valen

Well, what is happening around here?

On my end, I FINALLY have my computer problems solved. I can now be on here a little more regularly. I have only reformatted and reinstalled Windows 4 times in the last month and a half. But like I said, I think that is all behind me.

I have signed up to help the Democratic Party with the upcoming elections. I am the new coordinator for voting disctrict 23. The should be interesting. I also found out that I should be able to get intern credit towards my Political Science degree at K-State. Nothing would make me happier to help break up some of the Republican monopoly that exists in Kansas.

Finally, ARBCOtoys has caused me to become hooked into Facebook. It is supposed to be some kind of friendship network for college students around the country, but you can get a lot of personal information from it. As he puts it, it is a stalker's dream.

Here is my #4 Album:

Peter Gabriel - Up

"That Up exists at all is faintly miraculous. Over the past seven years, with guests including Youssou N'Dour, Peter Green, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Peter Gabriel has held recording sessions in Senegal, Atlanta, Singapore, the French Alps, and on a boat on the Amazon River, as well as at his own RealWorld studios. Having written and prepared over 150 songs, he's managed to cut this huge body of work down to just 10 tracks. There's a remarkable consistency and contemporary feel here that springs from a thoughtful layering process, with Gabriel combining tribal rhythms with complex backing vocals, samples, rock guitar, piano and--crucially--electronic effects. Indeed, the opener, "Darkness," begins with an aggressiveness that recalls the Prodigy, before hints of vulnerability and fear surface. Elsewhere, there is the dreamy "The Drop" and the orchestral heights of "Signal to Noise." Throughout, Gabriel uses water metaphors to put forward his positivist message. And it's all brilliant, sophisticated, and soulful. The man's a marvel and Up is a masterwork." --Dominic Wills (Amazon.com)

As with David Bowie, I have a huge love for Peter Gabriel's music. Growing up, my Mom was always playing "So" and "Shaking the Tree" in the mornings while I would be getting ready for school. As fond as I am for his older songs, I consider "Up" to be his best work. This album received zero radio play when it was released, and other than Barry Williams Show I can't recall ever seeing a video for it. You all may recall Signal to Noise be used in Gangs of New York during the opening battle scene in the snow. Other than that, unless you actually own it I doubt any of the songs will be familiar to you. Check out this one if you enjoy any of his past albums and you won't be disappointed.

05 - David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust... (Live Concert)
06 - Metallica - ...And Justice For All
07 - Dredg - El Cielo
08 - Fleetwood Mac - The Dance
09 - Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
10 - The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie