Music Television

A few random thoughts while watching music videos for the first time in months:

• Kanye West is amazing. 'Golddigger' is a terrific song and Late Registration is the best sounding rap album I've ever heard. He might not be a great rapper (maybe a bit above average in my book, but witty), but he sure has an ear for the music side of things.
• Lady Sovereign, a British grime rapper, is pretty terrific. I don't know what the odds of seeing two of her videos in the span of one day is, but I would imagine that they're pretty low. Either way, she's worthy of a midlevel celebrity crush, but I did have to make sure she was over 18 before I typed that (she is). She looks a little bit like Plano High School alum Kerin Meyer is she were way shorter and more gangsta. All you need to know about her is that she describes herself as a "white midget." Cool.
• David Banner's video for 'Play' is hilarious. Sure the song rips off both 'Drop It Like It's Hot' and'Wait (The Wisper Song)' but the video is really awesome. I'd say it rips off 'Call on Me' and 'Satisfaction' but I highly doubt David Banner is familiar with the video output of either Eric Prydz or Benny Benassi. In fact, I'm surprised that I'm familiar with their respective celluloid careers, but that's what'll happen when you're friends with a beats guy like Pat Murphy.
• That MTV commercial where the kid accidentally swallows gum then takes a huge dump seven years later is hilarious. Here's why: First, the kid is supposed to be seven years older when he's on the pot, but he mysteriously ages from 8 years of age to about 19. How hard could it have been to ask the actors their ages to make this work. And secondly, the last punchline "Don't Believe Everything You Hear" followed by a screen that says "MTV- We Don't Play Music" was perfect. Nevermind that I saw this during 'Trailer Fabulous.'
• Diddy (no P.) directing an orchestra to Notorious B.I.G. songs during the VMAs was high comedy. Leave it to Diddy to take even orchestra conducting to new heights of over-the-topness.
• Kelly Clarkson's VMA performance was the equivalent of when Justin Timberlake made the 'Cry Me a River" video (e.g.-a pop artist growing up). Before she was a cute girl who could sing. Now, she's a sexy girl who can sing. She is worthy of a lower-high level celebrity crush, though Adam would rank her higher.
  
• I saw a Bow Wow (no Lil') video. He looks like he could definitely be gay.
• Every time I see a My Chemical Romance performance or video I like them a little bit more, but for some reason I can't listen to Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge all the way though. Furthermore, their lead singer looks like the love child of Jack White and Billie Joe Armstrong.
  

Hands

While at the concert Thursday night I came to the realization that indie rock doesn't really have a hand gesture. It needs it badly. Sure you could be ironic and throw the heavy metal horns, but I, for one, am getting a little tired of irony. In fact, I think earnestness isn't all so bad. ANYHOW, heavy metal has the horns, and I think they should be entirely their property since Dio invented them. Moving on, rap has the flexed-hand-move-up-and-down thing, not to mention "Throw your hands in the air, if you's a true playa." Then of course Rage Against the Machine and like-mided bands have kind of cornered the market on the fist raised in protest. But the mother of all music hand signals has to be the peace sign which of course is property of the hippies and Austin Powers. This is why I think indie rock needs some sort of hand signal. I don't know what, but it has to be fairly awesome and easy to do so all the hipsters can join in.

Q: Why do I let little things bother me?

A: Because I'm human.

Cause and Effect, or How to Have a Pretty Bad Day

Here are some causative things that have happened to me today1:

• Cause: Eating FunDip at 11:30 p.m. when you have to get up at 6 a.m2.
  Effect: Sleep terribly.
• Cause: Your early morning basketball team consists of a fat guy, a guy who has no basketball sense, and a guy who somehow makes shots that have no business going in, and yourself.
  Effect: You win zero games in the 1.5 hours you're there.
  Effect: Poor shooting because your dad guards you and he is a surprisingly good trash-talker.
  Effect: Due to teammate with no basketball sense, on the last play of the last game not only does your dad make the final shot you also get kneed in the thigh. This is due to the guy who doesn't understand pick and roll defense.
• Cause: The school that hosts the program you are trying to get in to is not well ran.
  Effect: You have to wait to register, possibly missing the class.
• Cause: A girl at your work wants to quit.
  Effect: You work 12-8:30 p.m.
• Cause: You work 12-8:30 p.m.
  Effect: You miss the majority of your sister's first football game of her senior year. Also a year that your alma mater is supposed to be competitive.
  Effect: Boss problems.
  Effect: You make money3.

Tomorrow should be somewhat better, just because I can look forward to the EVEning.

1. This was a sneakily bad day. But after an enjoyable previous night I guess you can chalk this up to the old adage, "You win some, you lose some."
2. Eating FunDip at 11:30 was terrific, but it nonetheless leaves you with a sick belly that can hurt the sleeping abilities. I believe another adage is needed here, "You made your bed, now sleep in it." At least the FunDip experience was good.
3. No one ever said that all effects have to be bad.

I'm Speechless

Understanding the Seattle Supersonics by Comparing Them to Girls You May Have Dated in College

I have nothing to add here. Wow. Awesome.

The Tots 25

Here are the 25 most played songs since I got my iPod 6 months ago:

1. Cactus - Pixies
2. I Predict a Riot - Kaiser Chiefs
3. Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels) - Arcade Fire
4. The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
5. The Sound of Settling - Death Cab for Cutie
6. Over and Over Again (Lost and Found) - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
7. New Year's Eve - the Walkmen
8. Third Planet - Modest Mouse
9. Head On - Pixies
10. Very Loud - Shout Out Louds
11. Psycho Killer (Live) - Talking Heads
12. C'Mere - Interpol
13. Neighborhood #2 (Laika) - Arcade Fire
14. Song Seven - Interpol
    
15. Poor Little Rich Boy - Regina Spektor
16. Sleeping In - Postal Service
17. Cry Baby Cry - the Beatles
18. Clap Your Hands! - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
19. Decent Days and Nights - the Futureheads
20. You Might Think - the Cars
21. Next Exit - Interpol
22. Banquet - Bloc Party
23. Upon This Tidal Wave of Youngblood - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
24. Go It Alone - Beck
25. Summer Babe (Winter Version) - Pavement

It's safe to say that I was a tad obsessed with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, but you would be too if you were trying to understand what that guy is saying.

It's My Life

I don't know why but I am seriously considering wanting to work in a boring office doing mind-numbing work. I assume the only reason this could seem remotely interesting to me is that I've been watching The Office a ton and reading Generation X. I think the idea of doing the same thing everyday is kind of interesting when if fact it should be the exact opposite. But I figure that an office job would do nothing to take from my creativity and brainpower that could be used for more important things. Like rocking.

The Hardest Part of Breaking Up is Getting Back Your Stuff

This article perfectly describes all the weird things that happen post-breakup. It's weird to read something that it seems like everyone has experienced. And as a close Inner Circle friend to someone going through it, it seems fitting.

Now I'm off to go celebrate my hiznalf birthday filled with with movies, CDs, and surprises!!

NOOOOOO!!!!

Just as I suspected, the Christopher Walken for President is a hoax. I absolutely would have voted for him, but now I can be sad that we won't have a "More Cowbell" bill.

Only In Dreams

I highly, highly doubt that this is true but I so hope it is. I can't think of anything better than having Christopher Walken as President of the United States of America. Can you imagine the possibilities? He could address New York... I mean... Kansas. Or when he finds Osama bin Laden in some foxhole (and you know he will, just watch his scene in Pulp Fiction) and tells him that he has a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell. In a world where Christopher Walken is the president, what can go wrong?

I Believe in Yesterday

Yesterday was quite the creative explosion in the realm of Trey Kerby. First, during the most pointless Organic Chemistry lecture I have ever participated in I decided that I would embark upon the production of my memoirs, an idea I had played around with as I mowed the lawn the previous night. I highly doubt that the writing of these memoirs could result in anything, but it will be fun to have my life story documented. Now all I need is a title for it (I've considered How to Become a Music Snob in 21 Years but I'm not sold on it). Next, while sneaking around with my companion Pumpkin, to my own amazement I discovered that I could transcribe music from guitar to piano. This discovery came as I rudimentally tried to figure out the intro riff from Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)." Though I am clearly an untrained and talentless pianist I nonetheless could figure out the right notes to play. Sonatas and etudes await on the horizon. Lastly, 2/3rds of the Feedback Whales (the Trey and Tyler portions) joined forces solely to rock. Last night produced what was probably our most artful music to date. Angular guitars, splashy cymbals, a tambourine, and a little instrument switching on my part was the result of Tyler's recent obsession with the Kings of Leon and mine with the Arcade Fire. By adding a little art-rock to our classic rock tinged grunge (arnge? grart?) we wrote what is the most dynamic song we've ever written. Very reminiscent of the song the full Feedback Whales wrote last summer that featured a toy organ solo by Ben. All in all, yesterday was good to get the creative juices going just in time to have them stifled by work and school.

