TheGoodTheBad salutations!

TheGoodTheBad

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=mr_hellcat.mookie@blogger.com

 

 

MikeVercelletto

Hey TheGoodTheBad!

TheGoodTheBad

 

 

https://bit.ly/3JMbfGp

 

 

 

 

MikeVercelletto

The Top V Albums of 2012

I agonized way too long over this year's list.  Hope you will check out some new music after reading it!

5. Norah Jones - Little Broken HeartsI am very manly and so I am not supposed to admit I really enjoyed the 2012 release from the same woman who gave us "Don't Know Why," but I really did, and I think if you love music you'll like it too. Part of me thinks I will wake up one day and hate this album and regret the loquacious stream of hyperbole I want to write about this release, so how about I just slot it in at #5, tell you to buy the album and leave it at that?

http://amzn.com/B007T2XC7A

4. Gaslight Anthem – Handwritten:

Admittedly it is hard for me *not* to like a New Jersey punk band that is influenced by Tom Petty and Matthew Ryan, loves Pearl Jam and is often compared to Bruce Springsteen, but Gaslight brings the goods in their own right. If you have the chance to catch them live, you NEED to, but in lieu of that, blasting this album will make for an acceptable substitute. This album’s only flaw is its sequencing: The first few times I listened I thought the songs kind of ran into each other, but when I put the album on shuffle on my iPod, the diversity of the songs really seems to shine. If I ever meet Brian Fallon, it is something I can talk to him about, along with our favorite tracks on Southern Accents and whether Matt Cameron or Jack Irons is Pearl Jam's best drummer…

http://amzn.com/B008JOK59K

3. Heartless Bastards – Arrow:

I almost always have music playing at low levels in my office, and this year when people asked me about a song that was playing, most of the time it was Heartless Bastards. Their 2009 album, Mountain, was fantastic, and this album is completely different yet still fantastic. I don’t know why they don’t get more attention – this band led by singer/guitarist Erika Wennerstrom makes flat-out outstanding rock music. She is Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in one person, without the bombast. If the music doesn’t move you, get your pulse checked - there is something wrong with you.

http://amzn.com/B006VOPR7K

2. The Shins – Port of Morrow:

I don’t know what the title of this album means, and for that matter I can’t even really tell you what any of the songs on this album are really about. I can only tell you The Shins make truly interesting, gripping music. In the vein of Arcade Fire, The Shins craft four-minute sonic masterpieces of melody with the ability to change the listener’s mindset. After a tough day, strapping headphones on and listening to Port of Morrow is like staring into the Grand Canyon to reframe your perspective. Guaranteed de-stressor.

 http://amzn.com/B007J29OU4

1. Jack White – Blunderbuss:

Rolling Stone can write as many articles as they wish putting soulless poseur John Mayer in the same category as the likes of Eric Clapton et al, but I know that the true Guitar God of today's era is Jack White. No matter how many times I listen, this album never disappoints. Head out on a long drive with the CD on repeat and this disc will continue to surprise you, even when you get all the way through and it repeats from Track 1. I can’t say I don’t miss Meg White’s underappreciated influence, but this album is just killer. If I suddenly found myself on my death bed tomorrow, never getting to see Jack White perform live might be one of my biggest regrets.

 http://amzn.com/B007U8UBGI

So, that's the list.

And now for some Honorable Mentions:

Chuck Prophet – Temple Beautiful:

Leaving Chuck off my Official Top V was the toughest decision I made about the list.  Temple Beautiful is a concept album of sorts – all the songs are about San Francisco.  It works, and Chuck Prophet doesn’t get near the attention he should.  The standout song on this album is “Willie Mays is Up At Bat,” but the entire album is solid and interesting.

Counting Crows – Underwater Sunshine:

I love Adam Duritz songwriting and usually don’t like the bands he endorses (Counting Crows opening acts are almost always snoozers), so on paper this album concept sounds like a dud: covers of mostly obscure songs from really obscure bands.  However, it really, really works.  Adam and the entire band sound energized by the material and make almost all the songs sound like Counting Crows originals.  I’m hoping the creative exercise propels them to make a killer disc of original songs soon.   

The Hives – Lex Hives:

A tight release from a terrific live act.  The Hives don’t necessarily stretch themselves here, but it is an earnest pop punk effort and if you work out to this record you are guaranteed to break your personal records. Or at least literally break the inferior CDs in your collection for rocking less than the Hives do.

Neil Young With Crazy Horse – Psychedelic Pill: 

I inexplicably missed this release when it came out in the spring, but it popped up on so many year-end best-of lists that I went and got it.  I’ve listened to it about a half dozen times now and holy crap it is good.  I’ve never taken a psychedelic pill but it seems to me locking yourself in a dark room with this music playing on repeat would give you a pretty good high and make you think about the world in a new way.

The Wallflowers – Glad All Over:

I am really impressed with this release from Jakob Dylan’s band.  There are enough songs that hearken back to The Wallflowers glory days of the late 1990’s yet enough creativity and risk taking that keep the album fresh and interesting.  Not everything works but I have a feeling over the next five years there is a chance I may be listening to as much of this album as any in my Official Top V Albums.

Alejandro Escovedo – Big Station:

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but  just discovered 61 year old underground legend Escovedo this year.  His 14th solo album, Big Station is the best Tom Petty-sounding album that Tom Petty didn’t make this year, and I look forward to uncovering the rest of the Mexican American storyteller’s catalog as time goes on.

Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball:

This album will probably win a Grammy for album of the Year.  I listened to this album over and over again when it came out and almost forced myself to love it in preparation for an absolutely epic concert in April at Madison Square Garden.  The concert didn’t disappoint, but six months later this album shows itself for what it is to me: a handful of really good songs surrounded by lesser reminders of his earlier, superior work.

Top V Albums of 2010

And here are my favorite albums of 2010.  

1. Black Keys - Brothers

2. The Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever 

3. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

4. The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

5. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Also loved:

Girl Talk - All Day

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Mojo

Help Mookie Find a New Home

 As you may have heard, we recently had to surrender our beloved Mookie up for adoption. 

Mookie came into our lives when she was eight weeks old, and it is only because we loved her so dearly that we were willing to admit that it was time to find her a better home.  Ever since Milo arrived, it was a struggle to get Mookie acclimated to the new family dynamic.  We tried very hard to give her everything she needed, but after 15 months without improvement, we could no longer cross our fingers and hope for the best.  We decided we couldn't be selfish anymore and keep her around for our own amusement when she wasn't getting what she needed. 

 

At five years old this month, Mookie is still a high energy puppy who needs lots and lots of attention and exercise.  Recently donned "the wrecking ball who impacted everyone she met," she is extremely loving towards adults even though she's no fan of animals or people her own size.

 

Although it broke our hearts to give her up, we know that giving her up was the right thing to do for for her, and for Milo.

 

Fortunately, there is an organization called the French Bulldog Rescue Network who made our decision A LOT easier.  This wonderful group gladly came to our rescue and placed Mookie in a foster home while they work to find her a new "forever home" where she can be the center of somebody's universe again.  We know the right home will love her to pieces.

 

Please take a moment to visit Mookie's page on the FBRN website, spread the word around, and if you can spare a couple bucks to sponsor her, it would go to a truly worthy cause.

http://www.frenchbulldogrescue.org/htdocs/foster/mookie.html

Also, as a tribute, here's a link to some of Mookie's "greatest hits"
http://picasaweb.google.com/Verceman/MookieSGreatestHits?feat=directlink#slideshow

Godspeed, Mookie!

Mike and Michelle

Pie Eating Area

Top V Movies of 2008

Unless I am forgetting some, I only saw five movies this year, which has to be the fewest since I was three years old!  Anyway, for posterity's sake, here they are, in order:

Dark Knight
Burn After Reading
Cloverfield
Tropic Thunder
Four Christmases

Dark Knight I grade an A; Burn After Reading a B+; Cloverfield a C+; Tropic Thunder a C, and Four Christmases a big fat F.

Top V Albums of 2008

1. Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
2. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
3. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
4. REM - Accelerate
5. Beck - Modern Guilt

V Honorable Mentions: Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago; The Hold Steady - Stay Positive; Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue; Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain; Black Crowes - Warpaint

Others I Enjoyed This Year: Eric Hutchinson - Sounds Like This; , Islands - Arm's Way; Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue; The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound; Jackie Greene - Giving Up The Ghost;

Still being evaluated: Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night; Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy; Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Eponymous

Personal Letdowns of the Year: Mudcrutch, Counting Crows, Jakob Dylan, Jason Mraz

Mookie Of The Month December 2008

 

The End of Journalism

END DIVISIVE POLITICS!!

The End Of The Turkey O'Toole? Recipe!

I am a huge sandwich fan (I contend it is the Fourth Greatest Invention Of All Time).

So I was very saddened to read that one of my all-time favorite sandwiches, the Turkey O'Toole, is on its way towards extinction. Bennigan's, creator of said sandwich, closed 160 stores nationwide yesterday, reducing the availability of the Turkey O'Toole by 50%.

What makes the Turkey O'Toole special (otherwise an ordinary hot turkey & swiss with honey mustard) is the Pretzel Roll.

For years on Long Island my friends and I used to go to Bennigan's every Thursday night for dinner. We chose Bennigan's mostly because they tolerated our nonsense, but also partially because they were one of the few restaurants that served Dr. Pepper. Otherwise, their food was rather lousy and the place kind of dingy. Over the years the restaurants have gotten even worse. They didn't have any Bennigan's nearby for the three years my wife and I lived in Greensboro, so any time we took a road trip a pitstop at Bennigan's for a Turkey O'Toole was a necessity. Every trip it seemed like the retstaurants had gone more and more downhill. Seemed like it had been ages since the carpet had been replaced (or even cleaned), and it was just... depressing. I guess with the Irish theme they had trouble competing with the trendy T.G.I.Fridays or the "healthy" fare at Applebees.

So I guess I saw this day coming. The day Bennigan's shut their corporate-owned stores, leaving open only the franchisees. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they go by teh wayside as well. So, if you have a Bennigan's nearby that's still open, hurry up now and get yourself a Turkey O'Toole while you still can.

After that, you'll have to make your own. Luckily, my wife recently figured out how to make a pretzel roll. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients for Pretzel Roll:

* 1 1/3 cups warm water
* 2 tablespoons warm milk
* 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
* 1/3 cup light brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons butter, melted
* 4 cups all-purpose flour
* kosher salt or pretzel salt
* 2 quarts cold water
* 1/2 cup baking soda

Directions
1. In a KitchenAid mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix a 1/3 cup of the warm
water with the yeast and let stand until foamy.
2. Add the remaining cup of warm water along with milk, sugar & melted
butter and swirl to dissolve the sugar. Add flour and mix at med-low speed. Remove dough from mixer once it forms a nice a firm, pliable dough ball. Add more flour if necessary.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured table and knead for 2 minutes. Roll into a 2 foot long log and cut into 12 even pieces. Cover dough with plastic and a damp cloth and let sit for 10 minutes.
4. Form dough into knots/rolls and arrange on a lightly floured surface about an inch apart and cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap. Let the pretzels rest for an additional 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 425°. Lightly oil 2 baking sheets.
6. In a large stockpot, bring the cold water to a rolling boil and add baking soda. *THIS IS KEY!*
7. Drop two rolls into the boiling water and boil for no more then 30 seconds, turning once. Carefully remove with tongs or slotted spoon and hold above pot and let drain. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat with the remaining rolls.
8. Arrange rolls on the oiled baking sheets and bake on the upper and middle racks of the oven
for about 8-10 minutes, or until browned all over.
9. Let rolls cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack.

10.Assemble Turkey O'Toole:

Hot Turkey slices
1 slice swiss cheese
1 tbsp Dijon honey mustard

11. Serve warm with French fries!

Billy Joel is a Jerk (Part II)

I got a couple angry comments to my recent post, "Billy Joel is a Jerk." Yeah, I admit, I have a love/hate relationship with the guy. I love him because I grew up with his music, and as a Long Islander he's practically a local hero. On the other hand I hate him because he's eschewed pop music (for dubious reasons) and he's become a greedy bastard who milks his fans for every penny.

He gave me more ammo recently when it was announced that he'd be performing the last concert ever at Shea Stadium. Tickets went on sale, and sold out in like an hour or something. So what did they do? Added a second show, of course! Meaning, those 50,000 people who bought tickets to what they thought was the Last Concert Ever At Shea Stadium suddenly found themselves with tickets to... The Second-To-Last Concert Ever at Shea Stadium. Nice.

"Forgiveable," people said to me. It's nothing to get worked up about. I just have a bias against the guy and will look for any reason to dis him, they said. OK. It's going to be the same concert anyway, right? Yeah, except until the concerts actually happened.

The Wednesday night show, according to a friend of mine who was there, featured an overweight, out-of-breath, "pumpkin-headed" Joel who was barely able to hit the notes. But the stage looked cool. And there were special guests! A group of A-minus list pop stars like John Mellencamp, the overrated John Mayer, and Don Henley. OK, not bad.

