Adam and I at Giza

There we are. Don't we just look like two peas in an Egyptian pod? Sorry this is the only photo on here, but it takes so damn long to load. Anyone who wants to see photos will have every opportunity to do so when they see me in person. Love you all.

I'm Not There, I'm Gone.

As probably every person who reads this knows, I am in Rome. I'm having an excellent time but I do not have wireless internet in my room and have no real need to get on the internet. I am going to essentially abandon both phone and internet besides what is absolutely necessary to focus on reading and writing. Because of this I won't be able to keep up on all the hip new things going on in music or be able to post songs for you online. If you want new music, check out the links on the right and use the links of their pages as well. Love you all, take care.

We Shall Walk Again

Van Morrison - "Everyone"

Here Van Morrison plays a love song. Maybe you recognize it from the impeccable ending of The Royal Tenenbaums. Van Morrison's got some serious soul. I highly recommend Moondance, the album this is from, and Astral Weeks if you don't already have them. His songs don't really send you screaming the lyrics from the window, but sit you down in a chair, and lull you into their groove.

The buy link.

It's Here, It's For Katelyn

The Mountain Goats - "Sax Rohmer #1"

This is the first song released from the new Mountain Goats record, Heretic Pride. John Darnielle said that this album would be a little darker, more intense than the lukewarm Get Lonely and that seems pretty believable after hearing this tune. This one would have sounded at home on The Sunset Tree as well. I don't want to say The Mountain Goats can do no wrong, but they would have to try pretty hard.

For more info. on the Mountain Goats and this album, click it.

A Song For You, Friends

Chriss Sutherland - "La Familia"

Pretty sadness is a tough thing. Maybe life would be great if you never had tough goodbyes, but maybe that would just mean there's no one sad to see you go. There are a few people I'm not looking forward to leaving, but as we head off to different places I'm glad there are those I love enough to be sad about.

More from that guy.

Paupers, Peasants, Princes, Kings

Bob Dylan - "Song to Woody"

What differentiates a good song from a great one? I don't think there are really that many truly great songs out there, but this is one of them. The first time I heard this song it was part of a class presentation I was giving. I just stood listening with my head down and after it was over, I stumbled through some half-assed conclusion and sat down, utterly devastated. I think that while good songs make you want to sing along and stir up feelings inside you, great ones have the power to silence you completely. I'm curious what other people think on this matter, and on this song in particular. I want to encourage anyone to read this to leave me a comment about it.

Bob Dylan's website has some good resources like lyrics and stuff, and to buy click here.

Rudy

Moviola - "Rudy"

This song reminds me of a completely apolitical CCR. Relaxed down-home instrumentation and some guy singing a humdrum low-life anthem make "Rudy" a pretty fine song. I guess these guys are from Ohio and have been making music for quite a while, but it doesn't really matter. Sometimes little songs are better than big ones. Come on.

More here.