Lifetime- Call it a comeback?

A new Lifetime record? I was skeptical. A new Lifetime record that has something to do with Fall Out Boy? I was even more skeptical. (Sidenote, why do these bands that pimp the undergound to the mainstream always try and "give back" and "be down"? pointless) Lifetime started out bad, Background???? Real bad. Come on big pants, flowers, big necklaces and post moshcore was not a good look or sound. But out of nowhere they drop 2 classic albums. Short blasts of early 20s angst. Super Road trip anthems. Records you would put on when you were alone or walking around listening to your walkman(or cd player, or Ipod or whatever) Who would have guessed. And then they were gone. Perfect no long slow decline. No "new direction" or overproduced attempt to go "big" or "breakout". Post lifetime bands ran the gamut from OK to terrible, but all failed to exceed what had come before them. None of them had that spark and urgency. Ari had a way with words that made you think he could read your mind.
So that's not too bad. Most bands don't put out a good single let alone go 2 for 3 on great LPs. Most people would be happy to retire on that and that was why I was skeptical. Why come back? Didn't look so good for Jordan, Jay-Z, etc.
So I played hard to get ,and I didn't pick it up right away, and on first listen I thought it was good but not the 1st Lifetime record I would grab if I wanted to listen to something while working on my bike or making dinner or whatever. But I tried again, threw it on first thing in the morning at work when no one was there and the old magic was still there. "Airport Monday Morning" stands out. After repeated listens, it is holding up.
I've got a couple long drives this weekend and you can bet I will put this on and think about the past and look out towards the future. The funny thing about getting old is instead of picturing myself as the guy in the songs, my kids are old enought that I think about them being the dudes in the song.

Giant Haystacks

Giant Haystacks are a band from Oakland California that sound like they should be from San Pedro. Blunt Instrument is the name of their 12 song 19 minute new album. Blatant minutemen worship with a heavy nod to the anglo-funk that influenced them. If a thousand bands can imitate negative approach, why can't a few more bands imitate the minutemen? and this is by no means a bad thing. They have a CD and couple 7"s available (a live tape too) all available at their website.
The singer really sounds like D.Boon at times.
Short songs, good hooks. I would much rather listen to this than wait to hear Watt's bass solo on the new Kelly Clarkson.
Keeping the flame alive in 2007.

American Hardcore DVD

Inspired by the book?, a documentary all about hardcore. DC, Cali, Boston, NYC, midwest.
Jack Rabid's interviews are highly entertaining. Especially when juxtaposed against some of the more intellectual interpretations.
"Document what" asks Jimmy Gestapo,"me getting dusted?" Jimmy was the highlight of the NYHC shit for me, not so hot on the Harley's world view on life.
The So-Cal and Boston parts were my favorites. The footage of Negative FX opening for Mission of Burma captures a real culture clash here in beantown.
Gregg Ginn looks to be channeling a 50 year old Napolean Dynamite during his interviews.
HR seems suprisingly together.
Gang Green interviews were awesome.
Definetely tracks down some interesting figures some well known some not. Some of these people have stood the test of time and others look like the glory days have receded around 85 or so.
All this things are based of a screening I saw over the summer, and I will be refresing my memory with the DVD that comes out next week.

Heavy Hitters present at Tour of California

Discovery and CSC look like they're going all in with their TOC line ups.
Discovery's lineup looks like a preview of a possible TDF line up. CSC going with Cancellara, DZ, O'Grady, Voigt and Julich aren't sending the B Team.
Other big guns include Bettini, Hushovd, Rasmussen, Mike Rogers, Jakob Pil, Poalini, Pellozitti. Never mind all the domestic talent.
This should make for a real race. If they can keep this race going at this level it would really make for a nice escape from freezing NE in the next couple years.
I wonder if they will be able to get any big names later in the year for the Montreal to Boston stage race.

Bas Rutten Lethal self defense

No matter how bad a day I have, there is always this to pick me up.
Thanks Bas!

vino

An Old Quote from Velonews....
Asked whether his remarkable feat in Stage 17 of the Vuelta was due to strength or strategy, new race leader Alexandre Vinokourov said it was a bit of both: "Thanks to the strategy of the whole team, we have obtained this result, but when I saw that Valverde was approaching [on the descent into Granada], I decided to attack alone and there it was a question of force."
I wish I could ride a bike like him and talk in his terminator vocab style.
Isn't is all just a question of force??? Riding for telekom looking so pissed in pink. And then he rolls over to what color blue is that? turquoise? Khazah Blue? Either way, you had better be a monster if you are rocking this ensemble. The beast in blue.
There aren't that many riders that can animate a race like him. He is capable of some amazing feats of tactics and awesome demonstrations of power. And he does most of this on his own with little or no support from his teams.
Vino dominated last year's Vuelta which is turning out to be the most entertaining of last year's grand tours which overall were kind of disappointing.

I hope Vino can bring that aggression and excitement to this years TDF.

Soul Gospel Overload

Thanks to the Numero Group and Soul Jazz labels, there is now another section of the record bins I need to keep an eye on. Only in a genre as small as funky/soulful gospel would 2 comps coming out be a deluge, but there you go. Both comps have good to great liner notes (winner Numero Group by a nose)
Soul Gospel 2 from the soul jazz label throws down 20 tracks of soulful and funky gospel. "since I've been born again" by Martha Bass was a personal favorite. Upbeat stomper. Pastor TL Barrett takes on Stevie Wonder and covers "have a talk with god". For some reason, I think this is much better than Vol 1 of Soul Gospel which seemed to lean heavier on expected artists like Odetta and the Staples.
Up next is the "Good God" gospel funk hymnal on Numero Group. 18 tracks of off kilter funky odes to the lord. Numero Group digs deep (as usual) and digs up some real nuggets. Everyone of their comps has been a home run and this is no difference. Just keep buying them and just keep telling yourself you will track down the original 45s....... sure you will. But someday, someday I will get that Trevor Dandy record.... someday