Heart Skipped a Beat

And when I caught it, you were out of reach.

The XX - S/t

I didn't want to be associated with this record after P4K championed it about a year ago. I'm holier than thou, hipster.
Well, let it also be known that I'm a moron. Despite my idealistic nature of hating everything that is popular (if its cool, noone would appreciate it while its socially relevant am I right?!).

This has everything I want out of a record. Love songs, including songs about lost love. Synths. The songs are just that, songs. They're whole units that move along keeping the passion and feeling together.

On the track VCR, we step back to a time where we can represent ourselves as legitimately innocent and trust. The reverb drenched guitar recalls the innocence of the pop evolution of yesteryear, and the lyrics " Watch things on VCRs, with me and talk about big love. I think we're superstars, you say you think we are the best thing" show an idealistic view of love. Two people together, watching a VHS tape, and talking about love, and whispering sweet nothings to each other.

While tracks like "Stars" (the closer I may add) or "Heart Skipped a Beat" there is a feeling of self-doubt. In "Stars" the narrator is willing to change himself, to fit the needs of his love, yet his lover wants him to be the same. Yet, begrudgingly, they're willing to admit that their "love" may night "shine on the first night", and they're willing to let their romance blossom and give it time. They want each other, and they want to tell each other, but they're singing alone, together. These narratives are backed by a hollow, reverb drenched guitar, a tinny piano, and a kick drum. This emptiness in music shows the emptiness in their hearts.

Please don't say we're done, when I'm not finished. I could give so much more. Make you feel, like never before. Welcome, they said welcome to the floor."

"It's been a while, and you've found someone better. But I've been waiting too long to give this up. The more I see, I understand. But sometimes, I still need you"

Kicking off with those two stanzas "Heart Skipped a Beat" tells the tale of time killing all. A relationship snubbed by indecision and discretion. One person into it, and one out. The person into it is forced to leave, yet is later chased by the former soul that left him waiting. The song is structured like "Stars" in the sense that it is two individuals giving their narratives, separately, but to each others.

Islands. Need I say more? This track was everywhere a year ago, I won't regurgitate the words of p4k. Not now. Not neva' (I love pavement too guys, don't take it as a personal knock.)

I know I'm about a year late in this review, but I also know that this record 'shines on the winter frost, of your love's windows'. 8.5/10

Also please note, I'm good at making bad sayings.

I’m between classes watching chowder.

Oh my, how I love college.

Anyway, I’m very excited for this week, and I think despite my lack of free time, that I’ll enjoy it. I don’t know what I’m going to do (other than another record review). I’m just feeling good. I’ll stare destiny in the eyes, so to speak. By that, I mean I’ve to decide what I’m going to be doing this upcoming semester in terms of classes! Ahah, I’m in need of guidance that doesn’t come from a Punk rock song because I don’t know how whimpering about girls my entire life will get me anywhere. I’d rather whimper about music, and make bank. Girls will just be secondary.

Also, I’m in need of costume ideas for my Halloween adventures. Post some ideas in a comment and I’ll mull them over. I’m not sure of my plans, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be doing something social.

Oh, and last week sucked, I broke my glasses and things just didn’t go the way I wanted them to go. That is another reason as to why I’m excited for this week. Carpe diem and all of that jazz.

edit*
girls are never secondary. Only primary.

It Makes Me Feel Like a Man...

When I stick a spike into my vein!

Anyway, for the few regular readers, I'm trying to keep up with my promise of updating this regularly.

This isn't a music post, it is a car post.

I'm getting ready to start gathering my parts for a transmission swap on my car. Throwing out the time-tested (and abused) ford-o-matic, in leu of a modern (1985-9 ahha) five speed out of a mustang.

I'm also going to be sporting a hydraulic clutch, so I don't have to fight with finding a dual-exhaust z-bar.

By my math, with my 3.31 gear set (and a trans final drive of .68:1), I'll be pulling around 3069 rpms at 120. A highway car.

Who wants to go cruise?!

Sparks fly

Its like electricity.

I love you, iCarly.

Anyway, today has sucked. It really has. My glasses broke. I was tired all day. I just felt miserable. Though, I've had some good conversations with some good friends, and got some monopoly pieces.

Anyway, long story short, I'm sleepy. I'm going to bed. I really like updating this daily.

Know What I Deal!

Know what I feel!
The Thermals are one of my favorite bands, and I think giving a just-over-half of a decade retrospective look at their Sub>Pop release More Parts per Million. Now, in 2003, I don't remember much about this record. Of course, I was also twelve. I didn't hear about the thermals until I was about seventeen, and picked up a copy of The Body, The Blood, and The Machine (2006) by accident at my local library.

Regardless, after I found out about the Thermals, I soon found out that there was a lot I was missing. Though, I didn't know what I wanted out of music. I was naive. I wanted slick production, No-fi; No Way. I probably heard No-culture icons somewhere between then and when I was nineteen (now), though I sure as hell cannot remember it. I picked this record up, just because I'm a music hound, and now a big lo-fi/no-fi junkie (I guess I was then too, I just didn't look at it the way I do now.).

More Parts per Million kicks off slowly. An odd choice, if you would ask me, to start one of the most up-beat records in their stable with a song that is probably the slowest track. Well, whatever, it works, because I kept listening.

These are not the Thermals I knew. These are not the bold, angry and political Thermals of TBTBTM, yet an innocent power-pop/pop-punk band that cares about love, and relationships. The star track No-Culture Icons talks about an art scene of overbearing criticism and over-use, then takes a sharp left and turns into a love song by one last phrase "I can't fucking stop/ hinking about you." A love song. How quaint.

There is a pattern in this record, style be damned. Its warning against intellectualism corrupting thought. "Eyes so deep, you'll never see" is repeated on a few different tracks. Why?

Why not? Whats more damaging than taking this for what they may represent, opposed to what the defiantly do.

This record will make you move. It is powerful.
This record may make you weep. It is reflective.

All in all, after five years, this record is more socially relevant than it was in 2003. Now that the Thermals are almost in a "Joy Division" phase, I can look back through their catalog and appricate every minute of evolution.

Thermals, I can't fucking stop, thinking about you, or this record. More Parts per Million, you earn a 9/10.

If you disagree, comment. You wont.

Prove me wrong.

Maybe I'm just crazy. Crazy for you, baby...

"You say that, "we're just friends" but I want this 'till the end" croons Bethany Cosentino, on the track "The end" on her band's most recent (August 2010) release Crazy for You. Booming drums, crooning vocals, swirly light guitars, and most of all no overbearing noise.

Now, this isn't a bad thing. The production really shines. If one were to climb into a 1981 DeLorean, and take this record back to 1966, it would chart. It really feels old, and it feels new too. The subject matter is generally consistent of talking about Boys, Love, Weed, and Summer.

Though, this record doesn't die at the shift of a season. I've really been listening to it alot recently, and we're in the middle of a (unseasonably warm) Autumn. It really is a cold record, for being so cold. The narrator is constantly talking of sorrow, and loneliness, and she wants to "go back to, the first time, the first."

I know I'll be listening to this record during the cold winter days, watching snow fall. Its the perfect narrative for a love. Good, bad, or otherwise. Simply just love. Or maybe just flings. I don't know. I know I love this record.

Best Coast, please write a christmas EP, I'll buy it. I promise.

I give Best Coast- Crazy for You a strong 8.5/10. Its one of my favorites.

C'mon! C'mon!

Was it right to leave?
No.
Anyway, Best coast review will come soon. I promise.}

Pile-up is in a couple of days, I might post some pixxx up here, I think I might do a photo journal (even though its just a couple hundred of miles). I dunno, it could be rad to capture the weekend. Anyway, I've got papers to write. I need to do a ton of record reviews. Expect this october to get bomb'd, and if you read this. Comment with your least favorite record and why you hate it.