One through five

5. Acid Tongue - Jenny Lewis

Oh, Jenny Lewis. Over the past few weeks, I have been trying to figure out whether my opinion of Jenny Lewis' music has perhaps been unfairly influenced with how enamored I am with her. To be totally honest, my love for Jenny probably makes me look at her music in a little more positive light on the whole. But what am I supposed to think about a woman who looks like that, writes songs like she does and also has the voice of a slightly Southern angel? Seriously. That is pretty much the equation for Anthony's perfect wife. Tonight I have attempted to write this entry while actually referencing the song but I do not think it does any justice to just how much I sweat her. This album was nothing all that special on the whole, but "I went to a cobbler to fix a hole in my shoe. He took one look at my face and said 'I can fix that hole in you." What's up double entendre? Enough said. For whatever reason, I am particularly enthralled by "To be lonely is a habit, like smoking or taking drugs. And I quit them both, but man was it rough." My love for Jenny has further blossomed this year and I can only hope she decides to play Richmond again sometime in 2009!

4. A Ghost to Most - Drive-By Truckers

The Truckers are extremely high on my list of bands that I rediscovered in 2008. I had listened to them years ago and saw Jason Isbell (former member) last October. But for whatever reason, they seemed much more important this year than in years past. Maybe it is because I am living in the (fake) South. Regardless, A Ghost to Most is a spectacular track. Both musically and lyrically, it captures a mood perfectly. I had a hard time deciding between this song and Three Dimes Down. In the end, it was really the pedal steel that put A Ghost to Most over the top. It is entirely possible that this song intrigues me because I do not totally understand it. "And beside you're a ghost to most before they notice that you ever had a hair or a hide." I am pretty sure that it implies that people just are not paying attention to someone, but I still cannot totally wrap my mind around the whole ghost idea. Most of the time, when you think of a ghost, you think of something that haunts you. So is "The Stroker Ace" Mike Cooley trying to say that you end up haunting someone before they even really pay attention to you or that just you end up dead? I am starting to lean towards the second one, but who knows. It is a great track and really made me go back to examine the Trucker's catalog again and I am pretty glad that happened.

3. Crying - TV on the Radio

Here is where my list really got impossible. These top three songs each were my number one depending on the time of day and my mood. The song has already been discussed once on this blog and I am not sure that I have a whole lot more to add to the analysis. Then again, that was two months ago. Feels like it was 10 minutes ago. Anyway, "Crying" is a spectacular song on a spectacular record. There are few songs that I have heard in the last few years that truly manage to mix multiple genres and seemingly multiple music eras within a single track without coming off as inauthentic. This song somehow blends Prince with early to mid-1980's new age/R&B thrown in with a little modern indie rock. It sounds like it should not work at all. And yet it does. And in rather impressive fashion. Dear Science is something special in its own right. But this single song is really an example of how sometimes there are single songs that can elevate an album to a different level. Without a track like this, the album is a collection of pretty good songs. But "Crying" makes Dear Science an absolute classic. Some people still have not heard TV on the Radio. And some people have, but have not paid close enough attention to them. This song should change that.

2. Strangers - The Dutchess and the Duke

I am not sure why this is not my number 1 song of 2008. Suppose that just speaks to how highly I hold my actual favorite song of the year. But that should take absolutely nothing away from The Dutchess and the Duke. This is another song that I have talked about on here previously. Back in early September, I saw this band at a tiny venue in Charlottesville. It was one of the more interesting concert experiences I have witnessed in the last few years. And I have seen a lot of shows at a lot of different venues. But this song makes me feel like it is the 60's and CD's are non-existent. The fact that the show was in a basement just makes sense. As with a lot of the songs in my top ten, the lyrics of "Strangers" just suck me in. "But after my digging was done. I realized that just because you lose don't mean that I have won". I know I am not the only one who gets that line. The last few lines of the song are really the ones that get me to be totally honest. I have recited these lyrics in this space previously, but I think they deserve another appearance. "Well I've added up all the things you've done and I've taken a good look at the man that I've become. And maybe we're not strangers after all..." In the context of this track, if that does not make you think of some important decision in your life, I do not know what will. If just evokes a lot of introspection for me. Maybe this is just another example of me being too far in my own head. Ha.

