Haus' iPod Touch - Revisited

It's been a little while since I've written at all, and I haven't written about what I'm listening to since May 2010, so I thought I'd give you all another taste of what flows into my ears on any given day. You'll notice that I'm listening to a lot of upbeat music, and to a lot of the same artists. This is in large part to a newer workout routine, but also because I just haven't written in so long and there's a lot of good stuff I've listening to lately. I've added a few links this time...they're all YouTube links to either the music itself or to a related video.

Broken Hymns - Dropkick Murphys
I've grown attached to cool banjo riffs lately. This song starts with one, and it continues throughout the song. But...then you listen to the lyrics and comprehend the story, and it can't help but reach out to the heartstrings.

Snake Charmer - Blink 182
Blink's first album in 6 years, and I get hooked onto the song in the middle of the album...the one that will probably never become the hit single or have a video made for it. But, it's the one that I like, and that's really what matters anyway.

The song is about Adam's going "in search of the great unknown"...women.

You are a hero and survivor
Your eyes are getting tired
There's claw marks up your spine
It happens all the time
The silent, evil daughters
Like sirens on the water
You've been the perfect crime
It happens all the time.

Hit the Ground and Run - Great Big Sea
Em and I saw these guys back in March at the Rialto here in Tucson. They performed this song, and it was even better live than it was on the album. It was good on the album...don't get me wrong. The song revolves around a shotgun wedding, and instead of the woman running from the alter, it's about the guy running from the shotgun (and the alter). Kinda different, but it's a combination of a story of the concept of the shotgun wedding and the fact that the groom has an IQ that you could count on one hand. Anyway, it's funny.

Rattle and Roll - Street Dogs
I should point out one thing real quick. The lead singer of Street Dogs (Mike McColgan) is the former frontman for Dropkick Murphys, so I've listened to his music for a while.

Anyway, this is a good upbeat punk song...good in a workout mix. It's a little fast to really understand many of the lyrics, if you're not used to the pace of punk music, but it's all about his hometown (in case you wanted to know).

Climbing a Chair to Bed - Dropkick Murphys
What are you afraid of in life?

Are you too afraid of living to make a man's mistakes?
Too afraid of dying 'cause you fear what lies in wait?
Too sad to see the truth, never knowing what it takes?
Are you too afraid of dying 'cause you fear what lies in wait?

Machine Gun Blues - Social Distortion
I like songs that tell a story. This is one of them. And, even better, it's an old-timey gangster story. This song is about a man who realizes that he's beyond saving but is addicted to his life as a gangster. The driving beat and guitar work help carry the story throughout the song. The video was a mini-movie, and was well done (in my opinion). This is also in the workout mix nowadays.

Make You Smile - +44
I like duets. They're fun to listen to, and just imagine two people having a musical conversation. (Him/Her)

The first time I saw you, you turned away/I couldn't see with the smoke getting in my eyes
I said hello, but you kept on walking/I'm going deaf from the sound of the DJ
The first time I saw you, you turned away/ I couldn't hear with the noise ringing in my ears
Do you remember where we used to sleep at night/ I couldn't feel you, you're always so far away

Road Zombie - Social Distortion
There are no words to this song. It's basically a 2:21 guitar solo. But it keeps the blood pumping, and it's hard to not get amped when hearing it. If you have a workout mix that you use, consider this my recommendation when you are looking to add a new song. If you have a guitar, it's fun to play, too (you can find the tab at Ultimate Guitar Tabs Archive).

Wild Mountain Thyme (Live) - The Real McKenzies
Old Irish folk songs are always fun. When they're sung by drunken Scotsmen, they're even better.

Fighter - Street Dogs
A tribute to an old friend...in an upbeat kinda way:

This an ode to a man who spent his whole life in the fight
Never getting counted out at all or ducking from our sight
Our eulogy for him is clear, we know just what to say
Kenny Walls, he was a fighter, right up to his passing day

The Galway Girl - Steve Earle
From time to time, you have to break up all of the upbeat, rock music with something lively, but less harsh.

Going Out In Style - Dropkick Murphys
Think for a moment what it would be like to throw your own wake...what kind of event would you want that to be? This song is written from the perspective of someone who does just that.

I've seen a lot of sights and traveled many miles. Shook a thousand hands and seen my share of smiles.
I've caused some great concerns and told one too many lies. And now I see the world through the sad, old jaded eyes.
So what if I threw a party and all my friends were there? Acquaintances, relatives, the girls who never cared?
You'll have a host of rowdy hooligans and a big line at the door. Side by side with Sister Barbara, Chief Wells, and Bobby Orr.
I'd invite the Flanigans who replaced the window you smashed out. I'd apologize to Sluggo for [urinating] on his couch.
I'll see Mrs. McGollock and so many others soon. I'll say I'm sorry for what I did, sleepwalking in her room.

I can't imagine how cool it would be to actually plan my own funeral festivities, but this guy had the idea that his wake would be a pretty rowdy party. The video has cameos from a number of people who are relevant in Boston (Lenny Clarke, Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton, Kevin Youkilis, and the great Bobby Orr). Despite the lyrics, Van Morrison does not appear in the video.

Thus Sayeth Your Haus

The Culinary Creativity at the Sperlein's

I like to eat. Most of you who actually know me (there could be some loyal reader out there who's never actually met me...you never know) probably have no problem believing that. What many may not know is that I also like to cook. Now, yes, I will stick with safe, tried and true recipes from your large, in-every-kitchen cookbook, but I will branch out from time to time.

I've decided to share a few of my culinary explorations and give you all another avenue into my deeply twisted mind. Where possible, I'll also share a link, in case you either want to make it yourself or if you want to know what websites to block on your computers so your spouses never see these creations and get the idea to attempt them themselves (or ask you to attempt them, if they are tragically inept in the kitchen).

I'm getting hungry already!

Death Star Meatball (yes...eating this entire meatball will kill you):

I was turned on to Epic Meal Time by my brother-in-law a couple thanksgivings ago, and I've been hooked ever since. I made a scaled down version of this for us once, but decided to make a larger version for the missionaries another time. Here's how it looked:
As the video shows, this is a meatball stuffed with tortellini and meat sauce, covered in sauce and cheese, and placed on top of garlic bread. This one happens to be about 2 pounds of meat, and it fed 4 people with plenty of food left over, plus some pasta left over as well. Epic!

Christmas Beef Wellington:

My parents came to visit us for Christmas this year. As such, we decided to pull out the good china and have a nice, formal dinner on Christmas Eve. The main dish? A Christmas Beef Wellington. Also, not beyond the ability of a person to make, but it definitely takes time and patience. My biggest challenge has always been getting the meat to be properly cooked without over-browning the pastry.

Bacon Explosion

This recipe is definitely a 'man' dish. It's ground sausage rolled up with bacon pieces, BBQ sauce, and dry rub, covered in dry rub, and wrapped in a bacon weave, then cooked slowly for a few hours (they recommend smoking it, but there's also a baking option for those of us without smokers [yet]), covered in more BBQ sauce and dry rub.

The permission to make this meat monstrosity was part of my birthday present from Em. Now, I should note that this dish is not a good idea for those who are trying to lose weight, keep a figure, or who are two french fries from keeling over from a massive heart attack. But, it tasted soooooo good.

Thus Sayeth Your Haus