglements, I don't think I'd trade my past experiences because I believe that what I have come out of has made me a super, super objective individual who has a skilled ability to see all sides of a situation without being quick to judge or attack another.
A perpetually optimistic vs. melancholy mystery or better stated, a chirascurro soul. A loyal friend to those who get to know me on a solid friendship level and LOVES late night stimulating discussions with tea, dark beer, or wine involved. A loyal lover who is not afraid of commitment when the right guy comes along. Relationship wise, I thrive on the beauty of reciprocality, the peace of healthy communication, and the joy of creative expression in both love & gratitude. Seeks to do the right thing and talk things thru with integrity and respect. Peacemaker. Smaller groups of close knit friends. Living room dance parties with those close knit friends. Game nights with close knit friends. Road trips. Rollercoaster lover. I adore the moon and beautiful night skies, basically any breathtaking landscapes. Seeker of defining moments of beauty in the nooks and crannies of everyday life. No drama. Surrealist. Dreamer. Nostalgic.
PLEASE NOTE!! I HAVE A NEW POLICY REGARDING ADDING FRIENDS!! I will ONLY add bands/artists who WOW me and people who either personally write me, whom I've met, or message me letting me know they want to keep up-to-date on my music recommendations/blogs. I don't have a goal of collecting as many friends as I possibly can... I have a goal of establishing a group of people and artists who find my page somehow helpful in their search for great music both old and new. Many of my current friend count are bands/musicians that have added me over the last two years. I don't like the idea of people coming to my page and thinking "damn, he's got (enter high number) friends, he must think he's cool"... ha, boy would they be fooling themselves... I try to stay humble.
This new band LATE OF THE PIER is INSANELY BRILLIANT!!! I like alot of their videos actually. This is their newest.
The other INSANELY BRILLIANT and BAFFLINGLY UNIQUE band of the year. WILD BEASTS.
This video is my favorite of the year (well not including BJORK'S OBVIOUS masterpiece, that's a given)... this song and this video I can't get enough of...
Below is the coolest new pop band to come around in quite a while. They are not manufactured by a label and they play their own instruments. I don't feel guilty about loveing them one bit. They really seem like they are genuinely enjoying themselves and it's infectious. I find alot of joy in watching them sing. I'm expecting them to impact radio VERY HEAVILY in 08. ALPHABEAT - FASCINATION. ..
(and yet another beautiful and tragic video by KASHMIR - ROCKET BROTHERS)
MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF MY LIFETIME THAT I COULD NEVER, EVER, EVER LIVE WITHOUT:
LORIEN - UNDER THE WAVES *available in US ITUNES store*
This is the ideal album for anyone out there like me who is into SURREALISTIC, INTERGALACTIC, FANTASY ROMANTICISM kicked into their European rock complete with a voice unlike any other...I'm convinced that Fabio is an angel... ALL MEMBERS STILL ALIVE (see Orlando Ef and Eberg in my top friends), but sadly, the band split after one album. This is the "TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD" in the realm of albums in my humble opinion. My personal favorite song on the album is DISAPPEAR but naming a favorite is nearly impossible, I swear. My greatest birthday wish is that they would reunite for just one show on my birthday one year in whatever city I am living in and let me witness the beauty of the album live. I am gutted that I didn't get to see LORIEN live and that LORIEN has become an unknown treasure to many music fans. Walk thru Lorien's poetic lyrical wonderland here: http://lorien.lyricsfans.com/
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN:
MATTHEW JAY - R.I.P. (1978 - Sept. 2003)
* an artist that I would've loved to have more albums by, I cried the day I heard the news*
