uva

stretched

...involving snow, the car in front of me slamming on his breaks, skidding, swerving, spinning, the median on I-80, several lanes of oncoming traffic, and my car's final resting place: the ditch on the opposite side of the interstate. me? unscathed (amazingly), though disappointed that it took 45 minutes before anyone stopped to see if I was ok. that includes the police car that drove by while I was sitting, shivering in a ditch. (read: I've lost faith in the humanity of all travellers on I-80).

also, I'm not sure that trick where you're supposed to turn into the skid works. I think it's a weird lie, because I tried it and it definitely did not help.

he's really impressed by himself

well, I never thought I'd say it, but I actually miss Madison, Wisconsin. (gasp!). don't worry guys, I haven't gone completely crazy, I still miss Chicago too (quite a bit).

hm..what's he aiming for? (in his defense, I was covering the corner pocket with my camera)

note: photo digitally enhanced

as it turns out

____ ______ has that effect on everyone

person, place or thing

____ ______ is a real thorn in my side.

grievances

dear cat,

you're a good friend, but I'd appreciate it if you'd stop puking all over my apartment. also, I realize you get lonely during the day when I'm gone, but sleeping on my face at night isn't a good solution. please feel free to make friends with the robocop doll in the corner of the bedroom.

thanks,

me

has anyone else noticed that it's unbearably cold outside?

favorites of 2007

1. radiohead "in rainbows"
2. the avett brothers "emotionalism"
3. okkervil river "the stage names"
4. low "drums and guns"
5. bon iver "for emma, forever ago"
6. the national "Boxer"

7. electrelane "no shouts no calls"
8. arcade fire, "Neon Bible""
9. spoon, "ga ga ga ga ga"

10. beirut "the flying cup club"
11. the shaky hands, self-titled
12. phosphorescent "pride"
13. bright eyes "cassadaga"
14. the rosebuds "night of the furies"
15. caribou "andorra"
16. grizzly bear "friend" ep
17. feist "the reminder"
18. augie march "moo, you bloody choir"
19. dan deacon "spiderman of the rings"
20 explosions in the sky "all of a sudden I miss everyone"

most disappointing: interpol
most over-rated: burial
most under-rated: the shaky hands

flecked

november notes and recommendations

honestly, kind of a disappointing month...if it weren't for the avett brothers I might not have bothered with a november post at all.

*the avett brothers, "emotionalism": really beautiful folky harmonized nostalgic melodies. hints of neutral milk hotel and augie march. one of the things I like about this album is the use of second vocal melodies that are actually different melody lines, not just harmonized lines. there's also something remarkably genuine about this album/this group.

bear in heaven "red bloom of the boom": some 70s confusion, kind of reminds me of earth opera with its randomness. after a few listens, it starts to make more sense, but I don't think you'll ever have an "aha" moment where you really get what's going on in this album.

burial, "untrue": I'm sort of confused by this album. I think the first 4 minutes of it are great, and then after that, there are no more surprises. can someone explain to me what is supposedly so great about this album?

*Efterklang "parades": this group reaches actual musical composition and with the horns and strings, reminds me of sufjan stevens. this one's a bit of a deviation from their last album - a bit more evolved, but I couldn't really explain in what way. think richard einhorn's voices of light - only more calm and melancholy.

georgie james "places": sort of going for a new pornographers "power pop" thing here (catchy, upbeat). but the only good songs are the female-sung ones, which remind me of camera obscura.

disappointed by this month: bonnie "prince" billy & the grizzly bear ep

D.C. is a very black and white kind of city

P.S.note: digitally enhanced.

hushed