I went to watch the moving of the historic Maisenbacher House up Seventh Street this afternoon and was struck by the enormity of this project as I watched this massive house slowly creep up the street and continually stop for tree trimmings and adjustments. Looks like things were going smoothly. I saw the house reach it’s final location at 7th and Jackson Street, but couldn’t stay to watch the house rotated and backed up to sit on Jackson street, where it will stay on it’s wheels until the new foundation is finished. Wish I could have stayed to see the move finished, it was really interesting to watch.

Check out this new and fun video with a “Risky Business” twist from Fiction Plane for “It’s A Lie” off “Left Side of the Brain”. Lead singer Joe Sumner is Sting’s son and the video director is Jake Sumner, also Sting’s son. The Sumner kids are a creative bunch with a good sense of humor obviously. It’s also interesting they chose “Risky Business” because that movie was released in 1983 at the pinnacle of The Police’s success. Coincidence? I think not, more like Synchronicity, also released in 1983! I love this song, but it’s not one I like to jam in the car with my kids because before you know it they would be singing the chorus at school . . . “But all I wanna do is jump your bones, slam dance all night to the music of your moans . . . ”

The Police Certifiable comes out this Tuesday exclusively at Best Buy, and of course I need this as part of my Police/Sting collection to document the amazing Police Reunion Tour properly. But in the Best Buy Flyer out today I realize I have a dilemma! Should I get the CD/DVD combo, or the vinyl/digital download combo? I just don’t think I can be greedy and buy both with Christmas right around the corner (and since I’ve already spent way too much money on the reunion tour already). What I really need is a CD/DVD/Vinyl option! I have really been enjoying my turntable again and would love to have the Police Certifiable on vinyl too, but I really, really want the DVD to SEE the reunion of my favorite band of all time! What to do? I’ve got a couple days to think about it and decide.

Has anybody seen the bizarre new Burger King Mushroom & Swiss TV commercials? They are supposed to be a parody of Simon & Garfunkel, but I always think of Sting when I see these jokers with their LUTES! Makes me laugh every time. Here they are for your amusement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hpkAq4meTA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWYjktTdq3E&feature=related

Found this frightening Halloween message in the front yard of a house at the corner of Laurel and Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois!

I’m wondering why Santa’s House has appeared today, October 30, 2008 on the Old State Capitol Plaza in Springfield, Illinois? I’m used to retail stores pushing the start of the holiday shopping season, but why is the city of Springfield rolling out Santa’s unattractive mobile home before Halloween?

Fiction Plane rocks, so check out some of the tunes from their new album “Left Side Of The Brain” right here and now. I adore the song “Two Sisters”! And the vocals kill me, it reminds me so much of Sting back in the early days, which is not surprising at all since lead singer Joe Sumner is Sting’s son. If you like what you hear, take a listen to “Everything Will Never Be Okay” too, that’s my favorite album by Fiction Plane so far, but I’m looking forward to much more from this band.

I’m embarrassed for Springfield, Illinois after reading the news this morning in the State Journal Register saying that the executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has been placed on administrative leave for alleged shoplifting at the local Target. I’m more embarrassed to read that Richard (Rick) Beard was caught shoplifting previously at Macy’s in Springfield too in February 2007. How exactly did that first offense get covered up and not reported over a year and a half ago, I wonder? With the upcoming Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration only four months away, this is not the kind of publicity Lincoln’s hometown should be receiving.

Abraham Lincoln and shoplifting just don’t go together in any way, shape or form. I am truly saddened by this news and the shadow it casts on the magnificent Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the reputation of Abraham Lincoln himself and the city of Springfield. I think I felt the earth tremble this morning, and it wasn’t from another earthquake but instead must have been caused by Honest Abe rolling over in his tomb.

I just heard that Rick Springfield will be performing in Springfield, Illinois on November 23, 2008 at Sangamon Auditorium! I just got my old turntable up and running this weekend and have been playing all my favorite 80’s albums. Is it a coincidence then that a Rick Springfield concert is just announced for Springfield? I think not. I’ll be dusting off my old Rick Springfield albums in preparation for his show here!!! He’s performed in the Springfield area at least several times before. I saw him at the Sangamon County Fair in New Berlin in 2000, and I believe he performed at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in 1983. At his Sangamon County Fair performance, many middle-aged women were screaming and making fools of themselves, and I definitely recall Rick Springfield playing his guitar with a bunch of long stem roses. He kept throwing something in the air too, but I can’t remember if it was the roses or his guitar? Come on, who would want to miss excitement like that? Not me, count me in, because I will definitely be there!

I eagerly anticipated the release of James Morrison’s sophomore album “Songs for You, Truths for Me” on September 30, 2008 after falling in love with this British tenor’s sound and music on his debut album “Undiscovered”. (Not to worry Sting, you’ll always be number one.) I’ve been listening to it for several weeks now almost exclusively. I wasn’t head over heels in love with this new album as much as Morrison’s “Undiscovered” at first pass, but as I’ve continued to listen it has grown on me, and I do like it very much.

The best songs from this new album are front-loaded, and I find myself immediately falling all over again for Morrison’s soulful voice from the beginning through the fourth track “Please Don’t Stop The Rain”, which is by far my favorite song of the whole album. Track two “Save Yourself” is my second favorite song, and track one “The Only Night” and track three “You Make It Real” are exceptional songs as well, highlighting his unique voice, style, and beautiful songwriting abilities. But then track five “Broken Strings” completely destroys the ascension to greatness with a mismatched duet with Nelly Furtado. The second I hear Furtado’s voice, I feel the unstoppable urge to hit skip, and I hate when that happens. I think a duet with someone more soulful like Joss Stone would have been fabulous with Morrison’s voice, but not Furtado. Luckily after skipping that song, track six “Nothing Ever Hurt Like You” gets back in the Morrison groove full force and the album peaks here with his powerful soul-searching vocals. It’s all slightly downhill after that, and the final six songs are average (but enjoyable) in my opinion, but nothing stellar like the first half of the album.

James Morrison is undoubtedly a very talented young man, I really love his voice and style. His singing is beautifully different, but not polished or forced. I like that raw, real quality he conveys with his singing. And I’m always a sucker for music that adds piano prominently in the instrumental mix (like David Gray or Coldplay, also favorites of mine). If you’re not familiar with James Morrison and his music, check out the following videos for a few of my favorite songs or listen to the audio player here for a nice sampling of songs from the new album. Morrison’s “Undiscovered” is one of my favorite albums to play from beginning to end without skipping any songs whatsoever, a rare occurrence for me generally. The title song “Undiscovered” just blows me away; I adore that song. “Call The Police” is my second favorite song on “Undiscovered” and Morrison’s edgiest attempt at hard rock, I like how he just belts out the vocals here. But there are many, many other fantastic musical gems on the album, like the beautifully sad “The Pieces Don’t Fit Any More”, “You Give Me Something”, “Under The Influence”, “Wonderful World” and “This Boy”. See, I think the whole album is fantastic and should just list all the songs! If you like “Undiscovered”, then take a listen to the new “Songs for You, Truths for Me”. You’ll find some great songs there too, but not quite of the same magnitude or quantity as his debut album in my opinion. The second album is always hard for new artists who take off with their debut, and James Morrison has done a fine job of it. I look forward to hearing much more from him in the future; he’s building a solid brick foundation for the House of James Morrison.

Favorite song from “Songs for You, Truths for Me”: “Please Don’t Stop the Rain” live version

Favorite song from “Undiscovered”: title track “Undiscovered”

Second favorite song from “Undiscovered”: “Call The Police”