Thus they usurp our Vapid Din

Nostalgia came at me.... with a Knife

2010-01-07T17:43:00.006-05:00

Actually, not in the mood for the Knife, but a capitalized "knife" sounds far more threatening than a lower-case one, no?

Let's start with Shiny Toy Guns (whoops, another weapon, eh?)

..... moving on.

to some Philip Glass, o' course

I can't skip Modest Mouse.

and to finish it all off, some Sigur Ros

-Ang

A Musing of Sorts Or: Why Don't I Ever Listen to Glasvegas?

2010-01-02T15:48:00.003-05:00

I mean, honestly, I finally dig up their self-titled album, and I don't give it a nice good listen?? What the...?

and

Hey, I like the Scots, what can I say?

Thanks to a quick Daddy's Gone search on Hypem, I find a blog that recently posted on them (including some download links to both the above songs (I swear, I did not know when I found those videos (or even finding those, I'm just going through my music collection (which is how this usually happens) and stumbled upon Glasvegas)). See/download here. The blog's not half bad, so I'd suggest taking a look around while you're there.

*I'm not in the mood to resize these because this blog for some reason can't accommodate their shear awesomeness (or width, whichever).

-Ang

Alas, boredom strikes again. Also, more Druml N' Bass

2010-01-01T14:55:00.001-05:00

What can I say? I like this band. This song is awesome, as it were.

Why not have a few more songs, I say?

^(SOO so much <3)

Couldn't embed this one by Rodrigo Leao, but it's amazingly worth it. Pure instrumental (more in the classical/soundtrack-like way) awesomeness.

Purely because I love it.....

In general, anytime I mention music, it tends to be recent enough that you could hop onto hypem and find it. I hope you can pull up this stuff, because most of it tends to be overlooked (minus the BMSR one..... definitely NOT overlooked.... except perhaps by me)

^That video just happens to be amazing, and amazingly well done.

EDIT: BONUS. Just found this video.... same producer/artist from the last, but with only his composition and none of this vocal/singing nonsense

Finals, Dogs Die In Hot Car's revival of sorts, and Why I Hate The Holidays

2009-12-14T21:12:00.005-05:00

Yes, it is in fact that time of year again.

Finals week.

I've already pulled my way through two fairly easy finals, and with only one to go (tomorrow: econ), I'm not all that worried. Just brushing up on my tax incidence and market failure while listening to all the music I've downloaded and kept in my "Music To Tag" folder which I still haven't tagged and has been in there for the entire summer, etc.

No matter, a couple from there have already caught my attention.

First off, we have Cold War Kids. With only one quick listen to its credit, I've already approved highly of Audience of One.

Good stuffz.

Next up, Moy.

Moy is the solo "side-project" of Craig Macintosh of the late,great Dogs Die In Hot Cars (it's too late now to pick up the entire Second Album Project off their website, but hopefully said Second Album Project will be out shortly (along with the Makers EP). But anyway, it's nice to hear Craig making some moosix again, and I will eagerly wait for these songs in mp3 form (seeing as an audio rip from a youtube video is always of poor quality).

Before we leave this note, I want to post some DDHC as reference.

Next order of business, Christmas.

So, there's this thing on planet earth called "Christmas." Only a cross-section of said planet celebrates said holiday, as said holiday is not nationally based, but is religiously based. Among other fluctuations over time, there is the main fact that this "Christmas" is no longer some incentive for pagans to sign up for the christian religion.

What I mean to say is that there is this aspect of Christmas, that's called.... gifts. Yeah... presents. Crazy shit, but I'm sure it was all the plan of some sick sadistic[ally awesome] economist somewhere (*shakes fist at Adam Smith*). So yeeaaahh, guess who sucks at buying presents for people.

This leads me to my final final note, called "The-only-Christmas-and-holiday-song-I-actually-like-and-I-mean-REALLY-like-to-the-point-where-I-WILL-play-it-all-Christmas-to-combat-my-parents'-music-selection"

You can download the mp3 here, courtesy of Pop Tarts Suck Toasted

Drum N' Bass and Candied Orange Zest

2009-12-09T12:50:00.000-05:00

I'm doing that thing again where I should be reading/doing work of some sort, and instead, here I am.

I'm vaguely in a baking mood, so earlier I tried my hand a making some candied orange zest. I think it came out fairly well.... and delicious. I like oranges, but not really. It's a weird relationship we have, Oranges and I.

No matter, music listening of late has been slightly lacking, but I have been obsessively listening to London Elektricity every now and then (apart from that day I just played through GoodBooks and Dogs Die In Hot Cars and RJD2).

This video is... one of like... maybe 3 music videos this band has. I personally love the songs Sat Nav and Point Of No Return and Just One Second, however, this video for All Hell Is Breaking Loose is pure awesome.

The Reason To Be On Band Mailing Lists

2009-10-14T01:34:00.002-04:00

Honestly though, some bands.... have obnoxious mailing lists (i.e., the ones generated by the record label they're signed to (namely a problem with bands signed to larger labels.... I think it was Maximo Park emails that pissed me off.... no matter)) but others... now others, have nice/epic ones. Think.... The New Pornographers, where their email newsletters are actually both useful and entertaining, while not pushing you to listen to some unrelated band from the same label.

Not the point, however. No. In my inbox, just now, I got an email from the Greycoats' mailing list. Of course, it included the expected rundown of shows (that I probably can't go to seeing as they're down in friggin' NY, which I would only be able to hit if I were to go back home for the weekend... which I'd just rather not do.....). However, however, it also had a link to download their album.... for FREE.

Yeah.... amazing. I mean, the link didn't work directly for me, but I figured it out, and here we have it, the link to download Setting Fire To The Great Unknown.

Awesome, I know. Top picks are: the 3 songs I previously had-- Watchman, What Is Left Of The Night?, Goodbye, Sweet Youth, Goodbye (see below), and Monarch Wings.... and now, I get to add to the list An Echo In The Dark (from what I've listened to so far... it's not fair these other songs have to compete with what I've heard/known/liked for months)

-Ang

Medical Alert: Walking is bad for you (especially in excess)

2009-10-11T03:49:00.003-04:00

Well, not bad for you per se, but when I walk excessively, either shit goes down, or I end up picking up/buying a ton of crap. For the past couple of weekdays (and for a few more in the forceable future), I've been walking back to campus from Downtown Crossing. This results in me dawdling massively, taking a not so quite short cut through the mall just to get free samples, rerouting myself so that I walk through Borders and get stuff with my gift card(s), and then finishing off the route getting giddy about it being rather, unexpectadly windy.

No matter, the original title for this post was going to be "Everyone I Know Is Listening To Crunk," which is only accurate for me if you change "listening to crunk" to..... something else. I dunno, urban dictionary has some interesting definitions for crunk...

-Ang

The wind seems to have an odd effect on me.

2009-10-08T19:42:00.005-04:00

It's been a weeee bit on the windy side up har in boston lately (aka, the past two/three days), and I somehow always seem to be walking outside somewhere (same area too, now that I think of it...) when the wind becomes overtly ridiculous. And it's weird, well... I'm weird, in that each time this has happened usually when I'm carrying groceries or other random crap back from Trader Joes, Borders, and the ilk, I get this extremely giddy feeling, to the point where I smile like some nutter on the street (it's bad enough I pseudo-talk to myself as it is....).

Anyways, so, long time no write, am I right? Things have been... different lately, and since school started I have either no free time or massive free time (guess which one of those I sort of semi have, coincidentally, right now?) Thus, I decided that now I shall rant here, for my own mental health and for everyone (/anyone's (?)) entertainment

For today's rant, we're going to base it off of something that I might've just posted someplace else, but no matter, here we go.

This is what would happen if this was possible.

-Ang

Just a taste: Olafur Arnalds

2009-07-28T21:35:00.001-04:00

I can't believe this post is still listed as a draft.... how embaressing

more pathetic... it's been in the works since sometime in April/May

Another ambient/instrumental band of note is the Icelandic one-man show, Ólafur Arnalds. If the Icelandic wasn't a big enough hint, think subtle, yet powerful elevator music .

You can pick up one of my top songs by him, Fok, at Last.fm. You can also pick up his "one song a day" project entitled Found Songs here. Out of those, I would definately say that Erla's Waltz, otherwise referred to as Day One, is pretty fantastic.

Just below, we have the music video for 3055

as well as a really nice Death Cab For Cutie cover (which is a lot coming from someone who doesn't particularly appreciate DCfC.... probably their voices seeing as Oli's version is purely instrumental)

Just a taste: Architect of the Universe and An Astrologist's Guide To The Stars In The Sky

2009-07-23T01:53:00.005-04:00

(do you like the theme?)

Once more, a myspace treasure (so, yes more ambient), Architect of the Universe has a really healthy beat, slightly upbeat (in the way that Tim and Sam's Tim and the Sam band with Tim and Sad is) but with a very full sound. Under the Stairs I Climb is a personal favourite, and their (really just "his") music can be found on last.fm. (Can't find his myspace anymore.... which is odd. Nonetheless, I have a link to download Under The Stairs I Climb as well as Well Yea (just for kicks))

Also, we have the side project/spin-off of Bark Cat Bark, An Astrologist's Guide To The Stars In The Sky. A very noticable similarity connects to two, but I find that Astrologist's (flippin' long title, that one, and I like capitalising everything, so it becomes annoying for someone who, like me, doesn't actually type properly (I hail from the school of make-it-up-as-you-go-along (that too was vaguely annoying to type))) sounds a bit less... can I say... French? (do NOT go blaming this on the 'Allo 'Allo watching (good episode, just for the sausage jokes *nudge nudge*))

This diference probably lies in the fact that Bark Cat Bark's sound relies heavily on strings (namely the violin) while Astrologist's is completely backed with a delicately played piano (both are instrumental though.... actually... so is Architect Of The Universe. I guess today's theme wasn't just the sky/universe (and associated professions starting with "A"))

Awesomely enough, you can download some songs by him/them (another recurring theme, I see) from last.fm, among which there are my favourites: Biorheology, Parachutes, and Aquarius.

Bottoms up!

-Ang

Just a Taste: Whitetree and The Tumbled Sea

2009-04-26T20:16:00.010-04:00

It's been quite some time since I've been up here.... typing words.... saying... something, at least theoretically....

Courtesy of schoolwork and at least one other particular source, the boredom and unacceptable hours of free time was slightly lacking in the past month or so. But alas, here I am, returned to talk out of boredom once more

This time I wish to discuss some recent finds (I think it was from a related artist search or something... one can never be sure)

First up, Whitetree and their new album Cloudland. According to this site, "Whitetree is a collaboration between the Italian classical composer Ludovico Einaudi, and electronic/post rock artists Robert Lippok and Ronald Lippok, from To Rococo Rot."

The cascading sounds of a gently played piano framed with the occasional beats make light piano music more accessible and highly enjoyable. In a weird way, they remind me of Eluvium:

Eluvium: An Accidental Memory in the Case of Death

or perhaps....

Explosions in the Sky: Your Hand In Mine

Anyways, on to....

Whitetree: Koepenik

So, yes, excellent new find I can't not listen to. You can find their album Cloudland here, thanks to Beautifull Noise.

Add to the list The Tumbled Sea, a one-man band that supposedly hails from Boston (a good reason to hope they play some shows there)(I think i found them last.fm tagged "Boston music"))

I leave you with, as a form of introduction:

The Tumbled Sea: Children Building This Rainman Out Of Snow

I'm really digging We're Turning Into Regular People (another good reason I recently added it to a mixtape.. after only listening to the band itself a couple of times), but I couldn't find a video for that one,with the exception of the short film that features The Tumbled Sea that is mentioned on his myspace. Here it is, in part 1:

Distance Part 1

and yes, I figued that I would go a bit video crazy since I decided I needed to embed the Whitetree song

He put his album Songs By The Tumbled Sea up for free download, and I'd highly advise having a listen

And here is where I must leave you, with excellent elevator like music of awesomeness

* * *

Side note: when did Six Flags get a new dancing old guy for the commercials..... I do not approve.

Just a taste: Intruder Alert!

2009-03-18T19:02:00.003-04:00

Thanks to me and optimism having a falling out (thank you stupid housing sign up for next year. The one time I think that I actually have good luck and didn't somehow fail at something from lack of caring, I just ended up getting screwed over. Hopefully I have to refute this and edit this bit out tomorrow at this time, but that's highly unlikely), I need to return to my ambient music. Although my peppy music is good for when I feel unenthused and blah, somehow the ambient can cancel out my exhuberance as well as my utter disappointment and annoyance.

But none of this is of great importance.

Here we are, a new installment of the "Taste" series of posts. Intruder Alert! (yup, another ambient search term find)

I feel like I should want to go on and on about them, but what is there to really say? You kind of just have to have a listen for yourself. But I'll tell you what... it's pretty great. Very electronica-ish with a piano thrown in for good measure (I say piano... I mean keyboard), and in songs like Please Don't the voice sounds a bit Akon/ T-Pain. I also approve of The Twilight Effect, which I can actually find on youtube, so ha, but I personally love The Memory Could Not Be Read.... Rather epic, that one

Just a taste: Ivan Campo

2009-03-15T14:50:00.008-04:00

Currently Listening: The Concubine by Beirut and Walk in the Park by Oh No! Oh My!

As another band that was the direct result of a fairly productive search on myspace for "ambient," Ivan Campo is the most recent of which I've begun to listen to more and more.

Again, another upswing in my listening of more ambient/acoustic/piano rock minded bands, Ivan Campo are no different. The songs on their Myspace are of course the ones I'm acquainted with, and of those, the best of the best would have to be The Great Procrastinator and the Curse. Best described as a healthy cross between the sound of Windmill with the low key melody that carries each song and the acoustic stylings of (I know, I can't believe I have to make this reference either) Jason Mraz (at least in that one video) with a bit of an uplifting beat.

Some songs you can pick up are on their website, and of those I very much like Where Did They All Go Wrong and Fickle Friends.

Of course, bands like this remind me of my slight addiction to, apart from the already referenced Windmill (check out Plastic Pre-Flight Seats, Tokyo Moon, and Asthmatic), Air Traffic.

What can I say, I love their album Fractured Life, but no song quite as much as Time Goes By and Never Even Told Me Her Name. Here, check out the video of Shooting Star (the easiest video of them to find). The video is a bit odd, but this is definitely their catchiest song.

-Ang

Just a taste: Greycoats

2009-03-05T00:22:00.005-05:00

Currently Listening: Goodbye, Sweet Youth, Goodbye by Greycoats and Viorar Vel Til Loftarasa by Sigur Ros

It's been a while since the itch to talk about a band has been so unnerving, so unrelenting, thus leading to a discussion of the Minneapolis band Greycoats

What can I say about them, eh? Apparently their song, Watchman, What Is Left Of The Night? was featured on an episode of Gossip Girl (*gaghurl*) -apart from that, this song is, in my opinion, the best from their album.

I'm trying to remember if I found them during my myspace search for the genre tag "ambient" which turned out a few good listens, much to my surprise. They might've been a byproduct of random blog scouring, but who knows, here they are.

My confusion is evident upon playing a track. With a delicate melody wrapping around not-quite-haunting, not-quite-enamoring vocals, they were immediately thrown onto the "chill" mix I have set up for when Jel asks me to play music when she's going to go to sleep.

The thing that excites me even more about them (and this often is the case, but maybe not to this extent) is their website. It's like political satire gone... right, for a change. Not a single area of their page has not been touched by the antiquated speech patterns evident on their front page to their contact page. Heck, even the pages are appropriately titled "Diplomacy" (that's the contact page) and a side bar named "Telegraphy" which is essentially a news bulletin.

Fantastic!

* * *

Apart from random bits and pieces strewn across the blogosphere or embedded in the depths of Myspace obscurity, I've taken to re-listening to a couple of bands, some more than others.

First, I'm sure Toby would be proud that I'm listening to Sigur Rós more than I perhaps ever have, thanks to a nudge by a new friend that led me to watch the aforementioned music video. Of course, awesome new friend sent along the 10 minute version, thanks Dan!

But yes, apparently I've been in the mood for more ambient music (hence the fruitful/less Myspace search), which has somehow caused a bit of a resurrgence with regards to +/-.

I'm actually surprised that I haven't written about them until now, but I guess Tabs took care of that a while back. Alas, +/- and my listening to them (and obsessingly listening to Snowblind and/or Surprise!) is certainly a direct result of a blog, and I'm sad to say that once more I do not recall which.

I should keep track of this, but I feel the band itself is more important than how I heard about them (unless it's a ridiculously awesome story, or just a ridiculous story (like how I found ballboy doing a last.fm tag search for "scottish" -actually, that's not the only one, but we won't go there just now))

And, the last band for this group I can't even quite justify. Another byproduct of blog reading and music gathering (business, and pleasure?) the Dear Hunter, not to be confused with Deerhunter, or Deerhoof, or Dear and the Headlights, or any other "dear" or "deer" related bands.

However, sound-wise, The Dear Hunter is different than its peers and its self-proclaimed genre tags. To call them just ambient/indie/rock is a bit narrow. They're kind of like if Ted Leo/The Pharmacists and the Decemberists were to meet.... an orchestra (or just an aptly equipped Arcade Fire) and just start jamming. Top picks would be the amusingly named The Pimp and the Priest, Battesimo Del Fuoco, and of course, the epicly awesome Oracles of the Delphi Express.

While I'm here, can I also applaud their myspace page. Yay imbedded content that reminds me of The Arcade Fire.

....and I'm spent

-Ang

A Random Commentary from: Miles Kurosky

2009-02-22T14:52:00.008-05:00

- The reason that Miles Kurosky should influence more children or: why I should acquire this movie

http://www.furtherdownfilms.com/video/beulahtrailer/

that trailer right there, for Beulah's documentary ("rockumentary") A Good Bad Is Easy To Kill (get it, because they have that song A Good Man Is Easy To Kill) that's why Miles Kurosky is my role model... just in those first few seconds.... "learning how to cook hippy fucking food"

oh, yes....

EDIT: And I've since determined that Miles is an awesome interview subject, as visible here.

EDIT EDIT: Awesome quote:

"the funny thing is that I was only reacting to the fact that we've made Bob Dylan and people like him into sacred cows. And the fact is, yeah, he's fucking Bob Dylan, but that shouldn't be it. If Bob Dylan releases forty minutes of flatulence, are we supposed to be excited by that?"

-Ang

Just a taste: my obsessions: Vol. 1

2009-02-22T14:16:00.002-05:00

Over the time where I began to listen to obscene amounts of music, there have been bands of note that I've determined are ones I could not possibly live without.

First and foremost, Goodbooks (occasionally spelled Good Books, but why separate the two, eh?). Probably ever since their inception (most likely introduced to me by Last.fm or iLike) I can easily just listen to this band all damn day and not get sick (though if it follows the original Passchendaele with the KGB remix and then the Minotaur Shock More Faithful remix, there may be resultant slaughtering).

This relatively lesser-known band straight out of Kent, Goodbooks is an odd hybrid of electronic twangs, and beat-following guitars, accompanied by lyrics that showcase social commentaries.

But yes, Goodbooks.... my hands down favourite band, and I wish I could acquire their CD easier... not that I don't already have most of the song by MAGICK

Songs that I do have and love, namely Passchendaele (KGB remix or original), Leni (Crystal Castles Remix), and Beautiful to Watch (which has a fairly awesome/weird video where he wears a hoody (I feel that is to blame) that makes Max Cooke look even younger than he already does.... apart from when he grows his hair out to ridiculous levels).

Closely following (and at least according to my last.fm, dominating), the Glaswegian lovelies: Dogs Die In Hot Cars. Redoing pop-y music by giving it nonsensical lyrics, the Scottish band has reemerged from the ether not to long ago (who has two thumbs and was the anonymous tipster.... this guy). This revival is in response to the wait for a second album after the success of their first album, Please Describe Yourself (yup, you can tell how much I love a band when I actually OWN one of their Cd's) that was interrupted by a break up, but not in an expected/hopefully revival that would cause them to go on tour and come to Boston (oh, wishful thinking... I hate you).

No, their second album project actually invites the "regular" folks to come along and rehash any of the songs that appear on their site, in full which you can download for free. Awesome sauce

Anyways, songs of note include a couple from the project: Squeeze, Plutonic Dancing, and Something For The Good Boys. Also, from the first album/various singles, Glimpse at The Good Life, I Love You 'Cause I Have To, and Please Describe Yourself.

Another defunct band to toss on the list, Beulah. Hailing from California (noticeably, I might (and shall) add), their quasi-psychedelic (if you watch any of their music videos, you'll immediately understand).

The easiest video to find from them is for Gene Autry (not my favourite, but a good song from my favourite album, The Coast Is Never Clear), which is unfortunate because I really do <3>

Although they can be initially deemed as just a wee bit ridiculous, Beulah always managed to put out music, each album being the off-spring of some unbalanced emotional break (not just because of Miles Kurosky's bipolar disorder (as many problems as that caused, he still writes great shit)

Of course, this is another band I missed before they split, but that doesn't stop one from purchasing some merchandise... which I actually want to/intended to do.... hrmmmm

Anyways, great songs of theres would have to be (in order of appearance..... hey, they're one of the bands I like that lasted long enough to have multiple albums): If We Can Land A Man On The Moon Surely I Can Win Your Heart, Matter vs. Space, Cruel Minor Change, A Good Man Is Easy To Kill, A Man Like Me, and Fooled With The Wrong Guy..... yes, uber long list of excellence

All is well. There we have a good installment in what is likely to be a ridiculously intense series.

Cheers

-Ang

Just a taste: Matt and Kim

2009-02-18T22:10:00.007-05:00

Though I won't often do this, I feel that I must. Although I should be studying for the two midterms I have tomorrow, I instead chose to type up this little blurb (and no, my procrastination is not the uncommon event, but the topic itself).

Tonight, Afterhours (the on campus "club" like venue where bands play, and because we're in Boston, the bands come through at sucky times of the week.... like Wednesday night) played host to Brooklyn band Matt and Kim.

Their opening band, Henry Gale (pictured above), was a soft rock/ambient group coming from Boston (go figure). Sitting nonchalantly at my table, I watched in amusement at the groups of people standing up close to the stage (see: raised dais maybe a foot off the floor) in their atypical hipster apparel. The look seemed straight out of an urban outfitters cum American apparel cum thrift shop catalogue: combining dark skinny jeans and hoodies, cigarette pants and presumably thrifted over sized green fleece, with the usual dotting of beanie-covered messy tufts of hair. As if their outfits didn't cinch it, the small clusters stood awkwardly around the front, trying in vain to act as though they were fully "into" the tones cascading from the three guitars in front of them: legs eagerly bouncing on the floor (with the beat or otherwise), heads bobbing in mock approval, and of course, the people that were JUST STANDING THERE. Obviously, these are my favourites, for were I to not have been sitting casually at a table with a friend, I could easily have been one of those gawkers on the outer fringes, trying to "feel" the music but either not getting it, or not caring enough to pretend appropriately.

Nonetheless, the songs of Henry Gale more or less flowed into one another. They did mention the name of one song, Flame, but were you to play me the songs they played in that set back to me, I would not likely be able to name which one Flame was, mainly due to the lack of distinct rhythm.... or words.

....yeah, probably the words. It seemed to be the main/only problem they really had, otherwise it was pretty good. And by pretty good I mean vaguely forgettable.

Anticipation was mostly on Matt and Kim, who eventually took the stage, after Gale's much less than an hour long set. With the limited knowledge that I had of the band coming into this, and even with my own perceptions from the music, I would never have expected the front man to be quite so.... energetic?

Asking that Kim don the Boston Red Sox cap --supposedly given to him at their last gig in The Hub (aka,Bahstan) when they played at the Middle East Downstairs,--Matt's head was a flurry of fluffed light brown hair and manic arm waving as he sat down in front of his keyboard. After a couple of openers and a song I didn't recognise, eventually they came to play the easily recognisable (even without the intro) Yea Yeah, to actual, not-feigned excitement from the crowd before them. Raise your hands up, hipster young'uns, as Matt and Kim play their trademark (not quite, but what other description can I make) peppy ambient/electronic sounds in a room with either terrible acoustics or with a much too elevated/cheap speaker system (I would guess the later, based on the open-mic night they had semi-recently where they had a distinct lack of speakers for the acoustic-strumming singers).

All in all, Matt and Kim sound as good live as they do on their studio tracks (even in a slightly skewed listening venue) with an energetic front man who's not shy about joking with the crowd (mentioning something about having one time gotten drunk before a show) and a drummer, Kim, with a nice disposition (if the mutterings of a passing hipster (who was possibly a member of the group responsible for the night's entertainment) is anything to go by) and a display that makes me glad I walked through horizontal snow "fall" across T tracks and back.

-Ang

Just a taste: Track Star

2009-02-12T17:21:00.002-05:00

Oh, how I had forgotten about them.

So, it has been quite some time since I looked over all of the music I barely listen(ed) to on my last.fm, but now that I have, I'm reminded of some bands, Track Star being one of them. Softly melodic, they disappeared onto my ginormous external hard drive (640 gigs, hells yeah!) when I had to do some partitioning and otherwise saving of space.

This resulted in me misplacing (in other words, forgetting entirely about their existance while ensuring that I had the absolute necessary music for me to function) them until just the other day.

Ironically enough, Track Star are immensely difficult to track down (I couldn't even find a video to imbed like I had originally intended), with tracks even harder to come across (okay, done using "track"). Eventually I was able to dig up one of my favourite songs (mind you, I only have two of their songs, and I love them both.

Off of their 2002 album Lion Destroyed The Whole World comes the song entitled Feet First.

The gentle strum of this San Francisco band has a similar sound to Pants Yell! (mentioned in previous post) with a much less upbeat sound, which slows down to a deliberate pace in comparison to Pants Yell!'s ever increasing rate, until those last few lines. Of course, Pants Yell! came after Track Star, seeing as Track Star released their first album in '95

It was through this now-defunct band, Track Star, that I stumbled across a cousin of theirs, or maybe just a half-brother. With ex-Track Star Matthew Troy, Calling All Monsters released it's first album under Turn Records (they also released Track Star's Lion Destroyed The Whole World) named The Traps That Work Best (oh the wonders of looking at a record label's website). I was actually rather surprised that I managed to also hunt down a music video (that's a wig, right?), something I'll likely never be able to pull for Track Star, sad.

With a harder sound than Track Star ever had, (probably due to the actually utilization of an electric guitar) but still never veering very far from the somber tones of the old band, Calling All Monsters has been around since 2005. I personally love the song The Station Agent (can be found on their myspace), but here, you can download from Turn Records, from their album , Sometime's I Wish You Weren't Dead. Calling All Monsters, although I don't listen to them often, are definately one of my favourite random finds (i.e. through ex band members of extant bands). It appears you can stream a bunch of their stuff on their last.fm.... so get to it!

EDIT: Totally just found a myspace with their [Track Star's] music (most likely not run by them, but finally it's the right band named Track Star <--- hit the link and try out the few tracks up there

I think this is where I got the two songs that I have, Feet First and the End, so here's a good bet for download.

-Ang

Just a thought

2009-02-12T14:19:00.001-05:00

While scouring google reader, as I do on a multple-times-per-day basis, I ended up subscribing to this blog where I learned about a short story writing contest, with the sole requirement being that it's under 2000 words and set in Harvard Square.

Problem numero uno: I've been to Harvard Square a grand total of... two times (one being at night for Le:60) so I can't say I'd easily be able to speak of the locale in much detail without further visits.

Problem numero deux (yes, frespagnol): procrastination. In an "it's complicated" relationship with laziness, procrastination and I have been bonding over the rough patches (personification ftw!). Neverthless, the deadline is Saturday evening... which I could easily meet with proper dedication and focus.... and all this other "motivation" that I clearly lack.

Ahem, anyway, I think I shall keep up with Cheap Thrills - Boston (aforementioned "this blog") to keep tabs on such things. Preferably ones that give me money... yay money.

* * *

With regards to room placement for next year, the building we've been looking at (future roommate and friends alike) is rather sweet (the bedrooms are equivelant to our dorm room currently... with the added addition of apartment-style perks, which I'm getting to).... and by rather sweet, I mean that the apartments have kitchens.

For someone who actually loves to bake (making up recipes is the only/best way to go. Huzzah for winging it!)), this is a major plus, and a reason why I've been disgruntled with the current room. Mind you, the dorm building is on the opposite side of campus to where we are now (conveniently close to the dining hall, as well as where we have to pick up our packages.... and cheap-ass pizza open 'till 3am), but for the prerequisite kitchen....

* * *

Thinking of Le:60 reminds me that they managed to scrape up Cambridge natives, Pants Yell! and have them play sets in between the hour long groups of short films.

So, in parting, I leave you with this little jem, Magenta and Green (and a live vid), which they did in fact play at Le:60 (we had to leave before it was actually finished, so we never saw they're last set, but I must say, they're good live (they opened for Harry and the Potters and they played at a place called Cakeshop... can't be all bad.)

-Ang

Just a glance: Recent Reads

2009-02-10T15:02:00.001-05:00

So, it's become a bit of a habit for me to purchase books and then A) not read them/have them sit in pretty little piles on my bookcase or B) read them part-way through, pick up another book read IT part way through, etc etc, or rarely C) actually read it straight through.

As of late, I've taken to re-reading some books --specifically Looking For Alaska, The Eye of the World, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, and The Great Gatsby-- while attempting to get down a first read of recently purchased Captain Freedom as well as semi-abandoned Infinite Jest, Me Talk Pretty One Day and Good Omens, both of which I'm at least a third of the way through.

But alas, let us discuss the newest acquisition: Captain Freedom.

Upon strolling into the local Barnes and Noble, I spot the table of new releases and this cover pops out at me. How could I say no after taking a glance at the back and reading:

Freedom's fifteen minutes are over!
Software pirates! Mostly extinct dinosaurs! Giant barbarians! Crooning criminals! Captain Freedom's beat them all, saved the world, and looked fantastic doing it—but he couldn't fend off middle management.
The Superhero lifestyle is all that Captain Freedom has ever known. What's he supposed to do now? Enter politics? Write a children's book?
Freedom's in a bad way and he's only a stint in rehab away from a lifetime of celebrity reality shows. But with the guidance of his new life coach, maybe Freedom can stumble in a new direction—even if it means having to make peace with his parents . . . or finally commit to a single long-term archenemy.

To be honest, I've only just begun to read this book, but the lightness and humour of it might actually result in my reading it non-stop (or as non-stop as my ADHD reading techniques will allow)-- this also might be due to the fact that this is become my default book (once was Candide seeing as I can't help but re-re-re-re-read it, and it's also easily pocket-able) to read in class (i.e. Calc 1... a boring class for someone who's already taken Calc).

Nonetheless, it currently entertains me, and I shall probably post some vague form of review after I've completed reading it. I wonder if I can pull of finishing before this. Because that would be su-weet.

