The GoYin Store: Buy GoYin Wholesale

Our band is playing at Whiskey Pete’s tonight (aka ‘the Whiskey’). Remember my post several months ago asking for band names? That’s still on. For now we are called ‘A Very Special Guest.’

So here’s where to go for live blues tonight:
7 E. 4800 S in Murray.

Note: that’s 7 E. not 7th or 700 E.

We go on at 9pm

$5 cover. No one under 21.

Synopsis: Simon’s come a long way from the S&G days where almost every song had to be something profound and preachy. In my opinion he is now more concerned with portraying humans simply as they are, and not trying to bring great truths to light. “Surprise” gets a 14.0

“Surprise” wasn’t what I expected, which is pretty standard for Paul Simon. Every album seems to have its own character. To name a few:

“Graceland” was an eclectic combo of african tribal music, Nashville country rock, and cajun. “Rhythm of the Saints” was almost purely Brazilian folk/samba and all around latin percussion driven. “You’re the One,” also with a percussion theme, reverted back to some American folk rock roots. This year’s “Surprise” is pretty pop, even electronic/ambient, thanks to collaborator Brian Eno. Brian Eno is known for pioneering ambient rock in the Seventies and also did production with U2, to throw out a big name.

At first I didn’t know whether or not to be happy with this direction. But then I realized that ever since I was a kid (Graceland was my first album ever; a cassette copy of my dad’s cassette which I remember listening to in the car on the way to elementary school) I was always skeptical of the new Paul Simon albums coming out until they proved themselves over time; not because of public approval (it seemed that Simon’s approval rating decreased dramatically with the whole “Graceland” exploitation of African culture charge), but because the music is almost always ahead of its time. If one invests time, Simon’s wisdom and musical choices will shine through without exception.

So its hard to give a good review of something that takes months to get to know. But what I can say is that Paul’s biting wit hasn’t fizzled out yet. In “Outrageous” he rants about the absurdities of the material world and about getting old. The refrain he repeats: “who’s gonna love you when your looks are gone?” four times and then later on says “God will. Like he waters the flowers on your window sill,” as somewhat of a reference to the Sermon on the Mount. The song’s ambient influence from Brian Eno made it sound like John Mayer in his most poppiest moments which is a pretty big initial turn-off, but I’m going to give it time.

The first track, “How Can You Live in the Northeast?” was written as a reaction to the vast polarization our country finds itself in today with a 50/50 split of red and blue states. It is playful until you realize that the song is reminding you of how closed minded you are.

“Wartime Prayers” was written before the US went to war, but was written when 9/11 was fresh on everyone’s minds. There is no direct reference to 9/11 (there is enough exploitation in popular culture). The song in the beginning is somewhat off-center rhythmically with long wandering melodic thoughts and is soon transformed into a bit of a gospel rock. Its very introspective and humble in a way you like to see old people get; especially when they are famous and successful old people.

I guess that’s what we all like to see, and characterizes this album throughout. Simon’s come a long way from the S&G days where almost every song had to be something profound and preachy. In my opinion he is now more concerned with portraying humans simply as they are, and not trying to bring great truths to light, and that is perhaps as profound as it gets. It might be because the more you know, the more aware you become of how little you know.

Check out Samples and the Rolling Stone Review Here.

Also…

I recommend you purchase the album over iTunes or any other way where you can procure the interactive booklet. It is just a video interview with Paul Simon where he discusses his choices and collaborations on the album.

Official YellowSubterfuge Rating system: 1-16

So I have to come up with some sort of rating system. I’ve decided to go by the Hexidecimal system (1-16 rating system), 16 being sent directly from deity, and 1 being that thing you generally step in at the park and is commonly characterized as hitting a fan.

Surprise gets a 14.0 for now

That’s higher than I feel about it right now, but the album is already becoming endearing, so its kind of a prediction of what I will rate this album in 4 months. Hopefully I will get past or understand the turn-offs over time, most of which are Eno production choices.

Whether you want to mote, moat, or mode your friends (extensive research tells us that the proper form from the modern vulgar vernacular is ‘mode’ ie. ‘you just got moded!’ as in from the 90s relatives ‘you just got burned!’ and ‘in your face!’), there is a new public humiliation forum to publickly prove them wrong and put them in the stocks, where any passer-byer can spit on them.

Say hello to You Got Moded dot com.

Instructions:

When you are able to prove someone wrong (which is the essence of our neverending pursuit for happiness) simply get your fact sources in order and write a post on You Got Moded. Notify your friends and tell them to vote for your post. Each vote is equivalent to spitting on the person you are moding. If you can get three of your friends to vote for the story (or in other words spit on your mode victim), your story will make the front page.

Mode stories don’t have to strictly be proving people wrong; you can simply post any inhumane insults or hateful comments directed towards people or organizations.