Mama, I’m Swollen.

One of my favorite bands, Cursive, and their record label, Saddle Creek, is sticking it to the music biz.  On March 1st, they started running a video that counted $1 to $10 on their myspaces and websites.  Clicking on the video (seen here http://cursivearmy.com/03/images/counter_once.gif) sent you to their store where you found out that their new album, set to be released on March 10th, is being offered for $1 on March 1st, $2 on March 2nd, and so on, until the 10th, where it will be st at $10. 

The offer includes a MP3 version of the album and a CD + download card of the album, which would be sent to you on the 10th. Finally, they offer the new LP version to be pre-ordered for it’s release in May.  This also comes with an MP3 card and a bonus digital card of unreleased songs and videos ($15).

I purchased the MP3 Version and preordered the LP.  This way, I get the alblum before it’s out for $3, and I’ll be getting the goodie-packed vinyl sent to me in May…all for $18.

The reason I love this is because, ultimately, it is taking money away from iTunes.  Don’t get me wrong, daddy loves the iTunes, but the sheer idea of it, as well as the business behind it is sickening and unfair.  Saddle Creek and Cursive figured out a way to get, at least for most Cursive followers, to buy the album, reguardless of the medium, straight from the source before iTunes could get their greasy hands on it.  It’s like a legal, illegal download. Now that is punk rock.

The album, “Mama, I’m Swollen”, is another gem from Cursive.  Cursive is one of those bands, and I mean this in the least pretensious way, that you either get or you don’t.  “Mama, I’m Swollen”, stays true to that.  The book to the album is, what appears to be, a long poem, of sorts, written by front man Tim Kasher.  Listening to the album while reading the poem is interesting as the album follows the poem..not word for word…but closely.

Anyway, it’s very interesting, and, as I said, good.  I’ve listened it to it twice through and I give it a 8/10…the songs creep on ya after a while though, so I’m sure I’ll change my mind.

“Caveman” and “From the Hips” are the highlights for me thus far.

-Sean

I’m a Hoot, I Promise.

I never liked Animal Collective.  Never.

Mark has been harping me on this band for weeks.

I think I finally caved.

Mark-1 Sean-0

Today is my birthday. I am 25.  Thanks for giving birth to me Mom. It’s good to be alive.

-Sean

Can’t Make an Omlette Without Killing a Few People

Last night Katie and I saw the move “Coraline”…big screen remake of Neil Gaimans graphic novel ”Coraline”.  I am admittedly not familiar with the graphic novel, but the movie was remarkable.

 Not only was the animation and clay design out of this world (the movie supposedly took 4 years to make because of the clay work done) but the fact that it was in 3D put an interesting spin on the movie. I honestly feel that it did not need to be in 3D, and it was kind of gimmicky (there were really only a handful of parts in the movie that were typical 3D parts…i.e. stuff flying at you (whoaaaa look out!)), but seeing the animation that way was very neat.  I went with expectations of it being just ok, but I was pleasantly surprised. That’s all I’ll really say about it, I don’t ruin anything. Keep in mind though, I’m not a big movie guy, and it takes a lot for me to like a movie-and my opinion is truly worth everything.

Also, during the previews, they had some sneak peaks of upcoming movies that were going to be in 3D. The first one was Monsters vs. Aliens which I’m sure, like any Pixar movie, will be cute and funny and la la la. But the other preview was for a movie called, I believe, “9″.  It is another Tim Burton movie and I am all sorts of excited about this diddy.  I haven’t been this excited about a movie since “V for Vendetta” which, if you know anything about me, is my favorite movie.  Anywho, here is the trailer. 7 months away!

-Sean

Take Me To Your Feeder

To add to the post below, I want to write and record a collection of songs (finally). I seriously may have anywhere from 50-100 songs stored away in journals and notebooks…not to mention computer programs like notepad and word…and I have done shit with them.  I wrote a song today that was inspired by this picture of Katie and I taking over Columbus (yes, this really happened).  The song is called Take Me to Your Feeder.  It’s about Aliens.  But once you dig through the metaphors and such, you come to find it’s a song about Super Aliens.

Anywho, as soon as I start to record some of these songs, I will post them in this blog. So yeah, record a collection of songs-to be done in 2009.

-Sean

2009

Things to do by the end of 2009…

Start a Garden.

Contribute to my Wannabe Sleeve.

Brew a Beer.

Learn to DJ well.

Design a “good” website.

Run 2 Marathons (1 down), an Olympic-distance triathlon, and a half marthon.

Get Promoted.

Or, Party Like This Guy…

Here I Go….

-Sean.

Are You There Brooke? It’s Me, Sean.

Dear Brooke (and to whoever else is interested):

You recently asked what camera I was using to take pictures that  I recently posted on Facebook. It is a Lomography FIsheye camera.

Here is a link to the camera on the lomography web site – http://shop.lomography.com/shop/main.php?cat=&pro=fis

They also have a second edition titled “#2″ (like poop) that looks pretty killer.

Yeah. Awesome.

For those who missed a beat. The pictures that Brooke was referring to can be seen on my Facebook page, and there are a few that I’ve posted in the past. For reference, they look like this…

This was the view from our hotel when we went to Clearwater Beach, FL in September. Not only does the Fisheye give the pictue an amazing effect, but the film I’ve been using (Lomography Fine Color 35MM film) makes the color look amazing. 

