Thursday, January 20, 2011

In Heaven, There Is No Decaf


When there’s something you need, that’s all you can see.

Some people speak of the doppelgänger, the alternate you that walks a different path, through the shadows. Other people say that doppelgänger is just you, transposed through time and metaphor to a place before you ever had that first cup of coffee.

It makes sense, really. The deep dread, you just can’t shake your head and be someone else. This someone else is you and always has been. Or maybe you’re the someone else, and the coffee lets you take that stranger’s place. Who can tell who has the greener grass? All we can say for sure is that this cup is a gateway to a place that’s simultaneously dark and beautiful. A place that’s wild and impossible, even if you try and control it with cold milk.

Maybe you’re an addict of sorts. But, really, aren’t we all in our own special way?

Wear this shirt: under your snakeskin jacket.

Don’t wear this shirt: until your eyes take on that traditional brown-on-brown and you begin to have the visions. It’s hard to rule a universe if people think you’re a crazy guy with just one shirt.

This shirt tells the world: “There’s a little diner I know on Mullholland, terrific place to get a cup of coffee. Just, you know, don’t look behind the dumpster. No, just don’t.”

(if you don't follow the website "shirt.woot.com" - this is today's. i love it! especially the "in heave, there is no decaf, but I also really like the description-half joking about coffee, but then half serious because many wonder if our true selves is the darker version of ourselves, or the best of who we are.)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

i am a nerd

but I'm still gonna share this cool math/science video with you.

Bump up the resolution to 720 and MAXIMIZE

Monday, January 10, 2011

midday nap



And this is why I like having a cat. Watching Gilmore Girls is a great time for sleeping, and since I've had Nia since she was 3 weeks old, she kinda likes me :)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

End of JJ Week

This last song is more of a ballad, so I'm going to end Joshua James week with this song. It's one of his most popular songs, so I'm going to put a few versions on here for y'all.

If you listen to the words, he's pouring out his grief about what America has become and how broken people are. This song reminds me of the laments of the prophets to destroy Israel for it's own good, and I really appreciate his honesty in that.





From the album: You can hear the words a lot more in this version.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

JJ Week: Salt Water

"Salt Water" - Rockin the banjo!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

JJ Week: Black July

This is arguably my favorite song by him.

I listened to this album, and especially this song, as I drove around the country through thunderstorms this past summer...quite the perfect soundtrack. He also does some spontaneous poetry towards the end of the song (he writes a lot of poetry that he sometimes puts on his blog), which is really cool. He's such an amazing writer...

Live Version:


Album Version:

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

JJ Week: Custom Concern

Joshua James covered one of my favorite Modest Mouse songs, so since I love them both, here they are.



Monday, January 3, 2011

JJ Week continued

I couldn't resist, so you get 3 songs today :)

"Commodore" - So interesting...who writes a song about this? Some popping with the sound, but just listen past that...


"Soul & The Sea" - this video highlights a few of the main reasons I so love his music: he's an amazing songwriter and all his songs aren't about love, his vocals are weird and freaking rad, and he plays with so much passion - the key to a great musician


"Mother Mary" - the intensity! and freaking awesome, Pink Floyd-ish solo at the end

Sunday, January 2, 2011

i heart coffee



look for the funny intro...

JJ Week: In the Middle

He explains the story behind the song in the first video.



Thursday, January 20, 2011

In Heaven, There Is No Decaf


When there’s something you need, that’s all you can see.

Some people speak of the doppelgänger, the alternate you that walks a different path, through the shadows. Other people say that doppelgänger is just you, transposed through time and metaphor to a place before you ever had that first cup of coffee.

It makes sense, really. The deep dread, you just can’t shake your head and be someone else. This someone else is you and always has been. Or maybe you’re the someone else, and the coffee lets you take that stranger’s place. Who can tell who has the greener grass? All we can say for sure is that this cup is a gateway to a place that’s simultaneously dark and beautiful. A place that’s wild and impossible, even if you try and control it with cold milk.

Maybe you’re an addict of sorts. But, really, aren’t we all in our own special way?

Wear this shirt: under your snakeskin jacket.

Don’t wear this shirt: until your eyes take on that traditional brown-on-brown and you begin to have the visions. It’s hard to rule a universe if people think you’re a crazy guy with just one shirt.

This shirt tells the world: “There’s a little diner I know on Mullholland, terrific place to get a cup of coffee. Just, you know, don’t look behind the dumpster. No, just don’t.”

(if you don't follow the website "shirt.woot.com" - this is today's. i love it! especially the "in heave, there is no decaf, but I also really like the description-half joking about coffee, but then half serious because many wonder if our true selves is the darker version of ourselves, or the best of who we are.)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

i am a nerd

but I'm still gonna share this cool math/science video with you.

Bump up the resolution to 720 and MAXIMIZE

Monday, January 10, 2011

midday nap



And this is why I like having a cat. Watching Gilmore Girls is a great time for sleeping, and since I've had Nia since she was 3 weeks old, she kinda likes me :)

Sunday, January 9, 2011

End of JJ Week

This last song is more of a ballad, so I'm going to end Joshua James week with this song. It's one of his most popular songs, so I'm going to put a few versions on here for y'all.

If you listen to the words, he's pouring out his grief about what America has become and how broken people are. This song reminds me of the laments of the prophets to destroy Israel for it's own good, and I really appreciate his honesty in that.





From the album: You can hear the words a lot more in this version.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

JJ Week: Salt Water

"Salt Water" - Rockin the banjo!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

JJ Week: Black July

This is arguably my favorite song by him.

I listened to this album, and especially this song, as I drove around the country through thunderstorms this past summer...quite the perfect soundtrack. He also does some spontaneous poetry towards the end of the song (he writes a lot of poetry that he sometimes puts on his blog), which is really cool. He's such an amazing writer...

Live Version:


Album Version:

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

JJ Week: Custom Concern

Joshua James covered one of my favorite Modest Mouse songs, so since I love them both, here they are.



Monday, January 3, 2011

JJ Week continued

I couldn't resist, so you get 3 songs today :)

"Commodore" - So interesting...who writes a song about this? Some popping with the sound, but just listen past that...


"Soul & The Sea" - this video highlights a few of the main reasons I so love his music: he's an amazing songwriter and all his songs aren't about love, his vocals are weird and freaking rad, and he plays with so much passion - the key to a great musician


"Mother Mary" - the intensity! and freaking awesome, Pink Floyd-ish solo at the end

Sunday, January 2, 2011

i heart coffee



look for the funny intro...

JJ Week: In the Middle

He explains the story behind the song in the first video.