New Blog

I moved to Tumblr.

Sorry Blogger.

I've always enjoyed Greek mythology. Or at least I did in high school. I've forgotten most of it now, but that doesn't make this any less amazing:

The Facebook Aeneid

I won't lie, if someone decided to retell Harry Potter through Facebook, well, that would be awesome.

Yeah, I'm basically a child and not a 22 year old. So what?

Well, as if I didn't already want to see this movie, the music sold me.

I supposed I should put an egg pun here, but I won't

This is incredible.

I wish I had that much time on my hands.

Actually, I do, but alas, I stupidly chose to live in school housing.

On Saturday, I saw Cut Copy for the 3rd time. Yes, I have problems. I don't care, they are so good.

Matt & Kim opened. Honestly, I never really cared for them before. I'm just not a fan of indie-pop. I might have to change my mind now. Well, on them anyway. I've never seen a band smile that much, ever. Also, they are adorable.

Cut Copy, was, a disaster. I don't want to go into detail, but basically, I only saw half their set. Actually, not even half. Some incidents (not involving me) took place that were more important than the band. Basically, Terminal 5 sucks, the security there is filled with assholes, and 20-something men of NYC are inconsiderate and downright disgusting. I wasn't aware that harassing women was a cool thing to do. 

There's no way in hell I'm going back to that venue. Ever. I don't care who plays there. I completely understand why people bitch about Terminal 5 now.

I don't have any good pictures from the show, so I stole this from Metromix:

Funnily enough, I'm on their website in that photo set.

I did learn a lesson from this concert though. The next time I am dreading going to a show and contemplating scalping my ticket, I'm scalping my ticket. 

Arts & Crafts, I love you

Oh. My. God.

I must own this:

Is it bad that I'm seriously considering pre-ordering the signed hardcover edition? Because I am. My love for this band knows no bounds, regardless of Kevin Drew's erratic and somewhat dickish behavior during concerts.

I know that I have problems when it comes to this band. My fondness for them could be considered slightly obsessive, but I really don't care.

An Ode to Austin and By "Austin," I Mean SXSW

The media clusterfuck known as SXSW begins this week and unlike last year, I won't be there this time around. And it is depressing, well, for me anyway.

I do question the validity of the festival, as the majority of people who go don't go for the panels or films. They go for the music and the parties. I shouldn't talk though, since I did the exact same thing. So did everyone else that I went to SXSW with. 

I suppose it's because SXSW isn't what is used to be. It's not about up and coming musicians, filmmakers, or technology. Nowadays, it features more well known individuals within those industries and it's become more mainstream. Of course, that's obvious when Perez Hilton, Rachel Ray and the founders of Twitter (don't even get me started on my absolute hatred for it), Tumblr, and Facebook have taken over and are hosting events there. In a way, it is sad of what's become of it, mostly because I feel the main focus has now switched to the constant parties and celebrities that will be present. 

I won't lie, when I went, I didn't go to a single panel. I didn't go to any for CMJ either. Honestly, I could have cared less. Besides, I was Music Director at my old radio station and I did my part by meeting and networking with promoters who I spoke to on a weekly basis regarding charts and new music  and whatnot. Basically, by going to their parties and showcases, I was doing my job. I suppose since I was part of the Executive Board that I should have gone to panels that were geared towards improving college radio stations, but I felt meeting people who are involved in the industry and profession that I want to someday work in was a bit more important. Or maybe I was being selfish.

Of course, there was so much going on that I wasn't able to see everyone I wanted to, so naturally I played favorites with the promoters I liked the best and which ones had better bands performing at their parties. And also, freebies played a role in which events I went to as well. 

I know my experience there wasn't a professional or educational one; it really was just a weeklong bender mixed with 4+ days of living in a van and driving through the Midwest; a journey that at first seemed nearly impossible and ended up to be completely ridiculous. But what does one expect when driving from Vermont to Texas?

This year however, I'll be spending "Spring Break" working, doing laundry, and trying to master Pro-Tools since I won't be getting another free Team Clermont shirt, meeting Jens Lekman (or any musician I really like), snagging invites to a private R.E.M. concert, or embarrassing myself in front of Britt Daniel.

An accurate description of half of Brooklyn

Yeah, this makes me laugh a lot.

The Daily Show "Showdown"

Well, I'm officially in love with Jon Stewart.

I was in the audience for The Daily Show earlier this afternoon/evening. The guest was Jim Cramer, who has been in a bit of a feud with Jon Stewart. The interview was basically the entire show, except for a bit in the beginning with a few jokes and a segment from Samantha Bee (which is going to be cut and used at another time). I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't get tickets for yesterday's show, as Paul Rudd and Lewis Black were both on. Perhaps another time. 

There was a comedy warm-up before the show began and there was also a brief Q & A with Jon Stewart. The questions people asked him weren't the best, but Jon Stewart's responses made up for it with his wit and self-deprecating humor. 

Being a part of a television audience was definitely interesting and it definitely has made me appreciate the show even more. 

I am definitely going to try and get tickets again. 

Edit: Apparently photos and clips from the show have already leaked. It makes me a bit peeved, but at the same time I know that the interview between Stewart and Cramer was a highly publicized one. At the same time though, couldn't other bloggers and those who leaked information hold out until 11? Come on now.

After a few months, I finally made it over to Chelsea. If I had the money, I would live there in a heartbeat.

Aside from keeping my eyes out for art galleries and high end shops (especially the Balenciaga and Commes des Garcons stores), I was also scouting for famous people. Sadly, I didn't see Bjork or Ed Westwick there, as I only wish.

I did see this man though:

Yes, that's Ethan Hawke. I was walking down W 21st and saw him on the front steps of his brownstone. He was talking on his cell phone and drinking out of a bottle, which appeared to be of some sort of alcohol, but I'm not sure. I was too busy I staring him down. I wasn't being discreet about it and he stared right back. He looks older than I thought, but he does have very nice eyes.

I submitted the sighting to Gawker. I can only hope that it will be posted to the website.

Handsome Furs and Glass Candy

This past weekend was a double header of facemelting music goodness.

On Friday was the Handsome Furs at Mercury Lounge. We showed up when Iran had started and honestly, they were something I would have been fine missing. Handsome Furs made up for the horror that was Iran, even though they didn't even play for an hour. I don't care, I love them so much. And they are freaking adorable. My only complaint is that they didn't play "What We Had" and I was hoping they would, as they didn't play that song when I went to the Sub Pop Showcase at SXSW last year. 

Saturday was the Italians do it better party at the the disgrace which is (le) Poisson Rouge. We arrived at midnight, but didn't get let in the venue until after 1, causing us to miss just about all of Nite Jewel's set. Glass Candy made up for that disappointment with their energy, giveaways, and the dance party that ensued. On Sunday, I stumbled upon B/E/A/T/B/O/X in Soundfix. Obviously I bought it. I still need to work on getting a turntable though.

All in all, it was a pretty good weekend. 

I must have been living under a rock since I was completely unaware of what would result from the increase in MTA fares.

I knew that it was going to happen, but I didn't know when or what the details were. Today though, I noticed a sign describing in detail the increases, while coincidently, riding the subway.

On the 25th, supposedly base fare will be $2.50 (currently $2) and a monthly pass will be $103 (currently $81). ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I'm moving to Brooklyn after I'm kicked out of the horrendous school housing I currently live in, so I'm going to need to purchase a monthly pass in order to commute to school and work. I'm going to have to live in a crack den or cardboard box now.

This is disgusting and I want to throw up. 

I guess it's just another thing to add to the list of many other things that make me angry about living in NYC.

Selling Out

In my Music Business class, we were assigned to work on an advertising pitch for Panasonic. Our job was to pick music for a commercial and edit it together with the sound effects and voice over. My group had 3 submissions and my pitch was chosen as the strongest. Hooray for me.

