The hesitation that desecrates the spontaneous streak weaving its way in and out has become intolerable. When did satisfaction become a mere strike against anything conventional? When did decency and toleration become catalysts for the bored and weak-minded?
Blah, mere thoughts that reconcile themselves at the base of my mind, or "the bottom of my mind" as my friend Sarah would say. Life takes its turns, revs its engine and fuels the fire we carry within us, but it is with this significant passage that we learn who we truly are. So many things have been thrown at me these past months where I feel it is one big test, and the question is whether or not I will succumb or I will overcome.
On a musical note, I have lately been listening to The Stooges first album, The Stooges. It's excellent. Everytime I hear I Wanna Be Your Dog, it takes me to a place where rock n' roll is dirty, greasy, grimy and everything that I love about it. Iggy Pop may not have the most excellent of voices, but what he does is pure magic. Definitely a good buy for anybody who is into good rock n' roll, especially rock n' roll that breeded the future of punk rock. I think it was a combination of The Stooges and Patti Smith that led the revolution of rock n' roll toward a direction where people were misguided, but that was okay.
I shall take my leave, seeing as how my ride is about to leave me. Peace people. Don't give up. Never know fear!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Silence and Separation
Well...we...w...It seems a day of indulgence makes for a night of remorse. I am tired to the point where I might fall asleep as I tyyyppppeeeeettttthhhiiiiiisssss.
Either way...music on the mind. The Kills, one of my all-time favorite bands, was amazing Friday night. They had the energy, the spunk, and the charisma that attracted me to their music about 6 years ago. They are just one of the bands I have followed throughout their career, and it was awesome to finally see them onstage at a venue, rather than at a festival where all they do is complain about the heat. This time, the complaining was kept to a minimum. If you haven't listened to The Kills, their first album, Keep On Your Mean Side, is an excellent start. It is their greatest album.
On that note, I take my leave. However, I wrote a poem earlier today and thought I would share it. So, here goes...Peace!
It’s always within a moment.
You smile like it’s ‘72,
Branded pink and moldy, with
Consonants for hues.
The raspy remnants of a voice
Laid deep in the snow summons
The rapture toward the bow.
Collision to collision,
We speak the same fiery language,
Delegated from the toneless anthem
That caught sight of the gulf winds.
My mama sat on the rafters,
While the sailors moved in.
Harmony took a sidestep as we
Traveled toward the brain.
Rich, rich boy from the statues of
The skyscraping crimes that never
Begged to differ.
The road came cracking from under,
Like a snake unseen and caught.
We find it underneath the rocks,
Massive rocks, massive rocks.
You catch my sight, from under my eye,
From below my stare, from around my gaze,
And I knew you.
I knew who you were.
I knew where it went
When you blew away the scents
Of miracles and mischief
That constructed mannerisms
In the wake of their demise.
It made it sweet,
Those airy breaths,
Those synthetic symptoms,
Invented at the base of this building.
The building we found,
Making strange sounds,
Until the first tree grew from the ground.
No one else around.
Just the silence and the separation.
Either way...music on the mind. The Kills, one of my all-time favorite bands, was amazing Friday night. They had the energy, the spunk, and the charisma that attracted me to their music about 6 years ago. They are just one of the bands I have followed throughout their career, and it was awesome to finally see them onstage at a venue, rather than at a festival where all they do is complain about the heat. This time, the complaining was kept to a minimum. If you haven't listened to The Kills, their first album, Keep On Your Mean Side, is an excellent start. It is their greatest album.
On that note, I take my leave. However, I wrote a poem earlier today and thought I would share it. So, here goes...Peace!
It’s always within a moment.
You smile like it’s ‘72,
Branded pink and moldy, with
Consonants for hues.
The raspy remnants of a voice
Laid deep in the snow summons
The rapture toward the bow.
Collision to collision,
We speak the same fiery language,
Delegated from the toneless anthem
That caught sight of the gulf winds.
My mama sat on the rafters,
While the sailors moved in.
Harmony took a sidestep as we
Traveled toward the brain.
Rich, rich boy from the statues of
The skyscraping crimes that never
Begged to differ.
The road came cracking from under,
Like a snake unseen and caught.
We find it underneath the rocks,
Massive rocks, massive rocks.
You catch my sight, from under my eye,
From below my stare, from around my gaze,
And I knew you.
I knew who you were.
I knew where it went
When you blew away the scents
Of miracles and mischief
That constructed mannerisms
In the wake of their demise.
It made it sweet,
Those airy breaths,
Those synthetic symptoms,
Invented at the base of this building.
