Admit it, you’ve had this game circled on the calendar since the schedules came out last fall. Twins-Barves. Jack Morris v. John Smoltz. Red State-Blue State. North v. South. Two struggling teams trying to rekindle the glory of 1991 or at least position themselves to draft J.B. Bukauskas next June. A.J. Pierzynski’s triumphant return home.
Ervin Santana on the mound for the Twins in what may be his last chance to smell baseball for hometown nine. Weather looks glorious for outdoor baseball. I’ll be there if anyone wants to mini-caucus. And if you want to boo A.J., you won’t catch any shade from me. Want to cheer him? That works too.
Tommy Milone on the mound as The Twins once again try to get their first win in the Rob Anthony era. The Twins batting order looks decent. How long before Anthony breaks it up?
NME has your typical internet trope -- a list! This time best live albums. Actually it's pretty decent, although I'm shocked it didn't include Cheap Trick Live at Budokan. I would also add Built to Spill Live and of course Guided by Voices Live at the Wheelchair Races. Otis Redding Live on the Sunset Strip would be another. Oh and I would have gone with The Name of this Band is Talking Heads over Stop Making Sense, but that's just me.
Some serious signs God doesn't want Tommy Milone to pitch tonight as biblical storms roll through Minneapolis. As of 7:00p, not sure of game status but putting this up in case God gets distracted and the storms pass.
I think it’s a indisputable fact that Van Halen is one of the greatest rock albums ever. Eddie’s guitar work, lyrics about getting with the ladies, David Lee Roth’s bravado. It’s all here wrapped up in leather, barbed wire, and a whiff of Axe body spray. Unfortunately since they first hit the scene back in 1977-78, there’s not a lot of video of their original shows. Below isn’t exactly a video but you can listen to a great early version of Feel Your Love Tonight. It’s definitely faster than the studio version -- almost punk like. Not as polished as the album but damn is it exciting, To this day I still get goosebumps listening to this song.
After destroying the competition during the first six week of the season (including going 6-0 against the Twins), the White Sox have crashed to earth and have struggled to maintain a .500 record. Boo Hoo.
Tonight begins a 3 game series at The Cell. Gibby and his 6.05 ERA looking for his first win of the season.
You know 2016 is a rough year for musicians when even Ralph Stanley can't make it through the first six months. We all know him his stirring rendition of O, Death from from Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Though.
USA in COPA2016 semi-finals tonight against Lionel Messi and the sky blue-striped Argentines. Can Clint Dempsey continue to have a tournament for the ages? How many times will Michael Bradley mishandle a simple pass? Can Jurgy come up with a decent line-up without Bobby Wood and Jermaine Jones?
What? Twin log? Oh yeah, Tyler Duffy v. Aaron Nola. Beautiful night at the ballpark. Also Ryan Howard brings his .145 average to Target Field, so that's something too.
Has there ever been album written about more than Radiohead's Ok Computer? Perhaps Sgt, Pepper's but not many more than that. One of my favorite songs is the last one: The Tourist. It's a nice coda to the album: kinda lugubrious, druggy even. A great song to listen to at 2:00a in the morning after filling you head with 45 minutes of Radiohead and other substances. I really love the end: bluesy swirling guitars that give way to just a simple bass and drum beat and finally, the last note of the album, a single bell chime.
That chime just gets me (and it's foreshadowed early in the song). It's such a cool ending to the album. It is so simple yet that chime starkly announces the end; you can breath again and start thinking about what you just listened to. It's like the woo in What's Going On referenced by Russell in Almost Famous. It's a simple little thing but it makes the whole song (and album, I would argue). It's what you put in... That's Rock and Roll.
The Twins continue to deliver a Gabriel like message to the Angels of Los Angeles: Thou shall get your ass kicked by those feisty Gemini of the north. Erv Santana on the mound looking for his 2nd win of the season. Late start but unless your interests lie in watching Argentina drop 5 goals on Boliva, not much else on tonight.
