» Some knowledge is good to have - part 2

King Elementary - Kudzu: When I first look at the band picture, located in the back sleeve, I thought to myself "another punk wanna-be teenage band". Well, I was soooo wrong. These kids can rock the house. Simple but smart song writing. You know, it always makes me happy to see a chubby drummer.

Coldplay - X&Y: Putting Capitol Records on a bind, this album was re-recorded several different times. It made me sad to think what it was going to sound like. Too commercial or too ambitious? Sure, but it still sounds like Coldplay. I recently played this at work and the feedback from the customers was amazing. "- What are you playing? -What's the name of this album? -Great stuff" It may take a few months of radio play 'till one of the singles fly to the top of the charts, but when it does, this may be the album of the year. Now, do i agree with that? Nope.

Esthero - Wikked Lil' Grrrls: It's Canadian. It's funny. It's R&B. Well, it's actually alright. Problem here: too many musical styles into a hypnotic collection of sound and texture. Say what?

We will be playing at the South Park Music Festival 2005

» Serenity

It's official: Firefly, "the not so old" canceled series from Fox, is hitting the big screen this fall as Serenity.

I was never interested in Joss Whedon's other shows, like "Buffy" or "Angel", but Firefly's smart writing, interesting characters putting to life perfect words to progress their stories within their universe is just mesmerizing. Space civil war? Sci-Fi cowboys? Browncoats with laser guns? Yep. It's all in there. I believe it to be the perfect match since mash potatoes and gravy. Watch the trailer

» Evan Dando - I'm sorry...

This was going to be one of those gooey admiration letters from a fan. But thanks to a lousy performance at The Larimer Lounge, Evan Dando is getting the boot. Ok, sorry. The show was actually good. He played everything you wanted to hear. But it was the attitude that made me sad. Rude. Old. Grumpy. Perhaps all my best qualities (wink!). Takes one to know one, I suppose.

» Some knowledge is good to have

Silversun Pickups I can see a Pixes Revival here. They have class and I dig it. Somewhat pretencious, Nirvana"ish" but at the same time clever. The chick bass player is the bomb (not as a bass player, but as a singer). I loved track #2 "comeback kid": super cool guitar riffs, the ones that make you hum. Nice breaks.

Abandoned Pools I was quite surprised with the song "Catalyst" by this band from L.A. It almost sounds like a Placebo mixed with Interpol. Yeah, I'm crazy. That doesn't exist. But I have to say, skipping the first song out of their EP entitled "the Reverb" everything else is really well crafted. It took me a while to get used to Tommy Walter's vocals, but once in, I didn't wanted to stop listening. Also, try track number 5.

The Redwalls ,they really stink. Indie, my ass! Over-produced and insensitive lyrics made by the rich (that's what it sounds like). It's so pretencious it has the FBI'S "anti piracy logo" all over it. Honestly, they should be begging for some free copies... First track "Robinson Crusoe" is alright. Only, because of the nice horn(s) (section)...try to pull that one live on tour (aren't you supposed to be an Indie Band?).

We (Joshua Novak) are playing with Evan Dando - from the Lemonheads tomorrow. Can you tell?

» The family is growing

Zerogerman's little kids

» Happy Independence Day

» Man...Is it over already?

While everyone is getting ready for a little time off (4th of July), we just got back from our short honey-moon. We spent a few days at Valley View Hot Springs, a "clothes optional" kind of place, if you know what I mean. It was quite relaxing. The San Luis Valley (known for some ufo sightings) is amazing! Some forest fires in Arizona brought some smoke to the mountains, but you still could have a decent look across the valley: hike to the top of Prospect Mountain. We also got to hike to the bat caves on the old Orient Mine. Surprising, the bats are Brazilian free-tailed bats (glad to know I wasn't the only one there), about 250,000 of them...Here is a short video clip of their take off (about 8:50PM): the Brazilian bats (more on the photolog)

No news on Sandy. She is gone for good, I just hope she's ok. On the other hand, one of my neighbors broght me this turtle last Tuesday. One of his kids smuggled it from Mexico a few years back. The poor thing looks like it hasn't got much calcium, the whole carapace and plastron are in very bad shape, not to mention it may have a respiratory infection. It's a female wood turtle, more likely a Rhinoclemmys pulcherimma. So I'm turtle sitting for a few weeks, trying to give this baby a better chance. Right now I'm calling her Juanita. Perhaps I'll even educate my neighbor Daniel a little about turtle care. It was inevitable...I became "the turtle dude" in my neighborhood...

I also installed the SCARECROW this morning and finished the outside turtle box: