Sunday, November 8, 2009
Catching up to present time
Well, it's Monday, 1:33 am Paris time (Sunday, 4:33 pm Portland time) and I'm catching up with my activities. Seeing as how my phone doesn't work as a phone - I'm using it as a camera.
I arrived at CDG airport around 6:20 this morning. I eventually passed through customs (didn't take very long at all. The officer behind the desk asked "Where you from?" I said "America". He snarled a bit, stamped my passport and I went through) found my luggage and got on the RER train into Paris. Which is where I found this:
Apparently the seats on the train are for: people with kids, one legged people, pregnant women, people with scoliosis and cool pimps that walk with canes and wear sunglasses. That's fun.
The section of Paris I'm staying in (again) is Bastille.
And my hotel, believe it or not is le Pavillon Bastille 
(that was the dude that was in my room before me. I only think that because he left the hotel moments before I was able to finally check in).
Check out my tiny bathroom!
It's been great. I got all my work done and am ready to see what they have for me tomorrow. I will do my best to keep this updated through the week!
I arrived at CDG airport around 6:20 this morning. I eventually passed through customs (didn't take very long at all. The officer behind the desk asked "Where you from?" I said "America". He snarled a bit, stamped my passport and I went through) found my luggage and got on the RER train into Paris. Which is where I found this:
Apparently the seats on the train are for: people with kids, one legged people, pregnant women, people with scoliosis and cool pimps that walk with canes and wear sunglasses. That's fun.The section of Paris I'm staying in (again) is Bastille.
And my hotel, believe it or not is le Pavillon Bastille 
(that was the dude that was in my room before me. I only think that because he left the hotel moments before I was able to finally check in). Check out my tiny bathroom!
It's been great. I got all my work done and am ready to see what they have for me tomorrow. I will do my best to keep this updated through the week!
some updates from the plane
Portland time: 6pm -
According to the little map on the screen in front of me, I'm about halfway to Paris. Over the Atlantic Ocean traveling at 678 mph at 37000 feet.
I wonder why traveling is such a tiresome activity. I'm not actually doing anything. I should be doing more ("work" work - the whole reason I'm going to Paris in the first place) but, I'm not. I'm over 100 pages into the Klosterman book and it's getting a little repetitive.
Maybe I'm just tired.
Portland time: 7:45pm -
900 miles away from Paris. I've got about an hour and a half of travel, but I'll be landing in the Future! Take THAT, Portland!
I got a fair amount of "work" done and feel good about 75% of it. I've got another day to bring that up. I'm confident it will be fine. At the time of my arrival, I've got some time to kill (4 hours) before I can check in to my hotel (see previous post) I'm taking the train into Paris from CDG Airport. I need to find an electronic converter so I'm able to plug my computer in.
According to the little map on the screen in front of me, I'm about halfway to Paris. Over the Atlantic Ocean traveling at 678 mph at 37000 feet.
I wonder why traveling is such a tiresome activity. I'm not actually doing anything. I should be doing more ("work" work - the whole reason I'm going to Paris in the first place) but, I'm not. I'm over 100 pages into the Klosterman book and it's getting a little repetitive.
Maybe I'm just tired.
Portland time: 7:45pm -
900 miles away from Paris. I've got about an hour and a half of travel, but I'll be landing in the Future! Take THAT, Portland!
I got a fair amount of "work" done and feel good about 75% of it. I've got another day to bring that up. I'm confident it will be fine. At the time of my arrival, I've got some time to kill (4 hours) before I can check in to my hotel (see previous post) I'm taking the train into Paris from CDG Airport. I need to find an electronic converter so I'm able to plug my computer in.
i have arrived
i made it to Paris safe and sound. I can*t check in to my hotel for another two hours, so I found an internet cafe. Problem is, it has a French keyboard (of course) which takes me twice as long to type anything on. I must purchase a power addaptor to charge my own computer battery with;
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Paris Trip day 1
I am flying to Paris for a work trip and thought I would document it.
I woke up at a crip 5:45 AM in my bed in Portland, with my dog Arlo and my lady
Stacey by my side. We were out the door and headed to PDX by 6:15. (Thanks, Stacey)
PORTLAND, OR.
The first leg of my trip is a 4 hour 20 minute plane ride to Washington DC. I've never been to Washington DC, but here I am in the Airport.
Where I am currently sitting for my two hour layover, paying 6 bucks an hour for internet service. Am I working? Nope, I'm starting my blog update. I did work a fair amount on the plane, so this is my deserved break.
My Destination:
Looks like the same place, right?
I spent a little over a week in Paris two years ago working on the same project I'll be there working for now. Gosh, I write good.
So far - not a lot of news. I watched the movie UP on board my first flight. It's good.
