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Saturday, September 30, 2006

Vacation Day Blues #1

Day #1 of 13 vacation days was used up yesterday thanks to Junior's class being cancelled. I was only planning on working until 12:00 anyway, since I had to work Saturday, so I figure I might as well use up a vacation day since everybody else was scheduled to work. I woke up at the same time as usual, made some coffee, paid some bills, & burned some live shows (currently I'm listening to Bob Dylan from Granada, Spain from 1999, a great year). I did some laundry, worked out, cleaned the house, & went shopping for groceries, new work shoes, blank cdr's & the bonus purchase of the documentary "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" about the making of Wilco's seminal album Yankee Foxtrot Hotel. I've only seen the first half so far, & so far I'm completely enthralled. There's just something about watching musicians work that always fascinates me. I think I'll watch the rest tonight.

The main objective for yesterday was cancelled due to rain. Christie & I were going to go for a hike at Rosy Mound, & perhaps take some pictures, but the rain wouldn't allow. It wouldn't even stop long enough for the old Pier walk. Oh well, we had dinner at Portobello instead (Eggplant Parmigiana with a glass of Merlot, mmm...) & watched a movie. All in all, a very good day.

Don't get jealous of my jet set lifestyle, now, I've got 12 more of these fascinating vacation days left.

Five Favorite Songs of the Day

Reservations-Wilco, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel

What I realized watching that documentary is that what makes Wilco so great & revolutionary, & cutting edge is what bugs me the most about them. Jay Bennett makes a comment while they are mixing a track about how they have to do something to it "otherwise it'll sound like just another folk song". So what they do is add all this ambient noise & if you listen really close you can find the shell of the song somewhere in there. Hearing Jeff Tweedy perform the song solo seems much more effective to these ears. The song speaks for itself, the coolest effects can't save a bad song or I suppose they can't ruin a great song either. To me, this album sounds like eleven attempts to ruin eleven great songs.

Jesus, Etc-Wilco, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel

Ashes of American Flags-Wilco, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel

i wonder why nobody listens to poets, and nobody gives a f&#k, how hot & sorrowful, this machine begs for luck, all my lies are always wishes, I know I would die if I could come back new...

Mosey Roun' Bring it Down-Leroy Jones, Mo' Cream from the Crop

At the Chime of a City Clock-Nick Drake, Bryter Later

Happy weekend, friends...

andrew

5 comments:

Heidi said...

Too bad about the walks, but sounds like you had a good time anyway... what movie did you watch?

Anonymous said...

Andy,

Matt owns the record Nashville Skyline and would love any Bob Dylan Record you could find. He has an interview Friday at Tecumseh's version of Ann Arbor entitled "Lenny's Record Shack" He is confident that he can get hired and hopes to market himself through a proposal to legnth hours and market the store better at the high school. It is kind off the beaten path and not down town. I think I have you to thank for his like of Bob Dylan.

Love
Aunt Mary

Mrs. Patterson said...

Eggplant Parmigiana sounds great on this rainy day. I'm responding quite late and wondering why I've never heard of Wilco or the Yankee Foxtrot Hotel.

andrew! said...

Heidi, we watched...uh...Lake House...it was Christie's choice. I'll say nothing more on the matter.

Anonymous said...

I loved the Lake HOuse.

Aunt MAry

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Grand Haven, Michigan
the sun shines on a dog's ass every now & then...