Good things.

First things first:
thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you (infinity) for your patience with my ridiculous lazy slacking.

Now: this is a real update. I'm cracking my shit down. If there's anything that affirms the reasons why I do this, it's the beginning of a new semester (currently day 2 of my 8th semester of school). Craaazayyy. But seriously: sometimes I forget that all I need to want to do this is the perennial feeling of listening to my iPod as I pull into the school parking lot or while I'm on my way to class and my prevailing thought is, "I don't want to go to class. I want to keep listening to this."

And that's why I write.

So thanks so much to those of you who are out there nagging me (some more so than others) or, at the very least, requesting that I write more and update more often. While I may respond with a little bit of an aggravated tone-- in my defense, I do have a lot going on-- it means more to me than you know that you guys want more.

One piece of (hopefully) exciting news to my readers (i.e. you, assuming you're still out there after I've been MIA for so long): I've made a decision to start going in more of a local direction with this particular blog (and thinking of starting others; those are still just ideas, so bear with me) and focusing mainly on bands from the Kalamazoo area-- shows, new releases, and general news, words on the street, etc.

SO (and this is the important part): I'm asking for your help. Here's what you can do:

-Any bands, musicians, or just music enthusiasts like myself, I would be eternally grateful to anyone who spreads the word about my blog-- link it up on your MySpace, Facebook, or your own blog, tell your friends, etc.

-FRIEND ME ON MYSPACE! That's right, I'm breaking a two-year MySpace boycott (call me a sellout if you wish. I just want to write and what is writing without readers?) You can find me here.

-Get a hold of me-- here, Facebook, or MySpace-- and let me know about any local shows, albums, jam sessions, or press coverage that you would like to see a clip about (even if they are your own!) or interviews that you would like me to conduct. Anything goes. (If you friend me on Facebook, please include a message so I will know you found me here... I usually reject friend requests from people I don't know. Sorry, I'm paranoid like that.)

-Keep reading, commenting, and generally being awesome. Because you must be if you're reading this right now.

Once again, thank you guys so much for inspiring me and, as always, for your love. Let's all do our part to keep the Kalamazoo scene alive and well.

XOXO
-thejunkie

H.H.W.- Thursday: Top 5 White Hip-Hop Artists

I hope you guys didn't think I was trying to leave my Caucasians hangin.'

5. Mickey Avalon. No, Mickey Avalon is not black. He's Jewish. (Quick! Someone make a joke about "My Dick.") His lazy, 10th-beer-and-fourth-joint pace makes it incredibly easy for those of us even completely lacking swagger to rap along. You know what would have been cool? A Mickey Av/ ODB collabo.
4. House of Pain. Ah, Everlast, you have proven once again that giving up on working solo and starting a band is sometimes the golden ticket. Their almost-too-danceable 90s gem "Jump Around" gets me every time. This song almost got me in trouble with the law one time when my old roommate and I were driving and literally could not RESIST getting out of the car and dancing at a red light... at the corner of Westnedge and Crosstown Parkway... that's right; right by the police station. Long story short, that night started with "Jump Around" and ended with stolen 40s of Mickey's (here's hoping no cops are reading this). What is it about being exposed to Irish culture that just makes you cause trouble? Speaking of Irish culture... in case you don't know this song and you're in suspense, the answer is yes, this song does include a Biblical reference ("Word to your moms, I came to drop bombs/ I got more rhymes than the Bible's got psalms/ And just like the Prodigal Son I've returned/ Anyone stepping to me you'll get burned").
3. Eminem. (Come on, it was Eminem or the Beastie Boys. Had to show some love for the 313.)
2. Aesop Rock. Can you say "swagger?" All together now. Damn.
1. Brother Ali. Brother Ali holds the #1 spot for this reason: because he song holds it down (check out "Walking Away," which features an easy-going, funk-organ-decorated beat set off by melancholy but catchy whistling) because not only is he white, but he's SUPER-white. That's right; born with a rare genetic condition, he's actually an albino. Thanks, Brother Ali, for keeping it extra real... Twice the white, twice the swagger.

And, you must know: I'm updating this live from Kenny and Zach's place... So I dedicate today's urbandictionary.com entry to them.
"steelo: 1.) Slang for style; a playa's aura. Some get this definition confused with swagger. It can be your fashion but that's just part of the bigger picture. Let's just say, the devil didn't make you do it, it was your steelo.
'You should know my steelo/
Went from ten G's for blow to thirty G's a show/
To orgies with ho's I never seen befo'/' - Notorious B.I.G"
-thejunkie

Update.

To those of you who sit at my blog and hit "refresh" on their browser for hours and hours until I update-- I see ya'll-- I'm really sorry about how hard I've slacked lately. I had third-terms this week, so I have really just been studying and writing papers (trust me, I really would have rather been listening to music). So... I'm going to make it up to you! Coming up soon... Volume Junkie HIP HOP WEEK. It came to me in a dream. Keep posted! It's coming! College is a bitch.

Shoutout to my #1 fan, Zach Emblad. ("CROSS-STREET!")

Just for you guys, here are some tasty links to enjoy while you wait out the arrival of any upcoming amazing, albeit self-aggrandizing musings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js2MBqlp9Jc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekwxnNwUdHE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2bHjSh4eDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGJ0fJN10YY

http://www.lettersofnote.com/

Love you guys. Thanks so much for your support.
-thejunkie