In With The New

The start of the 80s were seen as a harbinger of things to come musically for Roxy Music. And their previous effort, Manifesto, was evidence that Bryan Ferry & company were moving on to bigger & better things. First off, they sounded more mature, more soulful. Secondly, the group still had a lovelorn frontman at the microphone (aka Ferry) to not only woo the ladies but also to get his declarations across. Finally, though we didn't know it at the time, this was the beginning of the end of Mach 2 of Roxy Music.

In 1980, Flesh and Blood was released. As stated in my previous Roxy Music post, the music was entering soulful, more passionate realms at this juncture. But then there were surprises thrown in as well: some pretty amazing covers of Wilson Pickett's "In The Midnight Hour" & The Byrds' "Eight Miles High" (the latter tailor made for getting out on the dance floor). However, any traces of RM's art-rock past are not in evidence; if anything, they evolved into the keyboard/synthesizer-driven songs which abound on this album (& in the process helped RM create a musical genre which ruled in the 1980s not only in Britain but in the States as well - what is today known as synth-pop).

Besides the sweet renditions of "IMTH" & "EMH," the real highlights of this album are of course the soulful, more (if I must say so) heartfelt tunes. "Oh Yeah" & "Running Wild" are slow but worth every second of listening time; from Ferry's yearning, hopeless romantic vocals to Andy Mackay's work on saxophone on to Phil Manzanera's guitar playing, you can hear the groundwork for Ferry's later solo efforts (of which Boys and Girls is a standout) being put to good use. And Manzanera, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time, is not only stellar at servicing his guitar parts as the songs see fit; he is a pretty awesome soloist as these two songs boldly indicate (& his solo on "My Only Love" deserves mention here). Not only is he a master at knowing how to play economically; he also plays with restraint as well.

The title track has synths leading the way; "Same Old Scene" & "No Strange Delight" (the latter being more ambient in tone) continue that trend, with beats that would get anyone geared up for dancing & moving around. Then again, RM is wearing the synth-pop chevrons on their sleeves with style on these tracks with a passion. "Over You" is a gem of a tune; Ferry's vocal & lyrical trademarks are in strong supply & Mackay's "fill-in-the-musical-blank" sax work during the second verse is undeniably a highlight in its own right. (Listen to "Over You's" outro while you're at it; it still brings tears to my eyes every time I've played that particular song.)

The Clash's Sandanista!, Joy Division's Closer, The Cure's Seventeen Seconds were some of 1980's highlights in the alternative music community. But Flesh and Blood is a highlight in its own way & on its own terms; by the same token, it revealed Roxy Music in a soulful mood that would be taken to its acme on 1982's masterwork Avalon. And it showed us that RM could also get many a dance floor going in short order to kick the decade off on an upbeat note.

Only two years later, Roxy Music would be no more. But Flesh and Blood gave us hope that they were still alive & well in their second incarnation.

(side note)

True brotherhood.

When it comes to fraternity house cleanings, & losing some of one's best friends, the word "brotherhood" takes a hard hit indeed. In fact, some would rather walk out/disaffiliate from the fraternity in situations of this magnitude.

But why is that? you might ask. First off, seeing their very own HQ altering the house culture is a bit much to take; not only that, but they feel all the traditions, antics & practices which defined their house's existence are going to be thrown out the window in the process. This is to say that the nationals are cramping their style & they don't want to see any progress or changes of any kind being made to their respective chapters.

Secondly, in the case of house cleanings, the duders who are fortunate enough to stay on as fraternity members are in a state of shock as they're trying to cope with losing not just their roomies but also their closest friends in the house. Sensing that life at the house won't be quite the same without them, they'd rather bail than watch the slow-but-sure transformation of their house into one of the best flipping chapters on campus, period.

Finally, they don't know what the word "brotherhood" truly means unless they're willing to stay the course & see the positive alterations taking place...For such folks who won't take the initiative to give the house the 360 degree improvement which it needs, their loss if they walk away when they're needed most to steer their chapter in the right direction.

True brotherhood should transcend the cliques, the silly spiel of "follow the leader" (that is, when some of one's own get kicked out of the fraternity, the natural thing to do at this point is to leave as well). For those who are proud to survive & overcome the house cleanings, there are definitely going to be better & brighter days ahead.

Second Time's The Charm

That glorious number two.

For Roxy Music, it was roughly 2 years before we thought we'd ever hear any music from them again. At the same time, RM was on a 2 year hiatus but then again that'd be an understatement, given the inclinations of frontman/stylemeister Bryan Ferry.

