Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Post Xmas Splash Out
A minimum of 20% off everything at Scratch literally forced me to plunk down a hundred bucks on CDs. I'm weak, so I can't help it. I got the new Alaska! that I love so much, as well as old stuff from Clover Honey, Camera Obscura, Dressy Bessy, Gomez, Heavenly, and Michelle McAdorey. Yes, that's the same Michelle McAdorey from Crash Vegas! I've been trying to find her solo album for years and years, and now I've found it! Hurray!
While at Scratch, I exchanged $13 for a ticket to Pretty Girls Make Graves at Richard's on Jan. 24th. It was a mighty fine deal.
NP: All Girl Summer Fun Band - Later Operator
posted by Hanson |
10:44 AM
Monday, December 29, 2003
Top 37 of 2003: Part V
Thanks to my nearly non-stop watching of Stargate SG-1, it looks like the end of the list will have to wait till the year is over. On with the next five:
15. Liz Phair - Liz Phair
Elitist indie critics can all lick my big yellow balls. Although slightly overproduced, Liz's long overdue effort is an excellent album of polished pop songs. No, it's not Guyville, but neither is Whip Smart. The only difference between this and 1998's whitechocolatespaceegg is the involvement of Lauren Christy and the rest of The Matrix on a handful of tracks. Both albums are incredibly slick, and both are overt appeals to the mainstream. On this one though, critics grabbed on to that Matrix tidbit and pummelled her for "selling out." Fuck you all. It's her music and her choice. As long as she doesn't compromise artistically -- which I don't think she has, the change in her music being caused by a style shift, IMO -- everything's cool. Liz released Exile in Guyville ten frickin' years ago, so move the fuck on. If you don't like the new Liz, tough.
14. All Girl Summer Fun Band - 2
Bubblegum indie pop: I can chew you all night long. Infectious, catchy, witty, and with 14 songs, 29 minutes, these girls work fast too. They throw delightful pop jabs and hooks at you from left and right, leaving you with sore teeth and a silly grin. A celebrity crush ode to Jason Lee, a plea to "borrow" Becky's boyfriend, a song about parallel parking -- hehe. This is just fun stuff!
13. Radiohead - Hail to the Thief
Finding songs like 2+2=5 and There, There at karaoke places means that Hail to the Thief is a return (sort of) to their pre-Kid A ways. The songs are long and textured, and it's almost like Thom has put lyrics to the stuff from the Kid A/Amnesiac sessions. Essentially, the album is a synthesis of their experimental side and their pop side. Absolute gems like Where I End and You Begin, Wolf at the Door, and Punch Up at a Wedding are accompanied by so-so semi-clunkers like We Suck Young Blood and Scatterbrain. It's still a very strong album overall, full of great tunes that the Bends/OK Computer fans would surely dig. I think.
12. Grandaddy - Sumday
This is a much more organic effort than the Sophware Slump. Don't get me wrong -- their patented beeps are there, as are their familiar synth riffs and talk of robots and technology -- it's just that their songwriting is much more straightforward and song-like than before. Some would say it's more conventional, but that's like saying David Lynch is conventional in that he sticks to the 2-hour "movie" structure. Jason Lytle's kick-ass melodies prove once again that he is the premier pro skateboarder-turned-musician in the biz.
11. Dressy Bessy - Dressy Bessy
A great send-off to Kindercore, this is more of that female-fronted indie pop that I love so much. They play a brand of unglamourous, almost retro-dork pop that sneers at pretension. Ok ok. The people who listen to them might not be that way, the this album certainly is. Hook after hook after hook, Tammy Ealom delivers lyrics that are perfectly suited -- not Gibbardian, but not dumb either. Its sound is a little less simplistic than All Girl Summer Fun Band's, but it doesn't lose any of its cheerfulness. Overall, it's a good medium before the 2-minute bang-bang sugar pop of AGSFB and the intricate 4-minute pop masterworks of Death Cab. Hurrah hurrah indeed.
NP: All Girl Summer Fun Band - Canadian Boyfriend
posted by Hanson |
11:45 PM
Sunday, December 28, 2003
Mmmmm.... Meat
We were supposed to go out for dinner yesterday, but afternoon flurries scared my mom off -- yeah, Vancouverites and even the tiniest bit of snow. Instead, my brother brought back his cast-iron skillet from rez, a cooking implement he has named "Cattle Bane," and made us some damn good steaks. He has always been interested in cooking (while I've only concerned myself with eating), and living by himself for four years has turned him into a pretty good cook. I wonder when I'll get to that level of culinary ability?
Back to Stargate season five!
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
10:35 AM
Friday, December 26, 2003
Boxing With Disease
I came back from a family Christmas gathering last night, and I fell deathly ill. It was so bad, I had to take a Tylenol Cold, something I haven't done in well over a year. You see, I avoid medication as much as possible, only using it when it's absolutely necessary. Last night was such an occasion: fever, headache, and badness all over. Ugh. I went to bed almost as soon as I got home -- around 12, I think -- but I couldn't actually get to sleep until well past 3 am, sweating buckets, tossing and turning in my bed. Ugh. Being sick sucks.
PS: Happy Kwanzaa, everyone!
NP: All Girl Summer Fun Band - Dreamy You
posted by Hanson |
11:30 AM
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Top 37 of 2003: Part IV
More listy goodness! We’re past the halfway point now!
20. Dar Williams - Beauty of the Rain
Dar reliably churns out an album of polished folk-pop every two years or so, as Beauty of the Rain is a nice stylistic continuation to 2000's The Green World. I Saw a Bird Fly Away and The World's Not Falling Apart are upbeat ditties that we've gotten used to from Dar from End of the Summer onwards, and Mercy of the Fallen is another bombastic sing-alonger a la What Do You Love More Than Love and Are You Out There. The chorus for Closer to Me ranks right up there in terms of catchiness as anything she has written. Another winner, Dar. See you in two years!
19. Ben Gibbard/Andrew Kenny - Post Parlo Home Series, Vol. V
The only reason this is ranked so lowly is because it's an EP (actually, it's because it's a split EP, and Ben Gibbard is only responsible for half of the tracks). Ben penned and recorded three acoustic gems for this split, and his cover of Kenny's Choir Vandals is equally stunning. In Carolina, a song about domestic abuse, he brings his lyrical A-game ("you never learned / the rules have changed since we were nine / this isn't school / boys don't assault the girls they like"). Andrew Kenny holds up his end of the split too, doing three originals as well as a cover of Death Cab's (i.e. Ben's) Line of Best Fit. This is a fine addition to the series, and the best one that I've heard so far.
18. Some Girls - Feel It
I can't resist the charms (and voice) of Juliana Hatfield. She can sing anything and I'll be begging for seconds. Some Girls is Juliana's latest project, reuniting with former Blake Babies drummer Freda Love. Fans of the Blakes as well as Juliana's solo stuff should be pleased with this. It doesn't break new ground, but it's nice enough. You know, this is the kind of stuff that, with proper marketing and positioning, can easily slip into mainstream radio.
17. Alaska! - Emotions
Alaska! started off as the acoustic duo of Imaad Wasif and Russ Pollard (no relation to any former Ohio school teachers), each playing a guitar and taking turns singing both lead and harmony. On Emotions, the songs were kicked up with bass and drums, adding more texture to their already-excellent melodies. Depending on the song, they recall the likes of Simon and Garfunkel (Sun Don't Shine, Nightmare), Elliott Smith (Love [To Be Your Main], Broken), and even Lou Barlow's 2003 revival of The Folk Implosion in which both Imaad and Russ played in (The Western Shore). Even with their influences exposed, they still manage to sound original, making Emotions one of the best debuts of this year.
16. Azure Ray - Hold On Love
Let me now declare my undying love for Maria Taylor's voice! In my opinion, every Azure Ray album has been uneven. Not that they're not all great. I mean, I like Orenda Fink's stuff fine, but I absolutely *adore* Maria Taylor's. All of my favourite Azure Ray songs have been Maria's; her voice just touches me at a visceral level. I've never been so emotionally affected by music as I have listening to Maria on Displaced or 4th of July. Standouts off Hold On Love include New Resolution, Across the Ocean, If You Fall, and Nothing Like a Song -- yup, all sung by Maria. If the rest of the album were like those (i.e. a full Maria Taylor-sung dealie), this would easily be a top five album. However, with the addition of Orenda's singing, whom I still think is great (just not brilliantly brilliant), this is where it is. God I hope Maria puts out a solo disc soon.
NP: Azure Ray - 4th of July
posted by Hanson |
3:40 PM
Twist and Turn
Rubik's cubes are spawns of (Miroslav) Satan. SATAN I SAY!
