| Not dark yet... |
[Apr. 1st, 2009|10:37 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  rejected | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Bob Dylan (natch) | ] |
Dear Ben:
I hate you. You are a jerk. Thought you should know.
Love
Laura
PS: I'm keeping your copy of Pineapple Express. SUCK IT asshole. |
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| (no subject) |
[Aug. 26th, 2008|10:31 am] |
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Is anyone else slightly disturbed by the new Guess ad campaign? It's these weird pictures of overly coiffed children looking slightly pissed at having their photographs taken. I'm not quite sure what Guess was going for but unless it was "Guess what the fuck is going on here" I'm pretty sure they didn't make it. It certainly doesn't make me wanna buy Guess merchandise. |
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| Writer's Block: Back in Time |
[Apr. 16th, 2008|11:02 am] |
Ohmygosh I would totally travel to 1975. I've always felt I was born in the wrong time. I would've rocked the 70s like a bad motherfucker: the clothes, the drugs, the MUSIC. In 1975 I would have bought "Born to Run" on vinyl and followed Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band around the country like the groupie I so long to be. |
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| What Do You Have To Say? - Put It On Repeat |
[Jan. 14th, 2008|09:21 am] |
ABBEY ROAD. I'm not actually a Beatles fan. (I was born and raised an Elvis fan.) But the Beatles' "Abbey Road" is my most favorite album of all time, almost solely due to the Abbey Road Medley. Those last nine songs, blended seamlessly into one suite, encompass everything I love about music. It's my entire musical universe in sixteen short minutes: rock, pop, classical, jazz, and more. And it's also the most visionary work of music I've ever heard. There was nothing like it when it was first released and there will probably never be anything like it ever again (but we can hope).
Admittedly, I have many musical loves. (Springsteen's "Born to Run" came very close to being the answer to this question.) But nothing, NOTHING, compares to the Medley. |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 10th, 2008|09:50 pm] |
One of my favorite albums growing up was Meatloaf's "Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell". I feel this explains a lot about many of my future musical purchases. (Around half - the other half can be explained by my mother's obsession with Elvis Presley.)
I'm not even sure how the CD got into our house. My mother almost didn't buy me a Barenaked Ladies album because a group with a name like that seemed "questionable." Of course everything was fine once we explained that they weren't actually bare naked ladies but fully clothed Canadian men. And the Meat Loaf CD wasn't even mine! It was my sister's. This makes even less sense because my sister is now the most religious person I know. (Not that she has much competition; I tend to surround myself with alcoholics and potheads.)
But I digress.
The reason I love Bat Out of Hell II: Back Into Hell, from ten-years-old to present day, is because it's pure fantasy. Meat Loaf has somehow managed to combine hard rock with musical theater. And sure it comes off as ridiculous and bombastic. But isn't that the point? It's not supposed to seem real. And that's why I like it. It's fantasy and romance and about as unrealistic as you can get. I listened to this album almost everyday when I was younger.
Which explains why I'm an avid Tori Amos fan. And why I love gettin' the Led out in the morning (my neighbors must hate me). It also explains why I find Regina Spektor's most recent album "Being To Hope" so damned delightful.
I believe Regina Spektor is the illegitimate love child of Ben Folds and Tori Amos. She has an eye for the weird and absurd like Amos and the clever witticisms of Folds. She's intellectual without seeming condescending, indie without seeming elitist. Spektor doesn't just create songs in the traditional sense; she's not merely combining melody, rhythym, and words. She's more interested in painting scenes and crafting characters. She's one of the best musical storytellers since Bruce Springsteen graced us with "Born to Run" way back in 1975.
The album opens with "Fidelity", quite obviously the musical version of the movie "High Fidelity." Frankly these three minutes do more for me than the whole two hours of the film. (While I admit this is a great movie, for some reason I seem to completely lose interest after the Springsteen cameo.) I actually feel how it is to be inside Rob Gordon's head with all of these voices, all of these words, and all of this music. And it does break your heart.
The album covers a lot of terrain, from the modern relationships of Fidelity to the ancient heartache of "Samson". Each song is carefully crafted fiction interwoven with bits of truth. "On The Radio" contains the most realistic description of love I've ever heard. The music clearly supports the words. Whether it's the old time saloon feel of "Field Below" or the hipster/punk sound of "That Time" Spektor manages to draw you into any world with complete ease and grace.
