2005 February

Song of the Week - No Satisfaction

Toss in the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and the Velvet Underground into a blender with a few blues, and you get Black Mountain. This song is a great showcase for their rollicking bluesy rock and harmony. I checked this band out expecting a cross between Black Sabbath and Mountain, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Stream Whole Kings of Leon Album

Yea, baby! Stream all of the songs from the new Kings of Leon album, Aha Shake Heartbreak (pop up VH1 media player, requires Windows Media Player 9 or higher.) One of my favorite new albums in 2005, and has been at the top of my iTunes Top 25 song list. Songs I really dig are Taper Jean Girl and The Bucket.

The Case Against Zoloft

Lately in the news there’s been a lot of talk about Zoloft. Just recently, a 15-year old boy was sentenced to 30 years to life for killing his grandparents with a shotgun while they slept. He was taking Zoloft, however the jury felt he knew the difference between right and wrong. This post isn’t about whether the boy is innocent or guilty, but about a generation of kids growing up on chemicals, like Zoloft.

The excellent movie, Garden State, briefly touches upon this phenomenon. We’re seeing people growing up into adults, taking these chemicals and relying on them. What adverse effects will it have on people in the long run; on the decisions they make in life, and how they handle everyday tasks and emotions? Common sense dictates that our brains are very, very complex, and we shouldn’t tamper with it. There are defense mechanisms plus checks-and-balances that are naturally built into our brain and body. We’re built to withstand the worst and expect the best.

However, we live in an age where people don’t want to exert willpower and make an effort for a better life. People don’t want to know the difference between right and wrong. Some don’t want to sit still and smell the roses. I was one of them. I took Zoloft for a while, and it didn’t help. It made my situation worst.

What I needed to do, and eventually did, was rely on natural chemicals my body produces to counter the depression, and learn how to deal with my own problems, not run away from them. We’re so fond of running, but I found out real quick running led me nowhere but on the same path that I started on.

There’s a quote from a book I read that hits it on the nail, and is well worth remembering: “Attitude is the mind’s paintbrush, it colors every situation.”

Birthday Goodies

Turning 26 must be something special, as this birthday was a lot nicer than last year’s. I got a bunch of stuff, mostly bought with my own money (you know, buy yourself your own presents keeps the humble ego at bay) although I did get a nice present that I didn’t buy myself. Here’s what I got:

• Steinhausen Marquise SL Watch - Given to me by my roommate’s best friend as a way of saying thank you for being so good to her best friend. I haven’t worn a watch since I was 12, and it was a simple Thundercats watch. This is a $200+ watch that is nice, and simple. No advanced features, just an antique look and beautiful functionality. Doesn’t even run off a battery, instead relying on your body’s movement to provide energy. Turns out this was a fake.
• Wusthof Grand Prix 7-Piece Block Set - The ultimate knives for all cooking needs, these knives are the crème de la crème of the cutlery world. These kind of knives mean less accidents, greater control over your cuts/slices/dices, and a lifetime enjoyment in the kitchen. With my old knife, doing any knife work was a chore and a bore, but with these, my confidence and productivity has increased tenfold. Well worth the investment.
• Henckels Premier Series Opus 45-Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set - To replace the embarassing set my roommate bought for $1 (no, that is not a typo.) I’m a minimalist by nature, I favor simple, elegant, and clean styles. This flatware set emphasizes that and I think guests will love it too.
• J.A. Henckels Flatware Tray - To store the new flatware in. The cheap blue plastic one I’m using would make even the best silverware look horrible.
• Corelle Just White 34-Piece Dinnerware Set - This is to replace the very heavy set we’re using now. They have flower designs on them, and are distracting when putting food on them. Which is why I favor white plates; they highlight the food and not distract the eater’s attention. Should look nice with the new flatware set too.
• Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 12-Inch Everything Pan with Dome Cover - It’s hard to find a pan without aluminium (possibly causes Alzheimer’s), and even more difficult find a quality non-aluminium pan that suits my needs. Fortunately I found this pan, at a great price, and will meet my needs everyday.
• Komachi Series 6-1/2-Inch Vegetable Santoku Knife - My roommate has been using this old Japanese vegetable knife for too long. This knife will replace it, and at least start a few conversations about how odd the Japanese are, although you can’t deny they may be odd, but focus on quality too. You won’t find much of that here in America.
• Matfer Exopat Nonstick Baking/Roasting Sheet - No need for aluminium foil when you have this on your cookie sheet. It’s non-stick, to boot.

Song of the Week - Louis XIV

Bringing back the sexual overtones in lo-fi sonic rock, Louis XIV (Bio) started out as a personal project, but grew into a national phenomenon, and even infected the limeys on the other side of the pond. Making judicious, ane excellent, use of the handclaps, this song of the week, named after the band, reminds you of what real raw rock can sound like all over again.

Age Rumors

Any rumors alleging that I just turned 26 years old are false. This rumor started last year for some reason, and it is getting a bit old. Let’s stop the rumor, okay?

Shinedown covers Simple Man

Three decades ago, Lynyrd Skynyrd revolutionized rock by infusing it with a certain southern flair. Being from Jacksonville myself, where the band grew up, the band has been a big part of my musical upbringing. My dad married the woman who was formerly married to Billy Powell, keyboardist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band was a household fixation.

Just recently, my dad pointed out a Jacksonville hard rock band called Shinedown. My dad’s favorite song by Lynyrd Skynyrd is Simple Man. Shinedown covers this excellent song, and they did a really great job doing it. Their media section has a video of their cover of Simple Man. However the site doesn’t seem to be able to handle streaming traffic very well, as even the 56k version of the video stuttered on my DSL connection.

With that in mind, I’ve made available the video of Simple Man here (right click and choose Save Target As) (13.6MB) and also a MP3 here (7.7MB). If you like their work, I suggest visiting their site and buying their albums.