My Eyes Fastened To The Ground

Happy Birthday to me.   Yep.  By a technicality of softball by-laws I am now qualified to play over-40.    Wow.    Also, I know my friend CRip is celebrating his birthday at a Earth, Wind and Fire concert tonight.    This guy is probably the only person in America to see such cool concerts as Guided By Voices and Kristen Hirsch but also Molly Hatchet and the above band, twice in the last year.   Have fun KJ.  

Here are some of my top moments of 2005:

1.) Of Montreal at AS220 in April. – I have been a huge fan of this band for a couple of years but this was the first time they stopped in Providence and didn’t disappoint.    Also included a bunch of small talk and signed items by Kevin Barnes in a newly smoke-free club.    AAA+++.  

2.)  Nirvana Reading ’92 DVD – Out of nowhere came one of the best sounding, professionally filmed concert of the greatest band ever.    With the media giving them days to survive Kurt, Krist and Dave rose to the occasion and cemented their place in history.    Highly recommended.  

3.)  Over-35 in Barrington – What fun playing locally with a great group of guys who know how to play, party and win while not taking ourselves too seriously.   We beat the better team and there is nothing more relaxing than hanging out with MSwift, drinking beer and eating burgers every Sunday afternoon during the summer.   I will never forget making fun of Ed Medeiros getting his team tossed from the playoffs because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut after hitting a clutch home run.    

4.)  ASA in Virginia – After frustrating trips to Columbus and Pennsylvania, Nilla was finally able to get the team assembled and playing well.    We missed getting into the top 12 with a loss to an average team on Sunday night in the last inning.  But otherwise a very satisfying trip down south.  

5.)  Is CRip done?  He claims softball is over but it remains to be seen how someone so involved can just walk away.   Either way, I’ve had a long strange trip with the man and will never forget a magical weekend in Georgia while winning the ASA National Championship in 2000.    

Good luck to everyone in 2006.  

Yes, I’m still here.   Just trying to balance work deadlines between baby sitting duties.    Today is my “shopping day” and will be on the road to fill all the gaps of empty boxes.

Big news.  December 23rd is Festivus.   Now, I’m going mostly from memory but my understanding is when you gather with family and/or friends today, you get a chance to tell them know all the ways they let you down this year.    Enjoy it with the people that are the closest.   And if you get a personal e-mail from me today: fire one back, I’m just celebrating.  

I guess this is the No Doubt Holy Grail.

Make sure you check out Shallow Rewards every week.   Although all of the items are on ebay he provides an excellent background on the more interesting items.    I never realized Detroit Funk 45’s were so collectible.    If late 90’s Detroit singles ever hit their stride, I will be sitting pretty.

The writer also lists a link to a similar site, Goldmine Archives that tries to find out who the buyers and sellers are for the incredibly priced vinyl singles and LP’s.    As my friend, KBam will tell you, it’s a great market to collect.  

Finally, the great penny game is over.    The winning number was 7,945 pennies.   I had an absolute blast dropping them into the coin counter for about 30 minutes.  There were only 4 entries and the winner will be receiving a very special item from 75orLess Records: as many radio promo cd’s as I can find.   Dude, limp bizkit.

Merry Christmas!!!  

Every year Hallmark has released limited edition ornaments.   This year (and you may have seen the commercial) they released an ornament that looks like a portable record player and plays records.   It’s about 3” large and has three records.     Now I missed out on the thing, and all the local stores are sold out, so that leaves two options:  ebay or none.  

The ornament had a retail price of $28, so it can’t be expected to be purchased any cheaper.     But with 242 listings on ebay it can’t be that limited.    Now don’t get me wrong, I want one, but will take a chance the price will come down after Christmas instead of paying $40+ to get it in time for the holiday.    Check out the sample listing here.  

The PawSox seem to have made their announcer job the premier stepping stone to the majors.   Not only have they produced the best-in-the-business Don Orsillo (red sox) but there are 4 others already in the majors.    I’m sure the names won’t mean anything to your but the announcers for Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Washington and the Mets all got their start in RI.    The current pair of announcers, including Newport native Steve Hyder, is a finalist for the Oakland job.  

The best selling albums of all time listed here.    Of course, this is like looking at CRip’s cd holder on a bad day.   Top 10.

