I think tonight was my first night where I couldn't sleep because I was worried about money and finances. It really sucks and I hate it.
That said, I decided tomorrow will be my first time calling in to take off from work. That's kind of exciting in a way.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
I'm bad at blogging about my life.
But I'm also at a point in my life where I don't think there's a whole lot to share. I'm a licensed Realtor in NYS but I don't practice real estate because I didn't feel comfortable at all at the office I was hired in and I don't have enough money to pay them back to cancel my contract.
I'm also a licensed security officer in NYS. I work what is rapidly becoming a dead-end job and I hate it but at least I'm making some money.
There is light at the tunnel, however. Word out there is that SUNY New Paltz is looking to hire a new Freshman Advisor at the Admissions office. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that one.
In the mean time, for anyone who may be reading this, check out my music blog instead. It's more interesting than this one. http://cmoncheermeup.blogspot.com/
But I'm also at a point in my life where I don't think there's a whole lot to share. I'm a licensed Realtor in NYS but I don't practice real estate because I didn't feel comfortable at all at the office I was hired in and I don't have enough money to pay them back to cancel my contract.
I'm also a licensed security officer in NYS. I work what is rapidly becoming a dead-end job and I hate it but at least I'm making some money.
There is light at the tunnel, however. Word out there is that SUNY New Paltz is looking to hire a new Freshman Advisor at the Admissions office. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that one.
In the mean time, for anyone who may be reading this, check out my music blog instead. It's more interesting than this one. http://cmoncheermeup.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Been awhile, blog.
I haven't posted in quite some time. In a nutshell: things are going well. Read a few books, discovered some new music (which I've been blogging about in my other blog), rekindled a former love, watched some old TV shows, and I'm about to get my NYS Real Estate Salesperson license and I can start working, by renting apartments in Brooklyn (or Manhattan, or Queens or the Bronx).
It's 2:30 in the morning and I haven't stayed up this late in a long time. This won't end up well for me.
It's 2:30 in the morning and I haven't stayed up this late in a long time. This won't end up well for me.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Super Effective: A+B+Down - Dorkly Comic
I've been playing Pokémon games for about 13 years now. (well, sort of... I skipped over the Generation III games and I didn't play any Generation IV games until the release of HeartGold) but I still do this all the time:
Monday, May 2, 2011
Right vs. Wrong
Just to let you know, there are spoilers for the South Park episode Best Friends Forever (S09E04) contained within the following post. If you'd rather watch that episode than read this entry, I have provided a link to view it legally online at SouthParkStudios.com. Anyway, spoiler alert over.
There is an episode of South Park in which one of the characters, Kenny, is hit by a truck but not killed, thus leaving him in a persistent vegetative state. Two of his buddies, Stan and Kyle, both of whom oft-represent the wise and logical arguments on the show, believe that Kenny is still technically alive and should not be taken off his feeding tube just because another human thinks it is right. Meanwhile, the ever-irritable Eric Cartman, who consistently displays his belief that the ends justify the means, argues that life support is not natural and Kenny should be taken off life support. However, he only wants this because it is in Kenny's Will that should he be pronounced dead, Eric will receive Kenny's prized Sony PSP (at the time of the episode's original airing, the brand new portable gaming system). The story behind Kenny getting hit by that truck takes some silly plot turns involving a war between Heaven and Hell and mocking Keanu Reeves films (specifically the then-recent Constantine), but I'm not going to focus on that half of the episode. Not now anyway.
The plot involving life support results in a Nation-wide, TV-covered story until it is revealed that Kenny's Will specifically states that should he ever end up in a vegetative state, that he not be shown like that on live television. It is at that point when Stan and Kyle realize that they were wrong to turn Kenny's condition into a media-frenzy... but for the right reasons, meanwhile Cartman was completely right about the situation, albeit for the wrong reasons. I guess it really depends on how you view the topic of keeping people in a persistent vegetative state (from which they'll never recover) alive on life support, but if you think about it, it does make sense.
So why am I writing about people being wrong for the right reasons, and right for the wrong reasons? I firmly believe that it can be easily applied to this debate I've been seeing and hearing about the death of Osama bin Laden. I know I just wrote a post earlier today about the very topic, but this is what happens when you drink a can of Monster after going months without an energy drink.
But yes, there seems to be a disagreement about whether or not President Obama's order to assassinate Osama bin Laden was the correct choice, just as well as there being a disagreement about whether or not we, as a country AND as human beings in general, should be celebrating the death of a man, no matter how evil or despised. Both sides make equally valid arguments, so in that case, no one is really "wrong" per se but depending on which side of the debate you stand on, you can easily apply this idea of "right for wrong reasons" and "wrong for right reasons." At least, you can so long as you're open-minded to acknowledging that the opposing side makes some valid points.
I'm not going to say that there is a definitive side that is the "right for the wrong" side and which is the "wrong for the right" because I think that is virtually impossible from a holistic standpoint. As I've already stated, I was glad to hear that he had been killed. Am I right (a major symbol of terror is dead) for the wrong (celebrating a human being's death) reasons? Or am I wrong (celebrating a human being's death) for the right (a major symbol of terror is dead) reasons?
It's all a matter of how you view it. Obviously not everyone thinks this way, so there's going to be a lot of stubborn people on both sides, as is the case with many things in this country. I hope that this doesn't cause a rift between people for much longer because I think it would be a great opportunity for people to show that even disagreeing sides can get along and be respectful toward each other. I think we need that more than anything right now in this country.
Thank you, South Park. Thank you.
There is an episode of South Park in which one of the characters, Kenny, is hit by a truck but not killed, thus leaving him in a persistent vegetative state. Two of his buddies, Stan and Kyle, both of whom oft-represent the wise and logical arguments on the show, believe that Kenny is still technically alive and should not be taken off his feeding tube just because another human thinks it is right. Meanwhile, the ever-irritable Eric Cartman, who consistently displays his belief that the ends justify the means, argues that life support is not natural and Kenny should be taken off life support. However, he only wants this because it is in Kenny's Will that should he be pronounced dead, Eric will receive Kenny's prized Sony PSP (at the time of the episode's original airing, the brand new portable gaming system). The story behind Kenny getting hit by that truck takes some silly plot turns involving a war between Heaven and Hell and mocking Keanu Reeves films (specifically the then-recent Constantine), but I'm not going to focus on that half of the episode. Not now anyway.
The plot involving life support results in a Nation-wide, TV-covered story until it is revealed that Kenny's Will specifically states that should he ever end up in a vegetative state, that he not be shown like that on live television. It is at that point when Stan and Kyle realize that they were wrong to turn Kenny's condition into a media-frenzy... but for the right reasons, meanwhile Cartman was completely right about the situation, albeit for the wrong reasons. I guess it really depends on how you view the topic of keeping people in a persistent vegetative state (from which they'll never recover) alive on life support, but if you think about it, it does make sense.
So why am I writing about people being wrong for the right reasons, and right for the wrong reasons? I firmly believe that it can be easily applied to this debate I've been seeing and hearing about the death of Osama bin Laden. I know I just wrote a post earlier today about the very topic, but this is what happens when you drink a can of Monster after going months without an energy drink.
But yes, there seems to be a disagreement about whether or not President Obama's order to assassinate Osama bin Laden was the correct choice, just as well as there being a disagreement about whether or not we, as a country AND as human beings in general, should be celebrating the death of a man, no matter how evil or despised. Both sides make equally valid arguments, so in that case, no one is really "wrong" per se but depending on which side of the debate you stand on, you can easily apply this idea of "right for wrong reasons" and "wrong for right reasons." At least, you can so long as you're open-minded to acknowledging that the opposing side makes some valid points.
I'm not going to say that there is a definitive side that is the "right for the wrong" side and which is the "wrong for the right" because I think that is virtually impossible from a holistic standpoint. As I've already stated, I was glad to hear that he had been killed. Am I right (a major symbol of terror is dead) for the wrong (celebrating a human being's death) reasons? Or am I wrong (celebrating a human being's death) for the right (a major symbol of terror is dead) reasons?
