Bunker Complex

2008 - 6 Months of Music Goodness

2008-07-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

I had to come back here and post my mix up, since this format is still better than tumblr for posting music lists and the like.
Going straight into the top 15 songs I've been loving this year so far (in no particular order other than the proper ebb and flow of a mix) -

1. MGMT - "Electric Feel"

Infectious and fun, my mood instantly improves when this song starts playing.

"all along the eastern shore
put your circuits in the sea
this is what the world is for
making electricity
you can feel it in your mind
oh you can do it all the time
plug it in and change the world
you are my electric girl"

2. People Press Play - "These Days"

Such a gem of an electronic/pop song, and the few times where I actually enjoy and prefer the female singer's voice. The lyrics are on the sad side but the melody balances it out perfectly. The music video with those cute kids is pretty adorable too.

"These days are moving fast ahead
And one more day like this
Could change everything that we
Ever thought would keep these days
We're always in and out of everything
It feels like someone is turning tricks on me
And we're losing our grip"

3. M83 - "Too Late"

I dig everything about this song: so moody, lovely, and romantic in that eternal pining sort of way. This band's new album Saturdays = Youth is ridiculously good and I could have picked about 4 other songs to easily go on this list. French bands are kicking ass this year.

"I look into your eyes
Diving into the ocean
I look into your eyes
Falling!

Like a wall of stars
We are ripe to fall

And if you are a ghost
I'll call your name again
And if you are a ghost
I'll call your name...

You, always."

4. Frightened Rabbit - "Floating in the Forth"

I'm normally skeptical when any new band is touted as immensely amazing and that they'll be storming the music scene. A lot don't live up to that praise (hello, Vampire Weekend and Voxtrot), but I give them a listening shot anyway, since I'm such a music-junkie. Critics are actually onto something with Frightened Rabbit's new album The Midnight Organ Fight. There are some pretty stellar tracks and this one was a standout for me. Yes, it's about suicide but it's never been sung about so prettily before. And it does get hopeful at the end, so get off my back.

"So you just stepped out
of the front of my house
and I'll never see you again.
I closed my eyes for a second
and when they opened
you weren't there."

5. Big Blue Ball - "Whole Thing"

You know how old artists rarely come out with new material that is as interesting or good as their hey-day's stuff? Peter Gabriel is immune to that, I'm convinced. His Big Blue Ball project album is just another stellar output. And maybe it's only me, but I loved the new song "Down to Earth" he did for WALL*E.

This album's story is actually pretty interesting:

“One week in the middle of summer this craziness exploded in our Real World Studios. We had this week of invited guests, people from all around the world, fed by music and a 24 hour café. It was a giant playpen, a bring your own studio party. There’d be a studio set up on the lawn, in the garage, in someone’s bedroom as well as the seven rooms we had available. We were curators of sorts of all this living mass. We had poets and songwriters there, people would come in and scribble things down, they’d hook up in the café. It was like a dating agency, then they’d disappear into the darkness and make noises - and we’d be there to record it.” - Peter Gabriel

Big Blue Ball is an album by multiple artists which grew from "recording weeks" at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in the early 1990s. In production for more than 15 years, "Big Blue Ball" is a project featuring several artists from all around the world working together. According to Gabriel, the initial recording was finished in three years during the early '90s, but "the tapes were left in a mess and it's taken this long to sort out." Producer Stephen Hague was finally called in to sort out the project.

I bought the album on iTunes and it's exactly what I expected and wanted.

"the one that I love I dream beside
the one that I love I dream beside
the one that I love is close as I can get"

6. Rogue Wave - "Missed"

Picked this song purely for the guitar.

"a snapshot of time
is just a memory of mine
I will file it in a vial
of denial
and cast away
so what’s next

I missed your love"

7. José González - "Down the Line"

A track I can't get out of my head. I don't know whether if it's the low quality version or the vocals that sells it for me but it's solid regardless.

"Come on over don’t be so caught up
It’s not about compromising."

8. Paddy Casey - "Fear"

This is maybe the first time a song spoke to my inner mom who hasn't emerged yet. If I had kids, this would be something of a theme as I raised them. Plus it's catchy as hell.

"Well I pray my child will live happy and long, Lord,
And I hope she never will sing this song"

9. Samamidon - "Saro"

Honestly, this guy is amazing. His folk music is the kind I could keep on repeat until forever and still feel like it's fresh and beautiful. Plus he single-handedly is responsible for getting me into loving Tears For Fears with his cover of "Head Over Heels". For that, I'm forever thankful.

"I wish I was a poet
Could write in find hand
Would write my love a letter
One she'd long understand
I'd send it by the water
Where the islands overflow
And I'd think of pretty Saro wherever I go"

10. Azure Ray - "Trees Keep Growing"

Good lord, this song is so pretty and sad. I forgot how good Azure Ray was until I heard this song a few months ago.

"It's funny how you can forget
There's a world outside yourself
Where the trees keep growing
And the cars keep moving
Without you there
And it's funny how you can forget
There's a world outside yourself
Where the one who loves you keeps on living
Without you there"

11. Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin - "Some Constellation"

Pop song 101 - Just do whatever SLYBY does.

"I'm tired of standing in the light
outside her window
Fro her I would row to the ends
of my imagination."