The building we found,
Making strange sounds,
Until the first tree grew from the ground.
No one else around.
Just the silence and the separation.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Time, Time
Wow, everyday seems to be moving at a pace that is too quick to be understandable. The days drift by without a moment's hesitation, and all I can do is look back and wonder where it's all going. I have to pop another CD in my stereo and hope that the rhythms and beats take me away to a place where time stands still and I have the room to breathe and examine where everything is heading and re-assess where I want everything to go.
Lately, I have been listening to Cat Power's The Greatest. It's such an excellent CD. Her voice and the simple soulful blues mix in a combination that makes you wonder how something so good was ever recorded. Just listen to Lived In Bars, and you will understand. However, don't be discouraged by the music video. It's not the most excellent of videos some may argue, me being one of them.
I was informed earlier today that my uncle, who has been fighting the good fight for as long as I can remember, has to have his leg amputated because his knee replacement failed. I was extremely sad, but when I called him to tell him he was in my prayers and that I hoped everything was well, he said, "I knew I was taking a gamble from the start. The knee didn't take. What can you do?" That's all he had to say for me to understand that some people are dealt horrible cards, but it matters what you do with those cards that depicts what kind of person you are and how you make your mark in the world. He has certainly made his mark, and he, in some ways, is my hero.
When times get hard, look to loved ones and God to help you make it through. Listen to some good jams, and let it get you on through to the next day. And if something is too hard to deal with, smoke a joint. It works for me. Peace, love, and everything in between.
Lately, I have been listening to Cat Power's The Greatest. It's such an excellent CD. Her voice and the simple soulful blues mix in a combination that makes you wonder how something so good was ever recorded. Just listen to Lived In Bars, and you will understand. However, don't be discouraged by the music video. It's not the most excellent of videos some may argue, me being one of them.
I was informed earlier today that my uncle, who has been fighting the good fight for as long as I can remember, has to have his leg amputated because his knee replacement failed. I was extremely sad, but when I called him to tell him he was in my prayers and that I hoped everything was well, he said, "I knew I was taking a gamble from the start. The knee didn't take. What can you do?" That's all he had to say for me to understand that some people are dealt horrible cards, but it matters what you do with those cards that depicts what kind of person you are and how you make your mark in the world. He has certainly made his mark, and he, in some ways, is my hero.
When times get hard, look to loved ones and God to help you make it through. Listen to some good jams, and let it get you on through to the next day. And if something is too hard to deal with, smoke a joint. It works for me. Peace, love, and everything in between.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Here We Go...
Well, this is hot off the press! I just got home from seeing The Brian Jonestown Massacre at Emo's tonight. Damn, it was a great show! They played for two hours straight. For once, I was not jipped with a 45 minute set, which happens too often to be real. But, it was great. They played my favorite song, BSA. Everyone should check this band out. The album you should start with, should you choose to give them a listen (which you should!) is Take It From The Man!
Also, I finally returned the KVRX cd's I was supposed to review, and I think I'm going to take a break from reviewing for now, seeing as how I can barely keep a handle on school, let alone review cd's that sometimes I have no time to listen to. It also did not help that both of the cd's kind of sucked. One was of this band called Anavan, the album called Cover Story, and the other was a band called D. Rider, the album being Mother of Curses. Keep away from both cd's. It's not worth it, trust me. Some might like Anavan for their electro-pulse vibrations; however, D. Rider is fo sho not worth it. It's too spacial and abstract to even be relatable. Just throw it away!
Everything has been somewhat okay. I am kind of broke; however, with a little prayer, I know things will turn around. It just takes some faith and promise to keep things on the up and up.
Well, that's all I got for now. It's 3:00 AM, and I need to get me some sleep if I'm going to do well on my test tomorrow. Good night and good wishes! Peace!
Also, I finally returned the KVRX cd's I was supposed to review, and I think I'm going to take a break from reviewing for now, seeing as how I can barely keep a handle on school, let alone review cd's that sometimes I have no time to listen to. It also did not help that both of the cd's kind of sucked. One was of this band called Anavan, the album called Cover Story, and the other was a band called D. Rider, the album being Mother of Curses. Keep away from both cd's. It's not worth it, trust me. Some might like Anavan for their electro-pulse vibrations; however, D. Rider is fo sho not worth it. It's too spacial and abstract to even be relatable. Just throw it away!
Everything has been somewhat okay. I am kind of broke; however, with a little prayer, I know things will turn around. It just takes some faith and promise to keep things on the up and up.
