Guitar Hero Rulz
Monday, December 31, 2007

We got Guitar Hero III for the Wii and it rocks. The guitar is a Gibson Les Paul and you stick the remote inside to control. Its wireless which is nice and is very addicting. It has taken a lot of practice with the song on slow and then normal speed but we are finally getting the hang of it. We are also only on the easy level which only uses three notes which can be problematic when you know the song and are skipping notes that you think you should be playing. Once we master the three notes we can then move onto 4 and 5.

Our only complaint has to do with the acid trip you get after watching for too long. With the moving screen you turn your eyes away and it looks like everything around you is morphing. It started with the tv stand then moved onto the cats and the walls. Other than that the game is amazing and I highly recommend. Tonight we will be ringing in the new year with some good champagne and a plastic guitar.......

Posted by mardenhill 12/31/2007 12:13:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wii

Some Action Shots
Friday, December 28, 2007

Here is a photo of Chris on his 3rd run down. For being a surfer he picked up boarding pretty quick.

Here is Ali, queen of the boardnecks carving it up.

Unfortunately I didn't have the camera and had to leave it to Ali who to her defense had to deal with an idiot boarder who cut across screwing up some actions shots of me. Tomorrow we will have to get some more and I will post them.

This morning the snow wasn't the best condition and it was overcast and flat. There were lots of ice patches and not much powder. By 3pm the snow started and was coming down in buckets. We got some great runs in and by 6pm retired to the chalet. There were some small parts of powder and the groomers were out cleaning up parts of the mountain. Tomorrow we will ski in the morning and in the afternoon hit the tubing park a little fun.

Posted by mardenhill 12/28/2007 10:10:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Skiing

Off To The Slopes
Thursday, December 27, 2007

We are off to Boyne Mtn for a weekend of skiing. Boyne is one of Michigan's best ski resorts and for skiing in our state, its a very good place to go. The runs are good size and there is a variety of terrain to ski. Besides skiing, there is tubing, a waterpark, spa and dog sledding. We are heading up tonight and will head back home on Sunday. I will try to do some blogging while up there but if you don't hear from me for the next few days you will know why.

Posted by mardenhill 12/27/2007 12:31:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Skiing

Amazon Knocks One Out Of The Park

Posted by mardenhill 12/27/2007 11:31:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Music, Technology

Nick Cave News
Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Nick Cave has posted the 1st single from his forthcoming cd Dig Lazarus, Dig and you can listen at the website below. The song is great, its upbeat with a bit of spoken word vocals and lots of 70s sleaze. From what I have read and pulling from this song, the cd may be very different than his last one. I was definitely enjoying this track and can't wait until March 8th for the official release. Now if we can only get Nick to tour the states once again.

Posted by mardenhill 12/26/2007 09:09:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Merry Christmas
Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you had a great day spending time with your friends and family. Erika bought me a couple sweaters, a Sigg coffee mug and a year subscription to the Citizen Bean coffee company. They are very cool, they send you a pound of coffee each month from independent roasters throughout the country. They specifically select roasters who abide by sustainable practices including organic, fair trade and shade grown coffee. Besides being eco and socially conscious, Citizen Bean provide their customers with choices that are not found on local supermarket shelves. Since I tend to buy my wine from smaller and independent vineyards I might as well do the same with my coffee. Whenever I travel I will always find a local roaster and bring beans home, now I can sit back and let them deliver it to me. I will be providing reviews on the beans and should get my first selection within the next couple weeks.

I also got some great live DVDs, Son Volt, Echo & The Bunnymen, REM and Depeche Mode which I can't wait to watch.

Check out Citizen Bean below.

http://citizenbean.com/

Posted by mardenhill 12/25/2007 06:28:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Misc

Archive.Org
Saturday, December 22, 2007

If you have never been out to Archive.Org you are really missing out. Besides the thousands of Grateful Dead shows that you can download there are many other bands worth listening to. I was out there last nite and discovered that people have been posting live Ryan Adams shows out on the site. As of now there are 230 shows available for download and the best part, they are all FREE. I downloaded 3 shows from the last tour with the Cardinals and the quality is amazing. Fans are able to plug into the board and record away. The only stipulation is that you cannot sell the recordings to make a profit which is fine since making money off of bootlegs is just plain shady.

One of the things I love about the shows besides the quality is the variation in setlists. There are the handful of songs played each nite but the order is completely different and the extras are great. Ryan dips into his back catalog and pulls out some really cool songs. So check out Archive.Org for some great bootlegs from not only Ryan Adams but the other bands who allow their fans to record and share.

http://www.archive.org/details/etree

Posted by mardenhill 12/22/2007 01:30:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

1 In 75
Friday, December 21, 2007

Although its only a 1 in 75 chance of happening its worth hoping for. There is an asteroid hurling towards Mars and may hit the red planet on January 30th. If it does this will give scientists a great way to study impacts and their aftermath. The earth has had its fair share but the last big one was in 1908 in Siberia. We won't be able to view much of the impact if it does occur with the naked eye but there are enough satellites and telescopes that will be watching.


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article3082960.ece

Posted by mardenhill 12/21/2007 11:42:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Science

Was Not Expecting This One
Wednesday, December 19, 2007

I had no idea that the B-52's were even working on a new cd, I just thought that they had accepted the annual summer tour schedule as the last remanants of the band. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining here, I love the B-52's and they put on some of the greatest live shows. There are very few bands that can keep you dancing, singing and acting like a complete idiot for the whole time they are on stage.

Yeah they did have their cheesefactor era with songs like "Roam" and "Good Stuff" but those are miniscule when compared to "Rock Lobster", "Channel Z", "Planet Claire", "Whammy", "Song For A Future Generation" etc. Back in ''83-'84 my friend Ashley had got a copy of a copy of Whammy and we would listen to it over and over. We were all a bunch of 10-12 year old skatepunks (well as punk as a suburban, middle class kid could be) and would listen to them along with the Dead Kennedys, Sex Pistols, Dead Milkmen, Circle Jerks, Ramones and the rest of the punk scene. I remember walking to school with my friend and telling him that the B-52's were awesome and that I would always like them no matter what. 23 years later I can say I am still a fan. Lets hope they don't wimp out and give us a mediocre record but I have a feeling that after 16 years they are ready to keep the party going.

Posted by mardenhill 12/19/2007 09:56:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Best Of 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007

This time around I started my best of list back in October and continued to work on it up til this morning. I would add/remove cds as new ones came out as well as rediscovering ones that I missed out on. My official list had 70 cds that I thought were worthy of consideration and from there I whittled it down to my top 30. I thought about doing just a top 20 but I felt that I was leaving out too many good releases for the year. Depending on 2008 it may go as low as 20 or stay at 30. I share about 5 with Paste Magazine and I have no idea how many of mine will make Pitchfork's top 50. Its usually a nice competition I have with them to see how pretentious they can be. Anyways my list is below with a description of each cd.


30. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Bruce is back and decided to bring the E Street band with him. Its not ’84 and Born In The USA its more of a view of modern times and the state of our country. Bruce doesn’t shy away from politics here and takes a dig at corporate radio on the opening track “Radio Nowhere”. It’s a great rock album from a man who has seen and done it all.


29. Jill Cunniff – City Beach
If you were a Luscious Jackson fan (I was a huge one, saw them 6x) you will enjoy this cd. Its full of NYC inspired sounds and eclectic arrangements that give you a chance to relive the 90s once again. Jill mixes it up with some moody and mellow beats, some break beat and world music influences.


28. Polyphonic Spree – The Fragile Army
I usually cannot make it thru the full cd (never have been able to on earlier releases as well) but I appreciate what the Spree offers. I like the full sunshine cult like hymns and with this cd, they are more song oriented and cohesive.


27. Kent – Tillbaka Till Samtiden
Kent is a band from Sweden who hit it big in the late 90s. Since then Kent has gone back to singing in Swedish with just a few songs done in English. This isn’t a big deal since the sound is what I love about them. With a bit of Depeche Mode influence, Kent delivers a more electronic and dance oriented album.


