benton im the actor and co director you're the director, editor and special fx man, now send me a script or im walking off this set.

so a buddy of mine got this nice new camera situation & he's possibly banging into work sometime this week - me, im already off the whole damn week - having trouble getting off the couch, but any- i've committed to unemployment pages star in his next new film feature. which as you can tell we dont know exactly what it is yet-but we're both very talented & if it ever gets finished, i'll hopefully be able to provide a link for you or maybe even inbed (sp) it onto (hahaha) this very site.

sorry, im just trying to type very fast-

the reason i said "if" it ever gets finished is because, well, we've both started little projects like this before in the past & ya know,.....

but here i am, here we are, there i am, there we go,..ya know,..all that. the real estate album is pretty good, so is atlas sound. but ya pretty much i've just been sitting around. what have you been doing? do you have any ideas for our little project? if so, you know where to find me. i'll get ready and go here soon but im thinking our project should be called something like

little minute eccentricities

or something
like
that

or cheapen minuscule devotions

or tekken fury rage

or tax revolting eggheads.

merry muck

happy birthday everyone! have a happy happy - photo of me to wish wishes and such and time away from creeps & creep-a-zoids! w/love-hope all is well & peaceful in the world - love to all the new and old friends I've made this year-happy artful pursuits-enjoy your football- read your p's & Q's & mind your books - oh wait,....don't be spastic or annoying-be a cheapskate-love all & covert to what I like-it'll be better for you in the end,..oh & Shoes! ha

& one more quick thing here (an edit)
I found the following rant in the notes section of my phone-totally forgotten. (copied & pasted) sometimes on a sunday night I'll have trouble sleeping-& will subsequently

wake with words

In a haze of retribution, i must have tipi-typed these hateful words in anticipation of the work week that lay in abominate servitude at my feet. was i at all coherent of my venomous thoughts? who's bile did I have in mind whilst inspired? what poisoness substance thus peirced my heart to arouse such spite? only you hold the key to unlock the answers of my muck. decide for yourself.


Your sound is like a festering,
brooding sick
It gurgles in my stomach,
waiting to expel itself
from acidic innerds
Yes, these are twisted words
Your lipstick smears cold red
Your thoughts
are like a low murmur
eminating from a dark cave
Your solice haunts you
I have this incredible pain ,
in my wrist
I can't sleep
I can only lament
your existence,
not in the world,
but in me
I tone you out
When you say nasty things
I float above you
& your acid
& your ooze
& hope for the day
I can vomit you away
Send you back
From whence you came
& get things back
the way they were
To normal
to Rid myself
of this pain
In my wrist
slash

(there ya have it everyone-merry muck!!)
tis the season, right?

leftovers & crumbs,..

so what did you think of the top 10 of the yr? any thoughts? glad it's over - thinking of things to say is sometimes hard & makes you a bit sleepy in the end. alot of my guy friends wear Clarks shoes now, which i really like. we are like a small little clarks from england gang. all very handsome young men with handsome shoes. saw avatar - yep - it adds color into your life. The damned united & inglorious basterds (sp?) are the 2 best films of the yr though.

but i've just been here poking around on the internet slash blog situation for a while. (im such a bad typer) but wanted to speak on a few last second picks of good music for the year (then i'll leave you alone on that front for the time being) uuhhh:

The xx - solid, mellow groove indie from London - quite, sleepy
Fanfarlo - like a smaller arcade fire - lead singer sounds slightly like the guy from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - wasn't that the name of them?

blah - and im just all so bored by it now - just listen for pete's sake!!

2000 & 9 #1

#1

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest


In a landslide!

(I can see the headline the day after the release of Veckatimest) - "Brooklyn's finest sons return in '09 with not only the album of the year, but one of the most sophisticated, daunting, challenging and brilliant album's of the decade!!"

Where do I begin, what do I say, how do I form words? No, really, it's that good. (Locked in a trance!) Ed Droste, Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor & Chris Bear straight bringing their distinct brand of experimental psychedelic art pop folk to the masses. An album that equally matches mellow basement groove rock (All We Ask), chirpy pop rock (Two Weeks) & grand ambitious guitar driven bliss (While You Wait For The Others) succeeds in all three & oh so much more.

If you're still not convinced, the further brilliance of Veckatimest comes from the bands willingness to construct as perfect an album as possible & their meticulous attention to detail. Intricate moments of unsuspected beauty attempt to weigh down the album & destroy it's very soul. But they never do, they only inspire. Take for instance the groovy, mellow Fine For Now which in my mind, perfectly explains Grizzly Bear's angle to crafting their masterpiece:

there was time
it took time
there is time
so much time

-Rossen slowly drones while Droste reassuringly chimes in the background. A piece of brooding, slow moving, yet building, simplicity. Cheerleader picks up right where the album needs to continue on to, a forward thinking, highly vocal, glorious attempt at mid-tempo pop. The songs on Veckatimest are balanced among each other with a striking accuracy.

Ready, Able is perfect in every way. With a reassuring, churning, underlying guitar line that soothes, the Bear's stroll through a frantic, almost hurried buzz of a midnight dream. It all culminates with a guitar solo, random voice effects, background electronic effect, until just drums and guitar are left solemn and alone.

