Ralford.net

  [Music]

I use subversion religiously at work to keep track hardware designs that are in progress. Subversion and other version control systems have a simple process:

1. Check out a document out of the repository to make changes to it
2. Make the changes, to hopefully better the document
3. After the changes are made, do a "show diff" (if the document is a text file) to review the changes that were made
4. If you're happy with the differences, commit the updates back to the repository, and pick up where you left off at a later point in time

The same methods can be used to write music:

1. Take an existing idea of a song, whether from memory or a recording
2. Re-write sections as necessary, with the goal of making it sound more fluid and/or groovy
3. After sections are rewritten, review the song, and compare it to the previous state before changes were made
4. If satisfied with the changes, record the changes on paper or recordable media, and continue the writing process at a later date (do NOT use floppy discs)

Without using version control with hardware, it's easy to lose track of the changes someone makes to a design. Similarly, if an musical idea isn't recorded on paper or tape/CD/minidisc, it becomes more probably that the progress will be forgotten.

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  [Music]

I threw this mix together tonight, and am really digging how it turned out. The mix all started when I thought about making a soundtrack for my life, but there were way too many songs to choose from, so I weeded out what didn't fit in . What's left are tunes that span from my middle school days to my freshman year of college... some damn good times not to be forgotten:

1. Possum Kingdom (Toadies)
2. Bats in the Belfry (Dispatch)
3. Beercan (Beck)
4. No Rain (Blind Melon)
5. Mr. Jones (Counting Crows)
6. Low (Cracker)
7. Voodoo Lady (Ween)
8. Praise You (Fatboy Slim)
9. Longview (Green Day)
10. Sex and Candy (Marcy Playground)
11. Hey Jealousy (Gin Blossoms)
12. I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams (Weezer, with Rachel Haden)
    (f)Rachel Haden is from The Rentals. I never knew the whole story behind who wrote or sang this tune. Once again, Wikipedia saves the day.
13. The World Has Turned and Left Me Here (Weezer)
14. Interstate Love Song (Stone Temple Pilots)
15. Time Bomb (Rancid)
16. Seed (Sublime)
17. Right On (Pain)

There are certainly a few songs on here by bands that I haven't explored, but these songs all remain favorites.

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  [Music]

My Hookahville tickets have finally arrived! The festival is just two weeks away. There's nothing like camping out, listening to music, and not worrying about anything for a few days. The music consists of two performances by Ekoostik Hookah (the band I caught in Cleveland last November), and a number of other musical acts, including:

• The Wailers
• Rusted Root
  
• Hot Buttered Rum
• Oakhurst
• Tea Leaf Green
• Freekbass
• Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band
• The Ark Band
• Back Forty
• Macpodz
• Rumpke Mountain Boys
• Stephan Mikes

See you there!

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  [Music]

After playing with Cootie Brown (w) for nearly a year and a half, we've scheduled our first out of state gig. I usually don't get into these things on my weblog, but I'm pretty damn excited because it'll be at Nectars, in Burlington, VT. If you happen to be in Burlington on 5/19, come check us out! The rest of our schedule (and some tunes) can be found at www.myspace.com/cootiebrown.

Image courtesy of:
ExploreNewEngland.com, T.S. Amarasiriwardena/Boston.com Staff Photo

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  [Music]

Last month I went to check out The Decemberists at Messiah College with my friend Erin. I went into the show as a new listener: I wasn't too familiar with all their tunes, except that I picked up their album Picaresque about a week before (not to mention that I watched the Colbert Report when Chris Funk tore it up during the Decemberists vs Stephen Colbert Guitar Solo Challenge).

The show was in a gymnasium (Brubaker Auditorium) with a large stage. Above the stage, four large round lights flashed colors of the various lights that shined on them. Behind the stage was a huge curtain with a scene out of some partially told story - I remember a big cliff with an old building or two, and a waterfall - pretty cool stuff (yes, my description is lame).

Most of the tunes they played were not from Picaresque (not that I was expecting them to be). All the tunes were very enjoyable, despite the fact I hadn't heard them before. The setlist, as taken from bt.etree.org, follows:

1. Intro music
2. Shiny
3. The Island, Come and See, The Landlord's Daughter, You'll not Feel the Drowning
4. Banter (where are we tonight?)
5. July, July!
6. Banter (Slinky on stage)
7. The Crane Wife (pt.1 only)
8. The Bachelor and the Bride
9. Song for Myla Goldberg (slow version)
10. The Perfect Crime 1/(What Goes On by The Velvet Underground)/The Perfect Crime 2
11. O Valencia
12. A Cautionary Song (with the battle of Gettysburg)
13. Encore break
14. The Tain (I-VI)

There were a number of things about The Decemberists' performance that made the show extremely entertaining:

• The introductory music was a recording over the speaker system. If I had to guess, I'd say it was the Canadian National Anthem. The song kept building, until the end, when The Decemberists entered from the side of the stage - by this point the crowd was totally psyched (in my defense, I have never knowingly heard an anthem from Canada; whatever was played was a freaking cool introduction).
• Their musicians all played multiple instruments during the night. A few songs dropped into quiet sections where Chris Funk played a fiddle, and the bassist hopped on cello. Similarly, Colin Meloy hopped on the drums, and member Jenny Conlee alternated between the keyboard and accordion.
• Their lead songwriter, Colin Meloy, changed to a different acoustic guitar between every song (and also an electric at one point). There was a rack of them hidden somewhere, and he either was rotating between 2 or 3, or he had about 15 different ones.
• Best of all, they had the complete attention (and control?) of the audience - at one point the drummer hopped into the audience for a Civil War reenactment while the lead singer narrorated!

Knowning my taste of music, Erin was surprised that I enjoyed the show so much. Then later, she showed me an interview with Colin Meloy, which seems to pinpoint what makes The Decemberists different from other artists (scroll down through the article to the comments about Bright Eyes).

Messiah College is local to the Mechanicsburg area, and the crowd at the show really made it feel like I was home. If I had to guess, I'd say most people catching the show were in the 18 to 25 yrs age group. In an odd way, I was reminded of the handful of punk rock shows I'd been to during high school. What a good time it was.

The Decemberists' show was incredibly cool, and I have no doubt this is a band I'll be listening to in the years to come. I have since picked up their 2006 album, The Crane Wife. I've really been digging The Crane Wife 3, O Valencia!, and The Perfect Crime #2. Another one of my favorites (from Picaresque) is The Sporting Life.

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  [Music]

In his own words:

When the end is definite and near, it is easy to focus on every individual moment up to this point--but since the end is known, we know the memories will be what is left.

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  [Music]

I caught ekoostik Hookah in Cleveland over Thanksgiving. All I have to say is the band is freakin incredible, and their guitarist Steven Sweeny tears it up! Go here to see a video of them totally rocking out on November 24th.

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  [Music]

I picked up a few albums over the holidays to feed my bottomless crave for music:

• Wildflowers, Tom Petty (1994)
• No Doy, moe. (1996)
• Rocket 3, The Disco Biscuits (recorded in 2004)
• Earth to America, Widespread Panic (2006)

Wildflowers and No Doy are two albums I've wanted forever. Tom Petty is an old favorite, while No Doy is plain tight with a phat copy of Rebubla (for rockin on the road). The last two, however, are both purchases I've been damn excited to hear.

Widespread Panic is new to me so this album was more to give me a of a sample of their music. Up until now, I hadn't listened to them except for a DVD clip of a tune (perhaps a Bonaroo DVD?). I recently read in Relix about a guitarist leaving the band at some point, so I figured this recent album (2006) would show me their most current sound.

Finally, there's Rocket 3, the 3rd set from the Disco Biscuits' 2004 New Years Eve performance. I first met their music at Mont Alto through a roommate who really got me into Uncivilized Area. In 2001 we caught them at the 9:30 club. Eventually, I picked up Senor Boombox, but found that the album sounded more electronic and spacey than what I was used to (perhaps because another album came out in between). A second show in 2003 (State College, PA) led me to think their sound had drastically changed, and so I temporarily shelved their music. I've since put the Disco Biscuits back in the rotation, and can't get away from the grooves I know and love. With Rocket 3, I feel like I have a rounded collection of their tunes. As described on the Disco Biscuits' webpage, Rocket 3 is "Regarded by many as a culmination of a decade of touring, this CD is a must have for your Bisco collection."

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  [Music]

Our father of funk, James Brown, passed away this Christmas day.

I've always enjoyed his music, but it wasn't until July of this year that I felt it ignite a musical moment. During the set break of Cootie Brown's first evening in front of a crowd, his music played through the speakers to keep the people groovin - and that it did.

Towards the end of the break, a song of his titled "Super Bad" hit the speakers. We picked up our instruments and became a part of the tune. What followed was one of the most spontaneous and moving jams I've been a part of.

May he rest in peace, and may his music continue to inspire musicians both young and old.

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  [Music]

Before continuing, please take time to read my disclaimer:
This list consists of full albums that I've listened to.

Top 100 lists of tunes are kind of wasteful. Almost every band is known for one tune that's awesome to one person or another. But how many have an album that you think is perfect? Think about it... Think of albums that are near perfect, but have that one song that just annoys the hell out of you. Phish's Junta is @!$#ing incredible, but I've always disliked Union Federal, so this album doesn't quite make my top 5.

I'm sure there's plenty of sick albums that aren't on my top five list, but I probably haven't gotten around to them. For instance, I haven't gotten around to the Beatles yet. Weird, isn't it? Don't hate me - I simply haven't ventured over to their music. You'll also notice that "greatest hits" aren't on my list. It's too easy for me to list Cream's Strange Brew, or Nirvana's MTV Unplugged. Damn good albums, but they collectively gather tunes over a band's history.

Here's my top five list, which was derived from any full album I can remember listening to thus far in my life. Check back later if you want, cause it may change if I remember forgotten favorites. The list is in chronological order. The date represents the year of the recording. The links will take you to Wikipedia. Enjoy:

• Old & In the Way - Breakdown, Old & In the Way (1973)
• Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin (1975)
• Animals, Pink Floyd (1977)
• (the blue album), Weezer (1994)
• The Story of the Ghost, Phish (1998)

If your top 5 aren't on my list, my birthday won't be here until April. Fortunately, I accept gifts year round.

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