Good night, and good luck

Sunday's Favorite Selection # 20:

SNL Ben Affleck as Keith Olbermann

Side note: I just saw this last nite, and I couldn't stop laughing. I love me some Countdown with Keith, but this was so over the top that I think I love this even more. So over the top that even Ben Affleck couldn't stop snickering. Now if someone in the SNL can impersonate Rachel Maddox with her saying abou' like any good Canadian I'll be so happy.

Best of whatever 2008

2008 has proved to be a wonderfully crappy year for me! YAY! But lovely sounds were (as always) tuned in and never actually tuned correctly. Who cares about the perfect pop song? The more distorted, noisy, sloppy and almost perfect pop it is-the more it rules. My love for noisy pop music grows everyday, with this year providing new sounds. All these lovely bands from New York who wear their influences in on sleeves (c-86, psych, shoegaze) are the highlights for me this year (like last year). Though I spent most of 2008 discovering music that wasn't made this year, there were a few albums that really had a hold on me. The Raveonettes' Lust Lust Lust was one of them and pretty much will always remind me of this bittersweet year. 2009 is finally coming to save me, and I already foreseeing lots of Minutemen, Swell Maps and Arthur Russell listening for me. February 2009 will give me treats as The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's debut album and Asobi Seksu's third album comes out! Can I already call those out as my favorites of 2009?

Top Ten songs:

10. The Raveonettes-Black Satin
Lust Lust Lust came to me in the perfect moment for me this year. A bit disillusioned, heartbroken, stressed out and anxiety prone for the first time, I found much comfort in this album. "Look who's here to save my soul, sweet night, she's on a roll. Covers me with all her black, satin dress takes me aback, and I drown, yeah drown!"

9. Portishead-The Rip
This song is the doppelganger of the tenderness I felt this whole year. Do I really have to say more?

8. Stereolab-Daisy Click Clack
Holy crap! A pop song about pop music!? Holy Moly Stereolab, you are geniuses! The new album is typical Stereolab-over all good. I do have to say I enjoy the more electronic stuff (Dots and Loops for president!) but this song is a gem that gets stuck in my head for weeks. CLAP CLAP CLAP TAP TAP TAP SNAP! Off beat, on time, make it linger!

7. M83-Jessie & Kim
Stunning! Shoegazy synth pop yum yum! Makes me wanna dance while looking at the floor.

6. Crystal Stilts-Crippled Croon
This song caught me completely off guard back in the spring. How can it so moody and distant yet quite charming? Side note: Listen to their debut while taking a bubble bath. You'll be left confused, sad and so damn relaxed! And how about I'm still a little baffled that the guitarist and vocalist are from FLORIDA! But it makes sense why it's all moody and distant.

5. The Raveonettes-Sad Transmission
Any song that begins with handclaps and then a crazy distortion loop comes screeching in needs a warm embrace. It's the type of song you want to hold really tight to your heart while you caress the song's hair. "Your heartbeat stops, when I tell you that lovers always part. Sad transmission brought to you by someone who doesn't care" I say: WORD!

4. Vivian Girl-Where Do You Run To
The stand out Where Do You Run To has me listening in repeats. Although the rest of the debut album is pretty darn good, this song is the most disconnected to their influences I think. Less punk, more thoughtful, more honest. "Where do you run to, baby?"

3. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-A Teenager in Love
So far all the blogs that I read are citing Everything With You as their favorite PoBPaH song of the year, but mine is this one. It's not the typical noisy pop that the pains makes. It's proves that even with a lower volume, and lovely guitar riffs the pains still crafts pop tunes with wit and tenderness. Plus how can you not love a chorus that goes "a teenager in love with christ and heroin"?

2. The Raveonettes-Young and Beautiful
This song sonically breaks my heart and makes my head explode. The vocals are so dreamy, delicate and completely tragic. This synth pop song makes me want to dance and die at the same time. "When you wait for love, but love just goes by, do you feel it now? you'll never love again...When you wait for death, but death just goes by, do you feel it now? you'll never ever die. You get to be so young and beautiful."

1. The Airfields-Yr So Wonderful
A song that was actually released last year as a 3" cd-r single via Cloudberry Records, but the debut came out this year (and what a lovely debut it is!) This song shines and glimmers forever in my heart. It just hit me that Yr So Wonderful reminds me of Yo La Tengo's Sugarcube if Yo La Tengo turnitup with the noise just a bit. Unbashing love that is a bit chaotic with careful melodic vocals. And how about that insane tambourine playing? "Wonderful, I think you're beautiful, I'm not your fool, oh yes I am oooooh ooh oooooooh ooh ooooooooooooh!"


Favorites of 2008 that came out years ago:

Unrest-West Coast Love Affair
Broadcast-Ominous Cloud
Mahogany-My Bed Is My Castle
Teenage Filmstars-Kiss Me
Black Tambourine-Black Car
Rocketship-People I Know
The Dentists-I Had An Excellent Dream
The Chesterf!elds-Ask Johnny Dee
Swirlies-Sarah Sitting
Rocketship-Naomi and Me
The Bodines-Therese
Black Tambourine-For Ex-Lovers Only
Yo La Tengo-Fog Over Frisco


Best record label:
Slumberland Records!
A label that really should be an American classic released lovely underground pop noise-when no one really was. Almost heading for it's second decade in life, and out of nowhere it started releasing the best of the best music that is out now. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Crystal Slits, and what about those Searching For The Now releases? What gems! I mean yeah Black Tambourine and Rocketship have grown to be one of my favorite bands, but with these recent love for new pop music is rocking and slicing pop kids faces-with a gruesome stale knife of distorted feedback. Mmmmm


Best 7":
Some how, by some glory 2008 was a great year for my favorite format. More labels are producing and more bands making tons of singles (Vivian Girls with 4 this year!), which leaves me happy. I got my hands on quite a few from this year, including ones from singles club, splits, hand crafted love, numbered editions and color vinyl mmm. I have yet to get Sexy Kids' Sisters are Favorite (which is a great song), but I'm ordering soon once money flow starts being stable again (which is soon!)



