I am sure I have no lost my entire readership after ignoring my blog for a couple months. That presumes that I actually had a readership, though, which probably flatters myself. Anyhow, here is what is up with me:
It's the second full week of summer for me after school (finally) finished a couple weeks ago. Naturally, (because my one talent in life is writing essays, apparently) I pulled some great grades last quarter, so I am happy about that. Now, I'm just sitting at home trying to balance relaxing, reading for my BA thesis, and doing housework. It's not an exciting life but it's pretty stress free.
The lack of stress is important. What I find amazing about last year is that I did much better academically than I did in either of my first two years and I did so while displaying almost every classic symptom of clinical depression. I felt worthless and hopeless and wanted to sleep all day and occasionally fantasized about ending it all and yet I still managed to pull straight A's. The came at a cost, though. School is a highly stressful environment for me. I struggle to make all the personal relationships work.
Home is a more pleasant environment for me. I get enough social interaction to keep me from going crazy from my parents but I don't have to deal with a lot of people all the time. I am shy and I have a fair bit of social anxiety. At home, I don't have to worry about being "on". The effort of being personable takes a lot out of me. I don't make that effort at home, so it is less stressful.
It is nice to be home because I am happier here but I find that happiness bothersome in that it is strictly localized to home. I am not happy when I am at school. I feel like I'm not really depressed if I can be perfectly happy at home but I can no longer cope with the school environment. I was about a week or two from a mental breakdown when school ended. If there had been another three weeks left in the quarter, I fear something terrible may have happened. I definitely feel like I need help so that I can deal with school when September rolls around. I just fear that doctors will say that I am fine and that I am not depressed but that I will once again struggle during the school year like I have the past three years. I would rather be clinically depressed and on medication than a supposedly normal person who just hates his life 9 months of the year.
Beyond the drama of my mental capability or incapability not much is happening in my life. I've started a workout plan, hoping to add some weight to my pitifully thin frame. It's going reasonably well so far although I generally don't appreciate the constant soreness. We'll see how it works out. I find that the hardest part of the whole equation is just eating enough to provide my body with the calories necessary to gain way.
Other than that, my life is a whole lot of nothing right now. To further quote Maximo Park's "The Kids Are Sick Again," which is quoted in this post's title. I'm just spending "pointless days pining, afternoons whining".
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Chelsea Musings
Once again, I am dreadfully failing to come even close to being productive. Time to write on the old blog again. Tonight's topic, sports musings.
CHELSEA MUSINGS
Wednesday is the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League Semifinal with Barcelona. Chelsea played the first leg at the Camp Nou in Barcelona determined to do just one thing: prevent Barca from scoring. They successfully accomplished that goal. Guus Hiddink, ever the tactical master, pulled a new trick out of his sleeve. Instead of picking two out of the trio of Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, and John Obi Mikel to man the midfield, he chose all three. The versatile Essien shifted to right wing and acted as almost a second right back, playing just slightly in front of Branislav Ivanovic. Meanwhile, on the left, Florent Malouda displayed a fabulous work ethic in tracking back to aid Jose Bosingwa who superglued himself to Lionel Messi for the whole of the match. That left Didier Drogba all alone up top and with very little support. He almost managed to nick a first half goal anyway, which is a testament to how well he is playing currently.
The night was all about defense, though. Barcelona had the odd dangerous moment. Bojan Kristic probably should have done better with a brilliant service from Dani Alves that provided him with a clear header opportunity. Nonetheless, the Catalan goal scoring machine was rendered mostly impotant. Chelsea tackled vigorously and often and Petr Cech produced one of his very best displays of the season to keep the leaders of La Liga out.
Predictably, the football purists howled. Pep Guardiola berated the Blues for refusing to play actual football. What did they honestly expect? There is an established tactic for handling Barcelona over two legs. You park the bus at the Camp Nou and pray that you don't concede before taking it home to win the decisive match. Playing free-flowing attacking football against Barcelona is a suicide mission. No club side in the world can go tit for tat with Barca in that way and have any prior of survival.
Now, Hiddink faces yet another tough task. How does he beat Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. The crowd will certainly be plenty excited for what will be by far the biggest match of the season for the Blues to date, but that can only go so far. Chelsea needs to win. That means that Chelsea has to attack. The time for sitting back is over. How do you attack without exposing yourself to deadly Barcelona counterattacks? That's the big question.
Hiddink experimented with one possible solution by finally debuting a 4-4-2 with Drogba and Anelka up top together and Lampard on the right wing. The experimented proved conclusively that the notion that the two strikers cannot play together is utter rubbish. They linked extraordinarly well. Drogba set Anelka up for the first goal. Anelka played Drogba in for the third. In between, they both played a role in setting up Florent Malouda.
However, the plan has its flaws. Fulham had far too many chances of far too great a quality during the Chelsea's 3-1 win. Erik Nevland scored Fulham's lone goal as the lucky benificiary off some soft defending and even softer goalkeeping. Without the usual midfield trio, Chelsea couldn't impose their physicality like they normally do. In addition, Lampard appeared lost on the right wing.
I would expect Chelsea to come out in their normal 4-2-3-1 formation. The left back will almost assuredly be assigned to man-mark Messi once again. Other than that, it's hard to imagine what Guus can do to outfox Pep Guardiola. This time around, Chelsea may just have to play it's game the best way it knows how.
While they do have to face the fearsome Barca offense, Chelsea does have some advantages of its own. Victor Valdes is not considered one of the world's top keepers. In front of him, Barcelona has an unsettled centre half situation. Carlos Puyol is suspended and Rafa Marquez is out with a season ending injury. Gerard Pique will thus be teamed either with usual left back Eric Abidal or infrequently-played Uruguayan Martin Caceres. Moreover, even when they are at full strength, Barcelona's defense can be beaten. Zeus knows that Dani Alves can only loosely be termed a defender as he does precious little defending. Certainly, height is not Barcelona's strong suit and they can be beaten aerially.
Real Madrid got clobbered 2-6 by Barcelona at the weekend but in the process exposed Barca's defensive frailities. Sergio Ramos figured in both goals. First, he served a perfect ball to a completely unmarked Gonzalo Higuain, who deftly headed into the net. Then, he found himself totally unmarked and scored off an Arjen Robben free kick. One imagines that Chelsea will be providing plenty of service to the noggin of one Didier Drogba. Even the sometimes uninterested Michael Ballack may be intrigued enough to steal a goal for himself. Heck, even Branislav Ivanovic, the two-goal hero at Anfield, is probably licking his chops.
If Chelsea don't get lured into a passing competition with Barcelona and instead use their superior physicality and aerial prowess, they have every chance to prevail at the Bridge with that most English of tactics, Route One football.
CHELSEA MUSINGS
Wednesday is the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League Semifinal with Barcelona. Chelsea played the first leg at the Camp Nou in Barcelona determined to do just one thing: prevent Barca from scoring. They successfully accomplished that goal. Guus Hiddink, ever the tactical master, pulled a new trick out of his sleeve. Instead of picking two out of the trio of Michael Essien, Michael Ballack, and John Obi Mikel to man the midfield, he chose all three. The versatile Essien shifted to right wing and acted as almost a second right back, playing just slightly in front of Branislav Ivanovic. Meanwhile, on the left, Florent Malouda displayed a fabulous work ethic in tracking back to aid Jose Bosingwa who superglued himself to Lionel Messi for the whole of the match. That left Didier Drogba all alone up top and with very little support. He almost managed to nick a first half goal anyway, which is a testament to how well he is playing currently.
The night was all about defense, though. Barcelona had the odd dangerous moment. Bojan Kristic probably should have done better with a brilliant service from Dani Alves that provided him with a clear header opportunity. Nonetheless, the Catalan goal scoring machine was rendered mostly impotant. Chelsea tackled vigorously and often and Petr Cech produced one of his very best displays of the season to keep the leaders of La Liga out.
Predictably, the football purists howled. Pep Guardiola berated the Blues for refusing to play actual football. What did they honestly expect? There is an established tactic for handling Barcelona over two legs. You park the bus at the Camp Nou and pray that you don't concede before taking it home to win the decisive match. Playing free-flowing attacking football against Barcelona is a suicide mission. No club side in the world can go tit for tat with Barca in that way and have any prior of survival.
Now, Hiddink faces yet another tough task. How does he beat Barcelona at Stamford Bridge. The crowd will certainly be plenty excited for what will be by far the biggest match of the season for the Blues to date, but that can only go so far. Chelsea needs to win. That means that Chelsea has to attack. The time for sitting back is over. How do you attack without exposing yourself to deadly Barcelona counterattacks? That's the big question.
Hiddink experimented with one possible solution by finally debuting a 4-4-2 with Drogba and Anelka up top together and Lampard on the right wing. The experimented proved conclusively that the notion that the two strikers cannot play together is utter rubbish. They linked extraordinarly well. Drogba set Anelka up for the first goal. Anelka played Drogba in for the third. In between, they both played a role in setting up Florent Malouda.
