While many of the stars we see in the sky have been around since before humanity was able to admire them, there are elements of the night sky that change very readily, usually with a splendor unmatched by their more eternal counterparts. At the time of writing, one of these events is visible to the fortunate residents of the northern hemisphere, and with basic equipment you too can enjoy one of the joys of our Solar System.
The Brewers’ Association calls it an American-Style India Black Ale. Guinness calls theirs Foreign Extra Stout. West-coast breweries prefer the term Cascadia Dark Ale. And, to confuse matters further, the Tommyknocker brewery refers to their dark and bitter brew as a Black India Pale Ale. Seemingly a contradiction of terms, this new emerging style combines the dark roasted sweetness of a porter and the tart bitterness of an IPA. While no one can agree on what to name it, most agree that the ASIBA/FES/CDA/BIPA is the next big thing in craft brewing.
If there were a perfect album, it would sound very close to The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place by Explosions In The Sky. While not new, this album serves as a great fallback album when the music market is waiting for its next big release. Explosions In The Sky is a Texas-based post-rock band that deals heavily in long, melodic jam sessions, which in this humble reviewer’s opinion, can suit just about any situation, whether it be beautiful sunrises, romantic encounters, or starry nights.
The towns around Mines and Golden are full of activities to boost your adrenaline, challenge your skills, and keep you having fun, no matter the season. So where do you go for relaxation after weeks of climbing, kayaking, and skiing? If you take the 17 line from 19th and Jackson until you get to the Cold Springs hub, then take the EV route in the ES Aspen Springs direction, you will get to the beautiful mountain town of Evergreen. This picturesque town has just about everything you will need for relaxation including a variety of restaurants, bars, art galleries, and of course, the beautiful Evergreen Lake.
Jimmy Eat World, the creators of fan favorites such as “Sweetness” and “The Middle,” have come back again with another creation this past week. This Mesa, Arizona, born American alternative rock band, consisting of vocalist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch, and drummer Zach Lind have returned with a new album, Invented. Collaborating with producer Mark Trombino, who had previously worked with them on 1999’s Clarity and 2001’s Bleed American, it appears that the quartet has decided to go back to their roots. The release of Invented is the band’s seventh full length studio album.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have rocked the music scene since the 1980’s selling more than 55 million records with 10 studio albums. The album I would suggest is Red Hot Chili Peppers Live at Slane Castle. This video album of their performance in Ireland shows one of the better concerts, and you can experience it from that La-Z-Boy in the dorm room. Lead singer Anthony Keitis is one of the best writers in today’s modern music as he writes about finding meaning in life, and looking below the surface for answers.
Sufjan Stevens is a musician on the move. For the last ten years he’s been in a constant state of re-invention and experimentation. While most people are familiar with a handful of his songs and, perhaps, his 2005 full-length Come On Feel The Illinoise!- a musical journey through the Land of Lincoln- Stevens’ newest work, The Age of Adz, is difficult to simply lump in to his previous catalog.
At this point calling Arcade Fire a true indie band is a little like calling Star Trek a fresh new show. Still, the release of their new album, The Suburbs, has been treated with a new excitement in indie nerds such as me. Starting the album, I was personally pleased by the clarity and coalesced nature of the music. The title track, “The Suburbs,” holds a charming beat reminiscent of an old saloon with a very active piano starting off the mix. While this song is good, it seems to go on a bit too long. Luckily this element is quickly put to the side with the strong piercing beats of “Ready To Start.” For the next few songs, including my personal favorite “Modern Man,” the album remains deceptively pensive by disguising deep lyrics with cheerful bounding instrumental parts.
In place of the usual beer review this week is a review of another alcoholic beverage, whiskey. While not strictly followed the “liquor before beer” rule for this column, a little moderation and diversity never hurt.
If you find yourself in Golden on any given night, many of the stars to the northeast are sadly washed out by the strong lights of Denver, Boulder, and campus itself. Regardless of this travesty, unless you are standing right under a street lamp, it is likely that you will be able to find the familiar five stars of Cassiopeia. Similar to the vain, mythological queen the constellation is named after, Cassiopeia seems to shimmer with an awe-inspiring beauty. Part of this may come from the surprising fact that the brightest star in this constellation is not a star at all, but a recent supernova, the light of which only reached our planet 300 years ago.