So in 1979, when their release Manifesto came out, Roxy Music was back in business again, that is to say, in its second incarnation as a group. The art-rock vibes which defined Roxy from their debut on are still evident on tracks like "Trash," the title track, & "Angel Eyes" (for some quaint reason, the States decided to release a disco version of this tune; the remastered version from 2000 has the original mix). By the album's second half, however, we hear Roxy Music evolving its signature sound into more mature, more soulful realms as "Ain't That So," "My Little Girl" & "Spin Me Round" adamantly indicate. And it didn't hurt to have a track like "Dance Away" thrown in for good measure to get the room moving. Of course, Ferry's soulful vocal deliveries (full of longing, despair, hope & passion) remained intact; things just wouldn't have sounded the same for Roxy Music in any other context without a sharp-dressed man like Bryan leading the way.

But on the aforementioned second half of Manifesto, we hear the sounds that would be sown to the wind exponentially on 1980's Flesh and Blood and 1982's swan song (& a revered masterpiece in popular music) Avalon. Ferry wears the fool-for-love lyrics on his sleeve & wears them well; we hear not only a hopeless romantic at work but also a man giving his heartfelt testimony like no other. In retrospect, it'd be hard to gain a fuller appreciation for Roxy Music's last two studio efforts listed above without hearing side two of Manifesto (or for that matter, the whole album) all the way through. To some diehard RM fans, this departure from their art-rock roots may have been a big letdown in the worst way but for Bryan Ferry, Phil Manzanera & Andy Mackay, in their second incarnation as a band, things would be different the second go-round; no, should I say that they had to be.

Manifesto may have signaled a changing of the guard as well as a change in scenery for Roxy Music. But after two years away, change was imperative as much as it was good. In fact, this release while retaining some of its art-rock stamp, reveals the more soulful route Bryan Ferry would take (& still is taking) with his music, what with the 70s drawing to a close.

Current playlist #3

Roxy Music, "My Only Love," Flesh and Blood
Roxy Music, "Spin Me Round," Manifesto
Robert Plant, "Other Arms," The Principle of Moments
Robert Plant, "In The Mood," see above
Led Zeppelin, "All My Love," In Through The Out Door
New Order, "The Perfect Kiss," Low-life
Keane, "A Bad Dream," Under The Iron Sea
The Sea and Cake, "Up On Crutches," Everybody

A Price To Pay

Some duders just never learn. That is, until it's too late.

For the men of Alpha Epsilon Pi @ Indiana University, they're finding out the hard way just how costly hazing their pledges would be; their chapter is now shut down & their good name has become anathema in Bloomington (e.g. they can't participate in the Little 5 as AEPi; they're no longer part of the Greek system @ IU as we speak).

In my previous posts on hazing, I focused on how detrimental it can be, particularly with the pledges. Sure, AEPi might have hazed their new guys just for tradition's sake or because that's part & parcel of their pledging program; it could just as well be both of the above. But when it comes to depriving your pledges of sleep, dropping them off at who knows where & expecting them to find their way back to campus (both of which Alpha Epsilon Pi actually did), along with forcing them to drink odd concoctions, reaming them out during the much-dreaded lineups...that's complete BS & none of these actions will help any new guy gain a fuller understanding of their fraternity nor will they help them strive to become better pledges either (& after Initiation, better brothers). And obligations of this sort sure don't give pledges the opportunity to excel academically.

To tell you the truth, hazing is just wrong & always has been. To say that it's not wrong or that it's beneficial to educating your new members the ins & outs of not only your respective chapters but also your fraternal organizations (collectively speaking) - that to me is ignorance at its finest.

Some duders don't learn until it's too late. And what then? they will ask as if they were worthy of a second chance to begin with. Maybe a second chance for AEPi may come around the bend; maybe not. But the damage has already been done to Alpha Epsilon Pi & we're left with a warning on the price one chapter pays just for hazing their members-to-be: it's not worth losing your charter or your house over.

(Intermission)

When it comes to fraternity/sorority recruitment, Fall Semester is the peak period, bar none; the lion's share of freshmen & an assortment of other undergraduates take this route, not just to get things over with in finding a frat/sorority to join but because the Fall term is a big deal in terms of recruiting overall. To tell you the truth, every Fall Semester is when most folks wind up going Greek to begin with.

