Anthems of a 19 Year Old

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

WAAAHOOOO!!!

So as i clicked finished on my last post i checked out the T&S site only to see this post

"February 15, 2005

Just announced: Tegan and Sara will be opening for The Killers in April and May. Dates will be in both the US and Canada. More info will be posted soon."

WAAHOOO

could it be? Another possible chance that T&S could come to edmonton???? YES INDEEDY!!!!! Fingers crossed they stop in Edmonton again because that would be by far the best combo in the history or amazing combos!!!!!!!

did i mention "wahhooo" just when u thought me Tegan and Sara names on msn would be extinct... YOU thought TOO SOON!

-J

(possibly so excited AGAIN!!!!! Look at post below...)

Bright Eyes 12:45 PM

"Sniff... Sniff... Cough... Wahoo"

Ahh long time no see. I gotta say I do still love my blog, it’s always there for yah even if you’ve neglected it... your few readers however... well the blog is still there though. Plus it doesn’t complain or ask for anything in return... except well id be pretty ticket is some blogger gave me a hideous layout with hearts and black and red font.

My neglect comes with a good excuse sickness – Tegan and Sara concert – sickness – sickness. A) people who go shopping when their sick should be shot. The only thing they do is spread their disease around. Working in retail I have to continually wash my hands worried that the countless sick people that into the store during flu season will spread their disease. They fondle the merchandise and peruse the shelves – do they ever buy anything? no. Why? Because they are sick, they don’t care about decorating their home, they are just so tired of being sick they get bored and think, HEY i’m healthy enough to leave me home... WRONG. You are not, stay at home, get the rest of your family sick, I don’t know you, and I don’t want your germs. So it’s inevitable with my endless hand scrubbing that I would get sick. I would however understand it if they were shopping because they needed to buy a present or some urgent reason why they would leave their homes, but that’s never the case. So to all you sick people who go to movies, and go shopping, or to a restaurant while your sick STOP it you selfish wank.

Moving on...

Tegan and Sara "Waahoo"

Last Wednesday was the Tegan and Sara concert at reds. It was fantastic it was the first time I had ever sent hem play live which is amazing because I have admired them since their hit “The First” got radio play. So Matt and myself trot out our houses around 5pm to go pick up the tickets that we ordered online months ago. When I got there the lady at ticket master said If I would have been a minute later my tickets would have been printed out at Reds, and given away to another customer... kind of a bullshit system if you think about it, and I still doubt that, that would be the case. So with the tickets in hand we headed to West Edmonton Mall only to look at the tickets to see the doors opened at 8pm. Since it was around 5:30 at the time I suggested we waited and went to Matt’s house to kill time there. Instead we went to the Mall thinking it would be better to kill time there... we were wrong. We ate yummy subs and then walked around mindlessly – since both Matt and I are broke it was a bit tedious. Now I really wish we went to Matt’s house just because walking around and then waiting in line only completely drained us of all energy (damn I’m getting old). We met some friends in line who were there and ahead in line (yes we butted I’m an ass get over it). We only had to wait about 30 minutes in line before they started to let people in. Little did we know reds went through the first 20 people in line and took their tickets ahead of time to stop people from budding sop when we got to the security the guy bumped us to the back of the line. So I was pissed right off, since the lined had progressed about 200 people back. So we waited about 30 more minutes again, by the time we made it back our other friends told us he took the tickets of the people behind us – so the guy was just having a power trip, and wanted to be an ass. That’s Red’s for yah.

