Roughnecks.

Made some new friends over the weekend in Chattanooga. Decided to drive just outside to Lookout Mountain, GA where my new friends and I hiked the Lula Lake Land Trust (quite a mouthful). About a mile in, we climbed down a steep slope and stood 50 feet away from a giant waterfall. There was slippery rock beneath us leading up to where the water touched down and had I had different shoes, I would have gotten much, much closer. After we got back in town (Chattanooga), we stopped for some Barbeque, and then took a tour of UTC before I left to go home. On the way back however, I had to pull over into a Burger
King and nap for an hour, as I was falling asleep at the wheel.

A few music notes:

Kidz in the Hall just dropped a new video for "Drivin' Down the Block." Heard about this over at Panda Toes. Like the track, love the video. Take a look.



And as long as we're talking about ridiculous videos that are also decent songs, here is a track from the Pack called "In My Car." It's been around for about a year now, but I still love every minute of it.



Also from the Pack, "Vans" is a fantastic video and an even better song. Youtube disabled embedding, but you can find it here. Treat your eyes and ears to this video. You won't be disappointed.

Next is just a track I can't get enough of. It's been around the blogosphere and remixed so many times, it should be illegal. To top it off, it's only been around for a month or two. This goes out to my favorite rapper, Lil' Wayne. You make candy-coated beats that send a room full of uncoordinated white kids into a frenzy faster than a sale on New Balance shoes, which apparently we all like. Not going to lie though, I own a pair.



Gonna leave you with a video for a track that has kept me nodding my head for years now. Straight from Biggie Smallz:



**Bonus: Ratatat remix - here.

Where's your head at?

It's Friday aka our last day of classes (ever) and that means only one thing. We will be drinking lots and lots of water. **If an Employer ever finds this, you can't prove anything. I meant water.

I'll let my friends Hadouken! explain what will probably take place tonight like only they can. You'll see what I mean when you take a listen.

P.S. This music makes me physically go crazy.

Hadouken! - "Get Smashed Gate Crash"

I wish to God I could post the rest of their new cd, but I'm not much for lawsuits. Please though, do yourself a favor and click on this and check out the 30 second clip of "Crank It Up". You won't be disappointed.

Your favorite band you haven't heard of yet.

If you've been out all night drinking, and you need something to bring you down lightly from that buzz, whether it be from the people you were with or what you decided to drink, The Weepies have exactly what you need. From small indie folk-pop to one of the most-downloaded folk albums ever, they will not disappoint. Below are steps to fully enjoy
The Weepies:

Step 1. Go out with friends.

Step 2. Come back around two a.m.

Step 3. Settle in, download these songs and relax. Let the Weepies take you away.

The Weepies - “All That I Want”
The Weepies -"Gotta Have You"
The Weepies - "Little Bird"
The Weepies - "Can't Go Back Now"

Create. Burn. Recreate.

I spent most of the day dealing with an auto accident that wasn't my fault, but the way Tennessee law fell, it was. At first I was furious, but then I realized that if something like that happened, it happened for reasons I'll never understand. Through the accident, I met a woman who was both sweet and reserved, an interior decorator as it happens, newly graduated from Alabama and recent adopter of a ten-month-old baby boy. As I said, I have no idea why her car was supposed to collide with mine, but I bet something amazing will come out of it. I've got my fingers crossed anyway.

On another note, Lily Allen is a guilty pleasure. I don't care how you feel about her, no one can deny her talent and charm. With that, I present two new demos circulating around the blogosphere. Allen, if you're reading this, you create songs that feel warm and inviting like a group of friends around a fire in late December. Thank you.

Lily Allen - I Could Say
Lily Allen- I Don't Know

Close your eyes.

I got this today and I feel like I should keep it a secret. I've been listening to it on repeat for awhile, picking at bits and pieces of its heavy whispers and even heavier lyrics. This is a song you know, about a moment you've lived a hundred times. You'll see what I mean soon enough.

Courtesy of one of the greatest music blogs I've ever read, Said the Gramophone. You guys rock.

Aimee Mann - "Little Tornado"

Two in one.

Good things always come in twos.

http://bball3.muxtape.com/

New Muxtape!

It is well known that I am a huge supporter of digital mixtapes and as I listen to more than 200 new bands a day, I thought I'd start sharing. Below is a mix of the songs I've been discovering this month, minus the Iron & Wine song. I included that because it is awesome, and I heard it again for the first time in years at Stir Fry Cafe on Tuesday. Hope you like it!

http://bball2.muxtape.com/

Yeah, it's that big a deal.

Above is a signed copy of a Mute Math cd. That is the greatest thing I have ever randomly found in my room after forgetting about it.

Three things.

1. Muxtape is the greatest digital invention ever. If you haven't made one yet, you need to.

2. Chromeo is just amazing. Seriously, do yourself a favorite and check them out!

3. I WAS JUST NOMINATED FOR AN INTERNSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN CONSULATE IN FREAKING MILAN!!!!!!!!

Now that I've lost it, this isn't the actual job. Apparently in Government, you get placed on a huge list, then they place you on a big list, then a small, and then a final. I'm now on the final list. If they offer me an actual position, I will sell everything I own (except my ipod, laptop and camera), including my clothes to get over there. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Shameless Plug.

I just want to plug these guys as they are certifiably badass. If you like Girl Talk and Gregg Gillis, you'll love Car Stereo (Wars).

http://www.myspace.com/carstereowars

Fo Sho.

Big things have been happening here in Knoxville. We just finished yet another Journalism conference for TNJN, and I must say it went well. I took the pictures for the conference again, and Steve Klein, George Mason's E-Journalism Coordinator said my style of photography reminded him of a White House press photographer. Interesting. It's no secret I love to get up right in people's faces with my camera, which I did throughout the conference. A lot. It paid off though, as Kelly Hunt, the JEM website editor wanted my photos for the site (Thanks Kelly!), and one was published in The Daily Beacon, our on-campus old school newspaper.

On another note, we just finished Eyes On LaFollette, a weekend long journalism project. For all intensive purposes, our teacher dropped us into small town LaFollette, TN with our cameras and audio recorders with the sole mission of creating a story from scratch. I stumbled upon Matt Mitchell, one of the coolest 19 year old dairy farmers I've ever met. Here's the catch. Not only is he the only dairy farmer I've ever met, he owns his own massive farm, complete with eighteen 2000-pound show cows. Landed a full page in the paper and a front page photo.

Pictures coming soon, or you could just facebook me.

Also, new Dizzee Rascal track (zshare), courtesy of one of my favorite music blogs Panda Toes. Love those guys.

Yeah Buddy!

Blind Date Beer Goggles from Brandon Ball on Vimeo.

Rock It Out.

I love music and that's no secret. What I love more than music, is sharing it. When people get excited over a mixtape you made, it might be the greatest feeling in the world, second only (I can imagine) to someone freaking out over something you wrote. If I ever met Leslie Feist, I would lose it. True Story. Anyway,

http://bball.muxtape.com/

If you enjoy it, please give me a shout and say so!