#lostinalphaville

[shelbywrobertson]

🎵 #therentals #lostinalphaville #sleighbells #treats (at Tucson Downtown) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9mh3zJhsSY/?igshid=151bs5ecfl220

[eddieriviello]

Write it, write it, write it down!

I'm taking a class where 'lecturer' is a misnomer - because we actually aren't taught a single thing. I've been using this time to write down whatever thoughts flit around my conscience - I'm always trying to be deep, searching for the profound and trying to pluck it out of thin air and be insightful and meaningful. Instead, I end up writing the most asinine things, like "Wow this green apple is really delicious," or other unpolished gems like "Social media is the weirdest way human beings try and combat their impending mortality, by leaving the laziest legacy via quotodian status updates." Really, it doesn't get to Challenger deep levels of wisdom, but all the same, there's something so satisfying about scratching pencil to paper - it's my own way of combating technology's maddening grip on all of us (I say as I type on a PC...you can't win every battle!) I honestly believe that if I ever uncover the secret to happiness, it'll be hunched over my notebook with my chicken scratch handwriting, writing furiously to try and convert lightning thought into legible script. That'll be the day.

I've been really into writing in my little blue notebook lately, but what's been stopping me this evening from describing how delicious these grapefruits are that I've just bought (...), is the fact that I'm also really into the new album from the Rentals. Lost in Alphaville is the first cut of original material in 15 years, and these dudes have absolutely zero ring rust. Actually, I wouldn't even know, because this is the first material of theirs I've had the pleasure of listening to - but without any prior experience with their back catalogue, I can comfortably say this is the best album of theirs I've ever listened to! 

Seriously though, former Weezer bassist Matt Sharp's lazy vocal approach contrasts beautifully with Lauren Chipman's gorgeous interjections, as they lead the line on their brand of alternative rock. Sonically, it's a cocktail of the Flaming Lips, and (I guess) Weezer, but with less weird and  more traditional alternative rock thrown in the cloudy mix - like the bartender listened to you order your Appletini, but gave you (with plenty of stink eye) some gnarly IPA from the local brewery that you loved immediately and won't shut up about to your friends like you discovered it on your own.