26. Klaxons – Myths Of The Near Future
This one was a last minute entry and I am still on the fence here. There are some very cool songs but I am not sure if it has lived up to all the hype. For a good 6-7 months NME and other music rags couldn’t get enough of this band. The hype has dissipated over the last few months and it makes you wonder if they will surface next year with another cd. Like fellow mates Kasabian, The Klaxons had to endure constant comparisons and crowns. The Klaxons ushered in the era of nu-rave, a conglomeration of dance beats, live instruments and lots of British ego.


25. Kristin Hersh – Learn To Sing Like A Star
For many of her solo releases, Kristin has relied on the stereotypes that it needs to be soft and acoustic. I am glad to see that Kristin has taken a page from her step sister’s (Tanya Donnelly) book and tried her hand in the world of pop. Kristin doesn’t disappoint and it’s a shame that its only now we are seeing this side of her.


24. Foo Fighters – Echos, Silence, Patience & Grace
The Foo’s can sound the same at times but they have mastered the Alternative radio sound and I find myself listening every time they are on the radio. There is something about the band that draws me to each cd and this one is no different. “The Pretender” is a great song and it sounds even better when turned up loud and driving down the expressway.


23. Deadstring Brothers – Silver Mountain
Pure Alt Country, full of slide guitars, twang and whiskey soaked lyrics are all here on the latest Deadstring Brothers release. The vocal sharing is key here and some of the strongest songs are one’s sung by Marsha. You don’t find many Alt Country bands with female vocals and this is desparately needed for the genre.


22. Siouxsie - Mantaray
I love this cd, its not goth, not industrial, not electronic, not pop but somehow a blend of all of these things. Siouxsie Sioux has broken away from the Banshees and Creatures sounds and delivers a fresh take on Alternative dance sound. If you are new to Siouxsie or have been a fan for years this cd will keep you entertained from start to finish.


21. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
This time out, the Sonic Youth influences are gone and its back to a lighthearted California sound. It was a great summer record, the sunshine and pop melodies made for a great backyard soundtrack. With hints of the Band and other late 60s early 70s bands, Wilco has given us a straightforward Americana release that plays thru without any interruptions.


20. Grinderman - Grinderman
All I have to say is Nick Cave, anything he does is brilliant and Grinderman is no different. Nick strips off the baggage of the Bad Seeds and turns up the guitars. It’s obnoxious at times but the controlled chaos has a point. It’s a release for Nick and one that he can exercise his limitations that might be present when he is behind a piano.


19. Kula Shaker - Strangfolk
Crispian Mills had one of the most successful debuts and pretty much blew it with his 2nd release. 8 years later Crispian returns with a cd that doesn’t quite capture the mania but does a good job at reminding us why we loved Kula Shaker back in ’96. The blend of 70s guitar and Indian sitar proves once again that the Beatles were right way back then.


18. Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Simplistic, intelligent and innovative are a few words that can be used to describe Spoon. The Austin, TX band has been around for a while but hadn’t really made its way into the hearts and minds of the masses until their last release. Spoon picked up where Pavement left off and added a bit of indie dance groove into the lo-fi sound. The horns, handclaps, and sparse sound of instruments keep you guessing how these songs were assembled. They don’t feel thin but it’s not a wall of sound either.


17. The Raveonettes – Lust, Lust, Lust
I loved the first Raveonettes EP “Whip It On” for its dark and moody feel. Their next 2 cds moved from the minor key and became a bit too 50’s kitsch for me. Their latest cd teeters between the dark and light world they have created and keeps you interested and wanting more. The opening track channels the Jesus And Mary Chain with its controlled noise and is one of the best examples of feedback I have heard in years.


16. Son Volt – The Search
Jay Farrar doesn’t disappoint here, he keeps the Alt Country sound alive while throwing a few curve balls to keep it interesting. The mix of horns turned me off at first but after a few listens I came around to appreciate what Jay was trying to accomplish here. The political lyrics are toned down a bit but are not gone and the music takes over.


