Beard of Bees Journal

2009-01-21T07:12:00.000-05:00

is "to be announced".

Mike Gaito Flashback!

2007-01-16T22:31:00.000-05:00

Well, two weeks into 2007 and I am already behind in my resolution to blog everyday (well almost everyday at least).

Well, I aim to get back on track with this new series: Mike Gaito Flashback! Once a week or so (or whenever I don't have any other bloggy thoughts) I will post a fantastic picture from the past!

I found this shot while cleaning my studio this weekend:

It's me on the night of my high school graduation at our "cinema-themed" Senior Gala with none other than Danny Aiello. He lived in my hometown and one of the parents talked him into coming over and hanging with the kids for a bit. They also raffled off a car if you stayed until 6:30am. I think I won a six outlet power strip. I remember it being pretty fun.

Next time at my blog: Music News or My Thoughts of Cryptozoology

My first Beard of Bees review!

2007-01-02T21:45:00.000-05:00

I just received word that Beard of Bees was reviewed in the "Short Takes" section of Minor7th.com's Jan/Feb '07 issue!
Minor7th.com's is an online magazine that reviews acoustic guitar music.

Here's what they said:

Mike Gaito "Beard of Bees," 2006
"Beard of Bees" buzzes with inspiration drawn from the far corners of folk, jazz, progressive rock and experimental pop. With the exception of drums, Gaito emerges as an eccentric one man band, plying his craft with an arsenal of electric/acoustic guitars, bass, and keyboards abetted with the sounds of loose change, hand claps, barley shakers, and whatever else happened to be lying around. The artist's tongue is oft planted firmly in cheek as evidenced in the quirky, stream of conscious diatribe "Giant Canoe" which proclaims "you let me soar like Aladdin/hit like Dan Gladden/talk like John Madden/sing like Mike Patton/play like the Mothers in '74." Odd time-signatures, swift-key changes, layered vocal harmonies, mind-blowing interplay, and a strong sense of storytelling abound through each of the fifteen epic tracks. I could envision Richard Thompson, the ghost of Frank Zappa, or Brian Wilson digging this record. © Tom Semioli

You can also check it out at the source:
Minor7th's Jan/Feb Short Takes

Sweet!!

Still waiting on about 79 other review possibilities! Very cool of Minor7th.com and Tom Semioli to be first!

"Mike is on the mend and decorating the house for Winter!"

2006-12-11T20:35:00.000-05:00

First off, thanks for all the get well wishes. I am slowly on the mend.

And since I was feeling slightly better, I decided to spend most of the weekend outside in the freezing cold, dressed in only somewhat weather appropriate clothing I might add, decorating the house with Tracy!

I am really happy with how it came out and I wanted to share it with you good folks. This is the first year that we've done "snow lanterns" and I luv 'em!

Hope all is well and everyone is enjoying December so far!

Preorders have shipped and Beard of Bees is now available!

2006-10-19T18:51:00.000-04:00

Well, the time has finally come! Beard of Bees is finally available! The kind folks that preordered will be getting their copies very soon (shipped Monday morning at 11am) and now I am ramping up the release activities - getting press and reviews, booking dates and getting the word out! Thanks so much for all your support! Well back to work on promoting this bad boy and if you haven't already...order Beard of Bees by visiting my web site!

Wow! Here is the track listing for Beard of Bees!

1. Ullow Kahng

2. Beard of Bees

3. Art Bunny

4. Pagan Educated Guess Listening Credenza

5. Hobart the Emu

6. Asparagus & Glass

7. Marco

8. Versus

9. The Fogged Frame

10. ...the sometimes terrifying realities of getting exactly what you want...

11. Meek Lanterns Chosen Nightly

12. Giant Canoe ->

13. The Oar

14. There are Mornings

15. Be Well, Turbine

A quick one...

2006-08-26T19:18:00.000-04:00

Hey all,
Well, things continue to be busy here at the Gaito Camp. I had a delightfully long week up at West Street Digital with André. We got eight of the 15 songs pretty much completely finished (including Beard of Bees, Pagan Educated Guess Listening Credenza, Hobart the Emu, Asparagus and Glass, Marco, Strumkin Versus (which I might just shorten to Versus...hmm), ...realities..., and Meek Lanterns Chosen Nightly). Tracy and I have been working on the cover art - which is becoming an ambitious project and I have been working on the bonus Sandwich disc as well. On top of that, I have been trying to do some marketing stuff - which is not my favorite thing - I know it is essential - but it seems very time consuming - I am trying to make it fun though -my friend IngaDahling! will begin helping me on the marketing piece on 9/1 and I can't wait for the help - it will be fun working with IngaDahling!

Anyway, I will probably be glued to my laptop tonight and tomorrow (email me and say hello - I can use the encouragement :-)!) and then it is back to the studio on Monday and Thursday, at least) Tracking Dan Bailey's bad ass drums on Thursday so that will be a total blast!

Well, I should go back to pushing my wares and bringing my special kind of joy to the world ;-).

Be well,
Mike

And the winner of the Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Giveaway is:

2006-08-05T00:50:00.000-04:00

Frank Briggs has won the Deluxe Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Package including a Gaitoplexicon Records T-Shirt, Mug, Messenger Bag and Mouse Pad! (retail value over $80.00). Congratulations to Frank! Thanks to all who preordered early - you have gotten this project moving full steam ahead! And if you simply must have these items they are available for purchase at Schpronk.com.If you haven't preordered yet, there's still time. Click on the preorder link at the bottom of this entry to find out more!

A note about our winner, Frank Briggs:

I first met Frank Briggs when he came to play at the University of Maine at Farmington in 1996. He was drumming for Mike Keneally and Beer for Dolphins who had come to UMF to perform for the University's Spring Fling event. The outdoor venue provided many challenges, one of which was Frank's charts blowing away in a vortex of tornado if you will. Even so, much fun was had by all and these events we documented in Mike Keneally's song, Potato and Frank and I were immortalized in the following verse:

We went to Maine 'cause we're friends with Mike Gaito

And Briggs's charts flew away in tornado

And I was up all night writing potato

Australia

Potato

- by Mike Keneally from the album Sluggo!

So, years passed...and a few weeks ago, Frank and I reconnected via the odd cultural phenomenon known as myspace. Frank is an amazing musician and drummer and an incredible guy. He has a new CD coming out in October called China Ranch. Frank has a great outlook on music and the importance of supporting independent artists. Please check out his music. You can hear it on his web site and his myspace page (be sure to check out his excellent blogs too!)...while you're there you can also get the latest scoop on China Ranch.

All that's left to say is, "Congratulations and Yay, Frank!!!"

A Quick One...

2006-07-30T18:44:00.000-04:00

Well, things have been crazy here at the Gaito Camp. Trying to wrap my head around some stuff, catch up on things fallen behind, create some new experiences for myself, all while finishing the recording of Beard of Bees. It is going really well and I am really happy with it. AND, I now have a deadline for home recording to be complete! August 21st, 2006 at 11 AM I am to convene with Andre Maquera at West Street Digital to begin data transfer, mixing and mastering.

So know I have a deadline - very good - terrifying - but very good :-)!

So there's the update more and more detail soon.

Hope you're all well!

Mike

Asparagus and Glass and the Bruddas Gaddos

2006-07-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

I finished recording Asparagus and Glass this week and I can't tell you how happy I am with how it came out. The track is made even stronger due to the fact that the
"Bruddas Gaddos" were able to make a guest appearance on the instrumental mid-section.

To elaborate: the Bruddas Gaddos are 4 Italian Brothers who are busking through the US. I met them in downtown Huntington, VT performing somewhat avant-garde acoustic pieces. Now you must understand busking in downtown Huntington (a town of just over 1000 residents and no true centralized downtown) is about as financially rewarding as biting your nails. They were hungry, friendly and great. I invited them to my home and we were able to hang out for a bit. As we chatted over fresh-baked french bread, VT Cheddar Cheese and local veggies dipped in EV Olive Oil we realized that we were actually related! Distant cousins as a matter of fact.

So, to make a long story short, the Bruddas Gaddos (Marco, Icabod, Kelvin and Efram) wanted to pay me and Tracy back for our hospitality. I taught them Asparagus and Glass and they created a wonderful mid-section for the tune! I'll expand more in future blogs and in the liner notes of my new CD (Beard of Bees), but I love these guys (if you ever see them busking about in your town ask them to join you for some wine and bread and ask Efram to do his Benito Mussolini imitation - it's HYSTERICAL!). I hope someday I'll be able to produce a whole album of their music!

Anyway, that's where I am at right now. Don't forget to preorder my CD (check out my banner below!)

Hope you're well!
Mike

Finger Tale Poem and other diversions

2006-07-06T17:23:00.000-04:00

Finger Tale Poem
With the finger things have slowed yet the mind it wanders well
Clarity from patient healing ensures pleasantly explosive ends
And with the time a smile grows as calm prevails above the storm
Containing it but brewing unimpeded and focused all the more

CD is going great, if slow and preorders are making me smile and adding huge bricks to my confidence wall everyday…and the creator of this beast, his muse is calling clearer than ever before and for once he’s in a position to truly and boldly answer.

Exciting times…tinged with sadness yes…but very exciting.

More soon…

Beard of Bees Update - Making Progress

2006-07-01T13:19:00.000-04:00

The good news: The recording is going pretty well. I have 5 songs almost completely finished. These include Ullow Kahng, Beard of Bees, Art Bunny, Hobart the Emu and the tentatively titled "Intermezzo". I have made some headway on Asparagus and Glass and other bits and pieces are slowly finding there way to completion. I am very happy with it so far and I think the range for a target release date of "between September 1 and November 1, 2006" is still very reasonable - sweet!

