_The Momentum.

Underrated Albums: The Blood Brothers “Crimes”

WGP — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:24:14 +0000

This isn’t so much a review of a record from 2004 as it is a remembrance of one of my favorite bands more overlooked offerings. “Crimes” hit a mere one year after the Blood Brothers’ best* record in their illustrious career, “…Burn, Piano Island, Burn.” To follow that up could not have been an easy feat, and it’s probably the reason “Crimes” never got its due. While BPIB is an amazing set of songs front to back, I’ve, as of late, come to appreciate the songs on “Crimes” in a new way.I’m not going to get into the details of the recording, but if you want to know more about the producer and themes, check out the Wiki.

There’s no doubt that the album is less coherent and, in turn, less approachable than BPIB, but when you start to listen closer, at least for me, you find the hidden intricacies. Love Rhymes with Hideous Car Wreck is by far the most sing-alongable track, but the ferocity and pounding drums of Teen Heat, Trash Flavored Trash, My First Kiss at the Public Execution and Wolf Party have been ravaging my psyche and keeping me sane in gridlock traffic to and from work. That could be my reasoning for liking this album so much. I’ve heard and analyzed Burn Piano since it came out in 2003. I never gave the same close listen to Crimes. Of course, since it’s the Blood Brothers, I seem to be the only one I can agree with to listen to it on a daily basis, before 7AM, at full volume.

Hands down my favorite part of the album lies right in the middle. As Rats and Rats and Rats for Candy ends with some incredibly loud and abrasive tones, the in-comparison-calm of the title track, Crimes, chimes in. Just a good segway into the second half of the album.

I don’t know many people anymore that still give the Blood Bros the same attention I do and they once did, but I guess that’s growing up. Nights at home with the lady aren’t exactly the appropriate time for such noisy rock. And that’s cool. I still know K likes em, just when the situation calls. For me, that’s more often as driving fast and screaming my brains out seem to go hand in hand. And she’s a fan of Jaguar Love, so that’s something, too.

Choice lyrics from this release include:

As you make your way back to the financial district. / The subway is a numb field.
And every dazed boy and girl makes you lick your lips. / And the girl with the accordion, chewing grass like a lamb. – Wolf Party

If the brick you throw / puts a bullet in your skull / police boot lands atop your gaping jaw.
Hey, Peacock?
Yeah, what’s that?
I just wanna know what the babies mouth is full of.
Is it flies, or cries, or straw? – Peacock Skeleton with Crooked Feathers

A hot tub stuffed with gorgeous ass? (We want it!)
Bronzed lips? Mouth full of cash? (We need it!)
A sizzling tan? Life of the party? (We want it!)
A full-length mirror for every inch of your body? (We need it!) – Teen Heat

‘If we rob the
liquor store we could
be in Tijuana by the crack of dawn.
and if we rob the
Mayor’s mansion
we could pawn his modern art and make a fortune.
and if we rob the lonely widow,
we could steal her credit cards
and buy a cottage by the Ocean
And we could swim in to Junk Island
we’ll burn up like the seagulls and the whiskey bottles. – Crimes

But some things never get better
Like used cars and bad livers
So you traded her in for a better looking brand
One with fake porno tits
A pad lock on her lips
Disposable tan
Biodegradable hands – Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck

If you do give it a listen, pay attention. Sure, it may just sound like angry speakers yelling at you from all directions, and for those who aren’t Blood Brothers fans, that’s exactly what it is. But sometimes, in life, you need a little abrasion. And, as Johnny Whitney screams, “Everybody needs a little Devastation!” It’s true. We do. Get wrecked.

Enjoy the video for Love Rhymes…

Love Rhymes with Hideous Car Wreck

- W.G.P.

*”Best” is a relative term in this case referring to the number of people I personally know that think Burn Piano Island Burn is the best Blood Brothers record. I agree to an extent, as I celebrate the band’s entire catalog.

Spotlight On: Ignoble Bags from Los Angeles, CA

WGP — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:38:04 +0000

Image: Ignoble

It’s been a hot minute since I posted a Spotlight segment, but I thought today was as good of day as any to send a shout out to a new company I’m into.

I was contacted some time ago by one of the coolest people I’ve chatted with in a bit: Dean from Ignoble Bags, a Los Angeles, CA-based backpack purveyor. We talked product for a bit, then moved into subject matter normally reserved for friends I’ve known for years. Among topics discussed, from tequila to family dinner, we commiserated over the awesomeness that is moving, as I was in the midst of relocating to a new house in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood. Just in time, too, to help with the move, Dean sent the Lenore pack my way. It got put to good use as I stuffed odds and ends into it and now use it almost always, as it’s found a nice fit with my regular bags in the rotation.

When the dust from the much-ado settled, I got a chance to ask Dean a few questions. After reading the answers, I realized I need to meet his brother. See why. Interview as follows:

Name, Location:

Dean Hinds. Los Angeles, California.

Meaning behind the name, Ignoble:

A few things: It’s a reference to the language of noir cinema, which is one of our primary aesthetic influences; It’s an acknowledgement of the commonplace of backpacks in our culture, both in terms of their use and their manufacture; And, if you really start splitting hairs over the myriad of definitions of the word, it’s a bundle of irony in relationship to what we’re doing.

Your mission / Why you got into the bag game:

Black backpacks. The self-imposed color limitation keeps us strictly focused on bag shape and function. If we do it right, we’re making gear that is unique but still accessible, and that our audience can get excited about functionally, aesthetically, and production wise.

