I am having a minor obsession right now with a free Axis and Allies computer simulator I found.
I am a super nerd but if you’re into it: Triple A.
I like the game because it has a First World War variant. I have always, always wanted to play a Great War strategy game, and even though this game leaves a lot to be desired, it works and I play it late into the night when Coral and Mads are asleep. (if you know of a great and maybe free World War One simulator for Mac… let me know!).
The great joy I am finding to play my nerdy war game late into the night (aside from crushing the Central Powers) is that I get to play a lot of music during my time.
I was inspired by a couple things I’ve ready over the past few days. One was an article that Ryan sent me. It as an epic odyssey that a thirty-something is writing about his recollection of 90s grunge and mainstream music. I like how he is going back and re-listening to all the old albums he used to love as a kid again with fresh ears and the perspective of time.
The other was Jon William’s Top 10 of 2010 list. He mentioned a couple bands that had records out this year that I used to love, but never listen to anymore.
Deftones? C’mon, those guys rip and I fell off the band wagon.
Last night while invading France (I flipped it around and played the game as the Central Powers) I fired up the Deftone’s most excellent second record Around the Fur.
The record is an amazing adventure in 90s alt-metal and also the home to one of the best Deftone’s songs in their catalog, “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away).”
Deftones – “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)”
The song is so soothing while also being aggressive. The juxtaposition is wonderous on the ear. The story of the song is an emotion that I am sure many of us have felt throughout or lives. I don’t really know what the song is about but to me, its a song about freedom (and girls oddly).
Maybe its the single and album cover?
Such a striking and sexy picture of a girl at a party in Seattle in the mid-90s. I wonder who she is?
The band recorded the album in Seattle and during a party a photographer snapped this shot. Now this girl’s boobs are on my blog.
The interesting part of this album cover to me… is that it primes the record as a “sexual” experience even though none of the songs are about “sex” in a linear way. I have always thought of Around the Fur as a sex record or about grils even though it probably really isn’t about either. Its all because of this image.
The other strong emotional connection I have to the Deftone’s “Be Quiet and Drive” is that a big part of my life from 16 was the roadtrip.
We would constantly take long drives to random places for the sake of the adventure and try somewhere new. I remember one summer, it was really in vogue to go from breakfast in small towns in the interior. Hope or Princeton or Spuzzem or Spence’s Bridge. Somewhere a couple hours out of the city. We’d leave at some ridiculous hour and head east. At 6AM-ish we’d stop, get pancakes and caravan home. Gas also cost like .50 or .60 cents a litre, so you could do shit like that and it only cost a few dollars.
I remember we filmed the trips a few times, I wonder if those tapes live anywhere? Good times, the song “Be Quiet and Drive” always makes me remember some of those drives.
Chino also looks like my buddy Russ circa 1998.
Go with yourself.
The Morning After 