Well, that's all I got for now. It's 3:00 AM, and I need to get me some sleep if I'm going to do well on my test tomorrow. Good night and good wishes! Peace!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Dizamn!
Okay, I understand that some professors have the ability to make you think, make you question, make you want to investigate. However, then you get those certain professors that just make you wonder what is wrong with people.
My journalism professor sent me to a junkie-filled haven full of prostitutes, homeless people, and drug addicts. I get it. I get that places like that exist. I don't mind having to go to places like that for a good story. However, when he told my partner-in-crime that the reason he sent us there was because he thought I would "fit in," that pissed me the hell off.
I'm sorry, but when did being Mexican and having tattoos automatically place you in a less-than-desirable group. It's bullshit. It's stereotypical, egomeniacal crap. I'm sorry I don't have light skin, and no tattoos, but that's just how I was born. That's what makes me who I am.
Upon confronting him about it, he declared, "you're too sensitive. Stop looking so much into it." Thanks, Prof. Bob Mann. That made me feel a lot better, and now I understand how the world works. Another lesson in the life of a journalism student at the University of Texas.
My journalism professor sent me to a junkie-filled haven full of prostitutes, homeless people, and drug addicts. I get it. I get that places like that exist. I don't mind having to go to places like that for a good story. However, when he told my partner-in-crime that the reason he sent us there was because he thought I would "fit in," that pissed me the hell off.
I'm sorry, but when did being Mexican and having tattoos automatically place you in a less-than-desirable group. It's bullshit. It's stereotypical, egomeniacal crap. I'm sorry I don't have light skin, and no tattoos, but that's just how I was born. That's what makes me who I am.
Upon confronting him about it, he declared, "you're too sensitive. Stop looking so much into it." Thanks, Prof. Bob Mann. That made me feel a lot better, and now I understand how the world works. Another lesson in the life of a journalism student at the University of Texas.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Spring Has Come...
Man, the city of Austin, TX has been beautiful lately. Not too hot. Not too cold. The perfect in-between. The sunny weather. The windy increments. Love it.
I feel like the Spring is bringing about a surge of creativity both locally and nationally. Music artists are coming out with new albums left and right, and they couldn't have picked a better time. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album, It's Blitz! is brilliant. It's definitely not up to par with Show Your Bones or Fever to Tell, but it's still a great album. I love "Zero," "Skeletons," "Hysteric," and "Little Shadow." It's definitely a good buy.
Also the Strange Boys released their new album in March, titled And Girls Club. Very bluesy, gritty, straight-up rock n' roll at its finest. The funny thing is I saw this band a few years ago at Sonny's Vintage on Guadalupe St. during SXSW. They had it then, and they have it now. Great CD!
Although, it's not coming out til June, Jack White (one of my all-time favorite musicians) has a new album coming out. With the Raconteurs? No. With The White Stripes? No. With The Dead Weather? YES! White is now on drums, the vocals are being handled by the beautiful and dangerous Allison Mosshart of The Kills (one of my all-time favorite bands). Damn, that collaboration is gonna be the bomb-ass-diggity. I've only heard the two songs they've put out, "Hang You From The Heavens" and "Are 'Friends' Electric?" Good tunes, good direction, can't wait to listen to the entire album, which has already been completed. Someone leak it now!
I have also been getting into The Knack again. "My Sharona" just makes you want to dance, especially when you were in a bad mood five minutes prior. I love their energy.
I am also excited because The Brian Jonestown Massacre is only 12 days away, and The Kills is 22 days away! I can't wait! I'm about to crap my pants (not literally). Man, everyday I wake up, the sun is beaming on me, not a cloud in sight, and everyone just seems more cheerful. The past week has been excellent to the point where I wake up everyday and thank God that He gave me another day. That's all you can do when you're exposed to such excellence.
Well, that's all I got for now. Peace!
I feel like the Spring is bringing about a surge of creativity both locally and nationally. Music artists are coming out with new albums left and right, and they couldn't have picked a better time. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album, It's Blitz! is brilliant. It's definitely not up to par with Show Your Bones or Fever to Tell, but it's still a great album. I love "Zero," "Skeletons," "Hysteric," and "Little Shadow." It's definitely a good buy.
Also the Strange Boys released their new album in March, titled And Girls Club. Very bluesy, gritty, straight-up rock n' roll at its finest. The funny thing is I saw this band a few years ago at Sonny's Vintage on Guadalupe St. during SXSW. They had it then, and they have it now. Great CD!