I bought Katie another fun camera for her Birthday.  I would post some of the pictures that we took on here  but I just realized yesterday we were taking pictures without film. Smarty pants. So…more on that camera later, I’ll keep you in suspense.

I’ll write a post about my marathon  soon.  I want to wait for Disney to send me my pictures before I write it. Stay tuned.

I will leave you with this video. I managed to get a pretty good recording of this, and I can’t stop listening to it. I’ve gone as far as learning it on guitar.  I have been obsessed with this band ever since Katie and I saw them open for Margot almost a year ago in Indianapolis at The Vogue. I am convinced that Justin Vernon can take any song and make it incredibly somber. The one, the only, Bon Iver.

Happy MLK Day…Enjoy your long weekend folks!

Sean

Surfing On A Rocket

This picture was taken on New Years Eve…or possibly New Years Early Day.  NYE or NYED (who’s really counting?) , Katie and I had a small party with some close friends.  It was a fancy affair.  Everyone got dressed up and we drank Western Reserve.  I had a blast. I think everyone else did too.  This picture* is of (left to right) my college roommate Devin, my orchid growing friend Ben, my soccer buddy (and Katie’s co-workers, Meg, husband) Jeff, myself, and, in her dying hours, my Fumanchu.

Well, I am done with my lunch (Turkey Sandwich made by the wonderful folks at Whole Foods if you were wondering), and it is time to get back to work.

-Sean

*-Picture taken by Andrea’s iPhone.

Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo

My Fumanchu is gone. Long gone.

Love Your Cats.

Happy New Year.

-Sean

But I Ain’t All Of That

Katie missed me…

So she drew a picture to remind herself of what I looked like when it’s snowing.

Uncanning! I wanted to share.

Sean

I’m Not Supposed To Be Here!!

So I went to Nashville…

As you can tell from my post below, it was a fairly boring and long drive.  But hey, all things are worth waiting for I suppose.  I went down to go to the Browns game and visit my good friend Steve.  My travel companions included Steves older brothers Mike and Ed, their respective girlfriends Lauren and Danielle, as well as Vilt cousin Robert.  We had a damn good time despite the Browns terrible showing.  The trip included a tour of Vanderbilt, the city of Nashville, the Grande Ole Opry, and of course, the Tennessee Titans stadium (which I believe is called LP Field).  We also walked Broadway, met a cat named Boots (he was in a tree in Steves front yard, honesty, a cat stuck in a tree. Never thought I’d live to see it), shopped for Boots (not the cat, the cowboy type), and got kicked out of a Piano  Bar (I’ll explain later.  Of course more happened, but I’ll keep it simple.                                                                                                                             

 

 

Nashville was ok.  It seemed like a lot of it was set up for tourism, which makes cities lose their umph.  I did think it was neat that no matter what bar you walked by, no matter what time of day, there was someone trying to break in to the country music scene.  That gave the city a lot of character.  I also was surprised about their lack of love for their football program.  Granted, the fans showed up to the game, but it was like a job for them.  The game was at 12, and the streets were empty before the game.  It is a madhouse in Cleveland!! We arrived downtown around 9:30, and it was deserted.  Steve had also heard that popular tourist spot, Coyote Ugly, had dollar beers and a $5 breakfast buffet before games.  Again, put that in Cleveland, and you wouldn’t be able to move.  We walked in, got a table for 7 in under a minute, enjoyed our beer and breakfast, and the place was cleared out by 11:00.  Who goes to football games early?  Also, the Titans won, and walking back downtown, the crowd wasn’t even enthused…it was like walking with zombies!!! Anywho…it was a good time! A very clean, pretty, and fun city.  Just not for me…

 So I know your intrigued.  It looked like we were having such a good time at that Piano Bar. Well to keep another story simple…people had too much to drink, blow up dolls were thrown, beer bottles were broken, blow up dolls were destroyed by the beer bottles, words were exchanged, ice was thrown, spit flew, individuals got hyped, people were physically thrown out of the Piano Bar, Steve and Juan Carlos made peace, and Ed Vilt had the classic line “jokes on you, the bar closes in 10 minutes!”.  Now, to clear some stuff up, we were already on our way out when we got “thrown out” so giving it that title may not even count (the story sounds better when you say thrown out, and as I said before, a few of us did actually get physically tossed…awesome).  Also, we weren’t looking to fight with anyone, as I mentioned, we were having a blast.  But alas, some people know how to ruin a damn good time.  Now, I know what you’re thinking…you’re saying “Sean, did you and your friends get in to a fight with a bunch of girls at a Bachelorette Party?” And my answer to that is yes.

 To make us sound tougher, the bulk of the literal “fight” (no punches thrown kids, we keep it PG-13) was between us and the bouncers…but those chicks got what was coming to them.  I hate how people walk around like they can’t be touched and they are invincible to basic societal norms (i.e. these girls, Plaxico Burress, and Jesus.) However, it was good to see a group of friends (Steve’s Vandy friends Joe, Juan Carlos, and Ben were also present/involved) come together and stick up for each other.  Now I don’t like to fight with people, but when it came down to the nitty gritty, it was great that no one backed down and we all had each others backs. I am reminded of a scene from Anchorman where the news teams just had a rumble, and afterwards Ron Burgundy is giving his team a pep talk about the prior events.  When we reconvened back at Steve’s, the conversations were eerily, and comedically, similair. 

 Stay out of the Piano Bars in Nashville,

Sean