Another Anomaly

Future Music Festival Malaysia

2012-03-13T23:20:00.003+08:00

WHAT IS THIS FUCKING NONSENSE?

I only heard about this a couple of days ago... I'M ABSOLUTELY UPSET RIGHT NOW. I looked at flight tickets and all, the whole trip will cost around SGD300. I don't have enough cash on me at the moment, and then there's work, and then the MOM-factor...

what should I do...?

Baybeats Bands 2012

2012-03-02T00:39:00.007+08:00

(click on picture to enlarge)

Can't believe I haven't talked about the bands at the Baybeats 2012 2nd round auditions. All of them were pretty great. But i really, really, really love Pep Talk, Anechois, Cashew Chemists, and Black Diamond Folds.

Pep Talk are so cute. They're so shy! But lovely, lovely melodies and really impressive lyrics, especially, I Sailor. Anechois is indescribable. They're good. But their sound is too similar to a lot of other post-rock-type bands. Maybe with a bit more time they'll 'find their sound'...? Cashew Chemists are so chill. Very laidback, very understated cool. Black Diamond Folds sound like professionals. Their music has a very stadium-rock feel, I can picture them playing for a large crowd, but they lack the showmanship though.

BUT DUDE THEY'RE ALL GOOD, not just these few.

YAY SINGAPORE.

baybeats.com/2012

R U Mine

2012-02-27T22:11:00.000+08:00

Have fun girls.

2012-02-26T20:27:00.004+08:00

Where we goin?

To the Moon.

motormouth maybelle

2012-02-26T13:47:00.006+08:00

(Zero XU)

Okay, so recently, I've been pretty obsessed over the idea of owning a bike, ever since I watched Long Way Round.Oh, to travel on a motorcycle would be divine!

Then I saw the Zero XU motorcycle. I'm mostly attracted to how pretty it looks, hah. Seriously though, I think it's gorgeous. The headlamp is big and the handlebars are low so it gives off a very retro feel. And the body looks quite badass. Zero makes bikes for dirt-biking and all that shenanigans so some of the shape and style of this Zero XU are pretty similar to dirt bikes. So it looks pretty fierce.

But the BEST thing about this bike is it's an ELECTRIC bike! I love it. It doesn't require gasoline at all. I absolutely love the idea of it. Just that, how the hell does one charge it in Singapore? I mean, It's not like my HDB parking lot has a spare socket for me to charge the bike. Maybe I should write in to the town council... Make this place a little environmentally friendly. Well, there are a few places, they're all called 'GreenLots', but it's not like you can find them everywhere. It's a little inconvenient to travel to Parkway to charge my bike before I start my day right..?

(Brammo Enertia)

ANYWAY, I found another gorgeous-looking electric motorcycle, the Brammo Inertia. This one looks like a badass motherfucker. All the bikes look small, which is perfect.

I've been considering scooters and mopeds, but it's kinda pathetic-looking though. They're cute though, just very unpractical.

And the Yamaha RX 135. It has an old-school feeling around it. i kinda like it.

But the bike license factor is annoying though. It took me about more than a year to finally complete my drviving lessons. But I havn't even sat for the test yet.. Motorbike license is probably much easier but so much time....... Ugh. I should though, right..?

CANCELLED

2012-02-25T18:03:00.003+08:00

So, Foo Fighters cancelled their 2nd March concert here in Singapore, and a couple of Japan shows. Dave Grohl hurt his voice or something..

I cannot tell you how dissapointed I am about the show's cancellation. But I'm more worried about Grohl's voice though. I hope it's not too serious. I wish you a speedy recovery, sir.

Lighten up people, they'll be back.

Nxggas In Paris

2012-02-23T23:05:00.000+08:00

AMAZEBALLS

this past few weeks...

2012-02-22T01:35:00.003+08:00

went for Baybeats auditions. blew my mind

went for Kasabian. blew my mind

went for Laneway. blew my mind

went to see Great Spy Experiment. and Pleasantry. blew my mind

I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

TraseOne

2012-02-01T22:35:00.008+08:00

I found a guy in Singapore who specializes in street art and actually puts up his work for sale. BUT he's pretty good, actually. I especially love his shadow skaters series, understated and mellow. Anyway, here are some of his recent pieces.

Trase One

TraseOne

TR853-1

TR853-1.com

MONA

2012-01-27T23:16:00.004+08:00

Finally gave MONA's album a listen. I cannot tell you enough how brilliant it is. Every track is an explosion of sounds.

The melodies, the bangin' drums, the sweet guitar riffs, along with Nick Brown's amazing vocals makes for the perfect record. There are some slow, sad songs, of which some builds up and explodes into a folly of emotions. And some of them are upbeat and rockin', but not of the happy, dance-able type. It's more of impatient excitement rather than positivity. I guess that's what I love most about the record, there's a lot of complicated and mixed up emotions in the tunes. All the tracks have a very old-romantic type of sound, wanting to move on but desperate to hold on to the past.

It really is a total rockin' record.

PRADA Fall 2012/2013 Menswear

2012-01-18T21:56:00.006+08:00

Prada Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear runway show with Garrett Hedlund, Jamie Bell, Emile Hirsch, Tim Roth, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, and Gary Oldman

I loved every minute of this.

Taken from danielradcliffed.tumblr

2011-12-31T23:59:00.004+08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2011-12-18T22:49:00.000+08:00

“But maybe all art is about just trying to live on for a bit. I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.”
— Banksy

PHANTOGRAM - When I'm Small

2011-12-14T13:52:00.002+08:00

Ok umm. I really, REALLY like this song. the monotonous plucking of the guitar and her voice and the buildup of the elements in the song is a really really good combination.

