Initial Disagreement

What's the deal with bands using initials when their band name don't merit them? Allow me to explain...

I was at work today listing to the radio station through my headphones, as always, when something caught my attention. Now I am still in the process of being able to half listen while concentrating on whatever it is I'm doing (or, at least whatever I'm supposed to be doing...what do I do again? Oh well, nevermind...) but something stuck out enough for me to mentally grab it and mull it over.

There's a contest going on right now that lets you win passes to the Linkin Park concert, but instead of saying "Linkin Park"again, they just said "LP".

Seriously? The band's entire name is only three syllables. Are we so lazy now that saying that many syllables is a burden?

Maybe the script-writer or whatever was thinking that they didn't want the announcer to say "Linkin Park" over and over again, which I can understand. But what's the deal with Avenged Sevenfold calling themselves A7S? I swear the first time I heard that I thought, who's that? Is that a new band? It confused me for a while, I won't lie, but when I found out it was the same lame band, I just got pissed. If they want to have a "7" in their name, why don't they just put it there in the first place?? Call yourselves Avenged 7 Fold or shorten it to ASF or even just AS since I'm pretty sure they use one word for Sevenfold.

At least with other bands, I can understand why they'd utilize initials. It's alot easier to put BTO on a t-shirt instead of Bachman Turner Overdrive and they save a bundle on marquee letters by putting ELO instead of Electric Light Orchestra.

I know I'm sounding like Andy Rooney (a.k.a. an old fart, fuddy-duddy, curmudgeon or anything else that would describe a 89 year old man named Mortimer), but I really just don't see the point to use initials for something so brief. And speaking of brief, you like the under 1,000 word post? I'm getting better (and see? Sometimes it pays when I have absolutely nothing else to talk about!) lol.

Fear not, I'm sure I'll get screwed by something this weekend. Tune in Monday to find out what.

Have a great weekend everybody!

Still Loving You Sunday Morning...Despite Saturday

Joe and I were driving yesterday down to Bourbon Street, a bar downtown that shows local bands every Monday as part of 98 Rock's "Noise in the Basement", and talking about music. He was trying to find something worthwhile to listen to on the radio, and I made the comment about how listening to the radio stations today is like playing a card game, depending on the station you either get a commercially safe "rock" station, the soccer-Mom-approved American Idols station, or the classic oldies that have been raped for use on commercials. Just depends on who's got the better song at the time...or "hand" as the metaphor goes.


He said I ought to write about that, otherwise he would. I dunno, I think that was as far as I thought about it. So go ahead Joe, and take it from here...

Anyway, speaking of music, last Saturday was the long-anticipated M3 Rock Festival. Ever since I first heard that it was coming back around I have been so excited. And THEN they announced that the headliner was going to be the Scorpions - my excitement sky rocketed.

Now this is going to probably sound weird but I think the first time I heard "Rock You Like a Hurricane" was for a commercial for the very first "Monsters of Rock" album. I was fairly young at the time, just watching television as always, and I was struck by the sound...and the glimpse of the video that they showed during the ad. It was of a bunch of people slamming themselves into this huge metal-linked fence thing. The music was so punching itself it was as if the people couldn't help themselves or something. I dunno, it sounds weird but that image has always stayed with me, and that song always left a lasting impression. It may have been the reason I really started to feel out for more glam and hair metal (so you can either thank or blame them depending on which side of the metal-linked fence you are on).

From there I listened to anything of theirs I could get my ears on..."No One Like You", "Big City Nights", "Winds of Change", "Rhythm of Love", and my latest favorites: "The Zoo" and "Loving You Sunday Morning". Now I should say before I go any further that though I love this band, and really any band that I'm obsessed with, I AM one of those fans that actually knows practically NOTHING about them. Yes yes I am one of those, but I stand here (or sit here, rather) and admit it. I'm so bad I didn't even know the lead singer's name...Klaus something right? So before I get the tons of schooling, I just want to put it out there honestly that I pay attention to the MUSIC, not necessarily the band's bio. Fair enough? Ok, so back to the M3...

Now, being a fan of what you would call "older" music, has both its benefits and disadvantages. A benefit is that usually seeing these bands isn't terribly expensive. The disadvantage is you will probably feel out of place among the biker chicks and redneck guys. It's good because they seem to tour EVERY summer so even if you miss them this year you can always try the next. It sucks though, because there are only so many "older" bands out there....and they are always getting older. Surprisingly this wasn't a problem I noticed before with the other bands I've seen like Styx or Journey. Unfortunately, this fact DID come to the forefront on Saturday.

My friend and I actually made it to the festival at a reasonable time (as opposed to last year when I was so unforgivably late that we caught just the tail-end of Extreme). We managed to get our $11 sangria (no joke) and in the heat we downed those suckers like Juicy Juice. We also scored actual seats this year, considering that it is the Scorpions last hurrah before they hang up their hair and retire.

We listened to Kix, who were pretty awesome, and Cinderella, who freaking turned it out. Then finally it was the Scorps turn. Now again, let me pause a minute and give you a bit more back story as to why I was so stoked for this show. I've been trying to see these guys for years, but they never seemed to make it to the states (and if they did it was always to either L.A. or N.Y. at the worst possible time). So the fact that they were part of this already awesome line-up, going to be local, AND that it was going to be their last tour, I figured the Gods were hand-picking me for this destiny...ok, maybe that's a little dramatic, but hell, I was EXCITED.

We had our beers in hand, we had peed, and we had a pretty good view. We were ready. They came on stage. And then....what the hell is that? From where we were sitting the sounds were getting all garbled. We could just barely make out his voice. What song is this? A song from their newest album? We waited for a song or two just to make sure, but then we ended up leaving our seats to make it onto the lawn. The sound quality improved, but the songs didn't seem to. I sat there like a kid waiting on line to see Santa but was met instead by an obvious imposter.

Then I suddenly became terribly crest-fallen and critical of everything. He stuck his microphone out to the audience too much. They pulled Vince Neil back on stage to sing one of the songs. He wasn't reaching the high notes I had so anticipated hearing. I wanted to hear HIM sing the damn songs, not Johnny Nobody or freakin Vince Neil! I wasn't the only one either, and as my friend and I exchanged comments and looks of despair, I heard a woman lying on a blanket next to us suddenly offer some insight...

"He's been sick lately, that's why he can't sing the way he used to...plus the fact that the guy is pushing near 60," she said. I asked her if he always pushed the microphone into the audience this much.

"Yeah, I've seen them before and he did do that. But not as much as this. Again, probably due to his voice," she said, settling back onto her blanket.

We stuck around to hear the majority of the set, happy to hear "Big City Nights" and "The Zoo", but by the time we realized they were going to exit just to come back to do "Rock You like a Hurricane" as the encore, we packed up and headed for the car.

It wasn't the same feeling I got back when I was kid or later on in the privacy of my car or room. I guess that's the saddest part. It'll never be what it was, or in my case, seeing as how this will probably be my last and only time to see the Scorps, it never CAN be, because these poor guys are just going to get older. Kinda depressing, but at least I'll always have the memories...and a subscription to iTunes.

You guys bored? Depressed? Hungry? Don't worry, update on The Living Year and with some comments on I Love Lucy tomorrow.

The Youthful Follies

Believe it or not, my fine taste in film and music took years to hone (*scoff* *scoff*) and meanwhile I liked alot of crap along the way. Whenever I hear a song I used to be obsessed with or see clips from a movie I used to watch over and over again, I can't help but grimace with regret and embarrassment. And now coming up towards my 26th birthday, I feel it's time to look back on these things not with shame but in the comfort of knowing they helped me become the person I am now...plus it should be good for a cheap laugh.

1. "Jump" by Van Halen--I used to love this song. The sound of that rockin synthesizer used to get me so pumped up, I'm brave enough to say I tried to do that high-kick jump off my bed. Now, when I hear it I have to change the channel. What I used to love now annoys the crap outta me. Oh well...might as well jump...

2. "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club--This wasn't like "Jump", this was literally the first song I was OBSESSED with. I had never seen anything like Boy George before. I was coming from a childhood where my mother banned MTV because she thought it was too racy for us kids (and this was at a time BEFORE horny co-eds had nothing better to do than get wasted everyday and punch each other in the face...what show am I talking about? Does it matter? Take your pick)

3. "Josie and the Pussycats" Soundtrack--I never even saw the movie, but on a trip to Florida I met up with my friend Meghan and a few of her friends and she introduced me to it. They apparently had been listening to it the practically the whole trip...I can't really explain this one, or why I loved it so much. Maybe it was b/c we were in Florida, or the first taste of freedom, but all I know is I actually continued to listen to it for a while until it finally got scratched beyond recognition and the spell was broken. Honestly the cynical music (and movie) lover in me must've wept with relief, but I stil don't think I can let myself live down that one...

4. "Charlie's Angels"--I look at movies today, especially remakes, with a bit of a judgemental eye. But back in High School I freakin LOVED this movie. Again, not really sure why. Maybe cuz it actually had girls kicking ass (a rarity). And really that was prob its only redeeming quality. But if I look at the story now, I get so annoyed. It seems like a caricature of itself, so overdone and yet thin. Esp the dialogue (if I had to hear that whiny baby-talk and obnoxious way Cameron Diaz said "Chaaliee" i think i'd have to saw my ear off with a butter knife).

So there they are...my youthful follies. Maybe they aren't so bad to some of you...maybe you even like these things. I guess they will always have a weird place in my heart, like a scar that never goes away but reminds you of who you once were and where you came from. Wow, that's probably the deepest anyone would ever go after just talking about David Lee Roth and and a crappy remake of an Archie-comic-character-band. But I'm woman enough to admit mine. What are yours huh?

Thursday Thoughts

As I've mentioned a few times, my job has me looking at names for about 8 hours a day. You may assume it would be mind-altering-ly boring, but actually I come across some interesting little surprises. Once while I was (legitimately) looking up an hospital I came across a rather interesting article...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3330057/Vicar-went-to-hospital-with-potato-stuck-in-bottom.html

If you don't feel like clicking the link, it's basically an article about a vicar who was hanging curtains in his kitchen (...naked) and fell on a potato, getting it lodged right in the ol' Yorkshire pudding hole (and I found this only a few weeks into the job).

That article aside, the most commonly interesting things we come across are odd names similar to celebrities...Julia Roberts, for example. Leslie, my coworker found a good one the other day (Mighty Fine...yes, she swears that was the name, but unfortunately there was no pic so she's not sure if it was a guy or girl).

Today I found a pip- Melody Music. First name Melody, last name Music. Doesn't it sound like a character on a kiddie show? Either her parents were musicians that had their last name changed for shits and giggles, had a sick sense of humor, OR (if she was married) should get a lottery ticket for marrying a guy with such a perfectly matchable name. But that's not even the best part...she lived on Minor Ave. (as in a kind of music key), AND 747 Broadway (umm as in where MUSICAL MELODIES are played?!?). Classic, you can't make this crap up.

Then after I got over the amazement of that, I started thinking about something else. You know I'm pretty critical about today's music. And I think part of the reason is the false hope these damn songs give me. I hear a song and the first bars sound so good and interesting...and then it all goes to whiney-yarling-generic HELL. While I was considering that, The Police's "Wrapped Around Your Finger" came on the radio. It took me a second to recognize it, cuz I had to fast forward through the intro through my brain to get to the bridge. I have to do that with a few of their songs, and that's when I realized something--while most bands can develop a good beginning their end delivery is crappy, while The Police kinda have the opposite problem...their beginnings are kinda unpleasant frankly, but once you get past it, their songs are really interesting AND accessible. If current music is chocolate covered crap cordial, The Police are like a crap covered nougatty caramel delicacy. You get through it and you get a delightful payoff. Current music may goes down easy but at the end of the day...its crap. Too critical? Eh whatever.

