Thursday, April 1, 2010

Lists - Fiction

Lets go for a bit more artsy here. Well depending on your modd I suppose. I, like most people, enjoy a book that I can sort of shut down my brain on, suspend disbelief and have fun with. This list isn't for those books, so apologies to Lee Child, Vince Flynn, James Lee Burke, and so on.
Again in no order, here are some of my favorite novels.

On the Road - Jack Kerouac : This isn't one that appeals to all, but at the time I read it, (3rd year of college) it really set me on fire. I loved the stream of consciousness, the almost manic pace that Kerouac sets forth. It made me wish I was born 40 years earlier just so that I could hitch hike with safety. A really great English Prof helped out too, explaining all the back stories, and even having eat apple pie with ice cream. He probably would have been all for a hitch hiking weekend.

The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas : Flat out love this. Written, obviously in a much different time, so the wordiness can be a bit much at times, but nothing so bad as approaching Dickens or Hawthorne. Just a little bit of eveything a good story needs; love, action, revenge, humor, redemption, forgiveness. Could easily read all 1800 pages again.

Less than Zero - Bret Easton Ellis : With a thanks to Ben B. for this recommendation as well. This is much like a Cather in the Rye for a later generation. Not quite mine, but much closer. What literary critics saw in C.i.t.R., and I didn't, I saw in this. Very much a lost soul, Clay goes off the deep end with just about every vice, only to realize promise in life and start anew. (possibly, if you like Disney endings, book isn't clear) Good stuff.

A Long Way Down - Nicholas Hornby : If you haven't read any oh N.H.'s stuff, you're missing out. Very clever, witty and varied, he writes many characters with a depth not typically found. To be able in this book, to bounce 4 completely different characters back and forth and not lose any personality is quite impressive. Any of his books are great, so you could try High Fidelity, Fever Pitch, About a Boy, or Slam. I am currently on Juliet, Naked.

A Separate Peace - John Knowles : A story about friends and the subversive feelings between them during a difficult time in history. Two friends, very different, at a boarding school during the Second World War. Gene, returns 15 years after the events unfold and the story is his recollection of his times at the school with Phineus. Real quality and I think it still plays, even though it was written in the 50's about the 40's.

Ok, so there ya go. I am sure at the time I hit post, I will think of others, but...Oh well. This is a varied list, and encompasses, I hope, my varied taste. Enjoy, love to hear yours!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Lists - Bands

Kinda struggling with the concepts lately. So I am going to go VH1 on you guys and start doing lists. I need some help though. If you read this, either A. post your corresponding list and/or B. suggest a new list. Easy enough right? Ok, so lets get started.
My 5 favorite rock bands. NO, I didn't say the best, I said my favorite. In no real order.

Blue October http://blueoctoberfan.com/splash/index.php Started my journey with these guys at age 19, when they were playing to packed houses of 50 or so at Cafe on the Square in San Marcos. Their latest video? Clips from their worldwide tour and their last two albums have gone platinum. Amazingly heartfelt lyrics. Smart, witty, somber, disturbing; their albums run the full gamut. Musically amazing, rock with a fiddle--enough said. Didn't quite get in on the ground floor, but lets call it the 1st floor.Drawback? Can't listen to them with kids in the car, Justin speaks with colorful meatphors. Favorite track - Wow. Ummmm. Be easier to list the 5 or so I don't like. Try anything you can get your hands on if you can.

Counting Crows http://www.countingcrows.com/ Been a fan of these guys since Mr. Jones. Again, great lyrics. Very poetic. Solid musically as well. Drawback? Adam's voice can tend to the whiny side at times and I find it tough to do too many songs back to back. Favorite track - Round Here, Mrs. Potter's Lullaby, Omaha, Rain King, Anna Begins

Matchbox 20 http://www.matchboxtwenty.com/ Heard these guys in Austin, Freshman year of college at La Zona Rosa, right before the hits started coming. Super catchy, great rock voice on Rob, lyrics that makes sense and tell a story. Drawback? Rob Thomas was always better than the band ,and you knew at some point he was going to move on. Favorite track(s) - Entire first song from first note to last, Rest Stop, Bright Lights, Bed of Lies

Aerosmith http://www.aerosmith.com/ One of the top rock bands in history, I have a more personal reason for liking them; they are one of the first bands my Dad and I agreed on. One of the first presents I gave my him once I was on my own money-wise, were concert tickets for he and I. Was the first of 5 times. Drawback? Sort of one-dimensional. Can be good or bad, but you definitely know what you're gonna get. favorite track(s) - Janie's Got a Gun, Dream On, Amazing, Don't Wanna Miss a Thing

Journey http://www.journeymusic.com/ Okay, give me crap, I don't care. They are all about the rock balland, but I'll be danged if I have a problem with that. Been listening to them as long as I can remember and defending them to most of my generation for just as long. Steve Perry had some of the best pipes, period. They struggled with Augeri, but this new guy is amazing. Drawback? Again, kind of one-dimensional. Favorite track(s) - Lovin, Touchin', Squeezin', Don't Stop Believing, Open Arms, Anyway You Want It

Honorable mention:

DMB http://www.davematthewsband.com/ Some of the best music around. Drawback? Dave's voice at times, live show songs last 15 min each so each band member can have a solo. Favortie tracks - Warehouse (Live), Two Step, All Along the Watchtower (live)

Metallica http://www.metallica.com/ About as hard and fast and good as hard rock can be in my opinion. Drawback? Headaches from headbanging Favorite tracks - One, Sad but True, Enter Sandman, Seek and Destroy, Wherever I May Roam

Okay. So there is my first one. No idea at all how many I will do, I guess some of that depends on you. Enjoy!