MY CURRENT FAVORITE BAND(S) ARE:
SPECIAL NOTE: Please see my TOP FRIENDS for an ongoing rotation of the hottest up-and-comer's/most noteworthy artists worth discovering!
THE VEILS, DUELS, SPOON, OVER THE RHINE, AIR, RYAN ADAMS, ATHLETE, RADIOHEAD, FRANZ FERDINAND, KENT, MEW, MUSE, TRAVIS, THE ARCADE FIRE, PATRICK WOLF, BRITISH SEA POWER, LAURA MARLING, THE FLAMING LIPS, THE KLAXONS, ED HARCOURT, DAVID GRAY, THE HEART STRINGS, IKO, JOHNNY LLOYD ROLLINS...
MY CURRENT FAVORITE SINGER/SONGWRITER/MAJOR MUSIC CRUSH:
JOHN LEGEND
others include: DEPECHE MODE, JEFF BUCKLEY, DAMIEN RICE, SIGUR ROS, WILCO, OASIS, BLUR, ELBOW, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, THE STREETS, KASHMIR, DOVES, THE LA'S, THE ZOMBIES, THE KINKS, THE POLICE, THE INNOCENCE MISSION, JOSEPH ARTHUR, MINUTEMAN (the newer UK band that recently disbanded, not the older band), XTC, JOSH ROUSE, COLDPLAY, U2, ELECTRIC SOFT PARADE, BJORK, SUFJAN STEVENS, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, ELLA FITZGERALD, NINA SIMONE, SHIRLEY BASSEY, SAM COOKE, REMY ZERO, THE CURE, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, JOHNNY CASH, ELVIS PRESLEY, SIMON & GARFUNKEL, JARS OF CLAY (especially IF I LEFT THE ZOO), NICKEL CREEK, CHRIS THILE, K-OS, KINGS OF CONVENIENCE, SONDRE LERCHE, SWITCHFOOT & JONATHAN FOREMAN solo(old albums, not the last two - Jon is a great, great songwriter, his new EPS are excellent), TURIN BRAKES, THE FRAMES, KINGS OF LEON, GREEN DAY, NIRVANA, ROYKSOPP, RON SEXSMITH, RUFUS WAINWRIGHT, MARTHA WAINWRIGHT, BRIGHT EYES, THE CARDIGANS, ABC, THE SHINS, MODEST MOUSE, BRAND NEW (The Devil & God Are Raging), MAROON 5... and vast and vast and vast and vast and vast amounts more.....no, I'm serious... VAST!
JUST A MINIMAL SMATTERING OF FAVORITE ALBUMS THAT I AM FREQUENTLY REPLAYING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN:
UNDER THE WAVES by Lorien
POLICHINELLE by The Prayer Boat
ONCE AGAIN by John Legend
GA, GA, GA, GA, GA, KILL THE MOONLIGHT, & GIRLS CAN TELL by Spoon
MOON SAFARI by AIR
HAGNESTA HILL, ISOLA, VAPEN & AMMUNITION, & DU & JAG DOGEN by Kent
NUX VOMICA & THE RUNAWAY FOUND by The Veils
THE MAN WHO by Travis
VEHICLES AND ANIMALS, TOURIST, & BEYOND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD by Athlete
FRENGERS by Mew
DRAW by Matthew Jay
THE VESSELS by The Vessels
RESIGNED TO LIFE by Minuteman
GLOW, BIRDS OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD & UMBRELLA by The Innocence Mission
O by Damien Rice
FUNERAL & NEON BIBLE by Arcade Fire
MUSIC IN MOUTH & FLOCK by BELL X1
PARACHUTES & A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD by Coldplay
THE BENDS, OK COMPUTER, AMNESIAC, KID A, HAIL TO THE THIEF, & IN RAINBOWS by Radiohead
YANKEE HOTEL FOXTROT by Wilco
NASHVILLE, 1972, & UNDER COLD BLUE STARS by Josh Rouse
DESTROY ROCK AND ROLL by Mylo
DEMON DAYS by Gorillaz
VAN LEAR ROSE by Loretta Lynn
JESSICA DOBSON'S unreleased 2004 major label demo
STRAY by Derek James
I AM A BIRD by Antony & the Johnsons
WHITE LADDER & A NEW DAY AT MIDNIGHT by David Gray
TRANSISTOR RADIO & POST-WAR by M WARD
OHIO, GOOD DOG/BAD DOG, & DRUNKARD'S PRAYER by Over the Rhine
SEA CHANGES by Beck
(WHAT'S THE STORY) MORNING GLORY? by Oasis
TAKK & AGAETIS BYRJUN by Sigur Ros
THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY by The Kinks
ODYSSEY AND ORACLE by The Zombies
THE LA'S by The la's
A WEEKEND IN THE CITY by Bloc Party
THE MAGIC POSITION, THE WIND IN THE WIRES, & LYCANTHROPY by Patrick Wolf
GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE BAD NEWS and THE MOON & ANTARCTICA by Modest Mouse
MELODY A.M. by Royksopp
THE GOLDEN HUM by Remy Zero
BLACK HOLES & REVELATIONS, ORIGIN OF SYMMETRY, and ABSOLUTIONS by Muse
FRANZ FERDINAND & YOU COULD HAVE IT SO MUCH BETTER by Franz Ferdinand
MUSICFORTHEMORNINGAFTER by Pete Yorn
THE HISTORICAL CONQUESTS OF JOSH RITTER by Josh Ritter
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS by Vince Guaraldi
**plenty more where this list came from, I GUARANTEE!!!***

