tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-233728892011-04-21T18:40:50.573-04:00"In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new"Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.comBlogger751100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-72961685068089416652008-02-27T15:31:00.000-05:002008-02-27T15:32:02.743-05:00

The blogosphere may be pushing this new Pumpkins track down your throat like it's the best thing to drop from Corgans guitar and Chamberlain's drums since Mellon Collie, but it's still missing something.You want to buy into the heavy guitar riffs, Chamberlain's thundering drums and the all-so welcome violin interlude, but somehow the song just never moves past the sonic insanity into coherency.

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-43071549043524814772008-02-27T15:29:00.001-05:002008-02-27T15:31:07.918-05:00

http://www.patrolmag.com/index.php?id=296I had a huge bitter entry written last night about "Things I Don't Know," (Wolf Parade) but then God decided it was better I didn't publish my vitriolic prose and killed the internets.Let's try a short little ditty to a song that you've probably already heard of, from a band you've probably been listening to longer than me. Waving Flags is one of those

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-40203689742250026832008-02-19T20:34:00.001-05:002008-02-19T20:36:00.720-05:00

originally appearing at Patrol MagazineIf you’ve even heard of this backroom-concept folk-rock band, you would know that Sleep Station albums are dark, lo-fi, and obsessed with strange stories seeming more at place in a fusion of twisted 1980’s B-grade science fiction and Tim Burtonesque romance, than an indie-rock folk album. While this manifestation of front man Dave Debiak’s schizophrenic

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-60900686198298079672008-02-01T12:07:00.000-05:002008-02-01T12:08:59.488-05:00

Girl Talk w/Dan DeaconBlack CatWashington, D.C.This was right up there with Arcade Fire as one of the greatest shows of the year, if not my entire life. I’ve got paragraphs of praise in my journal just dying to get out into public view, but I’m afraid if I let most people read those thought, they might become completely convinced that I’m a trip-head of colossal proportions.You’d have to be

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-18131738908186811262008-01-30T11:22:00.000-05:002008-01-30T11:44:34.902-05:00

(originally appearing on Patrol Mag ) Christmas came early last Friday, and, for once in my life, I didn’t feel profoundly under whelmed when the last gift was opened. I’ve been hyping Andy Zipf and his Pfriends on Pfilm tour for the last few months, and, as this opening date at S.O.T.A. in Fairfax got close, I tried to prepare myself to be disappointed. It’s not that I didn’t believe the gushing

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-34971898718866835752008-01-30T11:19:00.000-05:002008-01-30T11:21:39.424-05:00

originally on, Patrol MagWhen I informed a nameless individual of Hispanic descent that this song had been on repeat in my room, I got one response,“Dude, you’re gay.”Insensitive and offensive comments aside, while I think I understand what attracts me sexually, I’m still cataloguing those musical combinations which will ensnare my ear drum on multiple occasions.This song illustrates an ongoing

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-45293180655029238232008-01-30T11:15:00.000-05:002008-01-30T11:19:39.769-05:00

originally appearing on, Patrol MagThis is Andy Zipf, and he wants to be your friend.Your “pfriend,” as he likes to say.He’s got a tour, it starts tonight in Fairfax, Virginia and over the next few weeks Zipf will be bringing a musically mind-blowing sensory explosion to mid-America—it’s called Pfriends on Pfilm.Andy ZipfHumor him and don’t write him off as clichéd, just because he thought it was

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-23386985073893258022008-01-30T11:13:00.000-05:002008-01-30T11:15:46.762-05:00

I’ve got a special place in my heart for Over the Rhine, even when I don’t feel like I’m in a place where my heart identifies with theirs.Not going to lie, it’s hard to listen to a couple who love each other this much. Even when you go back to the angst of “Ohio,” you still feel like you’re not really sure that you can identify with Linford and Karin, except in the sense that you wish that kind

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-38530143856442845552008-01-30T11:11:00.000-05:002008-01-30T11:13:22.402-05:00

Yes. This song has been out for quite a while.No. This band will not change your life.But you should still listen to this song.Yesterday, the Spree released a video for “We Crawl,” off their 2007 rollicking semi-political romp, “The Fragile Army” and baby, if this video won’t make you smile, you’ve got less emotion in your soul than Hillary and Fred Thompson combined.I’ve got a soft place for the

