jZepp

One of these days...

Hello, JZepp readers. I'm Tim and I'm a wine geek. Nope, not somewhat new to the party like my blogging buddy Beau, but a guy who got the wine bug 25 years ago while in college near the Napa Valley. But that's not why I've decided to blog here for the first time tonight.

When I finally said I wanted to contribute here, almost a year ago, I thought I would write my first post about music and wine. At the time, a new CD from Neil Young - an artist I've followed almost obsessively since 1976 - was just out and my plan was to blog about each song and pair a wine with them. How wine geeky is that? Well, so much so that I thought better of it until this evening.

You see, the CD in question is the great, "Prairie Wind," and today the movie version was released entitled, "Neil Young: Heart of Gold." As I blog this entry, I'm watching the DVD (well sort of, anyway) and listening to an impassioned live performance of all the songs on the CD (or "album" if you are as old as me). Not only is Jonathan Demme a great film director and music lover, but he has reinforced his reputation as the best concert film practitioner. Yea, I know, he's only done two concert films, but both are the high watermarks of the genre along with the controversial Martin Scorsese picture, "The Last Waltz" (ironically featuring a coked up performance by Neil from back in the day).

So what wine goes with such viewing? I'd have to give the nod to the great grape of Burgundy, Pinot Noir. The particular example I'm enjoying as I watch this performance is from Willamette Valley Vineyards, their 2004 "Vintage Selection" Pinot Noir that will set you back about $22 or so. It's got everything you would want or expect in a fine Pinot Noir: the brilliant ruby color, black cherry and earthy 'Pinot funk' aromas and satisfying, if not a bit tight, black cherry and raspberry flavors with sleek tannins. I'd give this one a bit more time in the cellar and drink up the 2003 while I wait for this one to smooth out. Somehow, the aggressive attack and slightly closed flavors seems just about right for Neil right now... pick up both if you are so inclined.

Cheers!

2 Days in Montreal (Simplified)

Drive six hours north.

Roam around the shopping malls.

Meet friends at L’Express.

Drink Sancerre rosé.

Watch with awe as Caveman eats

plate of raw ground beef.

See Salon des Vins.

Attempt to talk with vintners.

Crap, I don’t speak French!

Walk and see some sights.

Feast on raw fish at Juni.

Drink junmai sake.

Savor warm croissant.

Hop in car. Plug in iPod.

Drive six hours home.

-- WG

Meatball Music

Confession:
I'm a closeted Swede-o-phile.  I love classic Saabs, Ikea, tasty Swedish cooking, and the ear-jangling Swedish music scene.

I just discovered the band, Dungen.  Its music seems to be a meatball-gemisch of Hendrix, Prince, Wagner (!), Bach (!!), Jack Irons percussion, 70s acid rock, and Sigur Ros.

Have a listen.

Anyone got a good Swedish meatball recipe?

Philosophical Metal

Not being someone who considers themselves a "metal conisseur," I was surprised by how much System of a Down's album, "Mezmerize" wormed its way into my head.  In spite of all the volume and howling, this is very good music.  It's music with a conscience and a strong social message.  Have a listen.

"BYOB"

WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEND THE POOR!
Barbarisms by Barbaras
With pointed heels.
Victorious, victorious, kneel.
For brand new spankin' deals.
Marching forward hypocritic
And hypnotic computers.
You depend on our protection,

Yet you feed us lies from the table cloth.
La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.

Kneeling roses disappearing,
Into Moses' dry mouth,
Breaking into Fort Knox,
Stealing our intentions,
Hangars sitting dripped in oil,
Crying FREEDOM!

Handed to obsoletion,
Still you feed us lies from the table cloth.
La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.

Blast off, its Party time,
And we don't live in a fascist nation,
Blast off , its party time,
And where the fuck are you?
.. Yeah
Where the fuck are you?
Where the fuck are you?

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor? [X4]

Kneeling roses disappearing,
Into Moses' dry mouth,
Breaking into Fort Knox,
Stealing our intentions,
Hangars sitting dripped in oil,
Crying FREEDOM!

Handed to obsoletion,
Still you feed us lies from the tablecloth.
La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.

Where the fuck are you!
Where the fuck are you!

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor? [X3]
Why, do, they always send the poor [X3]
They only send the poor [x2]

Eels: Electric & Music

The electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) is one of the most bizarre creatures of the fish clan (ray-finned fish of the class Actinopterygii).  The e-Eel can indeed deliver a shock of up to 600 volts.  So if you happen to go a-wading in the Amazon, watch your toes.

Electric eels use stacked plates (think: an EverReady battery), called electroplaques, to produce an electrical charge.  Their ability to zap is employed primarily for hunting and occasionally for self-defense.  Eels generate enough voltage to stun prey.  Odd creatures, indeed.

Why did I just write 2 paragraphs about electric eels?  Partially because I'm a zoology-nerd and partially because I just re-discovered Eels (the band)

Eels, led by E (Oliver Everett), have been releasing music since 1992.  And to prove that I'm unbearably unhip, I didn't even know the band existed until a couple years ago.  Their current release, "Blink Lights and Other Revelations" is bluesy, earthy, and slightly Doors-y.  I'm now turned onto their 2002 album, "Souljacker."   The tune Jungle Telegraph immediately stands out.  It's a genre-blurring gemish of musical styles along with a cacophony of sounds.  I'm happy now; I'm hip to Eels (musical and electric).

Black/Red/Yellow

Black Red Yellow

exponentially serving
perpetually unnerving
vehicle swerving
the adjectives they are all a blurring

--Beau, Utah Missoula, MT

Peace. Love. Death Metal

I'm hooked on death metal.  However, I believe the brand of 'metal that the Eagles of Death Metal are playing isn't actually metal at all.  Reading the liner notes makes it impossible to figure out who the eagles are exactly.  Perhaps it's all a joke - a la Spinal Tap.  Yet the album, Peace Love Death Metal, is great.  Kinda grunge-y, kinda garage-y, and a little acid rock-y.  Check 'em out - have a listen to track one, I Only Want You.

--Beau, Utah

The Now Dance Roadshow.

The Now Dance Roadshow: Queens Head, Henley-on-Thames, UK

Saturday, 6th August 2005. Taken with a Sharp GX30 camera phone.

by Andrew, UK

Dodge's Music Picks

Dodge, the intrepid music blogger of My Old Kentucky Blog, has posted his top 10 for 2005 so far.

Dodge's Top 10 Albums Of The 2005 Half-Year:

Honorable Mentions: Spouse, Garbage, LCD Soundsystem, Caribou, Doves, Ben Folds, Coldplay, Brendan Benson, Stars, Architecture In Helsinki, Cloud Cult, M83, MIA, Kaiser Chiefs, The Zutons, VHS or Beta & Gorillaz

10. The Prayers & Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers - The Mother Of Love Emulates The Sounds Of Cynthia
TPTADS - Cannot Eat Better Not Sleep
9. Iron & Wine - Woman King EP
Iron & Wine - Woman King
8. Hot Hot Heat - Elevator
Hot Hot Heat - Middle Of Nowhere
Hot Hot Heat - Goodnight, Goodnight
7. Beck - Guero
Beck - Go It Alone
6. Ryan Adams - Cold Roses
5. Tegan & Sara - So Jealous
Tegan & Sara - Fix You Up
4. White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
3. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
2. Decemberists - Picaresque
The Decemberists - Engine Driver
1. Spoon - Gimme Fiction
Spoon - I Turn My Camera On