No idea if anyone other than Ian (what up!) reads this anymore, but I've been busy with studying and the such for midterms, and will be for the next week or so, so the posting level will stay low. However, while I'm writing I might as well get into a few things.
Saw Broken Social Scene last week at Calvin College. Third time I've seen them and maybe the most fun I've had yet. Actually snagged some good spots up near the fron even though we got there after what seemed to be hundreds upon hundreds of kids. I don't know if they were not all into BSS or whatever, but when people stood up and "rushed" the stage, a lot of people did not move, and stayed pretty complacent. They were more energetic than they seemed at Lollapalooza this Summer, but played less than when I saw them in Ann Arbor. They stuck to mostly old standybys with the exception of a couple Brandon Canning songs. Also played "Anthems of a Seventeen Year Old Girl" which is the sencond time I'd seen it. Less good this time with the Land of Talk singer singing it for maybe the first time in concert. All in all, good time. Couple things coming up that I hope to write about: Universal Mind Control (when is that coming out?), 808's and Heartbreak (CuDi's on two songs!), Drive-by-Truckers and Hold Steady concert in Chicago (first concert that isn't Lolla out of Michigan), and I am going to see Bob Dylan finally on November 8 here in the Zoo. Hopefuly he isn't so old that his lyrics become completely unrecognizable, but we'll see.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Check It Out
So here's a blog I wrote for class that is on the Kalamazoo Gazette's web site with a bunch of other Western students. Keep in mind I had to do something about the election: http://blog.mlive.com/textmessage/2008/10/the_politics_of_celebrity.html
I actually sort of submitted the wrong document, and I think the new one may have been a little bit better but whatever. There are also supposed to be links to youtube videos, but some kinks are stil being worked out. The people over there appear to be dumbtarded.
p.s. - Apparently if people leave comments/like my blog, I could get hired?(In that case the Kalamazoo Gazette people are smart as a fox, not dumbtarded) Do with this information what you will.
I actually sort of submitted the wrong document, and I think the new one may have been a little bit better but whatever. There are also supposed to be links to youtube videos, but some kinks are stil being worked out. The people over there appear to be dumbtarded.
p.s. - Apparently if people leave comments/like my blog, I could get hired?(In that case the Kalamazoo Gazette people are smart as a fox, not dumbtarded) Do with this information what you will.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
So the New Love Lockdown
I love it. It is basically everything that I wanted. The clicks in the chorus are gone, stronger drums, and he sings the chorus like in the live performance. I am so very happy right now. Hopefully next time hell take his time, and maybe a push back wouldn't be the worst idea if he's going to rush the album like he did this song. Whatever, I love it.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Some Things Left on the Table
So there are a few things that I have been meaning to talk about but certain factors have kept them from becoming full entries so here we go:
- Please start listening to KiD CuDi. I know his mixtape, A Kid Named CuDi came out a while ago and he has been praised on sites with much greater readership them this one (pick a site, any site). However, I really need to put out there how much I have been loving the tape, in particular the first half. At first CuDi doesn't come off as the most technically gifted rapper, no double time, no tricks, no outrageously long breaths like Lupe. However, I don't think that is a bad thing. He keeps things fairly simple with his flow, but he really is a gifted wordsmith, and he also has a very interesting take on what rap should sound like. While "The Funeral" by Band of Horses, isn't really new, it is still interesting to hear him go in over the sample, and sort of sing. Same with "50 Ways to Make a Record" which samples Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." The tape kind of trails off after single "Day & Night" but it is still very solid. I actually wish this and Wale's Mixtape About Nothing cut the "worse" songs and became one tape, but hey that's just me being picky.
- So "Love Lockdown." What are you? I still have yet to form a good opinion at first. On first viewing I was very happy and intrigued. After getting the live version I only got more excited. Then the studio version leaked and I definitely felt like the air had been let out. He just seems very complacent. All of the energy he had during the chorus at the VMA's goes out the window in the studio. For such a personal song, his singing is so weak. That may have to do with Kanye not being a singer, but I think it more has to do with him not going in hard enough on the hook, which seems odd with how fucking hard he's been trying lately.
- It kind of sucks being a football fan in the state of Michigan right now
- Please start listening to KiD CuDi. I know his mixtape, A Kid Named CuDi came out a while ago and he has been praised on sites with much greater readership them this one (pick a site, any site). However, I really need to put out there how much I have been loving the tape, in particular the first half. At first CuDi doesn't come off as the most technically gifted rapper, no double time, no tricks, no outrageously long breaths like Lupe. However, I don't think that is a bad thing. He keeps things fairly simple with his flow, but he really is a gifted wordsmith, and he also has a very interesting take on what rap should sound like. While "The Funeral" by Band of Horses, isn't really new, it is still interesting to hear him go in over the sample, and sort of sing. Same with "50 Ways to Make a Record" which samples Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." The tape kind of trails off after single "Day & Night" but it is still very solid. I actually wish this and Wale's Mixtape About Nothing cut the "worse" songs and became one tape, but hey that's just me being picky.
- So "Love Lockdown." What are you? I still have yet to form a good opinion at first. On first viewing I was very happy and intrigued. After getting the live version I only got more excited. Then the studio version leaked and I definitely felt like the air had been let out. He just seems very complacent. All of the energy he had during the chorus at the VMA's goes out the window in the studio. For such a personal song, his singing is so weak. That may have to do with Kanye not being a singer, but I think it more has to do with him not going in hard enough on the hook, which seems odd with how fucking hard he's been trying lately.
- It kind of sucks being a football fan in the state of Michigan right now
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Livebloggin the VMA's
8:00 - ZOMG ZOMG, its Britney Spears...and Jonah Hill!
Britney's looked worse.
9:02 - OK, Britneys actually hot(?)
9:03 - Well that seemed forced/rushed
9:04 - Rhianna: Rufio's Cousin, or Rufio? Discuss
9:07 - internet not working, this may not really be a live blog. May just turn in it all in at the end.
9:08 - I think Rihanna's okay. not sure how i feel about her new goth shtivk. I don't like 'Disturbia' I don't ike the video, and i didnt like that.
9:11- Really Russel Brand? Is this really the time/place/person to go off on Barack and retarded W. Go Barack?
9:13 - I feel like I'm listening to Art Brut, but with no music.
9:15 - Not sure I'm ready for Russel Brand's America
9:17 - T.I.'s weed carrier is so going to shoot Jamie Foxx. Btw, what was he on?
9:19 - So Britney isn'y crazy anymore?
9:24 - Well seeing as the song that inspired the title of this log was just in a Rhapsody commerical. Figured i'd post about it. David Bowie's "Sound and Vision" was just in a Rhapsody commercial.
9:27 - Fucking Demi Moore?
9:30 - Hi Taylor Swift
9:31 - Is this realy The Jonas Bro's new single. It's like their attempt at "I Will Follow you in the Dark."
9:32 - Greg: "Are all of the Jonas' Bro's this homo?"
9:34 - Ouch Katy Perry. Maybe you should stick to singing bad pop songs that are sorta taboo, but really not that much.
9:36 - I can't imagine I would get much work done in the clothes i wore in the shower. Thanks for the tip though, Jerry.
9:36 - Now I know why Katy Perry's Madonna cover sucked. I don't think she can sing.
9:40 - Michael Phelps is wearing headphone. He probably just doesn't want people to see his huge ears
9:42 - Lil Wayne is outrageous. Odd choice of song for this setting. Never caught the Roof thing before.
9:43 - Ahh, heres "A milli"
9:44 - Stop the top hats T-Pain
9:45 - Nick, "How are those little pants stayng on.
9:45 - So the pants won't stay on.
9;46 - Busta Bus liked it.
9:47 - This is lame.
9:49 - That Pussycat Dolls song is unfortunate. And how bout Jimmy Iovine. From sound engineer for "Born to Run", to assisting the Pussycat Dolls in their quest to stay popular.
9:58 - This bad, Entourage is on. I'm done. Sorry folks. Maybe ill come back after Enourage.
10:30 - I am back. Rihanna again?
10:30 - BTWs Entourage was okay
10:36 - Oh shit, this is 'Genie in a Bottle' this is kinda horseshit.
10:39 - She had a baby. wow she looks good.
10:42 - Best New Artisit, fuck Gossip Girl.
10:43 - These dudes are fucking unbelievable. Fuck these dbags.
10:50 - This show with Paris hilton is bout to suck.
11:01 - I was really hoping for "Bawitiba" please do it for the children Kid.
11:02 - Wayne is wearing the same pants he wore on F'N MTV a few weeks back.
11:04 - Weezy and Kid Rock, and Wayne didn't get to plaly guitar.
11:10 - What up Kobe?
11:11 - Really people, enough with all your Pussycat Dolls.
11:12 - Well, Britney clearly sucked off someone on the committee. Committee? Who picks these damn things?
11:12 - Here we go, Kanye. Make the music with your mouth.
11:13 - Is he singing? I always secretly lliked his singng. I though it made him seem more down-to-earth. Not sure how I feel about it for a song though.
11:14 - Ok, I am realy liking this. Not what I was expecting. This sounds dark, i feel like I should be in a robot, metal cave sometime in the future right now.
11:16 - New future, change the world, what the fuck is he talking about?
Alright, well those were pretty dismal. Sad foray into the world of live blogging. Bye.
Update: I'm listening to "Love Lockdown" on youtube, and it is fucking sweet. Kanye is bananas, the thing I pick up the most more now, is how sweet the drums are during the chorus. I really want to hear those on my headphones, really fucking oud, or live. Prefferably all three sometime soon.
Britney's looked worse.
9:02 - OK, Britneys actually hot(?)
9:03 - Well that seemed forced/rushed
9:04 - Rhianna: Rufio's Cousin, or Rufio? Discuss
9:07 - internet not working, this may not really be a live blog. May just turn in it all in at the end.
9:08 - I think Rihanna's okay. not sure how i feel about her new goth shtivk. I don't like 'Disturbia' I don't ike the video, and i didnt like that.
9:11- Really Russel Brand? Is this really the time/place/person to go off on Barack and retarded W. Go Barack?
9:13 - I feel like I'm listening to Art Brut, but with no music.
9:15 - Not sure I'm ready for Russel Brand's America
9:17 - T.I.'s weed carrier is so going to shoot Jamie Foxx. Btw, what was he on?
9:19 - So Britney isn'y crazy anymore?
9:24 - Well seeing as the song that inspired the title of this log was just in a Rhapsody commerical. Figured i'd post about it. David Bowie's "Sound and Vision" was just in a Rhapsody commercial.
9:27 - Fucking Demi Moore?
9:30 - Hi Taylor Swift
9:31 - Is this realy The Jonas Bro's new single. It's like their attempt at "I Will Follow you in the Dark."
9:32 - Greg: "Are all of the Jonas' Bro's this homo?"
9:34 - Ouch Katy Perry. Maybe you should stick to singing bad pop songs that are sorta taboo, but really not that much.
9:36 - I can't imagine I would get much work done in the clothes i wore in the shower. Thanks for the tip though, Jerry.
9:36 - Now I know why Katy Perry's Madonna cover sucked. I don't think she can sing.
9:40 - Michael Phelps is wearing headphone. He probably just doesn't want people to see his huge ears
9:42 - Lil Wayne is outrageous. Odd choice of song for this setting. Never caught the Roof thing before.
9:43 - Ahh, heres "A milli"
9:44 - Stop the top hats T-Pain
9:45 - Nick, "How are those little pants stayng on.
9:45 - So the pants won't stay on.
9;46 - Busta Bus liked it.
9:47 - This is lame.
9:49 - That Pussycat Dolls song is unfortunate. And how bout Jimmy Iovine. From sound engineer for "Born to Run", to assisting the Pussycat Dolls in their quest to stay popular.
9:58 - This bad, Entourage is on. I'm done. Sorry folks. Maybe ill come back after Enourage.
10:30 - I am back. Rihanna again?
10:30 - BTWs Entourage was okay
10:36 - Oh shit, this is 'Genie in a Bottle' this is kinda horseshit.
10:39 - She had a baby. wow she looks good.
10:42 - Best New Artisit, fuck Gossip Girl.
10:43 - These dudes are fucking unbelievable. Fuck these dbags.
10:50 - This show with Paris hilton is bout to suck.
11:01 - I was really hoping for "Bawitiba" please do it for the children Kid.
11:02 - Wayne is wearing the same pants he wore on F'N MTV a few weeks back.
11:04 - Weezy and Kid Rock, and Wayne didn't get to plaly guitar.
11:10 - What up Kobe?
11:11 - Really people, enough with all your Pussycat Dolls.
11:12 - Well, Britney clearly sucked off someone on the committee. Committee? Who picks these damn things?
11:12 - Here we go, Kanye. Make the music with your mouth.
11:13 - Is he singing? I always secretly lliked his singng. I though it made him seem more down-to-earth. Not sure how I feel about it for a song though.
11:14 - Ok, I am realy liking this. Not what I was expecting. This sounds dark, i feel like I should be in a robot, metal cave sometime in the future right now.
11:16 - New future, change the world, what the fuck is he talking about?
Alright, well those were pretty dismal. Sad foray into the world of live blogging. Bye.