My Interests

I"VE A MAJOR INTEREST IN CREATING FOR YOU ALL AN IMAGINARY RECORD LABEL HERE IN THIS SECTION. DERRINGER'S RECORD LABEL! THIS SECTION IS DEDICATED TO GUIDING YOU TO THE PAGES OF THE BEST INDIE ARTISTS OUT THERE WHO'VE YET TO BE SIGNED AND HAVE KILLER ALBUMS THAT ARE WORTH BUYING IN THEIR ENTIRETY! THIS IS AS BAREBONES AND GRASSROOTS AS IT GETS AND I MAKE NO MONEY OFF OF THIS WHATSOEVER... after all, it's IMAGINARY... that's it! ENJOY!!

THREE ARTISTS/BANDS CURRENTLY "SIGNED" TO MY imaginary record label are:

Introducing my latest "signing", the amazing newborn band (only 2 days old on Myspace) that has wow-ed me with their four free downloadable tracks... KRISSY AND THE JACKDAWS. These guys have a lot of potential to be massive.

JOHNNY LLOYD ROLLINS was my first "signing" and I'm as passionate about him today as I was nearly four years ago upon first befriending him and hearing his music... It's been a pleasure to befriend him and watch him evolve into the artist I knew he would become. I heard the potential early on and now his debut is available for purchase... it is an instant CLASSIC and full of enough punch to launch him as a CAREER ARTIST... here is the link to preview and buy his album!

Now let's pretend I've signed a second artist to my imaginary label. THE HEART STRINGS! They are a fantastic new indie pop band from UK that are wonderfully infectious and addictive. This band has much going for it. Order their debut album today... the response from friends on here has been overwhelming for this band. You can't go wrong with them. You get to choose from three different album covers and the band will custom make them for you. Get yours before these first editions of the album run out!

I'd like to meet:

Sincere people, people who accept imperfection, people who love the soul and seek to dig deeper into spiritual dimensions, people who are firm in their beliefs yet always open to being mindblown and considering changes in perspective... respectful people, funny folk... Storytellers... Quality & super talented bands, artists, music industry folk.... Anybody really... We are all connected...I'm sure we can all find some common bond... even amongst our differences...

Music:

DERRINGER'S 2008 MUSIC RADAR... AN ONGOING SECTION OF BEST ALBUMS of 2008 (in no particular order until my BEST OF YEAR END LIST, but I do tend to put the strongest contenders near the top of this list, so do take note of those)

2008's MOST NOTEWORTHY ALBUMS SO FAR:

> THE BARBARIANS MOVE IN by DUELS *this is a mighty cohesive collection of dark, brooding (yes, barbaric indeed) chamber Brit-rock that grabs you by your mid-evil armor/Viking helmet at note one and doesn't let go. Production is enthralling! Killer Nordic rock. British Sea Power has sadly and swiftly been served.*

>FLEET FOXES LP - FLEET FOXES *a fantastic album of outdoor-sy, mountain folk tunes that are founded on heavily harmonized vocals and the album feels as sacred as gospel music even though it isn't religious in nature, per se.*

