January
Love Is An Arrow - Aberfeldy
I came across this song while watching an independent film with my then girlfriend. It was called Gamerz, I believe, and was about these kids who played Dungeons and Dragons. It was a fun film and this song was played during the opening credits. Whenever I listen to this song, I think of that film…among other things.

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February
All My Little Words - The Magnetic Fields
It was a rough month, and I chose this song to reflect that. I hadn’t heard of this band at the time, but when I think back to then and the month or so following, this song comes up. Thanks, This American Life, for pointing me to this band.

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March
The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism - The New Pornographers
Song should be pretty straight forward. I drank a lot. Some of it good drinking, and some of it bad.

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April
Cherbourg - Beirut
I felt pretty shitty during this and the following month. It’s funny how music speaks to you more during your highs and your lows.

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May
I Don’t Believe in the Sun - The Magnetic Fields
This month was an extension of the previous month. I had finally heard about The Magnetic Fields, and listened to this song a lot. I’m telling you, 69 Love Songs is a nice album to listen to when you’re feeling blue. Especially the first volume. I almost replaced this with the track Absolutely Cuckoo.

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June
We Only Come Out At Night - The Smashing Pumpkins
I didn’t get much sleep at night during the month of June. I did, however, sleep through a lot of the days.

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July
Adventures in Solitude - The New Pornographers
I gained a new appreciation for the Challengers album around this time, especially with this song. Got to see them live and their performance of this song blew me away. I believe I even posted a Blip.fm thing to my blog about it. This is how I felt.

[See post to listen to audio]

August
Lost Coastlines - Okkervil River
I don’t remember much during this month other than work and preparations for school to begin. I got fired from my crappy web studio job.

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September
Black and Blue - Tilly and the Wall
Not my favorite from this band, but it definitely describes how I felt during the month of September.

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October
7 Stars - The Apples in Stereo
I slept through Pitchfork around August / September and missed my chance to see The Apples in Stereo play. That had to be up there as one of the worst things to happen to me this year. I made up for it by listening to a lot of this band, and pretty much falling in love with this song. There were a lot of Apples in my life during this month.

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November
Lolita - Throw Me The Statue
I started feeling good about life around this time. Was still rough, but I was able to gain a lot of perspective on things. Also, I saw the music video for this song around this time and I loved it.

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December
Shout - De Novo Dahl
Shout has been my outlook on life for the month of December, although not my LITERAL outlook. Not entirely sure screaming would have worked well with my roommate, friends, and colleagues. I can only imagine how it would have hindered my podcast recording. Or maybe it would have helped. I look to my colleagues to confirm or deny this.

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The extent of my advertising knowledge comes from a focus group I participated in around a month ago. They placed a plethora of ad campaign trials in front of us and asked us what we thought about them, if they worked and what we got from the “slogans” presented. I gave my input, participated in the discussion, and took my pay as soon as I left the office room. That was it. Minimal effort for minimal gain. In short, kind of a hollow experience. When I was given a screener copy of a new TNT series called TRUST ME, I pretty much expected the same sort of thing.

If you don’t know, TRUST ME is a new contemporary drama series airing on TNT in January. It’s about two ad men, Mason (Eric McCormack of Will and Grace) and Connor (Tom Cavanagh of Ed), and their partnership in an ad agency based out of Chicago. Throughout the series, the two work together to maintain their contracts with “unreasonable” clients while dealing with their ever-complicated personal lives.

The screener DVD I received had the pilot episode as well as an unfinished cut of the second episode “All Hell the Victors.” The first episode introduced me to all of the characters by telling me their names, and what they do for the company. The gimmick played out in a glib manner, labeling the CEO as “The Boss of Everyone” and the others as the boss of somebody else. One guy got the unfortunate monicker “The Suit.” In my mind, I was ready to check out. Here was a show that promised edgy and ended up using tired gimmicks to help me distinguish the characters that weren’t the leads. Not a good start.

But that changed with the introduction of the two main characters, Mason and Connor. They are the strength of the two episodes I saw, being the most realized out of everyone else and given the most life thanks to McCormack and Cavanagh. Some of their interactions bordered on over-the-top, but not obnoxiously so. And when it comes down to it, the two were just fun to watch onscreen.

But like I said, the rest of the cast bordered on forgettable. I have a feeling, however, that this complaint will fade away as the series progresses. There was a particular scene between Mason and a new copywriter (Monica Potter) in the second episode that was particularly telling of the idea behind TRUST ME. Simply put, it’s about the characters.

