We are moving to Rome!

Not Italy (maybe someday?), but Georgia! I will be a high school graphic design teacher at Darlington School, head swim coach, and assistant cross country coach. We are excited to say the least!

My wife is running the half-marathon in Nashville this weekend, I can’t wait to watch her.

My brother has 4 new songs of his online, they are pretty great: Acrefoot

The new Starflyer album is amazing! I have been a fan from the beginning (which was more than 10 years ago, wow), and I haven’t listen to an album so much in the first week I have owned it since ‘Americana.’ ‘Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice’ is definitely my favorite SF59 album from the bands’ ‘second era.’ It is dark, yet melodic and catchy. And I usually complain about short albums (9 songs, 32 minutes), but this one seems perfect. The album artwork is beautiful as usual. I recommend buying the cd directly from the band, it is cheap, and you will get it fast. Only $12 including shipping, and I got mine 4 days after paying Jason Martin, and he sent it from CA to TN.

All my sports teams have had a pretty great month. The Pistons are up 2-0 in their first round series against the 76ers, and are on their way to defending their NBA title. The Orioles are 14-7, and off to their best start in 10 years or so. They are also first in the AL East, the best division in baseball (which includes the Red Sox and Yankees). Auburn had four players from it’s 13-0 team taken in the first round of the NFL draft, two to the Redskins. Carlos Rodgers was a great pick for Washington, but Jason Campbell, not so much. Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams should both start for their Florida NFL teams, they will be fun to watch. The Redskins are the only one of my teams that continues to suck, but at least Patrick Ramsey is going into this season as a confident starter.

(Listening to: Explosions in the Sky- The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place)

Well, I predicted the winner of the NCAA Tournament correctly again, but didn't get much else right after the first round.

I saw 'Blade Runner' for the first time two days ago. I liked it, but it was the director's cut and from everything I have read I think I will like the original version much better. It was fun to hear the things Mortal sampled on 'Fathom.'

Five new cds released in the last month you should all buy:
1. Over the Rhine- Drunkard's Prayer
2. Starflyer 59- Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice (out next tuesday)
3. The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers- The Mother of Love Emulates the Shape of Cynthia
4. Jesse Sprinkle- Unnoticed
5. Mae- The Everglow

(Listening to: Over the Rhine- Drunkard's Prayer)

"Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans."- John Steinbeck

I don't think I have ever put that quote on here, but I absolutely love it. Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors, and he expresses my sentiments exactly.

The greatest events in sports is upon us- The NCAA Basketball Tournament- I love it!

(Listening to: Fiona Apple- 'Extraordinary Machine')

Over the Rhine's new album, 'Drunkard's Prayer,' will be released March 29. You can pre-order it and get two free mp3s from it here.

I've recently rediscovered the Swedish band Logh. They had one album released in the States on Deep Elm a few years ago, but they have two other newer cds only released in Europe that I need to get. You can download 5 free mp3s of their music here.

(Listening to: Logh- 'The Raging Sun')

You can download the song 'Transatlanticism' (Death Cab for Cutie) as performed by my sister and brother at my wedding here. (Right click, then "Save Target as...") It was recorded live, so don't expect high sound quality; but, it is definitely worth hearing.

(Listening to: Eisley- Room Noises)

After four EPs, the last two released in 2003, Eisley finally released a full-length album today! Listen to four songs from the album here and then go buy it!

(Listening to: Eisley- Room Noises)

I have more time on the internet than I have had in a long time, but still lack the motivation for some reason to update this. But I found a reason today, so here goes.

I am a big Pedro the Lion fan, always have been. From the time I first heard the Whole EP, it has been good, original music, as much as it has changed throughout the years. The newest album, 'Achilles' Heel,' I think is David Bazan's weakest work, but I still enjoy it. His lyrics have gotten more challenging, and while I do not agree with some of them, at least they are thought-provoking unlike most music today.

About a month ago I found about about Bazan's new project, The Headphones. Essentially it was supposed to be electronic Pedro the Lion. The guitars have been replaced with keyboards. This was exciting to me, I was hoping it would be as refreshing as the Postal Service has been to Death Cab for Cutie.

Well, premiering today is the entire Headphones album online at Pure Volume. You can listen to the entire thing for free here. If you like Pedro, please go listen, and let me know what you think. I think it is horrible. Some of the worst music I have ever heard. The sounds, the lyrics, the instrumentation are all completely depressing. I have encouraged people to buy Pedro the Lion music for years, but please don't buy this!

Back to Death Cab for Cutie, they are my favorite band of the moment. I also love the Postal Service, but I think Death Cab is tons better. I have been finding lots of random, free mp3s online of theirs, here are some links:
Live Covers (from Tears for Fears to Michael Jackson)
Live Ben Gibbard Solo

(Listening to: Starflyer 59- 'The Last Laurel' EP)

Best of 2004

Here it is...
Turn Off the Radio's Top 10 Albums of 2004:
1. Brandtson- Send Us A Signal 
2. Lovedrug- Pretend You're Alive
3. Tess Wiley- Not Quite Me 
4. Jimmy Eat World- Futures
5. Blindside- About a Burning Fire 
6. Mindy Smith- One Moment More 
7. Pedro the Lion- Achilles Heel 
8. Jump (Little Children)- Between the Dim and the Dark
9. Demon Hunter- Summer of Darkness 
10. Starflyer 59- I am the Portuguese Blues

(First link is to artist's website, second link is to the cheapest place I know to buy each album.)

