M83

M83- "Digital Shades, Vol. 1" (Mute, 2007)

a slow evening without anybody to hang out with except for my dog. so i gave her a bath, wrapped her in towels, squeezed her warm clean furry body in a bear hug, and listened to this. my first thoughts were that it didn't sound as qualified as other M83 releases, and couldn't possibly be an official studio album. i was right- it's really not- but in the end the difference was wonderful. m83 has been a favorite of mine for years, but i've sort of left them out of the player for awhile since their face melting 2005 release, "Before the Dawn Heals Us" (which is brilliant). i didn't anticipate them going anywhere BIGGER than they had achieved with Tony Gonzales' production on that record. it sounded immense and dramatic, amazing but also more guitar driven than ever before. m83's brilliance is in their invention of lush synthesized atmospheres- ones that sound like guitars but aren't. the title of this new record gives away its aim. it's a collection of more ambient pieces, assembled into a sort of compliation, the first of more, perhaps. in any case, it's warm, fuzzy, and totally eno (meaning Brian, not an "emo" with a typo). very simple, but inviting enough that i listened to it twice through tonight. it'll be on my regular rotation for my low key evenings for now.

happy birthday amy

this little girl makes me very very happy.

happy 24th, amy.

the hartses

another former Method member, Joel and his wife Sarah have jumped american ship to join the ranks of those teaching English in China. for quite awhile too. i am jealous and also proud. i will be thinking and praying for them especially in upcoming months. for those of you who don't know Joel, he is quite an accomplished music writer, as well as author of this blog.i am still searching around to see if they've got a blog having to do with their current travels... here is their website.more amazing friends doing amazing things. all very motivating. i thank God for my friends in this world. it's funny to say, but they are making it a better place. how novel. and possible...

a night with matt and jim

it's been too long since i've seen my friend Matt. we studied music together in college, as well as played in a band. he's one of the most generous and kind souls i've ever known. his dad and him are on a journey from new york out to idaho, via mississippi, and stopped in for one night. our short time together was refreshing. matt has doing some great work in africa while studying at columbia university. check out his and his wife Jacinda's blog here.. i miss the days of the method.

diane arbus

first trip to the dentist in, say...7 years?

so i was plodding away at something on my computer a couple weeks back and unconsciously fingering some of my teeth when a good chunk of one came tumbling out of my mouth.
hmn.
first thoughts: my teeth are rotting. this is what i get for not having been to the dentist since before college.
and more importantly: i have no dental benefits or insurance.
and possibly more importantly than that: what have i been doing since college to have no dental benefits or insurance?

i made an appointment. cavities. but not too horrible, considering.

i had my tooth pulled out yesterday without the "gas".
when i entered the office, though, i stumbled onto an employee prayer meeting. they asked me if i needed prayer, so i made a request. i prayed with them before i signed in. that's kentucky for ya.
the tooth came out as a miracle- apparently i had such bent roots in it that the dentist would have never considered pulling it, and would have sent me to an oral $urgeon, had she known. i was still bracing for the pull after she had it in her hand. didn't know it had even happened. and it ended up being pretty cheap. hallelujah.