>IN GHOST COLOURS by CUT COPY *this is THE dance album to beat this year and the perfect pop 80's synth companion piece/alter ego to M83's brilliant homage to the 80's this year. It is non-stop melodic slip 'n slide that unravels with the intelligence of a massive orchestral suite crafted for the dance floor. The production pushes and pulls in all the right spots and this is what a DAFT PUNK album might sound like if they built an album around 80's synth/pop. You don't hit the skip button on this one, baby!!*

>THE MIDNIGHT ORGAN FIGHT by FRIGHTENED RABBIT * WOW!! This is one helluva record. Musically and lyrically it is just a knockout. The only thing that may cause people to be alienated by it may be his voice, but I LOVE his voice... his thick Scottish accent sounds perfectly pained and appropriately angry or pleading with the type of themes and lyrics he sings of. Imagine if Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) had a thick Scottish accent and wrote music that was a messier epic style of Snow Patrol and you will begin to grasp elements of Frightened Rabbit. Near FLAWLESS album! I'm almost positive this will end up on my TOP TEN LIST of 08*

>LIMBO, PANTO by WILD BEASTS *No words can adequately describe this so I'm just going to simply say "operatic pop". Absurdly original and bafflingly brilliant. Though you initially want to say "no" to it's over-the-top nature, it eventually gets to you and demands you pay it attention with more and more love. QUEEN, SPARKS, MORISSEY are good reference points but it's still beyond comparison.*

>VIVA LA VIDA by COLDPLAY *they've returned with their riskiest album to date! In its own way this is their KID A, their attempt to askew the image we've had of this band. A more international flair spices up this record from flamenco style claps to the mesmerizingly bizarre melting of Middle eastern strings into Nashville style fiddling. It's loud, it's touching, and it is a gift to those fans who want to hear them experiment and evolve in exciting ways and steer away from the slightly disappointing, downward turn that was X&Y. Kudos to Eno for pushing these guys in a MAJORLY POSITIVE AND REWARDING direction... let's hope he can pull us back into U2 with a major passion again too*

> PARTIE TRAUMATIC by BLACK KIDS *this album is an addictive party turned into sonic wonder! It's like The Smiths and The Cure rolled into the melodic goody bag of current upbeat groups like De Novo Dahl or Los Campesinos! Every tune is a memorable melody with whimsical production and clever lyrics as well. So fun, fun, fun!*

> FANTASY BLACK CHANNEL by LATE OF THE PIER *much like WILD BEASTS flabberghasted me about a month ago with an album that defied description, LATE OF THE PIER are a blender of influences that whirl about in a blur of genius melodic stitchings. One minute Gary Numan, Bowie, Queen, Pink Floyd from the land of ol' and the next minute Flaming Lips, The Klaxons, MGMT, or Super Furry Animals, this band is ALL OVER THE PLACE in a most GLORIOUS way. Is this really a debut? My GOD!*

>THIRD by PORTISHEAD *No disappointing return here. This album is a terrificly dark album that feels at once minimalist yet complex. Beth sounds amazing on vocals and I can't help thinking that this would be a Radiohead album if Yorke were a female. A few songs take time to creep over you and win you over, but ultimately the album is BRILLIANT!*

>A LOVE EXTREME (2 disc album) by BENJI HUGHES *Always a risky move to debut on the music scene with a double album, but this guy knows what he's doing. 25 tracks that take you on a fun playground of party pop tunes and laidback slice of life portrait tunes. He has a good deal of humor and wit as his weapon. Sounds like something Danger Mouse would be chomping at the bits to be a part of.... for fans of Beck, Eels, Jeff Tweedy, Ed Harcourt, Stephen Merritt... a phenomenal new artist for 2008!*

>ALAS I CANNOT SWIM by LAURA MARLING *A remarkable folk album from a young gal who is only 18 or 19 and sings about relationships with a maturity WAY beyond her age...She's from the UK, but she nails a Nashville sounding album better than some Nashville artists do.*