While You Wait For The Others is from another planet. The riffy ode to what seems to be a petty disagreement is Grizzly perfection with guitar heavy bravado, vocal harmonies that angels would be proud of and ultimately a song so well structured, it's sickening. The song plays with you - the vocals and guitar exploits blend so heavenly together. The Ohh's and oh,..ohhh, ohhhhhh's play out as an explosion of voice while the guitar loses it's mind - it's all so perfect & HOW DID THEY WRITE THIS SONG!!!????

coming down now, I'm almost glad it's all over, thank you for reading.

Standout track - #10 While You Wait For The Others

2000 & 9 #2

#2

Arctic Monkeys - Humbug


heavy mate i'm 'avin it

If Radiohead is the best band in the world, Arctic Monkeys are easily my favorite, well,..them and Radiohead. The Sheffield lads returned in 2009 with their third release - all three brilliant in their own right. Humbug marked what's thus been their most mature sounding album to date. Probably darkest too, at times sludging (a made up word), like an angry stomping English monster. Erie!

Someone told me by email he loved the "understated sound of experience", which I thought was an incredible way to explain the slightly different direction for Humbug.

The Monkeys came out stateside to record in the Arizona desert with Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme. More a classic rock-Zeppelin feel than Jam or Clash, Humbug is a riff-filled, heavier attempt at their version of what made Britpop what it is to this day, see under Oasis, Pulp, Blur, etc. - Humbug seems to not quite be in a rush to go anywhere. It's less aggressive and an overall darker tone than their previous 2 records. Humbug beyond a shadow of a doubt proves The Arctic Monkeys have staying power.

The song Potion Approaching is a riff-heavy groove that blazes classic Monkeys sound -

I was biting the time zone
and we embellished the banks of our bloodstreams

yours is the only ocean
that I wanna swing from

-Alex Turner howls in his ode to a crazy girlfriend - wishing he could be someone else. Humbug is sure to not make every critics top 10 list. That's OK, for a band that was as hyped up as they were in 2006, it's a wonder they didn't eat themselves. They followed up their '06 debut with a gem in '07 and have been able to again, repeat the feat with another solid record.

Standout track - #7 Cornerstone & #1 My Propeller

2000 & 9 #3

#3

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion/Fall Be Kind EP


(a whoose & a boosh!)

If you haven't heard of Animal Collective this year then you really can't pretend to know anything about popular indie music. Such is not my attempt to be an ass-wipe, but my desire to tell you how incredible this band is & subconsciously say"shame on you for not finding these guys!"

I've been dreading writing about this pick & my number 1 pick for the last week because I simply knew how difficult it was/is going to be to explain greatness. Queue feeble attempt:

The sonic adventure that is Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion is the grandest attempt to challenge listeners to expand their boundaries since Radiohead's Kid A - one of, if not the most important, incredible album of the decade. The Baltimore group has expanded their experimental sound since their inception in 2000 reaching what I believe to be a pinnacle of perfect pop electro devotion & underground indie experimental beats (but all so new). My Girls could be a song that holds the record for most genres: dance, electronic, rock, hip-hop, space station visitation and Chinese hieroglyphics - simply wonderful and I'm still bobbing my head to it from my first listen 11+ months ago in Jan/09.

Merriweather is a mind-bending, original masterpiece - followed up with a gem of an EP recently entitled Fall Be Kind EP. The brilliance of Animal Collective is their struggle & ultimate success in creating a new sound without sounding desperate. Many will disagree, many will be wrong. The album plays out as a journey searching for new and exciting musical landscapes. Overall, the pieces are discovered and instead of meshing together from the get go, each unique variable floats on top of the record while you pick them out puzzling them together with each enigmatic beat.

Standout tracks - #2 My Girls
Fall Be Kind EP - #2 What Would I Want? Sky

2000 & 9 #4

#4

Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca


Super original, highly intelligent indie art rock from Brooklyn -slightly to assuredly impossible to classify their brainy blend of crackly guitar licks, stylized vocal harmonies, mad-dash tempo influx and lyrical delivery - Bitte Orca is truly a masterpiece for the genius in all of us.

Part falsetto, part high flying trapeze guitar artist, lead singer Dave Longstreth brings to the masses the return of the semi-glamorous 90's R & B background singer fly girls and instrumentation so mind-boggling Einstein would be proud. It all meshes into an incredible album with enough pop hooks and danceable moments to make you pack your bags for Williamsburg.

Often times slightly bizarre, but always working, Bitte Orca is definitely a grower. It takes 5 listens to even figure out what's happening and to get a feel for the multiple layers on offer. The album does in fact have a softer side. Female vocalists Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian, sound, well, like 2 angles at times. The subtle Two Doves is pure orchestral pop elegance:

Your hair is like an eagle
Your two eyes are like two doves
But our bed is like a failure
All day up in the family
At the waning of the light

Useful Chamber is not only the best song on the album, it's got a hand in the pot of one of the best of the year. I'm still trying to figure out how Longstreth plays the guitar lick he gets away with. It's fast, unpredictable and on the verge of insanity. He sings:

I'm caught up in a storm
That I don't need no shelter from

-which explains his guitar playing to a tee.

