In the shadow of U2's release last week comes Chris Cornell's groundbreaking album, Scream. If you've

listened to any of the hype, you'll most likely not give the former
Audioslave & Soundgarden frontman much of a chance this time
around. On the contrary, I'm quite enamored by this “album-oriented
album” (as Cornell himself pitches it) and can't stop listening to
it. How often do you get to hear one of the kings of grunge sing with
dance/R&B music by Timbaland?

When I have others listen to the new
release (it's streaming for free on MySpace), the voice is an initial
drawback. It really does take some time to get used to hearing a
made-for-rock voice against a dance beat. While us “I love the 90s”
folk appreciate the voice of Soundgarden, it's not a trained voice.
Cornell puts soul into his music, and that's why so many people love
him.

After a couple listens, though, you'll
gain a better appreciation for both Cornell and Timbaland's talents.
The music literally never stops as there is an interlude at the end
of every song. One could conceivably have a Scream dance party,
although the album doesn't quite work in that respect - again, because of the voice. The intensity
is consistent throughout and the songwriting is solid, too. The only
line that I cringe at is, “We met at a party bout almost two years
ago,” in “Other Side of Town” as it sounds a little too
juvenile; the rest of the song makes up for it, though. The five
songs bookended in the middle of the album by the first two singles
(“Ground Zero” and “Scream”) really have a great flow. “Never
Fall Away” is a ballad standout followed by the Indian-flavored
“Take Me Alive”.

I'm curious to see what demographic
this album clicks with the best and where we'll be hearing it the
most. I haven't heard anyone call this a sellout album yet –
Cornell is too down-to-earth to fall for that. This is a
collaboration as impressive as Santana's Supernatural,
although it's not quite as accessible. Give it a listen and see if
you can stop yourself from dancing or singing along.

Elsewhere:

• myspace.com/chriscornell is
  streaming the full album for a limited time
  

• ChrisCornell.com is very active
  with a forum, blog, and lots of videos. See particularly the
  heartwarming story about the B-side “I Promise It's Not Goodbye”,
  written with a fan.
  http://www.chriscornell.com/news/default.aspx?nid=20346
  

• Chris Cornell is on Twitter: “So
  I am teitter challenged because I break and lose my phone a lot!
  Rocked Amsterdam an hour ago. Great people. Scream is a BLAST to
  play!!!” - http://twitter.com/chriscornell/status/1255919706
  
  

• Check out the Chris Cornell f/ Timbaland - Part Of Me (Brick Bandits House Remix) via Hype Machine.
  

 http://hopedoesnotdisappoint.blogspot.com/2008/10/yes-then-id-know-itll-be-alright.html

Yes, pretty sad that I can be hung up on this two years later. Sometimes it's hard not too share, though!

Megan is like an open coffin that I can't close and can't bury. I know that she's managed to close her eyes to me, but I can't seem to accept our "irreconcilable differences." I'm sure that's a common complaint from at least one half of all parties involved in divorce. When I believed in universal monogamy (by that, I mean that the institution of marriage and monogamy is ideal for everyone - not just a select few for whom it actually works), I thought that "irrec diff" was a bunch of cop-out bullshit. Sometimes, though, we reach points in our lives where we've truly changed and the old must pass.

From the moment I realized the irreconcilable differences in our marriage (prob around Jan '07), the only type of resurrection I've hoped for from Megan is friendship. So, to answer what I'm sure many of you are thinking: No, I do not want to get back together with her, at least not in marriage. I'm not the person she married (or thought she married, from the beginning). I'm pretty confident that neither of us will find another love like ours for many years to come. We're "old" (as far as starting a family goes) and jaded, no matter how much we look for that happy ending. I will always love her very much. No matter where our paths lead us, I hope they continue to cross amicably.

We've made steps apart slowly, and I've finally agreed to never try contacting her again. How can I get over a painful request like that? I've always felt that her blog, in many ways, is a lament to me. Morbid and narcissistic thought, but how can I stop reading such juicy details? Seven years together - will it take seven more to feel new again?

