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food, drink, monkeys, and beats from the dairy air of mondovi, wisconsin, the streets of minneapolis, and the sands of bondi beach, australia
SPEAK...
AIM is pntyrdr1 Email Seppo: kris dot sipe at gmail dot com
EAT ME!!!
Beef Bourguignon
Bitchin' Baked Paella Risotto Magic Stuffed Salmon Chicken Wild Rice Soup Chili Prawn Penne 3 2 1 Spatchcock! Tomato Basil Fettuccine Chili Con Seppo Blueberry Boat Roast Marinated Buffalo Mozzerella Grilled Swordfish with Mango Salsa Miss. Highco's Creme Brulee
ON THE IPOD...
 Sufjan Stevens - Come on Feel the Illinois
  The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday
 Nickel Creek - Why Should the Fire Die
FOR THE BOOKCLUB...
PREVIOUSLY ON...
95 Kg Tuna
Gay Post of the Week Bonsai Croc and Roll French, Yes, Gay, Not so Much I Could Spit on a Stranger Outfoxed! Heat Wave!!! Bitched at Swirth Sydney Supernova
WHEN?
WHERE?
blogger all music guide college music journal internet movie database slayage urband legends archive tripple j all zone 4 dvd grimsey records britneyfreak Blogger Boobiethon Starlight Foundation Sydney Morning Herald Apple Torrentspy MacRumors
Favs, Fads and Friends
Gideon's Bible Whatevs Stereogum Rollertrain Lou's Page of... Memoirs from the Edge RADhole Thighs Wide Shut Cityrag Goldenfiddle 1115 That Ashley Girl President Peabs PhotoSydney Ms. Fits Drew's Blog-O-Rama Sarah's So Boring SynapticBlur BakedZiti Daily Refill Jeffrey Mimi Emancipated NY Hotlist sdrawkcab sti Pink = New Blog Brave World NYC You Aint No Picasso Berkeley Palace Fluxblog My Dad at Vinifera Minnesota
CREDITS:
 
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Wednesday, April 20, 2005
 I don't think I fit in to... His Indie World part 1  Oh dear lord, please help Brit Brit in raising an upstanding southern child, now that she is able to trade in her MILF in Training T-Shirt for the one that just says MILF. Thank you also lord, for the opportunity that Paris has received, in making jewellery for the more pedestrian pets of the world, and for finding a new friend for her television show. But most of all, lord, thank you for giving Adam Shore, of Vice Records, who holds the wisdom to know what's best for us lowly music lovers. Lord help him to make sure that indie music does not go the way of the Starbucks.When I worked as a cook in my teens, at The Dock, in Stillwater, Minnesota, the music I knew was played by the Anthony Bourdainesque sociopaths, Toyota truck driving lesbians and aging hippies I was surrounded by. The strange thirtiesh couple who worked in the prep area loved The B-52s. Ms. Patty the Pastry Chef's son was photographer Daniel Corrigan, who gave me personalized, autographed photos of Husker Du, The Replacements and Soul Asylum. Tom H. Gardner III, a recovering alcoholic writer, obsessed with Hemingway, Soldier of Fortune and the Grateful Dead, taught me to love The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Medeski, Martin and Wood, and all of the folk music on local Red House Records. Dada the Lebanese dope head was into George Clinton and James Brown, as well as the Pixies, and Porno for Pyros. Nick and Jeff on the front line were my own age, but definitely old souls. I never gave Jeff back all of those Uncle Tupelo albums, I hope he doesn't miss them (I know I would if someone took them from me). I'll never forget cleaning squid the first time I heard Smells Like Teen Spirit.  Bomb Popper, waitress and indie record company owner, Andrea brought it all together when she allowed me to interview her while I was studying Journalism at The University of St. Thomas. The current Andrew Bird manager and Grimsey Records head honcho picked out a turntable for me, took me to Applause records, on Snelling Avenue in St. Paul, and filled up my shopping basket with vinyl by Ivy, Stereolab, and the Golden Palominos.Every time I ever felt unloved or alone, I had the library that all of these influences had helped me create, to keep me company. Now that I am all the way over here in Sydney, living in Bondi, where record stores receive daily truckloads of Chill Out compilations, and Ministry of Sound Annuals, I don't have the same types of influences in my life as I did back in the states. For my first couple of years in Oz, I was really down in the dumps about the whole thing. I didn't get to the point of groovin' to Blink 182, or making out to John Mayer, but I did miss out on some really good shit. In the last couple of years things have definitely shifted. Thanks to blogs like Stereogum and Ultragrrrl, sources like College Music Journal, and online radio stations such as Indiepoprocks!, when I've got the Powerbook in bed at home, I feel like I'm back in St. Paul, wading through the new Vinyl releases at Applause. Shore suggests in the article mentioned above that an Indie Yuppie Establishment has been created, and that record companies are producing "fancy-coffee-drinking, Volvo-riding music for kids." I have found the last few years to be a return to a rock-and-roll mentality, producing so many innovative and thought provoking records, that a 20GB ipod can't begin to hold them. The fact there is more mainstream exposure to indie music, and a larger demographic of hipsters, is only a product of technology and communication. The phenomenon is discussed in New York Times Columnist Thomas L. Friedman's book, The World is Flat, at an extensive level. While his book refers to the progress of the pursuits of education, the phenomenon can easily be extended to music. No longer do intellectually motivated kids need to swap cassette tapes between classes. Now, Betsy from Wisconsin can get on AOL Instant Messenger and explain the merits of the new Lamb of God Lp, while her friend Pedro in Tennessee tells her how he wants to be a roadie for Calexico.  Shore's elitist comments simply imply that indie music, in his eyes the only GOOD music, should be listened to by a certain few. What he fails to touch on, is that while there are bands around that have been indie darlings, it doesn't mean that there are homogonous groups of force fed hipsters out there, not knowing what to listen to until Pitchfork media tells them to. Take a look at recent comments on Stereogum regarding the top 10 albums of so far in 2005. It's genre splitting, and it's fucking feisty. These kids are listening, in depth, to everything, so they know exactly what to spit back at each other. The fact that they are listening to something other than crap "urban" music should have us oldies throwing up our hands and dancing like the Poyphonic Spree. Shore actually has the nerve to say that while Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire and the like have produced fantastic albums, the fact that a whole bunch of people like them is boring. Again, what he forgets to mention is that many of us are as fiery about what we hate, as what we like and everyone has their favourites. We know that Grambo hates Franz Ferdinand, Ultragrrrl practically is the reason the Killers exist, Stereogum hearts Kelly Clarkson, that this Seppo wants to punch Coner Oberst in the head.The irony of the article lies in the fact that Shore's label hosts indie darlings of the moment, Bloc Party, who could easily be added to the list of bands he criticizes. Their album is the first, in my opinion, of the new wave revival to add something new to the mix, especially with their anti-establishment lyrics. I wonder if the band is actually speaking to Shore when they sing, "You're just as boring as everyone else... Why'd you have to get so hysterical?Success, success, success is over... Why'd you have to get so fucking useless... Play it cool boy" Part II - Indie Music and Hollywood next week
... Seppo 2:47 pm...
Monday, April 18, 2005
 Survival of the Unfittest One day in Wisconsin, I thought it would be a good idea to take up skydiving. Rather than go with the good ol' Amazing Race style tandem jump, I thought it would be a good idea to take the two day course that allowed me to do the jump alone. I looked out from the plane, and saw the vivid green farm country below me, and resigned myself to the fact that this was the last day of my life. There was no rational part of me left, and I completely forgot that there was a parachute strapped to my back. I held on to the strut, said goodbye to my family, closed my eyes and when I could hold on no longer, let go and drifted off to oblivion. A few seconds later, my parachute opened, and I've never been more happy to be alive. Yesterday, with salt water pouring down my throat, limbs flying into my face and nothing but a blurry yellow buoy to aim for is the second time in my life I felt this way. With about 100 meters to go in the swim portion of yesterday's triathlon, I resorted to doggy paddling to the stairs. I have never felt so helpless, with no bottom to stand on, there was no way to rest, and it seemed that I would never reach the end. Faces from my past started streaming by, thoughts went a bit blurry, and the next thing I knew I was strapping on my helmet and swigging down some much needed fresh water and getting on my bike. I think I'll stick to running.  That smile is one of delusion, not of happiness.  A very supportive team was prepared to give me CPR. I was so proud of the team, they all were amazing. Truly, it was quite an experience, and I'm sure I will take up the challenge again soon. Next time, however, I will try to spend a little more time swimming in the ocean, since I am just a guy from Mondovi, Wisconsin. I should try to spend more time at that thing down the road from my house, in Bondi, I think it's called a beach. 34 days and counting until the Sydney Half Marathon, luckily there's no water involved.