It's all a matter of how you view it. Obviously not everyone thinks this way, so there's going to be a lot of stubborn people on both sides, as is the case with many things in this country. I hope that this doesn't cause a rift between people for much longer because I think it would be a great opportunity for people to show that even disagreeing sides can get along and be respectful toward each other. I think we need that more than anything right now in this country.
Thank you, South Park. Thank you.
Osama's dead and people aren't happy.
As the entire world learned approximately 13 hours ago, Osama bin Laden has been confirmed dead, having been taken out by a US team under President Obama's orders. While most people are out celebrating and rejoicing, others are wondering killing Osama bin Laden actually means anything almost a full decade after the September 11, 2001 attacks, while other people are questioning why people would celebrate the death of someone. I am basing this completely on my own Facebook news feed, so maybe that's not exactly how things break down, but it's how things appear to me.
Maybe it's because a large number of my Facebook friends are either younger than me or around my age (which would have put them at the ripe dumb age of 13 or younger on 9/11), or because maybe it's because a large number of my Facebook friends believe in conspiracies or don't trust the US government for one reason or another, but I am picking up on a lot of negative vibes about the whole ordeal. More so than I ever would have guessed at least.
I personally do find the news to be good news. I know that his death does not mean terrorism is over, nor does it mean that the entire world is safe from anything bad ever happening again. Of course it doesn't mean something like that, but it does give the world something: hope. There is a lot about the world that I don't understand, and with many things I don't even pretend like I know what's going on, but I do know that the past 10 years have been filled with lots of dread, despair and distrust. So to hear that the [alleged] mastermind of the terrorist attack that brought in this dark era has been removed from this Earth, it is kind of comforting. Even if Osama bin Laden was not behind the 9/11 attacks (which some people are still very insistent about), he was still a well-documented terrorist known for being tied to several terrorist plots around the globe. So his death is not just a big "AMERICA FUCK YEAH"-victory like some people have been putting it (even if it is just as a means to make fun of the über-patriot archetype, such as yours truly). It's a symbolic achievement for the world. Sure, it doesn't mean that his death is an instant means for the eradication of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, but it is a message to those groups: he was to be feared, but that still won't stop the world from bowing down.
Of course there will be those who see things in a Nationalistic sense and only see this as an American achievement. And that's sad, because it means more than just that. Yes I am an American and I'm proud to be, but I'm not happy because American troops were the ones who got him. I'm happy because one of the major figureheads of Hate has been taken down.
It bothers me a bit to see messages from people who say they don't understand why everyone is celebrating his death. "Life is precious and the loss of one isn't to be a happy occasion, no matter how bad the person" is the general idea behind these thoughts [again, just based on my findings. It is very likely that the most popular dissenting statement is "So the scapegoat is dead, now let's find out who really plotted 9/11"]. I understand that it is morally apprehensive to wish death upon someone, but I find it very hard to believe that people are unable to make exceptions to this. Even in my everyday life I know there is one person whose death I would not be saddened by. And that's just for trying to get me arrested so he wouldn't go down alone! Maybe it's because my moral fiber is woven differently from other's, but to me there are certain people who, when they commit certain deeds, lose a part of their humanity and I no longer view them as being the same as me. It's not just terrorists or people who have done me wrong (and even then, it's only just one person who has wronged me). There are plenty of other hate groups (KKK, Religious or Political Extremists, Nazis, etc) and just general scumbags (Child Molesters, Rapists, Murderers) in the world who I wouldn't bat a tear for if they died. This doesn't mean that I necessarily wish that they would die, but it means that if it were to happen that I do not think that society would lose anything. And I can say for a fact that if I was close to one of the victims, I would be ecstatic to hear of their passing.
Is that a morally correct way of thinking? No, I don't think so at all. But that's not going to stop anyone from celebrating the demise of one of the key players in the War on Terror.
Maybe it's because a large number of my Facebook friends are either younger than me or around my age (which would have put them at the ripe dumb age of 13 or younger on 9/11), or because maybe it's because a large number of my Facebook friends believe in conspiracies or don't trust the US government for one reason or another, but I am picking up on a lot of negative vibes about the whole ordeal. More so than I ever would have guessed at least.
I personally do find the news to be good news. I know that his death does not mean terrorism is over, nor does it mean that the entire world is safe from anything bad ever happening again. Of course it doesn't mean something like that, but it does give the world something: hope. There is a lot about the world that I don't understand, and with many things I don't even pretend like I know what's going on, but I do know that the past 10 years have been filled with lots of dread, despair and distrust. So to hear that the [alleged] mastermind of the terrorist attack that brought in this dark era has been removed from this Earth, it is kind of comforting. Even if Osama bin Laden was not behind the 9/11 attacks (which some people are still very insistent about), he was still a well-documented terrorist known for being tied to several terrorist plots around the globe. So his death is not just a big "AMERICA FUCK YEAH"-victory like some people have been putting it (even if it is just as a means to make fun of the über-patriot archetype, such as yours truly). It's a symbolic achievement for the world. Sure, it doesn't mean that his death is an instant means for the eradication of Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, but it is a message to those groups: he was to be feared, but that still won't stop the world from bowing down.
Of course there will be those who see things in a Nationalistic sense and only see this as an American achievement. And that's sad, because it means more than just that. Yes I am an American and I'm proud to be, but I'm not happy because American troops were the ones who got him. I'm happy because one of the major figureheads of Hate has been taken down.
It bothers me a bit to see messages from people who say they don't understand why everyone is celebrating his death. "Life is precious and the loss of one isn't to be a happy occasion, no matter how bad the person" is the general idea behind these thoughts [again, just based on my findings. It is very likely that the most popular dissenting statement is "So the scapegoat is dead, now let's find out who really plotted 9/11"]. I understand that it is morally apprehensive to wish death upon someone, but I find it very hard to believe that people are unable to make exceptions to this. Even in my everyday life I know there is one person whose death I would not be saddened by. And that's just for trying to get me arrested so he wouldn't go down alone! Maybe it's because my moral fiber is woven differently from other's, but to me there are certain people who, when they commit certain deeds, lose a part of their humanity and I no longer view them as being the same as me. It's not just terrorists or people who have done me wrong (and even then, it's only just one person who has wronged me). There are plenty of other hate groups (KKK, Religious or Political Extremists, Nazis, etc) and just general scumbags (Child Molesters, Rapists, Murderers) in the world who I wouldn't bat a tear for if they died. This doesn't mean that I necessarily wish that they would die, but it means that if it were to happen that I do not think that society would lose anything. And I can say for a fact that if I was close to one of the victims, I would be ecstatic to hear of their passing.
Is that a morally correct way of thinking? No, I don't think so at all. But that's not going to stop anyone from celebrating the demise of one of the key players in the War on Terror.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
I spent the last week and a half away from home and it was great; but now I'm back stuck in this basement and it's terrible.
I just feel a lot better when I'm not cooped up inside and I know that I could easily fix that by just going out more often, but going out in the city requires cash. Cash which I do not have. Yet. Since most of the jobs I applied to have been online, I feel like I should be hearing back from some soon. I figure that since it's almost summer, big corporations who hire through online means look for new hires closer to the end of the school year rather than in the middle of it. At least I'm trying to be optimistic in thinking that.
I miss Raleigh. I was only there for three and a half days, but I think I could probably get along just fine living there.
On the plus side to living in New York City, I applied to be a DJ at WXRK aka 92.3 Now. They're what used to be K-Rock. Unfortunately, they're pretty much just a Hot AC format, whereas I'm a bit more rock and alternative based, so I'm not sure how that'll work out. Maybe they'll be open to becoming a multi-format station. Yeah, and maybe one day monkeys will fly out of my butt.
I just feel a lot better when I'm not cooped up inside and I know that I could easily fix that by just going out more often, but going out in the city requires cash. Cash which I do not have. Yet. Since most of the jobs I applied to have been online, I feel like I should be hearing back from some soon. I figure that since it's almost summer, big corporations who hire through online means look for new hires closer to the end of the school year rather than in the middle of it. At least I'm trying to be optimistic in thinking that.
