Jupiter One - Sunshower

Woo hoo! Two great bands in two days! This is awesome.

The founding members of Jupiter One, K. Ishibashi and Zac Colwell, actually met as traveling, orchestral musicians with Barnum and Bailey. Freakin' weird right? But, also awesome. Add in Ishibashi's wife, Mocha, drummer David Heilman, and bass player Pat "Panda" Dougherty and you have Jupiter One. And yes, they ARE named after the spaceship in Lost In Space.


I can tell you one thing for sure about their sophomore album, Sunshower: I purchased it. I used real, American, dollars to buy music. That's a pretty rare occurrence in my life, but these guys are awesome.

It's been a long time since I've actually enjoyed every song on an album and this one really hits the mark. There's such a diverse array of music that it doesn't get boring. From the funky "Find Me A Place" to the indie rock "Lights Go Out" to the 80's new-wave "Anna" to the reggae inspired "Simple Stones" to the pop hit "Volcano", this album's got something for everyone.

They're also popping up everywhere, from video games (Madden NFL '08, NHL '08, Burnout Paradise, FIFA '08, and FIFA '09) to commercials (Payless and Mazda) to television (MLB Network, Heroes, and Kyle XY). They've also toured with Regina Spektor on her last two circuits, which is pretty sweet. That sounds like a lethal combo of AWESOME!

You can check out the new album, Sunshower, streaming on their Myspace now and read more about the band over at their site. Check 'em out! This album gets a resounding A from me!

"Volcano"



"Anna"



"Lights Go Out"

Things Behind the Sun

Well, look at that...Lancaster, PA has more to offer than Amish people, Magic the Gathering conventions, and farmer's markets. From their Myspace:

"Things Behind The Sun is a Lancaster-based Indie Rock band made up of four beardless men who had a dream. A dream of making great music, and of one day having beards that would rival those of kings. Giving up on the latter part, they decided to write some music - with unconventional instrumentation featuring the unique timbres of violin and cello, driving rhythms and catchy choruses, emotional melodies and climaxes, and mood-evoking lyrics. The debut EP "The Beards of Kings" will be released sometime in late 2010."

 This also prompted this drawing in an email:

Yes, my friends, this is an emo cello. Do not let said cello fool you, though, this indie-rock quartet is oh-so-much more than that. However, I AM a sucker for a good cello.


They're insanely infectious. In fact, I think I'll have to apologize to my friends and co-workers in advance, because they only have four tracks up on their Myspace and I've been consistently listening to them on repeat since the later hours of the morning. You can actually download one of their songs, "Captured in Colors" for free. Well, not free I guess, but in exchange for a simple Tweet or Facebook post. It's well worth it.

Falling into this new, "Baroque Rock", folk category with bands like the Fleet Foxes, Mumford & Sons, and Iron and Wine, Things Behind The Sun is a welcome addition to my music collection. While they are similar to other bands when it comes to the music, Jordan Taylor's voice owns. Imagine that Maynard Keenan and Serj Tankian had a baby. And that it's an angel. That's Jordan Taylor. Maybe the lack of beard helps. A lot of these singers are mumbling lyrics at you through the thickest of hipster beards, see?

 

Robin Pecknold from the Fleet Foxes

Sam Beam from Iron & Wine

Colin Meloy from The Decemberists

And that's just three examples! Look how delightfully beardless Things Behind the Sun are!

I think we can now make the informed decision that naked faces make better rockers. Wow, this blog went totally off tangent...

Long story short: Things Behind the Sun is an awesome, awesome band and you should check them out. Also: PA REPRESENT! Keep an eye out for their debut album, "The Beards of Kings" coming soon!

Worldwide Anti-Whaling Day - November 5, 2010

From the Worldwide Anti-Whaling Day website, a call to all concerned citizens:

About whaling:

Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil.  Its earliest forms date from at least 3,000 BC.  Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance from whaling and harvesting beached whales.  Industrial whaling emerged with organized fleets in the 17th century; competitive national whaling industries in the 18th and 19th centuries; and the introduction of factory ships along with the concept of whale harvesting in the first half of the 20th century.