1. Vivian Girls-Wild Eyes
Back in April, somehow I got myself introduced to Vivian Girls. Wild Eyes literally shook me. Part garage surf punk girl doo woop and part amazing. Plus I really love my sister's version of WHY oh WHY oh WHYYY? Side B's My Baby Wants Me Dead is probably one of my favorite side B of the year. He wants to put a gun to my head, just like this song.

2. Searching For The Now 3 (A Sunny Day In Glasgow/The Sunny Street)
Wowzee! The completely dreamy experimental band A Sunny Day In Glasgow puts me in heaven whenever I hear their cover of the Pastels' Sometimes I Think About You. Makes me as happy as meeting someone new who excites you. The Sunny Street's Pottery & Glass is a bit sad and reflective, but quite beautiful. Put on loud volume (especially for Sometimes I Think About You)

3. Searching For The Now 4 (The Pains of Being Pure at Heart/Summer Cats)
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's Come Saturday has to be one the loudest pop tunes of the year. Well this version at least (the newest one via myspace sounds a little lower with it's oooh oh oooh!) but this can just me blasting Searching For The Now 3 so when I put on 4 my ears bleed...just a bit. I have to admit, The Pains are tied for my favorite band of the year (next to the Raveonettes). I mean the band were in 2 different splits, their own single, and opened for the Wedding Present! So what comes next of the loudest pop tune of the year? Summer Cats' Let's Go! the most fun tune of the year. Overall #4 shines! Put on louder volume.

4. The Carrots-Doing Our Part
This 33rpm 7" actually has 3 songs from their EP back in 2006. Doing Our Part is the new one, but my gosh how I love this song. I relate to this song with Jennifer taking lead vocals singing monotonely "do you wanna runaway runaway oh ohh" The rest of songs are reworked, so you won't find the lo-fi glory from the EP. Jimmy Don't Cry has Veronica vocals a bit higher than Jennifer's (whose I vocals prefer more). Side B with Secret Since '99 and Ladies of Givens is more upbeat, faster, and clean. Will people hate me if I say I only like maybe 3 songs from The Pipettes, but The Carrots (who I think is better) every song I love? Even my four year old niece can tell you, and sing to you any Carrots song you want to you hear. CUTE!

5. Je Suis Animal-Painted In My Face
Mr. Cloudberry (Roque) played this for me, and I was pretty wowed by it. Completely sweet-a bit dream pop & psych with a whole lot of love. The b-side Photograph captures my heart. "Yesterday I touched your face, kissed your lips, but you were just a photograph of you."

6. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Everything With You
Overall this song carries the torch of everything that is great about a good single. Boy/girl vocals, loud, honest and heck very captivating. Side B has The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's theme song The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. This version has Peggy's vocals a bit lower, but I think that's because the music itself is louder. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart will never die, okay?

7. Jacuzzi Boys/King Khan split
Jacuzzi Boys baffle me that they're from Florida, but anyways A Strange Hand is psych garage blah goodness. I actually think they should change the song to A Strange Town. Seriously. Why aren't there more bands like this in South Florida? King Khan (as in The King Khan & BBQ Show and King Khan & the Shrines) delivers a hum drum folk song Desert Mile. Creepy as fuck.

8. Andy From Denver/Red Pony Clock split

This split comes from the Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records' Singles Club and this was a part of the 2nd batch. I was super excited about this because M Coast named it quits, and Andy From Denver is Andy Gonzales newest project. Hanging on a Cloud sounds like it could be a M Coast song but with a more of a sunshine pop AM radio with a bit of funk. Red Pony Clock is a band that I don't know much from. From this single Waiting Four You, I do know I enjoy it very much. Pretty horns and psych pop sounds make me happy.

9. caUSE co-MOTION!-I Lie Awake
Love me some caUSE co-MOTION! Sloppy crash pop makes me bounce with anxiousness written all over. Side B's You Don't Say is like 1 minute long and Cry For Attention bit longer is my favorite in this single.

10. Jennifer O'Connor/Dump split
I was excited to see this because well I don't having anything from Dump, so I had to have it. Why? Because it's James from Yo La Tengo duh! I never heard of Jennifer O'Connor, but I do like I Was So Wrong (which is a Dump remix). Not a big fan of the other song I'm a racecar driver, but it's okay I guess. Dump covers a song that I don't know named I Wanna Get Next To You, and seriously, all I want to do is makeout to song while this song is on repeat. I guess that means like every 3 minute I would have to get up and pick up the needle, but it's worth it.


Best extras in a 7":
BOAT-Topps
Topps drawn trading cards and gum!? YAY! I'm in a funk because I've had it for months and I can't even think about chewing that gum, and I love gum.

Best 7" cover:

Best album cover:


Best compilation soundtrack record:
Yo La Tengo-They Shoot, We Score
HAHAHAHA you really thought I would make a list without including a Yo La Tengo record? Stupid. This record includes scores from Old Joy, Junebug, Game 6 and Shortbus. Be happy and listen to all the different tiny versions of Green Arrow, and let go to all you're holding on to. Dreamy!


