Hey! It's England! And the morning! And the BBC! This is fun! I love BBC in the morning at my grandparents' house. I just ate a croissant. America's croissants aren't nearly as good as those you get in Marks and Spencers, and it's such a shame. My family are discussing whether the thing they can see in the garden is a fox or a flowerpot. I'm watching a cooking show. Could this BE more English?!
I've decided to blog to you intermittently over the course of today, as today is going to be a little bit crazy and rushed. Nevertheless, I'm extremely excited. Jet lag is a wonderful thing, if only because it allows me to get up earlier in the morning and watch crappy TV and go outside when it's cold. This is a great morning. Hey, my grandmother has just presented my mother with three bottles of white wine. Why this is happening at 10 in the morning, I couldn't say.
Anyway, I should back up a few days first.
On Tuesday, I went to Concord in the afternoon with my mother, as she was looking for 'quirky' gifts for some English friends of hers. 11 months she has to buy gifts, and she starts looking literally on the last day. We didn't have very long to look, but she found necklaces in a place we've been to before. I had to get back quickly so I got a drink and we left, when a thunderstorm started. I had a few minutes after getting back, and then in the evening I went to my friend's house. That was a whole lot of fun. It was with some people who I'd only met like once before so it was a bit weird at first, but it got normal pretty quickly. They all swam but I didn't feel like it, so I just sat on the side for that first part of the night and listened to music. After that we went inside and had food, and observed his younger siblings being hilarious(ly awkward). Afterwards we went outside and played Manhunt in the dark and again, Manhunt isn't really my thing but I hung out on the deck for whichever team was convenient at the time. After everyone left I played Animal Crossing for a few minutes. That was a really awesome day.
My family always pack on the last day. it may sound nightmarish, and trust me it is, but since we didn't have to go until the late afternoon this could have been worse. It turned out I couldn't really fit all my clothes in my suitcase, so that was a problem, and there were issues with electronics and what have you, so that took away most of the day, though there was a bit of time after to read. Headed to the airport at about 5 ish. Not too busy and no flight delays, got through security quickly, had dinner, and got on the flight.
It's always fun, hearing English accents on the cabin crew on Virgin Atlantic flights. We got off the ground quickly and were faced with a surprisingly short flight(5 and 3/4 hours. Thank the jet stream). Luckily, I got the good entertainment system this time round so I got to actually choose what I wanted to watch. The first thing I watched was this documentary called the Only Way is Essay, which I've heard loads about. Basically, it follows the lives of a group of 'chavs' in Essex, a place infamous for its poofy-haired, orange-skinned, high-heeled white trash residents. I'm actually from Essex, but I just take that in my stride. The show was brilliant and I can't wait to watch more while I'm here. Unfortunately the Office wasn't on the plane, but THEY ADDED PEEP SHOW TO THE LIST. First year they've done that! It may have taken seven years, but Peep Show has reached that milestone. I also watched 30 Rock(my 2nd time--pretty okayish), Family Guy(getting progressively less clever and funny as time goes by, it seems), the Simpsons(still going strong, if largely ignored, like the opposite of Family Guy), Modern Family(actually not bad), and the Inbetweeners. Oh my god, the Inbetweeners. Everyone in England's been crazy about that show, and this is the first time I've watched it. It's not like comedy genius but, wow, is it addicting. My mind was blown by how awesome Will is...and whoever plays Jay, they're brilliant, that was amazing. But wow, WILL. He's like a young Mark Corrigan, and it's great. Hopefully I can watch more episodes again. The show's like crack. Oh yeah, and my mother accidentally ripped the upholstery off the plastic part of her chair, and there was this god almighty tearing sound throughout the almost-silent cabin.
We had to circle about a bit before landing, Heathrow being insanely busy as always. Getting out of the airport, however, wasn't nearly as bad as it sometimes is. Got our luggage quickly. My grandparents had ordered a taxi for us, so he picked us up and we drove for 90 minutes to get to the house. I listened to Manchester Orchestra and slept for the first time in almost 24 hours. We finally got to my grandparent's house, and I felt dreadful so I forced myself to fall asleep in broad daylight. That afternoon I went down to the corner store, and bought English candy and music magazines. Very interesting to see how things change over the course of a year. We got back and had dinner.
On Friday, we went into the center of town for the afternoon after a slow morning. We're at a tourist-y beach town so naturally we dropped by the beach for a few minutes, which I guess was nice. Then we went food shopping, and went into Boots, where I spotted some lipgloss in every color under the sun, placed with no irony intended among pictures of pouty-lipped women. Then, finally, after 11 months of waiting, I got to back to my favorite store in the entire world...HMV. Oh my god, it's like heaven. Unfortunately I think they're planning to shut down some HMV shops(loss of income, illegal downloading, competition from iTunes, digital generation, you've heard it all before). And I honestly don't know how I'll be able to survive without it in future years. It's like bliss, they have SO many CDs and DVDs and they play awesome music and they have such great deals. I've mentioned the Two CDs for 10 Pounds deal before, and it's great because you can go in there and just buy something you never even considered buying, and you might end up loving it. Also, I got Imelda May's record for three pounds. Three pounds! How about that? Also, the new Kaiser Chiefs album. But looking through the selection, in that moment I just wanted infinite money so I could walk out of that place with twenty CDs--Wild BEasts, Patrick Wolf, Jamie Woon, James Blake, the Horrors, the lot. But two for now will suffice. Oh yes, and my mom bought something by Them Crooked Vultures. Honestly not something I would listen to otherwise, but it's a very slick record. Also I finally found Amlie on DVD! Ahh, the endless list of wonderful things about HMV. One of the things in England I still miss. I think it'd just make being a music fan so much more enjoyable, cause it's something I could do regularly--once a week or something--and I could buy new releases or I could buy old stuff so cheaply, and I would feel like I actually lived in a culture that cares about music. And I mean caring about it in the way that people who are really into music do(not just the godawful pop/emo/shitty gross commercial rock crowds). That would be so, so wonderful. Anyway, enough of HMV for now. In the evening my aunt came by, and I had a great night from then on.
Now, it is currently late in the evening of today. I had a pretty decent day. After that morning I ate lunch outside as a picnic, on these retro picnic mats that are from the actual 70s, and are covered in flowers and swirly patterns and they're just the coolest things. In the afternoon I went shopping at this really cool town near here, mostly to allow my mother to buy gifts for her friends again. So, we went into quirky shops and they had a market, and markets are pretty amazing. We went into furniture shops and I bought stuff at an old-fashioned sweets shop, which I ate secretly in a local cafe. I ended up walking through a lot of the town barefoot. We went swimming at this public pool and it was late so it was really quiet and nice, then in the evening we walked around a park outside. We had curry for dinner and watched trashy TV. The perfect English evening, no?
This is getting pretty ramble-y, so I'll get back to you later in the week. I'll quickly tel you I've been listening to a lot of Arctic Monkeys, Katy B, Them Crooked Vultures, et cetera. Not reading anything terribly interesting at this very second. That's it. Goodnight. Enjoy your summers.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
England in two days.
In the days running up to going to England, I always feel both very excited and slightly sad, as I will be spending the next month away from this place. And when I get back? it's a few days off and then school. School again. In a way this is an end to a part of summer, which is why I don't feel over the moon per se. Don't get me wrong, I love going to England each year, I love seeing everything I miss, but now that I'm cool with this country I miss being here, as well. Also, going to England is always a bit of a business. Luckily I don't have to leave for the airport until late afternoon on Wednesday, but my family always packs at the last minute(myself included), and I've gotten into the habit of waking up at midday this summer, so Wednesday's gonna be pretty stressful. Obviously flights are never fun anyway, but god forbid I get the crappy entertainment system where you can't choose what shows you watch, or if there are delays this year. I have a bunch of stuff left to organize, such as CDs, while I'm still here too. Nevertheless, I'm making a conceited effort to make the best of the upcoming few days, which are gonna be a bit tough.
The best part about flying to england? The obvious: landing. But not just because it's like "THANK CHRIST, IT'S OVER" but because I walk outside and I see signs with different spellings and people with the same accent as me and HMVs and WHSmiths and I walk outside the airport and I feel that cold, smoke-filled English air. Silly stuff like that.
I've made the most of my time here, I think. It's been fun and a great break from a tough school year.
Today, I went to the beach. Had to get up early so I could catch low tide and a walk across to this little island right off shore. It feels like a tropical island because it's so overgrown. Since the weather wasn't very hot, the beach wasn't too crowded. However, we did establish that we were sitting behind a family of Germans(with the best beach umbrellas around, not gonna lie).*The temperature was actually bearable this time, and even the water was fun to be in. Oh yeah, I'm fully aware I'm a lone wolf on this one but I love British beaches. Not when you get an unexpected "heat wave"(anything above like 65 degrees, actually) and the entire country runs to the coast, but when the weather is typical and gray and rainy and you're the only people there because the water is freezing and the sand is wet. I just think it's fun.
Yesterday I went to Borders. Sad that it's closing down I suppose. I know every one's saying that, but I mean it. In the past I actually bought stuff there, books and magazines and all. Society's screwed. I was actually in there that day looking for a specific book...this was the case for, oh, no one else in the crowded store at the time. The response of the average person to Borders closing was not "oh it's a loss of knowledge and the spreading of knowledge and learning and why don't people know the value of the printed word anymore?" which is a contrived but perfectly valid response. No, most people responded with "oh, that's a bit sad. HEY IT'S A SALE LET'S BUY STUFF". So the place was filled with people carrying around trolleys literally grabbing any old thing of the shelves that they may or may not(but probably not) pay any attention to after they get home. "Ooh, flashy cover, and it's ON SALE, I must buy it now." One overhears some shitty conversations too. I'm sorry but if it takes like a 15% discount for you to pick up a fucking book, I think you're pathetic. Where the hell were you guys before? You're the type of person who has all the time in the world to go to a book store, but instead chooses to buy a gimmick like a Kindle and never actually read using it. Jesus Christ. I know I'm like the most illiterate book snob there has even been, but this scene was just a ridiculous demonstration of the stupid things people round here do. I was fuming at the ears by the time I left that place! Luckily, I went out to dinner in the evening and had a slow day. This improved my mood.