It doesn't always work. Sometimes her penchant for drama goes too far. "Après Moi" piles on the theatrics so much so that the listener goes into a sensory overload. I much prefer Spektor when she's not trying so hard to convince us she's talented. She's better suited sitting back and naturally letting her talent shine through. And for most of Begin to Hope she does just that, allowing the album to effortlessly weave from sweeping and dramatic to light and lovely and back again. |
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| I can't sleep in anymore. |
[Jun. 17th, 2007|10:54 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  giggly | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | BADASS | ] |
I finished it. My "Songs to be Badass To" playlist (or just Badass for short). It's perfect. The best mix I've ever made! (Even trumping my last great mix "Songs to Get Stoned To".) Without the movie "Domino" or the tv show "Entourage" this would have been a very different mix indeed. As it is, Michael Jackson Bad didn't make the cut. That song is too ironic. If only I could find a way to make a living out of making mix tapes. They pay people to do that, right? Sometimes?? Although it takes a while for me to make a whole mix from start to finish. It took me forfuckingever to figure out where Sabotage should go. But then, driving around (where I do my best music-ing), Superhero ended and I realized, "Damn. Sabotage would be great right now." And it was.
Songs To Be Badass To
Muthafucka - Exzibit
Lapdance - Paul Oakenfold
Damn It Feels Good to be a Gangsta - Geto Boys
Electioneering - Radiohead
Superhero - Jane's Addiction
Sabotage - Beastie Boys
The Good Stuff - Sid Maudlin
Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
Battle Without Honour - Tomoyasu Hotei
The Seeker - Who
Strict Machine - Goldfrapp
Guerilla Radio - Rage Against The Machine
Hot Shit - Sid Maudlin
This is Your Life - Dust Brothers
Let a Nigga Know - Saigon
Work Song - Dan Reeder
My next project is "Songs to Move to LA to". |
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| Paul is dead. |
[May. 22nd, 2007|10:53 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  Oh Triangle... | ] |
But I'm not.
My computer died. And my brother is trying to bring it back to life. But that means I have no computer. So I'm never online and I never post. But I'm not dead.
Anyways! I moved to the Indian Ghetto with Dan. Things did not go as smoothly as anticipated but I guess it's ok now.
Here are some things I've learned!
1. I'm severely allergic to cats.
2. GB children spy on people in basement apartments.
3. China Buffet is delicious.
4. If you ask for the 50 cent raise you just might get it.
Over and out! |
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| I guess I have to... |
[Apr. 13th, 2007|12:49 pm] |
Comment and I'll--
1 - Tell you why I friended you. Assuming I can remember :)
2 - Associate you with something. A fandom, a song, a colour, a piece of fruit. SOMETHING.
3 - Tell you something I like about you.
4 - Tell you a memory I have of you.
5 - Associate you with a character/pairing.
6 - Ask something I've always wanted to know about you. (Or else I'll just ask a random question. I reserve that right.)
7 - Tell you my favorite user pic of yours.
8 - In return, you must spread this disease in your LJ. |
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| I DID IT! |
[Feb. 1st, 2007|02:28 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  No more debt! | ] |
I finally paid off my credit card. Huzzah! Now the real trick will be not using it anymore.
But still.
One resolution down and one to go. Hot damn. |
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| Am I lost or just treading water? |
[Jan. 2nd, 2007|11:24 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  Shower! | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | On The Radio - Regina Spektor | ] |
Well. Here's a little update while I'm waiting for my shower to cool down. (Seriously. My shower is too hot. I actually have to let the hot water run out before I can get in it. How gay is that?)
New Year's was great until it wasn't. 2007 was awful until it was great. I spent my entire first day of 2007 with Dan. Literally. Every goddam minute of 24 hours was with that bastard. So that was pretty awesome. You know what else helps? Chickleberry.
So far no real New Year's resolution. I can't think of any. Except one. That I can't keep. So what's the point? But I'm done with boys. Just call me Captain Lesbo.
I shouldn't be writing this. My brain is still fuzzy from yesterday.
