My Bloody Valentine....... 3D?

I've been seeing lots of ads for a movie called "My Bloody Valentine 3D." Talking to many of my shoegazing friends, they were all very upset by this. For those of you who are unaware, there was a band called "My Bloody Valentine" that became extremely famous. They led the shoegazing movement and so has become widely known. After the shoegazer in me became offended, I decided to do some research. These are my findings.

First, we'll talk about the new movie.

MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D LOOKS TERRIBLE

The plot according to Wikipedia:
"Ten years ago, a tragedy changed the town of Harmony forever. Tom Hanniger (Jensen Ackles), an inexperienced coal miner, caused an accident in the tunnels that trapped and killed five men and sent the only survivor, Harry Warden (Richard John Walters), into a coma. But Harry Warden wanted revenge. Exactly one year later, on Valentine's Day, he woke up and brutally murdered twenty-two people with a pickax before being killed.
Ten years later, Tom Hanniger returns to Harmony on Valentine's Day, still haunted by the deaths he caused. Struggling to make amends with his past, he grapples with unresolved feelings for his ex-girlfriend, Sarah (Jaime King), who is now married to his best friend, Axel (Kerr Smith), the town sheriff. But tonight, after years of peace, something from Harmony's dark past has returned. Wearing a miner's mask and armed with a pickax, an unstoppable killer is on the loose. And as his footsteps come ever closer, Tom, Sarah and Axel realize in terror that it just might be Harry Warden who's come back to claim them..."

Typical slasher flick. Lots of blood and tense moments, maybe some metal during the opening and ending sequences. Since its in 3D is it therefore more terrifying? Other than the draw of a possible 3D soft-core scene, (maybe the first ever in the history of film?) I don't think I could pay money to see it.

Now, the movie shares its name with "My Bloody Valentine(Band)." They were the biggest thing to ever happen to shoegaze. Their music (directly or indirectly) influenced many bands that I feel are pretty important right now: Film School, Darker My Love, The Dandy Warhols, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and most notably The Brian Jonestown Massacre. In fact, the BJM's latest album was titled "My Bloody Underground" an homage to MBV and The Velvet Underground. That should help you understand the shock seeing this movie trailer caused in Shoegazers.

Here is some MBV if you haven't heard them before.


After digging a bit deeper, I found out that My Bloody Valentine 3D is actually a remake of a Canadian slasher flick from the '80s. The movie came out in 1981 while the band started in 1984. The name connection is not a coincidence either. According to this fansite they named themselves after the movie.

What a strange thing to name your band after.
BTW Emo kids, listen to this instead of your Dashboard Confessional. I'll hate you less.

What if....

What if I started accosting people on the street and asking if I can take a picture of them to put on the blog? (posted with commentary of course)

Would you like that?

What if I figured out how to put my animations on Youtube?
Would you all watch them religiously?

religulously?

What if I figured out how to post MP3s on the site?
Would you like that?

What if I started posting MY music on the site. Would you think me egotistical?
Would you like that?

Any suggestions outside of those?

Have the Billboard Charts Outlived Their Usefulness

Being bored AND curious, I went to the internet today and looked up the Billboard charts. I had never realized that Billboard was actually a magazine. In fact I'd never heard anyone talking about Billboard that wasn't a Radio DJ or an MTV VJ. I went to their website and read about the two groups Billboard caters to: the "fans" and record execs. Looking at what tops the charts, i'm guessing the numbers have nothing to do with good music. Would you care to take a look at the Billboard charts (for December 26th, 2008) with me?
(I'll be listening to the songs while writing this as to channel the exasperation I'll be feeling)

1. Beyonce - Single Ladies
Somehow, I've already seen the video for this and been thoroughly unimpressed. I also recognize the song before it plays. There is an annoying noise in the background. Its got an alright beat. The vocals are good, but the song itself is really shitty. A record exec probably wrote this piece of shit. I can imagine it now, "The kids like weird noises and monotonous beats, right? WELL, have I got a SONG for YOU! Beyonce, sing this and your record will go platinum"

Alright, I already have a headache, but i must push on in the name of science!