1. You Don't Have To (If You Don't Want To) - Gentleman Jesse

Finally. Best track of the year, hands down. The fact remains that in any other year, "Crying" or "Strangers" would be my favorite song. But for some reason, I could not stop listening to this perfect example of pop punk out of Atlanta. The first I heard of Gentleman Jesse was in 2007 as he released a 7" single that pretty much changed my mind about what music had to be. For those of you that really know me, I tend to gravitate towards music that is somewhat complicated. Whether it was intricate music or lyrics that make you question your own existence, that was pretty much the sort of thing I stuck to in the past. With the introduction of Gentleman Jesse, I found a return to something I could enjoy immensely without having to spend any time thinking about it. There is really something to be said for a perfect pop song released in 2008 that sounds like it should have come out in 1963. This song might not even have words outside of the chorus but I cannot help but sing it. While The Dutchess and the Duke evoke feelings of old folk music, Gentleman Jesse is music ripped straight out of that time. Rather than just making you feel like you could be there, this song transports you to that time. I listen to "You Don't Have To" and I am some 18 year old guy in the 1960's waxing my brand new Chevrolet waiting to take out a cheerleader. I cannot find any better way to describe the way I feel when I listen to this song. Everyone needs to listen to this song and realize that good music does not have to be anywhere near the radio or even close to the radar of most indie rock outlets. Just crack a beer and soak it all in.

OneThroughFive



So honestly, writing about the top five in a more objective manner was much more difficult than writing about the six through ten tracks. Maybe it just so happens that I love these fives songs for reasons that are much more difficult to articulate. Or maybe I just do not want to explain myself for loving certain things. But regardless, I hope that at least one of you listens to one of these ten songs and finds something that interests you. More so than not, the music that I enjoy is really a window into how my life is going and these ten songs are no exception. Enjoy.

Ten through six

All right. Here are songs ten through six. Breaking it up means less work for me tonight. There are plenty of honorable mentions for this list, but I don't think they are going to get much time on here.

10. See/Saw - Jay Reatard

This was a seriously late minute addition to the list and I have to say that I kicked off Bon Iver for it. But as I listened to the Bon Iver album one last time, I realized that I like song better. Sorry white guy with an acoustic guitar. You have been traded in for a white guy with an electric guitar and an ear for pop/punk hooks. My lists in past years would be comprised of too many sad bastard tracks and this year is just a totally reverse of that. My pick of this Jay Retard song is proof positive that my tastes are shifting. That and I just like screaming, "SHE CREEPS ME OUT! SHE CREPT ME IN AGAIN!" Most of you will probably find this one annoying, but it makes me want to chug a can of Bud Diesel and play air guitar.

9. Suffering Jukebox - Silver Jews

"You got Tennessee tendencies and chemical dependencies. You make the same old jokes and malaprops on cue." This is the type of line that only works when delivered in David Berman's perfect monotone. Admittedly, this album pretty much fell off the radar for me. The Silver Jews have made better albums in the past, but Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea was pretty solid in its own right. When I started thinking about my favorite songs from the year however, this one track jumped out at me. Oddly enough, this is the only song on my list that does not come from an album I actually own on vinyl. So I suppose that says something about its staying power. Anyway, this song is pretty much classic Jews for those of you that are familiar with them (probably not anyone who reads this). They are one of the few bands that can pull off the subtle dark humor so well within the context of the music. Not sure if that has more to do with Berman and his delivery than the music itself, but it just works. Probably just something about their sarcasm that attracts me. All in all though, I happen to think this has one of the more clever choruses that I have heard in years. "Suffering jukebox, such a sad machine. You're filled up with what other people need. And they never seem to turn you up loud. Gotta a lot of chatterboxes in this crowd." I am not sure I expect anyone else out there to actually like this song. Well, maybe Colin if he ever reads this.

8. Slapped Actress - The Hold Steady

There have been stretches of nights where this was absolutely my number one song for the year. But as I started thinking more rationally (and sobered up), I realized some things. While it is a good song, I think I get a little tricked by The Hold Steady some time. Their songs just tend to be so anthemic and suck you in so quickly that they can be deceiving. If you are a fan of the band, then you are a fan of this song. Not sure how else to really put it. But does that mean it is great by any means? Not really. The opening crunchy guitar line is really the best part of this song in particular. Lyrically, it is more of Craig Finn's usual, self-referential while stealing from pop culture, subject matter. The song is centered around a John Cassevetes film called Opening Night and the singer and his band become the cast of characters. I think what I initially liked about this song is what eventually led me to put it so low on my list. Listening to the song for pure enjoyment without paying attention to the words is great. But for whatever reason any time I listen to what is actually being said, I'm left thinking, "Why the hell can't this guy stop talking about himself?" In the end, it is the blessing and the curse for The Hold Steady as far as I'm concerned. They have a lot of great music, but Craig Finn ends up talking about them way too much. So much for trying to Stay Positive, eh?

