BLAST FROM THE not so distant PAST: Tenacious D rock n' roll Invitation Request

I am digging through my old files, and I found this little gem from when Julia and I found out Tenacious D were playing in Vancouver. The story goes that we are ridiculously devout D fans, and their music represents a special fraternity in our marriage that cannot be broken. When we found out about this show it was already sold out. So we put together a swarthy Craigslist ad. A day or two later, by some miracle of the heavens, a second show was added, and we ended up getting seats in the FRONT ROW. We even took a sharpie to the show and designed our own tee shirts on the spot to further supercharge the occasion. Jack Black sweated on me. Definitely a highlight of my concert going life...


We be two humble peasants wandering the path that was chosen. A man. A woman. Side by side, in rare friendshipian union, staring toward the blazing horizon, lusting after all the possibilities of the world. Nary a day goes by when we do not weep at the prospect of missing our mentors' grand judgment of rock upon our beautiful Canadian soil, for we missed our chance at snagging an invitation. When the D doth come a summoning, we must appear before their holy feet, to be learned another lesson of life, to have our socks rocked clean off, to get one step closer to answering the Ultimate Question.

For us, this would be a life-changing event. If yee be selling or losing tickets, lose them this way. If you want to ensure that your pretties are given to someone who will maximize their enjoyment, thus causing the Earth's biospheric aura to swell productively, please consider us.

PS, we have a tv and a playstation2 that we want to sell, but it can definitely be implemented into our obtainment of Tenacious D rock invitations. If you want said electronics, do come a calling.... with love Nayt and Julia

A Winged Victory For The Sullen

Behold. This album is so gorgeous. Not to be missed. My full review on The Silent Ballet is pretty well written, too, I think.

Not everything is immediately apparent on this debut album. If you know Adam Wiltzie from Stars Of The Lid or The Dead Texan you know to expect orchestral drones and chamber minutaie performed by real instruments and expertly manipulated guitars. If Dustin O'Halloran’s performance prowress has you excited, you know you are in for some understated poignancy on rare pianos. If you heard that Peter Broderick guests on violin or that Hildur Guðnadóttir plays some cello, you might hear this album go by like a constellation secretly appearing at dusk and ask, “Wait, what?” It is that effortless in execution. It can take many listens, for instance, before one realizes a harp is being played on track four. At first, it all blurs together as one song, as if the mind and heart have some growing to do before the details begin to pop out. Where were all these supposed instruments, one wonders? But, boy, after some flexing of the mind, do these details pop out!

a winged victory for the sullen 'steep hills of vicodin tears' by kranky

Talvihorros - Descent Into Delta

I done reviewed a pretty good guitar drone record. Ben Chatwin is pretty on it.

Chatwin seems to get better with each Talvihorros release, and Descent Into Delta is a fine example of the diverse ways in which a guitar can contribute to the crafting of a cohesive environment. Overall it has the sensibility of Aidan Baker and the real-time nocturnal features of Expo 70. Chatwin improvises much of his work and goes in to tweak it later. Yet despite the obvious amount of care, this release has the air of spontaneity. On the final track, “Delta”, a viola wanders like a ghost through the dead of night, clearly present, but without tangible form, like a lucid dreamer in the ether of sleep.

Nest - Body Pilot

Nest are lovely aren't they? A more extensive exploration of this record is here. Here is a snippet:

More restrained and subtle than their previous release, this EP focuses on the phenomenon of flight or weightlessness. The opening "Stillness" provides the clearest link to Retold, inviting the listener to play the releases back-to-back. Out of a delicately sustained set of strings emerges an inquisitive and spartan piano motif. These singular notes and chords languish in the open air, vestal in feeling. The background textures and chordal ambience beckon a letting go into the clouds, which is where Nest heads next with tentative, outstretched wings.

Nest / The Dying Roar (Preview / Excerpt) by Serein