The Shins - Port Of Morrow

Listen To - Port Of Morrow The long waited fourth album by the universally respected and recently reassembled  Shins offer the customary cryptic lyrics layered over airy guitars, familiar folk progressions, and hints of twang.  The album at times can be lulling but never boring, loud but never obnoxious. Producer Greg Kurstin sends specs of Sixties style gold and Nineties indie pop through a folky psychedelic digital blender producing a very drinkable embellished concoction.  Mercer, lead singer and songwriter,...

The Dusty Desert Dream

I had the unexpected chance to climb Hueco Tanks over spring break this past week. I dropped everything, packed up, and set out to find myself in the desert mountains of El Paso. I left the jobs, the gyms, the schools, families, cars, beaches, concerts, traffic, internet, cell phones, and everything in between for a pile of choss and the chance to temporarily live the luscious "dirt-bag" lifestyle. Living in the city is not enough. I had to take from the barren land of west Texas to fulfill my void. My comfortable bed...

What Would You Do for a Sharma Shoe?

                                 The Evolv demo at Exposure this Wednesday was a tempered success.  The decision Exposure and Evolv made to present to the gym and its members the opportunity to test the quality of product created an obligation for curious climbers to attend. Having the demo on ladies night and week one of March Madness comp was well played.                   ...

So Far, So Hard

March madness at Exposure is currently underway. The guys over at Exposure are doing things a little differently this time around. Upon paying your five dollar entrance fee to compete you are given a score sheet to record your performance. The sheet divides scores by the four problems and the four weeks of competition. The classes of climbing are Novice (v0-v2) Intermediate (v3-v5) Advanced (v6-v8) and Elite (v9+). The scoring is based on an honor system in which you record your attempts on a problem and have a witness initial....

Storm a-brewin'

The classroom was silent except for the gentle downpour of tapping which crescendo'd into a hail storm of clicks and clacks . Kids to my left diligently typing , a window to my right. Boredom struck me like a bolt of lightning telling me to run to the shelter of Facebook. I saw the march madness post on the Exposure wall, and like a role of thunder, I cracked out a deep and powerful "YES!". I was immediately drenched with unwanted attention as the typing stopped and all gazes flooded my way.  Design by Lou Rodriguez March...