Things...

SEW LOW OWL BUM

Jason Lytle (of Grandaddy) has a solo album coming out sometime in 2008!!! Sew Low Owl Bum. Go to http://www.jasonlytle.com
I will keep people updated on this as I find out more...

Awesomefest Photos

Another:

Redundance!

I'm pretty much just going to keep reminding people of Awesomefest until it arrives...

New special guest: ELECTRIC NIGHTLIFE!!!

These guys are amazing, you should come to Awesomefest, even if it is purely to see them, or us, or everyone else.

http://www.myspace.com/awesomefestnh

EXCLAMATION HERE

Alright, so this year the RPM Challenge is putting together some compilation discs of some of the best from that year. Now, the voting has begun, and I'm actually getting votes!!!

Sweet.

Anywho, thanks very much to those of you who have voted for me.

Cracked Zune

I cracked the screen protector on my Zune. And here's the kicker: I did it while putting it into it's case... Or at least that's the short of it. I'll put a picture up in my next blog... Anywho, the point is, what little money I actually had before can only go to absolutely necessary things, as it's going to cost about $10 to get a new screen for it...

I'm going to see Cake (for the third time in my life) this Saturday at the Hatshell in Mass. It's free, so what reason is there not to go. And the next day, I'm going to see Islands at the Middle East in Cambridge. That should be cool.

I'm also trying to sell 40 issues of MAD, as well as two hardcover books of it, because I used to read it about five years ago, and can't stand the very sight of them anymore. So if anyone is willing to buy them, let me know.

And lastly, spread this flyer for Awesomefest '08 around:



http://a636.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/107/l_2069f2acb9f004eaeec817c0d6c0579b.jpg

I Return? I Left?

So...no blog for nearly a month.Yeah, this is what I've been doing mostly:
- Played a couple of shows...- Started recording Phelan's new EP- Spending more time trying to decide when to record than the actual recording process (with Jay)- Over-preparing for our June 7th show at Awesomefest '08.- Listening to the new Death Cab non-stop.
I've pretty much stopped using my brain to write music from now until next February. This is how I manage to actually do the RPM Challenge.
I urge all of you to buy the new Death Cab For Cutie CD (NARROW STAIRS) right now. It is amazing. Illegally download it. Go ahead. I don't mind. Just cram it into your head directly. Whatever you want.
Also, you may or may not have heard about the whole thing about the album leaking sometime back in April. Being the huge DCFC nerd that I am, I went out looking for a leaked torrent of the album several months before it's release. What I downloaded was really cool, too, albeit not actually "Narrow Stairs." As it turns out, it was actually German band Velveteen's debut "Home Waters..." Which is equally as amazing, and I urge, neigh, I demand you all go listen to it right now.
And second-to-lastly, you should watch the movie Lars And The Real Girl. That's it. I have no need to elaborate. I just don't...
I can make stairs:__----==\
That's a cliff at the end.
Also, you should all go to Awesomefest '08. Find out more info at http://www.myspace.com/awesomefestnh, or just ask me.

I Return? I Left?

So...no blog for nearly a month.Yeah, this is what I've been doing mostly:
- Played a couple of shows...- Started recording Phelan's new EP- Spending more time trying to decide when to record than the actual recording process (with Jay)- Over-preparing for our June 7th show at Awesomefest '08.- Listening to the new Death Cab non-stop.
I've pretty much stopped using my brain to write music from now until next February. This is how I manage to actually do the RPM Challenge.
I urge all of you to buy the new Death Cab For Cutie CD (NARROW STAIRS) right now. It is amazing. Illegally download it. Go ahead. I don't mind. Just cram it into your head directly. Whatever you want.
Also, you may or may not have heard about the whole thing about the album leaking sometime back in April. Being the huge DCFC nerd that I am, I went out looking for a leaked torrent of the album several months before it's release. What I downloaded was really cool, too, albeit not actually "Narrow Stairs." As it turns out, it was actually German band Velveteen's debut "Home Waters..." Which is equally as amazing, and I urge, neigh, I demand you all go listen to it right now.
And second-to-lastly, you should watch the movie Lars And The Real Girl. That's it. I have no need to elaborate. I just don't...
I can make stairs:__----==\
That's a cliff at the end.
Also, you should all go to Awesomefest '08. Find out more info at http://www.myspace.com/awesomefestnh, or just ask me.

