When getting drunk in Juarez lost its thrill, El Paso had very little to offer. My roommate was from Wisconsin, his name was David Francis Guttenberg, and he drove a silver Chevette that he cleaned up, and put an above-average sound system into.

On nights when we didn’t feel like sleeping, we’d get something to drink, and just drive through the night.

El Paso has roads that literally go nowhere forever. Through mountains, up and down hills, the darkness was pervasive, and there was never a cop to be seen.

I would always bring cassettes along, whatever I got that was new. Finding good music was rare, the entire idea of punk or independent music apparently didn’t make it to El Paso yet. I remember one head shop that sold some decent music, but other than that, there was nothing but chain stores.

We never really talked much when we drove around, just listened to music, Gootie watching the road, and me watching the world go by.

I remember one night listening to Nothing’s Shocking by Jane’s Addiction, driving around the Sun Bowl again and again.

But this night that I’m remembering the most was the night I got a copy of Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth.

Riding though the darkness, the mountains and hills and desert sand going by, the guitars started slowly, Kim telling us we were it.

I’m sure we were drinking or something, but that album fucked our brains up more than any alcohol did.

“I wanted to know the exact dimension of hell, does this sound simple?
Fuck you! Are you for sale?
Does ‘Fuck you’ sound simple enough?”

By the time we got to the track Providence, we were well outside of any city lights, the darkness and quiet of the desert was all around. That lonely piano sitting on top of what sounded like a rocket slowly taking off was our entire world, and Mike Watt’s voice from nowhere talking on the answering machine was like the voice of god startling the shit out of us.

Gootie looked over at me and said “Jesus, this shit should be illegal.”

I’m in the midst of a fascination with Krautrock. This was spurred on by two things : the fabulous BBC documentary and a discussion about moving to Berlin.

The documentary is well worth checking out. Try the BBC iPlayer

BBC Link is dead, Here is the promo site with some video clips

It traces the Krautrock scene from it’s psychedelic origins though to the cold, yet somehow human, approach of Kraftwerk and other electronic-based bands.

They touch briefly on Bowie’s Berlin trilogy, and it’s obvious influences, and hint that Bowie intended on making an album with Krautrock musicians. (Note to David : Make that album, the world needs something extremely interesting from you).

This also took me around to giving Achtung Baby another listen. Long held as my favorite U2 album, it’s influences are unmistakable, and the imagery that Anton Corbjin provides are truly the romanticized version of Berlin that I’ve built up over the years.

So when the brief mention of moving to Berlin was brought up, all this came together in my strange little brain. Berlin! Destiny, concrete, art, harsh yet beautiful, minimalistic tendencies made real. I was sold for all of 30 seconds.

It all comes down to one thing, which only a few people will understand. My faith is not yet stronger than my fear.

I’ve set up my account (http://bambuser.com/channel/tigerstripe), and will start doing the small vid broadcast from time to time. Usually when I’m too lazy to type.

Here’s my first broadcast:

Make your life better through shareware.

Also note that Entourage is NOT one of the preferred E apps.

Wishing Well
by The Airborne Toxic Event from the album The Airborne Toxic Event
Some pop songs grab you, some don’t. This one did, despite the horrid band name.
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I Feel Better
by Frightened Rabbit from the live album Liver! Lung! FR!
After listening to this live version, I wasn’t sure why he bothered with the studio
Download

Burn Bridges
by The Grates from the album Teeth Lost, Hearts Won
Great pop band fronted by crazy girl with crazy name #1 (Patience Hodgson)
Download

The Kelly Affair
by Be Your Own Pet from the album Get Awkward
Great pop band fronted by crazy girl with crazy name #2 (Jemina Pearl Abegg)
Download

Hair Pool
by Defiance, Ohio from the Pink Couch Sessions
Live track from the wonderful Pink Couch (Link). Can’t wait for a new album.
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Falling Down
by Scarlett Johansson from the album Anywhere I Lay My Head
Yes, yes… I know. Just close your eyes and pretend it’s a This Mortal Coil track from ‘83.
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Everything Is Not the Same
by Zita Swoon from the album Big Blueville
Great track from an album I picked up in Paris and haven’t put down.
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Blackboots Blackhearts
by Sweet Jane from the EP Blackboots & Blackhearts
Taking up the Velvets / JMC mantle the Ravonettes couldn’t keep up with.
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Out Of Time
by Jason Collett from the album Here’s To Being Here
Great track with a Lou Reed groove.
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Hey Momma’
by Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground from the album Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
Crazy and funky and fun.
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Two Angry Kids
by Street Dogs from the album State of Grace
Yes, I remember.
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Storm Rising
by In Tua Nua from the album When Night Comes Down On Sunset
Lovely bit of Irish rock, recorded in 1987. Some stuff is too good to leave on a shelf.
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Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
by She & Him from the album Volume One
Super sweet song. I still love it even tho Zooey decided to marry that chode from Death Cab instead of me.
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Don’t Stop Believin’
by Marnie Stern
Only Marnie could make this song cool. I love the bit when the drums kick in.
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Threat Level Midnight
by The Riot Before from the album Fists Buried In Pockets
Just a great song. Fun to sing along with.
Download

