When you blink your eyes...

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.

A few days ago I added 2 more classic albums to my collection. Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister and Sonic Youth - Daydream Nation. They are both excellent but vastly different.

I have always heard a lot of good things about Belle and Sebastian but have not heard them until now. When listening to the album the artists that come to mind are The Lovin' Spoonful, Nico and Paul Simon. I also notice some of the biting wit in the lyrics similar to The Smiths. I see possibly some influence of them in a newer band The Decemberists which are amazing on Her Majesty.

I got the Sonic Youth album because I saw it was #1 on the top albums of the '80s on pitchforkmedia. The only song I'd heard before was Teenage Riot. I faintly remember seeing the video when it came out and I must have been 9-10 years old at the time. I remember actually kind of liking the song. Now that I listen to it and having a much better frame of reference and refinement of music tastes I think Teenage Riot is outstanding. The album as a whole was quite excellent. It sounds like it could easily be the best album of the '90's. I think that shows how they were ahead of their time. Also, I notice several similarites to the Pixies with the male and female singers as well as the overall sound.

I'm somewhat ashamed that I didn't already have this albums. Eventually I will get around to everything at the rate I'm going now, though.

I've been getting back into the Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I after seeing it so high on the top 100 albums of the 90's list. I was surprised to see it at #16. Its a good album but I didn't realize it was that critically acclaimed. The song Spider in the Snow is probably my favorite on the album right now.

I tried this restaurant in OKC for the first time, Red Rock Canyon. It was quite good. Also, it was even better because it was free, included the alcoholic beverages. Afterwards we went to this place Groovies that I hadn't been to before either. It is known for being a place where mainly an older crowd hangs out. Actually, it was pretty cool. A good mix of different types of people. Mainly 80's music with some rap.

I've spent a good amount of time this evening reading through all of pitchforkmedia's top 100 albums of the 80's and 90's and most recently they started a countdown for the 70's. I've really been into the 80's over the last several months. There are a ton of albums on the 80's countdown that I want to get, actually all the countdowns for that matter. I do own 5 of the top 10 albums on the list which shows that I'm making progress, but still have a long way to go. I thought it was cool Joy Division was at #10. I was disappointed to see The Cure - Disintegration only at 38 on the list, I don't think they gave The Cure enough props. I was surprised to see Sonic Youth at #1, I've heard some of their stuff but I just haven't made it around to them yet. I do remember seeing a few of their music videos when I was very young and liking them. I'll get around to listening to everything on the list I hope.

On the 90's list they provided each contributor's individual lists which was very interesting. You can really see a huge variety of tastes but notice has the cream rises to the top in most cases.

Also, I've still been listening to that track off The Killer's album on repeat today quite a few times. "All These Things That I've Done". It has a great uplifting feeling to it, its the one that sounds most like Queen to me on the album.

I just obtained the newly released album by The Killers. The majority of the tracks are quality, but a few are rather weak. The bands that come to mind while listening to The Killers: New Order, Rapture, Queen, Blondie, some Ian McCollough vocals (Echo and The Bunnymen). It really fits in well with the trend started by Interpol, I don't know exactly what the word for it. Some type of early 80s post-punk/goth renaissance. Continuing on with The Stills, Franz Ferdinand, and Elefant. I'm really into this sound right now, its got kind of cool swagger to it. With Elefant and The Killers they are adding a different spin on it and adding a bit more pop hooks to the mix which isn't always a bad thing. On 2 spins so far I say its close to as good as Elefant only there are 1-2 tracks on The Killers album I did want to skip past. It is also interesting to me that The Killers are out of Las Vegas, it really does have what has been primarily a sound out of New York.

I just viewed Trainspotting for the first time in several years. I haven't watched it since I obtained my heightened appreciation of style and cinematography, I found it excellent in that area. It was unyieldingly violent and grotesque, but makes a good point. It has fresh ideas and snappy cuts. Overall, I'm very glad I picked it up on DVD awhile back.

Spending warm Summer days indoors
Writing frightening verse
To a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

Because if it's not Love
Then it's the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb, the Bomb
That will bring us together

I've been listening to The Smiths - Louder Than Bombs on repeat all day today. Its moving up the list on my favorite Smiths album right there with The Queen is Dead and The Smiths. There are definitely as many quality tracks on Louder than Bombs, the only draw back would be with the additional number of tracks some aren't up to the same standards. Even so, its a must own.

The Spoon show last night was "off the chain". The opening band wasn't my favorite, but when Spoon got on it was well worth the wait. The lead singer, Britt Daniel, had an outstanding stage presence. You could tell that they had been playing together for 10 years and were comfortable up on stage. They played all my favorite songs of theirs and they were as good if not better than the recorded versions.

I got my big camera into this show, I came away with some pretty good shots. I tried for a little more stylish look with some of them and I like how they came out.

I also completed the change I was wanting to make with the way the photos are displayed. I think it works a lot better now in the popup window where you can scroll through them in that same window.

I'm going to see Spoon tonight @ Opolis. I think it should be a good time. I've got a recording of them playing on Austin City Limits which is very cool. I don't like their latest record Kill the Moonlight quite as well as their previous effort Girls Can Tell but I'm still excited to see them.

I'm going to try to work more on fixing my web site up this weekend. I want to re-do the way images load as well as the entire movie section. I want it convert into a normalized database the same way I did with all the music and concert stuff. Anyway, hopefully I'll have time to get that accomplished. I want to try to start writing more reviews on movies and music that I see, at least ratings like I'm doing on the music.