Update: I'm listening to "Love Lockdown" on youtube, and it is fucking sweet. Kanye is bananas, the thing I pick up the most more now, is how sweet the drums are during the chorus. I really want to hear those on my headphones, really fucking oud, or live. Prefferably all three sometime soon.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Favorite Movie from Every Year of my Life
Here is my list of favorite movies from each year I have been alive, followed by the movie I still want to see most from each year
1988~ Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka); Dir.- Isao Takahata
~The Adventure of Baron von Muchaussen; Dir.- Terry Gilliam
1989(Tie)~ Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo cinema Paradiso); Dir.- Giuseppe Tornatore/Heathers; Dir.- Michael Lehmann
~ Born on the Fourth of July; Dir.- Oliver Stone
1990~ Goodfellas; Dir.- Martin Scorcese
~ Miller's Crossing; Dir.- Joel & Ethan Coen
1991~ Boyz N the Hood; Dir.- John Singleton
~ Barton Fink; Dir.- Joel & Ethan Coen
1992~ Resevoir Dogs; Dir.- Quentin Tarantino
~ Glengarry Glen Ross; Dir.- James Foley
1993~ True Romance; Dir.- Tony Scott (1993:Film as 1990:Music)
~ Schindler's List; Dir.- Steven Spielberg
1994~ Pulp Fiction; Dir.- Quentin Tarantino
~ Ed Wood; Dir.- Tim Burton
1995~ Clueless; Dir.- Amy Heckerling
~ Welcome to the Dollhouse; Dir.- Todd Solondz
1996~ Fargo; Dir.- Joel & Ethan Coen
~ Hard Eight; Dir.- P.T. Anderson
1997~ Good Will Hunting; Dir.- Gus van Sant
~ Grosse Pointe Blank; Dir.- George Armitage
1998~ Rushmore; Dir.- Wes Anderson
~ Buffalo '66; Dir.- Vincent Gallo
1999~ American Beauty; Dir.- Sam Mendes
~ The Virgin Suicides; Dir. Sofia Coppola
2000~ American Psycho; Dir.- Mary Harron
~ Nothing?
2001~ The Royal Tenenbaums; Dir.- Wes Anderson
~ Y tu mama tambien; Dir.- Alfonso Cuaron
2002~ Infernal Affairs (Wu Jian Dao); Dir.- Andrew Lau & Alan Mak
~ Adaptation; Dir.- Spike Jonze
2003~ Oldboy (Hangul); Dir.- Park Cahn-wook
~ Mystic River; Dir.- Clint Eastwood
2004~ Mean Girls; Dir.- Mark Waters
~ The Aviator; Dir.- Martin Scorcese
2005~ Good Night, and Good Luck; Dir.- George Clooney
~ Brokeback Mountain; Dir.- Ang Lee
2006~ Children of Men; Dir.- Alfonso Cuaron
~ The Descent; Dir.- Neil Marshall
2007~ Knocked Up; Dir.- Judd Apatow
~ The Counterfeiters; Dir.- Stefan Ruzowitzky
2008~ The Dark Knight; Dir.- Chris Nolan
~ Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay; Dir.- Jon Hurwitz & Hay Schlossberg
1988~ Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no Haka); Dir.- Isao Takahata
~The Adventure of Baron von Muchaussen; Dir.- Terry Gilliam
1989(Tie)~ Cinema Paradiso (Nuovo cinema Paradiso); Dir.- Giuseppe Tornatore/Heathers; Dir.- Michael Lehmann
~ Born on the Fourth of July; Dir.- Oliver Stone
1990~ Goodfellas; Dir.- Martin Scorcese
~ Miller's Crossing; Dir.- Joel & Ethan Coen
1991~ Boyz N the Hood; Dir.- John Singleton
~ Barton Fink; Dir.- Joel & Ethan Coen
1992~ Resevoir Dogs; Dir.- Quentin Tarantino
~ Glengarry Glen Ross; Dir.- James Foley
1993~ True Romance; Dir.- Tony Scott (1993:Film as 1990:Music)
~ Schindler's List; Dir.- Steven Spielberg
1994~ Pulp Fiction; Dir.- Quentin Tarantino
~ Ed Wood; Dir.- Tim Burton
1995~ Clueless; Dir.- Amy Heckerling
~ Welcome to the Dollhouse; Dir.- Todd Solondz
1996~ Fargo; Dir.- Joel & Ethan Coen
~ Hard Eight; Dir.- P.T. Anderson
1997~ Good Will Hunting; Dir.- Gus van Sant
~ Grosse Pointe Blank; Dir.- George Armitage
1998~ Rushmore; Dir.- Wes Anderson
~ Buffalo '66; Dir.- Vincent Gallo
1999~ American Beauty; Dir.- Sam Mendes
~ The Virgin Suicides; Dir. Sofia Coppola
2000~ American Psycho; Dir.- Mary Harron
~ Nothing?