15. Iron & Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog
Previous Iron & Wine cds would bore me but this one is different. It seems like Samuel Beam decided to add a few more instruments and leave the lo-fi recording style from before. It’s by no mean a huge commercial record full of ad jingles but it has a fuller sound that keeps your attention.


14. Dinosaur Jr - Beyond
J.Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph reunited after 16 years and recorded as if it was 1990 all over again. The loud guitars, feedback, trademark Mascis vocals and dry rock n roll are all present for this cd. It’s more of a nostalgia trip than anything since it seemed like Dino Jr never really had a proper send off. Maybe now people will understand what the band was all about and give them the respect they deserve.


13. Pinback – Autumn Of The Seraphs
Pure Indie Rock and probably the only cd I will have in common with Pitchfork but I have to give it up to Pinback. They know how to take that pretentious sound and keep it fresh and exciting. The mix of piano and guitars along with the alternating vocals creates a moody sound landscape.


12. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Baby 81
BRMC blended the early Brit Rock scene with some garage rock on their debut and by their 3rd release had embraced the Alt Country scene. This time out, they decided to give their fans some reverb and fuzz but stick to the states for the sound.


11. Dean & Britta – Back Numbers
If 60s kitsch, soundtrack music is what you like Back Numbers is your cd. Dean & Britta from Luna fame are back with their 2nd release and remind you that the era of duets is not long gone it’s just been underground. The lush production and classic Luna sound is present but on a more intimate scale.


10. Jesse Malin – Glitter In The Gutter
Not as popular as Adams but still amazing in his own right. Jesse blends genres and interjects a bit of punk rock into his latest release. He snags the Boss for one song and writes one of the best singles of the year “In The Modern World”. This guy very little air play and some bad press which I thought was unfair but what can you do. His cover of “Bastards Of Young” is brilliant.


9. Josh Rouse – City Mouse, Country House
Living under the radar for years, Josh continued to make classic Americana records that told stories and filled the room with sweet acoustic and mellow twang. On his latest release, Josh does a bit of genre jumping and includes some soul which he pulls off quite well. His often whispering vocals don’t stick out and just paint the surface of the beats. If you like toe tapping, upbeat acoustic pop Josh is your man. But it doesn’t end there; he is a master at creating beautiful songs with lush arrangements as well.


8. Stereophonics – Pull The Pin
Stereophonics have had an identity crisis the last few years. They strived too hard to appeal to American audiences which only backfired and left them mocked in both presses. This time out, they went back to their roots and gave us a brash, in your face, full of attitude record that makes up for past failures. Although many people don’t agree I see a lot of Oasis and the Jam in this cd.


7. Travis – The Boy With No Name
The last cd had a few good songs but was stale and seemed like the end of Travis. A few years off the radar and some much needed R&R, Travis return with an excellent release which comes close to the pure genius of The Man Who. The sounds that Coldplay stole and made so popular are here but jazzed up with a bit of sunshine. Songs like Selfish Jean play loudly from the radio while others are soft and introspective making you step back and take a look at your own life.


6. Air – Pocket Symphony
I dubbed this cd as headphone music when it first came out and I still believe this. The atmospheric beats and rhythms can be missed if you are not fully concentrating. As background music, it seems a bit plain and dull which is why I think it was not given higher reviews. Once you let yourself go and immerse your mind into the music you will understand what I mean.


5. Grant Lee Philips - Stranglet
One of my favorite musicians and one that rarely disappoints makes it onto the list once again. Grant Lee crafts a melody out of thin air and then spins it into a complete masterpiece. Grant made his start with his band Grant Lee Buffalo but has been solo for the last decade. His music is Americana with some new folk and a bit of rock n roll. He blew me away last year with his cover cd and took it to another level with his last release.