12. Tears For Fears - "Woman In Chains"

The 80s vibe to it is unavoidable but this song is now an Andrea classic. It builds to something very cool and it's pretty much as political as I'm going to get with my music.

"Well I feel deep in your heart there are wounds time can't heal
And I feel somebody somewhere is trying to breathe
Well you know what I mean
It's a world gone crazy
Keeps Woman in Chains"

13. Fleet Foxes - "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"

Cool new band that I've been into this year. Kudos to Fleet Foxes for making harmonic folk music so killer.

"Through the forest
Down to your grave
Where the birds wait
And the tall grasses wave
They do not
know you anymore"

14. Electric President - "Ether"

I love seeing Ben Cooper continuing with this group. The lyrics are pretty morbid but it's nothing new with Cooper. The happy melody more than makes up for it.

"Then I fall asleep again
And by myself I'm wandering
A forest made of skeletons
Of people I once knew
And all their spines are perfectly aligned
Like cold power lines"

15. Cloud Cult - "Love You All"

The digitized voice is something new and cool from them, and the melody is the perfect farewell/send-off for all of life's events.

"I love my mother
I love my father
And when it's my time to go
I need you to know
I love you all"

That's my list, and so far this year of music is shaping up to be about 1000% better than last year. Can't wait for December!

Moving Across Town

2008-03-29T12:14:00.000-07:00

I've moved to a new blog site called...

*Drumroll*

Tumblr! It's format fits my own personal style of how I would like to post (i.e. lazy, quick flashes of dumb thoughts and whatever else amuses me at the moment).

So I'll leave this up as a form of archive but won't be posting here anymore.

Here's the new site.

Andrea Digs [Insert Artist/Song Here] - March '08

2008-03-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

The Acorn

So good.

From Canada but don't hold it against them.

Credit to Sean for turning me on to them a little while ago. I revisited their stuff and am now a big fan.

Crooked Legs

Dents

Lullaby (Mountain)

myspace

You Failed, Movie.

2008-03-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

I'm always disappointed with movies that start off promising, either with a unique premise or it being just an awesome movie part of the way in, and then end up falling flat and stale and leaving a foul taste in my mouth. It's as if the writer spent 94% of his or her time only on the concept of the movie, creating a decent plotline and hopefully drawing out some well-developed characters. Then once the big scary duo "climax and resolution" come along, demanding justice of it's preceding amazingness, all that comes out is a big wet fart of an ending. I want to love the movie, add it to my lil list of top notch favorites, sing its praises to friends and family to go go go see it, buy the dvd and bust it out on people when they ask for a recommendation. I basically am begging the movie makers to give the big green light to make me an unpaid advocate/whore of its out-of-sight spectacularness. I'm available and very willing.

But I've been running into a string of these crap movies as of late, with a few listed here.

Atonement - First off, James McAvoy is a little dream man (even as a fawn-animal-human-thing in Chronicles of Narnia he was good times rolling). I will be gracious and faithful in watching all of his cinematic endeavors, and he was able to slightly salvage this movie for me. Atonement really started off so well, and as I hadn't read the book beforehand I was excited to figure out where this plot was going to end up. Then 2/3 of the way in the plot veered into the "huh?" territory and lost me. It felt equal parts rushed, like the production hit an "oh crap" moment of having to wrap it up quickly because it was already 2 hours in and not much progress had been made. Poo, because I would have loved to have supported it.

Bed of Roses - I doubt this a well-known one, since it did come out in 1996 and is part of that romance genre that hardcore sappy chicks enjoy. The trailer was intriguing (in my perfect world, using an Enya song never equals the movie being bad) and the story seemed interesting enough with the elements of New York, beautiful flowers, and a secret, although slightly stalkish, admirer. But the characters were lousy and bland and I felt nothing for either of them the whole time. If you can't even jerk a tear from me of all people, you have seriously failed your craft.

Bounce - Forgetting for a moment that Ben Affleck is in this, the premise sounded pretty cool to a 15 year old girl back in 2000. A guy switches plane tickets with a stranger at the last minute, that plane goes down, he finds the widow and falls in love with her but she doesn't know the whole story. That's romance genre gold, I tell you! But it just fell apart towards the end. Boring, boring, boring, I couldn't stand the pair, and it didn't deliver any "aww" moments. Unforgivable.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Again, never read the books so I went in expecting nothing but a good movie from what I had seen and heard. I get that they crammed a lot of the books into this one film, so I guess I shouldn't hate on it too much. But I think the makers expected anyone who watched it to have already read the series because most of the movie made no sense whatsoever. A minor thumbs up for the original "Jim" (i.e. Tim) on the BBC's The Office playing Arthur Dent.

Love Actually - Of all the movies, this should have scored huge with me. You have London and Colin Firth; those 2 factors alone would more than exceed any of my expectations. But it looks like I might be one of the small group of people that didn't like this movie. In fact, I almost hated the thing. Not one of the multiple story lines lived up to even my mildest hopes, with all 8 stories forced, contrived, phony, and with a not-so-subtle hint of schmaltz thrown in. Who honestly thinks 2 porn actors falling in love is clever and romantic? Come on.

The Wedding Date - Ha, no. This movie blew from beginning to end. I just like to knock it down when the opportunity arises.

