DesMob

Check it: 8/7 Central is at it again.

A neat tool for artists in DSM: DesMob.

Modeled after Portland's own artist hub, it's a way for artists to connect with each other and community - who's site is currently down because of over-trafficking.

Anyways, Immediate uses I see:

- Gives me a face to a name

- Connects me directly to each artist's website, portfolio, and twitter

Things that could be sweet:

- Networking events

- A way to feature projects that artists work on together specifically because of DesMob

I am interested to see how this works out. Hopefully, we are able to use this for more than just learning what other artists in DSM look like.

Lyric Arrangements

A new song I've been working on:

Modern Voice (working title...)

On a dark street, the city ends,

And I push down signs ‘cause they’re all pretend.

some believe they’re true.

Gave up plastic, looked for a trend

But we all gotta trade, we're all gonna spend,

It's shattered in two

What's been broken into

Hostages that we take in

Tied up our habits, they’re growing thin

D

o you know what to do?

W

e’ve all got answers, but it just depends

W

hat they make of you, what you make of them

Are they coming to you

?

A

re they coming for you?

Now, they're stealing words from the common man.

Clumped up herds for the affluent.

What is this coming to?

They read from scripts into a lens

When they're calling out, are they calling you in

Is this getting to you?

Is this getting through?

It doesn’t matter how you take the streets

W

hen the streets aren’t the place to be

Anymore.

Music of 2010

Finally, for those interested, I have gathered my top albums from 2010:

1. Delta Spirit, "History from Below" & "The Waits Room Ep"

2. Ra Ra Riot, "The Orchard"

3. Nathaniel Rateliff, "In Memory of Loss"

4. J. Tillman, "Year in the Kingdom"

5. Sufjan Stevens, "Age of Adz" & "All Delighted People Ep"

6. Cold War Kids, "Behave Yourself Ep" (ps. they're releasing a new album soon!)

7. Dr. Dog, "Shame, Shame"

8. The Arcade Fire, "The Suburbs"

9. Damien Jurado, "Saint Bartlett"

10. Dawes, "North Hills" (I know it was 2009, but I came across it this year...)

11. Local Natives, "Gorilla Manor" (my top album)

12. Broken Bells, "Broken Bells"

13. Theodore, "Hold You Like a Lover"

14. Yeasayer, "Odd Blood"

15. Freelance Whales, "Weathervanes"

Albums I wish I would have listened to more:

1. The National, "High Violet"

2. Broken Social Scene, Forgiveness Rock Record"

3. Jonsi, "Go"

4. The Black Keys, "Brothers"

5. Deerhunter, "Halcyon Digest"

6. Deer Tick, "The Black Dirt Sessions"

7. Ray LaMontagne, "God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise"

Looking forward to:

1. Cold War Kids

2. Bright Eyes

3. The River Monks

4. Fleet Foxes

Question of the day

Why did I write a book during the recession?

It required innovation.

It was something purposeful to do.

The people I met have become friends and mentors.

It was an opportunity to give something back.

We are a generation that was set up to think we'd have it all. When that was no longer the case, I set out to figure out what I wanted to do and trust I could do it with the help of my friends and family.

Check out this article. It really gets to the point of it all.