Although, it's not coming out til June, Jack White (one of my all-time favorite musicians) has a new album coming out. With the Raconteurs? No. With The White Stripes? No. With The Dead Weather? YES! White is now on drums, the vocals are being handled by the beautiful and dangerous Allison Mosshart of The Kills (one of my all-time favorite bands). Damn, that collaboration is gonna be the bomb-ass-diggity. I've only heard the two songs they've put out, "Hang You From The Heavens" and "Are 'Friends' Electric?" Good tunes, good direction, can't wait to listen to the entire album, which has already been completed. Someone leak it now!
I have also been getting into The Knack again. "My Sharona" just makes you want to dance, especially when you were in a bad mood five minutes prior. I love their energy.
I am also excited because The Brian Jonestown Massacre is only 12 days away, and The Kills is 22 days away! I can't wait! I'm about to crap my pants (not literally). Man, everyday I wake up, the sun is beaming on me, not a cloud in sight, and everyone just seems more cheerful. The past week has been excellent to the point where I wake up everyday and thank God that He gave me another day. That's all you can do when you're exposed to such excellence.
Well, that's all I got for now. Peace!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Spring is on the Horizon!
I am so excited that Spring Break is finally here. My badass professors declared that school does not need to be attended tomorrow; however, my bullshit math professor is having class on Friday, and since I skipped today, I have to go on Friday. Wah Wah Wah.
Anyways, I am mucho excited that South by Southwest is going to be here next week. Free booze, free shows, and free fun. However, I always reach a dilemma when it comes to the free booze aspect of it because most places that provide free booze only provide beer. Sorry, but not everyone likes beer. I think it tastes like piss and shit with a hint of sunshine to add something special. It's okay, I'll buy a bottle of some obscure liquor that I'll end up sharing with everyone, and end up going broke once again.
Lately I have been listening to Devendra Banhart's Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. My goodness, it is such a good CD. Don't you love it when a singer/songwriter that you have an intellectual crush on keeps getting better and better as they progress with age? Well Mr. Banhart is doing it and doing it well. My favorites are Seahorse, Bad Girl, Saved, Lover, Carmensita, and the sad, but soulful, I Remember. This is a good CD to listen to when you are home alone and need something calming and jamming at the same time to get you through the lonely hours. LOVE IT!
Well, peeps, I am on a high that cannot be brought about with narcotics. I suggest everyone feel the same. Peace and love!
Anyways, I am mucho excited that South by Southwest is going to be here next week. Free booze, free shows, and free fun. However, I always reach a dilemma when it comes to the free booze aspect of it because most places that provide free booze only provide beer. Sorry, but not everyone likes beer. I think it tastes like piss and shit with a hint of sunshine to add something special. It's okay, I'll buy a bottle of some obscure liquor that I'll end up sharing with everyone, and end up going broke once again.
Lately I have been listening to Devendra Banhart's Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. My goodness, it is such a good CD. Don't you love it when a singer/songwriter that you have an intellectual crush on keeps getting better and better as they progress with age? Well Mr. Banhart is doing it and doing it well. My favorites are Seahorse, Bad Girl, Saved, Lover, Carmensita, and the sad, but soulful, I Remember. This is a good CD to listen to when you are home alone and need something calming and jamming at the same time to get you through the lonely hours. LOVE IT!
Well, peeps, I am on a high that cannot be brought about with narcotics. I suggest everyone feel the same. Peace and love!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Good News
Wow, it's so strange when you can feel the changes in the air. Things are moving along so fast, that i don't even have time to stop and see where it's all going. My friend Sarah just broke the news to me yesterday that she's moving to California to be with her man and start her life. I'm happy for her, but damn, I'm gonna miss that girl.
My family is doing excellent and even got my brother to go on a religious retreat with them, which only proves the power of God overrules everything.
One of my best friends is moving to Egypt in a few months to study abroad.
I am more than ever determined to go to NYU once I finish school here in Austin.
ALSO, on an excellent note. I actually got to do a phone interview with Vanessa Grigoriadis, my favorite writer from Rolling Stone, for a story for my journalism class. WTF!!!! She was THE SHIT! If you don't read Rolling Stone, you should read it just for her features because every story she does, you cannot help but be intrigued. In the past issue, she did a feature on Taylor Swift. Personally, I don't like Taylor Swift, but the story was still amazing. She can do no wrong. Check her out...NOW.
Lately, I've been listening to The Heartless Bastards cd, Stairs and Elevators. It's excellent, cool, straight-up rock n' roll. Love it.
