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Review: Electric Six, Kill
Having crafted a distinct niche for themselves over the course of six albums in as many years, Electric Six don't stray far from their trademark brand of groove-heavy, ironic cock rock on Kill. Whether any one of the band's albums succeeds largely hinges on whether or not the lyrics bring the funny and whether or not the hooks are strong, and Kill hits both of those marks reliably. That's the thing about Electric Six: The joke would've worn thin long ago if frontman Dick Valentine weren't able to execute his songs with such a consistent balance of absurd humor and genuine tunefulness. Here, opener "Body Shot" lays down a slinky funk groove that showcases the band's under-appreciated rhythm section, before building to an explosive chorus that finds Valentine championing a life of excess and careening wildly between a full-throated growl and lithe falsetto. "Egyptian Cowboy" is one of the band's most aggressive tracks, with heavily distorted guitars pushed into the foreground even as keyboardist Tait Nucleus punctuates the song with delirious lines like, "Shake that tambourine/Shake that shaking machine!" On the blustery "Escape from Ohio," there's even a passing reference to "Gay Bar," the band's most well known single, though Kill offers nothing quite so accessible. While the album lacks a certain degree of accessibility and thematic coherence, Electric Six's wiseass humor and, moreover, their superior technical skill make Kill an energetic, frenzied party of a record.
Label: Metropolis Release Date: October 19, 2009 Buy: Amazon
The 10 Best Albums of 1980
We take a look back on the music that defined one of the most definable of decades.
In my introduction to Slant's list of the 100 Best Albums of the 1980s, I noted that, while '80s pop culture is largely remembered for its frivolity, the social unrest that stirred beneath the decade's brightly colored gloss and greed resulted in not just the guilt-driven good intentions of enterprises like the star-studded USA for Africa, but a generation of artists whose music genuinely reflected the state of the world. From political violence across the pond and the struggles and dreams of the American working class, to race relations, sexuality, and gender, no topic was left unexcavated by the pop, rock, and hip-hop artists of the Reagan era. As we enter the 2020s, an entire generation removed from the '80s, it seems as good a time as any to once again look back and reflect on the music that defined one of the most definable of decades. Sal Cinquemani
Honorable Mention: The Jam, Sound Affects; Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel; Young Marble Gods, Colossal Youth; Grace Jones, Warm Leatherette; Emmylou Harris, Roses in the Snow; Stevie Wonder, Hotter Than July; Devo, Freedom of Choice; Dead Kennedys, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables; Public Image Ltd, Second Edition; Bruce Springsteen, The River
10. Diana Ross, diana
Diana Ross's fifth (again, fifth) solo album to feature some part of her name in the title, this was the first one where the choice in nomenclature felt like an act of self-preservation. Because the album's signature is unmistakably someone else's, namely the Chic organization. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards were brought aboard to help Miss Ross carry on the momentum she had at her back from the string disco hits including "Love Hangover," "The Boss," and "No One Gets the Prize." What seemed like a cunning collaborative move quickly dimmed when disco became, almost overnight, passé. A panicked Ross and Motown snatched the album and remixed it to push it back toward the realm of pop, but even a side-by-side listen with the since-released original version only proves that, lucky for us all, Chic's DNA is impermeable. Stacked with peppy, irresistible post-disco hits like "I'm Coming Out" and "Upside Down," diana is without question the diva's most satisfying LP. Eric Henderson
9. X, Los Angeles
A punk-rock power duo making strong use of their male/female dynamic, Exene Cervenka and John Doe fronted X's roaring songs with a vibrant vocal and lyrical approach, which helped make them the creative standard bearer of the nascent L.A. scene. Beefing up the usual punk attack with a sound hearkening back to several decades of rock, from Chuck Berry to Blondie, the band went beyond the usual three-chord dynamic, forming an album that's both a paean to a fading city and an excoriation of its faults, all burning trash, clumped hair and Hollywood Boulevard sleaze, perfectly summed up by the burning logo of the album's cover. Jesse Cataldo
8. The Clash, Sandinista!
The succulent fat that drips from this spit-skewered, bloated pig of an album—36 tracks spanning two-and-a-half hours!—is fuel for a distinctive genre bonfire. The flames reach brashly, soulfully, sarcastically beyond punk, rock, pop, dance, ska, rockabilly, dub, calypso, and gospel, and its themes, as diverse as its sound, are the concerns of the world: consumerism, working-class disaffection, political antipathy, immigration, warfare. And drugs, the afterlife, Jesus Christ, sometimes all at once. Heavy stuff, yes, but this is the Clash, who will provide us with an address of Cold War relations but so from the floor of Studio 54. These cheeky blokes operate as spies, disguising grave matters with high-spirited musicality, hoping the powers that be won't notice. Truly an album without borders. Ed Gonzalez
7. Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Get Happy!!
In the saga of the punk-rock upstart who shocked critics by going all Lennon-McCartney on their asses, the blue-eyed soul of Elvis Costello's Get Happy!! is typically considered a genre detour, more like 1981's country-themed Almost Blue than the classic pop triumvirate of Armed Forces, Trust, and Imperial Bedroom. But you need only compare it to Young Americans, Bowie's misguided stab at R&B from five years earlier, to see how sincerely Costello inhabits the style's past and present. Costello may have set out to show how much he knew about soul, but what he actually proved was how much he loves it. Matthew Cole
6. Pretenders, Pretenders
The Pretenders's debut is notable not only for the pitch-perfect execution of the band's glam-meets-punk style, but also its delivery of unconventional sex appeal. Like Debbie Harry before her, Chrissie Hynde represented a feminization of the punk aesthetic, a street-smart girl who could outdrink, outperform, and ultimately outsmart her male counterparts. Rock feminism never sounded as good as it does here, particularly on tracks like the spunky "Brass in Pocket," where Hynde has the power to be playful, tough, and even self-deprecating without sacrificing any of her throaty vocal presence. At its core, rock n' roll is about charisma, and as tracks like "Stop Your Sobbing" and "Private Life" prove, the Pretenders not only had a cache of the stuff, but were well-versed in how to showcase it. Kevin Liedel
Review: Grimes's Miss Anthropocene Feels Both Deeply Personal and Communal
The album is a challenging exploration of the conflicting boundaries and boundlessness of personhood, technology, and society.4
Grimes, née Claire Boucher, furrowed brows when she described the concept of Miss Anthropocene as being centered around her desire "to make climate change fun." She has since somewhat clarified the statement, explaining that, in rendering climate change as a villainous, comic book-esque character, she might be able to make our environmental crisis "easier to digest." Not especially known for her easy digestibility as an artist—not least because, in many of her previous releases, Boucher's vocals have been processed to the point of near-incomprehensibility—it seemed like a tough, if noble, objective.
Indeed, if Boucher's goal really was to make the conversation around climate change more accessible with her fifth album, she isn't particularly successful. Written, a press release says, "from the perspective of a pro-AI girl group propaganda machine who use song, dance, sex and fashion to promote goodwill towards artificial intelligence," the deluxe edition's "We Appreciate Power" was (misguidedly) criticized as glorifying fascism. There's been a similar reaction, perhaps more understandably, to the album's promotional billboards, which bear the words "Global Warming Is Good," and instructions to deface them rendered in comparably tiny print. At best, the billboards are corny, and at worst, as evinced by the flurry of tweets like "but is she wrong tho?" they prompted, they're a boon to those who, without knowledge of Boucher's intention, simply see the ads as a vindication of their own beliefs.
Most confusingly, the marketing seems to be out of step with Miss Anthropocene's actual content, a lot of which doesn't discernibly reference the Earth or our climate. Boucher has said that the process of writing the album was an isolating experience, and that much of the material came from a dark, personal place. Even Miss Anthropocene's most apparently apocalyptic lyrics, like the reverb-drenched "This is the sound of the end of the world" on "Before the Fever," seem to do more to elucidate the kind of headspace Boucher was in at the time of writing than any grand message about the world's climate woes. Elsewhere, "Violence," about an abusive relationship, is only understood as being sung by the actual Earth to the very crisis of climate change because the singer has told us that it is.
But while this overarching concept might seem flimsy, Boucher's broad-strokes approach to lyricism and confident, cinematic production allows her to explore concerns that feel at once both deeply personal and fundamentally communal. The latter in particular is bolstered by the way she dissolves the limits of genre, splicing together ethereal electronics with nü-metal guitars on "So Heavy I Fell to the Earth" and four-to-the-floor trance with a Madonna-esque vocal melody on "Violence." Elsewhere, on "Darkseid," deep bass and doom-laden beats grind beneath a brittle performance by Taiwanese rapper 潘PAN, and a Bollywood sample butts up against drum n' bass on "4ÆM." But Boucher's most surprising pivot, as well as her loveliest, comes on "Delete Forever," a song about America's devastating opioid crisis and on which her delicate vocals float over an acoustic guitar, joined later by a banjo.
On an album as sonically diverse as Miss Anthropocene, the most significant thread that holds it all together, more than the topic of climate change or its creator's personal relationships, is Boucher's wild imagination and commitment to experimenting with her sound. At the very least, her dominant thematic angle has provided her with a means of inventing new characters to inhabit and new worlds to explore. And the result is a challenging exploration of the conflicting boundaries and boundlessness of personhood, technology, and society.
Label: 4AD Release Date: February 21, 2020 Buy: Amazon
Review: Caribou's Suddenly Is an Inviting Dive Into Familial Waters
The album takes family as its central theme with songs that express the perspectives of a range of characters.4.5
The narrative arc of Dan Snaith's career as Caribou (and Manitoba before it) has been one of increasing devotion to humanity. His earlier work was chilly enough that the Shakespeare-referencing title of 2005's The Milk of Human Kindness could be read as tongue-in-cheek. But starting with 2007's Andorra, Snaith began delving deeper into human emotions. Our Love, from 2014, was a tender examination of, well, love, while his latest, Suddenly, takes family as its central theme—the title comes from his daughter's obsession with the word—with songs that express the perspectives of a range of characters.
Snaith builds his songs with a cool, measured precision, as one might expect from someone who holds a doctorate in mathematics, and one of the fun games to play with this album is unpacking its myriad references and samples. "Lime," for instance, boasts the peppiness of a Röyksopp song filtered through the muzak setting on a Casio synthesizer. "Never Come Back" possesses the propulsive beat of a '90s dance-floor filler. "Like I Love You" is built on the bones of what sounds like an early-aughts R&B track. The album rewards this type of reference-spotting, and it's a treat to listen to the way such a masterful musician mines his own record collection for inspiration.
What makes the album so spectacular, though, is Snaith's voice. This is the first Caribou effort on which he sings on every track, and his vocals are mixed higher than they have been in the past. Throughout, his mesmerizing vocals elevate songs that might otherwise scan as banal. "Like I Love You" trades in a fairly well-trod sentiment, with Snaith rhapsodizing about an ex-lover, but he wrings every last drop of emotional possibility out of lines like "Does he love you like I used to do?/Do you ever miss me like I miss you?" Elsewhere, "Magpie" finds Snaith employing his vocals to maximum impact. The first half of the song, which features a lovely, McCartney-esque melody, is buried under compression that makes it sound like it's playing from the busted speakers of an old cathode-ray TV set. That distortion falls away halfway through, as Snaith sings, "And now the world is catching up to you," and the song blossoms, capturing the feeling of being in the first flush of love. This shift is but one among many moments of striking revelation throughout the album.
The brief "Sister" is a gentle, affecting lullaby about the responsibilities of love. Amid a whirl of rich, warm synth notes, Snaith sings softly, "Sister, I promise you I'm changing/You've had broken promises I know/If you want to change it you must break it/Rip it up and something new will grow." At the end of the line, a burst of static introduces a sample taken from an old tape of Snaith's mother singing his sister a lullaby. The political overtones of the lines are obvious, but the personal nature of the sample gives the song a weight that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the album. What he's addressing isn't as important as how he does it.
Label: Merge Release Date: February 28, 2020 Buy: Amazon
The 25 Best Guided by Voices Songs
We've collected a list of the 25 greatest songs in the band's dauntingly huge catalogue.
Since reforming in 2012, Guided by Voices has seemed to be on a mission to record more long-players than they did during the entirety of their original run, a 17-year stretch that began with 1987's charming, self-produced Devil Between My Toes and ended 15 albums later in 2004 with the muscular, mature Half Smiles of the Decomposed. Conventional wisdom says the band peaked with Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, the last album featuring the "classic" lineup featuring Tobin Sprout, Mitch Mitchell, and Kevin Fennell, but anyone who continued to pay attention after the band fell out of indie-snob favor knows that any permutation of the group only has one essential member: lead singer and world-class songwriter Robert Pollard. His mastery has never ceased for creating two-minute post-punk anthems that make singing along at maximum volume seem like the greatest pastime in the world.
We've collected a list of the 25 greatest songs in Guided by Voices's dauntingly huge catalogue. It's a list cut down from an initial group of 60, any one of which could've been included here. So if you don't see one of your personal favorites, know that I probably wrestled over whether to include it. With that caveat out of the way, here are the 25 tracks that most proudly represent a group that's not just one of the very best indie-rock bands, but on the short list of the greatest rock n' roll bands in history.
25. "Space Gun"
The title track from Guided by Voices's 2018 album is, like the album itself, one of the true highlights of the band's reformation and resurgence in the last decade. With production pitched between the spiky compression of their 4-track beginnings and the cleaner big-rock noise of their post-Alien Lanes run in the 2000s, it's a four-minute glam-prog stomper built around a glittering guitar line that sounds like "I Am a Tree" took the brown acid. And with lyrics which name-check John Philip Sousa, it isn't difficult to imagine "Space Gun" as the future fight song for a gang of besotted galactic raiders.
24. "An Unmarketed Product"
At various times in the band's storied career, Robert Pollard has abandoned his normal lyrical template of beguiling cosmic Dadaism to provide meta commentary on the band's legacy as mischievous outsiders playing on the margins of the corporate rock game. The lyrics caution, "I can give you credit/Suitable and custom tailored/And if you have any luck/You'll get ahead/Before you're dead," as this 69-second piss-take anthem mines sugary post-punk for a single-finger salute to the KROQ dreams that should've been the band's birthright.
23. "Man Called Aerodynamics"
When Bee Thousand first conquered the '90s indie-rock landscape, rock criticism's elder guard bemoaned the melodic ADD of their songs, with their manic rush to hooks and choruses an alleged affront to classic-rock formalism. What, then, would they have made of this roaring track from Under the Bushes, Under the Stars, seeming to begin midstream, at the very moment where its '60s and '70s forebears would already be at the minute mark? Sharing with "Space Gun" a sound that could be described as "Pete Townsend destroying his Gibson in a wind tunnel," "Man Called Aerodynamics" is as mammoth as anything lo-fi indie rock has ever produced.
22. "Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox"
"G-B-V! G-B-V! G-B-V!" chants the raucous crowd at the beginning of the nearly six-minute epic that kicks off the band's transitional 1992 album Propeller. As we'd discover later, the "crowd" was the band themselves using echo and a little striving wish fulfillment to imagine the kind of frenzied excitement that would greet the band a few years later. The track itself is like many of the group's forays into prog-rock: blazing mini-songs (technically two, if the title is to be trusted, though three by structure) strung together like a "Stars on 45" for the British invasion (non-Beatles edition), starting restless and rough, turning bright and hopeful, and then concluding in a cascade of reverbing choral tranquility.
21. "Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory"
Because almost everything Bob and the boys do is like a bizarro-world inverse of the rest of rock n' roll, when it comes to lighter-waving power ballads, their ne-plus-ultra entry stops right when everyone else's is just reaching the chorus. Built on a bed of keys from a piano that one imagines stained with tears, whiskey and spit, "Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory" is both melancholy and majestic—Leonard Cohen via "Champagne Supernova"—and the spectral production is so perfect that when And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead covered it years later with 10 times the budget, the dollars couldn't add a thing beyond surface shine.
Review: Soccer Mommy's Color Theory Is Bound by a Sense of Maturity
The album explores darker, weightier subject matter than its predecessor.3.5
With 2018's Clean, Soccer Mommy's Sophie Allison emerged on the scene sounding a lot like a moody indie rock incarnation of Taylor Swift. That album's "Your Dog" and "Cool" are effortless anthems that possess the same instantly anthemic quality as many of Swift's mega-hits. But the main connection between the two is a pseudo-adolescent outlook wherein their dating lives and associated travails are elevated to matters of life and death. Just 20 at the time of Clean's release, Allison was consumed by thoughts like "She's so pretty/Even more than me."
With Color Theory, Allison raises the stakes. Slicker than Clean, and beefed up by her touring band, the album's sparkling guitars and restrained studio sheen bring her sound closer to, if not Swift, then familiar '90s alt-rock touchstones like Built to Spill and Sebadoh. Allison's progression as a songwriter is more acutely evident in the album's darker, weightier subject matter: Continuing to draw on personal experience, she largely eschews songs about her love life, instead confronting her issues with mental health and abandonment.
Color Theory rarely progresses beyond the admittedly rich template established in its opening track, "Bloodstream." Here, Allison offers frank and poetic ruminations on her history of depression and self-harm as rhythm guitars thrum behind her. Her visceral lyrics—"Now a river runs red from my knuckles into the sink"—are partially obscured by a deceptively cheery chord progression, just like she once "covered up the wounds with my long sleeves."
In its subject matter, chords, rhythm, and tempo, "Circle the Drain" bears a strong resemblance to "Bloodstream." But the song's most lasting impression is its hook, a sing-song "Round and around" refrain that's deafening in its obviousness—not because it's uncreative, but because it's a wonder no one else thought of it sooner. Indeed, Allison's best melodic hooks—like the overlapping guitar lines on "Crawling in My Skin"—are often simple but indelible.
Even as Allison delves deep into heavy subject matter, she usually sounds more angsty than haunted. Which is fine when she delivers that angst with such melodic verve (the album's dourest-sounding songs, especially the final two, are easily the weakest, as they lack melodies strong enough to buoy Allison's disaffected musings). Her still-youthful perspective means that the charmingly tongue-in-cheek "Royal Screw Up," on which she imagines herself as an emotionally damaged waifu ("My dungeon of fire, I'm the princess of screwing up/And you wear your armor and you save pretty girls like me"), isn't totally out of place here.
Still, a sense of maturity binds the album's best moments. "Yellow Is the Color of Her Eyes" lazily unfolds over seven-plus minutes, but as with "Bloodstream," there's pain hidden beneath the pleasant vibes. Dogged by memories of her terminally ill mother, Allison laments that even her daydreams of happier times are tainted by the knowledge of what's to come: "Loving you isn't enough/You'll still be deep in the ground when it's done."
Color Theory's lynchpin is "Lucy," which makes clear just how much Allison has grown as a songwriter since Clean. Allison is having trouble with a boy, and there's another girl involved who's complicating matters. But this time, the boy isn't just a mean boyfriend; he's "the root of all evil," intent on dragging her to hell, perhaps literally so. And the other girl isn't a prettier or cooler rival; she seems to be a part of Allison's own psyche, constantly tormenting her. "Oh Lucy please/Quit taunting me," Allison pleads over and over, a refrain as menacing as it is catchy. Though some deeper and darker has taken root in this indie rock wunderkind, her melodic grip remains the backbone of her music.
Label: Loma Vista Release Date: February 28, 2020 Buy: Amazon
Review: Justin Bieber's Changes Represents a Marked Shift in the Singer's Perspective
The album finds the singer trying to usher in a new era characterized in large part by asking for help.3
In 2017, after over 250 tour dates across six continents, Justin Bieber canceled what remained of his Purpose World Tour, citing extreme exhaustion. The decision is touched on in the first episode of his YouTube docu-series Justin Bieber: Seasons, a not totally uncynical and yet undeniably humanizing snapshot of a troubled performer whose youthful mistakes were augmented by incredible wealth, increasing isolation, and a public whose gaze has been made all the more searing by the rapid growth of social media.
Taken together, Seasons and Changes, the singer's fifth album, find Bieber trying to usher in a new era in his life and career characterized in large part by asking for and receiving help. Along with medical professionals who are helping him to manage his recently diagnosed Lyme disease and Epstein Barr, in addition to his chronic anxiety, his new wife, Hailey Baldwin, seems also to have had a calming effect on his music. Where Bieber's previous albums have often felt engineered almost exclusively for the purpose of stimulating audience response, Changes seems focused instead on the tenderness and comfort of his newlywed bubble.
Seasons makes much of his perfectionism, showing him cut vocal tracks line by line, singing on a loop until he hits each note just right. But it's that attention to detail, along with the use of vocal effects that coat his voice in a plastic sheen, that holds Bieber at an unfortunate remove from us. In leaning into a more subdued palette of R&B, Changes creates a space for Bieber's voice to take a central role. But for an album that focuses so strongly on human connection, there's a certain lack of emotion that might have come from a looser recording process. That distance is counteracted in large part by a certain lyrical openheartedness, and though Bieber often veers into cliché—"When your battery gets low/I'll be the one to charge you up," he sings on "Take It Out on Me"—there's a real charm to the songs that rest so deeply not just on love or sex, but trust and commitment.
Although the tonal fluidity of Changes errs, from time to time, toward homogeneity, there's a weightlessness to it that seems to signify the slipping of a long-held burden from Bieber's shoulders. His most personal offering to date, the album feels like a reflection of actual experience as opposed to a projection of a fantasy. Putting aside the album's lead single, "Yummy," a Tik-Tok-baiting affront to both sex and music in equal measure, this is an album that feels very much like the documentation of a very specific moment in time in the singer's life and an accompanying marked shift in his perspective.
Label: Def Jam Release Date: February 14, 2020 Buy: Amazon
Review: Yacht Rock Revue's Hot Dads in Tight Jeans Is More Parody Than Tribute
The album seems destined to be, if nothing else, the weirdest debut of the year.2
Yacht Rock Revue's Hot Dads in Tight Jeans seems destined to be, if nothing else, the weirdest debut of the year. It's the work of an affable group of guys who travel the country playing the kind of '70s and '80s light rock that gives their band its name. Over the past decade, Yacht Rock Revue has built something of a soft-rock empire, playing in major venues across the country and hosting an annual festival in Atlanta where they're often joined on stage by the musicians they've made their bones covering. Now, having established themselves as the premier purveyors of yesteryear's smoothest hits, the band is releasing their first album of original material. But while Yacht Rock Revue is a stellar live band, Hot Dads in Tight Jeans often fails to show what makes them special in the first place.
Having made music as a cover band for so long, Yacht Rock Revue seems tempted to play "spot the reference" with their original material rather than engaging with the songs on their own merits. Some of the tracks, of course, wear their influences on their sleeves: "House in the Clouds" is built around a Matthew Wilder/Thomas Dolby synth riff, while "Change of Scene" apes Stevie Wonder. The album's palette isn't exclusively limited to the '70s—"You're Welcome Baby" sounds uncannily like Kishi Bashi's brand of indie-pop—but it's easy to get distracted wondering who the band might be trying to sound like in any given song.
The album's larger issue is exemplified by opening track "The Doobie Bounce," the title of which is a winking reference to the jaunty rhythm perfected by the Doobie Brothers that JD Ryznar has held up as a hallmark of the genre on his podcast Yacht or Nyacht. The song itself is about the pleasures of getting stoned and listening to records, referencing the Doobie Brothers, Sade, and, perhaps surprisingly, OutKast, and it has one good laugh line: "I used to sleep on couches/Now I sleep on nicer couches." Yacht rock has a reputation for skimming the surface of emotions, but that stereotype isn't totally fair: Daryl Hall is a clever songwriter, and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are among the sharpest and most acidic satirists in rock. These songs, though, are disappointingly obvious. "House in the Clouds" is about living in a house above the clouds, and "Another Song About California" is, well, I'll let you guess.
The band's tendency toward obviousness comes to a head on "Bad Tequila," a party anthem that revises the old chesnut about turning lemons into lemonade into a joke about turning tequila into margaritas. It's certainly catchy, and pure escapism certainly has a proud tradition in pop, but it's also, at five minutes long, frustratingly repetitive.
Say what you will about the genre, but most AOR bands were tight musicians, and Yacht Rock Revue has likewise honed their craft to a razor's edge. The appeal of their live shows lies in the way they treat their music with utmost reverence, even as they perform dressed in costume to crows of people crushing daiquiris and wearing captain's hats. From its jokey title and cover art to the somewhat undercooked songs, however, Hot Dads in Tight Jeans feels more like a parody than a tribute to the genre Yacht Rock Revue so clearly love.
Label: Please Rock Release Date: February 21, 2020 Buy: Amazon
Review: Guided by Voices's Surrender Your Poppy Field Serves Power Pop with a Twist
Robert Pollard is still coming up with new twists on his patented brand of anthemic power pop.4
Nearly 40 years into his career, Robert Pollard is still coming up with new twists on his patented brand of anthemic power pop, like a magician forever pulling rabbits out of a hat. Ever since Pollard assembled a new Guided by Voices lineup for 2017's August by Cake, the band has showcased a different facet of their sound with each outing, and that diversification continues on Surrender Your Poppy Field. The album weaves the unusual time signatures, song lengths, and baroque-prog structures of last year's Sweating the Plague with the tight melodicism that's made some of Pollard's best solo albums so memorable.
In comparison to their longer counterparts on Sweating the Plague, almost every song here runs through several moods and styles rapidly—but without ever sounding rushed or contrived. "Cul-de-Sac Kids" alternates between gentle acoustic strumming and brief full-band bashing before launching into an underdogs-win-the-day chorus—"Cul-de-sac kids throw the best parties!"—bolstered by the album's most driving riff. It's the most complex and exhilarating track on the album, all in just a little over two-and-a-half minutes.
The album's lead single, "Volcano," is a Pixies-esque ballad buoyed by Mark Shue's muted bass runs. What makes the song both uniquely strange and beautiful in the Guided by Voices catalog is the inclusion of atmospheric keyboard phrases that play over verses containing some of the prettiest lyrics Pollard has written: "True is the time when I see you/Blue from the blinds that I see through." The explosion of the chorus into a wall of power chords provides Pollard's life-affirming exhortation—"On the trail of lovers/Never failing with their loving eyes around you to prove your rage isn't true"—with the perfect euphoric accompaniment.
The album's biggest surprise is that several tracks—"Arthur Has Business Elsewhere," "Steely Dodgers," and "Andre the Hawk"—utilize waltz time to evoke the kind of carnival-esque stomps that comprised some of Guided By Voices's earliest recordings, including 1987's Sandbox and 1989's Self-Inflicted Aerial Nostalgia. These songs offer a compelling contrast to more straightforward rock tracks like "Stone Cold Moron," which features a double electric guitar attack from Doug Gillard and Bobby Bare Jr. that's pure arena-rock euphoria.
Indeed, waltzes aside, Surrender Your Poppy Field may be the most consistently hard-edged and rocking Guided by Voices effort since 2018's Space Gun. "Queen Parking Lot" and "Man Called Blunder" waste no time as rousing, unfussy riffs barrel into verse-chorus-verse sing-alongs. It all leads to a stunning conclusion, as "Next Sea Level" transforms an eerie demo-quality recording of chime-like guitar strums into a majestic full-band and orchestra-accompanied crescendo. The song's title and chants of "rising" suggest a climate change apocalypse, but since that would be far too on the nose, the ever-oblique Pollard ends with something mysteriously hopeful: "To hear you/To touch you/To know you're coming around/Still coming around." Beyond the Tommy reference, "Next Sea Level" proves that Pollard can foster worlds of thought and feeling out of sparse yet strategic gestures.
"Next Sea Level" also represents the welcome maturity of the current incarnation of Guided by Voices, whose only Achilles' heel is an exhausting deluge of content. Some have lamented Pollard's prolific songwriting for diluting the quality of his output, but at this stage of his career Surrender Your Poppy Field proves he's deepening rather than merely proliferating his music, continuing to grow up instead of growing old.
Label: GbV Release Date: February 20, 2020 Buy: Amazon
Billie Eilish Drops Lush James Bond Theme Song "No Time to Die"
The lush, darkly cinematic track feature an orchestral arrangement courtesy of Hans Zimmer and guitar from Johnny Marr.
On the heels of her historic Grammy wins, singer-songwriter Billie Eilish has unveiled "No Time to Die," the theme song from the upcoming James Bond film of the same name. The song was produced by her brother and frequent collaborator, Finneas, and veteran knob-twirler Stephen Lipson. The lush, darkly cinematic track falls in line with past 007 themes, with an orchestral arrangement courtesy of Hans Zimmer and Matt Dunkley, and featuring guitar from Johnny Marr of the Smiths.
The 18-year-old Eilish, the youngest person and first woman to win the four main Grammy categories in the same year, is now the youngest artist to both write and record a Bond theme. She will perform the song live for the first time at The Brit Awards on February 18.
No Time to Die hits U.S. theaters on April 10 through MGM/United Artists Releasing.
Review: The Men's Mercy Finds a Mercurial Band Settling Into Their Sound
The album boasts a few moments of exploration but seems more staid in its ambitions.3.5
The Men is a mercurial band, having moved with remarkable swiftness from the punishing noise-punk of their early albums to the more radio-friendly rock of their more recent output. The Brooklyn band's eighth album, Mercy, continues to challenge the boundaries of genre, with psych-folk sitting alongside twangy alt-country and rave-up hardcore. The album's variety displays a commendable commitment to sonic adventurousness, though the band isn't quite pushing boundaries like it once did.
Mercy is the Men's third consecutive album with the same roster, and this relative stability has allowed them to settle into their sound. The album was recorded mostly live with minimal overdubbing, a testament to just how in sync the current lineup has become as a unit. The penultimate track, "Breeze," is a fuzztone ripper with a throat-searing vocal that moves at a breakneck pace, while lead single "Children All Over the World" pairs serpentine guitar licks with singer Nick Chiericozzi's sinister whisper and a dark, delightfully '80s-inspired synth riff. The song builds to a blistering solo almost reminiscent of Eddie Van Halen, rendering it simultaneously familiar but fresh—at least for the Men.
The country-rock sound that the band began exploring on 2012's Open Your Heart was a radical departure from their earlier style, and here these genre excursions prove to be some of the album's strongest. "Cool Water" is a loose, Laurel Canyon-esque rocker, while the title track is a folky deathbed sigh, with Chiericozzi coolly pleading, "I need mercy at the hour of my death." And though its title nods to Sleater-Kinney, "Call the Dr." isn't a spiky punk song, but rather a chooglin' country romp with a first-person murder narrative in the vein of Marty Robbins's "El Paso." The song's narrator tells a story about getting gunned down after a heist, dying atop his ill-gotten goods. The lyrics display a powerful sense of economy, sketching out just enough details to make the story vivid without becoming overwrought. The finger-picked guitar fills and Chiericozzi's raspy vocals give the track a sort of dusty, western verisimilitude.
The album's centerpiece, "Wading in Dirty Water," is a 10-minute psychedelic jam with an unsettling but catchy synth hook; the guitar solo sounds like vintage Nels Cline, though it drags on for at least a couple of minutes too long. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the spare piano ballad "Fallin' Thru" veers into crooner territory, with vocals that are mixed almost like an ASMR video. The song seems to be aiming for a quiet menace reminiscent of Tom Waits or Nick Cave, but the overall effect is somewhere between soporific and goofy.
Overall, Mercy doesn't quite measure up to the band's stellar triptych of albums released between 2012 and 2014, on which they stretched to expand their repertoire, challenging themselves to explore various sounds from throughout the history of rock while refining their chops and chasing wild hares. Mercy boasts a few moments of exploration but seems more staid in its ambitions.
Label: Sacred Bones Release Date: February 14, 2020 Buy: Amazon


text:
The Knotted Line is an interactive, tactile laboratory for exploring the historical relationship between freedom and confinement in the geographic area of the United States. With miniature paintings of over 50 historical moments from 1495-2025, The Knotted Line asks: how is freedom measured? Just as importantly, The Knotted Line imagines a new world through the work of grassroots movements for self-determination.
- Evan Bissell - Director and Painting
- Tanya Orellana - Research
- Lisa Nowlain - Research
- Josh Begley - Additional Concept Design
Content management by Scalar, a project of the Alliance for Networking Visual Culture
The Knotted Line has been made possible through the generous support of:
- Panta Rhea Foundation
- East Bay Community Foundation
- United States Artists Projects
- Numerous individual donors
The Knotted Line is produced by Radical Imagination, a member of the Intersection Incubator program at Intersection for the Arts.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
FARMVILLE, Va. (WATE) – Indiana Governor Mike Pence and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine faced off Tuesday night in the only vice presidential campaign of the year. The two sought to challenge each other over their running mates' positions on the issues, leading to several noteworthy moments during the 90 minute debate.
Records obtained by The New York Times showed Donald Trump suffered more than $900 million in losses in 1995 that could have allowed him to avoid paying federal income taxes for as many as 18 years. When asked about those reports, Pence said his running mate followed the tax laws as he should have.
"Donald Trump is a businessman, not a career politician," said Pence. "His tax returns showed he went through a very difficult time, but he used the tax code just the way it was supposed to be used and he did it brilliantly."
Kaine, who appeared to be on the attack throughout the debate, challenged Pence on Trump's decision not to release his tax returns.
The topic eventually shifted to immigration, during which Pence said Trump would "end illegal immigration once and for all." Before Kaine spoke on Hillary Clinton's stance on immigration, the candidates took a moment to argue about which candidate had insulted more people and had an "insult-driven campaign."
Kaine had earlier brought up Trump's criticism of a Latino judge, calling Mexicans "rapists and criminals," and Trump's previous support of the "birther" movement, questioning whether President Obama had been born in the United States.
"If Donald Trump had said all the things you said he said, in exactly the way you said he said them, he still wouldn't have a fraction of the insults that Hillary Clinton leveled when she said that half of our supporters were a 'basket of deplorables,'" said Pence.
Moderator Elaine Quijano admonished both candidates, saying the audience at home could not understand either of them when they were talking over each other.
Kaine eventually made it back to Clinton's immigration plans, which he said would focus on border control and a path to citizenship.
Another heated exchange came during the topic of Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Governor Pence made the odd claim, he said inarguably that Vladimir Putin is a better leader than President Obama," said Kaine. "If you don't know the difference between dictatorship and leadership, then you got to go back to a fifth grade civics class."
Pence denied the claim, saying he had been stronger on the world stage. In actuality, during a CNN interview in September, Pence said, "I think it's inarguable that Vladimir Putin has been a stronger leader in his country than Barack Obama has been in this country."
Both candidates were asked to speak about challenged they'd faced in balancing their faith and public service. Kaine spoke on his struggles being Catholic and against the death penalty while being governor of a state where the death penalty was legal.
Pence spoke about his opposition to abortion, which led to a debate on the issue.
"For me, I would tell you for the sanctity of life proceeds out of that ancient principle of god. I tried to stand for the ancient principle of the sanctity of life. I am also very pleased that Indiana became the most -adoption state. But what I can understand is Hillary Clinton, how she can support a process like partial-birth abortion. I know you hold pro-life views personal. At the very idea that a child almost born into the world could still have their life taken from them, I cannot conscience a party that supports that," said Pence.
"Hillary and I are both from religious backgrounds. Her Methodist church experience was very informative for her as a public servant. But we both feel you should live fully and with enthusiasm your faith. But, let's talk about abortion and choice. We support Roe vs Wade. We support the constitutional right of American women to consult their own conscience and make their own decision about pregnancy," said Kaine. "Governor pence wants to repeal Roe vs. Wade. He says he wants to put it on the ash heap of history. Before Roe vs. Wade, states could punish women if they made the choice to abort a pregnancy. I think you should live your moral values, but the last thing governments should do is to have laws that would punish women who make reproductive choices."The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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Olimar Kallas was an Estonian caricaturist and comic artist. All his characters are well known and loved in Estonia and have an important place in the Estonian comic book history. He published several comic strips in magazines like Pioneer in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1979 he published his first album '3 Lugu'.
This was followed by 'Proovisõit' (1981), 'Seiklus Sekontias sundmaandumisega Pelikanisaarel' (1986), 'Kevadtriller' (1990), 'Parem käsi tegutseb' (1995) and 'Kogu lugu' (2006). He also created cartoon series such as 'Eksam XXI sajandisse' and 'Ootamatu pärandus'.


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The latest version of Google Maps now allows users to order a ride via Uber, provided users already have the app installed on their smartphone, according to reports.
Users can choose to use Uber with a single tap that from Google Maps, according to PCWorld, and it marks the first time Google is using a third-party outside of public transportation.
Other updates to the software aren't as impressive, but does give distance and estimated arrival now on the screen, which lane drivers should use and alternate routes. Previously, the app had estimated arrive and route time, but wouldn't scroll both. The new update also gives time and distance via Uber as well as public transportation or walking. Not surprisingly, Uber is likely faster than both.
U.S. & World
Perhaps this is a new way Google hopes to monetize Google Maps?


text:
King Tut Coffin Plaque
This dimensional Egyptian plaque depicts King Tuts outer sarcophagus coffin.
King Tut Coffin Plaque by Summit Collection Museum Replicas
Finely detailed plaque measures 8 x 4.5 x 1.25 inches.Item Number: PT-Y8270 | Approximate Size (Inches): 4.50 wide x 1.25 deep x 8.00 high | Approximate Shipping Weight: 2.00 lbs.
|Cold Cast Resin
|Resin is a polymer which can be used for making molds as well as cast in molds. Cold-cast resin is generally for sculpture and means that the resin material is cast without the need for the extreme heat of a foundry. It holds very sharp detail when cast. Most of the major lines of figurines on the market today are made of cold cast resin. It is fragile if dropped and fractures similar to glass, usually in clean pieces which can be glued using a household super glue.
|Country of Origin
|Made in China
|Availability & Delivery
|Inventory is updated regularly and will be shown with any sizes/items out of stock indicated with estimated time of arrival (ETA) noted when available. Not all manufacturers provide inventory data and even in stock items can be sold out without notice. We will notify you of any out of stock items as soon as possible or you can contact us in advance of placing your order to verify availability.
|*Average Delivery:
|This is the average, estimated time for delivery within the USA and is subject to availability, seasonal sales volume, and other unforeseen delays. If you must have an item by a specific date, be sure to include that date in your cart comments when checking out. Deliveries outside the US will take an additional 10-15+ days based on destination country and customs. International deliveries may have additional import duties, taxes, or fees imposed before delivery that we cannot charge or estimate - contact your local customs office for information.


text:
Sleep State Lyrics
I don't think this has been a wasted game.
Just between you and me, we've been playing for way too long.
I think that this might be the thing that pushes you, drags me, drags me along.
Get up get up, this is my last chance.
When you wanted me to let go of my head and my heart, I fell apart. I fell apart. I fell apart.
Let go of my head, this heart awaits a second chance, a second chance to beat stronger. Cold blood rushing through my head, only brings back stinging memories, this cold blood surrounds me. I fell apart.
Get up get up, this is my last chance.
I found my legs here under me.
I found the strength to run to you.
I am not what I appear.
Give me the chance to make a change.
When you wanted me to let go of my head and my heart. I fell apart. I need you to need me for me.


text:
ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is expanding its collaboration with Montgomery County Public Schools to enhance music programs in schools with the greatest needs.
The orchestra announced a new program Wednesday called OrchLab that will expand music offerings to middle and high school students with classroom instruction and performances. It will begin as a pilot program in 23 schools to target lower income students.
Student musicians participating in the program can have up to three mentorship visits from BSO musicians. The students also will be able to attend a BSO concert at The Music Center at Strathmore.
Instrumental music teachers also will have professional development with the BSO.
The BSO also works with students in the Baltimore City Public Schools. The BSO performs in both Baltimore and in Montgomery County.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)


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General Electric's new halogen-compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulb solves the main complain people have about CFL: It takes too much time to achieve full brightness level. I don't care too much about that, but it's really neat looking.
It's very simple and clever. When you turn the light on, both the CFL and the halogen module light up. That makes the light obtain an optimal brightness level right when it gets turned on. When the CFL achieves full brightness, the halogen automatically shuts down.
GE says that these 15- and 20-watt hybrid lights could replace 60- and 75-watt incandescent light bulbs, with lower consumption and eight times their life span: 8,000 hours. No word about pricing or availability yet. [GE via Inhabitat]


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Actually, some recent research has shown plants themselves (along with animals) produce a lot of "greenhouse" emissions - so simply re-foresting may not make things any better...
I will dig up the ref.
Actually, some recent research has shown plants themselves (along with animals) produce a lot of "greenhouse" emissions - so simply re-foresting may not make things any better...
I will dig up the ref.
I believe (and I am quite happy to be corrected) that the optimal way to get trees to capture carbon is to grow them big and then cut them down while planting more. I.e., not let them rot or be burnt. One of the best things to do with the wood is to use it in construction, so that the carbon in the wood just stays there for decades or centuries.
Anyone got an idea about the sunspots theory? And whether these guys have taken the $10K offered by Texaco for anti-global warming research? It all sounds like nonsense to me but I'm no scientist.
Out now: Move Down Low VIP on SOUL JAZZ Records SJR225-12
Out now: Blackdown & Dusk Meet Grievous Angel Uptown: Margins Music Redux (Keysound LDN014)
Out now: Soundclash1 Remix / Harpy (Keysound LDN011)
Out now: Ice Rink Refix (Devotional Dubz ERZULIE03)
Out soon: WOOFAH 4!
http://blog.grievousangel.net/ | http://www.myspace.com/grievousangelsoundsystem
But as the planet heats up the recycling (rotting) process gets accelerated so more carbon is released...
Last edited by Mr. Tea; 29-04-2010 at 08:23 PM.
What do you think this little guy is emitting?
Plants deciding they are no longer vegetarians is the last thing we need...
A few.
They are known as epiphytes.
I think epiphytes grow on other other plants without deriving nutrients from them - like moss on a tree-trunk - as opposed to true parasites like mistletoe.
Just yesterday, as it happens, I was reading on WP about myco-heterotrophs which sound pretty weird - apparently they can act as epiparasites in plants (parasites that live on a parasite!). Crazy stuff.
The Great Global Warming Swindle
Assertions: CO2 changes follow temperature changes, CO2 is not a cause of climate change it is an effect. Thatcher lofted the idea of global warming due to CO2 to bolster the nuclear industry against oil, gas and coal for energy security and union smashing reasons. And so on...
This documentary has been heavily criticized, a lot of the people involved in it have since come out against it.
Full story here:
^ including a letter from Wunsch in the comments:
My appearance in the "Global Warming
Swindle" is deeply embarrasing, and my professional reputation
has been damaged. I was duped---an uncomfortable position in which to be.
At a minimum, I ask that the film should never be seen again publicly
with my participation included. Channel 4 surely owes an apology to
its viewers, and perhaps WAGTV owes something to Channel 4. I will be
taking advice as to whether I should proceed to make some more formal protest."


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GC Library District 10th annual Shoebox Float Contest
The Grand County Library District is proud to announce its 10th annual Shoe Box Float Contest in honor of National Library Week.
Contest Guidelines
Grades K-5 will decorate the top of a box based upon a character, scene, or title (etc.) of a favorite book:
〈 Elementary-aged children, grades K-5th, are encouraged to participate.
〈 Floats must be on top of a covered shoe box or similar size box.
〈 Put the title and author of the book on the side of the covered box. Place your name, grade, and phone number on the bottom of your float.
〈 Enter your float at the Grand County library branch of your choice, Granby, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Fraser Valley, or the Juniper Library in Grand Lake by April 13, 2013.
Please submit an entry form with your entry, found at your local library or online at http://www.gcld.org. All participants are invited to a Root Beer Float Party during National Library Week, April 14-20. Great books and fun prizes will be awarded! Please call (970) 406-0765 for more information.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


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The Altmark is situated in the triangle formed by Hamburg - Hannover - Berlin in the northern part of Saxony-Anhalt. It is one of Germany's oldest cultural landscapes and is regarded as the "Cradle of Prussia".
The Altmark is spacious and expansive, giving it a thoroughly comprehensible layout and making it ideal for peaceful travel, either by horse-drawn caravan over country lanes and peaceful roads or on horseback through Germany's largest mapped riding path network.
The landscape of the Altmark is characterized by the influence of the last Ice Age and today's strong focus on agricultural use: Fields and meadows stretching to the horizon, interrupted by streams and gentle valleys, bordered by forest areas and hills.
Here you have time to appreciate, observe and enjoy the surroundings. This provides the opportunity, usually unanticipated, for discovering nooks and crannies that can only be described as 'hidden treasures'.
The "Romanesque Road" leads to a number of historical monuments from the Middle Ages. Today, traveling by horse-drawn caravan at a comfortable speed (5 km/h) over the old highways and byways, one can really get a feeling for the "tempo" of ages past.


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Take it Away!
Now that we have private messaging…. how about a thread for stuff that we don't want anymore? Be sure to include any shipping restrictions.
Edited, to clarify:
Stuff should only be posted here if you're willing to give it away without expectation of receiving anything in return.
If the receiver wishes to offer something in return, that's cool (or they can post their own giveaways).
Stuff I don't want. Shipping just to North America (changed it – Canada and Mexico should be fine, I think).
Stash Orange Starfruit (it's really more of a chamomile)
Teavana's Zingiber Ginger Coconut
Stash YMY Genmai Green (we won't drink all of this one)
Teavana Plum Harvest (I'm just not going to drink it all)
I would be interested in these if you want to swap some stuff…or something…I can't send out your package until after the middle of next week tho…PM me if interested…
Has anyone claimed that Ginger Coconut? Or the plum Harvest?
Yes please. Let me know if there's anything from my stash you'd like to trade for!
Ah the need for "Take this!" buttons by cupboard items:) This'll serve it's purpose in the mean time though. Thanks for starting it.
Great thread idea, denisend!
Stuff I don't want, let's see….
Choconut Chai – Zhena's Gypsy
Tropical Fruits Red Tea – Vykasa
Pumpkin Spice – Stash
Mango – Tea Desire
Mango-Papaya Rooibos – Tea Desire
Formosa Oolong – Zack's Coffee and Tea
Get Clean – The Rebublic of Tea
If anyone wants anything from the list, feel free to contact me on the IM thingy. I live in Canada but I'm pretty flexible (within reason) as to where I'll ship to.
Can't IM you, but if you don't have anyone from Canada willing to take Get Clean! off your hands, I'd be willing to try it.
Huh, I didn't realize that we could only IM the people we're following. In that case my email is [email protected]
I've got no problem sending it to you Cofftea; it doesn't cost that much more to send it to the States. Besides, I think there's barely a handful of Canadian Steepsterites and Pete and I seem to the the only active ones in the forum. :D
Sent you a PM
Jillian I have observed some fm Toronto…and I am sure there are 'lurkers' fm coast to coast to coast…hey? Any Canadians reading this stand up and be proud…how about that Hockey Team eh?
GONE-Coconut cocoa tea – the republic of tea
sorry that's it for now
amazonv @ gmail dot com – i mostly have sample sizes that are gone after i try them
will ship anywhere, but it's nearly a full canister (20 teabags) so i'd like similar amount back in swap (loose or bagged or mix i don't care)
Please take these off my hands (will ship anywhere):
52 Teas: Buttered Cinnamon Raisin Toast Tea (approximately 1.5 ounces)
52 Teas: Organic Stevia Leaves
Red Leaf Tea's Wild Money Marsala Wine Tea (approximately 1.5 ounces)
Republic of Tea's Cardamon Cinnamon tisane (approximately 30 tea bags)
52 Teas' Date Flavored Black Tea (approximately 2 ounces)
Teafrog's Chocolate & Ginger Spice tisane (approximately 100 grams)
Numi's Rooibos (approximately 12 tea bags)
I don't need anything in trade. I will add more to this list as I figure things out. I will cross out anything that I have sent out.
You've given me so much already, I hate to ask- but I'd be interested in the Organic Stevia leaves. Please put me at the very bottom of the priority list though:)
Not a problem. You can have the stevia. As you already know, I'm slow at mailing things out and seldom manage it during the week. So it will go in the mail sometime between now and Sunday.
How did you get the strike-through in your post, Carolyn?
Oh, and I'll take some (maybe half) of your TeaFrog Chocolate & Ginger Spice, and could I try one or two of the Cardamom Cinnamon RoT teabags?
Do you want anything that I posted on this thread or from my Cupboard in exchange?
I'd like to try a small amount of the Marsala Wine tea since you're sending out the stevia.
I'd really prefer to not have to make small amounts and send them out. If it doesn't work for you to get the bag or container, it's probably better for me to wait for someone who doesn't mind getting the whole thing. Quite frankly, I'm busy enough that if I have to separate out tea into smaller bags, label them and so forth, I won't be able to send these out for at least a month or two and that makes sending these unfeasible for me.
OH! Me! Me! Me!!!!! I will send you a PM if you are still willing to send these…let me know if you are interested in anything, too, btw
@Jillian To make the strike through put a hyphen at the beginning of the first letter of the first word you want struck through. Then put a hyphen next to the last letter of the last word you want to strike through.
Could I possibly get the 52 Teas date flavored black tea? I'm still on the fence about it, but it'd be great to have..
My sense is that my life is unusual enough that I should probably explain rather than assume that everyone will understand without explanation.
Here's my life: I work 50-70 hours a week and sometimes on weekends as well. I can't tell when I will be woken at 2 in the morning to deal with an emergency server issue but when I am, I drag for a day or two and am not a very effective human. In those cases I will need to put more hours in at work to fix anything I did badly while working without sleep. In addition, I run with my husband in the morning and do a complementary exercise hour with him each night (weights or yoga or something else). We are also working on our novels and devote an hour a night to that. So most of the time I am only able to package things up for mail on weekends (if I'm not working) and even weekends are often tight for time.
I am fortunate to have enough money that the cost of postage is a non-issue to me. The cost of tea is pretty much a non-issue to me as well. This abundance of money has led me into trouble. It means that I can buy tea I am tempted by but don't have room for and don't have time to organize and deal with. I am put in mind of Pete's notes about materialism and feel that I have fallen into that trap with tea and teaware.
In my ideal world, I would find a person to take the tea I don't like. I would send out tea in the original packaging in envelopes that I can put in my mailbox (because finding time to go to the post office to mail boxes is also difficult for me).
In my ideal world after I have culled my tea, I would find a way to become less likely to buy so much and would be content with what I have rather than chasing novelty whenever some attractive tea appeared in my vision. In truth, I suspect it will be easier to find someone to take my tea than it will be to change my basic acquisitive personality.
So that's me and that's why I am fine with postage to anywhere, fine with sending you teas and not receiving anything in return, but am a bit of a jerk when it comes to doing something that would take more time.
@TeaEqualsBliss Which do you want?
@Bethany Yes, I will send the Date tea to you once you send me your address (in private mail).
Carolyn – I sent you a PM…let me know if you didn't get it.
Also…I am soooooo with ya on the unusual life! :) I have tons too so if you are interested let me know. Not that I have a bunch of money floating around (LOL) but am always interested in swapping and sharing teas! Plus…it seems we have a lot in common outside of tea…being veg and into yoga and computers and other things…teehee…or should I say TEAHEE…
Hi Carolyn. If you haven't sent out the Marsala Wine Tea, may I take it off your hands?
@Carolyn oh my you babysit servers too? i am amazed how fast i wake up when i hear the words 'disaster recovery' but anyway, in no rush at all as i have much tea i'm interested in the Teafrog's Chocolate & Ginger Spice tisane if i could. just a serving or two, i don't need a ton, i'd just like to try it.
With notes in my personal message area (and no way for me to figure out what time each person wrote me there since it only shows '1 day ago' for everyone) and no way to compare times from personal messages against the times for people who wrote on this thread, I am utterly confused and unable to proceed with sending things out fairly. (I am deeply frustrated with this situation.)
I will try to figure out a system by which I can do this in the future without causing myself this level of confusion. It may be that the only solution is to require people to leave their requests on this thread instead of my private mail, which puts things in order. But requiring that now would be unfair to the people who have already posted in my private mail. Or there may be some other solution that I will be able to figure out when I actually have time to think (which probably won't come until May).
Second, despite my best efforts at explaining why I really don't want to repackage small amounts of tea, most people have asked for that, which as I mentioned is really not workable for me. So I am thinking that this experiment in getting other people to adopt the teas I don't like is an utter failure and I either need to think of some other way of doing this or simply resign myself to throwing the tea out. If anyone has recommendations on how to do this fairly (without dividing tea into smaller packets) please let me know.
I know what you mean! I'm just happy with want ever tea anyone wants to send…amount doesn't matter…it should be easy and fun…if it's not it becomes more like work…and no one wants more work, ya know!? :P You're awesome Carolyn and I/We Appreciate you! I just wanted to say that! :) CHEERS!
@Carolyn no one should be stressed by this! go with whatever you read first, and send the whole thing, they can always re-post the remainder if they don't end up liking it!
I'd take
Republic of Tea's Cardamon Cinnamon tisane
Teafrog's Chocolate & Ginger Spice tisane
if still available. I'll follow you so you can follow me so I can PM you. NO rush – I read your post :-)
Take it Away – Take it Away – Take it Away NOW…
Here's my first list…let me know who wants what…
GONE- Cofftea -Bags of MISC Salada Teas
Bags of MISC Disney Teas
Bags of Acai Mango Zinger from Celestial Seasonings
Bags of Candy Cane Lane (just because I bought extra)
GONE – Cofftea – Opened Box of Ginseng Energy Wellness Tea from CS – About half full still
Maine Teaberry Tea – Stonewall Kitchen – Republic of Tea – about 1-2 servings of Loose Leaf Available
Long Life – Green Tea with Lemon Grass – Bags
Black Cherry Berry – C.S. – Bags
Benner Tea Bags – Black Tea – I HAVE LOTS!!!!
GONE- Cofftea – Raspberry Ginger – Yogi Tea – Bags
Decaf Citron – Adagio – a little less than 2-ounces
GONE – BETHANY – Chesnut – Adagio – a little less than 2-ounces
GONE – BETHANY – Cha Cha – Adagio – 2-ounces
More coming soon…
If no one has claimed the decaf citron, could I please have it? All or split it so I share w/ someone, it really doesn't matter- whatever is best for you. I'd also be interested in the acai mango and teaberry.
This is four years old…
Okay…some more…
GONE – Denise- Sweet Potato Pie – Adagio – just under 2-ounces
GONE – Wombatgirl – Peach Oolong – Teavana – Approx an ounce
GONE – Wombatgirl – Boston Tea Campaign Green Darjeeling Finest Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe – Approx an ounce
GONE – Jillian – Blue Mountain Niligiri – The Tea Spot
Enough for a serving of Vanilla Creme Earl Grey from California Tea House
Okie, please throw the Sweet Potato Pie into my package? The husband and I will have to try it!
I'd love to try that peach oolong… I'm really getting into oolongs these days.
Sure! I have it marked…send me a PM with your info! And anything else you may be interested in…I will see what I can do! I would hate to send you just 1 tea! LOL
Would love to try the Vanilla Creme Earl Grey, as well as the Maine Teaberry Tea – Stonewall Kitchen, if they're still available.
UP FOR GRABS to first replys (thread please, not PM — too hard to track both & want it to be open to people I may not be following.)
EDIT: The "sweet" package is on it's way to AmazonV. The rest are NO LONGER a "Package Deal" (unless you want it all). I will mix/match – take as much as you want. Also added Mighty Leaf Rainforest mate.*
Mighty Leaf Rainforest Mate (10 bags – "artisan whole leaf pouches")
Chai Green Tea – Stash (6 bags)
Decaf Vanilla Chai – Twinings (12 bags)
Tropical Rooibos – Saphara (12 bags)
Authentic Green with White – Celestial Seasonings (2 bag sampler pack)
Ok, the mate, rooibos, and vanilla chai are going to Gander. I'll just keep the green teas for myself unless someone really wants them. I really don't care for the green chai but I can give it away in teabag swaps on swap-bot.com.
I've updated this list. I hope the people subscribed to the thread don't get a new message every time I edit! I was trying to do strikethrough and it wasn't working for me so I just deleted the tea that's gone.
PS – Saphara is Celestial Seasonings upmarket brand. They are in pyramid bags.
Ah, I feel bad because I already applied for other "up for grabs," but I love trying new stuff… I would like:
Mighty Leaf Rainforest Mate (10 bags – "artisan whole leaf pouches")
Decaf Vanilla Chai – Twinings (12 bags)
If other people want some I can share… as long as janefan doesn't mind splitting shipments.
Hi Gander, glad you're interested. I just started following you and sent a PM. :-)
Okay kids, here's Round 2! They're not a package deal, so you can request one or a bunch, whatever you choose. :)
Pumpkin Spice Decaf – Stash (12 teabags)
Earl Grey Decaf – Stash (4 teabags)
Raspberry Cream Rooibos – Ronnefeldt Tea – TeaEqualsBliss
Chocolatey Chai – President's Choice (10 tea bags) – Tea EqualsBliss
White Rain – Specifically Tea (50 g) – TeaEqualsBliss
Earl Grey Bravo – Adagio (I'm not giving away the whole 4 oz tin, I just have more than I'll use, so I thought I'd share – probably 20-30 g or so) – Gander
I'm also adding these to the list of teas up from grabs:
Okanagan Apple Spice – Tillicum Valley Tea Co (~50g) – Silvermage2000
Margaret's Hope Darjeeling – Specifically Tea (~20g) – Gander & AJ
Raspberry Cream Rooibos – Ronnefeldt Tea
Chocolatey Chai – President's Choice (10 tea bags)
White Rain – Specifically Tea (50 g)
Any amount you want to send would be AWESOME :P
(i guess I posted this in the wrong place…sorry…Cofftea mention…she also mentioned she wanted the Chocolatey Chai but I don't see it…LOL…So…could I get the Raspberry Cream Rooibos and White Rain???)
Jillian, give TeaEqualsBliss the chai- she posted hrs before I did, it was my fault I didn't see it. I doubt I'd be happy w/ it after 52teas Mayan Chocolate Chai anyway;)
Oh, if it's okay to take more, I would like the Margaret's Hope Darjeeling please! I don't have any darjeeling on my cupboard right now!
If no one else is interested in requesting it (I feel guilty requesting teas because I just GOT an order in), I could take the Margaret's Hope Darjeeling.
Oh dear, I didn't even see Gander's post; I looked right past it. No, it's fine then, Gander can have it.
It's no trouble, I just want to share the wealth. :D
Neither of you will get a huge amount but it should be enough for 3 or 4 cups at least, I think. AJ, I'll throw in a couple of extra things with yours – actually I might throw in some extra stuff with everyone's teas.
Except TeaEqualsBliss, she already has half of my tea collection, or at least it feels that way! ;P