Sautrday I made a gooseberry crumble in the morning and went to the mall with some friends in the evening. That was a fun time--I got a book with some of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, and also an Airborne Toxic Event CD. Oh yeah, and another raspberry coolata. I pondered the complications of spending the rest of my life on a diet consisting of nothing but blue raspberry coolatas and bagels. The Apple store was as busy and white as ever. also we got the TVs in the food court to play Ellie Goulding. So overall, that was a fun day.
And Friday, the weather was listed as "dangerously hot", or something like that, so I had to stay out of the sun for most of the day. I went school supply shopping for my sister and again went into a book shop. I'm looking for a book--nothing specific, just any book, any collected works--by John Betjeman. No luck so far. I couldn't find anything else in the store either. Why do so many popular books look terrible? Like, the sort of "beach reading" stuff, my god, it looks awful. They didn't have any of the magazines I like either, sadly. Also, I got ice cream that day.
I finished my school reading book but will likely put off note-taking for some weeks yet. It was okay, a bit repetitive though, and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to get out of it. Dammit. I can't analyze books to save my life' I really can't. Hopefully the essay I'll do in September will end up a bit better than last year's Secret Life of Bees disaster. Not even gonna discuss that.
As for music, I've been listening to a lot of Frankmusik, Arctic Monkeys, Hurts, Imelda May, and other such things. The last couple of months haven't been the best for music for me, you had some great things in winter and spring and them it sort of died out. Apart from Patrick Wolf. Haven't a clue why this has happened, it's probably in my head. With new albums from Beirut and Laura Marling, the Killers and Biffy Clyro recording, and new stuff from Arctic Monkeys and Bon Iver and Elbow still in my mind, why should I be complaining? Answer: I shouldn't. I'm just sick and tired of people fusing dubstep and pop and also reading the NME gush about some Oasis-wannabees. This is not new, but it's frustrating. It's just a blip, I'll find something new soon enough. Oh yeah, Imelda May, she's amazing. She did this jazzy cover of Tainted Love, I could listen to it all day.
Off to watch the Office for one of the last times. Speak to you from across the Atlantic next time, everyone.
* In Europe, if you go to a beach in Spain or Greece or wherever, the Germans are famous for being the first there. A British family can get up at the crack of dawn, but there will always by a group of Germans there first. The fact that this has seemingly transcended the Atlantic made me smile.
The best part about flying to england? The obvious: landing. But not just because it's like "THANK CHRIST, IT'S OVER" but because I walk outside and I see signs with different spellings and people with the same accent as me and HMVs and WHSmiths and I walk outside the airport and I feel that cold, smoke-filled English air. Silly stuff like that.
I've made the most of my time here, I think. It's been fun and a great break from a tough school year.
Today, I went to the beach. Had to get up early so I could catch low tide and a walk across to this little island right off shore. It feels like a tropical island because it's so overgrown. Since the weather wasn't very hot, the beach wasn't too crowded. However, we did establish that we were sitting behind a family of Germans(with the best beach umbrellas around, not gonna lie).*The temperature was actually bearable this time, and even the water was fun to be in. Oh yeah, I'm fully aware I'm a lone wolf on this one but I love British beaches. Not when you get an unexpected "heat wave"(anything above like 65 degrees, actually) and the entire country runs to the coast, but when the weather is typical and gray and rainy and you're the only people there because the water is freezing and the sand is wet. I just think it's fun.
Yesterday I went to Borders. Sad that it's closing down I suppose. I know every one's saying that, but I mean it. In the past I actually bought stuff there, books and magazines and all. Society's screwed. I was actually in there that day looking for a specific book...this was the case for, oh, no one else in the crowded store at the time. The response of the average person to Borders closing was not "oh it's a loss of knowledge and the spreading of knowledge and learning and why don't people know the value of the printed word anymore?" which is a contrived but perfectly valid response. No, most people responded with "oh, that's a bit sad. HEY IT'S A SALE LET'S BUY STUFF". So the place was filled with people carrying around trolleys literally grabbing any old thing of the shelves that they may or may not(but probably not) pay any attention to after they get home. "Ooh, flashy cover, and it's ON SALE, I must buy it now." One overhears some shitty conversations too. I'm sorry but if it takes like a 15% discount for you to pick up a fucking book, I think you're pathetic. Where the hell were you guys before? You're the type of person who has all the time in the world to go to a book store, but instead chooses to buy a gimmick like a Kindle and never actually read using it. Jesus Christ. I know I'm like the most illiterate book snob there has even been, but this scene was just a ridiculous demonstration of the stupid things people round here do. I was fuming at the ears by the time I left that place! Luckily, I went out to dinner in the evening and had a slow day. This improved my mood.
Sautrday I made a gooseberry crumble in the morning and went to the mall with some friends in the evening. That was a fun time--I got a book with some of Edgar Allan Poe's short stories, and also an Airborne Toxic Event CD. Oh yeah, and another raspberry coolata. I pondered the complications of spending the rest of my life on a diet consisting of nothing but blue raspberry coolatas and bagels. The Apple store was as busy and white as ever. also we got the TVs in the food court to play Ellie Goulding. So overall, that was a fun day.
And Friday, the weather was listed as "dangerously hot", or something like that, so I had to stay out of the sun for most of the day. I went school supply shopping for my sister and again went into a book shop. I'm looking for a book--nothing specific, just any book, any collected works--by John Betjeman. No luck so far. I couldn't find anything else in the store either. Why do so many popular books look terrible? Like, the sort of "beach reading" stuff, my god, it looks awful. They didn't have any of the magazines I like either, sadly. Also, I got ice cream that day.
I finished my school reading book but will likely put off note-taking for some weeks yet. It was okay, a bit repetitive though, and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to get out of it. Dammit. I can't analyze books to save my life' I really can't. Hopefully the essay I'll do in September will end up a bit better than last year's Secret Life of Bees disaster. Not even gonna discuss that.
As for music, I've been listening to a lot of Frankmusik, Arctic Monkeys, Hurts, Imelda May, and other such things. The last couple of months haven't been the best for music for me, you had some great things in winter and spring and them it sort of died out. Apart from Patrick Wolf. Haven't a clue why this has happened, it's probably in my head. With new albums from Beirut and Laura Marling, the Killers and Biffy Clyro recording, and new stuff from Arctic Monkeys and Bon Iver and Elbow still in my mind, why should I be complaining? Answer: I shouldn't. I'm just sick and tired of people fusing dubstep and pop and also reading the NME gush about some Oasis-wannabees. This is not new, but it's frustrating. It's just a blip, I'll find something new soon enough. Oh yeah, Imelda May, she's amazing. She did this jazzy cover of Tainted Love, I could listen to it all day.
Off to watch the Office for one of the last times. Speak to you from across the Atlantic next time, everyone.
* In Europe, if you go to a beach in Spain or Greece or wherever, the Germans are famous for being the first there. A British family can get up at the crack of dawn, but there will always by a group of Germans there first. The fact that this has seemingly transcended the Atlantic made me smile.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The summer of the Office, Animal Crossing, Nabokov, Manchester Orchestra, and Blue Raspberry Coolatas.
..and the summer of lengthy titles, it seems.
Hey all.
I've finally gotten round to listening to some people at V. Eminem mostly; I'm excited. Excitement increases with every listen to Love The Way You Lie. It's less than a month now and I cannot wait. Also, I'm going to England in six days. It's gonna be great. There's so much stuff I still miss about being there, but I guess that's to be expected. I'm spending the first week with my grandparents on my mom's side, and I think that's what I'm looking forward to most. Especially board games and Tesco curries and late night TV(Shooting Stars, please?). Ooh, the NME and radio 1 and everything, too. It's kind of surreal, really, going back, as each year I'm more and more used to living in this country instead. It makes it all the more fun, though. How I still, sadly, miss my home land.
So, summer. Que sera sera. In the most great way possible. I really don't miss school at all. I can't remember being this happy through the school year or...in a while. Ha. it's fun. Today, it was about 95 degrees and tomorrow is due to be 100 degrees. Therefore, there wasn't really that much one could comfortably do. The center of town looked dead. My mom got gooseberries so I want to make a gooseberry fool(yum) or a crumble. I went for a walk by a river near here. I listened to Bon Iver's new record again. I don't care if describing it as "endearingly beautiful" is almost sloppy writing, that's the best phrase to sum the record up with. I finished Lolita and loved it. Now I'm onto the summer reading for school. It wouldn't be something I would ever read outside of school but it looks...decent. I suppose. We'll see. it was made into a film which I should see, particularly as I should just watch more films in general. The other day I got into Lord of the Rings again, one of the only film(s) I've ever really liked. I've been into it since the Fellowship of the Ring came out, and I've secretly harbored an obsession with Aragorn ever since. Anyway.
On Wednesday I had my last piano lesson until the very last day of August. A rather strange experience. I've been doing these lessons for more than a year now. I guess I've made progress, and it's been fun. I finally mastered(well, as close to 'mastered' as I am capable of) Habanera. Love that piece. The book I'm working from is more or less just a random collection of classics aimed at my level. The next piece I picked out is by Brahms. There wasn't thought into my picking this piece because, like many pieces in this book, I wasn't familiar with it. However, whoever arranged this has good taste because upon listening to it, I've discovered it's a really wonderful piece. Is it reasonable to develop a liking for a song because you find the notes--the written notes, like if you were to take a picture of the sheet music--more aesthetically pleasing? Is that, loosely, akin to someone liking a poem based on the sound and form of the individual words? That's how I chose this piece and I suppose it's something most people must think about, even those who can't read music, but I'd never thought about it until now. Why am I in such a rambling mood tonight? Gosh.
Oh yes, I think I've mentioned to you the vocal student who's next door while I take my lessons. I'm going to keep you updated with what she sings, I think, because the event's always quite something. Not because she's particularly good, mind, but because she can belt. My god, can she belt. Through sound-proofed walls and all the force my fingers can put on the piano keys, her voice still reaches me. Now for the past few weeks she's been singing this nondescript power ballad about falling apart and that's about as fine and dandy as music like that can get while I'm trying to concentrate, but now she's playing Climb Every Mountain from the Sound of Music(I do not remember this song from this film--I only knows this cause my mother told me). Anyway, she's belting this really tough song and she has a male singing teaching who's kind of aiding her along in this startling, shrill falsetto and I'm just getting this wall of sound that sounds like pseudo opera or something. Just grin and bear it, Naomi. It's a sight. I'll keep you updated, not that you'd care.
In preparation for the inevitable board game marathons that take place with my mother and aunt every summer, I played Monopoly and other games that evening. That's been for the last few nights, now.
On Tuesday I got up fairly early and went into Boston to do about a third of the Freedom Trail. I did some of it last summer. It was another really hot day, so my mom and I had to keep stopping very frequently. Also we're cheap so we only actually went into places that are free. I love the freedom trail, I love the effort that goes into that and is one of several reasons why I think Boston as a city is highly underrated. Boston Common is another of those reasons--eating lunch round there is fun, looking out at the bustling city and what have you. I can't remember exactly the various places we visited, as after a while one meeting house blurs into another, but it was really nice roaming the city. Faneuil Hall is a particularly nice place, and the Granary Burial ground is also fun, though it was slightly unsettling that they were doing renovations there. In a cemetery with loads of famous people buried there. Huh. Oh yes, the last place we went to was Paul Revere's house, a crooked soot-black little building on a cobblestone road around Near Little Italy. It's in a part of Boston I've rarely visited, and far enough along the freedom trail that by that point the number of tourists is fairly slim. I'd have liked to have spent more time there but I was dying in the heat. I got lemonade and walked through Boston Common at Dusk. One of the best days of summer so far.
Monday was a slow day. I looked at CDs but never ended up buying anything. I feel I should start getting into vinyl collecting, but I've no idea where I'd get the music I like on vinyl. Buying vinyl online seems like the best way, but it's also ironic in a way I'm not sure I want to emulate. I also bought a t-shirt. So, yeah. My life.
This summer has been the summer of the office, animal crossing, Nabokov, Manchester Orchestra, and blue raspberry coolatas. I hope it continues this way all the way through to September because it's been great fun so far. Music-wise I'm really trying to get familiar with the V people, like I mentioned, particularly Eminem (not always the easiest to listen to), and Rihanna. Since I'm seeing them on the Sunday and I'm not particularly crazed about either, I've got to try to be as familiar as possible to make it the most fun possible. My mom contacted the friends I'm going there with and they seem excited. Oh god, nighttime headliners at the main stage is bliss. While I am extremely excited for Rihanna and Eminem, my excitement for Arctic Monkeys cannot be placed in words. Parts of myself cannot even fathom the excitement. Also, my God, kaiser Chiefs, wow. And The Script on Sunday, Wombats, Hurts, Katy B, Wolf Gang, Stornoway, Frankmusik, wow. I'll be taking dozens of CDs with me to England, it seems.
The Office obsession continues with a passion. I finally got round to watching the Christmas Special. David's song? One of the funniest things I've ever seen. What happened to Gareth with that episode? And also, Dawn&Tim was absolute perfection. This is definitely, officially, my favorite show. You heard it here first, folks. It's silver for Peep Show. If I'd told my self over the past year that peep Show wasn't my favorite show, I would be speechless. But there you go.
I'm off to watch some V Fest 2010 clips. Bye.
Hey all.
I've finally gotten round to listening to some people at V. Eminem mostly; I'm excited. Excitement increases with every listen to Love The Way You Lie. It's less than a month now and I cannot wait. Also, I'm going to England in six days. It's gonna be great. There's so much stuff I still miss about being there, but I guess that's to be expected. I'm spending the first week with my grandparents on my mom's side, and I think that's what I'm looking forward to most. Especially board games and Tesco curries and late night TV(Shooting Stars, please?). Ooh, the NME and radio 1 and everything, too. It's kind of surreal, really, going back, as each year I'm more and more used to living in this country instead. It makes it all the more fun, though. How I still, sadly, miss my home land.
So, summer. Que sera sera. In the most great way possible. I really don't miss school at all. I can't remember being this happy through the school year or...in a while. Ha. it's fun. Today, it was about 95 degrees and tomorrow is due to be 100 degrees. Therefore, there wasn't really that much one could comfortably do. The center of town looked dead. My mom got gooseberries so I want to make a gooseberry fool(yum) or a crumble. I went for a walk by a river near here. I listened to Bon Iver's new record again. I don't care if describing it as "endearingly beautiful" is almost sloppy writing, that's the best phrase to sum the record up with. I finished Lolita and loved it. Now I'm onto the summer reading for school. It wouldn't be something I would ever read outside of school but it looks...decent. I suppose. We'll see. it was made into a film which I should see, particularly as I should just watch more films in general. The other day I got into Lord of the Rings again, one of the only film(s) I've ever really liked. I've been into it since the Fellowship of the Ring came out, and I've secretly harbored an obsession with Aragorn ever since. Anyway.
On Wednesday I had my last piano lesson until the very last day of August. A rather strange experience. I've been doing these lessons for more than a year now. I guess I've made progress, and it's been fun. I finally mastered(well, as close to 'mastered' as I am capable of) Habanera. Love that piece. The book I'm working from is more or less just a random collection of classics aimed at my level. The next piece I picked out is by Brahms. There wasn't thought into my picking this piece because, like many pieces in this book, I wasn't familiar with it. However, whoever arranged this has good taste because upon listening to it, I've discovered it's a really wonderful piece. Is it reasonable to develop a liking for a song because you find the notes--the written notes, like if you were to take a picture of the sheet music--more aesthetically pleasing? Is that, loosely, akin to someone liking a poem based on the sound and form of the individual words? That's how I chose this piece and I suppose it's something most people must think about, even those who can't read music, but I'd never thought about it until now. Why am I in such a rambling mood tonight? Gosh.
Oh yes, I think I've mentioned to you the vocal student who's next door while I take my lessons. I'm going to keep you updated with what she sings, I think, because the event's always quite something. Not because she's particularly good, mind, but because she can belt. My god, can she belt. Through sound-proofed walls and all the force my fingers can put on the piano keys, her voice still reaches me. Now for the past few weeks she's been singing this nondescript power ballad about falling apart and that's about as fine and dandy as music like that can get while I'm trying to concentrate, but now she's playing Climb Every Mountain from the Sound of Music(I do not remember this song from this film--I only knows this cause my mother told me). Anyway, she's belting this really tough song and she has a male singing teaching who's kind of aiding her along in this startling, shrill falsetto and I'm just getting this wall of sound that sounds like pseudo opera or something. Just grin and bear it, Naomi. It's a sight. I'll keep you updated, not that you'd care.
In preparation for the inevitable board game marathons that take place with my mother and aunt every summer, I played Monopoly and other games that evening. That's been for the last few nights, now.
On Tuesday I got up fairly early and went into Boston to do about a third of the Freedom Trail. I did some of it last summer. It was another really hot day, so my mom and I had to keep stopping very frequently. Also we're cheap so we only actually went into places that are free. I love the freedom trail, I love the effort that goes into that and is one of several reasons why I think Boston as a city is highly underrated. Boston Common is another of those reasons--eating lunch round there is fun, looking out at the bustling city and what have you. I can't remember exactly the various places we visited, as after a while one meeting house blurs into another, but it was really nice roaming the city. Faneuil Hall is a particularly nice place, and the Granary Burial ground is also fun, though it was slightly unsettling that they were doing renovations there. In a cemetery with loads of famous people buried there. Huh. Oh yes, the last place we went to was Paul Revere's house, a crooked soot-black little building on a cobblestone road around Near Little Italy. It's in a part of Boston I've rarely visited, and far enough along the freedom trail that by that point the number of tourists is fairly slim. I'd have liked to have spent more time there but I was dying in the heat. I got lemonade and walked through Boston Common at Dusk. One of the best days of summer so far.
Monday was a slow day. I looked at CDs but never ended up buying anything. I feel I should start getting into vinyl collecting, but I've no idea where I'd get the music I like on vinyl. Buying vinyl online seems like the best way, but it's also ironic in a way I'm not sure I want to emulate. I also bought a t-shirt. So, yeah. My life.
This summer has been the summer of the office, animal crossing, Nabokov, Manchester Orchestra, and blue raspberry coolatas. I hope it continues this way all the way through to September because it's been great fun so far. Music-wise I'm really trying to get familiar with the V people, like I mentioned, particularly Eminem (not always the easiest to listen to), and Rihanna. Since I'm seeing them on the Sunday and I'm not particularly crazed about either, I've got to try to be as familiar as possible to make it the most fun possible. My mom contacted the friends I'm going there with and they seem excited. Oh god, nighttime headliners at the main stage is bliss. While I am extremely excited for Rihanna and Eminem, my excitement for Arctic Monkeys cannot be placed in words. Parts of myself cannot even fathom the excitement. Also, my God, kaiser Chiefs, wow. And The Script on Sunday, Wombats, Hurts, Katy B, Wolf Gang, Stornoway, Frankmusik, wow. I'll be taking dozens of CDs with me to England, it seems.
The Office obsession continues with a passion. I finally got round to watching the Christmas Special. David's song? One of the funniest things I've ever seen. What happened to Gareth with that episode? And also, Dawn&Tim was absolute perfection. This is definitely, officially, my favorite show. You heard it here first, folks. It's silver for Peep Show. If I'd told my self over the past year that peep Show wasn't my favorite show, I would be speechless. But there you go.
