Monday was a crappy day. I overslept, lost this shirt on ebay, and when I eventually did go to school it was without my backpack. I didn't notice until, waiting at the subway stop, my train arrived; I reached down to pick up my bag like I customarily do and grabbed nothing. I panicked for like three seconds, an in one sweepingly lame moment of realization, admitted to my own incompetence and stepped on to the train. I ended up skipping my class anyway.



BUT

In spite of these pretty minor hitches (and some really crappy pickup basketball that evening), Monday couldn't have been that bad, because MONDAY comes after SUNDAY, and on SUNDAY night, THIS happened.

I mean,

THIS.

And then, THIS


Woo!! So excited. Tom kinda looked like he was bummed Angels and Airwaves wasn't getting a best rock Grammy. Maybe that's why he's giving up his U2 stadium rock band to go back to what really made him big. Regardless, this is a really cool day, and I'm excited for the tour more than anything else. I never saw them when I was a kid and hopefully Tom will still cuss...

Here's Blink talking about Star Wars.



And the Josie video.





ok later

I am fairly drunk right now but with the help of the google/blogspot.com spellcheck tool hopefully you will not notice.

I feel like I should post more when I'm drunk because then my insecurities won't be as prevalent and, umm, "inhibiting."

Lately I have been really into, Happy Go Lucky, which I downloaded illegally (missed the theatrical, sorry). Tis' a film by Mike Leigh which I found absolutely enrapturing, and really effective, but in the most human and non-dramtaic ways. The homeless scene seemed a little much. Then scene at her sister's house, though, was brilliant. It's a clear message but so humanistically expressed by the performances and the filmmaking that the effect is transcendant.



At times, (or during this film at least) I think of films like great athletic events, like boxing matches or Kobe vs. Lebron or Federer vs. Nadal. In this film SALLY HAWKINS AND EDDIE MARSDAN were the battle for me and I could have watched it all day; how do these actors and characters bounce off each other? What does one fundamentally different character do when just in the mere presences of another fundamen tally different character? How do these situations evolve? There's a certain vitality created when two characters enter the ring with each other; Jarmsuch I think works like this, in which he puts catalystic characters into situations and lets them "interact" or something. Like adding lions to a gladatorial fight. I like acting.


Anyways I really enjoyed the movie. But I think I might be biased because Sally Hawkins's character was unbelievably attractive in my eyes, in both personality and looks. Not grating at all. Like a dreamgirl.

Regardless, the movie is great.


But this post was really just designed to highlight the song of the year (2008), in my eyes.

This is SALEM with "whenusleep".