2. T.I. - Live Your Life
I've already heard this one, too. Its been played in a few peoples cars while i was "riding dirty." Alright, they get props for having that old internet meme with the singing fat kid, but I'm a little put off by how long it took them to use it. I like the chorus, but the verses are pretty awful. The beat is awesome. This is the kind of song everyone wants to sing along with. This is a really good clubbing or cruising song, but I can't imagine really listening to it alone... like I am right now. They tried to make this way too serious, especially using the fat kid meme.

I looked it up just in case you were unfamiliar, it was the Numa Numa Kid.(the actual song is called "Dragostea Din Tei")


3. Lady GaGa - Just Dance
This is already pissing me off, Its like she is trying to be both Britney Spears AND (lady rapper name here). It sounds like its one of those party scene songs, but less rappy and much more targeted at 12 year old girls. Also way too much annoying electronic shit for me to listen to it. My headache is worse than with Beyonce. I feel this is another prepackaged type record exec song. Its great when the record company writes your songs for you.

Well, I don't think I'm ever gonna listen to that again. Well here's some Kanye, like an oasis in the desert. He's easy listening.

4.Kanye West - Heartless
I am pro-vocoder and so this song catches my attention right away. Awesome beat, simple and uses a sound i haven't heard before. He just said Dr. Evil, that makes me smile. Can't really tell if Kanye is using a vocoder or not. I think so, but I'm not sure.

And we've found another dip.

5. Britney Spears - Womanizer
I am turned off by the intro and the name of this song. Nice beat, but Britney sounds hella creepy. Can she say womanizer enough. It sounds like Britney learned a new word and decided to make a song about it. She finally figured out what to call KFed. This is awful. Kill me. please kill me. oh my god. this is amazingly awful. it takes skill to suck this much. Who listens to this? Womanizer, the worst song of 2008?

Can it get any worse? Oh, i remember seeing this next artist on VH1 a few months ago. She was singing about kissing girls... and liking it.

6. Katy Perry - Hot 'N Cold
I like the synth, but the lyrics are shitty. Not nearly as good as her other hit. Also, she shits on her voice for the verses, but she does good on the choruses. Well, I think her hearts in the right place, but this song still turned out pretty shitty. Definitely NOT Top 10 Material.

7.Taylor Swift - Love Story
I like banjo and she has a nice voice. Kinda feels like it might end up on CMT. Kind REALLY feels like it might end up on CMT. I don't hate it, but I don't really want to listen to the rest of it. I guess there are a few minutes for it to get bad. Oh shit! Minor chord breakdown. So cliched. And now for the upbeat breakdown part2.

They'd be smart to cut off the back end of that song. It wouldn't suck half as much.

8.Kanye West - Love Lockdown
I've heard this song before. The intro is kinda repetative. Good beats again. Its alright, but it doesn't really stand out. Its a little whitebread for me. I can't think of anything to say for this. Its so average I can't really say anything.

I hate to be that way because i usually love kanye. I mean, I AM a white boy from the suburbs.

9 T.I. - Whatever You Like
I dig the 8bit sounding synth. The lyrics don't suck either. I like it. Its a love song about buying a girl whatever she wants because he has way too much fucking money. From an apolitical standpoint, I like this. Wow.

10. Beyonce - If I Were A Boy
I'm weirded out by this already. Does Beyonce want to be a guy? She is basically saying how she'd be an awesome guy. This song is way lame, but at least its not grating. Maybe she's trying to confuse everybody. And then there is a lame, even slower, breakdown. It just made me want to go to sleep.

So there is the list. Out of 10 songs, 3 had even the slightest chance of making my top 10 list. Most of them really sucked. REALLY SUCKED. So, have the Billboard charts outlived their usefulness?

