The holiday season makes me incredibly emotional. Accordingly, here are some of the songs I've been listening to this week. They really...emote? Anyway, they fit my mood.
1. Okkervil River, "So Come Back, I'm Waiting"
They're pretty much masters at delicately and successfully emoting. Raw emotion is essentially what their music is, to me. Especially on Black Sheep Boy, which continues to be my obsession.
2. Stars, "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead"
My favorite Stars song. There aren't really words for it, because it kind of transcends that. Wonderful.
3. Imogen Heap, "Goodnight and Go"
Delightfully sweet. What's going on in this song, I want that.
4. Iron & Wine, "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"
Sam Beam's voice here is so great. I love how he manages to be mellow but not boring.
5. Sunset Rubdown, "The Empty Threats of Little Lord"
Sunset Rubdown...is nuts. But this song is crazy in that it is so, so pretty, and it tells a story. The lyrics intrigue me.
6. Rufus Wainwright, "14th Street"
Rufus Wainwright is another master of emoting. This song is grandiose, and it's so much fun to try to pick out all the intricate harmonies. Just a fun song to listen and sing to.
7. Loney, Dear, "I Am John"
Just now discovering Loney, Noir (way behind on that one) and I like it a lot. This song definitely stands out; I love the way it builds.
8. Fiery Furnaces, "Evergreen"
I am never bored by this band. This does sound very similar to "Here Comes The Summer," which can only mean good things because "HCTS" is fantastic. I just love, love, love how they sound.
9. Fiona Apple, "Paper Bag"
Whoooaaaa takin' me back. An oldie, but a goodie. "Hunger hurts, but starving works, when it costs too much to love." PERFECT.
10. Ben Folds, "Smoke"
"You keep saying the past is not dead - well, stop and smell the smoke." I think that line speaks for itself in showing the emotional quality of this song. Jesus, Ben Folds. Didn't know you had it in you.
11. Weezer, "December"
Best song, hands-down, from Maladroit. It's quite the lovely ballad, actually.
12. Judy Garland, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
This is le coup de gras, la piece de resistance. Especially during the holidays. I just cry. And cry. And cry. It gets me right here ::pounds fist on heart::
C'est tout!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Feelin' good in the neighborhood...
Few things in this world put me in a better mood than listening to Girl Talk does. In fact, I think it may be physically impossible to listen to GT and be in poor spirits. I could be wrong, but it's never happened to me.Night Ripper is stupendous all by itself. Add an incredibly fun, rotoscoped fan video of "Bounce That," and it's almost too much to handle.
I discovered this video on Monday, watched it about six times, and was inspired to listen to Night Ripper again. Needless to say, it made my Monday. Please allow it to make your (insert day here).
In the same vein, more feel-good music:
...just to name a few. And of course, anything and everything Motown (it's assumed, Motown being the ultimate feel-good music genre.) And obviously there are more feel-good songs in the world, but this is a great start.
It's a pretty girly playlist; nonetheless, this group of songs should brighten anyone's mood. So if you're having a bad day, these are your go-to songs. You'll feel better - I give my 100% guarantee.
And if all else fails, there's always this.
C'est tout!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Top 50 Songs of 2007
As promised, my list of the top 50 songs of 2007:
50. No One - Alicia Keys
49. Eyes Are At The Billions - Cortney Tidwell
48. Golden Skans - Klaxons
47. 7 Stars - Apples In Stereo
46. Tonight I Have To Leave It - Shout Out Louds
45. Dashboard - Modest Mouse
44. Winged/Wicked Things - Sunset Rubdown
43. Little Brother (Electric) - Grizzly Bear
42. Silly Crimes - The Tough Alliance
41. 10 x 10 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
40. Rehab - Amy Winehouse
39. I Rock - Cool Kids
38. I Saw The Bright Shinies - The Octopus Project
37. Never Meant To Hurt You - Good Shoes
36. No One's Gonna Love You - Band Of Horses
35. The Night Starts Here - Stars
34. I'll Be By Your Side - Sally Shapiro
33. What's A Girl To Do? - Bat For Lashes
32. Marry Me - St. Vincent
31. Umbrella - Rihanna
30. Two - Ryan Adams
29. Parking Lot Nights - Ghosthustler
28. Heaven - Club 8
27. Ex-Guru - Fiery Furnaces
26. 2080 - Yeasayer
25. Make A Plan To Love Me - Bright Eyes
24. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is...) - Jay-Z
23. Heretics - Andrew Bird
22. Your English Is Good - Tokyo Police Club
21. Disaster - The Besnard Lakes
20. Matchbook Seeks Maniac - Deerhoof
19. Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe - Okkervil River
18. Ada - The National
17. For Reverend Green - Animal Collective
16. What We Had - Handsome Furs
15. Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse - Of Montreal
14. Bros (edit) - Panda Bear
13. Paper Planes - M.I.A.
12. Good Life - Kanye West
11. Phantom Limb - The Shins
10. The Magic Position - Patrick Wolf
9. 1 2 3 4 - Feist
8. D.A.N.C.E. - Justice
7. The Opposite Of Hallelujah - Jens Lekman
6. West Coast - Coconut Records
5. Black Like Me - Spoon
4. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - Black Kids
3. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - Radiohead
2. Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem
1. Intervention - Arcade Fire
C'est tout!
50. No One - Alicia Keys
49. Eyes Are At The Billions - Cortney Tidwell
48. Golden Skans - Klaxons
47. 7 Stars - Apples In Stereo
46. Tonight I Have To Leave It - Shout Out Louds
45. Dashboard - Modest Mouse
44. Winged/Wicked Things - Sunset Rubdown
43. Little Brother (Electric) - Grizzly Bear
42. Silly Crimes - The Tough Alliance
41. 10 x 10 - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
40. Rehab - Amy Winehouse
39. I Rock - Cool Kids
38. I Saw The Bright Shinies - The Octopus Project
37. Never Meant To Hurt You - Good Shoes
36. No One's Gonna Love You - Band Of Horses
35. The Night Starts Here - Stars
34. I'll Be By Your Side - Sally Shapiro
33. What's A Girl To Do? - Bat For Lashes
32. Marry Me - St. Vincent
31. Umbrella - Rihanna
30. Two - Ryan Adams
29. Parking Lot Nights - Ghosthustler
28. Heaven - Club 8
27. Ex-Guru - Fiery Furnaces
26. 2080 - Yeasayer
25. Make A Plan To Love Me - Bright Eyes
24. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is...) - Jay-Z
23. Heretics - Andrew Bird
22. Your English Is Good - Tokyo Police Club
21. Disaster - The Besnard Lakes
20. Matchbook Seeks Maniac - Deerhoof
19. Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe - Okkervil River
18. Ada - The National
17. For Reverend Green - Animal Collective
16. What We Had - Handsome Furs
15. Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse - Of Montreal
14. Bros (edit) - Panda Bear
13. Paper Planes - M.I.A.
12. Good Life - Kanye West
11. Phantom Limb - The Shins
10. The Magic Position - Patrick Wolf
9. 1 2 3 4 - Feist
8. D.A.N.C.E. - Justice
7. The Opposite Of Hallelujah - Jens Lekman
6. West Coast - Coconut Records
5. Black Like Me - Spoon
4. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - Black Kids
3. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - Radiohead
2. Someone Great - LCD Soundsystem
1. Intervention - Arcade Fire
C'est tout!
Top 25 Albums of 2007
It's that time of year...!
Nope, I'm not talking about the holiday season. Also not talking about winter time. What I am so pumped up about is that it is time for year-end "Best of" lists.
Oh yes, it is that time of year indeed, and the lists are starting to appear in full force. Being an obsessive music lover, of course I've been excited about making my Top Albums and Top Songs lists. In fact, I've been looking forward to it since...ehhh...October. That was when I started the "Best of 2007" playlist on my iPod. Two months too early? No way.
I started the playlist and have been adding to it, subtracting from it, adjusting it, etc. for the past 6 weeks. I had to start thinking about this early so that it would have time to settle, so that I would be able to arrive at the wisest decisions for finalists and rankings. These choices cannot be made haphazardly. These lists are IMPORTANT. (<--obsessed?)
Why so important? Well, it's quite easy to get depressed and stressed during the holidays. Christmas always depresses me (depression: check). Additionally, this is the busiest time of the semester and I'm considering going to my professors' houses and burning my papers on their doorsteps (stress: check). It's just not a fun time of year, frankly.
Forming and tweaking and finalizing these lists, therefore, has been my salvation as of late. Music, in general, has been my salvation. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
It helps that this has been a tremendous year for music. And this list of 25 albums leaves a lot of albums out. I just didn't get to hear many albums that I wanted to hear, as a lot of my music listening this year was spent on older albums.
Nonetheless, I heard an overwhelming amount of good music this year, and a couple of these albums will go down as some of my all-time favorites. To me, for the year 2007, these are the essential albums to hear. So if you haven't heard them, get on it.
Also: There are three EPs that get an honorable mention, because I didn't want to include short EPs on the list. They are:
Grizzly Bear - Friend
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Is Is
Black Kids - Wizard of Ahhhs
All three EPs are incredible. So here is my list, the top 25 albums of 2007. Finally, something to feel good about this season.
Enjoy!
25. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
24. Justice - Cross
23. The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
22. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
21. The Tough Alliance - A New Chance
20. Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
19. St. Vincent - Marry Me
18. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
17. Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
16. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
15. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
14. Handsome Furs - Plague Park
13. Kanye West - Graduation
12. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
11. Jay-Z - American Gangster
10. Feist - The Reminder
9. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
8. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
7. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
6. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
5. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
4. M.I.A. - Kala
3. The National - Boxer
2. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
Be sure to check out my list of the top 50 songs of 2007!
C'est tout!
Nope, I'm not talking about the holiday season. Also not talking about winter time. What I am so pumped up about is that it is time for year-end "Best of" lists.
Oh yes, it is that time of year indeed, and the lists are starting to appear in full force. Being an obsessive music lover, of course I've been excited about making my Top Albums and Top Songs lists. In fact, I've been looking forward to it since...ehhh...October. That was when I started the "Best of 2007" playlist on my iPod. Two months too early? No way.
I started the playlist and have been adding to it, subtracting from it, adjusting it, etc. for the past 6 weeks. I had to start thinking about this early so that it would have time to settle, so that I would be able to arrive at the wisest decisions for finalists and rankings. These choices cannot be made haphazardly. These lists are IMPORTANT. (<--obsessed?)
Why so important? Well, it's quite easy to get depressed and stressed during the holidays. Christmas always depresses me (depression: check). Additionally, this is the busiest time of the semester and I'm considering going to my professors' houses and burning my papers on their doorsteps (stress: check). It's just not a fun time of year, frankly.
Forming and tweaking and finalizing these lists, therefore, has been my salvation as of late. Music, in general, has been my salvation. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!
It helps that this has been a tremendous year for music. And this list of 25 albums leaves a lot of albums out. I just didn't get to hear many albums that I wanted to hear, as a lot of my music listening this year was spent on older albums.
Nonetheless, I heard an overwhelming amount of good music this year, and a couple of these albums will go down as some of my all-time favorites. To me, for the year 2007, these are the essential albums to hear. So if you haven't heard them, get on it.
Also: There are three EPs that get an honorable mention, because I didn't want to include short EPs on the list. They are:
Grizzly Bear - Friend
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Is Is
Black Kids - Wizard of Ahhhs
All three EPs are incredible. So here is my list, the top 25 albums of 2007. Finally, something to feel good about this season.
Enjoy!
25. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
24. Justice - Cross
23. The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
22. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
21. The Tough Alliance - A New Chance
20. Band of Horses - Cease To Begin
19. St. Vincent - Marry Me
18. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
17. Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
16. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
15. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
14. Handsome Furs - Plague Park
13. Kanye West - Graduation
12. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
11. Jay-Z - American Gangster
10. Feist - The Reminder
9. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
8. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
7. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
6. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
5. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
4. M.I.A. - Kala
3. The National - Boxer
2. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
1. Radiohead - In Rainbows
Be sure to check out my list of the top 50 songs of 2007!
C'est tout!
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Albums of the Week
1. (What's The Story) Morning Glory? - Oasis
Listening to this takes me back to ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, in the best possible way. Me, in my living room, listening to "Wonderwall" on the 5-disc CD player [at that point, incredibly advanced technology] at max volume, singing at the top of my lungs into a remote control that served as a makeshift microphone. It was always "Wonderwall," immediately followed by "Don't Look Back In Anger," just those two songs on a loop. Occasionally would skip to "Champagne Supernova." For the most part, though, didn't care about the rest of the album. I'm just now rediscovering it, and it's just fantastic. "She's Electric" is so damn catchy, it's sick. And, of course, the three songs I loved so much 10 years ago, I still love now. More than 10 years later, and I still love it.
2. Black Sheep Boy - Okkervil River
FINALLY downloaded this album this week. Ever since I bought and became obsessed with The Stage Names over the summer, I've been meaning to get this. I finally have it, and I just can't stop listening to it. I think that when it's all said and done, I'll prefer this album to Stage Names. Can't say that for sure yet, because I haven't given Black Sheep Boy enough listens yet to give a fair judgment, but that's my prediction. This album is gorgeous, just absolutely gorgeous. Right now I'm feeling "Black" and "A Stone." All of the tracks are amazing, though. Now I want the rest of their albums, too.
3. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain - Pavement
Hooray, 90s! Another 90s album, although this one is more of a "classic" than Oasis', I suppose. Whatever, they're both great. But Pavement, I feel like they have such a legacy that it's been very hard for me to really get it. I should have started with Slanted, but I started here for some reason. I really like it. It's kind of hard for me, though, because listening to them, their sound isn't that different from other bands I've heard. They sound great, but it's not necessarily unique. But then I put it into context, and think about when they put these records out, what, 15 years ago? And then I'm like yeah, OK, I can see how they were pioneers for indie rock. Nobody sounded like this 15 years ago. So yeah, I can see it, and that's pretty cool. Regardless, this album's great - "Elevate Me Later" continues to be incredible to me. And I can't wait to listen to the other albums after I wear this one out some more.
Actually, I think that's it. I was trying to think of another one, but honestly, it's just been these. Which I have no problem with, because I've really been into them. And I'd recommend all three of these to anyone who hasn't heard them before, definitely.
C'est tout!
Listening to this takes me back to ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, in the best possible way. Me, in my living room, listening to "Wonderwall" on the 5-disc CD player [at that point, incredibly advanced technology] at max volume, singing at the top of my lungs into a remote control that served as a makeshift microphone. It was always "Wonderwall," immediately followed by "Don't Look Back In Anger," just those two songs on a loop. Occasionally would skip to "Champagne Supernova." For the most part, though, didn't care about the rest of the album. I'm just now rediscovering it, and it's just fantastic. "She's Electric" is so damn catchy, it's sick. And, of course, the three songs I loved so much 10 years ago, I still love now. More than 10 years later, and I still love it.
2. Black Sheep Boy - Okkervil River
FINALLY downloaded this album this week. Ever since I bought and became obsessed with The Stage Names over the summer, I've been meaning to get this. I finally have it, and I just can't stop listening to it. I think that when it's all said and done, I'll prefer this album to Stage Names. Can't say that for sure yet, because I haven't given Black Sheep Boy enough listens yet to give a fair judgment, but that's my prediction. This album is gorgeous, just absolutely gorgeous. Right now I'm feeling "Black" and "A Stone." All of the tracks are amazing, though. Now I want the rest of their albums, too.
3. Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain - Pavement
Hooray, 90s! Another 90s album, although this one is more of a "classic" than Oasis', I suppose. Whatever, they're both great. But Pavement, I feel like they have such a legacy that it's been very hard for me to really get it. I should have started with Slanted, but I started here for some reason. I really like it. It's kind of hard for me, though, because listening to them, their sound isn't that different from other bands I've heard. They sound great, but it's not necessarily unique. But then I put it into context, and think about when they put these records out, what, 15 years ago? And then I'm like yeah, OK, I can see how they were pioneers for indie rock. Nobody sounded like this 15 years ago. So yeah, I can see it, and that's pretty cool. Regardless, this album's great - "Elevate Me Later" continues to be incredible to me. And I can't wait to listen to the other albums after I wear this one out some more.
Actually, I think that's it. I was trying to think of another one, but honestly, it's just been these. Which I have no problem with, because I've really been into them. And I'd recommend all three of these to anyone who hasn't heard them before, definitely.
C'est tout!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Politics of the Veil
Joan Scott came to UK a couple weeks ago; here's the news story about it on UK's website:
Gender Theorist Joan Scott to Speak
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 2, 2007) − Internationally known gender theorist Joan Scott visits the University of Kentucky as the Committee on Social Theory 2007 Distinguished Visiting Author, Nov. 8 and 9. While on campus Scott will lecture on two topics. Her first presentation, "Cover-up: French Gender Equality and the Islamic Headscarf," will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8. In her second talk at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Scott will speak on "Academic Freedom in Danger, or Anti-Intellectualism in American Life Revisited."
Joan Scott is known for writings that theorize gender as an analytic category. She is a leading figure in the emerging field of critical history. Her work has challenged the foundations of conventional historical practice, including the nature of historical evidence and historical experience and the role of narrative in the writing of history, and has contributed to a transformation of the field of intellectual history. Scott’s books focus on gender and democratic politics. They include "Gender and the Politics of History" (1988), "Only Paradoxes to Offer: French Feminists and the Rights of Man" (1996), and "Parité: Sexual Equality and the Crisis of French Universalism" (2005). Princeton University Press has just published "The Politics of the Veil." Scott is currently the Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.
Prompted by my French professor, I attended the Thursday lecture about the Veil Law that was passed in France in 2004, promoting secularity by banning "conspicuous religious symbols" in public schools.
Instead of examining the law as an infringement on religious freedom, she revealed the latent sexual context of the veil and provided a stunning argument for the real motivation behind the law.
I had never considered the veil law from a sexual perspective. The first things that come to mind when this topic is brought up are religious freedom, cultural differences and tension, etc. Scott took a different tack; she confronted subtleties in French tradition and culture that are easy to look over, but which should definitely be considered when studying this law and its aftermath.
What I learned:
The French Republican view of sexuality contrasts the Muslim view. The French are almost overtly sexual. In fact, the Marianne, who is the symbol for the French republic, is always shown with her breasts uncovered, which I thought was an interesting tidbit. Nudity is prevalent in French advertising, entertainment, media, etc. It's everywhere. The French believe that sexuality should be open, not hidden, and freely expressed and embraced. Moreover, sexuality should not be feared, and it should not be made complicated.
The veil, then, completely goes against all of that. One would think that a veil would denote modesty, which it is supposed to do in Muslim culture, but the French don't perceive it that way. To the French, the veil is like a glaring reminder of how the Muslim view of sexuality contrasts the French view. So in that way, the veil is "conspicuous," in that it makes Muslim women stand out.
For the French, this is a blatant disruption of core French Rebuplican values. It's as if the Muslim women are wearing the veil simply to stir things up. This disruption, of course, is undesirable and incredibly threatening. I think they see it as a "fuck you" to the French Republic, which is not at all the purpose of the veil.
And if you do consider it from a religious perspective, it's difficult, as Americans, to not find this law ridiculous - we see it as a violation of First Amendment rights. But consider the foundations of the American republic versus those of the French Republic. Our country is founded on religious freedom - that's the reason we came here in the first place, to be able to practice religion freely. Freedom of religion is a right defended by the First Amendment, so theoretically, the state cannot interfere with that. Anyone can practice any religion they want, and everyone should do so.
It's different in France. The French Republic was founded on the idea of protecting the people FROM religion. They wanted to change the old monarchial system of declaring a "standard" religion; instead, they wanted to protect people from pressure to subscribe to any religion. Instead of promoting religious expression, the French Republic protects its people by trying to diminish it. Therefore, the veil could be seen as a kind of pressure, and again, a disruption.
When you consider the issue from the French point of view, then, it's easier to understand. That doesn't make it right, but it is easier to understand where they are coming from. I was talking to my professor about this, and he told me that one of his French friends put it like this:"Imagine trying to talk to a classmate who had a swatzika stamped on his forehead. Would you be able to engage in an objective, intellectual conversation with that person? That's how we feel about the veil."
Now I doubt that this friend of my professor's is a bad guy. It's all a matter of perspective, so certainly the French can, to an extent, defend their position here. When it comes down to it, though, if it's a question of right and wrong, I think ultimately the veil law is wrong. And I think a lot of French people agree that it's wrong. But hey, that might just be the American in me.
Gender Theorist Joan Scott to Speak
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 2, 2007) − Internationally known gender theorist Joan Scott visits the University of Kentucky as the Committee on Social Theory 2007 Distinguished Visiting Author, Nov. 8 and 9. While on campus Scott will lecture on two topics. Her first presentation, "Cover-up: French Gender Equality and the Islamic Headscarf," will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8. In her second talk at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Scott will speak on "Academic Freedom in Danger, or Anti-Intellectualism in American Life Revisited."
Joan Scott is known for writings that theorize gender as an analytic category. She is a leading figure in the emerging field of critical history. Her work has challenged the foundations of conventional historical practice, including the nature of historical evidence and historical experience and the role of narrative in the writing of history, and has contributed to a transformation of the field of intellectual history. Scott’s books focus on gender and democratic politics. They include "Gender and the Politics of History" (1988), "Only Paradoxes to Offer: French Feminists and the Rights of Man" (1996), and "Parité: Sexual Equality and the Crisis of French Universalism" (2005). Princeton University Press has just published "The Politics of the Veil." Scott is currently the Harold F. Linder Professor in the School of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.
Prompted by my French professor, I attended the Thursday lecture about the Veil Law that was passed in France in 2004, promoting secularity by banning "conspicuous religious symbols" in public schools.
Instead of examining the law as an infringement on religious freedom, she revealed the latent sexual context of the veil and provided a stunning argument for the real motivation behind the law.
I had never considered the veil law from a sexual perspective. The first things that come to mind when this topic is brought up are religious freedom, cultural differences and tension, etc. Scott took a different tack; she confronted subtleties in French tradition and culture that are easy to look over, but which should definitely be considered when studying this law and its aftermath.
What I learned:
The French Republican view of sexuality contrasts the Muslim view. The French are almost overtly sexual. In fact, the Marianne, who is the symbol for the French republic, is always shown with her breasts uncovered, which I thought was an interesting tidbit. Nudity is prevalent in French advertising, entertainment, media, etc. It's everywhere. The French believe that sexuality should be open, not hidden, and freely expressed and embraced. Moreover, sexuality should not be feared, and it should not be made complicated.
The veil, then, completely goes against all of that. One would think that a veil would denote modesty, which it is supposed to do in Muslim culture, but the French don't perceive it that way. To the French, the veil is like a glaring reminder of how the Muslim view of sexuality contrasts the French view. So in that way, the veil is "conspicuous," in that it makes Muslim women stand out.
For the French, this is a blatant disruption of core French Rebuplican values. It's as if the Muslim women are wearing the veil simply to stir things up. This disruption, of course, is undesirable and incredibly threatening. I think they see it as a "fuck you" to the French Republic, which is not at all the purpose of the veil.
And if you do consider it from a religious perspective, it's difficult, as Americans, to not find this law ridiculous - we see it as a violation of First Amendment rights. But consider the foundations of the American republic versus those of the French Republic. Our country is founded on religious freedom - that's the reason we came here in the first place, to be able to practice religion freely. Freedom of religion is a right defended by the First Amendment, so theoretically, the state cannot interfere with that. Anyone can practice any religion they want, and everyone should do so.
It's different in France. The French Republic was founded on the idea of protecting the people FROM religion. They wanted to change the old monarchial system of declaring a "standard" religion; instead, they wanted to protect people from pressure to subscribe to any religion. Instead of promoting religious expression, the French Republic protects its people by trying to diminish it. Therefore, the veil could be seen as a kind of pressure, and again, a disruption.
When you consider the issue from the French point of view, then, it's easier to understand. That doesn't make it right, but it is easier to understand where they are coming from. I was talking to my professor about this, and he told me that one of his French friends put it like this:"Imagine trying to talk to a classmate who had a swatzika stamped on his forehead. Would you be able to engage in an objective, intellectual conversation with that person? That's how we feel about the veil."
Now I doubt that this friend of my professor's is a bad guy. It's all a matter of perspective, so certainly the French can, to an extent, defend their position here. When it comes down to it, though, if it's a question of right and wrong, I think ultimately the veil law is wrong. And I think a lot of French people agree that it's wrong. But hey, that might just be the American in me.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Songs of the Week
1. Heaven - Club 8
Yummy Swedish pop. Their new album, The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming, is a delight.
2. Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead
First single from In Rainbows, and one of the strongest tracks on the album.
3. Sunrise - Yeasayer
Just getting acquainted with Yeasayer. Hearkens TV on the Radio, who are better, but this is still a great song.
4. No One - Alicia Keys
Mama, that girl can belt one out. I've always liked her, and I can't stop listening to this single. It's everywhere, though, so I hope I don't get sick of it.
5. We Share Our Mother's Health - The Knife
One of the many fabulous songs from the fabulous 2006 Silent Shout. I need to get the rest of that album.
6. Roc Boys (The Winner Is...) - Jay-Z
This song is fun. I've heard American Gangster a couple times through and it's pretty slammin'.
Also, releases I'm looking forward to:
Lupe Fiasco - December 18
In Rainbows (!!!!) - January 1
LOST Season 3 DVD - December 11 (not at all music, but still)
...there are more but right now I'm at a loss.
C'est tout!
Yummy Swedish pop. Their new album, The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming, is a delight.
2. Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead
First single from In Rainbows, and one of the strongest tracks on the album.
3. Sunrise - Yeasayer
Just getting acquainted with Yeasayer. Hearkens TV on the Radio, who are better, but this is still a great song.
4. No One - Alicia Keys
Mama, that girl can belt one out. I've always liked her, and I can't stop listening to this single. It's everywhere, though, so I hope I don't get sick of it.
5. We Share Our Mother's Health - The Knife
One of the many fabulous songs from the fabulous 2006 Silent Shout. I need to get the rest of that album.
6. Roc Boys (The Winner Is...) - Jay-Z
This song is fun. I've heard American Gangster a couple times through and it's pretty slammin'.
Also, releases I'm looking forward to:
Lupe Fiasco - December 18
In Rainbows (!!!!) - January 1
LOST Season 3 DVD - December 11 (not at all music, but still)
...there are more but right now I'm at a loss.
C'est tout!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Comments
I've changed the setting on here so that whenever someone makes a comment, I'm notified by e-mail. So now I'll hopefully see your comments a lot sooner and will be able to react quicker to them. I'm just excited that people are reading my blog. Even if it's only 3 people. 3 > 0.
C'est tout!
C'est tout!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
In Rainbows, cont'd (again)
The remainder of the review, as promised...
6. Faust ARP
Serves as a transition track of sorts, but it shouldn't be disregarded or breezed through. The string composition on this track, props Jonny Greenwood, is exquisite. Layered with the sweetly understated acoustic guitar, plus Thom Yorke's rhythmic, not-quite-singing pseudo-rap, this track is quietly beautiful.
Key lyric: I love you/but enough is enough/there's no real reason
Mood: Revelatory
7. Reckoner
One of the most layered, complex tracks on the album. The tambourine/cymbal percussion + guitar riff a la Chili Peppers provide the beat. The vocals, consisting of Yorke's high, liquid-like utterances, complemented by distant oohhs and aahhhs which come to the foreground in the bridge, create an eerie, haunted effect. During the bridge, the icy, ghostly vocals are penetrated by the deep, warm honey of the violin. The cold-warm juxtaposition completes the song, and the ensuing remainder of the track is perfection. The strings endure for the rest of the song, and are highlighted again in the last 30 seconds of the track, ending this song which started icy on a warm note, yet the haunted feeling remains. Subtly layered throughout, with such precision that the end result is flawless.
Key lyric: You were not to blame for/bittersweet distractors
Mood: Pensive
8. House of Cards
This track and All I Need are songs that you have sex to. It's true. They're sexy. The lyrics say it all in this song. Yorke sings about being your lover, denial, falling off the table, getting swept under, etc. etc. You get the idea. It's a great song to listen to, but I can't help but think about sex when it's on, so I get distracted. The track's driven by a cute lil' guitar riff (again, a la Chili Peppers, it seems to me), along with insect-like clicks in the background that occur every so often. Plus, throughout the whole song, it sounds like there's wind tumbling through amidst the rest of the sounds. It comes charging in and roars for a few seconds, then slowly fades away, then comes back in, then fades. It's beautiful. There are other little subtle variances, which are great, but again, even as I'm listening to the song right now to find things to write about it, I can't concentrate. Because this song=sex. Sorry.
Key lyric: I don't want to be your friend/I just want to be your lover
Mood: Lustful (SEX)
9. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Hmm. What to say about this song. It's up there with 15 Step and Bodysnatchers as the most upbeat tracks on the album. Again, eerie ooh-ing, this time more pronounced, as if Yorke is actually being chased by an entire fleet of assorted evil spirits. This track truly builds to a clear climax, which occurs about 40 seconds before the end of the song. Like Bodysnatchers, you can sense paranoia here. But while Bodysnatchers asserts itself from the get-go, Jigsaw builds up to it, until the tension has reached its pinnacle and it's about to explode everywhere. But it never really does. Yes, the song climaxes (near-orgasmically), but it never explodes. Both Bodysnatchers and Jigsaw clearly express worry and anxiety, but the raw, rock-out explosion of Bodysnatchers is not nearly distressing as the controlled panic of Jigsaw.
Key lyric: Wish away the nightmare/You've got a light/You can feel it on your back
Mood: Terrified
10. Videotape
Without a doubt, the most unsettling song on this record. If you listen to the lyrics, you can deduce pretty easily that this song is a suicide note. And he mentions Mephistopheles, which = Satan, which = Hell. Accordingly, the sounds are creepy, creepy, CREEPY. It never picks up, never slows down, just stays at the same, steady tempo, led by the four-note piano that introduces the track. Those four notes are disquieting enough, but then the mysterious who-knows-what-it-is wind-like machine comes in with the off-putting beat of the snare drum, and this song becomes truly strange and, frankly, scary as shit. If you're about to jump off a building, or slit your wrists, put this on, along with Gary Jules' "Mad World." There you go. There's your Suicide Mix, those two songs. Don't get me wrong - this song is pretty close to perfect. It leaves you with chills, doubts, fears, maybe even tears. In this way, Videotape stands out on this record, amongst all of the other songs that feel so familiar, easy, smooth. The two-song closer of Jigsaw and Videotape create quite the unsettling little combo, and they make you perk up and go, whoa. What just happened? Where am I? What am I doing here? And the end of the album is exactly where Videotape should be. There would not be a better closing track than this song.
Key lyric: This is one for the good days/and I have it all here/in red, blue, green
Mood: (not really a mood but it's the best way to say it) Final
IN RAINBOWS:
Overall feel: Familiar, smooth, simple, subtle
Overall review: 9.7/10
Overall ranking amidst other Radiohead: As of right now, it's #2, right under OK Computer. But I need to listen more to Kid A.
In summary, go download In Rainbows. It's the most gorgeous chunk of music I've heard in some time. Radiohead were already legends, and with the release of this album, they've shown that they still are and will go down in music history, without a doubt. HOORAY for good music!
C'est tout.
6. Faust ARP
Serves as a transition track of sorts, but it shouldn't be disregarded or breezed through. The string composition on this track, props Jonny Greenwood, is exquisite. Layered with the sweetly understated acoustic guitar, plus Thom Yorke's rhythmic, not-quite-singing pseudo-rap, this track is quietly beautiful.
Key lyric: I love you/but enough is enough/there's no real reason
Mood: Revelatory
7. Reckoner
One of the most layered, complex tracks on the album. The tambourine/cymbal percussion + guitar riff a la Chili Peppers provide the beat. The vocals, consisting of Yorke's high, liquid-like utterances, complemented by distant oohhs and aahhhs which come to the foreground in the bridge, create an eerie, haunted effect. During the bridge, the icy, ghostly vocals are penetrated by the deep, warm honey of the violin. The cold-warm juxtaposition completes the song, and the ensuing remainder of the track is perfection. The strings endure for the rest of the song, and are highlighted again in the last 30 seconds of the track, ending this song which started icy on a warm note, yet the haunted feeling remains. Subtly layered throughout, with such precision that the end result is flawless.
Key lyric: You were not to blame for/bittersweet distractors
Mood: Pensive
8. House of Cards
This track and All I Need are songs that you have sex to. It's true. They're sexy. The lyrics say it all in this song. Yorke sings about being your lover, denial, falling off the table, getting swept under, etc. etc. You get the idea. It's a great song to listen to, but I can't help but think about sex when it's on, so I get distracted. The track's driven by a cute lil' guitar riff (again, a la Chili Peppers, it seems to me), along with insect-like clicks in the background that occur every so often. Plus, throughout the whole song, it sounds like there's wind tumbling through amidst the rest of the sounds. It comes charging in and roars for a few seconds, then slowly fades away, then comes back in, then fades. It's beautiful. There are other little subtle variances, which are great, but again, even as I'm listening to the song right now to find things to write about it, I can't concentrate. Because this song=sex. Sorry.
Key lyric: I don't want to be your friend/I just want to be your lover
Mood: Lustful (SEX)
9. Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Hmm. What to say about this song. It's up there with 15 Step and Bodysnatchers as the most upbeat tracks on the album. Again, eerie ooh-ing, this time more pronounced, as if Yorke is actually being chased by an entire fleet of assorted evil spirits. This track truly builds to a clear climax, which occurs about 40 seconds before the end of the song. Like Bodysnatchers, you can sense paranoia here. But while Bodysnatchers asserts itself from the get-go, Jigsaw builds up to it, until the tension has reached its pinnacle and it's about to explode everywhere. But it never really does. Yes, the song climaxes (near-orgasmically), but it never explodes. Both Bodysnatchers and Jigsaw clearly express worry and anxiety, but the raw, rock-out explosion of Bodysnatchers is not nearly distressing as the controlled panic of Jigsaw.
Key lyric: Wish away the nightmare/You've got a light/You can feel it on your back
Mood: Terrified
10. Videotape
Without a doubt, the most unsettling song on this record. If you listen to the lyrics, you can deduce pretty easily that this song is a suicide note. And he mentions Mephistopheles, which = Satan, which = Hell. Accordingly, the sounds are creepy, creepy, CREEPY. It never picks up, never slows down, just stays at the same, steady tempo, led by the four-note piano that introduces the track. Those four notes are disquieting enough, but then the mysterious who-knows-what-it-is wind-like machine comes in with the off-putting beat of the snare drum, and this song becomes truly strange and, frankly, scary as shit. If you're about to jump off a building, or slit your wrists, put this on, along with Gary Jules' "Mad World." There you go. There's your Suicide Mix, those two songs. Don't get me wrong - this song is pretty close to perfect. It leaves you with chills, doubts, fears, maybe even tears. In this way, Videotape stands out on this record, amongst all of the other songs that feel so familiar, easy, smooth. The two-song closer of Jigsaw and Videotape create quite the unsettling little combo, and they make you perk up and go, whoa. What just happened? Where am I? What am I doing here? And the end of the album is exactly where Videotape should be. There would not be a better closing track than this song.
Key lyric: This is one for the good days/and I have it all here/in red, blue, green
Mood: (not really a mood but it's the best way to say it) Final
IN RAINBOWS:
Overall feel: Familiar, smooth, simple, subtle
Overall review: 9.7/10
Overall ranking amidst other Radiohead: As of right now, it's #2, right under OK Computer. But I need to listen more to Kid A.
In summary, go download In Rainbows. It's the most gorgeous chunk of music I've heard in some time. Radiohead were already legends, and with the release of this album, they've shown that they still are and will go down in music history, without a doubt. HOORAY for good music!
C'est tout.
Playlists
October:
1. Winter Wonder Land - Animal Collective
2. Is There A Ghost - Band of Horses
3. Cell Phone's Dead - Beck
4. Disaster - The Besnard Lakes
5. Here Comes The Summer - Fiery Furnaces
6. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart - Wilco
7. On A Neck, On A Spit - Grizzly Bear
8. Come Back Margaret - Camera Obscura
9. Your Arms Around Me - Jens Lekman
10. I Am Leaving You Because I Don't Love You - Jens Lekman
11. 1 2 3 4 - Feist
12. Teardrop (cover) - Jose Gonzalez
13. Reckoner - Radiohead
14. Bodysnatchers - Radiohead
15. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - Black Kids
16. Hurricane Jane - Black Kids
17. Winged/Wicked Things - Sunset Rubdown
18. The Night Starts Here - Stars
19. Good Life - Kanye West
20. Flashing Lights - Kanye West
This week:
1. Silly Crimes - The Tough Alliance
2. Pillar of Salt - The Thermals
3. Black Like Me - Spoon
4. Dirty Knife - Neko Case
5. All I Need - Radiohead
6. Ex-Guru - Fiery Furnaces
C'est tout.
1. Winter Wonder Land - Animal Collective
2. Is There A Ghost - Band of Horses
3. Cell Phone's Dead - Beck
4. Disaster - The Besnard Lakes
5. Here Comes The Summer - Fiery Furnaces
6. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart - Wilco
7. On A Neck, On A Spit - Grizzly Bear
8. Come Back Margaret - Camera Obscura
9. Your Arms Around Me - Jens Lekman
10. I Am Leaving You Because I Don't Love You - Jens Lekman
11. 1 2 3 4 - Feist
12. Teardrop (cover) - Jose Gonzalez
13. Reckoner - Radiohead
14. Bodysnatchers - Radiohead
15. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You - Black Kids
16. Hurricane Jane - Black Kids
17. Winged/Wicked Things - Sunset Rubdown
18. The Night Starts Here - Stars
19. Good Life - Kanye West
20. Flashing Lights - Kanye West
This week:
1. Silly Crimes - The Tough Alliance
2. Pillar of Salt - The Thermals
3. Black Like Me - Spoon
4. Dirty Knife - Neko Case
5. All I Need - Radiohead
6. Ex-Guru - Fiery Furnaces
C'est tout.
All-Time Favorite Songs
I've been working on compiling a list of my favorite songs of all time. Eventually, I want to be able to condense it to 20, and from there, to a top 10. I've made a CD of some of them, Volume 1 of my faves. Here's what made it to Vol. 1:
1. Masterfade - Andrew Bird
2. Intervention - Arcade Fire
3. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
4. Shiver - Coldplay
5. Certain Things You Ought To Know - Destroyer
6. Keep It Together - Guster
7. The Moment I Said It - Imogen Heap
8. Schindler's List theme - Itzhak Perlman
9. Lover, You Should've Come Over - Jeff Buckley
10. Maple Leaves (7" Version) - Jens Lekman
11. River- Joni Mitchell
12. Star Witness - Neko Case
13. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
14. On Your Side - Pete Yorn
15. Let Down - Radiohead
16. Across The Universe (Beatles cover) - Rufus Wainwright
17. The Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkel
18. Black Like Me - Spoon
So there's the first disc o' faves. More contenders:
Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Tuesday Afternoon - The Moody Blues
Layla - Derek and the Dominoes
Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Walking on Broken Glass - Annie Lennox
Heartbeats - The Knife
Here Comes The Summer - Fiery Furnaces
Grace's Amazing Hands - Dave Barnes
Daft Punk is Playing at My House - LCD Soundsystem
Pull Shapes - The Pipettes
What Else Is There? - Royksopp
Trill - Clipse
What You Know - T.I.
And, of course, my favorite artists appear more than once:
Jeff Buckley - Lover...(Vol. 1), Hallelujah, Last Goodbye
Coldplay - Shiver (Vol. 1), Yellow, Swallowed in the Sea
Neko Case - Star Witness (Vol. 1), Runnin' Out Of Fools
The Beatles - Here, There and Everywhere, Yesterday, In My Life
Radiohead - Let Down (Vol. 1), There There, How To Disappear Completely, Black Star, I Might Be Wrong, True Love Waits, All I Need
But I'm not sure what to do about these yet. It seems redundant to put multiple songs by the same artist. Especially for Radiohead. I don't really need to include all of my favorite Radiohead songs on this list, because Radiohead is just my favorite artist, period. I'll pick two more after Let Down to put on Vols. 2 and 3, but probably only Let Down will appear in the top 20.
So. There it is. Songs from different genres, years, etc. What all of them have in common:
1. Each song is attached to a certain memory, a certain feeling. Many of them have nostalgic value for me. And to most of them I've attached some sort of emotional importance. For example...
Shiver = my anthem to all my high school crushes
...and there are more explanations that are too private to put on a public blog.
2. They are all incredibly comforting to me. Either by making me happy or making me sad, which are both, in their own ways, comforting. For example...
Lover, You Should've Come Over = my go-to crying session song. I'm sad/angry/frustrated/overwhelmed-->Buckley's my man. A perfect song to accompany necessary, long-overdue release of emotion. Also great for this purpose are River, The Moment I Said It, and Black Like Me.
On the flip side, Masterfade, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, Across The Universe, Keep It Together, Only Living Boy In New York...are songs that comfort me by making me feel safe and happy and peaceful. This is just as important as the sad songs. But I couldn't really live without the happy ones, or without the sad ones. I need both. They balance each other out.
The construction of this list, in itself, has been a comfort to me. I essentially would not be able to function without these songs.
...which brings me to this: I'd like to draw attention to the title of this blog: "All-Time FAVORITE Songs." Not "All-Time BEST Songs." This is not a list of objectively great songs throughout history or anything. It's strictly personal, which means that it's tres, tres subjective. These are my PERSONAL favorites. And the ones that mean the most are the ones whose greatness are probably lost on most "seasoned" music lovers/critics. I like songs because of what they mean to me, to my life, personally. I'm not going to put a song on here just because it was "historically important." And I'm not going to feel bad about excluding certain genres, eras, decades, movements, artists, etc. Fuck that. I'm not a music critic. I'm not writing a fucking article for Rolling Stone titled "The 20 Greatest Rock & Roll Songs Of The Past 50 Years" or some shit like that. Because I don't care about that. I just don't. But I do care about the songs that have kept me company this year, last year, 10 years ago. That's what I care about. Hence, that's what I write about.
So I hope that if anyone reads this, maybe that person will get a better idea of who I am, based on my all-time favorite music. And even if no one reads it, I, at least, learned something about myself in compiling this list. So I feel pretty good about that.
C'est tout.
1. Masterfade - Andrew Bird
2. Intervention - Arcade Fire
3. God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
4. Shiver - Coldplay
5. Certain Things You Ought To Know - Destroyer
6. Keep It Together - Guster
7. The Moment I Said It - Imogen Heap
8. Schindler's List theme - Itzhak Perlman
9. Lover, You Should've Come Over - Jeff Buckley
10. Maple Leaves (7" Version) - Jens Lekman
11. River- Joni Mitchell
12. Star Witness - Neko Case
13. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel
14. On Your Side - Pete Yorn
15. Let Down - Radiohead
16. Across The Universe (Beatles cover) - Rufus Wainwright
17. The Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkel
18. Black Like Me - Spoon
So there's the first disc o' faves. More contenders:
Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles
I Want You Back - Jackson 5
Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Tuesday Afternoon - The Moody Blues
Layla - Derek and the Dominoes
Come Pick Me Up - Ryan Adams
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Walking on Broken Glass - Annie Lennox
Heartbeats - The Knife
Here Comes The Summer - Fiery Furnaces
Grace's Amazing Hands - Dave Barnes
Daft Punk is Playing at My House - LCD Soundsystem
Pull Shapes - The Pipettes
What Else Is There? - Royksopp
Trill - Clipse
What You Know - T.I.
And, of course, my favorite artists appear more than once:
Jeff Buckley - Lover...(Vol. 1), Hallelujah, Last Goodbye
Coldplay - Shiver (Vol. 1), Yellow, Swallowed in the Sea
Neko Case - Star Witness (Vol. 1), Runnin' Out Of Fools
The Beatles - Here, There and Everywhere, Yesterday, In My Life
Radiohead - Let Down (Vol. 1), There There, How To Disappear Completely, Black Star, I Might Be Wrong, True Love Waits, All I Need
But I'm not sure what to do about these yet. It seems redundant to put multiple songs by the same artist. Especially for Radiohead. I don't really need to include all of my favorite Radiohead songs on this list, because Radiohead is just my favorite artist, period. I'll pick two more after Let Down to put on Vols. 2 and 3, but probably only Let Down will appear in the top 20.
So. There it is. Songs from different genres, years, etc. What all of them have in common:
1. Each song is attached to a certain memory, a certain feeling. Many of them have nostalgic value for me. And to most of them I've attached some sort of emotional importance. For example...
Shiver = my anthem to all my high school crushes
...and there are more explanations that are too private to put on a public blog.
2. They are all incredibly comforting to me. Either by making me happy or making me sad, which are both, in their own ways, comforting. For example...
Lover, You Should've Come Over = my go-to crying session song. I'm sad/angry/frustrated/overwhelmed-->Buckley's my man. A perfect song to accompany necessary, long-overdue release of emotion. Also great for this purpose are River, The Moment I Said It, and Black Like Me.
On the flip side, Masterfade, In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, Across The Universe, Keep It Together, Only Living Boy In New York...are songs that comfort me by making me feel safe and happy and peaceful. This is just as important as the sad songs. But I couldn't really live without the happy ones, or without the sad ones. I need both. They balance each other out.
The construction of this list, in itself, has been a comfort to me. I essentially would not be able to function without these songs.
...which brings me to this: I'd like to draw attention to the title of this blog: "All-Time FAVORITE Songs." Not "All-Time BEST Songs." This is not a list of objectively great songs throughout history or anything. It's strictly personal, which means that it's tres, tres subjective. These are my PERSONAL favorites. And the ones that mean the most are the ones whose greatness are probably lost on most "seasoned" music lovers/critics. I like songs because of what they mean to me, to my life, personally. I'm not going to put a song on here just because it was "historically important." And I'm not going to feel bad about excluding certain genres, eras, decades, movements, artists, etc. Fuck that. I'm not a music critic. I'm not writing a fucking article for Rolling Stone titled "The 20 Greatest Rock & Roll Songs Of The Past 50 Years" or some shit like that. Because I don't care about that. I just don't. But I do care about the songs that have kept me company this year, last year, 10 years ago. That's what I care about. Hence, that's what I write about.
So I hope that if anyone reads this, maybe that person will get a better idea of who I am, based on my all-time favorite music. And even if no one reads it, I, at least, learned something about myself in compiling this list. So I feel pretty good about that.
C'est tout.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Huh?
I've realized a few things:
1) My dog is weird. Every day when I come home, she greets me, then she grabs a toy and runs upstairs and waits for me at my bedroom door. When I go into my room, she jumps on the bed with the toy, sits there for a couple seconds, then gets off the bed, leaves the room, runs back downstairs, and lies down on the couch. This is a daily event. The same thing. Every day. I don't think I get it.
2) I've decided that my favorite track off In Rainbows is definitely "All I Need". That song gives me all kinds of chills. Everything about it is gorgeous perfection. I just love it. I listened to it over and over again today, and almost cried. It's that good. I love it.
3) If people keep asking me what I'm going to do with my life, eventually I'm going to have to have an answer for them. I'm sick of the "::sigh:: I have no idea! All I can focus on is getting to France next semester!" I don't think there should be anything wrong with that, but it doesn't seem to be good enough. But it's just the truth. All I want to do is look forward to France, that's all. I can't be worrying about what will happen when I get back. So I guess anyone who wants to know, ya know, I really can't tell ya. So suck it.
4) Fountains + trees = makes me happy, so I'm glad that Aix has a lot of both of those.
5) I've become so invested in Jim and Pam's romance on The Office, as in I live vicariously through them, that I think if they break up, I will spiral into an even deeper depression. It's dangerous.
6) Crap TV = soooooo comforting, especially late at night. Important: I am not creating a link here between crap TV and The Office. The Office is not crap TV. What IS, however, is A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. Also, dammit all, those kids on Smallville can't act to save their lives, but goddammit that show is FABULOUS. Besides, there are no sports on right now, what else can I do?
7) Speaking of sports--baseball. Never in my life would I have thought that I could get into baseball. And then, this postseason, I became completely obsessed with the playoffs, ALCS, NLCS, and the World Series. I was addicted. True, I was influenced by my friend to give it a chance. But I'm really glad that I did, because it is endlessly entertaining. Especially in the postseason when it becomes increasingly more exciting with each game. I really like it, and it just goes to show that everything should be given a fair chance. And when sports are good, there's just nothing better.
8) Also sports-related, Jodie Meeks = my husband. Judging by his performance against Pikeville, I think he's headed for an amazing season. Alls I'm sayin' is, I called it. I called it when I liked him at the beginning of last season, when no one else noticed him, when he was starting to get shit done on the court. I'm just sayin'.
9) This video is essential for my life...
Perfect Dating Video
...and should be essential for yours too.
C'est tout.
1) My dog is weird. Every day when I come home, she greets me, then she grabs a toy and runs upstairs and waits for me at my bedroom door. When I go into my room, she jumps on the bed with the toy, sits there for a couple seconds, then gets off the bed, leaves the room, runs back downstairs, and lies down on the couch. This is a daily event. The same thing. Every day. I don't think I get it.
2) I've decided that my favorite track off In Rainbows is definitely "All I Need". That song gives me all kinds of chills. Everything about it is gorgeous perfection. I just love it. I listened to it over and over again today, and almost cried. It's that good. I love it.
3) If people keep asking me what I'm going to do with my life, eventually I'm going to have to have an answer for them. I'm sick of the "::sigh:: I have no idea! All I can focus on is getting to France next semester!" I don't think there should be anything wrong with that, but it doesn't seem to be good enough. But it's just the truth. All I want to do is look forward to France, that's all. I can't be worrying about what will happen when I get back. So I guess anyone who wants to know, ya know, I really can't tell ya. So suck it.
4) Fountains + trees = makes me happy, so I'm glad that Aix has a lot of both of those.
5) I've become so invested in Jim and Pam's romance on The Office, as in I live vicariously through them, that I think if they break up, I will spiral into an even deeper depression. It's dangerous.
6) Crap TV = soooooo comforting, especially late at night. Important: I am not creating a link here between crap TV and The Office. The Office is not crap TV. What IS, however, is A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila. Also, dammit all, those kids on Smallville can't act to save their lives, but goddammit that show is FABULOUS. Besides, there are no sports on right now, what else can I do?
7) Speaking of sports--baseball. Never in my life would I have thought that I could get into baseball. And then, this postseason, I became completely obsessed with the playoffs, ALCS, NLCS, and the World Series. I was addicted. True, I was influenced by my friend to give it a chance. But I'm really glad that I did, because it is endlessly entertaining. Especially in the postseason when it becomes increasingly more exciting with each game. I really like it, and it just goes to show that everything should be given a fair chance. And when sports are good, there's just nothing better.
8) Also sports-related, Jodie Meeks = my husband. Judging by his performance against Pikeville, I think he's headed for an amazing season. Alls I'm sayin' is, I called it. I called it when I liked him at the beginning of last season, when no one else noticed him, when he was starting to get shit done on the court. I'm just sayin'.
9) This video is essential for my life...
Perfect Dating Video
...and should be essential for yours too.
