theCDP.net

Because There's Nothing Manlier Than Anal Bleeding.

2008-07-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

(NOTE: I got home late last night, so I didn't have enough time to put up the photo tour of the all-new CDP Headquarters. Therefore, it shall run on Monday. Until then, please enjoy this flashback post from July of 2007, and to a lesser extent, your weekend. The Dark Knight poster giveaway will run until Tuesday night, so get keep those entries coming. You can submit your taglines in this comments section, as we received a brain-melting 215 comments in the previous one (a new CDP record); in just two short days, no less. If you need me, I'll be in line to see The Dark Knight. Cheers, friends.)

'I Can See Your...Nevermind.'
Originally Posted July 20, 2007.

I love the Running Of The Bulls. Sure, it's inhumane, humiliating and completely out-of-touch with modern reality, but it's all worth it for the inevitable goring that takes place each and every year. In some circumstances (like the one pictured above), the bull gets lucky and snags two people at the same time. On rare occasions, he'll even manage to hook up an American guy.

And, in the rarest occasion of all (as pictured below), he'll gore two American guys at the same time, straight up the butthole. Sometimes, even tearing their pants off in the process. Hoo-boy!

This, my friends, is the greatest thing that can ever happen in the life of a bull. No matter what, the bull knows that he's about to suffer an exceedingly cruel fate at the hands of a fruity dance-school dropout; the best thing he can do is destroy a few anuses on his way out. In a delightfully ironic twist of fate, the men attempting to appear macho and manly end up crying in a back alley, bleeding profusely from the asshole. It's one of the main reasons I still believe in God.

So, here's to you, Guy Who Runs With The Bulls! You wanted to prove something to yourself and any potential mates that might have been watching, but all you really proved was that you fail at life.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again; never stop messing with bulls, guys. Ever. Be a man; let your prolapsed rectum spill free into the streets of Pamplona.

Have a great weekend, and sound off in the comments section.

MONDAY: CDP Headquarters - The Photo Tour.
WEDNESDAY: The Dark Knight Poster Giveaway Winners Are Revealed.

The CDP Dark Knight Giveaway!

2008-07-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

This Friday, Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight will finally premiere to a worldwide audience.

I've been waiting all year for this (and a good chunk of last year as well), and my IMAX tickets are secured as we speak. Nolan is my favorite current director, and arguably one of the greatest living directors on the planet. This film has all the makings to be the greatest superhero film of all-time, shatter records posted by the abysmal Spider-Man franchise, and even snag Heath Ledger a posthumous Oscar nod. Not too bad for a Batman franchise that was all but dead in the water about a decade ago. I cannot recall the last time I've been so hyped for a film, and the universal acclaim for this picture has all but increased my desire for Friday to arrive. It almost feels like Christmas to me.

Now, thanks to CDP Network alumni (and Warner Brothers employee), Reese, I've been hooked up with an armload of Dark Knight theatrical posters to give away to CDP readers (so remember to shoot her a thank you if you're one of the chosen winners).

The posters are theatrical-size; 27 by 40 inches with the reverse image printed on the back. They are in perfect condition and will be shipped out as delicately as if I were shipping a fetus cross-country. How you wind up receiving one of these beauties is another story altogether.

The contest to win a poster of your choosing (any of the four options displayed in this post) is really quite simple. All you have to do is come up with a new Tagline for the CDP.

For four-and-a-half years now, the official slogan of the CDP (as displayed in the copyright area in the sidebar) has been 'Jumping The Shark Since 2004.' I feel as if this slogan has run its course, and the time for something new is now. I'm asking the CDP faithful to come up with a new piece of history, and for it you will be handsomely rewarded.

Be creative, be funny, be in tune with the spirit of the page. Anything goes.

You may submit as many new taglines as you want, either via the Comments section or through my e-mail address at communistdance@yahoo.com. The contest begins today and will run through to Tuesday, July 22. The winners will be announced on Wednesday the 23rd.

First Prize will receive two (2) Dark Knight theatrical posters, and places second through fifth will each receive one (1). Shipping is on me. Simple as that. Five people will win!

So, get to it. Create the next new tagline for the Communist Dance Party, and score yourself some awesome Dark Knight swag in the process. You really can't go wrong. Sound off in the comments section and enjoy your day.

CDP Mix-Tape Trade 3 Wrap Party (Part 4).

2008-07-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

CDP Mix-Tape Trade 3 Wrap Party (Part 3).

2008-07-14T00:01:00.000-05:00

Finally, after two weeks of sifting, listening, drinking, typing and deciphering handwritten track listings, I've managed to make it through all of the Mix-Tapes that were so generously sent to me for the CDP Worldwide Mix-Tape Exchange #3. Thank you very much; I appreciate it.

I wanted to take a brief moment to spotlight the mixes that were sent to me, as a small way of saying thank you. Therefore, for the next couple days, I'll be doing just that. If you want to start from the beginning, you can check out Part 1 and Part 2 right here. Please enjoy.

Mix #11 - “Cover Me In Covers” - by Fiona.

The Skinny: Top-to-bottom awesome. From modern punk, to glam, to metal, to acoustic, to showtunes, to bands that don't even really exist, Fiona's mix never ceased to surprise while constantly bringing the goods. Great job.

The Highlights: A beautiful cover of Yo La Tengo's 'My Little Corner Of The World' that respectfully sounds like it was recorded about 80 years ago, Joey Ramone belting out 'What A Wonderful World;' a track that I like to play whenever I feel like killing myself, a token (and extremely sexy) take on The Cure's 'Just Like Heaven,' Scissor Sisters tearing up Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb,' and the Spinal Tap-goes Folk trio known as The Folksmen pulling out the banjo for 'Start Me Up.'

By The Way: Speaking of A Mighty Wind, before I began shooting my 2004 mockmentary titled 72 Hours, I showed the film to my cast for inspiration. It didn't help, and the project was permanently shelved weeks later. I'll sell the rights for a flat fee of $60,000. E-mail me.

Additional Notes: Much like Heather's mix (see below), the layout and packaging was top-notch. She sent me a handwritten postcard from her San Francisco homestead, a photograph and a nicely laid-out jewel case. And for the record, I never tire of receiving photos of cute CDP fans. JT, I'm looking in your general direction...

Mix #12 - “Covers” - by Heather.

The Skinny: Another eclectic mix, another batch of complete winners from Heather. Every time I do a Mix-Tape Trade, I'm always amazed at how similar my musical tastes are to others, and yet, I'm always completely blown away by the new things that they introduce to. I love doing this for that reason alone.

The Highlights: The classic 10,000 Maniacs cover of 'Because The Night' by Patti Smith, an absolutely out-of-nowhere cover of 'Chick Habit' by April March that pogo'd my socks off (I secretly love that kind of music; Pizzicato Five is pretty much the soundtrack to CDP Headquarters), the Save Ferris ska cover of 'Come On Eileen' that I considered the Greatest Cover Song I'd Ever Heard from 1997 to 2001, the make out-tastic Nada Surf take on OMD's 'If You Leave,' and the Dashboard Confessional sing-along goodness of 'Screaming Infidelities' by Joanna Pacitti.

By The Way: Man, that Bangles cover of 'Hazy Shade Of Winter' really is badass.

Additional Notes: Without question, Heather sent me the most beautifully laid-out Mix Tape for the second time in a row. Complete with a lovely, handwritten postcard, an incredible track listing booklet and even a photograph or two, I was stunned and moist-panted when I opened up the package. She actually has inspired me to be more proactive about mailing things back to fans that are so creative in their packages. I need to go stock up on postcards and glitter immediately.

Mix #13 - “Under The Covers” - by Emily Mills.

The Skinny: Funny, sexy, nerdy, deep, intellectual and talented. These qualities not only describe a certain Miss Emily Mills, but they also perfectly describe her humbling Mix-Tape.

The Highlights: A rousing opener by the Ditty Bops, Tori Amos taking on 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' and for the first time, allowing me to enjoy the song, Jose Gonzales' haunting The Knife cover of 'Heartbeats,' Minor Threat tearing through 'Steppin' Stone,' and Emily's old middle school band punking up the Sherry Lewis sing-along, 'The Song That Never Ends.' Her middle school band sounded better than my high school band, which upsets me to the point of drinking.

By The Way: Women are super-complicated and I will never fully understand them for as long as I walk this Earth. Emily's mix reminded me of that indisputable fact.

Additional Notes: I'm a big fan of Emily's handwriting. A lot of people seem to admire my descriptive-yet-robotic style, but Ms. Mills might have me beat in this category. Kudos.

Mix #14 - “One Hour Under The Covers” - by Cargirl.

The Skinny: I always look forward to Cargirl's mix-tapes. She always does a good job of turning me onto what 'the kids' are listening to, as well as mining the influences that inspired the bands in the first place. This one is no different, with superstars and unknowns rubbing elbows while covering timeless tracks. Damn, this Mix Trade was a good idea, wasn't it?

The Highlights: The Juno'y Sonic Youth cover of the Carpenters 'Superstar,' Quietdrive's take on 'Time After Time' that I actually put on my own mix, Jonathan Coulton's 'Baby Got Back' cover that reminds me that Mr. Coulton is a genius ('Shop Vac' is my favorite), and a string quartet cover of Arcade Fire's 'Rebellion' that would have put me in tears were I not such an emotionally sound person. Screw it; it made me all misty. Oh, and T.V. Carpio's cover of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' that once again makes the argument that the Beatles tune could very well be the greatest pop song of all-time.

By The Way: I didn't realize that Cargirl was such a big Ataris fan. Not only did I used to be in a cover band that could play about a dozen of their songs ('San Dimas' was my favorite to destroy on the drum kit), but I remember seeing them at a concert in Green Bay that was attended by no more than twenty people. It was a darn good time.

Additional Notes: The track listing for Cargirl's mix was written longhand on stationary from the Washington D.C. Hilton, where she happened to be staying at the time. I found that intriguing for whatever reason. I like the way pens feel on hotel stationary; I sometimes jot things down for no reason when I stay there.

Mix #15 - “Cover Song Mix-Tape” - by E-Rich.

The Skinny: Singer/songwriters taking on timeless standards and solid pop hits; this mix brings all killer and no filler.

The Highlights: Ram Jam's cover of 'Black Betty' that I've always enjoyed more than I've led people to believe, Cake's amazing version of 'I Will Survive' (one of my personal favorite covers), Damien Rice's haunting acoustic cover of Radiohead's 'Creep,' Ray LaMontagne's take on Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy,' and the Lemonheads bringing the house down with 'Mrs. Robinson.'

By The Way: The Rufus Wainwright cover of 'Hallelujah' is on par with Jeff Buckley's, hands down.

Additional Notes: Blank jewel case, straight to-the-point track list, great musical tastes, no screwing around. I like the way that E-Rich does business; he has nothing to prove.

Thanks for reading; sound off in the comments section and enjoy your day.

TOMORROW: The CDP Mix-Tape Trade 3 Wrap Party comes to a close, as I review my own mix, along with mixes by the Missus, Kate and a six-disc behemoth by Smedley.

LATER: The very first photo tour of the All-New CDP World Headquarters!

A Lifetime Of Music.

2008-07-11T00:01:00.000-05:00

Over on Will's blog, he decided to make a list of his favorite albums for every year that he's been alive; a fun little meme that's apparently making the rounds as of late. He shot an e-mail my way suggesting I do the same, presumably so he could poop all over my superficial tastes and set the wet mass ablaze with familiar embarrassment and pungent failure.

Nonetheless, I will oblige and hope that you do the same in the comments section over the next few days (the conclusion to the Mix-Tape reviews will arrive next week). Bear in mind that this isn't a list of your favorite albums of all-time, but rather a list of what your favorite album was for each year of your life. I immediately saw the difference in the two when I got to 1996 and realized that I bought about 80 amazing records that year. My total collection currently stands at around 3000 albums, so this took me a little while.

Also realize that this is absolutely impossible to do accurately from memory and 100% reliant on personal tastes, so let's try to stay loose on the 'OMG!! I can't believe you didn't include this! BOOZERZ!' business. Just something fun to piss away the end of the workweek.

Please enjoy. Here we go!

1982
Favorite Album: Everything Falls Apart - Husker Du
Runner-Up: Milo Goes To College - Descendents

1983
Favorite Album: Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes
Runner-Up: War - U2

1984
Favorite Album: Hatful Of Hollow - The Smiths
Runner-Up: Out Of Step - Minor Threat

1985
Favorite Album: Flip Your Wig - Husker Du
Runner-Up: Tim - The Replacements

1986
Favorite Album: Reign In Blood - Slayer
Runner-Up: Licensed To Ill - The Beastie Boys

1987
Favorite Album: Louder Than Bombs - The Smiths
Runner-Up: Pleased To Meet Me - The Replacements

1988
Favorite Album: It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back - Public Enemy
Runner-Up: Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A.

1989
Favorite Album: Disintegration - The Cure
Runner-Up: Energy - Operation Ivy
Honorable Mention: Doolittle - The Pixies

1990
Favorite Album: 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours - Green Day
Runner-Up: Allroy Saves - ALL

1991
Favorite Album: Loveless - My Bloody Valentine
Runner-Up: Nevermind - Nirvana

1992
Favorite Album: Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
Runner-Up: Kerplunk! - Green Day

1993
Favorite Album: Siamese Dream - The Smashing Pumpkins
Runner-Up: August And Everything After - Counting Crows
Honorable Mention: Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) - Wu-Tang Clan

1994
Favorite Album: Dookie - Green Day
Runner-Up: Weezer ('The Blue Album') - Weezer
Honorable Mention: The Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails

1995
Favorite Album: Insomniac - Green Day
Runner-Up: Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness - The Smashing Pumpkins

1996
Favorite Album: Pinkerton - Weezer
Runner-Up: All Eyez On Me - 2Pac
Honorable Mention: 1977 - Ash

1997
Favorite Album: Whatever And Ever Amen - Ben Folds Five
Runner-Up: The Colour And The Shape - Foo Fighters
Honorable Mention: Anywhere But Here - The Ataris

1998
Favorite Album: Hello Rockview - Less Than Jake
Runner-Up: In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
Honorable Mention: Keasbey Nights - Catch 22

1999
Favorite Album: Through Being Cool - Saves The Day
Runner-Up: Something To Write Home About - The Get Up Kids
Honorable Mention: Clarity - Jimmy Eat World

2000
Favorite Album: Relationship Of Command - At The Drive In
Runner-Up: Left And Leaving - The Weakerthans

2001
Favorite Album: Stay What You Are - Saves The Day
Runner-Up: The Moon Is Down - Further Seems Forever

2002
Favorite Album: For Young Electric Pop! - Polysics
Runner-Up: You Forgot It In People - Broken Social Scene
Honorable Mention: Dial-A-Song - They Might Be Giants

2003
Favorite Album: Reconstruction Site - The Weakerthans

Runner-Up: Give Up - The Postal Service
Honorable Mention: Frengers - Mew

2004
Favorite Album: Funeral - Arcade Fire
Runner-Up: Poison Arrows - Communique
Honorable Mention: Satanic Panic In The Attic - Of Montreal

2005
Favorite Album: The Sunlandic Twins - Of Montreal
Runner-Up: Illinois - Sufjan Stevens
Honorable Mention: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!

2006
Favorite Album: Cum Laude! - The Velvet Teen
Runner-Up: Audition - P.O.S.
Honorable Mention: And The Glass-Handed Kites - Mew

2007
Favorite Album: Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
Runner-Up: Reunion Tour - The Weakerthans

Sound off in the comments section, share your picks and enjoy your weekend.

CDP Mix-Tape Trade 3 Wrap Party (Part 2).

2008-07-10T00:01:00.023-05:00

Finally, after two weeks of sifting, listening, drinking, typing and deciphering handwritten track listings, I've managed to make it through all of the Mix-Tapes that were so generously sent to me for the CDP Worldwide Mix-Tape Exchange #3. Thank you very much; I appreciate it.