I Like the Beatles

I finally figured it out today why I do not listen to the Beatles as much as logic would dictate. Since they are easily my favorite band of all time, one would assume that I would listen to them far more than any other music I possess. However, this is not true. This phenomenon was first noted by the one and only Nathan Fowler following our freshman year of college. As the year was nearing it's end, Nathan commented that he thought "we'd hear a lot more Beatles and Beastie Boys this year." The Beastie Boys comment stemmed from my adoration for their 1999 masterpiece Hello Nasty that had been present since our sophomore year of high school. But the Beatles comment was more surprising to me. He was totally right. By admitting (for lack of a better word) that they were my favorite band, anyone could logically think that I would listen to them quite often but I didn't to the point where others noticed. Furthermore, I had no reason why I hadn't listened to the most influential band in the history of music. A mere three years later and I arrived at the reason.
As I was driving home from a terrific day of summer school, I arrived at the stop light by Barnes & Noble (no S!)* I was listening to "I've Got a Feeling" from Let It Be... Naked, and considered switching over to Wolf Parade's EP. However, I found myself paralyzed when it came to the ability to turn off one of my favorite songs by my favorite band. At that very instant I realized why I do not listen to the Beatles as often as one would assume. Much like the Pringles jingle -- once I start, I cannot stop. The Beatles music just will not let me turn it off easily, and this is why I don't listen to them non-stop. If I did, then I would probably completely ignore the majority of my library out of ignorance. Hence, less Beatles = more musical variety. And as everyone knows, variety is the spice of life, though Tabasco sauce is also quite tasty.

*Unbeknownst to me, at this very moment my boo was traveling behind me. I have no idea how this happened, as she had driven away from school before I had. Nonetheless, the Beatles/Wolf Parade/boo triumvirate was revisited no more than 90 minutes later when I discovered that Wolf Parade would be opening for the Arcade Fire at the September 28th show that her and I will attend together (possibly with the second most rock-n-roll couple that I know). It's strange how coincidences such as choosing the Beatles over Wolf Parade had made me completely oblivious to the surrounding traffic; traffic which contained someone who I would be attending a concert with of the band that I had just chosen over. It's kind of like that scene at the end of Ocean's Eleven where you realize that it was Brad Pitt on the phone perpetrating the heist.

Through Being Cool

I don't know if you can measure how cool someone is by looking at the stuff that their friends have of theirs, but I really wish you could. If that were the case, I'm fairly confident that I would be among the top 100 in the world for coolness. Here's what people have of mine (that I wouldn't mind getting back before I die):

• MB - Tenacious D DVD, Snatch, guitar book
• TK - Dane Cook CD and DVD, Arcade Fire, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the Go! Team, Black Mountain, others
• JM - The Godfather trilogy
• MS - the White Album, Beastie Boys anthology, Red Hot Chili Peppers
• AO - Trey Kerby football jersey
• AH - the Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Trey Kerby baseball jersey

Obviously I've given many things away with no intention of seeking their return, but these items have to show how sweet I am. I mean, could a normal human lend out these goods without fear that their street cred would go down? I think not.

Trapped In a Closet

I saw the height of unintentional comedy last night. While scrolling through the channel guide, I stumbled upon R. Kelly's Trapped In a Closet video series. My only exposure to this had been the ridicule it received on VH1's Best Week Ever, so I was obviously intrigued.

Side note: What does VH1 stand for? Possibly Video Hits 1?

ANYWAY, the series is a group of 5 (I think) videos that tell the most confusing story of adultery, gunplay, and homosexuality ever. But the best part of the videos is that the whole story is told through the various characters mouthing the words to the R. Kelly songs. And the words have virtually no metaphoric quality to them at all. It's really something that you need to see to believe. I was literally laughing out loud the entire time, to the point where my Mom asked if I was still watching it. I replied, "Yes, I'm watching the R. Kelly, you're my Mommy," in the best R. Kelly song impersonation I could produce. And I continued to talk in this manner for the rest of the night.

I couldn't recommend anything more highly. It's so completely Murph-diculous that it's a must see. Now if I can just find the entire series of videos on the internets I can die happy.

UPDATE: This was just posted on Stereogum. Check it out, its supposed to explain the R. Kelly saga.

I Want to Go Down in Musical History

Since I will be not attending medical school this fall, and hopefully will the following fall, I have decided that this is the best time to try and actually professionally rock. If I can't get anything significant accomplished in this 1 year period, then I shall delegate rocking to strictly hobby status. That being said, I hope the rock sauce is sweet sounds to the ears of those around.