clap your hands and fall in love a little bit

This post's title was prompted by the underwhelming performance I witnessed from Clap Your Hands...'s front man, Alex Ounsworth.

This post is NOT meant to be underwhelming.

Don't really have much to say. It was a hard week, on a lot of levels, but one that really put things into perspective. I listened to a lot of harder-guitar, heavy-drummed rock tracks. And yeah, the standard 1/4 of what iTunes has glorified as "hippie rock." So sue me.

One day, I'm going to write for Rolling Stone and people are gonna drool over these blog posts. Yeah, one day. One day I'll have my own rickshaw and a golden toilet.

The other part of the title? Falling in love a little bit. So, speaking of underwhelming, G has been totally unimpressed with my binary system, lately. My binary system, I should share with you, is how I view the world. People that I think are attractive (on a variety of levels, please - what do you take me for?) are 1's. People who are not, well - they're 0's.

Common Questions Associated With the Binary System (and Their Answers)
Yes, it is possible for a 1 to become a 0. Sometimes all it takes is that 1 opening his mouth.
No, it is rarely possible for a 0 to become a 1. Hard work usually pays off though.
No, there are no "2's" in this binary system. IT'S BINARY. I don't know who made up the "2" loophole, but I think it was probably someone who wanted to excuse him/herself for screwing around with a lot of 1's and failing to differentiate.
No, looks are not all that I consider when deciding if you're a 1 or a 0.
No, I am not shallow. I only appear to be.

Why even use a system? I mean, first of all, it's a joke guys (I still don't know who that totally serious Sally was that read my blog awhile back, but whoever you were - I feel like I used to offend you daily). But, second, and more importantly, when I first discovered it, I realized that I tend to group most individuals into a 1. On a deserted island, for example, where we were this past February, G pointed out your average group of tanned Chilean men. I looked at them, and sized them up, and, based on looks alone, deemed 3/4 to be 1's. Is that so bad? What about standard deviation and bell curves and shit?

So, point of this is that my friend B, and my other friend G...they both accuse me off falling in love all the time. And, yeah. I guess I do. Is that so bad? I think everyone can stand to fall in love a little bit. You never know what you're gonna get.

This is dedicated to you.

1. "Hurricane J" by The Hold Steady


So here's how I feel about The Hold Steady: awesome. Typically, bands that are fronted by eh-looking dudes rock. Take, for example, Harvey Danger. Highly underrated minor-league frontman. No hate - these guys are still hot, to me. Gotta dig a guy who can wail major-league style.

2. "American Slang" by The Gaslight Anthem


The Gaslight Anthem is the best thing to come out of New Jersey since Springsteen, and the Boss refs are completely warranted. Fallon can rip a story out of a garbage dump, and he can still make it sound wicked good and on-key.

3. "Lust for Life" by Girls


So apparently there is an Iggy Pop song with the same name, that was used in the movie "Trainspotting." I checked it out. Also really good.

4. "Young Adult Friction" by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart


As a teacher, I have to appreciate the double entendre happening here. Their band name is super-annoying.

5. "C'mon" by The Soft Pack


Wow. Didn't know a plurality of this band was totally hot until I checked out their stiz on YouTube. Props, boys. You know how I feel about flannel-wearing guitar-playing brown-haired boys.

6. "Floating Vibes" by Surfer Blood


This band withstands a lot of Vampire Weekend comparisons. I only say withstands because I'm not sure it's an entirely good thing - I get a different vibe (pardon the pun) from them. They're a good summer band, we'll stick with them.

7. "Tighten Up" by The Black Keys


The Black Keys fucking rock. Amen.

8. "Laredo" by Band of Horses


I couldn't get this song out of my head for 2 weeks. Total change from the "Funeral" album. Much more chord-oriented and less pick guitar.

9. "Someone to Shove" by Soul Asylum


Great classic from early '90s. Also a highly underrated band - you probably met Soul Asylum somewhere in your teens with "Runaway Train," and you probably thought they were Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Here is one case where I make an exception to my boy rule and think a blond-ish boy is cute.

10. "Molly (16 Candles)" by Sponge


GOOD LORD this is a great song. Also a throwback - even this vid is from '96. I went on a '90s binge on my music search, ok? Check out another Sponge song, "Plowed," and fall in love a little bit.

11. "Keep Fishin'" by Weezer


Possibly the greatest Weezer VIDEO (video guys, not song, video) ever made. Muppets. MUPPETS. I <3 Rivers Cuomo.

12. "Song for the Girl" by Vox Jaguars


And, finally, a little Vox Jaguars. Nothing like some Latin in your name to spice things up.