Perhaps the weakest aspect this show, and the thing I have the biggest complaint about is that the series is set in Chicago but not truly “set” in Chicago. We get the usual cut-aways to the Chicago skyline or some piece of dialogue telling us that we’re in Chicago, ala MY BOYS, but not much more. If you squint in the first episode you can kind of see a RED EYE dispenser and the elevated tracks along Lake. I had to re-watch the scene a couple of times to tell that it was actually shot in the city proper. The show was created by Hunt Baldwin and John Coveny, who have over 20 years of experience in the advertising world having worked for J. Walter Thompson and Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago. Considering all this experience and time in the city, one would think that they could have infused more of it’s personality into the show as well. No joke, one of the characters looks out the window of his office and exclaims, “Aahh, Chicago!” like he’s lived there his whole life. Don’t buy it for a bit. Here’s hoping that this changes in future episodes.

So, I suppose you’re wondering if the show is worth watching or not. Apart from a few issues like location and weak side characters, TRUST ME is actually a rather compelling drama. It’s fast paced, energetic, and the leads are extremely likable. That’s enough to get me hooked for more episodes at least! If you can, be sure and check out the premiere on Monday, Jan. 26th at 10pm (ET/PT). You won’t be bored, trust me.

There really wasn’t a point to this little story, but I figured I would share anyway.

The new year is coming upon us fast. I’m feeling rather thoughtful, but not particularly articulate. I think this Grandaddy song will do nicely.

I was just sitting on the couch, minding my own business when an IM popped up on my screen from a username I didn’t recognize. It said simply, “Hi.” Naturally, I responded with a hello in the hopes that the person would explain themselves within the next minute or so with all the vitals, like who they were and what the hell they wanted. Instead, the person asked who I was. I said my name and returned the question in a rather curt manner, pointing out that it was them who messaged me first. “I never sent you any message,” he or she said, “and just responded to yours.” Some back and forth between us and I closed the IM window, bothered. How does one not message me, yet still message me?

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So without further ado, let’s get this show on the road! I came across this first band through a friend and haven’t stopped listening since. I really dig their music and I think you will too.

I discovered De Novo Dahl when they released a single with the cover of “Speed Racer” on iTunes. I checked it out and loved what they did to it, and again haven’t stopped listening since. Their sound is fun and this music video is even more fun.

Los Campesinos was kind of a guess on my part. The band’s name sounded fun, and I figured why the hell not. They’re catchy, and you might find yourself singing their stuff randomly throughout the day.

Bishop Allen should be a band you’ve at least heard of. They had a cameo in a particularly crappy film and their music has gotten a bit more popular because of it. This is a good video.

I saw the Headlights play at the Schubas one night, not really sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with their sound and was even more impressed by this video.

And that wraps it up for another edition of Jonathan is a VJ. I hope you enjoy watching these videos as much as I enjoy finding them and putting them in some kind of order. I also hope you will check these bands out and others like them and expand your musical tastes.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope at some point you’re able to enjoy copious amounts of food and drink and are able to celebrate the season with your families. Next to Christmas, Thanksgiving has to be one of my most favorite of holidays. So, to celebrate I thought I’d give you a somewhat half-baked (get it?) top ten list about the things I’m thankful I can spend my money on.

10. Reeses Puffs - Back in the day, when I was about half my size and age, the cereal choices weren’t all that exciting. They were good, don’t get me wrong, but nothing was quite unhealthy enough to be awesome. And then one day Reeses decided to make a cereal. I’m so thankful I can go out and spend $5 on a box of Reeses balls.

9. Belt Buckles - Have you seen all the different kinds of belt buckles that exist? There’s one you can open beer bottles with. I am so thankful I can spend money on this.

8. Someone’s Grandpa’s Shirt - It brings a smile to my face and puts a skip in my step whenever I remember that I can go to the local Salvation Army or Brown Elephant and buy some western shirt that was worn by somebody’s Grandpa. They probably died in it too, which makes the $3 purchase even more awesome. I am so thankful for this.

7. $4 Coffee - I like mochas, cappucinos, and various “froofy” coffee drinks. I’m glad I can get them for roughly $4 at Starbucks or it’s step-brother, Caribou Coffee. I’m also glad I can feel cool walking to school holding a cup of said “froofiness.” Check it out folks, I’m a writer and I’m drinking COFFEE!! WOO! So yeah, I’m thankful.

6. HD TVs - I’m glad that I can go out and buy TV as big as my wall to compensate for my…lack of personality.

5. Grand Theft Auto - First of all, I’m thankful that video games exist and that there are so many choices. I’m also thankful that I can go out and get them whenever I want. But I’m most thankful for a game like GTA where it’s open ended and you can buy the services of a hooker, beat her over the head with a golf club, and then take your money back. It’s this kind of freedom to satisfy my “sexually frustrated high school” fantasies that has me ever so thankful. Here’s hoping the next one is even freer.