7. All I Ever Wanted - Black Keys

Hammond B3 organ. That instrument alone pretty much put this song on my list over another Black Keys song from Attack & Release. To be totally honest, I know some of the words to a bunch of Black Keys songs. For a dude who admits to being all about words, I probably could not care less what they sing about. The wall of noise that envelops you when the organ wails on is just so viscerally impressive that I cannot help but crack a smile. This song encapsulates everything I love about their music: the dirty Delta sound, the rapid changes in dynamics and the fact that you can feel the songs in your chest under the right conditions. This song really deserves being heard out of some big speakers from about five feet away. It might make you a different person. Or it might make you deaf. Either way, you will be changed!

6. Unforgettable Season - Cut/Copy

Over the last few years, this genre has probably gained the most ground as far as my listening habits are concerned. I always had a little bit of what I guess could be called "electropop" or "dance punk" in my rotation, but these last few years have seen an increase in my interest, thanks to bands like Cut/Copy and The Avalanches. I can think of few better spring time albums than this year's In Ghost Colours. Cut/Copy has been a big favorite of mine since I was introduced to them a few years back with Bright Like Neon Love. Their albums just seem to have a feeling that either makes sense for you or does not. If that makes any sense. Ha. In other words, you get them or you do not. As far as I am concerned, they are not the sort of band you can really grow to love. You either like what they are doing or you hate it. Unforgettable Season is really them doing what they do best. The melodies are built so lavishly and in such an intricate manner. The layers of samples become the light blues, greens and yellows in the album cover. I have a really tough time putting this song above my favorite Cut/Copy song, Time Stands Still, but it is a really close second.


And to download the five track above, click on this and follow the instructions:
TenThroughSix

One through five will be up either tomorrow night or Friday night if I'm feeling particularly lazy tomorrow. Enjoy and give me your thoughts, good or bad.

Coming soon...

I have decided that I need to put together a little list of my favorite songs from the year so far. Honestly, being that we are almost halfway through November, I don't think anything is really going to sneak in by the end of this year. So coming in the next couple of nights is going to be my list with some writing about each song. And don't worry, you will be able to download the songs. As I can figure it right now, there is a good chance that all 10 songs will come from albums that I have on vinyl. Maybe that means I have more of an affinity towards those albums? Who knows. Either way, expect something definitely by the end of this week if not sooner.

And this is why I supported the guy

Obama Positions Himself to Quickly Reverse Bush Actions on Environmental, Social Issues

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110801856.html?hpid=topnews

For those of you who don't want to register to read this article, it is included at the end of this post.

Science, energy and climate change. Three of the biggest reasons that I supported Barack Obama this election. And three of the issues that I think George W. Bush got all sorts of wrong. For anyone who says, "How can he possibly come up with a list of these things to address within four days of being elected?" I will have to tell you that he has had a team working on this very subject for weeks if not months. Now, I'm sure that some will believe that this sort of thing displays a level of arrogance at assuming victory. But I will vehemently counter that argument with the argument that this is someone who displays preparation. Sorry if that term has been absent from the mind of our leading executive in the last eight years, but some people are capable of it.

By Ceci Connolly and R. Jeffrey Smith

Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, November 9, 2008; Page

Transition advisers to President-elect Barack Obama have compiled a list of about 200 Bush administration actions and executive orders that could be swiftly undone to reverse the president on climate change, stem cell research, reproductive rights and other issues, according to congressional Democrats, campaign aides and experts working with the transition team.

A team of four dozen advisers, working for months in virtual solitude, set out to identify regulatory and policy changes Obama could implement soon after his inauguration. The team is now consulting with liberal advocacy groups, Capitol Hill staffers and potential agency chiefs to prioritize those they regard as the most onerous or ideologically offensive, said a top transition official who was not permitted to speak on the record about the inner workings of the transition.

In some instances, Obama would be quickly delivering on promises he made during his two-year campaign, while in others he would be embracing Clinton-era policies upended by President Bush during his eight years in office.

"The kind of regulations they are looking at" are those imposed by Bush for "overtly political" reasons, in pursuit of what Democrats say was a partisan Republican agenda, said Dan Mendelson, a former associate administrator for health in the Clinton administration's Office of Management and Budget. The list of executive orders targeted by Obama's team could well get longer in the coming days, as Bush's appointees are rushing to enact a number of last-minute policies in an effort to extend his legacy.

A spokeswoman said yesterday that no plans for regulatory changes had been finalized. "Before he makes any decisions on potential executive or legislative actions, he will be conferring with congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle, as well as interested groups," Obama transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said. "Any decisions would need to be discussed with his Cabinet nominees, none of whom have been selected yet."

Still, the preelection transition team, comprising mainly lawyers, has positioned the incoming president to move fast on high-priority items without waiting for Congress.

Obama himself has signaled, for example, that he intends to reverse Bush's controversial limit on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, a decision that scientists say has restrained research into some of the most promising avenues for defeating a wide array of diseases such as Parkinson's. Bush's August 2001 decision pleased religious conservatives who have moral objections to the use of cells from days-old human embryos, which are destroyed in the process.

But Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) said that during Obama's final swing through her state in October, she reminded him that because the restrictions were never included in legislation, Obama "can simply reverse them by executive order." Obama, she said, "was very receptive to that." Opponents of the restrictions have already drafted an executive order he could sign.

The new president is also expected to lift a so-called global gag rule barring international family planning groups that receive U.S. aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion, even in countries where the procedure is legal, said Cecile Richards, spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Federation of America. When Bill Clinton took office in 1993, he rescinded the Reagan-era regulation, known as the Mexico City Policy, but Bush reimposed it.

"We have been communicating with his transition staff" almost daily, Richards said. "We expect to see a real change."

While Obama said at a news conference last week that his top priority would be to stimulate the economy and create jobs, his advisers say that focus will not delay key shifts in social and regulatory policies, including some -- such as the embrace of new environmental safeguards -- that Obama has said will have long-term, beneficial impacts on the economy.

The president-elect has said, for example, that he intends to quickly reverse the Bush administration's decision last December to deny California the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. "Effectively tackling global warming demands bold and innovative solutions, and given the failure of this administration to act, California should be allowed to pioneer," Obama said last January.

California had sought permission from the Environmental Protection Agency to require that greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles be cut by 30 percent between 2009 and 2016, effectively mandating that cars achieve a fuel economy standard of at least 36 miles per gallon within eight years. Seventeen other states had promised to adopt California's rules, representing in total 45 percent of the nation's automobile market. Environmentalists cheered the California initiative because it would stoke innovation that would potentially benefit the entire country.

"An early move by the Obama administration to sign the California waiver would signal the seriousness of intent to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil and build a future for the domestic auto market," said Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Before the election, Obama told others that he favors declaring that carbon dioxide emissions are endangering human welfare, following an EPA task force recommendation last December that Bush and his aides shunned in order to protect the utility and auto industries.

Robert Sussman, who was the EPA's deputy administrator during the Clinton administration and is now overseeing EPA transition planning for Obama, wrote a paper last spring strongly recommending such a finding. Others in the campaign have depicted it as an issue on which Obama is keen to show that politics must not interfere with scientific advice.

Some related reforms embraced by Obama's transition advisers would alter procedures for decision-making on climate issues. A book titled "Change for America," being published next week by the Center for American Progress, an influential liberal think tank, will recommend, for example, that Obama rapidly create a National Energy Council to coordinate all policymaking related to global climate change.

The center's influence with Obama is substantial: It was created by former Clinton White House official John D. Podesta, a co-chairman of the transition effort, and much of its staff has been swept into planning for Obama's first 100 days in office.

The National Energy Council would be a counterpart to the White House National Economic Council that Clinton created in a 1993 executive order. "It would make sure all the oars are rowing in the right direction" and ensure that climate change policy "gets lots of attention inside the White House," said Daniel J. Weiss, a former Sierra Club official and senior fellow with the Center for American Progress Action Fund.

The center's new book will also urge Obama to sign an executive order requiring that greenhouse gas emissions be considered whenever the federal government examines the environmental impact of its actions under the existing National Environmental Policy Act. Several key members of Obama's transition team have already embraced the idea.

Other early Obama initiatives may address the need for improved food and drug regulation and chart a new course for immigration enforcement, some Obama advisers say. But they add that only a portion of his early efforts will be aimed at undoing Bush initiatives.

Despite enormous pent-up Democratic frustration, Obama and his team realize they must strike a balance between undoing Bush actions and setting their own course, said Winnie Stachelberg, the center's senior vice president for external affairs.

"It took eight years to get into this mess, and it will take a long time to get out of it," she said. "The next administration needs to look ahead. This transition team and the incoming administration gets that in a big way."

Staff writers Juliet Eilperin, Spencer S. Hsu and Carol D. Leonnig and staff researcher Madonna Lebling contributed to this report.

History in the making

My goodness. This has clearly been one of the best nights in recent memory. John McCain just gave the greatest concession speech that I have ever seen. This election was absolutely dirty. But it is now over. Obama carried VA and I could not be more happy at this very moment. This country is going to face challenging days ahead. I want everyone to realize that. But we will have a President in office who is not afraid to admit that he made a mistake. And that is really all we can ask out of any human beings. Seriously. American really did get it right this time around. Hate all you want. I don't care!!!

Get out and vote

Today will be an historic day. My vote has already been cast. Please go out and do the same, regardless of who choose. Thank you.

Looking forward

On nights like this, I sometimes feel like I lose sight of what I really wanted to do with writing in this space. As soon as this election is over, I will begin to shift my focus onto other topics that I really want to discuss. For instance, you can expect a rather lengthy discussion on the search for meaning. I will most likely post something that I have written in the past on the subject and open it up for comment and criticism. But for the time being, I will ask this question: is the search for meaning a worthwhile pursuit or is it hopeless endeavor?

For my entire thinking life, I have investigated what things mean, sometimes to a fault. Why do like the books that we read or why do we listen to the music that we listen to? Is there really any way to find an explanation for all of these things and do they even deserve a further exploration? My studies of religion over the years teach that there is in fact a universal meaning in things, but for whatever reason, those explanations seem a little too easy. Christian thought seemed too simplistic to me in that it really comes down to accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, so I went searching for a different opinion. I thought I found it in Buddhism, but even their belief in the Four Noble Truths ended up a bit simplistic for my tastes. But then again, maybe I am way too buried in my own head to accept that either one is really the correct view.

Either way, expect these sorts of topics moving forward in a couple of weeks. Once I am freed of my political mind, you will all be bombarded by my philosophical mind. And that may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you feel about some dude rambling on about his life. Ha.

The word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out...

Passionate. One word that well describes your boy right here. And that is exactly what you will read here tonight. Forgive my once again unstructed nature, but this is how it comes out sometimes. As always, I welcome any criticism and invite discussion amongst my friends concerning these topics...

Just over a week before this country decides on another President. There are a lot of different thoughts going around right now about the race and how it is tilting in one direction. The polls indicate that Barack Obama is leading in key states at the moment. But the last thing that anyone can do is assume victory.

Anyone who supports Obama must realize that this is the time that really counts. Every time these elections come around and the Democrats seem to be in the lead, people take things for granted. We take for granted that the polls are in our favor. We take for granted that momentum seems to be on our side. But now is the most critical moment of the entire campaign. Supports must continue their efforts. This is not a time to sit back and revel in the fact that the win appears to be within reach. The fight must continue until the very end. If sports have taught me anything over the years, it is that you sprint through the finish line. You do not allow yourself to prematurely celebrate and you always apply pressure until the final seconds have ticked off the clock.

First of all, if you have followed my ramblings, you know that I am not one of those Democrats that believes that the solution to all of our problems lies within the abilities of a politician. Quite the opposite, actually. The cynic in me will not allow me to put blind faith in the hands of one individual. The realization that politics is an impossible game came to me a long time ago. My skepticism concerning our political process was further developed in a time of great struggle. Our country was facing an incredible enemy in global terrorism. And yet we somehow decided to focus our attention on a foe that was uninvolved in our crisis. I will be the first to admit that I was one of those blind supporters. Our intelligence could not possibly be leading us in the incorrect direction, right? There was a reason to go into Iraq. There had to be. Hell, the Democrats voted to give the President the authority to use force in the Middle East despite the fact that we had not captured Osama Bin Laden. As time marched on, I came to find that even the people that supposedly represented me got it all wrong. We are still deeply involved in the Iraq war. What do we have to show for it now?

So if you think that I am being unreasonable in my political discussions here, please let me know. It is simply my opinion that we cannot afford to get this one wrong. Barack Obama is not going to be the medicine to cure all that ails this country. He will not be the vaccine that protects America against future illness. But he does represent a shift in ideology compared to John McCain. Mr. McCain has attempted to show us in the last few weeks that he is not President Bush. I do not believe that he is President Bush. However, if you are of the opinion that Obama's record as the "most liberal Senator" means something, then McCain's support of nine out of ten Bush policies also has to be meaningful. After his re-election in 2004, no one can tell me that President Bush has made the right decision in just about any area of policy. Since that is the case, I am not sure of any way that you can explain away the fact that one candidate in this election has moved with him lock-step in the overwhelming majority of situations. If you disagree with the direction of the country for the last eight years, you owe it to yourself to give someone else a shot. We can talk all day about flip-flopping and pandering. But the fact remains that there is one person running for President that has agreed with George W. Bush and voted as such.

I do not mean to imply that things will be drastically different on November 5 2008. I also do not mean to imply that there will be some sort of intellectual revolution on January 21 2009 if Barack Obama should be so lucky as to be our President at that time. But if the last month or so has shown me anything, it is that I would rather take a chance on hope and, in some cases blind optimism, than someone who seems to be all at once distancing himself from our current administration and proving that he is "Conservative" or Republican enough to get that base to vote for him.

I have read a lot recently on how people seem to think that the policies on one side or the other are simply pie in the sky ideas. Magic is a word that is being thrown out quite frequently. As in, it will take an act of magic for either man to follow through with what they are speaking about now. There has been much written on how both men are promising things that they will be unable to deliver, either short term or long term. As far as I am concerned, it does nothing for ridiculous to call out ridiculous. There is nothing productive in saying that someone's opinions or beliefs are unattainable in a sarcastic or condecending manner. But on the whole, thie discouse does not bother me in the least as long as it is reasonable. I know politics well enough to understand the situation. But does this mean that we should then discredit the enthusiasm that some show for a relative newcomer? Does this mean that we should somehow discredit the first time voters who appear to be voting for a candidate simply because he is more like them than anyone else who has run in the past? Does this mean that we should somehow mock those who are nervous about giving great power to someone who is seemingly untested? As Shakespeare once said, what is past is prologue. History finds a way to repeat itself. The difference is that in these times, we have an opportunity to make history that may someday repeat itself. Regardless of who wins this election, that person will find themselves in an utterly unenviable posiiton. The economy is in shambles. Our standing in the world has been decimated by the choices of the last few administrations. This President will be subjected to unimaginable amounts of scrutiny. And anyone who believes that if one person or the other gets elected that it will be easy sailing, they are fooling themselves.

The fact of the matter remains: at one point in time, I would have no problem with either John McCain or Barack Obama as President. But the difference as it stands this evening is that the John McCain that I could see being President is not the John McCain that we are looking at this very minute. That person is either long gone or hidden under an immense layer of political posturing. Barack Obama is also not the same person that I once wished would be the President. In 2004 when I first saw him speak at the Democratic National Convention and read his book, I saw him as a truly revolutionary figure in politics. Today, he is the Democratic nominee for President. That alone has changed him to a great degree. But I still trust that he is the man who will make the proper decisions for the direction of this country. The President of the United States of America can only do so much in order to directly effect our lives in this world. One of those things is having the judgment and intelligence to surround his or herself with individuals who will positively influence the direction of this nation. Both men involved have had a chance to show me this necessary judgment. Only one has done so. And this is why on November 4 2008, I will walk into that voting booth and proudly cast my vote for Barack Obama as President of the United Sates of America.

Wow. That was probably a bit unnecessary, but whatever. You all can thank Olde English 800 for subjecting you to this diatribe. But it's a little over a week until decision time. Choose how you will. But choose because you legitimately believe in one person or the other. Not because you see the choice as a lesser of two evils and not because you see fault in the ideas or hopes of the supporters of one of these two men. It might not make a difference in our lives. But there will be repercussions and it might be our own kin who have to deal with them. I hope that those of you who are undecided will research both John McCain and Barack Obama and will make nothing but an informed decision. Those of you who are decided already, please vote on November 4 2008 and know that your choice will make a difference somehow. That's enough for me tonight. I hope you are all well. Thanks for listening.

Ryan Adams

On to a totally different subject today...music. Funny how I pretty much only discuss my very liberal politics and music on here. After the election I'll definitely make an attempt to branch out a bit more. Onto Mr. Adams...

Admittedly, my opinion of Ryan Adams over the years has ranged from "Greatest songwriter of our time!" to "What the hell is this guy thinking?". The last few years has pushed me further and further towards the latter. His latest effort, although it isn't a solo album, continues to push him down the path of complete irrelevance as far as I'm concerned. Cardinology completely lacks memorable moments. Well, completely lacks anything memorable for the right reasons, I should say. As with his last album, the only thing that really sticks out is essentially a joke song called "Magick". Following in the footsteps of the epic "Halloweenhead", the song is so ridiculous that you cannot help but sing along. That being said, it is a tune that would not be out of place if it were being performed by a group of teenagers on some MTV show. Or maybe it just reminds me way too much of some cheesy 80's rock song. Either way, you end up liking it because of how outlandish it is. For an artist who used to be the king of the sad bastard country song, this is an interesting path for him to choose.

So the question begs to be asked...how did Ryan Adams come to this? Like I said before, this is not a solo Ryan Adams album. Since Easy Tiger, the Cardinals (his one-time backing band) have become more involved with the writing process. So are they really the ones to blame for this? Honestly, probably not. Because while the music is sometimes actually pretty decent on this album, Ryan's lyrics just lack effort. There is none of the deep meaning that he used to infuse in every track. Looking over his past solo efforts and his work with Whiskeytown, there are legitimately spectacular songs interspersed with some absolute garbage. So the fact that he is now writing terrible songs does not come as a complete surprise. However, the fact remains that he has not written a truly great song in about three years now, if not longer. And that just so happens to coincide with the time when he apparently stopped using heavy drugs. I would hate to say that the guy cannot write anything decent while sober, but it really does seem to be the case here. Or maybe now that he's clean, he just does not have it in him to write anything meaningful. He definitely still has the same wild mood swings that he did while he was plowing through speedballs, so his demeanor has not changed a whole lot. He does seem to be tending towards legitimately crazy, so maybe the lack of drugs has exposed that further.

You will probably read a lot of reviews of his recent work praising it as his most authentic and genuine to date. I do not believe that for a second. He used to write soul-crushing music. The kind of songs where a well placed harmonica could accurately describe the entire theme of an album. His first solo effort was called Heartbreaker, for Christ's sake. To this day, I am convinced that there has not been a better fitting album title in the last ten years. And yet today we are left with a Ryan Adams who is at best a shell of his former self. People used to criticize him for releasing so much material within such a short span of time, but perhaps that is just his way. In 2005, he released three albums and just about two and a half of them were good. Within those three albums, there were some bonafied great material. Since then, he has released two albums with at best a handful of decent songs. Perhaps there is something to be said for throwing a bunch of material out there and seeing what sticks. Or perhaps there is something to be said for lots and lots of drugs.

Lots of catching up to do

So we are less than a month out from the election and I have not commented for a week. I meant to say something earlier in the week but I just did not have the chance. I started writing but got sidetracked and I figured it was probably best that I focused a little more and made one large post. I will talk about the recent debates and the other important issues that I have seen come into focus in the last couple of weeks as well. Be aware that there will be some ranting because I am not very happy with some of the things that we have been seeing. And you all can guess which side I will be on during said rants.

First...the debates. Two weeks ago, we saw the VP debate. I cannot say that it was really anything unexpected. I believe that the word "Maverick" was absolutely beat to death by Sarah Palin and I think that her winking was a bit uncomfortable. I expected a few "Mavericks" to be thrown around here and there, but it sort of surprised me that it turned into an answer to some questions. OK, so surprised isn't really the right word. I knew that Palin probably would not be as prepared as she needed to be, but I guess I anticipated that she would manage to speak a little more extemporaneously. Instead, we got dodged questions (more so than your normal politicians), changed subjects, Mavericks and winking.Winking? Really? As the days tick away this fall, it becomes more and more apparent to me that I do not want a Joe six-pack hockey mom in the second most powerful political position in this country. It has nothing to do with the fact that she is a woman. I believe that Hillary Clinton would make a great President or Vice President. Sarah Palin appeals to a lot of people in this country because of her apparent down to earth nature. However, as Vice President of the United States of America, I do not think that we can afford to elect on how well you can relate to someone as far as I am concerned. Maybe Joe Biden is not the individual in politics today that I would most relate to, but it is apparent that he has a firm grasp on the issues of the day. He can be reckless with his mouth at times, but I have no fear of his decision making. You can knock Obama all you want concerning his experience. I understand the argument. I simply disagree with it. But if you want to criticize one because of his lack of experience, you have to criticize John McCain for picking a VP candidate with such little experience. It is a haphazard choice and scares me somewhat. All in all, the VP debate was really a microcosm for the Palin experience since she was announced as the candidate. She has very specific talking points that she sticks to and she gets exposed any time she has to stray from that. Say all you want about "gotcha media" and liberal journalism, but you have to hold politicians responsible for what comes out of their mouths, regardless of the forum in which they are presented. John McCain's "Is that a pizza place?" defense is an absolute mockery of political discourse.

