A few weeks ago I had insulation blown in the ceiling in my apartment. The reason is kind of fucked up. To put it simply my upstairs neighbor is an asshole and my apartment has paper thin walls. I have lived here for nearly 2 years, and this is by no means a fabrication, every morning I am woken up by his elephant stomps at 5AM. This doesn't really qualify him to be awarded asshat of the year. I mean there isn't much he can do about walking and getting ready for work. That is more of a apartment issue than anything. What does deserve him the award is that he thinks it's okay to constantly blast his home theater system anytime he watches TV, or crank his music. On top of that he has dedicated his upstairs apartment to be the "party spot." Meaning that he has multiple people, I counted 6 on more than a few occasions, come over and get wasted until 3AM. this happens a lot. I then wake up to a yard littered with beer cans. This happens most weekends and the volume is very frequent. I have tried the normal path of knocking with the intention of being friendly and asking him to keep it down a bit. He didn't answer his door. I tried that a few times. Then I decided to leave a very funny and polite note. Which did nothing. I had talks with him when I caught him outside, polite talks. Nothing got through. I even asked to trade phone numbers to text him rather than bang on the ceiling. He didn't want to do that. Which left me to do the old ceiling tap, which made me feel like an asshole. I would have moved but, my finances don't bode well for a new apartment at the moment. After a year or so of trying all I could I started to let the landlord know. The landlord took note but mostly blew it off at first. I made sure to let the landlord know I wasn't trying to be difficult or gain enemies but the shenanigans were quite rude. He talked to him a few times and even told him that his rent would be raised if he had to blow insulation. Still didn't really phase him. So, the landlord pulled the trigger and found someone to get insulation in for a relatively cheap price. The sound is somewhat better, his walking is still quite loud, but better. The first few nights after the insulation was installed he cranked his stereo again. This struck me as an intentional act so of course I informed the landlord. Since then he has been quite decent. I doubt it will last though. My landlord has been pretty great about it all, and agreed with me that the walking was loud, and the neighbor has always been a loud guy. I really wasn't trying to get him kicked out, I just wanted some peace in my home. People do their things and I don't want interrupt his enjoyment, but there is a line when you live in an apartment building. When they installed the insulation (which was awesome) there was so much dust! Tomorrow they are coming to patch up the drywall in the ceiling, and this time I got some plastic sheeting and covered everything I couldn't move and moved TV and computer into my bedroom. I totally felt like I was Dexter preparing for a killing while putting up the plastic. I guess in a way less sadistic way I was. I am killing the noise...hopefully. If this doesn't work I am definitely finding a new apartment. I do find it quite funny that I am writing this in a blog about music. I like loud music but I like my own, and I know what respect for others means. Heywood Banks - The Music's Too Loud
I love everything about this video. Jeff Rosenstock has had an extensive musical career since 1998. He has played in numerous punk and ska bands, including one of my quasi hometown bands The Mustard Plug. He started his own indie record label called Quote Unquote Records, which, in true DYI fashion, releases most records for free. I am well past the angst driven, youth party punk rock that I once loved, but I still visit it every now and then just to keep tabs on what is happening. I was rather impressed with his music. Very catchy music, and great self deprecating humors lyrics with a large addition of truth and emotion. If you like this song I would suggest checking out his band Bomb The Music Industry who have quite a few albums under their belt. I really have a lot of respect for Mr. Rosenstock, and havce become a fan for sure, even though I may be an old man. I mean how can you not laugh at this video? Jeff Rosenstock - Nausea
Thrift shopping has recently become my newest addiction. There is one store I stop at quite a bit and the other day I scored a few good indie albums. So here are 3 songs from the albums I found. CHVRCHES - The Mother We Share
Welp! That is all for tonight. As Brad Taylor of Home Improvement fame once said after seeing Heidi from Tool Time. "Knee ya sex time... I mean see ya next time."