The bad news: A nasty little cut on the tip of my index finger (damn my home improvement/weekend warrior tendencies) might slow down everything other than vocal tracking for a little bit - luckliy I have recorded guide tracks for a bunch of stuff so I can indulge myself with doing tons of vocals! And it is healing well and as long as I don't accidently try to type with it (which I have done twice so far in this blog) it doesn't hurt too much.

So, it is less bad news and more inconvinient news.

So I'll keep this short as it is almost time to isolate myself in my makeshift vocal booth for the weekend.

More soon, Gaito

Beard of Bees Update, Mike’s Night Shift and The Sandwich CD Q&A

2006-06-26T17:47:00.000-04:00

Well, I have been extremely busy! I have been meaning to write this blog for days now and just havent gotten to it! The first week of preorders has been VERY successful and I am just so pleased folks have started to jump on board with me for this fun little project/adventure. Big thanks to everyone who has preordered!!

That being said, there are still plenty of slots available for the Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Giveawayso order before August 4, 2006 and get yourself entered!

As for Beard of Bees, I have been doing lots of recording! Lots and lots of recording! I have started to work at night (quieter, fewer distractions and somehow it just seems easier). So I am adjusting to a new sleep schedule but luckily I deal well with change - well I dont really but it hasnt been so bad, especially since I am getting tons more done in a shorter amount of time - and I am all about efficiency, baby!

Finally I have been getting a lot of questions about the Sandwich CD, so heres a little Q & A I put together. I hope it will allay your fears, delight your senses, drown your sorrows and make you happy like clams:

What is the Sandwich CD?
The "Sandwich" is a limited edition CD featuring 8 original Mike Gaito songs 'sandwiched' between 7 brand new parody commercials (plus some other madness) all recorded specifically for this collection only available to the first 300 people who preorder "The Beard of Bees Platinum Circle Preorder Gift Set".

The songs include:

The Prophet of Central Maine * Burnt Siena/64 * I've Been Waiting All Day * Aqualish *Asnered * Happy Mishy Woodsy -> Dave, the Slob of the Village * Magbulah

The commercials will include:

"Best of Monkey Madrigals" and the long-awaited, oft-spoken about and highly anticipated "Juicer that can Juice a Whole Watermelon Infomercial".

All of this will be presented in a special handcrafted package:

Is that real bread?
Yes, that is real bread. Using a newly developed Gaitotronic Process (Pat. Pending), the bread has been preserved for use in this artistic endeavor (It also helps to start with a supermarket giant" or "sandwich loaf as it is full of preservatives and stabilizers and only marginally resembles bread to begin with).

The Gaitotronic Process (Pat. Pending) does change the molecular makeup of the bread and bread associated with the limited edition sandwich packaging should NOT be eaten - trust me.

Which part is the music on?
The music will live on the Olive Loaf. I took a meeting over coffee with a local duplicator last week and he reviewed my prototype and he was very confident in being able to faithfully reproduce the Olive Loaf. This was very exciting for me as I woke up in a cold sweat a few weeks ago wondering what would happen if I couldnt get the music onto the Olive Loaf. Anyway, you would put the Olive Loaf in your CD player - not the tomato or the cheese.

What are the songs about?
Well each of the songs is about something different. Most of them are from my Folkloric Folk Collection and have to do with some real-life person or event that effected me in some quirky odd way some references are quite obvious, others are masked in obscurist riddling to protect the innocent. They are all a lot of fun and I love playing and singing them. I just never had the chance to record them before!

What are the commercials all about?
During the Schpronk.com presents "A Woodland Holiday" project, I was tasked with recording five humorous, faux commercials. I really, really liked writing and recording the commercials. They were short, I could be funny and silly, I could do voices, write odd music,etc. So I have been collecting ideas since December for brand new commercials and they will be presented for the first time on the Sandwich CD! Yay!

How do I get rid of raccoons?
Well, I dont know but dont put a little transistor radio out there tuned to talk radio. We tried that and the little bugger ran off with it - no joke! Stupid raccoon. We recently named it Mitchell, so I am a little more endeared to it now.

How do I preorder The Beard of Bees Platinum Circle Preorder Gift Set?
All you have to do is click here.

How do I contact you with questions about your music/Beard of Bees/The Sandwich CD?
Message me via myspace or send me an email at mjg@mikegaito.net

Thanks for reading and Ill have more updates next week!!!

Be well,
Mike

ALBUM REVIEW - Mike Keneally Band - Guitar Therapy Live!

2006-06-12T20:04:00.000-04:00

Is there anything better than a Mike Keneally Band record? Normally, I would say no, but I just received the new Guitar Therapy Live Special Edition and this might be the most rocking live album ever produced and the fact that the Special Edition comes with a DVD of the July 30, 2005 Baked Potato gig sends a Keneally fan like me through the roof. From the opening madness of Quimby to the heavy, charging chugg of 'Cause of Breakfast (Joe Travers on drums rocks this one especially hard) it knocks you down and then gangs up on you and doesn't let you get up until the end.

Everyone must own this CD. Every guitar player, bass player and drummer must hear this. If you play in a rock band you must hear this CD. What is most amazing, is that despite the fact the facility of all the players is so overwhelming, they cannot overpower the brilliance of the writing. Mike Keneally has always been able to write songs that hit me in the sweet spot and Beller's Seven Percent Grade is a perfect fit with MK repertoire. The fact that the songs are so strong is the reason I would see the Mike Keneally Band over any other "rock guitar group". Always tasteful, always shredding, great songs - and somehow they are able to keep the balance between each of these. Fantastic!

Gaito says: Everyone in the world should own this CD - and try to get the Special Edition and get a rockin' DVD in 5.1 surround sound. I'm not kidding. Go to www.keneally.com and buy it right now!

Favorite Tracks:
I defy you to choose!

Track Listings for Beard of Bees & the Sandwich CD plus preorders begin!

2006-06-12T20:02:00.000-04:00

Well, I am finally posting the track listing for my debut solo CD, Beard of Bees (see below) and recording has begun in earnest (although the opening track has got my number - it's not that hard - it's just a mental thing, ya know - I'll get it done though - no worries :-) I'll be updating my blog weekly with my progress (be sure to check out my updated myspace page too!)

So here are the track listings (songs in quotes are tentative titles)!

Beard of Bees

1. Ullow Kahng
2. Beard of Bees
3. Art Bunny
4. Pagan Educated Guess Listening Credenza
5. Hobart the Emu
6. Asparagus & Glass
7. "Intermezzo"
8. "Strumkin"
9. "The Aria"
10. ...the sometimes terrifying realities of getting exactly what you want...
11. Meek Lanterns Chosen Nightly (formerly The Philly Cheese Steak Suite)
12. Giant Canoe ->
13. The Oar
14. There are Mornings
15. Be Well, Turbine (excerpt)

and

The "Sandwich" CD is 8 original Mike Gaito songs 'sandwiched' between 7 brand new parody commercials (plus some other madness) all recorded specifically for this collection presented in limited edition, handcrafted packaging only available to the first 300 folks who preorder!.

The songs include:

The Prophet of Central Maine * Burnt Siena/64 * I've Been Waiting All Day * Aqualish * Asnered * Happy Mishy Woodsy -> Dave, the Slob of the Village * Magbulah

The commercials will include:
"Best of Monkey Madrigals" and the long-awaited, oft-spoken about and highly anticipated "Juicer that can Juice a Whole Watermelon Infomercial".

It should be lots of fun!

Also preordering on my new CD has begun!
Preorder The Beard of Bees Platinum Circle Gift Set" Now!

Elephant in the Closet

2006-05-30T00:44:00.000-04:00

Spaulding Gray had a Monster in the Box. I’ve got an elephant in the closet. Hopefully the gestation will be clear and I will be able to release more details soon.

I can say this, the writing on my new CD is 93% finished and I have started the recording process. I don’t want to say too much else other than I will be posting the track list within the next few weeks and I will be starting pre-orders in June. I will also say that there will be some special stuff available to those who preorder! All these details will be revealed in due time…they are just not yet ready to be told…and that’s all I can say.

So in the mean time, be patient, feel free to ask questions and send lots of peanuts.

Album Review - Can - Tago Mago

2006-05-29T20:11:00.000-04:00

Ooo…I missed last week’s review and I am short on time for this one! Okay here we go – and by next week we’ll be back to my normal verbosity…I promise!

Odd, groovy, surprisingly funky, Can’s Tago Mago is a masterpiece of weird space-out fun. If you’re anything like me you’ll be wondering how you lived with out this album for so long. If you’re not like me…well that’s too bad! Ha-ha…just kidding. If you’re just like me there’s a chance that you won’t like this CD…

Next week I’ll be back on track…promise ;-)

Favorite Tracks:

They’re all good ☺!

ALBUM REVIEW - The Tuna Helpers - I'll Have What She's Having

2006-05-16T00:19:00.000-04:00

Inspired by a web site that does CD reviews in 75 words or less I am going to attempt to be pithy in my review this week.

I believe that if Tori Amos wrote soundtracks for gothically macabre puppet shows it would sounds like The Tuna Helpers. The songs, while seemingly innocent, have a darkness to them. It makes for an interesting if not 100% satisfying listen. The recording could sound a little better and by the end of the disc the ‘gimmick’ where’s a little bit thin. But hey, it’s more original and enjoyable than 98% of the stuff that’s readily available so who am I to complain.

