Stale Book Review #38: Idea Man

Idea Man by Paul Allen

Cost: $4.99US

Page Count: 358

Paul Allen has done so much in his lifetime.  Philanthropy, the Experience Music Project, Vulcan, space travel initiatives, the Brain Institute, and has owned the Seahawks and the Trailblazers.  It really has been a magnificent ride for the man.  Paul Allen has been able to achieve so many things because of one thing:  his relationship with a fellow named Bill Gates.  Gates and Allen got rich as balls together.  Money gives you so much freedom to explore.

You see, back in the day, there was no operating system that resembles what you are reading this blog on.  User interface?  Fuck that.  Computers were for programmers; for nerds.  Paul Allen and Bill Gates changed all that with their fledgling company, MicroSoft.  Maybe you've heard of it?  I thought so.

Like any autobiography, or biography in general, Idea Man goes all the way back to Paul Allen's childhood.  The Allen family were not broke asses but weren't the same as the well heeled Gates family.  Anyway, what I found the most interesting is that Paul's folks always supported what he wanted to explore.  That, to me, is what is the most fascinating aspect of Mr. Allen:  He is ALWAYS willing to explore what moves him.  To me, that is super-rad.

Back to the story.  Paul meets Bill very early on and, even though Paul is older, the two strike up a friendship that will last quite a while.  The two have a love of technology, yes.  But, what is striking is their differences.  Bill Gates is analytical and a wicked talented programmer.  Paul is the big thinker;  seeing what could be and what will eventually come to exist.  Paul Allen was the one who said, "why can't every person have a computer?" during a time when a computer could fill up the entire floor of a university building.  Big ideas for the time that have definitely come to pass.  Shit...I have a computer in my pocket during every minute of the day.  Paul Allen thought of this first, folks!

The duo go on to found Microsoft.  Most of this section of the book soured my perception of Mr. William Gates.  There are adjectives that get thrown around about Bill:  genius, visionary, blah blah blah.  But, as Allen reflects back on those early years of success, one adjective comes to my mind:  asshole.  Bill Gates is a shrewd businessman.  Often in business, that level of shrewd is misconstrued as assholism (can that be a new word?).  I know that these days Gates is a super-philanthopist and that is awesome.  Glad to see that, Bill.

Paul Allen eventually leaves Microsoft with bunches of stock that eventually gets him a net worth somewhere in the neighborhood of many small nations.  This allows him freedom to explore.  The human brain, outer space, rock and roll, football, basketball, yachts...etc.  Paul Allen has had his fingers in so many interesting ventures it really is hard to keep track.  In the book, it appears that Allen has trouble keeping track, too.

Idea Man is a pretty good read.  Paul Allen is one man that is not afraid of risk.  I read somewhere that he has lost many, many millions (like in the hundreds of millions) of dollars taking chances on what he views as worthwhile ideas.  I love that level of risk taking.  It's punk rock, Paul!

The section of the book regarding the purchase and running of the Trailblazers is friggin' hilarious.  It's probably not meant to be, but it made me chuckle.  If you are into professional basketball, I highly recommend at least reading this section of Idea Man.

Well, folks, that's Idea Man.  Interesting life of a risk-taking, philanthropist explorer.

Yes, this is Paul Allen's 'boat'.

Stale Music Review #14: Buck 'O Nine

28 Teeth by Buck-o-Nine

Cost: $3.99

Track Count: 14

I've been listening to 28 Teeth for soooo many years.  This album is another one of those "time travel" records for me...takes me straight back to my early days of just being out of college and drinking copious quarts of beer.  It never fails...every time I listen to the record I feel like getting an Olde English.

Buck-O-Nine has been around since the early nineties, yet nobody really knows that because grunge was king during that time.  So, the SoCal (San Diego, to be exact) band hashed out their sound and perfected their craft for a few years before releasing the ska masterpiece, 28 Teeth.

I won't spend too much time on the band itself.  They're still going strong and their website is pretty good.  Good check it out...www.buckonine.com.

One weird sidenote about this band.  I went to see Primus (Primus sucks!) and lo' and behold, Buck-O-Nine were the opener.  It was such a weird pairing but I had a blast.  Or at least I think I had a blast.  Malt Liquor, folks.

Here's the track run-down and some funsies about some of them.

