Please don't take the radio silence here for negativity. I've been monstrously busy, and will never catch up, so stuff like blogging and going online in general has taken a back seat to more immediate forms of stress relief- like watching TV, listening to music, reading, and playing video games.
So, as far as TV goes, I stick by my choices. I believe I've already stated them, but if not- I like Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead, and Burn Notice for my A-list shows. I'm OK with How I met Your Mother and Hawaii Five-Oh, but both are forgettable fluff the second the TV channel changes. I'm still a fan of TNA wrestling, but don't get a chance to watch very often due to two conflicts: my wife's vampire shows, and Burn Notice.
Musically, I've been listening to a LOT. I'm not going over all of it- no way, no time, not sufficient energy.
Here's just a few that are newish that come to mind:
Mankind is Obsolete- Fairly generic electro-metal Goth. However, two things- they don't mean to, but they come across as a more "rock", and more music-school version of Linkin Park, which is interesting given the female singer. Also, some of the drum patterns show real inventiveness, real talent.
Hypernova- musically, it's Franz Ferdinand crossed with Interpol, with an Iranian Mark Burgess singing. The back story is fascinating, probably more so than the music, but still, some songs are very,very catchy. I really like "Fairy Tales".
Hyperdump- Electro metal from a side project band, I think. Sometimes shows some death-metal-ish flourishes, sometimes veers into Nu metal territory. But over all pretty nice background for playing Halo...
Neurospecter- A very "rock" kind of DJ project of Retro Specter from Poland. Reminds me a bit of Jack Dangers and his awesome Meat Beat Manifesto, but less hyperkinetic, more robotic. Again, very nice for background music.
Have I mentioned The Bloody Beetroots? If not, I should. Forget Daft Punk and LCD soundsystem- these guys and Deadmau5 are making the dance electro pop I want to hear. You gotta hear their deconstruction on "New Noise", and "Domino" is great as a pop song, and, and- look, just give them a try!
Campaign- Fortunately, not all the good Pop punk is in the past. These guys continue the Hot water Music/Avail/Dillinger Four/Leatherface, etc, etc tradition of playing melodic music with more passion than blink 41 day could ever generate.
The Sleep Ins- ummm, I can't really defend this. It sounds like slacker college rock, of the type Pavement and Dinosaur perfected, but with some keyboards. Still, I like it.
Lungs for Gills- Sometimes dreamy-gentle pop is called for. This variation is pretty retro. I hear echoes of late 1980's 4AD and Creation records. So, I like it.
Speedy Rocky- On the other hand, sometimes you want butt rock. as in, late 1970's, early 1980's hard rock boogie. These guys could easily have opened for Fastway and UFO...
Inverness- I still am susceptible to exoticism. They're like a tropicalia version of the Cocteau Twins. Vocals are a weakness however, and I'd prefer an instrumental version. Still, very pleasant, dreamy music.
Other than that, I've been listening to what you'd expect of me- the new Killing Joke, the new You Am I, the new Kanye West, the new Robyn, the new-ish Torche, the new-ish Futureheads, the new Kylesa, etc etc....
Reading wise I really like Cowbell magazine. It seems fairly custom-made for me and my tastes. Also, the new William Gibson- Zero History. I'm a fan, what can I say?
I'm even more staid in video games- it's been nothing but Fallout, Oblivion, some Halo and some Destroy all Humans. Nothing new, really.
Feel caught up, yet?
