few and far between

Holy hell, guys, it's been a while, huh?

Sorry, I've been tied up on the job-search front, among other things.

Anyway... 

Artists to watch:

MGMT- Brooklyn-based Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden have definitely tipped the scales for new and exciting stuff. I've got a couple friends who just adore MGMT, telling me nearly every chance they get that I should really be listening to them. I agree. Their electronic pop displays the technological trend of today's music, but you will be hard-pressed to avoid bopping your head or tapping your foot along with their catchy, groove-able tracks. I recommend "Kids" and "Love Always Remains" from Time to Pretend - 2005, Cantora Records) to get yourself acquainted with the absolutely addicting melodies.

Staind- I know, I know, they've been around forever. But- two things I didn't know- they're from my mom's hometown of Springfield, MA; and their song "Epiphany" (Break the Cycle -2001, Flip Records & Elektra Entertainment Group) has got to be the most heart-wrenching track I've heard in probably months. Couple that with the fact that I've been reading Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga this week (started the first book Monday, finished the fourth & final on Saturday night), and I've found the perfect sad-song, high-school-emotion-laden soundtrack for a week of introspection, evaluation, and probably too much mental digging for my own good. But hey, the melody of "Epiphany" is simply beautiful, hummable, and crystal clear.

Trey Anastasio- Yes, you know him as the lead singer for the groovy jam-band Phish, but did you know that he had a few solo albums? The only one I have is his self-title, Trey Anastasio (2002, Elektra Entertainment), but this album's still got to be one of my favorites for an instant mood-lifter. Its jazzy, jumpy melodies and contemporary, yet cool, vocals can make even the longest, grayest, wettest day seem like summer on the beach. The harmonies on this album, I'll pick "Drifting" as an example track (though the album is full-to-brimming with more), are sumptuous and smooth, perfectly matched to Anastasio's easy, everyday vocals. This album is just delicious, and so inoffensive, you'll think it was made for your kids. And yes, they'll probably like it too. Equally as flooring might be the majestic instrumental "At the Gazebo," with its regal horns, fluttering guitar, and dramatic strings, which makes me want to clap my hands and request the band play it again. Chills, friends. There are chills tickling my spine.

That's it for now. I'll try not to be such a stranger.

New Green Day hits stores today!

But I got it last night. I shall not reveal my sources. Call it an industry insider thing.

Today's the first I've heard the whole thing, and I only heard half of "Know Your Enemy" once on the radio, a couple days ago, actually.

But I'll tell you, barely a quarter way through 21st Century Breakdown, I already know it will join the list of forever-on-my-iPod-albums. 

I'm writing this during my first spin, so I don't have a whole lot to say about the individual tracks yet, but I can tell you that "Before the Lobotomy" and "Last Night on Earth" display a touch of Billie Joe Armstrong's notorious soft side, but in a much cooler way than lite-radio classics "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and "Good Riddance."

The only negative thing I can say about this album is that I'm not really sure I like the whole "rock opera," or one story broken into 18 similarly-veined tracks for the 2nd album in a row (especially after it's been so long in between releases- five years, was it?). I loved, and still really enjoy, listening to American Idiot, but Breakdown :almost: feels like we're re-living it.

And of course, there will be people who claim that Green Day's more evolved sound is crap and that they should have stuck to their formula from the early days (you'll hear similar arguments about Blink-182, Unwritten Law, the Offspring, Bad Religion, etc.). But see, people grow, get older, change their tastes, and acquire new influences. I've got to hand it to them, I think Green Day's sound has aged quite handsomely over the years.

If you like these guys at all, you should invest in the new album. For real. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

addendum

There are two more things I would like to say in the music-related category.

First, I have been listening to a lot of Jack Johnson lately- not my own choosing, my iTouch just throws it at me. My significant other is fond of saying that his iPod Nano "Jack Johnsons [him] to death." I wouldn't go quite that far, but I get a lot of it on my iTouch, and it's great for summertime top-down driving.

Also, as I sat in my friend's apartment this evening, I realized that listening to David Bowie is like hearing liquid gold covered in smooth dark chocolate, and everyone should do it once a day.

That is all I have to say for the evening.

I digress...

First and foremost, I'm going to rip off my pal Nik's site (www.pastadivingjeter.com) to tell you that:

Google insists that I mention the following:

• Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on this site.
• Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to this site’s users based on their visit to this sites and other sites on the Internet.
• Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

Since there are ads on my page, they come from the same place, and heaven forbid someone actually has an issue with them, now you know. (Thanks, Nik, I knew you'd understand.)