For all it's charm and inventiveness, Bitte Orca is an album that has held up well throughout the year. Praised for it's originality and risk while succeeding in it's pop sensibilities and head turning virtuosity, Dirty Projectors have produced a classic for our time.

Standout track - #6, Useful Chamber

2000 & 9 #5

#5

Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms


80's influenced, bedroom electro-beat pop with aptly timed indecipherable lyrics that imaginably was made for cassette tapes - Alan Palomo, the brainchild behind this Austin, TX outfit garnered attention this year as a blog band resulting in Neon Indian creating one of the year's best underground albums.

With blips & bleeps that wouldn't be out of place in your favorite video game, Neon Indian resolutely placed themselves among the decade's best electropop acts. Psychic Chasms EP was released earlier in the year, with the EP consisting of the majority of the songs found on the LP Psychic Chasms. The LP was released in October with 2 or 3 new songs and a few short interludes.

At times, Psychic Chasms plays out as low-rent Daft Punk (stolen!! from pitchfork), but better. If low-rent means fuzzy, layered beats with druggie, horny lyrics, I'm in. Take Should Have Taken Acid With You as proof:

Should have taken acid with you
Touch the stars and the planets too
Should have taken acid with you
Melt our tongues and become unglued

Should have taken acid with you
Take our clothes off in the swimming pool

Neon Indian is hispter-enriched gold. With enough blog buzz to make you set your neon blue sunglasses & PBR down for a listen, the album itself is ultimately full of substance and enough 80's nostalgia to return to it's funky-chill ambiance.

Standout track - #2, Deadbeat Summer

2000 & 9 #6

#6

Girls - Album

(not all garage bands were formed in garages)

If you've heard of the band Girls, I'm sure you've heard the story of front man Christopher Owens growing up in the infamous Children Of God cult - if you haven't heard the maligned story yet, well it's important you do - you'll appreciate the incredible debut, Album that Owens and his band mate Chet White produced this year.

Christopher's older brother died in the cult as a baby due to the cults disbelief in medical attention, his father split, his Mom and him lived in various places around the world all the while his Mother was sometimes made to prostitute herself by the cult. As a teenager, Owens fled to Texas where a local millionaire took him in. Somehow he ended up in San Francisco where Girls was formed. (yeah, that's a true story)

With Album, Girls scuzzy sound is ultimately laced with Elvis Costello, The Beach Boys, and Buddy Holly. Owens often sounds a bit heartbroken, especially on Headache. Even songs where Owens sings with a playful identity, you can hear the wounded animal leftover from Owens traumatic childhood. On the bands hit single, Hellhole Ratrace, Owens laments his past, but celebrates his future:

and i dont want to cry my whole life through,
i want to do some laughing too.
so come on, come on, come on, come on, laugh with me.
and i dont want to die without shaking up a leg or two,
yeah, i want to do some dancing too.
so come on, come on, come on, come on, dance with me.

Album is a fantastic debut for Girls that will inevitably end up on tons of critics best debut lists. The members of Girls have been open and candid about their drug use during the recording of Album. Rock & Roll's past points to Girls fizzling out after a brilliant debut album - a drug abused story we've heard thousands of times over - and a story that would obviously be as disheartening as Owens poor chilhood. Here's hoping they stick around for at least the let-down sophomore album.

Standout track - #1, Lust For Life

2000 & 9 #7

#7

Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk

-(mof bringing pencil sketch back!)

The much maligned (by me, before it's release) album of indie-folk heroes Jim James (My Morning Jacket), M. Ward (She & Him), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), and Mike Mogis (producer extraordinaire) could easily be the super-group album that actually & finally delivers.

For some reason I've never liked the idea of artists I like getting together and making a song or album that sounds exactly like what I'd expect from their respected individual releases. What's the point? There's usually little to no risk involved, the creativity suffers and the listener is left with the same old same old but with a sour taste in their mouth. The interesting thing about Monsters is that each one of the 15 tracks have a signature from the 3 main contributors on the songs they've penned. Yet the songs don't come across as stale or boring. You can tell the M. Ward inspired songs over the Jim James songs, but I like this, it's like a welcome feeling from an old friend, but in a new place.

Most of the album sounds exactly like what you'd expect a collaboration from these indie heavyweights to sound like. But again, it's OK, becuase the songs are legitimately good. Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) opens the album as Marvin Gaye could have opened an album in the 70's: a mellow groove accompanied by a fluttering harp arrangement with crisp studio production. - The 3 verses are then sung by each contributor with patient, poignant grace. The song is a beautiful prayer to the man himself & questions God's reasons for allowing pain and suffering to continue in the world.

Dear god, I wish that I could touch you
How strange sometimes I feel I almost do
And then I'm back behind the glass again
Oh god what keeps you out it keeps me in

To be honest, there aren't a whole lot of surprises on the album. But the solid & consistent tracks on offer are enough to return to Monsters time and time again. Unsure if M.O.F. will release another full length LP in the future. They toured successfully shortly after the album's release in September. With the success of the individuals in the group, it's highly unlikely they'll get together & record again anytime soon. The project could go down as a 1 & done success. Fine with me.

Standout track - #8, Goodway

2000 & 9 #8

#8

Deer Tick - Born On Flag Day


Deer Tick (the oddest named band on my list this year) are a group of southern sounding sojourners (they're from Rhode Island) who ironically provide listeners with an authentic, down-home, country-roots, folk-rock sound (throw in a dash of roadhouse blues while you're at it).