However, the plan has its flaws. Fulham had far too many chances of far too great a quality during the Chelsea's 3-1 win. Erik Nevland scored Fulham's lone goal as the lucky benificiary off some soft defending and even softer goalkeeping. Without the usual midfield trio, Chelsea couldn't impose their physicality like they normally do. In addition, Lampard appeared lost on the right wing.
I would expect Chelsea to come out in their normal 4-2-3-1 formation. The left back will almost assuredly be assigned to man-mark Messi once again. Other than that, it's hard to imagine what Guus can do to outfox Pep Guardiola. This time around, Chelsea may just have to play it's game the best way it knows how.
While they do have to face the fearsome Barca offense, Chelsea does have some advantages of its own. Victor Valdes is not considered one of the world's top keepers. In front of him, Barcelona has an unsettled centre half situation. Carlos Puyol is suspended and Rafa Marquez is out with a season ending injury. Gerard Pique will thus be teamed either with usual left back Eric Abidal or infrequently-played Uruguayan Martin Caceres. Moreover, even when they are at full strength, Barcelona's defense can be beaten. Zeus knows that Dani Alves can only loosely be termed a defender as he does precious little defending. Certainly, height is not Barcelona's strong suit and they can be beaten aerially.
Real Madrid got clobbered 2-6 by Barcelona at the weekend but in the process exposed Barca's defensive frailities. Sergio Ramos figured in both goals. First, he served a perfect ball to a completely unmarked Gonzalo Higuain, who deftly headed into the net. Then, he found himself totally unmarked and scored off an Arjen Robben free kick. One imagines that Chelsea will be providing plenty of service to the noggin of one Didier Drogba. Even the sometimes uninterested Michael Ballack may be intrigued enough to steal a goal for himself. Heck, even Branislav Ivanovic, the two-goal hero at Anfield, is probably licking his chops.
If Chelsea don't get lured into a passing competition with Barcelona and instead use their superior physicality and aerial prowess, they have every chance to prevail at the Bridge with that most English of tactics, Route One football.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Kids Are Sick Again
I haven't accomplished ANYTHING yet this weekend, so I figure that there's no sense in starting to be productive now. It's time to once again start writing in the old blog. I'll write about various other things soon hopefully, but now it's time for a song.
Maximo Park are one of the best bands in the world, in my humble opinion. You'd have a hard time arguing that, though, especially in America. Most people in the United States would have no clue who Maximo Park are. Then again, most people in the US that I talk to don't even know who the Smiths are. So fuck them, right? What could they possibly know?
Maximo Park are a 5 piece band from Newcastle, England that formed in 2003. Technically, they formed in 2000 but it wasn't until 2003 that frontman Paul Smith joined the band. Maximo without Paul Smith are like the Stones without Mick Jagger. The concept just doesn't work. Their first album, A Certain Trigger, arrived in 2005. They followed it with Our Earthly Pleasures in 2007. Following the one album every two years schedule faithfully, their third album Quicken the Heart is due out in just one week.
The musical landscape is fairly littered with jangly self-important UK indie bands. I enjoy The Enemy for example but there is something about their stiflingly self-conscious desire to speak for the masses of the Credit Crunch era in the way that Oasis and the Manic Street Preachers did the same for disillusioned 90s lads did that is off-putting. Also off-putting is the manufactured arrogance of bands like the Artic Monkeys. Maximo Park is refreshing because they are entirely different to the other bands on the scene. They are no less pretentious. In fact, they are probably more pretentious than most. However, their is a certain honesty in Paul Smith's pretensions that make it all acceptable. One gets the feeling he just does, to reference a song title, read "Russian Literature" all day and that he is the kind of fellow who can and does quote Byron at will.
It makes him the modern rock scene's nearest equivalent to Morrissey. With apologies to Liam Fray of the Courteeners, a self-styled "Morrissey with some strings" who opens for the man himself, Smith is the one who most nearly approximates the Mancunian crooner in terms of unique gesticulations and remarkably verbose lyrical sensibilities.
The Smiths, then, are an obvious influence but sonically there are traces of the Manics, Editors, and probably several other bands that I'm not thinking of right now. The important thing about Maximo is not that they sound different (they do, but not markedly so) from other bands but that they are different. While they work in a common sonic territory with other bands they stand out from the pack thanks to their unique lyrics and Smith's remarkably manic energy. The whole band seems to pulse with the energy that Smith puts into his performance.
A Certain Trigger was the debut, a guns-blazing, teen-angst ridden introduction of the band to the world. Our Earthly Pleasures saw Maximo refine the formula trying for clarity, depth of emotion, and sometimes sweetness where the previous album had supplied jangly guitars, superficiality, and self-righteous and self-conscious nervousness. Quicken the Heart promises to be the dreaded change of direction album. Smith said, "The whole affair is going to be quite stripped down compared to the last album because we don't like to repeat ourselves." That can only mean one of two things. Either it will be a brilliant redefinition of an underappreciated band or it will be their suicide.
The first single is "The Kids are Sick Again". As one can see from the title, Maximo is veering into dangerously political territory here. Besides the ocassional success like the Manics and "If You Tolerate This..." songs about sick youth are almost always bad news for rock bands. Thankfully, Smith saves us all from rants about government and the economy and instead sings vaguely about "pointless days pining" and his loss of self-respect before indulging in the hackneyed yet still somewhat powerful refrain of "The kids are sick again/nothing to look forward to/they jumped the cliff again/future sinks beneath the blue".
It doesn't pack the sheer energy of "Our Velocity" and in that sense it may be ill-suited to be a first single. However, it's a better than that lyrically vacant song from the last album and hearlds a yet tighter and yet cleaner style from Maximo. If the rest of the album can stay away from pseudo-political ditties and stick to the relationship heartbreak that has been the most fertile source of Maximo's songs, it could just be their best effort yet.
Here's the tracklist for Quicken The Heart:
Maximo Park are one of the best bands in the world, in my humble opinion. You'd have a hard time arguing that, though, especially in America. Most people in the United States would have no clue who Maximo Park are. Then again, most people in the US that I talk to don't even know who the Smiths are. So fuck them, right? What could they possibly know?
Maximo Park are a 5 piece band from Newcastle, England that formed in 2003. Technically, they formed in 2000 but it wasn't until 2003 that frontman Paul Smith joined the band. Maximo without Paul Smith are like the Stones without Mick Jagger. The concept just doesn't work. Their first album, A Certain Trigger, arrived in 2005. They followed it with Our Earthly Pleasures in 2007. Following the one album every two years schedule faithfully, their third album Quicken the Heart is due out in just one week.
The musical landscape is fairly littered with jangly self-important UK indie bands. I enjoy The Enemy for example but there is something about their stiflingly self-conscious desire to speak for the masses of the Credit Crunch era in the way that Oasis and the Manic Street Preachers did the same for disillusioned 90s lads did that is off-putting. Also off-putting is the manufactured arrogance of bands like the Artic Monkeys. Maximo Park is refreshing because they are entirely different to the other bands on the scene. They are no less pretentious. In fact, they are probably more pretentious than most. However, their is a certain honesty in Paul Smith's pretensions that make it all acceptable. One gets the feeling he just does, to reference a song title, read "Russian Literature" all day and that he is the kind of fellow who can and does quote Byron at will.
It makes him the modern rock scene's nearest equivalent to Morrissey. With apologies to Liam Fray of the Courteeners, a self-styled "Morrissey with some strings" who opens for the man himself, Smith is the one who most nearly approximates the Mancunian crooner in terms of unique gesticulations and remarkably verbose lyrical sensibilities.
The Smiths, then, are an obvious influence but sonically there are traces of the Manics, Editors, and probably several other bands that I'm not thinking of right now. The important thing about Maximo is not that they sound different (they do, but not markedly so) from other bands but that they are different. While they work in a common sonic territory with other bands they stand out from the pack thanks to their unique lyrics and Smith's remarkably manic energy. The whole band seems to pulse with the energy that Smith puts into his performance.
A Certain Trigger was the debut, a guns-blazing, teen-angst ridden introduction of the band to the world. Our Earthly Pleasures saw Maximo refine the formula trying for clarity, depth of emotion, and sometimes sweetness where the previous album had supplied jangly guitars, superficiality, and self-righteous and self-conscious nervousness. Quicken the Heart promises to be the dreaded change of direction album. Smith said, "The whole affair is going to be quite stripped down compared to the last album because we don't like to repeat ourselves." That can only mean one of two things. Either it will be a brilliant redefinition of an underappreciated band or it will be their suicide.
The first single is "The Kids are Sick Again". As one can see from the title, Maximo is veering into dangerously political territory here. Besides the ocassional success like the Manics and "If You Tolerate This..." songs about sick youth are almost always bad news for rock bands. Thankfully, Smith saves us all from rants about government and the economy and instead sings vaguely about "pointless days pining" and his loss of self-respect before indulging in the hackneyed yet still somewhat powerful refrain of "The kids are sick again/nothing to look forward to/they jumped the cliff again/future sinks beneath the blue".
It doesn't pack the sheer energy of "Our Velocity" and in that sense it may be ill-suited to be a first single. However, it's a better than that lyrically vacant song from the last album and hearlds a yet tighter and yet cleaner style from Maximo. If the rest of the album can stay away from pseudo-political ditties and stick to the relationship heartbreak that has been the most fertile source of Maximo's songs, it could just be their best effort yet.
Here's the tracklist for Quicken The Heart:
- Wraithlike
- The Penultimate Clinch
- The Kids are Sick Again
- A Cloud of Mystery"
- Calm
- In Another World (You Would’ve Found Yourself By Now)
- Let’s Get Clinical
- Roller Disco Dreams
- Tanned
- Questing, Not Coasting
- Overland, West of Suez
- I Haven’t Seen Her in Ages
- Lost Property
Monday, April 13, 2009
"Don't Give Up"
One more reason that I am somewhat rubbish at life. Instead of writing my own blogs, I know simply regurgitate others' words. *Sighs*
I was listening to a new song on Marina and the Diamonds' Myspace when I decided to read her blogs. Minus the stuff about celebrity, this encapsulates a lot of what I've been feeling. Here's what she wrote:
Back from New York.
Feel happy but also sad and like world hates me. Feel like i may rule the world but also fear in reality i am big failure who is rubbish friend/ deluded/ crap at love etc.
Feel greedy and horrible for spending all money in new york.
Feel mean for being mean person in life.
Feel like i do not want to grow up to be twat face celeb. Have been thinking deeply about the notion of fame and celebrity and what it actually means, what i would personally gain from it and how one can get to a point where one doesn't want attention/ recognition for unhealthy reasons eg "Oh Hey i have a gaping, gangrenous hole for a heart and and i want everyone to love me for no reason whatsoever". Cause most Famouses seem pretty fucked up and weird and not very loved in reality because they love themselves too much to form real, stable relationships. The ones that are normal and kind and add something to pop culture are the ones worth the space.
I have always really admired people like Madonna for doing what they want, for being disciplined when the rest of the world cant be bothered and for staying focused on their goals until they achieve them. But it freaks me out when I realise most of these people are now really fucked up or sad and I just wonder what it's all really about..
Dont want to be like the unhealthy celebs. All those people who gossip and care about material shit, their $11k bags, whats in fashion, who is having sex with who etc. I am as prone as anyone to the media/ celebrity but its so diseased and wrong and damaging and not what any of us should be wasting our time on. Where are all the old fashioned people in the world. Why do i never meet them. Feel like i dont want to go to any parties and that everyone in the world is crazy amazing fun party animal except for me and that i am just a boring girl and ''all i wanna do is take ugly dogs for a walks".*
*To get me through this difficult time in life, i am playing Hassle's 'Love me to pieces' for 5 hrs now.
PS. I am not in any way considering myself a 'celeb 'in this post.
PPS. Everything in this post is aimed at myself.
Well, you've got that last bit wrong, Marina. It's aimed at me, too. Everything from feeling deluded and rubbish at love to feeling hopelessly old-fashioned and stodgy for not partying to resorting to listening to Erik Hassle on repeat to get through things resonates strongly with me.
The other songs that get me through things lately? Those of Morrissey and of Marina herself, especially "Obssessions".
I was listening to a new song on Marina and the Diamonds' Myspace when I decided to read her blogs. Minus the stuff about celebrity, this encapsulates a lot of what I've been feeling. Here's what she wrote:
Back from New York.
Feel happy but also sad and like world hates me. Feel like i may rule the world but also fear in reality i am big failure who is rubbish friend/ deluded/ crap at love etc.
Feel greedy and horrible for spending all money in new york.
Feel mean for being mean person in life.
Feel like i do not want to grow up to be twat face celeb. Have been thinking deeply about the notion of fame and celebrity and what it actually means, what i would personally gain from it and how one can get to a point where one doesn't want attention/ recognition for unhealthy reasons eg "Oh Hey i have a gaping, gangrenous hole for a heart and and i want everyone to love me for no reason whatsoever". Cause most Famouses seem pretty fucked up and weird and not very loved in reality because they love themselves too much to form real, stable relationships. The ones that are normal and kind and add something to pop culture are the ones worth the space.
I have always really admired people like Madonna for doing what they want, for being disciplined when the rest of the world cant be bothered and for staying focused on their goals until they achieve them. But it freaks me out when I realise most of these people are now really fucked up or sad and I just wonder what it's all really about..
Dont want to be like the unhealthy celebs. All those people who gossip and care about material shit, their $11k bags, whats in fashion, who is having sex with who etc. I am as prone as anyone to the media/ celebrity but its so diseased and wrong and damaging and not what any of us should be wasting our time on. Where are all the old fashioned people in the world. Why do i never meet them. Feel like i dont want to go to any parties and that everyone in the world is crazy amazing fun party animal except for me and that i am just a boring girl and ''all i wanna do is take ugly dogs for a walks".*
*To get me through this difficult time in life, i am playing Hassle's 'Love me to pieces' for 5 hrs now.
PS. I am not in any way considering myself a 'celeb 'in this post.
PPS. Everything in this post is aimed at myself.
Well, you've got that last bit wrong, Marina. It's aimed at me, too. Everything from feeling deluded and rubbish at love to feeling hopelessly old-fashioned and stodgy for not partying to resorting to listening to Erik Hassle on repeat to get through things resonates strongly with me.
The other songs that get me through things lately? Those of Morrissey and of Marina herself, especially "Obssessions".
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Words from a Hotel Parking Lot
I did not write this. I found it in the parking lot of a Best Western in Countryside, IL. That weekend was one of the worst weekends of my life. This is one of the worst nights in my life. Tonight, I think I've just had a panic attack. In order to try and calm myself down, I'm transcribing these words and uploading them to the world. I have preserved the orginal handwritten capitalization and punctuation and attempted to transcribe what appears as exactly as possible. I hope that whoever wrote this is well right now.
Every Day Its getting HaRDer to Decifer, the Real Between the Facts and Fixing of these liars I am just another coward lying on the Floor, Can you Hear Me Crying Now OR AM I A Whore looking For the Attention that I Seek IS there anybody listening .Believing in Anything seems So Fake, WISh I could just Clear my head and Make My ESCape. Cant take too Much more before I've gone insane. Watching all of the Repeated Memories Archived in my Brain . IS this Really life or Just a Dream?
Every Day Its getting HaRDer to Decifer, the Real Between the Facts and Fixing of these liars I am just another coward lying on the Floor, Can you Hear Me Crying Now OR AM I A Whore looking For the Attention that I Seek IS there anybody listening .Believing in Anything seems So Fake, WISh I could just Clear my head and Make My ESCape. Cant take too Much more before I've gone insane. Watching all of the Repeated Memories Archived in my Brain . IS this Really life or Just a Dream?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
VV Brown -- Bringer of Hope
I must say I was happy when I checked Twitter today and saw this tweet from VV Brown:
"i just love nerdy intellectual men who are awkward and witty. They are so super sexy...; ) especially those who dont realise there hotnesss!"
Given that I self-identify as a nerdy intellectual man and that I am awkward and at least aspire to wittiness, this gives me hope. Oh, and VV, if you're reading, I'll be your American Boy. Even if that is an Estelle lyric. You know you want some American nerd lovin'.
If you're wondering who, exactly, VV Brown is, wonder no longer. You may have read or heard (perhaps right here) that 2009 in music is set to be the year of females playing synth-pop. There is a whole laundry list of acts that fit this description. Let's see:
Lady Gaga (R&B-ish)
Little Boots (pure pop)
La Roux (New wave)
Mini Viva (Xenomania girl duo)
Pixie Lott (Not terribly synthy, Gabriella Cilmi-esque)
Alex Roots (Avril Lavigne-ish)
Marina and the Diamonds (actually just one person, a bit like Kate Bush with a synth)
That's just off the top of my head. VV Brown is very much part of that group. She has described her sound as both "indie doo-wop" and "50s synth madness". That about covers it.
Here's her debut buzz-building limited release "Crying Blood"
And here's her newest single, "LEAVE!"
One to watch, indeed.
"i just love nerdy intellectual men who are awkward and witty. They are so super sexy...; ) especially those who dont realise there hotnesss!"
Given that I self-identify as a nerdy intellectual man and that I am awkward and at least aspire to wittiness, this gives me hope. Oh, and VV, if you're reading, I'll be your American Boy. Even if that is an Estelle lyric. You know you want some American nerd lovin'.
