I hope you are ready to get to know Goose from Veritas Lux Mea. Combining humor, sports, politics, women, and oh yeah even music, Veritas Lux Mea is a daily stop for us at Muzzle of Bees. Goose is also quite the fantasy football expert. I’m really glad he took the time to answer my questions, and I can’t wait for him to move to Madison.

Let’s get some general background on you. Where do you live, how long, etc?

Right now, I live in the Christmas Tree Capital of the World, Indiana, PA, also the hometown of one Jimmy Stewart. Needless to say, outside of a two day long Jimmy Stewart Film Festival, it’s not a very happening place…so if a nuclear attack were to occur here in say, January, I really wouldn’t have a problem with it. Unfortunately, I’ve been here since August ‘04 working on my Masters degree, but I’m done on December 18th and moving back home to the Heartland of Wisconsin. Just in time, too: I almost bought a Terrible Towel.

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

The first tape I bought was In the Blood from this pop/R&B group Londonbeat, because they had that great song “I’ve Been Thinking About You.” Looking back, I’m pretty sure I was on drugs or something. I mean, Londonbeat? C’mon. The first two CD’s I bought were Live’s Throwing Copper in 1994 and the Melvins’ Stag in 1996.

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

Thanks to high speed internet and college dorm networks, I haven’t really “purchased” many CD’s in the past couple years, nor have I needed a girlfriend thanks to a T1 connection allowing me to get the entire Raven Riley “adult entertainment” series and a couple of those “secret” homemade videos freshman girls are always so willing to make and put on Limewire. I think the last CD’s I actually purchased were the complete Radiohead discography and a couple of the live concert discs that Pearl Jam has put out. I did buy Bear vs. Shark’s Terrorhawk on CD after I wore out my burned disc copy, because it’s such a great album. I’m also all over the Features disc, Exhibit A, and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists’ Shake the Streets.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

I simply could not live without Muse’s Absolution disc, Weezer’s Blue Album or Radiohead’s OK Computer. Otherwise, BVS’s Terrorhawk, DMB’s Live @ Luther College, The Killers’ Hot Fuss, Nirvana’s Incesticide, and the CYHSY disc are all up there.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

Andrew W.K., Mark Paffi (the lead singer of Bear vs. Shark), and Keith Richards, because they are all about partying and rocking the shit out of something. Andrew W.K. is all about having fun and being positive in some whitewashed jeans, and I’m definitely down with that. I saw Bear vs. Shark in Penn Runn a couple months ago and Mark sweated on me, so I think we have some sort of bond. And I would ask Keith Richards for the secret to immortality, because I’m pretty sure he’s figured it out, plus we share the same first name. I’m pretty sure they all like to drink as well.

I’m sure you’ve seen some great concerts. Can you tell me what the first concert you saw was and when? To follow that up, are there any particular shows that stand out in terms of being favorites?

My first real show, in other words, not country, was the Queens of the Stone Age/Foo Fighters/Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Madison, WI in 2001 I believe, and it absolutely rocked. I’ve seen Weezer twice, once with Tenacious D, and that was also great. Dave Matthews is pretty good live, and the Pearl Jam/Rolling Stones concert I just saw in September was unbelievable, but nothing beats the time I saw Radiohead in Wisconsin. Unless you count the Rick Springfield concert that I attended after polishing off a 12 pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon with about 700 MILF’s, but that is a dark, dark memory that I don’t want to go back to.

What are some bands that you haven’t gotten the chance to see live, but would really like to?

I’ve been lucky to see some of the best concerts I could imagine, but I wouldn’t mind seeing someone like The White Stripes, CYHSY or Sigur Ros (hint hint Christmas present).

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The Mountain Goats – The Sunset Tree

I like to make mix CD’s for my friends. I like to make mix CD’s and leave them in random places for someone to discover, and hopefully fall in love with the songs that I like. I like to turn people on to music that they would never seek out or buy without that push in the right direction. I put the Mountain Goats, “Dance Music” on a lot of these mixes, and most of the reactions I got from friends and strangers was about that song. I lot of people can’t get past John Darnielle’s voice, saying it’s too nasal for them. I can get past it, in fact, I don’t mind it. The stories in his songs are powerful and informative. Lyrically, I think this album may be one of the strongest out this year.

From Coke Machine Glow:

Darnielle has given us a story that is impossibly painful, subject matter that is unreasonable to expect the most self-referential artists to dissect, and he’s fucking nailed it.

