Thursday, November 10, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
HIPSTER ANIMALS & AFICIONADOS & HEMINGWAY VS. OSCAR WILDE
I really love this blog, I really do.
http://hipster-animals.tumblr.com
As much as I do love the blog, not sure how I feel about this whole hipster thing.
I mean, it's the same with every thing that you label - it's hard to define! Sometimes I feel it's just some imaginary kind of thing - does it really exist? It probably does. Eric said it's about liking something not because you like it, but because you're being ironic or you do it to put it on. I guess it's uncool or unhipster to be really into things or passionate about something? I don't know and don't care.
The great American author, Ernest Hemingway, talked about passion or "Aficion" as it was called in Spain, in a conversation about matadors with the hotelier Montoya in his novel Fiesta - The Sun Also Rises. In Montonya's eyes only the truest bull-fighters had "Aficion" and only the truest lover of anything can be called an "Aficionado". It's a great book - it's about a young writer hanging around Spain with his friends during a Fiesta in Pamploma. The book involves lots of bull fighting, running with the bulls and lots of descriptions of them sleeping, eating breakfast at cafes, getting drunk, hitting each other, getting angsty and generally being dramatic.
I love reading Hemingway. I remember the first time I read the first 8 chapters of Fiesta and I dreamt in his prose - it was weird - like I wanted to read it so badly that my mind, in some weird dream logic, was trying to finish the book. I was just dreaming of an empty page, just filling up with Hemingway-ish sentences made up by my mind. There's something deep and true about his work. It's stark and subtle and frank and straightforward.
He served in the First World War as an American ambulance driver in Italy and then after working as a journalist for a while decided to turn his hand at writing novels, travelling around the world and generally being manly - hunting, running with the bulls, shooting things. His book, A Moveable Feast describes his times in Paris as a young man. Hemingway isn't for everyone, his prose is very sparse, he rarely uses adjectives and you can get frustrated with the pace sometimes. I think to appreciate him, you need to read past the simple language. There's a lot of subtext, and while he doesn't explicitly describe the mindsets of the characters, you kind of realise their hopes and losses and dreams and fears that haunt them and insecurities in the simple way he writes and describes the way they talk and act. Once you read more and more of his books, you realise that it's very autobiographical and there's a lot of things that are probably true and lived and experienced by Hemingway in his books - when you look closely some of those details and observations sound a bit too authentic to be made up. It's wonderfully subtle in that way, too.
To use a comparison, he's the opposite of Oscar Wilde. Wilde was a dandy, all wit and flourishes and irony with an impressive command of written word; a true virtuoso and purveyor of gorgeously ornamented prose. In some ways, using Eric's definition again, I'd say Oscar Wilde is like the hipster and Hemingway is like the aficionado. Hemingway doesn't say much, but when he feels something, at least he means it and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks - Wilde's more about impressing, insulting, provoking a reaction and being part of a tight knit circle, all-knowing glances and all-knowing smiles from which sharp little retorts emerge.
While Wilde is more skilled than Hemingway, I like them both. However, I feel more of an affinity (perhaps, aspirational) with Ernest Hemingway. He takes up much more of my bookshelf than Wilde.
http://hipster-animals.tumblr.com
As much as I do love the blog, not sure how I feel about this whole hipster thing.
I mean, it's the same with every thing that you label - it's hard to define! Sometimes I feel it's just some imaginary kind of thing - does it really exist? It probably does. Eric said it's about liking something not because you like it, but because you're being ironic or you do it to put it on. I guess it's uncool or unhipster to be really into things or passionate about something? I don't know and don't care.
The great American author, Ernest Hemingway, talked about passion or "Aficion" as it was called in Spain, in a conversation about matadors with the hotelier Montoya in his novel Fiesta - The Sun Also Rises. In Montonya's eyes only the truest bull-fighters had "Aficion" and only the truest lover of anything can be called an "Aficionado". It's a great book - it's about a young writer hanging around Spain with his friends during a Fiesta in Pamploma. The book involves lots of bull fighting, running with the bulls and lots of descriptions of them sleeping, eating breakfast at cafes, getting drunk, hitting each other, getting angsty and generally being dramatic.
I love reading Hemingway. I remember the first time I read the first 8 chapters of Fiesta and I dreamt in his prose - it was weird - like I wanted to read it so badly that my mind, in some weird dream logic, was trying to finish the book. I was just dreaming of an empty page, just filling up with Hemingway-ish sentences made up by my mind. There's something deep and true about his work. It's stark and subtle and frank and straightforward.
He served in the First World War as an American ambulance driver in Italy and then after working as a journalist for a while decided to turn his hand at writing novels, travelling around the world and generally being manly - hunting, running with the bulls, shooting things. His book, A Moveable Feast describes his times in Paris as a young man. Hemingway isn't for everyone, his prose is very sparse, he rarely uses adjectives and you can get frustrated with the pace sometimes. I think to appreciate him, you need to read past the simple language. There's a lot of subtext, and while he doesn't explicitly describe the mindsets of the characters, you kind of realise their hopes and losses and dreams and fears that haunt them and insecurities in the simple way he writes and describes the way they talk and act. Once you read more and more of his books, you realise that it's very autobiographical and there's a lot of things that are probably true and lived and experienced by Hemingway in his books - when you look closely some of those details and observations sound a bit too authentic to be made up. It's wonderfully subtle in that way, too.
To use a comparison, he's the opposite of Oscar Wilde. Wilde was a dandy, all wit and flourishes and irony with an impressive command of written word; a true virtuoso and purveyor of gorgeously ornamented prose. In some ways, using Eric's definition again, I'd say Oscar Wilde is like the hipster and Hemingway is like the aficionado. Hemingway doesn't say much, but when he feels something, at least he means it and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks - Wilde's more about impressing, insulting, provoking a reaction and being part of a tight knit circle, all-knowing glances and all-knowing smiles from which sharp little retorts emerge.
While Wilde is more skilled than Hemingway, I like them both. However, I feel more of an affinity (perhaps, aspirational) with Ernest Hemingway. He takes up much more of my bookshelf than Wilde.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Mixed Six: I Want You
Made a mini-mix of pop-songs that involve the words "I Want You". These songs are awesome to listen to because they deal with desire, lust and obsession - gotta love it!
Apparently was written as UK dance-duo Moloko was on the cusp of breaking up as a couple and as a band. Really dig the disco-y, YMO vibes in this one but it doesn't hide the longing in Roisin Murphy's voice.
Needed to add in some Marvin too. Those chords and the combo of those vocal harmonies makes me shiver. If there ever was a chord progression for longing and desire, it's in this song.
Speaking of brooding, just watch her face as she sings. Haunting. Great accompanying by the band but god, such a brave performance from Fiona Apple.
Crazy riff. I couldn't make a "I want you" mixtape without throwing this one in!
Cool little Jeff Buckley cover by Kylie Auldist and South-Pacific Antipodean soul-funk band The Bamboos. Ouch. Throbby.
Here's something a bit more contemporary from Cali-surf-pop-fuzz-girl-group rockers Best Coast. I love the light and shade in the song. In fact, if you ever want an album of unrequited love songs, buy the Best Coast album.
Apparently was written as UK dance-duo Moloko was on the cusp of breaking up as a couple and as a band. Really dig the disco-y, YMO vibes in this one but it doesn't hide the longing in Roisin Murphy's voice.
Needed to add in some Marvin too. Those chords and the combo of those vocal harmonies makes me shiver. If there ever was a chord progression for longing and desire, it's in this song.
Speaking of brooding, just watch her face as she sings. Haunting. Great accompanying by the band but god, such a brave performance from Fiona Apple.
Crazy riff. I couldn't make a "I want you" mixtape without throwing this one in!
Cool little Jeff Buckley cover by Kylie Auldist and South-Pacific Antipodean soul-funk band The Bamboos. Ouch. Throbby.
Here's something a bit more contemporary from Cali-surf-pop-fuzz-girl-group rockers Best Coast. I love the light and shade in the song. In fact, if you ever want an album of unrequited love songs, buy the Best Coast album.
Monday, October 31, 2011
DRIVE: Music Monday
Saw Drive on the weekend - enjoyed it immensely. I'm not a film buff, so I can't really offer a very informed opinion, but there were some very cool scenes (violent and non-violent) and it certainly looked really nice. The setting in LA/some west-coast city was very cool. There were some really cool shots of sundrenched areas and really dark, grungy settings at night. It wasn't really like any action flick I've seen before (if you can call it an action flick ) it was really unconventional and artsy - which explains all the awards it got at Cannes. Ryan Gosling was pretty badarse - a lot of people get destroyed by him in the movie. I generally really liked the acting and I definitely liked the 80s styled minimalist electro-pop music and uber terse Heat-style ultra-masculine electronica score.
In many ways the music was a perfect fit for the film. There's this ultra shiny veneer of cool and kitsch in the sounds and pop overtones - but at the same time there's this emptiness, tension and darkness which seems to be a major theme in Drive.
I really enjoyed it. I'd recommend it for fans of driving movies and action and art-house cinema - it was a bit slow though, so if you're going in expecting a balls-to-the-wall action flick, you're probably going to be disappointed (or maybe pleasantly surprised). The soundtrack definitely gets my double thumbs up. Perhaps, like the way the soundtrack is a homage to 80's analogue electro pop like Tangerine Dream and Brian Eno, the film is a homage to 70's/old school car movies like Vanishing Point (1971) and Bullitt (1968).
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| Dig dat 80's Miami Vice FONT! |
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sriracha Deliciousness
Recently I discovered this amazing chilli sauce - Sriracha or "rooster sauce". From what I can gather it's just made of crushed chilli and loads of garlic. I think you can buy it from most Asian supermaket shops (I went to good ol Madame Hoo's in Castle Towers). Heaps of my favourite restaurants use it, MsG's in Kings Cross is one, and Menya ramen also have it available on hand for your dipping and squeezing pleasure.
I really recommend it, it's ultra-tasty and unlike some other hot sauces, it has a really awesome aromatic flavour that makes the hotness worth it. A warning though, it is pretty hot, so use sparingly if you're not a chilli eater. Or mix it with some mayonnaise, which seems to work really well making it a bit more creamy and mild. Anyway I've included a supereasy recipe with this post.
SUPEREASY Sriracha Mayo and Baguette Bites
I'd primarily make it as a snack but it'd be awesome when you have some left overs, like grilled chicken, to use as topping. I think it'd be a pretty good entrée/starter/fingerfood thing at a bbq or a party. It's just really, really tasty and packs a punch with the chilli.
What you need:
1 x Baguette
Some Sriracha Chilli
Condensed milk (optional)
Some Kewpie Mayo (or any Japanese Mayonnaise)
What to do:
1. Cut the baguette into slices/discs (I suggest no more than an inch thick).
2. Put on some mayo and then squeeze on some Sriacha sauce then using a knife spread it across the surface of the baguette. You can also add a little bit of condensed milk if you wish. (just tweak the amounts to your own tastes, but be DEFINITELY be generous with the mayo - you want it to be creamy)
3. Add toppings if you wish (some slices of grilled chicken meat (probably drumstick meat - sliced off the bone), marinated in soya sauce and garlic and salt and pepper for a few hours and then pan fried is pretty awesome, cooked and sliced frankfurts are also pretty good on it too)
Other Hot Sauces
I don't think it'd be fair if I just harped on about Sriracha without mentioning my other favourite hot sauces.
LEE KUM KEE'S GARLIC CHILLI SAUCE - this stuff is amazing. My family is from southern China and they absolutely love this stuff - it's probably the signature chilli of the region. We have it cold and it goes well on everything, especially when we have won-ton soup. Not too much heat, lots of salty garlicky goodness, a bit of tang and a really nice texture.
BYRON BAY CHILLI SAUCE - I think they have a pretty awesome range, but I like the green one the best. It's really flavoursome and packs a punch. Really good with Mexican food like Burritos and Tacos. They used to stock it in Guzman Y Gomez. Ahhh those were the days.
TABASCO SAUCE - Need I say more? It's a classic. It's pretty watery, but when used sparingly, it can burnnnn so good. Really gets your mouth numb, but it tastes oh so GOOD. Really has a kick to it.
More Sriracha info?
The New York Times does a pretty good run down here about how Sriracha is made:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/dining/20united.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
Here's also LYNDA BALSLEV's "Confessions of a Sriracha Fanatic"
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/06/140220680/confessions-of-a-sriracha-fanatic
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| From the NYTIMES article |
I really recommend it, it's ultra-tasty and unlike some other hot sauces, it has a really awesome aromatic flavour that makes the hotness worth it. A warning though, it is pretty hot, so use sparingly if you're not a chilli eater. Or mix it with some mayonnaise, which seems to work really well making it a bit more creamy and mild. Anyway I've included a supereasy recipe with this post.
SUPEREASY Sriracha Mayo and Baguette Bites
I'd primarily make it as a snack but it'd be awesome when you have some left overs, like grilled chicken, to use as topping. I think it'd be a pretty good entrée/starter/fingerfood thing at a bbq or a party. It's just really, really tasty and packs a punch with the chilli.
What you need:
1 x Baguette
Some Sriracha Chilli
Condensed milk (optional)
Some Kewpie Mayo (or any Japanese Mayonnaise)
What to do:
1. Cut the baguette into slices/discs (I suggest no more than an inch thick).
2. Put on some mayo and then squeeze on some Sriacha sauce then using a knife spread it across the surface of the baguette. You can also add a little bit of condensed milk if you wish. (just tweak the amounts to your own tastes, but be DEFINITELY be generous with the mayo - you want it to be creamy)
3. Add toppings if you wish (some slices of grilled chicken meat (probably drumstick meat - sliced off the bone), marinated in soya sauce and garlic and salt and pepper for a few hours and then pan fried is pretty awesome, cooked and sliced frankfurts are also pretty good on it too)
Other Hot Sauces
I don't think it'd be fair if I just harped on about Sriracha without mentioning my other favourite hot sauces.
 |
| from LIVE.LOVE.LIFE |
LEE KUM KEE'S GARLIC CHILLI SAUCE - this stuff is amazing. My family is from southern China and they absolutely love this stuff - it's probably the signature chilli of the region. We have it cold and it goes well on everything, especially when we have won-ton soup. Not too much heat, lots of salty garlicky goodness, a bit of tang and a really nice texture.
BYRON BAY CHILLI SAUCE - I think they have a pretty awesome range, but I like the green one the best. It's really flavoursome and packs a punch. Really good with Mexican food like Burritos and Tacos. They used to stock it in Guzman Y Gomez. Ahhh those were the days.
TABASCO SAUCE - Need I say more? It's a classic. It's pretty watery, but when used sparingly, it can burnnnn so good. Really gets your mouth numb, but it tastes oh so GOOD. Really has a kick to it.
More Sriracha info?
The New York Times does a pretty good run down here about how Sriracha is made:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/dining/20united.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
Here's also LYNDA BALSLEV's "Confessions of a Sriracha Fanatic"
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/06/140220680/confessions-of-a-sriracha-fanatic
"I got a love that keeps me waiting..."
Sunday, October 23, 2011
ultraaa dope
Ultradope cover of IS THIS LOVE (orig. BOB MARLEY) done by BILAL and friends. It's closer to Corinne Bailey Rae's cover than the reggae feel of the original, but it's a bit more upbeat and experimental. Awesome violin and keyboard work.
==
Today, had a pretty awesome day. Had some pho (Vietnamese noodle soup in savoury, herby, beef broth) out in Blacktown Westpoint shopping centre for breakfast/lunch, had some coffee, had some gelato.
Also discovered a way trendy little cafe called Air out in the Hills area near the RTA - really worth a look at if you're around the area. Coffee is roasted on site and it is extra delicious. The interior is set up a bit like my old science classroom in high school, big long communal tables, really industrial feel with girders in the ceilings, books and strange drip contraptions that look like something straight out of the lab of a mad genius. Definitely recommended!
http://www.aircoffee.com/
Uh. Not much else to report, really! Picked up the new Mayer Hawthorne album - lots of cool, throwback sounds and some nice little Hall and Oates/ELO inspired numbers there. Definitely enough on the album to keep soul/funk/disco/raregroove heads happy.
hahah I love this video clip. It has everything.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Sounds that inspire me
I'm inspired today, found these great clips on youtube. First one is from instrumental-jazz-funk-experimental-rock trio medeski, martin and wood. If you stick around and watch it, you'll be treated to one of the most interesting clavinet/keyboard solos I have ever listened to... it's pretty hard to describe, but it's one of my favourites.
... and how can I not end the post with a clip from Good Old Herbie Hancock. Aside from John Medeski, I don't think there's been a keyboard player as influential as him on my playing style.
... and how can I not end the post with a clip from Good Old Herbie Hancock. Aside from John Medeski, I don't think there's been a keyboard player as influential as him on my playing style.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Don't Worry Baby
Beach Boys - This was one of their B-Sides. Just pure glorious vocal awesomeness. Simply gorgeous - don't take my word for it, just listen and viiiiibe.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
DAFFFFT
Sick groove cover of Daft Punk by a live band w/ horns!
OK! One mo'. Here's their cover of a JDilla tune + some art/painting!
Saw the Jezebels today - it was a free lunchtime concert at Manning Bar on campus. I love being at uni again :). They are an awesome Sydney 4-piece - they don't have a bass player but they do have a fantastic, atmospheric, indie rock sound. I think Hayley (the lead vocalist) has incredible talent and charisma. Just putting it out there - Nik, Samuel and Heather (drums, guitar and keys) are one of the best rhythm sections in Sydney. Period. So solid!
Checkkk: http://www.thejezabels.com/
Some interesting reads:
http://www.raptitude.com/2011/09/you-and-your-friends-are-all-going-to-die-and-thats-beautiful/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/01/opinion/you-love-your-iphone-literally.html
and uh. RANDOM groovy as hell 90's tune by ZHANE - Hey Mr DJ!
Monday, October 3, 2011
MISTER INTERNATIONAL!
Holidays are coming soon and I can't help feeling this tune. It's what summer is all about: sun, travel, fun and days that get so hot and fuzzy you forget where you are... I know we're only in Spring but, damn, in my mind Summer can't come quickly enough.
Anyway, back I go to study.
Damn you sun, you saucy temptress, for making me want to go outside and run and bask in your vitamin-D and UV drenched rays.
Ok one more. Classic funky joint - California Soul.
Hm, I've got a right mind to make a mixtape for running/runners sometime after my exams. I'm thinking a bit of Dungen, Mars Volta...
MONDAY'S MUSIC GARAGE ROCKnROLL
SAW these guys at GOODGOD the other day. Intense, dark, driving, grooving, slushy as hell, grindy garage rockers. Their song "cathedral" has a really nasty, kerb-stomper of a riff that just shakes you to the bone (I definitely recommend checking out/downloading the tune from Triple J Unearthed).
http://www.myspace.com/thelaurels
http://www.triplejunearthed.com/thelaurels
Thursday, September 29, 2011
STOP PRESS!
YOU MUST LISTEN TO THE NEW FEIST ALBUM.
I EMPLORE YOU!
IT IS STARK.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS EVERYTHING!
... and I am only 5 tracks in!
http://www.listentofeist.com/metals/
edit: Finished the album. It's amazing. I'm going to hold off on listening to it again until I buy it on Vinyl or CD. SO EXCITED!!!!!
I EMPLORE YOU!
IT IS STARK.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL.
IT IS EVERYTHING!
... and I am only 5 tracks in!
edit: Finished the album. It's amazing. I'm going to hold off on listening to it again until I buy it on Vinyl or CD. SO EXCITED!!!!!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The WANDERLUST trifecta
The challenge of this post (and potential comments)
3 places you’d like to visit, and why you want to go.
USA- 'nuff said. Best eats, best music. NYC, San Fran, New Orleans - now those are CITIES!!! The home of Jazz music. Would love to go south on a roadtrip to experience some gumbo, crawfish, pecan/pumpkin pie and Bayou food.
EUROPE- To quote Neil Gaiman, while Europe has history, USA has geography. So I'm thinking it'd only be fair if I spent a summer in Europe seeing the sights, eating pizza, cheap opera, hitting up the very artsy Berlin scene and checking out Scandinavia and London.
Egypt- I think I'd definitely like to check out the Middle East sometime and Egypt seems like a very cool place to visit. Lots of cool monuments. And not to mention it was the site of a pretty cool revolution - albeit a state that seems to be currently operating under a military dictatorship.
I've showed you mine. Now show me yours.
3 places you’d like to visit, and why you want to go.
USA- 'nuff said. Best eats, best music. NYC, San Fran, New Orleans - now those are CITIES!!! The home of Jazz music. Would love to go south on a roadtrip to experience some gumbo, crawfish, pecan/pumpkin pie and Bayou food.
EUROPE- To quote Neil Gaiman, while Europe has history, USA has geography. So I'm thinking it'd only be fair if I spent a summer in Europe seeing the sights, eating pizza, cheap opera, hitting up the very artsy Berlin scene and checking out Scandinavia and London.
Egypt- I think I'd definitely like to check out the Middle East sometime and Egypt seems like a very cool place to visit. Lots of cool monuments. And not to mention it was the site of a pretty cool revolution - albeit a state that seems to be currently operating under a military dictatorship.
I've showed you mine. Now show me yours.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sweeet soul
Gotta love how Soul music makes songs about the deepest pains sound so sweet. Anyway. The song above is Raphael Saadiq's cover of a 70's Spinners tune co-written by Stevie Wonder (as you can see there's some Stevie-ish kind of chord progressions). I think Raphael Saadiq uses the original Spinner's vocal (or at least uses a falsetto very close to the original) into the bridge - which I quite like.
Saadiq's most recent album, the way i see it, is definitely worth checking out! Really awesome vintagey-old-school-recorded-straight-to-tape kind of sound.
Hm, I think I'm going to press play again! So catchy!
#2
This is a soul-jazz-groove joint by American-singer-songwriter Emily King. Again, really, really nice sounding - but quite sad. But jeepers it's gorgeous. Lots of gorgeous vocal harmonies, a bass heavy, slightly latin go-go drum beat, strings and glockenspiels and a spindly upright piano that has probably seen better days. It's off her new EP "Seven" (it's only 7 USD - so there's no excuse not to buy it!).
Monday, September 26, 2011
MUSIC MONDEES _ DISCO DEE_LIGHT_FULL
Recently been playing Fender Rhodes (sorta) in a trio (with my bro Jonno S on the drum kit) that do covers of groove tracks for some fun party jam times up at Bondi. One of the artistes that we've added to our setlist is Sydney DJ/production duo Flight Facilities.
What I love about their debut single, Crave You, are the delicious electric piano chords at the start, the supersexy vocal stylings of Gisele (who I have heard, created said delicious electric piano part), and the dubstep-bass section at the end - it's whacky but cool. The video isn't my kind of thing, but I do appreciate the tune which was played almost constantly on Triple J radio when it first came out.
I also dig their latest single, which has this super-cool retro/disco/summery throwback vibe! Mmm. Buttery bass.
What I love about their debut single, Crave You, are the delicious electric piano chords at the start, the supersexy vocal stylings of Gisele (who I have heard, created said delicious electric piano part), and the dubstep-bass section at the end - it's whacky but cool. The video isn't my kind of thing, but I do appreciate the tune which was played almost constantly on Triple J radio when it first came out.
I also dig their latest single, which has this super-cool retro/disco/summery throwback vibe! Mmm. Buttery bass.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The New Facebook and Why I Might Not Like It (at least, till I try it)
Before I launch into this tirade, I think we're losing a lot of the mystery that used to come with human experience. We're living in an age where information is easy to access, free to read, and hard to avoid. 24 hour news channels, social media, news feeds, smartphones, and other information-technology innovations have influenced the way we perceive and interact with the world. Benefits have been gained but prices have been paid.
We are more connected than we have ever been before, not only to people we know and love but also to the world at large. We are more empathetic, more empowered and more informed. We are finding ourselves reunited with friends we'd never think we see again. Chance encounters in the street are extended and given a digital life. The price for this connection seemed to be a little chink of privacy and we didn't mind paying it. Afterall, we used our own free will to join Facebook and part of the deal was that the privilege of stalking (which meant that you could be stalked too).
It wasn't too shocking. You got to look at photos, write birthday messages, organise things to do on a friday night – but what if you got to look at the entirety of someone's life history? A biography coded in website language, accessible by iPhone, organised by dates, filled with pictures and updates. Sure, if you stalked hard enough, you could kind-of-tell what someone is like purely from their profile. But what if Facebook collected all your information that you've ever shared (from the beginning of your Facebook), sorted it chronologically by year and turned it into a single page that any of your online “friends” could read?
This, is what Facebook is moving towards.
While the optimist in me thinks it is quite cool, I can't help but feel that a price has been paid and unlike last time, it feels a lot higher than what I'm comfortable with. This time, Facebook is taking away the magic and mystery I want to feel in getting to know others by cramming it into some wierd-ass narrative form that stands in perpetuity. Yes, I have wiled away many an hour posting inane links and webcam pictures onto the damned thing - but I like how it's only temporary before these little stories disappear underneath a mound of new status updates.
But as much as I like playing with Facebook, I love getting to know people. I'm curious and I'm somewhat obsessed with finding out what things we have in common or in difference. But most of all, I love how a relationship blossoms – I love how a connection grows and evolves and has twists and turns. It's a story we share as we hurtle towards the inevitable and exquisitely sad ending that we all share. Everyone has a different story.
Different people mean different things to me. Just as I am sure that one person means different things to their friends, their families, their lover(s) and their workmates. I might be a total goofball around my closest friends but I don't think it necessarily means that's what I'm like with everyone else at uni, or work, or at home. (actually... that's probably not true- I'm pretty freakin goofy)
Maybe I'm getting angsty about it but I don't WANT Facebook telling me who someone is - it's like spoilers. I don't want it to fill in all those beautiful little gaps. I don't want to find the morsels that have slipped through our memories or were never brought up in conversation over a coffee. A person's relationships and identity defies order and categorisation. It's lived and experienced. It's not put on display as a webpage of photos and status updates as Facebook – it is worth so much more than that. (and perhaps in terms of online marketing dollars to companies, too)
So I end this essay (ahem, rant) with a few shout outs which will hopefully sum everything up:
Firstly Mark Zuckerburg, stop pushing this technology on us. We don't need to contain our lives in some artificial, neat little box – because our lives are more significant than what photos we've shared, what parties we've been too and when we broke up with our highschool sweethearts.
And finally, to everyone else. I hope one day, we truly understand the sacredness and the complexities of our relationships and identities. For now we need to start having a long, hard think about what we think is acceptable to share and how we all relate to one another online (and offline).
Perhaps it's inevitable, as we connect more and more with people, maybe we will need Facebook's history-of-life-scrapbook - with information and "friendship" overload, you could argue that efficiency is needed. I think it's inevitable that social networking will be (I would argue it already is) a fact of life and relationships now and we have to learn to live with it. But we need to constantly remind ourselves that relationships are beautiful, lived things. We must never forget Facebook can never be used to fill that void.
But then again, maybe it doesn't intend to, maybe I'm just overreacting - I guess when Timeline comes along we'll be able to truly judge whether it is a good or bad thing.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
SPICYROLL
Some good stuff from my voyages across that ocean that is the World Wide Web. (Yarrr, here there be DRAGONS, yarrrrrrrrr)
Booty (Yarr, thar be doublins' and doublins'):
READ:
Here are TEN IDEAS that will change to world (via Time Magazine)
8. Today's Smart Choice: Don't Own. Share -
And it's the young who are leading the way toward a different form of consumption, a collaborative consumption: renting, lending and even sharing goods instead of buying them. You can see it in the rise of big businesses like Netflix, whose more than 20 million subscribers pay a fee to essentially share DVDs, or Zipcar, which gives more than 500,000 members the chance to share cars part-time.Here's some Cultural Faux Pas you should avoid if you ever go to/live in New York.
Also a really good feature on stuff to do in the Inner West of Sydney :) in this month's issue of TIMEOUT.
WATCH:
2. Also watched an awesome foreign correspondent story from the ABC (It's about Israel, Palestine, boycotts and Max Brenner). Nice little story to give you some information on the whole Israel/Palestine situation.
LISTEN to THE GRID
Bunch of really groovy modern-jazz musicians from Perth Australia (there's some really good instrumental cover versions of Radiohead and Coldplay)
http://listenhearcollective.bandcamp.com/album/the-grid
(Photo from Laki Sideris' website - you should really check it out from some sick photos from the Melbourne Jazz Festival! L-R: Dane Alderson (aka Jake Gyllenhall's long lost twin), Ben Vanderwal, Tim Jago)
EAT:
If you're feeling a bit flashy, Ms G's in Potts Point does a sick, albeit REALLY EXPENSIVE AND TINY one in the form of a gourmet slider.
Intro: Essays
Quite often, frustration comes in flashes.
Whether I'm watching the news, listening to the radio, overhearing conversations or even having conversations with friends and family sometimes I turn my mind to our current state of affairs and it comes to me. It starts imperceptibly like the flicking ON of an old-school television before BRRZT I am talking myself hoarse, waving my arms around and babbling incoherently about the state of humanity in general.
Anyway.
I think I need some way to organise my thoughts and, perhaps, in writing these posts, wrangle these concepts and share my struggles. It's a coping mechanism.
So look for posts that have been tagged with "essays", I'll be experimenting with long form writing to investigate a fairly mixed bag of ideas or questions. However, I stress (and perhaps this is unnecessary) that while I'll be striving for balanced, well-researched writing (HA!), I won't be objective. In fact, as many great commentators, academics and even former High Court Justices state: subjective opinion pretending to be objective truth is incredibly dangerous. Think about people who don't immunise their children. Climate change denial. Ideas about racial cleansing. All that kind of stuff.
We are never completely objective – the way we see the world is shaped by a range of factors such as our social, cultural, religious, economic and historical contexts. It is almost impossible, and I'd argue undesirable (and quite boring), to write in a way that tries to present an idea free from the perspective of the person who wrote it (in this case, me). I enjoy reading from someone's point of view – I like to think we bring something special to the table and objectivity can be so dry and boring to read. Something that appears to be objective could wield a lot of power – when we say that something is an objective truth you better be damned if people don't start believing it. Just look at the significance of religion!
And see? It came again. Flash frustration. I'm actually smiling to myself as I finish what I now know is the last paragraph of this post. I've caught it in a jar of words and it's buzzing around – begging to be tweaked and begging to be rewritten.
Frustrating, isn't it?
Whether I'm watching the news, listening to the radio, overhearing conversations or even having conversations with friends and family sometimes I turn my mind to our current state of affairs and it comes to me. It starts imperceptibly like the flicking ON of an old-school television before BRRZT I am talking myself hoarse, waving my arms around and babbling incoherently about the state of humanity in general.
Anyway.
I think I need some way to organise my thoughts and, perhaps, in writing these posts, wrangle these concepts and share my struggles. It's a coping mechanism.
So look for posts that have been tagged with "essays", I'll be experimenting with long form writing to investigate a fairly mixed bag of ideas or questions. However, I stress (and perhaps this is unnecessary) that while I'll be striving for balanced, well-researched writing (HA!), I won't be objective. In fact, as many great commentators, academics and even former High Court Justices state: subjective opinion pretending to be objective truth is incredibly dangerous. Think about people who don't immunise their children. Climate change denial. Ideas about racial cleansing. All that kind of stuff.
We are never completely objective – the way we see the world is shaped by a range of factors such as our social, cultural, religious, economic and historical contexts. It is almost impossible, and I'd argue undesirable (and quite boring), to write in a way that tries to present an idea free from the perspective of the person who wrote it (in this case, me). I enjoy reading from someone's point of view – I like to think we bring something special to the table and objectivity can be so dry and boring to read. Something that appears to be objective could wield a lot of power – when we say that something is an objective truth you better be damned if people don't start believing it. Just look at the significance of religion!
And see? It came again. Flash frustration. I'm actually smiling to myself as I finish what I now know is the last paragraph of this post. I've caught it in a jar of words and it's buzzing around – begging to be tweaked and begging to be rewritten.
Frustrating, isn't it?
Sunday, September 18, 2011
This is AWESOME!
Questlove talks Hip Hop and his personal experiences as a music lover and as a musician for 2 hours.
Monday, September 12, 2011
MUSIC MONDAYS
D Angelo Send It On High-Definition (HD) from Carlos212 on Vimeo.
I think it's a bit easy to be mislead by the thumbnail of this video, but press play and bear with it. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!
I am a MASSIVE fan of D'Angelo - I think he represents everything I love about black music. There's an amazing intricacy to his arrangements and he surrounds himself with a fairly stable roster of talented musicians who bring their own flavours to this slick, delicious brew of funky-as-hell future shocked rhythm and blues. There's bits of gospel there from Chalmer Alford's shimmering guitars, smooth as butter, ultra-minimalist basslines from Pino Palladino, terse-and-crisp backbeats from Questlove of the Roots Crew... I could go on for days about the level of musicianship that D'Angelo has at his beck and call as a band leader.
I think what I love most is how fresh it still sounds (despite being nearly a decade old). Unlike other musicians, D'Angelo could effortlessly blend the music traditions of the past like gospel, funk and RnB with modern jazz sensibilities. He was one of the innovators of underground black music during the late 90's and the 2000's, preferring real, live instruments and mellow arrangements to the over-produced, pumping computer programmed sounds that dominated the pop and hip-hop charts. Unlike rappers obsessed with image and aggresive beats or the sludgey angst of the grunge movement, D'Angelo's music was cool and effortless.
The video was taken, most likely, at his hey-day some time in 2000 - probably during the Voodoo tour supporting his sophomore release of the same name. While some of the shows in London and Brazil have now taken on a legendary status, D'Angelo became a recluse. I'm not too sure about the details- I think he had issues with body image (thanks to a pushy record label and an infamous video clip), insecurities and pressure that ultimately drove him under the radar for nearly a decade. While there have been reports that he is working on a new album and getting back on track, I think he'll be taking his time.
For now, here's Send It On, one of my all-time-favourite songs. Period. Turn down the lights, relax with a drink, hit play and lose yourself to the smooth, esoteric sounds of D'Angelo and his band. Your ears and mind will thank you for it.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Ten Years On:
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. ... Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
- Martin Luther King
===
also, an excellent piece in the Herald by Waleed Aly that looks at 9/11's legacy and what it means. I feel so proud to be living in a time where there are thinkers and writers like Aly - it gives me hope for the future. As Martin Luther King said, "we must live together as brothers or die together as fools".
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/sifting-through-the-debris-for-real-legacy-of-attacks-20110910-1k2md.html
- Martin Luther King
===
also, an excellent piece in the Herald by Waleed Aly that looks at 9/11's legacy and what it means. I feel so proud to be living in a time where there are thinkers and writers like Aly - it gives me hope for the future. As Martin Luther King said, "we must live together as brothers or die together as fools".
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/sifting-through-the-debris-for-real-legacy-of-attacks-20110910-1k2md.html
Monday, September 5, 2011
Music de Monday
Since many of the posts have been heavily skewed towards funk, hip hop and soul, it'd probably be good to throw in something a little *spesh* or a little *diffrnt* for this week's edition of MUSIC MONDAYS.
SO YEP! Here's some good old roots music. Probably more on the folk & country side of things with a nice dash of.. well it's hard to describe. It's not pentecostal (think churchy or hymn-y) like Fleet Foxes and it's not celtic like Laura Marling but there's something slightly hypnotic and, dare I say; tribal, about Alela Diane's melody in this tune.
I really enjoy the lyrics in this tune - it's ambiguous who Alela Diane is singing about - is it an acquaintance? a sister? I like to think she's singing about herself in the third person, imagining what it'd be like to be a creature of pure desire.
It's a great album! y'all should check it out.
SO YEP! Here's some good old roots music. Probably more on the folk & country side of things with a nice dash of.. well it's hard to describe. It's not pentecostal (think churchy or hymn-y) like Fleet Foxes and it's not celtic like Laura Marling but there's something slightly hypnotic and, dare I say; tribal, about Alela Diane's melody in this tune.
I really enjoy the lyrics in this tune - it's ambiguous who Alela Diane is singing about - is it an acquaintance? a sister? I like to think she's singing about herself in the third person, imagining what it'd be like to be a creature of pure desire.
It's a great album! y'all should check it out.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
ZAATA
READ:
Some interesting articles I came across:
1. Asian-American university student flies to Libya to fight in the revolution:
2. Ha! I'm not quite sure how to describe this - I think the best way would be "What if Ernest Hemingway used social networking restaurant/bar review apps"
WATCH:
LISTEN:
Electronic Jazz + Rod Templeton era Michael Jackson throwback machine (think off the wall) + Quincy Jones' robot army = awesomeness from Kaidis 5
Some interesting articles I came across:
1. Asian-American university student flies to Libya to fight in the revolution:
"Chris Jeon, a 21-year-old university student from Los Angeles, California,shrugging cooly, declared: “It is the end of my summer vacation, so I thought it would be cool to join the rebels. This is one of the only real revolutions” in the world."Read More...
2. Ha! I'm not quite sure how to describe this - I think the best way would be "What if Ernest Hemingway used social networking restaurant/bar review apps"
"PinkberryRead more...
Category: Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
ONE STAR
I met a woman who said she had been to Pinkberry. “What the hell is that,” I said, and she laughed but said nothing."
WATCH:
LISTEN:
Electronic Jazz + Rod Templeton era Michael Jackson throwback machine (think off the wall) + Quincy Jones' robot army = awesomeness from Kaidis 5
Friday, September 2, 2011
F'yeah Friday Food
Made
Sauerkraut (it's currently fermenting in some empty pasta-sauce jars)
Shred some cabbage, add shitloads of salt, cover with water (make sure your water covers the lettuce) and leave somewhere warm (room temp) for a week. I'll be getting some nice rolls, some apple cider and possibly some nice pork sausages to have it with.
Ate
Some kind of lentil stuff we got for free. It's pre-packed, you add water and cook for 25 minutes. Chilli and bay leaf flavoured. Enjoyed it :).
Eat Out:
Don't really remember where I ate out this week. However if I may, I'd definitely recommend GUMSHARA and RAMENKAN and MENYA (and MENYA MAPPEN) - three of my favourite noodle places in Sydney CBD.
p.s. Kimbra's album is OUT! It's less funkier than I expected.. but you NEED to check this track.
http://soundcloud.com/wmaustralia/call-me/
Sauerkraut (it's currently fermenting in some empty pasta-sauce jars)
Shred some cabbage, add shitloads of salt, cover with water (make sure your water covers the lettuce) and leave somewhere warm (room temp) for a week. I'll be getting some nice rolls, some apple cider and possibly some nice pork sausages to have it with.
Ate
Some kind of lentil stuff we got for free. It's pre-packed, you add water and cook for 25 minutes. Chilli and bay leaf flavoured. Enjoyed it :).
Eat Out:
Don't really remember where I ate out this week. However if I may, I'd definitely recommend GUMSHARA and RAMENKAN and MENYA (and MENYA MAPPEN) - three of my favourite noodle places in Sydney CBD.
p.s. Kimbra's album is OUT! It's less funkier than I expected.. but you NEED to check this track.
http://soundcloud.com/wmaustralia/call-me/
Monday, August 29, 2011
Music Monday
THE LEGENDARY ALICE RUSSELL.
Makes you want to ask a few Q's... like...
Adele?
Who's Adele?
Bahaha just kidding (p.s. note - check out Adele's album 21 - her studio band is pretty much comprised ofr my favourite session/groove/heavy-ass-jazz-funk musos on the planet right now - Pino Palladino on Bass, James Poyser on Keys, Chris Daddy Dave on Drums - alumni of D'angelo, the Roots, Common, Erykah Badu, lots of good ish (and john mayer... but no biggie - Pino is a MOFO!)).
Anyways, comparisons aside it's always good to see a resurgence of women with big voices on the charts. UK Soul Songstress Alice Russell needs more mainstream recognition. Let's fix that. Did some cool stuff with the Quantic Soul Orchestra n' the Bamboos too! Y'all should check that out. Buy her records, they're a bit left-of-centre and incredibly soulful. If you haven't watched the video already let me tell her, there is probably no one else in the UK who matches her voice. Definitely worth a whurl if you like BIG soul vocals with a dash of strange.
Speaking of pipes. Been getting into NZ singer Kimbra. Like Russell, Kimbra has a really soulful, jazzy slightly alternative sound. Her album 'Vows' drops THIS FRIDAY. HECKYEAH! Triple J Feature album too. Really lush, summery stuff. Good beats, amazing voice. Check-k it.
STUDIO ISH
LIVE ISH
Saturday, August 27, 2011
And Another Thing
I really like the format of Dom's blog and 1songday. So to bring a bit of predictability (and hopefully some more regular posts) I'm going to have "themed" posts for different days of the week.
Monday - Music Mondays (hahah copied right from Dom. Hope you don't mind!) where I post tunes (new & old) with some accompanying words. Hopefully once I figure out how to embed mp3's and stuff then that'd be ace.
Friday - Food Fridays. If I get the chance to go get some eats or hit up a joint for some food, I'll post up a food related post. Maybe a recipe if you're lucky.
If I can think of any other categories I'll put them up. Hopefully this'll force me to do more posts. Or at least two a week.
And one more thing.
I love this series posted by AMOEBA music on youtube called "What's in my bag". It's pretty fascinating to see what records my favourite artists are buying/digging/enjoying..
LINKS AWAKENING
Some good stuff from the internet:
1. WATCH: How to reduce carbon emissions?
By making cities more dense + sharing infrastructure/objects.
2. LISTEN: Awesome band - Snarky Puppy
3. READ:
These are two great music blogs for anyone into eclectic music that is more on the groove, funk, soul, hip-hop and jazz side-of-things.
http://www.giantstep.net/
http://revivalist.okayplayer.com/
Also thought this was really cool - really no-nonsense, straight-up resource for web development explained in very simple non-scary terms:
http://www.dontfeartheinternet.com/resources
1. WATCH: How to reduce carbon emissions?
By making cities more dense + sharing infrastructure/objects.
"I would submit to you that all of these things are not only possible, they're being done right now, and that it's a darn good thing. Because right now, our economy by and large operates as Paul Hawken said, "by stealing the future, selling it in the present and call it GDP." And if we have another eight billion or seven billion, or six billion, even, people,living on a planet where their cities also steal the future, we're going to run out of future really fast.But if we think differently, I think that, in fact, we can have cities that are not only zero emissions, but have unlimited possibilities as well."http://www.ted.com/talks/alex_steffen.html
2. LISTEN: Awesome band - Snarky Puppy
3. READ:
These are two great music blogs for anyone into eclectic music that is more on the groove, funk, soul, hip-hop and jazz side-of-things.
http://www.giantstep.net/
http://revivalist.okayplayer.com/
Also thought this was really cool - really no-nonsense, straight-up resource for web development explained in very simple non-scary terms:
http://www.dontfeartheinternet.com/resources
"Are you a print designer, photographer, fine-artist, or general creative person? Do you have a shitty website that you slapped together yourself in Dreamweaver in that ONE web design class that you took in college? Do you not have a site at all because you’ve been waiting two years for your cousin to put it together for you? Well, we’re here to help. We know that you have little to no desire to do web design professionally, but that doesn’t mean that you want an ugly cookie-cutter site or to settle for one that hasn't been updated since Hackers was in theaters."
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Belles Will Ring
Oh man. Such a good show yesterday at GOODGOD Small Bar~! Lots of super trembly surfed-out electric guitars, harmonies, awesome rock n' roll beats and killer basslines = an epic show by a MOST epic band. Played a lot of new songs plus a few old (but good) ones! (for an awesome track by track discussion of their latest LP Crystal Theatre - WHICH YOU SHOULD GET BECAUSE IT'S THE GREATEST THING I'VE HEARD THIS YEAR- click here http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/4257900)
Mo' of my lyrical wax here: http://t.co/IG75aAS
A bit sad they didn't weren't invited back on for an encore (they certainly deserved one!) but I guess it was a club night and the DJs were itching to play.
Hmm not really sure what I wanted to say today but I guess some sort of post is better than no post.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Minimallll
I think I'd like to do some more postings on this blog, so watch this space.
Not much happening. Just the usual stuff - the occasional work, some posts on 1songday, a bit of drumming.
Currently just waiting for my sister to finish watching masterchef so I can do some more drumming. God I love drumming.
Not much happening. Just the usual stuff - the occasional work, some posts on 1songday, a bit of drumming.
Currently just waiting for my sister to finish watching masterchef so I can do some more drumming. God I love drumming.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
HOLY EPIC POST. BIG DAY OUT. BIG POST HERE.
ALRIGHT!
So I went to the Big Day Out.
Then Sarah asked me how it was... act-by-act :(.
So I decided to tell her how it was. Act by Act. This is the full excerpt of my Big Day Out impressions in our correspondence. (with some embellishments and stream-of-consciousness narrative style)
Lanie Lane - Really good, it's like classic americana kind of music, she wears vintage dresses and looks like a 1950's girl, betty boop kind of music and has a voice a bit like Katy Steele from Little Birdy, but her music is very retro. Band was really tight and good. Really enjoyed it.
Parades - Awesome! Gotta love electronic, kind of sweeping rock and roll and falsetto harmonies. Sydney represent.
Little Red- Great energy. Really nice harmonies, very cool soul-pop-rock-sound. The lead singer(s) (since they kind of rotate) were very charismatic, especially the Asian-Australian bassplayer who wore a floral blouse. But they all could sing and it was really rad.
Jim Jones revue - that was really intense! Uh, old school kind of rock n' roll, but it's got a bit of a punk edge to it so it's played loud, fast, rough and he screams at you. The musicians were really good and they were all dressed in shirts and vests and stuff.. so they looked like guys from the 60s. Jim Jones is a great lead vocalist, really rock n' roll - like he's aging (or middle aged, rather), he probably drinks a lot, and has fathered a lot of illigitmate children.
Washington - I've seen her live show before and she did a pretty good performance at the big day out. The sound wasn't mixed very well so sometimes you couldn't hear her vocals. I liked her album launch show a lot more.
Lupe Fiasco - This was interesting. The crowd was crazy and he completely rearranged his show for a festival context, so instead of laid-back, intelligent hip-hop it became rap-rock-punk. But there was heaps of energy. I couldn't hear what he was rapping about for most of the time, but it was still fun.
Angus and Julia stone - Probably the biggest crowd I've experienced for the smaller stages. They sounded amazing! Really relaxing after Lupe Fiasco... until I went to
Crystal Castles - wow. That was crazy. And scary. Alice Glass, the singer, broke her ankle, so she did the show on crutches, hopping around on one leg, head-banging and then screaming at the audience while all this fuzzy, messy, dark and distorted electronic blips and blops just start booming everywhere in the boiler room (which was pitch black btw). Lots of white strobes. It's like some sort of rave with phantoms and witches and ghosts... that's probably how I'd describe it.
I saw plan B, which was pretty awesome. He had these big soul ladies doing big soul backing vocals and everyone on stage was dressed to the nines in vests, ties and shirts and leather shoes (black dresses for the soul ladies). They played this motown set and then played My Girl, which they turned into GNARLY dubstep. Oh yeah they had a beatboxer, that was pretty amazing.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Sounded really, really good! Really cool AMericany hippie and folk and country and blues and rock. It's a really huge band, and the vibes were good. I went into a dance circle (not a death circle) and did rain dances with random people. That was cool.
I saw a bit of Sia, that was interesting. I was pretty far back, so I checked out Black Milk (a hip hop quartet of keyboards, drummer, DJ and MC) on one of the smaller stages. That was really cool because there wasn't that many people watching, but everyone who was there was up next to the front of the stage (maybe there waS 30-40 PEOPL?) and really getting into it.
I saw LCD soundsystem and nearly danced myself to death. They sounded really good and the band was so huge and there were so many synthesisers and instruments everywhere. The lead singer, James Murphy, was really polite and gracious to the audience... which was quite cool. I think it's a shame that it's the last time they'll play in sydney.
That was pretty much it. I caught a bit of wolfmother, lowrider, the vines, a bit of MIA (which was kind of shit because the sound was terrible and loud and you couldn't see anything). So we left early.
Normal programming to resume soon.
Shout outs to my C-block CREW for coming along. Spec shouts outs to my Sydney Festival waterbottle and free cold water taps for helping me survive the 35+ degree heat. No thanks to CSS who had to hold their concert at the same time as Lupe Fiasco.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gigs of GIGS pt 2.
So I says to Mabel...
I went to see N.E.R.D and Chromeo.
I think this sums it up perfectly:
Which is pretty much what it was like during the N.E.R.D set. Lots of people jumping, getting kneed in the back by tiny people (and I'm not that tall myself), and according to my friend, nearly getting into a fight because some guy misheard what I absent-mindingly said about being scared of being elbowed in the face (he thought I wanted to elbow him in the face) and then me not noticing (accidentally) when he told me "I'd like to see you try that". Luckily he "mellowed out" during the first set and stood around glassy-eyed for the rest of the concert. I only found this out the next day... when we were at the Sydney Festival!
The sound was a bit... bad. My friend and I were close to the front of the stage, and it was pretty much booming music and fuzz. Pharrell's vocal was fairly clear, but I guess it isn't that important considering he pretty much is made of Charisma. (and then some). Watching him squint as he saunters around, finding people to sing to in the front row reminded me of the way a tiger toys with its prey - it's kind of hypnotic and in a strange, perverse way - slightly seductive. I'm pretty sure a few people fainted in the front row.
All in all, it was pretty fun. I enjoyed myself immensley and jumped along and sang/shouted along with the hits. In fact, most of the set list were just their hits, with only two songs from their new album (which I have yet to obtain!).
I think the highlight of the night was CHROMEO.
No Joke. These electro-funk maestros from Montreal, Canada are awesome live.
Yeah it's kind of kitsch and kind of 80's. But the allure of sleazy, super-elecro, guitar driven, tiny-drum playing, light up turntable dudes playing supercool, superfun music is undeniable. Definitely will be seeing them again. So funky and awesome. The dance floor was just seething and squirming and shouting "two-step!" "two-step!"
They played all their hits, including Needy Girl, Mama's Boy, Fancy Footwork.... heaps of stuff. Plus they played a fair few numbers from their latest album Business Casual, including the aforementioned "Night By Night" which I DEFINITELY recommend watching in the youtube video up there.
Dave-one, the guitarist and P-Thugg, the keyboard player, do a myriad of things including swapping instruments, busting percussion solos on their miniature drum kits, jamming out on cymbals, playing vocoder, slapping basses, playing scorching solos... truly they are a sight to behold!
A great gig. Good set from Tinnie Tempah (he did a rap over the Far East Movement's Like a G6) and I danced for a solid hour to the beats of BoyzNoise (he chucked in some ACDC riffs and Billie Jean bass and I was like waaaaah). The Faders were also DJ-ing during the breaks, dropping a lot of RnB and Rap and Crunk hits for the increasingly pumped up crowd. Awesome!
I went to see N.E.R.D and Chromeo.
I think this sums it up perfectly:
The sound was a bit... bad. My friend and I were close to the front of the stage, and it was pretty much booming music and fuzz. Pharrell's vocal was fairly clear, but I guess it isn't that important considering he pretty much is made of Charisma. (and then some). Watching him squint as he saunters around, finding people to sing to in the front row reminded me of the way a tiger toys with its prey - it's kind of hypnotic and in a strange, perverse way - slightly seductive. I'm pretty sure a few people fainted in the front row.
All in all, it was pretty fun. I enjoyed myself immensley and jumped along and sang/shouted along with the hits. In fact, most of the set list were just their hits, with only two songs from their new album (which I have yet to obtain!).
I think the highlight of the night was CHROMEO.
No Joke. These electro-funk maestros from Montreal, Canada are awesome live.
Yeah it's kind of kitsch and kind of 80's. But the allure of sleazy, super-elecro, guitar driven, tiny-drum playing, light up turntable dudes playing supercool, superfun music is undeniable. Definitely will be seeing them again. So funky and awesome. The dance floor was just seething and squirming and shouting "two-step!" "two-step!"
They played all their hits, including Needy Girl, Mama's Boy, Fancy Footwork.... heaps of stuff. Plus they played a fair few numbers from their latest album Business Casual, including the aforementioned "Night By Night" which I DEFINITELY recommend watching in the youtube video up there.
Dave-one, the guitarist and P-Thugg, the keyboard player, do a myriad of things including swapping instruments, busting percussion solos on their miniature drum kits, jamming out on cymbals, playing vocoder, slapping basses, playing scorching solos... truly they are a sight to behold!
A great gig. Good set from Tinnie Tempah (he did a rap over the Far East Movement's Like a G6) and I danced for a solid hour to the beats of BoyzNoise (he chucked in some ACDC riffs and Billie Jean bass and I was like waaaaah). The Faders were also DJ-ing during the breaks, dropping a lot of RnB and Rap and Crunk hits for the increasingly pumped up crowd. Awesome!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Gigs of GIGS pt 1.
Gotta love kicking off 2011 with lots of gigs. Here's a few of my hasty impressions from a few gigs I went to the past few days (part 1)
Thursday, 6th Jan - Hipstones (pictured above) supported by ORLY and Joanna and The Dusty Floor at the Basement in Circular Quay.
What an amazing show! The main and support acts were extremely polished - we're very lucky to have such talented artists and musicians in Australia. I had a few free tickets so I took along a few music-loving friends... needless to say they dug it immensely!
Joanna and The Dusty Floor were, at least in terms of music, quite an interesting mix of genres and styles. I could pick out bits of spy-soundtrack rock n' roll, a bit of shoe-gazey love song and some slightly spooky soul. While the band looked and sounded great, I felt that Joanna lacked confidence in her performance - which is a real shame considering how lovely and operatic her voice was. However, the backing band were pretty gnarly and obviously well rehearsed. I would definitely love to see them again!
http://www.myspace.com/johannaandthedustyfloor
ORLY followed up next and I was bobbing my head furiously to her set. While a lot of it was fairly straight forward neo-soul with a summery kind of vibe, her lyrics seem to come from a really honest place and she definitely has a strong voice. The band was excellent, providing taut, yet-laid-back grooves and, when needed, slinky and sultry backing for her "baby-making-soul" number "Sit Back" ). But suffice to say, I really enjoyed it. I've always loved that kind of music and there were some really choice beats that were getting the dance floor going! I had to rush, but I'll make sure next time I'm picking up that EP. There were some great originals in that set.
http://www.myspace.com/orlymusic
Alright! Now for the piece de resistance... The Hipstones.
What can I say? Ever since I was given their first album "Something's Gotta Start", the Australian (now living in New York) singer/musician/songwriter couple, Mark Palmer and Anthea White, blew away the audience at the basement. The full band, complete with horns, delivered a supersweet, super-tight, high octane set of jazzy, soulful numbers that showcased Anthea White's AMAZING vocal. I'm not exaggerating when I say AMAZING. It's like... kind of husky, but quite high, but it's also very soulful - it's kind of hard to describe since it's quite unique - you have to check it out. Mark also has an amazing voice (such range! I can't even think that high, let alone sing those notes!) - think Stevie Wonder with a lot of Smokey Robinson thrown in for good measure. Furthermore, they harmonise beautifully - creating a bed of really luscious, emotive harmonies to support each other.
It was amazing. People were dancing, there were some really gutsy and powerful solos from the horn sections and the music hit that sweet spot where it's simple and groovy enough to dance to, but there's these really touching moments in the songwriting and a really nice honesty that shines through.
You can tell the songs mean a lot to Mark and Anthea, and the band - you can really feel the love. Plus it helps that they're both extraordinarily charismatic and nice. here's a video from a gig they did in March 2010. You can also hit up their website for full mp3 streams of their albums. (Gotta love try before you buy!) I wish they were still based in Sydney so I can watch them all the time... but I wish them all the best in the big apple!
The Hipstones - Dreamers from Raymond Toms on Vimeo.
Anyways this is but PART 1 of my GIG round up.
Coming up next:
CHROMEO AND N.E.R.D AT THE HORDEN PAVILLION ON THE 7TH.
THE SYDNEY FESTIVAL - *GASP* ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT AND *GASP* CHARLIE WILSON AND THE DYNAMITES!
THE BIG DAY OUT 2011- 27th of Janurary.
Yep I'm ALL CAPPS kind of excited. Double-P.
Over-and-out. Colin.
Thursday, 6th Jan - Hipstones (pictured above) supported by ORLY and Joanna and The Dusty Floor at the Basement in Circular Quay.
What an amazing show! The main and support acts were extremely polished - we're very lucky to have such talented artists and musicians in Australia. I had a few free tickets so I took along a few music-loving friends... needless to say they dug it immensely!
Joanna and The Dusty Floor were, at least in terms of music, quite an interesting mix of genres and styles. I could pick out bits of spy-soundtrack rock n' roll, a bit of shoe-gazey love song and some slightly spooky soul. While the band looked and sounded great, I felt that Joanna lacked confidence in her performance - which is a real shame considering how lovely and operatic her voice was. However, the backing band were pretty gnarly and obviously well rehearsed. I would definitely love to see them again!
http://www.myspace.com/johannaandthedustyfloor
ORLY followed up next and I was bobbing my head furiously to her set. While a lot of it was fairly straight forward neo-soul with a summery kind of vibe, her lyrics seem to come from a really honest place and she definitely has a strong voice. The band was excellent, providing taut, yet-laid-back grooves and, when needed, slinky and sultry backing for her "baby-making-soul" number "Sit Back" ). But suffice to say, I really enjoyed it. I've always loved that kind of music and there were some really choice beats that were getting the dance floor going! I had to rush, but I'll make sure next time I'm picking up that EP. There were some great originals in that set.
http://www.myspace.com/orlymusic
Alright! Now for the piece de resistance... The Hipstones.
What can I say? Ever since I was given their first album "Something's Gotta Start", the Australian (now living in New York) singer/musician/songwriter couple, Mark Palmer and Anthea White, blew away the audience at the basement. The full band, complete with horns, delivered a supersweet, super-tight, high octane set of jazzy, soulful numbers that showcased Anthea White's AMAZING vocal. I'm not exaggerating when I say AMAZING. It's like... kind of husky, but quite high, but it's also very soulful - it's kind of hard to describe since it's quite unique - you have to check it out. Mark also has an amazing voice (such range! I can't even think that high, let alone sing those notes!) - think Stevie Wonder with a lot of Smokey Robinson thrown in for good measure. Furthermore, they harmonise beautifully - creating a bed of really luscious, emotive harmonies to support each other.
It was amazing. People were dancing, there were some really gutsy and powerful solos from the horn sections and the music hit that sweet spot where it's simple and groovy enough to dance to, but there's these really touching moments in the songwriting and a really nice honesty that shines through.
You can tell the songs mean a lot to Mark and Anthea, and the band - you can really feel the love. Plus it helps that they're both extraordinarily charismatic and nice. here's a video from a gig they did in March 2010. You can also hit up their website for full mp3 streams of their albums. (Gotta love try before you buy!) I wish they were still based in Sydney so I can watch them all the time... but I wish them all the best in the big apple!
The Hipstones - Dreamers from Raymond Toms on Vimeo.
Anyways this is but PART 1 of my GIG round up.
Coming up next:
CHROMEO AND N.E.R.D AT THE HORDEN PAVILLION ON THE 7TH.
THE SYDNEY FESTIVAL - *GASP* ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT AND *GASP* CHARLIE WILSON AND THE DYNAMITES!
THE BIG DAY OUT 2011- 27th of Janurary.
Yep I'm ALL CAPPS kind of excited. Double-P.
Over-and-out. Colin.
Monday, January 3, 2011
SWAG
Hit up Borders today. A bit of swag!
The Rhodia paper is smooth, white and thick. Massive props to Dom for the recommendation - it'll probably come in handy one day as a travel notebook (or whatever, really).
Also picked up a set of Bicycle playing cards which I've been eyeing for a while. Hopefully it'll serve as motivation for me to start practicing and learning card magic again.
I bought a few CDs too. Including some stuff by Sara Bareilles.
It's a fantastic slice of acoustic, piano driven pop. I really like it. Especially the eigth track, Love On The Rocks with a really nicely constructed chord progression played by a grand piano and a guitar that oozes the electric warmth you only get with a slightly overdriven semi-hollow-body.
I've also gotten into the Cardigans again. They're this swedish pop band that over the period of a decade played everything from jaunty, jazzy indie pop to dark brooking country rock (and did it with STYLE! I must add). While I do like their early, "happy" pop stuff like Rise and Shine - I respect their versatility and willingness to try new things! Here's hoping they create a new album (their last one was a best of compilation released in 2008).
Anyways! That's been my New Years! How's yours?
p.s. I've been writing a few songs (for fun) with my perrenial writing buddy/super guitar friend. One a young Greaser's last will and testatement before a night-time knife fight (think 50's America, rock n' roll gangs, greasy pompadours, switchblades, fast cars and "birds") and the other is about fried chicken. Go figure :D.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The "little book"
'The Elements of Style' is possibly the most no-nonsense and effective grammar and writing guide available today (despite being first published in 1919). The book's strength lies in its brevity and clarity. Content is broken up into several chapters outlining and explaining "elementary usage" rules followed by a few chapters on style and brevity. The edition I own has painted illustrations, which lends it a certain charm.
I don't think it's for everyone. Strunk's writing, while elegant, is drily authoritative, formal and slightly old-fashioned in tone. It isn't the friendliest book to read, but sometimes the best teachers are the strictest ones.
Vibin!
It's 7am on a Sunday, I'm about to go for a run and this comes on in my headphones. It's the remix from a J Dilla orchestral tribute by the very talented Georgia Anne Muldrow.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2011
Happy New Year peeps!
Yesterday night pretty much summed up my entire year - food, close friends, music and fireworks on TV. Had some of the best nachos I had ever eaten (it was possibly the chunky lamb mince, four beans mix, olive sauce and copious amounts of cheese that did it) and sat around mellowing out.
Anyway!
Here's to an even more awesome year in 2011! Quite exciting.
Also I've discovered the joys of Bruce Springsteen, and yep, my favourite modern rock band remains the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl should be a role model for everyone I reckon or at least the ambassador for planet Earth when we inevitably get visited by an advanced alien-race of jelly fish.
He can introduce them to the power of music and then they'll help us master intergalactic travel and usher in the first great era of human-space travel.
Like I said. 2011 is going to be awesome! Look forward to playing more music/writing more stuff/doing more space travel and talking to jellyfish.
Yesterday night pretty much summed up my entire year - food, close friends, music and fireworks on TV. Had some of the best nachos I had ever eaten (it was possibly the chunky lamb mince, four beans mix, olive sauce and copious amounts of cheese that did it) and sat around mellowing out.
Anyway!
Here's to an even more awesome year in 2011! Quite exciting.
Also I've discovered the joys of Bruce Springsteen, and yep, my favourite modern rock band remains the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl should be a role model for everyone I reckon or at least the ambassador for planet Earth when we inevitably get visited by an advanced alien-race of jelly fish.
He can introduce them to the power of music and then they'll help us master intergalactic travel and usher in the first great era of human-space travel.
Like I said. 2011 is going to be awesome! Look forward to playing more music/writing more stuff/doing more space travel and talking to jellyfish.
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