If you're wondering who, exactly, VV Brown is, wonder no longer. You may have read or heard (perhaps right here) that 2009 in music is set to be the year of females playing synth-pop. There is a whole laundry list of acts that fit this description. Let's see:
Lady Gaga (R&B-ish)
Little Boots (pure pop)
La Roux (New wave)
Mini Viva (Xenomania girl duo)
Pixie Lott (Not terribly synthy, Gabriella Cilmi-esque)
Alex Roots (Avril Lavigne-ish)
Marina and the Diamonds (actually just one person, a bit like Kate Bush with a synth)
That's just off the top of my head. VV Brown is very much part of that group. She has described her sound as both "indie doo-wop" and "50s synth madness". That about covers it.
Here's her debut buzz-building limited release "Crying Blood"
And here's her newest single, "LEAVE!"
One to watch, indeed.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Chelsea at the Crossroads, Part Two
Chelsea at the Crossroads, Part Two: Scolari's Fatal Flaw
The January transfer window presented Chelsea an opportunity to improve their squad and address the weakness plaguing it, but that was never on the cards. Prior to the window’s opening Peter Kenyon warned that Chelsea was unlikely to make any significant buys because players of the quality Chelsea seeks are either unavailable or cup-tied in January. Fans’ hopes that this was merely a smokescreen were not fulfilled. Indeed, Chelsea proved a selling club in the window. Substitute left back Wayne Bridge was moved to Manchester City for a reported 12 million pounds and long-serving second choice goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was allowed to join Tottenham on a free transfer. Chelsea’s only incoming players were Turkish teenage prospect Gokhan Tore, Inter Milan flop Ricardo Quaresma, and 21 year-old defender Michael Mancienne, who returned from a loan spell with Championship front-runners Wolves. Quaresma would immediately get his chance to make an impression as Scolari, who managed him with the Portuguese national team, installed him in the starting XI against Hull City. Hull City, like Chelsea, ran out to a blazing start but of late the wheels have come off somewhat for the Tigers. Conceding goals, with alarming regularity, Hull seemed the ideal opponent against whom to revive the Blues’ flagging attack. However, Chelsea once again played lethargically and unimaginatively.
Quaresma, like Chelsea’s other wingers, proved uninterested in challenging defenders by driving to the byline and thus failed to add a needed dimension to the offense. Chelsea dominated possession but largely failed to create legitimate scoring chances. With the Blues desperately needing all 3 points to keep pace with Aston Villa and maintain distance over Arsenal, they instead limped to 0-0 home draw that arguably flattered them, for it was Hull who had perhaps produced the best chances. It was a game the caught Scolari out and marked him as stubborn and unimaginative. While Scolari had complained that his squad was too bureaucratic, he ultimately proved equally bankrupt of invention.
When Chelsea, at Roman Abramovich’s order, sacked Scolari, the move was largely greeted by surprise. The papers openly questioned the wisdom of sacking a manager after only 7 months on the job. Had not Scolari been hailed as a great success in the glow of his September returns, they asked? Frequently, it was pointed out that Scolari had not been given the resources in both money and talent that perhaps he had bargained for. On this reasoning, the sacking seemed the rash decision of impatient ownership who were reacting to a mere month’s worth of poor results. In fact, the poor results stretched back deep into the fall. Viewed in the lens of hindsight, it is apparent that Chelesa’s struggles were long evident and that Scolari’s termination was the logical and necessary conclusion to his uneven tenure.
The home match against Stoke City on January 17 provides perhaps the best example of the errors of Scolari’s ways. Stoke, like Hull City, is only freshly promoted to the Premier League. While Stoke has had considerable success inside the friendly confines of their home ground, the Brittania Stadium, they have struggled mightily on the road. Furthermore, they are heavily reliant on Rory DeLap’s long throws for consistent scoring opportunities. Having already beat the Potters 2-0 at the Brittania, Chelsea seemed sure to make light work of them at Stamford Bridge. That was not the case.
From the very beginning, Stoke gave the Blues fits. An early Rory DeLap throw was headed straight into the air by Alex who was fortunate that no Stoke player could get on the end of it. Petr Cech then failed to reach the ensuing corner kick providing another scare. Ultimately, Chelsea settled in and began to dominate the contest but a packed Stoke defense prevented the Londoners from claiming the lead they perhaps deserved. Scolari chose not to change tactics at halftime and it was the visiting Potters who netted first after the break. A Stoke counter-attack caught the Chelsea defense napping and DeLap coolly slotted by a helpless Petr Cech. With just minutes left, all seemed lost when suddenly Juliano Belletti headed in from point-blank range in the 88th minute to give Chelsea a lifeline. Then, in the dying seconds Frank Lampard, wearing the captain’s armband with John Terry a late injury scratch, lashed a 20 yard screamer into the top left corner of Thomas Sorenson’s goal to claim an unlikely win. Lampard, almost giddy with excitement, ran over and mobbed the embattled Scolari in a very public show of solidarity.
Lost in the thrill of victory was the truth of what won the day for Chelsea. While veterans Belletti and Lampard netted the crucial goals, it was the youthful vigor of two of Chelsea’s substitutes that put them in the position to do so. Little-used 19 year old Argentinean striker Franco di Santo headed across goal to set up an easy flick home for Belletti on the first goal. On the second goal, it was another 19 year old, Slovakian winger Miroslav Stoch, who made the key play in just his second first-team appearance. Stoch’s beautifully weighted cross led to the maelstrom from which Frank Lampard’s stunning winner ultimately emerged. Scolari, however, seemed not to recognize the contributions that the two young attackers made to the victory and neither of them saw an increase in pitch time subsequently.
Put in a nearly identical situation against Hull, Scolari left di Santo and Stoch on the bench and instead used his substitutes on the typically defense-minded Belletti, the chronically disinterested Drogba, and lackluster Deco. The Stoke victory should have been a turning point for Scolari’s Chelsea. It should have been the day on which Scolari discovered that his young prospects were ready to play a major role in Chelsea’s campaign. Instead, Scolari learned nothing and stuck to using the same players in the same system. How can Scolari honestly criticize his squad when he refused to use his youngest, hungriest players?
Ray Wilkins’ management of the team at Watford last Saturday further made a mockery of Scolari’s claims. Scolari steadfastly refused to pair strikers Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba. Wilkins, on the other hand, did just that against the Hornets. Drogba responded with perhaps his best effort of this season. In the early going, Drogba linked up with Anelka beautifully only to see the Frenchman unluckily hit the outside of the post with his shot. Still, Watford scored the first goal with Tamas Priskin’s delicate chip over the offside trap. It was an unfortunate for development for the Blues, who utterly dominated the game and surely deserved to be comfortably ahead long before Priskin’s 69th minute effort. Wilkins, unlike Scolari, responded with a deft tactical change. Holding midfielder John Obi Mikel was replaced with Stoch as Chelsea shifted to a 4-4-2 with Anelka and Drogba up top. The change paid immediate dividends. Anelka bagged goals in the 75th and 77th minutes to give the Blues the lead that they would not relinquish. At once, Wilkins shattered two of Scolari’s adamant beliefs. Not only could Anelka and Drogba play together but they could also do so in a 4-4-2, which Scolari refused to play.
Ultimately, it was not merely a bad run of form that doomed Luis Felipe Scolari’s tenure at Stamford Bridge. It was his inflexibility and refusal to try new tactics and play young players that proved his undoing. These characteristics made it abundantly clear that Chelsea would not come out of its winter slumber under Scolari’s watch. With crucial fixtures against Watford in the FA Cup, Aston Villa in the Premier League, and Juventus in the Champions’ League on the horizon, Roman Abramovich realized that if he was to save his season it was now or never. For a club struggling to slowly attain self-sufficiency, missing the financial windfall of the Champions’ League is a nightmare scenario. That is the scenario that was staring Abramovich in the face as he viewed a fixture list with Aston Villa and Arsenal away still to come and an unresponsive, unimaginative manager. Given the circumstances, Abramovich had no choice but to sack Scolari in an attempt to save his team’s season.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Chelsea at the Crossroads, Part One
Chelsea at the Crossroads, Part One: The Rise and Fall of Scolari
It has not been, it must be said, a banner year for Chelsea Football Club. The campaign began brightly enough. After dumping dour and unpopular manager Avram Grant, who brought the Blues to the very brink of Champions’ League glory, Luis Felipe Scolari was introduced to lead Chelsea into the future. “Big Phil” brought an impressive CV to Stamford Bridge, having reached the very pinnacle of footballing success as manger of 2002 World Cup Champions Brazil. His mission was ambitious: to bring trophies to South London and to play attractive football doin it. The early returns were encouraging. Chelsea shot out of the gate quickly, dominating all comers and racking up a gaudy goal differential. Scolari’s brand of football looked set to revolutionize or at least revitalize the often dull Premier League.
However, things were not what they seemed. As the English fall brought a chill over the land, Chelsea’s play cooled, too. First, Xabi Alonso’s deflected shot carried Liverpool to a 1-0 victory and broke Chelsea’s 4 ½ year Stamford Bridge unbeaten run. It heralded the demise of invincible Chelsea. Scolaris’ tactics had been found out. When opponents realized that fullbacks Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa provided all the width to the Chelsea attack, the Blues’ Offense was rendered stagnant, narrow, and predictable. Suddenly, Chelsea’s squad seemed to lack the dynamic players necessary to break down packed defenses.