I wanted to take a brief moment to spotlight the mixes that were sent to me, as a small way of saying thank you. Therefore, for the remainder of the week, I'll be doing just that. Please enjoy.

Mix #6 - "Killer Sandbox Covers" - by Benjamin.

The Skinny: Another slice of the Killer Sandbox pie, chock-full of bands that descended from the, er...Descendents Family Tree (ALL, Pollen, The Pavers, Drag The River, etc.); most of them doing covers of other bands from the Descendents Family Tree. If Fort Collins, Colorado were suddenly blown off of the map for some reason, I'm certain that Benjamin would never have a reason to purchase a new album ever again.

The Highlights: Saves The Day's pitch-perfect cover of The Descendents 'Cheer;' made more amazing when you figure they were about 15 years old when they did it, ALL's version of Kenny Rogers' 'Ruby,' and the Bad Astronaut cover of the Smoking Popes 'Megan,' which is one of the most perfect rock songs ever written, in my opinion.

By The Way: There is an awesome version of 'Jessie's Girl' included in this mix, covered by the amazingly talented (and therefore broken up) Pollen. However, now that I have a real-life friend and acquaintance named Jesse, I find it extremely uncomfortable to listen to it. Is that weird? Either way, I've always thought the guitar on that track was killer.

Additional Notes: Benjamin was kind enough to include a second disc, containing the original versions of every song on his Mix. This was unexpected and a nice touch for the collector nerd in me. I especially got a kick out of hearing the original, French version of 'Seasons in the Sun.'

Mix #7 - "Covers From Caveman: Vol. 1" - by Caveman.

The Skinny: Some classic covers that became more famous than the originals, a few new takes on truly iconic groups and only a couple ironic moments make for a very well-rounded CD, considering that there are only 11 tracks on it.

The Highlights: The Polyphonic Spree's version of David Bowie's 'Five Years' and the brilliance of Jimi Hendrix on 'All Along The Watchtower.'

By The Way: I had no idea that the Beatles covered 'Twist And Shout.' Guess I'm an idiot.

Additional Notes: Caveman has promised me that 'Volume 2' will arrive to CDP Headquarters any day now. As a way to tide me and the Missus over, he sent along a box of Mike-N-Ikes, which the Missus heartily consumed without sharing.

Mix #8 - "Covers You Know By Heart" - by Mike Hoss.

The Skinny: Mike likes good, solid music, written by good, solid songwriters, and it always shows in his mixes. There isn't a loser in the bunch, here; these are covers of influential songs by bands that are even more influential.

The Highlights: Josie Cotton's saccharine-infused cover of 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker,' featuring a children's choir and handclaps galore, Ben Folds Five managing to make 'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' even more beautiful, and Teenage Fanclub doing what they do best on 'Mr. Tambourine Man.'

By The Way: This mix is a whopping 19 tracks that last a shade over 80 minutes; that's a spicy meatball. Also, he mistakenly wrote that Weezer covered 'Uptown Girl,' when it was, in fact, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes. This saddened me, because I thought I was about to hear an extremely obscure Weezer cover of a Billy Joel song.

Additional Notes: Hoss tells me that he had thought of the 'Cover Mix' idea before I even presented it as the theme for Mix Trade #3, and was pretty much finished with it instantly. I believe him, but I hope that he also comes up with a decent idea for Mix Trade #4, because I'm tapped*.

(*I already have an idea for Mix Trade #4; no e-mails, please.)

Mix #9 - "Don't Worry, Matt - I Got You Covered!" - by Reese.

The Skinny: Mix-Tape Exchange rookie Reese hit the ground running, showcasing a wide array of genres, bands and covers. Risks were taken, respectable status was achieved and the crowd went wild. The beats were driven and it was loaded with soul and overall positive vibes.

The Highlights: Not one, but two tracks by The English Beat! Reese likes second-wave ska! I love this girl! Also, a dreamy cover of the Smiths' 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before' by Mark Ronson and a Def Leppard cover of Blondie's 'Hanging On The Telephone,' which marks the first Def Leppard song I've ever enjoyed.

By The Way: Her mix was titled as such, because Matt was the original recipient of her mix. That, or she thinks that my name is Matt. It's all good.

Additional Notes: Reese is sending me and the Missus a couple of The Dark Knight theatrical posters, the mere thought of which is dampening my pants as I type this.

Mix #10 - "Mixalicious" - by Hilbelink.

The Skinny: A lot of fun, a lot of ska, a lot of late 90's punk bands covering late 80's new wave bands. Right up my alley.

The Highlights: An absolutely stellar cover of 'Enjoy The Silence' by Failure, Reel Big Fish making 'Hungry Like The Wolf' hilarious, and a Save Ferris version of 'Come On Eileen' that is unapologetically one of my favorite covers of all-time. Sonic Youth's cover of 'Sexual Healing' was pretty rad, too.

By The Way: Depeche Mode and Duran Duran covers account for 8 of the disc's 21 tracks. I also personally own 16 of the 21 tracks, thus making it impossible for me to accurately review said mix.

Additional Notes: "Do you have the new Depeche Mode album?" "Yeah...but it sucks!"

Thanks much for reading; sound off in the comments section and enjoy your day.

TOMORROW: 5 MORE MIX-TAPE REVIEWS.

CDP Mix-Tape Trade 3 Wrap Party (Part 1).

