One Foot Off The Platform.

Coca-Cola Kids.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 15:38:00 +0000

Or otherwise known as Kent.

First heard of them two weeks ago, when I received "Romeo Återvänder Ensam" (many thanks to Sul!). And I've been bloody hooked since. This quintet from Sweden, are one of the finest purveyors of 'anthemic indie rock', and better if you like your music laced with Scandanavian influence.

Unfortunately, unlike the other major Swedish export, these guys are still not as popular as affordable furniture. RCA picked up their LP 'Isolde', for distribution in the U.S. in 1998, but it wasn't terribly successful (althought they are pretty big in Sweden and much of Europe).

Anyways, touted the biggest rock band in Sweden, Kent really delivers on the musical front (although to have Andy Warhol playing for you does help. Heh). Soaring guitar/vocals laced with melancholy. For fans of The Cure (of old) and Pulp.

Highly Recommended:
Kent - 747
Kent - Lifesavers
Kent - Parlor
Kent - FF
Kent - Den döda vinkeln
Kent - Rosor & Palmblad

"Two girls are too many; three's a crowd and four- you're dead!" - The Kinks

Miss B-

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 14:40:00 +0000

I'm infatuated.

Right. Kite Flying Society is on heavy rotation the past couple of days; and has been the only thing I've been listening to today. Hailing from San Diego California, this band makes the most sickeningly-sweet (read: super fantastic) indie pop out there, that could fit into your typical Wes Anderson film. Not surprisingly, KFS lists him as one of their influences, along with

The Kinks
The Shins
Harry Nillson's "The Point"
Magnetic Fields
Brian Wilson
Fruit Bats
Rogue Wave

For fans of PAS/CAL (and kites). Listen to them, and you're reminded of The Beach Boys and Herman's Hermits. And KFS has this uncanny ability to make you feel loved, regardless of your maritial status. Bliss Pop anyone?

KFS has been mentioned a couple of times on the big blogs, but surprisingly, the indie blogosphere hasn't jumped on the bandwagon yet (yes not even Pitchfork). Unbelieveable. Their new album, Where is The Glow? dropped on the 28th July, and unfortunately is only available in San Diego. Or here via Paypal.

All highly recommended:
Kite Flying Society - "Love and Seagulls"
Kite Flying Society - "If I Could Split"
Kite Flying Society - "6000 Shipwrecks"

In other news:
Strokes' Hammond Goes Solo
Johnny Marr Officially Joins Modest Mouse

"Oh There They Go"

"I am Jack's Complete Lack of Surprise."

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 15:52:00 +0000

Why am I always so distracted? Really, it's getting to me.

Surfing BBC.co.uk in class, watching Dave Chapelle when I'm supposed to work on my illustrations, and watching Fight Club when I'm supposed to be sleeping. Oh, and blogging when I'm supposed to be working on my Advertising project. Ugh.

I really need a girlfriend. To distract me further.

Anyways, here's (The) Cazals. I love this band. Unpretentious, they just refuse to precede their name with 'The', and they keep calling their music "Dandy Rock". What is that you say? Exactly. GQ coins it "streetfighting rock-and-roll". And London-based frontman, Phil Cazal makes cameos for Dior Homme on the catwalk in his free time. Martin Cazal used to work at Topman as a style advisor.

You'll never catch this band without their leather loafers, fedoras and guitars. Think GQ-meets-Brit-Mod. I'm so envious.

And it helps that they write brilliant songs also. Here's what they think about themselves: (Cazals) are on a mission to produce music that’s as timeless as it is honest. Listen to the band just once, you'll probably be convinced that you'd have wanted to hear this all your life. And yes, they threw those illegal 'Cazalaide' parties to buy new instruments, when Babyshambles fans thrashed their previous kit.

Meet your new heroes.

Cazals - "Beat Me To The Bone" (highly recommended)
Cazals - "Bounder & A Cad"
Cazals - "What of The Future" (Demo)
Cazals - "My Ex-Valentine" (Demo)
Cazals - "Poor Innocent Boys" (also highly recommended)
Cazals - "Comfortable Silence" (Demo)
Cazals - "New Boy In Town" (Demo)

They just put up free mp3s of their recent XFM session up on their site. Do check it out.

"Did anyone tell you we're a fashion band? Well, we're not. Fucking fashion." - Luca Cazal

Poor, Poor Innocent Boys.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:38:00 +0000

Deadlines looming. Sports Day looming. Heh, school's lovely innit?

And now I know how being pregnant feels like; after a dinner of kebabs and curry. Really, I can't sit up straight. Though the curry was lovely alright.

Okay, I apologise in the delay since the last post; have been so terribly busy. Anyways, here's today's featured band- Ratatat.

I read about them on fluo kids the other day, and (to be honest here) I only downloaded the tracks because his post featured a terribly cute girl. But hold the brickbats though, what's a boy to do when you see free tracks and a pretty girl and French? There you go.

Anyways, any band who's gonna name their new album "Classics", had better be worth the iPod space. The shivs aren't out yet, but so far, it sounds pretty good, from the tracks I've heard. Genre-hopping electronica. From sounding RJD2-ish on "Loud Pipes", to going all Beatles-esque on "Tropicana", they seem intent on making everyone buy their album.

MarathonPacks says: their M.O. of combining heavily effected rock guitars with breakbeats made them seem on one hand like playful ironists---the musical equivalent of a Chuck Norris or Styx t-shirt.

But Ratatat has matured since, and they're not Chuck anymore. They've certainly tackled more genres on this time out, and the result? Classics.

Hitting the stores on 22 August, so watch out for that.

Highly Recommended:
Ratatat - Loud Pipes (from fluo kids)
Ratatat - Wildcat (from fluo kids)
Ratatat - Tropicana

Oh, and here's a Cazals track that's on heavy rotation.
Cazals - Poor Innocent Boys (Super-duperly highly recommended)

Will probably return with Cazals tomorrow. By the way, The Libertines are thinking of getting back together. Didn't you know that already?

Toodles!

Specials: "You're Not Reagan, and I'm Not Gorbachev. So Don't Try Eh."

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:30:00 +0000

The past couple of days haven't been terribly good, but this probably makes up for it. Was up all night, yesterday watching Serge Gainsbourg's old videos, and I must say, in a time when The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson were all the rage on the radio, Gainsbourg's music was a breath of slick, sexy, modern fresh air. Well, not really fresh air, he would have probably smelt of alcohol and Gitanes cigarettes. Heh. A modern-day rennaissance man.

Enjoy the videos.

"Ballade de Melody Nelson"
One of my favourite Gainsbourg songs of all time. One of the cheesiest videos of all time. But still timelessly alluring. A duet with his muse/partner Jane Birkin.

"Comic Strip"
One of the less melancholic, and more upbeat songs of his repertoire, this was a video from his ye-ye pop period. A duet with this one-time girlfriend, Brigitte Bardot.

"L'Hôtel Particulier"
One of his most brilliant songs. Off the 1971 concept album Histoire de Melody Nelson.

"Lola Rastaquouere"
His dalliance with reggae. He once (reportedly) riled Bob Marley by asking his wife, Rita Marley to sing erotic lyrics with him.

"Lemon Incest"
A duet with his daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg in 1984. Appearing shirt-less, with Charlotte (on a bed, no less), then 14, caused a sizeble uproar in Europe. But this song, as with the album, "Love On The Beat", was written by him as a gift to his daughter. One of the more brilliant songs off the album if you'd ask me; mystical, seductive and intoxicating.

This was his now-infamous appearance on the Michael Drücker show. Serge, not exactly a person to hide his feelings, tells a young Whitney Houston that he'd like to fuck her. On live national television. Heh. He was probably drunk alright.

I'm so gonna slot this in my daily conversations; "You're Not Reagan, and I'm Not Gorbachev. So Don't Try Eh."

All highly recommended:
Serge Gainsbourg - Sea, Sex and Sun
Serge Gainsbourg - Bonnie and Clyde
Serge Gainsbourg - L'Hotel particulier
Serge Gainsbourg - Aux armes etceatera
Charlotte & Serge Gainsbourg - Charlotte Forever
Charlotte Gainsbourg - Songs (off her new album 5:55)
Franz Ferdinand and Jane Birkin - A Song For Sorry Angel (a cover version, off the Gainsbourg tribute album, Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited)

Betcha didn't know that Jane B. was the inspiration behind Hermè's highly popular Birkin bag, eh Posh?

Au Revoir.

But Neither of Them Knew, Really.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 05:37:00 +0000

Because I'm so clever/But clever ain't wise

Was at HMV the other day, and true to form, I left with a purchase. Picked up Carl Barât's Dirty Pretty Things, while my brother bought the new Keane and The Beautiful South LPs. Not exactly my cup of tea, those two bands; never liked Keane's music. They seem to have a sort of contrived pretence about them, eh? But that's just my opinion anyways. And The Beautiful South? You're better off with the new Camera Obscura album, Let's Get Out of This Country (in stock at HMV Singapore).

Alright, what about Dirty Pretty Things? Think Shakespeare-meets Pulp and Morrissey. Not exactly the record I would expect from this ex-Libertine, but it's surprisingly good. None of the tracks particularly stand out, as DPT comes out firing. Acerbic one-liners, ambitious, angsty, yet refreshingly sprightly. This LP, Waterloo to Anywhere, Barât takes his half of the Libertines sound, and turns it into a sterling record. The kind of music that makes you wanna kick up a clump of dirt, and still feel pleased with yourself. And though nothing on Waterloo can stand up against Babyshambles' "Fuck Forever", Waterloo delivers consistently, while there were glaring blemishes on Pete Doherty's record, Down in Albion.

Down In Albion, on the other hand, is the direct mirror of Up The Bracket. Like certain things in life, you either love it or hate it. Pitchfork gave Albion a 7.7, while I have read one-star reviews elsewhere. Shambolic, disparaging vocals, and the occasional off-key indulgence makes Albion a love-hate affair. Albion starts strongly with "Fuck Forever" (the second song on the album), only to fall flat on it's face with the later tracks, which seemed like poor attempts to scale the same heights of FF. There is some hope for Babyshambles' fans though, some of the more upbeat tracks ("The 32 of December", "Killamangiro") are reminiscent of The Sex Pistols and The Clash. All in all, Down in Albion offers glimpses of Pete Doherty's immense vision in small doses and spurts. Albion is a broke and busted record. Totally sloppy, rocked out in total drunkeness, and utterly exasperating to listen to. However, it reeks of honesty and I find it extremely hard to put down.

In short, go buy both records. Waterloo to Anywhere is the perfect complement to Down In Albion. Carl Barât's wit and intelligence against Pete Doherty's drunken poetry. Clean, smart Shakespearean prose against a total mess of an album. The Libertines. What a shame.

Dirty Pretty Things - "Gin and Milk"
Dirty Pretty Things - "You Fucking Love It"
Dirty Pretty Things - "Bang Bang You're Dead"

Babyshambles - "Fuck Forever"

Bonus:
Morrissey - "Let Me Kiss You"
The Libertines - "You're My Waterloo"
*edit* Franz Ferdinand - "Eleanor Put Your Boots On" (Re-Worked Version)(Yes, the one with the banjo.)

Oh, here's something I read at BBC Sport recently on the Zidane saga. Jacques Segeula of advertising group Havas: "This (headbutting incident) isn't going to harm him. This childish gesture gives a more human image of the hero. It brings the icon closer to the people." Since when did violence endear icons to the masses? Tsk tsk.

"- If you don't mind."

"And Yes, This Is My Singing Voice."

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:53:00 +0000

And no, you don't want to hear it. I'm a terrible singer.

I've had a surprisingly good past-couple-of-days, despite the bloody Sword of (Art School) Damocles hanging over my head. And it's not the 'happy juice' talking. Heh.

There are a host of reasons for that, but it's mostly thanks to Materazzi, and that The Velvet Teen and The Posies are dropping by at Baybeats 2006. And yes, I'm also pretty psyched about my Photoshop project (inset).

It's gonna be aptly named "Room 44", and it's not for kids. It's a visual essay delving into the dreams, fantasy, the imagination of all that takes place behind closed doors. And lecturers, I'm not gonna change it.

Heh. Alright, stop thinking about bordellos for a second here.

The Posies and The Velvet Teen are slated to perform at Singapore's premier (and probably only notable) Indie/Alternative festival, Baybeats. I would have to say though, I am pretty suprised at the headliners. They finally got some good acts in. And I have to say, The Velvet Teen are really good.

Fans of Bands of Horses, dig in.

The new Velvet release will drop on the 25th of this month. Aptly called Cum Laude.

Baybeats '06 be taking place this weekend o'er at The Esplanade, Singapore.

The Posies - "I May Hate You Sometimes"
The Posies - "Feel"
The Posies - "I Am The Cosmos"

The Velvet Teen - "GymzKid"
The Velvet Teen "Everything Is In It's Right Place"
The Velvet Teen - "False Profits"
The Velvet Teen - "Naked Girl"
The Velvet Teen - "Radiapathy Girl"

Alright, I gotta go now. Will try to post some Spoon tomorrow. If I'm not killed by Art School already.

Au Revoir. Emmanuelle.

"The Boy In Green. Would You Please Shut Up?"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 15:18:00 +0000

Don't call me boring, it's just 'cause I like you.

Alright, this is the first post in quite a bit, and I sincerely apologise for that. Have been trying to rush projects before the looming deadlines, and it has pretty much taken it's toll on me. I hate Thursdays.

Shledule has been absolutely tight, and lecturers have been hell. On Tuesdays, I get a feminine male lecturer who is uptight on just about anything, everything. On Wednesday, I get a female lecturer bordering on racist, and rather incidently, hates me. Well, not because of my skin colour, if that's what you're thinking. It's because I keep talking in her class. Usually I get away with these things, but on one unfortunate Wednesday, she paused about 4-5 times in a 2-hour lecture to reprimand me.

Okay, here's why I was flavour du jour on that day. Firstly, I was wearing green, in a room chock full of black and whites. Secondly, I was wearing my 'professor' spectacles (as my mum likes to call it) on that day. And thirdly, I was the only other person awake/not distracted with the lecture. So, you can probably equate this; a lecture presentation, littered with spelling errors, grammatical errors, and extreme-right wing views, and me paying attention, probably equates trouble. There wasn't a thing she said, that I couldn't laugh at. And my various jibes at the lecturer (to Sufian, who was sitting next to me), could be heard throughout the room, as everyone was bored into submission/slumberland. So she could hear every smart remark I said. Well, it's not my fault, I was only paying attention.

"The boy in green. Why are you laughing?"
"Your lecture is hilarious."
"No it isn't. If it were funny I would have laughed. Now keep quiet."

Well, lady. No good comedians laugh at their own jokes. But her rebuttal was a source of considerable mirth. Her lecture was funny alright. Not that she intended it with the spelling errors and all. And on Thursdays, I have a lecturer bordering on communist (and I don't mean the haircut).

Ah, c'est la vie.

Okay, hope I didn't bore you too much with the rant there. Here's today's featured band, Voxtrot. One of my favourite bands ever. And I reckon, the backbone of every indie playlist out there. Heh. It's really hard to encapsulate this band's sound in a paragraph, much less a blog post. But I'll try anyways; it comes as a cross between the old Stone Roses and (definately) Belle and Sebestian. And sometimes with a hint of melancholy thrown in. Think LEVY or Interpol. You'll love Voxtrot if you're a fan of The Mystery Jets, The Smiths, and (or) Pine Club.

The songs off the Raised By Wolves EP/Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP sound like poetic rebuttals written on the back of a napkin, then rocked out in an empty basement. That's my take on it. Here's what Pitchfork thinks; "[I]t's okay for somebody to be into both Throbbing Gristle and Belle and Sebastian," Voxtrot's Ramesh Srivastava writes on his blog, "and I'm pretty sure that's a good thing." When Srivastava moved to Glasgow at the age of 19, he'd already written the tracks that would comprise the Raised By Wolves EP, songs with deft arrangments and charming melodies that evoke Belle & Sebastian, Morrissey, and the Lucksmiths, but with jagged, rumbling guitars remindful of early Cure and, sometimes, Joy Division. Srivastava immersed himself in Glasgow's nightclub scene, developing a particularly strong affinity for Optimo. The commingling of his jangle-pop roots and his newfound love of dance music is writ large in the Texas-based band's turbocharged twee.

Yes, that means good.

You can buy Voxtrot's EPs at their website. Because I'm pretty sure HMV doesn't have it. Or it would have been sitting on my CD rack right now. Oh, and you can read Ramesh Srivastava's blog here.

All Highly Recommended:
Voxtrot - "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives"
Voxtrot - "The Start of Something"
Voxtrot - "The Warmest Part of the Winter"

I'll return tomorrow with either Ariel Pink or Spoon. Or maybe both.

See you tomorrow then.

Forza Italia!

"If You Don't Give My Football back, I'm Gonna Get My Dad On You."

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:21:00 +0000

Yeah, knock 'em back Lippi.

An absolutely splendid display from the Azzuri, and a totally deserving penalty at death. I don't comprehend why people are harping about the fact that the Aussies are out. Like Marcelo Lippi (inset) said at the post-match conference, Italy had four clear-cut opportunities in the first half, and were terribly unlucky not to score. How do you explain Schwartzer diving to the right, only to save Luca Toni's low drive (to the left) with his still extended leg? Though I would have to say, it was a gutsy performance by the Aussies, and it was always difficult to play a Guus Hiddink side with 10 men. But still, we nicked it. You can't buy class.

This rant has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I won 84 big ones.

Alright, enough of the coffeeshop talk. Though I would have loved to see Vincent and Dennis sitting together at a bar for the Portugal/Netherlands game. Heh.

The last few days have been football, football, and more football. With all my projects looming, the World Cup couldn't have come at a worse time. And my obsession with the betting shop is bordering on unhealthy. And with the shouting at the telly, I might need Strepsils by the crate.

Oh, and have I mentioned my absolute disgust at public buses? Ugh. Ray Romano once mentioned in "Everybody Loves Raymond", "A public bus is like a smelly feet contest". No Ray, you're wrong. A public bus is more like inside a hamster's cage, when you've not changed the wood shavings for months. Yes, it can be that smelly in sunny, clean Singapore. And what's worse, the service I use to commute from school, service 80, is a top contender for any smell-worthy award.

Hell, it could be a tourist attraction itself. Heh. Service 80 goes through Chinatown, where they'll pick up mean hobos, pick up old fogeys with unmedicated depression, and old women who do not hesitate to spit in the bus. Oh and not to mention the fair share of people who keep talking to themselves in the bus (with full articulation, no less). Then, the bus will head to Clarke Quay, where they'll pick up party-goers fresh out of the Ministry of Sound. Next up will be Bugis, where people push and shove to board the bus. Bugis will also bring aboard another host of weirdos. And the last interesting stop, it goes through Geylang, Singapore's premier red-light district. Where prostitutes and scum gather.

I'm not grouping both together. Prostitution is an honest living, though frowned upon. But natrually red-light districts just attracts scum-of-the-earth. Which is alright by me, but don't these guys like shower, ever? Look, cigarettes doesn't musk that hamster smell dude. Sheesh.

Don't even get me started on pig swill.

Everyday I get Singapore, encapsulated on a ten-wheeler (yes, buses have ten wheels). If you don't have a car, and is forced to use public transport, here's your break, in the form of Camera Obscura. And if you do have a car, just download it anyways.

Camera Obscura - "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken"
Camera Obscura - "If Looks Could Kill"
Camera Obscura - "Let's Get Out of This Country"

Bonus:
Jim Noir - "Eanie Meanie" (the adorable track in the Adidas ad)
Jim Noir - "My Patch" (Hot Chip Remix)
Sufjan Stevens - "The Henny Buggy Band"

Sorry, If the post seems a bit rushed. I gotta get dressed for school. I'll probably introduce Camera Obscura in the next post. For now, just put this on your iPod and go board the bus.

Enjoy!

JACKIE IS A PUNK/JUDY IS A RUNT!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 11:59:00 +0000

Whoa. Seems like a bit of time has passed since the last post.

In the time I was absent, I:
- Watched almost all World Cup matches telecast.
- Wagered on Angola (Dammit).
- Didn't do (almost) all of my homework.
- Watched The Royal Tenenbaums 2 times.
- Bought 3 albums in the past day
- Revisited Monseiur Gainsbourg.

Speaking of Gainsbourg, I bought his tribute album today, "Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited". An excellent compilation, with Franz Ferdinand, Jane Birkin, The Rakes, Portishead, Chan "Cat Power" Marshall, Carla Bruni and Placebo, just to name a few, doing the English adaptations.

If you don't what he has done in the past century, ask yourself what hasn't he done;
Serge Gainsbourg, the singer - songwriter - Pygmalion - actor - filmmaker - author - entertainer - agitator - gambler - ladys man, a man whose many facets reflect in each other to form one of the most dazzling prisms in twentieth-century French culture, and whose sparkle now spreads well beyond both France and the century.

Inspiring a whole generation of artists, from Beck to Portishead, Massive Attack to Sonic Youth, his vision could only be rivalled by David Bowie. With that being said, I won't sum him up- because I can't. Go to your local record stores to pick up his records, then you'll know what I mean.

Oh, and I picked up the Mystery Jets' new LP today, "Making Dens". One of my most anticipated albums in the past two years, though I was a tad disappointed with the early demos I heard of the band. Featured in Dazed and Confused in June last year, and a personal favourite of Matt Tong of Bloc Party, this band is about as honest as white bread, and more exciting than prawn sandwiches. Alright, that didn't sound too convincing. Matt can explain it better. "When people tell me they're breaking all the rules of rock, I think to myself that there were never aware of any to break in the first place. The Mystery Jets are perfectly uncontrived. I also like the fact that it means nothing to the Mystery Jets to go to an 80s night in Leeds and breakdance. Finally, I'm jealous because I always wanted to be in a band with my dad but he's into Christian rock and Kenny G."

Reasons to love Mystery Jets: Quirky, Father-and-son playing alongside each other, charmingly honest, sounds like an ancient Bloc Party, and they sing songs that makes you wanna laugh at them (before you laugh at yourself).

I watched The Royal Tenenbaums twice in the last two days, and I'm probably gonna watch it after this. It is practically impossible not to love a Wes Anderson film. The eccentric quirks, brilliant cast, brilliant acting, brilliant storytelling and an equally brilliant soundtrack. His previous outing, The Life Aquatic used mostly David Bowie's songs, and in Tenenbaums, it's The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Nico, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, The Clash, amongst others.

It's now my joint-favourite film, alongside Lost In Translation. Whether I'll watch it 15 times like I did with LiT, I can't say for sure.

I think I'm in love with Margot.

Serge Gainsbourg - Initial BB
Serge Gainsbourg - Couleur Café
Srege Gainsbourg - NEW YORK USA

Jane Birkin - Jane B

Mystery Jets - You Can't Fool Me Dennis (from Making Dens)
Mystery Jets - The Tale
Mystery Jets - Lizzy's Lion

Bonus Tracks:
The Velvet Underground & Nico - I'm Waiting For the Man
The Clash - Rock The Casbah (Live in Jamaica; 1982) (Featured in The Royal Tenenbaums)
The Arctic Monkeys - The View From The Afternoon
SOUND Team - Monster
Cat Power - The Greatest
Cat Power - Where Is My Love

914 Studio Demos (this is pretty rare stuff):
The Ramones - I Don’t Wanna Go Down to the Basement
The Ramones - 53rd and 3rd
The Ramones - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
The Ramones - Judy Is a Punk (Featured in The Royal Tenenbaums)
The Ramones - Loudmouth
The Ramones - Judy Is a Punk (Studio)

Alright, here's a little something I learnt in the "Design in Context" class today.

Quote of The Day: "These Egyptian hieroglyphics clearly show that, after you die, and your heart weighs less than the feather, you'll go to NEVADA."

I don't know which is more hilarious. Mispronouncing 'Nirvana', or declaring 'Sin City' the new Heaven. Eat your heart out, Mr. Cobain.

Viva Las Vegas.

Bad Diary Days

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 16:19:00 +0000

Okay, here's a picture of Lily Allen from last month's i-D magazine, for those of you who were probably too lazy to click on the links. Oh, and for those of you who are probably having the Monday blues.

Nothing happened today though. Just realised that all my thumbnails for my Illustrator class just went into the toilet because of a change of brief.

Ah well.

Anyways, here's a joke I thought was pretty fab.

Doctor Dave had slept with one of his patients and felt guilty all day long. No matter how much he tried to forget about it, he just couldn't. The guilt and sense of betrayal was overwhelming. But every once in a while he'd hear an internal, reassuring voice in his head that said:

"Dave, don't worry about it. You aren't the first medical practitioner to sleep with one of their patients, and you won't be the last. And you're single. Just let it go, Dave."

But invariably another voice in his head would bring him back to reality, whispering:

"Dave.....
Dave.....
Dave, you sick bastard
You're a vet."

Heh. And this as well.

Alright, before I sign off, here's a couple tunes for the trip to work tomorrow (after another World Cup-induced night). With everyone wearing heavy eye-bags and with your (probably) pissed off boss tomorrow, it looks like you're gonna get the Tuesday blues as well.

Just don't yell something stupid, like tubby demonstrated above.

Good luck.

The "Sunshine" Soundtrack
Bobby Darin - "Splish Splash"
The Prototypes - "Je Ne Te Connais Pas"
Nina Simone - "I Got Life"
Corinne Bailey Rae - "Put Your Records On"
Herman's Hermits - "I'm Into Something Good"
Lily Allen - "LDN"
Arctic Monkeys - Cigarette Smoke (Demo)

And I apologise that the "Ram It Home" link is dead, worst thing is that I can't find my copy as well. Anyways, here's another equally good We Are Scientists song: "In Action" (thanks to bhlogiston for the heads-up!)

See you tomorrow then. Same time, same channel.

k.i.s.s.i.n.g.s.e.x.i.n.g.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:19:00 +0000

Busy busy.

- Sorry for the lack of posts these couple of days, have been extremely busy. Busy with school, busy with work, yada yada.

- I hardly have time for myself nowadays, and the World Cup makes it worse.

- Anyways, I caught "She's The Man" today with Dennis, Vincent, and Wah. Really fabulous show. Well, the main reason I liked it was because it was based on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night". Nah, who am I kidding, Amanda Bynes is the only reason I wanted to watch it.

- School has been a 'lil monotonous the past week; and ironically, my current iPod fave is Hot Chip's "Over and Over" (and over and over and over and over...).

- And I was supposed to hand in my Class Transfer Appeal letter on Thursday, but I didn't (sorry 1V!). I thought, it would seem really bad, as I got to know the lads, then dump them to go back to my former class (though 1V was the best class ever, and I don't think that anything else that happens in NAFA can top that). Heh, and no, Russell Lee had not influenced my decision in any way.

- Have found my new favourite store- Actually. And yes, all I wanted was this cool bag but I had to buy some shit to get it. The cool shit includes a Local Celebrity tee and Fender slippers. And I'm still deliberating on the Lucky jeans and the CBGB tee.

- Was reading the May issue of the Brit mag i-D, and was pretty excited to see Lily Allen inside. Was surfing Gorilla vs. Bear just now, and was pretty excited to see Lily Allen inside.

- Oh, and my current soundtrack-of-the-week also includes We Are Scientists' "Ram It Home", and Art Brut's "Good Weekend".

- Art Brut: "Got myself a BRAND NEW GIRLFRIEND!"
We Are Scientists: "All my friends ask if my girlfriend's pretty. I said I don't know; I only look at her titties.
Art Brut: "I saw her naked TWICE!"

- Yes, those are the actual lyrics.

- Kinda had a topsy-turvy kinda week. Yes, I only use kiddie vocabulary when I'm serious. Was so psyched after our previous match (which we lost 4-1 by the way), the passion died down midweek, and was ignited last night by Deutchland. I never liked German football, but Klinsmann's side plays the kind of attacking football that makes you just want to go up and lick your plasma telly.

- And SLK-ians, watch out for my goal Lahm-esque tomorrow.

- Speaking of topsy-turvy, I thought for the whole week that Lily Allen was the new "It" gurl, only to be overthrown by Amanda Bynes hours before, then after seeing Lily on Gorilla vs. Bear, it's Ms. Allen again.

- She smokes. She drinks. Oh and she sings also.

- Lily Allen reminds me of: Feist, Regina Spektor, Nelly Furtado, Brazil, Esthero, summer, Mattafix, Ella Fitzgerald, Cuba, Lindsay Lohan, vodka tonic by the beach bar, piano loops, window shopper... (her album comes out on the 17th of July)

- Lily Allen reminds Pitchfork of: " Lily's debut single "LDN" is breezy, lilting summertime pop, a horn-tinged tribute to London-- loving without being fawning, charming without being all winks and nods."

- Caught the England/Paraguay match just now at a café. What a bore. And what's the fuss with Peter Crouch? Apparently nobody can tell that he totally sucks.

- I'm increasingly attracted to Chinatown.

- Noise you should listen to (all highly recommended):
Lily Allen - LDN
Lily Allen - Smile
Lily Allen - Friday Night
Lily Allen - Friend of Mine
Lily Allen - Mixtape 1
Lily Allen - Mixtape 2

Babyshambles - Killamangiro
Röyksopp - Only This Moment
The White Stripes - Blue Orchid
Hot Chip - Over and Over
Interpol - Evil
Interpol - Obstacle 1
Art Brut - Good Weekend
We Are Scientists - Ram It Home

You can find these bands at HMV.

- "The bottom feels so much better than the top!"

- Later.

"And The Door Opens to Reveal- Nothing."

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 10:58:00 +0000

Whiteshadow:
"Minions, I have summoned you here today to announce a new member of our group. A new villan to add to our pantheon of evil that I have assembled. Please welcome - Dangerdoom!"

Alright, this man (or mouse, if you must) needs no introduction. But here goes it anyways. One of the pioneers in Bastard Pop, or Mash-ups, as teenyboppers prefer to call it, you might have heard his mix on the Jay-Z vs. Beatles track, "Encore". Still remember the Grey album?

Under the monkier Dangerdoom, he mixes old-school hip-hop with subtle modern cuts. No talking about 24-inch Cadillacs, no rhyming about sexcapades, no gangsta pretence, just slick hip-hop, with drawling vocals, and with a modern/old-school touch. Listening to his records, you feel as if the sounds, the vocals are spontaneous, and at times, even incidental. If you were into hip-hop in the '80s, you'll dig this. If you were in to N.W.A. (and/or DJ Shadow), you'll dig this. If you were a fan of "The Price is Right" (yes, the gameshow), you'll (also) dig this. Heh.

Alright, back to the man himself. He has mixed tunes for the Gorillaz, and (you should know this already), he is one half of Gnarls Barkley. And after spending so many weeks at the top, he's deleting his no. 1 single, "Crazy", to focus on his follow-up single "Smiley Faces".

Speaking in the character of Gnarls Barkley, the band explained in a statement: "I consider myself a realist. I suppose that goes for most of us. But I have found a way to at once hold them, fold them, walk away and run. This was not a painless decision. But pain is nothing but a bi-product of beauty. Potentially toxic, to be sure, but that's all it is."

Salute.

Occult Hymn EP
1. Dangerdoom - Skit 1
2. Dangerdoom - El Chupa Nibre Remix
3. Dangerdoom - Perfect Hair II
4. Dangerdoom - Korn Dogz
5. Dangerdoom - Skit 2
6. Dangerdoom - Sofa King Remix
7. Dangerdoom - Space Ho's (Madlib Version)

Bonus:
Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (Live)

Free EP courtesy of Dangerdoom and adultswim.com.

Signing off now, gonna have some dinner. I'll probably post some Art Brut tomorrow.

"Every Spaceman know you've gotta have Space Ho's! Even Spacegirls know it."

Steady As She Goes.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 13:54:00 +0000

Ugh. I have been feeling absolutely horrid the past couple of days. Down with the bloody flu (oh, and for good measure why don't we throw in a little sore throat as well?), and compelled by the fact that I'm the only doofus from the old 1V who can't join up with the same class next year. Someone up there doesn't fancy me too much. Ha.

Amateur Footy League's coming up on Sunday, and I had best be in better shape soon. I just hate being sick. It's different if you banged up your arm, or getting bruised; being sick feels worse.

And you always have to drink a mélange of different-smelling, dark coloured mysterious Chinese herbal drinks. One of which, is pictured on the right, on the Hoegaarden coaster. Taken with my bloody cell phone camera, it manages to make Lost In Translation DVD look like a porno.

The only good to come out of any of these, is that I'll hopefully be getting my freelance paycheck in the next couple of days, and it's gonna be a toss up between the Zara blazer or the Freitag bag from Actually. These are the few perks when you don't have a girlfriend. And besides, the Freitag's equally attractive.

Okay. That was the flu talking, so I'll better stop here. And for the record, girls are definately more attractive.

Need to get some rest for footy training tomorrow, so I'll leave you with an extract on the Red Hot Chili Willies, I mean Peppers. And some live tracks. For good measure.

(text extract courtesy of LeedsUnited.com)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have unleashed a two-CD set, ‘Stadium Arcadium’, on Warner Bros. Records. ‘Stadium Arcadium’ is a 28 track double album with discs entitled ‘Jupiter’ and ‘Mars’.

The band — Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith — entered the studio last March with producer Rick Rubin (Beastie Boys, System Of A Down) to commence work upon the album in the same house in the Hollywood Hills where they recorded 1991’s groundbreaking, multi-platinum album ‘BloodSugarSexMagik’.

"We set out to write 13 songs," says Kiedis. "But as has been the case every time we've tried to do that, we ended up with 30-some-odd songs. The difference this time was we ended up liking all of those songs and finishing all of those songs, and it actually became a very difficult process to even whittle it down to 28." "Every album we do, we try to have a concept and a sense of direction," Frusciante explains. "The most important idea for this album was movement." Smith elaborates, "Something new is constantly being introduced, in every chorus or verse, whether it's a backing vocal or a guitar part, a different rhythm or an unexpected style." "The chemistry was in better order than in a long time," Kiedis told Spin earlier this year. "Everyone is frighteningly happy at the moment." Although he says he's again exploring "the dark and nefarious side of Los Angeles” in his lyrics, he clarifies, “but not in a judgmental sense," venturing, "It's all about the joy of dysfunction."

The lead single, ‘Dani California’, debuted worldwide on April 3rd and was supported by a video directed by Tony Kaye (‘American History X’) portraying a history of rock 'n' roll. The ‘Jupiter’ CD track listing comprises: ‘Dani California’, ‘Snow (Hey Oh)’, ‘Charlie’, ‘Stadium Arcadium’, ‘Hump de Bump’, ‘She's Only 18’, ‘Slow Cheetah’, ‘Torture Me’, ‘Strip My Mind’, ‘Especially in Michigan’, ‘Warlocks’, ‘C'mon Girl’, ‘Wet Sand’ and ‘Hey’. The ‘Mars’ disc features: ‘Desecration Smile’, ‘Tell Me Baby’, ‘Hard to Concentrate’, ‘21st Century’, ‘She Looks to Me’, ‘Readymade’, ‘If’, ‘Make You Feel Better’, ‘Animal Bar’, ‘So Much I’, ‘Storm in a Teacup’, ‘We Believe’, ‘Turn It Again’ and ‘Death of a Martian’. ‘Stadium Arcadium’ will also be available in a limited-edition black box that includes the 28-song, two-CD set, plus a DVD with the ‘Dani California’ video and behind-the-scenes “making of the video footage; a one-hour band interview; a 28-page booklet; original artwork by the band; and "special space-age discoveries."

Kiedis says of the double album’s title: "I hope it means something different to everyone, but to me, in the chorus of the song 'Stadium Arcadium’, I get the feeling of being off in the wilderness with a large group of people creating a huge light, playing music for those people and reflecting the love that's going on between us and them."

"I think we're aware that we're all vehicles of something much bigger than ourselves," Flea allows. "And we also know it's up to us to do the footwork to get in a position to receive all this energy flying around. Spirituality can be a pretty vague term, but each of us in our own way is interested in looking beyond what's directly in front of our face."

‘Stadium Arcadium’ is the ninth album from the Chili Peppers and the first since 2002's ‘By The Way’, which sold more 1.6-million copies in the UK alone. All told, the band has sold more than 50 million albums and enjoyed UK Top 20 success with nine singles.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California(Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Don't Forget Me (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Charlie (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Me And My Friends (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul to Squeeze (Live)
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away (Live)

Enjoy these "live" tracks from their concert in Spain, then go buy the album.

I'll return tomorrow with Dangerdoom's new EP, Occult Hymn. Which will be up here for you to download, absolutely FREE. All seven tracks.

So, see you tomorrow then.

"Goodnight everybody! Gimme money!"

Camcorder+Mouth+Editing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 May 2006 13:32:00 +0000

Hyperactive - Lasse Gjertsen

Decided to post something different today. Lasse Gjertsen is an animation student from Norway; you can check out more of his student work here. Very interesting stuff.

He says:
"Drumsolo" using only a camcorder, my mouth and timeconsuming editing :P NO IT'S NOT PROPER BEATBOXING, I KNOW. But that wasn't my aim either :P Trust me, my grampa is doing better beatboxing I possibly could when he's choking on his painkillers, sounds awesome!

My only question is, how wet was the keyboard at the end of it? Looks like a lot of spit, eh?

You should probably check out his "Machine Man" video too. Very cutting edge, but with a Lo-fi feel to it.

Inspired.

"Did Someone Order a Cunt?"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 May 2006 16:36:00 +0000

Alright, remember the last time you actually ran out of swear words to swear with?

Of course you do. Here are some words to help ensure you don't get tongue-tied the next time the maid washes your Man. United jersey with your whites.

And while you're at it, here's a picture for you to practise swearing at.

(courtesy of Kontraband.com)
Your Dad was in Brokeback Mountain

When your mate knocks at the door. Open it and say, 'did someone order a Cunt?'

If I throw a stick will you fuck off?

Go take your face for a shit! (put loads of emphasis in the word 'shit')

Thundercunt!

Hairybubbleofspunk

Son of a wankstained syphilitic motherless goat

You have a face like a bulldog licking piss off a nettle!

Cuntybollocks

Mongloid

Ya Fanbelt

You have a face like a slapped arse.

Cardboard face

Your mother is a hampster and your father smelt of elderberries!!!

Ass-raping-kiddie-fiddler

Are you Coconutman's love child?

ShitFacedCockmaster

Cum-guzzling thundertwat!

I used to have that exact same jumper! Then i got a job.

You so ugly when you were born the doctor slapped ya mama

Speculate on their mums hairy armpits. "She looks like she has got bob marley in a headlock"

You are as good as a cock flavoured lollypop

You have a face like a dropped pie!

Your face looks like it's been set on fire and put out with a shovel

Ebaums World Fan !

Fucknuckle

Twunt

Turbo cunt

Turd Botherer

Sheep enthusiast

She had a fanny like a wizards sleeve

An old classic. Hold up your middle finger and say "Smell your mum!"

Okay. If you're wondering, I didn't compose the above. I've got better things to do.

Audio posts will return on Wednesday, as I will be busy over Monday and Tuesday, orientating NAFA's freshmen. Hopefully that turns out well.

Until then.

Soviet Kitsch.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 May 2006 16:10:00 +0000

There are only a couple of songs that nobody could ever hate.

Jem's "Wish I" and "Just a Ride", Leslie Feist's "Mushaboom". Then along comes Regina Spektor's "Fidelity".

There are a lot of playlists in my iPod, but (somewhat ironically) I only listen to two of them. The ones named "Indie" and "Sunshine". "Sunshine" contains happy songs mostly. Iggy Pop, T-Rex, Gang of Four, BRMC, and heroin junkie Pete Doherty's Babyshambles. Oh, and not to forget Jem and Feist.

I haven't updated it until recently, on my Indie playlist, I heard "Fidelity", by Regina Spektor (pictured above).

Her voice, pleasantly similar to Leslie Feist's, with a more haunting PJ Harvey-like quality, lists (hold your breath here) so much classical music, Bach, Mozart, Chopin and countless many more, The Beatles, Queen, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Bjork, Radiohead, Nirvana, Patti Smith, Billie Holiday, Luis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Vladimir Vysotsky, Eminem, Leonard Cohen, John Lennon, David Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Edith Piaf, so much more rock, hip hop, jazz, punk and possibly you as her musical influences.
Born in Moscow, raised in the Bronx, you may have heard of Regina on The Strokes's track, Post Modern Girls a while back. Legend has it she met Julian Casablancas in a vocal booth while the Strokes were on tour in 2003.

Her album "Soviet Kitsch" is in stores now, receiving a 6.8 from the indie authority, Pitchfork. One of the better pop/folk releases in recent times, it kinda reminds you of cola candy.

Sweet, refreshingly fizzy, and strangely addicitve.

The Strokes - Post Modern Girls (feat. Regina Spektor)

Regina Spektor - Us (highly recommended)
Regina Spektor - Fidelity (highly recommended)
Regina Spektor - Better
Regina Spektor - On The Radio
Regina Spektor - Summer In The City
Regina Spektor - Us (mc DJ Remix)

Her new album "Begin to Hope" will hit the stores on June 13th, so look out for that.

Alright, signing out now. Gonna grab me some grub.

G'nite.

This Summer...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 23 May 2006 19:29:00 +0000

"10 Things I Hate About Commandments"

The Samuel L. Jackson part just kills me.

Audio posts will return tomorrow, with some Regina Spektor.

That's all folks!

Another Suppertime in The Hole

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 22 May 2006 09:40:00 +0000

The Cold War Kids.

Playing at The Social in London tonight, this band once dubbed the "best unsigned act" on the Indie scene, is an absolute wonder. If you haven't downloaded "Hospital Beds" on my previous post, you really should.

Indie bloggers all around have lauded "Hospital Beds" as a potential song-of-the-year contender, and it's hard to see why not.

This band is a refreshing kick, to the recent rise of bands, like Franz Ferdinand and the Arctic Monkeys, who revolutionised/popularised hook-after-hook of jarring rock. Which isn't bad, really. But if you have grown-up from your old Black Rebel Motorcycle Club LPs, like Peter Hayes has, you'll love the Cold War Kids.

A touch of folk (or "freak folk", if you'd rather), they sound like The Band-meets-Devendra Banhart. Sparse percussion, two note bass lines, bluesy-rock and "fluttering Buckley-esque vocals", and as Ryan Schreiber adds, "at their heart, they write really good songs...", you can be sure of this act.

Their highly-anticipated album looks to hit the stores soon, and (as usual) every indie kid will be looking for Pitchfork's verdict. Until then, enjoy these cuts from their EPs.

Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds (highly recommended)
Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry (highly recommended)
Cold War Kids - Tell Me In The Morning
Cold War Kids - The Soloist In The Living Room
Cold War Kids - Heavy Boots (highly recommended)

The Band - Ophelia
The Band - Helpless (with Neil Young)

Devendra Banhart - Bluebird
Devendra Banhart - I Feel Just Like a Child

Signing out.

Down on Your Hands and Knees.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 May 2006 17:26:00 +0000

The Raconteurs.

Gawd help you if you haven't heard of them. And don't cringe, Indie kids- they're every bit as good as they look. Their songs have been played over the radio (that means bad in Singapore,'cuz we don't have a Indie/Alt. Rock station, but instead share the airwaves with the likes of the eff-ing Pussycat Dolls.), but don't take anything away from this "supergroup".

With the jarring, gilted-edged, eclectic, non-conformist, brand of alternative/rock/punk brought into the mix by Jack White, up with the talents of brilliant singer/songwriter (and indie darling), Brendan Benson, they both got together one hot summer and penned a song that "truly inspired them". Steady As She Goes, then.

That inspiration led to the formation of a full band, roping in two-thirds of The Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler (also brilliant by the way).

Alright, enough from me. This should convince you enough.

Brendan Benson: "It's something totally new for me -- two songwriters working together. Dual vocals, dual lead guitars, dual songwriting duties."

The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes" (highly recommended)
The Raconteurs - "Store Bought Bones" (highly recommended)
The Raconteurs - "Together"

Brendan Benson - "What I'm Looking For"
Brendan Benson and The Well-fed Boys - "Metarie"
Brendan Benson - "Alternative to Love"

Their debut LP, Broken Boy Soldiers was released on May 15 in the UK, and 16th in the US. I haven't been to HMV in the past week or so; have been trying to curb my spending. When was the last time I stepped out of HMV empty-handed? Hmm. Don't think I have yet.

Alright, will try to scoot by to see if the album has dropped, then let you know.

And here's a song you shouldn't do without; they're all over the indie blogosphere now.

Cold War Kids - "Hospital Beds"

I'll probably introduce them tomorrow.

Until then.

Only Logical.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 May 2006 17:50:00 +0000

I just wish Singapore had Indie festivals like these.

Alright folks. The Desdemona Music Fest. takes place on the 23rd to the 25th of June in Ohio. It's pretty fab, with The Walkmen, We Are Scientists, Saturday Looks Good To Me, Rogue Wave... amongst others.

So while you can't be there, you can still get your paws on these music at HMV.

In the meantime, live the dream.
WE ARE SCIENTISTS - Inaction
SATURDAY LOOKS GOOD TO ME - Can't Ever Sleep
AU REVOIR SIMONE - Hurricanes
CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY - It Might Be Me
THE SPECTACULAR FANTASTIC - Darkest Hour
T HE WALKMEN - Tenleytown
RADIO 4 - Sink So Low (Live)
HEARTLESS BASTARDS - Onions
MARGOT AND THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO'S - Skeleton Key
THE DOUBLE - Idiocy
RICHARD SWIFT - Lady Day

If the BayBeats organiser is reading this, could we have some better international acts headlining the 2006 show?

Perhaps some Cold War Kids.

Okay, gotta run now. Champion League Final's coming up.

Goodnight.

I Think He's Sand-bagging It.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 May 2006 19:55:00 +0000

While surfing for World Cup news over ESPN, I stumbled upon this nut. Tommy Smyth. It's really hard to miss him, if you click on the "World Cup" link on Soccernet.

From what I gathered, he's Irish, and as you probably can see, looks very much what you'd expect in a garden gnome. Stout, short, and full of crap. Broke his soccer commentary virginity in 1993, he has been terrorising the goggle box for 13 years now.

If you'd ask me, he good for a laugh or so. But shouting in your ear for 90 minutes? You may just cancel your ESPN subscription, as these guys did. Former Patricians will probably recognise some similarities to a fomer student there. The Game-boy-playing, nose-dirt-in-mouth, dandruff gourmet, aptly named C*** P**.

Anyways, I'm a tad sleepy now, so I'm gonna leave you with some oral exerpts from a recent Sportscenter episode, while I dream of my Lotto Zhero Gravity boots. Enjoy. (Audio posts will return on Wednesday. Will be off on a 2-day class Chalet, down at Downtown East.)

(exerpts from Sportscenter)
ESPN Anchorman: Alright, speaking of the (World) Cup Finals. FIFA head, Sepp Blatter, said last week, that any country that makes public racist displays will be docked points. It's a very noble, long-over-due gesture perhaps. This week, he's now backing off the comments. What do you make of it?

Tommy Smyth: Well, the problem with Sepp Blatter is that he has ten ideas, and eleven of them are bad, and not workable. I mean, how are you gonna dock a team three points because there were fans in the stadium who are shouting-racists. It could be opposing fans for all you know... I mean I see Neil Lennon play for Northen Ireland, and they were barking him the whole game. So what do you do? Dock them three points? These are just not gonna happen. Sepp Blatter was trying to be politically correct, and he made a real mess of it.

ESPN Anchorman: So that was just it, a politically-correctness stab...

Tommy Smyth: Yeah, well, Sepp is one of these guys- He gets up in the morning, and some reporter... and then later changes his mind. His latest crusade is that England shouldn't have a foreign coach; that England should have an English coach. Mind your own businsess Sepp!

(lifted from dangerhere.com)
As Champions League matches are aired around 3 pm in North America I tend to follow them on the web. However, for the Madrid Juventus game I sat down to listen to the great man and was not disappointed.

Before the game even kicks off, Tommy is off to a great start.
“There is a shot of Juan Carlos, the Spanish King. There is royalty here, besides ourselves.”
Good one Tommy, except you are in a television studio in the US watching the game on TV like the rest of us.

Ten minutes in, after some borderline guff, Tommy decides to add some levity to the situation.
“Well, I’ll make a prediction that there will be at least one Italian team in the final”
This is greeted with much mirth by his sycophantic co-commentator.

A couple of minutes later the great man informs us that "Thuram is not the greatest attacker in the world”
No disputing that Tommy, but if you meant to say attacking defender then you obviously forgot about the 1998 World Cup.

Only fifteen minutes into the game and Tommy produces a gem.
“Roberto Carlos, left back may be his address but you never find him home there”

A few minutes later he informs the viewers that, “it is all tactics, it so tactical out there” without any reference to any particular tactic. We also learn that “Nedved is a great story” without finding out just what kind of story that is.

These are just a few of the many non sequiturs that Tommy litters his commentary with.

Still only at 20 minutes in Tommy starts banging on about ‘catenaccio’ without actually explaining to his viewers what the Italian term for a certain defensive strategy means. As my father would say Tommy, “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”

Four minutes later Ronaldo opens the scoring with a side footed shot around the advancing Buffon. However, I and the rest of the viewers must be mistaken because according to Tommy, the Brazilian, “slides it off the outside of his boot”

Shortly afterwards, the Nedved story continues apace and we are informed that, “he really hasn’t done very little in the midfield.”

My word, we are only half an hour into the game and Tommy is inching me closer and closer to selecting the Spanish commentary.

33 minutes and images of a firing squad outside the visitors dressing room are conjured up as Tommy declares that Madrid “don’t want to go to Turin with Juventus alive”

34 minutes - “What did I say about catenaccio?” Not sure Tomster.

38 minutes - “I don’t want to keep harping on about it but Figo is having a field day out there”
Nah Tommy, 8 references in the first 30 minutes to how Figo is getting the better of Birindelli is not excessive. Not at all.

45 minutes - Trezeguet scores for Juventus and Tommy delights his viewers around the world by telling us how the Frenchman, “bulges the corner of the auld onion bag”

My word, I need a cup of tea or something stiffer.

Second Half

Ronaldo is substituted and Tommy confesses that, “I have no idea what went on, complete mystery as far as I am concerned.”
Mr. Smyth, it is you who say it.

60:00 - Tommy gets all tangled up previewing the first leg of the Milan Derby, “Must he hard to convince yourself you’re playing on the road when you’re playing at home.”

66:00 - Tommy waxes lyrical about Juventus as they push forward, “They are a very very good side irregardless of how many men they have short.”

73:00 - Roberto Carlos scores a controversial goal and I eagerly await Tommy’s denouement.
“For my interpretation of that rule you should change that rule; passive offside. Rule was done perfectly but I still don’t agree with it.”
Clear as mud Tommy.

87:00 - “Synergy, I love that word - don’t you? Sometimes you keep the good wine till last.”
If by good wine you mean vinegar...

88:00 - Real Madrid are caught offside and Tommy elucidates what transpired. “There was a little daylight there (i.e. between attacker and defender - I think!) although it is actually night time. You know what I mean.”

To which his beleaguered co-commentator J.P. Dellacamera replies, “I’ve worked with you so long I actually understand you.”

What bollocks.

Goodnight.

Mes Amis. Football is Like Fencing. (Announcement)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 11 May 2006 19:10:00 +0000

Alright mates. Introducing the new SLK logo.
I've made two for you guys to choose, though personally, I really like B.

The idea behind A, was to basically show that we are progressing as a team. Still remember the times when we got whooped bad? Betcha can't. That shows how far we've come, how SLK has matured as a team. Though now it's mostly us handing out the whoop-ass, we are still progressing, and still learning.

For B, it's a sleek, modern, clean logo. Lower-case letters were used, to represent the youth that still lurks in our play, while the flame is a reminder to kick ass, Roy-Keane-style. It also represents the determined spirit that we should always play with. We're in the AFL, and we definately mean business.

So, lemme know what you think of it.
And when you do read this, message me on my PHONE, to VOTE which you'd prefer (for SLK FC players only. Sorry!), 'cause these have to be sent in to be printed on Saturday, together with our spanking new Home Kit.

Alright, signing out.

Days of Our Lives.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 May 2006 17:18:00 +0000

The past few days have been uneventful, been losing sleep over my Newcastle team in Football Manager 2005. Still pretty fun, though. Who would have thought that even the Magpies could grab the last Champions League spot? And who would have thought that Alan Shearer and Kluivert would miss 13 out of 15 penalty shots? Utter rubbish. Now when I'm awarded penalties, I don't expect them to score. I hate FM so much. But I can't seem to stop playing it.

We had the 4-Man B'day Bash for Augustine/Chubby/Daryl/Mark on Saturday, with SLK. Pretty fun, to catch up with the fellas, especially Mark, whom I haven't seen in a while. Highlight of the event? When Terence, I and Meng pulled off an elaborate plan, and caked Daryl. Heh, sorry man. Revenge is sweet. Like, strawberry-cake-with-banana-topping sweet.

Just kidding man, don't kill me when my birthday comes 'round.

Have you met a stranger, you knew for only 2 days, but knew you wanted to be with her forever? I can't believe I'm still thinking about her. Honestly. People around are getting attached, and watching DVDs on the couch together, and I'm still cutting a lone figure in front of the iMac.

I mean if I wanted to, I could have easily joined the DVD club. But the truth is, I haven't found someone I wanted to be with yet (save for her, obviously). Sometimes you see people together, young couples, pensioners, have you ever wondered, do they really love each other? Or is it societal pressure? Or is it a marriage of convenience? If you decide to go steady with this girl, just because you're single/bored, what happens when you find the one?

Then, sometimes it just hits you. I don't know why I liked her then, and I still don't know now. But I just wanted to be with her.

I could have asked her out, but I didn't. Was I still trying to play hard-to-get? Or did I even care to ask her out?

I'll never find out.

It's The Smiling On The Package.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 10 May 2006 16:13:00 +0000

Orientation is looming. Newbies, wannabes, and posers- the whole lot. And then you have designers. I'm pretty excited about it. Meeting the freshmen. My friend's joining as well, and her of course.

This year, word is going around that they're increasing the cohort. Bloody amazing. As if the facilities aren't stretched to it's limits already.

The lecturers will never forget to remind you how many design students graduate from school each year. But then, look around. Your Satanic headbangers, your Harajuku wannabes, your Bathing Ape pretenders, and the worst? Those who keep flashing/pretending-to-read their designer mags on the train, so that strangers can see. I'm sorry to say most of the people you meet around school are fakes.

The real designers, they're a rare bunch. They're the nerds with the Warhol spectacles, the geek who loves his Alan Moore comics, the kid who adores foreign films, your Indie fan, and the effortlessly stylish boys and girls. Which is probably why Armando hopes Class 1V will still stay intact for the next semester, at least.

A lecturer said recently, that the industry's perception of NAFA's students is going into the shitter. Well, he didn't exactly say that, but it's implied. No thanks to these fucking posers. Look at the whole cohort. To be honest, there are only a handful of talented people. The rest, are just there to make up the numbers. It's easy to pass, to fall through the crack, especially if it's a huge one.

Stefan Sagmeister: Only study Graphic Design if you love it. If you want to be a fine artist (or a potter, or a...) and study Graphic Design because of some vague promise of money, don't. It won't work. The people who love it will always do better work. And they will earn the money.