But here's my fortune for the next year (according to Ming's on main - by the ghetto KFC):
The star of riches is shining upon you.
The current year will bring you much happiness.
There's two because Dan got a shitty one on the first try. So I let him have a do-over. And he STILL got a shitty fortune. Total buck-up fortunes. 2007 is not the year for Dan. But 2008 is the year for both of us! Huzzah!!
I think my shower is cold! Yeah!! |
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| Not that I would know or anything... |
[Nov. 1st, 2006|10:46 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  Irked | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Hot Shit - Sid Maudlin | ] |
Songs To Get Stoned To
Burn One Down - Ben Harper
Jammin' - Bob Marley
Rainy Day Women #12 and 35 - Bob Dylan
Wacky Tobacky - NRBQ
Truckin' - Grateful Dead
Baba O'riley - The Who
Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
When The Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
I Want You (She's So Heavy) - The Beatles
Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
It's Good To Be King - Tom Petty
Ripple - Grateful Dead
Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Because I Got High - Afroman
You can copy if you like. But you should credit me. Because I made this awesome mix yo. From "Sweet Emotion" on is just motherfucking perfection.
I'm in the process of making another mix right now. Track listing isn't finished. Suggestions are welcome. And the order's not right. So this one's still a work in progress...
Song To Be Badass To
Bad - Michael Jackson
The Name Of The Game - Chemical Brothers
Lapdance - Paul Oakenfold
Whipping Post - Allman Brothers Band
Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
The Seeker - The Who
Battle Without Honour - Tomoyasu Hotei
The Good Stuff - Sid Maudlin
Hot Shit - Sid Maudlin
Work Song - Dan Reeder |
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| Someday baby you ain't gonna worry po' me anymore. |
[Oct. 22nd, 2006|07:34 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  frustrated | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | The Levee Is Gonna Break - Bob Dylan (HOLY SHIT) | ] |
So.
Ouch! I hurt! (Because I am a drunken disaster.) I sustained a lot of injuries this weekend. Physically I have three HUGE bruises on my legs and a scrape near my left elbow. I have no idea how I did any of this. The scrape is the worst one. I noticed it at the party shortly after I got it. And now, two days later and way much sober, I still don't know exactly how I got it. Plus if I move my arm a certain way (which I apparently do often) it hurts like a motherfucker. It basically serves as a constant reminder of what a drunken klutz I am. And emotionally, I am fucked (as Mary said - see below).
But! On the bright side! (Because there is always a bright side.) Nick came over to give me the much anticipated new Bob Dylan cd Modern Times. Then we just sat around and shot the shit for awhile. He regaled me with stories of his drunken adventures and amazing sound systems. It was really nice.
And then! Even better! (Because it can always get better.) Mary called. And her, me, and Nick bitched about our respective boy/girl dramas. Just like old times! And it was really great. Except for the fact that the general consensus was that we're all fucked. Boo.
Finally! Last thing! (Because all things must end.) Modern Times is AMAZING. Even better than I imagined - which I didn't think was humanly possible. But I suppose Dylan possesses super human powers. Anyways, I'm kinda glad Nick didn't give it to me before. It seems to fit the mood I'm in right now to a fucking T. Sigh. Fuck you Billy Corgan. Only Bob understands me. This album is a must have for anyone wanting to acquire any serious musical taste.
Yeah. |
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| A triumphant return! |
[Oct. 8th, 2006|11:51 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  tired | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Never Tear Us Apart - INXS | ] |
I have returned from my trip to grand ole suburbia laden with gifts. I have a working computer, a new dvd burner, and a shitload of INXS cds. Hot damn!
This weekend was pretty boss. Friday I was a nerd and watched Battlestar Galactica. That show is INTENSE yo. It so goes there (much like Degrassi). Then I was not a nerd and went to the toga party. A lot of people had really great togas on, including Nick. I don't know how they did it either. Mine took for-fucking-ever and it STILL looked like shit. Anyways it was your typical awesome party that including mooching free beer from Nick and pissing off some bitches. Ha. That was by far the best part.
Saturday I spent some quality time with Dan, Donnelle (who does Maya Rudolph impressions), and Will (who is also very awesome). We went to Maggie's (which was completely dead) and then in search of a party that didn't exist. And in between we got really fucked up. I don't remember much beyond that except that Dan really wants some skinny hoodies. Just ask him.