That's all I got. Peace.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Same Same - We Know Your Name
Well, school is moving along just fine. At least I think it is. My classes seem to be going better. I'm turning in all my homework on time. I even finished reading an entire book in two days just so I could keep up with my English teacher's lectures about the book. I've been procrastinating more than I should, but I'm still getting everything done. And I've managed to add helping my friends write their papers to my workload.
On an EXCITING note, I E-mailed my favorite writer from Rolling Stone, Vanessa Grigoriadis, and to my surprise, she E-mailed me back! I was so excited. I thought that it would probably take months, if not weeks, for her to get back to me, and she got back to me in 2 and a half hours. That type of shit doesn't happen everyday. So, that will definitely be an email that I will print and save.
Also, I've been listening to the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss CD, Raising Sand, and I think it is advisable that everyone listen to this CD. It's brilliant, authentic, and knows no lies. Buy it, download it (legally or illegally), and feast on brilliance.
Also, I quit my job at the UT Call Center because I got tired of calling mean, rich people and asking them for money. Plus, my boss hated me because I'd call in on an average of once a week, but I couldn't help it if I had other pressing engagements. Besides, it was the biggest joke of a job ever. I think everyone that worked there when I worked there will be gone in about two months anyways. I'm sorry Corporate America, but companies cannot survive unless you're good to your employees. Please, take that into consideration. We are people, not labrats.
Also, another band to check out is The Vox Jaguars. I have to review their cd for KVRX and it's a pretty good EP. I'm curious to see how their first LP is going to pan out. Very exciting...
Well, that's all I got for now. Peace and prosperity!
On an EXCITING note, I E-mailed my favorite writer from Rolling Stone, Vanessa Grigoriadis, and to my surprise, she E-mailed me back! I was so excited. I thought that it would probably take months, if not weeks, for her to get back to me, and she got back to me in 2 and a half hours. That type of shit doesn't happen everyday. So, that will definitely be an email that I will print and save.
Also, I've been listening to the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss CD, Raising Sand, and I think it is advisable that everyone listen to this CD. It's brilliant, authentic, and knows no lies. Buy it, download it (legally or illegally), and feast on brilliance.
Also, I quit my job at the UT Call Center because I got tired of calling mean, rich people and asking them for money. Plus, my boss hated me because I'd call in on an average of once a week, but I couldn't help it if I had other pressing engagements. Besides, it was the biggest joke of a job ever. I think everyone that worked there when I worked there will be gone in about two months anyways. I'm sorry Corporate America, but companies cannot survive unless you're good to your employees. Please, take that into consideration. We are people, not labrats.
Also, another band to check out is The Vox Jaguars. I have to review their cd for KVRX and it's a pretty good EP. I'm curious to see how their first LP is going to pan out. Very exciting...
Well, that's all I got for now. Peace and prosperity!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
School's In Forever!
It is Sunday, the day of rest. I have woken up pretty late today seeing as how I was up til 4:30 watching Independence Day. The first day of school has erupted from the once dormant vacation that my mind decided to take. Now, it is back to a life of schedules, books, and sucking up to professors so I can get an A.
I am extremely angry at the fact that I still do not own a car. There are several cd's that I have been trying to go to the store and buy, and seeing as how I don't have a car, it sucks that I have no way of getting where I need to be going. I know...I know...why don't I take the bus? Because I don't know the bus routes, much less want to sit behind my computer trying to learn the entire map of Austin, TX trying to figure out how to get somewhere, then figure out how to get back.
On the upside, my journalism class is going to be a pretty intensive writing class, which is pretty much what I need to knock me back into my senses. Our first assignment was to start our "autobiography." I think that is a little weird, seeing as how I'm only 21. If I have lived anything worth writing about, I would have already written it, published it, and be living in paradise or traveling all over because that is a void in my life that has still not been filled.
Either way. Cheers to the return of UT! It's going to be hell!
Peace!
I am extremely angry at the fact that I still do not own a car. There are several cd's that I have been trying to go to the store and buy, and seeing as how I don't have a car, it sucks that I have no way of getting where I need to be going. I know...I know...why don't I take the bus? Because I don't know the bus routes, much less want to sit behind my computer trying to learn the entire map of Austin, TX trying to figure out how to get somewhere, then figure out how to get back.
On the upside, my journalism class is going to be a pretty intensive writing class, which is pretty much what I need to knock me back into my senses. Our first assignment was to start our "autobiography." I think that is a little weird, seeing as how I'm only 21. If I have lived anything worth writing about, I would have already written it, published it, and be living in paradise or traveling all over because that is a void in my life that has still not been filled.
Either way. Cheers to the return of UT! It's going to be hell!
Peace!
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