JAKP8 and SM!

Every now and then a reality comes and captures America's heart (COPS, The Anna Nicole Show, Flavor of Love etc) but Jon and Kate plus 8 is rules them all. For one thing the kids do not get voted off the show (I think Maddy would be the first out) and well the kids are pretty much why I watch it. 

Aaden is my favorite and he looks a lot like my stuffed Dictionary doll:

So I was stoked to find out there was an official music video for Jon and Kate Plus 8 for two reasons:

1. Just two weeks ago my sister and I came up with idea of being in a band together and only write about Jon and Kate Plus 8 (like Harry and the Potters)

2. Kids making music is the best thing ever

It ended up not being what I thought. Neither Jon and Kate or the plus 8s sang and there was minimal participation from the kids. Coming from an artistic background and working with kids who are making art, I think it's highly important at a young age for kids to experiment with the arts. They learn to be creative independently and the results can be pretty mind blowing. 

Examples:

My 3 year old niece makes the most bizarre, borderline disturbing drawings and they are solo gallery material. In this episode of JAKP8 Kate being the OCD mom that she is painted over what one of the 8s painting a pottery bowl (that they did as a part of their girls outing). That's such an asshole thing to do mom.

Also-my niece and I have band named The Ladybugs, and we've gone strong for almost a year. I let her sing (trees up your noses!) and play whatever she wants while I sometimes play the drums or accordion. It's the most fun we have together. 

One of my favorite bands I discovered this year comes from a 5 year old. Her band is called Snow Monster! and the music is experimental pop. It is also pretty impressive.  The 5 year old Mabel wanted to make music and has her dad making the music while she writes all the lyrics and her little brother joins along shaking and rattling. My neice loves them and whenever I see her she always ask me if she can watch the video of the little girl-so here it goes!

 

Unicorn vomit album covers and a sad puppy eyed robot

The greatest news ever: The Sea and Cake are releasing a new album on October 21 called Car Alarms. I was just thinking this week how I wish they will come out with a new album, but thought I had to wait about 4 years for this dream. So 2008 might not be so bad after all. Automatically this will be a favorite because jazzy post-rock popness will be oozing out of my ears and that sensation is one that I kindly love.

Also-Anyone who loves the cinema needs to go see WALL-E.

It's the most radical film Pixar has made and one of the most realistic sci fi ever.

Top 2 of 2008 for sure (4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days still haunts me).

Beware-if you do not like kinda silent films you may want to skip it and rent My Dinner With Andre.

The birds and the bees

The new issue of BUST magazine has an article on Isabella Rossellini's new work-Green Porno. Green Porno are very short films about the bizarre ways bugs doing it. The project is creative, funny and educational. It reminds me of my youtube video of a banana and cherries making a sex tape and Irene Moon's artwork. These short films are actually meant for the "fourth screen" (mobile phones) but you can watch it over at Sundancechannel.com/greenporno.

Hold my hands-don't ask why

The first half 2008 is done and I am wondering what songs from 08 has capture my heart. Sure there are a quite a butt load that haunts my mind, but there aren't a lot that were released in 08. Bummer.

Even album released so far in 08 had no affect on me (aside from one). I am bit let down on some of my old favorites-My Morning Jacket (Evil Urges) and I can't even let myself to listen to the new Mates of State. It's not that I don't love them anymore but that I have almost given up on concept of albums. I think only a few can make albums-everyone else should release singles-or an album of singles. Why waste everyones time with fillers. Possibly this opinion is completely influenced by my love of pop music. I love pop tunes, and I wish the world more of them. I champion 7"s for this reason. There's this philosophical notion when it comes to 7"s-it's a celebration of short moments and those collective short moments are how we live. 

Back to 2008-I've spend most of it listening to The Feelies, Husker Du, and new loves like Young Marble Giants and Black Tambourine. There has been much room for 2008 in 2008. Though I have to say I am completely head over heels for Vivian Girls.

Their single Wild Eyes could possibly be my favorite song of 2008. I've been obsessing over that song for the past 2 months and for being exactly 2 minutes long I've played it nonstop. It's as though Tiger Trap had babies with a bunch of nihilists. Oh and did I mention that the single is released as a 7" format? The Airfields' YR So Wonderful would be my favorite, but it was released last year-in Cloudberry Records no less! How did I manage to let that slip by!? 

Well I'm going to wait ever so patience for Stereolab's Chemical Chords because they don't let down, and they know how to make pop albums. Plus the cover is pretty sweet. 

EAT THE MUSIC

The first mixtape I've ever received was titled EAT THE MUSIC.

It sounds like a great idea. I think the best way to experience anything is when you get to use all your senses. So when I saw this youtube video I flipped. Two reasons: I love 7" vinyls and I love chocolate.  

I hope this is the start of a new trend of edible mp3s.

Well she wakes up every morning to the sound of Sarah records

This past weekend was the glorious NYC Popfest. Bonnowho? International indiepop! It was great even though I skipped out on a few shows.  The four days festival (aside from the five days from last year) definitely had more of a crowd than last year. A few of the shows were sold out, and there was a bigger turn out of out of state and country people this year!

Day 1:  

The Foxgloves-Oh the Pelle Carlberg signed guitar that was the official popfest acoustic guitar started with The Foxgloves which I thought was really sweet. Lyrically I was in love but sometimes my mind flutters with one man one guitar.

In Interview-This NYC band was one of my favorites in popfest. Disoriented disco pop I would feel that best described them. I think there's a lot of potential in them. 

Oh Custer!-They were loud for two Swedish dudes playing guitars so of course I fell in love. Songs about the fall! I also thought they were really sweet. Plus they ended their set with Robyn's Be Mine!

The Secret History-I didn't get a chance to see them live last year, so I was kinda excited about this performance. During the performance I was kind of disappointed. It was too clean of pop music. I think that's why I really enjoyed In Interview-they were sloppy but played so well. I had a smile the whole time they performed. But all I remembered about The Secret History is after every song them telling the sound guy more on vocals or less vocals or how is it sounding. I just really wanted them to play.

Love is All-I knew the reason why this show was sold out was because of them. They were great. A noise pop performance with tons of energy that made me a believer. I need some of their music.

Day 2:

From Bubblegum to Sky-I came in during their last song. I was surprise this show actually started in time but then I remembered Cats on Fire was playing in at different venue after that show. A little bird told me I didn't miss much in From Bubblegum's set

Pants Yell!-I was so happy to see them again, but this time I knew a lot of the songs which made it exciting. They're still awesome.

The Besties-I missed their performance last year as well so I couldn't wait to see how they play live. They were good and slightly funny. Also a slight circle pit was started in requested from the band. They definitely hyped up the show which worked well for Tullycraft!!

Tullycraft-They are the reason why I went this year. Tully rules in so many levels it's not even funny. This show was also sold out (Pianos was as tiny as Cake Shop) and if you were 15 feet away from the stage you probably couldn't see anything. Luckily I squeezed myself to the front during Pants Yell! Tullycraft was fabulous and tons of fun. It seemed that the whole crowd was going crazy but I think anyone who was within 15 feet of the stage went crazy. Even Jenny looked a bit concerned of the craziness of the crowd (which so happened to be The Besties!) There was also crowd surfing! Never would I ever think of crowd surfing and circle pits at a pop show-it all happened that nite. Watch them performed Twee (I'm one of those lovely people in the front jumping with my arms up up and away!)

Cats on Fire-I totally did not go. 

1. It was in a different venue 

2. I was already beat up from Tullycraft 

3. Queens is a long way home

4. I was meeting a friend on the train back to Queens

This worked out well because I heard that they came out around 1-which would had made me really grumpy. Though I did get a lot of flak from Roque about missing them, but he always gives me a lot of flak. Plus I joked around how I'll go see them in Finland one day. I found out the next day that they were going to play the last day of popfest-but I didn't go to that.

Day 3:

I was the most excited about this show even though it was the same night as the Love is All/caUSE co-MOTION!/Vivian Girls show (even though I already saw Love is All and seen caUSE co-MOTION before-fucking Vivian Girls!!!). 

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart-Ah POBPAH AKA The best band in the world. They was so loud and I was so happy.

My Teenage Stride-I was smiling a lot. I love them but seriously why haven't I seen you perform my second favorite song of 2007? (Ears Like Golden Bats) That song makes me happy in so many levels.

Mahogany-Hands down my favorite of popfest. Loud shoegazing and so heartfelt. I fell in love that nite and it was with this band.

The Orchids-The legendary Orchids performed really lovely. I just loved all the kids bouncing to them. Wait I loved all the popkids bouncing at all the shows! It makes me happy to see happy bouncings.

The Ladybug Transistor-Were awesome! I still can't believe they are from Brooklyn because their sound is sooooo Athens. Full lush sounds that makes people in a good mood which is good in my book.

So I didn't go to the danceparty because I had no one to dance with :( 

Not true-I'm just awkward and I was really tired. 

And I didn't go to Sunday's show because I opted in seeing my good friend instead. So I was a little bummed in missing the Cannanes. 

Overall I had a good time and I scored a few 7"-especially the Pains of Being Pure at Heart split which is sold out!!! I seriously turned my head around making sure there wasn't a hidden camera and Punkd coming out saying sike to me or something like that.

I ain't shit without tits

Hanging out with my cousin for a few days converted me back to watching telenovelas. It's one of those camp cases-it's so bad it's good. She briefly told me about this new novela that started tonight called Sin Senos No Hay Paraiso which translate to Without Breasts There is No Paradise.  It's based off a Colombian novela which was actually called Sin Tetas No Hay Paraiso so I guess the word tits is a no no for Telemundo. 

From the little bit that I watched it looked pretty decent.  It takes big balls to have a prime time show about a teenage girl that becomes prostitute because she's poor and wants big tits (two words honey-Easy Curves). Oh and her brother is a hired killer for a drug trafficker. Amazing. It's trashy and realistic. Apparently NBC Universal picked it up for an English version as well and might be out by the 2008-2009 season. Competition is fierce with Ugly Betty (as that is also a spin off of the hands down best telenovela ever-Betty la Fea) on the ABC side of the television.

I'm not sure how telenovelas got started but I find it interesting its the only thing on during prime time for spanish channels. Sitcoms and drama are package into a novela. All of them have the same plot line: someone poor or ugly is misunderstood, then later becomes rich or beautiful and they stick to their guns. Also there is always someone trying to bring them down. 

I'm glad this is a long tradition in spanish tv, but I wish more for my creative people. There's better scripts to write. Trash to prosper and inspire. 

Whatever happened to shows like El Chavo del 8?

Future me

On the subway to day 2 of NYC Popfest I ran into future me. The second she came in I knew this lady is me in the future but now. I had the feeling she just left her job at the gallery or museum or curating a show. She had those Roberta Smith glasses that I want to get. These glasses scream don't fuck with me, I know art glasses. I'm a classy lady and I will break you. I figured if I get these glasses I will become that. 

Well future me looked at me (perhaps she realized I was past her) and stood next to me. She had a section of a newspaper and I was hoping it was the New York Times' Weekend Arts. The lady next to me left and future me sat next to me. She opened up her New York Times' Weekend Arts section (yes!) and I stared at future me. I was excited. My future is looking pretty bright.

While staring at her I realized how much she looks like this librarian at FAU, just with a new cool hair cut and hardcore glasses. I wondered if she was this librarian. Perhaps she was that librarian and thats why she kept looking at me. Or it was her sister but most likely she knew it was her (me) in the past (now). 

And now while I look at this photograph of Roberta Smith (New York Times art critic) I wonder if it was her! I doubt she remembers me from the lectures she gave in FAU 2 years ago, but if she did that would be pretty sweet. Point is I need to get these glasses in order to become future self.

Aside from that posts of You Don't Mess With the Zohan and a full report of Popfest (Tullycraft!!!) in a few days.

LADIES IT IS NOT A GAME

Oh Ego Trip. Your Big Book of Racism is my bible, your show The White Rapper Show made me giggles a ton ("King of the burbs!") and all those specials about race on VH1 made my heart thump like crazy. And still I didn't give you a chance with Miss Rap Supreme. I'm not sure why it took me until yesterday to watch Miss Rap Supreme with tonight being its finale. Forgive me. I didn't know that Khia was a contestant! That's enough for me to watch any show. Oh the days when my friends would rap all the lyrics to My Neck, My Back (Lick It) ... which was just last year in my sculpture class.

Point is this show-or at least the last 2 episodes made me note that it is a gem. The last 2 contestants Rece Steele and Byata had me jumping off the couch with excitement (who said viewers aren't active audiences?!) Though my favorite didn't win (Byata) I thought Rece Steele was ill-even though when she rhymes she looks hiiiigh. Byata was my favorite just because I think if I still lived in New York I would be a lot like her. Plus she reminds me of Marion Cotillard.

MC Search was sporting a t-shirt that read : Rapping is the only element of Hip Hop

Oh snap! I think I should make a shirt responding to that. Identity is the element that makes Hip Hop. 

Well, hands down the best lyric of the night:

I eat both ya'll bitches for motherfucking breakfast!

Mmmmm I think I know what I'm going to eat for breakfast, but only if it gets me to spit like that.

I lost you, but I found Easy Curves

This infomercial had me at hello!

I am speechless that stuff like this exist.

Though I think kegels are more fun to do, a better workout and it doesn't cost a thing.

Viva la suck

Album I most likely never get based on cover and band:

How do you make a reference to one artist (Kahlo) using a painting from another (Delacroix)? One of my degrees is on Art History-so Coldplay you don't fool me. 

Interesting fact-In 1999 an album called Viva La Revolution by Dragon Ash was released juxtaposed Delacroix's painting with their god knows what:

Here's a tastefully done cover art using a famous artwork:

Oh yeah. Gregory Crewdson's photography remind me of a scene you would see in a film. A film that is eerie, atmospheric and just utterly beautiful. This album (And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out) goes hand and hand with the album cover.  I doubt that Coldplay's new album is going to make me want to lead a revolution or make me want to live the life (actually its quite the opposite).  

Babies are the new black

I would totally get this album just for its cover:

The truth is that judging a book (album) by its cover can tell you all. It's called design and concept. Lil Wayne is on to something. He's telling us that he's the same lil fellow since back in the days when he used to kill people (the tears!) though I'm skeptic when it comes to identity. I once wrote a paper denying that there is a such thing as identity in my Reason and Value course (and got 100%). I typed that while wearing hoop earrings with my name on it.  

Interesting enough the core of hip hop is identity. I think they should add that to the five elements of hip hop.  I got those earrings because since I was a kid I wanted them. To me they represented a culture (urban/hip hop) that I felt I needed to be a part of (I had the urban down). 

But back to babies: It's just another way of saying "I keep it real"

Right Biggie and Nas?

Still hatin'

I had nothing to do last nite and there was nothing to watch. Thats when FUSE decided to be funny and show Empire Records again. I watched some of it to remind myself how much I still hate it. If I had the energy I would go to the boards on imdb.com to figure out why people love that movie so much. I don't get it and perhaps I don't want to.

I mean is the movie suppose to be ironic or something?

Who cares? It's just a question that I really don't care for the answer.

What a joke.

A song of a song of a song etc

My mind process is a little like this:

While jamming to this: