Saturday, December 26, 2009

Stuck inside a house with the christmas blues again!

Well, since ash and I were stuck in ames, we went to Hollywood Video knowing that they are going out a biz soon, and they totally had a bunch of movies we have been wanting to see for CHEAP to buy so we pick up Whatever Works, Synecdoche New York, For your Consideration, NO country for Old Men, and Milk.. all for under 5 bucks a piece... so totally good score...

Whatever Works, the later Woody Allen film, has bits and pieces from a lot of his other films, but We both enjoyed it a ton, Larry David is great in it and does a wonderful WOODY impression! The story is pretty great too, and as always some totally killer one liners in it.. We have watched it twice...


Ok For your consideration comes from the great Chistopher Guest who brought us Best in Show, and A mighty Wind, this time a few has been or never been actors get some oscar buzz and it goes to their heads.. this is pretty great as well... Parker Posey ruled in this.


Well we have also watched Synecdoche New York which fucking blew my mind, CHarlie Kaufman who wrote Adaptation wrote and directed this one and oh my gosh its one of the finest most fucked up films I have ever seen! Philip Seymore Hoffam is just amazing and this is one of those movies you could watch 100 times and still not catch everthing.. what a trip, a lovely one though! See this movie.. WHY this did not win best picture is beyond me!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Vic Chesnut

I just put Vic Chesnut in my album to hear for the year.. my buddy ryan gave me a copy of the record he did with the guys from Fugazi and Godspead you Black Empor.. So it bums me out that it has been both reported that he is in a a coma from a suicide attempt and some reports that he is now dead?

EIther way he is a legend of the indie rock singer song writer world and I have many friends who have played with him, in fact Jimmy from Folklore and Elf Power who I just traded emails back and forth a few weeks back helped edit a tour film of Vic, and elf power in Europe that pitchfork just showed recently...

Vic is a total legend and I remember the first time i heard him was at fellow Wheatlord Jed Zwagerman's house in Sibley...
anyway... I will be thinking bout VIc today!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

some... of Renee's Shoreline's Favorite Albums of 2009!

Well again Im not going to make any fancy ass mo fo of a list but I will say YO LA Tengo top my albums list with a close friends right behind! Here Some albums you should all own this year!

Popular Songs Yo La Tengo
Never sticking to one style and doing every style oh so well, you cant deny the awesomeness of what I think might be the greatest indie rock band ever!! I know big words with Pavement and GBV always around but the last 6 Yo La Tengo records have been nothing but great! here is the proof...


Your Gonna Glow In the Dark Christopher the Conquered
I think this might be about as well crafted of a record that has ever come out of IOWA... Its is truly amazing and Chris's performances and mix of this record was just phenominal! The amazing songs dont hurt either! Congrats buddy, This one will be hard to top but I know its in ya! you rule

I'll Stop Loving You, by Christopher the Conquered from TAPES FOR LIFE on Vimeo.



Dark Night of the Soul David Lynch, Danger Mouse, Sparklehorse and Friends Man usually and all star type collaboration would probably kinda suck but this record that technically never got released but lucky NPR was streaming it for a long while and I dug into it Day after Day... I loved all the songs,, It features members of Super Furry Animals, the strokes, pixies, iggy pop, Jason lytle.. its just wonderfull.. Here is the tune with Julian from the strokes!


Actor St. Vincent
Just love the vibe and production on this one.. some really lovely rocking stuff but also the lyrics to the PARTY kinda killed me..


Album Girls The second i heard this record i knew it was going to be huge, cause Its kinda goofy but kinda could be precieved as having a lot of heart behind it..
The one thing you can deny is the band makes some good catchy lo-fi pop with some killer videos and have 1 hell of a publiscist!


Keep At Hand Minorcan
IF you like the Band's basement tape this is about as close as you would get in the year 2009, Ryan Anderson's songs all take on a classic timeless type feel that make some one like BOB Dylan who he is.. When I listen to this record I get that same vibe that Im hanging On every word.. Its so wonderful!


Get Guilty AC Newman
Well what can you say about AC Newman I almost forgot about this album since it came out in January of 2009 but the thing about it that make AC what he is, he is so consistant and talented.. He is a true pop genius, like a Mc Cartney where even if its not the best of his work you should listen cause you can learn a thing or two about writing songs from this guy!


Floating Action Floating Action
Yep this is one that probably pass most people up this year, but damn this record is so amazing! It sounds like it was recorded in the early 60's in some hut in Jamaca... Perfect soulful party music in my book! I would love to make a killer movie and use some of these tunes! love THIS! go get it on PARK THE VAN RECORDS.. they also recorded my favorite Daytrotter Session of the Year!


Video Musics Alexis Gideon
Man every morning when I was working this record I would watch the Video for Brimstone Blaine to get me pumped up for work! ANd it always worked.. This is probably the record Ashley and I quoted the most this year.. Alexis was also apart of some of the coolest concerts I saw this year!


the Mystery Mines Pennyhawk
This lovely album I got the chance to review for the Ames Progressive music issue and it is just so lovely and amazing and full of cool lo-fi production and songs with an intense feel that turns your blood inside... Just amazing! Get this record!




Modern Science Casper and the Cookies
Yep this is an epic album and I got to see a lot of these songs live before they were recorded but Im always impressed by Jason's production but on this record he went above and beyond.. Some people might say well they could have cut a few songs on this but I love that its so long and the 17 minute experimental side of the album is just incredible... the song NEW DAY ZERO is one of my all time faves! well done friends GO AND GET THIS RECORD FOLKS I got mine on red vinyl..
here is little kings


Well I cant leave with out atleast mentioning a few other records I enjoyed this year.... But I wanted to give some love to these bands above but you should also get records by the Flaming lips, the New Bodies, Jason Lytle, Super Furry Animals, Circulatory System, grizzly bear, wilco, Jordan Mayland, Camera Obscura, Fishboy, Julian Cassabalas, the Mumfords, Nuclear Rodeo, the Big Pink, listen to all Beck's Record Club, Destroyer, Woods, Cass Mc Combs, Bill Calahan, God Help the Girl, Anders Ponders, THe mountain goats, VIc Chestnut, Neko Case, Sonic Youth, Spiral Stairs, Shelley Short, One for the Team, Atlas Sound, Kurt Vile, Neon Indian, and go ahead and pick up that Animal Collective record just for shits, blips, and gigles

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Renee's Shoreline's Favorite songs of 2009!

Well I'm not going to do some fancy ass list of my fave songs of the year but I thought I would share a few that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside in 2009! I'm limiting this to 1 per artist! so its not just all Yo La Tengo...

Don't Stop Loving Me Now Floating Action
Man I love this song, and the whole album is just amazing! I bet it would make Jeremy Grace's next Splifed out Mix cd...
If I was a Pot smoker I would love to get high to this,, best thing about it, you dont need the weed.. the music does the trick!


If It's True Yo La Tengo
Well its always nice when one of your favorite bands of all time, gives you an album you just adore all the way through.. This track is my fave, I love it cause its a perfect love song for a married couple, Ash and I did a lot of soul searching this year and this song totally fit in with that, so I dedicate this one to my lovely hard working wife!


Helium Hearts Super Furry Animals
I went on a lot of runs this year, and every time this songs popped up on random I ran just a little bit faster, its got some incredible sounds in it! And anyway song that talks about VEGIMITE is ok by me!


Sudden Spring Minorcan
Well Ryan Anderson has been one of my favorite song writers from the past decade, I have got lucky enough to put out his music, play live with him, but most heart warming was getting to play on his latest record and helping record it... It's one of the finest pieces of music I have ever had the pleasure to work on... All the songs on the record are so incredible and you should pick it up here... Blood on the Vinyl Records Here is a killer version of Sudden Spring live in Austin TX..
The line that kills me the most on this one is "when I look into your eyes, its the best record i heard played all night"


Come Monday Night God Help The Girl
Man I love everything Belle and Sebastion have done and this is no different.. I remember when this video came out, there was a hushed conversation about wether we were supposed to like the song or as it was so elequently put get a boner... WELL for me the song kills no visual needed!


Insane Idiots Christopher the Conquered
Man one of the best things I did this year was record my boy Chris Ford's new album.. It's so amazing! The lyrics, music, passion, heart and soul were all thrown into the making of this new classic! My favorite song from the record is Insane Idiots which has everything I could ever want in a pop song.. But its not just a pop song it's full of the first of many magical moments on his album Your Gonna Glow in the Dark! Just amazing! The haters got to me on this one! pick it up on Itunes or where ever you buy your records... Here is a performance from the Ames progressive that I filmed!

Christopher the Conquered Live @ The Ames Progressive Office! from TAPES FOR LIFE on Vimeo.