The Features

2011-12-14T13:11:00.003+08:00

The Features - That's the way it's meant to be

oh man. this band is so louddd! i love it. Found them on Breaking Dawn's soundtrack, whatever. Haha.

I like the loud guitars and very noisy drums and the scream-singing voice. Ok there's a lot of similarities to Kings of Leon and Mona, i get it. Some of their other songs like Leave It All Behind even remind me of Mando Diao. But they are more...happier and upbeat..? Yeah, they have a fun element to their sound. Makes me happy.

YAY TO NEW MUSIC.

Otis

2011-12-13T23:52:00.002+08:00

Today I'm in a romantic and very happy mood.

Lioness: Hidden Treasures

2011-12-09T12:26:00.005+08:00

Listening to Amy Winehouse's album, Lioness: Hidden Treasures... It's all so overwhelming.

It's a good album. The songs are a mix of original versions, covers and new songs. I guess it's a balanced mixture of songs that sound like girl groups and singers from the 50s and 60s, classic R&B and hip hop.

The original version of Tears Dry On Their Own really got to me. It's a wonderful version. And I think because it's one of the songs I'm most familiar with on the album, it just reminded me of Back to Black and the first time I found out about her.

I really, genuinely miss her. I was very excited for her comeback or whatever.

And that last song is brilliant.......

(sigh..)

RIP AMY ♥

Amy

2011-12-07T23:14:00.001+08:00

She's so amazing♥

(gonna go check Sarah Vaughan out now)

Angelina

2011-12-07T22:02:00.005+08:00

“Brad has expanded my life in ways I never imagined. We built a family. He is not just the love of my life,he is my family.” Angelina Jolie - Marie Claire January 2012.

I guess I just realised I want that. I want to meet someone and realise he's become someone vital and so much a part of me and my life and who I am that he has truly become family. I hope I can be the same for him.

Picture source: angelinaoursexymama tumblr

Come Undun

2011-12-07T01:18:00.004+08:00

Forgive me. I've never heard any of The Roots' material until this album came out.

But this album, there's nothing about it I hate. Nothing. I love the slow, laid back beats. It has a really chill vibe. And in the some of the tracks, like, Make My and The Other side, even though the rappers are going on about frustrating themes over the relaxed beats, you can still feel the chill vibes. Though it comes off in a way that represents how people who are suffering just do it in silence without complaints, and they are angry but they just shrug it off, somehow indicating a more hopeful view they have of the world because of faith and their spirituality. It's a nice vibe, a very nice feeling to have.

(I'm probably reading into it too much, but really, the tracks are...good.)

Buy the album. Listen to it proper.

Religion

2011-12-02T15:25:00.002+08:00

karen armstrong’s talk in st andrews:)
I went to a talk by Karen Armstrong yesterday and i was really inspired by her. The way she talked about religion was so mature and so powerful. My friend told me to write a summary and I thought maybe i should share it here to.
Ill try and sum it up as best as I can InsyaAllah.
She started off by talking about the definition of God. How Catholic priests and nuns from her childhood used to define God and say that he was a perfect ‘being’. She said that scholars of religions (I can’t rmb who but Ibn Sina included) would be terrified because you can define God. He is beyond our understanding, beyond our very realm of existence. How can we define God who is so omnipresent yet not physically present. Like Aquinas, she says our notion of existence is far too limited to apply to god - God is not a being, but being itself.
She then moves on to talk about Transcendence. We all have a yearning for transcendence. When we feel that we inhabit our humanity more than at other times. She said that people in the UK especially have lost interest in God and so we try to find that feeling of being with God. When you experience some feeling that is out of this world, the feeling when you feel you are indeed experiencing God. She compares this to sitting in a symphony that was so great and majestic but the silence after the performance and before the applause is so powerful, so transcendent. She says people have stopped looking for that feeling in religions so we turn to music, films, art, travel, sports, sex and passion. She talks about how good theology should help you to live in the moment of silence that follows an instrumental, the beat that is pregnant.
Why have people lost interest? We have lost our belief in myth, she says. “We have lost an understanding of what ‘myth’ is….it is now defined as fabrication, this is not myth. Myth is timeless.” Myth was a programme for action. It could put people into a posture, the belief of something. And it is often followed by ritual. “You can’t be a good dancer without actually dancing! Religion is also practical discipline. It must be embodied and enacted, not just a head trip.” She gives the example of Christ asking for commitment when he asks for ‘faith’ - work night and day for the coming of the kindgom of God. She gives the example of the ritual prayer of Muslims. Quran is a call for action for zakah, building a just society etc. All these values have to be put into practice.
So she moves on to question the definition of Belief. What is belief? Is it accepting a set of rule or norms? Or is it really about practicising, giving yourself to the ideology, giving your loyalty and your heart?
She moves on then to talk about compassion. Every religion has an ethic of compassion. Jesus, Muhammad a.s., the Jews all lived in violent societies. The great religions of the world all demanded a main moral: compassion, leaving the ego behind, TRULY understanding the pain of the other man, of the other society. The golden rule of Confucius, “Treat others as you would like to be treated, whatever culture, ideology or belief they hold”. Jesus told us to “Love thy neighbour, love thy enemy”. Muhammad s.a.w. said “None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” These values of ‘love’ and ‘respect’, how do we interpret it? We have don’t have to love our neighbours in the traditional sense but we must indeed learn to be loyal to them Protect the other parties best interest even if it goes against yours, leaving your ego behind, being the better man. We must remember of how little we know. “We are such an opinionated omniscient society.”
“If religion has any point today, then it must be about community and living together in harmony and respect.” If the leaders understood the Golden rule, the world wouldn’t be the state it is in today. If the US understood the 9/11 from the muslim pov, so many things could be different. If the fears and anxieties of fundamentalists and extremists are being addressed, truly and sincerely, what kind of world would we be living in today?
We all strive to build a global community that is harmonious and made up of different beliefs. How do we achieve this? If we stick to the Golden Rule, if we use the compassionate voice of religion against the voice of extremism whether in the political sphere or the religious sphere. Compassion is about loving each other even in difference. When we truly realise the pain of others and feel the pain as well, only then will we become god-like.

I took this off of my friend's blog.

Find her: Macaroons On Monday

Dre and Snoop in SIngapore

2011-11-30T11:34:00.004+08:00

Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg perform together for the first time in a loooong time here in Singapore (SINGAPORE?!) at the Mnet Asian Music Awards. They only performed one song, "The Next Episode". Even though the the whole performance looked like they were just trying to advertise the Beats by Dre headphones, it was unbelievable that they were actually performing on Singaporean soil. Crazy exciting.

But the song featured Nate Dogg's hook so it became a little sombre toward the end. RIP Nate Dogg.

Still, thanks to Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg for gracing us with their presence. Too fuckin exciting. can't believe i never got to see them at all..

How To Make It In America

2011-11-30T00:29:00.002+08:00

The Mixtape: Volume 2 by HowToMakeItInAmerica

I love EVERY song. I love the show. I love the setting in New York. I love the boys in it. I love the girls. I love everything about it.

OFWGKTA

2011-11-26T12:34:00.009+08:00

I mean... I can't even.. hahahahahahhaha

This guys are crazy awesome. They don't care about anything. All they wanna do is have fun, and entertain and make people laugh.

And Tyler, the Creator is brilliant. I mean I read the interview/conversation from XXL magazine with Nas and he just really wants to look out for his friends and make sure they're all looked after. I mean, you look at him and you can tell he's not just all about his music. He's all about his record label, Odd Future Records, the tshirt designing, the cartoon show, Regular Show... He's all over the place trying to help his friends out. He's all about his friends, all about them being together. Going up together. It's great. It's nice to see this in the industry. It really is.

follow them on tumblr. they're crazy fucking entertaining. http://oddfuture.tumblr.com/

Tyler, The Creator

2011-11-26T11:42:00.003+08:00

My god this guys are craazyy. I LOVE IT!

Drive

2011-11-22T09:17:00.004+08:00

I just watched this movie. It was good. This scene was fucking intense. The suspense was crazy.

The character is intense as hell. Always gloomy, always sombre. The soundtrack is cool.. It gave the movie a very old school, 80's feel. I like how there's a lot of long silent pauses throughout the movie.The characters don't have to say anything and we already know what they're thinking what they're about to do next, etc. Ryan Gosling is an amazing actor.

But I didn't see the need for so much blood and gore. ugh, too much blood.

Oh. Don't watch the trailer before you watch the movie. its an ultimate spoiler.

*editted*

I can't help but think, What if they hadn't used Ryan Gosling as the actor? I think they should have used a greasy, beefy guy who just looks like he's given up with the world. But when he meets the female character and her kid, his character just melts...

I mean, I think it's because ryan gosling gives off a vibe where he just really, really cares for women in general, so we can't really tell whats so special about this lady. I mean, I know there's another female character whom he treats like crap, but you can tell he didn't really want to, he actually HAD to do it to get the info he needed. I dunno. Ryan Gosling pulled off the character so damn well, but maybe he isn't the right guy...?

BUT what do i know? i'm not the casting director, and i've yet to read the novel... This is just my own point of view as an audience member.

Animal

2011-11-22T08:45:00.003+08:00

What is it with Nashville and crazy good noisy rock bands?! I mean, first was Kings of Leon, who aren't technically noisy... then there's MONA, and they are just hella brilliant. Now this.

Bad Cop sounds rad.

Thank you Nashville!

Cage interview

2011-11-18T23:30:00.002+08:00

Here's a good interview with Cage.

Actually all his interviews are great. No vague answers. He goes straight to the point, but yeah, he says a little more in this one.

the social network soundtrack

2011-11-18T00:44:00.004+08:00

I LOVE EVERY FUCKING THING ABOUT THE SOUNDTRACK FOR THE SOCIAL NETWORK. EVERYTHING. THE SCORE IS FUCKING PERFECT.

props to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

for more info on the soundtracks and the scenes, go to ReelSoundtrackBlog.

I really love the film. I seriously fucking love The Social Network.

ps: even cage is on it!?

chris palko and ian curtis

2011-11-16T01:59:00.009+08:00

so i'm listening to Cage. and I'm listening to a song, I found my mind in Connecticut from his latest album, Depart from Me. and in the middle of the song I here Chris Palko say Ian Curtis.

This Cage guy's story keeps getting better and better every time. I wonder how much influence Ian Curtis had on him. Musically, spiritually, his perspective on life? I don't know, maybe he just likes Joy Division's music and Ian Curtis' dark lyrics... Whatever it is, Joy Division is brilliant, Ian Curtis is legendary (RIP) and Chris Palko is simply amazing.

MANIAC

2011-11-08T20:53:00.005+08:00

Props to Shia Labeouf. My perception of him was always 'That goofy Even-Stevens kid'. But this has increased his cool factor by multiple folds. Haha.

Kid Cudi is crazy cool. And goddamit, that smile is creepy...

Now, who is Chris Palko aka Cage?

At first I thought the white dude was an actor. He really gave off a believable psychotic vibe, then I found out he's a badass, 'horror-core' rapper who used to have mental issues(?). I like his music, I think. I don't know, I haven't really decided. But I do know I love almost all the songs in his latest album, Depart From Me. And he has this dark and moody thing about him, seems quite mysterious. He must have a lot of stories to tell.

If you care, listen to 'Nothing Left To Say', 'I Never Knew You', 'Too Heavy For Cherubs', 'Subtle Art of the Break Up Song'... I haven't really found favourites in the other albums yet. Whatever, they're all pretty good.

Oh, his website, www.ChrisPalko.com, is quite scary, I keep thinking some devil-child is going to jump toward the screen with a chainsaw or something. freaky.

Why I love J. Cole

2011-10-29T15:30:00.004+08:00

He's so focused on which direction he wants to go. He knows exactly where that is.

And I like the way he describes himself. I dunno, it's so similar to the way I think about myself, kinda.

The second video is a radio interview. I think it's one of my favourite interviews of him, next to HardKnockTV. And the way the male interviewer was telling him to keep doing what he's doing, I almost bawled...because it's so true. What if J. Cole's sound changes, and his vision gets disrupted or he loses his touch. It'll be heartbreaking if a day like that actually arrives. But I really do believe he'll be able to keep his "artistic integrity" and stay focused. He seems like a grounded person, but what do I know...?

COLEWORLD

Source: J. Cole Nation.

what about your seed?

2011-10-26T12:36:00.004+08:00

Yes. J.Cole released the music videos for Lost Ones.

The video is about a couple in the middle of a heated discussion about what to do with the pregnancy. It's exactly what I imagined the video would be in my head. The very sad and sombre expression on the man and a very explicitly hurt and angered expression on the woman. That feeling of being lost and not knowing what to do and realizing that whatever step they take will result in a huge repercussion on their lives.

I love that he makes songs that touch on topics that rappers don't usually talk about. I mean, he's deep. No superficial shit like all the mainstream and more famous rappers. Even if he mentions his LV backpack, or his Rolex, it's just to explain how successful he's become and not just to show off the fact that he actually owns them. Ok, maybe there's a bit of showing off, but whatever, he deserves it.

I love J. Cole. He knows exactly where the limit is before it becomes too 'manufactured'. He takes control of his own production and strives only for perfection. It's all him. I really hope he goes far.

Live long and prosper, Cole World.

2011-10-07T22:52:00.004+08:00

I feel like changing to wordpress y'all...... You can follow people's blogs and it's easy to find them too. I think I will. Soon. I've been blogging for quite some time now. About the crappiest and irrelevant things in life. And I've been using the same blog for 4 years now. <3 quite proud of myself, though it never really got me anywhere. but its ok. the blog's mostly for me anyway.

YAY.

2011-10-03T00:23:00.001+08:00

"i dealt with my base self, I controlled my many urges"

-talib kweli

i dunno. this just got to me.

Linkin Park at Singapore Grand Prix

2011-09-26T23:31:00.003+08:00

i was there. i was there for them. only them

i finally watched Linkin Park live.

it was amazing.

so amazing.

for you dear, only..

2011-09-17T17:35:00.000+08:00

oh amy..

2011-09-13T00:40:00.002+08:00

I went visiting to my relatives' house the other day. I carried a baby. A kid, not more than a year old. I carried her and she was small and quiet and such a precious thing. And then I felt everything. Everything. This little baby girl was causing all these emotions. Never felt that way before though. It was quite terrifying.

Can't stop thinking about it.

UB

2011-09-07T22:13:00.002+08:00

A week and a half of school has passed. I made new friends. Everyone's so nice and friendly and so willing to socialise. Lectures are terribly boring. Psych 101 isn't as stimulating as I thought it would be. So far the most interesting lecture I have is Sociology 101. The teacher is fun, so the lectures aren't so bad. A lot of videos about different cultures. I almost had a meltdown when she showed a video of a man getting scarring done as a ritual in his tribe. It covered his whole back and he was struggling with the pain the whole time.... I couldnt stand watching him struggle in the video so i started wriggling in my seat and kind of squealed. It was too heartbreaking to watch.

Anyway, all my other lessons are about Computer Science and English, thoroughly boring. Luckily the lecturers are quite nice. My Communication 101 lecturer freaks me out a bit. I think she expects a lot from us, which I actually kind of appreciate. But we already have an essay due in the 2nd week. sheesh.

Ohwell, I'm looking forward to the rest of my years in UB. Hope to meet a lot of different people.

Hurt

2011-09-06T21:52:00.000+08:00

so depressing.
but sooo good.

Johnny Cash. Hurt

2011-09-01T00:23:00.000+08:00

HAPPY EID ALL!!!

Lighters

2011-08-23T00:42:00.003+08:00

Lighters by Bad Meets Evil

yessss. the video is outtt!
great song..

and i love that they showed the 'old slim shady' look. haha.

♥

The London Souls

2011-08-19T15:31:00.002+08:00

HOMIGAWDD.
LOVELOVELOVE THE SOUND.

adidas iconics

2011-08-19T15:18:00.002+08:00

i loooove adidas' commercials. especially adidas originals.
and the beat on here is just siccc. took me forever to find it, bloody youtubers... cant they just share good music??..

its No I.D. - You're wrong (instumental)

Smith Westerns

2011-08-14T00:20:00.003+08:00

When you're young and have all the time in the world but all you do is sit around and hang out with friends and try to stay out of trouble.
Love this video.

MONA

2011-08-13T22:52:00.004+08:00

I just realised this, if I were in a band, we'd probably sound just like Mona. LOUD. The twangy guitars and fierce drumming and that voice........ It's just a brilliant combination of everything I'd love to have in a band. And they don't just make loud, heavy, rock songs. They have really good melodies too, probably because of the producer, but seriously though, they're good. I love, love, LOVE their sound. And I heard recently that they're going to tour with Funeral Party. WHAAAATT?! Too brilliant bands in one night....... I am seriously jealous of all the people who are going to see them both. Very jealous.. Maybe they'll somehow come to sg? hah, yeah right.

Anyway, I hope their sound grows and develops but their fierce "loudness" will still be maintained.

Go buy their album noww.

YOU AND ME

2011-08-12T12:52:00.003+08:00

Essentially, we’re hard-wired to root for love. We want relationships to work out, onscreen and off. We want to believe couples make it, because we want to make it, too. We want to meet cute. We want to fall, head over heels. We want to write songs and have songs written about us. We want things to work out. We want to love and be loved. We want happily ever after, or at least to believe that it exists. Which is why a film like Blue Valentine is so tough to watch. Hollywood, long complicit in the fueling of many millions of happily-ever-after dreams, here slaps us in our collective face: it gives us the whole story. The beginning and the end (and all the highs and lows in between). It’s draining. It’s painful. It’s one of the finest relationship movies I’ve ever seen. Not because relationships are awful - some are, some aren’t - but rather because they are such hard work. And so rarely do we get to see all that hard work - the truly messy and complicated rollercoaster of a living, breathing relationship - onscreen.

The toll that a life takes. Together or alone. The way the years add up to a point where some days they outnumber the reasons to stay. The way keeping a family together takes everything you’ve got, but how you still have to find a way to somehow give even more. The way cute becomes cloying, lust wears itself out, and spontaneity gives way to endless routine. And that silly, stubborn part of you that refuses to let go.

It ought to make us feel ashamed when we talk like we know what we’re talking about when we talk about love. - Raymond Carver

It’s like some old Carver short story writ large on the silver screen: well-intentioned people accidentally imprisoning one another, a worn-down relationship coming apart at its seams, an innocent child caught in the midst of two colliding parental orbits. Lost souls drinking a bit too much, caring for each other, but never quite seeming to get it right.

Blue Valentine traces the flow of a particular relationship, showing you it’s bright flickering beginnings and it’s sad, hollowed-out, gut-punch ending. It follows Dean and Cindy’s courtship and conclusion in non-linear fashion - sublime scenes of the honeymoon-lit first moments of a new relationship, alternating with the burdensome and claustrophobically sad scenes from that same relationship’s final days - and by doing so highlights the painful inevitability of so many of these relationship dances we all do with the partners that, in the end, are just not quite right for us, no matter how close to right they manage to be for a time, no matter how promising the relationship’s beginning. It’s a seduction and a warning all at once, doing for love what Trainspotting did for heroin: how magical and soaring that first high, how crashing and destructive the end result.

We are all trying to recapture that magic in some way. It’s a magic that moves mountains, creates art, and starts wars, a magic that allows us to go on, both (literally) helping to create new life and also making it something worth living. At its best, it’s a feeling of everything finally working out. An integration. A completion. And to lose that - to have it and know it and then to lose it - that takes something awful out of us. We are never quite the same. We recover, we go on, we heal, but we remember. We beat ourselves up with what-ifs and should-haves, trying to pin down the moment where it all went wrong, as if such a singular moment existed. We regret being so vulnerable, putting ourselves out there, and we wonder if it’s ever worth risking ourselves, our hearts, again. (It is.)

It wears us out, love. It wears us out.

by Chad P.

BrightWallInADarkRoom

Otis

2011-08-12T10:38:00.003+08:00

hahahhaha. so awesome. its funny. and trashy. and kind of bromance-y. love it. such a so-happy-im-rich-so-suck-on-that-haterrsss-cos-i-dont-give-a-fuck kinda video. quite funny. and OMG, Aziz Ansari cameo?? dude... haahha

love love love.

what a seriously wonderful start to my morning.

The Experiment.

2011-08-11T17:00:00.002+08:00

I watched The Experiment earlier. My god. It's a good movie. Very thought-provoking.

It got me interested in all the other experiments that scientists have held over the years. Like the Stanford Prison Experiment and the Milgram Experiment. People are potentially crazy scary. You can't really trust humanity. Put them in a situation and somehow, shit happens. It's scary to think that it's possible. But of course, there's proof that all of it has already been occuring in society.

"We are all strangers in a strange land".

2011-08-11T16:59:00.000+08:00

"Females, get over 'cute'. Get competent. Get trained. Get Capable. Get over 'cute'. And those of you who are called Patty and Debby and Suzy, get over that. Because we use those names to infantalise females - we keep females in their 'little girl' state by the names we use for them. Get over it. If you want to be taken seriously, get serious."

9th August

2011-08-10T23:09:00.001+08:00

that's my nation. that's my Singapore.
sometimes it ain't all bad. ♥

2011-08-10T17:06:00.002+08:00

I pray the London riots stop and everyone affected will be ok.

let it out let it out, let it all out..

2011-08-10T12:43:00.006+08:00

this is such an epic performance from the Foo Fighters. I really wish they'd come down to Singapore..

Anyway, I've been watching all the performances from Lollapalooza. So jealous. And i can't stand Alex Turner's very cool new look. hah. Seriously though, have they ever had an asian tour?... well, they should.

I think I should make a list of bands/acts I must see live before I die.
1. The Strokes
2. Kings Of Leon
3. Kanye West
4. Linkin Park
5. Arctic Monkeys
7. Foo Fighters
8. Coldplay
9. Eminem
10. Amy Winehouse (it's impossible but i really wanted to, and it don't hurt if I still put her name on the list, right..)

who would have known how bittersweet this would taste?

2011-08-09T23:53:00.002+08:00

she's amazing

Blue Valentine

2011-08-04T01:26:00.005+08:00

What if that actually happens? What if me and some guy met and thought we fell in love. Or maybe we actually did. And we're okay by ourselves, happy even. Then someone decides its time to settle down and have kids. And then after a kid arrives, after marriage, something happens. What happened? What always happens, Life. Money, responsibilities and the future. Someone becomes unhappy. someone's not getting enough attention. Someone gets forgotten. We lose each other because it's not only just the two of us anymore.. People change. What if each of us changes without the other realising and suddenly we don't like this new us. What then? We fall out of love? Is that even fair?? So what, a divorce? Its unfair to each of us. Its unfair to the child. We fell in love and we did everything to make it work and we end up failing, failing each other. So, what do we do then?.. Was it all not worth it?

oh amy.

2011-08-01T20:56:00.001+08:00

she was so honest with her music and herself.

RIP

♥

Cole World

2011-07-30T22:40:00.002+08:00

im serious.. J. Cole is going to take over hip hop one day.
his studio album will be out on September 27, 2011.

time to go far

2011-07-27T18:01:00.002+08:00

i so need to get some exercise so that one day i'll be able to do this without having a heart attack.

picture: Julian Bialowas

We Are Scientists and Neon Trees

2011-07-27T12:41:00.004+08:00

I went to a concert last night. We Are Scientists and Neon Trees played. Alot of people were there. two different types of people. One came for We Are Scientists, the other supported Neon Trees. It was funny. All the 'indie' kids, there for WAS, mixed in with the underaged pop followers that belonged to Neon Trees, it was quite a scene. Half the crowd kinda left immediately after We Are Scientists played. haha.

It's pretty cool to actually see WAS come and finally play in Singapore. After THREE albums.. Been too long a wait man. Great set but terrible crowd since most of them were there for neon trees.

the crowd for Neon Trees were super hyped up. And Tyler Glenn had really good showmanship, a little too much for me though, but whatever. Anyway, midway through the set, he tossed his necklace into the crowd and I saw it falling toward me so i reached out my hand, thinking 'There's no way in hell its going to fall in my hands. Even if it did, someone's gonna get a better grip and pull it away from me', and then guess what, I jumped and it fell right into my hand. HAHAHHHH. first time i'd ever caught something at a concert. and i'm not even a HUGE fan. I felt bad after... ohwell. And right after the encore, Tyler Glenn sang Love Is A Losing Game in memory of Amy Winehouse. I almost cried.. RIP Amy.

Well, that's it. Pretty rocking show actually. Two bands in one night.

RIP Amy Winehouse

2011-07-26T10:37:00.002+08:00

Amy Winehouse died last Saturday. RIP.
She was such a brilliant musician. She was a badass Jazz singer who didnt give a fuck. Her voice was amazing. So amazing. Its such a tragedy that this had to happen.

I love her music. Always have, always will. I was excited for her next album to come out. I was waiting for her to make a sort of, comeback. She's amazing and I was hoping she could have released another brilliant album to shut everyone's negative opinion about her. But, whatever, she's already left behind a great legacy.

Rest In Peace, Amy. ♥

picture: rollingstone

To the people in Norway, stay strong..

2011-07-25T11:01:00.000+08:00

its not just another spiderman movie.

2011-07-21T15:53:00.003+08:00

Yes yes. The new Spiderman trailer is out! And it's darker. So much darker. I've always loved the Spiderman series so I'm quite excited for this one. Andrew Garfield is going to be distracting but he is a good actor so I'm guessing this going to be one hell of a movie. I'm genuinely excited. YAY.

badass

2011-07-21T15:35:00.004+08:00

Jay-Z and Kanye - Otis

damn.

this beat is so so sick. crazy brilliant.

i've said this once and i'll say it again.

KANYE IS A BEAST

and Jay Z....he's gonna take over hip hop. again.

jive-y

2011-07-21T11:24:00.001+08:00

Wiz Khalifa feat. Curren$y & Big Sean - O.T.T.R

a bit of hiphop for now.
this beat is so good... so jive-y.

i love it.

Entourage

2011-07-18T16:05:00.000+08:00

Season 8. It's the last season. It's officially the last season.

Up All Night

2011-07-15T10:28:00.002+08:00

So... have you heard??? Blink-182 just released a new single! And it sounds amazing....

Listen here.

When it starts it just explodes with all this drum beats and the sounds, much of which is higly influenced by Angel and Airwaves' sound. But the bangin drums remind you so much of Blink's old sound. Then suddenly there's the heavy guitar riffs which catch you off gaurd, but you like it. There's so much influence from everywhere in this song, shows a lot of potential about the direction they're going on the new album. It's very very exciting.

I really am quite excited about their album. I mean who wouldn't?? Blink-182 is back. bitches!

Cole World

2011-07-15T01:27:00.002+08:00

This guy...seriously..he is going to take over the Hip Hop industry one day. seriously. He's so devoted to his vision and getting his voice out there, wanting to be on par with the greats.

I am seriously excited for his album to drop.

coleworld~

Mashup Mondays

2011-07-15T00:50:00.003+08:00

I kind of like this cover. I think its because I mostly miss the band itself. I miss getting excited over them when I first found out about their music. I really do miss getting excited over new bands. Actually, old or new, it doesn't matter. Oh well, I'll find something to entertain myself soon.

Anyway, this cover.. I don't know why but I love this song, ET by Katy Perry. I don't know what it is, but maybe it's the way she sings it. The melody is quite slow and feels almost haunting. Maybe that's what it is. Anyway, Yellowcard's cover started out shaky but he kinda owned it after awhile. Very nice.

I miss Yellowcard.

monday tuesday is my weekend..

2011-07-09T23:16:00.003+08:00

oh yeah, the Strokes' new video came out two days ago. too cute.