What have I learned? Be honest from the beginning. Also, if you're not sure that you're happy with what you're doing in your own life, don't expect someone else to carry that burden for you (although moms like to try). Investing all your love into one person is very risky business. It may be invigorating, but it ain't no cakewalk. My advice: Before you think about tying the knot, first make sure it's not tangled. As careless about love as I may seem, I do want to be compassionate in my future relationships - I've got lots of room for improvement. There is no formula to balancing happiness and longevity in marriage, though. Life is dumb luck. Look how hard Megan's trying. May she roll lucky sevens. 1999... 2013?

I'd love to know what my friends think of all this. It may seem like beating a dead horse to many of you, but that horse is rotting. Anyone wanna meet up, give me a call, send me an IM, text, comment, or e-mail (in order of preference)? We don't even need to discuss this craziness in detail. I just enjoy conversations about love, ethics, and well-being.

Was he the one causing pain
With his careless dreaming?
Been afraid
Always afraid
Of the things he's feeling

 - "Unforgiven III" by Metallica

Impressive new album from Metallica released this month. Very heavy metal - this is the only slow song on the whole thing.



metrolyrics.com/the-unforgiven-iii-lyrics-metallica.html

Words and music by Jason Beetz, J. J. DiUbaldi, and Jon Small. First draft of a list --> poem --> song.

This could work both ways in a relationship. We hypocritically blame people on things we're obviously guilty of, as well. We shouldn't think we're actually that different from each other.

blame it on the ex's
blame it on the weed
blame it on the alcohol
blame it on the softball glove
Blame it On the Rain
have an excuse for everything
all I'm askin
just don't blame me

blame it on the traffic
blame it on the dog
blame it on your attitude
blame it on your personality
blame it on your lack of control
blame it on being tired
blame it on the hard day's work
blame it on having a bad day
blame it on your roommate
blame it on your kids
blame it on your brother
blame it on your brother's kids
blame it on the weather
blame it on the wind
just don't blame me

blame it on your religion and lack thereof
blame it on the collapse
or blame it on the condom
blame it on your upbringing or on your childhood
blame it on the condom

blame it on your shitty car
blame it on your shitty room
blame it on the paper thin doors
blame it on the paper thin walls
"Keep it down in there!" you'd like to say
blame it on your shitty landlord
or blame it on the condom
blame it on the mouse on the motorcycle

blame it on your dirty home
or on your cheap cell phone...
and your shitty service
pretend you don't understand subtlety
say, "we can talk about it tomorrow"

blame it on our dirty house
then blame it on the wife
just don't blame me

Images created by the Wordle.net web application are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.

David Byrne has been busy in the last few years. In addition to his new digital album released today (in collaboration with Brian Eno), here are a few highlights from his other projects since 2005. See particularly the videos for Everything That Happens, Toe Jam, and Playing the Building.

Tour with Eno
'08Sep16-Nov8
I might have to splurge for the Sep22 Nashville show. Tour ends in Philly @ the Tower.
Ticketmaster.com

Everything That Happens Will Happen Today digital release
'08Aug18
EverythingThatHappens.com

Nude censored video "Toe Jam" by Brighton Port Authority (The BPA)
'08Jun
Fatboy Slim's new project features Byrne on vocals for this song.
Vimeo.com video
Billboard.com article

Playing the Building: An Installation by David Byrne
'08May-Aug24
He wired a whole building in NYC to be one giant musical instrument.
DavidByrne.com

My Life in the Bush of Ghosts rereleased
2006
Byrne's other collab with Brian Eno includes two songs available to remix with Creative Commons.
BushofGhosts.WMG.com

Radio David Byrne begins
2005
RadioDavidByrne.com

See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Byrne_(musician) for more details.

More details at http://okc26janblog.notlong.com

Hosted By: Holly Osborn - Evans
When: Saturday Jan 26, 2008
at 8:00 PM
Where: The Flying Saucer
111 10th St. South
Nashville, Tennessee|43 37203
United States
Description:
Laid back place (dress will be casal), live music, any type of beer or drink you can think of (this is not an open bar however, everyone will be paying for themselves or whomever else they want) and even pool tables are available. We're going to have a great time so please come out.

Click Here To RSVP

I've always been in awe of people who can write from the heart. My spirit seems to hide behind my deceptively happy eyes and smile. Every time I "express" myself, it seems depressing! Guess that's because I've been coming out of a ten-year depression (in retrospect; I hadn't realized it until February or March). I'm not used to being genuinely happy. We all like to think that everything is good now, the past is behind us. Fortunately, I'm emotionally ignorant enough to be that optimistic.

I write to you, Dear World, because you are my people. I've always tried to be a people-pleaser. In the past, I let my faith and the people around me control what "I" want to do with my life. Now is the time to explore. I probably haven't made this clear to those who've read my blog in the past year. My close friends and family know this; while they're understanding, not many are empathetic since these are the adventures that most people have in their late teens, not their mid-20s. "What happened to pious Mr. J. J.?" they might ask.

Trent Reznor might respond with, "I do not want this. And don't you tell me how I feel." I'm about as lost as he always seems to be, but at least NIN has an avenue of expression. There are many ways to enjoy music but I'd say my main avenue is looking at artists with awe. Sometimes I identify with what one is singing or grooving, but I'm mainly awestruck by a musician's ability to live the way they feel - and make a living doing it.

I thank my father for teaching me, "Everything in moderation." It kind of seems like a fence-riding position on life, but it's also the best way to avoid insanity. Sometimes I want to dive into the deep end, but apathy usually wants to drown me. While apathy may be one way to explain it, self-consciousness is another. I tend to care TOO much about the history of my life and so avoid taking any chances. I am exploring, though. Soon I'll learn to swim in deep waters. Thanks are due to my companions and instructors, both new and old. I'm a work of art. No man is an island. (What am I writing here? I hate kitschy sound bites and maxims.)

There is no conclusion just as there was no introduction. Live with the unintelligible. Connect the dots.

How I do love thee,
J. J.

P.S. Listen to the Cash tune from my subject line. Do a search on hypem.com to find it.

I've been meaning to post a more positive blog entry here for a while. Every once and a while, you get a "life boost", for lack of a better term. I became an uncle for the second time (to Ava Donna) on Wednesday night and it's been such invigorating news! I won't wax poetic on the topic of childbirth, but I just wanted to pass on the good news for those who have ears to hear.

Otherwise, here's my life:
sleep in most days
take forever with my morning routine
drive 15 min to cool springs listening to Harry Potter 7 on CD
sell suits for too many hours
miss my old tech job paychecks
love my coworkers
talk about the nightlife
wish I were a better cook
love my friends
drink and shoot the shit
love my therapist
grateful that i can be honest and free...
... this is the first year of my life for that

still need a heavy bag to get the anger out, though
I feel like an infant sometimes
but fortunately it means new beginnings
thanks Tracy Chapman

finding my niche
discovering me
accepting change
continually learning what it means to give
seeing life
thanks Ava Donna!

http://lowsong.notlong.com/

[Felt like this yesterday for some reason. A little better today, definitely...]

Have you ever been lost?
Floating on the ground
Like a fading frost
Falling asleep next to the bed
And you feel so low

Oh, they've stolen your pride
Stand up while your conscience
Sits inside
I've made up my mind
I feel the time
And I feel so low

Stay and highjack the hurt
I feel so low, I feel so high
Take a look inside my mind
Ooh

If the object is clear
There wouldn't be a point
Only God-less fear
By the end of July
I wonder will I,
Still feel so low?

Oh I'm close to the guide
Moving in time
Falling in line
I've made up my mind
Papers are signed
And I feel so low

Stay and highjack the hurt
I feel so low, I feel so high
Take a look inside my mind
Ooh

Once a lover
Now you suffer
So far away from here
You're feeling hollow
And you tell sorrow

Stay and highjack the hurt
I feel so low, I feel so high
Take a look inside my mind
Ooh