House
by Vetiver from the album Thing Of The Past
One of those songs that knocks it all back into place.
Download

Last Day of Magic
by The Kills from the album Midnight Boom
Great song from an album that should have made my top 10 albums, but somehow got lost in the shuffle.
Download

The Captive Mind
by The Helio Sequence from the album Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Another great song from an album that should have made my top 10 albums, but somehow got lost in the shuffle.
Download

Back To Me
by The Dutchess and the Duke from the album She’s The Dutchess, He’s The Duke
Great bit of throwback rock and roll. I need an army jacket and a boogie hat.
Download

Bad Old World
by New Model Army from the live album Fuck Texas, Sing For Us
Always been one of my favorite NMA songs. Love the intro.
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Have a Nice Day
by Kinetic Stereokids from the EP Have a Nice Day
Freakshows.
Download

2008
by Hello Saferide from the album More Modern Short Stories From Hello Saferide
A fitting song for the end of the year
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The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound

Undoubtably the Album of the Year. I can’t say enough good things about this album, just buy it and listen.

Buy CD or Vinyl from Side One Dummy

Listen to High Lonesome : DOWNLOAD

Cloud Cult – Feel Good Ghosts

Every person I share this album with is an instant fan. It only takes one to get you hooked. Amazing songwriting, astounding lyrics, moments of epiphany.

Buy from the band

Listen to Journey of the Featherless : DOWNLOAD

Fucked Up – The Chemistry Of Common Life

Quite possibly the best punk-rock head-trip concept-album that is not a concept album of all time. Your brain may not be the same after this.

Buy from Amazon

Listen to Crooked Head : DOWNLOAD

Poi Dog Pondering – 7

Another in a long string of amazing records. Some bands just keep getting better.

Buy from the band

Listen to Butterflies : DOWNLOAD

HiFi Handgrenades – Carry On

Speck and Co. release yet another gem of punk/power pop songs, yet again criminally overlooked. Carry On is my song of the year, it’s that fucking good.

Buy from New Romance For Kids Records

Listen to Carry On : DOWNLOAD

Daniel Lanois – Here Is What Is

Elemental.

Buy from Red Floor Records

Listen to Bladesteel : DOWNLOAD

Marnie Stern – This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That

She’s hot. She plays guitar like no one else. She writes crazy songs you can’t stop listening to. Bonus points for best album name of the year.

Buy from Insound

Listen to Transformer : DOWNLOAD

Menahan Street Band – Make The Road By Walking

I can only wish my life was cool enough to have this as a soundtrack.

Buy from Amazon

Listen to Tired of Fighting : DOWNLOAD

Paramount Styles – Failure American Style

The dude from Girls Against Boys. Downtempo, acoustic guitar, biting and searing lyrics. Cooler than you.

Buy from Insound

Listen to Drunx, Whores & MZK People : DOWNLOAD

Mercury Rev – Snowflake Midnight

They put down their guitars and picked up electronics. Stunning.

Buy from Yep Roc

Listen to Senses on Fire : DOWNLOAD

Robots In Disguise – We’re In the Music Biz

Snarky, trashy and awesome.

Buy from Amazon

Listen to The Sex Has Made Me Stupid : DOWNLOAD

Off With Their Heads – From The Bottom

Great, straight-ahead hardcore. Melodic and raw with great sing along vocals.

Buy from No Idea Records

Listen to Wrong : DOWNLOAD

And, as always, Let the Children Lose It… Let the Children Use It… Let All The Children Boogie.

Early Spring – Paris

Rounding the corner after getting out of the Trocadero train station and seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time.

Music that was playing : Drive in Saturday by David Bowie

Early Spring – Paris

Heading to Le Boule Rouge, circling the Arc de Triomphe in the passenger seat of the Rabbi’s Mercedes, Julien navigating 5 lanes of chaos while smoking, talking and not even looking while driving.

Music that was playing : Most likely Zappa, but my brain registers Alive in the City by Zita Swoon

Spring – Orlando

Riding the Tower of Terror with my wife and kids… Sunshine’s face a mixture of horror and excitement.

Music that was playing : Screams of children and laughing of parents

Spring – Cocoa Beach

Attempting to catch a few waves on Grayson’s boogie board

Music that was playing : Waves and futile paddling

Spring – NYC

Dropping a txt bomb on Kosta while killing several bottles of wine with Colleen and the Heuer sisters.

Music that was playing : I’ve Got a Feeling by The Beatles

Summer – Nashville

Seeing Poi Dog Pondering play live after living with their music for nearly 20 years. Ian and I had a table 5 feet from Frank as they played.

Music that was playing : Butterflies by Poi Dog Pondering

Summer – Chicago

Early morning, running around Chicago lakeside parks with the kids, taking photos of them and the Bean.

Music that was playing : Everybody Here is a Cloud by Cloud Cult