Also reading Chuck Klosterman's book, Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs loaned to me by a friend (Thanks Laura.) It's witty.
A lot of people mope around airports. I find myself forcing myself to look cheery. My faux smile isn't too catchy...
eek. I guess I can see why.
I woke up at a crip 5:45 AM in my bed in Portland, with my dog Arlo and my lady
Stacey by my side. We were out the door and headed to PDX by 6:15. (Thanks, Stacey)
PORTLAND, OR.
The first leg of my trip is a 4 hour 20 minute plane ride to Washington DC. I've never been to Washington DC, but here I am in the Airport.
Where I am currently sitting for my two hour layover, paying 6 bucks an hour for internet service. Am I working? Nope, I'm starting my blog update. I did work a fair amount on the plane, so this is my deserved break.My Destination:
Looks like the same place, right?I spent a little over a week in Paris two years ago working on the same project I'll be there working for now. Gosh, I write good.
So far - not a lot of news. I watched the movie UP on board my first flight. It's good.
Also reading Chuck Klosterman's book, Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs loaned to me by a friend (Thanks Laura.) It's witty.
A lot of people mope around airports. I find myself forcing myself to look cheery. My faux smile isn't too catchy...
eek. I guess I can see why.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Dead Man's Bones
I saw a pretty darn amazing show at Portland's Mississippi Studios tonight. Dead Man's Bones played a spooktacular show with a local boys choir. The thing about this band (and album) is that it features Hollywood sweetheart Ryan Gosling. I'll tell you something... it would be awesome even without the name/fame/recognition from him. 
I can't find the right words to describe the event. It was haunting and nothing like I've ever seen before. This album is creeping its way up my favorite releases of 2009.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Naught EP's
I haven't scoured my collection too intently, so this shouldn't be the final version of this list, but... a lot of impressive EP's have been released over the past ten years. Here's my reviews of some of the best.
Decemberists - the Tain (2004)
One heck of a concept album for an EP. Broken down into 5 pieces, the Decemberists tackled Irish folklore in this eighteen and a half minute masterpiece. One of their first forays into straight up guitar-rock music. It's impressive and moody and amazing to see them perform in a live setting.
Bishop Allen - July (2006)
2006 was a crazy year for Bishop Allen. They gained their popularity because they set out to write and record a different EP each month of 2006. They completed the mission successfully, signed to Dead Oceans and became indie sweethearts. In the middle of their EP releasing year - July came out and blew me away. Sure it's just four simple pop songs, but the range is awesome. Fun, creative music done really well. This is what made me fall in love with Bishop Allen. The Broken String solidified it - and Grrr... caused the relationship to end abruptly (it's not very good).
Pinback - Offcell (2003)
I didn't know about Three Mile Pilot when they were originally together, but when that band split two wonderful bands were started: the Black Heart Procession and Pinback. Both bands create dark nightmare-like indie rock. The Offcell EP is Pinback at their most experimental (or close to it).
Modest Mouse - Everywhere & His Nasty Parlour Tricks (2001)
Spoon - the Agony of Laffitte (2000)
The two songs on this EP were written in response (from what I understand) to how Spoon's brief Major Label A&R guy (Ron Laffitte) treated them. He made a lot of promises and followed through on none of them. Released on Saddle Creek in 2000. Laffitte later approached Saddle Creek band The Faint - about signing to whatever major label he was working for at the time. The Faint responded by giving him a copy of this EP. Awesome.
Pedro the Lion - Winners Never Quit (2000)
I don't really know if this is supposed to be regarded as an album or not, but I always called it an EP. It is 8 songs in a concept-album like story that finds Pedro the Lion at their heaviest moment (A Mind Of Her Own) and personal/saddest (or close to it, we know what a downer David Bazan can be) (Bad Things To Such Good People). It is a great LP/EP, whatever it is.
Iron & Wine - Woman King (2005)
I love Iron & Wine on record. Live (especially with a band like Califone backing him) he turns into a Jam-centric hippy, which I don't like. Woman King is a great collection of Iron & Wine songs. If you are not yet familiar with his (Sam Beam) music, start here.
HOME IV (Bright Eyes/Britt Daniel) - split (2004)
I love both Spoon and Bright Eyes. To listen to these four songs, you wouldn't know that these two gents don't play together all the time. Both of them wrote two songs and let the other complete them. All four of the songs are great and you can hear Conor and Britt adding their specific sounds to all of them. This is a wonderful EP. Thank you, Ben at Post Parlo Records!
TV on the Radio - Young Liars (2003)
This is where obsessions start. An a capella cover of a Pixies song by four black dudes from Brooklyn? Weird. Lots of layers and harmonies and studio reverb to make the hipsters sway. This is the way it's done. A unique sound from a bunch of talented lunatics.