4. Bobby Flay Cookware - I’m thankful I can buy a bunch of cheap cookware with this guy’s mug plastered on the front of the box. I’m thankful that people can grow up to one day be the face of a pressure cooker…and Kitchen Stadium.

3. Hip Tees - There are a lot of places to buy “hip” t-shirts these days. Threadless, Snorg Tees, Jinx, Thinkgeek, every webcomic, etc. This overabundance of “witty” t-shirts makes my year! The other day I saw a shirt that had bacon coming out of a toaster. I’m so thankful I can buy that.

2. Alcohol - I’m thankful that I can have a beverage that lowers my inhibitions and my perception of the world. I also appreciate waking up the next morning in an unfamiliar place, wondering where my pants are. Isn’t booze fun? Oh yeah, it also helps with the writing process, for which I am most grateful.

1. Boobs - I could buy them for myself if I wanted, or had the money. So. Thankful.

As a writer for any medium, you often get asked (or are made to ask yourself), “What’s your method?” Some people respond with a very complex list of how they get into the mood to write and then how they go about building their magnum opus while others go at great lengths to explain how they just do things in bursts. I tend to fall into that latter category. My writing inspiration seems to come and go, usually without much warning. I could be sitting in the classroom arguing the semantics of storytelling when this “need” will rise to the surface and eat away at me until I scribble something down. Or, I could be sitting at the local Starbucks drinking a Grande White Mocha when this happens, oftentimes in mid-sip. If I’m lucky, I’ll have a pen nearby. If not, I resort to my laptop.

There was a period of time where I tried to maintain a more organized writing method, what some might call a regimen if you will. I put this into practice during the summer, since I chose not to take any classes, and went to a coffee shop to spend a few hours a day writing. I would ask for a real “froofy” drink and then sit down and write until the battery died. I was able to get a decent amount of work done in around two to three hours (I need a new battery for the ole macbook pro). After about a week or so of this, though, I stopped and went back to my more sporadic method of writing every couple of days or whenever I felt like it.

And then I had a conversation with the Chair of the Film and Video Department at Columbia College. I (alongside a producer from our Practicum class) had pitched a story I was working on and he gave some excellent advice on how to go about fixing the then incomplete story. Later on, we bumped into each other in the hall and talked about the process of writing. I explained my exasperation at the process and he chuckled. He told me that it was a day to day process, and that in this business you need to continually write. It’s a competitive business and if you aren’t writing, you won’t make it. That hit home with me, and I decided to work on my method some. Now, I try to write something every day, whether it be my scripts, Twitter, Friendfeed, this site, or for Generation Tech. But I don’t force myself, either. If I don’t have anything, I don’t write anything.

That’s pretty much my method, explained in a bunch of barely strung together paragraphs. Hopefully the insight was helpful, and gave you something to take away. So, I turn the question to you. “What’s your method?”

Thanks goes out to Kent Nichols for making me think.

The next song is one I would watch just for the funky graphics. You’ll see. Let the neon wash over you and change your life.

Perhaps one of my favorite songs of all time. It’s got cheesy set design intercut with stock NASA footage and probably one of the best chorus’ you’ll ever hear!

I like Tears for Fears for their song Head Over Heals. Since MTV Music doesn’t have that song yet, I offer this to you instead. Must say I like it better than the more recent “Donnie Darko” one.

I probably wouldn’t do this for you…sorry.

Well, that wraps it up for this edition of Jonathan is a VJ. Hope you enjoyed this nostalgic trip of super-funness! Until next time…

Do you realize how exciting it is to know that the problem is on your end? When things go to shit, it’s a comfort to realize that you are to blame and that it’s not something on the other end, something that you can’t control. Take my past relationship with Comcast for example. All of my problems with them stemmed from something that only they could fix on their end or come over to my end and fix. Waiting on them was hell. Waiting to see where the problem existed was hell. Here, it was just a simple tweak on my end and everything was as right as rain.

That, my friends, is exciting.

And now I’ll stop rambling like a buffoon and go make some lunch.

Boing Boing Article.

Video:

I’m also working on various writing projects and generally keeping as busy as I possibly can. Don’t really want to spoil anything or give away too much too early, but I think there is some promising content coming your way. Anyway, that’s really all I have for you this evening. Before I go, here’s a song that’s been running through my head all night. Ciao.

Well, here we are, for our first set. Let’s get this series started with a rather random assortment of videos. No theme this time, just whatever five videos caught my fancy first!