50th Anniversary of James Dean's Death

Some things are too cool for school. James Dean is one of those things.

Ryutaro and Akira

Looking fantastic.

Current Releases

The theme this week is current releases, it even has one song that hasn't been released. The sound quality seems lower than usual, I'll try to fix that soon.

1. The Strokes - Juicebox
Posted for you people who are being monitored by the man and can't download the song. I leave the review up to you.
2. Goatbed - Says Says Says
An all out 80s dance song. Analog drums machines and analog sythns, the whole business. It is definately cheesy to an extent, but it still has some great melodies. I love that bass melody in there, very New Order.
3. Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah - The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth
Described as a mix between Neutral Milk Hotel and Talking Heads by Pitchfork not me. I hear the David Byrne though. Quality song, begins with a great key riff and builds up layers and layers of atmosphere. Great vocal performance.
4. Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah - Is This Love
Turns out the song it called Is This Love. I recorded it from a KCRW performance. Fantastic melodies in this song. Seems like the lyrics aren't shabby but kind of hard to understand what he's singing.
5. Belle and Sebastian - The Eighth Station of the Cross Kebab House
From that War Child Record. A cool reggae/dub style song, but with a creepy atmosphere. I really like the breakdown that steps down and the synth accordian, gorgeous tone.
[radio.blog]

Juicebox

If you're savvy on the latest Strokes happenings you know their new single is called "Juicebox", what you might not know is that it's been leaked. So for your enjoyment or probably more accurately your outrage, I present "Juicebox". It was originally called "Dracula's Lunch" which is way cooler. To be removed on Monday.

Juicebox

Light - Water Reactor

Finally, there's something political I want to write about. I feel like a real blogger again.

Recently, after some weeks of negotiations, North Korea decided they would dismantle their Nuclear program in return for free electricity and the US saying it won't attack North Korea. North Korea decided though that they wanted a free nuclear reactor too. They want a light-water reactor, which is for energy purposes and is much harder to convert into a weapon's reactor. These are extremely expensive and take years to make.

North Korea you greedy bastard. North Korea constantly has a food shortage and now that they have a chance to help their own people they decide to ask for something ridiculous like this. They're getting free energy, what do they need a reactor for? It's quite dissapointing.

Negotiations will continue in November and hopefully a resolution is made because this shouldn't keep going on.

Themeless

I couldn't really think of a theme. 4 songs on the radio.blog, one for download.

Tracklist:
(Listed in prefered order of listening.)

1. Cali Gari - Da dan di dan dan
The title meaning nothing, it's just said in the song.
The first 1/2 is extremely funky, while the 2nd half has lush vocal harmonies and twinkling sythns, it's nice.
2. Cali Gari - Mahoraba Blues
Funkiest song ever? It just might be. Some absolutely amazing, mind-blowingly funky bass. It's not all just funk though, there's definately some great danceable jazz rhythms too. I love, love the chorus.
3. M83 - America
Probably my favorite M83 track. The song has such a tension the whole way through. Swooping sythns are played over a woman speaking frantically, it's pretty neat.
4. Cali Gari - Seishun Kyousou Kyoku (Seiun Risshi Hen)
To me this is a best pop song ever. I honestly mean that. Everything about this song is perfect to me. Every single melody is amazing, everything seems effortlessly perfect. Definately one of my all time favorite songs.

[radio.blog]

Download:

MUCC - Kataribe no Uta
The stop-go rhythm in this song makes it for me. Not sure how to describe it, but it's a winner.

Awesometown

I recorded my favourite bit from the theme song to Awesometown. Awesometown being a comic work courtesy of The Lonely Island Trio.

Awesometown

Nintendo Revolution Controller

If you're hip to the next generation console happenings, you know Nintendo has been saying the controller for their new system will be radically different, well, it is. It's a TV remote type thing. At first, I thought WTF Nintendo that's just stupid, but it actually seems pretty cool. You wave the controller around to move. Push it forward, your character goes forward and etc. Still waiting to see it in action, it may be too simple, but I like the idea. I really like they way that new console looks too, very chic.



[1up]

More Family Guy

I just can't help myself, I have to post Family Guy stuff.

Click pictures to enjoy audio accompaniment. Listen to in order.

radio.blog mellow mix

The theme this week is mellow, calm music.

Tracklist:

1. Quruli - Bara No Hana
I really enjoy this song. I really like the vocals and the piano motif. Very relaxing, at least to me.
2. Kings of Convenience - A more upbeat song. The song is very airy sounding, not dense at all. The whole thing is mildy playful, with a jazzy rhytm and sparse, staccato melodies.
3. French Kicks - Trial of the Century
Another sparse song. In this song though, it creates a feeling of loss. At least to me it sounds nostalgic. A very beautiful song.
4. British Sea Power - A Lovely Day Tomorrow
It has elements of your standard British Sea Power song, like the huge sounding guitars, but that is contrasted by an acoustic guitar. It has a triumphant sound. I like the way this one ends quite a bit.

[radio.blog]

Hey Sandy

In order to create nostalgia I'm posting the Pete and Pete theme song. Yes, I can play it on bass. Radio.blog is coming tomorrow. In case you didn't notice, it's every Monday.

Polaris - Hey Sandy

Family Guy Movie

Perhaps you haven't heard of it, you know, because it hasn't come out yet. Either way I got it and it's lacking, I won't lie. It had some moments, but no ridiculously hilarious moments. In addition, the unedited swearing isn't nearly as funny as edited swearing. Watch it I guess, if you have the time, it might make you laugh, but could make you laugh more. Well, yeah that's about enough.

Ipod Nano

Odds are by the time you read this the news will have already spread all over the place, but I will post anyway. Yesterday, my man, CEO of Apple, Steves Jobs, announced the Ipod Nano. If you know me, you know I'm a supporter of the minidisc format and don't really care for the Ipod. This new Ipod though, it's enticing. The max size is 4 gigs, 1000 songs, which is "limited". The battery life is 14 hours, photos, screen lock, calender, games and so on. Not bad, plus look at it, it looks so cool. I'll probably still get a minidisc player, but this has me interested.

Norway, Too Prosperous?

I found this article on the BBC and it's got some funny views on Norway, the most prosperous country in the world.

In an interview with a party leader the reporter asks why his numbers could be down, the country is doing so well.

"Well, maybe people just want a change."

"I do not think anyone can possibly understand how boring a general election in the world's best country really is."

"There simply is not much left here to fix and, for one tedious moment earlier this week, it seemed the main debate between the political left and right would be the price of petrol, which is higher than normal in this country, too, these days."

"An English friend, who started work as a doctor here a few years ago, was shocked at the number of perfectly healthy octogenarians who came to see her.

"They come in," she complained, "just for a check-up and a prescription, and I rarely find anything wrong with them."

"She was not used to people over 80 visiting her surgery, she said, let alone perfectly healthy ones.

'And then,'she sighed, 'these Norwegians tell me they haven't got much time, as they are off for their daily cross-country skiing run.' "

Funny to me at least, but as mentioned does draw an unfortunate parallel.

[BBC]

80's radio.blog

This week the theme is the 80's. That and music with English lyrics. Actually, I don't have Japanese music from the 80's anyway. Well, onto the tracklist.

1. The Orange Peels - Something In You
Ok, not from the 80's. Great California-esque pop song, featuring some fantastic Mellotron string parts. (LOUD, turn down volume before playing. Weird for a pop song, I know.)
2. New Order - Perfect Kiss
A pop/dance song. Signature Peter Hook bass work. The main melody is all Peter Hook and it's so catchy.
3. New Order - Ceremony
Apparently this song was written for Joy Division but ended up being recorded by New Order. I believe this was used in some recent movie, "The Life Aquatic" was the movie, just the trailer, thanks Nick. A really nice song. The atmosphere's are so huge sounding. I can imagine someone running to catch up to their love before they leave, in slow motion.
4. Madness - It Must Be Love
You'll recognize this. It was in a commercial recently, might still be playing.
5. Arcadia - Keep Me In The Dark
The artier side project of some Duran Duran members. I'd say the song has a somewhat cold feel. It still has a dance beat which creates an interesting contrast. I really like the sweeping keys and staccatto guitar parts. Probably the best "Duran Duran" work.

radio.blog

The website hasn't worked too well for me, so tell me if there's problems.

Two Openings

At the age of 80 William Rehnquist died. This creates a second opening in the Supreme Court and of course gives the current President the chance to appoint another Justice. Unfortunately that could lead to a clearly conservative court and we all know those conservatives are itching to overturn Roe v. Wade. It's a scary thought and there isn't much that can be done about it.

What Happened to Ang Lee?

If you're in the know, you know that Ang Lee directed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". I think that movie was amazing on so many levels. Then he went and did "The Hulk" and I stopped caring about him. Well, two years after "The Hulk", Ang Lee has come back with something that's surprising. He's making a gay cowboy romance film. Now, odds are that fact alone will draw most of the attention, but for me the way Ang talks about it, is most important.

"When it comes to love, there is no difference for me between the love I have for my wife and the love a man has for another man."

I'd have to agree. The movie is called "Brokeback Mountain". Stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, might be good.

Nothing

In contrast to US weather events, my blog has certainly suffered a drought this week. Sorry, I can't think of anything to write. I'm working on it. I do recommend the Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks though, it's fantastic.