He's out there...

The long lost Smars.

Devastatin' Album Covers

I recently found a couple lists of the worst album covers of all-time (1, 2). Looking through these lists will no doubt cause you to run a gamut of emotions, from laughs to tears to horror. Most of these wonderful examples were either low budget, made in the 80’s, or both. However, has album art ever caused you to buy an album or not? For example, I was severely letdown when AFI posted the artwork for their most recent album, but I still bought the album. I suppose I just miss the Art of Drowning days. And I recently chose not to buy a Tiger Army CD because it was cheaply packaged in one of those basic cardboard cases with no frills. But I must say that some album covers have always drawn me to them to buy it. I can think of Trivium - Ascendancy or Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon, just off the top of my head. I love the artwork for both, but only purchased the classic Floyd album. More so, I appreciate extra goodies with CDs or unique packaging. For example, I am addicted to buying albums from this website that always offers autographed covers with CDs. Or if there is a DVD with the album, then that is extra incentive. However, some album’s covers are so uniquely presented that it makes you appreciate the album more. Such as, Thrice – The Artist in the Ambulance came with a postcard for each song on the album. Similarly, Prize Fighter Inferno – My Brother’s Blood Machine had cards for each track resembling the different cards in a deck. Also, Zao’s latest had two layers to each page, which overlapped different parts of letters to make a whole when combined. Nine Inch Nail’s Year Zero has thermo-chrome heat-sensitive paint on the disc that causes it to change appearance when heated by the CD player. I applaud such innovative efforts, but rarely do I know of these presentation details before opening the case.
Anyway… I’m curious if any aspects of a CD (beyond the music) made you want an album (or made you decide against it), and if so what was it?

Rapid Blog Assault!

WOW… How has it been this long since my last post? I have plenty of good excuses, but none of them are good enough. This is unacceptable. This won’t happen again. I will be bombarding you with buffoonery just to make up for it. First, I’m back in Gainesville, FL, USA. It’s good to be back to the comfortable life with a car, cell phone, and the same time zone as pretty much everyone I know. It was an excellent experience in France and I’m very glad that I was able to see my top two places to visit: Rome and Paris. There are a few final pictures posted (if you’re so inclined).

OK… enough French crap… let’s get on with some random thoughts.

- I flew home last weekend to spend some time with the fam and go to Zoo Brew and Kennywood. Zoo Brew was excellent on several levels. Not only were we drink beer at the zoo at night, but there were astonishing creatures like a Komodo dragon and gorilla lurking about. Creepy and fantastic. And it even went to a good cause (Mitochondrial disease). Kennywood was same ol', same ol'. Phantom’s Revenge was faster than I remembered and Danny Rea won me a sweet PSU #1 plush finger.

- On the flight home I had a layover in Filthadelphia. I thought that my disgust towards Eagles fans had long since dissipated from my State College years, however it was all renewed with an idiot wearing an Eagles cap in front of me on the plane. He was mid-30’s and wore a sleeveless shirt to show off his hairy, Philly cheese steak-lovin’ biceps. He kept wowing this grandma sitting next to him with the plethora of electronics he brought for his flight. It was like showing fire to a caveman. Grandma was amazed with ring tones and iPods. There was a ton of “Oh my! Oh my gosh! What will they think of next?” type of responses that only fueled his desire to impress. Of course he doesn’t turn off the keypad volume on his phone, just to notify everyone sitting around him when he was flipping through pictures. And thanks for shaking in your seat the whole time and torturing my knees all 130 minutes of the flight. What an ass. You suck and so do the EAGLES!!! (end rant.)

- I finally got my CD pre-order (and autographed booklet!!!) of Davey and Jade’s Blaqk Audio. Davey is at a homoerotic-Santa Claus level for me, so needless to say I am pleased. But seriously though, it is catchy, beautiful electronica. My personal favorite is Snuff on Digital, which goes through the mindset of a porn actress’ desire to be loved and immortalized, even at the cost of her life. (Machine sold separately.)

- I went to Steelers training camp with my lil’ sis, and it was pretty nice. Willie Parker is fast. James “Silverback” Harrison is colossal. Santonio Holmes looks much better on the field in person. I got St. Pierre and Sepulveda’s autographs. Also, Ryan Clark is a super nice guy. He signed autographs, posed for pictures with kids, and gave away his gloves by letting kids pull them off his hands. Too bad they all aren’t like him.

- Carey Davis is a freight train.

- Fantasy football is coming soon and I’m ill-prepared and ill-tempered.