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January 6th, 2009

05:08 pm - the top ten musical long-playing recordings of 2008 2008 was mostly a crap year for music. I find it incredibly frustrating that nothing really new or exciting has come out since 2004, and most of the "new, exciting" bands are just rehashing old styles. That having been said, there ARE still a number of gems, and you will find most of them on this list. There is one good thing about this year, though, and that's the fact that this is the best year OPM has heard in a long time. A multitude of great new bands released records, including Taken by Cars, Ang Bandang Shirley, The Dorques, The Rinka Collective, Yosha, the Out of Body Special and The Vince Noir Project. A lot of promising stars defied the sophomore slump and came out with really good follow-ups like Drip, Up dharma Down and Pedicab. Lastly, old favorites like the Itchyworms, Sandwich and Ciudad came out with some of their best material for 08. This year in Pinoy rock for me was more exciting than the last five years combined, to tell you the truth. Right. On to the music! 10. Beck - Modern GuiltThis may sound a bit off, but I'm not a big fan of Beck when he's being Beck. Classics like Odelay and The Information don't really appeal to me, but I do adore the records he centers around certain styles or themes. For example:Midnite Vultures, with its Prince-ish, cheesy disco sound; or his folk masterpiece Sea Change, which has become one of my all-time favorite breakup records. His latest album belongs to that vein of Beck album, checking 60s psychedelic rock and 70s folk rock for inspiration and brilliantly combining the songs with his signature beats and beeps. As if that weren't enough, Beck brings in Danger Mouse and Cat Power to collaborate, resulting in my personal favorite release from a major artist in 08. recommended tracks: Orphans, Gamma Ray, Youthless 9. Black Kids - Partie Traumatic Listening to Black Kids' dance masterpiece Partie Traumatic, the following are the first lyrics you will hear: Knock, knock Who's There? Call the ghost in your underwear Call the ghost in your underwear who? Call the ghost in your undearwear "boo!" how can you not love these morons? recommended tracks : Hit the Heartbrakes, Listen To Your Body Tonight, I'm Not Gonna Tech Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You 8. Up dharma Down - Bipolar I am a bit ashamed to admit that "Oo" is the number one most listened-to song on my iPod; not because of the song itself, but more because it exposes me as a weepy sap who listens to songs on repeat when in love. Much has happened to UDD since that gem was released two years ago -- relationships were formed, some were destroyed; bonds were strengthened, crimes were committed. Bipolar shows how much we can all change in such a short time, and it's painfully evident in everything from the chaos of its opener "Blessed" to the solemn resignation of its closing bonus track "A Purse of Stories". There's a line from the quiet break-up song "Unspoken Definites" that could sum up what Bipolar is all about -- "I've got everything to lose, so why not lose it anyway?" It would be too presumptuous and amateurish of me to say that I feel I've matured along with the band as well, but isn't that what good music does when all is said and done? recommended tracks: Taya, Unspoken Definites, and my sentimental fave Sana, which is a tribute to one of my childhood heroes Odette Quesada 7. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrrow Stairs A lot of people have been complaining about Death Cab for Cutie's new record. "It's mediocre," they'd say, often following it up with the question "why couldn't they have done something as good as the other albums?" Can't say I didn't see it coming, though. DCFC has finally reached that point in their career where they really don't have anything else to say, and instead are focusing on expanding their musical horizons. It happens to the best of them -- R.E.M. and "Monster", U2 and "Zooropa", even The Beatles and the white album. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just means that most of the time what you'll hear will be art for art's sake. Besides, there are a lot of gems in Narrow Stairs, like the powerful opening track "Bixby Canyon Bridge", the depressingly poignant "Grapevine Fires" and the masterfully-written "Cath" (how could you not be in awe of lyrics like "she holds a smile like someone would hold a crying child"). Alas, there are songs like "Talking Bird" and "You Can Do Better than Me" that feel like Ben Gibbard took a shit on his hand and hurled it at his fanclub. So what do I say when I hear people complain about Narrow Stairs? "It's still pretty good. You know-- it's like all their other albums were my number 1 or 2 of the year and this is just like... a 7." recommended songs : Cath, Grapevine Fires, Bixby Canyon Bridge 6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend On the initial listen, Vampire Weekend's debut album is a bit of a disappointment. Then again that's probably because all year long every blogger and their sister has been praising this band to high heavens. After giving it a few more chances, however, I've found that "Vampire Weekend" is, at its very heart, a good-natured, friendly pop album that just happens to use esoteric, rich people instruments. The album already feels like an instant classic, and I predict that every track on this record, much like the songs on Moby's Play , will be used in every possible commercial. They'd also get a lot of airplay on Wes Anderson films if it didn't feel like Wes Anderson films were the primary musical influence for the band. recommended downloads: A-Punk, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, Oxford Comma 5. +/- - Xs on Your Eyes Back in 2006 +/- made their debut on this list with Let's Build a Fire, which I still consider to be their best album, . Their latest record is a totally different animal -- something more mature and, well, subdued. This is the first album where they really wrote and recorded together as a band, and it shows. Much of the electronics have been replaced with a fuller, more organic sound; which is great because Chris Deaner, one of the greatest drummers alive, really gets to shine in this record. It must also be said that Patrick Ramos's material on this record is his best yet, and I've always been a big James Baluyut fan and the man's just the gift who keeps on giving. I won't lie -- a big part of why they're on this list is because they came over here and gave one of the most memorable concert experiences I've ever had in my life. recommended tracks : Snowblind, Subdued, Unsung 4.Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell Two years ago, Tokyo Police Club's EP "A Lesson in Crime" was my EP of the year. It had an effect akin to getting punched in the face, except after you're riled and ready to get into a fight you find that your opponent has run away. Their debut LP, Elephant Shell, hardly packs as much punch as the first release did, but it's still the sort of rare rock n' roll record where you're not afraid to smile and actually have fun while you're dancing. Just take a listen to the "Your English is Good" anthemic catchphrase "Oh! Give us your vote! If you know what's good for you!" and Tessellate's addicting bassline, and you'll find that its unpretentiousness and powwow attitude will make you want to stay in the ring longer than you have to. recommended songs: Tessellate, Your English is Good, Listen to The Math 3. Ciudad - Bring Your Friends A lot of people criticize me for putting Ciudad on my top of the year lists because they think I'm tooting my own horn. Nothing could be further from the truth -- I haven't been Ciudad's manager for more than two years now and Bring Your Friends is their first album that I didn't name, have a song in or even have anything to do with. If I am at all still connected to Ciudad, then it's as their biggest fan for 14 years now. Their latest album is a triumph, exhibiting a certain sense of depth that can only be gained through pain. From the moment frontman Mikey Amistoso sings “don’t be certain, I’m not hoping, I can’t see the sky” in the opening track "Vanessa, Wait for Him" to his final words of resignation, “this is the last thing I want to do… I can’t imagine life beyond this” in the closer "The Last Thing I Want to Do", it feels like reality has finally caught up with them. Listening to Bring Your Friends f is heartbreaking. It’s also comforting, and strangely enough, elevating. recommended tracks: Underwater, My Emptiness, You Should, The Last Thing I Want to Do 2. Mates of State - Re-Arrange Us If there is a band I feel closest to in the United States, it is Mates of State. Not only because they give great intimate live shows, or because their albums are so delightful, but mostly because as a fan I was able to see them blossom from cutesy indiepop boyfriend/girlfriend to troubled husband and wife and then further on into grown-up parents. All their albums seem to mirror the stages in their lives as a couple, and I find myself rooting for these two not only as artists, but as people. Their fifth album Re-Arrange Us is their best album since their 1999 debut My Solo Project, mostly because it's the one that sounds most different from that. The sound is fuller, more ethereal, utilizing everything from grand pianos to strings and horns. The beauty is, even re-imagining these lush pieces in the Mates of State signature drums+keyboard arrangement, these songs are more significantly evolved. recommended tracks: My Only Offer, The Re-Arranger, Jigsaw 1, Taken by Cars - Endings of A New Kind A milestone in my history of music list-making, since this is the first time a Filipino album has made it to the top. I'm not saying that this is a classic like the Eraserheads' Cutterpillow or Cynthia Alexander's Rippingyarns, but it definitely has the makings of one. At first listen Taken by Cars feels like another generic dancepunk act, and they're good at what they do. One of my favorite singles this year, "Weeknight Memoir in High Definition", is irresistibly head shaking, as are songs like "The Blackout", "Uh Oh" and "Neon Brights". Tracks like the quiet "The Afterhours" and the elegant "Shapeshifter", however, are what shot this album to the top of my list. They show vocalist Sarah Marco's soulfulness and solace, and perfectly fit her cool, distant voice. The pundits can hate all they want and say things like "Taken by Cars just rips off bloc party", but I'm really proud and in love with this band, and for my money they can kick Bloc Party's ass any day of the week. recommended tracks: Weeknight Memoir in High Definition, Neon Brights, The Afterhours, Shapeshifter HONORABLE MENTION: Kaki King's Dreaming of Revenge, and those dreams are beautiful. CSS's Donkey has arguably more solid songs than their initial outing, but lacks the wit and tongue-in-cheek appeal the first one so brilliantly displayed. Ben Folds' Way to Normal is nice, but way too normal. Juliana Hatfield teaches us How To Walk Away, and it's solid, but it just didn't make the list. I love Flight of The Conchords, but I'm not sure if I'd feel the same way without the TV show. Portishead have outdone themselves again, shedding off their trip hop skin and once again making new roads of music with a sound that is both retro yet uber-experimental. Hot Chip's Made in The Dark, TV on The Radio's Dear Science, Cut Copy's In Ghost Colours and Foals' Antidotes are excellent dance albums. I'm especially proud of The Dorques, because their album is a hell of a lot of fun (though honestly Alessandra Tinio is sorely missed in the record). BEST EP: Strangely enough this wasn't a good year for EP's, but following the local theme of this article Eggboy's Dragzbanny EP is a great electronica record. Diego Mapa is one of my top three Filipino songwriters ever, and even though his songwriting genius only shines in the more oldskool Eggboy track "Suko Na Ako", the rest of the EP is a good testament to Mapa's evolving SINGLES FROM ALBUMS NOT ON THE LIST: Alphabeat's "Fascination" and MGMT's "Electric Feel" are my favorite singles of the year, though if we count singles from albums not released this year then Paramore's "That's What You Get" is the hands-down winner. Oh, and I really do love Juliana Hatfield's "My Baby..." and "This Lonely Love". VIDEOS OF THE YEAR: Spike Jonze is my lord and saviour. Kanye West's video for "Flashing Lights" is another reason why. Jorma Taccone will be a great man, just you wait. And if it's not for Lonely Island's addicting and hilarious "Jizz in My Pants", then it's for his portrayal as a heartbroken sap in Gnarls Barkley's "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"? Encyclopedia Pictura's video of Bjork's "Wanderlust" is a bit overrated, but nonetheless a wonderful testament to vision and originality. And if you don't love it yet, you will when you see it on 3D. Kieth Schofield's video of Supergrass's "Bad Blood" is the best performance vid of the year, and I suspect we'll see some local band ripping of the video sometime soon. Funnily enough, when all is said and done, i still go home to Patrick Daughters' brilliant video of Leslie Feist's "I Feel It All", His promos for "1 2 3 4" and "My Moon, My Man" were the best of 2007, and now we have this. Feist's videos always make me smile, and remind me of how lovely life is. 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 Tags: lists, muzak

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May 6th, 2008

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December 31st, 2007

04:34 am - the top ten musical long-playing recordings of 2007 Dancing and pain; that is what 2007's top 10 is all about -- songs that move the hips or break the heart. It's been quite a strange year for music; so many of my favorite artists from both my youth and the recent years returned, and almost all of them came out with major disappointments. To add insult to injury, some of them, especially the Smashing Pumpkins, were life-changing artists too. Another uncanny aspect to this year's list is that it's filled with bands that I didn't expect to like as much. I'm so sick of dancey postpunk revival music-- but lo and behold, they make up half the list! Which is probably a good sign -- at least some people are evolving. Oh! And I'm excited to tell you that unlike the past few years I'm having a very difficult time choosing album of the year, so at least there are two albums this year that are worth it. All in all, it was a so/so year in music. Either that or I'm getting old. I used to have 1,500 tracks collected for the year and for 2007 I'm down to 725. That's why the list is early, I guess. Or maybe it's because of my guilt over giving it in late last time. So without further ado ... 10. Architecture in Helsinki - Places Like This This Melbourne supergroup releases another beautifully unclassifiable record, mixing together everything from Eurotrash to rockabilly; electroclash to good old fashioned synthpop. Vocalists Cameron Bird and Kellie Sutherland have mastered the fine art of boy/girl mixing to a T, and their carrier single "Heart It Races" is one of the most LSSable songs from the past year. Places Like This isn't necessarily Architecture's best album, but it sure is the most fun. recommended tracks : Heart it Races, Debbie, Hold Music, Nothing's Wrong 9. Jose Gonzales - In Our Nature Jose Gonzalez is one of those indie artists that will always get love from the ladehhs, and for a number of good reasons. Number one is that his music, reminiscent of Nick Drake and early barebones Elliot Smith, will always be used by men as make out music. Number two is that he makes some of the most lovely covers I've heard in a while, including a version of Teardrop that's almost as good as the original. Number three, the most important of course, is that he gets a much-envied spot on the OC soundtrack, which ensures thousands of instant teen female fans. So, girls, you know what to buy next. And guys, get this album right away and put it to good use! recommended tracks: Down The Line, Killing for Love,Teardrop, Cycling Trivialities 8. New Young Pony Club - Fantastic Playroom The only new artist this year to make it to the countdown, New Young Pony Club are a fun, fresh and quite attractive addition to dancepunk. Bands like them and CSS are bringing an aspect to the sub-genre that it sorely lacks -- a sense of humor. Whether vocalist Tahita Bulmer sings "I can give you ice cream, we could be a sweet team, melting in your vice dream, spawht" in a faux-brooklyn-whore accent ("Ice Cream"), or talks about you knowing that you're the bomb ("The Bomb") she does it with a vibe that is totally inviting; a breath of fresh air from a usually elitist scene. recommended tracks : Get Lucky, Ice Cream, the Bomb, The Get Go 7. !!! - Myth Takes This album, for lack of a better word, is epic!!! Percussion, trumpets, handclaps, electronic devices, even black lady backup singers!!! !!! is going all out with their major label debut, and it pays off!!! Myth Takes is the best party record this year, and one should probably look forward to hearing a lot of these songs in commercials, TV interstitials, product AVPs and the OC (yes it's cancelled but that won't stop it from uncovering the best in todays cutting edge music!) in the next few years!!! recommended tracks: Must Be The Moon, All My Heroes are Weirdos, Heart of Hearts,Bend over Beethoven 6. Blonde Redhead - 23 For almost 10 years now Blonde Redhead would be that band that I'd listen to occasionally but never really get into, so it's a pleasant surprise that they've finally made my top 10. Cool. This strange trio, composed of twins who also look like gay lovers and a high-pitched Japanese art student who recently got trampled by a hourse, have finally stopped emulating Sonic Youth and developed a sound uniquely their own. The result: their previous masterpiece Misery is a Butterfly and now this, their seventh album. Dark, nostalgic and haunting, yet also at times extremely dancey,23 is strong, challenging stuff. They also have the coolest album packaging and some of the best music videos released this year, so bonus points to them. Recommended tracks : Dr. Strangeluv, Spring and by Summer Fall, Top Ranking 5. Pinback - Autumn of the Seraphs After such serene, sleep-inducing albums as Blue Screen Life and my personal favorite of theirs, Summer in Abaddon, Rob Crow and co release a record that feels less unified than its predecessors. Seraphs sometimes feels like a mixtape, opening with " From Nothing to Nowhere", a considerably heavy track, and jumping to the signature Pinback-sounding "Barnes" before moving on to the very optimistic and upbeat "Good to Sea". The rest of the album is equally as confused, but after a while it grows on you, and one may later realize that this is a breath of fresh air compared to the earlier records, which can sometimes sound like one long song. recommended tracks : Good to Sea, Walters, Blue Harvest, Barnes 4. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga This is just fucking glorious. Everytime Spoon releases an album they seem to skirt around the top 3, and they're one of the bands I admire the most right now. It's great how they always manage to subtly reinvent themselves, resisting the temptation of staying in the comfort zone music critics and hipsters have created for them. The one thing Spoon does better than anyone is achieve more with less, and that's most apparent in the brilliant "Don't You Evah", easily one of my favorite singles this year. The bonus CD is pretty damn good, too. recommended tracks : Don't you Evah, Finer Feelings, My Little Japanese Cigarette Case, Finer Feelings 3. Interpol - Our Love to Admire Anything that comes from Interpol I will hold dearly to my chest; sniffing the album sleeve, almost licking the surface of the compact disc. Lucky me, then, that Our Love to Admire is still pretty good. I was afraid that after leaving Matador records, which seems to be the good luck charm to many a band, Interpol would get bland. They haven't. Their third album is a very steady effort-- something that's perfect for driving or playing in a store. I must admit that I do miss the long instrumental jamming interludes that the first two albums had, but at least these guys didn't end up becoming the Killers or something. recommended tracks : Pioneer to The Falls, How My Heart Behaves, The Scale, The Heinrich Maneuver, Pace is The Trick OK. I can't take it. I was going to choose between two really good albums this year, but it's tearing me apart. So for the first time in my history as a music fan I'm deciding to make it a tie. 1.Radiohead - In Rainbows I've tried many different configurations of what I'm about to say next, but this is the one that really hits the spot : I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH. In this so/so year of great life-changing bands coming out with the most mediocre crap, the untoppable Radiohead comes out with something that is enough to make you kneel upon initial listen. It's their best album in 7 years; a collection of some great old stuff (especially "Nude", which they've been performing on and off since OK Computer) and minblowing new material ("All I Need", "15 Step"). It seems the band has finally gotten over their experimental Kid A/ Amnesiac phase and combined that with their alt rock roots to make something I can only describe as good music. And the best thing about it? IT'S TOTALLY FRAKKIN FREE. Thing is, with the "choose-your-payment" policy Radiohead's been implementing in their site, it seems as if the band is making more money than they ever have, and without the backing of a big record label or major radio/television promotion the band is more popular than ever. Mark my words -- it's 2007 right now, but in three years this will be considered the most important album of the decade. Hopefully Kid A will be number two, hahaha. recommended tracks : just download the whole damn thing 1.Feist - The Reminder Now I know this seems like an unlikely candidate, especially since Leslie Feist's sophomore release has now become Marie Claire/ Starbucks fodder, but when this album was first released I was going through a very difficult time, and The Reminder just seemed to singlehandedly get me through it. Filled with songs about regret ("So Sorry"), changing ("I Feel it All", "1 2 3 4"), distance ("the Park") and gratitude ("Intuition"), The Reminder is the only album ever made that makes me cry, and even while listening to it as I write this I'm getting teary-eyed. Making this number one was a very personal choice; one I may regret later, but one that is also unquestionably a reminder of myself in 2007. recommended tracks: again,i advise you to get the album. It's quite powerful, when listened to in order. HONORABLE MENTION : Moving Units' Hexes for Exes. After 3 long years, my favorite dancepunk band releases their sophomore effort. They sound cleaner, more polished, more practiced... and that's exactly the problem. Hexes for Exes will grow on you, and it has its fair share of gems, but I miss the grit and lo-fi sensibility that placed Moving Units a cut above the rest. Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew's Spirit If... is a great mood album, and gets loads of bonus points for featuring 90s indie rock heroes like J. Mascis and Spiral Stairs of Pavement. Minus points though for not enough Feist or Emily Haines, which is probably why this isn't really a BSS album in the first place. Arctic Monkeys' Favourite Worst NIghtmare has the most 5-star rated tracks in my iTunes this year, but for some reason I can't bring myself to listen to the album straight through. The New Pornographers' Challengers, Mice Parade's Mice Parade, and Modest Mouse's We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank are great listens. Elliot Smith's New Moon is a really strong record, something I prefer to his two previous releases. On the local front, Cocolulu's "8 bit love + singles" was my favorite. DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE YEAR : the biggest disappointment isn't really a disappointment because i knew in my heart that Billy Corgan no longer has it and whatever he does will suck eggs. it's just that right before listening to Zeitgeist I went through a 236-song Smashing Pumpkins marathon and almost lost my voice because I haven't screamed along to music since, well, Melon Collie and the Infiinite Sadness came out. So i listen to the new Pumpkins with low expectations and man were those expectations too high. And it's so funny how one forces oneself to listen to an album over and over in the hopes that it would "grow on you". it didn't. Minus The Bear's Planet Ice was also quite disappointing. It was one of my most awaited albums of the year, and it ended up being the proverbial "ok lang". Finally, we