The Halls Of Memorial High School and Pearl Jam

Have you been back to your high school recently? Walked up the steps with a heartbeat that rivals going in for your first kiss? It felt familar. You see, I had that same feeling every morning as a freshman and sophomore. How I miss the days of paralyzing self-consciousness.
This past weekend I walked the hallowed halls of Reitz Memorial High School for the first time since 1996. There were some structural additions...new wings and an elevator...some teachers missing...the girls no longer wear skirts (I feel bad for the boys and what they are missing), but the smell was still there. You could be kidnapped, blindfolded, and dropped anywhere in that building and you would know where you were. My friend Greg and I blared Pearl Jam's Ten (possibly the soundtrack to those early days) as we pulled up to the front steps...the nostalgia was thick. We walked the halls and remembered Amy Rivers and Christy Hirsch and Anne Dempsey and Angela Sabella and all the women that made us feel inadequate as freshman children. We thought about Miller beating Gary Porters face with a cast...we thought about Crystal Pepsi...we thought about every old memory at once. It felt good in that sad kind of way.
It was good to be back though. You should go visit your old school. Put on a visitor pass and find your old locker...sneak into the cafeteria line and order a salsbury steak with your mandated 2 slices of white bread...and then skip out early before homeroom.

Heres a little Pearl Jam for old times sake...Dont kid yourselves about all the other bands out there...They are still the best around.

Pearl Jam [mp3] Elderly Woman Behind The Counter in a Small Town (live)
Pearl Jam [mp3] I Got Id

New Sunset Rubdown

Nobody makes better music than Canadians. I dont know what it is...the weather...hockey...free health care...whatever it is they have found the formula. Look, you've got the Weakerthans and Feist and Final Fantasy, Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, Swan Lake, Handsome Furs, Hidden Cameras, The Great Lake Swimmers, and Sunset Rubdown. Unbelievable.
Alright so I just received Random Spirit Lover by Sunset Rubdown. The second most anticipated album (Band of Horses) in my recent memory. I love the early sending of music in digital form. Can't beat it. On top of that I will be getting the vinyl in a week or two.
Giving it my first listen this morning. Here is a great track to chew on in the meantime.

Sunset Rubdown- [mp3] The Mending of the Gown

Was Charles Schulz an Atheist?

Was Charles Schulz an atheist? Is it evident in his 1966 Halloween television show It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? On the surface, an innocent cartoon, shown in late October, depicting children participating in the age old tradition of going to Halloween parties and trick or treating...but as you dig a little deeper it is much more.
Linus, a seemingly faithful gentile, full of naive wonder and optimism, stands out in a pumpkin patch all night waiting for The Great Pumpkin. While all the others dress up in costume for a Halloween party and trick or treats, Linus remains blindly faithful. Stubborn and hopeful, he waits for this deity of his to appear. He does not care that he is the only one who believes in “the Great Pumpkin”. He does know that he will be rewarded for his patience and faith. While the others go out enjoying life, going to parties, trick or treating; Linus waits. Please pay attention to the similarities here. The similarities between this story and in our beliefs today that there is a God...something bigger controlling our destinies.
Linus is a believer. He wants desperately to believe in this thing that he has not seen, that he can not prove, that everyone doubts. He wants to be good and faithful so that he will be rewarded in the end. He tries to pursuade others to join (Sally), all the while attempting to hide the perpetual doubt.
“Hey, aren’t you going to stay to greet the Great Pumpkin? It won’t be long now. If the Great Pumpkin comes, I’ll still put in a good word for you...Good Grief! I said “if”! I meant “when” he comes! I’m doomed. One little slip like that could cause the Great Pumpkin to pass you by.”
All the others are out tearing it up...living it up. Lucy and Pigpen, Shroeder and Frieda...even Charlie Brown. Chewing it up and spitting it out...living with reckless abandon. They are dressing up and going to parties and going trick or treating. They dont want to regret missing such a time. You don’t get to do such things forever, you know.
Linus stands behind his convictions, spending the evening waiting in a pumpkin patch for the Great Pumpkin. As his hope begins to fade they are brought back with a vision he sees in the night. You see, deep down he is trying to convince himself that this hope is real, that there is something beyond his visible, and concrete world. Out of the patch comes an apparition...a vision...THERE IS HOPE!...Linus faints and wakes up to find that “the Great Pumkin vision” was merely Snoopy trying to scare them. (a similarity to visions of Mary in Oak Trees or Jesus in a crumpled Coke can)
So in the end Linus is left with sleep. Thats it. Deep peaceful sleep. He is not rewarded for his penetance. There are no gifts, no prizes. Only sleep. He just realizes everything that he missed. All the fun. The parties. The people.