Fast forward to Spring Semester. The excitement that surrounded Fall Rush/Sorority Recruitment is long gone by now. But should anyone discount that simple fact & decide to pass on going Greek until the autumn? I feel that no one should pass up this opportunity while it lasts this Spring; in fact, in a week or so from now, this is a perfect chance for those who chose to forego Rush/Sorority Recruitment to do their chapter research/homework, to give things a go.

True, the numbers of men & women dropping in to rush/sorority recruitment may be drastically different from the Fall but this shouldn't prove to be a hindrance on anyone deciding to rush or delve into sorority life. What we're talking about here is chapters seeking quality membership, not racking up more statistical figures to make themselves look awesome. It's not about which house is the best party house on campus; it's not about how many duders/ladies are in this chapter or that. It's about making a choice that could turn to be a good call on one's part, one that could last a lifetime.

Sure, some folks drop out of the picture b/c of grades, their fams aren't up to their children wearing Greek letters, their preliminary route to Initiation asks too much for them (just to name a few explanations). I can see that; I've personally known plenty who have fallen by the wayside through all of the above reasons so I've been there & done that.

But if one has chosen to go Greek just now, it'd be not only a fantastic experience given that folks stick it out, stay the course, bust tail to keep their grades up, keep holding one another accountable, etc. And the best way to fully realize the joys of Greek life & its various benefits can be found next week.

The Worst of Our Fears

Back in 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. made a speech for the ages at Washington, D.C. For a lot of folks, his most famous moment in history - & with it his brightest hour as a civil rights firebrand - was when he declared, "I have a dream" for the whole nation to take note of.

Over 45 years later, some say that his legacy & the very speech that defined it are frozen in time & they fear that something of that legacy is lost forever. Truly, we know that he had a dream. But we don't have any clue what that dream was or if it would have come true had he not been cut down by an assassin back in April 1968.

What was that dream MLK spoke of? Even now, we don't know. It seems that we can't go any further than those four words, that one sentence which has since come to define everything Martin Luther King stood for. But in doing so, we have come to ignore the full complexity of MLK himself & his message.

He wasn't just tackling issues like segregation. In fact, at the time of his death, he was taking on issues like poverty & the Vietnam War; the man came a long way since his declaration at Washington & it seemed that nothing could slow him down.

Yet by going outside the box as it were, he lost a great deal of support in the process. Not only did he lose the love of many newspaper & magazine publishers; his relationship with the White House also took a hit as well. In a sense, he became a pariah, an outsider looking in. Was this to say that King wasn't disliked back in 1963? He most certainly was back then; even up to his passing he was hated as much as he was loved.

That's one important aspect of MLK, I feel, that Americans should remember & take into full consideration. As our culture increasingly takes the top 10 approach in defining the heroes of the day, the most popular figures of all time, it also faces the severe danger of writing the past off as entertainment or a myth of legendary proportions. To write off MLK's accomplishments - or far worse to limit his personal philosophy & character to "I have a dream" - is doing our nation a major disservice to the man himself, as well as to the society in which we live.

Good game? Well...

Sure, New England punched their ticket to the Super Bowl with a 21-12 win against the San Diego Chargers. But there are two aspects of that game which could be seen as a break in the norm for Tom Brady & company:

First off, the Pats weren't that convincing offensively. Mr. Brady threw three picks, & those very picks on drives which could have put the game away in short order; Randy Moss was a nonfactor for the second straight game...WTF? But these shortcomings were more than made up for by Messrs. Faulk, Maroney & Welker (which goes to show you how loaded NE is in offensive options). To tell you the truth, the Patriots looked vulnerable at times when they had the ball & the Chargers defense deserves credit for all this.

Secondly, having said that, the Patriots defense carried the day rather than depending on Tom Brady's arm to help things along. And believe me, they made the big plays which mattered most: holding those pesky Bolts to 4 FGs & getting downright stingy in the red zone. But the one defensive stop which stands out most from Sunday was Junior Seau (an ex-Charger, BTW & one of the old-timers in the LB unit) making an open-field tackle on 3rd & one, with the Chargers threatening to score a touchdown. Not only did Seau's play thwart a key scoring opportunity; it held San Diego to 3 points as well.

Certainly, New England feels ecstatic to reach the Super Bowl for the fourth time in as many years & they should; they paid their dues to get this far (even though we have plenty of Patriots haters out there saying the Colts could've done it all or the Cowboys...yada yada yada.) But the worst they could do against the New York Giants is a repeat performance. And that with the Giants riding extremely high on confidence after deflating the Lambeau Field myth once & for all.

