I have become addicted to the Grouphug.us site. The annonimity that the internet provides is perfect for confessing the things you wouldn't otherwise dare say. I've been cruising it now for the last couple of weeks, you can just pull up some random confessions and get a cross section of genuine human anguish, disgustingly lewd acts of incest or beastiality, or some goofy thing that someone just needs to get off of teir chest. Although I'm sure alot of it is fabricated there is something aboutit that makes me want to believe. As if reading about the lives of those more fucked up than me is going to make me feel better.....Ok, so maybe it does and maybe some of it just gives me a rise but thats humanity baby. We like other peoples pain, and we're into the taboo. Although it's really cutting into the amount of work I get done in a day....shit, my boss is coming!

I had a phenomenal time tonight. This was an uncommon show for me. I wasn't on the floor! But the show kicked my ass in so many sense, it didn't matter. First off, I actually went to see the Queens tonight. I saw them a few months back and have always followed them. I am a Nine Inch Nails fan, but more a one album kinda guy. Well that all changed tonight. DFA was interesting, their audience was pretty small but they played to the whole place. A giant amount of noise from a very small amount of person. They didn't really turn my crank but I appreciated the effort. Kudos on the drumming/singing too. Queens of the Stoneage were fucking on. "The Lost Art of keeping a Secret" I love that song and neve get sick of hearing it, or saying the name. they nailed that and alot more. The sound was perfect, though I knew it would be. With all that custom gear, they're not out to sound like everyone else. Josh wailed, the whole band played amazingly. But Josh had it down, note for note. nailing his Jim Morrison, aclimated to the 00's, sound dead on. The hecklers were hilarious, really got the crowd on his side, by pulling a little Andrew Dice Clay. It was great to see them again. And Nine Ninch Nails. I could not believe the sound they had. It was a white wash of guitar tones and the synth and the DRUMMING man, it was really tight and really sharp. I had no clue they could rock so hard. As I mentioned I only know one album really well and thats the Fragile, so my favorites of the night are a bit biased. But you cannot deny "the Wretched" was dead on! I also lost it for "March of the Pigs" and "Hurt" as I belieive most everyone else did. That song was huge for me in high school it was nice to see so many people have a personal connection to it. If Johnny Cash covered it, that makes it an instant classic right? Like everyone else, I too was upset about the Barricade thing. But honestly people, booing wasn't making it any better. They were totally right to stop the show to fix it, and the break was kind of all worht it once "Wish" started blasting off. The show after that had great intensity.Oh wow! I couldn't wrap my head around the light show, there was always something new to look at. Very flashy. The "short film" was a cool touch. All the insects and 'natural world ' footage looked really interesting when slowed down and juxtaposed with war scenes and shots of George bush dancing. We consume too much. War is terrible, especially if motivated by greed. And I think technology is taking over. But if its going to sound like that....bring it on.

Toto - -Africa This has got to be one of the most underrated songs in the history of the world. Sure, it's subject matter is foolish, a love song to a world the members of the band probably don't know, but from a postcard. And maybe the synth-driven sound is kind of dated. Well maybe not so much these days, but definetly would have sounded dated 3 years ago. The fact is this song is lushly arranged, it comes at you in waves of ecstacy that just do not end. Every aspect of the sound has a soft edge, and any hard ones have been fitted with foam or rubber corners, to smooth transition. Not to mention that anyone who can fit both "Kilamanjaro" and "Sarenghetti" in one line is some sort of god among wordsmiths. Yes it's campy, and yes it's supremely 80s, but damn if it doesn't almost bring a tear to my eye. Best listened to while driving by yourself.

Batman Begins. This movie knocked me on my ass. The recent ressurgence in comic-to-movie adaptations has resulted in some severely dissapointing bullshit (thank you Penn & Teller). The kind of popcorn fare where you pay your $14 and sit and suspend disbelief for the next 90 minutes. Spiderman, Punisher, Hellboy, Daredevil, X-Men all of these movies rely too heavily on computer generated effects as well as comic to screen accuracy, and do nothing to give you an insight into the characters.