Best compilation that actually came out in 2006:
CD86: 48 Tracks From the Birth of Indie Pop
Although I knew a few tracks, the ones I didn't know blew my mind alway. The Bodines, The Raw Herbs, The Servants, The Primitives and The June Brides captured my heart, and kicked me because why the fuck haven't I ever heard of them? And how about that Jesus & Mary Chain song I never heard-Upside Down? I've always liked them, but this song is worth calling me a big fan now.


Most mediocre song of 2006 that I liked in 2008
Evangelicals-Hello Jenn, I'm a Mess
Evangelicals are Apollo Sunshine after recording Katonah then listened to the Flaming Lips who were listening to Cocteau Twins. This song came out in 2006, and although they did release an album this year, I have yet to hear it. Hello Jenn, I'm a Mess is dream pop without being too dream pop, it's indie rock without being too indie rock. It's mediocre at it's best, but it's better than a lot of shit that is out there. Sometimes mediocre is good, and this is one of those time. It's for the anxiety driven or moody motherfuckers like myself. Plus how you pass up lyrics like "loose lips sink friendships."


Most Overrated Band of '08:
1. Glasvegas
Sorry I don't get why people like them. They are extremely boring. Why should I care if Alan McGee thinks they're the best band to come out of Scotland in 20 years? Didn't Alan McGee give us Oasis? So here you go the next Oasis.

2. Beach House
eh. I thought I liked it the first listen, the second seal the deal for me-I don't. I mean am I suppose to like every dream pop band that is out there? I think it's okay to say no once in awhile. Just sayin'.

Coolest music video from another overrated band of 08:
MGMT-Time to Pretend
I only like this video because he rides a cat, and because it was directed by the same guy who directed an amazing short film called Death of the Tin Man. Wooh for Ray Tintori! But really-do we need another Of Montreal? I can only take so much from Kevin Barnes, I don't need another.

Coolest music video:

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Everything with You. It was recorded with a Super 8! How super. Plus this video reminds me of a typical day with my sister and I. Yup!

Other runners up: Crystal Stilts-Prismatic Room and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Gothenburg Handshake...because of it's randomness, and pretty cinematic scenes of nothingness.

Yu'le like this

A very special Favorite Selection #1:

Yule Log III-Director's Commentary

Side note: Haha

RUDY! RUDY!

Sunday's Favorite Selection #19:

40 Inspirational speeches in 2 minutes

Side note: I found this video on Paul Scheer's tumblr. This is pretty ridiculous and at the same time amazing. 

Men seldom make passes at girls with glasses

It's been 12 years since I started wearing glasses, yet I was always related myself as a girl who wore girls. My first pair were pretty lame. I had to wear them because since my last name ends with a V, I sat in the back, and couldn't see the blackboard. Soon enough I moved to Florida, and I realized that wearing glasses (or at least these pair) wasn't gonna get me any friends. I stopped wearing them (or at least when I had to look at the blackboard). A few months later I lost them as I was running out my house to catch the bus. I freaked out because I realized I have horrible vision. Two days later my parents took me to get my second and probably my favorite pair of glasses ever. Leopard printed cat framed glasses. Need I say more. I was considered a bit offbeat at middle school, but this threw me off the roof. Guys though were still hitting on me-but I had a few new admirers especially the one I had liked since moving! (Eventually I found the other glasses a few days later in my front yard).

As time passes by even more, this slowed down as boys in high school didn't understand why I wore glasses. Often I would get guys telling me that if I took off my glasses and let my hair down I would be beautiful. I always just shoot them a dirty looked and tell "too bad I don't give a shit." But what bugs me the most is the fact the my own type rarely give me the time or day. Never had I thought I had a type but lets face it-deep down inside I do. I won't even get into that but point is I don't get it. I see them chasing non-glasses wearing girls after they give me that talk. Oh yes. I always get dumbfounded by that, but I never let that bring me down (actually sometimes it does). This past year I've had a hand filled of guys (that I know and don't) telling me that I intimidate them. Possibly my glasses give off the vibe. Im blaming it for the fact that it makes me look more smart, and that scares guys (especially if I'm smarter than them). 

I'm also blaming the media. I can't really think of one female wearing glasses that is smart, independent and well, dates. In order to get the dates you lose the frames. Even Tina Fey's character Liz Lemon in 30 Rock as quirky as she is (and me in a few years) gets no action. Or Ugly Betty gets action, but the show is called UGLY Betty. Lately I've been thinking of getting contacts, but this is me. I feel so weird when I don't have them on and I still do all the things to keep my glasses from falling off my face. So next option is get a new pair. I already have my eyes (haha) on a pair, but from a store in Portland. Anyways I did what they said-resized the photo to the actual measurement, print it out, cut it out, put on face. Sooo pretty. It's the same size as my current ones, but uh vintage. Well point I am getting out is that I'm still going through the trials and tribulations of being a lady with glasses. Who knew. I thought this stuff ends when you're out of high school.

While I'm at it-I am not a fan of ironic glasses...just sayin'.

Ice cream and cake, and cake

Look at this loving family. That kid is too cute- too bad his name is Adolf Hitler Campbell. He was recently denied CAKE because the local ShopRite refused to put his name on the cake. So good ol' Walmart decorated it instead. Now, no kid should be denied cake on their birthday, but really mommy and daddy? The father made a statement that people should look focus on the future, not the past. And this is why his other children are named : JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell.