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-58856564563462878422008-01-30T11:08:00.000-05:002008-01-30T11:11:16.232-05:00

This is another one of those bands that I’ve got more than just a musical affection for. Since I started listening to Sleep Station many years ago, lead singer Dave Debiak has found a way to capture my heart and ear drums far too many times.With his side project, New London Fire, Debiak didn’t disappoint my long held love. I Sing the Body Holographic was seductive, catchy, and oh so powerful (

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-53495563897137950692007-12-28T12:08:00.000-05:002007-12-28T12:09:08.032-05:00

way much more coming soon.Jan 18 2008 9:00P SOTA Fairfax, VirginiaJan 19 2008 8:30P The Watershed Lexington, South CarolinaJan 20 2008 8:00P Village Tavern Charleston, South CarolinaJan 21 2008 8:00P CJ’s Gallery Franklin, TennesseeJan 22 2008 8:00P Pour Tuscaloosa, AlabamaJan 23 2008 8:00P Soundpony Tulsa, OklahomaJan 24 2008 8:00P Front Porch Springfield, MissouriJan 25 2008 8:00P Blinks Ames,

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-30370659940804709042007-12-26T21:48:00.000-05:002007-12-27T10:36:17.601-05:00

Appearing in Patrol Magazine soon:New London Fire is one of the smoothest undiscovered bands on the music scene today. Headed up by multi-tasking frontman Dave Debiak (Sleep Station) the band’s freshman release, I Sing the Body Holographic, is anything but disappointing. Lush, powerful, expansive and absolutely danceable, their single “Different” is one of the most impressive tracks and catchy

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-23462521930584855172007-12-26T21:46:00.000-05:002007-12-26T21:47:59.347-05:00

Appearing on PatrolMag.com soon:On New Marketing and the Traditional Music Business ModelNM- You marketed this album pretty differently with the free EP being released far in advance, it doesn’t seem like you are afraid to give away music, can you talk about that, and how that’s worked with your label? DD- Well it was their idea. I agreed with it, we weren’t going to get anyone to buy it so we

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-68518683176537715642007-12-26T21:39:00.000-05:002007-12-26T21:45:58.487-05:00

Appearing on PatrolMag soon:Part Three- A Day in the Life. NM- Day job?DD- I own a store with my wife and we just kind of go there during the day, we own a line of makeup and massage, waxing stuff like that. NM- How is that balancing those two things.-Air Siren goes off in the background-DD- Apparently like its 1945 and the fucking Germans are about to bomb my town. What the heck is that all

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-43665400312188398142007-12-26T19:25:00.000-05:002007-12-27T00:48:20.168-05:00

:This is a letter I wrote to a member of the faculty of my school at the beginning of the summer and I kind of forgot about it. Honestly I think it describes somethings in it's overblown length rather well. so read if you want. arcade fire's there too.enjoy.Dr. ____,So I've actually been gone away from computers for the lastweek, and just made my way back to a monitor, keyboard andDSL access.i

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-44516727302907600142007-12-26T14:24:00.000-05:002007-12-27T00:36:20.801-05:00

this is an older review, that I found in my inbox that i forgot to stick up. so maybe enjoy?It wasn’t just the beards which united the two performers taking the stage at Messiah College in Grantham, PA on Saturday night, as Sam Beam (Iron & Wine) and David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) both dealt heavily in a folk-style dark examination of love, family, and God. Looking like two escapees from Abraham’

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-37337726171508023812007-12-19T13:37:00.000-05:002007-12-19T13:39:00.104-05:00

Here’s the requisite track bashing I’ve been promising for awhile, I’ve been saving this song for a couple weeks because honestly, it’s probably one of the worst pieces of generic, pretentious refuse that I’ve heard in the last four years of my life.Seriously, it’s that bad.I think that this is Kid Rock’s attempt to write an intelligent song with meaningful social commentary; if this is social

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-24831524588366661092007-12-17T10:05:00.000-05:002007-12-17T10:17:15.848-05:00

For some reason, this song has been driving through my head for the last week. It started in Virginia with the onset of a suffocating zombie-like fog, continued through the layover mind trip of friday and woke me up this morning screamin, "you've gotta give it away."U2 rarely gets the respect due for Pop, and I could spend hours talking about this is one of the best albums you've never heard, but

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-30091002962768927292007-12-12T02:16:00.000-05:002007-12-12T02:21:15.157-05:00

This song took fifteen tries and one listen to hook me.A technologically handicapped friend told me that they had a song I, "had to hear," unfortunately it took at least three hours for her to send this song over gmail.(it's called compose message/attach file/email address/ click send... not that hard)For all the effort associated with this musical transfer, I really wasn't expecting much in the

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-24524209418422313132007-12-09T23:06:00.000-05:002007-12-09T23:23:40.457-05:00

So now I park my car down by the cathedral,where the floodlights point up at the steeples.Choir practice was filling up with people.I hear the sound escaping as an echo.Sloping off the ceiling at an angle.When the voices blend they sound like angels.I hope there’s some room still in the middle.But when I lift my voice up now to reach them.The range is too high,way up in heaven.So I hold my tongue

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-54703452000456527382007-10-16T21:20:00.000-04:002007-10-17T00:09:16.053-04:00

“…will we wake in the morning and know what it was for, up in our bedrooms after the war?” Imagine walking into your room, ready to fall into bed, ready to sleep, but for some reason you decide to crawl out of your open bedroom window and escape into the city. Maybe you’ve slept all day, maybe sleep just isn’t coming, or maybe you’ve mixed up an ungodly redbull/espresso/legal white pill

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-17060449361850745892007-09-12T19:46:00.000-04:002007-09-13T15:02:30.160-04:00

nothing really new. a generalization that stretches from the first time that man took money for artistic services rendered.shipe and i were talking about the commercialization of rock music and how it's hard to take a band's revolutionary threats serious when they run out on a stage sponsored by AT&T.people dress like they're some type of counter-culture bohemians, but they're just as corporate

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-39279081787009160852007-09-09T23:59:00.000-04:002007-09-10T13:13:04.444-04:00

And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house,greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words,shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-85029430377240800362007-09-07T13:08:00.000-04:002007-09-07T13:15:37.318-04:00

So.tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. Ben Kweller will be playing the Kennedy Center for free.i'm not sure if i can tell you how excited I am.this guys is incredible. and the Kennedy Center deserves major points for bringing him in.see you there.(p.s. if you're looking for an aftershow, check out andy zipf http://www.andyzipf.com/ at the galaxy hut at 9 p.m. in arlington.the guy has the voice of an angel and

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-90456876365155130332007-09-04T14:42:00.000-04:002007-09-04T20:22:06.109-04:00

It was a Mississippi summer for Nathan Martin. Hot downtown streets, tree outlined country roads, and quiet corner cubicles conquered my days as I worked for a statewide newspaper and experienced just about every personality and disorder of the Deep South. Music plays into this introverted recollection in the sense that location often frames musical moods and four albums dominated the long hours

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-46419173607920707132007-08-26T15:21:00.000-04:002007-08-26T15:23:36.217-04:00

(this song is so powerful) John Brown went off to war to fight on a foreign shore.His mama sure was proud of him!He stood straight and tall in his uniform and all.His mama's face broke out all in a grin."Oh son, you look so fine, I'm glad you're a son of mine,You make me proud to know you hold a gun.Do what the captain says, lots of medals you will get,And we'll put them on the wall when you come

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-17549441224423662952007-07-29T19:21:00.000-04:002007-07-29T19:30:41.502-04:00

the hold steady is making me ache for a new album.Boys and Girls in America is already one of my top ten albums that i've heard this year.Separation Sunday isn't nearly as flashy or initially catchy.but dear teresa, when it grabs you.you've got better luck escaping superman's x-ray vision than you do the hold steady.they aren't perfect.i mean no one would tell you that.but finn tells some pretty

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-69840696261516537982007-07-18T15:57:00.000-04:002007-07-18T15:58:42.961-04:00

and have your life changed.one song at a time.October 20th is going to be monumental.(it's going to be beautiful with her)

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-90708860062710111542007-07-13T13:06:00.000-04:002007-07-13T13:08:42.846-04:00

(without even trying)Click and Readhe understands the changing world.he's brilliant.but he just loves music.