4. Interpol – Our Love To Admire
This cd took a few listens and it wasn’t until I put on the headphones did I really grasp what Interpol was giving us this time around. The music is big and has a stadium like quality about it. It swirls around your head and fills the room. The wall of sound builds and gives you glimpse of the past while providing you a peek into the future. Interpol started out by building on the bases of Joy Division but found a way to pave a new path into their sound. At times the lyrics may not make much sense but the soundscape created around them is what really matters.


3. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
Its not a year if Ryan isn’t present. He only had 2 releases this year but both were amazing in their own rights. Easy Tiger is pure Americana and showcases Ryan’s strengths as a singer/songwriter. He isn’t trying to impress anyone here, he has played the genre jumping game and has settled into a style that fits him best.


2. Buffalo Tom – Three Easy Pieces
It’s been 9 years since the last BT release and during that time all 3 members went their own ways and released solo works. The time off was good for them and this cd shows how BT can still craft a great melody within a 3 piece band. Both Bill and Chris take turns with the vocals and in classic BT fashion, offer two distinct writing styles. For a three piece BT offer a wide range of music, a bit of distortion, some country and lots of classic Alternative and Americana to suit your needs. They may happen to be one of the most underrated bands of the last 20 years but have been a staple on my cd player/iPod for years.


1. The National - Boxer
Dark, brooding, melancholy, somber are just a few words that can be used to describe the National’s lastest cd. Its beauty lies in lyrics, baritone vocals and unique arrangements. The mix of horns along with subdued guitars and stacatto drum beats makes for an intense listening experience. Think of this cd as a late nite with a lovely lady drinking martinis til the wee hours. The minor keys don’t bounce around your head like the latest pop sensation instead burrow deep into your psyche surfacing at odd times begging you to listen just once more.

Posted by mardenhill 12/16/2007 03:30:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Jandek
Friday, December 14, 2007

Lo-fi is an aesthetic in music production which uses lo-fi recording practices. Its use is usually due to the artist's financial limitations. Many lo-fi artists use inexpensive cassette tape recorders for their music. The term was coined by WFMU DJ William Berger who dedicated a half hour segment of his program to home recorded music throughout the late 80's under the name Lo-fi.

.........................

While on my way home the other day I caught a story on NPR regarding Jandek. I had never heard of the guy but found his history amazing and wanted to share it with you. Back in '78 the first Jandek record was released and to date there are 51. Jandek has his own record label Corwood Industries that is a PO Box in Houston, TX where fans can order music from. You send in your money and nowdays get his recordings on CD. Pricewise its very cheap $8 to $12 and you get discounts for ordering multiple copies. Jandek never did interviews or live shows until '99 when he performed at a Scottish music festival unannounced.

Musicwise he is the king of Lo-Fi, just a few instruments, simple recordings with no extra production. Its folk rock, noise, avant guard with a very mellow and somber tone. At times its just him mumbling lyrics over a few guitar pics. Othertimes he has guest musicians who join in to fill out his intimate soundscape.

I am blown away how a musician has bucked the system for so many years and built a cult following doing it. Never to give interviews, to only play a handful of live shows and constantly deny that you are actually Jandek is impressive. It wasn't until the live performance that people actually knew what he looked like. There was usually a fuzzy photo of a man on the records but no one knew if it was him or not. If there wasn't a photo of him, Jandek would use pictures of instruments, the outside of his house, random pieces of furniture etc. Check out the link below for more information on this amazing man.

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

Posted by mardenhill 12/14/2007 06:50:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

2003 Johann Donabaum Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Berglage Loiben
Thursday, December 13, 2007

We are down to 5 Austrian wines and I decided that it was time to open another one. This time around it was the 2003 Johann Donabaum Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Berglage Loiben. If you are not familiar with Grüners they are a similar to Sauvignon Blancs but are only grown in Austria. This one has hints of mineral and green apple with a some pear and pepper on the finish. What really suprised me was how rich and creamy this wine was. I expected a bone dry and clean white that would be a bit acidic but I was definitely wrong. Unfortunately Winemonger is out of this wine but they still have plenty of others for you to enjoy.



http://www.winemonger.com/catalog/index.php

Posted by mardenhill 12/13/2007 09:50:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

Mitchell Report

The Yankees were well represented on the Mitchell Report but the Tigers didn't get away scott free either. Looks like our DH Gary Sheffield was mentioned but as of now that is the only person affected. Not sure what this all means, will Gary be back next year, will he be suspended or will he just get a slap on the wrist? I guess we will have to wait and see.