The crowd in reds was pretty diverse, packed with teenage Emo kids and some older people around my age. So by this time I was getting pretty pumped, Reds played clips from America’s Funniest Home Video’s on their big screen while we waited, and finally Lindy came out to play. Now I don’t really understand why some band’s pick the openers they do. By rights an opener should get people pumped, not be too long, but long enough to expose their music and vibe to the crowd, entertain them for the time it takes to do so, and still get them pumped for the show ahead. Lindy did none of these things. There was little stage charisma, and their musical style seemed like wannabe Belle and Sebastian, the band itself spent more time looks at their instruments and the floor than conversing with the crowd. Their set seemed long and drawn out, leaving the crowd to converse with themselves and wonder when their suffering would end. Well, actually that’s been a little harsh; they weren’t horrible they just seemed like one of those bands that would be better via CD. SO by the time they were done, I was completely drained, having been standing for 4 hours now, and being old and sick. It was pretty neat to see both Tegan and Sara come out to watch Lindy play their set. I was so surprised to see how short they both were, which only made them look more cute. Plus you could completely get the vibe that they don’t think their huge celebrities with ego, they had no problem coming out to watch their opener. So once they got on set all my tiredness and aches went away and was replaced with musical bliss. All I have to say is wow. I was so happily surprised at how great they sounded live, even better than they do on album. They seem to be able to play anything from electric guitar to keyboards and acoustic. Both the twins switched in and out during their set between instruments. Reds however has some sound issues and their techies had some mic issues, so the fact that they sounded amazing over all that I was extremely impressed. They carried themselves on stage with perfection. They have immense charisma with their band mates and themselves. Plus they carry and aura towards their fans that they are truly grateful for the support and had mentioned many times throughout the show that, that was indeed the case. Apparently that show was the biggest crowd they had played too that was just them headlining, which I thought was pretty neat. I also thought it was pretty cool when someone yelled out a song request from the crowd and mentioned it was their Birthday, so Tegan got everyone in the crowd to yell happy birthday until she saw everyone yell. Comparing them to other female artists I had seen live they treat each and every fan as if they would treat a friend, they have absolutely no ego, which makes their live shows quite enjoyable. Especially because you don’t need all that crap, you don’t need rehearsed “talking to the crowd bits” they talked naturally, and once they played you saw their passion for the music which must be so hard to do night after night playing the same songs. They do it in a way that you believe that they make music that they love, and it makes u love it even more. I would love to see what a cd with the production quality that Jennifer Lopez gets staring T&S because their live range was amazing, and it just doesn’t show on their albums.

Their set was a mix of new and old, with quite a variety. They also finished the show with a song I had never heard before which was a treat. All in all I give it a 5 star show. not only am I thankful I got the chance to see them live, but also that there is someone out there so talented that actually has a fan base that allows them to make music. They are only going to get bigger and bigger, whether or not they ever make a huge success in the Much Music world. Go see them now. Check out their site for the rest of Canadian tour dates, and get all your friends to go with.

Official Site

ps. “I told u so” – Grammy awards (friggin U2)

-J

Bright Eyes 12:20 PM

Thursday, January 27, 2005

"Did you get your hair cut??"

There's something missing and i can't quite put my finger on it...

Well actually i can, i got rid of the Reviews section on the side bars. Frankly i hadn't done a review in forever and everytime i clicked on my site seeing it look like i never update BUT i do!! There are countless cd's and movies ive seen/heard since Spiderman 2 and Bjork which never really went up. Mainly because reviewing is kind of an asshole thing to do. There are so many cd's i love and i think thats all there should be said and all the cd's that are crap well it isn't my place to say. Music is different for everyone, some people breathe it in like air, and others well use it for background noise. So to critique music for everyone is as a whole is insulting.

Also the style column will also be gone, i love fashion but honestly is kind of lame. :)

-J

Bright Eyes 10:33 AM

Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Tis the season to watch award shows

The nominees were just released for the 77th annual Academy Awards.. so get you movie bug in gear and your popcorn popped.

This year my hype for such things have been pretty... well under whelmed. I watched some of the Globes but found all the glamour and happy shiny people accepting awards to be very boring. There hasn’t really been a film this year that I’ve been excited about... other than Incredibles and Harry Potter (just lost all credibility right there didn’t I?)

And anyone else surprised that Fahrenheit 9/11 got snubbed? However 2003 released Tupac Resurrection got a nod? A big Congrats to Morgan Spurlock for Super Size Me. J

Amoung other things I love Jim Carrey, the guy has so much talent yet never gets noted, and you always see him sitting their in his suit and tie. The guy hasn’t won a damn thing, and I find it extremely frustrating, mostly because I thought Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind would get him his recognition he richly deserves.... AHhhh BUT he’s Canadian... those wanks don’t need awards. Plus Ace Ventura and Dumb and Dumber the guy has at least 12 more movies to go to work that heart burn off.

