Just got the latest album from BT.  Great 2-CD set and if you like electronic music, it's worth grabbing.  He's been one of the innovators on the scene and amidst all the DJ sets out there today (which are still solid), his music is a fresh shot in the arm from what you'll commonly hear on BPM, Area 38, etc. 

If you haven't heard of BT, you've likely seen movies where he's composed part of the soundtrack.  One big one was "Never Gonna Come Back Down" which is in Gone in 60 Seconds.  Here's one review from Wired on his latest:

BT Talks These Hopeful Machines, Math and Inspiration

Doug, don't worry – you'll get to hear it on our way to Indy.  I'm sure you'll love it.

Some have been asking what I think of Jeff being added to the team for next year.  I think it's great.  When Honda East was looking for someone to represent them, I suggested he as one who fit the bill.  Fast, consistent, but most importantly – down to earth, level-headed, outgoing and super easy to talk to.  He's one of those guys you can't help but like and his attitude is contagious.  Blake (Kelly) quoted something awhile back that you can tell the true character of someone when the chips are down.  Jeff had a couple of those moments this year and he was always positive – more positive than I probably would have been.  Of course we'll want to beat each other, but it will be good fun throughout the season.  We helped each other out a bunch this past year and I don't see that changing. 

First ride on the fifty was last week and to be honest – I wasn't looking that forward to riding.  I dragged myself out there though, as I knew once I got on the bike, I'd be back in it.  Sure enough, the itch came back.  Good thing too, as I need to be riding as the winter approaches.  So part of this past weekend was spent getting the fifty ready to go.  Going through the forks, trying to straighten out the bars (don't ask), checking the suspension settings (oh yes!), changing the gearing and whatever else comes up.  I went through the carb already, which had oil all in it – likely from flogging her at BeaveRun in that mini race.  The bike really is impressive though.  I've hammered on it non-stop the last 3-4 years and it's taken it like a champ.  The motor is due for a freshening, so I should probably do that at some point, but damn – Honda knows how to make a bike that lasts.

I've also been going to the gym lately.  Most popular stuff currently playing on the Blackberry:

- Lofidelity Allstars – Battleflag
- The Crystal Method – Born Too Slow
- Eminem – Till I Collapse
- KMFDM – Juke Joint Jezebel
- Paul Oakenfold / Ryan Tedder – Switch On (for the cardio)

That's all I've got for now.  Happy Thanksgiving and hopefully you can avoid the holiday insanity that will soon ensue ..

Cheers,

- eddie

I saw Oasis last month at the Palace (for the sixth time).  They put on a great show and sounded as good, if not better than I've ever heard them.  I'm not sure if it was the acoustics of the Palace itself, or just their overall playing.  Noel was great and brother Liam was his typical antagonistical self as always.  They even added some piano to the show which was a first that I've seen from them.

Since seeing them, I thought I'd throw up another song of theirs.  This one is called Gas Panic and is exceptionally good.  It's from their fourth album titled "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" and is written by Noel Gallagher, while sung by Liam. It's one of their more dark tracks, as you can tell by the words.  Couple that with a sample of it here, and you might be able to tell what he's talking about.  Overall a kick ass song though and a classic writing by Noel.

Gas Panic

What tongueless ghost of sin crept through my curtains?
Sailing on a sea of sweat on a stormy night
I think he don't got a name but I can't be certain
And in me he starts to confide

That my family don't seem so familiar
And my enemies all know my name
And if you hear me tap on your window
Better get on yer knees and pray panic is on the way

My pulse pumps out a beat to the ghost dancer
My eyes are dead and my throat's like a black hole
And if there's a god would he give another chancer
An hour to sing for his soul

Cos my family don't seem so familiar
And my enemies all know my name
And when you hear me tap on yer window
Yer better get on yer knees and pray panic is on the way

Cos my family don't seem so familiar
And my enemies all know my name
And when you hear me tap on yer window
Then you get on your knees and you better pray
Cos my family don't seem so familiar
And my enemies all know my name
And when you hear me tap on your window
Yer better get on yer knees and pray
Panic is on the way
Panic is on the way

As I've gotten older, my music habits have changed.  I've always been into "alternative rock".  Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Nine Inch Nails, Incubus and Linkin Park are just a few of my favorites off hand.  The 90's produced some of the best music in my opinion, led by the likes of Nirvana and Pearl Jam.  To me it's just not the same today, with a lot of cookie-cutter music that all sounds alike.  That may be part of why I’ve gotten into techno music within the past few years, but more on that later.

My favorite band without question is Oasis.  Close friends of mine know this to an extensively exhausting degree.  I've seen them live in concert five times – basically every time they've come to Detroit.  I wanted Gina's and my wedding song to be an acoustic version of Slide Away (but we couldn't pull it off correctly).  Our wedding party walked in to an Oasis track (which I’ll have on the home page next week).  If you don't know Oasis, I can't do them justice by talking about them here.  Since their beginnings, they've basically lit a fire under everyone claiming to be better than the Beatles (a nearly impossible task), but if you listen to their music, you know they have a great respect for them which resonates in their songs.  Oasis’ no-nonsense and perhaps overly confident presence has cost them popularity in the U.S., but that’s part of what I love about them, in addition to their overall sound and exceptional song-writing.

The track currently playing on the homepage was done by Noel Gallagher (the core of the group).  It has a techno/electronic sound to it, which plays similar to a track he did with the Chemical Brothers (titled "Setting Sun") years ago.  It has an intense feel to it, which I find very cool.

However one of my favorite Oasis songs has been "D'You Know What I Mean?"  It’s off their third album titled "Be Here Now".  It has a kick-ass sound and I love the message.  You can hear a sample of it here and below are the lyrics:

D'You Know What I Mean

Step off the train all alone at dawn
Back into the hole where I was born
The sun in the sky never raised an eye to me
There's blood on the trax, and they must be mine
The fool on the hill, and I feel fine
Don't look back cos you know what you might see

Look into the wall of my mind's eye
I think I know, but I don't know why
The questions are the answers you might need
Coming in a mess, going out in style
I ain't good-looking, but I'm someone's child
No-one can give me the air that's mine to breathe

I met my maker,
I made him cry
And on my shoulder he asked me why
His people won't fly through the storm
I said "Listen up man, they don't even know you're born"

All my people right here, right now
D'You Know What I Mean? yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
D'You Know What I Mean? yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
D'You Know What I Mean? yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah

I don't really care for what you believe
So open up your fist or you won't receive
The thoughts and the words of every man you'll need
Get up off the floor and believe in life
No-one's ever gonna ever ask you twice
Get on the bus and bring it on home to me

I met my maker,
I made him cry
And on my shoulder he asked me why
His people won't fly through the storm
I said "Listen up man, they don't even know you're born"

All my people right here, right now
They Know What I Mean yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
They Know What I Mean yeah, yeah
All my people right here, right now
They Know What I Mean yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah