CUT OF THE DAY: PORTUGAL. THE MAN – “GOT IT ALL (THIS CAN’T BE LIVING NOW)”
I’m half Portuguese and half Italian, straight down the muthafuggin middle. Since I’m 50% Portuguese, it’s fair to say half my ancestors are from Portugal. So years ago, I automatically liked this band because of their name. How many bands have the balls to drop a period in the middle of their name?
Three of the guys are from Wasilla, Alaska and the other two are from Portland, Oregon. “Got It All” is off their 7th album, 2011′s In the Mountains in the Clouds. It’s featured in a 13-minute short film along with “Sleep Forever”. In the flick, frontman John Baldwin Gourley accidentally kills himself. His dog starts to snack on him while he sings this dope song.
VAN HALEN – A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRUTH
I have no good reason for getting this album. Maybe it was the fact that it’s been 14 years since their last one? It got great reviews and it had the potential to be great with David Lee Roth on vocals for the first time in 27 years. Apparently some stuff on the album was material they started working on in the 70s. I think it’s mad cool that Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang replaced Michael Anthony on bass. Definitely worth a look.
Despite an impressive 3.5 million YouTube hits, I’m not a huge fan of “Tattoo”. What’s the deal with the deep voice in the song? Is that like a trademark of theirs? It was distracting and it happened a bunch of times on the album. “She’s the Woman” reminded me of an updated “Hot for Teacher” and that means I liked it. “You and Your Blues” starts off with a classic Eddie riff that surely sent goosebumps through Van Halen Nation. By the time I got to the end of the album, I’d had enough to hold me over for another decade or so.
WHITE RABBITS – FORT NIGHTLY & IT’S FRIGHTENING
I listened to both these albums in the same day. One on the way to work and one on the way back. Two cool albums from Brooklyn by way of Columbia, Missouri. I’d like to mention that Stephen Patterson is pretty money on the keys. I kept focusing on his goodness during both listens. Didn’t realize he was the lead singer. The video for “Kid On My Shoulder” (Fort Nightly, 2007) was my first live look at these guys and they look good to me. “We held our tongues throughout it, one day we’ll laugh about it.” “Percussion Gun” is off 2009′s It’s Frightening and it’s a major jam. Love the merry-go-round feel of the video. This editor was impressed. New album in March, looking forward to it.
FAKE BONNAROO LINEUP
When I started reading this, I sort of felt pee dribble down my leg a bit. Radiohead, Phish for 2 shows, Chili Peppers, Paul Simon doing Graceland, Drake, The Avett Brothers, The Roots, Ben Folds Five, The Shins. Warm pee everywhere. This couldn’t be real life. I was a little relieved that it was fake because I was going if it was real. Crossing my fingers that this poster wasn’t fake. My wife loves when I go to Bonnaroo.
KEVIN FAULK
I had the pleasure of cutting a sweet Kevin Faulk interview at work Friday night. It was a NESN Exclusive and he was supposed to announce his retirement. The Boston Globe’s Shalise Manza Young did the honors and it could’ve been its own half-hour show. He wasn’t quite ready to say he was retiring, but I’m pretty sure he’s done. A great run for a true Patriot. He’s part of the Boston Mount Rushmore of 33′s that I just made up. Bird, Chara, Varitek and Faulk.
CROUPA TROOPA
My poor little baby boy has croup. I thought it was spelled kroop until I made a trip to the doctor’s this afternoon. They’re so smart. Croup is a swelling of the throat that makes little kids sound like a seal when they cough. You wouldn’t even know he was sick. You should see the kid attract women of all ages like a pimp magnet. At the doctor’s office. At Target. At breakfast with an old friend. Everywhere. I love it. His brother is the same way. I love taking them out. Chick magnets.
They gave Aidan steroids to reduce the swelling and they said the drugs might make him go wild. My wife told me he was trying to eat his hands at one point before bed. Ha. Reminds me of the good old days at Borderland. Like father, like son.
42 days with no caffeine or alcohol.
25 days til Black Keys and beers.