Marrow St. Vincent
Man I was totally taken by St, Vincent's new album Actor.. It's full of fantastic production, killer guitar work and just a great vibe all the way through.. This song stood out the most to me, Ashley describes it as "FIONA APPLE MEETS NINE INCH NAILS" sounds good to me! Here is a killer live version from Letterman


Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura New record is full of killer one liners, references to classic Paul Simon songs and wonderful lush production...
They are one of those bands who always put the best song on the album first so somethimes when you get the record you have it in your car and it takes you a week to get to track two if you know what I mean! Case in point!


Two Weeks Grizzly Bear
Yep that video was awesome, if you havent seen this give it a watch, the music is totally like that one song by Regina Spector a few years back, but I love the piano loop and the back ground vocals, the bass is pretty amazing too... Just a doozy!


Worm Mountain The Flaming Lips
Yep the lips were back with a super fun psycadelic mess of an album that had some great weird sounds on it.. and This song was my favorite with its disgruntled groove and blown out production.. its fills the headphones to the point where they sound like they might burst.. Its nice the lips are taking some chances again.. I dug this.


Gabe Saucedo Hates My Guts Fishboy
You know I dont know why Fishboy wants Gabe (from Red Pony Clock) to be his biggest fan, He knows that I am and will always be... Fishboy makes some of the finest pop music in the whole wide world.. He is dedicated to his craft and I feel like a kindred spirit with him that we both want to make music that has repeat value and some kid somewhere will think its the best! Well Fish you got those fans, Who cares if its not Gabe! Pick up Nom the fantastic EP Fishboy released this year on Vinyl from his or head to Itunes


When I'm With You Best Coast
Best Coast is the perfect band to fill the void of no new Aislers Set record for like 6 years! I love this one.. Perfect just pefect cant wait to see what they can do on a whole record


Overjoyed Circulatory System
Well Lips I'm so glad you have great taiste and invited a true psych pop genius to All Tommorow's Parties this year.. I was a little under impressed with the new Circulatory album but listening back to it a few days ago, who the fuck am I fooling.. It's amazing and I love it! WELL done Will and the gang.. I love it so much!


Stars Eyes (I Can't Catch You) Sparklehorse, David Lynch
This album Dark Night of the Soul was so fantastic all the way though... A all star collaboration, but I wanted to pick the great work of Sparklehorse cause they have made some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard in my life!


Well there were many more good ones, but I wanted to share these with you, so long 2009! xoxo

Monday, December 21, 2009

wolves video

This is cool, ERIC looks like he is where Sleepy pants on in parts of this!!
This is one of my fave songs from Wolves great debut album I got lucky enough to record a few years back! Sounds and looks great

This is really awesome I love it!

I guess some animation will be added to make it look like this!

wwwweakend!

Man what a weak end to the weekend, Man the vikings sucked last night, just awful I hope they can play a little better next monday night geez that sucked!

Ok so my friday night was pretty good, we watched CAPE FEAR, which freaked ash out a bit but love Deniro and Nic Nolte, jessica lange and Juliette Lewis are all so incredible in it! seriously fantastic acting! Then we watch AWAY WE GO, with the dude from the office it was alright not quite Cape Fear but oh well!

Then Friday night I went over the Jordans house for the Nuclear Rodeo CD release show, this was fun but last time I went to jordans was the night I puked! so I had a plan to be home kinda early, but that didnt work out, lets just say when I got home at 4:30 in the morning ash was kinda pissed since we were heading to Des Moines at 8:30 since she had a body wrap at 10 am..

Anyway I got up with a terrible hang over so, ash got me a massage at the body wrap place but it was a bit brutal only a half hour and I never knew how good I had it here at home!

Then we rocked Merle Hay for some killer shopping and we did well, I got to see the H1N1 Santa who wouldnt let the kids sit on him so that was pretty classic, I also realized that I lost my credit card a few night earlier at LEGENDS in ames!

Ok the best thing that happen at the mall was I was in the GOLF shop seeing if they had something for my dad which they didnt but their was a high school looking kid with a huge afro working in there and as we were leaving the store he said, "hey man, LOVE THE PCC" so that made my day, but it was even better later when we walked by the store and the kid putting balls into a little cup! totally classic!

Anyway I found out on Saturday Ashley used to hate it when people called her, "KIDO" like your just a KID what do you know, but Now she loves it cause it makes her feel young, so I started saying everthing with KIDO on the end of it now... I think she got annoyed.. YOu want to eat something Kido! We need to get some Gas kido. Should we get this wraped Kido.. You wanna do it Kiddo.. Just kidding..

Anyway we hit up with Thai Flavors which I was paying for the next day on the SPICY factor if you know what I mean! OK, but the scariest thing that happend this weekend is the Christmas COOKIES we got from COLLETTE and Darin our lovely friends from Ames, But We think they might be trying to tell us something......
GODFATHER STYLE

This is where I scream in bed!

Friday, December 18, 2009

remember when MTV

Remember when MTV actually played videos! Not that I have had it since 1999 but dang I remember loving everything from Guns N Roses to Boyz To Men, I'm thinking Jimmy Fallen was totally in the same boat as me, So I have to give him huge props for bringing Boyz to men on to play the Classic Motownphilly with THE ROOTS who also call philly home! This rules!

Well done Jimmy keep em coming!

WTF of the Day



this brings up my favorite joke ever!
What happend when KISS TOOK off the make up and made an album?
15,000 women asked for their blow jobs back!

Optical Atlas Well DOne!

Ok so Jeff over at Optical Atlas has done an incredible 2000's review of the Elephant 6 collective full of things I have never seen which I loved including this amazing interview with John and Robert of the apples from 120 minutes that I have never seen, including Robert fast talking and even dropping a SHIT on TV.. and John trying to save him! THIS RULES


CONGRATS TO JEFF ON this KILLER time line review!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Hold On tight TO your dreams

Well I saw the first ever play at the Ames Progressive last night and it was pretty good, the opening was a dude pissing on a bum and at the end the bum got stabbed with a box cutter in the abs! SO in other words it was a very family friendly production..

I saw the movie FOOD INC the other day, I thought it was a very well make DOC.. and pretty much made me never want to eat again! but then again ashleys mom nancy just sent me two boxes of this killer Raw Bars.. that i love for christmas 3 down already today! I need to stop!

Oh well, I gave ashley her CHristmas present! We decided this year not to give actually present but take each other on a date! So Naturally I had to out do her and we are flying to Orlando, Flordia for 5 days at the end of Jan.. Im super stoked and so is she! Its going to be nice to get out of Iowa for a bit!

Man I have been reading a whole shit ton about the new Apples in Stereo record that coming out this spring and all I can say to the boys is

Monday, December 14, 2009

Welcome to the Jungle

oops my man Axl busted some dudes face in an airport!

Welcome to the Jungle
sh na na na na na na neaz neaz

Hope the guy DONT CRY after this happend

FULL HOUSE WEEKEND!

Man I had such a great weekend!
my best bud from High School Matt Travaille and his lovely wife (also bud from high school) came to stay with us on Friday and Saturday...
And my sis, Becky her hubby Tom, and the 3 coolest kids in the world Cole, Merrick, and Macy stayed with us on Friday so we had a killer full house!

It was great seeing the kids, MACY was really social and let me hold her a bunch and was super smiley and Merrick and Cole and fun beating on my pink drum kit for about and hour, they were both Naturals and with combined powers could give Ringo a run for his money! And were way Cuter then Ringo ever was!

So that was a blast and Im so glad they stayed!

As for Matt and Amanda we drank lots of beers ate some good food and talked a ton, about the past present and future!
Got to see some wedding photos and Got to have lunch with another high school buddy Kelsey Wallace...

So Im so glad we had a full house it was so fun!

Also The vikings game was so good yesterday, and the Wheatsfield Christmas party ruled as well! MORE BEERS AND A TON OF GREAT VEGAN food.. SO ALL IN ALL it was the best weekend in a long time!

We even got some christmas shopping done! Now its snowing, icey and I have to do some spread sheets for work BLA!

But tonight we are going to go to the first ever play at the Ames progressive which im stoked about!
also pretty stoked about this DVD coming out

The White Stripes: "Let's Shake Hands"

THE WHITE STRIPES | MySpace Music Videos

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Man when I fall

Man when I fall I fall hard, and lately I have been just loving the band the FACES..
Pat stolley the dude who recorded the last 2 pcc albums compared us to them, and he compares them to the stones! Well he wrong about the comparison to us, but WTF I will take it.. He also said to me once that I was the Indie rock Rod Stewart.. Which totally gets Ashley wild probably my grandma too, I dont see it but I am loving the Faces!
Take this stones....

there piano player is soooooo good!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

RUN Down

man lots going on around here besides mother nature dumping a shit ton of snow on us! I have been out scooping twice already today.. Im going to fucking stay a head of this shit this year!

Today I realized shoveling is so much better while listening to music! so the IPOD is charging as we speak!

Ok run down of shit..
well today marks the 29 years since John Lennon was shot.. so I give you one of my faves here is the making of the classic song
"GOD"

THere is some nice things Ringo says about doing drum fills on the song, which reminds me Of Donald E.
NEVER DOING A FILL THE SAME WAY TWICE.. love it!

OK next one of my favorite female artist of all time has a new album coming out in Feb of 2010!
SADE comes down from her cloud every 5-8 years and drops a new soul classic every time!
Every song of hers has such incredible sexy groove..
Her new single, SOLIDER OF LOVE is really awesome! really awesome production with flares of heavy guitars and little tiny flashes of acoustic guitar hidden way in the mess.. she is so amazing! Check it out


And last but not least Im getting so pissed about all these albums of the decade lists.. I have not seen one list with Fiona Apples "Extrodinary Machine" This is album is pure fucking gold! I have chose to post my 6th favorite song from the album.. Think of an album that has 5 better songs then this...

thats what I thought!

Monday, December 7, 2009

My poor EJ Henderson

Man the vikes were bad last night,
Bad Tackling and Bad Blocking all around! And Brett and AP had the worst games of the season..
When it Rains it Pours the worst thing though was the injury to our start Linebacker EJ Henderson..
THis video is not for the weak of heart..

His leg looks like a baribie doll leg how you can spin it around!
OH BOY...

In other weekend news I had a blast playing a super fun HOUSE Show in ames.. I play a ton of songs I have never played solo and the crowed was sooooo cool! I loved it.. . It was a blast!

Christmas shopping on Saturday didnt amount to much and well yesterday the vikes sucked so It was not to good of a weekend for Me besides the house show.
OH well I hope EJ is ok and I hope this week is better. but its not starting off that way!!! SNNNNNNNNNNOW IS here!

Friday, December 4, 2009

good albums

well my year end best albums list is coming, its going to be a hard one! As I can say this is the first year where I dont have 10 albums that just blew my gord off!
But some albums have been getting better and better the more I hear them... Camera Obscura's is one of them.. and Lucky for my they did a nice little acoustic set, beatifully shot by THEY SHOOT MUSIC
Check it out

Thursday, December 3, 2009

You Cussing with me!

Ok so the other night I burnt the shit out of my back from a heating pad I left on it bed, It blistered its gross, BUT have no fear Movie theater seats are padded! Perfect for watching the new Wes Anderson CLASSIC... Fantastic Mr. Fox! This is by far the best movie I have seen all year and I want to go again! but I have a feeling it wont be in ames long.. WHY cause ash and I were in a theater with only 1 other person.. Which helps you have no problem when sneaking snacks in for the flick! We could chew as loud and we wanted and HELL I could have sat 15 rows away from ash and still talked..
Anyway go see it before it goes bye bye! Future DVD for sure!
the LOOK OF IT IS JUST AMAZING!

Check out one of the trailers!


then if your bored check out this funny short fishboy sent me with Will Arnet and Spike Jonze

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Holiday Cheer!

Man I had such a great thanksgiving, I will talk more about that once ash uploads her pictures from her I phone! There was lots of driving involved but it was totally worth seeing all of Ash's fam.. We had a great time!

Also I got some great news on T-day morning that JOE Terry would be flying in for the Poison Control Center show at the Vaud what a wonderful surprise and the show was such a blast! I got to see some footage from it yesterday shot by our buddy Andrew and it looked really cool! So I was stoked about that!

It was great hanging with the boys and Don even asked me to help DJ his wedding which im really stoked about!

Also in PCC news, We have a song on the EAR FARM Christmas Comp. Coming out.. 100% of the proceeds go to the Association to Benefit Children so its for a great cause and its got some cool bands on it too! Before we left for Thanksgiving ash and I shot a little promo video for it, and GOT busted at the Ames Mall Paul Blart style! Check it out here....

"Happy Christmas," by the Poison Control Center featured on "Do You Ear What I Ear," an Ear Farm Christmas Comp! from TAPES FOR LIFE on Vimeo.



And make sure you order you copy of the benefit cd from
EAR FARM