Julian looks damn good here. (giggle fits).

Anyway, such a cute video. so random and fun and candid. they're all so nice to one another. so sweet. and i love how Julian just clings on to everyone and suddenly hugs Niko at the end. too cute. I hope they continue doing well with their music and the whole band chemistry thing. so much love for them.

we could have had it all

2011-07-09T22:54:00.003+08:00

geez...........
i really cant wait for Linkin Park to come down and play in September. I really cant wait..

The Believer

2011-07-08T01:15:00.002+08:00

The Believer, 2001 (dir. Henry Bean)

holy shit. just found out about this movie. gonna watch it soon.

Miguel + JCole

2011-06-30T00:43:00.001+08:00

the vibe of this song is killinggggg me..........
miguel's voice is sexxy.

*all i want is you

goodnight.

girls can ride

2011-06-30T00:04:00.002+08:00

Longboard Girls Crew from Juan Rayos on Vimeo.

this is not for anyone special. i just put it up here to remind myself that i've always wanted to longboard down a hill and feel the wind through my hair as everything becomes a blur as i pass them by.

fuck all.

Asaf Avidan & The Mojos

2011-06-29T23:34:00.002+08:00

watch first, ask questions later.

those who don't understand the language he's speaking, he starts at 1:56.

found this on my friend's blog. i seriously didnt expect his voice to sound like that but, wow. so 70s rock and roll-influenced.

just listen.

hoodie allen

2011-06-27T09:40:00.003+08:00

who knew..
this Hoodie Allen guy is pretty awesome.

I love the sample he took from Marina and the Diamonds. And most of the subject matter on his songs are kinda lame-funny, but at least its different and entertaining, rather then just girls and cars and money.
Good stuff.

blood-sucking succubus

2011-06-26T15:03:00.004+08:00

Eminem - Spacebound

its finally out on youtube. i don't really understand the video though.sasha grey is so so pretty. and eminem looks like he's trying hard to look serious, kinda funny.

anyway, enjoy. it's finally out.

spacebound..

2011-06-25T01:21:00.003+08:00

SPACEBOUND IS GOING TO BE RELEASED TOMORROWWWWWWW!!!

REC✚VƎRY

2011-06-21T21:26:00.002+08:00

i had to share. I found this on twitter, and we all know how much of an EminƎm fan i am..

REC✚VƎRY

so cool right? hahhh.

RIP Ryan Dunn

2011-06-20T23:55:00.000+08:00

much love.

never let me go

2011-06-20T17:03:00.000+08:00

I just watched Never Let me go.

That was such a tragic story. So tragic. But so good. The actors, the minimal speech, the scenery, the delivery, everything really just hit me so deep inside. So fuckin' tragic.

sit down and watch this movie alone in a dark room if you havn't already.

can i kick it?

2011-06-18T03:58:00.002+08:00

omg, look. look look look look look at what i founddddddd.

this is gonna be hella brilliant.
and michael rapaport is filming it. he's cool.
hahh.

cool shizzles.

locals only

2011-06-16T22:37:00.000+08:00

I'm going to a gig tomorrow night. Gonna check out some of the local bands, see what's up. I'm quite excited actually, not really sure why though.

Singapore got hope la...................

2011-06-15T01:25:00.003+08:00

hoping that these videos go viral..

support local music, bitches!!

i love arctic monkeys

2011-06-14T16:01:00.000+08:00

i love arctic monkeys. you know why? beacause they have a way with words that just strikes you right at the heart which makes you think to yourself, "How do these guys know so much....?"

HADOUKEN!

2011-06-14T04:38:00.001+08:00

so... I recently heard of this band called Hadouken!, and they're pretty amazing. DJ beats and hard rocking melodies. very fierce sound. I found them on MTV NHD, this MTV Europe channel that shows A LOT of live shows and also introduces a lot of cool bands that are famous in the UK instead of US. cool shizzles. Anyway, just listen to the band..

House Is Falling

Bonnaroo

2011-06-13T16:43:00.003+08:00

Bonnaroo happened over the weekend. Did anyone go? So jealous. Eminem was there, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, JCole.....etc. I really hope to go to Bonnaroo one day. Bonnaroo and Coachella. Anyway, I missed the whole livestreaming of the Bonnaroo Fest sbut I managed to watch a few videos here and there. And I managed to find a user on youtube who has the Strokes' full set! If you want to watch it, find GameswithaJ. Or for videos of backstage interviews or random videos of the campers just find this user, BonnarooMusicFest.

Anyway, the Strokes set were pretty cool. I always go crazy for Albert Hammond jr when they play Take It Or Leave it. All of them were pretty mellow. And Julian Casablancas.....so ridiculous, always saying the first thing that comes to his mind even if it doesn't make sense, no matter how awkward either. hahh.

And Eminem.............. So awesome. I only watched a few videos but he is so back. And the collaboration with Royce 5'9'' is pretty exciting. Can't wait. Just like I can't wait for Dre's new album to fucking drop!!... and Eminem's Spacebound video! like, whathefuck is going on??! Weren't they supposed to be out already?.. Fucking atrocious........haha. But seriously though, what's taking so long?

Oh well. Counting down the days to MY first Bonnaroo experience. hurrah.

dont give a damn.

2011-06-13T16:37:00.001+08:00

i havnt been here in a long time.... but im back!! i wont give a fuck whats going on in the whole social networking world. i will never abandon this blog ever again! im going to continue posting bullshit rants and talk about all the bands that im currently listening to. i dont care if nobody gives a fuck. i love this blog too much. so, im back..

coachellalive

2011-04-18T17:11:00.001+08:00

ok i didnt go to Coachella but thank god for technology. most of the performances were streamed live on youtube. so i sat in front of the computer and watched everything for the whole weeked. hahaha.

anyways, Kings Of Leon headlined the first night and were so good. they played an equal number of old songs and songs from their latest album, Come Around Sundown. it made me such a happy happy girl to finally watch them play live. well, technically i didnt. but im still happy.

