Oddball Update – Page 17 – Chief Oddball writes about tech, games, cars and family life

SHO-CO-REVIEW 15: Sweet Serenity

May 21, 2010November 4, 2011 Pooch

Released September 10, 2008, Sweet Serenity was Shoko Suzuki’s 20th anniversary album. Also, for the first time since Love, painful love in 2000, Shoko released an album distributed by a major record label — Sony Music Direct, a subsidiary of Sony (with whom Shoko began her career under), released the record as (presumably) part of a one-off deal (seeing as how every Shoko release since then has been an indies release).

Texas Bound and Flyin’

May 16, 2010May 16, 2010 Chief Oddball

Although it was a horrendous and depressing movie, Smokey and the Bandit II is notable for its theme song: “Texas Bound and Flyin’,” performed by the Snowman himself, the late Jerry Reed. Although it was little more than an attempt by Reed to capture lightning in a bottle for the second time (it’s practically the same song as his hit “East Bound and Down” from the first film), it’s still a fun song — and is entirely apropos, I find, for what may become the next chapter of my life.

SHO-CO-REVIEW 14: Suzuki Syoko

May 4, 2010October 7, 2011 Pooch

Shoko Suzuki’s self-titled album, released on January 25, 2006, was her first studio album in over five years (Love, painful love was released in September 2000), and her first studio album as an indies artist. The music within is often a bit more abstract than what she had released in the past, perhaps owing in part to her association with the experimental rock band (and then-labelmates) ROVO, which is lead by former Boredoms guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto (Yamamoto doesn’t appear on this album, but he does show up on Shoko’s next album).

SHO-CO-REVIEW 13: I Was There, I’m Here

April 27, 2010September 29, 2011 Pooch

After a break of almost exactly three years since her last record (Love, painful love), I Was There, I’m Here was released on September 21, 2003. It was Shoko’s first live album, and her first record released as an indies (non-major label) artist — this and several of her following releases would come through indie label Wonderground Music.

Not Just Intarweb Kerfluffle After All

April 25, 2010April 25, 2010 Chief Oddball 6 Comments

In the end, I’m glad I sorted out that Facebook thing. For the most part, I thought of Facebook as the home of countless teenagers with nothing constructive to do. I wasn’t sure that I wanted to get sucked into the whole thing, because it was just one more distraction to keep me from doing more constructive and creative things.

SHO-CO-REVIEW 12: Love, painful love

April 20, 2010October 7, 2011 Pooch

Original released on September 27, 2000 (held back from an originally announced release date of August 23), Love, painful love was Shoko Suzuki’s first entirely self-produced album, and also her last original album recorded under her contract with Warner Music Japan — and also, her final album as an artist tied to a major label.

Life Turns Its Tables

April 15, 2010April 15, 2010 Chief Oddball 3 Comments

It’s kind of mystifying how life can stand you on your ear in a split second, isn’t it? Last month I got a call from my boss asking if I would be willing to take an “all expenses paid” trip to Orlando to help him shop for a new house.

SHO-CO-REVIEW 11: Atarashii Ai no Uta

April 13, 2010October 7, 2011 Pooch

Atarashii Ai no Uta, released December 10, 1999, saw Shoko reunite with Yoshiyuki Sahashi, her original producer (and with whom she hadn’t worked in any capacity since RadioGenic in 1993). After the retro ’60s rock style of her previous three albums (all of which were co-produced with Hiroaki Sugawara), Atarashii Ai no Uta would see Shoko embrace more of an ’80s-style of pop/rock music, something along the lines of music she began her career singing (albeit with more of a rock edge).

Chief Oddball to Experiment with Other Airlines

April 6, 2010October 7, 2011 Chief Oddball 2 Comments

As I went out for my after-lunch walk to the post office, the ABC Radio News update at the top of the hour informed me that Spirit Airlines, usually my airline of choice, was going to start charging a fee for carry-on bags.

Facebook Frak-Up

March 27, 2010September 21, 2011 Chief Oddball 5 Comments

At times I have felt like the last person on Earth who does not have a Facebook account. Not long ago I learned that both of my parents have their own Facebook profiles, and my wife recently signed up for one at the request of a friend.