What the critics say:

Coke Machine Glow – 89%
Tiny Mix Tapes – 4/5
Metacritic.com – 82/100
Pitchfork – [7.2]

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You can see the rest of my 2005 favorites (so far) by clicking here.

One of my favorite blogs right now is Aquarium Drunkard. Not only do our blog names share a common Wilco relation, but Justin and I like a lot of the same types of music as well. It’s been really neat to watch his blog get started because I can remember when he was first getting started. I’m glad he’s kept with it, because it’s been exceptionally great lately. See for yourself, and then read the interview below I did with Justin from Aquarium Drunkard.

Justin and wife with guitar-god Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top taken at the Sunset Marquis.

Let’s get some general background on you. Where do you live, how long, etc.

Well, I’m from Georgia, Atlanta specifically, but my wife and I moved to Los Angeles four years ago. She’s a screenwriter, so L.A. makes a lot of sense in that regard. The town gets a lot of flack for being plastic, etc., but it’s really great, and on so many different levels.

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

Good question, and very telling. I got pretty “serious” about music at an early age. My father was a music-nut with very eclectic tastes which I inherited. From as far back as I remember I was steeped in jazz, blues, country, classical, and rock & roll. But as far as self-discovery — from ages 13-16, the four artists that shaped the way I look at music are: The Doors, R.E.M., Pixies, and Fugazi. I just turned 30 and the new music that draws me in are primarily based on tenets found in those four bands.

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

Love the new Sun Kil Moon…Mark Kozelek is the modern master of the re-interpretation of song. Page France’s album Hello, Dear Wind is a must-have if you’re any kind of Elephant 6 fan. Athens, GA singer/songwriter Phosphorescent has an album out that I would reccomend to any Will Oldham follower. Oh, and I *just* got the Greg Ashley solo album Medicine Fuck Dream which is good and completely weirdo.

Where do you buy the majority of your records? Do you support a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

I adore the Amoeba Records on Sunset in Hollywood. It’s as big as a warehouse, has everything, and the staff knows what’s up. If you’re into obscure, hard to find shit, it’s a godsend. I’m a huge Bloodkin/Daniel Hutchens fan, and Amoeba is the only place on the West coast I have found their records. Online, I use eMusic.com.

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

Absolutely. In 1990 R.E.M. led to The Pixies that led to Fugazi which got me into independent label artists. But more recently Whiskeytown and Uncle Tupelo got me interested in ‘60s-‘70s country which led me further back to the Carter family, Hank Williams, etc. I’m also very into New Orleans funk & soul, which I got into via Galactic’s music about six years ago.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

I was afraid of this one! Wow, that’s such a tough question…how do you pick your favorite kid? The Beatles Rubber Soul, Rolling Stones Sticky Fingers, Whiskeytown Pneumonia, Steely Dan Aja, Stevie Wonder Talking Book, Black Crowes Amorica. Next week would be a completely different list.

Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

Hmm, approximately 700 cds, 200 vinyl and maybe 20 gigs of music on an external hard drive. Also have a reel-to-reel player with hundreds of hours of tape that doesn’t get played enough. It’s a bit out of control.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

Daniel Hutchens, Ryan Adams, and a three way tie b/w Dr. John/Bob Dylan/Neil Young. Sorry if that’s cheating.

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1/28 – Feist w/Jason Collett (of Broken Social Scene)
9:30 pm / $15 cover $13 Advance
High Noon Saloon

Other US dates are up at More Cowbell.

The Magic Numbers – The Magic Numbers

I first saw the Magic Numbers at the Vegoose music festival in Las Vegas. I was on my way to see Michael Franti and Spearhead, when I couldn’t help but be drawn into the Magic Numbers crowd. I really enjoyed the show, and wrote a little but about it here.

Their self-titled album is really easy to fall in love with.

Amazon.com

In an age of vigorously-marketed rag-trade clothes horses, Trinidad/New York/London collective the Magic Numbers are an anomaly; a word-of-mouth phenomenon whose affable live shows have been compared to happy clappy religious experiences and whose music–an unfashionable blend of soft country pop with Fifties and Sixties inflections–is evidently more important to them than the intercession of style gurus and hairdressers.

What the critics say:

Metacritic.com – 80/100
Pitchfork – [7.6]

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You can see the rest of my 2005 favorites (so far) by clicking here.

I’m excited to put up this interview with Eric from MarathonPacks today. He’s one of the freshest new kids in the blogging community and he does a fantastic job. I was really impressed by his Top 50 Albums of 2005 list, and he also added a nice addendumfeaturing additional lists of favorites and let-downs. Thanks to Eric for his time and doing this! Check out his interview and check out his site.

