The Sun Sets On Indiana

NYE MUSIC---ALCOHOL

2012-01-08T08:01:00.001-08:00

Heres the first video from NYE music night. Probably the highlight of the evening.
ALCOHOL

Hooooooosiers!!!!

2011-12-14T06:41:00.000-08:00

I will first say that, in the arena of watching sports on television, there isn't a better feeling than when one of your teams scores a winning basket, a winning run, or a go ahead touchdown. When genuine excitement holds your body hostage and you leap around the room like you played an intrical part in the teams victory. Its 2 hours of very focused, bottled up nervousness reaching a boiling point that manifests into a childlike stomp, shout, jog around your dining room table as the buzzer sounds.

Tom Crean--the weirdest look a coach has ever had after a game winner

Indiana basketball has been dead for years. Dead since 2000. There has been success since then, but everyone who knows Indiana basketball knows it has been dead since Coach Knight was forced out after the 2000 season. Davis was bad. He had success with Knight's players. Sampson was crooked. Crean was maybe just what we needed. Three god awful seasons (27-66) would make us think otherwise, until a 9-0 start and the best win the school has had since beating Duke in 2002. We wanted someone great again and talked ourselves into believing that he was the right guy. I wasn't convinced until Saturday.

Honestly, for the last 3 years I could hardly call myself a true fan. I tried to watch a couple games a year and each time I found myself flipping to almost anything more interesting, like an SVU episode I could recite line for line. I try not to call people fair weather fans after those three seasons because they were unwatchable and its almost impossible to stay on the bandwagon unless you have a son or a nephew on the team.

Life seems to be a little better with the Hoosiers in the top 20. Waiting for ND football to join the National Champion discussion again, but I'm not holding my breath.
Thanks to Greg for this clip. I can watch it over and over again.

Christmastime is Here

2011-12-06T05:53:00.000-08:00

December 1 starts a month long celebration of the greatest time of the year. Second place is a distant second. You can talk about the end of March with March Madness and the beginning of the MLB season, or the beginning of Fall when it starts to get cool outside and the leaves are turning colors and college football is right in the meat of its season, but neither of these times come close to what we are beginning now.
Find some way to slow it down a little because it will be over before you know it.
To ensure you are enjoying the season
1-Christmas playlist should include Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Dean Martin, Andy Williams, and of course The Boss.
2-Make sure you are watching the staples. Charlie Brown, The Grinch, Christmas Vacation, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Its A Wonderful Life, Scrooged
3-Christmas Tree-Preferably live, but fake is better than nothing.
4-Pull out some old nostalgia that will bring a tear to your eye on a bad day.
5-Christmas Cookies-eat them, bake them, or both
6-Buy and Drink Hot Chocolate-with or without Bailey's. Always with marshmellow cream

Christmas Present Hall of Fame (in no particular order)
Starting Lineup Talking Baseball-

My grandparents gave this to me (probably in 1988 or 1989) on Christmas Eve. If I'm not mistaken the voice was Vin Scully. Or maybe I just wanted it to be Vin Scully. By hitting a couple buttons in a timely fashion, in response to little red lights liting up, you could hit a homerun with Babe Ruth or Ted Williams or strike out Don Mattingly with Walter Johnson. I was 10 and I couldn't be pryed away from this toy. I didn't touch any of my gifts received on Christmas Day.

Nintendo

Gary was the first one to have one of these and I just played it a little. We had a cheap atari that they didn't even make games for anymore, but that was more than satisfying at the time. When we got that Nintendo everything else in life was blacked out. There was no "outside", there was no "basketball", there was no leaving the basement. My thumbs blistered out in the early morning hours of December 26 and I was unfortunately on the DL for a day or two, which was sheer torture. Someone recently sent me an article where this question was asked "do over 50% of your childhood memories involve Nintendo?" The answer is a resounding "YES". (Mario Brothers 1, 2 and 3, RBI Baseball, Legend of Zelda, Metroid)

Doug Flutie Franklin Football

My Grandma June got this for me; back when I couldn't decide if I wanted to be an NFL quarterback, NFL kicker, MLB SS or MLB Pitcher. As corny as it sounds I still remember the smell of the leather and I embarassingly slept with that ball for months.
*I believe the ball was lost in 1995 while Mattingly and I drove around throwing footballs at some kids in my neighborhood. Funny and kind of depressing.

Have a good Christmas.

Unguarded-Chris Herren Documentary

2011-11-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

The documentary on Chris Herren last night was as good as any of the 30 for 30s that ESPN has put out in the last couple years. I remember Chris Herren when he was at Fresno State and I made it a point to try to catch their late night games that were televised the same way I would try to catch Al Dillard and the Arkansas Razorbacks or Loyola Marymount a couple years previously. He was the show. Not just because of how good he was, but because there was something so intriguing about a person who made collosal mistakes and had so much going for them; they had so much to lose. Its funny how I was always more impressed with the athlete whose life was a trainwreck of drinking and drug use and crime than I was with the straight laced guy who was better. (Chris Kingsbury was one of my favorites too. LONG range shooter from Iowa. Remember. Jess Patterson said he used to come to study halls drunk. Also Parish Caspier at UE. Good stories about him going straight to early morning conditioning after being out all night. Winning every sprint)

I feel like there will never be another Chris Herren type player. I know there won't be. No high school athlete (other than football) is remembered for their high school season. State championships don't mean as much. Kids play more for the next year and the next level than they do for the moment. Its all summer ball now. (AAU was just getting huge with Herren's class--Felipe Lopez, Iverson). There isn't a Damon Bailey from Bedford North Lawrence or Alen Henderson from Indy Brebeuf or Glen Robinson from Gary Roosevelt. Its all Georgia Stars or the Illinois Warriors and they play 50 games in front of gyms full of scouts. The internet wasn't there as much in the mid-late 90s to put in print every detail of every game. There was still some mystique to it all.

The story of Chris Herren is entertaining and inspiring and great and nostalgic for a number of resasons.
1) Fall River. A mill town. Working class people. Hard nosed east coast kids. Everyone in the world pulls for the blue collar kid.
2) He was a great college basketball player back when college basketball players could be great. There is a reason college basketball is half as exciting now as it was back then.
3) We love stories of redemption and second (and third and fourth and fifth) chances. People who seemingly have nothing and self destruct make sense to us. Its harder for us to understand someone so talented that continues to sabatoge their life. Its easy to judge when its not you.
How amazing is it that he went out and balled after doing coke until noon.

If you haven't checked it out DVR it Saturday morning at 7am on ESPN. Great story.

Is it a coincidence that movies have gone to shit, HBO series and documentaries are getting better and better. Nope.

Mini Videos and Lyrics Session V- Mutineers--Indiana

2011-07-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

Indiana
All those anti war hippie kids who cry for life, but don't give a shit
they organize their sit ins wearing flowered shirts and peace sign pins
while the children who have courage are far across the sea
I wish that I was like them, unfortunately I can't be

Singing songs like Indians or make that Native Americans
You can't open your mouth today without starting a protest parade
or inciting one more riot, "I'm just trying to fight it"
and now I'll close my eyes, and in disappear into my best disguise

Do razor blades and shotgun shells decay
Ungrateful little children run and play
Today we're all ok
Today we're all ok
Today we are ok

Caught up in middle America our dreams won't lead us out of here
watch the current of the river, its steady flow will live forever
like the men who came before us, singing backup in the chorus
I'll lead the charge as we push along and I'll light the match at the fireworks display

Buildings crumble to the ground like clay
Brick by brick we'll build them back to stay

Today we're all ok
Today we're all ok
Today we are ok

Mini Videos and Lyrics Session IV-Ce N'est Rien--I Didn't Come Here To Lose

2011-07-06T15:08:00.000-07:00

Another installment of our award winning series Mini Videos and Lyrics. Here you go...one take from Ce N'est Rien. Song is I Didn't Come Here to Lose

I DIDNT COME HERE TO LOSE

I looked my old life in the face

It smiled back and got its way

It's just a fever it'll pass but it still hurts all the same

Screw the note screw the key

There is no one here but me,

And I didnt come here to lose

I held your hand and then your shoe

You left so fast I thought you flew

I try to forget the kiss and harness the excuse

Why you said your tongue was fused to mine:

'Still had that accent to lose

And the South to leave behind

And "I'm sorry I'm leaving, dont you know I live my whole life acting out?

I'll dream about you wherever I can..."

Just got too darn real for you now

Go the way of all my dancing girls

I hope you find what you're looking for,

I'm sure you lost a few steps

Spinning in circles on the floor

You trust me, dont you?...

I spent all my good years in a bath

I first had you go in, I first had you goin'

My skin has shriveled up into ash--

Let's go towards the light and try to smoke it

I will be born again in your lungs and in your breath I withhold from you

I give and give as you take

I made the choice sun-blackeyed-burned

I wont be coming back for what you keep trying to...

It's like you're trying to lose

I didnt come here to lose...

Adele Tiny Desk Concert

2011-07-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

I usually don't care too much about singers with great voices. At least conventionally great voices. I don't know what about Adele's voice that is so great but its pretty amazing. The first song is why I am posting this and if that song was 30 minutes long it would still be too short. Have a listen.

A Couple Great Songs To Welcome You Back To Work

2011-07-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of songs for your first day back after a long 4th of July weekend. I don't think you will be able to listen to these songs just once. I haven't been able to stop listening to them today. They are great catchy songs.

Song/Video #1 Abducted by Cults
I'm addicted to this song and am probably going to buy this album tomorrow
Have a couple listens

Song/Video #2 We Sing In Time-The Lonely Forest
Good catchy pop song. I like it.

Enjoy it

Mini Videos and Lyrics Session III-The Mutineers--Its Getting Dark Outside

2011-06-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

ITS GETTING DARK OUTSIDE

I've got you right where I want you
With my hands right around your neck
I can feel all your bones, they tremble
While your ghost swims around your head

Can you picture Hitler with his rattle
Doodling swastikas in his crib
don't you know evils been created
well before evils born

Somebody tell me a story
something with a happy ending
something where the mighty heros being tossed in the air
and the villains being buried

Two innocent enter the pine woods
ones got evil on his mind
one walks closer and he enters the water
I'm afraid only one of them is leaving alive

he didn't want to become
a murderer

Run for shelter its getting dark outside
Things aren't what they seems
Board up the windows its getting dark outside
Light up the torches its getting dark outside
Close your eyes before it gets dark outside
and lets hope for a dream

Mini Videos and Lyrics Session II- Blind Dead Duck--Let's Just Escape For A While

2011-06-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

LET'S JUST ESCAPE FOR AWHILE

Come on down out of your tree
And take a walk, a walk with me.
We can go somewhere nice,
we can go where there is no light.
Let's just escape for awhile.

Somewhere down the road you'll see
just how much you mean to me.
And I will take you by the hand and travel
all over this great land.
I'll take you wherever you want to go.

But this road is long.
And I'm ready to take it on.
As long as you're by my side
I don't have a single thing to hide.
Just put your faith and trust in me.

Somewhere up yonder I do see.
A place that was built for you and me
to settle on down and stare at the stars
on a blanket or the hood of my car.
Either way I just want to be next to you.

But this road is long.
And I think we can take it on.
Together as one we'll rise above and
overcome all obstacles in front of us.
Just put your faith and trust in me.

So come on down out of your tree.
And take this walk, this walk with me.
Don't be afraid to come along,
I'll be beside you singing this song.
I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.

But this road is long.
And I think we can take it on.
As long as you're by my side
I don't have a single thing to hide.
Just put your faith and trust in me.

Mini Videos and Lyrics Session I- Ce N'est Rien, All I Can Manage

2011-06-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

The Sun Sets On Indiana is starting a new and interesting series called Mini Videos and Lyrics. We thought about calling it Minivids and Lyrics but the quirky abbreviations isn't our thing so here is the deal. The members of Sun Sets: The Mutineers, Ce N'est Rien, Blind Dead Duck, and Mt. Pleasant will be posting mini videos, recorded from our phones and presented to this forum. We will post lyrics and the rest is up to you. All 8-10 of you. Our first Mini Video is from one of our favorites, Ce N'est Rien. This song is called All I Can Manage and that instrument is a Ukelele.

All I Can Manage Before

the only promises are ones I can no longer hold you to,

the little lady, her little folded hands kneeling down with you,

and at the foot of her bed

you lead her in a prayer for me

come on, do it again

and make up for a life I shouldve spent with you

and feet I once swept you off would only fail me now

Im right where you left me last

but we continue on, call it Home or not Im not there yet

I been all over thinking sooner or later I am bound to stumble on one

I lead the choir in, take in a silent film

to emulate the sin I have trapped inside my skull

a score that never makes it past the ceiling snow

words like feet are swept away and only fail me now--dont fail me now

Im right where you left me last

it's not my floor to speak

it's a game of 'All I can get out before--'

my voice starts breaking off, come on soldier-up

rope the wall stuck in my throat with every thought of you

but it wont make up for a life I've failed you now.

Bon Iver

2011-06-22T08:34:00.000-07:00

Hello again. Think I am going to buy this cd today because this song sounds pretty great.

The Strokes-Under Cover of Darkness

2011-03-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it last night this was the saving grace from Miley Cyrus hosting SNL. This cd is going to be good.

The Mountain Goats and Letterman

2011-02-24T07:50:00.000-08:00

Highly anticipated album. The Sun Sets On Indiana is watching paint dry as we await its arrival. All Eternal Decks out soon.
For some reason it doesn't work
Go to Pitchfork to check it out

New Music Worth Your Time

2011-02-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

There appears to be a resurgence in music lately. Not a resurgence in the sense that there are a lot of good 'new' bands coming out with albums, but familiar bands coming out with great albums. 2010 was the worst. Excitement about getting a new album felt forced and cds wore out there welcome after 1 or 2 full listens. Recently the Decemberists have come out with a great record called The King is Dead. Gillian Welch sings on it and the songs have a country feel that didn't exist on their other previous records. Iron and Wine (Kiss Each Other Clean) still has great songwriting, but now adds some electronic stuff that I have to say I have always enjoyed. It doesn't seem out of place and the listening experience is enjoyable. Bright Eyes (The Peoples Key) comes out in a couple weeks. If you order it from Saddle Creek right now they will send you a digital copy to download right now. Or you can go to NPR and listen to the album in its entirety without spending a penny. I am doing that right now because the download thing doesn't work and so far it seems pretty great.

Here are some other things The Sun Sets On Indiana is enjoying:

Television: (Here are some recommendations for the people who 'don't watch too much television' because their lives are too important)

1. Portlandia- Carrie Brownstein (Slater Kinney, NPR All Songs Considered) and Fred Armisen

This is on IFC and they put on little short skits about Portland. Two episodes in and its nothing less than hilarious.

2. Breaking Bad- (Bryan Cranston) Chemistry teacher/cancer patient selling meth. Always a recipe for success. Didn't catch it when it first came out. Heard about the hype but never watched it. We have purchased the first two seasons and its amazing.

3. Parks and Recreation- Rob Lowe is a highlight, but so is each character on there. Aziz Ansari, Amy Pohler just two more funny funny people. Its hard to overshadow 30 Rock, but Parks and Rec is coming close. Good thursday night of tv there.

Beer: We did thing we had a beer guy willing to do a weekly, monthly column on beer recs, but I think he forgot about us.

1. Bells Hopslam- 10.0% a/v IPA. A six pack costs around $15 but if you think about it there are about 12 beers worth of alcohol in each six pack of beer. If you can find it, buy it and enjoy it. Its not around often and its delicious.

2. 3 Floyds Gumballhead- A wheat IPA. If you aren't in Chicago you are not going to find this. It's my favorite beer I have ever had. I think its hard to get even if you live in Chicago.

This is ice not snow. If I tap a tree right now I think it might crumble.

Winter Blues

2011-01-31T18:09:00.000-08:00

As the Midwest gets bombarded with more inclement weather, I'm bottled up in my apartment hoping that it passes or limits the damage to only rain. Wishful thinking. Probably won't know until the morning when I wake up at the crack of dawn to check for school closings. The life of a substitute teacher. So, if you are in the same predicament enjoy the time off and use it to your advantage. I'll probably spend my time reading, listening to tunes, and praying for an early spring. How bout a great tune for a miserable day inside?

LA---Ce N'est Rien

2011-01-29T18:02:00.000-08:00

Another video to watch and enjoy.

Untitled from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

New Bright Eyes tune---Haile Selassie

2011-01-26T18:06:00.000-08:00

More new music to look forward to. Seems like we went a year without getting excited about anything. And now we have Iron and Wine and Bright Eyes and The Mountain Goats all with new albums here or coming in the near future. Here is a new one from Bright Eyes. Have a great listen. It will be sent to your email.

Tree By The River by Iron and Wine in a Take Away Show

2011-01-24T18:33:00.000-08:00

Here is Sam Beam playing a song under your floor boards or below the steps of your basement. New album comes out tomorrow so go buy it.

Iron and Wine | Tree by the river | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Blind Dead Duck-James Alley Blues

2011-01-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

A nice New Years performance by Blind Dead Duck. Halfway through, what appears to be an earthquake, is just the camera holder clapping along. And the hits just keep on coming...

Blind Dead Duck from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

A New Installment of Live From New Years. He is ADAM and this is the Eagles.

2011-01-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

Sit back and listen to the silky smooth vocal stylings of Adam and the metronomic rhythm of Mere. Nice work! Due to some technical difficulties the performance is in two sections. This is Part I.

Untitled from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

This is Part II

Untitled from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

Some More Ray....

2011-01-14T14:24:00.000-08:00

I can't lie...I'm into this guy right now. This is my new favorite. One of those I've kept on repeat in my car for, oh, I don't know 3 straight days now. Hope you like it....

New Okkervil River Song On Jimmy Fallon

2011-01-11T11:53:00.000-08:00

I know it seems like there isn't any music that is worth a shit anymore, but its not entirely true. You just have to be persistent and patient, if you can do both of those things at once. This song sounds great and I hate that we all have to wait 5 months for the album to come out. Hope this works, I had a little difficulty getting it going. Just because you are getting older doesn't mean you have to stop making time for music. Have a listen and then get on with your life.

Wonder Years, A Snowday and Ce N'est Rien- A Cane To A Marching Band

2011-01-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

Its 11:55, I am up watching Wonder Years (Punky Brewster and her adolescent boobs make an appearance in this one) and I am pretty much banking on a snow day tomorrow. If it doesn't happen I will be heartbroken and tired...but we roll the dice and enjoy the evening.
In honor of his birthday lets play another song by Ce N'est Rien. This one great and I hope you guys all enjoy the snow day, if you get one.

The Mutineers sing Two Headed Boy directly to you

2011-01-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

The Mutineers playing on New Years. There are more performances to come.

Good New Year With Ce N'est Rien

2011-01-05T19:48:00.000-08:00

Good New Year to all of you faithful viewers. I will try to get some videos out from New Years Eve. This is an edited version. We took out some of the MC joke telling at the beginning. The quality isn't great but the song is. Have a listen.

Walking Far From Home-Iron and Wine

2010-12-28T13:51:00.000-08:00

I think this has been one of the worst years for new music. I liked High Violet by The National and Lisbon by the Walkmen. Sufjan Stevens album was pretty good, but nothing was great. If this year was shit next year has to be better. Here is something to look forward to. Its from Iron and Wine's new album called Kiss Each Other Clean (1/25). The Song is Walking Far From Home. The only thing that sucks about songs coming out so far in advance from their album is that I completely wear them out and I am well on my way to wearing this one out. It is great.

Ben Bridwell and Tyler Ramsey

2010-12-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

A Little Winter Band of Horses love...

Band of Horses from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

If I know you like I think I know you this will make your day. (New Mountain Goats Song)

2010-11-17T17:13:00.000-08:00

Two Good Things In Two Days!

2010-11-17T17:09:00.000-08:00

You guys should check this out. Stream the entire Girl Talk album and while the tracks are playing the album and song title pop up as they pop up in the track. Pretty sweet. Check it out here. All Day Samples of Girl Talk's All Day

Hello, Its Getting Cold You Should Put On Something Less Revealing

2010-11-16T17:18:00.000-08:00

I haven't heard anything interesting in some time. I think Sufjan Stevens album Age of Adz is good and worth buying. Bob Dylan's new bootleg series 9 is also good, but stuff you have mostly heard before. Other than that I haven't heard a whole lot I have been excited about. Tallest Man on Earth has a new EP I believe and I have heard a few songs off that and I like it a lot. Here is a song everyone has heard before, but buy Horse Feathers. Enjoy it and its nice to see you all again.

If you would like the mp3 download it at Aquarium Drunkard
This song is probably pretty old. This one, this version.

Horse Feathers / Drain You cover from Lesley Graves on Vimeo.

Music of the Moment is Back!!!

2010-10-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry all (and by all I mean the 4 of you that read this site on occasion), but I bought a house, started school, and had to coach football this fall. Needless to say, I've been occupied. But, here it is....the return of Music of the Moment.

OK, so it won't be as often, but the ol' feature needs reviving. Songs I can't get outta my head! This is the latest. A masterpiece I think. A tremendous live version.... enjoy

Can't Stop Listening to This Song

2010-09-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

Heard the album "I and Love and You" for the first time about a year ago in St. Louis with Captain Redpants. It has been a staple for me over the last year. I've listened to it several times and enjoy it immensely, but for some reason I can't stop listening to the song "Laundry Room." It's incredible and I just thought I'd share it with the single digit viewers of this site.

America Will Always Be the Greatest Nation

2010-09-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe it has been nine years since 9/11. I'll never forget waking up that morning and turning on the television and witnessing the horror of that day. As Americans, I feel as if we have come together as a nation over these last nine years and let the world know that we are the greatest nation in the world. Not trying to make a political statement here. But I love my country. Looking for hope the days after the attacks, I found solace in music and baseball as did many Americans. I still cringe watching Mo Rivera blow the 2001 World Series that year, but that World Series will always be something to remember, as well as the tributes and music that inspired this great nation. Much love to all the families and heroes from that day. You will always be remembered.

Song of the Moment - How We Fade, The Thermals

2010-08-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a track that I rediscovered recently on a run around Charleston. Nothing quite like the Thermals to get you moving. I like the studio version better...pretty intense stuff - but this is a cool acoustic version done in a graveyard. Enjoy

Two Gallants

2010-08-09T06:06:00.001-07:00

Stumbled across a pretty great site. THEY SHOOT MUSIC - DON'T THEY. here's the site...
http://theyshootmusic.at/

if you like live takes of some good bands playing their songs, give it a whirl.

also, be sure to check the "link love" section to the right. Some great versions by bands we love at Sunsets on the Take Aways Songs section. you know, if you have an hour or six to kill.

This is a stripped down version of Despite What You've Been Told by Two Gallants. yes sir.

The Walkmen- The Rat from Juan's Basement

2010-08-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

Here is an older song from a band I have been listening to a lot lately. The Walkmen have a couple great albums. Bow and Arrow and You and Me. Both well above average and worth your time and money. They have a new album coming out in September and I can only believe it is going to be just as great or better. This is The Rat and its just one of their great songs.

Song of the Moment - Change of Time by Josh Ritter

2010-08-02T10:51:00.000-07:00

I love this song....
something about it's simplicity. I've been listening to it on repeat for a week now.

Song of the Moment - "Forever Young" by Alphaville

2010-07-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

I re-discovered this song recently from an episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." The episode "Underage Drinking - A National Concern" used this tune when the gang went to the prom. Oh sure, it came out 20 years ago....but greatness does not fade. I bought it on Itunes almost immediately. And, as the Sports Guy would say, this video almost shatters the Unintentional Comedy Scale as we know it. Funny little Europeans.

This is a live version of Alphaville performing somewhere in Europe. mm hmmmm.

and for shits and giggles and the hip-hopsters....here's Jay Z's version because he is great and I don't care what you say...

The Mutineers - Live in Charleston

2010-07-17T19:12:00.001-07:00

One of my favorites.... A live recording from a small Charleston apartment, circa 2005. forgive my lack of Mutineers pictures, and the rudimentary video.

Song of the Moment - Deer Tick "Ashamed"

2010-07-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

Gonna try a new feature here. "Song of the Moment"
Often I get obsessed with a new song. I hear it, and it's all I want to here for days, and sometimes weeks, on end. Here is the first installment....

Deer Tick - Ashamed

This is not the best version, but i love the part where the whole crowd chimes in. great, great, great.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

2010-07-17T07:34:00.001-07:00

If you're not watching this show....do yourself a favor, and go buy all four seasons on DVD this instant. Easily the funniest show on today. Political incorrectness of the highest order. Here's two clips from one of my favorite episodes..."Sweet Dee is Dating a Retarded Person."

the birth of "Dayman" by Charlie and Dennis

and the finished product...."Electric Dream Machine"
Prepare to experience sexual magic!!

Good Evening, Can I Please Take Your Coat And Hat

2010-07-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

Seems like a lot of nothing has been going on lately. First the Lebron nonsense. Can't say I care too much except for the fact that I am pretty sure that my NBA Friday Nights will now involve pizza, IPAs, the Miami Heat and whomever they are playing. The hour long "prime time special" reminded me of some sort of 1983 Donahue Special. The fact that Lebron thought everyone cared enough to stop their evenings to watch was pretty much correct as much as I hate to say that.
Dan Gilbert's comments were hilarious and will prevent his team from getting the average players they were probably not going to get anyway...so basically they went from a 25 win team to a 20 win team. No bigs.
There is only one thing in this whole ordeal that I find a shame. LeBron had a chance to be "great"...really great, by winning a championship in a place that shouldn't ever win one. If anyone in basketball history could do it, it was probably him. Basically, he has done exactly what Arod has done. Gone somewhere that will be full of championships where he is just a cog, instead of the man. My thought is basically this. His legacy would have been more impressive if he took his chances in Cleveland and failed than if he wins 6 championships in Miami. Its too bad, but then again the days of Dr. J and Larry and Magic and MJ and Ewing and Olajuwon are long gone. I have recently found myself becoming a bitter, bitter old man about everything. It feels amazing.
Jesse Jackson, thanks so much for your predictable and boring diatribe. I disagree, but then again I am white, middle classed, naive and overcome with undeserving guilt.

The pre-All Star game festivities tonight were some of the worst things I have ever seen at a sporting event. The All Star game should not be like the Super Bowl or the NBA All Star Weekend. It should be void of all the things that make these events seem like scenes from Johnny Be Good or some sort of SNL parody (but then again everything seems like it is one big joke these days...ie watching MIA on Letterman right now and I feel like I might be in the wrong place, if this is indeed Earth).
I feel like the devil for saying this, but when I sit down to watch a baseball game (and I really look forward to this one) I do not want a 20 minute presentation about people who have done great things...great humanitarian things in the past year. I don't want to see people crying and I sure as hell don't want to see some chick from some Fox show sing Christina Aguilara's Beautiful. Jesus! Somebody help me. Tell me I am not insane for thinking that all of this was a huge disaster. Fox, you really fuck up everything you touch that is non-animated.

Not good

a)Wolf Parades new album Expo 86 is really great.
b)Take a listen to Christ Jesus by Deer Tick and tell me that isn't a great song. (sorry, no video just song and I think the better version is on Black Dirt Sessions)

c)Best line from The Nationals new album "I'm a confident liar. I've got my head in the oven so you'll know where I'll be"

There are at least 3 times a day that make me want to stay in my house all day and cut the electricity.
i) If I happen across an Entertainment channel that shows something about housewives, or Kardashians, or a clip from someone who has cursed someone out completely rationally (if it was done in private), but since everyone has a recording device on them at all times it ends up on the internet and being looked at as "unacceptable". I think you should be able to call anyone you want a whore, cunt, bitch in the confines of your very own home. I love America.
ii) When I tweet about how much I hate watching people texting or tweeting during a great game. I hate myself.
iii) Hearing anyone talk about politics.

Enjoy the rest of your summer
Don't complain about the weather

Deer Tick

2010-07-07T18:35:00.001-07:00

Never head much from Deer Tick, but I heard this little gem on my drive back to the Carolinas. I've been singin' it ever since.

St. Louis in the Summer

2010-07-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

I visited the Lou recently to hang out with the Sunsets brothers. As usual, good times were had by all. Days filled with Cabo Wabo tequila, great grill meats, beer-battered onion rings, day-drinking on the porch, an unusually long (but excellent) 30-for-30 documentary commitment, and of course...tunes.

Mumford and Sons was the soundtrack of the week. Here are my two favorites performed live.

and this song has been posted already, but here's a great live rendition...and will forever remind me of my time with Brothers Connors.

The Dude Abides

2010-07-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

You gotta love Jeff Bridges. If you haven't, definitely check out Crazy Heart where the Dude plays down-on-his-luck country singer Bad Blake. While it is highly implausible that such a man could pull off a Maggie Gyllenhal, it's an excellent movie nonetheless. Here's the title track performed by Bridges in an interview, then the real version performed by Ryan Bingham on Sirius radio. I'm partial to the Dude's version.

rbi baseball....simply the best

2010-06-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

I'm not much for gaming. I get it. Really, I do....but something has been lost in all of this. Is realism what we're after? perhaps. kids these days play with real guns, real tiger woods', real autos. but I'll take fat chubby sluggers any day of the week. I was fortunate enough to relive some glory this past week on my visit to St. Louis, and you'll all (well, maybe just me) be happy to know that i still have what it takes in the best video game ever.

Here's two funny tricks that i have pulled myself, and if you ever really cared about the best gaming system of of our childhood, you did too! kudos to the video posters. Some people just might have too much time on their hands....of course I found these on youtube, so what does it say about me.

State of Love and Trust is back!!

2010-06-21T17:58:00.001-07:00

At one time in my life I listened to just one band and there was a more specific time of my life when I listened to just one song. That song was State of Love and Trust and this is the first time I have seen it covered and I really, really enjoy this cover done by Gaslight Anthem.

Mumford and Sons-The Cave

2010-06-20T18:11:00.000-07:00

Check out Mumford and Sons here. Takes me about 5 seconds to realize that I really like there music. Will probably pick up there newest album Sigh No More this week. Good stuff.

Here are some things I would like to mention but will not write extensively about
1) Kobe Bryant is not Larry or MJ or Magic or Oscar Robertson or Bill Russell. We don't dislike him because he is smug. We dislike him because he is trying to be something that he will never ever be, no matter how many championships the teams he is on wins.
2) The National's cd is pretty great.
3) A radish, although not my favorite tasting vegetable, tastes great when it comes out of your own yard
4) Soccer is not the worst game in the world. And even if it is its not completely unwatchable.

In Case You Weren't Sold on Woodpigeon's First Posted Song....

2010-06-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

OKAY, maybe i'm late to the party...or maybe I'm the first one here. http://www.baeblemusic.com/ is freaking awesome. apologies if you already knew this. But i just discovered it, and i'm giddy. if you're looking to waste some time reading about, listening to, or watching performances (and you reading this site is evidence you are!), go to baeble. You won't be disappointed.

Here is Woodpigeon's entire performance from their "Guest Apartment." Dude can sing, i'll say that. forgive me, but i'm obsessed. Apparently, they won't let me link the entire set (3 songs) here, so this is the same song as before....but click on the "watch the full concert." below this video. you won't be disappointed.

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

The Plants and Animals (Canadians, go figure) session is pretty badass as well. Here's one song, with the whole concert link below as well.

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

What I'm Diggin' Lately: Woodpigeon

2010-06-15T06:43:00.000-07:00

by: Mitch Miggenburg
those darn canadians have done it again. This is the band i'm listenin to at the moment. I stumbled on this guy on the Black Cab Session website (link to be posted in a few!). This is the song I like best, "And As the Ship Went Down, You Never Looked Finer." You know everybody on the boat drowns, but they looked good! that's awesome.
For some reason, this reminds me of a Ce N'est Rien song. If you like it, check out his others...I like 7th Fret Over Andres as well.

Here's their website, where you can stream and preview the entire album if you're not impulsive and like to buy entire albums having only heard one song, like me. And their other goings-on. I don't think you'd be disappointed.
http://www.woodpigeon-songbook.com/

The first video is from Baeblemusic.com and it is great.

the second is the same song but from the Black Cab sessions

Wood Pigeon from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

go Canadians, go!

VESSALO Day 7....we made it kids

2010-06-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

last day of the VESSALOS. and maybe these weren't videos.that.everyone.should.see.at.least.once so much as they were videos that I just really liked. again, i hope you've enjoyed watching them as much as i have posting them.
another little twist here on the last day. most of the videos here have been live versions with somewhat questionable quality. i have purposely tried to find a little better quality videos here. a little more production value if you will. I chose three of my favorite bands of the past 5 years. in no particular order:

First: My Morning Jacket - Off the Record
gotta love Jim James. I saw them about a month ago, and this song brought the house down.

Video #2: Kings of Leon: Notion
for whatever reason, this band has really caught on in Europe, but have lagged in popularity here. I know Sunsets doesn't really get the hype, but i'm telling you....a very tight band with amazing arrangements, a unique voice, and unbelievable live show.

Video #3: Band of Horses: Laredo
I would not forgive myself if I left off my Charleston boys Band of Horses. This is not my favorite song on the new album, but I loved the acoustic version done here with no drums. Dig it.

Hope you all enjoyed first-annual VESSALOS! stayed tuned for more from Charleston SC.

VESSALO Day 6: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. (that's an order!!) / Alec Ounsworth

2010-06-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

Let's keep this ball rolling shall we? One of my favorite bands of the 'oughts.' One of the better debut albums i can remember. His voice is not for every one, but it sure scratches me where I itch! The first video is an acoustic version of my favorite tune off of that album....."Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood." they are going out to bars, and they are getting into cars....i have seen them with my own eyes! america please help them.

The second is not Clap Your Hands, but their lead singer Alec Ounsworth and his new project...Flashy Python - might be worth looking into if you like his voice. Their's something i just really like about two dudes playing guitars in a room. It's their Tiny Concert from NPR. and it is great if you ask me.

VESSALO Day 5: Jeff Mangum

2010-06-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, hitting the homestretch here...hopefully you guys are enjoying watching these videos as I am finding them and writing a word or two about each. And we would be remiss if we left Jeff Mangum, of the band Neutral Milk Hotel) off of any singer/songwriter list of any kind. A tremendous talent, but definitely a tortured soul....he can just flat out write a song. Sunsets purchased this cd in 52.5 Records in Charleston, SC some time around 2004 or so). The album came out in the late 90's, so we were a little late to the party....but we immediately fell in love with NMH. And if you don't listen or haven't heard of Jeff Mangum...go back and revisit....it's not too late!! He has not released in album since 1998, and if you would like to read more...here goes. (yes, i'm into wikipedia lately)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Mangum

The first video speaks for itself. I am still partial to Sunsets version in The Clap in the Winter of 2009 (look for it in the older posts here at Sunsets....a real treat!), but the energy in his voice is undeniable.

The 2nd is probably my favorite Neutral Milk Hotel song. Not the best version I have ever heard (the other musicians aren't exactly "ON" in this one. But, I love five things about it...
1. It's recorded on my birthday....New Year's Eve. The best day to drink of the year!
2. The sweater he is wearing slays me. It looks like he's attending a "Bad Christmas / New Year's Sweater Party."
3. He looks like he might want to kill everyone in the room on more than one occasion in this song.
4. The horns. (again, not exactly on it, but great sounding nonetheless)
5. The weird instrument that I don't know near the 3 minute mark. He laughs at the guy playing it as if to say, "That's a silly little instrument you're playing! Seriously!" around the 3:17 mark.

