Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Shake, Shake, Shake...

well now, it seems my home state of oklahoma has been hit by an earthquake this morning. while i sat at my desk, i felt the sudden rattle of the ceiling tiles. this, coupled along with the rumble of the building made me think it was simply the air conditioners acting up. bbbbbbuuuuuuuuuuttttttt, this was NOT the case people. nope nope!!! Yeah, like i said, we had a freekin’ EARTHQUAKE!!! you know how many of those we get??? NONE!!! at least none that i had felt… so, as you might have guessed, this was the talk by the water cooler today. oh, and not to forget, those poor miners trapped underground over in chile were also a topic, so all in all, it’s been an eventful day. to top it all, my car wouldn’t start once again during my lunch break, so i guess that means it’s officially the most thought provoking day since forever.

in other news, i just recently purchased the new Medal of Honor game for my ps3. to be quite frank, i love this game!!! no, seriously, i’m not trying to kid myself or you because of all the awkward feedback it’s been getting. this is not, Call of Duty, and i don’t think it ever was meant to be. it’s medal of honor, and it’s a classic series that i’ve been playing since the late 90’s. i own every single release except for two games, so i think i know what i’m talking about here. i’m just glad i didn’t go into this wanting it to be like call of duty. that there is something i’m proud of because it didn’t set me up just to let me fall. to get to the point here, the game is awesome in a lot of ways. the story is gritty and seems to take itself a bit more seriously. it’s mature through and through. also, sure, the graphics could have used a bit more polish, but that’s doesn’t effect my overall opinion on it. the gameplay is top notch, with just the right amount of comparison to call of duty and the Battlefield series. and as for the multiplayer, i find it to be a nice change of pace. the matches are intense and very fast paced, but that doesn’t knock it down any. there is a good sense of accomplishment that comes from getting several kills in a row without dying and once you do, you can up the ante with awesome effects like mortars and air power. this, all collected with a solid ranking system, makes for a fun experience, and an alternative to playing call of duty so darn much. this time, i actually feel like i’m doing something with skill rather than luck. how about that huh???

the season is changing a bit more. nice cold weather is starting to stir up and hit our faces here, and that’s what i’m excited about. i LOVE the winter and find that wearing thick sweaters and jackets more fun that tank tops and shorts. nothing wrong with summer, but just in my personal tastes, winter is more relaxing. snuggling up in bed when the sheets and blanket are cold, then finally falling asleep when they become warm from my own body is soothing and hypnotic. waking up in the morning and seeing my breath mix with the outside elements is memorizing. slinging on my worn in boots and zipping up my thick wooly jacket is a fun routine, as well as sitting in the car waiting for the windows to de-fog and the seats to get warm. yep, the chilly atmosphere creates this little alternate world that envelopes my every being and compliments my feelings and personality. it might seem depressing to some, but eh.

oh, and you know what??? since this change will come quicker than the booting of our current president, we better get out those final summer jams!!! i think this might be one of the last few for a while, but who knows. so, for one more warm night, let’s hang with Neon Indian.

neon indian, is a chillwave/psychedelic act from denton, texas that started back in 2008. the group was founded by alan palomo as a side project to his work in Ghosthustler and VEGA. the music of neon indian is rooted in psychedelic pop, but also electronic flourishes and noise music. it has a touch of dream pop and synth styles as well. like his peers, Toro Y Moi, Wavves, Best Coast, MGMT, Washed Out and Panda Bear, neon indian is a part of that summer of 2009/2010 chillwave craze that swept the internets, but that shouldn’t discredit them. this music is sexy as well as freak-out crazy. there is a good amount of awesome contained in this young band, so don’t go without trying!!!

and as for trying, here's is the debut album, Psychic Chasms. this was a big release and one of pitchforks more popular albums of 2009. the band toured their butts off on it, hitting the summer festivals and opening for great acts like, Phoenix, Massive Attack and Chromeo. keep your eyes and ears open for these guys because, coming soonish, they will be making/releasing that sophomore effort and that's when we'll see if they still live up to the hype. until then, we have this to chillax with. dig it...

http://www.mediafire.com/?xwzzdteyndf



it wasn't an earthquake, it was me sitting on the toilet...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Columbus Is Dead...

