Lust 2

Alexander McQueen Spring 2010 RTW, swoon.

Music you should be listening to

Julian Plenti

Since their 2002 debut Turn on the Bright Lights Interpol has been a staple of New York City rock. Since then they have branched out moving from indie label Matador to Capitol shortly before the release of their mediocre 2007 record Our Love to Admire. What makes the band so dynamic is the contrast between Carlos D.'s arrogant swagger and Paul Bank's smokey poetry. Together Interpol is untouchable, encompassing New York cool.
Earlier this month vocalist Banks branched out on his own while the band took a break releasing his first solo record under the alias Julian Plenti. Though not being a far departure from the sound of Interpol Bank's style as a songwriter and vocalist stands alone quite well.
On Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper Banks explores his voice in a way that he cannot on an Interpol record. Playing in Interpol forces Banks to push his voice to compete with the powerful rhythm section making him seem like he is on the brink of yelling (see all of Antics). As Julian Plenti Banks is much more pitch friendly, able to put the sweetness and emotion in his voice he famously lacks in Interpol (though he still manages a few sleazy lyrics).
Stand out tracks include "Skyscraper" which seems to be the farthest departure from the Interpol sound. The song is nearly all atmosphere with only Banks' gloomy crooning "shake me, shake me, skyscraper."
Banks also touched on a bit of a folk influence in tracks like "On the Esplanade" which sounds more like Iron and Wine and less like Interpol.
Though there are some rough spots ("Games for Days", "Fun That we Have") Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper is still an interesting record, making one wonder in what direction the next Interpol record will head.

watch the video for "Games For Days" here.

Medicate

Today AFI released their first single in three years "Medicate" on itunes and radio. The song itself is much more organic than tracks from their previous release Decemberunderground. Instead of having layers upon layers of sounds and effects the song showcases only the band's raw talent, sounding like something that could have been released between the Art of Drowning and Sing the Sorrow.
"Medicate" is certainly and AFI release, it is insanely catchy and features that familiar yelp and "oooo" of Davey Havok. Refreshingly Jade Puget's guitar has a metal feel, strong and stand alone. Subject matter is great as it always is, Havok is an underrated poet.
All in all a solid track, one listen and you will definitely have it in your head for a while.

find it on itunes now!
Crash Love will be released September 29 and tour dates have been announced.

Music you should be listening to

The Horrors


The Horrors first began playing in London in 2005/2006 releasing their first single "Sheena is a Parasite" and an EP. The band first built up steam stateside with the video for "Sheena is a Parasite" because it was banned by mtv (also because it was genius. The single also spawned a short U.S. tour, a first for the band. In March 2007 they released their first LP Strange House which featured re-recorded versions of previously released singles like "Death at the Chapel" and "Count in Fives".
Around that time I had the chance to see them play at Great Scott with only a few dozen others. As a live act the band is not exactly musically sound but their stage presense is captivating, frontman Faris Badwan towers abover the crowd and often incites fights and vandalism.
After a nearly a two year absense the band released their second record Primary Colours a few months ago both in the U.K. and U.S. Their most recent effort far outshines their ghoulish garage rock beginnings. With tracks like "Sea Within a Sea" and "Scarlet Fields" the band channels My Bloody Valentine with a buzzing shoegaze sound. Though the band's aesthetic has garnered them significant attention in the past Primary Colours will surely steer conversation back to their music capabilities.

check ou the video for "Sea Within a Sea", directed by former Jesus and Mary Chain bassist Douglas Hart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1lD5cE6Bwc

Letting the story tell itself

Today I definitely need to take a minute and write a bit of what I think of the whole Iran situation. It is such a terrible tragedy, people first being denied democracy and then being shot by their own police for protesting peacefully? So outrageous. The fact that the media is banned from the country is surely a sign that they want to keep their actions as hidden as possible. Once a regime bans the media no good is to come. The absolute horror can be seen in the "Neda" video, search youtube for it, it is so disturbing. In her last minute of life after being shot in the heart she stares up at the camera, looking through to all of us watching at home. It truly displays the violence, a young woman who was just watching the commotion lays dying as her father and others surround her telling her to not be afraid.
As a journalism student it oddly gives me more drive to report important stories, even though I want to write about music. If I were sent to Tehran to cover the story I would for sure get right in the middle of it, its just in my blood, I can't help it. As a journalist this is really one of the few times new media is actually benefiting our cause letting average citizens tweet or blog or post videos on youtube is getting the news out when ironically those same mediums are killing the journalism industry.
I am hopeful that Iranians will get democracy but am doubtful it will cause anything but more bloodshed. Another Islamic Revolution will doubtfully erupt.

things

Currently I am on the verge of over-extending myself again. I just cannot say no to work.
Speaking of work here is some of mine...
Pembroke story
Duxbury story

oh and I am obsessed with MGMT's "Kids" video. It has been their best song so it is great to see a video for it. I love the concept.
watch it here.

review

This was written for class, probably one of the better things I wrote this semester... find it here jsons.org

Yeah Yeah Yeah's embrace synth on It's Blitz!

by Brittany Burrows

After nearly self-destructing following the release of 2006's Show Your Bones Yeah Yeah Yeah's have regrouped, recalculated, and reinvented their sound.