VESSALO Day 4: Ben Harper

2010-06-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple videos from one of my old-time favorites. I've gotten away from Ben Harper in the last couple of years, but he's one of the better live shows I've seen. This first song was extremely cool live. I was at a Ben Harper show in Charleston probably 9 or 10 years ago (man we're getting old). Anyway, the second the bongo intro hit, all you could see was the biggest, craziest plume of marijuana smoke rise from what seemed like every crevasse of the auditorium. An indoor show! A small, artsy type of place. Still....a fun song, no matter what time of year.....HERB, the gift....from the earth, and what's from the earth is of our greatest worth....so before you knock it, try it first....and you'll see it's a blessing no it's not a curse! classic.

the second video is a combination of two of my favorite all-time voices. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better combo!

VESSALOS day 3

2010-06-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Video #5: Yusuf Islam (who?)
Day 3 of the Videos Everyone Should see at Least Once Series brings a different kind of twist from the usual indie-rock fare. One of my favorite older artists, and an unusual and intriguing character to say the least - Yusuf Islam, or the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. I only knew bits and pieces of this interesting man's life. I cannot do his life justice in my words, so I've attached a couple of links so you might learn more on your own. A religious convert, educator, philanthropist, and one helluva musician. The video? My favorite of all of his songs...Father and Son. It always seems to get a little dusty in the room when i hear it. Sung on BBC sometime around 2007 I believe. Enjoy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Stevens

http://www.yusufislam.com/

VESSALO #4

2010-06-09T10:20:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the VESSALOS!
Nirvana: Polly (from Nirvana Unplugged in New York, 1993), About a Girl, Jesus Don't Want Me for a Sunbeam

OK, so I couldn't quite decide which one I liked best...so I included all three. And quite honestly, I could have posted this entire set. These songs flood my mind with some of the best memories and times of my life, and shaped my taste in music forever. I think i discovered this album in 1994 - sophomore year of high school, and remember it as one of the 1st albums where you could listen to it in it's entirety, each song seemingly better than the last. It saddens me to think about Kurt's last moments and I shudder to think what could have been. But maybe he was right...perhaps he truly did answer Neil Young's question that it was better to burn out than to fade away. RIP Kurt.

Song ONE: Polly
Taken from Wikipedia (I know, not the most reliable of sources, but interesting nonetheless) a description of how Kurt came to write the lyrics:
--According to Michael Azerrad's 1993 Nirvana biography Come as You Are: The Story of Nirvana, "Polly" is based on the true story of a female rape victim from Tacoma, Washington. The girl, 14, was abducted in 1987 while returning from a punk rock show, and was raped and tortured with razors and a blowtorch by her abductor Gerald Friend. Cobain's only narrative flourish is that the victim manages to escape by flirting with her captor Gerald Friend, convincing him to trust her. This allows her to escape while he stops for gas.[1]

Song #2: About a Girl
Arguably my favorite 1st track of any album i can remember. Nostalgic for sure. Pay close attention to David Grohl's turtleneck....high comedy.

Song #3: Jesus Don't Want Me for a Sunbeam
Definitely fits my "Obscure Cover Song" bill. Completely random, but amazing stiill the same

VESSALO #3

2010-06-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Regina Spektor: Us
Lollapalooza, 2007
Most of the people at Sunsets know I don't care much for female singers. It's not that i'm sexist, i'm just not that into it. The following is, I guess, an exception to the rule. She is certainly sexy and can sing with the best of them. This song always makes me feel a little bit better...regardless of the situation.....we're living in a den of thieves!

VESSALO #2

2010-06-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

Ryan Adams: Oh My Sweet Carolina

I remember where I was the first time I heard this song. Actually in South Carolina. Charleston to be exact. Sitting in my bedroom with headphones on. Middle of June...hot, hot, hot. There's humidity...and then there's Charleston, SC in the summer. Something about being at, or right at, sea level. Makes the temperature outside down right unbearable. But this song always makes me remember the good parts of the south that i've come to love soo much. Warm weather, the beach, good-looking women, barbecue, and bourbon. mmmm.

Videos Everyone Should See At Least Once Series (from here on known as VESSALO!)

2010-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

by: Mitch Miggenburg

Okay, hopefully Sunsets won't mind me starting a new feature here. Summer break has started for all of us teachers out there, and with it...much free time. So, with that...and my obsession with watching singer/songwriters on YouTube, I will begin this weeklong series with at least one, and possible 2,3, or 4, videos posted per day of songs that i think everyone should see at least once in his life. Mostly songs that mean or have meant a great deal to me at some point in my life. Some will be obscure, others will not. Hopefully, you will find a few you like as much as I do.

So, without further adieu...let's get this thing started:

VESSALO video #1:
Iron and Wine: Trapeze Swinger
Taken from the Green Man Festival in August of 2008. This song has literally brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion. I've listened to it on repeat in my car for 6 days straight. It was the only song I wanted to hear. I think it's possibly in the top 10 best songs ever written. Just a masterpiece. Kind of long at 7 minutes and 44 seconds, but honestly...it won't seem that long. It's one of those you never want to end.

2010-06-07T06:08:00.001-07:00

By: MM

This video always makes me laugh. I love John Darnielle. There is something to be said for someone who is unapologetic for what he likes...even if it is Ace of Base. Enjoy a good laugh. And don't ignore that urge to sing the chorus. Belt it out...you know you know it!

Great Lake Swimmers

2010-06-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

by: Mitch Miggenburg

Well, i've finally kicked my little Tallest Man on Earth habit (well, not completely, but i'm slowly weening...shoot me). I am now obsessed with NPR's Tiny Desk concerts (which ironically Tallest Man has a GREAT one,but I digress). This is what I'm into now. Great songs to sit by the pool, beachside, or on the back porch with a stiff drink or an ice cold beer. Ah, summertime at last....enjoy the Great Lake Swimmers
I like all three, but my favorite is the third song (around the 9:30 mark...Various Stages) Try to disregard the extremely awkward conversation in between songs. It gets uncomfortable at times!

Hunger Strike-Ben Bridwell and PJ

2010-05-24T10:01:00.000-07:00

Think this kind of made getting up this morning worth it.

More From The Tallest Man On Earth

2010-05-04T09:40:00.000-07:00

Check out The Tallest Man On Earth's new album called The Wild Hunt. If you liked his first one you will like this one more. This song is called Wild Hunt and its a doozy.

What I'm Diggin' Lately - The Tallest Man on Earth

2010-05-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

: mitch miggenburg

Not a lot to say about this cat, other than....just good. the porn 'stache is somethin else too!

: and one more

New Band of Horses-Laredo

2010-04-14T06:33:00.001-07:00

Baseball is here and so are the Red Sox

2010-04-06T09:06:00.000-07:00

Good win to start the season against those clowns from New York. Lets keep it rolling today.
This video was sent to me by Austin and it made my day. Here it is, to make your day. Does anything make you happier than seeing Dave Henderson jumping in the air after crushing a go ahead bomb on an awkward swing off of Donnie Moore? The answer is no.

One Shining Moment - 1987

2010-04-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

by: Mitch M.

One of my favorite tv moments of the year is ALWAYS 'One Shining Moment,' showing all of the highlights from the March Madness tournament. I get the chills every single time. And with proper respect (I loved the UNLV teams) to Sunsets and the 1992 version...this is mine. 1987. We all know the year and THE SHOT.

It takes a few minutes to start, but I don't think any of us will mind re-watching IU cutting down the nets as the credits roll. Now, I am partial to Luther Vandross, but this is David Barrett's version, and I'm slowly changing my mind. What I do know was that they completely butchered it with Jennifer Hudson's version last night. Ugh. I do not need to see her singing it in some studio. I need all the highlights I can get.
I digress....

On to the video....pay close attention to two things:
1. Bobby Cremins pounding his chest for the "beat of your heart" line.....same as the Loyala Maramount one below. I think he did this every year on purpose.
and 2. and more importantly, watch the General at around 3:05 giving business to the scorer's table. My grandfather would be proud. That could never happen now.

anyway, on to some memories......

Guru of Go

2010-04-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

I hope you had a chance to watch the ESPN 30 for 30 on Loyola Marymount and their 1990 tournament team called Guru of Go. It aired on ABC a couple hours before the tip off of the Butler game. Paul Westhead was the orchestrator of the fastest offense in the history of college basketball. His teams at Marymount averaged 122 points a game at their best. I will always remember Hank Gathers, Bo Kimble, Per Stumer, Jeff Fryer, and Tom Peabody as the most entertaining team I had ever seen.
The 86 Red Sox are my favorite team. The '85-'86 Celtics are my second favorite. My third is the 89'-90' Marymount team. I remember staying up until 11pm just to watch a half of one of their games. I stared at their box scores for hours trying to imagine what went on during those 40 minutes and how it was possible to score 140 points in a game.
I remember the morning my dad woke me up and told me that Hank Gathers had died during a game. My dad would usually give me a sports highlight from the night before as he was trying to get me out of bed. I was completely stunned and saddened and I think I started crying. Its weird to look back on that team I liked so much; I can't figure out why I did other thant he fact that even back then all I wanted to do in baseketball was jack up 3's. There had to be other kids like me that were broken up by this. Kids that disected these box scores for a team that was on the other side of the planet that only came on once a month at 11pm at night.
At one point int he documentary they show 5 second clips of all these peoples reactions to an interview question about Hank Gathers' death. A question asked about something that happened 20 years ago yeilded answers of silence and watery eyes. Its pretty amazing.
I think everyone knows the story by now, but if you don't it's a great one and you should try to check it out. If you do know the story, its still pretty amazing to look back and remember how amazing it was. There will never be another team like that LMU team. Even without Hank Gathers you had a 30 ppg guy in Bo Kimble, two dead on three point shooters in Per Stumer and Jeff Fryer, and Tom Peabody who dove for every ball like it was a baby falling out of a third story window.
To this day there has not been a better "one shining moment" then that one from 1990. Here it is.

UNLV 1990 One Shining Moment

Movies & TV
SPIKE.com

I have a VHS tape of a couple of their games, but I don't know exactly where it is. Last time I had it was at Dan Schnur's house. It might still be in his basement.

Titus Andronicus-A More Perfect Union Video

2010-04-04T16:17:00.000-07:00

I haven't listened to anything else since I bought Titus Andronicus' new album The Monitor a couple weeks ago. I have no desire to listen to anything else and I am very aware that I am probably wearing these songs out to the point where I will not like them in the near future. The entire album is great. Filled with screaming and loud guitar playing and sing alongs at the end of almost every track. I have mentioned this before but I feel it is necessary to reiterate these points. Don't take my word for it, listen and watch the video for A More Perfect Union.

Some More BOH

2010-04-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

by: Mitch Miggenburg

Oh boy, did Sunsets ever get me in the mood for some more Band of Horses. I love when bands cover random, off-the-wall tracks. I have been fortunate enough to see BOH many times, and they are king of the random cover. Here is a video of one of my favorites. Enjoy.

Band of Horses Compliments

2010-04-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward to the arrival of this new album. First song I have heard. First video I have seen. Ben Bridwell could sing chapters out of a Calculus book and we would love it. First song called Compliments and here is the video accompaniment.
New Album Infinite Arms due out May 18. Keep your eyes peeled.

PEARL JAM IS ROCK N ROLL by Greg Brinkmeyer

2010-03-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

Pure rock and roll. If you asked me to name one band that defines this saying and owns the title to the greatest band ever, the answer would come without hesitation; The Rolling Stones. Now this is just my opinion. Sure they have had their moments of ‘softness’, but looking back on their catalog, it is hard to say that they are not the greatest of all time. Many will argue the Beatles own the crown and they might be right, but they did not last long enough as a band before embarking on solo careers. Contrary to modern science, the Stones will not continue to churn out music as they once did, although we all secretly hope they do. They have a certain aura about them that just makes you want to throw your arms in the air and dance. My Mick Jagger impression is horrible, but I get a kick out of doing it when ‘Street Fighting Man’ blares over the speakers at a party or gathering. So, if we look back on the careers of a phenomenal band, the only question is who will take their place? The answer once again comes without hesitation. Two words; Pearl Jam.

