the low that is high to me

They belong in my good book forever (as long as they make good music, and stick to who they are that is).

Some bands/musicians are better in records, but these guys fall into the better-live wagon with the rest of the small number.

Don't believe me? Listen/watch for yourselves:



Things to listen for in their music:

1. wicked harmonization (the backup)
2. the instruments they play (try to take guesses, the sounds may not come from instruments you imagined they would be) --> they're famous for recycling stuff to make music
3. the "empty" and "hollow" sound that make you think about high-ceiling spaces
4. the vocals of Miller. rough and edgy to soft whispery.. instant switch!
5. the imperfections. they're full of it, but somehow it always becomes part of the songs
6. the heart and soul they put into their music.


I wonder, how long they can stay true to their musical personality. Here's hoping it's forever :)


*This is a tribute to @Bonnaroo

you

uu
What do I think about when I brush my teeth

 in the morning when I wake up

at night before I sleep?

nn

BONNAROO

My days are now filled with sunshine. I made a few important decisions, and visions are once again clear (so is my desk at work yeehaa). I've been making too many mistakes twice, and I will not let that happen again.

I just wish one thing would happen for me as the pinnacle of this temporary happiness.

One word: B O N N A R O O




You can check their website here.

It's happening very soon! But it's half the world away, and I might have to sell myself to go there.
Mission: Impossible!




Normally, I wouldn't bother to look up the infos on these music fests as I know I would only disappoint myself in the end. But this is just too irresistable!

Check out the line-ups!! (I'll only cover those I like here):

- Neil Young (oh how I cry listening to Heart of Gold and the tunes of sleek harmonica in your songs! Imagine listening to it live)

- Iron & Wine (I downloaded your albums!! If you play My Lady's House I'll kill myself. Sam Beam rocks the "Jesus" look and I&W is definitely a religion in the music world)

- The Strokes (shit man, shit. I need to be there. Julian Casablanca!!! Need I say more!!)

- The Decemberists (Mariner's Revenge is the shizz ughhhhh)

- The Low Anthem (apparently they sound better live than in records! The three part harmonization, the eccentric instruments, dudes with 'staches, the range of subgenre just within folk itself - EPIC. I need to hear them live)

- The Drums (I featured them here before in my blog. Their tunes remind me of carefree days! Let's Go Surfing!)

- Smith Westerns (their stage antics and cute band members! indie rock with sounds ala Nuggets and I love Nuggets from before!)

- Ratatat (not into electronica but somehow they got me! Loud Pipes is the anthem!)

- Pretty Lights (OMG. I just posted their song here! Please, lyricless madness. Fusion of all sorts. I think when all the music genre in the world are combined and gets mashed up in a blender, it would sound like their songs. Finally Moving all the way!!!)

- Eminem (I mean, come on. He's a genius no matter how main stream he is. I am a groupie since '99 Slim Shady days but like really fell in love with him during his most deepest and darkest period. When he sing, he owns it. Gotta be there to live it)

- Mumford & Sons (Since first heard of them on the free CD by the Uncut magazine some time ago, I just didn't look back. Smart persona, upbeat folk-ish tunes, waaaaaaa I just need to see them live!!! Folk with attitude!)

And then there are the rest of the 2011 lineup which you can check at their official website. All ticketing details are there too. And they have some art installation thingamajig going on too. So it's really an event not to be missed for those who actually CAN make it. Please go on my behalf!

To be honest, it is kind of a fantasy lineup for any music events! (If they would include AFI and Elliott Smith is still alive, and maybe also bring in A&J Stone, this could have been a music festival organized by the angels in heaven.)

And then there's another sad case where Bob Dylan is concerned. He is coming down to Singapore for the Rock and Roots music fest. Aaarrrggghhhh.

 

Although this is more possible than Bonnaroo, I don't really feel like going just for him since the lineup pretty much sucks (for me, I'm sure other people think otherwise).

But oh, wouldn't I love to hear his silky voice on the mic? And who knows, he might meet&greet with a few lucky groupies. In which case, might be me..

Suddenly my life looks pretty darned gloomy in comparison to those in the USA or Singapore. I hate y'all biatches!!!

pretty lights

You wouldn't need any form of substance to get high on this. Ah, the right kind of laid-back and groove.

Picture this: You. At the roadside in some quaint province. Just before sunset. The smell of beach sand not very far. Hair in a neat mess and dark Persol shades on. A few european strangers waiting to be cultured. Rolled-up ciggies. Groovin' on the street. Barefeet, hands up. Raw.

Finally Moving by Pretty Lights

The piano and violin is sick. The song is orgasm to my ears.


p/s: check out covers of this song. They're good too, but I swear the original is the best.

stunner

wow, she actually wore this on the street like on a normal day? I am ever-envious!

From here

It's like living a fairytale everyday!

These days, work has toned down a bit, and I get more time to myself. So what do I do? Read. (Although I miss watching TV and downloading movies to watch at my own expense.)