NOMINATION COUNT
11 - The Aviator
7 - Finding Neverland, Million Dollar Baby
6 - Ray
5 - Sideways
4 - The Incredibles, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events
3 - Hotel Rwanda, The Passion of the Christ, The Phantom of the Opera, The Polar Express, Spider-Man 2, Vera Drake
2 - The Chorus, Closer, Collateral, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Motorcycle Diaries, The Sea Inside, Shrek 2, A Very Long Engagement
1 – As It Is In Heaven, Before Sunset, Being Julia, Born Into Brothels, Downfall, House of Flying Daggers, I Robot, Kinsey, Maria Full of Grace, Shark Tale, The Story of the Weeping Camel, Super Size Me, Troy, Tupac Resurrection, Twist of Faith, The Village, Yesterday

STUDIO COUNT
20 - Miramax
13 - Warner Bros.
6 – Fine Line, Fox Searchlight, Universal
5 – Buena Vista, Columbia, Dreamworks, Paramount
4 - Focus
3 – MGM, Newmarket, Warner Independent
2 - Sony Classics1 – Fox0 – New Line

Moving on...

Tis the season to throw popcorn at your television

This is my yearly routine... put off looking at the Grammy nominees till last minute so my hopes that the awards actually stand for something are shattered slowly. Watch the awards get pissed off by the second award change the channel – but just like watching reality TV (plastic surgery birth stories ohh my) you can’t help but watch. Like open heart surgery, you can’t help yourself even though it hurts like a bitch. So I watch then i'm pissed for the next three days, forcing my friends to hear countless rants about how even the industry who pumps out the garbage and mass produced ass of music are so full of themselves they need an award show to proclaim there greediness worldwide. yet somehow down the line the name “Grammy” started to mean something... weird.

So here’s my two cents....

First Off to bat...

Song Of The Year (A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

Daughters
John Mayer, songwriter (John Mayer)Track from: Heavier Things[Aware Records/Columbia; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tunes/Specific Harm Music.]

If I Ain't Got You
Alicia Keys, songwriter (Alicia Keys)Track from: The Diary Of Alicia Keys[J Records; Publishers: Lellow Productions/EMI Music Publishing.]

Jesus Walks
Miri Ben Ari, C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)Track from: The College Dropout[Roc-A-Fella Records; Publishers: Konman Entertainment/Gimme My Publishing Co./Hip Hop Since 1978 & Mapleshade Productions.]

Live Like You Were Dying
Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman, songwriters (Tim McGraw)Track from: Live Like You Were Dying[Curb Records; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing/Big Loud Shirt.]

The Reason
Daniel Estrin & Douglas Robb, songwriters (Hoobastank)Track from: The Reason[Island Records; Publisher: Spread Your Cheeks And Push Out The Music.]
____________________________________

WTF is Hoobastank doing on this list... someone please clarify this for me. I get it, put the ROCK EDGE on the list, but a) Canadian b) Canadian c)BAD CANADIAN!!!!!!!!!! This friggin song is like shoving needles in my heard that are labeled “needles” just so as I don’t get confused. Kanye west I get, he went out there made a rap song that didn’t involve ass shaking, and money, and has made an intelligent rap album... Alicia keys, she has that vibe that the Grammy’s love she’s pop soul. Also John Mayer, a decent talent for popular music just enough under the radar to be credible but just under to be expected. Tim McGraw the country vote. We’ve hit then all country, rap, R&B, Pop... but where the fuck is ROCK? Even with my hatred of Linkin Park they would be more suitable.

Not a lot of surprises otherwise, a lot of NO Doubt and Kanye West, the sappy nods to Ray Charles and Norah Jones (Old school flavor of the month). I'm actually pretty surprised to see Bjork on the list at all for best female vocals, and of course she will lose to Norah Jones or Gwen Stefani.
____________________________________

Best Hard Rock Performance (For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

Megalomaniac
IncubusTrack from: A Crow Left Of The Murder[Epic/Immortal]

Some Kind Of Monster
MetallicaTrack from: Some Kind Of Monster[Elektra Records]

Feelin' Way Too Damn Good
NickelbackTrack from: The Long Road[Roadrunner Records]

Duality
SlipknotTrack from: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)[Roadrunner Records]
SlitherVelvet Revolver[RCA]
____________________________________

The only person close to be deserving on this list is Incubus. This is what I find so annoying about this award show, they do not congratulate people who are out there making original music. They play it safe, and HONESTLY what the hell is Nickleback doing on that list. Like I can think of countless people out there making better rock music, Matt Good, Metric, Strokes, HIVES WHERE ARE THE HIVES???
____________________________________

Best Rock Song (A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock & Metal songs. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parenthesis.) Singles or Tracks only.)

American Idiot
Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt & Tré Cool, songwriters (Green Day)Track from: American Idiot[Reprise Records; Publishers: WB Music Corp. & Green Daze Music.]

Fall To Pieces
Duff, Dave Kushner, Slash, Matt Sorum & Scott Weiland, songwriters (Velvet Revolver)Track from: Contraband[RCA; Publishers: Velvet Revolver Songs, Slash & Cash Publishing.]

Float On
Isaac Brock, Dann Gallucci, Eric Judy & Benjamin Weikel, songwriters (Modest Mouse)Track from: Good News For People Who Love Bad News[Epic Records; Publishers: Ugly Casanova, Tschudi Music & The Best Dressed Chicken In Town.]

Somebody Told Me
Brandon Flowers, Dave Keuning, Mark Stoermer & Ronnie Vannucci, songwriters (The Killers)Track from: Hot Fuss[Island Records; Publisher: The Killers Publishing.]

Vertigo
Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge & Larry Mullen, songwriters (U2)[Interscope Records; Publisher: Universal Polygram International Publishing.]
____________________________________

Best Rock Album
(Vocal or Instrumental. Includes Hard Rock and Metal.)

The Delivery Man
Elvis Costello & The Imposters[Lost Highway Records]

American Idiot
Green Day[Reprise Records]

The Reason
Hoobastank[Island Records]

Hot Fuss
The Killers[Island Records]

Contraband
Velvet Revolver[RCA Records]
____________________________________

I’m really pulling for Green Day or the Killers. Velvet Revolve is a joke, as is Hoobastank, all very unoriginal and underwhelming. So as my hopes go out to Modest Mouse I know full well that U2 will take it.

____________________________________
Best Alternative Music Album (Vocal or Instrumental.)

Medulla
Björk[Elektra/Atlantic]

Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand[Domino Recording Co.]

Uh Huh Her
PJ Harvey[Island Records]

Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Modest Mouse[Epic Records]

A Ghost Is Born
Wilco[Nonesuch Records]
____________________________________

This being the last nod to alternative/rock music... which compared to how many awards there are for Rap/R&B/Pop in comparison it’s really a shame. So I ask, why can’t Franz Ferdinand be best rock friendly? Or Even the Strokes(granted their album was out last year). With so much talent out there, this list makes North America look like a sham. BUT HEY at least they arent as bad as the JUNOS!

On a side Oscar note, check out efilm critics contest... pick the winniers get some DVD's.

So there yah go, feel free to send me your angry e-mails "HOOBISTANK IS COOL YOU JUST STUPID*

ahem.

-J

Bright Eyes 2:09 PM

Saturday, January 22, 2005

Hang your Head in Shame

So Sorry I haven’t posted in a while I’ve been in one of those blogging slumps. Everything going on in pop culture and news has gotten me either very enraged (abuse trial) so much so that any post I would make would end up sounding like...

“DAMN MILLITARY BASTARDS!!!! They step in line when its time for the killin but not the blame! GGRAAARR!!!”

It’s kind of funny because Christmas is the best time for bloggers, that’s when the hits are high and the readers and posts are popping up lefts and right. So you find yourself with a whole new sack of readers, who if your lucky save your address in their favorites. So once January comes around they may check your blog every week or so, but 80% of the time people lose the blogging spirit around this time. So people soon delete you off their links as they think “lazy wanker!” SO I am fighting the urge to succumb the curse of the new blog.

