So here it is, the question I’ve been thinking about a lot. I guess it’s kind of a convoluted question, with layers and levels and all that. But in the simplest form, here goes:
Why is that “Pumped up Kicks” song so popular?
You see, that question doesn’t really do my REAL question justice.
Because I know WHY the song is popular. It’s got a great hook. And a great beat. And a funky guitar lick. And it doesn’t SOUND* like most other songs that you hear on the radio. Continue reading
Every Monday morning. Music so good… it must be shared.
This week: “Santa Fe” — Beirut, off the album “The Rip Tide”
Thanks for stopping by the Brew House.
You see the pictures, and you read the stories, and you think you can understand.
And then you arrive in Joplin, and drive down 20th street, and stop in front of the old high school.
There are Eagle sculptures out front, carved from the remains of shredded trees. The rubble sits behind, one of the biggest high schools in the state laying in ruins.
And these are just words, and the photos are just photos. And you can’t explain it.
You have to go there. Continue reading
Two years ago, I petitioned to the world, i.e. to the loyal, super-awesome readers of this blog, the need for Halloween songs. And I wasn’t talking about scary sounds to hear in the dark like you might hear at one of those $72 Haunted House in Kansas City’s West Bottoms or Dallas’ Deep Ellum. I mean real songs. Pop songs. Rock songs. Rap songs. Songs that aren’t made for Halloween but sound like Halloween.
So…I decided to make a Halloween soundtrack this year. You’ll see some songs from that old list and plenty of new ones. You won’t see the “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett because who the hell would honestly want to hear that song at a party. Feel free to add some Halloween songs you can think of in the comments section.
And if you have a Halloween party this weekend, I highly recommend all of these. Or bring it to a party if you’re not throwing one. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
“Amazing,” by Kanye West
Yeah, “I’m a monster. I’m a maven.” This song will do just fine. It’s also a really good song for warming up for a basketball game.
Continue reading
This is a man. This is a man dancing. This is a man dancing to the Black Keys’ new song, “Lonely Boy”, the first single off their new album Camino.
The only question: Where is this dancing man? Outside a movie theater? A cheap hotel? A carnival?
Will we ever know?
So there’s this old maxim my brother used to say. I’m pretty sure he didn’t come up with it. At least, I don’t think he did.
But I always think about it whenever I feel guilty about doing something.
The quote, in and of itself, is about moderation. But really, it’s about everything else.
“I live my life by the theory of everything in moderation,” he would say. “But to truly live out this creedo, you also have to exercise moderation in moderation. So, every once and a while, you have to embrace extreme debauchery.” Continue reading
So I was up late on Sunday night. And I guess this isn’t much of a surprise. I suppose I’m up late a lot.
But on this night, I was doing some work, and some reading, and some general procrastinating.
And then I saw this:
So this, as you may have guessed from the video, is “Guy On A Buffalo.” Continue reading
I guess it’s kind of like this.
I just don’t care much about shoes. I certainly want them to look good. And I do care quite a bit about how shoes look with certain pants.
Although, I’m not really talking about how they MATCH with the pants.
No. What I mean is this: I really want my pants to fall nicely on the shoe itself. In my mind, the smaller and skinnier the shoe the better. But maybe it’s just me.
I suppose these words maybe contradict what I just said. Maybe I do care quite a bit about shoes. Continue reading
Two nights in a row, two games in the World Series, Lil’ Papi has earned an at-bat. And I chose that verb for a reason. He has earned it.
It’s strange with Lil’ Papi. He has the best nickname in the world – one that I obviously stole to make myself sound cooler – and no one really knows that he has it. I’m not entirely sure that anyone would know it if they hadn’t asked me for the origin of my Facebook name, or if they were hardcore fans of Joe Posnanski.
Lil’ Papi, the first Lil’ Papi, is Esteban German. Continue reading
Earlier this week, I posted something about turning 25… being 25… living 25.
And then today, I saw this story: “The Kids are Actually Sort of Alright.”
From New York Magazine:
“Earlier generations have weathered recessions, of course; this stall we’re in has the look of something nastier. Social Security and Medicare are going to be diminished, at best. Hours worked are up even as hiring staggers along: Blood from a stone looks to be the normal order of things “going forward,” to borrow the business-speak. (Snip) … A majority of Americans say, for the first time ever, that this generation will not be better off than its parents.”
Well, that’s just beautiful. Continue reading
The Brew House 