tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211094392024-03-23T13:44:48.639-04:00red / radio / musicGraphic Novel Reviews and Miscelaneous Tidbits.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.comBlogger142125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-44820472985282444892011-04-08T09:09:00.005-04:002011-04-08T09:31:29.168-04:00Festival of Faith and Music 2011, My Brightest Diamond and MatisyahuIts only been two years since I posted! <br /><br />Last night Calvin College's great music festival began with a keynote by Shara Worden and the opening concert. Worden was very interesting talking about her background and why she thinks music and art in general should continue to be performed by community not just by professionals. She also performed and was great using several different instruments and vocal styles to play a wide range of music.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WiS_YIv5aVrw9a_OwOO_zBPIfR4dy_aLwVLmvpp5SplhgvvtzZXIqkqIHfrf8lPSZWgB7hH5AyLBC2jP3cxLJLCR-uJBaB-AQ2_KEg4egzwl_-QKd9SO3czgZkxcHHIF8VWtPg/s1600/matisyahu.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 108px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593204239468367186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WiS_YIv5aVrw9a_OwOO_zBPIfR4dy_aLwVLmvpp5SplhgvvtzZXIqkqIHfrf8lPSZWgB7hH5AyLBC2jP3cxLJLCR-uJBaB-AQ2_KEg4egzwl_-QKd9SO3czgZkxcHHIF8VWtPg/s200/matisyahu.jpg" /></a> I didn't know what to expect with Matisyahu, but the concert was amazing. Matisyahu sang and beat-boxed with two musicians on acoustic guitars. They played lots of originals plus some Marley and really improvised as they went. Matisyahu mentioned that they felt relaxed at that conference and the seemed quite eager to be creative and daring and it made for a special concert. <br /><br />I'll be updating on the 2nd and 3rd day of FFM as well, which are full days of speakers and concerts.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-57039045841840359852009-04-06T09:15:00.006-04:002009-04-06T10:26:10.347-04:00FFM Concert -- Over the Rhine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDDWykUw0WI0H2jQSwXHu8R0CzVI2_UOgIG7BRiIRnvJ3UWizjiYJX0oSWlelILo4aMKNE8EdCFme-1MRNft4xUBo60D7TrrC6o5SxZvodTxvLFWO5aY9w1S-j5Na4zGCKEVmMw/s1600-h/over-the-rhine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321584555239960082" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpDDWykUw0WI0H2jQSwXHu8R0CzVI2_UOgIG7BRiIRnvJ3UWizjiYJX0oSWlelILo4aMKNE8EdCFme-1MRNft4xUBo60D7TrrC6o5SxZvodTxvLFWO5aY9w1S-j5Na4zGCKEVmMw/s200/over-the-rhine.jpg" border="0" /></a> The end of the Festival of Faith and Music ended with <strong>Over the Rhine</strong>, <strong>Julie Lee</strong> and <a href="http://www.aaronstrumpel.com/"><strong>Aaron Strumpel</strong></a>. Strumpel's band was a great opener. Even though the vocals are kind of weird and there is a fair amount of yelling and chanting the music is great. They are kind of a rowdier<strong> Plug Spark Sanjay</strong> and incredibly talented musicians who even traded instruments during songs. Julie Lee is not my kind of thing, but put on a decent, though kind of awkward set.<br /><div></div><br /><div>OtR was amazing. The played a ton from The Trumpet Child, but played a lot of older classics as well. As usual, they were quite flexible beginning the set more jazzy, then quickly turning into a rock band with two electric guitars and the best drummer I have seen in a very long time. They were really on their game and quite energetic. A cool end to the Festival.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-40707063768561174682009-04-04T08:08:00.007-04:002009-04-04T08:49:05.532-04:00FFM '09, Day 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXAIlfqsKIzQufaIsVKlS5vhgInhx2aaIQfwqBRzS2vEhIeTtBovKuyo7nnTVv_kCcYg72Kgj1MOsaDehJW838dgv7ISFSFRpcNlJgCsmZK7dlp9sqyKAruRM5NcaIa6zGvBXwg/s1600-h/ffm_logo.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320816808190376882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 157px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXAIlfqsKIzQufaIsVKlS5vhgInhx2aaIQfwqBRzS2vEhIeTtBovKuyo7nnTVv_kCcYg72Kgj1MOsaDehJW838dgv7ISFSFRpcNlJgCsmZK7dlp9sqyKAruRM5NcaIa6zGvBXwg/s200/ffm_logo.gif" border="0" /></a> The <strong>Bifrost Arts</strong> project led a short service featuring the hymns and sacred music that they non-profit group has been attempting to preserve. <strong>Andy Crouch</strong>, author of <strong>Culture Making,</strong> was the first keynote speaker of the day and deftly broke down what he thinks makes excellent popular music. He used the Tom Wait song, <strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=picture+in+a+frame+tom+waits&aq=f">Picture in a Frame</a></strong>, as his main reference and made some great points. I will be using his points in the way I look at music, especially to see if I agree with his evaluation. Crouch is a great teacher and later I went to his workshop about being consumers and creators. He defined what it means to be a pure consumer and how satisfying and Biblical it is to become more of a producer and kick the habit of consumerism. I Think that so far this has been the session that I will take the most away from.<br /><div></div><br /><div>The artist interview was <strong>Cornell West</strong> having a conversation with hip-hop artist <strong>Lupe Fiasco</strong>. It was quite entertaining. The most poignant moment was when Lupe said he wanted to be remembered as one who, "did not lead them astray," or if he failed in that goal, he wished not to be remembered at all. West later delivered a powerful keynote, though I am still processing most of what he said.</div><br /><div>My other workshop was a conversation between the great <strong>David Bazan</strong> (former Pedro the Lion) and journalist <strong>Jessica Hopper</strong>. I am a big fan of Bazan and it was fun to see him talk after hearing him play on Thursday. It was great to hear about the early Tooth and Nail days and great bands like Sal Paradise and Velour 100. Bazan's theological bent is interesting and he is becoming quite the skeptic, but is incredibly thoughtful and genuine.</div><br /><div>Out of context phrase of the day: <strong>"...older than August..."</strong> David Bazan.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-15029245409157991622009-04-03T08:34:00.004-04:002009-04-03T08:51:11.270-04:00Festival of Faith and Music 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FxD4HfjOtR8CQh7NMz2I8_MnbEJN8Y-gW_aiBweJ5GatavRvhemRLTi3e7rjHg6XgT9zYvQBd-vzfIC-LIuJT0SR-LS1C_BrPdzVi6cxEwf7yR9hqRHBA2XpSyF_7hmLubA1kg/s1600-h/ffm_logo.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320445671800384210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 157px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FxD4HfjOtR8CQh7NMz2I8_MnbEJN8Y-gW_aiBweJ5GatavRvhemRLTi3e7rjHg6XgT9zYvQBd-vzfIC-LIuJT0SR-LS1C_BrPdzVi6cxEwf7yR9hqRHBA2XpSyF_7hmLubA1kg/s200/ffm_logo.gif" border="0" /></a> I am going to quickly blog from the opening day of the Festival yesterday, so that I don't get behind and never write about anything. The opening day was quite fun, beginning with a neat artist interview with the <strong>Hold Steady's Craig Finn</strong>. He talked a lot about his background and how it affects how he writes. The most interesting thing was how he likes writing with cinematic elements and about characters which allows him to write fuller songs rather than just writing songs in first-person style.<br /><br /><strong>Mokoto Fujimura</strong> was incredibly interesting and deep, however, if I try to recap, I will never be able to re-capture what he said. He made a great case for art and things that might seem <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqnPUPsw7_AHw3RneXXwK8UQHHexdNgRcB4L98xU4U8cEBbPnTD88EICW3au4Chg9fPWXExGFtV83WA5G1J-9MO6Mi9Og2iGT__EU7lYyYYr2iTJDf0L6a-y3_KaV4BNReM3NTw/s1600-h/6178429_l.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320445674644296466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqnPUPsw7_AHw3RneXXwK8UQHHexdNgRcB4L98xU4U8cEBbPnTD88EICW3au4Chg9fPWXExGFtV83WA5G1J-9MO6Mi9Og2iGT__EU7lYyYYr2iTJDf0L6a-y3_KaV4BNReM3NTw/s200/6178429_l.jpg" border="0" /></a>extravagant but make the world a better place, humanize our world and depending upon your theological bent, please our creator.<br /><br />I chose to go see <strong>David Bazan</strong> instead of The Hold Steady and even though I have seen Bazan a few times, it was quite worth it. He began with a few classic Pedro the Lion songs and then played a ton from his new album coming out in August. I have always enjoyed Bazan by himself better than with a backing band (even though Pedro was great) and he was great, confident, relaxed and really on top of his game last night. I couldn't really get into his last EP, but I am now excited for the new album. Also, I have never been to the Ladies Literary Club and it is a really neat venue downtown.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-16742250859861720492009-01-16T20:45:00.005-05:002009-01-16T21:04:02.724-05:00best teen lit (second post)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtNEu6GKBJH6PCCYXFiS6oSU6ozDi1gTyzKTdzuGKf_-SkDc6z_4dbec8b9lAdWFTLbm1d6J6J5c1WjCMV0RpZ8opL79x7ov0_Hq30rlMXkwWd7U3wW7PzL-M0zh-F4P3mq0Irw/s1600-h/cairo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292076716562455218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtNEu6GKBJH6PCCYXFiS6oSU6ozDi1gTyzKTdzuGKf_-SkDc6z_4dbec8b9lAdWFTLbm1d6J6J5c1WjCMV0RpZ8opL79x7ov0_Hq30rlMXkwWd7U3wW7PzL-M0zh-F4P3mq0Irw/s200/cairo.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#660000;">Cairo</span> <span style="color:#660000;">by G. Willow Wilson and M.K. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Perker</span></span><br /><br />This is my Graphic Novel of the year (actually came out in late 2007) though there were some other worthy titles. The authors weave a story that takes place in Cairo and involves an American tourist, a soldier, a drug runner, a potential suicide bomber and a reporter. Everything fits quite well together and is somehow political, religious and recounts some legends without ruining the flow. This is an outstanding <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GN</span>.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-59806123979040709132009-01-06T20:15:00.004-05:002009-01-06T20:46:42.379-05:00Best Teen Lit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_d2oS2WVspbpIRPTmfbiAMywQUHDxIDgjuqP9vZoq2NEZlvXO57kIJEUt8Ra1_DQV2UcNPrEypvGuR7pcVcEfDPX5wDXxxgbph1l_VIh2r-AziQ6v9SH-EJhPthmCtDglHoeow/s1600-h/jenna-fox.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288361678859387458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_d2oS2WVspbpIRPTmfbiAMywQUHDxIDgjuqP9vZoq2NEZlvXO57kIJEUt8Ra1_DQV2UcNPrEypvGuR7pcVcEfDPX5wDXxxgbph1l_VIh2r-AziQ6v9SH-EJhPthmCtDglHoeow/s200/jenna-fox.jpg" border="0" /></a>So, I have been getting back into writing a little bit and will also start going through my Top Ten Teen books of the past year. I'm still, however, reading a lot of the potential award winners, so the list could be greatly altered as I go and some of them I read almost a year ago. Anyway, the first of my current favorites (revealed in alphabetical order) is:<br /><br /><div><div><span style="color:#660000;">The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson</span></div><br /><div>17-year old Jenna has woke up from a coma in a new place with memories that don't quite fit with her new reality. Pearson writes a incredibly engaging story as Jenna begins to find out what happened to her. This novel blends a coming of age story with science fiction (it is almost cyber-punkish, but I can't actually go that far). Unfortunately, this is one of those books that if I say anything beyond one or two sentences I will completely ruin the book, so that is all I'm saying on this one.</div></div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-52563940859433145562009-01-01T12:29:00.002-05:002009-01-01T13:11:47.422-05:00Best Music in '07 that I Didn't Know About Until '08.I'm going to be going through my favorite Cd's of the year, because year end lists are awesome, but first here are two I would have put on my 2007 list if I had heard them soon enough.<br /><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">Plauge Park by the Handsome Furs.</span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_GNAiT0W6QEPZFBv4sh2kza5DlUUwo9XIeJAsM6HcMizO9fsZ7HLfnePrHZgd35ZohUrWnfNHIMf-y88645kifBZe8zEbRRl4nR3sjUyNohK3GGvXj1ObDrnfM6en80a6q3OTQ/s1600-h/51uAjRkTeFL__SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286389227801719634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_GNAiT0W6QEPZFBv4sh2kza5DlUUwo9XIeJAsM6HcMizO9fsZ7HLfnePrHZgd35ZohUrWnfNHIMf-y88645kifBZe8zEbRRl4nR3sjUyNohK3GGvXj1ObDrnfM6en80a6q3OTQ/s200/51uAjRkTeFL__SL500_AA240_.jpg" border="0" /></a>Plaugue Park is a killer lo-fi combination of electronics, guitars and distortion. This short, 9-track disc shows off the folky sensibilities of <span style="color:#006600;">Wolf Parade's</span> Dan Boeckner, who partners here with Alexei Perry. While this is a moody piece, Boeckner creates a hopeful soundscape that can be listened to on many levels. Obvious comparisons are to <span style="color:#990000;">Postal Service</span>, though it also reminds me of <span style="color:#990000;">The Decemberists</span> and <span style="color:#990000;">Iron and Wine's</span> <span style="color:#000099;">The Shepherd's Dog</span>.