I'm off to watch some V Fest 2010 clips. Bye.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
I Confide In Wolves At Night
Hello all. Today my dad uploaded the 1st and 3rd Manchester Orchestra albums to itunes, so I get to own them in their entirity. The 2nd band where I have every single song of theirs on my itunes, I think. I may be mistaken. It's really odd listening to most of these not on CDs, not in relation to other songs. I do prefer them on CDs but this is a fun experience too. The title lyrics are from Wolves at Night, the first song on their first album.
I'm going to England in ten days and summer is absolutely racing by. Apart from its insane speed, this summer is wonderful. Summer is my favorite season and I would very much like it to last forever. I suppose it is weird that I'm thinking about school already, isn't it? and yet I am. Sophomore sounds like it's gonna be a fun year, or at least I will try to make it so. At least I'm not dreading September as much as I was last year. Although September's still a while away, so, moving on.
Today I went to a sculpture museum with my parents. it was decent, though a lot of it wasn't really my thing. It was largely outside, in the ninety-degree heat, so I moved like a snail through most of the place. Can't say it was a bad day, though. I went for a walk in the evening. How I wish days slow days like this happened all the time.
yesterday, I again walked out a bit in the ninety degree heat, but it was too opressive. In the late afteroon two of my friends came round. We played Animal Crossing City folk for the first hour or so, where we gave my character a hideous haircut and tried to catch insects for the Bug Off. Then, I introduced my two friends to the love of my life, the Office UK, and they liked it. I'm still obsessed. They seemed to acknowledge how great a character Gareth is. Also, it seems that the first episodes of both the UK and Us versions are almost identicle, which is a bit weird. I hope to show them the 2nd season because I find it superior to the first. Then, we played the Game cube version of Animal Crossing. Afterwards we watched youtube videos and ate pizza. It was a good day.
Tuesday through Friday of this week I did almost nothing. Went for walks. Played Animal Crossing. Read. Slept. I had a piano lesson--I'm almost done with Habanera from Carmen. I went shopping a couple of times, I think. I stayed in all of Thursday apart from Harry Potter. Yep, that's about it.
I listened to Bon Iver's new record for the first time today and I must say it is absolutely beautiful. An almost perfect record. I feel like I'm coming out of this year's electropop phase and jumping headfirst into a folk phase. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, I couldn't say. I just think that more people should be like Bon Iver cause Bon Iver's wonderful. And more people should be like Elbow, as Build A Rocket Boys grows on me with every listen. And I'm obsessed with Beirut--they write wonderful folk music that seems to leap from every corner of the world. Lady Gaga, Manchester Orchestra, Eminem, Robyn, Cat's Eyes, Crystal Castles, Laura Marling, and Zola Jesus, too. I can barely contain my excitement when I think about going to England and going to HMV, and all the CDs I'm going to buy. Almost too many too keep track off, I'm sure!
Oh yes, I started reading Lolita this week. Nabokov is the coolest guy ever. I love the writing style and everything, it's a really fascinating book. Additionally, like any other teenage girl reading this, I've become infatuated with Lolita herself, in all her materialistic, swinginging sixties glory. How I want to listen to jazz music while chewing gum and painting my toenails bright colors. Perhaps it's an identity I will assume, briefly, one day.
Since this is such a short, shitty post I will post a song for your enjoyment.
Maybe when I write next, I'll have something to say!
I'm going to England in ten days and summer is absolutely racing by. Apart from its insane speed, this summer is wonderful. Summer is my favorite season and I would very much like it to last forever. I suppose it is weird that I'm thinking about school already, isn't it? and yet I am. Sophomore sounds like it's gonna be a fun year, or at least I will try to make it so. At least I'm not dreading September as much as I was last year. Although September's still a while away, so, moving on.
Today I went to a sculpture museum with my parents. it was decent, though a lot of it wasn't really my thing. It was largely outside, in the ninety-degree heat, so I moved like a snail through most of the place. Can't say it was a bad day, though. I went for a walk in the evening. How I wish days slow days like this happened all the time.
yesterday, I again walked out a bit in the ninety degree heat, but it was too opressive. In the late afteroon two of my friends came round. We played Animal Crossing City folk for the first hour or so, where we gave my character a hideous haircut and tried to catch insects for the Bug Off. Then, I introduced my two friends to the love of my life, the Office UK, and they liked it. I'm still obsessed. They seemed to acknowledge how great a character Gareth is. Also, it seems that the first episodes of both the UK and Us versions are almost identicle, which is a bit weird. I hope to show them the 2nd season because I find it superior to the first. Then, we played the Game cube version of Animal Crossing. Afterwards we watched youtube videos and ate pizza. It was a good day.
Tuesday through Friday of this week I did almost nothing. Went for walks. Played Animal Crossing. Read. Slept. I had a piano lesson--I'm almost done with Habanera from Carmen. I went shopping a couple of times, I think. I stayed in all of Thursday apart from Harry Potter. Yep, that's about it.
I listened to Bon Iver's new record for the first time today and I must say it is absolutely beautiful. An almost perfect record. I feel like I'm coming out of this year's electropop phase and jumping headfirst into a folk phase. Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, I couldn't say. I just think that more people should be like Bon Iver cause Bon Iver's wonderful. And more people should be like Elbow, as Build A Rocket Boys grows on me with every listen. And I'm obsessed with Beirut--they write wonderful folk music that seems to leap from every corner of the world. Lady Gaga, Manchester Orchestra, Eminem, Robyn, Cat's Eyes, Crystal Castles, Laura Marling, and Zola Jesus, too. I can barely contain my excitement when I think about going to England and going to HMV, and all the CDs I'm going to buy. Almost too many too keep track off, I'm sure!
Oh yes, I started reading Lolita this week. Nabokov is the coolest guy ever. I love the writing style and everything, it's a really fascinating book. Additionally, like any other teenage girl reading this, I've become infatuated with Lolita herself, in all her materialistic, swinginging sixties glory. How I want to listen to jazz music while chewing gum and painting my toenails bright colors. Perhaps it's an identity I will assume, briefly, one day.
Since this is such a short, shitty post I will post a song for your enjoyment.
Maybe when I write next, I'll have something to say!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Deathly Hallows
Deathly Hallows was certainly an interesting experience and, dare I say, a good film. As I've mentioned before, I'm not a raving super fan for the Harry Potter world; I'm fully aware that both the films and, yes, the books have a whole lot of flaws. However, I must admit I am a sucker for some hype and considering this is the last, a midnight premiere seemed like a decent idea. There were a ton of things going through my head during the film and I figured it deserved an incoherent, illogical, childish blog post of its own right. Be prepared for nonsense.
First things first; now that I've been to one, I wouldn't recommend midnight premieres, at least for super huge movies. it is an experience fraught with anxiety and stress and panic--at least for me. Between moving in through crowds of people and finding seats in a sold-out cinema and being unnecessarily worried that I would see some people from school, the first part of the evening was a generally unpleasant experience. Please, don't go through with that. Then I had to sit through all these trailers and I'm telling you, whenever I see movie trailers, my faith in human just disappears entirely. I was in a thoroughly bad mood when the film started. However, it was totally worth it in the end. I will bullet point my thoughts, I suppose. I will stress that I see very, very few films and therefore my comments are going to be nostalgia-filled, largely innocuous comments that no one should listen to. Though of course, if my instruction is the inly thing stopping you from paying much attention to my thoughts, then you need help. Anyway.
--Shell Cottage is so freaking pretty. It was almost exactly like I pictured it in the book. And Dobby's grave! I loved that.
--I will never, never, never like the guy who plays Bill in the films. Ever. Grr.
--Griphook was cool.
--Mr. Ollivander! This was a total nostalgia trip, this part. it's cool to see him in the bookend films. In the 1st film, Mr. Ollivander's shop was one of my favorite parts because I was five years old and his shop looked like an old-fashioned English shoe shop. So there.
--Waitwaitwait. Harry had to clarify what a horcrux is? What? Basically everyone in the developed world knows what a horcrux is at this point, yes? And if you're seeing part two obviously you've seen part one , yes? So why did we need to clarify that? God. Not cool.
--And oh yeah, fucking Bill again and his melodramatic lines. Like he gets like one line in this film and it's totally trite. I'm really not okay with Bill. Plus, Charlie was cooler in the books anyway.
--How I loved seeing Helena behave like Hermione, if only for a brief period of time. Helena's awesome, as we all know.
--So why did they change the Gringotts hall thing? I was extremely excited to see the hall because I get nostalgic over stupid things like that, and they go and change it. I liked the original Gringotts hall more, I must say. But otherwise, that bit was alright.
--Woah awesome graphics for the inner world of Gringotts. That was a hell of a lot more than I was expecting, wow.
--The dragon too! Awesome work with the dragon, guys. That looked cool.
--Hey, Bellatrix's vault looked just like I imagined it. I guess one cannot veer to far away from another's imagination with something like that, but still.
--I was really interested with how they'd animate this scene in the vault and I thought they did it reasonably well, especially considering it kinda went on too long for my liking in the book. Also, I do take issues with this scene, in the book and the film, simply because I do not think, technically, a person could survive that. Just, from a mathematical standpoint, it doesn't seem to make sense. Just my opinion.
--Also how was Harry to know that was the cup without seeing the memory about it? Maybe I missed something here but still? Was it from Voldemort's mind?
--Oh god, the dragon leaving Gringotts bit was great. I loved when it broke through the roof and just kinda stayed there a minute. That was awesome.
--I really wasn't into the guy who play Aberforth. I don't know, something just didn't click with me. Something seemed a bit off.
--Actually, I'm not really bothered that they left out the majority of the business about Dumbledore's past. If I had to cut something,Ii too would have cut those parts out. We pretty much got the gist of it all anyway.
