Week’s End Megapost: Jonsi, The White Octave, Ben Folds, Passion Pit, Yuck, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver

Son,

This world loves to continually beat me over the head to remind me that, however small I imagine it to be, it is still much too large in comparison. A couple weeks ago your mother and I made a stop in Jamsil at Quizno’s. It happens to be a semi-authentic slice of home that we have the pleasure of patronizing every so often while we’re in Korea.

We sat down with our Italian on wheat and I brought over some pickled things from the sadly barren condiment bar. We ate for a bit and started to sift through our plans for the remainder of the day. An expat couple happened to sit down next to us, and I didn’t think much of it. After all, it would be strange to make a big deal every time we saw other white people walking around.

“HEY! LOOK!!! SAME SKIN COLOR! THAT MEANS WE CAN BE FRIENDS, RIGHT?!?!”

Though you have to somewhat walk the line because you also don’t want to be that expat who doesn’t want to associate with other expats, because he is convinced that he was the first foreigner to ever have the idea to teach English in a foreign country.

“THIS IS MY COMPLETELY UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO LORD OVER OTHERS WHEN I RETURN TO THE STATES!!!”

So I was sure that this experience would be in line with past. We would both just do our own thing and pretend it wasn’t fun to eavesdrop on each others’ conversations, a rarity in a foreign country.

Then the man sitting next to us turned and said, “Your names are Dan and Serenity, right?”

Umm…yes?

Week’s End Mega-Post: Hot Hot Heat, Electric Light Orchestra, Faith No More, Mike Patton, Slick Shoes, Jets To Brazil, Jaw Breaker

Son,

I am terribly sorry for the absence of background music (BGM) for your humble abode this week. This was one of those weeks where I was able to scratch a task or two off of my to-do list only to slip behind again by begrudgingly adding three or four more to the bottom. I was still able to encounter songs throughout the week that I became excited about sharing with you, but the lack of time in a day became a tireless constraint that interposed itself between my desires and reality. This will be an all-inclusive post: a song for each day I missed this week to get us back on track. I won’t let it get the best of me.

Hot Hot Heat – Le Le Low

I was going to start the week off with this overwrought, old-school track from indie outfit Hot Hot Heat. These guys gained a bit of notoriety in the scene and beyond with their debut full length Make Up The Breakdown. Put out by clout-laden Sub Pop Records, the band had the proper backing to get some exposure for the album and the album’s single, Bandages. It’s a bit ironic that I was already kind of done with the band at the point most were finding out about them. I was a big fan of their earliest material. It was unrefined in a way that demanded attention. Le Le Low is a great track to demonstrate what initially drew me in. I actually used to play this song on a ghetto-rigged, self-run internet radio station while I was still in high school. Only a couple of friends listened to me as I cobbled together a garbled mess of a “radio show” but it was a fascinating experiment at the time.

Currently, Hot Hot Heat have abandoned everything that made them stand out ten years ago and that’s pretty much determined where I stand with them and their music.

Hit the break  for the rest:

Yo Gabba Gabba – Don’t Bite Your Friends

Son,

Now that your date of arrival is fast approaching, I figured I should do some research into kid’s music. Actually, I could continue trying to play it off as research, but your mother wouldn’t let it fly. I was actually obsessed with Yo Gabba Gabba long before you were conceived. The show was basically put together by some indie rockers who started having kids, and it’s all kinds of amazing. In fact, the music swami on the show is John Reis, former member/founder of such seminal bands as Drive Like Jehu, Rocket From The Crypt, and Hot Snakes.

So, in case you didn’t know, you shouldn’t bite your friends.

Koala Fires – All The World’s Been Staged

Son,

I am a fan of podcasts. Not only have I participated in/started up several, but I think they are great to listen to as well. Bite-sized (some larger than others) radio shows of content that you care about without the distillation of commercials that so easily ruins the small number of enjoyable programs left on the traditional radioscape. I really enjoy most of NPR’s programming but it is torturous to sit through the quarterly pledge drives. Podcasts remove the hassle. I hope they’re still kicking around and being used in even more creative ways when you’re older.

Ra Ra Riot – Can You Tell

Son,

The other day Johnny mentioned that he really likes (to listen to) the cello, and it sparked an urge in me to listen to Ra Ra Riot. Can You Tell is from their debut album The Rhumb Line. The album has such a great feel to it, and the benefits of having a full-time string section are very clear after one listen. This is an album I’m excited to play when you get here, just while resting around the house.

Oh, your mother and I read our respective birthing books last night. Mine is called The Birthing Partner and is probably from the 80’s. Let’s just say that some crazy stuff has to happen in order for you to get here. There are so many things no one tells you about birth for the sake of keeping things kosher. I’ll do the same with this blog, for now.

David Bazan – Don’t Change

Son,

I’m sick of blogging about not having enough time to blog. It’s lame.

Today is Friday and I’m desperately looking forward to the weekend. It’s been a long week, even though it’s been a short one. I’ve felt like I was playing catch up all week long and that can start to wear on a person. I can’t act like this just all comes upon me, though.

I am a lifelong procrastinator. Just ask your mother.

Murder By Death – Foxglove

Son,

I’m trying my best to keep up with this blog on a daily basis, but it is a huge task at times. With that being said, here’s a song from Murder By Death. Yes, I know the name is a bit redundant, but sometimes you need to be redundant to get the point across.

I like these guys.

They sound like they could be the soundtrack to any move set in the west during the 1800’s.

That’s a good thing.

Weird Al – Dare To Be Stupid

Son,

I was a little bit stumped on what to play for you today. Your mother told me, “Play something funny. It doesn’t have to be serious every day.” There was one glaring omission I made in my description of my childhood musical loves.

Weird Al Yankovic.

Yes, I had cassette upon cassette of Weird Al’s wacky parodies and maybe I was slightly embarrassed to mention it initially.

At this point, though, what can you do? I still think he’s hilarious, and he even had a track on one of the best 80’s movies ever: Transformers: The Movie.

Have fun today!

The Tallest Man On Earth – These Days

Son,

We went up to Ilsan yesterday. It’s on the outskirts of Seoul, and it was a nice change of pace from the total urbanity we usually find ourselves in here. We headed out to a man-made lake with a park around it, aptly titled “Lake Park.” Your mother wanted to get some pregnancy photos and we had the day off for Korean Memorial Day so it all worked out nicely.

We had fun and your mother coined the term “Preggers can’t be choosers.” Here’s a cover of Jackson Browne’s These Days from singer-songwriter The Tallest Man On Earth. It’s one of the best I’ve heard, and there are about a million.

Can’t wait to get some pictures of you out of the womb.

Jackson Browne – The Birds Of St. Mark

Son,

We’re finally getting settled into our new apartment. I think you’re going to like it. It’s incredibly spacious for a Korean apartment. We didn’t have too much to move in or arrange, but we definitely have more stuff than I had imagined when we first decided to go through with it.

Today was my day to take care of my boxes.

It was an incredibly normal and domestic day. There’s comfort in that.