Adam and Jeremy Say: An Open Letter to Iran

Dear Iran,

Way to go guys! First let us congratulate you on your excellent foreign policy. It must have taken months of planning and implantation to be able to capture the British Marines like you did, and then letting them go because you are such a nice guy... well that’s the coup de gras, what a brilliant plan of warfare!

We are quite certain that the world will respect you now! Nothing like taking someone’s lunch mone... we mean soldiers to garner the respect you so desperately desire. Oh and don’t worry about those nay-sayers that claim your bastardization of Islam will cause the rest of the world to view it as a militant semi-political religiously fundamental army that is bent on destroying all of western culture and bring about the return of the twelfth Imam. Nah... They will no doubt see your actions as just an out growth of Islam’s peaceful path towards heaven... or however that is supposed to work for you guys... we fell asleep frequently in our world religions class.

We must also congratulate your leadership, who seem completely sane, sensible and rational, not since Adolph Hi...we mean Aristotle have we seen such brilliant minds at play in the political arena.

And we most commend your other recent international relations; they have been far above superior. The record speaks for itself. Almost getting banned from the World Cup for claiming the Holocaust never happened. Flipping the bird to all the UN inspectors that investigate your uranium research. Sending insurgents and weapons into Iraq to kill all those really bad and mean coalition forces... how dare they try to bring peace and equality to a nation! Oh and we are particularly bemused by your domestic policy, I mean I am sure “W” and Tony “B-lair” are at home right now smacking themselves over the head because they didn’t think of torturing and killing any citizen that doesn’t agree with them! That’s top flight guys, no way will you have any problems at home with that kind of iron fisted, and yet sound rule.

We know how hard it is to be a third world country, a lot of countries have done far worse than you with the moniker (Somalia), but honestly you can't let it get you down. How about this we send you some of our great commodities, like Coke Zero, self check out, the Designated Hitter, and the Pussy Cat Dolls... and you stop your silly little nuclear weapons program. Sure sure we know that you feel like having a big bomb will get you respect, but history may have some well tested wisdom for you. Remember Napoleon was a little guy who couldn’t get respect and so was Hitler; so what did they do? You guessed it, they tried to take over the world, and we don’t want to be pesamistic, but both of them fell pretty hard in the end, and seeing as we are friends and all we would hate to see you fall into that same trap.

Ok, Ok, so we can't get you to stop, but can we at least get you to shut up... I mean you’re like a drunk sorority girl on spring break... you get louder and louder with every "panty dropper" but you never say anything... and all we get out of it is the stench of your breath and the creepy feeling that you are picturing us naked in bath full of marshmallows and jello. I mean the whole, "we have your soldiers" thing was not cool, and all this talk of destroying Israel and brining on the end of the world... also not cool... we for one are really content with our new bio diesel Jetta and Nintendo Wii and would like a little more time to enjoy it...so could you at least spare us all the apocalyptic rhetoric and quite down so we can listen to the new Modest Mouse CD without you hanging on us like drunk circus monkey on a tilt-a-whirl.

Best Wishes,

Adam and Jeremy

P.S. We totally know that you have been messing around with Syria behind our backs, but we are not going to make a big deal out it because she is kind of a skank anyways. So she is all yours brother. Just don’t use the same straw when your sharing a frosty… trust us on this one.

Adam Says: Grass and Gasoline

If you look up urban-sprawl in a history book you will likely find information about a movement in America, that began just after World War II, where people moved from centralized cities to less populated open spaces that have now become the "suburbs." And most of these history books, in which you look up such information, will say that this was caused by a surge in wealth, the availability of automobiles, and desire to own land, but I beg to differ. Urban-sprawl stemmed from the nose... yes the nose! The only logical reason for people to leave an area that is more convenient, holds a higher cultural standard, and offers more of just about everything is the scent of cut grass and gasoline. I love that scent and can tell you from experience that it is the only thing that could drag me from my beloved metropolis; Richmond. Cut grass and gasoline should be a fragrance bottled and used by everyone because it is just that delightful.

Adam and Jeremy say: Elton John and Kings of Leon Ring My Bell

Of all the new albums that AOL is streaming this week it is not Chevelle or The Academy Is... that have caught the ears of Adam and Jeremy, but Elton John! Go figure a greatest hits album by the queen of Adult Pop hits has way more songs that Adam and Jeremy know by heart than they would like to admit, but those standards easily surpass disappointing efforts by Chevelle and The Academy Is...



However, if you are a fan of Tool and the rest of the "Modern Rock Radio" rubbish that pervades sports video games these days then Chevelle still may be something you are into, and so we provide you a link. Adam and Jeremy are both disappointed that a band that once was so uncomercial and so edgy has now become shill for corporate rock... disillusioned is the word Adam used to describe his feelings.... by the way Adam and Jeremy never expected anything out The Academy Is... so they could care less that the album is total bomb.

On a brighter note the Kings of Leon have also released a new album "Because of the Times." The jam-y southern garage rock has earned the ire of some critics, who are still comparing them to "the Strokes of the south" and are not stoked about the less than structured layout of their latest. Adam and Jeremy say the music is as hot as a Nashville summer and you should check it out!



Play Kings of Leons On Call

Oddly enough, Adam and Jeremy didn't even know that Derek Webb had another new album coming out till last week, and after finding out yesterday that the album is being accompanied by a graphic novel(authored by D. Webb), they couldn't not contain their excitement. This is why you are seeing a post on it now instead of the normal Tuesday time slot here on the Adam and Jeremy Show... I mean Adam and Jeremy Blog.

The Ringing Bell hits music stores and ITunes May one. If you're like Adam and Jeremy you probably wont wait to pre-order the album and book.

Swing on over to the Ringing Bell website and you can listen to some full length tracks(which are totally rockin). They remind me of little Sufan Stevens or Ryan Adams. An interesting path that Webb has only touched on in his previous "folky" albums. Also on the website you can preview some of the book, so make sure you check it out now!

And....in your spare time, read the article in USA today about Webb!

Whilst sipping tea the Parasol Party today we happened to meander onto Relevants' website and low and behold there was a new review of Arcade Fire's "Neon Bible" URGH! We love Relevant Media and we love to plug them, but honestly this took far too long. The album was great and that's why we told you so... two weeks ago... at any rate go and check out the review... plus there is some other good stuff in there about other music that has biblical themes.

By now you have all hear about Keith Richards snorting his father... like a line of coke... and the denial/spin that has ensued... here is a great take on it from stereogum.com

Adam Says: National Poetry Month! Hooray!!!

As we stated before April is National Poetry Month... which means "20 Something" guys everywhere are reciting cheesy couplets to their Vera Bradley muses, and girls in black turtlenecks are mourning the end of winter with ironically flowery language. Okay so maybe those cliches don't really do justice to the beauty of poetry, so we figured you might want a few links to help you get into the mood for National Poetry Month.

www.poets.org is about as official as website for poetry as you can find. Check out the great resources and sign up for the Poem-A-Day feature.

It is painfully obvious that public radio would have some sort of feature that would make a great companion to National Poetry Month, and in fact they do. Check out Garrison Keillor reading poems that have nothing to do with Lake Wobegon on the Writers Almanac from Public Radio.

You can find more great poetry at www.poetryfoundation.org.

You can get "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman in its entirety online for free HERE; yes yes I know this is the second time we linked this, but its a great find and really worth checking out.

Last but not least I wanted to post my favorite poem in the whole wide world. The story behind this poem goes like this: My wife and I really loved it, thought it painted a great picture of the church as the bride of Christ and so we figured it would be an awesome addition to our wedding ceremony; and whom would we get to recite it? None other than Fat Jeremy himself. The poem is called "The Celebration Wedding" by Bradley Hathaway

This is for the ones whose hope is falling
And you no longer hear your Saviors calling.

