'Ello, Mates!

Did you want to find out what Urbandub sounds like? You can download Soul Searching now. If you like Incubus, chances are, this is also your cup of tea.

Here's a couple too from neo new-wave band Shiela and The Insects:
Idle Hands
The Preach

Cheers!

This past week has been about ambition and pomp. I got my loot from Ytsejam Records which included the DVD for the When Dream And Day Unite anniversary show and for the Iron Maiden Number of The Beast gig that I previously only had fan-recorded mp3 boots of. This arrival only set off a chain of events already bringing my prog fandom to the tipping point--knowing that Porcupine Tree's Deadwing will be released in Europe soon (must...get...import!). Because of all this music, I've been on a Mike Portnoy binge lately, checking out his back catalogue with Dream Theater and my other favorite band, Transatlantic. This is an amazing collection of musicians with Neal Morse (ex-of Spock's Beard), Roine Stolt (Flower Kings), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), and as honorary member, Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation).

For the unfamiliar, I present Mystery Train off the 1999 debut SMTPe.

One of my favorite songs from this band is up for download. Here's She's Moved On.

The new  QOTSA album is streaming at this site.  Go now and prepare to get blown away by it's crushing groove.

My friend Katherine left for New York last Tuesday. Katherine was one of my closest friends and confidantes. She was the one person I'd call if I wanted to check out any up-and-coming band at The Crocodile, The Showbox, or at Neumo's. She also got me familiar with really great music from The Helio Sequence and Spoon. It was great going music shopping with her. She also got to drag me around other places in town to enjoy food and drink like Le Pichet and The Palomino. I relate so much to her intellectual pursuits; the books, the movies, art. We speak the same language on many instances, except for our contrasting opinions about classical vs. jazz and whether or not Bowie's glam rock ever had any musical credibility at all.

It's strangely interesting that I never thought I'd have an ongoing bond with someone whom I've worked with for only about three weeks--and that was about three years ago. She got the boot around week number three after being habitually late. I personally didn't think she liked the job anyway. I realized later on that she gets bored easily if there isn't anything that challenges her. Well, there proves my theory about why she didn't stick it out.

Our conversations ranged from our similar liberal political stance (she's perhaps more leftist than I am though), how some Filipino actors and actresses like Boyet DeLeon and Dina Bonevie never seem to age, the complex levels of meaning in Jeunet's movies, her brother who's in prison, her East Indian boyfriend and his hangups, how attractive Neko Case is...elements within our sphere that interest us. She's pretty knowledgeable for a young age. Her maturity level seems to be at around 35-36 years old to my 12.

She's always mentioned that she wanted to live in New York if given the opportunity. I've always known that she had this planned. It finally got set in motion as soon as New Year's day this year. I envy her sometimes because she's got more intestinal fortitude than me to simply up and leave for another place without much thought. She's smart and streetwise, so I don't think it's too much for her to readjust to her new life out there.

I, on the other hand, have to look for someone else game enough that has the same need to see pretty much every show that comes to town.

Here's to my friend and all the hope that she's going to make it out there. Salut!

I've been jamming to Blur, the version with Graham Coxon in the lineup lately. It's strangely interesting that I started out not really liking this band especially during the time of the Britpop wars of '95. I was in the Oasis camp during that time period. Little did I know back then that while these two giants were tussling, Radiohead was at the back-end making power moves releasing the now-classic The Bends. That's another story all together though.

The lineup for Ozzfest 2005 was announced today and it looks like a winner. They're stopping by my backyard on August 11th. If there isn't anything pressing going on in my summer schedule, I may have to take a trip out at the White River Ampitheater. With Iron Maiden, Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, The Haunted, and even Battle For Ozzfest winner A Dozen Furies taking either mainstage or second stage this summer, it's so worth it to get down to Auburn for this affair.

After a whole lot of entries, it looks like things evened out with the drought of posts.

I got an email message from the sis with some questions about music. Instead of pestering everyone else with my useless answers and thereby spamming the lot of them, I might as well post those answers here in my blog. So here goes:

1. Song that sounds like happy feels:
Snow Patrol's Chcocolate seems to be it for me right now.

2. Earliest (music) memory:
Easy--the opening and end music to Voltes V

3. Last CD you bought:
Death Cab For Cutie's The John Byrd EP and M83's Before The Dawn Heals Us, just yesterday. And to think that I've also still got to digest Kings of Leon's Aha Shake Heartbreak.

4. Reminds you of school:
Elementary School
Michael Jackson's Thriller, biyatchez...you couldn't escape that back in the day.

Around Middle School
There was this band called Industry that had a song called State of The Nation which best buddy Donn and I seemed to fancy a lot. I liked a lot of Spandau Ballet too. I thought Tony Hadley had the white boy soul flowing through his veins.

High School
I used to hang out with this dude in high school, Mark, who in our sophomore year terrorized another guy in our school. It was interesting that he used to sing The Pet Shop Boys' Opportunities as he smeared ink all over the backside of David B's school shirt, David being unaware, of course. I liked metal mostly when I was at this stage--Crue, Metallica, etc.

College
I got into a lot of Filipino rock music by this time--Eraserheads' Superproxy and Back2Me make the most kickass first and second songs for an album and True Faith's Hi to name a couple of groups. For non Filipino artists, I really got into Everything But The Girl's Amplified Heart album at this point.

5. Total Music Files on your PC:
There's about 1,124 files in my PC right now as I just checked, ranging from Modjo and Michael Jackson's mashup Smooth Lady to Metallica's Hit The Lights from a St Anger live bootleg from Paris.

6. Song for listening to repeatedly when depressed:
You know you've hit rock bottom when you've put on Beck's Guess I'm Doing Fine

7. Sounds British, but isn't:
The Dears, namely their vocalist Murray does a convincing Morrissey in Lost In The Plot. They also get to say "aboot" a lot.

8. Song you love, band you hate:
A little bit of a guilty pleasure here: Yellowcard's Only One

9. A favorite song from the past that took ages to
track down:
It took me so many years to find Aztec Camera's Deep and Wide and Tall. I only managed to get a copy of the Love album in 1997--around 10 years, really.

10. Bought the album for one good song:
I'm not in the habit of buying albums for one good song. I've got this standard of only really buying a record if it's got at least 3 good tracks. I did go blindly though with Marvelous 3's Hey! Album for Freak of The Week. I was then introduced to the amazing songwriting of Butch Walker.

11. Worst song to get stuck in your head:
Total Eclipse of The Heart, I guess. It all makes up for good fun though if you remember it the way it was sung in Old School.

12. Best song to dump a beer on someone's head to,
then storm out of the bar?
Man, that would probably be NWA's Straight Outta Compton. Once you hear that song, you're bound to think that you could set anyone who'd act a fool straight!

13. Who should do this next?
I really can't say. It's up to whomever else wants to respond to this.

My Nuno Bettencourt Washburn N2 guitar has become one of my closest friends. It's one of those instruments that make me sound much better than I used to. I had to struggle for so many years to reconcile the music I hear in my head with what actually courses through my fingers. I've made different mistakes that hampered my technical development on the guitar. One of those things happened to be the strings that I used. I usually packed guage 10 strings so that I could get the heaviness out on my lead guitar playing. I found that a big disadvantage after long, strenuous hours of rehearsal or when I go through my lead routines. My hands seemed to get tired quickly because of the size of the strings I installed. Another was the disadvantage of the narrow fretboard. My main axe for so many years had been my black Fender Strat. I had a nice lead tone on the neck pickup but wasn't satisfied with the way I executed my scales and arpeggios. Forward to many years later and a few minor repairs on my Washburn N2. I got to appreciate the jumbo sized frets that give a lot of allowance for my fretting fingers not to hit the adjacent strings. The lower action also got me through a lot of my lines faster and cleaner. I haven't been more satisfied than ever with my technical execution. Thanks for the guitar specs, Nuno!

I must be on a creative roll today! This is my third post--quite the record.

I've always thought that Morissey was and is a lyrical genius. His use of sarcasm, irony, and clever double entendres are some of the best delivered. If they were committed to paper, they'd still stand out strong without the music. It's better though with it especially since this would satisfy both my need for a strong melody and my craving for creative literary and figurative descriptions. This Irishman would do Oscar Wilde proud.

With that being said, here are some of my favorite lyrics from The Smiths:

Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now:
"In my life/Why do I smile/At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye"

There is a Light that Never Goes Out:
"And if a ten-ton truck/Kills the both of us/To die by your side/Well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine"

Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me:
"Last night I dreamt/That somebody loved me/No hope, but no harm/Just another false alarm"

Bigmouth Strikes Again:
"Oh ... sweetness, sweetness, I was only joking/When I said by rights you should be bludgeoned in your bed"

Panic:
"Burn down the disco/Hang the blessed DJ/Because the music that they constantly play/It says nothing to me about my life"

Cemetry Gates:
"Keats and Yeats are on your side/While Wilde is on mine"

Shoplifters of The World Unite:
"I was bored before I even began"

This Charming Man (note: all y'all metrosexuals take heed!):
"I would go out tonight/but I haven't got a stitch to wear/this man said "It's gruesome/that someone so handsome should care""

I Know It's Over:
"I know it’s over/And it never really began/But in my heart it was so real/And you even spoke to me, and said :/If you’re so funny/Then why are you on your own tonight ?/And if you’re so clever/Then why are you on your own tonight ?"

Ask:
(The whole song is a stroke of genius. First, Morissey mentions about how shyness and coyness is nice to whomever the song was intended for. He then uses this perceived virtuous quality and dares that person to ask if there's something he'd like to try--who we'll know will easily rather rumple himself into the fetal position out of fear of shame. It hits you later on that he was being patronizing--awesome! Remember to write that buck-tooth girl in Luxemburg)

Here are some from his solo work that I should devote a different section to--it's too good to pass up though. It's also pretty obvious that my favorite solo album is Your Arsenal.

You're The One For Me, Fatty:
"You’re the one for me, fatty/You’re the one I really, really love/And I will stay/Promise you’ll say/If I’m in your way"

We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful:
"We hate it when our friends become successful/And if they're northern, that makes it even worse/And if we can destroy them/You bet your life we will/Destroy them/If we can hurt them/Well, we may as well"


After reading all that, pick up a copy of The Queen Is Dead and bear witness to stellar songwriting in the 80's.

See:
Cartoon Network's Adult Swim - Every night, there's something special about this block of programming. If I wanted stoner fare with seemingly incongruent, far-out humor, I can get it through the adventures of Shake, Fry, and Meatwad on Aqua Teen Hunger Force. I enjoy their Saturday night programming because it continues to feed my anime habit (which afterall started since I was knee high to a grasshopper) with Ghost In The Shell. I like this series because the stories make the viewer ponder about the consequences of automated technology in our day-to-day living. There's also the continuing series of the battle for earth in Gundam Seed--the best elements of the original Gundam series and the Wing series have all been combined in this action and drama-packed space opera.

Read:
Under The Radar - This rag reminds me so much of another mag I used to read called The Score. The layout, the bands, the paper, and the interview style is so from another time. When I leaf through this magazine's pages, I remember going back to my senior year in high school reading about Pinoy bands like Identity Crisis, The Dawn, IOV, Dead Ends along side US/UK torchbearers Morissey, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Sisters of Mercy, and many others. I think this was the last magazine to interview Eliott Smith before he offed himself.

Hear:
Every Heart (right click, save as everyone!) - This song by Jpopsters BoA ends up playing in my head each time an episode of InuYasha on Adult Swim ends (see link above). Even if I'm more of a fan of Utada Hikaru's music (that you'd expect from someone who's listened to her stuff since 1998's First Love album--yeah, clown on me all you want!), this seems rather good and catchy nonetheless.



Hikki-Kawaii :-)...Too bad she's taken

I've also been listening to Uncut Magazine's New Music for 2005 CD which contains sonic goodness from LCD Soundsystem, Mercury Rev, The Magnetic Fields, and (my new favorite band who's CD I need to pick up soon) M83. I could do without the Bright Eyes track to speak frankly. There's something about Conor Oberst that seems off-putting to me.