New week, new song, new blog. This blog is actually a week overdue. I was planning on writing this last Saturday, and this was intended to be a weekly blog, but I might have had one too many IPAs that night and was not able to complete my task. So instead of last Saturday, you get it this Monday. I was like to welcome the 19th follower to the blog David. Welcome aboard sir. You will be issued your standard sailor uniform and cap in the coming weeks.
Last Saturday's IPA comes from my hometown of Papillion, NE. My family and friend Jake were in town last week for golf, so my dad was kind enough to bring a couple IPAs to try. This week's IPA is called Hop God. It is a Belgian IPA brewed at the Nebraska Brewing Company. It was a very good beer. It had a great citrus taste and aroma, and got me pretty drunk! So for that Hop God, you get:
TWO EYEBROWS UP!
Now to the pick of the week. I have been listening to the new Beirut so much, that I didn't really find any new albums to select from, so I chose a song off of Sufjan Steven's Age of Adz LP. This CD is new this year, so it is not that dated. The truth about this CD, is that when I first listened to it I was kind of turned off because it is so different than music he had put put before. I loved the previously albums so I felt let down by the new sound, and really didn't listen to it much. Luckily for my I started listening to it again about 3 weeks ago, and have really started to like it a lot. My current favorite song on the album is "Vesuvius." It is the one song on the album that sounds most like his older stuff. If you have never heard of Sufjan, I highly suggest listening to his old albums. They are extremely good, and well worth the listen. Hope you like it!
Sufjan Stevens - "Vesuvius"
And now this (I know this is old, but I just listened to it again recently after a couple years and it is still funny)...
It's me again, Dan Cutler, for another week of senseless music blabber. No new followers this week, so no one to recognize on another life changing decision. I am excited about tonights blog. The first time I heard this pick of the week I couldn't wait to write my blog. This may be my favorite pick to date, and possibly my favorite song of the year. Since hearing this song for the first time yesterday, I have listened to it at least 15 times it's so good. Before the sappy love poems about the band I picked week, let us get to the IPA of the week.
This weeks IPA comes from San Diego, CA. It was a new item at Lukas Liquors (advertised by a big red arrow that said "new item" on it) and I had to try it! It is called West Coast IPA and is made by Green Flash Brewing Company. It has much extreme hops, and I like. At first glance I thought it would be a lonely eyebrow up, but after further review and a hops chop to the tongue, I dub this beer:
Two Eyebrows Up folks!
Now it's time....the moment we have all been waiting for....the pick of the week. The story began on a wild spring break trip with two friends, the ends with a boy becoming a man. After 6 days, 9 states, a new tattoo, and an overnight in a Houston, TX park I was standing at a bar watching an unfamiliar band at SXSW in Austin, TX. I had never heard of this band, but they were sandwiched to play between the Mountain Goats, Blonde Redhead and Voxtrot, so I had to watch...and I had to idea what was coming! What unraveled on stage was one of the best concerts I had ever seen. 12 people on stage playing instruments I had never heard of. Incredibly what came out was a Eastern European sound with a certain romanticism built in. The name of the band is Beirut. They have recently released a new album called The Riptide and the song is called "East Harlem." The second I heard this song I knew it was the pick of the week, and there is no song I can find to top it. If you haven't got Beirut, then you need to get it, but if you have already got it, then obviously you get it! So here you go for the pick of the week...
Welcome to another week, another band, another blog. I would like to welcome the newest follower, a late bloomer, my brother Andy Cutler. Welcome aboard sir, you have missed so much. In recent news, I attended my 10 year high school reunion last week! What a blast that was...
Unfortunately this week I have not come prepared with a new beer. I happen to be enjoying a Busch Light. This is a beer made in St. Louis, MO by the Anheuser Busch Brewing Co. In the world of domestic beers it's not too shabby. One eyebrow up folks.