Official Zanois AIM Icons!!!!

Just click on it to set it as your AIM Buddy Icon:

A blog about Friday's shows is coming soon. Also, it's official: we are playing Awesomefest this year.

Album Review

I realize I haven't made the blog post or put up the videos from Friday's show(s), but I will by tomorrow. Here is a track-by-track album review written by a Jeffrey David Archer. Everyone should mentally thank him right now.

1. Tranquility Base? - Bursts of white noise give way to a keyboard driven tune accented with a great glokenspiel sound. The music has an almost 1960's vibe to it which goes well with the fact that the mission was made in 1969. The lyrics are sung with an almost robotic delivery (as they are throughout the entire album) which strangely fits the music very well. The drums sound fairly lo-fi but this is actually a plus as the contrast between them and the more hi-fi sounding keyboards create a very interesting texture to the music.

2. Chattering Teeth - If 1970's-era Santana got together with Steve and Eydie's backing band and had a lovechild and that lovechild made music it would sound a lot like this. The lyrics tell us about the vastness and coldness of space. The mix is very strong and glockenspiel sounds abound.

3. Eagle On The Moon - This tranquil instrumental represents the actual landing of the the astronauts onto the Moon's surface. More Santana percussion mixed with the glockenspiel bring this musical reverie home. A dreamy mix of other worldy sounds.

4. Nixon & Cohorts - This song marks a departure from the overall vibe of the songs preceding it. There is some great rocking piano being played here but my attention was constantly being pulled to the raw sound of the drums. The lyrics here tell of Nixon and his fellow politicians' limited funding of NASA and the Apollo program. Good groove here.

5. First Photos (Reminiscent) - The glockenspiel is back in full effect. The lyrics in this song sing the praises of the beauty of the Moon's surface and the colors that exist there that we don't see on Earth. The astronauts are so taken with this beauty that they don't want to leave the Moon.

6. Safire Wants Gold - This piece begins with some fast piano playing then the drums come in with an almost shuffle feel. The lyrics tell the tale of newspaper writer Will Safire and his longing for the Apollo mission to fail so that he can make a good story out of it for his paper. At least that's how I understood it.

7. Why Anyone Would - A funky drumbeat starts off this song about how after you have been to the Moon the Earth just doesn't seem all that great anymore. Nice piano fills around the verses and that ever present glockenspiel filling in the cracks.

8. In The Event Of Moon Disaster - The title track of the album and in my opinion the most engaging song of the lot. This short but sweet instrumental features a wonderfully distorted organ sound (is that organ?) that grabs your attention right from the start and doesn't let up. It is definately the hook of the song. The drums are kicking in an almost John Bonham style. Awesome song. I am almost tempted to say that the distorted organ part is a little too high in the mix but at the same time it's such a strong hook that I think it's loudness works.

9. Malfunction - Another keyboard driven piece that features some very complex layers of sonic goodness. This song changes complexion quite frequently from it's uptempo beginning to a spacy middle section and finally resolving itself in an almost blues -like ending. The music reminds me of 1970's-era Weather Report. A kind of jazzy-rock fusion with suprises around every corner.

10. Turkey In The Space - This song celebrates the safe return of the brave astronauts. The tune takes the tempo of a march with an organ making tight little stabs into the musical soundscape. A flute sounding synth plays a melody over the top of the march. The tune fades out but tjust when you think that the album is over the listener is treated to what sounds like some heavily processed speech although I wasn't able to make out what it was saying.