As technology increased and demand for the seemingly vast resources remained high, catches far exceeded the carrying capacity of whale stocks. In the late 1930s, more than 50,000 whales were killed annually, and by the middle of the century whale stocks were not being replenished.  In 1986 the International Whaling Commission (IWC) banned commercial whaling so that stocks might recover.

While the moratorium has been successful in averting the extinction of whale species due to overhunting, contemporary whaling is subject to intense debate.  Pro-whaling countries wish to lift the ban on stocks they believe have recovered sufficiently to sustain limited hunting.  Anti-whaling countries and environmental groups contend that those stocks remain vulnerable and that whaling is immoral and should remain banned.

When the commercial whaling moratorium was introduced by the IWC in 1982, Japan lodged an official objection. However, in response to U.S. threats to cut Japan's fishing quota in U.S. territorial waters under the terms of the Packwood-Magnuson Amendment, Japan withdrew its objection in 1987.  According to the BBC, America went back on this promise, effectively destroying the deal. Since Japan could not resume commercial whaling, it began whaling on a scientific-research basis. Groups dispute the Japanese claim of research "as a disguise for commercial whaling."

The stated purpose of the research program is to establish the size and dynamics of whale populations.  The Japanese government wishes to resume whaling in a sustainable manner under the oversight of the IWC, both for whale products, (meat, etc.), and to help preserve fishing resources by culling whales.  Anti-whaling organizations claim that the research program is a front for commercial whaling, that the sample size is needlessly large and that equivalent information can be obtained by non-lethal means, for example by studying samples of whale tissue (such as skin).  The Japanese government sponsored Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), which conducts the research, disagrees, stating that the information obtainable from tissue samples is insufficient and that the sample size is necessary in order to be representative.

Around 950 long-finned pilot whales are caught annually in the Danish controlled Faroe Islands, mainly during the summer.  Occasionally, other species are hunted as well, such as the northern bottlenose whale and Atlantic white-sided dolphin. The hunt is known as the Grindadráp. Faroese whaling is regulated by Faroese authorities but not by the IWC, which does not regulate the catching of small cetaceans. Most Faroese consider the hunt an important part of their culture and history, and arguments about the topic raise strong emotions.  Animal-rights groups criticize the hunt as being cruel and unnecessary.  Hunters claim that most journalists lack knowledge of the methods used to capture and kill the whales, or of the hunt's economic significance.

Japan's scientific whaling program is controversial in anti-whaling countries.  Countries opposed to whaling have passed non-binding resolutions in the IWC urging Japan to stop the program.  Japan claims that whale stocks for some species are sufficiently large to sustain commercial hunting and blame filibustering by the anti-whaling side for the continuation of scientific whaling.

About the protests:

The idea of the Anti-Whaling Day protests is the result of an American’s indignation with the relentless massacre of whales. This heinous act is perpetrated by several countries, primarily Japan, who indiscriminately slaughter whales in sanctuaries and in territorial waters of countries such as Australia, New Zealand and around the Antarctic. 

In June this year, in Morocco, during the IWC meeting, Japan, Norway and Iceland lobbied for the lifting of the whaling moratorium, which was denied. Despite the IWC’s decision, Japan continues to massacre whales under the banner of “scientific research," in spite of not having published its “research" in any internationally recognized scientific journal. November 5, 2010 is now the international demonstration day against whaling because it is when the Japanese officially open their whaling season.

Through the creation of a group on Facebook, the initial idea of a small localized protest in Philadelphia turned into a worldwide event, with groups being formed in several countries ranging from the USA to New Zealand, and from Portugal to Japan.  Each country is free to organize its own peaceful protests while always following the format outlined by headquarters located in Philadelphia, PA.
Below are some examples of what is being organized worldwide on Facebook:

“Let it be known that enforcement by the IWC needs to take place in the Southern Ocean as well as the Faeroe Islands.  Whaling for meat, culture, or fun is not acceptable.
Our main objective is to raise awareness about the Japanese Whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary.  The Japanese whaling vessels may use an LRAD on their ships, but we can use our voices and our numbers to tell them what they are doing is WRONG. Support the cause, join the fight, and spread awareness.”

The idea is that each country protests peacefully, yet being free to add its cultural and local “flavors" to their protests, capitalizing on exposure in their local media; TV, newspaper, radio, and other means of communication, with the objective of generating maximum exposure of the message and awareness of what is actually happening in regard to whaling.