And today I drove two very long hours to my brother's house in Claredon Hills so he could fix my computer that wouldn't turn on AT ALL. Turns out I broke the power supply somehow. *shrugs* Anyways I wound up buying a new one of those and a new dvd burner because my old cd-rom drive had also stopped working. I ended up staying much longer than anticipated mostly because David and I wasted a lot of time playing with his new drum machine, but I got free pizza and INXS cds out of it. Score!
Speaking of, remember INXS? They are a LOT better than I remember. Michael Hutchence sounds so goddam sexxy. I love it. They remind me of the Smiths. I was gonna say that INXS is the poor man's Smiths but it's really vice versa. INXS is much more talented and Michael Hutchence is a helluva lot sexier than stupid Morissey. And Dan told me that Michael Hutchence dated Kylie Minogue! How crazy is that? But seriously after listening to both Kylie and INXS I can see why those two hooked up. Musically, it just makes sense. I wish they had stayed together forever. Or at least till Michael Hutchence killed himself.
And finally the Bears. So close to a shut out. (Christ. Even when they win it's still a disappointment.) But I think this year they're going all the way. I know I say that every year but this time other people agree with me. And that is gonna be one awesome Super Bowl party. We'd need a giant tv, an endless loop of the Super Bowl shuffle, and a shit ton of beer. Stat! |
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| Because my life is actually a series of television episodes |
[Oct. 4th, 2006|11:48 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  sleepy | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Mlk - U2 | ] |
First things first, Graham's apartment is the shit and I am so way jealous. Also Heineken is very good.
Secondly, the new episode of Lost. What a fucking letdown. That show...I don't know. It's just gimmick after gimmick after tease. And I've said that before. But this time I really mean it.
Third, Battlestar Galactica. I am so ashamed to admit this, but that show looks pretty fucking boss. It's got all the drama and "ohmygod!" of Lost but with a LOT more intelligence. As I said to Dan, "It's like Lost in space. Wait -"
Finally, MIchael is sooooooo going to win at life. He may not win Project Runway (I get the feeling he might choke) but the general consensus is that he is The Shit and will be an awesome designer no matter who wins that damn reality show.
The end.
PS: Anyone questioning my new appreciation for a show called Battlestar Galactica can take it up with Dan. He's turning me into a nerd. Blame him. Not me. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 28th, 2006|06:08 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  bored | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Good Girls Go To Heaven (Bad Girls Go Everywhere) | ] |
I haven't done an actual update in a long ass time. Quite possibly because my life has become uncomfortably routine.
But! Here's my opinion on fulltime employment. Having been a fulltime student and now a fulltime employee I must say I would MUCH rather work instead of go to school. First of all, when you work you get paid. In college I was actually paying ISU for the luxury of falling asleep during Finance. Secondly, when you have some bullshit entry level job like I do, the only time you think about work is during work. There's no homework or constantly thinking "What should I be doing now to prepare for tomorrow?" You know what I have to do to prepare for tomorrow? Wake up and shower (and even that is technically optional). That's it. For once in my life my free time is actually free and MINE. It's awesome.
I've been watching a lot of tv lately. Well. A lot for someone that doesn't actually get cable. I'm blaming this on Dan. Not that it's bad...necessarily. It's just a lot of TV. Nip/Tuck is my new favorite obsession.
But what is with creative peoples not being creative? Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip? The West Wing in a television studio. The Last Kiss? Garden State with Rachel Bilson starring as Natalie Portman. And Grey's Anatomy just blows. Don't let anyone tell you different. They're lying.
But Gnarls Barkley is boss. Nothing I expected and everything I crave. So boss.
You know who else is boss? MEAT LOAF. I very recently acquired Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell. This was my absolute favorite album when I was about 10 (that very brief period of my life after I started liking music but before I developed any actual taste for it). I listened to that album constantly. Seriously everyday for months - MONTHS people. It was technically my sister's cd. (Which boggles my mind. How does a pious upstanding Catholic own an album with a satanic bat going back into hell on the cover?) Can you imagine little 10-year-old Laura rocking out to "I'D Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)"? Believe it. And the great thing is, I still know all these songs! And I gotta tell ya. I still get a big kick out of 'em. There's something about Meat Loaf's love for theatrics and drama that speaks to both the 10-year-old AND the 22-year-old in me. Wondrous. |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 24th, 2006|02:09 pm] |
| Your Birthdate: February 22 | 
You tend to be understated and under appreciated.
You have a hidden force to do amazing things, doing them your own way.
People may see you as strange and shy, but they know little.
Your unconventional ways have more power than they (and even you) know.
Your strength: Standing up for what you know is true
Your weakness: You tend to be picky and rigid
Your power color: Silver
Your power symbol: Square
Your power month: April |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 18th, 2006|05:42 pm] |
| You Belong in Barcelona | 
When it comes to Europe, you don't want to decide between culture and fun. You want art by day and a big party by night.
Barcelona is ideal for you. You can check out some Picasso, eat some tapas, take a siesta, and then dance all night! |
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| Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) is coming up Milhouse |
[Sep. 9th, 2006|06:30 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  Just got up from a nap | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | I Want You Back - Jackson Five | ] |
Soooooooo...
This morning was a great day to be Laura. Work was awesome. Mostly just because I like the job and I really like the people. But also! Because I found out that not only do I get paid for Labor Day BUT we also made bonus. This means I get 8 hours pay and an extra $106 for doing jack shit. Fuck yeah!
The question is what should I do with this extra money? Should I be responsible and pay off the monster balance on my credit card (and start some mad saving for LA)? OR should I be frivolous and buy things (namely the new Dylan cd, Chuck Klosterman's new book, and a FM transmitter for my car)?
Decisions decisions... |
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| (no subject) |
[Sep. 4th, 2006|03:56 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  Chuck Klosterman-y | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Sugar Baby - Bob Dylan | ] |
I thought I should write something non-emo for once to prove that I can (and do) think of other things.
I am in love with the song "Strict Machine". I downloaded it yesterday and have been listening to it constantly ever since. I discovered the title by reading someone's blog (mucho thanks Kellie and Lauren). Lauren was discussing how she hates when real songs are featured in commercials, and used "Strict Machine" as an example. This is ironic because I only recognized the song as that Nip/Tuck commercial.
And I can kinda see where she's coming from. When a song is used in a commercial one mostly assumes that the band is now officially selling out. I used to think like that. But now I feel that point of view is focusing on the record company's perspective, not the band's.
Sure a record company will feature a song in a commercial with the hopes of selling more albums and making more money. But I take the optimist view when thinking of the band's perspective. I think that musicians allow their music to be featured in something completely non-musical in hopes of reaching a greater audience. They don't want to make money; they just want to be heard.
And it works! Without that Volkswagon commercial I never would have heard Nick Drake's "Pink Moon". Without Itunes (and Graham) I never would have discovered Wolfmother. And without Nip/Tuck I would never know "Strict Machine". By featuring a song in a commercial you've expanded your audience tenfold. And I guarantee that my love for "Strict Machine" will outlast Nip/Tuck's entire television career. I won't FOREVER associate the song in a commercial with the product being advertised. When I hear "Pink Moon" I don't think Volkswagon; I think Nick Drake. But thank God (and Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Ferris) for Volkswagon featuring that song. I may not have heard it at all otherwise. And that would be really sad.
Don't knock bands for allowing their songs to be used in commercials. It just makes sense. Radio used to be the way people discovered new music but it is now becoming an increasingly passe medium. I haven't listened to real radio in about six years. I listen to BobFm. And I really don't listen to Bob to hear The Next Big Thing. I listen to hear shit like Toto's "Africa" on the radio. It seems perfectly logical for musicians to be seeking new ways to allow their music to be discovered. Smacking on bands for using commercials is as short-sighted as many major record labels answer to mp3 technology. Instead of working with it they tried desperately to destroy it (and we ALL saw how well that worked out). I think musicians using commercials is almost visionary. They are finding new ways to work within an ever changing culture. How can you call them sell outs? Maybe it is just product placement, but I tend to focus on the product not the placement.
So cut Goldfrapp some slack. They made a kickass song which also happens to be in a Nip/Tuck commercial. But mostly it's just a kickass song. And that's what I really came away with. |
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chipper
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