For further amusement, check out the accompanying blog @ CaptainFreedom.net

-Ang

Just out of boredom

2009-02-10T14:11:00.001-05:00

The fruits of my labour (say an hour or two) produced a completely different shape of wallet-like object than I usually make (either tri-fold or bi-fold, but never quite like this)

I'm not sure how much I like this design though, I mean, it does have more pockets for cards, and the separation of the money and card slots (as well as the lack of bi-longitudinal fold) will likely lead to a slimmer wallet, but, I do prefer a wallet that you could just slide into my pocket.

Now for the question, to mass produce and sell, or not. Otherwise it'll just be another generation of gift-age....

...did I mention how much I dislike this camera.... damn flash

EDIT: Alas, reading over previous posts (when I should, I don't read over; when I needn't I do), I see that this is the culmination of my desire to create something from teal and purple duct tape.... intriguing

-Ang

Just a taste: Roommate Approved

2009-02-03T22:33:00.001-05:00

So, appeasing the roommates can be a bit of a hassle sometimes... or all the time. It doesn't particularly help that there are two of them, but none the less, I have found ways to find music that at least one of them approves of.

First up: Jelissa

The Jamaican roomie that treats me to random moments of innocent insanity at night (including google image searches for giant puppies and/or bunnies), listens to much more chill music, something I have, but not often use (she's the one who requests Jason Mraz).

Some common ground has been found through various artists (she's easier to pick things for, and I play music around her more); those being The Cinematics (surprisingly, seeing as that's not as downbeat as her other choices), especially their song Break; Bon Iver's Re: Stacks.... very chill; she even approved of Bruises (check previous post), and actually accepts A Fine Frenzy.

Now for: Allyssa

It's a bit more difficult to find songs that Allyssa and I agree on (apart from the Beatles), what with her obsessive listening to Nickelback, Christian rock, and the soundtrack of Rent. However, she has come to appreciate a few songs, specifically Air Traffic's Time Goes By and Afterwards and Handsome Girl by Danielle Ate The Sandwich.

* * *

And thus ends this installment... I can only hope that I can add to this list

-Ang

Just a taste: Oh No! Oh My!

2009-02-03T20:19:00.000-05:00

So, this actually may happen... a lot. The frequent posting that is. What with Tabitha's demands and just general withdrawl, I've been listening to my music collectiong obsessively lately, thus resulting in me rehearing this jewel by band Oh No! Oh My! from their album Between the Devil and the Sea.

The song's name is Oh Be One, and I didn't realise until the chorus just what that title entails... "yes, you are my only hope, oh, be one, you're my only hope...." The song can be found on hype machine via this link: http://hypem.com/search/oh%20no%20oh%20my%20oh%20be%20one/1/. Another good song by them would have to be The Party Punch, but try out the rest of their cd, stream some from their last.fm, and just enjoy!

* * *

Listening to some other songs by the Austin band (I know, I've been getting into the American "indie" for the last couple of years.. dabbling more of, and every now and then, up crops a good one), makes me begin to notice the soft, acoustic sounds echoing from the rather peppy group. It's become quite apparent to me that, as of late, I've been taken by acoustic strumming, resulting in my often preferring the demo or the acoustic/live cover of a song over the more polished studio version.* Then again, I already knew I disapproved of any over-edited music (if a band doesn't sound as good or better live, then they need to tone down the edits). Some bands** can do live.... some just can't.

B-sides and lesser-knowns, however, can go either way, but at least people can't realise it.

*blame the roomie for the Jason Mraz song, she's been having me playing for the past week

**Kaiser Chiefs will always own live, what with Ricky running back and forth across the stage through-out a gig (even when he has to read the lyrics while playing a song or gets hit by a car and does a "trademark jump" , he still rocks.... what with chasing down the culprit and all). Ricky Wilson is the ultimate stage presence, and now I'm through abdicating for him, I can only hope that I see them live at some point

* * *

Until later inspiration, peace out cub (and/or girl) scout!

-Ang

Just a taste: Chairlift

2009-02-03T15:03:00.000-05:00

I've always had the intent that this blog would somehow showcase lesser-known, or at least purely awesome, artists, and so, we have our first installment of "Just a taste."

This week, I introduce you to Chairlift. The Brooklyn-based electro-pop trio has been around since 2005, creating soft, melodic pieces ever since their first EP Daylight Savings and now with their recently released (last September, and it was circling the blogs sometime in October) album Does You Inspire You. For more information take a gander at their Last.fm page.

Follow the link for locations to download the song I am currently obsessing over, Bruises, by Chairlift: http://hypem.com/search/chairlift%20bruises/1/

* * *

There was someting else that I wanted to discuss, apart from Tabitha's forceful intentions, or even my own pererted way of living (in that I feel that this can't really be a proper existance), but it seems to be eluding me at the moment.

* * *

For now, I'll go on to discuss how I've been tossing around the idea to perhaps create an Etsy shop where I could sell some duct tape goods and, as soon as I get access to a darkroom again, prints.

* * *

Currently: The Boston Public Library, although a gorgeous our piece of architecture is not something I ever desire to waste film on. This is to say... it's just not my thing. At the moment I'm sitting rather out of place inside of the gigantic halls it has watching as others work studiously around me and the sky slowly turning into a musky lavender-ish gray. It's been snowing most of the day, another reason for me to be upset with regards to shooting photos (if you've ever had an assignment where you had to take pictures in the snow and you deplore most basic nature shoots as I do, you would understand completely).

So, apart from my random desire to construct things out of teal and purple duct tape, I feel all my creativity and artistic thoughts squashed, at least for the time being.

... I just don't understand how people can function in such solitude. Well, not solitude, but it's not just functioning... they look as though they're actually accomplishing something, which I can barely imagine comparing to. Ah well, until the inspirating/tangent bug bites again, here I am, signing off.

-Ang

Just to amuse myself

2009-02-03T00:09:00.000-05:00

In efforts to refrain from devious laughter and maniacal plotting, blogging is perhaps the best outlet... or at least the most feasible.

Currently: I am, apart from when I glance at the screen to make sure I'm actually typing words and not gibberish, staring into the shiny plastic black eyes of Mahogany.

As.... absolutely none of you may know, Mahogany is the inherited stuffed dog that our room has gladly welcomed into our little.... family, as it were. Ironically named (seeing as nothing is really ironic, and this especially was a bit more intentional, really....), Mahog (as we so choose to shorten it) resembles something of an non-emaciated black lab. More often then not, he can readily be found chillaxing on Allyssa's bed, but we routinely commit very Rowdy-esque ploys (oh, minor scrubs references, how I miss thee) by placing him somewhere, awkwardly and rather blatantly, in the paths of each other (the roommates and myself, that is).

So, currently, he is donning my over sized beret that I so rarely wear (I think perhaps once) and lying in a prone position opposite me. Typically, I try to just ignore this randomness, but sometimes the situation is... un-ignorable.

Take, for example, when Jelissa (the other roommate) placed bits of green Play-Doh over his eyes.... not quite sure why, then again we're all a bit.... odd.

* * *

Thus ends the random jabberwocky I have just so recently purged from my system.

Today I felt the urge to finally crack open the 'ole sketch book which I probably purchased from a store that's been out of business for over 4 years, but that is neither here nor there. This is not to say that I'm actually an immensely capable artiste (but hand me an old manual camera (or, if you must go digital, at least something with some control over it) and I'm set to go, provided you develop my film, as it's ruddy expensive to do so at school.... damn Boston), it's just that me, freehand.... leads to half-done sketches because I know they'll turn to crap were I to take them any further.

I wish I actually felt more motivated to go shoot the rest of... any of the rolls currently residing in my various old school appareil-photo (a motorised slr which I loathe and is currently acting a bit... fial; a yashica rangefinder which I've no idea how to use; and an old Nikon with a telephoto lens, to be used by someone who adamantly prefers wide-angle)..... yes, fantastic.

There were really no actually updates to speak of, I just really had a need to do something and feel semi-accomplished after doing so.... maybe i should actually do this more often. Too bad my cheap-ass digital camera (I say cheap because: 1, I didn't pay for it; and 2, it's short of something with enough things for me to control that I go mad trying to take anything above a candid shot) has a sucky battery life and poor photo quality, otherwise I would fulfill this blogs original purpose and actually rant within reason.

* * *

Here we are, signing off with little intention to return, but great chances of another need to ramble incessantly and to use big confusing sentences that already have befuddled me.

-Ang

Just to change direction a bit...

2009-01-08T14:44:00.000-05:00

So, news and news of news. To update: I ended up choosing said preferred school that took me off the waitlist, managed to get a small scholarship for otherwise ridiculously expensive schooling, which I only just was able to keep with the GPA requirement only just being met last semester.

Amongst other things, I'm currently in desperate need of a job. The room-mate and I (I have two, one's a bit more of a hippy but is tons of fun, and the other one is a lot more like me, so we talk about random shit and amuse ourselves while the other one is gone).... I got a bit off track. Anyway, we were supposed to go walk down by the minor shopping district (aka, street) or hit the mall (I'm still undecided about admitting my whereabouts, so we'll keep this vague... then again, an awesome band is coming here at the end of the month, so I may crack then.) in search of job-age, and obviously that did NOT happen today.

I would say something insightful, but I've nothing actually "deep" to say. I do need to acquire a working camera though... the SLR's are both kind of out of commission, which leaves me with the Nikon with the telephoto lens (not my forte) and the rangefinder (which I've no idea how to use), and in desperate want of a DSLR that would lessen my need to hit CVS to develop film (alternatively, I need to find out where the photo lab is for the art kids) and allow for easier uploadability.

Just what I need...

2008-05-05T20:07:00.000-04:00

I thought it was enough that I have two AP tests this week, but no, let's pile on more drama in the form of: the Waitlist. Sure, I signed up for the waitlist, not expecting much, slowly becoming acquanted with the school that had outright accepted me and my deposit. Then today I get an email saying I just got accepted to my number two, more prefered, nicer locale school. Now, I've been thrown into a tailspin, and have until Thrusday to decide to accept or decline.

But enough of that!

* * *

This week, a gorgeous dress has come to my attention, and I can do nothing but gawk at it quietly from a corner. After seeing that fantastic price tag (and by fantastic, I am referring to the genre known as The Fantastic, otherwise known as "fantasy"), it was suggested (twice, I believe) that I try my hand at sewing it. Now, back in the day, when there were home ec classes a-plenty , I was pretty much a beast on the sewing machine. I was the first person to finish the apron in my class, leaving plenty of time to add a pocket, and that was only my first go at using a sewing machine (apperently I'm rubbish at making pants, because two years later we made pajama bottoms and mine were utter crap). Then again, I also was pretty darn amazing with a circular saw back in my woodshop days, so who knows.

Anyway, I made a point to try to attempt to at least think about making it. I went to a fabric store. There, I was met with several disappointments: apperently, nowhere near me is there a reputable fabric store with a plentiful array of fabrics, in particular, plaids or other menswear fabrics (I figure, even pinstripe (<3))

Just a flesh wound

2008-05-01T23:10:00.000-04:00

As this school year winds down even further, I've felt that ol' procrastination seeping in again, ever-prevalent in my lack of concentration. I s'pose it's not that good when it concerns schoolwork (I really need to work on my self-assignment for photo), but, at the very least, several of my classes are nearing a close (the AP tests are almost upon us, *gulp*), resulting in the death of actual classes and the birth of an age of viewing slightly pertinent films for an entire marking period.

Before, when I was rejected from my top school, my first choice, my dream, it hurt-- now, I've actually become more excited with the school I've chosen in place of it, so instead of rubbing more salt on my wounds by watching as one of my friends prepares to go to my dream school, I'm focusing on the sheer volume of people I know who are headed the same place, so I feel a tad bit better.

* * *

For a while now, I've essentially been hemorrhaging in all of my classes, leading to the utter demise of my already nonexistent life. Sure, I've had sports practices/games to go to, homework to do, but... nothing much else. It's weird, not having hung out with a lot of my friends in a while, and not just in and around school. Hopefully, this summer, the summer to end/start all summers, we can at least do that intrastate scavenger hunt we were planning last year...