Gaito says: Need something different? This surely fits the bill – and it is also very fun to say, “I am currently listening to The Tuna Helpers!

Favorite Tracks:

Hold This
Oh No
Wait and See
Gather Your Children

Phrenologist

2006-05-15T23:55:00.000-04:00

Went to phrenologist again today. Dr. Gall, once again a little tipsy, grasped my skull for further mapping. Seems I have a nice big bulge at veneration, a healthy indent at imitation and a veritable gulley at the Love of Approbation. So it’s all good so far, I guess. I asked if the softening and subsequent re-hardening of my fontanel (due to those damn Aardvark/Anteater/neither of those refrigerator magnets I got at Target) might impact the results. He looked me directly in the eye and said, “I don’t know, but what I do know is this: you are a beautiful, beautiful man with a sensitive beard, a grand sense of cheddar, and an exceptionally tall torso and I would be proud to call you friend...,” and then he added under his booze laden breath, “…or perhaps Louvre.”

Now those of you who know me know that I hear like a bat that’s lost a good deal of its upper register and suffers from mild tinnitus. So I asked him, “Do you mean the museum or the vertical blinds?”

Dr. Gall then stabbed me in the leg with the claw from a Maryland Blue Crab and began to weep in the arms of a small puppet he calls Milo.

I grabbed some gauze, my files and as many tongue depressors as I could fit and left the food court post haste.

So the moral of the story is never ever go to the mall for anything.

Weird Mood

2006-05-10T00:13:00.000-04:00

Can't pinpoint my mood, odd and off not all together bad...lost perhaps?

Hrumph...

ALBUM REVIEW - Faun Fables - The Transit Rider

2006-05-10T00:11:00.000-04:00

There are moments I get really frustrated and bored with music. Jaded moments where I feel as if I have heard and seen everything. These are the moments I thank my lucky stars for groups like Faun Fables. I saw Faun Fables on Sunday night and they absolutely blew me away. They played a truncated set featuring many songs from their new song cycle “The Transit Rider” along with a few selections from previous albums. I was informed that usually there is a whole stage show but their set length (opening for Pleaseessaur and Pinback) didn’t allow for the full performance. No matter, as they put on a hell of a show. I watched in awe with mouth agape and went and bought they disc as soon as they were finished!

The CD is a masterpiece, featuring Dawn McCarthy and Nils Frykdhal (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum) and was amazingly recorded on 8 Track cassette at home. It is an achingly beautiful CD, strange and comparable to very little with songs that at one moment sound like the rebirth/reprise of Greensleeves and at another like…well, I don’t know what…it is truly stunning. I am on my 10th listen since Monday morning. You have to hear it and go see them live if you can. Amazing.

Gaito says: If you haven’t gotten the point already…go buy it right now!

Favorite Tracks:

House Carpenter
In Speed
Roadkill
Fire And Castration
Questioning

ALBUM REVIEW - The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics

2006-05-01T19:56:00.000-04:00

My good friend Shawn “Root” Keller just had an email exchange about this new Flaming Lips album “At War With the Mystics”. The upshot of the conversation was that although we really enjoyed the disc, the sounds that were present were somewhat dissimilar to the canon of tones that we had expected – the expectations built on the fanatical listening of the previous two discs (The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots). The conversation ended when someone overhearing Shawn’s music said “That sounds like Prince!” or something to that effect, I am paraphrasing here. That changed the listening right there. “Whoa!” was said and I wrote back some gibberish because my mind was blown by that comment (something about listening in purple and then an insular reference to a college classmate that liked Prince). That comment made me sit down and listen again. But this time I was not listening to a Flaming Lips CD. This time I was listening to the music, performance and sonics minus the expectations. (By the way, I am sharing this story without Shawn’s permission – hope he doesn’t mind ☺!) Also, there is a review coming too.

So right away we have an album that is pretty cool. Anything that is from a group that I know I like and confuses me this much on the first few listens is usually good. It is a layered and beautiful. Some of the tones annoy me, but others are big and rich, some of the organs synth and guitar tones are miraculous. Also it is best listened to straight through. Bouncing around gives the impression it is an album full of singles and it doesn’t really work too well that way.

I am not going to pretend I get the whole thing or understand some of the choices (like Wayne singing in a much lower register of his range for a good deal of the record for example). I am also not going to pretend I liked it on the first spin. But thanks to the person who told Shawn that it sounded like Prince I was able to step back from my expectations and find the brilliance inherent within. It’s a great disc, but give yourself time to listen…and appreciate the whole rather than the parts. You’ll be glad you did! Why’d you end with that? That’s stupid! – ed.

Gaito says: Buy it and don’t unwrap it until you have a few hours. Then sit down, when you’re ready and don’t analyze. It’s worth the wait.

Favorite Tracks:

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song

The Sound Of Failure / It’s Dark … Is It Always This Dark??

The Wizard Turns On … The Giant Silver Flashlight And Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins

Haven’t Got A Clue

Goin’ On

Let’s sing the happy chimp song!

2006-05-01T19:55:00.000-04:00

Let’s sing the happy chimp song!

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

It’s over now ‘m sad.

ALBUM REVIEW - Messer Chups - Crazy Price

2006-04-23T16:18:00.000-04:00

Messer Chups started in Germany, but have their roots in Russia. They eventually moved back to St. Petersburg in the late 90’s. I just recently picked up the Ipecac recording version of their CD Crazy Price.

The CD is an odd amalgam of surf, rockabilly (or psychobilly) and 50’s horror and sci-fi samples. No lyrics other than the movie samples that drive the themes of each piece. If the Stray Cats were ever possessed by the devil, they would probably sounds like this…oh and they would have to hire a cheese organ and Theremin player in addition to being possessed by the devil.

The visual aspect of Messer Chups is a huge part of their appeal. Their website is very fun and campy with some great animations and graphics all keeping with the basic damsel in distress, Lugosi/Karloff, Dick Dale vibe. Unfortunately, with out the visuals the music wears thin after a listen or two and even though the disc comes with 5 mpeg videos (playable on your Mac or PC) I can’t say I’ll be popping this disc on consistently. Perhaps as a soundtrack to a Halloween Party or if my auteur spirit ever takes hold and I finally make that independent film, but in the car or when I am looking to sit down and get blown away…not ever.

Now if they release a huge crazy DVD…now that I might get into.

Gaito says: Unless you need background music for your next alien autopsy or zombie surf party, I would look else where for musical satisfaction.

Favorite Tracks:

Fantomasofobia

Monkey Safari

And the Days Run Away Like...

2006-04-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #1
I was reading the bottle to my multi-vitamins and I realized that they don’t have any calcium. So I went to the fridge to look at the milk. It seems that I will have to drink 3 and 1/3 8 oz, glasses to be sure to get my daily value. I could defray that though with some plain yogurt and cheese.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #2
Getting the septic tank pumped tomorrow. I had to move the scrap woodpile and the empty mum pots before I cleaned the dirt away. They charge $50(!) if they have to do any digging, so I did it myself.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #3
I wish they would sell our low-sudsing detergent in liquid form. The powder gets all clumpy and chalky in the spring and summer months, even though we run a dehumidifier.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #4
I can’t taste the difference between Quaker Oats and the store brand. That being said, Planters Cashews are much, much better than any store brand, but at $2 or more extra per can, I find myself asking “Is it worth it?”

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #5
I’ve just about had it with bananas. Buy them green and they never ripen, too yellow and they get all mushy as you peel them.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #6
I can’t seem to get a straight answer re: freezing store bought previously frozen fish. Seems to me if it’s FAS you should be able to freeze it again, but not everybody thinks so.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #7
I hate peeling those bumpy potatoes. I think Rob Thomas and Santana should come out with their own ‘branded’ potatoes. I bet those would be easier to peel.

ALBUM REVIEW - Mugison - Is this Monkey Music?

2006-04-16T13:32:00.001-04:00

According to various sources on the “internet”, Mugison is the third biggest superstar in Iceland, behind Bjork and Sigur Ros. I really wish I lived in Iceland. It must be awesome if Mugison and his CD Mugimama! Is this Monkey Music? is not only well received but results in superstar status. American radio would probably refuse delivery on this, let alone play it.

Mugimama! Is this Monkey Music? is a collection of odd love songs, bawdy light rockers and downright weird Beck-inflected pastiches that I absolutely love. The recordings are a little rough around the edges, the arrangements are untraditional to say the least and some of the lyrics are either stream of consciousness or the result of English not being Mugison’s first language. No matter, the CD oozes creativity and inspiration.

The performances have a manic, anxious quality adding to the overall unstable feel of the recording. The CD opens with the heart-wrenching I Want You, probably the most produced track on the CD. The open lyric is VERY reminiscent of The Beatles’ I Want You (She’s So Heavy) – so much so that it is jarring when you don’t hear the “want you so bad” after the opening line. From the koto-esque guitar line to surprisingly upbeat “Baby, Let’s Go Dancing” chorus it’s a great track.

Other CD highlights include the quiet and beautiful 2 Birds (a duet with his wife Raina), Sad as a Truck (an existential construct that features the oddest and a somewhat disturbing arena rock chorus I have heard in a while (to quote: Come on everybody raise your right hand and slap your face, come on, uhn - ah, ah, ah, ah…ah, ah, ah, ah…[crazy cackling] ) and the single that took Iceland by storm, Murr Murr.