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="color:#990000;">The Ghost that Carried Us Away by Seabear</span><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoADJS8dibBYcRVxrPZRakJ04a0XsCV20ESWGlGzC337IXLpTelCSGRPWtjo7FNlkvZOiJlm145Tfz7R7XyzNYi75-vtam-WOiN8jHCkbkIfqvdW20pLhCZMbddvoesR37p41jA/s1600-h/51123CsU2bL__SL500_AA240_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286389239694410898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoADJS8dibBYcRVxrPZRakJ04a0XsCV20ESWGlGzC337IXLpTelCSGRPWtjo7FNlkvZOiJlm145Tfz7R7XyzNYi75-vtam-WOiN8jHCkbkIfqvdW20pLhCZMbddvoesR37p41jA/s200/51123CsU2bL__SL500_AA240_.jpg" border="0" /></a>Why didn't I know about this band? The only thing I really know about them is that they are from Iceland and they are awesome. Seabear is unabashedly indie-pop and gets the disc off to a great start with the instrumental (should be used in a soundtrack) <span style="color:#000099;">Good Morning Scar</span><span style="color:#000099;">ecrow</span>. Top to bottom this is an incredibly solid disc in every way. The lyrics are also interesting like on <span style="color:#990000;">Arms</span> they write, "left your black gloves on my table/ left your dark horse in the stable/ thinking of a way to get you to stay/ and I'll promise to/ fight the wind and wait for you/ I'm an owl with tired eyes/ I'm a scarecrow in disguise." This is just a fun, stirring album with some traditional folk elements and indie-pop goodness. Fans of <span style="color:#990000;">Elliot Smith</span> and <span style="color:#990000;">Death Cab for Cutie</span> will enjoy this.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-47257656997731717932008-09-06T18:47:00.005-04:002008-09-06T20:42:16.441-04:00Oklahoma City Thunder<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y0tusFxlV4_0sT2OYQhPkni0H2pBJrXz3OfdXqpM-UI0vMfIAhKr1QeRtXmX0hFyqbF2Rb7QNAKczdCTBalYNeKLWPnfifx9cZrXf0Ww4vhMKIzh5cAbEgyYOCTJljL1YufCnA/s1600-h/okcthunder.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243044533585515682" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y0tusFxlV4_0sT2OYQhPkni0H2pBJrXz3OfdXqpM-UI0vMfIAhKr1QeRtXmX0hFyqbF2Rb7QNAKczdCTBalYNeKLWPnfifx9cZrXf0Ww4vhMKIzh5cAbEgyYOCTJljL1YufCnA/s200/okcthunder.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I don't usually blog about sports logos and stuff like that since there are already some good blogs out there. However, I'm a little perplexed by the new Oklahoma City Thunder logo. The Thunder are the relocated and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">re-branded</span> Seattle Supersonics of the NBA. It is such a terrible logo, it looks generic and has very little to do with thunder or weather. I was trying to think of a major league pro team's logo that would be comparable and all I could think of was the Anaheim Ducks <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">re-branding</span> in 2006. At least Anaheim's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">word mark</span> is slightly interesting and it relates a bit to its mascot.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcNLU4LCyCmnpq25fuI_Wtc0nsrhyphenhyphen6sWRzzgSDns8OsVbGvOTs15RnNitkYqcfh14GNQ9uCUhuOuZbrtGRZQhRt2uvXGBiO0Z7zHnUFvfhDdfH6ZsN4dJwGy_A4Q1NARoXapgtg/s1600-h/anaducks.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243055490157127906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcNLU4LCyCmnpq25fuI_Wtc0nsrhyphenhyphen6sWRzzgSDns8OsVbGvOTs15RnNitkYqcfh14GNQ9uCUhuOuZbrtGRZQhRt2uvXGBiO0Z7zHnUFvfhDdfH6ZsN4dJwGy_A4Q1NARoXapgtg/s200/anaducks.gif" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div>Except for some of the new NBA Development league teams I can't think of any other logo this plain and out of place. I do think the red-orange color is interesting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">because</span> they wanted something different than the red of the Oklahoma <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Sooners</span> and the orange of the the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Anyway, maybe the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">jerseys</span> will be cool, but this is a disappointing new logo.<br /></div><div></div></div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-79010098143847376822008-04-07T09:39:00.003-04:002008-08-18T08:08:41.828-04:00The Rest of My Favorites of '07<div>I'm finally posting the rest (it is only August!)...</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWkMxnRen_NtfLBScSF1spOHIdNrmwAWs24A3Zy9h-IWazssxejFnupmeCoF2D_BkzMYLlYEy0-O2EHMfdzeSp3lu_YVGt8BZ76dCbK37_th67sVuy8A5_0OcrxU130MIcvTSbQ/s1600-h/easy+tiger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235827956690334274" style="CURSOR: hand" height="78" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWkMxnRen_NtfLBScSF1spOHIdNrmwAWs24A3Zy9h-IWazssxejFnupmeCoF2D_BkzMYLlYEy0-O2EHMfdzeSp3lu_YVGt8BZ76dCbK37_th67sVuy8A5_0OcrxU130MIcvTSbQ/s200/easy+tiger.jpg" width="73" border="0" /></a>4. <span style="color:#000066;">Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger</span></div><br /><div>Adams relaxes and creates a great folk-rock album without trying too hard.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9Xz6uHV5MktzXVmyBbiaEmaXnOT44nTsQrYWuquQDVi_KSX_aF0y9B6ghAkyE-de5aBoJ5bZJDow_PHmBiV627y3UHkj-TXQIABs_wHzxNJyIab6azluhab9DSisqx_4qKpuzg/s1600-h/otr.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235827964198935970" style="CURSOR: hand" height="75" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9Xz6uHV5MktzXVmyBbiaEmaXnOT44nTsQrYWuquQDVi_KSX_aF0y9B6ghAkyE-de5aBoJ5bZJDow_PHmBiV627y3UHkj-TXQIABs_wHzxNJyIab6azluhab9DSisqx_4qKpuzg/s200/otr.jpg" width="74" border="0" /></a>3. <span style="color:#000066;">Over the Rhine – The Trumpet Child</span><br />OtR turns ridiculously positive on this comforting album that consistently flirts with folk and jazz.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4tflrPODmN8nN94tZI6M13g1CB3rJBA6TXLg3giVAkQlJsZfv9r29ejRZ6Xvo9G4shNFcwxq0S_HoVfbw6O7Q2muOf_9wXui7Uh2BFwbpsNbHhdt9OL_WmJDK0Zp-3aVOM_8Mw/s1600-h/patty+grifffin.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235827960093673346" style="CURSOR: hand" height="73" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4tflrPODmN8nN94tZI6M13g1CB3rJBA6TXLg3giVAkQlJsZfv9r29ejRZ6Xvo9G4shNFcwxq0S_HoVfbw6O7Q2muOf_9wXui7Uh2BFwbpsNbHhdt9OL_WmJDK0Zp-3aVOM_8Mw/s200/patty+grifffin.jpg" width="71" border="0" /></a>2. <span style="color:#000066;">Patty Griffin – children Running Through</span></div><br /><div>This is a confident, bold album from a great story-teller.