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-5672383553196152622007-07-12T15:12:00.001-04:002007-07-12T15:13:39.986-04:00

i dare you to watch this.and then go buy nightripper.this guy is insaneabsolutely insane

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-25969882026288368142007-07-11T15:21:00.000-04:002007-07-11T15:35:01.551-04:00

First and most importantly.Orchestral pop divines Stars decided to make Christmas come in July yesterday announcing, On September 25th, We will release Stars' fourth studio album, In Our Bedroom After War.We love it and are excited and proud to be bringing it to the world.We enlisted Joe Chiccarelli to mix the album. He finished in early June, passing the tapes along to Emily Lazar at the Lodge

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-22049092532344290542007-07-11T10:36:00.001-04:002007-07-11T10:37:26.698-04:00

Zeitgeist No matter what Kanye may have been screaming on stage about saving the earth on Saturday night, you can’t get around the fact that Live Earth was a bloated monstrosity of a benefit concert. I mean, half the performers looked absolutely bored to be there, listlessly running through their requisite three song set, while the other half’s misguided enthusiasm for climate problems could be

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-28961101408152410382007-07-11T10:31:00.000-04:002007-07-11T10:43:16.380-04:00

It’s hard to describe a sound that’s not so much a sound as an experience- but when you try to find adequate adjectives to describe the Brooklyn-based rock group TV on the Radio (TVOTR), that’s exactly your task. With Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes and Return to Cookie Mountain, two albums defying musical classification have been released onto the world by TVOTR, and judging by critical

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-3778412044309537932007-04-16T15:52:00.000-04:002007-04-16T15:55:18.081-04:00

Download the original attachmentThe Hold SteadyNathan Martin Boys and girls in America/They have such a sad time together…. If the Supreme Court ever determines that auditory over stimulation is considered to be cruel and unusual punishment, I will probably be dragged away from school under three counts of torture. It’s tough being a member of Oak Hill 201. Jensen, Lucas and Joseph are forced to

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-33868656462610406502007-03-12T12:53:00.000-04:002007-03-12T12:56:37.444-04:00

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-54452058100864486752007-02-22T19:18:00.000-05:002007-02-22T19:26:42.738-05:00

people often ask me why I spend so much money on concerts, why i feel the compulsive need to shell out time, money, sleep and clean smelling clothing just so that I can see a band live.after all, you could just buy the cd, you could just pop it in, listen to the music and get the same experience...right?i really can't buy into that line of reasoning, for while, there may be many bands which could

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1170041826556937312007-01-28T22:33:00.000-05:002007-01-28T22:37:06.566-05:00

Maybe you read about itand were too afraid to actually get out.maybe you got there too late and didnt get ticketsor maybe you had soul and no heat.regardlessthis is one view of the night.

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1169668404089936972007-01-24T14:27:00.000-05:002007-01-24T14:56:41.556-05:00

there's something about a live concert experience that cannot be replicated perfectly in any other medium than its first presentation. there's nothing inspired or special about that point, but what is inspired/special are the things that you can witness in the unpackaged moments of transcendent power. whether it be bono screaming at the california crowd during sunday bloody sunday, rattle and hum

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1169512878041635762007-01-22T18:55:00.000-05:002007-01-23T14:57:08.180-05:00

the various tracks leaked from the arcade fire's new album, neon bible, have been on near repeat in my room lately.i'm not going to talk about intervention right now, i'm not going to talk about black mirror, i'm not going to talk about ocean of noise,because while all those tracks have their passion, their beauty, their transcendent power- my body is a cage keeps ploughing my soul, every single

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1169494633940878482007-01-22T07:07:00.000-05:002007-01-22T18:06:30.216-05:00

if a nine year old middle finger oustretched, spittle face stained child, screaming with rage at his father, decided to make a record, this might be what it turned out like.i finally sat down and listened to the thermals last album, the body, the blood and the machine the other day, and though this album makes greendays shopping mall appropriate angst seem like a hallmark greeting card, there's

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1168098787860658792007-01-06T10:44:00.000-05:002007-01-06T11:00:34.443-05:00

will have tv on the radio, and it will be absolutely beautiful. i'm incredibly excited. [05111tvotr08](watch that)and read this selection fromthe blog.....spilling ions in the etherdear builder/architect of creation,let me start by saying that i am completely moved by your unabashed use of irregular form....the crooked sunsets, the stunted trees, human systems of belief... i feel like i am "IN "

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1167970795349034002007-01-04T23:16:00.000-05:002007-01-04T23:19:55.363-05:00

today has been sowing season and mysterious ways.strange? yes.but i never said i could build lego sets.solisten to the two.enjoy

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1165729936301164132006-12-10T00:49:00.000-05:002006-12-10T02:10:38.443-05:00

The love of Detweiler and Bergquist, Karin and Linford, is one which permeates each of the duos ten studio releases and three live albums; providing much of the subject material for their hauntingly original style of communication. It’s a communication style that seems directed less towards the listening audience and more towards the person wearing a ring and standing across the studio or stage.

