Notes from Germany
I am an American expat living in Germany. It's a far away land on the other side of the ocean. It's interesting and often weird here. If you read this and want to comment then email me at blog(the at symbol)chillmost.com. If you find any spelling or grammar mistakes, you can keep them.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Chillmost 2007 Year End Wrap-Up
It has been a somewhat bittersweet year. My Aunt Sue passed away after fighting a long hard battle with breast cancer. That was the first time, as an adult, that I was confronted with the death of someone close to me and all it entails.
I'm feeling pretty healthy compared to 2 years ago today. No heart problems in 2007, except for some weird mental anxiety issues. Well, I haven't gone jogging in almost 6 months. Some shit came up. I hurt my legs and just generally got lazy. But 2008 is a whole new year I tell ya. I'm gonna get back on the wagon soon, I swear.
Chillmost's favorite Records of 2007:
- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: 100 Days, 100 Nights - This is a beautifully produced album that channels the spirit of Motown and other R&B labels of the 60's. It should be noted that The Dap-Kings were the backing band on most of Amy Winehouse's 2006 album, Back to Black. So, if you dig that you will probably dig this.
- Deerhunter: cryptograms - Trippy, dreamy and rocking. Lot's of noisy guitars and drones.
- The Dynamics: Version Excursions - Modern dub reggae versions of old classics
- Apparat: Walls - I dunno watcha wanna call it. Modern krautrock? It's kind of has a Notwist thing going on there. It's good check it out.
- Beastie Boys : The Mix Up - If you liked The In Sound From Way Out!, you should dig this. It doesn't sound at all like the Beastie Boys you are used to.
- Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Baby 81 - A return to asskicking form. Not the best, but I listened to it a lot. They put on a good show as well.
Year Highlights:
- I went to Passau and Austria via the Danube
- I went to Cologne to reconnect with my old friend Brian and hang out at c/o pop.
- I went on a hot air balloon ride
- I started playing with a new band, Venusberg. So far we have played a few shows and recorded a bunch of tracks. Hopefully we will have an album finished in the first half of 2008.
- Went down to Bayern with M and my parents where we visited the Oktoberfest and Neuschwanstein.
- I have been recording a lot of other music this year as well. I recorded a demo for Tussika and produced a remix for Hot Bitch Arsenal's song entitled Failure.
As a parting gesture from 2007, I give you an 18 minute epic monstrosity of an appropriately titled blissed out slide blues in open D: New Years Eve.
If you got a glass of wine, pour another. Is Absinth your thing? Thats cool baby. If you are smoking a fatty, roll another. If your tripping on acid, ummm, well, see you on the other side. Seriously, it's long. I wasn't paying attention to the clock on this one. Enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.
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