The past 3 years the father has made the similar request to the same ShopRite asking for a swastika as well. I guess he meant the Hindu symbol and meaning.

What is funny about this whole ordeal is that Walmart decorated his name on the cake. Walmart-the same place where albums are censored.

On a slight side note:  Welcome Art Under Your Nose to the blogosphere! Everyone should go and read, because Misael is awesome (and so is art).

Here's a video for everyone!

Boy oh boy

This entry is split in two separate thoughts/writings

1. Aaron over at Examinations of the Practicality of Objectivism & Other Writings just posted about us having a "healthy competition" and compared us to Rubber Soul and Pet Sounds. I'll like to point out that I am Brian Wilson in this equation because when Aaron started his blog, I was inspired and figured I could do that. Also Pet Sounds is a favorite of mine. Even Aaron's insight on sports inspired me and make me laugh. I thought "hey I have something to say, and I think of myself as entertaining enough to be funny and cynical."

Sadly enough I've been feeling very unmotivated to write and lacking inspiration. Blogs I regularly read have slowed down on posts and things have been a bit mundane in life. I'm not sure if it's my life or society that is letting me down (perhaps both) but I've been kicking myself in the butt lately to do something. I started this blog because it kicked me in the butt and I should not be slowed down. Today I read an interview on New York Times art critic Roberta Smith. She mentioned she loves daily/weekly publications and it's immediacies. That's how I feel about blogs. A fresh thought. About 2 weeks ago The Daily Show had this writer/blogger as a guest and she said something along the line -If you were laid off from your job, you can start a blog! Jon Stewart couldn't stop laughing and neither could I. 

2.

I saw this ad on New Times the other day. I was completely intrigued by it-mostly because it took me a bit to realize it was a dude in the ad. My thought process was like this:

-Nice legs

-Hmm

-They are a bit muscular

-....

-Wait a minute...

-Dude?

-It has to be because they are showing his chest.

Are men being objectified now!? That thought has been on my mind for a bit now, but after seeing this ad I am 100% sure that men are objectified. I remember reading about this in my Aesthetics and Art Theory class, but image is everything now so this made a bigger impact on me. Aside from the fact that it's a vein treatment center what interests me is that his face is cut off. Ads with women rarely ever do that unless it's one of those loss weight before and afters. I must investigate men in ads now.

In the future everyone will be talking in Auto-Tune

Sunday's Favorite Selection #18:

Side notes: My goal in life is to perfect the Auto-Tune voice without Auto-Tune. Also this 5 year old kid is singing Bob the Builder theme song on Auto-Tune. I can die happily now. 

Hey hippie, just wanna get few things straight

After a long wait Langerado finally posted the initial lineup for the 2009 festival set in Miami yesterday. It looks like I'll be going again-after saying this year "I hate festivals, I hate hippies, I hate Langerado" which is the same thing I said the year before, but how can I turn away from Tortoise!? Maybe I can meet John McEntire and ask him questions about the production of Stereolab's Dots and Loops or when is The Sea and Cake are going to make my dreams come true and have a show down here or about his collection of analog synthesizers.

This year's lineup is a bit of a shocker if you're a langeradee and didn't not read that New Times or City Link article a few months ago about the change to Miami and how it's going to be mostly bands who haven't played at Langerado. This leaves out all those jam bands then? Well it happens to be more diverse (more diverse fans) and I think it's a good thing. Not because I'm not a fan of hippies or jam bands (mostly true) but because as a festival it should thrive to change and share music. I read awhile ago how Beat Happening opened up for Fugazi!

I'm planning to go one date only, so I'm hoping for Tortoise, King Khan and the Shrines, DeVotchKA and Tricky perform the same day. 

Here's the lineup so far:

Death Cab For Cutie • Snoop Dogg • Thievery Corporation (Live) • Slightly Stoopid • Ryan Adams and the Cardinals • Dashboard Confessional • The Pogues • Matisyahu • Flogging Molly • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Broken Social Scene • Cafe Tacuba • Umphrey's McGee • The Disco Biscuits • Robert Randolph & The Family Band • Pepper • The Faint • Cold War Kids • Steel Pulse • Public Enemy • Gym Class Heroes • Tricky • Girl Talk • Chromeo • Mute Math • Bad Brains • Ozomatli • Against Me! • George Clinton & Parliament / Funkadelic • Tortoise • DeVotchKa • Black Kids • Grupo Fantasma • Holy F*ck • Budos Band • Tokyo Police Club • Lotus • The Virgins • The Gaslight Anthem • King Khan and the Shrines • Lucero • Murs • Ra Ra Riot • Tortured Soul • Rebelution • K'Naan • The Egg • Zac Brown Band • Tigercity • The Aggrolites • Cloud Cult • Spam Allstars • Rachel Goodrich • Blue King Brown • The Heavy Pets • Awesome New Republic • The Postmarks • Suenalo Sound System • Live Painting by LEBO

Say hi to your mother for me, then jizz in my pants

Sunday's Favorite Selection #17:



Side note: This was the only thing that made me feel better last nite seeing that I'm deathly sick.

OMGz

I found out in this Brooklyn Vegan post that Swirlies are back and are doing a tiny tour. Why don't I live in the North East?

What to expect? "I'm sure something will break, there will be lots of tuning breaks, we'll play too loud and I will consequently sing off key, and no one will remember how to play the songs," says Damon. "In other words, it should be business as usual. What better way to spend my spring break, right?"

