Changes

Lately I’ve been trying to do different things in life. I got rid of my CD collection, eliminated other clutter and I have an actual list of stuff I need to focus on (working out is on there. Again). However I also was forced to start over on Twitter, as my previous account was suspended. No idea why, they won’t tell me, etc. It sucks but I moved on and created a new account because I am stubborn and not so easily defeated.

Oh and I am even thinking of moving on from my job, mostly because they have moved several people to other stores and one employee is moving down to part time. I am not sure if I will even have a job down the road, so it is time to fire up the resume. Sometimes you make changes, sometimes changes are thrust upon you. That’s life, I guess.

Long Live Old Media

Maybe its because I am 32 and thus recall the previous days of my youth, but I still often purchase physical media. I like having something that does not rely on a computer, or a phone, or the Internet, especially considering that Net Neutrality is under attack and many video rental stores have closed shop. So upon hearing that Best Buy and Target are going to eliminate compact discs (CD’s), I was bummed, yet not surprised. After all, they were they type of 1990’s fad that had at first slowly, then quickly, go out of fashion. The musical industry after years of fighting the Internet embraced the digital world, as have many customers, even myself included. Although I do not have a computer, so this means I have still not fully switched to digital music, although I would still want to back up anything I own via some type of Cloud storage.

That said, owning physical copies of movies is still a good idea, as there are way too many streaming services and some movies have yet to be transferred to even DVD, much less Blu ray or 4K HD. I recently skimmed a piece making a good argument for hanging on to your movies, although even I have sold many films I own over the past two years due to lack of storage area and because I prize my Criterion collection over most, if not all, of what I own. I still got rid of some my Criterions, anyways, since those are worth money and I had no use for them. Maybe one day all of us will be able to not have to still own some type of physical media, or all of us will be paying storage garages to keep all this extra nonsense we own. As for me, I still take full advantage of my local library, RedBox, and Family Video, which refuses to die off, yet, for which I am oddly grateful.

Music Log 2016

Okay let’s try this again. And I’m not bothering with months or anything. Just a straight list. Out of 10 score for all discs.

Top 10 Albums Of The Year:

1. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel-10.0
2. Tusk, Fleetwood Mac-10.0
3. Moondance, Van Morrison-10.0
4. Horses, Patti Smith-10.0
5. Fear Of A Black Planet, Public Enemy-10.0
6. Sandinista!, The Clash-10.0
7. The Wall, Pink Floyd-10.0
8. Quadrophenia, The Who-10.0
9. “Heroes”, David Bowie-9.5
10. Secret Diary, College-9.5

1. The Hurting, Tears For Fears-9.0
2. Secret Diary, College-9.5
3. The Cars, The Cars-9.0
4. Elvis Costello: The First Ten Years, Elvis Costello-9.5
5. Four, Bloc Party-5.5
6. El Pintor, Interpol-8.5
7. Vitalogy, Pearl Jam-8.0
8.  Emotional Rescue , The Rolling Stones-7.0
9. Neck of the Woods, Silversun Pickups-8.0
10. Tunnel of Love, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band-9.0
11. Next Day, David Bowie-8.5
12. Boxer, The National-9.5
13. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, Neutral Milk Hotel-10.0
14. The Voyager, Jenny Lewis-9.0
15. Sandinista!, The Clash-10.0

16. Beggar’s Banquet, The Rolling Stones-9.0
17. Aladdin Sane, David Bowie-9.0
18. Young Americans, David Bowie-7.5
19. “Heroes”, David Bowie-9.5
20. Lodger, David Bowie-9.0
21. Kintsugi, Death Cab For Cutie-7.5
22. Centipede Hz, Animal Collective-4.0
23. Underneath the Rainbow, Black Lips-7.5
24. Low, David Bowie-9.0
25. Tusk, Fleetwood Mac-10.0
26. Especially For You, The Smithereens-9.5
27. Tell Me I’m Pretty, Cage The Elephant-7.5
28. Lungs, Florence + The Machine-8.0
29. Pablo Honey, Radiohead –7.0
30. Apartment Life, Ivy –9.0

31. Young & Old, Tennis –7.5
32. Human Performance, Parquet Courts –9.0
33. Abacab, Genesis –8.5
34. Brothers In Arms, Dire Straights –9.0
35. Yours, Dreamily,, The Arcs –8.0
36. Pioneers Who Got Scalped , Devo –9.5
37. Yeezus, Kayne West-9.0
38. Outlandos d’Amour, The Police-9.5
39. The Sound of The Smiths, The Smiths-9.0
40. The Mouse and the Mask, Danger Doom-9.5
41. Heartthrob, Tegan and Sara-8.0
42. Thank Your Lucky Stars , Beach House-9.0
43. Quadrophenia, The Who-10.0
44. This Is All Yours, Alt-J-8.5
45. Nashville Skyline, Bob Dylan-9.5