Many organizers are choosing to peacefully parade through key areas of their cities, demonstrating in front of Japanese embassies, consulates or official delegations.  In Wellington, New Zealand, demonstrations will parade through the Japanese Embassy and culminate in front of the Parliament building where a petition will be given to a government representative.

So come out and help stop this cruelty and injustice. This is another world-wide event, people, so find a protest in your city and go, go, go!!!

For the Pittsburgh protest, it will be held at the fountain at Point State Park on November 5, 2010 from 4:00pm until 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!

HALLOWEEN'S ALMOST HERE!!!!!

So, every year, me and The Husband buy those fake, semi-foamy, carvable pumpkins. We've done a few different things like carving faces and painting them, but I really wanted to do something awesome this year. We went to the Halloween store last night to look for some last minute costume parts, and I saw one of those carving kits that come with the stencil things. So, I get it home, and we're looking through the stencils and some were cute, but none of them were really awesome. Then the idea struck me...I could do whatever I wanted, through the awesome powers of the internet! So, I did this:

It is my pride and joy. It still needs a little thinning out, but it's pretty awesome, right? Inside, we got this disc light thing that changes colors. I am a huge fan of this sickly green:

Then there was the orange, which I found rather appropriate for Halloween:

Man! Coolest pumpkin, EVER! So pumped! There's also blue, but the picture didn't come out that great. Also, I'm being Gaz for Halloween! The costume's not quite there yet, but there is a preview here. Aaaaand, today is our first Halloween party of the season! Damn, I love Halloween in case you couldn't tell! And this one's gonna be AWESOME!

Happy Halloween, everybody!

Sara Bareilles - Kaleidoscope Heart

Sometimes, I really love when an album gets mixed reviews. Okay, I like it all the time. I hate when an album comes out and everyone's all, "OMG BEST ALBUM OF ALL TIMEZ!!!11!!11one!11". Sometimes it's true, but more often that not, it's not. Not everyone likes the same type of music, and that's the way it's supposed to be.

Despite what appears to be a rather lukewarm reception, I like this album. I also like Sara Bareilles as a whole (um, piano? That's where it's at). Be forewarned, there is no "Love Song" on this album. There is no forcibly radio-friendly pop song, so if that's what you're looking for out of Sara, well...you're not gonna get it. On her junior effort, Kaleidoscope Heart, Bareilles uses complex vocal melodies, classically constructed arrangements, and good, old-fashioned talent to keep this album afloat. It's more of a return to her beginnings, as heard on 2004's Careful Confessions (or the other 12 tracks on Little Voice, for that matter). Bluesy, soulful, and while hindered in sound, it's just as emotionally compelling.

Once again, the "hit single" on this album, "King of Anything", is not even remotely the best song. That would be "Gonna Get Over You". It's the one that catches my ear on every play-through. It's got that same up-tempo beat /slash/ angry girl rock, kick-him-to-the-curb attitude as so many of her other tracks. And while she does do it on a regular basis, it never really gets old. This could be due to the fact that I do, indeed, have ovaries, but there's something that I really just love about angry, independent girls.

While she does recycle some of the same mentalities, she also veers off-course with two pure, acoustic, guitar tracks, "Basket Case" and "Let the Rain". More in a singer-songwritery-vein, they really bring her voice to light. It's really kind of amazing how it sounds without the clamor of her piano. Don't get me wrong, I love that piano, it's just nice to get a little variation every now and again. While I absolutely don't wish the curse of being a one-hit-wonder on her, I really enjoy where Bareilles is going with this album. It's a little more personal and a little less about the record company (aka: the people who pretty much commissioned her to sing "Love Song").

In a sea of auto-tuned female pop stars, it's refreshing to see someone with genuine talent making music. If you're looking for another easily-digestible, radio-ready pop album, this one's not for you. If you're looking for some actual female talent and compelling songs, it is. While I want to give this album an A, I've also heard Careful Confessions, which was just so filled with raw emotion and musically inspiring tracks, I just can't. So, it gets a B.

You can actually here it streaming now on her Myspace and you can check out more news'n'stuff over on her website.

"Gonna Get Over You"