Riedel Vitis
Monday, December 29, 2008
Erika bought me a few more Riedel Vitis glasses for xmas to add to my current collection. At this time I have the Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Champagne. I would like to get the Chardonnay and Martini as well as multiples in all catagories. These are amazing glasses, the Cab stands over 10 inches and have huge bowls. They are not heavy and although not dishwasher safe are not fragile where you feel that you're going to break them by just looking or breathing. The design is very modern with the deepest curves and blowing away the Vinum Extreme series. You can find them on sale at Amazon.com.
http://www.riedel.com/
Posted by mardenhill 12/29/2008 02:27:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Sigg vs Contigo Thermal Coffee Mugs
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Unfortunately the the other day I lost one of my thermal coffee mugs (one that I had for at least 7 years that I loved) and it was time to buy a new one. Last Christmas Erika bought me a SIGG thermal coffee mug which I was really excited about but after using was very disappointed. They turn coffee cold within 2 hours and leak water at the bottom. Their water bottles are still very cool and I use mine every day so don't confuse the two.
This past weekend we were at Costco where we came across the Contigo 2 pack for $20. Usually I tend to shy away from these "great deal" Costco bundles due to previous experiences but I decided to take a chance. I have to say I am very happy I did so and highly recommend these mugs to anyone who is in the market for one. They come in 2 styles stainless steel and plastic. The claims about spill proof and length of heat time are right on, these mugs hold heat like you wouldn't believe. The hardest part was getting used to the vacuum opening, the hole is much smaller and a bit more work to drink out of. You get the swoosh sound every time you push the button and it feels very futuristic as if you are always traveling around in an air lock. These mugs are also BPA free which is good although Nalgene has since switched as well. Right now I just have the travel mugs without the handle but may have to add one to my arsenal in the future.
http://www.gocontigo.com/index.html
Posted by mardenhill 12/24/2008 10:27:00 AM 73 comments
Labels: Coffee
Anne Amie - 2003 Deux Vert Pinot Noir
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Anne Amie is one of my favorite Oregon Vineyards and if you are ever out west this is one you must visit. The view is amazing and rivals many places in Napa Valley. The tasting room overlooks a patch of vines on every side as well as beautiful rolling landscape in all directions. They specialize in Pinot Noir which is usual for many Oregon vineyards. Upon pouring the wine was a deep ruby red with a strong nose. The start was classic pinot with the plump fruit but it didn't end there. This wine was complex enough to stand up to many Burgundians with layers of oak, earth and hints of pepper. The finish lingered on your tongue while your brain begged for more. This isn't a cheap bottle either, you are looking at a $45 bottle but let me tell ya, its well worth it. When buying Oregon Pinots I tend to set my starting price point at $25. You can find some as low as $20 but the good ones are really at the $30+ level. Though these are not everyday wines, you should treat yourself to a great Oregon Pinot a few times a year.
http://www.anneamie.com/
Posted by mardenhill 12/21/2008 10:35:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Best of 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Looking back at 2008 I am very pleased with the music that was released. Many heavy hitters dropped new records which did crowd out some of the newer bands but on the other hand I was really hard pressed to find any debuts that really struck me. There were some that were good but none "Knock Your Socks Off, WOW".
As usual, Pitchfork compiled their top 50 when compared to mine, only share 1 cd. Hey that's ok, at least my list is interesting and not the same as every other pretentious indie rock wanker out there. No Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Crystal Castles, Girl Talk or Deerhunter here, instead good music that you can enjoy not dwell over while trying to one up your tight jeans and scruffy face friend.
20. The Brilliant Mistakes
This is the 3rd cd from a band who has been around for about 13 years. They took an extended break between their last one and this and it seems to have paid off. This small NYC band packs a huge melodic punch with catchy riffs and harmonies.
http://www.thebrilliantmistakes.com/
19. Supergrass – Diamond Hoo Ha
What happens when a bunch of punk kids grow up but continue to play music. Either it gets really boring or the brash and cockiness returns in a new form. Supergrass is the latter and their latest cd captures the energy and layers it with years of influence and wise decisions. Their last cd was great but also very melancholy, this time its rock n roll full of swagger and little remorse. Supergrass does a bit of genre jumping here, pulling from the glam era, current garage scene and 90’s Brit Pop.
http://www.supergrass.com/
18. Jakob Dylan – Seeing Things
I stumbled onto this cd by accident but found myself listening to it over and over. Whether it is an early weekend morning or late evening session, this cd would usually be played from start to finish. Jakob’s voice has hints of his fathers but in an acoustic format shines thru. This is no Wallflowers, no heavy organs or full band, instead its an intimate picture into Jakob’s life.
http://www.jakobdylan.com/
17. Jennifer O’Connor – Here With Me
This is a new artist for me, I discovered her thru eMusic one day and fell in love. The style is pure alt country with a dark and lonely approach. Jennifer reminded me of Jesse Sykes with her vocals but throughout the cd finds her own sound.
http://www.jenniferoconnor.net/
The Verve had a tumultuous history and a very public implosion leading to one of the worst solo careers ever. If reforming was the only way to get Richard Ashcroft from recording, I would take it in a heartbeat. The time off did the band well, it allowed them to get sober, heal old wounds and take a shot at what made them great in the first place. The layered and psychedelic sounds are fresh again and the cd takes you back to the early 90s/shoegazing era. There are long drones and fuzzed out haze sessions that create a wall of sound the world has been longing for.
http://www.theverve.co.uk/
15. The Watson Twins – Firesongs
The Watson Twins received a good introduction when they recorded with Jenny Lewis back in 2006. They returned this year with their official full length shedding any doubt that they were just a backup band. The Watson Twins are actually identical twins from LA by way of Kentucky who brought their southern roots with them. The cd is full of folk rock, Americana, gospel and country. Besides the great originals they do justice to the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven”.
http://www.thewatsontwins.com/
14. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus Dig
After a quick side project Nick Cave returned with the Bad Seeds fire in hand and ready to rock out. Grinderman allowed Nick to tap into his dark and sleazy side while keeping his soul searching moments for the Bad Seeds. Instead of making a piano based record Nick decided it was time to take on the Bible and write a concept record based on Lazarus set in modern day.
http://www.nickcaveandthebadseeds.com/
13. Martina Topley Bird – The Blue God
For those of you who may not know Martina, she sang along side Tricky back in the 90s but left after his 3rd album. Surprisingly this is when Tricky started to really suck and go downhill big time. Martina doesn’t rely on the old Trip Hop sound for the whole cd, she plays around with funk, soul and jazz and weaves this into a beautiful electronic sound. You can never grow tired of Martina’s voice, its soothing, alluring and intoxicating all at the same time.
http://www.martinatopleybird.com/
12. The Cure – 4:13 Dream
The Cure is back and now a 4 piece once again which means no keyboards. This takes some getting used to since they perfected both the gloomy and cheerful side of love and loss. The Cure aim to recapture their youthful punk side and remind people that although Robert may be bloated and nearing 50, he still has something to say.
http://www.thecure.com/
11. Ryan Adams & the Cardinals – Cardinology
With only 1 release, this year may be a record for Ryan. Cardinology contains his full band and one that at times plays it too safe which is why he didn’t end up higher in my list. There are some amazing songs here but a few bland ones that seem to have been thrown together and lack the attitude we have come to expect. I will admit I wrote this before seeing him live last weekend and since then came to appreciate this record much more. Hearing some of the songs live really explained the record and what Ryan was going for.
http://www.cardinology.com/
10. Coldplay – Viva La Vida
I will admit it, I like Coldplay, I sing along to many of their songs and I keep them on my iPod. I will say their last cd sucked and I could probably count the times I actually listened to it. I never expected that I would include Coldplay on my best of but this time around they did it and I give all the credit to Brian Eno. He took the band out of their comfort zone and forced them to visualize a new sound and not just play it but also embrace it. The band did so and produced some amazing songs that even after the radio saturation I still find myself enjoying.