One For The Show

Tomorrow the New England Patriots are poised to make NFL history...again. This'll be the second time they play San Diego & the Chargers feel they're up for the challenge, that the Pats are beatable at their own game (although I hate the fact that some Chargers have been popping off at the mouth all week long about this rematch, etc.) Perhaps, New England may look vulnerable (old-timers in the linebacker corps, for instance), but let's face it: they're on their home turf & primed for a contest which'll make up for lost time last year when Indy won it all.

Right now, it seems Tom Brady & company cannot do any wrong. Sure, the Jaguars stood resilient against the Pats for some time. But if the Bolts are even thinking about an upset, they'll have to play virtually mistake-free football; the Jags made two mistakes which did them in big time & when they were on who knows how many yard-consuming drives. If San Diego wants to upend another outstanding team for the second straight Sunday, they'll have to be at the ready not only on offense (Darren Sproles shined as LT's replacement) but also on defense as well. If they can pressure Brady enough, to make him force his throws, chances are this could be an interesting game. If not, well...wait until next year, guys.

Then again, the Pats are playing at Foxboro...Indy's staying at home this time around...man, I feel New England's going to go undefeated...but first, they've got to knock off San Diego, a team which finds ways to win no matter what. They did it even against Peyton Manning, who threw for 400 yards but shot himself in the foot with those pesky interceptions.

At times like this, nothing is guaranteed.

Current playlist #2

Roxy Music, "More Than This," Avalon
Roxy Music, "True To Life," see above
New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle," Brotherhood
New Order, "Vanishing Point," Technique
Bryan Ferry, "Don't Stop The Dance," Boys and Girls
Yes, "Owner of a Lonely Heart," 90125
The Cure, "Love Song," Disintegration
The Cure, "Just Like Heaven," Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

So The Story Goes

For every fraternity which leaves campus, there is a gaping hole in the Greek system which a Band-Aid alone can't patch up. The next move is finding a replacement who is willing to colonize/install a local chapter until it reaches the national's requirements (& with that, all the rigmarole associated with starting a fraternity).

As anyone fully knows by now, fraternities in any Greek system don't appear overnight; founding, say, Pi Kappa Alpha or Kappa Sigma takes time. It takes patience. It takes discipline. It takes energy, 110% commitment.

Really, it takes all of the above.

To be perfectly honest, founding a fraternity/colonizing one is hard work for everyone involved. It's not something which can be done via a weaving of magic wands or incantations; this isn't what the founders of Sigma Chi or Fiji had in mind when they began their existence as bonafide fraternities in earnest. It takes much effort, much time, much convincing others that you want to make a difference not only within the Greek system but on campus.

And in a Greek system where the number of fraternities is decreasing, a lot of fraternal organizations either will a) voice their misgivings about wanting to start things up at State U or b) weigh the options, ask "What can we do?" & finally decide to get things up & running. In a situation of this magnitude, either it's one way or the other & to get the Greek community back on the up & up most HQs should take the latter approach into consideration.

But like I said earlier, these things take time. And patience is a virtue which any fraternal organization needs to have to keep operations running smoothly with the local/colony chapter who seeks to become this house or that.

None of this will ever come easy. Please believe me: it's a job to make a local/colony chapter into a full-fledged fraternity but it's worth every minute spent toiling away to get to the top.

Once upon a time...

Greek life at my alma mater was if not all the rage very much alive & well. Perhaps it could be attributed to a strong sense of unity, a deep belief in fraternity values & an adamant personal commitment to those said values (i.e. integrity, personal responsibility). Perhaps life was a bit more carefree back then & in certain aspects it was. Perhaps we sincerely understood the importance of being part of the Greek system...Who can say exactly why Greek life was so strong & so revered once upon a time? Anyways, back in the day we could say with confidence that we were truly proud to be Greek & rightly so.

This isn't to say that Greek life as it stands now is MIA; it's still alive & well. But how the times have changed, especially when it comes to the number of fraternities which are now on campus.

Since 2003, who knows how many fraternities have exited the Greek system at Ball State (Lambda Chi Alpha, Delta Chi, Beta Theta Pi, Theta Xi, and now Zeta Beta Tau). As we speak, Delta Tau Delta is getting a membership review so things aren't looking too swell over there. If anything, the number of fraternities dropping off the map over the past few years has been a glaring issue of concern...an alarming one at that.

For the fraternities which have busted tail to make grades, to keep things on the up & up financially, to prove that they sincerely belong on campus : I commend everyone for their efforts, since you paid your dues to do a lot more than stay afloat in the Greek system. One of the few things which riles me up is when fraternties make news headlines for all the wrong reasons or aren't living up to the standards which their respective creeds ask of them; they're not only a blight & an eyesore on the Greek community but give the rest of my fellow Greeks a bad name they'd rather do without.