A few things you’re particularly proud of about the Ignoble bags:

It’s all in the customer feedback. I’ve had a few emails / phone calls where the person on the other end explains to me what IGNOBLE is doing, what the brand means, and why the product they picked up is worthwhile to them. It makes you feel connected. There’s no comparison in terms of defining the best possible outcome of our efforts.

What would you be doing if you weren’t working Ignoble?

Catching up on sleep and coming up with other ways to connect with people.

The best cocktail in the country can be found at__________

My brother’s place. Good tequila, fresh lime juice, a hint of agave syrup, ice. Dangerous. But very, very good.

When I need to get pumped up, I listen to_________________

Something loud and with a good hook.

To chill out, I throw ____________ on the speakers:

Something loud and with a good hook.

Favorite city in the USA:

Somewhere I haven’t been yet. Preferably somewhere with strong local culture and a place to get a good cup of coffee.

Favorite travel destination:

Somewhere I haven’t been yet. Preferably somewhere rainy, desolate, and mountainous.

Something we don’t know about you:

I used to play football in the NFL. Just kidding! I like tongue-in-cheek humor. And I laugh a lot. And I’m really, really good at over-thinking things. It all goes hand-in-hand for me, personality wise.

Anything else you want to add that you think Momentum readers would dig:

IGNOBLE is a tiny company. It means we’re directly connected to the things we make. If we’re doing something you’re interested in, drop me a line.

Want to know anything else? Ask Dean yourself in the comment section below. I am sure you’ll get an answer sooner vs. later. And check out these behind-the-scene shots the Ignoble crew snapped and sent my way especially for you.

A few more helpful links:

Ignoble on Twitter

Ignoble on Facebook

Ignoble on teh innerwebz

Johnston & Murphy: Caption the Uncomfortable: Week 6

WGP — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:29:52 +0000

Well this is it. The last week of the Johnston & Murphy “Caption the Uncomfortable” contest. It’s been fun working again with the brand in this initiative. if you haven’t already, read the details below and enter.

Cheers,

Will

Details:

Everyone has experienced uncomfortable life situations, and this contest is the chance to capture, by “captioning”, the humor found in such situations. The contest, which is designed to challenge your wit and garner some friendly competition, will consist of a series of six cartoons a la The New Yorker. A new image will be posted each week for six consecutive weeks depicting various uncomfortable situations. Participants will have the opportunity to submit captions for each uncomfortable situation illustrated in the cartoons and the most witty, inventive and out-right hilarious caption will win. The winner scores a 32GB iPad 2, a pair of dress shoes, a $500 gift card and more!

The contest will live on J&M’s Facebook page, so leave your commentary there for your chance to win.

Caption it here.

Caption the Uncomfortable: Week 5

WGP — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:17:41 +0000

Only two more chances (ne here) to enter Johnston & Murphy’s Caption the Uncomfortable contest. Hop to it.

Details:

The contest will live on J&M’s Facebook page, so leave your commentary there for your chance to win.

Caption it here.

On Instagram

WGP — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:23:18 +0000

I am the margarita

I’ve tapered off posting on the Momentum. It’s not a lack of passion for it nor is it laziness. It’s just, frankly, between all that’s going on, I haven’t had time to do a writeup save for some Spotlights. That, and I’ve taken to Instgramming the hell out of my life. Truly, I’m finding the Instagram platform, barring some minor (major) oversights in the app to be quite interesting. It’s awesome to see what some people “see” in their day-to-day and deem it interesting enough to share.

I’ve taken to it in a big way. If you want to follow along as I exploit nearly everything I see, feel free to do so.

Here are a few of my recent captures:

This is where K and I met.

Godzilla

Out of almost 900 shots, I chose these as a good variety: Shoes, cars, dogs, my lady, drinking… I got a pretty sweet life when I look back at these.

If you want to join me in my life through a free app for the iPhone, by all means, go to Instagram, search “_themomentum” and follow along.

And seeing as how I said there were some oversights with the app, I guess I will list them. This is what I’d like to see:

Notifications when selected friends you follow post pictures
Zoom
Logged into multiple accounts ala Tweetdeck, etc
Ability to post to WordPress

If you have any suggestions, feel free to comment. These are just the ones off the top of my head.

See you in the filters,

Will

Johnston & Murphy: Caption the Uncomfortable: Week 4

WGP — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:21:11 +0000

Boom. Week 4. Want some free stuff from J&M? We all do. So read below, act, and have fun.

The contest will live on J&M’s Facebook page, so leave your commentary there for your chance to win.

“That bird can talk. That’s crazy!” Brian Fellows || Got it. Caption it here.

Caption the Uncomfortable: Week 3

WGP — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:34:00 +0000

You should be aware by now that Johnston and Murphy has recruited a bunch of sites for their Caption the Uncomfortable project. it’s clever, and it’s about halfway done. We’re in Week 3 now, and things seem to be going well for all involved. Read the deets below and enter. Free gear is always good.

The contest will live on J&M’s Facebook page, so leave your commentary there for your chance to win.

Caption it

Suits on the gridiron. Got it. Caption it here.

Will

Johnston and Murphy: Caption the Uncomfortable – Week 2

WGP — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:46:50 +0000

Well that was fun, wasn’t it? Let Week 2start in Johnston & Murphy’s Caption the Uncomfortable contest. Details and links below.

The contest will live on J&M’s Facebook page, so leave your commentary there for your chance to win.

Caption this -

Caption it

Leave your comment on the J&M Facebook Page -> Comment Here

…and go.