I miss Raleigh. I was only there for three and a half days, but I think I could probably get along just fine living there.
On the plus side to living in New York City, I applied to be a DJ at WXRK aka 92.3 Now. They're what used to be K-Rock. Unfortunately, they're pretty much just a Hot AC format, whereas I'm a bit more rock and alternative based, so I'm not sure how that'll work out. Maybe they'll be open to becoming a multi-format station. Yeah, and maybe one day monkeys will fly out of my butt.
Monday, April 18, 2011
6:59 AM
I’ve been told
that people in the army
do more by 7:00 am
than I do
in an entire day
that people in the army
do more by 7:00 am
than I do
in an entire day
but if I wake
at 6:59 am
and turn to you
to trace the outline of your lips
with mine
I will have done enough
and killed no one
in the process.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't write this poem. I found it here. I just really liked it and wanted to share it somewhere.
at 6:59 am
and turn to you
to trace the outline of your lips
with mine
I will have done enough
and killed no one
in the process.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't write this poem. I found it here. I just really liked it and wanted to share it somewhere.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Trouble Sleeping
The past two nights I've had trouble getting to sleep. It's currently 4:00am. I've been feeling tired since about 11:00pm.
These past two days are also the first time that I've had straight soda (that is, not mixed with alcohol) in almost four months.
I wonder if the two are related?
These past two days are also the first time that I've had straight soda (that is, not mixed with alcohol) in almost four months.
I wonder if the two are related?
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Job interview in 10 and a half hours.
I'm kind of nervous. I haven't interviewed for a job since I got the News Director position, and that went terribly. The only (well, not "only" but one of the main ones) reason I was picked was because my competition was graduating in a semester while I had two.
I guess I also interviewed for RA. That was only a year ago.
But still. This is the first time I'm interviewing for a real job. I hope I can sleep tonight.
I guess I also interviewed for RA. That was only a year ago.
But still. This is the first time I'm interviewing for a real job. I hope I can sleep tonight.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Impulses.
I just applied to teach English in South Korea. Completely on impulse. I think it could be fun.
Edit:
I also just scored an interview from a place I applied to two hours ago. That was really fast.
Edit:
I also just scored an interview from a place I applied to two hours ago. That was really fast.
Bad News: I sold my soul to the devil this afternoon
I'm slowly becoming more and more integrated into the world of the Internet. I can use it to look up prospective employers just as easily as they can use it to look me up.
And even though it hasn't been a full week since I've set up my previous blog, I also created a tumblr for when I just feel like posting a single YouTube link instead of writing mini-essays.
Maybe one day I'll be paid to just write and post music related things. Perhaps I'll submit a review or something to a magazine and see where I go from there.
In case you're interested: http://cmonandcheermeup.tumblr.com/
And even though it hasn't been a full week since I've set up my previous blog, I also created a tumblr for when I just feel like posting a single YouTube link instead of writing mini-essays.
Maybe one day I'll be paid to just write and post music related things. Perhaps I'll submit a review or something to a magazine and see where I go from there.
In case you're interested: http://cmonandcheermeup.tumblr.com/
Saturday, March 26, 2011
New Blog.
I started a new blog. It's called C'mon and Cheer Me Up. It's named after lyrics from a Descendents song and whenever I feel like writing stuff about music it'll go in there. So I guess it'll mostly just be stuff like essays/rants on bands or albums that are important to me, maybe some reviews or something and whatever else comes to mind. I'll still use Minimum 8 but I think that name is kind of dated and I kind of want to change it, but I already snagged the url, so I don't know. It's the content that's important (ideally) so maybe it's not important.
Either way, new blog for music stuff; old blog for other things.
Oh yeah, and I transferred the Minimum 8 account over to my new Google account so it's all conveniently in a single place. So from this point on, there will be a new author name, but it's still the same ol' me.
Either way, new blog for music stuff; old blog for other things.
Oh yeah, and I transferred the Minimum 8 account over to my new Google account so it's all conveniently in a single place. So from this point on, there will be a new author name, but it's still the same ol' me.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
February is over. I've kind of failed at the book challenge (at least at this rate making it to 50 is going to be difficult considering I haven't picked up a book since I finished We). I've also failed at keeping myself off of fast food for at least five months (I spent the week in New Paltz and at the end of my visit I gave in). I haven't gotten a job. I'm running low on cash. 2011 is turning out to be really shitty so far.
In spite of that, I don't quite hate everything. I mean, I kind of do. Especially when I'm at home because I've got more time to myself and I think about it a lot more. I really wish I could just land a job somewhere, regardless of pay. That would help at least when it comes time to start paying off my loans.
I spent the last week and a half in New Paltz though, where I didn't worry about any of those things. I was really happy there and being home just sucks. I really need to be more aggressive here in the city to help get the ball moving. Finding a temp job to at least get some sort of cash flow going, getting my license so I can drive myself around places... that kind of thing would help with getting me to a place that isn't my parents basement and out with people that I want to spend time with. My problem is that when I was at school it wasn't that difficult for me to get what I was looking for. I was already on campus, which helped with getting away from home, and three out of the five jobs I applied for, I got without a problem. I had connections there and it has kind of spoiled me down here in the city where I don't really know anyone. I've still kind of got the mindset that it'll be an easy thing for me to do but I'm slowly learning the hard way that things are different here.
I've still got 10 months to make this year a good one. Here's to hoping.
In spite of that, I don't quite hate everything. I mean, I kind of do. Especially when I'm at home because I've got more time to myself and I think about it a lot more. I really wish I could just land a job somewhere, regardless of pay. That would help at least when it comes time to start paying off my loans.
I spent the last week and a half in New Paltz though, where I didn't worry about any of those things. I was really happy there and being home just sucks. I really need to be more aggressive here in the city to help get the ball moving. Finding a temp job to at least get some sort of cash flow going, getting my license so I can drive myself around places... that kind of thing would help with getting me to a place that isn't my parents basement and out with people that I want to spend time with. My problem is that when I was at school it wasn't that difficult for me to get what I was looking for. I was already on campus, which helped with getting away from home, and three out of the five jobs I applied for, I got without a problem. I had connections there and it has kind of spoiled me down here in the city where I don't really know anyone. I've still kind of got the mindset that it'll be an easy thing for me to do but I'm slowly learning the hard way that things are different here.
I've still got 10 months to make this year a good one. Here's to hoping.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
50 Book Challenge: Book 5
It's been awhile blog.
The book I just finished was We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.
For those who don't know, We is the one of the original dystopian novels and it played a huge influence on George Orwell's 1984. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't love 1984 and that's the main reason I checked out this book.
Now that I've finished We, I noticed that a lot of the ideas and general plot points were almost a direct influence on Orwell's masterpiece. A society that seems perfect on the outside; male protagonist who believes the system to be great; meets a woman who shows him otherwise; he attempts to change what he believes and so on. I'm sure the book is more of a commentary of Russian culture in the early 1900's as opposed to being about 1940's Europe, but I guess that's to be expected.
The book did drag on at some points. I might have to re-read it somewhere down the line, maybe catch some subtleties that I missed the first time around. Overall, I really liked a lot of the ideas (like no one having an identity; all people are referred to as "Numbers" and a letter prefacing their number) but some of the execution bored me at times. I know it doesn't help that I got sick in the middle of reading the book so that probably affected the way I read it. Maybe I was just tired though, I don't know.
The book I just finished was We by Yevgeny Zamyatin.
For those who don't know, We is the one of the original dystopian novels and it played a huge influence on George Orwell's 1984. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't love 1984 and that's the main reason I checked out this book.
Now that I've finished We, I noticed that a lot of the ideas and general plot points were almost a direct influence on Orwell's masterpiece. A society that seems perfect on the outside; male protagonist who believes the system to be great; meets a woman who shows him otherwise; he attempts to change what he believes and so on. I'm sure the book is more of a commentary of Russian culture in the early 1900's as opposed to being about 1940's Europe, but I guess that's to be expected.
The book did drag on at some points. I might have to re-read it somewhere down the line, maybe catch some subtleties that I missed the first time around. Overall, I really liked a lot of the ideas (like no one having an identity; all people are referred to as "Numbers" and a letter prefacing their number) but some of the execution bored me at times. I know it doesn't help that I got sick in the middle of reading the book so that probably affected the way I read it. Maybe I was just tired though, I don't know.
Friday, January 28, 2011
50 Book Challenge: Book 4
Foundation by Isaac Asimov.
I was supposed to read this for the Science Fiction class that I took four years ago but never did. Well, I tried to, but the class moved way too fast for me and I never got past the second part. The discussions in class must've sucked though, because I never once heard anything mentioned about the ever-shifting narrative or how the book is compiled of five short stories that are all tied together. Not that it's too difficult to understand what is going on, but when you aren't expecting the main characters to change around half way through the book it doesn't seem a little odd.
I really enjoyed parts of the book while I found other parts kind of boring. I know that might be a bit of a blasphemous thing to say, since it is a cornerstone of modern sci-fi, but some of the scenes in the book just felt like they were dragging through politically commentary that was whizzing over my head. Still, something would always happen to keep my interest going so I obviously didn't find the book that boring. When I get the opportunity, I hope to read at least the rest of the books in the main series (and if I'm feeling adventurous, then the prequels and all that stuff too)
I was supposed to read this for the Science Fiction class that I took four years ago but never did. Well, I tried to, but the class moved way too fast for me and I never got past the second part. The discussions in class must've sucked though, because I never once heard anything mentioned about the ever-shifting narrative or how the book is compiled of five short stories that are all tied together. Not that it's too difficult to understand what is going on, but when you aren't expecting the main characters to change around half way through the book it doesn't seem a little odd.
I really enjoyed parts of the book while I found other parts kind of boring. I know that might be a bit of a blasphemous thing to say, since it is a cornerstone of modern sci-fi, but some of the scenes in the book just felt like they were dragging through politically commentary that was whizzing over my head. Still, something would always happen to keep my interest going so I obviously didn't find the book that boring. When I get the opportunity, I hope to read at least the rest of the books in the main series (and if I'm feeling adventurous, then the prequels and all that stuff too)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Direct Hit! - The Essential Direct Hit! Anthology
Direct Hit! is my current favorite band. They write very catchy and explosive songs. Is "explosive" even a good way to describe music? Of course. When a band is as awesome as Direct Hit! is, your eardrums explode. Figuratively, of course. Calling Direct Hit! pop punk does not do them justice at all, as it is only the broadest way to describe the music. Yes, it's super catchy punk, but it's much more than that. Direct Hit!'s music is what I sometimes refer to as an "eargasm" if that helps you understand just how great it is.
Brief history of the band:
Direct Hit! put out 5 EPs over the course of 2008 to 2010, giving them away for free on the internet, but also giving the option to pay. It has said that each EP released was almost like a comic book. In 2010 they also released a split with the band Mixtapes (interestingly enough, that split was missing on my top albums of the year list despite it being wonderful). In late 2010, they decided they were going to record a full length album. So they compiled every song on their EPs alongside some live tracks and threw together a cassette tape compilation to sell to raise money to help record. When those sold out, they also started a campaign to help raise money to mix the full length, giving away a digital copy of the compilation plus a bunch of other stuff (including shirts and stickers). They are (as of this writing) recording their full length album, which will be composed of newly recorded versions of songs on their EPs, as many of the songs, especially earlier ones, have gone under drastic changes and are played differently. Maybe a new song or two as well, that information has not been released to my knowledge.
I guess that's not a very brief history lesson. My bad. For the intents and purposes of my actual review, I'm going to break down the tracks based on their original appearance. They pretty much appear in the same order anyway, so it works out.
Direct Hit! - #1
This is where it begins. The songs are recorded in a lo-fi-ish manner but don't let that makes you think they sound like the Mountain Goats* or anything.
Lyrically, Nick Woods explores the want to get out and become something greater. Best evidenced in track one, "How, When and Why" where the chorus consists of "Come on baby girl, do you wanna take the world over with me?" Clearly he's aiming high on this track and he only takes it further from here.
The next three tracks continue this adventure of escaping toward freedom ("We Are Alone"), being on the run (“Buy Me a Drink”) and getting revenge on the wrong-doers (“Kingdom Come”). It is very possible that the entire EP is a concept of the unnamed protagonist and someone else (perhaps it is Baby Girl?) escaping from their everyday lives. Remember that comic book comparison? Yeah. All of a sudden the bomb on the EP cover makes a little more sense.
Musically, the songs utilize the bare basics in terms of instrumentals: no flashy lead lines or solos, just guitar, bass, drums and keys. That's not to say that the music is boring; not at all. Tracks 1 and 3 are a little more relaxed, while tracks 2 and 4 are faster paced, which reflects the lyrical tones. “How, When and Why” is the initial contemplation of escape, while “Buy Me a Drink” is the point in the story where the protagonist and Baby Girl are thinking about their next move and in both songs there is more palm muting to keep the energy contained. “We Are Alone” is the actual escape and “Kingdom Come” is the part of the story in which the enemy is blown up and the music is much more intense and less restrained.
All-in-all, this EP is the start of something wonderful. Hopefully if any of these songs are re-recorded for the full-length, they are put into the context of a new story. Or all of them are re-recorded and fit into a much larger story with the rest of the tracks.
*no disrespect meant toward Mr. Darnielle, I’m just saying they don't sound the same.
Direct Hit! - #2
This EP wastes no time at all in getting in your face. From the first track running through all 8 and a half minutes to the final number, the only time you get to rest while listening to it is the brief silence between songs.
“Boredom Addict” starts off with a relatively slow (compared to the rest of the EP so it’s not really slow) intro and turns into the “woah-oh” heavy ode to sitting around doing nothing and still turning that nothingness into a song. Generally when people write a song about doing nothing while blazed, you get something like Sublime, but even Direct Hit! manages to make being bored into something exciting.
The best way to describe “I Wanna Know” is “frantic.” Think early-Bomb the Music Industry! but with a full band playing in time with each other.
“Living Dead” marks where the EP begins to really shine. It’s got it all: chants of “heys,” palm-muted verses and a “we don’t give a fuck” attitude. No, really. It’s in the chorus:
“We don't give a fuck about your ethics, who you are, where you come from or all the other shit you've done. We don't care at all about obsessions, your confessions, we don't care about the office you have run”
It’s also most likely about being a zombie. Gotta get into this things before they’re overplayed.
“Arson Hero” is the highlight of the EP. The lyrics are comparable to those found on #1; being stuck in a rut of everyday life and changing things up by blowing up a building. It is also noteworthy to mention that each line in the song (save for the bridge) has a number that counts up in numerical order, ending with 27 by the end.
Direct Hit!’s second EP has a higher production value than their first. Every single track is also packed with relentless energy and never letting up. That said, it is not as cohesive as a release as the rest of their discography. Even then though, it is not a bad EP at all and an essential part to the Direct Hit! collection.
Direct Hit! - #3
“FUCK YOU! GET PUMPED!”
That’s the greeting that listeners get while listening to Direct Hit!’s third EP. It is also the first appearance (hearing? Whatever the aural equivalent of an appearance is) of what is now a Direct Hit! staple: as it has become somewhat of a “slogan” for the band.
Nick Woods’ lyrics take the best of the previous two EPs and mixes them well. On “Failed Invasion” he continues to use imagery of war and blowing shit up while blending it with the mundane aspects of life, this time the hardships of feeling like your band is going nowhere.
“Mom & Dad” is one of the best songs ever. For real. The song is so awesome and loud that the recording actually suffers a bit because the equipment couldn’t handle it. Woods and the rest of the band take their anger out on the kids who always complain about their parents. Is the target someone in specific or something larger? The lyrics mention houses and checks, which draws me to the conclusion it is aimed toward someone specific.