My excitement is level red now. That statement is something I want to experience. The great thing is that still I've been working on my best of 2008 list-a Swirlies song is in it. Later on that though as I'm being very productive, getting writing done for this week. But YAY for Swirlies!

Here I am dreaming again

Sunday's Favorite Selection #16 (on Saturday!):

Side note: Most of Richard Linklater's films are good. Waking Life is beyond good. Slacker is better though.

Most likely-I hate you.

A thought always arises whenever I'm at the mall-I really hate people. Yesterday though it hit me that I actually hate consumerism not just the mall. My thoughts on hating people never comes up whenever I'm in a crowded train, or a packed show. I love being in crowds of people but the second I go to buy something I see how people can not act whenever they are buying. It really frustrates me to witness the true nature of people-they are horrible when they shop.

I think this is also the reason why I opted out on going to fashion school, and why I can really care less about fashion now. I feel so deceived by it. Shopping is hell for me because I never feel comfortable and I get irked so easily. And forget it I get so down when I look at the tag to see where it was made. 

Going to the mall is a joke to me. A joke to see a juxtaposed of silliness. Example: Let's say there's a mall in the middle of a rich neighborhood and working class neighborhood. The working class try so hard to look money it's so sad.  Why spend your money on that?

Though aside from food the only thing I don't mind spending money on is music. Local record stores of course because I really hate myself and other people when I go to Best Buy. I tend not to be so judgemental when I'm at a local record store. That is whenever I'm at FYE or whatever I start going on the bad taste people have. I know people have potential to be amazing (and have great taste of music) but this is can't be good. 

Now what to do? I've always felt the best stuff (music, art, films) always come from people who go against "the cool" but now "the cool" is a look you can get from your iphone and later as your default picture on myspace. Oh the sadness I feel. I do believe we have it in us to save our culture (and not the consumerism culture) but what is it going to take? A lot of people don't care anymore and it's difficult to start a movement if people don't care. Something big, really big has to happen to make a change. I want to say I'm waiting, but I'm tired of doing so. Sooo tired.

I'll tumblr for ya.

Marry me. I've been using tumblr for almost a week now, and I'm in love. It's simplicity and minimalist design should be praise. It's like the Mac for blogging. Perfect for just that one photo, song, or quote you want to post. Nothing more. Heck your grandma could probably help you with post your tumbling. 

With it's minimalist qualities it actually does a lot more that blogger. You can reblog, tell the people you're following that you loved their post, and as well you can find other tumblrs in your area using Google maps. I know following is just new here in blogger, but it's doesn't do much except it's in your dashboard and in Google Reader. Tumblr does not have a comments feature, but you can get it through disque. What's the point though? You can click the heart of the post and that's all you need to know. Tumblr should stick with its short posting no comments. Plus if you want to comment on it you can always reblog and write in your thoughts.

My only issue is more of a cultural issue. We're become more and more of a visual society and rather to discuss lengthy topics it's shorten to a post of a picture. Though at the same time Tumblr has this existentialist quality to it. Not sure how to explain, but I'll get back to it one of these days.

I do have to say this tumblr makes me so hungry:

http://gluttonyisabliss.com/

Marry me.

Sunday's Favorite Selection #15:

Side note: Just the other day I finished watching all of Arrested Development. I've only seen tiny parts of it here and there, but just a few weeks ago Jeff let me borrow the series. Wow. I can't stop doing all of the chicken dances.

New, elsewhere and repost of a repost!

I got a new blog! No frets though, because I will still use this to report my cultural activities.
This tumblr I got because I'm a bit obsessed with the ones I've seen so far (plus I get to post on posts Jeff made-duh!). Also this tumblr blog is reporting random scans and photos. Not much text will be written.

http://elegantsips.tumblr.com/

ALSO!
Someone I don't know blogged about this blog!


weirrrrd. yet coooool.

PAARRRRRTTTYYY!

Sunday's Favorite Selection #14:

Side note: Sadly I had to leave early before Cars Can Be Blue's second set last nite, but I had a great time and laughed a lot. Though I think that if I didn't leave early Nate would have sang this song to me. 

"My mouth is drier than my grandma's vagina."

My life in la bodega

In the strangest of matters, I have noticed that everyone I am close to is going through this "break through." Not sure exactly what to call it, but I guess what I mean is trying to figure out what to do next in their life. It's one of those moments (especially when you're my age and especially when you just graduated) when you feel extremely hopeless, too sad and worse of all losing your mind. Mood swings all over, constantly feeling anxious and waiting...just waiting. And while I am here just waiting and constantly on edge, I am learning to hold on to sweet things. Perhaps it's because my cynicism really hasn't been doing me any well, and I'm tired of feeling like this. I'm resorting back to my youthful days (I say that as a 23 year old) when being pure and simple was the best. Back when I lived in New York, and the tiniest thing will make me happy (Do I hear Mister Softee? Mami, Papi I need a dollar, Mister Softee!! Hurry, he's going to leave! I hear the music fading!!) Lately all those little things I loved as a kid are the only things that haven't let me give up.

The good ol' bodega.