2008-07-09T00:01:00.002-05:00

Finally, after two weeks of sifting, listening, drinking, typing and deciphering handwritten track listings, I've managed to make it through all of the Mix-Tapes that were so generously sent to me for the CDP Worldwide Mix-Tape Exchange #3. Thank you very much; I appreciate it.

I wanted to take a brief moment to spotlight the mixes that were sent to me, as a small way of saying thank you. Therefore, for the remainder of the week, I'll be doing just that. Please enjoy.

Mix #1 - “Covers” - by Domsar.

The Skinny: Heavy on acoustic, live and bootleg performances of mostly modern classics, the mood ebbs and flows with covers both heartfelt and tongue-in-cheek. I don’t know how Domsar manages to throw such a ‘Milwaukee feel’ into all of his mixes, let alone a collection of covers, but he’s done it again.

The Highlights: Goldspot’s version of Modest Mouse’s ‘Float On,’ My Brightest Diamond belting out Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good,’ the Carleton Singing Knights a cappella rendering of Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Chicago,’ and the William Shatner/Joe Jackson take on the amazing Pulp track, ‘Common People.’

By The Way: I should also mention The Corrs live performance of R.E.M.’s ‘Everybody Hurts,’ but the track itself is so monumentally beautiful that it’s damn-near considered cheating to cover it. It's like David Archuleta singing 'Imagine' during the American Idol finale; borderline unfair on all levels.

Additional Notes: There were two Richard Cheese tracks on this mix; an artist that showed up more often than even Me First & The Gimme Gimmes as far as ‘mandatory ironic cover songs’ went. Domsar is a really nice guy; I'll see to it that we see a Brewers game together by the end of the season.

Mix #2 - “Lizzle To Ma Cizzles” - by Carrot Duff.

The Skinny: A broad mix of big songs covered by mostly big bands.

The Highlights: A reggae cover of Radiohead’s ‘Karma Police’ by Easy Star All-Stars, the timeless ‘Man Who Sold The World’ performance by Nirvana, and a beautiful acoustic version of ‘Hey Ya!’ by Obadiah Parker.

By The Way: There was a Stevie Ray Vaughan cover on this mix, but I skipped it with extreme prejudice, due to fact that Stevie Ray Vaughan is AIDS to my ears. Also, Johnny Cash’s cover of ‘One’ is a combination on par with Peanut Butter and Jelly in terms of absolute devestating perfection.

Additional Notes: Carrot Duff included a handwritten note, essentially mocking the fact that he has Sugar Puffs breakfast cereal as his house, and I do not. Duff, I will be checking the CDP PO Box daily in anticipation.

Mix #3 - “The Covers Project” - by FeverBlue.

The Skinny: A very eclectic sampling of genres, bands and styles across the board; plenty of classics intertwined with groups I’ve never heard of before, somehow culminating in an above-average mood and theme.

The Highlights: Petra Haden’s wide-eyed and adorable version of ‘I Don’t Wanna Grow Up,’ the Smashing Pumpkins’ well-known version of ‘Landslide,’ a back-to-back pairing of the Talking Heads and Siouxie & The Banshees, and the dreamy closing number of ‘I Melt With You’ by Nouvelle Vague.

By The Way: FeverBlue included the Bangles’ cover of ‘Hazy Shade of Winter,’ which absolutely made my day. I’ve always been an unapologetic fan of this track; that guitar lick with the pounding snare is freaking badass. Why it hasn't yet shown up in a Guitar Hero or Rock Band game is beyond me.

Additional Notes: FeverBlue accompanied his mix with a handwritten postcard, and I appreciated that. It took me a half hour to decipher what he had written, but the sentiment was just the same.

Mix #4 - “Sherry’s Cover Mix” - by Sherry.

The Skinny: A heaping helping of 90’s alternative bands covering classic influences from all over the radar.

The Highlights: The Muffs’ popular version of Kim Wilde’s ‘Kids In America,’ Leslie Feist tackling the Bee Gee’s ‘Inside and Out’ in spectacular fashion, and Letters to Cleo sexing up the Cheap Trick standard, ‘I Want You To Want Me.’ This album featured more female artists than I’ve willingly listened to in months.

By The Way: Much like my bashing of Stevie Ray Vaughan, I’ll continue to gain no friends by mentioning that Janis Joplin means absolutely nothing to me, nor does her ‘Me & Bobby McGee’ cover. I honestly think that she was horrendously overrated and probably smelled like crap.

Additional Notes: Sherry listens to a lot of chick music and John Mayer. I still don’t know what to make of this.

Mix #5 - “Untitled” - by John Jenkel.

The Skinny: A pop-punk heavy mix, loaded with a lot of fun, tongue-in-cheek and up-tempo classic cover goodness. Perfect for a drunken summer deck party.

The Highlights: An inspired (and hilarious) cover of ‘Tiny Dancer’ by Dave Grohl for the Late Show with Craig Kilbourne, and various other 80’s send-ups by the likes of Pennywise, the Ataris, Gob and Good Riddance.

By The Way: This mix contained yet another cover of ‘I Melt With You,’ officially making it one of the most-covered songs I’ve ever heard. I mind this none, however, as it is a great song.

Additional Notes: I made a last-minute exception to let John into the trade, after his brother pleaded with me for about an hour to include him. He wasn't supposed to know that.

Thanks much for reading; sound off in the comments section and enjoy your day.

TOMORROW: 5 MORE MIX-TAPE REVIEWS.

Welcome To Devil's Lake. Go To Hell (Redux).

