so knock me out and shoot me down

Summer Mix Oh! NINE

Old habits die hard, but with a twist: youtube clips included!


1. Coast of Carolina, Telekinesis.
I love that the drummer is the singer and that the bassist is a chick (which usually leads to awesomeness, e.g. The Smashing Pumpkins).


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2. Nothing to Worry About, Peter Bjorn and John
Sooo catchy. The "video" is just the song playing.

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3. Gorgeous Behavior, Marching Band
The kids in the video are really cute.

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4. Cable TV, Fol Chen
The video is pretty neat.


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5. Mykonos, The Fleet Foxes
AWESOMENESS.

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6. Avril 14th, Aphex Twin
One of those kind, quiet songs. The piano is really pretty.

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7. The Future Freaks Me Out, Motion City Soundtrack
An old kickback to high school. Specifically, summer before junior year. :) After watching the video, I remember how much I liked the lead singer's hair...

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8. She Said Oh Oh Oh, I Said Yeah Yeah Yeah, Gem
I wonder what the chorus is... in any case, it's very catchy.

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9. My Girls, Animal Collective
I'd never listened to A.C. until just recently, but this song really caught my attention.

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10. Kids, The Kooks covering MGMT
I like both versions enough, but I'm more partial to acoustic guitars.

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11. Don't Give Up the Fight, The Magic Numbers
Another kickback to high school, especially senior year.

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12. Firefly, Jane Lui
I'm a sucker for anything acoustic. Plus, J.L.'s voice is just sultry, but in a refreshing way. The video is actually of her playing the song. :)

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13. The APL Song, The Black Eyed Peas
For one, the chorus that figures throughout the entire song is actually from another song that I grew up listening to (Balita, by Asin). I thought this was an appropriate song because well, I don't know. I've been feeling a lot more displaced than usual these days, and I figure a good way to lessen that is by going back to my roots... something this song kind of does for me.
>here< - 14. First of the Gang to Die, Zee Avi covering Morissey


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15. You'll Be Safe Here, Rivermaya
I just realized a lot of these songs are by asian artists. Holla! In any case, Rivermaya is one of my favorite bands from the good ol' PI.

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16. Between the Bars, Elliot Smith

One thing still remains...

It was like hearing this song for the first time all over again.






Music is the only thing that can truly get under my skin.

Summer Mix Oh! Seven

Most people keep track of the seasons with the change of environment. So do I: fall brings red and orange crinkly leaves, winter brings sleet and grey skies, spring brings rain and greenery, and summer brings beating rays and blinding blues.

But I also keep track of the seasons with music. Daphne Loves Derby defined Fall 2005, the Smashing Pumpkins took their turn in Summer 2005, and Coltrane, Davis and Monk took theirs in Spring 2007. Before I had a computer that brought the ease of making playlists, I had mix CDs. I just found the summer 2007 mix hiding in a box i've just unpacked. Summer 2007 was two years ago. Two years ago! Imagine that.

This time two years ago, I was thinking about a lot of the same things I am now. At this time, I had just graduated, and was ready to leave high school and the environment I had grown up i. I was apprehensive for the uncertainty of college and for the uncertainty of a maybe long-distance relationship, but the possibilities that stretched in front of me made it hard to stay in a state of apprehension for too long.

But like now, a sudden and unhappy event occurred that removed all uncertainty and physically thrust me in one direction with no chance to even comprehend how things had changed.

But of course, it's different now. Instead of being physically removed from my happy place of sure uncertainty, I've mentally moved myself out of my place of comfort. Not entirely unwillingly, but still throwing out a punch or a kick here and there. But it's for the best.

So, this mix CD. It was in a cracked jewel case, cracked from being tossed all over in my old green civic while searching for lab coat/pen/lab manual/purse/IDcard/ etc. It reads "Summer Mix Oh! Seven." I listen to the tracks now, and the reason why I put each of these songs on the mix dances across the stage of my memory. As I listen to each song, I inwardly greet each new track as if greeting someone I love and haven't seen in a while, and in that time, has done something really great.

On the flip side of things, it puts my current opinion on these memories in perspective; current opinion is what you reach for on a daily basis, and the memories themselves are shoved way back in there, somewhere. And you forget how the memories themselves once held sway on past opinion. This is what I'm doing now.

Track 3- The Academy Is..., Bulls in Brooklyn: An old throwback to high school and driving around the flight line. I still miss it. I've been feeling pretty rootless lately, and listening to this reminds me of a time when I was once planted firmly in the ground.

Track 5- Dashboard Confessional, Dusk and Summer: Barely enough to hang on then, and barely enough to hang on now. This is one reason that hasn't changed at all. But the perspective has shifted-- letting go isn't a bad thing.

Track 14- Black Eyed Peas, Bebot: AHAHAHAHAHA. I'd almost forgotten about this song, which would have been a very sad thing indeed. I've missed the Filipino-American community a lot. Although I never felt I really fit in, I still miss the millions of "aunties" and "titas" fussing over how I don't have enough food on my plate. It reminds me of standing in front of the line of my Sunday School class, chomping on a donut and swapping Friday-night stories with my third graders:

Me: Man, I'm still stuffed from all that pancit I ate at X's christening party Friday.
Student: Did you see me break open the pinata?
Me: Yeaah man, you killed that donkey!
Student: I didn't like the pancit, but mom made me eat it.
Me: Yeah. I'm just glad they didn't have that one *chocolate dish there. My mom used to make me eat that stuff at parties all the time, before I knew what it really was. You know what it really is, right?
Student: YEAH EWWWWWWWWWW MISS KRYSTLE EWWWWWWWW!

Those are just a few of the songs, but you get the idea. If there is any time I need to look back and remember, it's now.

Now, onward!

* chocolate = pork's blood. i'm not joking.

Listening to music is hard these days.

Moby Dick: Winter-Fall 2008 Soundtrack

These are songs that have kept me sane through o-chem all-nighters, remembering dates on various Shang dynasty bronze works, tired afternoons, anxiety-riddled days, and amino acid flash cards...

songs that have been the soundtrack for cookie baking sessions with friends, kitchen hang-outs, half-awake memories, and long talks in dorms...

songs played inbetween longs bouts of Dexter, Scrubs, movie-thons, homework, and sleep...

songs to navigate my way through the ocean as I search for a whale.

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1. Blue Ridge Mountains, The Fleet Foxes
I know it's been said over and over again, but really: they are quite something. I've heard the term "baroque rock" used to describe their style, and although I am no expert on what baroque is, it seems fitting. The sound, I feel, is lush and extremely musical, in the sense that there are just so many complex things going on all the time. And although the Fleet Foxes are from the PNW, the music is perfect for all the winter-time East coast driving I do these days. Something about the bareness of the trees and grey skies.
Well, okay, I'm not the one doing the driving... since I only have my permit. Damnit.











2. Midnight Surprise, Lightspeed Champion
A very twangy country sound to this song caught my attention, and I was even more surprised when I realized that Lightspeed Champion was from the UK. There's one bit that I always get stuck in my head-- starts at about 0:23, and repeats several times throughout the song.

Aaand that's because it's the chorus. Good job me for finally realizing that! :)

This song reminds me of studying at the lab bench, with my books strewn out over the black table.













3. Seven Swans, Sufjan Stevens
Banjos are cool. So is Sufjan. I'm down.
I remember I was listening to this song in the living room when it started to snow for the first time. I then ran outside and yelled, ITS SNOOOOOWWIIIIING!!!!

4. To Be Alone With You, Sufjan Stevens
I've already established that Sufjan + banjos = awesome. This song just further solidifies that. And so does this picture. Falcon wings? Sweet.














5. The Narwhal, Amazing Baby
I love the intro; it makes me think of Captain Ahab standing on the bow of the Pequod*, looking out fiercely and critically over the ocean for Moby Dick. Go get him, Captain Ahab.
*I totally forgot the name of the ship. That was wiki-ed.




















4. Random Firl, Late of the Pier
Whats a firl? Wiki!
Damn.
But in anycase, I'm loving the casio.



















5. Time & Space, The Cinematic Orchestra
The female vocalist on this song is amazing; I feel like I'm about to burst into a meadow of dandelions whenever I listen to it.





















6. White Winter Hymnal, The Fleet Foxes
I love rounds! Makes me think of girl scouts, which I only liked for the songs. Mmm.























7. Allemande, Keane
Keane is known for their piano rock, but this more piano-centric song is just so powerful, courtesy of the kick-ass chord progressions.























8. Be OK, Ingrid Michaelson
The soundtrack to me sitting in ochem at 8 AM, standing in the super-long coffee line after ochem, studying ochem at 8 PM, thinking about ochem at 3 AM, and yeaah. You get the idea.





















9. Blue Flower, Blue Flame, Destroyer
I love the little guitar riff. It makes me think of ivy on bricks, for some reason. Some really random reason.
















10. So Long, Lonesome, Explosions in the Sky
I love instrumentals, and Explosions in the Sky is my favorite instrumental band. I love the piano on this.



















11. A Wolf at the Door, Radiohead
This song = Caffeinated late-night library sessions.





















12. Saving Days in a Frozen Head, Kaki King
Not only can Kaki play shred guitar, but she can sing. You go girl.



















13. Sleepyhead, Passion Pit
At 4:30 AM...
"Hey K, play that song again."
"But it just played."
"AGAIN!!!"
















14. God Has a Voice She Speaks To Me, CocoRosie
I love CocoRosie. I can't stop listening to their songs, but this is the one that started it all. It's got a very shoegazey quality to it, but it somehow... isn't.

















15. The Garden That You Planted, Sea Wolf
Anything acoustic is good. Sea Wolf is good. Hence, this song = really good. I get a really vivid picture whenever I listen to the lyrics. I think of: A small-ish room, bed, drawers, mirror crammed in there; small windows on either side, but with sun pouring in; a quiet fall morning. And someone lying in said bed, which is piled with pillows and sheets, looking up at the ceiling, which is sloping and has white chipped paint.

Playlist I: The Musings of a Faux East Coaster.

To entertain you (but mostly me): a playlist of sorts!

1. Cuddle Fuddle, Passion Pit.
I'm a fan of the general favorite, Sleepyhead-- thank you, November indie rock playlist. So I checked out the rest of their material after having S. stuck in my head constantly, and I was drawn to this one after I gave their record a
good listen.



2. I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked, Ida Maria.
Don't let the title throw you off... mostly because there's nothing to be thrown off about. The song is exactly what you think it's about, except Norwegian Ida Maria manages to give it a surprisingly poignant twist, lyrics-wise. Music-wise, the song is so damn catchy.








3. The Last Day of Our Love, The Bird and the Bee.
Whenever I listen to The Bird and the Bee, I marvel at their loungey, jazzy, yet poppy style. I love the organ in this song.


4. Again and Again, The Bird and the Bee.
If I was in a white dress and spinning around in a vast green field, surrounded by balloons, this would be the song I would want to be playing in the background.




5. Two Atoms in a Molecule, Noah and the Whale.
Undoubtedly, you've heard "Five Year's Time," courtesy of that one car commercial that played all the time during this past summer. Well, Two Atoms is just as catchy. And I like it because I like science. Especially molecules.





6. The Shade You Hide, Lukestar.
Your usual alt. rock angsty anthem, but I really like the intro.









7. Come Around [with Timbaland], M.I.A.
I love the beats in all the M.I.A. songs, but this one just has that extra something that makes it even better.
And the chorus is caaatchy. You WILL get it stuck in your head.







8. Flume, Bon Iver
I actually just started listening to him yesterday (thank you NPR music)-- it started off with Skinny Love, and although For Emma is the centerpiece of the album, I love Flume. Every song has a story. The entire album is a story. I just like the chapter called Flume. This guy is a story.

Heart songs: Not just a Bibliophile.

These are my heart songs/ 

They never feel wrong/

And when I wake, for goodness sake/

These are the songs I keep singing. 

-"Heart Songs," from Weezer's Red Album

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So, if you haven't guessed, I'm not just a bibliophile: I love music! WHOOO! What is that? A musicophile? Someone wikipedia it, stat. 

From the young age of seven, I was subject to weekly thirty-minute torture sessions a la piano. Let me tell you: I hated that one guy with that one gad-awful warm-up book as much as the next kid. (Someone wiki that or something, too-- I'm sure you fellow former or current piano players know exactly what I'm talking about.) 

But when I finally got to an age where I started to appreciate music and develop my own, independent tastes, I began to thank my mom for making me take lessons. It's great to be able to just have the radio on and be able to kind of know what's musically going on. (I'll never fully know because I've sworn never to take the ass-kicking music theory classes at school.)

So enough beating around the bush. In my music book, some bands have only been fleeting loves, but some have just made a lasting impression on me that's stayed with me for years and will for years to come. To me, these ten or so bands epitomize my musical world. They've stuck with me through the many ups and downs so far. They've stuck with me on the long-ass bus rides to school where the only way of surviving was to drown out the noisy middle schoolers in the back seats. They've stuck with me on even longer plane rides to the other side of the world, and they've stuck with the spirit of defiance, passion, and truth that I've come to admire in each and everyone of them. 

And just a heads-up: I really love the 90s. 

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11. Queens of the Stone Age- I don't know about you, but I really love Era Vulgaris. I also love their dirty, dirty guitars and their dirty, dirty, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. I remember being really hooked on Never Say Never my junior year. I was listening to it in the car on my headphones when I was one some long car trip (on full volume, of course! Is there any other way to listen to Queens of the Stone Age?), and I remember when the chorus rolled along, my mom looked over at me from traffic and shot me the evil eye.  