NP: Nada Surf - Killian's Red
posted by Hanson |
12:28 AM
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Top 37 of 2003: Part III
From here on, it gets hard. 21 to 23 are basically tied. In fact, from 23 to 11, the differences between the albums in that range are not that great at all. Such is the flaw of ranking. Ah well:
25. Cerys Matthews - Cockahoop
Usually, the solo debut apple doesn't fall far from the band's musical tree. Cockahoop is an exception, and aside from Cerys' idiosyncratic voice, it doesn't sound much like Catatonia at all. Maybe recording in Nashville gave the Welsh lass an idea or too, as the album sounds more CMT than NME. Banjos, fiddles, and oboes accompany acoustic guitars, and they all form a minimally-produced musical backdrop for that big, big voice of that she has. You bet it's a departure, from the production all the way to the instrumentation. It does have the Catatonia staple song-in-Welsh though! Still, I don't think it sold well in the UK, but it's at least a good album
24. Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow
Aye. The return of the One. I remember eagerly waiting for Surfacing in 1997, buying it on the same day as I saw the first Men in Black. After listening to it, I was in denial. "No, it doesn't suck that badly," I kept telling myself. It wasn't until after a year or so that I admitted that, save for a few songs, it *did* suck overall. My heart was broken. How could the person responsible for Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, my favourite album in the history of music (at that time), put out something as insipid and uninspiring as this? After listening to Afterglow, I realize that it wasn't Sarah's fault -- well, not entirely anyway. Surfacing *did* suck, but in 1997, I was also slowly diversifying my taste in music, and middle-of-the-road piano-pop just wasn't as appealing as it was before. Fast forward to 2003: Afterglow. Now, the magic is pretty much gone. It's still a decent album with some pretty good songs, many of which I enjoy and sing along to. It's definitely an improvement over Surfacing, but to me, it's just another album -- not something special like FTE or Solace. No, it's not like she mailed it in, but it doesn't reach the such great heights of FTE. With that said, I have a feeling that if FTE were released today, my reaction to it would be different compared to how I felt ten years ago. *sigh*. I guess I've moved on.
23. New Pornographers - Electric Version
Vancouver's preeminent supergroup, they are to Van City what Broken Social Scene is to the Tee Dot, albeit more like a band and less like a "collective." Carl Newman is class, and throw in a little of that sassy Neko Case, and you've got yourself an instant hit. Neko blends more into this one than their previous release, sharing vocal duties on a lot more songs and singing a lot more harmonies and back-ups. This is power-pop at its best, upbeat and free of the faux-angst of modern radio rock. Now this is the kind of porno I can sink my teeth into!
22. Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?
Quirky. No, that's not fair. True, that word aptly describes the Unicorns' style, but it's an oversimplification. Special. Yes, that's it. How else would you describe an indie pop band that spits on the face of the tried-and-true pop song structure of verse-chorus-verse? Cheerfully inventive tunes, both lyrically and musically, about death, ghosts, and other things, all done using various beeps and sounds accompanying your basic band equipment. It's surprising hummable given the unstructured nature of the songs: no choruses to speak of, just long, 2-4 minute song that don't repeat parts. It's a remarkable achievement, honestly, and bonus marks for defying conventions! And double bonus marks for name-dropping Biggie Smalls.
21. Danny Michel - Tales From the Invisible Man
At a time when the likes of John Mayer and Jason Mraz reigns supreme, why isn't there room on the radio for the genius that is Danny Michel? Stylistically, this M covers a lot more ground than the other two M's: a one trick pony, he is not. This album goes from alt-country (Thunder in the Mountain) to IDM-lite (Full Effect) to big band (Would You Buy a Frame?) to low-tempo-melodrama (The Invisible Man) to piano-sap (The Luckiest Man in the World), but mostly, it's upbeat guitar-pop with a whole lot of back up. Basically, Tales From the Invisible Man is a sonic roller coaster, one that will have you lining up for seconds.
NP: Nada Surf - La Pour Ca
posted by Hanson |
1:32 PM
Monday, December 22, 2003
I Took a Duck to the Face at Two-Hundred and Fifty Knots
Pattern Recognition turns out to be a nice, quick read. This one deals with the world of global marketing and branding, with a bit of espionage tossed in to kick it up a notch. All the classic Gibson elements are present: beautifully-written prose, secretive corporations, technology overload, and Tokyo. Yup, it just ain't Gibson if there isn't a little Japanese thrown in. Unlike, the Sprawl and Bridge trilogies, though, it is set in the present (in 2002, actually), making it the first Gibson novel (not including collaborations) that you can actually date. It is in fact the first piece of non-SF fiction that I've read all year -- not surprising, since I hardly ever read non-SF fiction. The plot is probably the most straightforward of any of his works, and all of the action is focused on the book's main character, Cayce Pollard. That's pronounced CASE, Gibson states explicitly, which is an obvious shout-out to the console cowboy protagonist of Neuromancer.
Overall, I like it. I won't go as far as saying it's Gibson's best, but it's certainly better than the last two-thirds of the Bridge Trilogy. I would've liked more wrap-up, but I guess that just leaves more room for (a) sequel(s). May I suggest the name "The Branding Trilogy?" Hmm... on second thoughts, perhaps not...
While reading the book, I always pictured Cayce looking a bit like Kathryn Morris, the girl from Cold Case. Don't ask me why. The book doesn't even say she's blonde, but I just picture her like that, typing emails on her iBook, drinking tea-sub at her friend's London flat, and wandering around jet-lagged in the subway system of Moscow. It's weird, you know, when you put two things together without realizing why.
Oh. And I think I'm being spoiled by hardcovers. Damn its bigness!
NP: Elliott Smith - Pretty (Ugly Before)
posted by Hanson |
1:53 PM
Sunday, December 21, 2003
Top 37 of 2003: Part II
OK, so the capsules are not so much "reviews" as they are blurbs that are related to the record in question. It's better that way, isn't it? BTW, Leona Naess is the step-daughter of Ms. Diana Ross. Yeah, the one with the hair. More:
30. Salteens - Let Go of Your Bad Days
The first of three records on this list that clocks in under 30 minutes, Let Go of Your Bad Days is the latest release from Vancouver's Salteens. Yes, they are crackers, but they're also a band -- a very good one, in fact. Shiny, happy, and upbeat indie-pop with a straight-forward vocal deliveries. No, they're not reinventing the wheel here, but who can possibly resist well-placed "ba ba ba's"? I know I can't. Damn You contains a lyrical observation that is both obvious and insightful.
29. Nada Surf - Let Go
It's not a typo. Nada Surf's latest album *does* share its name with the debut from a certain complicated girl from Napanee. Originally released in Europe in 2002, Barsuk picked it up in 2003 and dropped it over on this side of the Atlantic. Forget Popular; hum along to the delightful Blizzard of '77 and Inside of Love instead! This album shows that being a one-hit wonder doesn't prevent a band from making great music after their 15 minutes are over.
28. Shaye - The Bridge
When you put three moderately-famous Canadian female singer-songwriters together, you get a super-group of sorts. Tara MacLean, Damhnait Doyle, and Kim Stockwood, all from the east coast, banded together to form Shaye, named after Tara's sister who was killed in a freak car accident last year. It is what you would expect from these three: pretty chick-pop-rock, Tara bringing the folkier side, Damhnait bringing that big voice of hers, and Kim, well, just bringing it. Along with originals composed by the group as a whole, covers like Crash Vegas' On and On as well as Sinead Lohan's No Mermaid can be found on The Bridge. The production is a little slick for my tastes, but it's just nice to hear something from Tara after so many years.
27. Dido - Life for Rent
No sophomore jinx here. Life for Rent plays to Ms. Armstrong's strength: her voice. I thought her brother/producer Rollo might've opted for a more "processed" sound, but he pretty much left the songs as bare as possible -- just Lilith pop with a few beeps and beats thrown in for good measure a la No Angel. White Flag is as good as any other mainstream pop song on the radio this year, and soccer moms everywhere would *love* the title track if it were released as a single. And for the last time: Dido is as much trip-hop has Simple Plan is punk!
26. Broken Social Scene - You Forgot it in People
We've all heard the hype, so I'll spare you the spiel. Let me just say that as good as the record is, their live show is even better. Seeing ten guys jam on stage, playing a juiced up brand of indie rock full of horns and shit that just demands head bopping, they are a sight to see. Their stuff just isn't the same translated to your stereo. Sure, it's good, but the layers of sounds, the at-times mumbled vocals, and the intricate tunes that BSS is known for is something to be experienced, not simply heard. If you love this record, you'll love their live show.
