The River Empires - Kickstarter Campaign

We plan to track the 14 song album over the course of two months during winter 2010/11. Being that our musical style combines bluegrass with film-like soundtrack/scores, we require several hire on musicians to perform the symphonic sounds we are aspiring for. On our first album, we had a very talented harpist, french horn, oboe, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, and bowed contrabass players. We are hoping to continue through that vein of style and so most of the budget would be going toward adding all the extra instrumentation. Essentially we require a small symphonic orchestra to complete our vision of this next album.

In addition, the budget will go toward other production costs, including several weeks of mixing engineering in post.

We are also hoping to really have the time to create, like our first one, a pure and organic album. We don't use auto tune on vocals and we don't quantize instrument performances. We take the time to get take after take until we are happy with it. And we believe that creates much more of an honest sound that is missing these days in the music industry. So this also requires a bit more time in the studio than normal and a lot more attention and devotion to detail.

This band/project have released to me, clearly the best record of 2010 in Epilogue Well now they are working on their 2nd record and are looking to do as much as they can with it budget-wise (as Jessy says in the video, he mentions more or less having to sell everything he could to fund the 1st one).

28 Days, $8,000.



kickstarter.com link

I just pledged $25. When I win the Powerball one of these times, I imagine my pledge will go up ;)

So I've shameless-ly plugged that in as many spots as I could, although possibly more to follow.

But in being totally honest with this. For one, I have seen a handful of projects use Kickstarter:
-The Age of Rockets
-Water & Bodies (twice, one successful, one not)
-Kevin Moore
-Field Mouse (aka Rachel Browne)

none of them I don't recall had not only that high ($8,000) of a GOAL. But also none of them had that short of a expectation as well (28 days or 1 month in effect).

I guess while I obviously hope they meet that goal and in that short of time, I am not expecting it. Stranger or more surprising things have happened. I believe Water & Bodies original goal was $5,000 and it was maybe 2 months. And they possibly were helped by the following they already had from Kaddisfly at least. Although the counter argument to that point is The River Empires has a following from Falling Up. But the number of listeners on last.fm for example doesn't totally support that really

(355 listeners as opposed to the 110,000 on Falling Up's last.fm ..which honestly, that is rather baffling. Forget The River Empires reaching widespread/mainstream success, that is a huge number of fans that haven't caught on to them. The only reason behind that might be the fact Falling Up is kind of molded in the Christian Rock genre/scene and TRE are not. But it still doesn't add up).

So, we'll see in 4 weeks what happens. If they don't make their goal, I hope they consider setting up another, maybe more realistic goal soon after. How about $3,000 and 60 days? Baby steps may become more effective.

I do wonder why I haven't seen Casey Crescenzo talk much about TRE's. Why? maybe he has and I haven't seen it. Or maybe he feels it's Jessy's thing to promote? I dunno, but with 4 weeks to raise $8,000, I would think any and all the help it can get would make sense. I also wonder if spreading the word to people who are into music like Sufjan Stevens and The Decemberists namely might be an untapped resource. But who knows.

10/28/10 Playlists

Music
Cyclamen - Senjyu
Musicheads (10/26/10)
dredg - Catch Without Arms
93X/Dan Patrick/Colleen and the Boys/Chad Hartman

tba

Caprica - CANCELED

episodes pulled from schedule. They're going to air the remaining episodes next year sometime.

tvbythenumbers link

however, SyFy recently greenlit a BSG movie that is based around a 20-something Adama.

tvbythenumbers link

I just twittered about this. Am I surprised? no. Am I sad, a bit. Mainly due to the fact Caprica and I guess Warehouse 13 is all SyFy's got (sorry Stargate, Sanctuary, Eureka, and Haven fans). And the truth be, it was OKAY, but I was into the show more in the hope it would get better over time. BSG did anyway. But I can't be surprised given it is SyFy and they seem to be run in the same way their parent network is, NBC.

Now if the guy running USA Network were involved, I'd be more surprised.

What will replace it? as I posted on the comments section over on that tvbtn story, perhaps Caprica's James Marsters new show Three Inches about a group of Superheros, Marsters playing the lead who can move objects with his mind, but only 3 inches, lol. Rather Pushing Daisies-like (or The Tick perhaps?).

Otherwise, the status of something Bryan Fuller has talked about working with SyFy hopefully will be announced. "Sellevision" or something else.

edit: someone posted something about Fuller doing a remake of The Munsters which I would certainly be curious about.

but as for the BSG universe..we have the rest of those episodes to be burned off sometime in 2011, and then the Will Adama in his 20's movie. I suppose it's better than the whole thing going bye bye already.

I hope Alessandra Torresani and Magda Apanowicz namely go onto other, better things. I feel bad for Magda especially given that's twice in recent years (Kyle XY) her CABLE-based show got canceled before it could end it's story.

10/27/10 Playlists

Music
Between the Buried and Me - Colors (recent purchase of the standard edition..I already owned a promo back from 2007)
Warpaint - The Fool hardcopy, my pre-order finally came in the mail yesterday.
Pure Reason Revolution - Amor Vincit Omnia
Pure Reason Revolution - Hammer & Anvil
Stateless - Matilda
Pat Metheny - "Roots of Coincidence"
Al Di Meola - "Race With the Devil on the Spanish Highway"
God is an Astronaut - "Zodiac" and "When
Steve Stevens - "Flamenco A Go Go"
Russian Circles - "Carpe" "Death Rides a Horse"
note. - "Composition Number One"
Long Distance Calling - "I Know You Stanley Milgram" "Sundown Highway"

93X/Colleen and the Boys/Chad Hartman/RadioK

TV/Movies
World Series Game 1 Rangers/Giants

tba

10/26/10 Playlists

Music
Warpaint - Exquisite Corpse
Kacica - My Eyes, They're Called the Earth
Ours - Precious
tba - tba
Used Bin Radio (podcast 10/19/10 my call-in, live 10/26/10 off and on)

TV/Movies
Celtics/Heat
Buffy the Vampire Slayer "Reptile Boy" (Season 2, Episode 5) Jordana Spiro of My Boys guest appeared.
The Tick - part of the Pilot Episode

Playlists 10/24-10/25

10/24
Movies/TV
Go
Parts of Urban Legend, Tremors
Vikings/Packers
Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock (10/24/10 Ep 1 Series 1)

10/25
Music
Stateless - Matilda
Enditol
Ihsahn - After
SikTh - Death of a Dead Day
Shaolin Death Squad - Five Deadly Venoms
Sound Opinions
93X Morning Show/Colleen and the Boys/Chad Hartman

TV/Movies
How I Met Your Mother (10/25/10)
Two and a Half Men (10/25/10)
Chuck (10/25/10)
Castle (10/25/10)
tba

TV

10/23/10 Playlist

Music:
Stateless - Matilda 2xs
Stateless - "Bluetrace"
Lunaveil - "The Rest of the World" (myspace)
Suidakra - "The Distance Call" (youtube)
Yeah Yeah Yeah's - "Heads Will Roll (A-trak Remix)" (youtube)
The pAper chAse "What Should We Do With Your Body (The Lightning)" (youtube via myspace)

TV:
NLCS Game 6 Giants/Phillies

more tba

My Playlists 10/21/10-10/22/10 MUSIC/TV

10/21/10
Music
Kacica - Kacica
Oceansize - Self Preserved While the Bodies Float Up (Tracks 1-7)
Warpaint - The Fool
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz (Tracks 1,2,4,6,8,10,11)
Colleen and the Boys/93X/RadioK (Noon-3)/Chad Hartman

TV
Parenthood (10/19/10)
The Big Bang Theory (10/21/10)
The Vampire Diaries (10/21/10)
Outsourced (10/21)

10/22
Music
Bruce Peninsula (a recent live show)
Timmy Sean
Grammatics - B-Sides/Demos/Rarities
Colleen and the Boys/93X/RadioK (Noon-4)/Chad Hartman/CarlGerbschmidt


TV:
ALCS: Rangers/Yankees Game 6.
The Defenders (10/20/10)
Smallville (10/22/10)
The Good Guys (10/22/10)
Freaks and Geeks (IFC's 10/22/10 airing)

My Playlist Today:10/20/10 MUSIC

This might be a bit like a mixing of last.fm and twitter, but it might make this blog seem a bit more active at least. So, just quick little micro-posts on what I'm listening to, watching (or even reading).

-Hateform
-Dominique Leone
-Alec Ounsworth
-Enditol
-Warpaint - The Fool
-Pure Reason Revolution - Hammer & Anvil
-Psychic Crapfest ep 10 Season 4 "You Can't Handle This Episode"
-My Talk 107: Colleen and the Boys
-93X Half-Assed Morning Show
more to be added.

Warpaint: a quote or two. Album stream

link

Describing the new record’s title drummer Stella Mozgawa explained recently to interviewmagazine.com;

‘The Foolis a reference to a state of innocence, to push yourself to see who you are, with the potential of falling on your face to reach liberation. The risk of laughing at the wrong moment or to choose not to act like you know everything. As a band, we're all trying to be naked, if you will. As naked as we can be. I only wear clothes because it's illegal not to.’ 



The girls also described the album as a stoner’s record;

"It's stoner order. We made this album to listen to stoned," bassist Jenny Lee Lindberg told Interviewmagazine.com. "Originally, 'Set Your Arms Down', the first song, ended the album and 'Lissie's Heart Murmur' started it."

Singer Emily Kokal added: "Yeah, we definitely recommend listening to the new album after smoking. It's the best.

not a review coming at this time, as I should probably take the record in more 1st. But coming across this link with some of those quotes, it kind of adds something to what I think of this album I guess. 1 problem though for me being, I don't smoke and haven't been 'stoned' before. Perhaps I could do what I have tried doing once or twice at hippie/jam band shows (Ozric Tentacles) in listening to it while getting dizzy. At work? not likely, but maybe at home sometime, in a rare at-home listening moment. Perhaps with some wine.

The naked comment as well kind of stands out. Maybe for one, on their ep, there's 1 lyric that mentions getting naked. And I'll confess to having been exposed to 1 of the members of the band in said state. Kind of torn, but to not say it's hot and beautiful, well, would not be telling the whole truth.

These girls should do an interview (or more) for suicidegirls. Maybe they have, but if not, it totally would make sense.

A proper review of the actual music hopefully come later this week.

also the entire album can be streamed here for 1 week.

Rubicon: New AMC Conspiracy TV Show

Okay, well here's my thoughts about the Season Finale of this show tonight, that I just posted on mp.com

good finale! Although it sort of donned on me towards the end, and in most of Spangler's scenes. He's engineering these events for some larger purpose, like historical. Almost in a Butterfly Effect sort of way. The deaths are necessary evils for the greater good of the future of mankind. Or maybe it has some religious motivation? Spangler muslim?


But some great moments in the finale. What exactly was Andy's agenda? Why did she run off after seeing Katherine Rhumor collapse? or for that matter, why did she just allow her to stand there in the middle of the park, not doing anything to protect her from the incident that killed her? How exactly did she die? Did that guy have a needle with some kind of toxin in it? It was so subtle, it was almost impossible to even guess.


What is Kale Ingram's agenda? Why didn't Will contact Ed? Why did Maggie say he could trust him? And what was in David's message on the DVD? Where did the DVD end up? I might guess at the police station or something.


Also the scene where Grant has to tell Will that he was promoted, was rather funny in a way. It almost reminded me of some of the scenes in Office Space with Ron Livingston hearing things about his job and not having any regard for it.


Obviously a lot of things they can explore next season. It just sucks we have to wait until next Summer to find out answers to a lot of these questions.


Maybe The Walking Dead will tide us for over until whatever other new show AMC brings on, because between Breaking Bad and this show, I am totally hooked.

But there's more to add about this in general. Originally, the pilot episode aired following the Season 3 finale of Breaking Bad back in June. And while I didn't hate what I saw that evening, it was only mildly intriguing. It almost had a dry, slow, non-energetic feel to it. The characters and even cast just weren't all that engaging really. The premise sounded possibly good. But the truth was, it was kind of an afterthought. So much so, I had no idea when it was going to be airing again. Maybe it was a special film or mini-series or something. I forget.

So, come August, I noticed some discussion about it and I decided to record it on my dvr. I missed at 1east 1 episode, but they re-aired it which I recorded along with every episode for over a month. So, then about a month ago I was needing to clear out some DVR space as I often do, and decided to try and give this show a shot. My memory of the pilot wasn't even perfect, and certainly things about the pilot episode that didn't grab me too much still were present in the following episodes.