Seriously, if one house chooses to take all their negative status as a joke, it reflects poorly not only for their own chapter but also on all the other active chapters who feel that they should shape up or get sent packing. If it's an issue of grades, folks need to step up & do what it takes to get back to where they need to be on account of the all-men's average (not just by what their nationals say); to stay set in one's ways gradewise is a retrogressive step no fraternity should ever wind up taking lest they lose their charter like ZBT did. If it's connected to behavioral problems, SigEp's Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) is the ultimate model in how to weed the frat-boy culture which may be rampant in any of its active chapters; true, Delta Tau Delta's main HQ is taking action in its own right back @ Muncie & in its own way as well. Can we say the same of frats like Sigma Chi, Theta Chi or SAE when it comes down to finding out on how to dispense with problem members/improve the house's GPA for the better (among other things)?

Of course; that's the thing. We all have an active part to play in the Greek system & it needs to be played to the fullest of our potential. Otherwise, our presence on campus would be in vain, especially when we stop to think about the chapters which have fallen by the wayside in recent years. This isn't to say that D-Chi didn't measure up gradewise; it was for financial reasons that they got sent packing. Same with Lambda Chi & the Betas. ZBT is a different story: they didn't make grades. The worst we could do at this juncture is write each of these chapters off as casualties of the lowest order because it could just as well be one of our own houses getting looked at under the university's objective microscope.

And in a Greek system with fraternities dwindling to a mere trickle, the worst we could do is say, "It can't happen to me."

Sunday special for the ages

In June 1961, Bill Evans & his bandmates (bassist Scott LaFaro & drummer Paul Motian) spent a magical Sunday making musical history at New York's famed Village Vanguard. Not only did they reinvent the conceptions surrounding how a piano trio should sound; they also made themselves the epitome of great musicianship, group telepathy at its very best (Keith Jarrett's trio with Gary Peacock & Jack DeJohnette is pretty awesome in both areas as well).

For roughly 2 1/2 hours, Evans, LaFaro & Motian went on flights of fancy, even when they performed the standard ballads of the day. The original releases & some of the group's brightest recorded moments from the Village Vanguard that day - Waltz for Debby and Sunday at the Village Vanguard - are classics, masterpieces in their own right. At the same time, each of these albums feature Bill Evans at the height of his powers, & this short-lived group at the top of its improvisational game.

On the 3-CD box set, The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions, 1961, we not only get these albums re-issued but also this is an outstanding revision of the said material. Seriously, it's that awesome. Not only is the sound more full of life & spark; it also features the original five sets exactly as they went down (that is to say, all of the tunes are in chronological order). You can hear the tinkling of glasses, audience chatter, incidental conversation on stage...but the music's the main star of the show. If that weren't enough, this box set comes at a reasonable price; no need to shell out $40 for such wonderful music as only this edition of the Bill Evans trio could deliver.

The very first piece of music, previously unissued until now, the LaFaro composition "Gloria's Step," kicks things off. Just over a minute into this song, a brief power outage occurred (the main premise for why it wasn't issued until this compilation); otherwise, this piece is a stunning work of beauty that's undeniable with Evans' work on the ivories & LaFaro's bass solo being the main highlights. And of course, Motian could swing with the best of them when it came to great drumming in a trio context.

Ballads like "My Foolish Heart," "Some Other Time," & "Detour Ahead" sound passionate not only in group interplay & interaction but also in overall delivery. On the other hand, "All Of You," the aforementioned "Gloria's Step," "Waltz for Debby" & "Milestones" are as smoking as they are pure swinging. Another LaFaro composition, "Jade Visions" is forward-thinking, indicating the musical direction this trio could have taken if Scott had not lost his life so soon.

What can I say about this magical Sunday which Bill Evans & bandmates created musical history at the Village Vanguard? It's truly amazing, truly essential music, without a doubt. If I must say so myself, it's full of richness & color which makes it one of the most important live recordings ever committed to tape. To be honest, Bill Evans set a course for other jazz musicians to follow (Jarrett just being one of those guys) in group mind at its finest & at its peak. Evans made more awesome live recordings, no question; however, with The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions, 1961, we can hear how things came together so perfectly for three men & the audience whom they were playing for on June 25. Consider this an essential must-have if you love piano trios with a passion or if you love jazz done right in a live setting.

