Books

I like to read. But I seem to suffer from a sort of literature-induced narcolepsy. I read for twenty minutes and my head just plops into my chest and story time is over. It's really a wonder that I ever made it through college as an English major. All those books, man. However, lately a recent combination of long plane rides/van rides and holiday vacation hours have led to the completion of a pair of wonderful novels by Michael Chabon.

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY:
A story about a pair of cartoon making cousins in NYC during WWII. It's got everything--love, NYC, crime-fighting heroes, Nazis! It was one of the most compelling, heartbreaking, funny and exciting novels I've ever read.

WONDER BOYS:
I have as yet to see the movie based on the book, though I hear it's pretty good. This one's all about an adulterous writer on a never-ending journey to find love and to finish his novel. The characters are hilarious and believable, the scenes vivid, and the story is full of the kind of mishaps that make it a natural choice for a feature film. Oh, and they smoke a lot of pot. Pretty good choice for anyone who enjoyed the movie Sideways.

I'm also a big fan of the fact that Chabon's recent novella The Final Solution featured cover art by my favorite illustrator Jay Ryan.

Happy New Year

After setting up this site in August (while killing time in the studio with my band Bling Kong), I haven't found the time to add anything to it. Considering that I don't possess a computer of my own any more makes this pretty excusable, no? Never the less, I wanted to mention how happy I was to be reunited, albeit briefly, with my old Rock Power co-hosts Becky and Penny whilst home in Chicago for the holidays. Becky is rockin' much shorter hair these days (but still a hippie at heart) and working for a law firm, and Penny just returned from two years in the Peace Corps in Africa! Even having not seen her since graduation, it didn't feel like much had changed--which is a nice thing between old friends.

Now, to refocus on the topic of music, here is (as if you really care) my 2004 top ten!

Arcade Fire - Funeral - Merge
TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes - Touch And Go
Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse - Geffen
Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days - Sub Pop
Q and Not U - Power - Dischord
Wilco - A Ghost is Born - Nonesuch
Thermals - Fuckin' A - Sub Pop
Snow Patrol - Final Straw - Interscope
Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans - Asthmatic Kitty
Rogers Sisters - Three Fingers - Troubleman

Looking forward to records in 2005 from some of my favorite bands including Ida and the reformed Wedding Present!

Rock Power The Website Returns

I used to have my own computer. I also used to have all kinds of glorious free time. Since graduating and moving from the Midwest out to NYC to be a full-time member of the work force, these things are no longer at my finger tips. Because of this, I was no longer able to access the files and program I used to update my personal website, which was home to the archive and news for my four-year-long radio show on WMUR called "Rock Power." In the interest of making this archive more accessible and to give myself a place to update news on myself and other things I want to share with you, you the interweb eCommunity... I now present to you the rebirth of Rock Power...The Website! It's also amazing how online technology (which, mind you, I am pretty clueless about, aside from Friendster) has made personal websites so much easier to create and maintain. This thing here looks a million times nicer than ye olde Rock Power site. Enjoy!