My Bird Performs

I was halfway through the Smokey Mountains when I realized what I'd forgotten. For anyone who doesn't know by now, last week was my summer vacation. The fam and I, along with my illustrious compatriots from the B-Squad, made the annual trek down to the Gulf of Mexico for a week of sun, surf, and red algae. Seriously. The stuff was everywhere.

Aside from the overabundance of certain sea flora, it was a relaxing week. We split our time between the World Cup in the morning and seeing the sights of South Florida in the evening. Here's a list of highlights, complete with links where applicable:

- Naples Winery. The finest vineyard in the state, and the only one authorized by the Florida government itself. We snagged a bottle of the Orange Blossom Honey Wine during a trip to their store at Tin City, and deemed it worthy. If you're a fan of any variety of fruit wines, be sure to check out the site above, as they ship all across the country (even to the oft-frozen wastes that are the Great Lakes states).

- Wooten's Everglades Airboat Tours . You know all of those stereotypically seedy, unintelligible fanboat operators that you see in swamp-based movies? Well, they're real, and they work at Wooten's. In all seriousness, if you've never been on an airboat tour in the Everglades, you owe yourself to check it out before its too late.

- The Cigar Hut. If our condo had been closer, I'm pretty sure I would've spent most of the week at the Cigar Hut. Ft. Myers Beach's only tobaccanist is right along the main drag, yet it always manages to maintain a distinctly local feel. We paid the Hut a visit on three occasions during the week, and each time the same guys were there, occupying the same chairs, smoking the same cigars, and having the same laughs as the time before. All things considered, it was refreshingly inviting, but that might just be the Macanudos talking.

- Sanibel-Captiva. We stay in Ft. Myers Beach when we go to Florida, but we always get sick of the tourist trap atmosphere that pervades the length of Estero Boulevard. Our escape traditionally came in the form of Sanibel and Captiva, two islands that, though nearby, managed to escape the overdevelopment of their neightbors. However, since our last visit in 2004, the twins had suffered major damage at the hands of Hurricane Charley, so our return was tempered with nervousness. Fortunaely, our fears were mostly allayed: while much of the natural greenery that gave the island its secluded charm has been blown away, our favorite man-made landmarks remain intact. These include Huxter's Liquors (which may have the coolest name I've ever heard for a purveyor of sin and vice), Matzaluna (try the escargot), and the Mucky Duck (check out hurricane pics here).

We started the drive home Saturday, finished Sunday, and took Monday and Tuesday off for decompression. Regular updates resume now, and begin with the Florida-related pair of songs that follow.



Chocolate U.S.A. - Bookbag. When it came time to find a Florida band for the update, I was almost stumped. Fortunately for me, fate decided to smile on me, finally willing Soulseek to produce results for this early-90s twee gem. Formed as Miss America in 1989 when most of its members were still in high school, Chocolate U.S.A. combined the psych-revival sensibilities of the community that would become the Elephant 6 Collective with equal parts grunge crunch and shoegazing swirl. The band was also multi-instrumentalist Julian Koster's first musical playground. On 1993's Smoke Machine, Koster (who would go onto greater acclaim as a member of both the Olivia Tremor Control and Neutral Milk Hotel) proves that he's also a capable frontman, turning out tracks with all the imprecise charm of a lopsided grin. The fact that the group only produced one proper album is, if not an out-and-out travesty, certainly unfortunate.

Guster - Satellite. And now, I present the official soundtrack of my vacation. Of the five CDs I bought last week (Mel Tormé, Hot Chip, Minus the Bear, Sun Kil Moon and Guster), only the last one stuck with me over more than one initial listen. I'm not sure what it is about the boys from Boston's new one, Ganging Up On The Sun, but it's latched itself to my brain and won't let go. The album reflects on isolation, desire, and that uncomfortable feeling that arises when you realize that you're just not comfortable anymore. This track, which is about as radio-ready as they come, compares the speaker's lover (or ex-lover) to a satellite: always around, always present, always unreachable. Remarkably, the sad realization brings more comfort than it banishes. That may be what makes the album click.

BONUS: Guster - One Man Wrecking Machine. There's a rueful sense humor on this album, one which pushes through the best on this track. As the singer reflects on revisiting the people, places, and ideas of youth, and the chorus hooks you by the bottom lip, you might get the feeling that this song does in four minutes what Garden State did in two hours. Then again, you might not. Your call.

If you like what you hear from Guster, then buy their album. As far as other tracks go, I recommend the single, "Manifest Destiny", which can be found at respectable blogs like Loudersoft. Enjoy, and see you tomorrow.

Posted by Tyler on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at 2:01 AM | Permalink