For It's Blitz! the group traded in Nick Zinner's wild buzz-saw guitar for a barrage of guitar effects and synthesizer sounds. The first single "Zero" boasts quivering synths coupled with Brian Chase's pulsing drum beats making the song dance floor ready. The dramatic use of synthesizers makes the sound infectious and energetic. More importantly the heat the music generates finally matches the fire in which Karen O sings.

Unlike Show Your Bones, It's Blitz! is well developed and shows musical growth and direction. Produced by TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek the record's feel is more Blondie than indie.

The most pulsating track, "Heads Will Roll" boasts strong bass-keys and a looping beat as O shrieks "Off with your head!/ Dance til you're dead!" The song is driven by electro-pop beats but hangs on O's passionate vocals which bring the song, as well as the record, to life.

Softer tracks like "Hysteric" and "Skeletons" may bring the party to a halt but their delicate nature brings the sound back to the familiar YYY's imprint. Amidst the dance chaos "Hysteric" offers that sense of clarity, vulnerability, and introspection that "Maps" did on 2003's abrasive Fever to Tell.

"Dragon Queen" is the most unique track with a cool Studio 54 vibe and O's whispery voice reaching for the heavens.

The record hinges together sounds of old and new channeling the electric pop of Goldfrapp and falling next to MGMT's Oracular Spectacular, another recent example of synth infused music.

It's Blitz! may not be a traditional dance album but its vigor is certainly tangible.

Black hole

School has been sucking up my life recently so I have not hate the time (or energy really) to write thoughtful entries in here. But alas I have things I have written for school that may or may not be enjoyable to read.

Thing I wrote about airplanes and toilets

Thing I wrote about how government is dumb

Lust

I am drooling over the Alexander McQueen Fall 2009 ready to wear line. It is so insane it is fantastic, he keeps the crazy in fashion. Spring 2009 is also amazing but much more demure in comparision, very Darwinian. I am sure if you wore any of these pieces in everyday life you would be weird but the artistry involved is exquisit!

Fall 09 favs

Spring 09 Favs

Cyber-life

I would highly recommend anyone to go back and read their livejournal or whatever they had in high school. I have been reading my old entries and its crazy because I wrote about EVERYTHING. Really takes me back to high school. I read and entry I wrote about "meat club" I forgot we even had a meat club! oh good times.
Now you do the same for you!

Did I not call this in an editorial a few weeks ago!?

Magically delicious

On Tuesday I bought only one new record and that record was Incredibad from The Lonely Island. You may not know them by name but you have definitely seen Andy Samberg on SNL as well as "Dick in a box" with Justin Timberlake. They released a cd full of comedy songs as well as a dvd with SNL digital shorts that accompany the songs. The record surprisingly good both comically and musically. All of the songs fit into a different genre and play off each genre's sound and stereotype. "Jizz in my pants" is pure electro-trash and the lyrics are clearly hilarious (as everything dirty often is). "I'm on a Boat" features T-Pain and has a very common (yet awesome) beat. The song is not as overtly funny as others but when you realize they are rapping and cussing about simply being on a boat it's hilarious. The best line is "Fuck trees I climb buoys mother fuckers". Some old favorites like "Lazy Sunday" and "Dick in a Box" are on there as well. "Boombox" featuring Julian Casablancas is probably my favorite because having Julian sing a hook is like magic and the song is also very catchy. (I think you can stream the song on Rollingstone.com)
I would recommend buying it, on itunes you get all the tracks and videos for only $12 or something like that. Below are a few links, enjoy...

"I'm on a Boat"
Jizz in my Pants

Another Editorial

Blagojevich brings the circus to town

Brittany Burrows

2/7/09

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is shameless.

For the past few months images of his sad pleading face have bombarded television programs and newspaper front pages. But is a media assault really the right way to make nice with the people of Illinois and America?