Without a doubt, Pearl Jam is the greatest American rock band ever! They never cease to amaze their fans with each album. Remarkably, it has been almost 19 years since the release of their debut album Ten. 19 years! Hard to believe. Released in the age of grunge, Pearl Jam wowed listeners with stellar songs such as ‘Jeremy’, ‘Alive’, and ‘Evenflow.’ I still can’t get enough of ‘Release’ to this day. Looking back, it seems like they took a backseat to Nirvana, which I feel like was an okay situation. They continued to produce extraordinary music. Pearl Jam’s first three albums crashed through the rock scene like a sledgehammer. And after Kurt Cobain’s passing, they grabbed the reins and never looked back.

19 years later, nine studio albums, one live album, and countless bootlegs, Pearl Jam still continues to electrify the crowds. And yes, just like the Stones, they have had their moments of weakness. Or have they? Talking with a friend last weekend, we pondered whether Pearl Jam has released a bad album. No Code has and probably always will be my favorite album and I’ll never forget buying it the day I left for college. I was never partial to Binaural, but I am listening to it as I write this article and feel as if it is a great album that was overshadowed by its predecessors. So, maybe some songs have not lived up to the Pearl Jam hype, but they have not released a bad album in my opinion.

In talking with another friend, another question arose. Do we love Pearl Jam for the songs or for the memories associated with the songs? Plain and simple, I love the songs. Sure, when ‘Elderly Woman’ plays I am immediately transported back to the Stockwell Inn singing at the top of my lungs with ten of my friends. I recall pulling into Chicago a few years back when I heard ‘World Wide Suicide’ for the first time. And when ‘Long Road’ plays, I think of my grandmother. There are several other memories associated with Pearl Jam songs, but if it wasn’t for the songs, the memories would not stand out as well. Isn’t that the case with all music? I remember the day I bought Vs. on tape! Music brings out the best and worst in all of us. It is and always will be about the music.

This week I bought a ticket to see Pearl Jam in May. I have not seen them live since 2004. Six years have passed and my faith in the band is just as strong. I absolutely love Backspacer and cannot wait to see the band walk out onto the stage. It will be a magical moment and it has forced me to look back on a career that will no doubt be noted as remarkable. I remember seeing RC almost cry when ‘Smile’ echoed throughout the amphitheater and later seeing my brother almost shed a tear at his first PJ concert in ‘03. I remember KG arriving at the car, hair slicked back with sweat after a show in ‘98. I remember rocking out to bootlegs in Shooter’s Blazer in college as we hit the gas station for a late night dip and bottled water in the late 90s as well. And I’ll never, ever forget the lights going up and the band closing a show with ‘Rocking in the Free World’ in ’00. Pearl Jam has followed me since high school and I have followed them. They have been there for me in the good times and the bad. They have helped through personal struggles and they have astonished me on road trips across the country. There will never be another group like them. They may have changed their sound at times, but the heart and soul behind each guitar lick, each drumbeat, each bass line, and each lyric is always there. So, as we look to the future, I am confident that Pearl Jam will continue to churn out balls to the wall rock and roll. Should we expect anything less?

TOUR DATES (w/BAND OF HORSES)

21-May	New York, New York	Madison Square Garden
20-May	New York, New York	Madison Square Garden
17-May	Boston, Massachusetts	TD Banknorth Garden
15-May	Hartford, CT	XL Arena
13-May	Bristow, VA	Jiffy Lube Live
10-May	Buffalo, New York	HSBC Arena
9-May	Cleveland, OH	Quicken Loans Arena
7-May	Noblesville, Indiana	Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Indiana
6-May	Columbus, OH	Nationwide Arena
4-May	St Louis, Missouri	Scottrade Center
3-May	Kansas City, Missouri	Sprint Center

Parenthood

2010-03-25T06:05:00.001-07:00

If you haven't had a chance to watch Parenthood yet I think you should give it a shot. It's probably not realistic (all good looking people managing life problems with ease, humor, and wit), but if it was realistic it would be boring and that is why television and movies are entertaining; they take life and make it how we all wish it would be. Ron Howard always does a great job with the dynamics of television families (ie Arrested Development) and he doesn't miss with this one. The producers do a good job incorporating music into the show. This element alone can make an average show good and a good show great. Don't quite know where this show stands, but I do like it and watch it over Southland which airs at the same time. Here is a song that played at the end of the last episode. I had The Animal Years by Josh Ritter in my hand one day at a record store, but put it back before I could purchase it. Change of Time is the first song from his upcoming album and now you can listen to it.

Parenthood on NBC Tuesdays at 9:00

The Late 90's Are Back

2010-03-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know what made me post this song because its not that great. It is Stone Temple Pilots and it sounds like Stone Temple Pilots so maybe thats why I have posted this song. Listen to this song twice and I think you might just say that it is alright.
I still love Purple and Tiny Music and even like No 4. They were really a great band and I think they were underrated because they were being compared to Pearl Jam and Nirvana. The comparison doesn't seem fair, but you can't blame anyone but Scott Weiland because he thought it would be a good idea to emulate the most well known voice in 90's rock music. To his credit he did a great job turning himself into something quite different. Take a listen and remember your friends passing out in the back of your '81 Blazer listening to a worn out copy of Purple on cassette.

Stone Temple Pilots - Between The Lines by Atlantic Records

Titus Andronicus The Monitor

2010-03-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

I loved Airing of Grievances by Titus Andronicus. It was great and I didn't think
they could come up with another album that good, or even close to that good.
They did and it is better.
The album is The Monitor and here is a song off of the album. This is A Perfect Union. I hope
you enjoy it.

Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals

2010-03-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

Its no secret that The Sun Sets On Indiana loves Larry Bird and 80's NBA basketball. Or maybe it is a secret, but let it be a secret no more. I just watched an unbelievable documentary called Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals. I laughed like I laugh when I see genius and I cried like someone who watched a highlight video of their childhood. At the risk of sounding like every coach, teacher, parent, adult that have lectured us through our early years I am going to say that life was better when we were growing up. Let me be more specific. Sports and competition were better.

Rivalries were real, I mean existent. They weren't conjured up by Nike puppets, they were conjured up in big games and heated battles. In those days you could foul somebody into the third row and not face a lifetime ban from the sport. You could leave the bench and knock someone's nose off and not be crucified in the media. It was a better time. It was a time when real rivalries meant you didn't hug before big games and if you did the river dance during a rout you might just have your patella tendon ruptured the next time you played. I miss Larry and Magic. Those two divided friendships and gave us all something to argue about. Larry and Magic were polar opposites divided by a continent. Did you have the black converse or did you go with the purple and yellow. I know which pair I owned.

Those two defined you. If you liked Larry you were...like Larry. You were a little more quiet, you were a little less flashy and if you weren't a poor kid from Indiana, you wished you were. If you liked Magic you were a little bit of a "show off" and you were outgoing and you might just be a trouble maker. I don't know if that completely true, I think I am just describing the differences between me and my childhood friend Parker Gibson.

When was the last time you saw an NBA player go diving into the scores table to save a ball. I will tell you when. Late 80's Larry Bird. No one does this anymore. In "A Courtship of Rivals" they showed a number of clips where Larry dives, I mean sells out, to save a ball. I get dusty watching it. I don't know what it is, but it makes me remember why I wanted to be him for the first 13 years of my life. This documentary was everything I wanted it to be. Everyone always says, "who will be the next Jordan" and people always answer, "there will never be another Jordan" and while that is probably true I guarantee you we will see "another Jordan" before we see anyone who comes close to Bird or Magic.

As kids we grew up with these guys as our idols. We saw how much it hurt to lose (LeBron's leaving the court before shaking hands doesn't even come close, even though he thinks it does). Being competitive meant you would rip someone's balls off with your teeth if it meant you would have more points on the scoreboard when the clock read 0's. Its different now. It doesn't make me sad, it just makes me happy that we got to live in the middle of it. That when we shot free throws on our slanted driveway at night, we thought we could still be them.

Magic and Bird: A Courtship of Rivals is showing on HBO

The Freaking Rural Alberta Advantage by Mitch Miggenburg

2010-03-06T05:38:00.000-08:00

by: Mitch Miggenburg

I was assigned a record review by Sunsets a couple of months ago, and while i have yet to complete this assignment, the main reason is here. I loved many albums of the 'oughts' (is this the best term for the years 00' - 01'? I guess it'll have to do) including, but definitely not limited to:
Band of Horses - Cease to Begin and Everything All the Time - I love them both unconditionally
The Mountain Goats - Sunset Tree (my original winner of album of the decade)
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
Son Volt - Okemah and the Melody of Riot (bad name for a great album)
The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
The Postal Service - Give Up
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - self-titled
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
Josh Joplin Group - Useful Music
The Features - Exhibit A
The Decemberists - Picaresque
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band
Sun Kil Moon - Tiny Cities
and
The Fray - How to Save a Life....OK, just kidding - had to make sure you were still reading!

Some pretty good stuff! How is one to choose fromt he greatness above? I am no rock critic, i just know what I like. Most of the time I have a difficult time describing exactly why. I usually just kind of realize my affection for an album based on its time spent in my disc player. Each of the albums above spent an inordinate amount of time in my cd player in my car, and most of those still find their way there on a regular basis. These albums just don't get old. Ever. I have probably listened to Sunset Tree and Cease to Begin all the way through at least 200 times each. And that's a conservative number. Even when I know every single lyric and melody....I still listen. In those three seconds before the next track begins, I can already hear the opening sequence to the next song I already know i like. Powerful stuff. You know you've found something special when you don't even bother to research new bands, or songs, or videos. Nothing new gets a chance. You're content listening, and re-listening. I guess that makes these albums 'great' to me.

That being said, there's one band (and one album) that still gets me excited every time i listen. It's denying other new bands chances to be a part of my life. I don't want to listen to anything else. I am still stuck on Hometowns by the Rural Alberta Advantage. It snuck into my life at Christmas time, thanks to Sunsets, and it hasn't left my life since. I have literally worn the album down to a nub. I play it on repeat grading papers in my classroom; i listen over and over on my ipod on long runs; and i cannot eject it from the honda's disc player. It's the soundtrack of my last 3 months, and I don't see it coming to an end any time soon. I search for videos on youtube (hold on, where almost there), look for articles on websites, hoping for new releases....anything to feed the addiction. Again, i am no rock critic, but there's something to be said for their simplistic chord progressions, the urgency of his voice and words, and the complexity of the drums (I've never heard percussion this way). i notice something new with each listen. That's what makes it great to me.

So, if you haven't heard the RRA, do yourself a favor. If you have, do yourself another favor and play it again, and again, and again. I bet it won't get old any time soon.

Here's a couple videos I found taped at a record store in Ontario. Anyone else have a little bit of a secret crush on Canada? I digress. "Don't Haunt this Place" is on Hometowns, and Barnes' Yard is not. Both are unreal.

Don't Haunt This Place

Barnes' Yard

Spring Is Here or Its Closer Than it was with Snow on the Ground by Greg Brinkmeyer

2010-03-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

It’s amazing what a few beers, sunshine and good music can do to inspire or lighten your mood. The temperature hit the low 40s today but the sun was out all day. I wore a fleece jacket to class. The small amount of warmth broke through the lingering haze of winter and offered a glimmer of hope for better things to come. Spent the evening with a few classmates kicking back a few Guinness and reliving the past week. Came home, cooked dinner and enjoyed a few Heinekens. But the weather was still on my mind and the things to come. Looking forward to
Opening Day
Green grass
Flip flops
Driveway drinking while listening to Bob Dylan
Leaves on the trees
Tiger lilies blooming throughout the neighborhood
The Kentucky Derby
Simply saying it’s May
Outdoor fires
Washers
Cornhole
Smoking meat on the grill
Plants and veggies springing out to say hello
Tomatoes with mozzarella and basil
Gin and tonics
Garage sales
Rolled down windows in the car
Open windows in the house
Birds singing you to sleep and
Waking you up in the morning
Blue skies
Rainy days
Coolers full of beer
Sunday fun days
Vinyl in the garage
Porch swings
The smell of fresh cut grass
A simple sense of peace
Regardless of feelings, desires and personal dissatisfactions, Spring always, always brings back a sense of hope, a sense of new beginnings. The true task is to take advantage of the opportunities this great season presents to us all. Spring is upon us. Take it by the horns and live it up with good music, good friends and family, and remember to enjoy each and every minute of it

Iron and Wine's music means Spring is around the corner.

The 6 Most Inspirational Sports Movie Scenes

2010-02-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

Television and media have done everything in their power to water down "inspiration". All the talk shows and reality shows with their perfectly timed instrumental accompaniment leading to the bursting crescendo and streaming tears. We are duped into believing this is inspirational while in reality it is simply pathetic. Everyone wants to give a standing ovation and everyone wants to say they 'made a difference'. The truth is a standing ovation should occur once or twice in a lifetime (ie Bob Knight "...I want they bury me upside down so my critics can kiss my ass." and maybe after the father came out of the stands during the Olympics to help his injured son across the finish line...that one gets me every time). When you give 82 standing Os a year, you know what, they don't mean shit. Why bring this up, you ask? Because I am compiling a list of "The Most Inspirational Moments In Sport's Movie History". The criteria for making the list is somewhat simplistic. 1) This scene has or still does bring about tears, even if you fast forward to that very scene and skip everything preceding and following. 2) This scene has made you get up off of your couch and shoot free throws until dark or run stairs by yourself or look for a barn to throw a baseball through or run through the snow with a wooden beam across your back etc. etc. On to the list. In ascending order, for dramatic effect.
6) Rudy "The Sack"
This is 6th and not higher for mainly one reason and that is Sean Astin. Wasn't he a troll in one of those Lord of the Rings movies? Yes. Still, this moment is close to perfect. Notre Dame Stadium, Touchdown Jesus, Vince Vaughn telling Rudy "that was for you", his dad in the stands "this is the most beautiful sight these eyes have seen". All of this sets the stage for Rudy's game ending sack in a meaningless point of the game. There isn't a time I put this on and don't get a little dusty. A close second in this movie is when all the seniors line up to give up their starting position. Pretty sweet.
5) Rocky IV "Right after Apollo dies"
I am talking about Rocky flying around the streets of Philly at night blaring John Cafferty's "Hearts on Fire" after his boy Apollo gets his skull cracked by the Russian steroid machine. Flashback montages of the great times he spent with Apollo (getting his ass knocked out, getting beat by Apollo in a footrace on the beach). I know the obvious is probably Rocky working out in Siberia, but this one does it for me.
4) Field of Dreams "Dad, you wanna have a catch"- Inspiring? I don't know, but I have to put this one in there because, in a line, it is what growing up in America is all about. Sun setting in the summer, probably right after dinner, the day is cooling down a little and you are headed out into the front yard to have a catch with your dad. It's what we all did and what we will all do someday with our own children. This one surely brings out the "no...i don't know, I think I have something in my eye" excuse for getting a little weepy. Great stuff, even though the guy playing Ray's father throws like my sister throwing with her off hand. Wow! Nice casting.
3) Karate Kid "The Crane"
Alright the move itself is kind of gay and I can't fathom it working but it does, so we have to get past it. What gets you is Ralph Macchio, the all time underdog looking over at Mr. Miyagi at the most crucial of moments and simply getting the head nod from the old man. Porcupine goosebumps! Then he crane kicks Johnny's face off. Wow! That is enough to get you out of your seat and maybe asking your parents for Karate lessons. They of course say no and you go out and shoot hoops, but the inspiration is there..and it is real.
2) Hoosiers "Coach stays I stay...He goes I go" and "I'll make it"
Honestly this isn't even fair. How can you pick one moment from a film that, in its entirety, is the single most inspirational movie that the kids of Indiana have ever seen. There wasn't a red blooded Hoosier who didn't leave the theater that afternoon for their driveway hoop, shooting jumpshots until dinner. But I had to pick one, so I picked two. Chuck Klosterman wrote about the first moment in one of his books...think it was Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs(CORRECTION: This was Bill Simmons and a great article he did on the movie Hoosiers Hoosier Daddy? The Sports Guy ). He said that sometimes after a day of drinking in a bar he pays the tab and then takes the receipt in his hand and says to everyone "Coach stays", while ripping up the paper. Sweet!
While that scene doesn't necessarily make you want to go out and burn up your red, white, and blue net... the next one does. The team, hands on knees, huddled around Coach, Gene Hackman drawing up the final play, using Jimmy as a decoy, getting the ball to another player (I hate myself for not remembering who, it wasn't Olie). Everyone in the huddle then stands up and looks at each other like their Colonel just told them to individually dive on a live grenade. Gene Hackman can't believe what the fuck is going on and then Jimmy Chitwood utters those sweet, sweet words, "I'll make it". Holy shit I get chills writing that sentence. That scene, followed by Jimmy hitting a long jumper through 6 slow motion seconds that seem to last a minute. Pandemonium. It is the best. Honorable Mention: When Gene Hackman tells them all that he loves them before the championship game. whewwwww.
1) The Natural "Suit Up"
First of all this is the greatest sports movie of all time. I won't spend time defending this statement because it needs no defending. (But if you need to know why its the best [ARCHIVE] Everything You Need To Know About Life) Roy has been laid up in a hospital bed for a week and the Knights and the Phillies are all tied up for the pennant. Roy has been scratched form the lineup, Pop is depressed and in the locker room shaving hours before the first pitch. Roy appears and the following ensues:
Pop:Red I wanted to win that pennant worse than I wanted any goddamn thing in my life and you think I could just this once. I didn't care nothing about the series. Win or lose I would have been satisfied. I'd a walked away from baseball and I'd a bought a farm.
Roy (standing in the doorway): Nothing like a farm. Nothing like being around animals, fixin' things. Nothing like being in the field by yourself, with the vegetables and the corn and the winter wheat. Greenest stuff you ever saw.
Pop: You know my mother told me I ought to be a farmer.
Roy: My dad wanted me to be a baseball player.
Pop: Youre better than anyone I ever had. And your the best goddamn hitter I ever saw. Suit up.
Holy shit. I want to cry and hit a game winning homerun at the same time. Baseball is the greatest game and this is the greatest scene in the greatest baseball movie. I am moved. I am inspired.

There you have it. Those are the best. This is fact, not opinion. If your opinion is different, your opinion is wrong.

Good Day At The Record Store-Surfer Blood-Swim

2010-02-09T14:08:00.000-08:00

Had a worthwhile trip to the record store today. This does not always happen. I usually go their with 3 or 4 cd's/record albums that I want and on a typical trip I will be happy walking away with 1. Today I was 3 for 3 with a bonus thrown in at the last second. I went in looking for Spoon-Transference, Beach House-Teen Dream (Don't google this looking for the album art you will end up with borderline child porn and a paranoia that your computer activity is now being recorded), and Surfer Blood-Astro Coast. Walked in to Euclid Records and found all three. As I was walking out I picked up a Buddy Holly record and was only disappointed that I couldn't find any Neil Diamond. Overall a great trip and a great snow day. I have only had a chance to listen to the first half of Astro Coast and I think it is great so far. Here is my favorite track from those first five songs. Its goddamn great and made me drive a little faster than I should have through unplowed side streets.

Surfer Blood 'Swim' from kay kanine on Vimeo.

Getting to Know the Correspondents

2010-01-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

Meet the Correspondents: Mitch Miggenburg, Charleston SC
AKA: Mount Pleasant

I was sent a number of questions by Sunsets, but I am picking and choosing the ones I like best.

1. What was the first cd/cassette you remember buying?
* I owned more rap cassettes than any white boy in the suberbs should. All accounted for in old shoe boxes. These included, but are definitely not limited to,
Run DMC, Digital Underground, Too Short (all of em'), Spice 1 (all of em'), NWA, Eazy E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube (all of em'), Bone Thugs-in-Harmony, Ant Banks, and Domino. And, don't be mistaken, I was listening to these through 1994 when I finally got a CD Player. Sure, I was behind as far as technology goes, but I distinctly remember going to the mall to purchase the Notorious B.I.G "Ready to Die" in late '94 as my first compact disc. And really, I couldn't have been happier with my first cd purchase.

2. Name an album, book, or movie that you feel you can judge a person with based on whether they like it or not.
I have always said, "If you don't like The Sunset Tree by the Mountain Goats, then I don't like you." Drastic? sure. But I can safely say, if you don't like this album, I'm guessing you and I won't see eye-to-eye on anything that really matters. So there.

3. What is the best live show(s) you have ever seen?
To Many to list probably, but here goes...in descending order from really-liked(#10) to borderline-couldn't-believe-I-was-there (#1). Dates are approximations:
#10. Josh Joplin - Eddie's Attic, Atlanta GA 2003
#9. The Strokes - The Plex, Charleston, SC 2007
#8. The Thermals - The Pour House, Charleston SC 2009
#7. Kings of Leon - The Music Farm, Charleston SC 2007
#6. Son Volt - The Music Farm, Charleston, SC 2006
#5. Band of Horses - Redux Theatre, Charleston SC 2005
(Tie) BOH - Village Tavern, Mt. Pleasant SC 2007
#4. Conor Oberst - The Plex, Charleston SC 2008
#3. Band of Horses - The Music Farm, Charleston 2009
#2. The Mountain Goats - The Redux Theatre, Charleston, SC 2005
#1. Pearl Jam - Deer Creek, Indianapolis IN 2003 (unreal)

4. What posters did you have on your wall growing up?
In addition to almost every Sports Illustrated cover from '90-'94 (and I even added the Tyson Rape Conviction issue for laughs....awkward now that I look back on it) I had the following:
**Andre Dawson - The Hawk (so cool, him standing outside Wrigley with a bat on his shoulder and a hawk perched on the bat)
**"Chicago Times" - Chicago's 3 premiere athletes...Dawson, Jordan, and Walter Peyton in tuxes. just badass.
**Eddie Vedder - Vs. (life-size) Actually, maybe a little bigger than life-size since ed is about 4'11"
**Chuck Person - The RifleMan. I sooo wish I still had this poster.
**and the BigHead Pennants (so popular in the nineties) of Dawson, Jordan, Bird, and Reggie Miller) for good measure

5. Who was your favorite 80s basketball player? See above....The Rifleman kids! Not afraid to pull the trigger from anywhere. OK, I lied. Bird. But Chuck Person was damn close!!

6. Best Hamburger? Poes Tavern on Sullivan's Island, SC. Bout 4 miles from my house and the best Jalapeno Jack liquid cheese sauce you've ever had.

7. Can I get you something to drink?
Depending on the mood. Cheap red wine, expensive hoppy beer, or just Maker's and Diet please, hold the fruit!

Getting To Know Our Correspondents

2010-01-25T18:27:00.000-08:00

Hops McAlarney
Aside from being a singer and harmonica player for The Extreme Chocolate Milk, Hops will be rating beers for The Sun Sets On Indiana. He is, after all, an expert.

1. What posters did you have in your bedroom growing up?
All of the Wheaties-issued Michael Jordan posters, a life-size Michael Jordan poster that we cut in the corner to go around an electrical outlet, a Mars Blackmon "Gotta Be the Shoes" poster, and a "Wizard" Ozzie Smith poster where he's in mid back-flip.

2. Who would you like to play you in a movie?
I would like Chase Utley to try his hand at acting.

3. Hello sir, what can I get you to drink?
Could I have a tall Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale? Or maybe a New Belgium Mighty Arrow in a frosty mug? I think that as I delve deeper into a world of trying different beers, I generally like pale ales and IPA's the best. But I've met few beers that I didn't like. And Bud Light when I'm going for quantity over quality. Don't get me wrong, I love Bud Light.

