cloud cult

Not sure if you’ve had a chance to listen to Cloud Cult, yet, but I would say that listening to them is only half of the experience.

Cloud Cult is essentially Craig Minowa. Craig is a guitar player from Minnesota who’s been playing under the name Cloud Cult for over ten years. I really like his propensity for interesting arrangements and lyrics – it’s what sets him apart from standard indie pop.

But in a business that tends to reward remarkable (at least temporarily), it’s his live show that is the real story. During every live Cloud Cult show, his wife, Connie, and trumpet player Scott West work on a painting that is completed by the end of the show and auctioned off afterward.

For true Cloud Cult fans, is this is a great chance to own a real memory from the show experience. For people just hearing about them for the first time, it’s an interesting concept that I think warrants a viewing.

I’m hoping they tour their new album enough that I might get to see this in person.

Here’s a live clip of “Breakfast with My Shadow,” in which you can really see the paintings going on.

Although Cloud Cult has a great live story, he’s also very talented when arranging for the studio mix. The new album, Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes), illustrates how much range Minowa has.

Here’s a video clip of “When Water Comes to Life.” This should give you a better feel for their studio sound.

the end of newtunes?

I know the apocalypse is said to be in 2012, and maybe this is just the beginning… but it seems Brett Favre has asked to be released by the Packers.

If you’re living in Wisconsin, then you know this is the end of the world as we (and REM) know it. Not sure if we’re going to be able to focus on getting NewTunes built until this Favre situation is resolved.

More on this story as it unfolds…

sometimes ignoring my tv makes me feel unproductive

People generally swear by their DVRs (TiVo, etc). I have DirecTV, so we have a DVR, too.

The only problem is, I record all these shows, and then I get stressed out that I’m not watching them. The DVR fills up, and capacity dwindles, and I feel like I need to do something fast. Like somehow, by reading, or working, or hanging out with my family, I’m not doing anything productive.

The show that’s just sitting there with a blank stare, and has been for the last few months, is Mad Men. Everyone I know who watched it when it first ran on AMC said it was really great. Many in the press called it a good replacement for missing the Sopranos fixed (not the same subject matter… just that kind of good).

Anyway, I was reminded of that item on my to-do list when I saw this ad campaign that’s currently appearing in the subway in NYC…

Not only was the design of the ad pretty cool, but it makes the seat look like clean, premium seating. I would think, though, that anyone who chooses to sit there will just have the entire car staring at them.