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPk5m1vV8q5iLczeARh7R_PuS5XrDAtyRBOyzcr1gXp7KwweoTofOLbcHPHia91pegXTKHmvzxUd-eTgRT-6Gcv6zfml-Yu24_VPOp0GiQIcVtBsQouaI2oh30Ujf6eT4LPPl2w/s1600-h/gtbtq.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235827958908648594" style="CURSOR: hand" height="79" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPk5m1vV8q5iLczeARh7R_PuS5XrDAtyRBOyzcr1gXp7KwweoTofOLbcHPHia91pegXTKHmvzxUd-eTgRT-6Gcv6zfml-Yu24_VPOp0GiQIcVtBsQouaI2oh30Ujf6eT4LPPl2w/s200/gtbtq.jpg" width="68" border="0" /></a>1.<span style="color:#000066;"> The Good, the bad & the Queen</span></div><br /><div>My clear favorite of the year and I'm still listening to it all of the time. This collaboration features Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, Paul Simonon of The Clash, Tony Allen of Africa 70 and Simon Tong of The Verve. What you get is a combo of pop/rock/electronica that is incredibly compelling.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-70264507003817673712008-02-02T22:30:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:35.783-05:00Wordless (mostly) Graphic Novels<div>So, there are a bunch of wordless Graphic Novels out now with Shaun Tan's timeless tale, The Arrival leading the way. Here are a couple of others:</div><br /><div><span style="color:#660000;">Robot Dreams by Sara Varon</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfq_vYxWdjTd9suDn4fNmwxe7tAbyJMJtK7RKFE9_M_4zB6jy4RaGd3Uc5o8VUB6T6kFjNMGxL1vN_XFlwsCTr9-1wE8TorBQELo84wqCqMb-muWDVQlb9xGjXgrLrcnR6Pg-IQ/s1600-h/robot.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162593255969187282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJfq_vYxWdjTd9suDn4fNmwxe7tAbyJMJtK7RKFE9_M_4zB6jy4RaGd3Uc5o8VUB6T6kFjNMGxL1vN_XFlwsCTr9-1wE8TorBQELo84wqCqMb-muWDVQlb9xGjXgrLrcnR6Pg-IQ/s200/robot.jpg" border="0" /></a>There is not a lot I can say about the plot because I do not want to ruin it, but this is an incredible book. Varon writes about a dog who has a robot, but doesn't realize what could happen when he takes his robot to the beach. Things then change drastically for the two in this touching GN. The art is simple and I can't say enough about this wonderful book.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">A.L.I.E.E.E.N by L. Trondheim</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuU82BjyRWeNOwtKOm2h9GrWMVses6dPnqWvIuGLQ1T3Pj_1811o2T3g4kudBy_Df-1gNsAtXIopMytS8Ueea-9vW4EVY6iGuGzJT8A4hAxVT_JPHb5s5SPLoPPKCWPmDy8WRAw/s1600-h/alieeen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162593234494350786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVuU82BjyRWeNOwtKOm2h9GrWMVses6dPnqWvIuGLQ1T3Pj_1811o2T3g4kudBy_Df-1gNsAtXIopMytS8Ueea-9vW4EVY6iGuGzJT8A4hAxVT_JPHb5s5SPLoPPKCWPmDy8WRAw/s200/alieeen.jpg" border="0" /></a>This is for those of us who still laugh at poopy jokes and the like. Trondheim has found what alien kids read and put this out for us to read. Actually, it isn't really wordless, but I don't know their alilen language so it is basically wordless. Aparrently, alien children really dig cutsey drawings who do disguting things and wade in disgusting things, which doesn't make for that great of a GN, but it is funny.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-54464892993944547202008-01-27T11:38:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:36.101-05:00More Best of '08<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32pxbByRUYMsjohVyS2izcz27ZpNxpOHndfcVc2Yg08fjbqd7328KexHVqHo0G2OLpqy5alGN8lQQe73q3V77dBwm2iBFHcP8hX-EqJjQXZHS9rJt2hFWBV_9Je6Kq8x4iXOJEg/s1600-h/br.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160197282693309858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32pxbByRUYMsjohVyS2izcz27ZpNxpOHndfcVc2Yg08fjbqd7328KexHVqHo0G2OLpqy5alGN8lQQe73q3V77dBwm2iBFHcP8hX-EqJjQXZHS9rJt2hFWBV_9Je6Kq8x4iXOJEg/s200/br.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#660000;">6. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Blonde</span> Redhead – 23</span><br /><br /><br /><p>Their lush sound is calmed down a little bit, but jangly guitars and some subtle electronic influences create a really cool <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">vibe</span>. This is a great disc with brooding lyrics and some diverse musical styles. Fans of The Arcade Fire will dig this as well.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160198730097288626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyh_xcaJYlTf7Manjyc4-7wiaGgK5mu4h62GcYd9yKdRyVe1uOAXwDjNVBggsCcMsDutehOqh1eoumtHIoAdzM9kXf4BuM2YcoT5PeI-jH0P25O25B5AsdlUqTz2BNvP8TBqh5A/s200/ironandwine.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#990000;">5. Iron and Wine The Shepherds’ Dog</span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Yes, I kind of miss the stripped down sounds of early Iron and Wine <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CDs</span>. But, yes, this is still cool and great. There are some artsy escapes here that may be somewhat <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">unnecessary</span>, but Sam Beam gets a bunch of musicians to fill out their sound with great results. This does solidify Iron and Wine's place in the indie-folk world and I imagine they will be there for a long, long time.</span>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-2878363466815672032008-01-20T09:29:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:36.502-05:00More Top Ten Music<span style="color:#990000;">8. These Friends of Mine by Rosie Thomas</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsMJ7KJK2RYWKKyP27JqQMYdYhBdESN_Cq3OPYBqBmBVy5pgkydgQyioEh-W1KLOBF0dBhd7UolM2Ej3Q9GEj4e-4fcRDp9X_48tYADZXz0DYVtgo-xJKXhcEMU_NX40E3Wqbzg/s1600-h/rosie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157575763256435218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsMJ7KJK2RYWKKyP27JqQMYdYhBdESN_Cq3OPYBqBmBVy5pgkydgQyioEh-W1KLOBF0dBhd7UolM2Ej3Q9GEj4e-4fcRDp9X_48tYADZXz0DYVtgo-xJKXhcEMU_NX40E3Wqbzg/s200/rosie.jpg" border="0" /></a>Rosie's latest album includes help from greats like Damien Jurado, T.W. Walsh, Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer. This is a quiet, thoughtful album from Thomas that proves to be quite interesting especially on the REM cover, The One I Love.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#990000;">7. In the Bedroom After the War by Stars</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxP3gK3WB5pvXwsQOa-vCWeSVeK4CBwdoNQizH0m3CJjDfngpB9bzZ0U4XPOHztZveu5iPbFajJXckL_HMfDza5-ZIiXn1wE_L1AKFoAAdhcEXeZhmPq3MTDpPR6g5tHoFbcItg/s1600-h/stars.