THE NEW NECKDEEP.NET...

... has been launched. This site is dead. Change your links. That is all.

Come On And Do Something New

I've been out of town for a bit but the real reason that this site has taken a backseat is that I'm very slowing working on a neckdeep.net relaunch. With some work changes happening and my boredom with blogger, I'll have something up by the end of the week. I'll let you know.

The Death of The Independent Record Store

It seems just unreal to me that WalMart sells 1 in every 5 albums bought in the USA. That is so, so sad. Smaller record stores are what saved me as a youth. Smash (now in Adams Morgan?!!!), Newbury Comics, Aquarius and of course Amoeba top my list of indy stores. I try to buy actual CDs as much as I can and not just grab things off the web or iTunes...but it can be a challenge.

This Saturday, April 19, is Record Store Day. Go buy something.

Mullen, Virtual Reality, 1993

15 years ago. 15. Damn.

Stecyk Rides A Bike?

First Cardiel and now C.R. Stecyk III seems to be down with the track bikes. Check out his advocate profile at the RVCA site.

I sure wish the rain would stop so I could ride mine a bit.

Leviathan - Massive Conspiracy Against All Life

A lot has been written this week about the new Leviathan album, Massive Conspiracy Against All Life. I'm a fan of Wrest for sure and was not let down. Unlike most I don't favor his full length records but rather the splits that he's down as well as the double CD, Verrater. It collects the best tracks from the 13(!) full length Leviathan cassettes/cd-r's that were SUPER limited. ANYWAY, I think this new full length captures the feel of those early tracks but adds a deeper, more refined sound. Well worth a listen. Here's a download of the record. With this one I do ask that if you enjoy it go out and at least buy another Leviathan record (I bought this one, I swear)...or better yet pick up the reissued Lurker Of Chalice, another Wrest project and one of my all-time black metal favorites.

(And does anyone read this or download? Leave a damn comment)

Into Another, Quicksand

While dealing with work, baby, dog and the rest I've been listening to a great deal of my back catalog. Two favorites from the early 90's come up often: Into Another and Quicksand. Both are amazing post-hardcore bands that I have never stopped listening to.

Into Another, Ignaurus - Such a strong record. For the unfamiliar this band may be a tough sell, but it's worth repeated listens. Richie's voice is unreal and the overall sound is so unique. 'Drowning' could be my favorite song from their four records.

Quicksand, Unreleased & B-Sides - Not much you can say about these guys that hasn't been said. In everyone's top ten. I was lucky enough to have seen them a half dozen times. Song list for the download here.

Best Vans Ever?

Moon Eyes Vans? Fucking incredible. I want multiple pairs of each.

Surfwise

Being a new Dad, this situation seems completely insane and totally rational at the same time. Maybe I should just buy a camper and drive...

Portland Track Crew Yo.

I ride a track bike...for transportation really. In Portland it's no secret biking is a "culture". Every other bike is a track bike so it only makes sense there is a "crew" working to start a monthly event. Maybe I'll check out a race. I do think that the idea of 'flatland' tricks on a track bike is damn silly. Buy a BMX or get a skateboard.

Mike Giant @ Rebel 8

If you don't know Mike Giant's work, you should. He's one of my favorites and has been since I first saw his work on Think Skateboards and painted on walls across SF. He moved on to tattooing (he's now stopped, but I was lucky enough to grab a few pieces) and his own clothing brand, Rebel 8. He has had a blog over at Fecal Face forever, but has now focused his online time to one spot over at the Rebel 8 site. Not only can you read his daily posts, but you can pick up everything from tattoo flash to socks. Bookmark it.

How Google Got Its Colorful (read: Terrible) Logo

I don't know anyone that likes the Google logo. It's clunky, silly and just flat out ugly. And don't get me started on how it's poorly designed for the internet in both size and detail. Looking at their logo design process I guess they could have done much worse. I truly think the Google story illustrates how a simple idea is key...and not even a bland site design (though brilliant in concept) and crummy logo can hold you back. I wonder what it might have looked like if given to a logo mastermind like Paul Rand?

Genghis Tron

I've been listening to their new album 'Board Up The House' pretty much nonstop since downloading it earlier in the week. Super, super good. Hailing from Philly this three piece electric metal hardcore assault (Cyber-grind?) are worth checking out. I ran across a VERY detailed six part video series documenting the recording of the new album over at a Guitar World blogsite called MetalKult. Each section is lengthy but worth checking out if you're into the band.

As a bonus these guys will be playing with Converge here in Portland on April 16th.

20 Years Ago Today...

Morrissey released the 'Suedehead' single in the UK officially starting his solo career. The 12" had 'Hairdreser On Fire' as the B-Side. Not bad. Below is the video featuring Moz visiting James Dean's hometown of Fairmount, Indiana.



