As I sit here and listen to Mouth of the Architect's The Ties That Blind I'm reminded of why I enjoy music like this as much as I do. The melodies, the rhythm section, all of it playing off each other to makes such a wonderful wall of sound. The way all six songs come together is truly a gift to hear. It's hard to believe this album is already three years old and still few bands have put forth the effort to try and eclipse what they accomplished on this album.

I wish more people I knew were more open minded/enjoyed this style music. So I could share this (and many other) albums with them. :sigh:

Fuck it

I want to let you all know that over the last few days I read this book. It was... interesting. I'm not even sure how to articulate what this book is full of. Shit maybe? It's understandable that men and women are different. But this book covers such a narrow demographic. As in straight committed relationship Christians (as my living without the light of Christ would make my relationship any different). I'm not even sure why I read all of it.

The information was not presented in an interesting way. It was more of a jumble of boring "man speak". And if I remember correctly I don't think the way this book seems to think men think. It's sort insulting. I feel like my gender isn't as dumb as we're portrayed to be. Not that we aren't stupid, but I feel like books like this don't give us any credit.

Most of the information, is common fucking sense stuff.

Noise

I wonder if anyone will watch this?

?

I have nothing important or interesting to say. At the moment.

Wish the stars to dampen out

This is a self titled EP from a band named Ghastly City Sleep. The music contained on this release of is mostly slow and ethereal. None of the songs really get terribly fast speed wise so if that is an issue I suggest you don't check this out. But for those of you who like slow pretty music, you should hopefully be in for a treat.

The record comes right out of the gate with what I feel is it's most immediately gratifying song "Ice Creaks". The song starts slowly with the sound of wind and keys being played building to some light snare playing at around the two minute mark. The song then continues with some quiet male and female vocals, and later builds to a beautiful crescendo featuring the violin playing of Mia Matsumiya (of Kayo Dot).

The following song "Hushing Weight" is the shortest song on the album at five minutes and forty-two seconds. The song takes off faster then it's predecessor, with keys and singing right out of the gate. But has a smaller emotional climax. It does however have the most positive lyrics on the album I feel. An exert from them being "this day could be the greatest thing to radiate/If you just get up and don't believe all those things/In your head".

"Suchness" the second longest track on the album has an unnerved and menacing feel to it (as menacing as this style of music can be). The middle of this lengthy song has a subtle and beatific organ part before the vocals come back in. And the drumming that begins at the same point propels to the song to it's more confident sounding conclusion.

The album closes with "Subtle Disaster" another shorter track. The song is mostly made up of of the same pieces as the other songs, but has a stronger emphasis on the bass (once it kicks in). The piano at the midsection of the song has a wonderful tone and continues on for the rest of the song. It closes this low key release on possibly it's slightest track.

It's also worth noting that this band features two members of the broken up band City Of Caterpillar (though this is much more subdued then their previous band). And to summarize, if you like relaxing/quiet music give this album a try.

That's Not Me

So last night I had the pleasure of being told to hit on countless random strangers by my hetrolife mates (which is fine they're allowed to do that). Which I did not. Do I not have the confidence to do such a thing (probably)? Could it be that most people wouldn't want to be hit on by a short bearded music snobbish jackass who lacks a proper set of social skills. Really I think I didn't do it because that's not me.

Maybe I should just man up and try and fit my gender stereotype (not that any of my male friends do). Being a testosterone filled buffoon sounds fun. I could start watching sports all the time, listen to whatever the fuck Clear Channel feeds me, and think that Megan Fox is "TOTALLY HAWT BRO". Then I'd probably have the strength to talk to someone I've never met and ask for their "digitz". But then again I'd probably be too brain dead to form the sentences to court another human being.

Or better yet people could just hit on me.

Lastly Pet Sounds is a pretty album, check it out if you haven't before:

I wish I had more money then I have

This is an EP by Andrew Jackson Jihad. They play folk/punk (which is a pretty vague genre descriptor. As this album has no electric instruments and four of the seven songs are slow). It is seventeen minutes of wonderful emotive music with a humanist world view. The music on this release is pretty minimalist being composed of acoustic guitar and double bass. The lyrics deal in mostly depressing subjects (like dying, growing up, needing things to survive), but they're delivered mostly in an up beat sort of way with a lot of hope in them. Even Human Kittens and Guilt: The Song which are among the saddest songs they've written still have positivity buried under the unpleasantness. The other five songs are more joyful but still have melancholy about them. To liken them to other bands they sound similar to Ghost Mice and the acoustic Against Me! EP.

This EP is a big ball of awesome and If I had to attach some arbitrary number to this gibberish I wrote I'd give it a 4 out of 5. If you find you enjoy this album you should also pick up People Who Can Eat People Are the Luckiest People in the World.

Here is a link to their official website: http://andrewjacksonjihad.com/

my mission statement

ILL BE TALKING ABOUT MUSIC AND HOW BEING A SOCIALLY AWKWARD YOUNG MAN IS NOT A BARREL OF LAUGHS BUT MOSTLY ABOUT THE FORMER