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5157575827680944674" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="108" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxP3gK3WB5pvXwsQOa-vCWeSVeK4CBwdoNQizH0m3CJjDfngpB9bzZ0U4XPOHztZveu5iPbFajJXckL_HMfDza5-ZIiXn1wE_L1AKFoAAdhcEXeZhmPq3MTDpPR6g5tHoFbcItg/s200/stars.jpg" width="146" border="0" /></a>While this is less of an Indie-Rock/Pop album than Set Yourself on Fire, In the Bedroom After the War is a theatrical take on relationships. This album is not as good as the previous one, but it is still one of the best of '08. Which really shows how good this band is. Stars creates an awesome, layered and laid-back sound and are good storytellers as well.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-4747999215207733462007-12-30T08:54:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:36.822-05:00More Top Ten Music<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149766877057147378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Vu88RR4UlkdUHgsz4By7XezRdbIXppaIwLeW7pnmLCr7GjtrYvYW1B073JudbEjQqtPFYzbviCbrYOMSNbHhc6HJJC4diP4z8nR09uYvGdp53LMXbM-55EHAP1yUSo9yAVIFCQ/s200/arcade" border="0" /><br /><div> <span style="color:#990000;">9. Neon Fire by Arcade Fire</span><br /><br />The follow up to 2004's <span style="color:#990000;">Funeral</span> is not a disappointment in any way. The Montreal band <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">reverts</span> to more balladry and it make take a few listens to really appreciate it. Even so, the band melds hope and angst, laid-back tunes and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">anthemic</span> bombast for another good album.<br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">10. The Reminder by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Feist</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxBMSxSAqcftkmd6_NG4bGnOLjTG_JwKq8UrwUHV5_KWTp9-3abnh5D828ojbDuZWO6y-JiKzPquaGCKXE-Jllp6d642A8-Tc3f4EK6DbjOyh1pDpKhiFWU1diGj2N71Bh6Z2lA/s1600-h/feist"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149770922916340226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxBMSxSAqcftkmd6_NG4bGnOLjTG_JwKq8UrwUHV5_KWTp9-3abnh5D828ojbDuZWO6y-JiKzPquaGCKXE-Jllp6d642A8-Tc3f4EK6DbjOyh1pDpKhiFWU1diGj2N71Bh6Z2lA/s200/feist" border="0" /></a>I'm a bit confused about what I think about this album because while it is quite good, I know that she could do better. <span style="color:#990000;">The Reminder</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">stylistically</span>, pretty much follows <span style="color:#990000;">Let it Die</span>, though it is even more jazzy. Lyrically, it is not as potent as <span style="color:#990000;">Let it Die</span> and that is my main concern. However, <span style="color:#990000;">The Reminder</span> is a great, quirky collection and proof that she will keep making timeless pop.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-73282917950265957672007-12-23T10:54:00.001-05:002008-12-10T06:55:37.274-05:00Best Music of 2007 -- The Best that didn't Make the Final Ten<div>End of the year Best of lists are the funnest things ever, so I can't resist doing my own again. I will post my Top 10 later, but here is my <span style="color:#990000;">Not Quite the Top 10 but Pretty Good in 2007</span> list.</div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">Wincing the Night Away by The Shins</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhx1vuv6BqO_VBDmXX2pKAIq2r6MA4A_C8HbwzUH81t2o_eRnmd9hR1nkG6E2IBw5xBMX2lFk_52Nk3NcoVyYQpzfKU9xZ4Y4BXuD3n3lNf2lziJmA7bTmIZIPlCgLyx25nHrQ/s1600-h/shins"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147208429463429538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="109" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIhx1vuv6BqO_VBDmXX2pKAIq2r6MA4A_C8HbwzUH81t2o_eRnmd9hR1nkG6E2IBw5xBMX2lFk_52Nk3NcoVyYQpzfKU9xZ4Y4BXuD3n3lNf2lziJmA7bTmIZIPlCgLyx25nHrQ/s200/shins" width="101" border="0" /></a>They had a lot of pressure put on them to come up with a brilliant album, so I'm impressed that they even released a decent album. The Shins did make a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">poppier</span> album this go around, which at first seems a bit calculated and maybe it is. However, there are still the cool little moments and experiments that make this a Shins album and a darn good one.</div><br /><div><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Armchair Apocrypha by Andrew Bird</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLlKt38uxMo1AAEC9qy7y633Pf-Wz6_jTepOSpikuTSMvyAfYOrwcNbmQuR9sU7Ixdj-mzJn9qnIThU4yX-Tcb8IXOzCNPutx1IWaQD0EkkgIxR9UUymkzcYeIhc6p2sDrt9l6w/s1600-h/andrew+bird"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147208438053364162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 109px" height="108" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLlKt38uxMo1AAEC9qy7y633Pf-Wz6_jTepOSpikuTSMvyAfYOrwcNbmQuR9sU7Ixdj-mzJn9qnIThU4yX-Tcb8IXOzCNPutx1IWaQD0EkkgIxR9UUymkzcYeIhc6p2sDrt9l6w/s200/andrew+bird" width="94" border="0" /></a>Singer-songwriter Andrew Bird presents more of his weirdly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gothic</span> and sometimes <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">humorous</span> lyrics. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">buzzy</span> guitars, heavy keyboards and steady <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rhythms</span> nicely complement Bird's crooning voice. Bird has been around for a while, but this well-produced disc seems to be giving him some deserved <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">notoriety</span>.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#990000;">Boxer by The National</span></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7T1vTVf6Ko6C_CQ9IXFIhRn1ZPkecKrgp9Cgn_HrWNxii02Byf4kuCS0nCWJKfYS19BVs1X5nNYWL3BhZ2_HdecAp5XjpTcMsrCYvpdU0W1sK11Z48rOIh7_S_wNtFQOz6os7Q/s1600-h/nationalo"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5147208433758396850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px" height="127" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7T1vTVf6Ko6C_CQ9IXFIhRn1ZPkecKrgp9Cgn_HrWNxii02Byf4kuCS0nCWJKfYS19BVs1X5nNYWL3BhZ2_HdecAp5XjpTcMsrCYvpdU0W1sK11Z48rOIh7_S_wNtFQOz6os7Q/s200/nationalo" width="117" border="0" /></a>There is not a lot of difference between Boxer and many of its <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">predecessors</span>. The band just keeps doing what it does best which is a lightly adorned blues-rock accompaniment to Matt <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Berninger's</span> vocals and the band's literary lyrics. This is a very good disc, which some are calling the album of the year.