Skelethon

This post is a tad late, but I have to share with the world my two cents about Aesop Rock's new solo album Skelethon. This is Aesop's first solo album since 2007, and I was worried that it wouldn't live up to my grandiose expectations. Let's be honest here, the man's musical stylings are so important to me that I used them to vet prospective partners..."Ben, this is a test. If you don't like this music, we may have a problem." Three years later, Ben loves Aesop as much as I do.

Anyway, Skelethon.

Skelethon was worth the wait. Every song is a treat for my ears. I am choosing a song off of the album each day and listening to it on repeat for the entire day (that sort of thing is possible with Aesop because his songs are so nuanced that you NEVER get bored). In the past year Aesop lost a best friend and went through a divorce, so some of the songs are so raw that it brings tears to my eyes. For instance, on the track "Gopher Guts" he admits that he has been "completely unable to maintain any semblance of relationship on any level, I have been a bastard to the people who have actively attempted to deliver me from peril." Yeah, that's not what most people would expect from a hip-hop guy. On the same track you also don't expect a heavily bearded man who loves skateboarding to talk about letting go of relationships while complimenting the person with, " you will grow to be something essential and electric, you are healthy, you are special, you are present." The song literally makes me feel like things are stirring in the bottom of my rib cage. It is so beautiful that I can hardly take it.

Then there's "Grace."

"Grace" is some seriously funny shit. It's all about Aesop (Ian) as a child who hates green beans. He's stuck at the table being told to eat his vegetables while all of the neighborhood kids are out, he imagines, riding dirt bikes and skateboards. I laugh outloud every time he impersonates his father screaming, "this ends now eat the god damn beans!" My meager words can't convey just how awesome this song really is.

The entire album is brimming with tongue twisters, obscure references, obvious references, and amazing beats. It has been five years of waiting, but Aesop Rock has done it again.

Oh yeah, he also peformed these new gems in SLC on Monday night. Was I  there you ask? Of course! And it was magical.

Sorry for the poor quality photo, just know that it was fantastic.

Two Months

It has been almost two months since I have updated this damn thing, and quite a bit has happened during that time.  I finished a semester of school and made major goal changes for graduate school.  Law school is a dream of the past and now I'm looking at the Master of Public Administration program at the U. I'm excited an nervous to graduate in May.  My goals are within reach and plans must be made for the future, which is both exhilirating and exhausting.

I made a wreath for Christmas and we celebrated the holiday with new decorations for the house and gifts aplenty.  I don't think I will ever attempt to make something decorative again, it was a long process and I've decided that I'd much rather pay someone to do that stuff for me.

My parents bought us a 55" LCD HDTV, Ben bought me a Nook Tablet (which I adore), and I snagged Ben some goodies like a new iPod.  We went to a 90s themed New Year's Eve party and had a blast.  Basically, the holidays were good to me and Ben.

In the past two months I have acquired some recommendations: "The Visible Man" by Chuck Klosterman is worth a read; Kimya Dawson's new album "Thunder Thighs" is worth a listen, and the new Sherlock Holmes movie is worth a view.

Currently I'm gearing up for a fifteen credit hour semester and I'm working on putting together a six week, ladies self-defense seminar with my coach.  He has graciously offered his time free of charge, so I'm making arrangements to get everything done.  More on that when I have details.  I need all of the participants I can find to insure a good turnout.  Ben leaves for Hawaii on Monday and he should be back within a month.  He's not looking forward to leaving, but he is excited for the money it will bring.  Basically, life is good right now.  Things are moving like they should and I'm happy.  I hope all of my friends had a great holiday season and I wish everyone a wonderful year to come.  I'm going to try to become more regular with my posting again, but we'll see.

Aesop Rock

I don't know if you know this, but I am totally and completely obsessed with Aesop Rock.  He is a genius.  I listen to his music almost exclusively.  Recently he collaborated with DJ Big Wiz and Rob Sonic to form the hip-hop super group, Hail Mary Mallon.  They released the album, "Are You Gonna Eat That?," and it is awesome.  Seriously, seriously, seriously awesome.

Aesop is also the creative genius behind the awesome site, 900  Bats.  I have blogged about it before, and if you haven't taken a look, well, don't be silly.  Go look.

We have driven all the way to Boulder, Co (1054 miles round trip), and to Reno, Nevada (1038 miles round trip), just to see Aesop perform.  I take his music so seriously that the man is one of my tests for a significant other, thankfully Ben passed; basically, if you can't boogie to Aesop, you aren't boogying with me.

Well, guess what?  He is coming HERE!  Here as in, Salt Lake City, Utah! This next trip to see Aesop Rock perform is only 47 miles, and that is round trip. He will be performing at the Urban Lounge, and if you like good music, you should go.

Me and Aesop in Boulder, CO

Cage

"She walks around the corner, it’s like she brought the sun with her, Then everything just brightened up, I couldn’t make this up.
My fingers in my eyes as she walked by like I was waking up...Because the sky opened and God handed you directly to me. I know it sounds crazy but so is life, I’m sinking, and feeling like your heart is beating solely for me." -Cage, "I Never Knew You"

"I Never Knew You" is about a stalker that eventually kills a girl, but the song makes my heart melt. I can not wait to see Cage in concert! This song is creepy in its entirety, but I can't wait for the day when someone thinks the world brightens up because I walked around the corner.

The cover art for Cage's Depart From Me, was done by Alex Pardee. He is an amazing artist, and I would do anything to procure the painting below.

Swelling Members

Last night I had the chance to see my favorite hip-hop group, Swollen Members, perform at the Urban Lounge in Downtown SLC. I have loved the group since I first heard their album Bad Dreams two years ago, and I quickly learned to love their entire discography (their latest album is still under personal consideration.) Up until last night it seemed as though I was never going to be able to hear them live! They played at Urban in January, and I couldn't go because I wasn't old enough, and they were here again in August, but I was out of town; needless to say, my attendance was a long time coming. I was a little hesitant to see them perform, for fear that they would suck live and my previous love affair would be dashed. Also, their latest release Armed to the Teeth which dropped on November 27th, has not been my favorite album thus far, and I didn't want to see a performance based predominantly on the latest material. Anyyywwaayyyy, I pushed all of that aside, and bought the tickets. I forced my friend Ben (whom I enjoy as much as the band itself) to go with me!

We arrived at about 9:45 p.m. for the show, and there were three opening acts. The first opener is called Bliss N Esso, and they hail from Australia. Evaluating them in hip-hop vernacular I would dare say that they are "dope". After Bliss N Esso, an amazing duo that calls themselves Common Market performed, and I can say with total certainty that these guys are murderously dope, they were so good that I didn't care how long they performed! The last performers go by the name Big B & Dirtball, and I was secretly hoping that the emcee dropped dead on the stage, because it was not my style of music, at all. One of Big B's songs was called "White Trash Renegade," I do not play that game, and it killed my mood for the entire time they played the set. Ben and I were both recovering from a brutal Muay Thai class earlier in the evening and were starting to lag after the White Trash guy, and then, Rob The Viking came onto the stage! I immediately perked up and grabbed the waistband on Ben's jeans and shook him while squealing "That's Rob The Viking, their DJ!" Swollen bombed onto the stage at about Midnight, and they opened with the track "Blackout" from their fifth studio album, Black Magic. Instantly the entire crowd was jumping with hands in the air, rapping along with Mad Child and Prevail. Much to my satisfaction, the material that they performed was mostly from their old albums, and the new songs they did perform were some of my favorites. My absolute favorite song, "Too Hot" was performed in the middle of the set, and I don't think I have ever smiled so hard or sang so loud!!!

Prevail and Mad Child have some of the sickest flows that I have ever heard! They sound almost identical to their CDs, which we all know is hard to achieve, and both emcees possess a stage presence that is hard to rival. Joining them on stage was the newest member to Battle Axe family, Tre Nyce, and he also sounded amazing live.

So, the show is blowing my mind and every expectation, when they start performing the song "Breath." On the album, Monsters in the Closet, Nelly Furtado sings the chorus, but in her absence the crowd is filling in. And then, it happened... Prevail makes direct eye contact with me, and smiles! PREVAIL, AKA Cannonball Crush, AKA Prev 1 the Microphone Crippla!!! This extremely sexy and magnificently talented man SMILES AT ME, and proceeds to push over people to put his microphone in front of my mouth so that I can sing the chorus!!!!! Ben also helped to push me forward once he saw what was going on. I sang into his mic like I was never going to have vocal chords again! Then, when I thought it couldn't get any better, he crowd surfed over my head!!!! After the song ended, I grabbed Ben's shirt and screamed "That was the coolest thing that has ever happened to me!!!!" At that moment in time, I meant it, that was the coolest thing that had ever happened to me! I have not been able to make it through one hour of my day without reminding my co-workers that I sang into Prevail's microphone.

The concert ended, and I have never felt so pleased with a musical performance. Bentley and I went to Denny's and then he cuddled me to sleep at his house. Prev and Ben in the same night, how can a girl be so lucky?? I didn't bring my camera, but here are some pictures of the group in all of their glory...