I don’t know if this disc is for everybody. It’s such an oddly constructed collection of music, that some might find it hard to follow. I think it is a brilliant display of creativity that should be heard and admired for it’s pure (almost insane) display of creativity and emotion.

Gaito says: If you like, this I bet we’ll get along.

Favorite Tracks:

I Want You

2 Birds

Sad as a Truck

Murr Murr

Hold on 2 Happiness

Eggs

2006-04-16T13:32:00.000-04:00

I hope that eggs really are good for you because I have eaten a lot of them today and I will probably have a few more before the day is done.

With ham.

And kielbasa.

And maybe some white borscht (a secret family recipe).

Hope everyone is good and happy today.

ALBUM REVIEW - The Nels Cline Singers - The Giant Pin

2006-04-10T19:35:00.000-04:00

To be honest, up until a few months ago I had never heard of Nels Cline. Now that I have heard him and I wonder how it is possible I have never heard or listened to him before. His guitar playing is technically amazing, his style has him straddling multiple worlds. If forced to describe what Nels Cline does or sounds like I would have to say he is the missing link between Bill Frisell and Thurston Moore. A one moment gentle, contemplative, at another shredding over insane changes and still at another conjuring the most impressive and musical noise I have ever heard.

The Giant Pin features Nes Cline on guitar, Devin Hoff on Contrabass & Scott Amendola on drums, percussion and more. Jon Brion also guests a few tracks on keys and Greg Saunier adds (very subtle) vocals on He Still Carries a Torch for Her. The recording is crystal clear and huge. The songs are at one moment hypnotic and driving and at another quiet and contemplative, all the while presenting interesting melodies and beautifully odd rhythms. This is definitely not easy listening or background music, it demands and deserves full attention.

All the tracks are great but Square King is the high point. Nestled near the end of the disc it is a bombastic and frightening track. The chorus section with it's "Wipeout"-style drums, ostinati bass and ascending guitar lines is amazing. The track also features an incredible guitar solo that you really just need to hear. It's the first track I heard off the disc and it was the one that really sold me - I heard it and within about 10 minutes, my CD order was processed.

This is such a wonderfully beautiful CD, you would be remiss not to have it in your collection. from beginning to end it provides surprise and awe. And above all I find it strange and beautiful, groundbreaking with no air of pretension.

Gaito says: If you are looking for something new and different, look no further. This album will get you where you need to be. Buy it now!

Favorite Tracks:
Blues, Too
The Ballad of Devin Hoff
Bright Moon
Square King

And so it begins...

2006-04-10T19:34:00.000-04:00

Today is my first day of my year long lifestyle experiment and so far it is going really well. Thanks to all who sent notes of support! They are much appreciated and welcomed!

I am so excited for the next 12 months I can't even tell you! I am brimming with thoughts and ideas...almost too many.

As they develop, I will fill you in - well not all all of them some are very top secret - but most of them.

ALBUM REVIEW - 2 Foot Yard

2006-04-01T19:42:00.000-05:00

A few week’s ago I wrote a review for Leo Kottke’s One Guitar, No Vocal and it was a short review, explained by the fact that there was really nothing to say about the recording. Well, the recording was amazing, but I was actually feeling lazy which was why the review was so short.

Now I am faced with reviewing 2 Foot Yard, featuring Carla Kihlstedt, Marika Hughes and Shahzad Ismaily, and I really am almost speechless. The recording was amazing to begin with and then I saw them live last weekend at the FlynnSpace in Burlington, VT and they were so incredibly amazing I can’t even tell you. I went with 7 people, all very smart knowledable and cool and all with very different tastes and all capable of very strong and unwavering opinions and we all unequivocally LOVED it!

This CD is a must have in ANYONE’S collection. You must own it and you must listen. There will be moments of oddity but you will love it.

Now I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t have one critique and that would be that Carla’s vocals are way over produced and perfect and could be much freer and open allowing for the raw energy that pours out of her throat live to shine through.

I am going to listen to it again.

Gaito says: Buy this CD now! Go find a concert where these folks are playing and see it NOW! Amazing!

Favorite Tracks:

Empty Cupboard

Rooting for the Shy Librarian

Flash Flood

50 Miles

Gravity

Trampolina

Patchen

Music this Week!

2006-04-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

Gregory Douglass – 135 Pearl, Burlington, VT
A+ - Amazing show, great songs, Gregory’s voice is just immaculate. Immaculate and fiery. Featured Joe Riffanucci on Guitar!

2 Foot Yard – FlynnSpace, Burlington, VT
A+++++ - amazing, life changing show, in the Top 5 concerts ever – and I mean in my entire life. Fantastic!

8084 – Second Floor, Burlington, VT
A for the show – these guys rocked hard!

F- for the venue – black light HELL – totally not my scene – short-skirted waitresses pushing jaeger and jello shots (red jello only – bummer) very, very weird

Buckethead – Higher Ground, South Burlington, VT
A for the first three songs – the spectacle was worth it, amazing, I can’t believe how fast his fingers move – I love that he wears a bucket on his head

C+ for the rest of the show – I bet the Romans got tired of watching lions eat Christians too.

What an excellent week. I must also mention that I went to all of these show with awesome people (especially my loving wife, Tracy!) and we had lots of fun.

I also knew some of the performers (Gregory Douglass and Andre Maquera, guitarist for 8084) and they are some of the most genuine wonderful people you ever want to meet. Love to all of them for making my b-day week extra special.

ALBUM REVIEW - Paris Combo - living-room

2006-03-24T15:43:00.000-05:00

I received Paris Combo’s living-room as a gift from my good friend Aaron. It is totally cool French lounge music, with some surprisingly ripping guitar. It is definitely mot a style that I usually listen to, but the musicianship is extremely high and the songs are infectious. Belle Du Berry’s voice is amazing, featuring both the strength and sensuality to pull off both the upbeat living-room and the pseudo-torch song Sous la lune.

In terms of lyrics, they are in French and, ugly American that I am, the only French I know relates to rich sauces and snails. There are English translations, but I have to say I like the ambiguity of not knowing what is being said, so I haven’t read them.

This is great cd and the fact that the guitar player is named Potzi cracks me up and I find myself tapping my foot and smiling every time I listen. How can you go wrong?

Gaito says: Looking for some high-end lounge music…this is a must.

Favorite Tracks:

Living-room

Ubiquite

L’avenir incertain du Titanic

Mobil’homme

Curse you Lentils!

2006-03-24T15:40:00.000-05:00

If you ever decide to eat a whole box of Lentil Pilaf, slathered in tabasco sauce while watching TV in bed, take it from me, it is not a good idea.

Just trust me.

Globbing vs. Blogging

2006-03-17T17:38:00.000-05:00

I have started my own free speech phenomenon called globbing. I sneak up on some unsuspecting person and dump a big pile of goo on them. As they stand there shocked, I unleash a witty and pertinent diatribe, the likes of which they have never heard. Perhaps it will be about piracy and the music industry or the conditions at Guantanamo Bay….what ever it is, I can assure you it will be filled with half developed ideas, a loose grasp of the facts and drenched in self importance. Afterwards, I’ll invite my victim to have toast and eggs and homes and then it’s home for a nap, lightly salted mixed nuts and the complete first season of Strangers with Candy.

I am telling you globbing is awesome!

Yeah.

How could this be true?!!

2006-03-17T17:34:00.000-05:00

Bynes Shines in "She's the Man"

http://www.thedeadbolt.com/news/467798/sheman.php

How could this be? It sounds so stupid and crappy. How could this movie not be the bane of existence as we know it?! How can it have anything shining about it? I just don’t understand.

ALBUM REVIEW - Zero 7 - simple things

2006-03-17T17:33:00.000-05:00

There is no doubt that simple things by the British duo Zero 7 is well produced. Crystal clear sounds, nice beats and a nice big smooth low end. Unfortunately, good production alone cannot make me like this disc. Now let me back up a bit. I don’t hate the cd, if someone popped it on, I wouldn’t leave the room (and believe me there are cd’s that, if played, would result in just that…strong convictions or just a big, crazy jerk…you decide). Anyway, there is just something about this cd that feels so very average…it totally and completely fades to the background no matter when I listen. Now I guess some people like that, but I believe that while music does not always have to be in the forefront in every situation it should always add something or contribute. I have never felt that with simple things. It has always dissipated into the ether...I am listening to it again as I write this and I am finding the rhythm of my clicking keyboard more engaging…wow, I actually set out to write a nicer review than this. Oh well.

In terms of highlights, the disc opens well enough with i have seen which has an excellent verse, but the song falls apart from me at the chorus and the groove goes from funk to cheese. in the waiting line, the “single” is cool as it reminds me of the scene from Garden State where the track was used to perfection – would I like the tune so much without those images to accompany it? I am guessing no. At this point I will gladly accept the rage of all the true Zero 7 fans who now know I bought this cd because of the single and that I am not a true fan – and to you I say “you’ve done it to me hundreds of times…forcing bands I like to play the crappy single when they get to play on TV or having to play it at every gig “wasting” a precious set list slot. Now we’re even you heathens!

Maybe what people describe as “chill” doesn’t wholly suit me and maybe I am missing the point, but this cd comes off as a slickly produced snoozefest which, minus a few moments, I find impossible not to ignore. Beauty and perfection don’t inevitably lead to good music.

Gaito says: I wish I had purchased something else. Don’t make the same mistake I did!

Favorite Tracks:

i have seen (verse only)

in the waiting line (call me a poseur….now!)

My friend Seth “Toby” Newrith, PhD

2006-03-11T16:11:00.000-05:00

He can really drive me nuts sometimes, but Seth aka “Toby” is a constant source of inspiration for me. Not as much as my creative spirit guide Hobart the Emu, but still an okay guy. He can be a little irritating and my temper with him is often short, but I love him like a brother or at least like a cashier who gives me nice crisp bills instead of the soft, germ-laden ones.

Who is my gloopy?

2006-03-11T16:10:00.000-05:00

Have you seen him, my gloopy?
Paradoxical fur strewn all over the field where he once existed.
‘Why not bathe in his pool?” I asked myself.

Would the soap clog the filter?
Would the pool boy know of my transgression?
If the robot scum cleaner comes to close can I be electrocuted?
Where does he keep the buns?
Might the propane really not be empty as the ring that my knock produces indicates?
For tacos, is the shell necessary or will a bowl suffice?
What is better 10 radishes or 1 really big one?
Is it still called a cabana if you live there?

How can I know the answer to these?
Without knowing of my gloopy?

Who is Mike Loopy?

2006-03-11T16:09:00.000-05:00

No one real.

ALBUM REVIEW - Ween

2006-03-11T16:05:00.000-05:00

quebec by Ween is a very strange cd. I have to be honest, it is not entirely clear to me what they we trying to attempt. My best guess is that it is an attempt to synthesize a number of different genres, styles or clichés. It’s Gonna Be a Long Night kind of sounds like Motorhead, Transdermal Celebration like early Pink Floyd or The Flaming Lips, Among His Tribe reminds me of a number of mellow firelight acoustic numbers by [fill in the blank], The Argus sounds like a progressive rock epic, So Many People in the Neighborhood sounds like a novelty Ween song, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…by the way, I know one etcetera suffices and three could raise the ire of some of you wanna-be grammarians, but keep it to yourself…for your own good.

So we have a cd that is synthesizes these styles. How does it fair? It is a very enjoyable listen that includes some major high points. These include the homage to the joys of medication in Zoloft, the hook-laden Transderaml Celebration and The Argus, which is the first track I heard off the cd and the one that inspired me to buy it. Zoloft has a fun, sing song melody, which is tough to shake out once it’s stuck. Transdermal Celebration sounds like an AOR classic has a great guitar line and is a very well written song. The Argus is really beautiful and has a great guitar figure that know one else seems to like as much as me (I like where is sits in the 6/8 – Gavotte rhythm that the song has). It also features some great vocal lines and is dripping in baroque themes.

So, I think I like it. Well, there are moments that I really like and others that I am kind of indifferent to. There is no denying the talented weirdness of Ween, but would I put this disc on a pedestal for all to view as the future of music? No. It’s pretty cool and weird, but not the weirdest or the most original either. I’m glad Ween exists and I am glad I bought this, but I will not wave my freak flag high about it.

Gaito says: I’d rather you bought this than what ever you heard on the radio this week, but email me for some other recommendations too!

Favorite Tracks:

The Argus

Transdermal Celebration

Zoloft

Hey There Fancypants

Big news (I know I left you hanging last week!)

2006-03-05T16:32:00.000-05:00

I am leaving my current day job at the end of March. Taking a year to do things that I love: teaching guitar lessons, writing and recording, helping out with my wife’s freelance design business (Joia Design), creating joyful things that make me smile, working on collaborative musical projects that have been stalled way too long, finding opportunities that are fun and interesting and allow me to learn new things and finally recording and releasing the solo album that I have been talking about for what seems like forever.

I hope to come out the other end of this adventure with a new sense of peace and perspective, some goals accomplished and some new goals defined.

It’s scary and risky, but I came to the realization that it is never going to get any easier, there is never a perfect moment to leap, and if I didn’t leap now I might never be in the position to leap (at least like this) again.

I have no idea what is going to happen, but I am going to attack this opportunity I have created for myself and milk it for all it is worth. Should be lots of fun!

Gaito

Ps This is little more serious than most of my blogs I know - so for those of you who read to get a weird Gaito fix:

If I said “Munchkin” to you, what would you think of first? A donut or a little person?

If you said donut you are in the 48th percentile.

If you said little person you are in the other percentile.

If you said Elizabeth Taylor you need more fiber in your diet.

ALBUM REVIEW - Aimee Mann - Lost in Space

2006-03-05T16:30:00.000-05:00

As I review Aimee Mann’s Lost in Space I am resisting the urge to go on extensively about how she was in ‘Til Tuesday and had an 80’s hit with “Voices Carry”. I am also going to refrain from gratuitous Michael Penn references except to say that I used to really love his song “No Myth” and his cameo in Boogie Nights is a treat.

I am a little late on this review. It’s kind of an old CD, but hey it’s new to me (I hear that her newest CD is very good – The Forgotten Arm, but I haven’t scraped together the coin to buy that one yet).

The album portrays stories of people who are isolated and alone even when others may surround them. In my opinion this is dangerous territory for an artist. This risk of sounding pretentious, mundane or just depressing is high. I think that the songs avoid many of the pitfalls and produce some excellent raw emotion. Don’t get me wrong though, it’s depressing. Well, maybe more melancholy than depressing and I’ll tell you I am all about the melancholy. I think Melancholia should be a section in the record store, between the power punk and Americana.

So now that we’ve established that I like melancholia, here’s what makes Aimee’s particular flavor of melancholy so appealing:

1) Her Voice – I have read a lot of negative stuff online about Aimee’s voice, as well as some very positive stuff. I think her voice is great and her delivery (I am not sure if you would describe it as sleepy or pleasantly apathetic or what) is perfect for the music she writes.

2) The Production – After listening to this recording a number of times over the last few weeks, I can tell you that it is great sounding CD. There is a warmth to it and I am not sure whether it is due to analog recording, vintage gear, or just skill and the desired vibe. I just really like how the CD sounds and the fact that it doesn’t sound slick and sharp and digital is a very good thing in my opinion. The musical moments sound real and that gives the songs more weight.

3) The Package – I love a good CD package. I always like feeling like I purchased something that was someone’s vision at that each piece of it was crafted with a purpose. Lost in Space feels like that. There are some great drawings and the dark blues and greens are warm and comfortable and I like touching it.

Having only heard bits and pieces of Aimee Mann’s music before, I can tell you that this CD has made me a fan. There are some really amazing songs and some fantastic arrangements here.
Gaito says: This one is very close to essential.

Favorite Tracks:

This is How it Goes

The Moth

Pavlov’s Bell

Invisible Ink

Things are happening

2006-02-26T14:16:00.000-05:00

Things are happening. Falling into line. Once the tracks are all laid, I'll fill you in more, but I can tell you this much: A huge journey has begun, large hurdles have been hurdled and risks have been calculated and I am brimming with excitement and energy, more than ever before. It has begun...

ALBUM REVIEW - Leo Kottke - One Guitar, No Vocals

2006-02-26T14:10:00.000-05:00

What can I say about this CD. Leo Kottke is stunning, amazing purely magical. Some of the most beautiful and intricate guitar work you'll ever hear. Perfect. Nothing more needs to be said.

Favorite Tracks:

Snorkel

Too Fast

Accordian Bells

Peckerwood

ALBUM REVIEW - Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself

2006-02-19T16:09:00.000-05:00

If you told me 4 years ago that I would be listening to and enjoying electronic pop music, I probably would have told you, “Yeah, maybe.” Although, I wouldn’t have meant it…I would have been thinking, “This dude’s crazy!” But I wouldn’t have said anything because stuff had been so weird between us and I just couldn’t take any more drama.

Imogen Heap’s Speak for Yourself is what pop music should be. Interesting, catchy and original. Great songs and beats and insidiously simple hooks. You might be familiar with Imogen Heap as half of Frou Frou who’s fine anthem Let Go is featured in Garden State (on a side note: I do listen to music that was not featured in Zach Braff’s Garden State – it’s just that movie really struck a chord with me and the music sticks with me…).

Imogen has gone solo and on the whole the CD is great.

That being said, I think the music requires a certain taste and mood. For introspection, reading, a chat with a good friend or alone in the dark with a great bottle of wine, the CD is perfect. However, I’d be hesitant to pop it in on a road trip or start an evening of partying with it. I am sure people would think the exact opposite, but for some reason (perhaps the clean production and smoothness of its digital creation) I can’t imagine getting really psyched or going crazy to this music. But who wants to get crazy all the time...certainly not me and for all those times…this CD is a great accompaniment. The only track that I tend to skip is I Am In Love With You – the opening bass synth line just sounds too “dance club remix retread” and it just bugs me.

This is a great collection of electronic pop and I think that it is worth mentioning that Imogen Heap wrote AND produced all the tracks a true rarity in this genre ad I think this amount of creative control makes for an excellent recording. And check out her myspace page…

Gaito says: “Give a shot…it’ll make you a cool kid!”

Favorite Tracks:
Headlock

Clear the Area

The Walk

The Moment I Said It

My new hat…

2006-02-19T16:08:00.001-05:00

U have a giant tortilla
I have a GIANT tortilla
Mine makes a great hat
And yours would make an excellent quesadilla
And in a pinch, a pretty good hat

Ole!

MJ Gaito, Esq. vs. Corporations!

2006-02-19T16:08:00.000-05:00

I was screwed over by a number a giant corporations this weekend. I am not sure that I have ever felt smaller. Friday night just before midnight, typing dozens of emails to the faceless drones at Netflix complaining about the fact that the DVD I had waited months for just stopped working at Chapter 13, less than half way through the film. So frustrating. And, embarrassingly, the movie was 40-Year-Old Virgin…why couldn’t it have been Munich or some other hugely “important” film. What a loser!