i'm off work today, but for the wrong reasons. today is columbus day, and according to non-native americans', it's some sort of celebration of which many people get the day off. straight up, there is nothing worth celebrating on this day. columbus represents the beginning of the end for many MANY native americans. he was just the start of the long winded colonization of america and the raping of it's people. as a native american, i find myself never liking this holiday or history. i try to not live in the far far past when it comes to native american struggle because it's too hard to comprehend. oh, and how could columbus "discover" america if there were already people living on it??? anyway, i'm off and i'm thinking a bit deeper right now while typing this. i could write down a lot more things to spew about, but there really is no point. today is just another reason why the world is becoming such a terrible place. the ever present struggle to live each day surrounded by "zombies" and "politicians" is taking it's toll and eventually, we will all be eaten up by our own undoing. still, us native americans are here and we live each day remembering our loved ones and striving to stay alive in an unjust world ready to self implode...

my gosh, i need to chillax for a bit...

...

okay, so in order to get my mind off a few things, i'm going to write about music like i always do. this time were going electronic with an artist named, Flying Lotus.



flying lotus, also known as "flylo", or real name, "stevan ellison", is a young multi talented electronic producer from winnetka, california. he has been performing his own style of music since 2000 and has built a strong fan base and garnered rave reviews for his releases. he is currently on the warp records label which is the home to other notable electronic acts like Aphex Twin and Squarepusher. flylo is also a relative of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane and cousin to Ravi Coltrane.

his music incorporates the family jazz styles as well as hip-hop beats and glitch music. flylo is often compared to producer, J Dilla, who's instrumental hip-hop beats were ahead of the game way back when. oh, and flylo has also been showcased on adultswim and is often used in their bumper music, though often uncredited.



for the music today i'm kind of going all over the place here with his releases, skipping out on a few ep's and singles, but mostly sticking with the overall available tunes. first two things to check out are his early beat compilations titled, July Heat and Raw Cartoons. after that we reach his debut album, 1983. this is then immediately followed by the totally awesome ep called, Reset. after that we have the Los Angeles album and then the amazing, Cosmogramma album. check out the song, "...and the world laughs with you" which features Thom Yorke of Radiohead fame on vocals. and lastly we have his latest ep called, Pattern + Grid World. search these and get to clubbin' or something. dig it...


http://www.mediafire.com/?oomxiun2tzm


http://www.mediafire.com/?ewddiynzvvy


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=E77HKAQ1


http://www.mediafire.com/?rzmmnzhn5y3


http://www.mediafire.com/?jztmxmym25j


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=K292E0XP


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RJ8J6YWG



columbus day my ass...

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Catchup, Catsup, Ketchup...

it's going on a saturday now and so i needed something to do. i have a few items to return to the store, but that can wait. while laying around yesterday, i kept thinking on what to post about. i ended up deciding to sleep on it and wait till the morning. well, it's the afternoon now and i'm finally getting around to this thang here by golly.


i need a quick shave it seems...

as i write this, i'm currently jamming the latest album by Broken Social Scene called, Forgiveness Rock Record. so far, so good!!! i just love that band anyway, so even on a bad day they still make wonderful tunes.

and this is what my focus is on today. i'm playing, uh ahem, CATCHUP. you see, while i have made lots of posts, some of them aren't that up-to-date. i blogged on certain artists before they released their newest albums. now this was all done in the best interests of the artists themselves because they need to get their work out there asap before it all drowns in the internet sea. it really only takes one person to spread music to many many others. i guess i'm just another one of those types of people, but i do like to state that i'm doing it for the music and the artists benefit. (take that whatever way you want. it's a horrible statement...)


my sarcasm knows no bounds...

okay, so what we have here is a plethora of bountiful music sponsored by my waking habit. my habit is to eventually awake and then do something, so the something for today is this post yo!!! (ugh, sooooooo dumb...) anyway, we first get things started with Bedouin Soundclash and their latest called, Light the Horizon. after that is a 7inch single from Bomb the Music Industry! called, Everybody That You Love. next is the already mentioned broken social scene album and following that is the truly great, Diamond Eyes by the Deftones. in hot pursuit is the always stunning music of Envy and their latest album, Recitation is no small fry. they hit it out of the park once again. Interpol came back with a self titled effort and Jónsi Birgisson unleashed his second solo album. those twinkly folks in the band, Look Mexico awed me with their new full length album, To Bed To Battle which has album artwork that reminds me of hayo myazaki and studio ghibli and Superchunk proved once again that they can still be awesome no matter how old they are with the fantastic album, Majesty Shredding. and in last place are The Gaslight Anthem with American Slang, The Hold Steady with Heaven is Whenever and The National with High Violet. ok, so there you go and thanks again for reading if you did!!! (sorry for the weird links...) dig it...