This new Batman movie makes it ok for you to see a hero movie, enjoy yourself and not be a 13 year old boy. What makes it so great, apart from the wonderfully penned story, perfect cast and great pacing and tone, is the fact that it's made to succeed as a movie. Someone finally realized that comic fans and movie fans demand very different things from their entertainment. Re-writing the Batman mythos so it fit in the realm of film was a phenomenal idea. Even better, is the fact that they pulled it off!

The deep backstory on Bruce Wayne is refreshing. To be a guy who dresses up as a bat to fight crime, you have to be a certain kind of person. You have to have been through some stuff in your life. Too long it's been attributed to his billionaire ecentricity or the fact that Superman is doing it, why can't he? In this movie, we finally get a glimpse at the real Bruce Wayne. An angry, tortured, flawed hero trying to do what's right in a city where right and wrong seem to blur. Like Batman taking on Sin City. The gotham we've always dreamed of. Real grit, real criminals, really dark.

Also, this movie puts an end to Batman nay sayers. As it explains in detail, every aspect of the traditional Batman operation. It suddenly seems so possible that a man could become this. From his combat training, to aquiring the much talked about "Batmoblie Tank Unit" (Badass). Every base is covered. at 2.5 hours, this thing is a behemoth and is never disapointing.

Today I got a taste of a couple albums I was thrilled about! The Black Eyed Peas newest (Monkey Business) as well as (drum roll please) the brand spankin' new Foo Fighters double album opus "In Your Honor". Thought I'd share my errr thoughts, feelings and hoighty toighty opinions with well myself as I'm sure I'm the only person reading this thing.

I was really hoping the Peas would follow "Elephunk" up with another stellar album, to show everyone they're not just flash-in-the-pan one hit wonders. I have to say, I am slightly disapointed. Is it funky? Yes. Is it still a booty shakin' groove-fest? yes and no. The peas have come back hard, maybe too hard. Serving up a set of disjointed beats some of which are very minimalistic. Though there is nothing wrong with minimalist beats in hip hop (The southern crunk scene has been milking that titty for a few years now) the members of BEP are not strong enough lyricists to pull it off. Repetitive lines, rhyming the same sound and absurd chants fill alot of the songs. "My Humps" is one such track about Fergie's God given physical attributes (or"Luscious Lady Lumps" as she refers to them) . The record isn't without its gems. There is a great list of guests, the likes of Jack Johnson, Cee-Lo, Justin Timberlake and the almighty Sting, who keep things interesting. However it is these tracks which stand out the most. Timberlakes contribution to "My Style" is fantastic, bringing the hook to life, it'd make a great single. Jack Johnson's laid back surfer flavor give "Going Gone" a needed boost. The standout track is "Union" on which Sting reminds us all how cool a white guy singing reggae inflected pop can be. Not a terrible album by any means but it doesn't live up to the hype either. 3/5

The Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl. In the 2 years since One By One Dave Grohl has been a busy man. Between drumming with Queen's of the Stoneage (formerly) and putting together Probot, his speed/death/thrash metal side project it is surprising for him to come back with a double disc of some of his best material to date. In your Honor is a behemoth of an album. The two discs showcase the two sides of The Foo's. The first being a hard driving straight forward rock record. Raucous, melodic, driving and masterfuly crafted, Dave and the boys play their asses off on the ten tracks. All the tracks are emotionally charged as is customary with the Foo's, "The Last Song" showcases this. Key tracks include the riff drven "Free Me", the heartfelt "The Deepest Blues are Black" and the disc finale/mini epic "End Over End". 4.5/5

I know what you're saying "But what about the second disc?" Hey man! I gotta sleep, so it'll be up in the morning! Stay Frosty

-

The Coz

Panic stricken, dash for the door. I didn't even know I could move that fast but he did. Unfortunately he also knew that his own speed trumped mine. So once again I'm staring into the face of a killer. His lips pull back in a maniacal grin which stops me dead in my tracks. As he moves toward me my brain sends a signal to my legs run, now!, I override it, knowing full well that he'd beat me again. Closer now, his footsteps seem so loud, like his shoes are cast iron. I used to call this creature my brother and not just in title. Now the mere sight of him sends me into a fear fueled frenzy.