In other news, I feel the need to share with you all some of the current job-search-frustrations I'm experiencing. Please feel free to skip this post entirely if you only came here to find out who I'm spinning this week (it hasn't changed since my last post).

As you may already know, I am unemployed. 

I was laid off on January 30, 2009, from a job I enjoyed, by a boss who did not want to let me go, but was left with no other choice when the economy continued to accelerate on its already rapid nosedive. 

Of course, after allowing myself a week or two of ruminating on my misfortune, I conceded that it was time to update my resume, and with a little help from my sister, I began actively searching for re-employment elsewhere. I'm over the feeling of personal injury one typically experiences during such a traumatic event, and have begun to relax a little, enjoying my time at home, and even considering it an extended vacation- but without the restaurants, fanny pack, and amusement parks.

I suppose I should tell you that previously, I was a buyer at a metal distributor. In layman's terms, that means I am mostly S.O.L for finding a similar position elsewhere right now, as most companies are looking to SELL tons of product, and if possible, not PURCHASE anything.

I have created "please-read-my-resume" profiles at multiple job board sites and attempt to "update" my professional summary (i.e., change punctuation or hit enter and delete- any activity is updating) at least twice a month, so that it stays fresh in the listings and attracts more views than the rest of the unemployed masses. 

If you've used monster.com lately, you're probably experiencing the same amount of disgust I am with their layout and search options. It's bulky. There are way too many things on my home page that I never use, search options are getting too elaborate, and, oh yeah, three out of five companies to whom I might want to send my resume require that I submit a full professional profile (with information identical to that which I have posted on monster.com) through their own Web site, using an embedded application such as Taleo, or something similar.

Reader, I ask you: What is the point? Why must I spend 20 minutes doing this again if the information is already available through the directing job site? If these companies are trying to ensure that I am not a robot attempting to flood their HR inboxes with phony applicants, then they would do better to team with monster.com and require applicants to decode a "Captcha" or other "type the symbols you see in this box to validate your authenticity as a human being" tool. Am I wrong? Think about this. If I send fifteen resumes a day, and only six of the receiving companies accept applications directly through monster.com, I have spent approximately three hours entering information that is identical to that of my monster.com profile!  Yes, I know finding a Good Job is important, but aren't there better ways to spend three hours that don't involve mass redundancy?

I'm sure you can understand why I try very hard to avoid monster.com, except for those two occasions per month that I log in and make a small adjustment to some random information that might help me get my profile at the top of the list again, even if it means I'm being contacted for out-of-state jobs for which I'm not really qualified and don't really want. 

You say I'm being choosy? You bet. I've had my share of "it's a job" jobs- mostly because it's what you do when you're not in school, and I needed to show my parents that I was actually "going to work" every day. I'm sure I don't need to explain, though, that most of those don't pay the bills. I went to college, which means that along with my education, I acquired a student loan. I don't own my Jeep, Citifinancial Auto does. I have auto insurance, rent, electricity, propane, and a cell phone that sap my meager unemployment check dry every month, and old credit card debts that I had just begun to eliminate when I lost my job. And as I refuse to be frustrated and miserable at my next job, you'd better believe that I won't settle for any old paycheck.

Am I bitter? Perhaps. Am I doing something about it?

Yes.

I am active on Facebook. Oh yes, it can be used as more than just an outlet for such drivel as "ohmigosh did you see who she's with now?!" As has been brought to my attention three times today alone (are you all trying to tell me something?), check your privacy settings. Yes, people are being fired due to questionable content on their Facebook pages, or being tagged in such a photo on a friend's page! Think of it this way- if you wouldn't want your boss or your mom to see it, either don't post it, or hide that s--t, homie!

Thanks to my dad, you can also find me at http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleytphillips. This is one of my favorite social networking sites, because it's not overrun by horny teenagers, photos of your drunk roommates, or that ex-boyfriend you try to avoid at all costs. LinkedIn is all about real professionals making real networking contacts, without all the job-search-site mumbo jumbo.

And then there's Twitter. I'll admit it- I'm an addict. I tweet several times a day. I'm known as "Jeepsterette." If I think of something interesting, or find a good video, cartoon, or article, I share it. I keep tabs on some of the bands I enjoy, follow Tony Hawk's vacation and skateboarding endeavors, and I have met quite a few like-minded Tweeps, with whom I share my love for all things Jeep (incidentally, check out allthingsjeep.com, or jeepworld.com, should you require... well...anything Jeep). 

Through Twitter, I have met quite a few friendly faces who share their encouragement during my job search (thank you, it really is appreciated). 