lyrics

Are you crying when you sleep
Or do you stay up
jacking off
to the thought of me

it's okay to be awkw~~~~
~~~~something~~~ blah~blah~~~
just like me

Are you crying when you sleep
Or do you stay up
jacking off
to the thought of me


ok wow about to pass out. whissky!

Zero Boys - Civilization's Dying

Sometimes I wonder how different I'd be if I'd gotten into skateboarding and punk music when I was supposed to (15) as opposed to when my interests for these things grew (now).

"Finals" are upon me and this week is busy. The 1 year anniversary of BLAKECITY has come and gone and I forgot about it. Oh well. Nic Cage remembered BLAKECITY'S birthday though and dressed up for the occasion.



I've been listening to a lot of Bruce Springsteen and Orange Juice (great!) and some new music too. I'm excited to post my end of the year lists because I love lists and I think I've been pretty up to date on material, so I'll be able to actually talk about stuff with some sort of confidence. Movies too. Not books though, I go through those like molasses. Suttree over break (fingers crossed).




Speaking of books, I saw Twilight the other day (sidenote; apparently after 11 on weeknights there is no one taking tickets at the theater[??]), which, as a film, is a preposterous mess that stumbles through so many levels of seriousness and cheese that it can hardly contain itself. That being said, it's one of the more interesting movies of the year and so much fun to watch. I've never seen a movie take place in between the staring eyes of two people more than in Catherine Hardwicke's mindfuckingly exaggerated shot-reverse-shot staring contest.



There are a lot of good movies out too. Che comes out this week in its 4 hour cut, as well as Gran Torino and some other stuff. Wendy and Lucy comes out this week too, which is as essential as any film is this year, in my mind. I saw it at the NYFF and... wow. Really amazing stuff.




Not to mention the new Punisher film which has received some surprisingly positive reviews from friends, and Transporter 3, whose trailer blew my mind.

I also saw Benjamin Button tonight, which was disappointing.

ANYWAYSSSS

Back to work, world. Stuff to show eventually, I suppose.






Home in less than a week. Here's a gem from the olden days.

space

Sorry I've been neglecting this, busy busy busy as a bee and my parents are in town (!) and yeah I am kind of a physically and mentally drained.

Summer sounds pretty great about now.

Does anybody know some good strategies for clearing space off your computer? Other than like, deleting music and tangible files? Is there hidden stuff that I can get rid of?


Here is another P.H.A.T. African jam, this time substantially more funky.

"Greetings" - Joni Haastrup

Off the Nigeria '70: Funky Lagos compilation.

"DECK OF CAYRDS"

In general I am NOT a big indie pop guy, although there are a few exceptions. Most of them Swedish, most notably Love Is All....

...whose debut cd is great great great stuff and whose live show remains one of the single greatest and most heartbreaking experiences ever. (I have never been more in love with a singer at a performance than I was with Josephine Olausson on that fateful October night).

Anyway they have new song that is 89% poppy and 45% cute and 13% angel and 22% guilty pleasure and 100% relistenable.

"DECK OF CAYRDS"


#16.1 Love Is All - Wishing Well from Handheld Shows on Vimeo.
Via GorillavsBear



Stressed out about life. I need to get my stuff together, ya? What else is new.

Reading Herzog on Herzog now. Good Stuff.

It seriously is all about Sinead O'Connor

This is Sinead O'Connor singing on the Grammy's in 1987...
I don't have any of her albums, or know any of her other songs for that matter, but I stumbled upon this one time and have just been so enthralled by the performance that it may be my most watched youtube video.

There is something kind of stunning by her lone figure, shaved head, intense face, crazy halter top, foot stomping, and Public Enemy logo tattooed on the side of her head (protesting lack of representation of rap at the Grammy's), and her voice is just killer (even with the backing track). The Billy Crystal fax joke at the beginning provides this perfect context/ juxtaposition for this raw performance, and, god, the song is great too. I still have no idea what a Mandinka is but maybe it's better like that.

Errol

Sean's blog about Errol Morris made me think of Errol Morris and how he has popped into my life recently. (The 2 TIMES theory, will discuss later). So here are a few more Errol Morris posts.





Errol Morris has a new movie out soon, called "Standard Operating Procedure," and it's probably going to be fantastic. Here is the trailer.


Tony Kornheiser and Errol Morris, two of my favorite people, apparently went to school together! What a smart 6th grade class that must have been. PTI is my favorite sports show... ever? Yes, I think so.


Also, I recently rediscovered this Apple ad that Errol Morris did in 2002.




ELLEN FEISS!!! After watching about three times, and reading her wikipedia page and an interview with her, I decided that I love this girl, and even joined a Facebook group about her. Sigh. I think she goes to college too. Set me up!!!

So enough of this rambling. When his movie comes out, eat a shoe.


(Errol Morris apparently wasn't impressed by this event, and him and Herzog had a small "feud" until recently)


Ok a song for today? How about this classic from Saves the Day.

"Sell My Old Clothes, I'm Off to Heaven" - Saves the Day

beached whales

Tired, bed, etc.

Weird headaches, sickness, warm weather, exhaustion. Must be April?!

I think I need to learn how to type properly. Then I can write down my ideas before I hate them, not after.



Also, I'm thinking about starting a 25-30 minute music podcast about good African music from the 70's and stuff. Like this, which may be one of the greatest songs ever written.


"Strange Dream" - Witch



Does anybody know how to make a podcast?

Does anybody download these songs I post?

Does anyone want to take me on in Peggle?

wooo

Animal Collective is, in my humble opinion, the greatest working band right now. I don't think very many other groups have pushed themselves creatively as consistently and as successfully as this band. I get really excited when listening to their music and just am sort of infatuated with their skill.

