Monday, December 17, 2007

ASU Nat'l Championship #3!!! and other things

All I wanted for Christmas was an ASU 3peat...and I got it!! I spent this past weekend in Chattanooga watching/celebrating AppState win their third consecutive national championship!!! wooooooooo!!! Six of my good friends and I went together and it was a blast. The final score was 49-21. The Delaware (opposing team) fans were pretty rude from what I saw walking around the stadium, so I have no sympathy for them. Even though the game wasn't really close, ASU has had a knack in past games for being way ahead and then letting the other team tie up the game in the third quarter- so every minute was important. I love how, at the beginning of the game, Delaware fans were chanting "We're not Michigan." Obviously they're not, and I have a feeling Michigan would probably run them into the ground just like we did. Anyway though. ASU won and that is all that matters!

Eight days til Christmas...EIGHT DAYS! I can't believe it. The one thing I always hate about the Christmas season is how fast it flies by. It's my favorite time of year, but it's gone just like that and then you have to wait another whole year. Boo! But I love Christmas.

Now on to other things. Imogen Heap is currently writing her third album and I am so stoked. It doesn't come out for a while, but she has a new song coming out in February that very possibly will be used for the tv show "Heroes." She has a video blog that she updates every week or so, and she's been playing clips of the song and it sounds GREAT. I can't wait! Here is video blog #15 where she discloses part of the song that was sorta kinda inspired by the Foo Fighters after she heard them in concert.


If you haven't listened to Imogen Heap before, you should. Her music is wonderful and best of all - it doesn't sound like anything else (that's hard to find nowadays). Click hereto go to her myspace. Listen to "Hide and Seek" if you've never heard it before. Ok well that's it for now. I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays! :)

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Band of Horses


I am loving these guys right now. Turn up your volume and you can hear one of my favorite songs by them. I heard their music for the first time last year on The Road Mix: Music From The Television Series One Tree Hill Vol. 3 (I don't even watch the show, but I recommend this cd). The song on the OTH soundtrack is called "Funeral" and it's a great song. THEN, last week I was at Murphy's in Boone and I'm pretty sure I heard "Is There a Ghost" on the radio. I didn't know it was Band of Horses, but their sound is pretty distinctive. So my thought process was "I know that sound...kind of similar to the song "Funeral"...Band of Horses!!!" I love it when I hear a song on the radio I like and then I'm able to figure out who it is, because it always sucks when you can't.

So anyway- "Is There a Ghost" is really good song, and so are the rest of the songs posted on their myspace. I specifically like "Is There a Ghost," "No One's Gonna Love You," and "The General Specific" ...but like I said, they are all good. I plan on buying the whole cd on iTunes in the very near future!

This 1:30am bedtime thing has got to end.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

jobs and Christmas music

It's very depressing that, when I think about what I love to do most, it involves sitting for hours listening to music and/or searching for new music. What kind of job is out there where you can do that?! It's so frustrating. I think maybe I would do well working in a music store. Who knows.

Besides that, I am very happy that it is almost the month of December. Yay Christmas! Last year, Sarah McLachlan's album Wintersong was my soundtrack for the holiday. I fell asleep every night listening to it. Such a good cd. It's different from the other fifty million Christmas cd's that artists put out every year. The songs, with the exception of a few, aren't your typical Christmas songs and I like that. So anyway, here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs called "Wintersong."

The lake is frozen over, the trees are white with snow
and all around reminders of you are everywhere I go
It's later, morning's in no hurry but sleep won't set me free
I lie awake and try to recall how your body felt beside me
When silence gets too hard to handle, and the night too long

And this is how I see you, in the snow on Christmas morning
Love and happiness surround you
as you throw your arms up to the sky
I keep this moment by and by
Oh how I miss you now, my love
Merry Christmas, my love

A sense of joy fills the air and I daydream and I stare
up at the tree and I see your star up there

And this is how I see you, in the snow on Christmas morning
Love and happiness surround you
as you throw your arms up to the sky
I keep this moment by and by

-Sarah McLachlan

Monday, November 26, 2007

new music player!

So I have a little music player to the left so you can experience some of the greatness that is the music I am listening to!

Kate Bush is just fabulous. I stumbled upon her music before I knew that a lot of people tie her sound to Tori Amos. I like her voice and I think her music is unique and good. Not to mention the fact that David Gilmour helped kick start her career because he liked her work so much. So you should listen to "Running Up That Hill" if it hasn't played on here already, or if you immediately turned the volume down upon hearing the sound.

Today's rant: I am annoyed with people boycotting "The Golden Compass" movie. I mean really...I understand a person's motivation for wanting to protect their children. And if you feel that it would be wise for your young children not to see it, then by all means don't take them. But as far as adults go - I say read the books before you take such a strong stance against them. All I'm asking is that people be informed and educated before they decide to boycott anything. Or at least do some research on both sides. Another thing that pisses me off is the constant picking and choosing of what is wrong and right. Take Harry Potter, for example. Seriously, people. If you let your children watch Disney movies, then Harry Potter really isn't THAT different. Disney movies are almost always comprised entirely of magic, witches, fairies, and countless other mystical elements that have the potential to damage a child's view of reality. I specifically recall a scene towards the end of "Sleeping Beauty" when the *witch* declares that the prince is battling against her and that she will summon "all the powers of hell" to fight him when he attempts to rescue Sleeping Beauty. Pretty blatant, if you ask me. Yet millions of Christians let their children watch that movie. If you are going to be whole-heartedly against something, at least be consistent with it. I could name so many people who are probably boycotting this movie who have let their eight year olds watch gruesome horror movies that desensitize them to death and violence. And they probably are the same ones who let their children play disgusting and violent video games...oh how I could go on. But I'm going to stop now because I've discussed this enough.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Tori Amos and Peter Gabriel

The Tori Amos concert was fabulous as expected. I love love LOVE her music and she is beyond amazing on the piano. It's insane. I would post the few pictures I took, but I'm too lazy to do it right now!

Right now, I have Peter Gabriel's "I Grieve" on repeat. I am loving this song. And in general, Peter Gabriel is a great musician. The song is from "City of Angels"...so I'm guessing somehow the lyrics tie in with the movie (which I actually never saw). I have a tendency to gravitate towards more depressing songs, but there isn't anything wrong with that necessarily. However, I think it's safe to say that grieving for someone is an idea that most people can relate to. Even if it isn't necessarily grieving over someone who has literally passed away, but just grieving over someone for whatever reason. So anyway, here are the lyrics:

It was only one hour ago
It was all so different then
There's nothing yet has really sunk in
Looks like it always did
This flesh and bone
is just the way that you were tied in
Now there's no one home

I grieve for you
and you leave me
It's so hard to move on,
still loving what's gone
They say life carries on,
carries on and on and on and on

The news that truly shocks is the empty, empty page

while the final rattle rocks its empty, empty cage
and I can't handle this

I grieve for you
and you leave me

L
et it out and move on,
missing what's gone
They say life carries on
They say life carries on and on and on

Life carries on
in the people I meet
in everyone that's out on the street
in all the dogs and cats
in the flies and rats
in the rot and the rust
in the ashes and the dust
and life carries on and on and on and on
Life carries on and on and on

It’s just the car that we ride in,
the home we reside in
the face that we hide in
the way we are tied in
and life carries on and on and on and on
Life carries on and on and on

Did I dream this belief
or did I believe this dream?
Now I can find relief
I grieve

Monday, November 12, 2007

pianos and cake decor

I am so very desperate to learn how to play the piano. I can read music, but on the French horn I only had to read notes on the treble clef- not the bass clef. I *can* read on the bass clef, it just takes me longer with the whole eye-to-hand reaction. I can play a few of Regina Spektor's songs, and one or two songs by Coldplay. I'm sure they are all easy pieces, so it's no real accomplishment. I just want to take lessons to get more familiar with chords, theory, etc. I learned almost zero theory in high school band, so right now my brain is useless in that department. BUT I am going to start taking lessons soon if it's the last thing I do. Being able to play the piano is one of the few goals in my life that is certain right now.

Hopefully I will be signing up for a cake decorating class at the community college tomorrow! I'm excited! I have always loved how people can make wedding cakes so pretty, and that is very random. Random or not, I am happy about getting to take the class! yay for cake decorating!

Another very important announcement: I AM SEEING TORI AMOS TOMORROW NIGHT IN CONCERT! Words cannot describe how excited I am about this. I have loved her music for years, but I haven't ever seen her live. I also have seats that are five rows from the front, so that should be pretty awesome. I'm sure the whole concert will be awesome.

I wish tomorrow could be Veteran's Day again. I mean seriously, they deserve a whole week. But since it's only one day, that means I have to work, which also means I should probably go to sleep now. So that's all for today!

I'm sorry but I'm just thinking of the right words to say
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be
but if you wait around a while I'll make you fall for me
I promise, I promise you I will

-When in Rome
...good 80's song!

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

On a rack in a store for a discount price...

William Fitzsimmons is amazing! I love his music. Go to his myspace and listen to it...every song on there is good. My favorites are "Funeral Dress," and "Passion Play." Random side note: He's also done some live performances with Ingrid Michaelson on background vocals. She is fabulous as well, and you can find videos of those performances on youtube. Actually, I'll just post one of them to make all our lives easier. This version of "Funeral Dress" is a bit faster than the regular version, just fyi.



and don't worry if laughter is on your lips
cause you wouldn't be you if you changed for this
and I won't measure love from the tears that drip
from your face
I can't wait f or you
-William Fitzsimmons "Funeral Dress"

Thursday, November 1, 2007

coffee!!


Well, I have discovered the greatness that is coffee. Before yesterday, I was just an occasional coffee drinker. I was an occasional and picky coffee drinker. Iced mochas were about as simple as I got, and usually I was "sipping" on a frappe freeze of some kind. Yesterday morning, all that changed. One of the ladies here in the office brought everyone regular coffee from Broad River Coffee Company down the street, so I figured I'd go ahead and try to drink it since it was there. I put natural sugar in it and creamer, and it was GOOD. Not only was it unexpectedly good, but I felt so energetic within an hour. And trust me, nothing else happened that would've made me feel energetic. So yay coffee! I always tried to substitute coffee with Pepsi since I like Pepsi, but it has nowhere near the same effect.

Just thought I'd share my coffee revelation with you all.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

semi-long day


So that pretty much sums how I feel someti...well, most the time actually. hah!

But we'll start off with more pleasant things, like how "Iceblink Luck" by the Cocteau Twins is one of my new favorite songs! I was looking at Feist's "celeb playlist" on iTunes the other day and she had it listed. It just has really good vocals (or at least I think so) and I like the song. The lyrics don't entirely make sense to me, but that's ok. It might take a couple seconds to load but listen to it...it's a good song, I promise! It just makes you feel happy. (:



However, there are several things I could complain about right now...how today I got stuck behind someone on I-85 going 40 miles an hour which resulted in a semi almost rear-ending me at 70 miles an hour, or, well I'm going to just stop there.

My concern for the month of November is getting tickets to see Tori Amos in Charlotte. I am the only one I know, though, who likes Tori Amos. I wouldn't mind going by myself, but it's Charlotte...at night...by myself. Probably nothing to worry about, but I'd rather not go alone. Oh well. I have loved Tori Amos since at least my freshmen/sophomore-ish year in high school and this is like the fifth time she's been to Charlotte. I think it's finally time I saw her live. Haha...that whole paragraph kind of makes me sound like a loser but really, who else around here likes Tori Amos?? I can't think of anyone. I hate dragging someone along who doesn't really listen to her music, but I'm sure it will work out.

Anyway. I had someone say to me the other day (in regards to me working for my dad), "You didn't go to college for four years to do that." Seriously? Don't tell me what I went to college for. I went to college for a DEGREE. It may have been political science, but I swear at least 90% of the people I ask aren't doing anything that relates to what they actually majored in. That's not to say I won't someday get into politics, but for now, I'm where I want to be. Or at least I think so- but that's beside the point. That was just something that irritated me. Just because I am working for my dad doesn't mean it's a less real job. In no way, shape or form am I saying I want to make some huge career out of working for my dad but for now it is just working out well.

On a higher note, I am excited about CHRISTMAS! This whole season has been great. I basically love October-January. I love all the seasons, but I think fall/winter are my favorites.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Dido live

While I'm up and just hanging out at 3:15am because I drank a pumpkin latte way too late in the evening, here is a fantastic live video of one of my favorite Dido songs. The song is called "See You When You're 40." I guess the reason I like the video is because I love the song. Otherwise, it might not be terribly exciting. If you aren't a fan of Dido, expand your horizons and watch the video. If you fast forward until there's about one minute and 50 seconds left, that's my favorite part. It's an added portion to the song that isn't on the album version. Here's the video:




Notice at the beginning she says,
"I don't usually write songs that are a direct attack on one person...but sometimes I just can't help myself." Haha. I love it.

Dumbledore is not gay.

So umm...Dumbledore is gay?? J.K. Rowling supposedly "outed" him recently when she made some kind of appearance at Carnegie Hall. Uh, really? Seriously? Completely regardless of where you stand on the issue of homosexuality, that is the most retarded thing ever. It would be different if she had really hinted at it throughout the series, or said it earlier before the books were finished. But after it's all said and done, books have been written, movies have been made...and she's like, "Oh, by the way, Dumbledore, that major wizard character in my books- yeah, he's gay." Either she is telling the truth and he really was a gay character, or it's a publicity stunt. I'm leaning towards the latter. Like I said, it would be different if had it been something she gradually brought into the series or announced before she was finished with series. But all the sudden she decides he's gay? It would be like a Disney writer going back and saying Captain Hook was a cross dresser. It just doesn't make sense. I do not believe for a second that J.K. Rowling went into the HP series with intentions of having Dumbledore be a gay character. But obviously, I am not her. I think it's just something she all the sudden decided after writing the series. Makes no sense to me. Now I'm going to get back to watching The Chamber of Secrets. I'm attempting to pick up any hints from Dumbledore's character that would imply he was gay, and so far I'm getting none.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Robyn resurfacing

So I'm sure you all remember Robyn..."Show Me Love," and "Do You Know (What It Takes)" were two of her more popular singles that hit the charts. Well quite a while ago, in my completely random searching for music, I happened upon Sweden's iTunes music store. I then stumbled across her newer self-titled album which was released last April. Not quite "new music" but I think the album is kind of evolving with new songs being released, so it is in a sense "new." and SO good! I don't know why she fell off the face of the earth (or the face of America, rather) but this album certainly improves on Robyn is Here (the one that was popular here in the states). At least that's my humble opinion. I think the music on her newer album definitely could compete with pop songs that are on the charts right now. She has a voice that you can easily identify, and her music on the airwaves would be a nice break from Rihanna, Ciara, Kelis, etc. Don't get me wrong, I listen those artists, but I'm always up for something a little different. I think her music is a little more techno-laden than most of what we are currently hearing from pop artists in the United States.

I might be the only one thinking all this, because you can't even get the newer album on iTunes (in the U.S. store). For that matter, you can't even get Robyn is Here in it's entirety. Oh well. You can still check out her myspace (see below).

Today's recommended listening: Robyn <-- click to go to her myspace page
Recommended tunes:
"With Every Heartbeat" (the regular version and the Live Lounge piano version is also great)
"Be Mine" (you might be able to find it at Project Playlist)

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Good music makes the world go 'round.

I am VERY excited because the Alison Krauss + Robert Plant collaboration album entitled Raising Sand was released today!!! Buy it on iTunes or go out and get a copy. I have really been looking forward to this; in recent years I have developed a huge love of classic rock (specifically Led Zeppelin, as of late). I have always been a big Alison Krauss fan, so what could be better? Alison Krauss has an amazing voice, and Robert Plant is...well...Robert Plant. Judging from some of the clips I heard on the promo video (from songs "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)," and "Please Read the Letter"), the album should be fabulous. I don't think anyone would hesitate to say it's an odd combination, but from what I've heard it's a very good one.

I was also very privileged to see/hear PJ Harvey live the other night on Jay Leno. She performed "Grow Grow Grow" off her recently released album entitled White Chalk. Despite the fact that I am a big fan of quirky artists like Tori Amos and Björk
, I haven't listened to any PJ Harvey before. The album is very unique and I like the sound, which evidently is different from most of what she's done before. This review of White Chalk from amazon.com describes my thoughts entirely:

"There's a minor key, folksy feel to it, from the acoustic instruments to the restrained, whispery sound of PJ's matchless voice, the lyrics suggesting old murder ballads and overheard confessions. It's autumnal, just right for this time of year, spooky and haunting, a suite of sepia toned chamber music in the key of regret, nostalgia and dread. The same way a whisper makes you listen more actively than a shout,the quiet complexity of White Chalk remains intriguing -- there's something to it, something that moves and engages, shaded rather than hid, making the whole profound and real in a world that so often prefers sameness and plastic pretension." -James Agnew

Like that guy said, it's a perfect album for the fall season (which happens to be my favorite season second only to Christmas). So in conclusion, I am enjoying the pumpkin season along with some very good music. I recommend you spend the next few minutes giving these albums a listen online or wherever you choose to listen to clips from new albums. And here's the promo video for Raising Sand...a short insight into the making of the album.