So to recap…Netflix sucks!

I did get to have the opportunity to finish watching 40-Year-Old Virgin…and it is totally funny…I highly recommend it. Very low brow, but laugh out loud funny, with some very quotable lines and a few truly inspired moments.

Also SAVED! It's a great movie. Wedding Crashers is a terrible movie…if anyone tells you otherwise punch him or her in the gut for me.

Other corporations that screwed me this weekend Apple (although they’ve made amends and I am not mad at them anymore), MacConnection (retards!), the Container Store (crooks!), Vermont State Lottery and MUSL, and 99% of the companies who make cereal.

Ooo…I feel better!

Peace out!

Hungry!

2006-02-19T16:07:00.001-05:00

I think an Ewok would be good eatin’. If you could catch one that is…they have short legs, but are quick little buggers.

ALBUM REVIEW - Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins

2006-02-11T18:14:00.000-05:00

Ah, The Shins. They snuck into my life through the backdoor via my obsession with good TV and movies. Yet, another group who I found through the Garden State soundtrack AND the Gilmore Girls AND an especially cool profile on Vermont Public Radio, as soon as you hear them you say, “these guys are the real deal”.
In an age of music where songwriting and wordsmithing as been relegated to the “bottom of the bin” priority (along with taste, editing and creativity), The Shins are a breath of fresh air. Great songs and melodies, lots of high-energy performances (that haven’t had the life sucked out of them by endless digital editing, processing and pitch correction), and a true feeling that there’s not much else that these guys would want to do.
The CD begins with acceptable hand clapping (see my review of Illinoise) an acoustic guitar and vocal as “Kissing the Lipless” begins. Some great subtle production technique adds to the track (the vocal gets doubled half way through the first and thickens it just enough, totally subtle but it makes me smile every time – I am uber-geek!) as does the fact the vocal melody is just in reach of singer James Mercer’s range (the second time around he feels like he barely makes it and it just brings an urgency to the tune that really make it feel real)!
St. Simon shines, coming as the centerpiece of the album, and it shows their high level of melodic ability. It is a truly beautiful piece of music that I can’t even describe. Simple in is structure the melodies dance together has harmonies are added. Best track on the CD, hands down, maybe the best The Shins track ever.
The one misstep for me is Gone for Good which sounds like a ‘deleted with good reason” WILCO track…but one misstep on a album of this level is forgivable, especially since Gone for Good is quickly followed by the hauntingly beautiful “ Those to Come”.
Music, great! Lyrics, poetic! CD, Booyah!!
Gaito says: “Amazing Alt-Pop. Buy it now!”

Favorite Tracks:
Kissing the Lipless

St. Simon

Those to Come

Pink Bullets

Stupid snow…

2006-02-11T18:10:00.000-05:00

Stupid snow…stupid giant snowstorm ruined my plans. Not in the mood to be your clown or funny so their. Stay home and drinky drinky…just not the same. Big storm keep us away from MA…super bummer says I.

This probably doesn’t count as my weekly blog entry…I may try to write something else again layer.

I love to watch the snow, but when it ruins my plans it makes me sad in a "they shot ole yeller way".

ALBUM REVIEW - The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin 5.1

2006-02-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

So The Soft Bulletin is not really new you say. Yes, you're right. Released in 1999, The Soft Bulletin marked a transition in the career of The Flaming Lips. Where once the appeal of the Lips came from their overall weirdness, now they seemed to be crafting fine, meaningful songs. I wish I could say that I jumped right on the band wagon, but I saw them play live in 1997 and I thought it was just terrible, disorganized "not in a good way" and everybody just seemed confused (that whole evening was weird, as it was some Warner Bros. "let's show off our new bizarre artists thing". The Boredoms played (which was actually very fun) and Green Day played (it was just before Dookie came, or it had just come out or something) and Billie Joe Armstrong took his penis out and it just put a damper on the whole evening, yet I digress). So, other than a nostalgic listen to "She Don't Use Jelly" the Lips really weren't on my radar. Then, of course, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots came out in 5.1 surround, it total floored me and I started buying and listening to the back catalog, including The Soft Bulletin and it was amazing.

Now The Soft Bulletin just came out in 5.1 surround. For those of you that don't know what that is...well you should get out more. Just kidding, 5.1 for music is like home theater (5 speakers: left front, center, right front, left rear, right rear and the subwoofer, the .1) except with music mixed in 5.1, notes and voices and sounds surround you instead of explosions, honks, birds and yelling (my favorite movie is Revenge of the March of the Sith Penguins). So now that I gave you a completely inadequate description of 5.1 audio and made some jokes that only I will laugh at, back to the review. The Soft Bulletin in 5.1 is truly brilliant. Not many bands have the ability to convincingly release music in this format. The best part is that they really remix everything, making notable changes. They treat the 5.1 mix as a piece of art on its own, and it makes it very interesting to listen too. The songs are the same but everything is in a different place. Also, with the small amount of 5.1 surround music discs I have heard there seems to be this penchant for subtly; small amounts of movement around the surround field, very little movement of parts. The Flaming Lips mixes are totally freaky! Lots of movement, drum parts panning from front left to rear right, giant kettle drums in the center while the vocal is sitting in the rear left just awesome stuff where you can close your eyes and just feel the music ooze around you. The Soft Bulletin is a perfect example of what 5.1 can do for a recording. Like Yoshimi before it, the additional mixing forces you to hear parts you may not have heard before and sometimes bury parts that once seemed integral.

In terms of the music, itself they are just great songs. Tons of lavish production, horns and percussion and lush vocals. Highlights include Race for the Prize and The Spiderbite Song the later being one of my favorite Lips songs. An interesting note, the running order of the 5.1 version is much closer to the UK version and includes both Slow Motion (as far as I can tell only on the UK version previously) and The Spiderbite Song (which looks like was never released on the UK version), so if your used to listening to the US version it might feel a little strange at first (I know it threw my wife and I for a loop the first time we listened, but we're "snobby geeks and proud" in every sense of the word so you may not be as shocked and appalled as we were at first...and we are getting over it). There are also some cool extras including two videos, 3 outtakes and 4 cuts from radio sessions. All of this makes it feel really good to spend the $20 even they we already owned a stereo version of The Soft Bulletin already. Also, it is a two-disc set and the other disc has the stereo mix. I am so surround happy that I kind of forgot it came with that too.

Overall, it is a great package with lots of awesome stuff (the outtakes are pretty amazing!) and I would highly recommend purchasing this. And if you don't have a 5.1 set-up, give me a ring and you can come over and you can bring pizza and some beer and we'll make a spinach salad and brew some fresh coffee so you'll be able to drive home because I don't really want you to stay over...I need my quiet time too. Gaito says: Buy it now! It's totally essential on many levels.

Favorite Tracks:

Race for the Prize

The Gash

Sleeping on the Roof

The Spiderbite Song

Waiting for Superman

Why must I disagree with me?

2006-02-04T15:45:00.000-05:00

Who is the prose maker and where are the keys to the wandering footlocker that keeps the shoes that will carry me on toward my destiny?

So here's the thing, that just fell out of my head and there's a part of me that thinks, "Wow, that's great and kinda deep and kinda cool" and another part of me that thinks "Ugh, how horribly pretentious, why don't you go hang out with James Joyce and his baby tucows".

And then there's another part of me that wishes that mayonnaise and bacon were good for you.

ALBUM REVIEW - Iron and Wine/Calexico - In the Reins

2006-01-28T17:35:00.000-05:00

I first heard Iron & Wine through their cover of The Postal Service’s ‘Such Great Heights’, which appeared on an EP of theirs and subsequently the Garden State soundtrack. I quickly became enamored with their sound (or his sound as the mastermind behind Iron and Wine, Sam Beam, seems to carry the Iron and Wine vibe in his soul) and bought one of their full length CD and a few EP’s. Then I saw that they had a new EP out, In the Reins, a joint effort with the band Calexico. I had never heard of Calexico but this is what there web site says about them:

“Calexico is a band from Tucson, AZ that shares a sun-bleached border with many performers and musical styles. Started in 1996 by the duo of Joey Burns and John Convertino, Calexico has grown and developed a sound all its own. By incorporating elements of jazz, folk, country, mariachi, and even electronics, Calexico has become a band that defies categories.”

To be truthful, overall this effort suffers from a sum of parts issue. Both groups have a unique style and strong abilities. The album truly sounds more like Iron and Wine supported by backing band, Calexico. If you check out any of Calexico’s music, it is an upbeat meld with tons of excitement and I don’t really hear any of that on this record. It all sounds very Iron and Wine-esque and minus a few very inspired moments (I bet you’ll know them when you hear them) Calexico adds little more than very talented support.

Now that being said, Sam Beam’s writing is in pretty fine form on this recording. All the tracks are decent and 5 of the 7 are stirring. Moody and quiet, they seem very organic in their matter of fact delivery, as if these words and sounds had always existed. The vocal delivery is whispered and beautiful and the ever-present acoustic guitar, with the gentle strums and fingerpicked arpeggios, is very comforting.

Even if it doesn’t have a ton of surprises this is a very good Iron and Wine album (and with Calexico’s contribution seeming to be absent for most of the CD, maybe they should have gotten a “…with special guest…’ label) and perfect for a nice bit of contemplative background music for rainy afternoons when you’re feeling sad or when you just need something quiet in your life.
Gaito Says: ‘Need more Iron & Wine…go ahead drop the dough; New to Iron and Wine…buy something else first (Our Endless Numbered Days, perhaps?)

Favorite Tracks:

He Lays in the Reins

Red Dust

Burn that Broken Bed

Koalas are mean and Penguins are smelly

2006-01-28T17:34:00.000-05:00

The truth hurts sometimes and I am a koala and you’re a penguin.

No, just kidding, you know you and I are pals.

So pal, what’s this I hear about you converting to solar?

Really, pretty risky, you know in a couple million years the sun isn’t going to be free.

Yup…I do know. I am designing a marketing plan for the sun in hopes of becoming its agent. Then everybody who wants sunlight or precious solar power (foolish) will need to go through me…cuz me and the sun are going to be tight.

What do you mean the sun can’t have an agent? My friend Seth…he is an agent for Ursa Minor and now Ursa Minor is the Snuggle Bear (that little thing is super cute).

Whatever, man you just have fun with your solar house and bean powered car and hydrogen knapsacks and vegan voodoo, I am through with you.

I’m sorry we fought. Can I borrow five dollars?

Recording – It’s all about the vibe

2006-01-28T17:33:00.000-05:00

Well, I was able to finish the recording I started last weekend and things flowed much better this time around. The machine behaved, I was able to focus, and able to choose feel and energy with a few warts over technically perfect but a little boring. My attitude was better (more “Cast your Fate to the Wind” and less “Every Breath You Take”) and it made everything better. Hopefully, I can remember this next time I get frustrated and upset about something.

Don’t push your luck though; I’ve still got a pretty short fuse…I mean it Seth, one straw is all it’s going to take!

ALBUM REVIEW - Grant-Lee Phillips - Virginia Creeper

2006-01-21T21:31:00.000-05:00

I was never a fan of Grant Lee Buffalo. Their heyday occurred while I was music director at WUMF in Farmington, Maine and I know for a fact that more than one Grant Lee Buffalo disc crossed my path and I’ll be honest at that point in my life I wasn’t interested. If it wasn’t rhythmically subdivided, if it didn’t have a 40 minute jam or have a freaky subculture dedicated to it, my ears weren’t open to it. I feel lucky that my ears are still open to the stuff I loved in college and now also to some things that they weren’t open to then.

I first heard Grant-Lee Phillips (former lead singer of Grant Lee Buffalo, see I was going somewhere with the story above, kind of) as the troubadour on Gilmore Girls (I love that show…some of the best writing on television, any show that can quote Proust and Lady Marmalade in the same season is cool with me!) and I fell in love with a number of the songs he played on the show. So I finally seeked out a solo album of his.

Virginia Creeper is a quiet, thoughtful album. It drips of Americana, with weeping fiddle, guitar and bass simple yet sweet, drums that barely keep up (in a good way mind you) and Grant-Lee’s melancholy voice. His voice is really his trump card. While his songs are really good his heart aching delivery is what truly sells them. He is really able to make the listener feel like he is talking to them, trying to convince them to stay or remember what was. The album flows well, although the “upbeat” Calamity Jane doesn’t jibe as well as with me the other tracks and its placement does make the album feel a bit segmented.

Once upon a time music like this did not move me. I am not sure whether I have softened or understand love and loss more or whether Grant-Lee finally made a convert of me by writing great songs and making me feel his pain/love/joy/etc. You won’t be spending hours slowing down the tape to figure out what he’s doing or analyzing what modes he used for his ripping solos, but that might give you more time to experience the world and write about it the way Grant-Lee Phillips does.

Gaito says: “If you are looking for good singer-songwriter material, look no further!”

Favorite Tracks:
Mona Lisa

Waking Memory

Always Friends

Far End of the Night

RECORDING: The sound, the fury, the slowness

2006-01-21T21:29:00.000-05:00

Well, I had hoped to have a brand new track ready to upload to myspace this weekend, but its doesn’t look like it is going to happen….bummer! It’s not all my fault. Although some procrastination, perfectionism and panic played into the delay, some of the blame needs to go to my little Roland recording unit. Now this may be a little technical for you folks who don’t do home recording, but I need to vent.

The stupid thing is all crazy, I put all the plugs in the right place and the whozitz is set right but all the little bars have all the colors lit and when it plays it doesn’t sounds right. I tried checking the manuel (manual)…nothing. So I did a hard restart (Hit with bat and scream) and then decided to let it rest for the night and try again tomorrow. Maybe I just overwhelmed it with my knowledge of how I know how to work it…yup.

So maybe next weekend there will be a full track…I am not giving myself any more firm deadlines like I did for myself last week though. It’s too stressful for me.

ALBUM REVIEW - Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise

2006-01-14T19:07:00.000-05:00

When I decided to make Sufjan Stevens’ Illinoise my first review, I hadn’t heard it. I was set to receive it about 5 days before the review was due and I thought, “No problem, plenty of time.” Then I started listening to it and it is an intensely rich work with multiple layers of instrumentation, production and depth; one that cannot be digested in five days and, like all truly good music, something that stands up to 1000’s of listens. I’ve listened to it about twelve times, so read this review with the caveat that I gave myself a stupid deadline and I didn’t give myself enough time to do a full assessment of the recording.

Illinoise is a fantastic recording.

The track that initially drew me to the CD was John Wayne Gacy, Jr. that I heard on Radio Paradise a few weeks back. It was a sweet beautiful acoustic song, with a haunting melody and lyrical content revolving around serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Jr. creating an incredibly uncomfortable juxtaposition. If the CD had just been stuff like this, great voice, pleasant guitar, excellent and weird lyrics and good production, I would have been happy. This gentle little song is merely a piece of this ‘pick and choose’ musical history of Illinois and sits amongst huge songs full of horns and strings and choirs and hand claps (my wife Tracy and I usually hate any hand clapping beyond Steve Reich, but it works here) and just amazing production and orchestration. I really enjoy this CD and would have listened to it 12+ times even if I didn’t have to do this review. If I had any complaints it would lie in the song length, as most of the songs are between 1 & 3 minutes, making transition abundant and uneasy…that being said, this is one of the best things I have put in my CD tray in the past year and is a testament to independent artists who let their creativity flow and push the envelope instead of wedging themselves in one. Gaito says: “Buy it now!”

Favorite Tracks:
Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part I & II
John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Chicago
The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders

Read more reviews...
Visit mikegaito.net

My thoughts on the current state of TV

2006-01-14T19:06:00.000-05:00

I often wonder why no one has made a TV show called “Enemies” yet. It would be like “Friends” except obviously the people would not be friends. It would still have a bouncy theme song though. And it would still be three guys and three girls. The three girls would still be pretty and smart but they would each have a physical deformity: the brown-haired one a hunchback, the brunette a peg leg and the weird blonde a third eye. The men would all be chimpanzees that could talk and were dressed in clothes from the Gap in Buffalo, NY. They would all fight and bicker and set each other on fire and stuff.

Another good show would be a reality show called “Conjoined in Your Twenties”. It would offer a million dollar prize and force twenty somethings to be surgically conjoined with each other…as triplets. There would be either 2 guys and one girl or vice versa and episode would feature tasks like “Going to the Bathroom” & “Renting a Tuxedo”. I would watch that.

Was Gary Coleman a midget or a dwarf or just small?

Another good show would be one where actors would reinterpret “Facts of Life” episodes while each actor is “shadowed” by a robed person with a tazer. Every time an unfunny punch line is read they would get zapped with a tazer. I wouldn’t watch that one (a little too cruel for me) but I bet it would do well.

Finally, if I were to produce a show it would be called “Everything’s Crazy!” and in it everything would be backwards, even the content/commercial ratio. That’s right a show with 16 minutes of content and 44 minutes of commercials. The theme song would go like this:”

Everything’s Crazy!
Up is down
Down is up
Left is right
Right is Left
Yellow is…still yellow cause the sun is still sending us light in the same way
It is more the gravitational and orientational stuff that’s different perhaps because of the way the Earth is on its axis – probably has something to do with off shore drilling

Sha la la la

Can’t wait to fill my pockets with that dirty Hollywood money.

Back to Blogging

2006-01-09T08:30:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a while but I am back to blogging. The daily thing is not going to work for me and I need something to keep me on task...so here's what's next for my blog and for my web site, www.mikegaito.net: I will be writing weekly entries and publishing an album review once a week between Thursday and Saturday with my first new entry and review being published on January 14th, 2006. Hopefully, this will keep me on task and keep everyone in the loop with what I am doing...stay tuned.

A note on the upcoming election...

2004-11-08T20:46:00.000-05:00

Hello all,
With the presidential election only a few days away, I think it is important to remember a few things: In 1492, when Abraham Lincoln first set
his right penny loafer upon Plymouth Rock, the American Dream was born. Not a dream of cakes and pies, orgiastic bliss or of total control of the
shadowy nether region known as Yorblatticon IV, formerly ruled by Chi Dennab, but rather a dream of freedom, giant bells, and velcro (or hook
and loop tape as it is known in the trade). As we approach this next election day..."What, Tra'y?"...hold on a second, I tend to talk out loud as I
type and Tracy is trying to tell me something..................................."Oh..., so it was this past Tuesday?"....................."and Kerry didn't
win?"........."Is that why 'Scrubs' wasn't on?"..........okay, I have to admit to feeling a little foolish. It seems the election was this past Tuesday.
Missed it completely...damn. It also seems that the guy I was rooting for didn't win. Boy, would have been nice to have voted too. What a
bonehead I am.