I chose "No One Does It Like You" by Department of Eagles.

Here's the clip:

I don't know how I feel about this assignment. I know that whenever I see a commercial with music I know and like in it, I get angry. On one hand, I know that musicians need to make a living and gain exposure, but at the same time, it's just another selling technique where artistic merit and musicianship are set aside in order to sell a product.

Perhaps I'm just angry because then after an artist gets really popular after successful commercials (ex. Feist, CSS, M.I.A) then their concerts are packed with annoying teenagers that I want to slap in the face. Or perhaps my 2+ years of past retail experience has something to do with it. Well, the selling part anyway.

What I do know for sure is that music licensing is a sensitive subject. 

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

Well, Veckatimest leaked. According to Ed Droste's responses, the copy that leaked is of a low quality, and thus he is disappointed. 

Low quality or not, I'm ecstatic as Veckatimest is excellent.

Oh Grizzly Bear, you know how to break my heart in such a beautiful way. 

Contender for one of the Best Albums of 2009? I think so.

The fact that I have not seen Grizzly Bear live yet is problematic and something that needs to be fixed. 

Just another reason why I won't venture to Times Square...

From BrooklynVegan and Daily News:

They've sung about a place "Where the Streets Have No Name," but Irish rockers U2 will have a street named for them in Times Square Tuesday.

Mayor Bloomberg is expected to rename part of W.53rd St. at Broadway "U2 Way."

The temporary street renaming coincides with the release of the band's new CD, "No Line on the Horizon," and the kickoff last night of their five-night gig on "Late Show With David Letterman."

Besides winning Grammys and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bono and his bandmates are known worldwide for fighting for human rights and social justice.

What the hell? Times Square already made me want to rip my hair out, but this is the last straw.I despise U2. Especially Bono. He needs to retreat to a cave, never to be heard from again. In what way are U2 affiliated with New York which warrants them to have a street named after them? I'd really like to know.

After announcing that the Times Square location of Virgin Megastore would be closing in April, the Union Square location is now closing in May.

I don't know how I feel about that. Personally, I always hated Virgin Megastore. Too crowded, horrible selection (at least within the records), and most of it was overpriced. The one in Union Square is right next to Circuit City, which is also closing, so that huge storefront will be empty and I wonder what is going in its place. I hope to God not some establishment that can be found every 5 blocks. Or worse, as someone suggested, more NYU dorms. Don't even get me started on NYU.

From reading BrooklynVegan, it seems that the majority of people would like Amoeba to take the place of Virgin and possibly Circuit City. Who knows.

One point brought up, and one that I think is important, is the impact that this will have on smaller music stores in the area. If the chains can't last, then what about the independent stores? Personally, I think the independent stores are fine. From what I've read, it seems that a lot of people, at least those who like certain genres of music, tend to support more local stores, such as Other Music, SoundFix, Ear Wax, Bleecker St. Records, etc. 

I think part of the problem is that people don't want to or just simply don't buy CDs that much anymore. With all the Internet brings with acquiring music legally or illegally, for a large amount of people it seems pointless to buy a CD after you have an mp3 on your computer or iPod or whatever.

We discussed this in my Music Business class along with the fact that lately there has been a resurgence in the amount of people buying vinyl these days, mostly due to the artistic elements and physicality behind it. I know for damn sure that when I buy music, I just go for vinyl. I can't even remember the last CD I bought, I know it had to have been years ago, as one of the perks of being a Music Director was getting free copies of CDs. 

I just hope that will all the changes taking place within the music industry, that the independent music stores will fare better than their chain counterparts.

Everything is amazing, nobody is happy

One of my friends posted this video a few days ago. Not only do I find it completely hilarious, but painfully true at the same time.

Some of the things that exist today are absolutely ridiculous, and with those advancements, people do feel that they are entitled to certain things.

I loved the point about phones made in the video, because cell phones today are absurd. I only say this because I got a new one and it's going to 

ruin my life with all the functions it has, including wireless internet. Is it necessary? No, not really. Is it amazing? I think so. Does it make me

happier? No, not really.

