NEW AMERICAN AUTUMN SONGS!

MOre to come about this absurb break, but for now check out the new songs at myspace.com/theamericanautumn

Latez
Chris

If you hate the taste of wine why do you drink it till your blind?

So this has been a pretty incredible past couple of days. Lets start with Thursday, which is the day I got the internship at Minty Fresh Records. They are relatively large record label in Chicago. I'm super excited its really going to give me a lot of experience into exactly what I want to be apart of. I'm so excited about any future at all I have in the music industry and this is kind of well I guess the second step, the first one being actually going to school.

On Friday was another incredible day. Lago came down and him and I went shopping on Michigan Ave. (god damn it do I love that I live in the city)After that we headed back to the suburbs. I picked up Josh dropped off Lago and went to my bro's house were all my family was hanging out or at least a good portion of them. Hung out there for awhile got some really good quality time with my family. After that I went out with Mills, Eric, Davey, Emily and her friend to the bars. Had a really fun night till around 2.

Woke up yesterday hung around my house for awhile took my little sister shopping which was an interesting experience. Then josh and i ran to best buy and then hung out at Carly and Cody's for a bit, despite them not being there. Then we went and picked up davey and katie and headed to bryans to begin an awesome night. Mills, josh, davey, bryan, katie and flippy hair katie we all went into the hot tub and enjoyed a real chill relaxing just chit chatting. Then we went to Sarah and Kevin's christmas party which was a lot of fun because we got to see some people we hadn't seen in a while. After that we moved it to the Onion pub where we had a beer and chilled for awhile hanging out. Then after that we moved to side outs hung out there till like 3 oclock then we went to steak and shake getting back home around 5 this morning. It was a pretty incredible night all together.

Then today was Christmas part 1 of 3 with out of town relatives and all my brothers and sisters. Had a really awesome time eating and hanging out. Christmas day will bring part 2 of 3 and then this weekend with just my brothers and sisters will conclude christmas.

Anyway, now that we've got that out of the way down to the gritty stuff.

I'm laying on the floor in what was my old room it's now 2 am and my mind is racing a million miles a minute. I just got done with watching Reign Over Me with Adam Sandler and Don Cheale. It was a really good movie, but it pretty much just emphasized how much i think about this one person. It seems very high school to talk about someone on a live journal or a blog or something without using their name, but only bryan and dave read this so...who the hell gives a shit. Right?

This movie reaffirms my constant thinking about you. And i can't tell what to do with myself about it. I feel like I have two options. One is just confess ask to have dinner with you and just confess how ridiculous my feelings are for you. The other option is to just keep my mouth shut like I have been and continue to try and move on. Its weird separating those two things out but neither of them really seem like all that good of an idea. I mean if I confess it leaves me open and vulnerable and the very large possibility of rejection and then boom I guess I'm back to where I am right now just a little more hurt? But what is really wrong with that honestly? I mean a major problem that I have is that I'm more bottled up than i should be especially when it comes to this person. The problem with the other outcome of this scenario is that i don't know if i want a relationship. Sounds weird huh? i guess i wish i just knew what the fuck I wanted our you'd just get the fuck out of my head. Its weird being in such a grey area. I feel like its much more realistic to know what i want rather than play games with myself.

So here I am WIDE fucking awake and not knowing what to do with myself.

Writing this blog doesn't really do anything, but it kind of feels good to get it out even if its just typed on stupid blogspot.

Also bryan i hate you because that boys like girls record is addicting. But bryan i love because i wouldn't have green man without you.

I feel like writing more, but i dont really want to because i'd go on a tangent about why hate christmas and why i love winter.

but i don't want to.

Chris

Semaphore Recording

Alright Ladies and Gents,
The American Autumn myspace is up and running with a rough...really rough recording of Doctor Doctor to tide our glorious fans over until two weeks from now when we head in the studio at Semaphore Recordings.

Dave, Josh, and myself went and took a tour of the studio last night and set up a weekend for recording a three track ep. Eric the engineer at the studio was a really awesome guy he has been in unbelievably good contact with us, which has motivated us to work with him even more. We took a look at a couple of other studios, but this one was perfect for our price range and availablity.

Needless to say we are all super fucking excited to get in a studio where bands we like have recorded. It's an enourmous step to be recording somewhere outside our comfort zone like JPL, but we are all super excited about it. So hopefully by the end of this month and this ridiculous year we will have a demo to hand out to people. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am for this band to go somewhere.

Well I'm sure i'll update after the studio

Latez
Chris

I wait in 4/4 time..

So Dane got this article published on The Weakerthans in a magazine and it looks phenominal. We were talking about it before practice this week and he was saying how its not so much of a job for him that he gets to write an article about a band, but he gets to interview one of his idols. Aside from the article being awesome and Dane's little blurb and complimenting picture, he was saying how John Samson was a lyrical idol of his. Unfortunately, I had never really given The Weakerthans a chance before and I'm not quite sure why, but i just never got around to listening to their record. I had Left and Leaving on my computer for god knows how long and I know I've heard "Aside" before probably a thousand different places.

Knowing that Dane is pretty good at knowing what music to listen to I took my step up to the plate with The Weakerthans and I have to say I hit a homerun. (how fucking cheesy was that). For whatever reason discorvering this record was meant to happen right now for me. I couldn't be happier that it was put off until now because, for whatever reason, it melds perfectly with how i feel right now. Left and Leaving was the perfect indie record for me while the snow is fallin and, from what i can assume is seasonal depression, is setting in.

Yesterday I met Dave for lunch at the potbelly's in his building and on my walk to his building from the train the snow was flurrying, people were scampering completely bundled up rushing to get to some place warm and I was walking pretty slowly taking in the world around me listening to the weakerthans. I honestly couldn't help, but to have an out of body, euphoric feeling while i was walking and for a couple of minutes everything was just fine and i could feel the world working like it should. I know that seems cheesy, but I really don't care.

Then last night Dave and I were driving back from Bryans house to home and when you drive down Roosevelt towards Lake Shore as you go over the bridge look left and there the sky line is all lit up and it looks beautiful and I couldn't help but feel that I was in the right place while i was looking at how awesome it was. The response I hear the most to me telling people that i live in the city is "I wish I could have." Or in one case "How's the talent?" And i love that i can say later on in life that i lived in the city. I had that life and it was incredible. That kind of makes it seem like I'm ready to move out which is not true at all I just really enjoying being the guy that lives in the city. I was explaining to someone once how i don't like measuring life in years or classes or acheivements, I measure life in stories. The more stories that you can tell people the more fortunate person you are. You're probably thinking isn't your friends and family what makes you a fortunate person? Well who are the people that are in those stories with you? Exactly...
One part of my story is that i lived in the city with 2 girls and my guitar player/best friend. Not many people can say that...For me it's not i wish i had.

Chris

I hope you found what you're looking for...

Well that was probably one of the most sucessful weekends ever. Josh and I FINALLY turned 21. The party was a hit and it went off pretty well. I was a little skeptical for awhile, but from what i could remember MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Friday night Myself, Josh, Heather, Cody, Carly, Lago, Davey, Emily, Mills, Eric, Amy, and Kendra all went out to Govenors for a couple giraffes of the home brews they have there. Spent a couple hours there having a good time just hanging out and then afterwards Mills, Eric, Davey, Myself, and Amy all went out to Fin McCools. Boy that place is McCool. The hooters waitress from our summer lives as ice cream men was there and she bought me a birthday shot. Drank some more there and then called it a night. Which was an awesome way to spend my actual birthday good to be hanging out with some close friends.

Then Saturday oh jesus saturday. Saturday morning i very angrily woke up with a hangover and sat around the house all day relaxing before the party. I picked up dave and we all went to Danes for practice before we played. Left went to the bar set up in the very tiny space that it was in. ANd there was a really decent amount of people there which was awesome casue I'm glad that many people cared enough to come get cheap drinks for mine and josh's birthday. We played the show and amidst being fed shots tons and tons of shots. Nothing that tasted good it was all really hard stuff. LOTS and LOTS of whiskey. After the show i can't really remember.

I was woke up the next morning by my brother tom. Somehow and incredibly i made it back to my bed. How i've got no god damn clue.

Then sunday i went back to the Burbs to get a tattoo. They were closed got a new one yesterday and i'm loving it.

Overall AN Incredible birthday. Thanks to all those that were apart of it in whatever way. Thank you all so much. Some how i've made it to 21 and now we can go out for a drink. Anyone and everyone.

I'm sure i'll update more later, but thats it for right now.

Chris

Popcore?

If someone were to ask me, "Chris, I love pop punk music, but i also really love metal. There's just something about hooks and catchy riffs that get me, but at the same time i love wailing metal riffs and triplets on the open d like everyone does." I'd say look no more my friend look no more.

I randomly stumbled onto these guys on myspace. I still contest that despite all of myspace's faults their original intent has held true, discovering new music and bands.

The band is called Four Year Strong and the cd I actually purchased from itunes (yup you read that right i bought music from itunes) is called Rise or Die Trying. Their single "Heroes get rememberd, Legends Never Die" is an awesome collaberation between metal riffs and squeels mixed with pop vocals and awesome harmonies. I know it sounds odd, but they pulled it off pretty nicely. I'd have to say that a couple of the other songs like "Catrastrophe" has awesome double bass pedal parts, but is something that you could easily see on a Starting Line or Emery record...maybe not emery cause they are a lot better than they are given credit for, but you get what i'm saying.

Anyway check them out if nothing else go here: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21978073

And check out their single I bet you'll like it.

Also aside from the two songs i have to write and the 15 page paper that is due next week i've taken on a long term personal project to listen to all if not a good portion of the dicography of the following bands: Led Zepplin, Billy Joel, Wilco, and Radiohead.

I've never really aside from Wilco given any of these bands a real chance. It's not that i inherently don't like any of them, but the problem being that i don't have an opinion on any of them. So we'll see how that goes.

Latez
Chris

When we're not sure/We're not alone

Today I had one of the coolest experiences that I've ever had in my life. It wasn't profound; it really wasn't an epiphany. It was just an experience that i'll probably never forget because of how awesome it felt.

I was walking down the street today down Irving Park to the redline to go to class. And I threw on Wilco's Sky Blue Sky and for some reason while walking down a busy Chicago street really taking in the music in beautiful weather (65 degrees) was one of the, for a lack of a better word, coolest experiences i've had. It just seemed that the record fit in perfecly with the feel of the city. The gritty style that is the Chicago melded incredibly. The other thing about it was that i don't think the situation could ever really recreate itself. I certainly can walk down the street on a nice day and listen to the record, but it just seems like it won't be as incredible as it was today.

That's my story for today.

My next endevour is to take on the newest Radiohead record. I feel like that will be a rollercoaster of emotions...we'll see.

Also our newest project formally known as Echo Lawrence has been offically renamed to The American Autumn so if you see that frequently on my last.fm..that's why.

Also...also The American Autumn is going to play at mine and josh's 21st bday party on November 24th at a place called Flounders. So let me know if you want more information on that.

Chris

The Bridge

I read this story the other day and I feel like it's an awesome metaphor for life and that everyone should read it.

There was a man who had given much thought to what he wanted from life. He had experienced many moods and trials. He had experimented with different ways of living, and he had had his share of both success and failure. At last, he had begun to see clearly where he wanted to go.

Diligently, he searched for the right opportunity. Sometimes he came close, only to be pushed away. Often the applied all of his strength and imagination, only to find the path hopelessly blocked. And then at last it came! But the opportunity would not wait. It would be made available only for a short time. If it were seen that he was not committed, the opportunity would not come again.

Eager to arrive, he started on his journey. With each step, he wanted to move faster; with each thought about his goal, his heart beat quicker; with each vision of what lay ahead, he found renewed vigor. Strength that had left it since his early youth returned, and desires, all kinds of desires, reawakened from their long-dormant positions.

Hurrying along, he came upon a bridge that crossed through the middle of a town. It had been built high above a river in order to protect it from the floods of spring.

He started across. Then he noticed someone coming from the opposite direction. As they moved closer, it seemed as though the other was coming to greet him. He could clearly see, however, that he did not know this other, who was dressed similarly except for something tied around his waist.

When they were within hailing distance, he could see that what the other had about his waist was a rope. It was wrapped around him many times and probably, if extended, would reach a length of 30 feet.

The other began to uncurl the rope, and, just as they were coming close, the stranger said, "Pardon me, would you be so kind as to hold the end a moment?"

Surprised by this politely phrased but curious request, he agreed without a thought, reached out, and took it.

"Thank you," said the other, who then added, "two hands now, and remember, hold tight." Whereupon, the other jumped off the bridge.

Quickly, the free-falling body hurtled the distance of the rope’s length, and from the bridge, the man abruptly felt the pull. Instinctively, he held tight and was almost dragged over the side. He managed to brace himself against the edge, however, and after having caught his breath looked down at the other dangling, close to oblivion.

"What are you trying to do?" he yelled. "Just hold tight," said the other "This is ridiculous," the man thought and began trying to haul the other in. He could not get the leverage, however. It was as though the weight of the other person and the length of the rope had been carefully calculated in advance so that together they created a counterweight just beyond his strength to bring the other back to safety.

"Why did you do this?" the man called out. "Remember," said the other, "if you let go, I will be lost." "But I cannot pull you up," the man cried. "I am your responsibility," said the other. "Well, I did not ask for it," the man said. "If you let go, I am lost," repeated the other.

He began to look around for help. But there was no one. How long would he have to wait? Why did this happen to befall him now, just as he was on the verge of true success? He examined the side, searching for a place to tie the rope. Some protrusion, perhaps, or maybe a hole in the boards. But the railing was unusually uniform in shape; there were no spaces between the boards. There was no way to get rid of this newfound burden, even temporarily.

What do you want?" he asked the other hanging below. "Just your help," the other answered. "How can I help? I cannot pull you in, and there is no place to tie the rope so that I can go and find someone to help me help you." "I know that. Just hang on; that will be enough. Tie the rope around your waist; it will be easier."

Fearing that his arms could not hold out much longer, he tied the rope around his waist. "Why did you do this?" he asked again. "Don’t you see what you have done? What possible purpose could you have in mind?" "Just remember," said the other, "my life is in your hands."

What should he do? "If I let go, all my life I will know that I let this other die. If I stay, I risk losing my momentum toward my own long-sought-after salvation. Either way, this will haunt me forever." With ironic humor he thought to die himself, instantly, to jump off the bridge while he was still holding on. "That would teach this fool." But he wanted to live and live fully. "What a choice I have to make; How shall I ever decide?"

As time went by, still no one came. The critical moment of decision was drawing near. To show his commitment to his own goals, he would have to continue on his journey now. It was already almost too late to arrive in time. But what a terrible choice to have to make!

A new thought occurred to him. While he could not pull this other up solely by his own efforts, if the other would shorten the rope from his end by curling it around his waist again and again, together, they could do it! Actually, the other could do it by himself, so long as he, standing on the bridge, kept it still and steady.

"Now listen," he shouted down. "I think I know how to save you." And he explained his plan. But the other wasn’t interested. "You mean you won’t help? But I told you I cannot pull you up myself, and I don’t think I can hang on much longer either." "You must try," the other shouted back in tears. "If you fail, I die!"

The point of decision had arrived. What should he do? "My life or this other’s?" And then a new idea. A revelation. So new, in fact, it seemed heretical, so alien was it to his traditional way of thinking.

"I want you to listen carefully," he said, "because I mean what I am about to say. I will not accept the position of choice for your life, only for my own; the position of choice for your own life I hereby give back to you."

"What do you mean?" the other asked, afraid. "I mean, simply, it’s up to you. You decide which way this ends. I will become the counterweight. You do the pulling and bring yourself up. I will even tug a little from here." He began unwinding the rope from around his waist and braced himself anew against the side.

"You cannot mean what you say!" the other shrieked. "You would not be so selfish. I am your responsibility. What could be so important that you would let someone die? Do not do this to me!"

He waited a moment. There was not change in the tension of the rope.

"I accept your choice," he said, at last, and freed his hands.

- Edwin H. Friedman

now don't be alarmed

But im writing this blog from my iphone. Dave and i have been sitting in my room for almost an hour not talking at all and playing with our new iphones. To all the people who say that they dont need an iphone can go to hell straight to fucking hell. There isnt anything you cant do on here. Its been out long enoghthat people have figured out ways around everything. This is the most amazing new toy ive ever gotten.

More to come later. If i ever make it away from my iphone.

Love chris

So long Cary...

So tomorrow or rather today or actually maybe not today cause the clocks move back an hour...I move officially to Chicago. A lot of shit has happened since I've really wrote any sort of blog entry. Importantly I got a job at the Apple Store in Oakbrook. Yeah it's not totally opportune because that means I have to bring my car to the city with me, but since I'm still paying for it I mine as well use it right? Right. Anyway, umm yeah they apple store totally kicks ass, but unfortunately I'm bound by contract not to talk about it, but lets just say it's awesome, with really awesome people and thats about it. And probably Monday I'll be ordering mine and Dave's iPhones.

So since I've got a job I decided it would be a good time to finally move to the city, so josh, dave, and I are moving all my shit tomorrow in my mom's van.

Moving is really weird. It's weird packing up all my stuff and the not living at home anymore. I wouldn't say like "safety" is going, but it's definitely a sense of security that I'm leaving. Everyone has to leave and branch out sometime thats just life and I'm really excited to start this new life. New job. New place to live. Going to school and a band that actually has a real chance of making it someday. I'm really excited to start this new adventure. I'm nervous to leave this comfortability of going to Cody's after work and school and coming home to my room with my family, but thats how it is and i can't live at home for the rest of my life.

I'm proud to say that in just 3 short weeks i turn 21. Another weird event in my life. It suprised the shit out of me that i got to live 2 decades, but here's another year to add to the books only this time you get to drink while adding it. Its gonna be another odd transition for me because for so long i haven't been able to do things like go to bars. When we used to play shows and stuff at bars i either had to wear a wrist band, got thrown out after the show or had to sit in the car with the windows rolled up. So it will be awesome to break down that barrier especially while living in the city. i'm excited.

I don't know it's going to be an adventure that i look forward to making that huge step of not living with my parents anymore it's going to be an awesome freedom. And plus i've been wanting to move to this city since i moved out to cary. i used to go to shows and say how awesome it would be to live in the city and be so close to venues and be in a band. And now i live like a couple blocks from metro and aragon and vic and riv it's awesome i'm super stoked.

I'm gonna miss everyone that i'm not going to see on an everyday basis like i used to like cody and carly and my brother and my parents and my lil sis, but it's time for me to grow up and break free.

Anywho i have to go to sleep to get up finish packing and do the whole 9 yards tomorrow.

Thats all take care.

Chris

A7th Circle of ShitX

Yesterday while I was doing homework I got distracted by downloading and watching the sweet necture of music flowing through my computer. I downloaded Saves The Days newest record (the new one comes out next week), The Gym Class Heroes record that came out in July called "As Cruel as School Children), and finally the very anticipated Avenged Sevenfold self titled record. Ok lets take a trip down memory lane...

Sounding the Seventh Trumpet:Was an awesome harder record by A7X. This record had a lot of awesome licks and lead lines, despite the quailty of the recording being a little off it was still a pretty decent record.

Waking the Fallen: Then we move into the medal winner of A7X's repertoire. This was probably one of the first hard records that i really got into. The guitar parts were memorable and the lyrics were epic, basically everything you expected from the cover of the record, which is it their infamous skull with wings. I really can't say enough about how awesome this record was. It will forever be a corner stone in my rock and roll foundation.

City of Evil: Supposively M. Shadows destroyed his vocal chords and thats why there is more singing on this record. The this record was released and someone said, "Wow A7x is really starting to encompass Guns'n'Roses version of rock and roll." I think that went to much to their head. This record was actually pretty good it's sad to say, but it kind of is. There are is everything that you want in a record here. I'll admit after listening to waking the fallen for so long and then i heard the single "Beast and the Harlot" i was like WHAT THE FUCK?! but i'll give this record a good listen to every once and a while when i want to hear awesome guitar licks...thank you sinister.

S/T: Come the fuck on! I heard that they were coming out with a new record, but didn't pursue it much and then one day i was on the myspace music video pages, like i do, and saw their video for "Almost Easy." I watched the video and i couldn't belief how much the song really blew, which i gave them the benefit of the doubt sometimes labels choose an awful song for the bands single. Well after giving the whole album an honest chance...Fuck me it blows so much. The first track, which to me can be on of the most important on the record, was an open d chord for most of the song except for some wailing from sinister, then shadows gives a speech about patriotism twice. The songs are horribly written with bullshit for memorable parts.

So i laugh as josh said to those kids that got A7X tattoos and plead with the band just fucking stop....fucking stop.

On the train tonight I finally got all the way through the Postal Service record Give Up. I know, I know a lot of people adore this record and people have giving me the "What?! You haven't listened to it yet?" As if it were this epic piece of work that everyone that has ever had a sad thought should listen to. I honestly think you feel melancholy when you listen to it because the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie always looks like he's trying to pass some heartbreak that he will never actually shit out. I haven't really taken a good deep look at the lyrics, but I always do appreciate some out of ordinary lyrics. I remember him saying something about the guy who killed JFK, which by no means should be poetic, but he certainly makes you feel like it is.

I can say i definitely like the album and maybe its appeal is also what i have to criticize about it. I like the electronics of if it. I think which ever one of the two guys did it, did an awesome job with the music for the most part and in many ways inspired me. I hope that my many hours spent on this monotonous god forsaken steal bullet back to the suburbs will help me write some cool electronic stuff. My main problem with it in many cases (if not all the tracks) the drums sound to much and unnecessary. Although, I do understand that electronica is focused mainly with the beat and rhythm, i think at times it detracts away from the awesome song writing. You could argue that its part of its attraction, i suppose, but arguing the opposite seems much more fun. For example, "This Place is a Prison" the drums sound perfectly planed, despite the rhythm being a stray from the straight beat it makes it all the more appealing. On some tracks it's like a fast awkward hand-job that you just can't make feel good.

Radio Nowhere?

So here's the story:
Bored on a Saturday afternoon, looking for something to do, I make my usual rounds of the myspace music and music videos pages to see if I can find something to spark my interest and much to my dismay I found that Bruce Springsteen had taken over all of the music pages. Now yesterday I was in Borders and saw that his new album was released, evidentally Tuesday, so I decide that well if he has a new record out lets watch the music video for his single "Radio Nowhere" and just then the weirdest thing in the ENTIRE WORLD happened...I liked it. Now I'm not saying I hate Bruce Springsteen because I don't. I realize that he's a mover and shaker amoungst the rock and roll scene; I just never got into him. When I worked at Borders we would play the Segger Sessions from time to time and I have to say I loved that CD. I just assumed it was because Pete Seggers was a incredible songwriter and Bruce Springsteen had a big enough band where they could just insessantly add more instuments and make it sound cool. So here I am now downloading Bruce Springsteens new album Magic. There will probably be an update to let no one at all know what I think of it.

Speaking of updates, coming soon the review of Jimmy Eat World's new record Chase the Light. More on that when it actually happens.

New Records In October...

A Wilhelm Scream-Career Suicide- October 9th
Jimmy Eat World-Chase This Light-October 16th
Thrice- Alchemy Index:Fire and Water- October 16th
Coheed and Cambria-No World for Tomorrow-October 23rd
Serj Tankian-Elect the Dead-October 23rd
Saves the Day-Under The Boards-October 30th
Avenged Sevenfold-Selftitled-October 30th
Taking Back Sunday-Notes from the Past-October 30th
The Color Fred-Bend to Break October 30th

Shhh Secrets.

So I decided that I have a lot of down time on my hands while I wait in between my classes on Tuesdays. So, as a combatant to my bordum I decided to make a "music blog-ish type thing." We'll see how well it works out and how long I actually stayed dedicated to it. Basically I'm going to have reviews and recommendations here. Hopefully this will stem some of my needs to write and listen to music all in once. We'll see if this works. I really don't plan on telling anyone about it. Shh secrets, secrets are lots fun especially when you don't share them with anyone.
Well hope to see no one read this at all.

Love,
Chris