Surprise!! Surprise!!

Man, was this weekend a pretty rough one in the NFL playoffs. It was so rough for me it may take 2 or 3 days to get over...lol...j/k. But anyways, it proved to be quite a surprise indeed:

The New York Giants made sure that their third showdown against Dallas this season was a charmer & did they ever make the motto "Third time's the charm" work in their favor as they knocked off the Cowboys 21-17. Next opponent: the Green Bay Packers (who kick tail in any weather, even @ snowy & cold Lambeau Field where they dismantled Seattle). Could this be one heckuva game or what? The Giants think so now that they've got a divisional monkey & yet another playoff obstacle off their backs. Are they poised to make history against Brett Favre? I'm not so sure but from the looks of things they just as well could.

Then we've got my beloved Colts. What happened, guys, what happened? Well, I thought they'd get revenge against San Diego & they were on their way to doing just that until Marvin Harrison's fumble turned things around in short order. Then the bugbear which plagued Peyton Manning in his last encounter against the Bolts -interceptions - really shot Indy in the foot big time. Sure, they had a chance to win in the end but it just wasn't meant to be; it seriously hurts to lose their final game ever in the RCA Dome & lots of Colts fans are echoing my sentiments & feeling my pain.

Which leads us to...them New England Patriots. I thought the Jags would have an awesome chance to upset the Pats at their own game & for awhile that's what they did. But Tom Brady & company, it seems, can do no wrong when the chips are down or when they've got doubters hoping they take a quick exit from the playoffs. And I sure hope they knock San Diego around quite a bit on both sides of the ball next weekend. I mean, New England is plain unstoppable right now; yes, they're that awesome. (Although I just can't stand the Patriots at all!!)

And that's all for now. But man, this weekend has been kinda rough on me & other diehard Colts fans (bandwagon supporters don't count), diehard Dallas fans, on down the line to Jacksonville. Seriously, it's been just that.

Musical musings, Part Three

Less is more. Really, less is more.

In today's world of music, it seems that plenty of CDs have way too much information. Sure, some of it might be awesome, downright outstanding. On the other hand, some of it is pure dreck we just can't stand. Some folks take their track list way past breaking point...21 or 22 tracks tops (including that occasional interlude thrown in now & again). If that's not overkill, what is? I don't know but the motto "all killer no filler" is a motto which seems to be reserved for the musical elite, the chosen few who not only boast great musicianship but with it great songcraft, great telepathy with one another, etc. And CDs which boast half great tunes, half crappy tunes have become the norm these days...Houston, we've definitely got a problem.

Thank heavens there are those chosen few who love to keep things simplified, that is to say, keeping their albums to a bare minimum of 10 songs. Some choose to do 8, 9, 11...nothing wrong with that either. Sure, in the world of prog, jazz, ambient, IDM, artists can do 7-10 tunes worth of music that runs from 40-70 minutes duration; the main objective here (as in the genres I just mentioned) is keeping things cohesive, coherent, connected directly to one another. To do more than enough, stuff beyond your reach is not just trying too hard or forcing your hand to make a grand statement. It's also creative overkill at its worst (if not just repeating the same formulaic approach over & over again).

Good enough reason to bring back the motto "All Killer No Filler." Two of my favorite groups ever, The Sea and Cake & Steely Dan, know the routine of keeping things simple, keeping things honest as well as keeping the musical flow around them running smoothly (along with living up to a pretty relevant motto). In fact, some of my favorite albums all-time were done by both of these groups & here they are:

The Sea and Cake - The Biz, Oui, One Bedroom, Everybody
Steely Dan - pretty much all of their discography but Katy Lied gets dibs!!

For those who are finally realizing the value of Thoreau's quote, "Simplfy, simplify," they got it right. Or no, should I say, they're getting back to musical basics: making albums which are not only full of outstanding songs but also are kept to the minimal proverbial of 10 tracks on the average. And for folks who feel that too much information is just wrong, that return to keeping things simple spells relief, a much-needed breath of fresh air that the arena of popular music so desperately needs.

Life long

A love this strong
was meant to be lifelong
not just for a moment
or a few years time
but for always

A love this strong
has got to be lifelong
not just for certain occasions
not just for certain situations
it's for always

a love this strong
will always be lifelong
It won't fade away
It'll only grow stronger
& stronger each day

Believe me
a love this strong
is definitely lifelong
& this is for always.

Can They Do It?