http://www.coldplay.com
9. Stereolab – Chemical Chords
Stereolab are unique in the sense that you really don’t sing along, a lot of the vocals are in French and the ones in English you can never really make out anyways. They are not a drive around with the top down band either. They are in their own category and are meant to be enjoyed with a nice set of headphones or live. They sonic landscape they create allows you to visualize their music as a piece of art. The heavy drones are not here, instead some free jazz and a bit of Motown.
http://www.stereolab.co.uk/news/
8. Beck – Modern Guilt
Like REM, Beck overproduced last time around and lost many people with his extra long cd. Taking a que from them, Back hammered out a 36 minute cd with the help of Danger Mouse. The mood is consistent throughout but after close listening, you discover the crazy melodies and instrumentation that made Mutations my favorite Beck record. I love the current layers and tone Beck has settled into, I feel it’s an area that he feels most comfortable in and one that he can own and manipulate on further releases.
http://www.beck.com/default.aspx
7. Crooked Fingers – Forfeit Fortune
I was on the fence with this one, the first listen I was disappointed since I was expecting another Dignity and Shame. The songs do not really flow; you can tell many were recorded at different times and places. Since I have been a fan of the band for years I decided to listen a few more times. Finally the brilliance came thru, Eric Bachmann’s unique voice and uncanny ability to arrange alt country/indie rock with horns overtook any reservations I had. Eric also assembled an all-star cast on this cd and one many bands would be jealous of. Eric plays around with ethnic and world sounds throughout the cd and pays homage to distinct American sounds.
http://www.crookedfingers.com/
6. James – Hey Ma
James took a break after the 2001 Pleased to Meet You and everyone thought it might be the end. Even if it was, James went out on top with that cd and one the band couldn’t be prouder of. 7 years later they resurfaced with a collection of songs that brought back the horns of the late 80s and reflections on the different styles throughout their career. This may be the last James cd, and why its not their best it does do a good job at showcasing the range Tim Booth and Company have given us.
http://www.wearejames.com/
5. REM – Accelerate
People dogged the last REM record and there were rumors that members would leave if they tried the same approach again. I for one loved the cd but not the whole thing. It was too long and could have been cut in half for an amazing EP. This time around REM cut out the filler and clocked in at 35 minutes. They brought the guitars back but not in the same style as Monster. Its not all feedback and reverb, it’s raw and under produced. It’s REM at their core and a sound that has been missing for many years. The songs remind me of the off kilter arrangements on New Adventures in HiFi which is probably why I fell in love with it.
http://remhq.com/index.php
4. Aimee Mann – Smilers
I have always been a fan of Aimee, her voice is unique as well as her style. Many people can play the acoustic folk rock but it tends to get boring, Aimee seems to have a way of keeping my attention. The cd is fresh from start to finish and after a few listens you can start to notice the subtle arrangements that provide a lyrical landscape for Aimee to play in.
http://www.aimeemann.com/
3. Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul
Oasis has yet to top Definitely Maybe but may have come close with Dig Out Your Soul. The heavy reliance on Classic Rock is gone and there is emphasis on layers and Psychedelia. This isn’t a 60’s record it’s an updated sound full of confidence and attitude. The brash and cocky Liam returns ready to start a fight with the first shoe thrower and any subpar English band that needs to be knocked down a few pegs. Live these songs open up and prove why Oasis is one of the best live bands around.
http://www.oasisinet.com/
2. The Kills – Midnight Boom
The Kills are a 2 piece with a guitar and drum machine but you would never know from listening. They got their start during the garage scene a few years ago and built upon that sound with Midnight Boom. This cd still has a bit of garage but it is more polished and layered with a few more electronic elements. There is a sense of electro groove going on and Alison “VV” Mosshart picks up where Justine Frischmann left off blending sex and rock n roll and showing that its not just men who can pull off gritty music. This is a band that if you have never listened to, you need to start from the beginning to understand their style and the progression.
http://www.thekills.tv/
1. The Gutter Twins – Saturnalia
The Gutters Twins are Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers fame). Anyone who thought that the two couldn’t get along or pull off such a project have been proven wrong. The cd is brilliant and a huge stretch for anything Greg has done. The mood is dark, tense and angry and one that drags you down into the seedy underbelly of the Twins souls. There are a few songs that are in a lighter key and more Greg’s forte but even those are still out of his comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong this isn’t a depressing record, its one that is complicated and needs many listens to open and reveal itself.
http://www.theguttertwins.com/
Honorable Mentions (no order)
David Byrne & Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell – Sunday At Devil Dirt
Mark Morris – Memory Muscle
Brett Anderson – Wilderness
Spiritualized – Songs In A&E
Brothers & Sisters – Fortunately
Old 97’s – Blame It On Gravity
Primal Scream – Beautiful Future
Mercury Rev – Snowflake Midnight
Brian Jonestown Massacre – My Bloody Underground
The Kooks – Konk
The Honeydrips – Here Comes The Future
She & Him – Vol 1
Jack Johnson – Sleeping Through The Static
Duffy – Rockferry
Gary Louris – Vegabonds
Moby – Last Night
Spoon – GaGaGaGaGa
The National – The Virginia EP
Ladytron – Velocifero
Foo Fighters – Echos, Silence, Patience & Grace
Travis – Ode To J Smith
Posted by mardenhill 12/19/2008 08:06:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Ryan Adams Live
Monday, December 15, 2008
http://www.archive.org/details/ryanadams2008-12-13.live2cd.flac16
One of the great things about Ryan Adams is that he allows people to record and upload the shows to www.archive.org for everyone to enjoy. You can check out hundreds of his shows over the years as well as the one from the other nite. The recording is pretty good and if you didn't get a chance to see the show you can at least hear what you missed. Below is the official setlist, I was 4 songs off. I havn't made it thru but hopefully the banter about seeing Cinderella at the Palace in '89 is there....
01. Cobwebs
02. Crossed Out Name
03. Everybody Knows
04. When The Stars Go Blue
05. Fix It
06. Let It Ride
07. Off Broadway
08. Go Easy
09. Sink Ships
10. Come Pick Me Up
11. I Taught Myself How To Grow Old
12. Two
13. Natural Ghost
14. Magick
Posted by mardenhill 12/15/2008 09:53:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Oasis and Ryan Adams - Palace of Auburn Hills 12.13.08
Sunday, December 14, 2008
I will start off with Wow, this was an amazing concert and one of the best Oasis shows I have ever seen. The night started off with Matt Costa playing to a few hundred people but he didn't seem to mind. He was quite good and pulled off an acapella/hand clapping song which I thought for sure would fail. Next was Ryan Adams and the Cardinals who had about half the stage and 2 large flowers (his logo) on each side. They ran thru a number of new songs; "Cobwebs", "Go Easy", "Fix It", "Crossed Out Name", "Natural Ghost"and "Magick" which they closed their set with. I was looking forward to this song live and was very happy they played it. Its Ryan's homage to Neil Young and 70s Butt Rock. He also played "Two" and "Everybody Knows" from Easy Tiger. Ryan also pulled out "Let It Ride" from Cold Roses and a few others which are slipping my mind.
About 9pm Oasis took the stage and started out with their usual "F@ckin In The Bushes" Instrumental then broke into "Rock N Roll Star". They also played "Cigarettes And Alcohol", "Slide Away", "Supersonic" from Definitely Maybe. Then there was "Morning Glory", "Champagne Supernova" and "Wonderwall" from (What's The Story) Morning Glory. Noel actually included the whole band on "Wonderwall" instead of his usual acoustic performance. Surprisingly, they played "The Masterplan" a song I didn't expect. We had "Songbird" from Heathen Chemistry, then "Layla", "The Importance of Being Idle" and "The Meaning of Soul" from Don't Believe The Truth. From Dig Out Your Soul, Oasis played "The Shock Of The Lightning", "Falling Down", "To Be Where There's Life", "Waiting For The Rapture" and "The Turning". They closed with "I Am The Walrus" which is what they do every show. I know they played a few other songs but I am at a loss right now what they were.