* * *

Today's Playlist

Almost Lover: A Fine Frenzy
Strawberry Fields Forever: The Beatles
No Surprises: Radiohead (this is what happens when we watch L'Auberge Espagnol dans le classe de francais)
Lights + Music (Superdicount Remix): Cut Copy
Hopeless Pursuit of Remission: Venetian Snares

And, some "Alien" music
Vous Sur Ton Chemin: Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, composed by Bruno Coulais (from the film Les Choristes)
Cendrillon: Telephone

* * *

No pictures as of yet for my daily pictorial commentary, but hopefully I'll get to shooting some pictures (I haven't touched my SLR in over a week, and my digital camera is still hiding in my desk drawer, it's battery door still held on with red duct tape)

Just a precursor

2008-04-25T20:18:00.000-04:00

On this momentous day (not historically speaking, as it were) I begin my quest to start yet another blog. Sure, the ones I had before were fine and good, but I slowly began to lose interest, and with that came writings of what I did daily, as opposed to my thoughts on the day. Mind you, I may not even post daily, just whenever I have a strong urge to say something that would otherwise be lost in the chaotic abyss that is my mind. And, most importantly, I ceased to post my quote of the day. I suppose the main reason I got bored with it was because it wasn't exactly "personal." This was probably due to the fact that I immediately added people I knew in person, my physical friends, and then realised that maybe, all that I wanted to say would be somehow offensive.

But, no more, this ~~pictorial~~ ~~sarcastic~~ ~~cynical~~ daily commentary seeks to imprint upon any who dare to skim across it my current ramblings and thoughts. And, now, let us begin. Allons-y!

* * *

I wish to begin with the inclusion of a daily playlist, or, simply, music that sounds good to me right now and/or is applicable to my life at the present. Who knows, maybe I'll through in the occasional theme (and perhaps throw out a link or two for some freebies)

Today's Playlist

An End Has A Start: Editors
As The Footsteps Die Out Forever: Catch-22
Better Things: the Kinks
I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got: Razorlight
Move On Now: Hard-Fi
Who Needs Love: Razorlight

And, in honor of the "Day of Silence":

A Moment of Silence: Streetlight Manifesto
Silent Shouts: The Knife
The Sound of Silence: Simon & Garfunkel

* * *

Today's Commentary

After the Curtain

As this, my final year in high school draws to a close, it's come to my attention how it's not just the educational experience that will come to such an abrupt end. I'm not going to go out and say that I'm going to miss everyone or that we'll be BFF's. I've already seen the truth in friends older than me who I don't even talk to anymore, and the few that I do admitting to the harsh truth: "honestly, you'll probably forget all about them, sorry." And all of this is slowly becoming evident. I watch quietly from the sidelines as couples begin their decline, leading to a hasty break so each can "seek new friends" at the college of their dreams. There is no happily ever after as I see it.

This year, I finally decided to join what I once that would just be a gathering of nerds: the Robotics Team, aka, this generations chess club. Before, I just regarded it as a group of technologically inclined boys, but I've learned and experienced so much more. One of my friends and I decided to join up after having considered it last year and then, consequently, missing the opportunity, at the very least, I thought, I wouldn't be alone. So, what does it matter that we didn't actually help build the robot, that all I did was work on the animation and sit in a corner and mess around on the computers with 3DS Max? People I barely talked to previously, were now talking freely to me. Still, I felt that, during build season, there wasn't a sense of community, that each of the separate groups worked on their separate partsin much the same way as an assembly line works: in isolation.

When competition time came and we, as a team, set out to regionals, and I finally began to feel a more thorough connection with the team. Sure, sometimes I didn't know their names ("hey, I didn't know you were on the [electrical] team, that's cool"), but here we all were, screaming our heads off for a couple of drivers to do their thing with the robot. But it wasn't just at the competition that I was able to interact with everyone, it was the time at the hotels that was best spent. The first regional, as it were, was in state, so the only time to actually be with everyone came in the form of a bus ride on the two days of missed school (neither of which I went on), so not much talking there. But finally, when our team left the state aboard a bus for hours (coach bus, hell yeah), it was less of a "clique" based interactive caste system, and more of a unified team. I feel like I should have joined much sooner, had not waited so long when I began to talk to people I otherwise may not have noticed, may not have befriended (students from other grades, other schools, guys and girls alike).... had it not been for robotics.

I guess it works the same with any group like this, friendship coming purely from the sheer
time spent surrounded by the same people... day after day after day.... playing card games (Mao), video games (Phantasy Star), and.... lawn darts.

Our team, after having been made finalists at the regional in our state and winning the other, out of state one, were invited to Georgia to compete in Nationals (which is kind of a misnomer when one considers the more international aspect of teams from, say, Canada and Brazil, competing in tandem with us. Even when build season ended and I stopped spending obscenely long hours in the basement of our school, nothing could have prepared me for the true end of robotics, our last night in Atlanta. We held on last meeting that Saturday which culminated in the seniors sharing their feelings/ memories of the robotics team. When I was asked, I was still feeling slightly disconnected (but not because I wasn't friends with all of them, but because half of them have been around for three plus years) and unsure of what to say. No anguish really hit me until that fateful Sunday afternoon when our flight landed and the bus pulled up the oh-so-familiar site of our high school.

Now that I was finally given the chance to truly THINK, I realised a few things. Namely that I probably won't see half of these people ever again (particularly once the year ends). Sure, there may be LAN parties and whatever, but, still, who knows who I'll still be talking to in one years time? Next year, everyone will be going away, and those that won't (such as any younger members/friends) I'll likely not come back to see. It's not just the team that is disbanding, its every friendship that has been woven throughout this hectic year, this hectic life! I've lived my whole life in this one place. I'm not implying that I'm not happy to be out on my own for once, I truly am, but it's just weird to leave all that I've become familiar with.

Going off to college is truly the first trial a human has (at least, those given the opportunity) that deals with moving on and starting anew. Unless perhaps you've been moving around your entire life, NO ONE is capable of adjusting adequately to new surroundings upon arrival. If I stay instate (as it appears I might), yeah, sure, there may still be people I know at my school, I may still have friends around me, this is the first test of my passions, learning and otherwise. Now given the chance to choose what I wish to pursuit, I find myself staring at a grimy, dirt-ridden crossroads. There's the artist in me looking at a life in writing and photography, bu there's parts of me that remain an academic (so help me, I don't know why) and just want to learn, absorb everything (if you knew me and my slacker like tendencies, you might just laugh), and then there's just me on that unwritten, less traveled road that leads to the rest of my life.

Although I may be uncertain as to what may lay beyond the foggy entrance, I can only hope that (in a very non-fatalistic way) somewhere there's a place for me, a future for me, and an undeniable passion to live through it all.