The New England Patriots may have had an undefeated regular season but if they want to move on to the AFC Championship game, they'll have to clear one looming obstacle which stands in their way: the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars moved on by beating Pittsburgh for the second (!!) time in as many weeks & could be poised to knock off the Pats if they play their cards correctly. Not just that but being ready to play period. And the Jags, when it comes to ball control, are a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to running, running, running that thing (Fred Taylor & Maurice Jones-Drew are workhorses almighty!!).

Can Jacksonville beat Tom Brady & company? It's not beyond them. I thought Pittsburgh had a chance until Steelers safety Anthony Smith's guarantee backfired in his face. However, the Jags aren't the Steelers & granted they're ready to play, granted they burn up the clock by running it down the Pats defense's throats, granted QB David Garrard makes smart decisions throwing the football (or no) they can definitely upset New England. The Giants came close to pinning a loss on the Patriots two weekends back...methinks this is going to be a bad omen for New England this weekend.

Tom Brady, Randy Moss & gang might be chasing history but the Jaguars are primed to make history if they don't watch out.

Simply amazing

I thought Ohio State would make up for lost time & with it a lost opportunity when they played for all the marbles against LSU on Monday night. Not only was a championship on the line; there was also a shot at redemption, something the Buckeyes couldn't find against Florida back in good ol' 2007.

Was I ever wrong to harbor such thoughts, was I ever wrong.

The LSU Tigers roared to a 38-24 victory & with it a chance to yell out "Who then now? Who's really #1?"

All season long, the quest for #1 was a very precarious one; both the Buckeyes & Tigers fell off the top perch at one point in time on their complicated journey to the national title. And we thought being ranked #2 was bad enough...Just staying #1 was just as harrowing if not more so.

This season has been one roller-coaster ride for the ages, one of the more interesting (as well as intriguing) to date. But now the smoke has cleared, the victory gained, a champion has emerged straight from Baton Rouge, not Columbus.

Oh, wait: isn't this the same LSU team who lost in 3 OTs to Arkansas & the happy feet of Mr. McFadden? to Kentucky earlier on when one of their defenders slipped & fell, paving the way for the winning TD? It sure is; unfortunately, those who didn't know how good LSU was all season long finally know now, as we speak.

As for the Buckeyes: I can't say enough for the great season they had. Sure, I would have liked to see them grab the championship game as much as any ardent OSU fan out there. But this latest loss takes the cake...but you know what? I'll still be rooting for those Buckeyes next season. I know...lol...I'm a bit stubborn at times but I can't hide my Ohio State pride!!

And I can't hide my feelings when it comes to summing up how this season has been in the world of college football: "Man, this was a crazy year. But a very good one at that."

Crazy but good...oh, & simply amazing!!

Current playlist #1 for 2008

Another year, another playlist, but everything's in two-fer mode for this round:

Built To Spill, "Carry The Zero," Keep It Like A Secret
Built To Spill, "Conventional Wisdom," You In Reverse
The Band, "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)," The Band
The Band, "To Kingdom Come," Music From Big Pink
Neil Young, "Tell Me Why," After The Gold Rush
Neil Young, "Cinnamon Girl," Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
The Sea and Cake, "Earth Star," Nassau
The Sea and Cake, "The Kiss," The Biz
Yo La Tengo, "Pablo and Andrea," Electropura
Yo La Tengo, "Blue Line Swinger," see above

second take

In just a couple more days or so, lots of folks will be headed back to college, their long Holiday Break all over & done with. At the same time, they will begin another semester & with that in mind a clean slate with which to kick off the new year.

One thing which hasn't changed a bit for my new year is the fact that I'm keeping my fellow Greeks not in my thoughts & prayers alone but also my love, lessons learned from them, etc. in my heart as well. Oh yes, stopping by every now & then to see how they're faring is exactly what I'm planning to do for this new year (as if I didn't do that enough last semester!!).

Keeping my love for my fellow Greeks strong is not just a resolution or a goal I'm planning to reach for 2008; my love for Greek life was set in stone well before the New Year began & that's one thing which won't change anytime soon either. Different year, true. But still, as a Greek at heart, I'm following the same philosophy which brought me this far.

What would that philosophy be? plenty of inquiring minds want to know. Well, here it is, plain & simple:
(1) Keeping in touch via email
(2) Stopping by my own house when I get the chance (I pointed that out in my last post)
(3) Coming down to Muncie when free time permits, to hang out/kick back/visit/say what's up

When it comes to Greek New Year's resolutions, I'm keeping to the tried & true like years past to a point. I know...lol...out with the old, in with the new, right? Well, I can't be afraid to stick to my old work routine without trying new things, & who knows, possibly making new connections along the way. And come Spring Semester, that's what I'll do.