2008-07-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

(I want to let everyone know that your favorite Blogger Boy is doing okay, but he has some things that he needs to work out right now. Until he gets his mind right, please enjoy this CDP Flashback Post from July 5, 2007. Thank you, and please take a moment to join the CDP Blog Network on Facebook.)

I may be stating the obvious here, but I've never been a huge fan of Independence Day. I don't like fireworks, I don't like going outside in July, and I'm merely tolerating America on a day-to-day basis. To me, it's just another paid holiday. But yesterday, me and the Missus (along with Ben & Sherry) headed out to Devil's Lake State Park for an afternoon of grilling, drinking and throwing pine cones at crows.

The drive through southern Wisconsin was beautiful as always, taking in incredible hillsides and other Ice Age artifacts along the way. True to idiotic form, however, I assumed that we were the only people brilliant enough to come up with the idea to spend our Fourth of July at Devil's Lake. We were wrong, but nonetheless found a nice tree to set up camp under.

Ben got things going on the grill.

When Vegetarians grill out, it's slightly different than when most normal people throw down. Hamburgers become veggie burgers, hot dogs become veggie dogs, and steak becomes sweet corn. For as healthy of an alternative as vegetarianism is, I was more than winded after only 30 seconds of tossing the football around. The fact that it was about a brazillion degrees didn't help any.

I did my best to stay hydrated by sucking down a massive batch of Bomb Pop that I whipped up just for this trip. It's a refreshing Summer drink that consists of grenadine, lemonade and about a quart of Blue UV. At least, the concoction that I mixed did. It gave me the strength I needed to play a strenuous game of Bocce ball and eat over 5 pounds of both potato and macaroni salad.

I didn't wear my commie shirt for any comedic effect on Independence Day, it was just a coincidence. Also, it wasn't a coincidence, and I'm only suggesting it was to cork the cryholes of those who don't think it's funny. It is funny, and you can kind of see my right nipple in that photo. I bought it at Urban Outfitters, so you can assume that it's incredibly thin and more than a little overpriced. But that's the price you pay for wanting to look like a douchebag.

As I slowly slipped into a coma, we did some people-watching, which included no less than an hour of a severely overweight woman attempting to fly a kite. By herself. Honestly, for over an hour. I then set my car alarm off from 20 yards away when a little girl rode her bike past it. I was trying to get her to actually fall off of the bike, but I was still pleased with the results.

After most of the alcohol had been drank and the food properly digested, we said goodbye to Devil's Lake and hit the nearest Go-Kart track. If there's one thing more fun than driving Go-Karts on the Fourth of July, it's doing it whilst partially hammered.

Just the four of us had the entire track to ourselves, which we tore up like nobody's business. For the sake of protecting their egos and social status, I will not tell you how badly I destroyed the other three contestants. Let's just say that I looked like Toad and Toadette rocking the Daisy Cruiser in Mirror Mode with the Pink Kart (if you got that reference, you're officially invited to my next Mario Kart party).

Just a reminder; today's post is brought to you by rocks.

Rocks. Nature's rock.

It's times like this that I feel very fortunate to live in Wisconsin. We have so many different formations and varying degrees of land here, that you get to take in a lot of the nation by never crossing state lines. It's not perfect, but damn, I've never once thought that Wisconsin wasn't anything short of awesome.

After a long day outside, we headed back to CDP Headquarters, where we realized that Ben had left his keys back at the campsite, almost an hour away. This happened because they got dropped onto the ground at some point by accident. We verified this by zooming in on one of our photos, CSI-style.

Have a look at this unassuming photo of our post-lunch mess. Everything seems innocent enough, but what's that metallic object buried in the grass?

We'd better zoom in for a closer look. Can we get a magnification on this?

Damn.

Looks like someone's going to be sitting at my house tomorrow afternoon, waiting for their wife to get home from work. I sure hope I didn't throw my metal detector away.

So, Fourth of July week is drawing to a close, leaving me relatively unscathed. I got minimal sunburn, no hangovers to speak of and nothing but good stories to tell. I genuinely hope that your week has been as good as mine. If it hasn't, I guess I don't give a crap.

Sound off in the comments section and enjoy your day.

Have A Seat On The Communication Couch.

2008-07-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

Polysics, the greatest band in the world, have done it again. Here's the single off of their new, as-of-yet-unreleased-in-the-states-but-my-copy-is-being-delivered-from-Japan-as-we-speak album, titled We Ate The Machine. The song is called 'Rocket.'

To fully satisfy your Polysics fix, here are links to a handful of unreal videos and a couple of Polysics-themed CDP essays. Sound off in the comments section and enjoy your Fourth of July weekend; the CDP will return on Monday, July 7.

Black Out, Fall Out
Electric Surfin' Go-Go
New-Wave Jacket
XTC
I My Me Mine (Live)

'Polysics Play Milwaukee; CDP Rants On Music' - 09/21/07
'Grumble, Alone, Grumble, Polysics' - 10/24/07

"Put That In Your Blog, Barbecue Boy!"

2008-07-02T09:11:00.000-05:00

Chapter 1 - 'Ladies Night.'

I want to send out a sincere thanks and gentle kiss on the neck to the 26,000 of you that visited the CDP in the month of June. This was a new record for theCDP.net, and I'm extremely appreciative and terrified. If I were lucky enough to meet all of you in person, I'd assuredly run the other way, certain that a full-scale zombie attack was imminent. I might even shoot a few of you in the head.