I'm not sure what happened, but my previous post on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has been removed, and not by my own doing. 

I didn't receive any notification or warning about the content in my post, or that it was subject for removal.

I can only assume that the reason for it was due to the mp3s I posted. However, my blog is not strictly a music one, and there are so many other music blogs, search engines, etc which post mp3s for songs or albums that have been leaked long in advance before an actual album's release date, so it's strange that mine was targeted. 

Anyway, if any content that I post is offensive or needs to be removed, I would appreciate being contacted first, and I will gladly remove it.

"There's always money in the banana stand..."

I am thrilled that it's been confirmed that a script is being written for the Arrested Development movie. To say I'm obsessed with this television show may be a bit of an understatement, so I'm quite excited by the news that the movie is going ahead, even though some people (that's right, I'm talking to you Michael Cera), aren't so thrilled about it.

It Hurts to Shoot Lasers From Your Fingers, But It's Necessary

I made my first venture to Sound Fix yesterday. I don't know why I hadn't been there earlier; truth be told though, I don't venture into Brooklyn that often. It's silly, because I live right by the L and because I'm trying to move there in May. 

Anyway, while at Sound Fix, I bought Black Moth Super Rainbow + The Octopus Project's The House of Apples and Eyeballs.

This is what the record looks like:

The spattered paint is incredible and I've never seen a record like that before. It was quite the surprise actually.

Awhile back in my Music Business class, we were discussing who pays for music and if so, in what form. When discussing vinyl, most people who continue to buy it said that it wasn't only just for the sound quality, but for the artistic quality and physicality of the record itself. I don't currently own a turntable, but I will say that buy vinyl for both reasons. However, it's always nice when you find out that the record itself is more decorative and more like a piece of art than a standard black record. 

And for that, I appreciate the record so much more. 

As if I couldn't love Sub Pop anymore...

Thanks to Jess abusing her connections as Music Director at WRUV, just like I did during my stint, we're on the guest-list for Handsome Furs in March.

Sub Pop, I love you. Please let me work for you. Pretty please?

I'm not really a fan of Law & Order, but these make me laugh. 

More can be found here.

"What do we need music to do? How do we visit the land in our head and the place in our heart that music takes us to? Can I get a round-trip ticket?"

-David Byrne

The quote's from David Byrne's Survival Strategies for Emerging Artists - and Megastars, an article which I had to read for my Music Business class.

I think it's poignant because for me, music is a huge part of who I am and how I choose to define myself. I know that many, many other people are the same way and can relate to that. It makes the importance of music somewhat universal, yet at the same time the way in which it affects a person varies. Regardless, many of us have that land in our head and place in our heart.

All I know, is that I want a round-trip ticket too.

When I feel alive, I try to imagine a careless life. A scenic world where the sunsets are all breathtaking...

Last Night I saw Beirut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, or BAM, if you prefer.

(image from Last.fm)

I'm usually a bit iffy about shows that are seated, but this one was incredible. After the first song, Zach Condon told those in the orchestra to rush to the stage, and that really didn't take much convincing. I was a bit peeved at how adamant the "no camera" policy was, so I have no pictures from the show. I happened to be by a handful of BAM employees who were hounding people who were taking pictures, and I didn't feel like getting hassled for taking pictures. 

Anyway, the show was amazing. Zach Condon's voice is beautiful; so, so much better than on any of his albums. It's just so clear and defined. And lovely.

A little over halfway through his set, the Vassar Orchestra joined him on stage. I have a personal issue with Vassar, but the orchestra was a fantastic addition and really helped make songs such as "Forks and Knives" even more beautiful and powerful than they already are. 

Highlights include "Nantes", "A Sunday Smile", "Forks and Knives (La Fete)", "Cherbourg", "Postcards from Italy", "Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)", "Scenic World", and "My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille".

I know by now pretty much everyone has heard clips of Christian Bale's freakout on the set of the Terminator film.

Immediately after the original audio clip was released, various forms have been popping up all over the internet. Shortened clips, edited clips, remixes and songs, and of course, a wide array of YouTube videos.

At the same time, I'm reading about the concepts of "liveness" and "mediatized performance" in my Electronic Media and Live Performance course. In his book, Liveness: Performance in a Mediatized Culture Phillip Auslander writes, "Mediatized performance is performance that is circulated on television, as audio or video recordings, and in other forms based in technologies of reproduction" (4). 

Auslander goes on to discuss the importance of television and the concept of "the televisual," where TV is seen as a context and one that has "originally modeled itself on live form" (7). 

An extraordinary number of YouTube users have used the audio recordings of Bale's freakout, a once live event, and reproduced and manipulated those recordings to their own liking, thus putting it in a new context and creating a continuous cycle. I know things like this happen all the time, but this incident has become extremely popular in such a short time. 

And now, here is my favorite user created video based on the events. It's a bit offensive, but mostly hilarious. Not to mention, the electronic beats are pretty amazing. The video is NSFW, obviously, due to the strong language used.

Bale Out

After having a five week break, a new semester is underway and it's efinitely going to be interesting. Or at least, it seems that way so far, despite the fact that this is only the second week of classes.

My Music Business class seems more geared towards giving us an inside look at the music industry and well as exploring the history of music marketing, promotion, etc. and the direction that the industry is going. 

I'm going to play Second Life for my on-line class. I won't be doing that until the end of the semester and we are going to go virtual skydiving together. Honestly Second Life kind of freaks me out.

I'm finally getting involved in radio again. My radio lab class is something that I have really been looking forward to. I don't know if I will actually be doing a show, it's something I would like to do, but just being involved in a station and the operations behind it is something that I enjoy on its own. The station actually has its own blog and I will be a part of that one in addition to this one. 

I know this blog was a requirement for a class I was taking last semester and since that has ended, I don't really have to keep this blog. However, I am going to as I enjoy writing and I hope that the 3 people I know who read this enjoy doing so as well.

Asian Adventure

I feel my experience in South Korea is better explained through a series of photographs. Here are a few of my favorites.

The end.

Dance, dance, dance, dance, dance to the radio...

While I was in South Korea, my friend I was staying with had to work half days, so while she was doing that, I was able to catch Pitchfork.tv's airing of the self-titled Joy Division documentary.

Honestly, when I first listened to Joy Division, I didn't "get" them and didn't really care for the band either. I decided to give them another go later on; I don't know what changed specifically, I feel it was more of a combination of my expanding taste in music and the place I was in at the time, but I was converted. Since then, I've made it known that the band is one of my favorites. Both people I know well and not so well have picked up on that. I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing, especially with my ongoing protest that I am not goth or anything similar in any way, shape, or form.

Grant Gee's documentary on Joy Division was eye opening to say the least. The only background information I have on the band comes from the Internet or from my repeated viewing of Control, so it was interesting to get an inside look from the band members and friends of Ian Curtis. I won't lie, the documentary made me depressed, yet it only furthered my appreciation for the band and for what they've managed to accomplish.

There's this used record shop that I pass by often on my way to class, right by Union Square. I was first drawn to the store after seeing Substance in the window. I was too scared to ask how much it was (my guess was the it was expensive) and now it's gone. That just makes me even more depressed. I am a fool for passing up that record. 

If there ever is a next time, I won't make that mistake again. 

안녕하세요 (Hello) from Korea

I have safely arrived in South Korea. I left at 7 A.M on the 19th and arrived at 6:30 P.M. on the 20th. 

The flight from NYC to San Francisco went by fast, as I was asleep for most of it. I suppose staying up all night was responsible for that. However, the flight from San Francisco to Seoul was, well, slightly difficult. I'm not very patient and didn't enjoy sitting for 12 hours straight, however I managed to entertain myself by watching Son of Rambow on repeat. When I wasn't doing that, I was sleeping in 20 minute intervals.