C'est tout.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
There's only one October.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7lDaNhR4K4
This is fucking funny. Especially if:
a) you've seen the real promos
b) you're a baseball fan or at least have kept up with the MLB playoffs
c) you acknowledge that Dane Cook is a douche
"They're gonna need more than blankets of small pox, they're gonna need baseball hits."
"Just ask C.C. Sabathia. This C.C.'s not a music factory, he's a pitching factory!"
Really, TBS? Dane Cook? REALLY?
This is fucking funny. Especially if:
a) you've seen the real promos
b) you're a baseball fan or at least have kept up with the MLB playoffs
c) you acknowledge that Dane Cook is a douche
"They're gonna need more than blankets of small pox, they're gonna need baseball hits."
"Just ask C.C. Sabathia. This C.C.'s not a music factory, he's a pitching factory!"
Really, TBS? Dane Cook? REALLY?
Friday, October 12, 2007
In Rainbows, cont'd
OK, so we've got context. Now, content. Track-by-track:
1. 15 Step
Strong starter track. Driven by a funk-ish beat, complemented by soulful guitar and bass riffs. Slightly unusual but still Radiohead. Love the random bursts of children's voices. This track reminds me of Incubus' early work on S.C.I.E.N.C.E., kind of like the last minute of "Airbag."
Key lyric: How come I end up where I started?/How come I end up where I belong?
Mood: Confused
2. Bodysnatchers
Right off the bat, scratchy-metallic. Without a doubt, the most upbeat, angst-ridden track on the album, set up perfectly by 15 Step. Refreshing to hear one loud song on this album--it won't get louder than this. But it's not angry. The scratchy guitar-percussion duo, paired with Yorke's screechy vocals, drive the song. A perfect late-night-driving-too-fast tune.
Key lyric: I have no idea what I'm talking about/I'm trapped in this body and can't get out
Mood: Anxious
3. Nude
And then we arrive here. Fundamentally opposite to Bodysnatchers. Begins with Yorke's shrill "ooohh"-ing in the background, accompanied by grandiose strings. A gorgeous pairing. The strings, the slow, steady drum beat, and Yorke's sleepy mmms and ooohs create a very mellow, sepuchral atmosphere. Beautifully produced.
Key lyric: Now that you've found it, it's gone/Now that you feel it, you don't
Mood: Resigned
4. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
What's most note-worthy in this song is the bridge/transition from the first half to the second. The constant, electronic-synthesized beat ceases suddenly; only one noise resounds. It sounds like an electronic bell kit of sorts, and the notes just jump around on the bells one after the other during this 40 second-long transition segment. When the song enters this section, you feel like you've just dived into a pool. The bells are like water droplets bouncing off each other inside your ears. And everything seems to calm down for a minute; excluding the water noise and Yorke's voice, there's a tangible silence. Exquisite.
Key lyric: Your eyes/They turn me/Why should I stay?
Mood: Explorative
5. All I Need
Simplicity is key on this album. This track is simple, but still goes somewhere. It builds until there is palpable desperation in Yorke's voice. This song feels like home to me. Very familiar, accessible, relatable. So apparently Radiohead isn't try to alienate all of us anymore, which was never a problem really (exception: Hail to the Thief), but nevertheless it's refreshing to be able to relax and just enjoy the music without having to put so much thought into it all the time. Without having to analyze and find hidden meanings and metaphors. All you have to do to enjoy this track (this whole album, really) is to just sit back and relaaaaax. Chill. And everyone can relate to these lyrics. I mean, hello? Unrequited love, anyone?Key lyric: I am all the days/that you choose to ignore
Mood: Pleading
Critique on the second half coming soon...
In Rainbows
As we all know, the new Radiohead album, In Rainbows, came out in digital form this week. Of course, I had pre-ordered the download and literally yelped with glee when I received the e-mail with the DL link late Tuesday night.
Admittedly, I was skeptical of this album. With all the hype from the website and not knowing when it would come out and all of a sudden everyone could pre-order it (potentially for free) and get it 10 days later...it all seemed a bit fishy to me. And very rushed. It came out of nowhere; a pleasant surprise, without a doubt, but still out of nowhere. Hence my trepidation. As much as I wanted to hear new material from them, I wouldn't trade immediacy for quality. Ever. And I, along with other Radiohead fans, expect nothing less than perfection from them. Especially given that it's been 4 years since Hail to the Thief.
All of that said, I must say, this album is far from a disappointment. It wasn't exactly rewarding on the first listen, but it doesn't require a whole lot of patience to wait for it to pay off. It gets there after the third-ish listen. It takes a few listens because it is, for the most part, ambient in sound and smooth in texture. The sounds aren't controversial, strange, or even loud, so they don't demand your immediate attention. At first, the songs all sound the same. That worried me. But then, after several more listens, I became able to differentiate among them and to appreciate the smooth, hypnotic flow of the album.
Most of the album is comprised of previously unreleased tracks that most (devoted) Radiohead fans have already heard performed live. Some of the track names have changed several times before now ("Nude" was once "(Don't Get Any) Big Ideas"), some of them are the same ("Videotape"). There are a couple of new ones, like "Bodysnatchers" and "Faust Arp". But for the most part, this album is not brand new material. I knew that before it came out, and I felt unsure about it. I worried that this album would feel like a disjointed compilation, the songs in no real order, just a bunch of old tracks they stuck together out of lack of creativity. And I couldn't help but think, I've waited this long and all I get is a compilation of songs I've already heard? No surprises (OK Computer pun?) No excitement? Bummer!
Yes, I did think such things. Why I questioned Radiohead's artistic skill and integrity, I don't know. Alas, I had nothing to worry about. First of all, this is not a compilation of live tracks. These are studio recordings. And some of these songs are old, it's true. But that just means that Radiohead's had YEARS to perfect them. Which means that this album is the product of years of work. Which, I realize now, is actually more impressive than putting out an LP of totally new material. As opposed to an all-new album, Radiohead's put together their best stuff, material they introduced into their arsenal years ago and have since pulled out again and again to revise, edit, improve, finally put together cohesively on In Rainbows. Which means that this album has been a masterpiece in the making for nearly a decade. Impressive? Yes.
I'm certainly impressed. This album is not what I was expecting. I had unrealistic hopes at first of another OK Computer. But OK can not and should not ever be duplicated, even by Radiohead. That would be boring and stagnant. It does seem that this album is a natural progression and maybe an improvement from Thief. This album is like Thief minus the angst and the tension. Thief tried, I think, to include too many different sounds, which I think made it just a hair short of perfection. In Rainbows doesn't make that mistake - the flow is incredible, the sound is just gorgeous, it's effortless. Sometimes I do wish for a bit more angst, more buildup, rising tension, explosion. But I can get that from OK Computer and Kid A. That's not what this album is supposed to do, so I shouldn't expect that from it. I think I'm able now to appreciate the album for what it is, and it truly is a unique addition to Radiohead's repertoir.
I'm not disappointed.
Admittedly, I was skeptical of this album. With all the hype from the website and not knowing when it would come out and all of a sudden everyone could pre-order it (potentially for free) and get it 10 days later...it all seemed a bit fishy to me. And very rushed. It came out of nowhere; a pleasant surprise, without a doubt, but still out of nowhere. Hence my trepidation. As much as I wanted to hear new material from them, I wouldn't trade immediacy for quality. Ever. And I, along with other Radiohead fans, expect nothing less than perfection from them. Especially given that it's been 4 years since Hail to the Thief.
All of that said, I must say, this album is far from a disappointment. It wasn't exactly rewarding on the first listen, but it doesn't require a whole lot of patience to wait for it to pay off. It gets there after the third-ish listen. It takes a few listens because it is, for the most part, ambient in sound and smooth in texture. The sounds aren't controversial, strange, or even loud, so they don't demand your immediate attention. At first, the songs all sound the same. That worried me. But then, after several more listens, I became able to differentiate among them and to appreciate the smooth, hypnotic flow of the album.
Most of the album is comprised of previously unreleased tracks that most (devoted) Radiohead fans have already heard performed live. Some of the track names have changed several times before now ("Nude" was once "(Don't Get Any) Big Ideas"), some of them are the same ("Videotape"). There are a couple of new ones, like "Bodysnatchers" and "Faust Arp". But for the most part, this album is not brand new material. I knew that before it came out, and I felt unsure about it. I worried that this album would feel like a disjointed compilation, the songs in no real order, just a bunch of old tracks they stuck together out of lack of creativity. And I couldn't help but think, I've waited this long and all I get is a compilation of songs I've already heard? No surprises (OK Computer pun?) No excitement? Bummer!
