Song of the Day. . .
I think I’m going to have to go with Geronimo, by Yann Tiersen. Yann Tiersen does some work with Jean-Pierre Jeunet (maker of City of Lost Children, Amelie, and a couple other amazing films) and has a beautiful blend of french folk music and post-classical. It’s very hard for me to pick a favorite song, as his albums tend to just be terrific over-all. I suggest you check out the soundtrack to “Good bye Lenin!” if you want a feel for his composition skills.

Now, art!
Speaking of Jean-Pierre Jeunet, this is a digital-painting of a character from City of Lost Children (starring Ron Perlman and the immortal Dominique Pinon).

In case you haven’t heard of this man, I believe that he, Randy Stonehill, and Keith Green changed the face of Christian music forever. You may recognize Larry Norman’s song “Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music” or possibly “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”. He was known for powerful, simple and straightforward music. He was a rebel in his day (although now considered tame in today’s standards) and made giant strides for the Christian music industry.

I’m glad you finally found your way home Larry – I know you were looking forward to it.

Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees, but Spaghetti Does!
I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite April Fool’s Day jokes of all time – the Swiss Spaghetti Harvest! You can check out the footage here to see for yourself. In 1957, it was reported on television that Swiss Spaghetti farmers were enjoying a great harvest – they got thousands of people believing that spaghetti grows on trees and must be picked! Good stuff, you’ve got to check out that link!

YouTube got you Confuzzled?
Today if you’ve been on YouTube you may have noticed something a little strange – it’s all upside down! I found it funny at first, then annoying. If you have a neckache yet from trying to watch videos, look up in your address bar. You’ll see it end in “&flip=1″. Simply change that “1″ to a “0″, press enter, and you’ll be good to go!

Peace!
Jonathan

Jon's tribute to Dr. Tchock and Stanley Donwood

Hello all! What a day today has been… I’ve spent the whole day hunched over my computer like the uber-nerd I am, working on new art, listening to fantastic music, and discovering little goodies to share. I also have taken a few music breaks in between to work on a couple new songs I’m writing.

Above is one of the products of today’s effort – I call it “scanner art”. If you haven’t heard of Stanley Donwood and Dr. Tchock, look them up! Dr. Tchock is actually Thom Yorke, lead singer of Radiohead, and this fantastic duo are responsible for all of Radiohead’s unique-yet-expressive art.

Today I bring you new music! Click here to listen to our new epic song that we’ve recently recorded called Beauty Queen. Now this isn’t mastered or even the final mix, so consider yourself lucky to get a sneak peak!

I had a gravy site bookmarked to show you that had a really nifty fan-made music video for the overplayed Creep (by – you guessed it – Radiohead), but alas… I lost it. I’m sorry. Deeply, deeply sorry. I’ll find it again and post it.

Now – on to rectify Peter’s broken computer issue!

Shalom,

Jonathan

Well, I didn’t wear green today, nor did I have a drop of alcohol touch my lips. It’s kind of sad, but I’m pretty tired so it’s no real tragedy.

Right now I’m watching In The Line of Fire – a John Malkovich, Clint Eastwood film. Not too shabby so far, but nothing spectacular. So far, my favorite thing about it is the fact that Martin Crane (John Mahoney, I believe) from Frasier is in it! Funny old fella.

Incidentally, Niles Crane reminds me of Nathan (Lewis Wilde’s lead singer) to some extent. Opposite manerisms and personalities, but there’s something about him…

I know, not a thrilling post. But I’m tired!

More tomorrow.

Shalom,
Jonathan

Album Of The Day:
     Rachel Yamagata
     Elephants… Teeth Sinking Into Heart 
This album starts really chill reminding of a very soft Fiona Apple mixed with something a little more standard contemporary, such as Ingrid Michaelson. It also seems to have drawn influence perhaps from Damien Rice’s minimalist but emotional style. She has a warm voice and some heartfelt lyrics, and her music is just different enough to not sound like every other Sara Bareilles/Ingrid Michaelson/Missy Higgins out there. The album does actually pick up a bit at the end, and even has an almost White Stripes feel to a couple of the songs, with a male vocalist taking over for a bit.

Song of the Day:
      The Roots
     Mellow My Man 
I don’t listen to a whole lot of hip-hop, but when I do it’s almost always The Roots, Fugees, or Mos Def. This song kind of epitomizes The Roots for me. Great vocal rhythm, very clever lyrics, and an incredibly groovy bass & drum foundation. About half the way through the song all the instruments go into a fantastic jazz breakdown – listen to that bass! Not many hip-hop musicians can play like that, that’s some real talent!

 Poem of the Day:
     Robert Frost
     Wild Grapes
What tree may not the fig be gathered from?
The grape may not be gathered from the birch?
It’s all you know the grape, or know the birch.
As a girl gathered from the birch myself
Equally with my weight in grapes, one autumn,
I ought to know what tree the grape is fruit of.
I was born, I suppose, like anyone,
And grew to be a little boyish girl
My brother could not always leave at home.
But that beginning was wiped out in fear
The day I swung suspended with the grapes,
And was come after like Eurydice
And brought down safely from the upper regions;
And the life I live now’s an extra life
I can waste as I please on whom I please.

Check out the rest of the poem at http://glenavalon.com/wildgrapes.html

Until next time – au revoir!

//rabbittrail//

I’m really quite a jovial person; I think it’s my stage-fright that makes people comment after shows that I never smile or show any such emotion. That amuses me, as my cheekbones hurt many a jolly afternoon from hilarity.

But I digress.

I will be updating this blog as often as I feel like – at least a couple-three times a week (my girlfriend makes fun of me for saying “couple-three”). I’m always looking for new inspiration in daily life, whether it’s a wonderful piece of music, and crazy painting, or a meaningful quote. As I find these things I will share them with all you as-of-yet-non-existent-readers.

So thank you in advance for your time, interest and hopefully and eventually your money!

You can check out some of our music and whatnot at www.myspace.com/lewiswilde or you can follow us on Twitter (we just signed up, I’m excited!) at www.twitter.com/lewiswilde

Shalom,

Jonathan