Archive for the 'relationships' Category
I’m not used to being friends with rockstars. In fact, the situation is entirely weird sometimes. Granted, [The OneUps] aren’t exactly rubbing shoulders with those people appearing on the VMAs, but [Wil Wheaton] [isn't exactly someone you get to chum around conventions with everyday.] Coming off of yet another fantastic performance at [Penny Arcade Expo], the boys didn’t skip a single beat and released their second album - a two-disc affair known simply as Volume 2 - on September 2.
For some fans, this album could not come out fast enough. No one denies that the wait was well worth it.
But for me, as I listened to the work of my friends and tried to be as impartial as possible, I could only marvel at the serious work that they have accomplished in the year (and then some) since I first [met them] and wonder what the heck I did to even deserve a mention in the liner notes of such a significant achievement (in the history of video game cover music, at least.) These guys won’t stop at just fantastic, and I, as a musician, have to thank them for that, their inspiration, ambition, and - of course - music. I am incredibly lucky to call these guys my friends. With this album and their most recent show, The OneUps have claimed the full right to be ridiculously proud of themselves. For a little while, at least.
As for the album itself, let’s just say that as I listened to it during my search for a new bookbag, I drove worse than I ever have, parked better than I ever have (which is saying a lot), and for the first time that I can ever recall, found myself contemplating a lingerie section (I did not purchase anything from that store.)
I haven’t listened to the second CD yet, and probably shouldn’t do that when I drive out later tonight.
Many thanks go to the lady of zabe.net for her adorable photography. Volume 2 is available through the OneUps’s [myspace] and website. Rumour has it that the guys are already sketching ideas for Volume 3. Congratulations.
September 12 2008 | games and music and relationships | 1 Comment »
I hope that many years from now, when I am legally “old”, I will still have the spirit and energy I have today, and be as in love with that person (who and wherever he may be) as the day we recognize those feelings.
September 24 2007 | musings and relationships | 2 Comments »
Another summer has passed and sometimes things just don’t want to happen. For example, this post. I can’t motivate myself to write about anything these days….
Significant events have happened over the last month, however, towards which this blog should pay tribute…
First, please allow me a moment of ridiculous sentimentality as the first event is a wedding and the half-week leading up to it. I have never considered myself a very emotional person, but every so often, people get the better of me. Lauren, a one of my dearest friends and one of my guiding lights my freshman year of college, had an absolutely gorgeous wedding, despite the 100+ degree Farenheit weather it occurred under and in which we had to play. Seeing her and her husband (also a friend) devote themselves to each other was just the icing atop a cake of celebration. After all, paying witness to two people pledging themselves to each other for life is actually really quite beautiful.
But perhaps the most emotional moment came three days before the actual wedding itself when the violist of the wedding quartet and I threw a surprise bachelorette party for Lauren. We had spent the previous day contacting as many of the younger female wedding attendees as possible, telling them to arrive at the apartment at around seven. Then we lured Lauren to the apartment under the guise of listening to us rehearse her wedding music. At seven, when people started arriving and we admitted to Lauren what was going on, she burst into tears.
I am very hard pressed to think of another recent moment when I have seen someone so moved by happiness. But I get at least three more chances to catch and experience this all over again by the end of next summer, if not an entire year now that my roommates just got engaged to each other last week.
That being said, congratulations to you all who have managed to find your someone. Truly, you are lucky people.
While on the topic of luck, happiness, congratulations, and more happiness, I extend yet again another congratulations to [The OneUps] for their incredible performance at the [Penny Arcade Expo] (PAX). Apparently, the boys knocked everyone dead and I could not be happier (and a little jealous) that they were given the chance to experience such an embracing venue, playing in front of thousands of people, and the thrilling rush of being such rockstars. They may think they’re just “normal dudes” playing video game music, but these guys - both individually and as a unit - really are something amazing, and their music shows.
So far as my own shows go, my band played a very nicely run [Nerdapalooza] event the day after The OneUps’s killer show, but I rode on their high for a bit, especially since the guys were being wonderful enough to help sell our CDs at PAX and Mustin was filling me in every so often on how sales were going. That was quite exciting as well. Our show went well enough for how darned humid and hot thirty-forty people packed into a fifty-by-twenty (or so) foot room with no air conditioning is. Some videos are available for viewing [here] (a little scrolling is required…sorry)
Finally, I had the fortune this past week to attend a fantastic show by Miami Afro-Latin funk band [Suenalo]. The cohesiveness and energy of Suenalo’s sound is unbelievable. I highly encourage everyone to check out their music.
And that’s that for now until I can think up something to write about again
September 04 2007 | music and relationships | 1 Comment »
Happy one year anniversary to little pocket universe! Yay! I’m so sorry I don’t take care of you…thank you for taking care of me T_T
Until I get around to arranging a musical post (It is, after all, high time for one of those again.) ponder this: If video game women are digitally enhanced to appeal to boys and make them play the game and/or make their gaming experience more enjoyable, why don’t muscle-bound males in video games make those games more appealing to women to play? What if there were an Ocean’s Thirteen video game? How well would that do?
July 19 2007 | games and music and relationships | 3 Comments »
When did asking someone to “hang out” take the place of people asking someone on a date? I can understand if it’s a method to “cover all the bases” but the asked could just as easily be turned off by the indirect nature and ambiguity of the question. Though I’m not so great at all this relationship stuff, I’ll say right out that this sort of wussiness just doesn’t seem attractive…
Now onto things that I’m much better at: video game music! The Korean MMORPG market has exploded over the past six years, if not more, and among this myriad of games are the two particularly and beautiful creations of Zera: Imperan Intrigue and Granado Espada. The visual artwork, both in-game and especially concept, of these two games are striking enough, but there’s something to be said for the music as well.
Because if I were to feature music from both games in one post, there’d be too many links, therefore I shall present tracks one game at a time.
The MMORPG Granado Espada first began testing back in 2005 but didn’t begin English beta testing until just last month. The story is set in the Age of Exploration and the world mirrors one of 17th Century Europe where instead of exploring the New World, the characters explore the newfound continent of Granado Espada. Composed by a collection of composers including SoundTeMP, S.F.A, Osamu Kubota, and DJ Tiesto, the music of Granado Espada is certainly eclectic with its range of pieces from symphonic classical to songs that would fit right in a noir film to straight up rock and plenty of vocal sampling for everone. However, the entire soundtrack is predominantly techno-trance-electronica based with backseat melodies scattered around its 126 or so tracks. They could play most of this stuff over the speakers at Abercrombie and Fitch and no one would think it was out of place. Others you could dance DDR to. A few entirely instrumental pieces are on the soundtrack but many are robbed of any musical effectiveness by their synthesizers. There are some extremely fascinating rock songs which sound like they’re sung in…German?
That is not to say that there are not some true gems on this soundtrack. There are pieces of both electronic and instrumental (and a blend of both) which are truly outstanding. Seemingly the most colourful compositions of the soundtrack, however, feature said electronic spreads with sprinkles of Spanish flavours - rhythms and cadences. There is some fantastic guitar work in some of these pieces. Though Granado Espada is supposed to encompass all European styles, from the costume and environment designs, I couldn’t help but think that it was entirely Spanish based at first. The overall tone of the soundtrack certainly assisted this idea. As undecipherable as some of these dance-beat based pieces might be, the fact is clear that no piece was written haphazardly. But listening to all 126 tracks was definitely tiresome. Maybe I didn’t even get through all 126…
More information on Granado Espada can be found [here]. All files are property of their respective artists. Please support the musicians and their music! All files uploaded onto savefile.com.
Enjoy!!
+ [Granado Espada]
- presumably the theme of the game, this piece is very Final Fantasy piano collections reminiscent. Both tune and composition are very simple and beautiful. For some reason, pieces like this are just so appropriate for video games of romantic nature. This particular piece has the added bonus of grace along with its romance. Sometimes, that’s a bad thing, but here it certainly is not.
+ [Vamos Bravo]
- This Latin-flavoured piece is full of flirt and charm. I most definitely want to find someone to cover this tune with someone someday as it just seems like it’d be so much fun to perform.
+ [Trollslottet]
- suprisingly addictive European folk-rock involving a violin and didgeridoo. I can’t tell what language this is in. Any help is appreciated.
+ [Rio Tranquila]
- I’ll be completely honest: I had trouble finding an outstanding piece in all the tracks that weren’t composed by this S.F.A. creature. This is no exception as it’s one of the few pieces where I felt the electronic sounds and instrumental sounds really lined up throughout the piece create a really gorgeous blend through the entire composition.
