paulnet

For starters, heres a very funny link I was shown yesterday -

Dramatic reading of a breakup letter

Next, I follow Josie Dye on Twitter, one of the 15 people I follow. She posted an interesting link last night. Seems as though a lyric from one of Gord Downie’s new songs off his latest solo album was inspired by a chance meeting with Josie Dye.

What made this interesting to me, is that she was 16 at the time and at EdenFest.  I was 16 at one time and I went to that same concert.  Looking back at the lineup, I wish I’d really sought out more of the acts.

Now, most of the live music that I watch happens at work, believe it or not! This band called the City Sirens played here this past Monday at lunch as part of their cross Canada tour.

I like the song.  It’s on my Ipod and I listen to it once in a while.  I’ve liked it since it first came out but now it means something different to me.  When it first came out, I was 16 and of course thought “wow wouldn’t it be neat to live in an old apartment.”

Now, I’m 30, and I’ve lived in old buildings with friends and of course the video to me reminds me of times when life was simpler, along with the ominous echoing “I want them back” at the end.

Of course, Steven Page probably wants his old life back, before he got caught with cocaine in Albany with a girl he’d met on MySpace.  But of course we can’t turn back the clocks.  I’d have to hear Ed Robertson sing this song before I could really say if the BNL miss him.

Why are the official videos from this band not on Youtube?  Heres to trying to embed a “Dailymotion” video.

Barenaked Ladies – The Old Apartment
Uploaded by popefucker. – See the latest featured music videos.

One thing that has changed in the last couple of years is my access to new music.  I used to drive a lot, and when I drove, I would listen to the radio.  Listening to the radio allows you to listen to the newest and greatest chart toppers. 

I don’t drive on a daily basis any more and the local radio station here keeps up to date on pop, but not a lot of rock.  CFNY, my old favourite radio station, I no longer listen to any more.  I used to listen to them online, but after they fired two of their best personalities last spring, I really lost interest.  I guess I was listening for the people as much as the music.

So I felt my life was lacking in rock.  I’ve already discovered a lot of the classics (although I’m sure there’s lots of classic rock I haven’t heard.)  When I would go to sites like grooveshark or even using limewire, so often it was the same 50 or 100 songs I would download, over and over. 

It’s funny where inspiration (or influence) can come from.  For example, while watching the fairly humorous South Park episode Die Hippie Die.  There is a phishesque music festival that takes over the town of south park, and Cartman breaks up the festival by playing Raining Blood by Slayer.

“It was good to see the song being put to good use. If we can horrify some hippies, we’ve done our job.” – Kerry King, Slayers lead guitarist

I’m not turning into a death-metal head, but I guess I’m a little curious as to how a band like Slayer can be appreciated by so many people and be so synonomous with death metal, while having virtually zero airplay.  I like the hard guitar riffs, the double bass, I’m listening to a little more and more every chance I can get.  Listening to Slayer makes almost all other music just seem soft.  So far on my playlist are Raining Blood, Seasons in the Abyss, Mandatory Suicide, Serenity in Murder, Eyes of the Insane, Hate Worldwide.  Any other suggestions?  Please send them in comments!  I love the song titles. 

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind.  Two weeks ago, I was in Mattawa, when I got home from Mattawa, I quickly got a full body sickness.  My symptoms included a crushing headache, night sweats, night chills, random dizzy events, general fatigue, followed by a cough with the production of a fair amount of sputum.  Not knowing what was wrong exactly, I waited 5 days before going to the hospital.  I had pneumonia.  It was the sickest I’ve been in a long time, I’m mostly over it now with the exception of a somewhat stubborn cough.

My basketball coaching season wrapped up with a win and a loss on the championship day, which gave us a silver medal on the year.  There’s a lot of work to do there.  My basketball priorities have changed slightly in that I would like to become certified as a referee before I get certified as a coach.  That’s just me.  Hopefully in the next couple of years.

And now, some metal.. Yes!!!

Slayer/ Raining Blood

Metallica/ Leper Messiah

Disturbed/ Stupify  ( I know, this isn’t really hard metal but still good enough for me.)

I am open to more suggestions!