“Hide the Body” and “They Came for Me” follow suit in the same fashion that make Direct Hit! so much fun to listen to. The former is a fast paced pop song about a house call while the latter is about a zombie attack. It may even be an allusion to the song “Living Dead” off their previous EP, telling the point of view from the other side of the story.
#3 is also the first (and as of this writing, only) Direct Hit! EP to feature a bonus 5th song. A early live version of “Choke” (which appears on #4) performed for a live radio appearance. Musically, it is reminiscent of “Blitzkrieg Bop” almost, while lyrically it reflects on how different one sees the world as a young adult.
Much like their first EP, the lyrics of #3 can tell a cohesive story (minus the bonus song). A frontman for a band begins to lose faith in his band ever becoming successful. When he sees another band making tons off of a tired subject, he takes his anger out on them. Cops show up, he tries to cover it up, but in the end gets taken away.
#3 marks a huge change for Direct Hit! while also keeping many of the same qualities that made their first two EPs so charming. They feel like a more complete band at this point. Sure, the music makes use of the 3-minute, 4-chord song as always, but when the songs are this good it doesn’t really make a difference.
Direct Hit! - #4
What is there to say about Direct Hit! that hasn’t been said already?
As the EPs progress the music gets tighter, the song writing is just as strong as ever and the first track even begins with a “FUCK YOU! GET PUMPED!”
The Direct Hit! formula hits it peak with this EP as the band has never sounded better than on this release. It starts off with “Snickers or Reese’s” which seems to be channeling the Arrogant Sons of Bitches at points, but still comes off as original. “Monster in the Closest” is on the sweeter side, but only in the sense that the music is more melodic than and not as aggressive as the song preceding it. A more complete version (I am hesitant to call it the “final” version) of “Choke” is still borrowing ever-so-slightly from the minimalist early-Ramones style and “In Orbit” relies on the gang-vocal approach that only Direct Hit! can present.
Lyrically the band delves into paranoia, nostalgia and still aiming high with their goals. Not that I really know what a schizophrenic actually feels like, but I would imagine that the band takes a step into that light, with their narrators often losing focus on reality. The protagonist of “Snickers or Reese’s” is afraid of someone breaking into his house and killing him. “Monster in the Closet” is kind of like Screeching Weasel’s “Don’t Turn Out the Lights” but much darker and from the point of view of someone who has no hope. “Choke” is the same as the demo, only expanded upon more including changing some of the lyrics into the first person plural.
“In Orbit” is the odd song out. The lyrics are an optimistic sci-fi adventure, living in peace in the post-Earth times (maybe Direct Hit! got tired of blowing up buildings and moved on to the entire planet instead). You also may be able to tell it’s my personal favorite, but I’ll try not to let any bias get in the way. It’s a very sweet song, probably the best in the band’s discography to put on a mix (oops, there goes that bias). But don’t fret- they aren’t going all “Ataris” on us yet and it still retains that eargasmic Direct Hit! sound.
The unfortunate part about this EP is that “Snickers or Reese’s,” “Monster in the Closet” and “In Orbit” are all such amazing songs that “Choke” kind of pales in comparison. That’s not to say it’s a bad song, but it just doesn’t reach the same level as the other three tracks. However, when the only negative thing to say about the EP is that one song is an 8 when the other three are a 10, you know that’s not a bad sign. As much as I love these songs, I hope they remain untouched when the full length drops. Pick this one up ASAP!
Direct Hit! - #5
I’m going to try and paint a picture for you to describe how I feel about Direct Hit!’s fifth EP. Say there’s this band or artist that you enjoy. It doesn’t matter the genre really, it’s just something that you really like. Now let’s say they have a few releases and you keep enjoying it. Then they release something that completely rocks your world. Like, really just blows you away so much that it just can’t get better. It becomes your favorite thing ever and you go and tell all your friends about how amazing it is. You listen to that collection of songs non-stop, never getting sick of it. Then the band comes out with a follow up to that masterpiece and it’s still a very good one, but it just doesn’t leave the same impression on you.
That’s how I can best sum up #5. Just like their other EPs, they keep taking everything they’ve done before and tweaking it ever-so-slightly so the sound continues to gradually evolve. There are more female vocals present in the mix, which is nice because it changes things up. The choruses are still catchy (especially “Captain Asshole”). The lyrics range from the grounded to the mystic. The guitars explore more territory with leads and octaves thrown in. The shouting of “FUCK YOU! GET PUMPED!” is done with more of a howl than a grunt. It’s all a nice step forward really.
I’m not saying that #5 is a letdown, because it isn’t. The only actual complaint is that the introduction to “Captain Asshole” sounds kind of like “Monster in the Closet” but even that’s not a huge problem because at least it sounds like one of their own songs. All four tracks sound wonderful and show the band making more and more progress. Even though it didn’t grab me in the same way that #4 did, it is still very much worth checking out.
Bonus live songs.
Taken (presumably) from the same set as the "Choke" demo, fans are treated to live cuts of "Failed Invasion" and "Hide the Body"(from #3), "Kingdom Come" (off of #1) and a cover of the Ramones classic "Rockaway Beach." They're all pulled off wonderfully and showcase the live talents of Direct Hit! at the time of recording (one can assume that it was sometime before the release of #3). However, since the band's line up has gone through some changes, it can be expected that the live dynamic has shifted since. I am interested in hearing what the band sounds like with the current line up and I can only hope they'll be playing near me sometime soon.
-----------
Wow. That only took forever. Maybe I should've done individual EPs at a time. If you think they sound interesting and want to check them out, #4 and #5 are available (for free download!) at Death to False Hope records. You can check them out here.
Thanks for reading?
Brief history of the band:
Direct Hit! put out 5 EPs over the course of 2008 to 2010, giving them away for free on the internet, but also giving the option to pay. It has said that each EP released was almost like a comic book. In 2010 they also released a split with the band Mixtapes (interestingly enough, that split was missing on my top albums of the year list despite it being wonderful). In late 2010, they decided they were going to record a full length album. So they compiled every song on their EPs alongside some live tracks and threw together a cassette tape compilation to sell to raise money to help record. When those sold out, they also started a campaign to help raise money to mix the full length, giving away a digital copy of the compilation plus a bunch of other stuff (including shirts and stickers). They are (as of this writing) recording their full length album, which will be composed of newly recorded versions of songs on their EPs, as many of the songs, especially earlier ones, have gone under drastic changes and are played differently. Maybe a new song or two as well, that information has not been released to my knowledge.
I guess that's not a very brief history lesson. My bad. For the intents and purposes of my actual review, I'm going to break down the tracks based on their original appearance. They pretty much appear in the same order anyway, so it works out.
Direct Hit! - #1
This is where it begins. The songs are recorded in a lo-fi-ish manner but don't let that makes you think they sound like the Mountain Goats* or anything.
Lyrically, Nick Woods explores the want to get out and become something greater. Best evidenced in track one, "How, When and Why" where the chorus consists of "Come on baby girl, do you wanna take the world over with me?" Clearly he's aiming high on this track and he only takes it further from here.
The next three tracks continue this adventure of escaping toward freedom ("We Are Alone"), being on the run (“Buy Me a Drink”) and getting revenge on the wrong-doers (“Kingdom Come”). It is very possible that the entire EP is a concept of the unnamed protagonist and someone else (perhaps it is Baby Girl?) escaping from their everyday lives. Remember that comic book comparison? Yeah. All of a sudden the bomb on the EP cover makes a little more sense.
Musically, the songs utilize the bare basics in terms of instrumentals: no flashy lead lines or solos, just guitar, bass, drums and keys. That's not to say that the music is boring; not at all. Tracks 1 and 3 are a little more relaxed, while tracks 2 and 4 are faster paced, which reflects the lyrical tones. “How, When and Why” is the initial contemplation of escape, while “Buy Me a Drink” is the point in the story where the protagonist and Baby Girl are thinking about their next move and in both songs there is more palm muting to keep the energy contained. “We Are Alone” is the actual escape and “Kingdom Come” is the part of the story in which the enemy is blown up and the music is much more intense and less restrained.