Millions Sold Title Artist's Name
28 Their Greatest Hits (vol. 1) The Eagles
26 Thriller Michael Jackson
23 The Wall Pink Floyd
22 Led Zeppelin IV Led Zeppelin
21 Greatest Hits VOL I & II Billy Joel
19 The Beatles The Beatles
19 Come On Over Shania Twain
19 Back In Black AC/DC
19 Rumours Fleetwood Mac
17 Boston Boston

Red Sox Nation will miss Bill Mueller but wish him luck on the Left Coast.   Teammates like this are few and far between and I hope he is remembered correctly in Boston.   He hit the HR off Mariano to win “the fight” game, got the single off Rivera to score Dave Edwards, played any infield position and is the only man in MLB history to hit grand slams in the same game from both sides of the plate.      Good Luck Bill.  

Arthur Magazine has started a new “Mimeo Series” and the first two items are now available here.     The Jess Rotter “Paradise” is limited to 100 and signed by the artist.  

Also, our friends at Cat Bird Records  have a new, limited release.  

One more Mythbuster fact.   You do not want to be in the shower during a lightning storm.   I never believed this one, but trust me, don’t do it.  

Interesting show on Discovery’s Mythbusters this weekend.   They wanted to know if the mileage driving a pickup truck would change with the rear hatch down or up.   Surprisingly, the truck with the hatch up went 30 miles farther than the one with the tailgate down.     The trick is the small circular wind channel that is created with the tailgate up that allows the faster wind to travel over the truck and removes the drag created with the hatch down.    I was surprised.

Bluesanct Records has a beautiful, new limited single from Mount Eerie.    Limited to 1000 and one of the more interesting pressings I have ever seen.   It is available here.

Buddyhead has updated their music gossip and it’s quite exhausting and entertaining.   Lots of good rumors, backstabbing and music business stuff to keep it moving.    

I’m really starting to enjoy this guy’s Shallow Rewards web blog.   Lots of cool music related collectibles and information.  

Well I’m starting to clear my head of this cold and trying to gather the energy for some shopping.   Yesterday, the last of my Fall Sale on ebay ended to push the total sold to just over $3,000.    Sounds good, but ebay got another $77 and Paypal is continually taking their 5.5% of the total.  

I’m going to mention the repressed Sublime 40 oz. 2x LP again.    I got my copies and it’s a fantastic package for about $25.   Available here.    Even though you are probably not cool enough to “get it”, buy one for your kid to give them in 10 years so they won’t have to pay ridiculous prices on ebay.  

Next on the agenda is the first release from 75orless Records and should be going to press real soon.   On top of that The Staggering Statistics received the CEA (Cincinnati Entertainment Awards) Critical Achievement Award as Best New Artist of 2005, linked here.    Get ready to rock.  

The CEA states:  Frontman Austin Brown's laconic voice and tales of the hard life hit even harder when paired with this Cincy trio's bluesy, sinuous raucous, marked by a rhythm section that could anchor a battleship. The melodic shagginess of early Pavement often comes to mind, yet SS possess a genuinely dark undercurrent that's entirely their own.

Earth Hex 2x LP Picture Disks available at Southern Lord, very cool looking and limited to 500 copies it will sell out fast.  

I’ve been absent because of a cold that seems to be cutting me down to size.   Last weekend I listed a bunch of stuff for sale on ebay and used Buy-It-Now’s to get $300 out the door and paid fast.   This included flipping the Metallica Boxed Set for $155.  

Speaking of McFarlane, I noticed production is gearing up for more great music ideas and here’s a 3D version of Led Zepplin I.   The item measures 7” x 7” x 3” thick and looks very cool (check out photo 3) and the product line will include a bunch of different pop items.      

Southern Lord is set to release the very limited Earth Picture Disk before the end of the week, so be prepared to act.   Also, the Postal Service LP I linked the other day is White and limited.  

Recently I borrowed the new 50 Foot Wave cd from 75orless and was quit impressed.    The band if fronted by indy-rock queen (and RI native) Kristen Hersh, formally of The Throwing Muses.    For a little taste, run the Clara Bow video here.    It’s even got the words, so CRip can follow along.