... Seppo 3:45 pm...
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Muffin Top In a special Pantryraider sports edition, props out to Chops for finishing the Canberra Marathon in 3:15:59 May the Vaseline be with you. A further shout out to Zorba for not only taking home the club title with the Sloths, but the national title with the New South Wales team in the Australian Dragonboat Championships. Hopefully some of the competitive edge will rub off to this Seppo, as there are only 6 days until my first triathlon. At a certain someone's suggestion, I have been listening to The Go Team while training, which is definitely a fitting soundtrack (who would think to combine harmonica, hip-hop, electronica and allusions to American high school football).  The truth is, I am extremely petrified of swimming in the harbour. It's not the actual drowning I am worried about, it's the really fucking scary outfit I have to wear (much lycra involved), and the thought that someone might have to pull me out of the water in said tragic attire. I'm sure that as I am a master of self deprecation, I will get a picture of myself in what will introduce my new nickname: "muffin top".Other random non-sports related crap: In the poor choice of headline department, the award goes to "Apology for Camel Snatch." No worries, Sydney Morning Herald, but I think the word you were looking for was "toe". Ben Gibbard, musical hero to angst ridden dorks everywhere, is ready to make some money as Death Cab for Cutie goes major label. Via Scott It's still actually illegal to use an ipod here in Oz under current copyright laws, which makes it difficult to believe reports that the itunes music store will be here in mid-june. Don't cross your fingers, kids.
... Seppo 4:15 pm...
Monday, April 11, 2005
A Fly in your Chardonnay Country pubs, sultry dance offs, motorcycle rides, lawn bowls and half price Sunday night drinks makes for a very exhausted Seppo. Pass the Berocca please! I fell asleep with a glass of wine in my hand half way through the O.C. last night. I dreamt that my eyebrows grew, and I was Sandy Cohen, endless surfing the swells of Newport. Not only did I miss the Donna's annual trip to Sydney in January, I'll be away for the Ted Leo show on April 30th. Anyone want to buy me a T-Shirt? Ted hearts Kelly Clarkson: I just don't know, man. I'm falling apart. The new Kelly Clarkson single, "Since U Been Gone" (which I first thought was going to be a Prince cover, which I then thought would be a smart move on her part, but which thought I was quickly then disabused of, but which disabusing I was not upset by, because I sucked into the damn hook immediately), is unarguably good. No -- stop it -- don't even try! It's unarguable. I see early retirement staring back at me from the reflection in the pickups on my guitar. :( "It's like raaaaaaaaiiiiin on your wedding day..." Alanis take note, Peer 2 Peer witch hunters News Corp have been putting banner ads up on P2P torrent depository Torrent Reactor.  I have hardly been able to function today, because I'm so down in the dumps over all the problems Dannii Minogue has been having. The poor thing is unable to make any friends, because they are all jealous of her body. "Having a voluptuous figure can be intimidating to other women," says the freakishly enhanced narcist. After years of holding in the bile developing in the back of my throat when people, including my normally progressive parents, laughed at the stereotypical, misogynists are cute bullshit portrayed on Everybody Loves Raymond, someone has put pen to paper. Now, if someone would take the time to write to the producers of The Amazing Race and ask them to quit promoting spousal abuse, we'd be getting somewhere!
... Seppo 3:47 pm...
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
I finally took the time to upload the photos from my first major Outdoor Experience, only to find yesterday that Wilson's Prom had burned down. No, kids, I didn't leave a cigarette in the woods. It seems that the only slightly out of hand "controlled" fire that we drove through went a bit nuts during the hot weather. No one was hurt, but 600 people had to be evacuated from the area.
... Seppo 1:44 pm...
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