I am not suprised that Gary's name is on the list, but I am glad that players like Maggs, Pudge, Verlander, Granderson, Polanco, Guillen and our latest draft pick Cabrera were not listed. I do hope that MLB takes this report seriously and lays the smackdown on players. We need to get steroids out of all sports and if it takes MLB to get it rolling so be it..........

Posted by mardenhill 12/13/2007 03:27:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Tigers

New James CD!!!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007

James announce 2008 UK tour

Plus release date for new album

James have announced details of a new tour for 2008, and revealed they will release their first studio album for seven years around the same time. The band, who reformed earlier this year, are likely to air tracks for the as-yet-untitled album, out April 7, on the tour. It will be the group's first record since 2001's 'Pleased To Meet You'
..........................................
This is great news since it seemed like James "broke up" for no apparent reason and still had plenty of gas left in the tank. According to my rules James didn't wait a full 10 years so this really isn't a reunion, just a long lapse between records which gave the band a bit of a breather and a chance for Tim Booth to release a solo record. With that in mind this is just another James record and nothing more. I still excited tho and will take what I can get. I highly doubt that we will see a US tour but at least we get new music come April.

Posted by mardenhill 12/11/2007 09:31:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Music

Montinore Estate Gewürztraminer 2006
Sunday, December 09, 2007

If you are a fan of Gewurzts you need to check out this wine. Its from Oregon and not that expensive, between $13-$15 a bottle. It has the classic Gewurztraminer aroma, a bit floral, fruit and minerals. The wine has a golden color with intense flavors to match. Its rich like a chard but not as oaky and a bit on the sweeter side. This wine could hold up to some spicy food with its ability to coat your tongue and give you a cool and refreshing finish.

http://www.montinore.com/index.html

Posted by mardenhill 12/09/2007 10:33:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Wine

Warren Miller Playground
Saturday, December 08, 2007

Last nite my buddy Chris and I went and saw the latest Warren Miller ski movie Playground. Since Jeep sponsors the event and my company does their advertising I was able to get on the guest list. It saved us $20 each which was nice since I have seen my full of ski movies over the years. I do enjoy them because they get you ready for the season but they tend to be the same thing over and over. This one took you to Dubai and inside their enclosed ski run. They also had clips of Alaskan heliskiing and resorts in Japan. I do have to say they upped the extreme skiing in this movie, there were just a few kids scenes and no dogs in bandanas which was always a staple in the past. The best part would probably be the lack of snowboarders these movies tend to focus more on skiers.

Posted by mardenhill 12/08/2007 11:43:00 AM 0 comments    

Labels: Movies, Sports

Biden For Prez
Thursday, December 06, 2007

I like Joe, he's a great senator (even when he puts his foot in his mouth which can happen more often than not) and an excellent presidental candidate. He knows his foreign policy inside and out and could deal with the diplomatic disaster we will be left with when Bush leaves office. Below is a great posting that he wrote regarding the NIE and Iran.

Will Biden win the nomination, probably not but no one expected Ron Paul to do as well as he has. Same goes for the huckster, the former governer came out of nowhere and became the media darling for the last couple weeks. The stories are starting to pile on and it will be interesting to see if Huckabee can withstand the criticism.

Biden would be a great Secretary of State but as of now he is not interested. I wonder if that will change come November when a dem wins the WH.

I havn't decided who I am supporting as of now, too many good candidates but Joe is on my short list. Unfortunately he withdrew his name from the MI primary so I won't be writing him or any other candidate in.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-biden/meeting-the-iranian-chall_b_75628.html

Posted by mardenhill 12/06/2007 01:57:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics

Whoops I Did It Again
Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Posted by mardenhill 12/04/2007 09:42:00 PM 0 comments    

Labels: Politics