2001~ The Royal Tenenbaums; Dir.- Wes Anderson
~ Y tu mama tambien; Dir.- Alfonso Cuaron
2002~ Infernal Affairs (Wu Jian Dao); Dir.- Andrew Lau & Alan Mak
~ Adaptation; Dir.- Spike Jonze
2003~ Oldboy (Hangul); Dir.- Park Cahn-wook
~ Mystic River; Dir.- Clint Eastwood
2004~ Mean Girls; Dir.- Mark Waters
~ The Aviator; Dir.- Martin Scorcese
2005~ Good Night, and Good Luck; Dir.- George Clooney
~ Brokeback Mountain; Dir.- Ang Lee
2006~ Children of Men; Dir.- Alfonso Cuaron
~ The Descent; Dir.- Neil Marshall
2007~ Knocked Up; Dir.- Judd Apatow
~ The Counterfeiters; Dir.- Stefan Ruzowitzky
2008~ The Dark Knight; Dir.- Chris Nolan
~ Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay; Dir.- Jon Hurwitz & Hay Schlossberg
Favorite Album for Every Year of my Life
People were doing this a while ago, but I just started this, and would like to try to maintain a semi-regular update history. Plus, I have nothing to do at work these next two days, so this will keep me busy. For the record: less thought is being put into this than probably should be. Since I am at work, I don't have my iTunes so I can't sort my music by year or anything. I am just going off the dome and assisted by Robert Christgau's Pazz & Jop Archives, as well as Pitchforks Best Of Lists and Wikipedia.
(Update) This actually turned into a pretty good list for myself, Pitchfork and Wikipedia's list of albums released in each year helped out tremendously.
1988~ Pixies- Surfer Rosa
1989~ Galaxie 500- On Fire
1990~ A Tribe Called Quest- People's instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (Hardly my favorite Tribe album, but I had a fuck of a time trying to pick out an album from this year. 1990 did not do much for me.)
1991~ A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory (This is my favorite Tribe album, thanks again 1990.)
1992~ Pavement- Slanted &Enchanted/ R.E.M.- Automatic for the People
1993~ Wu-Tang Clan- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
1994~ If only 1990 had like a sixth of the albums 1994 had. I'm going to pick a rap and a non-rap CD here:~ Jeru the Damaja- The Sun Rises in the East/Weezer- Weezer
1995~ Radiohead- The Bends
1996~ Jay-Z- Reasonable Doubt
1997~ Elliott Smith- Either/Or
1998~ Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999~ Wilco- Summerteeth
2000~ Ryan Adams- Heartbreaker
2001~ Death Cab for Cutie- The Photo Album
2002~ Broken Social Scene- You Forgot It in People
2003~ The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow/My Morning Jacket- It Still Moves
2004~ Kanye West- The College Dropout
2005~ The National- Alligator
2006~ The Hold Steady- Boys & Girls in America
2007~ Lil' Wayne- Drought III
2008~ The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
(Update) This actually turned into a pretty good list for myself, Pitchfork and Wikipedia's list of albums released in each year helped out tremendously.
1988~ Pixies- Surfer Rosa
1989~ Galaxie 500- On Fire
1990~ A Tribe Called Quest- People's instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (Hardly my favorite Tribe album, but I had a fuck of a time trying to pick out an album from this year. 1990 did not do much for me.)
1991~ A Tribe Called Quest- The Low End Theory (This is my favorite Tribe album, thanks again 1990.)
1992~ Pavement- Slanted &Enchanted/ R.E.M.- Automatic for the People
1993~ Wu-Tang Clan- Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
1994~ If only 1990 had like a sixth of the albums 1994 had. I'm going to pick a rap and a non-rap CD here:~ Jeru the Damaja- The Sun Rises in the East/Weezer- Weezer
1995~ Radiohead- The Bends
1996~ Jay-Z- Reasonable Doubt
1997~ Elliott Smith- Either/Or
1998~ Neutral Milk Hotel- In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
1999~ Wilco- Summerteeth
2000~ Ryan Adams- Heartbreaker
2001~ Death Cab for Cutie- The Photo Album
2002~ Broken Social Scene- You Forgot It in People
2003~ The Shins- Chutes Too Narrow/My Morning Jacket- It Still Moves
2004~ Kanye West- The College Dropout
2005~ The National- Alligator
2006~ The Hold Steady- Boys & Girls in America
2007~ Lil' Wayne- Drought III
2008~ The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
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