I have to admit I have been quite the slacker this week and have not been partaking in any new music. Because of the I have chosen Jens Lekman as my music pick of the week. Jens is a singer/songwriter form Sweden. He is more of a folk artist but I really enjoy his music. His songs tend to be slow, but at the same time weird and fun. The first song I have decided to introduce to my bloggers is called Postcard to Nina. This is a song about a lesbian who is scared to tell her Catholic parents that she is gay, so Jens visits her parents with her posing as a boyfriend. It unfolds as a funny story of dinner and awkward conversation. One of my favorite lyrics are: "I get a little nervous and change the subject/I put my hand on some metal object/He jokes and tells me it's a lie detector." Love it. The second song I would like to share is call Jens Lekman's Farewell Song to Rocky Dennis. I actually just learned tonight that Rocky Dennis is the real life person behind the movie Mask with Cher. At any rate, both songs are great so check them out!
Well I am back from a three week hiatus folks. Not to make any excuses but the last three weeks have been fairly hectic with work, and visitors. Fortunately over the last three weeks I have had the chance to listen to some great music, as well as enjoy a handful of delectable IPAs. I have been excited to finally sit back down and share some of the news tunes that I have been listening to. I feel like over this lapse in blogs so many good bands have released new CDs like Bon Iver, Handsome Furs, and The Wooden Birds (2 of 3 will be featured in today's blog.)
First things first, I want to discuss this week's IPA. It is Arcadia Ales IPA and it might just be the best IPA I have tasted to far. The best thing about blogging about IPAs is the fact that most taste so money that I am hardly ever let down, and tonight is no exception. This IPA is brewed in Battle Creek, MI. Not only is it one of the best IPAs that I have had, it probably has one of the coolest bottles as well. Check it out! I think it is no surprise that this IPA gets:
2 EYEBROWS WAY UP!
Due to fact that I have missed the passed three weeks, I have decided to add three different songs this week to make up for missed time. The first song comes in hot from Bon Iver's (some call him Bone Eve-air) newest self titled album. Much like The Antlers I had trouble just picking one song from this album because it is so good, but I had to. For some reason Bon Iver reminds me of Aaron Neville. Far fetched? Maybe...The song I chose is called "Michicant." Give it a listen!
Bon Iver - Michicant:
The second song I have chosen is from the band Grouplove. I heard about the band from my friends Matt and Justin. This band reminds me a lot of Brand New. Matt requested that I add this song to my next blog and dedicate it to Justin. So here you go Justin.
Grouplove - Colours:
The last song comes from the band Handsome Furs. Handsome Furs is a Montreal-based band led by Dan Boeckner (Wolf Parade). They have more of a techno feel, but doesn't stop me from wanting to sing and dance. Without further adeau...
Handsome Furs - "Memories of the Future"
...and now David Hasselhoff eating and cheeseburger...
Welcome back to another week of music and beer. This week's blog is gonna be short, for one we have no new followers, and my cousins Kent and Audrey are coming in town and should be pulling in at any minute. Should make for a great night of drinking and singing!
Tonight's IPA is called Nectar IPA. I was intrigued by this beer when I first saw it on the shelf because the only nectar that I had ever heard of was Early Times Whiskey and any diet drink. Right before I cracked my first Nectar IPA I realized the it was brewed in Paso Robles, CA which is very interesting because the nectar (whiskey and diet) was born and raised in San Luis Obispo, CA which is right up the street. I love the connection. At any rate, it turns out this IPA is really really good. It has great flavor and aroma. I am very impressed!!! And for that, by no surprise:
TWO EYEBROWS UP!
This weeks pick comes off The Antlers newest album Burst Apart. I really like the entire album so it made this difficult to pick just one song. I decided on the song Parentheses because I love the guitar in between verses. I think this whole CD is definitely worth the listen, so if you like this song, check it out. Hope you like it.
Hello all and welcome to the newest addition to my blog. I must apologize for my one week hiatus and promise to make it up to all of you with this weeks latest post. First business as usual...let's invite our newest members to the running crew: Uncle Mike, Mike (brother), Kenny (brother), Jamie (wife). "Keep coming back it works." I would also like to congratulate my cousin Duane on his recent baptism into the world of Midlake. It feels right doesn't it. In other news, last week (which is why I missed my blog) I attended my first ever NASCAR event at Kansas Speedway and I think that everyone should do it at least once. The people watching is out of this world. Let me fill you in with the rules of NASCAR events. They are as follows:
Rule 1: Bring your own 14X14X14 cooler (FYI that size cooler can fit a 30 pack, 2 hoagies and a bag of chips)
Rule 2: You can come as go as you please
Rule 3: Bring your own food...kinda goes with rule 1
Rule 4: You don't have to wear a shirt! (and I am not sure that you have to wear pants either. Yes I'm serious Ryan Christensen)
Rule 5: People watch, because the people watching is better than the race!
