LONG HAIRED BOY

Outside Lands - 2012 : Music - Food - Wine - Beer - Art

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:10:00 +0000

Outside Lands - 2012 : Music - Food - Wine - Beer - Art

Happy Canada Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 16:24:00 +0000

Happy Canada Day......

My last 10 years have introduced me to so many good friends, many of them Canadian, and they all hail from different provinces throughout the Great White North....I've been through alot with these friends....hurricane Ivan, my recent break up, me coming out, and supporting me throughout some tuff times.....

They are still there for me, and really they have been my life for the last 10 years...

Here's a video from one of Canada's top and most beloved bands - The Tragically Hip....they even have a star on Canada's Walk of Fame....

I saw this band live a few years ago - awesome rocking show. This is one of my favourite songs from the Band - "Courage".

Anyways peeps - have a great Sunday!

Seeking A Friend for the End of the World - Blah!

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:06:00 +0000

I saw this movie last night, and it was perhaps one of the worst movies I have seen.

After numerous failed attempts to divert a head on collision with an asteroid heading straight for our destruction - we all have 2 weeks to live.

The story starts with Steve Carell (Dodge) and his wife listening to the news of our destruction and his wife just opens the door and runs away......no words, no attempts by Dodge to get his wife back.

The story line is something we can all get thinking about and this makes a good connection with the movie. We can see how different people interact/react when the end of the world draws near - riots, suicides, reminiscing about lost love, loved ones, one's dreams and ambitions etc.

For Dodge - it was to find the "love of his life" from his days as a teenager, but during the process meets and falls for Penny (Keira Knightley). This is where the story falls short and lacks intimacy. The chemistry between Dodge and Penny is completely absent, and not convincing.

Also, they don't seem to match as a couple on screen......Penny carries around her vintage Vinyl albums with her throughout the story (something I can totally relate to!), but the music in the movie was "annoying" to say the least....it simply did not fit into the "mood" of the scene it was played in....

I just couldn't relate to either character....maybe Dodge a bit more...but I related more to the concept than the story line. At the end of this movie - I was like "Thank goodness"....

Anyway peeps - sorry for my harsh review - but don't take my word for it....

30 Best Albums in the Last 25 Years (1985-2010)

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:35:00 +0000

OK peeps - here's one of my lists.....this time it's the Top Best and Most Influential Albums over the last 30 years.....1987 seems to be a good year, since three of the albums in the Top 10 are from that year.....1991 is also good - two of the top albums are in the Top 5 from that year.

50% of the list comprises the 80's - which shows the power of the 80's.

In compiling my list I looked at emerging music in recent times and music that was definitive of an era and was also influential for later music or which might have been considered groundbreaking to some extent (example "NWA's - Stratight Outta Compton" or "Public Enemy's" - It Takes A Nation....)

In the 90's alternative might have been the music of the day, with bands like Smashing Pumpkins breaking ground, but some of their predecessors were setting the base for the next generation and the next decade - like "The Pixies" who rank with two highly influential albums that were faves of the likes of Nirvanna and almost any alternative band in the 90's.

Of course, there is also the attribute of pure musical talent and listening bliss e.g. Tom Morello on Rage Against The Machine, Kirk Hammett on Master of Puppets, and Jimmy Chamberlain (drummer for the Smashing Pumpkins) on Siamese Dream.....two of my fave guitarists Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead) and Thurstn Moore/Lee Ranaldo from Sonic Youth.

Anyways peeps - I hope you enjoy!

30. Master of Puppets - Metallica (1988)

Heavy Metal, Thrash and Speed metal were huge in the 80's, and this album serves as the best blend of it all in a more contemporary medium. This album's stands as a modern day classic, and is a tribute to the band's own hybrid hard rock/metal days.

Influenced - modern metal/hard rock, thrash metal, new age rock, showcased the talent of Lars (drummer) and Kirk (lead guitarist).

29. Doolittle - The Pixies (1989)

Before there was Nirvana there were The Pixies. This Bostonian favorite were four musicians who knew very little about playing music but served as a pioneer to a new generation of hard rock/alternative rockers. This album was more subtle than their previous endeavours, producing a timeless sound on one of their biggest hits "Here Comes Your Man".

Influenced - Nirvana; brought to the forefront modern alternative, epiphany of post punk and pop (which are heard in bands like Greenday, Blink 182 and just about every alternative rock band around).

28. Siamese Dream - The Smashing Pumpkins (1993)

When The Pumpkins broke big on this album, they showed the world what a true blend of alternative and hard rock can be...the album starts with a full-on hard rock anthem "Cherub Rock", but by no way provides the entire mood for the album. They do soften up on tracks like "Disarm", "Today" and "Siva".

This album was a sign of the times in modern alternative music - part of a movement that is definitive of the shaping of the decade.

Influenced - modern, hard rock alternative; guita awesomeness of James Iha.

27. The Score - The Fugees (1996)

The album introduced us to three of the heaviest hitters in the last two decades (Pras/Lauren Hill/Wyclef). The album provided a soulful side to hip-hop, and provides an intensity that covers a number of genres.

Influenced - merge of hip/hop with classic sounding pop and smooth R&B. Made way for modern hip-hoppers and bands like the Black-Eyed Peas.

26. Substance - New Order (1987)

If there is an ephiphany of new wave music it would probably be this album. Released in 1987 as a double album, it ruled airways on modern rock radio, and some of it's timeless classics like "Perfect Kiss", and "Bizarre Love Triangle" continue to be heard in many movies up to this day.

Influenced - the new wave movement in the 90's, modern day dance/electronica.

25. Play - Moby (1999)

Moby might have experimented with all genres on this album....but before it broke ground it did little or nothing before he sold most of the work to America's advertising agencies, where his music was heard. This move was brilliant, as not only did the music raise eyebrows, but it meant we all got to take a listen to one of the best albums of that decade.

Influenced - sample of classic sounding blues/pop; showed the scope of being a one-man army in music; dance/electronica.

24. Downward Spiral - Nine Inch Nails (1994)

Industrial was a genre that defined bands like Ministry, Sick Pupppies and of course the band who brought it to mainstream...Trent Reznor and NIN. This album is everything Trent...dark, full of demons, intense and just plain different. This was hard rock in a new format, opened to a new generation.
It was a surprise that Time magazine, named him one of the artists to look out for and one of the most influential to be. That might have been some ten years plus, but looking back he has evolved into new media - movies having winning a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for the music on The Social Network (and nomintaed for a GG for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo").

23. Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay (2002)

This is truly a modern classic - every song on this album is good and plays from start to end like a movie. The band sets the benchmark for true BritPop and shows that a classic sound can still be mainstay amongst all the hip-hop/pop/ and hard rock that's out there today...it was a nice break that can bring some serenity.

22. Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine (1992)

The 90's showed us many different forms of rock...and the nu-metal movement was one of them. Rage was one of those bands, that broke unto the scene with such an intensity that it was inevitable that they would self-destruct. Zach as front man on this band's debut sang about political figures, and the fight of the working class man for a stake in society - it was social anarchy. And Tom Morello....my gosh...this was the most innovative guitarist in the last 30 years (see my list of the Top Guitarists of the Modern Rock Era).

21. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)

The Stone Roses were a band out of the Madchester scene and the vibrant, psychedelic rock that was emerging from this place of inertia at that time....it brings us to a time and place in music history where the place and sound became synonomous - maybe it all started here with The Smiths.

But in the case of the Stone Roses, the sang about the death of the beloved Queen (on Elizabeth My Dear). They managed to produce some killer music and fusions and I voted John Squire as one of My Favourite Guitarists of the Modern Rock Era.

20. Paul's Boutique - Beastie Boys (1989)

Before Puff Daddy brought sampling to us in the pop medium, the Beastie Boys had already done and passed this stage 10 years earlier. The Dust Brothers produced this album along with The Beastie Boys which was one of the best albums of the 80's that can still serve as a blueprint for it's genre today.

19. Nothing's Shocking - Jane's Addiction (1988)

Alternative took it's own direction in the 80'/90s with bands like Live, Hole, Nirvana, etc...but one of the definitive pioneers were this band. Nothing Shocking brought us "The Mountain Song" - a hard rock, full out energetic anthem that shows us the likings of Dave Navarro and Perry Farell...there's also some killer bass lines and drumming on this song, showing that this is truly a band not to be reckoned with.

"Jane Say's" shows the flip side of the band - more vunerable and capable of delivering emotion.

18. Raising Hell - Run DMC (1986)

Was this the beginning of the nu-metal movement? Most likely - Run DMC fused the two most opposing genres (rock and rap) into mainstream which would mesh together white sub-urban class with black urbanism. The album always made classic hip-hop into pop and is a blue-print for "old school rap".

17. The Bends - Radiohead (1995)

Radiohead has probably produced one of the best pop albums ever in the UK with this masterpiece which introduced us to an evolving Radiohead. This was the follow-up to the band's debut Hello Pablo, which showed that in the space of about two years the maturity of the best band to emerge from the 90's!

The album shows the start of the band's experimentation of electronics and the synergy of the band members into a sound that is definitive Radiohead!

16. Meloncollie and the Infinite Sadness - The Smashing Pumpkins (1995)

Two years following Siamese Dream (#28 on the list), came this album which was nominated for 7 Grammys in 1996. According to Billy Corgan (leadman for the band) he felt the band was running it course musically and wanted to approach this album as if it were it's last....the band changed producers which included Flood, whom also produced Achtung Baby for U2.

Corgan's words may have left the band's legacy on this double album, and sadly it was the last good album they made.

15. Elephant - The White Stripes (2003)

This album was recorded on 8 track and with just two instruments - drums and guitars. The album provides it's own brand of hard rock..... you would not get bored with this album.....despite two instruments and just two people, the variations within the music adds lustre and texture and shows an intricacy that not much people can show with drums and guitar.

14. Rid Of Me - PJ Harvey (1993)

If there is a dark demon trying to speak poetry and justice is a woman scorned - it's PJ Harvey...full stop. PJ paints us a dark canvas of love and raw emotion, and the violence of pain in the soul. Her songwriting and delivery is both feminism and introverted androgyny!

13. Surfer Rosa - The Pixies (1988)

The Bostonians 1988 debut was released on a small indie UK label before being re-released in 1993 in the US. This album was characterised by lo-fi recording at the time, and a blend of ruckus noise and pop, which Kurt Cobain cited as the basis for his songwriting in Nevermind. The album is a major influence for Nirvana, PJ Harvey and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.

In a time when 80's hair metal was ruling, and even becoming corporate, the Pixies were quietly producing which might have been the most influential album on modern rock.

12. Slanted & Enchanted - Pavement (1992)

The underground had come full circe with 1992's release of Slanted. This album sets us in a time that is part of 90's culture and history - Clinton being President, America being rich, Generation X coming of age - it's regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time and one of the best of the 90's.

Personally it reminds me of the struggle of the youth to find a place - to be heard in the 90's - and to be relevant. Pavement managed to succeed on all fronts with this classic.

11. It Takes A Nation of Million to Hold Us Back - Public Enemy (1988)

It's been hailed by many as the greatest hip hop album ever. When I first caught on to this album, hip-hop was just digging it's roots to become a musical explosion. But unlike it's contemporaries in the 90's and beyond, Public Enemy blended beats, political and social issues into a musical forum that expressed an inner sanctum for black America.

Black Steel is my personal fave - a black prisoner being drafted for a government's war - contemplating a plan on a cell floor, a self realisation that a white government had authority over the black man, and what ensued - ah yes - pure choas in the form of music!

10. Appetite for Destruction - Guns 'N Roses (1987)

Many hail this as the best metal album ever....but when GNR exploded in the late 80's with this album they turned heads with their unapologetic and immature ode to everything they hated. The album is sleaze metal at it's prime....it carved a niche into the 80's metal genre and this separated the band from the rest of 80's. Everything from the voice of Axel, to the unforgettable riff on Sweet Child O' Mine and Welcome to the Jungle, to the raw lyrics of Rocket Queen and My Michelle.....every song on this album is clearly a classic - something in rock not seen since the likes of Zepplin's IV.

9. Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth (1988)

The New York sound by bands like Interpol and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs were well defined by the likes of The Velvet Underground, but Sonic Youth's "no wave" sound was beginning the next wave of the 90's-00's new wave of New York. This album showcases some of the best guitar works on an album by Lee Renaldo and Thurston Moore - RS ranked them as the 33 & 34 as the greatest guitarists of all time!

8. Straight Outta Compton - NWA (1988)

Urban life in America was in a violent undertone with gangs, hatred for the police, and members of the community fighting for dominance - what's left behind - a trail of youth's killed. NWA may have made one of the most important albums that showed the violence bubbling under America's black society.

The album's lyrics are raw, and unapologetic - showing the reality of mid-80's life in black-Urban America.

7. Ten - Pearl Jam (1991)

Something might have been bubbling under the music scene in the late 80's/early 90's - something that broke the back of the 80's - Grunge. Ten was part of that new wave of 90's rock that blasted on rock radio throughout America, and one of the most played bands was Pearl Jam.

This album took it's time to climb the Top 200 album charts but when it did it seemed to last forever. Every song on this album is classic - and Vedder and Jam were just touching the surface for the new phase of rock music.

6. Sign O The Times - Prince (1987)

This is probably one of Prince's most diverse musical projects and it marks his first effort without his band "The Revolution". The album blends rock, pop, soul, jazz and showcases the raw talent of Prince.

5. The Queen is Dead - The Smiths (1986)

This album is often quoted by most fans of the band as their best album. RS ranked it as the 216th greatest album of all time. The album continues to show the traditional melancholiness of Morrissey and the awesome guitar stylings of Johnny Marr

4. Nevermind - Nirvana (1991)

It is claimed that this album was the beginning of a new breed of rockers....their hardcore punk insensibility, vagabond-style look and lyrics which made sense to perhaps only Kurt Cobain,
somehow connected to generation X-ers coming of age. The days of glam-rock/pop took a back seat, and ushered in a new confidence in rock and it's followers.

3. Achtung Baby - U2 (1991

When U2 was tired of their exploration of American folk and blues that were their last two albums (Rattle & Hum and The Joshua Tree) they decided to see what Europe has to offer....the result was a brilliant piece of rock fused with a darker side of synth pop, dance, and psychedlia. Edge's guitars never sounded more alive on "The Fly" and Bono's poetry sounded isolated and emotional on "Until The End of The World" and "Love Is Blindness".

The band's experimentation on this album shyed away from the the safety of American rock, and they managed to produce a dreamy, upbeat diversion which left critics all saying that this is one of the most influential albums of the last three decades.

2. OK Computer - Radiohead (1997)

There's something dark, yet beautifully moving about this album. Radiohead experimented with electronics and rock to produce a sound definitive of the band - an eerie atmosphere that provides it's own suffocating microcosm.

1. The Joshua Tree - U2 (1987)

Poetry re-found itself in artitsic forum in U2's Joshua Tree. The band's lyrics provided a perfect backdrop to a political environmnet in Central America, whilst at the same time showing desparation in a mother's love for a son lost at war. U2 had an agenda with this album and it was simple - they wanted to be the best rock band in the world at the time - and they succeeded.

The Queen's Jubilee

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 22:03:00 +0000

This weekend marks celebrations in honor of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - 60 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. There Queen came into power on 6th February 1952 and her coronation was on 2nd June of the same year.

Here's one of my fave British singers - Ray Davies (The Kinks) performing ten years ago (Queen's 50th) to the Queen and the Prince.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend peeps!

A Season in Hell!

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:48:00 +0000

I don't know if reading recently Rimbaud's poetic masterpiece "A Season in Hell" was coincidence or the sign of a sealed faith. Rimbaud's self prophecy about his life has the poet deliberately engaging in a life of debauchary and rebellion against the divinity of the Christ and the Church, and engages in all the vice that loses his soul. He tries to find himself in this personal Garden of Gethsemane, as he loses himself to the dark side of life.

If a man has a good thing, to what extent is one predestined to lose the things that matter in life. It's human nature to be fragile, and to give in to one's own weakness.....but the price of it.....not worth it really!

Laters peeps!

Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 13 May 2012 12:52:00 +0000

Over the last year, alot has happened with my mom, and it's been very worrying for our family. With prayers, my sister and brothers tireless efforts and my dad strength all is fine now. Not a day goes by where I am not grateful for the grace of life.

I don't live at home anymore, but I do wish I can celebrate in person Mother's Day at home today, or even be with someone today to share this special day!

To everyone, happy mother's day to you and yours.

Laters - peeps!

Think Like A Man/Lorax

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:58:00 +0000

At heart I'm a hopeless romantic....just being in a relationship with the love of my life meant that the theme in this movie resonated with me deeply. The core of this movie is that it's a love story or love stories.

The amazing thing about love is how it makes you realise things about yourself that you may not have ever known....or even makes you realise that you are the person you found giving yourself advice about. Are you the asshole, the lover, the loved or the beloved?

The relationship between Zeke and Mya reminded me the most about my relationship with love lost....I was sad today and this movie made it hit home....but you know that's the sign of a good movie for me - the emotion it evokes.

Zeke and Mya's relationship reminded me of mine with J!

I also managed to see "Dr. Seuss's Lorax".....hey don't judge me....I'm not a fan...but it was a movie I had to see - reason? It was the last movie me and J decided to see - and we never did. I would have loved to hold J's hands in the movie theatre while watching this one - he is a big fan of it!

Last planned movie with J!

Anyways peeps - Think Like a Man - awesome movie - the cast - phew - someone fan me because they are all major hot.....especially Michael Ealy!

Lawdy - ummmm!

Peeps - take it ez!

Existence

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:10:00 +0000

So, this is how I feel these days....it seems that after me and J have called it quits that I'm right back to where I was some 7 or 8 months ago.....a big empty apartment. It was one thing whilst we were together and we were at our respective homes - in my mind, there was the comfort of knowing that someone loved me and that they would be there.

Now, it seems that when I'm alone with my memories and thoughts, I really miss the existence of love....now there's the existence of a void.

A huge part of this ordeal, is me not being able to change my ways....at least not in the short term....with time it would have been possible. It's also hard for me to open up and communicate in a relationship....J has given me several chances to do, and still articulation is hard.....it's something I know needed work on, and I wanted it to be to the point where it was a condition reflex...i'm simply not good at talking....

I look at the couples around me and wonder how did they do it? What's on their minds? Are they happy? I'd like to have that...in fact that was what I wanted with J....

Anyways, peeps here's a song by a band called "The Head and the Heart" (appropriately titled I'd say) called "Lost in My Mind".

Anyways peeps - TTYL

Bittersweet

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:45:00 +0000

Well tonight I went to mass - Easter Sunday mass, on a Saturday night....t'was three hours long, but it passed fairly quickly - it felt like two...not that I was having a good time or anything, but it just moved at a good pace.

In front of me, were a family - a gorgeous bunch - mom, dad and three little ones....they seemed simple, humble and completely together.....I teared up a bit, and felt happy and sad at the same time. Happy that there is still commitment to family, and sad, somehow wishing I had that with Jess!

Through my relationship with J, I found out how difficult/challenging any relationship can be....and seeing that family today, just reminded me of how fragile life is, and also how beautiful at the same time.

So are you this, in your relationship?

or, this?

Happy Easter peeps!

Love Hurts

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:09:00 +0000

So some relationships are a trial ground....Me and J, have called it quits officially today. So I'm listening to some old school metal ballads - 80's style of course, to get me through tonight.

I've learned much more about relationships and commitment in this relationship than I have ever in my entire life. Thinking back now, I realise that I fall in love easily and would give anything for that person, but I also realise I'm a creature of habit, and I need to have my own familiar territory....I need lots of space to sort things out, and because I'm a creature of habit, it takes a looooonnnggggg time for me to commit, but I get there always with good intentions.

I am a true romantic though, and I believe in love and what it can accomplish and break through! I still hope we can start over and fall in love all over again.

Well my playlist is good, I got a glass of vino (or two or three) and I have tucker in the oven and I'm thinkin' of what is and could be.

Live with passion, make every day special and fall in love every single day....

Here's a song on my playlist....1974's Love Hurts by Nazareth (ok not 80's metal ballads but a great song that suits the moment :))

Laters peeps!

Complacency

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 03:02:00 +0000

I've been deeply in love over the last few months....but now I'm wondering what happened to my "love mojo".....I always said, at my age if I fall in love it would be WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)....iow, I'm set in my ways and not prepared to change....

I though the words "I Love You", would make all the difference....as if to make everything alright, as if to make all our issues dissipate for the luster of love....but without comittment one person in the relationship is not being loved (as much)....one person is bending more than the other.....one person is left less fulfilled.

The fulfillment lasts for a while, but if there's an attitude of WYSIWYG, then that happiness becomes replaced gradually with dead air.....a void that is less fulfilled.

I'm thinking about all those people in relationships, with a busy schedule, kids and just the weariness of life.....how do you make it work....but more importantly, hats off to you all....take a bow, because you deserve it!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 20:09:00 +0000

March 17th - St. Patrick's Day. The most famous Irish saint who brought Christianity to a then pagan Ireland in the 4th Century, is one of the most venerated Saints in the Church, and is the patron saint of Ireland.

Despite it being smack in the middle of lent, I believe (but am not 100% sure) that all those celebrating this day are allowed to break their fast and partake in song, dance, meat and drink - a day of pardon granted by the Church.

And here's a classic performance by Sade - performing an old Thin Lizzy (Irish Rock Band) hit "Still In Love with You"....Classic Sade - smooth and sexy!

Peeps - chat later!

Emo Rockers Killed in Iraq

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 17:59:00 +0000

Hello there readers, it's been a hell of a long time...way too long. I've been busy in a new relationship and I needed to spend some time with my partner....but I have been trying to keep up to date on your blogs and although I may have not been leaving any comments I've been reading them through....

On a different note, I was just reading on BBC news that there were a number of "killings" (more like murders), for "emo youths" in Iraq. In the West, "emo" is a term used to describe a particular type of rock..."emo rock"....it's essentially a hardcore, post punk, teen angst driven force of music that somehow relates to kids who can relate to these raw "emo-"tions.

Like any particular brand applied to rock music, there is an associated style....e.g. goth music fans dress in black, wear heavy black make-up and almost look like they are corpses....punk rockers in the 70's, had their ripped jeans, and dyed hair....but you get my drift.

Similarly "emo" rockers, wear black, and look introverted....as if they have a dark history and are probably considered "outcasts", whether in their teen school life, or home-life.

Back to the story....it seems that the Iraqi authorities, think these "emo" rockers are devil worshippers simply because they wear black out in public and also because they listen to rock music....isn't this so 70's? Of course a huge part of this issue, is that of religion rearing it's ugly head. In a state like Iraq, Islamic law is the order of the nation, and anything, which deviates from the norm, is clearly in violation of Islamic law.

Over the past couple of months, 58 teenagers (mainly men) have been beaten to death or shot because of the way they dress, and the music they listen to. One follower of "emo" said that he's afraid to wear black out in public....because he is stared at, and he is considered a devil worshipper....

I always say that I'd never go the these nations...some of my cousins are Islamic, but growing up in the West brings more tolerance....I mean back in the 80's they loved and listen to Whitesnake and Bon Jovi.....but have a nation that considers the West the Great Satan, and you have a breeding ground for igornace.

In case you're wondering about some "emo" bands, here's my Top 10 bands:

10. Hawthorne Heights
9. My Chemical Romance
8. 30 Seconds to Mars
7. Taking Back Sunday
6. Paramore
5. Rise Against
4. Linkin Park
3. Papa Roach
2. Thursday

1. The Smiths (Of course it had to be an 80's act - they invented the melodrama but never really had the angst packed in as some of the 90's bands)

Anyways peeps - Take care of yourself

9/11 - Ten Years Later

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:25:00 +0000

We all have our stories about this day ten years ago.....most of us began that morning like any other...including the thousands heading to work or to the airport that day.....but at the end of it we all felt the same thing...shock, sadness, sympathy and heart felt love for the heroes who died.

