A Summerteeth Blog

I LOVE SUMMER.
I also love the 1999 Wilco album Summerteeth.  What does that even mean? "Summer-teeth"?
Summerteeth captures all the joys and fears of growing up; a 55-minute taste of summer according to men in their 30's (probably going through a mid-life crisis). Musically it's an alternative rock album, or perhaps experimental pop. The songs are catchy. The instruments are layered. The lyrics go back-and-forth between generic relationship phrases and beatnik poetry. The sounds often transition from The Eagles to Spiritualized. Tracks like "ELT" or "I'm Always In Love" come off as totally normal. The noise/strings samples on songs like "Via Chicago" or "She's A Jar" only come once in a lifetime. And what the heck is on the album cover? Is that the moon with lips? A desk in the background?

It's a world where a married man dreams of suicide every summer and is frightened of his own front yard. He's afraid of aging and is trying to re-fuel his romantic youth. He's a man who wants to get his relationships right if he could just surpass his mental illnesses. His relationship with his wife, his friends, his family, even God. The album opener says "Our prayers will never be answered again" and the closer says "Let's turn our prayers to outrageous dares." There are moments where he stares at his dishes and thinks about cinematic murder scenes.
As depressing as this all sounds, this is actually a happy album. All these themes are merely poked-at and the music is more often joyful than not. Without the story line, this could just pass as an over-produced set of pop songs. Either way, it's enjoyable. It reminds me of summer. This could possibly just be because I bought it in June 2013. But really- it's hard to say what it is- but this sounds like summer. In front of the laptop-created sounds, you get Jay Bennett's Tom Petty-esque guitars and Jeff Tweedy's sincere, cigarette-abused voice.
I've given Yankee Hotel Foxtrot countless lines of press in my day, but I gotta show some love for Summerteeth. I LOVE SUMMER. Sometimes we get caught up in our worries-- not being who we used to be, failing in the future, always being in love, thinking some girl doesn't love you-- summer bites. But perhaps all you need is one happy song. Or "maybe all you need is a shot in the arm."

A FRIEND OF MINE JUST INFORMED ME THAT THE TERM "SUMMERTEETH" IS A JOKE THAT RIVER GUIDES USE. IF YOU'RE RAFTING AND A PADDLE HITS YOUR MOUTH, SUMMER-YER-TEETH ARE GONNA FALL OUT AND SUMMER-YER-TEETH WILL STAY IN YOUR IN THE BOAT."

"It's all beginning...It feels like it's ending."

The Redfish Trilogy

Tomorrow I will be moving to Stanley, ID for the summer to work at Redfish Lake Lodge.
I worked there in 2009.
I worked there in 2012.
I will be working there in 2015.
Apparently I wind up at Redfish every 3 years. Each time for a different reason. And it's a different story every time. As I've done some recent packing, my room suddenly smells like pine and my window is getting fogged with mountain mist. I'm excited for my 3rd ride at Redfish Lake. Perhaps it will be my last.
I feel like the 3-year gaps work as chapter headings for my life. As for now, we're calling this experience:

The Redfish Trilogy

2009
I just graduated high school a week before I started work as a dishwasher. I had never been before and didn't know what to expect. I was super quiet for the first 3 weeks. I started progressively making friends and it was easily one of the most fun summers of my life. I hiked on my days off. I was young. I saw a baby bear once. (frightening) I stood on this rope swing that takes you +/- 30 ft in the air. (also frightening) I remember burning CDs from crazy kitchen workers Dylan (Animal Collective + Leonard Cohen) and Tony (Sufjan Stevens). I began to love my job, which is funny, because most people hate dishwashing. The experience was refreshing and hard to forget. I have fond memories of the people I befriended that summer.

Myself, Enjoying The Beloved Stanley Rope Swing (R.I.P)

2012
I got back from my LDS mission in April 2012. I don't remember having much fun. 
Let me explain: I was going through a rough time. Stress issues; clinical issues. I really tried hard to feel the same things I felt 3 years prior. Summer of 2012, I learned to never do this. I couldn't connect the way I used to. I felt (and probably was) socially awkward. I was at Redfish, so of course I did plenty of fun things, but what I remember most was that I was going through a rough time. 

Baron Divide

2015
I've lived in Logan, UT for nearly 3 years since the last time I worked at Redfish. I've learned a lot. After this summer, I will have spent more summers than in Jerome, Logan or British Columbia. I plan on getting jobs that reflect my stage management major in the future. I feel like I need the Redfish experience... ONE. MORE. TIME. (at least)

You see, I'm a different guy now. Not only different from 2012, but different from 2009. I should not glorify nor debase any era of my past. I learn something new about myself every day. I have 0 expectations for Redfish 2015, but this time, I'm coming there to serve. I've learned (quite recently) to not come into things with any dose of ungratefulness. I ought to be happy where I am. Wherever I am. 
If anything, I plan on making this the most positive summer of my life.

Logan Turns Boys Into Men

The Greatest Bald Albums of All Time

Whenever I visit home, my mom makes fun of my receding hairline. Nobody in Logan ever brings it up. Just her. But what's sad is that I know she's right. It's no secret to me that my hair doesn't exactly get as "long" when I grow it out. It just starts higher. But that doesn't mean I can't rock!
Some of my favorite artists were going bald when their music reached its prime. So here are the greatest albums ever made by bald people.

The "Almost Bald" Honorable Mentions List

#9 90s ALBUMS by Anthrax (Scott Ian Rosenfeld)
He's totally bald now and says funny stuff on VH1 lists.
#8 2000s ALBUMS by Metallica (Kirk Hammett)
Kirk has reportedly uses Minoxidil for hair loss these days. Metallica was better when he had real hair.
#7 Californication Red Hot Chili Peppers (Flea)
Flea has been 95% bald since the mid-90s but has yet to go all the way.
#6 Bossanova The Pixies (David Lovering, Frank Black and Joey Santiago)
All male band members are completely bald now. In case this 1990 photo wasn't oracular enough.

Will Oldham, 2009

#5 The Marshall Mathers LP Eminem
As a kid, I used to think Eminem just really liked getting buzz cuts.
#4 I See a Darkness Bonnie 'Prince' Billie (Will Oldham)
These days he's gloriously rockin' the Friar Tuck + beard!
#3 EVERY ALBUM by Built to Spill (Doug Martsch)
There's basically 0 photographic evidence of 90s Built to Spill, but Doug had to get to where he is today somehow.
#2 Another Green World Brian Eno
He's produced some of the Eternally Great albums ever as a bald man. But he should have shaved his hair off sooner. Oh heavens.

Eno looking more discomforting than his music.

                                                

#1 EVERY ALBUM BY NICK CAVE

"Never never never give up." -Winston Churchill

A Brief Tribute to Underrated Bald Drummers in Popular British Bands

#2 Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay (Will Champion)
Even more reason to convince people Coldplay rips off Radiohead.
#1 EVERY ALBUM BY RADIOHEAD (Phil Selway)
He's been bald for every Radiohead album. Love his work on "Airbag" and "Optimistic." And in case this got you thinking, no, he's not the guy on the cover of The Bends.

Greatest Bald Albums of All Time
*Disclaimer: I decided to not include any African American artists to this list when I realized that +/- 50% of black artists I listen to are either bald or balding. The addition of each individual member of Wu-Tang Clan alone would make this post extremely long. In the music industry, there's some hidden societal role for white men to have long, perfect hair. These guys break the mold. They're new-found musical heroes for future-bald men like myself. 

#12 Surfing with the Alien Joe Satriani
Great guitarist. Looks good in sunglasses.
#11 I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got Sinead O'Connor
(no comment)
#10 Face Value Phil Collins
Never listened to the album (I hate this guy), but it gave us this:

#9 Achtung Baby U2 (The Edge)
This would ranked higher, but I can't tell whether The Edge was bald or not. Close enough.
#8 Teenager of the Year Frank Black
Album cover = #1

#7 Play Moby
Gotta love "Porcelain." And he made a shamelessly bald album cover to boot!

Billy Corgan attempts weirdness

#6 Before and After Science Brian Eno
I think there's a patch of hair above his ear on the album cover! Can't tell...
#5 Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine
(Tom Morello) Yes, this is why Tom Morello always wears a hat.
#4 Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Smashing Pumpkins (Billy Corgan)
Billy wasn't bald for Siamese Dream, so I had to rank their other great album. Also, I think Billy believes his baldness amplifies his "weird" persona.Well... this, among other things...
#3 Minor Threat Minor Threat (Ian Mackaye)
Everything about this is hardcore:

Ian

#2(a, b, c) ALBUMS by Fugazi (Ian Mackaye)
Nobody rocked baldness like Ian. Red Medicine is my favorite Fugazi album, but I couldn't just leave my other faves hanging.
2a: Red Medicine
2b: Repeater
2c: The Argument

#1 Automatic for the People R.E.M. (Michael Stipe)

R.E.M. was hot by the late 80s, launching from underground success to radio stardom. They had been making an album every year, but took a 3-year hiatus. When they returned, Stipe had a Friar Tuck hairdo. Made this beautiful album in 1992. And somehow, Stipe looked 10X cooler.

Not bald? Close enough.