Smaller-than-a-Breadbox

On Sunday I was told that it would be a good idea to head to Bellevue and do whatever it is I do with my friends. (How can the ability to 'kick it' together be the basis for a set of friendships? Damn my humanity!) They moved out there a month or two ago and had been badgering me about not coming out there and meeting their kitten.
The kitten, Caesar,was maybe the most adorable, smaller - than - a - breadbox creature that has ever hung out around me. I'm sorry I don't have any actual pictures, but allow
me to regale you with a description and story. He looks like a miniature, miniature lion. Very tiny and golden. He is smaller-than-a-breadbox and can easily be held in one hand. Unlike the lion featured here, Caesar will not kill you. He will only climb on you and be adorable. He's also a spoon cat. Now, for those of you who haven't met a spoon cat, a spoon cat is a cat that will spoon with you will sleeping to keep warm but will, by the same virtue, keep you warm. I recommend spoon cats.
When I was playing video games, Caesar would bat at moving things on the screen. Also, he loves longboards and will sit on them at every opportunity. This allows one to 'scoot the kitten and watch him get excited about it.' Finally, after playing for a good 10 or 15 minutes Caesar would become 'tuckered out' and would have to fall asleep. When lying on the edge of the couch falling asleep can by quite treacherous, but even when he fell off, Caesar would land on his feet and promptly hit the ground with the rest of his sleeping body. He also fell asleep sitting/standing up and would fall over. Bottom Line: Adorable kittens.

Top 10 Albums of 2008

As prompted by The Hype Machine, I've decided to drop my top ten albums of 2008. Who knows, maybe it'll educate the public or allow people to further understand me.(because I'm such a rockstar) Probably not.

1. ...Earth to the Dandy Warhols... - The Dandy Warhols
The Dandy Warhols are amazing. Nuff said.

2. My Bloody Underground - The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Unless you know me, you probably haven't heard of these guys before. They are one of the most important bands in of the last two decades. While this is not their best album, it is a good psychadelic shoegaze drugfest. Do you like the Icelandic language? It's in there. Really, give this a listen.

3. Skeletal Lamping - of Montreal
So continues the saga of Georgie Fruit. If you like synthesizers, you'll like Skeletal Lamping.

4. Modern Guilt - Beck
After Guero's mediocrity and The Information's less than stellar presentation, Modern Guilt comes back strong with a much more mellow and melodic mixture of futuristic synth and simple guitar tracks makes for a very attractive album.

5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Seattle five piece has made a really big buzz in this last year and they really deserve it. When played for people who don't know better, they feel the music is dated. It has been a long while since a band with so many beautiful vocals and folk music stylings has made a splash. It is good to hear once again.

6. In The Future - Black Mountain
These prog rockers from canada have broken through to our radio airwaves in the last several months. Their catchy music and relevant lyrics make for some good prog rock, like Rush good.

7. Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
I like MGMT, like everyone else. Don't think you need an explanation for this one.

8. Glistening Pleasure - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
LOL HIPSTERS MAKING FUN OF THEMSELVES! Also synth is fun.

9. LP3 - Ratatat
What kind of hipster doesn't like Ratatat?

10. In Rainbows - Radiohead
Came out in America January 1, 2K8. Radiohead is one of the biggest bands in all the world. They top the charts regularly and so they must be pretty important. In Rainbows is probably their worst work to date, but it is still better than other music in that vein.

Home for the Holidays

I wish my entrance was so warm and fuzzy. BTW what amazing advertising, I promise they've got you eating out of their hands whether you know it or not. Folgers in YOUR cup?!?!
So I awoke this fine morning to my celly ringing at 8 in the morning. My first thoughts were, "Damn, it's cold." My mamon called and told me that leaving Oly today would be much better than tomorrow. Its supposed to snow more tomorrow and the roads will only get more and more treacherous. So I got up around 9 and started packing.
Mooshu was sitting in the window looking particularly cuddly and I couldn't help but pet him even though he gets all upset. I made some breakfast and listened to some BJM, too.
When I had a moment I took a gander at the outside world. I live in a winter wonderland at the moment. Snow before Xmas is rare around this part of the sound, but what with GLOBAL WARMING (conspiracy by Al Gore) and all that we can expect all sorts of strange weather. I also had my evaluation for class today. I didn't expect to get all of my credits and such a glowing evaluation, but I did. I'm not complaining. When I got home, my Dad and I witnessed the most amazing thing to happen each year on Bainbridge Island: The Christmas Truck. Witness its glory.

Down With The Sickness

I hope you all thought right then when you read the title that I was going to talk about going to a Disturbed concert or some random bullshit like that. If you were thinking that, thank Jebus that you're wrong. This is merely an explanation of my absence for the last 3 or 4 days. (I think)

Roughly a week ago, I came down with the sickness. (still not a disturbed reference) I didn't feel very sick at all for the last few days, just sick enough to want lots of sleep. It started out as 3 days of sore throatiness and so I was afraid I might've been getting strep. Once the first phase was done I started getting all coldish which was lame, but not so awful. Then the fun began.