All of the Tweeps I follow are adults, most of them are business-people, and as a result, I have been privy to quite a few good articles about the economy and other job search tools (did you realize you can actually use Twitter for this purpose?). I even attended a Webinar this afternoon on using the aforementioned "social networking" sites to further the search, thanks to a comment I left on an article by user "HilzFuld." 

The world is not so big anymore, thanks to these new networking tools. Yes, it is a little frightening to think that almost nothing is private anymore, but then, it's all in what you choose to share, is it not?

a brief summer-ish interlude

First, I'd like to say one thing-

HOORAY it's gonna be WARM and SUNNY for the next few days, and it's top-down weather fer sherr...!

Ok, now that that's out of the way.

You've asked for it- my picks for convertible-friendly summertime tune-age.

Of course, there's the obvious:

+44 (Mark Hoppus & Travis Barker of Blink-182), When Your Heart Stops Beating (2006, Interscope)

There are 13 reasons to love this album. Every track is worth it. I've mentioned it before, without giving it a real good spin, but let me elaborate a little. I've had this in constant rotation on my iTouch lately. +44's got some pretty good lyrics, reminiscent, of course, of the Cure, but they kind of remind me of Unwritten Law, too- and if you know me at all, you know what a freak I am for UL. Yes, you'll have to jog the volume on a couple of tracks if you're stuck in traffic next to a minivan full of kids, but very briefly. I find myself humming bits and pieces from nearly every track, and the duet "Make You Smile" with Carol Heller is so sweetly performed that it always lifts my spirits, even if it's not exactly a happy song.

Angels & Airwaves, both albums

I'm pretty sure I don't really have to tell you what or why for these two. Just... get your hands on some, give it a spin. You'll see what I mean.

The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound (2008, Side One Dummy)

First things first- I must extend special thanks to DJH for sending me a boatload of tunes, some of which I've made permanent in my iTouch, and others I've yet to explore.

The Gaslight Anthem has this really cool retro rockabilly sound, minutely reminiscent of early Killers. I've not paid special attention to the lyrics just yet so I can't say for sure how traffic-jam-friendly this might be in the Jeep, but on the basis that GA's sound just plain gets me right *there* I'm gonna have to recommend that you acquire The '59 Sound. Even better, they're local- New Brunswick, NJ- which makes me very happy to spread their sound all over town. For real- that's how big things happen.

stellastarr*, Stellastarr* (2003, BMG)

stellastarr* was another of the artists I picked from D's collection. (They also give me reason to use the most asterisks I've ever used in three inches of space, which is no easy feat since that particular function of my keyboard is broken.)

I'm not really sure how describe their sound, except to say that it kind of reminds me of 80s-era rock, but, like GA, contains rockabilly elements as well. I know I've told you that "My Coco" is easily one of my new fave tracks, and that still stands. It makes me want to dance like crazy. The rest of this album is great- totally unique guitar riffs, incredible melodies and harmonies, and the lead singer is just awesome, because of his vocal range and his overall tonality- it's just so incredibly unique, you won't hear very many others like him. They're kind of local, New York City, and I dig that.

The Airborne Toxic Event, The Airborne Toxic Event (2007, The Island Def Jam Music Group)

Gonna have to watch the volume on this one, I've caught an f-bomb already, but this wall of sound masterpiece is exquisite. I must be after a particular sound these days, because this album is strongly reminiscent of both The Gaslight Anthem and stellastarr* in their rockabilly/80s new-wave feel, but something about these bands just makes me want to crank the volume louder. The more I listen, the more I can feel The Strokes shining through their sound, and "Happiness is Overrated" will surely bring The Clash to mind.

ATE takes their name from a Don DeLillo novel, which I've mentioned, and I still don't like the book, White Noise. Definitely worth a listen, though, and I'll tell you right now- "Gasoline" will get you moving. 

I've got no idea where they came from, but I can feel album hitting super heavy rotation on my iTouch.

Railroad Earth (no album specified)

Yep, it's formal this time. I'm sure a handful of you are aware how much I dig this band.

They're very local- from Stillwater, NJ (we almost rented a cabin there)- and it's kind of difficult to really label them as any particular genre. There are absolutely country and bluegrass elements in their tunes, but also some trippy psychedelic sounds (listen to the live recording of "Goat" from the Yarmony Grass show, 8/17/2008, available from archive.org), and of course, my favorite- sweet jammy goodness. And why not, when RRE will often toss a Grateful Dead cover into their live repertoire? 