I mean, I can listen to their cd "Campfire Songs" alot, which is all just acoustic guitars and was recorded in one take on a porch somewhere, just as much as I listen to "Strawberry Jam", which is almost all processed and looped and sampled. Theyre both really really great, but so different it's startling.

Here is a funny video of Animal Collective's first live TV appearance, on Conan O'Brian.



This is from a while back. #1 is a strange "representative" song off Strawberry Jam, but I actually like how it sounds with Panda Bear's voice higher in the mix. I would have loved to see the crowd reaction; it's definitely one of the stranger late night TV band sets ever.

Here is a really great song from their recent tour, well, October. Please listen and enjoy

"Brother Sport" - Animal Collective

(courtesy of nyctaper)

They have a new EP coming out later this year, called Water Curses. Yay!






I don't really know the purpose of this post. Do you like Animal Collective?


(ps NYC taper is amazing; some of the best live recordings you can get. Please visit and support him!)

JONAS

God, the enthusiasm for phenomenons like the Jonas Brothers stirs a strange emotional response in me. I somehow feel this infectious bliss when watching the spectacle and over the top performance and the tireless crowd reaction, and yet at the same time am confronted with a a kind of disgusting artificiality; these are kids for chrisssakes.

Anyway, here is their cover oh Ah-Ha's "Take on Me".



This may be my most unpopular post ever.

I have a few ideas I really like right now but unfortunately NONE of them have anything to do with my assignments and tight deadlines. BOO HISS

I should never ever run for office because I can't even keep BLOG PROMISES.

That epic Panda post from December I promised?

Reviews of Everything I own?

The Ginger Ale Criteria Rubric?

All mere floating cherubs in my head, dancing around without any portal for literal externalization.

I'll try to get on that soon.






In other news, I have been listening to a lot of Portishead. I never listened to them before and remember a few songs from various radios but like them a lot, and totally can't stop thinking about a review/article that talked about how they sound like Spy movie soundtracks.
They are also recluses, like Mr. McCarthy above; their lead singer has never done an interview, and they haven't done anything since like, 1997. Reclusion always earns big points in my book.


Also, I've been listening to that Hercules and Love Affair cd, and while it's not as consistent or mindblowing as I expected/ Pitchfork scored it, I think this is the song of the year for me right now.

"Iris" - Hercules and Love Affair

2007 music

Man, it sure is hard to keep up with music.
I didn't listen to a lot of good stuff. But here's some things. I think all in all it was a cool year for music.

5 Song EP - Fire on Fire
Strawberry Jam - Animal Collective
Untrue - Burial
War Elephant - Deer Tick
Person Pitch - Panda Bear
Sound of Silver - LCD Soundystem

Attack Decay Sustain Release - Simian Mobile Disco
Graduation - Kanye West
Alive 2007 - Daft Punk
From Here We Go Sublime - The Field
Random Spirit Lover - Sunset Rubdown
† - Justice

Most disappointing
The Stage Names - Okkervil River
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire

Live
Daft Punk - LA sports arena
LCD Soundsystem - Bowery Ballroom
Animal Collective - Webster Hall
Dan Deacon - Che Cafe
Arcade Fire - Greek Theater


VIDEO OF THE YEAR

"Same Girl" - R. Kelly (feat Usher)



Everything by La Blogoteque

#10.4 - Grizzly bear - The Knife
Uploaded by lablogotheque

<^>

Nothing really to report, except, well, if you missed the Grammy's, you missed a killer Kanye/Daft Punk deal.



Been working a lot lately on writings and such, but once again I really am overthinking things and getting into this bad cycle of HATING everything I do. Like, HATING. Disgust and sadness follow the recording of most of my ideas.

Except for one script idea which I would love love love to do anything with, I am honestly scared that I am unable to produce anything worthwhile. I mean, it's a natural feeling. I know realistically not everyone in the world can do great things, and that some people are, let's face it, more naturally inclined to be amazing.


Sigh.....


All I can think about is Wesley Snipes and how I miss him.

BEST OF MUSIC - 2006

I never did a best of music for 2006 or 2007 or ever.

Let's hear it for "Best of" releases way after stuff has settled and time has tested, ya?

ESSENTIAL
Wowee Zowee (Sordid Sentinels reissue) - Pavement
Silent Shout - The Knife
Beach House - Beach House
Shut Up I am Dreaming - Sunset Rubdown
Let Me Go Let Me Go Let Me Go - Jason Molina
So this is Goodbye - Junior Boys
Fishscale - Ghostface Killah


NO DICE
TV on the cookie mountain (< Desperate Youths < YOUNG LIARS)
Joanna Newsom YS ( < MILK EYED MENDER)
Band of Horses ( < lots of things)


Maybe 'll do a 2007 tomorrow. Does anybody care? Whatever. Haha I like lists...

FUNKY

DFA band "Hercules and the Love Affair" BAM!!!!


http://www.myspace.com/herculesandloveaffair

"Big Blood" and "Fire on Fire" are two bands that come from Portland, Maine. From what I understand they are basically a collective of musicians who sort of live together and play together and lead these amazing and wonderful musical lives. They are tremendously talented and have this great mindset about their work; they asked for some of their self-recorded CD's to be sent around the internet for free. Anyways, these two videos are sweet. Listen!

Fire

Home in a weeek!?!!









I saw There Will Be Blood tonight. I liked it, but, I'm not sure; there's something slightly unsatisfying about it, in how it settled with me. I will need to rewatch it, definitely. But a lot of it is truly mesmerizing.



This is from a great band I have been listening to lately called Fire on Fire. They are kinda helping me get through the week. Download and listen below.

Fire on Fire - The Hangman

By the way, if the future me could kindly tell me how I am to survive the next few days, I mean, save from spoiling the surprise for me, that would be much appreciated.