onotob

Tomorrow I leave for Massachusetts to visit my good friend Nathan (brother in all but blood) and participate in a Native American sweat lodge ceremony, presided over by Blackwolf Jones. Tonight was also a total eclipse of the moon, and as I sat outside watching the Earth’s shadow pass slowly across its surface I paused to reflect on the day, the moment, and the space I’ve come to find myself in.

I was called by a number of people I care about, reminding me of the eclipse, and I made a number of calls to remind others. I felt filled with my love for those close to me, and with their love for me. The upstairs neighbors were out on their patio, chatting it up and enjoying the cool breeze, as were the neighbors in the building next door. I felt a certain sense of comraderie with these strangers, all of us out to experience this celestial happening.

A man and a woman come screaming out of the building across the street. They’re breaking up, and she is livid. Everyone becomes quiet to listen to their fight. She slams the car door shut, screaming something about “one orgasm” and storms back into the apartment. The man pulls away.

Beginnings and endings, creation and destruction. I thought about what the next year would be like for that woman, what it would be like for me. Hell, I don’t even know how this weekend is going to end up. I don’t know my future after this weekend, and I don’t want to.

All in all a powerful evening, filled with energy of all kinds. Tomorrow I start a journey, as do we all. I hope yours treats you well.

May the wind be always at your back.

Posted at 1:23 am.
2 Comments

If you’ve spent any time at all downloading music from the various file sharing networks you’ve undoubtably come across files with an MPC extension. If you’re not particulary computer-savvy you simply attempted to play these files in whatever player you use, failed, and promptly deleted them. Good for you. It may have felt like a failure, but believe me, you did yourself a favor.

But, if you’re one of those people given to investigating strange computer problems until you’ve found a solution or run out of options, then you discovered that what you’ve found are indeed audio files, but audio files compressed in a format called Musepack.

I’m here to tell you (mostly because a Google search for “musepack blows” comes up with zero results) that Musepack does, in fact, blow.

Now, don’t take the statement “musepack blows” (which will now appear a number of times in order to produce a search result) to mean that Musepack is not effective at compressing audio. Apparently, Musepack performs very well in listening tests. This does not, however, change the fact that Musepack blows.

In order to play Musepack files you need to download a plugin for WinAmp or various and sundry other audio players. This is fine if your computer is the only place you want to listen to your music. I often enjoy listening to music on my iPod. For this, Musepack blows, because Apple does not support the Musepack format (for this I applaud them). Other people don’t own iPods. While I pity them, they are not safe from the scourge that is Musepack. No digital audio player supports the Musepack format. There are no plugins for digital audio players. This is because Musepack blows.

In the geek world there is a saying, and this saying is true. That saying goes something like “Standard is better than better.” What this means, if you need further explanation, is that higher-quality results alone do not outweigh the benefits of enabling everyone to cheaply and easily work on the same page. Currently, MP3 is the dominant audio compression standard.

Now, this is not to say that new standards cannot be produced. New standards should, by all means, be produced. Some times standards are accepted because they’re the first out of the gate. MP3, which is actually an extension of the existing MPEG standard, is a good example of this. Other times formats become standard because the company that develops them has a certain amount of leverage in the market. WMA and AAC are good examples of this. And some times standards are accepted because they’re free (libre and gratis, or speech and beer, whichever you prefer) and open and a community cares about them. Ogg Vorbis is a great example of this.

No one but lonely geeks whining about listening tests on message boards cares about Musepack. But since lonely geeks are the ones posting music to file sharing networks Musepack is finding a certain following there. It is not, however, finding a following anywhere else. The biggest difference between Musepack and all the other formats mentioned is that there is no third-party support for Musepack. No one has used it in a game and no one has made a digital audio player that supports it. This is because Musepack blows. This is also because Musepack is not so hugely superior to the other four major formats that it merits spending time and money developing hardware and software which supports it. Their frequently asked questions page is very short, which I take as futher evidence that no one really gives a shit.