Apart from that, if just a small portion of you were to subscribe to my feed, join my Facebook group and say hello in the comments section, I'd be a happy and visibly semi-erect man. Thanks in advance.

Moving on, I also think that we've officially reached the gender tipping point here, with women triumphantly outnumbering men in terms of traffic and overall communication with yours truly. I credit this statistic mostly to my sensitivity, approachability, Pac-Man memorabilia collection and alluring musk.

Furthermore, I've taken a passing glance at the lion's share of my female fanbase, and I've got to say that the CDP, without question, has the most attractive and intelligent audience in the entire Blogosphere. Proverbial horn-rimmed glasses and pixie cuts as far as the eye can see. Thanks for spending time with me, even though you're probably only doing it as a joke to crack your friends up. I've been there a time or two; just try to let me down easy at the bowling alley, and driving me home would be nice, too.

Chapter 2 - 'Lump Sum.'

This week, I received some extra cash from my place of employment after finally settling on a budget, approved backpay and long-overdue raises. Where is the money going, you might ask? Well:

1. $39.90 to renew the CDP domain for another two (2) years, virtually guaranteeing that you can depend on theCDP.net for all of your entertainment needs until at least July of 2010. After that, all bets are off, and I'm selling to the highest bidder. The concept of the CDP becoming a hardcore porn site after I relinquish ownership is too funny not to pass up.

2. $200.90 on two (2) new tires. As you many recall, you need to have decent tires if you want to properly minimize your death potential behind the wheel of an automobile. Imagine that.

3. $87.00 for six (6) tickets to The Dark Knight's IMAX premiere on Friday, July 18. I don't think I recall ever being so excited for the release of a film. Leave it to Christoper Nolan to create something brilliant where there was once the rubble and faded glory of the Batman franchise. What few reviews I've seen so far proclaim the film as nothing short of perfect.

4. $37.00 for one (1) bottle of Jameson 1780 12-Year Whiskey. Dee-lish. I've noticed that, unlike every other digestible liquid on Earth, there are no Nutrition Facts on liquor bottles. Hell, a snifter of Maker's Mark might be bursting at the seams with vitamins, for all we know.

5. $50.00 for two (2) months worth of 'casual day stickers' at the office. I'll pay top-dollar for the privilege of throwing my khakis into the closet for the remainder of the Summer, and what's more, all the money goes towards the office barbecue. You literally cannot go wrong.

6. The remainder goes towards paying off the bar I purchased when we moved into the all-new CDP Headquarters, and probably a mini-fridge to compliment it. Walking to the kitchen to retrieve materials that will be walked over to the bar for preparation seems a bit counterproductive, and I'm all about efficiency when it comes to hosting a party and mainlining poison into my esophagus.

Money spent; disaster averted.

Chapter 3 - 'Pink Sweater.'

FACT: A pink sweater will instantly make any woman appear more attractive, no exceptions. Alternative theories will not be explored, and all anti-pink sweater criticism will be ignored.

Chapter 4 - 'Link Party.'

Here's what's going on around the horn in the CDP Network.

1. Pointless Banter is giving away concert tickets.
2. Jesse Russell remembers the Dead Milkmen.
3. The Lost Albatross fights for James Madison Park.
4. Nicole Hilbelink gets bit by a dog. Seven times.
5. Be The Boy celebrates Crappy House Day.
6. The Slackmistress continues her Nerd Crush competition.
7. Vintage Caveman recalls his Nerd Crush.
8. Bruce Dierbeck gets gored by a deer. Almost.
9. Reese cleans up her apartment.
10. Pork Tornado gets engaged.

Cut it. Print it. Run with it. I'm outta here. Enjoy your day.

CDP's Top 30 Atari Games Of All-Time (15-1).

2008-06-30T00:01:00.020-05:00

Finally, the second half of the CDP's list of the Top 30 Atari 2600 games of all-time. This is my own personal list based on games that I've been fortunate enough to play over the last 26 years, and by no means is a complete document of well-researched Atari 2600 history. Please enjoy.

15. Asteroids

Proof that classic and timeless games don't have to look good at all to be amazing, Asteroids looked identical on almost every platform it was released for, including the 2600. Most games from this era had no ending; you simply played until you died, and that always gave me an anxiety complex at the time. Even though I loved Asteroids, I'm pleased that we've more or less moved on from 'high score' aspect and focused more on rewarding the victor with a cheap cut scene or poorly-dubbed dialogue. We've come so far.

Semper Fi, SS Triangle. Semper Fi.

14. River Raid

River Raid always reminded me of Spy Hunter if it was set in a river (such brilliant insight by a published author). This was yet another one of the many spectacular games created by Activision for the Atari 2600, and one of the more popular at the time; everyone I knew had River Raid before I did. I was never any good at it, but I always came back in an attempt to conquer it, which is a sign of a classic game, in my opinion.

13. Berserk

What an interesting and groundbreaking game. Enemies that couldn't be killed, one of the first examples of speech synthesis in a cartridge, maze-like levels and a Boss that actually killed players in real-life. If you've been previously unaware of Berserk, click the links and get educated on one of the weirder chapters of early gaming history.

12. Centipede/Millipede

Also known as Panic Attack: The Game, the Centipede/Millipede combo was fast-paced, frantic, worthy only of skilled players and capable of causing all-out brawls between friends competing for high scores. I think I remember getting punched in the face as a direct result of a Centipede marathon. I'm sure I was in the right, whatever the argument was.