Let’s get some general background on you. Where do you live, how long, etc.

–I was born and raised in Indianapolis, did my undergrad at Indiana University, went off and made documentaries for a few years, and now I’m doing part-time grad work at IU and teaching full-time at a smaller liberal arts school in Indiana. Geographically, I’m very boring.

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

–The first musical item to come into my possession was Herbie Hancock’s Rockit, as a present from my mom for my sister’s birthday. We used to do that kind of celebratory placating, so the sibling wouldn’t feel left out on the other’s birthday. The first tape I ever bought for myself was The Best of the Monkees, which I played until it broke. When we got our first CD player, I got Introducing the Hardline with Terence Trent D’Arby and Momentary Lapse of Reason, because I loved the video. In late middle/early high school, I went through an extended rebellious hip-hop phase, when I’d buy or burn anything I could get my hands on. That resulted in my formative musical education being peppered by the great (Strictly 4 My NIGGAZ, Midnight Marauders, Sleeping With the Enemy, Bizarre Ride 2 tha Pharcyde, the Juice soundtrack), the not-so-great (anything by Hi-C, AMG, Esham, or MC Pooh) and the who? (Ron C., 4.1.5., Penthouse Players Clique). I got into “good” music during my junior/senior year in high school, but still have some of those old hip-hop tapes.

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

–I just got Tapes ‘n Tapes’ The Loon in the mail yesterday. Lots of stuff that didn’t make the year-end list, like the latest Smog, Andrew Bird, Sleater-Kinney. I’m presently thoroughly enjoying Hanne Hukkelberg’s Little Things and Mazarin’s We’re Already There as well.

Where do you buy the majority of your records? Do you support a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

–I do the majority of my shopping online, trying to buy from labels or artists directly when possible. It’s really sad for a town like Bloomington, Indiana, with such a progressive view toward art and culture, to have only two independent record stores (Tracks and TD’s CDs and LPs). When Best Buy and Borders came to town, five of the others dropped like flies. Dodge mentioned Luna Records and Indy CD and Vinyl in Indy, and they’re great. I’m a sucker for this chain, which I think might only be in the midwest, called Half-Price Books. They have a metric ton of used vinyl and CDs–I’ll hit it whenever I can. I buy a lot at shows, too, but I’m skeptical of bands I discover in a live setting. I think I like them, and then I get home and listen to the disc, and whoa–not good.

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

–A few very good friends of mine served that role. My buddy Josh turned me on to the Beatles, prog, and Wu-Tang in high school. My dear friend Jolie is a Dylan encyclopedia. My friend Hoss broadened my appreciation of soul and R&B during freshman and sophmore years in college, and another friend Jen steered me in the way of Stereolab, Blackalicious, Tortoise, Boards of Canada, and others. I’ve also been fortunate enough to take and teach several college courses on popular music (Blues, 60s rock, punk/post-punk) that filled in the blanks. The internet was helpful, too. I would search for information on a band, and it would inevitably lead to dozens of others.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

– I’ll group them by decade, if that’s OK. Naturally, there are tons left out:

60s: Forever Change, Something Else by the Kinks, Blonde on Blonde, Pet Sounds, Freak Out!, every Beatles and Stones single and album, most Motown and Stax.

70s: The Clash (US Version), Pink Flag, Shuggie Otis’ Inspiration Information, all Steely Dan, Al Green Gets Next to You, Hunky Dory, Station to Station, Country Life, In the Right Place, Marquee Moon, Armed Forces, For Your Pleasure, Singles Going Steady, Mothership Connection, Off the Wall, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, The Best of Bill Withers, Exile on Main Street, X’s Los Angeles, Talking Heads ‘77, etc.

80s: All Husker Du, REM, Talking Heads, XTC, Pixies, Prince, The Pretenders first three, U2s first three, The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall, Boys Don’t Cry, Paul’s Boutique, Pretty Hate Machine, Hex Enduction Hour, Key Lime Pie, Daydream Nation, etc.

90s: Here.

2000-04: Here.

Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

–Somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500–I haven’t counted in a while. I’ve pared down to about 3-400 albums and 2-300 tapes. Like Dodge, I’ll sell large chunks periodically. I’ve got a few mp3s, too–it’s great what one can find at the local public and university library.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

–I’d like to have been there when David Byrne and Jonathan Demme were planning Stop Making Sense, and it would have been cool to sit in on bongos on the early T. Rex albums. For number three, I’d like to go back in time and offer to drive Buddy Holly and Otis Redding to the gigs they never made.

