with all said and done, it's weird how bills look once you get them in the mail. i guess i need to get used to the awkwardness of how it all looks on print because i'm having a hard time figuring out how much to pay for my cell phone charges. ugh, oh well. it's not a big deal. i know things will work out in the end, so no use worrying over money like it's my life's blood or something. i knew that once i started my own phone line i'd be taking on a responsibility, so there. anyway, i'm currently at home writing this post. i didn't feel good at all this morning, so i stayed home today. i think it stems from yesterdays scramble at work. i got so much stacked up and i did accomplish a lot, but after the day was through, i felt like nothing was done. i went to church and came home feelin' sick. i guess it just carried on to today. oh well, at least i'm blogging again!!!
this coming weekend will be awesome and pretty busy. friday night i'm hangin' out with kristy, then who knows what. on saturday i'm shopping for some furniture with my mom and then taking kristy to the conservatory to watch Red City Radio play at their cd release show. and as for sunday, i'm gettin' together with my family and we're gonna watch the thunder vs. the lakers. after that, i gotta start packin' for my big move next tuesday. overall, it's goin' to be zoppity!!!
so, yesterday during the last hour or so of work, i happened upon an older band in my music collection that i haven't listened to in a long time. i played their music a bit loudly while i worked away the last minutes of my schedule. the band i'm talking about is called, Boris.
boris are a three piece band from tokyo, japan who have been playing their own selections of genres since 1992. they are known for their intense and very loud shows of pure heavy metal. well, not metal like you think, but the more obscure and extreme genres like drone and doom metal. recently they have incorporated other styles like dream-pop/ambient/shoegaze and post-metal. it's easy to say, that if you like thee styles of, say, Isis, Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Earth, Sun O))) and Pelican, then you should like boris. heck, even if you like the shoegaze styles of My Bloody Valentine, then you should like boris. check it...
oh, and before i forget, i'm only posting one of their albums and that album, of course, if called, Pink. it's their most highly acclaimed and my favorite. its what got me into them as well as many many others. it's a masterpiece of music that will challenge you as well as compliment you. dig it...
oh my goodness, oh my GOODNESS!!! what an amazing weekend i've had!!! i can't just sit here and write nonsense words without using my skills to describe how awesome it all was. ok, so friday night started off good with me and mike going to the blue note to watch, The Cancer Bats. oklahoma locals, Over Stars and Gutters, opened the show and they were solid. the cancer bats were crazy awesome and further down below you'll find out about them for this post. heh heh ;)
me and "big" mike in da hood. (seriously...)
saturday began with me going to work to fill in a few hours for all those snow days we had to take. it was nice and relaxing, so i was grateful for the chance to do it. the day went on and i ate pizza at my grandma's then met up at mike's house to gather with the crew. you see, mike's wife, chealsey, had her cousin, john, come up from stillwater to hang for his late b-day party. he chose bricktown, so we ventured out to the strip and hopped around all night. it was a total blast and i'm soooooooo glad i made the effort to go. i don't get out much often, especially with close friends, so this was a real treat. uh, i think the pictures below are enough evidence...
me and mike eating sushi. (he was a noob!!! j/k)
the gang right before the sake bombs exploded...
buffoons fo sho!!!
so anyway, the weekend was a blast (like i already said...) and today was just as great. i got my dad to close our old phone account and now i'm starting to pay for my own service. included in the deal was my new HTC 4G smart phone. it's a touch screen and flippin' awesome. i just spent over two hours foolin' around with the set-up and applications. woo hoo!!!
alright, like i said, me and mike saw the cancer bats, so i think they deserve this nights music banter. uh, so without further adieu, here's The Cancer Bats.
this is a band that hails from toronto, ontario canada. they formed around 2004 or so, with the effort to make straightforward music that combined their love for bands like, Black Flag, Refused, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and probably d-beat, 70's-80's styled punk from england. their music is intense and brutal, but not in a jokingly, "deathcore" kind of way. (nothing against deathcore. to a point...) watching them friday night, i was reminded of some recent acts over the past few years i've seen like, Every Time I Die, The Gallows, The Bronx and perhaps some other artists that haven't been seen yet like, The Melvins and F*cked Up.