11. Crystal Castles

The older I get, the more I appreciate and enjoy Crystal Castles. Sure, 'Bentley Bear' is one of the more feminine and un-intimidating lead characters in Video Game history, but this was the first attempt at taking a Pac-Man-style game and putting into the third dimension. There used to be a Crystal Castles machine at the laundromat next to my best friend's house in the Third Grade, reminding me that the best memories are sometimes made in the most awkward and depressing places. I'm so happy that I own my own washing machine.

10. Seaquest

Seaquest holds an interesting place in my heart for being the only game in history that my mother could destroy me at. She loved this game; absolutely adored it for some reason, and practiced hard and often at consistently taking me to task over and over again. She never showed this level of compassion or obsession for any other game since then, which I find incredibly bizarre, yet endearing. From my own standpoint, the sound effects and gameplay are addictive and the premise is fun and endlessly replayable. I love Seaquest, although probably not as much as my mom did.

9. Breakout

When it comes to simplistic, addictive games, Breakout is nearly on par with Tetris as being stylistically perfect. The 'seconds to learn, a lifetime to master' element shines with full-force here, all but cementing Breakout's status as a game that will be played for generations to come. No honest storylines, characters or objectives to speak of here, just a fun exercise that has entertained millions for almost 30 years now.

8. Pole Position

The racing game that essentially created all racing games to follow, Pole Position was an arcade staple; In fact, I've seen more of these machines at various arcades over the last 20 years than any other games I can think of, with the exception of Ms. Pac-Man. The Atari 2600 transfer wasn't 100% perfect, but for me, the idea of never having to pay to play Pole Position again was an awesome feeling for my 7-year-old self.

7. Space Invaders

Oh, man. What else is there to say about Space Invaders? The sheer paranoia brought about by the grating sound effects and ever-advancing alien army. The fact that it's one of the longest-lasting and revered video games ever made. The fact that, even after all these years, it sort of scares me for some reason. There's just something about Space Invaders that we're all well-aware of, and that's neat to me. Maybe the nostalgic feeling of the game has long surpassed the actual credentials that Space Invaders realistically entails, but isn't that what all good things do?

6. Jungle Hunt

Stage One: Swing through a series of vines. Stage Two: Swim with (and subsequently stab to death) bloodthirsty crocodiles. Stage Three: Jump over/run under advancing boulders of various sizes. Stage Four: Jump over two evil cannibals that plan on eviscerating your girlfriend. Repeat as necessary. The sound was tight, the graphics did exactly what they needed to do, and the realization that the 'girlfriend' you just saved was a pigtail-swinging 10-year-old make Jungle Hunt an absolute must-play Atari 2600 classic.

5. Frogger

As you've probably noticed with this Top 15 list, it's really hard to list the shortcomings or downfalls of the bulk of these games. When you talk about the greatest Atari and Arcade classics of all-time, you're dealing with games that have transcended their electronic limitations and changed our lives in one way or another. Ranking some of these games is arguably next to impossible; they're all worthy of the highest praise. Frogger is no exception. By taking a simple task, throwing a simple storyline atop of it and adding simple twists to appeal to gamers, Frogger is a perfect example of flawless game creation in action.

With current games boasting 90 minutes of cutscenes, downloadable content, online play and endless button combinations, it's good to remember that myriad options does not necessarily a classic game make.

4. Spider Fighter

Sweet merciful Jesus, do I love Spider Fighter. Apart from the awesome cover art and downright-disgusting instruction manual art for the game, it is without any uncertainty the fastest and most difficult Atari 2600 game I've ever played. You can click on the accompanying link to see the gameplay in action if you wish, which is an absolute blast and improving on just about everything that its influences had created in the past. When it came to producing quality Atari games, Activision was in a class all its own. There is a 'plug-and-play' game out there now with Spider Fighter on it; I strongly suggest you shell out the $9.95 and own it for yourself.

3. Missile Command

February 1, 1987. A day which will live in infamy. The Atari 2600 is given to me by my parents for my 5th birthday, which includes a copy of Missile Command. A mere handful of hours later, Missile Command becomes the very first of hundreds of video games that I win. The feeling was incredible, and I've been a changed man ever since. My sister was born the day prior to this, but I'll stand firm in my theory that my Missile Command victory had the longest and most profound effect on me.

2. Pitfall!

Three years before Super Mario Bros. took over the world, Pitfall Harry made gaming history for the Atari 2600. With an astounding 2.6 million copies sold, Pitfall! is one of the most popular cartridge games ever made, and rightfully so. This was a game; there were objectives. There was a beginning and an end (not a great one, but a definitive ending nonetheless). There was strategy, a time limit, and many different ways to complete your missions. In short, this was a brilliant example of what would later become the home gaming explosion of the late-80's. For my money, Pitfall! was the greatest game ever created specifically for the Atari 2600.

1. Dig Dug

After all this time, after all these years and after all these advances in entertainment and video game technology, there is one game on this Top 30 list that I will come back to again and again, and it's Dig Dug. It's the perfect combination of strategy, pattern recognition, high score maximization, sound effects and theme music (which only plays if you're moving around, hilariously), increasingly difficult levels and the feeling that you can always get better at it. Dig Dug is a true, original classic. It's still fun, still conjures up good feelings and memories and can be played by anyone. To me, it's what best represents the Atari 2600 Age, and those who were fortunate enough to live in it.

Thanks for reading. Sound off in the comments section and enjoy your day.