http://hotfile.com/dl/72411340/22c1663/2010_LTH.rar.html


http://www.bombthemusicindustry.com/everybody/everybody.zip


http://www.mediafire.com/?toimwwyjny2


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LN1TQNX9


http://www.mediafire.com/?e524lkbp83zp1pp


http://oron.com/mbpa5cdig09p/Interpol_-_Interpol_2010.rar.html


http://www.mediafire.com/?yzmji0tj25q


http://www.mediafire.com/?y7xyx9mxmof


http://www.mediafire.com/?y7xyx9mxmof


http://www.mediafire.com/?kyqdldyqank


http://www.mediafire.com/?gttzowql0yo


http://www.mediafire.com/?17irrjojp8rjrjl



yay for music and yay for stomach aches...

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The opinionated are so opinionated...

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…


http://www.mediafire.com/?lwgydf4k4z4


http://www.mediafire.com/?jezgtdmqejy


http://www.mediafire.com/?xo30dvdt3d2


http://www.mediafire.com/?evayduvoolr


http://www.mediafire.com/?z2wetccmvbj


http://www.mediafire.com/?mdbm1ijjyyd


http://www.mediafire.com/?jmavwyczj0n


http://www.mediafire.com/?s4l3wdzityz


http://www.mediafire.com/?u2bylp2f2jy


http://www.mediafire.com/?cb131zznlmu



medal of honor coming soon for ps3...

Monday, October 4, 2010

Pressing Matters...

time is of the essence tonight because, by golly, I NEED REST!!! i also want to add that Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is currently playing, and for some strange reason, i love that friggin' show. i don't know why i love it so, but for some reason, some really strange BIG reason, i just doooooooooooo... (maybe it's because people are doing what they love???)

you know, i love my writing. i'm not saying that in a proud and boastful way, no. what i mean is, i love my writing because it's me talking. i'm trying to get down to the nitty gritty, and it seldom leads to places i don't know the ending to. it must be my own personal therapy. it does help, no doubt about that. still, it's my outlet and it love to use it. the things i see and do are an everyday experience, and sometimes i just gotta write it down. now, i do know that a lot of the times on this blog, i write from a pretty depressing point of view. my excuse for that is just the timing. it's how i felt at that moment. tonight, right now, i feel full and exercised. i'm ready to call it in and get some shut eye, but not before i write something down. that's really all there is tonight. to cap it off, i'm going to be doing something here for the very first time...

and that first time thing is write a music post for an artist that kindly asked me. i have been wondering if this would happen, but i never wanted to kid myself. delusions of grander have led me to terrible places. BUT, such is not the case tonight folks!!! the artist in question goes by his full name of, Kyle Bobby Dunn.



this young musical artist (who could be ian curtis's twin) calls brooklyn, new york his current home and, as it seems, is creating something very profound while submerged by that concrete jungle. to describe his music, i'm going to have to take a trip.

i awake in a barren field, surrounded by large mountains in the distance and rushing water to my right. the clouds slowly pass by without a glance and my arms are soft as they lay beside me on the smooth green grass. i rise up and walk towards the north, not knowing if that actually is the north. the sky changes color, from blue to violet, to green, to red, to orange, to black. i am overtaken by the vast empty space that is now creeping up my body like a sticky shadow. there is no more ground, no more mountains, no more sky, no more nothing. complete darkness with a cold that's colder that cold. i close my eyes to the blank space and await for something to happen. i slowly peel the lids back and see that everything has changed once again. i am now surrounded by a sea of people. they move briskly, not stopping to see me naked. i am naked. the ground is scratchy on my feet and the cars rush wind on my chest. i float along like pollen being carried by the season. the people have no expression, no desires. it's completely normal to me. normal because i am the same way...

