New Job News

Since Xmas season is upon us and I am in need of cash, I managed to get another job - at The Second Cup. Everyone else knows that this is a coffee emporium similar to Starbucks, but those in Saskatoon may not be familiar since there is no Second Cup in S'toon. Well, my professional life now mirrors my private life: books and coffee. All I need now is a job at a record store and everything will be in place. I am excited about the new job. I start tonight - we get to wear snazzy black pants and a snazzy golf shirt. Anyhoo, that's the news there. December is coming but it is pouring rain here, and the talk of the town is, obviously, the federal election on January 23. I'm looking forward to the campaign drama more than the actual result - chances are we'll get another minority government; the question is, which party will actually form the government? It's close, for once. Don't forget to watch Gilmore Girls tonight.

Art Gallery: Volume #2

Today Bonnie and I, along with our Ottawa friends Cory and Poonam, went to the National Art Gallery. It is our second trip, but certainly not our last. It is as though each piece requires three or four viewings to be truly appreciated.My favourite piece of this visit was Hans Baldung's Eve, the Serpent, and Death. Baldung depicts Adam transforming into Death after eating the forbidden apple. It is typical Renaissance painting, but the subject matter seemed much darker than the surrounding "Virgin with Child" pieces.
The gallery is quite huge and there is a lot left to explore. Can't wait!

Tiny Cities With Giant People

Being a Modest Mouse fan, I was intrigued and excited for the latest Sun Kil Moon release, Tiny Cities. It is a cover album of MM songs, covering everything from last year's "Ocean Breathes Salty" to 1995's "Dramamine." It is a solid album; SKM's frontman Mark Kozelek, formerly of Red House Painters, brings a his unique sound to these songs. Modest Mouse singer Isaac Brock is rough and tumble, which adds a lot of personality to his songs, but Kozelek manages to showcase the songwriting talent of Brock by minimizing that sound. "Trucker's Atlas," is, I think, my favourite, but that can change in a day as there are many good ones here. A recent review on Herohill.com Media confirms my own findings: fans of both Sun Kil Moon and Modest Mouse will be delighted by this disc. I think it's #13 on my top albums of the year.

Anatomy of a Mix Tape

My sister sent me this great article from Winnipeg this week: The Anatomy of a Mix Tape. Now we've all seen High Fidelity and know that Rob is a master of the mix tape. John Cusack stated some standard rules of the mix tape, including "start strong but don't blow your wad," and I'm pretty sure that the author of this article (from the U of Winnipeg student paper) plagiarized Hornby a little bit. But since these are general rules, it may fall into the category of general knowledge. Anyhoo, the article details the qualities of a good mix tape: sequence, song selection, flow, mood, and, of course, great songs. He made a great point that the tangibility of the tape is a feature in itself. With the advent of cd burning technology and mp3 players, the analog tape is no longer in vogue but the mix tape still is. iTunes has an iMix feature, allowing users to submit their favourite compilation mixes. Most times these are useless, as a really good mix tape is meant for someone. Hence Sharon's excellent cd that she made for me would not have the same effect on someone else, though the songs themselves are good. Mike Lewis, the author of the article, sums that point up in a question: "What do I need this tape to say?" Indeed. A tape is only good if it is supposed to mean something. Now I may be overdramatizing this a little (or just dramatizing), but a mix tape is different than a cd with songs by various artists on it. I have made cds of good songs before, but without the flow or meaning, they're just a bunch of songs and not very interesting. If you want to check out the whole article, you'll have to download the November 3rd issue in pdf from The Uniter's website. I recommend it, if only to relive your high school days of sitting around and making cds or tapes simply for something to do. The article goes well with my previous post about influential albums: many of those songs were on many a mix tape in my day.

Song of the Day

Today iTunes released a 3-song ep from the Fashion Rocks concert in September. The three songs? The three numbers that David Bowie performed with Arcade Fire. The song of the day, therefore, is "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire with David Bowie.

Most influential albums

As promised, here's my list of most influential albums. Obviously these are my top five all-time albums, but they are the albums that contributed most to the music sensibilities I enjoy today. As such, they are all albums that I first heard while still a young grasshopper, specifically the years 1993-95.