Lead singer John McCauley sounds decades older than his early 20's reality. His voice reminds you of a road-weary boozing hitchhiker looking to punch you in the face, steal your cash & spit on your penny loafers without thinking twice (was that a stretch?).

Born On Flag Day, Deer Tick's second album, plays out as a raw and twangy stroll back to your home town bar after an absence in the City. For all it's raucous disposition, Flag Day, like albums from peers of Deer Tick, has moments of pure heartbreak & intimate emotion. Deer Tick by no means have lost their folkie roots on display from their 2007 debut, War Elephant. Song About A Man sounds as if it was recorded in one take in McCauley's bedroom during a round of beers & tears:

I've got a restless old woman standing by my side
She cannot wait for the finer things in life
She waited all this time so I suppose she has the right
But I drank away all the things I could provide

Born On Flag Day can be listened to & enjoyed in a myriad of ways - one could quite possibly partake in it's twangy charm on a warm summer night with a bottle of beer - but I'm just saying.

Standout track - #1, Easy

2000 & 9 #9

#9

The Decemberists - The Hazards Of Love


One of my all-time fav bands came 'round in '09 with a different direction from their previous albums (that still hold up extremely well - classics anyone?). Exit days of literary wit & bookworm charm, enter the days of grandiose prog rock meant for the stage. Portland proud, The Decemberists returned with Hazards - their rather large & successful attempt at a full stage musical/metal rock opera. (on paper this album screams cheese, but I promise it's worth every second)

Loud, sprawling, violent, epic, lurching, - all easily describe Hazards which place characters against each other as star crossed lovers (the shape-shifting) William & Margaret battle villains and an evil queen who attempt to destroy all things love. Lead singer Colin Meloy sings multiple parts & guests pitch in to round out the cast of flawed characters. On Hazards, Meloy ultimately tackles some serious topics: marriage, parenthood, abduction & even the death of children.

An album that's slightly flawed due to it's running time (58+ minutes) ironically ends perfect. With one of the most beautiful & graceful finishes to a concept album ever, Meloy flawlessly paints a glorious picture of a beach wedding that ends not so beautiful. Check out these brush strokes:

So let's be married here today these rushing waves to bare our witness,
And we will lye like river stones rolling only where it takes us.

Oh Margaret the lapping waves are licking quietly at our ankles
Another bow another breath this brilliant chill's come for the shackle.

Ahh,..just be ready for tears. Hazards should quite possibly be enjoyed from start to finish, over-sized headphones optional. The record itself will only get better with time as has the band.

Standout track - #17, The Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned)

2000 & 9 #10

#10

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast


Concentration!!

Musical maestro wunder-kid Andrew Bird was back earlier this year with an incredible effort which I believe to be his best to date. Bird has never been one to "go with the flow", countless shifts in musical form & tempo, floozy whistling, plucked strings, words picked in the lyrics for the sound they give off as opposed to the meaning - all ask a lot of the listener. But Bird brings the goods immensely & brilliantly in his delivery & masterful musicianship. Take an example of Bird's word play on Tenuousness:

Tenuous at best was all he had to say
when pressed about the rest of it, the world that is
from proto-Sanskrit Minoans to Porto-centric Lisboans
Greek Cypriots and harbor sorts who hang around in ports a lot.

(gorgeous & delightful, but good luck figuring that one out)

Bird's incredible use of string instruments give the album a slightly classical but frenetic & at times mellow feel (one tends to overlook the warmth & intelligence in his voice). Large portions of the album are happy & peppy without sounding annoying. You'll often find yourself whistling along with Bird as he attempts to paint a poetic picture with his songs. Beautiful harmonies, lonely violins, layers upon layers of successful attempts, moments of precise intimacy and the odd head-bob make Noble Beast easily one of the best records of 2009.

Standout track - #10, Anonanimal

starting the start of the start of something I've been meaning to start

Lads & Lassies:

thus begins my annual jaunt into the eerie,
metaphorical,
psychoanalytical,
bombastic,
(slightly fantastic)
manly,
sexy,
many
mucho
gusto
soiree
par-tee'
muahahaha

YO! snap outta it: I'm only talking about the top 10 albums of 2009 - & can i just tell you that I'm starting to think about it - it's been a prolific year, not only for me & you in terms of creativity & certainty of thought, but also music in the so-called indie-scene-pop music funk mix-biz of electro-afro-inside outside beat-mix violin heartfelt situation,...so recognize your thoughts & realize your identity & feel that low pulsating rhythm & dance naked in your bedroom & other areas of your house.--& heaven forbid god forbid-have a nice time out tonight you twos - just remember to get back by 11 - No snogging,..no babies. no reason for any of the funny stuff-so,....without further ado, i'll begin to leave you but know that it's coming soon, very soon. most definitely drop one out per day with a little blurb & allow you to comment. boosh, we out!

we are england, we are england, we are ENG-U-LUND. i am benton

the
boi
is
back!
and back to stay on this freezing (what day is it)but wow! so much has gone on since we've last spoken. i've been writing, writing, writing about sooooo many passionate things in my life that mostly & ultimately result in FOOTBALL mate- it's MASSIVE, GET STUCK IN(hahahahahaha) remember me now? what,........you don't,..........? well what if i said this weekend is going to be a proper football situation? haha,...now do you know these things? i bet. !