I listened to this piece on repeat for at least half an hour when I first put it on my mp3 player. I dig just about every melodic line of the piece. One day I’ll find some techno-geeks and a guitarist or two to play this piece with me. Any takers?
June 16 2007 | games and music and relationships | 4 Comments »
Let’s chase fantasies. After all, they’re only fantasies until they become real. They have every right to be taken as seriously as anything else.
Hello, rum and coke. You are so nice to me.
Here’s my very late new year’s resolution: think before you talk.
In new news, I have discovered the joys of sundresses on semi-hot days, especially when paired with sandals.
Now…why do I have this cut on my finger? It’s from before the rum and coke, no worries, but I’m curious all the same.
May 01 2007 | musings and relationships | 1 Comment »
Here’s the thing about relationships: they’re about looking for something. But what? Glamour? Acceptance? Complete happiness? Or something so all-encompassing that it feels like nothing is impossible?
Is that what they call ‘love’?
I was in love once, and it was good. A blissful sort of blank time. If I ever fall in love again, I wonder if it will be the same.
Wouldn’t life be so much easier without emotions? Is life possible to live without emotions? Is life worth living without emotions?
Thanks, chemicals. Thanks a ton.
April 16 2007 | relationships | 2 Comments »
A lot of thoughts arise after a first breakup.For one, breakups are not just called such because you break from the person you were with, but also because you get broken up.
…okey. So that wasn’t a terribly original or convincing thought. But you see what I mean? Empty-calorie thoughts run abound and break you up. Or at least they try. And then they make you forget to watch the one show your life revolves around. But Battlestar Galactica’s been in a bit of filler-funk anyway….so I’m not entirely depressed about that.
Comfort and glue comes in the reassurance from friends that finally reveal to you, mostly only after breakup, that your ex-significant other was a total asshole…to both you and as is. But don’t blame them…they have lots to consider as well. For one - your feelings. Friends are put in tough places when you take on a significant other. However, their thoughts deserve listening.
Breakups are made especially harder when about 70% of other friends around you are convincingly confident that they have already found their significant other…and 40% of those friends are formally engaged. So when two of your friends give their girlfriends (also friends of yours) rings within the same week that you get the slip, it kinda hurts.
Other than friends, music will help you. If you’re a girl, try some chocolate. A friend has introduced me to the wonders of hot chocolate and some whiskey. I recommend Southern Comfort. Especially if it’s your ex’s favourite. Makes the mixing of liquids that much more vindictive. The slight sweetness of the SoCo enhances the sweetness of the chocolate to make for something warm in many ways.
Here are a few songs that helped when friends couldn’t quite, and it wasn’t quite the right time to have alcohol. None of these are emo or whiny because I don’t have any of those. But what is it about these songs that help? I’m not sure. I’ll write down what I think it might be, but let me know what you think….
I do miss the romance. But I’d been missing it for a while anyway.
[all songs uploaded into savefile.com]
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[MUSIC]
please support the artists! Buy their CDs!
small note: I meant to upload some Manowar in this post. But sadly, I don’t have any of their music on my computer and I’m too lazy to rip them off the CD….
+ [Put Your Records On] - Corinne Bailey Rae
- This song is well-famous by now, but not without reason. The lyrics and music are both uplifting and optimistic without being bubbly. There’s just something beautiful and heartfelt about it all…
+ [London Town] - Bellowhead
- Funky English folk music. Yay funky. Yay violins. Yay for cheeky lyrics and charm. Those are what helped?
+ [Yume wo Mite ita Kingyo] - Yano Maki
- I discovered Yano Maki about a year ago, but only two songs of hers. She’s undeniably talented and I do hope to hear more of her songs sometime soon. Like Bailey Rae, there’s a certain sense of comfort in her voice…
+ [Ring Your Song] - Itou Eri, Yuki Kajiura (from Tsubasa Chronicle)
- okey, fine, so this song is a bit sad. And I do personally find Kajiura overrated when so much of her music sounds exactly the same. But Itou Eri’s voice is so (mostly) touching and when she sings “find me there/my tiny feathers” I KNOW she’s talking about the anime premise, but can’t help feeling some beautiful hopefulness anyway.
February 27 2007 | BSG (and such) and food and music and relationships | 2 Comments »