I'm sure there are more I haven't mentioned, so feel free to add your own "good movie gone bad" experiences.

And a song from an excellent movie through and through - August Rush.
Mark Mancina - Main Title

Read it.

2008-03-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

I don't speak much about politics these days in comparison to how I used to in the past years (I'm a recovering political junkie) for various reasons. One main reason is that I enjoy sanity. And even though I do still keep up on the national/international news and policies going down and will offer up a vehement defense on most topics, I've diverted most of my attention away towards more entertaining things and honestly haven't regretted it since. But today while I was doing my daily scouring of news, I came across this article by David Mamet. It was so well written that I had to post it. I don't agree 100% with it all, but who cares, just read it.

Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - "Into The Mystic"

Inspire Me!

2008-02-23T23:39:00.000-08:00

Last week I made the tough decision to retire my lovely undergrad theme song "Eyes On The Prize" by The Emmaus Group Singers. While I have much affection for the song and its powers over me, (it pulled me through some rough Neurological Disorders tests, you don't even know) I thought it would be good to start fresh and select a new song. I want something that will again inspire and motivate me as this whole grad school thing unfolds over the next two and half years. Right now I have two top songs that are duking it out for the coveted slot. Let me know what you think.

Rod Stewart - "Never Give Up On A Dream" Straightforward song, lyrics are perfect if not cheesy, and it's Rod Stewart. When does this dude's music get used for anything ("Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" doesn't count), so I thought I would throw him a bone.

or

The IMPACT Repertory Theatre - "Raise It Up" (From the movie August Rush). The lyrics aren't perfectly fitting my purposes like "Eyes on the Prize" did, but it's an oomph song. And it continues my blatant stealing of impoverished civil rights songs featured in movies for my own educational purposes.

I am open to suggestions. If it has a Black choir it will receive bonus points.

And for old-time's sake.
"Eyes On The Prize"

Sunday Art VIII

2008-02-17T13:27:00.001-08:00

The Boy Least Likely To - "I'm Glad I Hitched My Apple Wagon To Your Star"

Andrea Digs [Insert Artist/Song Here] - February '08

2008-02-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

I am pretty smitten with Samamidon (Sam Amidon being the singer. Clever, no?), and I have his tracks on heavy rotation the past few months. It's just pure folk goodness kept simple, sincere and lovely. Check him out!

"Head Over Heels" (Tears For Fears Cover) L.O.V.E. this song. I can't get enough of it.

"Saro"

Arrested Development. On the Big Screen. (!)

2008-02-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

There was this little show that I was obsessed with called Arrested Development. I stumbled on it the day it premiered, finding it because I was watching whatever crap was on Fox before the show aired. Episode 1 was all it took to sucker me in for life and turn me into a loyal and hardcore fan. It unfortunately didn't have a massive audience to keep it going beyond its three glorious seasons. My hopes were up when a cable channel offered to continue airing AD, but Mitch Hurwitz declined and in the process broke my Never-Nude loving heart. It was a truly sad day in my entertainment world.

Flash forward a few years and it seems like the writers' strike has managed to produce something amazing: The beautiful men behind the show have been in talks to make a movie of AD (linkage here). The thought of more Bluth screen time, specifically Tobias, G.O.B., George Michael, and Michael, caused me to spazz and do a little dance of joy to Marky Mark's tune "Good Vibrations". I kick ass like that. I don't know what the movie is about, nor do I really care at this point. Just satisfy my AD thirst and I will watch anything they put up there. In Tobias's immortal words, "HUZZAH!"

Europe - "Final Countdown (Edited)"

John Hiatt - "Cry Love"

Valentine - Be Mine

2008-02-14T01:08:00.000-08:00

Songs that run the gamut of feelings for this most unholy of seasons called Valentine's Day.

Sweet...
Peter Gabriel - "In Your Eyes" (This song ends worlds for me. It deserves to be listened to with the volume at max capacity.)

Gary Lightbody & Lisa Hannigan - "Some Surprise"

John Lennon - "Real Love (Acoustic)"

Michael W. Smith - "Give It Away" (My phone's killer ringtone. Love it.)

Fruit Bats - "When U Love Somebody"

Greg Brown - "Hey Baby Hey"

Longing...
Josh Ritter - "Wait For Love"

Queen - "Somebody To Love"

Sour...
Paul Simon - "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"

Travis - "Some Sad Song"

Al Greene - "Tired of Being Alone"

Random Goodness...
Huey Lewis & The News - "The Power of Love"

Sunday Art VII

2008-02-12T13:26:00.000-08:00

Must..resist urge..to buy..sidewalk chalk..

Enya - "Storms In Africa" (An Andrea old-school favorite)

José González - "Storm"

Da Dee Da Na Na

2008-01-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

It feels like a Wigwam day.

Bob Dylan - "Wigwam"

I spent a little time figuring out that A) I am an idiot and B) I could convert m4a files to mp3. So I went back and added music to my top movies post here and my top songs posts here and here. Go me, the lamest iTunes user ever!

Clowns

2008-01-18T23:51:00.000-08:00

This list sums up all I believe about clowns. Chilling.

Damn you Tim Curry and your portrayal of Pennywise. Forever scarred, you jerk.

Milosh - "Creepy"

The State of Things

2008-01-17T22:58:00.000-08:00

(Picture sent to me by Swoz. Thanks for finding the right one that sums it up.)

The New Pornographers - "Adventures In Solitude"

Top 5 Movies - 2007

2008-01-10T23:35:00.000-08:00

Just a favorite list of the movies I watched this year, not necessarily all having been released in 2007. Do I have to even mention that all of these movies have excellent scores as well and that I bought them straight away after watching each movie? No? Okay.

5. The Painted Veil
Okay, I admit this is mostly because I have a thing for Edward Norton, but in my defense he does consistently pick good rolls in solid movies (Well, I hate American History X, but who honestly does like that movie?). It's period piece set in China during the cholera epidemic in the '20s. It's epically romantic and coming from a girl who's seen enough chick flicks and romance movies to end all worlds it's something.

Alexandre Michel Desplat - "River Waltz"

4. Nirgendwo in Afrika (Nowhere in Africa)
It's another Holocaust/World War II type movie, but with an interesting take: those that took refuge in Africa. I was fully absorbed in this family's drama of their struggle to acclimate into the Kenyan culture all the while dealing with the knowledge of the war in Europe. "Nowhere In Africa" has that epic quality that deserves a viewing.

3. Lars and the Real Girl
The word that pops up in my head every time I think of this movie is "charming". The story, the characters, and the music are just very endearing and quirky. Plus Ryan Gosling is the hotness.

David Torn - "End Credit Suite"

2. Pan's Labyrinth
This is an amazing movie. It's part fantasy and part psychological drama, and most definitely not for kids. Every scene was captivating both in story and in special effects used. And yes, the score was also stellar.

Javier Navarrete - "Long, Long Time Ago"

1. Once
It's kind of the modern day musical but with the singing naturally incorporated into the movie's plot and without it coming across as contrived. Romantic as hell and the soundtrack is exactly why I bother searching through the music blogs as I found the music before I saw the movie. I want my own Glen Hansard.

Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová - Lies

Notables:

Hot Fuzz

The "awesome British humor" pick.
--------------------

Memories of Murder

The "suspenseful thriller in a foreign language" pick.
--------------------

Sound and Fury

The "documentary that makes you think and choose sides" pick.
--------------------

Juno

The "adorable, quick-witted, and quirky" pick.
--------------------

Top 5 T.V. Shows - 2007

2008-01-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

5. VH1 Classic - Morning Video Block

I just randomly decided a few months ago to start recording these music video hours that played daily. They call the selections classic, but the farthest back they'll go is 1975. I'm perfectly ok with that because I have a strong aversion to music from the 60s and 70s. For the most part it's hippy crap and I'll pass, thank you. Most of the videos they do play are just cheesy goodness, like Duran Duran "Rio", Heart's "Alone", Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs". I like to play it while doing homework or as cool background stuff if people are over and the board games are out in full force. You really can't go wrong with this show.

4. Human Giant
This new comedy is exceptional. It's mainly bits and sketches that Paul Scheer, Aziz Ansari, and Rob Huebel (my new love) create themselves and perform, and it airs on MTV. I think I watched all six episodes about a good 15 times each, that's how much I crave this show. It's sometimes dark, usually twisted, and always very very funny. I can't wait for it to start again in a few months. I need more Illusionators!

3. Pushing Daisies
I LOVE this show. Like, a real deep love. It's a mix of Amelie's fantasty style of storytelling and settings and Big Fish's visual candy. All of the characters are likeable (even the females, gasp!), the storylines are interesting enough to enjoy while not requiring too much emotion be exerted, and it's not like what's on T.V. right now. I'm pointing at you, Law and Order and CSI and every crappy spinoff that has come from them. Take a note, television studios: Make interesting and appealing shows and the people will watch for the most part. Easier said than done, yes, but stop whining already and get it made. Oh, and stop ripping off the writers so Pushing Daisies can continue. Thank you, that is all.

2. Battlestar Galactica

It's seriously the best drama on TV. I know the name is off-putting and people cringe and wrinkle their nose when I mention the name of the show, but I don't care. Intense drama, compelling story lines, stellar music, Edward James Olmos, it's all packed in to this amazing show. Do yourself a favor and watch it. If you're not having a love affair with Helo after the beginning mini series then you're already lost and I wish you the best.

1. The Office
Ever since losing Arrested Development (I love you Michael Cera!) I've had a comedy hole in my heart that I believed would never be filled. While I still proudly declare that Arrested Development is my favorite comedy ever, The Office has thankfully filled the comedy void. Every single character is interesting and funny, 99% of every scene is hilarious and creative, and Jon Krasinski is on the show. I mean, come on. All I ask is for more Toby and Creed. And for the stupid executives to pay the writers their deserved dues so they can get back to making
more episodes, damn it!

Notables -

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares
It's a little formulaic what with the "Crappy restaurant in dire need, head chef/owner gets yelled at by Ramsay, the place gets the kitchen and dining area remodeled, the restaurant re-opens and then happy ending.". But Ramsay in anything is enjoyable. Though I do get a sick pleasure from seeing them go back six months later to check on the restaurant's progress and the place is shut down. I'm a jerk, I know.

Final 24
It's so morbid and sad that I end up in a funk after watching it. Yet I can't stop watching because of how stupidly tragic and usually avoidable most of these deaths were. Celebrities, such attention whores to the death.

True Life
This show has been on MTV forever. It just somehow finds the most dysfunctial fools as well as some awesome people and showcases their issues or struggles. "I'm Going to Fat Camp", "I Stutter", "I Live on Staten Island", "I Have Baby Mama Drama". It's gold, I tell you.

Engaged and Underage
This show is fun and just as frustrating too. I'm amused by these kids wanting to get married, yet they don't have real jobs or money, aren't out of college (or even high school for that matter), bicker like siblings and are incredibly immature. But other than that, great show!

Gabriel Rios - Broad Daylight
(Just a random song I like at the moment)

Christmas Cheers

2007-12-25T17:38:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

Chris Garneau - "Christmas Song"

Top 10 Songs Part II - 2007

2007-12-25T17:25:00.000-08:00

5. Winter Family - "Garden"

The duo behind Winter Family consists of Israeli singer Ruth Rosenthal, who writes her texts in Hebrew and English, and French musician Xavier Klaine, who plays piano, harmoniums and pipe organ. I came across this enchanting song during my daily perusal of motel de moka and instantly "Garden" gave me chills at first listen. Then I played it ten more times to just begin to absorb it. Can I say that the lyrics are so ridiculously romantic and charming? And Ms. Rosenthal's vocals are beautiful, as are the independent background vocals. The subtle tinkling of the piano in the background is probably the only reason why I would go back to learn more piano, so I could play these types of melodies.

"I remember

I saw you coming closer and closer to me
And maybe it was excitement, I don't know
But I was paralyzed
I fell on my knees
It was me, you
It was... us... finally"

4. Badly Drawn Boy - "Promises"

Badly Drawn Boy has been getting some mediocre reviews for the past album or two that he's churned out, but I'm one of those that doesn't buy into the negatives on this guy. His music is too good and I continue to faithfully buy what he puts out (within reason. A cover album of Abba songs would probably sour my affection for him just a little). He didn't come out with anything new this year in terms of albums, but he did release this single through iTunes and I instantly snagged it when I saw it featured under new releases. It was one of my favorite iTunes purchases this year. I appreciate how "Promises" layers on itself as it progresses, nothing too fancy, but enough to have me putting this song on permanent repeat status. It's a sad song (what else is new) and consistently socks me in the gut. No better combination.

"I promise you will get old
I promised you everything
To protect you wherever you go
I'll give you this diamond ring

Just promise you will remember
A promise should last forever
Right up to the dying embers
Of a fire that burns so slow"

3. Pete Yorn - "Lose You"

Nothing against Pete, but the studio version has always sounded like his voice and emotions are dead, though the use of organs towards the end is personally very enjoyable. Then I listened to his one on the Live From New Jersey album and it knocked me back. It had that appropriate sadness for the lyrics, yet the interaction with the audience brings some levity (and it shows he's an amazing live singer). I would date him, with it ending good or bad, just in hopes he would write a song like this for me. As long as he doesn't call me out by name in his liner notes, I'm ok with it.

"I don’t need a better thing
I’d settle for less
It’s another thing for me
I just have to wander through this world
Alone"

2. Arcade Fire - "Keep the Car Running"

The end of 2006 is the when I discovered Arcade Fire and their album Funeral. Then March of 2007 came along and *WHAM* Neon Bible was released. I was genuinely giddy while listening through the tracks, and that sadly doesn't happen so often anymore to me with new music. "Keep the Car Running" is just one of many tracks from Neon Bible that hits me in all the right places and makes me come back for more.

"There’s a weight that’s pressing down.
Late at night you can hear the sound.
Even the noise you make when you sleep.
Can’t swim across a river so deep.
They know my name 'cause I told it to them, But they don’t know where
And they don’t know
When It’s coming, when It’s coming."

1. Peter Gabriel - "San Jacinto"

There's not much to say about "San Jacinto" other than I do a little fist pump of victory every time it plays on my iPod. Following the fist pump comes a sing-along. An hour later the urge to see Secret World Live DVD appears. Then I scour the internet to see if he will ever come back to southern California to do a concert. The answer is usually no. I'm sad about this truth for a few minutes, but "In Your Eyes" comes on the radio sometime after that and all is well again in Peter Gabriel lovefest land.

"I hold the line - the line of strength that pulls me through the fear
San Jacinto - I hold the line
San Jacinto - the poison bite and darkness take my sight - I hold the line
And the tears roll down my swollen cheek - think I'm losing it - getting weaker
I hold the line - I hold the line
San Jacinto - yellow eagle flies down from the sun - from the sun"

Runner-Ups:

Sufjan Stevens - "Super Sexy Woman"
Quirky, frisky lyrics and something out of the ordinary for Sufjan.

Radical Face - "Along the Road"
The creaking boards and the low notes that he's not quite reaching, the piano tinkling along, the low hums... It all just works.

Laura Veirs & Saltbreakers - "To the Country"
I really like Laura Veirs. Her music is consistently good and this was my favorite track from her new album. It's simple, clean, and has clapping incorporated into it. How can that fail?

Sea Wolf - "Leaves in the River"
A cool instrumental intro that I wanted to last the whole 5 minutes. But it nicely sets up the rest of the very pretty song. Sea Wolf was a great find this year.

Snow Patrol - "Finish Line"
It's back to my compulsive preference towards "night time" mood songs. And it's not their song "Crashing Cars", so win win for everyone!

Lovely Lovely Food

2007-12-24T11:35:00.000-08:00

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."
Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright

I'm a creature of habit when it comes to food. I find something I love, I then have to somehow incorporate it into my daily menu. Here's a few of the foods that I love, and really believe I could live off of any of these foods/meals if I needed to.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches - Apricot jam, Boysenberry jam, Blackberry jam, whatever. If it's combined with chunky peanut butter and warm whole wheat pita bread from Trader Joe's, I am giddy and satisfied for life. Back when the show Big Brother had PB&J as a food punishment, I always knew that I would thrive on that show. Laziness + the occasional physical/mental challenge + others crying on PB&J while I gain strength = the easiest million dollars I will ever make. Thank you, peanut butter and jelly!

“Peanut butter is the pâté of childhood."
Florence Fabricant

Cashews, Pistachios, and Peanuts - I really think it's possible to live off these nuts. My brothers and I usually polish off the whole cannister of cashews and peanuts within a week with a big fat smile on our faces while doing so. The pistachios are left to me and my dad to finish, without much difficulty.

“No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut.”
Channing Pollock

Bread - Sure, it's simple. But good bread is disturbingly amazing. I only eat 100% whole wheat, which I have grown to really love. All bread is tasty in its own way, and back in the day when I did eat whatever I craved, there were some mighty good times what with the lovely fresh out of the oven crusty french bread (either dipped in buttermilk or honey) or sourdough bread with a little bit of plum jam or butter. Now I stick with Ezekiel whole wheat bread and Trader Joe's whole wheat pita, which isn't a bad compromise if you've tasted these tasty breads. I recommend the cinnamon and raisin Ezekiel bread because it's still healthy and I can sneak in a little sweetness without guilt. Huzzah!

“If thou tastest a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens.”
Robert Browning

Cheese - I admit it. I'm a cheese whore. My dinners can consist of just a mini platter of assorted cheeses that I had horded into the cart at Costco, Sam's Club or Trader Joe's. New York Sharp Cheddar, Swiss, smoked Mozarella, marinated Mozarella, Caşcaval (Romanians for the win), Gruyere, Blue, Roquefort, Feta (French only, please), Mascarpone, Fontina, chunks of Parmesan, Provolone, Asiago, heck even regular cheddar is amazing. The list could go on, but I heartily endorse all of those favorites. High-Five for cheese!

"A cheese may disappoint. It may be dull, it may be naive, it may be oversophisticated. Yet it remains, cheese, milk's leap toward immortality."
Clifton Fadiman

Bread and Cheese (AKA Grilled Cheese Sandwich) - Genius creation.

Tomatoes and salt - This is my staple food for 90% of my meals as it's a perfect companion food. Cut up, with kosher or sea salt sprinkled over. And maybe doused in some Cholula if I feel a little feisty. Tomatoes are my #1 vegetable (or is it really a fruit? Bah, like it truly matters which category it belongs in. It's healthy and yummy, which should be a category in itself).

"A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins."
Laurie Colwin

Tomato and Feta Cheese Salad - This is the old standby. Don't know what side to include with your grilled chicken? Bust out a tomato and feta cheese salad. What can you make quickly on the fly to satisfy those pangs of hunger? Tomato and feta cheese salad. Want to impress dinner guests with some mad salad skills? Boom, just tomato and feta cheese salad their asses. It's a win win in every situation this salad is made. Add red onion plus green peppers and it's pure gold you're devouring. Though the best kind is the homemade kind, because having ordered this in various restaurants has taught me that only you or your mom can make the best, everyone else basically sucks.

Fruit - I'm always a little shocked when I hear people say they don't really care for fruit. It's nature's sweet delicious candy. But to them I say, "More for me, suckers!" The wimpering and crankiness skyrockets when I'm denied this essential food, and will 99% of the time never refuse fruit that's offered to me, unless I just had too much and I get that weird bloated belly thing happening. The way to tell if I have been afflicted with fruit bloat is if you see me groaning on the couch and still trying to pop in another grape or slice of apple.
Daily, I eagerly await the fruit snack and merrily skip to the fridge with bowl in tow to start cutting up and eating the mango, pineapple, blackberries, apples, tangerines, or whatever other colorful food catches my eye. The whole time in London I hadn't had any fruit because I seriously didn't trust the stuff hanging outside the little hole in the wall markets they had going. On the flight back from London, I hungrily ripped through a little bag of grapes they served and begged my brother if I could have his bag too. I gave him my chocolate from the meal, so I think we both came out on top with that deal.

“Give me book, fruit, French wine, and fine weather and a little music out of doors played by someone I do not know."
John Keats

Deli Meats from the Local German or Italian Store - I cheer when my parents come home with plastic bags filled with those white paper-wrapped goodies of meats and cheeses. Though I do avoid head cheese like the plague. It frightens me and no one can talk me into ever eating it, short of trying to hide it under some salad leaves or some Cholula or something so I couldn't identify it. Don't get any ideas.

"My favorite animal is steak."
Fran Lebowitz

Just pray for me that I will never add any Romanian foods to this list in the future. My motto is Just Say No To Sarmale. It's kept me out of a lot of trouble so far.

Sufjan Stevens - "Sister Winter"

Top 10 Songs Part I - 2007

2007-12-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

2007 - It was a pretty great year in many respects. Some highlights are : I got into grad school, hell, I finished my undergraduate degree; I'm in London for nine days (a post recapping all that glory later); I was 21 for most of the year; and I went on a entertainment overload rampage with movies, T.V. and music, which sounds a little sad but it really isn't. At least in my head it isn't and that's where it counts. So that leads to the first of a series of posts that will list and dissect what my favorite things were the past year. Music! Since I absorb so much music yearly I can never settle on just a 5, or even a 10 for me is a struggle. But I forced myself to just stick with a top 10 and here's the #10-6 countdown.

[Destroy All Evidence (Nicole) and I are trying to pump these out together around the same time, but my being out of the country has caused a little delay. But London I guess is a modern city or something, because I see Internet Cafes strewn everywhere, and it's fun to get an internet fix amidst all the walking, play-watching, and shopping.]

10. Bear McCreary - "Reuniting the Fleet"

My favorite drama show and hands down the best score on T.V. This song is all inspirational, motivational, and kickass-ational. It's mostly guaranteed that a track from soundtrack season 3 or 4 will make its way onto the 2008 mix because Bear is surefire composer.

9. Ryan Adams - "If I'm a Stranger"

This version is a bit scratchy and rough but it has much more oomph behind it than the studio version. I dig it. A lot.

"For all the hours here that move to slow
There's all this letting go, that won't pass
If all this love is real, how will we know?
And if were only scared of losing it, how will it last?

If I am a stranger now to you
I will always be, I will always be
Stronger now than me, stronger than you
Our love will always be
If we let it go, I will try to be there for you
I will try to be there for you
I will try to be there for you"

8. Glen Hansard - "Say It To Me Now"

I had most of the songs to Once before I saw the movie and I was still affected by the songs. Glen Hansard's voice is like a dagger, it's so packed with emotion and power. Gorgeously sad song.

"Cause this is what you've waited for
A chance to even up the score
And as these shadows fall on me now
I will somehow

Cause I'm picking up a message Lord
And I'm closer than I've ever been before

So if you have something to say
Say it to me now"

7. Enigma - "Prism of Life"

Enigma - oh, how you bring me such joy. I'm not sure why, but a well-placed chorus of singers in a song can make me a happy girl. Sure it's cheesy, but I really don't see why some Euro cheese can't be a good part of the music diet.

"And when it seems that we're in a dead end street
There's no reason to cry
Cause we have a helping hand who's always aside"

6. Delirious? - "Our God Reigns"

The combination of old-school use of choir and traditional chorus lyrics mixed with modern issues and a soaring climax make for a potent song. Throw in gorgeous piano and violins for good measure and it has hit the near top of my favorites. Oh, and they're British.

"The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’
Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you."

Bra My Brains Out

2007-12-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

Can I say that I HATE the Playtex Bra commercials that have been popping up on T.V. recently? Like, I honestly want to let out a primal scream and then get in my car to drive over a cat, any cat will do, every time it comes on. Let's put aside that Playtex is at best a mediocre bra, but these things are ugly as hell and the main comment from one of these "real" women is how hot the new bras look. I stare at them and pray that I am never subjected to having to wear it even as a torture device. Another lady declares that finding a good bra is like finding a good man. Listen, there's a store called Victoria's Secret that most likely you will find within a 10 mile ratio of your trailer. Save $40, go there, and buy a dumb supportive bra rather than be in a commercial where you are seen my millions wearing only a nightmarish bra and your tan-colored undies. No one, save your convict boyfriend, wants to see that mess. And the lady that stores her gummy bears and cell phone in her bra, I get it. That's your little party trick and the kids will clap and cheer for the crazy blonde lady, but it serves no purpose to store your junk there (sweat + gummy bears = death. Trust me).

Yes, I have DVR, and yes I can forward through commercials. But every so often I encounter what they call "Live TV" and I then suffer through real time commercials. So all I ask this holiday season is that Playtex just put all of those commercials on the Oxygen channel, where I will never venture over to watch. Oh, and please slap the redhead at the end that says with some sort of a lisp, "Tanks, Playteks!".

The offending video here.

Nourallah Brothers - Christmastime

I'm In.

2007-12-06T00:45:00.000-08:00

HOLY MOTHER, I did it. I was accepted to the graduate program at my university. After months and months of inner turmoil, of nagging and whining to friends and family about how stupidly hard the process was, of figuring out what I would do in terms of career if I wasn't accepted (Physical Therapist or Special Education Teacher), and of just trying to get along and become friends with the knot that developed in my stomach so many moons ago, I somehow muscled my way in to the program. Don't ask me how, because I was pretty confident that I would be borderline or wait list material. Not because I suck hard or anything like that, my skills and the "completeness" of my overall package are actually pretty stellar, if I do say so. It's just that this major is 99.9% female, and that means the manicured claws are always sharpened and ready to slice. But I guess I brought the right kind of shiv to this fight.

The past few weeks since turning in the whole application packet, the news began to trickle down, i.e. I listened in on people's conversations in class. Hey, at least I try to be inconspicuous. I leave my earbuds in and pretend to listen to my ipod while I have my nose in a book cracked open. Word to the wise, don't trust people who do that. They are totally listening in on your conversations. Anyway, the information that I would hear being chattered would be which stage of the process the committee was on, how many actual spots there were available for Spring (12. I wept just a little after hearing that), and that the calls would be going out during the week before finals. My good friend Knot grew and tightened with that latter information.

When I came home from class Tuesday night, I assembled a night time snack of tangerines and some cashews and set it down in anticipation for watching some of the terrible and cheesy Christmas made-for-TV movies I've been DVR'ing. I went upstairs to change and saw that my phone's message light was flashing. My heart ricocheted for a few seconds as I played the message, and when the voice of a certain head of the department came out of the speakers I let out a muffled scream and started hopping around my room before fumbling and spazzing for a pen and paper to write down the phone numbers he was giving me. Calls immediately went out to family and friends as I shrieked to them and then proceeded to dance around to my pre-made "Grad School, Onward!" playlist. Now I have a strut and a smirk permanently attached, just as it should be.

The biggest burden feels like it's finally been lifted and now it's all on me to do well rather than having to worry about what your fellow student is up to and being secretly glad that they didn't do so hot on a test. One of the chosen, and it feels so good.

The Emmaus Group Singers - "Eyes on the Prize"

This song has helped me get through the past three semesters (Fun Fact: It was on my 2006 Best Of Mix too. It lives on). I play it before a test or when my stress level gets too uncomfortable. Sure, it's a Civil Rights song from the movie Green Card that I hijacked for my own purposes, but it's a sanity saver so I will continue to play it as I now officially consider it my musical lucky charm.

Welcome Back to the Real World

2007-11-23T22:13:00.000-08:00

I wrote a post over at Buddy Comedy about my year spent playing World of Warcraft. Heave a big sigh for me as you read.

Ryan Adams - Follow the Lights

Rating Scores

2007-11-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

(With special contributer, and my sister, Ligia)

Way way back in March 2005, my sister and I had a strange and memorable experience while sitting in the church balcony during a Sunday morning service. We witnessed something that caused us to create a list that to this day makes us amused and annoyed when looking at it. It was a rating scale of sorts and while we were pretty FCC conscious of our written language, we still think it's a relevant rating system in 2007. Rather than explain it here, we will go through each line and rehash the dumb moment that caused us to write about it on that slip of paper. All you need to know to start is that it involves four or so 16 year old boys, with their little leader instigating the madness right in front of us.

March 6, 2005

Fake snoring = Lame-butt:

These guys actually were fake snoring in the balcony. I remember looking at Ligia and asking if these guys were for real.

Ripping paper = Jackball*:
Not just any ripping, but ripping of the loud variety. The kind where you hold the paper out in front of you and make a prolonged rip right down the middle.

*Jackball is the combination of jackass and oddball. Thank you, Mr. Hendrie.

Writing "Hello" big on paper = Freak:
Their ring leader wrote a huge "HELLO" on a blank page and just flashed it to people down below.

Touching hair constantly like a mo = Mo:
I have no issue that his hair was styled and looked like he put some time into grooming as opposed to just grunting in the mirror and moving on. But he was straight up preening. I deeply objected.

Writing love letters to pastor = Flaming Mo:
Yes, the dude wrote "I LOVE YOU" on a page and just held it up at our pastor in the front.

Showing boxers = Lover of dill and flies*:
Something about guys and their not being able to just pull up their pants has always been a bugaboo of mine.

*Dill and Flies - Oh boy. Sort of a Romanian inside joke, but here's the gist. Dill is used in everything, and I mean anything that they think they can sneak away with, they'll do it. And my aunt, who is a notorious dill user, always has these buffet meals ready to go whenever she has a family get-together at her house. Alongside this display of food, there are also a multitude of flies always buzzing over the dill-infused food. One Sunday in church we found out we were going to lunch at that aunt's house and the phrase "Is she serving dill and flies" just came out on the notes I was writing to my sister. We literally laughed out loud during the service and my mom gave us the elbow jab and death glare. So whenever we have to go to her house, my sister and I never fail to ask my parents whether she will be serving "dill and flies" (It's much more affective a joke when you've had to endure that combination. Be forever grateful that you have been spared. For now.)

Drops a hymnal book = What a sap:
Sure, people accidentally drop books and no one gives a rip, but this was completely intentional. Plus they would really drop it so that it was a loud thud on the ground, loud enough to get people to look up into the balcony to see what was going on.

Wearing pen behind ear = Crackhead
I think this is where we kind of became a little ridiculous because now any little thing about these schmucks was irritating, and seeing a pen behind the ringleader's ear was enough to aggravate. Thus the use of crackhead.

Waving to someone in church = Creep

Come on. Waving to someone down below in the middle of a sermon? I was ready to shove him over the rail and accomodate his obvious need to say hello to his friend below.

So... I guess the point of this post is that Ligia and I get angry at idiots and will write the venom down to remember and get angry at for years to come. We rule.

Rod Stewart - Young Turks

Andrea Digs [Insert Artist/Song Here] - October '07

2007-10-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

Scott Matthews. Listen and love.

Scott Matthews - "Dream Song" (mp3)