Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Youtube of the day - Sam Mitchell's Career Night.
I remember this night like it was yesterday. Farewell Sam Mitchell
Breaking News - Sam Mitchell Fired!
Reports are coming in that Raptors Coach Sam Mitchell has been fired.
Jay Triano will assume interim duties.
Brian Colangelo released this statement "This is a difficult but necessary step the franchise must take,We appreciate all that Sam has done for the organization, applaud him for his successes and wish him nothing but the best with his future in basketball."
So thoughts????
Well after last nights loss it was apparent something had to give. That something is usually the coach. Will this turn this team around? It will probably give them a boost in the short term but this team needs player personal changes to turn the corner.
It is nice to see them give Triano a shot though.
Album Review - Coldplay's Prospekts March EP
A little background to begin.
Prospekts March was born out of studio sessions and material that was cut from the Viva La Vida/or death and all his friends experience. In the Summer of 08' lead singer Chris Martin claimed the tracks weren't quite polished enough in time for inclusion in Viva La Vida, but insists they had always been intended as part of that collection. He then went on to say that the material "might be considered too catchy or too heavy for Coldplay songs." This seemed reason enough for the band not rush and "polish" the material in time for VLV.
After hearing this album there is no denying that it was born out of the VLV creative sessions with producer Brian Eno. Almost like a little Brother to its big Bro Viva La Vida this is as complete an EP as you could ask for. Since there are only 8 tracks (2 of which are basically re-releases fom VLV) I figured I'd review the album track by track.
1. Life in Technicolor II - For those that heard the opener to Viva La vida and thought it would be better with lyrics…..well your wish is granted. It was widely reported during the VLV sessions that the band had written and recorded great lyrics to this song but in the interest of album flow they took the direction of their producer Brian Eno and decided to make it an instrumental. Which, for VLV was ultimately the right decision. You have to respect a bands decision to nix a song as good as this from their album. All that said, "Life in Technicolor II" is hugely satisfying and develops Viva La Vida's addictive intro track with belting and uplifting guitar and vocals. As it was on Viva La Vida this is a Great opener.
2. Postcards from Faraway – A Gorgeous piano piece, which sadly ends at 48 seconds. This brings me to a point a friend of mine made about it "if you're going to write a gorgeous piano piece and you're Chris Martin why not make it a full song". Agreed.
3.Glass of Water - This could be one of the top 5 Coldplay songs of all time. A soaring Rock song in which Martin laments "He heard you could see your future/Inside a glass of water/ the ripples and the rhymes/He asked 'Will I see heaven in mine". The Chorus on this song is as good as any that I have heard all year. I just wish they had played this live when I saw them in July. If this isn't released as a single I'd be shocked. This song alone makes the EP worth buying.
4.Rainy Days – Strange opening to this one. It has a real U2 feel to it and this includes the muffled vocals. That is until the Chorus kicks in and we get Vintage Chris martin over a lovely bed of Strings singing "I love it when you come over the house /I love it when you come over to my house." The guitar work over the Chorus is wonderful as well.
5. Prospekts March/Poppyfields – like a Parachutes track, slow strummed with Martin pensive in mid-register, before opening up into some slowly rising/celestial production and Pink Floyd like guitars. The lyrics while Cheesy (what Chris martin lyrics aren't) are simple and great "don't you wish your life could be as simple/as fish swimming round in a barrel when you've got the gun" you know what Chris Martin…I Do wish that.
6.Lost + - This Track was billed by Martin to be the same Lost track from VLV with a "Guest Experience" from hip hop God Jay Z. That's exactly what it is. Jay Z gives us something to think about when it comes to Success "With the same sword they knight you/ they gon' good night you with" …he goes on to say "So it's tough being Bobby Brown/To be Bobby then, you have to be Bobby now" Good Points J good points. Not right for VLV but right for this release.
7. Lovers In Japan (Osaka Sun Remix) – This is traditionally what an EP from a Band like Coldplay is like. Filler and remixes of songs we've already heard. Nothing special here as this is basically the same track found on VLV. Skip it.
8.Now My Feet Won't Touch The Ground – This is the bow that ties the package together. Similar to "Till Kingdom Comes" from X and Y. This track is an acoustic number with middle eastern influences mixed in and ties the lyrics of Life in Technicolor II in nicely.
So whats the verdict:
There are two types of people in life, those that like coldplay and those that don't. If you like Coldplay you will Love this record. If you don't like Coldplay there isn't anything here that is going to change your mind. Thankfully I consider myself a Coldplay fan.