if there happens to be a chance to see these guys, go do it. they are totally awesome and put on a great show. they tore up the tiny stage friday night at this bar and there were probably only 30 people there. that's hardcore and it's what music is all about.
for the music, we first start with their self titled ep, then swing on by to their first full length, which is the album, Birthing the Giant. this is an awesome album by the way!!! right, so after that is their second full length, which is titled, Hail Destroyer. and after that is their latest full length titled, Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones. (really awesome album artwork there!!!) listen up and listen close. PLAY THIS LOUD!!! dig it...
so far so good for me. totally happy and about to go to a superbowl party at mikes. just thought i'd make my mark for the day on this here bloggy thingy. man, i live writing on here!!! i'm excited to get to the music, but first i just want to give a shout out to kristy for picking me up and spending saturday afternoon and evening with me.
yeah, so yesterday we went to penn square mall and first stopped at the cheesecake factory to stuff our faces, then proceeded to the bigger parking lot. the plan was to check out macy's and get some new cologne for myself. i accomplished this feat and also came back with even more!!! i have a new wallet, a new belt, a new pair of pants and the memory of watching The Kings Speech. yes, we checked out that movie and it was fantastic. truly worth the hype and such a heartfelt, moving piece. i was pleasantly surprise by how mellow, yet engaging it was. i think i needed that. movies aren't always this good...
right, so enough with the cheesy fluff and on with the music!!! once again, i have been floored by a new band that takes elements from the past and reinterprets it into something fresh and new. the band i want you all to check out today is called, Joyce Manor.
when i write about bands, i make it my job to often list related artists so as to help those who don't have the chance to listen to the music right away. it takes just a little bit of this and that to notice similarities and then write what i believe are the right parallels. for the band joyce manor, when i first listened to their demo album and then their self titled debut full length, i immediately thought of the following bands: Jawbreaker, Capn' Jazz, early Alkaline Trio, Hot Water Music, Built to Spill, J Church andThe Jazz June. Maybe even a lil' bit of Pinkerton era Weezer... and that's the best i could come up with while jammin' their tunes for the first time. their music incorporates soooooooo many influences from the wonderful 90's midwest and present orgcore scenes that's it's almost unreal. there is a lot of talent here and you best be paying attention.
(i as type this i'm hitting replay for even more of their music...)
joyce manor is a young band from torrance, california. they have recently been signed with hardcore centric music label, 6131 records. standing out from the ferocity of hardcore bands, joyce manor take a more melodic and emotional approach. needless to say, if you know me and all the stuff i list here, then it's pretty friggin' clear that this band hits all the right marks. GET IN ON THIS NOW!!!! I AM SUPER CEREAL!!! NNNNOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!
ah, and for their music i'm skipping a few split albums i think and just going for the gut. first is their gritty, Constant Headache demo, then their freekishly amazing self titled debut full length. i ask you all once again to trust me and check this out. i'm fully backing this band and i want everyone else and their dog to as well. listen to joyce manor and dig it...
http://www.mediafire.com/?zymiznwzyzo
http://www.mediafire.com/?efm55nrlnssf6cq
i don't even know who's playing in this years superbowl...
hello kiddo’s and rump shakers, it’s me schuyler and i’m having an alright day!!! you know, ever since this past weekend, the days that followed have been great to excellent. it’s amazing how things work out sometimes. i’m actually in a good mood as i write this, so anything posted needs to be of that reflection i think.
