Nevermind : Yah okay, no more this post.
7:39 PM ::Comment::

 
Thursday : It's Thursday, and I've had nothing to post about for a while. I figure it's about time that I do!

People have been bitching at me about a few things recently.

1. Not updating.
2. That my site looks like shit and is over-simple.

I guess that means it's time I changed a few things eh?

I figure it's about time I have an organized feature as a part of my blog. Drawing my inspiration from Ian and his formidable top 100 albums of all time list; I present "Future Music Thursdays" (yes, that corny name shall do nicely). Rather than a numerical list I will review letters of the alphabet. Four a week, in alphabetical order to make things easy on me. I'll list a few bands from each letter, and a winner. I will try to stick to the unknowns, the up-and-comers, the ones with potential that hasn't been realized yet, or stuff I just plain like.

Without further ado, the initial installment of "Future Music Thursdays". Bands with a * after their name were not known by me, but by my co-opinion Matt Keith, who I consider the authority on music.

Keep in mind that each time I reformat I lose a few bands and don't get them again, so this list is stuff I've listened to recently. Feel free to leave suggestions of bands you think I ought to review.

Another thing to note, I don't like ALL the bands, just most, and not all are unknown. This is just where I see music heading, or bands that deserve mention, or a listening to.

# - Numbers are a special bonus installment to celebrate the first issue.

• 311 : Mellow, or hard, nice. I've only got three tracks by them, I don't know much about them.
  Key tracks : I'll be here a while, Creatures.
  
  
• 40 Foot echo : These guys are what I wish local garage bands sounded like. They're rock, not a complex sound, but they sound good. I downloaded a bunch of their stuff but deleted most of it because it wasn't my thing. But I kept two tracks, and these are what I choose to be their key tracks. Which I'd assume would be apparent.
  Key tracks : Tomorrow, What if I Don't.
  
  
• 3 Doors Down : These boys win this music section. Their soft stuff is just plain good. Surpassingly clear vocals, good lyrics, and very well orchestrated tracks.
  Key tracks : Kryptonite, When I'm Gone.
  

A - Lots of mixed sounds, a nice progressive letter. Sure the winner was a safety pick, but they really do stand out and deserve the spot.

• Amber : A guilty pleasure, bubbly, sexualized, electronic with "pretty" vocals. Hate it because you're not a mainstream poser, like it because it's actually pretty good.
  Key tracks : Sexual, I'm a Dreamer.
  
  
• Aphex Twin : Experimental, progressive, this is the sort of stuff the list is all about. Yes it's electronic and I put it on a serious music list, got a problem with it? Don't be an elitist, it IS music, and it IS good.
  Key tracks : Violin Solo, Digeridoo, Girl Boy Song, Windowlicker.
  
  
• Aesop Rock* : Urban and Organic. I'm very glad it was suggested to me. You can really hear the street influence with them. Might be a bit prone to rapping for some peoples liking. But I'm open minded.
  Key tracks : Rock Water, Freeze, Daylight.
  
  
• Audioslave : Melodious, great voice, apparently a bit depressing. It all hinges on the voice really. People seem to like them, I sorta do, but they're only on here for their popularity. I do like Show me how to Live though.
  Key tracks : Show me how to live, I am the highway, Like a Stone.
  
  
• A Static Lullaby* : A mix of rock (actual rock, Godsmack style) and punk. Their vocals are their weak point. They're okay I suppose.
  Key tracks : The Shooting Star That Destroys Us All.
  
  
• Alabama 3 : Interesting stuff, defies all description. Electronic elements, rock elements, rap elements, jazz elements, and even gospel elements. They sing about drugs, and the church. They're too different to really have a favourite from.
  Key tracks : The Night We Nearly got Busted, Never Goin to Goa', Lady of the Lowlife.
  
  
• A Perfect Circle : James Maynard Keenan and Trent Reznor (from now on Keenan and Treznor) are the motors of change in music. They are where it's going, and they're buddies too. A Perfect Circle is Keenans current project, it takes what I liked about Tool and does it better, less experimental and progressive than Tool, but still definitely in the realm of the new. Long soft sounds, very good at evoking emotion.
  Key tracks : Judith, 3 Libras, Magdalena, Rose, Thinking of you.
  

B - B isn't a letter I'm overly well versed with. It's a fun letter for music which doesn't require attachment, or a particular mood to listen to.

• Bright Eyes : Wow, I thought I had something here with Sunrise, Sunset. I was wrong, I don't like them at all beyond the one song.
  Key tracks : Sunrise, Sunset.
  
  
• Blue Man Group : I don't know too much about them, but what I've heard I've liked. Apparently their new album is pretty different from their old one more "musical".
  Key tracks : Sing Along.
  
  
• Butthole Surfers : IMPOSSIBLE to find stuff by them, but I like them. All I have is Pepper though. If the rest of their stuff is like Pepper, they rock.
  Key tracks : Pepper
  
  
• Beck : The most unique sound of B. Neutral and almost monotone singing. Hard to describe, pleasing to the ears. If you're playing some, close your eyes, smile.
  Key tracks : The New Pollution, Devil's Haircut, Loser, Tropicalia, Where It's At, Lost Cause.
  
  
• Bowling for soup* : It's punk that I like. Look into it.
  Key tracks : Punk Rock 101
  
  
• Bif naked : I like Bif, loud, strong, fun, good to jump to. I know her, she once had thanksgiving dinner at my house. The music gels very very well. I like her voice too. The fact that she's local gets her bonus points.
  Key tracks : Twitch, Rich and Filthy, I died, Choking on the Truth, Anything
  
  
• Brand New : The artists behind the emoest song in existence (Sic transit Gloria... Glory fades). I like them, they may be emo, and occasionally screamo, but they sound okay.
  Key tracks : Sic transit Gloria... Glory fades, I will play my game under the spinning light.
  
  
• Bush : Magz says Gavin Rossdale is hot. Yah, okay, I like em. Not becuase Gavin Rossdale is hot though. But I don't ever want to listen to them, if they're on, or I come across them on my music list I like to hear them, but I never seek them out. Or, at least, rarely compared to everything else on here.
  Key tracks : Glycerine, Greedy Fly, Machine Head, Chemicals Between Us, Everything Zen
  
  
• Blur : "Drevs, why are you putting Blur on this list? They're not new!" You ask, and you're right. They're not new, and they're not up and coming. But they came out with Crazy Beat recently, right? Well, maybe they're not done? Maybe Blur will keep on going... I CAN DREAM DAMNIT!
  Key tracks : Crazy Beat, Song 2, Country House, The Universal, Girls and Boys.
  
  
• Beta Band : They're old, they're long gone. But have you heard of them? That's not so sure, and they're definitely unique. So here they are. If you don't have any Beta Band music you are NOT a music connoisseur.
  Key tracks : Squares, Round the Bend, She's the one, Dry the Rain, Gone, Eclipse, Quiet
  
  
• Barenaked Ladies : Call their winning lip service if you want. It was them or Beta Band in my opinion. Beta Band isn't new though! Very accessible, very catchy, very uplifting. Everything a band needs to be successful, even if not necessarily brilliant. Despite the lack of "deep" lyrics, I'd still say their music (and isn't it about the music really?) is brilliant. The long list of key tracks attests to that.
  Key tracks : Alcohol, Thanks That Was Fun, Blame it on Me, Get in Line, All Been Done, Grade Nine.
  

C - I get to take a breather on C. C bands are mostly bands that don't really belong on here. So I get to make a short list. Thank god, I bit off more than I can chew with this project. Maybe I'm dropping the ball here with C, and missing a bunch, actually I know I am. But I don't care! Who really needs anything in C once you've got Cake?

• Courtney Love : Mono's cool. Beyond that, who cares? Maybe she shot Kurt, but, again, who really cares? Not me! She's not a band though, and Aaron thinks she sounds like a guy.
  Key tracks : Mono,
  
  
• Clawfinger : Wow, it's the sound of upper lower middle class "intellectuals". Loud, beating, rock with just a hint of electronic elements. Doing nothing but making worn through arguments about religion and issues that the people who ARE smart, and don't just think they are, have already processed, and gone beyond. Find a new schtick guys, 14 year old "prodigies" stole your thing. Nice sound though, kinda. They should ditch the singer.
  Key tracks : Two sides, Burn in Hell,
  
  
• Crystal Method : I can't believe I forgot Crystal Method and Chemical Brothers! Crystal Method is an interesting bunch, interesting enough that some of their stuff has hit the main stream, these guys may even be as well known as Darude. Crystal Method believes they are struggling because of the lack of attention electronic music gets. They're wrong, the real reason is simple, even though they're pretty good they don't stand a chance against the big names in electronic. They get radio play because they occasionally have something that sounds good, but no fans. The fans go to the other big names in electronic becase Crystal Method is trite. Fatboy Slim, Aphex Twin, Daft Punk, Darude, Rob Dougan, DJs galore, and a few others have too much skill, and too strong a grip on the electronic section of the market for any so-so artists to have a chance.
  Key tracks : Born too slow, Name of the Game,
  
  
• Chemical Brothers : Nothing sounds quite like the Chemical Brothers. Their songs inspire images, scenes, and events. This is what you listen to when you try to create something, design something. I bet while designing the fight scenes for the Matrix the choreographers were listening to The Replacement Killers. This stuff is planned out, excellent cuts, perfect samples, this is the penultimate atmospheric techno. The ultimate is of course Rob Dougan.
  Key tracks : The Replacement Killers, Setting Sun, Bass Test, The Test,
  
  
• Cake : I love Cake. One of my all-time favourites. They're surpassingly good. Their lyrics can be very minimalistic, ironic, satirical, and sometimes, though rarely, emotional; however, always, always, clever. They're very recognizable. Nobody can contest them winning C.
  Key tracks : Comfort Eagle, Pretty Pink Ribbon, Opera Singer, Frank Sinatra, Sheep go to Heaven, Sad Songs and Waltzes, Shadow Stabbing, Meanwhile Rick James, Love you Madly, Open Book, Nugget, Never There, AND ON AND ON IT GOES!
  

D - D, the magical letter that causes electronic artists latch on and refuse to let go.

• Dream Theater : Talent! Anything they choose to do they pull off phenomenally. Give them a listen, download random things, whatever is popular, it's all good. Even if it's a bit random. I especially like their heavier stuff, but that's the kind of guy I am.
  Key tracks : All of it is good, just take your pick.
  
  
• Daft Punk : Beginners into electronic start here. A stepping stone, the newbie tutorial perhaps. Anyone can listen to them, they're very friendly and light. Good stuff, but not nearly enough sustenance to last.
  Key tracks : Digital Love, Harder Better Faster Stronger, All Around the World, Da Funk, One More Time.
  
  
• Distillers : Meh. No review for them. I don't like 'em.
  
  
• Dandy Warhols : A Velvet Underground tribute band, I don't hear it though. But seriously the band name is a dead give-away. Quick, quirky, funky, short, little sounds. But a lot of them, making for a very interesting listen.
  Key tracks : Horse Pills, We Used to be Friends, Get Off, Bohemian Like You, Cool as Kim Deal.
  
  
• Danko Jones : Now that's some tasty guitar, and oh what a voice! Nice stuff. Sounds slightly retro, gives me visions of girls in tall boots, with big hair, and big sunglasses. Danko Jones is a self-declared ladies man. Great Air Guitar stuff, although it's not very typical of it.
  Key tracks : Cadillac, Bounce, Sound of Love, Never Again, I want you, Lovercall.
  
  
• Danny Elfman : Danny Elfman is one of the greatest musical talents of our time. He does the music for basically every movie with good music, and he IS Jack Skellington.
  Key tracks : Ice Dance, Jacks Lament, Making Christmas
  
  
• Darude : I bet this grabbed you by the head and rubbed your face in electronic, and maybe, just maybe, you admitted "Yah, Sandstorm kicks ass." Those of you still sitting in the dark facing the wall, electronic is here to stay. It's good too, quit your denial and just embrace it. Remember how good sandstorm was? How awesome it was to just bob along to the pulse and flow of it? Electronic isn't going to kill all that other music you like, take it in stride. Nobody will judge you for liking it, except those who's judgment isn't worth squat. Those of you who say that you're into techno, and that you're into electronic, but get lost when me and Baldwin talk about it. Sorry, but you're not electronic fans. With just a bit of searching, or asking, you can be.
  Key tracks : Sandstorm, The Flow, Let the Music take Control, Ecstasy.
  
  
• DJs : Sorry Baldwin, I can't list actual DJs individually, we'd be here all day. Sammy is the most popular (but sucks), Spooky kicks major ass, Scribble makes good house, Promo has power, Whoo if you want some street techno, Special has a very nice and flowing sound. There are more, so so many more. But no way in hell am I going into that. Electronic listeners have always been left to fend for themselves. And we can do it fine. You might think us a bunch of nerds, but you try to dance energetically and fast for 10 hours. Ravers are the ninjas of the music world. DJs receive the honourable win. They've done so very much for music, and hardly ever get credit.
  
  
• David Usher : I've only heard Black Black Heart, at least as far as I know, but I liked it. Not sure why David Usher is on here.
  Key tracks : Black Black heart.
  
  
• Darkness : My hands were tied, how could I pick something else? I wanted to pick Danko Jones, Darude, or Dandy Warhols, but I can't pick them over The Darkness. I hear their CD lacks filler of any kind. I look forward to my burned copy (get on it Ian). Great vocals, really really great. Nobody can do that but them, Ian, and a guy who has been kicked really really hard. Amazing vocals, great instrument work, good writing, and a unique sound. The Darkness is here to stay, despite what I thought when I first heard them. I thought they just had the one trick, but they're solid. Definitely the band of the moment.
  Key tracks : Love on the Rocks, I Believe in a Thing Called Love, Black Shuck, Stuck in a Rut, Get Your Hands Off My Woman.
  

So the list ends. This is what will become popular soon, is popular and here to stay, is still years away, or just plain kicks ass. I leave out the old stuff because everyone already has firm opinions on that. I pick discussion, reasoning, and sharing of what's new and great over rabid fan clashes any day.

Now, get to the rabid fan clashing, flaming, and demanding to know why I left stuff out. Bring it on!

Also, Holy FUCK that post is HUGE!
7:39 PM ::Comment::

 
Fervent : I got one of those Matchmaker things today. I'm curious as to who has followed me my entire life counting my steps. I don't have a very good chance of liking anybody in school according to this. You know what, it's kind of accurate, I don't really like all that many people. But I do like quite a few, you can probably figure out which ones you are.

I spent lunch tracking down the glaring girl. We identified her as Holly Borthwick. The criteria of pink shirt, black pants is far far more effective than "it's some girl". After we had pinned down who it was and we were walking back to the front of the school, I saw someone else I thought was the person who glared at me. But not the same someone. I think I'll only get a positive ID if someone goes with me all the time, and next time I see them and they glare, point them out.

Possibly my not knowing anyone because I really don't care kicked in early. There was someone I didn't know (and who didn't know me, shock) who seemed pretty cool... yup...


Really all of that was filler to tell you about a very amusing phone call. Is a certain someone dreading me continuing this story? Maybe I should stop. But when have I ever done what I should do?

I was on the phone with a certain someone, telling a story of old, rather amusing one actually, this one ;
I'm strangely wussy about some things, like I complain about paper cuts, and if I slip and hit my hand on something I often refuse to do any work for the rest of the day. But I'll stick a chisel in my leg, or tear a muscle, or break a finger, and not really mind or notice. I only seem to complain about the small things.
It was sort of late night on the phone babble on my part, but part way through the story (which wasn't what I wrote there at all, the story was about me playing with a nail remover and throwing the hammer so it stuck into a wall when I slipped, I smacked my knuckles, and refused to work after) I got a wonderful response. Perhaps it was one of those you had to be there things but I was asked "So how many dogs will you have?" because, apparently, I have a lot of dogs. And I was planning to get some more, and that's what I had been explaining.

What?

Even the tiniest fraction of your mind in dream land leads to some pretty fun stuff here in reality.

I don't know if I'll reveal who it was who asked me about my dogs (believe it or not it doesn't come up much). Actually I do. It was Molly. Hi Molly.


Why was I on the phone late with her? This'd be another place that Ian can show off his math skills. I figure the title is a pretty good hint.

Quiet you!
10:44 PM ::Comment::

 
Underhand : Ryan, stop reading this and get back to work. Hey me in Int 12. Here's that colour stuff you wanted.