Comments for each album to come...

(Listening to: Starflyer 59- Le Vainqueur EP)

Turn Off the Radio declares the Auburn University football team 2004 NCAA National Champions.

WAR EAGLE.

I am working on my top 10 albums of 2004, I should post that soon. It will probably be awhile though before I change the look of this site to reflect the new year.

(Listening to: Jump- Between the Dim and the Dark)

I know, I am awful about updating this. The below information is about my wedding cd, which I had intended to have online before I got married. Well, I am slow, but here it is!

1. Craig Armstrong- 'Portuguese Love Theme'
From the 2003 'Love Actually' movie soundtrack
The first of two songs on this cd arranged by my brother Keith for the recessional at our wedding. Jessie & I first saw this movie in the theater at Zambia and loved it. Probably my favorite romantic comedy of all time.

2. Death Cab for Cutie- 'Transatlanticism'
From the 2003 album 'Transatlanticism' on Barsuk Records
Death Cab was one of the first of 'my bands' that I introduced to Jessie. She fell in love with them and we listened to them together often. When Jessie left for the States in May and I was still in Zambia for two months without her, this song became our theme song as we were seperated by the Atlantic Ocean. This song was also used in our wedding during the prelude as Kimberly sang accompanied by Keith on piano and a flute/violin/cello trio. "I need you so much closer..."

2. Death Cab for Cutie- 'Passenger Seat'
From the 2003 album 'Transatlanticism' on Barsuk Records
The song following 'Transatlanticism' on the cd of the same title. Jessie made a comment about this song to the effect of, "the way a love song should be written." When she said that, just a couple of weeks into our dating relationship, I knew there was something different and special about her.

4. Over the Rhine- 'Fool'
From the 2003 double cd 'Ohio' on Back Porch Records
When Jessie and I are together there is no band we would rather listen to than Over the Rhine. The week of our first date Jessie commented on an Over the Rhine poster I had on my wall so I let her borrow 'Ohio.' The 2 cd is set is now an all time favorite for both of us. We decided to use this song as for our first dance at our wedding reception. While we both like Over the Rhine, her and my favorite songs by them are much different; this falls right in the middle and is perfect for the occasion.

5. Patsy Cline- 'Walkin' After Midnight'
From the 1963 album 'The Patsy Cline Story' on MCA Nashville
Jessie loves to sing karaoke, and this is 'her' song. One time when we were driving around in downtown Lusaka she started singing it out of the blue and I was supposed to guess what it was. I didn't get it right then, but I always recognize the song now!

6. Sixpence None the Richer- 'Dizzy'
From the 2002 cd 'Divine Discontent' on Reprise Records
Similarly to Over the Rhine, Jessie and I both love Sixpence, but our favorite songs by the band are much different. 'Dizzy' would fall in the middle. This is another song we considered for our first dance, but "Fool" has much more meaning to us. Sixpence None the Richer's 1995 album "This Beautiful Mess" is my favorite album of all time.

7. Tess Wiley- 'My Fortress and My Shield'
From the 2004 album 'Not Quite Me' on Tapete Records
I received this album in the mail, Tess sent it to me in Zambia from Germany. I got it while Jessie and I were dating and we listened to it constantly in the car. This song's lyrics are taken directly from Psalm 42.

8. Brandtson- 'Escapist'
From the 2004 album 'Send Us a Signal' on the Militia Group
This album was waiting for me in the mail when I returned from Zambia in July. Jessie and I spent most of this month on the road and this is the cd we listened to more than any other. I have loved Brandtson for years, but this was Jessie's first time to hear them. She didn't like them at first, but now she often asks if we can listen to them. This is her favorite song from the album. Brandtson was the last concert I saw before I moved to Zambia and I also saw them in concert on vacation in Germany.

9. Fountains of Wayne- 'Hey Julie'
From the 2003 album 'Welcome Interstate Managers' on Atlantic Records
I put this song on Jessie's Valentine's Day cd and she loved it. A hilarious song, just substitute 'Jessie' for 'Julie.'

10. Color Me Badd- 'All 4 Love'
From the 1991 album 'C.M.B.' on Warner Brothers Records
I was sitting in Jessie's kitchen once in Zambia and we were listening to 'cheesy' music. This was the only song I liked that I heard that day because it brought back memories from hearing it on Casey's Top 40. Great lyrics for a love song.

11. For those of you who have heard the cd, you either recognized this immediately, or don't have a clue what it is. It is the theme from the movies 'Kill Bill' Volumes 1 and 2. Soundtrack can be found on a 2003 Maverick Records release.

12. Fleming & John- 'Shhh!'
From the 1999 album 'The Way We Are' on Universal Records

13. Matthew Ngosa- 'Ukolela'
I actually know nothing about this song except that it is in a Zambian language, probably Bemba.

14. GRITS- Be Mine
From the 2002 album 'The Art of Translation' on Gotee Records

15. The Postal Service- 'Such Great Heights'
From the 2003 album 'Give Up' on Sub Pop Records

16. Jimmy Eat World- '23'
From the 2004 album 'Futures' on Dreamworks Records

17. Luxury- 'Solid Gold'
From the 1995 album 'Amazing and Thank You' on Tooth and Nail Records

18. Craig Armstrong- 'Prime Minister's Love Theme'
From the 2003 'Love Actually' movie soundtrack