1. Nevermind - Nirvana. I know this is cliche, but it is cliche for a reason. It is an influential album (and band) that affected a lot of people my age. For me, it was the album that made me stop listening to Wilson Philips.

2. Vs. - Pearl Jam. PJ's second album is still their best, in my opinion. I listened to this one many times over. I enjoyed this album immensely, but I also think it was the first album to prove that a band could be part of a trend and still write good music. This album set Pearl Jam apart from other grunge bands like Alice in Chains or Mudhoney.

3. Day For Night - The Tragically Hip. Believe it or not, I bought this album before Fully Completely. I didn't see what all the fuss was about until Day For Night; the dark lyrics and heavy music converted me to the Hip fan I am today.

4. Pinkerton - Weezer. This was the album that made me a true Weezer fan. Sure, Weezer had some catchy tunes and it is still a fun listen, but the songs on Pinkerton were etched in my brain. They were loud and sad but funny and, well, good. I guess I have a mini-crush on Rivers.

5. Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan. This album came out in 1975 originally, but it wasn't until I saw Jerry Maguire that I pulled my dad's lp out of its sleeve. Cameron Crowe featured "Shelter From the Storm" at the end of the movie and I was hooked. "Tangled up in Blue" became my favourite Dylan song, and my Dylan collection began from there. If it weren't for Blood on the Tracks, I wouldn't be the Dylan fan I am today. Or maybe I should thank Cameron Crowe?

There you have it. I specifically chose older albums because I know what their impact has been. You'll notice that even though I am a big Beatles fan, no Beatles album made the list. Well, thanks to my parents I have liked the Beatles for as long as I can remember, so no one album really made an impact; the Beatles were always part of my musical consciousness. Some albums that were in consideration for this list but didn't quite make it were The Bends by Radiohead, Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins, The Doors in Concert, and London Calling by The Clash. Ten years from now I predict my list might include some newer ones such as Yankee Hotel Foxtrot by Wilco, White Blood Cells by The White Stripes, Funeral by The Arcade Fire and You Forgot it in People by Broken Social Scene. Oh, and Illinois by Sufjan Stevens. Hope this gets you thinkin'!

Canada's most important books

This week the Literary Review of Canada chose 100 books that are supposedly the "most important Canadian books ever written" (all quotations are from Friday's Citizen). I am shocked that only 33 of the hundred were fiction titles; it seems that fiction influencs a culture much more than non-fiction at times. However, the list was constructed based on "the work's impact on the Canadian landscape." Though a book cannot have an actual effect on a physical landscape, I'm sure the editors meant "cultural" landscape. Well, I can't disagree. Three quarters of the list I have never even heard of, let alone read. Is this a list of important books to read? Hardly. Who wants to read Account of the Second Voyage of the Navigation of 1535 and 1536? It is certainly not light reading. It may have been the first text to mention Canada by name but it will only be important in terms of its impact then, not now. One author remarks that "The chosen books look like the backbone of Canada, both historically and in terms of shaping and reflecting culture." I agree. Historically. Why is the Literary Review of Canada dabbling in such a list? There are textbooks, biographies, hockey instruction manuals and even government reports. The Massey Commission has an entry but Michael Ondaatje does not. This would be a good reading list for those doing a degree in Canadian History. Maybe someday the Literary Review will publish a list for those who like to read for fun.

Snow!

I know this is nothing special for people in frigid Saskatchewan, but today in Ottawa there is snow for the first time this season. Just to demonstrate how great Ottawa is, the high for tomorrow is 15 degrees. Yes!

Most influential books

This is from Slate today: "In celebration of College Week, Slate asked journalists, cable-news personalities, novelists, Hollywood types, and other great thinkers a question: What's the most influential book you read in college? What made you slam down your café au lait and set out to conquer the world?" The list contains many people that are unfamiliar to me, with one notable exception: Harold Bloom. That's right, the venerated literary critic and professor at Yale. I thought that I would give my own list of books that influenced me in college. Since I am still technically in college, this should be easy. But I will limit my list to books taken in a class.

1. Surfacing - Margaret Atwood. I took this book in my first year from now-retired professor David Carpenter. He taught this difficult book in such a way that made me want to major in English.