My favorite Morrissey video for sure. Dean would have turned 77 on February 8th of this year. I hope to visit Fairmount at some point. Only 2,282 miles from Portland...no big deal.

Skateboarding needs...

More Beautiful Losers and Less Las Vegas hotel jumping.

Digital Skate Off

Stevie and I have been spending some time battling for high score bragging rights over at Ground Kontrol. It's been a while since they had a working 720 machine and now they've got a perfect one. Flawless joystick and all. All the details (and game music) can be found here. Even with my two cocktail machines at home (Pac Man and Centipede), it's still my favorite arcade game of all time. I really shouldn't have sold my machine last year...

Not Your Typical American

The Goats, Tricks of the Shade might be the last hip-hop (rap?) record I was really excited about. In high school (1989) I found rap through skating and was fueled by the groups of that time: NWA and Easy E, Ice T, The DOC, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Eric B and Rakim, Stetsasonic, the mighty 3rd Bass and many more. Topping the list was Public Enemy. Not only did they have best sound, front man and DJ combo, the lyrics were amazing. Truly revolutionary ideas. While I did enjoy the bitches and hos style of most gangster rap of the time, PE was much more. At the time it seemed to be a pure alternative to the crappy Mtv garbage. New ideas and a more punk based hip hop. Around 1990 I started going into DC and discovered local hardcore and found a direct way to tap into a music scene that spoke even more directly to me as a (ahem) white teenager. I still spun PE quite a bit but lost interest in the whole hip-hop deal as it seemed the edge was gone.

Enter The Goats. In late 1992 I was working at a record store in Washington DC. A promo CD arrived with a few songs from Tricks Of The Shade. I was taken by the illustration on the front with the ‘Burn The Flag’ graphic. Woah. These three guys (black and two white) from Philly had amazing beats and political lyrics that really pushed the envelope at the time. A new Public Enemy for 92'. Taking down George Bush (Sr.), insulting Columbus and bringing up issues like abortion, Leonard Peltier’s imprisonment and many other touchy topics of the time. So, so good. Yeah, they did some weed-based songs, but I could deal with that. The clever skits between songs really pounded the message home.

In 1993 I was lucky enough to see them live at the old 9:30 club in DC. Fucking incredible. They had a live band and the songs sounded even better. I was working at the record store and the Ruff House / Columbia rep arranged to get me a shirt (they had none for sale) and introduced me to a pretty blunted band. Later that year their second album came out and it just didn’t have that same edge. The Goats seemed to just fade away, as did my interest in anything hip-hop. These guys should be on every hip-hop top ten list and are VERY under rated.

“Men never die for flags, they die for politicians, the shadiest breed of the mental magicians”

Download the entire Tricks Of The Shade album here

The official Goats website (lyrics and info)

The Goats My Space (songs and info)

Dillinger Escape Plan On Conan O'Brien

If you told me nine years ago that Dillinger Escape Plan would be on Late Night with Conan O'Brien I would have laughed in your face. But here they are last Wednesday night on network television. And jumping on Conan's desk? Amazing. You Tube below ( I recommend going to the NBC site, clicking on the Wed Feb 6 episode and going to the Dillinger Chapter):



They also appeared on Charlie Rose(!?) discussing their roots and hardcore shows.



I LOVE this band and will continue to support everything they do including their great new record. From the first time I saw them in Richmond in 1998 opening for Converge (total darkness with blasting bright strobes and the band throwing themselves into the crowd) to 924 Gilman (fire breathing that had the low ceiling ablaze for a brief period of time) and every show afterward...they stoke me every time.

Plus, Calculating Infinity is one of those perfect albums for me. Download the full album here.

At The Gates

I had heard that the legendary death metal Swedes At The Gates were getting back together to tour, and now the dates have been posted. Crap. Where the hell are the US dates? I understand why they've started in Europe, but they've certainly got fans over here as well. Screw the festivals, let's get some small Northwest dates.

If all of this means nothing to you I highly recommend picking up the newly reissued 'Slaughter of the Soul' album (which includes a DVD of the show seen below) or just grab the FULL ALBUM here for free. It's high on my top ten metal albums of all time, no question.

From The Jam

Last week Stevie, Bryce and I caught From The Jam at the Alladin threater here in Portland. 'From the Jam' are The Jam bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler without Paul Weller. While many faux reunions can be a drag, especially without the main singer/guitarist, I have to say...they were amazing. Russell Hastings was given some pretty big shoes to fill and he did quite a good job. The songs were perfect and that signature sound was dead on. It was even better being right up front at the super small gig knowing that this tour sold out so quickly in the UK and most of Europe.

Here's a video of 'That's Entertainment'...which they didn't play at our show. Damn it.