--The Ariana's picture bit was exactly how I imagined it. Exactly.
--In the book, the whole stuff about the Carrows and practicing the cruciatis curse on 1st years is completely over the top and should have been left out entirely in the movie.
--The Room of Requirement at that point was not quite as awesome-looking as I would have liked. But hey it's nice to see all the old faces again, eh?
--my least favorite bit in the entire Harry Potter series. Books and film. Sending all the Slytherins to the dungeons. What the fuck? Despite a hell of a lot of evidence that all Slytherins are evil, we've been told repeatedly that "no, they just know who their friends are" and how everyone chooses their destiny and whatnot, and then it's like 'no, we all hate you, go away'. I just hate that.
--I didn't like how they animated Rowena Ravenclaw. Also, she seemed rather different in the film. And oh yeah if she's a Ravenclaw why is she being so immature and stupid?
--THE RICKETY BRIDGE THING. About my favorite thing in the world, that bridge, I about died when it burned. However, I will say that in the case of a battle, I would stay the fuck off that bridge cause in our world Health and Safety would not be cool with that bridge, and this is without fire and whatnot shooting everywhere. Neville almost deserved to die for being an idiot there.
--Mcgonagall, why are you the most amazing human being ever? And I'd totally never noticed Seamus' proclivity for pyrotechnics until now, but in hindsight that was an awesome line.
--Loved how they didn't change the Chamber of Secrets, that was fantastic. That scene was cool.
--The kiss. The kiss. The kiss...didn't work for me. Was it ever going to live up to expectations? No. But it was totally emotionless and they even started getting violins out for it and ugh, it just could've been so, so much better.
--BEST PART IN THE ENTIRE SERIES. CORNISH FREAKING PIXIES IN THE ROOM OF REQUIREMENT. Literally no one else has acknowledged how amazing it is that they were in there. You're all mad.
--The Room of Requirement scene was just amazing.
--I swear there's an emerald in the Diadem of Ravenclaw. It's probably my eyes being odd, but I swear it's so.
--Ugh, god, the killing of Snape scene was so, so sad.
--I take serious issue with the first parts of the Pencieve, because it looks too glossy and too surreal and the imagery is too much like happy tumblr pictures, and oh yeah, the young Snape didn't look right to me.
--The rest of the Pencieve was good! The bit after Lily died, with Snape, was sad beyond all reason.
--I wish we could've seen more of Hagrid in this film. Two times? Really? He's like my favorite character and that's just not okay.
--Bonnie is a terrible Ginny. Just terrible. I know she was super young when she started in this, as was everyone, so who am I to criticize? But still.
--LUPIN. OH GOD, LUPIN. NO. Saddest thing ever. I've been madly in love with Lupin ever since Azkaban, btw.
--The Limbo world was a lot like how I expected it to be. I'm not sure if I liked it or not, though.
--Narcissa, you are the coolest.
--The Neville speech was bland and ridiculous. It put a damper in how cool Neville was in all of this. Also Neville&Luna are far superior to both Harry&Ginny and, yes, Hermione&Ron, in my mind.
--Awkward Voldemort hugs for the win, no?
--So, Voldemort's death I have mixed feelings on. First off, I really disliked Harry's super ostentatious Doctor-like speech right before he kills Voldemort that was in the book, so it was good that a lot of that was gone. However, I do wish he was killed in front of others. Also, I don't see why Voldemort couldn't have died in a semi-normal fashion, rather than seemingly exploding into confetti or whatever happened there.
--Hahaha Filch, you're awesome.
--The ending was better than I expected. I thought it'd be too surreal--like the first bits of the Pencieve--and I thought it'd look too strange. It was a bit too glossy I suppose, but if I'm gonna allow gloss at anywhere in this film, obviously it's gonna be here.
I sound really cynical, but I actually thought it was awesome. However, I have one, big, niggling thought on the film, and it is this. If the Harry Potter crew were aware of the many criticisms thrown at them by the fans and were aware and capable of making a film that is both a great film in its own right and a film that does the book justice, why the fuck did it take them so long to make an obvious attempt at achieving that? Why did they just plough through six(partially seven--Part 1 I liked too) movies worth of em brassing mediocrity if they were capable of something like this? This is what confused, and slightly annoyed, me most.
Anyway, that's my take on the matter. I suppose the next week or so will consist of a run through of the other seven films. I have no sappy quotes to end with, nor do I think it worthy to talk about the timelessness or whatever of the Harry Potter franchise, as no doubt you've heard all of that by now. So I'm gonna go for now.
Night, all!
First things first; now that I've been to one, I wouldn't recommend midnight premieres, at least for super huge movies. it is an experience fraught with anxiety and stress and panic--at least for me. Between moving in through crowds of people and finding seats in a sold-out cinema and being unnecessarily worried that I would see some people from school, the first part of the evening was a generally unpleasant experience. Please, don't go through with that. Then I had to sit through all these trailers and I'm telling you, whenever I see movie trailers, my faith in human just disappears entirely. I was in a thoroughly bad mood when the film started. However, it was totally worth it in the end. I will bullet point my thoughts, I suppose. I will stress that I see very, very few films and therefore my comments are going to be nostalgia-filled, largely innocuous comments that no one should listen to. Though of course, if my instruction is the inly thing stopping you from paying much attention to my thoughts, then you need help. Anyway.
--Shell Cottage is so freaking pretty. It was almost exactly like I pictured it in the book. And Dobby's grave! I loved that.
--I will never, never, never like the guy who plays Bill in the films. Ever. Grr.
--Griphook was cool.
--Mr. Ollivander! This was a total nostalgia trip, this part. it's cool to see him in the bookend films. In the 1st film, Mr. Ollivander's shop was one of my favorite parts because I was five years old and his shop looked like an old-fashioned English shoe shop. So there.
--Waitwaitwait. Harry had to clarify what a horcrux is? What? Basically everyone in the developed world knows what a horcrux is at this point, yes? And if you're seeing part two obviously you've seen part one , yes? So why did we need to clarify that? God. Not cool.
--And oh yeah, fucking Bill again and his melodramatic lines. Like he gets like one line in this film and it's totally trite. I'm really not okay with Bill. Plus, Charlie was cooler in the books anyway.
--How I loved seeing Helena behave like Hermione, if only for a brief period of time. Helena's awesome, as we all know.
--So why did they change the Gringotts hall thing? I was extremely excited to see the hall because I get nostalgic over stupid things like that, and they go and change it. I liked the original Gringotts hall more, I must say. But otherwise, that bit was alright.
--Woah awesome graphics for the inner world of Gringotts. That was a hell of a lot more than I was expecting, wow.
--The dragon too! Awesome work with the dragon, guys. That looked cool.
--Hey, Bellatrix's vault looked just like I imagined it. I guess one cannot veer to far away from another's imagination with something like that, but still.
--I was really interested with how they'd animate this scene in the vault and I thought they did it reasonably well, especially considering it kinda went on too long for my liking in the book. Also, I do take issues with this scene, in the book and the film, simply because I do not think, technically, a person could survive that. Just, from a mathematical standpoint, it doesn't seem to make sense. Just my opinion.
--Also how was Harry to know that was the cup without seeing the memory about it? Maybe I missed something here but still? Was it from Voldemort's mind?
--Oh god, the dragon leaving Gringotts bit was great. I loved when it broke through the roof and just kinda stayed there a minute. That was awesome.
--I really wasn't into the guy who play Aberforth. I don't know, something just didn't click with me. Something seemed a bit off.
--Actually, I'm not really bothered that they left out the majority of the business about Dumbledore's past. If I had to cut something,Ii too would have cut those parts out. We pretty much got the gist of it all anyway.
--The Ariana's picture bit was exactly how I imagined it. Exactly.
--In the book, the whole stuff about the Carrows and practicing the cruciatis curse on 1st years is completely over the top and should have been left out entirely in the movie.
--The Room of Requirement at that point was not quite as awesome-looking as I would have liked. But hey it's nice to see all the old faces again, eh?
--my least favorite bit in the entire Harry Potter series. Books and film. Sending all the Slytherins to the dungeons. What the fuck? Despite a hell of a lot of evidence that all Slytherins are evil, we've been told repeatedly that "no, they just know who their friends are" and how everyone chooses their destiny and whatnot, and then it's like 'no, we all hate you, go away'. I just hate that.
--I didn't like how they animated Rowena Ravenclaw. Also, she seemed rather different in the film. And oh yeah if she's a Ravenclaw why is she being so immature and stupid?
--THE RICKETY BRIDGE THING. About my favorite thing in the world, that bridge, I about died when it burned. However, I will say that in the case of a battle, I would stay the fuck off that bridge cause in our world Health and Safety would not be cool with that bridge, and this is without fire and whatnot shooting everywhere. Neville almost deserved to die for being an idiot there.
--Mcgonagall, why are you the most amazing human being ever? And I'd totally never noticed Seamus' proclivity for pyrotechnics until now, but in hindsight that was an awesome line.
--Loved how they didn't change the Chamber of Secrets, that was fantastic. That scene was cool.
--The kiss. The kiss. The kiss...didn't work for me. Was it ever going to live up to expectations? No. But it was totally emotionless and they even started getting violins out for it and ugh, it just could've been so, so much better.
--BEST PART IN THE ENTIRE SERIES. CORNISH FREAKING PIXIES IN THE ROOM OF REQUIREMENT. Literally no one else has acknowledged how amazing it is that they were in there. You're all mad.
--The Room of Requirement scene was just amazing.
--I swear there's an emerald in the Diadem of Ravenclaw. It's probably my eyes being odd, but I swear it's so.
--Ugh, god, the killing of Snape scene was so, so sad.
--I take serious issue with the first parts of the Pencieve, because it looks too glossy and too surreal and the imagery is too much like happy tumblr pictures, and oh yeah, the young Snape didn't look right to me.
--The rest of the Pencieve was good! The bit after Lily died, with Snape, was sad beyond all reason.
--I wish we could've seen more of Hagrid in this film. Two times? Really? He's like my favorite character and that's just not okay.
--Bonnie is a terrible Ginny. Just terrible. I know she was super young when she started in this, as was everyone, so who am I to criticize? But still.
--LUPIN. OH GOD, LUPIN. NO. Saddest thing ever. I've been madly in love with Lupin ever since Azkaban, btw.
--The Limbo world was a lot like how I expected it to be. I'm not sure if I liked it or not, though.
--Narcissa, you are the coolest.
--The Neville speech was bland and ridiculous. It put a damper in how cool Neville was in all of this. Also Neville&Luna are far superior to both Harry&Ginny and, yes, Hermione&Ron, in my mind.
--Awkward Voldemort hugs for the win, no?
--So, Voldemort's death I have mixed feelings on. First off, I really disliked Harry's super ostentatious Doctor-like speech right before he kills Voldemort that was in the book, so it was good that a lot of that was gone. However, I do wish he was killed in front of others. Also, I don't see why Voldemort couldn't have died in a semi-normal fashion, rather than seemingly exploding into confetti or whatever happened there.
--Hahaha Filch, you're awesome.
--The ending was better than I expected. I thought it'd be too surreal--like the first bits of the Pencieve--and I thought it'd look too strange. It was a bit too glossy I suppose, but if I'm gonna allow gloss at anywhere in this film, obviously it's gonna be here.
I sound really cynical, but I actually thought it was awesome. However, I have one, big, niggling thought on the film, and it is this. If the Harry Potter crew were aware of the many criticisms thrown at them by the fans and were aware and capable of making a film that is both a great film in its own right and a film that does the book justice, why the fuck did it take them so long to make an obvious attempt at achieving that? Why did they just plough through six(partially seven--Part 1 I liked too) movies worth of em brassing mediocrity if they were capable of something like this? This is what confused, and slightly annoyed, me most.
Anyway, that's my take on the matter. I suppose the next week or so will consist of a run through of the other seven films. I have no sappy quotes to end with, nor do I think it worthy to talk about the timelessness or whatever of the Harry Potter franchise, as no doubt you've heard all of that by now. So I'm gonna go for now.
Night, all!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
I'm never going to blog more frequently.
I'm never going to blog more frequently. That is just the reality of it. I thought I would, with more time on my hands this summer. Not gonna happen.
Summer is moving along at an alarmingly fast rate. We're coming very close to the middle of July; I cannot believe it. it's been very good, though, so far. Nothing really out of the usual I think to mention. I'm still obsessed with the Office, by the way. I've watched all the episodes like four times, I think. I dawned on my the other day how if the Office was never a think, but Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook were still famous, and if they got put together in a show we would all me exploding with joy in a very tumblr-like manner because they're so awesome together. We've taken for granted just how good they were in the Office. Ahhh, the Office. Okay, it feels really, seriously weird to say, but I think Peep Show's position as my favorite TV Show is being very seriously threatened. It's just hanging on in there by one or two of Mark's painfully-relatable one-liners, I think. I'm not sure what to make of this turn of events, especially because I've been obsessed non-stop with Peep Show for more than a year. That's saying something for me. I don't know. I just don't know, man. Having a mild existential crisis over a couple of TV shows is probably a bad thing.
Currently my favorite music is that of Sweeney Todd, Manchester Orcjestra(naturally), Robyn, Elbow(again, naturally), and a new addition--Laura Marling. I first listened to Laura, what, two years ago? and I wasn't terribly impressed to be honest. At the time I thought she was a fairly typical pretty girl + sadness + acoustic outfit. But no, go listen to My Manic And I. I'm not such a fan of Rambling Man but, yeah, go listen to that too. Might've taken me years to 'get' her, but it's happened. I couldn't find her first record when I looked but I'll get it at HMV in england. which reminds me, hmv is the best place in the world and I cannot wait to return there. The closing of many hmv shops is one of the saddest outcomes of the fast-dissolving music industry.
Today, I read for many hours and went for a walk and went food shopping with my mom. It's usual for it to be in the 90s around here. Very hot. I actually enjoy opressively hot. It's nice around here. I've also taken up to waking up and going to bed far later than I would like so the mornings don't really happen, but time runs away with me in the early hours of the morning.
Yesterday, Sunday, my family and I went to the museum of fine arts in boston. again it was very hot. Last time I went it was bitterly cold and fairly depressing, this time it was bright and crowded. At the moment they have this glass exhibition. Much like the glass museum I went to on the way to Niagara, I was surprised at how diverse and interesting the art was.* They had a room where the ceiling was all these flowering glass structures covered by a glass shield so the light shines through and it's like 'ooh, pretty colors shining everywhere'. Yep, my critical artistic analysis at work. we also looked at an exhibiton of two 19th century guys who did really macabre stuff, but also kinda like a fairy tale in nature. And African texiles and oh yeah something about a Japanese goddess. She was cool cause she was the goddess of knowledge of music and obviously those two are very rarely connected. A fun day. Then we went out to eat and what have you. In the restaurant my dad started talking about the shows I need to see once I get through my Office phase. Guess what? I have permission to watch The Thick of It! Fucking yes! I've seen like one episode and it was amazing and I need more but I wasn't sure my parents would allow, what with all the, to quote Malcom himself, "violent sexual imagery" in many an angry tirade. My parents are the coolest for recommending me a show because it has "all the things I like, such as foul language, sex, and generally disgraceful behavior". Woohoo!
on Saturday, I bought Bon Iver's new record. I've been hearing good things. Unfortunately I haven't gotten much of chance to listen to it yet, though. More nice weather and what have you that day.
Wednesday through Friday again were pretty nothingy. After buying the Office season two, I worked my way through the it all, as I've said, thinking it better even than the first season. The Gareth+Tim kiss, oh my god. And David begging for his job. The insignificant Tim and Dawn kiss and how depressing it was when that never worked out. But it was so, so clever that I cannot help but love it. my obsession oh my god. Gareth Keenan is the coolest. Anyway, the following day I just went clothes shopping, and I did nothing on Friday. Fun stuff.
The only thing I have to add in adition is that it turns out I'm going to a midnight showing of Hallows with my parents. Well, 12:04 technichally. I've never done a midnight showing before. This all transpired because my sister got a call from her friend, asking if she'd like to do a midnight showing of Hallows for the friend's birthday. And my sister doesn't remotetely like HP or anything really beyond skype and her the wii, so I was pretty pissed that she would be seeing it before me. I may not love Potter but I've read the damn books and have been actually looking forward to this movie. my parents were nice so they said we could get tickets--all the 2D were sold out so I have to watch fucking 3D, which I hate, but oh well. I'm excited! That's Thursday night/Friday morning. my dad thinks we should dress up as Middle Earth characters and be like 'what? this isn't the Hobbit, you say?'.
I'm off for now. Night.
*Also the artist himself is like Mad Eye Moody, from the inside out. He cannot see in one eye but, ironically, wears an eye patch rather than a glass eye. Cause, y'know, he's a glass blower? Right now I think this is mean I'm done here.
Summer is moving along at an alarmingly fast rate. We're coming very close to the middle of July; I cannot believe it. it's been very good, though, so far. Nothing really out of the usual I think to mention. I'm still obsessed with the Office, by the way. I've watched all the episodes like four times, I think. I dawned on my the other day how if the Office was never a think, but Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook were still famous, and if they got put together in a show we would all me exploding with joy in a very tumblr-like manner because they're so awesome together. We've taken for granted just how good they were in the Office. Ahhh, the Office. Okay, it feels really, seriously weird to say, but I think Peep Show's position as my favorite TV Show is being very seriously threatened. It's just hanging on in there by one or two of Mark's painfully-relatable one-liners, I think. I'm not sure what to make of this turn of events, especially because I've been obsessed non-stop with Peep Show for more than a year. That's saying something for me. I don't know. I just don't know, man. Having a mild existential crisis over a couple of TV shows is probably a bad thing.
Currently my favorite music is that of Sweeney Todd, Manchester Orcjestra(naturally), Robyn, Elbow(again, naturally), and a new addition--Laura Marling. I first listened to Laura, what, two years ago? and I wasn't terribly impressed to be honest. At the time I thought she was a fairly typical pretty girl + sadness + acoustic outfit. But no, go listen to My Manic And I. I'm not such a fan of Rambling Man but, yeah, go listen to that too. Might've taken me years to 'get' her, but it's happened. I couldn't find her first record when I looked but I'll get it at HMV in england. which reminds me, hmv is the best place in the world and I cannot wait to return there. The closing of many hmv shops is one of the saddest outcomes of the fast-dissolving music industry.
Today, I read for many hours and went for a walk and went food shopping with my mom. It's usual for it to be in the 90s around here. Very hot. I actually enjoy opressively hot. It's nice around here. I've also taken up to waking up and going to bed far later than I would like so the mornings don't really happen, but time runs away with me in the early hours of the morning.
Yesterday, Sunday, my family and I went to the museum of fine arts in boston. again it was very hot. Last time I went it was bitterly cold and fairly depressing, this time it was bright and crowded. At the moment they have this glass exhibition. Much like the glass museum I went to on the way to Niagara, I was surprised at how diverse and interesting the art was.* They had a room where the ceiling was all these flowering glass structures covered by a glass shield so the light shines through and it's like 'ooh, pretty colors shining everywhere'. Yep, my critical artistic analysis at work. we also looked at an exhibiton of two 19th century guys who did really macabre stuff, but also kinda like a fairy tale in nature. And African texiles and oh yeah something about a Japanese goddess. She was cool cause she was the goddess of knowledge of music and obviously those two are very rarely connected. A fun day. Then we went out to eat and what have you. In the restaurant my dad started talking about the shows I need to see once I get through my Office phase. Guess what? I have permission to watch The Thick of It! Fucking yes! I've seen like one episode and it was amazing and I need more but I wasn't sure my parents would allow, what with all the, to quote Malcom himself, "violent sexual imagery" in many an angry tirade. My parents are the coolest for recommending me a show because it has "all the things I like, such as foul language, sex, and generally disgraceful behavior". Woohoo!
on Saturday, I bought Bon Iver's new record. I've been hearing good things. Unfortunately I haven't gotten much of chance to listen to it yet, though. More nice weather and what have you that day.