Love, Roses, AWWW....DZ, much A-Phi love, much AGD love, IHSV, the list goes on forever.

first take

love for Greek life. love for Greek life as an alumni. love for my sorority counterparts as an alumni. love for my own house as an alumni.

For me, each of these loves go hand in hand with one another & ever since I made my grand exit from Ball State in late 2005, that's how I've continued to feel. As I've stated on numerous occasions, Greek life is not just something you can contain to four years or so of school. No, it's for life & to think that it's otherwise is just uncool.

I'm very fortunate that I learned to truly appreciate Greek life while I was ahead, while I was still an undergraduate. If I didn't learn to appreciate it then, how could I appreciate it now?

To be honest, it kinda bothers me that some duders are downright lukewarm if not out & out apathetic about being proud to be Greek & not only that, that these same men don't embrace the joys of Greek life with all their hearts while they're still in school. Because when they leave the confines of college, where do you think their hearts lie when it comes to their own fraternity houses? They'll still remain indifferent as ever if not more so (not stopping to visit the house, not dropping by for that occasional chapter meeting; giving back to their respective chapters also factors into the whole scheme of things). I mean, if that's how they feel now, the experiences they had at the fraternity could be seen in their eyes as a thing of the past or at worst an aberration which went with living it up during their college years.

Again, I'm thankful that my love for Greek life has not come to this crossroad, that it has not diminished but only grown stronger over the past two years. True, I need to stop by my own house for a much-needed visit; I was planning to do just that on Bid Day but my love for the wonderful ladies of AOII, Alpha Phi, AGD... was just too great (sorry guys; you should have been there too!!).

At any rate, Greek life isn't for four years alone but for life!! That fact makes me all the more proud & confident to say that I'm glad to be Greek.

Quotes of the day

"Success demands singleness of purpose." -the late great Vince Lombardi

"There is no failure except in no longer trying." -Elbert Hubbard

"Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God." -Leo Buscaglia

"Six essential qualities are the key to success: sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom, charity." -William Menninger

Walking Away A Winner

Going out with grace, with a bang, on an upbeat note.

However you want to describe Lloyd Carr's last game as head coach for the Michigan Wolverines, he ended up doing all of the above as the Wolverines upset Florida 41-35 yesterday.

Sure, Florida had Tim Tebow, one of the most versatile QBs in all of college football, & a pretty fearful one at that. But Michigan, I feel, had more firepower in their corner, whether it came in the form of Henne, Arrington, Hart, or Manningham. Not only that, but they sure didn't want to send Carr out empty-handed.

At the start of the season, the Wolverines were the talk of the town in college football, losing two straight to an awesome Oregon team & (gasp!!) Appalachian State. And Lloyd Carr was in a pickle, in a position no head coach in all of college football should ever be in, trying to make sense of why his team was off to an 0-2 start. But Michigan got back in form against Notre Dame & never really looked back since then (losing to Ohio State for the 6th time in 7 years, well, that's another story for another day & one of the factors behind Carr's departure).

If that's not enough, the Wolverines made sure their old head coach got one more win under his belt before calling it a day at Ann Arbor. And after the rough start to kick 2007 off, Carr couldn't ask for anything better than a win against a very good Gators squad.

Travel Fever & Other Assorted Stories: Entry Eleven

Another day to begin this new year. Another day of dealing with snow...bleh!! Another day of cold & an unforgiving wind chill. But time & time again thoughts of Muncie return to me, warm my heart & brighten my day once more.

Oh, how I'm missing the place already. And oh, how I'm loathing this weather in my neck of the woods.

But come this weekend, the forecasters say, things will change for the better & you can't help but feel hopeful about that. The worst anyone could do is offer travelers like myself a bunch of false hopes when it comes to a seven-day forecast which right now is turning out to be (in a word) awesome. The worst anyone could do is give me a forecast of weather that I don't want to hear about & sure want no part of. But right now, things are looking up; things are going along the lines of the forecaster. Such is life & life will soon be good again.

For the moment, I'm patiently waiting for this snow to cease once & for all. I've had to deal with it enough for the past two days & (if I can help it) don't want to deal with more, not after the last round of white stuff which fell in droves a few weeks back. And my heart races, my heart eagerly awaits a return to places I've known & loved for the longest time, people who I've had nothing but love for since who knows when & most of all I await a return to my roots, to home.

Home is where the heart is & it won't be much longer before I'm back there.