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Quickbooks knows homicide.

Don’t you love Google Voice’s attempt at translation?

But seriously, why did no one tell me about all the blondes in Canada?

Tired, tired, tired. That sums up my day. I’ve walked across most of the eastern part of downtown Vancouver going to all of the “pavilions” each country brings to the Olympics. By far the best one I went to was the Sochi 2014 House put together by Russia. They gave a great overview of what the 2014 Winter Games will be like in the resort city of Sochi.

I’ll try to post a more detailed update tonight.

Grammy Nominations Predictions

Tomorrow night the nominations for the 2010 Grammy awards will be announced.  The Grammy awards are notoriously tricky to pick, especially the nominees.  I’m going to give it my best shot, though …

Album of the Year

Taylor Swift, Fearless

Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown

Maxwell, BLACKsummers’night

Kanye West, 808s and Heartbreaks

Lady Gaga, The Fame

- Who should be nominated?

Allen Toussaint, The Bright Mississippi

Dave Matthews Band, Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, It’s Blitz


Record of the Year

Beyonce, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Lady Gaga, Poker Face

Taylor Swift, You Belong With Me

Kings of Leon, Use Somebody

Green Day, 21 Guns


Song of the Year

Beyonce, Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

Lady Gaga, Poker Face

Maxwell, Pretty Wings

Kanye West, Heartless

U2, If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight


ACL Week: Top 5 Songs I Hope To Hear (but probably won’t)

Before I post of list of the things I’m excited about ACL, I decided to post a list of a couple of songs I PROBABLY won’t get to hear (they’ve only made it on these artists’ setlist a couple of times in 2009) … but here’s hoping …

5.   “Kingfish” – Levon Helm

Hands-down my favorite track off of ‘Electric Dirt’

4.   “Zombie” – State Radio

Cover of The Cranberries … but pretty rare …

3.   “The Privateers” – Andrew Bird

Just to hear the bass line that closes the song!

2.   “The Real Me” – Pearl Jam

Sure it’s another cover … but who cares?

1.   “Warehouse” – Dave Matthews Band

More on Dave later … but this is by far my favorite DMB live.

Twitter Updates for 2009-06-04

  • is in a mean mood. #
  • has lost his mean mood from the morning … and is just relaxed. #
  • was a PHP rockstar today! #
  • it’s my Sophomore year on Mix 100!! #
  • is listening to Spike Dykes speak. #
  • is saddened by all the tasamis in the world. #fb #

Dave Matthews Band – Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King [review]

big-whiskey-and-the-groogrux-king

GrooGrux is a made-up word used by several members of the Dave Matthews Band to describe the energy and “wild-sounding rhythms” when the band performed together.  Those terms certainly resonate on the band’s seventh studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. As a whole, GrooGrux is the most rock-focused DMB album to date, but to no ill effect.  Rather, it adds a driving force to the music which finally echos the pace of the band’s live shows.

As noted in the review by Rolling Stone, the band finally produced an album which accurately reflects their live sound.  There’s an energy and size to their sound which has never been present on their previous studio releases.  Stand-out track in this regard is “Shake Me Like A Monkey,” which is probably the hardest song the band has ever recorded for an album.  Credit should undoubtedly be given to producer Rob Cavallo, who previously produced albums for Green Day, the Goo Goo Dolls, and My Chemical Romance.  Seemingly absent from GrooGrux is the focus on one specific style, as has been typical of past Dave Matthews albums.  Instead, the album melds together the catchy melodies of Under the Table and Dreaming, the lyrical sweetness of Crash, and the jazz-tinged rock of Beyond These Crowded Streets.

Long-time DMB contributer Tim Reynolds is featured prominently on acoustic and electric guitar.  Another change from previous studio effort, Stand Up, is a resurgence of drummer Carter Beauford.  Back are his intricate rhythms and driving precision.  While I’m hesitant to call it the best Dave Matthews Band album so far, it is definitely the most well-rounded, and I suspect many of the songs on the album will be featured extensively in their many years of touring ahead.

Rating: ★★★★½