2. Henry IV, Part One - Like Harold Bloom, I connected to this play more than any other Shakespeare work. I wrote a paper comparing Prince Hal to Hamlet and in the process determined that Prince Hal is a much more interesting character.

3. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie. I taught this while I was a TA for Professor David Parkinson. It's a complicated book and it was fun to see first years struggle with it. I also learned a lot about teaching. If Dr. Parkinson could get this book across to students, then anything is possible.

4. A History of Reading - Alberto Manguel. This non-fiction title gives a rather non-academic look at the history of the book, from the scroll to the digital era. It made me ask, "what is a book?"

5. "Bavarian Gentians" - D.H. Lawrence. This poem is not a book, but studying it in Professor Ron Marken's Techniques of Poetry in English led directly to my thesis topic.

That's my list. It is interesting to think about what books led me to think differently about the world, life, etc.; maybe tomorrow I will do a music list that asks the same questions.

Bonnie Needs...

After months of Garry's nagging, I have finally been convinced to post. Garry is trying to tell me what to write, but I'll have none of it. He is too bossy.
Anyhow, here Stop that right now!!!! (see?) is my contribution to the blog game (blogame?).

Bonnie needs only one clock (or timer) to determine the time.
Bonnie needs the following information:. Your name, a credit card number, and type of card.
Bonnie needs something that can show up as an external hard drive.
Bonnie needs your help.
Bonnie needs to butt out.
Bonnie needs a foster home.
Bonnie needs a new home.
Bonnie needs a big yard to run in and lots of attention.
Bonnie needs money.
Bonnie needs a haircut badly.

I think these are all pretty funny and true to varying degrees. By the way, I will take credit cards.

Top Five Rebel Movies

For some reason I got to thinking about movies about rebellion. No, not Braveheart, but movies about rebelling against society. It's a genre everyone's familiar with. Let's check the list:

1. Rebel Without a Cause - James Dean has no cause but he smokes and Natalie Wood likes him for it.

2. The Wild One - "What are rebelling against?" Marlon Brando: "Whatcha got?"

3. Easy Rider - These guys are possibly the nicest "outlaws" you'll ever meet.

4. The Breakfast Club - Bender smokes in school. He's too cool, apparently.

5. Pump Up the Volume - Remember this one? Christian Slater plays a high school pirate radio dj who wins the heart of a community.

Funny, I can't think of any good 90s or 00s movies that fit - has society changed that much that we need not produce movies of teenage rebellion? Or have I changed so much that I don't see rebellion movies as particularly rebellious?

Christeeny's Daily Blog

Check out fellow blogger and former Huskie Christine Fleury at Christeeny's Daily Blog. She's out in Prince George working for the good folks at Shoppers Drug Mart. It's really pink, but don't let that stop you from checking it out.

Well, I guess.

Since Dave, Daniela and now Scott have done it, it seems that I am behind the times. Here it is, my "Garry Needs" list:

Garry needs to mind his own business
Garry needs to make a stand
Garry needs salvation
Garry needs to learn to take jokes a bit more lightly
Garry needs to go out on a date
Garry needs his Grade 12 diploma
Garry needs to spend about $200000 per month
Garry needs to be a lot more gentle with the throttle
Garry needs to win Game 5
Garry needs to pay attention to faculty
Garry needs to win Game 6
Garry needs a chair
Garry needs to get out more

Apparently we all need to get out more.

Remembrance Day Remembrances

Today Bonnie and I went to the War Memorial here in Ottawa to join thousands of others in remembering our veterans:
Though we couldn't see the ceremony or hear any of the speeches, we definitely heard the cannons and we sang along to O Canada (but not to God Save the Queen - we were surprised to see that military personnel salute; I guess the Queen is still technically head of state in Canada). There were a lot of kids there, too, which was really good to see, since in 10-15 years there won't be any World War veterans left. After some dinner at the Parliament Pub (I had a pint in honour of the vets), we headed back to the memorial to check out the wreaths. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is also there, and another thing I didn't know was that people put their poppies on that tomb in added tribute:
It was hovering at zero degrees and sunny; a nice day to celebrate and remember our veterans.

Top 1000 Albums of the Year

That's right, 1000. Thanks to Dustin, I checked out Rate Your Music's Top 1000 albums of 2005 based on user recommendations (electric_s, you have 900 albums to go!). I'm not surprised at all that Illinois came in #1; it is such a good album. There are some surprises in the top-ranked ones, but as with any list of 1000, pretty much every release is included. They must have had trouble even coming up with 1000 albums. For example, Kelly Osbourne came in at #890, The Cardigans were #980, and Limp Bizkit was #776 (you mean there were 224 albums ranked worse than that one?). The top 100 are pretty solid, though. So check out this list and think about your top 1000 albums of the year.

Shout out to Sharon

I got a mysterious package from my sister today and it turned out to be an awesome day-maker. A while ago I sent her a couple of cds of songs on my computer that I thought she'd like. Today, she returned the favour, and even though I have some of the songs, it is an awesome, mellow cd good for listening at any and every occasion. Here's the list:

1. Shelter - Xavier Rudd
2. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens
3. Mr. Ambulance Driver - The Flaming Lips
4. The Police and the Private - Metric
5. This Modern Love - Bloc Party
6. Yeti - Caribou
7. Portions for Foyes - Rilo Kiley
8. Poster of a Girl - Metric
9. I Believe in the Good Life - The Hidden Cameras
10. I Believe in Symmetry - Bright Eyes
11. Casualties of Glass - Martha and the Muffins
12. Concerning the UFO Sighting - Sufjan Stevens
13. Message in a Bottle - John Butler Trio
14. When Doves Cry - Damien Rice
15. The Transfiguration - Sufjan Stevens
16. These are the Days - Van Morrison
17. Ending Start - Metric

Thanks again, Sharon. I hope others are inspired to listen to these songs, or at the very least answer this question: what is the best compilation cd you've ever received?

Rock snobs unite!!

Scott emailed me this link today: it's a review of The Rock Snob*s Dictionary. I suppose I am a rock snob by default, since I am posting about The Rock Snob*s Dictionary. I also make lists for any sort of occasion, and try to at least know of the original version to popular cover songs. I also appreciate music on many levels, only one of which being the aesthetic pleasure. Thus I am okay with being a rock snob, and so is the author of this article, Stephen Metcalf, since he rightly feels that "only one thing is more incorrigible than [rock] snobbery, [...] and that's [...] indefensibly crappy taste in music." I feel justified. But another article, from Michael Crowley (whom Metcalf cites), indicates that rock snobbery is dying out because digital access to every song imaginable eliminates "rarities" or "trivia". Now everyone can possess those once-impossible-to-get live versions. And the growth of the iPod means that a physical music collection, cds or vinyl (*gasp*), is out of vogue. In ten years, will people even be able to buy a cd? I don't know, but I like my cd collection; it's part of what makes me a rock snob. I am also proud of my digital collection, in a different way: I think about what I will say to someone if they see that song by John Mayer or Supertramp on my iTunes list. I will, inevitably, have to defend myself. I even feel a little bad for liking John Mayer; nevertheless, he's in my collection. So I agree with Metcalf: even if everyone has every single song at his/her disposal, it is what she/he actually listens to that is important. I know that you're thinking, "I better not admit that I like so and so to Garry, he'll bite my head off," but I assure you it's not true. I am not one of those "militant" snobs that laughs at everything because he can't quite be sure that it's good enough not to laugh at. I prefer to appreciate diversity and secretly judge people based on their music interests, or at the very least why they have those interests. So you like Bon Jovi because you're from Jersey and Richie Sambora went to your high school? Well, that I can live with. I guess I am a rock snob snob, too.

Bookstore song list

In celebration of my new job, I thought I'd do a list of songs that relate to the book industry.

1. Peace and Quiet - The Librarians. Low-fi mini-Pavement dudes who detest loud conversations in the stacks.

2. Baudelaire - ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead. The rather gruesome band name fits perfectly with the 19th century French poet whose major work is entitled Fleurs de mal.

3. I Thought I Was - Rainier Maria. This trio is a shout-out to melancholic German poet Rainier Maria Rilke.

4. Poets - The Tragically Hip. Gord Downie doesn't want to know "what the poets are doing," so don't tell him.

5. Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler's great song updates the 16th century tragedy. It has nothing to do with the Danes/DiCaprio film version.

6. Song for Myla Goldberg - The Decemberists. This cerebral band salutes best-selling author Goldberg, whose only notable credit is 2000's Bee Season.

7. Everyday I Write the Book - Elvis Costello. Costello certainly rewrites the book on quirky pop-rock. I don't know about every day, but often.

8. Shakespeare's Sister - The Smiths. A lesser-known hit from the melancholic princes from Manchester. See also one-hit wonder band of same name.

9. Slouching Towards Bethlehem - Joni Mitchell. Mitchell puts W.B. Yeats's "Second Coming" to beautiful music, making it one of my all-time faves.

10. Misty Mountain Hop - Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant's inexplicable obsession with The Lord of the Rings shows up yet again in this toe-tapper.

There are, of course, myriad others, and I probably failed to mention some real knee-slappers. This list made my day, however, and I hope it does the same for you.

More Digital Ash

CBC reports that Microsoft has plunged into the world of digitzing books. Like Amazon and Google, Microsoft will provide search access to "25 million pages of material from the British Library." Unlike Google, Microsoft will only digitize older books that are in the public domain, thus not infringing any copyright laws, though they plan to expand the collection "in the future." It looks like the trend is catching on. Perhaps most books will be available online in just a few years; this is a good use of the mega-power that these companies have. I hope that authors see it that way, too.

Runnin' With the Devil

Yesterday I learned that I was the newest employee of book megamonster Chapters. Though I do not necessarily feel that Chapters/Indigo is the saviour of the world, it is still a bookstore and I am still pretty happy about working there. I mean, working at a huge, corporate giant bookstore is still better than not working at any bookstore at all, right? Anyhoo, I start tomorrow; now I can get to work on my thesis without worrying extensively where that next cup of coffee's going to come from (Starbucks, of course). Speaking of my thesis, I have finished a rough draft of the bulk of my thesis; all that's left is a shipload of editing and, of course, the conclusion. The chapter that makes sense of it all. That should be easy. It's going well, and I have a job so there will be a Christmas this year after all (though I will most likely be working that day), and Bonnie is happy and relieved (I stress the latter).

Literally LMAO

Ok, so not literally. But apparently that's a major problem: misusing the term "literally". An article on Slate examines the problem further. I know that everyone uses the term, and often incorrectly. It is not always easy to slip "figuratively" into a sentence. But if you're already talking figuratively, why be redundant? No one would say "I was figuratively laughing my ass off", because the metaphor is sufficient. But to differentiate between "sort of laughing my ass off" and "really laughing my ass off", people use "literally". But it does not mean "really" or "especially," it means "actually" or "to the letter". It is an interesting discussion (okay, so I'm bored). The Slate article also links to another blog: Literally, A Web Log. It tracks the proper or improper use of the word "literally". It's pretty amusing, especially for you grammar Nazis out there. It also links to another site that has become my personal favourite (I was LMAO): A Gallery of "Misused" Quotation Marks. Chubby, I know you'll enjoy that one!

TIME's All Time 100 Novels

Here's the sure-to-be-controversial list I discovered today:
"TIME critics Lev Grossman and Richard Lacayo pick the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present" Why 1923 you ask? Well, that's when TIME magazine began operations. Lacayo explains that "that Ulysses (1922) doesn't make the cut." Too bad, I guess. The mission statement is pretty good, too: "Lists like this one have two purposes. One is to instruct. The other of course is to enrage. We're bracing ourselves for the e-mails that start out: "You moron! You pathetic bourgeoise insect! How could you have left off...(insert title here)." We say Mrs. Dalloway. You say Mrs. Bridge. We say Naked Lunch. You say Breakfast at Tiffanys. Let's call the whole thing off? Just the opposite—bring it on. Sometimes judgment is best formed under fire. But please, no e-mails about Ulysses. Rules are rules" Check out the whole list here. The biggest omission, I think, is Canadian content. There's only one! (Atwood's Blind Assassin) I think that, by now, Canadian literature has a greater impact on the world than that. No Margaret Laurence? No Alice Munro? No Moredecai Richler? Furthermore, as far as I can tell, the list is 98% British or American. Salman Rushdie and Atwood are the only exceptions; why not call it a list of "100 novels from British or American Authors"? Are Rushdie's and Atwood's books that good that they had to change the list criteria? There are certainly other books written in English that deserve attention. What about Nobel Prize winner J.M. Coetzee? Well, that's the end of my rant. I really feel that Barney's Version by Richler should have made it; otherwise, my favourite book on this list would have to be Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. My dad will like the fact that Atonement by Ian McEwan is on there, and my friend Deanna will appreciate the presence of Their Eyes Were Watching God. This will certainly give me some ideas for books to read, as I am either unfamiliar with or haven't read most of the books on this list. Let the discussion begin!