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Death Cab For Cutie – Plans

While definitely not their best work, I have come to really appreciate this album. I don’t know what happened, but it seems almost uncool to like this band anymore. For me I think the band has matured quite a bit on this year’s release. I’ll admit that it’s strange to hear Death Cab For Cutie on my local radio stations, but I’d rather be hearing that than the new Jessica Simpson song. Success isn’t always a bad thing; I think these guys deserve the credit they get.

What the critics say:

Coke Machine Glow – 47%
Stylus Magazine – B-
Tiny Mix Tapes – 3.5/5
Metacritic.com – 63/100
Pitchfork – [6.5]

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The person in today’s interview not only runs one of my favorite blogs, More Cowbell and the great Arcade Fire fansite, Us Kids Know, but also helped me get this blog started. My wallet hates the guy, but he’s my record collections best friend. I don’t know how many good bands that Kyle has turned me onto, but it’s an incredible amount.

He’s got one of the most impressive record collections, and if you are looking for tour dates, More Cowbell has the most up to date information available on the web. I’m really glad that Kyle took the time to answer my questions. Thanks for everything!

Let’s get some general background on you. Where do you live, how long, etc.

I’m currently a Network Operations Technician for a large telecom company. I was born in Colorado Springs, CO, grew up in Eastern Montana (a musical black hole), moved to the Twin Cities 6 years ago, and currently reside in St. Louis Park, MN (about 5 minutes west of downtown Mpls).

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

First tape that i can recall playing on my Fisher Price tape player around 83-84 would have to be the Dukes of Hazzard. I initially started getting interested in actual music around 1985 (see first concert question), and the first actual tape i can recall buying was Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill. First CD i purchased in 1989 was Skid Row’s self-titled debut and Motley Crue’s Dr. Feelgood (i was a big 80’s hair metal geek for a while).

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run 30th Anniversary, Explosions In The Sky – How Strange, Innocence (re-issue), Cyne – Evolution Fight (Tour Edition), Uncle Tupelo – No Depression (re-issue)

Where do you buy the majority of your records? Do you support a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

Mostly at the Electric Fetus. A few of the guys there know me by name and hook me up w/ promos, etc. Really great store that i recommend anyone who visits the Twin Cities check out. Otherwise, i order a lot of vinyl online at Insound, and i like to buy directly from smaller bands (online and at shows) if possible. I’ve been buying a lot of older releases to fill out my collection off of yourmusic.com lately ($5.99 a cd is hard to pass up).

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

Cliche i know, but obviously The Beatles have had the biggest influence on me musically throughout my lifetime. Followed closely by Dylan, and from the last 10 years, Jeff Buckley.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

Older (again, i’m sure these are totally cliché, but whatever, they’re my faves) :

Bob Dylan ‘The Times Are A-Chan gin’, ‘Freewheeling’ Bob Dylan’, ‘Blood on the Tracks’
The Beatles ‘Abbey Road’, ‘Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’
David Bowie ‘Hunky Dory’, ‘Ziggy Stardust’
Led Zeppelin ‘Houses of the Holy’
Pink Floyd ‘Wish You Were Here’, ‘Dark Side of the Moon’
The Who ‘Who’s Next’
Neil Young ‘Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere’, ‘Harvest’, ‘On The Beach’
Aerosmith ‘Toys In The Attic’
The Clash ‘The Clash’, ‘London Calling’
Bruce Springsteen ‘Born To Run’, ‘Nebraska’
Elvis Costello ‘My Aim Is True’, ‘This Years Model’
Talking Heads ‘Remain In Light’
The Replacements ‘Tim’, ‘Pleased To Meet Me’
The Pixies ‘Doolittle’ & ‘Surfer Rosa’

More Recent:

Built To Spill ‘Keep It Like A Secret’
The Jayhawks ‘Hollywood Town Hall’
Jeff Buckley ‘Grace’
Pearl Jam ‘No Code’
Radiohead ‘The Bends’
ouster ‘Lost and Gone Forever’
Ben Harper ‘The Will To Live’
Elliott Smith ‘Either/Or’
David Gray ‘Lost Songs ‘95-98′
Whiskey town ‘Pneumonia’
American Analog Set ‘Know By Heart’
Badly Drawn Boy ‘Hour of the Bewilderbeast’
Appleseed Cast ‘Low Level Owl Vol 1 & 2′
Wilco ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’
Sun Kil Moon ‘Ghosts of the Great Highway’
Cat Power ‘You Are Free’
Arcade Fire ‘Funeral’

Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

I’ll guess around 1600+ CD’s, 60+ records, as for my mp3 collection… i’d rather not to say, other than it’s more than any one person should ever have. (i fully admit i have a problem).