For a nickel I can buy a Now and Later, for a dime I can buy Twizzler, or for a quarter I can buy any Wise snack chip (my favorite is Cheez Doodles..crunchy!) Luckily by my job there is a corner store that has my childhood, though there's no merengue-the sugar kind not dancing kind. My childhood as a wanna be BeBes Kids in the hood let to me to experiment with junk food. I would had to say if you wanted to know what taste good together come to me. Like example: this afternoon my lunch consist of Little Debbie snack chocolate roll, Cheez Doodles, and lemon iced tea-all for a price of $1.69! Sounds gross but the taste of sweet and salty...mmm my mouth getting watery right now. I've turned friends into believers. And if you were making the bucks-buying a pizza for a dollar after hitting up the bodega. Seriously that never fails.

Walking around was always good to me. As a kid in my hood-you walked all the time. A lot of those times with your friends (BeBe's kids). My elementary school was about 2 miles away from my house, and every single day with my friends (rarely with an adult) we walked. Sometimes my sister would wait for me and walk me home. Being outside, the breeze, talking. It's nice. Though not too nice in Florida. You see, people here frown upon it. People are always looking at me from their cars wondering why I'm not in a car. Sorry but I'm not going to confine my space-and going out doesn't mean going to another confine space. 

Throwing eggs out the window. Can't do that here for a few reasons. One being that I live in a one story house-throwing eggs is best when living in an apartment. Two you actually need people walking outside, under your window to throw the egg. The last memory I had of the day before I moved from New York was me throwing eggs out the window with a neighbor who was half my age-I was 12. Late that very nite (you see in my hood, during the summer everyone was hanging outside until very late) I heard my neighbor yelling from out her window to her brother who was outside "Yo quiero huevos!" I almost died. 

Books. and more books. Before I got into music (say whaa? there was a time!?) I read so much as kid. I would spend the whole day just reading if I could. It was an escape for me. Being the youngest, and not having any space I found it with a book. Oddly enough-one time my siblings had a party when my parents weren't around and told me not to leave my parents room for the whole nite. I was delighted. A whole night with a book and I can listen to whatever radio station I wanted to hear. 

And I'm pushing over my mid twenties, I realized that those simple things still keep me happy. I need it to stay that way.

Guy Ben-Ner's Stealing Beauty

Sunday's Favorite Selection #13:

Side note: I went to Ikea last nite and all I can think about was this video art piece. Also it's 7am Sunday morning and I'm watching Singles on E! How 90s of me.

Working and daydreaming all day

about the new love in my life

Except it can not be with me. Love does cost a thing, and that thing cost over $300. Luckily I met you the other day, tried you on, stared at the mirror thinking how beautiful we look together. We're too different to be together. You're rich, I'm poor. Though I think I'm okay with the $12 look alike I got in Target last week.

Oh yeah-if you actually wear glasses, try not wearing them for once in a while. It's pretty trippy and funny. Then of course wear sunglasses to darken the view. Then walk to your job and make sure your boss waves at you. Make sure it's her though, because you can't see from a far and you don't want to wonder who the person is waving at you-like I did today. Also, make sure to not wear your glasses in a familiar place, because if it was opposite world-that would suck major.

Hot for yous

Art crush of the month:

Martin Eder

I should scan the photo of him in my Art Now 2 book because it better represents why I think he's cute (with his knives collection). Since taking a painting course earlier this year, I've started to really enjoy looking at paintings now. Eder's kitchy surreal images of porno ladies and kitty cats makes me smile. Juxtapose!

Someone who didn't make it into my new life

Sunday's Favorite Selection #12:

Side note: Although I'm still waiting until one day Jens Lekman writes a song about me, he will always manage to write songs that my heart can relate to.

Feed me with your kiss

My Bloody Valentine's Glider 1990:

Bloc Party's Intimacy 2008:

The better band has the better cover. Glider makes me want to makeout, Intimacy doesn't.

The beat dies

I'm not one to write reviews about releases, because frankly if I were to explain the album you would have to be me listening to it. There are no words whatsoever that explain what music does to me. That is if it doesn't suck or if it's not mediocre. In that case I would just say "that sucks" or "eh".

But here I am typing this, because I've been listening to this Beauty Dies EP for about a week now, and love it to pieces. It the gap between Pretty in Black and Lust Lust Lust. It's poppy, still dark and emotional, without being sad/happy/cute emotional. Plus it makes me want to wear a black dress with black shades and dance in a large empty hall by myself, or maybe if I'm up to it dancing with one person, but still in that large empty hall. 

The stand out track in this 4 track EP has to be Young and Beautiful. It makes me sink so low. It's beautiful, tragic, and everything that I love about the Raveonettes rocked and rolled into this song. Somehow they amaze me how they write the same song (heartbreak, love, wearing black, being beautiful and young, and death) yet its still so refreshing. I can easily say this is one of those pop tunes I've been searching for all this year. I think I have maybe two hand filled now. But this is special in any case because boy/girl harmonies makes me swoon.

About this third installment of their fall/winter EP releases, I read an interview with Sune Rose Wagner (here at Culture Bully) that he wishes people recorded more singles instead of albums. Finally, I don't feel utterly alone when I say that statement.

Death to organization

Sunday's Favorite Selection #11:

Side note: Watching The Science of Sleep can be very painful for me, but I still love it.

I know someone who knows someone who knows Pam Berry quite well

There's certain album covers that goes unnoticed, until on day you have your headphones one listening to the album and you're staring at the cover. Then it hits you. Why haven't I noticed something so simple and beautiful? Simplicity with a small twist that knocks you down. That's how I felt when I actually stared at Black Tambourine's Complete Recording. You stare at the front; you turn it around, then bow!

