Great Opening Week

Not bad for an aging rock band in their mid- late 40's.
Def Leppard's new Songs From The Sparkle Lounge has debuted at No. 5 on the Top 200 Billboard Album Charts for May 17, 2008. As Billboard points out it is the 11th straight Top 20 album for Def Leppard and the highest charting album since 1992's Adrenalize album which debuted at No. 1.

TOP ROCK ALBUMS
#1 Songs from the Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard

TOP HARD ROCK ALBUMS
#1 Songs from the Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard

Billboard top 200
#5 Songs from the Sparkle Lounge - Def Leppard

Poppin' em out one at a time

And the baby brigade has begun. And I couldn't think of two better people to have the magic of having children happen to. Kevin and Trish just recently had Abigail and Josh and Katie just had Hudson. I couldn't be more thrilled for either.

Kevin and Trish, obviously because Kevin is my best friend in the entire world, and its great to see a good woman settle his ass down and have a child. Someone needed to... and I'm just glad he found someone that can put up with him. See the picture below. All their wonderful pics can be seen here http://cronau.shutterfly.com


I don't have pictures from everyone, but Josh and Katie have an amazing story of two of the strongest people I know, who fought thru some tough times together and now have their very own bundle of joy in Hudson. And again, anyone who can put up with Josh, more power to them.. because that mofo is nuts.

And don't get any ideas, I won't be posting our little future hockey player just yet ;)

!! New Def Leppard Album !!

Yes, its that time again - Def Leppard is about to drop a new album April 29th. Recorded last year during month-long stints at lead singer Joe Elliott's Dublin studio, the album's title refers to a backstage area called "The Sparkle Lounge" on Def Leppard's 2006 tour where the band would go to write songs. Tracks from the album have been described by the group as written in the style of "HYSTERIA", with the production of "HIGH 'N' DRY"

"The whole record's got a great '70s feel," said lead singer Joe Elliott. "By our standards, it's a very different album as we've been very adventurous, musically, on certain numbers. On the album there are classic Def Leppard songs and then there's also tracks that are very new-wave influenced while others sound like middle-to-late '70s AC/DC. There will definitely be some moments on it where anybody that's familiar with our music will go, 'Whoa! I wasn't expecting that!'"

An added PR Bonus : Def Leppard's "NINE LIVES" Featuring Tim McGraw to Run on All NBA Game Broadcasts on ABC through Rest of Season and Into Playoffs.
Exclusive new video footage was recently shot for the special opening segment with both artists in Los Angeles last week. The video will debut this Sunday, March 9th on ABC as the lead-in to the NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Want to listen to the new track? I do know you: Listen Here!

Also, click on the cover art above. As you can see, the band went for a cover in the style of The Beatles' "SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND", by using a collage of photos of various people who have a connection with the band in one way or another. Apart from a number of pictures of the band members themselves (throughout the years), you'll find their parents, crew members, friends, and some artwork characters from the past.

Thanks guys

Thanks for making the trip to give a heart felt send off to my pops. You guys are the best, and Ill never forget the gesture of friendship, loyalty and love it showed.

Everyday Gets a Little Easier

While my Dad's passing will always stay with me and Ill always miss not having him around, I will say that each day gets a little easier. Ill miss talking to him about Hockey the most.. and how excited he got every time I called and updated him on the Ranger gossip (the man swore off computers so he never knows the latest rumors). The out pouring of support from the community my parents live it has just been outstanding. Really great group down there. I feel worst for my mom, who now is dealing with an empty house and a bunch of stuff to sort thru and figure out. But thats what life is all about I guess... you can be thrown a curve ball when you least expect it and its about how we deal with life's fast and every changing bullshit that defines us.

Well I guess I could go on and on about this, and how much Ill miss all these different things about him, but that might just end up making me more sad. So Ill refrain. But Just know that i miss ya Papa Noe. You're the best man Ill ever know.

One Day at a Time

The saga continues with my dad, who has been thru hell the past few weeks. Its sad to know that the time I spent with him before the operation could very well become the last time we hang out as father and son. Its awful hearing how he is deteriorating day after day and how his body is shutting down on him, while his heart remains strong. His heart was the whole worry, the whole scare in it all and as it turns out, now that has been the least of the worries. Its difficult to run thru the emotions I have the past few weeks. Its mostly a case of being numb and just trying to accept the hand that life has given us in this case. Ive done the depressed part.. and continue to, Ive done the crying and Ive done the "be strong". Whats left? I sit and wait for the news...whatever that news might be? I pray and hope that things make a turn around? I prepare for the worse? Or I drown myself in booze?

Work is tough, people I have a hard time lying to people when they ask "How are you doing?". I will naturally tell them the truth... which then makes them feel bad which is shortly followed by a very awkward ending to the conversation usually started by me saying "Let me let you go", which is code for "I acknowledge this is awkward and here is your way out". All in all, work keeps my mind off it... so I like being here.

I will say that its amazing to see who sticks by you thru these times of hardship. Its amazing what a simple text message, IM or phone call can mean or do to a persons spirits. Its also disheartening to see who backs off to give you "space" which is just a cop-out for not knowing what to say or do. Friends who had contact literally every day via phone call have fallen off the map, while others who hardly had any contact over the last few months, call 2-3 times a week.

All in all.... peoples prayers have helped and made my family and I thankful for the company we keep. All we can do now is wait, hope and pray. I heard a quote once that when "life gives you lemons, make lemonade". That doesn't apply here, so if you know one that does to make me feel better, please share.

Comfortably Numb?