8.5 out of 10.
Download these – Glass of Water, Rainy Days, Lost +, Life in Technicolor II.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
90-57
That's the current score in the Raps/Nuggets game. Man, this is dissapointing. I can understand the Lakers game (Lake Show lost to Indy today), but this game is disgusting. I've been telling myself its too early in the season to be too concerned, but this is ugly. I just wish we could get a team together that would actually give the good teams in the league a run for their money!
Oh, Will Solomon just took a shot. It was so awesome it must completely.
I give up, I'm gonna watch the Daily Show.
Update - 10:57 p.m. - Its always awesome too see the opposing team laughing it up a couple of minutes into the 4th quarter. Ya.
Nirvana Nevermind Kid turns 17
Its hard to believe it but the Kid that posed naked on Nirvana's "Nevermind" album cover has just recently turned 17. Here he is today.
White Chocolate Home movies - Ping PONG!
Gotta love this classic of vik getting spanked in the head with a Ping pong ball while filming the match during his bachelor party.
Happy Birthday Britney and Welcome Back!
Today is Britney Spears 27th birthday. The mess of an artist has been on a media blitz lately to promote her new album "Circus". She's had a rough go of it the past few years and even though she's probably still a little crazy I'm just happy she has her looks back.
So from us here at the White Chocolate Blog we want to wish you a Happy Birthday. Lay off the cake cause now that you've shed those unwanted pounds you're looking as good as ever.
Red(wire) - Artists working together to cure aids
Yesterday was World Aids day and as such several of the worlds biggest artists have joined forces to raise money and awareness for the aids effort in Africa. Some of the new tracks are pretty good and so I thought I'd link to some of the videos. Its a great cause featuring some great artist and some Good songs. Check it out
Coldplay ft Kylie Minogue - "Lhuna"
Jay Z ft Santogold - Brooklyn we go hard
U2 - "I believe in Father Christmas"
The Killers ft Elton John and Neil Tennant - "Joseph you're a better man than me"
Death Cab for Cutie - Live version of "Cath"
Sheryl Crow - "Cross Creek"
Jenny Lewis - Live version of "Acid Tongue"
Everything can be found at http://red.msn.com/
Sam Mitchell - Has he given up or changed his ways?
Anyone that has watched this team under Mitchell's command in the past 4 seasons knows that it has always been Smitch's style to pace up and down the sideline and scream as loud as he can at his guys. Over the past 5 or 6 Raptors games I have noticed a decided change in Sam Mitchell. And I'm not talking about the exponential growth of his bald sport or his change back to glasses (after having laser eye surgery in the off season). I'm talking about his sitting down for the majority of games.
Present still are the looks of total exasperation and his classic post game press conferences but Sam isn't the Same pacing screaming, clipboard waving Sam of the past during games. Its made me wonder whether this is Sam trying something new or whether its a signal to management. A subtle way of him saying "I've done everything I can to get these guys to follow the game plan but they just don't".
In the preseason we read stories of how Mitchell was going to try to be a kinder gentler coach and his first step was to stop the cursing. I wonder if this is part of his plan to be a better coach or if he has really given up.
This could be nothing and this could be something but my guess is its something to keep a close eye on.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Random Google Image of the day - "Funny"
Every now and then I'll type a word into Goggle image and see what I get for a photo. Here's today's random search for the word "funny"
Raptors Recap - The "we only play 3 Quarters" edition
There isn't much to say about this game. The lakers are the better team and as such they took it to the Raptors.
From what I saw ( we listened to the first half on our drive back from Buffalo) this game was much closer than I had expected it would be. This was thanks to the Raptors hot outside shooting. There were a couple of really nice plays on the Lakers side. The two handed dunk by Andrew Bynum as he steamrolled over Joey was particulary nasty!
The Raptors went completely cold from the field in the 4th Q and the Lakers made them pay. Bosh had an off night which proved costly as well. There was no way they were going to win this one without a monster game from Bosh. Smitch realized this and also figured game was out of reach early in the fourth and made a smart move by resting Bosh and Calderon with about 7 min to play.
Anyway a loss in LA is expected and so long as #24 doesn't score 81 points I think I'm ok with this loss. The Lakers could have as good a shot to win 70+ games as any team has in a long time, they're that good.
Moving on to tomorrow night. I think the Raps might have a decent chance for a victory in Denver as I see that Carmelo anthony had to leave last nights game with an arm contusion. If Anthony doesn't play tomorrow and the Raps can get JO back I think they might be able to steal a win.
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