NP: Martain Youth Auxiliary - Door Prives
posted by Hanson |
10:38 PM
Saturday, December 20, 2003
Top 37 of 2003: Part I
And so it begins. I'll write "capsule" reviews for each if I feel like it, but I'm sure I'll be skipping over some from 37 to 1. Anyway, here they are:
37. Leona Naess - Leona Naess
There isn't a Charm Attack or I Tried to Rock You But You Only Roll on this record, but the lack of a catchy single doesn't make it a lesser album. Compared to her previous work, Leona's self-titled release has an, I don't know, earthier sound -- slower, simpler, and less urgent. Yeah, there are strings to accompany the guitar and piano, but like others from the chick-pop genre, the focal point of this record is Leona's vocals: it's good, and other elements don't suck either, so it gets a thumbs up from me.
36. My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves
I'm ig'nent -- IG-NENT. I don't know my musical history that well, and I certainly don't know much about this so-called "Southern rock" tradition that My Morning Jacket apparently borrows from. What I hear on this record is a blend of rootsy folky rock, and their sound is so compelling, I don't really care about their lyrics half the time. It's a really good study album, IMO, full of nice, textured stuff that blends well into the background.
35. Patty Griffin - A Kiss in Time
First off, let me say that I love the songs on this album. However, being that it's a live CD, I can't really rank it that high on a list of originals. With that said, this is less a live album than a really high quality bootleg. Mixed in with old and new Patty faves like Mad Mission and Rain are stage banter from the fiery-haired one, which makes it less dull. The sound is also a little rough around the edges, as a live album should be. Nope, no overproduction here! What we get is a great collection of songs, almost like a "Best of" release, performed in a live setting. It's the next best thing to actually going to a Patty gig (which I highly recommend, BTW).
34. Rooney - Rooney
Power-pop -- that slick rock sound infused with infectious melodies and a healthy serving of "ba ba ba's" and "oh oh oh's" -- I just can't get enough of you. When talking about Rooney, the comparisons to Phantom Planet are obvious. Their self-titled release might not be in the same league as The Guest, but it's nevertheless a fun record with an upbeat sound (yes, cuffing Daisy Duke to the bathtub is my idea of fun). Until PP's own self-titled record is released early next year, this is the closest substitute you'll get.
33. Quasi - Hot Shit
Hot damn, Hot Shit! Maybe making a blues record as Blue Goblin has endeared the guitar to Sam Coomes. Hot Shit doesn't rely on the Sam's patented fuzzed-out organ as much as previous Quasi release, though it is still very much present on the record. Lyrically, the focus is on the current administration in charge in America. In fact, White Devil's Dream name checks many of the public faces in Bush's cabinet, and not in a nice way either. Politics aside, this is a quality, albeit at time slightly experimental, album that should please fans on both sides of the political spectrum (though less so the conservatives, I suppose). It's definitely the best release this year by a duo consisting of ex-spouses.
32. The Gay - You Know the Rules
I admit it. This was a slight disappointment. Don't get me wrong -- it's still a fine record -- I just expected more from a band fuelled by the creative mind behind Vancouver Nights. It's a cool collection of indie pop songs in which all five members of the band take turn singing. It's really my kind of stuff; I just wished the album was more consistent (i.e. let Sara Lapsley sing everything :-).
31. stellastarr* - stellastarr*
If Robert Smith gave singing lessons, the dude from stellastarr* was probably one of his students. No, they're not this year's Interpol, but only because they get way fewer Joy Division comparisons. You see, they're both from NYC and they both share a similar sound, so it's just easy to link the two up. However, having seen both bands and listened to both their records, I think I prefer stellastarr*, and not just because of stella's bassist. I look forward to more music from these guys.
NP: Quasi - Master & Dog
posted by Hanson |
7:24 PM
Friday, December 19, 2003
'Tis the Time
With the new year just around the corner, it's time for critics and bloggers everywhere to post their Top X of 2003. Obviously, I'm going to start with music. Now, being that I'm a greedy bastard, a Top 10 list just wouldn't be enough room to talk about all the albums I've adored throughout the year. Top 20 then? Nope. Still not enough. Surely a Top 30 list like last year would work? No, I'm even greedier than that.
Anyone who has seen Clerks can tell you the importance of the number 37, and while the CDs on the list aren't dicks and they certainly don't suck, I'm still going to borrow from that lil' piece of Kevin Smith lore. Yeah, I know that 37 is a bit excessive -- hell, that's like half the albums I've listened to this year -- but I just like them all so much! I'd post a Top 50 list, but even *I* have to draw the line somewhere.
