May mix tape side A
I think I was kind of avoiding Joanna Newsom’s new album because I was worried it wouldn’t live up to my expectations of her. Now I am annoyed with myself, because it’s amazing, and beautiful, and different, but so good. I read somewhere that she had something wrong with her throat and couldn’t sing for ages last year, and it changed her voice. She doesn’t sing as weird as she used to, and there’s no where near as much harp influence on this album. I can’t even hear it on this song! It’s much more orchestral and piano based. I can’t stop listening to it!
And now for something completely different. You might find it hard to believe I even have music like this in my collection! The Weakerthans are pretty cool really, I need to listen to more of their stuff. This song actually makes me think it might sound like Greenday or something? But I avoid listening to that kind of thing as much as possible, and to avoid another Coldplay/Nickelback type moment when I am comparing music to something I don’t actually know. You might ask why I listen to this when I think it sounds kind of like Greenday? Well it actually has good lyrics, and I like his voice, and their stuff is actually reasonably varied.
My obsession of the past month or so: Gigi. Canadian collective that makes very sort of sixties twee pop. Lots of trumpets and female vocals, with some jazzy elements. How cool is the name Gigi?
The Hundredth Time – Gigi (w Duffy Driediger & Ryan Peters)
We’ll taste the coffee houses and award certificates.
Ah, the most accurate portrayal of a geologist I have ever seen:
For some reason I can’t embed it on my blog, but it’s funny, and short.
This was a slide from one of my geophysics lectures this week. Well done Mark, did you really think “Wow, this explains finite velocity motions. These uni students are so mature they won’t want to giggle their faces off at SEX; and they certainly won’t proceed to have sex themed day dreams”.
I know I definitely didn’t do either of those things…
If you’ve got to write an essay do your research (if you’ve got to).
The time demand variation between my subjects is rather astounding. I am currently working on a paper worth 7.5% (geochemistry), due in two days. Meanwhile I have an assignment, due yesterday, as yet unstarted, worth 30% (museum studies). But I know the 7.5% one will take me ten times as long, and will be marked about twenty times harder.
It’s just not fair! Sometimes I feel like ‘arts’ doesn’t even have the right to be called a degree… (no disrespect, but seriously, the discrepancy is insane).
Heron Island was awesome, obviously. Now I actually feel like I have a “right” to call myself a palaeontologist. I’ve felt it a long time with geologist, but now my palaeo knowledge is actually at a level where I don’t feel like I am lying.
On my fieldtrip we had a ‘guest’ lecturer (he goes with them every year) – he’s a palaeontologist from Canada. During the boozy, hazy last night of fieldwork I was talking to him about my palaeoanthropology intentions (he teaches some palaeoanth.) and he told me something I have never heard before (and actually, why would I have, I have never met anyone who actually knows anything about palaeoanth. from a science background). Apparently it’s extremely hard to get into, in his words “it’s cutthroat, and it’s nasty and you have to be the best of the best”.
I guess that’s pretty discouraging, but I sort of don’t care. It would be dumb to not even try. In some ways it’s made me more motivated to do better overall, just for the chance.
January Gig Reviews
As you will soon see, January was a pretty amazing time for gigs…
| Date + Venue + City | Band | ||
| 12/01/10
Casino De Paris, Paris |
Air | A+ | Despite the not-so-amazing seats, and the fact my gig partner and I knew about one album’s worth of old songs, each, they were incredible. |
| 20/01/10
Spectrum, Sydney |
Dent May | A+ | Even though I’d slept about five hours in the previous fifty, and was jetlagged and in pain. I am so so glad I didn’t miss this show. It was intimate and scrubbed back from his albums. But with just two people, his songs lost nothing from their album versions. He was super nice too! He makes me swoon… |
| 21/01/10
Becks Festival Bar, Sydney |
Camera Obscura | C | They seemed really pissy about the sound, and acted as if they didn’t want to be there. The choices of songs was pretty good, but the order sucked and they ended up sounding very samey. |
| 22/01/10
The Corner Hotel, Melbourne |
Laura Marling | B+ | This concert had a completely opposite atmosphere from the one I would see six days later. The crowd were really bubbly and wanted to sing along – which I think disconcerted Laura. She was still lovely though. The venue was probably a bit big for her ideal viewing. |
| 24/01/10
Billboard, Melbourne |
The Decemberists | A | I have waited SO long to see this band live, and they didn’t disappoint at all. They played almost everything I needed to hear. My only regret is not getting there earlier and up closer. |
| 26/01/10
The Metro, Sydney |
Florence + The Machine | B | By a stroke of luck I got this ticket the day before, and I was SO excited. I underestimated how popular she was and failed to anticipate the douchiness of the crowd. The sound for short people on the dancefloor was pretty bad. But I still had fun, and she played a nice set. She was a little quiet though. |
| 28/01/10
The Speigeltent, Sydney |
Laura Marling | A+ | The Speigeltent alone has an amazing atmosphere. So when it was pouring down with rain there was something so magical watching Laura Marling with the sound of rain in the background. The crowd was deathly silent, and Laura was super cute with her ever so awkward stage banter. |
| 31/01/10
Sydney College Of Arts |
The Middle East | B | Better suited to quiet little venues, they lost a bit of their atmosphere at a festival. But they put on a great show. |
| Philadelphia Grand Jury | B+ | An old live favourite. To be honest they haven’t been as good as the time I first saw them at Spectrum, but they are still quirky enough I will see them again. | |
| Seekae | C | Miles will probably never speak to me again, but I found Seekae really quite boring. Apparently if I’d listened to their recorded songs I’d appreciate it more, but it was just noise to me. I need heartfelt lyrics and sweet melodies. | |
| Sarah Blasko | B+ | She didn’t play my favourites, but she was adorable as always. | |
| Bridezilla | B- | I don’t see the fuss over Bridezilla, I’m afraid. There’s nothing wrong with them, I just find them a bit boring. | |
| Echo & The Bunnymen | B | Surprisingly enjoyable. Probably more enjoyable had there been less of a crush for good spots for Florence, but that’s what you get at Festivals. | |
| Florence + The Machine | A+ | She was so much more into this gig than the one at the Metro – the sound was way better. The crowd was just as douchey (and way more squished), but you could hear her over them this time. She really went off. | |
| Mumford & Sons | B+ | Having not heard any of their songs before Laneway, and even with my prejudice against them as the JJJ’s hottest 100 winner. They were folky and enjoyable (I expected that the label of folky had been attributed to them as a quirk to sell more records as a novelty), and I will be acquiring their album when funds allow. |
Lexies Travel Mixtape: December ’09 – Jan ’10 (North Africa, Turkey, NY, Paris)
In light of the confirmation today that I get to go to Canada for uni next semester, it’s time I finished uploading the tracks for this mixed tape.
Atatürkiye (2007 English Nutuk Trance Mix) – The Vatan Music Project
On our tour of Turkey there was an awful lot of driving around the countryside. The driving was actually one of the most amazing parts of it. It involved huge amounts of beautiful countryside (both natural and built), bus napping, many many ruins and listening to our tour guide. At some point he played us this mixed cd of Turkish pop music – a lot of it was terrible, I slept through a fair bit of it… but woke up during this song and just… loved it (I have this thing for Turkish nationalism).
He was shocked when I asked for this song (he said he thought we were all asleep), but got very excited and burnt EVERYONE in the group a 17 track mixed cd. So here is a pop song, about Ataturk’s life.
http://www.mediafire.com/?nteodztmijk
Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine
This song was the bane of my existence all through Turkey and Egypt. I could only shift it to sing other Florence songs. I fucking love it though.
http://www.mediafire.com/?mj4mmwkyydd
Loop Duplicate My Heart & A Couple Of Instruments – Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
“I’ve found a reason for going out tonight/ I’m making out tonight…. with my computer!”