Photo from Stevie's site, more photos and some video over there.

Magic Highway 1958

What a find. Past the amazing animation this Disney piece on the future of automotive is a great piece of history. Where are the heated super highways and in-office parking? The flipping electromagnet and solar powered cars? We really dropped the ball somewhere along the line, that's for damn sure. It's funny, a film like this would never be made now about 2050. As a whole I feel we've just lost the spark we had in the late 50's and early 60's. We'll never get those automatic-ceramic-bridge-builders without hoping and dreaming for them.

Obama Is The Coolest

Well, the hipsters have spoken. Obama is the shit. First, here's a poster by Mr. Obey, Shepard Fairey. The article is actually pretty good with Fairey making a good case for the candidate.

But luckily for me the one man whose opinion matters most in this election for the power of the free world has thrown his endorsement to the Obama camp. Moz has finally spoken and I, for one, will listen.



You can see a detail of the shirt that has Morrissey as Obama's running mate in 2008. It's a vote for change. And style.

Dropping out

Well, this sort of sucks...Edwards is out.

I haven't made up my mind completely, but I was pulling for Edwards.

Why? To be honest I'm not a Hilary fan. I don't hate her or anything, I just feel that she's not out to change anything. When she bailed on her health care plan during the male Clinton reign it left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm just not sold on her experience. And Barack? I guess I'm not impressed yet. Plus, and I know this is not PC, I just don't see the USA voting for a black president. Sure, in the polls they say they'll vote for him, and there are a lot of young people ready for change, but the south and mid-west take up a lot of this country. Bush won TWICE remember? When the curtain is drawn and 'Average Dumb Ass US Citizen' is looking at choices...I feel that's when the REAL vote will be made. But I'm a cynic.

And then there's this little piece of film...



I have this illusion that money and media attention should be secondary to message and experience. Silly, I know.

UPDATE: Here's a good article on Edwards.

UK TV

With the writers strike going on, and having a baby that likes to be held, I've been returning to old TV favorites. Which leads me, as always, to British television. Bare with me, as I've gone on about all these before via neckdeep.net.

Top Gear - Thanks to BBC America for opening my eyes to more than a few good shows...the best being Top Gear. Often described as automotive Jackass with adults, it takes creative car reviews and adds British humor and fills an entire hour. Certainly my favorite show this year. There are more than a few clips on You Tube, this one on the Bugatti Veyron could be my favorite and the most exciting thing I've seen on TV in a long, long time.

Black Adder - This classic never gets old. I've almost worn out these DVDs. This is the real Rowan Atkinson, pre - Mr. Bean and whip smart. Although Season one is a wash, two, three and four are close to perfect. Oh, and those familiar with the FOX drama House will recognize a younger Hugh Laurie (this clip is amazing) and those down with Rik Mayall (Young Ones) won't be disappointed either. Fucking genius.

Spaced - Only two seasons and not available in the states, Spaced is the show that Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright created pre - Shaun Of The Dead. So damn funny with perfect writing and clever, warm characters, I watch these 14 episodes over and over. The Spaced fan site mentions that FOX is working to adapt the show for American audiences. It worked for the Office, but being a purist...I can't see it happening. You can view a few full episodes on You Tube. I tried to pick a top clip, but I favor them all.

Gumball Officially Dead

I recently viewed the newest Gumball film, 3000. After dreaming of driving the Gumball 3000 for years I can honestly say I'm over it. The film, in short, is a piece of shit. It's basically 90 minutes of Bam Margera and Tony Hawk bitching and moaning. And, for some reason, Mike Vallely is also along for the drive. Oddly, he's listed as a main 'character' in the film. At most Vallely mumbles two or three lines and pushes around on his board at check points. Who cares. It's a sad state of affairs that this is the Gumball film founder Maximillion Cooper has created and directed. Where are the REAL drivers? Let's see some cars? What if I'm not a teenage girl wearing a HIM hoodie?

And speaking of cars, Bam's Lamborghini Gallardo really sums up what Gumball has become. It's the car a 14 year old boy would want after seeing it on a poster at Spencer Gifts. Margera spends $160,000 on this thing and THEN paints it purple. Class act. I'm not going to waste the time and space on the better autos you could get for a quarter of the money. (OK, one. The only Lamborghini worth owning, the 1969 Miura P400 S. Beautiful car).

The idea of a group of drivers traveling 3000 miles across challenging roads in incredible cars is a great idea. Hopefully there will be more and more people gathering to do this that aren't rich, faux celebrities looking for a way to show off.