It was an issue that first arose in the summer transfer period where Chelsea was, at least in comparison to previous years, not a major player. Scolari did not make the lavish expenditures typical of Jose Mourinho’s tenure. Instead, Scolari and Chairman Peter Kenyon set about downsizing the squad by offloading what were deemed unnecessary players such as Steve Sidwell, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Claude Makelele, and Hernan Crespo. Scolari’s only major purchase was a relatively modest 7 million pound outlay on aging Portuguese playmaker Deco who together with Jose Bosingwa, who signed before Scolari began with the club, comprised the whole of Chelsea’s significant summer additions. While the club’s decision not to bring more expensive, proven talent to the squad may at time have seemed a financially prudent declaration of faith in the team’s younger members, it came to seem a grave mistake as Chelsea began to appear a team that had grown old together and was sorely missing Arjen Robben and Damien Duff, who provided width and invention to Chelsea’s league-winning squads and who were never properly replaced.
As Deco and Bosingwa, who initially got off to dazzling starts in South London, became increasingly less effective, the acquisition that Chelsea failed to make, that of Brazil and Real Madrid starlet Robinho, was thrown into harsh relief. Robinho is the exact sort of young, dynamic, creative player that the Blues squad cries out for. The transfer had at one point been all but a done deal. Chelsea, indeed, had already begun to print up the shirts. However, at the last, Manchester City, newly backed by wealthy Abu Dhabi sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, swooped in and made an offer that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich declined to match. It was a clear indication of a new role for Chelsea. No longer were they the fantastically wealthy new boys chasing championships at any cost. Chelsea had become more sober, responsible, and determined to live nearer their considerable means. Yet they remain haunted by their past. Previous foolish expenditures, a tendency to acquire players who had already passed their primes, and the failure to build an effective and productive youth system has left Chelsea with a squad that, compared to the other “Big Four” clubs, looks old and thin.
Scolari plunged forward continuing to play his favored 4-5-1 system, claiming that his squad left him little choice. Even when Ivorian striker Didier Drogba returned to full fitness, he refused to pair he and his French counterpart, Nicolas Anelka, maintaining that the lack of defensively able wingers and a left-sided alternative to oft-injured winger Florent Malouda prohibited such arrangements. While Scolari doggedly persevered with his system, losses and costly draws began to pile up. Burnley saw the Blues out of the Carling Cup. Arsenal humbled Chelsea in league play at the Bridge. Cluj, Bordeaux, and Roma stymied them, allowing no wins on Chelsea’s Champions League travels. While management publicly maintained Scolari’s job was safe at least until season’s end, fan dissatisfaction began to grow and many started to question whether the Brazilian had the skills for club management in the Premier League.
So....My Weekend Sucked...
Since I'm not getting anything productive done like homework or applying for interships, I figured I might as well write some.
Now, if you'll recall (or refer to) my last entry, I was set to ask out this cute girl in my English class. Well, I did it Wednesday. The results? Not great.
I went into class with a greater eye on her body language and tried to figure out whether she might be interested in me. In doing so, I realized that she was betraying no signs of interest. She wasn't looking at me a lot or flipping her hair or doing any of those things typically associated with flirty behavior. On the other hand, she certainly wasn't closing herself off and once again things were very friendly between us. We chatted a bit before class and even whispered back and forth a bit during class. Having realized that she probably wasn't actively interested in me, I nonetheless decided to still ask her out. Maybe she hadn't been thinking of it herself but there was still the chance, I thought, that she might be willing to go on a date simply based on our friendship.
After class, walking out of Cobb, I asked her whether or not she might like to grab lunch on Friday or Saturday. At first, she didn't quite understand and explained that she was very busy this weekend but then I asked her again what she thought of the idea itself. "You mean like a date?" she said. I confirmed that's what I meant. She clearly was blind-sided and wasn't feeling it. To her credit, she was very nice about it and handled it remarkably well. First, she hesitatingly said, "I'm not sure if I want to date..." and then when I remarked that it was on the table and that there was no pressure she said "I'll think about it...".
Though the note she left off on gave me a slight amount of hope, I know that in reality there isn't much of a chance of things coming good for me. The tone with which she spoke indicated pretty clearly that she wasn't interested and was trying to make the best of an awkward situation. I never wanted to be the dorky guy who misinterprets girls' friendship and forces them to politely reject him, but it seems that is who I've become. Really, I'm left with no good options. If I try to remain patient and hope that a relationship naturally comes to me, I get disappointed when that fails to happen. If I try to be proactive and aggressive and ask girls I like out, I just get disappointed and depressed when they reject me. I don't know what it is about me, but I donn't seem to attract the interest of girls at all. I know that I'm too shy and that I'm not always personable, but I don't think I'm so overwhelmingly misanthropic that the occasional girl might not take an interest in me. I think the only girl that has ever been remotely interested in me is Laura and given the way I was unceremoniously and unexpectedly dumped by her it's hard to say how much she ever really fancied me.
I get a lot of advice from people who tell me to not worry about it and to enjoy my youth without being proccupied with girls, but honestly I'd like to know what it feels like to be in love and loved in return before I'm too old. Sure, I'm only 21 but most guys have at least had their first kiss by 21. Me? No. Moreover, I've been borderline depressed off-and-on at least since the beginning of college maybe even since the beginning of high school. The time I felt happiest? The three weeks that Laura and I were somewhat of an item. My self-confidence was better, I was happier, and I had a reason to get up in the morning. Now, life seems somewhat meaningless and empty. I don't have many friends in Tufts yet and many days I go all day without talking to anyone. It's a pretty damn lonely way to live.
I'm actually starting to get pretty worried about myself. I think about death far too frequently. I never seriously consider doing anything rash and I've never self-harmed, but I think about it enough to scare myself. What terrifies me is that eventually I'm going to graduate and I'll be even more alone than I am now. I guess I'm just a weak person. I need people around me to support me and prop me up. Now, there are at least still friends on campus and RAs and RHs that are pretty much obligated to talk to me if I need help. But when I'm out on my own it's going to be even lonelier and there will be even less support. There are thousands of smart girls on campus. If I can't strike up a half-decent relationship under these circumstances, what chances am I going to stand in the "real world?"
This is what I spent my Valentine's Day weekend thinking about. I was hoping that this girl would say yes and it might be the best Valentine's Day that I've ever had. Instead, she said no and it was the worst. Just as I know why Laura dumped me, I know why she said no. In fact, I went in fully realizing that there was a large chance she would say no. Still, the rejection brought all the old feelings of inferiority that I had carefully supressed after Laura rushing right back. It hit me harder than I expected it would and than it had any right to. This girl did nothing wrong, of course. If anyone did wrong, it was me in asking her out when she wasn't betraying any signs of interest, but that knowledge hasn't stopped my pride from being gravely wounded. It hasn't stopped me from being useless ever since and in a total emotional funk.
I had that class again today, but she was sick and wasn't there. It appears I'll have to wait until Wednesday or maybe Friday to see her again. I hope by then she'll have thought about it and I can settle this somewhat in my mind. There is a (maybe) 1% chance that she'll have thought about it and deemed it a good idea, but I know that in all probability it will come down with the 99% and she'll confirm that it's not going to happen. I just hope that things aren't awkward and it won't ruin whatever small friendship we had cultivated prior to me asking her out. I can't bear to lose another girl full stop like I did Laura. I just hope that things come around for me eventually and I can finally achieve some sort of contentment because I don't know how long I can go on like this feeling hopeless, lonely, and lost.
Now, if you'll recall (or refer to) my last entry, I was set to ask out this cute girl in my English class. Well, I did it Wednesday. The results? Not great.
I went into class with a greater eye on her body language and tried to figure out whether she might be interested in me. In doing so, I realized that she was betraying no signs of interest. She wasn't looking at me a lot or flipping her hair or doing any of those things typically associated with flirty behavior. On the other hand, she certainly wasn't closing herself off and once again things were very friendly between us. We chatted a bit before class and even whispered back and forth a bit during class. Having realized that she probably wasn't actively interested in me, I nonetheless decided to still ask her out. Maybe she hadn't been thinking of it herself but there was still the chance, I thought, that she might be willing to go on a date simply based on our friendship.
After class, walking out of Cobb, I asked her whether or not she might like to grab lunch on Friday or Saturday. At first, she didn't quite understand and explained that she was very busy this weekend but then I asked her again what she thought of the idea itself. "You mean like a date?" she said. I confirmed that's what I meant. She clearly was blind-sided and wasn't feeling it. To her credit, she was very nice about it and handled it remarkably well. First, she hesitatingly said, "I'm not sure if I want to date..." and then when I remarked that it was on the table and that there was no pressure she said "I'll think about it...".
Though the note she left off on gave me a slight amount of hope, I know that in reality there isn't much of a chance of things coming good for me. The tone with which she spoke indicated pretty clearly that she wasn't interested and was trying to make the best of an awkward situation. I never wanted to be the dorky guy who misinterprets girls' friendship and forces them to politely reject him, but it seems that is who I've become. Really, I'm left with no good options. If I try to remain patient and hope that a relationship naturally comes to me, I get disappointed when that fails to happen. If I try to be proactive and aggressive and ask girls I like out, I just get disappointed and depressed when they reject me. I don't know what it is about me, but I donn't seem to attract the interest of girls at all. I know that I'm too shy and that I'm not always personable, but I don't think I'm so overwhelmingly misanthropic that the occasional girl might not take an interest in me. I think the only girl that has ever been remotely interested in me is Laura and given the way I was unceremoniously and unexpectedly dumped by her it's hard to say how much she ever really fancied me.
I get a lot of advice from people who tell me to not worry about it and to enjoy my youth without being proccupied with girls, but honestly I'd like to know what it feels like to be in love and loved in return before I'm too old. Sure, I'm only 21 but most guys have at least had their first kiss by 21. Me? No. Moreover, I've been borderline depressed off-and-on at least since the beginning of college maybe even since the beginning of high school. The time I felt happiest? The three weeks that Laura and I were somewhat of an item. My self-confidence was better, I was happier, and I had a reason to get up in the morning. Now, life seems somewhat meaningless and empty. I don't have many friends in Tufts yet and many days I go all day without talking to anyone. It's a pretty damn lonely way to live.
I'm actually starting to get pretty worried about myself. I think about death far too frequently. I never seriously consider doing anything rash and I've never self-harmed, but I think about it enough to scare myself. What terrifies me is that eventually I'm going to graduate and I'll be even more alone than I am now. I guess I'm just a weak person. I need people around me to support me and prop me up. Now, there are at least still friends on campus and RAs and RHs that are pretty much obligated to talk to me if I need help. But when I'm out on my own it's going to be even lonelier and there will be even less support. There are thousands of smart girls on campus. If I can't strike up a half-decent relationship under these circumstances, what chances am I going to stand in the "real world?"
This is what I spent my Valentine's Day weekend thinking about. I was hoping that this girl would say yes and it might be the best Valentine's Day that I've ever had. Instead, she said no and it was the worst. Just as I know why Laura dumped me, I know why she said no. In fact, I went in fully realizing that there was a large chance she would say no. Still, the rejection brought all the old feelings of inferiority that I had carefully supressed after Laura rushing right back. It hit me harder than I expected it would and than it had any right to. This girl did nothing wrong, of course. If anyone did wrong, it was me in asking her out when she wasn't betraying any signs of interest, but that knowledge hasn't stopped my pride from being gravely wounded. It hasn't stopped me from being useless ever since and in a total emotional funk.
I had that class again today, but she was sick and wasn't there. It appears I'll have to wait until Wednesday or maybe Friday to see her again. I hope by then she'll have thought about it and I can settle this somewhat in my mind. There is a (maybe) 1% chance that she'll have thought about it and deemed it a good idea, but I know that in all probability it will come down with the 99% and she'll confirm that it's not going to happen. I just hope that things aren't awkward and it won't ruin whatever small friendship we had cultivated prior to me asking her out. I can't bear to lose another girl full stop like I did Laura. I just hope that things come around for me eventually and I can finally achieve some sort of contentment because I don't know how long I can go on like this feeling hopeless, lonely, and lost.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Time for the Next Phase
After the mess that was and is what happened between me and Laura, I've got that nervous feeling back in my stomach. It seems to me that I must initiate the next phase soon.
I've been sitting next to this really cute girl in my English class and I've developed a pretty healthy crush on her. She's really smart and insightful but not in a pretentious and typically U of C way and she's really fun to chat with. Normally, I don't socialize too much with people in my classes but she was super friendly and started chatting with me like we were old friends. Friday we walked from Cobb to Bartlett together after class continuing a conversation that we were having at the end. It felt really good to talk with a girl in that way again. It's just not quite the same talking to female friends as it is talking to a girl you fancy.
It's a dangerous situation because she seems like a super friendly girl and I don't want to mistake her friendliness for interest in me. In fact, I'm reasonably sure she has none. But at the same time, from the looks of her facebook she doesn't have a boyfriend either. I figure it can't hurt to ask her out. I just have to work up the courage to do it and figure what the best way is. If she rejects me out of hand, at least I tried. It might make class awkward if she's not interested, but that's a chance I have to take, I think.
Hopefully, this isn't just a set up for more heartbreak, but I'm really optimistic for the first time in a while. The odds may not be good but at least it gives me some hope and hope is an important thing, indeed. I really hunger for female contact and companionship and when I see such a cool girl 3 times a week, it's hard not to be excited about the prospects.
We shall see. It's time for the next phase to begin.
I've been sitting next to this really cute girl in my English class and I've developed a pretty healthy crush on her. She's really smart and insightful but not in a pretentious and typically U of C way and she's really fun to chat with. Normally, I don't socialize too much with people in my classes but she was super friendly and started chatting with me like we were old friends. Friday we walked from Cobb to Bartlett together after class continuing a conversation that we were having at the end. It felt really good to talk with a girl in that way again. It's just not quite the same talking to female friends as it is talking to a girl you fancy.
It's a dangerous situation because she seems like a super friendly girl and I don't want to mistake her friendliness for interest in me. In fact, I'm reasonably sure she has none. But at the same time, from the looks of her facebook she doesn't have a boyfriend either. I figure it can't hurt to ask her out. I just have to work up the courage to do it and figure what the best way is. If she rejects me out of hand, at least I tried. It might make class awkward if she's not interested, but that's a chance I have to take, I think.
Hopefully, this isn't just a set up for more heartbreak, but I'm really optimistic for the first time in a while. The odds may not be good but at least it gives me some hope and hope is an important thing, indeed. I really hunger for female contact and companionship and when I see such a cool girl 3 times a week, it's hard not to be excited about the prospects.
We shall see. It's time for the next phase to begin.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Song of the Day -- S Club 7 "Bring It All Back"
I haven't wrote anything on here in ages. That's mainly because I've scarcely had a chance to breathe lately. Between school, the sim league, trying to fix my computer, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life it's been a full plate. I've got tons of decent writing ideas kicking around but it's hard to find time to sit down and write just for my own pleasure.
That said, I have a bit of time now before class so I thought I'd throw up a Song of the Day. Today's choice is "Bring It All Back" by S Club 7. S Club 7 was a seven person pop group consisting of Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearitt, and Rachel Steven. It was created by Simon Fuller who also managed the Spice Girls and created "Pop Idol" and it's subsequent worldwide spin-offs, including "American Idol". Completely a formula pop group, S Club was Fuller's next idea after leaving the Spice Girls.
S Club 7 was propelled to success by their BBC children's sitcom portraying their ongoing adventures around the world. The theme song to the original series, set in Miami, was "Bring It All Back". Upon it's release, it shot to #1 in the UK singles chart.
I hadn't really heard much S Club until I was surfing youtube the other day and I hit upon this song. Wow! It's so saccharine that you almost want to fall over holding your stomach, but beyond the schmaltzy sweetness it's an amazing bubblegum pop song that is infectious. Plus, it helps out the kiddies by telling them to follow their dreams. S Club 7: Doing a service to the world by preventing kids from becoming emo. Of course, all the kids who listened to S Club in that era probably now hate pop and will only listen to Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend or whatever the vogue band is now, but at least they aren't hanging out at Hot Topic or slitting their wrists! Thanks S Club!
Have a look and listen:
That said, I have a bit of time now before class so I thought I'd throw up a Song of the Day. Today's choice is "Bring It All Back" by S Club 7. S Club 7 was a seven person pop group consisting of Tina Barrett, Paul Cattermole, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O'Meara, Hannah Spearitt, and Rachel Steven. It was created by Simon Fuller who also managed the Spice Girls and created "Pop Idol" and it's subsequent worldwide spin-offs, including "American Idol". Completely a formula pop group, S Club was Fuller's next idea after leaving the Spice Girls.
S Club 7 was propelled to success by their BBC children's sitcom portraying their ongoing adventures around the world. The theme song to the original series, set in Miami, was "Bring It All Back". Upon it's release, it shot to #1 in the UK singles chart.
I hadn't really heard much S Club until I was surfing youtube the other day and I hit upon this song. Wow! It's so saccharine that you almost want to fall over holding your stomach, but beyond the schmaltzy sweetness it's an amazing bubblegum pop song that is infectious. Plus, it helps out the kiddies by telling them to follow their dreams. S Club 7: Doing a service to the world by preventing kids from becoming emo. Of course, all the kids who listened to S Club in that era probably now hate pop and will only listen to Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend or whatever the vogue band is now, but at least they aren't hanging out at Hot Topic or slitting their wrists! Thanks S Club!
Have a look and listen:
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Small Dilemma
After buying a new Chicago card (because the old one won't read anymore) and purchasing a ticket for the Ting Tings concert, I'm wondering whether or not $50 is too much for a Morrissey ticket.
On one hand, he's a honest to goodness music legend. On the other, is he really 2.5 x better than the Ting Tings? His prices are that much higher. I figure I'll probably splurge on them eventually because of how much his music means to me but it seems steep. That said, the memories will probably be worth it.
EDIT: Dilemma solved. I went ahead and ordered the ticket. It turned out to be closer to $60 thanks to some BS "convenience" charges. I just figured "How many opportunities am I really going to have to see Morrissey?" Plus, I've heard that he's brilliant live.
On one hand, he's a honest to goodness music legend. On the other, is he really 2.5 x better than the Ting Tings? His prices are that much higher. I figure I'll probably splurge on them eventually because of how much his music means to me but it seems steep. That said, the memories will probably be worth it.
EDIT: Dilemma solved. I went ahead and ordered the ticket. It turned out to be closer to $60 thanks to some BS "convenience" charges. I just figured "How many opportunities am I really going to have to see Morrissey?" Plus, I've heard that he's brilliant live.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
This Post Is A Reminder
...that I need to check when Ting Ting tickets go on sale. They're playing the Metro in Chicago on April 5. I need to see them. This post is a reminder so that I don't forget about the show!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Introducing...Defend Moscow
I didn't mean for this to turn into a music-only blog. I have a mind to write about the first few weeks back at UChicago as well as a bit about Chelsea and possibly the Buffalo Bills Simulation Football League. However, for now it's another brief music post.
A few days ago, I was reading Popjustice's Twitter and they were doing another thrilling installment of the "in the post" feature. Basically, since Popjustice is a popular and influential music blog, they get sent all kinds of stuff for free by artists who are hoping for some publicity. "In the post" is a series of tweets (aka Twitter posts) that simply details what they received in that day's mail. In that installment of "in the post" they received a CD from Defend Moscow and mentioned that they were quite good, so I took a peak at their Myspace.
First, please note the amazing logo. Secondly, the music itself is really good. The single is "Manifesto," which is about Leon Trotsky, if I remember correctly. It's a nice solid uptempo number. In fact, everything that Defend Moscow do is uptempo, and they tend to all share the common theme of wistfully recalling what might have been. It's happy music about being sad, not to put too fine a point on it. Sample "Manifesto" lyric:
Everything was right
Now everything is wrong
And I will never hope for more.
Next up is "Die Tonight," which doesn't sound as if it will be very jubilant lyrically. And it isn't. Sample "Die Tonight" lyric:
We know we're going to die tonight
And the darkness overrides the light
Well we know were going to die
Say goodbye
Don't even try
Because no one's getting out alive
Then we have "You Just Walked Away." It's a song about loving and needing someone and then seeing them walk away as if it meant nothing. Given recent circumstances, I find this a poignant bit of pop. Chorus of "You Just Walked Away":
And you just walked away
And left me on my own again
You just walked away
And left me here with this pain
The last song on their Myspace is "Sign of Life". Not surprisingly, it's a song about looking for meaning for life. First verse of "Sign of Life":
All I needed was a little emotion
All I needed was a sign of live
All I wanted was an indication
That it's not real
So there you have it. Defend Moscow makes mid/uptempo electropop that sounds very polished and cool and deals with themes of heartbreak and regret. They're like the Ting Tings chilled out, intellectual sibling. Here's the band's bio in case you want to know more (this is stolen from their facebook, so of course it's all fluff):
Managed by the mastermind behind The Wombats, Defend Moscow are destined for great things.
Comprised of musicians from London, Bergen and Paris, the quintet are armed with a manifesto to spread their brand of indie-electro across the globe.
Formed via a chance meeting between childhood friends Jon Beck (vocals) and Dave Fawbert (guitar/synths/programming), and Norwegian siren Sofie Storaas (vocals) in Bergen, Norway a year ago, they bonded over a shared love of classic and contemporary electro, pop and indie, and Russian vodka.
Completed by drummer Adam Pickering and bassist Rick Elmos, they immediately set to work writing tracks recalling the finest moments of New Order, Human League, Pet Shop Boys and contemporaries such as New Young Pony Club and Chromeo.
An extensive touring schedule is planned for the new year, along with their debut single, Manifesto – a dancefloor-destroying statement of intent with lyrics referencing the darkest moments of the cold war to be released in January, Defend Moscow are all set to lead an electro-pop revolution.
Finally, here's a clip of them playing "You Just Walked" away supporting Team Waterpolo at 93 Feet East on Brick Lane in London from October 28, 2008:
A few days ago, I was reading Popjustice's Twitter and they were doing another thrilling installment of the "in the post" feature. Basically, since Popjustice is a popular and influential music blog, they get sent all kinds of stuff for free by artists who are hoping for some publicity. "In the post" is a series of tweets (aka Twitter posts) that simply details what they received in that day's mail. In that installment of "in the post" they received a CD from Defend Moscow and mentioned that they were quite good, so I took a peak at their Myspace.
First, please note the amazing logo. Secondly, the music itself is really good. The single is "Manifesto," which is about Leon Trotsky, if I remember correctly. It's a nice solid uptempo number. In fact, everything that Defend Moscow do is uptempo, and they tend to all share the common theme of wistfully recalling what might have been. It's happy music about being sad, not to put too fine a point on it. Sample "Manifesto" lyric:
Everything was right
Now everything is wrong
And I will never hope for more.
Next up is "Die Tonight," which doesn't sound as if it will be very jubilant lyrically. And it isn't. Sample "Die Tonight" lyric:
We know we're going to die tonight
And the darkness overrides the light
Well we know were going to die
Say goodbye
Don't even try
Because no one's getting out alive
Then we have "You Just Walked Away." It's a song about loving and needing someone and then seeing them walk away as if it meant nothing. Given recent circumstances, I find this a poignant bit of pop. Chorus of "You Just Walked Away":
And you just walked away
And left me on my own again
You just walked away
And left me here with this pain
The last song on their Myspace is "Sign of Life". Not surprisingly, it's a song about looking for meaning for life. First verse of "Sign of Life":
All I needed was a little emotion
All I needed was a sign of live
All I wanted was an indication
That it's not real
So there you have it. Defend Moscow makes mid/uptempo electropop that sounds very polished and cool and deals with themes of heartbreak and regret. They're like the Ting Tings chilled out, intellectual sibling. Here's the band's bio in case you want to know more (this is stolen from their facebook, so of course it's all fluff):
Managed by the mastermind behind The Wombats, Defend Moscow are destined for great things.
Comprised of musicians from London, Bergen and Paris, the quintet are armed with a manifesto to spread their brand of indie-electro across the globe.
Formed via a chance meeting between childhood friends Jon Beck (vocals) and Dave Fawbert (guitar/synths/programming), and Norwegian siren Sofie Storaas (vocals) in Bergen, Norway a year ago, they bonded over a shared love of classic and contemporary electro, pop and indie, and Russian vodka.
Completed by drummer Adam Pickering and bassist Rick Elmos, they immediately set to work writing tracks recalling the finest moments of New Order, Human League, Pet Shop Boys and contemporaries such as New Young Pony Club and Chromeo.
An extensive touring schedule is planned for the new year, along with their debut single, Manifesto – a dancefloor-destroying statement of intent with lyrics referencing the darkest moments of the cold war to be released in January, Defend Moscow are all set to lead an electro-pop revolution.
Finally, here's a clip of them playing "You Just Walked" away supporting Team Waterpolo at 93 Feet East on Brick Lane in London from October 28, 2008:
Monday, January 12, 2009
Song of the Day -- Fascination by La Roux
I haven't thrown anything up in about a week, so it seemed due for an update. Today's selection is Fascination by La Roux. La Roux is Londoner Elly Jackson. She looks like Molly Ringwald with A Flock of Seagulls haircut and acts like Lily Allen, if Lily Allen were from Brixton and didn't pretend to be a cockney. She describes herself as someone who is very vulnerable and emotional and channels that emotion into her songs.
As for her songs, they are pure synth pop. In 2009, the 1980s are back with a vengeance and La Roux is at the forefront of a new group of acts that are bringing the sounds of classic new wave pop back to the radio.
La Roux's single is "Quicksand" but thanks to the magic of the internet we have about a half dozen La Roux tracks in at least a rough version. One of them, and in my opinion the best, is "Fascination." Jackson's high, fragile voice is on full display and a strong electronic beat drives the track forward with an exciting but not overwhelming urgency. The lyrics speak of the after-effects of lost love as Jackson affirms that "old fascinations lead to new temptations". Everything works together to create a hauntingly danceable commentary on moving on after love is gone with the star of the show being Jackson's unique voice.
Here's the link:
As for her songs, they are pure synth pop. In 2009, the 1980s are back with a vengeance and La Roux is at the forefront of a new group of acts that are bringing the sounds of classic new wave pop back to the radio.
La Roux's single is "Quicksand" but thanks to the magic of the internet we have about a half dozen La Roux tracks in at least a rough version. One of them, and in my opinion the best, is "Fascination." Jackson's high, fragile voice is on full display and a strong electronic beat drives the track forward with an exciting but not overwhelming urgency. The lyrics speak of the after-effects of lost love as Jackson affirms that "old fascinations lead to new temptations". Everything works together to create a hauntingly danceable commentary on moving on after love is gone with the star of the show being Jackson's unique voice.
Here's the link:
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Get Ready World -- 2009 is the Year of Pop
I've been reading some of BBC's Sound of 2009 coverage, and this year, I'm happy to report is the year of pop. If you're not familiar with the concept, the Sound of 2009 is basically a huge poll of 100+ music journalists. These are print journalists, website editors, and influential bloggers. These tastemakers get together and come up with a list of the acts that they expect to make it big in 2009. How accurate are they. Here's the 2008 list:
1. Adele
2. Duffy
3. The Ting Tings
4. Glasvegas
5. Foals
6. Vampire Weekend
7. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
8. Black Kids
9. MGMT
10. Santogold
11. Ida Maria
12. One Night Only
13. Alphabeat
14. Laura Marling
15. Cajun Dance Party
16. The Courteeners
17. Gabriella Cilmi
18. Late of the Pier
19. Black Mountain
20. Little Wayne
Except for notable failure Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, all of the first 14 (!) had at least one notable single. Adele and Duffy became international stars. The Ting Tings played on NBC's New Year's coverage and were splashed all over the place thanks to their iPod ad. Vampire Weekend and MGMT became the "it" bands of the year. All of which is to say, that the people who make this list are more likely than not to become major stars.
So what does this year hold? The main sound is 80s influenced electropop. Yes, I think I may have died and went to musical heaven, as one of my favorite sounds is set to take over the airwaves. This year, guitars are going the way of the dodo. In their place is synth and drum machines providing the high energy backing to pure pop vocalists and songs.
Here's the longlist:
1. Adele
2. Duffy
3. The Ting Tings
4. Glasvegas
5. Foals
6. Vampire Weekend
7. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
8. Black Kids
9. MGMT
10. Santogold
11. Ida Maria
12. One Night Only
13. Alphabeat
14. Laura Marling
15. Cajun Dance Party
16. The Courteeners
17. Gabriella Cilmi
18. Late of the Pier
19. Black Mountain
20. Little Wayne
Except for notable failure Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong, all of the first 14 (!) had at least one notable single. Adele and Duffy became international stars. The Ting Tings played on NBC's New Year's coverage and were splashed all over the place thanks to their iPod ad. Vampire Weekend and MGMT became the "it" bands of the year. All of which is to say, that the people who make this list are more likely than not to become major stars.
So what does this year hold? The main sound is 80s influenced electropop. Yes, I think I may have died and went to musical heaven, as one of my favorite sounds is set to take over the airwaves. This year, guitars are going the way of the dodo. In their place is synth and drum machines providing the high energy backing to pure pop vocalists and songs.
Here's the longlist:
- The Big Pink
- Empire of The Sun
- Kid Cudi
- Little Boots
- Passion Pit
- Dan Black
- Florence and the Machine
- La Roux
- Master Shortie
- The Temper Trap
- VV Brown
- Frankmusik
- Lady Gaga
- Mumford & Sons
- White Lies
Monday, January 5, 2009
Music -- a Great Christmas Gift
We didn't really make much of a big deal about Christmas at my house this year. My brothers and I are all 21+ and the parents support us by paying phone and car insurance bills and the like, so they feel (and I agree) that that's better than buying us something we won't use on Christmas. However, my brother Craig exchanged gifts with both me and Brandon (the third brother) and we in turn pool together to get him one (the BBC's Planet Earth in Blu-Ray).
Craig got me "Billy Joel: The Complete Collection 1973-1997". Basically, it's three volumes of Billy Joel's greatest hits and a fourth volume of some live tracks and a Q&A with Joel. Craig already had it, but I didn't and his CDs are scratched to hell so they aren't of good quality to rip from. It was nice to get my own copy of these discs and to have them ripped to my computer without odd sounds because of scratches.
He also gave me a $25 iTunes gift card. After much deliberation, here is what I purchased:
Lady Gaga has, of course, been making quite a noise in the pop world. Popjustice hasn't really talked much about her, but that's because her stuff is just coming out now in the UK. "Just Dance" sits at 3rd on downloads alone in the latest UK Singles Chart, so I'm sure they'll be talking about her soon enough. It's a little bit more R&B than their (and my, usually) tastes, but I've heard a bunch of the songs and I like them all.
Originally, I was just going to get "Chelsea" from Stefy, but the album was only $6 and the rest of the songs seemed quite good in their own right so I thought, "What the hell?" and picked it up.
Beat Control is just a fun song that I had a great time dancing to at a club in London, so I picked it to round me up to $24.96. Not bad for $25 if I do say so myself.
Craig got me "Billy Joel: The Complete Collection 1973-1997". Basically, it's three volumes of Billy Joel's greatest hits and a fourth volume of some live tracks and a Q&A with Joel. Craig already had it, but I didn't and his CDs are scratched to hell so they aren't of good quality to rip from. It was nice to get my own copy of these discs and to have them ripped to my computer without odd sounds because of scratches.
He also gave me a $25 iTunes gift card. After much deliberation, here is what I purchased:
- The Fame by Lady Gaga
- Ladyhawke by Ladyhawke
- The Orange Album by Stefy
- "Beat Control" by Tilly & The Wall
Lady Gaga has, of course, been making quite a noise in the pop world. Popjustice hasn't really talked much about her, but that's because her stuff is just coming out now in the UK. "Just Dance" sits at 3rd on downloads alone in the latest UK Singles Chart, so I'm sure they'll be talking about her soon enough. It's a little bit more R&B than their (and my, usually) tastes, but I've heard a bunch of the songs and I like them all.
Originally, I was just going to get "Chelsea" from Stefy, but the album was only $6 and the rest of the songs seemed quite good in their own right so I thought, "What the hell?" and picked it up.
Beat Control is just a fun song that I had a great time dancing to at a club in London, so I picked it to round me up to $24.96. Not bad for $25 if I do say so myself.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Popjustice's Top Albums of 2008
I gave you the singles list. Now, here is the list of Popjustice's top 29 albums of 2008. I only have a few of these, but I want more. I've been meaning to get my hands on several of these selections. I'll post the list with albums I have bolded and albums I want in italics.
Popjustice's Top 29 Albums of 2008
1. Ladyhawke - 'Ladyhawke'
We don't mind saying, readers, that this has not been the most exciting year for albums. :(
Popjustice's Top 29 Albums of 2008
1. Ladyhawke - 'Ladyhawke'
2. Girls Aloud - 'Out Of Control'
3. Delays - 'Everything's The Rush'
4. The Saturdays - 'Chasing Lights'
5. Annie - 'Don't Stop'
6. Sugababes - 'Catfights & Spotlights'
7. Take That - 'The Circus'
8. Cut Copy - 'In Ghost Colours'
9. Lykke Li - 'Youth Novels'
10. The Ting Tings - 'We Started Nothing'
11. Alphabeat - 'This Is Alphabeat'
12. Iglu & Hartly - '& Then Boom!'
13. Kanye West - '808s & Heartbreak'
14. Britney Spears - 'Circus'
15. Cyndi Lauper - 'Bring Ya To The Brink'
16. Goldfrapp - 'Seventh Tree'
17. The Japanese Popstars - 'We Just Are'
18. James Yuill - 'Turning Down Water For Air'
19. Keane - 'Perfect Symmetry'
20. Little Jackie - 'The Stoop'
21. Neon Neon - 'Stainless Style'
22. Pacific! - 'Reveries'
23. Rex The Dog - ‘The Rex The Dog Show’
24. Sam Sparro - 'Sam Sparro'
25. Leon Jean Marie - 'Bent Out Of Shape'
26. Same Difference - 'Pop'
27. Hadouken! - 'Music for an Accelerated Culture'
28. Will Young - 'Let It Go'
29. Alesha Dixon - 'The Alesha Show'
We don't mind saying, readers, that this has not been the most exciting year for albums. :(
Popjustice's Top 104 Singles of 2008
Since it's now 2009, Popjustice has come out with their annual list of the top singles of the year. I don't necessarily agree with the placement of all the tracks. Specifically, I'm not sure that I believe "I Decided" deserves to be #1 or that "Mercy" should languish at 104, but I have about 1/3 of these tracks and they're all great. Popjustice hasn't led me astray before, so I'm going to try to acquire a good deal more of these. Enjoy (songs I own are in bold, songs I've been meaning to download are in italics).
Popjustice's Top 104 Singles of 2008
The Top 104 Singles Of 2008 It was a good year for pop...
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
