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. 

Holiday Mixtape

I am now finally done with all school work and have completed my first semester as a Graduate student.

As a way to celebrate that, what better than some holiday themed music? 

Here's some of the holiday songs that I like and I hope you do too.

1) The Go! Team - "The Ice Storm"

2) Sally Shapiro - "Anorak Christmas"

3) Caribou - "Yeti"

4) The Knife - "Reindeer"

5) The Deer Tracks - "Christmas Fire"

6) Casiotone For the Painfully Alone - "It's Winter and You Don't Love Me Anymore"

7) Sufjan Stevens - "Only At Christmas Time"

8) Mirah - "Jerusalem"

9) Yo La Tengo - "It's Christmas Time"

10) Jens Lekman - "The Opposite of Hallelujah"

11) Stars - "Fairytale of New York"

12) El Perro Del Mar - "Oh! What a Christmas"

13) The Arcade Fire - "Jinglebell Rock"

14) Dirty Projectors - "Winter Is Here"

15) The Walkmen - "Christmas Party"

16) Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "All I Want for Christmas"

17) Brendan Canning - "All the Best Wooden Toys Come From Germany"

18) Bjork - "Frosti"

"I was a professional twice over - an analyst and a therapist.."

First of all, I love David Cross. I just really love him as Tobias Fünke from Arrested Development.

Anyway, the point of this post is that he's wearing a sweater from the store I work at. I know this because 1) I look at this sweater and touch it everyday at work and 2) It has the water tower logo on the chest. I don't believe he came into the location I work at, because I would have heard about it if that were the case (the only famous people to come into my store include a former cast member from Days of Our Lives, the drummer from Jared Leto's band, and a secondary cast member from Gossip Girl). Thank you BrooklynVegan for bringing this to my attention.

Dear David Cross, 

The next time you shop at Brooklyn Industries, please visit the Union Square location.

Thank you,

Erin

Top Albums of 2008

Like every other music website or perhaps music fan, I've compiled my Top Ten Albums of 2008. I've done this every year and it's something I enjoy. Now that I have this blog, I figure I should share my list.

Of course, I do have a few pet peeves about lists like these. I do hate how with music blogs, after they make a post like this, all the fans do is complain: "I cannot believe so and so isn't on here!" or " [insert band name here] fucking sucks." It's just ridiculous really. Make your own list then, sheesh.

On that note, here's my list. Notice the absence of Radiohead and Bon Iver. Oh wait, that's because that was 2007 and this is 2008.

10) Fuck Buttons - "Street Horrrsing"

I know, I know. They use a children's cassette recorder as an instrument. And I don't care. With distorted vocals, drones, other worldly noise, and synths how can you go wrong? Plus, this album got a lot of airplay on my former radio station and the band called me to say thank you and I love them for that fact alone.

9) The Dodos - "Visiter"

One of the perks of my former job as Music Director at my own radio station was previewing and reviewing new music and getting excited about new releases. "Visiter" was one of those albums and The Dodos stole my heart from the very beginning of "Walking."

8) Foals - "Antidotes"

From what I've read, people either love or hate Foals. I happen to enjoy them (and British dance rock) very much and think they are very nice lads. Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of interviewing two members of the band at my former radio station while they did a DJ set and I got the chance to meet rest of the band later on. I just really like their "we're just making music because we want to and we don't give a shit if you like it or not" attitude. That and I can listen to "Antidotes" on repeat. Oh wait, I've already been doing that.

7) No Age - "Nouns"

I was a little late to jump on the No Age bandwagon. I heard the initial buzz about them, but I didn't bother to check them out for some unknown reason, which was foolish because I love Sub Pop. Anyway, one of my friends mentioned how I should listen to them because he was really enjoying them and he's been really good with recommending music to me that I end up liking. SO, I followed his advice and fell in love with "Nouns" and that's the end of the story. I've had many failed attempts (3) to see No Age live and I'm hoping that maybe someday it will actually happen and I can cry during "Things I Did When I Was Dead."

6) Beach House - "Devotion"

I have yet to see Beach House live, and from what I've heard, the consensus is that they are either boring or incredible. Well despite that, "Devotion" is anything but boring. It's hypnotic and heartbreaking with gorgeous vocals. Plus, it's really mopey and I love that. 

5) The Walkmen - "You & Me"

I had been somewhat of a fan of The Walkmen before the release of "You & Me,"  and by that I mean I listened to them sporadically. However, since "You & Me" came out, I have changed my mind about the band and I've been listening to the album heavily since. Hey Walkmen! I'm sorry for doubting you.

4) Wolf Parade - "At Mount Zoomer"

Oh, Wolf Parade, I. Love. You. From other blogs I'd read, people mostly bitched that the album took a few listens to get into or that it completely sucked. I beg to differ. If you compare "At Mount Zoomer" to "Apologies to the Queen Mary" well, actually, you can't compare them. They are too different and I don't think a lot of people have realized that fact or gotten over initial judgements of "At Mount Zoomer." This is a great album that shows the different direction the band is going in and what they are capable of. I want to slap anyone who thinks otherwise.

3) Deerhunter - "Microcastles/Weird Era Cont."

"Cryptograms" took me awhile to get into, mostly because I thought Deerhunter was fucking insane, but that's what I like most about the band now. "Microcastles" on the other hand, was an album I got into right away and afterwards, I was better able to understand "Cryptograms" if that makes sense. My only question now is what the hell is with all the irrational hate towards this band? Please don't tell me it's because Pitchfork loves Deerhunter.

2) Cut Copy - "In Ghost Colours"

I don't want to toot my own horn, but I'm going to. I've been a huge fan of Cut Copy after "Bright Like Neon Love" came out. I played them nearly every single week on my radio show and more heavily when I got my hands on "In Ghost Colours" before it was released. Then the album came out and a little while later, Cut Copy was popping up all over my station's playlists. Anyway, that's besides the point. I'm glad that people are loving them because the praise is well deserved and definitely overdue. All I want to do when listening to this album is dance, although sometimes I have to restrain myself. I've seen Cut Copy twice this past year (well three, if you count the DJ set) and they have not failed to deliver a chaotic, yet extremely fun dance party. On a side note, the people at Modular are very, very nice!

1) M83 - "Saturdays = Youth"

I don't know where to begin with this album. I love everything about it. The amount that I listen to it is sickening really. While "Saturdays = Youth" is more "poppy" than other M83 albums, it's still the instrumental tracks that I like the best. I can't help but nearly lose it and become overwhelmed with an urge to clap and dance every single time I listen to "Couleurs." This is another album that has received a lot of hate and backlash, mostly for being "cheesy." Well, when an album is a homage to the 80s and John Hughes movies, how can it not be a little cheesy? I think that's part of the album's charm. 

Also, I'm really excited for the beginning of 2009 with new releases from the following:

Andrew Bird, Animal Collective, Antony and the Johnsons, Squarepusher, Telefon Tel Aviv, Handsome Furs, Asobi Seksu, Beirut, Realpeople, The Decemberists, Mirah, Fever Ray, Grizzly Bear, and many, many more.

Well, there you have it.

New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down

I came across this video last week, but then it was taken down by EMI. I was able to find it again via Videogum (thank goodness) and I want to share it, because it's awesome.

After actually living in New York City now, I can relate much more to this song.

Good God I need to see LCD Soundsystem at some point in my life.

Missed Connections

For my Media Concepts class, we had to get in small groups and make a video about an encounter between two people. My group chose to base ours off of the Craigslist "Missed Connections."

Here is the result. 

Oh and in case you don't know me, I'm in the second segment. I also picked the music.