When you blink your eyes...

I enjoy trying new imported beers whenever possible, so I got a 6 of one yesterday that was pretty interesting. Carlsberg Elephant. I am a big fan of Carlsberg's regular brew so I decided to give this one a try. It has very sharp looking logo of an elephant on it, one of the more attractive looking beer bottles I've ever consumed from. I got home and realized it was 7.2% alcohol. It has bit more of an alcoholic taste than most beers, but I rather enjoyed the flavor. I started searching google on Carlsberg Elephant and found an interesting site:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/. The reveiws basically weren't favorable for Elephant.

Its kind of got me interested in knowing more about what technically makes a good beer. I know what I like, but it would be interesting to be able to describe the flavors and such. I can somewhat do that with different types of coffee, but I'd like to know more about that as well. Basically, I'm saying I enjoy to analyze beverages for fun. Anyway, I enjoyed this beer. I don't know if its better than regular Carlsberg, but its definitely worth a try in my opinion.
 
My favorite beer still has to be Samuel Adams Boston Lager. I first drank it in New York City about 6 years ago. I had never tasted beer that delicious, it was so fresh and crisp. The after taste of a fresh Samuel Adams always reminds me of apple juice. Another favorite is Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat out of Kansas City. You are very likely to get a fresh batch here in Oklahoma City so its a safe bet for a satisfying consumption experience. At times Samuel Adams around here can be a bit older and become a bit more bitter.
 
Tomorrow I plan on going on a float trip down one of Oklahoma's finest waterway's for drunken revelry, the Illinois River. I believe the beverage on the menu will be Coors. Its not my favorite, but it is a banquet beer so I can't complain.

Continuing to revisit some of my favorite rap albums, the last few days I've listened to two more classics.

Yesterday it was Genius - Liquid Swords. Some of the sickest raps ever recorded. The RZA was so far ahead of his time as far as production and beats. I also like RZA quite a bit as a rapper. I have nearly all albums released by the Wu-Tang Clan and solo member releases and this is one of the best. I've heard RZA himself say that GZA/Genius was his favorite rapper of all time, to me that's very high praise. Method Man (Iron Lung) has always been my favorite rapper in the Wu-Tang but none of his albums as a whole are as good as this one. I really like Tical a lot, but what's better about Liquid Swords are the outstanding cameo appearances. That's what's so great about the Wu-Tang, the variety of perfomers each with a different delivery style. It really keeps it interesting. Plus, Genius is just relentlessly consistent and focused on this one. Having RZA lay down some of the greatest tracks of his career doesn't hurt either.

Today I decided to go with OutKast - Aquemini. OutKast and Wu-Tang Clan are probably my 2 favorite rap groups. OutKast also always bring intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics. In a way they re-invent themselves on every album but still stay true to producing quality and innovative material. This one has so many great tracks. When it came out I had a new favorite track every week from it. I was very excited that the track Skew it on the Bar-b featured Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan and it really turned out to be a great collaboration.

I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis
A poet like Langston Hughes, and can't lose.
When I cruise, out on the expressway
Premier's got more beats than barns got hay
Clips are inserted into my gun...
So I can take the money never have to run.

After listening to Madvillain so many times I had to dig into the crates and started listening to Gang Starr - Daily Operation again. It really is a classic. DJ Premier has got to be one of the greatest rap DJ's ever. I can see a big influence of his style in Madlib. Its surprising how many of the tracks on this album still hold up today and sound fresh and not dated. I remember with this album came out in 1992 I taped the video for Ex-Girl and watched it over and over trying to memorize Guru's raps. I did the same with the video for DWYCK later off of Hard to Earn which features the classic line "Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is".

On another topic, Allmusic has just put up what seems to be some wack beta interface on their main domain. They have the worst navigation system on it right now. What they call in their press release "a real musical playground". By musical playground they mean total trash. Its a navigation system that was a cool trick to do in flash like 4 years ago but its not very functional at all. But there are some positives about it. They have have a mood search which I had been wanting for a long time. They do require you to register and log in so they can send you junk mail I'm assuming, but its free at least. Also, I'm lucky all my links to Allmusic guide I have in my music database still work. At least they didn't mess around with that part. Hopefully the new features and interface will grow on me, but I don't think I can live with the navigation system. I'll have to send them some complaint mail about that one.

I picked up this Madvillain album yesterday and I can't stop listening to it. I'm currently on the third time through back to back listening to it on my iPod. This is very reminiscent of old great rap of the early 90's yet with an original take on it. Its really a perfectly executed concept type album. There are so many samples and loops yet the entire work keeps a cohesive feel to it. The beats and production are simply outstanding, such a wide variety and high quality. Several of Madlib's beats remind me of "dirty" RZA style beats yet they are more rounded and not as jagged. Other times I get the sense of De La Soul playful style beats. There hasn't been a time I ever wanted to skip any of the 22 tracks. I like how they are all quite short and to the point and flow well into the next track.

The lyrical delivery by MF Doom fits perfectly with the backing tracks. He has a confident raspy delivery at times reminding me of Guru, one of my favorite rappers. The lyrical content is very intelligent and witty, for the most part staying away from the played out topics of most modern day rappers. Listening to albums such as this and anything by OutKast makes me really see how good rap music can be.

I watched Swingers tonight and I don't think I've laughed that hard at a movie in a long time. I had seen the movie many years ago but its much funnier now that I've done the exact things that John Favreau did in the movie several times since then. Favreau's character reminds me of Kevin Arnold from the Wonder Years for some reason. Maybe its just because of how close both of the character's remind me of myself and things I've went through.

I think what really makes the movie for me is Vince Vaughn's performance, he is an outstanding actor in my opinion. He straddles the line between confidence and cockiness and really turns in a spectacular performance in this one. I think this is going to become one of my favorite movies now.

I've been back in the US now for over 48 hours and I'm starting to get back to normal already after a day at work. On the way back home we did get first class on both flights 8.5 hours to Atlanta, then ~2 hours to OKC. It was nice to be able to relax, get a good meal, and free alcoholic beverages all the way. Thanks to Kevin for the hookup on the good deal on the plane tickets.

I'm still going through my pictures, haven't had time to start cropping and selecting the best ones to post. I think I've really got some decent ones. Possibly some that could be really great. I did post 1 of them I like a lot as my splash screen, one of the beautiful Morrissey. I heard a British guy at the concert scream out "I love you Morrissey". His girlfriend turned and said "What are you gay or something?". "I'm not gay, but I love Morrissey, its ok because.. He's Morrissey." Anyway, it was really special for me to see him perform.

I wanted to talk a little about my overall thoughts on the UK culture from my American perspective. I doubt this will be the last time either.

They have many beautiful women there. On average the women seemed to be pretty well proportioned, I took it upon myself to take an ad hoc survey while I was there walking the streets. British men are possibly more horny on average than US men and that is saying a lot. I say this as far as how often heads would turn when a beautiful women would walk by and what the men would say. If not more than the US at least equal to.

The British seem to be even more fascinated by celebrity than the US as a whole. Their is a high distribution of tabloid magazines on the streets, everyone wants to know about what's going on with anyone famous it seems. I think that is a big contributor to the continuing British monarchy. There really isn't much point to their existence other than the British just like it. It gives them something to talk about.

As I've said before fashion and style is very important in Britain. It has become more important to me as well. I really like a lot of the direction the style is going in now. Here are some of the interesting styles I noticed.

Male Capri Pants - they called them 3/4 pants but they are really just baggy capri pants. It was more common for men to be wearing them than women. At the airport coming home I saw 2-3 consecutive couples walk by where the man had on capri pants and the women had on long pants. I really don't think it is gay looking as I used to. I don't think I could bring myself to do it but they looked comfortable.

Female Sagging - it was common in the more trendy groups for girls to have their underwear hanging out of the top of their pants. Much more common to see a woman sag than a man. I saw many g-strings displayed out of the top of a pair of shorts or pants. Kind of tacky looking at times but I don't mind it too much.

Printed t-shirts - everyone had on printed t-shirts most of the time. Subject matter varied from just random sayings to bands to profane and rude sayings. It was a big fad it seemed to have random US cities or made up US sports teams on shirts like the ones that you can get at Old Navy accept there they are sold in the expensive trendy designer stores. A huge variety of band t-shirts could be seen, especially at Reading. It was amazing to see what a wide array of different styles were represented. I came there with mainly just plain t-shirts. But the last day at Reading I wore a Pixies - Doolittle t-shirt; I had 10 people talk to me and comment on it, "Pixies - Yea!" Everyone is checking out everyone else's t-shirt to see what they would dare have displayed on their chest. Some went for the more shocking and profane sayings, others went with the more subtle humor t-shirts. This is done in the US also, but it was to an extreme in England.

Hair Styles - The hair was in many ways similar to the stylish hair in the US but probably more flamboyant on a whole. Men where not afraid to grow their hair longer and shaggier which is also a trend in the US. The hair style of say The Strokes in the US would fit in with what is now the norm in the UK. I wouldn't be surprised if the Strokes had some to do with that. They did headline the Reading festival last year, that shows how big they are there. Also, a lot of the new wave hair styles from the 80's seem to be coming back. I was looking for a guy with a flock of seagulls haircut but that's hasn't quite come back yet.

Army Style Coats - It is very trendy to have the vintage army coats. This is also something you can see bands like The Strokes or the Libertines wear. The long shaggy hair with the army coats was probably the norm at the Reading festival. I saw many on the streets of London dressed the same way.

Male braclets - I myself have been wearing bracelets often for awhile. I have obviously started a fad that has spread around the world. What I saw most was probabaly wooden beaded braclets. Most often a lot of bracelets at once.

Well, I need to get some rest now. I will continue this later as well as finish the post process on my photos.

I'm currently listening to Janis Ian - Between the Lines. I think I found it used for like $1 when my favorite local music store was going out of business, a great deal. Its really great when I'm in the right mood for it. She is really an amazing song writer. I think my favorite track on it is Water Colors.

Today I got Brian Eno - Here Come the Warm Jets. I had heard a lot of great things about this album. I was not disappointed. Really outstanding and innovated music for 1974. He was doing things back then that really fit into today's music with the way he experimented with the electronic distortion and processing. Also he just was able to create great sounds and melodies. It really is a classic. It reminds me of when I found Television - Marquee Moon. I've only listened to Here come the Warm Jets a few times so far but its already growing on me with each listen.

I shot some photographs of the fireworks show in downtown OKC from my balcony on the 4th and came out with some good results. I must have been out of town for last 4th of July because I don't remember it being so close and in full view from my balcony last year. Some of the best and most vibrant shots near the end I took at nearly a 40-50 second exposure time on bulb mode. I also used a sturdy tripod and a cable release to prevent any shaking in the wind. I played around with different ISO settings, it turned out the best ones I think were at 100 ISO and the long exposure time.

I obtained a copy of Air - Moon Safari the other day and have been enjoying mellow, relaxing vibrations it exudes. They may be best known for their excellent contribution to Sofia Coppola's Virgin Suicides soundtrack. The artists that come to mind when I listen to it are Daft Punk, The Beta Band, and Stereolab. This got me back into listening to fellow Frenchmen Daft Punk's 2000 release Discovery. That is always an enjoyable album to listen to. I have recommended it to many people and everyone has also enjoyed it, its got kind of a universally likeable quality to it.

For awhile I've been trying to get a copy of French group M83's Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts but its not easy to find. I have heard it has horrible distribution in the US. Pitchfork had an article awhile back that this album will be re-released later this month as a 2-disc set. I will be anxious to give it a try. It has been very critically acclaimed as one of the best albums of last year.

I've continued to have The Killers and Elefant high on the daily rotation. I am surprised that I have been listening to both of these albums so much. In analyzing them I don't see that they are technically outstanding albums. There is just something about the feeling and these albums that keeps luring me back in. I don't know whether its the somewhat Ian Curtis, Ian McCollough, Paul Banks sounding vocals or what. I think it might be my eager anticipation of a new Interpol album and this is the closest I can get until September. I don't think either of these records are near as good as Turn on the Bright Lights but I continue to keep listening with high frequency. I can see both of these bands breaking into the mainstream with several of these tracks. There is also something reminiscent of The Strokes with the simplicity of the song structure and lyrical content. Anyway, both albums are definitely worth picking up if you want some infectious post punk music.