30.10.11

Haby Bay - Bye Bye Bicycle

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I realized I should talk more about music since I've been contemplating a lot about actually writing about bands and different artists. You all know I have filled up that time with pointless rants, therefore making me Queen of Procrastination.

So yes, if you have not heard of the band Bye Bye Bicycle before, I suggest you stop reading this right now and just go to their page on Myspace. Once you have an idea of what they sound like, or if you can be bothered to read about me talking about them, stay.

Bands like Bye Bye Bicycle, The Young Friends, and French Films are bringing new wave back. These of course, aren't as known as other new wave bands like The Drums (that's all I can think of right now that have a similar sound). The beachy 60s' type sound, and the use of reverb just gives people that nostalgic feel that either makes you REALLY annoyed or REALLY nostalgic. Bye Bye Bicycle has a really dreamy sound in most of their songs, and really strong bass. Whereas, The Drums doesn't have much bass (up until their recent album, Portamento), and still have remained their signature sound.

I have only 4 songs by Bye Bye Bicycle, but have already fallen deeply in love with the band. They remind me of The Smiths in the song "Northpole", for some odd reason. Myself, a Smiths fan, knows and will always know that no band can replace Morrissey's dreamy vocals and their signature sound, but the first thing I thought of when I heard this song was The Smiths.

I hate bands who copy sounds from other bands, but I'm not trying to say that all bands have to sound different and as "individual" as they can because sometimes they just turn out sounding weird. Bands these days just start copying sounds off people, I won't name any just in case you readers like them and start to feel offended, but you know what I mean. That's why new wave is so awesome! It's because everyone can be whoever they want to be, but is still heard and has a relatively "sane" sound.

I haven't said much about Bye Bye Bicycle, but if you haven't checked them about because you can't be stuffed or if you just simply don't like them, thanks for sticking around.

ciao x

27.10.11

On A Train - Yuksek


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a still from the film - which is still shooting

I think this blog has become somewhat of a failure to me. But that's just me being my pessimistic self that I am. I've been thinking of things to blog about, and it came to me - book reviews! I've never done a book review yet, so I guess I'll try one today. It might not seem like a typical professional critic's review because I have lots to say about this book, and I apologize if you readers were expecting a really expert-sounding, cool, review.

Okay, I'll get to the point. I've chosen The Perks of Being A Wallflower (1992) by Stephen Chbosky to review on, just because this book is so special to me. I read this book around three or four months ago when I was on holidays and I felt like it was important me to accomplish something (which is, to read a book). I remember looking up good reads online, and that didn't work out since I didn't find anything interesting enough for me to go out and buy. Prior to me buying the book, I had heard about it multiple times from friends and some sites on the net because of its popularity. At first, I wasn't really interested but I eventually got around to buying it anyways.

I actually downloaded it on my dad's kindle first, but I felt a bit empty since I prefer books to kindles. I went to around four or five book stores all around Bangkok, searching for it. Once I had bought it, I went home, re-read it, sat on my bed, and poured my eyes out. I was saved by the book. I have never been so head-over-heels in love with a book like this before.
Charlie's perspective of life, and how he feels "infinite" made me realize the true outlook into life (does that make sense?). Charlie is a 15 year old teenager who has just started high school. In the very beginning we find out that his best friend has committed suicide, and that Charlie doesn't actually have any friends. He meets Patrick and Sam, older kids who are into good music and cigarettes. He goes through so many phases in the book, and things us teenagers can definitely relate to. There's just this sadness and self pity in the way that Charlie writes to his anonymous friend - as the book's layout are in different letters. I won't say anything to spoil it for those of you who haven't read it (GO OUT AND BUY IT NOW), but the ending shocked me.

As you Harry Potter/Lightning Thief films fans know, they are making a movie out of this book. I've got to admit, I was a little angry when I found out they were turning it into a movie. I ignored all the harangue coming from my friends about how "Totally fricking awesome the movie is gonna be!!!". I thought it was one of those books that aren't meant to be movies, do you know what I mean? But after Longan Lerman was cast as Charlie, Emma Watson was cast as Sam, and Ezra Miller was Patrick, I realized that everything was going to be just fine. The promo pics have come out, and I'm more than glad to see the result of it - since Stephen Chbosky himself is directing the film.

This 213 page book was a gift, a true gift to me and other readers who feel the same way as I do. And I thank Stephen Chbosky for writing it, I really do.

Sorry for the short-ish post but I'll post a playlist I made to accompany the book a while back. Some of the songs were mentioned in the book, and I thought they were appropriate to add into. I never got to post it, so here it is.

Perks
1. Flightless Bird, American Mouth - Iron And Wine
2. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
3. Squealing Pigs - Admiral Fallow
6. Asleep - The Smiths
7. Brick - Ben Folds Five
7. Abandon - French Kicks
8. No Surprises - Radiohead
9. This Charming Man - The Smiths
10. Blackbird - The Beatles
11. Vapour Trail - Ride
12. MLK - U2
13. Nothing to Worry About - Peter Bjorn and John
14. Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel
15. Practice - Slow Loris
16. Landslide - Fleetwood Mac

Hope you enjoyed it, ciao x

22.10.11

How Soon Is Now - The Smiths

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Before I decided to write this post, I suddenly remembered that a few weeks ago, a friend of mine had deeply insulted The Smiths. I'm no one to judge the universe's music taste, but I've got to admit I was a bit broken by her words. I was dancing in my room to "Jeane" - as I often do, and she said that Morrissey had a horrible voice, and the music made no sense. Then, she just as I was about to turn to her and tell her that she was the only person who made no sense, another one of my friends came into my room. She asked me what I was listening to, and I replied by "Why?" and she said "It's horrible!". Sometimes I want to kill my friends, but I love them nevertheless their horrible music taste.