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

Jeff Buckley (R.I.P.), Henry Rollins, Bob Dylan

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I’m extreemly pleased to be posting the following interview with Rachel Hurley, publisher of Rachel and the City and Scenestars. She gave some amazing answers and some of the shows she has seen make me a very jealous man. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions, we really appreciate it. Read the interview, and don’t forget to check out her sites!

Let’s get some general background on you. Where do you live, how long, etc.

Here’s my standard bio:

Rachel Hurley is a freelance music writer and production coordinator. She is the publisher of Scenestars.net and Rachelandthecity.com, and contributes to Projectdu.com, Memphis CityScene, and The Commercial Appeal. She has worked as a music supervisor and associate producer for MTV, VH1, Disney, ESPN and RCN. She grew up in Memphis and attended the University of Memphis where she studied Philosophy, which basically means she has no tangible skill set. Therefore, she moved away to work in entertainment. After two boring winters in Nashville and five cold winters in New York City, she has returned home to Memphis where all the bartenders know her name.

Likes: Plus ones, vodka tonics, guys who put out
Hates: Last call, haters, guys who don’t put out

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

The very first record I recall owning was a 45. It was the song Cruella Deville from the movie 101 Dalmations.

The first record I ever remember asking for was Kenny Rogers’ Greatest Hits. There was a commercial that came on for it every night, the kind where Kenny was sitting on a stool on a stage alone in a spotlight and the announcer would say, ‘Including hits like Lady!” and then Kenny would break into that particular song. I begged my parents for that record. The next two records I owned were Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the first Culture Club record. They were all on LP.

The first cassette tapes I ever purchased were INXS’ Kick, Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians’ Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, and REM’s Eponymous. I think I was 12 or 13.

That’s when I really started getting tinto music and by high school I was really into Jane’s Addiction and The Cure.

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

I get most of my music sent to me at this point, but I did purchase the last two Ryan Adams’ records. I have purchased records at shows from people who aren’t on labels.

Where do you buy the majority of your records? Do you support a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

I try to support local record stores like Shangri-la and Goner Records by posting links to them on my site. As I said, I get lots of promos and am lucky enough that I don’t have to purchase a lot of music. I do give LP’s as presents and always try to buy form a local record store. I also have used Emusic to buy digital albums.

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

The father of my best friend in 3rd grade was Survivor’s manager (Jimi Jamison, Eye of the Tiger) and that’s what really got me into music, that and MTV, which actually played videos when I was growing up. I’ve always like a little bit of everything. I grew up listening to Prince and Madonna, Black Flag and Minor Threat, The Cure and Jane’s Addiction.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

Off the top of my head…

Harlan T. Bobo – Too Much Love
Bjork – Homogenic
Pavement – Terror Twilight
Paula Cole – This Fire
Rachael Yamagata – Happenstance
Beulah – When Your Heartstrings Break
Ani Difranco – Dilate
Badly Drawn Boy – About a Boy OST
Cocteau Twins – Heaven or Las Vegas
Stereolab – Dots and Loops
Indigo Girls – Swamp Ophelia
Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes
Fiona Apple – When the Pawn
Aimee Mann – Lost in Space
Wilco – Yankee Foxtrot Hotel
Ryan Adams – Gold

Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

1500? I’ve worked in entertainment for almost 10 years, so I’ve gotten tons of free records over the years.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

Ryan Adams, Bjork, Tori Amos

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Atmosphere – You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having

There were some pretty good hip-hop albums that were released this year, but the Atmosphere release was the one that got the most plays on my ipod, in airports, and on my computer. I had the chance to see Atmosphere play a packed show at the 9:30 Club in Washington DC while traveling on business. Then about a month later I got to see them play an overflowing tent at the Vegoose music festival. Both shows I walked away happy that a hip-hop could act could be backed by a whole band and not sound terrible. In my experience, most of the hip-hop shows I’ve seen have been less than impressive, but that’s not the case with Atmosphere.

What draws me back to this album time and time again are the old school beats and hooks. They get in my head and stay there. The critics below (for the most part) disagree, but I can’t recommend it enough.

What the critics say:

Coke Machine Glow – 73%
Tiny Mix Tapes – 2.5/5
Metacritic.com – 74/100
Pitchfork – [5.9]

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