Category: Music

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Music

NIN: Ghosts I-IV

Today I bought the new NIN album, Ghosts, an instrumental album that was suddenly released last weekend now that Trent Reznor is a free agent, finally out of his contract with Interscope Records. He’s offering the album up in the following kick-ass options:

  1. FREE: The first quarter of the album (Ghosts I) to download
  2. $5: All 36 tracks (Ghosts I-IV) as a high-quality digital download, includes PDF artwork
  3. $10: The above download now and a 2-CD set to be shipped in April
  4. $75: Deluxe set with 2-CD’s, extra discs, fancy book & packaging
  5. $300: Ultra Deluxe set, limited to 2500 signed copies, which includes the above and more such as the album on vinyl

I picked up the $10 version (call me crazy, but I like having CD’s), however with shipping the total was $16.99. While $6.99 is a bit much just to ship a couple CD’s, it’s still less than most double-CD sets would cost on Amazon. And, unlike Amazon, I got to download the album immediately (something I wish they’d start offering if you buy physical CD’s that they also offer on their MP3 service). I chose the high-quality MP3’s as my download (320kbps LAME encoded, fully tagged, each track even has it’s own artwork) though they offer the album in other, all DRM-free, options.

The album is really good… very good background “listen to while working” music. I’m impressed. And happy with the experience. I’m also personally happy to ‘stick it to the man’ again, much like purchasing Radiohead’s In Rainbows a few months back.

Oh, also, the Ultra Deluxe version reportedly sold out in just a couple days earning Trent & Co $750,000. Nice work.

Categories
Beer General Movies Music

A Good Saturday

Last night Kelly and I had a night in. She made turkey lasagna and garlic bread, and we watched Sunshine, which I liked quite a bit.

Kelly had class today, so I slept in a bit, waking up at around 8:30am (yup, that’s sleeping in for me now, urgh). After spending a little bit of time on the computer nerding out, and discovering the band Born Ruffians (kind of an indie / folk / rock sound) and noticing how perfect their sound was for the weather outside (50 degrees and sunny) I decided to get out of the house. We had to take our car into the dealership for some under-warranty maintenance, so I scheduled a 2pm appointment, and then went down to the Bishops on Alberta for a haircut. I had an hour wait, so I walked around the neighborhood a bit. Loads of people out, which happens every day like this in the winter, people crawl out of their forced hibernation and squint their eyes at that bright orb in the sky, then wander around smiling and happy. I admit I was in good spirits too just to be out it the not freezing, not raining, not dark and cloudy weather with nothing to do for an hour.

After my haircut, I went across the street to Mash Tun for a glass of beer and some soup (the beer was their new Concordia Cream Ale which was really really good) before going out to the dealership. What was supposed to be an hour thing only took about 25 minutes and I was back on the road.

Now I’m sitting on my porch enjoying the not-freezing weather and sipping on a beer. Tonight Kelly and I meet Mr & Mrs Ghost Dog at Concordia Ale House for some food and more beer. Hooray!

Categories
Beer Music Work

Louis XIV and Editors

Tonight Kelly and I went to see the Editors show at Roseland, with Louis XIV opening. After I left the office I met Kelly at Shanghai Tunnel, which turned out to be less than great. The bartender woman was in an obviously foul mood and made no attempt to be even superficially friendly. And despite how empty it was (there were about six people in the entire place) the music was cranked up to 11, so loud Kelly and I had to yell to talk to each other. I finished my pint of Guinness and then we left and went down the street to the Thirsty Lion where, despite how crowded it was, and the TV’s all playing a soccer match, it was still half as loud as Shanghai. We had a meal there, and another pint before walking up to the venue.

Louis XIV at Roseland, Portland OR We got to the Roseland early enough to sit in the downstairs bar and share a beer before we went upstairs. It was pretty empty so we got a couple seats in the balcony. The Louis XIV show was really fun. I liked their first album a lot, I liked the raunchy, innuendo-filled lyrics, the rock vibe, etc, and the show was a lot of fun. It was a refreshing show to see, with lead singer Jason Hill strutting around the stage like he was Mick Jagger, and the violinists adding a touch of larger-than-life. Just fun. There is a track from the new album, Air Traffic Control, which I already liked, but the live version was a great deal more powerful (nearly brought a tear to my eye).

Editors at Roseland, Portland OR After a long break between sets as the stage got reset, Editors came on stage and played a really strong show. This was the third time Kelly and I had seen them (the first, at Dante’s, and the second at Berbati’s Pan). Each time they get stronger, and this show was no different. It was a really great show, energy from lead singer Tom Smith was at full, at times running around the stage, crawling / standing on his piano, etc. Excellent show all around.

We left and it was pouring down rain, so the walk (no, run) from to our car was just far enough that we got pretty drenched. Even that though, after the show, was fun. 🙂

Categories
Beer Entertainment Music Work

Monday, and more Radiohead

Mondays are never very fun. Work was fine, just, you know, Monday. For the 2nd Monday in a row I had a new designer in for the day (who will be helping me with the product I work on). The designer (Amy) won’t start until January 2, but it’s been good to get her in and get her up-to-speed a bit before she formally starts.. After work I met Snooks at Kennedy School for a bit, chatting largely about music. Had fun. Got home around 10pm and read for a bit before the blissful sleeping. Oh, also, I finally got my Radiohead “In Rainbows” box set in the mail. Hooray! Beautiful packaging, smartly assembled, and I finally got to hear the 2nd disc of music that wasn’t available as the digital download a few months back. Very nice. I’m just not sure where I’m going to put the box itself yet. Bookshelf? Too big for that. Hrm.

Categories
Entertainment Music Work

The week so far, and some Radiohead

First, a quick recap of my week so far: WORK.

There, now that that’s out of the way, while reading through Digg tonight I came across a really good article chronicling the career turn-arounds of certain musicians/bands. The first on the list was Radiohead which included a music video for “Just” from their album The Bends. Having never seen it before, I was amazed by it’s brilliance. It’s among the best music videos I’ve ever seen (next to this video by Sigur Ros, and “Hurt” covered by Johnny Cash). The kind that is intelligent, tells a story, and is more like a short film than the kind of garbage that does nothing but glamorize the singer and his gang of “ho’s” and his “bling” (thinking about most rap videos, which is about all you ever see on MTV) or about how sexy and sensual the female singer is.

Below, for your viewing pleasure, is the video for “Just” by Radiohead