ambient music and minimalism go hand in hand. there is something about the simplicity, yet utter relentless focus on the textures that makes one contemplate many things in general. the compositions and loops that reverberate and come back to are what make ambient music so appealing to me. this isn't to say that this type of music is dumbed down, or easy to create. no, because on the other hand, it's simply a matter of knowing how and when to make your move. kyle bobby dunn is surprisingly good. really REALLY good. there is a ton of weight being carried here in the pieces that he has created.

while getting the scoop on this guy, i checked around and found some big named artists he is compared to. i won't go so far as to name drop here, because it isn't really what the focus is. the focus is on the music, and despite my limited range of critique and experience, i believe this to be something very special. this is great headphone music. this is great study music. this is great ignoring music. this is just great music, plain and simple. i really wish i could go further with this, but i'm stopping here. it all boils down to a simple matter of trusting me, and letting your curiosities relish a bit.

now, as for my usual music wrap up, i'm changing that for tonight as well. kyle bobby dunn asked me to not post a download, so i'm going to honor that. instead, here is what he gave me to review, and that was enough to quickly make me a fan. it's a double album called, A Young Person's Guide To Kyle Bobby Dunn. it's being sold through an independent label called, low point releases, and if you are interested, check it out. supporting the artists through such means is an important endeavor, and i still try when i can.


http://www.low-point.com/LP033.html



do yourself a favor and be curious sometimes...

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Screamo Is Dead...

a while back i posted something called, "emo is dead." it was a link to the holy grail of good emo music. (the 90's style and so forth...) anyway, here is another link to another holy grail, this time called, "screamo is dead." it's something that i think will make your head explode...


http://www.mediafire.com/screamoisdead

go dig some stuff out of there...

Panic Attack...

well, as things have turned out, i don't really feel like going to the powwow this weekend. something has come up and in return, it's made me feel a bit insecure towards going. i'm not too sure what it is exactly, but i think i'll listen to my gut and stay home. besides, i want to watch the OU football game with my family. heck, i might even go to the movies later!!! that new flick called, The Social Network seem really interesting.

ahh, i see it's time for another installment of indie rock 101. this time we get acquainted with a very inspirational band called, Guided by Voices.



you see, there was a time when alternative music was really REALLY good, and not the glossy, overproduced trash we regularly see everyday. college radio stations and independent music magazines were the leaders in pushing this counter music to the young people and with that came all sorts of artists. bands like, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., My Bloody Valentine, R.E.M., Black Flag, Husker Dü and Pavement were just some of the many that came about during this time. in some places, independent music is still considered sacred and well put, so let's not count all of it out.

one of the acts to emerge during this time and quickly gain a hardcore following was guided by voices. the band was from dayton, ohio and started back in 1983. they lasted until 2004 before breaking up and several years passed until they resumed with their classic lineup this year. they are currently doing small tours and helping in the celebration of matador records 21st anniversary, whom they released many records from.

the band is an easy one, mostly consisting of wonderful lo-fi pop songs and nothing more. they weren't a metal band, nor a punk band. they were just a band that made honest and simple songs which, in turn, inspired countless others to go out and create. they are still here and still doing their thing. this is good...

as for their music, here's two albums that i lover dearly. the first is the essential, Bee Thousand. this album goes right up their with other classics like, OK Computer, Loveless, Daydream Nation and Document. and last is the album, Alien Lanes. grab these now and sit back and listen to something so happy-go-lucky, yet profound and highly enjoyable. dig it...


http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YH1L77MS


http://www.mediafire.com/?jpvogznmypt#1



i am a scientist - i seek to understand me
all of my impurities and evils yet unknown
i am a journalist - i write to you to show you
i am an incurable
and nothing else behaves like me

and i know what's right
but i'm losing sight
of the clues for which i search and choose
to abuse
to just unlock my mind
yeah, and just unlock my mind

i am a pharmacist
prescriptions i will fill you
potions, pills and medicines
to ease your painful lives
i am a lost soul
i shoot myself with rock & roll
the hole i dig is bottomless

but nothing else can set me free

and i know what's right
but i'm losing sight
of the clues for which i search and choose
to abuse
to just unlock my mind
yeah, and just unlock my mind

i am a scientist - i seek to understand me
i am an incurable and nothing else behaves like me

everything is right
everything works out right
everything fades from sight
because that's alright with me

it's alright with me...