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1165729715284911392006-12-10T00:40:00.000-05:002006-12-10T00:48:35.286-05:00

I read one interview where you said that God sometimes appears in your music. When he does stick his face in your music, when he won’t get away from you, how do you handle that? I know that there’s a tendency for Christian artist to try to hide their faith or put it so overplayed. How do you handle it when God says, ‘I’m involved in this too’.A lot of musicians in or outside the Christian

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1165196281438114732006-12-03T20:34:00.000-05:002006-12-04T00:11:04.916-05:00

this is part one of three, dealing with a band that i love greatlyhopefully you won't get too bored ….write what you know…It’s a cold blue Saturday afternoon in October and a dingy white van with Ohio plates and a small covered trailer, sits outside Lehman Auditorium at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The auditorium is nestled among the shedding trees, tucked into the

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1164744877492721772006-11-28T15:08:00.000-05:002006-11-28T15:14:37.820-05:00

if you still doubt the hype, still doubt the critics fawning over brooklyn group tv on the radiowatch this video and be transformed by their melting performance of "wolf like me"(now we're howling forever)could letterman sound any stupider at the end of the clip?yeah.. that's... cool? come on dave, it's not that hard to think of an adjective besides "cool"to describe that performance(although i

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1164654883785802832006-11-27T14:12:00.000-05:002006-11-27T14:14:43.806-05:00

i let my hair grow for four months and all i got was an angsty derivative picture for my profile

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1164182292935572542006-11-22T02:57:00.000-05:002006-11-22T02:58:12.950-05:00

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1164088614724571752006-11-21T00:56:00.000-05:002006-11-21T00:56:54.736-05:00

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1163981994622981952006-11-19T19:18:00.000-05:002006-11-19T19:19:54.650-05:00

I've been incredibly busy..but a few thoughts..Hopefully it won't hurt you too badly to watch.

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1161666550241211592006-10-24T01:02:00.000-04:002006-10-24T01:09:10.256-04:00

A word to the wise: If you’re trying to showcase the talents of a top level experimental band, don’t schedule any band with the name of Cataract Camp to open the evening. I know the idea sounds nice- get a local band struck with a burning desire to revolutionize music through a recycled blend of pianos, overamplification and yelping vocals, letting the barely legal youth open for one of the

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1158557159020674482006-09-17T23:48:00.000-04:002006-09-18T21:13:19.903-04:00

I've been trying to write about this night for awhile, but none of my words seemed exactly right. I've started at least four different posts, and exited the window on all of them, because some things cannot be written about until the perfect mood strikes.The night of September 10th, 2006 is one such night._____Prologue: The part of the story where Nathan rambles about his life, and his few

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1156481267054812052006-08-24T19:42:00.000-04:002006-08-25T01:48:03.816-04:00

"Now, where did I put my shoes?"That thought kept running through my head, as I stood in the outfield of Harry Grove Stadium on August 19th. Long skirts, tousled hair, and the sweet scent of cannabis filled the air, creating an atmosphere calling for the removal of various clothing articles and the embracing of a different time period. Heeding those vague traces, I removed my shoes and shirt,

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1155140951813162322006-08-09T11:43:00.000-04:002006-08-09T14:02:10.186-04:00

When it comes to regular and "professional" blogging, I'm probably one of the worst people at maintaining online any continuous flow of progressive thought . Writing at the paper this summer hasn't helped my spirit of procrastination one tiny bit, because I've fallen into a state of artistic malaise and i'm incredibly tired. Throughout the summer, as I've driven from county to county, person to

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1154092938946855722006-07-28T09:19:00.000-04:002006-07-28T09:22:18.963-04:00