I really enjoyed this album. When I first signed on for this critiqueing thread I was sort of afraid of what album I might end up with to review. I don't like saying bad things about other artists work although I would been honest about any album that I ended up reviewing. Luckily I ended up with this album and I can't say that there was much of anything that I didn't like or anything that I would have done differently. This is definately a charming and entertaining listen.

Vote For Me

Hey, everybody...
I'm in this contest thing on a website called vLES (virtual Lower East Side), and it would be greatly appreciated if you and your friends would all vote for me. All you need to do is sign up at http://www.vles.com, and then go to http://www.vles.com/kickstart and vote for my music by finding it in the player and clicking "HIT".

Thanks!
-Zane.

$RRRRRDFHIVP()D*^F*$P

So...Realized I haven't updated this in awhile, I've pretty much just been either playing gigs or getting ready for them. It's kind of weird that up until this April, I had never really performed my own songs live, but since April 1st I've played my music live at four or five different shows, and I have two more shows this Friday, in separate states. As for plans after this Friday's shows, I'm organizing a couple more shows for April and/or May. I'm also working on a new EP, and producing Jay's new EP, Kyle's first EP, and Phelan's metal album. I really can't stand having nothing to do...
Anywho, I finally got the CDs for Friday's show back from the factory place, and here are way too many photos of them:

Note the real bar code and cellophane!!!!

Today's Show!

For those of you who didn't know, I had a show today. Let's go through it (let's is me):
1. It was kind of a Talent Show thing at my school.
2. First 8 acts: Dancing (good), singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, singing, drums...
3. Act 9: Me, Hugo, Sam, Alex, and Michi covering Sara Bareilles' "Love Song". It was sick ill nasty.
4. #10: Somebody, I had no idea who or what was going on as I was up next again, so I had to set everything up discreetly.
5. Act 11: Me, Mr. Redmond, Sam, Grant, and Hugo performing my own "Tranquility Base?"...with a disco ball, a oversized bouncing ball, and dimmed lights...ball.
6. After this, I drank about two gallons worth of luke warm water from a dirty water bubbler. I'm not quite sure what happened, but I think I heard some R&B.
7. My good friend Phelan was on last, doing a Metallica medley on guitar, which was sick.
8. Finally, the winners were announced:

• Me, Grant, Hugo, Sam, and Mr. Redmond - Tranquility Base?
• Singing girls
• Dancing dudes
• Singing girls and dudes
• Me, Alex, Michi, Sam, and Hugo - Love Song
• Drum dude
• Phelan, with sick guitar-ness
• Girl singing...I'm pretty sure it was about a Disney movie. Again, PRETTY sure...

All in all, it was really sick, next friday I am playing in front of the entire school and faculty at a MANdatory assembly. I have become a legend around my...house. Not the school yet, but hopefully soon. I wish other people could've seen it, but my camera died in the middle of taping the song.

Relieved To Know I'm Not A Golumb

Name that reference!
Anywho, a couple of possible shows (might) have come up:

• An online show in Second Life (more info to come soon, this one's the most likely)
• One on April 8th (a definite, but also fairly private. Let me know if you want to come, and I can get you in most likely)
• Early show on the 18th (likely)
• Kingston, MA on the 18th (definite, you should all come, whoever you may be)
• Awesomefest '08 (highly likely, but not yet confirmed)
• A show with my good friends "31 to Go" (definite, but no date or location set. Sometime in May)

So that's about it for now. It's looking like I'm going to get to produce Jay's next EP, which will be sweet. For those who are unfamiliar with the greatness that is Jay, download his first EP at http://www.verythree.blogspot.com. Hugo and I have been working on alot of stuff for "I Am The Future" lately, which is turning out pretty cool so far. Alot of the songs are very basic and acoustic-style songs when we play them, but in the demos we've been working on, they're starting to sound more over-produced and arranged.

I realized that about a paragraph I said that was it for now...

I'm not going to change that though.

-Zane.

Completely Necessary

I think everyone really needed to watch that.

Money money money money

Howdy, people!
Time for an annoying plug blog:
Go buy my new CD at AmieStreet for only a $1! (http://www.amiestreet.com/zanois)
While you're at it, check out Justice Rules! too: (http://www.amiestreet.com/justicerules)

Thanks!
-Zane McIrritating

MUXTAPE

zanois.muxtape.com

Correction

The correct "Tranquility Base? 3-27-08" video is up on my YouTube now, you should check it out. Also, my newest album is finally up on AmieStreet.com, you can go download it now:


I just downloaded the entire Beatles catalog, as well as 17 of Hussalonia's 25 albums. That's the only thing I've been listening to lately, IGNORE THE ZUNE "MODULE".

"Tranquility Base?" 3-27-08

Read the description on my actual YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/phantomimefilm). It'll make more sense why I'm using a mega-phone and such...

#50!

Howdy, everybody! It's the fiftieth post, so...eat...dinner...?
Anywho, here's a poster for my first show. EVER:

Please go...You'll get bubbles if you show up early!

TRAILER======

All questions will be answered soon.

I Am The Future.

of Montreal

Turns out they have a "MAIL THE BAND" address on their MySpace...
Can you guess where I just sent the new CD?

I'll give you a hint: you're correct.

On the radio!

This is possibly the greatest moment of my life, aside from when I discovered they made deep-fried Oreos. I have just discovered that HomegrownRadioNJ will be playing some of my music this Tuesday, between 12 noon and 3 P.M. I urge all of you to listen at that time at http://www.hgrnj.org

In other news, the days until my show with Lemon Demon (yes, THE Lemon Demon), Lima Research Society, and Camera-Head Shark are going by pretty quickly. Just a month and two days until I make everyone within the general reach of my awesomeness explode from...awesomeness.... Not very original, I know, but it gets the point across.

Here's what I've been listening to lately, according to myself, NOT my Zune. It doesn't know what I feel.
1. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
2. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
3. Very Three - The Underground Recordings
4. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
5. Eugene Mirman Stand-Up Stuff

Also, speaking of Sufjan, I sent my CD to Sufjan Stevens. Or rather, I sent my CD to Sufjan Stevens through his record label Asthmatic Kitty Records...but still.

Does anyone know if Kevin Barnes' address is still the same as the one on "The Bird Who Continues To Eat The Rabbit's Flower" EP? And can anyone find either Black And Greene Records or Apollo Sunshine's address?

Thanks!
-Zanois.

Ambience 1. (RM2)

I makeded a new vidseo.

http://www.youtube.com/phantomimefilm

Zunois

I just cleared off my Zune, and, in my haste, replaced it with just the following:

1. Every BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE album, including B-Sides and EPs and stuff.
2. My friend Jay's new half-album "Very Three: The Underground Recordings"
3. A Eugene Mirman stand-up album...En Garde, Society!

I like using indented lists.

I AM THE FUTUREEE

WE OF THE WOODS>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I AM THE FUTURE<><><><>><>><><>>><><>>S
><>>><>><<<>><>><>><>><
><>><><<<
><><><><
<><><>>>
<>><>><
<><><><
<>>>>>
<><><
<<>>
<>>
<>
<

Several Items

• I have been finished my newest CD for about a week now, and I have sent it to a whole bunch of places, including (but not limited to) WUNH, New Jersey Radio Station, Asthmatic Kitty Records (Sufjan Stevens' record label), and some other places...
• Second order of business: Jay or "Very Three" has completed his EP "The Underground Recordings", and can be "downloaded" at www.verythree.blogspot.com. I'm done talking in "quotes".
• electricccccc guirosssssssssss NOT YET
• The band name has officially been changed to Zanois now.
• Come to the show April 18th in Kingston, Ma. It is our first show...

So much like spying...

Check out what I listen to!

My Arms...

For the most part, RPM is done... I've finished my record, mailed it off, and discovered that after a month of non-stop piano/drum/banjo/bass/everything else will really mess up your arms... There are many words in the English language that can describe the pain in my upper arms, but it still hurts really bad anyway. I don't want to touch another musical instrument ever again.

-Zane.