All-in-all, this EP is the start of something wonderful. Hopefully if any of these songs are re-recorded for the full-length, they are put into the context of a new story. Or all of them are re-recorded and fit into a much larger story with the rest of the tracks.
*no disrespect meant toward Mr. Darnielle, I’m just saying they don't sound the same.
Direct Hit! - #2
This EP wastes no time at all in getting in your face. From the first track running through all 8 and a half minutes to the final number, the only time you get to rest while listening to it is the brief silence between songs.
“Boredom Addict” starts off with a relatively slow (compared to the rest of the EP so it’s not really slow) intro and turns into the “woah-oh” heavy ode to sitting around doing nothing and still turning that nothingness into a song. Generally when people write a song about doing nothing while blazed, you get something like Sublime, but even Direct Hit! manages to make being bored into something exciting.
The best way to describe “I Wanna Know” is “frantic.” Think early-Bomb the Music Industry! but with a full band playing in time with each other.
“Living Dead” marks where the EP begins to really shine. It’s got it all: chants of “heys,” palm-muted verses and a “we don’t give a fuck” attitude. No, really. It’s in the chorus:
“We don't give a fuck about your ethics, who you are, where you come from or all the other shit you've done. We don't care at all about obsessions, your confessions, we don't care about the office you have run”
It’s also most likely about being a zombie. Gotta get into this things before they’re overplayed.
“Arson Hero” is the highlight of the EP. The lyrics are comparable to those found on #1; being stuck in a rut of everyday life and changing things up by blowing up a building. It is also noteworthy to mention that each line in the song (save for the bridge) has a number that counts up in numerical order, ending with 27 by the end.
Direct Hit!’s second EP has a higher production value than their first. Every single track is also packed with relentless energy and never letting up. That said, it is not as cohesive as a release as the rest of their discography. Even then though, it is not a bad EP at all and an essential part to the Direct Hit! collection.
Direct Hit! - #3
“FUCK YOU! GET PUMPED!”
That’s the greeting that listeners get while listening to Direct Hit!’s third EP. It is also the first appearance (hearing? Whatever the aural equivalent of an appearance is) of what is now a Direct Hit! staple: as it has become somewhat of a “slogan” for the band.
Nick Woods’ lyrics take the best of the previous two EPs and mixes them well. On “Failed Invasion” he continues to use imagery of war and blowing shit up while blending it with the mundane aspects of life, this time the hardships of feeling like your band is going nowhere.
“Mom & Dad” is one of the best songs ever. For real. The song is so awesome and loud that the recording actually suffers a bit because the equipment couldn’t handle it. Woods and the rest of the band take their anger out on the kids who always complain about their parents. Is the target someone in specific or something larger? The lyrics mention houses and checks, which draws me to the conclusion it is aimed toward someone specific.
“Hide the Body” and “They Came for Me” follow suit in the same fashion that make Direct Hit! so much fun to listen to. The former is a fast paced pop song about a house call while the latter is about a zombie attack. It may even be an allusion to the song “Living Dead” off their previous EP, telling the point of view from the other side of the story.
#3 is also the first (and as of this writing, only) Direct Hit! EP to feature a bonus 5th song. A early live version of “Choke” (which appears on #4) performed for a live radio appearance. Musically, it is reminiscent of “Blitzkrieg Bop” almost, while lyrically it reflects on how different one sees the world as a young adult.
Much like their first EP, the lyrics of #3 can tell a cohesive story (minus the bonus song). A frontman for a band begins to lose faith in his band ever becoming successful. When he sees another band making tons off of a tired subject, he takes his anger out on them. Cops show up, he tries to cover it up, but in the end gets taken away.
#3 marks a huge change for Direct Hit! while also keeping many of the same qualities that made their first two EPs so charming. They feel like a more complete band at this point. Sure, the music makes use of the 3-minute, 4-chord song as always, but when the songs are this good it doesn’t really make a difference.
Direct Hit! - #4
What is there to say about Direct Hit! that hasn’t been said already?
As the EPs progress the music gets tighter, the song writing is just as strong as ever and the first track even begins with a “FUCK YOU! GET PUMPED!”
The Direct Hit! formula hits it peak with this EP as the band has never sounded better than on this release. It starts off with “Snickers or Reese’s” which seems to be channeling the Arrogant Sons of Bitches at points, but still comes off as original. “Monster in the Closest” is on the sweeter side, but only in the sense that the music is more melodic than and not as aggressive as the song preceding it. A more complete version (I am hesitant to call it the “final” version) of “Choke” is still borrowing ever-so-slightly from the minimalist early-Ramones style and “In Orbit” relies on the gang-vocal approach that only Direct Hit! can present.
Lyrically the band delves into paranoia, nostalgia and still aiming high with their goals. Not that I really know what a schizophrenic actually feels like, but I would imagine that the band takes a step into that light, with their narrators often losing focus on reality. The protagonist of “Snickers or Reese’s” is afraid of someone breaking into his house and killing him. “Monster in the Closet” is kind of like Screeching Weasel’s “Don’t Turn Out the Lights” but much darker and from the point of view of someone who has no hope. “Choke” is the same as the demo, only expanded upon more including changing some of the lyrics into the first person plural.
“In Orbit” is the odd song out. The lyrics are an optimistic sci-fi adventure, living in peace in the post-Earth times (maybe Direct Hit! got tired of blowing up buildings and moved on to the entire planet instead). You also may be able to tell it’s my personal favorite, but I’ll try not to let any bias get in the way. It’s a very sweet song, probably the best in the band’s discography to put on a mix (oops, there goes that bias). But don’t fret- they aren’t going all “Ataris” on us yet and it still retains that eargasmic Direct Hit! sound.
The unfortunate part about this EP is that “Snickers or Reese’s,” “Monster in the Closet” and “In Orbit” are all such amazing songs that “Choke” kind of pales in comparison. That’s not to say it’s a bad song, but it just doesn’t reach the same level as the other three tracks. However, when the only negative thing to say about the EP is that one song is an 8 when the other three are a 10, you know that’s not a bad sign. As much as I love these songs, I hope they remain untouched when the full length drops. Pick this one up ASAP!
Direct Hit! - #5
I’m going to try and paint a picture for you to describe how I feel about Direct Hit!’s fifth EP. Say there’s this band or artist that you enjoy. It doesn’t matter the genre really, it’s just something that you really like. Now let’s say they have a few releases and you keep enjoying it. Then they release something that completely rocks your world. Like, really just blows you away so much that it just can’t get better. It becomes your favorite thing ever and you go and tell all your friends about how amazing it is. You listen to that collection of songs non-stop, never getting sick of it. Then the band comes out with a follow up to that masterpiece and it’s still a very good one, but it just doesn’t leave the same impression on you.
That’s how I can best sum up #5. Just like their other EPs, they keep taking everything they’ve done before and tweaking it ever-so-slightly so the sound continues to gradually evolve. There are more female vocals present in the mix, which is nice because it changes things up. The choruses are still catchy (especially “Captain Asshole”). The lyrics range from the grounded to the mystic. The guitars explore more territory with leads and octaves thrown in. The shouting of “FUCK YOU! GET PUMPED!” is done with more of a howl than a grunt. It’s all a nice step forward really.
I’m not saying that #5 is a letdown, because it isn’t. The only actual complaint is that the introduction to “Captain Asshole” sounds kind of like “Monster in the Closet” but even that’s not a huge problem because at least it sounds like one of their own songs. All four tracks sound wonderful and show the band making more and more progress. Even though it didn’t grab me in the same way that #4 did, it is still very much worth checking out.
Bonus live songs.
Taken (presumably) from the same set as the "Choke" demo, fans are treated to live cuts of "Failed Invasion" and "Hide the Body"(from #3), "Kingdom Come" (off of #1) and a cover of the Ramones classic "Rockaway Beach." They're all pulled off wonderfully and showcase the live talents of Direct Hit! at the time of recording (one can assume that it was sometime before the release of #3). However, since the band's line up has gone through some changes, it can be expected that the live dynamic has shifted since. I am interested in hearing what the band sounds like with the current line up and I can only hope they'll be playing near me sometime soon.