The stage setup was great, there were 4 large screens that alternated between each of the band members and video. The lights set the mood on some of the music and they used the color blue when playing much of their new stuff. What I find quite funny is how their latest cd is very psychedelic yet they are actually clean now. Maybe it took getting off drugs to finally complete the sound. The new songs open up even more when played live, the heavy mood of some of the music hovered throughout the stadium drawing you in.
As usual, if you have never seen Oasis you must check them out at least once (or twice) to experience one of the greatest bands. They all stand around, don't move much and let the music speak for them. Liam snarls at the crowd, leaves the stage when Noel is singing and gets pissed off at little things. He is always over dressed in coats and hangs onto the tambourine the whole night. Its part of his act and I wouldn't expect him to do anything else. We did get a bit of tantrum at the end, Liam's mic stopped working so he got pissed and threw it into the crowd.
Posted by mardenhill 12/14/2008 12:21:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Miner - Napa Valley 2003 Sauvignon Blanc
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Last night I opened a 2003 Sauvignon Blanc that had been in my wine fridge for years. I didn't know what to expect since this isn't really a wine you are supposed to age, instead you should drink early and enjoy. I was very suprised at what I had here, it was a Sauvignon Blanc that had mellowed on the acidity. The fruit came thru big time and was rich and warm not tight with mouthfuls of citrus. It wasn't as buttery as a Chard more like a Viognier which I found very interesting. I decided to conduct an experiment and search out older Sauv Blancs to see if I can duplicate the style. Finding older whites might be a problem but I have a few ideas where I can look. I don't know if my findings will be as good as Miner but you never know.
Posted by mardenhill 12/13/2008 09:52:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
iPhone vs Blackberry Storm
Friday, December 12, 2008
I have been using an iPhone for a couple weeks now and all I have to say is WOW. The phone is freaking amazing, email, internet, texting, misc apps, phone calls and music all work with very little issues. The virtual keyboard was the hardest to overcome but I have done a very good job at adapting. My only complaint would be the battery life but that is expected on a device like this.
I currently have 3 email accounts loaded on the iPhone as well as a few gigs of music. I still need to add more and a few video files. I have downloaded about 13 free applications from the Apps Store and most are pretty useful. I love the fact that you can browse the store from the phone and download on the fly. The internet web page display rivals anything out there and I love the ability of flipping landscape and expanding/cropping the page with my fingers.
As for the Blackberry Storm, I am still new to it, I am currently setting up my corporate email on the device as I type this. The main difference between the devices would be the force feedback you have on the Storm when typing or opening/launching anything. You have to push down so it feels like a button instead of a touch. The portrait/landscape rendering is slow and a bit clumsy as well as the keyboard. When in portait mode you have the doubletype keyboard which I really, really hate. Add on top the so called word complete Blackberry is so fond of and I am ready to throw it out the window. You can turn it sideways but then the keyboard covers over half the screen, big problem I say. I had a hard time scrolling on menus and even if I selected the right option I still hit the one below it which I found annoying.
I know I just spent the last paragraph dogging the Storm but this was from the initial setup. I plan on playing with it over the weekend and at that point have a better idea on the device. Unfortunately there are not a ton of apps you can install on the blackberry but next quarter RIM will be launching an online store.
So far my co-workers hate the Storm and its up to me to salvage anything good out of the device. I know it will never compete with the iPhone but I am interested to see how it does against the HTC Touch.