Let me elaborate further on why Musepack blows. In order for me to get Musepack files to play in my audio players of choice (iTunes, iPod, MP3 player in my car [notice the numerous applications of a standard in the previous list]) I must use the following process:

1. Use a Musepack decoder to make WAV files out of MPC files
2. Use an MP3 encoder to make MP3 files out of WAV files
3. Run MP3 files through MusicBrainz to get good metadata, because most of it is lost during the previous two steps

Now, this is a 3-step process and doesn’t seem very complex right? Right. It’s not complex, but the problem is that both Musepack and MP3 are lossy (as opposed to lossless) compression algorithms, meaning that data is lost duing the compression process (that’s how file sizes are reduced so dramatically). So I’m having to run the same audio through two separate, lossy compression schemes, removing data which describes the original sound each time. So much for the awesome quality of Musepack, huh? And all because Musepack blows.

So, whenever you run across files in the wild with an MPC extension, not only delete them, but publicly denegrate the person who gave them to you. Shame is the great motivator, and the fuckwits pushing Musepack could use a good shaming. Because, at the end of the day, Musepack blows.

Posted at 12:29 am.
5 Comments

The Morning News’ Album of the Month Week this week is The Arcade Fire’s Funeral. Remember, kids, you heard it here first. Unless you read Pitchfork Media, in which case you read it there first. Like I did.

Posted at 11:27 am.
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Lantos went on to describe for the president how the Swedish Army might be an ideal candidate to anchor a small peacekeeping force on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Sweden has a well-trained force of about 25,000. The president looked at him appraisingly, several people in the room recall.

“I don’t know why you’re talking about Sweden,” Bush said. “They’re the neutral one. They don’t have an army.”

Lantos paused, a little shocked, and offered a gentlemanly reply: “Mr. President, you may have thought that I said Switzerland. They’re the ones that are historically neutral, without an army.” Then Lantos mentioned, in a gracious aside, that the Swiss do have a tough national guard to protect the country in the event of invasion.

Bush held to his view. “No, no, it’s Sweden that has no army.”

The room went silent, until someone changed the subject.

Without a Doubt

Posted at 10:07 am.
2 Comments

While nursing one of the most intense hangovers of my life (and trying to remember rule 35), I’d like to take a moment and congratulate my good friends Tom and Mitzi on the tying of their knot.

I, sadly, missed the ceremony, which I hear was pretty damn cool (these untraditional kids), but I got to hang out for the entire reception, listen to Two Tons of Steel, and generally have a great time with some really excellent people. (Did I get enough puncuation in that last sentence?) How many weddings have you been to which featured a Simpsons quote contest? I thought so.

I’m going to cut this short, as the next wave of nausea is cresting. Tom and Mitzi, enjoy your honeymoon and the many years of joy and love which surely lie in your future.

Posted at 3:26 pm.
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Note: I occasionally share new music that I’ve acquired with a group of my friends. I’m going to start posting the emails that go along with each release to this web site, but you’ve already got to be on the list to receive the torrent. Email me if you want to beg for it. Volume 001 has been posted back in time.

In the interim between this release and the last one I acquired almost 1,000 new songs. About 70% of this material was suitable for release in this forum, but even that would have been overwhelming. Hell, I’m overwhelmed and I did it to myself on purpose. I’ve managed to pare the selection down to 203 songs, 1.2 GB of music. Still a lot, but you’re worth it. If you feel buried, just start with the highlights.

There’s a little something for everyone in this collection, so if you don’t find something you love then you’re a moron and I can’t do anything to help you (try as I might). So, without further ado…

!!! – Louden Up Now
This New York octet (!) (pronounced Chk-Chk-Chk, or any other percussive sound repeated thrice) lays down the funkiest post-punk this side of, well, anywhere. By the time I got to the middle of track two I was hopping around my living room shouting along with the lead singer: “Like I give a fuck! Like I give a fuck about that motherfucking shit!”. If cynical office workers have been lacking an anthem in their struggle to deal with the banality of office politics, they just requisitioned one. Highlights: Pardon My Freedom, Dear Can, Shit Scheisse Merde (part 2).