>THE COLOURFUL LIFE by CAJUN DANCE PARTY *Debut from young band labeled as one of Thom Yorke's new favorite bands. With so many songs grounded in amazing guitar assaulting melodies it is easy to see why. One of the few younger Brit-rock bands of late that actually deserve the acclaim.*

> JIM by JAMIE LIDELL * HOTTEST POP/SOUL album of 2008! Sure to put Jamie on the map in a MAJOR way with an album chock full of smokin' tunes that churn out bits of Stevie Wonder, Prince, James Brown, Gnarls Barkley, and John Legend into a tight, satisfying album with all the Jamie L quirk to make it his own. Jamie L is like the duo of Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse in one person*

>RED by GUILLEMOTS *this seriously ambitious band has trimmed down their penchant for long meandering tunes, tightened up the song writing to just a wee more commercial leaning without losing their unique flair. What emerges is a sleek, stylish, darker electro tinged pop album that takes you thru exciting hairpin turns of sound and even drags you onto the dancefloor with some serious banggin' tunes. When they mellow out the rewards are gorgeous and heartfelt. A great pop album!*

>MOUNTAIN OF PIECES by STUKENBERG *okay, okay, it's my best friend's band, BUT we met BECAUSE I was impressed by his music at a Talent Search Competition in Nashville and I heard a potentially significant talent for the future. Three years later he delivers an album that the passionate music lover in me truly believes he'd adore even if Stuk wasn't my best friend. This album is a hullabaloo of influences from Spoon to The Guillemots to Randy Newman to Damien Rice and on and on. This is a sarcastic, romantic, whimsical, pointed, and sensitive debut that celebrates life and tackles it's darkest corners of our doubts and fears. I believe he has made his first step toward converting the world to his sound and style.*

>AT WAR WITH WALLS AND MAZES by SON LUX *a masterpiece of hip-hop beats, electronic bleeps, strings, and kitchen sink sounds mish-mashed in a stunning array of creativity. Imagine a melting pot of Sufjan Stevens, The Eels, Yorke's THE ERASER, and Postal Service.

>MENDING by THE NEW FRONTIERS *An album with a Nashiville-tinged, Americana soul that sets sail adrift a sea of Brit-rock's penchant for epic emotion sprinkled over with a light, refreshing gospel rain. The lyrical themes wrestle internal emotional and spiritual turmoil with a sensitivity and grace. Nathan's vocals add to the gracefulness. It is an album that breezes by with a deceptive simplicity at first, but reveals a wealth of enchantment with each repeat. A debut that is well worth it's current 6.00 price on ITUNES!*

> DWELL by THE ENVY CORPS *This album has a stunning collection of tunes that gradually grow and grow and grow on you. Fans of Radiohead, Kashmir, and MidLake should find an immediate favorite here. I initially had this on HONORABLE MENTION but I've hit repeat so much and fallen in love with it to the point that I had to move it up here.*

>EXOTIC CREATURES OF THE DEEP by SPARKS *the most amazing and genius album that is full of bombastic and glammy falsetto vocals and quirky, humorous lyrics you'll hear all year. It skirts "cheesy" territory but it never fully allows you to deny it's absolute brilliance. These guys were doing QUEEN before QUEEN came along. Fans of Scissor Sisters might find things to love here as well.*

>A LARUM by JOHNNY FLYNN *the male counterpart to Laura Marling's debut of folk treasures. He breathes life into the Old South music scene in the UK. You'd NEVER guess that this young guy comes from a private school/choir boy background AT ALL. His voice is perfectly ancient sounding and his music weaves in and out of Paul McCartney, Pete Seeger, Johnny Cash type comparisons. Much like Cash, his music is often lyrically the music of the outsiders: the poor and the homeless vagabonds. Beautifully so.*

> MEâ€º SUâ€º I EYRUM VIâ€º SPILUM ENDALAUST by SIGUR ROS *In the wake of the two disc album, the guys push forward musically and then fall back into what they know so well. This is every bit as solid as previous albums however, I wanted more of the energy found in the first three to four tracks throughout the album and it eventually relaxes into musical territory similar to previous albums. Another GREAT album from a unique band that can do little wrong but as a whole not their finest work*

>21 by MYSTERY JETS *mines so much of the great bands of the past two decades and churns them into a solid pop album that in my opinion betters their debut. Influences such as XTC, SQUEEZE, THE SMITHS, and JEFF BUCKLEY shimmer out of these addictive tunes. Guest vocal from new sensation (and likely to be added to this section in a matter of days) LAURA MARLING.*

>SATURDAYS = YOUTH by M83 * this album NAILS the 80's PERFECTLY. This is SURE to be one of the years BIGGEST SUCCESSES!! Drenched in synth and ethereal vocals that nod to Kate Bush, Tears For Fears, and The Cure. Tied up in a bouquet of shoegaze and spot on nostalgia. This is the album that teenagers will get all emo over and the album that parents will reminisce over their youth to. The perfect soundtrack for a modern Brat Pack movie.*

> MICROCASTLE by DEERHUNTER *this is my favorite thing that BRANDON COX and team has created thus far.*

>I'LL BE LIGHTNING by LIAM FINN *potentially the best new singer/songwriter of the year, this album is pop/rock/alternative at it's finest*

>THE PLEASURE PRESSURE POINT by BLACK AFFAIR *A rewardingly strong bite of dark underground grit and sexy electro from the former lead singer of insanely classic UK band THE BETA BAND. Dominatrix with handcuffs and whip not included (wink, wink) *

>FLAVORS OF ENTANGLEMENT by ALANIS MORISSETTE *her best album since JAGGED LITTLE PILL. A surprisingly joyful and enlightened album with a few moments of signature angst thrown in. Produced by the guy from FROU FROU. Great pop/rock album*

{HONORABLE MENTIONS}
(or albums that are still worth looking into but were just a few songs short of being out of this world)

> MODERN GUILT by BECK

>REST NOW, WEARY HEAD, YOU WILL GET WELL SOON by GET WELL SOON

>ALL OR NOTHING by THE SUBWAYS

>A GUIDE TO LOVE, LOSS & DESPERATION by THE WOMBATS

>SEARCHING FOR THE HOWS & WHYS by GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY.

>FOR EMMA, FOREVER AGO by BON IVER

>STILL THE UNKNOWN by GABY MORENO

>WE DANCE. WE SING. WE STEAL THINGS. by JASON MRAZ

>SEEING SOUNDS by N.E.R.D

> YOUTH NOVEL by LYKKE LI

> O by TILLY AND THE WALL

> I KNOW YOU'RE MARRIED, BUT I HAVE FEELINGS TOO by MARTHA WAINWRIGHT

> WE STARTED NOTHING by THE TING TINGS

> NARROW STAIRS by DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

>SANTOGOLD by SANTOGOLD

>ORACULAR SPECTACULAR by MGMT

>MOVE EVERY MUSCLE, MAKE EVERY SOUND by DE NOVO DAHL

>ALPHABEAT by ALPHABEAT (Danish version; UK version releases June)

>THE ODD COUPLE by GNARLS BARKLEY

>JIM NOIR by JIM NOIR

>DO YOU LIKE ROCK MUSIC? by BRITISH SEA POWER

>VAMPIRE WEEKEND by VAMPIRE WEEKEND

>MADE IN THE DARK by HOT CHIP

>VISITER by THE DODOS

>SEVENTH TREE by GOLDFRAPP

>ACCELERATE by R.E.M

>SOME PEOPLE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS by SIA

>SELDOM SEEN KID by ELBOW

>LET THE BLIND LEAD THOSE WHO CANNOT FEEL by ATLAS SOUND

>MERCY by OURS

>VOLUME 1 by SHE & HIM aka ZOOEY & M. WARD

>FALLING OFF THE LAVENDER BRIDGE by LIGHTSPEED CHAMPION

>BIRDS OF PREY EP by ARCHITEQ

> STRENGTH IN NUMBERS by THE MUSIC

>DEATH IN ATHENS by ESKOBAR

>FALL EP/WINTER EP by Jon Foreman

>FUCK BUTTONS is too tedious for me to sit thru a full album but there is no denying that they are the front runner for Innovative Achievement in Sound this year. They are doing something exciting and fresh that is beautiful if I'm in the right mood.

Movies:

Favorites: To Kill A Mockingbird, ONCE, Walk the Line, Paper Moon, The Fountain, Annie Hall, Away From Her, Cinderella Man, Nicholas Nickleby, A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT, The Bicycle Thief, The Notebook, In America, Donnie Darko, The Anniversary Party, Friends With Money, The Moonlight Mile, Almost Famous, American Beauty, Life Is Beautiful, Fight Club, Snatch, Singing in the Rain, Northfork, Tigerland, American History X, Jerry McGuire, The Philedelphia Story, Bringing Up Baby, It Happened One Night, Roman Holiday, Harvey, many Hitchcocks, M. Night films, Blair Witch (scariest movie I've ever seen...it's what you don't see...I lie in bed and still shiver when I think about it), Big Fish, About A Boy, In Good Company, LORD OF THE RINGS, Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation, Garden State, I Heart Huckabees, The Aviator, The Goonies, The Little Rascals, Babe, The Godfather, Wings of Desire, Amelie, Vanilla Sky, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (NOT A CHICK FLICK, okay?? It's a VERY pretzeled thriller plus it has Audrey- I always find myself defending this film..lol).... and gobs more...
At the moment, my favorite actors are Ryan Gosling, Paddy Considine, Edward Norton, Will Farrell, Jim Broadbent, Albert Finney, Kevin Spacey, and Russell Crowe is renewing my support with Cinderalla Man... Colin Ferril was great in Tigerland... what happened???Current favorite actresses... Parker Posey (she is so adorable and hot!!), Rachel McAdams, Patricia Clarkson, Natalie Portman, Judie Dench, Audrey Tatou, Renee Zelwegger (strange in interviews but a REMARKABLE actress).....

Television:

Arrested Development (quite possibly one of the two best shows ever made)
Six Feet Under (quite possibly one of the two best shows ever made)
The OFFICE (BBC version & Amercian version)
the Bravo reality series'

I only watch tv shows on DVDs pretty much... but I keep them to only the best of the best according to my what my friends are saying about them and such....overall, I prefer films over tv shows... too many choices on tv and not enough quality in my opinion...

Books:

CURRENTLY READING THIS BOOK:
EAST OF EDEN by Steinbeck
LABYRINTHS by Jorge Luis Borges
GREAT CASES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
A LONELY PLANET BRITISH PHRASEBOOK
An ANNUAL & BIENNIAL plant book
Books that I've read and thoroughly enjoyed are:
A LONG WAY DOWN & HOW TO BE GOOD by Nick Hornby
GIOVANNI'S ROOM by James Baldwin (twice read)
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
Unsung by Linford Detweiler (of OVER THE RHINE)
THE BELL JAR by Sylvia Plath
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A Gathering of Old Men
The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton
THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING by MILAN KUNDERA
THE LOST LANGUAGE OF CRANES by David Leavitt
WHILE ENGLAND SLEEPS by David Leavitt
Invisible Monsters
Flannery O' Conner stories & writings
Travels with Charley by Steinbeck
FRANNY AND ZOOEY by J.D. Salinger
Catcher In the Rye by J.D. Salinger
REDISCOVERING THE JOY OF READING IS FANTASTIC!!! :)

Heroes:

Rodney Bingenheimer - THE MAYOR OF SUNSET STRIP guy... his "word" amongst the music industry was "gold"... he had the magical touch and knew bands worth shouting about...
ATTICUS FINCH - a great example of love, patience, forgiveness, humility, great leader skills, and a loving father...
Record Producers: specifically Dennis Herring, Nigel Godrich, Rich Costey, Jackknife Lee, Ken Nelson, Ethan Johns, Victor Van Vugt, Rick Rubin to name a few, they have all produced albums that have changed my life
Ben Afleck and Matt Damon *their Oscar win influenced my decision to strongly look into film, etc.
Charlie Brown - a big loser who always picks himself up and tries again...and the man who created him... the REAL CHARLIE BROWN... Mr. Charles Schulz... may you rest in peace, great sir
Harper Lee & Flannery O' Conner but the most amazing heroic and inspiring writer for me is Linford Detweiler... his lyricism and flow and everything is meticulous and sweetly perfect.
my parents especially my father (I love you so much!)... for following thru on a tough divorce that I believe needed to happen long, long ago... and how it taught me rather shockingly some of the greatest lessons I needed to break free of legalism in my life and just live passionately... a blessing came from that tragedy and now I'm stronger for the journey...
My cousins Josh & Roman - Josh is in IRAQ & Roman is training to be a FIREFIGHTER
the late great Robert Polke aka PEEPAW POLKE aka my great grandfather - For me, it was like being in the presence of an Atticus Finch, you impacted me in ways you will never know, Grandpa...and your man to man talk with me at your hospital side just weeks before you died was one of the most powerful moments of my life... i believe that when you left your body..your spirit of loving unconditionally and finding joy in all things and all people became my own... I feel like you gave me a blessing that I needed to carry on... I miss you and MEEMAW POLKE so much... you were so strong even when I know you surely wanted to give up after losing her... you stand head and shoulders above all as my ULTIMATE hero...
People throughout the history of time (Mother Theresa, Bono, St. Francis of Assisi to name a few) who have impacted the world by teaching us FORGIVENESS, FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE by showing us FORGIVENESS, FAITH, HOPE, & LOVE in its most potent and powerful form and without all the exaggerated force and often selfishness/hypocritical/fearful propoganda that many churches try to use on people... there should never be tactical methods... just us living our beliefs and letting them stand on their own without trying to forcefully "save" people or make them change...
"God is LOVE"
"Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his brother"

My Blog

New LOVELY video from the AMAZING FLEET FOXES & new BLOC PARTY single/video debuts online!!!!

First off, the new Bloc Party tune is up and playing (along with the video) over at www.blocparty.com. It's called MERCURY... It's a bit off kilter in the melody department so it took a good three ...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:28:00 PST

LATE OF THE PIER added to my BEST OF 2008.

Here's the blurb:FANTASY BLACK CHANNEL by LATE OF THE PIER *much like WILD BEASTS flabberghasted me about a month ago with an album that defied description, LATE OF THE PIER are a blender of influence...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:34:00 PST

BLACK KIDS debut is traumatically TERRIFIC and will b added 2 my BEST OF 2008 list.

You can hear the full album of BLACK KIDS on their myspace page now.It delivers on the promise of their first and quite charming EP.Whereas my take on their live performance (based on youtube videos f...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:30:00 PST

Three weeks notice.

Hello.Well, I have gotten out of the habit of posting as many personal blogs as I used to. This is called a music guide page and I have wanted to stick by that. I used to be in the habit of airing o...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:36:00 PST

the atomic bomb of personalities... haha... I love it!!!

Once again Mute Math send their correspondent out on the streets of New Orleans for more reactions to new songs.... this time out one of the correspondent's interviews trys to take over his job....
Posted by derringer's music guide on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:22:00 PST

If you like Nickel Creek/Chris Thile, you might like SETH LAKEMAN (plus Beck & Jay Brannan)

The new album POOR MAN'S HEAVEN from UK folk/celtic artist SETH LAKEMAN... It's a great collection of folk based tunes with lots of celtic type influences weaving in and out of it but the celtic...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:05:00 PST

Hes finally becoming the pop artist that I imagined he could be...

I've had my eye on Jon McLaughlin for a few years now.... been a friend of his Myspace long enough to keep tabs and slowly see his success take off little by little.... I could always hear alot of pot...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:06:00 PST

14 years old and pretty impressive for being so young!

The next Smiths? the next Cure?I'm pretty impressed with this young band... so many are erupting out of the UK scene and aren't really doing it for me.... a few are (Cajun Dance Party to be specifi...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:38:00 PST

JAY-Z’s clever "response" to Glasto furor...

Mad respect, Jay-Z. What a way to turn the tables. ...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:22:00 PST

Winehouse punching and pitch-awful!

...
Posted by derringer's music guide on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PST