46. Human After All, Daft Punk-9.0
47. Untitled Unmastered, Kendrick Lamar-9.0
48. Fear Of A Black Planet, Public Enemy-10.0
49. Education, Education, Education & War, Kaiser Chiefs-6.5
50. Let England Shake, PJ Harvey-7.0
51. Random Access Memories, Daft Punk-8.0
52. Gossamer, Passion Pit-8.0
53. Midnight Sun, Ghost of a Sabertooth Tiger-8.0
54. Sunbathing Animal, Parquet Courts-8.5
55. Siamese Dream, Smashing Pumpkins-9.5
56. Toys In The Attic, Aerosmith-9.5
57. Violator, Depeche Mode-9.5
58. New Morning, Bob Dylan-9.0
59. Vacation, The Go-Gos-8.0
60. Paul’s Boutique, The Beastie Boys-9.0

61. Pretty Hate Machine, Nine Inch Nails-9.0
62. Moondance, Van Morrison-10.0
63. The 1975, The 1975-9.0
64. I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It, The 1975-7.5
65. Between The Buttons, The Rolling Stones-8.0
66. Marry Me, St. Vincent-8.5
67. A Quick One, The Who-8.5
68. White Light/White Heat, The Velvet Underground-9.5
69. Controversy, Prince-9.5
70. Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Red Hot Chili Peppers-8.0
71. Hands of Glory, Andrew Bird-7.0
72. The Pretender, Jackson Browne-9.0
73. Destroyed, Moby-9.0
74. The River, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band-9.0
75. Lazaretto, Jack White-8.5

76. Ocean Rain, Echo & the Bunnymen-9.0
77. Fleetwood Mac, Fleetwood Mac-9.5
78. Surrealistic Pillow, Jefferson Airplane-9.0
79. Heart Shaped World, Chris Isaak-9.5
80. So, Peter Gabriel-9.0
81. Hello Nasty, Beastie Boys-8.0
82. Horses, Patti Smith-10.0
83. Comedown Machine, The Strokes-6.5
84. L.A. Woman, The Doors-9.0
85. Speaking In Tongues, The Talking Heads-8.5
86. To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar-9.5
87. Texas Flood, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble-9.0
88. My Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kayne West-9.5
89. Takk, Sigur Ros-9.0
90. Strange Days, The Doors-9.0

91. A Moon Shaped Pool, Radiohead-9.5
92. Stars: The Best of The Cranberries 1992-2002, The Cranberries-9.0
93. Dead Can Dance, Dead Can Dance-8.5
94. Tragic Kingdom, No Doubt-7.5
95. Strangers To Ourselves, Modest Mouse-7.0
96. Room For Squares, John Mayer-8.5
97. Sunflower, The Beach Boys-6.0
98. Motion, Calvin Harris-8.5
99. Catch a Fire, Bob Marley and the Wailers-9.5
100. Dirty Mind, Prince-9.0
101. The Wall, Pink Floyd-10.0

Organization Takes Too Much Work

So months after I moved into my apartment I am finally moving my shelves and other stuff in. I got one shelf placed and I brought three whole boxes worth of movies with me as well. I had my dad help me take the shelf in and after he left it took me over 90 minutes to put away all the films I took with me.

That is my bookshelf in my room. Its completely full and I actually had to fit my other movies and some other stuff in another shelf. That shelf is also full right now:

It’s a bit ridiculous yet it also makes me realize how many films I’ve obtained over the years. I have two more shelves and a bunch more CDs and books left to bring in too. And probably even more films. I thought about selling most of my collection but I realized I would receive very little money in return.

Besides part of the fun of moving is putting your possessions in new spaces. Switching things around so they fit better. My new room already suits me and I’ve managed to keep it clean. Sometimes change is good.

Albums List 2013

In the past I’ve tried to keep track of how many CDs I listen to in a year. Last year I failed, but I managed to figure out my regular average for two years straight. We’ll try this again (out of ****) and all first time listenings.

January:

1. On And On, Jack Johnson-*** 1/2

2. Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Explicit Version], Multiple Artists-****

3. Blade Runner OST, Vangelis-****

4. Boy, U2-*** 1/2

5. Bon Iver, Bon Iver-*** 1/2

6. Break It Yourself, Andrew Bird-***

February:

7. Some Nights, Fun-*** 1/2

8. 2112, Rush-****

9. Mirage Rock, Band of Horses-***

10. Tempest, Bob Dylan-*** 1/2

11. xx, The XX-*** 1/2

12. Co-Exist, The XX-***

March:

13. The Singles Collection, The Specials-*** 1/2

14. Lisbon, The Walkmen-*** 1/2

15. The Big Roar, The Joy Formidable-***

16. Port of Morrow, The Shins-*** 1/2