Chapstick Weekly

Electric President, duh!

paul — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:54:36 +0000

I really don’t say enough about Electric President. This incredible and rare talent came to me through my friend Sean (Who I do such a terrible job keeping in touch with now. I’m calling you tonight Sean so get ready for it.) who heard it at a party he was at. Incredible layering of synth sounds, acoustic guitar, and morose clumsy vocals make this an irreplaceable piece of my music collection. I return to it again and again.

It’s absolute power to change a mood, or draw you back into irreplaceable times and places in your memory should not be underestimated!

New Mix! Eh!

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:38:00 +0000

Chapstick Weekly-ish, duh

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:31:34 +0000

And so the journey continues! Writing now, in the battle tried and true, from Bloomington, Indiana, where I’m learning how to save lives. Not the ordinary kind of life saving, but the basic kind, offered exclusively to anyone willing to sit through 14 consecutive days of 8 hour lectures, and end up on the other side knowing how to deliver babies, what an Epi-pen is, and of course, with a state licensure for an EMT-B (one step above a CPR certified individual).

Contrary to popular belief, this certification actually makes you smarter and more qualified than a physician to deliver lifesaving efforts. It’s true, the lectures of this class definitely make a clear argument that a two-week EMT certification course, although a pain in the ass, actually makes a person “the most valuable person in a community, valued more than doctors, nurses, attorneys, and teachers.” That’s right! MVP baby!

On a personal note, I’m going to wait for my first save to get that EMT tattoo on my arm. I’m very nervous about doing CPR for the first time, but I’m ready to get someone to the hospital in a flurry of lights and scraping metal.

Anyway…what’s in store for some great music? I’ve got some new groups chiming around between the headphone earpieces, and, without further ado….

Dublin Rising and The Laundry Shop

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:29:42 +0000

Among the more curious twists of fates is my crossing of paths with one Sam McCutcheon of Dublin in the last weeks. He instantly promoted a band (which, I believe is the case where he has played on recordings, but is not officially a member), The Laundry Shop (www.myspace.com/thelaundryshop).

Now, before we get to reviewing their Altoid-like album (curiously strong, duh), it should be noted that Dublin, as far as I have observed, is serving as an extemporaneous Eden for a Genesis of great music. Hold on Austin, Louisville, Minneapolis, and Seattle! Dublin has some things appearing out of nowhere, much as a result of their thriving live performance scene, as well as the personal dedication some people are showing to their own productions. I’m going to do something out of the ordinary here and…post some videos!?

Now for The Laundry Shop. Their influences, immediately clear, stem from the strong London and UK rhythmic punk as seen with Bloc Party and what very similar to She Wants Revenge. Thoughtful lyrics and up-tempo guitar sections reminding me in bursts of Silversun Pickups and The May Fire.
If this band, and the others to follow, speak to the uprising of the Dublin bar scene, great! Fantastic! It seems that there exists an even more pressing reason for me to scurry on over to Dublin. It probably falls into the category of things I shouldn’t be surprised about, but I didn’t see a bunch of great music coming out of Dublin. Eyes open, people!

What Dublin Has in Store…

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:27:29 +0000

The Friendly Fires

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:26:28 +0000

So what, I might be a little late on reviewing this group. I was listening to them before you, so there, chummy. Rolling drums, electronic joyfulness, swells, crests, Danceability: this band comes complete with anything you’d like to have offered as we continue experimenting with the combined electronic and indie scenes. Great lyrics, great vocals, intelligent transitions, and, most importantly, great work on the synths. Oh, and for you people craving a little 80s, 90s twist, twist on away! Bravo Mssrs. Friendly Fires.

Apollo Sunshine

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:26:07 +0000

This takes innovation and thoughtfulness in a direction that the wild sounds of Animal Collective never could chill out enough to do. Sort of like if George Harrison’s ghost (Or was he reincarnated? We may never know…) was haunting the inside of your hollow-body electric guitar. Is that a ukulele? Whether on a beach in Hawaii somewhere, or just looking at a picture of a beach in Hawaii in your lonely old Midwestern

Thievery Corporation, Radio Retaliation

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:25:33 +0000

Ever heard of this group? Yeah, well, their new Radio Relatiation is everything you’d want Thievery to deliver. If you’ve been recently disappointed with a Thievery release (which is possible, I’ll admit), get over it and plug this one into your Cochlea or other part of your ear. Returning to some of the downtempo roots that were a little ahead of their time, Thievery remind you of what you are missing in recent dub and downtempo electronica. This album sinks you into body-temperature bathwater, and provides aromatic bath-time treatment for its duration. Amazing, wonderful.

Buy the Kings of Leon, Only by The Night

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:24:51 +0000

You probably already bought this album, so, ironically, that speaks to the necessity of it being placed here is in case you haven’t. Layered, effected guitars, over an iron-clad backbone of drums and bass complement one of the most compelling, original voices currently in rock. And, amazingly, they don’t stray far from that genre’s center. Bands out there: this is something to strive for. Listeners out there: take notes on how a great band can take a minimalist approach, disregard danceability and pop appeal, and release a meaningful, complete album.

Yann Tierson’s Brilliant Amelie

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:24:02 +0000

Remember Amelie’s soundtrack by Yann Tierson? A beautiful pairing of accordion and piano helps aid in the beautiful pairing of this remarkable soundtrack with its film. Soft, down-tempo piano ballads that lure your silent sadnesses out of the stale air depths in your bottom lung folds in quiet gasps alternate with up-tempo, uplifting compositions whose warmness burns in splintered pattens just below your skin. There are a few early-model radio recordings thrown in their too, masterfully, mysteriously fusing seamlessly with the complicated, modern classical recordings.

I may have said this before about other albums, but this album has the power to save your life. It will life you up from dark places, throw you a rope in a pit of sinking quicksand, cast shade over the fiercest sun, and provide a gentle breeze to your sailboat in a ripple-less pond. Not to be underestimated.

Like getting a job.

paul — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:22:15 +0000

Like my current resume. Please pass it on to any employment opportunities you might know about. (I’ve already had 3 replies, which is great.) Resume follows (please note I’ve not included education or any type of real work history):

Summary of Certifications

- Green Belt, Sho-Rei style Karate
- Sailing License, State of Indiana cc 2003
- National Geographic Society, Member since 2005
- Oxygen Safety Certification
- CPR Certification
- Rank 30, Halo 3, Team Slayer

Summary of Skills
- Amateur Blogger – www.chapstickweekly.com
- Mix Tape Professional
- Quasi Beer Expert and Connoisseur
- Semi-Professional Poet
- Freelance Graphic Designer
- Network and Home Entertainment Consultant
- Free Consultation Participant
- Brainstormer

Past Employment
- Driver for Personal Family Friend (included washing Porsche and going sailing)
- Patient Transporter for St. Vincent Hospital
- Staff Job-Flow Software Administrator for small digital printing company
- Freelance Designer and Writer

Get it Together!

paul — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:05:52 +0000