have Dinosaur Jr.'s Beyond it's a nice old school alternative album to listen to, but I can't believe we waited like 13 years for this! I'm just happy that Lou Barlow's back with the band, ya know? Haaay, how we set our idols up only to destroy them. BEST EP: Yeah Yeah Yeah's Isis is solid. No song is wasted, and the strength of the songs will leave you reeling after the short listen.The EP seems to be Yeah Yeah Yeah's strong point, because all the EP's that came before this one packed more punch than the full-length albums as well. BEST LIVE ALBUM: I'm almost tempted to go ahead and say that Juliana Hatfield's Live Album is it. Since it's her first live recording, it feels more like a best of of her whole career, and so it should be sought out. But! Amazingly enough there's something even better, and it's Life Without Buildings Live at The Annandale Hotel. Life Without Buildings released only one album in their career with a very small label, but over the years they've garnered a huge cult following who have discovered their music through mix tapes, accidental listens and the "music:______" box of livejournal. Annandale, released half a decade after their album Any Other City, is the closest thing fans can get to a second album. And it has some rare songs in it as well! If you haven't heard Life Without Buildings before, this is a good place to start. SINGLES OF THE YEAR : Most of them have already been mentioned, but y'all might want to try and give Arcade Fire's "No Cars Go" a listen. It's an old song, but the Neon Bible version is exceptionally great. "Knights" by Minus the Bear and Maximo Park's "Books From Boxes" are ace singles from mediocre records. Oh, and if you haven't yet you HAVE to hear Jenny Owen Youngs' cover of "Hot In Herre". MUSIC VIDEOS OF THE YEAR: No question about it, my current favorite music video director is the great Patriick Daughters, whose videos for Feist, made at the same time, totally blew me away early this year. Check it out : the now-classic 1 2 3 4 and My Moon My Man, which I might like even more simply because it's been my dream since forever to make a music video in a walkalator. Props also for the video of Interpol's No I in Threesome, another of those vids that make you stare at the goddamn monitor trying to figure it out. Also, my man Tom Kuntz has gone and made a video that isn't comedic... and it's wonderful. Here is LCD Soundsystem's All My Friends which makes you feel weird then almost want to cry then feel weird about almost wanting to cry. genius. Dougal Wilson's Bat For Lashes promo is just amazing, and for some weird reason I'm quite in love with Jason Albertin's video of Emily Haines and The Soft Skeleton's Our Hell 2006 2005 2004 2003 . wow I just realized Thom Yorke's been number one two years in a row. daymn. So what's on your list, elchay frenz? Tags: lists, muzak

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November 29th, 2007

11:22 pm - warfare, love, sex videos, rock and roll goddammit, trillanes. now, i do admit that i believe in magdalo and voted for the guy, and really i did wish all the best for him when he got elected, but what the hell was that stunt?! how am i supposed to believe in this guy as an alternative to our corrupt government when his concept of "serving the Filipino" is walking out of due process, getting a bunch of angry soldiers with guns together, and raiding another hotel full of innocent bystanders? it's barbaric, not to mention poorly planned. in other words, pampagulo lang. i don't know why instead of going on and on about how corrupt GMA is they don't just hold an interview and present the facts. i mean, everyone's dying to have them on air anyway. and then you have miss crimes against humanity. if the UN has findings that the AFP is behind the killings of the leftists, it's only a matter of time now before they get to her. Arroyo is getting sloppy, and scared. she's grasping at straws, and her mistakes are getting bigger and more numerous every time. i know that Filipinos easily forget, but the phrases "media blackout", "salvaging", "arrest without miranda rights" and "curfew" are very strong ones, and like the worst allergens they open very old and deep wounds. but enough of the negative, and on to the positive-- pilya is my idol. almost getting teargassed, creeping out of her safe urdaneta home to take pics of the events that transpired, GETTING INTERVIEWED ON CNN! whodathunk that our baby TAMTAM would be capable of such things? read about it here. Mich recently blogged about dealing with her apprentices growing up. to me Tammy will always be that little angsty ICA girl who complains about everything. ah, that heavy thump in the heart-- that is pride, my friends. +/- speaking of little girls growing up, you have Maui, my ex-girlfriend, who i will always remember as the one who forced me to have our picture taken with Ed Roland of COLLECTIVE fucking SOUL. and last week, in one fell swoop miss Maui Reyes was able to achieve two things many of us have been dreaming of -- getting engaged and getting namedropped in Neil Gaiman's blog. how? best if the lovely couple explain themselves here and here. congratulations, you two! as for me, the only kilig-worthy moment i got with Neil was him telling me "why yes i did see your film, and i quite liked it, actually. in fact, I forgot to say this in the interview but it was one of the primary influences in me holding a short film competition here next year(!)" malamang stir, but when my imaginary keka deluxe edition dvd never comes out at least i'll have blurbs from Jessica Hagedorn, Quentin Tarantino and Neil Gaiman at the back, hahaha. +/- rock awards will continue, and i am a fucking mess. it's the first time in its 13 year history that i will be directing the rock awards, and along with the facts that there're 42 bazillion other events at the same time, a celebrity drought, and slight chance of really heavy rains, PGMFA might extend curfew. fun fun fun. good thing i have the best office in the world, furball, to help me. ( this is what a normal day at furball is like (sex scandals under the link) ) quote of the day: Asia Agcaoili: i-post nyo yan sa facebook ha! don't forget to tag me! ganda. +/- we have a new band. we are called Us-2 Evil-0. we played first gig in secret in the recesses of BF Homes, but are now a bit more encouraged to battle against evil. gig 2 will be at Mag:Net, Bonifacio High Street on December 1 along with other new bands for Revolver. we hope to see you so you can share our message of love. yes. that shirt again. yes. sweat stains rule. Current Music: velocity girl - nothing Tags: muzak, politics, rock awards, tribute

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September 25th, 2007

02:44 am - la haine engendre la haine so i saw Coheed and Cambria the other day... and i found it very strange that all around me there were children. CHILDREN. they weren't even the target market annoyingly referred to as "Tweens". these were 9 year olds sporting emo haircuts, hanging on to their fathers whilst sitting on their chairs. in my mind i wondered if, back in '85, when Guy Picciotto was flinging himself through basketball hoops and crying during gigs, he foresaw the masses of little children sporting bad haircuts he would later indirectly inspire. also, old man me only discovered then that Pete Wentz was actually not the frontman of the band, but the bass guitarist. this brings forth the query -- why is this man supremely popular? because he is banging ashlee simpson, i guess. and then he starts talking about Iraq and politics and i can't believe it because the army of 9 year olds surrounding me start cheering. WE BELIEVE IN YOU PETE WENTZ! WE SUPPORT YOUR VIEWS REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION AND HOW WE ARE FIGHTING A WAR NOT WORTH BELIEVING IN! scream the 9 year olds. or maybe not. my mind tends to wander when i hear songs with titles like "The Carpal Tunnel of Love". i miss the days where bands like Blink 182 knew their place in the world and would just use the concert stage to curse a lot and make sex and shit jokes. alas. +/- ok FOB fans. now it's time to get back at me and throw tomatoes at me. come one, come all to The WhyNot? Forum. concept (7) Ingenious Filipinos, 15 minutes each - sharing their ideas, passions, dreams. The WhyNot? Lineup : MARKETING MAVERICK. Dondi Gomez, Managing Director Unilever Philippines. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATOR. Gang Badoy, RockEdPhilippines RAINMAKER. Entrepreneurship Professor Jay Bernardo, AIM - ACE TECHNOLOGIST. Dr. Greg Tangonan, Ateneo. DESIGNER. Brian Tenorio, Tenorio Manila. DON'T WORRY HE JUST LOOKS LIKE A PEDOPHILE. Quark Henares. DREAMER PRIEST. Fr. Ted Gonzales, S.J. Center for Family Ministries. Performance by radioactivesagoproject. Hosted by Bam Aquino. --- It's going to be on September 27 (Thursday) 7pm to 10pm at Warehouse135, Yakal St Makati City. * ONLY 300 slots available * Entrance is P300, which already includes one drink and light snacks. For reservations, email whynotforum@gmail.com or SMS 0928.5055713. http://whynotforum.multiply.com +/- and best director name ever goes to Kenneth Anger, the sexually-experimental Theleman who went to dancing school with shirley temple volume II of The Films of Kenneth Anger is coming out. seeing as my birthday is coming and all, that would be a nice gift. and then i can watch Scorpio Rising on mute whilst listening to "Sugar We're Going Down". it should prove very disturbing. +/- happy birthday, Mihk. it seems so long ago we went home after a very tiring Super Noypi shoot and you had a mini-celebration with me, potatocoatedair and Mang Rudy. may you have a drama free 08. but then that's what we wished ourselves a year ago, goddammit. +/- hey look guys. it's HAPIPAKS. Current Mood: plugs, kalokohan, muzak, rakenrol Current Music: charging robot - oplan pag-ibig Tags: kalokohan, muzak, plugs, rakenrol

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