Since it's rare I'm in an update-y mode, I might as well post a link to a new John Mayer track. 'Who Says' can be streamed here preceding Battle Studies release on November 17
Needless to say, I'll most probably pick this up once John Mayer drops his new full length - ever since hearing The John Mayer Trio and seeing some of his stand up, I've had mad respect for this guy. This song's pretty dope. Who says I can't like John Mayer, and write shitty haiku's all morning (don't ask)?
So my man crush will probably soar to its homosexual zenith when I see Justin Vernon tonight in the flesh at the Wiltern. I just want to document my man love, for a before and after comparison. A gay gauge if you will.
Fig. 1
*** starred data is speculation. Number may sky rocket to infinity.
Obviously, I'm joking, and obviously I'm stoked, and obviously I have too much time on my hands today, but I really think this is one of those moments in my life that I'll remember for a real long time. For Emma, Forever Ago is such a special record to me, that I feel like I can't listen to it as often as I'd like to - I don't want it to be overplayed, to lose its shine that it has in my eyes. I don't want too much of a good thing - and this is the only time I've ever felt this way about a record. Justin Vernon's first full length under the Bon Iver moniker is easily one of my top records of all time, and I can say that without a moment's hesitation (an unheard of feat for me personally, and my easily persuaded monkey mind). Every time I play this record, no matter where it is, everything takes on a special significance and gets me lost in my thoughts. It could be a car ride down Lincoln, where everyone in the car silently appreciates Vernon's croon on Re: Stacks, or it could be how perfectly Bon Iver plays in the background when writing the most important letter of your life...
Tonight is going to rule. I wish I could bring everyone I know to the Wiltern tonight, to share in Justin Vernon's music tonight. To share in my happiness! To share this life changing moment (I need to calm down!)
Of COURSE I would like something like this. When the palm mutes come into the verse I'm all like 'daaaamn', and when Hayley opens up on the chorus I'm all like 'daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn!'.
I used to live in Sydney, and to cut a long story short, I was relocated to California against my will. Sob story aside, I was recently made aware that it's been a year since I've lived in Australia. Maybe it's fitting that I've recently been thinking about every little thing I used to love about living in the ambiguously laid back metropolis. It's funny the things you find yourself missing, when your staring headlong into nostalgia's wispy allure. I miss taking the bus and the train (admittedly to someone very special), walking at night through Town Hall station, mind wandering, weaving automatically through people hurrying in their suits. I miss Woolworth's, and just walking down the aisles with muesli and milk in my basket (the extent of my cooking abilities was based on my skillful use of bowl and spoon, which ultimately chose for me what I ate on the regular). I miss the way nature was seamlessly intertwined with the granite and roadways, how the beach was a stone's throw from stoplights and shopping malls. Looking back, I appreciate the balance of modern city and the undermined subtlety of nature more than I ever did when it was a simple bus ride from the poster adorned walls that made up the tiny apartment I rarely slept in.
Random things will force themselves to the top of my subconscious, and I scoop out these memories delicately, like those green nets you use to scoop up a brand new goldfish - precious and carefully, yet intently focused. I miss scrubbing the dishes after being treated to a home cooked meal (an event that I ashamedly feel happened to often, but was never unappreciated), and hastily putting them away for a certain someone, with the only thing left on the agenda was to watch whatever was on TV. For me, I would've been happy if the screen was broadcasting snowy static - it was just being there that made me feel content.
The more I scoop, the more I feel like things that were so miniscule are the most important things - trips to the park, sharing a pack of chips from Homer's (ok that was always the most important thing to me!), shifting your girlfriend's gears while she drives through the suburbs with the sun setting low, being hyperactive and shouting the Red Hot Chili Peppers' nonsensical lyrics in the same car ride.
The more I scoop, the more I realize every little thing was important, and I'm sorry I overlooked every waking, important memory.
...phew! To get back on topic, I remember watching this kid, Matt Corby on Australian Idol, and being impressed with his natural talent at a very shallow level. After being shown this video yesterday, it makes me glad to see his sound so...mature! Definitely a throw back to Justin Vernon's style of heart felt folk music, with finger plucking that calls to mind Jose Gonzalez, Letters is a great tune. If this track is any indication, its great to see that Mr. Corby isn't resting on his laurels and the fame his brief stint on Australian Idol has brought him - he's produced a track a true artist would be proud of - heartfelt, emotional and NOT commercially formulated to encompass the masses.
Letters are a powerful thing - if you send one make sure you always mean what you say. I know I do
(let it load all the way first when you stream it so it doesn't keep stopping to buffer)
While waiting on tables in downtown LA, director Mike Cuenca asked my sister Sara to try out for a part in his slapstick comedy, Oblivion. Hosted on the web, the highly stylized and quick witted web series debuted today! Funny characters and dialogue are packed into the 1st episode, which you can stream above, or click on this link to access it. ---> Oblivion Episode 1
Check it! Really cool stuff, and look out for Faye, the best character for sure! (but I'm biased :p)
Monday, September 14, 2009
I am on the mend. At least now I can say that I am trying. And I hope you will forget things I still lack.