We make music the way you think they do on television.We make music viciously with unforced abandonWe make music without closeup camera angles to make us look more dangerousWe make music that pours from our soul, not from a cue card Our hands fly like wasps biting hard, our voices scream in a vicious stingNotes are driven deep into your body, becoming a part of you,We won’t let you forget us,

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1153323303954320672006-07-19T11:33:00.000-04:002006-07-20T07:53:02.026-04:00

For those tortured souls feeling the need to cause harm to their enviroment and surroundings, a local musical alternative may provide just such an outlet, sans the destruction of person and property. Nothing Faded, a five member scream driven hard rock band from Jones County, has seen a tremendous growth of popularity in recent months which reached new heights after winning a statewide “Battle of

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1153323061765742762006-07-19T11:25:00.000-04:002006-07-19T11:31:01.783-04:00

According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, the average life expectancy for a person living in the United States is 77.6 years. If a person lives past that average expectancy, it will not be without some consequence as there is often a loss of the ability to function at previous levels of mental and physical capacity. The natural progression of human life leaves little suprises

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1153322621906035222006-07-19T10:05:00.001-04:002006-07-19T11:23:41.940-04:00

For some people, retirement provides a welcome chance to catch a break, sit on the porch, and sip too many cups of sweet tea. For members of the Soso Strings, a local blugrass/gospel/country cover band, retirement was just the chance they needed to rediscover some musical ambitions. “Eddie (Cannon) and I played when we were young,” said Louie Leggett, bass player for the group. “We quit once we

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1151464848533607852006-06-27T23:18:00.000-04:002006-06-27T23:20:48.553-04:00

Did you say you wanted a revolution? Answering strongly in the affirmative, the British alternative-rock group Muse has provided its the most inflammatory disc in the upcoming “Black Holes and Revelations,” scheduled for release July 11. The group known for its gorgeously reflective and sometimes angry anthems has become world renown for its musical creativity, becoming a benchmark for all other

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1150471455953105252006-06-16T11:15:00.000-04:002006-06-17T12:01:20.453-04:00

Some condensed reviews I've recently put together for my paper...Movie paints compelling but empty picture of life.Nathan MartinThe subject of teenage angst has provided a seemingly bottomless well for artists to draw upon. The creative landscapes of music, film and literature are covered by work after work detailing the struggles of growing up. While most of these works are the intellectual

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1149616726207274802006-06-06T13:55:00.000-04:002006-06-06T13:58:46.223-04:00

In tribute to the upcoming brillianceSorry that I haven't posted much lately... started a new job at our local paperI'll try to catch up on this thing soon

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1147828776674027142006-05-16T20:36:00.000-04:002006-05-17T12:33:06.606-04:00

How can one be completely out of place, and yet entirely at home? It seems to be a bit of a paradox, and yet on Friday night, I discovered the very beautiful answer to that question.I came to this show on a bit of a whim, out with Hannah we decided to check out Ember Swift due to the fact that a self proclaimed "jazz protest" singer was just too tempting to pass up. Jammin Java is a small place,

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1147729513270598352006-05-15T16:59:00.000-04:002006-05-16T21:26:34.096-04:00

This review is going to be short, sweet and belated.I saw Regina on the tail end of an an amazing energetic week of shows. I came to the 9:30 Club exhausted, apathetic and a bit sick. Those two factors provided a bad basis on which to experience the lovely New York talent that is Regina. Those things weighted the scale heavily on the negative, and as the lights went down, I hoped that they would

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1146375092369536732006-04-29T21:05:00.000-04:002006-06-02T00:30:01.180-04:00

We've both been very braveWalk around with both legsFight the scary dayWe both pull the tricks out of our sleevesbut I'll believe in anythingand you'll believe in anything So, I'm finally trying to catch up with life, and post about this amazing show...The stage of Black Cat is always a bit different. The artists that play this small venue provide their own flavoring and background for their

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1145055274618745832006-04-14T12:45:00.000-04:002006-04-14T22:25:12.890-04:00

We looked like Giants, in the back of my grey sub-compact fumbling to make contact as the other slept insideThe lads of Franz Ferdinand know how to put on a show thirty feet high. The massive banner hanging behind them, portraying the five members in silhouette form, was emblematic of their performance. The banner was tall, it was

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1144128207959572572006-04-04T00:34:00.000-04:002006-04-06T16:14:20.426-04:00