I still feel in my soul up to today, an amazing sense of hope, and love for all who gave up so much to save the lifes of so many....

Ten years on...I feel the same way....

God bless us all....

Laters friends..

Beauty of A Child

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:29:00 +0000

Something resonated with me in a yoga workshop I had recently...despite the teacher being a complete nuthead :), he said something that got me thinking...

"Kids are free spirits and people and society puts up blocks, which makes them become less free, and more introspective"....I think this is quite true.

Take care of these young ones please - don't limit their potential

I was at my friend's place on Saturday for a quick gathering of food, drink and friendly chat. There were kids there as well, and one of my friends' son (age 4, and cute as hell) was having quite a happy banter with Victoria....somehow the conversation came up about if he liked girls....he said "Yes, and I like boys too"....

The reaction of some people was as if they were in complete disbelief....and they showed their shock at this 4 year-old comment. Of course it was innocent and it's the thing a kid would say....society is not equipped I think to handle anything outside of the "norm"....we give our children their complexes.

Sad....

Anywho's folks - TTYL!

A Must See - The Rise of the Planet of the Apes

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 06:31:00 +0000

If you haven't yet seen "The Rise of the Planet of the Apes", then you're missing one of the most "unexpecting" movies of this summer.

This movie was surprisingly awesome and not what you would expect. Going into the movie, I had no idea what the story line was, but the movie had me on the edge of my seat, as well as for the fellow movie-goers as well.

The story is solid, and there are some amazing scenes in this movie - especially with the end when the apes take over the Golden Gate bridge and have their battle with the armed forces.

To be honest - I was really surprise as to how good it was, and everyone I have spoken to said the same.

What intrigued me was the amazing facial expressions by Andy Serkis who played Ceasar (Andy played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings).

The Director of the movie pays homage to Avatar for the technology developed and used in this movie - take a look at the attached clip. Before seeing this clip I had no idea of what was involved in the acting...I thought the apes were human actors covered in make-up....but it's human actors and their emotions, and the technology provides the make-up....pretty awesome.

Anywho's peeps - TTYL and give this movie a shot!

Top 100 Rock Songs from the 90's....According to SteveA

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:04:00 +0000

The 90's was a time when alternative rock ruled the airways of post modern and college radio and brought us to a new breed of rock. There was the yuppie sound of Pavement, which appealed to working Generation X. Hard rock got re-defined into something less fun, but dark and isolated with the likes of Korn, Smashing Pumpkins, and Bush. And there was the merger of heavy metal and rap into the genre of nu-metal (Linkin Park, Rage Against the Machine and Korn).

The 80's was over :( and the 90's ushered in some desperation with the sign of the times....the music spoke for itself, and very few acts still survive out of that decade with a great sound.

So here's my best shot of the Top Rock Songs of the 90's....

100.Just A Girl - No Doubt
99. Seether - Veruca Salt
98. I Alone - Live
97. Semi Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
96. Everlong - Foo Fighters
95. Sweet Dreams - Marilyn Manson
94. Inside Out - Eve 6
93. Elderly Woman Behind A Counter - Pearl Jam
92. Until I Fall Away - Gin Blossoms
91. Shimmer - Fuel

Veruca Salt - # 99 and 74

90. Laid - James
89. Run Around - Blues Traveller
88. Tomorrow - Silverchair
87. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
86. Would - Alice in Chains
85. All the Small Things - Blink 182
84. Special - Garbage
83. When I Come Around - Greenday
82. No Excuses - Alice in Chains
81. Violet - Hole

Harvey Danger - #87

80. Wicked Garden - Stone Temple Pilots
79. Bound for the Floor - Local H
78. Found Out About You - Gin Blossoms
77. Spiderwebs - No Doubt
76. Hardly Wait - PJ Harvey
75. Tonight Tonight Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
74. Volcano Girls - Veruca Salt
73. Hurt - Nine Inch Nails
72. Allison Road - Gin Blossoms
71. Sex and Candy - Marcy's Playground

Gin Blossoms - #92, 78, 72 and 50

70. Burden In My Hand - Soundgarden
69. Freak on a Leash - KORN
68. Don't Speak - No Doubt
67. Sex Type Thing - Stone Temple Pilots
66. Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters
65. Rooster - Alice in Chains
64. Dreams - The Cranberries
63. Karma Police - Radiohead
62. Fell On Black Days - Soundgarden
61. Operation Spirit - Live

Alice in Chains - #86,82, 65 and 13

60. The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
59. Teen Angst - Cracker
58. Black - Pearl Jam
57. Paranoid Android - Radiohead
56. Song 2 - Blur
55. Torn - Creed
54. Creep - Stone Temple Pilots
53. My Own Prison - Creed
52. Stop - Jane's Addiction
51. Basketcase - Greenday

