I guess beer never really went anywhere.  Unfortunately, I traded chemotherapy for beer for the last 7 months.  The good news is beer is back on the menu.  The unique part is after all the toxic chemicals that have been injected into my body for all these months things taste different, at least for now.  Drinking old, familiar beers is a new experience.

Taste Bud Map

The first thing I notice is the alcohol is more pronounced.  That was common for the beers I have been sampling, from modest to higher (9% Blackheart) ABV beers.  After not drinking any alcohol for this long, maybe that is to be expected.  The next thing that really jumps out is the bitterness.  The bitterness seems to be heightened and lingers a lot longer on the tongue than I can ever remember it doing.  Jumped into the 3Floyds Blackheart English IPA.  Nice malt and citrus nose.  It has a nice English malt sweetness evident in the first sip.  The malt creates a nice balance so as not to be overly bitter.  However I do get an ongoing hop flavor in my mouth, something I do not remember from before.  The Blackheart is a good beer for lovers of hops and English malts.

The one thing I have had plenty of time to do is listen.  I have revisited a lot of old albums and researched new ones.  Having done this, I feel like there haven’t been a lot of great music releases since the fall of 2010.  There was some good stuff, from new and old bands alike but very few things that knocked me out.  Fitz and Tantrums?  Really?  Yes, I know they’re fun live.  But it’s a weak knock off of much better music.  Well produced by someone who knew they could make some money, but they’re aping it.

Switching genres, I found more bands doing retreads of 60’s psychedelia.  The Paperheads are not terribly original, but there are a few really nice tracks on their 2011 album.  With a little experience, this Tennessee band has a chance to break out of the old and create something new, something I doubt Fitz, et al is capable of.  A similarly psychedelic feel is brought to us by Tame Impala, a band from Australia.  Their new album is a nice listen when your looking something psychedelic and fuzzy.  Changing gears to something a little folk/pop you have the new Vetiver album, The Errant Charm.  It is one of the exceptions in recent releases from the standpoint that the whole album is solid. It’s a great album, perfect a summer day and a cold beer.  On a hot day like today, I’m on the patio and enjoying it with a cold Hofbrau Helles lager.

Wonder Why – Vetiver

Pete Townshend on the idea of selling out:

“Defend myself against whom? The rock ’n’ roll thought police? I sell out every time I drag my weary old ass out on the road to play classic rock to beer-drinking saps who should know better. This may be art, but I own the copyright. I come from a musical family. I know music is special. But I also know it is how my family lives. I am quite unsentimental about it, unlike some of our fans.”

So, Goose Island sold out to the beast. The big boys. The swill merchants. And frankly, I don’t care. The nicest thing I can say about Goose Island Brewery is that they remind me of summer music festivals. And the sticky hands I inevitably get from spilling 312 as I meander through the crowds.

Now, don’t get me wrong. They’ve got some tasty beers. The Matilda is solid. But overall, I just don’t love their product. I like that it’s from Chicago. And, the sticky hand thing. And, ummm, I guess that I drink it in the summer. In a fantastic city.

As I think about the angry Chicagoans ranting about a smalltime brewery selling out, I couldn’t help think about the music industry and the distaste for sellouts. I like Pete’s take. Of course I do. I’m in advertising. The official business of selling out ®. I view music as a very sacred thing. But it’s sacred to me and me alone. An ad won’t ruin that memory of a first time I heard a song. Heck sometimes an ad is the first time I’ll hear a song (like Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” in the fantastic VW ad).

I guess what makes people so angry about selling out is that something special to them is now being up for grabs to the masses. The secret’s out. But hey, that experience that’s tied to it won’t go anywhere. It’s still yours and yours alone. Those fond memories of sticky hands aren’t going to go away because of AB. They’ll fade away because, well, probably because I’ll end up drinking myself stupid.

Luckily, I haven’t reached that point of stammering stupidity from drinking. Well, it happens sometimes, but I still can retain some memories. And one of those rich, sacred memories is of my experience buying The Who Sell Out. I still remember, some 15 years ago, walking into the Exclusive Company and asking the clerk if he had any copies of Live at Leeds. His reply, “Why would you want that distorted bullshit? You like the Who, have you heard this?” Handing me the cd, I took in the odd cover. And proceeded to walked to the counter.

I imagine anyone who’s heard this album, on first listen, is a little mystified and put off. Put off by the random psychedelia. Put off by the concept of a pirate radio broadcast. But once you get over that, or more appropriately embrace it, you’ll realize this is some fine stuff. Some of the fake ads are even better than the real songs (see: Odorono). The concept of the album never really gets in the way of the great music.

Sitting in my room listening to this album over and over I started to notice little nuances. Like in Rael, you can actually hear Pete working his way towards his true breakout (and sell out) album, Tommy. That’s another moment I’ll always hold sacred. The “holy shit” moment of, “that’s the same chord progression as Sparks.” I guess that’s my “sticky hands” scenario with the Who Sell Out. To this day, when I hear it, I get excited about Rael popping on and waiting for those chords.

Will I ever use “Rael” or “Sparks” in an ad? Probably not. Never know. Will I ever drink a 312 at another summer festival? You betcha. I’d follow it up with a Bud Light too, why not? I have no shame. Especially when I’m thirsty. And I have no issues with people choosing to sell out if it’s what they want to do. At the end of the day, who gives a shit? Find something else to get worked up about. Find a new band. Find a new beer. There are plenty available.

Rael

This website typically discusses pairing music with beer.  Unfortunately, I’m on an epic journey that doesn’t include beer so I’ve focused on the music.  What pairs with best with your favorite album?  It’s called high quality speakers or headphones.  Several years ago I updated old Klipsch speakers with a modest pair of Monitor Audio speakers.  The sound difference wasn’t just noticeable, it was amazing.  Amazing what crap the Klipsch were and what you can do to improve on poor speakers even on a budget.

It doesn't get any better than great songs on good headphones - from deviantart.com

As I entered the beginning of this most recent journey, a friend sent me a pair of Phiaton MS-400 headphones.  I might have bought a pair of German Sennheiser based on their reputation if I had done it myself.

Sennheiser Phones

Phiaton MS-400 Phones

But, even the Phiaton’s are life changing.  I’m not joking. I’m not even exaggerating.  If you’ve never (or even lately) broken out your favorite tunes and listened to them on good headphones, you have no idea how much detail you’re missing.  You will hear things in songs you never heard before.  SoundPour isn’t trying to convince to sell your car and buy all tube-based amps and preamps (yet).  Just get some good headphones and break out a few of your old CD’s and play them on a half decent player.  Import some of your tunes into a “lossless” or high-quality format to play them from your digital music player.  You’ll be amazed.  Sure a good pair of phones will cost you, anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to thousands, but without them you’re wasting your time.  Truly.  Throw your apple earbuds in the garbage.  If you care about your music, it’s absolutely the best advice I could give you.