I turned beet red: Oh sweet, sweet pubescent embarrassment. 

Try out the entire effing Era Vulgaris CD, their cover of Little Sister, and of course, Never Say Never. 

10. Fugazi- To me, they are the infinitive "to rock out." Arpeggiator? Greed? Joe #1? I love it all. 

9. Bright Eyes- You can't beat simplicity. The unabashedly angsty or emotional lyrics and rawness of the stories in their songs are an immediate hook. I particularly love The Invention of Beauty; The First Day of My Life; and It's Cool, We Can Still Be Friends. In It's Cool, you gotta love the bit about the whiskey... classic passive-aggressive anger. 

8. Neutral Milk Hotel- Oh Comely is perpetually stuck in my head. Well, just the first verse or so-- eight minutes is a bit much for my functional-group studded brain. It's all in the lyrics: transgressive undertones coupled with a magical wryness. 

Magical wryness? Er, yeah. Just listen. Try out Communist Daughter-- you gotta love that trumpet. Or pretty much the entire "In an Aeroplane Over the Sea" album. 

7. Daphne Loves Derby- One of my first pop-rock loves. It's sad to think that I go to school what? Fifteen minutes away from where they're from and I haven't been able to get my butt down to a venue to see them in concert. Catchy, catchy guitar melodies and riffs that for some reason, were always stuck in my head during math class? I love it. That, and the lead singer. Shhh! Try Closing Down the Pattern Department, Deserts Eating Oceans, Patterns and How They Change the Visible World, and of course, a Purevolume classic, Hopeless Love. Lots and lots of fluff, I know. HUSH!

6. Jimmy Eat World- I'm mostly a sucker for their big big guitars, especially on 77 Satellites and Salt Sweat Sugar. But that's not all that's good. The lyrics are great, particularly in Spangle and Authority Song. Barebones honest and bitter, just the way I like it. Very, very cathartic. 

5. America the Band- I've loved these guys since I was little, mostly thanks to my parents' mix tapes that played over and over in the effing car. I would beg my mom to skip over ABBA so I could listen to Muskrat Love. I've sung along to all of their songs so many times that me and my dad have perfected singing Sandman and Horse With No Name in harmony. It's just good old stuff from the good old days. 

Well, I assume they were, because I wasn't alive yet. But come on: when was the last time someone sang about a muskrat? 

4. The Beatles-- Of course, no list is complete without them. I mean, come on. They're the Beatles. Based on past bands, can you guess which song of theirs is my favorite? 

3. Dave Brubeck--  I've always loved jazz. I spent a good five years in a jazz band, and I loved every moment of it. Plus, he was the first guy that made me realize that piano playing could be totally kick-ass. Mr. Brubeck always is my company of choice on a quiet night in or when I'm in the library. Try Blue Rondo a la Turk, the classic Take Five, and Unsquare Dance. 

2. Weezer-- I don't even know where to begin. A few good friends of mine introduced them to me my sophomore year, and it was love. Love in the car when I first learned how to drive; love when I was on the trains; love while waiting for buses; love late at night on the sidewalk, howling El Scorcho with my buddies; love when I was pondering chem equations; love when I was just sitting in my room, doing nothing in particular. 

Just listen to everything. Really. You can't go wrong with Weezer. And if you listened to El Scorcho, you'd sing it sitting out on a sidewalk, too.

aaaaand the numero uunooooooo...

1. The Smashing Pumpkins- Summer before freshman year was spent cradling my Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness MIDI tape in my back pocket. Back when MIDIs were kickass, and way before the time of the iPod. Billy and the gang have seen me through it all: from getting on the school bus on my first day of high school to the transpacific plane ride to my first days of college. Billy himself is a tad over the top sometimes, but I've come to realize its I admire. Bold. Aggressive. Unafraid of lashback from everyone. Completely out there and a bit misunderstood, but all guts. Raw, raw guts. And it shows in the music. Classic example: X.Y.U. You can feel the tension through the speakers-- raw, undulated anger and feeling. It takes talent to make something as base and truly human come through all the whatnot of today's noisy mess. 

Try: 

We Only Come Out at Night. (I always think of little Miyazaki Totoros bouncing up and down with ginko leaves in a yellow submarine when I listen to this song.)

Zero. (Definitely a classic Smashing Pumpkins song.)

Farewell and Goodnight. (I don't plan on having kids anytime soon, but I already know this is going to be their lullabye. Plus, it shows a different, but equally beautiful side of the Smashing Pumpkin's musical identity.)

The Boy. (Bouncy. I listen to this in the car all the time.)

Okay, pretty much everything. Pay particular attention to Mellon Collie, though. It's chock-full of gems. 

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