An older wiser Cracker - #56

50. Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms
49. Machinehead - Bush
48. Dissident - Pearl Jam
47. Come Out and Play - The Offshpring
46. Here and Now - Letters to Cleo
45. Come Down - Bush
44. Heart Shaped Box - Nirvana
43. Doll Parts - Hole
42. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
41. Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins

My how they have matured - Letters to Cleo (#46)

40. What's this Life For - Creed
39. Three Days - Jane's Addiction
38. Zombie - The Cranberries
37. Cherub Rock - Smashing Pumpkins
36. Lithium - Nirvana
35. Wonderwall - Oasis
34. Loser - Beck
33. The Other Side - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
32. Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins
31. In Bloom - Nirvana

Beck #34 - the anthem for a new breed where being a loser was cool and just A-OK!

30. Self Esteem - The Offspring
29. Alive - Pearl Jam
28. Fly - Sugar Ray
27. Stupid Girl - Garbage
26. What I Got - Sublime
25. Even Flow - Pearl Jam
24. Come As You Are - Nirvana
23. Mr. Jones - Counting Crows
22. Killing in the Name Of - Rage Against the Machine
21. Shine - Collective Soul

So 90's - Sugar Ray - #28

20. You Oughta Know - Alanis Morrissette
19. Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
18. Longview - Greenday
17. Bulls on Parade - Rage Against the Machine
16. Ironic - Alanis Morrissette
15. Today - Smashing Pumpkins
14. Runaway Train - Soul Asylum
13. Man in the Box - Alice in Chains
12. Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden
11. Plush - Stone Temple Pilots

Alanis Morrisette - #20 and #16 - not afraid to express her venom towards men!

10. Everything Zen - Bush
9. Give It Away - Red Hot Chilli Peppers
8. Lightening Crashes - Live
7. Linger - The Cranberries
6. Closer - Nine Inch Nails
5. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvanna
4. Glycerine - Bush
3. No Rain - Blind Melon
2. Creep - Radiohead

This song and it's message is relevant to America today as it was 20 years ago - the story of a boy who was ridiculed in school by his peers turns to violence to solve the problem!

1. Jeremy - Pearl Jam

Anywho's folks - hope you enjoy - TTYL!

Amy Joins the 27 Club

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:58:00 +0000

Rock stars can probably breath a sigh of relief once they get pass the age of 27.

Amy is the latest to join the infamous 27 Club (see a post I wrote here), which has as its most famous:

- Jimi Hendrix
- Janis Joplin
- Brian Jones (Rolling Stones)
- Jim Morrison (The Doors)
- Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
- Pete DeFreitas (Echo & the Bunnymen), and now
- Amy Whinehouse.

It all started in 1938 when one of greatest blues man ever, Robert Johnson died at 27....mystery still surrounds his death....some say it was the devil claiming his soul, which he sold in turn for the devil tuning his guitar and to make him the greatest blues player that ever lived.

It might be co-incidence, and it might be a rite of passage for some of our greatest musicians that ever lived in modern times.

Amy's music provided that jazz, soul and power that only few musicians have today....I always remember seeing this tiny, tattooeed woman of small frame, big hair and a heavy Greek or Italian look, and thinking who can she be.....and once she opened her mouth and I heard that voice....she left me intrigued and speechless. She was the new generation of talent.

RIP Amy - Back to Black is truly an amazing album!

TTYL peeps!

Kyle Chandler Nominated for FNL

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 02:43:00 +0000

Awesome news - after seeing Kyle Chandler in Super 8, I quickly became a fan....Kyle is one of the most under-rated stars in Hollywood, and now that he's nominated (again) for Best Actor in a Drama Series for Friday Night Lights, I'm rooting for him.

Also - Friday Night Lights is also nominated for Best Drama Series (an uncommon feat for a show in it's 5th (and final) season!).

See the full list of nominations here.

Peeps - chat laters!

My New Crush - Kyle Chandler

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 03:28:00 +0000

This is my new crush - after seeing Kyle Chandler in Super 8, I'm awestruck by his handsomeness, green eyes and cool disposition. Sorry Alec!

I first saw Kyle Chandler in Kong Kong where he played Bruce Baxster - I thought at that point that he was so handsome - really classic, movie star looks.

But after seeing Kyle as Jackson Lamb in Super 8, it made me realise that he is one of the most under-rated actors in Hollywood.

In recent times, I've not seen an actor evoke such emotion by simply the movement of his eyes and the expression in his face.

There's a scene in Super 8, where Jack has an argument with his son, and you can sense that he wants to hug him, but he can't, simply because he doesn't know how to be a father - and all this from the intensity in his voice, the movement in his eyes and his facial expression. Now - that's good acting!

Anyways peeps - TTYL!

Happy 235th America

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:54:00 +0000

HAPPY JULY 4TH!

Here's a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson called "A Nation's Strength" that gives creedence to the Nation's forefathers in the fight for democracy and freedom.....

What makes a nation's pillars high
And its foundations strong?
What makes it might to defy
The foes that round it throng?

It is not gold. Its kingdoms grand
Go down in battle shock;
Its shafts are laid on sinking sand,
Not on abiding rock.

Not gold but only men can make
A people great and strong;
Men who for truth and honor's sake
Stand fast and suffer long.

Have a great one guys and gals!

Transformers 3 and Bad Teacher

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 05:00:00 +0000

I was on a roll today with the movies - I saw "Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon" and "Bad Teacher".

The 3-D in Transformers was awesome - one of the best. The story line was OK, not great - just OK - at least I did not get lost in the story as I did in Transformers 2. If this is not your type of movie, then skip it, but it might be worth seeing for the visual effects only - there's so much happening at the same time and the Transformers are larger than life on screen.

One of the annoying things about the movie was the love relationship between Sam and Carly - I mean this girl is smoking hot, but I just wasn't getting the vibe that they were madly in love with each other!

Also the acting was pretty basic - nothing and no-one really stands out, except for maybe John Turturro.

Bad Teacher was a bit of a surprise - it's a bit ditzy, but it was entertaining and it did crack me up! The movie is pretty krast with the jokes, and seems to follow the trend of Bridesmaids, The Hangover and Forty Year Old Virgin! But for the purpose of entertainment - that it surely is!

I still think "Super 8" is the best I've seen this year - it's a nice break from all those summer blockbusters with comic book super heroes (Thor, Green Lantern and Captain America), with big leading actors.

Super 8 takes it simple, with no big lead actors and a rare feat in movies today - connection with the characters where you feel for the and even root for them to win! See a post I did on Super 8 here.

Anyways peeps - TTYL!

Mr. Scottish

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:05:00 +0000

Gay Guy wanted me to elaborate a bit more about my relationship with Mr. Scottish (that I mentioned in my post called "Must Love Dogs").

It sort of plays out like another Diane Lane movie - In "Nights in Rodanthe" (which starred Diane Lane and Richard Gere) there is a scene where there's a hurricane outside and Gere and Lane with the intensity of the storm, fall into each other's arms and get more intimate with each other.

Well my story with Mr. Scottish is not far off, except that it follows a hurricane a few weeks earlier - here's the story....

Back in 2004, we were hit with a Cat 5 hurricane called "Ivan" (see link to post called 9/11) - Ivan the Terrible (which hit on 9/11 in 2004) left my home, car and almost all of my personal belongings (along with an entire community) devastated and bare - despair and hopelessness were the feelings for many.

This is the closest pic I have to what Mr. Scottish looks like!

Mr. Scottish had lost his apartment...so did I, but I still had a livable and not drowned out top floor, but the second floor was flooded and the ceiling had collapsed. Mr. Scottish stayed with me and over the weeks of living together we got closer.

He always maintained that he was totally hetero - but one Thursday night we were out at an art show, we had a few to drink, but we still had our senses - the alcohol only made our feelings come out uninhibited. We were home, chatting......

I said...."I really care for you"

He said....."Show me"......and looked down at his cock....

We slept together that night.....but as I mentioned it did not last too long (a couple of months).

In retrospect, I'm so glad it ended.

I always fantasized about him - wondering what it would be like to be with him in bed - I got my wish. It was a wish I was happy with....but only for a short time. Time moves on, and I'm glad we did.

Now I'm seeing Mr. Scottish 2 and I am so much more in love and happier. I've been lucky with Scottish men, because right after Mr. Scottish, I was with another guy....so the Scots have my heart!

Here's a bonus pic of a Scottish guy - sexy!

Anyways peeps - TTYL!

Must Love Dogs

noreply@blogger.com (SteveA) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:38:00 +0000

Back in 2005 I was in pretty bad form - I was with my 1st man ever and I had fallen deep for him. I was on a job back in 2002 at a client and I saw him and just was infatuated with his blonde hair, light green eyes and thick Scottish accent....so thick I could barely understand him.

I fantasized about being with him....my fantasy became reality. By a strange turn of events (which I won't get into here) we fell for each other - but I fell faster than he did. We lasted for a little while, but during that period of me coming to grips with the events, I saw a movie which really helped me and I watch it on DVD every now and then....

"Must Love Dogs" was so magical - it starred Diane Lane and John Cusack, as two enstranged people just out of divorce and their search for love again with the push of friends, family, the internet and an absolutely cute, adorable St. Bernard (actually it's a Newfoundland) called - Mother Theresa.

The movie has a gay couple in it and Diane Lane comments that they are her model for a good relationship - gays rule!

I watched the movie tonight and the thoughts just came back with this guy. I'm over it now, but what I did learn from that relationship is that love is hard, and you can learn about your weaknesses....

Anyways peeps - take a look at this movie and TTYL!!