My favorite track changes with every spin- really- but I think I alternate between "Goat" and "Long Way to Go" (The Good Life, 2004, Sugar Hill Records), "Railroad Earth" and "Seven Story Mountain" (which, conveniently, has just rolled up in my playlist- remember the psychic iTunes? From The Black Bear Sessions, 2004, Bos Music), and "Old Man and the Land" (Elko, 2006, SCI Fidelity Records). 

To date, I've heard lead singer Todd Sheaffer drop the F-bomb twice in all of their albums, in "Standin' on the Corner" (Amen Corner, 2008, SCI Fidelity Records). For damn good reason: "Fuckin' price of oil, fuckin' price of heat." Folks, it doesn't get much more honest than that, considering where we've been financially with both of those necessities. Am I wrong?

That's enough for now, methinks. 

Whether you're riding with the top down or just the windows open, enjoy your summer- we're supposed to have a handful of warm days beginning with today, and you better believe I'm ready! 

I just loaded up my iTouch with some of my favorites, including a recording of the totally awesome RRE show I saw in September, which I am spinning as we speak.

does your radio read your mind?

Ever get a song stuck in your head, not a popular song, just any song- and hear it on the radio the same day? 

Happens to me all the time.

How about having a particular favorite song, falling asleep with the radio on, and waking up seconds before it comes on the radio?

Again.. all the time.

What I really get a kick out of, though, is that yesterday I was riding home from Mom-a-tron's house, thinking, "how weird would it be if I started the Jeep on Easter Sunday and heard, like, Metallica (since it's like, "devil music," say some), on the radio (since my radio's never off) the moment it turned over?"

Guess what.

Apparently, I'm psychic. 

My favorite by far, however, is listening to something, anything, shuffle, on my iTouch, and I'm really groovin' to something, and when it's over, I think, "it sure would be awesome to hear (insert catchy tune here) right now," and bing!, it rolls up in my playlist.

Question, and really think about this one:

Does my radio read my brain waves; 

or-

does my brain read the radio waves?

A note...

Dear Summer,

Please hurry. You've been gone an awful long time, and we sure do miss you. We have lots of fun stuff planned for when you get here. Also, can you please bring just a little less rain when you come back this year? We sure do like the mud, but we like riding around with the top down a whole lot more.

Signed,

Ashley's Jeep.

Apparently we had to get that missive out of the way before the real writing could begin. 

But with that being said, summer is coming, folks! Rejoice! Hooray! 

Now that you know I drive a convertible, I'm sure it's of no surprise that one of my favorite things ever is "riding around with the top rolled down and the radio on" (Billy Joel - Scenes from an Italian Restaurant) on a sunny summer day. 

Of course, one must be very selective about what music to broadcast when you know that several other people will hear it. Because of my prudish personality, I refuse to listen to anything that contains excessive swear words, or otherwise obnoxious or offensive content. I'm not sure if you realize just how much this limits the "cool" music selection.

For instance: I would never, ever, listen to, say, ABBA at nearly top volume in the open air & sunshine. ABBA = not cool. Ditto for such artists as Enya or Yanni.

Likewise, you would be hard-pressed to find Guns N' Roses in my playlist during the summer, for although I do enjoy listening to such classics as "Get in the Ring" and "Used to Love Her" in the privacy of my own home, I don't believe that the kids in the minivan next to me need to be exposed to that kind of content or language. And as much!! as I love Blink-182, you will absolutely find me turning down the volume once in a while if I hit an intersection just right. 

I believe in decorum and common decency, and just as it's now illegal to watch porn in your vehicle with rear-facing monitors so that little kids can see it, I feel it should be illegal to play offensive music so loud that little kids (and grandmas and moms and your Uncle Joe) can hear it clearly.

One of my favorites for top-down cruising, and I can tell you right now that this definitely comes from my oldest sister, is Paul Simon's "Graceland" album. And not just because it's inoffensive, cheerful, melodic, and has an extremely high sing-along value. No, this has nearly everything to do with the memory of playing hooky with my sister on a spring day in college, grabbing ice cream and driving around local cemeteries to look for signs of our family tree, in her Cabrio, with the top down. 

I suspect this summer will bring the return of my Bob Marley phase (Bob's always perfect for summertime tune-age, there's no denying that island feeling), and I forsee making a few tough decisions to make room on my iPod for some Sublime. These are summer songs for me, "Badfish" and "Rivers of Babylon" have all the imagery of sunshine, sunglasses, and a heat wave behind them.  

I want to know- what do YOU groove to in the summer? Who thumps your speakers? Do you find yourself going back to a handful of artists from days past, or do you use the summer to find new classics? Tell me. Don't be shy. You might just give me some ideas.