the bubble death...all about the snappy comebacks

Is this goodbye?

2008-01-05T17:56:00.000-08:00

No, not quite.

This is more like...a change. A shift.

I've come to realize that what I thought I'd be good at (music criticism) is really just one of my many phrases of obsession. And to try to do it every day, pushing out a new platter of fluttery descriptors and unrelenting praise has become work, and not fun. Some vague notion of what I should be doing instead of what I want to do.

I've mentioned it before: tired of all the hype, all the mind washed hipster chasing after the same band for ten minutes before tossing into the forgotten bin. More importantly, I realized that the entries I like the best are those removed from PR bands and songs meant to entice readers. They are simple and quite and feature more words than downloads, and probably less readers, but I've stopped doing this for an audience. Or perhaps not. Perhaps the audience is exactly what I want--still. But I want them to read for the writing, the sentiments, the honesty and not because there is the hottest new b-side from [insert common Hype Machine popular artist] to seem cool.

so where is this going?

This is going to a new blog, because I like blogging too much to give it up completely. Because I don't want to limit myself to endless consistent inconsistency. Because my writing just seems better when I write for an invisible reader without reservations or pretension.

So here's something new that's simple and different. Personal. Unassuming. One where I won't care about the number of visitors or the number of links. There will be songs, there will be books, of course. I can't live without either of those, and I still adore sharing those which I love. But there will be nothing programmed, nothing hype worthy. Just me and my inhibitions and fears and joys and little observations.

Maybe you'll care to take a look. Maybe not.

Either way.

I love everything this blog has given me--compare, say, my earliest entries with my last. It's been a long time, and perhaps time is the only factor. But I'd like to think not. I like to think that the readers and the bands made it something more. I appreciated each and every comment and message sent my way, I appreciated the fact that someone would take time away for something that a billion other blogs is already trying to do, and perhaps doing better.

So now. Not goodbye, but see you around. See you later.

Maybe we'll meet again.

I hope so.

Get me away from here, I'm dying.

the international tweexcore underground will save us all

2007-10-08T17:16:00.000-07:00

well, I suppose there's no way around it.

even if you've probably already seen it--hey. It's one of those things you can't leave alone.

one of those things--explosions of exclamation marks and instrumental joyous furies and lyrics name dropping Amelia Fletcher and Calvin Johnson. Sure, Los Campesinos! may claim to have never cared about Sarah records, but with a song that proclaims the joys of the international tweexcore underground (and oh oh oh how you'd love to be a part of that underground of kids who look just a little too indiepop to be cool but who rock out on keyboards and guitars and violin! with individual exclamation marks bouncing above their heads) they sure are the start of something. Something wonderful, something worth dancing and shouting and smiling endlessly about.

!
!
!

music to hold hands to

2007-08-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

when was it exactly, that I realized that I was a popkid?

somewhere between the faux emo pop punk and corporate alternative to the faintly indiepop mostly mediocore death cab for cutie to the first liking of bands like of montreal or the boy least likely to, between indie and pop and things that just happen to drift my way, how did I get here?

where I can fully admit and understand that more than anything else in the world, indiepop is the one thing that makes me happy.

where I'd go as far as to make it up to santa barbara to see the lucksmiths live, and realize already (it's seems so far away!) that it might as well be one of the better days of my life. where a line from a belle & sebastian song has never sounded more relevant. where all I want to do is wake up every morning to the sound of sarah records...on a compilation tape my friend had sent to me from paris.

where reading certain threads on bowlie makes me feel at home...

somewhere between then and now I learned all the lyrics to "get me away from here, i'm dying" and accepted it to be probably my favorite song. somewhere between then and now camera obscura and acid house kings snuck into my top played songs list. somewhere between then and now I became familiar with far too many swedish indiepop artists and too many twee bands the rest of the world wasn't aware existed.

somewhere between then and now I realized all the hipster bands I tried to keep up with were just that--momentary enjoyments, weekly obsessions that fades into the occasional fun nostalgic singalong, but not much more. Hipster bands I'd have fun seeing and then forget that I saw, a month later.

somewhere between then and now I fell in love with every bit of every indiepop boy with the brown hair and sweet smile and lucksmiths record.

and, so what?

so what now?

buried beneath cutesy, sweet sounding names and record label connections and a dream of sweden or at least an indiepop club night somewhere in london, where like minded boys and girls are clad in scarves and cardigans with buttons and friendly faces and dance to a band too obscure for them to have heard...

it makes me happy, but it does this other thing of detaching myself from reality.

reality. you know, the thing where listening to the perfect pop record when the weather is just perfect and walking through the neighborhood park won't magically fix all of life's problems? the thing where disappointment and things that just shouldn't go wrong going wrong never stops happening. the thing without a happy ending, sometimes even without a fitting semi romantic tragic storyline..

and so what?

so what if life has corners and edges and sharp turns that you can't avoid, turns no matter how sweetly sung can't be avoided. so what if life tosses what seems to be all that's rotten, so what if it feels like everyone worth meeting lives too far away, in that other world of the twee kids and intellectuals and people who care, people who smile and people who converse for no other reason than to share a moment. just a moment, with a stranger, a friend.

perhaps nothing. perhaps everything.

perhaps life's problems can be sidestepped--it shouldn't be too hard. snuggle up in bed, with a good book and a good record on the stereo, maybe that all important diary and a pen, maybe a head filled with thoughts far too complicated and directionless...perhaps all we really ever need is that one song, you know the one where every line seems to be written for you? and the singer, that boy or girl who you imagine to be singing to you, that boy or girl who wrote the song because of you. perhaps all we really ever need is to singalong--go on. forget that the neighbors might be listening or that someone else might laugh. forget that you can't quite clarify the lyrics, or that sometimes it just sounds so, so, silly. forget all that and close your eyes and sing and imagine...

it's not so hard, you see?

times like these, you might as well be, one in the crowd, eyes glistening, attentive, excited. smiling at the band who are smiling back even as they play, those precious jangly guitars and that familiar melody and those ba da da da and la la la's that seem to be pouring from your own heart...and you know, soon, you will be.

you just have to wait.

after all, the best things happen when you don't know what's going on.

Cold as Cold as Cold Can Be

2007-07-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

Blue October-Into the Ocean

apparently this song and band is pretty popular...popular as in, people other than me, a handful of bloggers and hardcore indiepop kids have heard of them, as in they are played on the radio and people who listen to the radio would know who they are. Popular as in...I heard this song on one of those myspace celebrity like people's page and thought it was interesting, and then forgo the name of the artist/song and then heard it played in the bookstore where I work one time when the store was set to a poppopopop station and finally looked up the lyrics and found the song. Finally.

anyway. I'm not sure why, but I like this song a lot. Like listen to it on repeat a lot alot. The lyrics? Maybe? Wish I was more masculine...I want to swim away but don't know how? Maybe? Maybe it's that idea of..escape. Maybe it's just that, I haven't heard a good catchy pop song in a while. Not like powerpop Hey Hey You You pop but just, kind of scene kind of emo kind of alternative pop. The sort that suggests suicide for a love long gone and rain...into the ocean end it all.

Forget the Future's Shrinking

2007-07-09T12:19:00.000-07:00

Trembling Blue Stars-Idyllwild

This is anthem for a girl who was once seventeen, who, hears a song on the radio, and remembers the past. The future with its glass buildings and high heels and smudged mascara, cities and lights, a distant reminder closing in...of a past spent holding hands with a best friends, laying on the dew tinted grass at night, tracking a ladybug's progress on a thin twig. A past where her bedroom was the center of her universe, snapped polaroids pinned on walls a musty rose paint. This song is a reminder of all the possibilities, a sky stretching with the pins of a billion stars, it's a surrounding image, it's a time traveling moment, it's a nonstop enchanting song about a girl whose favorite thing is snow...snow, and being alone.

I Had a Heart but I Needed a Pair

2007-07-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

Future Conditional-Broken Robots

There's something to be said about broken items. Hearts, glass, dreams, robots.

There's something to be said about this sort of vintage-y electronica. Pop and minimal, and all repetition and these little bleeps of sound. This echoing, male and female vocals, balancing with dark undertones, unspoke accusations, plain words not with malice but with something like resignation? Acceptance?

And oh, when the boy rambles, in that faintly bitter tone of his, a continuous stream of words over these backing, pressuring da da da's (don't worry, it's less cute than it sounds), it seems the story is summed up with perfection.

I Wish I Had Not Been Here Before

2007-07-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

It's not just procrastination. Or the lack of anything to say (or ways of saying it). Although, yes, those come into play, somewhat, always.

It might simply be fear.

Because when you settle down, reach a decision, finally make a post that details your mission in a blog--not to listen to every promo song ever and hand pick the ones that are mediocre to relatively good, to only share those songs that are worth something, something personal, it's a decision to reveal a lot more of myself.

Revealing myself has been a constant in my life lately--but only to a diary no one will read, to a mind no one can see through, to people I'll never truly meet.

Songs have become something more, again. Every line resonates within something personal, something I'm afraid to explore.

So. Stop speaking in abstracts. Stop thinking in vague terms.

Here's a song, a delightful song, a catchy song, a stuck in your mind, chorus repeating, singalong, upbeat, Swedish indie pop song. A song that seems to represent so much of my life, at least some aspects of it. At least enough to become more than just a catchy pop song.

Maia Hirasawa-And I Found This Boy

It sums it up, all too well. Those cheery trumpets, that snapping melody, the fickle piano, Maia's voice, self assured, sass tinted...except for those few lines, of course. Those few lines of honesty, of revealing vulnerability, truth underneath this outward whatever. The exclamation marks of stopping points, climatic moments in a conversation. Don't say I'm desperate, I'm not! But she is. And no matter how hard the righteous chorus, the girlfriend at home, the pleas from the boy, the drinking all night long...it's all too simple, it's all too apparent. I wish I had not been here before.

It's Nothing Personal

2007-05-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

Strip Squad-Hairless Youth of Bosnia

Too vulgar to be twee, as Strip Squad's Myspace stated. This! It begins with such repressed, underlying bitter strumming. That same hatred tinged vocals riding on top, pulsing beneath. But oh! Is it sassy. Is it daring. Is it suggestive. Is it twee with an unexpected twist, a punch, a slap on the face carried by these sharp lyrics, paired with toy pianos! Male/female vocal alternations! You won't be talking back with my legs around your neck! I would prefer if I could refer to you as It! (Your name would be the bit when you tax against my clit!)

So delightful. So satisfying. Twee with such edge. Twee with such freedom. Twee with such little innocence.

Eclipses. . .

2007-04-27T19:02:00.000-07:00

I'm at a weird place in my life right now.

It's not about you--it's me. Well, it sort of about you. There's the I'm Not Blogging and Chasing After Repetitive Mediocre Indie Rock Bands That All Kind of Run Together To Be Forgotten Two Weeks Later or Discovering the Remix of the Obscure B-Side By Everyone's Favorite Classic No Wrong Indie Rock Band part. That's something I realized, really and truly, finally. I've always thought that would be the plan of my blog--it's about the music, not the publicity. It's about the writing, not the promos. But, it's easy, far too easy to get caught up in that, when you start doing it once. It's far too easy to write a paragraph about some "good" but not "great" band and making them sound absolutely amazing.

You know this. You read this in blogs, all the time. Praise, praise, love, love, hype, hype.

I'm done with that. And so the songs that are posted here, they are the most loved, treasured, infectious, emotional, fitting, beautiful, sassy, witty, pop and acoustic and loved and loved again songs I know. Songs that I just want the world to fall in love with. Songs that pop up, every so often. So I don't post that often.

But more than that--life itself has a tendency to get in the way. That's why sudden bursts of inspiration will evolve into sudden long posts analyzing some random thing or another. That's why I keep coming back.

The same sort of reason I can't stop listening to a song, I guess.

What is the point of this?

Sometimes I don't even know any more. But I don't need to know, right, all I need...is a few songs that capture the current state of my heart. My mind. My ears.

So it's back to writing, I guess.

Candy Flavored on the Sea

2007-04-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

Annemarie-Bubblegum I See

This is beyond--light fluffs of pastel clouds, cuddly shapes, bubbles in glistening hues of happiness and brightness, innocence and so much love and adoration and sunshine! and rainbows! and fresh dew on fields of green grass! and daisys! and tiny flowers! dancing in the softest caress of a breeze! holding hands! smiles and laughs and giggles and memories and nostalgia and living light as a butterfly. This is beyond--twee as fuck POP! cuddlecore anything.

Bliss.

Trouble Never Come Late

2007-03-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

Loney, Dear-Saturday Waits

Swedish pop. Anticipation. Waiting. Longing. A sea breeze, a memory. Brushing and hinting. These sensations, tiny pleasures, light and quick pressures of action. You won't ever be tell, outright, but there's a suggestion, a whispered action for consideration, rising and rising and pushing, until it becomes a part of your mind. And suddenly, it's obvious, like the catchy rising waves of the song, the layers upon layers of eager anticipation and excitement, covering the nervousness and fear until it becomes a whirl of hopes and dreams and smiles and Saturday night waiting. Waiting to get over it then, finally.

In The Middle of the Night She Said

2007-03-14T18:27:00.001-07:00

WinterKids-Tape It

What is this. What is this!

It sounds like gee-tars, the sort of pop-emo riffs and mini solos fitting for a My Chemical Romance song (but don't fear...it's indie). It sounds like vocals, like the Shout Out Louds, that sort of British nasally cutesy white rawker voice. It sounds like repeating verses and choruses and lyrics that include "she said we're just friends". It sounds like a bridge! A clapclap, snapsnap, poppop bridge. It sounds like a chorus that leaps into unsuspecting ears and minds, and stay there, hooked and raging for some recognition and some SINGING, damn it. It sounds like keyboards! A toy piano! It sounds absolutely irresistible. It sounds...like your new favorite brit pop band (and maybe all your old ones, too).

Now That the Dreams Are All Coming True

2007-03-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

Patrick Wolf-The Magic Position

I can't help it. This song is infectious, in every sense of the word. This prancing, stomping, clapping, dancing, song. This explosion! of happiness! of hope! of new! beginnings! This glammed out, rocked out, orchestrated, exaggerated, theatrical, powerful anthem to strut on the street with a grin and a wink. Spinning red and white melodies, and a chorus, oh, what a chorus, what a driven, listener singalong/clapalong/dancealong required, punches of melody stuck if your head, chorus! Because yes, finally, there is light, and dazzling explosions of brightness for the future...he's singing in the major key.

The Light in the Night Slammed the Door

2007-03-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

Au Revoir Simone-Dark Halls

Some restless energy, some flickering, blinking drive, urging and insistent but not demanding. Just pushing, pushing with bouncing hooks and cute indie pop girls in indie pop voices. But oh, they are wise, they know. Know this, that, everything. They're only having an adventure, the three of them, the sort of adventure you'll always hear about. But maybe you're invited. Maybe with the frantic pace of the synths, the melody a sneaking thing, sneaking upon heads to bob like toys and smiles to break up unhappy faces. This joy! This dancing on black and white keys of a keyboard in silly flats and little shirts. Forests and dark halls and oh, it's a good, good adventure.

My Own Innert Cosmology Has Become Too Dense to Navigate

2007-02-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

Time. Schedules. A month (or two). I miss this.

Of Montreal-Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse (acoustic)

I'm in a crisis
Come on mood shift shift back to good again
Come on mood shift shift back to good again
Come on be a friend

Come on chemicals
Come on chemical-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-ohs

A song so catchy dancey happy you skip right over that underlying sadness, the confusion and addiction. Hate it but love it. Can't live without it. The synths and sparkles in the original, a big flashy explosion of madness. And then, there's this. Stripped down to its core melody with only an acoustic guitar, Kevin Barnes (despite all his theatrics and cockiness) sounds unsure, and scared, and his relationship with chemicals, one that he can't seem to change.

A band so catchy dancey happy you listen to it all the time. A band you see live again (January 30 this year even if it's a day before finals) in their costume changes and big overhead projector and glittery make up. A band that writes pop lyrics that are perhaps underrated, perhaps hidden beneath their brilliant melodies that is an addiction of repeat, replay, repeat. An album that is sure to be one of my favorite of the year, if not the favorite. Already. And not enough.

Let Me Know If You’re Still Alive

2007-01-17T15:27:00.000-08:00

Hello Saferide-Long Lost Penpal Featuring Firefox AK

Every now and then, I get more and more convinced that Swedish music really is the best music.

Every now and then, I find a new artist to obsess over and listen to repeatedly, to marvel at and to sing along with, a new song to come back to, to fall in love with.

This is it.

Swedish indie pop. The new Marit Larsen, but whereas Marit has the cuteness, the perky sweetness, the sassy pop hooks and comebacks under a shy and pleasant exterior, Hello Saferide seems to perfect that shy, sentimental, quiet way of music. Acoustic guitars, pop melodies, an underlying sadness, a melancholy that's not desperate but so fitting, honest and true. Embodying the word "pretty" song, story telling from the heart.

Somebody Rip My Heart Out

2007-01-09T15:43:00.000-08:00

Avril Lavigne-Anything But Ordinary

Why the hell am I posting this?

Well, as a true (poetry) blogging hipster-writer, I listen to music on an ironic matter. Which is why, there is a Nikki French dance remake of Bonnie Tyler's epic power ballad "A Total Eclipse of the Heart" (probably more on that...another day, when I have all the energy to...disperse on that song and that song alone) on my current myspace page. Which is why, I listen to upsetting, popular, and rather terrible rap songs on occasion. Or stencil shirts with "Ohio Is for Lovers" on the front.

So anyway, I had this Avril Lavigne CD from years ago, and a while ago I rediscovered that I had it, and just had to import it to my current library. Today, as I was scrolling through familiar artists and albums, I saw this, and felt this urge to have a bit of an ironic appreciation for the true princess of punk rock. I don't do this on a regular basis, but I do it often enough not to post a song every time I wanted to listen to something for the sole purpose of saying I listened to it--or just listening to it. I try to keep these entertaining things outside of my blogging things.

But it's a bit different this time.

Because once upon a time, years and years ago, I used to listen to this CD all the time, and knew all the words to almost all the songs, and danced on my bed to these songs, sang along as if I knew what this true rebel meant, as if I agreed with everything she said. There was no need for irony of any sort--I thought the songs were so good! They were catchy and I could sing along to it. It seemed like the lyrics all spoke to me! I cherished this CD so much...it was probably one of the earliest CDs I ever got and truly listened to.

And I mean, I knew these songs by heart, so that even now, these cliched, mass produced guitar riffs sound so familiar, the lyrics a step away from complete recovery, the feel of the songs wrapped tight around my mind. It's like time traveling...and there is some spark of sentimentality, some hint of reminiscence, and more importantly, reflection.

I hear the weakness in Avril's voice. I hear the generic mutated, computer tweaked boredom of the melody. The simple to the point of absurdity, hopeless lyrics, the utter unremarkable except perhaps in bad quality ring of the song....

And I hear what I loved about this song, or that CD, for that matter. I hear what I wanted to relate to so much. What I danced to, what I sung to, what I lived to. I hear the catchy quality of the song, having listened to it so much in the past, how I can still sing along and rock out to this generated pop rock chorus.

And I hear myself, years and years ago, and I realize that maybe it wasn't all ignorance and bliss, and that maybe I can still relate, and that maybe it's not irony but something else entirely...

And maybe--maybe, yes, I'd rather be anything but ordinary. Please.

I Know What I Want and It's You

2007-01-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

Math and Physics Club-I Know What I Want

It's quite remarkable for a band to sound so much like two other bands, and so obviously, non-pretenciously, non-inspirationally so but flat out like two other bands in the same genre in the first place, this Belle & Sebastian nonsense and this Lucksmiths nonsense somehow combining to form this Math and Physics Club nonsense. This Math and Physics Club nonsense though, it's not breaking ground, of course not, but it's perfecting that sound. It's a tingling combination of the former two bands with the right sounding guitars and vocals and lyrics--and everything! It's sweet and cutesy and perfect for spring and mixtapes. What more could you ask for?

I Could Say it with Words, I Could Sing it with my Voice

2007-01-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

Herman Dune-1-2-3-Apple-Tree

This is a love song, not unlike any other, but so sweet and brimming with innocent, simple adoration. With honesty and earnestness, no false layers of pretense and pretentious long metaphors and similes, just by using these contrasts, these juxtaposed, sometimes funny, sometimes cute, sometimes charming, sometimes non-nonsensical things. This jingling, upbeat melody, angelic backing vocals a perfect backdrop, but most importantly, this intimacy, this song written for you and just you, because it's obvious, isn't it? Obvious like all these mismatched eye colors and religion, because you know how badly I'd like to be with you.

We Tried to Find Some Words to End the Decay

2007-01-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

Regina Spektor-On the Radio

Forget the unforgettable quality of "Fidelity," this song is something else. That light, swooping, flickering piano melody, the twittering vocals trickling with a natural procession, and then the chorus, such a perfect storyline, a perfect soundtrack to a beautiful story formed. A simple moment in time, "November Rain" on the radio. I've never heard the song, but I don't have to, because I can feel the song, and it being a bit long, playing twice, the ba-da-dum-dun-dun and snapping echoes, its pop lyrical simplicity, the beauty of this happening, the DJ your friend from long ago.

lalala end of year lists, favorite songs, fun!

2006-12-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

It's been too long. This is way too late.

But you didn't think I would be gone for good, did you?

Not when (for the record, this always seems to happen...) I try to compile this end of the year favorite list thing and then discover so many new favorite bands and favorite albums way too late.

Not when I can feel the pulse of songs, repeated listening of the same few tracks of beauty. Overrated and over blogged, they are, probably, once upon a time. But maybe you missed them the first time around. Maybe, like me, you ignored them and have yet to realize their potential. Maybe you have heard them and maybe I'm not writing to an audience.

In any case, unceremoniously, in no particular order, a list of my favorite albums of 2006. I have a feeling you've already heard every one of them...but that won't matter, because these are the ones I keep coming back to. Non-stop listening, and appreciating. I missed out on a lot of great albums, I'm sure, but for now, this should be good enough...

Camera Obscura-Let's Get Out of This Country
Pop like sunshine, pop like carefree ice cream cones int he spring, pop like synchronized couples dancing and leaping, stop motion music videos featuring pastels...but not in an unpleasant way. And much better than just good, much better than just pleasant. Not another Belle & Sebastian rip off. Not a poor man's Belle & Sebastian but something sweet and beautiful and sad and happy all at once, something all its own.

Belle & Sebastian-The Life Pursuit
Speaking of Belle & Sebastian...well, it's unavoidable. If you don't like change you might have not liked this album. But this band. This band is something else. This band doesn't want to stick with the same, working, already well loved indie pop/twee pop structure all the time. This band wants to dance. This band wants attention. This band wants to craft pop songs so fine, with such a balance of catchiness and danciness and personality, Scottish twee band personality, shy indie rock stars personality. Nearly every song is perfected. The tunes dancing with lyrics and the band dancing with the fans. Clap. Horns. Heaven.

I'm From Barcelona-We're From Barcelona
happiness

The Pipettes-We Are the Pipettes
happiness, hand claps, polka dots, sassyness, catchiness, danciness, loveliness

The Blow-Paper Television
Electronica indie pop. Only, when you put those three words together, that's not the Blow. That's not this band that has managed to warp in the three in a perfect blend. The electronica beats and the oh-so-romantic-cute-couple-duo-only lyrics and the kareoke music video and the hooks and the tilting beats!

Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins-Rabbit Fur Coats
Remember when I didn't even like Jenny Lewis? Remember when I really really didn't like Rilo Kiley, and refused to listen to her album on that basis? Remember when I heard the album and then proceeded to pretend that it wasn't good and ignore it completely? And then, remember when I rediscovered it and fell in love with it, and after that, kept coming back to it even though I knew it wasn't cool? Yeah, me too.

The Knife-Silent Shout
Remember. Once I thought The Knife was overrated. Weird. Gothic electronica. wtf material. Not worthy of repeated listens. Half the songs not worthy of my time. Remember? And then somehow, I stumbled upon it again. Perhaps it was the recommendation of a friend, a suggestion that The Knife will be the best album of 2006. And then another listen, and then you're hooked. and then the steel cold electronica and the razor blade lyrics, the pain and the loneliness, and the Gothic electronica beats forever embedded in my mind.

The Mountain Goats-Get Lonely
Fragile and beautiful. Smooth and polished, not the rough, raw stories of the last album but gentle gentle stories of losing a heart. heartbreaking. The way the word was meant to be used. Acoustic guitars and a voice spilling beautiful lyrics. Describing this is like describing love. Or losing it. A sad, beautiful affair.

...and an album, that I'm sure, if I had heard it ahead of time, would have been on my favorites:

Casey Dienel-Wind-Up Canary
Oh, stories! Stories, quirky and offbeat and beautiful. Peaches and weird old men. Embroidery and stationary. Piano! guitars! Singing over those rolling piano notes. Spring! Summer! Quirky story books!

....and an album that'll come out next year that is already my favorite!

Of Montreal-Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Dance. Lyrics. Bliss. So much more on it next year, I am very very sure.

December

2006-12-04T16:54:00.001-08:00

Already?

Already. End of year lists. Holiday season. This pretentious cold frosting on top of the dry sun still glowing in San Diego.

December. A close to all excuses of NaNoWriMo. Words that should actually sound like words. Music that should actually look like music. Too soon for end of year sentiments but too late for wishes otherwise.

Whatever. Hipster blogging poetry.

Technically, it's only been a few days since my last post, but it feels like weeks and weeks!

anyway, as is usual with me and end of things/start of new things, I like making sure things are fancy and flowy again. So consider this one of those look forward to new and exciting things in the near future type posts!

I'm just slightly upset that StG posted about awesome local band Da Bears immediately after I saw them live on Saturday and was converted and decided that they would be perfect for blogging!

As long as you and I know, right, dear reader?

We heard of them first.

December

2006-12-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

Book Talk 44: Villa Incognito

2006-11-27T16:14:00.000-08:00

Villa Incognito-Tom Robbins

So, apprently I make it a point to enjoy books that other consider "not their best work" types and not aprpeciate usually appreciated "masterpieces." Nevertheless, I loved this book. Mostly because of the words, the language is just so brilliant. I've never read another writer who could spin such similes and metaphors, playing with words and language like silly putty to the best of his advantage. Although, the second half of the book did slide downhill ab it from the first half, and yes, the ending was a bit weak, but Robbins' writing really makes up for all of that and more.

You Will Surely Find This Pleasing to Your Ears (Live)

2006-11-25T23:15:00.000-08:00

Mates of State @ Epicentre, San Diego--11/25/06

First band-expected vaguely pleasant indie pop.

Asobi Seksu-Raw and lovely and awesome. Much noise, much fuzzy guitars, much energy. Much long last song that probably overdid it--mostly because of the crwod. the crowd at the Epicentre is usually not the best. Lacking in enthusiasm because of the noise, I'd imagine, and lacking in energy to move for fear of spoiling their precious hair and Abercrombie faux-hipster outfits, I'd imagine.

Mates of State-Happiness, love, indie pop, cuteness, etc.

But not like that, not really. Something here. Something beyond the dancey indie pop, something beyond the sweet romantic couple odes one might have imagined, something with a perky edge. Something loud and catchy and--I don't know. All of that, but something different. Because it's not as romantic or super twee as one might have imagined. But it is good. Good is positive. Good is singing along. And loving it.