Anyway, I've regrouped and I think I can still gather my thoughts into this paradigm and I think they are still relevant and important. They just
needed a little massaging (Shiatsu not Swedish). Let's try this again:

I have been known to approach things in a partisan way, although I don't like to be thought of as partisan (unless it that means I'm the funnest
guy at a Japanese party...ba-dum-dum...cha!). I think of myself as more "Bi-Partisan Curious/Questioning".

No...no...this is not what I wanted to say at all, but at least I got to use the phrase "Bi-Partisan Curious/Questioning". Let me try again:

Cooked Pinto Beans, Water, Salt, Partially Hydrogenated Lard with BHA and BHT to protect flavor, onion powder, chili pepper, spice, garlic
powder.

Nope, nope, nope. Those are the ingredients in a can of refried beans.

Ummm....let's see....this is harder than I thought. The point of this was to bring us together a bit before the election and now I'm all thrown off and
stuff. You ever have that happen?...you know, you have an idea of something you want to do and you picture it and then someone throws a wrench
and suddenly it's like "Whoa...what do you mean that's not where the eggs go?" Blowing my mind, man, blowing my mind.

Hmmm...sleepy...

Well...I'm spent. Sorry to put you through all this. How embarrassing.

I'll leave you with this:

It is better smile than frown,
It is better to laugh than cry,
It is better to stand than fall...I love booze...and ellipses.

Hope to see you all real soon,
Love,
Gaito

Been a little while...

2004-10-31T12:17:00.000-05:00

Well, it sure has been awhile...October was a rough month. Too much work, not enough time. But it is over now and I hope to focus on my blog again. Good news...JRDA's hiatus is over and we are working on new material and we will now be known as Junior Rodeo Daredevils, a member of the JRDA network. How was this decision reached? Over pizza and beer like all good things...there will be more I promise!

Keneally/Beller Taylor Clinic Tour

2004-09-26T18:29:00.000-04:00

Going to the Colonie, NY clinic on Wednesday 9/29 with Aaron Cowan! Woo-hoo!

I highly recommend going to at least one of these shows.

See all the dates at http://www.keneally.com

Go, Go, Go!

Things to Do

2004-09-12T15:47:00.000-04:00

1. Determine what I want to do with my life
2. Find myself
3. Smile
4. Put away laundry

The Joys of a Creative Block

2004-09-07T23:09:00.000-04:00

I am all locked up....very depressing. No good ideas are coming my way...same old same old. Some days it rushes forth like a spigot...right now it is all hair and soap residue. I need some Drano for my brain. It will come...I know...but when it's not it seems it never will.

Does it ALWAYS have to be Interesting?

2004-09-01T21:08:00.000-04:00

I was going to mow the lawn this evening, but it was really wet and mushy.

The One that Got Away

2004-08-30T22:21:00.000-04:00

I came up with an awesome riff yesterday morning. It was so cool. I really, really liked it. Totally album worthy. I started to write a melody to it and I was drawn to a familiar set of notes and a cadence and phrasing that was not my own. It was then I realized that my awesome little riff was a little to close to a Radiohead song off 'The Bends' (forgive me, I can't remember the name).

Well, at least I realized it before I got too far along. Between Lennon/McCartney and Thom Yorke, I can't catch a break.

C'est La Vie...

The Blog that got Ignored

2004-08-29T13:57:00.000-04:00

Gaito and Tra'y were in NYC this weekend for the wedding of our good friends Matt and Jenn (nee Hoffman) Scullion. Got to see the entire "Great NJ Friend Contingent". They are some of the best people in the world. Got to see my mom and Bruce as well, extra special treat! Very fun, very tired, no more real blog until tomorrow evening.

Music as a Commodity

2004-08-25T23:59:00.000-04:00

I think music is the art most susceptible to becoming a commodity as opposed to a creation of truth or beauty. Why is this? What makes music so easily terrorized in this way? Is it the social aspect of music, the cliques that form around it? Have we been conditioned for so long to listen to and like what’s easily available to us? The fact that repetition creates pathways that make certain tones and combinations of tones more agreeable to our ears?

It is up to the listener to decide what is “good”. Sometimes this grows out of good ole grassroots word of mouth of an artist/performer who is just great. Mostly this is dictated by savvy marketing and a “my dish soap is better than your dish soap” mentality that leads to different wrappers being placed around a cookie cutter form.

Music should not be an opportunity to exploit a fad. Is it really possible that are our tastes are so homoginized that millions upon millions of the same record can successfully be sold time and time again? Or is this because of insecurities we feel? Not wanting to be left out of the next big thing.

In the west, we have successfully dropped our overall choice of note to 12. Standard music theory dictates that 8 of these “fit” together. Will the record industry’s demographic analysis determine that only 4 of these notes are liked by white males 18-34, further limiting the possibilities? Don’t get me wrong, a lot can be done with 4, 2 or even 1 note, but forgive me if I have my doubts that current pop musicians will be able to conjure a soulful response to the note limitation quota soon to be imposed upon the world.

There is more out there than you ever imagined. Notes you have never heard, sounds you have never imagined, extensions of the great people who create them. Will they toil in obscurity or be assimilated in the machine that they currently rail against? Or will they achieve the demi-success that I find so attractive. Big enough to sustain themselves, but small enough to remain under the industry radar.

Maybe music (and all art for that matter) is a commodity, a commodity that is often poorly and irresponsibly traded. Ultimately, it is up to the musician and the listener to decide how it will be.

Destroy the record companies.
Kill commercial radio.

Adolf, the Bee & me

2004-08-24T19:33:00.000-04:00

I had a dream last night that Adolf Hitler became our newspaper delivery person. He was driving around in a big old van the ones with the submarine style back windows. He did some of his route on foot so he had a giant orange bag, the strap of which wrapped around him like a beauty pageant sash.

My neighbor and I were out shoveling snow early one morning and he came to deliver and my neighbor said to him, '"You should really shave that mustache."

Then everything morphed into a meadow where I was lying on my back staring up at these high contrast, brightly colored clouds and a bee flew in my ear and said, "That Hitler thing was just a dream."

I have often heard that people have epiphanies or realizations when they dream. If I have them, I never remember them. Just these stupid, surrealistic snippets that Fellini would reject.

Well, it's better than nothing, I guess.

Forks vs. Spoons

2004-08-23T22:44:00.000-04:00

I tend to eat with a big spoon...I think that if I ate with a smaller fork, I might have a healthier lifestyle. At the mall they have those sporks. The mall is the only place worse than the movie theater. Maybe I'll stick with the spoons.

Beard of Bees Tracking & Writing

2004-08-23T22:37:00.000-04:00

I spent this past Saturday and Sunday tracking the title cut for Beard of Bees, 'Beard of Bees (In)'. After struggling for 6 hours getting the guitar part the way I wanted on Saturday, Sunday went very smoothly and I was able to complete rough vocals, Rhodes, bass, and some spacy swirling change percussion. Total time for a fairly imperfect rough track: 12 hours. If this is any indication of how things are going to go the album should be done some time in 2006. I think I need to be less of a perfectionist or learn how to play guitar better...

Finished the lyrics for the hot pop single 'Art Bunny' on Saturday too! It's about a very cute bunny who becomes my personal assistant and helps me stalk Bjork.

Garden State

2004-08-23T19:28:00.000-04:00

I saw Garden State on Friday! It is exactly the kind of movie I like. Full of odd humor, melancholy characters and great music which defines the scenes. As much as I liked the movie, I hate the movie theater. I haven't been to a movie in a long time. It was a very annoying experience filled with cell phone ringing, latecomers, and loud talkers. Very obnoxious...great movie though.

From the Pre-Blog Part 4

2004-08-21T12:35:00.000-04:00

August 11, 2004
Progress on the web site is proceeding well. Progress on "Beard of Bees" is slow. About half the songs are written, but the other half are having a difficult birthing process. I foresee many late night, rewrites, broken strings and throwing of objects, heavy and not-so-heavy. And so it goes. (apologies to Kurt Vonnegut).

From the Pre-Blog Part 3: "I am glad I am not Richard Karn"

2004-08-21T12:34:00.000-04:00

August 10, 2004
I know he's famous and all but I am still glad I am not Richard Karn. Home Improvement, hosting Family Feud. That would drive me nuts. Now Rick Wakeman, there's someone I could be. Giant sequined outfits, a huge bank of keyboards hiding God's less shining points of my creation, conservatory training and an ego the size of a small planet. That would be bad ass.

From the Pre-Blog Part 2

2004-08-21T12:33:00.000-04:00

August 9, 2004
I think I will eat toast more .

From the Pre-Blog Part 1

2004-08-21T12:32:00.000-04:00

August 8, 2004

I have decided that the cover art for "Beard of Bees" is going to be me in goggles and a motorcycle helmet, standing in front of a wall, flexing my muscles (horseshoe-style) on the front and on the back will be me in front the same wall, but now it has a head shaped hole in it and I am covered in sheetrock and dust, flexing my muscles (upside-down horseshoe-style). Oh yeah!

About "From the Pre-Blog"

2004-08-21T12:29:00.000-04:00

I started jotting random thoughts before I had this blog/journal. What follows is some of the more interesting excerpts...in four parts.

Welcome to Beard of Bees

2004-08-16T23:38:00.000-04:00

Hello all,
This blog is an extension of my web site http://www.mikegaito.net and will detail what's up with me on a semi-daily basis. Yawn!

About the title: I am currently writing and recording a cd which will be entitled "Beard of Bees". I am so clever...more later.

Gaito