Shocking motivation, bizzare stories, and sublime covers.

A friend on facebook posted a song by Sublime and it caused me to revisit some of the more obscure Sublime albums that I have. There is one in particular that I really like and it was the Sublime Asocustic Bradley Nowell and Friends album. Although it wasn't much song length wise, consisted of various sound qualities, and even featured some song previously released, it managed to capture some great intimate moments in the gone too soon singers career. There is a song on the album that is an amalgamation of bits of original songs and a cover by the Orange County "cowpunksurfabilly" band called The Ziggens. I decided to check them out and they are a pretty good band. They remind me of a mix of 90's college rock, barn burner country, and a little Weird Al style zaniness (in both vocal styling and comedic lyricism). I'm pretty glad I decided to look them up.

Brad Nowell - Mary/Big Salty Tears (Ziggens Cover)

The Ziggens - Big Salty Tears

The Ziggens - Really Bad Sunburn

I am a big podcast dork and about a year ago I stumbled on a collection of old radio broadcasts of a show called Coast to Coast AM: With Art Bell. If you're not familiar with the show or who Art Bell is you are in for a treat. The radio show is a late night call in talk show and the format is focused on the bizarre, creepy, and interesting things in life. The topics range from callers ghost stories, to talking with guests about FBI profiling, to speaking with people who claim to be time travelers, to storm chasers. The show runs pretty much all through the night, starting at 12AM to around 4AM. As you can guess the show gets a bevy for strange and interesting callers. The show is still around, however the thing that really makes the show pop, for me at least, is the host Art Bell. Mr. Bell sadly ended his talk show career in the mid 2000's, but began hosting the show in the early 90's, leaving quite a collection of broadcasts behind. His inquisitive nature, and cool smoky low voice set a perfect compliment to the shows format. He also has a led a very interesting life due to the show. To give you an example of one of his most memorable episodes, he had a caller that claimed to have a bottomless hole in his back yard. Art, being the host he is, ran with it and interviewed him, and then took callers reactions to the story afterward. The man was pretty convincing, would not give his location unless provided with some form of compensation. That's really the essence of the show. Piquing the listeners interest and then bringing you to the edge of belief and disbelief. It makes for some really fun listening. You can find a lot of his episodes on YouTube. I really recommend checking out this list that has some classic episodes. 

The Chapin Sisters - Digging A Hole

Tom Waits - Way Down In The Hole


I am a very undisciplined person. I don't have a good diet, I don't exercise like I should, I often forget to do important things. I have tried so many different things to get my life in order, from setting scheduled reminders to do chores, to programming sound notifications on my phone, to having my computer nag me to do things. It just isn't working. However, I have not given up. In the last few years smart wearable technology has become a popular thing. Mostly in the fitness world. I have always wanted to try out one of these gadgets and now that the price of them has become decently affordable I took the plunge and purchased myself a Pebble Time smart watch. My thinking is this, in order to me to learn some discipline and get into a routine I need more drastic measures than reminders on a screen. I need something probably short of shock therapy, to get me ass in line. It just so happens that the Pebble does this in a not so shocking, but vibration sort of way. I am pretty tech savvy and have a bit of programming knowledge so I am going to set up the watch to vibrate on my scheduled reminders. I really believe that this might be the approach that helps me get my shit together fitness/diet wise. I have the want (boy, do I have the want!) but I need a harder way to not avoid the things I need to do. Maybe I should just hire someone to scream "YOU NEED TO DO THE DISHES!" or "PUT THAT TACO BELL DOWN"...maybe I need a naggy significant other. NOTE: Brad in no way is disrespecting any gender with this comment. It is only posted for comedic effect. He thinks that all genders can be equally naggy, and knows that in most cases it's for the benefit of the other person.

Shock Treatment Movie Soundtrack - Shock Treatment

I know I posted a different version of this song previously and I feel like that's cheating a bit so here is another one.

Weezer - The Good Life

The Wonder Years - Came Out Swinging

Father Abraham is a producer and rapper from Boston, Massachusetts that will blow you away without a doubt. He has some sick rhymes, slick well engineered beats, and a name that will always make me think of an Amish guy. He recently released an album called I Am Not a Sailor I Am the Captain that was recorded in a converted mill in MA. Which adds to my Amish guy image even more. Father Abraham is currently working on a new album called 52 Pickup where is is recording a new song every week for a year. If thats not cool enough for you, check out his site where you can track the albums progress and listen to each new song every week. Oh yeah, did I mention that not only is his recent album free for download but also 2 other albums. Do your thing Papa Abe!
Father Abraham - Spacemarch (No Longer Available)

When I used to work for a thrift store that I won't name, It's one of the big ones, we used to get all sorts of awesome things. Retro furniture, some pretty sweet rap t-shirts, various converse shoes in all colors including a Christmas themed pair tricked out with bells, but nothing compared to the amazing selection of music I would come across. Most of my record collection came from when I worked there. We always used to get peoples old blank tapes as well. I came across some mix tapes in a box one day some were labeled and some were not and the track lists looked interesting. So I bought the box and listened to a few. They were alright but nothing I thought was amazing. I didn't listen to them all and I figured if I ever wanted to use them for mix tapes (yes some people still do that on cassettes) they would come in handy. A few years went by and recently I was cleaning out some old stuff and I found them and decided to give them a second listen. I am really glad I did. I came across this great alt-country mix tape that had an Uncle Tupelo song on it. The band was formed by Mike Heidorn, Jay Farrar, and Jeff Tweedy(of Wilco). The band did not gain much commercial success but quickly became legends in the alt-country arena and put out some great music. The band broke up due to troubles between Farrar and Tweedy. When the band decided to call it quits Tweedy formed Wilco and Farrer went on to form Son Volt. Wow, that was quite a lot to read just to get to me talking about Son Volt. The history is so interesting though I suggest reading it. Anyway, If I never heard Uncle Tupelo I wouldn't know about Son Volt because I'm not really a fan of Wilco. This song is a sad and beautiful. Son Volt just recently released a new album called American Central Dust.
Son Volt - Cocaine And Ashes

I HAVE to share this site because it just to excellent to keep quite about. I was using Stumble Upon, which is a super addictive search that takes you to the best of the best the web has to offer(go ahead click on it I promise you won't stop clicking for at least an hour) and I came across a RockyMusic. It's all about the music of the musical/cult classic The Rock Horror Picture Show. I'm not a big fan of musicals or into the goth scene but I am a huge fan of Rocky Horror. If you have never seen it I insist that you stop reading this and go out and rent it NOW! This website has all the information you ever wanted to know and more. From composers, to artists, to out of print records and songs(including a huge listening library)to lyrics. Below are two selected tracks from the site. The first one is from Richard O'Brien who wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Fun Fact: Shock Treatment is a follow up film to Rocky Horror that was originally titled The Brad and Janet Show . I love the chorus of this song. The second is one of my favorite sort of songs. A song that tells a story. It's a 60's Phil Spector esque style song that reminds me of The Shangri-Las Leader Of The Pack only darker.
Richard O'Brien - Shock Treatment

Kimi And Ritz - I Was In Love With Danny (But The Crowd Was In Love With Dean) (No Longer Available)

This song is amazing in both lyrically and musically. It's a self-deprecating song about being in lost love and using someone else to replace the missing piece of once was. The tune is catchy, and the singing is nervous and yet sincere in it's own special way.
Two Gallants - Despite What You've Been Told