Events to see in 2003:

1. Goldfinger

It was actually my first big show in Canada (i got hooked after that). And ‘Hello pinky toe! I still can’t move you!’ Kids, remember to tie your shoes properly before jumping into mosh-pits.

2. The Sex Pistols

We actually didn’t have tickets for this one, but this was before they fenced off the hill at Molson Amph (you know which one ), so we just climbed on top of it and watched the whole show from there. We also had to bribe the guy at the entrance to the Exhibition Place with cigarettes, so he would let us in.

3. Mindless Self Indulgence

They came to Toronto on my Birthday! I can’t even describe how excited I was to see one of my favourite bands live on my freaking birthday. Remember this video?

Click here to view the embedded video.

And this one:

Click here to view the embedded video.

And NewGrounds was a cool website and all was good in the world?

Also, the local punk scene was blooming with bands like The 3Tards, DRP, Insanity Outbreak and …um… COaN (what the hell did it stand for?) What came first, chilling at Matt Gee’s or the shows at the Reverb?

Fucked Up Canadian Kids, anyone?

First off, I was soooo punk

My newly found best friend Elaine were pretty much inseparable and it all started with our mutual love for The Offspring. Fortunately for us, the new Offspring album came out that year, so we had 12 more tunes to sing while walking up and about Toronto.

Like this one:

Click here to view the embedded video.

And… ta-da!

We also wanted to form a band that would’ve sounded something like Jack off Jill, and call it Suck & Swallow. We also wanted to start an online magazine called Thingy, and even made a website, but .. ummm… never wrote anything cause we were too busy going to punk shows.

It was also the year to discover all the cool goth-y underground stuff, like Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and Jack off Jill, and i lived and breathed that. I actually still don’t know if that made my confusion and depression worse or better. But I am glad those bands and books to my disposal, cause I can’t even imagine what kids are listening to today to counter the pop-culture? Blood on the Dancefloor? (Now, that’s a very scary thought).

Click here to view the embedded video.

On that thought, albums we were listening to in 2003:

The Lost & Found, Rasputina ,  Give Up, The Postal Service, Sing the Sorrow, AFI  (it was a love/hate relationship), Just One More, Mad Caddies, Dix Infernal, Moi dix Mois  (just a little bit, i never really got into j-rock), Meteora, Linkin Park (it was kinda hard not to listen to it since it was playing everywhere), Sleeping with Ghosts, Placebo, Elephant, The White Stripes, Opeth, Damnation, Think Tank, Blur, Electric Version, The New Pornographers (whaaa?, i’m such a hipster), The Golden Age of Grotesque, Marilyn Manson, Explode, The Unseen, Blackout, Dropkick Murphys, Deja Entendu, Brand New (i still think that Sic Transit Gloria is an amazing song), De-Loused in the Comatorium, The Mars Volta (that one was BIG for me), Friends of Mine, Adam Green, Ethernaut, The Cruxshadows, Unstable, Adema, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, Metric, The Fiction We Live, From Autumn to Ashes, Billy Talent, Billy Talent, Absolution, Muse, WWIII, KMFDM, The Antidote, Moonspell, Transatlanticism, Death Cab For Cutie, Room on Fire, The Strokes, Despierta Los Niños, Mindless Self Indulgence, Splinter, The Offspring.

We were watching:

Lord of the Rings, American Wedding, Anger Management, Big Fish, Coffee and Cigarettes, Dreamcatcher, The Dreamers, Duplex, Freaky Friday, Gothika (now that was pure shit), A Guy Thing, House of 1000 Corpses, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Italian Job, Just Married,  Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Last Samurai, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Lost in Translation, Love Actually, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, The Matrix Reloaded,  Mona Lisa Smile, Old School, Party Monster, Phone Booth, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Recruit, Scary Movie 3, School of Rock, Something’s Gotta Give (one of the worst movies ever, and there are some bad movies on this list), Swimming Pool, Thirteen, Les Triplettes de Belleville, Underworld, Uptown Girls, Willard

So, a dark, but fun year it was.

How was it for you? Leave your comments below!

And I want to leave you with …

GET A PANDA!

P.S. The self-titled blink-182 album sucked

My primary website is currently under construction, because i feel that the old one doesn’t represent me anymore

Awesome stuff coming soon

But now i have taken interest in Tumblr. So maybe it will help me lead a more healthy blog life instead of dumping everything i can onto facebook, and leaving my thoughts out of the mix.

To conclude the previous post – i now smoke only when i drink. i do exercises when i can.

Life has been complicated, but pretty great

Well, this time this first day was extra painful, because i have been partying for a week straight… But what it actually did is, it made me pissed at myself for being so weak, as to long for a cigarette. And so, I have decided to prove to myself that I can be fine without smoking. To make things harder, I was watching movies that whole week. (Some movies are so intense that you wish you had a smoke; the others are too boring, so you wish you had something to do while watching them; others just have people smoking in them all the time). Thank God I got sick on thursday ( and i never smoke when i’m sick). haha.

I did watch a lot of movies that i’ve wanted to watch for quite some time now.

Das Boot blew my mind! It was soo intense, that I actually felt like i was in that submarine.

There Will Be Blood was boring and I didn’t feel connected to the main character at all. I felt like he was very dull and shallow, I could always recognize why he did what he did and what he did made me stay indifferent.

The Social Network was also pretty boring, but not as boring as the previous movie. At least it had an amazing soundtrack, thanks to mister Reznor. Plus, I think it was shorter than There Will Be Blood, so it felt like it was more action-packed.

True Grit is a nice little film. It reminded me of childhood, when movies actually had a good moral behind them, and they weren’t pointlessly brutal or sexual. Plus, Jeff Bridges is always enjoyable to watch.

127 Hours truly held up to my expectations (and I expect A LOT from my second favourite director – Mr. Danny Boyle). James Franco pleasantly surprised me for the second time in the past couple of months (first time being Howl, which I highly recommend to all book junkies). It is a very emotionally draining film, i must say. I think my ears were ringing for like 20 minutes after it. But it is worth it, and so much more.

I also watched the first 2 episodes of The Walking Dead and i was disappointed. After hearing everyone praising it, I felt like it was a standard zombie flick, that didn’t put any spin on your typical zombies, and focused more on the drama that was brewing between all the characters. So, i might have watched to episodes of Gossip Girl with the same success.

On Sunday, i was almost healthy, so I have decided to go see Tangled with my friends. And I loved it!!!! It’s like a classic Disney cartoon (with singing and talking animals) with a modern spin on it. The Princess and the Frog was nothing compared to this!!!

to be continued…

Music :: Indie Rock Playlist February 2008

Of course, I didn’t just sit at home. I had to face all the problems head on. So I partied… hard. And I think that (especially pushing myself to overindulge) ultimately showed me the way. I met the New Year relieved and blissfully happy.

The next posts will summarize my little, but firm  steps to being a better person.*

Music :: Air

*For those who don’t know, last year even though i made good progress in front-end developing, i haven’t really touched upon any of my former hobbies (except singing, but that was short-lived). I also spent too much on booze and smokes, which i compensated by buying expensive clothes and presents, which ultimately left me broke.

Terrible song, as are all the other Ke$ha songs. I’m pretty sure that she will disappear in a couple of years and no one will remember her name. She can’t even sing. The lyrics have no meaning. The beats are forgettable.

49. Elizabeth Cook – El Camino

A pretty good song. Funny, bluesy. I wouldn’t listen to it on repeat, but i wouldn’t turn it off if it was playing somewhere.

48. Das Racist – hahahaha jk?

It’s alright, although i think i’ve heard this beat before….

47. Kid Rock – Born Free

I hate Kid Rock. And even if I can enjoy laughing at his earlier stuff, this i actually feel guilty about laughing at. It’s so serious and epic that… ummm.. i’m at loss of words.

46. MGMT – Congratulations

I like MGMT. And even though this album might not be as catchy as their first, i find it very relaxing and nice. like a lazy sunday afternoon. And it’s a very touching and sad video

45. The Rolling Stones – Plundered My Soul

I was never a big fan of the Stones overall, although they do have some songs that i can play over and over again. This song however is very cliche musically. It sounds like a last gasp of air before dying, really. They should’ve retired a long time ago.

44. Neil Young – Love And War

I personally never got Neil Young. But i never held anything against him either. And i actually liked this song. I would actually go as far as checking out more of his stuff after listening to this. It’s simple without being pretentious.

43. B.o.B – Nothin’ On You (feat. Bruno Mars)

The thing that i like about that whole group of artists (B.o.B., Bruno Mars, Travie McCoy) is that all of their songs are very positive and they make me smile. Although this one is sooooooooooooooo cheesy It’s a guilty pleasure

42. Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!!! Me like! cheer-y, surf-y.It’s like  an old sweater, too old to be worn in public but too loved to be thrown out.

41. Junip – In Every Direction

I like the bass in this song. i actually just like this song.

40. Kanye West – POWER

wow he’s so full of himself. The beat is nice though. But no, he’s too full of himself. Must ban!

39. The Gaslight Anthem – The Diamond Church Street Choir

Sounds like Bruce Springsteen. i have effing Bruce Springsteen. it all sounds the same, for Christ’s sake!!!!

38. Spoon – The Mystery Zone

Spoon are alright. They aren’t the best band in the world, but they are good.

37. Lloyd Banks feat. Juelz Santana – Beamer, Benz, or Bentley

OMG! This is awesome and here i thought that the times when you could openly laugh at rappers passed with the early 2000s. This is a gem! it’s my new favourite song!!!!! i’m sorry this is too good to be true.

36. Drake – Up All Night (Feat. Nicki Minaj)

sick bass not bad for a Degrassi guy

35. Massive Attack feat. Hope Sandoval – Paradise Circus

Massive Attack are awesome. that’s all.

34. Gorillaz feat. Mos Def and Bobby Womack – Stylo

Honestly, i was disappointed with Plastic Beach altogether. It’s too mellow and non of the songs on the album really grabbed my attention. The video for this song is epic though. Bruce Willis, yum!

33. Wavves – Post Acid

I like! Very punky. Although i would reduce the noise level just a bit on this one.

32. Die Antwoord – Enter the Ninja

I honestly don’t get this band. Although i wouldn’t mind dancing to this song while drunk out of my mind.

31. Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here

solid.

30. Jakob Dylan -Nothing but the Whole Wide World

Wow, i guess he finally came to accept that he IS Bob Dylan’s son. Nice but nothing special

29. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – The Trip to Pirate’s Cove

ahhhh, a classic Petty tune honey to my ears. Best song on the list so far, by far.

28. Band of Horses – Laredo

not bad.

27. The National – Bloodbuzz Ohio

I was kinda scared to listen to this song, because i love their Alligator album, but i haven’t listened to anything else from them because i didn’t want to be disappointed by this band. But i’m glad i’ve finally listened to this, cause it’s as great as their old stuff.

26. Robyn – Dancing on My Own

I just hate how trends produce millions of copies of the same songs with slightly modified lyrics. i like La Roux, she has a more interesting voice, truly 80s beats and interesting lyrics.

25. Nicki Minaj – Did It On’em

It sounds like every other hip-hop song…

24. Eminem – Not Afraid

really? Go on College Humor and check out the parody, bitches!

23. Jamey Johnson- Macon

It’s alright. too southern for my taste.

22. Rick Ross feat. Styles P – B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast)

gangsta! but meh…

21. Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars

Are they trying to be The Kills? o.O FAIL!!!!!!

20. Best Coast – Boyfriend

are they trying to be The Reveonettes? O.o ok, fine, it’s alright. but still!

19. The New Pornographers – Your Hands (Together)

They are still alive? It’s pretty good!

18. Jenny and Johnny – Scissor Runner

it’s alright. nothing special. if i listen to it more then five times i’ll prolly puke.

17. LCD Soundsystem – I Can Change

neat.

16. Cold War Kids – Coffee Spoon

meh.

15. Drake – Over

ewww, autotune! puke reflex!!!!!!

14. Big Boi feat. Cutty – Shutterbugg

Funny video. alright song.

13. The Dead Weather – Hustle and Cuss

Probably one of the best songs of 2010!

12. Mark Ronson & The Business Intl – Bang Bang Bang

I like!

11. The Black Keys – Everlasting Light

One of my favourite songs on the album. probably the best song on this list <3

10. Kanye West – Monster ft. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Bon Iver

nothing special

9. Broken Bells – The Ghost Inside

Was that a song or was it just some noise in the background?

8. Janelle Monáe feat. Big Boi – Tightrope

Very James Brown-ish! Me like!

7. Vampire Weekend – White Sky

pretty catchy.

6. Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone

soooooo hymn-like. i’m not big on hymns.

5. Arcade Fire – We Used to Wait

Pretty good for a comeback, but still not even close to the power of Rebellion (Lies).

4. Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

Watch the parody on College Humor. the original sucks

3. Sade – Soldier of Love

Sade is a great singer, but i like her older stuff better.

2. Cee Lo Green – F**k You

A guilty pleasure. Funny, funky, smooth

1. Kanye West feat. Pusha T – Runaway

it’s an alright song, but i don’t get why people give it so much praise?

Conclusion: Why the fuck is everyone making such mediocre music? And why do people buy into it???

I think it’s because my brain is actually trained that if i’m at work – I work. and if i’m home at the computer i don’t want to do anything close to being intellectual. I just wanna sit on facebook or watch shows on cucirca.

So then, about the shows. I’m back to watching Scrubs, cause i’ve taken a huge break from it and now it’s actually funny to me again. Plus, i’m up to date on Glee and How I Met Your Mother, so there is not much i can watch besides Scrubs. And of course i could watch a drama series, but it requires too much brain power. Although, I did watch the pilot episode for Dexter and i liked it. And I wouldn’t mind catching up on House and Weeds at some point. Oh, and drama series are usually 45 min long and comedy series are usually 20 min, so the main plot actually progresses faster and yuo don’t need to wait another 40 min to figure out what happens next.

I skimmed through this article recently that talked about how our generations attention span reduced tragically because of TV. And i can’t help but agree with that. I used to never watch shows. I mean, i did, but i didn’t do it religiously. I would watch Family Guy and Sex and the City now and then, but i didn’t get the craving to skip going out just so i can watch a new episode. And if i missed any number of episodes – no big deal! But now i actually have to watch an episode of something during lunch and after work (pretty much whenever i eat, except breakfast). And i have noticed that i can’t concentrate on things for as long as i used to. Even if i’m watching a movie (unless a movie is really superb), i have to make at least one pause to go and check facebook, or do something around the house for at least 10 minutes before i can get back into it. I am actually surprised that i’m still writing this and i haven’t taken a single break

But, i’ll try to get better soon. And i promise to write about habits in the then post.