For those who have not turned on the TV, listened to the radio, read a newspaper, or turned on the computer recently Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges in early December 2008. He was accused of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and also accused of bribery for allegedly trying to sell off President Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Instead of laying low to diffuse the speculation of his alleged crimes Blagojevich and his army of public relations experts decided to turn it all into one big media circus. The former Illinois Governor hit every major news show on television as well as a number of day time and late night shows including The View and The Late Show with David Letterman. His appearances were all equally nauseating and phony as he sat next to the interviewer trying to appear victimized by the judicial system.

Blagojevich's television and radio appearances made a mockery of the serious crimes with which he is charged. Instead of accepting that he made a mistake and stepping down with some honor and respect he created a great spectacle and made a fool of himself and his administration. Since the charges may not be news to the people outside of Illinois, why appeal to the rest of the country?

Perhaps the most maddening aspect of the situation is the fact Blagojevich blew off the first day of his impeachment hearing, showing absolutely no respect to the lawmakers and the people of Illinois. On the last day of the trial he finally made an appearance only to regurgitate the same trite denial he spewed out on every major network and newspaper in the weeks before.

On Jan 29 Blagojevich was removed from office by a unanimous vote by the Illinois State Senate. He is also barred from holding elected office in the state again. Blagojevich's media assault did little to help him keep his job but did boost interest in the case against him. He probably had more interest in scoring a future six-figure book deal than in retaining his last shred of dignity.


Oddly Blagojevich is in Microsoft Word spell check but Obama isn't? Weird

Musical anger

I am curently watching the Grammys and following along to the live blog at stereogum. Thus far they have lived up to their reputation as only honoring those who qualify as a senior citizen and Coldplay. Kings of Leon were robbed in Best Rock Album by Coldplay who did not even release a rock album let alone the best one in that category. M.I.A was robbed in best record by Robert Plant just because he is aging and part of a legendary band. It is truly as atrocious as it always is. Also what doesn't make sense is that in every promo I have seen they have only mentioned Radiohead's performance once but talk about Justin Timberlake every chance they get.
Makes me sick.

Music you should be listening to

MGMT

MGMT is one of the most promising bands to release a record in 2008. In January 2008 they released their first full legnth release Oracular Spectacular on Columbia Records. Despite being signed to a major record label almost immeaditely the band certainly retains indie credibility touring with Of Montreal and playing many festival shows both domestic and abroad. Their sound varies from the soulful funk of "Electric Feel" to the psych-rock "Weekend Wars". Their claim to fame thus far is their deliciously trippy "Time to Pretend" which lyrics are a tounge in cheek ode to the rock star life and the melodies an homage to the Flaming Lips. The band plays up their funk with infectious sixties influenced melodies and lyrics that are both catchy and oddly introspective. The band's rainbow aethetic is played up with wildly colorful and out of this world music videos. When you first see "Time to Pretend" you will probably ask yourself, "are they high?" and despite the answer most likely being a 'yes' the band does a good job of mixing solid music and concept with elements both tribal and intergalactic.

Time to Pretend
Electric Feel

Interwebs

I realize that when I click on my name in JSONS that it does not show all the stories that I have written for the site. I had to register again this semester so that is why, in case anyone cares. If you search my name, or just follow this link you can see all the stories that are up on the site! yay!

Editorial

Here is an editorial I wrote
follow the link

Frustrating

I probably spelled the title wrong.
Anyway this website, along with traffic and watching your non-tech savvy professors struggle with simple technology is one of the most frustrating things ever. Enjoy.

123

I thought I made this post before but I am pretty sure I did not press publish sooooooo I shall do it again. At work there is often some good songs that come on among all the crap so here are a few for you so you can have them stuck in your head forever.

John Legend-Green Light
We Are Scientists- After Hours
Sam Sparro- Black and Gold
Lady Gaga- Money Honey

Wrapped up in books

I must post an entry about my favorite books.
I generally prefer non-fiction, I am very intrigued by the knowledge that what I am reading is true and happened. I like to read collections of essays and articles by various writers, mainly music related. I enjoy Chuck Klosterman's books because I love thinking about pop culture in relation to the world and what the world's obsession with it actually says about humanity. Dave Eggers is also great.
Despite loving non-fiction my all time favorite writer is Kurt Vonnegut. I re-read The Sirens of Titan a few months ago for like the third time and I loved it just as much as any other read. He makes these extraordinary characters and places them in these crazy situations and worlds but then in the end everything sort of makes sense. His view of the world is also remarkable, you can learn a lot from his characters. I currently have "everything was beautiful and nothing hurt" tattooed on my foot. That quote writen on a tomb stone basically says that when people are alive they go through good times and tough times but after death looking back one can only say that they got through it and everything was beautiful. Love it. I also plan on getting "so it goes" done on the sides of my fingers (like "so" on my index, "it" on my middle, and "goes" on my ring finger). I find that quote especially great because it speaks of mortality and life, it just goes, no one can stop it and it is always ordinary and predictable. So it goes. Brilliant.
I have purposely not read all of Vonnegut's books as of yet, although I have read most, just for the reason that I always have something new to uncover about his writing and discovering his stories. I will continue to devour his books in time, slowly so I don't get to the end so fast.
I would recommend you read Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat's Cradle, and The Sirens of Titan. Oh and also Breakfast of Champions. A few concepts and characters are present in several books so familiarize yourself!

say something

I am not sure how I feel about public transportation. On one hand it is great for the environment and stuff but on the other hand it is incredibly creepy and annoying. Tonight I had the pleasure of taking the red line home as I always do but at 10:00 at night it tends to be a freak show. The guy sitting across from me looked like he had a meth problem and he kept falling out of his seat and falling asleep. But by far my most random expirence was when I lived in Cambridge last year and I was on the train to school and a homeless man sat next to me and screamed "you fucking bitch" in my ear for no reason, and thats a direct quote. I think there should be a special car for questionable individuals. I think I would rather have someone creepy on the train than someone smelly during rush hour. There is nothing that wakes you up quite like the some of the smells when everyone is packed in tight like sardines.
I could go on and on about this topic but complaining doesn't really do anything (except feel sort of good) so I will end.
Here is a song for your time, one of my favorite new bands, enjoy.

MGMT-Kids from Oracular Spectacular

Major Fail

So I managed to order the wrong book of half.com not once, but twice! Reading is obviously something I cannot do well.
Fail.

Pretend

Today I am feeling quite positive; I am not sure if you can feel positive or just be positive but I guess they are the same. I bring you no ranting about anything just a fun, happy song you can dance to!
Apples In Stereo- Energy from New Magnetic Wonder

headRadio

Today while unpacking boxes, sensoring and hanging clothes I was thinking about the Grammys. The Grammy awards are held each February and are supposed to honor the greatest musical achievements of the year. To me the Grammys are just another excuse to give Madonna, U2, or Alicia Keys awards. The nominations are rarely made from musical merit but instead by who is the most popular, who sells the most records, or my favorite who is the oldest most historical act. Seriously, stop giving U2 Grammys! Just because they make a record does not mean it was the best of the year. The Joshua Tree, War, Achtung Baby were incredible records but their ship has sailed as far as I am concerned. Also I am sick of Coldplay getting nods for everything they ever make, Viva La Vida was not their best but thats a whole other argument.
This year despite many so-so artists getting nods some really good artists were recognized. Radiohead got a bunch of nominations for In Rainbows which was released digitally in 2007 but released physically in January of 2008. They deserve each award they are nominated for, I absolutely loved the record. Radiohead is one of the few bands that is truly innovative. Also it is great to see Kings of Leon nominated even though their best record is definitely Beacuse of the Times and that was not recognized when it could have been last year. Also I find it odd M.I.A is nominated for "Paper Planes" when it was released on Kala in 2007, it was just as good of a song then? right? Kala should have won a boat load of awards in 07 but hey thats just me.
The only category that makes sense (as far as nominations) is best alternative album. Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Radiohead, and Gnarls Barkley are all great artists, although Gnarls Barkley should be replaced with MGMT's Oracular Spectacular but we don't live in a perfect world.
This has been perhaps one of my most unorganized post ever, I apologize, this is something I feel strongly about and it would probably be even more difficult to understand if I was actually talking to you (I ramble).

Anyway I could write all day about things I dislike but thats just too negative. Instead I will leave you with some suggestions!
If you are feeling a little indie-ish listen to Twin Cinema by The New
Pornographers
If you are feeling a bit gloomy listen to "Who Killed Mr. Moonlight" by Bauhaus
If you are feeling dancey listen to Danse Macabre by The Faint
If you are feeling instrumental listen to "Together we will Live Forever" by Clint Mansell (amazing!)
If you are feeling sad listen to Pink Moon by Nick Drake
If you are feeling even sadder listen to Either/Or by Elliott Smith
If you are feeling pissed off listen to "New Noise" by Refused

happy listening!
also watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PqI12R8YNU

Rawr

So tonight I will post a theme playlist. I am sure there is a way to post the playlist in like a zip file or something so you wouldn't have to download each song individually but I have not yet figured out how that works. So tonight I chose 7 songs from bands that have an animal in their name. The songs do not have much to do with each other but I realized today that I have many bands on my ipod that take their name from the wild. Not all were included because I don't have any patience. Enjoy this animalistic playlist!

As Tall as Lions- A Break a Pause
Patrick Wolf- Paris
Modest Mouse- A Different City
The Unicorns- I Don't Wanna Die
Grizzly Bear- Lullabye
Fleet Foxes- Textbook Love
Band of Horses- Our Swords

Shake

Tonight I am in a dancey mood. I don't really feel like physically dancing or even moving that much but I am sure in a dancey electronic music like mood. The following four songs fit into that mood for the most part, a few are more expiremental than anything but go with it.

M83- Don't Save Us From The Flames
Xiu Xiu- Fabulous Muscles
The Faint- Your Retro Career Melted
Teddybears Stockholm- Automatic Lover

Fun for everyone!

Hello again.
Tonight I do not bring much banter but I do bring some songs. My abstaining from illegal downloading has been very painful, tonight I yearn to download limewire despite the concequences. There are so many records I need that I do not have the money to buy: truly devestating. With this post I decided to be un-lazy and actually plug in my external hard drive and post some songs. I know it seems sort of hypocritical to not download illegally and then post songs to people to download for free but it is truly just a taste, and you have to have a taste before you commit to the whole thing. I bring you some songs I spoke about last post, from The Shins and Bright Eyes.

The Shins- Sleeping Lessons from Wincing the Night Away
The Shins- Saint Simon from Chutes Too Narrow
Bright Eyes- Easy/Lucky/Free from Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Bright Eyes- At The Bottom of Everything from I'm Wide Awake it's Morning

Also I would just like to urge anyone who reads this to go and read a book by Chuck Klosterman. I just re-read Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs yesterday for like the 10th time and it is still a great book. I think I like his writing because he writes the exact way I think and about things I think about. The essay about the Sims is amazing. If you don't read the whole book at least read that essay!

sleepless, moneyless, hopeless

Here I am awake at 5 am yet again. Yesterday I managed to fall asleep around 1 and wake up at a normal time so I thought maybe I would be good today but of course not. Insomnia really makes you crazy, I spend so much time alone in my room while the world sleeps. The only person I have spoken to in the past 6 hours has been myself, in my head of course. It sucks. Additionally I cannot just lie in the dark and try and sleep because I start to have anxiety attacks thinking so much. I definitely need to up my dosage.
In other news lately I have been listening to a lot of Bright Eyes and The Shins. Wincing the Nigh Away is an amazing record! I have always stood by Oh, Inverted World as my favorite from the Shins but I think I may have to change that. "Sleeping Lessons" is by far one of their best songs, "Australia" is also amazing and the transition into "Phantom Limb" gives me chills! Great music.
As for Bright Eyes I have been giving Digital Ash in a Digital Urn many listens as well as I'm Wide Awake its Morning, my two favorites. Conor Oberst can really do no wrong, even when he is bad he is still good. "Easy/Lucky/Free" is incredible, as is "At the Bottom of Everything". But still his older stuff like "If Winter Ends" and "The Calendar Hung Itself" always gets a play admidst a Bright Eyes marathon.
Oh! I am also broke, I get like 15 hours a week at work which is incredibly dumb. If anyone wants to hire me please do! Email me I like to work!
peace

New year's resolutions

My resolutions for 2009...

-Blog more
-Eat Less
-Budget my time online better
-Fall asleep when it is dark
-Exercise
-Listen to more music
-Read more
-Get my GPA up
-Get a sweet internship
-Graduate early (this will more than likey happen)
-Save some money

what are yours?

Yeah so its a little late

Because of the new year I feel the need to share some of my "top whatever" lists for 2008. I really only care about music so I guess I will just fo with the top 10 records of 2008...

1.Lil Wayne Tha Carter III
2.She & Him Volume I
3.TV on the Radio Dear Science
4.Sigur Ros Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust
5.Beck Modern Guilt
6.Kings of Leon Only By the Night
7.My Morning Jacket Evil Urges
8.Nine Inch Nails The Slip
9.Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
10.MGMT Oracular Spectacular

honorable mention The Killers Day & Age

I am still unsure about the order...this will have to do.

2009 could go either way I think, new records are expected from AFI, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, The Horrors, M. Ward, The New Pornographers, and many more.

Here are some downloads that really have nothing to do with what I just listed but they are good songs nonetheless.

my favorite Beatles song, "A Day in the Life"
The New Pornographers "Sing me Spanish Techno"
Death From Above 1979 "Black History Month"