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You "live off your fat"
Dear teachers,
I am now searching for an English equivalent of the Russian phrase that literally sounds "live on old fat" meaning that somebody stopped developing and instead uses the knowledge, experience or reputation that were gained in the past. It is ussually used as a reproach. You can say it, for example, of a company that had some great accomplishments in the past, but no more, and clients stay with or come to this company today only because it was successful in the past. Can anybody help me with it?
Thanx a lot
You "live off your fat"
The expression "rest on one's laurels" has the meaning you're looking for.
'he is resting on his laurels' is ok, it comes from the old Greek Olympics where a laurel wreath was awarded to the winner. He might then do nothing else in life except lie back and continue to take praise for his former achievements.
'he is living off former glories' is another similar way of saying the same thing.
Thanks for all your ideas!
In Russian we also say "rest on laurels" but it has no negative or reproaching meaning. No sense of the urge to change the situation. To the contrary, it sounds fairly sympathetic, while "live off old fat" implies disaproval. Any comments? By the way, if I say "live off old fat", will people understand what I mean?
Leave out "old" and you will be fine.
Leave out "old", use "his/hers/their/our " instead and you will be fine.
Thank you all so much!!!!
I am currently on a quest to discover the origination of :
I cannot verify the validity of either explanation; they are intriguing, nonetheless.
- "Great day in the morning" which I believe has some type of religious connation regarding the rapture of Saints of God.
- "Copper" or " COP" is a favorite that has revealed different meanings and origination. First of all I am referring to "Copper" which is an old slang for American Policeman (Circa 1920). I have been told by my elders that "Copper" was referring to the copper badge that the policeman wore. Supposively, it was later shorten to just "Cop". However, I was later informed that as a runaway child from Mother England, we would naturally bring our native language with us. The England of olde policemen were known as "Constables On Patrol", thus; "C.O.P."
I welcome any input from my brothers & sisters from across the pond (another favorite which should be self explanatory).


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Police arrest 5 gang members outside motel.
Police arrested 5 gang related men they originally found loitering at a motel and then discovered something else in their vehicle. Sergeant Andy Lee said he recognized the suspects as notorious gang members.
Police say blue bandannas, hats, and shirts with the gang name titled "WBS" were found in the car. Sergeant Andy Lee said he was patrolling the Razorback Inn parking lot in Rogers early Saturday morning when he saw a vehicle stop in front of room 112.
Lee said after shining a spotlight on the car he noticed several people in the vehicle. The driver had a bandanna around his neck and Lee immediately recognized him as infamous gang member. Lee said he then called for backup. Deputies arrived to the motel, when they approached the vehicle they smelled alcohol and burnt marijuana reeking from the car.
Deputies said the suspects in the car were identified as 21-year old Omar Martinez, passengers Hector Vega, Ronald Carranza and 18-year old Omar Martinez. All gang members and associates. Deputies say they later searched room 112 and found another gang member 34-year old Jackey Bohanon hiding in the bathroom.
Deputies say when they conducted a background check on the 5 suspects they found some were in violation of parole. One of the suspects Jackey Bohanon is wanted in Benton County, Rogers and Van Buren for multiple warrants.
The motel owner at Razorback Inn in Rogers told 40/29 news he's never seen anything like this happen at his hotel before. Sergeant Andy Lee said all 4 suspects found in the car are charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying prohibited weapons, and loitering. They could face one to five years in prison.


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Roast chicken is an almost effortless dish to prepare and always satisfies a hungry crowd. I like to roast mine perched atop a bed of root vegetables in a little white wine and chicken stock bath. The juices from the bird drip down into the pan and infuse the root vegetables so they come out tender and flavorful. While the chicken is always thoroughly enjoyed by all, there always seems to be leftovers. Both the dark meat hidden between the bones or the underside of the bird and even some white breast meat as well. Not to mention the entire carcass that can be saved to make bone broth!
This soup is the solution to using up all of the extra vegetables from the roast as well as the leftover chicken. It's a hearty soup and will warm your body right up on a cold day. If your family devours the meat from the roast chicken then you may need to add in a few extra chicken breasts, but since I cook for a family of 2.5 we always have leftovers. We like to serve it with this Moroccan Chicken Salad but I leave the chicken off since the soup is like a meal in itself.


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ISPnet, Inc.
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The Australian government has asked Cambodia to accept refugees seeking asylum in a move similar to the former Labor government's so-called ''Malaysian solution''.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong said the request was made on Saturday morning during a meeting between his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop and the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
''In the past, there have been Cambodians going out as refugees to different countries. Now perhaps it is time for Cambodia to receive refugees back to Cambodia,'' Mr Hor Nam Hong told journalists after a press briefing, adding the number of refugees had not been decided but this would depend on Australia.
''There are now thousands of refugees seeking asylum in Australia. And Australia would like to see Cambodia accept some refugees to be settled in Cambodia,'' he said.
He said Cambodia had changed vastly since decades of war ended in the late 1990s.
''But my Prime Minister and myself this morning have told Australia that Cambodia will consider very seriously the request of Australia because before there were many Cambodians seeking asylum outside of Cambodia through the war but now maybe it is the time for Cambodia to accept some of the foreign refugees in Cambodia.''
He noted Australia's contribution to bringing peace to Cambodia after years of civil war and the deaths of about 1.7 million people during the Khmer Rouge's rule in the 1970s.
Australia was one of the countries that has recognised the Cambodian government's win at elections in July last year. Opposition parties have disputed the result, claiming widespread voter irregularities and fraud.
Ms Bishop, who is on a tour of south-east Asian nations, declined to take questions on the subject but noted Cambodia had contributed to the Bali Process on transnational crime, which encompassed people smuggling.
In a later statement on her Cambodia visit, the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh said the foreign ministers discussed Cambodia's economic growth as well as the challenges to the region of people smuggling and drug trafficking, including ''our close co-operation under the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime''.
''There has been a significant level of co-operation between relevant agencies on people smuggling matters, and [we] will continue to work through the Bali Process to manage processing of illegal maritime arrivals and returns,'' the statement said.
Cambodia is one of Asia's poorest countries and is dependent on hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign aid. Australia sent $244 million to Cambodia over the past three years. A further $85 million has been pledged for 2013 to 2014.
Human rights groups say Cambodia has one of the worst human rights records in Asia.
Mr Hun Sen, a former cadre of the murderous Khmer Rouge, has faced months of anti-government protests following the disputed elections.
When they were in opposition, Coalition MPs were strongly critical of Labor's attempt to send asylum seekers to Malaysia in 2011.


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HTC Rhyme wallpapers
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HTC Rhyme is a mid-range Android phone specifically designed to target the ladies market. It has a 3.7" display with 480 x 800 resolution pixels, 5-megapixel camera, and powered by a 1GHz solo-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S2 processor coupled with 768MB of RAM. Other common connectivity options are supported, including HSDPA up to 14.4Mbps, WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS.
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Lynch Superstore offers an impressive lineup of new Silverado 1500 models. It is a versatile American pickup truck. It's a highly rated truck with a comfortable ride and quiet interior, and it can carry your heavy loads. The starting engine is a 285-hp V-6, but if you need increased strength, you can go with a 355-hp V-8 or a 420-hp V-8, providing you with the best in-class available horsepower. It is sold with several trims and engines, with max payload of 2,260 lbs. and max towing of up to 12,500 lbs., and all-wheel drive is optional on all models. Tech aficionados can use the available onboard 4G LTE Wi-Fi and wire-free charging with a built-in charging pad in the center armrest. You can give us a call at (866) 754-5639 to schedule a test drive of the new Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in Burlington today. You can also learn more about the Lynch rewards program and different financing options that we provide our customers.
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The trial of 18 people charged in connection with the murder of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink opened in Istanbul. His trial is now being seen as important test of the Turkish judiciary's independence. Dorian Jones reports
In Turkey the trial of 18 people charged in connection with the murder of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink opened amid tight security in the city of Istanbul.
Last January Dink, was assassinated outside the Agos newspaper, which he edited. Dink was an outspoken supporter of human rights and his murder sparked anger and shock across Turkey. Over a 100,000 people attended his funeral in a mass outpouring of grief.
An unemployed 17 year-old youth Ogun Samast is accused of shooting Dink. The hearings were closed to the press due to him being a minor.
"We are all Armenians, We are all Dink"
The opening day of the hearing drew around a 1000 people protested his murder. Some chanted, "We are all Armenians, We are all Dink". While others stood quietly paying their respects. One woman said "We are here gather to remember the loss of Hrant Dink and to say we won't forget his assassination and that is why all wearing black because we are still mourning."
While another said, "I want to see all those who committed this terrible crime punished, we won't rest until this happens."
Prosecutors claim Samast confessed to police after his capture. It is alleged he has close ties with an ultra nationalist group who consider Dink a traitor.
The slain journalist accused Turkey's then Ottoman rulers of carrying out genocide against its Armenian minority 90 years ago, the Turkish state strongly denies the charge saying the deaths occurred in a civil war. In the months leading up to murder, Dink had received numerous death threats from radical nationalist groups.
Security forces and judiciary under pressure
Along with Samast 17 other people are facing conspiracy charges in Dink's murder. Most are allegedly connected with extreme nationalist organizations, which have been linked to other murders. 2 of the defendants Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel are accused of leading a local nationalist group and ordering the killing. The defendants face sentences between 7 and half years in jail and life.
Ever since Dink's murder and the public outrage over it the country's security forces and judiciary have been under intense pressure to bring all those responsible for justice. While 18 people are in court for Dink's murder, some critics say that the investigation has not gone far enough. There remain persistent allegations of links between the accused and some elements of the security forces.
After Dink was killed, video footage emerged showing Samast posing with police and the national flag after his arrest. One newspaper suggested the teenager was treated like a hero.
Before the start of the hearing Fetiye Cetin, a lawyer representing the Dink family, criticized the fact that an unnamed security official was not in the dock, - this despite the established fact that they had links with the suspects, failed in their duty, concealed evidence and even sought to vindicate the murder and the murderer.
Turkey's dark forces
Addressing the trial Rakel Dink, wife of Hrant Dink, made an impassioned speech to the court, in which she talked of difficulties they both faced as Armenians living in Turkey and their struggle to overcome prejudice. She strongly attacked what she called the dark forces operating in Turkey and the failure to bring to them to justice.
"For some reason, justice and judiciary cannot reach to them, do not want to reach to them. Because, they know that if they dig further they will see that this darkness exists in them also."
In a statement, Human Rights Watch said that, "The Turkish judiciary must hold accountable any security forces responsible for negligence or collusion in the murder."
The trial is being closely followed both at home and abroad being viewed as a critical test of Turkey's commitment to protecting freedom of expression. But after one day of hearing the court was adjourned to October 1st.
Dorian Jones
© Qantara.de 2007
Obituary Hrant Dink
A Voice of Moderation and Humanity
Following the assassination of Hrant Dink, one of the most prominent voices of Turkey's shrinking Armenian community, the country is still in a state of shock. Dorian Jones, Istanbul, remembers of the courageous editor of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly "Agos"
Intellectuals in Turkey
Targeted by the Nationalists
Following the assassination of journalist Hrant Dink, the lingering ultra-nationalist mood in Turkey is becoming more and more unbearable and dangerous for intellectuals. Gunnar Köhne reports from Istanbul
Press Freedom in Turkey
Journalists under Pressure
Although the number of journalists in prison in Turkey has gone down, there are still several provisions of the Turkish penal code which threaten press freedom in the country. They are a particular problem for independent and critical media. By Arian Fariborz


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Patrick Derrickson
Class of 2015
Major/Minor: Drama and Philosophy
Campus Involvement
- President of the Philosophy Club
- Member of the Cater Society
- Event Manager for the Gibson Center for the Arts
- Washington College Voyager
- Member of the Sailing Team
- House Manager of the Independent Playhouse
- Shop Assistant for the Drama Department
- Campus Voices Video Coordinator for the Elm
Hometown: Ashburn, VA
What do you do for a campus job or work study? Event Manager for the Gibson Center for the Arts, Shop Assistant for the Drama Department, Campus Voices Video Coordinator for the Elm
What is your favorite thing about Sunday?
Not taking a shower and sleeping in.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
What is your favorite thing about WAC?
The thesis writing process.
Why did you choose your major?
I chose Drama because I had an instinctual love for it. Additionally, it was the most appropriate outlet for my artistic endeavors. I chose Philosophy because it made me think more critically about the world and my lived experience of it.


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Appeal brought on 17 May 2019 by the Italian Republic against the judgment of the General Court (Fourth Chamber) delivered on 12 March 2019 in Case T-135/15 Italy v Commission
(Case C-390/19 P)
Language of the case: Italian
Appellant: Italian Republic (represented by: G. Palmieri, acting as Agent, C. Colelli, avvocato dello Stato)
Other parties to the proceedings: European Commission, French Republic, Hungary
Form of order sought
The appellant claims that the Court should:
set aside, in so far as it is the subject matter of the present appeal, the judgment of the General Court of the European Union of 12 March 2019, Case T-135/15, Italy v Commission, notified on 13 March 2019, dismissing the action brought under Article 263 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by the Italian Republic against Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/103 of 16 January 2015 excluding from European Union financing certain expenditure incurred by the Member States under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (notified under document C(2015) 53); 1
order the Commission to pay the costs.
Grounds of appeal and main arguments
(1) Infringement of Regulations No 320/2006 and No 968/2006. Infringement of Judgment of the Court of Justice of 14 November 2013, SFIR and Others, C-187/12 to C-189/12
By its first ground of appeal, the appellant takes issue with the judgment under appeal in so far as it wrongly identified the time at which it was necessary to examine whether the silos kept in the sugar-beet factories receiving aid did or did not have the characteristics of a 'production facility' and whether or not it was lawful to maintain them in cases in which applications for financial aid had been made for the total dismantling of the facilities.
(2) Infringement of the Commission's Guidelines set out in Document No VI/5330/97
By its second ground of appeal, the appellant criticises the contested decision in so far as the General Court — despite having found that the case in question satisfied both the conditions set out in Annex 2 to the Guidelines for the purpose of establishing one of the 'borderline cases', which the EU legislature considered relevant for the purpose of excluding or reducing the financial correction — considered the Commission's decision not to apply the 'borderline case' to be lawful.


text:
Microsoft to upgrade Windows Kinect kit
Suite spot
Microsoft announced a second Kinect for Windows release this week, adding more advanced skeletal tracking, localised speech recognition and a new video suite application.
Kinect for Windows 1.5 sees the addition of Kinect Studio, an app to let developers record, play and debug clips of users getting jiggy with their applications. There's also '10-joint' skeletal tracking, adding arm, head and neck tracking for seated or standing users.
Those with strong, but perhaps not overly thick, English accents, will benefit from the latest language packs, which aide speech recognition for different regions. English packs include Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
The Redmond firm confirmed Kinect for Windows 1.5 will be available at the end of May, adding that it would be rolled out across a wider range of countries by June. ®
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