But then after a couple of episodes, I just got sucked in to where the story was going.

This show is about conspiracies and an intelligence agency aimed at trying to stop World disasters from happening. The main character, Will Travers heads up a team or Think Tank of sorts, that works for this group called "API" (American Policy Institute) whose job is to try and determine who, what and why terrorists attacks occur and how to prevent them in the future. But of course there is a lot more to what goes on. Will's mentor David Hadas is killed in the pilot in a train accident, and there's too many fishy details about the accident.

So, the show has been largely about Will's research and investigation into how David's death and other circumstances seem to be connected. At 1 point his apartment is bugged and there is someone who tries to murder him.

I guess for me, what has sucked me in to this show is all the uncertainties about each character's ultimate agenda. Who can Will trust? Kale Ingram, his boss in effect, seems to be one whose at least opposing the group Truxton Spangler is involved with, but he's clever enough to not get exposed. He ends up helping Will and some others in the process, but for some reason I just think he has multiple reasons for acting as he has.

I really like some of the support characters like Ed Bancroft and Hal. Both seem to be helpful to Will, and the scenes they have been in have often been rather significant in the story.

I wonder if more about Atlas McDowell will come out next season. Maybe some of the characters are actually still working there, but undercover at API?

For now, this show stands as my favorite new show of the year/season (with Fox's The Good Guys being a close 2nd, although that show may not be on too much longer unfortunately). I wonder if it'll end up receiving any Golden Globe or SAG recognition in a few months. And Emmy's, of course they love Breaking Bad and Mad Men from AMC, and given BB won't be eligible next year, maybe Rubicon will find it's way on to the awards? (or maybe it won't be eligible as well, since technically it could have for this 1st season).

Claudia Deheza leaves School of Seven Bells

facebook link

Hi everybody. We just wanted to let you all know that Claudia has left the band for personal reasons. In the meantime, we are excited to continue to write and tour as usual, and we're very much looking forward to seeing you all at our upcoming shows. ♥ Alley and Benjamin

not that I regard myself as a huge fan of theirs, and the show last month, while it was good (namely the heavy acidic ending), it wasn't as good as last years show with Warpaint where they used projections. But I still like them and would be interested at least seeing them live again. But with her leaving, I wonder how they will continue, namely live. But they are still somehow. I guess I can feel fortunate I still got to see them while she was with the band.

Why she left? who knows. I just recall chatting with 1 of the twins after the show and she was really nice. I mentioned their old band (On Air Library) who I've never heard before. I wonder if it was her or her sister Alley who I was chatting with. I forget. I think it was Alley. I gave her a business card and I recall also mentioning how the music industry is a game of luck. Talking about Warpaint and Local Natives.

Wow, it just supports my thoughts about it being easier as an individual songwriter, rather than a band of any number of members and relying on everyone to be available and interested all at the same time. Kevin Gilbert had the right idea in a lot of ways doing things your own individual way, solo, not wanting towork in the scope of a band, etc. It's just sad to see this, along with the numbers of bands who keep going on hiatuses, I find out about seemingly every month if not more often.

I guess I'm going to have to seek out that On Air Library music now.

Hotel of the Laughing Tree - Terror and Everything After (2011)

10/13/10 11:06PM

facebook link

Drop date for this album is February 1st, 2011. Here's the cover art.



Brookvale Records posting

"Barnaby Bisons Blind" and "Bad Canterbury" can both be streamed here, and both are awesome.

8/27/10 6:52PM

Terror And Everything After (Recording Doc) from Hotel Of The Laughing Tree on Vimeo.

here's a documentary on this album.

8/6/10 10:49PM

Terror and Everything After from Hotel Of The Laughing Tree on Vimeo.

So I just checked out this video they posted on twitter of the title cut (live) from their upcoming debut lp, and now must admit I'm a little more intrigued by this record.

now after hearing the title cut from Terror and Everything After, I may be right about them, probably more than I would have expected. Hopefully if it comes out soon enough, that will be more clear. But in the mean time, I can't help but be a little more excited to hear it.

HotLT I 1st checked out last year, with their debut ep Old Dominion



here's what I posted on rym (and maybe in this blog, I forget)

as much as this band seem HIGHLY influenced by some specific groups, namely The Dear Hunter and Margot and the Nuclear So and So's.

This is

a) a DEBUT ep

b) a collection of very well-written, hooky, layered songs.

I'm just guessing here, but I think Hotel of the Laughing Tree, if they play their cards right, won't fall into the trap of clone-bandhood. Certainly, there are many cases of bands who either have potential and never go far with it, or seem to limited to borrowing from other, better artists sound. However, most of the time, they don't develop as songwriters. There's enough here on this EP that may lead me to believe that. Not a bad track. "Lowlands 1887" is epic. "Arts 'N Ecomonic" is catchy.

Doves RIP?

link

it sounds like they are going to be done for a long while, if not permanently.

Doves have admitted they may never play another gig again after their forthcoming homecoming show at Manchester’s Warehouse Project next month.

Guitarist Jez Williams said the gig on October 16 could be their last, after a heavy touring schedule which has seen the band tour two albums – 2009′s ‘Kingdom Of Rust’ and recent hits compilation ‘The Places Between: The Best Of Doves’.

“It’s a bit of a strange one but there are no plans for an album or a tour after this gig,” he told NME. “It’ll be our last gig for a long, long, long time, if not indefinitely.

“We’ve been together a long time and we’re just thinking we want to do individual things and musical ventures,” he continued. “We’re going to go down that road.”

Williams said he has already started working on his own solo project, which will feature a number of guest artists. Lead singer Jimi Goodwin and Williams’ brother and drummer Andy Williams are also planning to work on their own records.

“I’ve got a few people in the pipeline for guest artists, which I want to keep under wraps at the moment, but I’m still looking for people to front my project,” Williams said. “It’ll be nice to delve into different territory and it will definitely be more dance orientated than Doves.”

if that is true, I can be happy I got to see them at least that one time last year.
They have some new live record and a tribute record, and the final gigs listed, but beyond that, that may be it. I guess with a lot of recent hiatuses from bands lately, and my mild at-best interest in them, I can only be so down about this. Seeing them last year was cool, so I don't have any huge regrets in not getting their live experience. But still, it just goes to show that most bands/projects only have a life expectancy of so long. If they do end it now, perhaps the new projects will be worth checking out. And who knows, in a few years they may feel the desire to reform the band again.

Short Notes

Again with time crunches. As I've posted on twitter,

James LaBrie and his band are coming to Station 4 in St.Paul on Wednesday December 8th. I should go, but to say I'm all that thrilled to hear his recent music live would probably be false. I dug the 1st Mullmuzzler album. Why? I can't be certain, but it was prog metal, but it was from a period which I was into that stuff. His last record Elements of Persuasion I really didn't find all that great. It more or less sounded like b-sides from Dream Theater's Train of Thought.

But his new record, I have seen many good comments about it, even from people who aren't all that big of fans of recent DT. The truth is, I haven't listened to it yet. I should, especially now since they are coming here. Hopefully a good percent of the Dream Theater fans in town will show up at it. He did a show back in 2005 to support his last record, in NYC, and like 50 people showed up. Although I seem to recall Ozzfest or something else was playing the very same evening. But Dream Theater and his name have become a fair amount bigger in the last 5 years. What gets me though is he comes here, yet Porcupine Tree still does not.

- I saw Local Natives again last Friday in front of 500 people at 1st Ave. "Sun Hands" still totally kills live. They also did the complete Gorilla Manor including "Sticky Thread." More on that show and I mean to once I remember and discipline myself, to work on my idea for a remix. There's like 30 or more remixes on their official site labeled "Stems."

- I attended Minnesota Renaissance Festival on Sunday again, even in a truncated 3-7:30pm stint. Better than nothing, and Karma was with me and my friend for at least 1 point. I ran into 3 highways with construction, so finding a free ticket at the door seemed to help compensate for the lengthly commute.

- I also have been getting into MyTalk 107..namely the "Colleen and the Boys" from 10-1pm weekdays. I even had the pleasure to meet Colleen and 1 of her co-workers at the station named Mike last week at Kozlak's out in Shoreview. Free ribs+veggies+bratwurst as well. Colleen is a sweetheart and does not have a face for radio ;). Their show reminds me of the Psychic Crapfest podcast I do in some ways, or even a bit like the show My Boys. If it were possible timing-wise, I'd go for getting involved with their station. Do radio again. Even just as a sub/fill-in kind of deal. My friend has an idea for a show called "It's a Guy Thing." 2 male hosts give, well, male perspectives on pop-culture, dating, etc.

I still wish they or another station had a live music-discussion talk show. Maybe some day (the show on the weekend doesn't seem to be that).

-Plentyoffish.com and the pofusers forum..to put it kindly, have been a bit of a headache for me of late. I've written about them via my okc journal. I may elaborate more at some point on here, I'm not sure.

-Warpaint and Pure Reason Revolution are the daily leaks to hunt for, and so far no dice. Hopefully they'll come sooner than later. But the 2010 season and Album Index is shaping up more and more. Sufjan Stevens however has made his presence felt of late. The Age of Adz shall have something more detailed in here soon if all goes well. Also I'd be skeptical still, but Water & Bodies may be finished and sending out their new album to those who pledged on kickstarter like myself, before the end of the year. We'll see. It's good news no matter, as they raised the money and the words written on some of the boards about this new album, many of the old Kaddisfly fans may be surprised about what kind of album this debut lp will be of theirs.

-Kiss Kiss are on hiatus unfortunately. But they have some other projects happening as well as an intended reunion eventually, I'd imaging in 2011.

-As Tall As Lions are breaking up. I knew about it, but something soon should be in here writing a bit more about them.

-The Receiving End of Sirens have a new song along with a re-release (remastering?) of their debut record "Between the Heart and the Synapse" on vinyl and with new artwork. I did order it. I pray to god they fixed the tambourine-toned clipping (4C).

-Movies I look to see: The Social Network, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Catfish, It's Kind of a Funny Story, Due Date

-I enjoyed the Ken Burns extended portion of Baseball "The 10th Inning" last week. Although nothing about the Twins among other noteworthy events in Baseball the last 20 years.

so..more to come, but that's all the time I have right now...sleep, tv, web shit and the like have of course contributed to the lack of content in here still. But I do sense a big spurt of blogging coming soon enough. The shit just needs to get together well enough.

DVR Clearing: for one..Rubicon last week/end and The Gates this week/end..and The Twins playoff run, or lack-their-of has prioritized my time more so.

Caprica Update

10/5/10 6:14AM


Well I don't have a lot of time to comment, but the show and Season 1.5 actually does return this evening at 9PM on SyFy. Why it got pushed up or HOW, I honestly never read any of the stories that explained it. I know it had to do with the writers contracts expiring and needing a new one around the 2nd week of August. Perhaps they got one? or perhaps the geniuses at SyFy finally wised up for once and realized they should air the rest of Season 1's episodes sooner rather than later (nearly 1 year after Season 1 premiered).

As far what happens, etc..it looks promising. It appears based on that trailer, Amanda Graystone dies or goes missing and Daniel captures her avatar and creates an interactive hologram of her. Very much like Zooey.

I guess given I was into the show last Winter when it aired, and with not a huge rush of new good shows (there have been a few, namely Rubicon) along with potential upcoming cancellations (Chuck?), I'm as much if not more excited to see where the show goes here. And by some chance, it gets renewed and comes back either in the Winter or at worst, the Fall of 2011.



7/26/10 11:40PM


Late July Article

Well, it's not 86'ed yet, but it was originally supposed to return to the air sometime this Fall; however it was recently announced the 2nd half of it's 1st Season (1.5) will air in January now.

And that link above mentions how as early as next week they may announce if it's coming back for a 2nd Season or not, due to next week (being August) contracts are to expire.

I just mentioned something on imdb about the SyFy channel. Of course they are owned by NBC, who like pretty much any of the large networks, often cancel good shows and replace them with bad ones. SyFy channel in a lot of ways does the same thing. However, the USA Network is also owned by NBC, but unlike SyFy and the parent network, comes up with many good shows and actually RENEWS THEM.

My friend and I have had these rants on our Psych podcast on more than 1 occasion. Why doesn't NBC have the people who run the USA Network also not only take over on SyFy but their own network itself. It's pretty baffling to be honest. As my friend likes to make the analogy, NBC is like a last place Major League Baseball team who has a lot of really good AAA talent, but fails to promote those players to their Major League roster to save their butt. The logic, at least from afar, doesn't make much of any sense at all to us.