Friday Blues Night

I've been listening to a lot of blues-like rock lately, and so I felt a list or two was required.

Top Five rock songs with "Blues" in the title:

1. Roadhouse Blues - The Doors

2. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues - Bob Dylan

3. Instinct Blues - The White Stripes

4. Hyacinth Blues - Constantines

5. Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash

If you've never noticed, it's hard to find songs with "Blues" in the title (unless you listen to Blues songs). These are the top five songs that I enjoy. I especially recommend the Constantines song, since it is probably the least known on this list. The White Stripes song is from the newest album and the others are pretty straight forward. Of course, some would classify Cash as country, but he rocks as hard as anyone, I'll tell you what. Any other "Blues" songs to recommend? Remember, they can't actually be blues songs.

Top Five Blues-Rock Songs That I've Been Listening to Lately:

1. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Take 1) - Bob Dylan

2. Sweet Virginia - The Rolling Stones

3. Pull A U - The Kills

4. Devel's Waitin' - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

5. Greyhound - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

These aren't actually blues songs either, but they've got that foot-stompin' beat that I associate with the blues. What are your favourite blues songs? Remember: they can't actually be blues songs.

Futon Construction 101

We finally got our futon. Now we have a place to sit!

It was delivered, but unfortunately in three pieces. We had to assemble the thing ourselves. I'm tired of assembling furniture! I should at least get paid for it. Nevertheless we have a futon and it is dang comfortable; Survivor is on tonight, and now I'll be able to watch it in luxury.

Hallowe'en Hijinks

Not really hijinks, I guess, I just needed something that was alliterative. Anyhoo, my friends back in S'toon had a smashing Hallowe'en party and I was sent some great pictures by Jamie. Here's one of my faves, a couple costume from Chubby and Monique:

They've been innovative in the past, and this one's no exception; the only thing against them is the lack of spotlight given to these two characters recently. I'm not going to spoil it here, so what is your guess? (If you said Peter and Belinda you'd be in the right arena but wrong nonetheless). Anyhoo, I'm sad that I missed this festive occasion.

Time to Step Up

This is from my friend Scott at Northern Exposure: Behold, the Caesar’s Bath meme! List five things that people in your circle of friends or peer group are wild about, but you can’t really understand the fuss over. To use the words of Caesar (from History of the World Part I), “Nice. Nice. Not thrilling . . . but nice.” He challenged me to do the same. So here goes:

1. Lance Armstrong. Sure, the guy won some Tours. But hosting Saturday Night Live? Is he a celebrity because of his athleticism or because of his girlfriend?

2. Pineapple on pizza. Some people swear by it, and I'm sure that by abstaining, I have raised the ire of pineapple lovers. I just don't think pineapple should be served hot. Cold pineapple, or even room temperature, that's another story. But I can't stand it on pizza.

3. Coldplay. They're reputed as the best band in the world, but I just don't see it. I enjoy their songs, sure, and I even have two of their cds. But the latest cd does not make them the best band in the world.

4. Drinking games. I would rather sit and enjoy a drink on my own time - no sense being stupid about it. Of course, as a youngster I indulged in a game or two of Root That Pig or Beer Pong, but generally I was content drinking my Labatt 50 at my own rate.

5. Blogs. Just kidding! I love these things.

The tradition is to pass on the challenge to three other bloggers, so I challenge the crew from The Buzz Review, Dean, and Rick Mercer.