Friday, February 29, 2008

Irving Fields



This guy's like 1000 years old! Haha just kidding. He's 92 years old and apparently he's been writing hit songs since the 1920s and recorded over 90 albums.
I know this song will get stuck in your head.
Gee. He's funny XD

Monday, February 18, 2008

Addicted


I'm addicted to Heroes. Been watching episodes online for almost a week now. Still in the 1st season because some of the videos wont work so I have to look on other sites...

It's fudido.

Anyway, this week I'm going to stay over at Nathan's. Just to see if I wanna move in with him or not. So I'll be there starting Monday probably...or Tuesday. We'll see.

Don't wanna talk about school. School sucks even though this is the last week of the 3rd term...then there's no school for about 10 days.

Friday, February 08, 2008

Be Kind Rewind Screening


I watched a free screening of Be Kind Rewind at the Cumberland theater about 8 hours ago (7pm). There were quite a lot of people, but it wasn't a full house. I was with a bunch of people from school, and we had a full row to ourselves, which was cool. It was an awesome movie. I saw the preview a few months ago and it didn't seem like much, but I wanted to watch it because Michel Gondry directed it. So I went in and it turned out to be pretty hilarious with lots of great shots. Jack Black and Mos Def were great together, and the story was interesting. Everyone should go out and watch it. It's silly and cute. The movie comes out on the 22nd of February.

At the end of the screening, Michel Gondry, the writer/director of the movie (he also directed Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and a bunch of other stuff, like music videos and commercials) was there to answer any questions anyone had. At first, people weren't raising their hands. I was thinking, "Come on, someone ask something! The guy's right there!" And only a few people seemed compelled to ask questions...including me. In fact, I got to ask him 2 questions! Which was cool, so now I can say that I got to talk to one of my favorite directors!
It was an awesome night. I think I was the only guy from school that actually knew the guy and his work. Actually, it's thanks to Mich that I ever found myself watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which ended up being one of my top 3 favorite movies.
So yeah! Great night, great movie.

Oh and you should watch this Paul McCartney music video for his song, "Dance Tonight", that Michel Gondry recently directed!

Monday, February 04, 2008

21 Favorite Albums

YES, IT IS MY 21ST BIRTHDAY! =D

In no particular order, here are the albums that made the biggest impression on me:

Korn - Follow The Leader
(1998)

This album is great. This was the reason why Korn was my favorite band for a long long time. It has about 12 tracks that are just silent for a minute, until the 13th track comes on, titled "It's On". Crazy. I'd have to say this one hit me the most. It was the first Korn album I heard, with the song "Freak On A Leash" which was just amazing. I think it was back in 2001. My friend Alex introduced me to this album, during a family trip to the beach.


Korn - Issues
(1999)

I bought this on the way back from a school field trip, in South Africa. I listened to it the whole way through until we reached Maputo. It blew my mind. I think that this was the most really worked-out Korn album. And probably the last real studio effort they put out. Everything after this, was just...not too impressive. Untouchables was okay though. I used to go to sleep listening to this album, because the last few tracks were really deep and dark with all the ambient sounds.


Metallica - Black Album
(1991)

The first metal album I ever really paid attention to. The guitars and the drumming and the vocals were amazing. I got it for my 13th birthday from this dude named Giovanni, and I never stopped listening to it for over a year. I had just started teaching myself how to play the drums and I always air (and finger) drummed to the songs in the car and in my room - and I knew every single part to almost all the songs! This album is probably the reason why I'm a metalhead today.

Albert Hammond, Jr. - Yours To Keep
(2006)

I was in a record store when I heard one of the songs from this album, and I had to find out who it was. I liked the vibe I got from it, and I ended up buying it right there. Every song on this album makes me really happy and young. This is a great listen all the way through.


Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers
(1993)

Real lyrical kings. I started getting into them in around 2004 I think. This is a straight, gritty and grimy underground hip hop album. The first of its kind. It's so hardcore and raw that it makes you want to get up and rap your guts out. Wu-Tang is and always will be amazing.


Rage Against The Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
(1999)

This was one of the first metal albums I really got into. I remember memorizing every drum part to the songs and playing this album to and from school, in the car. And memorizing some of the lyrics too. My favorite was probably the song "Maria". I remember me and my friends even performed on of the songs at our 8th grade graduation ceremony. There's never been a hip hop, funk, metal band like Rage. Not even Limp Bizkit could top them. These guys are living legends.


Deftones - White Pony
(2000)

This album was just so amazing. It's probably the most well-respected Deftones album. With an opening like "Back To School" that ended up being one of my favorite songs ever along with "Change (In the House of Flies)". The music videos were great too. I loved it so much that Mich even got me the guitar book for it, so I could learn the songs!


Deftones - Deftones
(2003)
This album I listened to so much during a vacation in the Philippines, in 2004. It was probably THE album that really got me hooked on the band. It was so heavy, but melodic and beautiful. I don't know why this was the most unsuccessful album of the band because I thought that every single song on here was just great. In fact, this is actually my favorite Deftones album. I found it mesmerizing how the vibe actually relaxed me, despite its heaviness. The way Chino sings can really touch you, even through all the heaviness which sends a tingle down my spine. Listen to a song like "Minerva" or "Battle-Axe" so you know what I'm talking about.


Incubus - Make Yourself
(1999)
AMAZING. Every single song on here is a hit. I remember being in my band, Mikaya, and playing acoustic Incubus covers at shows or small parties because it's just so great. "The Warmth" is probably the best track on here in my opinion. And the video to "Drive" (the first song I ever heard from Incubus) is one of my favorite music videos, as it pays tribute to M.C. Escher's Drawing Hands.


Incubus - Morning View
(2001)

Another great Incubus album. I can't stop listening to this album lately. The DVD is awesome too, where you take a look at their recording sessions and jams, and daily loco-nessness.


Lamb Of God - Ashes Of The Wake
(2004)
The first Lamb Of God album I ever heard and immediately loved them for. It's so heavy and crazy...I don't even know how to describe it. They're definitely not your average metal band. You can tell that these guys really put their souls into every song. Every technical detail stands out. I don't even know how they can memorize all the songs. These guys are so damn tight they don't even repeat things they've already done before. They're definitely metal gods.


Black Star - Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star
(1998)

Definitely an amazing hip hop album that got me through the beginning of my first winter in Toronto. Pure underground and real hip hop. I love this. It's a good album to chill to. "Respiration" is a favorite on this one, featuring Common. It starts off with an audio sample from the graffiti documentary,
Style Wars (one of my favorite documentaries) from 1983.

Gang Starr - Full Clip: A Decade Of Gang Starr
(1999)
I started listening to Gang Starr when my friend Hermano introduced me to them, and I used to just listen to the beats, which were done by DJ Premier. And it really struck a chord in me. If it weren't for Gang Starr, I wouldn't be as great a producer as I am today, and Hermano's criticism of my beats proved that to me. Songs like "Full Clip" or "You Know My Steez" are songs I recommend to people that want to get a taste of real hip hop.

Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet
(2007)
DUDE. Tim introduced me to these guys last year. He showed me the music video to "Fear Of A Blank Planet" and it's actually one of my favorite music videos. The album only has a few songs, but they're all great. I think this album marked the beginning of last year's spring for me.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
(1999)
Arguably the most commercially successful RHCP album. The songs on here are just unforgettable. This reminds me of 6th and 7th grade.

System Of A Down - Toxicity
(2001)
I used to listen to this album over and over again. It was at the beginning of 9th grade, and it was amazing. I remember my band even played System Of A Down covers when we first started off, because we were such big fans.

P.O.D. - Satellite
(2001)
These guys really made a big impression on me. I actually had a CD that this dude left at my house, so I was bumping this for a long time. I even kept the CD, which I think went to my brother. I remember going on family trips to Nelspruit or Bilene, and I'd be listening to this over and over. This was one of my life soundtracks for when I was 15, along with System Of A Down and a lot of Korn and I guess some of the great primitive Linkin Park.

The Distillers - Coral Fang
(2003)
I've only ever had a small dose of punk records, but Tim introduced me to these guys and they blew my mind. It was really upbeat, and we both agreed that it was a summer record that made you really happy and wanting to go out and have fun, not caring about anything. This was the soundtrack to my summer last year, hanging out with Tim at the park. I have to share this with people who don't know - the Distillers' singer/guitarist is a female with a kickass voice.

Cypress Hill - III: Temples Of Boom
(1995)
I heard this in 12th grade, lent to me by Hermano. It's strictly underground and such a stoner album - so slow with a dark, spooky vibe. Cypress Hill is care-free here, and I loved how unpredictable it was. It's nothing like their latest stuff. I actually used a few songs from this album on maybe one or two of my film projects in school.

Chevelle - This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)
(2004)
When I heard and watched the video for the song "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)", I knew I wanted more Chevelle. This album is always great to listen to. This actually marked the end of high school for me. After I graduated, I was always at home, listening to music and chatting, watching Lost, Prison Break and a handful of movies. This album reminds me of those days, all the way until I met Mich!

Across The Universe - Original Soundtrack
(2007)
We all know that the movie is a musical of Beatles songs. Now who wouldn't love this album? The movie was good because of the music, wasn't it? This album is special to me because I listened to it with Mich during the whole time I visited her in Thanksgiving. To make it even cheesier, we watched the movie together. All you need is love while my guitar gently weeps and it won't be long until we come together across the universe and let it be through strawberry fields forever.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

x_X

So I woke up this morning to the news that someone is taking over our apartment.

Our superintendent is useless. We only knew about this because the new guy

So...I need a new place. Preferably shared...

Need to move out by March.

OKAY. I just talked to Nathan on the phone and he said I can move in with him and his brother. So then rent will be cheaper for all of us.

YAY.

Friday, February 01, 2008

Vent Vent Vent

Damn I hate the new guy. So immature and the most irresponsible fellow I have ever met. I just want to sock him so bad.
He's shooting in our living room right now with some of his classmates and his girlfriend, and he plugged out the wireless router, disconnecting the internet (just so he could plug in a light) when his friend had warned him it might be a problem. Idiot. I had to go out there and check it out. And there was a free socket just by the door and I told him he could plug it in there, but apparently, "it would be in the scene"!!! As if he's shooting the floor as well! And so what?? Are people going to notice a plug in the socket as a mistake in the shot or something? What a retard. His friend was cool though, apologizing.
And this serious-looking girl was like, "Whoa. Where'd you come from?" and I look at her like "what?" WOMAN, I LIVE HERE. YOU ARE IN MY HOUSE. RECOGNIZE!!! If I could ask her anything, I'd ask her why she always looks like she's got a problem with every single person in the world and is about to go homicidal.
I'm blasting Lamb Of God through my killer speakers. Take that, you cornholios.

On a lighter note...I'm turning 21 in 3.5 days!