Posted by mardenhill 12/12/2008 05:14:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Three Saints - Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Ynez Valley 2005
Monday, December 08, 2008
I bought this wine about a year ago and left it the basement waiting for a good time to open. Tonight was that nite and I have to say it was worth the wait. The wine is a classic Cab from California, plenty of lush fruit followed by some oak and tannin. The nose isn't sweet though, tobacco and black current are present and dominate. The start is plump and juicy with a mouthful of fruit that is replaced with a smokey and dry finish. It is long and lingers on the back of your tongue with a hint of heat representing the alcohol at the back of your throat. I will be interested to see how this wine tastes tomorrow since it was pretty cold when I opened it. I will give it some time and return for a 2nd round.
http://www.threesaintsvineyard.com/about.html
Posted by mardenhill 12/08/2008 09:59:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Favorite New Podcast
Sunday, December 07, 2008
This weekend I discovered Gary Vanynerch's Wine Podcast while browsing the Apple TV and was blown away. Basically Gary rules, he knows his wine inside and out and does a great job at bringing it down to a level most people can comprehend. He is over the top with his sense of humor, his constant shout outs to his camera man, his love of the New York Jets and all things 80s, expecially He Man and wrestling. Gary has been doing the podcast for almost 2 years now with a new episode nearly daily. He will review wines as well as blind tastings which he tends to nail each and every time. You don't need the Apple TV to watch just check out the web site below for episodes. Definitely watch the 05 Bordeaux, its one of my favorites.
http://tv.winelibrary.com/
Posted by mardenhill 12/07/2008 06:43:00 PM 3 comments
Labels: Wine
Dubya 2.0?
Thursday, December 04, 2008
You would think it was George Bush with shenanigans like this. If the US Constitution had such a provision you know damn well the GOP would have tried to use it. Anyways for those who have not been following the Canadian Circus, it goes something like this. The conservative Prime Minister recently won re-election over a piss poor opposition candidate. Since then the opposition Liberals, New Democrats and the separatist Bloc Quebecois all to the left of the Conservatives had signed a deal to defeat the Conservatives and put forward a Liberal-New Democrat coalition to form a new government. To avoid the vote, the current PM Stephen Harper had Parliament suspended until next year hoping by then the other parties would turn on each other and forget about the no confidence vote.
This is one of the things I love about other countries, within Parliment you can vote no confidence and boot people out. It makes for great political theatre and you don't have to wait 4 years to do it. Unfortunately that is not an option here in the US. You can draw up articles of impeachment but with a 2 party system they tend not to get very far.
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B34BC20081204
Posted by mardenhill 12/04/2008 10:14:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
The Big 3
Its been very interesting watching the Big 3 in front of congress begging for money. The first time they show up on their private jets with no plans which wasn't really any different than the crooks on Wall Street who were given piles of cash no questions asked. They were reprimanded and sent back to Detroit with nothing. This time around they all drove hybrids with Chrysler driving a huge SUV which even as a hybrid still wasted a ton of gas. Anyways they had plans in hand and still received a beating today. It amazes me how the GOP is dead set against giving any money but didn't put up much a fight when it was time to bail out wall street. Hopefully the Big 3 execs have finally realized that the GOP do not care about them and just being rich isn't a good reason to support the party. As a resident of MI, I believe there should be a bailout to the Big 3 but with major strings attached. I for one have complained about the lack of choices in cars the last few years and the reliance on large SUVs. I think the Big 3 should be forced to raise CAFE standards and not just meet but exceed levels currently set 10 years out. I also blame the MI legislation who carried the water for these companies and pushed back on fuel economy. Yet another reason for me to hate Carl Levin in a long line of complaints.
I hold the Big 3 execs, the union, DC congress and local legislation to blame for all of this. The writing was on the wall years ago but all were too stupid to see and ignored the warning signs. As a capitalist society we should let them fail since the market dictates who wins and who loses. Unfortunately we cannot do this since we have already bailed out wall street and therefore must do the same here.
Btw, all the CEOs need to go, they are worthless hacks who have done nothing right. Nardelli should go first since he is the biggest loser out of them all followed by Wagner.
Posted by mardenhill 12/04/2008 05:39:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Politics
