Build It, Baby

In the process of making a new Spotify playlist. And it's a good one. Kinda proud of it. Called "Songs That Build" and just added "Child In Time" by Deep Purple to it. Can't help but yelling, "it's the wonder of nature, baby!" when it hits the tempo change, startling those around me. Long song, but worth the time. Same with "Shine On, You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd. Two versions of White Rabbit, neither of which is the original. "Free Bird" of course. Along with some lesser knowns.

Job interview tomorrow. I have hope. Must get out of where I am, especially with some recent very unfair shit going on.

Really having fun making this playlist. Getting some help from a stream of people's favorite songs that build. Many I already have, some I have and had already added, some I'm getting (like from The Foals and Smashing Pumpkins) and the most awesome part, I saw someone recommend the Elbow song I already put on the playlist. Very, very excellent build song. "Station Approach."

Aahh!! "Missed The Boat" by Modest Mouse!! One of my favorite songs from them. I'll put it just under Elbow. Friggen love this song.

Alright, went from 6 songs to 22 tonight. Good good.

I needed this. Glad I found these.

Mundaneness and Massive Crashes

Listening to Massive Attack's "Heligoland" again. Deluxe edition. Love this album, good driving music. Features Guy Garvey. The deluxe includes remixes of some of the album's songs.

Speaking of Guy Garvey, I discovered his BBC Radio 6 broadcasts about a year ago now and never made it a regular listen. I regret that. But he's still going, so I'll jump in.

Finally cracked open the Oktoberfest craft beer I brought back from my vacation. Sooo goooood. Better than the one I tried while there, which I also liked. I brought a sixer of each back. Not enough!

My preference of using the desktop view of Facebook on my phone has led to unintentional likes and friend requests. Sometimes caught, sometimes not. Sigh.

Mmm craft beer. I miss my Kill Devil. And the people who made it - Widmer Brothers - made an Oktoberfest I would've loooved to try. Hopefully next year...

Lately I've been wanting a job that strives toward something, that has a goal. I clean everyday. Sometimes the exact same things I cleaned the day before. I guess I want projects. Things that encourage a thought process and creativity. I kind of want to go back to school. See if I continue to thrive in English with my writing. See if there's still an artist in me. See if I can still excel in music. I'd gotten to the point of starting to transpose another instrument's music in my head to the notes needed for mine. Then I graduated and lost sight of my strengths.

Yesyesyes! Haha! I just found a song I've been aching to have for years! I kinda have it, but the sound isn't so good. And this official version has more lyrics! Awesome.

Alright, so here's how I originally came about the song:

Awesome! Right?

Now here's the full song, in a silly but still kinda amusing video:

Legends

Roger Waters is recording an album! Sweet. Says it's his first in over twenty years. (Now I gotta get the previous one, "Amused To Death" from '92.) He says this new one is kind of a radio play. While I think I'm more of a David Gilmour fan, I can't turn down something from the co-founder and co-lead vocalist of Pink Floyd.

And I must get Gilmour performing "Arnold Layne" live with David Bowie.

I'd kill to see a live performance by Waters or Gilmour. Or both.

Hmm, "Amused To Death" is different. I know I use that word lot, but kinda unable to come up with a proper description to what I'm hearing.

Happy 40th Anniversary to Dark Side of the Moon.

Go to this page and click on the collage on the right, you'll see a lot of pretty awesome Dark Side artwork. And you can click on the individual pics to enlarge and get better look at.

Remember

The other day I thought about Valerie's letter from V for Vendetta. I love how pure, true, and unashamed she is. How she portrays nothing but love. Even to the stranger that finds her letter.

I know there’s no way I can convince you this is not one of their tricks. But I don’t care. I am me.

My name is Valerie. I don’t think I’ll live much longer, and I wanted to tell someone about my life. This is the only autobiography that I’ll ever write, and – God – I’m writing it on toilet paper.

I was born in Nottingham in 1985. I don’t remember much of those early years. But I do remember the rain. My grandmother owned a farm in Tottlebrook, and she used to tell me that God was in the rain.

I passed my eleven plus, and went to a girl’s grammar. It was at school that I met my first girlfriend. Her name was Sarah. It was her wrists – they were beautiful. I thought we would love each other forever. I remember our teacher telling us that it was an adolescent phase that people outgrew.

Sarah did. I didn’t.

In 2002 I fell in love with a girl named Christina. That year I came out to my parents. I couldn’t have done it without Chris holding my hand.