Last Thursday I had to stay up all night finishing up my portfolio for class. (I'll have pictures of my stuff up soon, I just have to get batteries for my camera) I'm sure that didn't help with my illness and so I went back home around two pm. I then slept until ten am. I felt extremely wonky after all of that. I sat around the house all day Friday feeling wonky and not doing much of anything. I was going to go to a play my friend Corbin was in, The Book of Liz, that night, but instead fell asleep again.

The next day, Saturday, ended up being more of the same. Slept in late, but this time I was awake for the play. I walked outside and it was snowing. I was suddenly extremely happy. I got on the bus and my friend Claire was there, we chatted about making books and other important aspects of life. The play turned out to be really good, especially for being free. I got home and thought about doing productive things. I did not do anything productive.

I watched DiG! for the 10th time this year. (probably an exaggeration) If you didn't know already, I really like The Dandy Warhols, The Brian Jonestown Massace, and the rest of the bands that exist in the "DiG! Scene." Does that make me a 'scenester'?

Saturday was also the day I found out what I'm doing for my 21st birthday. My sister has offered to fly me down to California, get me hella sauced and fed down in San Francisco (emphasis on the 'hella') and then fly me back to Washington. Sometimes I wonder if my sister is into that whole organized crime scene, but not seriously. I also wonder if my Dad is going to try and match me in drinks when I celebrate with my parents. I feel like he's going to be all defensive of his drinking capabilities (he's 60) and I don't think I want to see him too drunk. Also, I'll have to hear him complain about being hungover for like a week after.

And now back from that tangent. I went to sleep Saturday night and woke up Sunday morning. I sat around all day Sunday, too. It started snowing really hard so I snuggled up with my cat Mooshu and watched the Discovery Channel. I got to see Bear Grylls drink his own piss and get stung in the face by a bee out in the Mexican desert. Talk about awesome television. Around 6 I decided to go to the party my classmates had put together, mind you I was still sick, and so trudged through the snow and ice to my friend Curt's house. It was a huge sausage fest until around 10 at which point the ratio still wasn't awesome. I got really drunk. (surprise, surprise!)At around 2 in the morning I walked home. It couldn't have been more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit outside. The thought that I might die crossed my mind a few times. I made it home by 3 and went to sleep.

I woke up this morning with a horrendous hangover and no access to cheap greasy food seeing as The Reef burned up. I went to Le Voyeur instead for some expensive greasy food and read the Volcano for the first time ever. Now I'm at the computer center writing in my blog. I don't know what I'm doing in the future.

Synecdoche, New York

I was watching the Colbert Report tonight and the guest was Charlie Kaufman. He is the writer and director of a movie, Synecdoche, New York.

I am excited to see this movie. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman. From what I gathered from the trailer, he plays a director who thinks he's going to die and so begins a big work that everyone should remember him for. He creates a replica of New York City inside a warehouse and hires actors to inhabit it. His life starts falling apart outside the warehouse and the actor that plays him in the warehouse is too good. That's all I know. It's already out, but I'd never heard of it before. It won a Robert Altman award at the Independent Spirit Awards. It was also nominated for a golden palm at Cannes, but did not win.

Seeing as a I know nothing about indie movie awards, I have no idea what that means, but I HAD heard of the Cannes Film Festival before. Maybe I should learn a bit about them, I think I'll be changing directions (from animation to film) yet again for my final year of college.

Its also interesting that I'd never heard of this film before tonight and it has been out for little more than a month. Not long enough to have faded completely from the public eye and not short enough for word not to have gotten out yet. This makes me wonder about advertising for art/indie work. Advertising makes or breaks a lot of movies and indie films are no exception. Is it from lack of trying or something else. Is there an open niche there?

