Friday, November 28, 2003
Tie Me To A Bed Post
Oh Look. It's 4:44 am PST. And what? I'm still awaking working? Must be CMPT 307 again! Sing on, Emily, sing on.
NP: Metric - Torture Me (but only in my head)
posted by Hanson |
4:46 AM
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Zombie State
Got up at 7:30 am after having gotten 2.5 hours of sleep. Stayed at school till 9:00 after doing a presentation that we started preparing for this afternoon. Got home and scrambled to put together and hand in the big-ass project that we presented just hours earlier. Forfeiting sleeping now to do more CMPT 300 homework.
Ya'know, at the end of every semester, my indie world turns into my whiney world. *sigh* And I still haven't blogged about Death Cab weekend!
NP: Smoosh - Free to Stay
posted by Hanson |
11:54 PM
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Curses
Arrrrgghhhghghghgh! Save the best for last, eh, 307? I'm tearing my fucking scalp out!!! Optimized Binary Search Tree -- you and me, it's pistols at dawn!
NP: (does frustration make a sound?)
posted by Hanson |
5:07 PM
Interlude
Whilst taking a break from coding and other homework-doing, I noticed that I had my shirt on backwards. Any Kris Kross joke will be met with a severe beat-down.
NP: Regina Spektor - Just Like the Movies
posted by Hanson |
2:01 PM
Times They Are A-Wasted
The BUS 445 project shouldn't have taken this much time. Now I don't even have time to blog about the girl at the coffee shop who had the same Bright Eyes t-shirt that I do. Oh yeah, and the two assignments due on Friday and the project due on Monday too -- can't forget those! One more week, yo, one more week..... I can't believe I'm looking *forward* to exams....
NP: Regina Spektor - Samson
posted by Hanson |
1:52 AM
Monday, November 24, 2003
Back To Real Life
Tonnes of stuff happened since my last substantial (such as it is) post. There's Death Cab weekend, of course, plus many other small-yet-blog-worthy things. I would go on if and only if I weren't tired. Since I'm tired, I won't go on. See, perfectly logical, even in my weakened state (Sarah Harmer shout out!).
BTW, I'm addicted to buying things with Death Cab on them. Yes, another t-shirt and button. Time to sleep... after one more Krispy Kreme original glazed :-)
Naughty Paris! And I ain't talking about the one you can see in nightvision!
NP: The Shins - So Says I
posted by Hanson |
2:09 AM
Friday, November 21, 2003
Phew!
Riot Grrrl paper done. New Gilmore Girls, Angel, and Survivor not watched though. Death Cab weekend starts tomorrow. I need to sleep.
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
3:19 AM
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Hot Hot Metric
I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric I love Metric!! OK. I just have to get that out of my system.
So yeah, I just came back from seeing my Current Favourite Canadian Band (sorry Maplewood Lane!) open for local faves Hot Hot Heat. The latest buzz-band out of Canada (freshly approved by Pitchfork), The Unicorns, opened up. Val and Janis came with, so it wasn't a solo-action show, which is always good. Since I'm tired and I have an early class tomorrow, I'm going to cut to the chase:
The guys that made up the Unicorns came out in matching pink outfits; one of them was wearing a big neon green belt too. The went on to play a quick half-hour set, briefly interrupted by an exchange with a heckler that involved water splashing and a beer bottle retort. What an ass, the heckler was. Anyway, the set was tight and semi-theatrical (the guy ran around the stage and even laid on the floor of the stage), filled with the kind of quirky, unstructured pop songs that made me think of a lo-fi, less full-sounding Flaming Lips or Grandaddy. The comparison with the former was especially apt seeing that their set tonight included a medley of sorts that featured Kylie's Can't Get You Outta My Head (along with a really cool version of Fiddy's P.I.M.P.), which the 'Lips covered on their Fight Test EP. Yup, the Unicorns are definitely buzz-worthy, though I must say I enjoyed their album more than the show, perhaps because my view was obscured by the organ right smack dab in the middle of the stage (a continuing theme for the night).
Next up was the band I came for, Metric. Emily Haines strutted on to the stage wearing a short strippy skirt with a homemade shirt, one purple bra strap hanging nonchalantly out of her left sleeve and her arm. Her shortly trimmed hair was messy, freely obscuring different parts of her face as she moves her head from side to side. She confidently took to the mic, dancing and gyrating like the stage was built for her, belting out those fine, fine tunes that she can sing so well. The girl was ON, hopping all around the stage, playfully gesticulating with the songs. The sexiness that she oozes comes from within, and yeah, that's some pretty hot stuff. My only complaint was that my view of her was blocked most of the time by the organ and keyboard setup. At times, I had to duck my head to see her, and contrary to popular belief, I was just trying to get a better look, not a better look ;-Þ
Oh yeah, the music and the band were good too. In total, they did nine songs (which lasted a good 40 minutes), including, in order, I.O.U., Succexy, Combat Baby, The List, three new songs, On a Slow Night, Hustle Rose, and Dead Disco. The only other song off the new album that I really wanted to hear but didn't was Wet Blanket, but that was all right since I got to sing the chorus of Dead Disco. Yup, right into the mic! Emily had picked some girl to do it, but she didn't know the words. Then, she noticed that I was mouthing along, so she turned the mic to me. And I belted it out, karaoke style: "dead disco / dead funk / dead rock and roll / remodel / everything's / been done / la la la la la la la la la la." Oh yeah that was cool.
Ack. I was gonna keep it short. So, Hot Hot Heat played. They were bouncy and the kids were rowdy. There were too many posers, crowd surfing and stage-diving. The funniest thing I saw was a guy doing the backwards Satan/rock&roll symbol thing while doing an Arsenio-style hoo-hoo-hoo. Poserific! And I had half a drink poured on to me thanks to one wanker, which is never fun. A couple of old people in front of me started smoking too, which pissed me off. And this other guy had a Heineken bottle over my head for a few songs, making me worried that I might get attacked from above. I was also pushed back quite a bit from my original front-of-stage position. By the end, I couldn't even see Val or Janis who were with me! Tossers, the lot of them.
OK. Enough complaining. Hot Hot Heat were good, but Metric was better. Blah. Gotta get to sleep now.
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
2:47 AM
Tuesday, November 18, 2003
She's Back!
Amber Brkich, perhaps my favourite Survivor contestant of all time (and definitely the cutest), will be back in the all-star edition of the show that'll premiere after the Super Bowl. Motherfudging fudge yeah! I don't own many issues of Stuff, but I gotz dat one with Amber on the cover. *drool*
Oh, and whilst searching for the link to Stuff, I came (hehe) across this. Looks like Summer isn't over after all (attn: Seth Cohen).
Edit: After more digging on Stuff's website, I found this. It's not surprising that Seth is having such a hard time (hehe) choosing.
NP: The Unicorns - The Clap
posted by Hanson |
12:29 AM
Monday, November 17, 2003
Didja See?
A Death Cab Transatlanticism poster. Plainly visible on the wall of Seth's room. The O.C. rules.
NP: (commercials)
posted by Hanson |
9:31 PM
Sunday, November 16, 2003
Another One Bites the Dust
As some of you might know from reading Pitchfork, popster label Kindercore is closing up shop. This is too bad. One of their 2003 releases, Dressy Bessy's self-titled effort, will likely make my top ten of the year. On their roster, you'll find other cool bands like Of Montreal, I Am the World Trade Center, and Japancakes; now, all of them will be looking for new labels.
This is precisely the reason I want to work in the music industry. With my corporate-whore/marketing skillz, I know I can make a difference at an indie label. Kindercore had a solid roster, and I'm sure there's a way of making it work on the financial side. Too bad my *other* career path is so much easier (and more lucrative) to walk.... how Chinese of me....
NP: Nada Surf - Killian's Red
posted by Hanson |
11:29 PM
Saturday, November 15, 2003
Who Needs Tracy Morgan?
I've been meaning to post this for a while: the Rev. Al Sharpton's hosting SNL in December! This should be excellent, even if it's not funny.
In the CMPT 300 assignment I handed in yesterday, when referring to < jargon> pages that have been modified during the last clock cycle < /jargon>, I called them "dirrty" pages. Hehe. I hope that won't give the TA genital warts!
Looks like I won't be able to make it to Pretty Girls Make Graves tonight. Stooooopid papers and assignments...
The Extended Edition of The Two Towers comes out on Tuesday. I wonder when I'll actually have time to watch it?
The Clan football team was blown away 60-9 by the St. Mary's Huskies in the Uteck Bowl in Halifax this morning. No Vanier Cup for us -- once again, thwarted by da East Side.
NP: Death Cab for Cutie - Army Corp of Architects
posted by Hanson |
1:53 PM
Thursday, November 13, 2003
Scenesters Seeing Scenesters
So, last night was the hipster event of the month -- Broken Social Scene and Stars at Richard's. Yes siree, trucker caps dotted the landscape, and some were even found at the merch table. No, I didn't get one, though I was *this* close. No, not really, but I did pick up a Stars t-shirt. It's nice and red.
Like I said, it was hipsterpolloza, so naturally, it was sold out. When I got there, a line has already formed for those who don't have tickets and want to buy. Hehe. Suckers. You shoulda known better! This is what happens when a couple of really kick-ass bands backed by mega-hype play a smallish venue like Richard's. Luckily, I picked up my ticket as soon as the show was announced, so I just waltzed in there like the well-prepared guy that I am. Tara was supposed to be there last night, but I didn't see her. Maybe she was stuck in line?
Anyway, first up was Jason Collett, a member of Broken Social Scene himself, but at this instant, he served as the first opening act. Backed by a rotating cast of his fellow Broken Social Scenesters and members of Stars, he played his brand of alt-country tinged rock. After every song, he would announce a new name for his backing band; among the one I remember were The Blame (or Bling), Ye Old Pornographers, and Bastard Sons of Sorrow. There were a bunch of other good ones, but my head refuses to tell me what they are. Anyway, he was solid -- he even sent a song out to Elliott Smith. Good on ya. I'm glad I was the first person to approach the stage for your set, bud.
Stars were next. They were the band I was most looking forward to seeing (again), and like the set they did at the Sonar in March, they did not disappoint. Even though she looked as if she had taken one too many tokes, Amy Millan (pronounced mil-LAN, like the football club AC) sang her songs with the understated goodness that makes them so damn good. At the other end was Torquil Campell who looked as if he were on speed or another drug that made up super hyper. He did his best Thom Yorke impression, twitching all the way through the set. He even did that one-eye-closing-harder-than-the-other thing Thom is known for. While the Oxford lad probably does it on the account of his lazy eye, I have no idea why Torq adopted it. It worked though, so who am I to question him? I mean, I don't question his motivation behind why he sang right into the audience with much emotive vigour, so why start with the eye thing? Torq was great. Amy was great. Stars were great, especially because their set had a disproportionate number of Amy songs. The highlight of the set came right before they launched into Elevator Love Letter. A guitar wasn't working properly, so Torq told Amy to play some Johnny Cash. And she did, launching into an impromptu rendition of Straight A's In Love (I think). It was bloody cool.
Then came Broken Social Scene. One by one, the collective from T-dot got on stage. They were each on it at different times during the previous two sets, but now, as a group, they were ready to kick our asses. And that they did. Opening the show with some of their more vocal-lacking tracks, they got a good deal of close-eyes-and-nod from me. Intricate guitars over a hot bass plus a generous helping of brass and keys, dems iz da shizzy. Throughout the set, Amy provided backup vocals, even taking Emily Hanes' spot by singing lead on Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl. Wicked stuff. They went on to do an hour and a half of a You Forgot It In People-heavy set, and everyone left smiling. Sometimes, buzz is deserved. For Broken Social Scene, it's well deserved.
NP: Metric - Hustle Rose
posted by Hanson |
11:57 PM
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
A Three-ter?
Yup, I just made that word up -- on Saturday.
So, Death Cab has added a third Seattle show for the 23rd. To go or not to go? Now this is the kind of dilemma I like.
Preview of next post: Danny Strong (aka Buffy's Jonathan) appeared on Gilmore Girls this week. And there was a reference to the Nerds of Doom as well! Stay tuned :-)
NP: Broken Social Scene - Cause = Time
posted by Hanson |
6:54 PM
It's On Repeat
Testament #37 as to my overloaded schedule: I have yet to see the third Matrix movie. Two months ago, this would've been absolutely unbelievable, but now, not so much. On a happier note, it's less than two weeks till my jaunt to Seattle to see Death Cab (twice). By then, I should only have two assignments and a project to worry about, which is an actual manageable load. I can't wait to once again use that "m" word to truthfully describe my what's on my current slate. Note: I'm still going to Broken Social Scene/Stars on Wednesday. Yeah, shut up.
Oh. Like a crackhead with crack, I'm currently addicted to Belle and Sebastian. Not that it's entirely bad; it's just eating into my precious music listening time. Sarah Mc drops her first album in six years, first repeatedly listenable one in ten years, and I'm continuously listening to both old and new stuff from a bunch of Scottish blokes (and birds)? Why couldn't I be in this B&S revitalized state two months ago? I'm a master of bad timing.
NP: Belle and Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
posted by Hanson |
1:51 AM
Sunday, November 09, 2003
Nine Beers Later
Ugh. I've got a wicked hangover. I don't think it was because I was the only person who finished the Centurion last night; rather, I'm betting it's the whiskey afterwards that did the trick. Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Ugh. And I need to finish up a draft for a paper tonight. Double ugh.
Speaking of wicked, I found out this weekend that Food Network host Rachael Ray was in last month's FHM. In'neresting. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for the "Girls of CNN Headline News" issue.
NP: Belle and Sebastian - Like Dylan in the Movies
posted by Hanson |
8:58 PM
Friday, November 07, 2003
Ahead of Schedule
I lost my poppy already -- after only *one* day! Usually, it takes a few, but when I looked on my bag today, poof, it was gone. Bleh. I suck.
FYI: Skor bars melt if you put them on top of a video projector.
NP: Belle and Sebastian - Piazza, New York Catcher
posted by Hanson |
12:10 AM
Thursday, November 06, 2003
Love That Smell!
I picked up eight books at the United Way book sale yesterday. Mill's autobiography, a collection of Hume's essay on ethics, a thing on Ruskin, Pilgrim’s Progress in tiny hardcover, an anthology of Greek tragedies, an overview of classical philosophy, a book about a certain someone that I'm sure another certain someone will enjoy, and a few more that I can't remember. The cost: $4.50 (I gave them a fiver). I love used books.
NP: Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl (for an essay....)
posted by Hanson |
12:48 AM
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Alexis Is the New Katie
Have I mentioned here how much I'm digging the new-look Rory in season four? New hair, new wardrobe (including, apparently, a Belle and Sebastian t-shirt) -- getting into Yale has exponentially increased her babe quotient. Not that she wasn't cute before, but now, she's absolutely drool-tastic (right up there with her mother). When she's on screen, a wave of unadulterated giddiness comes over me, kinda the same feeling I used to get when I see Katie Holmes on Dawson -- the only difference is that I actually like Gilmore Girls. With the babe-ification of Rory and the downward spiral of The West Wing, I can safely say that GG is now clearly my second favourite current show on TV. One guess as to what my fave is. Hint: it's got another cute brunette on it.
Also, Afterglow doesn't suck. I am *so* relieved :-)
NP: Belle and Sebastian - Asleep on a Sunbeam
posted by Hanson |
12:53 AM
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Bizarre Love Triangles
This week on The O.C., feelings get tangled and emotions run amuck. Once again, the love triangles between Ryan-Marissa-Luke, Summer-Seth-Anna, and Kirsten-Sandy-Rachel take centre stage. Smooches on the Farris Wheel, in the hot tub, and by the skeeball machines: everybody's getting some! You know, it'll get really annoying if these become the central plot drivers of the show, especially if they can't come up with more than South for their cool music quota (no offense to South fans... really). This was a weak episode, and hopefully next week's will be better.
Oh. And I caught part of Average Joe tonight. Poor, poor saps. Did you see that look the chick had on her face when she realized what her suitors looked like? Sure, she said she cared more about personality than looks, but when it comes right down to it, she expected a minimal level of physical attractiveness, something that, by the looks of things (pardon the pun), she didn't see in the sixteen that came off the bus. Welcome to the new twist-filled reality of reality TV, Melana! This is so ridiculous, it might actually be entertaining.... like a car wreck.
NP: Belle and Sebastian - Lord An-TON-nee
posted by Hanson |
2:07 AM
Monday, November 03, 2003
I Need a Non-Deterministic Monkey
Presentation on Thursday, draft of paper due on Sunday, LoT committee meeting, TRASH Regionals, a project, two assignments, and another paper I need to get on due in two weeks: insane schedule, we meet again.
NP: Isobel Campbell - Amorino
posted by Hanson |
8:55 PM
Sunday, November 02, 2003
Rip Rip Hooray!
Oh wow. What an *excellent* SNL tonight! The low expectations that came with Kelly Ripa hosting were easily surpassed by a wonderful show, probably the best so far this year. There were only a few duds (drunken girl, as always), and the sparklers were many (monologue, Spy Glass, Regis and Kelly, hair colouring with crack, etc.). I can't wait for next week when an even crappier host is on (Andy Roddick)!
NP: (TV)
posted by Hanson |
1:09 AM
Saturday, November 01, 2003
November Again
Another successful avoidance of costuming up for Halloween by the Ho. This year's excuse came from Beulah and John Vanderslice at the Media Club, though some people in attendance were in fact dressed up. Not me though, unless you count music geek as a costume. The show was good, though pricier than expected ($20 for the Media Club!?!). However, CDs were only $10, so everything balanced out.
Before the show, I had dinner with my brother at Takumi, probably my favourite place to eat in the city since it's got the best vinegar rice and widest selection of sushi I've seen here. I think I go there at least once a month, if not more. Yes, I might have a slight problem. Tonight, I had a piece each of hirame, uni, amaebi, and anago, as well as my staple of negitoro and a tempura udon. Oh boy that's good shizzy, even though it did cost me slightly more than McD's.
Speaking of spending money, SilverCity charged $250 on my credit card this morning. Why? Cos I am now in possession of five tickets for the Coquitlam version of Trilogy Tuesday! It's not too late to get in on the action, as I don't think it's been well advertised... yet. So go quickly if you want to be part of history!
NP: Phantom Planet - (official bootleg)
posted by Hanson |
12:36 AM
|