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-51494827394506996682007-12-09T10:50:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:37.440-05:00Flight Vol. 4<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfFZ1M8_cZ-jdWI9SbcX56axWANQEfbjlqhUs-8ojYy0pKW47G18_7EVL4hVltPCgXVl3tXNCx_x-kkGksreFygQLj5_h6xYXXcsXzB0QyiKsvcUiZ459ZLDYOMwkIpWOUtFP4A/s1600-h/flight"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142001357253412482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfFZ1M8_cZ-jdWI9SbcX56axWANQEfbjlqhUs-8ojYy0pKW47G18_7EVL4hVltPCgXVl3tXNCx_x-kkGksreFygQLj5_h6xYXXcsXzB0QyiKsvcUiZ459ZLDYOMwkIpWOUtFP4A/s200/flight" border="0" /></a><br />Type: Short Story Collection<br />Published: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Villard</span>, 2007<br /><br />These are absolutely brilliant. This is the fourth volume which includes a couple of great Graphic Novelists. A ton of writers and artists with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">styles</span> from all over the map contribute to these collections. Yeah, some are weird, a couple are boring, but some of the best are genius, so I recommend all four of these titles.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-78299671472881714942007-12-09T10:28:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:37.629-05:00Good as Lily by Derek Kirk Kim<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFmTKkoputh7a1pK4T3BdyUq5I0XXxK6JVlJ4yFrZXOyWkFxYukUpbVs5td653W39T08h2d3yykhN3ylEuXm00y7ouSunfmc9wzslWt363V-EljOdIU15uPB564J1y1H7wuotYg/s1600-h/goodas"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141997723711080050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFmTKkoputh7a1pK4T3BdyUq5I0XXxK6JVlJ4yFrZXOyWkFxYukUpbVs5td653W39T08h2d3yykhN3ylEuXm00y7ouSunfmc9wzslWt363V-EljOdIU15uPB564J1y1H7wuotYg/s200/goodas" border="0" /></a><br />Type: Contemporary Fiction<br />Published: Minx, 2007<br /><br />I am mostly reviewing this to note that the titles from Minx (a DC imprint) seem to be getting worse with each release. The Plain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Janes</span> was really good and Re-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">gifters</span> was solid, but Confessions of a Blabbermouth and Good as Lily are just run-of-the-mill contemporary <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">GNs</span>.<br /><br />This is not to say, however, that Good as Lily is terrible. It takes an interesting premise in 18-year old Grace, who meets and has to deal with three versions of herself at different ages. The intriguing plot does not lead to a real deep story and this is its undoing. Readers of the previous Minx titles will probably enjoy this (and Confessions of a Blabbermouth), but that is the end of its appeal.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-9025609335981884112007-12-02T15:16:00.001-05:002008-12-10T06:55:37.842-05:00Notes for a War Story by Gipi<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139472115437307490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_d5H-qlRHErCmntnnedL7I7_fBYkTt5_dvCK8YRZvaFRVnl0bBkQyCOSYyhJr3cc9tUpgK_ClR5JvwZ6o9SX5NqAAdBapOnqePhhJY1Lvnhj0nKXDwlp56_VG8lKwb5rwFscWA/s200/notes+for" border="0" /><br />Type: Contemporary Fiction<br />Published: 2007, First Second<br /><br /> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Gipi</span> is the author of the wonderful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GN</span>, <span style="color:#990000;">Garage Band</span>, which I just loved. This is good as well, though much more serious than <span style="color:#990000;">Garage Band</span>. The Italian author follows three youngsters trying to make their way in an unnamed war=torn country. Watching them get sucked into life with some hard=core criminals is heartbreaking. The art is quite similar to <span style="color:#990000;">Garage Band</span> and probably matches the tone better for this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">GN</span>. The viewpoint the reader is given from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gipi</span> seem a bit standoffish considering the subject matter, but this is a very good <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">GN</span>.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-56621768158858723322007-11-24T22:45:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:38.031-05:00Aya by by Marguerite Abouet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL6g4xFcYI70DfXt-fiowMBfWqP_Ju30E0euCqEntX5ck2aW0Jde12d9nsSMz-MCMYYz2nYt9Y8Z0DH9cK6ACaW_nJPWBbGrEIXs5qGN_k1F9LOrYKMLLd-xEptR3x24qKmJHOw/s1600-h/aya"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136619377212684178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCL6g4xFcYI70DfXt-fiowMBfWqP_Ju30E0euCqEntX5ck2aW0Jde12d9nsSMz-MCMYYz2nYt9Y8Z0DH9cK6ACaW_nJPWBbGrEIXs5qGN_k1F9LOrYKMLLd-xEptR3x24qKmJHOw/s200/aya" border="0" /></a>Type: Contemporary Fiction<br />Published: Drawn & Quarterly, 2007<br /><br />Aya is the story of some African teens in 1978 before their area became ravaged by war. The setting and time really carry this story and it is a unique look at Africa. This 19-year old engages in stereotypical teen behavior worrying a lot about boys, but the changes coming to their land put the whole thing in a weird context. A bit of this dragged for me, but it is a solid and subtly presented story.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-62390306149582728162007-11-24T22:34:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:38.164-05:00Ultimate Galactus Vol. 1: Nightmare<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4hxE_Ch94KpwtzMN3l-z2j6Jg_2F795sWx1KER5mGjaG2wqsBsbGaaWNm56QmfPB1NRcInVeKOwsBv2mTidDbWDp1N4K7L_bBpTij0B0BPBw5kOtP3yid83HAOH4lunKF77cag/s1600-h/ultimate+gal"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136617027865573250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4hxE_Ch94KpwtzMN3l-z2j6Jg_2F795sWx1KER5mGjaG2wqsBsbGaaWNm56QmfPB1NRcInVeKOwsBv2mTidDbWDp1N4K7L_bBpTij0B0BPBw5kOtP3yid83HAOH4lunKF77cag/s200/ultimate+gal" border="0" /></a> Type: Superhero<br />Published: Marvel Comics, 2005<br /><br />Okay, so this is a bit old, but I had never read these despite the fact I love the Ultimate Universe and all of the titles (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">except</span> Ultimate Fantastic Four). In this volume the Ultimates and the X-Men go to Russia to find the source of a communication sent to the whole planet. What they find is Russia's answer to America's program during World War II which created Captain America. Both <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">supergroups</span> find creature after creature that have been lying in wait since the '40s. This is a killer beginning to Ultimate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Galactus</span> so I will be reading through the rest of these.