So lately, I've had a heavy rotation of Ryan Adams, Magnet and Connor.Throughout this stream of reflective/depressing music, I've had one balancing factor (along with the ever present U2)- It's from a source i honestly wouldnt usually draw upon especially after their merely decent last albumEven though I wasnt blown away by Final Straw, I did enjoy it; finding a few of the singles quite

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1143435556925636402006-03-26T23:59:00.000-05:002006-03-26T23:59:16.926-05:00

I want to get this blog caught up with my musical adventuring, (as few as they might be).Growing up in a small Mississippi town hampered my ability to attend many concerts, but the ones I did, and the ones I saw before starting this site up, I chronicled on my other site . I didnt write about all of them, and usually even when I did write, they were horribly disjointed and emotional (imagine that

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1143435317846552942006-03-26T23:46:00.000-05:002006-03-26T23:57:26.296-05:00

Right.... So, I don't know how to put this easilybutlast nightafter the concert...I met Ben Folds(the sheer enormity of those four words confounds me)We were driving out after the concert, and we drove past this small crowd of people on one side of the symphony hall. There was a van parked there, idling, so Jennifer found a parking space and we ran to the bottom of the stairs. Musicians from the

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1143435307260207952006-03-26T23:37:00.000-05:002006-03-26T23:55:07.263-05:00

-life is for living-From Wednesday afternoon to Sunday night, I have been truly living life...a deliberate life.i have drank life dry, and I am thirsty for more.I really don't think i can put everything into one xanga posts... I took over 300 pictures, and as I told someone else, "i have another 300 in my head."it started with this...We drove a long way...(sometimes I got tired)Part 1. -The

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1143435268658961752006-03-26T23:24:00.000-05:002006-03-26T23:54:28.680-05:00

Traveled three hours to the big easy... stood up for 5 hours straight....30 yards from the stagein the mud...among at least 60,000 people..people from Rome Italy, and Boston Massachusets (who stood next to me)and saw play- The StoneWhat Would You Say#41American BabySo Much To SayToo MuchLouisiana BayouStand UpWarehouseAnts Marching __________________ Two StepAll Along The Watchtower All along

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1142400363434809602006-03-14T20:55:00.003-05:002006-03-15T00:48:45.660-05:00

This band is the side project of Sleep Station and is close to releasing their first album. Sleep Station is a remarkable band that has never recieved the accolades they were due. Releasing such sweepingingly magical albums such as Hang In There Charlie and After The War. These concept albums combined passionate storytelling with Dave Debiak's soulful vocals and left the listener in a state of

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1141515558524840472006-03-04T18:32:00.001-05:002006-03-04T19:33:00.563-05:00

I've had this site for awhile and i've enjoyed writing on it. I'm not going to quit it, but i'd like to do some more serious writing. I've got a special opportunity to live near D.C. and be exposed to a variety of beauty that i've been without for most of my life.The three concert entries below are a taste of that new experience.I love music, and i love to write... and while i don't necessarily

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1141426543288995462006-03-03T17:53:00.000-05:002006-03-03T23:27:04.136-05:00

We are here to take the blameTo take the taunts and the shameWe are here to make you feelIt terrifies you, but its real StarsI'm not even going to try and write this out as a true review with adetached observant perspective on the events, I really can't. Theexperience that I had Friday night transcends any recounting throughthe use of words; but i'll try anyway.We (jenn and

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1141419861292295892006-03-03T15:48:00.000-05:002006-03-03T23:27:52.330-05:00

Concerts are a great equalizer and revealer in the musical world. They strip an artist from the IV of the mixing board, and force the performer to communicate directly with an audience. Good artists thrive in a concert setting because they take the material which has come from deep within their soul, and onstage, embody those words with more power and force than the original recording. Average

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23372889.post-1141418209933407582006-03-03T15:27:00.000-05:002006-03-03T23:28:22.046-05:00

The doors of the 9:30 Club opened at 7:30 on Mondaynight, and as they opened, I walked up to the back of the very shortline that had formed. This line waiting to see BRMC was so long, thatby the time I got into the club, I walked right up the edge of thestage and sat down. I was with stephanie hausner, jon knight and shantboyajian and as we talked and waited for the opening act to come on,the

Nathan Martinnoreply@blogger.com1