Wednesday through Friday again were pretty nothingy. After buying the Office season two, I worked my way through the it all, as I've said, thinking it better even than the first season. The Gareth+Tim kiss, oh my god. And David begging for his job. The insignificant Tim and Dawn kiss and how depressing it was when that never worked out. But it was so, so clever that I cannot help but love it. my obsession oh my god. Gareth Keenan is the coolest. Anyway, the following day I just went clothes shopping, and I did nothing on Friday. Fun stuff.
The only thing I have to add in adition is that it turns out I'm going to a midnight showing of Hallows with my parents. Well, 12:04 technichally. I've never done a midnight showing before. This all transpired because my sister got a call from her friend, asking if she'd like to do a midnight showing of Hallows for the friend's birthday. And my sister doesn't remotetely like HP or anything really beyond skype and her the wii, so I was pretty pissed that she would be seeing it before me. I may not love Potter but I've read the damn books and have been actually looking forward to this movie. my parents were nice so they said we could get tickets--all the 2D were sold out so I have to watch fucking 3D, which I hate, but oh well. I'm excited! That's Thursday night/Friday morning. my dad thinks we should dress up as Middle Earth characters and be like 'what? this isn't the Hobbit, you say?'.
I'm off for now. Night.
*Also the artist himself is like Mad Eye Moody, from the inside out. He cannot see in one eye but, ironically, wears an eye patch rather than a glass eye. Cause, y'know, he's a glass blower? Right now I think this is mean I'm done here.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
freelove on the freelove freeway.
the title is from an episode of the UK office. It's one of the most well-known bits now, I've discovered, and for good reason. I'd put some research into it if you don't know it already. It. Is. Gold. Also they did a studio version of it with Noel freaking Gallagher.
The Office is my obsession. I've watched all of season 1 multiple times, and I bought season 2 today and I'm already half way through it. And it's hilarious. And I'm preeeetty pissed at the whole Tim&Rachel thing, and Gareth never stops making me laugh. Though I will concede, the story of him methodically working through a set of Top Trump cards to work out the mathematically most successful cards is...both painfully, and laughably, familiar. But I was, what, 8 at the time? I'll cling to that subtle difference because it's one thing to compare your social ability to Mark Corrigan's; it is another entirely to compare it to Gareth Keenan's.
Also I'm gonna give the Office US a go for sure. And would it be two obsessive if I also bought the French, German, Quebecois, Brazilian, Chilean, and Israeli versions? These have all tempted me. Apparently the German one in particular is pretty awesome.
It is odd, having this much time on my hands. Summer's awesome but it feels like I forget everything. Here's what I do--I read, I go on the computer, I write, I play Animal Crossing, I play piano, I watch DVDs. Life of a loser indeed.
I've read a number of books this summer. Currently I'm working on The Pact by Jodi Picoult. This is my 3rd time reading her, I think she's awesome, don't be fooled by the shitty covers and bland synopses and the fact that she's sort of thrown in a heap with Nicholas Sparks and Sarah Dessen. Though her work is currently not getting too much of my attention, but that is probably because I just finished the Great Gatsby and I thought it was absolutely fantastic and everything else looks so bad in comparison. Why do I love the books I'm supposed to like but I can never get my head around Music I'm Supposed To Like? Onto the favorites list this goes, along with The Perks of Being A Wallflower and the Bell jar and The Color Purple and the like. Hmmm. Really though, fucking genius book. I relate to Nick far too much for my own good and I think it raises super interesting questions. I know I'm reading it next year in english but I've been meaning to read it for ages and if it turns out we read it in like May I simply cannot wait that long. I'm excited for the reread only because I see no way, this time round, that I could be the only one enjoying the story. It is not possible. But, then again, I will be a sophomore. When you become a sophomore, I swear your IQ points fly our your ears.
Oh yeah, great news, I'm seeing Kaiser Chiefs in September! Them and the National the week before woohoo, I love start-of-year gigs. Plus, seeing them at V, so all is good. Cannot wait for V, by the way. Eminem oh my god, I will die of joy at Love the Way You Lie. Also, KC will have the moshpit to end all moshpits and the Arctic Monkeys are just amazing in every single way, as I'm sure I've discussed before.
Today my sister had friends round. I've finally fallen victim to that ol' high school habbit of waking up at unreasonable hours so they were there when I woke up and I had to live as a shadow in the house. my mom ordered pizza and I ate it out of sight. God, how about that? So adolescent. Then I went to my piano lesson. The summer hours are great, there's usually this vocal student who belts out the same seven-minute power ballad about 'falling apart' every week and I cannot concentrate. Now we don't clash anymore! I'm trying to play Habanera from Carmen, with little success. I'm doing my 'fun songs' from an easy classics book. My piano teacher thinks I'm mad, thinks my mom's forcing me to play those. I know very little about classical, but I do know that I'd rather be playing that than, say, Keane, y'know? After my lesson I had dinner and watched the Office.
Yesterday, too, was fun. I picked raspberries and made them into raspberry crumble. I've never had raspberry crumble before, but I'm an all-round crumble fan so you can't go wrong. Hoping to make gooseberry fool soon. Oh this just makes me think of England(three weeks!)--my dad's side of the family are throwing a party for his 50th, and my grandparents make the best desserts conceivable. Plus, the whole lot are coming, bar I believe my one cousin in Chicago. I'm actually really excited. It's what's fun about your typical English family. Small and reserved and avoid confrontation like the plague. Runs like a dream.
I've yet to find Amelie on DVD. Or to find somewhere showing Submarine. Haha look at me talking like I know shit about movies. Or 'films' should I say for some indie cred. Now let's go mainstream. Deathly Hallows in less than two weeks, eh? How about that? Who's ready to wish a final fair well to their childhood. Not me. I was 5 when the first movie came out. I don't remember that, but I do very vividly remember seeing the 2nd. I'm not a huge Potter fan, and I was thinking earlier about how fucking ostentatious the whole 2nd half of Hallows is, and yet I'm still excited. Can't wait to talk about it.
On Saturday, I got Swiss bread at a market place in town and went for a walk around the woods. In case you're wondering, no, I do not know how Swiss bread differs from all the other kinds of breads. All I know is that it tastes amazing and they have it shaped as frogs. Sunday was similarly quiet, I went to the Jack Kerouac memorial in Lowell. I've never been before but I kinda love it. I've been meaning to read On The Road for a while, actually. This has given me just motivation. Also we went on a trolly around Lowell and to an art place. It was the 3rd so it was empty.
I love the 4th! I hope I don't somehow offend anyone by saying that, me being a Brit and all. Though I suppose it's all in good fun. On the 3rd I went to the fireworks display at school. I ended up with two friends and an acquaintance. it was funny, seeing so many cars and all the people splayed across the school field and also how different it is to school and how much less I miss school than I thought I would. Don't miss it at all! After all the cars hurried away, it was just me and these couple of friends and the smoke left from the fireworks(which were awesome, by the way) and it was great fun. Friends are the only thing I miss about school. On the actual 4th, I went into town cause it's fun to wander when it's empty, then I went into Boston for the fireworks. They were every bit as awesome as I remember them from last year. I'm an introvert who likes crowds, is that weird? The show was great and I love how you move as one giant group through the streets of Boston and how chaotic it is. Also, I like to listen to Tim Minchin's White Wine In The Sun on the 4th A.) Because it's a Christmas song haha and B.) Because it somehow sounds more beautiful on the 4th than any other day of the year. No idea why.
Such is my life of the last few days. Summer is going swimmingly and I hope to blog again soon!
The Office is my obsession. I've watched all of season 1 multiple times, and I bought season 2 today and I'm already half way through it. And it's hilarious. And I'm preeeetty pissed at the whole Tim&Rachel thing, and Gareth never stops making me laugh. Though I will concede, the story of him methodically working through a set of Top Trump cards to work out the mathematically most successful cards is...both painfully, and laughably, familiar. But I was, what, 8 at the time? I'll cling to that subtle difference because it's one thing to compare your social ability to Mark Corrigan's; it is another entirely to compare it to Gareth Keenan's.
Also I'm gonna give the Office US a go for sure. And would it be two obsessive if I also bought the French, German, Quebecois, Brazilian, Chilean, and Israeli versions? These have all tempted me. Apparently the German one in particular is pretty awesome.
It is odd, having this much time on my hands. Summer's awesome but it feels like I forget everything. Here's what I do--I read, I go on the computer, I write, I play Animal Crossing, I play piano, I watch DVDs. Life of a loser indeed.
I've read a number of books this summer. Currently I'm working on The Pact by Jodi Picoult. This is my 3rd time reading her, I think she's awesome, don't be fooled by the shitty covers and bland synopses and the fact that she's sort of thrown in a heap with Nicholas Sparks and Sarah Dessen. Though her work is currently not getting too much of my attention, but that is probably because I just finished the Great Gatsby and I thought it was absolutely fantastic and everything else looks so bad in comparison. Why do I love the books I'm supposed to like but I can never get my head around Music I'm Supposed To Like? Onto the favorites list this goes, along with The Perks of Being A Wallflower and the Bell jar and The Color Purple and the like. Hmmm. Really though, fucking genius book. I relate to Nick far too much for my own good and I think it raises super interesting questions. I know I'm reading it next year in english but I've been meaning to read it for ages and if it turns out we read it in like May I simply cannot wait that long. I'm excited for the reread only because I see no way, this time round, that I could be the only one enjoying the story. It is not possible. But, then again, I will be a sophomore. When you become a sophomore, I swear your IQ points fly our your ears.