Enough said.
http://www.mediafire.com/?gtjwdjmij5h
http://www.mediafire.com/?yzkjdtgdz1d
Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) – Florence + The Machine
At any second where Dog Days lulled, this came along. It was only about half way through our time in Egypt – at a rare moment where I had the computer – that I realized the song was referencing King Midas. I bounced out of the bathroom to tell Ingrid – she wasn’t as excited as I was. But we saw the presumed tomb and it’s contents of King Midas. (Reading since I’ve come home suggests that this is not entirely a sound hypothesis, but at the time I couldn’t get over how cool it was that I’d been singing that song for a few weeks, and a) not realized what it was about b) been in his homeland and c) been to see the supposed contents of his tomb.)
http://www.mediafire.com/?dnqvhdmxvyx
Movement IV: Traffic Shock – Sufjan Stevens
The existence of this album (The BQE) made me more excited than I’ve ever been before about traveling on a bridge. To be honest, I’m not quite sure what Sufjan sees in that bridge. But the whole album provides a good soundtrack and creates a lovely atmosphere for generally driving (or being a passenger while) around Manhattan, as in – not in Manhattan but the view from the nearby shores at dusk, with all the traffic around and lights and skyline of Manhattan twinkling.
http://www.mediafire.com/?omjljn0wcly
Noodles – Suburban Kids With Biblical Names
I love the way he says “karaoke”. This doesn’t have much to do with traveling really, just that I started listening to them over there… and I love how quirky they are.
http://www.mediafire.com/?n2mu1hmmme2
Snowy Atlas Mountains – Fionn Regan
I was very bummed with myself that I couldn’t listen to this song while in the very VERY snowy Atlas Mountains (some roads were closed). Such a beautiful place.
http://www.mediafire.com/?vzttyndnc5e
Oh! Paris – Dent May
It’s so lame, but this song was in my head when we were in Paris. It’s untrue, because Paris is far from my favourite city in the world. But it’s definitely a place everyone has to see for themselves. New York town still has my heart, though.
http://www.mediafire.com/?t2aoliwrjno
Kelly Watch The Stars – Air
Guys, I’m really not rubbing in the fact we saw Air. But they were utterly incredible. I always thought there were female vocals on Moon Safari – but it’s all effects. I was really oddly amazed by seeing the stars from another hemisphere. I mean, I’ve been three times now and never paid that any attention – probably partly because it’s always winter and we mostly travel in big cities. But the stars in the Moroccan desert were completely stunning…
http://www.mediafire.com/?mnzkzembg00
And all of them in one file! http://www.mediafire.com/?nk1kmqk0noj
Top Ten Albums 2009
You might say I’m a bit early, but it feels like the year is over for me already.
1. Lungs – Florence + The Machine
I only got this last week, so that could bias my opinion at the moment. But I’m absolutely blown away by her voice and the depth of her lyrics.
Best song: My Boy Builds Coffins
2. Hometowns – Rural Alberta Advantage (re-release)
So I probably love this album the most, but I’m probably cheating by having this on here in the first place. If I haven’t made you listen to this yet I’m surprised. It’s hard to describe.. it falls into this genre of music I can taste and I like to think of as crunchy. If Neutral Milk Hotel, Bright Eyes, Canada, The Shins (at times) and elements of Sufjan Stevens (lyrically) had a baby, this is what it would sound like.
Best song: Quite honestly there isn’t a weak track on this album, it flows perfectly. If I *had* to choose….Frank AB
3. Far – Regina Spektor
Sadly Regina gets more commercial with every record, she’s not as quirky as she used to be, but her songs are still pretty and her voice is still stunning.
Best song: The Calculation
4. The BQE – Sufjan Stevens
This album has filled a huge hole in my music collection; that of instrumental contemporary stuff that I actually really really like and can listen to while doing uni work (the only thing that came close before was Majesty Snowbird, also by Sufjan). It’s awesome for driving, it’s awesome while under the influence, I think sometimes it feels too short.
Best song: Movement IV: Traffic Shock
5. My Maudlin Career – Camera Obscura
This CO record is my favourite, I have to criticize and say it starts off really strong and tapers, but the first few songs hold it up.
Best song: The Sweetest Thing
6. Tonight – Franz Ferdinand
Franz was pretty disappointing when I saw them live this year, they just didn’t have their old energy, they seemed to want to get the show over as quick as possible. So I think that had a lot to do with the extent of my liking of this album. It’s actually a great album, they’ve done a great job of re-inventing their sound again and again, but still keeping the same elements.
Best song: Bite Hard
7. Wolfgang Armadeus Phoenix – Phoenix
Best song: Liztomania
8. Get Guilty – A.C. Newman
Best song: All of my days and all of my days off
9. The Bachelor – Patrick Wolf
Best song: Damaris
10. Hazards Of Love – The Decemberists
Best song:
Honourable mentions: God Help The Girl, Coconut Records, Andrew Bird
Top Five EP’s
1. The Man Is Dead – The Jezabels
1. She’s So Hard – The Jezabels
2. Salt Sugar Fat – Wifey
3. Different In The Distance – Little Scout
4. Blood Bank – Bon Iver
Yeah OK, so I’m in love with The Jezabels.
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Protected: These are just ghosts that broke my heart before I met you.
I’d give everything up for your touch.
Stars – My Favourite Book
Regina Spektor – Samson
Jens Lekman – You Are The Light (By Which I Travel Through This & That)
Dent May – Love Song 2009
Badly Drawn Boy – You Were Right
Jens Lekman – Cold Swedish Winter
Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position
Bright Eyes – The First Day Of My Life (remember the time you drove all night, just to meet me in the morning?)
Jens Lekman – A Higher Power (let’s put a plastic bag over our heads, and then kiss and stuff ’til we get dizzy and fall on the bed)
Chris Isaak – Wicked Game
http://www.mediafire.com/?jxx3x0e3zaq
Naw, they think that dinosaurs communicated with their babies before they hatched. Doesn’t that just warm your heart? I just wrote lameosaurs in my study notes. Freudian slip, maybe.
I wan’ see meteors! Last night was too cloudy.
Fuck stress, fuck 8+ hours of studying a day (and making me mull over other peoples shortcomings). Stupid stuff get out of my brain!
Also: if you didn’t know already check out Ingrid and I’s travel blog… which is probably all I’ll be blogging on for the next few months.
Seeking-
likeminded woman or man (as opposed to boy); intelligent (science nerd would be perfect); feminist & atheist (agnostics considered). Must have compatible music taste & love of mix cds & driving on warm afternoons & rainy days. Age: 20-30; emotional maturity >12 years old required. Must not be excessively jealous, or have any mental issues. Also useful: good kisser, likes my friends, dresses well, not a mummy’s boy.
I’m getting a tad stressed for the first time this semester, I guess it’s about time too… last week of classes. So, that means it’s a good time to blog. Instead of a full essay on any one topic, I’m going to give you summarized thoughts.
- I think it’s time to get rid of my shitty break-up hair. Not that it’s the slightest bit purple anymore.
- I’ve never felt a need to “come out” as liking girls. In fact I think it’s a really primitive idea (why don’t straight people come out, too?). But it recently occurred to me that if I got a girlfriend, I wouldn’t want my aunts and uncles to know that I like girls for the first time, by being introduced to my her.
- Facebook puts me in contact with so many people I shouldn’t be in any form of contact with. I just don’t quite have the balls (and lack of curiosity) to remove all the people I don’t need to know anymore.
- I read something last week that said not having facebook was like a social faux pas nowadays, and that to rebel against it was rude. Interesting thought. Not rude, you just have to expect to not get invited to things, I think.
- I feel embarrassed for people that are unnecessary snobs. It doesn’t make you seem cooler, or elitist, it makes you seem bitter and insecure. There is a lot more behind that sentence that can be explained here.
- It really shits me that most people do not understand what “feminism” is, what the word means, what the movement stands for (no, that is not aimed at you, Mr Fisher, you just got me thinking).
- I cannot bear to even consider that men and women will never be equally treated.
- I have no intention of denying that men and women are different physically, or have different mental tendencies. But there is no valid reason why they require any different treatment, or one requires being treated superiorly, ever.
- It’s a really really lame cop out to say that “society’s attitudes won’t change”. They have and they will. It’s people that say that, that slow the social change down.
- The key thing that I don’t like about Cosmo is that it perpetuates sex myths. It gives women unrealistic expectations about sex. Not all women have a g-spot, and not all women climax from intercourse (~10% do). It’s socially fucking irresponsible.
- Then again, how can we expect modern day women to really fight for their equal rights when leading women’s magazine are full of articles on how to please men, with no regard for female pleasure (How to achieve deeper penetration, anyone? It won’t hurt, promise!).