so the world cup draw was today and my american friends are already starting crap with me but it stands thus far like this
me - muther england
justin-3lions
b-states
benton-states
shaun-dunno, prob states
mikey-argentina
me=every match known to man come next June,...but enough of that for now - so what is your favorite color & how many article/posts have you read of mine on EPL Talk? very proud, very stressed, kinda pissed, made a mess, got pissed (up)found (a) purp(i)se-still pen=paling (sp) rob smyth who is a proper writer that im making nice with for future fund injections. there's a few of you that ive not spoken to in quite some time. for that im sorry & i miss you, and still love you, & it's all starting to come back to me at this point. have you found any writers better than me since my absence? if so, who? i will slash their tires- i will block them in bball. i will watch them fall- i wont pick them up from the mall-ill smack'em in the jaw,..i'll tease their southern draw-ill pass my own law-i'll,..end this rhyme ......im getting thirsty

i'll now vow to never let such days pass before we greet, fellowship, inspire each other & spread such miraculous love & talk about beautiful moments in film and music & of course spicy tasty food & pints & most important of all football mate-& those times at night where the world & moon align to breath sunshine lips on you & blow flower breath in your ear you sexy deviant.

i am back

i tried posting this romantic little picture on twitter last night & something went haywire. this is rooney chula, my brother's new pup. a slight sense of nostalgia here since i grew up w/a lab of very similar qualities. scarlet was the light that lit up my day's until a tragic accident took her away from me, for ever. any---rooney will now officially usher in a new generation of chula folk & labs, we go very well together, like mornings & coffee, like saturdays & (european) football, like vegetable pad thai & a pint, like dark chocolate & hot orange tea at night, like you & this blog, like me & things, like mates & memories, like pods, like dogs, like word games, like fridays, like days off, like weeks off, like getting it, like sending it.

i'll be around.

supreme blog neglect pt 37 /ˈsɪntæks ɛrə(ɹ)/ )

syntax error - //****-----debate situation 4
hibernate to
electronic synapse to synapse
it's possibilities
influx of hyper-bole digital

bad command
bad command
bad execution

trigonomonomeillyatrics


itsthemaths

when will i come back?
when will i return to you
after this absence
will i burn
bridges
will crows
singe

sitting,
awaiting,
contemplating,
dreading,
chugging,
guzzling,
listening,
stopping,
pausing,
farting,
stopping,
(again)
sipping,
waiting for this Rob Smyth interview to come back
to publish
thoughts
of interest
to decide
what's relevant
to make
my statement
to interject
a comment
to placate
a sentiment
to see
an indent
to read
a misprint
to write
a transcript
to drink
a good beer
to shed
all fear
to make
love hear
to blast
out tears
to slip
in near
to walk
away from here.

when will it come
when will it fall from the sky
when will I serve my purpose
when will I finish my coffee
when will I say

goodbye
??

this is the kind of stuff I live for:

(the following comment was left for me on EPL Talk from a guy that will remain nameless concerning some thoughts I had on what I believed to be a poor ref-ing performance by a bloke named Mike Jones this past weekend. --ahhhhh,......if we all had the passion this guy does, the world would be a better place. funny thing, the guys thinks I'm a Brit. enjoy or don't)

Sorry you idiot, letter of the law the referee was right in all three instances.

Read the laws of the game you fool before you start sprewing garbage about decisions you obviously don’t have a clue about.

The problem with you Brits is you don’t think the laws of the game as written have to be applied. When they are applied to the letter of the law, you get offended because quite frankly, you don’t know what the rules are.

Sorry pal, thanks for proving to me you know zilch about the sport. Leave this site until you do.

I'm having an '02-'03 moment (God, what have I been drinking!?)

You ever rediscover an album from like yrs ago that hits you harrrd? such was me & Rino Adams laying in bed late last night watching Italian Calcio w/the Love Is Hell EP's 1 & 2. an incredible, mellow listen for the following situations:

1. a rainy morning
2. a rainy evening
3. a cold, rainy, dreary day
4. right after a tough break up (hence the album title)
5. on a really bright, beautiful, sunny day that you wish was dark, rainy, cold - (it'll get you there).
6. after 4 or 5 yrs of it's release & after not listening to it for 2 or so.
7. when one of your fav artists of all time goes off & marries Mandy Moore & subsequently falls off the face of the earth. Disappears!
8. a day or so after you've watched Mandy Moore's guests stint on Entourage S2.

songs like - this house is not for sale - wonderwall, the shadowlands, please do not let me go,..etc.

i could go on-but it's all one big beautiful understated (at times) gloomy, (even) Bulesy (see under Hotel Chelsea Nights) lo-fi indie (City rain, city streets) druggie (forgot how much he talked about getting high, Love is Hell), sexy (this house is not for sale), depressing (world war 24) New York feeling- this album has a "feel" to it. reeally bringing me back to 02 maybe 03, cant remember right now, but here it is for you & there it was. what albums have you recently re-discovered that have hit you like gut-wrenching ton O'bricks?

(photography by Benton Edwards, Edited by Jesse Chula)

I got lucky, she even Irons my shirts.

Can you imagine the kind of hair our children would have?

BOOSH!!

this just arrived in the mail

going to spend some time immersing myself in tactics
going to become an expert in my field

Pleasent little reminderS

As I sit watching Argentine soccer in the middle of the night, I can only contemplate a few things:

1. Why am I wide awake tip-tapping this blog entry on my tiny little phone?
Possible answers
A. That darn car alarm that only moments ago franticly announcing it's purpose did enough to shell shock my otherwise calm mind
B. The 3 lb. Burrito Mexicano that I had for dinner 7! Hours ago hasn't fully digested. It sits lonely & alone like a small American pigskin football in my stomach. Geez it was delish'. Dunno, just a theory
C. Paranormal Activity (thefilm) in all actuality has affected my psychie slightly more than I'd like to admit. Hhmm, this one could have some relevance to it. Honestly, it was quite (this commentator is currently screaminggggggggggooooooaaaaaallll. Gggoooaaalll!! It's now 1-1 between River plate & boca jrs. If either side scores again, I'm afraid it could wake up b. Where was I? This game is quite entertaining. Hhmm but the film Yes. Wow. Have you seen it? Unsettleing in all it's low budget glory
D. Am I subconsciously prolonging my weekend? I suppose yes that could be a possibility. It was an eventful one to say the least. Things we learned this weekend:
1. Respect the Dunkel
2. The word "bogy" as you and I know it as "bogey" in all actuality mean the same thing and have these odd little different spelling. Found this out the hard way earlier in my brilliant op-Ed peice for epl talk. (I kid, well you may have thought it was brilliant, but I don't even know what op-Ed really means. ) anyway. I believe the word itself has slowly over time evolved into different spellings. See for yourself, dictionary.com. Word used as in. Blank blank might be your bogy subject, etc. Hey we live and learn right? Writing is fun, challenging yourself is difficult. It takes bravery to put yourself out there like that and hard work and time time time. But it can be rewarding in the end. Search for your niche and find it.
3. Where was I?
I've lost track of numbers, spacing, letters, bullet points, roman numerals, hours, etc so let's proceed with:


18. A- 32 article 7- sub section P. The real reason for my increased nighttime awakeness is that I just knew I couldn't bare another week of responsible hi and hello-ing, etc. , without reachig out and saying hi to you my loved ones. Again, maybe a subconcious thing here, but the thought of another hr spent of us not being together got my mind/ heart a'racing and I just had to get up to see you. I think you're quite possibly smiling right this second. Am I right?

So, with love , devotion, burrito, slight fear, argentine soccer, lessons learned, midnight slacking and nothing but my tiny little black undies on, I bid thee fairwell. Know now that I'll not attempt sleep , bt only attempt to think of you and all our times and days together, the beautiful thing we ve created here in space. The final fronteir. Haha. Nope. Not going to re read this nbound to be loaded with errors and omissions. Sleep tight don't let the car alarms get you.

scraggly looking chump

with walls
with chalk
to write with
that breaks
in hands
in the PM
the battery
meter
runs low
he took the metro
to football
tie on
in his corporate
jungle
an office of
only paper
& fear
& ideas
he sits
allllllllllllll
day long
waiting to
become someone
else
his release
the weekend
temporary
& fake
an illusion
a band-aid
his coffee
his secret potion
of remembrance
& warmth
his lover
a friend
& mirror
that he sees
himself in
his friends
reminders of
better times
& talking
throwing caution
his family
paved the way
in 7th grade
his left knee
writhes with pain
his pants
fit again
the sweater
with sleeves & holes
renew again
his purpose
the books
he's read
his only
real
education
practice writing
practice reading
to better himself
to articulate
to create
like Kurosawa
the tattoo
he never got
the scar he's
always had
the fist fight
he's always wanted
the truth he's never accepted

helllooooooooo''' star

so - have you seen this film Paranormal Activity? I'm hearing things,........things of interest, but it being Oct & all, I'm feeling the slight urge to scare myself -& b is always about these things. however I do tend to get incredibly sketchy (little boy like) when it comes to horror films. can you confirm or deny any of the rumors? is it all about tension in the end? is it that crazy? How many nights will i go sleepless?? - do you ever actually see anything?

I'm always the first one up in the morning & that walk out of the bedroom into the front room to turn a light on could be quite risky if I feel like a little dead girl is out there waiting for me. with red eyes & long green fingernails & she's like sitting there dripping wet for some reason & she starts growling at me-then she vanishes, but quickly reappears right in front of my face & attempts to scratch my eyes out-whheeww''- OH crap!,.....

what about also being the first one into work in the morning??? this big office on the 3rd floor - light off (again - it's always dark when I'm scared) something looming around the corner - hearing faint whispers as I walk through to my desk,...what was that?? I'm second guessing myself - brain racing - uncontrollable. mind playing tricks - sinister little tricks - "Man,......I'm hearing,.....things man,...you gotta help,....me man"AAAHHHH-what was that!!!??? anyways,......

if you've seen it (shaun) lemme know what I may or may not be getting myself into - might have some cinema time reserved for this weekend but "where the wild things are" definitely taking priority. dont be a stranger -

concert/shows missed out on due to laziness/forgetfulness/lack of funds -

(within the past 2 years)