Susan Makes The Moz Video

First Susan's stage invasion at the Hollywood Bowl made the LA Times article, now she's appearing in the video for the new Morrissey single, That's How People Grow Up. The video consists of footage from all the shows there last year and Susan is the first stage invader around 17 seconds in. Damn. Not sure I'm sold on the single, but the video is great. I'll be watching for 'Black Eyed Susan' on the DVD release of the show later this year. You can also see Susan in my photos from the three LA shows I attended here. Moz's 'Greatest Hits' album is out February 11th.

Depression?

I caught a TV commercial last night advertising a mental health center. Their lead in went something like,"Does it feel like it's been raining for weeks on end? That's what a deep depression feels like...come in out of the rain." I couldn't help but start laughing. Did they know they were running this in Oregon? It actually HAS been raining for weeks on end. Maybe they figured they would get even more business linking metal health problems and rain? Maybe they are on to something...

Sunday Drive

For the first time since Ian was born I was able to take out the Porsche for an afternoon drive. It was actually not raining and sunny (it's been weeks) and I was able to replace a burn out brake light (more work than you think when a bulb is in place for forty years).

I was also motivated to drive after the wife surprised me with a new book, McQueen's Machines: The Cars And Bikes Of A Hollywood Icon. The book not only covers McQueen's personal cars and cycles, but also goes into the details of every vehicle he's every driven in a movie. Yes, the Bullit Mustang is in there...as are countless Porsches and Triumphs. A good read if you're into that sort of thing.

Top Sites Of 2007, part 2 : Artists

I thought I'd finish this up with the artist / designer sites I visit the most. All have different content, but are all link worthy.

Drapin Design Co. - Aaron James Draplin is a Portland based designer who spends a good amount of time creating very solid work for the snowboard industry. His client list is great, but it's the Daily part of this site that warrants return visits. Draplin has the best design links out there. Pages of vintage logos, interesting Flickr sets and quality personal lists. The DDC knows how to blog.

Todd Bratrud - Bratrud is spread all over the internet and it's all worth a look. You've got the older portfolio site of Burlesque the photo blog over at the Skateboard Mag and the downright crazy ass posts of Teenage Runaway. Not all art and design, but all are still worth multiple visits.

Benny Gold - Gold is the designer behind the HUF store logos, a ton of Real Skateboards related apparel and countless New Era hats. He also crafted everything MASH related (the DVD is an amazing piece of work). This site often shows sketches, one-offs and highlights details in his creative work.

Bend Press - The blog / information / store for Andy Jenkins has been on my link list for years and never disappoints. Check out the original artwork for sale, the Wrench Pilot archives and all the fantastic links. He's the guy behind visuals for Freestylin', Club Homeboy, DIRT and Girl Skateboards (aka The Art Dump). What else can you say?

NECKDEEP® STUDIOS Blog

I've been updating my blog over there a bit, so I figured I would note that on here. How many sites can I possibly have? Too many is the answer. Too many.

Top Sites Of 2007, part 1

I used to do my top records of the year...but that really doesn't appeal to me anymore, so here are a few sites I visited quite a bit last year.

Last FM - If you aren't on this yet, you should be. Past tracking all the songs you listen to on your computer, it also groups them and creates a personal radio station based on your favorites. You can also 'browse' a station based on an artist. It also works as a social networking site, with friends you can add and share music with. Once you've connected you can listen to THEIR stations. It's a great idea that actually works well. I listen and discover new music all the time. If you sign up, add me as a friend. Here's my user page. You'll also notice my little Last FM widget to the right. Pretty damn trick.

4Q Conditioning - Max Schaaf's blog site with motorbikes, skating and all sorts of crazy ass stuff. It works just like a blog should...quick, quality updates that makes me excited to visit each day.

The Onion AV Club - There are a lot of entertainment / review sites out there, but the AV club has the best content overall, hands down. With daily updates and intelligent interviews and creative reviews there is always something to read. I've spent way too many lunch hours reading page after page. I'm actually a bit bored with the regular Onion, but this is a quality daily visit for me.

more later...

The Stone Roses

Been listening to their first album on a daily basis. Great stuff.



The NME named their first record the best British album of all time in 2006. The Smiths' the Queen is Dead was number two followed at three with by Defintely Maybe from Oasis. No way it's better than both of those...but it's a solid record.

Back.

I shut down neckdeep.net for a number of reasons. First of all, hand coding is insane. It's an old, outdated concept and I was doing it for far too long. Second, the viewers were sort of freaking me out. 95% of the people checking it out were great, but then I would get that random email that would remind me that seven years of my life was up online for the world to see. I'd rather just have a group of friends check stuff out. Third, I already have too many damn 'blogs'. SKATEDAILY, my studio site, not to mention my new son's site.

But that being said, I do like sharing links, photos, and all the rest with friends PLUS I was curious about this whole blogger deal, which is damn impressive. I may cancel this thing after a week or two, but who knows, maybe not.