Cat Power – You Are Free
Cat Power (Chan [pronounced “Shaun”] Marshall) is one of those bands that I should have been into for a long time. The name kept coming up in conversations with people who’s taste I trust, but I just kept forgetting to check it out. Then, one night, sitting at the computer feeling bored I started looking around for new music. Ah-ha! Cat Power! The opening bars, a simple little piano line played by itself, are intriguing. Then she sings “You were swinging your guitar around” and I fell in love. These sparse, delicate, gruff, honest songs form an engaging thesis on love and freedom that has earned not only my love (and lust!) and respect, but constant rotation on every device I own that will play it for me. Tracks one through seven are gold, Jerry. Highlights: I Don’t Blame You, Good Woman, Werewolf.

Various Artists – Mute: A Hush Records Instrumental Compilation
Hush Records gave us The Decemberists, and we love them for it. They are, not surprisingly, also the home of some excellent but as-yet-unknown bands, and this collection of instrumentals is an excellent showcase. I know absolutely nothing about the bands themselves except that some of them are on the other Hush Records compilation in this release, but their output is noteworthy. It’s definitely rough at some points, but with a pretty solid start. Play this on some lazy Sunday morning while you sip your coffee and slowly start the day. Highlights: Nova, Centralia, Ceiling Fan (Remix By Chad Crouch).

Various Artists – Read: Interpreting Björk
Covering Björk is tricky, particularly because your audience is full of fanboys like me. Hush Records, in their infinite wisdom, put together a pretty damn good collection of covers, both faithful and original. With very few exceptions (the awful, lazy, loungey version of Hyper-Ballad) the songs succeed in not only conveying the messages of the originals, but in taking them into interesting areas unique to each performer. The unabashed geek in me requires that I disclose my annoyance that one of the songs (It’s Oh So Quiet) is a cover of a cover. Highlights: The Hunter, Possibly Maybe, Unravel.

Low & Dirty Three – In the Fish Tank
I downloaded a bunch of Low albums and a bunch of Dirty Three albums, so I decided just to give you the one where they play together: In the Fish Tank. Low are apparently the kings of slowcore (or melancore, or sadcore), but I wouldn’t know because I haven’t had time to listen to their albums. Dirty Three are a three-piece (violin, guitar, drums) from Melbourne, Australia that plays chamber music for the indie rock era, or something like that. The music they make together is intriguing, beautiful and brooding. Highlights: Down By the River, Invitation Day, Cody.

Mirah – C’mon Miracle
All of the reviews I read about this woman compared her to everyone except Frente, of whom she is greatly reminiscent. Better, but reminiscent. C’mon Miracle has a folk heart that likes to rock out from time to time. Her voice is sultry and naive at the same time, lending the songs an adolescent confidence, a bit of a strut. Highlights: The Light, We’re Both So Sorry, The Dogs of B.A.

Múm – Finally We Are No One and Summer Make Good
I want to take this time to thank Jonathan for repeatedly asking me if I’d listened to these guys yet, which caused me to finally download them. I downloaded a lot of their work, and it’s good enough to merit including two albums in the release. Summer Make Good is the latest from this Icelandic crew. After the noisy wash of the opening track comes a sound that had me enthralled when I first listened to it with headphones. This is moodiness, this is ambience, this is emotive. This Is Good. Highlights (from Summer Make Good): Weeping Rock, Rock, Nightly Cares, Will the Summer Make Good for All of Our Sins.

Rachel’s – Selenography and systems/layers
Another double-album entry. I am constantly moved by the beauty in these tracks. A chamber music garage band populated with genius skater kids, or something. When I first read about the blend of chamber music instruments with drum kits and acoustic guitars I was pretty psyched. Then I listened to it, as executed by these bloody brilliant kids, and was blown away. Highlights from Selenography: A French Galleasse, Kentucky Nocturne, An Evening of Long Goodbyes. Highlights from systems/layers: Water From the Same Source, Last Things Last, 4 or 5 Trees.