Bloc Party - newport

TV on the Radio - the lou

Jenny Lewis - the lou

Tokyo Police Club - tokyo - (pysch!) - cincy

Andrew Bird - cincy (just last night!! blame it on Scotty Mac)

Vampire Weekend - cincy

Avett Bros - Lex

Band of Horses - the lou & newport

Belle & Sebastian - the lou

Bon Iver - the lou

Conor Oberst - the lou

Deer Tick - lex

the Decemberists - lex

Grizzly Bear - the lou

Interpol - the lou

Jose Gonzalez - the lou

&,...

many, many more - I'm sure of it. What can we learn from this? & sure we've seen loads on top of that - probably worth mentioning, but I won't but reasons for my complacency? cheapskate-ed-ness ??? (the act of being cheap for no particular reason besides your own issues) lazy mind influx of eternal procrastination? - do we secretly hate music crowd annoyance fest - unable to navigate proper downtown situation ?well, thoughts of interest I suppose. beats going outside today.

In claw cave -

shut off
to the world
shut down
from my girl
turned in
for the night
head twisted
inner fist fight
dark as black
in this cave
a hollow point
to misbehave
red mist gleam
over heavy eyes
violent frustration
justified
out of mouth
the sickness wins
the push & pull
committed sins
green filth
pain reveals
mistrust,
the con prevails
continuing saga
of personal perils
a cunning plan
the march unfurls
surrounded by creatures
in darkness & claws
they scratch & bite
to point out flaws
the system's rigged
it was told
intellect's lazy
innocence sold
claustrophobic
cave closing in
the great escape
considered a win
your liquid diet
served you well
your halogen heart
a bitter pill
what's left to burn
in this haunting
escaping claw cave
suddenly daunting
take the walk
trudge this creek
a damp grave
smacked your cheek
your social network
won't save your soul
your bowl of oats
can't patch the hole
it's claw cave
where monsters are
your nighttime drug
unopened jar
that sits & waits
for fingertip grips
your approval
a stranger's lips

hipsters wear plaid.com

is the new name I thought of for a blog/website/band/book club/podcast group/garden discussion forum/beer club/douche bag situation... etc., etc. So what I'm doing is selling it to the highest bidder,..think of the possibilities. ??? (are you thinking?) you could URL/domain that beast & bam away you could go- you could mish-mash film - music - thoughts - stripper verse poetry beats with inside head amalgamated mixture of trip-flow centennial waste-super! also in the running:

hipsters love PBR!.com

hipsters are blowholes.org

hipsters suck at life.co.uk

I'm a hipster, hear me roar,.edu

benton's a hipster.com

trick a hipster, throw a fake balcony party.com

throw a hipster a bone.org

hipster: shooting from the hip for 3 weeks, or, my life jumping the bandwagon.gov

have you seen my fake hipster neon blue-rim over-sized sunglasses? I dropped them.insight.bb

I love your 3 day hipster scruff.co.uk

I washed my skinny hipster jeans & can no longer fit into them.gov

so any old, all of those are currently for auction right here, right now - you know how to get in touch with me. have any more ideas you'd like to donate?? feel free to drop them off. have a good hour today -

(oh, 1 more thing - Benton, if you're reading this: I was grabbing a quick coffee this morning down the local brew hole & there was this huge dude in the coffee shop reading Robert Frost- but he had on this black graphic T - kinda like the TapOut brand or whatever, but was huge muscle situation & he had this terrible tribal tat from like'97-02 or something- fake tan-like he almost looked orange--anyway, the point here, is that he was talking SERIOUS crap about you-no, for real THIS TIME. & more importantly your friends & family & trust me, i do not condone that kind of stuff in ANYWAY - i know how important F & F are to you & esp. Monticello- but WOW! he was throwing that around in there too. so I told this dude,.."skip to the end" & we went ahead & arranged this proper football supporter blast up knuckle throw down (if you're down for it) for this coming Saturday-I've got the time & place written down in MY trapper keeper binder - so lemme know - but I only have one question for you in all of this:

YO BENTON!! YOU GOING TO LET THAT PUNK GET AWAY WITH THIS???

new tunes that pass fit -

the following albums by the following artists pass fit for listening pleasure - (passing fit to Americans means, well,...hhmm,...it means you're ready to play the match on Saturday)

Avett Bros. - I And Love And You

Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue

Editors - In This Light And On This Evening

Girls - Album

Islands - Vapours

Karen O And The Kids - Where The Wild Things Are

Monsters Of Folk - Monsters Of Folk

Volcano Choir - Unmap

We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls

Currently, this is all I have to say.

epl talk -

loads going on recently- but have you read anything from epl talk dot com yet? & if so, was wondering your thoughts - had some minor probs recently with servers, internet connections, blah, & a little more blah, but possibly now getting the opportunity to conduct an email interview with someone directly associated with the English game itself (& wow-woo-wee) on that- crazy opportunity that I never thought possible - no clue who it'll be, but it promises to be a welcomed challenge. I'm already feeling little fluttering butterflies in my belly. you can be sure that I'll keep posted you on happenings (& yes, i meant to write "posted you") HA!any-still loads of new music recently to catch up on & things of interest - stay bright today & this week in your pursuits, continue to strive for new experiences - don't snap your gum & remember your Mother on her birthday (a reminder to myself) until next post,

the sherry end, pt. 8

(wow-woo-wee-it's back after mucho lay-off wedding plan extravaganza!!) & so happy to be reporting to you on happenings,..but let's get right to the festivities:

