Pseudo religious prog? Spoken word space music? I could go on, but I think it is safe to say that there is not an easy title to describe the music of local group Moonstone. The band, who are releasing their debut record NR: 4; 3.1-3, are not afraid to try out something different. While it will not be for everyone, and will probably have a limited shelf life for many, it at least needs to be acknowledged for its scope and brevity.
The album is only 5 tracks long, but it still is a solid 32 minutes long, with the first track, “Introduction,” not actually containing any music. The “lyrics” are delivered in a fashion that sounds like a new age preacher on a mescaline bender. When the music does kick in on “Erotic Banquet,” it comes across with a seriousness that you may not expect after hearing the mind bending sermon that starts the record. There are funky keys, bouncing bass and stabbing guitars that spread out over eight highly funky and intriguing minutes, at moments sounding more than a little like Daft Punk. “Fragments of Court Document” goes back to the brain rot of the spoken word portions, which found me itching to hit the next button to get back to the music. “Crossroads” is the track that sounds most like a song on the album, with actual singing and an invigorating drum beat pushing the song forward. The record ends with the 10 minute “The Death of First Earth,” which wraps together all of the various parts the band has introduced over the course of the album. The track weaves through various different sections, with some singing, some spoken word and quite a few different, but equally great, musical sections.
The band are clearly talented and the “lyrics” are somewhat entertaining, although the joke gets a little old near the end. In the end, this is a CD that won’t be for everyone, but is going to be in constant rotation for the people who really connect with it. The group has taken the path of most resistance, with dense, dramatic and overtly analytical music and singing. The question each person will find themselves asking if whether they think the ideas presented are cheesy and trite or forward thinking and engaging. I lean towards the later, especially concerning the music, and am looking forward to where this supremely interesting band will go next.
RUFFIN’ IT; Bake your own pet treats and maintain control of your animal’s diet. (It’s economical and fun to do, too.).(TASTE)
Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) November 3, 2005 | Smith, Judy Romanowich Byline: Judy Romanowich Smith; Staff Writer Cliff came trotting into the kitchen as soon as the cooked chicken livers plopped into the food processor. He sat mesmerized, his tongue hanging out, as they whirled into a puree. He licked his chops as I measured out what I needed and as I put the rest in a freezer bag. “Do you want a treat?” I asked. His tail slapped the floor. Why bake your own dog treats? You can use all-natural ingredients. You know exactly what your pet is getting. Many commercial treats have artificial coloring and preservatives. But beware that you don’t add ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. (See accompanying list on T4.) It’s economical. Many recipes use basic ingredients, such as flour, rolled oats and eggs, that you usually have on hand. You can use items that might otherwise be thrown away, such as chicken livers or small portions of leftover meat, pureed. I boil scraps and bones to make chicken broth after boning chicken breasts. After straining, the broth is perfect for dog treat recipes. You can satisfy your desire to bake without having to deal with the calories. There’s nothing like baking to warm up the kitchen on a cool fall day, but sometimes having sweet baked goods around the house can sabotage your commitment to healthful eating. You’re not likely to be tempted by these biscuits. It’s fun. Have your kids help mix them up and roll them out. The recipes are very forgiving, so it would be difficult for a child to ruin a batch. Let them use whatever cookie cutters they wish, even the Santas and Easter bunnies. The dog won’t care. see here dog treat recipes
Your dog will love you for it. Cliff sat at my feet until those chicken livers were finally baked into treats. He snoozed a bit while they cooled and then eagerly sampled them. Now they are his favorite, and I can’t visit the freezer where they are stored without him trailing behind me and gazing up at me expectantly.
WITH TREATS, SAFETY FIRST There are thousands of recipes on the Internet for baking dog biscuits. Many contain ingredients that may be harmful to dogs. If you are using a recipe from the Internet, be sure it is from a trusted source. If you have questions, ask your veterinarian.
Here is a partial list of ingredients to avoid with dogs, from “Cooking the Three Dog Bakery Way,” by Mark Beckloff and Dan Dye.
– Bones from fish, poultry or other meat sources: Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
– Chocolate and coffee: Contain theobiomine and caffeine, which can be toxic and affect the heart, perhaps fatally.
– Fat trimmings: Can cause pancreatitis.
– Macadamia nuts: Contain an unknown toxin that can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscles.
– Onions: Contains sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia.
– Raisins: Newly discovered to contain unknown toxins that may damage the kidneys when consumed in quantity.
– Salt: Large quantities may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
– Sugary foods: Can lead to obesity, dental problems and diabetes.
LIVE IT UP CHICKEN TREATS – X Makes about 100 thin strips.
Note: You can make chicken broth by boiling the chicken liver. To puree liver, try a food processor, potato masher or fork. Add broth to make the puree the consistency of mashed potatoes. A pound of liver made 11/4 c. puree. Liver in large amounts can cause vitamin A toxicity and be harmful to dogs, so don’t over feed. From “Doggie Delights & Kitty Cuisine,” by Martha Ward.
– 1/2 c. pureed cooked chicken liver – 1 c. chicken broth, plus up to 1/4 c. to make puree (see Note) – 1/2 c. dry nonfat dry milk – 1 tbsp. Brewer’s yeast – 1 c. soy flour – 3 c. whole-wheat flour – 1 c. rolled oats Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Mix liver puree, broth and dry milk in a large mixing bowl; set aside. In a separate mixing bowl, mix yeast, flours and oats. Add to liquid mixture, blending until all ingredients are moist.
Roll or pat out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into 1/4 inch strips on prepared sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Remove treats from oven and cool on a wire rack. Break into small pieces to serve. Store baked treats in an airtight container and place in freezer.
SIMPLEST DOG BISCUITS – X Makes about 75 small biscuits.
You’ll likely have most of these ingredients on hand. From “Tasty Treats for Demanding Dogs,” by Gregg R. Gillespie. in our site dog treat recipes
– 3 c. whole-wheat flour – 1/2 c. nonfat dry milk – 1/3 c. vegetable shortening – 1 large egg – 3/4 c. beef or chicken broth, or enough for processing Directions Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Lightly grease or use parchment paper to line 2 cookie sheets or baking trays. In a large bowl, using a fork or wire whisk, blend the flour and dry milk. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in shortening. In a small bowl, using a fork, beat the egg and broth together until smooth. Using a large spoon, a spatula or your hand, combine the two mixes, blending until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl and a soft sticky dough forms. If the mixture seems a little dry, add a little broth, a tablespoonful at a time. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured flat surface, and using a rolling pin, roll out to 1/4-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out as many cookies as you can, reworking the scraps as you go. The dough will become stiff as it is reworked. Place the cookies side by side on the prepared cookie sheets or baking trays. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the cookies appear very dry and the edges are light golden brown. Remove the trays from the oven and cool to room temperature. Turn off the oven. When the cookies have cooled completely, put all of them on a single baking tray and return them to the cooling oven. Leave them undisturbed, without opening the oven door, for 8 to 16 hours.
just FYI, they recently officially changed their name to Moonstone Continuum:
http://www.myspace.com/moonstonefacemelt