forgive me for not posting any pics from the christmas play. i still haven’t acquired any of them yet. here’s hoping that i will someday. shoot, you may not see them till the summer!!! lol
okay, so here’s the dillio. i have to work tomorrow, but not all day. after that i’m off until the next monday. i’ll try to make a post sometime during the weekend, so don’t think i’m leaving you all alone and shivering out there. as for right now, i’m making this quickly while i tend to my dramatically long list of music to check out. it’s so far going on 35 pages with three columns and at 10 point font. yes, that’s all bands and solo artists. it’s freakishly long and will take me FOREVER to accomplish, but hey, that’s what a hobby is. i’m ssssoooooooo excited to get to work on making my music collection even more complete!!! i’ll have to dig deep through the internet archives to make this “master” collection of tunes. good thing we have terabyte drives now!!!
jawesome, awesome, blossome!!! okay, now for the music, since i’m in such a cheery mood, here’s some fun stuff by a band known as Slapstick.
slapstick were a chicago, illinois ska/punk band that existed from 1993 to 1996. they are held up as one of the best ska bands to ever come about during the 90’s ska frenzy which most of us should remember. the band is mostly known for the acts that various members sprung up, or joined after their demise, which are, Tuesday, The Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio, Sundowner, The Honor System, The Broadways, Less Than Jake, The Killing Tree, Rise Against, The Falcon, Colossal and Whale Horse. other bands somehow associated through old members and whatnot are, Baxter, Sweep The Leg Johnny, The Smoking Popes, Pines, and The Ghost. this is all true and well documented on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slapstick_Family_Tree
alright, so now you know some history and it's time for your main course. what you will find here is the bands discography, nicely collected on one album from the fine folks at asian man records. the discography is self titled, but also goes by the name, 25 Songs. dig it and have yourself a Merry Christmas!!!
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...
so sorry to have not made a post in a while again. i guess it's because of Call of Duty: Black Ops. yeah, i've been going crazy with that game, so there!!! nyah nyah!!!
here's something a bit quick and it comes at us very fast courtesy of, Slayer!!!
yeah yeah yeah, this isn't really that nice of music to post here, but heck, i just love their thrashyness. you all should listen to SSSSSLLLLLLAAAAAYYYYYYEEEEEERRRRRR and thrash along. this is, in my opinion, the best of the best when it comes to thrash metal. they are way better than, Megadeth and Metallica combined. yeah, i said it...
ok, so there is one thing to listen to and that is their best album, Reign in Blood. no question...
what a week it's been so far. to start off, monday night i drove down to denton, texas and got to see Envy, La Dispute, Touché Amoré and a newer band called, And So I Watch You From Afar, tear up at a small rehersal studio called, Rubbergloves. it was a fantastic night, totaled out by the impressive technical aspects of the musicians and the people who came to see the spectacle. i left feeling very tired, but happy and in awe of the great performances i witnessed.
tuesday came and with that, a very sleepy schuyler. all wasn't so bad, what, with a friendly smile from a fellow co-worker who is cute, and an awesome lunch at buffalo wild wings. but, it wouldn't be a normal day if something hadn't happened in order to ruin the good mood. that ruiner was my lack of focus on keeping the files up to date and basically, not giving a crap about my job. ugh, oh how i hate feeling like a looser. this is a good job and i'm not doing it very well. it's not like the work is terribly hard or something, no!!! it's just tedious and i sit there staring at it, wondering what i want to do with my life, or how much longer can i hold out and not get sick in the bathroom... yeah, it's a bit like that. my writing is the only thing giving me hope. i use it to make myself feel better and also to try and pursue my personal goals.
i took today off in order to go to ada once again and see my doctors. this time it wasn't as bad as the last checkup, but maybe that's because i didn't do any blood work. so, after leaving ada, i passed through paul's valley like usual, but this time i took a detour and stopped to check out the action figure museum. it was awesome and very nostalgic. they had a wonderful collection of all types of action figures, ranging from the 1940's to present day. my favorite section wasn't really about the toys, but instead focused on cartoonist's and comic book artists from oklahoma. it was awesome to see some actual hand drawn panels from artists like, chester gould (Dick Tracy), russell myers (Broom Hilda) and bill mauldin (Willie & Joe). overall, it was a humbling experience that only reminded me of my young past and all the things i used to do and still want.
oh, and tomorrow night is the live halloween rifftrax special. this time the guys are going to be riffing on the horror movie classic, The House on Haunted Hill. spooky good times will be had!!!
okay, so i had a little help with the music selection since i just saw these guys monday. i've mentioned them before on here, so now it's finally their time. let's check out the band, La Dispute.
there was an amazing amount of energy this past monday night at the texas show. all the bands that played were on point and seemed very excited and energetic when playing. once la dispute came on stage, the crowd unleashed the most frantic fandom of the night. la dispute are one of the more recent screamo/skrams/emo bands to come along and play with heartfelt passion and a great nod to the past. they, along with acts like Touché Amoré, Ampere, Comadre, Daniel Striped Tiger and Pianos Become the Teeth, have been traveling and playing all over with a focus on great music and emotional response. it's a great remembrance of the bands long gone that started and inspired this scene and you can hear and feel it in their music.
la dispute are from grand rapids, michigan, and have been playing their style of post hardcore since 2005. they have garnered a strong fan base (which i witnessed on monday!!!) and are held up in high regard when it comes to their musical talent. you certainly don't want to miss out on this bunch. TRUST ME!!! oh, and one thing i want to mention is the lead singer, who reminds me of the guy from Mewithoutyou. it's an unusual voice, one that tends to sound like it's almost crying. pretty interesting...
ok, so now with the tunes!!! first up is their debut ep titled, Vancouver. this is then followed by a self titled seven inch, then the ep called, Here, Here Vol.1. after that is Here, Here Vol.2, then the incredible full length, Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair. and in the two last places are the ep, Here, Here Vol.3 and their split with touché amoré, which i think is called, Searching for a Pulse/The Worth of the World. and that concludes our broadcast day. enjoy the music and get some much needed rest...
oooooooooo!!! last night i went and watched Paranormal Activity 2 and had a blast. it's not the most perfect movie, but you can't beat a fun movie watching experience. i went with several members of my family and we all got spooked bad. the film has a lot of those jump moments that try and catch you off guard, and for the most part, they work to great effect. i'll never forget how funny it was to hear the audience scream out loud while something happened on the screen. something like a fart under the blankets or a cell phone vibrating...
since it was soooooooooooo scary, i think i'll let you all watch some of Simon's Cat, because he's soooooooooo CUTE!!!
and in other news, today is another OU football game, so i guess i'll be watching that later on with the family. i think that's going to be fun!!! and so, let's get a bit scary again with some DEATHCORE!!! DEATHCORE!!! DDDDDDEEEEAAAAATTTTTHHHHHCCCCCCOOOOORRRRRREEEEEE!!!... seriously, that is the lamest thing ever, but the music is so BROOOOOTAL that it requires all caps people!!! okay, and so with the band then??? yeah, let's talk about the band, who happen be be called, The Red Chord.
the red chord is a band from revere, massachusetts that formed in 1999. they are considered one of the pioneers in the deathcore genre. of course, i honestly thought they were just a metalcore band with heavier growls, but then i noticed the grindcore dynamics, and now it seems to have taken shape and become it's own separate genre called, deathcore. shoot man, it's all just metal to me, but there are those purists out there that beg to differ, so i'm trying my best to list all references in honor of those tight pants wearing scenesters. funny how much i used to like this band back in the early 2000's. i got the chance to see them several times, and each show was bigger and heavier than the last. in my opinion, nothing really tops their debut album simply because it was radically different than most of the metalcore material that came out during that time. but as the years have passed and crab core has raped its way into the young minds of our nations youth, the metal genre's have taken more expansive routes, and thus, have begone to slide around and mix things up a lot more. it's a mish mash of all styles and you really have to dig through the garbage to find something good. the red chord are one of the best and are still around, tearing up the clubs and making the kids mosh. i just wish more people would mention them instead of all the others... and by others, i mean, Suicide Silence, Winds of Plague, Whitechapel, Emmure, Salt the Wound and Bring Me the Horizon. (not that those bands are terrible and such...)
time to rest, but before i go here's the music. first is their debut album called, Fused Together in Revolving Doors. after this is the excellent album, Clients and then, Prey For Eyes. and last is Fed Through the Teeth Machine. check these out and get scary and BROOTAL!!! or just get cutsey!!! aww...
http://www.mediafire.com/?j2zmm2zm5my
http://www.mediafire.com/?nmk0yit5muq
http://www.mediafire.com/?gd5nld5nu2i#
http://www.mediafire.com/?nrfinza3myy
if you have a ghost in your house, listen to a minority...
my elbows hurt. i think it’s from the constant leaning while typing thing. my office chair is nice, with good lumbar support and soft cushions, but the arms rests leave little to desire. not complaining though!!! it beats having to sit on a cold metal chair all day. heh heh
so, how are you people doing out there??? have things gone well for you, or are there some struggles happening??? i most surely hope nothing is wrong. if there is, please know that i understand and if you need someone to talk to, please do that. uh, i’m not a counselor or doctor of any sort, so problem solving like that isn’t my specialty. still, if it means much to you, go ahead and mention something on here. like, if any of my tripe is connecting with you in some way, feel free to express what’s on your mind. if the music, or time period is relevant, let me know. i enjoy reading people’s stories, or thoughts on things like nostalgia and music, which frankly, is the majority of this blog. i know that somewhere, deep down, you are feeling emotions possibly and that is good. the freedom of expression is one of the greatest gifts so use it wisely. write something because writing is good. start your own blog if need be, and see how much you can do with it. if you can keep up a routine of writing once a day or so, then it will become a habit and writing is always a good one to have!!! (smoking and drinking are not…)
oh, by the way, i had another review posted on punknews.org. it's for the album, Around the Fur, by the Deftones of course!!! follow this link if you are the slightest bit interested... http://www.punknews.org/review/9668
in awesome news, it has come to my attention that a band i like has gotten back together. they are in the midst of planning future shows and hopefully new music, so let’s give a round of applause for, Boy Sets Fire.
boy sets fire was/are a post-hardcore/emo band from newark, delaware that formed back in 1994 and originally broke up in 2007. their recent 2010 reunion has sparked some interest in them for me, so i guess it’s perfect timing for them to get their due.
the band has a distinct style that was bogus during the 90’s hardcore scene. this style was a mixed bag of emotion and political approach. not that other bands weren’t doing the same thing, (Grade, Poison the Well, Thursday ect…) but it’s just that boy sets fire stood out well amongst the bunch. and so, as it comes down to most bands these days, there came the crossroads, and with that the decision to break the band up. members went on to form groups like, The Young Lady and The Casting Out, which are still sort of together I think. but now it is 2010 and the great news that boy sets fire is once again lit. i might actually have my chance to see them perform, that is if they happen to be anywhere near oklahoma…
aaaaaaaaannnnnnndddd for the tunes you will find pretty much their entire discography minus a few splits and other odds and ends i think. for the first prize we have their seven inch titled, Consider. after that is their first ep, with a very emo esque title called, This Crying, This Screaming, My Voice is Being Born. and then we arrive to their debut full length called, The Day the Sun Went Out. that’s some good stuff right there!!! after that is the ep, In Chrysalis, then the epic full length, After the Eulogy. next we have a pair of ep’s called, Suckerpunch Training and Live for Today. next in line is their major label debut, Tomorrow Come Today. this was a bit of a set back in many fans opinions, but hey, opinions are like girlfriends and boyfriends, most people got them, but they aren’t much to care about if you aren’t a worthy person to have that sort of thing anyway… aaaaannnnnddddd so we come to the album, Before the Eulogy, which is a collection of early material and rarities, and then their final full length, The Misery Index: Notes From the Plague Years. that’s it good buddies. try these out if you are into anything that sounds like music and not a toilet flushing, which is what almost everything else sounds like…
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