Until Friday night rolls around. Same pumpkin-head, same stage... But the special guests? A little different. How about Roger Daltrey, Garth Brooks, Steven Tyler, and... Paul F*ckin McCartney. Are you kidding me? Are you KIDDING Me. Everyone knows The Beatles performance at Shea Stadium (the first concert ever at Shea) in 1965 is one of the most famous concerts of all time, and who better to put a lid on the whole thing than Sir Paul himself. (Yes, McCartney was in a band before Wings) Holy moly. So, you still don't think the Wednesday-nighters got ripped off?

Coldplay Breaking News

Coldplay's new album, Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, is at No. 1 again on the Billboard 200 this week.

Coldplay are set to become the first act to spend five consecutive weeks at number one on the UK artists albums chart

'Viva La Vida' sold another 20,000 units in Australia this week, about five times more than the number two album by Rihanna.

And they are still overrated.

Not To Worry Ed McMahon...

Not to worry, Ed McMahon...  you may already be a winner in the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.

Link: Ed McMahon: It's The Economy

 

What I Learned Today: There are two kinds of ear wax

They say you learn something every day. This is what I learned on Friday March 28th:

So apparently there are two kinds of earwax, and genetics defines which one you have: flaky, or gooey.

Since you asked, my earwax is flaky.

Oh, that's not what you asked? How did I learn that? I learned it on a game show called Cash Cab, that's how.

Michelle's ear wax is gooey, or so she tells me. Wonder what our kid's earwax will be?

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/earwax.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chioubaccalovin/22407277/

Rolling Stone endorses Obama

I just got my copy of the latest Rolling Stone in the mail.  For some reason, subscribers get their issue about a week after it hits newsstands.  What's that about?  Anyway, it seems Rolling Stone has endorsed Barack Obama for President, the first time the magazine has endorsed a candidate.  Meh.  Unless Sports Illustrated starts making endorsements, I don't think any of the candidates should be too worried about magazine approvals.

Mookie Of The Month - September 2007

New Job

So I quit my job last month to start a brewery.

My buddy Dustin and I decided that the best place for the brewery would be somewhere between Savannah, GA and England and we named our beer Otter Head. We were set to kick off our new venture at the Rock 92 Brewfest in Greensboro, but the distributor only sent us two cases of beer bottles, containing less than half an ounce of beer each!

Luckily our customers at the Brewfest weren't too upset with our lack of spring water fresh brew, and we had many people happily line up for a tiny sip of Otter Piss, I mean, Head.

Anyway, obviously the brewery thing didn't work out so now I have to move to New Jersey to sell toothbrushes. Thanks a lot, England!

Here are some pics from the beerfest, our first and last day as brewers!

Jose Reyes Chant in Greensboro

I have just three days left in North Carolina, and a few of us went to the Rock 92 BrewFest to have a good time during our last weekend in Greensboro. It was a four hour, all you can drink affair, and about three hours into it people were getting a bit drunk. Spontaneously, an Ole! Ole Ole Ole! soccer chant breaks out from these three or four college kids. I chime in, but of course sing it it with "JOSE" instead of "Ole." I did it really loud too, because otherwise you'd never even notice it, right? My buddy Dustin joined me in my Jose chant, while the other frat boys continued with the oles, probably unaware that I was pirating their fun.

I spotted a dude across the room in a Mets cap, eyeing me, wondering if I was a Mets fan, or if I was just some drunk named Jose who was imparting his own name into the song. Suddenly another guy comes running over and starts singing along with the Jose chant. At this point it was pretty even between the guys singing Ole and the ones singing JOSE. I think even one of the guys who had started the Ole chant had changed to Jose, just for the heck of it. Finally after a while we stopped and I asked the guy who had come over if he was a Mets fan. He said no, he's a Nationals fan. "Expos Suck!," I screamed. He said "No, I'm an ASTROS fan." I said, so what's with the Jose chanting then? He gave Jose a Reyes some kind of weird backhanded compliment and then called him an illegal immigrant or something. All righty then. So then I saw the guy with the Mets cap walking by, the one who was confusedly watching us sing. "PAUL LO-DU-CA!," I yelled. His face brightened and he gave me a knowing point.

That's the great thing about Mets fans. You spot a Mets cap in a foreign place and you can bet he's a real Mets fan. You see a dude in a Yankees cap in Greensboro, and odds are he's just a frat boy.

JOSE! JOSE JOSE JOSE! JO-SE! JO-SE.