Thats probably the best way to describe things right now. Wish I had some better news to write about. I have all these things bouncing around in that strange ol' head of mine, like a draft I started of my favorite things this year, or the rant about the Rangers and their offense, and lets not forget my growing aggravation with laser hair removal advertisements. But even with all that, I open up the ol' blog and find myself with zero I feel like writing about.

So Ill just hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday and wish you all a wonderful new year.

Tis The Season

Well, shopping on Saturday proved to be a complete clusterf*@k. People are certainly grouchy when it comes to xmas shopping, thats for sure. Isn't this supposed to be the season for sharing the joy and love? So put on a smile and enjoy yourself, will ya?!

Other Randomness
+ Got a check from Bank of America over the weekend for 2 cents. Last I checked, Stamps were 41 cents. So they lost money on that transaction no?
+ Vick gets 23 Months in prison. Lets start taking bets now which NFL team picks him up when he gets out of prison. I say L.A. but really, who am I kidding, I could care less.
+ Big ups to Comcast for randomly shutting off my hockey package to which no one can figure out what the problem is. Only Ranger win in more than a week and I have to miss it.
+ Time to go enjoy this 75 degree weather with a nice lunch outside. Via Christmas in the south!

The Day Dance Music Died

I knew it was happening, I really did. For the past year plus, the music I love, enjoy, produce and occasionally dance to has been falling by the waste side here in the states, or at least locally in the south. Ive watched packed dance floor numbers dwindle, radio stations play less of the music, record stores close down one by one and requests for steady bookings get few and far between.

Then on Friday, it hit me like a Amtrak derailing in the windy city... I went to a local night club called Opera. Slight back story for a second.. Opera is a not a new club, in theory. It used to be Eleven 50 and was recently close, given a 2+ million dollar face lift and re-opened. Eleven 50 was THE place to go for great dance, house, trance and otherwise general "techno" music in the city. I attribute this largely to an influential player in the scene who used to be the VIP manager at the club (who Ill remain nameless but we all know who she is) plus a promoter who threw parties EVERY Saturday night bringing big club DJ's with local DJ's as supporting players. Well as the clubs "focus" changed to the ever growing hip hop community, so did the presence of the aforementioned key players above. The promoter has since been brought back for Thursday night parties, and the VIP manager, well she quickly saw what was happening and bounced, rightfully so.

So this brings us to current day. This Friday, a bunch of friends went to Opera to show some out of town guests what partying in Atlanta is like. We arrive and still know the doorman, who hooked us up with a VIP table, but it was outside, where the house music was. We dig that, so we chill out there... with about 75 other people, while the club inside is packed wall to wall with the people. Mind you, the worst music is plying inside. I mash up of hip-hop, top 40, random scratching, and about 5 people rotating on the mic yelling at the crowd. Every song has either a reference to a "ho" or someone just saying "ho" as some sort of cat call about 40 times. I stopped and remembered when this type of music used to be outside the club, and the house music dominating inside the club. I thought maybe this was just a Friday night deal, as our night used to be on Saturday. After a few inquiries from the bar staff, I found out thats not the case. "This is how it is every night but the occasional Thursday when we open for house nights".

It was right then and there I officially had my own little burial for house music in Atlanta. I would have poured a few drops of Courvosier on the floor, but they were all out. I sure hope everything is cyclical, because if I have to put of with that music for any length of time, I may shoot myself.. or better yet, just board and Amtrak train. Thank god there are a few other outlets here in town; albeit on a much smaller scale, and of course the endless downloads my buddies and i share (thanks Carlos). As for the days of being in a packed 1000+ people club here in Atlanta, I guess Snoop was right when he said "Well, hip-hop is what makes the world go around."

Turkey Coma

Scratch that.. potato coma.. thanks Erich ;) Thanksgiving was a rousing success full of great food, wonderful friends and a lot of good times. We ate and drank.. and then drank and ate. Good stuff!

It always amazes me though, when people get together and have such a big meal, we all stuff our plate to insane heights like we can never fill it up again. And we gorge ourselves on every possible item as if we have to try everything, all at once like we are never eating again. Its quite classic actually. Even funnier, try eating too much on Turkey Day and then play Wii boxing. WOWSERS!

Hope everyone had a great T-Day! Google Gobble MOFO's!

We ain't gonna be terrorized

You dirty ass little Mutherf$@%ers. You think you got one up on me.. but you didn't. I hope the TV you stole broke, I hope the iPod you stole is 3 songs away from running out of battery power, I hope the glass you broke thru left cuts on your hands, and most of all; I hope you get caught and go to jail were some big hairy dude with tattoo's named "butch" makes you his "bitch". You are worthless and pathetic, but karma is a bitch. Oh yes it is!

Chompin & Stompin

What a blast yesterday was. The annual Chomp and Stomp took place in Cabbagetown. Lots of good laughs, killer weather, great food, cold beer and fantastic company lead to a wonderful afternoon. And the Ranger game in the evening was a complete success. All in all, couldn't ask for a better Saturday!


View The Pictures from Chomp and Stomp!

Weekend Notables

One thing I love about the fall is how perfect the weather is. Nothing was better than watching sports mostly all day Saturday with the windows wide open, cold beer in the fridge (with Beck's surprisingly becoming the new Noe-household standard) and the house to myself. The Dawgs looked like a team ready to pounce right from the opening kick off and I only wish some of that fire in their belly rubbed off on the Rangers who tanked it later in the night. Better start scoring boys... better start scoring. Sunday was spent out on the yard, getting the backyard all set and polishing off the remainder of said cold beer. All in all, not a bad way to spend the weekend. Probably could have played less Xbox and worked more on music, but I digress.

The Big Day

We are just starting to go thru the photos from the wedding. Here are just a few for you to see the most beautiful bride in the world. Man, I lucked out. More to come :)