ugh, i think i'm getting a bug or somethin'. my nose is stopped up and runny and my throat is sore. this stinks because it means i'm a walking disease. no kissing for me!!! eh, oh well, not all is bad though. i'm still here and enjoying my life a lot more than in the past. i can't help but smile right now as i type this!!!
i wanna make this short because i'm meeting kristy in a bit to have dinner. for this post i'm making a mark for a band i totally missed out on last year. they go by the name, Bo Ningen, which is japanese and i think it means, "stick men"...
okay, so pay attention here, because i'm going to have to explain a lot in a short amount of words if i can. bo ningen is a four piece band from london, england and are one of that nations rising talents. they have been highly praised by fellow rockers, The Horrors and by musical press, nme. to describe their sound, take the heaviness of Black Sabbath and Lighting Bolt, mix in the garage rock roughness of, The Sonics and The Mummies, then stir that with the noise punk spasticness of Melt Banana and Arab On Radar, and you might have a close idea of what this band is all about.
actually, what i listed above is only a taste of the craziness this band does. as i was writing the above paragraph, i kept thinking i'm hearing freekin' King Crimson and kraut rock like, Faust, Neu! and Can. it's no wonder they toured with ex-singer, damo suzuki, from can... anyway, this is really bogus and it's keeping me interested to the very end. it's j-pop turned on it's head and farted on. bo ningen are amazing and come highly recommended!!!
for their tunes, in first place is their debut ep titled, Koroshitai Kimochi. and after that is their self titled debut full length. oh, and just for a warning, these songs are all sung in japanese, so don't freak out
hey readers, i've been gone a few days and trapped by this crazy weather we've been having here in oklahoma. no kidding, it took me almost an hour and a half to get my car out of it's parking spot. good thing i had my zombie killin' bat in the back end because without it i wouldn't have been able to break the ice on the ground!!!
since work was canceled for two days, i spent all that time with kristy. to say it was fun would be an understatement... IT WAS A BLAST!!! lol no really, i believe we had an awesome time and it was great to be that close. getting to know someone you care about is a wonderful and exciting experience. i think the pic below is good proof!!!
it's pretty rare for me to smile this cheesy...
so yeah, it was like that. ah, and this next leads me to one of the best moments that came along. yesterday we both were picked up by her friend and we went to one of my co-workers family's house. over there we ate and watched the thunder game then played a lot of really fun board games. the night was topped off with everyone standing around two tables and playing this addicting card game called, "nuts." this was my first try and i was a bit slow, but i soon got the hang of it and had a wonderful experience. this whole ordeal sort of reminded me of my family and how we "sometimes" get together to have good times. i just wish there was a lot more of it...
ok, so overall this was probably the best winter storm i've been through. you can't beat good company and yummy snacks mixed with radical movies and television shows on dvd. (The Office, Chappelle's Show and LOST...) after all was said and done, i had to sit back and slowly recall everything that happened. it's another good memory i have and i seem to be getting more and more of those lately. KEEP THEM COMMIN'!!! ha ha it was ecstasy...
oh, and speaking of ecstasy, here's a band that did a ton of it!!! let's all give a big cheer for, Primal Scream!!!
yeah yeah, drugs are bad, but in this case (is there really anything i can say that would be "for the drugs" and not against them???) they seemed to have been used to their potential and as such, matter-of-factly, this would make even die hard users like ken kesey proud. uh, what i'm getting at is primal scream were heavy users (and still might be...), but that doesn't mean they should be written off simply because. naw man, they are killer and have made some of the best alternative/whatever kind of music since their start back in 1982 in glasgow, scotland.
they were originally a sort of garage rock type thing, but eventually moved into the psychedelic/pop/dance direction. this all happened during their breakthrough years in the 90's and the album, Screamadelica, is the shining star here. it was during this time that they were a part of the acid-house music scene in the uk and also a part of that whole "madchester" thing up north. so it gets real simple now. if you like any bands such as, The Happy Mondays, Suede, The Stone Roses, Spacemen 3, A Guy named Gerald and My Bloody Valentine, then primal scream are just for you.
not enough can be said for one of the best albums EVER made during the 90's. Screamadelica has it all, shoegaze/dream-pop/brit-pop/soul/psychedelic/dance/acid/pop/indie/rock and probably much more but i just don't want to create any more labels. if you are interested in this, be sure to check out some of my favorite tracks like, "higher than the sun" and "damaged." enjoy!!!
