Soundtrack: The Fiance by The Chariot
I love Wired.com. Their Gadget Lab section ran this column today and I could not agree more.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Invisible Man Can Has Expanz
Soundtrack: “Sure Shot” by the Beastie Boys
Whilst doing my usual internet surfing I came upon the “lol bible”. And well, I lol’d.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
She’s Out Back Counting Stars
Soundtrack: “Stars” by Hum
Kids these days have no idea what they are talking about when they say “I listen to Emo.” What they call Emo these days is nothing more than poppy derivative bullshit. According to a bunch of online sources including Fourfa.com and Wikipedia, Emo and “Emocore” are terms used to describe a subgenre of hardcore punk which originated in the Washington, DC music scene of the mid-1980s. One of the bands that popped up in the early 90s and actually found a little more success than some of it’s peers is Hum. I remember hearing “Stars” in high school and falling in love with the song. It was heavy, it was beautiful, it was one of the best songs I had heard. In fact it is one of the songs that made me want to write music. So, when some 15-year-old kid wearing his girlfriend’s pants and a bad haircut tells you he listens to “Emo”, he's full of shit. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you some real Emo!
Kids these days have no idea what they are talking about when they say “I listen to Emo.” What they call Emo these days is nothing more than poppy derivative bullshit. According to a bunch of online sources including Fourfa.com and Wikipedia, Emo and “Emocore” are terms used to describe a subgenre of hardcore punk which originated in the Washington, DC music scene of the mid-1980s. One of the bands that popped up in the early 90s and actually found a little more success than some of it’s peers is Hum. I remember hearing “Stars” in high school and falling in love with the song. It was heavy, it was beautiful, it was one of the best songs I had heard. In fact it is one of the songs that made me want to write music. So, when some 15-year-old kid wearing his girlfriend’s pants and a bad haircut tells you he listens to “Emo”, he's full of shit. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you some real Emo!
Monday, July 16, 2007
“Reality” Television
Soundtrack: “Ain’t No Right” by Jane’s Addiction
Last week a huge controversy started when the BBC showed a promo clip from an upcoming documentary about Queen Elizabeth II. The documentary is a day-in-the-life type affair during which she has a photo shoot with famed photographer Annie Liebovitz. In the clip the Queen is portrayed as storming out on the photo shoot. But the incident never happened, and the BBC was forced to immediately apologize. After a little bit more investigation it turns out that the media firm who produced the documentary and the promo clip, RDF Media, is responsible for the whole mess. However, this does not mean that the BBC is completely innocent. They made the decision to air the piece and they now much live with the consequences. But I think the controversy behind this has raised a great point: “Reality” television is rarely real.
Let’s look at this. In an age of technology that allows us to create amazingly real hoaxes, and through the power of video editing, we can achieve any outcome we want to. Instances such as this makes me wonder just how much drama really exists in shows such as “Big Brother” and “The Real World”. First of all, the entire premise is not even reality, so already there is a strike against calling them “reality” shows. These people manufacture drama, and use fun things like multiple camera angles and more than one take to really bring out said drama. And producers have all kinds of post-production tools to help them squeeze even more drama out of situations. And people seem to love it.
Frankly, I think it is an insult to humanity and I think we as a society need to take a long hard look at what we package as reality. This is not real life, this is sensationalism. But hey, isn’t that what America is all about?
Last week a huge controversy started when the BBC showed a promo clip from an upcoming documentary about Queen Elizabeth II. The documentary is a day-in-the-life type affair during which she has a photo shoot with famed photographer Annie Liebovitz. In the clip the Queen is portrayed as storming out on the photo shoot. But the incident never happened, and the BBC was forced to immediately apologize. After a little bit more investigation it turns out that the media firm who produced the documentary and the promo clip, RDF Media, is responsible for the whole mess. However, this does not mean that the BBC is completely innocent. They made the decision to air the piece and they now much live with the consequences. But I think the controversy behind this has raised a great point: “Reality” television is rarely real.
Let’s look at this. In an age of technology that allows us to create amazingly real hoaxes, and through the power of video editing, we can achieve any outcome we want to. Instances such as this makes me wonder just how much drama really exists in shows such as “Big Brother” and “The Real World”. First of all, the entire premise is not even reality, so already there is a strike against calling them “reality” shows. These people manufacture drama, and use fun things like multiple camera angles and more than one take to really bring out said drama. And producers have all kinds of post-production tools to help them squeeze even more drama out of situations. And people seem to love it.
Frankly, I think it is an insult to humanity and I think we as a society need to take a long hard look at what we package as reality. This is not real life, this is sensationalism. But hey, isn’t that what America is all about?
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Building A Better Me
Soundtrack: “Dashboard” by Modest Mouse
Among other projects like prepping my parents’ house for painting, I have been working hard at getting a cohesive and well-put-together portfolio done. Of course I have grandiose plans for it, it wouldn’t be me otherwise, but I am also being realistic in my expectations for it. The most important of these expectations is to build a portfolio that not only shows what my technical and creative skills are but also shows every person who looks at it who I am. This is a feat that I have found takes a large amount of introspection and self-reflection. I do not always like what I see, but I am having to leave that behind that and focus on the good parts. I am an abstract analyzer and thus I tend to reflect on how something could be better. That especially applies to me and for so long I have been in this mode of living where guilt and regret over past mistakes has defined me. I make myself a tragic figure instead of someone who overcomes adversity to come out on top. It is a tough thing to change when it is all you know.
So instead of dwelling, of late I have been working to apply my positive attributes to the things I know I am not good at. For example, I am not good at managing my time but I am good at managing graphic matrices and how things fit in a space. So how then can I apply that to my time management? It is forcing me to be even more creative with how I do things. And anyone who knows me knows that being creative is my favorite thing.
Among other projects like prepping my parents’ house for painting, I have been working hard at getting a cohesive and well-put-together portfolio done. Of course I have grandiose plans for it, it wouldn’t be me otherwise, but I am also being realistic in my expectations for it. The most important of these expectations is to build a portfolio that not only shows what my technical and creative skills are but also shows every person who looks at it who I am. This is a feat that I have found takes a large amount of introspection and self-reflection. I do not always like what I see, but I am having to leave that behind that and focus on the good parts. I am an abstract analyzer and thus I tend to reflect on how something could be better. That especially applies to me and for so long I have been in this mode of living where guilt and regret over past mistakes has defined me. I make myself a tragic figure instead of someone who overcomes adversity to come out on top. It is a tough thing to change when it is all you know.
So instead of dwelling, of late I have been working to apply my positive attributes to the things I know I am not good at. For example, I am not good at managing my time but I am good at managing graphic matrices and how things fit in a space. So how then can I apply that to my time management? It is forcing me to be even more creative with how I do things. And anyone who knows me knows that being creative is my favorite thing.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
The Next Pat Benatar?
Soundtrack: “Never Again” by Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson has a new album and her detractors are busy right now eating their own words. It may not be as poppy and “commercially viable” as her last album, but that is what people said about her last album when they compared it to her first album. The album is not only #2 on the iTunes top album list, it debuted on the overall charts at #2. It is also #19 on the Billboard Pop chart. That is pretty damn good for only one day on the charts. Interestingly enough Disney sweetheart Hannah Montana has the #1 album on the iTunes store right now. How it got #1 in the first place is beyond me… I am guessing a lot of tween and teen girls with their parents’ credit cards.
While these teeny boppers are buying manufactured tripe like Hannah Montana, Kelly Clarkson is growing up. This album has outsold her last two, despite it clearly being a darker, more bitter, more edgy offering than in the past. In fact, Kelly reminds me a little of a certain rocker girl from Brooklyn who made it big. I grew up in the 80s and I remember Pat Benatar well. There are some similarities in their careers. Both have professional vocal training, Pat in opera and Kelly in choir. They were both discovered at singing contests. And they both have had management troubles. But one thing is clear: they are both extremely talented singers and songwriters who aren't just the flavor of the week. Of all the American Idol winners Kelly is the only one other than Carrie Underwood who is taken seriously at all. And like Carrie she is relying on her own talent and charm to make her career, not her American Idol win.
So what is the point of all this? Despite people who are saying otherwise, Kelly Clarkson is a strong and talented musician who may not take Pat Benatar’s title of “the most successful female rock vocalist of all time,” but I think her career is only getting started. The only thing that is lacking is truly epic songs. With some hard work she can change that. So rock out, Kelly. And hit us with your best shot.
Kelly Clarkson has a new album and her detractors are busy right now eating their own words. It may not be as poppy and “commercially viable” as her last album, but that is what people said about her last album when they compared it to her first album. The album is not only #2 on the iTunes top album list, it debuted on the overall charts at #2. It is also #19 on the Billboard Pop chart. That is pretty damn good for only one day on the charts. Interestingly enough Disney sweetheart Hannah Montana has the #1 album on the iTunes store right now. How it got #1 in the first place is beyond me… I am guessing a lot of tween and teen girls with their parents’ credit cards.
While these teeny boppers are buying manufactured tripe like Hannah Montana, Kelly Clarkson is growing up. This album has outsold her last two, despite it clearly being a darker, more bitter, more edgy offering than in the past. In fact, Kelly reminds me a little of a certain rocker girl from Brooklyn who made it big. I grew up in the 80s and I remember Pat Benatar well. There are some similarities in their careers. Both have professional vocal training, Pat in opera and Kelly in choir. They were both discovered at singing contests. And they both have had management troubles. But one thing is clear: they are both extremely talented singers and songwriters who aren't just the flavor of the week. Of all the American Idol winners Kelly is the only one other than Carrie Underwood who is taken seriously at all. And like Carrie she is relying on her own talent and charm to make her career, not her American Idol win.
So what is the point of all this? Despite people who are saying otherwise, Kelly Clarkson is a strong and talented musician who may not take Pat Benatar’s title of “the most successful female rock vocalist of all time,” but I think her career is only getting started. The only thing that is lacking is truly epic songs. With some hard work she can change that. So rock out, Kelly. And hit us with your best shot.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
