A g.0.v.! song written as memorial to an old writing pal's early efforts; read the story first, fuckers! ;-) Go Now!!
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A very rare instance of when we wrote a song that didn't make you want to knife yourself! Go Now!!
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The good old days of acoustic recording in empty nightclubs... Go Now!!
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Music
The best free and *legal* Ryan Adams and the Cardinals bootlegs on the Intrawebz... Go Now!!
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An introduction to Mr. Eric Bachmann and his sonic works ... Go Now!!
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A long time fav Indie act of mine. Moody, sparse and gorgeously recorded... Go Now!!
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Southern States Backwoods Manna(tm)! Slobberbone! Oh, how I miss you ... Go Now!!
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[otherwise?]
Bongwater; Mary's Danish; Vic Chestnutt; The National; PJ Harvey; Lone Justice; Bright Eyes; Joe Pernice; Tool; Grant Lee Buffalo; The Raconteurs; The Desert Sessions; Josh Homme!; R.E.M., Frank Black; Son Volt; Wilco; Scud Mountain Boys; Forever Goldrush; Beethoven; Gene Clark; Night Sun; Shearwater; Bonnie Prince Billy; Mozart; Judas Priest; Iron Maiden; Ryan Adams; Son Volt; The Hothouse Flowers; Thievery Corporation; Schubert; Amon Tobin; Trans Am; Modest Mouse; J.S. Bach!; The Cure; Morphine; GODDAMN PJ HARVEY! ..; Guided by Voices; Beck; Grant Lee Buffalo; Catpower; Ween; Tom Waits; The Mercury Program; Syd Barrett; Sufjan Stevens; Santana; The Hold Steady; Radiohead; Opal; Midlake; The Shins; Band of Horses ... (and OH GOD!! so many more!!)....
Movies
"Let the Right One In" is the best film of 2008 IMHO ... otherwise? ... "Pan's Labyrinth" And anything else produced by Guillermo del Toro (Especially "Hellboy 2" which I think is a visual masterpiece); also the following: "Amelie"; "Funny Games" (the original, Austrian, 1998 release); "Transformers" (cause it's funny as shit and Megan Fox is sex incarnate); also, any Marvel Comic film remake, no matter how bad; The Jackson directed Lord of the Rings films; "Taxi Driver"; "16 Candles"; "Breakfast Club"; etc.
Television
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Firefly, Jackass, uh ... not much else lately.
Books
Plato: The Republic; Larouche: "So You Wish to Learn about Economics?" (and) anything else by Lyndon LaRouche. You know, he IS RIGHT, afterall, don't you? Bukowski, Raymond Carver, Hess, Chekhov, Percy Bess Shelley
The Gods of Victory(tm) "My bodyguard shows her revolver to anyone who asks, and yeah, she comes to attention when you come up to me too fast ..." TheNational http://lnk.ms/13MvR view more
Gods of Victory(tm) Audio: The Gods of Victory (aka G.o.V.) is the pseudonym which I publish my low-fi four track recordings under; well, more accurately ... they are not all four track songs. Some are old live recordings ... some are studio stuff ... and, generally, over the past 15 years or so ... there's been a variety of players other than myself involved in the G.0.v. legacy ... (not always going by that name mind you) ... (in general, I'm the guy singing or playing harmonica). We started out playing obviously Black Sabbath inspired riff rock then quickly (strangely enough) became completely enamored of the whole nineties alt-country explosion. Such wild and careening leanings should be obvious enough in the following playlist.
Always free. Always gay and uplifting! Listen at your own risk...
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[Please note: since I'm always adding new g.0.v.! songs to the playlist, you might find it useful to clear your browsers cache and then refresh the profile page (F5), so as to be sure your seeing the most recent set of songs]
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Gods of Victory(tm) Video Rantz:
One of my fav things to do is edit video. Runs a close second to writing original music. Therefore, it's appropriate to say that video content works really well with my original music. Sort of a syllogism, really, that statement. LMAO! Anyway, here's a few of my recent original tracks as illustrated via video:
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"Stained and Decorated" :
Don't be fooled. This is definitely not current-day g.0.v.! music. Myself and some good buds wrote this song back when we had aspirations of being the next big, stinking and unkempt alt-rock sensation in the mid to late 90's. Was a fun time. This entire song was recorded live and in one take. One of the funnest recording sessions I can remember. I'm singing. The skaters are borrowed content.
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"Strange Way" :
An original Gods of Victory song (circa 2004 or so); this is one of my personal fav bits of song and video that I've done since it was written as a simple and truthful testimonial to the times and places I've known over the years. All video content was shot by myself and is from various of my haunts around Texas ...
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"Scars Up On My Mantle" :
This is a song I wrote about getting beat up ... about getting the living shit kicked out of me. Nothing more. Nothing less.
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"J.C. Symbolic" :
This is something I wrote on a whim a few years ago. It's a stripped down acoustic rant dedicated to one of my favorite authors/philosophers/historians, Joseph Campbell. In the song, I meander on a bit about the archetypal hero's quest and otherwise talk a bit about my love for J.C. his own damn self (R.I.P.).
Some Home Video:
This is just random video I've shot; surf trips; old friends/flames/enemies; skateboarding ditches or downtown garages; surfing; manual labor job footage; local Houston stuff; not necessarily including my original audio, though. Generally, the music is borrowed from my fav bands; all artists are most prominently credited within/at the end of each video.
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As the titles will make clear, this is perhaps one of the most beautiful live music moments I've ever randomly been able to shoot; it's Centro-Matic doing an insanely haunting and powerful "acoustic" set at a little club called, "The Continental" ... in Houston ... back in 2001 or so. Sublime. (published with permission from Undertow Records)
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This was shot around 1998 or so, it's your very own g.0.v.! front man chasing gals of the bovine persuasion down on Matagorda Beach (TX). This is what we invariably end up occupying ourselves with when driving to the beach to find that there is no surf. Don't knock it till you've tried it fuckers.
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Who I'd like to meet:
Nobody.
I'm my own biggest fan.
Okay, damnit ...
Honestly? ...
Maybe just PJ Harvey, but then again, she's pretty far off, being a "rock star" and all ... and I'd most likely have a hard time not wanting to molest her or chain her to my four track ... or perhaps, have her bind my hands and legs with duct tape, and somehow convince her to then *DEMAND* that I sing, "Kingdom of Love" ...
All of which would, undoubtedly, raise the eyebrows of many a local criminal/pathological profiler ... so I digress.
LMFAO!
:-)
But, in a pinch?
Micheal Stipe at the utmost. He's a true God of Victory in my most humble of estimations. Just see THIS VID, if you don't believe me. King of Birds, FTW!
Maybe Natalie Merchant, as well ... she has a charming knack for sweet melodies and rather non-pretentious meanderings (in song) that I've always found enchanting ...
(Kings and Queens all of them...)
;-)
dude - thats just about the most profound statement i've heard all damn day. i dranka shit loada vodka (well and jager) and i've had the ''shit spins'' (yes thats the shits AND the spins) all day...i know its late but im almost certain there's a bottle of vodka creepin roun here somewhere
So I think I fell in love with you a teaspoon when the video started with Cat Powers, "Metal Heart." I agree with you, it is my favorite song by them. When I first heard it, I was laying on a bunk bed picking something off the ceiling, I remember the lyrics, and her voice just filling me. It was beautiful.
The cat panting was crazy! I've never heard or seen a cat do that EVER. Infact, I didnt know they could. I'm glad you have brought the strangeness of cant panting into my life.
Over all, I loved the vid, and I laughed when I saw our conversation. Very very funny! :3
The cat was trying to give a shout out to her boo, Derayray La'Roy Quin. (thats his whole name) She got them food stamp babies. :3
Just got it. "Cat" Power and a Cat. Being serious. Am a bit slow today. Well down little snippet, but would not expect any less. Cat kinda frightened me though, but, then again, most do, sadly. Am terribly allergic and have been wounded by more than a few girlfriends' felines over time (and that is NOT a crude entendre). Much like a dog as well, I suspect that they can sense fear. :) Anywho, did get a kick out of it. Happy (In)Dependence Day!! JOSH
joel, thanks for your blog on 'the stoning'....it is of great importance to you to let people know what has and currently happens, the greater importance here is that we have people like YOU that are moved thru your 'tears,'....but i will refer to them as 'healing waters'
you, my friend have great standards and morals. THANK YOU joel! for spreading a message ;)
I really loved the vid btw, I love love loved the animation. Did you do that? If so I am very impressed. But the music, it sounds great! I loved it. :D :D
Btw, you are a sneaky sneaker to tell Gussy about my new songs, thank you thank you thank you again.
You seem to grow kinder by each comment posted lol.
I'm actually really speachless after reading your comment about "Old Lady Old Man." I had no idea it was going to creep up on you like that. But thats awesome, that you feel a little somthing when listening to it. I suppose my music is not a pile of rubbish. Im sorry that I made you kinda sad though. :( I actually thought that song was kinda upbeat, guess I was wrong.
Yea, cats can do alot of things like dogs. Like eat bacon. I saw one do it today. But I have yet to see one pant, but I do not doubt you. Oh Joel, I cant say thank you enough for tuneing in and listening to my music. Seriously, I am more than greatful that you take the time to do it. I get giddy, "YEAA, SOMEONE IS LISTENING! WOOP!"
I do wish I had better recording things though. Oh well, just the silly computer recordings for now.