Labor Day 2011

Has there been a more important Labor Day in my lifetime? Doubtful.


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Frequent Flier Miles = February Trip

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It turns out that I have more frequent flier miles via American than I thought. I called yesterday and I can travel anywhere within the U.S. and almost anywhere outside of the U.S. gratis. Although I was considering Hawaii, since I'm not really a thong-wearing beach guy, I'm not sure it's the right destination. I'm leaning towards somewhere in Europe or Asia. Oh, and I've already traveled to the following: London, Amsterdam, Italy, France, Belgium, Festus, Missouri. Here's what I'm looking for: -Historical significance -Not a party scene -Relaxing -Not touristy -Off the beaten path If you have any tips or recommendations, please feel free to comment or e-mail me at campbellcj at gmail dot com.
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2008: The Worst in Music

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I'll need a little more time to compile my best of, but tossing together a list of the most overrated/biggest disappointments of 2008, is fairly easy. Keep in mind that many of these records fell into my own oblivion after only a few listens. And one thing I've learned is that records that at first sound terrible or contrived, can later be reborn. Nevertheless, here's my short list of records that either suck or just don't live up to the hype. Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago Oh how I tried. A few folks compared this record to Elliott Smith and Nick Drake. Good lord forgive those people. This is whiney, vapid crap. This man (I think Bon Iver's his "band" name) will be forgotten very soon. Yawn city. Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes 2008's version of The Band? Seriously. Robbie Robertson must be having quite a laugh. I saw these greasers perform at the Treasure Island Music Festival and they sucked. This is generic, recycled basura. Vivian Girls Vivian Girls I onl...
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Ryko Absorbed by ADA, All Staff Let Go

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Word is that Ryko will still operate under the ADA/Warner umbrella, but who really knows what this means for one of the greatest labels ever to put out records. If Ryko's days are over, this is another truly sad development in the dismantling of the music business. Two of the industry's most important creative labels, Touch & Go and Rykodisc, are now seemingly on the outs. In the spring of 1996 as I began my search for a "job," I sent my nearly blank resume to two companies: Rykodisc and Tony Margherita Management. I never heard back from either (I almost landed at Margherita's company years later), but these were the first places that struck me. During my late-teens and early-20s, whenever I walked into Tower Records or Compact Disc World in Paramus, Soundtracks or Ramsey Books & Records in Ramsey, NJ or Nuggets or Newbury up in Boston, if I saw a disc packaged in that clear case with slight blue-ish coloring, I knew it was something good. My CD racks are...
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