Moving on to the last Presidential debate...once again, nothing really out of the ordinary. There was a clear advantage for Obama in terms of appearance considering he just tends to look more comfortable and relaxed than McCain these days. Also, McCain wandering around the stage was somewhat confusing. Regardless, there was nothing said by either one that would really change minds either way as far as I am concerned. One interesting bit was McCain's proposal to buy troubled loans. Because for a guy who wants to put a freeze on spending and the expansion of government, that is a rather expensive and expansionist proposition. And apparently it has angered some Republicans. But what can I say? The guy is a Maverick. He is such a Maverick that he will propose something that goes against his own beliefs. And the Republicans try to say that Obama likes to play it both ways? Let's be honest at this point: both candidates continue to posture themselves for electability. At this point, it is clear who is making the more irrational decisions and moves. And that brings me to my next point of discussion.

According to Cindy McCain and the McCain camp, the Obama campaign is the dirtiest campaign in the history of Presidential campaigns. As you all well know, I have been paying close attention to these sorts of things over the last eight years or so. Personally, I believe that John McCain has a very short memory when it comes to dirty politics. Does he forget in 2000 when George W. Bush's campaign effectively ended the McCain candidacy in South Carolina? In that instance, rumors were spread by "unknown" sources that Cindy McCain was a drug addict and that one of their daughters was a black child fathered out of wedlock, amongst other things. Meanwhile, in 2008, the McCain campaign has been running TV ads that question Obama's connection to Bill Ayers. These commercials use Barack Obama and the word "terrorist" in the same sentence. But somehow the Obama campaign is the dirty one. I will not say that there have been some negative ads from the Obama campaign. But to say that they are more negative than the ads from the McCain campaign is a bit intellectually dishonest to me. The McCain commercials concerning Ayers are nothing more than attacks based on fears of many Americans. Is he a Muslim? Does he really hang out with terrorists? Many Americans have already learned about his association with Ayers because it was brought up during the Democratic primaries. So why is it an issue again? Because John McCain appears to be losing this election. Based on many polls that have been released in the last few weeks, he is losing major ground in most of the swing states. I am not one to put a lot of stock in polls, but the timing of these ads is impeccable. Never mind that John McCain said that he was going to bring it up during the last debate and did not say a word about it, but the Republicans have been operating in a very underhanded manner as of the last few weeks. You have Palin rallies where people call Obama a terrorist and some even go as far as saying "Kill him!". Up until a few days ago, the McCain campaign said nothing to address these outbursts. Now that they have, I am curious to see if the Palin strategy is revised. It is clear that she is being used as the attack dog and now McCain is the peacekeeper, so to speak. Can they continue to throw Palin out there to bring up the Ayers connection and hype crowds into a borderline frenzy and then apologize when people say offensive things? Or do they have to tone it down? My guess is that the polls will give us that answer. If the polls continue to move in the direction they are now, we will see one of two things out of the Republicans. The first is a pullback of the Ayers strategy, as I will call it. The second is a straight up nuclear campaign. My hope is that it tends more towards the first one. But who knows. For all I care, let John, Cindy and Sarah continue to talk about Obama's connection to someone who was a terrorist 40 years ago and is now a respected member of America's academic community. Meanwhile, Barack Obama and Joe Biden are out speaking about the stuff that is actually pertinent these days.

I know that was rather unstructured and extremely biased, but that is me. This is not the John McCain that I respected in 2000-early 2008. This is a desperate John McCain that realizes he may have to pull out all the stops to have a chance next month. Personally, I know there are a lot of Republicans who have been questioning his decision making. John would probably use that as another example of how he is a Maverick. However, there is a distinct line between being a Maverick and compromising the things that you once believed in. My hope is that John McCain takes serious stock of the overall climate of this country right now and decides to focus his attention on those things that actually matter. The American people deserve to have the next three weeks with their candidates speaking on how they are going to help the nation get out of this economic crisis and move forward with a responsible energy plan. We do not deserve to see the "guilty by association" game because it just does not matter.

I will try to keep more on top of writing here because this sort of thing really lacks focus and I think I am doing myself a bit of a disservice by trying to talk about everything all at once. Ah well. We have another debate this week so I plan on writing something that night. We will see if I can manage to stick to that. Ha.