My father wouldn’t look at me. He told me to go and never come back. My mother said nothing.

I’d only told them the truth. Was that so selfish? Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us. And within that inch, we are free.

I’d always known what i’d wanted to do with my life, and in 2015 I started my first film: The Salt Flats. It was the most important role of my life. Not because of my career, but because that was how I met Ruth. The first time we kissed, I knew I never wanted to kiss any other lips but hers again.

We moved to a small flat in London together. She grew scarlet carsons for me in our window box. And our place always smelt of roses. Those were the best years of my life.

But America’s war grew worse and worse, and eventually came to London.

After that there were no roses anymore. Not for anyone.

I remember how the meaning of words began to change. How unfamiliar words like “collateral” and “rendition” became frightening. When things like norsefire and the articles of allegiance became powerful. I remember how different became dangerous.

I still don’t understand it: why they hate us so much.

They took Ruth while she was out buying food. I’ve never cried so hard in my life. It wasn’t long until they came for me.

It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place. But for three years I had roses – and apologised to no-one.

I shall die here. Every inch of me shall perish. Every inch. But one.

An inch. It is small and it is fragile, and it is the only thing in the world worth having. We must never lose it or give it away. We must never let them take it from us.

I hope that - whoever you are - you escape this place. I hope that the world turns, and that things get better. But what I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that even though I do not know you, and even though I may not meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you: I love you.
With all my heart.

I love you.
-Valerie."

Carpe Musica

God I love "Vicious Traditions" by The Veils. I've talked about it before.

Got some new music tonight. Swedish futurepop/synthpop. They're called Colony 5. Not amazing, but keepable.

Listening to them led me to some of The Crystal Method (including Milla Jovovich's vocalizing in "I Know It's You). Then to Depeche Mode's "Playing The Angel" album. Whose name I've been pronouncing wrong... I thought it was DeePOTCHee Mode. Guess it's DeePesh Mode. Oh well.

Shut up, I heard it my way from someone else. I'm not the only idiot.

Now listening to my favorite hard-rock remakes. Burning Down The House by The Used and Rocky Mountain Way by Godsmack. Next... Dropkick Murphys! Their "Blackout" album.

Possible job change/transfer in the nearish future. We'll see.

The ones that you looooooooved,

The ones that you left behiiiiiind....

Sorry. Easy to jam to.

Oh! Great news that you likely won't care about! ELBOW will (not) soon (enough) have a new album out! Titled "Carry Her Carry Me." Release date of March 10th, 2014. Their last, which was a b-sides compilation album, didn't really win me over. But I have hope for this next one.

Feelin' good tonight.

(It won't last.)

In other news, I've started watching Malcolm in the Middle to get my Bryan Cranston fix...and discovered that I effing love the show. The humor is fantastic. Might be for the younger crowd, but has adult humor in it as well. My favorite part so far was the fourth ep, with the tree shredder. Dad's explaining to the boys how it vaporizes anything you put through it, so the youngest throws his lunch box in. The dad (Cranston) instantly objects, then pauses and says "actually, that was pretty cool.... What else you got?" And they proceed to shred... much.

Something I really wish I could get is the mead song from the newest Robin Hood movie. "I ROSE UP IN THE MORNING AND I FELT A DIRE NEED! TO DREAM AWAY THE WEARY DAY AND HAVE A CUP OF MEAD!" And according to what I've read, I'm not the only one.

Last but definitely not least, "Simple Song" by The Shins has no volume limit. The louder the better. So glad that How I Met Your Mother introduced me to that one.

Well, adieu loves.

Beauty In Transition

Sad that October is over. The month of scary movies, pumpkins, and anticipation for Halloween is finished. Oh well. Halloween night didn't include the scary movie I would have normally enjoyed, but instead the new Monsters University movie with the kid and husband. Just as enjoyable.

Currently watching The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest. Third and final installment of the Millennium series. Swedish version, with English dubs. Hollywood still has a while before theirs comes out.

Oh, I've been watching Revolution... Got caught up, it's now in season 2. I have to say that I like the main bad guy, Monroe, in this second season. He's a bit different from the first, but I like him more now.

And Billy Burke, playing the main, or at least one of the two main, characters is fanfrickenawesome. A badass with a heart... and a sense of humor.

My child is currently watching Monsters University for the second time in a row since we got home... 3 hours ago. Sigh. He's not going to like it being taken back to the video place.

There is a beautifully coloured tree outside my house. And when you're inside, looking out, you see its orange brilliance through brick-red leaves of a tree between you and it.