The Zeitgeist

Searches at Google.com - Fastest Rising (U.S.)
1. obama
2. facebook
3. att
4. iphone
5. youtube
6. fox news
7. palin
8. beijing 2008
9. david cook
10. surf the channel

happy end of the year everybody, its finally here!
Less than a month to the end of the year and we can't stop thinking about ourselves. The question is: What is the zeitgeist of 2008?
Here's my thoughts on the google list: (above)

Obama made a big splash, understandably. Everyone seems to think that he will single-handedly save our country from economic collapse. Well, the reality is that he is only a symbol of hope. He inspires the people of our completely feeling-based stock market to keep their money in the stock market and keeps us from despair, but we're the ones who have to get out there and do the work. WE have to fix our world.

Facebook is still a huge deal. I don't know about all of you kids, but the site steals my hours like anarcho-fascists steal hot topic clothing. Don't get me wrong, there is a reason for my addiction, (maybe they should change the name to "Crackbook")social networking is fun and keeps me in the loop even when my class doesn't allow enough time for friends.Hah! I just changed my language to English(pirate).



ATT used to be Cingular, they have really great coverage on the west coast. 'Nuff said. Do people really like looking at phones?

iPhone is another one I don't claim to understand

Youtube is a big deal, it must be, I use it all the time.

Fox News? Hiss...


Palin scares me. I love that everyone turned against her once the election was over. I guess the neo-cons needed a pariah and she took the bait

The Olympics were a big deal, too, what with them being held China and China being the up and coming world power. Michael Phelps kicked ass, I have a similar build with a super long torso and arms and short little legs. I don't look nearly as out of proportion as he does, though.

David Cook is one I had to look up. Fuck American Idol. Really.

Surf the Channel is another one I had to look up. After visiting the site I'm still very confused. Oh, well.

Cooking with a Twist (or rather a tug)

Now that I have removed the content warning, allow me to start filling up my blog with smut. So this is a legitimate cook book for sale online. I assume that all of these recipes work.
Natural Harvest

are you puking yet?


Also in human food production news, PETA's request to Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Company to start using Breast Milk in their Ice Cream was turned down with the statement"We applaud PETA's novel approach to bringing attention to an issue, but we believe a mother's milk is best used for her child."

Video Games

Have you ever wondered how the video games of the 1980s were spawned?
Prepare to find out.

Video Game Pitch Meeting (1979) -- powered by Cracked.com

Were the video games of our youth carrying hidden messages? I remember Mario, the game in which you eat mushrooms, (styled after a poisonous type of hallucinogens) collect shiny coins, (presumably to buy coke) collect trippy stars and flowers that make you harder to kill, and jump on the heads of goombas, (maybe a derogatory term for Italians?) different types of reptilian creatures, sometimes with wings, various other creatures and items.
Really, take a look
I think cracked.com might've not been very far off the point.

Thank You Adidas

I found a nice re-edit of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons' "Beggin'." It was on an Adidas commercial at early o'clock and it was pretty cool. The video consisted of lots of famous musicians dancing around and (presumably) having fun at a party. Funny part of the whole thing was that none of the artists in the video had any hand in the song playing over them. Can they do that?

Here's the video for the song:



I love this music video because old shit makes me chuckle, the dancing at the beginning of the video is priceless. The decade is juxtaposed with what is 'hip' and now towards the end and that's fun too.

I USED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNET

Alright, so I've been trying to better all of your lives by showing you my freakin' sweet animations, BUT youtube and blogger won't upload my videos at all. You'd think a savvy technophile such as myself would be able to manage it, but to no avail. Any suggestions on how to "git-r-done?"

Whats New?

I heard the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was good, but wow.



You've been Rick Rolled
But seriously, is this good? The forum culture of the internet has become mainstream enough that this made sense to a lot of people. The bottom of the internet has been dredged up and i don't know what's going to happen

Also, Thunderheist

I was cruzing the intarwebs the other day and found these videos.
I immediately thought of my bored wankers.
These are two music videos directed by Eric Warheim of Tim and Eric's Awesome Show: Great Job! fame.

MGMT - The Youth


The Bird and The Bee - Polite Dance Song

New Blog for The People

Visitors to the House of Brain, this is your captain speaking.
We're Going up. Top floor. Pantyhose. Illegal drugs and cigarettes.
OH NO YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STOP!
Welcome, I hope you all stick around to listen to me talk about things I like and my finished works of art/anti-art. (ad nauseum)
This is where my music, The Hipster Experiments, hangs out.
Keep in mind that it was all recorded on a shitty microphone.