Benton Malick picked an incred- Oh Wait! - something's not right,....Terre-,...uumm,...Matthews,.. Edwards,....something,.....ideas,......fuzzy,.....drain,......leaking,........... .water,....falling,...coffee,...brewing wondering where,...I've,...gone,...wrong,....falling,.............into,.........a,......... .trance,.............a,..hypnotic, state,...of,........mixed,..........impressions,.....&,.......beats,.......... to,..hopefully,....bounce,......back,...with.

WWhheeww!!!!

glad we got that out of our system.,

ok,..so the Terrence Malick film Badlands (1973) was presented by Benton Edwards (whheeww, again) & wow! -spectacular in every right. for those who don't know about Mr. Malick's exploits, he's that bloke that makes about 1 film every decade or so (4 films total to date in numerous decades) many however do consider his works to be masterpieces. in addition to Badlands, Days of Heaven (1978) IS (in my opinion) an outright masterpiece in that, you've probably not seen photography this beautiful in film history, simply stunning. Malick's other works include 1998's The Thin Red Line, & 05's The New World.

(OK time me,...GO!)

Badlands is a fiery American film in every sense of the phrase staring (a young) Martin Sheen & (equally young) Sissy Spacek-the 2 meet & ultimately fall in love. Sheen's character Kit takes Holly (played by Spacek) on a cross-country killing spree-(starting with Holly's father-who earlier had asked Kit to leave his daughter alone) - the films brilliance comes in it's subtle photography & effortless mood. the voice over throughout the movie from Holly comes off as a sweet, unnoticed lullaby with mid-west sensibilities. this is American film making people, with American actors, American writers & an incredible American director---& it feels American in it's presentation.

There's a wicked rumor that Broken Blues is providing a more thorough review of Badlands, for further inquiry, please visit said site-you can find link on right column,..strapped for time, as always, enjoy, or don't. love you--but totally great film seriously-experience it!

just scored _____ ____ tix

(I think-but with busy-ness & love & disorder in my life- I say only, w/love in my heart,...put on a sweater for Pete's sake)
-some form of beard

The Twilight Sad tune Reflections on the Television places me in a dingy, dimly lit Glasgow pub-Kind of like the one you remember the Beatles cutting their teeth with before they even broke the UK-compact & old. the song is loud & noisy, not mellow, but exciting & building. the crowd seem to be enjoying themselves timidly-it’s obvious the band has decided to open their set with this entry. The vibe in the pub perfectly matches the vibe experienced at concerts before the audience really gets going-1^st pints aren’t finished yet-bloodstreams are safe, for now.

across the room I notice a leak from the ceiling occasionally tip-taping on the smooth brick surface of the floor. For some reason I can see it from afar, but can’t hear it’s tiny contribution to it’s environment. I often feel the same way- I’m here in the world, relevant & idealistic, but unable to make a splash or unwilling to take risks like the water drop. Always peering & ready for movement, but no action, no jump, no drop. This voice ain't even yours to share, I hum to myself - was that last line trying to tell me something? why am I here to only hold myself back? No one notices me, I assume because I’m dreaming. Either a dream, or I’m under some sort of spell or unknown substance. Young Glaswegians dance & flail around me yet I remain sedated & focused on the music.

A heavy hand takes hold,..It’s late fall, there’s a stench of weed, cheap lager & nighttime that surrounds me. 3 smells I know I’ll never get out of the long sleeve, black sweater I don. “There’s People Downstairs” sings James Graham in his thick Scottish draw. I wonder if he speaks figuratively or literally, will we soon be joined by others, or are we being watched? Why aren’t these people joining the group? My heightened paranoid thoughts solidify my dream state hypothesis. All at once the music stops & I’m fully aware, able to move & interact, but the crowd has stopped cold in their sips of beer, puffs of smoke, & steps of movement-my senses are heightened like that of a vampire & I can now hear the pounding of the water drip-drop leak across the room. I'm more than a fighter, I think to myself. I'm bigger than myself for a moment, & with the now pounding beat of the drip, I realize my size, no longer alone with myself. this dark Scottish night of Fall, the scent, that smell of night, the collective- That's my hope tonight, to be bigger, more powerful, to be with you & I achieve my hope because of this group & with one last drop, the leak dissolves & the crowd all at once becomes one & that evaporation gives me power & a sense of being & purpose & all at once as if I control every voice to every young Glaswegian in that dingy, dimly lit pub I scream out I'm More Than A Fighter, -

& whoa, I feel so liberated & powerful, unstoppable & I leave that pub, now on my own volition, free from the spell of self doubt that so recently bound my feet from the ground-knowing I've changed something & maybe I've passed on a little hope to that dark nighttime crowd, the collective that helped me realize- maybe they've become more powerful in their pursuits-1 less in number, but ultimately stronger. The crowd, now only a figment of a fleeting memory, continue their hedonistic pursuits without me until the early morning Glasgow sun rises & greets with a burst.