I love this show and curse myself for thinking of it this way. If you think about it Atheists are just as confused as the believers.

The Album of the Fall--The Shapard's Dog by Iron and Wine

There is nothing better than a great, productive trip to the record store. Vintage Vinyl is my record store of choice and last Tuesday was a good day there. I picked up 4 cds. The Weakerthans-Reunion Tour, Two Gallants-Two Gallants, The Good Life-Help Wanted Nights, and Iron and Wine-Shepard's Dog. All of the discs were above average purchases. I have already commented on the Weakerthans fantastic record. The Two Gallants are sweet because you just get the idea that they can put down their instruments and kick the shit out of you. The jury is still out on The Good Life and The Iron and Wine cd is just great. We will call it the cd of the Fall. There was never any doubt about Sam Beam's songwriting. His lyrics are thoughtful and tell stories. The music was always simple, guitar picking stuff...and there was nothing at all wrong with that. Shepard's Dog sticks with the same great songwriting, if not a little better than his previous albums...A full band backs him this time and the result is a much more interesting, entertaining and eclectic sound. If that sounds too much like someone trying to write a music review...it is. I won't list the standout tracks becaus the list would be too long, but here is a song off of the album. If you like the song, pick up the entire cd. You won't be disappointed.

Iron and Wine- [mp3] Resurrection Fern

Mother Nature, Dont Steal Our Fall!!

I love everything about fall. It is without a doubt, the best time of year. The leaves, the weather, the pumpkins, college football, post season baseball...I could go on. We look forward to wearing sleeves and drinking cans of beer outside without sweating...to sleeping with the windows open and seeing our breath in the morning. The anticipation rivals Christmas, Summer Vacation, Opening Day. This year mother nature (c-word) has not been cooperating. 85 degree afternoons in late, late, September? Killing me! We beg you...don't rob us of our favorite season. So here are some songs for fall...to boost our spirits...to give us hope.

Better Than Ezra- [mp3] This Time Of Year
My Morning Jacket- [mp3] At Dawn

New Ce N'est Rien Song

I think this is one of his best songs yet. Give it a listen. His site is www.myspace.com/cenestrien

Ce N'est Rien- [mp3] There's Going To Be Something Behind You

The Weakerthans are the Awesomest!

Go buy the new Weakerthans album Reunion Tour. It is great. No one writes better pop songs right now than John Samson. He doesnt try to shock the world. His lyrics are endearing without being too cute and he writes songs about Cats and Jennifer Jason Leigh. I have posted an old Weakerthans song for your listening enjoyment....and I dont think anyone is reading this anyway...If a blog is posted on the internet and no one reads it...was it really written.

The Weakerthans- [mp3] One Great City!

I Bet I Lose All My Money

I have never been much of a gambler. Mainly because I always lose. I go to the boat and give money away...never had much success with the horses...and never really got into sports betting....not until now. This weekend I was introduced to bodoglife.com. An online betting site. You can bet on anything you want...college football, baseball, NFL football...whatever. First day rolled around and we were up 20 bucks. Good day. Day two rolls around and I fall face first off the gravy train. Lose a couple football games...Colts dont cover the spread and then the goddamn Red Sox lose to the Devil Rays. Wakefield is like 20-1 against these guys and what do you know...when my money is on the table the gods are against me. Oh the evil world of online betting. And then I start thinking...I have to win this money back quickly. NOW! And really its not a lot of money. We're talking a night of eating and drinking too much...but still I just dont feel right being in the hole. So I started betting live. Play by play. Will the Giants pass next, will they get a first down this drive, how many yards will they pick up on the next play. SHIT!!! That money was gone so quick I forgot what I was doing. All the signs are there. So why do I do this...I dont even car about money that much...I NEVER WIN! NEVER!! The Bears are -3 tonight against the Cowboys. Maybe I can win it back there.

Welcome

Welcome to The Sun Sets On Indiana. Thoseareredpants.com has moved...this is our new home. Our mission is to give you something to look at each day that will pass the time from the time you clock in until you leave. We will post new music reviews as well as songs and lists and news that we find relevant along with anything else we are thinking about at that moment.


Indiana...the birthplace of Larry Bird, Steve McQueen, John Dillinger, and Greg Brinkmeyer.