Colormatch 5k
Color Lab

Trial site - Hey, if you're reading this, what do you think of my example? I think I ought to darken up the blue on the smaller buttons, it's hard to see the icons. Maybe tie them to the large orb, so that when you roll your mouse over one the orb image changes to some text explaining the link

Oh, hey, me, before I forget. Do all future putting of stuff for Int 12 here. Don't bother with a new post each time.

One more thing me, you're looking damn fine.


5:45 PM ::Comment::

 
Purgatory : Yesterday (Fri) I took my road test. I won. His only complaint was I was "over-cautious". I'm a cunning trickster. On the way home I drove 30 over the limit, and later that night I saw how fast I could get it on a very short stretch, I think my Volvo's as powerful as an everyday muscle car.

Aaron and I, and some others, watched Mel Brooks movies, and after everyone left we decided to go to McDonalds for ice cream, after which we decided to go to Vancouver, it being at least 1am by this time. It seemed to make sense at the time.

I got home at about 4:45, to find out my dad is looking for me... uh oh. So far there's been no punishment, just a puzzled father who called me ignorant. I think the unspoken punishment is I don't drive his car for pleasure for a while. Aww well.

Downtown Vancouver (the Robson area) is IMPOSSIBLE to navigate if you don't know all the stupid weird directions. I know where I want to go, I know all the streets, I know where I am. I can't get there, it sort of tosses you around at random. We ended up at a beach, I don't know which one. If Sean ever reads this (Cote) the one where we were drinking. Anyway, I gave up on my goal as to where I wanted to go, and then went home, from god knows where, on streets I don't recognize. I was worried we were going to end up in space, or underground or something. Maybe in Phnom Penh. I didn't want to go to Phnom Penh.



Anyway, today I hid in bed for a long time, till my dad went away, and then got up, I was allowed to drive today. I went shopping for supplies. Superstore is a jerk. It had NOTHING that I was looking for, and everything I wasn't. So I call home to see if they need anything, there was a mere 5c on my phone, so the conversation went "Need anything?" "One sec, lemme ask" *click*. Then I had to get gas from their little Gas Bar, it's a confusing random process with no steps. I discovered that my bank randomly switches my money from Saving to Chequing, and if I check online, it says it's in "Deposit 100 Account" what does that even mean?

Why does the bank except me to put up with their crap? I'm excited, this means I get to go in and yell at them about it for a while. I do so love to yell at people.

After I got gas, and nothing else (stupid god damn "Superstore", for you KYians, it's like your Wal-Mart edit: Make that Monticellites) I went to Richmond Centre to grab what was on my list. I got most of it, there's still one or more things I need. The mall was closing though, and it wasn't vital. While I was at the mall I tried to put more money on my phone, their system was down, I couldn't call home, didn't have quarters. I re-arranged all their displays and shelves out of spite. I did it on Fri too, at the movie store. Avoid that blockbuster at that little strip mall with the Safeway and nothing else. I don't know where it is, so I guess I'm safe. Oh, I stole a pen from the phone place too, NOW THEY HAVE NO PEN! HA!


As a few small things that made my day today, there was a protest by men, they wanted the same rights to wear skirts as women. Apparently us guys aren't necessarily allowed to wear kilts to work, while you girls can wear all the non-pants you want.

Secret "anti-perspirant" is no longer "Strong enough for a man, but made for you" (what are they telling me?) it's now "Strong enough for a woman." And that's the entire thing. That's a terrible line "Just strong enough for you, but not really offering any extra if you're in any sort of extreme situation", "barely sufficient for status quo". Not very thought out.

edit : Now I feel sick.

I like that new Crystal Method song.
6:46 PM ::Comment::

 
Circumgyration : You know, I've travelled a lot more than most people. Look at everywhere I've been!

If you want to make one.

I've visited 2% of the worlds according to that. Does anyone else see a problem with their wording?

Compare the red to the green. If it had said 2% of the worlds countries, that'd be fine. But it didn't.



Jeez, I've only been to two percent of the worlds countries? I've installed shadow governments in more countries than that. I really ought to visit my satellite weapons sites huh? Go see the locals I've subjugated to help arm my armys, I think it'd be a nice sentiment, maybe boost productivity. Forget it, I don't have time with school and all.
11:19 PM ::Comment::