This is for the ones whose backs are turning
And that passion-filled heart you once had has stopped burning.

This is for the ones abandoned now all alone with no solace and you think you’re stranded

This is for you empty, by life branded that had a vision that took leap but it never landed.

This is for the ones who are plagued by those mysteries of life and you feel torn inside by this mind and spirit strife.

This is for the ones whose desire to do good is always outweighed and you don’t do as you should.

This is for the ones whose mistakes are too many to count and the guilt on your chest just continues to mount.

This is for the ones who’ve been done wrong by sins at the corrupted hands of perverted men.

Hold On.

HOLD ON.

Because soon will come that celebration wedding and bundles of restoration will be our bedding.

The trumpeter is taking a breath

The guests are taking their seats

The bride is putting on a veil

The father is making last-minute preparations

There’s ten thousand times ten thousand angels waiting in a holy expectation.

The readied Groom is ready

Soon will come the celebration wedding

If you are hurting, your hurt will cease

If you are restless, you will find peace

If you are empty, you will be filled

All of these doubts and questions they’ll be stilled

If life for you is just too trying
Your tears will dissipate there wont be any more crying.

If the only thing you know is shame.
You will be cleansed and never again feel the same.

If you can’t see straight

Focus

Persevere

And wait…

Soon will come that celebration wedding
And bundles of complete restoration will be our bedding.

Bradley Hathaway is this rad poet from Arkansas who I originally caught at a super sweet Blindside show down in NC. Since then he has put out a book, CD and DVD. Plus he tours all the time. If you like his stuff check out one of his shows or pick up some of his stuff because he is truly gifted. Check out his site www.thebradley.net

Adam and Jeremy Say: APRIIL!!! HOORAY!!!

First there are not enough words in my lexicon to properly describe to you last nights My Brightest Diamond and Decemberist show at the Norva, but fortunately I think I have found a word that summarizes it well... AWESOME. You were not there and so I must tell you that you suck.


April is a great month; the madness of march is finally over and now the sweet center of spring falls to us. I always look forward to April, I love the since of excitement that resounds from the Church Sanctuary on Easter Morning to Bryan Park with its azaleas in full bloom, one of the most special moments for me in April is the flurries of white flowering pare blossoms that flutter throughout Richmond. April signals the end of NCAA Basketball season and the start of the baseball season, but those sports events are not the only happenings that make April so noteworthy.

Of course Easter is a big deal to Adam and Jeremy. Celebrating the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ is always tops on our lists, but even for those whose faith is not so ardent Easter Morning is at the very least a chance to take part in the glitz and glam of an Easter service, and of course the kids get to go hunt for treat filled eggs... so all around its a great time.

While not as important, Ben and Jerry's Free Cone Day, is close to a religious experience for many. This year it falls on April 17th and trust us we will be urging you to get out and enjoy it (like you need it.)

April 21st kicks off Historic Garden Week here in Virginia, and may we recommend Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden or Maymont Park.






Not coincidentally April 22nd is Earth Day. You can be sure that this year Earth Day will cause all sorts of fuss and buzz, but for the rest of us, who are not Al Gore, Earth Day is a great time to celebrate the beauty of Gods' creation; as well as celebrating our responsibility (whats that?) to be good stewards of it.

Ironically April 23rd marks both the start of National Turn off your TV week and Global Darfur Days. Add Virginia's Historic Garden week and you should have no problem finding something positive to do with your TV-less week... and if gardens and social justice are not enough to fill up your TV void April is also National Poetry Month and National Zoo and Aquarium Month... plus if you live anywhere south of Mason Dixon Line April marks the first solid month of warm weather so hop on a bicycle or grab a basketball and get outside.

So that's our quick overview of April... obviously there are some really important dates this month so expect to hear more about many of these subjects again, but for now get our your monthly planner and try not to be too jealous about the AWESOME Decemberist show I saw last night!