4. What restaurant has the best burger you have ever eaten?
This is a tough question, but I'm going to say McGuire's Irish Pub in Destin, Florida. I can't remember what I had but remember the experience. I think this place has more burgers on the menu than any restaurant in world and something like $500,000 hanging on the wall and ceiling. Every customer signs a $1 and tacks it to the wall before they leave. Best local burger I can remember eating would be from my neighborhood joint growing up, Breakaway Cafe, on Natural Bridge Rd in Normandy, MO. They also had the best 7-layer Mexican dip as an appetizer. If the question had been, "What restaraunt has the best chicken wings and provided the setting for the best overall restaurant experience of your life?", I would've said Philthy Phils in St. Petersburg, FL.

5. You pick 5 friends to play a 20 minute half against the UConn womens basketball team. How much money do you put down that you will win?
I will bet my life that we will win and here's why: when a female dunks in a basketball game, it automatically becomes a Sportscenter Top 10 play. I rest my case.

College Life Once Again (A weekend with Henry and my record player) By Greg Brinkmeyer

2010-01-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

Woke up Saturday morning in a bit of a haze. Tried to piece together the evening before as I stood in a pair of shorts and a jacket while watching my girlfriend’s dog peruse the lawn adjacent to my apartment building. He did his business and we headed back in for another hour of sleep. Awoke for the second time feeling no better than before and glanced around the apartment. Nothing was broken and nothing was out of place. I spent the evening before watching the Haiti telethon and Conan’s last show. In the process, I drank several beers and my third bottle of red wine this week. The life of a college student once again.

Today was to be different. Yes, I would be drinking but I had a few details to take care of beforehand. I went to the store, did some homework, and attended to the dog. My main focus of the day was to listen to records. My turntable was gathering dust and seemed to be silently crying out to be used. At 2 pm, I dropped the needle on Son Volt’s “Straightaways”. The music provided the inspiration to finish my work and filled me with a sense of happiness. I later followed up with Bob Dylan, Band of Horses, Tom Waits, and The Boss, all on vinyl. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” is pure genius and Springsteen’s hidden gem.

The beers began to flow a couple of hours later. Henry (the dog) and I settled in for the evening and I somehow finished several beers within a five hour period. I left to purchase more. After returning, I once again took pleasure in the sweet sounds of Bob Dylan on vinyl with “Highway 61 Revisited”. “Queen Jane Approximately” is remarkable, in my opinion. Sonic Youth’s “Murray Street” followed.

At thirty-two years of age, the return to college has been a difficult but rewarding experience. I know that what I am doing is worthwhile and I will be walking away with a master’s degree. But, I spend a lot of time alone and constantly think about my friends and family across the Midwest. I miss them tremendously and they are often on my mind. But, I know we will be hanging out soon and it will be as if nothing has changed. And that’s the way I want it to stay.

Within these two nights of a drunken stupor, I have come to two conclusions that will forever be etched in to my brain. One, if you can find the small, simple treasures in life that make you happy, enjoy them without limits. For me, it’s going to school, having a cold beer, remembering the great times with my loved ones, and listening to good music. Two, Bruce Springsteen is the coolest sumbitch in the history of man. And that’s a fact.

Larry Legend

2010-01-18T14:37:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of years I have started to enjoy the NBA again. Friday nights watching the 7pm and 930pm games on ESPN is something that I look forward to. I picked up Bill Simmons' Book of Basketball earlier this month and this has only enhanced my appreciation for the league. This book is a 600+ page storybook of the entire history of the NBA. Unbelievable and entertaining and I can't stop reading it. I forgot how much I love Larry Bird and Celtics/Lakers playoff epics and Isaiah Thomas, Dominque Wilkens, Celtics/Rockets fistfights. Here is Larry Bird's 60 point game against the Hawks. I put it on here for a couple reasons. One, you don't see anyone shoot like Larry anymore, even if it looks like Atlanta is playing All Star Weekend defense after a night of drinking Jim Beam from the bottle. He glides in like a 40 year old at the Y and hits everything in sight. The second, and maybe the greatest thing I have ever seen from an opposing crowd and opposing teams bench; at around the 4:15 mark in the video you see Hawk bench players getting excited, nudging each other, slapping five. At the 5:10 mark you see an all out Def Comedy Jam, high five slapping, knee raising show of fandom, better than you would see from the Celtics bench. The Hawk players are loving it. I wonder if Fratello could even discipline these guys...I think I saw him throw a fist pump as Larry approached 54 points. If you have 7 minutes today check out the highlights. If you are in a rush, fast forward to around the 5 minute mark. Funny, awesome, amazing shit. I am glad I got to grow up in Indiana shooting free throws until dinner time, with only the thought of becoming Larry Bird as my greatest motivator.

Monsters of Folk-At The Bottom Of Everything

2010-01-13T17:43:00.000-08:00

While waiting for Law and Order SVU I decided to make time disappear by sifting through youtube. Here was my favorite video of the evening. Enjoy it and thanks for joining us at The New Sun Sets On Indiana.

The Mountain Goats--Romans 10.9

2010-01-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

Pitchforktv is showing three Mountain Goats videos that they taped at Cemetary Gates. Here is one of them. Pretty great stuff if you ask me.

My Favorite Album of the Decade is...Lifted or the Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

2010-01-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

‘Lifted or The Story is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground’ Bright Eyes (on vinyl)

reviewed by Chris Connors

“Seems like it, right?...don’t you think?” The album begins with friends’ casual banter, their movements unsophisticated, as though the person recording has assured them all “No no the red light means off,” sounds discordant like kids kicking thru piles of raked leaves, everyone piling into a car on a Saturday night, disagreeing over directions, unsure of the best way to get there, wherever there is—a show, a friend’s show, a party, small gathering. No music legible yet, just this rustling, like Conor Oberst, the band’s lead singer, scaling the folds from behind the stage, feeling out the ruffles of the curtain in desperate but still shy search for the opening, the part in the folds into the light, to at length grip his vocal chords onto the cold windpipe and urge, “The future’s far too big to look at, kid, your eyes won’t open wide enough…and you’re constantly surrounded by the swirling stream of what is and what was.” The rattle in the singer’s voice begins weakly, or maybe he’s not yet aware, like a snake that doesn’t know he has a rattle…but as he continues on he notices the rattling from behind him shakes everytime he does something, in this case says something…and it’s in sync…paired up…it belongs to him. And as listeners we get to gravely experience the very moment, the change, the shifting of power, where the rattle no longer implies fear, or fright, no longer means a quiver, a tremble, a tremor, but at the moment “I mean it’s cool if you keep quiet but…I LIKE SING-IN’!” the rattle slaps up in the air, and the snake has realized he has been given something that will announce a dangerous and intriguing presence.
The singer has taken his place on stage, the light is dim, terra cotta, fuzzy, crackling, the audience quiet, immobilized. Lie still, listen and balance your body along the cave and hunt down the originator of the echo. What this album means to me I have to let run and run…
lying down in the dirt, at times solemnly lying, at times thankfully, happy solely in a daydream, like a kid…make an angel in the snow, lie there long enough kid you can’t move your back it’s so cold, but you can’t feel it so…the snow turns to frozen mud, then marl and wet clay, soft mud to dirt, with time, the seasons, whether your ready or want to turn back, your series of emotions that couldn’t be anybody else’s but your own, legs and arms wriggling about as you shift positions when this one gets old and begins to hurt—your fresh new that-and-there position, pole position. One in particular being flat on your back, nearly or perfectly centered enough, eyes on the cloud faces where no one else could identify the resemblances—what you believed at a young age was your middle-age, your mid-life crises, in the middle of the album poses those questions, “Is it true what I heard about the Son of God?…did He die for us? did He die at all?…and if I dried His feet with my dirty hair would He make me clean again?” Find out for yourself, kid.
Each song before this, each song after—a shift of your body, swing of your mood, tip of the tongue back of the teeth you hear everything. By the beginning of the last song you are saying aloud, “Here I go,” and knuckles into the ground push yourself up. The culmination is your standing up, having refused the grass that nature was bound to let grow over you like nothing happened, like you were never there to begin with. You stand up and jump and jump and further flatten out that mound of dirt and look down to discover it’s been a grave all along, but you’re ALIVE, you got thru it kid, with friends and family and on your own, and that’s your dead-you in the ground, out of sight and: all those thoughts that were your own it helped to know were somebody else’s (the true test of any Poet worth a damn) have seeped deep into the soil. You are pleased with this old you though, having known and been him, but now it’s time to go, to keep moving kid, find another patch of land or cloth to lie down on and shift positions in. A different grave to make you realize what it’s like to stand up, to on occasion glance back while still moving on to something else that will suit you for the time being.
This album means that to me, knowing you can always go back to that little burial site we got out of ontop, that didn’t suck your body thru with all your thoughts and flashcard-burned-in-memories you believed no one else could possibly carry. It’s okay to go back to that place and not feel anything close to shame but know deep down in your heart you were great then, like you are great now but in a much different, hopefully better way. Slap every rattle up in the air and unabashedly shift to a scream “Well, we all fit into your slogan on that fast food marquee…red blooded white skinned oh and the blues…OH AND THE BLUES I GOT THE BLUES THAT’S ME! THAT’S ME!!!.” and hope that is enough (But let’s not shit ourselves).

Getting To Know Our Correspondents

2010-01-12T14:04:00.000-08:00

Chris Connors
1. What was the first cd/cassette you remember buying?
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch 'Music For the People'

2. Name an album, book, or movie that you feel you can judge a person with based on whether they like it or not.
'The Machinist'

3. What is the best live show you have ever seen?
Bright Eyes at University of Missouri-Columbia in November '04.

4. Last book you have read.
'Frankenstein'

5. Who was your favorite 80s basketball player?
Other than Michael Jordan I guess Bird or Magic.

My Favorite Album of the Decade is...American IV The Man Comes Around

2010-01-10T08:53:00.000-08:00

By Ryan Brownlee

I was sifting through some of the Albums of the Decade lists and a couple of albums jumped out at me such as 'Heartbreaker' by Ryan Adams, 'Loveboxx' by Outkast, and 'Only by Night' by Kings of Leon but personally two albums stuck out the most for me. The first was 'Sea Change' by Beck. I was getting my Master's at the time this album was released and I remember playing it on repeat many days and evenings. It was a little bit of a departure for Beck but I have always been struck by just how different Beck is than most any artist out there. He always takes chances and it is truly amazing at how talented he really is.

But, as I scrolled further down the list one album popped out to me. I know I will get killed on this because there is really only one new song on this album and it is a cover song but the album reintroduced this artist to many people who may not have followed him. For me 'The Man Comes Around' by Johnny Cash could be an album for most of the decades from 60-00's. If you have ever spent an evening at Tootsie's Purple Orchard in Nashville, you will understand the influence that Johnny Cash has and will have on the music industry and it's artists. Johnny Cash was the ultimate American story. He is the fallen hero that America loves to support. Anybody who has paid any attention to the painful steroid saga in MLB understands the trials that A-Rod went through this past year and Mark McGwire will go through this year as the Cardinals' hitting coach. It remains to be seen how the Tiger Woods' story will unfold over the next couple of years. But, for Tiger most of it will go away when he wins his first tournament. But those stories are for another time. If you haven't let Johnny Cash into your life, now is the time to do it. His history was a long storied one with his relationship with his wife June Carter Cash and his battles with alcohol and drugs. Johnny Cash truly is the Great American Hero.

On a side note, next time you are in the grocery store, do yourself a favor and pick up a pummelo. I am an avid fruit and vegetable eater and thought that I had tasted just about everything. The pummelo is a Chinese forefather to the grapefruit. Anyone who has bit into a grapefruit understand the sour zing it can give you. A pummelo is in between an orange and a grapefruit. The other interesting thing is that it can't be pealed like an orange or grapefruit. The rind is spongy so it has to be sliced and eaten in slices.

Getting To Know Our Correspondents

2010-01-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

Ryan Brownlee
1. What was the first cassette/cd you remember buying?
We were all vinyl in my house for a long time. I do not have the musical accumen of the other guys on this website but I do know what I like listening to and I do have a wide variety of tastes when it comes to music, books and movies. Having children has a way of getting rid of some of your pretenses. I will admit to rocking out in my kitchen with my 7 and 4 year old to Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, but that means they do have to suffer through rocking out to my old stuff with me.

My first vinyl album that was not my parents was The Chipmunks 'Urban Chipmunk'

My first cassette was Sugarhill Gang 'Rapper's Delight'

I do have to admit that I owned audio tapes until I went to college. I am dating myself here. But, the first cd I bought was Prince's greatest hits used from Coconuts in Evansville. Coconuts had a great inventory of used cd's. The thing I love about the people on this website is they still appreciate the artists and all of the songs on their albums. I Tunes has taken away a lot of finding the hidden gems on albums. I shutter to think about all the music I would have missed when I was growing up if there was I Tunes when I was growing up.

2. Who do you believe would best represent you in a movie?
A guy in my office says I look like Steve Nash so he would be an option even though he is not an actor. Personally, I would love it if Kevin Spacey played me.

3. Name an album, book, or movie that you feel you can judge a person with based on whether they like it or not.
Requiem for a Dream

4. What song would you have playing as you walk to the plate?
A tough question. I will admit that I have heard some terrible walk up songs over the last 13 years. But at this moment I would have to go with 'Fireflies' by Owl City

5. What is the best live show you have ever seen?

NIN in Evansville at Roberts Stadium. I loved NIN but what intrigued me about the concert was that little known Marilyn Manson was supposed to open up for NIN. Marilyn Manson was banned from a lot of shows on that tour and Evansville wa one of them because he was coming out in his Hitler attire and berating the crowd. The Jim Rose side show ended up opening up, which was probably the most obscene thing I had scene up to that point in my life. The NIN portion was surreal, Trent Reznor is truly a genius in his own right and I am sorry that they broke up because this generation needs to experience an NIN show live.

Grateful Dead at Soldier Field 1995, I am not an avid follower of the Dead. I love their music but the only reason I mention it is because it was the 2nd to last show before Jerry Garcia passed away. It left a void for a lot of people and Phish tried to pick up the slack as well as the remaining members of the Dead but it hasn't been the same since. I would assume that Dave Mathews has taken the torch as well as anybody in today's concert summer series.

I took my son, who was 5 at the time, to see Bob Dylan when he came to Iowa City a couple years ago. It was a magical evening because of my son going with me. Elvis Costello with only and accoustic guitar opened up. My son will probably never remember it but I wanted to take him to see a legend that has transcended generations. His lyrics are still mind blowing to me.

I drove last December to see the Black Crowes at the Vel Air ballroom in Des Moines. I have seen them more than any other band. It was my 6th time seeing them. The venue was small and the show reminded me of why I love concerts. The addition of the slide guitar to the lineup was awesome. The bonus was that they played 'Nonfiction' which lyrically is my favorite Crowes song. The show gave me a renewed faith that rock and roll will come back.

The last one is for The Gambler. I saw Wilco this fall in Iowa City. It was their first show in the US since the Spring. I am not an avid fan of Wilco, but again any chance you get to see someone in a small venue, you should jump on it. They played for 3 straight hours and the show was electric.

6. Hello sir what are you drinking this evening?
Sad to say that with the temps being so low I am sipping on coffee tonight. The weather has got me itching to mix up a batch of Glugg, but I am wise to what that might bring about.

Autumn Winds-Greg Brinkmeyer

2010-01-07T09:34:00.001-08:00

My Favorite Album of the Decade is...Kid A

2010-01-06T09:24:00.000-08:00

It was the summer after I finished college and I was living in an apartment complex with a buddy of mine. Tight quarters, cookie cutter style, everything smelled like Thai food. I went and purchased Kid A, probably from Best Buy, and at that time I only bought new releases from Pearl Jam, Radiohead, and Stone Temple Pilots. And usually buying one of these new albums was a lone bright point in an otherwise unnoteworthy existence. I came home put Kid A in my stereo and played it loud. Not as loud as I would have liked because of the cubby hole closeness of my neighbors, but loud enough to enjoy. About 2 minutes into Everything In Its Right Place I started to laugh. A laugh similar to the one I project as I am listening to certain Bob Dylan songs (A Hard Rains Gonna Fall, Like A Rolling Stone) or watching certain Wes Anderson flicks (all of them). I am not laughing because it is Richard Pryor funny, but more like I am laughing because only aliens can produce what I am listening to, human beings are incapable. With Bob Dylan it is lyrically, with Wes Anderson it is his ability to create alternate realities, and with Radiohead it is sonically, lyrically, and their ability to create an another world. They do it all.

Then our cable man came to the front door and I went scrambling for the volume knob and ripped it down to almost a whisper. My reaction was that of someone watching scrambled porn with a knock at the door. I felt as though I shouldn’t be listening to this. It took me halfway to my volume knob to realize what I was doing was ridiculous. I don’t really care what my cable guy thinks; the music was just…not what I had ever heard before.

This record is filled with everything you want from a good album; interesting lyrics, more interesting sounds, great energy, and complete originality. I won’t waste everybody’s time by dissecting each song because the thought bores me to death. It’s been reviewed plenty of time by people who know more about music and people who know less about music than me. Most end with the same sentiment. It is amazing.

Although different, this album was not a complete surprise. It wasn’t as if Garth Brooks came out with this album. It was Radiohead and they had just put out an amazing OK Computer album, which served as a nice bridge between the acoustic, rhythmic guitar of The Bends and this extraterrestrial sonic explosion that was Kid A. This record doesn’t sound like anyone. Maybe it does, but that is outside of my knowledge of music. I think the album might be influenced by small green men residing on the planet Thom Yorke, Johnny Greenwood and company call home.

Upon listening to this album in its entirety I realized that this record feels like the end of the world; an apocalypse in a good way, in the way that it might be the end of the world but everything would all come back in due time. In one of my favorite books, Killing Yourself To Live, Chuck Klosterman explains how Kid A is a crystal ball into the horrible events that happen on September 11, 2001, 11 months after its release. Chuck Klosterman may be insane, on drugs, a genius or all three; it is eerily similar.
The first song on Kid A paints the Manhattan skyline at 8:00 A.M. on Tuesday morning; the song is titled "Everything in Its Right Place." People woke up that day "sucking on a lemon," because that's what life normally feels like on the Manhattan subway; the city is a beautiful, sour, sarcastic place. We soon move onto song two, which is the title track. It is the sound of woozy, ephemeral normalcy. It is the sound of Jonny Greenwood playing an Ondes Martenot, an instrument best remembered for its use in the Star Trek theme song. You can imagine humans walking to work, riding elevators, getting off the C train and the 3 train, and thinking about a future that will be a lot like the present, only better. The term KID A is Yorke's moniker for the first cloned human, which he (only half jokingly) suspects may already exist. The consciously misguided message is this: Science is the answer. Technology solves everything, because technology is invulnerable. And this is what almost everyone in America thought around 8:30 A.M. But something happens three and a half minutes into "Kid A". It suddenly doesn't feel right, and you don't exactly know why. This is followed by track three, "The National Anthem"
This is when the first plane slams into the north tower at 470 mph
You see, apocalyptic.

You have probably looked at many end of the year publications ranking the best albums of the decade and more times than not Radiohead- Kid A is tops on the list. You can hardly argue the points they make. What is amazing is the fact this album might be the best of the decade and also the most overrated. This doesn’t stop me from loving this record and placing it at the top of my list for albums of the ‘oughts’. So tonight put on your headphones and close your eyes and listen to Kid A in its entirety. If you don’t feel like picturing the events of 9/11 (and I don’t blame you), just listen to how amazing and detailed the record is. I have a hard time believing that I will hear anything like Kid A ever again. It was completely shocking and still holds up after nearly a decade.

My Favorite Album of the Decade is...Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

2010-01-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot-Wilco
Written by Greg Brinkmeyer
I was first introduced to the band Wilco in the late 90s in my brother's one-bedroom apartment in downtown Evansville. Many nights were spent there sipping drinks, watching movies, and listening to music. I'll never forget the alt-country sounds of Wilco's sophmore effort Being There echoing through the room as we tipped back several beers and grapefruit juice with vodka. It was an unfamiliar sound but a sound I wanted to become more acquainted with. I bought the album days later and still listen to it on a consistent basis to this day. The band's third album Summerteeth showed a band evolving as well as their sound. Strings were replaced with bells, horns, and periods of distortion. It seemed the band was on the brink of creating a new sound that would indentify with joy and pain simultaneously. Being There holds a special place in my heart, but Wilco's fourth album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot helped change the way I would listen to music.
Chaos is the only word that describes the opening of YHF. Distortion takes over as the piano and guitars slowly fade in as Jeff Tweedy's haunting vocals give birth to "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart". The opening track sets the tone for the entire album and catapults Wilco into a new dimension of music. The band energizes listeners with pure rocka and roll songs that connect on a deeper level. "Jesus, Etc." is a beautiful ballad that incorporates both the new and old sound of Wilco leaving fans wanting more.
Although YHF was a critical success, it also highlighted the inner turmoil of the band. Sam Jones' film I Am Trying to Break Your Heart documents the power struggle between Jeff Tweedy and the late Jay Bennett which eventually lead to Bennett's dismissal from the band. Jeff Tweedy's battle with migraine headaches also explains the mystery behind the lyrics and the defining sound. Warner Bros. records refused to release the album because it didn't sound like the Wilco of old. The album was later picked up by Nonesuch Records, a division of Warner Bros.
Wilco released four albums in the past decade. Each album is unique and shows the evolution of the band through personal and professional struggles. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was the beginning of this journey and its music is still relevant today. Chaos meets experimentation meets rock and roll, the end result is a remarkable album worthy of the greatest albums of the decade.

Getting to Know Our Correspondents

2010-01-05T11:45:00.000-08:00

As I had mentioned earlier The Sun Sets On Indiana will be getting a little help from some additional correspondents. Before you read what they have to say it is important to get to know the person.

Greg Brinkmeyer

1. What was the first cd/cassetter you remember owning?
Tapes are one thing. I remember receiving the Rocky IV soundtrack and Dire Straits' Brothers In Arms. CD I bought the Edward Scissorhands soundtrack and The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks
2. Name an album, book, or movie that you feel you can judge a person with based on whether they like it or not.
Cool Hand Luke
3. What is the best live show you have ever seen?
Pearl Jam - Deer Creek Summer 2000
4. What is the last book you have read
Waiter Rant
5. Who is your favorite NBA basketball player of the 80's?
Larry Bird

I Go To The Barn Because I Like It

2010-01-04T18:06:00.000-08:00

Ce N'est Rien- I Go To The Barn Because I Like It (Band of Horses) from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

A New Approach for a New Year

2010-01-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

The Sun Sets On Indiana will be taking a different approach this new year. Since the amount of output being produced by one man has been short of disapointing we are going to count on the output of 2 or 3 individuals.
This should be starting soon with some reviews on a couple favorite albums of the decade. Thats all for now.

2010

2010-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

2010 will be the year of smoked meats and vegetable gardens, vinyl records and financial organization. It will also be the year of great recorded music. Here is a tune from New Years Eve and it is called You're Kinda Heavy for a Saint by Ce N'est Rien.
Enjoy it. There will be more to follow.

You're Kinda Heavy for a Saint from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

In the Summertime (The Rural Alberta Advantage)-Mt. Pleasant

2009-12-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

In the Summertime-Mt. Pleasant from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

Videos From The Clap 2009

2009-12-27T07:35:00.000-08:00

Something Vague-Mt. Pleasant from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.