1.  Round Kid.  Love this song.  Seriously, cannot get enough of this one.  It's a go-to when I need a little pick me up.
2.  Nineteen.  "Anything is possible".  Great song.  It moves and grooves, folks.
3.  Albuquerque.  Another fun ska tune.  Upbeat with motion...lyrics are inconsistent with the feel of the music.  Which may be why it works.  The horns are great on this one, though.
4.  Tear Jerky.  The horn section in this band is so fucking tight.  Really great players.
5.  I'm the Man.
6.  Jennifer's Cold.  This song is hilarious.  Such a mundane topic.  I should research this some more but I have a feeling that it was written as a serious diss to someone named Jennifer.
7.  Steve Was Dead.
8.  What Happened to my Radio?.  Remember folks, this album came out before any streaming services existed and iTunes appeared.  So, we spent much time with the radio...you know, the real radio?  Seems so archaic.  This was Buck-o-Nine lamenting how shitty radio was back then.
9.  Twenty-Eight Teeth.  Title track showcases just how good the horn section is.
10.  Peach Fish.
11.  Record Store.  Once again, back in the day, kids, we used to go to places called record stores.  Where they sold CD's and Records.  Weird concept, right?  Great fucking tune, though.
12.  My Town.  The standout track on this album.  "My town, my street...".  Listen to this and just try to be depressed.  I fucking dare you.
13.  Little Pain Inside.  Goofy song.  Filler.

Twenty Eight Teeth is a throwback to the days where radio existed, record stores existed, and ska music was actually well regarded.  It's a great record; definitely worth the forty minutes or so to let it run end to end.  Give it a try, fuckers!

www.buckonine.com
www.asianmanrecords.com

Stale Book Review #37: Bicycle Diaries

Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne

Cost: $3.99US

Page Count: 300

"And you may ask yourself

Well, how did I get here?" 

- Once In a Lifetime, Talking Heads

Sitting down to read Bicycle Diaries made me feel a little bit smarter; a little bit more cultured.  This has everything to do with David Byrne's writing style and his obvious love for the written word.  The dude just oozes high culture.

To be frank, I never really got into the whole "art rock" movement.  Maybe it's because I hail from central Florida and nowhere near Central Park in NYC.  But, I was never drawn to the avant garde or the true artist freak culture.  Therefore, much music has not entered into my field of (aural) vision.  Sonic Youth, Nico, The Velvet Underground...don't know much about them, at all.  They seemed just a bit too "high society" for a poor Florida cracker who grew up on the teats of Creedence, Skynyrd, and Zepplin.  But...I did like the Talking Heads.  So, I've got respect for Byrne even though he is definitely more cultured than I.

While on tour and while traveling, David Byrne often tools around various cities on a bicycle.  Hence, the name of the book.  In my book, this is pretty cool.  There is no better way to truly get to know a new place than from the saddle of a bike.  Byrne writes about these jaunts through foreign cities in Bicycle Diaries.  Paris, Sydney, NYC...they are all beautifully painted by Byrne in such a way that the reader can practically smell the shit on the city streets of Manila.  David Byrne is an artist.

To some extent, Motley Crue singer Vince Neil is an artist.  He creates music so that is an art.  But, it's super one-dimensional.  Not to disparage the Crue or Vince, but in the grand scheme of life their "art" is stupid as fuck.  It plays to the retarded masses...that's why I like it.

But, there is something MORE to Byrne as an artist.  Music, painting, photography, etc...these are all arenas in which I feel that the author could express a high level of expertise whilst in conversation.  This level of artistry and knowledge weasels its way into his writing.  The city streets become canvases; the bike his paintbrush; the words his paint. 

This book, in my honest opinion, is fucking difficult to describe.

There are times during the stretch of Bicycle Diaries where Byrne is too wordy, a bit pretentious, a lot erudite, and sometimes pompous.  It doesn't happen much but there are times when I was reading when I muttered, "Just get to the point, fucker".  But, these moments are overshadowed by the fact that the book is well-crafted and amazingly well-researched.  This author knows his shit.  And he knows it.

It took me a long time to finish Bicycle Diaries.  I read it here and there...never truly getting engrossed. I attribute this to the writing style;  it can be heavy.  It was read in chunks and pieces and not by chapter.  It's probably because I am just a lowly blog-writing dude.  But, this book, in the end, turned out to be pretty good.  Very informative. 

I must say that Bicycle Diaries ain't gonna be for everyone.  But, those that stick with it are definitely going to learn something.

If you like music, musicians, and travel journals give this book a shot.  

www.davidbyrne.com

www.rockhall.com