Anyways, the other day I accidentally deleted a whole folder of playlists (maybe 10 or so), and I was very sad. I couldn't retrieve the one I had prepared for this blog post, so I thought I would just post the one that is in my 'Listen To' playlist.

1. Young Blood - The Naked And Famous
2. Trial Of The Century - French Kicks
3. Time & Place - Last Dinosaurs
4. Puddle Jumpers - Big White Clouds
5. A Postcard To Nina - Jens Lekman
6. On A Train - Yuksek
7. I Want The World To Stop - Belle & Sebastian
8. Honolulu - Last Dinosaurs
9. Feathers (Don't Change On Me) Absofacto
10. Colours - Grouplove
11. California Birds - ABADABAD
12. Alps - Last Dinosaurs

This is probably my worst playlist to date, but I'm still overcoming grief and trauma, so please give me time to recover.

I just want to talk about Jens Lekman for a bit. He's a lovely Swede, makes synth-pop music, in a cute storybook style. His songs are amazing, and I feel as if I can understand all of them. If you're a fan of him, you've probably heard "Yours Arms Around Me" in the film Whip It (2009), (it's the scene where Ellen Page and whatshisface are in the pool, making out). A few years ago when I was really into Girls Like Boys and Fallout Boy and Paramore, I hadn't really listened to the lyrics of the song but more the melody and how "cool" it sounded - even though now I know the lyrics made total nonsense. Now that I have started to understand music in a deeper level, I've started to listen closely to the lyrics. In the song "Your Arms Around Me", I especially love the bit that goes: what's broken can always be fixed, what's fixed can always be broken. How true is that!

Anyways, enough of my rambling. Have a nice week!

9.10.11

Weekend - Class Actress

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On a lovely day like today, people might come across the internet and find this article. Yes, it's here! A review...

Well I finally wound up and decided I would do a movie review - sorry for the disappointment if anyone was looking to read an album review. Well I first watched the movie The Art Of Getting By (2011) just last night, on the plane to Melbourne. I have been looking forward to watching this movie for a very, very, very long time, and I couldn't seem to find it anywhere! I first downloaded the amazing soundtrack a few months ago and I was hooked. Just yesterday, I was about to risk the well being of my laptop and download the movie file filled with viruses, but I stopped myself in time. I cried of happiness as I scrolled down the pages of films on the tiny screen on the plane and found the movie I have been looking for five months.

Storyline (Copied from the IMDB page)
Believing the quote that you are born alone, die alone and everything else is an illusion, George doesn't see the point of life, school, or homework. Then he meets Sally and he now has a reason to go to school and make friends, even if he's not ready to admit to himself or to her that he likes her. The school's principal and art teacher introduce him to an alumni, and successful artist, Dustin, who can help guide George along life's path, but other distractions start surfacing, and George might not even be able to graduate from high school.

Review
The movie is a bit of a cliche, and is extremely predictable. It's one of those rom-coms that you could just say "Yes, they're soo going to end up together, she's going to leave her totally hot boyf and he's going to realize he loves her...", something like that. But still, there were amazing elements to the film that got rid of all the cliche-ness and the corniness. Like the fact that the main character, George (Freddie Highmore) had this shitload of homework to finish because of his believes in life. I think that the main character just has this honesty that is just so sad and lonely. He's extremely deep and wears a trenchcoat around the city.

As of the lead female, Sally (Emma Roberts), I was a bit hesitant to think that she had actually nailed the role. She was a bit shaky, and the chemistry was really just alright. I didn't really understand what kind of person she was, and she didn't send a clear message throughout the film.

Another stand out point is the art teacher (I don't remember what his name was). To make up for all the assignments he had missed for the whole year, he assigned George a painting. He said it could be of anything, anyone, anywhere, big or small, absolutely anything. The only condition was that it had to come straight from his heart, not something he just did because he had to do it. Whatever he had to say that he hadn't said before, he should express it into the painting. It had to be personal and real. Well obviously George painted Sally (I saw it coming). And also, in the class in the beginning of the film he told George to paint.
George: I have nothing to say.
Art Teacher: Then find something to say!!

I knew before that the film was going to be called "Homework", but was later changed to "The Art Of Getting By" for some sad reason. I honestly thing "Homework" is a much more appropriate title than "The Art Of Getting By", just because the whole story is mainly evolved around homework. The only reason he met Sally was because of his issues with teachers and work being done. But I can't do anything about the title anyways..

For those of you who have seen the film, I have have some questionable thoughts from some of the scenes in the movie. First of all, why was Sally laughing when they woke up at her house the night after the club? And did George's mother know that her husband didn't have a job?

So anyways, the film didn't turn out as quirky and lively as I expected it to be. Instead, it was kind of dark and mysterious with George's obsession with death and life. I liked it, and I highly recommend it to people who like watching teenagers obsess with weird things (I do). I enjoyed it a lot, and yeah, that's pretty much it.

Ciao