you know what??? CHICKEN BUTT!!! oh, and guess what??? (seriously…) I HAD A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!! oh my gosh yes!!! i’m still happy over it!!! saturday and sunday were the scheduled performances for the native american christmas play, and i rocked it!!! i actually did pretty good and almost my entire family came!!! i’m sooooooo happy that everything worked out like it did. just good times with good people and nice memories to remember forever. i couldn’t ask for anything else.
i know there were lot’s of pictures taken of the cast and crew, and i saw some of them myself, so eventually i’ll get around to posting them on here. just as soon as someone emails them…
i don’t have too much time to write a long diatribe about life’s complications, nor do i feel like it anyway, so let’s keep this short. the artist i want to mention today was just pushed back into my mind after reading the news of his recent death. ladies and gentlemen, i give you, Captain Beefheart.
don glen vliet, better known by his stage name, captain beefheart, was a musical/avant-garde/visual artist who made some of the most unsual, yet amazing music of the 60’s and 70’s. he performed often with his backing band, known as The Magic Band, and in the process, left behind many groundbreaking, landmark albums of pure art. yes art!!!
captain beefheart was a friend of Frank Zappa, whom he often competed and collaborated with. after releasing two awesome albums, the captain and his magic band went in the studio and churned out the groundbreaking double album, Trout Mask Replica. this album is by far his most famous and is ranked at number, 58 in the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums Ever Made issue. and all things must pass, and so it comes with sad news that captain beefheart has passed away. he was battling multiple sclerosis at the time. still, the music he’s left behind will be forever cherished. many artists claim allegiance to the world of beefheart and if it wasn’t for him, they wouldn’t be were they are now. Tom Waits, Sonic Youth, The White Stripes, The Sex Pistols, The Minute Men, Gang of Four and Blondie have all stated their inspiration and admiration for his music, and if you have a good ear, you can notice the subtle touches that are pure beefheart. (heh heh…)
so, to end this, i'm posting one thing here and that of course is the double album, Trout Mask Replica. believe the hype, but be warned, you may not "get it" on first listen. it took me many tries before i understood what they were doing here. aw, a good memory from my college days is flooding back. late night dorm room hangin' while jammin' captain beefheart and trying to write something that didn't suck, only to get lost in the music and fall asleep. dig it...
today is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor. i’m not sure how many of you out there knew that, but regardless, it’s very important to keep in mind. i’m at fault for not remembering either... i didn’t even know it until i looked up at the calendar on my cubicle wall. so, with all my respect and prayers, thank you. thanks to all the men and women who fought and died on that tragic day.
in other things, i went to the movies sunday night and watched a little independent film called, 127 Hours. it’s a new picture by danny boyle, who’s made classics like Trainspotting and 28 Days Later. the movie stars james franco as a hiker who gets into a very bad situation. if you happen to not know the story, in short, its about a guy trapped between a rock and a hard place. LITERALLY!!! in all, it was an excellent film and something i can’t recommend enough. during some of the more somber/heartfelt moments, i tried to think of some past experience, or better yet, premonitions. i can’t really recall much, if any at all, but once i got down to some heavy remembrance, one did come to mind.
now bare with me here. this was a dream i had not too long ago. i like to call it Glass or Glass House, but that title has been used many times before. this will be the second time i’ve written about it. it’s usually something i keep to myself…
in this dream i awake inside a glass house. everything is made of the clear material. i’m afraid to walk in case it all breaks. after the scene shifts psychedelically, i came to be near a staircase and balcony, and from what i picture in my mind, a stunning young lady was leaning over a glass railing, smiling at me. i went up to meet her. we faced each other and then she grabbed my hand, ushering me to come close. what happens next can only make sense in a dream. she laid me down on my back and then followed suit, pressing her body exactly on top of mine. she assumed a copycat position, except she was facing up. oh, and she was naked as well. once she got into place, she took my right hand in hers, and applied it gently on her stomach. at that moment, i could feel a kick. i then woke up…
hmm, coming back to this later, i feel a bit exposed. still, writing is about expressing things through written word, and with the way people are these days, a quick statement is all some need. (texting, tweeting, whatever you do on facebook…) the power of writing has been blemished for sparse security. can you really feel emotion when texting??? does anything i write on here scratch the surface of something??? maybe its all just mellow drama and i’m sitting here hoping for a reward, or that magical moment when some major publisher will pick me up and make my dreams come true. in reality, things like that don’t happen. i was reminded of this when watching the movie i mentioned above. the poor guy had many thoughts of things happening to him. those amazing moments of miraculous miracles that set everything apart. oh, how i wish i had something happen to me like that!!! well, i can say this, “i am still alive.” that’s a miracle in of itself…
ssssooooooooo, what kind of music can be of good reflection here??? nothing springs to mind, except for what i’m currently listening to, which happens to be, Social Distortion.
social distortion, or Social D, formed in 1978 in fullerton, california. they are noted for being a part of the punk rock/hardcore old school, along with other acts like, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, The Adolescents and The Germs. they first gained a local following, then made a huge leap when they were one of the bands featured in the classic documentary film, Another State of Mind, which was based off a song from their debut album. the film documented their first national tour, whom they also shared with the awesome band, Youth Brigade. to this day, social d has released seven albums andseveral other projects. they are, without a doubt, one of the best and most influential of the “classic era” of american punk rock.
and for their music, in my collection i mostly listen to their first three albums. these have become essential for me, so here they are for you!!! first is the debut, Mommy's Little Monster, and then second is Prison Bound, which showcased the band changing their sound for a more country/garage/rockabilly, type of style. and lastly is their self titled effort, which happens to be my favorite. "story of my life" is such a therapy song for me. dig it...
what a wonderful weekend i had!!! it was totally and truly awesome!!! friday started with me getting off work and going down to norman once again. i stopped by guestroom records and picked up some new music, then went to hastings and sat around reading while sipping on a frozen hot chocolate. saturday morning i awoke early to get my cousin kelly and went over to seminole for our monthly indian falls creek meeting. this was very tiring, but it’s important, so i put up with it. back home, i dropped her off then posted my last blog entry. later on i picked up my other cousin, micco, and we came back to my house and played nazi zombies on the latest Call of Duty game. after several hours of brain splattering, we left and picked up Kelly then headed up north to quail springs mall. we met our buddy jennifer at this place called, “lotsa noodles” and ate our dinner there. next thing we did was waiting in line for almost an hour before being let in for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. oh boy, what a movie this was!!! i left thinking it was the best harry potter yet. after careful thought, i will go on record and say that yes, as a matter of fact, it is the best harry potter movie EVER!!! At least until the second part comes out, which might beat this one…
so, i went to bed super late, but ultimately happy with how the day was. i skipped out on church sunday morning, but made it to my mom’s church later that night for their annual thanksgiving dinner. it was fun, but a bit crowded and hot. that old gym doesn’t get good air inside. after that i went home and washed clothes and played more COD. The fourth episode of The Walking Dead came on and it was a good one. the night ended with me actually reading a chapter of a book i own and then falling asleep. monday is now here, but it doesn’t seem bad so far. in my mind, it’s more like a thursday because i’m off from wednesday until next monday.
wow, i just wrote a bunch of stuff that nobody probably cares about… hmm, i’m sometimes torn from writing about what i did on that day, to free thinking and writing about whatever. the stuff in which i write about whatever seems to be more interesting to me. it’s also easier to write. all the stuff up above is just filler. but of course, i really did enjoy myself, and i didn’t mind sharing some of it with you all. bleh, this blog is more complex that i ever expected it to be. or maybe it’s just me who’s the complex person and the blog is simply a tool of sorts. i’ll go with the later, so yeah, it’s definitely me… maybe this is why i’m having a hard time with a social life. well, as you can probably tell, i did end up having a blast with everyone this weekend, so my social life took a leap upwards. i just wish it would do that more often…
you know what??? i’m still in a decent mood, even for a monday, so let’s post some music to reflect that. a happy schuyler means happy music, so here’s a newer band that i recently starting jammin’. they are called, Best Coast and are fun fun fun!!!
this is just pure indie pop right here. best coast are a recent band that formed in 2009 and are based outta the west coast, via los angeles, california. over the past year they have blown up in the underground with their jangly, lo-fi, chillwave style music. well, not so much chillwave, but instead more akin to 60’s surf/garage pop like The Beach Boys. there is a great deal of loud guitars and fuzzed out bass, which makes it an almost dream pop/shoegaze style band. lead singer, bethany cosentio, sings with a soft, airy voice that recalls artists like, Hope Sandoval, Julie Cruise and even Courtney Love. if you happen to dig bands like, Mazzy Star, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Raveonettes, Wavves, The Vivian Girls, or Ride, then there shouldn’t be any reason not to like best coast!!!
okay, so to start we have two ep's which are titled, Make You Mine and Where The Boys Are. after that we have their debut full length, which is called, Crazy For You. it's a sweet, emotional album with great pop hooks and nice, thoughtful lyrics. if you are a romantic at heart, (i am...) then you will surely dig this. enjoy!!!
i’m not one to get involved with certain things. i usually tend to stay in the darkness, often or not, to be ignored when it comes to issues. this is how i’ve spent many many years of my young adult life living. it’s not that i’m afraid, or confused, or apathetic towards these things, it’s just that i see no point in my opinion of the matter. what are these matters i speak of??? well, you can probably guess to a certain degree, that it’s politics and religion, and you would be correct, but just not 100%. there are way more things i choose to not speak of, and it’s those types of things that constantly plague my mind and make for a very busy, yet useless space of time. time is definitely well spent when you are doing SOMETHING, instead of just sitting there contemplating on nothing. maybe that’s why so many people hate those like me. those in the middle and not sitting on one side. if i do choose to make an attempt at something, i like to do it quietly, and without any notice. much like voting, or NOT VOTING in certain presidential elections. also, why get involved with the herd when your own voice can’t be understood amongst the rabble rabble rabble??? you know, this might all be related to my horror scope sign, which is libra. apparently, (according to some random site…) libra’s are “diplomatic, urbane, romantic, charming, easygoing, sociable, idealistic and peaceable.” but, also according to the site, libra’s have a dark side, and that involves the following:
1. indecisive
2. changeable
3. gullible
4. easily influenced
5. flirtatious
6. self-indulgent
so, according to someone’s own, written account on how my sign reads, i’m an okay person, but have six things that are not so great. sure, i understand that, but really, am i flirtatious??? heck, i wouldn’t even know a girl was talking to me unless she deliberately called my name. i also don’t think i’m too self indulgent, even though i tend to collect a lot of music and dvd’s and games and books and clothes and girls numbers and so on… bah!!! this is all hogwash and not worth wasting my time over. you see that there??? i actually made myself get involved with my own shortcomings!!! i actually did SOMETHING!!! ALL CAPS PEOPLE!!!
uh, yeah… so anyway, for the music choice, let’s jam the drugged out group known as, Spacemen 3. heck, let’s add Spiritualized while were at it too!!!
spacemen 3 were a fuzzy, psychedelic band from rugby, warwickshire, england that formed in 1982 and lasted till 1991. they were considered one of the best space rock bands to emerge in the alternative music scene. they stood out amongst their brit-pop peers because of their unflattering drug use, and lo-fi shoegaze styles. their music was inspired by 60’s garage rock bands like, The Troggs, The 13th Floor Elevators, The Stooges as well as classic punk acts like, The MC5 and The Velvet Underground. spacemen 3 went on to inspire many new acts that followed like, Serena Maneesh, Vietnam, The Warlocks, Blank Angel, Yo La Tengo, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Flaming Lips, and Suntan.
now, following the breakup of spacemen 3, lead singer jason pierce went on to form his band called, spiritualized. the band started around 1990, right when the tensions for his former band were on the breaking point. spiritualized take the drugged out influence of spacemen 3 and send it over the cliff, onto the next level. this is epic space rock, deepened by the psychedelic madness of justin pierce. this all came together on their third album, titled, Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space. the NME voted it, “album of the year” in 1997, and rightfully so. it’s an amazing journey, from beginning to end, that takes the listener to far away places and with heartfelt emotion. the lyrics to the opening song are simple, yet profound and a bit sad. “all i want in life’s a little bit of love to take the pain away…” you know, it’s things like this that bring the listener closer to the source of the music. trying to not read too much into the lyrics of some artists is hard sometimes, but when it’s this bleak and straightforward, it’s worth the effort. spiritualized are still together, playing the sporadic show here and there. if given the chance, go see them!!!
ok, and now we come to the end, and with that, the music. for spacemen 3 we have their second album which is called, The Perfect Prescription. you can tell they had no shame in their drugged out lifestyle. heck, the band's motto was, "taking drugs to make music to take drugs to" which, when mixed with their minimal droning sound, often led for a crazy trip. the perfect prescription was a concept album about the beginning and end of a "trip." if you have ever been on one, then you might know how these things work. heh heh... oh, and as for spiritualized, we have the album i mentioned which is, Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space. simply amazing is not enough to say right here. aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnddddddddd sssssssssssssssooooooooo we finally come to the end of this rant and rave and i leave with the hope that you are a bit more familiar with some other music out there. dig it...
http://www.mediafire.com/?qngy4rtm4tx
http://www.mediafire.com/?haycdob18s0mzsp
All I want in life's a little bit of love To take the pain away Getting strong today A giant step each day Wise men say Only fools rush in Only fools rush in But i, I can't help I can't help falling Falling in love with you
I will love you till I die And I will love you all the time So please put your sweet hand in mine And float in space and drift in time
All my time until I die, We'll float in space just you and i And I will love you till I die And I will love you all the time So please put your sweet hand in mine We'll float in space just you and i
Wise men say Only fools rush in But I can't help Falling in love with you
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