What feels like an eternity has only been going on for approaching ten minutes. I'm out of control, sweating to the point my shoes let loose a slosh at every step. I know he has the advantage. He holds it so proudly in front of him. The problem is, he knows it too. His hands clutch it so tightly, his eyes never blink and his teeth are always showing.

More hyena than human, he lunges at me, laughing all the while. My heart goes silent and for a moment I fear I may already be dead but I shake the feeling and leap backwards. Colliding hard with something behind me I fall to the floor. Within seconds he is upon me, his hands come at me. Not normally a fear but I fear what he holds in them. Smiling that smile he hurls his open fist, his advantge, my worst fear rockets from his palm and I am paralysed with fear. I feel an unwelcome tickle on my cheek and lash at my face wildly cursing his name with every vile expletive I can conjure. In a second it is over.

As the fear subsides, and the danger diminishes I stand. A new found rage enters my entire being and the room seems red in my eyes. The grin on his face has turned completely to a blank stare as I tower over him. My chest pulsates so hard, I know I am alive and in this instant I want revenge. I grab him by the collar and push him against the far wall. Huffing and puffing I struggle a few words.

"I'll teach you to put a spider on my you little shit!", I scream with a terrible vengeance.

"Mom!!", comes the reply, wry and triumphant. He kicks me in the shin as hard as he can and runs back outside. No doubt to find more ammunition against me. Little brothers man! What are ya gonna do?

-The Coz

I cannot understand for the life of me, why the "Publish blog" key keeps crapping out on me! But heads are going to roll if it isn't rectified soon!

So, I'm away right now. The reason doesn't matter, but it has given me crucial time to reflect. Now, I know that hearing about my svengali-esque epiphone's on life isn't exactly exciting to the masses, so let me just get straight to the music.

A good friend made me a CD upon my departure, to keep me occupied, "A Decade with Steely Dan" and it is absolutely phenomenal! I had no clue such timeless, calming, beautifully crafted, jazz inflected rock had existed in the '70s. This has opened my eyes to the posibilities of all classic rock. I don't just mean the shit you hear on the radio on your local "Classic Rock with Rick Shlock" station. I mean true classics, and unknown gems! The Conor Oberst's and the Mike Doughty's of a completely different generation. So with that in mind, hear is what I've heard so far:

"Van Morrison - Moondance" Just perfect. Morrison is a poet, in every meaning of the word. And the way he mixes R&B, celtic folk, jazz and other roots rock into his mellow standards is seamless. This was his breakthrough album, and on giant hits like "Moondance" and "Into the Mystic" it's not hard to see why. He sings with such a warped sound and an unyielding passion. The great thing about Morrison is that he does what he wants to do, not conforming to market trends or label demands. I reccomend checkingout his newest release "Magic Time" as well, if you're unfamiliar.

"The Clash - London Calling/Self Titled" I had always known a few key things about the Clash. 1)They were frontrunners in the original British wave of political punk. 2) They didn't last long (the way of the punk icon.) These 2 albums are far more complex then I would have thought. Mixing snot nosed, all attitude punk with Dub, Reggae, R&B and a touch of surprisingly well placed funk, The Clash have a sound completely their own, which seperates them completely from counterparts "The Sex Pistols" by leaps and bounds. Mick Jones and the late Joe Strummer are both extremely talented songwriters dishing out punchy, catchy tunes about the struggle of the working class, the entire opperation feels of London. In a good way!

Next up, The Police, Crosby Stills and Nash!

-The Coz