The Album Leaf – In a Safe Place
In the same vein as Sigur Ros or Mogwai, The Album Leaf puts out the kind of droning, low and intentional music that is at once soothing and unsettling. Primarily the work of classically-trained pianist Jimmy LaValle, the songs move from the moody chords of the opener to the unexpectedly beat-driven Thule. Vocals are few and far between, and the instrumentals all seem to end too soon. Lovely. Highlights: Thule, TwentyTwoFourteen, Over the Pond.

The Arcade Fire – Funeral
Montreal’s The Arcade Fire found a way to completely capture that dueling sense of certainty and naivete that pervades adolescence, and then they rocked out with it. Bursting with desperation and anticipation, these are songs that grab you from the very beginning, even if you can’t understand the words (they seem intentionally obscured at times). I always seem to find myself pounding on the steering wheel and yelling at the top of my lungs when driving to this music. They’re also full of great little nuggets of wisdom like “If you want something, don’t ask for nothing.” Highlights: Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Neighborhood #2 (Laika), Une Annee Sans Lumiere.

The Fiery Furnaces – Blueberry Boat
This brother and sister team not only have a serious penchant for the quirky and theatrical, but also for creating songs epic in scope and duration. It takes a certain amount of guts to make your album opener over 10 minutes long. It may take a few listens before it all really starts to sink in, but it’s worth the effort. Tracks will change tone and tempo at the drop of a hat, but always be on message. What that message is I’m not sure. These guys are playing at Emo’s in Austin on October 22 (with Rilo Kiley) for anyone who’s interested. Jonathan and I will be attending. Highlights: Straight Street, I Lost My Dog, Mason City.

The Foreign Exchange – Connection
The Postal Service of hip-hop, Connection was put together through Internet collaboration between Phonte (Little Brother) and Dutch producer and multi-instrumentalist Nicolay. The production is warm and relaxed and the lyrics are confident and smart. Some of the best new hip-hop around. Highlights: Raw Life, Let’s Move, Sincere.

The Walkmen – Bows + Arrows
I keep coming back to this album and only listening to The Rat. That one song could carry this entire album, but it doesn’t need to. Quiet and loud, somber and furious, Bow + Arrows never fails to please. Go listen to The Rat right now! (Alex Ross is never wrong) Highlights: The Rat, Little House of Savages, 138th Street.

TV On the Radio – Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes
For the first couple of seconds of the album opener you think “jazz”. Then that driving loop arrives and the horns take on a different feel. And then the driving loop doesn’t go away! And then the song has soul, and you’re dancing around the room, jumping up and down, and various and sundry other expressions of joy. Ring in the new! So on and so forth for the rest of the album. Highlights: The Wrong Way, Staring at the Sun, Ambulance.

Tycho – Sunrise Projector
If Music Has the Right to Children was a vague and anonymous childhood filmed in 8mm in the 70’s then Tycho’s Sunrise Projector is the story of a similar childhood, shot with MiniDV some time around 1998. Confused? The influence of Boards of Canada is unmistakable in the songs on this album. The same meandering melodies populate this alien landscape, but they’re cleaner, shinier. In this case, more of the same is definitely a plus. Also, for you design geeks, Tycho is also the mastermind behind the lovely prints of ISO50. Highlights: Sunrise Projector, Pbs/Kae, Lapse.

Posted at 12:50 pm.
5 Comments

Pitchfork Media is reporting on the new home-baked digital music distribution service from They Might Be Giants, called TheyMightBeDownloads.com (or Pitchfork’s oh-so-cute “I Palindrom iTunes”).

Following the iTunes pricing model of $0.99 per song and $9.99 per album, TMBG are offering not only their studio works but “bootlegs” of their live shows, available on the site relatively quickly after the show has finished.

How cool is that?

Posted at 8:22 pm.
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How often do you get to see what your brain looks like? Not often enough.

Oh my god, those are my freaking eyeballs!

Please excuse the poor quality. It’s hard to scan in negatives on a cheap-ass flatbed scanner.

Posted at 10:28 pm.
4 Comments