Rule 6: FREE PARKING!
So as you can see, there is no reason to not go to a NASCAR event. In fact, I think that it's something that everyone should experience at least once (I had a blast).
Now let's talk eyebrows. This weeks IPA comes from Petaluma, CA and it is delicious. Lagunitas Maximus IPA is everything the name says it is. It has citrus, it has aroma, and best of all it has twice the hops folks. It is the MAXIMUS! They should change the name to Kangaroo IPA because it has so many hops! I have had the Lagunitas IPA in the past, and as my sister-in-law Emily can attest, it is good! So double the hops and the beer only gets better, and we are talking Maximus. So by no surprise Dr. Steve Brule gives this IPA:
2 EYEBROWS UP!
Now lets get to the moment we have all been waiting for, the pick of the week. Destroyer has been in my life for many years, and I just can't quit Dan Bejar. The guy is from Vancouver and can rock your socks off. Not only a member/lead singer of Destroyer, Dan Bejar shares his talents with the likes of New Pornographers and Swan Lake. I must say the the best works of Dan Bejar are most appreciated when singing lead vocals for Destroyer. All of his tracks are majestic journeys through poetic genius. I prove this point by maybe the best lyric ever written in the song "Goddess of Drought,""I was looking good, on the day that you feel for the way I look." Destroyer's catalog of music goes on for a lifetime. Every time I play an album I fall in love with a new songs, and I could add 15 music videos to this blog to share. But I won't. That is your homework bloggers. Tonight I will add one song from Destroyer's newest ablum Kaputt followed by my all time favorite off of Destroyer's Rubies. First is Chinatown, which is the first song on Kaputt, but I just love it. It sounds like Feist is featured in the song but it is actually Sibel Thrasher. Before I go on I want to congratulate the Dallas Mavericks for just beating the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals! I cannot express how pleased I am that Miami lost. Congrats Dirk. The second song is called "Painter in Your Pocket." I love this song! This is the song that turned me on to Destroyer, and like I said before, I could list 15 more videos on this blog but I don't want to bore you. If you like these two song let me know and I will give you a list of songs you need to listen to. For now...
Happy Memorial Day! Welcome to week 5. I know I am late, but had a busy weekend back in Omaha attending a wedding, and spending a wonderful night at the local watering hole, Brownies. Hug your new neighbor (if you were there, you know what I'm talking about! "I love inside jokes. I hope to be a part of one someday." -Michael Scott). As usual I would like to take this time to welcome the new followers: Ed, Bri, Darren, Kent and Audrey. We are now 12 strong folks! I would also like to point out that my cousin Kent is currently on a three week journey across the western United States in his car. Here is a link to his blog http://kntnt.blogspot.com/, check it out! You will like it!
Unfortunately, since I was out of town this weekend, I was not able to grab a new IPA and give a glorious review so for that I give myself:
Two eyebrows down...or are the up!?! Yo no se....(thanks for the senior pic Nezar!)
This week I have not been listening a lot of new music, but I have revisited Midlake, and am glad that I did. I have decided this week to pick a song from each of their 3 LPs: Bamnan & Slivercork (2004), Trials of Van Occupanther (2006), Courage of Others (2010). The reason I love Midlake so much is that each of their songs are an epic adventure that feels to be set back in time. I feel like The Trails of Van Occupanther is a trip through the 1800s in the hillsides of the Northeast, from building homes out of stones, to being robbed by bandits only to start over with a rabbit and an ox. Then Courage of Others takes me to medieval times, sucking on a turkey leg at the town joust and stoning. There are so many great songs on each of their albums, and they all include a uniquely different sound. I had the pleasure of seeing Midlake at SXSW several years ago, and was captivated by their sound and stage presence. I hope that you can appreciate their sound as I do, and look forward to hearing what you have think of this weeks' choice. Have a fun short week, and I will see you next week. For now...ENJOY!
From Bamnan & Slivercork, "Balloon Maker":
From Trials of Van Occupanter, "Roscoe":
From Courage of Others, "Rulers, Ruling all Things":