Les Savy Fav - Rome (written upside down) (2000)
Speaking of lunatics. Tim Harrington is the craziest front man for any band around right now. Seeing Les Savy Fav perform live you always end up wondering "Is this going to have a heart attack?" or "Is he gonna get all the way naked?" or "What the fuck is he doing?". I've seen him drag a 12 foot A-frame ladder from backstage at the Metro and put it right in the audience, climb up it and sing. He also brought out a slip and slide and put it in the crowd at the Pitchfork fest... and slid on it. He's insane. This EP is a great showcase of that as well.
Beauty Pill - the Cigarette Girl From the Future (2001)
Chad Clark and company are an anomaly. They sometimes make music, they sometimes don't. They sometimes go to the hospital for an enlarged heart and have to have a surgery which takes a long time to recover from. And most importantly - they create some of the greatest, most creative music that nobody has heard. I love everything Beauty Pill has released. This EP is where it began. If you listen to it, I guarantee you will love it too.
Decemberists - the Tain (2004)
One heck of a concept album for an EP. Broken down into 5 pieces, the Decemberists tackled Irish folklore in this eighteen and a half minute masterpiece. One of their first forays into straight up guitar-rock music. It's impressive and moody and amazing to see them perform in a live setting.Bishop Allen - July (2006)
2006 was a crazy year for Bishop Allen. They gained their popularity because they set out to write and record a different EP each month of 2006. They completed the mission successfully, signed to Dead Oceans and became indie sweethearts. In the middle of their EP releasing year - July came out and blew me away. Sure it's just four simple pop songs, but the range is awesome. Fun, creative music done really well. This is what made me fall in love with Bishop Allen. The Broken String solidified it - and Grrr... caused the relationship to end abruptly (it's not very good).Pinback - Offcell (2003)
I didn't know about Three Mile Pilot when they were originally together, but when that band split two wonderful bands were started: the Black Heart Procession and Pinback. Both bands create dark nightmare-like indie rock. The Offcell EP is Pinback at their most experimental (or close to it).Modest Mouse - Everywhere & His Nasty Parlour Tricks (2001)
Spoon - the Agony of Laffitte (2000)
The two songs on this EP were written in response (from what I understand) to how Spoon's brief Major Label A&R guy (Ron Laffitte) treated them. He made a lot of promises and followed through on none of them. Released on Saddle Creek in 2000. Laffitte later approached Saddle Creek band The Faint - about signing to whatever major label he was working for at the time. The Faint responded by giving him a copy of this EP. Awesome.Pedro the Lion - Winners Never Quit (2000)
I don't really know if this is supposed to be regarded as an album or not, but I always called it an EP. It is 8 songs in a concept-album like story that finds Pedro the Lion at their heaviest moment (A Mind Of Her Own) and personal/saddest (or close to it, we know what a downer David Bazan can be) (Bad Things To Such Good People). It is a great LP/EP, whatever it is.Iron & Wine - Woman King (2005)
I love Iron & Wine on record. Live (especially with a band like Califone backing him) he turns into a Jam-centric hippy, which I don't like. Woman King is a great collection of Iron & Wine songs. If you are not yet familiar with his (Sam Beam) music, start here.HOME IV (Bright Eyes/Britt Daniel) - split (2004)
I love both Spoon and Bright Eyes. To listen to these four songs, you wouldn't know that these two gents don't play together all the time. Both of them wrote two songs and let the other complete them. All four of the songs are great and you can hear Conor and Britt adding their specific sounds to all of them. This is a wonderful EP. Thank you, Ben at Post Parlo Records!TV on the Radio - Young Liars (2003)
This is where obsessions start. An a capella cover of a Pixies song by four black dudes from Brooklyn? Weird. Lots of layers and harmonies and studio reverb to make the hipsters sway. This is the way it's done. A unique sound from a bunch of talented lunatics. Les Savy Fav - Rome (written upside down) (2000)
Speaking of lunatics. Tim Harrington is the craziest front man for any band around right now. Seeing Les Savy Fav perform live you always end up wondering "Is this going to have a heart attack?" or "Is he gonna get all the way naked?" or "What the fuck is he doing?". I've seen him drag a 12 foot A-frame ladder from backstage at the Metro and put it right in the audience, climb up it and sing. He also brought out a slip and slide and put it in the crowd at the Pitchfork fest... and slid on it. He's insane. This EP is a great showcase of that as well.
Beauty Pill - the Cigarette Girl From the Future (2001)
Chad Clark and company are an anomaly. They sometimes make music, they sometimes don't. They sometimes go to the hospital for an enlarged heart and have to have a surgery which takes a long time to recover from. And most importantly - they create some of the greatest, most creative music that nobody has heard. I love everything Beauty Pill has released. This EP is where it began. If you listen to it, I guarantee you will love it too.
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