So, over the coming days, I'll be posting my Top 37 Albums of 2003 list -- in chunks, perhaps five a day in descending order. Watch for it. Make comments. Blast me on the exclusion of Damien Rice, Yo La Tengo, Cat Power, and all your other favourite records of the year. Here's a teaser: 37 belongs to the step-daughter of a famous singer. Any guesses?
PS: What does my year-end mix CD have in common with Eliza Dushku's Tru Calling? Pretty Girls Make Graves' Chemical, Chemical.
NP: The Shins - Saint Simon
posted by Hanson |
4:07 PM
Thursday, December 18, 2003
2004
The Organ - Jan. 16th, The Brickyard
Pretty Girls Make Graves - Jan. 24th, Richards on Richards
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Jan. 25th, Media Club (maybe)
Gomez w/ Leona Naess - Feb. 4th, Commodore
Liz Phair - Mar. 5th, Commodore
Damien Rice - Mar. 30th, Commodore (maybe)
Looks like shows are back on the menu!
BTW, my dog ate my RotK review ;-Þ
NP: Danny Michel - Thunder in the Mountain
posted by Hanson |
11:41 AM
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Return From the King
Today/yesterday was a magical day I will not soon forget.
The Return of the King was glorious. My lofty expectations were met by PJ and crew, and it provided a perfect ending to a perfect film trilogy. I couldn’t count the number of times the crowd cheered throughout. In fact, my sustained excitement caused me to yell out at the end of the credits; yes, I stayed until the very, very end. Sleep beckons now, as being at the theatre since 12 pm has tired me out just a little bit. A full review, probably with some invisi-text spoilers, shall come tomorrow.
It was fucking great.
NP: Dismemberment Plan - The City (remixed)
posted by Hanson |
3:34 AM
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Epic
*Checks calendar*. Oh my. I think today is Tuesday. Yes yes, a Tuesday -- Tuesday, Dec. 16th, 2003. What does that mean? TRILO-MUTHAFUCKIN-GY TUESDAY!!! Yes, I *am* screaming! The culmination of twelve years of Tolkien fandom, of reading the books six times, of watching the first two film instalments over and over again, is this mega 12+ hour hardcore film-a-thon. I was born ready for this, so bring it on! Let the King return, and let me be there to witness his magnificence!
NP: Dismemberment Plan - Life of Possibilities (Remixed)
posted by Hanson |
10:20 AM
Monday, December 15, 2003
Tickets, Anyone?
Anybody looking for a pair of tickets to Trilogy Tuesday in the Coquitlam SilverCity tomorrow, let me know. For those of you who are not geeky enough, that's the back-to-back-to-back showing of all three of the Lord of the Rings movies, including the extended cuts for the first two plus an advance screening of the Return of the King.
NP: Phantom Planet - By the Bed
posted by Hanson |
4:02 PM
Keeping Busy In a Good Way
* Pattern Recognition: checked out.
* Captain Tsubasa, Road to 2002 vol. 7-10: bought.
* TV tapes from the last month: sorted.
* Stargate SG-1, Season 4 DVDs: reclaimed.
All this, and the Hume that "I've been reading" (i.e. has been stuck in my bag for the last four months) should keep me quite busy for the foreseeable future. Hehe.... I'm so excited!
NP: Stars - The Comeback
posted by Hanson |
3:36 PM
Saturday, December 13, 2003
Another Quicky
Sex or something else? FWIW, I got 6.
NP: (Simpson's Halloween special)
posted by Hanson |
1:59 PM
Friday, December 12, 2003
Fist Pumping
DONE!
NP: (This week's Survivor)
posted by Hanson |
8:28 PM
You (Will Be) Here
New Sarah Harmer album due in March. Yippee! That's all. Back to being anxious about tomorrow, a.k.a. the biggest hurdle I've ever faced in my academic life.
Oh. Complete series of Firefly on DVD: $35 plus tax. A&B Sound kicks ass.
NP: All Girl Summer Fun Band - Down South Ten Hours
posted by Hanson |
12:06 AM
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Eye (Off) the Prize
After finally getting a basic grasp of dynamic programming, I took a quick break for a late-night snack. Whilst eating, I turned on the TV only to have Conan announced that Maggie Gyllenhaal was coming on next. Well, so much for a quick break.
NP: Alaska - Broken
posted by Hanson |
1:32 AM
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Must. Buckle. Down.
Facing the most daunting challenge of my 18+ year academic career, I can't let this box of circuits and transistors get to me. Computer: you will leave me be! None of this teasing and taunting and dangling of information in front of my oh-so eager face: I *need* to study! And you too, Daytime Television! You and your smorgasbord of moving pictures, from the exquisite Pardon the Interruption to that ass-clown Dr. Phil, your bewitching lure will have no effect on me -- for the next couple days, at any rate.
CMPT 307: I will stare you down. I will get on you like a fat kid gets on cake. I will beat you like a redheaded stepchild. I will plant my foot so far up your ass, my toes will be tasting what you had for breakfast that day. I will be the greedy one doing all the dividing and conquering, reducing you to a null problem recursively. Yeah, you heard me. The gauntlet’s been thrown down, bra!
NP: The New Folk Implosion - Creature of Salt
posted by Hanson |
1:20 PM
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Maher-ed in Vancouver
Bill Maher's coming! Bill Maher's coming! Woohoo! I've missed Russell Peters and Shaun Majumder already, and I'm most likely going to miss Chris Rock, but I will not miss the Maher. Tickets go on sale Saturday this. I must beat the Assigned Seating beast!
NP: Rilo Kiley - Xmas Cake
posted by Hanson |
1:41 PM
No Name #N
I was flipping through the channels tonight, and when I got to Showcase, I heard a familiar guitar rift. It kinda sounded like Smells Like Teen Spirit, but not as abrasive. I was like: "dood, I *know* that!" Then I saw Natasha Lyonne. Then I remembered that ... But I'm A Cheerleader was going to be on Showcase soon. Then it hit me: Dressy Bessy! BTW, this all transpired within the span of about a second of so. Soon enough, Tammy Ealom's voice came on, singing Just Like Henry. Sweet.
Joe Average lost and Typical Dating Show Fodder won. Surprise, surprise. Way to reinforce our society's implicit caste system, Malina!
Oh. All Girl Summer Fun Band's 2 has to be the best LP this year than runs less than 30 minutes, and Ticking Timebomb off of that has to be the best song this year that runs less than 2 minutes.
NP: All Girl Summer Fun Band - Jason Lee
posted by Hanson |
12:25 AM
Monday, December 08, 2003
On Target
The mix cd project is progressing well. I've selected 90% of the artists and a good 80% of the songs. I saw a Future Shop ad advertising these "vinyl" CD-Rs, and if the price is right, they might be fun to use instead of my regular Maxell stash. Hehe... fake 7-inches. You know, it'd be really easy for me to add a dirrty joke here, but I think I'll refrain. After all, half the fun comes from exerting a considerable effort, eh?
NP: Pretty Girls Make Graves - All Medicated Geniuses
posted by Hanson |
11:38 AM
Sunday, December 07, 2003
Whilst On An Undeserved Break From Studying...
Could someone please leak the debut of Rilo Kiley guitarist-and-sometimes-singer Blake Sennett's side-project, The Elected? February 4th, 2004 is too, too far away. Stuff off Subpop usually gets out early anyway.
The new Phantom Planet: from the not-Jason Schwartzman drumming at the start of the first track, The Happy Ending, you can tell this is not the same band that released The Guest. I think I'll need to give it a few more listens before making my official comments.
Hehe... the Paris Hilton is too roomy for Jimmy Fallon... hehe.
If A-Rod is traded to the Red Sox, does that spell the end of Nomah jokes on Zazu?
Fucking Chad Pennington and Matt Hasselbeck....
Heartbreak at the City Ground. With a minute remaining, Forest snatched an equalizer, denying Watford of an away win. Damn! We needed those two extra points....
... but yay for Ruud and Diego Forlan with doubles against Villa though. And Kezman? Like Liz Phair says: let United do the double Dutch!
Edit: Oh. I realize that Kezman isn't from Holland, but rather from somewhere in the Balkans. The fact that he's at PSV right now gives me the chance to mention Liz, and damn it I'll take it! Of course, I don't think many of you reading this will know what I'm talking about at all. Still, for completeness sake, I gotta mention it. It's football, BTW. Soccer. Kicking the round ball into the rectangular nets? Yeah, that one.
NP: Phantom Planet - By the Bed
posted by Hanson |
4:12 PM
Saturday, December 06, 2003
Conquer or Be Conquered
Bad: I have a massive headache. Good: I think I smoked my exam tonight. Two more, two more....
Must. Not. Let. Headache. Beat. Me. There's still Al Sharpton on SNL tonight! (Frodo's on next week!)
Oh. On last night's edition of The Wedge, they played, one after another, videos by the Stills, the Kills, and the Thrills. Hehe. That amused me. Yes, I’m easily amused.
NP: Maria Taylor or Orenda Fink (I don't know which one... the better sounding one from Azure Ray) - White Christmas
posted by Hanson |
11:30 PM
Friday, December 05, 2003
Asleep At the Helm
Have you ever accidentally fallen asleep while studying? Last night, in between highlighting selected lines from my notes on TLB and the optimal page replacement algorithm, I wandered onto my bed and took a nap. That was about 10:30 pm. By the time I came to my senses, I felt tired all over. I wandered a bit, checked my email, and watched a little TV. Essentially, my studying was done for the night. Bleh. See, that's why I'm heading to school this afternoon to studying. At least there, I won't be able to nod off and waste perfectly good study time -- studying time that I *need* to devote to studying.
Oh, and the Matrix Revolutions? Meh. It wasn't that bad. **SPOILERS START** To see the invisi-text, highlight the following section with your cursor: It was a simplistic ending, and it basically made the second movie pointless. The mechs were cool though! There was a little too much emphasis on the whole "love" and "choice" thing, which was a little hard to stomach. "Because I choose to." Wow. That was lame. Yeah yeah yeah, we all know that Neo was love and Smith was hate, and that they were both opposites created by Will Ferrell the Architect, but that still doesn't explain why Neo could fry the machines in the "real" world. And how did Smith get into that guy? It almost felt like "lets upload a virus to the mothership with my Mac" all over again. And the kid taking over the mech and getting the job done? I so called that. I could go on, but what's the point? It'll all just end abruptly and predictably anyway. **SPOILERS END** So yeah, had to see it. Not as bad as people said, but overall, it was a disappointing ending to the trilogy.
NP: Pretty Girls Make Graves - This Is Our Emergency
posted by Hanson |
12:10 PM
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Digging Pretty Girls
I am currently being ruled by Pretty Girls Make Graves. Their new album, The New Romance, came out in September (on my burfday, no less) amidst a flurry of other releases. It inevitably got lost in the mix, but I recently got it, and shit, yo, does it ever kick ass! I remember how much I loved Good Health, and yet I let this slip through the cracks -- until now. Loud guitar interplay usually doesn't get me this excited, but when you pair it up with Andrea Zollo purrrrfect vocals and throw in some cool-ass tunage, you've got gold. This has certainly knocked Rooney out of my preliminary Year's Top 30. The way it's going, it'll easily make the Top 20, and it has a shot at the Top 15 too! Fine fine stuff. If you like rawk music, this is a can't-miss.
Speaking of letting things slip, I *need* the new Patty Griffin live album as well as Brenda Weiler's new one, Cold Weather. Well, I'm off to prevent another slippage -- finally off see the Matrix now!
NP: Pretty Girls Make Graves - Chemical, Chemical
posted by Hanson |
2:56 PM
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
Onward Ho!
Two down, three to go. I think I did well on both of them, especially the take-home for GDST 200. Anytime you get to use boobs, genderfuck, nymphomaniac, cousin-fucker, off the hizzy, and "went down faster than..." in a final, it's got to be good, eh? *grin* Speaking of GDST, my prof is using my paper on Riot Grrrls as a model for subsequent classes. Wow. I thought it was OK, but I wasn't expecting this. That’ll make it two A papers in one class already. Hehe…maybe I've found my true academic calling after five and a third years. Too bad I've already got too many years of school behind me, or else a Gender Studies minor *would* be intriguing.
NP: (TV)
posted by Hanson |
11:50 PM
Monday, December 01, 2003
Randomness Up In Herre
What was more memorable: attempting to do 50 Cent at karaoke or losing 11-0 in a 3-end curling game?
The Seth Cohen starter pack includes Death Cab, The Shins, Bright Eyes, *and* The Goonies. Cool. And yet another shot of the Transatlanticism album cover. Double cool.
I wish I had the balls to just go up and talk to her. Alas, I am without testicles.
NP: The Unicorns - Tuff Ghost
posted by Hanson |
11:45 PM
|
