Congrats to Josh Groban, the Aftermath

Nothing monumental happened when I posted my previous entry, but I was amazed at how many people seem to have Google Blog Search alerts set up for “josh groban”.

On March 31, I had 20 visitors that came from their web-based email boxes (15 yahoo, 3 live.com, 2 aol). I’m assuming they were alerted by Google, but I don’t really know. 46 total visitors. 27 people apparently clicked through to the Adult Swim video clip. On April 1, I had 6 visitors from web-based email (3 yahoo, 3 live.com). 18 total views on that entry. 10 clicked through to the clip. April 2 had a similar breakdown, albeit slightly fewer views.

Nobody commented on what I wrote. Maybe they did or maybe they didn’t realize it was riddled with sarcasm. Either way, I was surprised to have even that many visitors. And I surely don’t mind that I can’t get some of those Casey and His Brother songs out of my head.

Congrats to Josh Groban

Josh Groban has finally come of age as a musician. The quality folks at Cinco Musical Tapes have taken special notice of Josh and have given him the noble opportunity to apply his sweetly-maturing voice to such tunes as “Cops and Robbers”, “Time Travel”, and “Horse and Buggy Ride”. Join me in congratulating Josh Groban as he advances from singing cover songs to singing truly inspirational, kick-ass cover songs.

For a limited time you can see clips of Groban singing for the Cinco Musical Tapes collection, Groban Sings Casey. Even in the short amount of video footage available, you’re sure to be moved. Click here, and enjoy.

Cursive Digital Download

I should let the world in on this musical secret. Cursive is offering their new album, Mama, I’m Swollen, to you early as an mp3 download. The price is $5.00 today, and increases by a dollar each day until March 10th. I’ve already purchased my zipped collection of bits. I know, I should have told you sooner.

Happy Hollow was an amazing album. Though, some might consider it blasphemic. I certainly don’t mind. It’s an impressive exploration into the “darker aspects” of life in a way that’s not cliche — in a way that’s NOT like pussified ”I’m always angsty” mainstream rock.

If The Ugly Organ doesn’t make you thrash around, I don’t want to talk to you. If Domestica doesn’t make you feel, something’s wrong. Hopefully I find Mama, I’m Swollen to be of similar caliber when I’m done digesting it.

From what I’ve heard, the new album does feel lighter than Happy Hollow. However, I also thought Happy Hollow felt lighter than The Ugly Organ. But eventually I realized Happy Hollow’s heaviness was in the deep probing lyrics. I don’t skip any songs on the previous albums, but I Couldn’t Love You Anymore might be a song I skip on the new one.

While I’m at it, there tends to be a trend with how long I continue to like what bands put out. With Death Cab I liked the first 3 or so albums. Plans was a descension into mainstream poppy blandness, lacking wit. Stephen Malkmus seemed to have lost his whimsical, zany, dirtiness with the Face the Truth album (but maybe I need to give that one another listen). Maybe Cursive has hit that point AFTER 6 ALBUMS, which means I shouldn’t be overly sad.

I’m an old man at heart

I enjoy watching CBS Sunday Morning. It’s on from 9am to 10:30am, so if you extrapolate you can see that it’s not for church-going types. In one episode Bill Geist did a story about the adult entertainment awards … so you can see what I mean. It’s a perfect replacement for the hectic time that normally consists of trying to round up your kids and get them willing or, god-willing, excited to go to church.

It is a very positive and slow-paced program. The disheartening “real news” stories take up a smidgen of time right at the beginning, leaving the rest of the program’s positively lit features to cheer you up. There’s always something the major news networks have missed, like surrogate motherhood, features on little-known authors/artists. It’s oftentimes inspiring. Check it.

(Oh. I’ve been itching to mess with internet video lately, so this might be a great post for me to read at you so you can watch my facial expressions. Now that I’ve posted this I can get back to work.)