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-86028332567753597782007-11-24T22:27:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:55:38.311-05:00Time to Begin...again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0NTcn_Wgtp1nlO_sSs258r3B22CkgJGjNO04LhkywYK9RjA58o2QCfJjHuAWcSlnvGPZSI5LRjWOWqAqeA-9_vrKYZ-GGCo8FDXLzz13Mr-4vP0hcBdsijhyphenhypheneatX1bHL-YrxLg/s1600-h/leaves.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136614957691336562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0NTcn_Wgtp1nlO_sSs258r3B22CkgJGjNO04LhkywYK9RjA58o2QCfJjHuAWcSlnvGPZSI5LRjWOWqAqeA-9_vrKYZ-GGCo8FDXLzz13Mr-4vP0hcBdsijhyphenhypheneatX1bHL-YrxLg/s200/leaves.jpg" border="0" /></a> Okay, so I'm back. After I couldn't see things for a while (long story) I was a little busy catching up on life and just couldn't get revved up to blog again. Recently, however, I realized how much I missed it and so I'm jumping back in. I have decided to focus on Graphic Novels of all sorts and will primarily be reviewing those from now on. Thanks and enjoy, Kip.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-57678895526662185822007-08-12T10:17:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:55:38.445-05:00Concert Review -- Over the Rhine and Dar Williams<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxQI5ekACCX0HE3j_DaEYPUxZ1ZdwEYbs_f3fp6oP_I2yeg3R-8bYbbqfOc5kThUdq9FABKniK72ukVdipyWWnaqA_d8SKekHyZWaEwrwgKYAwv9Bdf6y8KBkb3qg6T-6B3opxw/s1600-h/otrstoryphoto.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5097825538556080594" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxQI5ekACCX0HE3j_DaEYPUxZ1ZdwEYbs_f3fp6oP_I2yeg3R-8bYbbqfOc5kThUdq9FABKniK72ukVdipyWWnaqA_d8SKekHyZWaEwrwgKYAwv9Bdf6y8KBkb3qg6T-6B3opxw/s200/otrstoryphoto.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQC89NZ2dqSl4V36MmaUoYdUYgOXd2_whtbbyTcxUc7U2Mw3fWR8eP6fCTHE-VnG03XeiGA4Mo7YNulCmAHvtoR5jXQgyswPoYfuIZ2f57pz1IVsGqXj4MMPqmsOxFXI3YFiiCIA/s1600-h/images.jpeg"></a><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OtR</span> played Thursday night with Dar Williams at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Meijer</span> Gardens in G.R. While Dar was billed as the headliner, she actually opened the show without her band. Dar played a solid though unspectacular show playing her mostly pleasing tunes with just her acoustic guitar. </div><br /><div>Over the Rhine came as a four piece band this time. They opened the show being very jazzy, then eventually morphing into a rock band. They played a ton of songs from their upcoming album <span style="color:#990000;">The Trumpet Child</span> including the title track, <span style="color:#990000;">I Don't Want to Waste Your Time</span> and <span style="color:#990000;">Nothing is Innocent</span>. They also covered a lot of territory gong through their catalog performing several tunes from <span style="color:#990000;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Drunkard's</span> Prayer</span> and <span style="color:#990000;">Ohio</span>. </div><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">OtR</span> put on an amazing show and showed how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">versatile</span> they are. Karin handled lead vocals, acoustic guitar and took over keyboards on a couple of songs. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Linford</span> added some background vocals, piano and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">occasionally</span> guitar and bass. Their bass player played <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">standup</span> and electric bass as well as some electric guitar. The drummer had a long solo (I have not heard <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">OtR</span> allow solos since the days of Ric <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Hordiniski</span> almost ten years ago) that drew quite an ovation. Actually, the new drummer (I don't know his name) is quite a revelation. His layered and driving percussion really drove a lot of the band's songs and added some meat to some lighter numbers.</div><div> </div><div>I could go on and on. It is a rare band who can combine jazz, folk and rock and spin it into such a poetic venture. It was a trademark passionate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">OtR</span> show and I can't wait for their new album to come out in a couple of weeks. Also, they will back in December so River City folk will have another chance to see them this year. </div></div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-34929235788222225042007-07-29T09:47:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:55:38.705-05:00Concert Review -- Counting Crows, Live, Collective Soul<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhfHMO9nrc2n8XpNlKex-Khax1O9ub6A-8Qf7HVhjVwVZDL5jnKc5CENuGzEmO0DbW719a0alkqYS00Qp7eZkr1k7ARFU8Gar6tKD7kn6M40QFlZC6NxBUhmV6VQBRkEQ5Znriw/s1600-h/23974b7840.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5092616348816421282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhfHMO9nrc2n8XpNlKex-Khax1O9ub6A-8Qf7HVhjVwVZDL5jnKc5CENuGzEmO0DbW719a0alkqYS00Qp7eZkr1k7ARFU8Gar6tKD7kn6M40QFlZC6NxBUhmV6VQBRkEQ5Znriw/s200/23974b7840.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last night I saw the Counting Crows concert that included openers Collective Soul and Live. It felt very much like 1995 sitting in a baseball stadium watching the three bands.<br /><br /><span style="color:#990000;">Collective Soul</span>: The band played for 45 minutes trying out one catchy tune from their upcoming album and getting in as many hits as they could. Lead guitarist <span style="color:#000000;">Joel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Kosche</span> laid down their riffs and lead singer Ed Roland has great stage presence. Their songs are quite simple in structure, but Collective Soul put on a very solid show.</span><br /><p><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#990000;">Live</span>: The band stumbled through a painfully boring set where they could barely get through their own songs. It was incredibly funny when the lead singer stopped to allow the crowd to sing, but nobody knew the lyrics.</span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#990000;">Counting Crows</span>: As usual, Counting Crows put on a very good show. The band did not play to the crowd and just play hits, but chose a mix of songs from most of their albums. It was a weird set, as the band played a ton of songs form <span style="color:#990000;">August and Everything After</span> and <span style="color:#990000;">This Desert Life</span>. They did not play anything form their latest album, <span style="color:#990000;">Hard Candy</span>, until the encore. And in another weird move, they played a strange extended version of <span style="color:#990000;">Mercury</span> to kick off the encore. Anyway, Adam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Duritz</span> said their new album should be out later this year and they kicked last night's concert with a new song that sounded great and reminded me of a lot of the tunes on <span style="color:#990000;">This Desert Life</span>. </span></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">It was fun seeing Collective Soul and Counting Crows, who put on very good shows and worked great in the unique atmosphere of a minor league baseball stadium.</p></span>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-76556066487120536592007-07-22T20:39:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:55:38.882-05:00Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs-NA1VyWC7CBfkQfGkpQqrF1VE-BN4Sx7AT7VgMeecwwJHIAGtH_jU6DlIgXsCu0B24k-7lCgz-oMhHtaGIqv8H8s2eky8FCGO5gvH4qBPqiieYbMNj5VrAuHSqL63I7SkoyYg/s1600-h/12798139.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090186522608316770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="122" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMs-NA1VyWC7CBfkQfGkpQqrF1VE-BN4Sx7AT7VgMeecwwJHIAGtH_jU6DlIgXsCu0B24k-7lCgz-oMhHtaGIqv8H8s2eky8FCGO5gvH4qBPqiieYbMNj5VrAuHSqL63I7SkoyYg/s200/12798139.gif" width="92" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So, I just finished the book minutes ago. Earlier this afternoon, my wife finished the copy we have been peacefully sharing. I will give absolutely no spoilers this early after the book was released, but I just wanted to say that it is another great addition to the series and a wonderful finale. Happy reading...</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-31724985144252581322007-07-21T17:12:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:55:38.997-05:00Music Review -- Cities by Anberlin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCzokfeRaRSxFh1nCKtee4w5x1vZY_yBJmh04U3qHwXnGOZdYKQ6qnXcIrJJCMMr_wHMd7qx9Y1Q807IqQKaTT1n8bABA_3_WeLpeT2btQiooxvLLNsdfDZk0SW0O9ZK7vC4fGw/s1600-h/P65098HRUPB.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089763313710838098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCzokfeRaRSxFh1nCKtee4w5x1vZY_yBJmh04U3qHwXnGOZdYKQ6qnXcIrJJCMMr_wHMd7qx9Y1Q807IqQKaTT1n8bABA_3_WeLpeT2btQiooxvLLNsdfDZk0SW0O9ZK7vC4fGw/s200/P65098HRUPB.jpeg" border="0" /></a> This is the third full length album by <span style="color:#990000;">Anberlin</span> and the follow up to 2005’s catchy <span style="color:#990000;">Never Take Friendship Personal</span>. On<span style="color:#990000;"> Cities</span>, the band attempts to retain their catchy, intelligent punk-pop sound, and continue to tread into the same old territory.<br /><br />The album focuses on guitar driven tunes with soaring harmonies like <span style="color:#990000;">Godspeed</span> and <span style="color:#990000;">Adelaide</span>. <span style="color:#990000;">Adelaide</span> actually sounds like it should have been on their last disc with its refrain, “Adelaide, Adelaide, you really had me going this time/ Adelaide, Adelaide, you need to quit, quit making a scene.” <span style="color:#990000;">A Whispter and a Clamour</span> is a great song that is unfortunately almost ruined by its sing-songy quality, but the driving chorus and lines of, “It's not the lies that you sing/ But what the silence will scream…Clap your hands all ye children/ There's a clamor in your whispering” are great. Another standout is the slower, mushier tune <span style="color:#990000;">Inevitable</span>. Some of the band’s solid writing is evident here with, “I wanna be your last, first kiss/ That you'll ever have/ I wanna be your last, first kiss/ Amazing how life turns out the way that it does/ We end up hurting the worst, the only ones we really love.”<br /><br />Once listeners dig into this disc a bit they will realize Anberlin performs their signature style over and over again. Unfortunatley in between some of the catchy and compelling tunes are a few throwaways and this ultimately is the album's downfall. This is not all bad for fans of their earlier emo sound, but there is just not enough to recommend here even though <span style="color:#990000;">Cities</span> has some good moments. Fans who want another <span style="color:#990000;">Never Take Friendship Personal</span> will be satisfied, anyone else will not.<br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">1.95</span> out of <span style="color:#009900;">4.00</span> on the <span style="color:#006600;">Vin Swanson Scale</span>.Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21109439.post-77269317459425605692007-07-16T09:59:00.001-04:002008-12-10T06:55:39.189-05:00What I’m Reading -- The Navigator by Eoin McNamee<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKr75ob7ZFgmmpZiflNqCrzV_A8aTGnZfLI_ljDluev2xcVPVUwo3bxZOVrkZ_ieQaz5e_JDY_fVdOFE2TvAG9gNBpA0naXzbAHrYYu7GgZkRwL47jFZNamfqnRDUb_U82_Nmgw/s1600-h/12391027.jpeg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087794236893787922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKr75ob7ZFgmmpZiflNqCrzV_A8aTGnZfLI_ljDluev2xcVPVUwo3bxZOVrkZ_ieQaz5e_JDY_fVdOFE2TvAG9gNBpA0naXzbAHrYYu7GgZkRwL47jFZNamfqnRDUb_U82_Nmgw/s200/12391027.jpeg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>In this fantasy novel for teens, Owen discovers that he is a Navigator and must save the world from The Harsh, who is causing time to run backwards, thus destroying the whole world. For a time travel novel, however, this is fairly uninteresting. The world McNamee creates here is too run-of-the-mill for fantasy novels. Many of the characters are quite interesting and following Owen, who begins in our world but gets sucked into the battle for time, as he tries to figure out how the world of time keepers work is interesting. This is a solid, though unspectacular teen debut by McNamee.</div>Kiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17507693511003930095noreply@blogger.com0