Maybe I'm too much of a stickler. And maybe I'm too young to be a stickler...but I'm really not that young anymore am I? You know I still think I feel about 18, which is maybe why I get so frustrated when my body or skin changes. Even the people I consider "older" are really not that far beyond me. And yet I still always try to be ultra-lovely and mind my manners. I've noticed that especially in this office. I'm not that much younger yet I still feel like I need to make sure I'm polite, as if I'm around relatives I barely see and I'm looking at a dirty glare from my mother if I don't say "please" and "thank you." In school it's so easy to see the distinction. But out here in the real world, it's like suddenly you are just lumped together in the masses of "adults". It's a weird sensation, but I guess it's all part of growing up. I am still growing up aren't I?

Wednesday Wonderings...

My mind has the tendency to wander from topic to topic, especially at work. So I figured I'd share some random thoughts that came to me (in no particular order...)

1.) Coffee- I never used to understand what the big attraction to coffee was. The few times I tried it in the past it I could never get past the bitterness of it. Even after putting packets of sugar and milk in it, I couldn't believe that people could drink gallons of it in a single day. But when Joe and I visited his aunt she made us breakfast and coffee. Not wanting to be rude, I accepted the cup and was shocked at how good it tasted. I still didn't have it often, until recently. I was at work with what I had to assume was on incoming migraine. My coworker Leslie offered me some migraine tablets and suggested I have coffee with it (apparently the caffeine helps). In a few minutes I felt like I was tripping. My head felt light, my hands felt heavy, and started get the worst kind of giggles. I was freaking out, and trying desperately not to bring attention to myself in our silent office. I had never really had that feeling before, but I noticed it again today. Maybe it was because all I had was a bowl of cereal and a banana all day. Whatever, either way, it was kinda cool. Made looking at names all day a bit more interesting...

2.) Jethro Tull v. Metallica- I was listening to "Cross-Eyed Mary" by Jethro and suddenly remembered something. Remember that whole controversy when Jethro Tull won best new metal album or whatnot instead of Metallica? Ok, fine do you remember that VH1 countdown of lease metal moments where they talked about it? Yeah, at the time I totally understood and even (gasp) sided with Metallica. Maybe they are considered more "metal" than Jethro Tull (yeah, they ARE more metal) but that was at the time when all I heard from them was "Enter Sandman" (which I'm so sick of now). Plus tag on their pathetic attack on Napster which just made them look like assholes, and I really lost alot of respect for them. Besides, it's not easy rocking out with a flute (you gotta give 'em extra points for THAT at least).

3.) Failblog.org.- Sometimes there are some down moments at work, so we are kinda free to roam around the internet. Well a while back Joe's friend Greg showed us a site called "Failblog.org", which is basically like CollegeHumor of eBaum's World (and if you don't know what those sites are, you prob wont get this site-basically its funny pictures and videos posted daily). I never look at the videos, but the pictures are kinda easy to flip through and get a cheap laugh. And most importantly, they usually aren't TERRIBLY racy, so I feel ok about looking at them at work. Of course, as is my shitty-ass luck, I'm going through some and spot one that has the headline "Mating Fail." And, also of course, my computer decides to freeze up with the picture of the giraffe humping a water buffalo...and finally...that's when my boss walks back in from lunch...Chhrrrrrrist. I'm sitting there turnin beet-red and trying like hell to close out-damnit-close out and open Yahoo News like a decent worker. Thankfully, he didn't notice or at least had the kindness not to call me out on it...

Yup, that's what I think about at work. And just think...I'm getting PAID to think about this crap.