I especially love to indulge myself in books that are of simplistic narration but with heavy and deep content. I am very impatient, so I prefer prose, short stories and poetry. Or novels with fast-paced narrative.

So I read this book. A small collection of poetry written by Spargo Postle.

I would like to share with you a stanza from one of his poems, A man of few words...

for i am a man of many words
nil by mouth
all by hand
churn in my mind
beseeching me to be silent
compelling me to write

I am drawn to this particular stanza. I guess you can say because there are a lot of people whom we meet who are of few words/reserved/introverted/quiet whatever you want to call. 

But I am particularly intrigued by it because it reminds me of someone. Someone who I know goes through exactly like the persona in the stanza all the time. I know he is a man of opinions, ideas and has a lot to say..it's just that he doesn't say it. A person who talks with actions, instead of words.

This someone is just like the man on the cover of this book (could be Postle himself hehe), half-smiled holding a glass of beer and a lit cigarette in between his fingers, in the same hand. Plaid shirt.

Oh why do I always have to take poetry personally?!?

But that person now belongs in a distant memory. I'll have to walk quite a journey down memory lane to find him. Sigh.

truth snowballs

Joseph Conrad said

"Inside every heart, burns the desire 

to set down once and for all

the true record of what has happened"

I think he is right. No matter how true we stay to ourselves, there's prone to be exaggerations of the truth, dramatic effects to our stories, little white lies to conceal what might not seem/be too nice, and amping up the pale or toning down of the frills.

There will come a time when we all lie so compulsively that we believe in our own lies.

So who's this smarty ass Conrad guy? A renowned Polish novelist in the English Literature. He barely speak the language, so I say he's a hero. Google him.

Classic Grenade

Grenade by Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars: I'd like to take this opportunity to tell y'all about the girl that I love..


3 Dudes behind: Awww, watchu know about love?


Bruno Mars: As far as I know, I'm broken-hearted, coz I wanna spend forever with this girl..And when I asked her you know what she said to me?


3 Dudes behind: What she say?


Bruno Mars: She said NO...OWU OH.. (sing song voice)


3 Dudes behind: Damnnnnn


Ahahaha classic. Lovin' it!

waiting to be saved

                                        Broken by Wani Ardy

One of my favorite Malaysian indie folk singers. 

p/s: Even if it's broken, there are pieces from it that we can keep.

why i'm in a bad mood

I've been going through a hard time. I'm unofficially depressed. Here's why:

1. Mubarak + Egypt + the US of A = New World Order The power against the Power of Voice of the Masses (sorry, hope you understand this)
2. Najib and his paranoia (re: point #1)
3. Anti-valentines day celebration policies by a certain party (??????) in Malaysia
4. 22,000 kids around the world still suffering from malnutrition each day (when some parts of the world can spend so much on nuclear plants and military)
5. Malaysia, to have its own nuclear power plant by 2021 (FOR WHAT? to defend ourselves from Singapore? Oh yeah, they're getting it too to "solve mankind's energy problems". yeah right Lee)
6. Kids who have adopted careers as suicide bombers (to make it symbolic, they'd do it wearing school uniforms)
7. Good leaders who grew up to become who they should be, until money is involved, which made them who they are today.
8. Teachers who develop a hobby at school which is to rape their students (aren't you ashamed of yourselves?!)
9. everyone's obsession with everything!! can't we all be moderate!! (too many to list. oh maybe one: money)
10. the adopted cat we have at home has died. It was a very sad image of death at its worst.

So, I'm generally not in such a good mood..DO NOT DISTURB.

LOL! (<-- wait, isn't this a bit inappropriate? well who cares!)

i will not be a corporate slave

As a friend put it, "I am having the bluest of Monday blues today".

Word.

After the an entire week of Chinese New Year holiday last week, and the short vacation I had in Phuket ( it was totally random).. man, I don't deserve to work today!

But it's not all that bad. I actually stayed up the night before to get some work done (slept at 5am), and was supposed to have a WIPs meeting with my team at 9am at the office this morning. 

I was thinking, This is going to be the worst day of my working life. I'm sleep-deprived and I'm not ready to face my bosses/clients whatever (especially after what had happened - I was caught in some tangle in the office).. I just want to make it alive by 5pm and dash home.

Work has been evil to me for the past few months. 

But as it turns out, today was actually quite ok.

The to-do list I had on a post-it actually got crossed out one by one, and by end of the day, I got everything done! And after a very long time, I managed to get home by 7pm and have dinner with the family.

I was totally beat and sleepy at the office towards the end, but it's all good coz I got home early!

Hah..the little things in life that we often forget to enjoy :)

fine, i'll get over it

As you know, I was a bit reluctant to embrace the new year. But I thought, you know, it doesn't even matter. What difference does it make, if it's 2011 or 2025, or 1974?

What matters most is how I make use of the year.

So here's a (sarcastic) hello to the new year. Finally.

A Sarcastic Hello by Anni B Sweet

Introduced by a friend, a film/arts/music and everything-indie buff. Thanks TAF!

indifferent

from here