Linkage

So here’s some interesting linkage for yah Simon Hoegsberg's latest project. Over three months he stopped 150 strangers and asked them what they were thinking the second before he stopped them. The website posts 55 of those people and thier photographs. All of the quotes are taken directly from the interview, and the interviews took place in New York, Denmark, and Copenhagen. I thought it wad quite the interesting read. You can really get a sense of the persons comfort level and you can tell they are caught off guard which makes them more willing to speak openly. Plus it makes me think of walking downtown Edmonton with my Ipod, and your brain starts thinking the most mundane, and out there things. An interesting read.

Global Warming

No this isn’t a rant where I debate whether or not my generation will see the end of the world due to global warming. An international team of scientists have been doing a study to find the effects of the “Great Dying” with theories and evidence proving that it may have been caused from global warming.

With global warming being on everyone's minds lately, it doesn't surprise me that this theory is being explored.

Anywho that is all for now. Big hugs to all the readers.

-J

Bright Eyes 11:46 AM

Saturday, January 08, 2005

Time to kick in the hardcore quizzing... Well soft core yet amusing nonetheless.

You Are a Pundit Blogger!

Your blog is smart, insightful, and always a quality read.
Truly appreciated by many, surpassed by only a few.

What kind of blogger are you?

*blush* WELL it's not like that is entirely OFF... hahaha, im just kidding. I do have to admit just like chocolate, sex and the city, and cocaine addicts of the world im a bit of a druggie for quizzes. Ever been curious what animal u were in another life, PROBLEM solved emode/tickle is at your side. Hey don't let that stop u there, what about your friendly feline, possibly a famous opera singer in the last life....

___________________________________________________

"pundit noun {C} -
a person who knows a lot about a particular subject
and is therefore often asked to give an opinion about it:
- a
political/foreign-policy/sports pundit"

___________________________________________________

Sooo i had to look it up, scholar doesn't mean smart right?... Just the willingness to want to be smart, a devotion to the book of confuddlement.

-J

Bright Eyes 10:58 PM

Thursday, January 06, 2005

Extraordinarily stupid Sony

The wait has indeed been too long, Fiona Apple has a fan base that spans the world, all who admire her strength, and musical talent. Not only is her music brilliant but she is one of the last females in the music industry who are smart and live for music. Her last two albums went platinum, and her fourth release is being anticipated like a plump pregnant woman wait to get the bun out of the oven. Since 2003 we've been promised her next album, and it looks like we will never. Sony has reported that they have shelved Fiona's album because it isn't radio friendly. Sony has also remarked in saying that there isn't a visible single on the album. Fan Dave Muscato has started the ?Free Fiona? campaign to petition Sony to put out the record. Muscato launched the http://www.freefiona.com/ website and so far has gathered more than 13,000 signatures protesting the non-appearance of the album.

This is what happens in the music industry tallent gets shelved so that the teeny boppers who are imitated the tallent can get out thier tricycle and be made into whores. No worries though make-up and computers can hide the pure neglect and ignorance of labels. So he musically starved people of the world look deeper, or fade away proclaiming the 70's were god, and the new age of music to symbolise our demise for quality.

annoyed -J

Bright Eyes 1:44 AM

Monday, January 03, 2005

No Time Like the Present

The Canadian government has decided to double its relief assistance toTsunami relief to a whopping $80 million dollars.

Which makes me proud to be a Canadian, but think of this...

Canada has the population of 32,207,113 (July 2003 est.) people, so thats about $2.50 per Canadian.

The Canadian Red Cross has so far received an unbelievable $34 million dollars in donations. That's over $1 dollar per Canadian in private donations.

So if your one of the Canadians who hasnt yet donated, im possitive u can spare 20, dollars out of your pocket. Maybe instead of going out for lunch, or buying that DVD, you could put it to some real good. Cause think, what if everyone gave a little.....

Canadian Red Cross

Unicef

SEA-EAT Blog Great For information on the crisis

-J

Bright Eyes 1:36 PM

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