-----------
Wow. That only took forever. Maybe I should've done individual EPs at a time. If you think they sound interesting and want to check them out, #4 and #5 are available (for free download!) at Death to False Hope records. You can check them out here.
Thanks for reading?
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About
I've been thinking about talking about some of my favorite albums on this blog lately, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Anyway, here's the first attempt.
The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About (1999)
The Get Up Kids are one of the reasons why bands like Fall Out Boy and All Time Low exist. The Get Up Kids are also one of the best indie pop bands of the 90s. This may sound like a contradiction, but try to stay with me here.
I'm not going to go into a history lesson on what "emo" is, where and when the term originated or the evolution of the music that the term described. For that, you can go here. However one may use the term, if I use the word "emo" in this review, I am referring to the sounds of 90s emo (err... 90s midwestern emo).
Back to the topic on hand. 1999's Something to Write Home About is one of the last great albums of the 90's emo movement, back before emo was primarily about the fashion. All 12 tracks are about girls, wanting them, losing them or both. It is a tad overkill, but the opposite gender is a very popular subject to write songs about. Nearly every song is also very chord progression based, with a steady drum and bass to keep rhythm with just a hint of piano and/or keyboard layered on top. Maybe the Get Up Kids aren't going to win any awards for writing any Kid A-esque tunes, but at the same time, if you want to hear that, why listen to emo in the first place?
The problem with modern day emo is that a lot of bands blame the girl for messing up the singer. They always say things like "it's all your fault" or something and the songs are a way to find revenge on this demon hellspawn who messed up their life so badly. Not the Get Up Kids though. Yes, they are upset at the women who broke their hearts, but not to the point where Glassjaw takes it. The Get Up Kids are more reflective of their own actions and are more willing to accept the blame. This sounds kind of depressing and it is. But at the same time, this is what makes this album so endearing and easy to relate to.
On the track Valentine, lead songwriter Matt Pryor quietly asks "if you're sorry why wage war?" which I think is a nice little summary of every relationship gone sour. Because who hasn't felt that way before about someone who keeps fighting with you even when trying to apologize and make up?
It's not always "hey, we're both to blame" though. In Action & Action (the album's sole single), Pryor accuses "every mistake that I make, I couldn't have made without you" which is more of a backhanded admittance to screwing up than anything else. But hey, no matter how mature you try to be about some exes, when you've been wronged, you've been wronged and feelings can sometimes be hard to control. This is even more prevalent in the track Red Letter Day when Pryor is more or less screaming "how could you do this to me?!"
The highlight of the album is the latter-side track, "I'm a Loner Dottie, A Rebel..." which is a Pee-Wee's Big Adventure reference for those of you who don't get it. One of the more energetic and anthemic tracks (right next to the lone Jim Suptic contribution, Ten Minutes) and I'm not sure if my words can do it justice, so I found it on YouTube so you can judge for yourself.
(the track itself is just over three minutes long, this video has about two and a half minutes of extra silence).
The album's final track is probably the happiest (lyrically) of them all. Rather than thinking back on past relationships gone awry, Pryor takes an unexpected turn and begins crooning about a girl who he wouldn't "trade anything" for because she's "his everything." He also drops a Jawbreaker reference so bonus points for that.
All-in-all, there isn't anything overly unique about Something to Write Home About, especially since the wave of copycats that rose up after its release (speaking of which, Jim Suptic had a thing or two to say about that). But the Get Up Kids did a damn fine job at executed this tried and true formula. And in the end, you can be as technical as you want, but if you're missing the heart and soul then what's the point?
The Get Up Kids - Something to Write Home About (1999)
The Get Up Kids are one of the reasons why bands like Fall Out Boy and All Time Low exist. The Get Up Kids are also one of the best indie pop bands of the 90s. This may sound like a contradiction, but try to stay with me here.
I'm not going to go into a history lesson on what "emo" is, where and when the term originated or the evolution of the music that the term described. For that, you can go here. However one may use the term, if I use the word "emo" in this review, I am referring to the sounds of 90s emo (err... 90s midwestern emo).
Back to the topic on hand. 1999's Something to Write Home About is one of the last great albums of the 90's emo movement, back before emo was primarily about the fashion. All 12 tracks are about girls, wanting them, losing them or both. It is a tad overkill, but the opposite gender is a very popular subject to write songs about. Nearly every song is also very chord progression based, with a steady drum and bass to keep rhythm with just a hint of piano and/or keyboard layered on top. Maybe the Get Up Kids aren't going to win any awards for writing any Kid A-esque tunes, but at the same time, if you want to hear that, why listen to emo in the first place?
The problem with modern day emo is that a lot of bands blame the girl for messing up the singer. They always say things like "it's all your fault" or something and the songs are a way to find revenge on this demon hellspawn who messed up their life so badly. Not the Get Up Kids though. Yes, they are upset at the women who broke their hearts, but not to the point where Glassjaw takes it. The Get Up Kids are more reflective of their own actions and are more willing to accept the blame. This sounds kind of depressing and it is. But at the same time, this is what makes this album so endearing and easy to relate to.
On the track Valentine, lead songwriter Matt Pryor quietly asks "if you're sorry why wage war?" which I think is a nice little summary of every relationship gone sour. Because who hasn't felt that way before about someone who keeps fighting with you even when trying to apologize and make up?
It's not always "hey, we're both to blame" though. In Action & Action (the album's sole single), Pryor accuses "every mistake that I make, I couldn't have made without you" which is more of a backhanded admittance to screwing up than anything else. But hey, no matter how mature you try to be about some exes, when you've been wronged, you've been wronged and feelings can sometimes be hard to control. This is even more prevalent in the track Red Letter Day when Pryor is more or less screaming "how could you do this to me?!"
The highlight of the album is the latter-side track, "I'm a Loner Dottie, A Rebel..." which is a Pee-Wee's Big Adventure reference for those of you who don't get it. One of the more energetic and anthemic tracks (right next to the lone Jim Suptic contribution, Ten Minutes) and I'm not sure if my words can do it justice, so I found it on YouTube so you can judge for yourself.
(the track itself is just over three minutes long, this video has about two and a half minutes of extra silence).
The album's final track is probably the happiest (lyrically) of them all. Rather than thinking back on past relationships gone awry, Pryor takes an unexpected turn and begins crooning about a girl who he wouldn't "trade anything" for because she's "his everything." He also drops a Jawbreaker reference so bonus points for that.
All-in-all, there isn't anything overly unique about Something to Write Home About, especially since the wave of copycats that rose up after its release (speaking of which, Jim Suptic had a thing or two to say about that). But the Get Up Kids did a damn fine job at executed this tried and true formula. And in the end, you can be as technical as you want, but if you're missing the heart and soul then what's the point?
Saturday, January 22, 2011
50 Book Challenge: Book 3
I actually finished this book about two days ago. I've just been too busy forgetful to post.
Slam by Nick Hornby
I guess I have a thing for British authors. Nick Horny is the man who also wrote such classics as High Fidelity, About a Boy and How to Be Good. High Fidelity is one of my favorite novels (as well as movies). About a Boy and How to Be Good were also both (to be repetitive) good novels (the film version of About a Boy was okay and as far as I know How to Be Good as yet to been turned into one). What I really like about Nick Hornby's characters is how easy they are to relate to- even if you're nothing like them at all. Slam's protagonist/narrator is Sam, a British 15 year old who skateboards. I'm an American 20-something who plays guitar. And yet all the feelings and thoughts that Sam experiences are very similar to how I either acted in my adolescence or how I probably would've acted had I been stuck in the same situation.
I don't want to give away the plot too much, but the main part of the story does revolve around Sam making a mess out of his life right as things finally began to come together. It's a good, heart-warming (sort of) story and has a mostly sweet ending. I'm sure at some point down the line it'll be turned into a movie even though it would've worked out really well as a movie in the later half of 2007 (coincidentally that was the copyright year). If you don't know what that means, maybe read the book and then reflect on the movies that came out in 2007.
Yep. That's all I've got to say on that.
Slam by Nick Hornby
I guess I have a thing for British authors. Nick Horny is the man who also wrote such classics as High Fidelity, About a Boy and How to Be Good. High Fidelity is one of my favorite novels (as well as movies). About a Boy and How to Be Good were also both (to be repetitive) good novels (the film version of About a Boy was okay and as far as I know How to Be Good as yet to been turned into one). What I really like about Nick Hornby's characters is how easy they are to relate to- even if you're nothing like them at all. Slam's protagonist/narrator is Sam, a British 15 year old who skateboards. I'm an American 20-something who plays guitar. And yet all the feelings and thoughts that Sam experiences are very similar to how I either acted in my adolescence or how I probably would've acted had I been stuck in the same situation.
I don't want to give away the plot too much, but the main part of the story does revolve around Sam making a mess out of his life right as things finally began to come together. It's a good, heart-warming (sort of) story and has a mostly sweet ending. I'm sure at some point down the line it'll be turned into a movie even though it would've worked out really well as a movie in the later half of 2007 (coincidentally that was the copyright year). If you don't know what that means, maybe read the book and then reflect on the movies that came out in 2007.
Yep. That's all I've got to say on that.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
50 Book Challenge Books 1 and 2
So like I said, here are the first two books that I've already read this year.
1. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Last year I started reading novels by Neil Gaiman and discovered I really liked his writing. I read American Gods, Neverwhere and Coraline and loved them all. My friend recommended Anansi Boys, stating that it was her favorite Gaiman novel. Not that I doubted her and thought it would be awful, I just never got around to reading it until now. It might've been my favorite Gaiman novel too. The plot is simple enough: a man hears that his estranged father has passed away and after the funeral he finds out that his father was a God (Anansi the Spider from African folklore to be specific) and that he's got a brother. He meets said brother and hijinks ensue. That's kind of a poor summary, but I don't really want to give away any details should anyone stumbled upon this blog and read it. Either way, it was a very entertaining read and much more light-hearted than American Gods (generally praised as Gaiman's best work, as well as a semi-related novel to Anansi Boys; if only that the character of Anansi appears in both). Anyone remotely interested in fantasy or adventure should check it out.
2. Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Another Gaiman novel, although this one was done alongside Terry Pratchett, best known for his Discworld series. This one is about the apocalypse and its postponement due to a number of things including an angel and demon rather liking life on Earth as well as the misplacement of the anti-Christ. Hilarity ensues and a good time is had by all (well... most). After reading this, I definitely want to read some of the Discworld novels.
And that's that. I did the math and I should be trying to aim for at least 4-5 books a month if I want to reach 50 (assuming I go at a steady, even pace). I should get on that.
1. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Last year I started reading novels by Neil Gaiman and discovered I really liked his writing. I read American Gods, Neverwhere and Coraline and loved them all. My friend recommended Anansi Boys, stating that it was her favorite Gaiman novel. Not that I doubted her and thought it would be awful, I just never got around to reading it until now. It might've been my favorite Gaiman novel too. The plot is simple enough: a man hears that his estranged father has passed away and after the funeral he finds out that his father was a God (Anansi the Spider from African folklore to be specific) and that he's got a brother. He meets said brother and hijinks ensue. That's kind of a poor summary, but I don't really want to give away any details should anyone stumbled upon this blog and read it. Either way, it was a very entertaining read and much more light-hearted than American Gods (generally praised as Gaiman's best work, as well as a semi-related novel to Anansi Boys; if only that the character of Anansi appears in both). Anyone remotely interested in fantasy or adventure should check it out.
2. Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Another Gaiman novel, although this one was done alongside Terry Pratchett, best known for his Discworld series. This one is about the apocalypse and its postponement due to a number of things including an angel and demon rather liking life on Earth as well as the misplacement of the anti-Christ. Hilarity ensues and a good time is had by all (well... most). After reading this, I definitely want to read some of the Discworld novels.
And that's that. I did the math and I should be trying to aim for at least 4-5 books a month if I want to reach 50 (assuming I go at a steady, even pace). I should get on that.
50 Book Challenge
So I've decided to try and complete the 50 Book Challenge this year. It is currently January 18th (or so my watch tells me) and I'm already two in. Which means I guess I'm not doing too badly just yet. However, for this challenge, I do want to set some rules for myself (or else it wouldn't be a challenge). Thus far, the two books that I have read met the criteria I am setting for myself. It won't be super strict, just some ground rules:
1. In order to count, I can't have read the book in its entirety before.
I'm pretty sure this rule is a given, and most people who do attempt the 50 Book Challenge only count books they haven't read yet. That said, in the past there have been books that I started to read but would stop mid-way through it for whatever reason. If I were to pick up one of these books, start from the beginning and read through to the ending, I would count it. This might be bending someone else's rules, but it makes sense to me because I would still be reading a story where I don't know everything that happens.
2. Illustrations are fine, so long as there's some sort of (semi)complex plot that follows with the illustrations. In other words, Graphic Novels will count, but The Very Hungry Caterpillar would not. Not that children's books can't be complex (see Dr. Seuss's Fox in Socks), but the reading level should be at least that of a young adult novel, if not older.
2a. If it is a comic or graphic novel and comes in several issues, each part much be read to count as the "full story." So for example, if I wanted to read The Long Halloween, I would have to read each issue to count as one book. Except I've already read The Long Halloween so it won't count toward this year.
3. I'm talking about books that I've read beginning in January 2011. Even though I got a lot of reading done last semester, the slate has been wiped clean for the new year.
That's all for now. If I establish any other rules I'll post them. Tomorrow I'll also list the books that I've already read and maybe a short review or something.
1. In order to count, I can't have read the book in its entirety before.
I'm pretty sure this rule is a given, and most people who do attempt the 50 Book Challenge only count books they haven't read yet. That said, in the past there have been books that I started to read but would stop mid-way through it for whatever reason. If I were to pick up one of these books, start from the beginning and read through to the ending, I would count it. This might be bending someone else's rules, but it makes sense to me because I would still be reading a story where I don't know everything that happens.
2. Illustrations are fine, so long as there's some sort of (semi)complex plot that follows with the illustrations. In other words, Graphic Novels will count, but The Very Hungry Caterpillar would not. Not that children's books can't be complex (see Dr. Seuss's Fox in Socks), but the reading level should be at least that of a young adult novel, if not older.
2a. If it is a comic or graphic novel and comes in several issues, each part much be read to count as the "full story." So for example, if I wanted to read The Long Halloween, I would have to read each issue to count as one book. Except I've already read The Long Halloween so it won't count toward this year.
3. I'm talking about books that I've read beginning in January 2011. Even though I got a lot of reading done last semester, the slate has been wiped clean for the new year.
That's all for now. If I establish any other rules I'll post them. Tomorrow I'll also list the books that I've already read and maybe a short review or something.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
I really like making mixes. For someone special, for myself, for a friend, anyone really. It's even better when I have a slight understanding on a person's musical taste, because then I can work around that instead of working in the dark.
Anyway, it's a new year. Same old stuff though. Went to New Paltz to celebrate. Ended up spooning Alan. Woke up in a stranger's apartment. Had Burger King for lunch despite feeling like I had to throw up. I'm going to miss being able to do that on a regular basis.
I walked through campus in the morning and forgot to walk by Crispell to see how the construction status is doing on that. Oops. Next time... next time.
The resume building and job hunt begins next week... yay.
Anyway, it's a new year. Same old stuff though. Went to New Paltz to celebrate. Ended up spooning Alan. Woke up in a stranger's apartment. Had Burger King for lunch despite feeling like I had to throw up. I'm going to miss being able to do that on a regular basis.
I walked through campus in the morning and forgot to walk by Crispell to see how the construction status is doing on that. Oops. Next time... next time.
The resume building and job hunt begins next week... yay.
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