Andrew Jesaitis ::

the attic of my mind

Top 5: Let’s Dance

I’ve come across some really excellent music lately. But, to keep things short and to the point I am just going to point you to the dance stuff (what else do you want to listen to on a Saturday Night).

The List:

1. Lil’ Boots – Remedy (Rusko’s Big Trainer’s Remix)
Whoa. Rusko is a really talented producer. This song turned me on to a whole new genre–dubstep. Dubstep is sort of a cross between Garage and DnB. Even if you have no idea what I just said, do yourself a favor and go check out the song. I guarantee that you will be bobin’ your head within seconds. The bassline is super pumpy and the song bounces between a catchy chorus and a great break. When I first discovered the track it was all I listened to for about a week and continues to be in regular rotation in all my playlists. Lil’ Boots – Remedy (Rusko Big Trainers Remix)

2. B.A.B.Y – Let’s Dance (feat. Bet You Are William)
This is a great track from Brynjolfur (aka B.A.B.Y.) out of Denmark. It’s a little bit edgy for House, but a really smooth break brings it back into balance. The magic happens when the vocals are overlaid on the bassline. The first time I heard it, I didn’t want it to stop. B.A.B.Y – Let’s Dance (feat. Bet You Are William)

3. Green Tea – Future Classic (feat. Kero One)
A flowy track you can’t help but enjoy from the San Francisco producer Green Tea. It’s got a really fun electro bassline and a little guitar rift that will leave a smile on your face. Green Tea – Future Classic (feat. Kero One)

4. Modwheelmood – Sunday Morning
Modwheelmood is made up of Alessandro Cortini (of Nine Inch Nails fame) and guitarist Pelle Hillström. This tune falls somewhere between electro-rock and pure dance. It’s a bit slower and isn’t going to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside with its haunting lyrics, but nonetheless it is a must hear. You’ll find yourself humming the spooky melody out of nowhere and then be itching to hear the track in full. Modwheelmood – Sunday Morning

5. Discovery – Osaka Loop Line
I’m not a talented enough dancer to do this track by Discovery justice. Somebody could really groove to the uber-syncopated intro and break. It sounds like nothing I have heard. Evolving from almost perfect noise, it blossoms into a beautiful song with a great beat. I actually thought my speakers were tweaking out for the first few bars. I can’t thank groups like this enough for truly providing a unique and wonderful offering. If you are wondering who is pushing music’s evolution, it’s these guys. Discovery – Osaka Loop Line

The Mighty Mo’

I just returned from a 4 day trip down a section of the Missouri River from Coal Banks Landing to Judith Landing. My dad and I had wanted to do a multi-day canoe trip for years and finally the stars aligned and we were able to put in at the beginning of October.

We chose to do a short section of the river at a slower than average pace to give us a bit more time to explore on shore. It also proved to be a good choice since the days are starting to get pretty short this late in the season. We averaged about 12 miles a day, which works out to around 3 hours of paddling. The river is quite low in October only flowing at 5600 cfs, compared to its yearly peak of 17,000 cfs in June each year. You can find the current flow at the on the USGS site.

Once on the river, it was easy to see why the Upper Missouri is a national Monument. The section we paddled is known for its white cliffs. As a climber, I couldn’t help, but drool over the miles of 100-300 foot sandstone walls. The only comparable place I have seen this amount of sandstone is the New River Gorge in West Virginia. But, anyone will appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the walls surrounding the river.

One of the highlights of the trip was hiking up Neat Coulee from the Eagle Creek Boat Camp. This coulee progressively narrows resembling a whitewashed Zion slot canyon. This walk should not be missed.

Overall, the camping was excellent. I, however, expected it to be less developed. Most of the boat camps have vault toilets and fire rings. The sites have been so heavily used that that the the grass had been worn away to bare earth. While it isn’t exactly a remote wilderness experience, it is for the best, as coping with the thousands of boaters who make the float each year means that concentrating the impact will actually preserve as much of the area as possible. Luckily, my dad and I avoided the hordes of people by rolling the dice on a late season trip. In fact, we only saw one group of people cruise by on a motor boat late Saturday afternoon (after September 15 the motorized craft restrictions were lifted).

Quick Take

It was a great experience with none of the stress of a climbing trip or the sacrifices of a backpacking trip. The scenery is breathtaking. The canoeing is easy (think giant moving lake). If you like the outdoors and just want to unplug and unwind for a few days, I highly recommend it.

Vitals:

Distance: 44 miles
Time: 4 days
Outfitter: Upper Missouri River Guides