Yes, I did think such things. Why I questioned Radiohead's artistic skill and integrity, I don't know. Alas, I had nothing to worry about. First of all, this is not a compilation of live tracks. These are studio recordings. And some of these songs are old, it's true. But that just means that Radiohead's had YEARS to perfect them. Which means that this album is the product of years of work. Which, I realize now, is actually more impressive than putting out an LP of totally new material. As opposed to an all-new album, Radiohead's put together their best stuff, material they introduced into their arsenal years ago and have since pulled out again and again to revise, edit, improve, finally put together cohesively on In Rainbows. Which means that this album has been a masterpiece in the making for nearly a decade. Impressive? Yes.
I'm certainly impressed. This album is not what I was expecting. I had unrealistic hopes at first of another OK Computer. But OK can not and should not ever be duplicated, even by Radiohead. That would be boring and stagnant. It does seem that this album is a natural progression and maybe an improvement from Thief. This album is like Thief minus the angst and the tension. Thief tried, I think, to include too many different sounds, which I think made it just a hair short of perfection. In Rainbows doesn't make that mistake - the flow is incredible, the sound is just gorgeous, it's effortless. Sometimes I do wish for a bit more angst, more buildup, rising tension, explosion. But I can get that from OK Computer and Kid A. That's not what this album is supposed to do, so I shouldn't expect that from it. I think I'm able now to appreciate the album for what it is, and it truly is a unique addition to Radiohead's repertoir.
I'm not disappointed.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Songs of the Week
1. Jens Lekman, "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar"
One of my favorites from Kortedala.
2. Fiery Furnaces, "Here Comes The Summer"
Give it some time, and this song may make my all-time faves list. We'll see if it has the longevity.
3. Animal Collective, "Winter Wonder Land"
The only Strawberry Jam jam I've been able to jam to while eating jam in the traffic jam. Jam!
4. Camera Obscura, "Come Back Margaret"
Saccharine.
5. Samberg/Armisen/Levine/Gyllenhaal's facial hair, "Iran So Far"
And Iran
Iran so far away
Is your home
But in my heart you'll stay
The song is actually quite catchy. Damn that Adam Levine. I'm sure he had a hand in it. Anyway, we've all seen it. But here it is, for those of you who have been living under a rock:
Iran So Far
That's all, folks!
One of my favorites from Kortedala.
2. Fiery Furnaces, "Here Comes The Summer"
Give it some time, and this song may make my all-time faves list. We'll see if it has the longevity.
3. Animal Collective, "Winter Wonder Land"
The only Strawberry Jam jam I've been able to jam to while eating jam in the traffic jam. Jam!
4. Camera Obscura, "Come Back Margaret"
Saccharine.
5. Samberg/Armisen/Levine/Gyllenhaal's facial hair, "Iran So Far"
And Iran
Iran so far away
Is your home
But in my heart you'll stay
The song is actually quite catchy. Damn that Adam Levine. I'm sure he had a hand in it. Anyway, we've all seen it. But here it is, for those of you who have been living under a rock:
Iran So Far
That's all, folks!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Songs of the Day
1. Jens Lekman, "Your Arms Around Me"
Still obsessed. Oct. 9 = buying CD; Oct. 23 = concert
2. Jose Gonzalez, "Teardrop"
A Massive Attack cover. Greatness.
3. Jill Scott, "Hate On Me"
That's right. This bitch can SING.
4. Iron & Wine, "Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car"
Getting into Sam Beam for the first time. He's new to me, and I like it.
5. The Besnard Lakes, "Disaster"
This is really the song of the week for me. It's on repeat.
Still obsessed. Oct. 9 = buying CD; Oct. 23 = concert
2. Jose Gonzalez, "Teardrop"
A Massive Attack cover. Greatness.
3. Jill Scott, "Hate On Me"
That's right. This bitch can SING.
4. Iron & Wine, "Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car"
Getting into Sam Beam for the first time. He's new to me, and I like it.
5. The Besnard Lakes, "Disaster"
This is really the song of the week for me. It's on repeat.
Young Talent
I want to know where the hell all of this young talent is coming from. It's crazy to me that there are kids writing movie scripts at 13 years old. I mean, of course these scripts are silly, but the fact that 13-year-olds have the creative gumption to invent a script, even if it's ridiculous, is just amazing to me. You know what I was doing at 13? Writing notes to my BFFs with Gelly-Roll pens and going ice skating on Fridays.
Let's take Michael Cera, for example. He started acting very young, doing random spots on Disney shows and such, then he landed a role on Arrested Development when he was 15. That role was like a launching pad for his career. This summer, he starred in the comedy of the year, Superbad. He also became famous in the online world for his short, comical webisodes which he wrote, produced and directed with his buddy Clark Duke. The "Clark and Michael" chapters came out before Superbad, but didn't really get noticed until after the movie released and people started wondering who the fuck Michael Cera was. Now, thanks to Superbad, Clark and Michael's site is getting a hell of a lot of hits. Pretty good timing for Duke-despite his role as an extra in Superbad, he was an otherwise unknown before "Clark and Michael" - props to Cera for attracting attention (and for bringin' in the bacon). And now Duke's booked a lead role on the ABC Family drama "Greek."
So I'm not sure if these guys got really lucky, or if they're super talented, or if it's a little bit of both. Probably the latter. The point is, Michael Cera is 19 YEARS OLD. He's younger than me. And he's acting, writing, producing...it just seems extraordinary to me. On the other hand, I feel a know a couple of Michael Cera-like individuals. He reminds me of the guys I knew in high school who were always making goof-off short films, music videos, funny websites, etc. Those were the cool guys at my high school. Correction - not necessarily "cool" in the chick magnet kind of way, but these guys were definitely the class clowns. I also knew a couple girls like this. Frankly, it's the computer-electronic media-dorks who can do all this cool shit. One of my friends from high school now has her own weekly radio show and works for the radio station at her university. WTF? 20 years old.
Maybe our generation is useless in a lot of ways. There's a lot of dead weight, unquestionably. But when I hear about people my age who have accomplished so much, it's like damn, some of us really are clever sons of bitches. The fact that there are people my age, even younger, like Cera, who have shown so much promise and have already made names for themselves, well, it makes me think that we can do a whole lot more than we think we can, if we just put forth a lil' bit of effort.
And goddammit, that Cera is a funny bastard. So if you're one of 3 people in the country who still hasn't seen Superbad, go see it. And if you haven't checked out Clark and Michael, here's the link:
Clark and Michael
So go watch it. And go do something productive, for the love of God. If these kids can do it, surely you can.
Let's take Michael Cera, for example. He started acting very young, doing random spots on Disney shows and such, then he landed a role on Arrested Development when he was 15. That role was like a launching pad for his career. This summer, he starred in the comedy of the year, Superbad. He also became famous in the online world for his short, comical webisodes which he wrote, produced and directed with his buddy Clark Duke. The "Clark and Michael" chapters came out before Superbad, but didn't really get noticed until after the movie released and people started wondering who the fuck Michael Cera was. Now, thanks to Superbad, Clark and Michael's site is getting a hell of a lot of hits. Pretty good timing for Duke-despite his role as an extra in Superbad, he was an otherwise unknown before "Clark and Michael" - props to Cera for attracting attention (and for bringin' in the bacon). And now Duke's booked a lead role on the ABC Family drama "Greek."
So I'm not sure if these guys got really lucky, or if they're super talented, or if it's a little bit of both. Probably the latter. The point is, Michael Cera is 19 YEARS OLD. He's younger than me. And he's acting, writing, producing...it just seems extraordinary to me. On the other hand, I feel a know a couple of Michael Cera-like individuals. He reminds me of the guys I knew in high school who were always making goof-off short films, music videos, funny websites, etc. Those were the cool guys at my high school. Correction - not necessarily "cool" in the chick magnet kind of way, but these guys were definitely the class clowns. I also knew a couple girls like this. Frankly, it's the computer-electronic media-dorks who can do all this cool shit. One of my friends from high school now has her own weekly radio show and works for the radio station at her university. WTF? 20 years old.
Maybe our generation is useless in a lot of ways. There's a lot of dead weight, unquestionably. But when I hear about people my age who have accomplished so much, it's like damn, some of us really are clever sons of bitches. The fact that there are people my age, even younger, like Cera, who have shown so much promise and have already made names for themselves, well, it makes me think that we can do a whole lot more than we think we can, if we just put forth a lil' bit of effort.
And goddammit, that Cera is a funny bastard. So if you're one of 3 people in the country who still hasn't seen Superbad, go see it. And if you haven't checked out Clark and Michael, here's the link:
Clark and Michael
So go watch it. And go do something productive, for the love of God. If these kids can do it, surely you can.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Sample
This is my first blog post. I'm testing the waters to see if I actually have anything to write about in a blog. We'll see what happens.
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