The surprise Pam Berry was holding out on you. In the front she looks like she's reaching out, a longing, then of course that longing can only be harmful to all. I do have to say, if I had any lick of talent when it comes to music I would want to be in a band that sounds like Black Tambourine. It's pop-but the lovely dark, loud, noisey and moody kind. But back to the gun. There's something so seductive about a woman with a weapon, but at the same time it holds as protection for that seduction. I guess if you listen to Black Tambourine you get why Pam Berry is holding that gun. The great sentence in the liner notes said "Oh the violence of crushes." Stephen Pastel-throw Aggi off the bridge. If not for me, for Pam Berry. Baby, please, ditch the fool.

Another album cover that did the same thing for me is My Bloody Valentine's You Made Me Realise.
I get chills looking at that.

Viviendo en la era Pop!

Sunday's Favorite Selection #10:

Beginning side note: Sadly the actual video I wanted to put up has no embedding code. If you care to actually watch what I wanted to put up please do watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbF1phW2xLI

The reason why I'm putting this video up is because it's the same song (but doesn't sound as lushly good another version) and this video has Pedro Almodovar (era 1980s) singing and dancing along in some sort of drugged state.

End side note: Roque who told me about Zombies sometime last year and who hooked with me with other like minded awesomeness Spanish pop bands from the 80s was singing a song yesterday-one I know too well and too little. A very rare song called Red Go-Cart was in a mixtape my sister's friend made for her back in 1996. My sister's friend wrote that it was by Bunnygrunt but a few years ago when I discovered this tape I failed to find out what release it was from. This happened for a few reasons:

1. This was back when Bunnygrunt wasn't together, and there was little information on them-except that they were once called "The World's Cutest Band".

2. That song wasn't by Bunnygrunt.

3. My sister's friend knew little of Bunnygrunt (even at the time when they were first together) because in another mixtape for my sister she wrote that a song was called "Refrigerator". That ended up being a big mystery for me because I loved that song (still do) and while looking for the song titles in all their LPs-none were called Refrigerator. 

Which leads me back to Roque, because back at that time (Red Go-Cart and Bunnygrunt era) I didn't know him, but he was my neighbor once on last.fm. I saw him listening to a song called Favorite Food by Bunnygrunt (which favorite food was a part the lyrics of "Refrigerator"). I sent him a message asking him if he knew what release it was in and he told me. Two years later I finally got that 7". Probably one of my favorite 7". 

Anyways yesterday there he is singing another mystery for me-that amazing Red Go-Cart song.

I love a good mystery song but finding out who actually wrote it is the best feeling ever. Now if I can only find out who the heck sings that beautiful Angels, etc song. 

EDIT: The Red Go-Cart song is actually called Little Red Go-Cart and it's by Throw That Beat In The Garbagecan

I need to investigate the essence of each being

Film news:

Yesterday my friend was telling me that Jean Claude Van Damme has a new movie coming out. I blinked, but she continued to tell me that it actually looks good. I blinked twice. She showed me the trailer and I'm a believer. JCVD looks like Jean Claude starring in Dog Day Afternoon but less ATTICA! and more funny without being campy.

Aside from it's limited showing starting November 7th (which I doubt will be shown in South Florida)  Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival starts this weeks! Something worth doing in South Florida-finally! Sadly, this will be the first time going to FLIFF without my sister! Bummer. 

Though here's my youtube list of what I want to see:

Happy-Go-Lucky

Slowly I am trying to write down every female character I can relate to in a film. Hopefully this character can be added? So far I got:

Monica Vitti's character in L'Eclisse

Thora Birch's character in Ghost World

Audrey Tautou's character in Amelie

Miranda July's character in Me and You and Everyone We Know

Every female character in Pedro Almodovar's films

And a little bit of Shannyn Sossamon's character in Wristcutters: A Love Story and Parker Posey's character in Party Girl

Pussyfoot-Embedding code was disabled, but the title Pussyfoot should give anyone a reason to watch it.

Synecdoche, New York

Charlie Kaufman. That's all I have to say.

Music news:

Yo La Tengo are having their 8 days of Hanukkah at Maxwell's, but they are playing with THE FEELIES and VIVIAN GIRLS on New Year's Eve. Did I metion YO LA TENGO are also playing. Of all places New Jersey. What a girl to do?

what a girl to do?

The way that I feel when you cry is so bad

While on train yesterday I overheard this woman on the phone talking about how she wants to see her child (I guess she wasn't allowed to see her child). Then I heard her trying to cry in silence, but in a close proximity you can her weeping. Although I couldn't see her, her friend was sitting next to her just staring her. This older lady came by after a bit of the woman crying and stared to talk to her-giving her old lady wisdom. 

For some reason the sight of a woman crying breaks me. I'm not sure if every woman experiences this, but it's something that transform my own identity. It's one of the few moments for me that I completely can relate. When I see and listen (not hear) a woman cry-I automatically start crying. I see myself in her. All her emotions I feel. I have this weird aesthetic experience whenever I see Claire Danes on screen crying. She's one of the few actresses that when she cries you can see every pain in her face. Call it uglyface, but it's beautiful and hurtful. Reverting back to non verbal communication is the most honest someone could be with you, unless well you're acting. But it's one of the few times when there's no failed communication. You get it.

For that older lady on the train she told the crying woman that it's not always like this. She said sweet little encouragements to cheer her up. That made me smile.

 

Now I know I have a heart, because it's breaking

Sunday's Favorite Selection #9


Watch Death to the Tinman in Entertainment Videos  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Side note: This short film got me to start writing my ideas down for my screenplay.

How to be socially knowledgeable

The best thing next to wikipedia is wikiHow. There's something so interesting about people taking the time to write or edit information. What's real? Who cares. Everything is this world is pretty much a lie. Information gets lost through miscommunication anyways so why is it frown upon when I use the best thing in the internet?

Back to wikiHow. I stumble upon it a few months ago and was giggling to myself on all the silly how-to whatever. It started with How To Be A Pop Kid. I laughed it off but it's so true. Step number 12 states: Try to persuade countless friends to listen to pop with mixtapes. (or CDs if you're digitally inclined) Be crushed when they don't listen to them. Oh how I've fallen into that mistake plenty of times. A tip: A lot of your indiepop days might be kind of lonely, so fill them with other hobbies besides zinemaking and band-doing! Examples include trainspotting, shoegazing, knitting, looking at bridges, trying to draw the Sarah Records or K Records logo JUST RIGHT, daydreaming, mixtaping, taking long walks while listening to the Field Mice, and arts and crafts.  And of course I need a lot of money to buy records. 

Here's a list of other gigglefest of wikiHow (that relates to me-duh)

How To Be A Shoegazer

How To Be So Lame That You're Actually Cool

How To Ride A Bike

How To Hug

How To Write A Famous Blog

My favorite thing along side from the wikis is when you're having a conversation with someone (example: about a band) and they totally start vomiting information you read from the band's wikipedia. Yeah.

In the streets of Philadelphia

Sunday's Favorite Selection #8

Side note:

Philadelphia is filled with babies and Bruce Springsteen. I want to go back.

Give it up to my shawty shawty!

Sunday's Favorite Selection #7

Side note: Originally today's favorite was Lost Boyz' Renee because it reminds me of my cousin and 1996. We listened to their debut album like crazy that winter (along with Redman's Muddy Waters). But I just heard this song on XM radio and I remember loving this song more in 96.

Cos I'm fall fall falling for you

Sunday's Favorite Selection #6

Side notes:

It's the last day of summer! 

"doo oo oo yeah" should be in every song ever.
There's this commercial for Rhapsody that uses Sound and Vision and The Sea and Cake did a lovely cover of it.

I'm drifting into my solitude over my head.

MTV's Top Pop Poop

(Blogger note-I wrote this awesome post last night, and something weird happened and only 1/3 of what I wrote showed up. So sadly this rewritten entry is probably not as interesting as yesterday when I was really into it.)

I don't think I've ever experienced feeling so moved by a text message that it made me post a blog about it, until today. As a ha ha joke, I texted my friend a picture of my mousepad at work. It's a Britto mousepad. Romero Britto - the uber cheesy "neo pop art" artist, that my friend hates dearly. 

A part of his response was "Mouse pads are just about the lowest of the low for visual artist...in fact, they're just below messenger bags." 

My replied back asking him aside from the artwork itself what's below that-a postcard, a coffee mug?

Honestly I couldn't stop thinking about this question. It automatically made me think of the essay The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction by Walter Benjamin. I have yet to actually read the essay, but I slightly do know what its about. What's the lowest of the low of reproductions? I've seen Britto's work on buses (and all over the damn place in South Florida) but I counted that out because I think of that as public art. Tattoos are reproductions but I counted that out because for its sentiment to the tattooee. It's personal therefore the artwork is not lower down to the equivalent to a mousepad. Unless well you're me and suggested to your friend to get a tattoo of Joseph Beuys' How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare because you want to live your tattoo fetish through her. Back to Britto - His images (that's right images, not art) are all over the (consumer) place. I've been interning/working at this job for over a year now, and just a few months ago I noticed that my mousepad was a Britto. Not that I didn't notice my mousepad its that his designs are such a background image because I see it all the time. Just 2 years ago I found out that it was actually an art in charge of these designed images. I honestly thought it was just some manufactured cheesy design, like a tacky font. I know someone is in charge doing it, but I didn't know it was some famous artist who is in the Saatchi Collection.

So here's the response from my friend:

In order (of) reproduction: 

postcards

tshirts

coffee mugs

fridge magnets, 

toilet seat covers, 

mass produced shlock with no intrinsic artistic value...then mousepads.

He forgot messenger/tote bags. And umbrellas because I once had a Starry Night umbrella that I got from the Dollar Store.

Killer Coke's delicious new design makeover

I noticed a few months ago the new design for Nestea's Iced Tea bottles. Not that I know anything about good design, but I really like it. The old one looked too much like a soda bottle and it looked sporty. I guess it's mountainish features reminds me of sports. But this sleek bottle is pretty European therefore it's cool. Simple and futuristic. Futuristic because the yellow and gray remind me of my futuristic dress that has pockets (and I think in the future every dress should have pockets.) Plus it now comes with 50 more antioxidants. Yummy antioxidants. Yummy corporations that kill union leaders from my country. It's how I like my drinks.

Some people think little girl should be seen

While looking thru all the photos I've saved on my PC I found a folder of artworks I would like to have if I curated an art show. It was a part of a project in senior seminar course. I wrote a proposal for it, but I think I didn't save it. From what I remember it was an exhibition that was broken into 3 sections- thread, hair and identity. The proposal was written really nicely why I did that, but you're smart you can see the connection.

Here are the artists/artwork I wanted in my awesome curated show:

Lygia Clark

Ghada Amer

Sadly I don't remember her name, but once I find out I'll edit this.

Ana Mendieta

Ellen Gallagher

Petah Coyne

Cindy Sherman

Nikki S. Lee

Ana Mendieta