Episode 6: Sunny Day Real Estate

Notes on the 6:

Sunny Day Real Estate, or as they'll be known on this blog: 'SDRE', have been amongst my favorite bands since I was an awkward girl-lacking 16 year old. I was listening to Jimmy Eat World's 'Clarity' when my sister popped in and mentioned that I would probably like SDRE. Needless to say, old Jimmy has been collecting dust ever since. SDRE signed to the same label (Sub Pop) as 90's juggernauts Nirvana and Soundgarden had , and in 1994 they released their debut album "Diary". Furthering the emotional element set in place by bands like Rites of Spring, Minor Threat, and Fugazi, SDRE took hardcore to new levels. They merged skilled instrumentation with self-reflective lyrics and tenacious melodies, leaving behind the sloppy 3-chord punk that typified hardcore in the mid 80's.

The boyz are currently within their, what, 3rd-4th break-up now? What a shame. At least we have 4 albums and 1 live disc (not to mention a few solo albums by their lead vocalist Jeremy Enigk and a pseudo-SDRE album under the name "The Fire Theft") to carry us over until they reunite...god willing. In the meanwhile, I would encourage you to pick yourself up a copy of both "Diary" and "How It Feels To Be Something On". It may change your life.

This podcast is just a list of my favorite SDRE songs (aka. a pure disservice to the albums). In reality, I prefer listening to the full albums because each song feeds off of the next to cluster into one amazingly epic emotional breakdown. I guess it is a good sign when it pains you to create a 'best of', because the full genius of the band can only be revealed within the original context of the record. Oh glory hallelujah, do I loooooove that original context. Sexy!

Editors Note: I'll now admit that SDRE's original guitarist Dan Hoerner worked with Chris Carabba (yea, the Dashboard Confessional guy). 'Screaming Infidelities' - not my slice of pie, that is all I will say. It is very interesting, that is, the crap that has been influenced by the hardcore movement of the 80's. Although, It is very intriguing to me how one gets from Bad Brains to Fall Out Boy in 15+ years. Makes me wonder where the black metal genre will be when I am middle aged *imagine Christina Aguilera wearing corpse paint*
____________________________________________________________________

Song - Album

1. Roses In Water - How It Feels To Be Something On

2. Every Shining Time Your Arrive - How It Feels To Be Something On

3. In Circles - Diary

4. One - The Rising Tide

5. The Prophet - How It Feels To Be Something On

6. The Blankets Were The Stairs - Diary

7. Friday - LP2

8. How It Feels To Be Something On - How It Feels To Be Something On

9. Shadows - Diary

10. Guitar and Video Games - How It Feels To Be Something On

11. Seven - Diary

12. 8 - LP2

13. Song About An Angel - Diary

14. The Ocean - The Rising Tide

*by the way, I accidentally labelled the episode '#7' on the downloadable file, so don't fret, it is still #6

American Appar-hell. Witty? No? Really? Not a bit?

My wifey emailed American Apparel the other day to question them on their grotesquely sexual advertising techniques. Still waiting for a response.... check it out the scuzz fest for yourself (or just log onto facebook, either way). http://www.americanapparel.net/

(Excuse my judgement, but I can imagine the dude in the picture thinking this: "arm tattoo, check! V-Necked Shirt, Check! Knowledge that mustaches are 'so yesterday', Check! Trying to harness Rivers Cuomo's ignorance to irony, err, almost check!")

It is our onus to boycott said store. You might be saying, "Dudez! But AA is totally sweatshop free! And some of their shit is organic, n' shit! The sexuality used is a small issue. As long as it is somehow ethical, right budz?" Anytime you purchase anything, you engage in some sort of ethical issue. Often times, it is the usage of natural resources and pollution (landfills, yikes!). AA can only increase these enviromental issues because it creates new product. Lumping enviromental concerns with the objectification of women doesn't bode well with the collective spirit of my household. But do not fret! There is a ethical alternative! (read on!)


The places I shop are sweatshop free, minimize pollution/waste, helps conserve the planet's natural resources, are extremely cheap, and certainly do not objectify women. On top of all of this, these places typically manifest as community initiatives to help the needy or marginalized. Almost sounds like the gospel, huh?

Gangstars, don't ya know I be rappin' bout THRIFT STORES?

Now, I am not trying to 'guilt' people for eating up AA beautious-chested V-Necks and faux-thrift shades. Afterall, not everything we do can be completely ethical, and sometimes we need to draw a line in the sand and say, "I am doing the best I can without wanting to kill myself!" But, my friends, in light of this vague dosage of information (which is your ethical prerogative to investigate further) making the switch to thrift is something to consider. Save the planet, support your community (and its marginalized), stop objectification of women, and start wearing shirts that cover more than half your chest!

ps. For context, know that I have associated V-Necks with hedonism and the devil.

pss. Another reason I am biased against American Apparel is because they promote the use of non-prescription glasses. Not an ethical problem per se, but indeed a problem for all of us blind people who feel pillaged of the one thing we had going for us--->cool frames. Those of you with 20/20 vision, have heart!