AnarchoGrind! I got a copy of the re-release of Doom's first album "Total Doom," and that has propelled me into frenzy of anarcho powerviolence grindcore listening. I dusted off my old 7" records by the likes of Agathocles and Capitalist Casualties and have been jamming out. The Doom release is on CD, of course, and has 30+ songs, spanning 64 minutes or so. I've decided that's too much for one sitting. The 7" record is much more ideally suited to grindcore and powerviolence, given their full-speed-ahead 2 minute songs and complete embodiment of musical chaos. Somehow it's utterly appropriate to have to stand up and change records every 2 - 5 minutes. AnarcoGrind should not lull you into a somber trance. The clicks, pops and surface noise inherent in vinyl only enhances the grind aesthetic, since most of it is recorded cheaply and quickly -- punk anarchists should not need hours in an expensive studio! While acceptable, mp3s and CDs are just not the most satisfying way to satisfy my daily grind requirement.

Unfortunately, new 7" records are almost impossible to find in the Champaign-Urbana area, as is most new vinyl. Record stores here have been pretty decimanted -- don't know if it's due to mp3s, aggressive pricing by the likes of Best Buy and Circuit City, or the shitty musical taste of U of I students. But now I'm hankering to pick me up some fresh anarchogrind powerviolence 7"s, so I guess I'll have to search for some web-based distros or maybe search out a copy of Maximum Rock n Roll, which is still the best way to find bands and distros offering up new underground 7" records.

We finally got our living room painted, making this the last of the interior painting to do on our house (aside from some touch-ups). After some arranging last night, it finally looks like a living room where people live, rather than some temporary space full of mostly-empty bookcases and furniture. I know I should get some pictures up, and honestly I mean to -- especially since I recently got me a fun little digital camera. So I will do that soon and link here, for all ten of you who find this blog and read it.

Next up on the house, we have a contractor coming over Friday morning to look at roof repairs and maybe installing a bathtub (we don't have one -- our 2 bathrooms are handicapped accessible roll-in showers for wheelchairs).

In lieu of house pictures, here's silly picture of my friend Dan (aka Capt. Corporate America), who's been staying with us for a couple of weeks:

Mr. Pacman turbokicked my ass
I was visiting family in the Washington DC area this weekend and went to see some bands at the Velvet Lounge on U Street NW. Initially there was supposed to be an eclectic lineup of 3 or 4 bands, none of which I'd heard of, but all which sounded interesting. But as showtime approached we found out that all but the opening band were unable to make it, and that there was a new band to fill in as opener. That band was Mr. Pacman.

This trio of galactic defenders in Speed Racer duds abuse early 80s synth technology for our entertainment. The most curious instrument of destruction is a Commodore SX-64, a pretty rare portable version of the venerable Commodore 64 home computer. The Commodore 64 line was notable for its use of the famous SID sound chip, which was relatively advanced for its time. The SID synthesizes 3 simultaneous voices, relieving the CPU of any sound producing duties (unlike the more business-like IBM PCs of the day which did one tinny tone from a paltry little speaker). The unique and recognizable timbre of the SX-64 is what gives Mr. Pacman their distinctive 80s sound. Well, that and the electric drums. On top of that, their songs are pretty good -- if you like industrialized 80s noise, that is. I'm definitely a new fan.

And, who knew the A Team was keeping the streets safe in little ol' Champaign?

I don't have much to say, so instead, let a picture speak for me: