Filed under: Barrels of Fun, Books, Music, My Experience with Existence | Tags: A Softer World, Animal Rights, childhood, daughters, Everything Is Illuminated, feminism, Hardee's, Jonathan Safran Foer, moms, mothers, mp3, Padma Lakshmi, Sad Robots EP, sex, Stars, video
Why I use the internet.
I’ll say, stretching is underrated. Stretch your arms way above your head, arch your back, twist around a bit. You’ll see what I mean. You might also yawn after, and then you will have to thank me.
Do you realize how profound a mother’s influence can be? I was just reminded of a couple of girls (three, actually) I knew back in early high school whose moms got on their backs about their need to lose weight, to look a certain way, to wear certain clothes, to never forget makeup, and to retain certain ladylike hobbies. All three of these girls are still pretty young, still in high school, but they’ve turned out to be Christian conservative girls with good posture. They are beauty pageant daughters. They don’t really enter beauty pageants, but I would not be surprised if they all attended Cotillion in middle school. White, upper-middle class Southern belle dancing. But in my humble opinion, these girls look fine the way they are.
Ma mère influenced me a good deal, too, and still attempts to reform my no-makeup, bad-posture ways. And she can make me feel so self-conscious when she comments on my clothes or my hair or my skin or my eyebrows. Sometimes it makes me not want to leave the house. And she says that I absolutely cannot get piercings, except my ears if I want them, which I don’t. But she allowed me certain liberties while growing up, maybe because I wasn’t an only child or even an only daughter, but one of three. I was allowed to do whatever I wanted within reason, no sports, no girly activities like Cotillion, probably because it was too expensive and we were from the north. My childhood consisted of making art, reading religiously, biking, playing outside, and writing.
The summer before I turned twelve, I spent all day reading every day for several weeks, and my mother grew concerned after a while. She prohibited me from reading so much, but that’s the only time I can really recall that she stepped in. I don’t remember how successful she was at that one. Also, she hates the Shins because they remind her too much of the Beach Boys and doesn’t let me listen to them when she’s in earshot. And she always used to say that she hoped that I did not listen to music about kids killing their parents. Like I would.
Oh, “Jack Killed Mom” um…shit. That doesn’t count!
Looking back, I’m glad she allowed me those liberties because even if I would look so much better if she were so strict about my appearance, she allowed me to develop into my own person, if somewhat reluctantly. My mom let go of me at a certain point and allowed me to take control of everything from my hair to my eyebrows to my clothing to my music to my hobbies. The only thing she will not let me control is body hair that is normally shaved. The thing is that she doesn’t ever see my nether region, so she doesn’t know what’s going on.
Speaking of, here is one of the greatest scenes from one of the greatest chapters in all of the books I have read. It is Everything Is Illuminated. I guess I will only put some of it.
My grandfather and the Gypsy girl knew none of this as they made love for the last time, as he touched her face and fingered the soft underside of her chin, as he paid her the attention received by a sculptor’s wife. Like this? he asked. She brushed her eyelashes against his chest. She moved her butterfly kiss across his torso and up his neck to where his left earlobe connected to his jaw. Like this? she asked. He pulled her blue blouse over her head, he undid her bead necklaces, he licked her smooth and sweaty armpits and ran his finger from her neck to her navel. He drew circles around her caramel areolas with his tongue. Like this? he asked. She nodded and craned her head back. He flicked her nipples with his tongue, and knew that it was all so completely wrong, everything, from the moment of his birth to this, everything was coming out the wrong way–not the opposite, but worse: close.
I can’t tell you how much of a funk I was in when I finished that book. Right now, I feel out-typed, like I have been silkscreening my thoughts onto the internet for too long. I can’t quite think straight. I think that I just need vast amounts of sleep.
Between now and when I go to sleep, you should listen to some Stars. I only obtained Sad Robots EP a few months ago, but ever since then, I am constantly listening to those six songs, minus “Going, Going, Gone [Live]” because it generally gives me a headache and reminds me of an alarm clock.
Undertow | Stars
[mediafire] [buy]
“Undertow” is a warm blanket on a cold night, an umbrella on a rainy day, and a bicycle on a sunny afternoon. It is my crutch. My favourite aspect of this song is that everything that is in the background is quiet. So it’s really a tranquil song. The breakdown near the end comes in at a close second place.
14 Forever | Stars
[mediafire] [buy]
Not like I’d like to be fourteen forever for real because I seriously hated being fourteen, but the feeling is so good. You have to understand. You know the tenderness that comes along with a first relationship, a first love. I guess I don’t want to be left alone.
While we’re talking about being a teenager (“14 Forever”), I would like to mention the Hardee’s commercial which uses blatant meat pornography. This is pretty much a double blow to me because while I could maybe handle some gorgeous woman sucking off a cucumber, it’s just disgusting to see her eating out a huge burger. It’s not even the meat that really gets me, though. It’s the pornography.
I’m a reasonable girl. I can handle sex. But I don’t think it’s appropriate. I can’t quite wrap my mind around backup information as to why I can’t watch this commercial without thinking about a high-definition, high-budget porno. You watch it, and it’s self-evident and shocking. But it’s also advertising something that is despicable. And the most interesting thing about this whole deal is that Padma Lakshmi, the model, used to be a vegetarian. This is flipping a huge bird to the cause.
I don’t know. You watch it and tell me what you think.
Just, I guess my probelm his that it’s sexual, sure, but it’s not sexy. And it’s not doing anything to help the feminist front or the animal rights front. It’s attacking both in one go.
Also, I just realized just how much I miss my mom, and how even if I was seventeen and had a nightmare and woke up screaming and sweaty because of a thunderstorm, she would let me sleep in her bed. Even though I was just home recently, in March, I feel like I’m going nowhere. I’m also so frustrated that I’m letting my grades suffer because of some inner crisis. I also miss Lewisburg as a whole. I miss Babygirl so much it hurts sometimes. I miss Ali and Carol kidnapping me. I miss Shannon coming into our house and eating our food and making up characters and gossipping. I miss Aunt Peggy coming in and getting ice from the icemaker. I miss making friendship bracelets without shoes on. I miss biking around the neighborhood at eleven at night and crying so hard because I was so frustrated and I felt so helpless and alone, and then sitting in the back yard feeling dead, empty, and far from hungry and looking up at the stars.
Filed under: Barrels of Fun, Music, Nouvelle Musique | Tags: Art, Blake Sennett, Conor Oberst, Culture, feminism, Jenny Lewis, M. Ward, mp3, music, Rilo Kiley, Sarah Maple, School, She & Him, Smokey Robinson, Volume One, Zooey Deschanel
I just zoned out and pictured Ali and Becca with Ed Zych moustaches. Hahah. Wow.
Speaking of Ali, she created a new blog. I am going to advocate her blog for a minute. You might like my blog because I am long-winded and really immature and I mope a lot. You get to watch me grow up. Go back to my first post, and you want to punch me in the face. I like to explain things thoroughly so you completely understand whatever I’m talking about. And I try so hard not to offend. You will like Ali’s blog because she uses colourful pictures to illustrate her points. She writes with an intensity that is unheard of. Somehow, she is able to get her point across with few words. If we both wrote about the same thing, I’m pretty sure that I would take a five-paragraph essay to convey what she can in five sentences. The way she writes conjures up thoughts of vignettes. They are little snippets of her life that require no backstory. Ali’s writing is unique in this way. The way I write is basically a very unpoetic epic poem or a journal. I give you some backstory. You can track my progress. I change.
Dear Ali,
I will always find you whenever you start a new blog. You can’t hide.
Love, Paige
When I put it this way, I wonder why you read my blog at all. It’s probably for the free candy. Free music. Yeah.
Honestly, I don’t know why I’ve let the blog go for this long without some new music. Because I’ve been listening avidly all this time, finding new lovely artists. I’ve been tuning my iTunes to spring.
I feel that I should start slowly though. First, I said back in February or March that I would write about She & Him, and I didn’t lie but I just haven’t done it yet.
Erika is the one who introduced me to She & Him. She told me that she falls asleep to their album, Volume One, every night. It is her teddy bear. I was excited but a little skeptical. It seemed like sacrelige to me to bed down with an album like that, to worship something other than Rilo Kiley. And while they are no Rilo Kiley for me, while Zooey Deschanel is no Jenny Lewis and M. Ward no Conor Oberst/Blake Sennett, they put up a damn good fight.
If you like Jenny Lewis’ solo albums and if you love 50s/60s pop music with a slight bubblegum flavour, then She & Him is for you. I really don’t know how they manage it. It’s a mind-blowing mixture, slightly dangerous, but for what it is, it is perfection. I would even venture to wholeheartedly recommend She & Him to older listeners, people who grew up with that 50s or 60s bubblegum pop. I don’t think anyone out of their mid-twenties even reads this, but next time you and your Aunt Elaine are bonding over music, pop this one in.
As for the album itself, most of the thirteen tracks check in at under three minutes. She & Him don’t go for the epic “Tereza and Thomas”-type shit. That means that every song is bite-sized, kind of like a Sour Patch Watermelon.
I should never write reviews for CDs again. My analogies are cringeworthy.
You Really Got A Hold On Me | She & Him
[mediafire] [buy]
Did I mention that they do covers that make me want to melt? Also, maybe you can help me. In iTunes and on Last.fm, it’s named “You Really Gotta Hold On Me” but elsewhere, it is named “You Really Got A Hold On Me”. Which is correct?
I Thought I Saw Your Face Today | She & Him
[mediafire] [buy]
Did I mention that I love sick beats?
While I’m on a roll, talking about amazing women, it is mandaroty that I mention Sarah Maple. She is an incredibly accomplished and clever feminist painter and photographer. I don’t want to just paraphrase the Bitch article that introduced her to me on a formal basis (because I had run into her a few times before, but the websites never cited her). She’s just an incredible cultural commentator.
This one's my favourite.
As for real-life occurrences, I go home in three weeks (less than a month) and I am stoked. I will be able to sit outside and read all day while my sisters suffer at school. And for those of you still in high school, yes, that is a pretty mean thing to say, but when you think about it, I suffered too. I went to school for fourteen years before arriving at this position. This is my fifteenth year, and it’s almost done. If you’re in high school, you probably haven’t gone through that much school.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Death Cab for Cutie, Bright Eyes, The Shins, Tegan and Sara, Andrew Bird, Kaki King, Sam Beam, Cherry Alley Café, Iron & Wine, Garden State, Tegan & Sara, last.fm, mp3, Mixtapes, Melpo Mene, Conor Oberst, Erin Tobey, Youtube, Carytown, Lykke Li, video, Cut Copy, Keane, Star Wars, The Science of Sleep, Gael García Bernal, beards, Sweden, Nacho Mama's, Cassadaga, Pinback, pet names, voices, Cherry Alley C, Jesus, Sentinel, Neil Young, covers, Circle Meetings, summer, spring
I think this one is easier on the ears.
1. Sea Legs | The Shins
[mediafire] [buy]
The beginning to this song, before any melody or lyrics, sort of reminds me of something Switchfoot would do, and I loved Switchfoot when I was maybe fourteen. I have since moved on, but you could say that I am comforted by familiar things. Everyone is. In addition to reminding me of Switchfoot, the Shins will always remind me of some scene from Garden State, even if only two of their songs were in the movie. “Sea Legs” is a darker Shins piece, but it’s not unpleasant. In its boldness, it is pleasant. It is assertive. It is an evening piece. The evening is my favourite time of day. That’s why I put this on my March mix, because it’s starting to get warmer, it’s spring, and the evenings are beginning to grow more and more enjoyable.
2. Unforgettable Season | Cut Copy
[mediafire] [buy]
Sometimes, when I have a clear head, blank slate, and I don’t already have a song in mind, I’ll allow my iPod to shuffle around songs that I don’t listen to very often. That’s how I grew to like “Unforgettable Season.” The reason I allowed myself to listen instead of switching the song is that it’s encouraging and atmospheric, like most summer songs. It’s not summer, but it’s close enough.
3. Can’t Stop Now | Keane
[mediafire] [buy]
As I said before, familiarity is comforting. Keane is familiar. Also, Keane and piano rock in general both give me this weird romantic-comedy feelings. It’s probably because Keane always has this pained, broken-hearted sound that captures the feeling that someone is lonely and trying very hard to be happy in order to get over something dreadful. I’m not going to lie (and really, why would I lie), I love that sound and I love that feeling. Emotion keeps my heart running.
4. Take Me Anywhere | Tegan & Sara
[mediafire] [buy]
I think Tegan & Sara’s short songs are the best ones because they pack the most feeling into the smallest packages. For example, listen to “Soil, Soil.” That’s one of my favourites. Also, the short ones tend to be the catchier ones.
5. Jedi | melpo mene
[mediafire] [buy]
I have a newfound love for Star Wars. And I have a relatively newfound love for the style of elevator music that Melpo Mene produces. But my love for gentle, delicate voices is not newfound. It may be because of “I Adore You” or maybe because of the all-around sound that their albums produce, but I find that Melpo Mene is the epitome of a cloud-band. Also, for some reason, maybe because his voice is just so delicate and his songs just so tender, Erik Mattiasson somehow reminds me of a Swedish version of Gael García Bernal’s character in The Science of Sleep, which is endearing. It makes me want to tuck him in and make him breakfast.
6. Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car | Iron & Wine
[mediafire] [buy]
Ali pointed out to me that Sam Beam looks like Jesus. I already somehow realized this, but having her point it out so bluntly is only a little bit of a setback, because I generally love hairy people. I really don’t care that he has taken up the typically unattractive Christ-look because of his delicate, smooth, and intimate voice, which is revealing but still manages to retain a great amount of dignity. I love Sam Beam’s work.
7. Let It Fall | Lykke Li
[mediafire] [buy]
I uploaded this song only a few days ago, but here! I’m giving you another chance to introduce yourself to Lykke Li! Every time I listen to this song, I want to hopskotch, jumprope, draw with chalk, and play outdoors kids’ games. Do not ask why. Probably because of the sing-songness, syncopation, and “so happy-ee-ee-ee!” Maybe I’ll make a mix of new childhood nostalgia songs for the summer.
8. Soul Meets Body | Death Cab For Cutie
[mediafire] [buy]
I also uploaded this song recently, but I don’t think I ever explained just why. I went on a bike-trip for dinner to Carytown with Virginia and Bryan, neither of whom have websites that I can link to. We ate dinner at Nacho Mama’s and then left to gather up our bikes and as we drove past Nacho Mama’s again, we heard this song emanating from the outdoor speakers. When I hear a song that I already love playing in a public place, I will be hooked on it for a while. This one’s for the good biking weather!
9. Coat Check Dream Song | Bright Eyes
[mediafire] [buy]
Cassadaga wasn’t as awesome as Conor Oberst’s older material. We all know that. The warbly voice was gone, the drugs were absent. There were, however, some winners, such as this one, which features some woman as a guest–who is it? Is there more than one woman? Is one of those women Maria Taylor? I think that the woman in this song really makes it.
10. Dance Dance Dance | Lykke Li
[mediafire] [buy]
I searched Lykke Li on Youtube. I found this video. A dancer all alone. This song could make you feel so alone in a crowd. The percussion. Her lonely voice. The lonely lyrics. I became ecstatic and fell in love with the song. What I love is that there is not really any buildup and it never becomes a huge fanfare, though it gradually becomes a little more lively, a little more happy until there is a chorus of women and maybe one man. Also, it’s probably the only song in the world written and performed by a self-proclaimed shy person. I love that.
11. Wedding March | Erin Tobey
[mediafire] [buy]
I don’t like the idea of marriage, but I love the idea of a female acoustic artist. In fact, I love the idea of acoustic artists in general. Or acoustic artists that are purely instrumental. Or purely instrumental artists. Lyrics sometimes get in the way. That doesn’t happen with Erin Tobey. Erin Tobey’s voice is so gentle, anyway, that it just combines with the guitar and absolutely floats as it ascends to meet Melpo Mene in the clouds. Listen to the lyrics, though. They are how I feel.
12. Avignon | Pinback
[mediafire] [buy]
This was my first taste of Pinback years ago. So when I was asked by Ke at the beginning of last semester if I had ever heard of Pinback, yes, I had, but I didn’t know it until I checked out my Last.fm charts from forever ago. My first taste of Pinback was via Last.fm and I was probably sixteen. I must add here that it was a faster verion and that I officially love songs with pet names. In this case, they’re sad pet names. In other cases, you get pet names like Baby Girl, which is basically my cat’s name. Babygirl. Babyqirl.
Avignon (Full Band Version) | Pinback
[mediafire] [buy]
This is the faster version.
13. Hanging High | Lykke Li
[mediafire] [buy]
Supposing I have children, I want them to grow up listening to this serene tune. That’s the first thing I thought when I first heard these bittersweet sounds. She has a delicate but distinct voice, so sweet and dignified, so bold, and so young. She’s so young. It all shows here.
14. Effigy | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
You can tell that Andrew Bird definitely loops the beginning, which is a magical procedure to witness live. He has to be so precise! Anyway, I heard this one at Cherry Alley, which was another case of falling in love with a song I know and then hear in a public place. I recognized Andrew Bird’s distinct voice immediately and felt calm. As far as I’ve noticed, he rarely uses guests, but when he does, they’re incredible females. Ali put it so simply: It’s such a beautiful song. Even if it’s about death. Well really, those can be the most beautiful because they’re loneliest.
15. House By The Sea | Iron & Wine
[mediafire] [buy]
I feel that I need to show you a picture of Sam Beam’s Jesus-ness in order for you to understand.
Not Sam Beam. Actually Jesus.
The reason I love this song so much is that it talks about two jealous sisters waiting in a house, basically just prepping, doing nothing, waiting for something terrible. I picture an abandoned house where my sister is making angels in the dust on the wooden floors and I am walking around, loving her, trying to take care of her, trying to change the locks on the door, trying to keep her safe even though we can’t be safe anywhere and we will have to leave soon. There is a lot of imagery, and it reminds me of myself and my sister, Rachael. Or what we could be if we were terrible people who had to get along because we had nobody else. Also, I love raspberries. And I love the way Sam Beam sings about raspberry leaves. And I love the guitar riffs. This is currently my favourite Iron & Wine song.
16. Underground | Sentinel
[mediafire] [buy]
Even if the guitar parts make little sense to me, it’s my favourite part. I like this song because it has potential. It succeeds in being atmospheric and a definite travelling song, which is all I really ask of it. My favourite part is either the beginning or the last ~30 seconds. If you like it, then I advise that you check out “Avalanche” by Sentinel.
17. 2 O’Clock | Kaki King
[mediafire] [buy]
Kaki King is playing a childish game with us. Her voice is like Erin Tobey’s in that it floats up in the clouds. I’m guessing that this song is about someone who is taking care of a very injured person who doesn’t love her. the pain is the reason I love this song. And the sing-songness she uses when she gets to the built-up part. I generally love Kaki King’s ability to capture any melancholy emotion, though. In a sense, it’s a shame she doesn’t sing more, since her voice is tinged with pleasantness, but then, I’d be afraid that her voice or lyrics would get in the way of her music, which would be unfortunate. Also, you need to listen to Kaki King’s retaliation at the end of the track. Don’t stop when she stops singing. Keep going.
18. Out On The Weekend | Neil Young
[mediafire] [buy]
Listening to the original really stresses just how well Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes can cover Neil Young. Or how much Neil Young influenced Bright Eyes. I wish I had good taste when I was younger. Don’t fret that it’s a really quiet track, either; my dad converted all of his records into mp3 format and that’s why. “She’s so fine/She’s in my mind/I hear her callin’” Yeah. Favourite part in any version.
19. Resurrection Fern | Iron & Wine
[mediafire] [buy]
My attention was called to this piece because it was on a mix that someone close to Jaimie had made for her. It shows how close. Whenever I hear, “Like stubborn boys across the road we’ll keep everything,” I think of Charles, Coleton, Phelan, Travis, and Torey and how close we were the summer of 2007 on North 11th Street under Charles’ tree. Every day! Every night! Circle Meetings! We were a family, along with my real family, Rachael, Alexa, and Shannon. I loved them all. I still love them all. I miss being lonely, underage, and terribly sad. I think that it’s harder to be lonely and of age. I really do.
I have considered beginning a new blog, because I feel this one dying.
It is upsetting to see an old friend go.
I feel this blog dying probably because I am concerned with immersing myself in life instead of just writing about wishing that I could live a certain way.
But I probably will not begin a new blog or go on hiatus. What I will do instead is pump this full of life. I should document everything. Music, photographs, cool things I find on the internet or wherever, really. Then maybe loyal readers will be proud of themselves. My friends will be proud of themselves, too. They will no longer have a half-dead friend. I will be alive. And you will be able to live with me.
This will be the first post in the revival of my blog.
&&&
The best way to reach out to me is to add me on Facebook. I am not a whore of a friend collector; I am genuinely interested in people. Unfortunately, I am also horribly, terribly shy, even on the internet. But if you add me, you can be sure that the feeling you get late on Thursday night, that weird sense of being watched over in a good way–that is me lurking.
I am the first person to admit that I am a creep.
Also, I am trying to refrain from using the word “creeper”, even though I love it.
And while we are on the subject, I should point out one other thing. I bet my simple voice frustrates some of you. The way I talk in reality is probably even more frustrating. It is like this, really simple, only I talk slowly because I am thinking and I am trying not to say “like”.
&&&
Several months ago, Jaimie lent me a CD. She told me that it would be a real treat. That is her word. Treat.
I imported it onto my computer and gave it back and kind of ignored her comments on the album. I must admit that I did not exactly get a boner over the ordeal. For clarification and in retrospect, I believe that I obtained a massive boner when I purchased Under the Blacklight by Rilo Kiley, as well as both of Jenny Lewis’ outside effort. And I achieved a large boner when I first listened to Gulag Orkestar by Beirut. You think that I should move on as new music comes, but I am a pretty loyal listener when an album gives me a supermassive boner.
I realize that being a girl and mentioning my own boners is not exactly professional, as I do not have a penis, which renders my own boners nonexistent, but how would you feel if I said that the albums made me all wet? Well, it would be believable and you would be in an excruciatingly uncomfortable position, wondering whether or not I am completely lying.
Anyway.
It was only this past week that I began to listen to the album that Jaimie lent me.
One of the reasons it took me this long is because I had listened to a few songs by the artiste before and thought, “Eh. Big deal.” I was not impressed. But for this artist, it takes more than the two most popular songs for her to make a real impression. The blogs do not do her justice! The blogs could not do her justice unless every last blog somehow legally distributed her entire album for free, which is actually not possible as far as I know.
So I guess instead of giving you the whole album, I will give you my favourite few songs from the album. But please don’t get me wrong. In order to fully taste Lykke Li, you will just have to listen to Youth Novels in its entirety.
Hanging High | Lykke Li
[mediafire] [buy]
The song I plan to raise my children on, supposing I have any.
Dance Dance Dance | Lykke Li
[mediafire] [buy]
The song I plan to use as my theme song for the entire spring of 2009.
I’m Good I’m Gone | Lykke Li
[mediafire] [buy]
The song that you need to know if you are going to go by Most People’s Evaluations of Lykke Li.
Let It Fall | Lykke Li
[mediafire] [buy]
The song that is about crying that I could not possibly cry to.
I don’t care if she is so “last year” or if I am “so behind.” By the way, Lykke Li is pronounced, “likely,” am I right?
&&&
Finally, I am not certain how many of you will be amused by this, and I am not certain how many of you will find this relevant in any way.
I am filled with a certain sense of despair whenever I look at this and this.
The first shows for certain how much we have dominated without anyone else’s consent. And the places we have not gone yet? Well, they are just not desirable for supporting human life.
The second shows for certain how many of us there are and how much damage we are doing, especially Americans.
If there are so many people, though, 6.7 billion and climbing, if there are so many lights, then how is it even possible for me to feel so alone so often?
Filed under: Barrels of Fun, Music, My Experience with Existence, Nouvelle Musique | Tags: 4chan, Jenny Lewis, mp3, Rilo Kiley, The Postal Service, Youtube
Sometimes, I am frustratingly blind. And it hurts.
Happy birthday, Jenny Lewis! And happy Jenny Lewis’ birthday! I celebrate that shit like it’s a religious holiday!
I give you some old favourites.
My Slumbering Heart | Rilo Kiley
[mediafire] [buy]
With Arms Outstretched | Rilo Kiley
[mediafire] [buy]
Spectacular Views | Rilo Kiley
[mediafire] [buy]
It’s A Hit | Rilo Kiley
[mediafire] [buy]
More Adventurous | Rilo Kiley
[mediafire] [buy]
Pictures of Success | Rilo Kiley
[mediafire] [buy]
Always | Rilo Kiley
[mediafire] [buy]
We Will Become Silhouettes | The Postal Service
[mediafire] [buy]
Oh man, Rilo Kiley marathon, fuck yes. PS, Mediafire links coming soon. Firefox and Mediafire just keep wigging out every time I try to find files, just for now. Within the week, I promise, ilu.
I would like to shout out to my grrrl, Erika, for also celebrating Jenny Lewis’ birthday.
I got my hair cut today at Holiday Hair at the mall. The haircut isn’t that bad, except that the “choppy layers” I was going for totally aren’t there, so needless to say, I’m kind of extremely pissed. I even told the girl, “I WANT VOLUME.” Like, what does that mean to you? It means that it’s absolutely my priority and that I will sacrifice a rational haircut for some lift! Swear to God, next time I want my hair cut, I am not going to [ask my mom to] pay $20 for it. Oh, nuh-uh. Don’t hate on me. My mom’s the one who urged that I needed a haircut so badly, so she offered to pay up.
Instead of complaining, I’m going to go lurk all over /b/. THAR R SRSLY GRLZ ON B? RLY? CUMDUMPSTERS EXIST? NOWAI! I rarely admit that I am a she. You’ve been warned. Be back later, bye.
If you think that I listened to Melpo Mene for the entire month of décembre, then you’ve been fooled by my stealthy lying skills. Though lyke I ttlly wish I did. It simply did not occur to me because I was downing shot after shot of Andrew Bird all day every day.
Now, before, all I had listened to was The Mysterious Production of Eggs (and a few songs from Armchair Apocrypha). I received this album from the mystical Santy Claus in 2006-almost-2007 (or was it 2005-almost-2006?), fell in love, and never got bored with it for two fucking years (not just regular years, mind you). But upon visiting Ali’s place of residence in novembre, I was hit by “Dark Matter,” which she (Ali) assured me was her favourite song ever. I felt beyond dumb because Andrew Bird was up there as one of my four favourite artists, and he was especially high on my Last.fm charts, but I owned just one album.
I reached out and obtained several more albums to add to my beautiful collection and soon took the time to listen to them. When I started listening, I was unable to stop, especially after I purchased these premium Skullcandy earbuds, which cost so much less than iPod earbuds and are so much higher quality.
Anyway, I figured I ought to give you the best of the best (of what I have, save for Soldier On, since I do have that but have not listened to it enough yet), and the best way to accomplish this is to give you this .rar file I have ready-made, and then I guess to give you the individual mp3s, too.
Andrew Bird Tidbits.rar
[website] [myspace]
Fiery Crash | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
I | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Sovay | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
A Nervous Tic Motion Of The Head To The Left | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Lull | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Dark Matter | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Masterfade | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Swedish Folk Tune | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Don’t Be Scared | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
The Supine | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Scythian Empire | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
The Naming Of Things | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
Tables and Chairs | Andrew Bird
[mediafire] [buy]
And if you like Andrew Bird, then I would also go out ona limb to recommend Beirut, Rufus Wainwright, Final Fantasy, and Sufjan Stevens for similar vibes.
One last thing. While I think that Demi Lovato is one of the prettier Disney Channel stars (not just cuz of her hair, guys), one with a premium Disney-created voice and a first-rate Disney-created image, man, her mouth is like…what the fuck. You really have to see it in action to get the gist of what I’m saying. And I think she’s positively gorgeous, but when I watch her mouth, sometimes I am grossed out. It’s kind of like Miley Cyrus’ mouth, only not as exaggeratedly fucked. Also, you think about this generation of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon stars, and they’re not actually attractive at all. A few that I can point out who are include Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Miranda Cosgrove. You could also include Brenda Song, I guess, but she’s far older than this 90s-born generation. When I was a kid, I just don’t remember this plague of fucked-up faces.
Filed under: Barrels of Fun, Books, Music, My Experience with Existence, Nouvelle Musique, School | Tags: Books, college, Everything Is Illuminated, grades, Jonathan Safran Foer, literature, Melpo Mene, mp3, nuttymadam3575, School, Twilight, VCU
Here is a story for you. I thought I had four As and one B this semester at college. When I checked my grades online, I found that I had four As and one C. The C was in my one-credit Intro to University class, where we did jack shit and my teacher was a certified phony. I’d nabbed As in Psyc, English, Math, and Gov. This was not an easy feat. And that one-credit piece of shit class dragged down my GPA. Needless to say, I was at least a little frustrated, and supposing my cousin, Liz, chances upon this entry, she will probably correct me and tell me that I cried and she wanted to punch me in the face. College is something you have to pay for, so my mentality was to achieve all As (unlike my high school mentality, which was “Fuck It”).
However, I still made Dean’s List. This is extremely satisfying.
My message to you is: If you go to VCU, do not take Univ 101 no matter how your advisor urges that you do so. It’s just not worth the time.
I will give you two more things today.
The first is a book recommendation. If you’re like me, then you have multitudes of books lying around your room and your suitcase that you cannot wait to read, yet there are still so many more that you have not yet acquired of which you yearn to get ahold. And you’re ever so open to recommendations, as you love to read and you love books, but at the same time, you barely have room for another book in your life right now. I am like this now, and I was also like this when I purchased the book that I am currently reading, but I urge you to do whatever you can to make room for this book. And I’ll tell you what this book is.
But first, I have to admit that I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet. I feel so overwhelmed now because I must have about a million undiscovered gems to read, especially considering the grandeur that is this novel.
The book is called Everything Is Illuminated and it was written by Jonathan Safran Foer. And I’ll have to leave it at that, because it’s impossible to describe in all its intricacies. I can tell you that if you doubt me at all, then just read the first “chapter” piece, narrated by Alex in hilariously fucked-up English. If you’re a language person like I am, then you’ll appreciate these segments. And if you still doubt me, then turn to the next “chapter” piece, narrated by Jonathan. If you’re a detail-oriented person like I am, then you’ll appreciate these segments. And if you still doubt me, well, you might as well read the entire novel. It’s thick but the pages fly by. And it’s probably worth it.
I might as well add that yes, a movie version does exist, and it may or may not be loyal to the book and it may or may not be fulfilling, but I only recommend the book. It is worthwhile to read the book. Elijah Wood is in the movie, but I don’t know whether or not it is worthwhile to watch. Just read the book already.
Also, okay, since I had to find a photo of the book cover, I also ran into shots from the movie and it is tempting to watch it now. But please, be a good person and read the book.
The last well…maybe the last thing I wanted to tell you is that of course I enjoy Melpo Mene, and that I have another Melpo Mene track to share with you. Not unlike the band’s other tracks, this one is a sweet, soft lullaby-like crooner tune but it strikes me probably because it is both incredibly joyous and terribly melancholy at the same time. It is not unlike a sunny afternoon on a day where you’ve slept too much, because while it’s dandy that everything is gorgeous and that you are well-rested, the sunlight will go away soon and the day will end and then you’ll have nothing to do.
I should get away | Melpo Mene
[zshare] [mediafire]
[website] [myspace]
And I was just thinking that maybe this should be the end of my post, but I have decided to take it upon myself to introduce to you a phenomenon. If you have already seen this phenomenon, then I am proud of you. But I can only go a few days or weeks without seeing this video before having to refresh my memory.
It’s not that I think this girl is stupid or that I want to hate on her. I just find her videos humorous in content. This is probably the most popular one, but her others are gems as well. She can be good-natured and excited, which in turn brings a smile to my face maybe because her good moods are fairly contagious, or maybe because she’s just so unbearably silly. It kind of reminds me of an exaggerated version of me reacting to anything to do with Rilo Kiley. I’m not praising her views on Twilight, though. I find it fairly silly to defend something like a popular (and allegedly poorly-written) piece of literature so relentlessly and without restraint. This sort of video by a self-proclaimed “twituber” makes me want to test Twilight for myself so I can be a better judge, since my taste in literature is relatively acute. Then again, most girls who read Twilight, their taste is acute too. They mostly refuse to branch out from the Young Adult section, which means they’ll just imbibe novels like A-List, The Clique, and other such teen romance/girl-fiction shit.
Filed under: Barrels of Fun, Mixtapes, Music, Nouvelle Musique | Tags: Ben Gibbard, Brazilian Girls, Bright Eyes, Calexico, Caribou, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Fujiya & Miyagi, I Blame Coco, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, Maximo Park, Melpo Mene, MGMT, Mixtapes, mp3, music, Mystery Jets, Of Montreal, Sigur Rós, Soko, The XYZ Affair, Van She
Derek has a CD player in his car. He kept spinning the same CD every time he drove me places. He told me that these were the songs that were constantly stuck in his head.
Since it was the same CD over and over again, I volunteered to make him a new CD with the songs that are constantly stuck in my head. He thought that was a good idea because his sister allegedly makes him listen to very bad music sometimes.
This CD was only semi-hard work because I had to hunt down the MP3s online via the Hype Machine and then cut two at the end because a CD only holds 80 minutes. The rest of the work was easy peasy, just picking out songs that I can’t get enough of lately.
The songs are in no particular order because it’s just a bunch of songs that blitzkrieg my brain in no particular order with no warning. Because of this random order, I am an advocate of putting this mix on shuffle whenever you want.
And here’s my reasoning for each track in no particular order (main reasoning = catchy). There are also download links over yonder.
Virgin Suicides [ysi] | Van She
Okay, I’ve already written about how awesome this song is, but I honestly don’t see how anyone could dislike it. It’s upbeat and happy. Think “Look Up” by Stars, except without all the encouraging parts.
Two Silver Trees [ysi] | Calexico
“Two Silver Trees” is what “Young Bride” by Midlake was to me about a year ago. I take this song seriously.
Kids [ysi] | MGMT
The first time I heard “Kids,” I wasn’t paying attention. And then I ended up downloading it, and for the first two weeks of school, it was my silly anthem for walking around campus. I felt so MGMT.
Little Monsters [ysi] | Charlotte Gainsbourg
I love bells and I love her whispery Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg-inherited voice. This song is small furry mystical creatures on the beach on a fall night night during a meteor shower. Charlotte Gainsbourg could make death by bubonic plague sound good.
Af607105 [ysi] | Charlotte Gainsbourg
What I also love about Charlotte Gainsbourg is that most of her songs are night songs with an accent, for when you’re warm and comfortable and relaxed and in some kind of indescribable state of bliss. Maybe naked.
Irene [ysi] | Caribou
I think I picked this one up from AllThingsGo once, but disregarded it for the most part. However, upon moving into college, I discovered that I had a snoring roommate. My methods of coping during the wee hours of the morning included turning the AC on high, turning on the TV, making banging noises and pretending I couldn’t help it, using earplugs, and listening to my iPod. During one of the iPod nights, I was able to sleep, but was roused not by loud, unsettling music like the Fall of Troy, but in fact by some of the most peaceful and beautiful music I had ever heard. In my heavy-lidded, half-conscious state, I noted that the song was “Irene” by Caribou. It’s been constantly replaying since.
St. Petersburg [ysi] | Brazilian Girls
I lurk the Hype Machine frequently and actually found this track in the “Popular” section. I downloaded “L’Interprete” because it looked like a French name. “St. Petersburg” was a tagalong, but I actually like it more because while it’s very chill and catchy, it also soars at some parts and comes down from those orgasms appropriately.
Evening Life [ysi] | The XYZ Affair
While this is a summer song, um, hello? Most of September is still summer. We just don’t consider it summer because it’s a transitional month, and we have school and work again. Well, work for teachers. It’s the same as June being spring, December being fall, and March being Winter. I know they’re out of order. Anyway, I just like the melody, I think, and the singer’s fairly high voice.
Id Engager [ysi] | of Montreal
We all know that of Montreal is crazy fun. I just think this a subtle improvement on their old stuff. Less senselessness, but still enough. Still high-quality, same genre, same Kevin Barnes, same play on words. Of Montreal is still creepy sex.
Parisian Skies [ysi] | Maximo Park
This one’s an Ali. You can always tell Alis because they’re British. Much like “I Adore You” by Melpo Mene “Parisian Skies” floats like clouds. But they’re more aggressive, passionate clouds. I have enjoyed this track all summer at the beach, in the car, in bed, walking. It sounds like I’m a sex addict. Oh, also, I’m a francophile, so of course I love an amazing indie rock song called Parisian Skies. Come on, guys.
Gold Mine Gutted [ysi] | Bright Eyes
I used to listen to the Metronomy remix nonstop, but I’ve begun to reappreciate the glory of the original now. It’s a lot sadder. In many ways, I think that’s a plus. It more accurately represents Bright Eyes. There’s something so chill and spacelike about the original. It feels like floating.
Two Doors Down [ysi]| Mystery Jets
Yet another fabulous contribution from Ali. While I initially disliked the eighties touches, now I know I’m in love. I guess it depends on how you listen.
Gobbledigook [ysi] | Sigur Rós
While a lot of Sigur Rós’ other material is often floaty and dragged out, Gobbledigook is a definite rock piece, all business, no nonsense. But the percussion makes me want to skip around gleefully.
I’ll Kill Her [ysi] | Soko
She said, “Please can you make some beautiful baybeeez?!”
Little angry Frenchwoman who has her entire life planned out. I definitely don’t mean any harm to blondes, ever, by putting this song up here. “All she’s got is blondeness, not even tenderness!” If I had the space or the patience, I’d put all the lyrics here.
I Blame Coco [ysi] | I Blame Coco
I am a fan of delicate, pretty voices, which is one of my problems with a lot of French music. A lot of them have deep, raspy voices. Not a fan. Coco’s not French, but she is Sting’s daughter and she is my age, and she does have a deep voice. But her song’s fun, and her voice is a classy addition to this very low-key chanson.
Dishwasher [ysi] | Fujiya & Miyagi
My main obsession with this song is the low-key nature. Then there’s the percussion. Then there’s the “raspberry rrrrripple ice cream” part.
Complicated (Avril Lavigne Cover) [ysi] | Ben Gibbard
Shut up! This is serious!
Wanna know my secret? I listen to Avril Lavigne to fall asleep some nights. IT’S OUT. And while Ben points out that her life isn’t very complicated, man…this is a good cover, especially with the talking at the beginning and at the end. Those parts make the song.
Hello Benjamin [ysi] | Melpo Mene
I’ve already declared that I’m in love with this band. But there’s something about the melancholy tone of this one that just gets to me. That, and it’s always moving.
Broadripple Is Burning [ysi] | Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s
I will haunt you like a ghost
I keep running into this song. It’s more delicate than a Bright Eyes song.
Now.
She’s SO CHILL. I love her music. Je veux regarder Le Science Des Rêves maintenant! I want other people to experience the wonder of the film! I’m so excited for no reason! Today holds nothing exciting! I’m not even dressed yet!
Af607105 | Charlotte Gainsbourg
[zshare] [mediafire]
[buy] [direct link]
Charlotte Gainsbourg’s Website
Charlotte Gainsbourg’s MySpace
I need to get dressed and check the mail and then maybe make some art or write more. I dunno.
Filed under: Barrels of Fun, Music, My Experience with Existence, Nouvelle Musique, School | Tags: college, MGMT, mp3, Van She, veganism, Vegetarianism
It doesn’t feel like tomorrow (Thursday) is my birthday. I’m really reluctant to let go of being seventeen. I feel like I’ve built up so much to be this age, kind of like when I was twelve and fourteen. Those were ages which, for one reason or another, I aspired to be. I figured I would savour them and in truth, I did. I went through a lot of major changes at those ages. Now, though, I don’t know what age I aspire to be. Seventeen was kind of it for me. I love being a teenager, save for all the misconceptions. Fortunately, I still have two years left, even if I’ll legally be an adult.
I guess part of this whole it-doesn’t-feel-like-tomorrow-is-my-birthday business is that I’m away from most of my family, so it’s not like we can really celebrate. And I need to make my own cake if I want one. I’ll probably forego that because…
Okay, first, my sleeping habits are all fucked up. I’m always tired on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and I take long naps in the afternoon. Naps are very French, so I’m okay with that.
My eating habits are pretty fucked, too. I don’t really want to go into that because it will scare those of you considering veganism or even vegetarianism. NO, it is not hard to be vegan or vegetarian. YES, VCU does offer a plethora of vegetarian options, as well as a few for vegans (which is really nice, considering that some restaurants aren’t even that considerate). The problem with my eating habits has more to do with time management and being busy and slightly lazy. If I have lost weight over the past two weeks, it is only because I do not feel like boarding the bus to go over to Shafer Dining Court or walking there. I do eat in my room, though. I’ve had fruits and nachos and occasional granola bars and cereal. Also, I guess I do get a lot of exercise, especially on days when I am motivated enough to make the 1.5-mile “trek” between the MCV campus (where I live) and the Monroe Park campus (where all of my classes are and everything happens). Okay, so in just two weeks, I have gone from being a health-conscious “leafy green” vegetarian to being a lazy-ass junkfood transitioning vegan. That definitely needs to change as soon as I’m more settled. Fortunately, I’ve been researching good grocery stores in the area.
Muzak, though! I haven’t written about music in so long.
Okay, the first tune, I have been spinning (lolzers, more like “telling my iPod to repeat”) constantly for the past few days. It’s not only the catchiness and the depth of the lyrics, but it’s that little background noise. Some MGMT, I didn’t like at first because it’s pretentious and it sometimes reminds me of of Montreal (nothing wrong with a little of Montreal, but I can only handle so much), but you have to love “Kids.” It just feels right.
Kids | MGMT
[zshare] [mediafire]
[buy] [direct link]
MGMT’s Site
MGMT’s MySpace
So now I’m giving MGMT a second chance, because I always used to get pissed reading that people thought Animal Collective was “artsy for art’s sake.” Come on, now! What’s wrong with being artsy for art’s sake?!
The next track I must present to you is one of the most desperately catchy songs I’ve ever heard, again. Except I’d venture to say that Van She is far more pop-friendly than MGMT is, and I predict that you’ll hear more from them in the mainstream soon.
Virgin Suicide | Van She
[zshare] [mediafire]
[buy] [direct link]
Van She’s Site
Van She’s MySpace
In the meantime between now and when I’m legal/now and my next post probably, I’ve got to write an Argumentative Diagnostic Essay. Fun stuff. Um, Explosions in the Sky soon, as well as maybe some French sheittt for all those fellow francophiles (I know, there are so many…).