Oh yeah, great news, I'm seeing Kaiser Chiefs in September! Them and the National the week before woohoo, I love start-of-year gigs. Plus, seeing them at V, so all is good. Cannot wait for V, by the way. Eminem oh my god, I will die of joy at Love the Way You Lie. Also, KC will have the moshpit to end all moshpits and the Arctic Monkeys are just amazing in every single way, as I'm sure I've discussed before.
Today my sister had friends round. I've finally fallen victim to that ol' high school habbit of waking up at unreasonable hours so they were there when I woke up and I had to live as a shadow in the house. my mom ordered pizza and I ate it out of sight. God, how about that? So adolescent. Then I went to my piano lesson. The summer hours are great, there's usually this vocal student who belts out the same seven-minute power ballad about 'falling apart' every week and I cannot concentrate. Now we don't clash anymore! I'm trying to play Habanera from Carmen, with little success. I'm doing my 'fun songs' from an easy classics book. My piano teacher thinks I'm mad, thinks my mom's forcing me to play those. I know very little about classical, but I do know that I'd rather be playing that than, say, Keane, y'know? After my lesson I had dinner and watched the Office.
Yesterday, too, was fun. I picked raspberries and made them into raspberry crumble. I've never had raspberry crumble before, but I'm an all-round crumble fan so you can't go wrong. Hoping to make gooseberry fool soon. Oh this just makes me think of England(three weeks!)--my dad's side of the family are throwing a party for his 50th, and my grandparents make the best desserts conceivable. Plus, the whole lot are coming, bar I believe my one cousin in Chicago. I'm actually really excited. It's what's fun about your typical English family. Small and reserved and avoid confrontation like the plague. Runs like a dream.
I've yet to find Amelie on DVD. Or to find somewhere showing Submarine. Haha look at me talking like I know shit about movies. Or 'films' should I say for some indie cred. Now let's go mainstream. Deathly Hallows in less than two weeks, eh? How about that? Who's ready to wish a final fair well to their childhood. Not me. I was 5 when the first movie came out. I don't remember that, but I do very vividly remember seeing the 2nd. I'm not a huge Potter fan, and I was thinking earlier about how fucking ostentatious the whole 2nd half of Hallows is, and yet I'm still excited. Can't wait to talk about it.
On Saturday, I got Swiss bread at a market place in town and went for a walk around the woods. In case you're wondering, no, I do not know how Swiss bread differs from all the other kinds of breads. All I know is that it tastes amazing and they have it shaped as frogs. Sunday was similarly quiet, I went to the Jack Kerouac memorial in Lowell. I've never been before but I kinda love it. I've been meaning to read On The Road for a while, actually. This has given me just motivation. Also we went on a trolly around Lowell and to an art place. It was the 3rd so it was empty.
I love the 4th! I hope I don't somehow offend anyone by saying that, me being a Brit and all. Though I suppose it's all in good fun. On the 3rd I went to the fireworks display at school. I ended up with two friends and an acquaintance. it was funny, seeing so many cars and all the people splayed across the school field and also how different it is to school and how much less I miss school than I thought I would. Don't miss it at all! After all the cars hurried away, it was just me and these couple of friends and the smoke left from the fireworks(which were awesome, by the way) and it was great fun. Friends are the only thing I miss about school. On the actual 4th, I went into town cause it's fun to wander when it's empty, then I went into Boston for the fireworks. They were every bit as awesome as I remember them from last year. I'm an introvert who likes crowds, is that weird? The show was great and I love how you move as one giant group through the streets of Boston and how chaotic it is. Also, I like to listen to Tim Minchin's White Wine In The Sun on the 4th A.) Because it's a Christmas song haha and B.) Because it somehow sounds more beautiful on the 4th than any other day of the year. No idea why.
Such is my life of the last few days. Summer is going swimmingly and I hope to blog again soon!
Friday, July 1, 2011
obligatory summer music post.
Nothing out of the usual today. I got ice cream and new editions of Empire(HP special), the Word, Spin(only cause the Arctic Monkeys are on the cover*), and a bunch of other things. A whole load of new books too. It's been a fun day.
Seeing as I've nothing new to say but feel the need to blog anyway(and I'm already doing this for my music blog so whatever), I thought I'll give you the obligatory list of 'summer songs'. Okay? Woohoo.
1. The City by Patrick Wolf
I've been waiting to show you guys, one way or another, this song for ages. Months. While, when it comes to music I am prone to hyperbole, I think I'm speaking with sense when I say that this might be one of the best pop songs I've ever heard. Apparently his new album, Lupercalia, is full of great pop songs. If I were you, I'd buy the record based on its awesome name alone, but Patrick Wolf is something of a Pop Song Master soooo I'm sure you're in for a treat. It's not released physically in the US yet but I'm gonna get it the moment I go back to the UK.
2. Mornin' by Star Slinger
Trip-tastic hipster electronica, why not. One of the best bands of 2011 so far. Sounds like never ending summer days, heat waves, and friends.
3. Five Years Time by Noah & the Whale
I'd pay more attention to this than their recent work. This song will never leave my Summer Playlist, I reckon. It's just so damn adorable.
4. Crave You by Flight Facilities
Again, this is hipstertastic, but it has tribal drums and sounds like midday heat.
5. With Love by Elbow
This is only an excerpt, you'll have to deal with crappy audio or buy the record if you wanna listen to the whole beautiful song. But, my god, go buy the record because it is soooo good.
6. In the Water by Beat Connection
Yeah, I listen to too much chillwave for my own good. Oh well.
7. Kiss of Life by Friendly Fires
Let's grab some African drums, go to a beach, and dance like Thom Yorke.
8. Pensacola by Manchester Orchestra
Alcohol, dirty malls, pensacola, florida bars. Nothing about this song makes sense or fits in with anything else this band have ever done, but let's drive down a highway and scream the lyrics with the windows down.
9. Hair by Lady Gaga
No matter how many times I listen to this, I'm still not sure what to make of Lady Gaga comparing her freedom to her hair. *shrugs*. But this is an AWESOME pop song, one of the best on the new album. Endless fun here.
10. Let's Stay Together by Al Green
So, er, don't judge me by putting a soul song on this list. It's just...good, okay? Okay I'll leave now.
Hope you enjoy something, as always. I'll post more songs in the future, I'm sure.
Now, to magazines and the Office. night!
*I first wrote 'the Alex Turner' rather than 'the Arctic Monkeys'. Almost certainly a troubling thing to do. I was going to touch on the fact that this is the first time I've seen Alex Turner anywhere with stubble but I'd look even more shallow and like Alex Turner = the Arctic Monkeys for me. This, I'll have you know, is not true 99% of the time but WOAH STUBBLE YAY. Sigh. Sexuality sure is futile.
(Really, read one AM interview and you've read 'em all. I've read so many things dedicated to Alex and his introverted, brooding, socially detached self for a life time. I think it's adorable as much as it is completely contrived. Sigh again at this whole thing.)
Okay. Bye.
Seeing as I've nothing new to say but feel the need to blog anyway(and I'm already doing this for my music blog so whatever), I thought I'll give you the obligatory list of 'summer songs'. Okay? Woohoo.
1. The City by Patrick Wolf
I've been waiting to show you guys, one way or another, this song for ages. Months. While, when it comes to music I am prone to hyperbole, I think I'm speaking with sense when I say that this might be one of the best pop songs I've ever heard. Apparently his new album, Lupercalia, is full of great pop songs. If I were you, I'd buy the record based on its awesome name alone, but Patrick Wolf is something of a Pop Song Master soooo I'm sure you're in for a treat. It's not released physically in the US yet but I'm gonna get it the moment I go back to the UK.
2. Mornin' by Star Slinger
Trip-tastic hipster electronica, why not. One of the best bands of 2011 so far. Sounds like never ending summer days, heat waves, and friends.
3. Five Years Time by Noah & the Whale
I'd pay more attention to this than their recent work. This song will never leave my Summer Playlist, I reckon. It's just so damn adorable.
4. Crave You by Flight Facilities
Again, this is hipstertastic, but it has tribal drums and sounds like midday heat.
5. With Love by Elbow
This is only an excerpt, you'll have to deal with crappy audio or buy the record if you wanna listen to the whole beautiful song. But, my god, go buy the record because it is soooo good.
6. In the Water by Beat Connection
Yeah, I listen to too much chillwave for my own good. Oh well.
7. Kiss of Life by Friendly Fires
Let's grab some African drums, go to a beach, and dance like Thom Yorke.
8. Pensacola by Manchester Orchestra
Alcohol, dirty malls, pensacola, florida bars. Nothing about this song makes sense or fits in with anything else this band have ever done, but let's drive down a highway and scream the lyrics with the windows down.
9. Hair by Lady Gaga
No matter how many times I listen to this, I'm still not sure what to make of Lady Gaga comparing her freedom to her hair. *shrugs*. But this is an AWESOME pop song, one of the best on the new album. Endless fun here.
10. Let's Stay Together by Al Green
So, er, don't judge me by putting a soul song on this list. It's just...good, okay? Okay I'll leave now.
Hope you enjoy something, as always. I'll post more songs in the future, I'm sure.
Now, to magazines and the Office. night!
*I first wrote 'the Alex Turner' rather than 'the Arctic Monkeys'. Almost certainly a troubling thing to do. I was going to touch on the fact that this is the first time I've seen Alex Turner anywhere with stubble but I'd look even more shallow and like Alex Turner = the Arctic Monkeys for me. This, I'll have you know, is not true 99% of the time but WOAH STUBBLE YAY. Sigh. Sexuality sure is futile.
(Really, read one AM interview and you've read 'em all. I've read so many things dedicated to Alex and his introverted, brooding, socially detached self for a life time. I think it's adorable as much as it is completely contrived. Sigh again at this whole thing.)
Okay. Bye.
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