I have no idea of what's going on here. I am so confused. I suppose that is because the only Korean word I know is "Annyong" and that's only because of Arrested Development. Kat still has to teach half days for the rest of this week, so I'm on my own until noon or 1. I feel like leaving her apartment will result in my getting lost. Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow to attempt such a feat. 

Handsome Furs - Face Control

Wolf Parade is hands down one of my favorite bands. Out of their many side projects, which are all fantastic in their own way, Handsome Furs is definitely my favorite.

Face Control, an album I have been extremely excited for, recently leaked on the Internet and I can't stop listening to it. I love Plague Park, but I'm starting to prefer Face Control over it. It has a more layered feel and both the vocals and instruments (especially that drum machine!) are more powerful. Not only that, but the tracks flow together more evenly and I just think that it's a stronger album overall. Also, the fact that the album was inspired from their trip to Russia is incredible, because I have this strange obsession with Russia and things pertaining to it. Don't even getting me started on Matryoshkas. Oh and I can't forget the New Order reference they threw in there either. 

I saw Handsome Furs last year at SXSW, but unfortunately their set was cut short due to time restraints. I didn't get to enjoy their set as much as I would have liked, as I was overcome with waves of nausea from a Thai dinner, and when that wasn't happening, I was too busy staring at Hadji who was rocking out by the side of the stage, or embarrassing myself in front of Britt Daniel. So needless to say, I want to see them again. I know they've announced a handful of tourdates, but no NYC one yet. I'm sure in a matter of time one will be announced. Or I hope so.

Until then, I will be waiting patiently and longing for a drum machine.

I don't know how grading works at New School and frankly, I'm not going to question it.

Understanding Media Studies = Pass

Media Practices: Concepts = A-

Media Studies: Ideas = A

3.85 for my first semester of Grad school? Yes please!

Apparently, Mace is illegal in NYC for private citizens. That's understandable, as there are so many crazies here, and giving them access to Mace and pepper spray could cause some trouble.

Despite that, I need some. Thank goodness for the internet.

I don't want to get into details or to get all personal, as this blog was mainly created for an academic assignment, but I feel that this is something important to talk about.

I was briefly assaulted Friday night in Brooklyn. My friends and I were lost and unable to hail a cab that was take us back to Manhattan. I panicked and I know that the man that attacked me picked up on that. All I can think of is my high school Health classes and how my teachers always said to try and remain calm in situations as to not attract attention and possibly provoke an attack. Of course, in those classes, we also discussed self-defense techniques and I didn't do anything of the sort. What if he had a weapon? That's all I can think about.

I'm fine now and I'll be o.k., but I do not wish an experience like that on anyone. I know what happened to me is probably minor compared to what other people have experienced who have been in similar situations, but I still feel violated. I'm mostly disgusted that things like this happen frequently; it's so wrong and degrading and something needs to be done about it.

I should have filed a police report, but I didn't. Honestly, I didn't get a good look at the man who assaulted me.

What's done is done, and I will say that this was definitely a learning experience and an eye-opener for me.

I'll feel better once I get my hands on some Mace.

"This is, excuse me, a damn fine cup of coffee..."

One thing I recently acquired over this past holiday season was Twin Peaks: The Definitive Gold Box Edition. The amount of times I watch this show from start to finish is sickening. In fact, I just finished doing that again.

I first started watching the show towards the end of this past spring, as one of my friends owned the box set, and she was kind enough to lend it to me. I was hooked immediately. 

Everything about the show; the writing, acting, cinematography, and music, is just brilliant. It's unfortunate that the quality of the show declined midway through the second season, where the story lines became more outrageous and more special guests were featured. After watching the special features and commentary, it's just so sad to hear and see what happened to the series.

There's just so much that I wish was expanded upon and explained more in depth. I hate how the series ended. At least David Lynch went out in a blaze of glory.

Despite all that, I will still continue to watch the series obsessively. And yes, I want to go to the Twin Peaks Fest at some point.