Pipe Guy

Nice to see flip flops have a better use than to just fall off feet while walking.

Carl Kasell Retiring

Carl has put up with endless travel, silly jokes, countless assaults on his dignity, and my stumbling and stuttering away through shows right next to him, and all he ever has to say about it is, "I can't complain." He actually can't. After one of our tapings I challenged him to do it. I said, "Go ahead, Carl, you have a pass: Complain. Whine. Piss and moan about something. Nobody will hold it against you."

And Carl thought for a minute, he hemmed and hawed — it was the first time I ever saw him for a loss for words — and then he looked thoughtful and said, "You know, I really enjoy just about everything I do."

And so he does. This page has a small sample of what he's talking about, a tiny sliver of what makes Carl public radio's most dashing and beloved personality. - Peter Sagal

I can't even imagine Wait Wait without him. Next week will be strange. I hope he has a fantastic time doing whatever it is he chooses to do.

This is a Trent Reznor song

Earlier this year, comedian Freddy Scott released the Nine Inch Nails parody track, "This Is a Trent Reznor Song," encapsulating frontman Trent Reznor's penchant for odd percussion, eerie pianos and shifting vocal dynamics ranging from hushed to screaming. Now, he goes one step further, releasing a music video lampooning Reznor's mid-Nineties Lynchian-meets-Victorian visual style.

Metronomes

32 metronomes all set off at different times on an off kilter base find synchronization. It seems so simple and yet, enticing.

Random Assortment

Bertrand Russell quotes:

- The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people are full of doubts.

- Both in thought and in feeling, even though time be real, to realise the unimportance of time is the gate of wisdom.

- I remain convinced that obstinate addiction to ordinary language in our private thoughts is one of the main obstacles to progress in philosophy.

- The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.

Also, listen to this: Palebluedot. Immediately. Over and over again.

NPR Voices

How NPR personalities sound to artist Gaelen Kelly.

I really love Diane Rehm, Kai Ryssdal, and Carl Kasell. They completely fit my idea of what they should look like.

I Hate U2

Bono says, "I do try to avoid it. If I hear our songs on the radio I tend to turn them down. Not because I don't like them or believe in them. Actually, my voice annoys me. I always think I could have sang it better.

Me too, Bono, me too.

Unexpected

Strange to hear multiple songs by the band Man Man in an episode of Weeds. Or, anywhere. However, an absolutely awesomely fun show to see live.

I'll Be Gone by Rimantas Lukavicius

Watch the video by Rimantas Lukavicius. Thank me later.


..via Behance

I am Old

I am not a big radio fan. I listen to NPR and the local NPR affiliate music station, and rarely ever listed to any other channels, since they are all Clear Channel owned and haven't really ever changed much. I wasn't a fan of Nirvana in high school, still not a fan of it now.

This morning on the way to work, I flipped over to the Oldies station and was astonished to hear The Eurythmics Sweet Dreams (Are made of This). I would at least hope that the Oldies station would confine itself to play music that is at least older than I am, seeing as how I'm not yet even 30. Obviously, anything over 27 years, is now eligible to be considered an Oldie, mixed in with 60 year old music.

The Social Network

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross OST for The Social Network.

Free five track sampler! I have no interest at all in seeing the movie (considering my feelings for Facebook in general), but hey, free Reznor!

Patrice: Ain't Got No/I Got Life

Great re-imagining of the musical Hair's Ain't Got No/I Got Life songs. As this is my favorite musical and I've heard the songs countless times, it threw me off to have the words rearranged, but nonetheless, fabulous.

Original 1979 movies clips of Ain't Got No and I Got Life.

Random Question

Is there a good reason why every single movie/tv show post Fight Club feels it fitting to end any dramatic moment with The Pixies Where is My Mind? Agreed, this is one of the best bands of the 20th century. Agreed, they pioneered some amazing sound developments in music. Agreed, this is in my top 5 of bands ever, which is probably the only reason I hear background music from one song and know exactly where it comes from, but really, does it have to be over played?

Stereotyping by Favorite Indie Band

Fleet Foxes
Hopelessly patchy beard growers.

TV On The Radio
Politically-correct hipsters.

Radiohead
Everyone.

Tegan & Sara
Lesbians and guys who firmly believe that when there are two girls on stage together, there is a 63% chance of them making out.

St. Vincent
Feminists.

So, amazingly, some stereotypes are incorrect. Hate Radiohead, lack a beard, not politically correct, not cool enough to be a hipster, lacking the desire to be a feminist, and not a lesbian.

Or maybe I just haven't found the right girl, and the rest will all fix themselves as well, beard included. :)

Musical Anatomy

Art by Shawn Feeney. Really digging this piece, especially liking that I can get a signed print for $10 +s/h. I think I could really use some new art around the place. Since Goran's, I haven't added anything that I haven't made. Nihil, that's a hint. :)

Also, check out the Collapsed Music project, where Feeney took 16 albums and made them into a 30 second footprint of an album. I couldn't actually determine a single album, but a few were very familiar. Of course, I am musically ignorant for most traditional cultural references from the last 50 years. For example, i am very content at this moment listening to Mahler's 5th Symphony in C-sharp minor on vinyl. I'm so hip.

Percussion Drum

White Rabbits "Percussion Gun" Music Video from White Rabbits on Vimeo.

Catchy, engaging. I like the simplistic dual drumming. That takes some trust even as it seems so easy.Plus, they look like jacked up meth heads. And the camera movement/moving stage is nice.

Wow, I just explained my musical tastes as simplistic, catchy, and amphetamines. I am obviously looking to indie for the wrong things 95% of the time.

Without Question

"The function of music is to release us from the tyranny of conscious thought."
-Sir Thomas Beecham

I <3 Scots

0911/4000

Hey, Nihil, look what I have!!!

Possibly one of the best birthday gifts in a long time, especially due to the thought and that I did not expect it in any way. Thank you. Now I just have to figure out whether to play it or frame it.

WTF?

So when did Hulu suddenly turn against me and start feeling the need to subject me to U2 songs during commercial breaks?