Got Something For You - Best Coast and Wavves

I have been on a very long break from everything. I have a fair amount of things to say in this post, so here we go:

First of all, it's Christmas. Even though I'm not a very Christmas-ey person, I've attempted to compile a list of songs about Christmas by searching in my iTunes the word "Christmas". I found nothing. The only song I could think about on the top of my head that was about Christmas but didn't have the word "Christmas" in the title was, this one - the one that now holds the title of this post. Yes, I didn't get a Christmas present because my parents are very Asian and very Buddhist. Yes, we pretended that a banana tree in our backyard was a Christmas tree. And yes, I sent out Christmas letters to my friends who live all over the globe.

Gremlin from Tumblr

Secondly, Google now sings to me. I've been on Google for the past hour or so, playing with the little colored buttons that I find extremely fascinating since I've always thought Google has been failing to become the least bit interesting (this has proven me wrong!).

Lastly, I have found new bands and new songs that are to be posted in the near future (I promise!!). So for now, Merry Christmas everyone, and have a lovely, lovely one.

This Charming Man - The Smiths

here's a picture of Bombay Bicycle Club from rosielord's photostream

I'm so sorry I haven't been posting much lately - just been a bit busy. You know when you have something really important to do, and you really really really need to do it? Well yes, that has been happening for a few weeks now (thus my horrible posting schedule).

And in these few weeks, I have been studying and trying to get things done while all my other friends are out partying and celebrating the end of the year. Of course, I'm the one left without a social life and kept indoors with all the books. I think I'm starting to become an anti-social bitch without a life or actual good grades. 

I've also been listening to an awful lot of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! lately. I'm not a type of person who would listen to CYHSY! a lot, but I do have them on my iPod and I admire them. They're very cool with the vocals and the little guitar riffs here and there, but their music also seems to light up my mood. I feel as if I do make less and less playlists everyday, but I have to apologize - it's because of my lack of time.

I Don't Know How To Love - The Drums

the style rookie

gracemiceli

Each day I sit here wondering what I'm going to blog about. I often think of interesting topics to write about during the day, but when I actually get to the computer I just forget everything. I was planning to go out and develop all the film from my disposable cameras, but instead I ended up tramming to JB and getting the new Drums album.

Portamento was exactly what I expected it to be. A bit more upbeat, a bit more mature, and a bit less reverb. I may or may not have mentioned this before, but they have bass now! Before it was all drums and catchy guitar riff, but Portamento changed my view of The Drums.

I've been on a hiatus lately, just caught up with studying and having a life, but I think I'm going to get back to making playlists soon. So just count this as a quick update to let you all know I'm still alive, even though I've caught a cold. A few days of not going to school leaves me to endless days of watching Mean Girls and Mean Girls 2. Do not watch Mean Girls 2. I'm warning all Regina George fans out there who expect a similar Tina Fey-esque humor in Mean Girls 2.

ciao x

Haby Bay - Bye Bye Bicycle

google

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

On A Train - Yuksek

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