Arcade Fire were AMAZING. they play live so so so fucking well. the fast pace song with the singalong chants and the hyped crowd and the glowing balloons. Brilliant. and Win Butler looked so happy to be there. genuinely happy. so happy for them.

and the black keys.. so good. and interpol, paul banks is gorgeous. haha. and Titus Adronicus is an awesomely wicked band. of course Foals and Two Door Cinema Club were superfun. Cage the Elephant was amazing! they're such a good live band. the lead singer actually wore a red dress and he looked good. haha. Broken Social Scene played Anthems of a seventeen year old...so good. and Mumford and Sons were amazing! and the Swell Season played live so well.. so good. it felt so intimate eventhough hundreds were there. and Bright Eyes. I didnt know who they were before but they're pretty awesome.

Wiz Khalifa played. so fun. and Nas and Damian Marley. Nas is sic. so brilliant. The National were very fun. Ratatat made the prettiest sounds.

The Strokes were so goooooooood.. so happy to able to watch their performance. Julian was kinda awkward-funny. kinda hilarious and kinda lame jokes. "the sarcasm doesnt come across in a text....whatthefuck..?" hilarious. and Albert was brilliant. everyone was amazing. but their ending felt a bit abrupt, with no encore. but watever, im happy to have been able to watch them anyway.

but Kanye. ohmygod, Kanye. he was a beast. such a beast. he entered about 15mins late on a floating platform with dancers on an all-white stage. he is so fierce. he's truly amazing. He dedicated the whole set to his mother, Donda West. I love him man. his amazing. played for about 2 hours. so fierce. there were fireworks and everything. so happy for kanye.

one hell of an ending to the Coachella weekend.

Cage the Elephant

2011-04-17T18:24:00.001+08:00

after watching their set at coachella, i have to admit, Cage The Elephant is one hell of a live band.

2011-04-17T17:37:00.001+08:00

if you havn't already... click HERE to start watching Coachella Live.

Lotus Flower

2011-04-14T17:53:00.000+08:00

Thom Yorke is just too cool.

Camping.

2011-04-06T12:27:00.003+08:00

I want this. Camping out in a small tent with a couple of friends on a field or some ulu forested area. I love camping..

pic credit: Chaka MX

new sounds

2011-04-04T23:22:00.005+08:00

alright, alright.. Been listening to so many awesome sounds lately. I'll just give a list of names for now.
The Whigs Mona Deastro Mancester Orchestra Raphael Saadiq J Cole Pat Dolla$

anyway, Chiddy Bang and You Me At Six are quite a brilliant collaboration.

and this song by Chris Brown. Such a sick beat.

everyday I'm shufflin'

2011-04-04T13:08:00.002+08:00

I havn't been out dancing in a long time so I can't wait to go out with my girls this wednesday. HURRAH. Can't wait for the bright lights and the drinks and the people and omg, the strobe lights. Seriously, I have this thing for strobe lights and the build-up to a sudden explosion of sound.

so anyway, while waiting for wednesday to come...I will dance at home.

elvis.

2011-04-03T20:58:00.000+08:00

I can't even.....

SO JEALOUS!

You're So Right

2011-04-02T22:49:00.005+08:00

The Strokes on the Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon

ohman, they play live so well. I especially love the part when Jules starts randomly moving around, it suddenly reminded me of all the previous performances and how much older they are now.. I'm so excited for them, to see their next step or whatever.

I'm so jealous of all the people who got to watch them perform at Madison Square Garden last night.

oh godd. COME TO SINGAPORE!!

PS: i love the Jimmy Fallon show..

Yuri

2011-03-30T16:21:00.001+08:00

i can listen to him talk all day man.

so ghetto. hah.

baby

2011-03-23T23:07:00.002+08:00

shut up, i love this cover.

Baby (cover) - Neon trees

ANGLES

2011-03-23T12:25:00.006+08:00

The wait is overr.

I bought the Strokes new album yesterday. So happy. I'm listening to it now. It's different but similar, but thank god it's not too much like Julian Casablancas solo work (no, I'm not hating on him). It sounds more like the Strokes grew up and their sound evolved. Some songs are upbeat and sound kinda squeaky clean with the electronic beats, which I usually hate but it actually doesnt sound too bad on this album. I like that Jules voice doesn't sound too cleanly recorded.

The first song, Machu Picchu and it's a mellow and chill number with a heavy, upbeat chorus and then explodes for a bit toward the end. For the fans to savour slowly. AND THEN UNDERCOVER OF DARKNESS COMES ON AND EVERYONE STARTS DANCING. Two kinds of right starts of nostalgic, then it becomes pretty much badass. wicked guitar riffs. i don't know what to say about You're so right. Pretty cool sound. Taken for a fool sounds like they had fun recording it. I like this one. Very 'Is this it'. Games sound like you're so right but with more Julian Casablancas influence. it sounds very electronic, with the drum machine sounds and all. But I like Jules wailing toward the end. Yeah, the song gets better toward the end. Call me back gives us a little break of mellow sound to let us reflect on the brilliance of the Strokes. I love Gratisfaction's 60/70s rock&roll feel. Oh and metabolism sounds like part 2 of 'heart in a cage', I think. hahaha. And I seriously love Life Is Simple In The Moonlight. sopretty.

Oh, life is complete.

2011-03-21T14:54:00.000+08:00

MGMT this thursday, bitchessss